Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus

Second Edition

Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
Springfield, Massachusetts

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Copyright © 2010 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus, Second Edition
ISBN 978-0-87779-798-2

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CONTENTS

→ Copyright

→ Preface

→ Introduction

→ Explanatory Notes

→ Thesaurus A-Z

Preface

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus, Second Edition, is the first major revision of a work that was originally published in 1976 with the title Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus. In the more than three decades since the publication of the first edition, we have developed an improved understanding of what people look for in a thesaurus and of how a thesaurus ought to be constructed to meet those needs. As a result, we have made some significant changes in the book's format and emphasis, all the while preserving the general conception and underlying philosophy of the first edition. The principles regarding synonymy that guided Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus remain fundamentally sound, and our goal has been, first and foremost, to incorporate revisions that better serve those core principles of synonymy.

Like the editors of the first edition, we asked ourselves the one most important and basic question: what is a typical user of a thesaurus most likely looking for? We envision the thesaurus user to be someone who is engaged in the always challenging task of putting words down on paper or on a computer screen, as the case may be, and who feels at least vaguely dissatisfied with his or her original choice of word. Being conscientious, our hypothetical writer embarks on a search for a more appropriate substitute: a word which closely approximates in meaning the word that has tentatively been chosen but which differs from it in tone, connotation, level of formality, or range of application. To accomplish this end, our hypothetical writer is in many cases best served by a thesaurus that offers not only a large and comprehensive selection of words to choose from, but also some guidance as to which words, out of a plethora of possibilities with similar meanings, are words that really do have the same meaning as the word originally chosen. This thesaurus provides such guidance by grouping the true synonyms together and by stating explicitly the meaning that is shared by all of the synonyms in each group.

We are of course aware that not every user of the thesaurus will be looking for a word that means exactly the same as the word he or she already has. With this in mind, we have supplemented our lists of synonyms with lists of “related words”—words which don't exactly match the meaning shared by the words listed as synonyms but which are not so far afield from it that they are likely to be of little interest to the user. Similarly, we have been ever mindful that users are not always looking for true antonyms, and so we have endeavored, under the rubric of “near antonyms,” to supplement the antonyms with words that are only approximately opposite in meaning to the synonyms. Above all, we have endeavored to be selective in our offerings of related words and near antonyms so that the user's time is not wasted by long lists of words that have only some vague connection to the meaning shared by the synonyms. One of our guiding tenets has been the belief that quality trumps quantity.

To aid the user in making a selection from this large stock of offerings, we have provided a sentence or phrase that illustrates a typical context for every synonym listed in this book. Including a sample sentence or phrase for every synonym is a new feature to this edition and is intended to provide guidance about how individual synonyms are used, in the hope that this will help the user choose the most appropriate one while avoiding those that are less appropriate.

The vocabulary that is offered in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus, Second Edition, is taken from Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. Containing more than 165,000 entries and 225,000 discrete definitions, this edition of the dictionary has virtually all of the words that the contemporary user of English needs to know. The vocabulary of the thesaurus has not been diluted by the inclusion of obscure or obsolete words. This thesaurus is published with the sincere belief that it offers for the user's consideration a treasury of genuinely useful words.

The editor of the second edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus has been ably and generously assisted in its composition by the editors Anne P. Bello, Rose Martino Bigelow, Deanna Stathis, and Paul S. Wood. Daniel B. Brandon was responsible for the handling of the electronic data files and contributed essential technical assistance in a number of other ways. The project was supervised in its entirety by Madeline L. Novak, and Thomas F. Pitoniak served as editor in charge of production. The always challenging task of cross referencing the text was expertly accomplished by Christopher Chapin Connor. The necessary but often thankless task of proofreading the galleys and page proofs was done by editors Bigelow and Wood and by James G. Lowe, Joan I. Narmontas, Adrienne M. Scholz, Neil S. Serven, and Emily A. Vezina. Final and most important credit must be given to John M. Morse, President and Publisher of Merriam-Webster, Inc., for his steadfast faith in and support of the Collegiate Thesaurus.

Michael G. Belanger
Editor

Introduction

Synonyms

English is an extraordinarily complex language, having been woven from the strands of many languages, both ancient and modern. Because of this diverse heritage, English enjoys a wealth of words, and perhaps no other language is as rich in synonyms. A carefully chosen synonym can lend color and precision to the work of any writer, whether that writer is an experienced professional or a conscientious amateur.

So, just what are synonyms? To the writers of early dictionaries, the meaning was clear enough: synonyms are words that mean the same thing. Words that are somewhat similar in meaning—but definitely do not mean the same thing—are not true synonyms. They are merely related words, and they belong in a different category. In some famous thesauri of the mid-19th century, the distinction between these two types of words started to become blurred. As a result, thesauri became ever-expanding compilations of vaguely related words. We believe that this concept of a thesaurus presents problems. Lumping loosely related words all together is unhelpful to the writer who cares about using words with precision. Often the careful writer will want a word that means the same as the one he or she already has but that carries a distinctly different suggestion or tone. To meet that need, we have adhered to the original notion of what constitutes a synonym. In this thesaurus, a word is classified as a synonym if—and only if—it shares with another word at least one basic meaning.

For an example of how we arrived at the basic meaning shared by a group of words, let's look at the following words as they are defined in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition:

amenity…2 usu pl : something (as a conventional social gesture) that conduces to smoothness or pleasantness of social relationships…

attention…3 a : an act of civility or courtesy esp. in courtship…

civility…2 b : a polite act or expression…

1courtesy…1 b : a courteous act or expression…

formality…3 : an established form or procedure that is required or conventional…

1gesture…4 : something said or done by way of formality or courtesy, as a symbol or token, or for its effect on the attitudes of others…

pleasantry…3 : a polite social remark…

None of these words share identically worded definitions, but they do have in common a basic meaning that allows them to be regarded as synonyms. That basic meaning can be concisely expressed as “an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners,” and that is what is shown at civility, which is the main-entry word for this word group in this thesaurus. All of the members of the word group essentially mean this, the differences in the wording of their individual dictionary definitions notwithstanding.

If a word is more limited in scope than the basic meaning given at a main entry, then it cannot be regarded as a synonym for that word group. Hence, the words greetings, regards, and respects are entered only as related words at civility, as they refer to specific kinds of conventionally polite remarks.

Related Words

Oftentimes thesaurus users are not looking for something that means exactly the same as the word they already have in mind. To meet this need, the Collegiate Thesaurus includes lists of words that are so closely related to the synonymy group that they have been deemed of likely interest to the user. These related words do not qualify as synonyms because they have meanings that differ significantly from the basic meaning shared by the members of the synonymy group. For example, the word funny has the meaning of “causing or intended to cause laughter.” A person who is making “funny faces” is causing, or at least trying to cause, others to laugh. Witty, although closely related to funny, has a slightly different meaning: “given to or marked by mature intelligent humor.” A witty person is someone who has a habit of making clever remarks that display a grown-up sense of humor. Because of the close relationship between funny and witty, many, if not all, of the words listed as synonyms at witty are given as related words at funny. The lists of related words at a main entry in the Collegiate Thesaurus may be likened to the hyperlinks that connect one Web site to another on the Internet. Following the links between Web sites often takes one to new and unexpected places. Thesaurus users are encouraged to go from one related entry to another when searching for just the right word for their purpose.

Some words are not true synonyms of anything, but because they are so fundamentally useful, they have been included in this thesaurus among the lists of related words and in places where they are likely to be most helpful. For example, the word ballast, which refers to any type of “heavy material used to make a ship steady,” is too narrow in meaning to have any synonyms of its own. It is related to the more general term load, however, and so, fittingly, it is included as a related word at the entry for the noun load.

Antonyms

An antonym is a word whose meaning is directly opposite to another word's meaning. Fundamental to this thesaurus's concept of an antonym is the notion of negation. An antonym has a meaning that completely cancels out another word's meaning. Short and tall are complete opposites. Something cannot be both short and tall at the same time, and both words suggest about the same degree of deviation from the norm or average for height. Good and evil are another pair of exact opposites. Logically, something cannot be both good and evil in the same way and at the same time.

Words that are only opposite in some aspect of their meaning cannot be said to be true antonyms. For example, sad, which means “causing unhappiness,” is not a true antonym of funny, which means “causing or intended to cause laughter.” The opposite of unhappiness is happiness, and there are things that make people happy without generating gales of laughter. Similarly, hurt, which means “to cause physical pain,” is not an antonym of heal, which means “to restore to healthy condition.” The exact opposite of “to cause physical pain” would be “to cause or give physical pleasure.” Hurt and heal are certainly contrary words, but they differ in their focus and in what they suggest. Pairs of words like hurt and heal are better regarded as near antonyms.

In this thesaurus, pairs of true antonyms generally fall into three basic classes: (1) words that are mutually exclusive and have no middle ground between them, as dead and alive, or perfect and imperfect; (2) words that are on opposite ends of some spectrum, as maximum and minimum, or huge and tiny; (3) words that in effect reverse or undo one another, as assemble and disassemble, or prove and disprove.

Near Antonyms

Near antonyms are words that do not qualify as antonyms under the strict definition used for this thesaurus but which are clearly in marked contrast with the members of a synonym group. Just as a user may not be seeking a word that is exactly synonymous with another, he or she may not be seeking a word that is exactly opposite. The user may simply want a word that lies somewhere on the opposite side of the spectrum of meaning. Afraid is not so exactly opposite to courageous as cowardly is, but afraid and courageous certainly have markedly contrasting meanings and consequently can be considered near antonyms of each other.

Phrases

This thesaurus also includes phrases that, taken as a whole, are synonymous with individual words. Some of these are fixed phrases that contain a word that is entered in the dictionary at its own alphabetical place but is never, or almost never, used except in a fixed phrase. For example, in jeopardy appears as a synonymous phrase at liable because a person liable (that is, “exposed”) to something dangerous or undesirable is a person “in jeopardy.” The word jeopardy is normally used with this meaning only in the phrase in jeopardy.

Idioms constitute the other major class of word combinations that are entered under the heading of phrases. Idioms are phrases that have a figurative meaning that is different from the literal meaning one would get if one were to piece together the meanings of the individual components of the phrase. For example, the phrase make good is virtually meaningless if one attempts to piece together the literal meanings of make and good. As a fixed phrase, however, make good means “to reach a desired level of accomplishment” and is a synonym of succeed.

Whether fixed combinations of words or actual idioms, the expressions entered under the heading of phrases share the same basic meaning as the members of the synonymy group. Such synonymous phrases qualified for entry in the Thesaurus if they are in some manner covered in the pages of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.

Verbal Illustrations

It is the firm belief of the editors of this thesaurus that verbal illustrations play a key role in helping users decide which word best suits their purposes. Members of a synonym group of course have the same core meaning, but typically they differ in their nuances, connotations, level of formality, and range of application. For a description of something that is “very pleasing to look at,” one's choices include the following adjectives: aesthetic, attractive, beauteous, beautiful, bonny, comely, cute, drop-dead, fair, fetching, good, good-looking, goodly, gorgeous, handsome, knockout, likely, lovely, lovesome, pretty, ravishing, seemly, sightly, stunning, taking, and well-favored. The thesaurus user is faced with the challenge of deciding which of these words is best for describing, say, a sunset or a city square. Likewise, would knockout be an appropriate choice for describing a cathedral—or ravishing to describe a hotel lobby? To help guide users, the editors of this thesaurus have provided each member of a synonym group with a distinctive verbal illustration that shows how the word is appropriately and typically used:

<sunsets in Hawaii are just gorgeous>

<a handsome man with finely chiseled features>

<a knockout sports car that's the talk of the neighborhood>

<with her red curls falling around her shoulders, she looked ravishing in her green dress>

<had never seen such a taking city as Venice>

In some cases the thesaurus user may decide, after reviewing all of the verbal illustrations for a synonym group, that he or she still has not found the word that precisely meets the present need. The user should then consider the entry's list of related words:

Related Words
alluring, appealing, charming, cunning, delightful, engaging, fascinating, glamorous (also glamourous), prepossessing; elegant, exquisite, glorious, Junoesque, magnificent, resplendent, splendid, statuesque, sublime, superb; flawless, perfect, radiant; dainty, delicate; personable, pleasant, presentable; chocolate-box, prettyish; desirable, dishy, dollish, foxy, hot, luscious, nubile, pulchritudinous, seductive, sexy, tasty, toothsome, yummy; hunky, studly [slang]; arresting, eye-catching, flamboyant, flashy, glossy, showstopping, showy, slick, snazzy, splashy, striking, zingy; photogenic, telegenic

These supplementary words, which are quite close in meaning to the members of the synonym list, are intended to expand the user's options. Some related words are too specific in meaning to be members of any synonym group; some other related words are members of synonym lists at other entries. Thesaurus users should regard the lists of related words as departure points for further exploration.

Lastly, users of this thesaurus are urged to consult it in conjunction with a good dictionary. The preferred companion dictionary would of course be Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. All of the vocabulary of the Collegiate Thesaurus also appears in the Collegiate Dictionary. As such, the Collegiate Dictionary will provide the thesaurus user with the precise definition of any word encountered in the text, and in many cases the Collegiate Dictionary will provide the user with another verbal illustration for a word. Regardless of which dictionary is used, thesaurus users should consult a dictionary before attempting to use a word with which they were previously unfamiliar.

Explanatory Notes

Every user of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus, Second Edition, is encouraged to read the following Explanatory Notes because a thorough understanding of the Thesaurus's scope, philosophy, and structure is essential to its effective use.

Scope of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus, Second Edition

This thesaurus is intended to be a tool for the conscientious writer who is seeking the precisely right word; hence, it is centered on the general vocabulary of the English language. It is this part of the language that is rich with words that have special nuances, distinctive connotations, and varying degrees of formality. As a consequence, the user generally will not find words that belong to science, technology, or other specialized fields. Obsolete and extremely rare terms have also been omitted, as these would do little to help the writer seeking genuinely useful words. Lastly, words that have been labeled as vulgar, obscene, disparaging, offensive, or nonstandard in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, have been disregarded.

Entry Order

The boldface word or phrase at the beginning of a thesaurus entry is called a headword. Headwords appear in alphabetical order for ease of use. Alphabetization is by first letter, then second letter, and so on, regardless of any spaces or hyphens that may separate those letters:

make verb

make–believe adjective

make out verb

make over verb

Maker noun

makeshift adjective

When a headword contains a numeral, the numeral is alphabetized as though it were a spelled-out word:

anywise

A–OK adjective

A1 adjective

apace adverb

Homographs are words that are spelled exactly the same but are different parts of speech or have entirely different etymologies (word origins). Homographs that are different parts of speech are simply entered as separate headwords:

bat noun 1 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

bat verb 1 to deliver a blow to (someone or something)…

bear noun 1 a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work

bear verb 1 to bring forth from the womb

If two or more homographs are the same part of speech, they are entered as separate headwords and are grouped together and numbered:

1list noun a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system

2list noun the act of positioning or an instance of being positioned at an angle

3list noun a long narrow piece of material

1list verb 1 to make a list of

2list verb to set or cause to be at an angle

As discussed below under the heading “Some Notes about Verbs,” verbs that are customarily used in combination with a preposition or an adverb appear as headwords in this thesaurus in either of two ways: with the verb itself in boldface type and followed by the preposition or adverb in parentheses and in lightface type, or with both the verb and its companion preposition or adverb in boldface type. Simple verbs are listed first, followed by verbs with parenthetical prepositions or adverbs, which are in turn followed by the boldface verb-adverb or verb-preposition combinations:

run verb

run (over) verb

run along verb

talk verb

talk (into) verb

talk (to) verb

talkative adjective

talk down verb

talk down (to) verb

When headwords are compound words, a closed compound (one without a space or hyphen) is entered before a hyphenated compound, and a hyphenated compound is entered before an open compound (one with an intervening space):

nosedive noun

nose–dive verb

open–air adjective

open air noun

Plural Nouns

Some nouns are always pluralized or are pluralized when they are used with certain meanings. When a thesaurus entry for a noun includes no senses that are used in the singular, the plural form is given as the headword:

leavings plural noun a remaining group or portion <the leavings of the banquet were packed up and delivered to a shelter for the homeless> — see REMAINDER 1

When a noun is often or usually, but not always, used in the plural form, the singular form is used for the headword, and the plural follows, introduced by the label often or usually:

habiliment noun, usually habiliments plural covering for the human body <the lady's rich habiliments and haughty manner made the host's servants think she was someone important> — see CLOTHING

When such a noun appears in a list of synonyms, related words, etc., it is shown as a plural form with parentheses around the final s or es:

clothing noun covering for the human body <a store that sells both men's and women's clothing>
Synonyms
apparel, attire, clobber [British slang], clothes, costumery, dress, duds, garments, habiliment(s), habit [archaic], rags, raiment, rig, rigging, threads, toggery, togs, vestiary, vestments, vesture, wear, wearables, weeds

When a noun is used in the singular form in one sense and in the plural form in another, the singular form is given as the headword. The plural form is indicated at the appropriate sense or senses:

provision noun 1 something upon which the carrying out of an agreement or offer depends <loaned them the car with the provision that they refill the gas tank before returning it> — see CONDITION 2
2 provisions plural substances intended to be eaten <gave them ample provisions so they would not get hungry on the trip> — FOOD 1

Variants

An alternate spelling or form of a headword is called a variant. Variants are shown in boldface type immediately after the headword and are introduced by or or also. The label or means that the variant is as common, or nearly as common, as the headword. As long as the variants are equally common, the headword is the spelling that comes first alphabetically.

egotistic or egotistical adjective

theater or theatre noun

OK or okay verb

However, if one of the spellings is used slightly more frequently than the other, the more common one is shown first even if it does not fall first alphabetically:

goody or goodie noun

A variant that is introduced by the label also is considerably less common than the headword:

among also amongst preposition

facade also façade noun

naught also nought noun

When two variants are separated from the headword by also but from each other by or, it means that both variants are considerably less common than the headword:

bogey also bogie or bogy noun

Variants are also shown in the word lists within the entries:

zero noun 1 the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it <anything multiplied by zero comes out to zero>
Synonyms
aught, cipher, goose egg, naught (also nought), nil, nothing, o, oh, zilch, zip

Parts of Speech

Every headword is followed by one of the following part-of-speech labels: adjective, adverb, conjunction, interjection, noun, preposition, pronoun, or verb. Plural nouns are followed by the plural noun label.

Kinds of Entries

This thesaurus consists of two types of entries: main entries and cross entries. Each main entry provides a full treatment of a group of synonyms and is located at the alphabetical place of one of the most important words in the group. The cross entries, which are shorter than the main entries, can be found at the alphabetical place of each of the synonyms listed at the main entries. Every headword with its part-of-speech label is followed by either one or more main entries, one or more cross entries, or a combination of the two. If there is more than one meaning treated at a given headword, all the main entries will come first, followed by all the cross entries, and each will begin with a boldface sense number.

A main entry always includes a statement of the core meaning shared by the members of a synonym group. It is by this means that the user knows in what sense the members of the group are being treated as synonyms. This statement of shared meaning is followed by a verbal illustration for the headword. The illustration is followed by a list of synonyms as well as such related words, phrases, near antonyms, and antonyms as may exist for that meaning.

famous adjective 1 widely known <a book about some of the most famous people of the last century>
Synonyms
big-name, celebrated, famed, noted, notorious, prominent, renowned, star, visible, well-known
Related Words
fabled, fabulous, legendary; infamous; distinguished, eminent, exceptional, great, illustrious, leading, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, preeminent, prestigious, remarkable, supereminent, superior; important, significant; acknowledged, recognized, respected; favorite, popular, preferred; estimable, honorable, reputable, respectable; formidable, redoubtable
Near Antonyms
insignificant, unimportant; inconspicuous; undistinguished, unexceptional; unpopular
Antonyms
anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unfamous, unknown, unsung

Every word in the list of synonyms at each main entry is entered at its own alphabetical place as a cross entry. The statement of shared meaning that appears at the main entry will be shown at the cross entry as well. This is done so that the user who is looking at the cross entry will know whether the main entry treats the sense that he or she is interested in. The statement of shared meaning is followed by a verbal illustration for that particular synonym. The cross entry does not repeat the synonyms, related words, phrases, near antonyms, or antonyms given at the main entry. Instead, at the end of the cross entry, there is a reference that points the user to the appropriate main entry:

big–name adjective widely known <several big-name writers gave readings at the book festival> — see FAMOUS 1

fade verb 1 to cease to be visible <the departing ship gradually faded over the horizon> — see DISAPPEAR
2 to make white or whiter by removing color <years of harsh sunlight had faded the car, which was once fire-engine red> — see WHITEN
3 to lose bodily strength or vigor <began to fade after battling the disease for years> — see WEAKEN 2

Cross-References

A cross-reference is a direction at the end of a cross entry that tells the user where the main entry for that particular shared meaning is located. If there is more than one sense at the headword referred to in the cross-reference, the cross-reference will include the relevant sense number. If there is more than one numbered homograph for a headword, the cross-reference will include the correct homograph number as well:

pain verb to feel or cause physical pain <my poor head was paining so from all that racket> — see HURT 1

ranking noun 1 a scheme of rank or order <in one ranking of the best places to live, San Francisco surpassed all other cities in the U.S.> — see 3SCALE 1

Cross-references are always between words having the same part of speech. In the above example, for instance, the cross-reference is to the first sense of the third homograph for the noun scale, which is of course the same part of speech as ranking:

3scale noun 1 a scheme of rank or order <a student who scored very highly on a standard intelligence scale>
Synonyms
graduation, hierarchy, ladder, ordering, ranking

Special Usage Labels

Occasionally words in this thesaurus will bear italicized usage labels. The following labels indicate that a word is limited to regional use: Australian, British, Irish, Midland, New Zealand, Northwest, Scottish, South African, Southern, Southwest, and West. All of these designations may be used in combination with one another (as Southern & Midland) or qualified by the word chiefly. Three other labels that have been used for this thesaurus are dialect, slang, and archaic. The label dialect indicates that a word occurs in several regional varieties of American or British English and that the pattern of its usage is too complicated to be concisely labeled. The stylistic label slang indicates that the word is used most appropriately in very informal contexts. The temporal label archaic indicates that the word is nowadays used only in special contexts, such as poetry or historical fiction:

afore preposition, chiefly dialect 1

bobby noun, British

conk noun, chiefly British slang

kirk noun, chiefly Scottish

kloof noun, South African

sundowner noun, Australian

2waddy or waddie noun, West

When a headword has multiple senses and a usage label applies to one or more of them but not to all of them, the label will come after the appropriate sense numbers:

jack noun 1 slang something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <I'd buy that watch, but I don't have the jack right now> — see MONEY 1
2 a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling <a Portuguese ship flying the national jack> — see FLAG 1

In the word lists at main entries, special usage labels appear in square brackets immediately after the words to which they apply:

before preposition 1 earlier than <since I'm a faster runner, I got there before him>
Synonyms
afore [chiefly dialect], ahead of, ere, fore (also (fore) [chiefly dialect], of, previous to, prior to, to

Shared Meanings

Every entry contains a statement of the meaning shared by members of a synonym group. This shared meaning is the “thing” that is referred to when we say that two or more words “mean the same thing” and thus qualify as synonyms. The statement of shared meaning follows the part-of-speech label in single-sense entries and the sense number in multisense entries.

Sometimes there are parenthetical elements within these statements of shared meaning, as in the following entry:

payment noun…
2 something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services <our payment for all the work we did barely covered our expenses> <we finally mailed our last car payment last week>
Synonyms
compensation, consideration, pay, recompense, remittance, remuneration, requital

The parenthetical element is intended to suggest the usual range of application of a group of words, but it should not be interpreted as a strict limitation of a word's application.

Some Notes about Verbs

Verbs that have a given meaning only when they are followed by a particular word appear as headwords in this thesaurus in one of several ways. Sometimes both the verb and the following adverb or preposition are shown in boldface:

belly up verb to come near or nearer <belly up to the buffet table and help yourselves>

Sometimes the verb is shown in boldface followed by a lightface adverb, preposition, or other word in parentheses:

comply (with) verb 1 to act according to the commands of <the guards rushed to comply with the warden's orders>

knock (about) verb to move about from place to place aimlessly <we knocked about from town to town, looking for work>

leg (it) verb to go on foot <the car was in the shop so we had to leg it to work for a couple of days>

And sometimes both styles are combined:

hold off (on) verb to assign to a later time <we held off on accepting the invitation in the hopes that something better would come along>

These different stylings are intended to help the user who wants to look these verbs up in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, the companion dictionary for this thesaurus. In all cases, the boldface part of the thesaurus headword will match the headword of the corresponding Collegiate Dictionary entry.

If there are two words inside the parentheses and they are separated by or, then either word can be used with the verb:

fit (in or into) verb to put among or between others <do you think that you can fit this picture into the album?> <I can fit you in between my two o'clock and three o'clock appointments>

A verb that has a parenthesized element when shown as a headword has that same parenthesized element when the verb appears in a word list. Users who encounter such a verb in a list should remember that the complete verb combination must be used for it to match the shared meaning of its synonym group:

obey verb to act according to the commands of…
Synonyms
adhere (to), comply (with), conform (to), follow, goose-step (to), mind, observe

When the statement of shared meaning calls for a direct object, all of the members of a synonym group will take a direct object. If the statement of shared meaning does not call for a direct object, then none of the synonyms will take an object. One frequent clue that the members of a word group take an object is the fact that the statement of shared meaning ends with a preposition:

constitute verb 1 to be all the substance of <nine players constitute a baseball team>

Not all verbs requiring an object are worded this way, however, so the user may need to study the verbal illustration to determine the need for a direct object. A check of the verbal illustration at a verb's cross entry may be needed for further confirmation.

Verbal Illustrations

Every synonym in this thesaurus is illustrated with an example of its typical use. This verbal illustration appears after the statement of shared meaning and is set off by angle brackets. The word being illustrated is italicized in each verbal illustration.

fight verb 1 to oppose (someone) in physical conflict <a proud people who have fiercely fought all invaders of their homeland>

hold back verb 1 to create difficulty for the work or activity of <the only thing holding Joe back from joining the swim team is lack of transportation>

loony also looney adjective 1 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <that's got to be the looniest idea I've ever heard>

When the headword includes a parenthesized lightface element, that element will also be italicized in the verbal illustration:

conk (out) verb 1 to lose consciousness <after three days without eating, he simply conked out>

All verbal illustrations in this thesaurus begin with a lowercase letter unless the initial word is normally capitalized. Question marks and exclamation points are used when appropriate at the end of a verbal illustration, but otherwise no ending punctuation is used.

Synonyms Used in Defining

The central word in a dictionary definition is known as the defining term, and every definition has to have one. Likewise, each statement of shared meaning in this thesaurus includes a defining term:

gadget noun an interesting and often novel device with a practical use <she tried out a new gadget for weeding the garden>
Synonyms
appliance, contraption, contrivance, gimmick, gizmo (also gismo), jigger, widget

In the above example, the verb device is the defining term. If device had not been used as the defining term, it could have been included with good justification in the list of synonyms. However, since it was in fact used as the defining term, device was omitted from the list in accordance with our practice of not using a word both as a defining term and as a synonym at the same main entry.

Related Words

The cornerstone of every entry in this thesaurus is the list of synonyms. For the vast majority of main entries, an often generous supply of related words is provided to supplement the synonyms. The lists of related words are meant to suggest to the user an array of paths that might be taken in search of the precisely right word. The number of related words often exceeds that of the synonyms because related words do not have to match the synonyms' shared meaning: they need only relate to some aspect of that statement of shared meaning. Where appropriate, related words are divided into subgroups which are separated by semicolons. Words within each subgroup are usually closer in meaning to each other than to members of neighboring subgroups. The subgroups are generally presented in order of most relevant to least relevant.

conceited adjective having too high an opinion of oneself <a conceited basketball player who was always too busy even to sign autographs>
Synonyms
assured, biggety (or biggity) [Southern & Midland], bigheaded, complacent, consequential, egoistic (also egoistical), egotistic (or egotistical), important, overweening, pompous, prideful, proud, self-conceited, self-important, self-opinionated, self-satisfied, smug, stuck-up, swellheaded, vain, vainglorious
Related Words
blusterous, blustery, boastful, bombastic, braggart, bragging, braggy, cocky, swaggering; arrogant, assumptive, bumptious, cavalier, chesty, disdainful, fastuous, haughty, high-and-mighty, high-hat, huffy, lofty, lordly, masterful, peremptory, pontifical, self-asserting, self-assertive, snobbish, snobby, snooty, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity; domineering, high-handed, imperious; highfalutin (also hifalutin), holier-than-thou, pretentious; overconfident, presuming, presumptuous; confident, self-assured, self-confident; self-adulatory, self-congratulatory, self-contented, self-gratulatory; self-applauding, self-dramatizing, self-glorifying, self-promoting; self-affected, self-centered, self-engrossed, selfish; condescending, patronizing

Phrases

The heading phrases is reserved for expressions that, taken as a whole, are synonymous with their entry's synonym group. These expressions are shown in a list of their own but do not have their own cross entries and thus do not have verbal illustrations in this thesaurus. These expressions are often colorful figures of speech that add interest and variety to one's writing, but the writer is advised to look up unfamiliar expressions in a dictionary before attempting to use them.

Near Antonyms

Just as related words are not exact synonyms, near antonyms are not exact antonyms. Not every synonym group will have near antonyms, but in general they are more plentiful than exact antonyms. As is the case with related words, near antonyms are typically divided into subgroups separated by semicolons. And as with related words, near antonyms are generally listed in order of relevancy.

maintenance noun the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition <I was hired to perform basic maintenance until the property could be sold>
Synonyms
care and feeding, conservation, conserving, keep, preservation, preserving, sustentation, upkeep
Related Words
conservancy; support, sustaining; care, custody, guardianship; defense, guarding, protection, safeguarding, safekeeping
Near Antonyms
dereliction, disregard, ignoring, inattention, neglect, negligence; damage, demolition, destruction, harm, hurt, injury, ruin, ruination

Antonyms

The words in a main entry's antonym list are exactly opposite in meaning to the headword and its list of synonyms. A true antonym is a word whose meaning completely cancels out another word's meaning. True antonyms do not exist for many words in this thesaurus. There are no words that completely cancel out the shared meaning at car: “a self-propelled passenger vehicle on four wheels.” There is no word in English that essentially means “not a car.” A word like truck may be used in contradistinction to car, but truck and car are not antonyms. In this thesaurus words listed as antonyms are given their own cross entries only if they appear as synonyms at some other entry. The word torrid has its own cross entry; the cross-reference is to hot 1, where the word is a synonym, and not to cold 1, where it is an antonym.

At most main entries all of the members of an antonym list are synonyms of each other. At some entries, however, while all the listed antonyms are opposite in meaning to the synonym group, they are not opposite in exactly the same way. The following is an example of such an entry:

colorful adjective marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <the colorful robes and blankets of the Native Americans of the Southwest>
Synonyms
chromatic, colored, kaleidoscopic, motley, multicolored, multihued, polychromatic, polychrome, prismatic, rainbow, varicolored, varied, variegated, various…
Antonyms
colorless; monochromatic, monochromic, monotone, self-colored, solid

The opposite meaning of “marked by a variety of usually vivid colors” is “not marked by a variety of usually vivid colors.” All of the words in the antonym list fit that meaning. The word colorless means “lacking an addition of color.” The other antonyms, monochromatic, monochromic, monotone, self-colored, and solid, mean “having or consisting of a single color” and so, of course, are not synonyms of colorless. Antonyms that are not synonymous with each other are separated by semicolons.

A Note Regarding the Number of Times a Word Will Appear in an Entry

In this thesaurus no word will appear in more than one list at any single main entry. The general vocabulary of the English language has a plethora of words with more than one sense. One sense of a multisense word in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, might be exactly synonymous with a thesaurus entry's statement of shared meaning. Another sense of that same multisense word might be properly regarded as being no more than closely related to it. To avoid confusion, this thesaurus enters such words only in the entry's synonym list and not in the list of related words as well. For example, the much-used word nice is in the synonym list at pleasant, where the shared meaning is “giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses.” Nice can also be found in the synonym list at amiable, where the shared meaning is “having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations.” Since amiable is in the list of related words at pleasant, one might expect to find nice there as well. But finding the same word at two places in the same entry would be confusing for many users, so nice is included only in the list of synonyms.

Sometimes multisense words have meanings that are opposite to one another—or nearly so. For example, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, defines one sense of nervy as “showing or expressive of calm courage,” or the equivalent of “bold,” and another sense of the word as “excitable, nervous.” Thus, at the thesaurus entry for nervous, where the shared meaning for the first given sense is “feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty,” nervy appears alongside of jittery, jumpy, tense, uneasy, uptight and several other synonyms. The list of near antonyms for this same sense of nervous includes confident, self-assured, self-confident, and sure. Nervy might well have been added to the list, in light of the fact that it has a sense meaning “showing or expressive of calm courage.” Nervy was omitted from the list of near antonyms to avoid unnecessary confusion.

A

aback adverb
without warning <completely taken aback by the neighbors' announcement that they were moving> — see UNAWARES

abaft adverb
near, toward, or in the stern of a ship or the tail of an aircraft <the lookout in the crow's nest warned that there was an enemy frigate abaft and bearing down hard on their ship> — see AFT

abaft preposition
at, to, or toward the rear of <a school of porpoises swam abaft the fishing boat> — see BEHIND 1

abandon noun
carefree freedom from constraint <added spices to the stew with complete abandon>

Synonyms
abandonment, ease, lightheartedness, naturalness, spontaneity, spontaneousness, unconstraint, uninhibitedness, unrestraint

Related Words
ardor, enthusiasm, exuberance, fervor, spirit, warmth, zeal, zealotry, zealousness; carelessness, heedlessness, impulsiveness, impulsivity, indiscretion, insouciance, recklessness, thoughtlessness; unself-consciousness; casualness, offhandedness; excess, excessiveness, immoderacy, incontinence, indulgence, intemperance, licentiousness, permissiveness, wantonness, wildness; blank check, carte blanche, free hand

Near Antonyms
embarrassment, reserve, reticence, self-consciousness, uneasiness; inhibition, repression, self-restraint, suppression; carefulness, discreetness, discretion, heedfulness; discipline, self-command, self-control, self-denial, self-discipline, self-mastery, willpower

Antonyms
constraint, restraint

abandon verb
1 to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly <more than ready to abandon himself to a life of complete idleness for the duration of his vacation>

Synonyms
deliver, give up, indulge, surrender, yield

Related Words
overdo, overindulge; bask, luxuriate, revel, roll, wallow

Near Antonyms
abstain (from), eschew, forbear, forgo (also forego), refrain (from); check, inhibit, restrain

Antonyms
deny

2 to cause to remain behind <abandoned the group that he had been hiking with and struck out on his own> — see LEAVE 1
3 to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) <the bad weather forced NASA to abandon the launch> — see CANCEL 1
4 to stop doing (something) permanently <marriage customs that were abandoned decades ago> — see QUIT 2

abandoned adjective
1 left unoccupied or unused <she consciously avoided walking past the abandoned house, with its broken windows and sagging porch>

Synonyms
derelict, deserted, desolate, disused, forgotten, forsaken, rejected, vacant, vacated, void

Related Words
ignored, neglected, unattended, untended; castaway, cast-off, discarded, jettisoned, junked, refuse, waste; godforsaken, miserable, shabby, wretched; empty, idle

Near Antonyms
reclaimed, recovered, redeemed, rescued, retrieved, salvaged, saved; reconditioned, rehabbed, rehabilitated, restored; repeopled

2 showing no signs of being under control <wild, abandoned dancing that shocked the staid chaperones at the debutante ball> — see RAMPANT 1

abandonment noun
1 carefree freedom from constraint <sang at the top of her lungs with complete abandonment in the shower> — see ABANDON
2 the act of abandoning <the law says abandonment by the owner of any building for more than a year entitles the city to sell it> — see DERELICTION 1
3 the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to <the park commissioner cited cost considerations as the main reason for the project's abandonment> — see CANCELLATION 1

abase verb
1 to lower in character, dignity, or quality <was unwilling to abase himself by pleading guilty to a crime that he did not commit> — see DEBASE 1
2 to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <I certainly don't abase myself when I do good, honest manual labor> — see HUMBLE

abash verb
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress <felt terribly abashed when she walked into the wrong hotel room> — see EMBARRASS 1

abashment noun
the emotional state of being made self-consciously uncomfortable <his friends shared his abashment when his wife scolded him right in front of them> — see EMBARRASSMENT 1

abate verb
1 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <interest in the author's home abated as her novels waned in popularity> — see DECREASE 2
2 to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent <a couple of aspirin should abate the pain> — see DECREASE 1
3 to put an end to by formal action <asked the appellate court to abate the lower court's ruling allowing the patient to be removed from life support> — see ABOLISH 1
4 to take away (an amount or number) from a total <I managed to get the used car dealer to abate $200 from the sticker price> — see SUBTRACT
5 to take something away from <recurring problems could not abate her of her enthusiasm for the project> — see DEPRIVE 1

abatement noun
1 something that is or may be subtracted <entitled to a tax abatement for child care expenses> — see DEDUCTION 1
2 the amount by which something is lessened <there's been a significant abatement in noise from the floor above since the upstairs neighbors installed carpets> — see DECREASE
3 the doing away with something by formal action <sought an abatement of the court proceeding on the grounds that the plaintiff had no legal standing in the case> — see ABOLITION

abbey noun
a residence for men under religious vows <the monks in the abbey grow all their own vegetables> — see MONASTERY

abbreviate verb
to make less in extent or duration <had to abbreviate his vacation in France in order to travel to Oslo to receive the Nobel Prize> — see SHORTEN

abbreviation noun
a shortened version of a written work <a recording of musical abbreviations that introduces the listener to the great composers> — see ABRIDGMENT

ABC noun, usually ABC's or ABCs plural
general or basic truths on which other truths or theories can be based <a book on the ABCs of computer usage> — see PRINCIPLES 1

abdicate verb
to give up (as a position of authority) formally <the revolutionary government forced Nicholas II to abdicate the Russian throne>

Synonyms
abnegate, cede, relinquish, renounce, resign, step aside (from), step down (from), surrender

Related Words
abjure, demit, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, waive; forsake, give up, hand over, yield; abandon, desert, quit, vacate

Near Antonyms
appropriate, arrogate, assume, claim, confiscate; seize, take over, usurp, wrest; defend, guard, protect, safeguard, secure

abdomen noun
the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis <showed us a tiny tattoo on her abdomen, right next to her belly button> — see STOMACH 1

abduct verb
to carry away (as a person) forcibly or unlawfully <the gangsters planned to abduct the industrialist's young daughter and demand a huge ransom from her family> — see KIDNAP

abduction noun
the unlawful or forcible carrying away of a person or animal <discredited reports of abductions by aliens>

Synonyms
hijacking (also highjacking), kidnapping (also kidnaping), rape, snatch [slang]

Related Words
impressment, seizure, shanghaiing

abecedarian adjective
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject <an abecedarian approach to historical study> — see ELEMENTARY

abecedarian noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <abecedarians soon learn that martial arts have a spiritual as well as physical side> — see BEGINNER

aberrant adjective
1 being out of the ordinary <a year of aberrant weather—record rainfall in the summer, record heat in the autumn> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1
2 departing from some accepted standard of what is normal <aberrant behavior can be a sign of rabies in a wild animal> — see DEVIANT

aberrated adjective
being out of the ordinary <you may have taken an aberrated path to the correct answer, but you got there> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1

aberration noun
1 a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life <Joan of Arc was certain the voices she had been hearing were not a manifestation of some sort of aberration> — see INSANITY 1
2 something that is different from what is ordinary or expected <there are some slight aberrations in the type due to the nature of old printing presses> — see ANOMALY 1

aberrational adjective
departing from some accepted standard of what is normal <in wartime what was once regarded as clearly aberrational becomes the new norm> — see DEVIANT

abet verb
1 to bring (something volatile or intense) into being <the belief that violent entertainment abets violent behavior in the people who partake of it> — see INCITE 1
2 to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end <car thieves are often unwittingly abetted by owners foolishly leaving the keys in the ignition> — see HELP 1

abetment noun
an act or instance of helping <the proposed government bailout of the company is being decried as an ill-advised abetment of managerial ineptitude> — see HELP 1

abettor also abetter noun
1 one associated with another in wrongdoing <the man who drove the getaway car in the bank robbery was arrested as an aider and abettor> — see ACCOMPLICE
2 someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support <without all the neighborhood kids as abettors, I would never have gotten all my chickens back in their coop> — see ALLY

abeyance noun
a state of temporary inactivity <our weekend plans were held in abeyance until we could get a weather forecast>

Synonyms
cold storage, deep freeze, doldrums, dormancy, holding pattern, latency, moratorium, quiescence, suspended animation, suspense, suspension

Related Words
inaction, inertia, inertness, motionlessness; impasse, standstill; coma, hibernation, hypnosis, repose, rest, sleep, slumber, torpor; recess, recession, remission; downtime, idleness, layoff

Near Antonyms
recommencement, renewal, resumption, resuscitation

Antonyms
continuance, continuation

abhor verb
to dislike strongly <abhors the way people leave their trash at the picnic sites in the park> — see HATE

abhorrence noun
1 something or someone that is hated <one of the changes in American society that remains a particular abhorrence of social conservatives> — see HATE 2
2 a very strong dislike <my firm abhorrence of all forms of hypocrisy> — see HATE 1

abhorrent adjective
1 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <he considers it abhorrent the way she keeps her dogs penned up all the time> — see OFFENSIVE 1
2 feeling or showing open dislike for someone or something regarded as undeserving of respect or concern <she's abhorrent of the nonsense that the tabloid media pass off as news> — see CONTEMPTUOUS 1

abidance noun
1 the following of a custom, rule, or law <the FDA requires strict abidance by food manufacturers of its definitions for certain terms used on product labels> — see OBSERVANCE 1
2 uninterrupted or lasting existence <the reassuring abidance of their friendship through times both good and bad> — see CONTINUATION

abide verb
1 to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time <refused to abide where it was clear that he wasn't wanted> — see 1STAY 1
2 to have a home <the charming fantasy that fairies abide in the cup-shaped flowers dotting the woodland floor> — see LIVE 1
3 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <cannot abide being in huge crowds> — see BEAR 2
4 to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state <the village's once-honored ways no longer abide and now exist only in the memories of a few elders> — see CONTINUE 1

abiding adjective
having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish <I have an abiding interest in animal welfare—it's not just a phase I'm going through>

Synonyms
ageless, continuing, dateless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, imperishable, lasting, ongoing, perennial, perpetual, timeless, undying

Related Words
ceaseless, endless, permanent; changeless, constant, stable, stationary, steady, unchanging, unvarying

Near Antonyms
antiquated, archaic, dated, obsolete, outdated, outmoded, out-of-date, outworn, passé

ability noun
the physical or mental power to do something <as a result of the accident the once-vigorous athlete lost the ability to walk>

Synonyms
capability, capableness, capacity, competence, competency, faculty

Related Words
aptitude, aptness, endowment, equipment, facility, gift, knack, talent; address, adroitness, deftness, dexterity, hand, prowess, skill; gray matter, instinct, intelligence, ken, reason, understanding; might, potency, puissance, staying power, stuff; adequacy, effectiveness, effectualness, fitness, form, influence, resourcefulness, usefulness; means, resources, wherewithal

Near Antonyms
helplessness, impotence, paralysis, powerlessness, weakness; defectiveness, deficiency, inadequacy, inadequateness, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficaciousness, inefficacy, uselessness; debilitation, disablement, impairment, incapacitation

Antonyms
disability, inability, incapability, incapableness, incapacity, incompetence, incompetency, ineptitude, ineptness

abject adjective
showing, expressing, or offered in a spirit of humility or unseemly submissiveness <demanded nothing less than an abject apology from them>

Synonyms
base, humble, menial, servile, slavish

Related Words
hangdog, lamblike, sheepish; demure, lowly, meek, modest, retiring, unassuming, unpretentious; fawning, sycophant, sycophantic, toadyish

Near Antonyms
arrogant, haughty, high-handed, imperious, lordly, supercilious, superior, uppity

abjection noun
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <sees the corporate scandal as yet another sign of the general abjection of our society> — see CORRUPTION 2

abjectly adverb
in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion <she was so sincerely and abjectly apologetic that he was won over> — see LOWLY

abjure verb
1 to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) <abjured some long-held beliefs when she converted to another religion>

Synonyms
abnegate, forswear (also foreswear), recant, renege, renounce, repeal, repudiate, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw

Related Words
contradict, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, gainsay, negate, negative; abandon, bolt, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender; controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute; back down, back off, backtrack; disallow, recall, revoke

Near Antonyms
acknowledge, admit, affirm, assert, avow, claim, contend, declare, maintain, proclaim, profess, state, vouch, vow; back, confirm, defend, endorse (also indorse), espouse, maintain, support, uphold; accept, adopt, embrace

Antonyms
adhere (to)

2 to resist the temptation of <a strict religious sect that abjures the luxuries, comforts, and conveniences of the modern world> — see FORBEAR

ablaze adjective
1 being on fire <the entire block was ablaze by the time firefighters arrived>

Synonyms
afire, aflame, alight [chiefly British], blazing, burning, combusting, conflagrant, fiery, flaming, ignited, inflamed (also enflamed), kindled, lit (or lighted)

Related Words
aglow, flaring, flickering, glowing, live, smoldering (or smouldering); broiling, hot, piping hot, red-hot, roasting, scalding, scorching, searing, sizzling; burned (or burnt), charred, incinerated, scorched, seared, singed

Near Antonyms
choked, damped, dead, doused (also dowsed), extinguished, quenched, smothered, snuffed (out), stamped (out), suffocated

2 filled with much light <that night the ballroom, ablaze with light, looked very different from the curtained room it usually was by day> — see BRIGHT 2

able adjective
having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance <looking for an able and reliable assistant> — see COMPETENT 1

able–bodied adjective
enjoying health and vigor <every able-bodied young man in the village had been sent off to fight in the war> — see HEALTHY 1

ably adverb
in a skillful or expert manner <ably maneuvered the boat up to the dock> — see WELL 3

abnegate verb
1 to give up (as a position of authority) formally <abnegated all claims to the deceased lord's domain> — see ABDICATE
2 to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) <felt that if the Congress adopted these security measures, it would be abnegating the nation's fundamental commitment to individual rights> — see ABJURE 1

abnegation noun
the act or practice of giving up or rejecting something once enjoyed or desired <the couple's sudden abnegation of life in the fast lane for work as missionaries stunned everyone> — see RENUNCIATION

abnormal adjective
1 being out of the ordinary <a completely abnormal school day, because half of the kids were out sick> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1
2 departing from some accepted standard of what is normal <noticed his abnormal breathing and took him to the emergency room> — see DEVIANT

abnormality noun
1 a person, thing, or event that is far from normal <the abnormalities in the tree's leaves are caused by disease> — see FREAK 1
2 something that is different from what is ordinary or expected <let the vet know if you notice any abnormalities in your pet's behavior> — see ANOMALY 1

abode noun
the place where one lives <welcome to my humble abode> — see HOME 1

aboil adjective
marked by much life, movement, or activity <even in the wee hours of the morning, his mind is aboil with new ideas> — see ALIVE 2

abolish verb
1 to put an end to by formal action <the U.S. abolished slavery by constitutional amendment on December 6, 1865>

Synonyms
abate, abrogate, annul, avoid, cancel, disannul, dissolve, invalidate, negate, null, nullify, quash, repeal, rescind, roll back, strike down, vacate, void

Related Words
countermand, override, overrule, overturn, veto; abort, call, call off, drop, recall, retract, reverse, revoke, suspend, withdraw; ban, enjoin, forbid, outlaw, prohibit; disallow, dismiss, reject; annihilate, break down, eliminate, eradicate, erase, liquidate, remove, throw out, write off

Phrases
do away with, set aside

Near Antonyms
enact, lay down, legislate; establish, found, institute; formalize, legalize, legitimate, legitimize, validate; pass, ratify; allow, approve, authorize, clear, endorse (also indorse), permit, sanction, warrant; command, decree, mandate, order, prescribe

2 to destroy all traces of <if only there were a way that we could abolish hatred and intolerance> — see ANNIHILATE 1

abolishment noun
the doing away with something by formal action <recurrent calls for the abolishment of the electoral college> — see ABOLITION

abolition noun
the doing away with something by formal action <calls for the abolition of the death penalty>

Synonyms
abatement, abolishment, abrogation, annulment, avoidance, cancellation (also cancelation), defeasance, dissolution, invalidation, negation, nullification, quashing, repeal, rescindment, voiding

Related Words
abortion, calling off, recall; countermand, override, overruling, overturn, veto; retraction, reversal, revocation, suspension, withdrawal; banning, enjoining, forbiddance, outlawing, prohibition; disallowance, dismissal, rejection; elimination, eradication, erasure, liquidation, removal

Near Antonyms
enactment, legislation; establishment, founding, institution; formalization, legalization, legitimation, legitimization, validation; passing, ratification; approval, authorization, clearance, endorsement (also indorsement), permission, sanctioning; commandment, decreeing, mandating, ordering, prescription

abominable adjective
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <your table manners are abominable!> — see OFFENSIVE 1

abominate verb
to dislike strongly <we abominate jokes that make fun of people who have mental or physical disabilities> — see HATE

abomination noun
1 something or someone that is hated <although once common, torture is now an abomination to the civilized peoples of the earth> — see HATE 2
2 a very strong dislike <the townspeople have such an abomination of taxes that they have even voted down increases that would have given their schools badly needed funds> — see HATE 1

aboriginal adjective
belonging to a particular place by birth or origin <the aboriginal peoples of northern Alaska are known as Inupiats, which in their language literally means “real people”> — see NATIVE 1

aboriginal noun
a member of the first race to inhabit a region <for a long time the aboriginals were not even included in the censuses, as they were viewed as part of the region's fauna> — see ABORIGINE

aborigine noun
a member of the first race to inhabit a region <the aborigines had no immunity against the raft of diseases brought by the invaders>

Synonyms
aboriginal, autochthon, indigene (also indigen), native

Related Words
primitive

Near Antonyms
alien, foreigner

Antonyms
nonnative

aborning adjective
beginning to come into existence <the new governor will have to deal with the state's aborning fiscal crisis> — see NASCENT

abort verb
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) <had to abort the mission to Mars when they lost contact with the satellite> — see CANCEL 1

abortion noun
the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to <the abortion of the space mission caused the whole space program to be reexamined> — see CANCELLATION 1

abortive adjective
producing no results <an abortive attempt to recover the sunken pirate ship> — see FUTILE 1

abound verb
to be copiously supplied <a city that abounds with art museums and private galleries>

Synonyms
brim, bristle, bulge, burst, bustle, buzz, crawl, hum, overflow, pullulate, swarm, teem

Near Antonyms
lack, need, want

abounding adjective
possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified <a city abounding with inviting parks> — see RIFE

about adverb
1 on all sides or in every direction <people standing about waiting for a salesclerk to assist them> — see AROUND 1
2 toward the opposite direction <turned about and saw the dog following him> — see AROUND 2
3 very close to but not completely <about as many women as men signed up for the course in auto repair> — see ALMOST
4 close to but not exactly <it's about a mile to the nearest gas station> — see APPROXIMATELY
5 in one place and another <his garage was a dirty, cluttered place with various tools and engine parts just lying about> — see HERE AND THERE 1

about preposition
1 having to do with <a poignant story about a young man who goes off to war>

Synonyms
apropos, apropos of, as far as, as for, as regards (also as respects), as to, concerning, of, on, regarding, respecting, touching, toward (or towards)

Related Words
over

Phrases
in regard to, in respect to, in view of, with regard to, with respect to

2 close to <about the hedge there was a picket fence> — see AROUND 1
3 in random positions within the boundaries of <sparrows hopping about the lawn near the bird feeder> — see AROUND 2

about–face noun
a changing from one policy or point of view to virtually its exact opposite <the candidate's frequent about-faces on issues disturbs many voters>

Synonyms
about-turn [British], flip-flop, reversal, turnabout, turnaround, U-turn, volte-face

Related Words
bait and switch, switcheroo; denial, disaffirmance, disavowal, disownment, recantation, renunciation, repudiation, retraction; reconsideration, retreat, second thought; hesitation, indecision, irresolution, shilly-shallying, vacillation, wavering, wobbling (also wabbling)

Phrases
change of heart

about–turn noun, British
a changing from one policy or point of view to virtually its exact opposite <more than one London newspaper accused the prime minister of doing an about-turn on the issue> — see ABOUT-FACE

above adverb
to or in a higher place <we eventually got used to the planes constantly flying above>

Synonyms
aloft, over, overhead

Related Words
skyward, upward (or upwards)

Near Antonyms
underneath

Antonyms
below, beneath, under

above noun
a dwelling place of perfect happiness for the soul after death <in her dying days she was supposedly visited by an angel from above> — see HEAVEN 1

above preposition
higher than <one minute our kite was above the telephone wires; the next minute it was tangled in them>

Synonyms
over

Related Words
atop

Near Antonyms
underneath

Antonyms
below, beneath, under

abracadabra noun
1 a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power <originally, an abracadabra was a cryptogram of the word “abracadabra” that was repeated in diminishing form until it disappeared entirely—supposedly just like the targeted evil or misfortune> — see SPELL 1
2 unintelligible or meaningless talk <after some abracadabra the spiritualist announced that we had made contact with “the other side”> — see GIBBERISH 1

abrade verb
1 to damage or diminish by continued friction <ropes abraded by the rocks were a huge danger to the climbers>

Synonyms
chafe, corrade, erode, fray, frazzle, fret, gall, rasp, rub, wear

Related Words
file, gnaw, grate, graze, grind, nibble, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scuff, shave; erase, reduce, rub out, wear out, wipe (away); bite, break down, break up, chew, corrode, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve, eat; hone, sharpen, whet

2 to make sore by continued rubbing <the prisoner's manacles abraded his wrists and ankles until they bled> — see CHAFE 1
3 to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface <the yacht's once-flawless wooden hull had been badly abraded by years of rough dockings> — see SCRAPE 2

abrasion noun
an area of skin roughened or worn away by harsh rubbing against another surface <walked away from the auto accident with only minor abrasions>

Synonyms
bruise, graze, scrape

Related Words
bedsore, gall

abrasive adjective
causing annoyance <an abrasive display of rude behavior> — see ANNOYING

abreast adjective
having information especially as a result of study or experience <keeping abreast of the latest fashion trends> — see FAMILIAR 2

abridge verb
to make less in extent or duration <the library's hours have been drastically abridged to cut costs> — see SHORTEN

abridgment or abridgement noun
a shortened version of a written work <this Italian-English pocket dictionary is an abridgment of the hardback edition>

Synonyms
abbreviation, bowdlerization, condensation, digest

Related Words
abstract, aperçu, brief, capsule, outline, overview, précis, recap, recapitulation, résumé (or resume also resumé), review, sketch, sum, summarization, summary, summation, survey, syllabus, synopsis, tabloid, wrap-up

Near Antonyms
amplification, elaboration, enlargement, expansion

abrogate verb
to put an end to by formal action <the U.S. Congress can abrogate old treaties that are unfair to Native Americans> — see ABOLISH 1

abrogation noun
the doing away with something by formal action <staunch opposition to any legislation that would result in the abrogation of the rights of religious minorities> — see ABOLITION

abrupt adjective
1 being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner <the policeman's abrupt manner discouraged me from trying to claim that I hadn't seen the red light> — see BLUNT 1
2 having an incline approaching the perpendicular <the gentle, rolling hills gradually give way to high mountains with abrupt sides> — see STEEP 1
3 not expected <his abrupt reappearance seems to have caught everyone off guard> — see UNEXPECTED

abruptly adverb
with great suddenness <the car in front stopped abruptly, and we almost hit it> — see SHORT

abscond verb
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation <the burglar was trying to abscond with the jewels when he tumbled down the stairs> — see ESCAPE 1

absence noun
1 a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful <the absence of volunteers to be troop leaders is putting the scouting program in real jeopardy> — see NEED 1
2 the fact or state of being absent <in the absence of ferry service to the island, the ecotourists had to charter a plane> — see LACK 1

absent adjective
1 not at a certain place <three students were absent because of the flu>

Synonyms
away, missing, out

Related Words
AWOL, truant; departed, gone, retired; abroad, vacationing

Near Antonyms
accompanying, attending, participating

Antonyms
here, in, present

2 not present or in evidence <the city's usual stir of activity was conspicuously absent due to the report of an escaped lion from the zoo>

Synonyms
lacking, missing, nonexistent, wanting

Related Words
dead, departed, extinct, lost, perished, vanished; defunct, done, expired, finished, lapsed, obsolete, over, passé; inadequate, insufficient, rare, scarce, sparse, uncommon

Near Antonyms
active, alive, animate, living, thriving; current, going, prevailing, uncanceled; common, prevalent; apparent, conspicuous, evident, obvious, plain

Antonyms
existent, present

3 lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions <seemed absent when I told him you were coming because he nodded but didn't say anything> — see ABSENTMINDED 1

absent preposition
not having <absent a significant source of investment funds, the fledgling company continues to struggle> — see WITHOUT 1

absentminded adjective
1 lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions <the grieving woman was so absentminded that she left her key in the lock after opening the door>

Synonyms
absent, abstracted, distracted, preoccupied

Related Words
absorbed, daydreaming, dreaming, dreamy, engrossed, faraway, intent, pensive, rapt; heedless, inattentive, insensible, oblivious, unaware, unconscious, unheeding, unknowing, unmindful, unperceptive, unthinking, unwary, unwitting, vacant; befogged, befuddled, bemused, bewildered, birdbrained, clueless, confused, dazed, flighty, foggy, forgetful, forgetting, hazy, muddled, scatterbrained, unfocused (also unfocussed)

Near Antonyms
alive, attentive, aware, conscious, engaged, heads-up, heedful, mindful, observant, observing, open-eyed, sharp, vigilant, wary, watchful, wide-awake; clearheaded, unconfused

Antonyms
alert

2 inclined to forget what one has learned or to do what one should <an absentminded aunt who some years sends me two birthday checks> — see FORGETFUL

absolute adjective
1 exercising power or authority without interference by others <Russia's absolute monarchy effectively ceased to be when Czar Nicholas II promised to share power with a legislative body>

Synonyms
arbitrary, autocratic (also autocratical), czarist (also tsarist or tzarist), despotic, dictatorial, monocratic, tyrannical (also tyrannic), tyrannous

Related Words
authoritarian, jackbooted, oppressive, totalitarian; antidemocratic, antirepublican; high-handed, magisterial; domineering, imperious, masterful; all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent; autonomous, self-governing, self-ruling, sovereign (also sovran); unconditional, unlimited

Near Antonyms
circumscribed, restrained, restricted; constitutional, lawful; democratic, republican

Antonyms
limited

2 having no exceptions or restrictions <ironing is an absolute bore> <I want the absolute truth>

Synonyms
all-out, arrant, blank, blooming [chiefly British], bodacious [Southern & Midland], categorical (also categoric), clean, complete, consummate, cotton-picking, crashing, damn, damned, dead, deadly, definite, downright, dreadful, fair, flat, flat-out, out-and-out, outright, perfect, plumb, profound, pure, rank, regular, sheer, simple, stark, stone, straight-out, thorough, thoroughgoing, total, unadulterated, unalloyed, unconditional, unmitigated, unqualified, utter, very

Related Words
authentic, classic, genuine, real, veritable; constant, endless, eternal, perpetual, undying, unremitting; extreme, unrestricted; confirmed, habitual, hopeless, inveterate; extraordinary, frightful, horrible, huge, main, superlative, supreme, surpassing, terrible, terrific

Near Antonyms
doubtful, dubious, equivocal, qualified, questionable, restricted, uncertain

3 being entirely without fault or flaw <a formal living room decorated with absolute taste> — see PERFECT 1
4 free from added matter <absolute alcohol> — see PURE 1
5 serving to put an end to all debate or questioning <absolute proof of her innocence> — see CONCLUSIVE 1

absoluteness noun
the quality or state of being without restriction, exception, or qualification <the absoluteness of my belief in God should be apparent> — see ENTIRENESS

absolution noun
release from the guilt or penalty of an offense <the jury's verdict of “not guilty” was absolution in the eyes of the law, but the verdict would always be “guilty” in the court of public opinion> — see PARDON

absolutism noun
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power <concerning absolutism Lord Acton famously observed that “absolute power corrupts absolutely”> — see DESPOTISM

absolve verb
to free from a charge of wrongdoing <no amount of remorse will absolve shoplifters who are caught, and all cases will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law> — see EXCULPATE

absorb verb
1 to take in (something liquid) through small openings <most of the spilled water was absorbed by the tablecloth>

Synonyms
drink, imbibe, soak (up), sponge, suck (up), take up

Related Words
gulp, guzzle, quaff, sip, slurp, swallow, swig, swill

2 to hold the attention of <chatting on the phone doesn't absorb me so much that I can't do something else at the same time> — see ENGAGE 1
3 to make a part of a body or system <local schools will seek to absorb the new immigrants into the regular curriculum as quickly as possible> — see EMBODY 1
4 to make complete use of <cleaning the house absorbed the rest of his energy> — see DEPLETE 1
5 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <somehow she managed to absorb whatever hardships life offered> — see BEAR 2

absorbed adjective
having the mind fixed on something <Lori was so absorbed in her book that she didn't hear the bell ring> — see ATTENTIVE 1

absorbent also absorbant adjective
able to soak up liquids especially readily <highly absorbent material that is really good for wiping off automobiles>

Synonyms
bibulous, spongy, thirsty

Related Words
osmotic

Antonyms
nonabsorbent

absorbing adjective
holding the attention or provoking interest <shell collecting can be so absorbing that you don't notice the tide coming in> — see INTERESTING

absorption noun
a focusing of the mind on something <forgot to return the phone call due to his absorption in setting up the new computer system> — see ATTENTION 1

abstain (from) verb
to resist the temptation of <had to abstain from solid food before her surgery> — see FORBEAR

abstainer noun
a person who abstains from alcoholic beverages <for religious reasons she's been a total abstainer her entire life> — see NONDRINKER

abstemious adjective
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites <being abstemious diners, they avoid restaurants with all-you-can-eat buffets>

Synonyms
abstentious, abstinent, continent, self-abnegating, self-denying, sober, temperate

Related Words
ascetic (also ascetical), austere; disciplined, self-controlled, self-disciplined, self-governed

Near Antonyms
gluttonous, greedy, rapacious, voracious; Cyrenaic, hedonistic, self-pleasing, sensual, sybaritic, voluptuous, voluptuary; masturbatory, onanistic

Antonyms
self-indulgent

abstentious adjective
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites <abstentious by nature, she eats only to satisfy actual hunger—never just for the sake of eating> — see ABSTEMIOUS

abstinence noun
1 voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites <a cleric vainly preaching abstinence in a world where self-indulgence is regarded as almost a virtue>

Synonyms
continence, self-abnegation, self-denial, sobriety, temperance

Related Words
control, forbearance, restraint; discipline, self-command, self-control, self-discipline, self-mastery; asceticism, austerity

Near Antonyms
gluttony, greed, rapaciousness, rapacity, voraciousness, voracity; hedonism, sensuality, sybaritism

Antonyms
self-indulgence

2 abstention from sexual intercourse <an AIDS-prevention program that relies primarily on abstinence> — see CELIBACY

abstinent adjective
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites <grew up in a family where abstinent behavior was expected and self-indulgence of any kind was scorned and castigated> — see ABSTEMIOUS

abstract adjective
1 dealing with or expressing a quality or idea <the book deals with abstract matters such as honesty and integrity on the job as well as practical subjects such as asking for a raise>

Synonyms
conceptual, ideal, ideational, metaphysical, notional, theoretical (also theoretic)

Related Words
conjectural, hypothetical, speculative; cosmic (also cosmical), intellectual, mental, spiritual; ethereal, immaterial, incorporeal, insubstantial, nonmaterial, nonphysical, unsubstantial; impalpable, imperceptible, insensible, intangible, invisible; impractical, romantic, transcendent, transcendental, unreal, utopian, visionary

Near Antonyms
material, physical; appreciable, detectable, discernible (also discernable), noticeable, observable, palpable, perceptible, sensible, substantial, tangible, visible; defined, definite, distinct; actual, factual, real

Antonyms
concrete, nonabstract

2 using elements of form (as color, line, or texture) with little or no attempt at creating a realistic picture <Cubism is a style of abstract art in which natural forms are broken up into geometric shapes>

Synonyms
nonfigurative, nonobjective, nonrealistic, nonrepresentational

Related Words
expressionist, expressionistic, impressionist, impressionistic; symbolist, symbolistic

Near Antonyms
lifelike, natural

Antonyms
figurative, naturalistic (also naturalist), nonabstract, objective, realistic, representational

abstract noun
1 a short statement of the main points <the scientist wrote a bare-bones abstract of his research and conclusions> — see SUMMARY
2 a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <a recent college valedictorian who's been hailed as the very abstract of what's right with today's young people> — see EMBODIMENT

abstract verb
1 to draw the attention or mind to something else <personal problems abstracted him so persistently that he struggled to keep his mind on his work> — see DISTRACT 1
2 to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) <took the 135-page report and abstracted it in three short paragraphs> — see SUMMARIZE

abstracted adjective
lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions <the man on the train seemed somewhat abstracted, and he did indeed forget to get off at his stop> — see ABSENTMINDED 1

abstraction noun
something imagined or pictured in the mind <to a people who have lived under one dictatorship after another, democracy and freedom are mere abstractions> — see IDEA 1

abstruse adjective
difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand <you're not the only one who finds Einstein's theory of relativity abstruse> — see PROFOUND 1

absurd adjective
1 conceived or made without regard for reason or reality <absurd claims of having been abducted by UFO's> — see FANTASTIC 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <an absurd rule that bicycles are not allowed in the park> — see FOOLISH 1
3 so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter <it's absurd to expect to make a killing in the stock market overnight> — see RIDICULOUS 1

absurdity noun
1 a foolish act or idea <to say men can't cook as well as women is of course an absurdity> — see FOLLY 1
2 lack of good sense or judgment <the absurdity of expecting a 98-year-old woman to adequately supervise four six-year-olds> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

abubble adjective
marked by much life, movement, or activity <when the grandkids come to stay, the house is abubble with their chatter and horseplay> — see ALIVE 2

abundance noun
1 a considerable amount <an abundance of flowers for the wedding> <grew up with an abundance of cousins> — see LOT 2
2 an amount or supply more than sufficient to meet one's needs <we have an abundance of food, so eat as much as you want> — see PLENTY 1

abundant adjective
1 being more than enough without being excessive <claimed that the needy were already receiving abundant help from both the government and charitable organizations> — see PLENTIFUL
2 possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified <a savory soup that is abundant with kale, potatoes, and linguica> — see RIFE

abuse noun
1 harsh insulting language <hometown fans hurled abuse at the visiting team>

Synonyms
billingsgate, fulmination, invective, obloquy, scurrility, vitriol, vituperation

Related Words
blackguardism; blasphemy, curse, execration, imprecation, malediction, profanity; epithet, insult, put-down, slur; expletive, swearword; aspersion, bad-mouthing, belittlement, disparagement, revilement, vilification; castigation, chastisement, criticism, excoriation, opprobrium, rebuke, reprimand, reproof; broadside, diatribe, harangue, polemic, tirade

Near Antonyms
acclaim, applause, commendation, praise; compliments, congratulations, endearments, felicitations; adulation, blarney, flattery, overpraise, soft soap

2 incorrect or improper use <naturally the furniture had received a lot of abuse from the 10 kids in the family> — see MISUSE

abuse verb
1 to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <if you abuse your pet, he will always have an ugly disposition>

Synonyms
brutalize, bully, ill-treat, ill-use, kick around, maltreat, manhandle, mess over [slang], mishandle, mistreat, misuse

Related Words
molest, outrage, violate; harass, harm, hurt, injure, oppress, persecute, torment, torture; burn, sandbag, victimize, wrong; beat (up), mess (up), rough (up), work (over)

Phrases
take apart

Near Antonyms
care (for), cherish, foster, nurture; baby, cater (to), coddle, favor, gratify, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

2 to criticize harshly and usually publicly <a demanding, difficult patient who constantly abuses the nurses and aides> — see ATTACK 2
3 to put to a bad or improper use <if you abuse your baseball bat by using it to hammer nails, don't expect it to last long> — see MISAPPLY
4 to take unfair advantage of <abused his parents' trust, pilfering small amounts from them that he hoped they wouldn't notice> — see EXPLOIT 1

abusive adjective
marked by harsh insulting language <never one to believe that honorable people can disagree honorably, he invariably launches abusive attacks against anyone who dares to challenge him>

Synonyms
contumelious, invective, opprobrious, scurrile (or scurril), scurrilous, truculent, vitriolic, vituperative, vituperatory

Related Words
affronting, insulting, offending, offensive, outrageous, outraging; coarse, crude, dirty, filthy, foul, foulmouthed, gross, indecent, nasty, obscene, potty-mouthed, vulgar; contemptuous, disdainful, scornful; defamatory, libelous (or libellous), scandalous, slanderous; maligning, traducing, vilifying; hateful, malevolent, malicious, spiteful; immoderate, intemperate, unbridled, unrestrained

Near Antonyms
moderate, temperate; deferential, respectful; civil, courteous, gracious, mannerly, polite; discreet, judicious, tempered; encomiastic, laudative, laudatory, praiseful

abut verb
to be adjacent to <our land abuts a nature preserve, so we see a lot of wildlife> — see ADJOIN 1

abutting adjective
having a border in common <the new neighbors promptly erected fences between their property and the abutting properties> — see ADJACENT

abuzz adjective
marked by much life, movement, or activity <the classroom was abuzz with preparations for that evening's open house for the parents> — see ALIVE 2

abysm noun
an immeasurable depth or space <a recurrent dream in which he would fall helplessly into a dark and silent abysm> — see ABYSS

abysmal adjective
extending far downward <a desperate cry echoing from the abysmal reaches of the cave> — see DEEP 1

abyss noun
an immeasurable depth or space <looking down at the dark ocean from the ship's rail, the cruise passenger felt as though he was staring into an abyss>

Synonyms
abysm, chasm, deep, gulf, ocean

Related Words
cleft, crevasse, crevice, fissure; cavern, hole, hollow, pit; breadth, expanse, extent, reach, spread, stretch; black hole, emptiness, nothingness, vacancy, vacuity, vacuum, void

academe noun
a place or establishment for teaching and learning <the cloistered and privileged world inhabited by the students in that suburban academe> — see SCHOOL

academic also academical adjective
1 of or relating to schooling or learning especially at an advanced level <“If you spent more time in academic pursuits and less time in social ones, you could easily make good grades,” the dean told Valerie>

Synonyms
educational, intellectual, scholarly, scholastic

Related Words
bookish, donnish, geeky, nerdish, nerdy, pedagogical (also pedagogic), pedantic, professorial, tweedy; curricular; educative, instructive; collegiate, graduate, postgraduate

Near Antonyms
cocurricular, extracurricular; noncollegiate

Antonyms
nonacademic, noneducational, unacademic, unscholarly

2 very learned or educated but inexperienced in practical matters <academic thinkers who have no understanding of realpolitik>

Synonyms
ivory-tower, ivory-towered, ivory-towerish

Related Words
cerebral, eggheaded, highbrow, intellectual

Near Antonyms
astute, canny, clear-sighted, hardheaded, hard-nosed, knowing, sharp, sharp-witted, shrewd, tough-minded

3 existing only as an assumption or speculation <your arguments are merely academic—such a worst-case scenario is unlikely to ever occur> — see THEORETICAL 1

academy noun
a place or establishment for teaching and learning <a military academy> <an academy of the fine arts> — see SCHOOL

accede verb
to give or express one's approval (as to a proposal) <finally acceded to their pleas for more time to complete the project>

Synonyms
acquiesce, agree, assent, come round, consent, subscribe

Related Words
adopt, embrace, espouse; abide, bear (with), endure, stand, suffer, tolerate; stomach, swallow, take; bow, knuckle under, relent, submit, succumb, yield

Near Antonyms
rebuff, refuse, reject, scorn, spurn; deny, gainsay

Antonyms
dissent

accelerate verb
1 to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number <toy purchases accelerate dramatically during the Christmas season> — see INCREASE 2
2 to cause to move or proceed fast or faster <we accelerated preparations for the hurricane upon hearing weather reports that it had gained speed> — see HURRY 1
3 to make greater in size, amount, or number <the company accelerated its advertising purchases even as the economy appeared to be in recession> — see INCREASE 1

accent noun
a special notice or importance given to something <although we dutifully carried binoculars on our bird walk, the accent was on recognizing avifauna by their song> — see EMPHASIS 1

accent verb
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on <the town's promotional literature accents its vital role in American history> — see EMPHASIZE 1

accentuate verb
1 to indicate the importance of by centering attention on <let's accentuate the saxophones during this piece by having the sax players stand up> — see EMPHASIZE 1
2 to make markedly greater in measure or degree <the foul weather merely accentuated my feelings of depression> — see INTENSIFY
3 to make more apparent <unfortunately, the new bedspread just accentuates the dinginess of the curtains behind the bed> — see EMPHASIZE 2

accentuation noun
a special notice or importance given to something <the school's accentuation on math skills has resulted in its students being among the highest math scorers in the state> — see EMPHASIS 1

accept verb
1 to agree to receive whether willingly or reluctantly <some merchants in town will accept Canadian coins> — see TAKE 2
2 to have a favorable opinion of <her husband feels that he has never been truly accepted by his wife's family> — see APPROVE OF
3 to regard as right or true <refused to accept that her friend had said those mean things> — see BELIEVE 1
4 to take to or upon oneself <accepted the responsibility of sending out the invitations> — see ASSUME 1
5 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <he accepted all of life's vicissitudes without complaint> — see BEAR 2

acceptability noun
the quality or state of meeting one's needs adequately <the acceptability of a broken key or two on a secondhand piano might depend on which keys are broken> — see SUFFICIENCY

acceptable adjective
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards <told the bike rental man that a ten-speed with four broken gears was not acceptable> — see ADEQUATE

acceptably adverb
in a satisfactory way <the previous renters had left the cottage's kitchen acceptably clean> — see WELL 1

access noun
1 a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder <a sudden access of hay fever was making him feel miserable> — see ATTACK 2
2 the means or right of entering or participating in <in the evening the only access to the building is through the side door> — see ENTRANCE 1

access verb
to go or come in or into <could not access the bank vault because the lock was controlled by a timer> — see ENTER 1

accessible adjective
1 being within the financial means of most people <a store offering stylish clothes at accessible prices>

Synonyms
affordable, popular

Related Words
bargain-basement, budget, cheap, discount, inexpensive, low, low-end, rock-bottom; moderate, modest, reasonable

Near Antonyms
costly, dear, expensive, high, high-end, upscale

2 possible to get <the phone line is not accessible without your personal identification number> — see AVAILABLE 1
3 situated within easy reach <with the elevator broken, the second floor is not accessible to people in wheelchairs> — see CONVENIENT
4 capable of being understood <one of the more accessible works of a poet who can often be difficult and obscure> — see INTELLIGIBLE

accession noun
1 something added to an existing supply <an exhibit of the museum's latest accessions>

Synonyms
acquisition, obtainment

Related Words
accomplishment, acquirement, attainment

2 the means or right of entering or participating in <joining the army was his emancipation from his family as well as his accession to adulthood> — see ENTRANCE 1

accessorial adjective
available to supply something extra when needed <an accessorial service, such as packing, will add substantially to the moving company's basic fee> — see AUXILIARY

accessory adjective
available to supply something extra when needed <most phone services offer accessory features such as call-waiting> — see AUXILIARY

accessory also accessary noun
1 something that is not necessary in itself but adds to the convenience or performance of the main piece of equipment <bought a new car with lots of high-tech accessories>

Synonyms
accoutrement (or accouterment), adapter (also adaptor), add-on, adjunct, appendage, appliance, attachment, option

Related Words
accompaniment, additive, complement, supplement; auxiliary, subsidiary; amenity, doodad, embroidery, extra, filler, frill, incidental, luxury, nonessential, nonnecessity; appurtenances, bells and whistles, equipment, furnishings, habiliment(s), paraphernalia, trappings; adornment, decoration, embellishment, enhancement, garnish, ornament, trim, trimming

Near Antonyms
essential, necessity, requirement, requisite

2 one associated with another in wrongdoing <two accessories, the driver of the getaway car and the dishonest bank teller, were charged in the robbery case> — see ACCOMPLICE

accident noun
1 a chance and usually sudden event bringing loss or injury <was involved in a minor accident on her way home from work>

Synonyms
casualty, mischance, mishap

Related Words
calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, cropper, deathblow, disaster, tragedy; bummer, knock, misadventure, misfortune; collision, crack-up, crash, smashup, wreck

Near Antonyms
boon, break, fluke, godsend, miracle, strike, windfall; fortune, luck, serendipity

2 the uncertain course of events <you shouldn't leave it to accident to decide where you'll be lodging in the course of your trip across the country> — see CHANCE 1

accidental adjective
1 happening by chance <finding the gold was all the more remarkable because its discovery was entirely accidental>

Synonyms
casual, chance, fluky (also flukey), fortuitous, inadvertent, incidental, unintended, unintentional, unplanned, unpremeditated, unwitting

Related Words
coincidental; freak, odd; aimless, arbitrary, desultory, haphazard, random; uncertain, unexpected, unforeseeable, unforeseen; coerced, forced, involuntary; unconscious, unprompted

Near Antonyms
certain, destined, expected, fixed, foreordained, foreseeable, foreseen, inevitable, predestined, predetermined, predictable, preordained, prescribed, sure; conscious, freewill, knowing, unforced, voluntary, volunteer, willful (or wilful)

Antonyms
calculated, deliberate, intended, intentional, planned, premeditated, premeditative, prepense, set

2 not being a vital part of or belonging to something <we're considering the painting's merit as a work of art, its commercial value being entirely accidental as far as we're concerned> — see EXTRINSIC

acclaim noun
public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <many people were involved in the search, but the person who actually found the missing girl got all the acclaim> — see GLORY 1

acclaim verb
to declare enthusiastic approval of <she has long been acclaimed by the critics for her realistic acting>

Synonyms
accredit, applaud, cheer, crack up, hail, laud, praise, salute, tout

Related Words
bravo, clap, rise (to); ballyhoo; approve, commend, endorse (also indorse), favor, recommend, root (for), support; celebrate, emblazon, eulogize, extol (also extoll), glorify, magnify, sing; adulate, belaud, flatter, overpraise; deify, idolize

Phrases
doff one's hat to (or doff one's cap to)

Near Antonyms
belittle, discommend, disparage, put down; blame, censure, reprehend, reprobate; admonish, chide, criticize, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove; castigate, excoriate, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), skewer, slag [chiefly British], vilify

Antonyms
knock, pan, slam

acclamation noun
enthusiastic and usually public expression of approval <the young piano prodigy has received acclamation from audiences worldwide> — see APPLAUSE 1

acclimate verb
to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation <never could acclimate himself to a nine-to-five office job> — see ADAPT

acclimation noun
the act or process of changing something to fit a new use or situation <a period of acclimation to the region's rising temperatures> — see ADAPTATION

acclimatization noun
the act or process of changing something to fit a new use or situation <the acclimatization of the immigrants to the culture of their adopted homeland has proven to be unexpectedly difficult> — see ADAPTATION

acclimatize verb
to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation <had lived through several northern winters before she fully acclimatized her wardrobe> — see ADAPT

acclivity noun
an upward slope <the steep acclivity was especially daunting for the novice hikers> — see ASCENT 2

accolade noun
1 a formal expression of praise <for their exceptional bravery the firefighters received accolades from both local and national officials> — see ENCOMIUM
2 public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <winning the Nobel Prize for Physics is generally regarded as the highest accolade for a physicist> — see GLORY 1
3 something given in recognition of achievement <a screen performance that won virtually every accolade that the film world has to offer> — see AWARD 1

accommodate verb
1 to make or have room for <the back seat accommodates three people comfortably>

Synonyms
fit, hold, take

Related Words
carry, contain, seat; enclose (also inclose), encompass, enfold; harbor, house

2 to bring to a state free of conflicts, inconsistencies, or differences <let's accommodate the difference in their voices by moving the mike closer to Sarah, whose voice is softer> — see HARMONIZE 2
3 to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation <accommodated the lectern to the height of the guest speaker, who turned out to be quite short> — see ADAPT
4 to do a service or favor for <couldn't accommodate everyone who wanted a free T-shirt> — see OBLIGE 1
5 to provide with living quarters or shelter <regards the tent as entirely inadequate for accommodating them through the winter> — see HOUSE 1

accommodating adjective
willing to do a favor <an accommodating waiter who readily honored our request to make substitutions in our order>

Synonyms
accommodative, friendly, indulgent, obliging

Related Words
helpful, solicitous; considerate, thoughtful; agreeable, amenable, complaisant, gracious; lenient, overindulgent, permissive

accommodation noun
1 usually accommodations plural a place to sleep and related amenities for the temporary use of a tourist or traveler <a resort offering a wide range of accommodations>

Synonyms
lodging, lodgment (or lodgement)

Related Words
berth, shelter; crash pad

2 the act or practice of each side giving up something in order to reach an agreement <the twins each made an accommodation: Jane agreed to Joan's pink curtains and Joan agreed to Jane's purple rug> — see CONCESSION 1
3 something that adds to one's ease of living <a village that wants to attract tourists but doesn't even provide public accommodations for their sanitary needs> — see COMFORT 2
4 the act or process of changing something to fit a new use or situation <an accommodation to changing economic conditions will be necessary if the church is to remain open> — see ADAPTATION

accommodative adjective
willing to do a favor <owing to the efforts of an accommodative desk clerk, we were moved to a quieter section of the hotel> — see ACCOMMODATING

accompaniment noun
something that is found along with something else <the sound of crickets was the perfect accompaniment to our summer evenings on the porch>

Synonyms
attendant, companion, concomitant, corollary, incident, obbligato

Related Words
accessory (also accessary), adjunct, appendage; complement, supplement; counterpart, fellow, mate; consequence, follow-up; fixings, trimmings

accompany verb
1 to go along with in order to provide assistance, protection, or companionship <children using the pool must be accompanied by a parent at all times>

Synonyms
attend, chaperone (or chaperon), companion, company, convoy, escort, see, squire

Related Words
walk; associate, consort, pal (around), team (up); defend, guard, protect; bring, conduct, guide, lead, pilot, steer, usher; follow, shadow, tag, tag along, tail; hang (around), hover (over)

Near Antonyms
abandon, desert, ditch, dump, forsake

2 to occur or exist at the same time <a general feeling of weariness often accompanies a cold> — see COINCIDE 1

accompanying adjective
present at the same time and place <you can enjoy your video games in here, but preferably without the accompanying sound effects> — see COINCIDENT 1

accomplice noun
one associated with another in wrongdoing <the thief and his accomplices were eventually caught and brought to justice>

Synonyms
abettor (also abetter), accessory (also accessary), cohort, confederate

Related Words
collaborationist, collaborator, informant, informer; evidence, state's evidence; companion, comrade, crony, henchman, partner; conspirator, plotter, traitor; gangster, mobster, racketeer

accomplish verb
to carry through (as a process) to completion <you've accomplished your assigned task with your usual efficiency> — see PERFORM 1

accomplished adjective
1 having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living <a year as an exchange student in Europe had transformed the tomboy into an accomplished young woman> — see CULTIVATED
2 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <an accomplished performance of a difficult violin concerto> <a delicate eye operation that only the most accomplished surgeon would attempt> — see PROFICIENT
3 not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <it is an accomplished fact that 10th century Norsemen established settlements in Newfoundland> — see IRREFUTABLE

accomplishment noun
1 a successful result brought about by hard work <our biggest accomplishment this week was finishing the living room makeover>

Synonyms
achievement, acquirement, attainment, baby, coup, success, triumph

Related Words
blockbuster, hit, jackpot, megahit, miracle, smash, winner; conquest, gain, victory, win; skill; deed, feat, performance; arrival, completion, consummation, culmination, execution, fruition, fulfillment (or fulfilment), implementation, realization

Phrases
a feather in one's cap

Near Antonyms
botch, cock-up [British], mess, muddle, shambles; bummer, bust, catastrophe, debacle (also débâcle), disaster, dud, failure, fiasco, fizzle, flop, washout; disappointment, letdown, loss, setback

Antonyms
nonachievement

2 the doing of an action <your prompt accomplishment of this urgent project is much appreciated> — see COMMISSION 2
3 the state of being actual or complete <a long, difficult project whose accomplishment we wondered if we would ever see> — see FRUITION
4 a high level of taste and enlightenment as a result of extensive intellectual training and exposure to the arts <what his wife lacked in traditional accomplishment she made up for with a great generosity of spirit> — see CULTURE 1

accord noun
1 a formal agreement between two or more nations or peoples <hoped to bring about a peace accord between the warring nations> — see TREATY
2 a state of consistency <this undated map doesn't seem to be in accord with the current layout of the streets> — see CONFORMITY 1
3 an arrangement about action to be taken <the judges have reached an accord: the match will have to be replayed> — see AGREEMENT 2
4 the state of being of one opinion about something <is everyone in accord about where to go for lunch?> — see AGREEMENT 1
5 the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions <did not move to a different workstation of her own accord> — see FREE WILL

accord verb
1 to be in agreement on every point <claims that the newspaper's quote does not accord with what he actually said> — see CHECK 1
2 to give the ownership or benefit of (something) formally or publicly <women were finally accorded the right to vote in 1920> — see CONFER 1

accordance noun
a state of consistency <make sure the fund-raiser is in accordance with the school rules> — see CONFORMITY 1

accordant adjective
not having or showing any apparent conflict <a decision accordant with previous policy regarding unpaid leave> — see CONSISTENT

accordingly adverb
for this or that reason <the application deadline was yesterday; accordingly, only applications mailed before midnight can be considered> — see THEREFORE

accouchement noun
the act or process of giving birth to children <for her second accouchement, she was attended by a more sympathetic doctor> — see CHILDBIRTH

account noun
1 a relating of events usually in the order in which they happened <newspaper reporters must strive to provide an accurate account of what happened>

Synonyms
chronicle, chronology, commentary (usually commentaries), history, narration, narrative, record, report, story

Related Words
version; deposition, documentation, testament, testimonial, testimony, witness; annals, blog, diary, journal, log, logbook, memoir; minutes, procès-verbal; anecdote, tale, yarn; epic, saga; gest (or geste), romance; recital, recitation; case history, case study

2 a presentation of an artistic work (as a piece of music) from a particular point of view <the pianist gave an account of the sonata that revealed a very mature understanding of the work>

Synonyms
interpretation, performance, reading, rendition, version

Related Words
adaptation, reworking, variation

3 a record of goods sold or services performed together with the costs due <please add this meal to my restaurant account> — see 1BILL 1
4 a sum of money set aside for a particular purpose <after paying the tuition, there was still money left for books in her special account for college expenses> — see FUND 1
5 the capacity for being useful for some purpose <all the planning came to no account when the event was abruptly cancelled> — see USE 2
6 the relative usefulness or importance of something as judged by specific qualities <the position of publicity agent for a star is of considerable account in Hollywood> — see WORTH 1
7 a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something <take into account the potential problems that come with keeping a horse> — see CONSIDERATION 1
8 a feeling of great approval and liking <held her grandmother, a pioneer in aviation, in high account> — see ADMIRATION 1
9 a person who buys a product or uses a service from a business <the company sends out holiday cards to all its accounts> — see CUSTOMER 1
10 a statement given to explain a belief or act <he could offer no credible account for why he had been absent from work for two hours> — see REASON 1
11 something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing <for that account alone you should agree that the system needs overhauling> — see REASON 2
12 the quality or state of being important <where we go for dinner is of no account to me> — see IMPORTANCE

account verb
to think of in a particular way <account themselves lucky to be alive> — see CONSIDER 1

account (for) verb
to give the reason for or cause of <could not account for the huge difference in price between the two practically identical handbags> — see EXPLAIN 2

accountable adjective
being the one who must meet an obligation or suffer the consequences for failing to do so <the owner was held accountable for his dog's biting of the child> — see RESPONSIBLE 1

accounting noun
a statement given to explain a belief or act <what accounting can you give for your bizarre actions on the night in question?> — see REASON 1

accoutre or accouter verb
to provide (someone) with what is needed for a task or activity <hikers accoutred with walking sticks, water bottles, trail maps, and compasses> — see FURNISH 1

accoutrement or accouterment noun
1 something that is not necessary in itself but adds to the convenience or performance of the main piece of equipment <this vacuum cleaner has all of the accoutrements for cleaning furniture as well as floors> — see ACCESSORY 1
2 accoutrements or accouterments plural items needed for the performance of a task or activity <has all the accoutrements that the home pastry chef could ever want> — see EQUIPMENT

accredit verb
1 to explain (something) as being the result of something else <accredits his good choice of movies to reading a reviewer who seldom steers him wrong> — see CREDIT 1
2 to give official or legal power to <took a course that accredited her to teach first aid> — see AUTHORIZE 1
3 to declare enthusiastic approval of <generally accredited as the finest American dramatist of the postwar generation> — see ACCLAIM
4 to give official acceptance of as satisfactory <thus far the board has refused to accredit the school> — see APPROVE

accreditation noun
the granting of power to perform various acts or duties <the only body empowered with the accreditation of medical schools in the state> — see COMMISSION 1

accrete verb
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass <silt accreting at the mouth of the river over time> — see COLLECT 2

accretion noun
1 a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered over a period of time <a thick accretion of ice in a freezer that obviously had not been cleaned for some time> — see ACCUMULATION 1
2 something added (as by growth) <accretions of lime have thickened the cave's stalactites and stalagmites over the centuries> — see INCREASE 1

accretive adjective
produced by a series of additions of identical or similar things <the story of his encounter with the bear was awash with accretive exaggeration, the bear becoming larger with each retelling of the tale> — see CUMULATIVE

accrual noun
something added (as by growth) <had an accrual of $100 through interest on my savings account last year> — see INCREASE 1

accumulate verb
1 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <the number of complaints about that mail order firm is really accumulating> — see INCREASE 2
2 to bring together in one body or place <finally accumulated enough donated books to hold a book sale> — see GATHER 1
3 to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass <clouds accumulating on the western horizon> — see COLLECT 2

accumulating noun
the act or process of becoming greater in number <the accumulating of newspapers in the basement over the years is really getting out of hand> — see MULTIPLICATION

accumulation noun
1 a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered over a period of time <a vast accumulation of evidence about the dangers of smoking>

Synonyms
accretion, assemblage, collection, cumulation, cumulus, gathering, lodgment (or lodgement), pileup

Related Words
agglomerate, assortment, congeries, conglomerate, conglomeration, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jumble, medley, mélange, mishmash, mix, mixture, motley, potpourri; agglomeration, clutter, hash, heap, litter, mass, pile; aggregate, aggregation, sum, totality; backlog, cache, fund, hoard, inventory, kitty, nest egg, reserve, stock, stockpile, store, supply

2 the act or process of becoming greater in number <the accumulation of leaves on the ground is proceeding at a much faster rate than my raking> — see MULTIPLICATION

accumulative adjective
produced by a series of additions of identical or similar things <the accumulative effect of all her worries was to seriously undermine her health> — see CUMULATIVE

accuracy noun
the quality or state of being very accurate <obviously, with brain surgery the accuracy of the incision is incredibly important> — see PRECISION

accurate adjective
1 being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard <an accurate count of the number of people coming to the wedding reception> — see CORRECT 1
2 following an original exactly <an accurate translation of the original story> — see FAITHFUL 2
3 meeting the highest standard of accuracy <an accurate thermometer> <accurate measurements> — see PRECISE 1

accurateness noun
the quality or state of being very accurate <a local weatherman whose popularity seems to rest more on the attractiveness of his personality than on the accurateness of his predictions> — see PRECISION

accursed or accurst adjective
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <the video store is charging another accursed late fee> — see DAMNABLE

accuse verb
to make a claim of wrongdoing against <she was accused of lying on the employment application>

Synonyms
charge, criminate, defame [archaic], impeach, incriminate, indict

Related Words
blame, call (on), castigate, censure, condemn, criticize, damn, denounce, fault, impugn, reproach, reprobate; chide, rebuke, reprove, tax; appeal, arraign, book, cite, summon; prosecute, sue, try; frame, implicate, inculpate, inform (against), name, report; recriminate, retaliate

Near Antonyms
advocate, champion, defend; excuse, forgive, justify, pardon, remit, shrive

Antonyms
absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate

accustom verb
to impart knowledge of a new thing or situation to <the task of accustoming new recruits to shipboard life> — see ACQUAINT 1

accustomed adjective
being in the habit or custom <Josh felt uncomfortably full, as he was not accustomed to eating so much>

Synonyms
given, habituated, used, wont

Related Words
apt, inclined, liable, likely, prone; hardened, inured; experienced, practiced (or practised), seasoned, veteran; addicted, hooked

Near Antonyms
unapt, unlikely; averse, disinclined, opposed; inexperienced, new, unseasoned; disaccustomed, weaned

Antonyms
unaccustomed, unused, unwonted

ace adjective
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <an ace computer programmer> — see PROFICIENT

ace noun
1 a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <took a few lessons with a tennis ace to improve his backhand> — see EXPERT
2 a very small amount <not an ace of truth in what she said> — see PARTICLE 1
3 a very small distance or degree <came within an ace of being chosen for the part> — see HAIR 1

acerb adjective
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <a professor with a rather acerb sense of humor> — see SARCASTIC

acerbic adjective
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <whispered a steady stream of acerbic comments as the lecturer droned on> — see SARCASTIC

acerbity noun
a harsh or sharp quality <the customer made his displeasure known with more acerbity than was necessary> — see EDGE 1

ache noun
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body <a dull pounding ache in his head> — see PAIN 1

ache verb
to feel or cause physical pain <my feet ache from all that walking> — see HURT 1

ache (for) verb
1 to have sympathy for <I ache for those people who have to spend the holidays alone> — see PITY
2 to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <aching for some quiet time to himself> — see DESIRE 1

achievable adjective
capable of being done or carried out <I think that retirement at 55 is an achievable goal> — see POSSIBLE 1

achieve verb
1 to obtain (as a goal) through effort <finally achieved stardom>

Synonyms
attain, bag, chalk up, clock (up) [chiefly British], gain, hit, log, make, notch (up), rack up, ring up, score, win

Related Words
acquire, capture, carry, draw, garner, get, land, make, obtain, procure, realize, secure; amount (to), approach, equal, match, measure up (to), meet, rival, tie, touch; beat, excel, outdo, surpass, top

Near Antonyms
fall short (of), miss; fail (at); lose

2 to carry through (as a process) to completion <finally achieved his purpose, which was to form a first-class boys' choir made up of inner-city kids> — see PERFORM 1

achievement noun
1 a successful result brought about by hard work <this improvement in your time for a 10K road race is quite an achievement!> — see ACCOMPLISHMENT 1
2 the doing of an action <what you're asking is the achievement of a miracle> — see COMMISSION 2
3 the state of being actual or complete <you should be proud of the achievement of your goals> — see FRUITION

Achilles' heel noun
a vulnerable point <the food supply proved to be the nation's Achilles' heel in its defense against terrorist attacks>

Synonyms
back, chink, jugular, soft spot, underbelly

Related Words
downfall, ruin, undoing; hamartia, tragic flaw

aching adjective
1 causing or feeling bodily pain <my poor, aching back> — see PAINFUL 1
2 expressing or suggesting mourning <another one of those aching country songs about a woman who done him wrong> — see MOURNFUL 1

achingly adverb
to a great degree <an achingly funny movie> — see VERY 1

achy adjective
causing or feeling bodily pain <unable to play in tomorrow's football game because of an achy right knee> — see PAINFUL 1

acid adjective
1 causing or characterized by the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids <an acid-tasting medicine> — see SOUR 1
2 having or showing a habitually bad temper <with her acid personality, my aunt could be relied upon to bring some much-needed balance to the holiday gush> — see ILL-TEMPERED
3 marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <a cultural gadfly known for an acid tongue that spares no one> — see SARCASTIC

acidic adjective
1 causing or characterized by the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids <the acidic flavor of lemon goes nicely with broiled fish> — see SOUR 1
2 marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <her often acidic reviews have ruffled more than a few toques in the restaurant kitchens of New York> — see SARCASTIC

acidity noun
1 a harsh or sharp quality <detected a certain acidity in the way he responded> — see EDGE 1
2 biting sharpness of feeling or expression <the acidity of their relationship was well known to their mutual acquaintances> — see ACRIMONY 1

acidness noun
1 a harsh or sharp quality <there's an irritating acidness to the writer's comments on just about everything> — see EDGE 1
2 biting sharpness of feeling or expression <the acidness in his remarks hurt her to the core> — see ACRIMONY 1

acidulous adjective
1 causing or characterized by the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids <a slightly acidulous drink that is far more refreshing than the overly sweet iced tea that is also available> — see SOUR 1
2 marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <a gently acidulous writing style that never becomes annoying> — see SARCASTIC

acknowledge verb
to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly <finally had to acknowledge that she'd outgrown her favorite jacket> — see ADMIT 1

acknowledgment or acknowledgement noun
1 a formal recognition of an achievement or praiseworthy deed <an acknowledgment to the food committee for the delicious refreshments> — see COMMENDATION 1
2 an open declaration of something (as a fault or the commission of an offense) about oneself <a surprising acknowledgment that he had been faking his injury in order to scam the insurance company> — see CONFESSION

acme noun
1 the highest part or point <the acme of their basketball season was their hard-won victory over last year's state champs> — see HEIGHT 1
2 the most perfect type or example <a movie that has come to be regarded as the acme of the Hollywood musical> — see QUINTESSENCE 1

acolyte noun
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another <a highly influential economist whose acolytes can be found at many major universities> — see FOLLOWER 1

acoustic or acoustical adjective
of, relating to, or experienced through the sense of hearing <is a bird's acoustic organ similar to a human's?> — see AUDITORY

acquaint verb
1 to impart knowledge of a new thing or situation to <Mr. King spent the first week of the summer internship acquainting everyone with the new computers>

Synonyms
accustom, familiarize, initiate, introduce, orient, orientate

Related Words
habituate, wont; apprise, brief, clue (in), fill in, inform; educate, enlighten, ground, instruct, school, train, verse; expose, present, subject; advise, tell, tip (off), warn, wise (up); reacquaint

2 to give information to <his sailor friend acquainted him with the latest navigational aids for weekend yachtsmen> — see ENLIGHTEN 1
3 to make (one person) known (to another) socially <hoping that someone would acquaint them with the new neighbors> — see INTRODUCE 1

acquaintance noun
knowledge gained by personal experience <Tiffany's acquaintance with cows is limited to a long-ago visit to a petting zoo when she was three>

Synonyms
cognizance, familiarity

Related Words
association, experience, exposure, intimacy, involvement; initiation, introduction; awareness, comprehension, conception, inkling, notion, understanding; education, enlightenment, grounding, information, instruction, learning, schooling, training

Near Antonyms
callowness, greenness, ignorance, inexperience

Antonyms
unfamiliarity

acquainted adjective
having information especially as a result of study or experience <would like to see students become acquainted with all the services that the university has to offer> — see FAMILIAR 2

acquiesce verb
to give or express one's approval (as to a proposal) <apparently the contractor expected me to acquiesce to my own fleecing> — see ACCEDE

acquiescence noun
a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others <good manners demanded our cheerful acquiescence to our host's plans for dinner> — see COMPLIANCE 1

acquiescent adjective
receiving or enduring without offering resistance <was not as acquiescent about sharing her room as her parents seemed to think she should be> — see PASSIVE

acquirable adjective
possible to get <is a decent bagel acquirable in this town?> — see AVAILABLE 1

acquire verb
1 to come to have gradually <from years of working two jobs, he has acquired the ability to get by on only a few hours of sleep a day> — see DEVELOP 2
2 to receive as return for effort <acquired a reputation for always arriving at his friends' house just as they were sitting down to dinner> — see EARN 1

acquirement noun
a successful result brought about by hard work <the contention that the candidate's acquirements in the business world would stand him in good stead in the political arena> — see ACCOMPLISHMENT 1

acquisition noun
something added to an existing supply <every vacation trip inevitably resulted in new acquisitions to our array of bric-a-brac> — see ACCESSION 1

acquisitive adjective
having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions <acquisitive developers are trying to tear down the historic home and build a shopping mall> — see GREEDY 1

acquisitiveness noun
an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions <the queen's acquisitiveness would not be satisfied until she owned the largest diamond in the world> — see GREED

acquit verb
1 to free from a charge of wrongdoing <acquitted of the robbery charge after proving he was nowhere near the scene of the crime> — see EXCULPATE
2 to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way <the king promised handsome rewards to all who acquitted themselves well in the battle> — see BEHAVE

acquittal noun
a setting free from a charge of wrongdoing <confidently predicted that his client's trial would result in a full acquittal>

Synonyms
clearing, exculpation, exoneration, vindication

Related Words
absolution, condonation, forgiveness, pardon, remission; atonement, expiation; compurgation; whitewash

Near Antonyms
accusation, arraignment, impeachment, incrimination, indictment; prosecution; castigation, censure, condemnation, denunciation

Antonyms
conviction

acrid adjective
1 having or showing deep-seated resentment <there have been acrid relations between the two families ever since they fought over that strip of land> — see BITTER 1
2 marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <Phillipa's acrid comments about the new employee's clothes were met by laughter from everyone at the lunch table> — see SARCASTIC

acridity noun
1 a harsh or sharp quality <the acridity of the stand-up's comic rant was a little unexpected> — see EDGE 1
2 biting sharpness of feeling or expression <the acridity of the supervisor's reprimands was detrimental to morale in the department> — see ACRIMONY 1

acridness noun
1 a harsh or sharp quality <an acridness in her voice when she said she hoped that we would get what we deserve> — see EDGE 1
2 biting sharpness of feeling or expression <over the years the acridness he felt toward his stepfather softened somewhat> — see ACRIMONY 1

acrimonious adjective
having or showing deep-seated resentment <an acrimonious parting between the two former friends> — see BITTER 1

acrimoniousness noun
a harsh or sharp quality <acrimoniousness lay beneath his words, which on their face seemed harmless enough> — see EDGE 1

acrimony noun
1 biting sharpness of feeling or expression <she responded with such acrimony that he never brought the subject up again>

Synonyms
acidity, acidness, acridity, acridness, asperity, bile, bitterness, cattiness, corrosiveness, mordancy, tartness, virulence, virulency, vitriol

Related Words
gruffness, harshness, hostility, relentlessness, severity, sternness, vehemence; coldness, crossness, discourteousness, iciness, impoliteness, incivility, nastiness, rudeness, sourness, surliness, ungraciousness; anger, animosity, gall, jaundice, malevolence, malice, rancor, scorn, spite, spleen, venom, vindictiveness; jealousy, pique, resentment, sour grapes

Near Antonyms
civility, cordiality, courtesy, diplomacy, geniality, graciousness, kindness, politeness, tactfulness; compassion, softness, sweetness, sympathy, tenderness, warmth; oiliness, smoothness, suaveness, suavity, unctuousness, urbanity

2 a harsh or sharp quality <the acrimony of his parting words shocked everyone in the office> — see EDGE 1

acrobat noun
1 one who performs feats of physical strength, balance, and agility on special apparatus <a child who is a natural acrobat with a superb sense of balance>

Synonyms
gymnast, turner

Related Words
exerciser, tumbler; contortionist, equilibrist; aerialist, ropedancer, ropewalker, trampoliner, trampolinist, trapeze artist, trapezist

2 a person who dexterously and expediently changes or adopts opinions <a political acrobat whose opinion on any issue is whatever will get the most votes>

Synonyms
chameleon, chancer [British], opportunist, temporizer, timeserver, trimmer, weathercock

Related Words
egoist, egotist, self-seeker; conniver, machinator, plotter, schemer

acrobatics plural noun
a spectacular display or performance of artistic or technical skill <an operatic role that gives the coloratura the opportunity to indulge in a goodly amount of vocal acrobatics>

Synonyms
fireworks, pyrotechnics

Related Words
extravaganza, pageant, spectacle

across adverb
from one side to the other of an intervening space <will you go across to the Bentley's and see if their phone is working?> — see OVER 1

across preposition
1 to the opposite side of <we rowed across the lake and visited the other couple for the evening>

Synonyms
athwart, over, through

Related Words
around, round; beyond, past

2 in random positions within the boundaries of <sheep scattered across the field> — see AROUND 2

across–the–board adjective
belonging or relating to the whole <an across-the-board reduction in the state's budget because of declining revenues> — see GENERAL 1

act noun
1 a performance regularly presented by an individual or group <in his nightclub act he impersonates a veritable galaxy of movie stars>

Synonyms
bit, number, routine, shtick (also schtick or shtik), turn

Related Words
signature

2 a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive <was putting on an act when she said she didn't mind being left out of the outing> — see MASQUERADE
3 a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature <the Americans with Disabilities Act requires public buildings to have wheelchair access> — see LAW 1
4 something done by someone <it's acts such as this—lying about having to work late—that make me feel like I can't trust you> — see ACTION 1

act verb
1 to present a portrayal or performance of <a local student acted the part of Tiny Tim in our theater company's production of A Christmas Carol>

Synonyms
do, impersonate, interpret, perform, play, portray

Related Words
depict, dramatize, render, represent; act out, enact, pantomime, playact, role-play, take on; overact, overplay, underplay; ape, clown, ham, imitate, masquerade, mime, mimic, pose (as); star (in); coact, costar

2 to produce a desired effect <the painkiller acted surprisingly quickly>

Synonyms
operate, perform, take, work

Related Words
behave, react, respond; affect, influence, sway; pan out, redound, result

Phrases
take effect, take hold

Near Antonyms
backfire; fizzle

3 to give the impression of being <always acting helpless, just to get attention> — see SEEM
4 to have a certain purpose <the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects> — see FUNCTION
5 to present a false appearance of <if you act confidence long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it> — see FEIGN
6 to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior <someone who is willing to act the helpless little thing when she wants attention> — see IMPERSONATE 1

act (toward) verb
to behave toward in a stated way <I would never act toward my boss that way> — see TREAT 1

acting adjective
serving in a position for the time being <will serve as acting president of the university until a permanent replacement can be found>

Synonyms
ad interim, interim, provisional, provisionary, provisory, temporary

Related Words
alternate, backup, jackleg, make-do, makeshift, proxy, stopgap, substitute

Antonyms
long-term, permanent

action noun
1 something done by someone <judge people by their actions, not by their words>

Synonyms
act, deed, doing, exploit, feat, thing

Related Words
accomplishment, achievement, attainment; adventure, experience; emprise, enterprise, initiative, undertaking; handiwork, performance, work; stunt, trick; activity, dealing; maneuver, measure, move, operation, procedure, proceeding, step, tactic; coaction

2 the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work <the mystery writer displays a sure hand in managing the novel's complicated but never incoherent action>

Synonyms
plot, story, story line

Related Words
subplot; arc, development; design, outline, plan, scheme; argument, mythos, subject, theme

3 a court case for enforcing a right or claim <filed an action in county court to recover his lawn mower from his neighbor, who claims he “gave” it to her> — see LAWSUIT
4 active fighting during the course of a war <the battalion saw action soon after it arrived in France> — see COMBAT 1
5 actions plural the way or manner in which one conducts oneself <observing the actions of mice in various controlled settings helps scientists understand the effects of certain drugs> — see BEHAVIOR
6 readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity <the wilderness was tamed by men and women of action> — see ENTERPRISE 2

actionable adjective
capable of being put to use or account <the authorities had no actionable intelligence with which to foil the terrorist plot> — see PRACTICAL 1

action figure noun
a small figure often of a human being used especially as a child's plaything <a collection of action figures of his favorite superheroes> — see DOLL 1

activate verb
to cause to function <the thermostat is set to activate the heating system only when the temperature drops below 65 degrees>

Synonyms
actuate, crank (up), drive, move, run, set off, spark, start, touch off, trigger, turn on

Related Words
kick over, turn over; charge, electrify, energize, fire, fuel, generate, power, push; discharge, launch, release, switch, trip; reactivate, recharge; arouse, excite, jump-start, kick-start, stimulate, vitalize; ignite, incite, instigate, provoke, quicken, stir up; accelerate, catalyze, speed (up), step up

Near Antonyms
arrest, brake, check, cut off, draw up, halt, jam, stall, stick, stop; decelerate, repress, slow, stunt, suppress

Antonyms
cut, cut out, deactivate, kill, shut off, turn off

active adjective
1 being in effective operation <the abandoned factory had not been active for years>

Synonyms
alive, functional, functioning, going, live, living, on, operating, operational, operative, running, working

Related Words
effective, effectual; employable, operable, usable (also useable), viable, workable; performing, producing, productive, serving, useful, yielding; astir, bustling, busy, dynamic, flourishing, humming, roaring, thriving

Phrases
in commission (or into commision), in force, in gear, on line

Near Antonyms
deactivated, decommissioned; ineffective, ineffectual, useless; inoperable, unusable, unworkable; arrested, asleep, dormant, fallow, idle, inert, latent, lifeless, nonproductive, quiescent, sleepy, stagnating, unproductive, vegetating

Antonyms
broken, dead, inactive, inoperative, kaput (also kaputt), nonactivated, nonfunctional, nonfunctioning, nonoperating, nonoperational, nonoperative

2 having much high-spirited energy and movement <the fish are active today, but we still haven't caught anything> — see LIVELY 1
3 involved in often constant activity <all morning the crowd at the coffeehouse kept Marion and her helper pretty active> — see BUSY 1

actively adverb
in a manner involving great or constant activity <he's been working actively toward the goal of opening his own restaurant> — see BUSILY

activity noun
energetic movement of the body for the sake of physical fitness <had to restrict his activity after the surgery, which meant letting the weeds take over the garden> — see EXERCISE 1

actor noun
1 one who acts professionally (as in a play, movie, or television show) <my sister went to drama school to become an actor>

Synonyms
impersonator, mummer, player, thesp, thespian, trouper

Related Words
barnstormer, enactor, entertainer, performer; actress, starlet; lead, leading lady, leading man, star; coactor, costar; extra, spear-carrier, supernumerary, walk-on; monologuist (or monologist); prima donna, scene-stealer; double, understudy; comedian, farceur; tragedian, tragedienne; ape, aper, ham, imitator, impressionist, masker, masquerader, mime, mimic, pantomime, pantomimist, personator, poser; buffoon, clown, harlequin, stooge, zany

Antonyms
nonactor

2 one who takes part in something <Benjamin Franklin was a major actor in many of the events leading up to the founding of our nation> — see PARTICIPANT

act out verb
to behave badly <because his parents spent so much time with his chronically ill sister, the boy resorted to acting out in order to get attention> — see MISBEHAVE

actual adjective
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility <the actual outcome of the election was quite different from what everybody had expected>

Synonyms
concrete, de facto, effective, existent, factual, genuine, real, sure-enough, true, very

Related Words
attested, authenticated, confirmed, demonstrated, established, proven, substantiated, valid, validated, verified; incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, inescapable, irrefutable, undeniable, unquestionable; believable, convincing, literal, realistic, unmistakable, verifiable; authentic, bona fide, real-life, real-world; absolute, certain, final, hard, objective, palpable, positive, substantial, tangible; authoritative, certifiable, certified

Near Antonyms
alleged, assumed, reputed, supposed; conceived, envisaged, envisioned, imagined, pictured, visualized; chimerical (also chimeric), fabled, fanciful, fictional, fictitious, illusory, legendary; fabricated, fake, imaginary, invented, made-up, make-believe, pretend, romantic; abstract, symbolic, unreal; virtual

Antonyms
conjectural, hypothetical, ideal, inexistent, nonexistent, platonic, possible, potential, suppositional, theoretical (also theoretic)

actuality noun
1 the fact of being or of being real <the actuality of the Abominable Snowman is not taken seriously by scientists> — see EXISTENCE
2 the quality of being actual <the actuality of equal opportunity depends on more than just having laws that supposedly ensure it> — see FACT 1
3 the state of being actual or complete <the actuality of a manned flight to the moon would never have been believed a hundred years ago> — see FRUITION
4 something that actually exists <these estimated tax revenues, from casinos that have yet to be built, are being treated as actualities> — see FACT 2

actualization noun
the state of being actual or complete <an operatic performance that was the long-promised actualization of her musical potential> — see FRUITION

actualize verb
to come into existence <several years passed before any profits from the enterprise actualized> — see BEGIN 2

actually adverb
1 to tell the truth <actually, I'd rather spend the evening at home>

Synonyms
admittedly, forsooth, frankly, honestly, indeed, really, truly, truthfully, verily

Related Words
absolutely, certainly, indisputably, indubitably, positively, realistically, undoubtedly, unquestionably, veritably

Phrases
as a matter of fact, in actuality, in fact, in point of fact, in reality, in truth, to be sure

2 in actual fact <I call her Aunt Emily, but she is actually my cousin, not my aunt> — see VERY 2

actuate verb
1 to cause to function <a light actuated by a motion detector> <the alarm system actuates the door locks> — see ACTIVATE
2 to set or keep in motion <hearing depends on sound vibrations that actuate the complex mechanism of that sensory organ, the ear> — see MOVE 2

act up verb
1 to behave badly <the two-year-old was acting up in church so much that her dad had to take her outside> — see MISBEHAVE
2 to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior <you should have seen the boys acting up when they put on their aprons> — see CUT UP

acuity noun
the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences <a worrisome deterioration in the acuity of his hearing over the years>

Synonyms
acuteness, delicacy, keenness, perceptiveness, perceptivity, sensitiveness, sensitivity, sharpness

Related Words
hyperacuity, hypersensitiveness, hypersensitivity, oversensitiveness, oversensitivity, supersensitivity; accuracy, exactitude, exactness, fineness

acumen noun
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters <had the business acumen to know that the market for sportswear was becoming oversaturated>

Synonyms
astuteness, caginess (also cageyness), canniness, clear-sightedness, foxiness, hardheadedness, intelligence, keenness, knowingness, sharpness, shrewdness, wit

Related Words
discernment, insight, perception, perceptiveness, perceptivity, percipience, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sapience, wisdom; artfulness, artifice, craft, craftiness, cunning, deviousness, guile, slickness, slyness, sneakiness, subtleness, subtlety, wiliness; brain(s), gray matter, intellect, reason, sense

Near Antonyms
artlessness, greenness, guilelessness, ingenuousness, innocence, naiveness, naïveté (also naivete or naiveté), simplemindedness, simpleness, simplicity, unsophistication, unworldliness; brainlessness, density, doltishness, dopiness, dumbness, fatuity, foolishness, half-wittedness, mindlessness, oafishness, obtuseness, senselessness, slowness, stupidity, stupidness, vacuity, witlessness

acute adjective
1 able to sense slight impressions or differences <dogs, with their acute sense of smell, are used for finding toxic substances undetectable by humans>

Synonyms
delicate, fine, keen, perceptive, quick, sensitive, sharp

Related Words
accurate, clear, discerning, good, piercing, precise, receptive, sensible, subtle; hair-trigger, hyperacute, hypersensitive, oversensitive, supersensitive

Near Antonyms
bad, deadened, dimmed, dull, dulled, fading; dead, imperceptive, insensible, insensitive, numb; imprecise, inaccurate

2 needing immediate attention <famine caused by an acute shortage of grain>

Synonyms
burning, clamant, compelling, critical, crying, dire, emergent, exigent, imperative, imperious, importunate, instant, necessitous, pressing, urgent

Related Words
demanding, extreme, immediate, insistent, intense, overriding; crucial, desperate, grave, life-and-death (also life-or-death), serious, severe, vital; dangerous, explosive, hazardous, perilous, precarious, unstable

Near Antonyms
incidental, low-pressure, minor, negligible, trivial, unimportant; nonthreatening, safe, stable

Antonyms
noncritical, nonurgent

3 extreme in degree, power, or effect <experiencing acute distress over the misunderstanding with her best friend> — see INTENSE 1

acuteness noun
1 a harsh or sharp quality <judging by the acuteness in his tone when he congratulated me, I think he was actually quite resentful that I won> — see EDGE 1
2 the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences <the acuteness of the bird's eyesight is amazing> — see ACUITY

ad noun
a published statement informing the public of a matter of general interest <did you see the ads in the paper for cheap round-trip flights to Florida?> — see ANNOUNCEMENT

adage noun
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience <that old adage, “the early bird gets the worm”> — see SAYING

adamant adjective
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <remained adamant about getting the actor's autograph even after he had disappeared backstage> — see OBSTINATE

adamantine adjective
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <the adamantine opposition of his parents to his marriage to a girl from a poor family> — see OBSTINATE

adapt verb
to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation <it always takes freshmen a little while to adapt themselves to high school>

Synonyms
acclimate, acclimatize, accommodate, adjust, condition, conform, doctor, edit, fashion, fit, put, shape, suit, tailor

Related Words
readapt, readjust; customize, gear, match, model, pattern; attune, correct, harmonize, square, tune; establish, root, settle; acquaint, familiarize, orient, orientate; equip, prepare, prime, rehearse; harden, inure, season, toughen; alter, convert, make over, modify, recast, reclaim, recycle, redesign, redevelop, redo, reengineer, refashion, refigure, refit, refocus, reinvent, rejigger, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, transform; accustom, condition, habilitate, habituate, naturalize; ready, season; bend; fiddle (with), fine-tune, phase, register, regulate, rig

Near Antonyms
misadjust

adaptable adjective
1 able to do many different kinds of things <an activities director who's adaptable to any kind of situation> — see VERSATILE
2 capable of being readily changed <the caterer's menu is adaptable to specific dietary needs, such as vegan, kosher, or low-fat> — see FLEXIBLE 1

adaptation noun
the act or process of changing something to fit a new use or situation <a careful adaptation of the book for the silver screen could take several years>

Synonyms
acclimation, acclimatization, accommodation, adaption, adjustment, conformation

Related Words
readaptation, readjustment; attunement, correction, harmonization; alteration, conversion, makeover, modification, refit, revision, transformation

Near Antonyms
maladaptation

adapter also adaptor noun
something that is not necessary in itself but adds to the convenience or performance of the main piece of equipment <adapters for the food mixer include a meat grinder and an ice cream maker> — see ACCESSORY 1

adaption noun
the act or process of changing something to fit a new use or situation <the store's slow adaption to shoppers' changing tastes spelled its doom> — see ADAPTATION

add verb
1 to join (something) to a mass, quantity, or number so as to bring about an overall increase <the band recently added a saxophonist and a keyboard player to its ranks> <add another cup of flour to the mixture>

Synonyms
adjoin, annex, append, subjoin, tack (on)

Related Words
affix, attach, fasten, fix, graft, hitch, tag, tie; infuse, inject, insert, interfuse, introduce; aggrandize, amplify, augment, beef (up), boost, compound, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, increase, multiply, raise, swell up; elongate, lengthen, prolong, protract; enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify; complement, supplement, supply; enforce, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; maximize

Near Antonyms
detach, disconnect, disjoin, separate, unfasten; amputate, cut, excise, lop (off), sever; contract, decrease, diminish, lessen, lower, reduce; abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten; compress, condense, constrict, cut back, retrench

Antonyms
abate, bate, deduct, knock off, remove, subtract, take off

2 to combine (numbers) into a single sum <when she added all the phone charges herself, she discovered an error in her bill>

Synonyms
cast (up), foot (up), sum, summate, tot (up), total, totalize, tote (up)

Related Words
calculate, cipher, compute, figure, reckon, table, tabulate, tally, work out; divide, multiply, subtract; count, enumerate, number, tell; recompute, refigure

Phrases
put together

add (to) verb
to make greater in size, amount, or number <the need to be back home before 5:00 p.m. adds to the difficulty of arranging the trip> — see INCREASE 1

added adjective
resulting in an increase in amount or number <ever since his mother got sick, he's had the added responsibility of getting his little sister ready for school> — see ADDITIONAL

addendum noun
1 a part added at the end of a book or periodical <there's an addendum from the author to explain certain stylistic choices that she made>

Synonyms
afterword, appendix, codicil, excursus, supplement

Related Words
coda, epilogue (also epilog), postlude; conclusion, ending, finale; accompaniment, addition, complement, postscript; follow-up, sequel; documentation; allonge, rider

Antonyms
foreword, introduction, preface, prologue (also prolog)

2 something added (as by growth) <with each new addendum the list of demands simply got more absurd> — see INCREASE 1

addict noun
1 a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally <an inspiring story about addicts who seek help and manage to kick their habit> — see DOPER
2 a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <science-fiction addicts who eagerly await each new installment in the series> — see FAN

addicting adjective
causing or relating to a physiological need for certain drugs <cocaine is highly addicting> — see ADDICTIVE

addiction noun
a physiological need for certain drugs <an addiction to heroin>

Synonyms
dependence (also dependance), habit, jones [slang], monkey

Related Words
alcoholism, heroinism, morphinism; habituation, tolerance

addictive adjective
causing or relating to a physiological need for certain drugs <an addictive painkiller>

Synonyms
addicting, habit-forming

Related Words
hard; narcotic

Near Antonyms
soft

Antonyms
nonaddictive

addition noun
1 a smaller structure added to a main building <a new addition to the library providing space for an expanded video collection> — see ANNEX
2 something added (as by growth) <the cache of old stamps I found in the discarded desk was a huge addition to my stamp collection> — see INCREASE 1
3 the act or process of becoming greater in number <how do you account for the addition of more paint stains on your shirt after you put on a smock?> — see MULTIPLICATION

additional adjective
resulting in an increase in amount or number <there turned out to be additional reasons for her unauthorized absence>

Synonyms
added, another, else, farther, fresh, further, more, other

Related Words
accessory, adjunct, collateral, extraneous, peripheral, side, supplemental, supplementary; new; excess, extra, plus, spare, supernumerary, supervenient, surplus; complementary, contributory

Near Antonyms
fewer, less

additionally adverb
in addition to what has been said <the diet recommends fruit juice for breakfast and, additionally, fresh fruit once a day> — see MORE 1

additive adjective
produced by a series of additions of identical or similar things <certain drugs have additive effects when taken in conjunction with each other that one doesn't see when any one is used alone> — see CUMULATIVE

addle adjective
suffering from mental confusion <my brain grew more and more addle as I made my way through the tax instructions> — see DIZZY 2

addle verb
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <after slipping on the ice, Bethany was so addled that she left her groceries where they'd fallen> — see CONFUSE 1

addled adjective
1 having undergone organic breakdown <addled eggs found on a long abandoned hen's nest> — see ROTTEN 1
2 suffering from mental confusion <one of the more addled audience members confused Ghana with Guyana> — see DIZZY 2

addlepated adjective
suffering from mental confusion <some addlepated clerk had confused our hotel reservation with that of another, similarly named, party> — see DIZZY 2

add–on noun
something that is not necessary in itself but adds to the convenience or performance of the main piece of equipment <a blow-dryer that comes with a couple of add-ons for people who are serious about styling their hair> — see ACCESSORY 1

address noun
1 a usually formal discourse delivered to an audience <George Washington's Farewell Address> <a papal address> — see SPEECH 1
2 the way or manner in which one conducts oneself <a gentleman with all of poise and social address that one would expect of someone coming from old money> — see BEHAVIOR

address verb
1 to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <the problem will only get worse if you don't address it now> — see HANDLE 1
2 to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention <please address yourself to what I'm saying and not to the television> — see APPLY 2
3 to transmit information or requests to <you may address the manager about your problems tomorrow> — see CONTACT

adduce verb
to give as an example <in support of a 12-month school year, the committee adduced data from other school districts> — see QUOTE 1

add up (to) verb
1 to be the same in meaning or effect <whether we take the 4:00 train or the 4:15 bus, it adds up to the same thing: they both get us back too late> — see AMOUNT TO 2
2 to have a total of <even if we pool all our money, it won't add up to enough to rent a beach house for a week> — see AMOUNT TO 1

adept adjective
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <he's an adept pitcher, and the team is lucky to have him> — see PROFICIENT

adept noun
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <even by the standards of Washington, he's an adept at political intrigue and power politics> — see EXPERT

adeptly adverb
in a skillful or expert manner <adeptly sank the ball in the basket with a hook shot> — see WELL 3

adeptness noun
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something <his adeptness at thinking on his feet makes him a formidable debater> — see SKILL 1

adequacy noun
the quality or state of meeting one's needs adequately <the fire department sent someone to determine the adequacy of the building's evacuation plan> — see SUFFICIENCY

adequate adjective
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards <this old computer is probably adequate if you just want to type a term paper>

Synonyms
acceptable, all right, decent, fairish, fine, good, OK (or okay), passable, respectable, satisfactory, serviceable, tolerable

Related Words
agreeable, bearable, endurable, sufferable; average, fair, indifferent, mediocre, middling, minimal; common, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine (or run-of-mine), second-rate, so-so; standard, unexceptional; appropriate, correct, due, fitting, meet, proper, right, seemly, suitable, useful, worthy; gratifying, satisfying

Phrases
up to snuff

Near Antonyms
disagreeable, disreputable, improper, indecent, objectionable, unfit, unsuitable, unworthy, useless, wrong; bad, cheap, defective, faulty, imperfect, incomplete, lamentable, pitiful, shoddy; dissatisfying; insufficient, meager (or meagre), mean, miserly, niggardly, poor, scanty, shabby, short, skimpy, spare, stingy; insufferable, intolerable, unbearable, unendurable; atrocious, execrable, miserable, vile, wretched; exceptional, exquisite, extreme, fancy, first-class, high-grade, matchless, maximized, maximum, optimal, optimum, peerless, preeminent, premium, special, supreme, unmatched, unparalleled; A1, bang-up, banner, boss [slang], capital, classic, crackerjack, dandy, divine, fabulous, fine, first-rate, grand, great, groovy, heavenly, jim-dandy, keen, marvelous (or marvellous), mean, neat, nifty, noble, par excellence, prime, sensational, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, unsurpassed, wonderful

Antonyms
deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, wanting

adequately adverb
1 in a satisfactory way <we weren't completely bowled over by the performance, but the band certainly played more than adequately> — see WELL 1
2 in or to a degree or quantity that meets one's requirements or satisfaction <adequately provided with candles and freshwater in case of a power outage> — see ENOUGH 1

adhere verb
to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion <everyone started calling her “Cookie” when she was little and the name adhered> — see STICK 1

adhere (to) verb
1 to give steadfast support to <our coach adheres to the belief that we can win this game if we just have a positive attitude>

Synonyms
cling (to), hew (to), keep (to), stand by, stick (to or with)

Related Words
cleave (to); advocate, back, champion, confirm, defend, endorse (also indorse), espouse, support, uphold; accept, adopt, cherish, cultivate, embrace, follow, foster, heed; backstop, bolster, boost, buttress, enforce, reinforce (also reenforce)

Phrases
abide by, hold to, live up to

Near Antonyms
abandon, abnegate, desert, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender; abjure, recall, recant, reconsider, renege, renounce, retract, revoke, take back, unsay, withdraw; controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute; contradict, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, gainsay, negate, negative, repudiate; back down, back off, backtrack

Antonyms
defect (from)

2 to act according to the commands of <adhere to the terms of the deceased's will> — see OBEY

adherence noun
1 a physical sticking to as if by glue <you'd think these refrigerator magnets would have better adherence—they fall off every time I open the door> — see ADHESION 1
2 the following of a custom, rule, or law <adherence to convention requires that the couple send out formal wedding invitations> — see OBSERVANCE 1

adherent adjective
tending to adhere to objects upon contact <the bandage is made from a mildly adherent fiber> — see STICKY 1

adherent noun
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another <the Flat Earth Society surely doesn't have many adherents> — see FOLLOWER 1

adhesion noun
1 a physical sticking to as if by glue <discourages the use of photo albums that keep the pictures in place by adhesion to the pages>

Synonyms
adherence, bonding, cling

Related Words
agglutination, clumping, cohesion; adhesiveness, attachment, cohesiveness, tenacity; cementing, gluing (also glueing)

Antonyms
unsticking

2 adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <she has always shown steadfast adhesion to psychiatry's code of ethics> — see FIDELITY

adhesive adjective
tending to adhere to objects upon contact <walked barefoot through adhesive, clayey mud> — see STICKY 1

adhesive noun
a substance used to stick things together <prefers postage stamps coated with adhesive so that she doesn't have to do any licking> — see GLUE

ad hoc adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <upon learning that it was her birthday, we had an ad hoc celebration right there in the restaurant> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

adieu noun
an expression of good wishes at parting <we bid our adieus and were off> — see GOOD-BYE

ad interim adjective
1 intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time <will serve as the ad interim CEO until the merger of the two corporations is complete> — see TEMPORARY 1
2 serving in a position for the time being <an ad interim government until the new constitution goes into effect> — see ACTING

adipose adjective
containing animal fat especially in unusual amounts <seals have a thick layer of adipose tissue, which acts as insulation against the cold and contributes to buoyancy as well> — see FATTY

adiposity noun
the condition of having an excess of body fat <beneath that adiposity of flesh lay a nobility of spirit that only the wisest could discern> — see CORPULENCE

adjacency noun
the state or condition of being near <environmentalists are concerned about the proposed shopping plaza's adjacency to the river> — see PROXIMITY

adjacent adjective
having a border in common <their house is adjacent to a wooded park>

Synonyms
abutting, adjoining, bordering, conterminous, contiguous, flanking, flush, fringing, joining, juxtaposed, neighboring, skirting, touching, verging

Related Words
approximate, close, closest, immediate, near, nearby, nearest, next-door, nigh; attached, communicating, connected, connecting, interconnecting, joined, linked, united; bounding, circumjacent, embracing, encircling, enclosing (also inclosing), fencing, rimming, surrounding; marginal, peripheral, tangent, tangential; ambient, encompassing

Near Antonyms
apart, detached, disconnected, discrete, free-standing, isolate, isolated, removed, separate, single, unattached, unconnected, unlinked; away, distant, far, faraway, far-off, farthest, remote; discontinuous, noncontinuous; broken up, disjoined, dissevered, dissociated, disunited, divided, divorced, parted, ramified, resolved, severed, split, sundered, uncoupled, unyoked

Antonyms
nonadjacent, noncontiguous

adjoin verb
1 to be adjacent to <the bedroom of their apartment adjoins their neighbor's living room>

Synonyms
abut, border (on), butt (on or against), flank, fringe, join, march (with), neighbor, skirt, touch, verge (on)

Related Words
attach (to), communicate (with), connect (with), link (with); bound, embrace, encircle, enclose (also inclose), fence, line, margin, rim, surround; contact, converge, meet

2 to join (something) to a mass, quantity, or number so as to bring about an overall increase <after the dictionary writer's talk, the principal adjoined a few remarks about her own love of words> — see ADD 1

adjoining adjective
having a border in common <the cows had broken through the fence and were grazing in the adjoining field> — see ADJACENT

adjourn verb
to bring to a formal close for a period of time <the meeting was adjourned by the chairperson until further notice>

Synonyms
prorogate, prorogue, recess, suspend

Related Words
break off, disband, discontinue, disperse, intermit, interrupt; defer, hold off, postpone, put off, reserve, shelve, table; dissolve, end, halt, stop, terminate; break up, close, conclude, wind up, wrap up; abort, call, call off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke; abrogate, annul, invalidate, negate, nullify, quash, void

Near Antonyms
inaugurate, launch, open; carry on, continue, draw out, extend, proceed, prolong; renew, reopen, resume; assemble, call, convene, convoke, muster, rally, summon

adjudge verb
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) <his version of what had happened was generally adjudged to be completely fictitious> — see JUDGE 1

adjudicate verb
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) <when we asked the salesclerk to adjudicate our disagreement, she agreed with me that the white shoes looked better> — see JUDGE 1

adjudicator noun
1 a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy <since they seemed to be in a hopeless stalemate, both labor and management agreed to use an independent adjudicator to decide the terms of the contract> — see JUDGE 1
2 a public official having authority to decide questions of law <the appellate court refused to hear the case, thus allowing the judgment of previous adjudicators to stand> — see JUDGE 2

adjunct noun
1 a person who helps a more skilled person <serving as an adjunct to the congressional delegation on its fact-finding mission> — see HELPER
2 something that is not necessary in itself but adds to the convenience or performance of the main piece of equipment <you can spend a lot on camera accessories, but this nifty little battery recharger is the one adjunct that will pay for itself> — see ACCESSORY 1

adjuration noun
1 an earnest request <though he was loath to take over the family business, he couldn't refuse his ailing father's adjuration> — see PLEA 1
2 an opinion suggesting a wise or proper course of action <an adjuration to check the facts carefully before publishing the exposé on corruption in the statehouse> — see ADVICE 1

adjure verb
1 to give advice to <adjured them not to break the drug laws of any of the countries they would be visiting> — see ADVISE 1
2 to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority <by all that is holy, I adjure you to tell us the whereabouts of the missing child> — see COMMAND 1

adjust verb
to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation <after going on the night shift, he found it difficult to adjust his sleep schedule> <adjust the amount of sugar in the recipe to your taste> — see ADAPT

adjustable adjective
capable of being readily changed <quantities that are easily adjustable if you're cooking for a larger crowd> — see FLEXIBLE 1

adjustment noun
the act or process of changing something to fit a new use or situation <the publishing industry's necessary adjustment to the age of electronic media> — see ADAPTATION

adjutant noun
a person who helps a more skilled person <the senator's adjutants and aides always arrive ahead of him on the campaign trail> — see HELPER

ad–lib adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <not bad for an ad-lib comedy routine> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

ad–lib noun
something that is performed, made, or done without preparation <you would never suspect that that stirring speech was an ad-lib> — see IMPROVISATION

ad–lib verb
to perform, make, or do without preparation <had to ad-lib constructing a piñata because she'd never actually seen it being done> — see IMPROVISE

admeasurement noun
the act or process of giving out something to each member of a group <the admeasurement of the company's profits among its employees is based strictly upon seniority> — see DISTRIBUTION 1

administer verb
1 to give out (something) to appropriate individuals <the principal administers discipline fairly when students break the rules>

Synonyms
allocate, apportion, deal (out), dispense, distribute, dole out, hand out, mete (out), parcel (out), portion, prorate

Related Words
admeasure, allot, allow, appropriate, assign, dish out, divide, divvy (up), dollop (out), lot, measure (out), part, proportion, ration, redistribute, set, share (out), split; bestow, disburse, furnish, issue, provide, share, supply; circulate, disperse, disseminate, scatter, spread; chip in, contribute, donate, pledge; reallocate, reapportion

Near Antonyms
begrudge, decline, deny, deprive (of), disallow, refuse, reject, withhold; niggle (out), pinch, skimp, stint

Antonyms
misallocate

2 to carry out effectively <local officials should see that the fair housing laws are rigorously administered> — see ENFORCE
3 to look after and make decisions about <the lieutenant governor administers the affairs of the state in the absence of the governor> — see CONDUCT 1

administer (to) verb
to attend to the needs and comforts of <volunteers administering to the terminally ill at a hospice> — see NURSE 1

administrant noun
a person who manages or directs something <an administrant of the nation's largest private charitable foundation> — see EXECUTIVE

administrate verb
to look after and make decisions about <they're looking for someone to administrate the new division> — see CONDUCT 1

administration noun
1 lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) <the fair and just administration of the U.S. territories> — see RULE 2
2 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <administration of the funds was left in the hands of a committee> — see CONDUCT 1

administrative adjective
suited for or relating to the directing of things <among his other administrative duties is the appointment of transit authority officials> — see EXECUTIVE

administrator noun
a person who manages or directs something <a hospital administrator> — see EXECUTIVE

admirable adjective
deserving of high regard or great approval <it's admirable the way she helps her elderly neighbor with chores and errands every Saturday>

Synonyms
applaudable, commendable, creditable, estimable, laudable, meritorious, praiseworthy

Related Words
deserving, worthy; awesome, distinctive, distinguished, excellent, heady, honorable, impressive, noteworthy, noticeable, outstanding, redoubtable, reputable, respectable; invaluable, precious, priceless, valuable; delightful, enjoyable, pleasing, satisfying; ethical, good, high-minded, moral, noble, principled

Near Antonyms
base, contemptible, deplorable, despicable, detestable, dirty, infamous, lousy, nasty, notorious, pitiable, pitiful, scabby, scummy, scurvy, sorry, unlikable, unworthy, vile, worthless, wretched; disgraceful, dishonorable, disreputable, ignominious, low, mean, scandalous, seamy, shady, shameful, shocking, sordid, unethical, unsavory

Antonyms
censurable, discreditable, illaudable, reprehensible

admiration noun
1 a feeling of great approval and liking <my admiration for her increased when I discovered she had learned English only since coming to the U.S.>

Synonyms
account, appreciation, esteem, estimation, favor, regard, respect

Related Words
appetite, fancy, fondness, like, love, partiality, preference, relish, shine, taste, use; acclamation, adoration, adulation, approbation, deference, hero worship, homage, honor, idolatry, infatuation, lionization, praise, props [slang], reverence, veneration, worship; delight, enjoyment; amazement, awe, wonder, wonderment; enthusiasm, interest, passion; bias, prejudice; affection, attachment, devotion, passion

Near Antonyms
condemnation, disapproval, disdain, opprobrium, scorn; disappointment, discontent, disenchantment, disgruntlement, disillusionment, displeasure, indignation, unhappiness; aversion, contempt, disfavor, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disregard, distaste; hate, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion; abomination, antipathy, detestation; deprecation, displeasure, dissatisfaction

Antonyms
disfavor

2 the rapt attention and deep emotion caused by the sight of something extraordinary <gaped in admiration as one flower-bedecked float after another paraded past them> — see WONDER 2

admire verb
to think very highly or favorably of <I admire the way you handled such a touchy situation>

Synonyms
appreciate, consider, esteem, regard, respect

Related Words
acclaim, accredit, applaud, approve, commend, compliment, credit, praise; delight (in), drink (in), enjoy, relish, revel (in), savor (also savour); dig, fancy, favor, groove (on), like, love; adore, adulate, canonize, deify, dote (on), hallow, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate, worship; cherish, love, prize, treasure, value

Phrases
set store by (or on)

Near Antonyms
abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe; condemn, decry, deplore, disapprove, discount, discountenance, disdain, disfavor, dislike, dismiss, disregard, frown (on or upon), kiss off, scorn, vilify

admiring adjective
expressing approval <the smartly dressed couple drew admiring glances> — see FAVORABLE 1

admiringly adverb
in an approving manner <we gazed admiringly at the portrait>

Synonyms
appreciatively, approvingly, complimentarily, favorably, positively

Related Words
lovingly, regardfully, respectfully; reverently, worshipfully

Near Antonyms
captiously, hypercritically; deploringly, disdainfully, scornfully, unflatteringly

Antonyms
adversely, disapprovingly, negatively, unfavorably

admissible adjective
that may be permitted <using direct quotations without naming your source is not admissible> — see PERMISSIBLE

admission noun
1 an open declaration of something (as a fault or the commission of an offense) about oneself <by her own admission, her cooking is not the greatest> — see CONFESSION
2 the means or right of entering or participating in <no admission unless accompanied by an adult> — see ENTRANCE 1

admit verb
1 to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly <the host of the talk show eventually admitted that she hadn't actually read the book> <you can't bring yourself to admit your mistakes>

Synonyms
acknowledge, agree, allow, concede, confess, fess (up), grant, own (up to)

Related Words
disburden, unburden, unload; affirm, avow, confirm, profess; accept, recognize, yield; announce, break, broadcast, communicate, declare, disclose, divulge, impart, proclaim, publish, reveal, spill, tell, unveil; betray, blab, expose, give away, inform, leak, rat, squeal, talk, tattle, tip (off), warn, wise (up); breathe, say, whisper

Phrases
come clean (about)

Near Antonyms
disallow, disavow, disclaim, disown; contradict, dispute, gainsay, negate, negative; rebut, refute, reject, repudiate; conceal, cover (up), hide, obscure, veil; kid (oneself)

Antonyms
deny

2 to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to <she was admitted to Harvard>

Synonyms
enter, receive, take

Related Words
entertain, welcome; fellowship; confirm, ratify

Near Antonyms
decline, disallow, disapprove, dismiss, refuse, reject; blackball, blacklist, ostracize; banish, deport, exile, expel, oust, throw out

Antonyms
ban, bar

3 to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid <I admit to some suspicions about the new neighbors> — see CONFESS 1

admit (of) verb
to make possible especially to the exclusion of other possibilities <your question does not admit of a simple “yes” or “no” answer> — see ALLOW OF

admittance noun
the means or right of entering or participating in <admittance to the country club requires sponsorship from a current member> — see ENTRANCE 1

admittedly adverb
to tell the truth <admittedly, I should not have lost my temper like that> — see ACTUALLY 1

admixture noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <an admixture of rose petals and lavender for a fragrant potpourri> — see BLEND

admonish verb
1 to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault <admonished her for littering> — see REBUKE 1
2 to give advice to <my physician is always admonishing me to eat more healthy foods> — see ADVISE 1

admonishing adjective
serving as or offering a warning <shot an admonishing glance at me just as I was about to spill the beans> — see CAUTIONARY

admonishment noun
1 an opinion suggesting a wise or proper course of action <wintertime admonishments about remembering to wear a coat and hat> — see ADVICE 1
2 the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk <that near miss with the guardrail was all the admonishment I needed to slow down> — see WARNING 1

admonition noun
1 an opinion suggesting a wise or proper course of action <a heartfelt admonition to the graduates to make the most of their lives> — see ADVICE 1
2 the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk <ignored the ranger's admonitions and took the road over the mountain, only to be stranded by the blizzard> — see WARNING 1

admonitory adjective
serving as or offering a warning <admonitory articles abound around Halloween, warning parents of the hazards of trick-or-treating> — see CAUTIONARY

ado noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <a bride-to-be caught up in the usual prenuptial ado> — see COMMOTION

adolescence noun
the transitional period between childhood and adulthood <adolescence can be a turbulent time for teenagers and parents alike>

Synonyms
minority, nonage

Related Words
boyhood, girlhood, preadolescence, youth; bloom, flush, heyday, prime; majority, maturity; manhood, womanhood; babyhood, infancy

adolescent adjective
1 being in the early stage of life, growth, or development <an adolescent sheepdog, who hasn't quite gotten the hang of keeping the sheep huddled together> — see YOUNG
2 having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children <would hope that the college students had outgrown such adolescent behavior> — see CHILDISH
3 lacking in adult experience or maturity <took a group of adolescent recruits and turned them into professional warriors> — see CALLOW

adopt verb
to take for one's own use (something originated by another) <shortly after moving to the U.S., the family dutifully adopted the American tradition of having turkey for Thanksgiving>

Synonyms
borrow, embrace, espouse, take on, take up

Related Words
domesticate, naturalize; appropriate, arrogate, take over, usurp; absorb, assimilate, incorporate, quote; cherish, prize, treasure; cultivate, follow, heed, honor; use, utilize; bring up, foster, nurture, raise, rear; affect, assume, copy, imitate, pretend, put on, simulate

Phrases
pick up on

Near Antonyms
abandon, forsake, give up, relinquish, surrender; abjure, abnegate, disown; reject, renounce, repudiate, spurn; discard, jettison, junk, throw away, throw out

adorable adjective
having qualities that tend to make one loved <what an adorable old lady, so kind and sweet> <an adorable little cottage> — see LOVABLE

adore verb
1 to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for <an attentive, solicitous husband who clearly adores his wife> — see LOVE 2
2 to love or admire too much <adores her older sister so much that she cannot see her considerable faults> — see IDOLIZE
3 to offer honor or respect to (someone) as a divine power <the Roman soldier was beheaded for adoring the Christian god> — see WORSHIP 1
4 to take pleasure in <I adore those earrings—wherever did you get them?> — see ENJOY 1

adoring adjective
1 feeling or showing love <adoring grandparents who love to spoil their grandchildren> — see LOVING 1
2 reflecting great admiration or devotion <the adoring attention of the girls' gymnastics team when our local Olympic hero spoke to them> — see WORSHIPFUL

adorn verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <the Sultan's tent was richly adorned with thick tapestries and gleaming gold candlesticks> — see DECORATE

adorning adjective
serving to add beauty <adorning garlands of greenery can be seen all over the mansion at Christmastime> — see DECORATIVE

adornment noun
something that decorates or beautifies <the only adornment in the sparely furnished bedroom was a small portrait of the poet Walt Whitman> — see DECORATION 1

adroit adjective
accomplished with trained ability <with an adroit flick of the wrist, flipped the omelet into the air and landed it squarely back in the pan> — see SKILLFUL

adroitly adverb
in a skillful or expert manner <the captain adroitly navigated his vessel through the treacherous waters> — see WELL 3

adroitness noun
1 mental skill or quickness <shows a remarkable adroitness in identifying birds the moment they land at the feeder> — see DEXTERITY 1
2 subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something <with the adroitness of a magician, she twisted the balloons into the shape of a monkey> — see SKILL 1

adulate verb
1 to love or admire too much <it's ridiculous how she adulates that airheaded rock star> — see IDOLIZE
2 to praise too much <a business executive who unwisely surrounds herself with incompetent assistants who spend all their time adulating her> — see FLATTER 1

adulation noun
1 excessive admiration of or devotion to a person <the pathetic adulation of the leader of the cult by her misguided followers> — see WORSHIP
2 excessive praise <more objective critics have observed that the artist never deserved the adulation heaped upon her mediocre paintings> — see FLATTERY

adulatory adjective
1 overly or insincerely flattering <an office flunky who can be counted on to make an adulatory response to the boss's every suggestion> — see FULSOME 1
2 reflecting great admiration or devotion <an adulatory eulogy delivered at a beloved teacher's retirement party> — see WORSHIPFUL

adult adjective
1 relating to or typical of adults; displaying proper maturity <an adult reaction to the issue>

Synonyms
grown-up, mature

Near Antonyms
childish, infantile, kiddish

Antonyms
adolescent, immature

2 dealing in or with explicitly sexual material <an adult magazine>

Synonyms
mature, pornographic, porny, X-rated

Related Words
hard-core, soft-core; bedroom, erotic (also erotical), sexy, suggestive; bawdy, coarse, crude, dirty, filthy, foul, gross, indecent, lascivious, lewd, lustful, nasty, obscene, ribald, salacious, smutty, unprintable, vulgar, wanton; immodest, kinky, prurient; earthy, racy, salty; indecorous, unbecoming; debasing, perverted, profane; naughty, wicked

Near Antonyms
priggish, prim, prudish, puritanical, straitlaced (or straightlaced), Victorian; correct, decent, decorous, genteel, polite, proper, seemly

Antonyms
clean, G-rated

3 fully grown or developed <insects that are butterflies in their adult stage> — see MATURE 1

adult noun
a fully grown person <at the beach, the adults sat under broad umbrellas while the children splashed in the water>

Synonyms
grown-up

Related Words
middle-ager; ancient, elder, gaffer, graybeard, oldster, old-timer, senior, senior citizen

Near Antonyms
bairn [chiefly Scottish], child, cub, kid, moppet, tad, toddler, tot, tyke (also tike); baby, infant; adolescent, juvenile, minor, youngling, youngster, youth; preteen, preteen-ager, teen, teenager, teener, teenybopper, tween

adulterant noun
something that is or that makes impure <concerned about adulterants in the town's water supply coming from the discharge from the factory> — see IMPURITY 1

adulterate adjective
1 containing foreign or lower-grade substances <the pharmacist was convicted of selling adulterate drugs in order to maximize profits> — see IMPURE 1
2 relating to or being a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse <caught red-handed in what he claimed was his first adulterate encounter> — see ADULTEROUS

adulterate verb
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances <the company was fined for adulterating its “all beef” frankfurters with cereal>

Synonyms
cut, dilute, extend, lace, sophisticate, thin, water down, weaken

Related Words
load; befoul, contaminate, corrupt, defile, dirty, envenom, foul, infect, poison, pollute, soil, spoil, sully, taint; cheapen, debase, degrade; manipulate, misrepresent, tamper (with); counterfeit, fake, falsify, fudge; doctor, spike; attenuate, moderate, qualify, temper

Near Antonyms
fertilize, lard; augment, reinforce (also reenforce), supplement; decontaminate, purify; clarify, clean, cleanse, distill (also distil), filter, flush, leach, pasteurize, purge, refine; better, enhance, improve; compact, concentrate, condense

Antonyms
enrich, fortify, richen, strengthen

adulterated adjective
containing foreign or lower-grade substances <the outbreak of food poisoning was traced to adulterated ground beef> — see IMPURE 1

adulterine adjective
relating to or being a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse <adulterine fiction often portrays the illicit lovers sympathetically> — see ADULTEROUS

adulterous adjective
relating to or being a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse <had an adulterous affair that nearly destroyed his marriage>

Synonyms
adulterate, adulterine, extracurricular, extramarital, two-timing

Related Words
premarital; promiscuous

adultery noun
a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse <adultery is the cause of many divorces>

Synonyms
cheating, infidelity, misconduct, two-timing, unfaithfulness

Related Words
criminal conversation; free love, promiscuity; disloyalty, faithlessness, falseness, inconstancy, perfidiousness, perfidy, treachery; affair (also affaire), amour, fling, love, love affair, romance; intrigue; attachment, infatuation; entanglement, flirtation; liaison, passion

Near Antonyms
allegiance, constancy, dedication, devotedness, devotion, fealty, loyalty, steadfastness

Antonyms
faithfulness, fidelity

adulthood noun
the state of being fully grown or developed <the period between childhood and adulthood is called adolescence> — see MATURITY 1

adultness noun
the state of being fully grown or developed <decorating her own house gave her a sense of adultness and independence> — see MATURITY 1

adumbrate verb
to give a slight indication of beforehand <the strife in Bloody Kansas in the 1850s adumbrated the civil war that would follow> — see FORESHADOW

advance noun
1 forward movement in time or place <during her long convalescence, the housebound woman was barely aware of the advance of the seasons>

Synonyms
advancement, furtherance, going, headway, march, onrush, passage, process, procession, progress, progression

Related Words
current, drift, flow, flux, stream, way; advent, approach, arrival, coming, nearing; bound, jump, leap, step, stride; impetus, momentum

Near Antonyms
backwash, ebb, reflux; retraction, return, reversal, reverse; about-face, turnabout, turnaround

Antonyms
recess, recession, regress, regression, retreat, retrogression

2 an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill <under her new teacher, the aspiring violinist has made noticeable advances in her technique in just a few weeks>

Synonyms
advancement, breakthrough, enhancement, improvement, refinement

Related Words
quantum leap; amelioration, boost, heightening, increase, melioration, strengthening, upgrade, uplift, upswing, uptrend, upturn; betterment, development, elaboration, evolution, expansion, gestation, growth, maturation, perfection, ripening; civilization, edification, education, enlightenment; renaissance, renascence, revival; discovery, find, windfall; innovation, invention

Near Antonyms
breakdown, collapse, crash; hindrance, impediment, stumbling block; decadence, decay, declension, decline, decrease, degeneration, descent, deterioration, diminishment, downgrade, ebbing, failing, flagging, languishment, lapse, lessening, reduction, sinking, slowing, weakening, worsening; detriment, disablement, drawback, glitch, impairment, shortcoming

Antonyms
setback

advance verb
1 to give to another for temporary use with the understanding that it or a like thing will be returned <advanced her some cash with the understanding that the amount would be deducted from her first paycheck> — see LEND
2 to help the growth or development of <great thinkers who did much to advance modern science> — see FOSTER 1
3 to move forward along a course <as the technology advances, electronic devices keep getting smaller and smarter> — see GO 1
4 to move higher in rank or position <within six months was advanced to the position of head waiter, to the dismay of the waiters who had been there much longer> — see PROMOTE 1
5 to set before the mind for consideration <let me explain my reasons for advancing this proposal> — see PROPOSE 1
6 to move closer to <advanced cautiously toward the snarling dog> — see COME 1

advanced adjective
1 being far along in development <an advanced civilization, among the first anywhere to use the plow, developed on the banks of the Nile River thousands of years ago>

Synonyms
developed, evolved, forward, high, higher, improved, late, progressive, refined

Related Words
precocious; full-blown, full-fledged, full-scale; aged, grown, mature, matured, perfected, ripe, ripened; civilized, educated, enhanced, enlightened; contemporary, current, cutting-edge, latest, leading-edge, mod, modern, new, newest, newfangled, new-fashioned, novel, now, present-day, recent, space-age, supermodern, ultramodern, up-to-date

Near Antonyms
green, immature, underdeveloped, undersized (also undersize), underweight, unripe, unripened; savage, uncivilized, uneducated; early, embryonic, germinal, primeval, primordial; antediluvian, antiquated, antique, dated, fusty, hoary, musty, Neanderthal (or Neandertal), obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, outworn, passé, past

Antonyms
backward, low, lower, nonprogressive, primitive, retarded, rude, rudimentary, undeveloped

2 being or employing the latest concepts, styles, or techniques <went to a very advanced school for gifted children> — see AVANT

advancement noun
1 a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position <the young man's rapid advancement in the company came as no surprise to those who knew he was the president's nephew>

Synonyms
ascent, creation, elevation, preference, preferment, promotion, rise, upgrade, upgrading

Related Words
aggrandizement, ennoblement, exaltation, glorification, magnification

Near Antonyms
deposition, dethronement, discharge, dismissal, expulsion, impeachment, ouster, overthrow, removal, suspension, unmaking, unseating; downfall, fall

Antonyms
abasement, comedown, degradation, demotion, disrating, downgrade, reduction

2 an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill <science has made huge advancements in the field of genetics in recent years> — see ADVANCE 2
3 forward movement in time or place <wondered why we hadn't made any advancement in the long checkout line for at least 10 minutes> — see ADVANCE 1

advantage noun
1 the more favorable condition or position in a competition <your experience volunteering at the hospital will put you at an advantage when you're applying for a job there>

Synonyms
better, bulge, catbird seat, drop, edge, high ground, inside track, jump, pull, stead, upper hand, vantage, whip hand

Related Words
allowance, head start, lead, leg up, margin, odds, start; ascendancy (also ascendency), command, dominance, mastery, predominance, superiority, supremacy, transcendence, transcendency; precedence, preference, prerogative, privilege, seniority; break, foothold, opportunity; benefit, blessing, boon, felicity, godsend, manna, windfall

Phrases
coign of vantage

Near Antonyms
detriment, stranglehold; disparity, imbalance, inequality, unevenness; disability, failing, impairment, shortcoming; bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, rub, shackle, stop, trammel; lurch, setback

Antonyms
disadvantage, drawback, handicap, liability, minus, penalty, strike

2 a thing that helps <had all the advantages of being born into a wealthy and powerful family> — see HELP 2

advantage verb
to provide with something useful or desirable <there's no question that that bicycle racer was significantly advantaged by a great set of genes> — see BENEFIT

advantageous adjective
promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being <a trade agreement that is advantageous to both countries> — see BENEFICIAL

advent noun
the act of coming upon a scene <with the advent of the mass-produced automobile, the need for a better system of roads and highways soon became apparent> — see ARRIVAL

adventitious adjective
not being a vital part of or belonging to something <the point of view that art should be for art's sake and that moral considerations are adventitious to the study of art> — see EXTRINSIC

adventure noun
1 an exciting or noteworthy event that one experiences firsthand <our quiet hike turned into quite an adventure when we encountered a bear and her cub>

Synonyms
emprise, experience, exploit, gest (or geste), happening, time

Related Words
escapade, lark, ploy; act, action, deed, doing, feat; episode, occasion; baptism, ordeal, test, trial, tribulation; enterprise, risk, venture; expedition, exploration, mission, performance, quest, stunt

Near Antonyms
bore, bummer, bust, downer, drag

2 a risky undertaking <a bold adventure in deep-sea exploration that could imperil the submarine and its crew> — see GAMBLE

adventure verb
1 to place in danger <adventured all his savings in a very risky investment scheme> — see ENDANGER
2 to take a chance on <if I had to adventure a guess, I'd say she's about 35> — see RISK 1

adventuresome adjective
inclined or willing to take risks <not inclined to be adventuresome when it comes to foreign travel, preferring guided bus tours that stick to the beaten path> — see BOLD 1

adventurous adjective
inclined or willing to take risks <let's be adventurous and take a bus into the city for New Year's Eve this year> — see BOLD 1

ad verbum adverb
in the same words <an ad verbum translation> <if the giver of the oath mangles the wording, should one repeat after him ad verbum?> — see VERBATIM

adversarial adjective
marked by opposition or ill will <the relationship between the president and the congress should not be adversarial if anything is to get done> — see HOSTILE 1

adversary adjective
marked by opposition or ill will <there was a long history of adversary dealings between the two nations> — see HOSTILE 1

adversary noun
1 one that is hostile toward another <our old cat seemed to consider the new kitten an adversary> — see ENEMY
2 one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict <our adversaries in tomorrow's meet are from one of the top schools in the league> — see OPPONENT 1

adverse adjective
1 opposed to one's interests <all the adverse publicity really caused the movie star's popularity to suffer>

Synonyms
counter, disadvantageous, hostile, inimical, negative, prejudicial, unfavorable, unfriendly, unsympathetic, untoward

Related Words
bad, baleful, baneful, evil; damaging, deleterious, destructive, detrimental, fatal, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, lethal, malignant, murderous, noxious, pernicious, poisonous, ruinous, threatening, troublesome, unhealthy, wounding; dangerous, hazardous, imperiling (or imperilling), jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe; calumnious, defamatory, detractive, offensive, scathing, slanderous; antagonistic, antipathetic, inhospitable, intolerant, uncongenial, uncooperative; competing, conflicting, counteracting, countering, opposing, resistant, resisting

Near Antonyms
beneficial, good, helpful, propitious, useful; harmless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, nondestructive, nonfatal, nonlethal, nonthreatening; unresistant; tolerant, understanding; affable, agreeable, amiable, amicable, benign, benignant, complying, congenial, cordial, friendly, hospitable

Antonyms
advantageous, favorable, friendly, positive, supportive, sympathetic, well-disposed

2 causing or capable of causing harm <the adverse effects of the drug are too severe to allow it to be marketed> — see HARMFUL

adversity noun
1 bad luck or an example of this <many people came face-to-face with life-altering adversity when the stock market crashed> — see MISFORTUNE
2 something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal <some overcame all the adversities of the Great Depression and rebuilt their fortunes> — see DIFFICULTY 1

advert noun, chiefly British
a published statement informing the public of a matter of general interest <busily perusing the job adverts in the Sunday Times> — see ANNOUNCEMENT

advert (to) verb
to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically <when our hosts adverted to the lateness of the hour we took the hint, and prepared to leave> — see MENTION 1

advertence noun
a state of being aware <a greater advertence to the feelings of others is what that insensitive clod needs> — see ATTENTION 2

advertency noun
a state of being aware <a history textbook that has been widely criticized for its lack of advertency to the contributions of minorities> — see ATTENTION 2

advertise verb
to make known openly or publicly <I wouldn't advertise my bad credit rating to the whole world if I were you> — see ANNOUNCE

advertisement noun
a published statement informing the public of a matter of general interest <an advertisement for special low fares to Florida and Cancún during spring break> — see ANNOUNCEMENT

advice noun
1 an opinion suggesting a wise or proper course of action <we got some good advice from the vet about dealing with our dog's habit of chasing cars>

Synonyms
adjuration, admonishment, admonition, counsel, guidance, input

Related Words
recommendation, suggestion; hint, pointer, tip; data, feedback, information; answer, solution; advisement, consideration, thought; alarm (also alarum), alert, caution, cautioning, expostulation, forewarning, remonstrance, remonstration, urging, warning; judgment (or judgement), observation, verdict; assistance, briefing, coaching, direction, instruction, mentoring, priming, prompting, teaching, tutoring; interference, kibitzing (also kibbitzing), meddling; moralizing, pontificating, preaching; exhortation, lecture, lesson, sermon, speech

2 usually advices plural a report of recent events or facts not previously known <had advices that the city could hold out against an invasion force for at most a week> — see NEWS

advisability noun
suitability for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <questioned the advisability of betting everything on the outcome of a single race> — see EXPEDIENCY

advisable adjective
suitable for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <it's never advisable to ride double on a bicycle> — see EXPEDIENT

advisableness noun
suitability for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <doubts about the advisableness of using the Internet to meet a significant other> — see EXPEDIENCY

advise verb
1 to give advice to <a popular guidance counselor who has been advising students about their college plans for two decades>

Synonyms
adjure, admonish, counsel

Related Words
alert, caution, forewarn, warn; brief, clue (in), fill in, inform, tell, wise (up); coach, direct, guide, instruct, lead, mentor, shepherd, show, teach, tutor; direct, pilot, steer; acquaint, apprise, familiarize; convince, encourage, induce, persuade, talk (into); beg, exhort, implore, prevail (upon), urge; propose, recommend, suggest

2 to put (something) forward as one's choice for a wise or proper course of action <she advised calling ahead for a reservation at the new restaurant>

Synonyms
counsel, recommend, suggest

Related Words
advocate, back, champion, espouse, favor, support; exhort, urge; advance, offer, propose, submit

3 to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem <the doctor advised with his partner before recommending the patient's treatment> — see CONFER 2
4 to give information to <advised her as to the best way to get to the art museum by public transportation> — see ENLIGHTEN 1
5 to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or risk <advised us not to invest our money in what looked like a pyramid scheme> — see WARN

advised adjective
decided on as a result of careful thought <his advised use of the inflammatory term set off a firestorm, just as he had intended> — see DELIBERATE 1

advisedly adverb
with full awareness of what one is doing <I'm calling him a traitor, and I use that term advisedly> — see INTENTIONALLY

advisement noun
a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something <we'll take that matter under advisement and get back to you later> — see CONSIDERATION 1

adviser also advisor noun
a person who gives advice especially professionally <our financial adviser had some words of caution about buying a second home> — see CONSULTANT

advocate noun
1 a person who actively supports or favors a cause <Mark Twain, Noah Webster, and President Theodore Roosevelt are among past advocates of a reformed spelling system> — see EXPONENT 1
2 a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations <with such a strong case against him, he's going to need the best advocate that money can buy> — see LAWYER

advocate verb
to promote the interests or cause of <environmentalists advocating agricultural methods designed to slow the destruction of rain forests> — see SUPPORT 1

advocator noun
a person who actively supports or favors a cause <a strong advocator of musical education in the schools> — see EXPONENT 1

aegis also egis noun
1 means or method of defending <having no claim to the land under the aegis of the law, the cattle baron decided to claim it by force> — see DEFENSE 1
2 the financial support and general guidance for an undertaking <a medical study that was questioned by many because it was done under the aegis of a major pharmaceutical company> — see AUSPICE 1

aeon or eon noun
a long or seemingly long period of time <it's been aeons since I saw a movie at the multiplex> <glaciers that formed aeons ago> — see AGE 2

aerodrome noun, chiefly British
a place from which aircraft operate that usually has paved runways and a terminal <landed at the aerodrome in Surrey, south of London> — see AIRPORT

aeroplane noun, chiefly British
a vehicle for traveling through the air that has fixed wings for lift <an exhibit of a few of the aeroplanes that won the Battle of Britain> — see AIRPLANE

aesthetic also esthetic or aesthetical or esthetical adjective
very pleasing to look at <an aesthetic arrangement of the floral decorations> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

aesthetics also esthetics plural noun
the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses <what the building lacks in aesthetics it makes up for in practicality> — see BEAUTY 1

afar noun
a long distance <the experienced birder was able to identify birds from afar> — see MILE

affability noun
the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others <First Lady Dolley Madison was beloved by the nation for her affability toward people from all walks of life> — see AMIABILITY 1

affable adjective
1 having a relaxed, casual manner <as the show's affable host, she keeps the freewheeling gabfest from getting out of hand> — see EASYGOING 1
2 having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations <as an experienced event planner, he knows that having an affable emcee is critical> — see AMIABLE
3 showing a natural kindness and courtesy especially in social situations <although First Lady Lucretia Hayes didn't particularly enjoy her role as White House hostess, she was always affable> — see GRACIOUS 1

affair noun
1 also affaire a brief romantic relationship <an affair between two singles spending the summer at the same beach resort>

Synonyms
amour, fling, love, love affair, romance

Related Words
intrigue, liaison; dalliance, hanky-panky; attachment, infatuation; entanglement, flirtation; idyll (also idyl), passion; calf-love, puppy love

2 a social gathering <the annual country club dance is a really fancy affair> — see PARTY 1
3 something produced by physical or intellectual effort <the lead float in the parade was a pretty impressive affair, a giant eagle's head with equally huge wings> — see PRODUCT 1
4 something that happens <the whole affair from start to finish took a total of 15 minutes> — see EVENT 1
5 something to be dealt with <it's none of your affair whom I'm going out with tonight> — see MATTER 2

1affect verb
1 to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response <their son claims that scary movies don't affect him in the least>

Synonyms
impact, impress, influence, move, reach, strike, sway, tell (on), touch

Related Words
carry away, dazzle, enrapture, entrance, enthrall (or enthral), ravish, transport; bias, color; inspire, stir; engage, interest, involve, penetrate, pierce; afflict, agitate, bother, concern, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, disturb, fluster, harass, harry, perturb, pester, plague, smite, strain, stress, trouble, try, upset, worry, wring; allure, attract, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate

Phrases
get to

Near Antonyms
bore, jade, pall, tire, weary; underwhelm

2 to be the business or affair of <fortunately, hurricane season doesn't affect the West Coast> — see CONCERN 2

2affect verb
1 to present a false appearance of <she affected complete unawareness that we were talking about her, though she must have overheard> — see FEIGN
2 to go to or spend time in often <a power couple known to affect all the fancy parties in town> — see FREQUENT

affectation noun
the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case <a woman of great affectation at social gatherings> — see PRETENSE 1

affected adjective
1 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <affected laughter at the boss's jokes> <an affected southern accent> — see ARTIFICIAL 1
2 self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance <with her pinkie extended, the four-year-old held her tiny teacup in that affected manner that some women have> — see PRETENTIOUS 1
3 having a liking or affection <after years of being well affected toward their grandchildren, they did not want to lose access to them because of a bitter divorce> — see FOND 1

affectedness noun
the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case <bowed and sat down at the piano with a degree of affectedness that was laughable> — see PRETENSE 1

affecting adjective
having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies <the affecting final scene in the play, when the children are reunited with their father> — see MOVING

affection noun
1 a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone <an elderly couple showing their affection for each other by little acts of kindness> — see LOVE 1
2 an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <born with a heart affection that later caused him problems> — see DISEASE
3 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <I'm rooting for the Cubs—just my natural affection for the underdog, I guess> — see INCLINATION 1
4 something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <religion, of one kind or another, is an affection common to every society known to have existed> — see CHARACTERISTIC

affectionate adjective
feeling or showing love <an affectionate child who gives hugs and kisses freely> — see LOVING 1

affectless adjective
1 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <an affectless analysis of the cost of the war purely in pecuniary terms> — see HARD 1
2 not feeling or showing emotion <the accused remained affectless throughout the long trial> — see IMPASSIVE 1

affectlessness noun
a lack of emotion or emotional expressiveness <though she always acts so blasé about everything, I think her air of affectlessness is largely put on> — see APATHY 1

affianced adjective
pledged in marriage <the affianced couple are much-sought-after guests for this year's holiday parties> — see ENGAGED 1

affiliate noun
a local unit of an organization <our local Humane Society is an affiliate of a national organization> — see CHAPTER 1

affiliated adjective
having a close connection like that between family members <costuming and set design are affiliated arts, both requiring research into the period of the play or film> — see RELATED

affiliation noun
the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <the Little League team, despite its name, the Northern Dynamites, has no affiliation with the Northern Dynamite Company> — see ASSOCIATION 1

affinity noun
1 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <always had an affinity for nurturing living things> — see INCLINATION 1
2 the fact or state of having something in common <a study showing an affinity between obesity and socioeconomic status> — see CONNECTION 1

affirm verb
1 to state as a fact usually forcefully <unwilling to affirm without further study that the painting is an original Rembrandt> — see CLAIM 1
2 to state clearly and strongly <our business partner affirmed his trust in us, and we in turn promised not to let him down> — see ASSERT 1

affirmation noun
a solemn and often public declaration of the truth or existence of something <a sworn affirmation that he had never acted as a spy for the enemy> — see PROTESTATION

affirmative noun
a vote or decision for something <we have five affirmatives and two negatives for forming the committee> — see YES

affix verb
to cause (something) to hold to another <affix a first-class stamp to the envelope> — see FASTEN 1

afflict verb
to cause persistent suffering to <the South was afflicted by a severe drought> <he's been afflicted by nightmares ever since the accident>

Synonyms
agonize, anguish, bedevil, beset, besiege, curse, excruciate, harrow, persecute, plague, rack, torment, torture

Related Words
assail, attack; badger, dog, hound, pursue, ride; aggravate, agitate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, distress, disturb, exasperate, gall, get, grate, gripe, hagride, harass, harry, irk, irritate, molest, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put out, rasp, rile, vex; discomfort, discompose, disquiet, fluster, grieve, perturb, strain, stress, trouble, try, upset, worry; crush, oppress, overpower, overwhelm, smite, strike, tyrannize, victimize; hurt, pain, pang, prick, smart, stab, sting, wring; martyr

Near Antonyms
abet, aid, assist, help; deliver, release, relieve, reprieve; comfort, console, content, quiet, solace, soothe, succor

afflicting adjective
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally <the afflicting sight of so many earthquake victims was too much even for some hardened rescue workers> — see BITTER 2

affliction noun
1 a state of great suffering of body or mind <she listened with deep affliction as her daughter told her about the latest trouble she was in> — see DISTRESS 1
2 deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved <felt such great affliction over the destruction of the beautiful old home> — see SORROW
3 a source of harm or misfortune <alcohol has been his affliction ever since he took his first drink at the age of 12> — see BANE 1
4 a source of persistent emotional distress <suffered from afflictions that only a professional therapist could deal with> — see DEMON 2
5 something that causes loss or pain <cronyism and corruption are afflictions on the body politic> — see INJURY 1

afflictive adjective
causing or feeling bodily pain <the afflictive disease known as shingles is a reactivation of the virus that causes chicken pox> — see PAINFUL 1

affluence noun
a flowing or coming in <this affluence of new students is straining an already crowded school system> — see INFLUX

affluent adjective
having goods, property, or money in abundance <he is affluent and can afford to send his children to the best schools> — see RICH 1

affluent noun
a stream that flows into a larger body of water <the Nipigon and the St. Louis rivers are affluents of Lake Superior> — see TRIBUTARY

afford verb
to have enough money for <we can't afford new clothes this month>

Synonyms
go, swing

Related Words
cover; expend, finance, outlay, pay (for), pony up, spring (for); pick up, purchase, take; acquire, get, obtain, procure, secure; bid, offer; bankroll, endow, subsidize, underwrite

affordable adjective
1 being within the financial means of most people <once those electronic devices became affordable, sales skyrocketed> — see ACCESSIBLE 1
2 costing little <they've added some affordable options> — see CHEAP 1

affray noun, chiefly British
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people <an affray broke out in the parking lot when someone shouted a racial slur> — see BRAWL 1

affright verb
to strike with fear <a ghastly sight that would affright any person> — see FRIGHTEN

affrighted adjective
filled with fear or dread <the affrighted villagers ran in all directions at the first sight of the monster> — see AFRAID

affront noun
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <took it as an affront that she wasn't asked to help cook Thanksgiving dinner> — see INSULT

affront verb
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in <did not mean to affront you when I told you I didn't need your help> — see INSULT

aficionado also afficionado noun
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <an aficionado of the sci-fi series who has seen all the movies several times> — see FAN

afield adverb
off the desired or intended path or course <how did we get so far afield from the subject we intended to discuss?> — see WRONG 1

afire adjective
being on fire <looked down upon the city, which was all afire from the bombing> — see ABLAZE 1

aflame adjective
being on fire <the kindling in the wood stove was aflame as soon as I held a match to it> — see ABLAZE 1

afloat adjective
riding upon the surface of a body of liquid <the boat can't stay afloat much longer>

Synonyms
floating

Related Words
buoyant, floaty, unsinkable; free-floating; awash, drifting, gliding, hanging, hovering, poised, sailing, wafting

Near Antonyms
aground, high and dry

Antonyms
sinking, sunk

aflutter adjective
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <Jonathan was all aflutter about proposing to Shelley that evening> — see NERVOUS 1

afoot adjective
being in progress or development <plans are afoot for a new sports stadium in the city> — see ONGOING 1

afoot adverb
in progress <although the drug just got released, research for a more effective medication is already afoot> — see UNDER WAY

afore adverb, chiefly dialect
so as to precede something in order of time <some young boys raced afore to tell onlookers that there were elephants in the circus parade> — see AHEAD 1

afore preposition, chiefly dialect
1 earlier than <my father, his father, and even his father afore him farmed this land> — see BEFORE 1
2 preceding in space <a majestic sailing ship going full speed afore the wind> — see BEFORE 2

aforementioned adjective
mentioned previously <with the aforementioned reservation, I would recommend the play for serious-minded theatergoers> — see AFORESAID

aforesaid adjective
mentioned previously <with the aforesaid objections in mind, I think we should reconsider the proposal>

Synonyms
aforementioned, foregoing, forenamed, said

Related Words
above; such; antecedent, anterior, precedent, preceding, prior; introductory, preliminary; erstwhile, former, whilom

Near Antonyms
below; ensuing, following, subsequent, succeeding

afraid adjective
filled with fear or dread <Melissa is afraid of flying, so she takes a train from Boston to visit her brother in Chicago>

Synonyms
affrighted, aghast, alarmed, fearful, frightened, horrified, horror-struck, hysterical (also hysteric), scared, scary, shocked, spooked, terrified, terrorized

Related Words
chicken, fainthearted, fearsome, shrinking, shy, timid, timorous, tremulant, tremulous; agitated, anxious, apprehensive, disconcerted, disquieted, disturbed, funky, jittery, jumpy, nervous, panicked, panicky, panic-stricken, perturbed, skittish, uneasy, upset, worried; phobic; appalled, dismayed, startled; cowed, daunted, intimidated, unnerved; coward, cowardly, craven, gutless, lily-livered, pusillanimous; careful, cautious, heedful, prudent, unadventurous, wary

Near Antonyms
adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, bold, daredevil, daring, dashing, gutsy, plucky, spirited, spunky, venturesome, venturous; brave, courageous, gallant, hardy, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, manful, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous; assured, collected, composed, confident, cool, sanguine, sure, unperturbed; dauntless, resolute, undaunted

Antonyms
fearless, unafraid

afresh adverb
yet another time <the shooting broke out afresh when the bandits reappeared at the crest of the hill> — see AGAIN 1

aft adjective
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part <the aft part of the cruise ship turned out to be the noisier section> — see BACK

aft adverb
near, toward, or in the stern of a ship or the tail of an aircraft <after transferring the controls to the copilot, the captain went aft to see what the disturbance was>

Synonyms
abaft, astern, sternward (or sternwards)

Related Words
after, back, backward (or backwards), behind, posteriorly, rearward (also rearwards)

Near Antonyms
anteriorly; ahead, before

Antonyms
fore, forward

after adjective
1 being at or in the part of something opposite the front part <had heard that the after section of an aircraft is safer in the event of a crash> — see BACK
2 being, occurring, or carried out at a time after something else <in after years the government set up a special fund for disabled veterans of the war> — see SUBSEQUENT

after adverb
following in time or place <upon seeing The Nutcracker for the first time, and for a long time after, Irma wanted to play the part of the Mouse King>

Synonyms
afterward (or afterwards), later, latterly, subsequently, thereafter

Related Words
next; by and by, hereafter, presently, since, soon, then, thereupon; hereinbelow, infra

Near Antonyms
formerly; heretofore, theretofore

Antonyms
afore [chiefly dialect], ahead, antecedently, anteriorly, before, beforehand, earlier, previously

after preposition
subsequent to in time or order <the brass band came right after the mayor in the parade>

Synonyms
après, behind, below, following, next to, past

Related Words
since

Near Antonyms
toward (or towards)

Antonyms
afore [chiefly dialect], ahead of, before, ere, of, previous to, prior to, to

aftereffect noun
a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <in the U.S. slavery was abolished in 1865, but its aftereffects remained keenly felt long afterwards> — see EFFECT 1

afterlife noun
1 a later period of one's life <written in afterlife, his memoirs reveal a kinder, more forgiving man> — see AGE 3
2 unending existence after death <hoping to join her deceased parents in the afterlife> — see ETERNITY 2

aftermath noun
a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <the surgery was successful, but she now had to deal with its aftermath: a huge bill> — see EFFECT 1

afternoon noun
a later period of one's life <literary fame did not arrive until the afternoon of her life> — see AGE 3

afterward or afterwards adverb
following in time or place <we'll go to the play, then have supper afterward> — see AFTER

afterword noun
a part added at the end of a book or periodical <the author included an afterword about developments in cancer treatment since the book was written> — see ADDENDUM 1

again adverb
1 yet another time <now I have to mop the floor again because you didn't wipe your feet>

Synonyms
afresh, anew, de novo, over

Related Words
always, consistently, constantly, continuously, endlessly, ever, evermore, forever, incessantly, invariably, perpetually, unfailingly; continually, frequently, oft, often, oftentimes (or ofttimes); recurrently, repeatedly; freshly, newly

Near Antonyms
ne'er, never; infrequently, little, rarely, seldom, unusually; intermittently, occasionally, periodically, sometimes, sporadically

Antonyms
nevermore

2 in addition to what has been said <a green pillow will go fine with my living room; again, the best colors are blues and greens> — see MORE 1
3 just the opposite being true <I might take swimming lessons this summer; then again, I might not> — see CONTRARIWISE

again and again adverb
many times <as she's gotten older, Grandma has tended to ask the same things again and again> — see OFTEN

against preposition
1 in or into contact with <he leaned against the fence and it collapsed> <unwittingly rubbed his leg against some poison ivy>

Synonyms
on, upon

Related Words
alongside, next, next to; upside

2 opposed to; not for <I'm against going to see the parade if it's raining> — see ANTI

agape adjective
having or showing signs of eagerly awaiting something <at the sound of the sleigh bells the children were all agape, waiting for Santa to appear> — see EXPECTANT 1

age noun
1 an extent of time associated with a particular person or thing <the Bronze Age marks the beginning of the use of metal by ancient peoples>

Synonyms
day, epoch, era, period, time

Related Words
cycle, generation, year; bit, space, span, spell, stretch, while; date, vintage

2 a long or seemingly long period of time <it took ages for the clerk to ring up three items>

Synonyms
aeon (or eon), blue moon, coon's age, cycle, donkey's years [chiefly British], eternity, forever, long, months, moon

Related Words
infinity; lifetime

Near Antonyms
flash, instant, jiffy, minute, moment, second, shake, split second, trice, twinkle, twinkling, wink; microsecond, nanosecond

3 a later period of one's life <stoically endures all of the aches and pains that come with age>

Synonyms
afterlife, afternoon, autumn, evening

Related Words
sunset, twilight, winter; anecdotage, dotage, senility; elderliness, golden years, oldness, seniority; adulthood, majority, maturity, middle, middle age, midlife, ripeness

Near Antonyms
adolescence, youth

Antonyms
springtime

4 the state of being an old person <at 88, she gets frustrated by the feebleness that is inevitable with age> — see ANCIENTNESS 1
5 the state of being something old <the copper monument has acquired the patina of age> — see ANCIENTNESS 2

age verb
to become mature <as your cat ages and becomes less active, you should change her diet> — see MATURE

aged adjective
1 being of advanced years and especially past middle age <all the young men went to fight in the war; and only the aged and infirm remained behind> — see ELDERLY
2 dating or surviving from the distant past <a forest of aged and gnarled oaks> — see ANCIENT 1

agedness noun
1 the state of being an old person <the advanced agedness of the patient was immediately obvious to the emergency room staff> — see ANCIENTNESS 1
2 the state of being something old <the sheer ancientness of the Middle East impresses many first-time visitors> — see ANCIENTNESS 2

ageless adjective
having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish <a screen icon whose ageless beauty still entrances audiences today> — see ABIDING

agency noun
1 a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization <the federal agency charged with enforcing laws and regulations regarding the use of firearms> — see DIVISION 2
2 something used to achieve an end <by what agency do you plan to acquire this fortune?> — see AGENT 1

agenda noun
a listing of things to be presented or considered (as at a concert or play) <unless your proposal is on the meeting's agenda, it won't be addressed> — see PROGRAM 1

agent noun
1 something used to achieve an end <the whitening agent in the detergent is chlorine bleach> <the Church has been the traditional agent for social justice in impoverished countries>

Synonyms
agency, instrument, instrumentality, machinery, means, medium, ministry, organ, vehicle

Related Words
determinant, expedient, factor, influence, ingredient, mechanism, tool; weapon; activator, animator, catalyst, driver, energizer, executor, generator, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, instigator, launcher, mover, power, stimulus, trigger; antecedent, cause, occasion, reason; subagency, subagent

2 a person who acts or does business for another <the sports agent negotiated a record-breaking contract for the baseball player>

Synonyms
assignee, attorney, commissary, delegate, deputy, envoy, factor, minister, procurator, proxy, rep, representative

Related Words
ambassador, diplomat, diplomatist, emissary, foreign minister, legate, plenipotentiary; alternate, backup, pinch hitter, relief, replacement, stand-in, sub, substitute, surrogate, understudy; informer, operative, spy; broker, distributor, manager; arbiter, arbitrator, comprador (or compradore), conciliator, go-between, intercessor, intermediary, interposer, liaison, mediator, middleman, peacemaker; mouthpiece, point man, point person, prophet, speaker, spokesman, spokesperson

3 a person sent on a mission to represent another <an undercover agent of the Crown> — see AMBASSADOR
4 a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country <an agent feeding information about enemy troop movements> — see SPY

age–old adjective
dating or surviving from the distant past <age-old customs and beliefs> — see ANCIENT 1

agglomerate noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the Holy Roman Empire was an ever-varying agglomerate of central European states that managed to survive for 1,000 years> — see MISCELLANY 1

agglomerate verb
to form into a round compact mass <breakfast cereal consisting of agglomerated clusters of wheat, rice, and nuts stays crunchy in milk> — see WAD

agglomeration noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <a mere agglomeration of warring tribes, it was far from being a unified nation> — see MISCELLANY 1

aggrandize verb
1 to assign a high status or value to <a movie that aggrandizes the bad guys and makes the cops look like dopes> — see EXALT 1
2 to make greater in size, amount, or number <a generous grant, enabling the library to significantly aggrandize its collection of books on tape> — see INCREASE 1

aggravate verb
1 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <it really aggravates me when I arrive 10 minutes before the stated closing time, and the store's closed already> — see IRRITATE 1
2 to make more severe <overheated rhetoric that only aggravated racial tension in the city> — see EXACERBATE

aggravated adjective
subjected to and reacting with irritation <aggravated customers looking in vain for a salesclerk for assistance> — see ANNOYED

aggravating adjective
causing annoyance <there's nothing so aggravating as a blaring car alarm that no one is paying any attention to> — see ANNOYING

aggravation noun
1 something that is a source of irritation <drivers distracted by cell phones was one aggravation we didn't need> — see ANNOYANCE 3
2 the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another <the neighbors' constant aggravations prompted us to move out of town> — see ANNOYANCE 1
3 the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts <informed her children that she didn't need the extra aggravation of hearing them fight in the back seat while they were stuck in traffic> — see ANNOYANCE 2

aggregate noun
a complete amount of something <numerous episodes of pilferage, taken in the aggregate, can really add up to a significant sum> — see WHOLE

aggregate verb
to have a total of <over time, her petty thefts aggregated a significant shortfall in the company's books> — see AMOUNT TO 1

aggression noun
1 an inclination to fight or quarrel <Japanese aggression in the years preceding the attack on Pearl Harbor had strained relations with the U.S.> — see BELLIGERENCE
2 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <Japan's act of aggression—the attack on Pearl Harbor—brought the U.S. into World War II> — see ATTACK 1

aggressive adjective
1 having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal <if you don't take a more aggressive approach to this yard pretty soon, the weeds are going to take over completely>

Synonyms
ambitious, assertive, enterprising, fierce, go-getting, high-pressure, in-your-face, militant, pushy, self-asserting, self-assertive

Related Words
argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, discordant, disputatious, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, quarrelsome, trigger-happy, truculent, warlike; hyperaggressive, overambitious; dynamic, energetic, enterprising, gung ho, hustling, strenuous, vigorous; emphatic, obtrusive; adventuresome, adventurous, daring, dashing, emboldened, gutsy, venturesome, venturous; audacious, bold, brash, brassy, bumptious, cheeky, cocksure, cocky, confident, determined, forward, impudent, insolent, overconfident, presumptuous, unapologetic, unsubdued, unyielding; bare-knuckle (also bare-knuckled or bare-knuckles), feisty, scrappy; dominating, domineering, imperious, lordly, magisterial, overbearing

Near Antonyms
easygoing, laid-back, relaxed; acquiescent, amenable, compliant, deferential, docile, resigned, submissive, tractable, yielding; cowering, cringing, groveling (or grovelling), shrinking; bashful, demure, diffident, humble, lowly, meek, mild, modest, mousy (or mousey), overmodest, passive, quiet, reserved, retiring, shy, subdued, timid, unobtrusive; obsequious, servile, slavish, subservient

Antonyms
ambitionless, low-pressure, nonassertive, unaggressive, unambitious, unassertive, unenterprising

2 feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <a kindergarten teacher who discourages aggressive behavior, like pushing, by rewarding those children who wait their turn> — see BELLIGERENT
3 marked by or uttered with forcefulness <an aggressive campaign to win the African-American vote> — see EMPHATIC 1

aggressiveness noun
1 readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity <because of the mayor's aggressiveness in tackling problems, there have been significant changes for the better> — see ENTERPRISE 2
2 the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression) <has the aggressiveness one needs to pursue a career in show business> — see VEHEMENCE 1
3 an inclination to fight or quarrel <male bettas, known for their aggressiveness, are best raised alone> — see BELLIGERENCE

aggressor noun
one that starts armed conflict against another especially without reasonable cause <these pocket-size states had formed an alliance to deter potential aggressors>

Synonyms
invader, raider

Related Words
initiator, instigator; ambuscader, ambusher, assailant, attacker, forayer, pillager, plunderer; hawk, jingo, jingoist, militant, militarist, war hawk, warmonger; belligerent, cobelligerent, combatant

Near Antonyms
defender; dove, pacifist, peacemaker; nonbelligerent

aggrieved adjective
having a feeling that one has been wronged or thwarted in one's ambitions <a line of aggrieved ticket-holders, demanding a refund for the cancelled concert> — see DISCONTENTED

aggro noun, British
1 the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts <we simply decided that trying to get our son to tidy up his room was not worth the aggro> — see ANNOYANCE 2
2 something that is a source of irritation <just another aggro that commuters on the tube have to put up with> — see ANNOYANCE 3

aghast adjective
filled with fear or dread <I stood there, aghast, as the vile monster made its way toward me> — see AFRAID

agile adjective
moving easily <the expressive movements of agile dancers> <agile herons wading in the marsh> — see GRACEFUL 1

agility noun
ease and grace in physical activity <a gymnast whose agility on the parallel bars has won him several medals> — see DEXTERITY 2

agin preposition, dialect
opposed to; not for <Grandpa was generally agin any music created after the Second World War> — see ANTI

aging or ageing adjective
being of advanced years and especially past middle age <more and more middle-aged adults must care for aging parents> — see ELDERLY

agita noun
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <took a deep breath to dispel her agita as she stepped onstage> — see ANXIETY 1

agitate verb
1 to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly <this room could use a ceiling fan to agitate the stuffy air a bit> — see STIR 1
2 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <there's no need to agitate the patient about little things> — see DISTURB 1
3 to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <set the washing machine so it will agitate for four minutes before going into the rinse cycle> — see SHAKE 1
4 to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion <a question which has been agitated by the legislature time and time again> — see DISCUSS

agitated adjective
1 being in a state of increased activity or agitation <all ferry crossings were cancelled because of the agitated waters around the islands> — see FEVERISH 1
2 feeling overwhelming fear or worry <by the time they finally showed up, long after midnight, we'd become so agitated that we never did get to sleep that night> — see FRANTIC 1

agitating adjective
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <no more agitating waits to find out sports scores—get them instantly online!> — see NERVOUS 2

agitation noun
1 a state of wildly excited activity or emotion <knew immediately, from the horses' agitation, that something terrible was happening> — see FRENZY
2 an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <experienced a great deal of agitation over whether she had an appropriate dress for her husband's inauguration> — see ANXIETY 1

agitator noun
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent <a political agitator who led an unsuccessful revolt against the government>

Synonyms
demagogue (also demagog), exciter, firebrand, fomenter, incendiary, inciter, instigator, kindler, provocateur, rabble-rouser

Related Words
demonstrator, marcher, objector, picketer, protester (or protestor); advocate, apostle, backer, booster, champion, exponent, persuader, promoter, proponent, reformer, reformist, supporter; alarmist, extremist, insurgent, insurrectionist, radical, rebel, revolter, revolutionary, revolutionist, subversive, troublemaker; goader, prodder, prompter, provoker; agent provocateur

Near Antonyms
peacemaker, reconciler, uniter

aglow adjective
having or being an outward sign of good feelings (as of love, confidence, or happiness) <all aglow as she was awarded first place in the spelling bee> — see RADIANT 1

ago adverb
earlier than the present time <he left here long ago>

Synonyms
agone [archaic], back, since, syne [chiefly Scottish]

Antonyms
hence

agog adjective
1 having or showing signs of eagerly awaiting something <parents agog for the latest news from the children away at college> — see EXPECTANT 1
2 showing urgent desire or interest <all agog to get started on their journey> — see EAGER

agone adverb, archaic
earlier than the present time <'tis long agone since last I saw my lady> — see AGO

agonistic adjective
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <clearly a writer with a chip on his shoulder, he's very agonistic even when stating indisputable facts> — see BELLIGERENT

agonize verb
1 to cause persistent suffering to <got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother> — see AFFLICT
2 to feel deep sadness or mental pain <agonized for days over whether she'd done the right thing> — see GRIEVE

agonized adjective
expressing or suggesting mourning <one look at his agonized, tearful eyes and it was clear that something was terribly wrong> — see MOURNFUL 1

agonizing adjective
1 hard to accept or bear especially emotionally <agonizing cries rose up from the dungeon> — see BITTER 2
2 intensely or unbearably painful <died an agonizing death> — see EXCRUCIATING 1

agonizingly adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <agonizingly made the decision to have her beloved cat put to sleep> — see HARD 2

agony noun
1 a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness <waiting all those hours to hear if he'd survived the plane crash was pure agony> — see HELL 2
2 a state of great suffering of body or mind <the agony of never knowing what happened to her son> — see DISTRESS 1
3 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <the announcement that the war was over unleashed a mass agony of joy> — see OUTBURST 1

agrarian adjective
engaged in or concerned with agriculture <an agrarian community> <the nation's agrarian history> — see AGRICULTURAL

agree verb
1 to have or come to the same opinion or point of view <My husband and I agree on just about every aspect of child-rearing>

Synonyms
coincide, concur

Related Words
accede (to), accept, acquiesce, assent (to), comply (with), consent (to), go (by), subscribe; affiliate, ally, associate, unite; collaborate, cooperate, get along, get on

Phrases
see eye to eye

Near Antonyms
clash, collide, conflict; bicker, counter, dispute, dissent, diverge, fall out, object, oppose, protest, quarrel, resist, rival; dissociate, separate, split

Antonyms
differ, disagree

2 to come to an arrangement as to a course of action <since we couldn't agree, we tossed a coin to decide the matter>

Synonyms
bargain, contract, covenant

Related Words
come around, come round; subscribe, underwrite; arrange, settle

Phrases
come to terms, strike a bargain

Near Antonyms
differ, dissent; cancel, renege, revoke; argue, contest, dispute, object

Antonyms
disagree

3 to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly <finally agreed that the paint job was sloppy and would have to be redone> — see ADMIT 1
4 to be in agreement on every point <the robber's story didn't agree with the cop's report on the incident> — see CHECK 1
5 to form a pleasing relationship <this warm climate seems to agree with you> — see HARMONIZE 1
6 to give or express one's approval (as to a proposal) <we'll have to get the author to agree to the revisions before the article can be published> — see ACCEDE

agree (on) verb
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of <I'm sure we can all agree on what to do next> — see ARRANGE 1

agree (with) verb
to give satisfaction to <her new job, which is much less stressful than her old one, agrees with her> — see PLEASE 1

agreeability noun
the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others <the general agreeability of everyone in the tour group made for a pleasant trip> — see AMIABILITY 1

agreeable adjective
1 being to one's liking <is the zoo an agreeable alternative for everyone, since the aquarium is closed?> — see SATISFACTORY 1
2 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <put on some agreeable music for dinner> — see PLEASANT 1
3 having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations <an agreeable art teacher who lets me do pretty much whatever I want> — see AMIABLE
4 having or marked by agreement in feeling or action <the belief that these new security measures are not agreeable with our core concepts of personal freedom> — see HARMONIOUS 3

agreeableness noun
the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others <the impression that the couple give to first-time visitors is one of well-bred agreeableness> — see AMIABILITY 1

agreeably adverb
in a pleasing way <an agreeably warm day, just right for a picnic> — see WELL 5

agreement noun
1 the state of being of one opinion about something <we were in agreement about one thing at least: that we'd never worked so hard in all our lives>

Synonyms
accord, concurrence, concurrency, consensus, unanimity, unison

Related Words
accession, adhesion, assent, assentation, consent; acceptance, acquiescence, concession, embrace, embracement; approbation, approval, favor; alliance, collaboration, collusion, complicity, conspiracy; compliance, concert, concertedness, concord, concordance, conformity, consonance, harmony, oneness, solidarity, understanding, union; empathy, rapport, sympathy

Phrases
meeting of minds

Near Antonyms
discord, dissension (also dissention); dissent, opposition, resistance; disapprobation, disapproval, disfavor

Antonyms
conflict, disagreement, dissensus

2 an arrangement about action to be taken <we finally reached an agreement regarding a fair division of the housework>

Synonyms
accord, bargain, compact, contract, convention, covenant, deal, disposition, pact, settlement, understanding

Related Words
charter, treaty; binder, pledge, promise; alliance, association, entente, entente cordiale, league, partnership; acceptance, approval, assent, concurrence, consent, OK (or okay)

3 a state of consistency <the amount in column A needs to be in agreement with the total receipts minus expenses> — see CONFORMITY 1

agricultural adjective
engaged in or concerned with agriculture <he grew up in an agricultural community and farming was still in his blood>

Synonyms
agrarian, farming

Related Words
agronomic, arable [British], monocultural; bucolic, georgic, pastoral, pastoralist; garden; aquacultural, arboricultural; country, rural, rustic (also rustical), villatic

Near Antonyms
metro, metropolitan, urban; industrial, industrialized

Antonyms
nonagricultural

agriculture noun
the science or occupation of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock <the forest was cut down, and the land given over to agriculture>

Synonyms
farming, husbandry

Related Words
cultivation, culture, farmwork, gardening, horticulture, tillage; agribusiness, agroecology, agronomy; agroforestry, arboriculture, pomology; aquaculture (also aquiculture), hydroponics; animal husbandry, mixed farming, monoculture, pastoralism; sharecropping

agriculturist or agriculturalist noun
a person who cultivates the land and grows crops on it <agriculturists who adhere to the organization's standards of organic farming> — see FARMER

agronomist noun
a person who cultivates the land and grows crops on it <went from being a simple soybean farmer to an agronomist specializing in soil management> — see FARMER

aground adjective
resting on the shore or bottom of a body of water <the villagers came to stare at the foreign ship that was aground on their beach and at the strangely dressed sailors on board>

Synonyms
beached, grounded, stranded

Related Words
landed; alongshore; high and dry

Near Antonyms
offshore

Antonyms
afloat

ah interjection
how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable <ah—so that's the way it is!> — see NO

aha interjection
how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable <aha! so the money was never missing in the first place!> — see NO

ahead adverb
1 so as to precede something in order of time <call ahead for reservations>

Synonyms
afore [chiefly dialect], already, antecedently, anteriorly, before, beforehand, earlier, formerly, preliminarily, previously

Related Words
a priori, early, prematurely; first, first off, now; before long, erelong [archaic], presently, shortly, soon

Phrases
in advance

Near Antonyms
behind, by and by, next, subsequently

Antonyms
after, afterward (or afterwards), later

2 toward a point ahead in space or time <sent me ahead to get a place in the check-out line while she went to get the eggs and milk> — see ONWARD 1
3 toward or at a point lying in advance in space or time <the line moved ahead at a snail's pace> — see ALONG

ahead of preposition
1 earlier than <always arrives at school ahead of the bus> <we were cautioned not to fill out any of the test answers ahead of time> — see BEFORE 1
2 preceding in space <the three lost children emerged from the forest, with the family dog walking proudly ahead of them> — see BEFORE 2

aid noun
1 a person who helps a more skilled person <Jack is his mother's preferred aid in the kitchen, as his sister Janice is clumsy when it comes to chopping and peeling> — see HELPER
2 a thing that helps <a dictionary is a handy aid for working crossword puzzles> — see HELP 2
3 an act or instance of helping <the clerk asked if she needed any aid carrying out her purchases> — see HELP 1

aid verb
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end <sought to aid her in her search for a dachshund puppy by looking online> — see HELP 1

aide noun
a person who helps a more skilled person <the nurse's aide will bring you an extra pillow> <served as an aide in his father's senatorial campaign> — see HELPER

ail noun
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <half of the staff is out sick with the usual wintertime ails> — see DISEASE

ail verb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <parents who were at a loss to explain what was ailing their normally vivacious daughter> — see DISTURB 1

ailing adjective
1 chronically or repeatedly suffering from poor health <when his ailing wife had to go to a nursing home, he visited her every day> — see SICKLY 1
2 temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body <he was ailing from some sort of infection in his eye that made it look all red and puffy> — see SICK 1

ailment noun
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <people who have AIDS are more susceptible to other ailments as well> — see DISEASE

aim noun
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <the main aim of a trip to the city is to shop for school clothes, but we always go to the artisans' market, too> — see GOAL

aim verb
1 to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal <the anti-drug campaign was aimed primarily at preteens>

Synonyms
bend, cast, direct, head, hold, level, pinpoint, set, train

Related Words
sight; bear, face; concentrate, focus; incline, orient, steer

Near Antonyms
avert, curve, deflect, detour, divert, rechannel, shunt, sidetrack

2 to have in mind as a purpose or goal <aimed to have his paper all done in time to go to the movies> — see INTEND 1

aimless adjective
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern <this aimless walking through stores isn't going to get your Christmas shopping done> — see RANDOM

aimlessly adverb
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method <wandered aimlessly through the forest until we were hopelessly lost> — see HIT OR MISS

air noun
1 a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect <played a lively air on his fiddle> — see MELODY
2 a slight or gentle movement of air <we sailed into the bay on a light air and just in time to enjoy a spectacular sunset> — see BREEZE 1
3 a special quality or impression associated with something <Naomi's the only person I know who can wear old jeans and a T-shirt with an air of elegance> — see AURA 1
4 airs plural a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive <ever since she joined the country club she's been putting on airs of being too “high society” for us ordinary folks> — see MASQUERADE

air verb
to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) <suggested we air any complaints about the seating arrangements to the person who actually planned the event> — see EXPRESS 1

airdrome noun
a place from which aircraft operate that usually has paved runways and a terminal <helicopters taking off from a military airdrome near Moscow> — see AIRPORT

airfield noun
a place from which aircraft operate that usually has paved runways and a terminal <the passenger jet made an emergency landing at an abandoned airfield> — see AIRPORT

airhead noun
a stupid person <among his intimates the consensus is that his new girlfriend is an airhead> — see IDIOT

airheaded adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <he insisted that beauty pageants were nothing but a collection of overdressed, airheaded women prancing around> — see STUPID 1

airily adverb
in a quick and spirited manner <sang the ditty airily, tapping his foot in time> — see GAILY 2

airman noun
one who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft <her father was an airman who was shot down in Vietnam> — see PILOT

airplane noun
a vehicle for traveling through the air that has fixed wings for lift <my uncle learned how to fly an airplane during World War II>

Synonyms
aeroplane [chiefly British], plane

Related Words
airbus, airliner, air taxi, liner; aerodyne, aircraft, air-cushion vehicle, airframe, airship, ship, tractor; freighter, tanker; jet, jetliner, superjet, supersonic, supersonic transport, trijet, turbojet, turboprop; aerospace plane, rocket plane; bomber, fighter, jump jet, torpedo bomber, torpedo plane, warplane; amphibian, seaplane; biplane, lightplane, tilt-rotor, towplane, trimotor, triplane; glider, sailplane

airport noun
a place from which aircraft operate that usually has paved runways and a terminal <the airport nearest us has plane service on only one major airline>

Synonyms
aerodrome [chiefly British], airdrome, airfield, field

Related Words
air base, air park, helipad, heliport, jetport; airstrip, landing field, landing strip, runway; launchpad, pad

airy adjective
1 resembling air in lightness <Aunt Helen's lemon pies are famous for their airy meringues>

Synonyms
ethereal, fluffy, gossamer, gossamery, light

Related Words
cobwebby, dainty, delicate, diaphanous, downy, feathery, flimsy, gauzelike, gauzy, insubstantial, tender, wispy; buoyant, lighter-than-air, lightweight, rarefied, unsubstantial, vaporous, weightless; cumulous, pillowy

Near Antonyms
firm, solid, substantial; bulky, burdensome, cumbersome, hefty, hulking, lumpish, ponderous, unwieldy, weighty

Antonyms
heavy, leaden

2 open to the free circulation of air <a pleasant, airy room>

Synonyms
breezy, ventilated

Related Words
atmosphered, vented

Near Antonyms
close, stifling, suffocating

Antonyms
breathless, stuffy, unventilated

3 located at a greater height than average or usual <airy mountain villages> — see HIGH 3
4 having much high-spirited energy and movement <the airy revelry of their latest album is a departure from the slower and more somber music of the band's previous work> — see LIVELY 1
5 satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness <an airy cologne that would be appropriate to wear to the office> — see DELICATE 1

akin adjective
1 having a close connection like that between family members <foxes are closely akin to dogs> — see RELATED
2 having qualities in common <mathematics and computer programming are akin in that they both require logical thinking> — see ALIKE

alack interjection
used to express sorrow or distress <alack, it's true—the only good restaurant in town is closing!> — see ALAS

alacritous adjective
having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation <his alacritous response to every request is “Right away, mate!”> — see QUICK 1

alacrity noun
cheerful readiness to do something <having just acquired his driver's license that morning, the teen agreed with alacrity to drive his cousin to the airport>

Synonyms
amenability, gameness, goodwill, obligingness, willingness

Related Words
celerity, quickness, rapidity, speed, speediness, swiftness; dispatch, promptitude, promptness; ardor, avidity, eagerness, enthusiasm, exuberance, fervor, gusto, keenness, relish, zeal, zest; agreeableness, geniality, good-naturedness, heartiness, warmth; open-mindedness, receptiveness, receptivity, responsiveness

Near Antonyms
leisureliness, pokiness, slowness, sluggishness; apathy, disinterestedness, halfheartedness, indifference, lukewarmness, perfunctoriness; delay, dilatoriness, doubt, equivocation, hesitance, hesitancy, hesitation, reluctance, reservation, reticence, uncertainty, vacillation; disinclination, indisposition, recalcitrance, resistance, unwillingness; antipathy, averseness, aversion

à la mode also a la mode adjective
being in the latest or current fashion <we discovered that what is à la mode for teens to wear in the U.S. isn't all that different from what they wear in Europe> — see STYLISH

alarm also alarum noun
1 suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune <observed with alarm the man staggering toward the edge of the cliff> — see APPREHENSION 1
2 the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk <in a daring midnight ride Paul Revere gave the alarm that British troops were approaching> — see WARNING 1
3 the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger <filled with alarm when the flood waters reached their front steps> — see FEAR 1

alarm also alarum verb
1 to strike with fear <I don't want to alarm you, but I think you should know there's a bear on your back porch> — see FRIGHTEN
2 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <alarmed at the skyrocketing cost of home heating fuel> — see DISTURB 1

alarmed adjective
filled with fear or dread <the Mohawks were the trapper's friends, so he was not the least bit alarmed at the sight of the band of Mohawk hunters> — see AFRAID

alarming adjective
causing fear <an alarming rise in her fever, causing the doctor to fear the worst> — see FEARFUL 1

alarums and excursions plural noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <the city is preparing for the alarums and excursions that inevitably accompany a presidential visit> — see COMMOTION

alas interjection
used to express sorrow or distress <Juliet's pitiful lament, “alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead!”>

Synonyms
alack, ay, wirra [Irish], woe

Related Words
ouch, ow; aw, phooey, rats, sheesh, shucks; bah, boo, faugh, fie, ho hum, humph, pish, pooh, pshaw, tsk, tush, tut, yuck (also yuk)

Near Antonyms
alleluia, glory, hallelujah; ha, hey, hooray (also hurrah or hurray), hot dog, wahoo [chiefly West], whee, whoopee, wow, yahoo, yippee

albeit conjunction
in spite of the fact that <she felt that her script was still too long, albeit it was much shorter than any of her previous scripts> — see ALTHOUGH

album noun
a collection of writings <a special anniversary album of his poetry published 100 years after his death> — see ANTHOLOGY

alchemize verb
to change in form, appearance, or use <time and fiction writers have alchemized these Wild West thugs into romantic heroes> — see CONVERT 2

alcohol noun
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <after his daughter was born, the man never again touched alcohol>

Synonyms
aqua vitae, ardent spirits, booze, bottle, drink, firewater, grog, hooch [slang], inebriant, intoxicant, John Barleycorn, juice [slang], liquor, lush [slang], moonshine, potable, rum, sauce [slang], spirits, stimulant, strong drink, tipple

Related Words
aperitif, bracer, chaser, digestif, nightcap; belt, load, nip, peg [British], pop, shooter, shot, slug, snifter, snort, tot, whet; cocktail, mixed drink; ale, beer, brew, brewage, brewski [slang], home brew, malt liquor, microbrew, mum, nappy [chiefly Scottish]; mead, sake (or saki), wine; barley-bree (also barley-broo) [chiefly Scottish], brandy, gin, liqueur, mao-tai, mescal, schnapps, tequila, vodka, whiskey (or whisky); Dutch courage

Antonyms
nonintoxicant

alcoholic noun
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <one can be a social drinker without turning into an alcoholic> — see DRUNK 1

alcoholism noun
habitual or excessive drinking of intoxicants <a treatment center for those suffering from alcoholism> — see INTEMPERANCE 1

alcove noun
1 a freestanding airy structure in a scenic setting (as a park) typically offering commanding views <a small alcove in one corner of the backyard garden> — see BELVEDERE
2 a hollowed-out space in a wall <an ancient vase in an alcove and a sculpture of Achilles on a stand in the museum's Greek Hall> — see NICHE 1

alert adjective
1 paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity <she needed to stay alert throughout the train ride so as not to miss her stop>

Synonyms
Argus-eyed, attentive, awake, observant, open-eyed, tenty (also tentie) [Scottish], vigilant, watchful, wide-awake

Related Words
alive, aware, conscious, sensitive; cognizant, heedful, keen, mindful, observing, regardful, sharp, sharp-eyed; hyperalert, hypervigilant, sleepless, wakeful; careful, cautious, chary, wary; prepared, ready

Phrases
on guard, on one's toes, on the alert, on the ball, on the qui vive, on tiptoe

Near Antonyms
absent, absentminded, absorbed, abstracted, daydreaming, dazed, distracted, dreaming, dreamy, engrossed, faraway, insensible, oblivious, preoccupied; sleeping, unaware, unconscious, unknowing, unwitting; careless, heedless, inattentive, unheeding, unmindful, unthinking, unwary; unprepared, unready

Antonyms
asleep

2 having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble <warned us to be alert to the presence of pickpockets on the crowded bus> — see CAREFUL 1
3 having or showing quickness of mind <an alert and well-trained sheep dog who can handle difficult situations> — see INTELLIGENT 1
4 having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation <an alert force of commandos, ready to go on a mission at a moment's notice> — see QUICK 1

alert noun
1 the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk <the white flash of the doe's raised tail, giving the “danger” alert to her fawns> — see WARNING 1
2 the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of opportunity, activity, or danger <the doctor told the patient to be on the alert for any signs of infection> — see VIGILANCE

alert verb
to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or risk <alerted us to the possibility that the roads would be flooded and we might have to take a detour> — see WARN

alertness noun
1 a close attentiveness to avoiding danger <drove through the fog with extra alertness, as the road signs repeatedly warned of deer and moose crossings> — see CAUTION 1
2 the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of opportunity, activity, or danger <we observed the U.S. border patrol's intensified alertness for drug smugglers at the border stations> — see VIGILANCE

alfresco adjective
of, relating to, or held in the open air <during the summer months, the theater company puts on a series of alfresco performances> — see OUTDOOR

alfresco adverb
in or into the open air <the restaurant's shaded terrace is highly recommended for those seeking to dine alfresco> — see OUTDOORS

algid adjective
having a low or subnormal temperature <the rescuers searching the algid waters of the Bering Sea> — see COLD 1

alias noun
1 a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual <a dressmaker whom everyone knows as “Bet,” her adopted alias in the dressmaking business that she named after Betsy Ross> — see NICKNAME
2 a fictitious or assumed name <the English author Eric Blair, better known under the alias of George Orwell> — see PSEUDONYM

alibi noun
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame <a student who always has a very creative alibi for undone homework or late papers> — see EXCUSE

alien adjective
1 being, relating to, or characteristic of a country other than one's own <new immigrants with customs alien to the community where they have settled> — see FOREIGN 1
2 not being a vital part of or belonging to something <it's completely alien to her nature to wish evil of anyone> — see EXTRINSIC

alien verb
1 to cause to change from friendly or loving to unfriendly or uncaring <such emotional cruelty will rapidly alien any friends you might possibly have left> — see ESTRANGE
2 to give over the legal possession or ownership of <the couple plans to alien the adjoining house lot to their eldest son> — see TRANSFER 1

alienate verb
1 to cause to change from friendly or loving to unfriendly or uncaring <his heartless treatment of their mother during the divorce proceeding has completely alienated the two children> — see ESTRANGE
2 to give over the legal possession or ownership of <a landowner has a right to alienate his right of ownership—in other words, he can sell the land if he wants to> — see TRANSFER 1

alienation noun
the loss of friendship or affection <after years of alienation from her family, she became reconciled with them when her father fell ill> — see ESTRANGEMENT

alight adjective
1 filled with much light <we approached the clearing, alight with torches, and observed a reenactment of ancient rites by Druids> — see BRIGHT 2
2 chiefly British being on fire <the pub, one of London's oldest, was completely alight by the time firefighters arrived> — see ABLAZE 1

alight verb
1 to come to rest after descending from the air <a flock of eight swans circled above, then alighted on the pond>

Synonyms
land, light, perch, roost, settle, touch down

Related Words
belly-land, crash-land

Near Antonyms
arise, ascend, climb, rise; float, fly, glide, plane, soar, wing; hang, hover

Antonyms
blast off, take off

2 to come down from something (as a vehicle) <as she alighted from the coach, she momentarily lost her footing>

Synonyms
descend, disembark, dismount, get down, light

Related Words
deplane, detrain

Near Antonyms
board, climb (aboard), get in, mount; enplane (also emplane), entrain

Antonyms
embark

alike adjective
having qualities in common <all the houses in the neighborhood are alike in that they all have a one-car garage and a fenced-in backyard>

Synonyms
akin, analogous, cognate, comparable, connate, correspondent, corresponding, ditto, like, matching, parallel, resemblant, resembling, similar, such, suchlike

Related Words
commensurate, proportionate; tantamount, virtual; allied, congeneric, congenerous, congenial, connatural, kin, kindred, relatable, related; approaching, approximating, close, coextensive, coincident, conformable, conforming, consistent, consonant, duplicate, equal, equivalent, fungible, identical, indistinguishable, interchangeable, me-too, redundant, same, selfsame, substitutable, synonymous, twin; entire, homogeneous, homogenous, unchanging, uniform, unvaried, unvarying

Phrases
on the order of

Near Antonyms
disparate, distinct, distinguishable, nonequivalent, noninterchangeable; variable, varied, various, varying; imprecise, inaccurate, inexact; unconnected, unrelated

Antonyms
different, dissimilar, diverse, unakin, unlike

alike adverb
in like manner <regulations that are disapproved of by teachers and students alike> — see ALSO 1

alikeness noun
the quality or state of having many qualities in common <since they're identical twins, you shouldn't be so surprised at the alikeness of their personal tastes> — see SIMILARITY 1

aliment noun
something that maintains or stimulates the intellect <complained that he had to drive for hours to find any sort of cultural aliment when visiting his parents' rural home> — see SUSTENANCE

A–list noun
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <the ceremony featured an A-list of Hollywood stars> — see ELITE 1

alive adjective
1 having or showing life <after crashing into the plate glass window the little bird was not only still alive, it seemed merely dazed>

Synonyms
animate, breathing, live, living, quick

Related Words
active, animated, dynamic, lively, thriving, vibrant, vigorous, vital, vivacious; current, existent, existing, extant, going, prevailing, surviving; resurrected

Near Antonyms
dying, fading, moribund; stillborn; reposing, resting; ghostlike, ghostly, ghosty, zombielike; absent, extinct, fallen, finished, gone, lapsed, lost, nonexistent, perished, terminated, vanished, wiped out; barren, desert

Antonyms
asleep, breathless, cold, dead, deceased, defunct, departed, expired, inanimate, lifeless, nonliving

2 marked by much life, movement, or activity <the mall was alive with holiday shoppers>

Synonyms
aboil, abubble, abuzz, animated, astir, brisk, bustling, busy, buzzing, flourishing, happening, hopping, humming, kinetic, lively, rousing, stirring, thriving, vibrant

Related Words
abounding, crowded, overflowing, populous, swarming, teeming, thronging

Antonyms
asleep, dead, inactive, lifeless, sleepy

3 being in effective operation <kept the cause of peace alive despite severe setbacks in relations between the two nations> — see ACTIVE 1
4 having being at the present time <insists that her new boyfriend is the handsomest guy alive> — see EXTANT 1
5 having specified facts or feelings actively impressed on the mind <alive to the need for major improvements in the school system> — see CONSCIOUS 1

alkie or alky noun, slang
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <most of the guys at that fraternity seem destined to spend their lives as alkies> — see DRUNK 1

all adjective
not divided or scattered among several areas of interest or concern <you need to focus all your attention on this matter> — see WHOLE 1

all adverb
1 to a full extent or degree <we are all out of milk> <I was all ready to leave at least ten minutes ago> — see FULLY 1
2 for each one <the score is three all> — see APIECE

all pronoun
every person <a joyous holiday to one and all!> — see EVERYBODY

Allah noun
the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <Muslims worship Allah> — see DEITY 2

all–around also all–round adjective
1 not limited or specialized in application or purpose <an all-around garden rake that adjusts for any raking task, from raking lawns to delicate flower beds> — see GENERAL 4
2 relating to the main elements and not to specific details <this saw has the top rating for all-around performance, but for small detail work it might not be your best choice> — see GENERAL 2
3 able to do many different kinds of things <an all-around player, as skilled on the pitcher's mound as he is at the batting plate> — see VERSATILE

all around adverb
with everyone or everything taken into account at the same time <all around, she's our best athlete>

Synonyms
all told, altogether, collectedly, collectively, inclusively, overall, together

Related Words
broadly, generally, liberally, loosely, macroscopically; all over, completely, comprehensively, encyclopedically, entirely, exhaustively, fully, sweepingly, thoroughly, totally, wholly

Phrases
across the board, all in all, in the aggregate, on the whole

Near Antonyms
detailedly, microscopically, minutely; literally, narrowly, restrictedly, strictly; alone, categorically, distinctly, exclusively, fractionally, individually, separately, singly, singularly, soley, solitarily, specifically

allay verb
to make more bearable or less severe <a gentle breeze would allay the heat> — see HELP 2

all but adverb
very close to but not completely <dinner is all but on the table, so don't go anywhere> — see ALMOST

allege verb
to state as a fact usually forcefully <alleged that the restaurant chain was engaging in discriminatory hiring practices> — see CLAIM 1

allegiance noun
adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <torn between his allegiance to his native country and the opportunities a sports career in the U.S. could offer> — see FIDELITY

allegory noun
a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life <Dr. Seuss's story “The Sneetches” is a telling allegory about tolerance for people's differences>

Synonyms
apologue, fable, parable

Related Words
beast fable, bestiary; morality play; legend, myth, mythology, narrative, tale

all–embracing adjective
covering everything or all important points <an all-embracing explanation for the great diversity of life on the planet> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC

allergic adjective
having a natural dislike for something <a lover of the outdoors who claims to be allergic to desk jobs> — see ANTIPATHETIC 1

allergy noun
a strong feeling of not liking or approving <independent-minded people who seem to have an allergy to any control from the government> — see DISLIKE 1

alleviate verb
to make more bearable or less severe <a car pool alleviates some of the stress of driving the kids to and from school every day> — see HELP 2

alleviation noun
reduction of or freedom from pain <hoping a couple of aspirin would provide some alleviation of the pain in his shoulder> — see EASE 1

alliance noun
1 a formal agreement between two or more nations or peoples <the smaller countries signed an alliance pledging to protect one another against the belligerent behemoth in their midst> — see TREATY
2 an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection <an alliance between the French and the Algonquians to check Iroquois advances into their territory> — see CONFEDERACY
3 the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <in alliance with booksellers, the nation's schools are promoting National Reading Month> — see ASSOCIATION 1

allied adjective
having a close connection like that between family members <people with foreign language fluency and an allied skill such as the ability to relate to people from different cultures> — see RELATED

all–important adjective
impossible to do without <that all-important item for a successful birthday party: a fancily decorated cake with candles> — see ESSENTIAL 1

all–in adjective, chiefly British
covering everything or all important points <all-in seven-day tour of Scotland> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC

all in adjective
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <was all in after an evening of dancing and partying> — see WEARY 1

all–inclusive adjective
covering everything or all important points <an all-inclusive look at the threat posed by a global pandemic> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC

allocate verb
1 to give as a share or portion <not enough computers to allocate one to every student> — see ALLOT
2 to give out (something) to appropriate individuals <allocated the housework in such a way that the older kids got more than the younger ones> — see ADMINISTER 1
3 to keep or intend for a special purpose <sliced the strawberries after first allocating all the nicest ones for the top of the cake> — see DEVOTE 1

allocation noun
1 a sum of money allotted for a specific use by official or formal action <recognizing the importance of the arts in the health of a city, the council increased the allocation for the city's annual jazz festival> — see APPROPRIATION 1
2 the act or process of giving out something to each member of a group <the allocation of Halloween candy became my job when I was too old to go trick-or-treating myself> — see DISTRIBUTION 1

all of adverb
to a full extent or degree <the boat is all of 15 feet long> — see FULLY 1

allot verb
to give as a share or portion <each speaker was allotted five minutes to present his or her opinion in the debate>

Synonyms
allocate, allow, apportion, assign, distribute, lot, ration

Related Words
admeasure, administer, deal, dispense, divide, dole out, hand out, measure, mete (out), meter, parcel (out), part, portion, prorate, share (out), split; accord, award, give, grant; earmark, reserve; chip in, contribute, donate; reallocate, reapportion, reassign, redistribute

Near Antonyms
begrudge, deny, deprive (of); keep, retain, stint, withhold; appropriate, arrogate, confiscate

allotment noun
1 a sum of money allotted for a specific use by official or formal action <the library budget was reduced, while allotments for city officials' travel expenses were increased> — see APPROPRIATION 1
2 something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group <every kindergartner received colored paper, scissors, and an allotment of paste to make paper chains> — see SHARE 1
3 the act or process of giving out something to each member of a group <the allotment of exhibition space at the annual trade show is always fraught with politics and infighting> — see DISTRIBUTION 1

all–out adjective
1 having no exceptions or restrictions <Grandpa got the all-out support of the family when he decided to remarry at age 72> — see ABSOLUTE 2
2 trying all possibilities <an all-out effort to break open the door> — see EXHAUSTIVE 1

all out adverb
with all power or resources being used <went all out for her New Year's Eve party—she even had fireworks!> — see FULL BLAST

all over adverb
1 in every place or in all places <I've looked all over—even outside—and I can't find my other shoe> — see EVERYWHERE
2 to a full extent or degree <his writing style is his mentor's all over> — see FULLY 1

allow verb
1 to give permission for or to approve of <flash photography is not allowed inside the church>

Synonyms
green-light, have, permit, suffer

Related Words
authorize, commission, license (also licence); accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), OK (or okay), warrant; accord, concede, grant, sanction, vouchsafe; admit, brook, condone, countenance, endure, support, tolerate

Phrases
stand for

Near Antonyms
hinder, impede, obstruct; censure, disallow, disapprove, deny, interdict, refuse, reject, revoke, suppress, withhold; deplore, discountenance, disfavor, dislike, frown (at or on), grudge; check, curb, keep, repress, restrain

Antonyms
ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto

2 to give permission to <a boarding school that does not allow students to go on weekend trips without written permission>

Synonyms
leave, let, permit

Related Words
authorize, commission, empower, license (also licence); approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; free, liberate, release; cater (to), give in (to), humor, indulge

Near Antonyms
deter, discourage; bar, block, constrain, curb, frustrate, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, prevent

Antonyms
enjoin, forbid, prohibit

3 to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference <only a lazy gardener would allow the weeds to grow that high>

Synonyms
let, permit, suffer, tolerate

Related Words
brush (aside or off), condone, disregard, ignore, overlook, shrug off, wink (at); excuse, forgive, pardon; brook, cater (to), give in (to), humor, indulge

Phrases
put up with

Near Antonyms
forbid, prohibit; curb, deter, discourage, frustrate, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with)

Antonyms
bar, block, constrain, prevent

4 to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly <I'll allow I probably said more than I should have> — see ADMIT 1
5 to give as a share or portion <allowed each camper one match to light his fire> — see ALLOT
6 to make able or possible <a patient's canceled appointment allowed the doctor to squeeze in a few extra phone calls> — see ENABLE 1
7 to make a statement of one's opinion <he allowed that their new house looked very nice> — see REMARK 1
8 chiefly Southern & Midland to have as an opinion <people in these parts allow that everyone is entitled to one mistake in life, even if it's a doozy> — see BELIEVE 2
9 chiefly Southern & Midland to have in mind as a purpose or goal <I allow to go hunting before the season is over> — see INTEND 1

allow (for) verb
to give consideration to (as unexpected circumstances or contingencies) <budget your time to allow for the possibility of unexpected problems>

Synonyms
consider, factor (in or into), provide (for), regard

Related Words
accommodate, adapt, adjust, condition; anticipate, contemplate, envisage, expect, foresee; assume, presume, presuppose; plan; calculate, face

Phrases
figure on, reckon with, take account of, take into account

Near Antonyms
factor (out)

Antonyms
discount, disregard

allow (of) verb
to make possible especially to the exclusion of other possibilities <I'm afraid the problem doesn't allow of any other solution>

Synonyms
admit (of), permit (of)

Related Words
open up; favor, justify, support, sustain, validate; need, take, want, warrant

Near Antonyms
close out, disallow, enjoin, exclude, forbid, negative, preclude, rule out

allowable adjective
that may be permitted <international travel without a passport isn't allowable> — see PERMISSIBLE

allowance noun
1 something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group <as the war progressed, each family's allowance of sugar and flour was reduced> — see SHARE 1
2 the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something <without the official allowance of the school board, no organization can hold its meetings on school property> — see PERMISSION

alloy noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <brass is an alloy, consisting of copper and zinc> — see BLEND

alloyed adjective
containing foreign or lower-grade substances <alloyed aluminum, containing either copper or silicon, is much stronger than pure aluminum for cookware> — see IMPURE 1

all–powerful adjective
having unlimited power or authority <that country's monarch was never an all-powerful ruler, but one who shared power with a parliament> — see OMNIPOTENT

all–purpose adjective
not limited or specialized in application or purpose <there's nothing wrong with all-purpose flour for baking bread, but flour with more gluten is better> — see GENERAL 4

all right adjective
1 being to one's liking <it's all right with me if you wear jeans to the party> — see SATISFACTORY 1
2 not exposed to the threat of loss or injury <as soon as we heard the rescue helicopter, we knew we were all right> — see SAFE 1
3 of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards <it wasn't a great meal, but it was all right> — see ADEQUATE
4 conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <he's an all right guy, so if he says that's the way it happened, I believe him> — see GOOD 2

all right adverb
1 in a satisfactory way <if everything goes all right, I should be back in a day or two> — see WELL 1
2 used to express agreement <all right, I'll try one tiny bite of octopus> — see YES
3 without any question <he was there all right—I saw him sitting in the back row> — see INDEED 1

all told adverb
with everyone or everything taken into account at the same time <all told, we made $14.64> — see ALL AROUND

allude verb
to convey an idea indirectly <Mrs. Simons alluded to some health problems, without being specific> — see HINT

allure noun
the power of irresistible attraction <the nostalgic allure of America's Wild West still attracts vacationers to ghost towns> — see CHARM 2

allure verb
1 to attract or delight as if by magic <was so allured by his sister's college roommate that before long he was asking her for a date> — see CHARM 1
2 to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage <allured by the promise of big bucks, he decided to have a go at a job on the trading floor of the stock market> — see LURE

allurement noun
1 something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain <for him the allurement of gambling is not the prospect of getting rich but rather the excitement of the game> — see LURE 1
2 the act or pressure of giving in to a desire especially when ill-advised <difficult to ignore the allurements of the sideshow posters at the carnival> — see TEMPTATION 1

alluring adjective
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <the alluring beauty of the swans on the lake held us spellbound> — see FASCINATING 1

alluvion noun
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms <the nonstop torrential rains were threatening to produce an alluvion of biblical proportions> — see FLOOD

ally noun
someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support <in trying to convince his parents to send him to soccer camp, the youngster had a strong ally in his coach>

Synonyms
abettor (also abetter), backer, bedfellow, confederate, fellow traveler, supporter, sympathizer

Related Words
empathizer, well-wisher; accessory (also accessary), accomplice, coalitionist, collaborationist, collaborator; adjunct, assistant, coadjutor, helper; associate, cohort, colleague, fellow, partner; buddy, chum, companion, comrade, confidant, crony, familiar, friend, intimate, mate, pal

Near Antonyms
belittler, detractor; adversary, enemy, foe, opponent

ally verb
to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members <the area's small grape growers have allied and formed a cooperative that will help them get the best prices>

Synonyms
associate, band (together), club, coalesce, cohere, confederate, conjoin, cooperate, federate, league, unite

Related Words
cabal, collaborate, gang up, hang together, team (up); incorporate, organize, unionize; affiliate; amalgamate, combine, conglomerate, consolidate, converge, group, join, merge; knot, link, tie, wed

Phrases
close ranks, pull together

Near Antonyms
detach, disengage, dissolve, disunite, divorce, part, segregate, separate, sever, split, sunder; alienate, estrange, fall out

Antonyms
break up, disband

almighty adjective
1 extreme in degree, power, or effect <the almighty shock that we got when we received the bill> — see INTENSE 1
2 having unlimited power or authority <when we are young, we want our parents to be almighty and to be able to make everything right when something goes wrong> — see OMNIPOTENT

almighty adverb
to a great degree <that's an almighty large pumpkin you've grown there> — see VERY 1

Almighty noun
the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <the missionaries gave thanks to the Almighty for their miraculous deliverance from death> — see DEITY 2

almost adjective
being such only when compared to something else <burdened with impossibly high expectations, the movie came to be regarded as an almost failure> — see COMPARATIVE

almost adverb
very close to but not completely <we were almost finished with dinner when an unexpected visitor showed up> <there were almost enough seats for everybody on the bus>

Synonyms
about, all but, borderline, fair [chiefly British], fairly, feckly [chiefly Scottish], more or less, most, much, near, nearly, next to, nigh, practically, somewhere, virtually, well-nigh

Related Words
appreciably, by and large, chiefly, largely, mainly, mostly; kind of, partially, partly, somewhat

Phrases
as good as, just about, pretty much, within an inch of

Near Antonyms
absolutely, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, plain, plumb [chiefly dialect], quite, thoroughly; totally, utterly, well, wholly; barely, hardly, scarcely

alms plural noun
a gift of money or its equivalent to a charity, humanitarian cause, or public institution <believes that giving alms to the poor is a moral duty> — see CONTRIBUTION

almsgiving noun
the giving of necessities and especially money to the needy <good works such as almsgiving, tending the sick and visiting the imprisoned> — see CHARITY 1

aloft adverb
to or in a higher place <the ease with which he can hold a ballerina aloft with one hand is awesome> — see ABOVE

alone adjective
1 not being in the company of others <no one realized the boy was alone in his room so they all left for the movies without him>

Synonyms
lone, lonely, lonesome, single, solitary, solo, unaccompanied

Related Words
unattended, unchaperoned; forlorn, friendless; cloistered, disassociated, hermetic (also hermetical), insulated, isolate, isolated, remote, retired, secluded, withdrawn; quarantined, segregated, separated, sequestered; separate, unattached, unconnected, unlinked; detached, disconnected, disjointed, dissociated, disunited, divided, fractionated; abandoned, adrift, deserted, desolate, forgotten, forsaken, lorn, neglected

Phrases
on one's own

Near Antonyms
attended, chaperoned, escorted; adjacent, adjoining, communicating, contiguous, neighboring, next-door; attached, connected, coupled, linked

Antonyms
accompanied

2 being the one or ones of a class with no other members <he is alone among the actors of his generation in his exceptional ability to play both comedic and serious parts> — see ONLY 2

alone adverb
1 without aid or support <completely new to the big city, she nevertheless managed to find her way home alone>

Synonyms
independently, single-handed, single-handedly, singly, solely, unaided, unassisted

Related Words
individually, separately; solo

Phrases
by one's own bootstraps, on one's own, on one's own hook, on one's own initiative

Near Antonyms
collectively, conjointly, cooperatively, hand in glove (or hand and glove), hand in hand, jointly, mutually, together; en masse

2 for nothing other than <would willingly play professional baseball for the sheer enjoyment alone> — see SOLELY 1

aloneness noun
the state of being alone or kept apart from others <it was an overwhelming sense of aloneness that eventually drove the island castaway mad> — see ISOLATION

along adverb
toward or at a point lying in advance in space or time <traffic was inching along at a snail's pace> <work on the project is moving right along>

Synonyms
ahead, forth, forward, forwards, on, onward (also onwards)

Related Words
before, fore, frontward (or frontwards)

Near Antonyms
back, backward (or backwards), behind, rearward (also rearwards)

alongshore adjective
of, relating to, or situated in the waters near the shore <temperatures are moderated by an alongshore current> — see INSHORE

aloof adjective
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <the new kid was really not so aloof as we thought him at first, just painfully shy> — see COOL 1

aloud adverb
with one's normal voice speaking the words <the mischievous teacher likes to call on the sleepiest-looking students to read aloud from the textbook>

Synonyms
audibly, out, out loud

Related Words
verbally, vocally; clearly, discernibly, distinctly, distinguishably, perceptibly, plainly; blatantly, bloody murder, boisterously, clamorously, loudly, lustily, mightily, noisily, resonantly, resoundingly, stridently, thunderously, uproariously, vociferously

Near Antonyms
faintly, feebly, low, noiselessly, quietly, softly

Antonyms
inaudibly, silently, soundlessly, voicelessly

alp noun
an elevation of land higher than a hill <an adventurer who has scaled alps, explored ocean depths, and flown into the stratosphere> — see MOUNTAIN 1

alpha noun
the point at which something begins <money is not the alpha and omega—the beginning and end—of life's purpose> — see BEGINNING

alphabet noun
general or basic truths on which other truths or theories can be based <you need to learn the alphabet of genealogy before you can move on to more advanced study> — see PRINCIPLES 1

alphabet soup noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the alphabet soup of designer drugs that were available to patrons of the once-notorious disco> — see MISCELLANY 1

already adverb
so as to precede something in order of time <when we got back to the house, the movers had already left> — see AHEAD 1

alright adjective
1 being to one's liking <an alright movie, but I wouldn't pay to see it again> — see SATISFACTORY 1
2 not exposed to the threat of loss or injury <we got the plane's nose back up, and after that we were alright> — see SAFE 1

alright adverb
1 in a satisfactory way <the audition for the orchestra position seemed to go alright, but one never knows> — see WELL 1
2 used to express agreement <alright, you can buy me lunch, but next time it's my treat> — see YES
3 without any question <she passed the test alright—she had the highest score in the class> — see INDEED 1

also adverb
1 in like manner <we stayed at a historic London hotel, the same establishment that had also welcomed our grandparents many years ago>

Synonyms
alike, correspondingly, ditto, likewise, similarly, so

Related Words
equally, equivalently, identically

Phrases
as well

Near Antonyms
contrarily, conversely, inversely, oppositely, vice versa; diversely, unequally, variously

Antonyms
differently, dissimilarly, otherwise

2 in addition to what has been said <I'd like a motorcycle for my birthday; also, I'd like a new CD player> — see MORE 1

alter verb
1 to make different in some way <can't you alter your plans just slightly so we can leave 10 minutes earlier?> — see CHANGE 1
2 to remove the sex organs of <contends that cats and dogs that have been altered make better pets> — see NEUTER

alterable adjective
capable of being readily changed <if my vacation plans were alterable, I'd change them> — see FLEXIBLE 1

alteration noun
the act, process, or result of making different <there's been an alteration in the intended route of our bird walk> — see CHANGE 1

altercate verb
to express different opinions about something often angrily <this discussion is so silly we might as well altercate on how many angels can dance on the point of a needle> — see ARGUE 2

altercation noun
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <judging from all the slamming and banging, I'd say there was some sort of altercation going on next door> — see ARGUMENT 1

alter ego noun
1 a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another <over the years the state's other senator became his alter ego as well as his political ally> — see FRIEND 1
2 something or someone that strongly resembles another <the hero of the novel is clearly the author's alter ego, right down to his receding hairline and middle-aged paunch> — see IMAGE 1

alternative noun
the power, right, or opportunity to choose <there's no alternative: we must cross the stream to reach our destination> — see CHOICE 1

although also altho conjunction
in spite of the fact that <although I've been to his house several times, I still can't remember how to get there>

Synonyms
albeit, as, howbeit, much as, notwithstanding, though, when, whereas, while, whilst [chiefly British]

Related Words
but, if

altiplano noun
a broad flat area of elevated land <a cold wind from the Andes swept across the altiplano> — see PLATEAU

altitude noun
1 the distance of something or someone from bottom to top <the altitude of the highest mountain in the U.S. is only about two thirds that of the highest mountain in the world> — see HEIGHT 3
2 the most extreme or advanced point <a man whose arrogance continues to reach new altitudes> — see HEIGHT 2
3 usually altitudes plural an area of high ground <the air is thinner at higher altitudes> — see HEIGHT 4

altitudinous adjective
extending to a great distance upward <the brochure described the seaside hotel as “an imposing edifice graced by old world charm, situated atop an altitudinous promontory with panoramic views”> — see HIGH 1

altogether adverb
1 for the most part <altogether, I'd say we had a pretty good time> — see CHIEFLY
2 to a full extent or degree <I was not altogether prepared for such bad news> — see FULLY 1
3 with everyone or everything taken into account at the same time <we spent six months in Europe altogether> — see ALL AROUND

altogether noun
the state of having no clothes on one's body <had never posed in the altogether for a photographer before> — see NUDITY

altruistic adjective
having or showing a concern for the welfare of others <I'm not being altruistic in giving you these books, since I was going to have to lug them with me if you hadn't come along> — see CHARITABLE 1

always adverb
1 on every relevant occasion <although we never intend more than an afternoon visit, she always insists we stay for dinner>

Synonyms
aye (also ay), consistently, constantly, continually, ever, forever, incessantly, invariably, night and day, perpetually, unfailingly

Related Words
commonly, frequently, oft, often, oftentimes (or ofttimes), recurrently, repeatedly; continuously, steadily, uninterruptedly, unremittingly; dependably, generally, habitually, normally, ordinarily, regularly, routinely, typically, usually; inevitably; eternally, everlastingly

Phrases
at every turn

Near Antonyms
intermittently, occasionally, periodically, sometimes, sporadically; infrequently, rarely, seldom, unusually; variously

Antonyms
ne'er, never

2 whatever else is done or is the case <you can always take a cab if the buses aren't running>

Synonyms
anyhow, anyway, leastways [dialect], leastwise

Phrases
at all events, at any rate, at least, in any case, in any event

3 for all time <I will love you always> — see EVER 1

amain adverb
with great effort or determination <conflicting ideals that social philosophers have struggled amain to reconcile> — see HARD 1

amalgam noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <a church that is an amalgam of traditional and modern architectural styles> — see BLEND

amalgamate verb
to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <silver amalgamated with mercury is used for tooth fillings> — see BLEND 1

amalgamated adjective
made from the joining of two or more parts or elements <the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union was formed from the merger of the clothing workers' and textile workers' unions> — see COMPOSITE

amalgamation noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <an amalgamation of peat moss and vermiculite is a good medium for starting vegetable seedlings> — see BLEND

amanuensis noun
one who writes from dictation or copies manuscripts <thanks to the efforts of his dutiful amanuensis, copies of most of the author's letters and unpublished manuscripts have been preserved> — see SCRIBE 1

amass verb
1 to bring together in one body or place <amassed a truckload of donations in the course of their canned food drive> — see GATHER 1
2 to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass <over the last month a huge mound of paperwork has amassed on my desk> — see COLLECT 2

amateur adjective
1 being such only for recreation <an amateur cabinetmaker, he derives immense satisfaction from finely crafting his own furniture> — see AVOCATIONAL
2 lacking or showing a lack of expert skill <in every room there were amateur watercolors, apparently the work of the innkeeper's wife> — see AMATEURISH

amateur noun
1 a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession <an amateur photographer who has won a number of photo contests>

Synonyms
dabbler, dilettante, hobbyist, layman, nonexpert, nonprofessional, potterer, putterer, tinkerer

Related Words
all-rounder [British], generalist, general practitioner, jack-of-all-trades; aficionado (also afficionado), buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan

Antonyms
authority, expert, pro, professional, specialist

2 a person who lacks experience and competence in an art or science <a homemade doghouse that looked like it was built by an amateur who hadn't mastered basic carpentry>

Synonyms
hack, hacker, inexpert, jackleg, trifler

Related Words
beginner, freshman, greenhorn, kid, learner, neophyte, newcomer, novice, rookie, tenderfoot, tyro

Near Antonyms
maestro, virtuoso, whiz, wizard; old hand, old-timer, vet, veteran

Antonyms
ace, adept, crackerjack (also crackajack), craftsman, expert, hand, master, past master, shark, sharp

amateurish adjective
lacking or showing a lack of expert skill <that's an amateurish wallpapering job—the pattern doesn't match at the seams>

Synonyms
amateur, dilettante, dilettantish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, nonprofessional, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful

Related Words
curbstone, self-taught, uninitiated, unprepared, unqualified, unschooled, untaught, untrained, untutored; awkward, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, heavy-handed; crude, defective, faulty, flawed, primitive, unfinished, unpolished; beginning, entry-level, fresh, green, new, raw, unseasoned, untested, untried, would-be; incapable, incompetent, talentless, unable, unfit, ungifted, untalented

Near Antonyms
able, accomplished, capable, competent, dexterous (also dextrous), gifted, habile, handsome, proficient, skilled, skillful, talented; experienced, practiced (also practised), seasoned, veteran; educated, fitted, initiated, knowledgeable, prepared, qualified, schooled, taught, trained, tutored, versed; all-around (also all-round), ambidextrous, versatile, well-rounded; finished, polished, slick

Antonyms
ace, adept, consummate, crackerjack, expert, master, masterful, masterly, professional, virtuosic, virtuoso

amateurishness noun
a lack of the level of skill associated with an expert or professional <I was surprised at the amateurishness of the dance presentation, considering it was put on by supposed professionals>

Synonyms
amateurism, dilettantism, inexpertness

Related Words
inexperience, unpreparedness; clumsiness, crudeness, ham-handedness, heavy-handedness; inability, inaptitude, incompetence, incompetency, unskillfulness

Near Antonyms
finish, polish; ability, adeptness, competence, proficiency, skill, skillfulness, talent, virtuosity

Antonyms
expertness, masterfulness, masterliness, professionalism

amateurism noun
a lack of the level of skill associated with an expert or professional <the new defense secretary proceeded to criticize the amateurism of the nation's war effort up to that point> — see AMATEURISHNESS

amatory adjective
of, relating to, exciting, or expressing sexual attraction or desire <amatory letters that kept their love alive during the years they were separated by war> — see EROTIC

amaze verb
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected <your ability to remember names and faces amazes me> — see SURPRISE 1

amazed adjective
1 affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise <you'd be amazed at the destruction one small squirrel can cause inside a house> — see THUNDERSTRUCK
2 filled with amazement or wonder <a visitor cannot help but be amazed by the size of the Great Pyramid> — see OPENMOUTHED

amazement noun
1 the rapt attention and deep emotion caused by the sight of something extraordinary <Israelites watched in amazement as the Red Sea parted so that they could cross on dry land> — see WONDER 2
2 the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual <imagine Dorothy's amazement when she discovered that the Wizard of Oz was just an ordinary man> — see SURPRISE 2

amazing adjective
1 causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness <it was rather amazing that the store let me return the sweater after I'd worn and even washed it> — see SURPRISING 1
2 causing wonder or astonishment <the amazing feats of the circus acrobats simply enthralled the audience> — see MARVELOUS 1

ambassador noun
a person sent on a mission to represent another <a beloved entertainer who has often been sent abroad by the president as his country's goodwill ambassador>

Synonyms
agent, delegate, emissary, envoy, legate, minister, representative

Related Words
ambassadress; attaché, chargé d'affaires, consul, deputy, diplomat, foreign minister, nuncio, procurator, proxy; apostle, evangelist, missionary; deputation, detachment, legation; courier, messenger; mouthpiece, spokesperson

ambience or ambiance noun
a special quality or impression associated with something <the exurb has the unmistakable ambience of old money> — see AURA 1

ambient noun
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded <observing how the survival techniques of primates vary with the ambient> — see ENVIRONMENT

ambiguity noun
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <the ambiguity of the clairvoyant's messages from the deceased allowed the grieving relatives to interpret them however they wished> — see OBSCURITY 1

ambiguous adjective
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <the exact reason for the change in plans is ambiguous, but I suspect it has something to do with money> — see OBSCURE 1

ambiguousness noun
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <the ambiguousness of her “I'll come if I can” left us wondering if we should find someone to take her place> — see OBSCURITY 1

ambit noun
an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends <many feel that church leaders stray outside of their proper ambit when they make specific political endorsements> — see RANGE 2

ambition noun
1 eager desire for personal advancement <“Talent without ambition will not make you a star,” the singer's voice coach liked to remind her>

Synonyms
ambitiousness, aspiration, go-getting

Related Words
determination, diligence, drive, energy, enterprise, go, hustle, industry, initiative, motivation, push; aggression, competitiveness, killer instinct; opportunism, overambitiousness, pretentiousness, pushiness; assertiveness, daring, spirit; ardor, avidity, eagerness, keenness, passion; avarice, greed, hunger

Near Antonyms
apathy, halfheartedness, indifference, unconcern; idleness, indolence, inertia, laziness, lethargy, shiftlessness, sloth

2 readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity <the ambition shown by the undersea explorers of the Mariana Trench, the deepest in the world> — see ENTERPRISE 2
3 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <his ambition is to study international business, then get a job overseas> — see GOAL

ambitious adjective
1 having a strong desire for personal advancement <an ambitious child actor and his even more ambitious mother, who will do anything to get him in commercials>

Synonyms
aspiring, go-getting, hard-driving, pushing, self-seeking

Related Words
determined, diligent, driving, dynamic, enterprising, gung ho, hungry, hustling, industrious, motivated, scrappy, venturesome, venturous; animated, lively, spirited; ardent, avid, eager, energetic, impassioned, keen, raring, vigorous; aggressive, assertive, high-flying, opportunistic, overambitious, pretentious, pushy, self-assertive; competing, competitive, rival, rivalrous

Near Antonyms
apathetic, disinterested, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic, unexcited, uninterested; casual, easygoing, lackadaisical, lazyish; halfhearted, lukewarm, tepid; lazy, lethargic, listless, shiftless, sluggish, spiritless; unaggressive, unassertive

Antonyms
ambitionless, unambitious

2 having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal <cleaning up the vacant lot in one weekend was an ambitious undertaking> — see AGGRESSIVE 1

ambitiousness noun
eager desire for personal advancement <for sheer ambitiousness, few professions can rival the modeling world> — see AMBITION 1

ambivalent adjective
having a mixture of opposing feelings <she's somewhat ambivalent about the relationship> — see CONFLICTED

amble noun
a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure <we had a lovely amble about the quaint village before continuing our drive> — see WALK 1

amble verb
to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure <the couple enjoys ambling along the many footpaths that meander through the park> — see HIKE 1

ambler noun
a person who travels by foot for exercise or pleasure <the state park has a number of easy trails which even the most casual of amblers can enjoy> — see HIKER

ambrosial adjective
1 having a pleasant smell <the ambrosial air of a greenhouse filled with orchids> — see FRAGRANT
2 very pleasing to the sense of taste <a platter heaped with exotic and ambrosial tropical fruits> — see DELICIOUS 1

ambulant adjective
traveling from place to place <a scattering of ambulant vendors can be found on the downtown plaza> — see ITINERANT

ambulate verb
to go on foot <a progressive disease that compromises a patient's ability to ambulate> — see WALK 1

ambulatory adjective
traveling from place to place <ambulatory theatrical companies that brought live theater to small towns across America> — see ITINERANT

ambuscade noun
a setup in which hidden attackers lie in wait <warned by one of their scouts of an Apache ambuscade, the Comanches took a different path through the mountains> — see AMBUSH 1

ambuscade verb
to lie in wait for and attack by surprise <marching to the rescue of the beseiged Fort Stanwix, 800 colonial militiamen were ambuscaded by a force of Loyalist troops and their Native American allies> — see AMBUSH

ambush noun
1 a setup in which hidden attackers lie in wait <revolutionaries laid an ambush for the king along the route his carriage would travel>

Synonyms
ambuscade, ambushment, surprise (also surpize), trap

Related Words
assault, attack, charge, sally; capture, entrapment, mousetrap, snare; hunting, stalking

2 a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise <thinking that he was getting into his assigned limousine, the diplomat did not realize that he was the victim of an ambush as he was being lured into his captor's car> — see TRAP 1

ambush verb
to lie in wait for and attack by surprise <the king's enemies planned to ambush the royal coach on the way to Paris and capture the king>

Synonyms
ambuscade, surprise (also surprize), waylay

Related Words
assail, assault, attack, storm, strike; jump, mug, pounce (on), tackle; charge, sally; capture, ensnare, entrap, mousetrap, net, snare, trap; hunt, prey (on or upon), stalk

ambushment noun
a setup in which hidden attackers lie in wait <ambushments were a constant threat to travelers along the road to London> — see AMBUSH 1

ameliorate verb
to make better <social legislation that must be given credit for ameliorating the lot of millions of deprived people> — see IMPROVE

amenability noun
1 a desire or disposition to please <our circle of friends tends to take advantage of Will's amenability, usually not even bothering to ask him what he wants to do> — see COMPLAISANCE
2 cheerful readiness to do something <our cat Figaro hasn't shown much amenability to going outside now that the weather's cold> — see ALACRITY

amenable adjective
1 having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action) <whatever you decide to do, I'm amenable—just let me know> — see WILLING 1
2 readily giving in to the command or authority of another <our normally balky cat becomes the most amenable of creatures when confronted with the strange environment of the veterinary clinic> — see OBEDIENT
3 being the one who must meet an obligation or suffer the consequences for failing to do so <even our nation's highest leaders must remain amenable to the law> — see RESPONSIBLE 1

amend verb
1 to make better <trying to amend the situation of the striking workers by supplying them with minimal food supplies> — see IMPROVE
2 to remove errors, defects, deficiencies, or deviations from <the Bill of Rights was adopted in an effort to amend a constitution that seemed to many to be deficient in guaranteeing individual rights> — see CORRECT 1
3 to change one's behavior or character for the better <the judge had heard the defendant promise before that he would amend> — see REFORM 2

amendatory adjective
serving to raise or adjust something to some standard or proper condition <a bill of rights was seen as a much-needed amendatory supplement to the national constitution> — see CORRECTIVE 1

amendment noun
a change designed to correct or improve a written work <the article as written requires only one factual amendment> — see CORRECTION 1

amenity noun
1 an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners <an unhappy, bickering couple who, at least in public, observe all the amenities of polite behavior> — see CIVILITY 1
2 something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary <we don't need an expensive hotel with all the amenities—just a place to sleep> — see LUXURY 1
3 something that adds to one's ease of living <that campground has so many of the amenities of home that it is best left to those who only like to pretend they are camping> — see COMFORT 2
4 the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others <at the nursing home Mr. Crawford's natural amenity charms the ladies and puts the men at ease> — see AMIABILITY 1

American dream noun
a life marked by material wealth and comfort <with the acquisition of a big house in the suburbs, they felt as though the American dream had indeed become a reality for them> — see GOOD LIFE

amiability noun
1 the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others <the waitress's amiability is what makes eating at the diner so much fun>

Synonyms
affability, agreeability, agreeableness, amenity, amiableness, geniality, good-naturedness, good-temperedness, graciousness, niceness, personableness, pleasantness, sweetness

Related Words
amenability, complaisance, mellowness, sweetness and light; amicability, amicableness, amity, cordiality, empressement, friendliness, gemütlichkeit; benignity, gentleness, kindliness, kindness; cheerfulness, cheeriness, sunniness; civility, comity, considerateness, consideration, courteousness, courtesy, politeness, thoughtfulness; attractiveness, delightfulness, enjoyableness, likability, likableness, pleasingness

Near Antonyms
boorishness, discourtesy, impoliteness, incivility, rudeness, ungraciousness; biliousness, cantankerousness, churlishness, crankiness, fussiness, grouchiness, grumpiness, irascibility, irascibleness, irritability, peevishness, petulance, testiness; contentiousness, contrariness, orneriness, quarrelsomeness, querulousness; hostility, unfriendliness; sourness, vinegar

Antonyms
disagreeableness, unpleasantness

2 a desire or disposition to please <we had expected our rich cousin to be pushy and snobby, so we were pleasantly surprised by her amiability> — see COMPLAISANCE

amiable adjective
having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations <the owner of the inn is an amiable, talkative widow who treats guests like family>

Synonyms
affable, agreeable, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, mellow, nice, pleasant, sweet, well-disposed

Related Words
amicable, clever [dialect], cordial, friendly, neighborly; benign, gentle, kind; cheerful, cheery, glad [archaic], sunny; companionable, conversable, sociable; civil, considerate, courteous, polite, thoughtful; accommodating, amenable, obliging; attractive, delightful, enjoyable, likable (or likeable)

Near Antonyms
boorish, discourteous, ill-mannered, impolite, inconsiderate, rude, surly, uncivil, unkind, unmannerly, unsociable; bearish, bilious, cantankerous, choleric, churlish, crabby, cranky, dyspeptic, fussy, grouchy, grumpy, ill-humored, irascible, irritable, peevish, petulant, quick-tempered, snappish, testy, touchy; argumentative, contentious, contrary, ornery, querulous; unappealing, unattractive; sour, vinegary

Antonyms
disagreeable, ill-natured, ill-tempered, unamiable, ungenial, ungracious, unpleasant

amiableness noun
the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others <the dance instructor's natural amiableness puts new students immediately at ease> — see AMIABILITY 1

amicable adjective
1 having or marked by agreement in feeling or action <the contract negotiations between the hotel workers and management were reasonably amicable> — see HARMONIOUS 3
2 having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <finds his coworkers at his new job just as amicable as he ever could have hoped> — see FRIENDLY 1

amid or amidst preposition
1 in or into the middle of <having grown up amid farmers and ranchers, Keith still thinks of himself as a country boy at heart> — see AMONG
2 in the course of <amidst the messy divorce proceedings they never forgot that their children mattered most> — see DURING

amigo noun
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another <is it all right if I bring my amigo Ben to the party?> — see FRIEND 1

amiss adjective
1 having a fault <that engine noise indicates that something is clearly amiss> — see FAULTY
2 not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <official recognition would not be amiss after that spectacular effort> — see INAPPROPRIATE

amiss adverb
1 in a mistaken or inappropriate way <I hope that my suggestion that you might be more comfortable in a larger chair was not taken amiss> — see WRONGLY
2 off the desired or intended path or course <the reenactment of the Wright Brothers' first flight went amiss when the wind died on the makeshift runway and the plane stopped short in a mud puddle> — see WRONG 1

amity noun
kindly concern, interest, or support <a youth club fostering amity among the city's many and diverse ethnic groups> — see GOODWILL 1

ammunition noun
means or method of defending <be certain that all of your accusations are true, lest you just give them ammunition to claim that all of them are false> — see DEFENSE 1

amnesty noun
release from the guilt or penalty of an offense <the president of France traditionally grants amnesty to specially selected prisoners on Bastille Day> — see PARDON

amok or amuck adverb
in a confused and reckless manner <returned to the classroom to find an escaped snake and her students running amok> — see HELTER-SKELTER 1

among also amongst preposition
in or into the middle of <a gull landed among the burgers-and-fries eaters at the outdoor snack bar, clearly looking for handouts>

Synonyms
amid (or amidst), mid, midst, through

Related Words
between, betwixt

Phrases
in the thick of

Near Antonyms
from, out of

amorous adjective
of, relating to, exciting, or expressing sexual attraction or desire <male birds engage in amorous behavior—nest-building, singing, showing off their finery—in order to attract females> — see EROTIC

amorphous adjective
having no definite or recognizable form <amorphous lumps of clay magically transformed by a skilled potter's hands into works of art> — see FORMLESS 1

amount noun
a given or particular mass or aggregate of matter <is this small amount of food supposed to feed the whole hockey team?>

Synonyms
measure, quantity, quantum, volume

Related Words
coefficient, degree; body, portion; many, number

amount (to) verb
1 to have a total of <the expenses of the trip amounted to nearly double what we'd budgeted for>

Synonyms
add up (to), aggregate, come (to), count (up to), number, sum (to or into), total

Related Words
average, equal, measure, reach; compose, comprise, constitute, make up

Phrases
clock in at

2 to be the same in meaning or effect <it makes no difference whether you're going to the game or the movies, for it amounts to the same thing—that you can't babysit>

Synonyms
add up (to), come (to), correspond (to), emulate, equal

Related Words
approach, match, measure (up), meet, rival, touch; connote, denote, express, import, mean, signify, smack (of), spell, suggest

amour noun
a brief romantic relationship <in her memoirs the diva candidly recalls her amours with some of opera's best-known tenors and baritones> — see AFFAIR 1

amour propre noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <if amour propre is a virtue, then this actress's memoirs are among the greatest declarations of love ever written> — see COMPLACENCE 1

amp (up) verb
1 to give life, vigor, or spirit to <an important news story that doesn't need to be amped up with sensationalism> — see ANIMATE
2 to make markedly greater in measure or degree <inflammatory rhetoric that served only to amp up the civil unrest that was overspreading the city> — see INTENSIFY

amphitheater noun
a large room or building for enclosed public gatherings <the conference attendees crowded into the amphitheater for the keynote address> — see HALL 3

ample adjective
1 being more than enough without being excessive <there's ample time to order a pizza before the show> — see PLENTIFUL
2 more than adequate or average in capacity <a husky fellow, he always heads for the most ample chair in the room> — see SPACIOUS

amplify verb
1 to express more fully and in greater detail <after filing a report of missing luggage, he was asked to amplify a bit as to the circumstances> — see EXPAND 1
2 to make greater in size, amount, or number <the number of blood volunteers was significantly amplified by the promise of thank-you gifts to donors> — see INCREASE 1
3 to make markedly greater in measure or degree <a fox's large ears serve to amplify such sounds as little critters skittering among stones> — see INTENSIFY

amplitude noun
an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends <the amplitude of Thomas Jefferson's interests—government, architecture, agriculture, science, philosophy—is truly awesome> — see RANGE 2

amply adverb
in a generous manner <amply rewarded the boy who had found her necklace> — see WELL 2

amulet noun
something worn or kept to bring good luck or keep away evil <a small cross made of goat bone was worn in the Middle Ages as an amulet to ward off evil> — see CHARM 1

amuse verb
to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied <the older girl amused her four-year-old sister at the family reunion by showing her off to all the relatives>

Synonyms
disport, divert, entertain, regale, solace

Related Words
absorb, busy, distract, engage, engross, immerse, interest, involve, occupy; beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, delight, enchant, enthrall (or enthral), fascinate; grip, hypnotize, intrigue, mesmerize; coddle, gratify, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, please, pleasure, spoil; appease, comfort, conciliate, console, content, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate, soothe

Near Antonyms
bore, jade; drain, enervate, exhaust, fatigue, tire, wear, wear out, weary; aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, disturb, exasperate, fret, gall, grate, harass, harry, irk, nettle, peeve, perturb, pester, pique, upset, vex

amusement noun
the act or activity of providing pleasure or amusement especially for the public <with the opening of Disneyland in 1955, the film producer Walt Disney greatly expanded his amusement empire> — see ENTERTAINMENT 1

amusing adjective
providing amusement or enjoyment <Grandma told an amusing story about Dad when he was little> — see FUN

analgesic noun
something (as a drug) that relieves pain <the doctor prescribed an analgesic and rest for my injured knee> — see PAINKILLER

analogize verb
to describe as similar <analogized the White House scandal to a cancer that was spreading to every internal organ of the body> — see COMPARE 1

analogous adjective
having qualities in common <bad-mouthing your sister is analogous to slapping her in the face—it's just as bad> — see ALIKE

analphabetic adjective
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <this analphabetic society left no written records so archaeologists must piece together their culture from a variety of nonverbal artifacts> — see IGNORANT 1

analysis noun
1 the separation and identification of the parts of a whole <investigators took the mysterious powder to the lab for analysis>

Synonyms
anatomizing, anatomy, assay, breakdown, deconstruction, dissection

Related Words
assessment, diagnosis, evaluation, examination, inspection, investigation, muster, scrutiny; arrangement, assortment, cataloging (or cataloguing), categorization, classification, codification, indexing; enumeration, inventory, itemization, tabulation; division, reduction, segmentation, separation, subdivision

Near Antonyms
agglomeration, aggregation, amalgamation, assimilation, coalescence, conglomeration, consolidation, integration, synthesis, unification

2 a series of explanations or observations on something (as an event) <gave a thorough analysis of the main character's motives> — see COMMENTARY 1

analytic or analytical adjective
according to the rules of logic <presented a very analytical argument for the defendant's guilt> — see LOGICAL 1

analyze verb
to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships <analyze the park's ecosystem before deciding whether hunting should be allowed>

Synonyms
anatomize, assay, break down, cut, deconstruct, dissect

Related Words
assess, diagnose, evaluate, examine, inspect, investigate, scrutinize; arrange, assort, catalog (or catalogue), categorize, classify, codify, diagram, enumerate, index, order, schematize, sort, tabulate; divide, reduce, segment, separate, subdivide

Near Antonyms
agglomerate, aggregate, amalgamate, assimilate, coalesce, conglomerate, consolidate, integrate, synthesize, unify

anamnesis noun
a particular act or instance of recalling or the thing remembered <an extended, highly fruitful anamnesis that was triggered by the simple act of biting into a madeleine> — see MEMORY 2

anarchic also anarchical adjective
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority <the citywide blackouts caused anarchic looting and rioting> — see LAWLESS 1

anarchy noun
a state in which there is widespread wrongdoing and disregard for rules and authority <the anarchy that the country experienced after the dictator drained the treasury and fled the country>

Synonyms
lawlessness, misrule

Related Words
anarchism; commotion, tumult, uproar; chaos, confusion, disarray, disorder, disorderliness, disorganization, misorder; disruption, disturbance, havoc, riot, strife, turbulence, turmoil, unrest, upheaval; mutiny, rebellion, revolution, uprising; criminality, outlawry

Near Antonyms
law, law-abidingness, lawfulness, legality, legitimacy, rule; calmness, harmony, order, orderliness, peace, peaceableness, peacefulness, quiet, tranquillity (or tranquility)

anathema noun
1 a prayer that harm will come to someone <uttered an anathema before driving the would-be robber from the his shop> — see CURSE 1
2 something or someone that is hated <the use of animals in the testing of cosmetics is anathema to animal-rights activists> — see HATE 2

anathematize verb
1 to ask a divine power to send harm or evil upon <heretics anathematized by the church leaders> — see CURSE 1
2 to declare to be morally wrong or evil <fundamentalist preachers who anathematize any departure from a literal interpretation of the Bible> — see CONDEMN 1

anatomize verb
to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships <if you anatomize the problem, you'll see it stems from a combination of her bad behavior and your unwillingness to speak to her about it> — see ANALYZE

anatomizing noun
the separation and identification of the parts of a whole <your anatomizing of the situation is quite insightful> — see ANALYSIS 1

anatomy noun
the separation and identification of the parts of a whole <a minutely detailed anatomy of the “perfect crime”> — see ANALYSIS 1

ancestor noun
1 a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent <Bridie's Irish ancestors immigrated to the United States in the 19th century during the Great Potato Famine>

Synonyms
father, forebear (also forbear), forebearer, forefather, grandfather, primogenitor, progenitor

Related Words
antecessor, predecessor [archaic]; ancestress, foremother, grandmother, matriarch; grandsire [archaic], patriarch, sire [archaic]; ancestry, antecedents, roots

Near Antonyms
children, family, issue, lineage, offspring, posterity, progeny, seed, stock; daughter, heir, inheritor, scion, son, successor

Antonyms
descendant (also descendent)

2 something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed <pinball machines—the ancestors of today's video games—go back to the 19th century>

Synonyms
antecedent, archetype, daddy, foregoer, forerunner, granddaddy (also grandaddy), precursor, predecessor, prototype

Related Words
model, original; originator, sire; father, mother

Near Antonyms
by-product, derivative, offshoot, outgrowth, spin-off; daughter, son

Antonyms
descendant (also descendent)

ancestry noun
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <a Cambodian immigrant who can trace her Khmer ancestry as far back as the 16th century>

Synonyms
birth, blood, bloodline, breeding, descent, extraction, family tree, genealogy, line, lineage, origin, parentage, pedigree, stock, strain

Related Words
heredity, succession; family, house; kin, kindred, relations, relatives; race

Near Antonyms
offspring; child, heir, inheritor, son, successor

Antonyms
issue, posterity, progeny, seed

anchor noun
1 one who reads and introduces news reports on a news program <the news anchor coordinated the reports of the correspondents from around the state> — see ANCHORPERSON
2 something or someone to which one looks for support <my best friend has been my anchor throughout this crisis> — see DEPENDENCE 2

anchor verb
1 to put securely in place or in a desired position <used ropes and sandbags to anchor the hot-air balloon to the ground> — see FASTEN 2
2 to stop at or near a place along the shore <we'll anchor at Praia, Cape Verde> — see LAND 1

anchorage noun
a part of a body of water protected and deep enough to be a place of safety for ships <sailed into a quiet anchorage to wait out the storm> — see HARBOR 1

anchorite noun
a person who lives away from others <many Christian saints were anchorites who removed themselves from the world to focus on their spirituality> — see RECLUSE

anchorperson noun
one who reads and introduces news reports on a news program <the new anchorperson did an admirable job of dealing with the late-breaking news story>

Synonyms
anchor, newscaster, newsreader [chiefly British]

Related Words
anchorman, anchorwoman, coanchor; announcer, broadcaster, commentator, linkman [British], telecaster; correspondent, foreign correspondent, interviewer, journalist, newshound, newsie, newsman, newsperson, newswoman, reporter, stringer

ancient adjective
1 dating or surviving from the distant past <Rome's ancient ruins remain carefully preserved even in the midst of the bustle of the modern city>

Synonyms
aged, age-old, antediluvian, antique, dateless, hoar, hoary, immemorial, old, venerable

Related Words
aging (or ageing), mature; antiquated, archaic, archaistic, dated, fusty, geriatric, medieval (also mediaeval), moldy, Noachian, obsolete, outmoded, out-of-date, passé; old-fashioned, old-time, old-world, retro, vintage; durable, enduring, lasting, long-lived, permanent; ageless, hallowed, time-honored, timeless, time-tested, timeworn, traditional, tried, tried-and-true; classic, classical; prehistoric (also prehistorical), primeval, primordial

Near Antonyms
fresh, vernal, young, youthful; contemporary, current, latest, mod, novel, present-day, ultramodern; untested, untried; brand-new, unused, unworn

Antonyms
modern, new, recent

2 being of advanced years and especially past middle age <used to think that age 40 was ancient until I turned 40 myself> — see ELDERLY
3 relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period <the ancient Inca built a vast network of roads> — see EARLY 1

ancient noun
a person of advanced years <ancients in the tribe are accorded great respect and valued for their wisdom> — see SENIOR CITIZEN

ancientness noun
1 the state of being an old person <if nothing else, the patriarch had achieved a degree of ancientness worthy of veneration>

Synonyms
age, agedness, elderliness, maturity

Related Words
senectitude; venerableness; anecdotage, anility, caducity, dotage, second childhood, senescence, senility; feebleness, infirmity

Near Antonyms
freshness, prime, youthfulness; adolescence, immaturity, juvenility, minority, nonage

Antonyms
youngness, youth

2 the state of being something old <the ancientness of the papyrus was authenticated by carbon dating>

Synonyms
age, agedness, antiquity, hoariness

Related Words
antiquation, datedness, obsolescence, obsoleteness, old-fashionedness; fustiness; agelessness

Near Antonyms
currency, currentness, freshness, modernity, modernness, novelty, recentness

Antonyms
newness

androgynous adjective
suitable to or for either sex <the androgynous hairdos favored by the hip> <an actor whose androgynous looks are at the heart of his appeal> — see GENDERLESS

anecdote noun
a brief account of something interesting that happened especially to one personally <told us once again that anecdote about the dog and the bike> — see STORY 2

anesthetic noun
1 something (as a drug) that relieves pain <the dentist waited until the anesthetic took effect> — see PAINKILLER
2 something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security <he used total immersion in his job as an anesthetic for the empty shell that his marriage had become> — see OPIATE

anew adverb
yet another time <junked what he had written and began the essay anew> — see AGAIN 1

angel noun
1 an innocent or gentle person <would like to think that her child is a perfect angel> — see LAMB
2 one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another <looking forward to seeing those red-breasted angels of the spring—robins> — see FORERUNNER 1
3 one that helps another with gifts or money <over the years the industrialist frequently served as the symphony orchestra's anonymous angel> — see BENEFACTOR

anger noun
an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <managed to stifle his anger when the receptionist put him on hold for the third time>

Synonyms
angriness, birse [chiefly Scottish], choler, furor, fury, indignation, irateness, ire, lividity, lividness, mad, madness, mood [archaic], outrage, rage, spleen, wrath, wrathfulness

Related Words
aggravation, annoyance, exasperation, irritation, vexation; acrimoniousness, acrimony, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bile, biliousness, bitterness, contempt, embitterment, empoisonment, enmity, grudge, hostility, rancor; envy, jaundice, jealousy, pique, resentment; malevolence, malice, spite, vengefulness, venom, vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol; belligerence, contentiousness, contrariness, crankiness, disputatiousness, hot-headedness, irascibility, irascibleness, irritability, orneriness, pugnaciousness, pugnacity, quarrelsomeness, querulousness; blowup, flare, flare-up, outburst; chafe, dander, dudgeon, huff, pet, rise, ruffle, temper; air rage, road rage; delirium, heat, passion, warmth

Phrases
slow burn

Near Antonyms
calmness, forbearance, patience

Antonyms
delight, pleasure

anger verb
to make angry <it's virtually impossible to anger Mrs. Peterson—she's the most easygoing person I've ever known>

Synonyms
enrage, incense, inflame (also enflame), infuriate, ire, madden, outrage, rankle, rile, roil, steam up, tick off

Related Words
affront, aggravate, annoy, burn (up), cross, exasperate, get, huff, irritate, miff, nettle, offend, peeve, pique, provoke, put out, ruffle, vex; antagonize, embitter, envenom

Phrases
get one's goat, rub the wrong way

Near Antonyms
allay, assuage, relieve; comfort, console, soothe; appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate; calm, lull, quiet, settle; beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, disarm, enchant

Antonyms
delight, gratify, please

angered adjective
feeling or showing anger <angered residents demanded to know why their street hadn't been plowed three days after the snowstorm> — see ANGRY

angle noun
1 a certain way in which something appears or may be regarded <from this angle, that car looks gray, not brown> — see ASPECT 1
2 a way of looking at or thinking about something <what's your angle on the problem?> — see PERSPECTIVE 1
3 something that curves or is curved <the road around the peninsula is all angles and hairpin turns> — see BEND 1

angle verb
to set or cause to be at an angle <angle the camera this way and the Leaning Tower of Pisa will look straight> — see LEAN 1

angling noun
the act of positioning or an instance of being positioned at an angle <his angling of the picture made everything else on the wall look crooked> — see TILT

angriness noun
an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <his constant angriness makes him unpleasant to work with> — see ANGER

angry adjective
feeling or showing anger <my sister gets really angry and practically throws a tantrum if her soccer team loses>

Synonyms
angered, apoplectic, ballistic, cheesed off [chiefly British], choleric, enraged, foaming, fuming, furious, hopping, horn-mad, hot, incensed, indignant, inflamed (also enflamed), infuriate, infuriated, irate, ireful, livid, mad, outraged, rabid, rankled, riled, riley, roiled, shirty [chiefly British], sore, steamed up, steaming, teed off, ticked, wrathful, wroth

Related Words
ranting, raving, stormy; boiling, bristling, bristly, burning, cross, huffy, passionate, seething, sizzling, smoldering (or smouldering), worked up, wrought (up); acrid, acrimonious, antagonistic, antipathetic, bitter, embittered, inimical, malevolent, piqued, rancorous, resentful, spiteful, vengeful, vindictive, virulent, vitriolic; antisocial, cold, cool, disagreeable, disapproving, distant, frigid, icy, ill-tempered, sorehead (or soreheaded), sulky, unfriendly, unpleasant; aggravated, annoyed, bearish, bilious, cantankerous, churlish, crabby, cranky, dyspeptic, exasperated, fretful, fussy, grouchy, grumpy, ill-humored, inflammable, irascible, irritable, peevish, perturbed, petulant, put out, quick-tempered, snappish, testy, touchy; argumentative, belligerent, contentious, contrary, disputatious, ornery, pugnacious, quarrelsome, querulous

Phrases
bent out of shape, blue in the face, fit to be tied, going crook [Australian & New Zealand], hopping mad, hot under the collar, in a fume, in a huff, in a pet

Near Antonyms
accepting, accommodating, obliging; agreeable, amenable, complaisant; amicable, cordial, friendly; content, happy, satisfied; empathetic, sympathetic, tolerant, understanding; calm, pacific, peaceable, placid, serene, tranquil, unembittered; affable, amiable, easygoing, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, kind, pleasant, sweet

Antonyms
angerless, delighted, pleased

anguish noun
1 a state of great suffering of body or mind <as a new teacher, she was in real anguish over the decision to report the cheating> — see DISTRESS 1
2 deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved <words can't express my anguish at losing my cat> — see SORROW

anguish verb
1 to cause persistent suffering to <she was anguished by the fear that her sons would die in the war> — see AFFLICT
2 to feel deep sadness or mental pain <I anguished over the loss of my father for years afterwards> — see GRIEVE

anguished adjective
expressing or suggesting mourning <an anguished cry> <the military's explanation of the accident did nothing to console the anguished widow> — see MOURNFUL 1

animal adjective
of or relating to the human body <had intellectual as well as animal needs> — see PHYSICAL 1

animal noun
one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings <we saw a lot of animals at the wildlife refuge—cranes, alligators, deer, a fox, even an armadillo>

Synonyms
beast, beastie, brute, creature, critter

Related Words
blastie [Scottish], varmint, vermin; biped, quadruped; carnivore, herbivore, insectivore; invertebrate, vertebrate; domestic animal, pet; feral; livestock, stock

animalism noun
the manifestation of the traits or the gratification of the appetites of a lower animal <without law and order, society would quickly devolve into a state of animalism> — see BESTIALITY

animalistic adjective
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal <with animalistic fury the boxer tore into his opponent> — see BESTIAL

animality noun
the manifestation of the traits or the gratification of the appetites of a lower animal <in his portrayal the actor emphasizes the working-class hunk's fundamental animality> — see BESTIALITY

animalize verb
to make (someone) feel or behave more like an animal than a human being <six months of solitary living in the jungle would animalize anyone> — see BRUTALIZE 1

animal magnetism noun
the power of irresistible attraction <a photograph that captures the athlete's animal magnetism> — see CHARM 2

animate adjective
1 having much high-spirited energy and movement <an animate dance routine that will really get the blood pumping> — see LIVELY 1
2 having or showing life <had a dream about a sandwich that becomes animate> — see ALIVE 1

animate verb
to give life, vigor, or spirit to <Mr. Clark animates history for his sixth graders by frequently showing up for class dressed like some famous historical figure>

Synonyms
amp (up), brace, energize, enliven, fillip, fire, ginger (up), invigorate, jazz (up), juice up, jump-start, liven (up), pep (up), quicken, spike, stimulate, vitalize, vivify, zip (up)

Related Words
arouse, awake, awaken, raise, rouse, stir, wake (up); activate, actuate, drive, impel, motivate, motive, move, propel; charge, electrify, galvanize; enkindle, excite, ferment, foment, incite, inflame (also enflame), instigate, kindle, provoke, set off, spark, trigger, turn on, whip (up); abet, boost, buoy, cheer, embolden, fortify, hearten, infuse, inspire, lift, rally, steel, strengthen; reactivate, reanimate, reawake, reawaken, recharge, recreate, reenergize, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, rekindle, renew, restimulate, resurrect, resuscitate, revitalize, revive

Near Antonyms
burn out, debilitate, do in, drain, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, fag, fatigue, harass, kayo, knock out, sap, tucker (out), undermine, wash out, weaken, wear, wear out, weary; check, curb, inhibit, jade, quell, quench, repress, restrain, slow, still, stunt, suppress; daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

Antonyms
damp, dampen, deaden, dull, kill

animated adjective
1 having much high-spirited energy and movement <an animated group of girls loudly running down the hall> — see LIVELY 1
2 marked by much life, movement, or activity <an animated marketplace full of vendors and holiday shoppers> — see ALIVE 2

animatedly adverb
in a quick and spirited manner <animatedly raced into the living room to open Christmas presents> — see GAILY 2

animately adverb
in a quick and spirited manner <began talking animately about her favorite subject: horses> — see GAILY 2

animation noun
the quality or state of having abundant or intense activity <the animation of any city depends upon an abundance of street-level restaurants, shops, and places of entertainment> — see VITALITY 1

animosity noun
a deep-seated ill will <his open animosity towards us made our meeting very uncomfortable> — see ENMITY

animus noun
a deep-seated ill will <feeling no animus toward those who had wronged her> — see ENMITY

annalist noun
a student or writer of history <a new book by America's best-known annalist of the Civil War> — see HISTORIAN

annals plural noun
an account of important events in the order in which they happened <his annals of the reigns of English kings was used as a source by Shakespeare> — see HISTORY 1

annex noun
a smaller structure added to a main building <a new annex that will serve as the permanent home for the school library>

Synonyms
addition, extension, penthouse

Related Words
arm, ell, wing

annex verb
to join (something) to a mass, quantity, or number so as to bring about an overall increase <plans to annex the supply room so as to make the classroom bigger> — see ADD 1

annihilate verb
1 to destroy all traces of <the family's attempts to annihilate the roach population in their apartment had met with little success>

Synonyms
abolish, black out, blot out, cancel, clean (up), efface, eradicate, erase, expunge, exterminate, extirpate, liquidate, obliterate, root (out), rub out, snuff (out), stamp (out), sweep (away), wipe out

Related Words
decimate, demolish, destroy, devastate, ravage; dismantle, flatten, mow (down), raze, tear down; ruin, total, waste, wreck; blast, blow up, dash, dynamite, smash; atomize, consume, devour, dissolve, fragment, powder, pulverize, shatter, splinter; doom, finish, kill, kill off, terminate, zap; cancel, cut, discard, ditch, eject, excise, expel, jettison, oust, throw out

Near Antonyms
conserve, preserve, protect, save; build, construct, create, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, shape; fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renew, renovate, repair, restore, revamp

2 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <the tornado simply annihilated the family's home> — see DESTROY 1
3 to defeat by a large margin <we didn't just win; we absolutely annihilated them!> — see WHIP 2

annihilation noun
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <idealists who seek the annihilation of all forms of prejudice> — see DESTRUCTION 1

annihilatory adjective
causing or tending to cause destruction <the annihilatory power of atomic bombs> — see DESTRUCTIVE 1

announce verb
to make known openly or publicly <the excited coworker announced to everyone within hearing distance that she and her husband were expecting>

Synonyms
advertise, annunciate, blare, blaze, blazon, broadcast, declare, enunciate, flash, give out, herald, placard, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish, release, sound, trumpet

Related Words
bark, call (off or out), cry; bill, billboard, bulletin, gazette [chiefly British]; knell, ring, toll; blurb, feature, pitch, plug, promote, puff; disseminate, spread; disclose, divulge, introduce, kithe [chiefly Scottish], manifest, report, reveal, show; advise, apprise, hand down, inform, notify; communicate, impart, intimate

Phrases
beat the drum (for or about), run with

Near Antonyms
conceal, hush (up), silence, suppress, withhold; recall, recant, retract, revoke

announcement noun
a published statement informing the public of a matter of general interest <an announcement was in today's paper regarding the merger of the two banks>

Synonyms
ad, advert [chiefly British], advertisement, bulletin, communiqué, notice, notification, posting, release

Related Words
broadside, brochure, circular, flyer (also flier), fly sheet, gazette [British], handbill, handout; bill, billboard, placard, playbill, poster, show bill, sign; broadcast, cablecast, newscast, telecast; advertising, billing, blurb, come-on, commercial, message, pitch, plugola, spot, word; communication, dispatch, report; annunciation, declaration, edict, proclamation, promulgation, pronouncement, pronunciamento, rescript, signification; ballyhoo, boost, buildup, campaign, plug, promo, promotion, propaganda, publicity

announcer noun
a person who conducts a program of entertainment by making introductions and providing continuity <announcer for the Indy 500>

Synonyms
emcee, host, MC

Related Words
mistress of ceremonies; DJ, disc jockey (or disk jockey), shock jock, veejay, VJ; huckster, pitchman; anchor, anchorman, anchorperson, anchorwoman, newscaster; CBer, ham, radioman

Phrases
master of ceremonies

annoy verb
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <deliberately annoyed the elderly neighbor by walking across his lawn> — see IRRITATE 1

annoyance noun
1 the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another <they have an unlisted number in the hopes that it will reduce the constant annoyance by telemarketers>

Synonyms
aggravation, bedevilment, botheration, bothering, bugging, disturbance, harassment, harrying, importunity, pestering, teasing, vexation

Related Words
aggro [British], molestation, offense (or offence), persecution, provocation, torment, torture; devilment, devilry, mischief

2 the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts <Carlene made known her annoyance at having to pick up her sister's dirty clothes>

Synonyms
aggravation, aggro [British], bother, botheration, exasperation, frustration, grief, irritation, pip [chiefly British], vexation

Related Words
agitation, discomfort, displeasure, distress, disturbance, upset; irritability, irritableness, peeve, perturbation, pet, pique, resentment, snappishness, trouble; anger, angriness, chafe, dander, dudgeon, gall, huff, indignation, irateness, ire, outrage, umbrage

Near Antonyms
delight, pleasure

3 something that is a source of irritation <flashing ads, visual clutter, and other annoyances that are the price for free information on the Internet>

Synonyms
aggravation, aggro [British], bother, botheration, bugbear, exasperation, frustration, hair shirt, hassle, headache, inconvenience, irk, irritant, nuisance, peeve, pest, rub, ruffle, thorn, trial, vexation

Related Words
discomfort, fleabite, pinprick; affront, insult, offense (or offence); upset, worry; affliction, albatross, burden, cross, curse, menace, millstone, plague, sore; anxiety, plight, predicament, tribulation, trouble; hang-up, pet peeve, problem; annoyer, disturber, harasser, mischief, offender; pandora's box

Near Antonyms
delight, joy, pleasure

4 one who is obnoxiously annoying <younger brothers can be an annoyance sometimes> — see NUISANCE 1

annoyed adjective
subjected to and reacting with irritation <I was extremely annoyed when she changed her mind for the third time>

Synonyms
aggravated, bothered, exasperated, galled, irked, irritated, narked [British], peeved, put out, scunnered [chiefly Scottish], teed off, vexed

Related Words
displeased, distressed, disturbed, perturbed, troubled, upset; angered, angry, indignant, inflamed (also enflamed), infuriated, irate, ireful, mad, outraged, rankled, riled, roiled, shirty [chiefly British], sore, steaming; bristly, cross, disapproving, huffy, piqued, resentful; bearish, bilious, cantankerous, choleric, churlish, crabby, cranky, dyspeptic, fretful, fussy, grouchy, grumpy, ill-humored, irascible, irritable, peevish, petulant, snappish, snuffy, testy, touchy; badgered, bedeviled, frustrated, haggled, harassed, harried, hassled, inconvenienced, persecuted, pestered, pinpricked, plagued, provoked, tested, tormented, tortured, tried

Near Antonyms
delighted, pleased; content, happy, satisfied; calm, pacific, peaceable, placid, serene, tranquil

annoyer noun
one who is obnoxiously annoying <a bratty annoyer who wouldn't leave me alone> — see NUISANCE 1

annoying adjective
causing annoyance <my partner has the annoying habit of eating all the pickles and leaving a jar full of pickle juice in the refrigerator>

Synonyms
abrasive, aggravating, bothersome, carking, chafing, disturbing, exasperating, frustrating, galling, irksome, irritating, maddening, nettlesome, nettling, peeving, pesky, pestiferous, pestilent, pestilential, pesty, plaguey (also plaguy), rankling, rebarbative, riling, vexatious, vexing

Related Words
burdensome, discomforting, displeasing, disquieting, distressing, importunate, importune, inconveniencing; angering, enraging, infuriating; brattish, bratty, mischievous, offensive, troublesome, upsetting; distractive, painful, stressful, tiresome, troubling, trying, worrisome; biting, grating, jangling, jarring, spiny, thorny

Near Antonyms
delightful, pleasing

annuity noun
a sum of money allotted for a specific use by official or formal action <his grandfather's will provided him with an annuity of $5,000 a year to be used for school expenses> — see APPROPRIATION 1

annul verb
1 to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective <unfortunately, his arrogant attitude annuls the many generous favors he does for people> — see OFFSET
2 to put an end to by formal action <plans to annul their short-lived, ill-advised marriage> — see ABOLISH 1

annulment noun
the doing away with something by formal action <an annulment of that hastily conceived marriage can't come too soon> — see ABOLITION

annunciate verb
to make known openly or publicly <a politician is wise to annunciate past minor transgressions before the media make something major of them> — see ANNOUNCE

anodyne adjective
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt <the otherwise anodyne comments sounded quite inflammatory when taken out of context> — see HARMLESS

anodyne noun
1 something (as a drug) that relieves pain <the dentist prescribed an anodyne after the root canal> — see PAINKILLER
2 something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security <as an anodyne for the stress and superficiality of the modern world, there's nothing better than reading a literary classic of substance and insight> — see OPIATE

anoint verb
to rub an oily or sticky substance over <anoint the wound with antiseptic to prevent infection> — see SMEAR 1

anomalous adjective
1 being out of the ordinary <that was an anomalous year for the housing industry, so the number of starts is anything but typical> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1
2 departing from some accepted standard of what is normal <an anomalous burst of anger from this usually easygoing person> — see DEVIANT

anomaly noun
1 something that is different from what is ordinary or expected <her C grade is an anomaly, as she's never made anything except A's and B's before>

Synonyms
aberration, abnormality, exception, oddity, oddment, rarity

Related Words
curiosity, peculiarity, singularity; accident, bizarrerie, phenomenon, quirk, vagary; distortion, kink, mutation, variation; difference, disparity, inconsistence, inconsistency; error, mistake; contradiction, paradox

Near Antonyms
norm, ordinary, usual

2 a person, thing, or event that is far from normal <snow in July is an anomaly in most of the northern hemisphere> — see FREAK 1

anon adverb
at or within a short time <be ready—we will begin our Yuletide Boar's Head Feast anon> — see SHORTLY 2

anonymity noun
the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown <oddly enough we like the anonymity of being a part of an enormous crowd> — see OBSCURITY 2

anonymous adjective
1 known but not named <I heard the news from a person who will remain anonymous> — see CERTAIN 1
2 not named or identified by a name <a beautiful manuscript illuminated by an anonymous medieval monk> — see NAMELESS 1

another adjective
resulting in an increase in amount or number <add another thing to the shopping list> — see ADDITIONAL

answer noun
1 something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question <the standard answer of “Fine, thank you” when asked, “How are you?”>

Synonyms
comeback, rejoinder, replication, reply, response, retort, return

Related Words
back talk, banter, persiflage, repartee; acknowledgment (or acknowledgement), comment, communication, correspondence, feedback, non sequitur, observation, reaction, remark; defense, explanation, justification, plea, rebuttal, refutation

Near Antonyms
challenge, charge, cross-examination, grilling, interrogation, interrogatory, quiz; poll, questionnaire, survey

Antonyms
inquiry, query, question

2 something attained by mental effort and especially by computation <the answers to the odd-numbered problems are at the back of the book>

Synonyms
result, solution

Related Words
conclusion, determination, explanation, finding; clue, key

3 action or behavior that is done in return to other action or behavior <a cold stare was her withering answer to that gratuitous insult> — see REACTION

answer verb
1 to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction <didn't answer right away when the detective asked him where he'd been for the last three hours>

Synonyms
come back, rejoin, reply, respond, retort, return, riposte

Related Words
acknowledge, comment, communicate, correspond, react, remark; counter, defend, deny, explain, field, rebut, refute

Near Antonyms
challenge, cross-examine, examine, grill, interrogate, pump, quiz; poll, query, survey

Antonyms
ask, inquire, question

2 to be in agreement on every point <sorry, I haven't seen anyone answering to that description> — see CHECK 1
3 to do what is required by the terms of <I don't have a box cutter as such, but will this knife answer the purpose?> — see FULFILL 1
4 to find an answer for through reasoning <try to answer this riddle> — see SOLVE

answerable adjective
1 being the one who must meet an obligation or suffer the consequences for failing to do so <you are answerable for your own conduct at all times> — see RESPONSIBLE 1
2 capable of having the reason for or cause of determined <they say this equation is not answerable> — see SOLVABLE

antagonism noun
a deep-seated ill will <the antagonism between them was so bad they couldn't even sit near each other> — see ENMITY

antagonist noun
1 one that is hostile toward another <please name the novel's hero and his antagonist> — see ENEMY
2 one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict <his antagonist in the boxing match> — see OPPONENT 1

antagonistic adjective
marked by opposition or ill will <countries that have been antagonistic towards each other for centuries> — see HOSTILE 1

antagonize verb
to implant bitter feelings in <everything he said just antagonized the other side even more> — see EMBITTER

ante noun
the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something <the base price is $500, but any additional repairs will up the ante> — see PRICE 1

ante (up) verb
to give what is owed for <if we can't ante up at least half of the overdue rent, we are going to be evicted> — see PAY 2

antecede verb
to go or come before in time <the 19th-century Pre-Raphaelites claimed to base their principles and practices on the Italian art that anteceded Raphael and other masters of the High Renaissance> — see PRECEDE

antecedent adjective
going before another in time or order <I'd like to follow up on an antecedent question from another reporter> — see PREVIOUS

antecedent noun
1 someone or something responsible for a result <what are the antecedents of the American Revolutionary War?> — see CAUSE 1
2 something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed <the typewriter is the antecedent of the computer keyboard> — see ANCESTOR 2

antecedently adverb
so as to precede something in order of time <make credit card payments antecedently to their due date just in case there's a delay in mail delivery> — see AHEAD 1

antedate verb
to go or come before in time <dinosaurs antedate cavemen by millions of years> — see PRECEDE

antediluvian adjective
dating or surviving from the distant past <found evidence in the Middle East of an antediluvian people previously unknown to history> — see ANCIENT 1

antediluvian noun
a person with old-fashioned ideas <an antediluvian who thought women shouldn't work outside the home> — see FOGY

anterior adjective
1 being at or in the forward part or surface of something <the anterior chamber of the eye is bounded in front by the cornea> — see FRONT
2 going before another in time or order <fossils from an anterior geologic age> — see PREVIOUS

anteriorly adverb
so as to precede something in order of time <archaeological artifacts are all that we have of those ancient people who flourished anteriorly of the invention of writing> — see AHEAD 1

anthem noun
a religious song <fervently sang an anthem of praise to the Lord> — see HYMN 1

anthologize verb
to bring together from several sources into a single volume or list <anthologized an impressive array of essays championing freedom of the press> — see COMPILE

anthology noun
a collection of writings <an anthology of American short stories>

Synonyms
album, collectanea, compendium, compilation, florilegium, miscellany, reader

Related Words
almanac, ana, analects, chapbook, digest, garland, symposium; casebook, sourcebook; archives, corpus, library, miscellanea

anti preposition
opposed to; not for <if you ask me, she's anti anything that sounds like the least bit of fun>

Synonyms
against, agin [dialect], contra

Related Words
athwart, contrary to; versus, with

Antonyms
for, pro

antic adjective
1 causing or intended to cause laughter <antic shenanigans that made me nearly fall over with laughter> — see FUNNY 1
2 given to good-natured joking or teasing <an antic group of kids at summer camp> — see PLAYFUL

antic noun
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <we'll have no more of your antics, so just settle down> — see PRANK

anticipant adjective
having or showing signs of eagerly awaiting something <anticipant of receiving a holiday bonus, she had mentally spent the money by Thanksgiving> — see EXPECTANT 1

anticipate verb
1 to believe in the future occurrence of (something) <I anticipate that we'll be seeing you for New Year's> — see EXPECT
2 to realize or know about beforehand <I anticipated this unhelpful response> — see FORESEE

anticipated adjective
being in accordance with the prescribed, normal, or logical course of events <the anticipated date of delivery is July 14th> — see DUE 2

anticipation noun
the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence <in anticipation of a marriage proposal, she had already begun looking at wedding dresses> — see EXPECTATION

anticipatory adjective
having or showing signs of eagerly awaiting something <couldn't control his anticipatory excitement on Christmas morning> — see EXPECTANT 1

antidote noun
something that corrects or counteracts something undesirable <hoped that taking dance lessons would prove to be an antidote for her loneliness> — see CURE 1

antipathetic adjective
1 having a natural dislike for something <a series of adventure books that turned boys who had been antipathetic to reading into avid readers>

Synonyms
allergic, averse

Related Words
afraid, disinclined, loath (also loth or loathe), reluctant, unwilling; antagonistic, hostile, intolerant, negative, opposed, opposing, resistant, resisting, uncongenial, unfriendly, unsympathetic; disgusted, nauseated, repelled, repulsed, revolted, shocked, squeamish, turned off

Phrases
down on

Near Antonyms
friendly, sympathetic, tolerant, understanding; admiring, appreciative, charmed, delighted, fond, pleased, tickled

2 marked by opposition or ill will <the mayor has always had an openly antipathetic relationship with the local press> — see HOSTILE 1

antipathy noun
1 a deep-seated ill will <I feel no antipathy towards any of my opponents in the tournament> — see ENMITY
2 something or someone that is hated <cruelty to animals is one of my most deeply felt antipathies> — see HATE 2

antipodal adjective
being as different as possible <love is antipodal to hate> — see OPPOSITE

antipode noun
something that is as different as possible from something else <my jock brother is an antipode to my bookworm sister> — see OPPOSITE

antipodean adjective
being as different as possible <since freedom and equality are often antipodean goals, a democratic society must find ways of striking a balance between the two> — see OPPOSITE

antiquated adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <saw an antiquated hand-cranked rope-making machine at the textiles museum> — see OBSOLETE

antique adjective
1 dating or surviving from the distant past <studied shards from antique pots made by the Pueblos of the Southwest> — see ANCIENT 1
2 pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time <loved to collect antique sugar tongs> — see OLD-FASHIONED 1

antique noun
something belonging to or surviving from an earlier period <their house is filled with rare antiques, including a collection of 19th-century African masks>

Synonyms
museum piece, relic

Related Words
artifact, fossil; dinosaur; antiquities, ruins; hangover, remains, remnant, trace, vestige

antiquity noun
the state of being something old <despite their indisputable antiquity, many of the carvings look like they could have been made yesterday> — see ANCIENTNESS 2

antiseptic adjective
1 being clean and in good order <known for keeping a strenuously antiseptic kitchen, the floor of which does indeed seem fit for eating off of> — see NEAT 1
2 free from dirt or stain <for such an expensive, elegant Sunday brunch, one would expect the attendants at the buffet tables to be professionally attired in starched, antiseptic white jackets> — see CLEAN 1
3 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <an antiseptic assessment of the chances of survival for their cancer-stricken mother> — see COLD 2

antisocial adjective
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <she's not antisocial, just extremely shy> — see COOL 1

antithesis noun
something that is as different as possible from something else <true love for another is the antithesis of the desire to control that person's life> — see OPPOSITE

antithetical adjective
being as different as possible <spiritual concerns and ideals that are antithetical to the materialism embraced by modern society> — see OPPOSITE

antre noun
a naturally formed underground chamber with an opening to the surface <a fantasy in which an intrepid band of adventurers enter a vast antre and discover a hidden world filled with monsters and wonders> — see CAVE

antsy adjective
1 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <he was feeling understandably antsy about the tax audit> — see NERVOUS 1
2 making jerky or restless movements <after a few minutes in the formal restaurant, the kids got antsy> — see FIDGETY
3 showing urgent desire or interest <she's been antsy to start what promises to be an exciting new job> — see EAGER

anxiety noun
1 an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <Dorothy's anxiety about her brother's operation kept her awake all night>

Synonyms
agita, agitation, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, care, concern, concernment, disquiet, disquietude, fear, nervosity, nervousness, perturbation, solicitude, sweat, unease, uneasiness, worry

Related Words
strain, stress, tension; alarm (also alarum), anguish, consternation, desperateness, desperation, discomfort, discomposure, dismay, distraction, distress, disturbance, edginess, franticness, hand-wringing, jitters, jumpiness, panic, tremor; angst, fearfulness, torment, upset, vexation; cold feet, doubt, dread, foreboding, incertitude, misgiving, presentiment, suspense, uncertainty; compunction, qualm, scruple

Near Antonyms
calm, calmness, content, contentment, ease, easiness, peace, peacefulness, placidity, placidness, quiet, quietude, sereneness, serenity, tranquillity (or tranquility), tranquilness; comfort, consolation, relief, solace

Antonyms
unconcern

2 the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger <the newly discovered virus is creating considerable anxiety in the public at large> — see FEAR 1

anxious adjective
1 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <was anxious about the play tryouts scheduled for the following day> — see NERVOUS 1
2 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <the whole crowd seemed to make an anxious gasp as the home team almost fumbled the ball> — see NERVOUS 2
3 showing urgent desire or interest <I'm anxious for my birthday party> — see EAGER

anxiousness noun
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <don't be overcome with anxiousness about things that may never happen> — see ANXIETY 1

any adjective
being one of a group <any person who comes in the store today is eligible for the discount> — see EACH

anyhow adverb
1 in spite of everything <even though it's raining, I'm going to the golf course anyhow> — see REGARDLESS
2 without definite aim, direction, rule, or method <clothes that were hurriedly stuffed anyhow into the suitcase> — see HIT OR MISS
3 whatever else is done or is the case <your mother called and said you don't need to stop by, but I think you should anyhow> — see ALWAYS 2

anymore adverb
at the present time <they don't sell that kind of sandwich anymore> — see NOW 1

anyway adverb
1 in spite of everything <I know I really can't afford it, but I'm buying that new car anyway> — see REGARDLESS
2 without definite aim, direction, rule, or method <do it anyway you feel like> — see HIT OR MISS
3 whatever else is done or is the case <pack an extra sweater anyway, as you never know when you might end up needing it> — see ALWAYS 2

anyways adverb, chiefly dialect
in spite of everything <I don't care what you say—I'm going anyways!> — see REGARDLESS

anywise adverb
1 in any way or respect <nor is it anywise important what you wear to the party> — see AT ALL
2 without definite aim, direction, rule, or method <just stuffed his newly cleaned clothes anywise back into the drawers> — see HIT OR MISS

A–OK adjective
of the very best kind <rated by his colleagues as an A-OK investigative reporter> — see EXCELLENT

A1 adjective
of the very best kind <an A1 mom deserves only the very best Mother's Day card> — see EXCELLENT

apace adverb
with great speed <the end of another year is hastening apace> — see FAST 1

apart adverb
into parts or pieces <the fancy new adjustable rake came apart the first time I tried to use it>

Synonyms
asunder, piecemeal

Phrases
to pieces

Antonyms
together

apart from preposition
not including <apart from the saggy roof, the cottage is in pretty good shape> — see EXCEPT

apartment noun
1 a room or set of rooms in a private house or a block used as a separate dwelling place <a spacious six-room apartment that occupies the entire upper floor of a two-family house>

Synonyms
diggings [chiefly British], digs, flat [chiefly British], lodgings, suite, tenement

Related Words
bed-sitter (also bedsit or bed-sitting-room) [British], cohousing, condo, condominium, duplex, duplex apartment, efficiency, efficiency apartment, flatlet [British], floor-through, garden apartment, granny flat [chiefly British], maisonette, penthouse, railroad flat, salon, saloon [chiefly British], studio, studio apartment, triplex, walk-up; gallery, wing; apartment building, apartment house, tenement house

2 an area within a building that has been set apart from surrounding space by a wall <the museum sets aside this large central apartment to display special exhibitions> — see ROOM 2

apathetic adjective
1 having or showing a lack of interest or concern <people of conscience cannot be apathetic about the great suffering in this world> — see INDIFFERENT 1
2 not feeling or showing emotion <gave nothing more than an apathetic gaze to his interrogators> — see IMPASSIVE 1

apathy noun
1 a lack of emotion or emotional expressiveness <the apathy of the people of that war-torn country comes from their having seen too many horrors>

Synonyms
affectlessness, emotionlessness, impassiveness, impassivity, insensibility, numbness, phlegm

Related Words
bloodlessness, callosity, callousness, coldness, coolness, halfheartedness, hard-heartedness, hardness, heartlessness, imperturbability, insensitivity, obduracy; blankness, deadness, emptiness, vacancy; aloofness, detachment, indifference, unconcern; stiffness, woodenness

Near Antonyms
compassion, empathy, pity, sympathy; receptiveness, receptivity, responsiveness, sensitivity; solicitude, tenderness, understanding, warmth; hand-wringing, histrionics, hysteria, hysterics, melodrama; vehemence

Antonyms
emotion, feeling, sensibility

2 lack of interest or concern <her poor grades are proof enough of her apathy concerning all matters academic> — see INDIFFERENCE

ape verb
to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior <was caught aping the substitute teacher's thick accent> — see IMITATE 1

aper noun
a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way <they're just no-talent apers of whatever rock band has the current number one record> — see COPYCAT

aperiodic adjective
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <released aperiodic reports on the results of their cancer research> — see FITFUL

aperture noun
a place in a surface allowing passage into or through a thing <you can adjust the aperture on this camera's lens by pushing this button> — see HOLE 1

apex noun
1 the highest part or point <she reached the apex of fame, only to find it wasn't what she expected> — see HEIGHT 1
2 the last and usually sharp or tapering part of something long and narrow <the apex of the spear> — see POINT 2

aphorism noun
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience <what does the aphorism “Hindsight is 20/20” mean?> — see SAYING

aphoristic adjective
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <retorted with the aphoristic comment, “No one said life is fair”> — see CONCISE

aphrodisiac also aphrodisiacal adjective
of, relating to, exciting, or expressing sexual attraction or desire <the tomato's supposed aphrodisiac qualities have caused it to be also known as “the love apple”> — see EROTIC

apiece adverb
for each one <when you figure that they usually sell for six dollars apiece, you're getting quite a bargain>

Synonyms
all, each, per, per capita

Related Words
apart, discretely, independently, individually, respectively, separately, singly

Phrases
a pop, a shot, a throw

Near Antonyms
aggregately, altogether, collectively, together

apish adjective
using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model <whenever I smiled, the baby would respond with an apish grin> — see IMITATIVE 1

aplenty adjective
being more than enough without being excessive <there will be food and drink aplenty, so please come> — see PLENTIFUL

aplomb noun
1 evenness of emotions or temper <you've handled a difficult situation with perfect aplomb> — see EQUANIMITY
2 great faith in oneself or one's abilities <carried herself with the dignity and aplomb of a born leader> — see CONFIDENCE 1

apocalypse noun
a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction <the fear that the next global pandemic could be an apocalypse of biblical proportions> — see DISASTER 1

apocalyptic also apocalyptical adjective
of, relating to, or being a major turning point <the apocalyptic Battle of Stalingrad, which led to the ultimate defeat of Nazi Germany> — see CLIMACTIC

apogee noun
the highest part or point <shag carpeting reached the apogee of its popularity in the 1970s but is now considered outdated> — see HEIGHT 1

apologetic adjective
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done <was profusely apologetic after accidentally breaking a treasured plate> — see CONTRITE

apologue noun
a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life <the film is an apologue of sorts, but the message is couched in a zany and action-filled plot> — see ALLEGORY

apology noun
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame <her standard apology for her chronic tardiness is the ever-present congestion on the highways> — see EXCUSE

apoplectic adjective
feeling or showing anger <the coach was so apoplectic when the player missed the free throw that he threw his clipboard onto the court> — see ANGRY

apostate noun
1 a person who abandons a cause or organization usually without right <an apostate from communism, he later became one of its harshest critics> — see RENEGADE
2 one who betrays a trust or an allegiance <became an apostate to liberalism after he had gotten wealthy> — see TRAITOR

apostle noun
a person who actively supports or favors a cause <a fervent apostle of universal health care> — see EXPONENT 1

apothecary noun
1 a person who prepares drugs according to a doctor's prescription <in olden days the apothecary had few drugs that actually cured anything, most substances being little more than pain relievers> — see DRUGGIST
2 a retail store where medicines and miscellaneous articles are sold <the historic village boasts an old-fashioned apothecary that's been there for almost a century and a half> — see DRUGSTORE

apothegm noun
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience <her mother endlessly repeated the apothegm “cleanliness is next to godliness”> — see SAYING

apothegmatic adjective
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <his clear-sighted assessments of today's political leaders are delivered with an apothegmatic forcefulness> — see CONCISE

apotheosis noun
the most perfect type or example <the apotheosis of the picaresque novel> — see QUINTESSENCE 1

appall also appal verb
to cause an unpleasant surprise for <conditions inside the house overrun with cats simply appalled animal control officers> — see SHOCK 1

appalling adjective
1 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <opening your mouth to show me your half-chewed food is absolutely appalling> — see OFFENSIVE 1
2 extremely disturbing or repellent <appalling crimes against humanity> — see HORRIBLE 1

appanage also apanage noun
1 something granted as a special favor <use of the grounds was just one appanage he bestowed upon the caretakers of his estate> — see PRIVILEGE
2 something to which one has a just claim <wealthy people who believe that political power is their natural appanage> — see RIGHT 1

apparatus noun
items needed for the performance of a task or activity <the hospital's operating rooms boast the very latest medical apparatus> — see EQUIPMENT

apparel noun
covering for the human body <a sale on summer apparel for women> — see CLOTHING

apparel verb
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <a designer who regularly apparels several of the presenters at the Oscar ceremonies> — see CLOTHE 1

apparent adjective
1 appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed <at the start of the investigation, the apparent cause of the plane crash was mechanical failure>

Synonyms
assumed, evident, ostensible, ostensive, presumed, prima facie, putative, reputed, seeming, supposed

Related Words
demonstrable, external, outward, superficial, visible; conceivable, plausible, possible, supposable; likely, probable; clear, distinct, manifest, obvious, plain; deceptive, delusive, delusory, illusive, illusory, imaginary; misleading, specious; fake, faked, feigned, phony (also phoney), pretended, pseudo, put-on; alleged, claimed, professed, purported, so-called

Near Antonyms
hidden, inapparent; implausible, impossible, improbable, inconceivable, unlikely; actual, authenticated, confirmed, corroborated, established, genuine, real, substantiated, sure, valid, validated, verified

2 capable of being seen <as the fog lifts, the town in the valley below us will become more apparent> — see VISIBLE 1
3 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <it's apparent from the smile on her face that she got a part in the play> — see CLEAR 2

apparently adverb
to all outward appearances <apparently, her husband didn't know the cake was for the raffle, since he helped himself to a piece>

Synonyms
evidently, ostensibly, ostensively, presumably, putatively, seemingly, supposedly

Related Words
externally, outwardly, visibly; believably, credibly; assumably, likely, presumedly, probably; conceivably, maybe, mayhap, perchance, perhaps, possibly, professedly, supposably; allegedly, purportedly, reportedly, reputedly; clearly, distinctly, manifestly, obviously, plainly, self-evidently; assuredly, positively, surely

Phrases
on the surface

Near Antonyms
implausibly, impossibly, improbably, incredibly

apparition noun
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <an eccentric who claimed to have photographed an apparition in her very own house> — see GHOST 1

appeal noun
1 an earnest request <made an appeal to the public to donate desperately needed blood> — see PLEA 1
2 the power of irresistible attraction <that hot new actress has a certain indescribable appeal> — see CHARM 2

appeal (to) verb
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner <when supplies at the food bank ran desperately low, officials appealed to the public for some much-needed replacements> — see BEG

appealing adjective
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <the idea of living on Mars is appealing to space enthusiasts> — see FASCINATING 1

appear verb
1 to come into view <a police car appeared just as I ran a red light>

Synonyms
come out, materialize, show, show up, turn up, unfold

Related Words
reappear, resurface; bulk, loom; arrive, come; dawn, debut; arise, blossom, bob (up), break, break out, crop (up), emerge, erupt, issue, outcrop, rise, shoot (up), spring (up), surface; happen, occur; reappear, rematerialize

Near Antonyms
depart, leave, retire, withdraw

Antonyms
clear, disappear, dissolve, evanesce, evaporate, fade, go (away), melt (away), vanish

2 to give the impression of being <it appears that he doesn't hear you> — see SEEM
3 to come into existence <the benefits of the exercise program should appear almost immediately> — see BEGIN 2
4 to get to a destination <a friend who daily manages to appear at our door just as dinner is being served> — see COME 2

appearance noun
1 the outward form of someone or something especially as indicative of a quality <the dignified appearance of this church leader> <the country club's manicured lawns and well-groomed appearance in general>

Synonyms
aspect, dress, figure, garb, look, mien, outside, presence, regard [archaic]

Related Words
air, attitude, bearing, behavior, comportment, demeanor, deportment, manner, poise, pose; carriage, posture, stance; cast, mold, shape, turn; color, coloring, complexion; countenance, face, features, habit, habitus, person [archaic], physiognomy, superficies, visage

Phrases
cut of one's jib

2 outward and often deceptive indication <can't you at least give the appearance of listening to what I say?>

Synonyms
face, guise, name, outward, seeming, semblance, show

Related Words
air, effect, impression; hint, implication, insinuation, resemblance, suggestion; affectation, demonstration, display, fiction, image, imitation, imposture, likeness, make-believe (also make-belief), pose, pretense (or pretence), representation, simulation; cloak, disguise, exterior, facade (also façade), front, gloss, mask, masquerade, patina, Potemkin village, shape, shell, surface, veneer

Phrases
first blush

3 the act of coming upon a scene <his appearance at the party caused considerable speculation> — see ARRIVAL

appease verb
to lessen the anger or agitation of <candy often appeases an upset toddler> — see PACIFY 1

appeasing adjective
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility <we had been feuding with the people next door, so inviting them to the party was intended as an appeasing gesture> — see PACIFIC 1

appellation noun
a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known <a twisting road that deserved the appellation “Sidewinder Lane”> — see NAME 1

appellative noun
a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known <the brochure had advertised a sandy beach, but we didn't see anything that remotely merited that appellative> — see NAME 1

append verb
to join (something) to a mass, quantity, or number so as to bring about an overall increase <append the prefix “un-” to each of these words> — see ADD 1

appendage noun
something that is not necessary in itself but adds to the convenience or performance of the main piece of equipment <pasta makers became the must-have appendage for tabletop mixers> — see ACCESSORY 1

appendix noun
a part added at the end of a book or periodical <an appendix listing all of the artist's known works and their current locations> — see ADDENDUM 1

appertain verb
1 to be the property of a person or group of persons <the doctrine that the swath of land between the Atlantic and the Pacific naturally appertained to the United States> — see BELONG 2
2 to have a relation or connection <list some of the things appertaining to public health> — see APPLY 1

appetency noun
a strong wish for something <television commercials create appetency for products that the consumer may not have known even existed> — see DESIRE 1

appetite noun
1 a need or desire for food <don't eat before dinner, as it will spoil your appetite> — see HUNGER 1
2 a strong wish for something <an appetite for adventure> — see DESIRE 1
3 positive regard for something <his girlfriend has expensive appetites> — see LIKING
4 urgent desire or interest <an athlete with an appetite for in-your-face competition> — see EAGERNESS

appetizing adjective
very pleasing to the sense of taste <that dish looks very appetizing> — see DELICIOUS 1

applaud verb
to declare enthusiastic approval of <I applaud your decision to take that advanced course> — see ACCLAIM

applaudable adjective
deserving of high regard or great approval <the applaudable goal of working one's way through college> — see ADMIRABLE

applauding adjective
expressing approval <a student encouraged by his teacher's applauding comments> — see FAVORABLE 1

applause noun
1 enthusiastic and usually public expression of approval <a design for a memorial for the victims of the attack that has received nothing but applause from officials, commentators, and the general public>

Synonyms
acclamation, cheer, cheering, ovation, plaudit(s), rave(s), réclame

Related Words
clapping; bravo, hail, hallelujah, hurrah (also hooray or hoorah), hosanna, huzzah (or huzza); acclaim, accolade, citation, commendation, compliment, encomium, eulogy, homage, kudo, paean, panegyric, salutation, tribute; kudos, praise

Near Antonyms
boo, hiss, hoot, jeer, raspberry, smirk, sneer, snicker, snigger, snort, whistle; gibe (or jibe), put-down, taunt

Antonyms
booing, hissing

2 public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <a heroic effort by the fire department that deserves the applause of everyone in the city> — see GLORY 1

apple–polish verb
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior <a departmental supervisor who apple-polishes shamelessly whenever higher-ups are about> — see FAWN

apple–polisher noun
a person who flatters another in order to get ahead <a transparent apple-polisher whose fulsome praise fooled no one> — see SYCOPHANT

applesauce noun, slang
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <all that talk about taking up the farming life was just a lot of spoiled applesauce> — see NONSENSE 1

appliance noun
1 an interesting and often novel device with a practical use <since the invention of the cork, all manner of appliances have been invented for the extraction of these sometimes troublesome stoppers> — see GADGET
2 something that is not necessary in itself but adds to the convenience or performance of the main piece of equipment <an appliance that allows the machine to be used as a sander> — see ACCESSORY 1

applicability noun
the fact or state of being pertinent <we have to question the applicability of much of the information he has included in his report> — see PERTINENCE

applicable adjective
1 capable of being put to use or account <is that information applicable in this case?> — see PRACTICAL 1
2 having to do with the matter at hand <that comment isn't applicable to our discussion> — see PERTINENT
3 meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <a knack for selecting the most applicable word> — see FIT 1

applicant noun
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award <have numerous applicants for the job> — see CANDIDATE

application noun
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose <fixing a snag in panty hose is not the intended application of nail polish, but it's a handy one> — see USE 1

applicative adjective
capable of being put to use or account <certain basic work skills that are applicative to almost any job and work environment> — see PRACTICAL 1

applied adjective
capable of being put to use or account <used some applied psychology to get the teenager to become more responsible> — see PRACTICAL 1

applier noun
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award <first-time appliers for federal grant money> — see CANDIDATE

apply verb
1 to have a relation or connection <does your rule about calling home apply to me as well?>

Synonyms
appertain, bear, pertain, refer, relate

Related Words
affect, concern, interest, involve, touch; associate, connect, couple, interrelate, link, tie in; deal (with), treat

Phrases
have to do with

2 to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention <Sam applied himself to writing thank-you letters to everyone who'd helped sponsor him for the charity walk>

Synonyms
address, bend, buckle, devote, give

Related Words
readdress, reapply; knuckle down, set (to), settle (down); busy, commit, concern, engage, involve; exert, exhaust, put out, spend, strain, stress, tax, trouble, wear out; carry on, pitch in, plunge (in); grind, hump, hustle, peg (away), plod, plow, plug (away), work

Phrases
get cracking, get one's act together, get with it, turn one's hand (or turn a hand)

Near Antonyms
dally, dawdle, dillydally, fiddle (around), fool around, idle, mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

3 to put a layer of on a surface <apply the ointment liberally> — see SPREAD 2
4 to put into action or service <apply the laws of motion to this physics problem> — see USE 1
5 to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively <apply pressure to the area to stop the bleeding> — see EXERT
6 to carry out effectively <a police officer applying the law> — see ENFORCE

appoint verb
1 to decide upon (the time or date for an event) usually from a position of authority <at the appointed hour we were in our places>

Synonyms
designate, fix, name, set

Related Words
adopt, assign, choose, determine, establish, opt (for), pick, pin (down), prefer, select, settle, single (out), specify; arrange, coordinate, orchestrate; advertise, announce, declare, publish

2 to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty <was appointed to the council on national security>

Synonyms
assign, attach, commission, constitute, designate, detail, name, nominate, place

Related Words
authorize, delegate, depute, deputize; anoint, consecrate, create, inaugurate, induct, install, instate, institute, invest, make, ordain; crown, enthrone, throne; choose, destine, draft, elect, handpick, select, single (out), vote (in)

Near Antonyms
blackball, depose, dethrone, displace, eject, evict, oust, overthrow, remove, throw out, uncrown, unmake, unseat

Antonyms
discharge, dismiss, expel, fire

appointee noun
one who has been chosen by some authority for a specific position or duty <the announcement of the presidential appointees to the cabinet>

Synonyms
designee, nominee, selectee

Related Words
candidate; assignee, licensee, licentiate, permittee; inductee; agent, delegate, delegatee, deputy; choice, draftee, endorsee, pick, selection

appointment noun
1 the state or fact of being chosen for a position or duty <the appointment of the mayor's husband to the Board of Health came as a surprise>

Synonyms
assignment, commission, designation

Related Words
billet, gig, job, office, place, position, situation, spot, station; authorization, delegation, deputation, emplacement, placement, ranking; anointing, anointment, induction, installation, installment (also instalment), instating, investiture, investment, ordination; choice, choosing, destination, election, nomination, picking, selection, singling (out)

Near Antonyms
blackball, rejection; deposition, dethronement, ejection, eviction, ouster, overthrow, removal

Antonyms
discharge, dismissal, dismission, expulsion, firing

2 an agreement to be present at a specified time and place <I have a dental appointment for two o'clock tomorrow afternoon> — see ENGAGEMENT 2
3 an assignment at which one regularly works for pay <loved her latest appointment as an aide at the governor's office> — see JOB 1
4 appointments plural the movable articles (such as tables and chairs) in a room <the yacht's staterooms have the most luxurious appointments imaginable> — see FURNITURE

apportion verb
1 to give as a share or portion <apportioned the profits according to years of service with the company> — see ALLOT
2 to give out (something) to appropriate individuals <apportioned the grant money to the winners of the competition> — see ADMINISTER 1

apportionment noun
the act or process of giving out something to each member of a group <the apportionment of the estate will happen this Friday> — see DISTRIBUTION 1

apposite adjective
having to do with the matter at hand <enriched his essay on patriotism with some very apposite quotations from famous people on the subject> — see PERTINENT

appositely adverb
in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose <the young painter has been appositely compared with the most prominent artists of the previous century> <such inexcusably boorish behavior is fully deserving of an appositely harsh reprimand> — see PROPERLY

appositeness noun
the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting <questioned the appositeness of such racy illustrations to a serious text on human sexuality> — see APPROPRIATENESS

appraisal noun
1 an opinion on the nature, character, or quality of something <gave us a positive appraisal of his artistic talents> — see ESTIMATION 1
2 the act of placing a value on the nature, character, or quality of something <the appraisal of the house's value took place yesterday> — see ESTIMATE 1

appraise verb
to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding <take a moment to appraise the current situation> — see ESTIMATE 1

appraisement noun
1 an opinion on the nature, character, or quality of something <offered us her appraisement of the band's latest album> — see ESTIMATION 1
2 the act of placing a value on the nature, character, or quality of something <was too harsh in his appraisement of us> — see ESTIMATE 1

appreciable adjective
able to be perceived by a sense or by the mind <there doesn't seem to be any appreciable difference between this piece and that one> — see PERCEPTIBLE

appreciate verb
1 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <the value of that antique should appreciate over time> — see INCREASE 2
2 to hold dear <I appreciate my parents more than I can express> — see LOVE 1
3 to have a clear idea of <I hope you appreciate just how much that collector's CD costs> — see COMPREHEND 1
4 to think very highly or favorably of <many great artists and musicians have not been appreciated in their own lifetimes> — see ADMIRE

appreciation noun
1 a feeling of great approval and liking <my appreciation of her great contributions to women's sports> — see ADMIRATION 1
2 acknowledgment of having received something good from another <if you can do that, you'll have our heartfelt appreciation> — see THANKS
3 the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something <a course intended to give students an appreciation of abstract art> — see COMPREHENSION

appreciative adjective
1 expressing approval <his latest novel has received a number of appreciative reviews> — see FAVORABLE 1
2 feeling or expressing gratitude <very appreciative after we helped him change his flat tire> — see GRATEFUL 1

appreciatively adverb
in an approving manner <he tasted the wine appreciatively as his host looked on> — see ADMIRINGLY

appreciativeness noun
acknowledgment of having received something good from another <a note expressing their appreciativeness of all that we had done for them> — see THANKS

appreciatory adjective
feeling or expressing gratitude <as the name of each contributor was announced, the audience responded with appreciatory applause> — see GRATEFUL 1

apprehend verb
1 to have a clear idea of <do you apprehend the importance of this discovery?> — see COMPREHEND 1
2 to take or keep under one's control by authority of law <the agency charged with apprehending criminals who have violated federal law> — see ARREST 1

apprehended adjective
taken and held prisoner <an apprehended crime lord who can easily post the million-dollar bail> — see CAPTIVE

apprehensible adjective
1 able to be perceived by a sense or by the mind <some of the moon's more interesting features are apprehensible even to someone with a more modestly powered telescope> — see PERCEPTIBLE
2 capable of being understood <a teacher who favored preachy stories that had an easily apprehensible moral> — see INTELLIGIBLE

apprehension noun
1 suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune <the hikers entered the dark cave with a great deal of apprehension>

Synonyms
alarm (also alarum), apprehensiveness, dread, foreboding, misgiving

Related Words
agitation, anxiety, anxiousness, concern, disquiet, disquietude, distress, disturbance, fearfulness, funk, perturbation, solicitude, suspense, unease, uneasiness; scruple, worry; doubt, incertitude, mistrust, suspiciousness, uncertainty, wariness; defeatism, pessimism; foreknowledge, premonition, presage, presentiment

Near Antonyms
anticipation, excitement, hope, hopefulness; confidence, optimism, sanguinity

2 the act of taking into one's control by authority of law <apprehension of the burglar set the neighborhood at ease> — see ARREST 1
3 an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <felt a great deal of apprehension about the trip and about arriving safely> — see ANXIETY 1
4 the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something <a good apprehension of how computer systems work> — see COMPREHENSION

apprehensive adjective
having specified facts or feelings actively impressed on the mind <I'm fully apprehensive of the options, I assure you> — see CONSCIOUS 1

apprehensiveness noun
1 an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <her apprehensiveness about starting college is keeping her awake at night> — see ANXIETY 1
2 suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune <my apprehensiveness about raw fish disagreeing with me is keeping me from even trying sushi> — see APPREHENSION 1

apprentice noun
1 a person who helps a more skilled person <decided to be an apprentice to an electrician after he graduated> — see HELPER
2 a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <aware that she's only an apprentice in the medical field, she readily defers to her more experienced colleagues> — see BEGINNER

apprenticeship noun
a period of undergoing practical instruction in one's job or career <only after long apprenticeship as a camera operator was he appointed director of photography on a major motion picture>

Synonyms
externship, internship, practicum, training

Related Words
basic training, boot camp, cadetship; education, grounding, instruction, schooling, tutelage; candidacy, probation, trial

Near Antonyms
tenure

apprise verb
to give information to <let me apprise you of the current situation> — see ENLIGHTEN 1

approach noun
1 an established course for traveling from one place to another <will take the standard landing approach from the south> — see PASSAGE 1
2 the means or procedure for doing something <that's a different approach to knitting, but it seems to work> — see METHOD

approach verb
1 to come near or nearer <the parade's approaching! I can hear the band playing!>

Synonyms
belly up, close, close in, come up, draw on, near, nigh

Related Words
arrive, attain, come, gain, hit, land, make, reach, show up, turn up, waltz up; creep up, sneak up; adjoin, border, touch, verge

Near Antonyms
clear out, depart, exit, go, leave, light out, pull out, quit, remove, run away, shove (off), take off, walk out

Antonyms
back (up or away), recede, retire, retreat, withdraw

2 to move closer to <approach the bull with caution> — see COME 1
3 to come near or nearer to in character or quality <his store-bought dessert doesn't even approach your homemade version of it> — see APPROXIMATE

approaching adjective
being soon to appear or take place <the approaching holiday has everyone in a state of excitement> — see FORTHCOMING 1

approbate verb
to give official acceptance of as satisfactory <Congress must approbate the President's nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court> — see APPROVE

approbation noun
an acceptance of something as satisfactory <that plan has the approbation of the school board> — see APPROVAL

approbatory adjective
expressing approval <the candidate's views on taxes received overwhelmingly approbatory nods from the conservative audience> — see FAVORABLE 1

appropriate adjective
meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <I don't think jeans and a T-shirt are appropriate attire for a wedding> — see FIT 1

appropriate verb
1 to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right <archaeologists once freely appropriated artifacts excavated at ancient African sites for their museums in Europe>

Synonyms
arrogate, commandeer, convert, expropriate, pirate, preempt, press, seize, take over, usurp

Related Words
annex, attach, claim, confiscate, impound, repossess, sequester; assume, collar, grab, grasp, snatch, steal, wrench, wrest; despoil, loot, pillage; encroach, infringe, invade, occupy, preoccupy, trespass; embezzle, misapply, misappropriate, misuse, peculate

2 to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <you can't just appropriate somebody's term paper and put your name on it!> — see STEAL 1

appropriately adverb
in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose <make sure you greet your elders appropriately> — see PROPERLY

appropriateness noun
the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting <visitors remarked on the appropriateness of window boxes on the cottage, noting they gave it a quaint, cheerful look>

Synonyms
appositeness, aptness, felicitousness, felicity, fitness, fittingness, happiness, properness, propriety, rightness, seemliness, suitability, suitableness

Related Words
agreeableness, compatibility, congruity, harmoniousness; applicability, bearing, connection, justifiability, materiality, pertinence, relevance, relevancy, validity; acceptability, adequacy, adequateness, convenience, expedience, expediency, satisfactoriness, serviceableness, usefulness

Near Antonyms
disagreeableness, incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness, inexpedience, inexpediency, inharmoniousness, unbecomingness; immateriality, inapplicability, irrelevance, irrelevancy; meaninglessness, pointlessness

Antonyms
improperness, impropriety, inappositeness, inappropriateness, inaptness, infelicity, unfitness, unseemliness, unsuitability, wrongness

appropriation noun
1 a sum of money allotted for a specific use by official or formal action <the National Park Service received an increased appropriation for wildlife management>

Synonyms
allocation, allotment, annuity, entitlement, grant, subsidy, subvention

Related Words
aid, assistance, block grant, grant-in-aid, set-aside; foreign aid, relief, state aid; advance, allowance, benefit, bequest, endowment, fund, legacy, stipend, trust, trust fund

2 the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority <the insurgents' appropriation of the house for their headquarters>

Synonyms
arrogation, commandeering, detainer, expropriation, preemption, seizure, takeover, usurpation

Related Words
annexation, assumption, attachment, confiscation, grab, impoundment, repossession, sequestration; defalcation, embezzlement, misapplication, misappropriation, misuse, peculation, theft; despoilment, looting, pillaging; encroachment, infringement, piracy; invasion, occupancy, occupation, preoccupancy, trespass; deforcement, disfurnishment, dispossession, ejection, stripping

approval noun
an acceptance of something as satisfactory <does this dress I bought for the wedding meet with your approval?>

Synonyms
approbation, blessing, favor, imprimatur, OK (or okay)

Related Words
backing, cachet, endorsement (also indorsement), finalization, formalization, homologation, nod, ratification, rubber stamp, sanction, support, thumbs-up, vote; benediction, goodwill; acceptation, accession, agreement, assent, concurrence, consent; countenance, liking, satisfaction

Phrases
clean bill of health, pat on the back

Near Antonyms
refusal, rejection, repudiation; dislike, dissatisfaction; censure, condemnation, criticism, denunciation, deprecation, depreciation, disparagement, opprobrium, reprehension, reproach, reprobation

Antonyms
disapprobation, disapproval, disfavor

approve verb
to give official acceptance of as satisfactory <as soon as the pond project was approved, the bulldozers were at the site>

Synonyms
accredit, approbate, authorize, clear, confirm, finalize, formalize, homologate, OK (or okay), ratify, sanction, warrant

Related Words
accept, acknowledge, affirm; certify, endorse (also indorse), validate; bless, canonize, sanctify; initial, rubber-stamp, sign, sign off (on); allow, enable, legalize, license (also licence), pass, permit; reapprove

Near Antonyms
ban, enjoin, forbid, illegalize, interdict, prohibit, proscribe; disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook; rebuff, rebut, refuse, spurn

Antonyms
decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, reject, turn down, veto

approve (of) verb
to have a favorable opinion of <we don't approve of people who stand in the “12 items or less” lane with 13 items>

Synonyms
accept, care (for), countenance, favor, OK (or okay), subscribe (to)

Related Words
acclaim, applaud, laud, praise, salute; back (up), concur (in), stand by, support, sustain, uphold; bear, endure, tolerate; assent (to), consent (to); commend, recommend; enjoy, like

Phrases
go for, hold with, take kindly to

Near Antonyms
blacklist, censure, condemn, criticize, damn, denounce, deprecate, depreciate, disparage, reprehend, reprobate; dislike, mind; detest, hate, loathe; dissent (from), object (to), oppose

Antonyms
disapprove (of), discountenance, disfavor, frown (on or upon)

approving adjective
expressing approval <the play did not receive a single approving notice> — see FAVORABLE 1

approvingly adverb
in an approving manner <she smiled approvingly at the child who was performing onstage> — see ADMIRINGLY

approximate adjective
1 being such only when compared to something else <the movie's an approximate success, if you can overlook the overblown publicity that preceded it> — see COMPARATIVE
2 not precisely correct <police could only give us an approximate count of the number of people who attended the air show> — see INEXACT 1

approximate verb
to come near or nearer to in character or quality <Rob's violin performance last night didn't even approximate what he's really capable of when he's not feeling sick>

Synonyms
approach, compare (with), measure up (to), stack up (against or with)

Related Words
add up (to), amount (to), come (to); duplicate, equal, match; mirror, parallel, reflect; border (on), touch (on), verge (on)

Phrases
hold a candle to

approximately adverb
close to but not exactly <it takes approximately three hours to drive to Dallas>

Synonyms
about, around, like, more or less, much, near, plus or minus, roughly, say, some

Related Words
generally, kind of, loosely; nearly, nominally, practically, virtually, well-nigh

Phrases
after a fashion, somewhere about, somewhere around

Near Antonyms
due, even, just, sharp, smack-dab, squarely

Antonyms
exactly, precisely

approximative adjective
not precisely correct <until we receive more information, the sales figures are only approximative> — see INEXACT 1

appurtenant adjective
available to supply something extra when needed <a store selling tents, sleeping bags, and all manner of appurtenant equipment for a week of roughing it> — see AUXILIARY

après preposition
subsequent to in time or order <après dinner, we retired to the living room for cigars and conversation> — see AFTER

a priori adjective
being or provable by reasoning in which the conclusion follows necessarily from given information <an a priori argument for the defendant's innocence> — see DEDUCTIVE

apropos adjective
having to do with the matter at hand <the actor announced to reporters that he would regard as apropos only questions about the movie and would ignore inquiries about his love life> — see PERTINENT

apropos adverb
by way of interjection or digression <I went up to New York last weekend; apropos, have you seen your New York cousins lately?>

Synonyms
en passant, incidentally

Related Words
digressively, excursively, interjectionally, parenthetically, secondarily, tangentially

Phrases
by the by (or by the bye), by the way, in passing

apropos preposition
having to do with <makes a number of telling observations apropos the current political situation> — see ABOUT 1

apropos of preposition
having to do with <apropos of our earlier conversation, here's that file I mentioned> — see ABOUT 1

apt adjective
1 having a tendency to be or act in a certain way <that dog is apt to run off if you don't put him on a leash> — see PRONE 1
2 meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <“gingerbread” is certainly an apt description for that house with all the ornate trim> — see FIT 1

aptitude noun
1 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <bored teenagers with an aptitude for getting into trouble> — see INCLINATION 1
2 a special and usually inborn ability <has an aptitude for math> — see TALENT

aptness noun
1 an established pattern of behavior <an unfortunate aptness to interrupt people in mid sentence> — see TENDENCY 1
2 the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting <I'd question the aptness of that goofy sympathy card> — see APPROPRIATENESS

aquatic adjective
living, lying, or occurring below the surface of the water <a lifelong fascination with sharks and other fearsome aquatic creatures> — see UNDERWATER

aqua vitae noun
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <aqua vitae has been part of human culture since ancient times> — see ALCOHOL

aqueduct noun
an open man-made passageway for water <marveled at the ancient Roman aqueducts that still carry water to distant villages> — see CHANNEL 1

aquiver adjective
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <a puppy aquiver with anticipation as his owner held out a treat> — see SHAKY 1

arbiter noun
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy <the dean of student affairs is the proper arbiter when a student disputes a grade> — see JUDGE 1

arbitrary adjective
1 having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity <an arbitrary piano teacher who makes all her students do the same exercises over and over again>

Synonyms
dictatorial, high-handed, imperious, peremptory, willful (or wilful)

Related Words
arrogant, commanding, demanding, dominant, domineering, haughty, imperative, lordly, masterful, overbearing, presumptuous; authoritarian, autocratic (also autocratical), despotic, totalitarian, tyrannical (also tyrannic), tyrannous; capricious, changeable, erratic, inconsistent, mercurial, whimsical; biased, inequitable, partisan, prejudiced, unequal, unfair, unjust, unrealistic, unreasonable; unconscionable, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous

Near Antonyms
balanced, disinterested, dispassionate, equal, equitable, evenhanded, fair, impartial, just, nonpartisan, objective; rational, reasonable, understanding; unbiased, unprejudiced; ethical, honorable, irreproachable, law-abiding, moral, principled, unimpeachable

2 lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern <the order of the names of the 10 semifinalists is entirely arbitrary> — see RANDOM
3 exercising power or authority without interference by others <a nation with no tradition of democracy, only a long history of arbitrary rulers> — see ABSOLUTE 1

arbitrate verb
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) <will arbitrate the dispute between the company and the labor union> — see JUDGE 1

arbitrator noun
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy <the couple finally agreed to let the salesclerk be the final arbitrator and tell them which shirt looked best> — see JUDGE 1

arc noun
something that curves or is curved <the stars seemed to align themselves into one vast glittering arc> — see BEND 1

arc verb
to turn away from a straight line or course <the ball arced toward the batter and nearly hit him> — see CURVE 1

arcadian adjective
free from disturbing noise or uproar <the painter is fond of depicting mute, slightly mysterious figures in arcadian settings> — see QUIET 1

arcane adjective
1 difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand <grammatical rules that seem arcane to generations of students who were never taught grammar in the first place> — see PROFOUND 1
2 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <the rebate form uses arcane language, the only purpose of which seems to be to disqualify buyers from actually getting a rebate> — see OBSCURE 1
3 being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain <my predecessor in this job obviously had his own arcane system for filing things, and so I haven't a clue as to where anything is> — see MYSTERIOUS 1

arch adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <since the start of her acting career her parents have steadfastly remained her arch supporters> — see FOREMOST 1
2 displaying or marked by rude boldness <was so arch as to ask him outright if he was wearing a toupee> — see NERVY 1
3 tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <the arch look on the girl's face betrayed her as the one who had tricked the babysitter into believing that the house was haunted> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

arch noun
something that curves or is curved <the limestone arch is a natural formation that is the product of many years of erosion> — see BEND 1

arch verb
1 to cause to turn away from a straight line <the cat arched her back whenever she was stroked> — see BEND 1
2 to turn away from a straight line or course <the path gradually arches off into the woods> — see CURVE 1

archaic adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <a man with some archaic notions about the proper sphere for women> — see OBSOLETE

archconservative adjective
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <his moderate views on social issues means that he has no chance with archconservative voters> — see CONSERVATIVE 1

archconservative noun
a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are <archconservatives refused to accept any change in the definition of marriage> — see CONSERVATIVE

archetypal also archetypical adjective
1 constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated <St. Peter's basilica in Rome is considered by some art historians to be the archetypal structure in the baroque style> — see MODEL
2 having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind <the movie's hero is pretty archetypal, lacking in any distinctive qualities that would distinguish him from countless other masked avengers> — see TYPICAL 1

archetype noun
1 something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed <the abacus is sometimes cited as the archetype of the modern digital calculator> — see ANCESTOR 2
2 something from which copies are made <Beowulf is considered by some scholars to be the archetype for medieval British heroic tales> — see ORIGINAL 1

archfiend noun
the supreme personification of evil often represented as the ruler of hell <he sold his soul to the archfiend> — see DEVIL 1

architect noun
a person who designs and guides a plan or undertaking <the architect of the economic plan that rebuilt Europe after World War II> — see ENGINEER

architecture noun
the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form <the nonlinear architecture of the novel reflects a postmodern sensibility> — see FRAME 1

archive noun
a place where books, periodicals, and records are kept for use but not for sale <asked that the rare book be brought from the archive> <sent the novelist's letters to the archive for preservation> — see LIBRARY 1

archly adverb
to a great degree <an archly competitive young executive> — see VERY 1

archon noun
a person who manages or directs something <as archon of the nation's most prestigious university, he became something of a national figure> — see EXECUTIVE

arctic adjective
1 having a low or subnormal temperature <the arctic air of deep winter> — see COLD 1
2 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <received the usual arctic reception from her in-laws at Thanksgiving> — see COLD 2

ardency noun
depth of feeling <the ardency in the social worker's voice surprised me> — see ARDOR 1

ardent adjective
1 having or expressing great depth of feeling <made ardent declarations of love to the woman he someday hoped to marry> — see FERVENT 1
2 showing urgent desire or interest <an ardent science-fiction fan who has read virtually all of his favorite author's many works> — see EAGER
3 having a notably high temperature <under an ardent sun the band of bedouins made their way across the sandy wastes> — see HOT 1

ardent spirits plural noun
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <in the 1800s, laws against selling ardent spirits in “Indian country” were mostly ignored> — see ALCOHOL

ardor noun
1 depth of feeling <candidates for citizenship reciting the oath of allegiance to the United States with all the ardor that they could muster>

Synonyms
ardency, emotion, enthusiasm, fervency, fervidness, fervor, fire, heat, intenseness, intensity, passion, passionateness, vehemence, violence, warmth, white heat

Related Words
cathexis; emotionalism, emotionality, histrionics, mawkishness, melodrama, sappiness, sentimentality; eagerness, earnestness, excitement, gusto, keenness, zest; fanaticism, fever, hot-bloodedness, infatuation, mania, obsession, zeal; compassion, responsiveness, sentiment, sympathy, tenderness; torridity, torridness

Near Antonyms
aloofness, calmness, collectedness, composure, detachedness, dryness, phlegm, reserve, reservedness, reticence, taciturnity; apathy, indifference, stoicism, stoniness, unconcern; stiffness, woodenness; chilliness, coldness, coolness, frigidity, frigidness

Antonyms
impassiveness, impassivity, insensibility, insensibleness, insensitiveness, insensitivity

2 urgent desire or interest <his ardor for combat cooled once he began experiencing the horrors of war> — see EAGERNESS
3 intense sexual desire <her revealing outfit only inflamed his ardor all the more> — see LUST 1

arduous adjective
1 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <climbing Mount Everest is an arduous, exhausting challenge> — see HARD 2
2 requiring much time, effort, or careful attention <the arduous task of doing the research for my term paper> — see DEMANDING 1

arduously adverb
with great effort or determination <arduously made their way through the dense jungle> — see HARD 1

area noun
1 a part or portion having no fixed boundaries <I last saw your dog over in that general area> — see REGION 1
2 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <a top researcher in the area of human genetics> — see FIELD 2

arena noun
1 a large room or building for enclosed public gatherings <watched the hockey game in the new sports arena> — see HALL 3
2 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <has a lot of influence in the local business arena> — see FIELD 2

argentine adjective
of the color gray <an argentine sky hinted at a coming storm> — see GRAY 1

argle–bargle noun, chiefly British
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <after a lot of argle-bargle even with members of his own party, the prime minister managed to get the measure through parliament> — see ARGUMENT 1

argosy noun
an abundant source <a book that is an argosy of stories and legends about the golden age of Hollywood> — see MINE 1

argot noun
the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field <used the argot of figure skaters> — see TERMINOLOGY

arguable adjective
open to question or dispute <frankly, it's arguable whether you deserve the promotion> — see DEBATABLE 1

argue verb
1 to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration <argued that a bake sale would make a lot less money than a car wash>

Synonyms
assert, contend, maintain, plead, reason

Related Words
adduce, cite, mention; claim, insist; affirm, aver, avouch, avow; advance, give, offer, propose, submit; advise, counsel, recommend, suggest, urge; convince, persuade; advocate, champion, defend, enforce, espouse, support; explain, justify, rationalize; consider, debate, discuss; confute, counter, disprove, rebut, refute

2 to express different opinions about something often angrily <that couple argues so incessantly it's a miracle they're still together>

Synonyms
altercate, argufy, bicker, brabble, brawl, controvert, dispute, fall out, fight, hassle, jar, quarrel, quibble, row, scrap, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle

Related Words
challenge, dare, defy; clash, contend, contest, tangle; cavil, fuss, nitpick; consider, debate, discuss; kick, object, protest

Phrases
bandy words, butt heads, lock horns, mix it up

Near Antonyms
coexist, get along; accept, agree, assent, concur, consent

3 to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests <argued my boss into letting me telecommute for four days a week> — see PERSUADE
4 to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion <candidates arguing gun control in a nationally televised debate> — see DISCUSS
5 to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of <the security video argues that it was a taller man who entered the building> — see CONFIRM 1

arguer noun
a person who takes part in a dispute <he's is demand on the Sunday morning political shows because he's an eager and indefatigable arguer> — see DISPUTANT

argufier noun
a person who takes part in a dispute <she's a relentless, petty argufier who never concedes even the most trivial point> — see DISPUTANT

argufy verb
to express different opinions about something often angrily <tedious departmental meetings at which staffers would argufy endlessly> — see ARGUE 2

argument noun
1 an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <the couple's arguments were often loud enough to be heard all over the neighborhood>

Synonyms
altercation, argle-bargle [chiefly British], argy-bargy [chiefly British], battle royal, bicker, brawl, contretemps, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, donnybrook, falling-out, fight, hassle, imbroglio, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, rhubarb, row, scrap, set-to, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle

Related Words
clash, run-in, skirmish, tangle, tussle; logomachy; feud, vendetta; attack, contention, dissension (also dissention); debate, difference, disputation; fuss, objection, protest, protestation; affray [chiefly British], fisticuffs, fracas, fray, free-for-all, melee (also mêlée); catfight

2 a statement given to explain a belief or act <gave a solid argument for the redeeming value of the shockingly violent movie> — see REASON 1
3 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <the president of the Senate has allotted a week for the argument of the treaty> — see DISCUSSION 1
4 an idea or opinion that is put forth in a discussion or debate <it's my argument that we have too many problems here on earth to concern ourselves with manned trips to Mars> — see CONTENTION 1

argumentation noun
an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <the matter is not subject to argumentation; my decision is final> — see DISCUSSION 1

argumentative adjective
1 given to arguing <he's too argumentative to be part of a project in which teamwork is critical>

Synonyms
contentious, controversial, disputatious, polemical (also polemic), quarrelsome, scrappy

Related Words
aggressive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, truculent, warlike; feisty, fractious, surly; balky, contrary, ornery, perverse, restive, wayward; disobedient, froward, insubordinate, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory; hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, pigheaded, resistant, self-opinionated, self-willed, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, uncooperative, unreasonable, unyielding, willful (or wilful); acidic, bearish, bilious, cantankerous, captious, choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, disagreeable, dyspeptic, fretful, grouchy, grumpy, huffy, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, irascible, irritable, peevish, pettish, petulant, querulous, rude, snappish, snappy, splenetic, testy, touchy, waspish; battling, fighting, warring

Near Antonyms
affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, cordial, easygoing, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, ingratiating, pleasant, sociable; acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, complying, conciliatory, cooperative, obliging; docile, obedient, submissive, tractable; pacific, peaceable, peaceful

2 feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <an argumentative gang of bullies always looking for a fight> — see BELLIGERENT
3 relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions <a topic that sparked more than a few argumentative conversations around the watercooler> — see CONTROVERSIAL 1

Argus–eyed adjective
paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity <an Argus-eyed photographer known for capturing on film many celebrity meltdowns> — see ALERT 1

argy–bargy noun, chiefly British
1 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <wouldn't be a cricket match without a little argy-bargy over the umpire's every call> — see DISCUSSION 1
2 an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <the perennial argy-bargy over whether the monarchy should be abolished> — see ARGUMENT 1

arid adjective
1 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <an arid speech about duty and responsibility> — see BORING
2 marked by little or no precipitation or humidity <arid wastelands unfit for human habitation> — see DRY 1

arise verb
1 to leave one's bed <the travelers arose before dawn and were on their way as the sun came up>

Synonyms
get up, rise, roll out, turn out, uprise

Related Words
arouse, awake, awaken, bestir, stir, wake

Near Antonyms
catnap, doze, drop off, lie up, nap, nod, rest, sleep, slumber, snooze; bunk, perch, roost, settle; couch, doss (down) [chiefly British], flop (down), lie (down), recline

Antonyms
bed (down), retire, turn in

2 to come to one's attention especially gradually or unexpectedly <note in your report any problems that arise while you are conducting the experiment>

Synonyms
come up, crop (up), emerge, materialize, spring (up), surface

Related Words
appear, come out, show up, turn up; chance, come, come about, fall out, go (on), go off, hap, happen, occur, pass, transpire; interfere, interpose, intervene, intrude

3 to come into existence <it is not known exactly how mammals arose, but scientists date the earliest mammals to the Triassic period> — see BEGIN 2
4 to move or extend upward <slowly the hot-air balloon arose, and the round-the-world flight was begun> — see ASCEND

aristocracy noun
1 the highest class in a society <at one time in China only the aristocracy could own land>

Synonyms
elite, gentility, gentlefolk (also gentlefolks), gentry, nobility, patriciate, quality, upper class, upper crust

Related Words
A-list, beau monde, beautiful people, café society, Four Hundred (or 400), glitterati, haut monde (also haute monde), jet set, society; carriage trade, plutocracy

Near Antonyms
commoners, (the) crowd, (the) masses, peasantry, peonage, (the) people, plebeians, plebs, (the) populace, (the) public, rank and file; bourgeoisie, middle class, working class; dregs, (the) herd, (the) mob, rabble, rabblement, riffraff, scum, trash

Antonyms
proletarians, proletariat

2 individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <membership in the society is reserved for the literary world's aristocracy> — see ELITE 1

aristocrat noun
a person of high birth or social position <could trace his lineage to an English aristocrat of the 17th century> — see GENTLEPERSON

aristocratic adjective
1 being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior <the restaurant's cuisine is truly superb, but the maître d's aristocratic demeanor is a bit much> — see SNOBBISH
2 of high birth, rank, or station <an impoverished dowager who never lets people forget about her aristocratic origins> — see NOBLE 1

arithmetic noun
the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value <I haven't actually done the arithmetic yet, but I suspect we're losing money on the deal> — see CALCULATION

1arm noun
a portable weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder <soldiers grabbing their arms and helmets and heading into battle> — see GUN 1

2arm noun
1 a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization <a company that needs to beef up its marketing arm if it wants to compete in today's business world> — see DIVISION 2
2 a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline <this arm of the Atlantic is surprisingly peaceful, as the stronger ocean currents do not reach this far> — see GULF 1
3 an area of land that juts out into a body of water <Maine has so many long, narrow arms that jut out into the ocean that early coastal settlers found it much easier to travel by sea> — see 2CAPE
4 the right or means to command or control others <few criminals manage to permanently escape the long arm of the law> — see POWER 1

armada noun
a group of vehicles traveling together or under one management <an armada of ships sailing up the coast> — see FLEET

armature noun
the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form <the rigid armature of a highly stratified society> — see FRAME 1

armed forces plural noun
the combined army, air force, and navy of a nation <our nation's armed forces are stationed throughout the world>

Synonyms
colors, military, service, troops

Related Words
GIs (or GI's), men-at-arms, rank and file, servicemen, servicewomen, soldiers, soldiery; force; militia, reserves; armor, defense; gendarmerie (or gendarmery)

Near Antonyms
civilians, noncombatants

armistice noun
a temporary stopping of fighting <both sides in the conflict agreed to an armistice during the solemn holy days> — see TRUCE

armor noun
1 means or method of defending <the skunk's primary armor is the foul-smelling fluid that it can eject> — see DEFENSE 1
2 something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <the crab's armor makes it difficult prey for some smaller predators> — see 1CASE

armory noun
a place where military arms are stored <the soldier was sent to the armory to get a replacement weapon for the one that had been stolen>

Synonyms
arsenal, depot, dump, magazine

Related Words
fort, fortress, stronghold; repository, storehouse, warehouse

arm–twisting noun
the use of power to impose one's will on another <it took some arm-twisting, but they eventually agreed to make a donation> — see FORCE 2

army noun
1 a large body of men and women organized for land warfare <In 218 B.C., Hannibal crossed the Alps with an army of 26,000 men and, most famously, a number of elephants>

Synonyms
array, battalion, host, legion

Related Words
militia, national guard, standing army; infantry, ranks, regulars, soldiers, troopers, troops

2 a great number of persons or creatures massed together <a vast army of loyal fans in line for the band's farewell concert> — see CROWD 1
3 a group of people working together on a task <an army of rescue workers descended on the tornado-stricken town> — see GANG 1

aroma noun
1 a sweet or pleasant smell <I love the aroma of bread baking in the oven> — see FRAGRANCE
2 the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose <the ripe aroma of a sweatshirt that's in dire need of laundering> — see SMELL 1
3 a special quality or impression associated with something <the aroma of wealth and privilege that pervades the manicured confines of the country club> — see AURA 1

aromatic adjective
having a pleasant smell <aromatic flowers can add greatly to the ambience of a room> — see FRAGRANT

around adjective
having being at the present time <she's generally regarded as one of the most talented singers around> — see EXTANT 1

around adverb
1 on all sides or in every direction <he looked around> <butterflies were flying all around>

Synonyms
about, round

Related Words
all over, everyplace, everywhere; abroad, afloat, hereabouts (or hereabout)

2 toward the opposite direction <she turned around and saw him>

Synonyms
about, back, backward (or backwards), round

Related Words
behind, down, downward (or downwards), rearward (also rearwards); obversely, reversely; across, athwart, counter, counterclockwise, widdershins (also withershins)

Near Antonyms
clockwise, deasil

3 at, within, or to a short distance or time <our dog usually stays around our yard> <he'll be getting in around 6:00> — see NEAR 1
4 from beginning to end <a team that plays all year around> — see THROUGH 1
5 close to but not exactly <there's around a hundred books still left to be packed in boxes> — see APPROXIMATELY
6 in one place and another <while typewriters can still be seen around, they are no longer the common office fixtures they once were> — see HERE AND THERE 1

around preposition
1 close to <I wouldn't stand around those rocks—there could be snakes under them>

Synonyms
about, by, near, next to, nigh

Related Words
alongside, beside; across, along, at; circa; toward (or towards)

Phrases
next door to

2 in random positions within the boundaries of <huge, strangely shaped rocks were scattered around the canyon floor>

Synonyms
about, across, over, round, through, throughout

Related Words
on

arouse verb
1 to cause to stop sleeping <the rooster's crow aroused me from my deep sleep> — see WAKE 1
2 to cease to be asleep <set the alarm so we would arouse at 5:00 a.m.> — see WAKE 2
3 to rouse to strong feeling or action <the court's controversial decision aroused many to protest and to lobby the legislature for a constitutional amendment> — see PROVOKE 1

arrange verb
1 to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of <arrange a time for the meeting> <arrange money matters for your trip>

Synonyms
agree (on), decide, fix, set, settle

Related Words
contract, pledge, promise; blueprint, calculate, chart, concert, design, draft, frame, hammer out, intrigue, lay out, maneuver, map (out), plan, program (also programme), schematize, scheme, shape, square away, work out; choose, conclude, determine, figure, opt, resolve; affirm, approve, authorize, clear, confirm, OK (or okay), sanction, warrant; close, complete, end, finalize, finish, round (off or out), wind up, wrap up; bargain, chaffer, deal, dicker, haggle, horse-trade, negotiate

Phrases
dispose of

Near Antonyms
abort, call, call off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke; differ (over), disagree (with); counter, debate, object, oppose, protest, resist; contest, dispute

2 to put into a particular arrangement <arrange the flowers so that the taller ones are at the center of the bouquet> — see ORDER 1
3 to bring about through discussion and compromise <I'll arrange your free movie pass with the cinema's manager> — see NEGOTIATE 1
4 to work out the details of (something) in advance <we need to arrange our European vacation so that we can get the best deals> — see PLAN 1

arrangement noun
1 a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective <will work out a visitation arrangement in court> — see PLAN 1
2 the way in which something is sized, arranged, or organized <an artistic arrangement of the vases on the shelf> — see FORMAT 1
3 the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged <the close arrangement of the figures in the family portrait is meant to be symbolic of their close emotional attachment> — see COMPOSITION 3
4 the way objects in space or events in time are arranged or follow one another <the ill-advised arrangement of works in the piano recital resulted in pieces of similar mood being played back-to-back> — see ORDER 1

arrant adjective
having no exceptions or restrictions <that statement is complete and arrant nonsense> — see ABSOLUTE 2

array noun
1 a number of things considered as a unit <an array of baseball gloves in the corner of his room> — see GROUP 1
2 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <a motley array of travelers waiting for the bus> — see GROUP 2
3 dressy clothing <dressed in festive array for the city's annual New Year's Eve celebration> — see FINERY
4 the way objects in space or events in time are arranged or follow one another <a marching band's carefully choreographed array> — see ORDER 1
5 a large body of men and women organized for land warfare <feudal lords depended upon their array for defense> — see ARMY 1

array verb
1 to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <a door arrayed for the holidays with a beautiful evergreen wreath> — see DECORATE
2 to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <arrayed in a wedding dress that has been handed down in the family for generations> — see CLOTHE 1
3 to put into a particular arrangement <arrayed his baseball cards in order of their rarity and consequent monetary value> — see ORDER 1

arrearage noun
something (as money) which is owed <the new buyer must pay the arrearage on the home before moving in> — see DEBT 1

arrears plural noun
something (as money) which is owed <since it lost the discrimination lawsuit, the employer will have to pay the worker all arrears in salary> — see DEBT 1

arrest noun
1 the act of taking into one's control by authority of law <there have been only two arrests for driving while intoxicated in the county in the last six months>

Synonyms
apprehension, arrestment, bust [slang], collar, pinch

Related Words
raid; house arrest; capture, entrapment, seizure; captivity, confinement, detention, enchainment, hold, immurement, imprisonment, incarceration, restraint; rearrest; remand

Near Antonyms
emancipation, liberation, release

Antonyms
discharge

2 the stopping of a process or activity <“hemostasis” is the technical term for arrest of bleeding> — see END 1

arrest verb
1 to take or keep under one's control by authority of law <the inept robber was promptly arrested by the off-duty policeman he had tried to hold up>

Synonyms
apprehend, bust [slang], collar, nab, nail, nick [British slang], pick up, pinch, pull in, restrain, run in, seize

Related Words
bag, capture, catch, get, grab, grapple, hook, land, snap (up), snare, snatch, trap; commit, confine, detain, hold, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, jug, lock (up); bind, enchain, fetter, handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel; rearrest; remand

Near Antonyms
emancipate, free, liberate, loose, loosen, release, spring; unbind, unchain

Antonyms
discharge

2 to bring (something) to a standstill <cryogenics is based on the idea that extreme cold can almost arrest molecular motion> — see 1HALT 1
3 to hold the attention of as if by a spell <the sight of the daredevil walking a tightrope between high-rises arrested area pedestrians and motorists alike> — see ENTHRALL 1

arrested adjective
taken and held prisoner <a line of arrested suspects waiting to be booked on a variety of charges> — see CAPTIVE

arresting adjective
1 holding the attention or provoking interest <an arresting film about tribal traditions in Africa> — see INTERESTING
2 likely to attract attention <at seven feet tall, he's an arresting figure in any crowd> — see NOTICEABLE

arrestment noun
1 the act of taking or holding under one's control by authority of law <the arrestment of the bank president for embezzlement was accomplished as quietly as possible> — see ARREST 1
2 the stopping of a process or activity <the arrestment of all brain activity in the patient> — see END 1

arrival noun
the act of coming upon a scene <spring's late arrival meant we were still skiing in mid-April> <the groom blamed his belated arrival for the wedding on a huge traffic snarl>

Synonyms
advent, appearance, coming, incoming

Related Words
approach, entrance, ingress; beginning, birth, commencement, dawn, dawning, debut (also début), genesis, inception, morning, onset, start

Near Antonyms
dissipation, dissolution, evaporation, fadeaway, fading, melting, passing, vanishing; clearing out, egress, leaving, retirement, retreat, withdrawal; emigration, evacuation, exodus

Antonyms
decamping, decampment, departing, departure, disappearance, exit, exiting, farewell, going, leave-taking, parting, quitting

arrive verb
1 to get to a destination <when will the guests arrive?> — see COME 2
2 to reach a desired level of accomplishment <the actress knew she'd arrived when she received an Oscar nomination> — see SUCCEED 2

arriviste noun
one who has recently acquired wealth and social position <the town's old money immediately shunned these vulgar arrivistes, who may have had the cash but certainly not the class> — see NOUVEAU RICHE

arrogance noun
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <in his arrogance the president of the club made all the arrangements for the annual banquet without consulting the members>

Synonyms
assumption, bumptiousness, consequence, haughtiness, hauteur, high horse, huffiness, imperiousness, loftiness, lordliness, masterfulness, peremptoriness, pomposity, pompousness, presumptuousness, pretense (or pretence), pretension, pretentiousness, self-consequence, self-importance, superciliousness, superiority, toploftiness

Related Words
authoritativeness, bossiness, bowwow, brag, dominance, high-handedness; condescension, disdain, scorn; chest-thumping, inflation, self-assertion, side [chiefly British], snobbery, snobbishness, snobbism, snootiness; attitude, cheek, cheekiness, impertinence, impudence, sauciness; boastfulness, bombast, braggadocio, bravado, strut, swagger, triumphalism, vaingloriousness, vainglory; cockiness, complacence, conceit, egoism, egotism, pride, pridefulness, self-assumption, self-centeredness, self-complacency, self-conceit, self-content, self-contentment, self-opinion, self-partiality, self-satisfaction, smugness, swelled head, vanity; superiority complex

Near Antonyms
bashfulness, demureness, retiringness, shyness; diffidence, self-distrust, self-doubt, timidity, timidness; lowliness, meekness, mousiness, passiveness, passivity, submissiveness; quietness, reserve, reservedness

Antonyms
humility, modesty, unassumingness, unpretentiousness

arrogant adjective
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <the arrogant young lawyer elbowed his way to the head of the line of customers, declaring that he was too busy to wait like everybody else>

Synonyms
assumptive, bumptious, cavalier, chesty, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, huffish, huffy, imperious, important, lofty, lordly, masterful, overweening, peremptory, pompous, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, self-asserting, self-assertive, sniffy, stiff-necked, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity

Related Words
authoritarian, bossy, dominant, dominating, domineering, magisterial, pontifical, pontificating; condescending, disdainful, patronizing; impertinent, impudent, saucy; snobbish, snobby, snooty; blusterous, blustery, boastful, bombastic, braggart, bragging, braggy, cocky, swaggering, vain, vainglorious; complacent, conceited, egocentric, egoistic (also egoistical), egotistic (or egotistical), hubristic, narcissistic, orgulous, prideful, proud, self-affected, self-applauding, self-centered, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-pleased, self-satisfied, smug, stuck-up; self-flattering, self-loving, self-promoting; brash, forward, uninhibited, unreserved; extroverted (also extraverted), immodest

Near Antonyms
bashful, cowering, cringing, demure, diffident, introverted, mousy (or mousey), overmodest, self-critical, self-doubting, sheepish, shrinking, shy, subdued, timid; acquiescent, compliant, deferential, meek, passive, submissive, unaggressive, unassertive, unassuming, unobtrusive, yielding; quiet, reserved, retiring

Antonyms
humble, lowly, modest, unarrogant, unpretentious

arrogate verb
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right <arrogated the corner office without obtaining prior approval> — see APPROPRIATE 1

arrogation noun
the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority <the legislature's arrogation of certain powers that are explicitly reserved by the constitution for the judiciary> — see APPROPRIATION 2

arsenal noun
a place where military arms are stored <sent the ordnance officer to the arsenal for weapons> — see ARMORY

arsonist noun
a person who deliberately and unlawfully sets fire to a building or other property <they finally caught the arsonist, but only after he'd set fire to four barns>

Synonyms
firebug, incendiary, torch

Related Words
pyromaniac; flamer, igniter (also ignitor), immolator, inflamer, kindler

art noun
1 an occupation requiring skillful use of the hands <one of the country's finest practitioners of the art of cabinetmaking> — see CRAFT 1
2 subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something <while some people see it simply as mindless fun or exercise, there is an art to skateboarding> — see SKILL 1

arterial noun
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <one of the main arterials connecting the airport with the city> — see WAY 1

artery noun
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <there's an accident on the main artery into town, so I'll be late> — see WAY 1

artful adjective
1 clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <the artful lawyer got the witness to admit he had been lying>

Synonyms
beguiling, cagey (also cagy), crafty, cunning, cute, designing, devious, dodgy [chiefly British], foxy, guileful, scheming, shrewd, slick, sly, subtle, tricky, wily

Related Words
astute, facile, glib, sharp; crooked, deceitful, deceptive, dishonest, fraudulent, insinuating, knavish, Machiavellian, oblique, serpentine, shady, shifty, slippery, sneaky, treacherous, underhand, underhanded, unscrupulous; backhanded, double-dealing, hypocritical, insincere, left-handed, mealy, mealymouthed, smooth-tongued, two-faced; circuitous, circular, roundabout; clandestine, concealed, covert, furtive, hugger-mugger, secret, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover; calculating, plotting

Near Antonyms
obvious, open, patent, plain, public, unconcealed; aboveboard, candid, direct, forthright, frank, honest, natural, outspoken, plainspoken, real, simple, sincere, straightforward, unaffected, unpretending, unpretentious, unvarnished; childlike, impressionable, simpleminded, unsophisticated, unworldly; unforced, unstudied; trustful, trusting

Antonyms
artless, guileless, ingenuous, innocent, undesigning

2 showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing <that kitchen gadget is an artful tool for extracting cherry pits> — see CLEVER 1
3 accomplished with trained ability <that was an artful way to handle a very delicate situation> — see SKILLFUL

artfully adverb
in a skillful or expert manner <the sushi chef artfully filleted the salmon> — see WELL 3

artfulness noun
1 skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <with well-practiced artfulness, he convinced his mother he was sick enough to stay home from school but not sick enough for a visit to the doctor's office> — see CUNNING 1
2 subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something <building a ship model requires a painstaking artfulness I don't have> — see SKILL 1

article noun
a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view <read an article extolling the benefits of vegetarianism> — see ESSAY 1

articulacy noun, chiefly British
the art or power of speaking or writing in a forceful and convincing way <the impressive articulacy of the members of the debating society known as the Oxford Union> — see ELOQUENCE

articulate adjective
able to express oneself clearly and well <the television crew covering the science fair were looking for photogenic and articulate students to explain their projects on the air>

Synonyms
eloquent, fluent, silver-tongued, well-spoken

Related Words
facile, glib, smooth-tongued, voluble; expressive, outspoken, verbal, vocal; blabby, chatty, garrulous, loquacious, talkative, verbose; unfaltering, unhesitating

Near Antonyms
faltering, halting, hesitant, maundering, mumbling, muttering, sputtering, stammering, stumbling, stuttering; mute, speechless, tongueless, tongue-tied, voiceless

Antonyms
inarticulate, ineloquent, unvocal

articulate verb
1 to utter clearly and distinctly <uses a very measured tone and articulates every syllable when issuing scoldings>

Synonyms
enunciate

Related Words
express, pronounce, say, speak, talk, tell, utter, verbalize, vocalize, voice; speak out, speak up

Near Antonyms
falter, grunt, halt, hesitate, maunder, splutter, sputter, stammer, stumble, stutter; mouth, mumble, murmur, mutter, whisper; breathe, drawl, gasp

2 to convey in appropriate or telling terms <an essay that masterfully articulates the case for a greater commitment to space exploration> — see PHRASE
3 to express (a thought or emotion) in words <I'm not articulating my thoughts very well> — see SAY 1

articulateness noun
the art or power of speaking or writing in a forceful and convincing way <obviously, articulateness was not what got that politician elected> — see ELOQUENCE

articulation noun
1 an act, process, or means of putting something into words <her boyfriend's articulation of his feelings for her was long overdue> — see EXPRESSION 1
2 the clear and accurate pronunciation of words especially in public speaking <you will have to work on your articulation if you want to be an announcer on TV> — see DICTION 1

artifice noun
1 a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <used the artifice of saying his grandmother had died so that he could get the last seat on the plane> — see TRICK 1
2 skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <using their artifice, the Greeks crafted a hollow wooden horse to hide inside and thereby gained entry into the city of Troy> — see CUNNING 1
3 subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something <a painting that could only have been created with the artifice of a master> — see SKILL 1
4 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <a crook who is a master of artifice and manipulation> — see DECEIT 1
5 the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end <if she has to resort to artifice to get a man, well, she's prepared to do that> — see TRICKERY

artificer noun
a person whose occupation requires skill with the hands <the oil tycoon insisted that the best stone masons, cabinetmakers, and artificers in every other craft be employed to create a mansion of unequalled splendor> — see ARTISAN

artificial adjective
1 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <the beauty-pageant contestants' artificial smiles looked like they were glued on their faces>

Synonyms
affected, assumed, bogus, contrived, factitious, fake, false, feigned, forced, mechanical, mock, phony (also phoney), plastic, pretended, pseudo, put-on, sham, simulated, spurious, strained, unnatural

Related Words
automatic, canned, concocted, fabricated, hokey, labored, manufactured, pat, unauthentic, unreal, unrealistic; double-dealing, empty, facile, hollow, hypocritical, insincere, left-handed, mealy, mealymouthed, two-faced, unctuous; exaggerated, histrionic, melodramatic, overacted, overdone, theatrical (also theatric); cute, cutesy, genteel, goody-goody, mincing, overrefined, simpering; conventional, formal, impersonal, inflexible, rigid, stiff, stylized, wooden; artful, calculated, conscious, cultivated, deliberate, premeditated, studied

Near Antonyms
authentic, bona fide, real, realistic, right, true; honest, ingenuous, sincere, unpretending; easy, effortless, smooth; extemporaneous, impromptu, impulsive, instinctive, unconscious, unprompted, unrehearsed, unstudied

Antonyms
artless, genuine, natural, spontaneous, unaffected, uncontrived, unfeigned, unforced

2 not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <the familiar sight of the award winner accepting the artificial congratulations of the other nominees> — see INSINCERE
3 being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <artificial fruit made from wax> — see IMITATION
4 produced by humans rather than natural processes <I find that artificial sweeteners often have an odd aftertaste> — see SYNTHETIC 1

artillery noun
large firearms (as cannon or rockets) <during the brutal artillery attack families hid in their cellars>

Synonyms
guns, ordnance

Related Words
ammunition, armament, arms, munitions, weaponry, weapons

artisan noun
a person whose occupation requires skill with the hands <we visited a re-created 19th-century New England village that features an array of artisans—a cooper, a carpenter, a blacksmith, a potter, a glassblower>

Synonyms
artificer, crafter, craftsman, craftsperson, handcraftsman, handicrafter, handicraftsman, handworker, tradesman

Related Words
craftswoman; artist, maker; journeyman, master; mechanic, operative, shaper, smith, technician, wright; handyman, handyperson, workman

artist noun
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <a pitcher who is a strikeout artist> — see EXPERT

artistic adjective
of or relating to the fine arts <funding for artistic endeavors is crucial if the city is to survive and prosper> — see CULTURAL

artistry noun
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something <the high level of artistry involved in painting miniatures> — see SKILL 1

artless adjective
1 free from any intent to deceive or impress others <a genuine and artless girl> — see GUILELESS
2 hastily or roughly constructed <artless though it may be, our homemade doghouse has a certain charm to it> — see RUDE 1

artlessly adverb
without any attempt to impress by deception or exaggeration <artlessly commented that the dress looked good> <informed his host rather artlessly that the food was okay but not fantastic> — see NATURALLY 3

artlessness noun
the quality or state of being simple and sincere <the artlessness of young children should be cherished while it lasts> — see NAïVETÉ 1

as conjunction
1 at or during the time that <he slipped as he was walking to his car> — see WHEN 1
2 for the reason that <had his meals delivered to him as he couldn't navigate the icy sidewalk with his walker> — see SINCE
3 in spite of the fact that <silly as it sounds, that's exactly the way that it happened> — see ALTHOUGH
4 the way it would be or one would do if <his face looked as he'd gotten a terrible shock> — see AS IF

ascend verb
to move or extend upward <the path ascended so steeply at one point that we had to scramble up on our hands and knees>

Synonyms
arise, aspire, climb, lift, mount, rise, soar, thrust, up, uprise, upthrust, upturn

Related Words
surge, tower; boost, elevate, raise, upheave, uplift, upraise; balloon, blast off, take off, zoom; crest, scale, surmount, top; cant, incline, lean, list, recline, slant, slope, tilt, tip

Near Antonyms
dive, nose-dive, plummet, sink, slide

Antonyms
decline, descend, dip, drop, fall (off), plunge

ascendance also ascendence noun
controlling power or influence over others <studied the ascendance of modernism in 20th-century art and design> — see SUPREMACY 1

ascendancy also ascendency noun
controlling power or influence over others <a book chronicling the ascendancy of fascism in Europe after World War I> — see SUPREMACY 1

ascension noun
the act or an instance of rising or climbing up <her ascension from the freshman to the varsity team was evidence of how much she had improved in one season> — see ASCENT 1

ascent noun
1 the act or an instance of rising or climbing up <our plane broke through some heavy low clouds during its ascent and leveled off once we were above them>

Synonyms
ascension, climb, rise, rising, soar

Related Words
boost, hike, increase, raise; blastoff, elevation, hoist, levitation, liftoff, raising, takeoff; heave, thrust, upheaval, uplifting, upraising, upsurge, upsweep, upswing, upthrust, uptrend, upturn, upwelling

Near Antonyms
plop, plummeting, sinking; decline, decrease, down; comedown, downfall, downgrade

Antonyms
descent, dip, dive, drop, fall, nosedive, plunge

2 an upward slope <we'd reached the final ascent of the trail to the summit>

Synonyms
acclivity, hill, rise, upgrade, uphill, uprise

Related Words
cant, diagonal, glacis, grade, gradient, inclination, incline, lean, pitch, rake, tilt; climb, hump, mound, ridge, swell

Near Antonyms
basin, depression, hollow

Antonyms
declension, decline, declivity, descent, dip, downgrade, downhill, drop-off, fall, hang, hanging

3 a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position <his long, gradual ascent into the ranks of management> — see ADVANCEMENT 1

ascertain verb
1 to come to an awareness of <was immediately able to ascertain that the girl was uncomfortable talking about her life at home> — see DISCOVER 1
2 to come upon after searching, study, or effort <ascertained that their old colonial-era house had once functioned as a tavern> — see FIND 1

ascribe verb
to explain (something) as being the result of something else <ascribed their stunning military victory to good intelligence beforehand> — see CREDIT 1

aseptic adjective
free from filth, infection, or dangers to health <patients with compromised immune systems must be treated in aseptic environments> — see SANITARY

as far as preposition
having to do with <as far as a menu for the event, I haven't given it any thought> — see ABOUT 1

as for preposition
having to do with <as for the others, let them get their own dinner> — see ABOUT 1

ashamed adjective
suffering from or expressive of a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <was ashamed that she had lied to the interviewer> <wearing a very ashamed look> — see GUILTY

ashen adjective
lacking a healthy skin color <still looking ashen from his bout with the flu> — see PALE 2

ashes plural noun
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed <a new and more splendid city was built on the ashes of the old> — see REMAINS 1

ashy adjective
lacking a healthy skin color <paramedics knew she was in shock because she was ashy and shaking> — see PALE 2

aside noun
a departure from the subject under consideration <as an aside, something similar happened to me years ago> — see TANGENT

aside from preposition
not including <aside from the C in geometry, he made all A's this term> — see EXCEPT

as if conjunction
the way it would be or one would do if <she looked as if she wanted to ask one more question before we left>

Synonyms
as, as though, like

asinine adjective
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <it was asinine to run into the street like that> — see FOOLISH 1

asininity noun
1 a foolish act or idea <a serious journalist who refuses to take part in the asininity of reporting celebrity gossip as real news> — see FOLLY 1
2 lack of good sense or judgment <the asininity of your public ridicule of the boss is beyond belief> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

ask verb
1 to put a question or questions to <my coworkers asked me all about my trip to Machu Picchu>

Synonyms
catechize, grill, inquire (of), interrogate, query, question, quiz

Related Words
besiege, bombard, cross-examine, cross-question, examine, pump; poll, survey

Near Antonyms
rejoin, retort; comment, observe, remark; avoid, duck

Antonyms
answer, reply, respond

2 to make a request of <ask the salesclerk for assistance>

Synonyms
hit (up), request, solicit

Related Words
appeal (to), beg, beseech, conjure, entreat, implore, importune, invite, invoke, petition, plead (to), pray, supplicate; demand, enjoin, exact, press, require

Phrases
call on (or upon)

Near Antonyms
coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige, require

3 to set or receive as a price <they are only asking $300 for that antique grandfather clock> — see CHARGE 1
4 to request the presence or participation of <a fixture on the party circuit, that couple is always asking people over for dinner> — see INVITE 1

ask (for) verb
1 to make a request for <don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it>

Synonyms
bespeak, call (for), desire, plead (for), quest, request, seek, solicit, speak (for), sue (for)

Related Words
apply (for), beg (for), claim, clamor (for), importune, urge, wish (for); demand, enjoin, exact, insist (on), petition (for), press (for), require, requisition; invite, invoke

2 to act so as to make (something) more likely <you are asking for trouble if you invite her ex to the wedding> — see COURT 1
3 to give a request or demand for <the surgeon asked for the scalpel> — see ORDER 2

askance also askant adverb
with distrust <we looked askance at the dealer's assertion that the car had never been in an accident>

Synonyms
distrustfully, doubtfully, doubtingly, dubiously, mistrustfully, sideways, skeptically, suspiciously

Related Words
hesitantly, hesitatingly, incredulously, questioningly, quizzically, unbelievingly; charily, guardedly, warily; captiously, critically, cynically, deprecatingly, disapprovingly, disparagingly, negatively, reproachfully, reproachingly, reprovingly, unfavorably; anxiously, apprehensively, uncomfortably, uneasily

Phrases
with a grain of salt

Near Antonyms
approvingly, favorably, positively; confidently, sanguinely; credulously, uncritically, unquestioningly

Antonyms
trustfully, trustingly

askew adjective
inclined or twisted to one side <his hat was askew because of the wind> — see AWRY

aslant adjective
inclined or twisted to one side <that picture is aslant—would you mind straightening it?> — see AWRY

asleep adjective
1 being in a state of suspended consciousness <was sound asleep when the earthquake struck>

Synonyms
dormant, dozing, napping, resting, sleeping, slumbering

Related Words
drowsy, nodding, sleepy, slumberous (or slumbrous), somnolent; dreaming, reposing; hypnotized, mesmerized; comatose, semiconscious; sleepwalking, somnambulant

Phrases
at rest

Near Antonyms
aware, conscious; sleepless; aroused, astir, awakened, roused, up, wakened; reawakened, revived

Antonyms
awake, sleepless, wakeful, wide-awake

2 lacking in sensation or feeling <after sitting cross-legged all afternoon, I arose only to discover that my right foot was asleep> — see NUMB 1
3 no longer living <let us pray for those who are now asleep> — see DEAD 1

as long as conjunction
for the reason that <as long as I've got my boots on, I might as well go out and get the firewood> — see SINCE

asocial adjective
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <an asocial and grumpy artist lives alone on the top floor> — see COOL 1

aspect noun
1 a certain way in which something appears or may be regarded <depending on what aspect of college life you consider most important, there are several colleges which might be good for you>

Synonyms
angle, facet, hand, phase, side

Related Words
air, appearance, character, color, complexion, condition, face, look, semblance, shape, state, visage; period, stage, step; outlook, perspective, position, posture, shoes, slant, stance, standpoint, view, viewpoint; interpretation, reading, rendering, translation, version; article, case, component, count, detail, dimension, element, factor, instance, item, matter, part, particular, point, regard, respect

2 the outward form of someone or something especially as indicative of a quality <he has the aspect of a man used to giving orders and seeing them obeyed> — see APPEARANCE 1
3 the state or fact of facing a particular direction <the harbor's northern aspect means that vessels are often exposed to strong winds> — see EXPOSURE 2
4 archaic a fixed intent look <his aspect was focused on the distant shore> — see GAZE

asperity noun
1 a harsh or sharp quality <doesn't like the asperity of most experimental music> — see EDGE 1
2 biting sharpness of feeling or expression <she responded with such asperity that we knew she was deeply offended by the question> — see ACRIMONY 1
3 something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal <as a physically challenged person, he has encountered more than his share of asperities on the road to success> — see DIFFICULTY 1

asperse verb
to make untrue and harmful statements about <how dare you asperse the character of our dedicated pastor!> — see SLANDER

aspersing noun
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation <she has refused to take part in the mean-spirited aspersing in which so many political candidates indulge> — see SLANDER

asphalt jungle noun
a thickly settled, highly populated area <a realistic novel about life in the asphalt jungle> — see CITY

aspirant noun
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award <a bevy of ever-smiling aspirants for the Miss America title> — see CANDIDATE

aspiration noun
1 eager desire for personal advancement <a combination of aspiration and hard work made her the top female tennis player in the state> — see AMBITION 1
2 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <college is his immediate aspiration after he graduates from high school> — see GOAL

aspire verb
1 to have in mind as a purpose or goal <aspire to great deeds, and you have a better chance of doing good deeds> — see INTEND 1
2 to move or extend upward <a tower aspiring towards the heavens> — see ASCEND

aspiring adjective
having a strong desire for personal advancement <an aspiring young pianist eager to win the prestigious competition> — see AMBITIOUS 1

as regards also as respects preposition
having to do with <as regards her suggestions, I think the less said the better> — see ABOUT 1

ass noun
a sturdy and patient domestic mammal that is used especially to carry things <the farm kept a few asses for hauling hay in and out of the field> — see DONKEY 1

assail verb
1 to criticize harshly and usually publicly <the union organizers assailed the chemical company for failing to provide a safe working environment> — see ATTACK 2
2 to take sudden, violent action against <a band of hooligans assailed the homeless man, punching and kicking him senseless> — see ATTACK 1

assailant noun
one who violently sets upon another <the darkness prevented me from getting a good look at my assailant> — see ATTACKER

assassin noun
a person who kills another person <shot down by an unknown assassin>

Synonyms
cutthroat, homicide, killer, manslayer, murderer

Related Words
bravo, hit man, torpedo, triggerman; butcher, executioner, massacrer, slaughterer, slayer; murderess

assassinate verb
to put to death deliberately <Marat was assassinated by Charlotte Corday> — see MURDER 1

assault noun
1 the act of forcing a person to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse <the body of the murdered woman also showed signs of assault> — see RAPE 1
2 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <was arrested for his assault of the bystander> — see ATTACK 1

assault verb
1 to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent <she could not give a full description of the person who had assaulted her> — see RAPE
2 to take sudden, violent action against <roving bands of hoodlums randomly assaulted people on the street> — see ATTACK 1

assaulter noun
one who violently sets upon another <a cowardly assaulter of defenseless senior citizens out for a stroll> — see ATTACKER

assaultive adjective
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <with viciously assaultive prose the writer takes on her critics> — see BELLIGERENT

assaultiveness noun
an inclination to fight or quarrel <an accustomed assaultiveness that really gets out of control when he's drunk> — see BELLIGERENCE

assay noun
1 the separation and identification of the parts of a whole <a metallurgist did an assay on the metal and determined it contained nickel> — see ANALYSIS 1
2 archaic an effort to do or accomplish something <the poem about a frustrated man's last assay at greatness> — see ATTEMPT 1

assay verb
1 to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships <the company assayed a sample of the rock to see if it contained gold in quantities worth mining> — see ANALYZE
2 to make an effort to do <assaying the task of writing his autobiography> — see ATTEMPT

assemblage noun
1 a body of people come together in one place <an assemblage of onlookers at the construction site> — see GATHERING 1
2 a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered over a period of time <tried to sort through the assemblage of ripped wrapping paper and boxes for the missing toy> — see ACCUMULATION 1
3 a number of things considered as a unit <an assemblage of brass candlesticks on the table> — see GROUP 1
4 an organized group of objects acquired and maintained for study, exhibition, or personal pleasure <donated his assemblage of 18th-century miniature paintings to the museum> — see COLLECTION 1

assemble verb
1 to come together into one body or place <the graduates were told to assemble in the cafeteria an hour before the ceremony>

Synonyms
cluster, collect, concenter, concentrate, conglomerate, congregate, convene, converge, forgather (or foregather), gather, meet, rendezvous

Related Words
affiliate, ally, associate, band (together), caucus, club, collaborate, confederate, conjoin, consolidate, consort, cooperate, couple, federate, gang up, join, merge, unite; reassemble, reconvene, regather, remeet

Phrases
get together

Near Antonyms
depart, leave, take off; disjoin, dissociate, disunite

Antonyms
break up, disband, disperse, split (up)

2 to form by putting together parts or materials <it took a lot more time to assemble the model train set than the box said it would> — see BUILD
3 to bring together in assembly by or as if by command <we assembled the club members to decide who would be traveling with whom on the trip> — see CONVOKE
4 to bring together in one body or place <assembled an assortment of fancy desserts for the reception> — see GATHER 1

assembly noun
1 a body of people come together in one place <the usual assembly of early morning commuters waiting at the train station> — see GATHERING 1
2 a body of persons gathered for religious worship <the preacher addressed the assembly in somber tones> — see CONGREGATION 1
3 a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose <attendance at the awards assembly is mandatory> — see MEETING 1

assent verb
to give or express one's approval (as to a proposal) <are we to conclude from your silence that you assent?> — see ACCEDE

assert verb
1 to state clearly and strongly <a superpatriot who is never afraid to assert her allegiance to flag and country>

Synonyms
affirm, aver, avouch, avow, declare, guarantee, lay down, profess

Related Words
advance, advertise, boost, plug, promote, publicize; announce, blaze, call, proclaim, pronounce, say; accent, accentuate, emphasize, stress, underline, underscore; advocate, champion, defend, espouse, support, uphold; assure, convince, persuade; explain, justify, rationalize; reaffirm, reassert

Near Antonyms
minimize, understate; disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook

2 to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration <asserted that a new roof would be necessary if the church was to remain open> — see ARGUE 1
3 to state as a fact usually forcefully <vigorously asserted that what passes for art these days is absolute rubbish> — see CLAIM 1

assertion noun
1 a solemn and often public declaration of the truth or existence of something <the assertion that all men have certain unalienable rights is set forth in the Declaration of Independence> — see PROTESTATION
2 an idea or opinion that is put forth in a discussion or debate <made the unlikely assertion that gravity affects light> — see CONTENTION 1

assertive adjective
1 having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal <some reef fish are assertive in defending their territory> — see AGGRESSIVE 1
2 marked by or uttered with forcefulness <after months of assertive declarations that he would not run for president, he announced he was running> — see EMPHATIC 1

assertiveness noun
the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression) <the assertiveness with which he voices his opinions intimidates some people> — see VEHEMENCE 1

assess verb
1 to establish or apply as a charge or penalty <the utility company will assess a fee if your payment is late> — see IMPOSE
2 to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding <let's step back and assess the situation> — see ESTIMATE 1

assessment noun
1 a charge usually of money collected by the government from people or businesses for public use <hated paying the annual assessment on his car> — see TAX
2 an opinion on the nature, character, or quality of something <I'm far too quiet, in the assessment of my new boss> — see ESTIMATION 1
3 the act of placing a value on the nature, character, or quality of something <we may have been too hasty in our assessment of the value of the property> — see ESTIMATE 1

asset noun
1 a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country <rumors persisted that CIA assets were behind the coup d'état> — see SPY
2 a thing that helps <the team's strong pitching staff has become a real asset in its pursuit of a pennant> — see HELP 2
3 assets plural the total of one's money and property <as a result of the booming economy, the college's assets grew dramatically over the course of the decade> — see WEALTH 1

asseveration noun
a solemn and often public declaration of the truth or existence of something <despite the reporter's asseverations about journalistic integrity, there is little doubt that he is guilty of fabricating a number of details in his stories> — see PROTESTATION

assiduity noun
attentive and persistent effort <this project has been successful only through the assiduity of a lot of people> — see DILIGENCE

assiduous adjective
involved in often constant activity <the fascinating sight of assiduous ants carrying food into the anthill> — see BUSY 1

assiduously adverb
1 in a manner involving great or constant activity <trying assiduously to organize everything for the walkathon> — see BUSILY
2 with great effort or determination <assiduously pursued a law degree when continuing to work full-time during the day> — see HARD 1

assiduousness noun
attentive and persistent effort <with painstaking assiduousness investigators finally cracked the case of the stolen works of art> — see DILIGENCE

assign verb
1 to give a task, duty, or responsibility to <assigned the class with the task of finding something in the state constitution they felt needed changing> — see ENTRUST 1
2 to give as a share or portion <each new employee is assigned a cubicle and a computer> — see ALLOT
3 to give over the legal possession or ownership of <assigned all rights to and royalties from the song to the Boy Scouts> — see TRANSFER 1
4 to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty <the mayor assigned the panel with the task of luring a major sports franchise to the city> — see APPOINT 2

assignation noun
an agreement to be present at a specified time and place <a midnight assignation between adulterers at a downtown hotel> — see ENGAGEMENT 2

assignee noun
a person who acts or does business for another <you are hereby authorized as my assignee for the duration of the case> — see AGENT 2

assignment noun
1 a piece of work that needs to be done regularly <his first newspaper assignment was writing obituaries> — see CHORE 1
2 a specific task with which a person or group is charged <the spy team's assignment was to steal the plans for the nuclear reactor> — see MISSION
3 something assigned to be read or studied <have you read the assignment for tomorrow?> — see LESSON
4 the state or fact of being chosen for a position or duty <her assignment to the board of directors was a point of considerable pride for her> — see APPOINTMENT 1

assimilate verb
1 to describe as similar <assimilated the 19th-century American captains of industry and commerce to the medieval barons who exorbitantly taxed shipping along the Rhine> — see COMPARE 1
2 to have a clear idea of <still trying to assimilate the doctor's diagnosis of my heart condition> — see COMPREHEND 1
3 to make a part of a body or system <social workers will need time to assimilate the new arrivals into the community> — see EMBODY 1

assist noun
an act or instance of helping <with an assist from his dad, the youngster built a doghouse any canine would be proud to call home> — see HELP 1

assist verb
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end <you can assist families in need by donating old clothes in good condition> — see HELP 1

assistance noun
an act or instance of helping <thank you for your assistance in helping me change my flat tire> — see HELP 1

assistant noun
a person who helps a more skilled person <the chief assistant to the director> — see HELPER

associate noun
1 a person frequently seen in the company of another <a number of his associates were members of organized crime, so he was a person of interest to the FBI>

Synonyms
cohort, companion, compatriot, compeer, comrade, crony, fellow, hobnobber, mate, running mate

Related Words
colleague, coworker, equal, peer, workmate; accomplice, affiliate, ally, collaborator, confederate, half, partner; buddy, chum, confidant, familiar, friend, hearty, intimate, pal; countryman; classmate, housemate, messmate, playfellow, playmate, roommate, schoolmate, shipmate, teammate; attendant, escort; hanger-on, leech, parasite

2 a fellow worker <my associates at the office> — see COLLEAGUE

associate verb
1 to come or be together as friends <a socially ambitious couple who joined the country club in order to associate with the right sort of people>

Synonyms
chum, company, consociate, consort, fraternize, hang (around or out), hobnob, hook up, mess around, pal (around), run, sort, travel

Related Words
affiliate, ally, attach, band, bond, club, collaborate, collude, confederate, conjoin, connect, cooperate, couple, gang, get along, get on, group, interrelate, join, knot, league, link, mingle, mix, rally, relate, side, socialize, team, tie, wed; befriend, friend

Phrases
be friends with, fall in with, keep company (with), rub elbows (with) or rub shoulders (with), take up with

Near Antonyms
avoid, cold-shoulder, shun, snub; alienate, estrange; break up, disband, disperse, split (up); disjoin, dissociate, disunite, divorce, sever, split, sunder

2 to think of (something) in combination <she still associates Memorial Day with her long-ago fiancé, who died in Vietnam>

Synonyms
connect, correlate, identify, link, relate

Related Words
compare, equate, liken; group, join, lump (together), tie (together)

Near Antonyms
contrast, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, separate, set off

3 to come together to form a single unit <the elements hydrogen and oxygen associate to form molecules of water> — see UNITE 1
4 to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members <nations deciding to associate in order to remove trade barriers> — see ALLY
5 to take part in social activities <you should try to associate with people your own age> — see SOCIALIZE

association noun
1 the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <the public television station is producing the series in association with a foundation for the arts>

Synonyms
affiliation, alliance, collaboration, confederation, connection, cooperation, hookup, liaison, linkup, partnership, relation, relationship, tie-up, union

Related Words
business, dealings, interaction; exchange, interconnection, interrelation, mutualism, reciprocity, symbiosis; incorporation, integration, merger, unification; affinity, attachment, closeness, intimacy, rapport, sympathy; kinship, oneness, solidarity, togetherness, unity; colleagueship, companionship, company, fellowship; bed, cahoots, league

Near Antonyms
breakup, dissolution, disunion; division, parting, separation, severance, split; alienation, divorce, estrangement

Antonyms
disaffiliation, dissociation

2 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <all associations meeting on town property must be registered with and approved by the registrar's office>

Synonyms
board, brotherhood, chamber, club, college, congress, consortium, council, fellowship, fraternity, guild (also gild), institute, institution, league, order, organization, society, sodality

Related Words
collective, commune, community, cooperative; alliance, bloc, camp, coalition, partnership; body, cadre, group; circle, clan, clique, coterie, junta, junto, klatch (also klatsch), lot, set; crew, outfit, party, squad, team; branch, chapter, local; faithful, fold, membership; sisterhood, sorority; cabal, camarilla, camorra, confederacy, conspiracy; band, gang, ring; cartel, combine, syndicate

3 the fact or state of having something in common <what's the association between cat hair and my allergic reaction to certain proteins?> — see CONNECTION 1

as soon as conjunction
just at the moment that <let us know as soon as you get the news from the hospital> — see WHEN 2

assort verb
1 to arrange or assign according to type <assort these butterfly specimens according to geographic origin> — see CLASSIFY 1
2 to form a pleasing relationship <somewhat surprisingly, the collection of ancient Egyptian art assorts rather well with the museum's modern design> — see HARMONIZE 1

assorted adjective
consisting of many things of different sorts <a box of assorted chocolates> — see MISCELLANEOUS

assortment noun
1 an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <an assortment of nails at the bottom of my tool box> — see MISCELLANY 1
2 the quality or state of being composed of many different elements or types <we were disappointed in the small clothing store's lack of assortment> — see VARIETY 1

assuage verb
1 to make more bearable or less severe <a mother cooing to her toddler and assuaging his fear of the dark> — see HELP 2
2 to put a complete end to (a physical need or desire) <that huge meal certainly assuaged my hunger> — see SATISFY 1
3 to lessen the anger or agitation of <nothing would assuage the angry parent except the prompt dismissal of the teacher who had used corporal punishment without authorization> — see PACIFY 1

assumably adverb
by reasonable assumption <assumably, the package deal for the cruise includes air fare> — see PROBABLY

assume verb
1 to take to or upon oneself <we promised to assume responsibility for any damage to the flower beds caused by the volleyball game in the backyard>

Synonyms
accept, bear, shoulder, take over, undertake

Related Words
adopt, embrace, take up; advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), espouse, stand by, support, uphold; accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, consent; reaccept, reassume

Near Antonyms
abjure, recant, renounce, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw; decline, refuse, reject, spurn, turn down; abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from); avoid, bypass, detour; abandon, abnegate, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender; back down, back off, backtrack

Antonyms
disavow, disclaim, disown, repudiate

2 to take as true or as a fact without actual proof <everyone assumed, wrongly, that someone else was bringing dessert>

Synonyms
hypothecate, hypothesize, postulate, premise, presume, presuppose, say, suppose

Related Words
accept, believe, credit, swallow; conclude, deduce, gather, infer, judge, take; conjecture, figure, guess, reckon [chiefly dialect], surmise, suspect, suspicion [chiefly dialect], think; conceive, dream, fancy, imagine, perceive, preconceive; speculate, theorize; affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow, claim, contend, declare, insist, maintain, profess

Phrases
take for granted

Near Antonyms
challenge, controvert, disagree (with), disbelieve, discount, discredit, dispute, distrust, doubt, mistrust, question, wonder (about); deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, reject, repudiate; belie, confute, disprove, rebut, refute

3 to form an opinion from little or no evidence <as I just assumed it was too late to go out, I didn't think to ask> — see GUESS 1
4 to present a false appearance of <she assumed an air of nonchalance even though she was wildly ecstatic she was going on the date> — see FEIGN
5 to provide with a paying job <assumed as partner by the prestigious law firm> — see EMPLOY 1

assumed adjective
1 appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed <an assumed connection between the two species that has yet to be confirmed by fossil findings> — see APPARENT 1
2 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <the salesclerk's assumed friendliness vanished as soon as I assured her I was just looking> — see ARTIFICIAL 1

assumption noun
1 something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning <the widespread assumption that violent entertainment leads to violent behavior in children> <your argument is faulty because it's based on erroneous assumptions>

Synonyms
given, hypothetical, if, postulate, premise (also premiss), presumption, presupposition, supposition

Related Words
hypothesis, proposition, theory, thesis; axiom, truism, verity; belief, canon, doctrine, dogma, gospel, law; precept, principle, rule, standard, tenet; basis, foundation, ground; conclusion, deduction, inference; affirmation, assertion, avouchment, declaration; dictum, ipse dixit

2 an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <his air of assumption tended to put people off rather quickly> — see ARROGANCE

assumptive adjective
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <an assumptive and tiresome woman> — see ARROGANT

assurance noun
1 a state of mind in which one is free from doubt <I can state with complete assurance that no harm will ever come to you> — see CONFIDENCE 2
2 great faith in oneself or one's abilities <her assurance was evident in the way she carried herself onto the playing field> — see CONFIDENCE 1

assure verb
1 to ease the grief or distress of <a minister choosing just the right words to assure the grieving parents of the fallen soldier> — see COMFORT
2 to make sure, certain, or safe <security measures that assured our safety> — see ENSURE

assured adjective
1 having or showing a mind free from doubt <a man who seemed very assured of the outcome of the election> — see CERTAIN 2
2 having or showing great faith in oneself or one's abilities <an assured attorney, he dominates any coutroom proceeding> — see CONFIDENT 1
3 having too high an opinion of oneself <he's rather assured for a moviemaker with one hit movie to his name> — see CONCEITED

assuredly adverb
without any question <I am most assuredly the person you are looking for> — see INDEED 1

assuredness noun
a state of mind in which one is free from doubt <the complete assuredness with which the cocky jock would ask for dates> — see CONFIDENCE 2

astern adverb
near, toward, or in the stern of a ship or the tail of an aircraft <if you turn around and look astern, you'll see dolphins following the boat> — see AFT

asthenia noun
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <headache, nausea, fever, and asthenia are side effects of the drug> — see WEAKNESS 1

asthenic adjective
lacking bodily strength <resistance training can benefit the asthenic individual> — see WEAK 1

as though conjunction
the way it would be or one would do if <the applause was so great it was as though the toddler's dance class had been the Bolshoi Ballet> — see AS IF

astir adjective
marked by much life, movement, or activity <the mall was astir with throngs of holiday shoppers> — see ALIVE 2

as to preposition
having to do with <I'm in a quandary as to how to deal with the problem> — see ABOUT 1

astonish verb
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected <the news that you and she broke up absolutely astonishes me> — see SURPRISE 1

astonished adjective
1 affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise <was astonished at seeing a cow wandering down Main Street> — see THUNDERSTRUCK
2 filled with amazement or wonder <grandparents astonished at how much their grandchildren had grown in the past year> — see OPENMOUTHED

astonishing adjective
1 causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness <gave us the astonishing news she was getting married> — see SURPRISING 1
2 causing wonder or astonishment <an astonishing view of the Grand Canyon that few tourists get to see> — see MARVELOUS 1

astonishment noun
1 the rapt attention and deep emotion caused by the sight of something extraordinary <the Midwesterner's astonishment at seeing the ocean for the first time> — see WONDER 2
2 the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual <the suddenness of the thunderstorm left the picnickers in a state of astonishment> — see SURPRISE 2

astound verb
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected <it astounds me that you flew all the way out here just for my birthday> — see SURPRISE 1

astounded adjective
1 affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise <were astounded to realize that we were holding the winning lottery ticket> — see THUNDERSTRUCK
2 filled with amazement or wonder <the astounded look on the tourists' faces when the police ordered them to leave the country immediately> — see OPENMOUTHED

astounding adjective
1 causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness <the astounding sight of their cat returning home after having been missing for two years> — see SURPRISING 1
2 causing wonder or astonishment <experiencing the astounding sight of the aurora borealis for the first time> — see MARVELOUS 1

astral adjective
1 of or relating to the stars <gave the astronomy students the assignment of charting astral movement for the next month> — see STELLAR 1
2 standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <after his film became an unexpected blockbuster, the director was suddenly welcome in the most astral circles of Hollywood society> — see EMINENT

astray adverb
off the desired or intended path or course <I think we were led astray by the unfortunate similarity of the two names> — see WRONG 1

astronomical also astronomic adjective
unusually large <a googol is an astronomical number, and the whimsical coinage of the name was intended to suggest that fact> — see HUGE

astronomically adverb
to a large extent or degree <their battalion was astronomically outnumbered by enemy forces> — see GREATLY 2

astute adjective
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment <a police detective known to be an astute judge of character> — see SHREWD 1

astuteness noun
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters <a political observer renowned for her astuteness> — see ACUMEN

asunder adverb
into parts or pieces <the environmental organization was torn asunder by bitter rivalries> — see APART

as well as preposition
in addition to <we offer electronic toys as well as rent out video games> — see BESIDES 1

aswoon adjective
having a feeling of being whirled about and in danger of falling down <I don't know what was in that cocktail, but I was all aswoon after drinking it> — see DIZZY 1

asylum noun
1 a place where insane people are cared for <volunteered to play piano for the residents of the state asylum on weekends> — see MADHOUSE 1
2 something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger <the embassy serves as an asylum for that country's nationals in need of help> — see SHELTER

at all adverb
in any way or respect <wasn't at all pleased with the way the family portrait came out>

Synonyms
anywise, ever, half

Related Words
somehow, someway (also someways); remotely

athirst adjective
showing urgent desire or interest <was athirst for any news at all about family members serving in the war zone> — see EAGER

athwart adverb
1 from one side to the other of an intervening space <after it enters the Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane is predicted to advance athwart to the Texas coastline> — see OVER 1
2 in a line or direction running from corner to corner <we hung the twisted strips of crepe paper athwart to the floor and ceiling so that they formed giant crosses on all four walls> — see CROSSWISE

athwart preposition
to the opposite side of <athwart the road was farmland as far as the eye could see> — see ACROSS 1

atilt adjective
inclined or twisted to one side <cuts quite a dashing figure with a jauntily atilt beret> — see AWRY

atmosphere noun
1 a special quality or impression associated with something <the fireplace and cozy armchairs give the bookstore the atmosphere of a comfortable home> — see AURA 1
2 the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded <liked the quiet and scholarly atmosphere of his prep school> — see ENVIRONMENT

atom noun
a very small piece <give me just one atom of information about the novel's surprise ending> — see BIT 1

atomic adjective
very small in size <made atomic adjustments to the clock's mechanism to keep it from whirring as it ran> — see TINY

atomize verb
to reduce to fine particles <this medication for athlete's foot is atomized so that it can be sprayed on from an aerosol can> — see POWDER

atone (for) verb
to make up for (an offense) <tried to atone for forgetting their anniversary by giving his wife a truly extravagant gift> — see EXPIATE

atremble adjective
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <atremble with fright at the sound of the booming howitzers> — see SHAKY 1

atrocious adjective
1 extremely disturbing or repellent <an atrocious crime that shocked even hardened members of the police force> — see HORRIBLE 1
2 extremely unsatisfactory <the picture quality on the pirated DVD was atrocious> — see WRETCHED 1
3 having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <the atrocious treatment of prisoners at the camps> — see CRUEL 1

atrociousness noun
1 the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay <George Orwell's novel 1984 captures the atrociousness of tyranny> — see HORROR 1
2 the state or quality of being utterly evil <the unspeakable atrociousness of the mass genocide that was perpetrated in that African nation> — see ENORMITY 1
3 disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <for sheer atrociousness the murders committed by Jack the Ripper occupy a special place in the annals of crime> — see CRUELTY

atrocity noun
1 the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay <the undeniable atrocity of the forced march of Cherokees known as the Trail of Tears> — see HORROR 1
2 the state or quality of being utterly evil <was appalled by the atrocity of Stalin's mass executions> — see ENORMITY 1
3 disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <wars often unleash a level of atrocity that would be unimaginable in peacetime> — see CRUELTY

atrophy verb
to become worse or of less value <in the years following the closing of the last textile mill, the town atrophied> — see DETERIORATE 1

attach verb
1 to cause (something) to hold to another <you can attach the buttons to the puppet with fabric glue> — see FASTEN 1
2 to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty <attached the colonel to the new regiment> — see APPOINT 2
3 to take ownership or control of (something) by right of one's authority <attached the house for nonpayment of property taxes> — see CONFISCATE

attached adjective
having a liking or affection <was rather attached to her old stuffed animals> — see FOND 1

attachment noun
1 a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone <I doubt that there's any permanent attachment between the two teenagers> — see LOVE 1
2 something that is not necessary in itself but adds to the convenience or performance of the main piece of equipment <bought a grinder attachment for the kitchen mixer> — see ACCESSORY 1
3 adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <an unflinching attachment to the marriage, through times both good and bad> — see FIDELITY

attack noun
1 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <The USS Constitution was nicknamed “Old Ironsides” after its oaken hull successfully withstood a British attack>

Synonyms
aggression, assault, attempt, blitz, blitzkrieg, charge, coup de main, descent, offense (or offence), offensive, onset, onslaught, raid, rush, strike

Related Words
ambuscade, ambush; counteraggression, counterassault, counterattack, counteroffensive, counterstrike; sally, sortie; envelopment, flanking; breakthrough, foray, incursion, invasion; pillage, ravage, sack; air raid, bombardment, bombing; siege, storm; barrage, cannonade, fusillade, hail, salvo, volley; whammy

Near Antonyms
defense, defensive, guard, shield; opposition, resistance; protection, security, shelter

2 a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder <malaria is characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever>

Synonyms
access, bout, case, fit, seizure, siege, spell, turn

Related Words
recurrence, relapse; brainstorm, convulsion, eclampsia, pang, paroxysm, spasm, throe; agitation, frenzy; breakdown, collapse, prostration

Near Antonyms
arrest, relief, remission

attack verb
1 to take sudden, violent action against <our dog unexpectedly attacked the mailman, sinking his teeth into the startled man's leg>

Synonyms
assail, assault, beset, bushwhack, charge, descend (on or upon), go in (on), jump (on), pounce (on or upon), raid, rush, set on, sic (also sick), storm, strike, trash, turn (on)

Related Words
bum-rush, gang up (on), mob, swarm; mug, rob; ambuscade, ambush, surprise (also surprize), waylay; blitz, bomb, bombard, nuke; barrage, cannon, cannonade; bang away (at), batter, buffet, plaster; beleaguer, besiege, press; harry, loot, pillage, plunder, ravage, sack; foray, invade, overrun; envelop, flank

Phrases
beat up on, fly at, go at, light into, pitch into, round on, set at, set upon, tear into

Near Antonyms
cover, defend, guard, protect, secure, shield

2 to criticize harshly and usually publicly <the mayor and all his aides were attacked mercilessly in the press when the scandal erupted>

Synonyms
abuse, assail, bash, belabor, blast, castigate, excoriate, jump (on), lambaste (or lambast), potshot, savage, scathe, slam, trash, vituperate

Related Words
berate, harangue, harass, harry, revile, scold, whip; blaspheme, curse, execrate, imprecate, profane; affront, insult, slur; asperse, bad-mouth, belittle, blackguard, disparage, put down; libel, slander, traduce, vilify; chastise, chide, criticize, lace (into), rebuke, reprimand, reproof; fulminate, lash (out)

Phrases
beat up on, light into, sail into, tie into

Near Antonyms
acclaim, commend, compliment, hail, laud, praise

3 to start work on energetically <Courtney attacked the huge mess in her room with determination and enthusiasm>

Synonyms
dive (into), tackle, wade (in or into)

Related Words
address, approach, face; buckle (down to), concentrate (on), focus (on), knuckle down (to), zero (in on); fall (to), pitch in, plunge (in), settle (down); pursue, take up, undertake

Phrases
go at, have at, light into, pitch into, sail into, tear into

Near Antonyms
avoid, evade, shun; dally, dawdle, dillydally, fiddle (around), fool, idle, lag, mess, monkey (around), play, poke, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

attack dog noun
one who makes harsh, personal attacks against opponents <his reputation as a political attack dog earned him the vice presidential spot on the ticket>

Synonyms
mudslinger

Related Words
polemicist, polemist; hatchet man, hired gun, hit man; barracuda, shark

attacker noun
one who violently sets upon another <was able to pick her attacker out of the police lineup>

Synonyms
assailant, assaulter, bushwhacker

Related Words
mugger, robber; molester, predator, raper, rapist, ravager; aggressor, besieger, invader, raider; counterattacker

attain verb
1 to obtain (as a goal) through effort <Napoléon had attained mastery of much of Europe at that point> — see ACHIEVE 1
2 to receive as return for effort <with hard work she will inevitably attain success in her chosen profession> — see EARN 1

attainable adjective
1 capable of being done or carried out <set attainable goals, not impracticable ones> — see POSSIBLE 1
2 possible to get <I don't know if those blue jeans are attainable overseas> — see AVAILABLE 1

attainment noun
1 a successful result brought about by hard work <first place in the state journalism competition is quite an attainment> — see ACCOMPLISHMENT 1
2 the state of being actual or complete <the attainment of man's age-old dream of flying was at last realized in 1903 by Orville and Wilbur Wright> — see FRUITION

attar also otto noun
a sweet or pleasant smell <exuding the attar of jasmine, the beautifully bejeweled woman set off for the ball> — see FRAGRANCE

attempt noun
1 an effort to do or accomplish something <it took several attempts before we made good ice cream with an old-fashioned hand-cranked ice cream freezer>

Synonyms
assay [archaic], bash [chiefly British], bid, crack, endeavor, essay, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack, whirl

Related Words
striving, struggle, throes, undertaking; trial and error

2 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <several attempts on the life of the country's chief drug enforcement official> — see ATTACK 1

attempt verb
to make an effort to do <after attempting—and failing—to start the lawn mower on my own, I finally succeeded with a neighbor's help> <don't even attempt walking on your broken foot>

Synonyms
assay, endeavor, essay, seek, strive, try

Related Words
fight, strain, struggle, toil, trouble, work; aim, aspire, hope; assume, take up, undertake

Phrases
have a go at, shoot at (or shoot for), try one's hand (at)

Near Antonyms
drop, give up, quit

attend verb
1 to go along with in order to provide assistance, protection, or companionship <a passel of assistants attend the movie star wherever she goes> — see ACCOMPANY 1
2 to pay attention especially through the act of hearing <I'm sorry, but all the noise means I'm having a hard time attending to the conversation> — see LISTEN
3 to take charge of especially on behalf of another <tired of attending other people's children, the nanny was eager to have a child of her own> — see 2TEND 1
4 to occur or exist at the same time <all the pomp and circumstance that attend the opening of the Olympic Games> — see COINCIDE 1

attendant adjective
1 coming as a result <dreaded the coming flu season and the attendant flood of school absences> — see RESULTANT
2 present at the same time and place <the movie stars' divorce and the attendant press coverage about it> — see COINCIDENT 1

attendant noun
1 one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy <let the hotel attendant help them with their bags> — see ESCORT
2 something that is found along with something else <disease is the inevitable attendant of poor sanitation> — see ACCOMPANIMENT

attending adjective
1 being within the confines of a specified place <a surprise arrest of the operator of an illegal gambling joint and all attending employees> — see PRESENT 2
2 present at the same time and place <dislikes flying and all of its attending inconveniences> — see COINCIDENT 1

attention noun
1 a focusing of the mind on something <I need your full attention right now>

Synonyms
absorption, concentration, engrossment, enthrallment, immersion

Related Words
fixation, obsession, preoccupation; alertness, application, awareness, consciousness, consideration, heedfulness, intentness, raptness, regard; contemplation, meditation, musing, pondering, rumination

Near Antonyms
absence, absentmindedness, abstractedness, abstraction, detachment, distraction, obliviousness, remoteness, unawareness, unconsciousness, withdrawal; disinterest, indifference, mindlessness, unconcern; befuddlement, bemusement, bewilderment, confusion

Antonyms
inattention

2 a state of being aware <several mothers brought to the committee's attention the deplorable condition of the playground>

Synonyms
advertence, advertency, awareness, cognizance, consciousness, ear, eye, heed, knowledge, mindfulness, note, notice, observance, observation

Related Words
hyperawareness, hyperconsciousness; advisement, care, concern, consideration, regard, watch; apprehension, discernment, grasp, mind, perception, recognition, thought, understanding

Near Antonyms
disregard, neglect, obliviousness, unawareness

3 an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners <she enjoyed her suitor's old-school attentions> — see CIVILITY 1

attentive adjective
1 having the mind fixed on something <Susan became particularly attentive when the sportscaster turned to women's tennis, her favorite sport>

Synonyms
absorbed, deep, engrossed, enthralled, focused (also focussed), immersed, intent, observant, rapt

Related Words
engaged, interested, intrigued, involved; hypnotized, mesmerized; alert, alive, conscious, open-eyed, watchful, wide-awake

Phrases
all ears

Near Antonyms
daydreaming, dreamy, faraway, foggy, hazy, lost, oblivious, preoccupied, remote; apathetic, disinterested, uninterested

Antonyms
absent, absentminded, abstracted, distracted, inattentive, inobservant, unabsorbed, unfocused (also unfocussed)

2 given to or made with heedful anticipation of the needs and happiness of others <an attentive neighbor who helps out whenever and wherever she spots a need> — see THOUGHTFUL 1
3 paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity <if only for your own safety, you need to stay attentive when you are hunting> — see ALERT 1

attentiveness noun
the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of opportunity, activity, or danger <your attentiveness prevented a potentially bad accident> — see VIGILANCE

attenuate verb
to diminish the price or value of <an investment attenuated by significant inflation over the years> — see DEPRECIATE 1

attest verb
1 to declare (something) to be true or genuine <the appraiser attests that the lamp is indeed an original Tiffany> — see CERTIFY 1
2 to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact <an eyewitness who will attest to my innocence> — see TESTIFY
3 to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of <I'll attest that she was at the party> — see CONFIRM 1

attestation noun
something presented in support of the truth or accuracy of a claim <the fact that he spent hours standing in line for the sequel should be attestation enough that he's a die-hard fan of the movie series> — see PROOF

attic noun
a room or unfinished space directly beneath the roof of a building <rented the attic out to a college student>

Synonyms
cockloft, garret, loft

Related Words
hayloft

attire noun
covering for the human body <needed some snazzy attire for the job interview> — see CLOTHING

attire verb
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <men attired in tuxedos for the awards banquet> — see CLOTHE 1

attitude noun
a general way of holding the body <had the ramrod straight attitude of a man who had spent all of his life in the military> — see POSTURE 1

attorney noun
1 a person who acts or does business for another <talked to the count's attorney about buying land from his estate> — see AGENT 2
2 a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations <finished law school and became an attorney> — see LAWYER

attorney–at–law noun
a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations <the sign on the door read “Blalock Smith, Attorney-at-Law”> — see LAWYER

attraction noun
something that attracts interest <a park with the world's fastest roller coaster and other attractions> — see MAGNET

attractive adjective
1 having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <world travel has always been very attractive to me> — see FASCINATING 1
2 very pleasing to look at <generally the star of a TV commercial is an attractive person> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

attractiveness noun
1 the power of irresistible attraction <she had a certain attractiveness that came from her witty conversation> — see CHARM 2
2 the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses <the attractiveness of the Greek countryside has inspired poets since ancient times> — see BEAUTY 1

attribute noun
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <list the attributes of a mammal> — see CHARACTERISTIC

attribute verb
1 to explain (something) as being the result of something else <attributed the quick rescue to the well-trained police force> — see CREDIT 1
2 to give the reason for or cause of <a psychotherapist who's a little too quick to attribute every emotional problem or character defect to an unhappy childhood> — see EXPLAIN 2

attribution noun
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <a genuine respect for one another is one of the most commonly cited attributions of a happily married couple> — see CHARACTERISTIC

attrition noun
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction <took the machinery out of operation since attrition had led to the main mechanism's breaking> — see CORROSION

attune verb
to bring to a state free of conflicts, inconsistencies, or differences <after years spent in academia, he's finding it difficult to attune himself to the corporate culture> — see HARMONIZE 2

atwitter adjective
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <the whole office was atwitter with speculation that there might be another round of layoffs> — see NERVOUS 1

atypical adjective
1 being out of the ordinary <the postal service delivered the package with atypical speed> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1
2 departing from some accepted standard of what is normal <since that's an atypical response for an infant, you might want to have her hearing tested> — see DEVIANT

auberge noun
a place that provides rooms and usually a public dining room for overnight guests <they spent their honeymoon at a little French auberge that overflowed with charm> — see HOTEL

au courant adjective
1 keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment <au courant filmgoers have dismissed Hollywood's latest effects-laden actioner as so last year>

Synonyms
cool [slang], def [slang], downtown, groovy, hep, hip, in, mod, now, trendy, turned-on, with-it

Related Words
à la mode (also a la mode), chic, fashionable, modish, sharp, smart, snappy, stylish, voguish

Near Antonyms
geeky, nerdish, nerdy; dowdy, styleless, unfashionable, unstylish

Antonyms
out, uncool, unhip, untrendy

2 being in the latest or current fashion <glossy magazines full of reed-thin models in au courant outfits> — see STYLISH
3 having information especially as a result of study or experience <doctors try to stay au courant with the latest advances in medicine> — see FAMILIAR 2

audacious adjective
1 displaying or marked by rude boldness <with an audacious disregard for innocent bystanders, rival gang members opened fire> — see NERVY 1
2 foolishly adventurous or bold <an audacious effort to start her own business with no real plan or funding> — see FOOLHARDY 1
3 inclined or willing to take risks <audacious adventurers risking everything they had for a shot at glory> — see BOLD 1

audaciousness noun
shameless boldness <she had the audaciousness to complain when I refused to do her job as well as my own> — see EFFRONTERY

audacity noun
shameless boldness <I can't believe she had the audacity to tell me to shut up!> — see EFFRONTERY

audial adjective
of, relating to, or experienced through the sense of hearing <a specialist in audial disorders in children> — see AUDITORY

audibly adverb
with one's normal voice speaking the words <don't mumble your lines—speak audibly so the audience can hear you> — see ALOUD

audience noun
a group of people showing intense devotion to a cause, person, or work (as a film) <that mystery novelist, although long deceased, continues to have an enthusiastic audience> — see CULT 1

audile adjective
of, relating to, or experienced through the sense of hearing <the claim that a blind person has an enhanced audile capability> — see AUDITORY

audit noun
a close look at or over someone or something in order to judge condition <an energy audit of our house showed that we were losing lots of heat and needed to upgrade the insulation> — see INSPECTION

audit verb
to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) <audited the equipment to make sure that everything was in working order> — see INSPECT

auditorium noun
a large room or building for enclosed public gatherings <will hold the town meeting in the high school auditorium> — see HALL 3

auditory adjective
of, relating to, or experienced through the sense of hearing <I have a bad auditory memory—unless I see a word in writing, and not just hear it, I forget it easily>

Synonyms
acoustic (or acoustical), audial, audile, aural, auricular

Related Words
audiovisual; audible, clear, discernible (also discernable), distinct, distinguishable, heard, perceptible

Near Antonyms
faint, feeble, imperceptible, inaudible, indistinct, indistinguishable; low, noiseless, quiet, silent, soft, soundless

Antonyms
nonauditory

Augean adjective
requiring considerable physical or mental effort <dreaded the Augean task of cleaning the bathroom after an overflow of the toilet> — see HARD 2

Augean stable noun
a place of great vice and corruption <as a gubernatorial candidate he claimed that the state capitol was an Augean stable that desperately needed to be cleaned out>

Synonyms
cesspool, Gomorrah, sink

Related Words
tenderloin; den, dump, pigpen, pigsty; hellhole, hole

aught noun
the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it <for dates, the year is automatically listed as a pair of aughts, so the user has to scroll down to the correct figure> — see ZERO 1

augment verb
to make greater in size, amount, or number <our volleyball team was augmented by some of the exchange team's players> — see INCREASE 1

augmentation noun
something added (as by growth) <augmentations to the benefits package over the years have resulted in a total of 12 paid holidays for employees> — see INCREASE 1

augur noun
one who predicts future events or developments <ancient Roman augurs who predicted the future by reading the flight of birds> — see PROPHET 1

augur verb
1 to show signs of a favorable or successful outcome <the extended interview augurs well for your acceptance into that law school> — see BODE
2 to tell of or describe beforehand <the fortune-teller augured nothing but a series of calamities for me> — see FORETELL

auguring noun
a declaration that something will happen in the future <it's a good thing that people don't remember the tabloid's augurings a year later, since very few come to pass> — see PREDICTION

augury noun
1 a declaration that something will happen in the future <a yearbook augury that of all the graduates, he would be the most likely to succeed> — see PREDICTION
2 something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event <some people believe that a broken mirror is an augury of seven years' bad luck> — see OMEN
3 the art or practice of foretelling future events by interpreting omens <the gift of augury that Nostradamus purportedly possessed> — see DIVINATION

august adjective
1 having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner <unsurprisingly, the head of the bank is an august white-haired gentleman> — see DIGNIFIED
2 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <an august golden anniversary celebration for the company> — see GRAND 1

augustness noun
1 a dignified bearing or appearance befitting someone of royal status <the opera star carries herself with the augustness of a queen> — see MAJESTY 1
2 impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <the augustness of the Lincoln Memorial in our nation's capital> — see MAGNIFICENCE

auld lang syne noun
the events or experience of former times <let us bid farewell to auld lang syne and welcome in the new year> — see PAST

au naturel adjective
lacking or shed of clothing <for vacationers who prefer to be au naturel, the tropical resort features a secluded, private beach> — see NAKED 1

aura noun
1 a special quality or impression associated with something <the monastery perched high on a mountaintop had an aura of unreality and mystery about it>

Synonyms
air, ambience (or ambiance), aroma, atmosphere, climate, flavor, halo, karma, mood, nimbus, note, odor, patina, smell, temper, vibration(s)

Related Words
aureole (or aureola), mystique, romance; genius loci; feel, feeling, sensation, sense, spirit; attribute, character, characteristic, image, mark, notion, peculiarity, picture, property, trait; color, illusion, overtone, semblance, suggestion, tone

2 a spiritual force that is held to emanate from or give animation to living beings <alternative medical treatments that rely on the practitioner's ability to detect a patient's aura> — see ENERGY 1

aural adjective
of, relating to, or experienced through the sense of hearing <a quiet room for people seeking relief from the overload of aural stimulus just outside> — see AUDITORY

aureate adjective
full of fine words and fancy expressions <the aureate speeches that are traditionally given at graduation ceremonies> — see FLOWERY 1

aureole or aureola noun
an artistic rendering of radiant light around the head or body of a sacred personage <the white marble sculpture of the saint in the throes of divine ecstasy is strikingly offset by a gilt aureole>

Synonyms
glory, halo, nimbus

Related Words
starburst, sunburst; aura, corona

au revoir noun
an expression of good wishes at parting <the noise of the street was so loud that the quieter au revoirs of her friends went unheard> — see GOOD-BYE

auricular adjective
of, relating to, or experienced through the sense of hearing <had auricular proof that the sun was up, as the birds began chirping> — see AUDITORY

aurora noun
the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance <a gorgeous pink aurora aroused us out of our slumber> — see DAWN 1

auspice noun
1 auspices plural the financial support and general guidance for an undertaking <a program for inner-city youths that is under the auspices of a national corporation>

Synonyms
aegis (also egis), backing, patronage, sponsorship

Related Words
bankrolling, endowment, financing, funding, subsidy; encouragement, fosterage; aid, assistance, help

2 something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event <interpreted the teacher's smile as an auspice that he would get an A on his presentation> — see OMEN

auspicious adjective
1 having qualities which inspire hope <told him she couldn't dance with him just then, but her auspicious smile encouraged him to ask again later> — see HOPEFUL 1
2 pointing toward a happy outcome <began the season with an auspicious win against their strongest football rival> — see FAVORABLE 2

austere adjective
1 given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint <an austere conductor who is as tough on himself as he is on the orchestra> — see SEVERE 1
2 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <an austere fortress at the top of some formidable cliffs> — see GRIM 1
3 providing only the essentials and nothing fancy or luxurious <for the private office of the CEO of the large corporation, the room is unexpectedly austere> — see NO-FRILLS

autarchy noun
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power <having just thrown off the yoke of Great Britain, the American Founding Fathers were adamantly opposed to establishing some form of homegrown autarchy> — see DESPOTISM

authentic adjective
1 being exactly as appears or as claimed <found an authentic Native American arrowhead>

Synonyms
bona fide, certifiable, certified, dinkum [Australian & New Zealand], echt, genuine, honest, pukka (also pucka), real, right, sure-enough, true

Related Words
actual, historical, original; lawful, legal, legitimate; identifiable, recognizable, verifiable; proven, substantiated, validated, verified; incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, irrefutable, undeniable, undoubted, unmistakable, unquestionable; veritable, very; accurate, correct, proper; pure, unadulterated, unalloyed

Phrases
for real

Near Antonyms
artificial, factitious, imitation, man-made, simulated, synthetic, unnatural; concocted, fabricated, manufactured; deceptive, delusive, delusory, misleading

Antonyms
bogus, counterfeit, fake, false, mock, phony (also phoney), pseudo, sham, spurious, suppositious, supposititious, unauthentic, unreal

2 following an original exactly <an authentic reconstruction of the Parthenon as it is believed to have looked when first built> — see FAITHFUL 2

authentically adverb
in actual fact <people are surprised to learn that he is an authentically certified graduate of clown college> — see VERY 2

authenticate verb
1 to declare (something) to be true or genuine <a jeweler authenticated the diamond as real> — see CERTIFY 1
2 to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of <we require more than simply your word to authenticate this story> — see CONFIRM 1

author noun
1 a person who creates a written work <a brilliant novel by a first-time author>

Synonyms
litterateur (or littérateur), pen, penman, scribe, scrivener, writer

Related Words
auteur, belletrist (also belle-lettrist), stylist, wordsmith; coauthor, coscenarist, cowriter; ghostwriter, hack, hatchet man, scribbler, wordmonger; biographer, hagiographer; autobiographer, memoirist, memorialist; fabulist, fictioneer, fictionist, novelist, romancer, storyteller; essayist, pamphleteer, satirist; dramatist, playwright, scenarist, screenwriter, scriptwriter; prosaist, prosateur, proser; bard, poet, rhymer, versifier; blogger, columnist, journalist, newspaperman, paragrapher, reporter, sportswriter

Phrases
man of letters, woman of letters

Antonyms
nonauthor

2 a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor <the author of modern genetics> — see FATHER 2
3 cap the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <let us thank the Author of our being for all the blessings He has bestowed> — see DEITY 2

author verb
to compose and set down on paper the words of <authored a new biography of Thomas Jefferson> — see WRITE 1

authoritarian adjective
1 fond of ordering people around <grew up with an authoritarian older sister who thought she was queen of the world> — see BOSSY
2 given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint <an authoritarian coach who runs football practice like it's boot camp> — see SEVERE 1

authoritarianism noun
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power <a critical period that saw a number of third-world countries abandon authoritarianism for democracy> — see DESPOTISM

authoritative adjective
1 being the most accurate and apparently thorough <this book is considered the most authoritative source on that subject> — see DEFINITIVE 1
2 having power over the minds or behavior of others <after a couple of authoritative critics panned the movie, the other reviewers rushed to say how awful it was> — see INFLUENTIAL 1
3 fond of ordering people around <she's very authoritative for someone who doesn't actually outrank us> — see BOSSY

authority noun
1 a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <the leading authority on neural anatomy> — see EXPERT
2 lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) <the sheriff had authority over the whole county> — see RULE 2
3 the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly <speaks with a persuasive authority on matters of public health> — see INFLUENCE 1
4 the right or means to command or control others <by the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you married> — see POWER 1
5 something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing <I had good authority to believe that the information was correct> — see REASON 2
6 something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information <the Bible is the sole authority for his impassioned defense of creationism> — see REFERENCE 1
7 the capacity to persuade <a strict grammarian whose pronouncements carried plenty of authority with my third-grade English teacher> — see COGENCY 1

authorization noun
1 the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something <you will need the authorization of the council before you can act> — see PERMISSION
2 the granting of power to perform various acts or duties <his authorization to go ahead with the project was finally given> — see COMMISSION 1
3 the right to act or move freely <granted authorization to enter the military facility> — see FREEDOM 2

authorize verb
1 to give official or legal power to <only the school nurse is authorized to give any necessary shots>

Synonyms
accredit, certify, charter [British], commission, empower, enable, invest, license (also licence), qualify, vest, warrant

Related Words
approve, clear, credential, endorse (also indorse), OK (or okay), sanction; affirm, confirm, validate; inaugurate, induct, initiate, install, instate, swear in; allow, let, permit; enfranchise, entitle, privilege

Near Antonyms
ban, bar, block, constrain, deny, disallow, disbar, discourage, disenfranchise, disfranchise, exclude, hinder, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, prevent, shut out, stop; enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prohibit, proscribe, veto

Antonyms
disqualify

2 to give a right to <this pass will authorize you to go backstage> — see ENTITLE 1
3 to give official acceptance of as satisfactory <a system for sound reproduction that has been authorized as meeting the electronic industry's highest standards> — see APPROVE

authorized adjective
ordered or allowed by those in authority <an authorized biography of the former president> — see OFFICIAL

auto noun
a self-propelled passenger vehicle on four wheels <the auto gave people a level of mobility that they had never known before> — see CAR

autochthon noun
a member of the first race to inhabit a region <descendants of the island's earliest settlers regard themselves as a sort of aristocracy of autochthons, with all others being brash interlopers> — see ABORIGINE

autochthonous adjective
belonging to a particular place by birth or origin <an illegally introduced Asian fish that has virtually wiped out the lake's autochthonous species> — see NATIVE 1

autocracy noun
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power <the Magna Carta is historically important because it signified the British rejection of autocracy and constituted the first formal restraining of the power of the monarch> — see DESPOTISM

autocrat noun
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority <European autocrats once commonly believed that they had received the right to rule directly from God> — see MONARCH 1

autocratic also autocratical adjective
1 exercising power or authority without interference by others <democracy is supposed to protect the people against the rise of autocratic rulers> — see ABSOLUTE 1
2 fond of ordering people around <an autocratic Boy Scout leader who is under the delusion that he's still an army colonel> — see BOSSY

autodidactic adjective
having skills or knowledge acquired through one's own efforts without formal training <an autodidactic painter, John Singleton Copley learned his craft from books purchased from England> — see SELF-TAUGHT

autograph noun
a person's name written in their own handwriting often given to indicate awareness or consent <she added her autograph to the joint tax return> — see SIGNATURE

autograph verb
to write one's name on (as a document) <asked the baseball player to autograph the bill of his cap> — see SIGN

automated adjective
designed to replace or decrease human labor and especially physical labor <an automated facility in which you can get your car washed without having encountered a single human being> — see LABORSAVING

automatic adjective
1 done instantly and without conscious thought or decision <Carl's automatic use of the brakes narrowly averted a collision>

Synonyms
instinctive, instinctual, involuntary, knee-jerk, mechanic, mechanical, robotic, spontaneous

Related Words
conditioned, natural, Pavlovian, reactive, reflex, simple, subliminal, unconscious, unforced, visceral; blind, inadvertent, unintended, unintentional, unwilling, unwitting; abrupt, quick, ready, sudden; ad-lib, extemporaneous, extempore, impromptu, improvised, offhand, offhanded, off-the-cuff, snap, spur-of-the-moment, unconsidered, unplanned, unpremeditated, unprepared, unprompted, unreasoned, unrehearsed, unstudied; casual, chance, chancy, haphazard, hasty, hit-or-miss, impetuous, impulsive, mindless, random, rash

Near Antonyms
calculated, conscious, cultivated, deliberate, designed, intended, intentional, predetermined, prepared, projected, refined, rehearsed, volitional, voluntary, willed, willful (or wilful); advised, aforethought, careful, considered, foresighted, forethoughtful, measured, meticulous, reasoned, studied, thoughtful

Antonyms
nonmechanical

2 designed to replace or decrease human labor and especially physical labor <liked the ease of an automatic CD changer> — see LABORSAVING

automation noun
the process of putting an apparatus, operation, or system under the control or regulation of mechanical or electronic devices <feared that automation would add millions to the ranks of the unemployed>

Synonyms
mechanization, robotization

Related Words
computerization, cybernation; electrification, motorization

automobile noun
a self-propelled passenger vehicle on four wheels <browsed the classified ads for used automobiles for sale> — see CAR

automobile verb
to travel by a motorized vehicle <would rather automobile across the country than fly over it at 35,000 feet> — see DRIVE 2

automobilist noun
a person who travels by automobile <with the introduction of affordable, mass-produced cars, more and more people left their horses at home and became automobilists> — see MOTORIST

autonomous adjective
not being under the rule or control of another <Native American nations are regarded as autonomous in many respects and thus not subject to a number of state and local laws> — see FREE 1

autonomy noun
1 the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions <the director agreed to make the film only on the condition that she be given complete autonomy for the casting> — see FREE WILL
2 the state of being free from the control or power of another <finding the mother country's treatment of them oppressive and intolerable, the 13 British colonies made the momentous decision to seek autonomy> — see FREEDOM 1

autopsy noun
examination of a dead body especially to find out the cause of death <the autopsy revealed an advanced stage of cancer>

Synonyms
necropsy, postmortem, postmortem examination

Related Words
dissection

Near Antonyms
biopsy, vivisection

autumn noun
a later period of one's life <with autumn came a mellowness of spirit that she had never shown before> — see AGE 3

auxiliary adjective
available to supply something extra when needed <the auditorium has an auxiliary cooling system used only on particularly sweltering days>

Synonyms
accessorial, accessory, appurtenant, peripheral, supplemental, supplementary

Related Words
backup, makeshift, substitute; added, additional, another, further; complementary, contributory; adjuvant, assistant, assisting, helping, supportive, tributary; secondary, subordinate, subservient, subsidiary; dispensable, excess, nonessential, superfluous, surplus, unessential

Near Antonyms
basic, fundamental, primary, prime; all-important, essential, imperative, indispensable, integral, necessary, needed, needful, required, requisite, vital

Antonyms
chief, main, principal

avail noun
the capacity for being useful for some purpose <although I appreciate the concern, your help would be of little avail in this situation> — see USE 2

avail verb
to provide with something useful or desirable <all your begging will not avail you in the least> — see BENEFIT

available adjective
1 possible to get <the nursery's orchids are available by mail order only> <fare information is readily available by using the toll-free number>

Synonyms
accessible, acquirable, attainable, obtainable, procurable

Related Words
getatable, reachable; appropriable, purchasable, rentable; furnished, provided, supplied; common, omnipresent, prevalent, ubiquitous, universal, widespread; free, free-for-all, open, public, unrestricted

Phrases
at the ready, on hand, on file, on tap

Near Antonyms
limited, off-limits, restricted; deficient, lacking, missing, rare, scarce, uncommon

Antonyms
inaccessible, unattainable, unavailable, unobtainable

2 capable of or suitable for being used for a particular purpose <my car is available should you need a way to get to the mall> — see USABLE 1

avant adjective
being or employing the latest concepts, styles, or techniques <readers of this very avant novel should not expect to find much in the way of traditional narrative structure>

Synonyms
advanced, avant-garde, cutting-edge, progressive, state-of-the-art

Related Words
pioneering, revolutionary, trailblazing; alternative, antiestablishment, nontraditional, unconventional, underground; bizarre, far-out, outré, way-out; fresh, new, novel, original; strange, unaccustomed, unfamiliar, unheard-of, unknown, unprecedented; contemporary, current, hot, mod, modern, modernistic, newfangled, new-fashioned, present-day, red-hot, space-age, ultramodern, up-to-date

Near Antonyms
conventional, customary, established, orthodox, traditional

avant–garde adjective
being or employing the latest concepts, styles, or techniques <a very avant-garde artist whose works wouldn't even be considered art by many traditionalists> — see AVANT

avant–garde noun
the innovators of new concepts, styles, and techniques especially in the arts <to the theater world's avant-garde, the melodrama seemed like a very old-fashioned play whose time had come and gone>

Synonyms
cutting edge, van, vanguard

Related Words
underground; avant-gardist, forerunner, pioneer, precursor, trailblazer

Near Antonyms
establishment, old guard

avarice noun
an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions <the bank official's embezzlement was motivated by pure avarice> — see GREED

avaricious adjective
having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions <an avaricious scheme to con the elderly couple out of thousands of dollars> — see GREEDY 1

avariciousness noun
an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions <their all-consuming avariciousness blinds them to the suffering of people just beyond their doorstep> — see GREED

avatar noun
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <our genial hosts, avatars of Southern hospitality> — see EMBODIMENT

ave noun
an expression of good wishes at parting <after a final ave, we turned our backs on the Tuscan village that had been our home for a year> — see GOOD-BYE

avenge verb
to punish in kind the wrongdoer responsible for <a play about a prince who struggles to avenge his father's death>

Synonyms
redress, requite, retaliate, revenge, venge [archaic]

Related Words
castigate, fix, get, penalize, punish, scourge; chasten, chastise, correct, discipline; right; compensate, pay (back), recompense, repay

Phrases
get even (for)

Near Antonyms
absolve, condone, excuse, forgive, pardon, remit

avenger noun
one who inflicts punishment in return for an injury or offense <a novel about a man who becomes the obsessed avenger of his sister's death> — see NEMESIS 1

avenue noun
1 a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <a city famous for its broad, tree-lined avenues> — see WAY 1
2 an established course for traveling from one place to another <the two main avenues available to those joining in the California gold rush were the trail across the Southwest desert or the hazard-filled loop around Central and South America> — see PASSAGE 1

aver verb
1 to state as a fact usually forcefully <was tearfully averring his innocence> — see CLAIM 1
2 to state clearly and strongly <averred that she didn't need any help choosing her own clothes> — see ASSERT 1

average adjective
1 being about midway between extremes of amount or size <since a Chihuahua seems as impractical as a Saint Bernard, let's get a dog of more average dimensions> — see MIDDLE 2
2 being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <just an average day at the office> — see ORDINARY 1
3 having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind <the company's marketing people want to interview average teenagers to see what kinds of clothes appeal to them> — see TYPICAL 1

average noun
what is typical of a group, class, or series <my cat's a cut above the average when it comes to being a finicky eater>

Synonyms
norm, normal, par, standard

Related Words
golden mean, mean, median, middle; commonplace, ordinary, rule, run, status quo, usual; exemplar, representative

Near Antonyms
abnormality, anomaly, deviation, exception, rarity

averse adjective
having a natural dislike for something <I'm not averse to broccoli if it's cooked right> — see ANTIPATHETIC 1

averseness noun
a strong feeling of not liking or approving <our dog's strong averseness to getting a bath> — see DISLIKE 1

aversion noun
1 a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness <I simply have this ingrained aversion to the sight of bloodshed> — see DISGUST
2 a strong feeling of not liking or approving <couldn't overcome her aversion to her brother-in-law and pointedly avoided his company> — see DISLIKE 1
3 something or someone that is hated <clichés should be the pet aversion of every good writer> — see HATE 2

avert verb
to keep from happening by taking action in advance <her careful planning averted disaster> — see PREVENT

averting noun
the act or practice of keeping something from happening <the averting of forest fires can be helped by the clearing of dry underbrush> — see PREVENTION

aviate verb
to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings <once humankind learned how to aviate, the world became a much smaller place> — see FLY 1

aviator noun
one who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft <the solo flight from New York to Paris by the aviator Charles Lindbergh captured the imagination of people around the world> — see PILOT

avid adjective
1 having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions <stared at the array of jewels with an avid glint in his eye> — see GREEDY 1
2 showing urgent desire or interest <an avid baseball card collector> — see EAGER

avidity noun
1 an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions <an advanced case of avidity that led to shoplifting at the tender age of 13> — see GREED
2 urgent desire or interest <in her avidity to express her opinions, she frequently and unthinkingly interrupts people> — see EAGERNESS

avidness noun
1 an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions <with the avidness of a child in a candy store, scores of holiday shoppers raced to grab the early-bird specials> — see GREED
2 urgent desire or interest <he approaches every new challenge in life with the avidness of a man half his age> — see EAGERNESS

avocation noun
an activity outside of one's regular occupation that is engaged in primarily for pleasure <photography is merely an avocation for me—I've never tried to make money off of it>

Synonyms
hobby, hobbyhorse, pursuit, recreation

Related Words
amusement, distraction, diversion, entertainment, pastime, relaxation, sport

avocational adjective
being such only for recreation <just a bunch of avocational rockers who get together in a garage on weekends>

Synonyms
amateur, backyard, jackleg, nonprofessional, Sunday

Related Words
naive (or naïve), primitive, self-taught; amateurish, dilettante, inexperienced, inexpert, unprofessional, unskilled; uninitiated, unprepared, unqualified, unschooled, untaught, untrained, untutored; part-time, weekend

avoid verb
1 to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery <trying to avoid writing thank-you notes for the gifts he didn't like> — see ESCAPE 2
2 to put an end to by formal action <asked the court to avoid the contract because it was signed under duress> — see ABOLISH 1

avoidance noun
1 the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable <her congenital avoidance of conflict makes talking about problems with her difficult> — see ESCAPE 2
2 the doing away with something by formal action <plans to petition the court for an avoidance of the prenuptial agreement> — see ABOLITION

avoirdupois noun
1 the amount that something weighs <the coach limited his recruiting to linebackers of a certain avoirdupois> — see WEIGHT 1
2 the state or quality of being heavy <told his patient that he had to do something about his unhealthy avoirdupois and that exercising would be a good start> — see WEIGHTINESS 1

avouch verb
1 to declare (something) to be true or genuine <a note from my doctor avouching that my medical condition did indeed disqualify me from gym class> — see CERTIFY 1
2 to state as a fact usually forcefully <avouched that he had never cheated on his taxes in his life> — see CLAIM 1
3 to state clearly and strongly <she tends to avouch her opinions in such a way as to imply that anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot> — see ASSERT 1

avouchment noun
a solemn and often public declaration of the truth or existence of something <your avouchment of his good intentions means he won't be disciplined> — see PROTESTATION

avow verb
1 to state as a fact usually forcefully <avowed that the colonization of Mars in our lifetime is not only possible but probable> — see CLAIM 1
2 to state clearly and strongly <avowed their undying love for each other> — see ASSERT 1

avowal noun
1 a solemn and often public declaration of the truth or existence of something <with jingoism rampant, the peace candidate felt compelled to make an avowal of his patriotism> — see PROTESTATION
2 an open declaration of something (as a fault or the commission of an offense) about oneself <her own avowal that she was to blame for the accident> — see CONFESSION

await verb
1 to believe in the future occurrence of (something) <members of the sect are confidently awaiting the imminent end of the world> — see EXPECT
2 to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something <crowds had been awaiting in the streets for hours> — see WAIT

awaited adjective
being in accordance with the prescribed, normal, or logical course of events <at the awaited moment the President walked up to the lectern and began his address to the nation> — see DUE 2

awake adjective
1 not sleeping or able to sleep <was awake until 3:00 a.m.> — see WAKEFUL
2 paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity <awake to the possibility of trouble at the demonstration> — see ALERT 1

awake verb
1 to cause to stop sleeping <awoke the boys for breakfast> — see WAKE 1
2 to cease to be asleep <at the sound of breaking glass she awoke with a start> — see WAKE 2

awaken verb
1 to cause to stop sleeping <be quiet or you'll awaken the kids> — see WAKE 1
2 to cease to be asleep <guests at the B and B usually awaken to the smell of fresh pancakes> — see WAKE 2

award noun
1 something given in recognition of achievement <Faye received the highest award in the 16 and under category for her poem>

Synonyms
accolade, blue ribbon, decoration, distinction, honor, kudo, plume, premium, prize

Related Words
badge, crown, cup, laurel, medal, order, plaque, plate, ribbon, trophy; applause, bravo, encomium, eulogy, hallelujah, homage, paean, panegyric, plaudit, tribute; citation, commendation, compliment, honorable mention

2 a position arrived at after consideration <in their award the board of arbitrators declared that both writers deserved screen credit for their contributions to the final screenplay> — see DECISION 1

award verb
1 to give something as a token of gratitude or admiration for a service or achievement <we will award the top three contestants in the essay competition> — see REWARD
2 to give the ownership or benefit of (something) formally or publicly <custody of the boy was awarded to the grandparents> — see CONFER 1

aware adjective
having specified facts or feelings actively impressed on the mind <as she was being wheeled out of surgery, she became dimly aware that her parents were in the room> — see CONSCIOUS 1

awareness noun
a state of being aware <while strolling in the big city, maintain an awareness of what's going on around you> — see ATTENTION 2

awash adjective
1 containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <the streets were awash from the heavy rains> — see WET 1
2 possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified <the literary review is currently awash in submissions and will not be accepting any more until next year> — see RIFE

away adjective
1 not close in time or space <the store is far away from here> <Passover is still three months away> — see DISTANT 1
2 not at a certain place <he's away right now, but he should be back at the office next week> — see ABSENT 1

away adverb
from this or that place <don't walk away while I'm still talking to you>

Synonyms
down, fro, hence, off, out

Related Words
apart, aside, elsewhere; abroad, afar, afield, astray

awe noun
the rapt attention and deep emotion caused by the sight of something extraordinary <was in awe of the sinewy Olympic runners> — see WONDER 2

aweary adjective, archaic
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <the famous lament of Tennyson's Mariana: “I am aweary … I would that I were dead!”> — see WEARY 1

awed adjective
filled with amazement or wonder <gave the nationally known golfer an awed look> — see OPENMOUTHED

awesome adjective
1 causing wonder or astonishment <the awesome power of the sea> — see MARVELOUS 1
2 of the very best kind <the food at the Sunday brunch was just awesome> — see EXCELLENT

awestruck also awestricken adjective
1 affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise <the crowds were awestruck by the aerial feats of the stunt pilots> — see THUNDERSTRUCK
2 filled with amazement or wonder <awestruck by the majesty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains> — see OPENMOUTHED

awful adjective
1 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <that's an awful thing to say about someone> — see OFFENSIVE 1
2 causing wonder or astonishment <the awful power of Niagara Falls> — see MARVELOUS 1
3 extremely disturbing or repellent <spare me the awful details of the murder> — see HORRIBLE 1
4 extremely unsatisfactory <I can't believe I spent good money to see that movie—it was awful> — see WRETCHED 1

awful adverb
to a great degree <that's awful sweet of you> — see VERY 1

awfully adverb
to a great degree <I'm awfully sorry> — see VERY 1

awfulness noun
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay <the awfulness of the car accident can scarcely be described> — see HORROR 1

awkward adjective
1 lacking social grace and assurance <preteens feeling awkward at their first formal dance>

Synonyms
clumsy, gauche, graceless, inelegant, rough-hewn, rustic (also rustical), stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungraceful, wooden

Related Words
angular, gawky, lubberly, ungainly; boorish, clownish, uncouth; abashed, discomfited, discomforted, discomposed, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed; self-conscious; agitated, bothered, chagrined, dismayed, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, fazed, flustered, jittery, jumpy, mortified, nervous, nonplussed (also nonplused), perturbed, rattled, unhinged, unsettled, upset; diffident, insecure, meek, modest, self-doubting, timid, unassertive, unassuming, unpretentious

Near Antonyms
assured, calm, collected, composed, confident, cool, placid, poised, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed

Antonyms
graceful, suave, urbane

2 showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) <her awkward handling of the seating arrangements at the wedding reception resulted in many hurt feelings>

Synonyms
botched, bungling, clumsy, fumbled, inept, inexpert, maladroit

Related Words
amateur, amateurish, crude, green, incompetent, ineffectual, inefficient, inexperienced, unpolished, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful; careless, sloppy, tacky, tactless, undiplomatic; ill-advised, ineffective, ineffectual, misdirected, misguided

Near Antonyms
able, accomplished, adept, capable, clever, competent, consummate, crackerjack, expert, masterful, masterly, polished, professional, proficient, skilled, skillful, talented; diplomatic, easy, effortless, gracious, smooth, tactful

Antonyms
adroit, deft, dexterous (also dextrous), facile

3 causing embarrassment <the awkward situation of having to listen as your host and hostess quarrel loudly in the next room>

Synonyms
discomfiting, disconcerting, disturbing, embarrassing, flustering, uncomfortable

Related Words
confusing, difficult, disagreeable, impossible, inconvenient, intolerable, troublesome, unpleasant, unwieldy; unsettling; debasing, degrading, demeaning, humbling, humiliating, mortifying

Near Antonyms
agreeable, comfortable, convenient, pleasing

4 causing difficulty, discomfort, or annoyance <our surprise guests came at a very awkward time> — see INCONVENIENT 1
5 difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design <that manual can opener is awkward to hold> — see CUMBERSOME
6 having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner <an awkward person who is always tripping over herself> — see CLUMSY 2
7 lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands <an awkward catch of a fly ball> — see CLUMSY 1

awning noun
a raised covering over something for decoration or protection <stayed under the awning outside the shop during the rainstorm> — see CANOPY

awry adjective
inclined or twisted to one side <the shutters that still remained on the run-down old house were all awry>

Synonyms
askew, aslant, atilt, cock-a-hoop, cockeyed, crazy, crooked, listing, lopsided, oblique, off-kilter, pitched, skewed, slanted, slanting, slantwise, tilted, tipping, uneven

Related Words
asymmetrical (or asymmetric), unbalanced, unsymmetrical; contorted, disordered, distorted, irregular

Phrases
out of plumb (or off plumb)

Near Antonyms
ordered, orderly, regular, uniform; balanced, symmetrical (or symmetric)

Antonyms
even, level, straight

awry adverb
off the desired or intended path or course <their plans for an outdoor wedding went awry when they got a freak hailstorm the night before> — see WRONG 1

aw–shucks adjective
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <his persona may be that of an aw-shucks country singer, but offstage he is anything but> — see NAIVE 1

ax or axe noun
the termination of the employment of an employee or a work force often temporarily <the company was hemorrhaging money, so 700 employees would soon be given the ax> — see LAYOFF 1

ax or axe verb
to let go from office, service, or employment <the boss will ax anyone who leaks company secrets> — see DISMISS 1

axiomatic adjective
not needing proof in order to be accepted <it's axiomatic that the instinct for self-preservation is universal throughout the animal kingdom>

Synonyms
prima facie, self-evident

Related Words
self-explanatory; apparent, clear, evident, hands-down, manifest, obvious, open-and-shut, patent, plain, transparent, unmistakable; incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, undeniable, unquestionable; accepted, given, granted

Near Antonyms
arguable, contestable, debatable, disputable, doubtable, dubious, moot, problematic (also problematical), questionable

axis noun
1 a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <in addition to being the suburb's social axis, the country club is the place where deals are made and partnerships are forged> — see CENTER 1
2 an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection <an axis of previously nonaligned nations> — see CONFEDERACY

ay interjection
used to express sorrow or distress <ay me, we are doomed to listen to that noise all night!> — see ALAS

1aye also ay adverb
1 on every relevant occasion <I aye thought that she was the loveliest woman I ever laid eyes on> — see ALWAYS 1
2 for all time <a friendship that will aye endure> — see EVER 1

2aye also ay adverb
used to express agreement <aye, you're right about that> — see YES

B

babble noun
unintelligible or meaningless talk <the baby's good-natured babble and random gurglings were cute, but not very helpful in determining what he wanted> — see GIBBERISH 1

babble verb
1 to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly <in such a rush to tell us the news that she just babbled>

Synonyms
bumble, chat, chatter, drivel, drool, gabble, gibber, jabber, prattle, sputter

Related Words
blabber, blather, bleat, blither, gab, jangle, jaw, patter, prate, rattle, run on, smatter, tittle-tattle, troll, yak (also yack); chunter [British], maunder, mouth, mumble, murmur, mutter; stammer, stutter; screech, shout, shriek

Near Antonyms
articulate, enunciate, pronounce

2 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <the little girls babbled contentedly for the whole ride home> — see CHAT 1

babbler noun
a person who talks constantly <spending too much time with that babbler gives me a headache> — see CHATTERBOX

babe noun
1 a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <although I worked with film for years, I'm just a babe as far as digital photography is concerned> — see BEGINNER
2 a recently born person <a babe in arms, too young even to crawl> — see BABY 1
3 slang a lovely woman <that woman's a total babe> — see BEAUTY 2
4 slang a physically attractive person <a beach resort that attracts well-tanned babes of both sexes> — see DOLL 2

babel noun
1 a place of uproar or confusion <on opening day the area's newest big-box store was an incredible babel> — see MADHOUSE 2
2 loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <the babel of languages and accents that can be heard at the city's farmers' market every weekend> — see NOISE 1

babushka noun
a scarf worn on the head <an elderly Russian woman with a babushka> — see BANDANNA

baby noun
1 a recently born person <the baby is just learning to sit up, so be careful>

Synonyms
babe, bambino, child, infant, neonate, newborn

Related Words
cherub; foundling, nursling, suckling; preemie (also premie); papoose; bantling, kid, kiddie (also kiddy), kiddo, moppet, toddler, tot, tyke (also tike); boy, nipper, tad; juvenile, minor, youngling, youngster, youth; brat, imp, squirt, urchin, whippersnapper; girl, hoyden, tomboy

Near Antonyms
adult, grown-up; elder, graybeard, oldster, old-timer, senior, senior citizen

2 a member of the human race <I don't care what you want, there'll be no housecleaning for this baby> — see HUMAN
3 a successful result brought about by hard work <a small film that was a labor of love and the baby that the director was proudest of> — see ACCOMPLISHMENT 1
4 a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things <he becomes a big baby when his wife is out of town and he's expected to fend for himself at suppertime> — see CRYBABY

baby verb
to treat with great or excessive care <he babied his car, faithfully washing it every week>

Synonyms
cocker, coddle, cosset, dandle, indulge, mollycoddle, nurse, pamper, spoil, wet-nurse

Related Words
cater (to), humor; content, delight, gladden, gratify, mother, oblige, please, satisfy; appease, mollify, pacify, placate, soothe

Near Antonyms
control, discipline, restrain; oppress; neglect, overlook, slight; molest, outrage, violate; harass, harm, hurt, injure, oppress, persecute, torment, torture, victimize

Antonyms
abuse, ill-treat, ill-use, maltreat, manhandle, mishandle, mistreat, misuse

baby buggy noun
a small four-wheeled vehicle designed for pushing a baby around in <a reluctant father who isn't looking forward to pushing a baby buggy around the park> — see BABY CARRIAGE

baby carriage noun
a small four-wheeled vehicle designed for pushing a baby around in <twins in a double baby carriage>

Synonyms
baby buggy, buggy, perambulator [chiefly British], pram [chiefly British], pushchair [chiefly British], stroller

Related Words
bassinet, cradle, crib; carry-cot [British]

babyish adjective
having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children <the boy now thinks that playing with blocks is a rather babyish activity> — see CHILDISH

Babylonian adjective
showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort <the Babylonian glitter of the city's gold coast> — see LUXURIOUS 1

babysitter noun
a girl or woman employed to care for a young child or children <a babysitter who is a great favorite with the kids because she's always thinking of fun things to do> — see NURSE

bach noun, New Zealand
an often small house for recreational or seasonal use <maintains a bach in South Island's Fiordland> — see COTTAGE

back adjective
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part <she carried all the presents in the back door, as the children were playing in the front yard>

Synonyms
aft, after, hind, hinder, hindmost, posterior, rear, rearward

Related Words
dorsal

Near Antonyms
ventral

Antonyms
anterior, fore, forward, front, frontal

back adverb
1 earlier than the present time <that's longer back than I can remember> — see AGO
2 toward the opposite direction <turned back for one last comment> — see AROUND 2
3 toward the rear <staring back, the newly convicted felon vowed revenge> — see BACKWARD 1

back noun
1 a behind part or surface <the back of the page was blank> — see REAR 1
2 a vulnerable point <a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back> — see ACHILLES' HEEL

back verb
1 to promote the interests or cause of <she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities> — see SUPPORT 1
2 to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end <a number of influential people have already agreed to back the candidate> — see HELP 1
3 to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) <the author needs to back her thesis with more facts> — see SUPPORT 4

back–and–forth noun
1 a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another <after the usual back-and-forth of official gifts, the two leaders entered into a serious discussion> — see EXCHANGE 1
2 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <the others listened with relish to the back-and-forth between the two noted professors> — see DISCUSSION 1

back away verb
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) <backed away from the snake very slowly and carefully> — see RETREAT 1

backbone noun
1 a column of bones supporting the trunk of a vertebrate animal <found the backbone of a fish lying on the beach> — see SPINE
2 the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship <it takes backbone to stand up to the kind of suffering that some cancer patients must endure> — see FORTITUDE

backbreaking adjective
requiring considerable physical or mental effort <modern machinery has significantly eased the backbreaking work of farming> — see HARD 2

backchat noun
1 disrespectful or argumentative talk given in response to a command or request <there'll be no backchat from you, young lady> — see BACK TALK
2 friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <bored with the usual backchat with which people whiled away the lunch hour> — see CHAT 1
3 good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks <outsiders sometimes mistook their constant backchat for spiteful bickering> — see BANTER

backcountry noun
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country <he took a month's supplies and headed out to the backcountry> — see FRONTIER 2

back down verb
to break a promise or agreement <if you back down about dinner again, I'm not going to agree to another date> — see RENEGE 1

backdrop noun
the physical conditions or features that form the setting against which something is viewed <visitors dine at the restaurant with a dramatic stretch of the Pacific Ocean as a jaw-dropping backdrop> — see BACKGROUND 1

backer noun
1 a person who actively supports or favors a cause <backers of prison reform held a rally in front of the statehouse> — see EXPONENT 1
2 a person who takes the responsibility for some other person or thing <all financial backers will be expected to offer some input into the company's decisions> — see SPONSOR
3 someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support <the student's backers spoke at the school board meeting on her behalf> — see ALLY

backfire verb
to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect <my plan to throw her a surprise party backfired when she ended up sobbing that everyone had forgotten her birthday>

Synonyms
boomerang

Related Words
collapse, flop, flunk, fold, wash out; flounder, struggle; decline, slip, slump, wane

Near Antonyms
succeed; flourish, prosper, thrive

background noun
1 the physical conditions or features that form the setting against which something is viewed <they got married on a mountain top with the sunset as background>

Synonyms
backdrop, ground

Related Words
mise-en-scène, scene, scenery, set, stage; entourage, environment, milieu, setting, surroundings

Near Antonyms
foreground; center, focal point, focus, heart

2 the place and time in which the action for a portion of a dramatic work (as a movie) is set <the background of that movie is the World War II era> — see SCENE 1

backhanded adjective
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <“You throw okay, for a girl” is a bit of a backhanded compliment> — see INSINCERE

backhander noun, British
something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision <the customs official let us know that he might be prepared to look the other way if an appropriate backhander was slipped into his palm> — see BRIBE

backing noun
1 an act or instance of helping <the teacher's backing on the science project was invaluable> — see HELP 1
2 the financial support and general guidance for an undertaking <the museum exhibition would not have been possible without corporate backing> — see AUSPICE 1

backland noun, usually backlands plural
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country <they purposely vacationed in the backlands to get away from people> — see FRONTIER 2

back of preposition
at, to, or toward the rear of <the equipment shed is a concrete structure back of the school> — see BEHIND 1

back off verb
to break a promise or agreement <you'd better not back off on your promise to do all the planning for the big dance> — see RENEGE 1

back out verb
to break a promise or agreement <she backed out on her offer to help with the wedding planning> — see RENEGE 1

backpack noun
a soft-sided case designed for carrying belongings especially on the back <stuffed her backpack with so many books that she could barely walk> — see PACK 1

backside noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <our backsides were sore after sitting on those hard benches for so long> — see BUTTOCKS

backslapper noun
a gregarious and unreserved person <a career in politics appeals to him, but he's not a backslapper by nature> — see EXTROVERT

backslider noun
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard <the evangelist was determined to win back the backsliders who had fallen away> — see DEGENERATE

backstab verb
to be unfaithful or disloyal to <knew what it felt like to be backstabbed by a so-called friend> — see BETRAY 1

backstabber noun
one who betrays a trust or an allegiance <a backstabber taking credit for work she didn't do while bad-mouthing the rest of the team to the boss> — see TRAITOR

backstabbing noun
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another <a reality TV show that seems to have raised backstabbing to an art form> — see BETRAYAL

backstage adverb
in a manner intended to prevent knowledge or awareness by others <some of the most important decisions were made backstage, and only presented to the full committee afterward> — see PRIVATELY

backstairs adjective
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <an influential Washington lobbyist who has been involved in a number of backstairs deals to limit regulation of financial institutions> — see SECRET 1

backstop verb
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end <the Nobel-winning geneticist was of course backstopped in his research by a team of highly talented assistants> — see HELP 1

back talk noun
disrespectful or argumentative talk given in response to a command or request <his mother sent him to his room because of his constant back talk>

Synonyms
backchat, cheek, impertinence, impudence, insolence, mouth, sass, sauce

Related Words
comeback, rejoinder, retort, riposte, wisecrack; cuteness, discourtesy, disrespect, guff, impoliteness, nonsense, rudeness, tactlessness; audaciousness, audacity, boldness, brazenness; coarseness, crassness, crudity, vulgarity; abruptness, bluffness, bluntness, brusqueness, crossness, curtness, gruffness, surliness

Near Antonyms
civility, cordiality, courtesy, diplomacy, politeness, tactfulness; consideration, gallantry, gentility, graciousness, smoothness, suaveness, suavity; deference, respect; affability

back–to–back adjective
following one after another without others coming in between <the new governor was soon facing several back-to-back crises> — see CONSECUTIVE

back–to–back adverb
in succession without others coming in between <the three movies in the series were filmed back-to-back so that the cast members wouldn't age visibly on screen> — see CONSECUTIVELY

backup noun
1 a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement <there was the inevitable backup of travelers trying to pass through airport security> — see JAM 1
2 a person or thing that takes the place of another <you didn't get the lead position, but you can be the backup to the chosen singer> — see SUBSTITUTE

backward adjective
1 directed, turned, or done toward the back <a backward turn on ice skates is hard to learn because you can't see where you're going>

Synonyms
rearward, retrograde

Related Words
reverse, reversed; aft, after, hind, posterior, rear; astern, sternforemost

Near Antonyms
forward

2 not comfortable around people <curiously, the quiet, backward man opened up when around other introverts> — see SHY 2

backward or backwards adverb
1 toward the rear <looking backward, we could see the town receding in the distance>

Synonyms
back, rearward (also rearwards)

Related Words
astern, sternforemost; anticlockwise [chiefly British], counterclockwise, left-handed, left-handedly, retrograde, reversely, widdershins (also withershins)

Near Antonyms
before

Antonyms
ahead, along, forth, forward, forwards, on, onward (also onwards)

2 toward the opposite direction <the loud noise prompted him to glance backward to see what was happening> — see AROUND 2

backwash noun
a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <a general recession was the backwash of the crisis in the housing market> — see EFFECT 1

backwater noun
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country <a distant backwater that didn't even have electricity at that time> — see FRONTIER 2

backwoods plural noun
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country <lived far out in the backwoods and raised hogs for a living> — see FRONTIER 2

backyard adjective
being such only for recreation <an orchid that is a favorite with backyard horticulturists> — see AVOCATIONAL

backyard noun
an adjoining region or space <shocked to learn that the wind farm would be right in our own backyard> — see ENVIRONS 2

bad adjective
1 falling short of a standard <a bad first attempt at making meat loaf resulted in a soggy, inedible mess>

Synonyms
bastard, bush, bush-league, crummy (also crumby), deficient, dissatisfactory, ill, inferior, lame, lousy, off, paltry, poor, punk, sour, suboptimal, subpar, substandard, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, wack [slang], wanting, wretched, wrong

Related Words
abysmal, atrocious, awful, bitchin' [slang], brutal, damnable, deplorable, detestable, disastrous, dreadful, execrable, gnarly [slang], horrendous, horrible, pathetic, stinky, sucky [slang], terrible, unspeakable; defective, faulty, flawed; egregious, flagrant, gross; bum, cheesy, coarse, common, crappy [slang], cut-rate, junky, lesser, low-grade, low-rent, mediocre, miserable, reprehensible, rotten, rubbishy, second-rate, shoddy, sleazy, trashy; abominable, odious, vile; useless, valueless, worthless; inadequate, insufficient, lacking, meager (or meagre), mean, miserly, niggardly, scanty, shabby, short, skimp, skimpy, spare, stingy; miscreant, scurrilous, villainous; counterfeit, fake, phony (also phoney), sham

Phrases
below (or under) par, from hunger

Near Antonyms
classic, classical; A1, bang-up, banner, boss [slang], capital, choice, crackerjack, dandy, divine, excellent, exceptional, fabulous, fine, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-test, jim-dandy, keen, marvelous (or marvellous), mean, neat, nifty, noble, par excellence, perfect, premium, prime, sensational, slick, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, unsurpassed, wonderful; better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special, sufficient; average, borderline, fair, mediocre, middling, minimal, so-so, unexceptional; suitable, useful, worthy; gratifying, satisfying

Antonyms
acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, fine, OK (or okay), passable, respectable, satisfactory, standard, tolerable

2 not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <stealing is just plain bad>

Synonyms
black, dark, evil, immoral, iniquitous, nefarious, rotten, sinful, unethical, unlawful, unrighteous, unsavory, vicious, vile, villainous, wicked, wrong

Related Words
base, contemptible, despicable, dirty, disreputable, evil-minded, ignoble, ill, infernal, low, mean, snide, sordid; atrocious, cruel, infamous, nasty; blamable, blameworthy, censurable, objectionable, obscene, offensive, reprehensible; corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, libertine, loose, low-minded, perverted, reprobate, scrofulous, sick, unhealthy; cursed (also curst), cussed, defiling, noxious, pernicious, pestilential, ugly, ungodly, unwholesome; banned, barred, condemned, discouraged, forbidden, illegal, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, unauthorized, unclean; disallowed; execrable, lousy, miserable, wretched; errant, erring, fallen, unprincipled, unscrupulous; improper, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, naughty, unbecoming, unseemly, vulgar; dishonest, dishonorable

Near Antonyms
elevated, high, high-minded, law-abiding, legitimate, lofty, noble, principled, reputable, scrupulous; allowed, authorized, legal, licensed, permissible, permitted; approved, endorsed (also indorsed), sanctioned; abetted, encouraged, promoted, supported; clean, correct, decent, decorous, exemplary, proper, seemly; blameless, commendable, creditable, guiltless, legitimate; chaste, immaculate, incorruptible, innocent, inoffensive, irreproachable, lily-white, perfect, pure, spotless, squeaky-clean, uncorrupted, unerring, unfallen, unobjectionable, venerable, white, wholesome; esteemed, respected, upstanding, worthy

Antonyms
decent, ethical, good, honest, honorable, just, moral, right, righteous, sublime, upright, virtuous

3 causing or capable of causing harm <sitting too close to the television is said to be bad for the eyes> — see HARMFUL
4 engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior <the children were bad, so they didn't get dessert> — see NAUGHTY
5 feeling unhappiness <hearing about the world's miseries always makes him feel bad> — see SAD 1
6 having a fault <a bad video connection that is causing some picture loss> — see FAULTY
7 having undergone organic breakdown <I think the milk has turned bad> — see ROTTEN 1
8 not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <the air in the damp basement had a very bad smell> — see UNPLEASANT
9 of low quality <bad shoes that fell apart within a week> — see CHEAP 2
10 temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body <I've been feeling bad all week with this cold> — see SICK 1
11 having no legal or binding force <all known claims on the property were dismissed by the court as bad> — see NULL 1
12 slang having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it <with all of his tattoos and piercings, that skinhead looks like one really bad dude> — see HATEFUL

bad adverb
in an unsatisfactory way <you didn't do too bad on the treadmill test> — see BADLY 1

bad noun
that which is morally unacceptable <there's bad and good in people of every race and nationality> — see EVIL

bad blood noun
a deep-seated ill will <there's been bad blood between the two families for years> — see ENMITY

baddie or baddy noun
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <the actor has never been cast as a hero, but he's played every kind of baddie imaginable> — see VILLAIN

badinage noun
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks <the sophisticated badinage of the characters in plays by Oscar Wilde> — see BANTER

badly adverb
1 in an unsatisfactory way <I'm afraid you performed quite badly in our last rehearsal>

Synonyms
bad, deficiently, inadequately, lousily, poorly, unacceptably, unsatisfactorily, wretchedly

Related Words
abysmally, atrociously, awfully, damnably, deplorably, detestably, disastrously, dreadfully, execrably, horrendously, horribly, horrifically, rottenly, terribly; intolerably, unbearably; inappropriately, incorrectly, indecently, reprehensibly, unsuitably, vulgarly; naughtily; egregiously, flagrantly, grossly; miserably, shoddily, sleazily, trashily, unspeakably; abominably, odiously, vilely; inferiorly, insufficiently, meagerly, meanly, niggardly, scantily, scantly, shabbily, skimpily, sparely, stingily

Near Antonyms
appropriately, congruously, correctly, decently, decorously, felicitously, fittingly, meetly, rightly, seemly, suitably; exactly, faithfully, ideally, precisely, respectably; gratifyingly, satisfyingly

Antonyms
acceptably, adequately, all right, fine, good, nicely, OK (or okay), palatably, passably, satisfactorily, so-so, tolerably, well

2 to a great degree <blood donors are badly needed this time of year> — see VERY 1

bad–mouth verb
to express scornfully one's low opinion of <she promptly bad-mouthed that awful movie to everyone she knew> — see DECRY 1

badness noun
the state or quality of being utterly evil <the villain's complete badness made him a good foil for the unfailingly virtuous hero> — see ENORMITY 1

baffle verb
1 to prevent from achieving a goal <the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference> — see FRUSTRATE 1
2 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <she was baffled by the wording of the clause in the insurance policy> — see CONFUSE 1

baffled adjective
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do <baffled viewers didn't know what to make of the strange antics of the talk show host> — see HARD PUT

bafflegab noun
language marked by abstractions, jargon, euphemisms, and circumlocutions <I kept asking the telemarketer what the final cost of the “special offer” was, and all I got was more bafflegab about deferred payments, option to cancel at any point, etc.> — see GIBBERISH 2

bafflement noun
a state of mental uncertainty <his complete bafflement as to the point of the joke was in itself funny> — see CONFUSION 1

bag noun
1 a container made of a flexible material (as paper or plastic) <she carries her towel and other supplies to the beach in a bright, colorful bag slung over her arm>

Synonyms
poke [chiefly Southern & Midland], pouch, sack

Related Words
carryall, portmanteau, traveling bag, wallet; bundle, pack, package, packet, parcel; backpack, barracks bag, duffel bag, haversack, knapsack, rucksack, satchel, tote; handbag, pocketbook, purse, tote bag; ditty bag, flight bag, garment bag, kit bag, shopping bag, work bag

2 a container for carrying money and small personal items <a very carefully dressed woman who makes sure that her bag always matches the color of her shoes> — see PURSE

bag verb
1 to extend outward beyond a usual point <the shirt bagged at the waist> — see BULGE 1
2 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <bagged a deer while hunting last weekend> — see CATCH 1
3 to give up (a job or office) <if the supervisor says one more nasty thing to me, I'm going to bag this stupid job> — see QUIT 1
4 to obtain (as a goal) through effort <bagged a full fellowship at one of the nation's leading universities> — see ACHIEVE 1
5 to receive as return for effort <bagged an acting nomination for a truly inspired performance> — see EARN 1

bagatelle noun
something of little importance <the question of who will pick up the coffee is a mere bagatelle in the overall planning of the conference> — see TRIFLE

bagnio noun
a building in which prostitutes are available <the police staged a raid on the London bagnio, causing great inconvenience to its well-heeled clientele> — see BORDELLO

bail verb
to leave a place often for another <after two hours of that boring party, we were ready to bail> — see GO 2

bailiwick noun
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <questions about organization of the fund drive are my bailiwick> — see FIELD 2

bail out verb
1 to leave a place often for another <if the meeting seems like it will never end, find an excuse to bail out> — see GO 2
2 to remove from danger or harm <the government bailed out the savings and loan industry> — see SAVE 2

bairn noun, chiefly Scottish
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <at the Scottish festival there were traditional contests of strength and endurance, Celtic fiddlers, and groups of bairns performing Highland flings> — see CHILD 1

bait noun
1 something used to attract animals to a hook or into a trap <cheese is the traditional bait for trapping mice>

Synonyms
decoy, lure

Related Words
ambush, net, trap; hook, snare, troll; plug, scent, spinner, stool pigeon; appeal, attraction, call, draw, incentive, pull; enticement, seducement, seduction, temptation; entanglement, entrapment

Near Antonyms
repellent (also repellant)

2 something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain <the promise of free vacation is surefire bait to get people to agree to be chaperones for school trips> — see LURE 1

bait verb
1 to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults <as the first woman to work in the mines, she was mercilessly baited by the men on her shift> — see TEASE 2
2 to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage <the investment scheme cunningly baits the greedy and the unscrupulous> — see LURE

baiter noun
1 a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another <vowed revenge someday on the baiters who were making his life miserable> — see TORMENTOR
2 one that tries to get a person to give in to a desire <my sister is quite the mischievous baiter, always offering candy even though she knows I'm on a diet> — see TEMPTER

balance noun
1 a condition in which opposing forces are equal to one another <in order to determine the weight of that beaker, you need to get the two pans of the scale in perfect balance>

Synonyms
counterpoise, equilibration, equilibrium, equipoise, poise, stasis

Related Words
counterbalance, offset; firmness, fixedness, security, stability, steadiness

Near Antonyms
changeability, fluctuation, inconstancy, insecurity, instability, mutability, precariousness, shakiness, unsteadiness, volatility

Antonyms
disequilibration, disequilibrium, imbalance, nonequilibrium, unbalance

2 a balanced, pleasing, or suitable arrangement of parts <the balance of the landscaping is in keeping with the symmetry of so many 18th-century mansions> — see HARMONY 1
3 a device for measuring weight <use a balance to make sure you get the amounts precisely correct> — see 1SCALE
4 a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective <the balance to the mountain of complaints are the many letters of praise that we also receive> — see COUNTERBALANCE
5 a remaining group or portion <and the balance of the contestants should stand in that last corner> — see REMAINDER 1

balance verb
1 to make equal in amount, degree, or status <tried to balance the total amount of money spent on gifts for each child> — see EQUALIZE
2 to show uncertainty about the right course of action <his tendency to balance and waffle on certain hot-button issues may hurt him in the general election> — see HESITATE
3 to give what is owed for <she had to balance her account with the video store before being allowed to rent more movies> — see PAY 2

balanced adjective
1 having full use of one's mind and control over one's actions <no balanced person would believe that their dog's bark was actually the voice of God> — see SANE
2 having the parts agreeably related <a balanced arrangement of the furniture made the room look more spacious> — see HARMONIOUS 2

balcony noun
a flat roofless structure attached to a building <on summer mornings I often have breakfast out on the balcony> — see SUNDECK

bald adjective
1 lacking a usual or natural covering <trees that are bald in the winter aren't the best for giving a home year-round privacy> — see NAKED 2
2 free from all additions or embellishment <try to avoid the bald statement “You're wrong!” when trying to reason with someone> — see PLAIN 1
3 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <her angry neighbor's bald threats made her want to call the police> — see CLEAR 2

balderdash noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <a combat veteran himself, he could not believe the balderdash he was hearing from whippersnappers with no war experience at all> — see NONSENSE 1

bald–faced adjective
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <I took the remark as a bald-faced accusation that I had cheated> — see CLEAR 2

baleful adjective
1 being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come <a dark, baleful sky portending a tornado> — see OMINOUS
2 causing or capable of causing harm <contends that the violent content of so much of popular entertainment is a baleful influence on our society> — see HARMFUL
3 likely to cause or capable of causing death <a medicine that is beneficial in small doses but baleful in large> — see DEADLY 1

balk noun
something that makes movement or progress difficult <the extravagant centerpiece proved to be a balk to the flow of conversation> — see ENCUMBRANCE

balk verb
to prevent from achieving a goal <a young man with big dreams who refused to be balked by the daily obstacles of his inner-city existence> — see FRUSTRATE 1

balk (at) verb
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <she balked at lending him any more money> — see DECLINE 1

balkiness noun
refusal to obey <the teen's unrelenting balkiness was truly frustrating> — see DISOBEDIENCE

balky adjective
given to resisting authority or another's control <a balky toddler who only seemed to know the word “no” when told to do something> — see DISOBEDIENT

1ball noun
1 a more or less round body or mass <the little rubber ball used in racquetball> <a ball of string>

Synonyms
globe, orb, sphere

Related Words
bead, globule; egg, ellipse, loop, oval, spheroid; circle, ring, rondure, round; chunk, clump, gob, hunk, lump, nugget, wad

Near Antonyms
block, cube, rectangle, square

2 a usually round or cone-shaped little piece of lead made to be fired from a firearm <found a cache of musket balls while excavating the old fort> — see BULLET

2ball noun
a social gathering for dancing <a ball to celebrate the inauguration> — see DANCE

ball verb
to form into a round compact mass <balled up the paper and threw it at the garbage can> — see WAD

ballad noun
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment <a haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness> — see SONG 1

ball game noun
1 an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <don't count me out yet, for I'm still in this ball game> — see CONTEST 1
2 position with regard to conditions and circumstances <with the new regulations in place, investors are facing a whole new ball game> — see SITUATION 1

ballistic adjective
feeling or showing anger <she went ballistic when she discovered her sister using her nail polish> — see ANGRY

balloon verb
1 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <the number of students who stay home sick balloons every winter> — see INCREASE 2
2 to extend outward beyond a usual point <the paper bag ballooned and blew away as the wind lifted it skyward> — see BULGE 1

ballot noun
1 a piece of paper indicating a person's preferences in an election <we collected all of the ballots from the students voting for class president>

Synonyms
vote

Related Words
aye (also ay), yea; nay, no, non placet; blackball; referendum; ticket; absentee ballot, Australian ballot, secret ballot, short ballot, write-in

2 the right to formally express one's position or will in an election <believes that even convicted felons should have the ballot> — see VOTE 1

ballpark adjective
not precisely correct <I suspect that the ballpark costs we were quoted for the kitchen renovation will turn out to be too low> — see INEXACT 1

ballyhoo noun
1 a state of noisy, confused activity <it turned out that the ballyhoo was the result of a movie being filmed on the street> — see COMMOTION
2 information released to the media that is designed to gain public attention or support for a person, business, or cause <the usual ballyhoo intended to fill the seats at megaplexes around the country> — see PUBLICITY

ballyhoo verb
1 to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively <that reviewer always ballyhoos any book by one of his pet authors> — see TOUT 1
2 to provide publicity for <the TV networks usually spend the summer months ballyhooing their new fall shows> — see PUBLICIZE 1

balm noun
a sweet or pleasant smell <the balm of the restaurant's backyard garden enhances the aura of romance> — see FRAGRANCE

balminess noun
lack of good sense or judgment <only sheer balminess would possess someone to invest in that loser of a stock> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

balmy adjective
1 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <a completely balmy but harmless old man who talked intently to plants and believed they answered back> — see INSANE 1
2 marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low <a balmy spring day> — see CLEMENT 1
3 not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect <a pleasant, balmy breeze was all that stirred the wildflowers growing near the shore> — see GENTLE 1
4 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <the balmy notion that the IRS wouldn't collect taxes on his lottery winnings> — see FOOLISH 1

baloney also boloney noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <just follow my orders, and stop the baloney> — see NONSENSE 1

balustrade noun
a protective barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and its supports <an ornately carved balustrade for the staircase> — see RAILING

bambino noun
1 a recently born person <a new mother cuddling a bambino in her lap> — see BABY 1
2 a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <bouncing a bambino on her knee> — see CHILD 1

bamboozle verb
1 to cause to believe what is untrue <bamboozled by con men into buying worthless land in the desert> — see DECEIVE
2 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <she's completely bamboozled by the latest changes in the tax code> — see CONFUSE 1

bamboozlement noun
a state of mental uncertainty <their bamboozlement is understandable, considering the lame instructions they got> — see CONFUSION 1

ban noun
1 a prayer that harm will come to someone <a father's ban upon his ungrateful son> — see CURSE 1
2 an order that something not be done or used <a quiet seaside resort with a ban on the drinking of alcohol in public places> — see PROHIBITION 2

ban verb
1 to order not to do or use or to be done or used <the company absolutely bans smoking within its buildings> — see FORBID
2 to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of <the university banned those caught in the cheating scandal from graduation ceremonies> — see EXCLUDE

banal adjective
1 lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character <the sort of banal woman who appeals to men not looking for intellectual stimulation> — see WISHY-WASHY 1
2 used or heard so often as to be dull <please find new ways of phrasing your thoughts instead of relying on banal expressions> — see STALE 1

banality noun
an idea or expression that has been used by many people <another sitcom based on the banality that men avoid committed relationships> — see COMMONPLACE

1band noun
1 a circular strip <a band of cloth tied around his wrist> — see 1RING 2
2 something that physically prevents free movement <the dog was forced to wear a band around its muzzle until it learned not to nip people> — see BOND 1
3 a line or long narrow section differing in color from the background <skunks have a band of white down their backs> — see 1STRIPE 1

2band noun
1 a usually large group of musicians playing together <that traveling band needs to find a new singer>

Synonyms
orchestra, philharmonic, symphony, symphony orchestra

Related Words
brass band, chamber orchestra, sinfonietta; brasses, strings, woodwinds; combo, ensemble, group; company, troupe; duo, octet, quartet (also quartette), quintet, septet, sextet, trio

2 a group of people working together on a task <a band of volunteer searchers found the lost child> — see GANG 1
3 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <a band of explorers> — see GROUP 2
4 a number of things considered as a unit <a band of songbirds> — see GROUP 1

band verb
1 to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt <banded the waist of the dress with a speckled belt> — see GIRD 1
2 to gather into a tight mass by means of a line or cord <banded the newspapers together for delivery> — see TIE 1
3 to make stripes on <banded the sleeves of the robe with strips of contrasting material> — see STRIPE

band (together) verb
1 to participate or assist in a joint effort to accomplish an end <we're banding together to oppose the construction of one of those big-box stores in our town> — see COOPERATE 1
2 to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members <small farmers banded together to oppose the interests of the agricultural giants> — see ALLY

bandage verb
to cover with a bandage <her mother always bandages her scraped knees very carefully>

Synonyms
bind, dress, swathe

Related Words
attend, care (for), doctor, medicate, minister (to), nurse, treat; cure, heal, mend, rehabilitate, remedy

Near Antonyms
unbandage

bandanna or bandana noun
a scarf worn on the head <she uses her colorful print bandanna to keep the hair out of her eyes>

Synonyms
babushka, do-rag, handkerchief, kerchief, madras, mantilla

Related Words
shawl; hankie (or hanky)

bandbox adjective
being clean and in good order <a small bandbox bed-and-breakfast decorated with taste and charm> — see NEAT 1

banded adjective
having stripes <the red, black, and yellow banded king snake is sometimes mistaken for the venomous coral snake> — see STRIPED

banderole or banderol noun
a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling <during the festival this ancient Italian city is bestrewn with banderoles celebrating its illustrious medieval heritage> — see FLAG 1

bandwagon noun
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal <tried to get everyone on the bandwagon about forming a neighborhood crime watch> — see CAMPAIGN

bandy verb
to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion <bandied around the idea of going out to dinner for their anniversary> — see DISCUSS

bane noun
1 a source of harm or misfortune <regarding the new laborsaving machinery as a bane, the 19th-century Luddites went about destroying it in protest>

Synonyms
affliction, curse, nemesis, scourge

Related Words
hex, hoodoo, jinx; danger, hazard, menace, peril, risk, threat, trouble; booby trap, catch, pitfall, snag

Near Antonyms
advantage, aid, assistance, gift, help, relief, support; comfort, consolation, solace; delight, joy, pleasure; armor, defense, guard, protection, safeguard, safety, security, shield

Antonyms
benefit, blessing, boon, felicity, godsend, good, manna, windfall

2 a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing <a plant that is believed to be the bane of the wolf> — see POISON

baneful adjective
causing or capable of causing harm <the incredibly baneful effect that drug dealing has on so many inner-city neighborhoods> — see HARMFUL

bang adverb
without delay <the reform movement was just beginning when it bang ran into opposition> — see IMMEDIATELY

bang noun
1 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <delivered a sharp bang that rattled the door> — see 1BLOW
2 a loud explosive sound <a sudden bang made the cat jump> — see CLAP 1
3 a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings <tried to get the most bang for her money at the attractions at the county fair> — see THRILL

bang verb
1 to come into usually forceful contact with something <the toy car banged into the wall and stopped> — see HIT 2
2 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <idly banged trees with a stick> — see HIT 1
3 to shove into a closed position with force and noise <stomped off to his room and banged the door> — see SLAM 1

bang away verb
to devote serious and sustained effort <the design team has been banging away at that project for months> — see LABOR

bang–bang adjective
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <the film lacks compelling characters, but it has plenty of bang-bang action> — see VIOLENT 1

banger noun, British
a rod-shaped portion of seasoned ground meat in a casing <bangers and mash is classic British pub cuisine> — see SAUSAGE

bangle noun
an ornament worn on a chain around the neck or wrist <wore a bracelet with small silver bangles on it> — see PENDANT 1

bang on adjective, chiefly British
being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard <a London theatre critic who can generally be relied upon for his bang on assessments of new plays in the West End> — see CORRECT 1

bang–up adjective
of the very best kind <you did a bang-up job on this sales report> — see EXCELLENT

banish verb
1 to force to leave a country <in the old days, criminals were sometimes banished to distant lands>

Synonyms
deport, displace, exile, expatriate, relegate, transport

Related Words
cast out, dismiss, eject, eliminate, evict, exclude, expel, expulse, kick out, oust, run out, throw out; excommunicate, ostracize, reject, repudiate, spurn; dispossess

Near Antonyms
naturalize, repatriate; accept, admit, receive, take in; entertain, harbor, house, shelter

2 to drive or force out <permanently banished the troublemakers from the youth recreational center> — see EJECT 1

banishment noun
the forced removal from a homeland <some members of the tribe of Native Americans believe they are still owed compensation for their banishment from their homeland> — see EXILE 1

banister also bannister noun
a protective barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and its supports <a much-needed new banister for the rickety staircase> — see RAILING

1bank noun
1 a number of things considered as a unit <a bank of telephones set up for the telethon> — see GROUP 1
2 a series of people or things arranged side by side <a bank of elevators> — see 1ROW 1

2bank noun
a pile or ridge of granular matter (as sand or snow) <a bank of dirt that the construction workers left behind>

Synonyms
bar, drift, mound

Related Words
snowbank, snowdrift; embankment, sandbar; heap, hill, mass, mountain, stack, tuft

bank verb
1 to form into a pile or ridge of earth <banked sand into little mounds on the beach> — see MOUND 1
2 to put in an account <she always banks half of her paycheck> — see DEPOSIT 1

banknote noun
a piece of printed paper used as money in the United States <the new nation immediately printed up its own banknotes> — see 1BILL 2

bankroll noun
available money <my total bankroll right now is $2,000> — see FUND 2

bankroll verb
to provide money for <several corporations bankrolled the Broadway musical> — see FINANCE 1

bankrupt adjective
utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected <she's a kind soul, but bankrupt of all common sense, I'm afraid> — see DEVOID 1

bankrupt verb
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts <several bad investments bankrupted him> — see RUIN 1

bankruptcy noun
the inability to pay one's debts <learned the hard way the costs of declaring bankruptcy> — see INSOLVENCY

banned adjective
that may not be permitted <at one time books, movies, and plays could use “banned in Boston” as a selling point> — see IMPERMISSIBLE

banner adjective
of the very best kind <it's been a banner year for the petroleum business> — see EXCELLENT

banner noun
1 a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling <the boat flew a bright red banner for the seaport's harbor festival> — see FLAG 1
2 an attention-getting word or phrase used to publicize something (as a campaign or product) <after the near accident, the nuclear power station is now operating under the banner of “safety first”> — see SLOGAN

banning noun
the act of ordering that something not be done or used <the banning of the use of foul language at town council meetings was long overdue> — see PROHIBITION 1

banquet noun
a large fancy meal often accompanied by ceremony or entertainment <prepared a celebratory banquet for the graduating class> — see FEAST 1

banquet verb
to entertain with a fancy meal <banqueted the returning troops at the military base> — see FEAST 1

bantam adjective
of a size that is less than average <a bantam comedian who is known to fellow performers for his oversize ego> — see SMALL 1

banter noun
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks <members of the Algonquin Round Table were known for their brilliant and witty banter>

Synonyms
backchat, badinage, chaff, give-and-take, jesting, joshing, persiflage, raillery, repartee

Related Words
barb, crack, dig, gag, gambit, jest, joke, laugh, pleasantry, quip, sally, waggery, wisecrack, witticism; drollness, facetiousness, funniness, hilariousness, humorousness, richness; fooling, kidding, mocking, razzing, ribbing, ridiculing; humor, wit, wordplay; nothings; chatter, chitchat, gossip, small talk

banter verb
to make jokes <the teacher bantered pleasantly, albeit a bit awkwardly, with the students at the school dance> — see JOKE 1

bantering adjective
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing <the gently bantering tone of the couple's conversation> — see QUIZZICAL

baptism noun
the process or an instance of being formally placed in an office or organization <the baptism of the new members of the college fraternity> — see INSTALLATION 1

baptize verb
1 to give a name to <baptized the child “Anne”> — see NAME 1
2 to put into an office or welcome into an organization with special ceremonies <the new sisters will be baptized with special initiation rites at the sorority house> — see INSTALL 1

bar noun
1 a straight piece (as of wood or metal) that is longer than it is wide <all of the prison's windows are partially covered with steel bars>

Synonyms
billet, rod

Related Words
arbor, beam, board, crossbar, crossbeam, girder; band, strip; bloom, ingot, slab, stick

2 a line or long narrow section differing in color from the background <the cat had a bar of white down her throat> — see 1STRIPE 1
3 a pile or ridge of granular matter (as sand or snow) <more than one boater has run aground on that treacherous bar of sand in the river> — see 2BANK
4 a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises <a bar that serves meals as well as drinks> — see BARROOM
5 an assembly of persons for the administration of justice <rather than try and convict the alleged murderer in the mass media, let justice be done at the bar> — see COURT 3
6 something that makes movement or progress difficult <the complication of the molecule is the biggest bar to reproducing it> — see ENCUMBRANCE
7 something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared <we need to raise the bar for what is acceptable behavior in this situation> — see STANDARD 1

bar preposition
not including <everyone in the company is invited, bar none> — see EXCEPT

bar verb
1 to make stripes on <barred the fence with white strips> — see STRIPE
2 to order not to do or use or to be done or used <corporal punishment has long been barred in most public schools> — see FORBID
3 to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of <gangs of rowdy teenagers have been barred from the mall> — see EXCLUDE
4 to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point <the bikeway was barred by a huge fallen tree> — see CLOSE OFF

barb noun
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <delivered one last barb to his ex-girlfriend as he stalked away> — see INSULT

barbarian adjective
not civilized <people who were regarded as barbarian by the ancient Romans> — see SAVAGE 1

barbarian noun
an uncivilized person <in those times European explorers tended to regard any people having a different language, culture, or religion as a race of barbarians> — see HEATHEN 2

barbaric adjective
1 having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <a barbaric dictator who tortured his own people with no qualms> — see CRUEL 1
2 not civilized <the barbaric forebears of modern mankind> — see SAVAGE 1

barbarity noun
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <more than one reluctant dental patient has been tempted to level the charge of barbarity against their dentist> — see CRUELTY

barbarous adjective
1 having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <the barbarous treatment of the native peoples of the New World by those bent on conquest at any cost> — see CRUEL 1
2 not civilized <an aunt who abhors barbarous behavior such as eating with your fingers> — see SAVAGE 1

barbarousness noun
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <the utter barbarousness of slavery outraged the abolitionists> — see CRUELTY

barbed adjective
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <barbed satire on American academia> — see SARCASTIC

barber noun
a person who cuts and arranges hair <went to the barber to get his hair cut and his beard trimmed> — see HAIRDRESSER

bard noun
a person who writes poetry <a bard best known for a series of love poems to his raven-haired beloved> — see POET

bardic adjective
having qualities suggestive of poetry <“Now the trumpet summons us again” is one of the many bardic phrases in President Kennedy's inaugural address> — see POETIC

bare adjective
1 being this and no more <impoverished people who can no longer afford the bare necessities> — see MERE
2 free from all additions or embellishment <do you want to know the bare truth?> — see PLAIN 1
3 lacking a usual or natural covering <the ground was bare, without a trace of grass> — see NAKED 2
4 lacking or shed of clothing <the toddler liked to run around bare> — see NAKED 1
5 lacking contents that could or should be present <the cupboard was bare—not a thing to eat> — see EMPTY 1
6 utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected <the cupboard was bare of baking supplies> — see DEVOID 1

bare verb
to make known (as information previously kept secret) <finally bared the secret that she had kept to herself for so long> — see REVEAL 1

barefaced adjective
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <a barefaced challenge for a fight> — see CLEAR 2

barely adverb
by a very small margin <we barely made it to the church on time> — see JUST 2

bareness noun
1 the quality or state of being empty <the stark bareness of the refrigerator suggested it was time to go shopping> — see VACANCY 2
2 the state of having no clothes on one's body <as she encountered more and more nude people at the resort, she became less conscious of her own bareness> — see NUDITY

barf verb
to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth <the movie's in-your-face violence made us want to barf> — see VOMIT

bargain noun
1 something bought or offered for sale at a desirable price <those shoes were a bargain because the store was going out of business>

Synonyms
buy, deal, pennyworth, snip [British], steal

Related Words
clearance, closeout, markdown; cheapie; bonus, freebie (or freebee), gift, giveaway, premium, present; boon, windfall

Near Antonyms
gouging, overcharge, rip-off, soaking; markup, surcharge; extravagance, luxury

2 an arrangement about action to be taken <made a bargain that one would help the other next week> — see AGREEMENT 2

bargain verb
1 to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase <they bargained with the car salesman for half an hour before settling on a price>

Synonyms
chaffer, deal, dicker, haggle, horse-trade, negotiate, palter

Related Words
argue, bicker, clash, fight, hassle, quarrel, quibble, squabble, wrangle; comparison shop, shop (around); barter, exchange, trade; hawk, peddle; buy, purchase

Phrases
cut a deal, wheel and deal

2 to come to an arrangement as to a course of action <I really hadn't bargained on buying a whole case of Girl Scout cookies, just a couple of boxes> — see AGREE 2
3 to bring about through discussion and compromise <bargained the price of the painting down to a figure that the artist could still live with> — see NEGOTIATE 1

bargain–basement adjective
1 costing little <throughout the trip we ate at bargain-basement restaurants in order to save money> — see CHEAP 1
2 of low quality <bargain-basement shoes that fell apart after a week> — see CHEAP 2

barge verb
to move heavily or clumsily <the big man barged into the room> — see LUMBER 1

1bark verb
to remove the natural covering of <barking a tree will probably kill it> — see PEEL

2bark verb
to speak sharply or irritably <the new supervisor found that speaking to people with a civil tongue got better results than barking at them> — see SNAP 1

bark noun
a boat equipped with one or more sails <took a small bark out on the lake> — see SAILBOAT

barmy adjective, chiefly British
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <a farm in Yorkshire that seemed to be run by a barmy old man> — see INSANE 1

barometer noun
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared <a legendary Broadway flop that has subsequently become the barometer by which failure in the theater is judged> — see STANDARD 1

baron noun
a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field <a media baron who owns newspapers, television and radio stations, and even several cable networks> — see MAGNATE

baronial adjective
large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <a baronial mansion with dozens of spacious, luxurious rooms> — see GRAND 1

barony noun
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <no longer is the city's social and cultural life the barony of a few old-line families> — see FIELD 2

baroque adjective
1 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <eventually even the movie seems bored by its baroque violence> — see EXCESSIVE
2 having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <a thriller with a baroque plot that is sure to baffle many readers> — see COMPLEX 1

barracuda noun
an aggressive and fiercely determined person <the governor-elect is too nice and easygoing, so he'll need a barracuda as his chief of staff> — see PIT BULL

barrage noun
a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <the teacher's rapid-fire barrage of homework assignments went by too fast for me to write them all down>

Synonyms
blitz, blitzkrieg, bombardment, cannonade, drumbeat, drumfire, flurry, fusillade, hail, salvo, shower, storm, volley

Related Words
broadside, earful; avalanche, burst, cataclysm, cataract, deluge, discharge, engulfment, flood, flood tide, flush, gush, inundation, outburst, outflow, outpouring, overflow, rash, spate, surge, torrent; current, river, stream, tide; excess, glut, overabundance, overage, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus

Near Antonyms
dribble, drip, trickle

barrage verb
to attack with a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <the star athlete was barraged with requests for an autograph> — see BOMBARD 2

barranca also barranco noun
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice <the intimidating barrancas that can be found in the Sierra Nevada> — see CLIFF

barred adjective
1 having stripes <a tabby is a barred cat, often with black stripes> — see STRIPED
2 that may not be permitted <smoking is barred inside the restaurant> — see IMPERMISSIBLE

barrel noun
1 a considerable amount <a visit to an amusement park should be a barrel of laughs> — see LOT 2
2 a metal container in the shape of a cylinder <a trash barrel> — see CAN 1
3 an enclosed wooden vessel for holding beverages <barrels of fine wine aging in the winery's cellar> — see CASK

barrel verb
to proceed or move quickly <faced with a firm deadline, we barreled through the project at a furious pace> — see HURRY 2

barren adjective
1 producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation <if tobacco fields aren't allowed to lie idle once every few years, they will become barren>

Synonyms
bony (also boney), dead, desolate, hardscrabble, impoverished, infertile, poor, stark, unfertile, unproductive, waste

Related Words
bleak, inhospitable, lifeless; uncultivable, untillable; bankrupted, consumed, debilitated, depleted, diminished, drained, dried-up, enfeebled, exhausted, expended, lessened, reduced, spent, used up; arid, desert, droughty, dry, rainless, sere (also sear), thirsty, waterless; baked, dehydrated, parched, sunbaked

Near Antonyms
arable, tillable; green, sylvan, verdant

Antonyms
fertile, fruitful, lush, luxuriant, productive, rich

2 not able to produce fruit or offspring <the pear tree appears to be barren> — see STERILE 1
3 producing no results <that line of investigation proved barren, so the police tried other avenues> — see FUTILE 1
4 utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected <their proposal for revitalizing the downtown business district is utterly barren of useful ideas> — see DEVOID 1

barren noun
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops <lived out in the barrens where it was impossible to grow anything> — see WASTELAND

barricade noun
a physical object that blocks the way <the police put up barricades to block off the parade route> — see BARRIER

barricade verb
to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point <the city barricaded the flooded streets> — see CLOSE OFF

barrier noun
a physical object that blocks the way <there was a big barrier plastered with signs saying “Keep Out” around the trash compactor>

Synonyms
barricade, fence, hedge, wall

Related Words
bar, pale, paling; block, chain, clog, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, encumbrance, handicap, hindrance, hurdle, impediment, inhibition, interference, let, obstacle, obstruction, roadblock, stop, stumbling block, trammel; fetter, hobble, manacle, shackle(s); constraint, curb, restraint, snag; buffer, bulwark, bumper, cushion, dam, fender, pad, rampart

Near Antonyms
door, doorway, entrance, entranceway, entry, entryway, gate, portal; break, gap, pass

barring noun
the act of ordering that something not be done or used <most of the restaurant's customers applauded the barring of the use of cell phones in the dining room> — see PROHIBITION 1

barring preposition
not including <we'll be there, barring rain or some other unexpected problem> — see EXCEPT

barroom noun
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises <her mother didn't like her even to walk past the barroom because she was worried that there might be drunk people inside>

Synonyms
bar, café (also cafe), cantina [Southwest], dramshop, gin mill, grogshop [chiefly British], pub, public house [chiefly British], saloon, taproom, tavern, watering hole, watering place

Related Words
alehouse, barrelhouse, bistro, bottle club, brewpub, cabaret, dive, joint, nightclub, roadhouse, speakeasy, sports bar, wineshop; package store

bar sinister noun
the state or fact of being born out of wedlock <back in the days when the bar sinister was a real obstacle to social acceptance> — see ILLEGITIMACY

barter noun
a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another <according to our barter agreement, I do all of the mechanical work on my neighbor's car, and he does all of my snow removal> — see EXCHANGE 1

basal adjective
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject <she clearly lacked even a basal familiarity with the topic> — see ELEMENTARY

base adjective
1 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <a base and sneaky act that is a clear violation of international law> — see IGNOBLE 2
2 showing, expressing, or offered in a spirit of humility or unseemly submissiveness <her base obedience to every unprincipled action ordered by her boss> — see ABJECT

base noun
1 an immaterial thing upon which something else rests <the firm belief that complete trust between husband and wife is the base of any successful marriage>

Synonyms
basis, bedrock, bottom, cornerstone, footing, foundation, ground, groundwork, keystone, root, underpinning, warp, warp and woof

Related Words
anchorage, bed, brace, bulwark, buttress, framework, infrastructure, mount, prop, shore, stay, substratum, substructure, support; assumption, justification, premise (also premiss), presumption, presupposition, rationale, supposition, theory, thesis, warrant; backbone, center, core, cornerstone, eye, focus, heart, hub, kernel, keystone, nucleus, seat; essence, quintessence, soul, touchstone

2 a place from which an advance (as for military operations) is made <the army's base of attack was kept top secret until the battle began>

Synonyms
bridgehead, foothold

Related Words
staging area, staging ground; beachhead, camp, center, emplacement, footing, front, headquarters, installation, station; airbase; bastion, fastness, fortress, stronghold; battlefront, field; toehold

3 a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <the base of the industry is California's Silicon Valley> — see CENTER 1
4 the lowest part, place, or point <the base of the mountain extends over a huge area> — see BOTTOM 3
5 the place from which a commander runs operations <the army base is three miles down the road> — see COMMAND 3

base verb
to find a basis <she based her argument against the death penalty on careful research>

Synonyms
ground, hang, predicate, rest

Related Words
establish, found; assume, postulate, premise, presume, presuppose, suppose

baseborn adjective
1 belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <in the Middle Ages, a baseborn person simply had to accept his or her station in life> — see IGNOBLE 1
2 born to a father and mother who are not married <a baseborn child who didn't even know his father's name> — see ILLEGITIMATE 1

baseless adjective
having no basis in reason or fact <baseless rumors that the baseball player was using steroids> — see GROUNDLESS

baseline noun
the point at which something begins <any year or event we use as the baseline for the Renaissance is going to be at least somewhat arbitrary> — see BEGINNING

basement noun
1 a room or set of rooms below the surface of the ground <we store our bicycles in the basement during the winter> — see CELLAR
2 the lowest part, place, or point <the basement of the outdoor fountain needs a lot of restoration work> — see BOTTOM 3

bash noun
1 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <he hasn't been the same ever since he received that bash on his head> — see 1BLOW
2 chiefly British an effort to do or accomplish something <while golf isn't my game, I had to give it a bash while at Saint Andrews in Scotland> — see ATTEMPT 1
3 a social gathering <I'm throwing a New Year's bash this year> — see PARTY 1

bash verb
1 to come into usually forceful contact with something <the car bashed into the tree with glass-shattering force> — see HIT 2
2 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <you have to bash that door hard in order to get it open> — see HIT 1
3 to strike repeatedly <the angry child kept bashing her toy with a hammer until it broke> — see BEAT 1
4 to criticize harshly and usually publicly <in all of talk radio no other host seems to enjoy bashing liberals as much as he does> — see ATTACK 2

bashful adjective
not comfortable around people <a bashful child who hid in his room whenever there were visitors in the house> — see SHY 2

basic adjective
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject <you'll need a basic knowledge of computers to get any sort of office work> — see ELEMENTARY

basically adverb
for the most part <your answer is basically correct> — see CHIEFLY

basics plural noun
general or basic truths on which other truths or theories can be based <if you don't learn the basics of algebra now, you'll never master calculus> — see PRINCIPLES 1

basis noun
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests <the sole basis for the rumor is someone's overactive imagination> — see BASE 1

bask verb
to refrain from labor or exertion <we blissfully basked at the seashore over the long holiday> — see REST 1

basketful noun
a considerable amount <the movie showed off a basketful of eye-popping special effects> — see LOT 2

bass adjective
having a low musical pitch or range <a man with an impressive bass voice> — see DEEP 2

bastard adjective
1 born to a father and mother who are not married <Alexander Hamilton appears to have been bothered by the fact that he was a bastard child> — see ILLEGITIMATE 1
2 falling short of a standard <a bastard knockoff of a far superior thriller> — see BAD 1

bastard noun
1 an illegitimate child <one of history's most illustrious bastards was England's first Norman king, William the Conqueror>

Synonyms
by-blow, love child, whoreson

Related Words
nephew, niece

2 an adult male human being <that lucky bastard has won the raffle three times in a row> — see MAN 1
3 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <that bastard's behavior was completely out of line> — see JERK 1

bastardize verb
to lower in character, dignity, or quality <bastardize the art form by adapting it to popular taste> — see DEBASE 1

bastardy noun
the state or fact of being born out of wedlock <acutely conscious of his bastardy, he always felt the need to prove himself> — see ILLEGITIMACY

baste verb
1 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <a tyrannical father who used the dinner hour to baste his children for their many perceived shortcomings> — see SCOLD
2 to strike repeatedly <basted the thief with a stick while he cried out for help> — see BEAT 1

bastille noun
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <were amazed by the squalid, cramped quarters in the town's historic bastille> — see JAIL

bastinado or bastinade noun
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <the guards savagely beat the prisoner's feet with a bastinado> — see CLUB 1

bastion noun
a structure or place from which one can resist attack <the rebel army retreated to its bastion in the mountains to regroup> — see FORT

bat noun
1 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <a sharp bat with a rolled-up newspaper and that fly was a goner> — see 1BLOW
2 a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <riot policemen armed with bats and tear gas> — see CLUB 1

bat verb
1 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <batted the lamp off the table with one strike> — see HIT 1
2 to strike repeatedly <batted the piñata until it finally broke open> — see BEAT 1
3 to move about from place to place aimlessly <on Sunday afternoons we'd pile into Father's car and bat around the countryside> — see WANDER 1

bat (around or back and forth) verb
to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion <the issue's been batted around, but nothing's ever been done> — see DISCUSS

batch noun
1 a number of things considered as a unit <a batch of essays to correct> — see GROUP 1
2 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <send in the next batch of applicants> — see GROUP 2

bath noun
1 a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms <after a night in that tropical heat I was practically drowning in a bath of sweat> — see FLOOD
2 a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <retired to the upstairs bath to freshen up> — see TOILET

bathe verb
1 to flow along or against <the cool waters of the North Atlantic bathe the island's shores> — see WASH 1
2 to make wet <bathe your contact lens with the solution before inserting them> — see WET
3 to supply with light <the walls of the canyon were bathed with the warm rays of the setting sun> — see ILLUMINATE 1

bathed adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <covered the victim's burns with bathed bandages> — see WET 1

bathos noun
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) <a novel that wallows in bathos> — see SENTIMENTALITY

bathroom noun
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <everyone should use the bathroom before we leave on the long trip> — see TOILET

baton noun
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <the detainee claimed that the police had beat him with their batons even after he had been shackled> — see CLUB 1

bats adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <by film's end it's obvious that faded movie star Norma Desmond is completely bats> — see INSANE 1

battalion noun
a large body of men and women organized for land warfare <the nation's battalions were forced to fight on two fronts simultaneously> — see ARMY 1

batter verb
1 to strike repeatedly <intruders battered the door until it fell down> — see BEAT 1
2 to use bombs or artillery against <planes battered the city for weeks> — see BOMBARD 1

battery noun
1 a number of things considered as a unit <a battery of tests to determine the cause of the medical disorder> — see GROUP 1
2 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <a battery of specialists worked on the problem until it was fixed> — see GROUP 2

battle noun
1 a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective <passing the driving test was an uphill battle, but she finally succeeded> — see STRUGGLE 1
2 a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <a battle between rival gangs left two people lying dead on the street> — see FIGHT 1
3 active fighting during the course of a war <soldiers who desperately wanted to forget the horrors that they had witnessed in battle> — see COMBAT 1
4 an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <the chess game was a real battle between two of the world's best players> — see CONTEST 1

battle verb
1 to engage in a contest <the two teams, which have long been archrivals, will battle on the court for the state championship> — see COMPETE
2 to enter into contest or conflict with <the two top-seeded tennis players battled each other for almost three hours> — see ENGAGE 2
3 to oppose (someone) in physical conflict <Andrew Jackson first gained fame as a military commander battling the Creek Indians during the War of 1812> — see FIGHT 1
4 to strive to reduce or eliminate <we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist> — see FIGHT 2

battle–ax or battle–axe noun
a bad-tempered scolding woman <at the office he's very much the take-charge executive; at home he meekly cowers before his battle-ax wife> — see SHREW

battlefield noun
a place where a battle takes place <wounded soldiers being carried off the battlefield>

Synonyms
battleground, field

Related Words
battle line, front, front line, ground; beachhead, bridgehead, foothold; killing field

Phrases
field of honor

battleground noun
a place where a battle takes place <the verdant hill suddenly turned into a bloody battleground> — see BATTLEFIELD

battle royal noun
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <the dysfunctional couple next door had another one of their battles royal last night> — see ARGUMENT 1

batty adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <a batty old lady who lives with 100 cats> — see INSANE 1

bauble noun
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest <picked up some cheap baubles at the fair> — see KNICKKNACK

bawd noun
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money <in the 17th century the port was a notorious hangout for Caribbean pirates and their bawds> — see PROSTITUTE

bawdiness noun
the quality or state of being obscene <the bawdiness of the song makes it inappropriate for children> — see OBSCENITY 1

bawdy adjective
1 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <a bawdy comment about someone you work with could get you fired> — see OBSCENE 1
2 hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent <a bawdy limerick that mischievous storytellers love to recite> — see SUGGESTIVE 1

bawdy house noun
a building in which prostitutes are available <a frontier mining town that had few diversions other than the local bawdy house> — see BORDELLO

bawl verb
1 to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress <he bawled for days after his dog died> — see CRY 1
2 to speak so as to be heard at a distance <the mover was bawling for help as the refrigerator was about to slip out of his hands> — see CALL 1

bawl out verb
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <got loudly bawled out by the coach for making mistake after stupid mistake> — see SCOLD

1bay noun
one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided <the garage has three separate bays for cars> — see COMPARTMENT

2bay noun
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline <the bay is a favorite cruising ground for weekend yachtsmen> — see GULF 1

3bay noun, usually bays plural
public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <he wrote for his own personal satisfaction, not for any bays that the literary establishment might deign to bestow> — see GLORY 1

bay verb
1 to speak so as to be heard at a distance <the mob was baying for revenge> — see CALL 1
2 to make a long loud mournful sound <the lonesome beagle bayed whenever someone walked by> — see HOWL 1

bayou noun
a stream that flows into a larger body of water <a small creek that is the bayou of a larger stream> — see TRIBUTARY

bay window noun
an enlarged or bulging abdomen <if his bay window gets any bigger, it's going to need its own draw curtains> — see POTBELLY

bazaar noun
an establishment where goods are sold to consumers <we wandered around the bazaar looking to buy gifts> — see SHOP 1

be verb
1 to have life <stories that begin with the familiar line “once upon a time there was a beautiful maiden”>

Synonyms
breathe, exist, live, subsist

Related Words
abide, continue, endure, hold on, hold up, keep (on), kick, last, lead, persist, rule, run on, survive; move; flourish, prosper, thrive

Near Antonyms
disappear, evaporate, vanish; cease, desist, discontinue, end, quit, stop; abate, die (down), ebb, let up, moderate, subside, wane

Antonyms
depart, die, expire, pass away, perish, succumb

2 to occupy a place or location <we'll be there waiting for you> — see STAND 1
3 to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes <our school's football team is first in its division> — see RANK 1
4 to take place <the party is next Saturday> — see HAPPEN

be (to) verb
to behave toward in a stated way <you need to be nice to your brother> — see TREAT 1

beach noun
the usually sandy or gravelly land bordering a body of water <she loves walking along the beach, looking for shells that the waves cast up>

Synonyms
beachfront, sand(s), strand

Related Words
seaboard, seacoast, seashore, seaside; coast, coastland, coastline, shore, shoreline; oceanfront, shorefront, waterfront; bank, riverbank, riverfront, riverside; esplanade; littoral; lido, plage

beached adjective
resting on the shore or bottom of a body of water <the beached whale had to be helped back out to sea> — see AGROUND

beachfront noun
the usually sandy or gravelly land bordering a body of water <the town's beachfront extends for more than a mile> — see BEACH

beacon noun
something that provides illumination <the floodlit skyscraper is one of the city's most beloved nighttime beacons> — see LIGHT 2

beacon verb
to supply with light <a lone lighthouse beacons the entrance to the island's only harbor> — see ILLUMINATE 1

bead noun
the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass <squeeze a bead or two of glue onto the seam> — see DROP 1

beak noun
1 the jaws of a bird together with their hornlike covering <the bird cracked the walnut shell with its beak and ate its nut>

Synonyms
bill, neb, nib

Related Words
mouth; muzzle; mandible, maw, maxilla

2 the part of the face bearing the nostrils and nasal cavity <the man's prominent beak gives him a somewhat aquiline appearance> — see NOSE 1
3 chiefly British a public official having authority to decide questions of law <received a stiff sentence from one of the harshest beaks in all of London> — see JUDGE 2

beam noun
a narrow sharply defined line of light radiating from an object <we'll need a flashlight that casts a broader beam in order to really see anything> — see SHAFT 1

beam verb
1 to emit rays of light <a lighthouse has beamed from this site since the 1790s> — see SHINE 1
2 to express an emotion (as amusement) by curving the lips upward <my father beamed when I showed him my new car> — see SMILE 1

beaming adjective
1 giving off or reflecting much light <the orchestra began its season of outdoor concerts under a beaming moon> — see BRIGHT 1
2 having or being an outward sign of good feelings (as of love, confidence, or happiness) <Mom's beaming face shone with love as we all gathered for a family photo> — see RADIANT 1

bean noun
1 the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth <he tried to duck, but the pitch still hit him squarely on the bean> — see HEAD 1
2 beans plural active strength of body or mind <nine-year-old twins who are full of beans> — see VIGOR 1
3 beans plural language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <I know something about gardening, and you're full of beans> — see NONSENSE 1
4 beans plural the smallest amount or part imaginable <had trouble finding a job because he didn't know beans about computers> — see JOT

beanery noun
a public establishment where meals are served to paying customers for consumption on the premises <that jerkwater town doesn't boast a single decent beanery> — see RESTAURANT

bear noun
1 a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work <the upcoming kitchen renovation sounds like a real bear> — see CHORE 2
2 an irritable and complaining person <you've been a real bear lately—are you having a bad week?> — see GROUCH 1

bear verb
1 to bring forth from the womb <luckily, she turned out to be able to bear children after all>

Synonyms
birth [chiefly dialect], deliver, drop, have, mother, produce

Related Words
labor; breed, multiply, propagate, reproduce, spawn; beget, father, generate, get, sire; calve, kid, kindle, kitten, litter, pup, whelp

Phrases
give birth to

Near Antonyms
abort, lose, miscarry

2 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <I can't bear the thought of losing another loved one>

Synonyms
abide, absorb, accept, bide [chiefly dialect], brook, countenance, endure, go, hack, handle, meet, pocket, stand, stick out, stomach, support, sustain, sweat out, take, tolerate, wear [British]

Related Words
allow, permit, suffer, swallow; reconcile (to); acquiesce, agree (with or to), assent (to), capitulate, consent (to), respect, submit (to), yield (to)

Phrases
live with, lump (it), stand for, tough (it) out

Near Antonyms
decline, dismiss, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn, turn down; combat, contest, fight, oppose, resist; avoid, bypass, circumvent, dodge, elude, escape, evade, miss; abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from)

3 to have a relation or connection <I just found another fact that bears on this issue> — see APPLY 1
4 to go on a specified course or in a certain direction <the road bears left after the second traffic light> — see HEAD 1
5 to hold up or serve as a foundation for <the wooden bridge will only bear one truck at a time> — see SUPPORT 3
6 to keep in one's mind or heart <I'm not one to bear grudges> — see HARBOR 1
7 to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way <she bore herself well in her first public speaking event> — see BEHAVE
8 to support and take from one place to another <the rescue team came bearing much-needed food and supplies> — see CARRY 1
9 to take to or upon oneself <I bear some responsibility for the mishap> — see ASSUME 1
10 to wear or have on one's person <the right to bear arms> — see CARRY 2
11 to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction <the path will bear north after that marked tree> — see RUN 3
12 to have as a requirement <the violence in that country bears watching if the world wants to avoid a serious international conflict> — see NEED 1
13 to have within <gold-bearing ore> — see CONTAIN 1
14 to occupy a place or location <a hot, humid air mass is now bearing just south of the Gulf Coast> — see STAND 1
15 to produce as revenue <an interest-bearing savings account> — see YIELD 2

bear (down on) verb
to push steadily against with some force <you need to bear down on that cap a bit to get it to latch tightly> — see 2PRESS 1

bearable adjective
capable of being endured <the pain from a sprained ankle is annoying but bearable>

Synonyms
endurable, sufferable, supportable, sustainable, tolerable

Related Words
livable (also liveable), survivable; acceptable, adequate, admissible, allowable, permissible, reasonable, satisfactory

Near Antonyms
agonizing, appalling, awful, bad, cruel, dire, dreadful, excruciating, frightful, ghastly, grisly, gruesome (also grewsome), harrowing, harsh, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nasty, nightmarish, painful, rotten, shocking, terrible, tormenting, torturous, unfortunate, vicious, vile, wretched; unacceptable; acute, extreme, intense, piercing; abhorrent, deplorable, disgusting, distasteful, loathsome, nauseating, obnoxious, offensive, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, sickening; abominable, evil, foul, heinous, noxious, odious, unspeakable

Antonyms
insufferable, insupportable, intolerable, unbearable, unendurable, unsupportable

beard verb
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage <a man of integrity who was never afraid to beard the lion in his den> — see FACE 2

bear–hug verb
to put one's arms around and press tightly <elated team members bear-hugging everyone in sight> — see EMBRACE 1

bearing noun
1 the fact or state of being pertinent <these new facts have some bearing on the case> — see PERTINENCE
2 the fact or state of having something in common <I don't see any bearing between the quality of this bottle of wine and its rather exorbitant price> — see CONNECTION 1
3 the way or manner in which one conducts oneself <always retained his military bearing, even after he entered politics> — see BEHAVIOR

bearish adjective
1 emphasizing or expecting the worst <some studio execs are bearish about this summer's box office> — see PESSIMISTIC 1
2 having or showing a habitually bad temper <a bearish recluse who ordered everyone to stay off his property> — see ILL-TEMPERED

bear out verb
to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of <the newly discovered papers bore out the rumors about the president's personal life> — see CONFIRM 1

bear up verb
to fill with courage or strength of purpose <repeatedly borne up in times of adversity by his faith> — see ENCOURAGE 1

beast noun
1 a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <she's a real beast to anyone who makes the mistake of crossing her> — see VILLAIN
2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <he always has to act like a beast whenever things don't go his way> — see JERK 1
3 one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings <a frigid night that was fit for neither man nor beast> — see ANIMAL
4 a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work <controlling the state's vast bureaucracy has always been a beast> — see CHORE 2

beastie noun
one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings <I've become used to sharing our cabin in the woods with all sorts of little beasties> — see ANIMAL

beastliness noun
the manifestation of the traits or the gratification of the appetites of a lower animal <a film depicting the sheer beastliness of life in a street gang> — see BESTIALITY

beastly adjective
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal <left to shift for himself on an isolated farm, he gradually sank into a beastly, purposeless existence> — see BESTIAL

beastly adverb
to a great degree <it's beastly hot today> — see VERY 1

beat adjective
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <can we pick this up tomorrow, because I'm beat?> — see WEARY 1

beat noun
1 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <delivered one hard beat on the drums> — see 1BLOW
2 a rhythmic expanding and contracting <a single beat of the heart is said to be all that separates the vice president from the presidency> — see PULSATION
3 the recurrent pattern formed by a series of sounds having a regular rise and fall in intensity <moved to the beat of the music> — see RHYTHM
4 a very small space of time <within a beat he was on the phone complaining about an error in his bill> — see INSTANT

beat verb
1 to strike repeatedly <they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine>

Synonyms
bash, baste, bat, batter, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, fib [British], flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste (or lambast), lash, lather, lick, maul, mess (up), paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, punch out, rough (up), slate, slog, switch, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, tromp, wallop, whale, whip, whop (or whap), whup, work over

Related Words
assail, assault, attack, beset, box, bust, chop, clobber, clout, crack, cudgel, cuff, descend (on or upon), hit, jump (on), knock, lam, lay on, paste, pounce (on or upon), punch, raid, rush, slam, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, storm, swat, swipe, thwack, whack, wham, whomp; blackjack, cane, cowhide, flagellate, fustigate, horsewhip, leather, pistol-whip, rawhide, scourge, strap; gore, lacerate, wound; maim, mangle, mutilate

Phrases
beat up on

2 to achieve a victory over <she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess>

Synonyms
best, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down [British], get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst

Related Words
sweep; edge (out), nose out, pip [British]; annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke [slang], snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax [slang], whip; cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed; knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish; ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, excel, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend

Phrases
get the better of, knock for a loop

Near Antonyms
fall, give up, go down, go under; collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out

Antonyms
lose (to)

3 to be greater, better, or stronger than <this new animated feature sure beats everything else that's ever been done in animation> — see SURPASS 1
4 to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner <the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute> — see PULSATE
5 to move or cause to move with a striking motion <the bird's wings beat strongly as it soared in the air> — see FLAP
6 to prevent from achieving a goal <you beat me to it> — see FRUSTRATE 1
7 to shape with a hammer <the medieval artisans who beat iron into exquisite swords> — see HAMMER 1
8 to shine with a bright harsh light <the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy> — see GLARE 1
9 to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically <beat the drum in a marching rhythm> — see 1TAP
10 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <it beats me how that slipup happened> — see CONFUSE 1
11 to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness <he spends all of his time trying to beat the system> — see CIRCUMVENT 1
12 to reduce to fine particles <years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust> — see POWDER
13 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <the screenwriter has filed a lawsuit, accusing the production company of beating him out of his share of the film's net profits> — see FLEECE

beaten adjective
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <felt beaten after three months of 90-hour workweeks> — see WEARY 1

beater noun
1 a dilapidated old automobile <he drives a beater that just barely runs>

Synonyms
clunker, crate, jalopy, junker

Related Words
flivver, hulk, wreck; lemon

2 one that defeats an enemy or opponent <no one likes to see the beater of our team in the play-offs> — see VICTOR 1

beating noun
1 a rhythmic expanding and contracting <he wears a pacemaker to help maintain a regular beating of his heart> — see PULSATION
2 failure to win a contest <took a beating and ended up in second place> — see DEFEAT 1

beatitude noun
a feeling or state of well-being and contentment <not from earthly riches but from the milk of human kindness comes true beatitude> — see HAPPINESS 1

beat off verb
to drive back <the defense managed to beat off those offensive players who were taking shots at the goalie> — see REPEL 1

beat–up adjective
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <drives the same beat-up truck he had in high school> — see SHABBY 1

beau noun
1 a male romantic companion <her new beau brought flowers when he picked her up for their first date> — see BOYFRIEND
2 a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance <in his youth he had been a flashy beau and a hit with all the ladies> — see DANDY 1

Beau Brummell noun
a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance <the Beau Brummells at the health club spend more time in front of the mirror than some supermodels> — see DANDY 1

beaucoup adjective, slang
being of a large but indefinite number <we were able to make beaucoup bucks working overtime at the power plant> — see MANY

beau ideal noun
1 someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation <she is the beau ideal of the beautiful but unassuming film actress> — see IDEAL 1
2 the most perfect type or example <Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous architectural creation, Falling Water, is widely regarded as the beau ideal of a building in harmony with its setting> — see QUINTESSENCE 1

beaut noun
something very good of its kind <that new bike of yours is a real beaut> — see JIM-DANDY

beauteous adjective
very pleasing to look at <a beauteous woman in a ball gown> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

beauteousness noun
the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses <the beauteousness of the starlit evening put the couple in a very romantic mood> — see BEAUTY 1

beautifier noun
something that decorates or beautifies <a flawless complexion like that doesn't need any beautifiers> — see DECORATION 1

beautiful adjective
1 very pleasing to look at <a strikingly beautiful child who is being eagerly pursued by all the modeling agencies>

Synonyms
aesthetic (also esthetic or aesthetical or esthetical), attractive, beauteous, bonny (also bonnie) [chiefly British], comely, cute, drop-dead, fair, fetching, good, good-looking, goodly, gorgeous, handsome, knockout, likely, lovely, lovesome, pretty, ravishing, seemly, sightly, stunning, taking, well-favored

Related Words
alluring, appealing, charming, cunning, delightful, engaging, fascinating, glamorous (also glamourous), prepossessing; elegant, exquisite, glorious, Junoesque, magnificent, resplendent, splendid, statuesque, sublime, superb; flawless, perfect, radiant; dainty, delicate; personable, pleasant, presentable; chocolate-box, prettyish; desirable, dishy, dollish, foxy, hot, luscious, nubile, pulchritudinous, seductive, sexy, tasty, toothsome, yummy; hunky, studly [slang]; arresting, eye-catching, flamboyant, flashy, glossy, showstopping, showy, slick, snazzy, splashy, striking, zingy; photogenic, telegenic

Near Antonyms
abhorrent, abominable, bad, disagreeable, disgusting, dreadful, foul, frightful, ghastly, horrible, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, objectionable, offensive, repellent (also repellant), repugnant, repulsive, revolting, shocking, sickening, terrible, vile; unappealing, unappetizing, unimposing, unpleasant, unprepossessing; frumpish, frumpy, unbecoming, unshapely; Gorgonian, haggish, witchy

Antonyms
grotesque, hideous, homely, ill-favored, plain, ugly, unaesthetic, unattractive, unbeautiful, uncomely, uncute, unhandsome, unlovely, unpleasing, unpretty, unsightly

2 of the very best kind <you've done a beautiful job of illustrating that children's story> — see EXCELLENT

beautifulness noun
the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses <she had a beautifulness of soul that made any consideration of her physical plainness irrelevant> — see BEAUTY 1

beautify verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <beautified the roadside landscape by planting flowers> — see DECORATE

beautifying adjective
serving to add beauty <added one last beautifying ornament to the wreath and hung it on the door> — see DECORATIVE

beauty noun
1 the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses <her beauty was enough to take your breath away>

Synonyms
aesthetics (also esthetics), attractiveness, beauteousness, beautifulness, comeliness, cuteness, fairness, gorgeousness, handsomeness, looks, loveliness, prettiness, sightliness

Related Words
allure, appeal, attraction, fascination, glamour (also glamor); charm, delightfulness, elegance, exquisiteness, gloriousness, radiance, radiancy, resplendence, resplendency, splendidness, splendiferousness, sublimeness, sublimity, superbness; desirability, desirableness, foxiness, lusciousness, nubility, pulchritude, seductiveness, sex appeal, sexiness, shapeliness, tastiness, toothsomeness, yumminess; flawlessness, perfection; daintiness, delicacy; flamboyance, flashiness, glossiness, showiness, slickness, splashiness

Near Antonyms
disagreeableness, dreadfulness, foulness, ghastliness, horribleness, loathsomeness, nastiness, offensiveness, repellency, repulsiveness, terribleness, vileness; blemish, flaw, imperfection

Antonyms
grotesqueness, hideousness, homeliness, plainness, ugliness, unattractiveness, unbecomingness, unloveliness, unsightliness

2 a lovely woman <she was quite a beauty in her younger days>

Synonyms
babe [slang], beauty queen, cookie (or cooky), cutie (or cutey), dolly bird [British], enchantress, eyeful, fox, goddess, honey, knockout, queen, stunner

Related Words
belle, charmer, peach; bathing beauty, cover girl, pinup girl; bimbette [slang], bunny, houri, sex kitten, sexpot, sex symbol; cutie-pie, dish, doll, dreamboat [slang], hottie, looker, pretty; coquette, femme fatale, siren, temptress, vamp

Near Antonyms
bag, dog, frump; crone, hag, horror, witch; gorgon, monster

3 something very good of its kind <that fish is a beauty> — see JIM-DANDY

beauty queen noun
a lovely woman <every loving husband considers his wife a beauty queen> — see BEAUTY 2

beaver (away) verb
to devote serious and sustained effort <he's been beavering away at his acceptance speech all afternoon> — see LABOR

becalm verb
to free from distress or disturbance <becalmed at last, she slept soundly for the first time in weeks> — see CALM 1

because conjunction
for the reason that <I simply can't go to work today because I don't feel well> — see SINCE

because of preposition
as the result of <I was late for work because of the snowstorm, which made driving a nightmare>

Synonyms
due to, owing to, through, with

Phrases
on account of

beck noun, British
a natural body of running water smaller than a river <when we were lads, we raced our toy boats in the narrow beck that bordered the lane> — see CREEK 1

beckon verb
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture <beckoned the bashful child to come closer> — see MOTION

becloud verb
1 to make (something) unclear to the understanding <don't becloud the discussion by raising unrelated issues> — see CONFUSE 2
2 to make dark, dim, or indistinct <the smog from the city's steel mills was once so oppressive that it beclouded the local landscape even at noon> — see CLOUD 1

beclouded adjective
1 covered over by clouds <a gloomy, beclouded sky that aptly matched our mood> — see OVERCAST
2 filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension <the water was so beclouded by mud that I couldn't see the bottom> — see HAZY 1

become verb
to eventually have as a state or quality <many people became sick with the flu> <with the arrival of autumn the days become crisper and breezier>

Synonyms
come, get, go, grow, run, turn, wax

Related Words
alter, change, metamorphose, modify, mutate, transfigure, transform, transmute

Near Antonyms
abide, be, continue, linger, remain, stay

becoming adjective
meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <that's a particularly becoming dress for the dance> — see FIT 1

bed noun
1 a place set aside for sleeping <the sofa in the living room will be your bed for the night>

Synonyms
bunk, doss [chiefly British], hay [slang], kip, lair [British dialect], pad, rack, sack

Related Words
bedstead, futon, mattress, pallet; bunk bed, cot, couch, daybed, feather bed, four-poster, hammock, Murphy bed, shakedown, sleigh bed, sofa, sofa bed, studio couch, trundle bed, water bed; bassinet, carry-cot [British], cradle, crib

2 the surface upon which a body of water lies <some prospectors supposedly found gold in the bed of that mountain stream> — see BOTTOM 2
3 a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself <I always brush my teeth and floss before going to bed> — see SLEEP 1

bed verb
1 to go to one's bed in order to sleep <the campers all bedded down for the night around 9:00 p.m.>

Synonyms
crash [slang], doss (down) [chiefly British], retire, turn in

Related Words
bunk, perch, roost, settle; doze, drop off, nap, nod, sleep, slumber, snooze; couch, lie (down), recline

Phrases
hit the hay (or sack)

Near Antonyms
arouse, awake, awaken, rouse, wake, waken; bestir, stir; reawake, reawaken; shift, stir

Antonyms
arise, get up, rise, uprise

2 to set solidly in or as if in surrounding matter <a walkway of flagstones firmly bedded in the earth> — see ENTRENCH

bedaub verb
to rub an oily or sticky substance over <the toddler delightedly bedaubed herself with her mother's makeup> — see SMEAR 1

bedazzle verb
1 to hold the attention of as if by a spell <don't let their promises of immense riches bedazzle you> — see ENTHRALL 1
2 to overpower with light <the theater's enormous chandelier bedazzled me as a child> — see DAZZLE

bedazzling adjective
giving off or reflecting much light <bedazzling Christmas decorations that added to the holiday cheer> — see BRIGHT 1

bedcover also bedcovering noun
a decorative cloth used as a top covering for a bed <antique bedcovers that should be handled with extreme care> — see COUNTERPANE

bedeck verb
1 to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <bedecked the house with hundreds of miniature lights for the party> — see DECORATE
2 to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <the ladies arrived bedecked in furs> — see CLOTHE 1

bedevil verb
to cause persistent suffering to <a lingering cold bedeviled me for over a month> — see AFFLICT

bedeviled adjective
suffering from mental confusion <some bedeviled motorists have complained that the road maps are more a hindrance than a help> — see DIZZY 2

bedevilment noun
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another <constant bedevilments from a pesty neighbor kept me from finishing my work> — see ANNOYANCE 1

bedew verb
to make or become slightly or moderately wet <her forehead gently bedewed with perspiration> — see MOISTEN

bedfellow noun
someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support <a child-welfare cause that has made bedfellows of activists who are normally on opposite ends of the political spectrum> — see ALLY

bedim verb
to make dark, dim, or indistinct <the view from the mountain's summit is often bedimmed by haze> — see CLOUD 1

bedizen verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <an elderly actress bedizening herself with makeup and jewelry> — see DECORATE

bedizened adjective
elaborately and often excessively decorated <a bedizened dress that looked more like a Christmas tree than an article of clothing> — see ORNATE 1

bedlam adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <bedlam ravings that suggest that the man is in need of some serious therapy> — see INSANE 1

bedlam noun
1 a place where insane people are cared for <French physician Philippe Pinel was instrumental in the transformation of bedlams from filthy hellholes to well-ordered, humane institutions> — see MADHOUSE 1
2 a place of uproar or confusion <there's no way I can get any reading done in this bedlam, so I'm going to the library> — see MADHOUSE 2

bedraggle verb
to make wet <I was so bedraggled by the relentless rain that I couldn't wait to get into some dry clothes> — see WET

bedraggled adjective
1 containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <the cat looked rather funny, all bedraggled and fit to be tied after her bath> — see WET 1
2 not clean <found flood victims in bedraggled clothes> — see DIRTY 1

bedrock noun
1 an immaterial thing upon which something else rests <my religious faith is the bedrock of my life> — see BASE 1
2 the lowest point or level <knew that his acting career was at bedrock when all he could get were bit parts in campy horror movies> — see NADIR 1

bedspread noun
a decorative cloth used as a top covering for a bed <a beautiful bedspread that is a reproduction of an 18th-century design> — see COUNTERPANE

bee noun
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action <she got a sudden bee to quit her job and move to South Carolina> — see WHIM

beef noun
1 an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <had to deal with an angry customer with a beef about our service> — see COMPLAINT 1
2 muscular strength <a heavyweight wrestler with a good deal of beef> — see MUSCLE 1

beef verb
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <he tends to stand around and beef for hours about any slight, real or imagined> — see COMPLAIN

beef (up) verb
1 to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force <beefed up the walls with iron bars> — see STRENGTHEN 1
2 to make markedly greater in measure or degree <will beef up security for the next few days while the president is in town> — see INTENSIFY

beefcake noun
a physically attractive man <an iconic beefcake of Hollywood in the 1940s, he always appeared shirtless in at least one scene> — see HUNK 1

beefy adjective
strongly and heavily built <a beefy man who worked in a warehouse all his life> — see 1HUSKY 1

Beelzebub noun
the supreme personification of evil often represented as the ruler of hell <Beelzebub himself could not change her mind> — see DEVIL 1

beer and skittles plural noun
a situation or state of carefree comfort <a job at a beach resort isn't all beer and skittles—it's still work>

Synonyms
easy street, fun and games, hog heaven, picnic

Related Words
primrose path; heaven, paradise, utopia; American dream, good life; ease, relaxation, rest

Phrases
bed of roses, the lap of luxury, life of Riley (also life of Reilly)

Near Antonyms
agony, hell, horror, misery, murder, nightmare, torment, torture

beer–bellied adjective
having a large protruding abdomen <at the reunion, former players of the championship baseball squad gathered for a group photo in all their gray-haired and beer-bellied glory> — see PAUNCHY

beer belly noun
an enlarged or bulging abdomen <a former jock whose most impressive physical asset these days is his bloated beer belly> — see POTBELLY

bee's knees plural noun
something very good of its kind <can't get enough of your apple pie—it's the bee's knees as my grandmother would say> — see JIM-DANDY

beetle verb
to extend outward beyond a usual point <houses in the town commonly have second stories that beetle over the ground floors, and the overhang is known as a “bump”> — see BULGE 1

befall verb
to take place <whatever befalls, we'll make the best of it and carry on> — see HAPPEN

befit verb
to be fitting or proper <spoke politely of the deceased, as befitted the occasion> — see DO 1

befitting adjective
1 following the established traditions of refined society and good taste <many voters feel that the womanizing governor has not acted in a befitting manner for someone who serves as the state's chief executive> — see PROPER 1
2 meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <a befitting reply to a civil question> — see FIT 1

befog verb
1 to make (something) unclear to the understanding <the professor's convoluted explanation only befogged the textbook's presentation of this scientific principle> — see CONFUSE 2
2 to make dark, dim, or indistinct <the morning murk befogged our view of the harbor> — see CLOUD 1
3 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <completely befogged by the sudden change of subject> — see CONFUSE 1

befogged adjective
1 filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension <the befogged air of the construction site was so clogged with dust that I starting coughing> — see HAZY 1
2 suffering from mental confusion <became hopelessly befogged after trying to understand the instructions for the latest handheld device> — see DIZZY 2

before adverb
so as to precede something in order of time <their arrival was completely expected because a messenger had gone before> — see AHEAD 1

before preposition
1 earlier than <since I'm a faster runner, I got there before him>

Synonyms
afore [chiefly dialect], ahead of, ere, fore (also 'fore) [chiefly dialect], of, previous to, prior to, to

Related Words
till, until, up to

Phrases
in advance of

Near Antonyms
next, next to, since

Antonyms
after, following

2 preceding in space <the children always insisted on running before their parents>

Synonyms
afore [chiefly dialect], ahead of, fore (also 'fore) [chiefly dialect]

Related Words
against

Phrases
in advance of, in front of

Antonyms
after, following

beforehand adverb
1 before the usual or expected time <if you arrive beforehand, we won't be entirely prepared yet> — see EARLY
2 so as to precede something in order of time <if you get ready beforehand, you won't have to rush at the last minute> — see AHEAD 1

before long adverb
at or within a short time <the painters ought to be done before long> — see SHORTLY 2

befoul verb
1 to make dirty <unsightly mud and slush befouls the family car every winter> — see DIRTY
2 to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable <the enemy had befouled the water in all of the area's wells with animal carcasses> — see CONTAMINATE

befouled adjective
not clean <given the task of cleaning the animals' befouled pens> — see DIRTY 1

befuddle verb
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <most of the applicants were befuddled by the wording of one of the questions on the driving test> — see CONFUSE 1

befuddled adjective
suffering from mental confusion <the perennially befuddled professor was always forgetting where she'd left her glasses> — see DIZZY 2

befuddlement noun
a state of mental uncertainty <the library patron was in obvious befuddlement over where to find the appropriate references> — see CONFUSION 1

beg verb
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner <she begged her husband to give up extreme skiing>

Synonyms
appeal (to), beseech, besiege, conjure, entreat, impetrate, implore, importune, petition, plead (to), pray, solicit, supplicate

Related Words
bludge [chiefly Australian & New Zealand], cadge, mooch, sponge; ask, desire, invoke, request, sue; claim, coerce, command, compel, demand, force, insist, require

Phrases
call on (or upon)

Near Antonyms
hint, imply, intimate, suggest; appease, conciliate, gratify, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, please, satisfy; comfort, console, content, quiet

beget verb
1 to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <one change in the natural environment will beget others> — see EFFECT
2 to become the father of <the racehorse begot several Kentucky Derby winners> — see FATHER

begetter noun
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor <Michael Faraday is widely hailed as one of the begetters of electromagnetism, the field of study that sparked a technological revolution> — see FATHER 2

beggar noun
a person who lives by public begging <the pitiful beggars that are such a common sight in underdeveloped countries>

Synonyms
mendicant, panhandler

Related Words
bohemian, bum, clochard, drifter, hobo, tramp, vagabond, vagrant; guttersnipe, urchin, waif; miserable, pauper; bludger [chiefly Australian & New Zealand], cadger, hanger-on, leech, moocher, parasite, schnorrer, sponge, sponger; dependent; deadbeat, derelict, idler, ne'er-do-well

beggared adjective
lacking money or material possessions <the family was completely beggared after the stock market crash> — see POOR 1

beggarly adjective
lacking money or material possessions <the dictator and his inner circle lived in unconscionable luxury while the beggarly masses eked out a pitiful existence> — see POOR 1

beggary noun
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <too many people are homeless and living in shameful beggary in this country> — see POVERTY 1

begin verb
1 to take the first step in (a process or course of action) <she began walking to work for exercise>

Synonyms
commence, embark (on or upon), enter (into or upon), fall (to), get off, kick off, launch, lead off, open, start, strike (into)

Related Words
create, generate, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, invent, originate; adopt, embrace, take on, take up; establish, father, found, institute, organize, pioneer, set up, spawn; get around (to), get down (to), get round (to)

Phrases
get going, get to, set about

Near Antonyms
cease, desist, discontinue, halt, knock off, lay off, quit, stop; close, complete; abandon, forsake, leave; abolish, demolish, destroy, exterminate, extinguish, phase out

Antonyms
conclude, end, finish, terminate

2 to come into existence <the storm began late in the day and lasted all night>

Synonyms
actualize, appear, arise, break, commence, dawn, engender, form, materialize, originate, set in, spring, start

Related Words
be, breathe, exist, live, subsist; arrive, come on, emerge; coalesce, cohere, shape (up); continue, endure, last, persist, survive

Near Antonyms
conclude, desist, discontinue, finish, halt, quit, terminate; disappear, dissolve, evaporate, vanish; depart, die, expire, pass away, perish

Antonyms
cease, end, stop

3 to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of <the religious sect was begun by a small breakaway faction> — see FOUND

beginner noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <although our son is only a beginner at swimming, he is making excellent progress>

Synonyms
abecedarian, apprentice, babe, colt, cub, fledgling, freshman, greenhorn, neophyte, newbie, newcomer, novice, novitiate, punk, recruit, rook, rookie, tenderfoot, tyro, virgin

Related Words
boot; amateur, dabbler, dilettante; learner, student, trainee; candidate, entrant, probationer

Near Antonyms
expert, master, pro, professional

Antonyms
old hand, old-timer, vet, veteran

beginning adjective
1 coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows <the beginning part of the book is a portrait of Europe on the eve of the World War I> — see PRELIMINARY
2 of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject <a course in beginning geology for nonscience majors> — see ELEMENTARY

beginning noun
the point at which something begins <the actual beginning of the universe is still under debate, with some scientists continuing to uphold the big bang theory>

Synonyms
alpha, baseline, birth, commencement, dawn, day one, genesis, get-go (also git-go), inception, incipience, incipiency, kickoff, launch, morning, nascence, nascency, onset, outset, start, threshold

Related Words
drawing board, first base, ground zero, square one; creation, founding, inauguration, initiation, institution, origination; cradle, fountain, fountainhead, germ, origin, root, seedbed, source, spring, well, wellspring; dawning, opening; advent, appearance, arrival, debut (also début), emergence; childhood, infancy, youth

Near Antonyms
cessation, closing, closure, completion, finale, finish, period, stop, termination, windup

Antonyms
close, conclusion, end, ending, omega

begird verb
to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt <a white granite boulder begirt with a band of dark gray> — see GIRD 1

begone verb
to leave a place often for another <in his frustration the beleaguered actor cried out to the autograph seekers, “Begone and let me finish my meal in peace!”> — see GO 2

begrime verb
to make dirty <years of spattered mud had thoroughly begrimed the mailbox by the side of the road> — see DIRTY

begrimed adjective
not clean <begrimed miners emerging from the coal mines> — see DIRTY 1

begrudge verb
to have a resentful awareness of and desire for (another's possessions or advantages) or to feel resentment toward (someone) over possessions or advantages <I don't begrudge you your success—you earned it> — see ENVY

beguile verb
1 to attract or delight as if by magic <the magician effortlessly beguiled and amazed the children> — see CHARM 1
2 to cause to believe what is untrue <beguiled her into believing that yet another worthless item would enhance her life> — see DECEIVE
3 to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage <was beguiled by the promise of easy money as a drug dealer> — see LURE

beguiling adjective
1 clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <a smart and beguiling child who can manipulate her parents with alarming ease> — see ARTFUL 1
2 tending or having power to deceive <the beguiling allure of a life of crime> — see DECEPTIVE 1

behave verb
to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way <if the children behave themselves properly and sit quietly during church, they'll get their ice cream afterward>

Synonyms
acquit, bear, carry, comport, conduct, demean, deport, quit

Related Words
check, collect, compose, constrain, contain, control, curb, handle, inhibit, quiet, repress, restrain; moderate, modulate, temper; act, impersonate, play

Near Antonyms
act up, carry on, cut up, misbehave, misconduct

behavior noun
the way or manner in which one conducts oneself <usually the enfant terrible, he's promising to be on his best behavior for the party>

Synonyms
actions, address, bearing, comportment, conduct, demeanor, deportment, geste (also gest) [archaic]

Related Words
etiquette, form, manners, mores, proprieties; p's and q's; amenity, civility, courtesy, decorum, politeness; air, attitude, carriage, poise, pose, posture, presence; aspect, look, mien; formality, protocol, rules; custom, habit, habitude, pattern, practice (also practise), trick, wont; convention, fashion, form, mode, style; affectation, attribute, characteristic, mark, trait; distinctiveness, oddity, peculiarity, singularity, strangeness, uniqueness, weirdness

behead verb
to cut off the head of <Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded for plotting against Queen Elizabeth> — see DECAPITATE

behemoth noun
something that is unusually large and powerful <the newest SUV is a gas-guzzling behemoth that doesn't even fit in a standard parking space> — see GIANT

behest noun
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <I only made the change at the author's behest> — see COMMAND 1

behind adjective
not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time <the required work was behind, so now we're running late> — see LATE 1

behind noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <cleaned the baby's behind> — see BUTTOCKS

behind preposition
1 at, to, or toward the rear of <she preferred to be behind the lead hikers, who were always too much in a rush to enjoy the scenery>

Synonyms
abaft, back of

Phrases
in back of

Near Antonyms
ahead of

Antonyms
before

2 subsequent to in time or order <we arrived behind them> — see AFTER

behindhand adjective
not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time <the response was behindhand, just like everything else the company did> — see LATE 1

behind–the–scenes adjective
1 not known or meant to be known by the general populace <a tell-all book about the behind-the-scenes negotiations that got him the vice presidential nomination> — see PRIVATE 1
2 undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <behind-the-scenes negotiations that resulted in the hostages being released unharmed> — see SECRET 1

behold verb
1 to have a clear idea of <to anyone who beholds the immense complexity of life on earth> — see COMPREHEND 1
2 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <I opened the window blinds and beheld snow everywhere> — see SEE 1

beholden adjective
being under obligation for a favor or gift <not wanting to be beholden to anyone, he insisted on paying his own way>

Synonyms
bounden [archaic], indebted, obligated, obliged

Related Words
appreciative, grateful, thankful

beige adjective
lacking in distinctive features or qualities <some food critics have dismissed that chef's version of French cuisine as beige and boring> — see NONDESCRIPT

being noun
1 a member of the human race <no one has the right to enslave another being> — see HUMAN
2 one that has a real and independent existence <new parents are typically in awe at having created this separate being> — see ENTITY
3 the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is <music is such a large part of her being that she could never give up performing> — see ESSENCE 1

being (as or as how or that) conjunction, chiefly dialect
for the reason that <being as how I paid for lunch, I'd appreciate it if you picked up the tab for dinner> — see SINCE

belabor verb
1 to speak or write about insistently and usually tiresomely <stop belaboring the fact that they're already in debt>

Synonyms
dwell (on or upon), harp (on)

Related Words
accent, accentuate, emphasize, pay (up), point (up), stress, underline, underscore

Antonyms
disregard, forget, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, slur (over)

2 to criticize harshly and usually publicly <there's no need to belabor other people's flaws when you're hardly perfect yourself> — see ATTACK 2
3 to strike repeatedly <with a whip he belabored a horse almost to the point of death> — see BEAT 1

belated adjective
not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time <a belated birthday card> — see LATE 1

belatedly adverb
after the due, usual, or proper time <she belatedly realized that it had been her friend's birthday the day before> — see LATE 1

belatedness noun
the quality or state of being late <the belatedness of the payment resulted in us being charged overdue fees> — see LATENESS

belaud verb
to praise too much <critically belauded in his heyday, that early 20th-century novelist is now largely forgotten> — see FLATTER 1

belch noun
an expulsion of stomach gas through the mouth <with a loud belch he concluded his pig-out and rose at last from the table>

Synonyms
burp, eructation

Related Words
hiccup (also hiccough)

belch verb
to violently throw out or off (something from within) <the volcano belched lava and ash for days> — see ERUPT 1

beldam or beldame noun
a mean or ugly old woman <knocking on the beldam's door on Halloween was once an annual ritual for the kids in the neighborhood> — see CRONE

beleaguer verb
to surround (as a fortified place) with armed forces for the purpose of capturing or preventing commerce and communication <beleaguered the castle for months> — see BESIEGE 1

beleaguerment noun
the cutting off of an area by military means to stop the flow of people or supplies <the devastating beleaguerment of Leningrad that lasted from September 1941 to January 1944> — see BLOCKADE

belie verb
1 to give a misleading impression of <his bright smile belied his actual mood, which was really one of great sadness>

Synonyms
misrepresent

Related Words
contradict; camouflage, cloak, conceal, counterfeit, disguise, hide, mask, obscure; color, deceive, distort, falsify, garble, mislead, misrender, misreport, twist; dissemble, feign, pretend

Near Antonyms
bare, demonstrate, disclose, discover, evince, exhibit, expose, reveal; flaunt, parade, show off

Antonyms
betray, represent

2 to prove to be false <the latest information belies the old theory> — see DISPROVE
3 to keep secret or shut off from view <the security council issued false assurances that belied the true gravity of the situation> — see 1HIDE 2

belief noun
1 mental conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon <a belief in UFO's led him to relentlessly scan the nighttime skies>

Synonyms
credence, credit, faith

Related Words
axiom, law, precept, principle, tenet; assurance, certainty, certitude, conviction, positiveness, sureness; confidence, dependence (also dependance), reliance, trust; hope; doctrine, dogma, philosophy; dogmatism, fanaticism, insistence

Phrases
article of faith

Near Antonyms
distrust, mistrust, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty

Antonyms
disbelief, discredit, doubt, nonbelief, unbelief

2 an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge <it's my belief that the sky is blue because our eyes perceive the color blue easily> — see OPINION 1

believable adjective
worthy of being accepted as true or reasonable <she had a believable excuse for missing the deadline>

Synonyms
credible, creditable, likely, plausible, presumptive, probable

Related Words
cogent, compelling, conclusive, convincing, decisive, effective, forceful, persuasive, satisfying, strong, telling; acceptable, cogitable, conceivable, imaginable, possible, practical, reasonable; dependable, reliable, trustworthy; sophistic (or sophistical), specious

Near Antonyms
absurd, doubtful, dubious, fantastic (also fantastical), flimsy, outlandish, preposterous, questionable, ridiculous; impossible, inconceivable, unimaginable, unthinkable; skeptical, suspect, suspicious, uncertain, unsure; hopeless, unworkable, useless

Antonyms
far-fetched, implausible, improbable, incredible, unbelievable, unlikely, unplausible

believe verb
1 to regard as right or true <only the most naive car buyer would have believed the salesman's claim that the dealership was actually losing money on the deal>

Synonyms
accept, buy, credit, swallow, take, trust

Related Words
account, accredit, understand; assume, presume, suppose; conclude, deduce, infer

Phrases
set store by (or on)

Near Antonyms
distrust, doubt, misdoubt, mistrust, question, suspect; challenge, dispute

Antonyms
disbelieve, discredit, reject

2 to have as an opinion <despite the horrors she witnessed and endured, Anne Frank steadfastly believed that “people are really good at heart”>

Synonyms
allow [chiefly Southern & Midland], conceive, consider, deem, esteem, feel, figure, guess, hold, imagine, judge, reckon [chiefly dialect], suppose, think

Related Words
regard, view; accept, perceive; depend, rely, trust; assume, presume, presuppose, surmise; conclude, deduce, infer

Near Antonyms
distrust, doubt, mistrust, question, suspect; disbelieve, discredit, reject

believer noun
one who professes a religious faith <for believers, it was sufficient proof that a miracle had occurred>

Synonyms
religionist

Related Words
fundamentalist; cultist, pietist, zealot; deist, monotheist, polytheist, theist; churchgoer, communicant, congregant

belittle verb
to express scornfully one's low opinion of <belittled the movie hunk's acting ability> — see DECRY 1

belittlement noun
the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant <an unconscionable belittlement of his spouse in public> — see DEPRECIATION

belittling adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <there's no need for belittling comments about your brother's trumpet playing> — see DEROGATORY

belle epoque or belle époque noun
a period of high artistic or cultural development <that 19th-century belle epoque when Paris seemed to be the artistic center of the universe>

Synonyms
golden age, renaissance

Related Words
silver age; millennium; bloom, blossom, flower, flush, glory, heyday, prime, salad days; acme, apex, climax, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith

Antonyms
dark age

bellicose adjective
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <bellicose hockey players who always seem to spend more time fighting than playing> — see BELLIGERENT

bellicosity noun
an inclination to fight or quarrel <the notorious bellicosity of the countries on the Balkan Peninsula over the centuries> — see BELLIGERENCE

belligerence noun
an inclination to fight or quarrel <among the Native American tribes of the colonial period, the Iroquois were known for their belligerence>

Synonyms
aggression, aggressiveness, assaultiveness, bellicosity, belligerency, combativeness, contentiousness, defiance, disputatiousness, feistiness, fight, militance, militancy, militantness, pugnacity, quarrelsomeness, scrappiness, truculence

Related Words
antagonism, fierceness, hostility, hyperaggressiveness, unfriendliness; imperialism, jingoism, militarism; acidity, biliousness, captiousness, crabbiness, crankiness, crossness, disagreeableness, fractiousness, fretfulness, grouchiness, grumpiness, huffiness, irascibility, irascibleness, irritability, irritableness, orneriness, peevishness, pettishness, petulance, querulousness, rudeness, surliness, testiness, waspishness

Phrases
chip on one's shoulder

Near Antonyms
antiaggression, anti-imperialism, antimilitarism; affability, amiability, amicability, benevolence, cordiality, friendliness, geniality, graciousness, pleasantness, sociability; gentleness, kindliness, mildness; amenability, complaisance, placability

Antonyms
nonaggression, pacifism

belligerency noun
an inclination to fight or quarrel <an inveterate belligerency that needs to be addressed by classes in anger management> — see BELLIGERENCY

belligerent adjective
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <the coach became quite belligerent and spit at an umpire after being thrown out of the game>

Synonyms
aggressive, agonistic, argumentative, assaultive, bellicose, brawly, chippy, combative, confrontational, contentious, discordant, disputatious, feisty, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, warlike

Related Words
antagonistic, fierce, hostile, hot-tempered; acidic, bearish, bilious, bristly, choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, disagreeable, dyspeptic, fractious, fretful, grouchy, grumpy, huffy, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, irascible, irritable, ornery, peevish, pettish, petulant, prickly, querulous, rude, snappish, snappy, stroppy [British], surly, testy, touchy, ugly, waspish; savage, vicious; battling, fighting, warring

Phrases
on the warpath

Near Antonyms
anti-imperialist, antimilitarist, unwarlike; affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, complaisant, conciliatory, cordial, easygoing, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, ingratiating, kindhearted, obliging, pleasant, sociable; calm, quiet, relaxed, serene, tranquil; benign, gentle, kindly, mild

Antonyms
nonaggressive, nonbelligerent, pacific, peaceable, peaceful, unbelligerent, uncombative, uncontentious

bellow verb
1 to make a long loud deep noise or cry <the cow bellowed for her calf> — see ROAR 1
2 to speak so as to be heard at a distance <down in the servants' quarters the housekeeper was bellowing at one of the parlor maids> — see CALL 1

bellwether noun
one that takes the lead or sets an example <the state has a long history of being an early and reliable bellwether in presidential elections>

Synonyms
leader, pacemaker, pacer, pacesetter, trendsetter

Related Words
foregoer, forerunner, harbinger, herald, precursor; groundbreaker, innovator, pioneer

Near Antonyms
Johnny-come-lately, me-tooer

Antonyms
follower, imitator

belly noun
1 a need or desire for food <his one concern in life seemed to be for his belly> — see HUNGER 1
2 an enlarged or bulging abdomen <vowed to get rid of his belly in time to attend his class reunion> — see POTBELLY
3 the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis <a baby with a round little belly> — see STOMACH 1
4 the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions <in my belly I knew that he wasn't telling the truth, as the details of his story just didn't add up> — see CORE 1

belly verb
1 to extend outward beyond a usual point <the sails slowly bellied as the wind picked up> — see BULGE 1
2 to move slowly with the body close to the ground <recruits were forced to belly over the obstacle course under simulated enemy fire> — see CRAWL 1

bellyache noun
abdominal pain especially when focused in the digestive organs <eating too many apples will give you a bellyache> — see STOMACHACHE

bellyache verb
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <tired of the kids bellyaching every time they're asked to mow the lawn or take out the trash> — see COMPLAIN

bellyacher noun
1 a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things <one of the biggest bellyachers about the lousy coffee at work> — see CRYBABY
2 an irritable and complaining person <there's always at least one bellyacher who doesn't like the food on the cruise ship> — see GROUCH 1

bellyful noun
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <a bellyful of complaints about the new security procedures> — see EXCESS 1

belly laugh noun
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <humorous anecdotes that are likely to evoke lots of smiles but few belly laughs> — see LAUGH 1

belly up verb
to come near or nearer <belly up to the buffet table and help yourselves> — see APPROACH 1

belong verb
1 to have or be in a usual or proper place <your shoes belong in the closet, not in the middle of the living room where people will trip on them>

Synonyms
go

Related Words
place, stay; fit (in)

2 to be the property of a person or group of persons <those textbooks belong to the school system and not to the students>

Synonyms
appertain, pertain

Related Words
have, hold, own, possess

belonging noun
1 the state of being in a very personal or private relationship <her adoptive family gave the young girl a sense of belonging that she had never felt before> — see FAMILIARITY 1
2 belongings plural transportable items that one owns <packed up all their belongings and moved across the country> — see POSSESSION 2

beloved adjective
granted special treatment or attention <her beloved cat sleeps in its own little bed> — see DARLING 1

beloved noun
a person with whom one is in love <searching for some incredibly romantic spot in which to ask his beloved to marry him> — see SWEETHEART 1

below adverb
1 in or to a lower place <the skipper climbed below to fix the engine>

Synonyms
beneath, under, underneath

Related Words
beside, near, nearby

Near Antonyms
aloft, overhead

Antonyms
up

2 toward or in a lower position <when rock climbing I just know that if I look below, I'll become paralyzed with fear> — see DOWN 1

below preposition
1 in a lower position than <for the photo she sat below everyone else, on the floor actually>

Synonyms
beneath, neath [dialect], under

Related Words
underneath

Antonyms
above, over

2 subsequent to in time or order <that ranks a little below a root canal on my list of things I'd want to experience> — see AFTER

belowground adjective
being, situated, or operating beneath the surface of the earth <a vast belowground network of tunnels>

Synonyms
subsurface, subterranean, underground

Antonyms
aboveground, surface

1belt noun
1 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <delivered a shattering belt to the rock with a hammer> — see 1BLOW
2 the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time <he knocked back a belt of whiskey before leaving> — see DRINK 2

2belt noun
1 a strip of flexible material (as leather) worn around the waist <a drugstore cowboy who loves his fancily decorated belt>

Synonyms
ceinture, cincture, cummerbund (also cumberbund), girdle, sash, self-belt

Related Words
band, waistband; circle, loop, ribbon, ring; baldric, bandolier (or bandoleer), Sam Browne belt; cestus, obi

2 a broad geographical area <that part of the country is sometimes called “the farm belt” because of the number of farms there> — see REGION 2

belt verb
1 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <belted the baseball out of the park> — see HIT 1
2 to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt <belted the little boy's pants tightly so they would stay up> — see GIRD 1
3 to strike repeatedly <belted the punching bag relentlessly> — see BEAT 1
4 to proceed or move quickly <the boy went belting along on his skateboard> — see HURRY 2

belt (down) verb
to swallow in liquid form <I belted down a can of soda and rushed back out to the game> — see DRINK 1

belt up verb, British
to stop talking <the schoolboy ordered his mates to belt up about the prank> — see SHUT UP 1

belvedere noun
a freestanding airy structure in a scenic setting (as a park) typically offering commanding views <a Greek revival belvedere stands majestically on a grassy knoll overlooking the river>

Synonyms
alcove, casino, gazebo, kiosk, pavilion, summerhouse

Related Words
trellis

bemire verb
to make dirty <I was not thrilled to have my brand-new car bemired by the spattering mud> — see DIRTY

bemired adjective
not clean <tired and bemired after a day spent working outdoors> — see DIRTY 1

bemoan verb
1 to feel or express sorrow for <bemoaned the death of his wife by writing a series of poignant letters addressed to her> — see LAMENT 1
2 to feel sorry or dissatisfied about <a think piece bemoaning the coarsening of our society over the last several decades> — see REGRET

bemoaning adjective
expressing or suggesting mourning <one parishioner who always seems to have a bemoaning expression on her face> — see MOURNFUL 1

bemuse verb
1 to hold the attention of <a public that seemed more bemused by the shenanigans of celebrities than by a war being waged half a world away> — see ENGAGE 1
2 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <the stage mishap momentarily bemused the actress> — see CONFUSE 1

bemused adjective
suffering from mental confusion <new federal regulations that the easily bemused should make no attempt to read and understand> — see DIZZY 2

bemusement noun
a state of mental uncertainty <an expression of utter bemusement> — see CONFUSION 1

bench noun
1 a public official having authority to decide questions of law <appealed to the bench for leniency> — see JUDGE 2
2 an assembly of persons for the administration of justice <a ruling from the bench is expected any day now> — see COURT 3

benchmark noun
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared <this prize-winning biography will be the benchmark against which all others will be judged in future years> — see STANDARD 1

bend noun
1 something that curves or is curved <it's hard to see around that bend in the road, so be careful>

Synonyms
angle, arc, arch, bow, crook, curvature, curve, inflection, turn, wind

Related Words
kink, warp; circle, ring, ringlet, round; coil, curl, curlicue (also curlycue); buckle, convolution, flexure, fold, loop, spiral, swirl, twist, winding; incurvature, reflection; decline, inclination, incline, slope; corner, turnoff; dogleg, hairpin

2 the act of positioning or an instance of being positioned at an angle <did knee bends for exercise> — see TILT

bend verb
1 to cause to turn away from a straight line <she bent the blade of the knife when she got it jammed in the drawer>

Synonyms
arch, bow, crook, curve, hook, swerve

Related Words
arc, round; incurvate, incurve, inflect, reflect; deflect, divert; entwine, kink, swirl, turn, twine, twist, veer, warp; coil, curl, enroll (also enrol), loop, spiral; dent, dimple; meander, wave, weave, wind; decline, incline, slope

Antonyms
straighten, unbend, uncurl

2 to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention <bent herself to the task for the rest of the day> — see APPLY 2
3 to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal <bent all of his efforts toward making his first documentary film> — see AIM 1
4 to turn away from a straight line or course <the stream bends slightly to the east> — see CURVE 1
5 to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of <attorneys bending the facts to put their client in the most favorable light> — see GARBLE 1
6 to cause (something) to hold to another <bend a leash to the dog's collar> — see FASTEN 1

bender noun
a bout of prolonged or excessive drinking <didn't remember a thing after the all-night bender> — see CAROUSE

bending adjective
marked by a long series of irregular curves <the river takes a long bending path to the sea> — see CROOKED 1

bendy adjective, chiefly British
able to bend easily without breaking <the kids love to use bendy straws> — see WILLOWY

beneath adverb
in or to a lower place <a ranch house with all of the rooms on one floor and a combined basement and garage beneath> — see BELOW 1

beneath preposition
in a lower position than <sat beneath him, on the floor, for the group photo> — see BELOW 1

benediction noun
1 a prayer calling for divine care, protection, or favor <the priest offered a benediction for the missing children> — see BLESSING 1
2 something that provides happiness or does good for a person or thing <the library's silence was a welcome benediction to someone, like me, who needed to concentrate> — see BLESSING 2

benefaction noun
a gift of money or its equivalent to a charity, humanitarian cause, or public institution <the generous benefaction from an anonymous donor meant the animal shelter could stay open> — see CONTRIBUTION

benefactor noun
one that helps another with gifts or money <an anonymous benefactor gave the school a dozen new computers>

Synonyms
angel, donator, donor, fairy godmother, Maecenas, patron, sugar daddy

Related Words
benefactress, patroness; almoner, almsgiver, philanthropist; altruist, bestower, contributor, giver; helper, subscriber, supporter; guardian angel, protector, savior (or saviour)

Near Antonyms
beneficiary, donee, giftee, recipient

benefic adjective
promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being <the belief that participation in sports has a benefic influence on a young person> — see BENEFICIAL

beneficence noun
1 a gift of money or its equivalent to a charity, humanitarian cause, or public institution <the town library stays open primarily through beneficences from concerned residents> — see CONTRIBUTION
2 sympathetic concern for the well-being of others <a religious leader whose beneficence is felt by all who meet him> — see BENIGNANCY

beneficent adjective
1 having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others <a beneficent couple who are regular volunteers at a homeless shelter> — see HUMANE 1
2 having or showing a concern for the welfare of others <a beneficent effort to help out the needy during the holidays> — see CHARITABLE 1
3 promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being <cultural activities have a beneficent effect on a community that can't be measured in dollars and cents> — see BENEFICIAL

beneficial adjective
promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being <tutoring can often be as beneficial and rewarding for the tutor as for the student receiving the help>

Synonyms
advantageous, benefic, beneficent, benignant, favorable, friendly, good, helpful, kindly, profitable, salutary

Related Words
gratifying, rewarding, satisfying; auspicious, promising, propitious; advisable, desirable, healthful, healthy, salubrious, salutiferous, wholesome; gainful, lucrative, remunerative; ameliorative, amelioratory, bettering, constructive, supportive

Near Antonyms
damaging, deleterious, harmful, injurious, insalubrious

Antonyms
bad, disadvantageous, unfavorable, unfriendly, unhelpful, unprofitable

benefit noun
1 a thing that helps <it would be a real benefit if you could keep track of what you have already bought> — see HELP 2
2 something that provides happiness or does good for a person or thing <the meal service is a great benefit to invalids and the elderly> — see BLESSING 2

benefit verb
to provide with something useful or desirable <his summer internship benefited him in two ways: by giving him some tuition funds and by offering vital work experience>

Synonyms
advantage, avail, help, profit, serve

Related Words
succeed, work (for); aid, assist; better, improve; content, delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy; bless

Near Antonyms
hinder, impede; damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure; afflict, distress, upset

benevolence noun
1 an act of kind assistance <self-effacing as well as selfless, he refused all public acknowledgement of his many benevolences to the community> — see FAVOR 1
2 kindly concern, interest, or support <her benevolence towards her employees was such that she actually let one live in her home temporarily> — see GOODWILL 1
3 sympathetic concern for the well-being of others <an actress who was admired for her benevolence as for her beauty> — see BENIGNANCY

benevolent adjective
1 having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others <a benevolent willingness to provide veterinary services to low-income families at greatly reduced prices> — see HUMANE 1
2 having or showing a concern for the welfare of others <a benevolent businessman who has donated money and time to helping inner-city youths> — see CHARITABLE 1

benighted adjective
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <the poor benighted souls who do not know the joys of reading> — see IGNORANT 1

benightedness noun
the state of being unaware or uninformed <takes perverse pride in his benightedness regarding popular culture> — see IGNORANCE 1

benign adjective
1 not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt <around campus he's known as a real character, but one whose eccentricities are entirely benign> — see HARMLESS
2 not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect <basking under a benign sun on a day in early spring> — see GENTLE 1

benignancy noun
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others <through posture and facial expression the artist has been able to convey the serene benignancy that is traditionally associated with the saint>

Synonyms
beneficence, benevolence, benignity, compassionateness, good-heartedness, humaneness, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, softheartedness, tenderheartedness, tenderness, warmheartedness

Related Words
attentiveness, considerateness, thoughtfulness; affability, friendliness, good-naturedness, good-temperedness, warmth; graciousness, niceness, pleasantness; clemency, leniency, mercifulness; patience, tolerance, understanding; altruism, charitableness, charity; generosity, greatheartedness, magnanimity, philanthropy, unselfishness

Near Antonyms
mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness; inconsiderateness, insensitivity, thoughtlessness; grimness, harshness, severity, sternness, toughness; hatefulness, malevolence, maliciousness, meanness, spitefulness, virulence, vitriol

Antonyms
barbarity, barbarousness, bestiality, brutality, brutishness, callousness, cold-bloodedness, cruelty, hard-heartedness, heartlessness, inhumanity, insensateness, savageness, savagery, unfeelingness, unkindliness, unkindness

benignant adjective
1 having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others <a benignant understanding of the daily struggles of the economically disadvantaged> — see HUMANE 1
2 promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being <firmly believes that religion is a benignant force in society> — see BENEFICIAL

benignity noun
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others <a doctor who extends to all of her patients, both rich and poor, the same measure of gentle benignity> — see BENIGNANCY

benison noun
a prayer calling for divine care, protection, or favor <during the harbor festival the parish priest offered a benison for the local fishermen> — see BLESSING 1

bent adjective, chiefly British
given to or marked by cheating and deception <the drug dealer knew which of the cops were bent> — see DISHONEST 2

bent noun
1 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <the perfect gift for a person of a literary bent> — see INCLINATION 1
2 a special and usually inborn ability <having a decided bent for languages, he picked up Italian in no time> — see TALENT

bent (on or upon) adjective
fully committed to achieving a goal <a bride-to-be bent on having the perfect wedding> — see DETERMINED

benumb verb
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling <a succession of personal tragedies had benumbed him to all grief> — see DULL 1

benumbed adjective
lacking in sensation or feeling <my benumbed ears took a few minutes to warm up after the frigid air outside> — see NUMB 1

bepaint verb, archaic
to give color or a different color to <when one gazes upon the bepainted sky of dawn> — see COLOR 1

bequeath verb
to give by means of a will <having no heir, he bequeathed his house to his local church> — see LEAVE 2

bequest noun
something that is or may be inherited <left small bequests to all of her nieces and nephews> — see INHERITANCE

berate verb
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <there's no need to berate someone for making a mistake during the first day on the job> — see SCOLD

bereave verb
to take something away from <news of a death in the family bereaved them of the unmitigated joy that normally prevails at a wedding> — see DEPRIVE 1

bereaved adjective
suffering the death of a loved one <the grief of the bereaved parents seemed to be without limit>

Synonyms
bereft

Related Words
orphaned, widowed; distressed, grieving, melancholy, miserable, mournful, mourning, sad, sorrowing, suffering, unhappy, upset; bemoaning, crying, lamenting, wailing, weeping

bereft adjective
1 suffering the death of a loved one <to one investigator, the bereft woman seemed to be taking the sudden death of her rich husband amazingly well> — see BEREAVED
2 utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected <a cheap motel completely bereft of all amenities> — see DEVOID 1

berk noun, British
a person who lacks good sense or judgment <I wouldn't like some silly berk from Fleet Street following me about> — see FOOL 1

berserk adverb
in a confused and reckless manner <the familiar scene in horror movies where everyone runs berserk as the monster destroys everything in sight> — see HELTER-SKELTER 1

berserkly adverb
in a confused and reckless manner <reports of a crazed man running berserkly through traffic at a major intersection> — see HELTER-SKELTER 1

berth noun
an assignment at which one regularly works for pay <found a berth at a travel agency> — see JOB 1

beseech verb
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner <parishioners ardently beseeched the local bishop not to close their beloved church> — see BEG

beseeching adjective
asking humbly <a beseeching letter from his parents asking him to bring the grandchildren for a long overdue visit> — see SUPPLIANT

beseem verb, archaic
to be fitting or proper <ordered his servants to deck the hall with such adornments as might beseem for the holidays> — see DO 1

beset verb
1 to cause persistent suffering to <he's been beset by a lack of self-confidence virtually his entire life> — see AFFLICT
2 to take sudden, violent action against <the unsuspecting tourists were suddenly beset by robbers> — see ATTACK 1

besetting adjective
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge <that woman's besetting need to meddle in the affairs of others> — see COMPULSIVE

beshrew verb, archaic
to ask a divine power to send harm or evil upon <I would beshrew anyone who is untrue to his word> — see CURSE 1

beside preposition
1 in addition to <I'll need one more helper beside all of you> — see BESIDES 1
2 not including <I need four books beside this one> — see EXCEPT

besides adverb
in addition to what has been said <“Besides,” Dan exclaimed, “Who are you to tell me what to do?”> — see MORE 1

besides preposition
1 in addition to <besides me, there are five people working on this project>

Synonyms
as well as, beside, beyond, over and above

Related Words
plus; including

Phrases
along with, at that, together with

Near Antonyms
except (also excepting); less, minus, wanting

2 not including <the book is 800 pages long besides the bibliography> — see EXCEPT

besiege verb
1 to surround (as a fortified place) with armed forces for the purpose of capturing or preventing commerce and communication <armies besieged the city for six months before it finally surrendered>

Synonyms
beleaguer, blockade, invest, leaguer [archaic]

Related Words
barricade, block, cut off, dam, encircle; assail, assault, attack, beset; confine, insulate, isolate, quarantine

Phrases
lay siege to

Near Antonyms
emancipate, free, liberate, release, rescue

2 to cause persistent suffering to <a family besieged by worries about the faltering economy> — see AFFLICT
3 to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner <bereaved parents continued to besiege the president with pleas to end the war> — see BEG

besmear verb
to rub an oily or sticky substance over <besmeared the mirror with jelly> — see SMEAR 1

besmirch verb
to make dirty <inconsiderately besmirched the white bedsheets with their dirty feet> — see DIRTY

besmirched adjective
not clean <wiped the toddler's besmirched face with a damp cloth> — see DIRTY 1

besotted adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <when he staggered in and tripped over the cat, she knew he was besotted again> — see DRUNK

besotted (by) adjective
filled with an intense or excessive love for <was so besotted by the movies that as a kid he'd sometimes spend all day staring up at the silver screen> — see ENAMORED OF

bespatter verb
to wet or soil by striking with something liquid or mushy <vehicle after passing vehicle bespattered the sides of my once-clean car with that wintry slush> — see SPLASH 2

bespeak verb
1 to arrange to have something (as a hotel room) held for one's future use <bespoke the rental car weeks in advance of their trip> — see RESERVE 1
2 to make known (something abstract) through outward signs <her expression throughout the meeting bespoke great boredom> — see SHOW 2
3 to make a request for <milady bespoke our indulgence, inviting us to wait in the foyer while she attended to other matters> — see ASK FOR 1
4 to serve as a sign or symptom of <her impressive virtuosity as a pianist bespeaks years of diligent practice> — see INDICATE 1

bespoke also bespoken adjective
1 made or fitted to the needs or preferences of a specific customer <a wealthy man who can easily afford bespoke suits> — see CUSTOM-MADE
2 dialect pledged in marriage <once the last decent-looking woman in town was bespoke, it was time for the luckless bachelor to move on> — see ENGAGED 1

best noun
1 dressy clothing <a family that still believes that you should wear your best to church> — see FINERY
2 individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <only the best will go on to the finals> — see ELITE 1

best verb
to achieve a victory over <at last she's bested her card-playing mother at the game of hearts> — see BEAT 2

bestial adjective
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal <investigators were appalled by the degree of bestial debauchery depicted in the pornographic materials>

Synonyms
animalistic, beastly, brutal, brute, brutish, feral, ferine, subhuman, swinish

Related Words
animal, bodily, carnal, corporal, corporeal, fleshly, physical, sensual; barbaric, barbarous, cruel, heartless, inhumane, sadistic, savage, vicious, wanton; coarse, crass, crude, gross, ill-bred, lowbred, rude, uncouth, uncultivated, uncultured, unrefined, vulgar

Near Antonyms
chivalrous, elevated, gallant, great, greathearted, high, high-minded, lofty, lordly, magnanimous, noble, sublime; angelic (or angelical), spiritual; beneficent, benevolent, benignant, compassionate, good-hearted, kind, kindhearted, kindly, softhearted, tenderhearted; cultivated, cultured, genteel, polished, refined, well-bred

bestiality noun
the manifestation of the traits or the gratification of the appetites of a lower animal <by the end of hostilities the populace had been reduced to a level of bestiality that would have been unthinkable before the war>

Synonyms
animalism, animality, beastliness, brutality, brutishness, swinishness

Related Words
carnality, physicality, sensuality; boorishness, coarseness, crudeness, grossness, loutishness, rudeness; barbarity, cruelty, sadism, savagery, viciousness, wantonness

Near Antonyms
intellectuality, spirituality; greatheartedness, high-mindedness, magnanimity, nobility; beneficence, benevolence, benignity, compassion, good-heartedness, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, tenderheartedness

bestialize verb
to make (someone) feel or behave more like an animal than a human being <men who had been bestialized by war> — see BRUTALIZE 1

bestow verb
1 to make a present of <bestowed a new car on their son for graduation> — see GIVE 1
2 to provide with living quarters or shelter <eventually the refugee family was bestowed in its own apartment> — see HOUSE 1

bestowal noun
something given to someone without expectation of a return <the company's annual Yuletide bestowals include a holiday party and substantial bonuses> — see GIFT 1

bestrew verb
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on <the flower girl delightedly bestrewed the aisle with rose petals> — see SCATTER 2

bet noun
1 the money or thing risked on the outcome of an uncertain event <she offered the bet of a free lunch if her team won the World Series>

Synonyms
stake, wager

Related Words
collateral; handle, jackpot, kitty, pool, pot

2 a person or thing that is chosen <your best bet would be the scenic route along the coast> — see CHOICE 2

bet verb
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event <foolishly bet a month's allowance on the World Series>

Synonyms
gamble, go, lay, play, put, stake, wager

Related Words
bid, offer; adventure, chance, hazard, speculate, venture; endanger, imperil, jeopardize

bête noire noun
1 something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason <doing my own tax return is the bête noire that haunts me every April> — see BOGEY 1
2 something or someone that is hated <in that organization's view, society's number one bête noire should be the drunk driver of a motor vehicle> — see HATE 2

betide verb
to take place <we will be happy in our new home, whatever may betide> — see HAPPEN

bêtise noun
a foolish act or idea <writing a sequel to a Jane Austen novel must be regarded as a literary bêtise of the highest order> — see FOLLY 1

betoken verb
to serve as a sign or symptom of <the humor in his writing is never cruel, and betokens a warm and compassionate heart> — see INDICATE 1

betray verb
1 to be unfaithful or disloyal to <childhood friends of movie stars often betray them by telling their secrets to the supermarket tabloids>

Synonyms
backstab, cross, double-cross, sell (out), two-time

Related Words
give away; inform (on), peach, rat (on), shop [British], snitch (on), split (on) [British], tell (on), turn in

Phrases
go back on, sell down the river, stab in the back

Near Antonyms
defend, guard, protect, safeguard, save, shield

Antonyms
stand by

2 to make known (something abstract) through outward signs <his face betrayed his exasperation with his nosy neighbor> — see SHOW 2
3 to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage <she was betrayed by a false show of friendship into covering up the crime> — see LURE

betrayal noun
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another <the terrible betrayal of having her best friend reveal her confidences to others>

Synonyms
backstabbing, business, disloyalty, double cross, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, infidelity, perfidy, sellout, treachery, treason, two-timing, unfaithfulness

Related Words
abandonment, desertion; deceit, deception, double-dealing, duplicity, guile, two-facedness; fraud, informing, lying, snitching, talebearing, trickery

Near Antonyms
dependability, reliability, trustworthiness; defense, protection, safeguard, shield

Antonyms
allegiance, devotion, faithfulness, fealty, fidelity, loyalty, staunchness, steadfastness

betrayer noun
1 a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <the arrested drug dealer vowed that he would get his revenge on his betrayer> — see INFORMER
2 one who betrays a trust or an allegiance <the betrayer of Anne Frank's family in Amsterdam has never been identified for certain> — see TRAITOR

betrothal noun
the act or state of being engaged to be married <the couple's betrothal lasted four years> — see ENGAGEMENT 1

betrothed adjective
pledged in marriage <a splendid party in honor of the betrothed couple> — see ENGAGED 1

betrothed noun
the person to whom one is engaged to be married <he gazed lovingly at his betrothed throughout the dinner>

Synonyms
fiancé, fiancée, intended

Related Words
admirer, beau, beloved, boyfriend, darling, dear, favorite, fellow, flame, girlfriend, honey, love, lover, steady, swain, sweet, sweetheart, sweetie, sweetie pie, valentine; bride, groom

better adverb
to a greater or higher extent <he knows property law better than anyone else> — see MORE 2

better noun
1 one who is above another in rank, station, or office <be polite to your betters and to your inferiors in equal measure> — see SUPERIOR
2 the more favorable condition or position in a competition <she got the better of her opponents very early in the race> — see ADVANTAGE 1

better verb
1 to be greater, better, or stronger than <this year's profits should better last year's by a wide margin> — see SURPASS 1
2 to make better <social workers and reformers trying to better the lives of inner-city residents> — see IMPROVE

better half noun
the person to whom another is married <“Allow me to introduce you to my better half, Joan”> — see SPOUSE

bettor or better noun
one that bets (as on the outcome of a contest or sports event) <bettors on the horse race have to place their bets at least 20 minutes before the start of the race>

Synonyms
gambler, gamester, punter [chiefly British], wagerer

Related Words
high roller, piker; dicer; bluffer, punger, sharper, speculator; bookmaker, handicapper, oddsmaker, tipster

beverage noun
a liquid suitable for drinking <would anyone like a beverage with their snack?> — see DRINK 1

bewail verb
to feel or express sorrow for <he invariably spends more time bewailing his predicament than trying to fix it> — see LAMENT 1

bewailing adjective
expressing or suggesting mourning <the doctor assured us that my father was not in any danger of dying, hence those bewailing looks on our faces were uncalled-for> — see MOURNFUL 1

beware (of) verb
to be cautious of or on guard against <beware of that parrot because it bites>

Synonyms
guard (against), look out (for), mind, ware, watch out (for)

Related Words
attend, heed, mark, note, notice; behold, discern, observe, perceive, see, watch

Phrases
be on the lookout for, keep one's eyes open for (or keep one's eyes peeled for)

Near Antonyms
discount, disregard, ignore, miss, overlook

bewilder verb
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <the change in policy seems to have bewildered many of our customers> — see CONFUSE 1

bewildered adjective
suffering from mental confusion <the bewildered child wandered aimlessly around the playground> — see DIZZY 2

bewilderedness noun
a state of mental uncertainty <he gave her a look of inexpressible bewilderedness> — see CONFUSION 1

bewilderment noun
a state of mental uncertainty <the slightest change in her daily routine leaves her in complete bewilderment> — see CONFUSION 1

bewitch verb
1 to cast a spell on <a Wiccan who believes that it is indeed possible to bewitch someone>

Synonyms
charm, enchant, ensorcell (or ensorcel), hex, overlook, spell, strike

Related Words
curse, jinx, possess, voodoo; attract, beguile, captivate, fascinate, mesmerize, spellbind; entice, lure, seduce, tempt

Near Antonyms
bless

2 to attract or delight as if by magic <an animated film that bewitches children and adults alike> — see CHARM 1

bewitched adjective
being or appearing to be under a magic spell <the bewitched princess who could be awakened only by a kiss from the prince destined to be her husband> — see ENCHANTED

bewitchery noun
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <would have thought that only an act of bewitchery could make snow fall in Florida, but the state has a history of modest snow accumulations> — see MAGIC 1

bewitching adjective
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <a bewitching woman who has never lacked for suitors> — see FASCINATING 1

bewitchment noun
1 a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power <the hope that there was some bewitchment that would turn their jerky son-in-law into a prince> — see SPELL 1
2 the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <while stuck in traffic, I could have used a bit of bewitchment to clear the road of other drivers> — see MAGIC 1

beyond adverb
at or to a greater distance or more advanced point <the dream that someday we will journey to the outer reaches of our solar system and beyond> — see FARTHER

beyond noun
unending existence after death <who knows how we'll fare in the beyond?> — see ETERNITY 2

beyond preposition
1 on or to the farther side of <the arrow flew beyond the fence and into the woods>

Synonyms
over, past

Related Words
outside

Phrases
on the far side of

Near Antonyms
inside

2 out of the reach or sphere of <although the town has ordinances against public drunkenness, any degree of intoxication under your own roof is beyond their authority>

Synonyms
outside, outside of, without

Related Words
except (also excepting)

Near Antonyms
inside

Antonyms
within

3 in addition to <beyond the asking price of the house, there's also the cost of fixing up this “handyman's dream”> — see BESIDES 1

bias adverb
in a line or direction running from corner to corner <made of fabric cut bias> — see CROSSWISE

bias noun
1 an attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting especially without considering any other possibilities <he has a powerful bias towards sentimentality, which comes through even in his grittier stories>

Synonyms
favor, nonobjectivity, one-sidedness, partiality, parti pris, partisanship, ply, prejudice, tendentiousness

Related Words
chauvinism, cronyism, favoritism, nepotism; self-opinionatedness, self-partiality; bent, inclination, leaning, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, propensity, tendency; preconception, prejudgment, prepossession

Near Antonyms
calm, detachment, dispassion, indifference; aversion, dislike, distaste, hate, scunner

Antonyms
impartiality, neutrality, objectivity, open-mindedness, unbiasedness

2 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <from her youth she revealed a strong bias toward a life of the mind> — see INCLINATION 1

bias verb
to cause to have often negative opinions formed without sufficient knowledge <bad reviews biased her against the movie, even though it starred one of her favorite actors> — see PREJUDICE

biased adjective
inclined to favor one side over another <in my admittedly biased opinion, my wife is always the prettiest woman in whatever room she graces> — see PARTIAL 1

bib verb
to partake excessively of alcoholic beverages <the old professor has been known to bib on occasion> — see DRINK 2

bibelot noun
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest <practically every horizontal surface in the Victorian parlor was blanketed with fussy little bibelots> — see KNICKKNACK

Bible noun
a book made up of the writings accepted by Christians as coming from God <she received a lovely Bible as a First Communion gift>

Synonyms
Book, Good Book, Holy Writ, Scripture

Related Words
Polyglot

bibliolator noun
one who is keenly devoted to books <a bibliolator who regards vandalism to a library as being equal to desecration of a church> — see BIBLIOPHILE

bibliomaniac noun
one who is keenly devoted to books <an incorrigible bibliomaniac, he's already bought more books than anyone could read in a lifetime> — see BIBLIOPHILE

bibliophile noun
one who is keenly devoted to books <for bibliophiles, no electronic device could possibly give the tactile pleasure of a beautifully bound book>

Synonyms
bibliolator, bibliomaniac, bookman

Related Words
bookworm; antiquarian, bibliopole, bookseller; bibliopegist, bookbinder, bookmaker

bibulous adjective
1 able to soak up liquids especially readily <special drying cloths that are so bibulous that they can absorb 10 times their weight in water> — see ABSORBENT
2 given to excessive use of alcoholic beverages <a campaign to make the bibulous fraternity brother a collegiate archetype of the past> — see CRAPULOUS

bicker noun
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <after a prolonged bicker, they finally managed to find a movie that both of them were interested in seeing> — see ARGUMENT 1

bicker verb
to express different opinions about something often angrily <if you two don't stop bickering about where to go to eat, we're not going out at all!> — see ARGUE 2

bickerer noun
a person who takes part in a dispute <perpetual bickerers, the Taylors think nothing of having their private quarrels in public places> — see DISPUTANT

bicycle noun
a two-wheeled vehicle that is propelled by the use of pedals and steered through the use of handlebars <the range of the boy's explorations vastly expanded when he acquired his first bicycle>

Synonyms
bike, cycle, push-bike (also push bicycle) [British], two-wheeler, velocipede [archaic]

Related Words
mountain bike, tandem bicycle, ten-speed

bid noun
an effort to do or accomplish something <a dramatic film that is widely regarded as the comedian's last-ditch bid to be taken seriously as an actor> — see ATTEMPT 1

bid verb
1 to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority <the servants were expected to do exactly as they were bidden> — see COMMAND 1
2 to request the presence or participation of <as company president, I bid you all to come to our annual holiday party!> — see INVITE 1

biddability noun
a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others <a pastor who longs for the days when the biddability of parishioners could be taken for granted> — see COMPLIANCE 1

biddable adjective
readily giving in to the command or authority of another <the elderly widower was one of the more biddable and cooperative residents at the nursing home> — see OBEDIENT

biddy noun
a female domestic servant <those poor old biddies were mostly Irishwomen who worked for old-line Yankee families> — see MAID 1

bide verb
1 to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state <how long are you going to bide in this unhappy marriage?> — see CONTINUE 1
2 chiefly dialect to put up with (something painful or difficult) <at my advanced age I simply cannot bide young children> — see BEAR 2
3 to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something <I promise you that if you bide yet a little longer, all will come to pass just as you desire> — see WAIT

bier noun
a boxlike container for holding a dead body <lifted the bier from its stand and placed it in the hearse for its final journey> — see COFFIN

biff noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <he got a biff in the noggin as his reward for trying to intervene in the fight> — see 1BLOW

biff verb
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <the elderly woman swung her purse and biffed the mugger upside the head> — see HIT 1

bifurcation noun
1 a movement in different directions away from a common point <a thoughtful book about the nation's bifurcation into two distinct and antagonistic cultures> — see DIVERGENCE 1
2 the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces <a divisive issue that caused the bifurcation of the political party> — see SEPARATION 1

big adjective
1 having great meaning or lasting effect <there will be a big meeting to resolve the issue> — see IMPORTANT 1
2 of a size greater than average of its kind <bought a big apple to quench his raging appetite> — see LARGE 1
3 having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature <how big of you to give your subordinates most of the credit> — see NOBLE 2
4 having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) <inexperienced wine drinkers should not start with such a big wine> — see FULL-BODIED
5 coming before all others in importance <the big story that year was the assassination of the president> — see FOREMOST 1
6 enjoying widespread favor or approval <jackets with very wide lapels were big that year> — see POPULAR 1
7 containing unborn young within the body <a mare big with a foal> — see PREGNANT 1

big noun
1 one of high position or importance within a group <with that new promotion he's now one of the bigs in the company> — see BIG SHOT
2 usually bigs plural the highest level of a field of endeavor <when a candidate is running for president, he's playing in the bigs and cannot afford to make major mistakes> — see BIG TIME

big boy noun
one of high position or importance within a group <when she became the network's White House correspondent, she knew that she was now playing with the big boys> — see BIG SHOT

big bucks plural noun
a very large amount of money <I hear she's been offered big bucks to take that job> — see FORTUNE 2

big cheese noun
one of high position or importance within a group <thinks he's a big cheese just because he's got a business card> — see BIG SHOT

bigfoot noun
one of high position or importance within a group <a bigfoot in the field of genetics> — see BIG SHOT

biggety or biggity adjective, Southern & Midland
having too high an opinion of oneself <he's gotten biggety since he got promoted to director of sales> — see CONCEITED

biggie noun
one of high position or importance within a group <among food and beverage magazines, it's one of the biggies> — see BIG SHOT

biggish adjective
1 of a size greater than average of its kind <a rather biggish table for a dining room of modest dimensions> — see LARGE 1
2 sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention <a biggish wart that should be removed> — see CONSIDERABLE 1

big gun noun
one of high position or importance within a group <for a high-profile case like this, the law firm uses only its big guns> — see BIG SHOT

bighead noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <the kind of early success that can give a young performer a bighead> — see COMPLACENCE 1

bigheaded adjective
having too high an opinion of oneself <she's become bigheaded since winning that literary award> — see CONCEITED

bighearted adjective
giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <a bighearted guy who can't seem to ever say “no”> — see GENEROUS 1

bigheartedness noun
1 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <because of the bigheartedness of her coworkers, she was able to present the charity with a fat check> — see HEART 1
2 the quality or state of being generous <the commendable bigheartedness of that upscale restaurateur, who uses a portion of her profits to fund a soup kitchen> — see LIBERALITY

big house noun, slang
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <told harrowing stories of his years spent in the big house> — see JAIL

bight noun
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline <the bight known as the Bay of Fundy is known for its fast-running tides> — see GULF 1

big league noun, often big leagues plural
the highest level of a field of endeavor <Broadway is the big leagues, and for big bucks theatergoers expect professionalism> — see BIG TIME

big leaguer noun
one of high position or importance within a group <the once-tiny ad agency is now a big leaguer that attracts clients on the A-list> — see BIG SHOT

big–name adjective
widely known <several big-name writers gave readings at the book festival> — see FAMOUS 1

bigness noun
the quality or state of being large in size <the sheer bigness of the 50-pound pumpkin made us want to buy it> — see LARGENESS

bigot noun
one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices <an incorrigible bigot who hasn't entertained a new thought in years>

Synonyms
dogmatist, dogmatizer, partisan (also partizan), sectarian

Related Words
doctrinaire, fanatic, purist; jingoist, nationalist; racialist, racist, supremacist; chauvinist, sexist

Near Antonyms
freethinker, latitudinarian, liberal

bigoted adjective
unwilling to grant other people social rights or to accept other viewpoints <bigoted people once believed that black people were naturally inferior and unqualified to vote> — see INTOLERANT 2

bigotry noun
stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices <a deeply ingrained bigotry prevented her from even considering the counterarguments>

Synonyms
dogmatism, illiberalism, illiberality, illiberalness, intolerance, intolerantness, narrow-mindedness, opinionatedness, partisanship, sectarianism, small-mindedness

Related Words
conservatism, reactionaryism; insularism, insularity, parochialism, provincialism

Near Antonyms
progressiveness, progressivism

Antonyms
broad-mindedness, liberalism, liberality, open-mindedness, tolerance

big screen noun
the art or business of making a movie <many a television star has failed to make it on the big screen> — see MOVIE 2

big shot noun
one of high position or importance within a group <a meeting at which all of the big shots in the company were present>

Synonyms
big, big boy, big cheese, bigfoot, biggie, big gun, big leaguer, big-timer, big wheel, bigwig, fat cat, heavy, heavy hitter, heavyweight, high-muck-a-muck (or high-muckety-muck), honcho, kahuna, kingfish, kingpin, major leaguer, muckety-muck (also muck-a-muck or mucky-muck), nabob, nawab, nibs, nob [chiefly British], pooh-bah (also poo-bah), wheel

Related Words
baron, czar (also tsar or tzar), king, lion, magnate, mogul, prince, tycoon; VIP

Near Antonyms
inferior, subordinate, underling; mediocrity, obscurity

Antonyms
lightweight, nobody, nonentity, nothing, shrimp, twerp, whippersnapper, zero, zilch

big–ticket adjective
commanding a large price <with the tough economy, fewer people are likely to be making big-ticket purchases> — see COSTLY

big–time adverb
to a large extent or degree <wow, those renovations improved the library big-time> — see GREATLY 2

big time noun
the highest level of a field of endeavor <the young ad execs knew that their agency had hit the big time when major corporations came calling>

Synonyms
big(s), big league(s), major league

Related Words
establishment, old guard

big–timer noun
one of high position or importance within a group <a field in which one can go from being a big-timer to a small-timer in practically no time at all> — see BIG SHOT

big wheel noun
one of high position or importance within a group <brags that her son is a big wheel on Wall Street> — see BIG SHOT

bigwig noun
one of high position or importance within a group <interviewed by several bigwigs on the hospital's staff> — see BIG SHOT

1bike noun
a two-wheeled vehicle that is propelled by the use of pedals and steered through the use of handlebars <likes to ride her mountain bike on weekends> — see BICYCLE

2bike noun, chiefly Scottish
a great number of persons or creatures massed together <the boisterous bike that annually descends upon Edinburgh for the Fringe> — see CROWD 1

bile noun
biting sharpness of feeling or expression <with considerable bile, the author recounts a childhood filled with misery and loneliness> — see ACRIMONY 1

bilge noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <tried to justify his bigoted tirade with a lot of stale and insincere bilge> — see NONSENSE 1

bilious adjective
having or showing a habitually bad temper <a bilious old dog who snaps at everyone> — see ILL-TEMPERED

biliousness noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <her biliousness was such that most people simply avoided her> — see PETULANCE

bilk noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <people who lost money in the scheme discovered that the investment company was a fake and the “owner” just a bilk> — see TRICKSTER 1

bilk verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <an investigation revealed that the garage had been bilking motorists for repairs that had never been made> — see FLEECE

bilker noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <the “victim” of the staged car crash turned out to be a serial bilker of insurance companies> — see TRICKSTER 1

1bill noun
1 a record of goods sold or services performed together with the costs due <why is the electric bill so high this month?>

Synonyms
account, check, invoice, statement, tab

Related Words
receipt, reckoning; document, ledger, record; charge, cost, expense, fee, price, rate, toll; score, tally

2 a piece of printed paper used as money in the United States <the $20 bill has a picture of Andrew Jackson on the front>

Synonyms
banknote, greenback, note

Related Words
dead presidents [slang], paper money, scrip; buck, dollar, simoleon [slang], smacker [slang]; C-note, fifty, fin [slang], five, fiver [slang], hundred, one, sawbuck [slang], ten, tenner, twenty, two; cash, chips, currency, dough, legal tender, lucre, money, pelf; check, draft, money order

3 a sheet bearing an announcement for posting in a public place <posted a bill advertising the new play> — see POSTER
4 the amount owed at a bar or restaurant or the slip of paper stating the amount <although they were all working adults, their father still insisted on paying the bill whenever they went out to eat> — see CHECK 1
5 a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature <the fair housing bill of the 1960s> — see LAW 1

2bill noun
1 the jaws of a bird together with their hornlike covering <parrots have very strong bills so they can break open nuts> — see BEAK 1
2 the projecting front part of a hat or cap <the hat was blue, but the bill was red> — see VISOR

billabong noun, Australian
a small often deep body of water <taking a break from our trek through the outback, we bathed our tired feet in the still waters of a billabong> — see 1POOL

1billet noun
a straight piece (as of wood or metal) that is longer than it is wide <a stack of gold billets in the vault> — see BAR 1

2billet noun
an assignment at which one regularly works for pay <found a billet at one of the leading brokerage houses in New York> — see JOB 1

billet verb
to provide with living quarters or shelter <every colonial household was expected to billet a British soldier> — see HOUSE 1

billingsgate noun
harsh insulting language <the intemperate billingsgate to which the staff in customer service were sometimes subjected> — see ABUSE 1

billow noun
a moving ridge on the surface of water <the great billows created by the ocean storm threatened to swamp the fishing boat> — see WAVE

billow verb
to extend outward beyond a usual point <the curtains in the open windows billowed in the summer wind> — see BULGE 1

billy noun
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <police officers carry a billy for protection> — see CLUB 1

billy club noun
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <rapping the shoes of the sleeping vagrant with his billy club, the policeman told him to move on> — see CLUB 1

bimbo noun, slang
a boldly flirtatious or sexually promiscuous woman <a scandal involving a bimbo that effectively ended the congressman's career> — see FLOOZY

bin noun
a covered rectangular container for storing or transporting things <a storage bin for hats and gloves> — see CHEST

binary adjective
consisting of two members or parts that are usually joined <a binary star is a system of two stars that revolve around each other under their mutual gravitation> — see DOUBLE 1

bind noun
1 a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <with our vacation week fast approaching, and no arrangements for the care of our pets, we were in a serious bind> — see PREDICAMENT
2 something that physically prevents free movement <the burglar was held in a makeshift bind until the law officers could arrive> — see BOND 1

bind verb
1 to confine or restrain with or as if with chains <prisons tend to bind convicted criminals for transport>

Synonyms
chain, enchain, enfetter, fetter, gyve, handcuff, manacle, pinion, shackle, trammel

Related Words
bit, hobble, hog-tie, iron, lash, secure, tie, truss; attach, fasten, join, link; confine, constrain, curb, hamper, hinder, impede; limit, restrict; entangle, tangle

Near Antonyms
emancipate, free, liberate, loose, release, rescue; undo, unfasten, untangle, untie; detach, disengage

Antonyms
unbind, unfetter, unshackle

2 to cover with a bandage <bind the wound to stop the bleeding> — see BANDAGE
3 to gather into a tight mass by means of a line or cord <bind the asparagus spears carefully before packing the bunches> — see TIE 1

bindle stiff noun
a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living <upon graduation from college he wandered around the country as a bindle stiff, naively believing that he was at one with the downtrodden> — see TRAMP 1

binge noun
1 a bout of prolonged or excessive drinking <weekend binges are a serious problem at many colleges and universities> — see CAROUSE
2 a time or instance of carefree fun <a shopping binge at the mall> — see FLING 1
3 a social gathering <what should we wear to this binge at the country club?> — see PARTY 1

binge verb
to take part in drunken revelry <a program designed to educate college students about the dangers of bingeing> — see CAROUSE

bio noun
a history of a person's life <you can read a bio of the author on her home page> — see BIOGRAPHY

biography noun
a history of a person's life <an unauthorized biography of the actor gave him some serious headaches>

Synonyms
bio, life, memoir

Related Words
autobiography; hagiography; psychobiography; pathography, tell-all; chronicle, history, past, story; obituary; character sketch, profile

biological also biologic adjective
being such by blood and not by adoption or marriage <the rights of the biological father in this case> — see NATURAL 3

bipartite adjective
consisting of two members or parts that are usually joined <separated the bipartite rock> — see DOUBLE 1

birch verb
1 to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <students at the private school were once routinely birched for violating the rules> — see WHIP 1
2 to strike repeatedly <always a stern disciplinarian, our father birched anyone who talked back> — see BEAT 1

bird noun
1 a member of the human race <they're a couple of tough old birds who can manage without any interference from their grandchildren> — see HUMAN
2 chiefly British a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval <the Liverpool fans were quick to give the visiting footballers the bird> — see CATCALL

birdbrain noun
1 a silly flighty person <those birdbrains who eagerly adopt every fad diet that comes along> — see FLIBBERTIGIBBET
2 a stupid person <some birdbrain left the water running> — see IDIOT

birdbrained adjective
1 lacking in seriousness or maturity <a birdbrained neighbor who is forever giving me tacky tchotchkes> — see GIDDY 1
2 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <a group of apparently birdbrained teenagers were clearly bored by the memorial> — see STUPID 1

bird–dog verb
to go after or on the track of <suspecting infidelity, he hired a private detective to bird-dog his wife> — see FOLLOW 2

birdman noun
one who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft <in the early days of aviation, birdmen would travel around the country in their biplanes, putting on flying shows> — see PILOT

bird's–eye adjective
relating to the main elements and not to specific details <a bird's-eye look at the current situation in that part of the world> — see GENERAL 2

birl verb, chiefly Scottish
to take part in drunken revelry <spent a good part of his time in Edinburgh birling into the wee small hours of the night> — see CAROUSE

birse noun, chiefly Scottish
an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <as the lad's birse is fair up, it'd be best to leave him alone> — see ANGER

birth adjective
being such by blood and not by adoption or marriage <argued that the birth mother had not been informed of all of her options at the time of the adoption> — see NATURAL 3

birth noun
1 the act or instance of being born <almost from birth, he showed all the marks of future greatness>

Synonyms
geniture, nativity

Related Words
creation, genesis, nascency, origination, rise; accouchement, bearing, childbearing, labor, parturition; begetting, breeding, fathering, generation, mothering, parenting, reproduction, siring, spawning; fatherhood, maternity, motherhood, parenthood, paternity

Near Antonyms
abortion, miscarriage; stillbirth

2 the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <a man of noble birth> — see ANCESTRY
3 the point at which something begins <that 12-second flight by Orville Wright marked the birth of aviation> — see BEGINNING

birth verb, chiefly dialect
to bring forth from the womb <back in those days a woman her age would have birthed several children> — see BEAR 1

birthday suit noun
the state of having no clothes on one's body <with all of the resort guests in their birthday suits, socioeconomic differences became invisible and irrelevant> — see NUDITY

birthplace noun
a place of origin <Montgomery, Alabama, is considered the birthplace of the civil rights movement>

Synonyms
cradle, home, mother country, motherland

Related Words
hometown; Blighty [chiefly British], country, nativity, old country, roots

birthright noun
1 something that is or may be inherited <believed that the house was her birthright> — see INHERITANCE
2 something to which one has a just claim <the promotion is his birthright, after the work he put in> — see RIGHT 1

bisect verb
to divide by passing through or across <the infamous concrete wall that once bisected the city of Berlin, Germany> — see INTERSECT

bistro noun
a bar or restaurant offering special nighttime entertainment (as music, dancing, or comedy acts) <a section of the city populated with casual bistros offering entertainment to suit nearly every taste> — see NIGHTCLUB

bit noun
1 a very small piece <she left only a bit of the broccoli on her plate>

Synonyms
atom, crumb, dribble, fleck, flyspeck, grain, granule, molecule, morsel, mote, nubbin, nugget, particle, patch, scrap, scruple, snip, snippet, speck, tittle

Related Words
ace, dab, dash, driblet, drop, fraction, haet [chiefly Scottish], halfpenny, ha'penny, iota, jot, kenning [chiefly Scottish], lick, minim, mite, modicum, nutshell, ounce, pinch, shred, smatter, smidgen (also smidgeon or smidgin or smidge), spot, strain, streak, suspicion, taste, touch, trace, whisper, whit; bite, mouthful, nibble, tidbit (also titbit); fragment, part, portion, section; chip, flake, shard, shiver, sliver, splinter; clipping, paring, shaving; smithereens

Near Antonyms
chunk, gob, hunk, lump, slab; abundance, barrel, bucket, bushel, deal, heaps, loads, mass, mountain, peck, pile, pot, profusion, quantity, raft, scads, stack, volume, wad, wealth

2 a broken or irregular part of something that often remains incomplete <bits of cookie scattered on the table> — see FRAGMENT
3 a very small amount <I'll have only a bit of food right now> — see PARTICLE 1
4 an indefinite but usually short period of time <this will only take a bit> — see WHILE 1
5 a performance regularly presented by an individual or group <known for a comedic bit in which she portrayed a very nervous student driver> — see ACT 1
6 something that is pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury <wielding silver trays, the servers offered partygoers a variety of exotic-looking bits> — see DELICACY 1

bitch noun
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <tiresome members of the tour group who had one bitch after another> — see COMPLAINT 1

bitch verb
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <those lowly wage earners are always bitching about something> — see COMPLAIN

bitchily adverb
in a mean or spiteful manner <the bitchily funny put-downs of the satirist Dorothy Parker> — see NASTILY

bitchy adjective
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it <a bitchy and vindictive boss who has punished workers who have had the gall to call attention to her mistakes> — see HATEFUL

bite noun
1 a harsh or sharp quality <the fall winds had a real bite> — see EDGE 1
2 a small piece or quantity of food <had only a bite to eat before rushing off> — see MORSEL 1
3 an uncomfortable degree of coolness <weather with a bite that suggested winter was right around the corner> — see CHILL

bite verb, slang
to be objectionable or unsatisfactory <man, that really bites that you have to work on Christmas> — see STINK 2

bite (at) verb
to consume or wear away gradually <the waves were biting at the sand castle I had worked so hard on> — see EAT 2

bite (on) verb
to crush or grind with the teeth <she tends to bite on her pencils when she thinks hard>

Synonyms
champ, chaw, chew, chomp (on), crunch (on), gnaw (on), masticate, nibble

Related Words
ruminate; munch, nosh, snack; consume, eat, ingest, swallow; bolt, devour, gobble (up or down), gorge, gulp, scarf, scoff, snack, wolf; nip, peck (at), pick (at); gum, mumble

Phrases
sink one's teeth into

biting adjective
1 causing intense discomfort to one's skin <a biting wind that only the toughest football fans were willing to endure> — see CUTTING 1
2 marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <the biting comments by the popular girls about the new kid in class> — see SARCASTIC

bitsy adjective
very small in size <it's just a bitsy blister, but it's right on my heel so that I feel it every time I take a step> — see TINY

bitter adjective
1 having or showing deep-seated resentment <a bitter attitude about always having to work on Saturday> <she's still bitter about the way her boyfriend broke up with her>

Synonyms
acrid, acrimonious, embittered, hard, rancorous, resentful, sore

Related Words
disaffected, discontented, disgruntled, malcontent; contemptuous, cynical, disdainful, misanthropic, scornful; angry, cruel, harsh, irritated, mad, rough, savage, vehement, vicious, virulent, vitriolic; acid, caustic, cutting, mordant, sarcastic, trenchant; knock-down, drag-out (or knock-down-and-drag-out)

Near Antonyms
caring, forgiving, gentle, kind, kindhearted, loving, sweet, sympathetic, tender, warm, warmhearted

Antonyms
unbitter

2 hard to accept or bear especially emotionally <discovering that he had been cut from the crew team was a bitter disappointment>

Synonyms
afflicting, agonizing, cruel, excruciating, galling, grievous, harrowing, harsh, heartrending, hurtful, painful, tormenting, torturous

Related Words
insufferable, insupportable, intolerable, unacceptable, unbearable, unendurable, unsupportable; appalling, awful, bad, dire, dreadful, ghastly, horrible, miserable, nasty, rotten, severe, terrible, vile, wretched; acute, extreme, intense, piercing

Near Antonyms
bearable, endurable, supportable, sustainable, tolerable; livable (also liveable), sufferable, survivable; acceptable, allowable, reasonable

Antonyms
gratifying, pleasing, sweet

3 causing intense discomfort to one's skin <a bitter wind was stinging the faces of the skiers> — see CUTTING 1
4 difficult to endure <a bitter lesson about money and friendship> — see HARSH 1
5 having a low or subnormal temperature <a bitter February day for this part of the country> — see COLD 1
6 uncomfortably cool <a bitter, rainy day> — see CHILLY 1
7 expressing or suggesting mourning <a bitter cry of grief> — see MOURNFUL 1
8 not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <had to face the bitter truth about their marriage> — see UNPLEASANT

bitterly adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <cried bitterly after her grandmother died> — see HARD 2

bitterness noun
1 a deep-seated ill will <he still harbored an implacable bitterness against the company that had fired him> — see ENMITY
2 a harsh or sharp quality <the bitterness of the coffee suggested that it had been reheated> — see EDGE 1
3 an uncomfortable degree of coolness <there's a bitterness in the air, so let's build a fire in the fireplace> — see CHILL
4 biting sharpness of feeling or expression <complained with great bitterness about the ill treatment he had always received from his in-laws> — see ACRIMONY 1

bitty adjective
very small in size <a little bitty kitten that I could hold in my hand> — see TINY

bivouac noun
a place where a group of people live for a short time in tents or cabins <soldiers setting up a bivouac by the stream> — see CAMP 1

bivouac verb
1 to live in a camp or the outdoors <the army bivouacked for the night by the lake> — see CAMP OUT
2 to provide with living quarters or shelter <survivors of the tornado were bivouacked in the church basement> — see HOUSE 1

bizarre adjective
1 conceived or made without regard for reason or reality <a bizarre invention that no one could figure out how to use> — see FANTASTIC 1
2 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <a bizarre tattoo that suggested he might be a member of a gang> — see ODD 2

bizarro adjective
1 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <the cat was acting pretty bizarro this morning, and I'm worried about him> — see ODD 2
2 excitingly or mysteriously unusual <entered the bizarro world of all-night raves> — see EXOTIC

blab verb
1 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <frequently calls her best friend and blabs for an hour> — see CHAT 1
2 to relate sometimes questionable or secret information of a personal nature <he blabs a lot, so never share a secret with him> — see GOSSIP

blabber noun
1 a person who talks constantly <a blabber who always wastes my time with drivel> — see CHATTERBOX
2 unintelligible or meaningless talk <doting, overindulgent parents who take their toddler's blabber a little too seriously> — see GIBBERISH 1

blabbermouth noun
a person who talks constantly <told the blabbermouth to put a lid on it> — see CHATTERBOX

blabby adjective
fond of talking or conversation <she is a sweet woman, but so blabby that you need to escape her after a while> — see TALKATIVE

black adjective
1 having the color of soot or coal <a little black dress blends into the night very well>

Synonyms
ebony, pitch-black, pitch-dark, pitchy, raven, sable

Related Words
dark, dusky, inky; blackish, brunet (or brunette)

Near Antonyms
bright, brilliant, light, pale, palish

Antonyms
white

2 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the Friday of the stock market crash was indeed a black day for the country> — see GLOOMY 1
3 not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <the black deeds of the brigands along the Scottish border> — see BAD 2
4 not having a light complexion <a black Irishman, Tyrone Power had the classic looks of a Hollywood leading man> — see DARK 2
5 being without light or without much light <on a black night such as this, the imagination runs wild> — see DARK 1
6 not clean <don't you dare touch my curtains with those black hands!> — see DIRTY 1

black noun
a time or place of little or no light <a serial killer who always did his evil deeds in the black of night> — see DARK 1

blackball verb
to reject by or as if by a vote <the club secretly blackballs applicants who belong to that religion> — see NEGATIVE 1

black beast noun
something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason <Form 1040 has always been his personal black beast, and he puts off dealing with it for as long as he can> — see BOGEY 1

blacken verb
1 to make dirty <blackened the towels with their dirty hands> — see DIRTY
2 to make untrue and harmful statements about <the politician maliciously blackened his opponent's reputation> — see SLANDER
3 to make dark, dim, or indistinct <thick smoke from the forest fires blackened the sky for many miles> — see CLOUD 1
4 to grow dark <the auditorium blackened suddenly, and a spotlighted performer appeared alone on stage> — see DARKEN 2

blackened adjective
not clean <the church's blackened ceiling is the result of centuries of candle smoke> — see DIRTY 1

blackening noun
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation <blackening of the senator's good name disgusted voters> — see SLANDER

black hole noun
empty space <a psychopath who seemingly has a black hole where his heart should be> — see VACANCY 1

blackjack verb
1 to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <you cannot blackjack me into going along with this> — see FORCE 1
2 to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats <a couple of thugs trying to blackjack a shopkeeper into paying protection money> — see INTIMIDATE

blackmailer noun
a person who gets money from another by using force or threats <the blackmailer threatened to tell the media about the mayor's arrest as a teenager> — see RACKETEER

blackness noun
1 a time or place of little or no light <strange nocturnal noises emanated from the forbidding blackness of the forest> — see DARK 1
2 the state or quality of being dirty <judging from the blackness of the carpet, I'd say that it had never been cleaned> — see DIRTINESS 1

blackout noun
a temporary state of unconsciousness <even though you experienced only a brief blackout, you still ought to be checked by a doctor> — see FAINT

black out verb
1 to destroy all traces of <had spent most of her adulthood trying to black out memories of a wretched childhood> — see ANNIHILATE 1
2 to grow dark <with the delivery of the knockout punch, the screen blacks out, and in the next scene the boxer wakes up in the hospital> — see DARKEN 2
3 to lose consciousness <blacked out after hitting her head on the beam> — see FAINT

blade noun
1 a hand weapon with a length of metal sharpened on one or both sides and usually tapered to a sharp point <dueled with blades rather than guns> — see SWORD
2 an instrument with a metal length that has a sharp edge for cutting <used a small blade to cut the rope> — see KNIFE

blah also blah–blah noun
1 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <gave me the usual blah that my manuscript did not meet their current publishing needs but thanks for considering them> — see NONSENSE 1
2 blahs plural the state of being bored <I've just been stuck in the blahs lately> — see BOREDOM

blamable adjective
deserving reproach or blame <an honest mistake is hardly a blamable offense> — see BLAMEWORTHY

blame noun
1 responsibility for wrongdoing or failure <willingly accepted the blame for not seeing that the kitchen was properly cleaned>

Synonyms
culpability, fault, guilt, onus, rap

Related Words
blameworthiness, complicity, guiltiness, sinfulness; accusation, censure, condemnation, denunciation, finger-pointing, reproach; regret, remorse, self-reproach, shame

Antonyms
blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness, innocence

2 the state of being held as the cause of something that needs to be set right <blame for the school's poor performance in standardized tests was attributed to several factors> — see RESPONSIBILITY 1

blame verb
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of <more concerned with pleasing audiences, the playwright has always claimed to be indifferent to whether critics praise his comedies or blame them without mercy> — see CRITICIZE

blameless adjective
free from guilt or blame <a blameless baby shouldn't have to suffer for his parents' mistakes> — see INNOCENT 2

blamelessness noun
the quality or state of being free from guilt or blame <your blamelessness in this incident is obvious, so you won't be punished> — see INNOCENCE 1

blameworthy adjective
deserving reproach or blame <we were all equally blameworthy, whether we had openly approved the free-speech restrictions or simply kept quiet about them>

Synonyms
blamable, censurable, culpable, reprehensible, reproachable

Related Words
bad, guilty, sinful, wicked; foolish, irresponsible, reckless; amerciable, chargeable, disciplinable, impeachable, indictable, punishable; criminal, illegal, illicit, unlawful; illegitimate, improper, wrongful

Phrases
at fault

Near Antonyms
flawless, perfect, pure; guiltless, innocent

Antonyms
blameless, faultless, impeccable, irreproachable

blanch verb
to make white or whiter by removing color <a good washing with bleach should blanch these yellowed sheets> — see WHITEN

blanched adjective
lacking a healthy skin color <looking blanched and feeble after a long illness> — see PALE 2

bland adjective
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect <bland food that was good for babies and invalids> — see GENTLE 1

blandish verb
to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery <blandished her into doing their work for them by complimenting her shamelessly> — see COAX

blank adjective
1 not expressing any emotion <the teacher knew no one was paying attention when she looked out and saw all those blank faces>

Synonyms
catatonic, deadpan, empty, expressionless, impassive, inexpressive, numb, stolid, vacant

Related Words
dull, vacuous, vague, vapid; enigmatic (also enigmatical), impenetrable, inscrutable, mysterious; motionless, static, still, wooden; reserved, restrained, reticent, taciturn; aloof, apathetic, cold, cool, detached, indifferent, phlegmatic, unresponsive

Near Antonyms
engaged, interested, responsive; active, alive, animated, bright, busy, dynamic, effervescent, energetic, expansive, exuberant, lively, vivacious; eloquent, revealing, revelatory; gestic, gesticulant, gesticulative, gesticulatory, gestural; emotional, melodramatic, theatrical (also theatric), unreserved, unrestrained

Antonyms
demonstrative, expressive

2 lacking contents that could or should be present <the page of instructions actually turned out to be blank> — see EMPTY 1
3 having no exceptions or restrictions <his blank refusal to even consider my request for an unpaid leave of absence> — see ABSOLUTE 2

blank noun
1 a piece of paper with information written or to be written on it <handed him an employment blank to fill out> — see FORM 2
2 empty space <a blank on the form for the patient's insurance policy number> — see VACANCY 1

blanket adjective
belonging or relating to the whole <a blanket promise of amnesty for everyone with overdue library books> — see GENERAL 1

blanket noun
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <a blanket of fog concealed the view of the harbor> — see CLOAK 1

blanket verb
1 to form a layer over <leaves blanketed all of the land around the house> — see COVER 2
2 to keep secret or shut off from view <blanketed the secret memo from the news media> — see 1HIDE 2
3 to cause to cease burning <firefighters managed to blanket the fire with foam> — see EXTINGUISH 1

blankness noun
empty space <a conspicuous blankness surrounds the figure of the woman, for the artist is trying to suggest her deep isolation and loneliness> — see VACANCY 1

blare noun
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <the blare of horns arising from the long line of cars behind him did nothing to help the motorist get his car started again> — see NOISE 1

blare verb
to make known openly or publicly <was it really necessary to blare that private quarrel to the whole world?> — see ANNOUNCE

blaring adjective
marked by a high volume of sound <some teens drove by and woke us up with blaring music> — see LOUD 1

blarney noun
1 excessive praise <laid the blarney on thick in order to get special treatment from the waitress> — see FLATTERY
2 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <his excuse was his usual blarney about how he'd love to help out but he was just so darned busy> — see NONSENSE 1

blarney verb
1 to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery <attendants at the nursing home sometimes have to blarney the patients to take their medicine> — see COAX
2 to praise too much <an eager, young assistant who blarneys the boss shamelessly> — see FLATTER 1

blaspheme verb
to use offensive or indecent language <shocked that someone would blaspheme in church, of all places> — see SWEAR 1

blasphemous adjective
not showing proper reverence for the holy or sacred <Catholics used to believe that anyone but a priest touching a consecrated wafer was blasphemous> — see IRREVERENT

blasphemy noun
an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things <in the 17th century the Quakers were persecuted for beliefs and practices that older churches regarded as blasphemies>

Synonyms
defilement, desecration, impiety, irreverence, profanation, sacrilege

Related Words
cursing, profanity, swearing; affront, insult; violation; contamination, corruption, debasement, pollution; sin, trespass

Near Antonyms
consecration, purification, sanctification; reverence, veneration

Antonyms
adoration, glorification, worship

blast noun
1 a loud explosive sound <a sharp blast of the horn startled the other driver> — see CLAP 1
2 a sudden brief rush of wind <a surprise blast stole the umbrella right out of his hands> — see GUST 1
3 the act or an instance of exploding <the blast destroyed the building completely> — see EXPLOSION 1
4 a social gathering <a wild fraternity blast that lasted a whole weekend> — see PARTY 1

blast verb
1 to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive <the highway engineers will have to blast that hill in order to put a road through here>

Synonyms
blow, blow up, burst, demolish, explode, pop, shatter, smash

Related Words
dynamite; annihilate, decimate, destroy; ruin, wreck; detonate, discharge; fragment, splinter

Near Antonyms
collapse, implode

2 to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force <artillery that could blast cannonballs from hundreds of yards> — see SHOOT 1
3 to cause a weapon to release a missile with great force <the recruits were all blasting away at the target range> — see SHOOT 2
4 to criticize harshly and usually publicly <blasted the new governor for every little misstep> — see ATTACK 2
5 to proceed or move quickly <rowdy teenagers blasting down the road in a sports car> — see HURRY 2

blasted adjective
1 deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <that blasted car salesman cheated us> — see DAMNABLE
2 slang being under the influence of a recreational drug <the members of the rock band were all so blasted they could barely perform> — see STONED 1
3 slang being under the influence of alcohol <the number of empty wineglasses before her does not suggest “connoisseur” so much as “completely blasted”> — see DRUNK

blasting adjective
marked by a high volume of sound <carried a blasting radio wherever he went> — see LOUD 1

blasting noun
a directed propelling of a missile by a firearm or artillery piece <the next blasting by the artillery scored a direct hit> — see SHOT

blastoff noun
a rising from a surface at the start of a flight (as of a rocket) <the mission was scrubbed just minutes before blastoff> — see LIFTOFF

blat verb
to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling <blatted an obscene expletive before biting the dust> — see EXCLAIM

blatant adjective
1 engaging in or marked by loud and insistent cries especially of protest <a blatant clamor for the impeachment of the scandal-plagued governor> — see VOCIFEROUS
2 very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad <I take off points for blatant spelling errors> — see EGREGIOUS

blather noun
1 a state of noisy, confused activity <wanted to retire quietly and without all the blather of an office send-off> — see COMMOTION
2 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <dismissed the whole election as just so much blather> — see NONSENSE 1

blather (on) verb
to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point <my attention wandered as she blathered on about her endlessly active social life> — see RAMBLE 1

blatherskite noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <a Scottish uncle who regards any pronouncement from the government as ignorable blatherskite> — see NONSENSE 1

blaze noun
1 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <she felt a blaze of resentment upon hearing that she had been passed over for promotion> — see OUTBURST 1
2 the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible <temporarily blinded by the blaze of dozens of camera lights> — see LIGHT 1

1blaze verb
to make known openly or publicly <the White House didn't waste a minute in blazing the lower unemployment figures> — see ANNOUNCE

2blaze verb
1 to be on fire especially brightly <the house blazed for over three hours in the late-night fire> — see BURN 1
2 to shine with a bright harsh light <the spotlight blazed through my window> — see GLARE 1
3 to proceed or move quickly <an extreme skier went blazing down the ski slope at a reckless pace> — see HURRY 2

blaze (up) verb
to develop suddenly and violently <after years of decline, street crime blazed up again> — see ERUPT 2

blazing adjective
1 being on fire <the blazing logs in the fireplace cast a warm glow on our holiday party> — see ABLAZE 1
2 having or expressing great depth of feeling <a blazing speech affirming the value of every individual in this world> — see FERVENT 1

blazon verb
1 to make known openly or publicly <their very public canoodling has pretty much blazoned the fact that they are having an affair> — see ANNOUNCE
2 to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <the city's waterfront has been blazoned with banners celebrating the festival of tall ships> — see DECORATE

bleach verb
to make white or whiter by removing color <bleached the stained shirt back to its original white> — see WHITEN

bleak adjective
1 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <a bleak outlook for the team for the rest of the season> — see GLOOMY 1
2 marked by wet and windy conditions <it was a dark and bleak wintry day> — see FOUL 1
3 uncomfortably cool <a bleak December morning> — see CHILLY 1

bleakness noun
an uncomfortable degree of coolness <the morning bleakness prompted me to get a fire going> — see CHILL

blear adjective
not seen or understood clearly <I can't describe him; all I saw was a blear figure for an instant> — see FAINT 1

blear verb
to make dark, dim, or indistinct <her image was bleared, as if I were staring at it through a watery lens> — see CLOUD 1

bleary adjective
1 depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <disoriented, bleary passengers departing from the red-eye> — see WEARY 1
2 not seen or understood clearly <the bleary outline of a fishing boat could just be seen through the fog> — see FAINT 1

bleat noun
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <a very patient, understanding person who accepts life's inconveniences without a bleat> — see COMPLAINT 1

bleat verb
1 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <as far as the slumlord was concerned, the unhappy tenants were just bleating about nothing> — see COMPLAIN
2 to utter feeble plaintive cries <the baby bleated softly as he woke up, then smiled> — see WHIMPER 1

bleed verb
1 to feel deep sadness or mental pain <her heart bleeds for the homeless people she sees on her way to work> — see GRIEVE
2 to flow forth slowly through small openings <pitch was bleeding from cuts in the tree bark> — see EXUDE
3 to remove (liquid) gradually or completely <bleed water from the radiators> — see DRAIN 1
4 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <the confidence men coldheartedly bled the elderly couple of their life savings> — see FLEECE

bleed (for) verb
to have sympathy for <the young man bleeds for his friend, who just lost his father> — see PITY

bleeder noun, British
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <don't let the insults of those lousy bleeders get you down, old chap> — see JERK 1

blemish noun
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing <the first mirror had a blemish on its surface, so we took it back to the store>

Synonyms
blight, blotch, defect, deformity, disfigurement, excrescence, excrescency, fault, flaw, imperfection, mar, mark, pockmark, scar

Related Words
abnormality, distortion, irregularity, malformation, misshape; bug, glitch, kink; blot, blur, spot, stain, taint; damage, defacement, impairment, injury; failing, weakness

Near Antonyms
adornment, decoration, embellishment, enhancement, ornament

blemish verb
1 to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable <a single indiscretion blemished the rabbi's reputation for years> — see TAINT 1
2 to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <a scratch blemished the finish on the car> — see DAMAGE 1

1blench verb
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust <she blenched from the horrible sight> — see FLINCH

2blench verb
to make white or whiter by removing color <we'll have to blench the sheets with bleach to restore that snow-white look> — see WHITEN

blend noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <that fabric is a cotton and polyester blend, so it shouldn't shrink as much as pure cotton>

Synonyms
admixture, alloy, amalgam, amalgamation, cocktail, combination, composite, compound, conflation, emulsion, fusion, intermixture, meld, mix, mixture, synthesis

Related Words
half-and-half; absorption, blending, coalescence, coalition, commingling, commixture, compost, concretion, homogenization, immingling, immixture, incorporation, integration, interfusion, intermingling, mergence, merger, merging, mingling; assortment, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jumble, medley, mélange, mishmash, motley, patchwork, potpourri, variety; accumulation, aggregation, conglomeration

Near Antonyms
component, constituent, element, ingredient

blend verb
1 to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <she blended the ingredients for the brownies very thoroughly to eliminate lumps in the batter>

Synonyms
amalgamate, combine, comingle, commingle, commix, composite, concrete, conflate, fuse, homogenize, immingle, immix, incorporate, integrate, interfuse, intermingle, intermix, meld, merge, mingle, mix

Related Words
add, admix, beat (in), cut in, fold, stir, toss; coalesce, compound, emulsify; conjoin, join, knit, link, unite; intertwine, interweave, weave

Near Antonyms
cleave, disjoin, disunite, divide, divorce, part, rupture, sever, sunder; disperse, dissolve, scatter; detach, disengage, split

Antonyms
break down, break up, separate, unmix

2 to form a pleasing relationship <the colors blend nicely in that rug> — see HARMONIZE 1

bless verb
1 to make holy through prayers or ritual <the priest blessed the water, thus allowing it to be used as holy water for various rites>

Synonyms
consecrate, hallow, sacralize, sanctify

Related Words
baptize, canonize, spiritualize; chasten, cleanse, lustrate, purify; exorcise (also exorcize), expurgate; commit, dedicate, devote; reconsecrate

Near Antonyms
defile, desecrate, profane; dirty, foul, pollute, soil, taint, violate; blaspheme, curse, cuss, damn, execrate; cast out, condemn, damn, punish

Antonyms
deconsecrate, desacralize, desanctify

2 to proclaim the glory of <bless the name of God> — see PRAISE 1
3 to furnish freely or naturally with some power, quality, or attribute <blessed with a knack for glib conversation> — see ENDOW 1

blessed also blest adjective
1 of, relating to, or being God <a prayer to the blessed Savior> — see HOLY 3
2 set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God <statues honoring an array of blessed saints are scattered throughout the cathedral> — see HOLY 2
3 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <the blessed sight of home after a long journey> — see PLEASANT 1

blessedness noun
1 a feeling or state of well-being and contentment <the proud parents can scarcely describe the blessedness of having four healthy children> — see HAPPINESS 1
2 the quality or state of being spiritually pure or virtuous <Mother Teresa's renowned blessedness made her an obvious candidate for sainthood> — see HOLINESS

blessing noun
1 a prayer calling for divine care, protection, or favor <that rabbi always ends the service with a short blessing>

Synonyms
benediction, benison

Related Words
Godspeed; appeal, entreaty, grace, intercession, invocation, orison, petition, plea, prayer, supplication; sanctification

Phrases
laying on of hands

Antonyms
anathema, curse, execration, imprecation, malediction

2 something that provides happiness or does good for a person or thing <winning the lottery shortly after being laid off was an unexpected blessing>

Synonyms
benediction, benefit, boon, felicity, godsend, good, manna, windfall

Related Words
grace, mercy; favor, kindness, mitzvah; advantage, aid, assistance, gift, help, relief, support; anodyne, comfort, consolation, solace; bonus, extra, lagniappe; delight, joy, pleasure

Near Antonyms
hex, hoodoo, jinx; bother, irritant, nuisance, pest; disadvantage; cross, misery, trial, tribulation

Antonyms
affliction, bane, curse, evil, plague, scourge

3 an acceptance of something as satisfactory <Mr. Roberts promptly gave his blessing to his daughter's choice of husband> — see APPROVAL
4 the act of making something holy through religious ritual <traditionally, worshippers kneel during the blessing of the communion wafers> — see CONSECRATION

blight noun
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing <the expanding urban sprawl is a blight on the countryside> — see BLEMISH

blighter noun, chiefly British
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <if the old chap gets unruly, just tell the blighter to leave you alone> — see JERK 1

blind adjective
1 lacking the power of sight <our old blind cat kept walking into walls and furniture>

Synonyms
eyeless, sightless, stone-blind, visionless

Related Words
blinded, blindfold, blindfolded, unsighted; gravel-blind, purblind

Near Antonyms
observant, observing, seeing; clear-eyed, clear-sighted; gimlet-eyed, lynx-eyed, sharp-eyed, sharp-sighted

Antonyms
sighted

2 being under the influence of alcohol <you'd have to be really blind to think that was a good idea> — see DRUNK

blind verb
to overpower with light <the bright lights in the TV studio momentarily blinded the quiz show contestants> — see DAZZLE

blindsiding adjective
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness <the last-minute blindsiding allegations that almost derailed the candidate's campaign> — see SURPRISING 1

blink verb
1 to shine with light at regular intervals <she loves to sit in the dark and watch the lights on the Christmas tree blink in ever-changing patterns>

Synonyms
flash, twinkle, wink

Related Words
coruscate, flare, flicker, glance, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, scintillate, shimmer, spangle, spark, sparkle

2 to rapidly open and close one's eyes <I blinked for a few seconds after the camera flashed> — see WINK 1
3 to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) <for two days the nations stood on the brink of war, until one finally blinked> — see YIELD 3
4 to look long and hard in wonder or surprise <stood blinking at the ridiculous scene before him in utter disbelief> — see GAPE

blink (at) verb
to dismiss as of little importance <the firm conviction that we should never blink at any instances of plagiarism, whether in academia or in commercial publishing> — see EXCUSE 1

bliss noun
1 a dwelling place of perfect happiness for the soul after death <the godly life she has lived will surely lead to infinite bliss after death> — see HEAVEN 1
2 a feeling or state of well-being and contentment <the enviable bliss of a happily married couple> — see HAPPINESS 1

blissful adjective
experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight <a blissful cat who obviously loves being stroked> — see GLAD 1

blissfulness noun
a feeling or state of well-being and contentment <the blissfulness that only a full stomach and a warm bed can bring> — see HAPPINESS 1

blistering adjective
1 extreme in degree, power, or effect <even after a blistering attack from the enemy, the fortress held> — see INTENSE 1
2 moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <a major-league pitcher known for his blistering fastballs> — see FAST 1

blisteringly adverb
to a great degree <a blisteringly harsh review of the new musical> — see VERY 1

blithe adjective
1 having or showing a good mood or disposition <a blithe, obedient child> — see CHEERFUL 1
2 indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor <a blithe remark that good food enjoyed with good company makes good wine seem even better> — see MERRY
3 having or showing freedom from worries or troubles <he has a blithe attitude about ever having to earn a living because he knows there's a trust fund in his future> — see CAREFREE

blither noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <a boss who isn't inclined to accept any blither on why something isn't finished on time> — see NONSENSE 1

blithesome adjective
1 having or showing a good mood or disposition <a blithesome girl who never seems to be sad or angry> — see CHEERFUL 1
2 indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor <a blithesome and silly joke among old friends> — see MERRY

blitz noun
1 a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <a multimedia blitz of advertisements for the summer blockbuster> — see BARRAGE
2 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <a massive aerial blitz that was supposed to shock and awe the enemy into immediate surrender> — see ATTACK 1
3 a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal <an all-out advertising blitz to promote the new soft drink> — see CAMPAIGN

blitz verb
to use bombs or artillery against <in 1940 and 1941 the German air force blitzed London night after horrible night> — see BOMBARD 1

blitzed adjective, slang
1 being under the influence of a recreational drug <she says she was too blitzed to remember most of the party> — see STONED 1
2 being under the influence of alcohol <most weekends those frat boys are utterly blitzed> — see DRUNK

blitzkrieg noun
1 a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <the stunned survivors of the crash were then confronted with a blitzkrieg of insensitive questions from the media> — see BARRAGE
2 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <the war began with a blitzkrieg that was designed to shock the enemy into submission> — see ATTACK 1

blitzkrieg verb
to use bombs or artillery against <the Germans were determined to blitzkrieg London until the British surrendered> — see BOMBARD 1

bloated adjective
1 extended beyond normal or realistic bounds <a bloated sense of his own importance>

Synonyms
exaggerated, hyperbolized, inflated, outsize (also outsized), overblown, overdrawn, overweening

Related Words
elaborated, embellished, embroidered, enlarged, hyped-up, magnified, overdone, overemphasized, overplayed, overstated, padded, stretched; grandiose, preposterous, unreal, unrealistic, unreasonable

Near Antonyms
realistic, reasonable

2 enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure <a bloated stomach>

Synonyms
blown, distended, overinflated, puffed, swollen, tumescent, tumid, turgid, varicose (also varicosed)

Related Words
ballooned, blown up, expanded; bulging, dilated, protuberant; ventricose; ballooning, dilating, turgescent

Near Antonyms
collapsed, deflated, detumescent

blob noun
1 a small uneven mass <flicked a blob of jelly on the toast and began to spread it around> — see LUMP 1
2 the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass <got a blob of honey on his sweater> — see DROP 1

bloc noun
1 a group of people acting together within a larger group <a whole bloc of students got together to complain> — see FACTION
2 an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection <the bloc that the United States and most of western Europe formed during the Cold War> — see CONFEDERACY

block noun
1 a number of things considered as a unit <bought a block of stocks> — see GROUP 1
2 something that makes movement or progress difficult <constant bickering that is only a block to the completion of the project> — see ENCUMBRANCE
3 slang the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth <threatened to knock the block off the jerk next door if he didn't can the noise> — see HEAD 1
4 a group of people acting together within a larger group <a more conservative block within the political party> — see FACTION
5 an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection <a block of oil-producing nations> — see CONFEDERACY

block verb
1 to close up so that no empty spaces remain <block up the opening in the wall where a window once was> — see FILL 2
2 to prevent passage through by filling with something <one of the patient's arteries was so blocked with fatty deposits that blood flow had been reduced to a trickle> — see CLOG 1
3 to stop, seize, or interrupt while in progress or on course <a thug suddenly stepped out of a doorway and blocked his escape down the alley> — see INTERCEPT

block (off) verb
to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point <the square is temporarily blocked off for the street fair> — see CLOSE OFF

blockade noun
the cutting off of an area by military means to stop the flow of people or supplies <it was the blockade of all the enemy's major ports that finally won the war>

Synonyms
beleaguerment, investment, leaguer, siege

Related Words
counterblockade; containment, encirclement, encompassment; confinement, insulation, isolation, quarantine, seclusion, segregation, sequestration; incarceration, internment

blockade verb
1 to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point <the militant protestors blockaded the whole area around city hall> — see CLOSE OFF
2 to surround (as a fortified place) with armed forces for the purpose of capturing or preventing commerce and communication <blockaded the city until it surrendered> — see BESIEGE 1

blockbuster noun
1 a person or thing that is successful <the movie is expected to be the biggest blockbuster of the summer> — see HIT 1
2 something that is unusually large and powerful <a blockbuster of a fighter plane> — see GIANT

blockhead noun
a stupid person <only a real blockhead would think that she had literally said it a million times> — see IDIOT

bloke noun, chiefly British
an adult male human being <a couple of friendly blokes offered to show us the sights of London> — see MAN 1

blond or blonde adjective
of a pale yellow or yellowish brown color <the little boy's blond hair darkened to brown as he grew older>

Synonyms
fair, flaxen, golden, sandy, straw, tawny

Related Words
ocherous (or ochreous); ash-blond (or ash-blonde), blondish, strawberry blonde (or strawberry blond), towheaded; gold, light, white

Near Antonyms
black-a-vised, brown, brunet (or brunette), dark, olive, swart, swarthy; black, ebony, raven

blood noun
1 a group of persons who come from the same ancestor <in his mind, blood came before anything else, and he would not betray his criminal brother to the police> — see FAMILY 1
2 the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <the language expert was certain that a young woman with such an upper-class accent had to be of royal blood> — see ANCESTRY
3 the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions <in your blood you know this business deal just isn't right> — see CORE 1
4 the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life <blood will always have blood, and so the killing never ends> — see HOMICIDE 1

blood–and–guts adjective
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <a hockey team known for its blood-and-guts play> — see VIOLENT 1

bloodbath noun
the killing of a large number of people <one side was so much better armed that the battle quickly turned into a bloodbath> — see MASSACRE

blooded adjective
of unmixed ancestry <the expansive farm on which blooded Arabian horses are raised> — see PUREBRED

bloodline noun
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <came from a bloodline that could be traced back to the 12th century> — see ANCESTRY

bloodstained adjective
smeared or stained with blood <had to throw away the bloodstained washcloth after a particularly bad nosebleed> — see BLOODY 1

bloodsucker noun
1 a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return <the union accused the company executives of being bloodsuckers, since they had given themselves raises at a time when the rank and file were forced to take cuts in their benefits> — see LEECH
2 a person who habitually preys upon others <a sleazy lawyer who had a reputation for being a shyster, an ambulance chaser, and an all-around bloodsucker> — see PREDATOR

bloodthirsty adjective
eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing <the Goths were a wild and bloodthirsty people>

Synonyms
bloody, bloody-minded, homicidal, murdering, murderous, sanguinary, sanguine, sanguineous

Related Words
barbaric, barbarous, brutal, cold-blooded, cruel, heartless, inhumane, sadistic, savage, vicious, wanton; antagonistic, ferocious, fierce, gladiatorial, hostile; aggressive, assertive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, discordant, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, violent; merciless, pitiless, ruthless; bloodstained, fell, gory, grim; despiteful, hateful, malevolent, malicious, malign, malignant, mean, nasty, spiteful

Near Antonyms
appeasing, conciliatory, disarming, dovish, mollifying, pacific, pacifying, peaceable, peaceful, peacemaking, placating, placative, placatory, propitiatory; unaggressive, unassertive; benign, benignant, compassionate, good-hearted, humane, kind, kindhearted, sympathetic, tenderhearted; tender, warm, warmhearted; clement, lenient, merciful; affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, gentle, kindly; submissive, surrendering, yielding

bloody adjective
1 smeared or stained with blood <after the fight, her shirt was all bloody>

Synonyms
bloodstained, gory

Related Words
bloodred, carmine, crimson, incarnadine, red, reddish, ruby, sanguine, sanguineous; sanguinary

2 eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing <a bloody battle> <a bloody movie that is unsuitable for children> — see BLOODTHIRSTY

bloody verb
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <the politician's reputation was permanently bloodied by the rumors of corruption> — see DAMAGE 1

bloody–minded adjective
1 eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing <some bloody-minded individuals wanted to castrate the alleged rapists even without so much as a word of sworn testimony> — see BLOODTHIRSTY
2 chiefly British having or showing a habitually bad temper <according to palace gossip, behind closed doors the prince was a bloody-minded bore> — see ILL-TEMPERED

bloom noun
1 a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement <a handsome young man in the full bloom of youth>

Synonyms
blossom, florescence, floruit, flower, flush, heyday, high noon, prime, salad days, springtime

Related Words
autumn, Indian summer; blooming, blossoming, efflorescence, flowering; acme, apex, climax, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith; glory, grandeur, splendor; belle epoque (or belle époque), golden age, silver age; comeback, recovery, revivial

Near Antonyms
decay, decline, downfall; bottom, nadir; shriveling (or shrivelling), wilting, withering

2 a rosy appearance (of the cheeks) <after a snowball fight, she came inside with a bloom on her cheeks>

Synonyms
blush, color, flush

Related Words
brightness, brilliance, glow; pinkness, reddishness, redness, rosiness, ruddiness, sanguineness

Near Antonyms
paleness, pallidness, pallor, pastiness, wanness, whiteness; greenishness, greenness, sallowness

3 the usually showy plant part that produces seeds <the rosebush produces blooms only in midsummer> — see FLOWER 1

bloom verb
1 to produce flowers <forsythias only bloom at the beginning of spring>

Synonyms
blossom, blow, burgeon (also bourgeon), effloresce, flower, unfold

Related Words
leaf, leave; bud; open

Near Antonyms
dry up, fade, shrivel, wilt, wither; die, drop, expire, perish

2 to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment) <she arrived at the house, blooming from her vigorous walk> — see BLUSH

blooming adjective
1 having a healthy reddish skin tone <the blooming faces of children at play in the great outdoors> — see RUDDY
2 chiefly British having no exceptions or restrictions <thought that the royals were blooming idiots for making such indiscreet statements> — see ABSOLUTE 2

blossom noun
1 a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement <in the full blossom of her career as a writer> — see BLOOM 1
2 the usually showy plant part that produces seeds <the marigolds are finally showing blossoms> — see FLOWER 1

blossom verb
to produce flowers <the fruit tree seemed to blossom overnight once the warm spring weather arrived> — see BLOOM

blot noun
a mark of guilt or disgrace <the bribery scandal was a blot on his reputation> — see STAIN 1

blotch noun
1 a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part <a dog with a single small blotch of black> — see SPOT 1
2 something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing <that cell tower is another blotch on the landscape> — see BLEMISH

blotch verb
1 to mark with blotches especially of different colors or shades <blotched the bedroom walls with various shades of blue to give them a textured effect> — see MOTTLE
2 to mark with small spots especially unevenly <my pen leaked and blotched my shirt pocket> — see SPOT 1

blotched adjective
having blotches of two or more colors <a blotched black-and-white rabbit> — see PIED

blotchy adjective
having blotches of two or more colors <using that bronzer just made my face look blotchy> — see PIED

blot out verb
1 to destroy all traces of <blotted out all evidence of tampering with the explosive device> — see ANNIHILATE 1
2 to keep secret or shut off from view <bushes blotted out the shed from our view> — see 1HIDE 2

blotto adjective, slang
being under the influence of alcohol <someone call for a taxi; the guy's blotto and in no condition to drive> — see DRUNK

1blow noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <he was dizzy for the rest of the day after the blow to his head>

Synonyms
bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, douse [British], fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, larrup [dialect], lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, stroke, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop (also whap)

Related Words
counter, counterblow, counterpunch, counterstroke; body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut; cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO; bastinado (or bastinade), battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling (or cudgelling), drubbing, hammering, lambasting, licking, pasting, pounding, pummeling (also pummelling), thrashing; flogging, walloping, whip, whipping

2blow noun
a sudden brief rush of wind <the ocean blows that sweep over the island are so strong that only the hardiest shrubs can grow there> — see GUST 1

1blow verb
1 to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty <that horse was really blowing after the race> — see GASP
2 to use up carelessly <each year he blows his holiday bonus on a trip to Las Vegas> — see WASTE 1
3 to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure <a huge crater was formed when the volcano last blew> — see EXPLODE 1
4 to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive <one false move and we would be blown to bits> — see BLAST 1
5 to proceed or move quickly <that car blew past us as if we were standing still> — see HURRY 2
6 to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <he keeps blowing every job interview that comes his way> — see BOTCH
7 to praise or express pride in one's own possessions, qualities, or accomplishments often to excess <another self-made millionaire blowing about how much he'd achieved> — see BOAST 1

2blow verb
to produce flowers <longing for a grassy field in some far-off land where the wildflowers blow> — see BLOOM

blow (out) verb
to let or force out of the lungs <blew out a smoke ring and began to tell us a good yarn> — see EXHALE 1

blow away verb
to defeat by a large margin <the chess prodigy completely blew away the reigning world champion> — see WHIP 2

blow–by–blow adjective
including many small descriptive features <a blow-by-blow account of what had changed in her life since they last met> — see DETAILED 1

blower noun
someone who boasts <although he's not the first person to blow his own horn, he's about the most obnoxious blower I've ever met> — see BRAGGART

blowhard noun
1 a person who talks constantly <a politician who is the stereotypical backslapping blowhard> — see CHATTERBOX
2 someone who boasts <a blowhard who always had to act like she was better than anyone else> — see BRAGGART

blown adjective
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure <if the tin can is blown, throw it away—the food inside is spoiled> — see BLOATED 2

blow off verb
1 to end a usually intimate relationship with <before she embarks on another relationship, she should try to figure out why all those other men have blown her off> — see DITCH 1
2 to fail to attend <blew off the committee meeting, thinking that it would just be a colossal waste of time> — see CUT 2

blowout noun
a social gathering <staged a huge blowout for Halloween> — see PARTY 1

blowsy also blowzy adjective
lacking neatness in dress or person <a large, blowsy woman in frumpy clothes runs the diner> — see SLOPPY 1

blowup noun
1 an outburst or display of excited anger <the boss had another blowup when someone fouled up the copy machine> — see TANTRUM
2 the act or an instance of exploding <the last blowup of the volcano flattened trees for miles around> — see EXPLOSION 1

blow up verb
1 to become very angry <she blew up at everybody after a very long and very bad day>

Synonyms
flare (up), flip (out) [slang]

Related Words
anger, fulminate, rage, rant, rave, snap, snarl, sputter, storm, tee off, vent, vituperate; bristle, burn, foam, fume, glare, glower, seethe, sizzle, smolder (or smoulder), steam, warm; burst, explode, flare (out), flash, inflame (also enflame), madden

Phrases
blow a gasket, blow one's cool, blow one's stack, blow one's top, fly into a rage, fly off the handle, forget oneself, go ballistic, have a fit, hit the ceiling, hit the roof, lose one's cool, lose one's temper

Near Antonyms
chill out [slang], cool (off or down), relax; hush, quiet (down)

Antonyms
calm (down), simmer down

2 to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure <the building blew up because of a gas leak> — see EXPLODE 1
3 to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive <blew up the biggest rocks and then cleared them away> — see BLAST 1
4 to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively <the advertisement blows the new soda up to the point where I half expected to be transported to a higher level of consciousness> — see TOUT 1

blowy adjective
marked by strong wind or more wind than usual <a blowy day that resulted in most of the fall foliage being knocked off the trees> — see 1WINDY 1

blub verb, chiefly British
to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress <the girl was blubbing so uncontrollably that we couldn't understand what she was trying to tell us> — see CRY 1

blubber verb
to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress <the poor child was blubbering because she had fallen and skinned her knee> — see CRY 1

blubbery adjective
having an excess of body fat <the sort of blubbery person you hope you never see naked> — see FAT 1

bludgeon noun
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <guards armed with bludgeons roamed the compound> — see CLUB 1

bludgeon verb
1 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <bludgeoned the door with an iron bar in a senseless act of vandalism> — see HIT 1
2 to strike repeatedly <bludgeoned the victim to death> — see BEAT 1

blue adjective
1 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <shocked at the blue banter she heard on that satellite-radio talk show> — see OBSCENE 1
2 feeling unhappiness <a cold, dreary day always leaves me blue> — see SAD 1
3 hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent <she was one of the first female comics to use blue humor in her act> — see SUGGESTIVE 1
4 much given to learning and thinking <a book club that had been founded many years earlier by the blue, progressive women of the city> — see INTELLECTUAL 1

blue noun
1 the expanse of air surrounding the earth <the plane flew off into the blue and was never seen again> — see SKY 1
2 the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three-fourths of the earth <pirate ships that sailed the vasty blue in search of treasure> — see OCEAN 1

blue blood noun
a man or woman of high birth or social position <one need not be a blue blood to enjoy the amenities at the Royal Crown Hotel> — see GENTLEPERSON

blue–blooded adjective
of high birth, rank, or station <given his working-class roots, he's wondering how he'll fit in with his blue-blooded in-laws> — see NOBLE 1

blue–chip adjective
of the very best kind <because of his blue-chip crew, he's won yachting's biggest prize several times> — see EXCELLENT

blue devils plural noun
a state or spell of low spirits <eating alone always gives me a fit of the blue devils> — see SADNESS

blue moon noun
a long or seemingly long period of time <once in a blue moon we'll get dressed up and eat in a fancy restaurant> — see AGE 2

blueness noun
the quality or state of being obscene <a comedy act without any hint of blueness> — see OBSCENITY 1

bluenose noun
a person who is greatly concerned with seemly behavior and morality especially regarding sexual matters <the editorial lambasts those bluenoses who feel they have the moral authority to dictate how other people should conduct themselves in private> — see PRUDE

bluenosed adjective
given to or marked by very conservative standards regarding personal behavior or morals <intimations of homosexuality in the author's diary and correspondence were later excised by bluenosed editors> — see STRAITLACED

blue–pencil verb
to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it <military censors blue-penciled any remarks that could possibly be deemed critical> — see X OUT

blueprint noun
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective <an ambitious young man with a remarkably detailed blueprint for becoming a millionaire by the age of 25> — see PLAN 1

blueprint verb
to work out the details of (something) in advance <blueprinted the schedule of events for the festival right down to the last detail> — see PLAN 1

blue–ribbon adjective
of the very best kind <your work on this project has been of blue-ribbon quality> — see EXCELLENT

blue ribbon noun
something given in recognition of achievement <the Pritzker Prize is widely regarded as the ultimate blue ribbon for architectural achievement> — see AWARD 1

blues plural noun
a state or spell of low spirits <failing the driving test gave me the blues for the rest of the day> — see SADNESS

blue–water adjective
of, relating to, or occurring in the open sea <an experienced hand at blue-water sailing in the South Pacific> — see DEEP-SEA

bluff adjective
being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner <he's a bluff but good-hearted teacher> — see BLUNT 1

bluff noun
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice <fossils embedded in a stone bluff that date from the Jurassic period> — see CLIFF

bluff verb
1 to cause to believe what is untrue <I bluffed the interviewer into believing that I could really speak French and thus would be the perfect person to serve in the newspaper's Paris bureau> — see DECEIVE
2 to present a false appearance of <the basketball player bluffed a shot, then passed instead> — see FEIGN

blunder noun
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <fixed a minor blunder in the advertising flyer> — see ERROR 1

blunder verb
1 to make a mistake <even though the prosecution had blundered several times in presenting its case, it ultimately prevailed> — see ERR 1
2 to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually <blundered his way through an acceptance speech> — see FLOUNDER 1

blunderbuss noun
someone who bungles an effort <leave it to that blunderbuss to bungle a job that a child could do> — see BUTCHER

blunderer noun
someone who bungles an effort <those blunderers at city hall sent me the wrong tax bill> — see BUTCHER

blunt adjective
1 being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner <he values honesty and is quite blunt about telling people what he doesn't like about them>

Synonyms
abrupt, bluff, brusque (also brusk), crusty, curt, downright, short, short-spoken, snippy, unceremonious

Related Words
gruff, rough, snappish; candid, direct, forthright, foursquare, frank, free-spoken, open, outspoken, plain, plainspoken, point-blank, straightforward, straight-out; artless, discourteous, disrespectful, impertinent, impolite, inconsiderate, insensitive, rude, tactless, undiplomatic; brief, closemouthed, laconic, reserved, reticent, terse, tight-lipped; earnest, honest, sincere; coarse, crass, crude, low, uncouth, vulgar

Near Antonyms
civil, considerate, courteous, diplomatic, gracious, polite, politic, smooth, suave, tactful; loquacious, talkative, voluble; long-winded, prolix, verbose; courtly, cultivated, gallant, genteel, polished, refined

Antonyms
circuitous, mealymouthed

2 lacking sharpness of edge or point <a blunt knife won't open that package> — see DULL 1

blunt verb
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling <the mushy music blunted the effect of the movie's final tragic scene> — see DULL 1

blunted adjective
lacking sharpness of edge or point <the blunted saw was worthless for fine woodworking> — see DULL 1

bluntness noun
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <the refreshing bluntness of the former president in assessing those who followed him in the Oval Office> — see CANDOR 1

blur verb
1 to make (something) unclear to the understanding <an article for the layman that blurs the distinction between the two kinds of cholesterol> — see CONFUSE 2
2 to make dark, dim, or indistinct <evening shadows blurred the view of the valley from the overlook> — see CLOUD 1

blurry adjective
not seen or understood clearly <a blurry image in the foreground of the photograph> — see FAINT 1

blurt (out) verb
to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling <“I'm very sad!” the toddler blurted out> — see EXCLAIM

blush noun
a rosy appearance (of the cheeks) <a baby with a healthy blush> — see BLOOM 2

blush verb
to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment) <she blushed when she realized she had walked into the boys' bathroom by mistake>

Synonyms
bloom, color, crimson, flush, glow, redden

Related Words
incarnadine, rouge, ruddle; abash, chagrin, discomfit, disconcert, embarrass, faze, humiliate, mortify

Phrases
turn color

bluster noun
1 boastful speech or writing <all the bluster in the campaign speech was intended to hide a lack of specifics> — see BOMBAST 1
2 loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <I can't work with all the bluster in here> — see NOISE 1
3 a state of noisy, confused activity <a mayor who got things done without a lot of bluster and self-serving publicity> — see COMMOTION

bluster verb
to talk loudly and wildly <the rude customer blustered and yelled threats about lawsuits, but eventually left> — see RANT

blustery adjective
marked by strong wind or more wind than usual <it can be a bit risky to drive across the bridge on a blustery day> — see 1WINDY 1

board noun
1 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <a proposal that is likely to meet with strong opposition from the local board of undertakers> — see ASSOCIATION 2
2 a leg-mounted piece of furniture with a broad flat top designed for the serving of food <in preparation for the governor's visit, the taverner arranged an array of fancy dishes and silverware on the inn's finest board> — see TABLE 1

board verb
1 to provide food or meals for <housed and boarded many foster children over the years> — see FEED 1
2 to provide with living quarters or shelter <boarded the stray cat until a permanent home could be found> — see HOUSE 1

boarder noun
one who rents a room or apartment in another's house <a boarder who paid $100 per week for a room and meals> — see TENANT 1

boardwalk noun
a public place for strolling <the town's old-fashioned beachfront boardwalk has been a tourist attraction since the 1920s> — see PROMENADE

boast noun
an asset that brings praise or renown <the school's boast was a winning football team> — see GLORY 2

boast verb
1 to praise or express pride in one's own possessions, qualities, or accomplishments often to excess <he boasted about his latest killing in real estate so I thought he should be the one to pay for dinner>

Synonyms
blow, brag, bull [slang], crow, gasconade, swagger, vapor, vaunt

Related Words
bluster, harangue, puff; pride; gush; exult, glory, rejoice; brandish, display, exhibit, expose, flaunt, glorify, parade, show off; magnify, maximize

Phrases
blow smoke

Near Antonyms
belittle, deprecate, diminish, discount, laugh off, minimize, play down, pooh-pooh (also pooh), shrug off, underrate, undervalue; bemoan, lament, mourn, regret

2 to have within <the hotel boasts nearly 50 rooms> — see CONTAIN 1

boaster noun
someone who boasts <I'm tired of hearing about that boaster's new car> — see BRAGGART

boat noun
1 a small buoyant structure for travel on water <paddling the little boat across the lake is great exercise, but tiring>

Synonyms
bottom, craft, vessel, watercraft

Related Words
catboat, ketch, sailboat, schooner, yacht; bateau, caïque, canoe, catamaran, coracle, curragh (or currach), dhow, dinghy, dink, dory, dugout, flatboat, garvey, gig, johnboat, kayak, outrigger, paddleboat, pinnace, piragua, pirogue, pontoon, pram, punt, raft, rowboat, rowing boat [chiefly British], sampan, scow, scull, shallop, shell, skiff, surfboat, umiak, wherry; cruiser, inboard, motorboat, outboard, powerboat; houseboat, riverboat; auxiliary, bumboat, cutter, jolly boat, launch, lifeboat, longboat, tender, yawl; barge, hoy, keel, keelboat, lighter, narrow boat [British]; towboat, tug, tugboat; ferry, ferryboat, gondola, taxi, water taxi; banker, coble, dragger, gillnetter, hooker, lugger, scalloper, seiner, shrimper, trawler, whaleboat, whaler, workboat; cockleshell, tub; airboat, air-cushion vehicle, hovercraft; hydrofoil, hydroplane; assault boat, PT boat, torpedo boat

2 a large craft for travel by water <you'll have to take a passenger boat to get to the island> — see SHIP

boat verb
to travel on water in a vessel <boated to the picnic site on an island in the bay> — see SAIL 1

boatload noun
a considerable amount <a boatload of publicity for the new handheld devices> — see LOT 2

1bob verb
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument <bobbed her waist-length hair herself on her 18th birthday> — see CLIP 1

2bob verb
1 to make short up-and-down movements <a family of ducks bobbing on the water> — see NOD
2 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <he playfully bobbed his brother on the nose to get his attention> — see HIT 1

bob noun, Scottish
a bunch of flowers <the lassie carried only a little bob on her wedding day> — see BOUQUET 1

bobbery noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <proponents of a silent birth believe that the bobbery that accompanies most births is harmful to the newborn> — see COMMOTION

bobble noun
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <she's terrified that she'll make some silly bobble during the important presentation> — see ERROR 1

bobble verb
1 to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <the first baseman bobbled the catch, so the runner was safe> — see BOTCH
2 to make short up-and-down movements <the little doll's head bobbled when you poked it> — see NOD

bobby noun, British
a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level <asked a passing London bobby for directions> — see OFFICER 1

bod noun, British
a member of the human race <I know several bods who work on Fleet Street> — see HUMAN

bodacious adjective
1 likely to attract attention <the bodacious decor of the boutique hotel is intended to appeal to the young and the hip> — see NOTICEABLE
2 Southern & Midland having no exceptions or restrictions <had the bodacious gall to tell me that he'd return my lawn mower when he felt like it> — see ABSOLUTE 2
3 sexually attractive <she's got a bodacious bod that's definitely swimsuit-friendly> — see SEXY 1

bode verb
to show signs of a favorable or successful outcome <her natural gift for reading boded well for her future in school>

Synonyms
augur, forebode (also forbode), promise

Related Words
forecast, foretell, predict, presage, prognosticate, prophesy; forewarn, warn; anticipate, divine, foreknow, foresee; betoken, foreshadow, harbinger, portend, prefigure, presignify; indicate, signify; allude, connote, hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, suggest

Phrases
bid fair

bodement noun
a declaration that something will happen in the future <the continuing fascination with the obscure bodements of the 16th-century astrologer Nostradamus> — see PREDICTION

bodiless adjective
not composed of matter <ghosts are supposed to be bodiless> — see IMMATERIAL 1

bodily adjective
of or relating to the human body <the old man suffered from a number of bodily ailments> — see PHYSICAL 1

boding noun
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event <among some ancient peoples, solar eclipses were often seen as celestial bodings of earthly calamities> — see OMEN

body verb
to represent in visible form <abstract sculpture that bodies forth the artist's aesthetic of minimalism> — see EMBODY 2

body noun
1 the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts <the body of the novel was quite good, even if the beginning was a bit slow>

Synonyms
brunt, bulk, chief, core, generality, heft [archaic], main, mass, staple, weight

Related Words
majority; aggregate, amount, entirety, quantum, sum, sum total, total, totality, whole; bottom, essence, essentiality, marrow, meat, nature, pith, quintessence, root, soul, stuff, substance; center, heart, hub, kernel, middle, nucleus, nut, seat; affair, argument, burden, crux, focus, gist, nub, pitch, point, purport; matter, motif, subject, text, theme, topic

Near Antonyms
accessory (also accessary), adjunct, appendage, extension, offshoot; component, constituent, element, ingredient; division, part, piece, section, segment; angle, aspect, facet, feature, quality, side

2 a distinct and separate portion of matter <to the early explorers the Atlantic was a gigantic and forbidding body of water>

Synonyms
mass

Related Words
aggregate, amount, bulk, quantity, quantum, volume; item, object, thing; material, stuff, substance; entirety, totality, whole

3 a group of people acting together within a larger group <feared that there was a body of extremists within the labor union> — see FACTION
4 a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <a hangout where, it seems, much of the student body can be found on a Saturday night> — see GANG 2
5 a member of the human race <the most intelligent body in this entire place> — see HUMAN
6 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <a body of security men accompany the president at all times> — see GROUP 2

boff or boffo noun
1 an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <an old joke dating from the days of vaudeville that's still good for a boff> — see LAUGH 1
2 something said or done to cause laughter <the emcee told some good boffs that kept the ceremony from becoming too serious> — see JOKE 1

boffo adjective
of the very best kind <a boffo performance that wowed even Broadway's toughest critics> — see EXCELLENT

boffola noun
1 an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <the audience could be heard chuckling throughout the play, but there were few theater-filling boffolas> — see LAUGH 1
2 something said or done to cause laughter <if that was the wannabe comic's best boffola, he'd be well-advised not to quit his day job> — see JOKE 1

1bog noun
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water <got a shoe stuck in the bog> — see SWAMP 1

2bog noun, British
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <they're out of paper in the bog again> — see TOILET

bog (down) verb
to place in conflict or difficulties <we were bogged down by the endless changes, and of course finished late> — see EMBROIL

bogart verb
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats <his friends tried to bogart him into doing the right thing and marrying the girl> — see INTIMIDATE

bogey also bogie or bogy noun
1 something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason <math and math tests have long been bogeys for many students>

Synonyms
bête noire, black beast, bugaboo, bugbear, dread, hobgoblin, ogre

Related Words
apparition, ghost, phantasm (also fantasm), phantom, poltergeist, shade, specter (or spectre), spirit, spook, wraith; banshee, bogeyman (also bogyman), demon (or daemon), devil, fiend, ghoul, imp, incubus; fright, horrible, horror, monster, monstrosity, terror; bane, curse, enemy, plague, scourge, torment; abomination, anathema

2 the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <the child believed bogeys lived in the closet> — see GHOST 1

boggle verb
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <she boggled her first effort to make Christmas cookies> — see BOTCH

bogus adjective
1 being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <for that price, you're only going to get furniture covered in bogus leather and not the real stuff> — see IMITATION
2 being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud <the “designer” watches sold on the street are usually bogus> — see COUNTERFEIT 1
3 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <there was often a lot of bogus conviviality at the company's parties> — see ARTIFICIAL 1

bohemian noun
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs <he spent a few years living as a bohemian in the artists' quarter of the city> — see NONCONFORMIST 1

boho noun
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs <after living among the bohos for a while, she realized that there was a disenchanting conformity to their nonconformity> — see NONCONFORMIST 1

boil noun
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin <the dermatologist lanced the infected boil that had formed on the patient's neck> — see POCK

boil verb
1 to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger <she was boiling at the thought of her so-called best friend trying to steal her boyfriend>

Synonyms
burn, foam, fume, rage, rankle, seethe, sizzle, steam, storm

Related Words
fulminate, rant, rave; smolder (or smoulder); bristle, flare (up), inflame (also enflame); chafe, fret, stew; agitate, convulse, roil, shake

Phrases
see red

2 to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam <boil the potatoes until they are tender before you try to mash them>

Synonyms
coddle, parboil, poach, simmer, stew

Related Words
scald; braise, fricassee, pressure-cook, smother, steam; reboil

3 to be in a state of violent rolling motion <the sea boiled and frothed during the storm> — see SEETHE 1

boil down verb
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) <the discussion of the problem can be boiled down to a couple of critical points> — see SUMMARIZE

boiling adjective
having a notably high temperature <it was boiling in that car, and the owners had foolishly left their pet in it> — see HOT 1

boiling point noun
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <when the situation reached the boiling point, the President had no choice but to order out the National Guard> — see EMERGENCY

boisterous adjective
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way <the fans at the baseball game became particularly boisterous after the home run>

Synonyms
hell-raising, knockabout, rambunctious, raucous, robustious, roisterous, rollicking, rowdy, rumbustious [chiefly British]

Related Words
callithumpian, carnival, carnivalesque, larrikin [chiefly Australian], raffish, rampageous, raucous, riotous, rowdyish, ruffianly; stormy, tempestuous, turbulent, violent; headstrong, intractable, obstreperous, recalcitrant, uncontrollable, uncontrolled, undisciplined, ungovernable, uninhibited, unmanageable, unreserved, unrestrained, unruly, wild, willful (or wilful); bubbly, buoyant, effervescent, exuberant, high-spirited, impassioned, lively, sprightly, vivacious; clamorous, loudmouthed, noisy, openmouthed, rackety, strident, vociferous; howling, screaming, yelling

Phrases
wild and woolly

Near Antonyms
sedate, sober, solemn, somber (or sombre), staid; decorous, dignified, proper, seemly; calm, hushed, noiseless, peaceful, placid, quiet, restrained, serene, silent, soundless, tranquil; collected, composed, constrained, controlled, imperturbable, inhibited, repressed, self-controlled, unflappable, unruffled; moderate, reasonable, subdued, temperate; impassive, phlegmatic, stoic (or stoical), stolid; depressed; aloof, detached, indifferent

Antonyms
orderly

boîte noun
a bar or restaurant offering special nighttime entertainment (as music, dancing, or comedy acts) <a funky boîte on Paris's Left Bank that offers hot jazz to a self-consciously cool crowd> — see NIGHTCLUB

bold adjective
1 inclined or willing to take risks <our youngest brother was the boldest one in the family, instantly taking to everything from skiing to skateboarding>

Synonyms
adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, daring, dashing, emboldened, enterprising, free-swinging, gutsy, hardy, nerved, nervy, venturesome, venturous

Related Words
brash, daredevil, foolhardy, heedless, hotheaded, impetuous, imprudent, impulsive, incautious, madcap, overbold, overconfident, rash, reckless, thoughtless, wild; brave, courageous, dauntless, fearless, gallant, greathearted, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, swashbuckling, unafraid, undaunted, valiant, valorous; gritty, plucky, spirited, spunky; gadarene, hasty, headlong, precipitate; absurd, asinine, balmy, brainless, crazy, foolish, half-witted, harebrained, insane, lunatic, mad, nutty, scatterbrained, silly, wacky (also whacky), witless; unnecessary; dumb, idiotic (also idiotical), moronic, stupid; irrational, unreasonable

Near Antonyms
chickenhearted, coward, cowardly, craven, lily-livered, milk-livered, milky, poltroon, pusillanimous, shy, timid, timorous; careful, cautious, heedful, prudent, wary; overcareful, overcautious; affrighted, afraid, alarmed, fainthearted, fearful, frightened, horrified, scared, shocked, spooked, startled, terrified, terrorized; unnerved; calm, cool, levelheaded, rational, reasonable, sage, sane, sensible, sound, wise; appalled, concerned, dismayed, upset, worried

Antonyms
unadventurous, unenterprising

2 displaying or marked by rude boldness <you're a bold little brat for trying to steal my stuff while I'm right here> — see NERVY 1
3 likely to attract attention <an interior decorator who likes to use bold colors> — see NOTICEABLE
4 showing a lack of proper social reserve or modesty <a bold child who interrupts the adults at his parents' parties> — see PRESUMPTUOUS 1
5 having an incline approaching the perpendicular <the advanced climbers chose a bold cliff to test themselves> — see STEEP 1
6 feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <the bold explorers who will someday journey to other planets> — see BRAVE 1

bold–faced adjective
displaying or marked by rude boldness <the child proceeded to tell a bold-faced lie despite the evidence right in front of us> — see NERVY 1

boldly adverb
in a fearless manner <she strode boldly into the political fray> — see BRAVELY 1

bollix (up) verb
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <you've bollixed up the whole thing> — see BOTCH

bolster verb
1 to hold up or serve as a foundation for <used additional beams to bolster the ceiling> — see SUPPORT 3
2 to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) <a couple of tournament wins would bolster the extravagant claims that have been made on behalf of the young golfer> — see SUPPORT 4

bolt verb
1 to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) <I bolted as I read the winning lottery numbers> — see START 1
2 to proceed or move quickly <the cat bolted for the food dish the minute he spied it> — see HURRY 2
3 to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening <the rabbit bolted when it saw the fox approaching> — see RUN 2
4 to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling <bolted out the cuss word without thinking> — see EXCLAIM
5 to swallow or eat greedily <the way you bolted those hot dogs, it's no wonder you're feeling a little queasy> — see GOBBLE

bolt–hole noun, chiefly British
something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger <her cottage in the Lake District served as her bolt-hole whenever the stresses of London became too great> — see SHELTER

bomb noun
1 something that has failed <her tell-all book was a bomb that landed on the remainder tables with a thud> — see FAILURE 3
2 British a very large amount of money <that stay at Claridge's cost a bomb, but it was worth it> — see FORTUNE 2

bomb verb
1 to attack with a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <following the reporter's obscene outburst, viewers bombed the television station with an unprecedented number of complaints> — see BOMBARD 2
2 slang to proceed or move quickly <a snowboarder bombing down the slope almost crashed into me> — see HURRY 2
3 to be unsuccessful <the chichi restaurant bombed big-time, lasting only six months> — see FAIL 2
4 to defeat by a large margin <it's no surprise that the inexperienced baseball team got totally bombed in its first game> — see WHIP 2
5 to use bombs or artillery against <the enemy has bombed the city again> — see BOMBARD 1

bombard verb
1 to use bombs or artillery against <the Allies bombarded Germany for a great many months during World War II>

Synonyms
batter, blitz, blitzkrieg, bomb, cannonade, shell

Related Words
enfilade; rake, strafe; assail, assault, attack, devastate, hit, pound, ravage, strike

2 to attack with a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <reporters bombarded the company spokesman with sharp questions>

Synonyms
barrage, bomb

Related Words
examine, grill, interrogate, pump, query, question, quiz; debrief; cross-examine; catechize; annoy, harass, hound, pester; flood, inundate

bombardment noun
a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <the bombardment of so many instructions meant that I missed some of the information> — see BARRAGE

bombast noun
1 boastful speech or writing <the other world leaders at the international conference had little interest in being subjected to the president's bombast>

Synonyms
bluster, brag, braggadocio, bull [slang], cockalorum, fanfaronade, gas, gasconade, grandiloquence, hot air, magniloquence, rant, rodomontade (also rhodomontade)

Related Words
oratory, rhapsody, rhetoric; pomposity, turgidity, wind; bloviation, verbosity, windiness; babble, blab, chatter, drivel, gabble, gibber, gibberish, jabber, prattle; jawing, patter, prating, yammering; egotism, self-conceit, self-importance, swagger, vaunt

2 language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere <you need less bombast and more substance in this speech on human rights> — see RHETORIC 1

bombastic adjective
marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases <a bombastic speech intended to impress the voters in her congressional district> — see RHETORICAL 1

bombed adjective
1 being under the influence of alcohol <my handwriting gets much worse when I'm bombed> — see DRUNK
2 being under the influence of a recreational drug <the pop star was clearly bombed out of her skull during the interview> — see STONED 1

bombed–out adjective
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <a bombed-out section of the city seemingly frequented only by hookers and heroin addicts> — see SHABBY 1

bombproof adjective
marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion <the manufacturer's bombproof powerboats can take a lot of punishment> — see STABLE 1

bombshell noun
something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected <discovering that I had a long-lost sister was an absolute bombshell> — see SURPRISE 1

bona fide adjective
being exactly as appears or as claimed <a bona fide war hero> — see AUTHENTIC 1

bond noun
1 something that physically prevents free movement <before they could release the captive, they had to undo a number of bonds>

Synonyms
band, bind, bracelet, chain, cuff(s), fetter, handcuff(s), irons, ligature, manacle(s), shackle

Related Words
captivity, confinement, constraint, curb, enchainment, enslavement, hindrance, immurement, imprisonment, incarceration, restraint, restriction; entanglement, net, trammel, trap; collar, straitjacket (also straightjacket); fastener, hobble, hold, hold-down, holding, tie

2 a uniting or binding force or influence <the bond of love between them was so strong that even death could not break it>

Synonyms
cement, cord, knot, ligature, link, tie

Related Words
attachment, connection, fastening, hookup, joint, linkage, linkup, nexus, tie-up, union, yoke; affection, fondness, sympathy; fetter, handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel; constraint, curb, hampering, limit, limitation, restraint, restriction

Near Antonyms
detaching, disengaging, parting, separation; unbinding, unfastening, unfettering, untying (or untieing); emancipation, freedom, liberation, release

3 a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation <signed a bond to repay the money> — see GUARANTEE 1
4 a substance used to stick things together <what type of bond works best on ceramics?> — see GLUE

bond verb
to form a close personal relationship <a man attempting to bond with his new and mistrustful stepson> — see COMMUNE

bondage noun
the state of being a slave <the Civil War ended over 200 years of bondage for black Africans in America> — see SLAVERY 1

bonding noun
a physical sticking to as if by glue <this epoxy has good bonding for glass and ceramics> — see ADHESION 1

bondman also bondsman noun
a person who is considered the property of another person <would rather die as an insurgent than live as a bondman> — see SLAVE 1

bone adverb
to a great degree <grew up in a backwoods area that was bone poor> — see VERY 1

bone noun
1 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <he hasn't a competitive bone in his body> — see INCLINATION 1
2 bones plural a small cube marked on each side with one to six spots and usually played in pairs in various games <the pirates decided their captives' fate with a toss of the bones> — see DIE
3 usually bones plural the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions <I could feel in my bones that I had just met my future wife> — see CORE 1
4 slang a U.S. currency bill representing 100 cents <I hadn't a bone to my name> — see DOLLAR
5 bones plural a dead body <requested that his bones be buried in the country of his birth> — see CORPSE

bone (up) verb
to use the mind to acquire knowledge <I suggest you bone up a bit on torts before the next attempt at the bar exam> — see STUDY 1

bone–chilling adjective
having a low or subnormal temperature <we stood in line for hours in the bone-chilling weather> — see COLD 1

bonehead adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <dreaded spending the holidays with his bonehead relatives> — see STUPID 1

bonehead noun
a stupid person <the package's directions seem to suggest that anyone who would buy such a product is a bonehead> — see IDIOT

boneheaded adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <a product with a warning label that even the most boneheaded consumer should be able to understand> — see STUPID 1

boneheadedness noun
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <the sheer boneheadedness shown by the state's politicians, who have ignored the problem for decades> — see STUPIDITY 1

boneyard noun
a piece of land used for burying the dead <a once-notorious gunslinger who now lies in the forlorn boneyard of an Old West ghost town> — see CEMETERY

bong verb
to make the clear sound heard when metal vibrates <church bells across the city bonged to mark the solemn occasion> — see 2RING

bonhomous adjective
having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <bonhomous talk about their lives> <the talk show's bonhomous host has an easy rapport with television viewers> — see FRIENDLY 1

boniface noun
the owner or manager of an inn <the operator of the inn is the very epitome of the genial and gracious boniface> — see INNKEEPER

bonk verb
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <an overhead branch suddenly fell and bonked him on the head> — see HIT 1

bonkers adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <spent her last years as a totally bonkers recluse in a decaying mansion> — see INSANE 1

bonny also bonnie adjective, chiefly British
1 of the very best kind <one of several inns in the Lake District offering bonny accommodations and bountiful breakfasts> — see EXCELLENT
2 very pleasing to look at <a bonny child dressed in traditional Scottish clothing> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

bonus noun
something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed <this job offers a nice Christmas bonus in addition to the salary>

Synonyms
cumshaw, dividend, donative, extra, gratuity, gravy, gravy train, lagniappe, perk, perquisite, throw-in, tip

Related Words
pension; bestowal, presentation; benefaction, beneficence, benevolence, bounty, charity, generosity, largesse (also largess), philanthropy; contribution, donation, gift, offering, present; grant, subsidy; boon, manna, windfall; favor, freebie (or freebee), giveaway, premium; award, prize, reward; fringe benefit, icing

bon vivant noun
a person with refined tastes in food and wine <a bon vivant who loves to hold dinner parties and serve exquisite, elaborate meals> — see EPICURE

bon voyage noun
an expression of good wishes at parting <everyone said their bon voyages as the happy couple left on a cruise for their honeymoon> — see GOOD-BYE

bony also boney adjective
1 having a noticeably small amount of body fat <that bony old horse may have been deliberately starved> — see THIN 1
2 producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation <bony hills from which sheepherders eked out a meager existence> — see BARREN 1

boo noun
a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval <the referee's questionable call was greeted with a chorus of boos> — see CATCALL

boob noun, British
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <made an embarrassing boob on a chat show that had all of London laughing> — see ERROR 1

boob verb, British
to make a mistake <it was an important speech, and the prime minister knew that he could not afford to boob on it> — see ERR 1

boo–boo noun
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <the president should not be making boo-boos in something as important as the State of the Union Address> — see ERROR 1

boob tube noun
an electronic device with a screen and speakers that reproduces images and sound <tonight I just want to unwind in front of the boob tube> — see TELEVISION

booby noun
a person who lacks good sense or judgment <what kind of booby goes out into the snow barefoot?> — see FOOL 1

booby–trap verb
to place hidden explosive devices in or under <booby-trapped the field bordering the army's camp> — see MINE

booby trap noun
1 a usually concealed explosive device designed to go off when disturbed <luckily, the bomb squad didn't find any booby traps>

Synonyms
mine

Related Words
claymore mine, land mine; torpedo; bomb, explosive; hazard, pitfall, snare, trap; ambush, net, web

2 a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized <he noticed the booby trap in the interviewer's question just a little too late> — see PITFALL 1

boodle noun
1 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <a boodle of teenagers boarded the bus together> — see GROUP 2
2 a very large amount of money <we saved a boodle by buying a house that's off the beaten path> — see FORTUNE 2
3 something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision <an IRS agent was caught accepting some boodle from people she was auditing> — see BRIBE

book noun
1 a set of printed sheets of paper bound together between covers and forming a work of fiction or nonfiction <I bought another new book yesterday, and I can't wait to read it>

Synonyms
tome, volume

Related Words
hardback, hardcover, paper, paperback, paperbound, pocket book, pocket edition, softback, softcover, trade book, trade edition; folio, quarto; guidebook, handbook, how-to, manual; catalog (or catalogue), cyclopedia (also cyclopaedia), dictionary, encyclopedia; monograph, primer, text, textbook, tract, treatise; novel, novelette, pulp; album, almanac, anthology, casebook, chapbook, nonbook, omnibus, picture book

2 cap a book made up of the writings accepted by Christians as coming from God <offered to swear on the Book that everything had happened just as he said> — see BIBLE
3 a publication that appears at regular intervals <older people in these parts still tend to call a magazine a book> — see JOURNAL 1
4 information not generally available to the public <what's the book on the new company president?> — see DOPE 1

book verb
1 to arrange to have something (as a hotel room) held for one's future use <we booked a conference room for the meeting next week> — see RESERVE 1
2 slang to leave a place often for another <I'm running late, so I've got to book> — see GO 2

bookish adjective
suggestive of the vocabulary used in books <“fealty” is a bookish synonym for “loyalty”>

Synonyms
erudite, learned, literary

Related Words
academic (also academical), donnish, inkhorn, pedantic, scholastic; belletristic (also belle-lettristic); highbrow, highbrowed, intellectual; educated, schooled; elevated, eloquent, formal, high-flown, lofty, majestic, stately, towering; bombastic, declamatory, florid, flowery, grandiloquent, highfalutin (also hifalutin), pompous, stilted

Near Antonyms
chatty, conversational; familiar, informal; slangy; illiterate

Antonyms
colloquial, nonliterary, unbookish

booklet noun
a short printed publication with no cover or with a paper cover <there's an instruction booklet next to the computer> — see PAMPHLET

bookman noun
one who is keenly devoted to books <a bookman since toddlerhood, he's never shown much interest in television or video games> — see BIBLIOPHILE

bookworm noun
a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits <a bookworm who prefers reading to just about any other activity> — see NERD 1

boom noun
a loud explosive sound <the nerve-jangling boom of a car backfiring> — see CLAP 1

boom verb
1 to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number <requests for hybrid cars are booming> — see INCREASE 2
2 to make a long loud deep noise or cry <the cannons boomed throughout the night> — see ROAR 1

boomerang verb
to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect <the well-meaning gesture boomeranged, since he ended up being offended by it> — see BACKFIRE

booming adjective
1 marked by a high volume of sound <a booming bass drum> — see LOUD 1
2 marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically <a booming business that has grown every year since it was founded> — see PROSPEROUS 1

boomy adjective
marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically <a Web designer who made a fortune during the boomy days of the dot-com bubble> — see PROSPEROUS 1

boon adjective
likely to seek or enjoy the company of others <I and my boon companions celebrated that afternoon's victory on the gridiron with a night at a local dance club> — see CONVIVIAL

boon noun
1 a thing that helps <the couple's generous donation was a great boon to the charity's fund-raising campaign> — see HELP 2
2 an act of kind assistance <a softhearted man who finds it hard to deny any boon, whether it be for friend or stranger> — see FAVOR 1
3 something granted as a special favor <at the prep school, seniors are given certain boons that make them the envy of underclassmen> — see PRIVILEGE
4 something that provides happiness or does good for a person or thing <the unexpected rain was a boon for the farmers who had been struggling with drought> — see BLESSING 2

boondocks plural noun
the open rural area outside of big towns and cities <a former city girl who was still adjusting to life in the boondocks> — see COUNTRY 2

boonies plural noun, slang
the open rural area outside of big towns and cities <this is the boonies, so don't expect to find a lot of places selling cappuccino> — see COUNTRY 2

boor noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <a loudmouthed boor who embarrassed his family at every social event they attended> — see JERK 1

boorish adjective
having or showing crudely insensitive or impolite manners <boorish behavior, such as yelling for service in restaurants> — see CLOWNISH

boost noun
1 an act or instance of helping <she always liked to give struggling families in the neighborhood a boost> — see HELP 1
2 something added (as by growth) <a sudden boost in sales> — see INCREASE 1
3 something that arouses action or activity <according to the President, a tax cut is just the boost that the economy needs> — see IMPULSE 1

boost verb
1 to lift with effort <boosted the child into her car seat> — see HEAVE 1
2 to make greater in size, amount, or number <a promotion that boosted the number of interested customers milling about the showroom> — see INCREASE 1
3 to make markedly greater in measure or degree <let's boost the volume on the radio so everyone can hear> — see INTENSIFY
4 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <boosted the box onto the top shelf> — see RAISE 1
5 to provide publicity for <boosted the singer's latest release with a round of appearances on all the talk and entertainment shows> — see PUBLICIZE 1
6 slang to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <the woman was nabbed trying to boost a couple of bottles of perfume> — see STEAL 1

booster noun
a person who actively supports or favors a cause <rah-rah boosters for the sports team will be attending the game and carrying large signs> — see EXPONENT 1

boot noun
a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings <the fans got a real boot out the team's lopsided victory over its longtime rivals> — see THRILL

boot verb
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <he booted the answer of what should have been an easy question> — see BOTCH

boot (out) verb
to drive or force out <the theater manager booted out the teens who were making a disturbance> — see EJECT 1

bootleg noun
illegally produced liquor <getting caught with bootleg during Prohibition could have resulted in a jail sentence> — see MOONSHINE 1

bootlegger noun
a person who imports or exports goods secretly and illegally <a bootlegger of counterfeit electronics> — see SMUGGLER

bootless adjective
producing no results <a bootless effort to get tickets to the sold-out game> — see FUTILE 1

bootlick verb
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior <the kind of office in which people feel they have to bootlick in order to get ahead> — see FAWN

bootlicker noun
a person who flatters another in order to get ahead <she's such a bootlicker that I don't take any of her compliments seriously> — see SYCOPHANT

bootstrapper noun
an ambitious person who eagerly goes after what is desired <he was the proverbial bootstrapper, having worked his way up from the mail room to the corner office> — see GO-GETTER

1booty noun
valuables stolen or taken by force <no one knows where Captain Kidd hid his booty, but that hasn't deterred hopeful adventurers from looking for it for the last 300 years> — see LOOT 1

2booty also bootie noun, slang
the part of the body upon which someone sits <she's got a nice booty> — see BUTTOCKS

booze noun
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <this will be a birthday party without booze> — see ALCOHOL

booze verb
to partake excessively of alcoholic beverages <he went out boozing with his friends on his 21st birthday> — see DRINK 2

boozehound noun
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <he's a famous writer and an infamous boozehound> — see DRUNK 1

boozer noun
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <the boozer finally checked herself into rehab> — see DRUNK 1

boozy adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <I know I said that I liked the party, but you have to remember: I was boozy at the time> — see DRUNK

bop noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <a bop to the television set sometimes fixes it> — see 1BLOW

bop verb
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <bopped the dog on the nose to discourage bad behavior> — see HIT 1

bordello noun
a building in which prostitutes are available <the cabdriver offered to show me what he claimed was the fanciest bordello in town>

Synonyms
bagnio, bawdy house, brothel, cathouse, disorderly house, sporting house, stew, whorehouse

Related Words
call house, crib; massage parlor; harem, seraglio

border noun
1 the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <a rug with a fancily embroidered border>

Synonyms
borderline, bound, boundary, brim, circumference, compass, confines, edge, edging, end, frame, fringe, hem, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim, skirt, skirting, verge

Related Words
ambit; brink, crest, curb, cusp, lip; ceiling, maximum; demarcation, extent, limitation, measure, mere, restriction, termination; borderland, frontier, march, outskirts, pale, selvage; lap; shore

Near Antonyms
center, core, heart; inner, inside, interior, middle, within

2 a region along the dividing line between two countries <people who live on an international border get used to carrying a passport> — see FRONTIER 1

border verb
to serve as a border for <that velvet bordered the sleeves on this shirt, until it fell off>

Synonyms
bound, edge, frame, fringe, margin, rim, skirt

Related Words
hem, trim; circumscribe, define, delineate, demarcate, outline, silhouette, sketch, trace; circle, compass, encircle, enclose (also inclose), environ, girdle, girth, loop, ring, round, surround, wall; check, confine, control, curb, limit, restrain, restrict

border (on) verb
1 to come very close to being <that comment borders on insubordination, and you should be more careful in the future>

Synonyms
touch (on), trench (on), verge (on)

Related Words
approach, near; appear, look, resemble, seem, suggest; approximate, compare (with), measure up (to), stack up (against or with)

2 to be adjacent to <that state borders on three others> — see ADJOIN 1

bordering adjective
having a border in common <a country given to constant disagreements with bordering nations> — see ADJACENT

borderland noun
a region along the dividing line between two countries <I grew up on the borderland, so I speak both languages> — see FRONTIER 1

borderline adjective
located at or near a border <a borderline region that is claimed by both countries>

Synonyms
frontier, marginal

Related Words
outermost, outmost; exterior, external, outer, outside, outward

Near Antonyms
inner, inside, internal, inward; inmost, innermost; central, mid, middle

Antonyms
interior

borderline adverb
very close to but not completely <your answer was borderline rude, so I would advise you to be more diplomatic in the future> — see ALMOST

borderline noun
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <the actual borderline separating the two properties is now being disputed> — see BORDER 1

1bore verb
1 to make a hole or series of holes in <some woodpecker bored holes in our tree in the backyard> — see PERFORATE
2 to force one's way <with some effort, she bored through the throng of yelling protestors> — see 2PRESS 4

2bore verb
to make weary and restless by being dull or monotonous <the professor's lifeless and unimaginative teaching style bored the students to death>

Synonyms
jade, tire, weary

Related Words
pall; burn out, do in, drain, enervate, exhaust, fag, fatigue, tucker (out), wash out, wear, wear out; debilitate, disable, enfeeble; deject, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

Phrases
put to sleep

Near Antonyms
activate, animate, energize, enliven, excite, galvanize, invigorate, stimulate, strengthen, vitalize; amuse, entertain; allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, hypnotize, mesmerize; monopolize, preoccupy; busy, immerse, involve, occupy; pump up, rally, rouse, stir

Antonyms
absorb, busy, engage, engross, enthrall (or enthral), fascinate, grip, interest, intrigue

bore noun
someone or something boring <for once, the graduation speaker wasn't a real bore> — see DRAG 1

bored adjective
having one's patience, interest, or pleasure exhausted <I was completely bored during that speech> — see WEARY 2

boredom noun
the state of being bored <she spent that whole meeting in a state of complete boredom, waiting for lunch>

Synonyms
blahs, doldrums, ennui, listlessness, restlessness, tedium, weariness

Related Words
cheerlessness, dispiritedness, joylessness, melancholy; languidness, languor, lassitude, lethargy, lifelessness, torpidity, torpor; dullness (also dulness), monotonousness, monotony, sameness; apathy, indifference, unconcern

Near Antonyms
beguilement, bewitchment, captivation, enchantment, fascination; absorption, engagement, engrossment, immersion, involvement; animation, enlivenment, excitement, invigoration, stimulation; amusement, entertainment; diversion, relief

boring adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <I wish this book weren't so boring; I keep falling asleep whenever I try to read it>

Synonyms
arid, colorless, drab, dreary, drudging, dry, dull, dusty, flat, heavy, ho-hum, humdrum, jading, jejune, leaden, mind-numbing, monochromatic, monotonous, numbing, old, pedestrian, ponderous, slow, stale, stodgy, stuffy, stupid, tame, tedious, tiresome, tiring, uninteresting, wearisome, weary, wearying

Related Words
aseptic, barren, blah, dullish, pleasureless, prosaic, prosy, soggy, spiritless; blank, earthbound, gray (also grey), inanimate, pallid, pedantic, sterile, suspenseless, undramatic, uneventful, unexciting, unimaginative, uninspiring, unnewsworthy, unrewarding, unsensational, unspectacular; annoying, bothersome, irksome, irritating; longsome; palling; draining, enervating, exhausting, fatiguing, wearing; debilitating, enfeebling; demoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting; common, commonplace, ordinary, tepid, unexceptional, unsurprising, vapid; cumbersome, lumbering, plodding, poky (or pokey)

Near Antonyms
amazing, astonishing, astounding, awesome, eye-opening, fabulous, marvelous (or marvellous), sensational, spectacular, surprising, wonderful, wondrous; animating, breathtaking, electrifying, energizing, enlivening, exciting, exhilarating, galvanizing, hair-raising, inspiring, invigorating, rip-roaring, rousing, stimulating, stirring, thrilling; amusing, diverting, entertaining; moving, poignant, touching; alluring, attracting, attractive, beguiling, bewitching, captivating, charming, enchanting, enthralling, entrancing, fascinating; mesmerizing, spellbinding; suspenseful; arresting, provocative, tantalizing

Antonyms
absorbing, engaging, engrossing, gripping, interesting, intriguing, involving, riveting

born adjective
1 being such from birth or by nature <a born artist and largely self-taught, John Singleton Copley was producing accomplished portraits by the time he was in his late teens> — see NATURAL 1
2 belonging to a particular place by birth or origin <a born Texan and very proud of it> — see NATIVE 1

borrow verb
to take for one's own use (something originated by another) <borrowed the basic plot from a book of tales, but put her personal stamp on the story> — see ADOPT

boscage also boskage noun
a thick patch of shrubbery, small trees, or underbrush <hidden from prying eyes by a leafy boscage, the cottage was the perfect trysting place> — see THICKET

bosh noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <a pseudoscientific examination of UFO claims that was utter bosh> — see NONSENSE 1

bosk also bosque noun
a thick patch of shrubbery, small trees, or underbrush <the thorny branches of the mesquite bosk provide quail and other desert birds with a safe haven from predators> — see THICKET

bosom adjective
closely acquainted <promised to remain bosom friends for the rest of their lives> — see FAMILIAR 1

bosom noun
the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions <his friend's sudden death pained him to his very bosom> — see CORE 1

bosom verb
to surround or cover closely <bosomed by overgrown shrubbery, the abandoned cottage seemed like the ideal place for an afternoon tryst> — see ENFOLD 1

bosquet noun
a thick patch of shrubbery, small trees, or underbrush <a dense bosquet shields the trailhead from the bridle path> — see THICKET

boss adjective, slang
of the very best kind <that's a really boss stereo you've got> — see EXCELLENT

boss noun
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do <every morning the boss hands out a list of top-priority tasks>

Synonyms
boss man, captain, chief, foreman, head, headman, helmsman, honcho, jefe, kingpin, leader, master, taskmaster

Related Words
directress, mistress; administrator, commander, director, executive, general, governor, hierarch, higher-up; leadman, manager, overseer, principal, skipper, standard-bearer, steward, straw boss, superintendent, superior, supervisor; dominator, lord, overlord, potentate, ruler, sovereign (also sovran); figurehead; slave driver; baron, czar (also tsar or tzar), king, magnate, mogul, president, prince; big cheese, big gun, bigwig, top dog, top gun; cohead, coleader; employer, gaffer [British], ganger [British]; micromanager; subchief, subdirector

Near Antonyms
dependent, inferior, junior, secondary, subject, subordinate, underling

boss verb
1 to be in charge of <she bossed that project for years, until she was promoted again>

Synonyms
captain, handle, head, overlook, oversee, quarterback, superintend, supervise

Related Words
administer, command, control, direct, guide, manage, order, run, shepherd, show, steer; monitor, preside (over); govern, reign, rule

Phrases
call the shots (of), call the tune (for), ride herd on, watch over

2 to exercise authority or power over <bossed the entire job site for a year> — see GOVERN 1
3 to serve as leader of <bossed the entire gang of electricians on the construction project> — see LEAD 2

boss (around) verb
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority <that regional manager certainly likes to boss people around> — see COMMAND 1

boss man noun
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do <maybe we should ask the boss man how to handle this> — see BOSS

bossy adjective
fond of ordering people around <I don't want to work with him because he's so bossy and always runs roughshod over me>

Synonyms
authoritarian, authoritative, autocratic (also autocratical), despotic, dictatorial, domineering, imperious, masterful, overbearing, peremptory, tyrannical (also tyrannic), tyrannous

Related Words
arrogant, assumptive, disdainful, fastuous, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-hat, huffy, important, lofty, lordly, overweening, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, proud, self-asserting, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity; commanding, controlling, dictating, regimental; arbitrary, high-handed, imperial; directorial, magisterial; aggressive, assertive, self-assertive; imperative; conceited, narcissistic, pompous, vain; all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent; firm, stern

Near Antonyms
humble, meek, modest, unassuming; amenable, docile, obedient, tractable; indecisive, irresolute; acquiescent, compliant, passive, resigned, submissive, yielding

botch noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <this police procedural is basically a botch of plot elements stolen from other (and better) novels> — see MISCELLANY 1

botch verb
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <the first time we tried to make a cake, we botched the job completely>

Synonyms
blow, bobble, boggle, bollix (up), boot, bugger (up), bumble, bungle, butcher, dub, flub, fluff, foozle, foul up, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mangle, mess (up), muck up, muff, murder, screw up

Related Words
blunder, gum (up), muddle, piffle; blemish, blight, damage, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, mutilate, ruin, spoil, vitiate; destroy, wreck; mishandle, mismanage

Near Antonyms
ameliorate, better, enhance, help, improve, meliorate, rectify, refine, reform, remedy; doctor, fix, patch, recondition, renovate, repair, revamp

botched adjective
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) <a botched attempt to mend relations with our disaffected European allies> — see AWKWARD 2

botcher noun
someone who bungles an effort <she has few rivals as a botcher of operatic arias> — see BUTCHER

bother noun
1 a state of noisy, confused activity <the whole household was in a bother, as our overnight guests were expected to arrive any minute> — see COMMOTION
2 one who is obnoxiously annoying <the woman next-door is such a bother—always dropping in at the most inopportune moments!> — see NUISANCE 1
3 something that is a source of irritation <returning damaged goods is a real bother> — see ANNOYANCE 3
4 the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts <never let his personal bothers interfere with his responsibilities at work> — see ANNOYANCE 2

bother verb
1 to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation <I am never going to get this work done if people don't stop wandering into the room and bothering me>

Synonyms
bug, chivy (or chivvy), disturb, intrude (upon), pester

Related Words
inconvenience, trouble; aggravate, annoy, bedevil, chafe, devil, dog, dun, exasperate, fret, gall, get, gnaw, grate, hassle, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rankle, rasp, rile, roil, torment, vex, worry; beleaguer, beset, besiege; distress, plague; afflict, harass, provoke; anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, inflame (also enflame), infuriate, madden, outrage; agitate, perturb; butt in, cut in (on), obtrude; encroach, infringe, invade, trespass

Near Antonyms
disregard, forget, ignore, leave, slight; appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, oblige, placate; delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy; comfort, console, content

2 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <it bothers me when obviously sick people go to concerts and spend the whole time coughing and sneezing> — see IRRITATE 1
3 to experience concern or anxiety <just get the basic concept right and don't bother about the details> — see WORRY 1
4 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <the stranger lurking outside her office building bothered her> — see DISTURB 1

botheration noun
1 the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another <if I'm to get any work done, this incessant botheration has to stop> — see ANNOYANCE 1
2 the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts <my life at that point seemed destined to be one endless botheration> — see ANNOYANCE 2
3 something that is a source of irritation <I hope that during my visit my special dietary needs won't be a botheration> — see ANNOYANCE 3

bothered adjective
subjected to and reacting with irritation <she finally learned not to get all hot and bothered over his insensitive remarks> — see ANNOYED

bothering noun
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another <one more bothering, and I'm going to kick you out of here> — see ANNOYANCE 1

bothersome adjective
causing annoyance <a bothersome habit of dropping trash on the floor right next to the garbage can> — see ANNOYING

bottle noun
1 a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <a talented writer whose fondness for the bottle was the stuff of legend> — see ALCOHOL
2 British slang strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <I wanted to confront the neighbors about the excessive noise coming from their flat, but I lost my bottle> — see COURAGE

bottleneck noun
a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement <a bottleneck inevitably forms at the start of a construction zone when the highway narrows from three to two lanes> — see JAM 1

bottom adjective
of, relating to, or located at the bottom <was sitting on the bottom step of the stairway>

Synonyms
bottommost, low, lowermost, nethermost, rock-bottom, undermost

Related Words
below, lower, low-grade, lowly, nether, under; lowered, low-lying, sunken

Near Antonyms
higher, loftier, upper; elevated, escalated, heightened, jacked (up), lifted, raised, uplifted, upraised

Antonyms
highest, loftiest, top, topmost, upmost, uppermost

bottom noun
1 the side or part facing downward from something <that side of the shelf is supposed to be the bottom, so turn it over before you assemble the bookcase>

Synonyms
underbelly, underbody, underpart, underside, undersurface

Related Words
belly, sole, toe; base, floor, foot, ground, seat, underpinning; undercarriage

Near Antonyms
acme, apex, climax, crest, crown, culmination, height, high-water mark, meridian, peak, pinnacle, roof, summit; cusp, head, point, tip, tip-top, zenith

Antonyms
face, top

2 the surface upon which a body of water lies <my missing fishing pole is probably lying on the bottom of the lake>

Synonyms
bed, floor

Related Words
riverbed; base, basement, foundation, ground

Near Antonyms
surface

3 the lowest part, place, or point <sliding all the way to the bottom of the snow-covered slope>

Synonyms
base, basement, foot, nadir, rock bottom

Related Words
basis, bed, bedrock, foundation, ground, groundwork, keystone, seat, underpinning

Near Antonyms
acme, apex, climax, crest, culmination, height, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, tip, tip-top, zenith

Antonyms
head, top, vertex

4 the part of the body upon which someone sits <the baby fell backwards onto her bottom> — see BUTTOCKS
5 a small buoyant structure for travel on water <the cargo will be carried by a local bottom> — see BOAT 1
6 the lowest point or level <their marriage had really hit bottom when they began sleeping in separate rooms> — see NADIR 1
7 an immaterial thing upon which something else rests <the bottom of his thesis is the assumption that people are fundamentally good> — see BASE 1

bottom–feeder noun
one who does things only for his own benefit and with little regard for right and wrong <that bottom-feeder would run over his own mother if it would help him get ahead> — see SELF-SEEKER

bottomless adjective
1 being or seeming to be without limits <the wealthy couple are generous hosts, providing a bottomless supply of food and drink> — see INFINITE
2 extending far downward <the killer threw the gun into what he thought was a bottomless pit> — see DEEP 1
3 lacking or shed of clothing <after one bar began featuring topless dancers, its chief competitor upped the ante with bottomless performers of the terpsichorean art> — see NAKED 1

bottomlessness noun
the state of having no clothes on one's body <as far as the city council was concerned, toplessness in bars was not a problem, but bottomlessness was> — see NUDITY

bottom line noun
the central part or aspect of something under consideration <why don't we stop talking around it and get to the bottom line> — see CRUX

bottommost adjective
1 following all others of the same kind in order or time <the bottommost part of the wine list is where you'll find the bargains> — see LAST 1
2 of, relating to, or located at the bottom <the bottommost rung of the ladder is broken> — see BOTTOM

bough noun
a major outgrowth from the main stem of a woody plant <a tree bough fell on my car during the windstorm> — see BRANCH 1

bought adjective
made beforehand in large numbers <a bought dress that looked like a high-end designer item> — see READY-MADE

boulevard noun
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <the city is celebrated for its broad, tree-lined boulevards> — see WAY 1

bouleversement noun
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) <the bouleversement in the print media since the rise of the Internet> — see CONVULSION

bounce noun
active strength of body or mind <the new pop singer has real bounce that serves her well in her videos> — see VIGOR 1

bounce verb
1 to drive or force out <the bar doesn't hesitate to bounce customers for getting rowdy> — see EJECT 1
2 to strike and fly off at an angle <most of my shots bounce off the rim of the basket> — see GLANCE 1
3 to let go from office, service, or employment <I'll bounce you if I catch you talking that way again> — see DISMISS 1
4 to set before the mind for consideration <we bounced several script suggestions off the producers, but they weren't interested in any of them> — see PROPOSE 1
5 to move with a light springing step <the girl bounced excitedly alongside her parents as they hurried toward the entrance to the amusement park> — see SKIP 1

bounce (back) verb
to regain a former or normal state <once the cleanup from the hurricane is completed, business owners are hoping that tourism quickly bounces back> — see RECOVER 2

bouncily adverb
in a quick and spirited manner <came bouncily into the room> — see GAILY 2

bouncing adjective
1 enjoying health and vigor <a bouncing new baby in the family> — see HEALTHY 1
2 having much high-spirited energy and movement <a bouncing dance routine that should be good for an aerobics class> — see LIVELY 1

bouncy adjective
1 able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted <bouncy seat cushions> — see ELASTIC 1
2 joyously unrestrained <unsurprisingly, the bouncy talk show hostess was a cheerleader in high school> — see EXUBERANT

1bound noun
1 a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go <the language in the novel really is beyond the bounds of decency> — see LIMIT 1
2 the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <colored outside the bounds of the drawing> — see BORDER 1

2bound noun
an act of leaping into the air <the kangaroo took one giant bound and was gone> — see JUMP 1

1bound verb
1 to mark the limits of <the country is bounded by water on two sides> — see LIMIT 2
2 to serve as a border for <being bounded on all sides by the Alps has helped Switzerland maintain its neutrality> — see BORDER

2bound verb
1 to move with a light springing step <the child giggled and bounded off to play with her friends> — see SKIP 1
2 to propel oneself upward or forward into the air <a rabbit bounded down the garden path> — see JUMP 1

bound adjective
fully committed to achieving a goal <I am bound and determined to write a novel before I turn 30> — see DETERMINED 1

boundary noun
1 a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go <parents have to set boundaries for their children, and the children want them to> — see LIMIT 1
2 the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <that chalk line marks the boundary of our playing field> — see BORDER 1

bounded adjective
having distinct or certain limits <in their paintings the Impressionists played down bounded figures and concentrated on the subtle, fleeting effects of light> — see LIMITED 1

bounden adjective, archaic
being under obligation for a favor or gift <a rugged individualist who refused to be bounden to any man> — see BEHOLDEN

bounder noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <a good-for-nothing bounder who always leaves it to someone else to pick up the tab> — see JERK 1

boundless adjective
being or seeming to be without limits <her boundless energy and enthusiasm make her a natural for the cheerleading squad> — see INFINITE

bounteous adjective
1 being more than enough without being excessive <offered a bounteous reward for finding the lost ring> — see PLENTIFUL
2 giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <a bounteous king who made sure all his subjects were well-fed> — see GENEROUS 1

bounteously adverb
in a generous manner <our host handed us bounteously-filled plates and invited us to sit out by the pool> — see WELL 2

bountiful adjective
1 being more than enough without being excessive <a bountiful supply of apples for the harvest festival> — see PLENTIFUL
2 giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <a bountiful host who makes sure that everyone has plenty to eat at his dinners> — see GENEROUS 1

bountifully adverb
in a generous manner <Grandma makes sure that everyone in the family is bountifully supplied with her hand-knit sweaters and scarves> — see WELL 2

bountifulness noun
the quality or state of being generous <because of the restaurant owner's bountifulness, a number of homeless people were fed that day> — see LIBERALITY

bounty noun
1 something offered or given in return for a service performed <a bounty was offered for information leading to the capture of the criminal> — see REWARD
2 the quality or state of being generous <her bounty at Halloween was known throughout the neighborhood> — see LIBERALITY
3 the total amount collected or obtained especially at one time <the record-breaking bounty from this year's corn harvest> — see HAUL 1

bouquet noun
1 a bunch of flowers <I bought my wife a nice bouquet for her birthday>

Synonyms
bob [Scottish], nosegay, posy

Related Words
boutonniere, corsage; arrangement; garland, lei

2 a sweet or pleasant smell <this wine has a good bouquet> — see FRAGRANCE
3 an admiring personal remark <an evening dress of daring design that attracted bouquets as well as brickbats> — see COMPLIMENT 1

bourg noun
a small residential settlement <the invaders captured the castle and sacked the bourg> — see VILLAGE

bourn or bourne noun
a natural body of running water smaller than a river <idyllic days that were spent rambling the length of the bourn that flowed through that peaceful vale> — see CREEK 1

bourne also bourn noun
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <still searching for the bourne that would give his life meaning> — see GOAL

bout noun
1 a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize <undoubtedly the team's best wrestler, he hasn't lost a bout yet> — see GAME 1
2 a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder <she's currently suffering from a bout of the flu> — see ATTACK 2

1bow verb
1 to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) <finally bowed to the judge's insistence that she change her outfit> — see YIELD 3
2 to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit) <bowed to the craving for fresh coffee> — see YIELD 1

2bow verb
1 to turn away from a straight line or course <the river bows gently to the north before it reaches the sea> — see CURVE 1
2 to cause to turn away from a straight line <you'll have to gently bow the strip of wood in order to fit it in> — see BEND 1

bow noun
something that curves or is curved <her full lips form a pair of perfect bows> — see BEND 1

bowdlerization noun
a shortened version of a written work <this bowdlerization of “Moby Dick” simply eliminates all the chapters on whaling and cetology> — see ABRIDGMENT

bowdlerize verb
to remove objectionable parts from <a bowdlerized version of “Gulliver's Travels” that purportedly makes it unobjectionable for children> — see CENSOR

bowed adjective
1 bending downward or forward <the bowed branches of the weeping willow offered some protection from the rain> — see NODDING
2 directed down <with bowed heads the mourners recited a prayer for the repose of her soul> — see DOWNCAST 1

bower verb
to surround or cover closely <bowered by a canopy of grapevines, we enjoyed a serene and very private picnic> — see ENFOLD 1

bowing adjective
bending downward or forward <the bowing blossoms indicated that the petunia plant desperately needed water> — see NODDING

bowl noun
a large usually roofless building for sporting events with tiers of seats for spectators <a new bowl for the football team> — see STADIUM

bowl verb
1 to move or proceed smoothly and readily <bowling along in my spiffy new car> — see FLOW 2
2 to proceed or move quickly <bowled through the test and was the first one to hand in the booklet> — see HURRY 2

bowl (down or over) verb
to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall <the exuberant dog bowled over several children> — see FELL 1

bowled over adjective
affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise <I was bowled over when the appraiser told me what the painting was worth> — see THUNDERSTRUCK

bowl over verb
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected <she was bowled over to learn that she had a long-lost sister> — see SURPRISE 1

bow out verb
to undergo defeat <quite embarrassingly, the top-seeded player bowed out in the first round of competition> — see LOSE 3

bowwow noun
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <the bowwow coming from the store's returns desk on the day after Christmas> — see NOISE 1

1box noun
1 a covered rectangular container for storing or transporting things <filled a whole box with books> — see CHEST
2 a boxlike container for holding a dead body <the only way I'm ever leaving this hospital room is in a box> — see COFFIN
3 an electronic device with a screen and speakers that reproduces images and sound <would you switch on the box so that we can watch the news?> — see TELEVISION
4 a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <with our new home still unfinished, and the buyers of our condo eager to move in, we were in a real box> — see PREDICAMENT

2box noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <the vicious bully delivered a box to the child's ear> — see 1BLOW

box verb
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <his mother threatened to box his ears if he didn't show a bit more respect> — see HIT 1

box (in) verb
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <upon attempting to leave, we discovered we were completely boxed in by other cars> — see ENCLOSE 1

boxcar adjective
of a size greater than average of its kind <a boxcar pile of paper> <boxcar amounts of money> — see LARGE 1

boxer noun
one that engages in the sport of fighting with the fists <that boxer is quite famous for being the youngest heavyweight champion ever>

Synonyms
fighter, gladiator, prizefighter, pug, pugilist

Related Words
palooka, slugger, stumblebum; bantamweight, cruiserweight, featherweight, flyweight, heavyweight, light heavyweight, lightweight, middleweight, superheavyweight, welterweight

boy noun
1 a male person who has not yet reached adulthood <a giggling little boy ran by>

Synonyms
boychick (or boychik), boyo [Irish], callant [chiefly Scottish], lad, laddie, nipper, shaveling, shaver, sonny, stripling, tad, youth

Related Words
adolescent, juvenile, kid, kiddie (also kiddy), kiddo, minor, moppet, teenager, tween, youngling, youngster; brat, gamin, guttersnipe, hobbledehoy, imp, squirt, urchin, whippersnapper; schoolboy; toddler, tot, tyke (also tike); mama's boy, mollycoddle

2 a male romantic companion <their teenaged daughter has a new boy, and she's just crazy about him> — see BOYFRIEND

boychick or boychik noun
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood <my favorite boychick is getting tall, isn't he?> — see BOY 1

boyfriend noun
a male romantic companion <her boyfriend always brings her flowers for Valentine's Day>

Synonyms
beau, boy, fellow, man, old man, swain

Related Words
admirer, crush, steady; gallant, suitor, wooer; beloved, darling, dear, favorite, flame, honey, love, lover, significant other, soul mate, spark, sparker, squeeze [slang], sweet, sweetheart, sweetie, sweetie pie, valentine; fancy man, gigolo; date, escort; groom, husband; fiancé, intended

boyo noun, Irish
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood <a novel about a self-assertive, self-reliant boyo growing up in working-class Dublin> — see BOY 1

brabble verb
to express different opinions about something often angrily <bored children brabbling in the back seat> — see ARGUE 2

brace noun
1 a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else <wore a brace for the injured knee> — see SUPPORT 1
2 two things of the same or similar kind that match or are considered together <bagged a brace of pheasants> — see PAIR

brace verb
1 to give life, vigor, or spirit to <the pep talk braced the team up for the second half> — see ANIMATE
2 to hold up or serve as a foundation for <several boards braced the wall> — see SUPPORT 3
3 to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally <she braced herself for the job interview> — see FORTIFY 1

bracelet noun
something that physically prevents free movement <putting the handcuffs on the jewel thief, the detective asked him how he liked those bracelets> — see BOND 1

bracing adjective
having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind <a chilly but bracing day> — see TONIC 1

bracket noun
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <they're in the same income bracket> — see CLASS 2

bracket verb
to describe as similar <I wouldn't exactly bracket your paintings with those of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci> — see COMPARE 1

brackish adjective
1 disagreeable or disgusting to the sense of taste <the office coffee is often some brackish brew that's been sitting around for a couple of hours> — see DISTASTEFUL 1
2 of, relating to, or containing salt <the river becomes brackish as we approach the tidemark> — see SALTY 1

brag adjective
of the very best kind <he did a really brag job on restoring that classic car> — see EXCELLENT

brag noun
1 boastful speech or writing <for all his brag about diving, he actually does very little> — see BOMBAST 1
2 someone who boasts <he's an irritating brag whose sense of selfhood is defined by what he owns> — see BRAGGART

brag verb
to praise or express pride in one's own possessions, qualities, or accomplishments often to excess <she bragged that she was richer than anyone else in the state> — see BOAST 1

braggadocio noun
1 boastful speech or writing <his braggadocio hid the fact that he felt personally inadequate> — see BOMBAST 1
2 someone who boasts <the swaggering braggadocio is a stock figure of American folklore, with Davy Crockett and Mike Fink being prime examples> — see BRAGGART

braggart noun
someone who boasts <a braggart who was always talking about how much money he made>

Synonyms
blower, blowhard, boaster, brag, braggadocio, bragger, cockalorum, cracker [chiefly dialect], gascon, gasconader, swaggerer, vaunter

Related Words
blusterer, cock; self-advertiser, self-dramatizer, self-promoter

bragger noun
someone who boasts <she's a tiresome bragger who should be put in her place> — see BRAGGART

braid noun
a length of something formed of three or more strands woven together <until she was 15, she had a braid that reached to her knees>

Synonyms
lace, lacing, plait, plat

Related Words
rickrack (or ricrac), stripe; cornrow, dreadlock, pigtail, queue; braiding

braid verb
to form into a braid <they taught each other how to braid yarn into bracelets>

Synonyms
plait, plat, pleat

Related Words
interlace, interweave, weave

brain noun
1 a very smart person <the brains all sit together at lunch> — see GENIUS 1
2 often brains plural the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems <you have the brains to figure out that problem on your own> — see INTELLIGENCE 1
3 the part of a person that feels, thinks, perceives, wills, and especially reasons <I'd love to get inside his brain and experience the world as he experiences it> — see MIND 1

brainchild noun
something (as a device) created for the first time through the use of the imagination <the artificial language Esperanto was the brainchild of L. L. Zamenhof, a Polish oculist> — see INVENTION 1

brain–dead adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <it seems like she's always doing some brain-dead thing or another> — see STUPID 1

brainiac noun
a very smart person <a techie who always has to have the latest gadget that the brainiacs in Silicon Valley have cooked up> — see GENIUS 1

brainless adjective
1 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <a teacher who affirms that there are no brainless students, only lazy ones> — see STUPID 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a brainless decision to talk on her cell phone while weaving in and out of traffic> — see FOOLISH 1

brainlessness noun
1 lack of good sense or judgment <had the inexplicable brainlessness to sell his car for half of what it was worth> — see FOOLISHNESS 1
2 the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <the turkey is one bird that has often been cited for its brainlessness> — see STUPIDITY 1

brainpower noun
the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems <the president's inner circle of advisers just didn't seem to have the brainpower to deal with the crisis> — see INTELLIGENCE 1

brainsick adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <today he is regarded as a brainsick genius who produced some of the greatest paintings in the history of art> — see INSANE 1

brainstorm verb
to engage in an exchange of information or ideas <they brainstormed about ways to raise money for their organization> — see COMMUNICATE 2

brainy adjective
having or showing quickness of mind <a brainy student who didn't fit in socially> — see INTELLIGENT 1

brake noun
a thick patch of shrubbery, small trees, or underbrush <built a small shelter in the brake to watch for deer> — see THICKET

brake verb
to cause to move or proceed at a less rapid pace <braked the car sharply when someone pulled out in front of us> — see SLOW 1

braking noun
a usually gradual decrease in the pace or level of activity of something <there's always a braking in sales after lunch> — see SLOWDOWN

brambly adjective
having leaves or branches which are likely to cause a scratch <be careful of the brambly blackberry bushes> — see SCRATCHY 1

branch noun
1 a major outgrowth from the main stem of a woody plant <I loved climbing among the branches of that old tree>

Synonyms
bough, limb

Related Words
branchlet, offshoot, outgrowth, shoot, spur; spray, sprig, twig

2 a local unit of an organization <a bank with many neighborhood branches> — see CHAPTER 1
3 a stream that flows into a larger body of water <the Blue Nile, the Atbara, and the White Nile are the three primary branches of the Nile River> — see TRIBUTARY
4 a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization <the two branches of the U.S. Congress> — see DIVISION 2

branch verb
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point <threads branched from the center of the spider web> — see RADIATE 1

branch (out) verb
to go or move in different directions from a central point <the vine branched out as it climbed the trellis> — see SEPARATE 2

brand noun
1 a device (as a word) identifying the maker of a piece of merchandise and legally reserved for the exclusive use of that person or company <a company that was sued for using a name that was very similar to a rival's brand> — see TRADEMARK 1
2 a mark of guilt or disgrace <always felt that her shabby clothes showed the brand of poverty> — see STAIN 1
3 a hand weapon with a length of metal sharpened on one or both sides and usually tapered to a sharp point <on the battlefield lies our hero, slain by some fell brand> — see SWORD

brand verb
to produce a vivid impression of <the exact words my father spoke as he left us are branded in my memory> — see ENGRAVE 2

brand–new adjective
1 being in an original and unused or unspoiled state <his car is so well cared for that three years later it still looks brand-new> — see FRESH 1
2 recently made and never used before <a brand-new disk still in its original packaging> — see NEW 3

brash adjective
1 displaying or marked by rude boldness <a brash request to get something for free> — see NERVY 1
2 foolishly adventurous or bold <that brash motorcyclist likes to show off by riding on only one wheel> — see FOOLHARDY 1
3 showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations <he was reprimanded for his brash comments to the media about the team's coaching staff> — see INDISCREET

brashness noun
shameless boldness <for sheer brashness it would be hard to beat the customer who wanted a refund on merchandise bought elsewhere> — see EFFRONTERY

brass noun
shameless boldness <had the brass to demand a refund for something they had broken themselves!> — see EFFRONTERY

brassbound adjective
1 not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards <a person of brassbound honesty> — see RIGID 1
2 tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <the brassbound military leadership had failed to realize that this time the nation was fighting a different kind of war> — see CONSERVATIVE 1
3 displaying or marked by rude boldness <some brassbound upstart who thought that he could waltz in here and start issuing orders> — see NERVY 1

brassiness noun
shameless boldness <the brassiness with which he would blame his mistakes on others left me speechless> — see EFFRONTERY

brass tacks plural noun
the specific practical details of something <after the usual introductions and requisite pleasantries, we got down to the brass tacks of our business proposal> — see NITTY-GRITTY

brassy adjective
displaying or marked by rude boldness <a brassy customer insisted on arriving late and still being taken first> — see NERVY 1

brave adjective
1 feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <despite considerable risk to their own safety, the brave team of rescuers rushed into the collapsed building>

Synonyms
bold, courageous, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, gutty, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, manful, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, undauntable, undaunted, valiant, valorous

Related Words
determined, firm, game, gamy (or gamey), gritty, plucky, resolute, Spartan, undeterred, undismayed, unflinching, unswerving; mettlesome, spirited, spunky; adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, daring, dashing, hardy, venturesome, venturous; crazy, foolish, half-witted, insane, lunatic, mad, nutty; brash, brazen, daredevil, foolhardy, heedless, hotheaded, impetuous, imprudent, impulsive, incautious, madcap, overbold, overconfident, rash, reckless, thoughtless, wild; hasty, headlong, precipitate; comforted, emboldened, encouraged, heartened, reassured, unafraid

Near Antonyms
diffident, mousy (or mousey), scary, shy, skittish, timid; anxious, apprehensive, nervous; careful, cautious, heedful, prudent, unadventurous; afraid, agitated, disconcerted, disquieted, disturbed, frightened, horrified, panicked, panic-stricken, perturbed, scared, shocked, spooked, startled, terrified, terrorized, unnerved, upset; appalled, concerned, dismayed, worried; unmanly, weak, wimpy

Antonyms
chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, coward, cowardly, craven, dastardly, fainthearted, fearful, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], nerveless, poltroon, poor-spirited, pusillanimous, spineless, spiritless, timorous, uncourageous, ungallant, unheroic, weakhearted, yellow

2 of the very best kind <the gourmet food shop is off to a brave start> — see EXCELLENT

brave verb
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage <a soldier who braved enemy fire to rescue her wounded comrade> — see FACE 2

bravely adverb
1 in a fearless manner <confronted the fact that he had inoperable cancer calmly and bravely>

Synonyms
boldly, courageously, dauntlessly, doughtily, fearlessly, gallantly, gutsily, heroically, intrepidly, manfully, stalwartly, stoutheartedly, valiantly, valorously

Related Words
determinedly, firmly, gamely, grittily, pluckily, resolutely; spiritedly, spunkily, stoutly; adventurously, audaciously, daringly, hardily, venturesomely, venturously; self-confidently; crazily, foolishly, insanely; brashly, brazenly, foolhardily, heedlessly, hotheadedly, impetuously, imprudently, impulsively, incautiously, overconfidently, rashly, recklessly, thoughtlessly, wildly; hastily, precipitately

Near Antonyms
diffidently, mousily, shyly, skittishly, timidly; anxiously, apprehensively, nervously; carefully, cautiously, heedfully, prudently

Antonyms
cowardly, cravenly, fearfully, pusillanimously, spinelessly, spiritlessly, timorously

2 in a manner that is colorful and tends to arouse gaiety <bravely decked houses in celebration of Independence Day> — see GAILY 3

bravery noun
1 dressy clothing <children in their Sunday bravery> — see FINERY
2 strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <it took great bravery to rescue the baby trapped in the burning building> — see COURAGE

bravura adjective
accomplished with trained ability <a truly bravura performance of the ballet that brought the crowd to its feet> — see SKILLFUL 1

brawl noun
1 a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people <they were thrown out of the party after starting a brawl>

Synonyms
affray [chiefly British], broil, donnybrook, fracas, fray, free-for-all, melee (also mêlée), rough-and-tumble, row, ruckus, ruction

Related Words
battle, clash, combat, conflict, contest, fisticuffs, handgrips, hassle, scrap, scrimmage, scuffle, skirmish, struggle, tussle; horseplay, roughhousing; altercation, argument, dispute, kickup, quarrel, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle

2 an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <the student drama society's decision to put on the controversial play prompted a brawl at the school board meeting> — see ARGUMENT 1
3 loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <we could hear the brawl of the river rapids ahead of us before we could actually see them> — see NOISE 1

brawl verb
to express different opinions about something often angrily <the Wilsons were always loudly brawling, and the neighbors were always shutting their windows> — see ARGUE 2

brawler noun
a person who takes part in a dispute <every couple has marital problems, but those two are heavyweight brawlers in a seriously dysfunctional relationship> — see DISPUTANT

brawly adjective
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <a bar that was once a favorite haunt of brawly servicemen from the nearby military base> — see BELLIGERENT

brawn noun
muscular strength <an actor who is more famous for his brawn than for his talent> — see MUSCLE 1

brawny adjective
1 having muscles capable of exerting great physical force <the store manager always asked the brawniest person there to do the heavy lifting> — see STRONG 1
2 marked by a well-developed musculature <brawny arms that weren't developed in the gym but by years of work in the construction business> — see MUSCULAR 1
3 strongly and heavily built <a tough little boy who's going to be a brawny man someday> — see 1HUSKY 1

bray verb
to reduce to fine particles <bray the seeds using a mortar and pestle> — see POWDER

brazen adjective
displaying or marked by rude boldness <a brazen demand for special treatment just because she's rich> — see NERVY 1

brazen verb
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage <a filmmaker willing to brazen the criticism that such a violent film was sure to provoke> — see FACE 2

brazen–faced adjective
displaying or marked by rude boldness <shocked by his brazen-faced insistence that he had never uttered the insult, even though it was heard by a score of onlookers> — see NERVY 1

brazenness noun
shameless boldness <she had the brazenness to expect us to let her tap into our cable connection> — see EFFRONTERY

breach noun
1 a failure to uphold the requirements of law, duty, or obligation <the president's deliberate misstatements were widely seen as a breach of the public trust>

Synonyms
contravention, infraction, infringement, transgression, trespass, violation

Related Words
misconduct, misdemeanor, misfeasance, misprision, offense (or offence), sin, wrong; disregard, forgetting, ignoring, nonobservance, overlooking; delinquency, dereliction, neglect; encroachment, intrusion, invasion

Near Antonyms
respecting, upholding

Antonyms
noninfringement, nonviolation, observance

2 a breaking of a moral or legal code <cheating on the exam was a serious breach of the military academy's honor code> — see OFFENSE 1
3 an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) <the cat got out of the yard through a breach in the hedge> — see GAP 1

breach verb
to fail to keep <a builder being sued by a homeowner for breaching a contract> — see VIOLATE 1

bread noun
1 slang something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <I'll buy that tomorrow, when I get some bread> — see MONEY 1
2 substances intended to be eaten <supplied his charges with bread and a place to stay> — see FOOD 1

breadbasket noun, slang
the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis <got hit right in the breadbasket> — see STOMACH 1

breadth noun
1 a wide space or area <a great breadth of land awaited those who were brave and hardy enough to settle it> — see EXPANSE
2 an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends <the breadth of his knowledge on the subject is awesome> — see RANGE 2

break noun
1 a momentary halt in an activity <there was a brief break after the first movement as the doors to the concert hall were opened and the latecomers were allowed in> — see PAUSE 1
2 a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended <most of the students at the boarding school are going home for Christmas break> — see VACATION
3 an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) <the rancher repaired the break in the fence where the horse had gotten through> — see GAP 1
4 a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place <in classic fashion, her big break came when, as an understudy, she took over for an ailing star> — see OPPORTUNITY
5 an unexpected benefit or advantage resulting from the uncertain course of events <a guy who just seems to get all the breaks in life> — see FLUKE
6 the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement <a desperate break from that hellhole> — see ESCAPE 1

break verb
1 to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly <hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase>

Synonyms
break up, bust, distintegrate, dismember, disrupt, fracture, fragment, rive

Related Words
atomize, crush, grind, powder, pulverize, reduce; blast, blow up, burst, detonate, explode; crack, pop, shatter, shiver, smash; chip, sliver, splinter, split; implode; destroy, ruin, wreck

Near Antonyms
doctor, fix, heal, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair

2 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <the final vote broke the deadlock> — see STOP 1
3 to bring to a lower grade or rank <the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander> — see DEMOTE
4 to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language <Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis> — see DECODE 1
5 to come to a temporary halt in one's activity <she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime> — see PAUSE
6 to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement <farmers once broke fields with horse-drawn plows> — see PLOW 1
7 to fail to keep <had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone> — see VIOLATE 1
8 to find an answer for through reasoning <Professor Bates broke the problem when she realized that it was possible to synthesize the necessary compounds> — see SOLVE
9 to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <I broke a tooth on the hard candy> — see DAMAGE 1
10 to stop functioning <after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day> — see FAIL 1
11 to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening <the herd of gazelles broke when they saw the lions racing toward them from the ridge above> — see RUN 2
12 to use up all the physical energy of <the trek up the mountain just about broke me> — see EXHAUST 1
13 to become known <as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country> — see GET OUT 1
14 to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts <another bad investment could break him> — see RUIN 1
15 to come into existence <the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking> — see BEGIN 2
16 to depart abruptly from a straight line or course <the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds> — see SWERVE 1
17 to diminish the price or value of <distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks> — see DEPRECIATE 1
18 to go beyond the limit of <a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners> — see EXCEED 1
19 to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below <dolphins were breaking all around the boat> — see BROACH 1

breakable adjective
easily broken <elderly people's bones can be highly breakable if they haven't gotten enough calcium during their lifetimes> — see FRAGILE 1

breakdown noun
1 a mental or nervous collapse <if you don't ease your workload, you're going to have a breakdown>

Synonyms
crack-up, nervous breakdown, tailspin

Related Words
frazzle, freak-out, meltdown; alarm (also alarum), anxiety, apprehension, disquiet; excitability, nervousness; disturbance; agitation, discomposure, perturbation; basket case

Near Antonyms
aplomb, calmness, composure, coolness, imperturbability, placidity, self-possession, sereneness, serenity, tranquillity (or tranquility), tranquilness

2 the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances <the breakdown of the body was arrested by the embalming process> — see CORRUPTION 1
3 the separation and identification of the parts of a whole <a demographic breakdown revealed that the ethnic composition of the area had changed significantly since the last census> — see ANALYSIS 1

break down verb
1 to arrange or assign according to type <when presented with the pile of files, the first thing he did was to break them down by month, order within the month, and region> — see CLASSIFY 1
2 to go through decomposition <the enamel of a human tooth will begin to break down when exposed to sugar for too long> — see DECAY 1
3 to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships <if we break the problem down into what appear to be three aspects of it, we'll have a better chance of solving it> — see ANALYZE
4 to stop functioning <the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced> — see FAIL 1
5 to yield to mental or emotional stress <began to break down when he realized that he was on the verge of bankruptcy> — see CRACK 2
6 to take apart <the crew was breaking down the party tent when we arrived> — see DISASSEMBLE 1
7 to cause to break with violence and much noise <firefighters had to break down the wall to rescue the kitten> — see SMASH 1

break in verb
1 to enter a house or building by force usually with illegal intent <the burglars broke in by smashing a window>

Synonyms
burglarize, burgle

Related Words
invade, trespass; hold up, loot, plunder, rip off, rob, stick up; ransack, rifle; despoil, devastate, maraud, pillage, ravage, sack

2 to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion <he rudely broke in to drop the names of several celebrities that he had met> — see INTERRUPT

breaking point noun
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <tensions between the two nations had risen to the breaking point> — see EMERGENCY

breakneck adjective
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <the breakneck production of naval vessels during World War II> — see FAST 1

break off verb
1 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <the judge broke off court proceedings until after lunch> — see STOP 1
2 to come to an end <talks between the two sides broke off when one began making unreasonable demands> — see CEASE 1

break off (with) verb
to end a usually intimate relationship with <sincerely wants to break off with him without hurting his feelings> — see DITCH 1

breakout noun
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement <the captives had been planning to stage a breakout at the next change in shift for the guards> — see ESCAPE 1

break out verb
to develop suddenly and violently <in the wake of news reports of deaths from the flu, panic broke out, and there was a mad rush for flu shots> — see ERUPT 2

break out (of) verb
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation <at last she decided to break out of her suffocating marriage> — see ESCAPE 1

breakthrough noun
an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill <Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin was one of medicine's great breakthroughs, for penicillin became the first antibiotic to successfully combat bacterial infections in humans> — see ADVANCE 2

breakup noun
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces <the breakup of the Soviet Union and the collapse of communism pretty much signaled the end of the Cold War> — see SEPARATION 1

break up verb
1 to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization <the band broke up when their arguments over money grew too stressful> — see DISBAND 1
2 to come to an end <the meeting broke up when all the business for the day had been completed> — see CEASE 1
3 to set or force apart <he broke up the rocks in the old stone wall with a crowbar, sending them tumbling to the ground> — see SEPARATE 1
4 to yield to mental or emotional stress <the sort of person who would be among the first to break up in a prisoner of war camp> — see CRACK 2
5 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <police arrived at the scene and immediately broke up the fracas> — see STOP 1
6 to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly <break up the feta cheese and spread it over the salad> — see BREAK 1
7 to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound <if you break up during the skit, the audience will know that you're in on the joke> — see LAUGH 1

breast noun
the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions <deep in his breast, he knew that his father had a great love for him that did not need to be expressed in words> — see CORE 1

breast verb
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage <breasted the diagnosis of cancer with fortitude and optimism> — see FACE 2

breast–feed verb
to give milk to from the breast <believes that all women should breast-feed their babies> — see NURSE 2

breath noun
1 a momentary halt in an activity <let's all take a breath before continuing this discussion> — see PAUSE 1
2 a slight or gentle movement of air <a sweet breath caressed her cheek as she sat in the garden> — see BREEZE 1
3 an almost imperceptible sign of something <the mornings are already getting warmer, and there is a breath of spring in the air> — see HINT 2

breathe verb
1 to inhale and exhale air <sometimes it gets so hot in here that it's hard to even breathe>

Synonyms
respire

Related Words
blow (out), draw, expire, inbreathe, inspire; gasp, huff, pant, puff, suspire, wheeze; sniff, snore, snort, snuff, snuffle, whiff; yawn

Near Antonyms
asphyxiate, choke, gag, smother, suffocate; garrote (or garotte), stifle, strangle, throttle

2 to have life <as long as I breathe, you will have a place to stay> — see BE 1

breathe (out) verb
to let or force out of the lungs <leaned back in his chair and breathed out the smoke from his pipe> — see EXHALE 1

breather noun
a momentary halt in an activity <took a breather from the seemingly endless task of sorting through years of stuff stored in the attic> — see PAUSE 1

breathing adjective
having or showing life <realized that he didn't need a comic-book superhero, since he had a real, breathing hero in his father> — see ALIVE 1

breathless adjective
1 lacking fresh air <the room was hot and breathless> — see STUFFY 1
2 moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <ran at a breathless pace to get help> — see FAST 1
3 no longer living <carried the breathless body of his beloved dog back home> — see DEAD 1

breathtaking adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <a truly breathtaking view of the majestic waterfall> — see EXCITING 1

bred–in–the–bone adjective
1 being such by habit and not likely to change <a bred-in-the-bone Democrat who always votes a straight ticket> — see HABITUAL 1
2 firmly established over time <bred-in-the-bone honesty earned him the nickname of “Honest Abe”> — see INVETERATE 1

breech noun
1 the part of the body upon which someone sits <plant yourselves on your breeches on that bench and listen to what I have to say> — see BUTTOCKS
2 breeches plural an outer garment covering each leg separately from waist to ankle <the mounted riders look striking in their red coats and white breeches> — see PANTS

breed noun
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <some people say that honest politicians are a rare breed> — see SORT 1

breed verb
1 to bring forth offspring <rabbits will breed very frequently unless they're kept separated> — see PROCREATE
2 to bring to maturity through care and education <he was bred to a life in the military by his father, himself an army captain> — see BRING UP 1
3 to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <this habit of favoring one employee over the others will breed resentment> — see EFFECT
4 to engage in sexual intercourse <cats breeding outside our window made a horrible racket last night> — see COPULATE
5 to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set <parents who breed in their children a deep respect for people of all classes> — see IMPLANT 1

breeding noun
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <a family of good breeding that is well respected in the community> — see ANCESTRY

breeding ground noun
a place or environment that favors the development of something <unwashed skin is a breeding ground for bacteria>

Synonyms
hotbed, hothouse, nest, nidus, nursery, seedbed, seminary

Related Words
crucible; base, capital, center, core, cynosure, eye, focus, heart, hub, mecca, nucleus, seat; focus, headquarters

breeze noun
1 a slight or gentle movement of air <a warm spring breeze ruffled our hair>

Synonyms
air, breath, puff, waft, zephyr

Related Words
current, draft, whiff; sea breeze; blast, blow, flurry, gale, headwind, northeaster, norther, northwester, southeaster, southwester, tailwind, westerly, wind; squall, tempest, tornado, windstorm; airflow

Near Antonyms
calm

2 something that is easy to do <that assignment will be a breeze> — see CINCH 1

breeze verb
1 to move or proceed smoothly and readily <we breezed through the line for customs at the airport> — see FLOW 2
2 to proceed or move quickly <the doctor breezed past the people in the waiting room, apparently on his way to an emergency> — see HURRY 2

breezy adjective
1 having a relaxed, casual manner <a breezy tour guide who remains completely unfazed no matter what the mishap> — see EASYGOING 1
2 marked by strong wind or more wind than usual <a breezy day usually finds the waters of the bay studded with sail> — see 1WINDY 1
3 open to the free circulation of air <let's sit on the front porch; it's breezier there> — see AIRY 2

breviary noun
a short statement of the main points <a speech that could serve as a breviary for impeachment> — see SUMMARY

brevity noun
1 the condition of being short <the best quality a graduation speech can have is brevity>

Synonyms
briefness, conciseness, shortness

Related Words
abbreviation, abridgment (or abridgement), compression, condensation, contraction, curtailment; decreasing, diminishing, lessening, reducing, shortening, shrinking; abruptness, brusqueness, curtness; compendiousness, crispness, laconism, pithiness, succinctness, tautness, terseness; littleness, minuteness, smallness, tininess

Near Antonyms
extensiveness; elongating, elongation, extending, extension, prolongation, prolonging, protraction, stretching; expansion, growth, spread; diffuseness, garrulousness, long-windedness, prolixity, talkativeness, talkiness, verboseness, volubility, wordiness; bigness, bulkiness, greatness, heftiness, largeness

Antonyms
lengthiness

2 the quality or state of being marked by or using only few words to convey much meaning <if brevity is the soul of wit, then that speech wasn't at all witty> — see SUCCINCTNESS

brew verb
1 to bring (something volatile or intense) into being <they accused her of deliberately trying to brew dissension within the rank and file> — see INCITE 1
2 to be about to happen <there's trouble brewing in the department> — see LOOM

bribable adjective
open to improper influence and especially bribery <corruption in that country is so widespread that there are few public officials who are not bribable> — see VENAL

bribe noun
something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision <that judge refused a huge bribe to dismiss the charges against the wealthy defendant>

Synonyms
backhander [British], boodle, cumshaw, fix, sop

Related Words
baksheesh, kickback, payoff; slush fund; incentive, incitement, instigation, motivation, provocation, spur, stimulation, stimulus; boost, encouragement, goad, inducement; allurement, bait, enticement, lure, seduction, temptation, turn-on; flattery, persuasion; decoy, snare, trap

bribe verb
to influence someone with a bribe <meat inspectors were bribed, and the contaminated beef was sold to the public>

Synonyms
buy, corrupt, have, pay off, square

Related Words
fix, tamper (with); abase, debase, debauch, defile, degrade, demean, deprave, dishonor, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, taint, warp; allure, bait, beguile, entice, lead on, lure, seduce, tempt; motivate, provoke, spur, stimulate; goad, induce; flatter, persuade; snare, trap

Phrases
get at, grease the hand of (or grease the palm of), oil the hand of (or oil the palm of)

brick noun
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <he dropped a brick that had his friends helpless with laughter> — see ERROR 1

brickbat noun
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <the brickbats were flying the night that those two bitchy divas were seated at the same table> — see INSULT

brickle adjective, dialect
having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure <that stuff's so brickle that it breaks into pieces as soon as you touch it> — see CRISP 1

bridal noun
a ceremony in which two people are united in matrimony <an old-fashioned country bridal> — see WEDDING

bridewell noun
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <the citadel was later converted into a bridewell to house the city's growing criminal population> — see JAIL

bridgehead noun
a place from which an advance (as for military operations) is made <established a bridgehead on the beach before beginning the land invasion> — see BASE 2

bridle verb
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <try to bridle your criticism next time so that it is helpful and not hurtful> — see CONTROL 1

brief adjective
1 marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <a brief but crucial admonition to keep quiet> — see CONCISE
2 not lasting for a considerable time <fortunately, the meeting was brief> — see SHORT 2
3 lasting only for a short time <a brief flash of light> — see MOMENTARY

brief noun
1 a short statement of the main points <a one-page brief of the intelligence report> — see SUMMARY
2 a specific task with which a person or group is charged <the soldiers' brief was to secure the village from enemy attacks> — see MISSION

brief verb
1 to give information to <the lieutenant briefed his superior officers on the state of the enemy's fortifications> — see ENLIGHTEN 1
2 to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) <his duties include briefing intelligence reports for the president> — see SUMMARIZE

briefly adverb
in a few words <tell us briefly why you chose this position> — see SHORTLY 1

briefness noun
1 the condition of being short <the briefness of the instructions rendered them less than helpful> — see BREVITY 1
2 the quality or state of being marked by or using only few words to convey much meaning <in this case the briefness of the essay is not a drawback because it says all that needs to be said and does so with eloquence> — see SUCCINCTNESS

brig noun
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <the captain ordered that the prisoner be thrown into the brig immediately> — see JAIL

brigade noun
a group of people working together on a task <a clean-up brigade put the parish hall back in good order> — see GANG 1

bright adjective
1 giving off or reflecting much light <in the desert the sun was so bright that it hurt my eyes> <the moon is bright tonight>

Synonyms
beaming, bedazzling, brilliant, candescent, clear, dazzling, effulgent, fulgent, glowing, incandescent, lambent, lucent, lucid, luminous, lustrous, radiant, refulgent, sheeny, shining, shiny, splendid

Related Words
ablaze, ardent, blazing, burning, combusting, fiery, flaming, red-hot; agleam, aglitter, blinding, coruscant, flaring, flashing, flickering, gemmy, glancing, glaring, gleaming, glimmering, glinting, glistening, glistering, glittering, scintillant, scintillating, shimmering, shimmery, sparkling, sunny, twinkling, winking; burnished, polished, shined; superbright, ultrabright

Near Antonyms
blackened, dark, darkened, darkish, darkling, darksome, dimmed, dusky, gloomy, lightless, murky, obscure, obscured, pitch-black, pitch-dark, somber (or sombre), sunless, tenebrous, unlit; cloudy, shadowlike, shadowy, shady; gray (also grey), leaden, pale, palish

Antonyms
dim, dull, lackluster, unbright, unbrilliant

2 filled with much light <the display windows of department stores are especially bright at Christmastime>

Synonyms
ablaze, alight, brightened, illuminated, illumined, light, lightsome, lit (or lighted)

Related Words
floodlit (also floodlighted), highlighted, spotlighted (or spotlit); ignited, kindled; moonlit, shiny, sunlit, sunny, sunshiny

Near Antonyms
gloomy, somber (or sombre), sunless; cloudy, murky, obscured, shadowlike, shadowy; gray (also grey), leaden, pale; lightproof

Antonyms
blackened, dark, darkened, darkish, darkling, dimmed, dusk, dusky, lightless, pitch-black, pitch-dark, tenebrous, unlit

3 having or showing a good mood or disposition <always walks into work with a bright smile on his face> — see CHEERFUL 1
4 having or showing quickness of mind <a company that is always looking for bright, ambitious college graduates> — see INTELLIGENT 1
5 having qualities which inspire hope <predicted a bright future for the young math whiz> — see HOPEFUL 1
6 pointing toward a happy outcome <all the signs are bright right now for an economic boom> — see FAVORABLE 2
7 serving to lift one's spirits <a bright and beautiful morning to begin planting our garden> — see CHEERFUL 2
8 standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <a bright new star on the operatic scene> — see EMINENT
9 having or being an outward sign of good feelings (as of love, confidence, or happiness) <a room full of summer interns with bright, eager faces> — see RADIANT 1
10 not stormy or cloudy <we'll have a picnic on the next bright day> — see FAIR 1

bright adverb
in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light <the storm passed, and once again the sun shone bright> — see BRIGHTLY 1

brighten verb
to become glad or hopeful <the glum soccer player started to brighten upon being told that his injury would not jeopardize his career> — see CHEER UP 1

brightened adjective
filled with much light <the brightened room is now a much more cheerful place for the recuperating patients> — see BRIGHT 2

bright–line adjective
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <there is no bright-line rule governing the issue> — see CLEAR 2

brightly adverb
1 in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light <the light glowed brightly>

Synonyms
bright, brilliantly, dazzlingly, fulgently, glowingly, incandescently, lambently, luminously, lustrously, radiantly, splendidly

Related Words
blazingly, burningly, flamingly; blindingly, flaringly, flickeringly, glaringly, glitteringly, opalescently; pellucidly

Near Antonyms
darkly, duskily, gloomily, murkily, obscurely, somberly; cloudily, shadily, shadowily

Antonyms
dimly, dully

2 in a cheerful or happy manner <“And how are we today?” the nurse asked brightly> — see GAILY 1
3 in a manner that is colorful and tends to arouse gaiety <parade marchers carrying brightly painted banners> — see GAILY 3

brightness noun
the quality or state of having or giving off light <the brightness of the sunshine made me squint after an afternoon spent in a darkened movie theater> — see BRILLIANCE 1

brilliance noun
1 the quality or state of having or giving off light <the brilliance of the flash from the camera was so intense that I was blinded for a moment afterwards>

Synonyms
brightness, brilliancy, candor, dazzle, effulgence, illumination, lambency, lightness, luminance, luminosity, luminousness, luster (or lustre), lustrousness, radiance, refulgence, splendor

Related Words
blaze, flare, flash, flicker, light; fluorescence, incandescence, luminescence; burnish, gloss, polish, sheen, shine, shininess; fire, flame, glare, glow; flash, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glitter, scintillation, shimmer, sparkle, twinkle

Near Antonyms
dimness, gloominess, somberness; cloudiness, haziness, murkiness, obscureness, obscurity; colorlessness, grayness, lackluster, paleness, shadiness, shadowiness

Antonyms
blackness, dark, darkness, dullness (also dulness), duskiness

2 impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <the brilliance of the palace is really quite staggering> — see MAGNIFICENCE

brilliancy noun
the quality or state of having or giving off light <the brilliancy of the diamond is shown to good effect by the museum's lighting> — see BRILLIANCE 1

brilliant adjective
1 giving off or reflecting much light <a brilliant chandelier graces the hotel lobby> — see BRIGHT 1
2 having or showing quickness of mind <a brilliant boy who left for college at the age of 16> — see INTELLIGENT 1
3 likely to attract attention <a brilliant example of government waste> — see NOTICEABLE

brilliant noun
a usually valuable stone cut and polished for ornament <the diamond cutter set out an array of brilliants to show the various ways the diamond could be cut> — see GEM 1

brilliantly adverb
1 in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light <the diamond necklace sparkled brilliantly> — see BRIGHTLY 1
2 in a manner that is colorful and tends to arouse gaiety <a chorus of brilliantly costumed Las Vegas showgirls> — see GAILY 3

brim noun
1 the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <the brim of the teacup was banded with gold> — see BORDER 1
2 the projecting front part of a hat or cap <touched the brim of his cap by way of salute> — see VISOR

brim verb
1 to be copiously supplied <a secondhand bookstore that was brimming with bargains> — see ABOUND
2 to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained <he brimmed the glass with milk, and now I'm sure to spill it> — see FILL 1

brimful adjective
containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible <a book brimful of stories about people who overcome childhood adversities to achieve great things> — see FULL 1

brimming adjective
containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible <bins brimming with coffee beans from a wide array of tropical localities> — see FULL 1

brine noun
the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three-fourths of the earth <for hundreds of years people from Atlantic Canada have made their living from the brine> — see OCEAN 1

bring verb
1 to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <in the end, the lawsuit brought distress to everyone, including the plaintiff> — see EFFECT
2 to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest request <nothing will ever bring her to admit she's wrong> — see PERSUADE
3 to have a price of <the antique will probably bring at least $1000 at auction> — see COST

bring about verb
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <I promise: making one mistake will not bring about the apocalypse> — see EFFECT

bring around verb
to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest request <an airtight argument is the only thing that will ever bring him around> — see PERSUADE

bringdown noun
something that disappoints <meeting one's literary hero is usually a bad idea—almost inevitably it's a bringdown> — see DISAPPOINTMENT 2

bring in verb
to receive as return for effort <she's bringing in good money selling houses> — see EARN 1

bring off verb
1 to carry through (as a process) to completion <the cast and crew were able to bring off an eccentric but engaging reinterpretation of King Lear> — see PERFORM 1
2 to remove from danger or harm <had it been alerted in time, a nearby ship might have been able to bring off all of the passengers from the Titanic> — see SAVE 2

bring on verb
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <this legislation will surely bring on some unintended consequences> — see EFFECT

bring out verb
1 to express (a thought or emotion) in words <he ever so casually brings out the names of celebrities with whom he's supposedly buddy-buddy> — see SAY 1
2 to make more apparent <a blue scarf would bring out the color of your eyes> — see EMPHASIZE 2

bring up verb
1 to bring to maturity through care and education <it takes an immense commitment and a lot of love to bring up a child properly>

Synonyms
breed, foster, nourish, nurse, raise, rear

Related Words
father, mother; attend, care (for), cradle, cultivate, mind, minister (to), nurture, watch; discipline, educate, instruct, mentor, school, teach, train, tutor; edify, enlighten, indoctrinate; feed, provide (for), supply; advance, forward, further, promote; prepare; direct, guide, lead, shepherd, show

Near Antonyms
abuse, ill-treat, ill-use, maltreat, mishandle, mistreat; ignore, neglect; harm, hurt, injure

2 to present or bring forward for discussion <I hate to bring this up, but we're running short of money> — see INTRODUCE 2
3 to bring (something) to a standstill <wasn't expecting the operator to bring up the carnival ride so suddenly> — see 1HALT 1

brininess noun
the quality or state of being salty <the brininess of the soup rendered it inedible> — see SALTINESS

brink noun
an interval of time just before the onset of something <was at the brink of death when the rescuers arrived> — see POINT 3

briny adjective
of, relating to, or containing salt <a briny liquid that is often used to make pickles> — see SALTY 1

brio noun
active strength of body or mind <impressed the interviewers with his poise and brio> — see VIGOR 1

brisk adjective
1 having much high-spirited energy and movement <a brisk exercise that many athletes use to warm up> — see LIVELY 1
2 moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <moved at a brisk walk through the exhibit> — see FAST 1
3 marked by much life, movement, or activity <brisk trading on the stock market> — see ALIVE 2

briskly adverb
with great speed <strode off briskly to deal with the problem> — see FAST 1

briskness noun
the quality or state of having abundant or intense activity <the briskness of the shopping scene at the mall makes it a good candidate for our next store> — see VITALITY 1

bristle noun
a thin, flexible structure that resembles a hair <a hairbrush with plastic bristles> — see HAIR 2

bristle verb
1 to be copiously supplied <a recent college grad thrilled to be starting a new life in a city bristling with possibilities> — see ABOUND
2 to express one's anger usually violently <the man bristled at the accusation, and threatened to file a lawsuit> — see RAGE 1

bristly adjective
covered with or as if with hair <although pigs look hairless, they're actually bristly creatures> — see HAIRY 1

britches plural noun
an outer garment covering each leg separately from waist to ankle <a traditional riding outfit consisting of red jacket, tan britches, and black boots> — see PANTS

brittle adjective
1 having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure <a brittle cracker that turned into crumbs in my pocket> — see CRISP 1
2 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <a brittle apology that was anything but heartfelt> — see COLD 2

broach verb
1 to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below <the immense whales broaching was a magnificent sight>

Synonyms
break, surface

Related Words
emerge, rise

Near Antonyms
dive, drop, drown, founder, plunge, sink, submerge, submerse

2 to present or bring forward for discussion <broached the topic of plans for next year's parade> — see INTRODUCE 2

broad adjective
1 having a greater than usual measure across <an unusually broad expanse of water in the island-dotted lake> — see WIDE 1
2 having considerable extent <her broad knowledge of American politics makes her a much-sought-after guest on talk shows> — see EXTENSIVE
3 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <gave them a broad hint that it was time to leave> — see CLEAR 2
4 relating to the main elements and not to specific details <a broad overview of the topic> — see GENERAL 2

broad–brush adjective
belonging or relating to the whole <an unfair, broad-brush accusation of corruption in the statehouse> — see GENERAL 1

broadcast verb
1 to cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people <broadcast the information only to people who needed to know> — see SPREAD 1
2 to make known openly or publicly <please don't broadcast this news, as it's not being publicly announced yet> — see ANNOUNCE

broad–gauge or broad–gauged adjective
covering everything or all important points <a broad-gauge book about roses that covers just about everything you could want to know about roses> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC

broadly adverb
to a large extent or degree <the new policy is broadly applicable> — see GREATLY 2

broad–minded adjective
1 not bound by traditional ways or beliefs <a broad-minded philosophy of parenting> — see LIBERAL 1
2 willing to consider new or different ideas <we have to be broad-minded on this issue, since traditional solutions no longer work> — see OPEN-MINDED 1

broadside adverb
with one side faced forward <one car hit the other broadside and crushed the passenger door> — see SIDEWAYS 1

Brobdingnagian adjective
unusually large <a Brobdingnagian billboard stood at the entrance to the theme park> — see HUGE

brochure noun
a short printed publication with no cover or with a paper cover <handed out brochures giving practical hints about environment-friendly practices that every family can adopt> — see PAMPHLET

broil noun
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people <a noisy broil broke out at the bar> — see BRAWL 1

broil verb
to place in conflict or difficulties <instead of broiling themselves in internal strife, they should band together against the common enemy> — see EMBROIL

broiling adjective
having a notably high temperature <the office was broiling because the air conditioning was on the blink> — see HOT 1

broke adjective
lacking money or material possessions <too broke to afford even a used car> — see POOR 1

broken adjective
1 forcibly separated into many pieces <a broken vase that could not be repaired>

Synonyms
busted, fractured, fragmented, shattered, smashed

Related Words
blasted, detonated, exploded; cracked, slivered, splintered, split; collapsed, imploded; demolished, destroyed, devastated, pulverized, ruinate, ruined, wrecked; damaged, defaced, disintegrated, dynamited, mangled, mutilated; eradicated, exterminated, extirpated, obliterated, wiped out; breakable, brittle, delicate, fragile, frail, frangible

Near Antonyms
fixed, healed, mended, patched, rebuilt, reconstructed, repaired; infrangible, unbreakable

Antonyms
unbroken

2 having an uneven edge or outline <the broken rim of the antique vase greatly reduces its value> — see RAGGED 1
3 not having a level or smooth surface <that portion of the hiking trail consists of a long, broken mountain ridge> — see UNEVEN 1

brokenhearted adjective
feeling unhappiness <she was brokenhearted when the relationship ended> — see SAD 1

broker noun
1 one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement <the broker in the hostage situation was a prominent reporter that the gunman felt he could trust> — see MEDIATOR
2 the person in a business deal who hands over an item in exchange for money <all of the local yacht brokers were at the boat show> — see VENDOR

bromide noun
an idea or expression that has been used by many people <a newspaper editorial offering the timeworn bromide that people should settle their differences peacefully> — see COMMONPLACE

Bronx cheer noun
a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval <a baseball legend who seems never to have forgotten the Bronx cheer he once received from the hometown ingrates> — see CATCALL

brood verb
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop <don't disturb the hen while she's brooding> — see SET 1

broody adjective
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking <he spent a long, broody weekend trying to figure out where his relationship with his girlfriend was headed> — see CONTEMPLATIVE

brook noun
a natural body of running water smaller than a river <there are tiny fish and frogs in that brook> — see CREEK 1

brook verb
to put up with (something painful or difficult) <I will not brook insults from my own employees> — see BEAR 2

brooklet noun
a natural body of running water smaller than a river <a little brooklet trickled past the house> — see CREEK 1

brothel noun
a building in which prostitutes are available <the district is infamous for its brothels and drug dealers> — see BORDELLO

brotherhood noun
1 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <they're a brotherhood of retired war veterans> — see ASSOCIATION 2
2 the body of people in a profession or field of activity <a family that has been part of the brotherhood of police officers for four generations> — see CORPS
3 the feeling of closeness and friendship that exists between companions <the brotherhood that existed between the medical missionaries and the villagers they served> — see COMPANIONSHIP
4 kindly concern, interest, or support <in a display of brotherhood, other writers rushed to the defense of the jailed journalist> — see GOODWILL 1

brotherly adjective
of, relating to, or befitting brothers <the brotherly love that exists between the members of the scout troop> — see FRATERNAL

browbeat verb
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats <they would often browbeat the younger child until he cried> — see INTIMIDATE

brownie noun
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <some people believe that brownies will clean your house if you leave them milk> — see FAIRY

brownnoser noun
a person who flatters another in order to get ahead <surrounded himself with brainless brownnosers, so no wonder the company went down the tubes> — see SYCOPHANT

browse verb
1 to feed on grass or herbs <cows browsing in fields are a common sight along that stretch of the road> — see 1GRAZE
2 to take a quick or hasty look <browsed through the stacks looking for interesting books> — see GLANCE 2

bruise noun
1 a bodily injury in which small blood vessels are broken but the overlying skin is not <she got quite a big bruise from walking into the corner of the table> — see CONTUSION
2 an area of skin roughened or worn away by harsh rubbing against another surface <bruises caused by ill-fitting hiking boots> — see ABRASION

bruit noun, archaic
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <a film that captures the thunderous fury of medieval warfare and the bruit of a thousand clashing swords> — see NOISE 1

bruit (about) verb
to make (as a piece of information) the subject of common talk without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <please don't bruit accusations about without confirming them first> — see RUMOR

brume noun
an atmospheric condition in which suspended particles in the air rob it of its transparency <cloaked in the early-morning brume, the village did indeed look like some long-lost Brigadoon> — see HAZE 1

brumous adjective
filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension <the village was slumbering peacefully beneath the brumous morning sky> — see HAZY 1

brunet or brunette adjective
not having a light complexion <a brunette woman who favored dark red lipstick> — see DARK 2

brunt noun
the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts <the brunt of the responsibility fell on her shoulders> — see BODY 1

brush noun
a brief clash between enemies or rivals <the two advance parties had a brush, but no one was wounded> — see ENCOUNTER

1brush verb
to move or proceed smoothly and readily <a pop star brushing past a crowd of autograph seekers> — see FLOW 2

2brush verb
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing <spiderwebs brushed her cheek as she walked through the basement>

Synonyms
graze, kiss, nudge, shave, skim

Related Words
bump, contact, scrape, sideswipe, strike, sweep, swipe, touch; bounce, carom, glance, rebound, ricochet, skip; caress, cuddle, fondle, love, pat, pet, stroke; miss, skirt

Near Antonyms
bang, bash, bump, clash, collide, crash, hit, impact, impinge, knock, punch, ram, slam, slap, smack, smash, swipe, thud, thwack, whack

brush (aside or off) verb
to dismiss as of little importance <brushed off their complaints as the whining of people who were never satisfied> — see EXCUSE 1

brush–off noun
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly <the mayor tends to give anyone under voting age the brush-off> — see COLD SHOULDER

brushwood noun
a thick patch of shrubbery, small trees, or underbrush <cleared away the brushwood in order to build a shed> — see THICKET

brushy adjective
covered with or as if with hair <the vogue for brushy cheeks on men reached a whimsical apex in the 19th century when muttonchop whiskers came in fashion> — see HAIRY 1

brusque also brusk adjective
being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner <a brusque and unhelpful reply from the clerk in the hardware store> — see BLUNT 1

brutal adjective
1 difficult to endure <brutal hard labor in the hot sun> — see HARSH 1
2 having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <a brutal child who liked to torture animals> — see CRUEL 1
3 having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal <a coarse, brutal man who has no sense of what it means to be refined or sensitive or cultured> — see BESTIAL

brutality noun
1 disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <the police were accused of brutality for using excessive force in making arrests> — see CRUELTY
2 the manifestation of the traits or the gratification of the appetites of a lower animal <the disconcerting ease with which the people adopted the brutality of the enemy invaders> — see BESTIALITY

brutalize verb
1 to make (someone) feel or behave more like an animal than a human being <three years in a prison camp so brutalized him that he couldn't remember how to eat with a fork>

Synonyms
animalize, bestialize, dehumanize

Related Words
abase, corrupt, debauch, degrade, demean, deprave, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, warp; contaminate, pollute, taint; disgrace, humble, humiliate

Near Antonyms
dignify, exalt, honor; amend, improve; cleanse, purify, restore; respect; elevate, ennoble, uplift

2 to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <Red Cross workers reported that prisoners had been brutalized in truly shocking ways> — see ABUSE 1

brutally adverb
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering <the prisoners were treated brutally at the hands of the sadistic guards> — see HARDLY 1

brute adjective
1 having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <the brute attacks on innocent civilians had taken the war to a whole new level> — see CRUEL 1
2 having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal <a man of brute instinct, he deals with conflict the only way he knows how—by physical force> — see BESTIAL

brute noun
1 one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings <it is a fundamental sense of right and wrong that separates us from the brutes> — see ANIMAL
2 a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <only a brute would deliberately break someone's arm> — see VILLAIN

brutish adjective
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal <as the months of recurrent combat dragged on, the daily existence of the soldiers became increasingly brutish> — see BESTIAL

brutishness noun
the manifestation of the traits or the gratification of the appetites of a lower animal <approached sex with the same brutishness that he manifested in every other aspect of his life> — see BESTIALITY

bubble verb
to flow in a broken irregular stream <the soapy water bubbled down the drain> — see GURGLE

bubblehead noun
a stupid person <a murder mystery so obvious that even bubbleheads need not tax their brains> — see IDIOT

bubbleheaded adjective
1 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <she's regarded as the brains behind her popular but bubbleheaded husband> — see STUPID 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a coworker who should keep her bubbleheaded opinions on current events to herself> — see FOOLISH 1

bubbly adjective
joyously unrestrained <offered their bubbly congratulations to the expectant parents> — see EXUBERANT

bubkes also bupkes or bupkus plural noun
the smallest amount or part imaginable <she always eats out and proudly admits that she doesn't know bubkes about cooking> — see JOT

buccaneer noun
someone who engages in robbery of ships at sea <buccaneers who preyed upon treasure-laden ships in the Caribbean> — see PIRATE

buck noun
1 a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance <a vain buck who spends an hour before the bathroom mirror every morning> — see DANDY 1
2 an adult male human being <found some strong young bucks to help move her furniture> — see MAN 1
3 a U.S. currency bill representing 100 cents <dropped a buck in the collection basket> — see DOLLAR
4 bucks plural something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <hoping to win some major bucks at the slot machines> — see MONEY 1

buck verb
1 to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion <the car bucked and stalled> — see JERK 1
2 to refuse to give in to <bucked the trend to outdo everyone else and just wore the same clothes they had in previous years> — see RESIST
3 to shift possession of (something) from one person to another <buck each box to the next person in line, and the last person will stack them in the storeroom> — see PASS 1

buckaroo also buckeroo noun
a hired hand who tends cattle or horses at a ranch or on the range <a rip-roaring buckaroo of the Old West> — see COWBOY

bucket noun
1 a considerable amount <made buckets of money in the stock market> — see LOT 2
2 a round container that is open at the top and outfitted with a handle <carried water from the well in a bucket> — see PAIL

bucket verb
1 to lift out with something that holds liquid <bucketing water from the well, we raced to put out the fire> — see DIP 2
2 to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <getting the troops into the bucketing landing craft proved to be challenging> — see SHAKE 1

buckle verb
1 to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure <the flimsy bridge buckled under the weight of the caravan of trucks> — see COLLAPSE 1
2 to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention <buckled himself down and finished the assignment in record time> — see APPLY 2

buckler noun
means or method of defending <a strong and free press is our best buckler against tyranny> — see DEFENSE 1

buck up verb
1 to become glad or hopeful <buck up, kids, it's not so bad as you're making it out to be> — see CHEER UP 1
2 to fill with courage or strength of purpose <a surprise presidential visit to buck up the troops> — see ENCOURAGE 1

bucolic adjective
of, relating to, associated with, or typical of open areas with few buildings or people <a bucolic region where farms are still common> — see RURAL

bud noun
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <that sitcom star is still a bud, so all he needs right now are looks and personality> — see CHILD 1

budding adjective
beginning to come into existence <the budding romance between the coworkers was the talk of the office> — see NASCENT

buddy noun
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another <my old college buddy is the one person I can always turn to> — see FRIEND 1

buddy–buddy adjective
1 closely acquainted <those two army officers have been buddy-buddy for years> — see FAMILIAR 1
2 having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <he's even buddy-buddy to people he's only just met> — see FRIENDLY 1

budge verb
1 to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) <despite hours of intense pressure, she refused to budge from her position> — see YIELD 3
2 to change one's position <he finally budged from his beach blanket when the tide started swirling up around him> — see MOVE 3
3 to change the place or position of <the bureau was so heavy that two people couldn't budge it> — see MOVE 1

budget adjective
costing little <a budget phone plan for people on fixed incomes> — see CHEAP 1

budget noun
1 a sum of money set aside for a particular purpose <we've spent a little more than our budget this year> — see FUND 1
2 the number of individuals or amount of something available at any given time <the tour group had a whole budget of complaints> — see SUPPLY

budget verb
to work out the details of (something) in advance <the vacationers carefully budgeted how they would spend their limited time in Italy> — see PLAN 1

buff noun
1 a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <he's such a film buff that he owns over 3,000 movies> — see FAN
2 the state of having no clothes on one's body <protected by a fully enclosed backyard, the couple would frequently sunbathe in the buff> — see NUDITY

buff verb
1 to make smooth by friction <she learned to buff semiprecious stones in order to make her own jewelry> — see GRIND 1
2 to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure <the janitor buffed the lobby floor until it shone> — see POLISH 1

buffalo verb
1 to cause to believe what is untrue <I'm not some newcomer that you can buffalo with that nonsense> — see DECEIVE
2 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <in this debate I refuse to be buffaloed by a flurry of irrelevant issues> — see CONFUSE 1

buffed adjective
having a shiny surface or finish <a beautiful, buffed antique table> — see GLOSSY

buffer noun
1 one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement <it took a friend serving as a buffer between the feuding siblings to get them to speak to one another again> — see MEDIATOR
2 something that serves as a protective barrier <the excelsior acts as an additional buffer for the marble bust during shipping> — see CUSHION

buffer verb
to lessen the shock of <during my walk an umbrella and thick coat buffered the freezing rain> — see CUSHION

1buffet noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <delivered a powerful buffet to the side of the prisoner's head> — see 1BLOW

2buffet noun
a storage case typically having doors and shelves <a buffet completed the kitchen set> — see CABINET

buffet verb
to strike repeatedly <fierce winds buffeted the small sailboat> — see BEAT 1

buffo noun
a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior <in the comic opera, the buffo shared his entrance aria with a grimacing mime> — see CLOWN 1

buffoon noun
a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior <the children at the birthday party giggled at the buffoon's silly tricks> — see CLOWN 1

buffoonery noun
wildly playful or mischievous behavior <their madcap buffoonery turned the duo into the nation's hottest comedy act> — see HORSEPLAY

bug noun
1 a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <a camera bug who loves taking candid shots at fairs and festivals> — see FAN
2 an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <I can't go to work today because I've caught some bug that's going around> — see DISEASE
3 a person judged to be legally or medically insane <a bug with a fascination for tormenting small animals and setting fires> — see LUNATIC 1

bug verb
1 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <these incessant phone calls are really starting to bug me> — see IRRITATE 1
2 to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation <I hate to bug you, but could you help me move this table?> — see BOTHER 1

bugaboo noun
something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason <doing one's tax returns are a real bugaboo for some people> — see BOGEY 1

bugbear noun
1 something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason <communism was once the nation's biggest bugbear> — see BOGEY 1
2 something that is a source of irritation <hated all the bugbears of modern life, especially those long commutes to work> — see ANNOYANCE 3

bugger noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <a cranky bugger who's always at odds with his neighbors> — see JERK 1

bugger (up) verb
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <I've somehow buggered up the program again> — see BOTCH

bugger off verb, British slang
to leave a place often for another <bugger off, or I'll call the police!> — see GO 2

bugging noun
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another <this perpetual bugging while I'm trying to concentrate is driving me nuts!> — see ANNOYANCE

buggy noun
a small four-wheeled vehicle designed for pushing a baby around in <we'll need a new buggy if we have another baby> — see BABY CARRIAGE

bughouse adjective, slang
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <anyone would go bughouse after spending a week with her relatives> — see INSANE 1

bug off verb
to leave a place often for another <bug off, or I'll sic my dogs on you!> — see GO 2

bug out verb
1 to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening <the ground soldiers bugged out just before the start of the aerial bombing> — see RUN 2
2 to leave a place often for another <the strange visitor bugged out without so much as saying a word> — see GO 2

build noun
the type of body that a person has <she has a slender build> — see PHYSIQUE

build verb
to form by putting together parts or materials <he spent hours building a model airplane from a kit>

Synonyms
assemble, confect, construct, erect, fabricate, make, make up, piece, put up, raise, rear, set up

Related Words
carpenter, fashion, forge, frame, hammer, handcraft, manufacture, mold, produce, shape; prefabricate; begin, coin, create, generate, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, invent, originate; constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize; conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), design, devise, imagine, think (up); reassemble, rebuild, reconstruct, redevelop, reedify [British], retrofit; jerry-build, rig (up), throw up; combine, unite

Phrases
put together

Near Antonyms
demolish, destroy, devastate, flatten, level, pull down, pulverize, raze, ruin, ruinate, shatter, smash, wreck; blow up, explode; detach, disengage; disconnect, disjoin, disunite, divide, separate

Antonyms
demount, disassemble, dismantle, dismember, knock down, strike, take down, tear down

building noun
something built as a dwelling, shelter, or place for human activity <English class will be in that big stone building over there>

Synonyms
edifice, structure

Related Words
construction, erection; bungalow, cabin, chalet, cottage, house, lodge, summerhouse; hovel, hut, hutment, shack, shanty, shed; castle, château, estate, hall, manor, mansion, palace, pile, villa; skyscraper, tower

building block noun
one of the parts that make up a whole <historically the infantry division has been a basic building block of armies> — see ELEMENT 1

build up verb
1 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <static electricity built up on the cat's fur> — see INCREASE 2
2 to gradually increase in <the roller coaster built up momentum> — see GAIN 1
3 to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass <evidence that the toxic chemical builds up in the bloodstream to unhealthy levels> — see COLLECT 2
4 to make greater in size, amount, or number <he patiently built up his coin collection over several decades> <the young stockbroker worked hard to build up a clientele> — see INCREASE 1

built–in adjective
being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <a poker player with a seemingly built-in ability to read his opponents' faces> — see INHERENT

bulge noun
1 a part that sticks out from the general mass of something <several bulges in the old vinyl flooring in the dingy bathroom>

Synonyms
bunch, convexity, jut, overhang, projection, protrusion, protuberance, swell

Related Words
dome; blob, bump, dilatation, gibbosity, hump, knob, knot, knurl, lump, nub, obtrusion, puff, snag, swelling; block, piece, portion, section; enlargement, escalation, expansion, increase; hill, mound

Near Antonyms
crater, hole, well; basin, bowl, dip, valley; furrow, groove, trench, trough; dimple, gouge, impression, notch, pocket

Antonyms
cavity, concave, concavity, dent, depression, dint, hollow, indent, indentation, indenture, pit, recess

2 the more favorable condition or position in a competition <somehow she got the bulge on him in the race for the statehouse> — see ADVANTAGE 1

bulge verb
1 to extend outward beyond a usual point <the sides of the returning camper's suitcase bulged with a month's worth of dirty laundry>

Synonyms
bag, balloon, beetle, belly, billow, bunch, jut, overhang, poke, pooch [chiefly dialect], pouch, pout, project, protrude, stand out, start, stick out, swell

Related Words
dome; blow up, inflate; dilate, distend, expand; mushroom, snowball; elongate, extend, lengthen, stretch

Near Antonyms
compress, condense, constrict, contract, shrink

2 to be copiously supplied <this guidebook to San Francisco positively bulges with useful information> — see ABOUND

bulk noun
1 the largest part or quantity of something <agriculture makes up the bulk of the country's economy> — see MAJORITY 1
2 the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts <the cookie lost a few crumbs, but the bulk of it remained> — see BODY 1
3 the total amount of measurable space or surface occupied by something <due to its bulk, we were unable to get the television set into the backseat of the car> — see 1SIZE

bulk (up) verb
to bring together in one body or place <she bulked up her hair with one hand as she reached for the shears with the other> — see GATHER 1

bulkiness noun
the quality or state of being large in size <the box wasn't heavy, but its bulkiness made it awkward to carry> — see LARGENESS

bulky adjective
of a size greater than average of its kind <bulky packages might cost more to mail> — see LARGE 1

1bull noun
an order publicly issued by an authority <the head office issued a bull banning the use of alcohol at all on-site social functions> — see EDICT 1

2bull noun, slang
a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level <the town's drug pushers and bulls were well acquainted with one another> — see OFFICER 1

3bull noun, slang
1 boastful speech or writing <an interview filled with the usual bull about how seriously she takes the art of acting> — see BOMBAST 1
2 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <a guy who's always trying to sell some sucker a line of bull> — see NONSENSE 1

1bull verb
to force one's way <the beleaguered governor bulled through the crowd of reporters without answering a single question> — see 2PRESS 4

2bull verb, slang
to praise or express pride in one's own possessions, qualities, or accomplishments often to excess <no one bought all his bulling about how he had bedded every woman in the bar> — see BOAST 1

bulldoze verb
1 to force one's way <bulldozed through the crowd at the arena, urgently trying to find the bathroom> — see 2PRESS 4
2 to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats <one of those gatherings at which high-pressure sales reps try to bulldoze naive people into buying time-shares> — see INTIMIDATE

bullet noun
a usually round or cone-shaped little piece of lead made to be fired from a firearm <it is possible to make your own bullets, but it takes a lot of patience and some extra money>

Synonyms
ball, pellet

Related Words
ammunition, cannonball, cap, cartridge, charge, dumdum, gunshot, lead, load, missile, pop, projectile, round, shell, shot, slug

Near Antonyms
blank

bulletin noun
1 a publication that appears at regular intervals <picks up a church bulletin every Sunday after Mass> — see JOURNAL 1
2 a published statement informing the public of a matter of general interest <a Web site that allows visitors to read the latest news bulletins free of charge> — see ANNOUNCEMENT

bulletproof adjective
incapable of being defeated, overcome, or subdued <this year the city's football team seems bulletproof> — see INVINCIBLE

bullheaded adjective
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <a bullheaded government official who refused to bend the rules even just a little bit> — see OBSTINATE

bullheadedness noun
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <bullheadedness runs in that family> — see OBSTINACY

bullishness noun
an inclination to believe in the most favorable outcome <the customary bullishness of the company's executives is more credible in light of the most recent earnings report> — see OPTIMISM

bull's–eye noun
the central part or aspect of something under consideration <you hit the bull's-eye when you noted that the real issue here is money> — see CRUX

bully adjective
of the very best kind <that's a bully idea for reviving the town's retail center> — see EXCELLENT

bully noun
1 a person who teases, threatens, or hurts smaller or weaker persons <officials were warned that if they wished to avoid a school shooting, they had to deal with the local bullies>

Synonyms
bullyboy, hector, intimidator

Related Words
antagonist, enemy; abuser, baiter, giber (or jiber), harasser, harrier, heckler, mocker, needler, oppressor, persecutor, ridiculer, taunter, tease, teaser, torturer; goon, homeboy, homey (or homie), hood, hoodlum, hooligan, mug, punk, rough, roughneck, rowdy, ruffian, thug, tough, toughie (also toughy); cutthroat, felon, gangster, gunman, mobster, racketeer

2 a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <the local loan shark and his bullies have ways of making people pay up> — see HOODLUM

bully verb
1 to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <children who had been bullied by their father since infancy> — see ABUSE 1
2 to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats <the older boys constantly bullied him to the point where he was afraid to walk home alone> — see INTIMIDATE

bullyboy noun
a person who teases, threatens, or hurts smaller or weaker persons <unfortunately, some local bullyboys had made the park their turf, and families avoided it> — see BULLY 1

bullyrag verb
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats <the kind of neighborhood in which it was standard practice for young teens to be bullyragged into joining a street gang> — see INTIMIDATE

bulwark verb
to drive danger or attack away from <vowed to use any means necessary to bulwark the country agai nst a terrorist attack> — see DEFEND 1

bum adjective
of low quality <that was bum advice that you got from that chat room> — see CHEAP 2

1bum noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <a woman with a big bum> — see BUTTOCKS

2bum noun
1 an idle worthless person <asked his future son-in-law if he was planning on being a bum all his life> — see NE'ER-DO-WELL
2 a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living <I feel sorry for bums and occasionally give them money> — see TRAMP 1

bum verb
to spend time doing nothing <spent most of the summer just bumming around the house> — see IDLE

bum (out) verb
to make sad <that sort of news really bums me out> — see DEPRESS 1

1bumble verb
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound <a fly bumbling around the room while we were trying to sleep> — see WHIRR

2bumble verb
1 to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <accused the White House staff of bumbling the confirmation of the nominee for the cabinet post> — see BOTCH
2 to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually <I sort of bumbled through the dance number, hoping that it would soon end> — see FLOUNDER 1
3 to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly <overcome with stage fright, I could only bumble through the speech> — see BABBLE 1

bumbler noun
someone who bungles an effort <we can't trust that bumbler to do anything right> — see BUTCHER

1bummer noun
1 something (as a situation or event) that is depressing <boy, breaking your leg right before vacation is a bummer> — see DOWNER
2 something that disappoints <the cancellation of the holiday office party was a total bummer> — see DISAPPOINTMENT 2
3 something that has failed <that dot-com proved to be a real bummer> — see FAILURE 3

2bummer noun
a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living <a lifelong bummer, he never knew the satisfaction of having to work for a living> — see TRAMP 1

bump noun
1 a small rounded mass of swollen tissue <that's a nasty bump on your arm where you hit the table>

Synonyms
knot, lump, node, nodule, swelling

Related Words
growth, tumor, wart; hump, hunch; bruise, contusion, welt; blister, boil; blob, chunk, clod, clump, gob, gobbet, hunk, knob, nub, nubble, nugget, wad

2 the act or an instance of bringing to a lower grade or rank <the bump was punishment for insubordination>

Synonyms
demotion, reduction

Related Words
disrating, downgrade; dismissal, firing, layoff, sacking; abasement, debasement, humiliation

3 a forceful coming together of two things <I felt the bump of the other car, but there was no damage to either vehicle> — see IMPACT 1

bump verb
to come into usually forceful contact with something <that police officer bumped into me and should have apologized> — see HIT 2

bumper adjective
1 of the very best kind <it's been a bumper year for movies aimed at intelligent adults> — see EXCELLENT
2 unusually large <a bumper crop of pumpkins that year> — see HUGE

bumper noun
something that serves as a protective barrier <cars have bumpers to protect them from damage in minor collisions> — see CUSHION

bumpkin noun
an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country <the bumpkin was overwhelmed by the city's confusing subway system> — see HICK

bump off verb
to put to death deliberately <these drug dealers mean business, and they'll bump off anyone who gets in their way> — see MURDER 1

bumptious adjective
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <a bumptious young man whose family wealth gave him a sense of entitlement> — see ARROGANT

bumptiousness noun
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <for unbridled bumptiousness, it would be hard to beat that upstart> — see ARROGANCE

bumpy adjective
1 marked by a series of sharp quick motions <a bumpy ride over a badly rutted road> — see JERKY 1
2 not having a level or smooth surface <the bumpy road made the jeep bounce all over> — see UNEVEN 1

bunch noun
1 a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <that bunch goes out to lunch together every Friday> — see GANG 2
2 a number of things considered as a unit <bought a bunch of grapes> — see GROUP 1
3 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <a small bunch of people were sent to clean up the place> — see GROUP 2
4 a part that sticks out from the general mass of something <a bunch in the blanket> — see BULGE 1
5 a considerable amount <I have a bunch of thoughts on the matter, so grab a notepad> — see LOT 2

bunch verb
1 to extend outward beyond a usual point <the dress bunches a bit at the waist> — see BULGE 1
2 to gather into a closely packed group <the slow service caused the customers at the pick-up counter to bunch up> — see 2PRESS 3

bunco or bunko noun
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <they were experts at that bunco, having fleeced wide-eyed tourists for years> — see FRAUD 1

bundle noun
1 a considerable amount <a bundle of plans for the winter carnival> — see LOT 2
2 a wrapped or sealed case containing an item or set of items <a bundle of newspapers> — see PACKAGE 1
3 a very large amount of money <he dropped a bundle on that new sports car> — see FORTUNE 2

bundle verb
1 to cause to move or proceed fast or faster <the tour guide bundled us off before we had a chance to ask any questions> — see HURRY 1
2 to proceed or move quickly <a group of servants came bundling out of the palace to attend to the returning royals> — see HURRY 2

bung verb
to close up so that no empty spaces remain <we had bunged up the moving van so much that we couldn't have possibly squeezed in one more thing> — see FILL 2

bungle verb
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <bungled the job the first time she tried to do it> — see BOTCH

bungler noun
someone who bungles an effort <a hopeless bungler at fixing things around the house> — see BUTCHER

bunglesome adjective
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design <get rid of that bunglesome old suitcase and buy something with wheels> — see CUMBERSOME

bungling adjective
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) <I refuse to let that bungling incompetent insult me again> — see AWKWARD 2

bung up verb
to strike repeatedly <he's a bit of a mess, but he says he bunged up the other guy in the fight even worse> — see BEAT 1

1bunk noun
a place set aside for sleeping <crawled into their bunks and went to sleep immediately> — see BED 1

2bunk noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <the idea that the Great Wall of China is visible from the moon is pure bunk> — see NONSENSE 1

3bunk noun, British
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement <he waited until everyone was looking the other way, then did a bunk from the room> — see ESCAPE 1

bunk verb
to provide with living quarters or shelter <bunked the guest in the spare room> — see HOUSE 1

bunkum or buncombe noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <a cinematic depiction of the Middle Ages that was derided as pure bunkum by historians> — see NONSENSE 1

buns plural noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <he's got cute little buns> — see BUTTOCKS

buoy (up) verb
to fill with courage or strength of purpose <the sudden improvement in his health buoyed him up> — see ENCOURAGE 1

buoyant adjective
1 having or showing a good mood or disposition <all the fans were buoyant the day after the big win in the play-offs> — see CHEERFUL 1
2 joyously unrestrained <gave him a buoyant hug and kiss upon meeting him at the airport> — see EXUBERANT

buoyantly adverb
in a quick and spirited manner <went about her chores cheerfully and buoyantly> — see GAILY 2

burble noun
unintelligible or meaningless talk <the burble of babies can be so endearing> — see GIBBERISH 1

1burden noun
1 a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported <the early settlers often used horses to carry their burdens> — see LOAD 1
2 something one must do because of prior agreement <the burden of homework prevented the youngster from joining his friends at the game> — see OBLIGATION 1

2burden noun
a part of a song or hymn that is repeated every so often <had some trouble coming up with a burden for the song> — see CHORUS 2

burden verb
1 to place a weight or burden on <burdened the dog with a little backpack> — see LOAD 1
2 to make sad <refuses to let everyday problems burden her> — see DEPRESS 1

burdensome adjective
1 difficult to endure <the burdensome living conditions that the early settlers had to endure> — see HARSH 1
2 requiring much time, effort, or careful attention <the burdensome task of finishing the tax return> — see DEMANDING 1

bureau noun
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization <the federal revenue bureau> — see DIVISION 2

bureaucrat noun
a worker in a government agency <the bureaucrats at the town hall seem to think that we need a building permit to build a tree house>

Synonyms
civil servant, functionary, mandarin, public servant

Related Words
clerk, officeholder, official, officiary; employee (also employe), hand, hireling, jobholder, underling, worker

burg noun
a thickly settled, highly populated area <moved from a small town into a much bigger burg> — see CITY

burgeon also bourgeon verb
1 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <the trout population in the stream is burgeoning now that the water is clean> — see INCREASE 2
2 to grow vigorously <the spring flowers burgeoned once the warm weather set in for good> — see THRIVE 1
3 to produce flowers <chrysanthemums usually burgeon in early fall> — see BLOOM

burgher noun
a person who lives in a town on a permanent basis <many of the college students are regarded by the local burghers as obnoxious louts>

Synonyms
citizen, townie (or towny), townsman, villager

Related Words
townswoman; cliff dweller, denizen, dweller, habitant, inhabitant, national, native, occupant, resident, resider, subject; town, townsfolk, townspeople; suburbanite, urbanite

Near Antonyms
alien, foreigner, guest, nonnative, tourist, transient, visitor; gownsman

Antonyms
noncitizen

burglarize verb
1 to enter a house or building by force usually with illegal intent <the Watergate scandal began when Republican operatives burglarized the Democratic Party's headquarters in Washington, D.C.> — see BREAK IN 1
2 to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully <before they were caught, the thieves had burglarized dozens of houses around the city> — see ROB

burgle verb
1 to enter a house or building by force usually with illegal intent <someone burgled the lab when no one was there and let the animals out of their cages> — see BREAK IN 1
2 to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully <the neighbors returned from vacation to find that their house had been burgled> — see ROB

burial noun
1 the act or ceremony of putting a dead body in its final resting place <the children wanted to give the dead bird a proper burial in the backyard>

Synonyms
burying, entombing, entombment, inhumation, interment, interring, obsequy (usually obsequies), sepulture

Related Words
embalmment, funeral; immurement, inurnment; reburial, reinterment

Near Antonyms
cremation

Antonyms
disinterment, exhumation, unearthing

2 a final resting place for a dead person <archaeologically significant artifacts, such as stone tools, have been discovered in Neanderthal burials> — see GRAVE 1

burke verb
to keep from being publicly known <the executives knew that the drug had dangerous side effects, but they burked the findings> — see SUPPRESS 1

burlesque noun
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect <it is interesting to note that the first novel ever written in English was followed by a burlesque of it> — see PARODY 1

burlesque verb
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of <burlesquing the teacher's nervous tic isn't very nice> — see MIMIC 1

burly adjective
strongly and heavily built <a burly delivery man brought the furniture> — see 1HUSKY 1

burn noun, British
a natural body of running water smaller than a river <the walkers forded the shallow burn and then came upon a field of gorse> — see CREEK 1

burn verb
1 to be on fire especially brightly <all evening long we just sat there, contentedly watching the Yule log burn>

Synonyms
blaze, combust, flame, glow

Related Words
catch, enkindle; deflagrate, fire, ignite, kindle; flare (up), light (up); flicker, gutter, waver; bake, broil, char, cook, melt, roast, scorch, swelter; smolder (or smoulder), spark, sputter; beam, brighten, radiate; beat (down), flash, glare, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glitter, scintillate, shimmer, shine, sparkle, twinkle

Phrases
go up in flames

2 to set (something) on fire <it is not a good idea to try to burn old papers in the sink>

Synonyms
enkindle, fire, ignite, inflame (also enflame), kindle, light, torch

Related Words
immolate; deflagrate; char, frizzle, scorch; bake, broil, cook; ash, cremate, incinerate, kiln; set off; brighten, illuminate, illumine, irradiate, lighten, radiate; scald, scathe, sear; reignite, rekindle, relight; bank, stoke

Near Antonyms
choke, smother, suffocate; stamp (out); blacken, darken, dim, dull, obscure

Antonyms
douse (also dowse), extinguish, put out, quench, snuff (out)

3 to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger <he came home burning with anger because of a reprimand at work> — see BOIL 1
4 to shine with a bright harsh light <the bright streetlight outside our motel room burned all night long> — see GLARE 1
5 to cause to believe what is untrue <he's been burned before, so he's careful to double-check such claims now> — see DECEIVE
6 to make complete use of <heedlessly burning the country's resources without any concern for future generations> — see DEPLETE 1

burn (up) verb
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <seeing people violate smoking bans really burns me up> — see IRRITATE 1

burnable adjective
capable of catching or being set on fire <don't put something so burnable as a towel next to the stove> — see COMBUSTIBLE

burned–out or burnt–out adjective
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <I'm feeling so burned-out that I can't wait for vacation> — see WEARY 1

burning adjective
1 being on fire <a firefighter must be that rare soul who rushes into a burning house, not away from it> — see ABLAZE 1
2 having a notably high temperature <a burning sauna seems like a welcome retreat after a day of shoveling snow> — see HOT 1
3 having or expressing great depth of feeling <the burning enthusiasm of that candidate's campaign workers> — see FERVENT 1
4 needing immediate attention <once again the media ignored the burning issues and focused on fluff> — see ACUTE 2

burnish noun
brightness created by light reflected from a surface <after some much-needed polishing, the silver tea set had a brilliant burnish> — see SHINE 1

burnish verb
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure <burnished the floor of the ballroom to a soft luster> — see POLISH 1

burnished adjective
having a shiny surface or finish <bright burnished metal is used extensively in that boutique's decor> — see GLOSSY

burnout noun
a complete depletion of energy or strength <people in that job often suffer burnout and have to retire at a relatively early age> — see FATIGUE 1

burn out verb
to use up all the physical energy of <working 12-hour days at that job just burned me out> — see EXHAUST 1

burp noun
an expulsion of stomach gas through the mouth <felt embarrassed when a burp escaped from his lips as the table was being cleared> — see BELCH

burr noun
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion <heard the burr of a distant engine> — see HUM

burr verb
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound <the pitch burred past the batter's ear> — see WHIRR

burro noun
a sturdy and patient domestic mammal that is used especially to carry things <used a burro to carry the supplies> — see DONKEY 1

burrow noun
the shelter or resting place of a wild animal <the chipmunk retreated to its burrow to have its babies> — see DEN 1

burst noun
1 a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity <a sudden burst of industriousness whenever the boss appeared> — see OUTBREAK 1
2 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <a burst of anger that startled the other members on the panel> — see OUTBURST 1
3 the act or an instance of exploding <one burst after another could be heard in the distance> — see EXPLOSION 1

burst verb
1 to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure <the turnover's crust burst when the filling expanded> — see EXPLODE 1
2 to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive <finally burst the piñata open with one mighty swing of the bat> — see BLAST 1
3 to be copiously supplied <a young singer/dancer who seems to be bursting with energy and talent> — see ABOUND

burst (forth) verb
to develop suddenly and violently <hives burst forth on the child's arms and face whenever she goes near that plant> — see ERUPT 2

bursting adjective
containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible <the store was bursting with bargain hunters on the day of the big sale> — see FULL 1

bursting noun
the act or an instance of exploding <narrowly escaped the bursting of the car's gas tank> — see EXPLOSION 1

bury verb
1 to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea <he died on Tuesday and was buried on Friday>

Synonyms
entomb, hearse, inhume, inter, lay, put away, tomb

Related Words
immure, inurn; enshrine; conceal, cover, ensconce, hide; obscure, shade, shield; cloak, curtain, enshroud, shroud; rebury, reinter; coffin

Near Antonyms
burn, cremate; bare, disclose, discover, display, exhibit, expose, reveal, show; uncoffin

Antonyms
disinter, exhume, unearth

2 to put into a hiding place <buried his face in his hands as his wife recounted the embarrassing incident> — see 1HIDE 1
3 to defeat by a large margin <if we don't work harder, the other softball team will bury us> — see WHIP 2

burying noun
the act or ceremony of putting a dead body in its final resting place <all the grandchildren attended the burying of their grandfather in his homeland> — see BURIAL 1

bus noun
a self-propelled passenger vehicle on four wheels <this old bus is still running—but barely> — see CAR

bush adjective
falling short of a standard <a hopelessly bush effort at creating a romantic comedy> — see BAD 1

bush noun
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country <a guide who specializes in taking adventurous tourists through the bush> — see FRONTIER 2

bushed adjective
1 depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <I'm bushed after a day of moving boxes from the cellar to the attic> — see WEARY 1
2 chiefly Australian suffering from mental confusion <we were thoroughly bushed after listening to the convoluted directions from a well-meaning Sydneysider> — see DIZZY 2

bushel noun
a considerable amount <picked up a bushel of decorations at the after-Christmas sale> — see LOT 2

bush–league adjective
falling short of a standard <that's just a bush-league ploy to get cast on a TV reality show> — see BAD 1

bushwhack verb
to take sudden, violent action against <a remote area of the park in which gangs of hoodlums have been known to bushwhack lone joggers> — see ATTACK 1

bushwhacker noun
one who violently sets upon another <bushwhackers have made that lonely stretch of road very dangerous> — see ATTACKER

busily adjective
in a manner involving great or constant activity <the deadline is in two days, so everyone in the department has been working busily>

Synonyms
actively, assiduously, diligently, industriously, laboriously

Related Words
energetically, vigorously; indefatigably, tirelessly

Near Antonyms
lifelessly, sleepily

Antonyms
idly, inactively

business noun
1 transactions or economic support provided by customers <only places that are equal opportunity employers will get my business>

Synonyms
custom, patronage

Related Words
marketplace, trade, traffic; free trade; affairs, dealings, horse-trading; merchandising, retailing, wholesaling

2 a commercial or industrial activity or organization <most of the local businesses belong to the association> — see ENTERPRISE 1
3 something to be dealt with <we have one piece of business remaining for today's meeting> — see MATTER 2
4 the buying and selling of goods especially on a large scale and between different places <this bookstore is a place of business, not a free library, so please do your reading elsewhere> — see COMMERCE 1
5 the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists <plants going about the business of photosynthesis provide the Earth with a renewable source of oxygen> — see ROLE
6 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <if you want a medical malpractice lawyer, he's the best in the business> — see FIELD 2
7 a specific task with which a person or group is charged <the interrogators demanded to know what business the suspect had in the restricted area at that time of night> — see MISSION
8 the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another <the price for giving the drug lord the business was certain death> — see BETRAYAL

bust noun
1 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <delivered a bust to the boxer's chops> — see 1BLOW
2 something that has failed <the first movie was a hit, but the sequel was an unexpected bust> — see FAILURE 3
3 slang the act of taking or holding under one's control by authority of law <those lowlifes were nabbed for drug dealing in a massive bust last month> — see ARREST 1
4 a bout of prolonged or excessive drinking <a bunch of underage kids having a beer bust while the parents were away for the weekend> — see CAROUSE

bust verb
1 to bring to a lower grade or rank <the commander threatened to bust her for failing to salute> — see DEMOTE
2 to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts <gambling is a dangerous habit that has busted many unfortunate souls> — see RUIN 1
3 to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly <the butterfingered husband had busted more plates than he cared to remember> — see BREAK 1
4 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <busted the storekeeper on the nose and was promptly arrested for it> — see HIT 1
5 slang to take or keep under one's control by authority of law <the cops busted the revelers for drinking in public> — see ARREST 1
6 to use up all the physical energy of <I had to bust my butt in order to get the project done on time> — see EXHAUST 1

busted adjective
forcibly separated into many pieces <a busted headlight> — see BROKEN 1

bustle noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <I couldn't concentrate in all the bustle of the student lounge> — see COMMOTION

bustle verb
1 to be copiously supplied <on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop> — see ABOUND
2 to proceed or move quickly <the hostess bustled about, taking care of last-minute preparations for the party> — see HURRY 2

bustling adjective
1 involved in often constant activity <a bustling greeter was there to welcome guests to the grand opening> — see BUSY 1
2 marked by much life, movement, or activity <a bustling shopping center during the Christmas season> — see ALIVE 2

busy adjective
1 involved in often constant activity <the deadline is in two days, so everyone at work has been extremely busy>

Synonyms
active, assiduous, bustling, diligent, employed, engaged, hopping, industrious, laborious, occupied, sedulous, tied-up, working

Related Words
knee-deep, swamped; animated, astir, buzzing, flourishing, happening, humming, lively, thriving, vibrant; absorbed, concentrating, engrossed, focused (also focussed), immersed, intent, preoccupied; alive, functional, functioning, going, living, operating, operational, operative, running; energetic, vigorous; hardworking; indefatigable, tireless, untiring

Near Antonyms
free; asleep, dormant, latent, lifeless, quiescent, sleepy; inert, passive; dead, dull, slow; inoperative, nonoperating

Antonyms
idle, inactive, unbusy, unemployed, unoccupied

2 marked by much life, movement, or activity <the busy, often hectic floor of the New York Stock Exchange> — see ALIVE 2
3 thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <she's one of those busy production facilitators—always concerned about other people's work and never her own> — see INTRUSIVE

busy verb
to hold the attention of <the video game busied the child for hours> — see ENGAGE 1

busybody noun
a person who meddles in the affairs of others <that busybody across the street is always telling me how to tend to my own garden>

Synonyms
buttinsky (also buttinski), interferer, interloper, intermeddler, intruder, kibitzer (also kibbitzer), meddler, nosey parker [chiefly British]

Related Words
gaper, gawker, gawper [chiefly British], gazer, peeper, peeping Tom, prier (also pryer), rubberneck, rubbernecker, snoop, snooper, spy; blabber, discloser, gossip, gossiper, prattler, quidnunc, revealer, teller; betrayer, talebearer, tattler, tattletale, telltale; snake, sneak; informant, informer, snitcher, squealer, stool pigeon

but adverb
nothing more than <she is but a child and too young to understand such things> — see JUST 3

but conjunction
if it were not for the fact that <I would have said something but I was too chicken> — see EXCEPT

but preposition
not including <brought everything but the kitchen table to the campground> — see EXCEPT

butcher noun
someone who bungles an effort <the newest intern on the campaign is a butcher when it comes to writing press releases>

Synonyms
blunderbuss, blunderer, botcher, bumbler, bungler, fumbler, screwup

Related Words
incompetent, muddler

Near Antonyms
ace, adept, crackerjack (also crackajack), expert, maestro, master, virtuoso, wizard

butcher verb
1 to kill on a large scale <the barbarians butchered the monks in the monasteries without mercy> — see MASSACRE
2 to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <the new piano student butchered the sonatina> — see BOTCH

butcherly adjective
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <Genghis Khan and his butcherly horde even massacred the livestock of the villages they overran> — see CRUEL 1

butchery noun
the killing of a large number of people <butchery on a scale that horrified the civilized world> — see MASSACRE

1butt noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <park your butts in the seats and keep quiet, or I'm turning this car around> — see BUTTOCKS

2butt noun
1 a person or thing that is made fun of <the social outcast got tired of being the butt of everyone's jokes> — see LAUGHINGSTOCK
2 a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule <usually the U.S. Congress is the butt of the radio commentator's scathing wit> — see TARGET 1

3butt noun
an enclosed wooden vessel for holding beverages <a butt of hard cider that we had pressed ourselves> — see CASK

butt (on or against) verb
to be adjacent to <our property butts on a swamp> — see ADJOIN 1

butter noun
excessive praise <a junior exec who was laying on the butter so thickly that her colleagues were ready to gag> — see FLATTERY

butterfingered adjective
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands <I'm so butterfingered this morning—I keep dropping things> — see CLUMSY 1

butterfingers plural noun
a clumsy, awkward person <I declined her offer to help us move; I'm not letting that butterfingers near my antiques> — see KLUTZ

butterflies plural noun
a sense of panic or extreme nervousness <even experienced actors sometimes get butterflies before a performance> — see JITTERS

butter up verb
to praise too much <a flunky who shamelessly butters up the boss> — see FLATTER 1

butt in verb
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern <stop butting in on my personal life> — see INTERFERE

buttinsky also buttinski noun
a person who meddles in the affairs of others <there's always some buttinsky who has to tell you there's a better way to do whatever you're doing> — see BUSYBODY

buttocks plural noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <she slipped in the mud puddle and hit the ground square on her buttocks>

Synonyms
backside, behind, booty (also bootie) [slang], bottom, breech, bum, buns, butt, caboose, can, cheeks, derriere (or derrière), duff, fanny, fundament, hams, haunches, heinie [slang], hunkers, keister (also keester) [slang], nates, posterior, rear, rear end, rump, seat, tail, tail end, tush [slang]

Related Words
beam, stern; moon [slang]

button–down or buttoned–down adjective
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <a button-down architectural firm would never have the imagination to produce such a cutting-edge design> — see CONSERVATIVE 1

buttoned–up adjective
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <a buttoned-up colleague who had no interest in talking about anything but work, even at parties> — see COOL 1

buttress noun
1 something or someone to which one looks for support <the mother had always been the buttress of our family in trying times> — see DEPENDENCE 2
2 a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else <after the wall collapsed, the construction company agreed to rebuild it with a buttress> — see SUPPORT 1

buttress verb
1 to hold up or serve as a foundation for <a brace buttressed the wall> — see SUPPORT 3
2 to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) <a mass of circumstantial evidence buttresses the prosecutor's case> — see SUPPORT 4

buy noun
something bought or offered for sale at a desirable price <four cartons of ice cream for four dollars is a real buy> — see BARGAIN 1

buy verb
1 to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for <I really want to buy that new book, but I don't have enough money right now>

Synonyms
cop [slang], pick up, purchase, take

Related Words
acquire, gain, garner, get, obtain, procure, secure, win; finance, pay (for), spring (for); barter (for), deal (for), dicker (over), exchange (for), haggle (for), negotiate (about), trade (for); bargain (with), chaffer (with), horse-trade (with), palter (with); bid, offer; rebuy, repurchase

Near Antonyms
deal (in), market, merchandise (also merchandize), retail, sell, vend

2 to influence someone with a bribe <there were rumors that the mobster had bought the judge> — see BRIBE
3 to regard as right or true <if you buy that story, then I have a bridge in Brooklyn you might be interested in> — see BELIEVE 1

buzz noun
1 a communication by telephone <give me a buzz when you decide> — see CALL 3
2 a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion <the motor made a soft buzz> — see HUM
3 information or opinion that is widely disseminated without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <the buzz is that this would-be blockbuster will be the bomb of the summer> — see RUMOR
4 a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <longer hairstyles are the buzz this season> — see FAD

buzz verb
1 to be copiously supplied <for months the area has been buzzing with rumors that a megacorporation plans to locate its headquarters here> — see ABOUND
2 to proceed or move quickly <we've been buzzing around all morning getting ready for the meeting with the VIPs from the head office> — see HURRY 2
3 to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound <the little plane buzzed past the crowd> — see WHIRR

buzz (off) verb
to leave a place often for another <you've outstayed your welcome, so buzz off> — see GO 2

buzzard noun
1 a person who habitually preys upon others <the real estate buzzards were really putting pressure on the one homeowner who was still refusing to sell> — see PREDATOR
2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <that crotchety old man can be a real buzzard when he's in a bad mood—which is usually the case> — see JERK 1

buzzing adjective
marked by much life, movement, or activity <the arena is really buzzing tonight> — see ALIVE 2

by adverb
at, within, or to a short distance or time <the library is close by> — see NEAR 1

by preposition
1 along the way of <went by the woods to get to the summer cottage>

Synonyms
through, via

Related Words
across, along, alongside, beyond, near, nearby, over; below, beneath, under, underneath; outside, past; throughout

Phrases
by way of

2 using the means or agency of <try to convince them by reason alone, if possible>

Synonyms
in, per, through, via, with

Phrases
by dint of, by means of, by (or in) virtue of

3 close to <that house is right by the ocean> — see AROUND 1
4 in the course of <she attends college by day and works at the club by night> — see DURING

by–and–by noun
time that is to come <we shall meet again in the by-and-by> — see FUTURE 1

by and by adverb
at or within a short time <we'll get under way by and by> — see SHORTLY 2

by and large adverb
for the most part <by and large, that information is accurate> — see CHIEFLY

by–blow noun
an illegitimate child <prior to his election as pope, Alexander VI fathered four by-blows, including the notorious siblings Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia> — see BASTARD 1

bygone adjective
no longer existing <elderly people reminiscing about bygone fashions> — see EXTINCT

bylaw noun
a statement spelling out the proper procedure or conduct for an activity <the club's bylaws bar any member whose annual dues remain unpaid from voting in the election> — see RULE 1

byname noun
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual <Thomas Edward Lawrence is better known to most people by his byname, Lawrence of Arabia> — see NICKNAME

bypass verb
1 to avoid by going around <we can bypass the traffic jam if we take this other road> — see DETOUR 1
2 to fail to give proper attention to <a serious news event that was bypassed by the mainstream media so that they could concentrate on celebrity gossip> — see NEGLECT 1
3 to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness <you can bypass the graduation requirements if you do enough extra credit> — see CIRCUMVENT 1

bypast adjective
no longer existing <those bypast days when gasoline was cheap> — see EXTINCT

by–product noun
something that naturally develops or is developed from something else <hydrogen is one by-product of that chemical reaction> — see DERIVATIVE

bystander noun
someone who sees or watches something <bystanders rushed to help the victim of the mugging> — see SPECTATOR

byword noun
1 an often stated observation regarding something from common experience <Mom's favorite byword is “You can get more flies with honey than with vinegar”> — see SAYING
2 the most perfect type or example <nationally, Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive has become a byword for luxury retailing> — see QUINTESSENCE 1

byzantine adjective
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <spent his first year at the Pentagon just trying to fathom its byzantine workings> — see COMPLEX 1

C

cab noun
an automobile that carries passengers for a fare usually determined by the distance traveled <called a cab to get back to the hotel> — see TAXICAB

cabal noun
a group involved in secret or criminal activities <a conspiracy theory about the existence of an international cabal devoted to world domination> — see 1RING 1

cabaret noun
a bar or restaurant offering special nighttime entertainment (as music, dancing, or comedy acts) <a singing superstar who got her start singing in the cabarets of New York City> — see NIGHTCLUB

cabbage noun, slang
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <he suddenly has a lot of cabbage for someone who's never done an honest day's work in his life> — see MONEY 1

cabin noun
1 a small, simply constructed, and often temporary dwelling <a small cabin that hikers along the Appalachian Trail use for overnight stays> — see SHACK
2 an often small house for recreational or seasonal use <kept a cabin in the mountains for vacations during skiing season> — see COTTAGE
3 one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided <an airplane cabin> — see COMPARTMENT

cabinet noun
a storage case typically having doors and shelves <the most precious knickknacks were kept in a cabinet with glass doors>

Synonyms
buffet, closet, console, cupboard, hutch, locker, press, sideboard

Related Words
bookcase, breakfront, chest, china closet, credence, credenza, étagère (or etagere), secretary, showcase, taboret (or tabouret), vitrine; cuddy, dresser, pie safe; armoire, clothespress, garderobe, wardrobe; cabinetry, shelving

cabinetwork noun
the movable articles (such as tables and chairs) in a room <18th-century cabinetwork from Newport, Rhode Island, is among the most prized of all American furniture> — see FURNITURE

cable noun
a length of braided, flexible material that is used for tying or connecting things <a mass of cables connecting the audio and video components> — see CORD 1

caboose noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <a 1950s sex symbol who was famous for swinging her caboose as she walked> — see BUTTOCKS

cache noun
1 a collection of things kept available for future use or need <a cache of medical supplies in case of emergency> — see STORE 1
2 a supply stored up and often hidden away <the squirrel kept a cache of nuts in the hollow of the tree> — see HOARD 1

cache verb
1 to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place <an eccentric who cached money in odd places, such as under the boards of the floor> — see HOARD
2 to put into a hiding place <cached the fugitive slaves in their cellar until they could make their way to Canada> — see 1HIDE 1

caching noun
the placing of something out of sight <the caching of holiday gifts in the weeks before Christmas> — see CONCEALMENT 1

cachinnation noun
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <as is common in some forms of schizophrenia, the patient would often erupt in cachinnation, often at the most inappropriate times> — see LAUGH 1

cack–handed adjective, British
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands <some duffer with a cack-handed grip on his golf club> — see CLUMSY 1

cackle noun
1 an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <erupted in a high-pitched cackle at the absurdity of the suggestion> — see LAUGH 1
2 friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <the constant cackle of his seat companion made the long flight seem even longer> — see CHAT 1

cackle verb
1 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <cackled on the phone with her friends about the latest soap opera plots> — see CHAT 1
2 to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound <she cackled with glee when her tax-evading neighbor finally got caught> — see LAUGH 1

cackler noun
a person who talks constantly <steadfastly avoids that cackler in the lunchroom, who doesn't mind wasting other people's time> — see CHATTERBOX

cacodemon noun
an evil spirit <he'd often wrestle with his conscience, but inevitably the cacodemons would win> — see DEMON 1

cacodemonic adjective
of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit <narcotics seemed to have a cacodemonic hold on him, and they inevitably ruined his life> — see FIENDISH 1

cacophonous adjective
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds <the cacophonous chaos on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange> — see DISSONANT

cacophony noun
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <the cacophony of a pet store full of animals> — see NOISE 1

cad noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <he's the type of cad who readily bad-mouths every girl who's ever dumped him> — see JERK 1

cadaver noun
a dead body <medical students who train by using cadavers> — see CORPSE

cadaverous adjective
1 lacking a healthy skin color <everyone always looks cadaverous in the winter> — see PALE 2
2 suffering extreme weight loss as a result of hunger or disease <a cadaverous cancer patient living out his final days with dignity and courage> — see EMACIATED

caddy noun
a covered rectangular container for storing or transporting things <an antique tea caddy from the colonial period> — see CHEST

cadence noun
the recurrent pattern formed by a series of sounds having a regular rise and fall in intensity <the soothing cadence of the lecturer's voice nearly put me to sleep> — see RHYTHM

cadenced adjective
marked by or occurring with a noticeable regularity in the rise and fall of sound <a very cadenced voice, as one would expect of an instructor in a meditation class> — see RHYTHMIC

cadent adjective
marked by or occurring with a noticeable regularity in the rise and fall of sound <the song's cadent repetitions quickly became mesmerizing> — see RHYTHMIC

cadet noun, slang
a man who solicits clients for a woman who is willing to engage in sexual activities for money <the hooker claims she turned all her dough in to her cadet last night> — see PIMP

cadre noun
the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form <claims that the problem will never be solved within the existing cadre of the state bureaucracy> — see FRAME 1

caducity noun
the state or period of mental decline that typically accompanies old age <forgetting the name of an old friend was another painful reminder of her progressive caducity> — see DOTAGE

caesar noun
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way <like many another third-world caesar, he cared little for the destitute class into which he himself had been born> — see DESPOT

Caesarism noun
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power <a military-led coup would almost certainly result in ironfisted Caesarism for that unstable nation> — see DESPOTISM

café also cafe noun
1 a bar or restaurant offering special nighttime entertainment (as music, dancing, or comedy acts) <the café presents nationally known jazz performers in an intimate setting> — see NIGHTCLUB
2 a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises <a speakeasy that became a fashionable café with the repeal of prohibition> — see BARROOM
3 a public establishment where meals are served to paying customers for consumption on the premises <they met at a little café in Paris> — see RESTAURANT

caff noun, British
a public establishment where meals are served to paying customers for consumption on the premises <a simple East End caff that serves fish-and-chips and the like to a largely working-class clientele> — see RESTAURANT

cage noun
an enclosure with an open framework for keeping animals <the dogs and cats at the animal shelter looked so sad in their cages>

Synonyms
coop, corral, hutch, pen, pound

Related Words
kennel, run; kraal, stockade; cote, dovecote (also dovecot), henhouse; fold, sheepfold; pigpen; aquarium, terrarium; live-box; fence

cage verb
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <caged the rabbit at night so she wouldn't wake everyone up> — see ENCLOSE 1

cagey also cagy adjective
1 clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <a cagey old politician who is exceptionally skilled at getting federal money for his district> — see ARTFUL 1
2 slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty <when it came time to sign the contract, he suddenly got cagey about taking on the job> — see HESITANT

caginess also cageyness noun
1 exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters <most consumers should possess sufficient caginess to see through that scam> — see ACUMEN
2 skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <the lawyer's celebrated caginess makes her the first choice of the hopelessly guilty> — see CUNNING 1

caitiff noun
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <upon entering the store, I was beset by a caitiff in the guise of a salesman set on separating me from my money> — see VILLAIN

cajole verb
to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery <cajoled her into doing his laundry for him> — see COAX

cake noun
1 a small usually rounded mass of minced food that has been fried <the rich, tender cakes of crabmeat had been lightly fried>

Synonyms
croquette, cutlet, fritter, galette, patty (also pattie)

Related Words
finger, stick; gâteau (or gateau)

2 something easily done or dealt with <today's assignment is cake compared to yesterday's> — see CINCH 1

cake verb
to cover with a hardened layer <shoes caked with dried mud> — see ENCRUST

cakewalk noun
something easily done or dealt with <no one was pretending that winning the election would be a cakewalk> — see CINCH 1

calaboose noun
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <fittingly, the calaboose in that one-horse town consisted of a single cell> — see JAIL

calamitous adjective
1 bringing about ruin or misfortune <a calamitous decision to sell their products online exclusively ruined the business> — see FATAL 1
2 causing or tending to cause destruction <a calamitous flood that destroyed the town's central business district> — see DESTRUCTIVE 1

calamity noun
a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction <this latest breakdown of the car is inconvenient, but not a calamity> — see DISASTER 1

calculable adjective
worthy of one's trust <his performance as a pitcher is as calculable as the daily tides> — see DEPENDABLE

calculate verb
1 to determine (a value) by doing the necessary mathematical operations <the family has been calculating what a week at the beach resort would end up costing>

Synonyms
cipher, compute, figure, reckon, work out

Related Words
add up, average, sum, tally, total, totalize; add, divide, multiply, subtract; allow (for), deduct, factor (in or into or out), figure in; figure out, solve (for); count, itemize, number; calibrate, gauge (also gage), measure, scale; assess, appraise, estimate, evaluate, rate, value; recalculate, recompute, refigure

2 to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement <I calculate that this job will take another two days to finish> — see ESTIMATE 2
3 to work out the details of (something) in advance <calculated the best route to take to the coast> — see PLAN 1
4 to have in mind as a purpose or goal <I calculate to run a marathon from start to finish—even if it kills me> — see INTEND 1
5 to place reliance or trust <we know we can calculate on you following through, whatever the assignment> — see DEPEND 2

calculated adjective
decided on as a result of careful thought <took a calculated risk and got in on the ground floor of the new enterprise> — see DELIBERATE 1

calculation noun
the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value <by my calculation, it should take me a month to save up for the weekend getaway>

Synonyms
arithmetic, calculus, ciphering, computation, figures, figuring, math, mathematics, number crunching, numbers, reckoning

Related Words
addition, division, multiplication, subtraction; calibration, measurement, mensuration; appraisal, assessment, estimation, evaluation, valuation

calculus noun
the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value <by my calculus the more efficient air conditioner will have paid for itself within a span of five years> — see CALCULATION

calendar noun
a listing of things to be presented or considered (as at a concert or play) <the calendar of upcoming events at the state fair will be available tomorrow> — see PROGRAM 1

caliber or calibre noun
degree of excellence <musicians of the highest caliber perform at that concert hall> — see QUALITY 1

caliginous adjective
being without light or without much light <what horrors were committed within the caliginous confinements of that torture chamber> — see DARK 1

call noun
1 a natural vocal sound made by an animal <a ranger who could immediately identify the call of every creature in the forest>

Synonyms
cry, note

Related Words
bark, bay, bellow, blat, bleat, bray, cackle, calling, caterwaul, caw, cheep, chirp, cluck, coo, crake, croak, crow, grunt, honk, hoot, howl, low, meow (also miaow), mew, moo, neigh, oink, peep, quack, roar, screech, squall, squawk, squeak, squeal, trumpet, tu-whit tu-whoo, twitter, whinny, yap, yelp, yip, yowl

2 a coming to see another briefly for social or business reasons <we paid a call on the new neighbors the day after they moved in>

Synonyms
visit, visitation

Related Words
drop-in, stopover; get-together, meeting, rendezvous, tryst

3 a communication by telephone <give me a call as soon as you arrive, so I'll know you got there safely>

Synonyms
buzz, ring

Related Words
callback, cold call, conference call, message, toll call, voice mail

4 an act or instance of asking for information <put out a call for background information about the suspect> — see QUESTION 2
5 an entitlement to something <you have no call to insult people> — see CLAIM 1
6 a position arrived at after consideration <I told you my preference for a cruise destination, but it's your call> — see DECISION 1
7 the state of being sought after especially for purchase <there's not much call for classical music in this neck of the woods> — see DEMAND 2

call verb
1 to speak so as to be heard at a distance <we could hear someone calling for help from the other side of the wall>

Synonyms
bawl, bay, bellow, cry, holler, hollo (or halloo also hallo), roar, shout, sound off, thunder, vociferate, yell

Related Words
crow, whoop; scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squeak, squeal; caterwaul, howl, ululate, wail, yawp (or yaup), yowl; hail; speak out, speak up

Near Antonyms
breathe, mumble, murmur, mutter, whisper

2 to make a telephone call to <use this cell phone to call me if there's an emergency>

Synonyms
dial, phone, ring (up) [chiefly British], telephone

Related Words
beep, buzz; call in; cold-call

3 to make a brief visit <the hospital posts the hours during which friends and relatives may call>

Synonyms
come by, come over, drop by, drop in, pop (in), run (over), run in, step in, stop (by or in), visit

Related Words
barge (in); look up, see; bop (into), happen (by); frequent, hang (at), haunt, resort (to)

4 to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) <the game was called on account of rain> — see CANCEL 1
5 to think of in a particular way <I wouldn't quite call that cheating, but it's not entirely ethical either> — see CONSIDER 1
6 to utter one's distinctive animal sound <the dog called whenever it flushed a quail> — see CRY 2
7 to bring together in assembly by or as if by command <called all the night workers in for a meeting> — see CONVOKE
8 to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement <let's call that five feet for now, and we'll measure it out later> — see ESTIMATE 2
9 to demand or request the presence or service of <rushed to call a repairman when the furnace broke> — see SUMMON 1
10 to give a name to <we've decided to call the kitten “Molly”> — see NAME 1
11 to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority <the union president is refusing to call a strike> — see COMMAND 2
12 to tell of or describe beforehand <somehow the political pundit called the race results within a mere percentage point> — see FORETELL

call (for) verb
1 to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority <with an eye to the expected rush, the manager called for additional waiters> — see DEMAND 1
2 to make a request for <called for someone to help with planning the club's party> — see ASK FOR 1

call (on or upon) verb
to make a social call upon <lots of well-wishers called on the new mother in the weeks following the birth of her first child> — see VISIT 1

callant noun, chiefly Scottish
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood <ever since he was a callant, he's been fishing off the eastern coast of Scotland> — see BOY 1

call down verb
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <I was called down by my supervisor for not catching the accounting error sooner> — see SCOLD

caller noun
a person who visits another <a number of callers have been by since they heard you weren't feeling well> — see GUEST 1

call girl noun
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money <before the actress made it big, she worked for a time as a call girl> — see PROSTITUTE

calligrapher noun
one who writes from dictation or copies manuscripts <a gorgeous copy of the text that was produced by one of the finest calligraphers of the age> — see SCRIBE 1

calligraphy noun
writing done by hand <she specializes in scrollwork with beautiful calligraphy> — see HANDWRITING 2

calling noun
1 the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to <the calling of the match was a disappointment to both players> — see CANCELLATION 1
2 the activity by which one regularly makes a living <I think my true calling will be as a commercial artist> — see OCCUPATION 1

calling off noun
the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to <the calling off of the senior prom is not going to go over well> — see CANCELLATION 1

call off verb
1 to draw the attention or mind to something else <she was about to tell me the big news when her attention was called off by the arrival of another guest> — see DISTRACT 1
2 to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) <called off the party after half of those invited couldn't make it> — see CANCEL 1

callous adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <the callous comment “It's just a fish,” when the boy's pet died, made him cry> — see HARD 1

callow adjective
lacking in adult experience or maturity <a story about a callow youth who learns the value of hard work and self-reliance>

Synonyms
adolescent, green, immature, inexperienced, juvenile, puerile, raw, unfledged, unformed, unripe, unripened

Related Words
babyish, childish, infantile, infantilized, infantine; boyish, girlish, juvenescent, kiddish, young, youngish, youthful; maidenly, virginal; ingenuous, innocent, naive (or naïve), tender; unknowing, unseasoned, unsophisticated, untrained, untried

Phrases
wet behind the ears

Near Antonyms
advanced, precocious; knowing, savvy, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise

Antonyms
adult, experienced, grown-up, mature, ripe

calm adjective
1 free from storms or physical disturbance <after a stormy night of high winds and driving rains, the day dawned on a calm sea>

Synonyms
halcyon, hushed, lown [dialect], peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, still, stilly, tranquil, untroubled

Related Words
balmy, clement, equable, gentle, mild, moderate, temperate; clear, cloudless, fair, rainless, sunny, sunshiny, windless

Near Antonyms
blizzardy (also blizzardly), blustery, squally, windy; extreme, foul, intemperate, nasty, severe

Antonyms
agitated, angry, inclement, restless, rough, stormy, tempestuous, turbulent, unquiet, unsettled

2 free from emotional or mental agitation <bystanders tried to help the injured person remain calm while they waited for the ambulance to arrive>

Synonyms
collected, composed, cool, coolheaded, equal, level, limpid, peaceful, placid, possessed, recollected, sedate, self-composed, self-possessed, serene, smooth, together, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, unruffled, unshaken, untroubled, unworried

Related Words
even, even-keeled, steady, well-adjusted, well-balanced; imperturbable, nerveless, unflappable, unshakable; centered, disciplined, equable, self-contained, self-controlled; affable, breezy, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, laid-back, loosey-goosey, mellow; carefree, nonchalant, unconcerned; assured, confident, self-assured; aloof, detached, dispassionate, indifferent; bovine, impassive, phlegmatic, sober, stolid; relaxed, relieved, tranquilized (also tranquillized)

Phrases
at peace

Near Antonyms
anxious, bothered, distressed, uneasy, unquiet, unsettled, worried; jittery, jumpy, nervous, restless, skittish, tense; high-strung, unstable, uptight

Antonyms
agitated, discomposed, disturbed, flustered, perturbed, unglued, unhinged, unstrung, upset

3 free from disturbing noise or uproar <the room became much calmer once the rowdy tour group had left> — see QUIET 1

calm noun
1 a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <vacationing city dwellers who are tired of the hustle and bustle enjoy the calm of the secluded mountain village>

Synonyms
calmness, hush, peace, peacefulness, placidity, quiet, quietness, quietude, repose, restfulness, sereneness, serenity, still, stillness, tranquillity (or tranquility)

Related Words
lull, pause, respite; silence; mildness, soothingness; comity, concord, harmony; casualness, easygoingness, informality, laid-backness, relaxedness

Near Antonyms
clamor, din, noise, racket

Antonyms
bustle, commotion, hubbub, hurly-burly, pandemonium, tumult, turmoil, unquietness, unrest, uproar

2 freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions <the batter always exudes an aura of calm, even in clutch situations> — see PEACE 2

calm verb
1 to free from distress or disturbance <the president's reassuring words did much to calm the public during the national emergency>

Synonyms
becalm, compose, lull, lullaby, quiet, quieten [chiefly British], salve, settle, soothe, still, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

Related Words
appease, conciliate, hush, mollify, pacify, placate; allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, lay, mitigate, quell, relax, relieve, solace; narcotize, sedate, stupefy

Near Antonyms
aggravate, heighten, intensify; arouse, excite, foment, incite, rouse, stir (up), work up

Antonyms
agitate, discompose, disquiet, disturb, key (up), perturb, upset, vex

2 to gain emotional or mental control of <he calmed himself before continuing the eulogy> — see COLLECT 1

calm (down) verb
to become still and orderly <the sea finally calmed down, making it safe for small craft to venture forth once again> — see QUIET 1

calming adjective
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress <a calming glass of warm milk> — see SOOTHING 1

calmness noun
1 a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <the unusual calmness of the lake gave its surface a strikingly glassy appearance> — see CALM 1
2 evenness of emotions or temper <her resolute calmness in a crisis serves her well as a nurse in the emergency room> — see EQUANIMITY
3 freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions <a teacher who handles even the most vexing situations with a clearheaded calmness> — see PEACE 2

calumniate verb
to make untrue and harmful statements about <the short-lived Sedition Act of 1798 made it illegal to calumniate the President of the United States> — see SLANDER

calumniation noun
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation <his campaign's reliance on calumniation seems out of keeping with his claim that he's a new kind of politician> — see SLANDER

calumnious adjective
causing or intended to cause unjust injury to a person's good name <a calumnious campaign ad that went well beyond the negativity to which voters had become so richly accustomed> — see LIBELOUS

calumny noun
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation <a blogger whose site is little more than a foulmouthed forum for calumny and rumormongering> — see SLANDER

camaraderie noun
the feeling of closeness and friendship that exists between companions <weekend retreats that are intended to foster camaraderie within the upper echelons of the corporation> — see COMPANIONSHIP

Camelot noun
an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <that year spent in Spain studying art was their personal Camelot> — see PARADISE 1

camouflage noun
clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else <the soldiers must wear protective jungle camouflage while on patrol> — see DISGUISE 1

camouflage verb
to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity <camouflaged the military camp as a native village> — see DISGUISE 1

camp noun
1 a place where a group of people live for a short time in tents or cabins <the war forced people to flee their homes and to live in crowded camps along the border>

Synonyms
bivouac, campground, campsite, encampment, hutment

Related Words
canvas (also canvass), tentage; colony, plantation, settlement; Hooverville, jungle, shantytown; concentration camp, prison camp; barracks, cantonment, installation, laager [South African], leaguer, post

2 a small, simply constructed, and often temporary dwelling <a hunter's camp deep in the woods> — see SHACK
3 an often small house for recreational or seasonal use <years ago the wealthy industrialists built some rather grand camps along the lake> — see COTTAGE

camp verb
to provide with living quarters or shelter <some out-of-town delegates to the convention were camped in university dorms> — see HOUSE 1

camp (out) verb
to live in a camp or the outdoors <rather than stay in motels, my family usually camps out when we're on vacation>

Synonyms
bivouac, encamp

Related Words
sleep out, tent; bed (down); backpack, caravan

Phrases
rough it

campaign noun
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal <an all-out campaign to bring a minor league baseball team to the city>

Synonyms
bandwagon, blitz, cause, crusade, drive, juggernaut, movement, push

Related Words
assault, attack, maneuver, march, offensive; action, bid, enterprise, initiative, mission, project, undertaking

campaigner noun
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award <an experienced campaigner who knows that one televised mistake can put an end to one's candidacy> — see CANDIDATE

camper noun
a motor vehicle that is specially equipped for living while traveling <the family loaded up the camper and headed off for the tour of several national parks>

Synonyms
caravan, motor home, recreational vehicle, RV, trailer

Related Words
house trailer, mobile home; coach, van

campground noun
a place where a group of people live for a short time in tents or cabins <at last the weary vacationers pulled into a campground for the night> — see CAMP 1

campo noun
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country <vaqueros driving their herd of cattle across the campo> — see PLAIN 1

campsite noun
a place where a group of people live for a short time in tents or cabins <the campsite at least offers shower and bathroom facilities> — see CAMP 1

can noun
1 a metal container in the shape of a cylinder <the shelter stores huge cans of water for an emergency>

Synonyms
barrel, canister (also cannister), drum, tin

Related Words
bucket, pail; cannikin; tin can

2 a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <the protesters were rounded up and thrown in the can> — see JAIL
3 a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <excuse me, I need to use the can> — see TOILET
4 the part of the body upon which someone sits <she claims a guy on the subway gave her a pinch on the can> — see BUTTOCKS

can verb
1 slang to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <can the chatter, or I'm kicking you out of this library> — see STOP 1
2 to let go from office, service, or employment <the cashier was summarily canned for stealing from the registers> — see DISMISS 1

canal noun
an open man-made passageway for water <the Panama Canal opened a much easier and shorter passageway from the Atlantic to the Pacific> — see CHANNEL 1

canalize verb
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway <the director of the charity should be canalizing the flow of donations so that the money ends up where it is most needed> — see CHANNEL

canard noun
a rumor or report of a personal or sensational nature <it's a popular canard that the actress died under scandalous circumstances> — see TALE 1

canary noun, slang
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <a canary who was singing and giving up the names of some of the city's most notorious drug lords> — see INFORMER

cancel verb
1 to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) <please call to cancel your appointment with the dentist if you can't make it>

Synonyms
abandon, abort, call, call off, cry off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke, scrap, scrub

Related Words
abrogate, annul, invalidate, nullify, void, write off; recant, retract, take back, withdraw; countermand, reverse, roll back; break off, discontinue, end, halt, stop, terminate; hold back, interrupt, suspend; give up, relinquish, surrender

Near Antonyms
engage, pledge, promise; begin, commence, initiate, start; take on, take up, undertake

Antonyms
continue, keep

2 to put an end to by formal action <the agreement can be canceled by either side with a formal written notice> — see ABOLISH 1
3 to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it <canceled the check and wrote a new one> — see X OUT
4 to destroy all traces of <it seemed as though all honor and decency had been canceled by the war's new moral order> — see ANNIHILATE 1

cancel (out) verb
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective <unfortunately, this one indiscretion will cancel out a long record of accomplishment> — see OFFSET

canceler or canceller noun
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective <his dispassionate manner can be a welcome canceler of his wife's emotional response to every little thing> — see COUNTERBALANCE

cancellation also cancelation noun
1 the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to <the misbehavior of a few bad apples at the end of the football game resulted in the cancellation of the victory party>

Synonyms
abandonment, abortion, calling, calling off, dropping, recall, recision, repeal, rescission, revocation

Related Words
annulment, invalidation, neutralization, nullification, voidance; abolishment, abolition, ending, halting, stopping, termination; giving up, relinquishment, surrender; reversal, rollback

Near Antonyms
beginning, commencement, initiation; engagement, undertaking

Antonyms
continuation

2 the doing away with something by formal action <a blanket cancellation of all military leave for the duration of the crisis> — see ABOLITION

candescent adjective
giving off or reflecting much light <the campers were transfixed by the candescent coals of their seashore fire> — see BRIGHT 1

candid adjective
1 free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <a candid woman who never hesitates to say exactly what's on her mind> — see FRANK
2 marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias <a candid listing of the advantages and disadvantages of each medical insurance plan> — see FAIR 2

candidate noun
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award <each candidate for town council was allowed to speak at the candidates' forum>

Synonyms
applicant, applier, aspirant, campaigner, contender, expectant, hopeful, prospect, seeker

Related Words
competitor, contestant, entrant, entry, favorite, qualifier; dark horse, spoiler, stalking horse; crown prince, favorite son; claimant, pretender; nominee, running mate

Near Antonyms
incumbent, officeholder; awardee, honoree, inductee; dropout

Antonyms
noncandidate

candidness noun
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <candidness is something that we claim to admire—except when we are on the receiving end of a brutally honest assessment> — see CANDOR 1

candlelight noun
a time or place of little or no light <at candlelight carolers would gather in the village green before beginning their stroll> — see DARK 1

candor noun
1 the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <an interview in which the members of the rock band speak with candor about their recent squabbling>

Synonyms
bluntness, candidness, directness, forthrightness, frankness, honesty, openheartedness, openness, outspokenness, plainness, plainspokenness, plumpness, straightforwardness, unguardedness, unreserve, unreservedness

Related Words
earnestness, sincerity, sobriety; artlessness, genuineness, naïveté (also naivete or naiveté), simplicity, unsophistication; communicativeness, freedom, license (or licence), uninhibitedeness, unrestrainedness, unrestraint

Near Antonyms
circuitousness, evasiveness, secretiveness; inhibition, reserve, restraint, reticence, shyness; diplomacy, tact

Antonyms
dissembling, dissimulation, indirection

2 the quality or state of having or giving off light <the desert sun shone down on the intrepid travelers with fiery candor> — see BRILLIANCE 1

candy verb
to make more desirable <the publisher hopes the flashy cover will candy up the novel for impulse buyers> — see SWEETEN

candyfloss noun, British
something attractive but lacking in substance <the composer's works have generally been dismissed as candyfloss by music critics> — see COTTON CANDY

cane noun
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <in those days corporal punishment was common, and the cane was regarded as another one of the schoolmaster's educational tools> — see CLUB 1

canine noun
a domestic mammal that is related to the wolves and foxes <in the minds of some, the winner of this prestigious dog show has a fair claim to the title of King of the Canines> — see DOG 1

canister also cannister noun
a metal container in the shape of a cylinder <she put the store-bought cookies in a fancy canister to make them look homemade> — see CAN 1

canker verb
to lower in character, dignity, or quality <such shameless ambulance chasing cankers the legal profession> — see DEBASE 1

canned adjective
1 using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model <there's a canned quality to the screenplay that reminds you of countless other action movies> — see IMITATIVE 1
2 slang being under the influence of alcohol <if you think she's boring now, you should talk to her when she's canned> — see DRUNK

canniness noun
1 exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters <negotiates business deals with all of the proverbial canniness of an old-time horse trader> — see ACUMEN
2 skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <the canniness with which she negotiated her contract as spokesperson for the shoe manufacturer> — see CUNNING 1

cannonade noun
a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <the director of the sporting event was greeted at the scene with a cannonade of complaints> — see BARRAGE

cannonade verb
to use bombs or artillery against <the artillery cannonaded the enemy encampment all night> — see BOMBARD 1

cannonball verb
to proceed or move quickly <a dune buggy came recklessly cannonballing down the crowded beach> — see HURRY 2

canny adjective
1 having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment <a canny card player, good at psyching out his opponents> — see SHREWD 1
2 chiefly Scottish enjoying physical comfort <warm and canny under the woolen bedcovers, we didn't mind the chilly Scottish nights> — see COMFORTABLE 2

canon noun
1 a statement or body of statements concerning faith or morals proclaimed by a church <members of the church must abide by its canons> — see DOCTRINE 1
2 a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system <the canon of plays that are attributed to William Shakespeare> — see 1LIST
3 a collection or system of rules of conduct <the ABA Model Code of Professional Responsibility is a lawyer's canon> — see CODE

canonize verb
1 to love or admire too much <a singing star so canonized by his fans that they refuse to believe anything bad about him> — see IDOLIZE
2 to assign a high status or value to <those movie buffs who have canonized Alfred Hitchcock as filmdom's preeminent director> — see EXALT 1

canopy noun
a raised covering over something for decoration or protection <trees line both sides of the garden path, with their foliage forming a leafy canopy for walkers>

Synonyms
awning, ceiling, cover, roof, tent

Related Words
dome, marquee, pavilion; arbor, bower, pergola; screen, shade, shelter, shield, sunshade, umbrella; canvas (also canvass), fly

canorous adjective
having a pleasing mixture of notes <a canorous chorus of birdsong filled the morning air> — see HARMONIOUS 1

1cant noun
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon <a steep cant of the riverbank at that turn in the river> — see SLANT

2cant noun
1 the pretending of having virtues, principles, or beliefs that one in fact does not have <many accused the evangelist of cant, since his lavish lifestyle seemed to bear little resemblance to what he was preaching> — see HYPOCRISY
2 the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field <the colorful cant used by movie producers and publicity agents in Hollywood> — see TERMINOLOGY

cant adjective
running in a slanting direction <the cant buttresses on the interior walls are made of solid oak> — see DIAGONAL

cant verb
to set or cause to be at an angle <carefully canted the ladder against the wall> — see LEAN 1

cantankerous adjective
having or showing a habitually bad temper <a cantankerous old woman who insisted that nothing should ever be allowed to change> — see ILL-TEMPERED

canted adjective
running in a slanting direction <an odd little house, built with deliberately canted windows and not one right angle> — see DIAGONAL

canticle noun
a religious song <the monks offered up a canticle at dawn on Easter morning> — see HYMN 1

cantina noun, Southwest
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises <we spent an interesting evening in that desert town's lone cantina> — see BARROOM

can't–miss adjective
not likely to fail <my uncle's willingness to see every get-rich-quick scheme as a can't-miss opportunity> — see INFALLIBLE 2

canty adjective, British dialect
having or showing a good mood or disposition <a bloke with a perpetually canty attitude> — see CHEERFUL 1

canvas also canvass noun
a picture created with oil paint <one canvas by Picasso is worth more money than most of us can imagine> — see PAINTING

canvass also canvas verb
1 to go around and approach (people) with a request for opinions or information <we canvassed people all over town, asking if they would be interested in participating in a recycling program>

Synonyms
interview, poll, solicit, survey

Related Words
circularize; interrogate, question; feel (out), sound (out)

Near Antonyms
report

2 to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion <canvassed all the items on the agenda> — see DISCUSS

canvasser also canvaser noun
a person who goes around and approaches people with a request for opinions or information <worked as a canvasser for a public interest research group>

Synonyms
interviewer, poller, pollster

Related Words
asker, inquirer, querier, querist, questioner

Near Antonyms
answerer, replier, responder; attester, informant, reporter, testifier, witness

Antonyms
interviewee, pollee, respondent

canyon also cañon noun
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <as the scouts made their way through the canyon, they marveled at the sheer walls of rock on both sides>

Synonyms
col, couloir, defile, flume, gap, gill [British], gorge, gulch, gulf, kloof [South African], linn [chiefly Scottish], notch, pass, ravine, saddle

Related Words
abyss, chasm, cirque, cleft, crevasse, crevice, cwm [chiefly British], fissure; combe (also coombe or coomb) [British], dale, dell, glen, hollow, shut-in, vale, valley; basin, floodplain, kettle; arroyo, barranca (also barranco), coulee, draw, gully (also gulley), gutter, nullah, trench, trough, wadi, wash [West]

1cap noun
a small mass containing medicine to be taken orally <I prefer to take my medicine as caps rather than in liquid form> — see PILL 1

2cap noun
1 a covering for the head usually having a shaped crown <grabbed a cap and plopped it on his head before running out> — see HAT
2 a piece placed over an open container to hold in, protect, or conceal its contents <I can't find the cap to the milk bottle> — see COVER 1
3 a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go <a cap on player salary expenditures was suggested as a way to keep small market teams competitive> — see LIMIT 1

cap verb
to set bounds or an upper limit for <the senator will propose a bill to cap prices for home heating oil> — see LIMIT 1

cap (off) verb
to bring to a triumphant conclusion <capped off the baseball season with 10–0 shutout> — see CROWN

capability noun
1 a skill, an ability, or knowledge that makes a person able to do a particular job <the nature of the tasks to which you are assigned will depend on your capabilities> — see QUALIFICATION 1
2 the physical or mental power to do something <the natural capability some people seem to have for teaching> — see ABILITY
3 something that can develop or become actual <there are great capabilities in the property, either as a bed-and-breakfast or as a private home> — see POTENTIAL

capable adjective
having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance <a capable and efficient editor> — see COMPETENT 1

capableness noun
the physical or mental power to do something <the very capableness of such a young child to commit a criminal act of any kind is questionable> — see ABILITY

capably adverb
in a skillful or expert manner <the summer intern performed all assigned tasks at the television station capably and quickly> — see WELL 3

capacious adjective
more than adequate or average in capacity <that car has a capacious trunk that makes it a good choice for families> — see SPACIOUS

capacity noun
1 the largest number or amount that something can hold <the seating capacity of the school auditorium is 800 people>

Synonyms
complement, cubage, real estate, volume

Related Words
burden, fill, fullness, load, measure; area, room, space, stowage

2 an assignment at which one regularly works for pay <served in the capacity of the network's White House correspondent for a year> — see JOB 1
3 the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists <offered advice in his capacity as a lawyer> — see ROLE
4 the physical or mental power to do something <not everyone has the capacity for learning higher math> — see ABILITY

caparison noun
1 dressy clothing <attended the masquerade ball in the caparison of an Indian maharaja> — see FINERY
2 something that decorates or beautifies <horses dressed in Old-West caparison for the parade> — see DECORATION 1

caparison verb
1 to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <used to seeing him in a T-shirt and jeans, we were startled by the sight of strapping youth caparisoned for the prom in a tuxedo> — see CLOTHE 1
2 to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <the state's rolling hills are even more becoming when they are caparisoned in the glorious colors of autumn> — see DECORATE

1cape noun
a sleeveless garment worn so as to hang over the shoulders, arms, and back <the mysterious figure wrapped his cape tightly around his shoulders>

Synonyms
capote, cloak, frock, manteau, mantle

Related Words
burnoose (or burnous), capelet, capuchin, cowl, domino, joseph, manta, mantelet, mantilla, palatine, pelerine, pelisse, poncho, roquelaure, tippet; serape (or sarape), shawl, stole, wrap

2cape noun
an area of land that juts out into a body of water <residents fled the cape as the hurricane roared up the coast>

Synonyms
arm, foreland, headland, ness, peninsula, point, promontory, spit

Related Words
breakwater, jetty

caper noun
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <long-ago college capers that have become more rollicking and daring with each recounting> — see PRANK

caper verb
to play and run about happily <as summer drew to a close, the children spent their days wistfully capering on the beach> — see FROLIC 1

capital adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <the capital goal of the effort is to assimilate the new immigrants> — see FOREMOST 1
2 of the very best kind <a truly capital idea, which I highly endorse> — see EXCELLENT

capital noun
1 a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <during the 1980s Silicon Valley became the capital of the computer industry> — see CENTER 1
2 the total of one's money and property <invested nearly all of their capital in the new business> — see WEALTH 1

capitalist noun
a wealthy person <capitalists who lost everything in the '29 Crash>

Synonyms
Croesus, deep pocket, fat cat, have, money, moneybags, plutocrat, silk stocking

Related Words
moneymaker, money-spinner [chiefly British]; magnate, nabob, tycoon; billionaire, gazillionaire, millionaire, multibillionaire, multimillionaire, multimillionairess, zillionaire; heir, heiress, jet-setter, jeunesse dorée

Near Antonyms
bankrupt, beggar

Antonyms
have-not, pauper

capitalize verb
to provide money for <several investors agreed to capitalize the new venture> — see FINANCE 1

capitalize (on) verb
to take unfair advantage of <capitalized on her coworker's absence to take full credit for the joint project> — see EXPLOIT 1

capitol noun
the building in which a state legislature meets <the legislators were called to the capitol for an emergency session>

Synonyms
statehouse

Related Words
meetinghouse; chamber, hall; house, senate

capitulate verb
1 to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) <one side finally capitulated when it became clear that they couldn't win the argument> — see YIELD 3
2 to yield to the control or power of enemy forces <the city reluctantly capitulated to the invaders after a three-day siege> — see FALL 2

capitulating noun
the usually forced yielding of one's person or possessions to the control of another <the tug-of-war will continue until the capitulating of one side or the other> — see SURRENDER

capitulation noun
the usually forced yielding of one's person or possessions to the control of another <her sudden capitulation surprised everyone; she usually debated for hours> — see SURRENDER

capote noun
a sleeveless garment worn so as to hang over the shoulders, arms, and back <the traveler wore a long hooded capote as he walked over the moors> — see 1CAPE

capper noun
1 the last part of a process or action <the capper to the campaign rally was an appearance by the candidate himself> — see FINALE
2 something (as a fact or argument) that is decisive or overwhelming <she was smart, she was pretty, but here's the capper—she was kind, unlike the other girls> — see CLINCHER

capriccio noun
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <the sort of innocuous capriccio intended to liven up a stuffy dinner party> — see PRANK

caprice noun
1 a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action <an out-of-character caprice led him to take the day off from work and go to the beach> — see WHIM
2 an inclination to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions <his knack for picking racetrack winners appears to owe as much to caprice as it does to a canny assessment of horseflesh> — see WHIMSICALITY

capricious adjective
1 likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <capricious weather that was balmy one day and freezing cold the next> — see FICKLE 1
2 prone to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions <a capricious woman who changed her mind dozens of times about what color to paint the bathroom> — see WHIMSICAL

capriciousness noun
an inclination to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions <the client's capriciousness frustrated the building contractor to no end> — see WHIMSICALITY

capsize verb
to turn on one's side or upside down <a huge wave out of nowhere caused our little sailboat to capsize>

Synonyms
overturn, turn over, upset

Related Words
invert, overset, overthrow, pitchpole, topple, tump (over) [chiefly Southern], upend; careen, heel, keel, lean, list, tilt, tip; collapse, fall, founder, give

Phrases
turn turtle

Near Antonyms
stand up, straighten (up); erect, raise

Antonyms
right

capstone noun
the highest part or point <her election as the state's first woman governor was a capstone of a long political career> — see HEIGHT 1

capsule adjective
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <capsule reviews of the latest offerings at the multiplex> — see CONCISE

capsule noun
1 a small mass containing medicine to be taken orally <took an antibiotic capsule three times a day for a week> — see PILL 1
2 something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <a capsule containing all sorts of items from our era that is to be opened 100 years from now> — see 1CASE 1
3 a short statement of the main points <capsules of the day's major news stories appear on the paper's second page> — see SUMMARY

capsule verb
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together <newscasts that capsule complex, important stories into one-minute bits for easy digestion by viewers> — see COMPRESS 1

capsulize verb
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together <capsulized accounts of the breach in national security failed to convey its gravity> — see COMPRESS 1

captain noun
1 a person in overall command of a ship <the captain is responsible for everything that happens to his ship in the course of a voyage>

Synonyms
commander, skip, skipper

Related Words
sea captain; master, pilot; commanding officer; admiral, commodore, vice admiral; mate, officer

Near Antonyms
crew, crewman, crewmate

2 one in official command especially of a military force or base <the captain of the largest army ever marshaled for battle in this country> — see COMMANDER 1
3 the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do <we only do what the captain tells us to, so it's not our fault when things don't work out> — see BOSS
4 a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field <a fascinating magazine article profiling the captains of the American auto industry> — see MAGNATE

captain verb
1 to be in charge of <if you do well on this, you'll be asked to captain the next mission> — see BOSS 1
2 to exercise authority or power over <captained the project for a few days while the boss was out of town> — see GOVERN 1
3 to serve as leader of <you did a good job of captaining the team> — see LEAD 2

caption noun
1 an explanation or description accompanying a pictorial illustration <for the school yearbook, funny captions were written for snapshots showing a typical day at school>

Synonyms
cutline, legend

Related Words
key; closed-captioning, subtitle, translation; motto, posy, slogan, tagline

2 a word or series of words often in larger letters placed at the beginning of a passage or at the top of a page in order to introduce or categorize <the textbook features cleverly worded captions to capture the reader's attention> — see HEADING

captious adjective
given to making or expressing unfavorable judgments about things <a captious and cranky eater who's never met a vegetable he didn't hate> — see CRITICAL 1

captivate verb
to attract or delight as if by magic <the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks> — see CHARM 1

captivating adjective
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <a captivating performance by the young singing sensation> — see FASCINATING 1

captivation noun
the power of irresistible attraction <by some mysterious method of captivation, the therapist is able to evoke a response from even the shiest of children> — see CHARM 2

captive adjective
taken and held prisoner <the captive soldiers were treated humanely by the guards>

Synonyms
apprehended, arrested, captured, caught, confined, imprisoned, incarcerated, interned, jailed

Related Words
bound, enslaved, indentured; ensnared, trapped; abducted, kidnapped (also kidnaped); subdued, subjugated; occupied

Phrases
behind bars

Near Antonyms
unconfined, unrestrained; delivered, emancipated, enfranchised, freed, liberated, paroled, released

Antonyms
free

captive noun
one that has been taken and held in confinement <the captives in the concentration camp had devised a daring plan of escape>

Synonyms
capture, internee, prisoner

Related Words
coprisoner; convict, jailbird; arrestee; abductee, kidnappee (or kidnapee)

Near Antonyms
custodian, guard, guardian, jailer (also jailor), keeper, marshal (also marshall), warden; abductor, kidnapper (also kidnaper)

Antonyms
captor

captivity noun
the act of confining or the state of being confined <the wildlife refuge raises endangered species in captivity and then releases them into the wild> — see INTERNMENT

capture noun
one that has been taken and held in confinement <a Spanish treasure ship was the most valuable capture ever taken by that privateer> — see CAPTIVE

capture verb
1 to receive as return for effort <the movie's producers captured several awards for their work> — see EARN 1
2 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <captured the cat just as it was about to escape out the front door> — see CATCH 1

captured adjective
taken and held prisoner <a captured American business executive held for ransom by insurgents> — see CAPTIVE

car noun
a self-propelled passenger vehicle on four wheels <every teenager's dream of getting a driver's license and a first car>

Synonyms
auto, automobile, bus, horseless carriage, machine, motor, motorcar, motor vehicle, wheels [slang]

Related Words
coach, jitney, microbus, minibus, minivan, omnibus, van; convertible, fastback, hardtop, hatchback, notchback, ragtop, sports car, sport-utility vehicle, station wagon, SUV, town car, wagon, woody (or woodie); compact, coupe (or coupé), intermediate, limousine, mini, minicar, sedan, subcompact, V-8; gas-guzzler, land yacht; muscle car, stock car, turbocar; beater, clunker, crate, flivver, jalopy, junker; cream puff; phaeton, roadster, tin lizzie, touring car; hybrid

caravan noun
1 a group of vehicles traveling together or under one management <a funeral caravan slowly making its way down the street> — see FLEET
2 a motor vehicle that is specially equipped for living while traveling <bought a caravan and drove cross-country to California> — see CAMPER

caravansary or caravanserai noun
a place that provides rooms and usually a public dining room for overnight guests <a caravansary designed specifically for self-styled cheapskates> — see HOTEL

carbon noun
1 something or someone that strongly resembles another <this new digital camera is a carbon of a well-known model costing almost twice as much> — see IMAGE 1
2 something that is made to look exactly like something else <the bell tower is a carbon of an earlier one that toppled in an earthquake> — see COPY

carbon copy noun
1 something or someone that strongly resembles another <the child is a carbon copy of his father> — see IMAGE 1
2 something that is made to look exactly like something else <a clothing company that makes carbon copies of designer duds> — see COPY

carcass noun
a dead body <the carcass of a squirrel that had been run over> — see CORPSE

card noun
1 a list of foods served at or available for a meal <the diners asked if there were any specials on the card for the evening> — see MENU 1
2 a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor <you're really a card, but save the jokes for after class> — see HUMORIST

cardinal adjective
coming before all others in importance <the cardinal rule of medicine: do no harm> — see FOREMOST 1

cardinal virtue noun
a quality that gives something special worth <the cardinal virtue of wool is that it retains its insulating properties even when wet> — see EXCELLENCE 2

care noun
1 strict attentiveness to what one is doing <reading the report with more care the second time, she detected several errors>

Synonyms
carefulness, closeness, conscientiousness, heed, heedfulness, meticulosity, meticulousness, pains, scrupulousness

Related Words
advertence, advertency, attention, concentration, focus, observance, observation; alertness, mindfulness, vigilance, watchfulness; dutifulness, irreproachability, irreproachableness, punctiliousness, responsibility; bother, effort, painstaking, trouble; exactness, particularity, precision

Near Antonyms
inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inobservance

Antonyms
heedlessness, inattentiveness, negligence

2 attention accompanied by protectiveness and responsibility <that's an extremely valuable violin, so handle it with care>

Synonyms
carefulness, lovingness, solicitousness, solicitude

Related Words
concern, considerateness, consideration, kindness, thoughtfulness; babying, coddling, pampering

Near Antonyms
inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness, unconcern, unkindness

Antonyms
carelessness

3 a close attentiveness to avoiding danger <take care while crossing the street> — see CAUTION 1
4 an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <on vacation, without a care in the world> — see ANXIETY 1
5 responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something <while you're under my care, you'll do as you're told> — see CUSTODY
6 the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control <you'll have care of the project from its beginning to its completion> — see SUPERVISION 1
7 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <she stepped up and took over the care of the bank after her father retired> — see CONDUCT 1

care verb
to have an interest or concern for <a teacher who cares what happens to her students long after they leave her classroom>

Synonyms
look out (for), mind, watch

Related Words
attend, heed, regard; note, notice, observe; empathize (with), feel (for), sympathize (with)

Near Antonyms
disregard, ignore, overlook

care (for) verb
1 to take charge of especially on behalf of another <will you care for the lawn while we're gone?> — see 2TEND 1
2 to attend to the needs and comforts of <he is caring for his mother while she's sick> — see NURSE 1
3 to have a favorable opinion of <I don't really care for what you're doing with that dog> — see APPROVE OF
4 to wish to have <I don't particularly care for rice cereal, but I'll eat it> — see LIKE 1
5 to show partiality toward <she generally doesn't care for war movies> — see PREFER 1

care and feeding noun
the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition <devotes too much time to the care and feeding of her buggy computer> — see MAINTENANCE

careen verb
1 to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions <the sled careened as it barreled down the hill> — see ROCK 1
2 to move forward while swaying from side to side <he careened unsteadily to the couch after hitting his head> — see STAGGER 1
3 to proceed or move quickly <sounding its siren, an ambulance careened through the intersection> — see HURRY 2

career verb
to proceed or move quickly <she careered off to the class she'd almost forgotten> — see HURRY 2

carefree adjective
having or showing freedom from worries or troubles <passengers on a luxury cruise ship enjoying a carefree vacation> <carefree college students on spring break>

Synonyms
blithe, debonair, devil-may-care, gay, happy-go-lucky, insouciant, lighthearted, lightsome, slaphappy, unconcerned

Related Words
blasé (also blase), breezy, cavalier, nonchalant; casual, easygoing, informal, laid-back, low-pressure, relaxed, unfussy

Near Antonyms
earnest, grave, serious, serious-minded, somber (or sombre); careful, cautious, heedful, wary; anxious, concerned, upset, worried; long-suffering, overburdened, sorrowful

Antonyms
careworn

careful adjective
1 having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble <careful drivers slow down on slick or icy roadways>

Synonyms
alert, cautious, chary, circumspect, conservative, considerate, gingerly, guarded, heedful, safe, wary

Related Words
advertent, attentive, awake, observant, regardful, vigilant, watchful; hypercautious; foresighted, foresightful, forethoughtful, provident, thoughtful; cagey (also cagy), calculating, canny, shrewd; deliberate, slow; ultracareful, ultracautious

Near Antonyms
bold, brash, impetuous, rash, reckless, venturesome; asleep, inattentive, regardless; inconsiderate, thoughtless; lax, neglectful, negligent, remiss; imprudent, indiscreet, injudicious; absentminded, forgetful; inadvertent, unintentional, unplanned

Antonyms
careless, heedless, incautious, unguarded, unmindful, unsafe, unwary

2 taking, showing, or involving great care and effort <that furniture maker was known to be a most careful worker, so his output was small> — see PAINSTAKING

carefulness noun
1 a close attentiveness to avoiding danger <her natural carefulness keeps her from having car accidents and the high insurance premiums that go with them> — see CAUTION 1
2 strict attentiveness to what one is doing <a degree of carefulness is required to get the details just right> — see CARE 1
3 archaic attention accompanied by protectiveness and responsibility <with what carefulness they tended the frail princess day and night!> — see CARE 2

caregiver noun
a person who has responsibility for the care of another <he could no longer keep up his role as caregiver for his sick wife>

Synonyms
carer, caretaker, guardian

Related Words
foster parent; babysitter, minder, nanny (also nannie), nurse, sitter; custodian, guard, keep, keeper, protector; attendant, chaperone (or chaperon), companion

Near Antonyms
charge, client, dependent, ward

careless adjective
1 not paying or showing close attention especially for the purpose of avoiding trouble <a careless reporter who often doesn't get his facts straight> <a careless mistake that caused the plane to crash>

Synonyms
heedless, incautious, mindless, unguarded, unsafe, unwary

Related Words
bold, impetuous, rash, reckless; inattentive, regardless; blithe, inconsiderate, thoughtless; absentminded, forgetful, unmindful; lax, neglectful, negligent, remiss, slipshod; imprudent, indiscreet, injudicious; inadvertent, unintentional, unplanned

Near Antonyms
attentive, chary, observant, vigilant, watchful; foresighted, forethoughtful, provident; calculating, scheming, shrewd; considerate, thoughtful; ultracareful, ultracautious

Antonyms
alert, cautious, circumspect, gingerly, guarded, heedful, safe, wary

2 failing to give proper care and attention <a careless effort that made an unnecessary mess> — see NEGLIGENT

carelessness noun
failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes <the only errors you made were from carelessness, not lack of knowledge> — see NEGLIGENCE 1

carer noun
a person who has responsibility for the care of another <a workshop for parents and other carers of autistic children> — see CAREGIVER

caress verb
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner <gently caressed her hair> — see FONDLE

caretaker noun
1 a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner <hired a caretaker for the mansion during the winter months> — see CUSTODIAN 1
2 a person who has responsibility for the care of another <most primary caretakers of elderly parents are women> — see CAREGIVER

cargo noun
a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported <we put all of our cargo on the pack animals and began our journey through the canyon> — see LOAD 1

caricature noun
1 a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something <that TV network's reporting is a mere caricature of real journalism> — see MOCKERY 1
2 a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect <the artist creates caricatures of famous paintings by replacing humans with cats> — see PARODY 1
3 the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts <the mayor has presented only a caricature of his opponent's views> — see EXAGGERATION

caricature verb
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of <caricatured the supervisor's distinctive walk> — see MIMIC 1

carking adjective
causing annoyance <sometimes she's overwhelmed by the carking anxieties of being a single parent> — see ANNOYING

carline or carlin noun, chiefly Scottish
a mean or ugly old woman <there's no appeasing the auld carline who lives at the far end of the loch> — see CRONE

carload noun
a considerable amount <he always has a carload of ideas for a new product launch> — see LOT 2

carnage noun
the killing of a large number of people <the appalling carnage in that war-torn country requires that the outside world intervene> — see MASSACRE

carnal adjective
1 having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven <the preacher warned that those who were interested only in carnal pursuits would not see the kingdom of heaven> — see EARTHLY
2 of or relating to the human body <a missionary who tends to the carnal needs of the people as well as to their spiritual concerns> — see PHYSICAL 1
3 pleasing to the physical senses <carnal attractions of that gambling mecca in the desert> — see SENSUAL

carnality noun
excessive pursuit of fleshly pleasures <a rich playboy who was undone by his own carnality> — see SENSUALITY

carnival noun
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something <the town's annual Fourth of July carnival> — see FESTIVAL

carol noun
a religious song <sang carols at the Christmas Eve service> — see HYMN 1

carol verb
1 to produce musical sounds with the voice <she caroled with glee when she heard the good news> — see SING 1
2 to proclaim the glory of <landscape photographs that carol the majesty and monumentality of Yosemite Valley> — see PRAISE 1

caroler or caroller noun
one who sings <those feathered carolers outside my window every morning> — see SINGER

carom verb
to strike and fly off at an angle <a ball caromed off the wall> — see GLANCE 1

carousal noun
a bout of prolonged or excessive drinking <came home tired and hungover after an all-night carousal with his friends> — see CAROUSE

carouse noun
a bout of prolonged or excessive drinking <the Old West custom of heading to the saloon at night for an all-out carouse and some poker playing>

Synonyms
bender, binge, bust, carousal, drunk, jamboree, spree, toot, wassail

Related Words
blowout, kegger (also keg party); bacchanalia, orgy, revel, revelry; bibbery, bibulousness, drunkenness, inebriation, inebriety, intoxication, jag, tipsiness

carouse verb
to take part in drunken revelry <spent all of shore leave carousing with his mates>

Synonyms
binge, birl [chiefly Scottish], revel, roister, wassail

Related Words
booze, drink, guzzle, liquor (up), soak, tipple

carp noun
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <the usual carp about that restaurant is that the service is slow> — see COMPLAINT 1

carp verb
1 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <someone who carps and whines about everything is a pain> — see COMPLAIN
2 to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant <carped about the order of names on the wedding invitations> — see QUIBBLE 1

carper noun
a person given to harsh judgments and to finding faults <eventually, almost everyone learned to avoid the ski school's resident carper> — see CRITIC 1

carpet verb
to form a layer over <leaves carpeted the lawn> — see COVER 2

carping adjective
given to making or expressing unfavorable judgments about things <a peevish and carping old woman who is not a favorite at the nursing home> — see CRITICAL 1

carrefour noun
a place where roads meet <our hotel in Montreal was adjacent to a noisy carrefour> — see CROSSROAD 1

carriage noun
1 a horse-drawn wheeled vehicle for carrying passengers <a museum with a large collection of beautiful, old carriages>

Synonyms
equipage, rig

Related Words
barouche, brougham, buckboard, buggy, cab, cabriolet, calash, calèche (or caleche), caroche, carryall, chaise, chariot, coach, coupé (or coupe), curricle, diligence, dogcart, droshky (also drosky), four-in-hand, gig, go-cart, hackney (or hackney coach), hansom (or hansom cab), jaunting car, landau, phaeton, post chaise, roadster, rockaway, stage, stagecoach, stanhope, surrey, tandem, tilbury, tonga, trap, troika, victoria; turnout

2 a general way of holding the body <her Ladyship's carriage is upright and regal> — see POSTURE 1

carriageway noun, British
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <an American who apparently was not used to driving in England, as he was traveling down the wrong side of the carriageway> — see WAY 1

carry verb
1 to support and take from one place to another <each camper must be able to carry his or her own backpack>

Synonyms
bear, cart, convey, ferry, haul, lug, pack, tote, transport

Related Words
deliver, hand over, transfer; forward, send, ship, transmit; bring, fetch, take; move, remove, shift

2 to wear or have on one's person <I always carry a camera with me so as to never miss a great shot>

Synonyms
bear, pack

Related Words
flaunt, show off, sport; display, exhibit, parade, show

3 to bring before the public in performance or exhibition <all of the television networks will carry the president's speech> — see PRESENT 1
4 to have as part of a whole <the idea of equality carries with it a number of other concepts> — see INCLUDE 1
5 to hold up or serve as a foundation for <erected a trellis to carry the vine> — see SUPPORT 3
6 to receive as return for effort <carried off the award for best picture of the year> — see EARN 1
7 to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way <during that difficult time the grieving parents carried themselves with unfailing grace and dignity> — see BEHAVE

carryall noun
a bag carried by hand and designed to hold a traveler's clothing and personal articles <took only a small carryall on the plane> — see TRAVELING BAG

carry away verb
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight) <the beauty of the music carried him away> — see ENTRANCE

carry off verb
1 to carry through (as a process) to completion <the con artist would never have been able to carry off his schemes if it were not for the greed of his eager victims> — see PERFORM 1
2 to deprive of life <pray that the pestilence does not carry off any more souls than it already has> — see KILL 1

carry–on noun
a bag carried by hand and designed to hold a traveler's clothing and personal articles <the airline allows two carry-ons per person> — see TRAVELING BAG

carry on verb
1 to behave badly <a toddler crying and carrying on in the store> — see MISBEHAVE
2 to continue despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement <she bravely carried on despite the loss of her husband> — see PERSEVERE
3 to look after and make decisions about <carries on a business and still manages to run the household> — see CONDUCT 1

carry out verb
to carry through (as a process) to completion <carried out the task efficiently and cheerfully> — see PERFORM 1

cart noun
a wheeled usually horse-drawn vehicle used for hauling <a cart piled up with hay>

Synonyms
wagon, wain

Related Words
dray, jolt-wagon [Midland], oxcart, spring wagon, wagonette; barrow, hand truck, pushcart, tram, truck, wheelbarrow

cart verb
to support and take from one place to another <carted a knapsack filled with books from class to class> — see CARRY 1

cartel noun
a number of businesses or enterprises united for commercial advantage <a cartel of oil-producing nations that controls production and influences prices>

Synonyms
combination, combine, syndicate, trust

Related Words
chain, conglomerate, megacorporation, multinational; association, guild (also gild), organization, partnership, pool, union; big business

cartoon noun
1 a picture using lines to represent the chief features of an object or scene <a political cartoon mocking the state legislature> — see DRAWING
2 a series of drawings that tell a story or part of a story <reading the cartoons in the Sunday newspaper> — see COMIC STRIP
3 a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something <in this biopic the life of a complex man is reduced to a cartoon> — see MOCKERY 1

carve verb
to create a three-dimensional representation of (something) using solid material <carved a statue out of rare marble> — see SCULPT

carve (out) verb
to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort <finally carved out a niche for the sport in the school's athletic program> — see HAMMER OUT

Casanova noun
a man given to seducing women <to hear him tell it, he was his college's number one Casanova> — see DON JUAN

cascade noun
a fall of water usually from a great height <the river forms a series of cascades as it drops a total of 200 feet in elevation> — see WATERFALL

1case noun
1 something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <those binoculars come with their own case>

Synonyms
armor, capsule, casing, cocoon, cover, covering, encasement, housing, hull, husk, jacket, pod, sheath, shell

Related Words
cartridge, cassette (also casette); bark, crust; carapace, house, mail, panoply, plate, plating, shield; cuticle, hide, skin; envelope, package, wrapper; backing, coating, coverture, facing

2 a covered rectangular container for storing or transporting things <a handy little cosmetics case that matches the rest of her luggage> — see CHEST

2case noun
1 an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment <her doctor wishes that all of his cases were as cooperative as she is> — see PATIENT
2 one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like <this is a perfect case of people jumping to the wrong conclusion before all the facts are known> — see EXAMPLE
3 something that actually exists <this has never been the case before> — see FACT 2
4 a statement given to explain a belief or act <you'll get a chance to make your case, but unless you're very convincing, your request will be denied> — see REASON 1
5 a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder <a young boy suffering from a case of chicken pox> — see ATTACK 2
6 something that might happen <it may be the case that the cause of the fire will forever remain a mystery> — see EVENT 2
7 something that requires thought and skill for resolution <that's a tough case to solve> — see PROBLEM 1

case–hardened adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <a case-hardened homicide detective who has seen it all> — see HARD 1

cash noun
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <went to the ATM to get more cash> — see MONEY 1

cashier verb
1 to let go from office, service, or employment <was abruptly cashiered after money was found missing from the safe> — see DISMISS 1
2 to get rid of as useless or unwanted <the company is giving away a clutter of computers that have recently been cashiered for obsolescence> — see DISCARD

cash in (on) verb
to take unfair advantage of <some observers thought the lawyers were cashing in on the tragedy> — see EXPLOIT 1

casing noun
something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <the egg of this bird has an unusually hard casing> — see 1CASE 1

casino noun
a freestanding airy structure in a scenic setting (as a park) typically offering commanding views <on summer evenings dance bands would perform in the seaside casino> — see BELVEDERE

cask noun
an enclosed wooden vessel for holding beverages <casks of wine that had been in the castle for many years>

Synonyms
barrel, butt, firkin, hogshead, keg, kilderkin, pipe, puncheon, rundlet (or runlet), tun

Related Words
scuttlebutt; cistern, tub, vat; can, drum

casket noun
1 a boxlike container for holding a dead body <bought a beautiful casket when her grandmother died> — see COFFIN
2 a covered rectangular container for storing or transporting things <a small casket of jewels> — see CHEST

Cassandra noun
one given to forebodings and predictions of impending calamity <more than one Cassandra on Wall Street had warned that the market was overdue for a major correction> — see DOOMSAYER

cast noun
1 a declaration that something will happen in the future <stock market analysts offered an optimistic cast for the coming year> — see PREDICTION
2 a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished <the walls had a slight yellowish cast> — see COLOR 1
3 an instance of looking especially briefly <a mischievous cast in his eye when we asked what our destination would be> — see LOOK 2
4 facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling <his face took on a somewhat sad cast when we asked how his ill wife was faring> — see LOOK 1
5 the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance <the lovely cast of the baby's features> — see FORM 1

cast verb
1 to throw or give off <spermaceti candles, made from whale oil, are known to cast an exceptionally bright light> — see EMIT 1
2 to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal <cast her eyes skyward for signs of the rescue plane> — see AIM 1
3 to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form <carefully cast the letter of complaint as politely as possible> — see COMPOSE 1
4 to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <cast a rock into the stream> — see THROW 1

cast (off) verb
to get rid of as useless or unwanted <once she became rich and didn't need them anymore, she cast off all her old friends like so much junk> — see DISCARD

cast (up) verb
to combine (numbers) into a single sum <had worked as a clerk in a countinghouse, mainly casting up long columns of figures every day> — see ADD 2

cast about (for) verb
to go in search of <cast about for an answer to the question of why so many people had ignored the victim's cries for help> — see SEEK 1

cast around (for) verb
to go in search of <cast around for a last minute replacement for the lead actor in the movie> — see SEEK 1

castaway noun
one who is cast out or rejected by society <one theory is that Easter Island was first settled by castaways from Polynesia> — see OUTCAST

cast down adjective
feeling unhappiness <newly widowed, he was cast down at the thought of being alone once again> — see SAD 1

caste noun
one of the segments of society into which people are grouped <a member of the upper caste> — see CLASS 1

castigate verb
1 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <castigated him for his constant tardiness> — see SCOLD
2 to criticize harshly and usually publicly <a newspaper editorial castigating the city council for approving the project in the first place> — see ATTACK 2
3 to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime <a judge who believes in castigating criminals to the full extent of the law> — see PUNISH

castigating adjective
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment <a castigating task that succeeds in doing nothing more than making the lives of the inmates miserable> — see PUNITIVE

castigation noun
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense <the loss of his father's trust was the harshest castigation that the boy could have possibly received for having told the lie> — see PUNISHMENT

castigator noun
1 a person given to harsh judgments and to finding faults <even Broadway's most famously caustic castigator liked the play> — see CRITIC 1
2 one who inflicts punishment in return for an injury or offense <the principal seems to enjoy his role as the tireless castigator of classroom pranksters> — see NEMESIS 1

cast–iron adjective
1 not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards <lost weight only after a cast-iron adherence to his diet> — see RIGID 1
2 able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure <he has a cast-iron faith in his innate ability to overcome any adversity that life might throw against him> — see HARDY 1

castle noun
1 a structure or place from which one can resist attack <the implacable attackers placed the castle under a prolonged siege> — see FORT
2 a large impressive residence <the mining tycoon built a magnificent castle on the hill overlooking the town> — see MANSION

castoff noun
one who is cast out or rejected by society <a castoff who later became a famous poet> — see OUTCAST

cast out verb
to drive or force out <cast them out of the tribe for violating sacred traditions> — see EJECT 1

castrate verb
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality <a movie version that castrates the hard-hitting novel> — see DEHYDRATE 1

casual adjective
1 not designed to be worn only on special occasions <a restaurant where people in casual clothes are always welcome>

Synonyms
everyday, informal, workaday

Related Words
dégagé, relaxed, sporty; dressed down; shabby, sloppy, slovenly, unkempt

Near Antonyms
best, Sunday; dressed up; chic, elegant, fashionable, smart, stylish; neat, tidy, trim; semiformal

Antonyms
dressy, formal, noncasual

2 happening by chance <a casual meeting with the next-door neighbors on a beach in Hawaii> — see ACCIDENTAL 1
3 having or showing a lack of interest or concern <only a casual examination of the bicycle before buying it> — see INDIFFERENT 1
4 lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <a casual attendance at their son's hockey games> — see FITFUL

casualness noun
lack of interest or concern <her casualness distressed everyone who took the issue seriously> — see INDIFFERENCE

casualty noun
1 a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed <the real casualties in the war against drugs are millions of innocent children>

Synonyms
fatality, loss, prey, victim

Related Words
loser, underdog; martyr, sacrifice; collateral damage; murderee

Near Antonyms
gainer, victor, winner; harmer, injurer; assassin, killer, murderer

2 a chance and usually sudden event bringing loss or injury <casualties at sea that sometimes resulted in great losses of men or even of entire ships> — see ACCIDENT 1
3 archaic the uncertain course of events <believes finding one's true love is too important a matter to be left to mere casualty> — see CHANCE 1

cat noun
1 a small domestic animal known for catching mice <the family's cat did an exemplary job of keeping the house and yard free of all rodents>

Synonyms
feline, house cat, kitty, moggy (also moggie) [British], puss, pussy, pussycat

Related Words
mouser; kit, kitten; alley cat, tabby; gib, tomcat

2 an adult male human being <he was one cool cat driving around in his new sports car> — see MAN 1

cataclysm noun
1 a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms <an ancient cataclysm that may have been the basis for the Flood described in the Bible> — see FLOOD
2 a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction <the earthquake that struck Lisbon in 1755, killing 30,000 people, was one of the greatest cataclysms ever recorded> — see DISASTER 1
3 a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) <a social cataclysm that gave rise to a new world order> — see CONVULSION

cataclysmal or cataclysmic adjective
1 bringing about ruin or misfortune <a cataclysmal decision to plunge the nation into war> — see FATAL 1
2 causing or tending to cause destruction <a cataclysmal landslide that virtually wiped out the village> — see DESTRUCTIVE 1
3 marked by sudden or violent disturbance <the French Revolution was one of the great cataclysmal events in modern history> — see CONVULSIVE 1

catacomb noun, usually catacombs plural
an underground burial chamber <explored the catacombs looking for evidence about burial customs of that ancient society> — see CRYPT

catalog or catalogue noun
a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system <a catalog of music album titles> — see 1LIST

catalog or catalogue verb
to put (someone or something) on a list <cataloged the latest additions to the collection> — see 1LIST 2

catalyze verb
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <a reinstitution of the draft would catalyze protests around the country> — see EFFECT

catamount noun
a large tawny cat of the wild <found the footprints of a catamount on the mountain trail> — see COUGAR

cat–a–mountain noun
a large tawny cat of the wild <tracks that looked to be those of a cat-a-mountain> — see COUGAR

cataplasm noun
a medicated covering used to heal an injury <the doctor ordered the placement of a cataplasm on the wound until it closed up> — see DRESSING 1

catapult verb
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <catapulted a pumpkin into the next yard> — see THROW 1

cataract noun
1 a fall of water usually from a great height <the roaring cataract is one of the park's most majestic sights> — see WATERFALL
2 a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms <in spring the melting snows usually produce a cataract that inundates the valley> — see FLOOD

catastrophe noun
1 a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction <more than one natural catastrophe has threatened to destroy their farm over the years> — see DISASTER 1
2 something that has failed <the movie was a catastrophe, nearly bankrupting the studio that produced it> — see FAILURE 3

catastrophic adjective
bringing about ruin or misfortune <a catastrophic tornado destroyed the hamlet's only house of worship> — see FATAL 1

catatonic adjective
not expressing any emotion <a catatonic stare was all that the neglected resident of the nursing home seemed capable of> — see BLANK 1

catbird seat noun
1 the more favorable condition or position in a competition <your fluency in French should put you in the catbird seat for getting the Paris posting> — see ADVANTAGE 1
2 the center of public attention <in the wake of the natural disaster, this obscure bureaucrat was suddenly and unexpectedly thrust into the catbird seat> — see CENTER STAGE

catcall noun
a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval <the band's sloppy playing produced only catcalls from the crowd>

Synonyms
bird [chiefly British], boo, Bronx cheer, hiss, hoot, jeer, raspberry, razz, snort

Related Words
smirk, sneer, snicker, snigger; gibe (or jibe), put-down, taunt; whistle

Near Antonyms
applause, clapping

Antonyms
cheer

catch noun
1 a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized <the catch is that you have to come up with the money by tomorrow> — see PITFALL 1
2 someone or something unusually desirable <everyone thought the captain of the football team was a real catch> — see PRIZE 1
3 the total amount collected or obtained especially at one time <the total catch for our day at the creek was six fish and a crab> — see HAUL 1

catch verb
1 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <we tried to catch the kitten before she could sneak out the door>

Synonyms
bag, capture, collar, cop [slang], corral, get, glom, grab, grapple, hook, land, nab, nail, net, nobble [British slang], rap, seize, snag, snap (up), snare, snatch, trap

Related Words
glove, halter, lasso, rope; apprehend, arrest, detain; bay, corner; clasp, clutch, fasten (on), fist, grasp, grip, hold, latch (on or onto), secure; rend, wrest; enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, entangle, entrap, mesh; abduct, kidnap, spirit (away or off)

Phrases
take hold (of)

Near Antonyms
discharge, free, liberate, release; drop, loosen, unhand

Antonyms
miss

2 to become affected with (a disease or disorder) <you'll catch the flu for sure if you don't get a shot> — see CONTRACT 1
3 to bring (something) to a standstill <I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete> — see 1HALT 1
4 to put securely in place or in a desired position <caught back her hair with a barrette> — see FASTEN 2
5 to have a clear idea of <I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy> — see COMPREHEND 1
6 to cause to believe what is untrue <a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story> — see DECEIVE
7 to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face <I'll catch you at the library tomorrow> — see MEET 1
8 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <I looked out the window just in time to catch the neighbor's dog digging up my flower bed> — see SEE 1
9 to move fast enough to get even with <despite the suspect's considerable lead, the fleet-footed police officer was able to catch him and make an arrest> — see OVERTAKE

catch–as–catch–can adjective
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern <we're always having drop-in guests at our beachfront cottage, and sleeping arrangements tend to be catch-as-catch-can> — see RANDOM

catching adjective
1 capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another <a cold is often catching before the symptoms even begin> — see CONTAGIOUS 1
2 exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others <a catching smile that instantly puts patients at ease> — see CONTAGIOUS 2

catch on (to) verb
1 to come to an awareness of <she caught on to the fact that they were planning a surprise party> — see DISCOVER 1
2 to have a clear idea of <he finally caught on to the concept of phototaxis> — see COMPREHEND 1

catchpenny adjective
arousing a strong and usually superficial interest or emotional reaction <the novel's catchpenny title belies its serious literary ambitions> — see SENSATIONAL 1

catchphrase noun
an attention-getting word or phrase used to publicize something (as a campaign or product) <one of those advertising catchphrases that, if you think about them, don't mean much of anything> — see SLOGAN

catch–22 noun
1 a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized <the drug lowers cholesterol, but the catch-22 is that it mainly lowers good cholesterol> — see PITFALL 1
2 a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <the catch-22 faced by every first-time loan applicant: how to get a loan without a credit history> — see PREDICAMENT
3 a situation in which one has to choose between two or more equally unsatisfactory choices <an environmental catch-22: building wind farms results in scenic eyesores; not building wind farms results in greater pollution from fossil fuels> — see DILEMMA 1

catch up verb
1 to catch or hold as if in a net <a young idealist who got caught up in the political fanaticism of the times> — see ENTANGLE 2
2 to hold the attention of as if by a spell <completely caught up in opera ever since he saw La Traviata> — see ENTHRALL 1
3 to hold the attention of <so caught up in the game that she didn't note the passage of time> — see ENGAGE 1
4 to give information to <catch me up on what's been happening at the office> — see ENLIGHTEN 1

catch up (with) verb
to move fast enough to get even with <I walked faster to catch up with my friends> — see OVERTAKE

catchy adjective
1 likely to attract attention <will need a catchy slogan to sell the new product, which is actually pretty boring> — see NOTICEABLE
2 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <Professor Hartman's exams always include at least one catchy question> — see TRICKY 1
3 lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <she was so winded that her breathing came in catchy gasps> — see FITFUL

cate noun, archaic
something that is pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury <with cates as luscious as her lips did he woo her> — see DELICACY 1

catechize verb
1 to put a question or questions to <her roommates catechized her about every detail of her date with her new boyfriend> — see ASK 1
2 to put a series of questions to <applicants are rigorously cathechized by the seminary's rector regarding their motives for joining the priesthood> — see EXAMINE 1

categorical also categoric adjective
having no exceptions or restrictions <a categorical denial of the rumors that the celebrities were planning to get married> — see ABSOLUTE 2

categorize verb
to arrange or assign according to type <categorized the questions by topic> — see CLASSIFY 1

category noun
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <divide the essays into categories based on difficulty of comprehension> — see CLASS 2

catena noun
a series of things linked together <a catena of lies that ultimately proved to be her undoing> — see CHAIN 1

catenate verb
to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole <a Broadway musical that catenates a series of pop hits by means of a flimsy libretto> — see CONNECT 1

catenation noun
a series of things linked together <a catenation of missteps and miscalculations that ultimately grew into a colossal blunder> — see CHAIN 1

cater verb
to provide food or meals for <a local firm will cater the awards banquet for high school athlete of the year> — see FEED 1

cater (to) verb
to give in to (a desire) <the gooey dessert catered to the children's sweet tooth> — see INDULGE 1

caterwaul verb
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <like other small-town teens, they were caterwauling about the lack of things to do> — see COMPLAIN

caterwauling adjective
engaging in or marked by loud and insistent cries especially of protest <“The caterwauling liberals have done nothing but block legislation this year,” the conservative pundit complained> — see VOCIFEROUS

cathedral noun
a large, magnificent, or massive building <the company didn't want just a new office building—it demanded a cathedral that proclaimed its place among the giants of finance> — see EDIFICE 1

catholic adjective
not limited or specialized in application or purpose <a museum director with catholic tastes in art> — see GENERAL 4

catholicon noun
something that cures all ills or problems <the vain notion that there could ever be an easy, painless catholicon for obesity> — see CURE-ALL

cathouse noun
a building in which prostitutes are available <soldiers on leave looking for a cathouse in the tenderloin> — see BORDELLO

catnap noun
a short sleep <a catnap left me refreshed enough to face the rest of the day> — see 1NAP

catnap verb
1 to be in a state of sleep <the children are catnapping, so please be quiet> — see SLEEP 1
2 to sleep lightly or briefly <catnapped for 10 minutes and then went back to work> — see NAP 1

catnapping noun
a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself <indulged in some quick catnapping between appointments with patients> — see SLEEP 1

cat's meow noun
something very good of its kind <this flapper-style dress was the cat's meow back in the roaring 1920s> — see JIM-DANDY

cat's–paw noun
one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another <these changes to the zoning laws have only confirmed for many that the town council has become the cat's-paw of local real estate developers> — see 1PAWN

cattily adverb
in a mean or spiteful manner <commented cattily that the woman onstage was wearing an ugly dress> — see NASTILY

cattiness noun
1 biting sharpness of feeling or expression <the cattiness of the commentary for the televised awards was neither nice nor necessary> — see ACRIMONY 1
2 the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <there's no reason for saying such hurtful things except sheer cattiness> — see MALICE

catty adjective
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it <a catty remark that served its only purpose: to make someone cry> — see HATEFUL

caught adjective
1 containing unborn young within the body <worried that the heedless girl would get caught before the summer was over> — see PREGNANT 1
2 taken and held prisoner <after seeing how the caught soldiers had been treated, we resolved never to be taken alive> — see CAPTIVE

causality noun
someone or something responsible for a result <a supreme being is a being that, by definition, has no causality of its own> — see CAUSE 1

causation noun
someone or something responsible for a result <presented data that supports the thesis that poverty is the primary causation of crime> — see CAUSE 1

cause noun
1 someone or something responsible for a result <the much-debated causes of the American Civil War>

Synonyms
antecedent, causality, causation, occasion, reason

Related Words
consideration, determinant, factor; alpha and omega, be-all and end-all; impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, stimulus; mother, origin, root, source, spring

Near Antonyms
ramification; denouement (also dénouement), repercussion; conclusion, end; by-product, side effect (also side reaction)

Antonyms
aftereffect, aftermath, consequence, corollary, development, effect, fate, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot

2 a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal <joined the freedom fighters' cause as a young man> — see CAMPAIGN

cause verb
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <the ice storm caused a massive power outage> — see EFFECT

'cause conjunction
for the reason that <he left 'cause I told him to bug off> — see SINCE

cause célèbre also cause celebre noun
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <a cause célèbre from some reality TV show whose fame hadn't even lasted the proverbial 15 minutes> — see CELEBRITY 1

causerie noun
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <the monthly departmental causeries did much to foster a sense of community> — see CHAT 1

caustic adjective
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <caustic movie reviews that serve mainly to show how clever the reviewer is> — see SARCASTIC

cauterize verb
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling <time had cauterized his bitterness, and he was willing to let bygones be bygones> — see DULL 1

caution noun
1 a close attentiveness to avoiding danger <the extreme caution with which the zookeeper handled the snake>

Synonyms
alertness, care, carefulness, cautiousness, chariness, circumspection, gingerliness, guardedness, heedfulness, prudence, wariness

Related Words
attentiveness, observance, vigilance, watchfulness; foresight, foresightedness, providence; calculation, canniness, deliberateness, deliberation, shrewdness

Near Antonyms
abruptness, hastiness, impetuousness, precipitousness, rashness, suddenness; inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness

Antonyms
brashness, carelessness, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, recklessness, unwariness

2 something extraordinary or surprising <how she manages to drive her car without destroying the neighborhood is a caution> — see WONDER 1
3 something that tells of approaching danger or risk <this is just a caution that the following paragraph practically gives away the entire plot of the movie> — see WARNING 2
4 the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk <we heeded the police officer's caution about the road ahead> — see WARNING 1
5 a measure taken to preclude loss or injury <the standard caution of donning surgical gloves before performing any kind of dental work> — see PRECAUTION

caution verb
to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or risk <the doctor cautioned that I should still be careful using my sprained wrist for the next several days> — see WARN

cautionary adjective
serving as or offering a warning <the story of King Midas is a cautionary tale about the perils of wishing for something—you just might get it>

Synonyms
admonishing, admonitory, cautioning, exemplary, monitory, premonitory, warning

Related Words
didactic, moralistic, moralizing; advisory, counseling (or counselling); punishing, punitive

cautioning adjective
serving as or offering a warning <a cautioning story about how envy can destroy a friendship> — see CAUTIONARY

cautious adjective
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble <a cautious approach to everyday living> — see CAREFUL 1

cautiousness noun
a close attentiveness to avoiding danger <the cautiousness of drivers on the icy roadways was largely responsible for the accident-free day> — see CAUTION 1

cavalcade noun
1 a group of vehicles traveling together or under one management <the longest cavalcade of floats in the history of the parade> — see FLEET
2 a staged presentation often with music that consists of a procession of narrated or enacted scenes <a cavalcade presenting major events in the town's history> — see PAGEANT 1

cavalier adjective
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <a cavalier and pompous boss, indifferent to the feelings of her subordinates> — see ARROGANT

cavalier noun
an honorable and courteous man <a novel about the dashing cavaliers and gracious ladies of the South before the Civil War>

Synonyms
gentleman

Related Words
Galahad, knight, prince; beau, Beau Brummell, blade, blood, buck, dandy, dude, fop, gallant, jay, petit-maître; captivator, charmer, ladies' man (also lady's man), smoothy (or smoothie); aristocrat, patrician, swell, toff [chiefly British]

cave noun
a naturally formed underground chamber with an opening to the surface <Kentucky's Mammoth Cave is actually a series of large chambers on five levels>

Synonyms
antre, cavern, delve [archaic], grot, grotto

Related Words
abyss, chasm, gulf, hollow; crawlway, gallery, subway, tunnel; excavation, mine, pit, shaft, well; bunker, dugout, foxhole; burrow, covert, den, hole, lair, lodge, shelter

cave (in) verb
1 to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure <the wall caved in when a tree fell on it> — see COLLAPSE 1
2 to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit) <I caved in to my bibliomania and bought two more books last week> — see YIELD 1

caveman noun
a man with crude manners and habits and outmoded attitudes <married a caveman who spends all his free time swigging beer and watching sports on TV>

Synonyms
Neanderthal, troglodyte

Related Words
barbarian, heathen, primitive, savage; animal, beast, brute; boor, cad, churl, creep, cretin, cur, heel, jerk, louse, lout, swine

cavern noun
a naturally formed underground chamber with an opening to the surface <a cavern with beautiful stalactites> — see CAVE

cavil verb
to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant <caviled for hours about a single sentence> — see QUIBBLE 1

caviler or caviller noun
a person given to harsh judgments and to finding faults <the chronic cavilers who are going to complain no matter what the mayor does> — see CRITIC 1

caviling or cavilling adjective
given to making or expressing unfavorable judgments about things <a caviling theater critic who has yet to see a play she likes> — see CRITICAL 1

cavity noun
a sunken area forming a separate space <a cavity in the lawn where a tree stump had been removed> — see HOLE 2

cavort verb
to play and run about happily <children cavorting on the first sunny day of spring> — see FROLIC 1

cease noun
the stopping of a process or activity <worked without cease for the betterment of humanity> — see END 1

cease verb
1 to come to an end <the rain finally ceased, and we were able to continue the baseball game>

Synonyms
break off, break up, close, conclude, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, end, expire, finish, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up, wink (out)

Related Words
desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from); give over [British], knock off, pack (up or in); break down, conk (out), cut out, stall; pause, stay, suspend; abate, peter (out), wind down

Phrases
bite the dust

Near Antonyms
draw out, extend, prolong, protract

Antonyms
continue, hang on, persist

2 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <cease chattering and get down to work, please> — see STOP 1

cease–fire noun
a temporary stopping of fighting <the two armies declared a cease-fire for the holiday> — see TRUCE

ceaseless adjective
1 going on and on without any interruptions <there has been ceaseless rain for three days> — see CONTINUOUS
2 lasting forever <promised her ceaseless happiness if she would only marry him> — see EVERLASTING 1

ceaselessness noun
uninterrupted or lasting existence <the ceaselessness of the noise was as irritating as its loudness> — see CONTINUATION

cede verb
1 to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress <she reluctantly ceded her position as leader> — see SURRENDER 1
2 to give over the legal possession or ownership of <Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the United States as part of the settlement of the Spanish-American War> — see TRANSFER 1
3 to give up (as a position of authority) formally <the President officially cedes his position on the January 20th immediately following the presidential election> — see ABDICATE

ceiling noun
1 a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go <there's a ceiling on prices> — see LIMIT 1
2 a raised covering over something for decoration or protection <we sat around the campfire under a ceiling of stars> — see CANOPY

ceinture noun
a strip of flexible material (as leather) worn around the waist <the designer's dresses typically are accessorized with eye-catching ceintures> — see 2BELT 1

celeb noun
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <a trendy restaurant much favored by Tinseltown celebs> — see CELEBRITY 1

celebrant noun
one who engages in merrymaking especially in honor of a special occasion <all of the celebrants at the birthday party received a favor to take home>

Synonyms
celebrator, merrymaker, partyer (also partier), partygoer, reveler (or reveller), roisterer

Related Words
bacchanal, binger, carouser, party animal, wassailer; cutup, skylarker; noisemaker

Antonyms
killjoy, party pooper

celebrate verb
1 to proclaim the glory of <a personal essay that celebrates the single life> — see PRAISE 1
2 to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony <a mixed family that celebrates both the Christian and Jewish religious holidays> — see KEEP 1

celebrated adjective
widely known <a celebrated author making an appearance on a talk show> — see FAMOUS 1

celebration noun
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something <a celebration of the company's 100th anniversary> — see FESTIVAL

celebrator noun
one who engages in merrymaking especially in honor of a special occasion <some rowdy Super Bowl celebrators had to be given friendly warnings by the police> — see CELEBRANT

celebrity noun
1 a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <celebrities from sports and entertainment attended the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games>

Synonyms
big name, cause célèbre (also cause celebre), celeb, figure, icon (also ikon), light, luminary, megastar, name, notability, notable, notoriety, personage, personality, somebody, standout, star, superstar, VIP

Related Words
favorite, heartthrob, hero, idol; demigod, dignitary, eminence, immortal, monument, pillar, worthy; baron, big shot, bigwig, kahuna, magnate, mogul, nabob, panjandrum

Near Antonyms
lightweight, mediocrity; has-been

Antonyms
nobody, noncelebrity

2 the fact or state of being known to the public <an actor who reportedly feels very uncomfortable with his celebrity> — see FAME 1

celerity noun
a high rate of movement or performance <a journalist who writes his well-crafted stories with remarkable celerity> — see SPEED 1

celestial adjective
of, relating to, or suggesting heaven <movie scenes depicting life after death are usually accompanied by celestial music>

Synonyms
elysian, empyreal, empyrean, ethereal, heavenly, supernal

Related Words
supernatural, transcendent, transcendental, unearthly, unworldly; angelic (or angelical), beatific, blissful; Olympian, paradisiacal (or paradisiac), utopian; cosmic (also cosmical), galactic, stellar

Near Antonyms
earthly, mundane, terrestrial, worldly; anti-utopian, dystopian

Antonyms
chthonic (also chthonian), hellish, infernal, plutonian, sulfurous, Tartarean

celibacy noun
abstention from sexual intercourse <a widower who has maintained absolute celibacy since the death of his wife>

Synonyms
abstinence, chasteness, chastity, continence

Related Words
modesty, purity; honor, innocence, virginity, virtue

Near Antonyms
debauchery, lechery, licentiousness, venery, wenching, whoring

cell noun
1 an area within a building that has been set apart from surrounding space by a wall <a jail cell> — see ROOM 2
2 one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided <cells in a honeycomb> — see COMPARTMENT
3 a local unit of an organization <his mission was to locate and infiltrate the terrorist cell that was believed to be hiding in the city> — see CHAPTER 1

cellar noun
a room or set of rooms below the surface of the ground <an amazing array of interesting things were found in the cellar of the old house>

Synonyms
basement

Related Words
cellarage; bunker, crawlway, foundation, hold, vault; cyclone cellar, storm cellar

cement noun
1 a substance used to stick things together <what kind of cement works best on glass and pottery?> — see GLUE
2 a uniting or binding force or influence <she is the cement that holds that often quarrelsome group together> — see BOND 2

cemetery noun
a piece of land used for burying the dead <many of the soldiers who died in the battle are buried in a cemetery nearby>

Synonyms
boneyard, God's acre, graveyard, memorial park, necropolis, potter's field

Related Words
catacombs, churchyard; crypt, grave, mausoleum, sepulchre (or sepulcher), sepulture, tomb, vault

censor verb
to remove objectionable parts from <the producers were told that they would have to censor their movie if they wanted a PG rating>

Synonyms
bowdlerize, clean (up), expurgate, launder, red-pencil

Related Words
cleanse, purge, purify; abbreviate, blue-pencil, edit, shorten; bleep, blip, cut (out), delete, excise, expunge, gut, x (out); black out, repress, silence, suppress; censure, condemn, denounce; examine, review, screen, scrutinize

Near Antonyms
approve, authorize, sanction

censurable adjective
1 deserving reproach or blame <censurable conduct that should get that student expelled> — see BLAMEWORTHY
2 provoking or likely to provoke protest <the censurable language on the poster resulted in it being taken down> — see OBJECTIONABLE

censure noun
an often public or formal expression of disapproval <a rare censure of a senator by the full United States Senate for misconduct>

Synonyms
commination, condemnation, denunciation, excoriation, objurgation, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reproof, riot act, stricture

Related Words
admonishment, admonition, castigation, chastisement, damnation, punishment, remonstrance; business, devil, dressing-down, lash, lecture, lesson, rap, scolding, talking-to, tongue-lashing; belittlement, criticism, deprecation, depreciation, disparagement, pan

Near Antonyms
acclamation, honor, tribute; encomium, eulogy, panegyric, plaudit(s), praise; approval, blessing, sanction

Antonyms
citation, commendation, endorsement (also indorsement)

censure verb
1 to express public or formal disapproval of <a vote to censure the President for conduct that was unbecoming to his office>

Synonyms
condemn, denounce, objurgate, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove

Related Words
admonish, chastise; castigate, punish; bawl out, berate, chew out, cut up, dress down, flay, gibbet, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rate, scold, score, tell off, upbraid; belittle, criticize, deprecate, depreciate, disparage

Phrases
bring to account, call to account

Near Antonyms
acclaim, applause, hail, honor; eulogize, laud, praise; approve, bless, sanction

Antonyms
cite, commend, endorse (also indorse)

2 to declare to be morally wrong or evil <our society generally censures the taking of another person's life> — see CONDEMN 1
3 to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of <critics have striven to outdo each other in censuring that pop novelist's latest work> — see CRITICIZE

censurer noun
a person given to harsh judgments and to finding faults <there's more malicious fun in being a censurer than in being a celebrator, so many theater critics are the latter> — see CRITIC 1

census noun
a total number obtained or recorded by noting each thing as it was being added <a thorough census of all the grizzly bears living within the national park> — see COUNT 1

center noun
1 a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <a stretch of coastline that has long been the area's center of tourism>

Synonyms
axis, base, capital, central, core, cynosure, epicenter, eye, focus, ground zero, heart, hub, locus, mecca, navel, nerve center, nexus, nucleus, omphalos, seat

Related Words
headquarters; happy hunting ground, hive, hotbed, hot spot, playground, playland; kernel, nub, pith; deep, thick; essence, quintessence, soul; attraction, lodestone (also loadstone), magnet, polestar

Phrases
where it's at

2 an area or point that is an equal distance from all points along an edge or outer surface <the center of the earth>

Synonyms
core, middle, midpoint, midst

Related Words
inside, interior

Antonyms
perimeter, periphery

center verb
1 to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control <centered administrative duties under the command of a single person> — see CENTRALIZE
2 to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective <the students centered their attention on final exams> — see CONCENTRATE 2

centerpiece noun
the central part or aspect of something under consideration <resolution of the original dispute became the centerpiece of the negotiations> — see CRUX

center stage noun
the center of public attention <a public health problem that has moved to center stage in recent years>

Synonyms
catbird seat, limelight, spotlight, top billing

Related Words
front burner; attention, heed, notice

Near Antonyms
back burner

central adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <the central theme of the book> — see FOREMOST 1
2 occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes <will hold the conference in the central part of the country in order to encourage delegates from both coasts> — see MIDDLE 1
3 avoiding major social change or extreme political ideas <with all of the attention being paid to the party's right and left wings, the vast central core has been largely ignored> — see MODERATE 2

central noun
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <a health club that has become dating central for singles in the area> — see CENTER 1

centralize verb
to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control <the company decided to centralize all of its operations at its Ohio plant>

Synonyms
center, compact, concenter, concentrate, consolidate, polarize, unify, unite

Related Words
coordinate, harmonize, integrate, orchestrate; blend, coalesce, combine, fuse, incorporate, merge, reduce; conjoin, join, link; assemble, collect, colligate, gather; reunify, reunite

Near Antonyms
segregate, separate

Antonyms
decentralize, deconcentrate, spread (out)

centrist adjective
avoiding major social change or extreme political ideas <several centrist candidates were elected, apparently in a reaction against the extremists> — see MODERATE 2

centrist noun
a person who holds moderate views <the centrists will most likely rally behind the candidate who favors reforming the government program—not abolishing it entirely>

Synonyms
middle-of-the-roader, moderate

Related Words
progressive, reformer; accommodationist, compromiser

Near Antonyms
conservative, reactionary, rightist, right-winger; leftist, left-winger, liberal

Antonyms
extremist, radical, revolutionary, revolutionist, ultraist

cerebral adjective
1 much given to learning and thinking <a very cerebral jurist who has given much thought to what makes our nation's constitution work> — see INTELLECTUAL 1
2 of or relating to the mind <a young man given more to cerebral pursuits than to sporting activities> — see MENTAL 1

cerebrum noun
the part of a person that feels, thinks, perceives, wills, and especially reasons <you'll need the patience of a saint and the cerebrum of a rocket scientist to figure out the solution to this brainteaser> — see MIND 1

ceremonial adjective
following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules <a ceremonial presentation of the ambassador's credentials> — see FORMAL 1

ceremonial noun
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules <the funeral of a pope is usually marked by rich pageantry and elaborate ceremonials> — see RITE

ceremonious adjective
1 marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details <a century ago everyday life was much more ceremonious than in our anything-goes era>

Synonyms
correct, decorous, formal, nice, proper, punctilious, starchy, stiff, stiff-necked, stilted

Related Words
sober, solemn, stately; chivalrous, courtly, gallant; genteel, polished, refined; civil, courteous, polite, red-carpet

Near Antonyms
improper, indecorous, unmannerly; discourteous, impolite, rude

Antonyms
casual, easygoing, informal, laid-back, unceremonious

2 following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules <the ceremonious regalia of the Swiss Guards, the pope's traditional body guards> — see FORMAL 1

ceremony noun
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules <a beautiful, old-fashioned wedding ceremony> — see RITE

certain adjective
1 known but not named <a certain person told me that today is your birthday>

Synonyms
anonymous, given, one, some, unidentified, unnamed, unspecified

Related Words
particular, specific

Near Antonyms
known, named, specified

2 having or showing a mind free from doubt <I'm certain that they'll arrive on time>

Synonyms
assured, clear, cocksure, confident, doubtless, implicit, positive, sanguine, sure

Related Words
self-assured, self-conceited, self-confident; decisive, resolute, unfaltering, unhesitating, unquestioning, unwavering

Near Antonyms
hesitant, indecisive, vacillating, wavering; diffident, unassuming

Antonyms
doubtful, dubious, uncertain, unsure

3 having been established and usually not subject to change <a certain percentage of the profits will go to charity> — see FIXED 1
4 impossible to avoid or evade <as he got older, the athlete began to feel the certain effects of the aging process on his body> — see INEVITABLE
5 not likely to fail <chicken soup is grandma's certain cure for pretty much whatever ails you> — see INFALLIBLE 2
6 not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <up to this point there's been no certain evidence that a crime has been committed> — see IRREFUTABLE

certainly adverb
without any question <certainly, you can come to the party> — see INDEED 1

certainty noun
1 a state of mind in which one is free from doubt <I have full certainty that I'll pass the test> — see CONFIDENCE 2
2 the quality or state of being impossible to avoid or evade <the proverbial certainty of death and taxes> — see INEVITABILITY

certifiable adjective
1 being exactly as appears or as claimed <a professor who is regarded by his colleagues as a certifiable genius> — see AUTHENTIC 1
2 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <raised by a feckless father and a mother who was clearly certifiable> — see INSANE 1

certifiably adverb
in actual fact <this is certifiably the worst pizza I've ever had> — see VERY 2

certificate noun
a written or printed paper giving information about or proof of something <a certificate will be awarded to each person who completes the course in lifesaving>

Synonyms
certification, document, instrument

Related Words
credentials; diploma, parchment; record; warrant, writ; warranty; coupon, voucher

certification noun
a written or printed paper giving information about or proof of something <submitted the required certifications> — see CERTIFICATE

certified adjective
being exactly as appears or as claimed <presumably his chauffeured limousine qualifies him as certified big shot> — see AUTHENTIC 1

certify verb
1 to declare (something) to be true or genuine <experts certified the letter as indeed having been written by Abraham Lincoln>

Synonyms
attest, authenticate, avouch, testify (to), vouch (for), witness

Related Words
guarantee, warrant; affirm, assert, aver, avow, profess, vow

2 to give official or legal power to <certified her as a teacher> — see AUTHORIZE 1
3 to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of <please bring in a doctor's note to certify that you were really sick> — see CONFIRM 1

certitude noun
a state of mind in which one is free from doubt <believes with certitude that he is the best candidate for the job> — see CONFIDENCE 2

cessation noun
the stopping of a process or activity <the cessation of the snowstorm was a relief> — see END 1

cession noun
the usually forced yielding of one's person or possessions to the control of another <the cession of the southern territories was part of the peace treaty> — see SURRENDER

cesspool noun
a place of great vice and corruption <over the decades the once-respectable neighborhood had become an urban cesspool> — see AUGEAN STABLE

chafe verb
1 to make sore by continued rubbing <ill-fitting boots that had badly chafed my heels>

Synonyms
abrade, excoriate, fret, gall, irritate

Related Words
graze, scrape, scratch; burn, inflame (also enflame); flay, peel, skin

2 to damage or diminish by continued friction <constant stepping on a rope will gradually chafe it, rendering it unsafe for rock climbing> — see ABRADE 1
3 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <nothing chafes us so much as those telemarketers who call during the dinner hour> — see IRRITATE 1

1chaff noun
discarded or useless material <there's a lot of chaff in this book, and the reader should be on the alert for it> — see GARBAGE 1

2chaff noun
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks <I got no end of chaff about my accent when I was in the military> — see BANTER

chaff verb
1 to make fun of in a good-natured way <chaffed her about the brightly colored shirt she had received as a gift> — see TEASE 1
2 to make jokes <a coworker who likes to chaff at others' expense, and this often results in hurt feelings> — see JOKE 1

chaffer verb
1 to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase <in that country you're expected to chaffer with the vendors at the bazaar> — see BARGAIN 1
2 British to engage in casual or rambling conversation <just a couple of blokes chaffering at the neighborhood pub> — see CHAT 1

chaffing adjective
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing <a chaffing tone to Dad's discussion of my sister's new boyfriend> — see QUIZZICAL

chaffy adjective
having no usefulness <a decidedly chaffy book that is basically a collection of old interviews with celebrities> — see WORTHLESS

chafing adjective
causing annoyance <learned to ignore those chafing comments that his mother-in-law was constantly making> — see ANNOYING

chain noun
1 a series of things linked together <the chain of events that led the American colonies to seek independence from Great Britain>

Synonyms
catena, catenation, concatenation, consecution, nexus, progression, sequence, string, train

Related Words
chain reaction; belt, circle, cycle, vicious circle (also vicious cycle); continuum, gamut, gauntlet (also gantlet), scale, spectrum; flow, river, stream; file, line, queue, range, row, succession

2 something that makes movement or progress difficult <this community will grow and prosper only after it has thrown off the chains of ignorance and prejudice> — see ENCUMBRANCE
3 something that physically prevents free movement <chains on the prisoner's ankles> — see BOND 1

chain verb
1 to confine or restrain with or as if with chains <chaining up the dog in the backyard> — see BIND 1
2 to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole <the prosecutor meticulously and brilliantly chained all the evidence together in his closing argument> — see CONNECT 1

chair noun
1 a person in charge of a meeting <all questions and comments should be directed to the chair>

Synonyms
chairman, chairperson, moderator, president, presider, prolocutor, speaker

Related Words
chairwoman; cochair, cochairman, cochairperson, cochairwoman, copresident

2 the place of leadership or command <the chair of the English department at the university> — see HEAD 2

chairman noun
a person in charge of a meeting <the chairman called the meeting to order> — see CHAIR 1

chairperson noun
a person in charge of a meeting <the chairperson will determine the order in which people will speak> — see CHAIR 1

chalet noun
an often small house for recreational or seasonal use <a mountain chalet for weekend getaways> — see COTTAGE

chalk up verb
1 to explain (something) as being the result of something else <let's chalk up her weird behavior to simple nervousness> — see CREDIT 1
2 to obtain (as a goal) through effort <chalked up a record in singles tennis that is likely to stand for a long time> — see ACHIEVE 1

challenge noun
1 a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent <there were no serious challenges to the legislative bill, so it passed easily> — see OBJECTION
2 something that requires thought and skill for resolution <the many challenges facing developing countries in the 21st century> — see PROBLEM 1

challenge verb
1 to demand proof of the truth or rightness of <don't hesitate to challenge any statement that generalizes about people>

Synonyms
contest, dispute, impeach, oppugn, query, question

Related Words
doubt, mistrust; kick (about), object (to), protest; combat, fight, oppose, resist

Phrases
call in (or into) question

Near Antonyms
back, defend, support; advocate, champion, promote; abide, endure, stomach, tolerate

Antonyms
accept, believe, embrace, swallow

2 to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat <I challenge you to swim to the other side of the pond>

Synonyms
dare, defy, stump

Related Words
beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, face, outbrave, outface

3 to have as a requirement <having to put up with an overbearing boss challenges forbearance> — see NEED 1

challenged adjective
deprived of the power to perform one or more natural bodily activities <all parts of the sports complex are fully accessible to the physically challenged> — see DISABLED

challenger noun
one who strives for the same thing as another <the third-party challenger in the presidential election> — see COMPETITOR

challenging adjective
1 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <an exceptionally challenging brainteaser> — see HARD 2
2 requiring much time, effort, or careful attention <a challenging test designed to whittle down the number of contestants> — see DEMANDING 1

chamber noun
1 an area within a building that has been set apart from surrounding space by a wall <the inner chamber is the president's private office> — see ROOM 2
2 one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided <if the camera doesn't work, check to see that the battery has been properly installed in its chamber> — see COMPARTMENT
3 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <joined the local chamber of commerce> — see ASSOCIATION 2

chamber verb
to provide with living quarters or shelter <chambered the lost hikers in the barn until the next morning> — see HOUSE 1

chameleon noun
a person who dexterously and expediently changes or adopts opinions <at the summer resort he acquired a reputation as a social chameleon—someone who could be whatever his hosts wanted him to be> — see ACROBAT 2

champ noun
the person who comes in first in a competition <the wrestling champ> — see CHAMPION 1

champ verb
1 to crush or grind with the teeth <kept champing a cigar as he barked out orders> — see BITE ON
2 to tread on heavily so as to crush or injure <watch the horses so they don't champ the flower beds> — see TRAMPLE

champaign noun
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country <after days of trudging through dense forest, the explorers came upon a vast champaign> — see PLAIN 1

champion noun
1 the person who comes in first in a competition <the champion of the national spelling bee>

Synonyms
champ, titleholder, titlist, victor, winner

Related Words
cochampion, cowinner; placer; finalist, quarterfinalist, semifinalist; medalist (or medallist), prizewinner; megastar, star, superstar; world-beater

Near Antonyms
loser

2 a person who actively supports or favors a cause <she's the biggest champion of budget reform in the Congress> — see EXPONENT 1

champion verb
to promote the interests or cause of <he has always championed the protection of abused animals> — see SUPPORT 1

championship noun
the position occupied by the one who comes in first in a competition <the Yankees have won the championship many times> — see CROWN 2

chance adjective
happening by chance <a chance advantage that I immediately recognized and made full use of> — see ACCIDENTAL 1

chance noun
1 the uncertain course of events <rather than leave everything to chance, let's plan how we're going to spend our time in New York City>

Synonyms
accident, casualty [archaic], circumstance, hap, hazard, luck

Related Words
fortuitousness, fortuity, haphazardry, randomness, uncertainty; fluke, happenchance, happenstance; destiny, doom, fate, fortune, lot; danger, peril, risk

Near Antonyms
intent, intention, purpose; design, outline, plan, scheme

2 a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place <this is my one chance to succeed> — see OPPORTUNITY
3 a measure of how often an event will occur instead of another <the chance of being struck by lightning is very low> — see PROBABILITY 2
4 a risky undertaking <it's a chance, but I think the business will be profitable> — see GAMBLE

chance verb
1 to take a chance on <I don't think we should chance driving in this snowstorm> — see RISK 1
2 to take place <there chanced to be a beautiful day when we were touring that part of Scotland> — see HAPPEN

chance (upon) verb
1 to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face <chanced upon my archenemy as I rounded a corner> — see MEET 1
2 to come upon unexpectedly or by chance <I chanced upon your mother in the grocery store yesterday> — see HAPPEN ON OR UPON

chance–medley noun
a state in which everything is out of order <priceless artworks that disappeared in the chance-medley of World War II's closing days> — see CHAOS

chancer noun, British
1 a person who dexterously and expediently changes or adopts opinions <a two-faced chancer, he doesn't hesitate to dump people when they are no longer of any use> — see ACROBAT 2
2 one who does things only for his own benefit and with little regard for right and wrong <betrayed by a chancer who, she mistakenly thought, was her friend> — see SELF-SEEKER

change noun
1 the act, process, or result of making different <the positive change in our students' attitude toward people who are somehow different was a long and gradual process>

Synonyms
alteration, difference, modification, redoing, refashioning, remaking, remodeling, revamping, review, revise, revision, reworking, variation

Related Words
amendment, correction, rectification, reform; conversion, deformation, distortion, metamorphosis, mutation, transfiguration, transformation; fluctuation, oscillation, shift; displacement, replacement, substitution; adjustment, modulation, regulation, tweak; redesign, redo

Antonyms
fixation, stabilization

2 the frequent and usually sudden passing from one condition to another <there is nothing so constant as change itself> — see FLUX 1
3 something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <she spent quite a chunk of change on that car> — see MONEY 1

change verb
1 to make different in some way <my wife has changed the look of our living room more times than we care to remember>

Synonyms
alter, make over, modify, recast, redo, refashion, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, vary

Related Words
deform, metamorphose, mutate; regenerate, revolutionize, transfigure, transform, transmute; commute, convert, exchange; rejigger, retool

Antonyms
fix, freeze, set, stabilize

2 to pass from one form, state, or level to another <the weather in New England is constantly changing>

Synonyms
fluctuate, mutate, shift, snap, vary

Related Words
metamorphose, morph, transmute; better, improve; deteriorate, worsen; turn around; seesaw, teeter, vacillate, waver

Antonyms
plateau, stabilize

3 to give up (something) and take something else in return <would you mind changing your seat so my friends can sit together?>

Synonyms
commute, exchange, shift, substitute, swap, switch, trade

Related Words
interchange; displace, replace, supersede; cede, hand over, surrender, yield; reciprocate

changeable adjective
1 capable of being readily changed <an easily changeable color scheme for the nursery> — see FLEXIBLE 1
2 likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <the changeable nature of the business is such that you either have too much or too little to do> — see FICKLE 1

changeful adjective
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <a confusingly changeful attitude toward his so-called best friend> — see FICKLE 1

changeless adjective
not undergoing a change in condition <apparently changeless mountains> — see CONSTANT 1

changelessness noun
the state of continuing without change <the changelessness of the scenery is actually an illusion> — see CONSTANCY 1

changeover noun
a change in form, appearance, or use <the region's changeover from an agricultural economy to one based on manufacturing> — see CONVERSION 1

changing adjective
not staying constant <a changing wind made sailing a challenge> — see UNEVEN 2

channel noun
1 an open man-made passageway for water <water was drained from the swamp through a specially constructed channel>

Synonyms
aqueduct, canal, conduit, course, flume, racecourse, raceway, watercourse, waterway

Related Words
millrace, millstream; floodway, sluice, sluiceway, spillway; swash, tideway, torrent; gutter, trough; river, rivulet, stream

2 a narrow body of water between two land masses <the world record for swimming the channel between France and Great Britain>

Synonyms
narrows, neck, sound, strait

Related Words
arm, bay, gulf, inlet; roads, roadstead; reach, stretch

3 a direct way of passing along information or supplies <you need to make arrangements through the proper channels> — see PIPELINE
4 a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) <had to replace the main water channel> — see PIPE 1
5 a person who claims to speak with or for the spirits of the dead <the channel went into a trance and began speaking in what was purported to be the voice of the deceased woman> — see CHANNELER

channel verb
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway <an athletic youth who channeled all of his energy into sports>

Synonyms
canalize, channelize, conduct, direct, funnel, pipe, siphon (also syphon)

Related Words
carry, convey, transmit; concentrate, consolidate, focus

channeler noun
a person who claims to speak with or for the spirits of the dead <a channeler who claims to receive messages from a medieval warrior>

Synonyms
channel, medium, psychic, spiritist, spiritualist

Related Words
clairvoyant; mentalist, mind reader, telepath; sensitive

channelize verb
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway <channelized all of his resources into winning that state's crucial primary> — see CHANNEL

chant verb
1 to utter in musical or drawn out tones <the frustrated crowd at the rock concert started to chant, “We want the show to start!”>

Synonyms
intonate, intone, sing

Related Words
bellow, belt, roar; chime, chorus

2 to produce musical sounds with the voice <monks chanting fervently at matins> — see SING 1

chaos noun
a state in which everything is out of order <the boy's room is in such chaos that it looks as though a tornado had struck>

Synonyms
chance-medley, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, dishevelment, disorder, disorderedness, disorderliness, disorganization, free-for-all, havoc, heck, hell, jumble, mare's nest, mess, messiness, misorder, muddle, muss, shambles, snake pit, tumble, welter

Related Words
anarchy, lawlessness, misrule, riot; knot, snarl, tangle; labyrinth, maze, web; maelstrom, storm; bollix, clutter, litter, mishmash, shuffle; hodgepodge, medley, miscellany, morass, motley

Near Antonyms
method, pattern, plan, system

Antonyms
order, orderliness

chaotic adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <a chaotic cellar sorely in need of some straightening up> — see MESSY

chap noun
1 chiefly British an adult male human being <a couple of chaps kindly gave us directions to Buckingham Palace> — see MAN 1
2 Southern & Midland a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <a cute little chap> — see CHILD 1

chaparral noun
a thick patch of shrubbery, small trees, or underbrush <the rabbit darted into the chaparral> — see THICKET

chapeau noun
a covering for the head usually having a shaped crown <with her chapeau cocked jauntily to one side, the French actress was the very picture of Gallic insouciance> — see HAT

chaperone or chaperon verb
to go along with in order to provide assistance, protection, or companionship <three parents will chaperone the students on the school trip> — see ACCOMPANY 1

chaplet noun
a decorative band or wreath worn about the head as a symbol of victory or honor <maidens wove a chaplet of flowers round the champion's head> — see CROWN 1

chappie noun, British
an adult male human being <a good-humored chappie from the London office> — see MAN 1

chapter noun
1 a local unit of an organization <our chapter was well represented at the Jaycees' national convention>

Synonyms
affiliate, branch, cell, council, local

Related Words
arm, division, wing; offshoot, subchapter; lodge, post

2 an individual part of a process, series, or ranking <a horror movie that marks a new chapter in vicarious sadism> — see DEGREE 1

char noun, British
a female domestic servant <a busy executive who leaves most of the cooking and cleaning to the char> — see MAID 1

char verb
to burn on the surface <I'd like my hamburger charred, but not cooked through> — see SCORCH 1

character noun
1 a written or printed mark that is meant to convey information to the reader <the pictorial characters of the ancient Egyptians had long been a mystery>

Synonyms
glyph, icon (also ikon), sign, symbol

Related Words
cipher, letter, numeral; hieroglyph, ideogram, pictogram, pictograph; rune

2 a person of odd or whimsical habits <the junk dealer is certainly a character, but he's as honest as they come> — see ECCENTRIC
3 conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong <we need more people of sound character in public office> — see MORALITY 1
4 overall quality as seen or judged by people in general <the general character of the business appears to be good> — see REPUTATION
5 something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <one of the distinguishing characters of mammals> — see CHARACTERISTIC
6 the set of qualities that make a person different from other people <she regards each of her children as having a distinctive character that should be valued for what it is> — see INDIVIDUALITY 1
7 the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others <the basic character of the work requires that an employee be able to work quietly and independently> — see NATURE 1
8 a member of the human race <you wouldn't believe what kind of characters hang around the bus station> — see HUMAN

character verb
to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group <formerly charactered as “the dark ages,” that period of history may not have been quite so benighted as once thought> — see CHARACTERIZE 1

character assassination noun
1 the making of false statements that damage another's reputation <the actor's lawyers charge that the tabloid engaged in a deliberate campaign of character assassination> — see SLANDER
2 the use of personal attacks or insults in order to undermine an opponent <refused to resort to character assassination even if it meant losing his bid for governor> — see NAME-CALLING

characteristic adjective
1 serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group <the characteristic taste of licorice>

Synonyms
classic, diagnostic (also diagnostical), discriminating, distinct, distinctive, distinguishing, identifying, individual, peculiar, proper, symptomatic, typical

Related Words
idiosyncratic; identifiable, pronounced, unmistakable; general, generic; common, normal, regular, usual; especial, particular, special, specific; archetypal (also archetypical), model, paradigmatic

Antonyms
atypical, nontypical, uncharacteristic, untypical

2 having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind <the characteristic wit and good-naturedness of the Irish> — see TYPICAL 1

characteristic noun
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <the ability to fashion tools and other characteristics that distinguish human beings from other animals>

Synonyms
affection, attribute, attribution, character, criterion, diagnostic, differentia, feature, fingerprint, hallmark, mark, marker, note, particularity, peculiarity, point, property, quality, specific, stamp, touch, trait

Related Words
badge, indication, sign; emblem, symbol, token; charm, grace; excellence, merit, virtue; eccentricity, idiosyncrasy, oddity, quirk; individuality, singularity, uniqueness

characterize verb
1 to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group <how would you characterize the mission of this environmental organization?>

Synonyms
character, define, depict, describe, portray, represent

Related Words
categorize, classify, pigeonhole, type; color, identify, indicate, name, specify; distinguish, individualize, mark, particularize, stamp

2 to be an important feature of <an unsightly rash characterizes chicken pox>

Synonyms
distinguish, mark

Related Words
differentiate; customize, individualize, particularize

characterless adjective
1 lacking in distinctive features or qualities <characterless suburban houses that have nothing going for them but their newness> — see NONDESCRIPT
2 lacking strength of will or character <a characterless person who never has an opinion of his own> — see WEAK 2

charade noun
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive <put on a convincing charade to keep her from knowing about the surprise party> — see MASQUERADE

charge noun
1 a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person <charges of burglary and armed robbery that have yet to be proved>

Synonyms
complaint, count, indictment, rap

Related Words
accusation, allegation, plea; crimination; counteraccusation, countercharge; arraignment, impeachment; implication, imputation, innuendo, insinuation; censure, condemnation, denunciation; incrimination, recrimination

2 a specific task with which a person or group is charged <your charge is to keep everyone else organized and busy> — see MISSION
3 a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <we've received an official charge about how to handle the situation> — see COMMAND 1
4 something one must do because of prior agreement <the first charge of our armed forces is to defend this country against enemy attack> — see OBLIGATION 1
5 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <the famously disastrous charge led by General George Pickett at Gettysburg> — see ATTACK 1
6 the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something <the charge for the book will be five dollars> — see PRICE 1
7 the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control <was given charge of the business during the owner's absence> — see SUPERVISION 1
8 a payment made in the course of achieving a result <the charges mounted at a dizzying pace as the building project went way over budget> — see EXPENSE
9 a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings <the slopes at this resort aren't particularly challenging and aren't likely to give expert skiers much of a charge> — see THRILL
10 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <he inherited charge of the Paris bureau after his supervisor quit> — see CONDUCT 1

charge verb
1 to set or receive as a price <any shop would charge $100 to repair that thing>

Synonyms
ask, command, demand

Related Words
overcharge, undercharge; bring, fetch, sell (for); discount, mark down, mark up; assess, bill, invoice; price, value

2 to establish or apply as a charge or penalty <charges a restocking fee for returned merchandise> — see IMPOSE
3 to give a task, duty, or responsibility to <we're charging you with the care of your little sister while we're gone for the evening> — see ENTRUST 1
4 to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority <charged the soldier to keep watch over the prisoner> — see COMMAND 1
5 to make a claim of wrongdoing against <he has not yet been charged with any crime> — see ACCUSE
6 to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained <charge a blast furnace with iron ore> — see FILL 1
7 to take sudden, violent action against <plans to charge the enemy's fortification at daybreak> — see ATTACK 1
8 to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings of <the players are going into this game still charged from their upset victory the week before> — see THRILL

charged adjective
1 causing great emotional or mental stimulation <an abstract expressionist who uses a palette of charged colors to great effect> — see EXCITING 1
2 having or expressing great depth of feeling <a very charged speech that got everyone worked up> — see FERVENT 1
3 serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction <a muralist who creates politically charged and often controversial works> — see PROVOCATIVE

chariness noun
a close attentiveness to avoiding danger <approached the can't-miss investment opportunity with the chariness of someone who's been burned before> — see CAUTION 1

charisma noun
the power of irresistible attraction <a movie star with great charisma> — see CHARM 2

charismatic adjective
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <the cult's charismatic leader had managed to persuade seemingly rational people to obey him blindly> — see FASCINATING 1

charitable adjective
1 having or showing a concern for the welfare of others <a charitable couple who have donated a sizable chunk of their fortune to the local university>

Synonyms
altruistic, beneficent, benevolent, do-good, eleemosynary, good, humanitarian, philanthropic (also philanthropical)

Related Words
selfless, self-sacrificing; bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, free, freehanded, generous, greathearted, handsome, liberal, magnanimous, munificent, openhanded, openhearted, unselfish, unsparing; compassionate, humane, kind, kindhearted; social-minded

Near Antonyms
self-indulgent, self-seeking; cheap, closefisted, miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, stingy, tight, tightfisted; hard-hearted, pitiless, unfeeling; self-obsessed

Antonyms
self-centered, self-concerned, selfish

2 giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <a charitable woman who helped everyone who needed it> — see GENEROUS 1
3 tolerant and kind in the judgment of and expectations for others <her best friend, who was inclined towards a more charitable interpretation of her actions, let it pass> — see INDULGENT 1

charity noun
1 the giving of necessities and especially money to the needy <after amassing a fortune in the computer industry, the brothers devoted themselves to charity>

Synonyms
almsgiving, dole, philanthropy

Related Words
altruism, do-gooding, do-goodism, humanism, humanitarianism; beneficence, benevolence, goodwill; alms, benefaction, contribution, donation; relief, welfare; endowment, fund, grant, subsidy

2 a gift of money or its equivalent to a charity, humanitarian cause, or public institution <donated his mansion and all of its land as a charity to the people of his beloved home state> — see CONTRIBUTION
3 kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it <can't you show a little charity to a guy who's the first to admit he's not perfect?> — see MERCY 1
4 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <his charity is such that he's a sucker for every panhandler's tale of woe> — see HEART 1
5 kindly concern, interest, or support <Lincoln's famous promise that the period of Reconstruction would be marked by “charity for all”> — see GOODWILL 1

charlatan noun
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise <the famed faith healer turned out to be a charlatan> — see IMPOSTOR

charley horse noun
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle <had to stop and rest because of a charley horse in his leg> — see 1CRAMP

charlie also charley noun, British
a person who lacks good sense or judgment <he's a nice enough bloke, but a real charlie when choosing his girlfriends> — see FOOL 1

charm noun
1 something worn or kept to bring good luck or keep away evil <an old cap that I use as a charm for whenever I play softball>

Synonyms
amulet, fetish (also fetich), mascot, mojo, periapt, phylactery, talisman

Related Words
gris-gris (also grigri), juju, philter, toadstone; emblem, symbol, token, totem

Near Antonyms
curse, hex, spell

Antonyms
hoodoo, jinx

2 the power of irresistible attraction <a young singer with the kind of charm that turns a performer into a star>

Synonyms
allure, animal magnetism, appeal, attractiveness, captivation, charisma, duende, enchantment, fascination, force field, glamour (also glamor), magic, magnetism, oomph, pizzazz (or pizazz), seductiveness, witchery

Related Words
allurement, attraction, call, lure, seduction; agreeableness, darlingness, delightfulness, desirability, desirableness, niceness, pleasantness, pleasingness, sweetness; sex appeal

Near Antonyms
disagreeableness, distastefulness, obnoxiousness, offensiveness, unpleasantness

Antonyms
repulsion, repulsiveness

3 a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power <recited a charm to make the prince fall in love with her> — see SPELL 1
4 an ornament worn on a chain around the neck or wrist <a dangling charm in the figure of a horse on her bracelet> — see PENDANT 1

charm verb
1 to attract or delight as if by magic <a quaint seaside village that charms all who visit it>

Synonyms
allure, beguile, bewitch, captivate, enchant, fascinate, kill, magnetize, wile, witch [archaic]

Related Words
disarm, draw, entice, lure, pull, seduce, tempt; delight, gratify, please; arrest, enrapture, enthrall (or enthral), entrance; appeal (to), interest, intrigue; beckon, court, invite, solicit, woo

Near Antonyms
disgust, offend, repel, revolt; annoy, displease, irk; bore, tire, weary

2 to cast a spell on <in one version of the tale, it is a vengeful fairy who charms Sleeping Beauty so that she falls into a sleep for a hundred years> — see BEWITCH 1

charmed adjective
being or appearing to be under a magic spell <you must be living a charmed life if you haven't caught the flu that's going around> — see ENCHANTED

charmer noun
a person skilled in using supernatural forces <the legendary charmer known as the Pied Piper of Hamelin> — see MAGICIAN 1

charming adjective
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <a charming man who had no problem winning women's hearts> — see FASCINATING 1

charmingly adverb
in a pleasing way <a charmingly old-fashioned country inn> — see WELL 5

chart noun
an illustration of certain features of a geographical area <a chart of that section of the coastline will show any possible hazards> — see MAP

chart verb
1 to give an oral or written account of in some detail <the book charts the years between the two World Wars> — see TELL 1
2 to work out the details of (something) in advance <charted the entire campaign for governor before she even agreed to run> — see PLAN 1

charter verb
1 to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum <charter a boat> — see HIRE 1
2 British to give official or legal power to <a London firm seeking the services of a chartered accountant> — see AUTHORIZE 1

charwoman noun
a female domestic servant <the couple finally hired a charwoman as they were just too busy to clean> — see MAID 1

chary adjective
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble <chary investors who weren't burned by the dot-com bust> — see CAREFUL 1

chase noun
1 an animal that is hunted or killed <the gazelle is a favorite chase of lions> — see PREY 1
2 the act of going after or in the tracks of another <a high-speed car chase> — see PURSUIT 1

chase verb
1 to drive or force out <chased the cat out of the garden> — see EJECT 1
2 to go after or on the track of <a dog that likes to chase cars> — see FOLLOW 2
3 to seek out (game) for food or sport <owls often chase mice in the dark> — see HUNT 1
4 to proceed or move quickly <they chased all over the place to find the missing child> — see HURRY 2

chase (down) verb
to go in search of <a historian who has spent two decades chasing down firsthand accounts of the drafting of the U.S. Constitution> — see SEEK 1

chasing noun
the act of going after or in the tracks of another <despite our determined chasing, the rabbit got away> — see PURSUIT 1

chasm noun
an immeasurable depth or space <a chasm in the ocean floor> — see ABYSS

chaste adjective
1 free from any trace of the coarse or indecent <as one would expect, the minister's small talk is always chaste, even though he likes a joke as much as the next person>

Synonyms
clean, decent, G-rated, immaculate, modest, pure, vestal, virgin, virginal

Related Words
lily-white, spotless, stainless, unblemished, undefiled, unsoiled, unspotted, unstained, unsullied, untainted, untarnished; decorous, proper, seemly; cultivated, refined, tasteful; harmless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive

Near Antonyms
blemished, defiled, soiled, spotted, stained, sullied, tainted, tarnished; improper, indecorous, indelicate, ribald, unseemly; crude, tacky, tasteless, unrefined

Antonyms
coarse, dirty, filthy, immodest, impure, indecent, obscene, smutty, unchaste, unclean, vulgar

2 free from dirt or stain <the chaste white carpet is a key element in the living room's stark, minimalist design> — see CLEAN 1

chastely adverb
with purity of thought and deed <for living so chastely Kateri Tekakwitha became known as the “Lily of the Mohawks”> — see PURELY 1

chasten verb
1 to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime <chastened the child with five minutes of sitting in the corner> — see PUNISH
2 to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <the unexpected loss to a second-rate player really chastened the tournament's top-seeded tennis star> — see HUMBLE

chasteness noun
1 the quality or state of being morally pure <her unchallenged chasteness put her on the fast track for sainthood> — see CHASTITY 1
2 abstention from sexual intercourse <their marriage of consensual chasteness seems to have worked for both the composer and his wife> — see CELIBACY

chastening adjective
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment <a chastening hour spent cleaning floors should discourage them from further pranks> — see PUNITIVE

chastise verb
1 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <a cold, distant father who rarely paid attention to his children except to chastise them> — see SCOLD
2 to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime <the division of opinion regarding the appropriate way to chastise juvenile perpetrators of adult crimes> — see PUNISH

chastisement noun
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense <missing the field trip should be sufficient chastisement for the schoolyard fight> — see PUNISHMENT

chastiser noun
one who inflicts punishment in return for an injury or offense <the highway patrolman who is the committed chastiser of those motorists who regard speed limits as no more than suggestions> — see NEMESIS 1

chastising adjective
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment <a chastising lecture on the proper care and feeding of the dog> — see PUNITIVE

chastity noun
1 the quality or state of being morally pure <a saint who is often held up as a model of chastity>

Synonyms
chasteness, immaculacy, innocence, modesty, purity

Related Words
goodness, righteousness, virtue, virtuousness; morality, probity, rectitude; decency, decorum, propriety, seemliness

Near Antonyms
badness, evil, sinfulness, unrighteousness, wickedness; impropriety, indecency, vulgarity

Antonyms
immodesty, impurity, unchasteness, unchastity

2 abstention from sexual intercourse <vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience> — see CELIBACY

chat noun
1 friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <short chats between parents and teachers during the school's open house>

Synonyms
backchat, cackle, causerie, chatter, chin music, chin-wag [slang], chitchat, confab, confabulation, gab, gabfest, gossip, jangle, jaw, natter [chiefly British], palaver, patter, rap, schmooze, small talk, table talk, talk, tête-à-tête

Related Words
colloquy, conference, discourse, parley, powwow, symposium; debate, dialogue (also dialog), exchange, give-and-take; crosstalk, happy talk; yak (also yack), yammer, yap

2 talking or a talk between two or more people <a fireside chat between two of America's foremost men of letters> — see CONVERSATION

chat verb
1 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <the coffeehouse became the favored place to meet friends and chat for hours>

Synonyms
babble, blab, cackle, chaffer [British], chatter, chin [slang], converse, gab, gabble, gas, jabber, jaw, kibitz (also kibbitz), natter, palaver, patter, prate, prattle, rap, rattle, run on, schmooze (or shmooze), talk, twitter, visit

Related Words
gossip, tattle; descant, discuss, expatiate; yak (also yack), yammer, yap

Phrases
blow smoke, chew the fat (also chew the rag), shoot the breeze, talk a blue streak

2 to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly <lost in his own world, the toddler chatted happily for hours> — see BABBLE 1

chat (with) verb
to communicate with by means of spoken words <chatting with the other expectant couples before the start of Lamaze class> — see TALK 1

château noun
a large impressive residence <a gorgeous château on a hill> — see MANSION

chattel noun
1 a person who is considered the property of another person <at one time, the children of black slaves were also considered chattel> — see SLAVE 1
2 chattels plural transportable items that one owns <packed up all her chattels and moved to a new state> — see POSSESSION 2

chatter noun
1 friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <pleasant chatter over morning coffee> — see CHAT 1
2 loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <the chatter of the ship's engine kept us awake all night> — see NOISE 1

chatter verb
1 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <chattered idly while waiting in line> — see CHAT 1
2 to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly <the parrot chatters all day> — see BABBLE 1

chatterbox noun
a person who talks constantly <my seat companion was a chatterbox who never once shut up during the whole trip>

Synonyms
babbler, blabber, blabbermouth, blowhard, cackler, chatterer, conversationalist, gabbler, gasbag, jabberer, jay, magpie, motormouth, prattler, talker, windbag

Related Words
gossip, gossiper, talebearer, tattler, tattletale; blatherer, blatherskite; converser, discourser

chatterer noun
a person who talks constantly <that precocious little boy is a real chatterer> — see CHATTERBOX

chattery adjective
having the style and content of everyday conversation <writes a chattery advice column for the local paper> — see CHATTY 1

chatty adjective
1 having the style and content of everyday conversation <a time when campers were expected to write a chatty letter to their folks every week>

Synonyms
chattery, colloquial, conversational, dishy, gossipy, newsy

Related Words
casual, familiar, informal, intimate, tell-all; digressive, discursive, rambling; communicative, expansive, garrulous, talkative

Near Antonyms
ceremonious, dignified, elevated, formal, solemn, stately

Antonyms
bookish, literary

2 fond of talking or conversation <a chatty older woman who talked to everyone that walked by> — see TALKATIVE

chauvinism noun
excessive favoritism towards one's own country <their ingrained chauvinism has blinded them to their country's faults>

Synonyms
jingoism, nationalism, superpatriotism

Related Words
loyalty, patriotism; nativism, xenophobia

Near Antonyms
internationalism

chauvinist adjective
having or showing excessive favoritism towards one's own country <wrote a history of World War II that was widely criticized for its chauvinist slant> — see NATIONALIST 1

chauvinist noun
one who shows excessive favoritism towards his or her country <chauvinists who express their patriotism by plastering flag decals all over their cars> — see NATIONALIST

chauvinistic adjective
having or showing excessive favoritism towards one's own country <other nations were decidedly irked by the American media's chauvinistic coverage of the Olympic Games> — see NATIONALIST 1

chaw verb
to crush or grind with the teeth <the farmer was intently chawing a carrot> — see BITE ON

chawbacon noun
an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country <the townspeople were offended by the documentary's portrayal of them as an unwashed mass of chawbacons> — see HICK

cheap adjective
1 costing little <e-mail is so popular because it's a cheap way to send messages>

Synonyms
affordable, bargain-basement, budget, cheapie, cheapo, chintzy, cut-price [chiefly British], cut-rate, dime-store, dirt cheap, el cheapo, inexpensive, low, low-end, popular, reasonable

Related Words
cheapish, moderate; discount, discounted, fire-sale, lowered, reduced; wholesale; valueless, worthless; supercheap, ultracheap

Near Antonyms
increased, inflated; exorbitant, extravagant, overpriced, prohibitive, prohibitory, steep, stiff, superexpensive, ultraexpensive, unreasonable; invaluable, priceless; luxurious

Antonyms
costly, dear, deluxe, expensive, high, high-ticket, precious, premium, pricey (also pricy), spendy [chiefly Northwest], valuable

2 of low quality <a cheap sweater that started to unravel almost as soon as I bought it>

Synonyms
bad, bargain-basement, bum, cheapjack, cheesy, coarse, common, crappy [slang], cut-rate, el cheapo, execrable, gimcrack, inferior, junky, lousy, low-grade, low-rent, mediocre, miserable, poor, rotten, rubbishy, schlock (or schlocky also shlock or shlocky), second-rate, shoddy, sleazy, terrible, trashy, trumpery, wretched

Related Words
useless, valueless, worthless; indifferent, lackluster, second-class; brummagem, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, kitsch, kitschy, meretricious, ostentatious, showy, splashy, swank (or swanky), tawdry; seedy, shabby, tacky; counterfeit, fake, phony (also phoney), sham; supercheap, ultracheap

Near Antonyms
elegant, handsome, tasteful; handcrafted, polished, refined

Antonyms
excellent, fine, first-class, first-rate, good, high-grade, superior, top-notch

3 giving or sharing as little as possible <a cheap coworker who never contributes to the collections taken up in the office> — see STINGY 1
4 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <that was a cheap thing to say to someone who never did you any harm> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1
5 involving minimal difficulty or effort <the boxer's early bouts were cheap wins, but now he's moving up to the top ranks of boxing> — see EASY 1

cheapen verb
1 to diminish the price or value of <a glutted market cheapened cranberries to the point where they were selling for less than what it cost to grow them> — see DEPRECIATE 1
2 to lower in character, dignity, or quality <a politician who would cheapen herself by caving in to lobbyists> — see DEBASE 1
3 to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <she really cheapens herself by shamelessly pursuing men like that> — see HUMBLE

cheapie adjective
costing little <we'll crash in some cheapie motel room> — see CHEAP 1

cheapjack adjective
of low quality <a cheapjack little watch that I wear on camping trips> — see CHEAP 2

cheapness noun
the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money <his chronic cheapness is such that he never takes vacations or replaces old, worn-out household goods> — see PARSIMONY 1

cheapo adjective
costing little <I picked up a cheapo souvenir watch as gag gift> — see CHEAP 1

cheapskate noun
a mean grasping person who is usually stingy with money <a cheapskate who lived like a pauper, she was reputedly the wealthiest woman in the U.S. at the time of her death> — see MISER

cheat noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <a cheat at cards> — see TRICKSTER 1

cheat verb
1 to use dishonest methods to achieve a goal <students who cheat on tests end up never knowing anything>

Synonyms
chicane, finagle, fudge

Related Words
crib; color, distort, falsify, misinterpret, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, twist, warp; doctor, fake, tamper (with); elaborate, embellish, embroider, exaggerate, magnify, pad, stretch; dodge, evade, hedge

2 to be sexually unfaithful <he suspects that his girlfriend is cheating on him>

Synonyms
philander, screw around, step out

Related Words
cat (around), fool around, fornicate, play (around), tomcat (around), womanize; copulate, couple, lie, make out, mate, sleep; lust

3 to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of <the daredevil survived his plunge over the falls with barely a scratch, having cheated death once again> — see DISAPPOINT
4 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <a despicable confidence man who heartlessly cheated elderly people out of their savings> — see FLEECE

cheater noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <gambling casinos have very elaborate means of detecting cheaters> — see TRICKSTER 1

cheating noun
1 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <a conscienceless adventuress who never earned anything except through cheating> — see DECEIT 1
2 a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse <she swore that if there was ever any cheating, she'd leave in a heartbeat> — see ADULTERY

check noun
1 the amount owed at a bar or restaurant or the slip of paper stating the amount <diners at that temple of gastronomy often look shocked when they receive the check>

Synonyms
bill, tab

Related Words
invoice, receipt; account, reckoning, record, statement; charge, cost, damage, expense, fee, figure; score, tally

2 a close look at or over someone or something in order to judge condition <made a careful check of the antique table before buying it> — see INSPECTION
3 a record of goods sold or services performed together with the costs due <request a detailed check from the company before sending any money> — see 1BILL 1
4 a small sheet of plastic, paper, or paperboard showing that the bearer has a claim to something (as admittance) <handed over a check for his coat> — see TICKET 1
5 something that limits one's freedom of action or choice <the judiciary is intended to be a check on the executive and legislative branches of government> — see RESTRICTION 1
6 an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure <the network of fine checks on the surface would indicate that the painting is quite old> — see CRACK 1
7 the stopping of a process or activity <the announcement of bad news gave a sudden check to the celebration> — see END 1

check verb
1 to be in agreement on every point <their story of what happened checks with the report of the eyewitness>

Synonyms
accord, agree, answer, chord, cohere, coincide, comport, conform, consist, correspond, dovetail, fit, go, harmonize, jibe, rhyme (also rime), sort, square, tally

Related Words
equal, match, parallel; align (also aline), line up, register

Phrases
fall in with

Near Antonyms
contradict, dispute, gainsay; negate, nullify; clash, conflict, jar

Antonyms
differ (from), disagree (with)

2 to bring (something) to a standstill <a tree finally checked the skidding car> — see 1HALT 1
3 to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <check your enthusiasm a bit, and think before you marry someone you just met> — see CONTROL 1

check (out) verb
to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) <check out the house and let me know if you think it's worth buying> — see INSPECT

checkable adjective
capable of being proven as true or real <all of the statistics cited by the news reporter are readily checkable, but it would appear that the article was never fact-checked before publication> — see VERIFIABLE

checklist noun
a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system <a checklist of things to do before the flight> — see 1LIST

checkmate verb
to prevent from achieving a goal <finally checkmated the billionaire in his attempt to take over the movie studio> — see FRUSTRATE 1

check out verb
to stop living <there are a lot of sights around the world that I want to see before I check out> — see DIE 1

checkup noun
a close look at or over someone or something in order to judge condition <the vet gave the kitten a checkup, then reassuringly declared her in fine health> — see INSPECTION

cheek noun
1 disrespectful or argumentative talk given in response to a command or request <any more cheek in this classroom and you'll get a detention> — see BACK TALK
2 shameless boldness <she had the cheek to blame me for the fact that she had forgotten about the staff meeting> — see EFFRONTERY
3 cheeks plural the part of the body upon which someone sits <he dropped his pants and flashed his cheeks at the opposing team> — see BUTTOCKS

cheekiness noun
shameless boldness <the cheekiness of the restaurant's demand that we pay for unordered food was breathtaking> — see EFFRONTERY

cheeky adjective
displaying or marked by rude boldness <a cheeky comment about something that was none of her business> — see NERVY 1

cheep verb
to make a short sharp sound like a small bird <the toaster cheeps to indicate that the toast is done> — see CHIRP

cheer noun
1 a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter <a birthday celebration filled with affection and cheer> — see MIRTH
2 a feeling of ease from grief or trouble <the visiting general had some words of cheer for each of the hospital's recuperating soldiers> — see COMFORT 1
3 a state of mind dominated by a particular emotion <be of good cheer in this Christmas season> — see MOOD 1
4 enthusiastic and usually public expression of approval <all three movies in the series received cheers from fans of the novels> — see APPLAUSE 1

cheer verb
1 to declare enthusiastic approval of <critics and fans alike have cheered the latest addition to the author's series of fantasy novels> — see ACCLAIM
2 to ease the grief or distress of <let's hope that these flowers will cheer my ailing aunt at least a little> — see COMFORT

cheer (up) verb
1 to become glad or hopeful <cheer up—things are bound to get better>

Synonyms
brighten, buck up, lighten, look up, perk (up)

Related Words
rejoice; liven (up), revive; beam, glow, radiate, sparkle; encourage, gladden, hearten

Near Antonyms
despair, despond; brood, fret, mope

Antonyms
darken, sadden

2 to fill with courage or strength of purpose <the general's speech cheered up the troops tremendously> — see ENCOURAGE 1

cheerful adjective
1 having or showing a good mood or disposition <a cheerful person who is always fun to work with and a pleasure to be around>

Synonyms
blithe, blithesome, bright, buoyant, canty [British dialect], cheery, chipper, eupeptic, gay, gladsome, lightsome, sunny, upbeat, winsome

Related Words
hopeful, optimistic, rosy, sanguine; animated, chirpy, jaunty, lilting, lively, perky, sprightful, sprightly, vivacious; carefree, careless, cavalier, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, insouciant, lighthearted, unconcerned; boon, gleeful, jocund, jolly, jovial, merry, mirthful; blissful, delighted, glad, gratified, happy, joyful, joyous, pleased, satisfied, tickled; beaming, grinning, laughing, smiling

Near Antonyms
joyless, sad, unhappy, unsatisfied; dull, lethargic, listless, sluggish, torpid; blue, brokenhearted, crestfallen, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, disheartened, down, downcast, downhearted, droopy, forlorn, hangdog, heavyhearted, inconsolable, low, low-spirited, melancholy, mirthless, sorrowful

Antonyms
dour, gloomy, glum, morose, saturnine, sulky, sullen

2 serving to lift one's spirits <a hospital with sunny, cheerful rooms that are designed to make a patient's stay as pleasant as possible>

Synonyms
bright, cheering, cheery, gay, glad

Related Words
gladdening, heartening, heartwarming; gleaming, radiant, sparkling

Near Antonyms
discouraging, disheartening; colorless, drab, dull, lackluster, lusterless; black, desolate, dispiriting

Antonyms
bleak, cheerless, dark, depressing, dismal, dreary, gloomy, gray (also grey)

cheerfully adverb
in a cheerful or happy manner <cheerfully announced, “It's a beautiful morning!”> — see GAILY 1

cheerfulness noun
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter <his constant cheerfulness makes him a pleasure to be around> — see MIRTH

cheerily adverb
in a cheerful or happy manner <waving cheerily as they drove off> — see GAILY 1

cheeriness noun
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter <a moment of cheeriness interrupted the solemn discussion> — see MIRTH

cheering adjective
1 making one feel good inside <the cheering sight of a child being reunited with a pet that had been lost> — see HEARTWARMING
2 serving to lift one's spirits <cheering words from the doctor that the worst of the treatment was over> — see CHEERFUL 2

cheering noun
enthusiastic and usually public expression of approval <a raucous cheering welcomed the newlyweds> — see APPLAUSE 1

cheerless adjective
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <a dank and cheerless castle that was once the site of unspeakable horrors> — see GLOOMY 1

cheery adjective
1 having or showing a good mood or disposition <a cheery grin on the host of the holiday party> — see CHEERFUL 1
2 serving to lift one's spirits <a cheery, unexpected compliment can really make another person's day> — see CHEERFUL 2

cheese noun
that which is of low quality or worth <you wouldn't believe the cheese that the movie studio puts out> — see JUNK 1

cheesed off adjective, chiefly British
feeling or showing anger <I was really cheesed off that they made me go to the back of the queue> — see ANGRY

cheeseparing noun
the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money <Ebenezer Scrooge is portrayed as a taskmaster so dedicated to cheeseparing that he would prefer that his employees freeze to death rather than splurge on heat> — see PARSIMONY 1

cheesy adjective
1 marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste <cheesy plastic knickknacks lined the fireplace mantel> — see 1TACKY 1
2 of low quality <a cheesy watch that he bought from a sidewalk vendor preying on tourists> — see CHEAP 2

chef noun
a person who prepares food by some manner of heating <the restaurant hired a famous chef to raise the quality of its cuisine> — see COOK

chef d'oeuvre noun
something (as a work of art) that is a great achievement and often its creator's greatest achievement <the sculptor labored for 15 years on his chef d'oeuvre> — see MASTERPIECE

chemist noun, British
a person who prepares drugs according to a doctor's prescription <let's ask the chemist whether it's safe to take these two drugs together> — see DRUGGIST

cherish verb
1 to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for <promised to love and cherish her husband forever> — see LOVE 2
2 to hold dear <we shall always cherish the keepsakes that our grandmother left us> — see LOVE 1
3 to keep in one's mind or heart <after all these years, she still cherishes the memory of her first summer romance> — see HARBOR 1

cherished adjective
granted special treatment or attention <a cherished heirloom that has been in the family for generations> — see DARLING 1

cherry–pick verb
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities <cherry-picked the spacious corner office for his corporate fief> — see CHOOSE 1

cherry–picked adjective
singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking <claims that the committee used only cherry-picked facts in their report on the state of the nation's economy> — see SELECT 1

chest noun
a covered rectangular container for storing or transporting things <a chest containing almost every tool that the home do-it-yourselfer is likely to need>

Synonyms
bin, box, caddy, case, casket, locker, trunk

Related Words
carton, crate; footlocker, locker, sea chest; coffer, lockbox, safe, safe-deposit box, strongbox; coffin; compartment, vault; canteen; caisson, hope chest; minaudière; bandbox, hatbox, jewel box, snuffbox, tinderbox

chesterfield noun
a long upholstered piece of furniture designed for several sitters <bought a huge new chesterfield for the living room> — see COUCH

chestnut noun
an idea or expression that has been used by many people <an op-ed piece that's offers nothing but warmed-over chestnuts for solving the city's financial woes> — see COMMONPLACE

chesty adjective
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <obnoxiously chesty self-made millionaires> — see ARROGANT

chew verb
to crush or grind with the teeth <please chew your food thoroughly so you don't choke> — see BITE ON

chew out verb
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <the coach chews out even the stars of the team if they fail to show up for practice> — see SCOLD

chew over verb
to give serious and careful thought to <yet another senator chewing over the idea of running for president> — see PONDER

chewy adjective
not easily chewed <a flavorful but chewy piece of meat> — see TOUGH 1

chi or ch'i also qi noun
a spiritual force that is held to emanate from or give animation to living beings <the concept of chi is of central importance in acupuncture> — see ENERGY 1

chic adjective
being in the latest or current fashion <a chic new hairstyle that makes her look very sophisticated> — see STYLISH

chic noun
a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <mockumentaries are the latest filmmaking chic> — see FAD

chicane noun
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end <most get-rich-quick schemes involve more than a smidgen of chicane> — see TRICKERY

chicane verb
to use dishonest methods to achieve a goal <a lawyer who is so notorious for chicaning that the guilty invariably seek his services> — see CHEAT 1

chicanery noun
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end <that candidate only won the election through chicanery> — see TRICKERY

chick noun
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <those innocent little chicks can scarcely imagine what life has in store for them> — see CHILD 1

chicken adjective
1 having or showing a shameful lack of courage <too chicken to go through with the stunt> — see COWARDLY
2 so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <just concentrate on the important duties of the job and forget about the chicken stuff> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

chicken noun
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <a staunch hawk during the drumbeat for war, he proved to be a chicken when it came to actually fighting it> — see COWARD

chicken feed noun, slang
a very small sum of money <I'm sick of working for chicken feed—I want a job where I can bring home some real dough> — see MITE 1

chickenhearted adjective
having or showing a shameful lack of courage <too chickenhearted to speak up, even though she knew a terrible injustice was being committed> — see COWARDLY

Chicken Little noun
one given to forebodings and predictions of impending calamity <some called him Chicken Little, but the climatologist had the data to back up his warning on global warming> — see DOOMSAYER

chicken–livered adjective
having or showing a shameful lack of courage <a chicken-livered newspaper editor who has been afraid to take on the town's powerful business elite> — see COWARDLY

chide verb
to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault <my wife chided me for forgetting to offer our guests some refreshments> — see REBUKE 1

chief adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <our chief priority this year will be cutting the budget> — see FOREMOST 1
2 highest in rank or authority <the chief administrator will be retiring soon> — see HEAD

chief noun
1 the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts <the chief of the estate was left to the eldest son> — see BODY 1
2 the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do <our chief is out on a business trip right now> — see BOSS

chiefly adverb
for the most part <our video collection consists chiefly of comedies, but we have a few horror movies>

Synonyms
altogether, basically, by and large, generally, largely, mainly, mostly, overall, predominantly, primarily, principally, substantially

Related Words
about, more or less, most, much, near, nearly, next to, nigh, practically, some, virtually, well-nigh; approximately, broadly, plus or minus, roughly; commonly, frequently, generally, normally, ordinarily, typically, usually; incompletely, partially, partly, rather, somewhat

Phrases
in general, on the whole

Near Antonyms
completely, entirely, fully, perfectly, thoroughly, totally, wholly; barely, hardly, just, marginally, minimally, scarcely; absolutely, categorically, unqualifiedly

child noun
1 a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <an imaginative animated film that appeals to adults as well as to children>

Synonyms
bairn [chiefly Scottish], bambino, bud, chap [Southern & Midland], chick, cub, juvenile, kid, kiddie (also kiddy), kiddo, moppet, sprat, sprout, squirt, whelp, youngling, youngster, youth

Related Words
adolescent, minor; kindergartner (also kindergartener), preschooler, rug rat [slang], schoolboy, schoolchild, schoolgirl, schoolkid; babe, baby, bantling, infant, neonate, nestling, newborn, toddler, tot, tyke (also tike), weanling; brat, devil, hellion, imp, jackanapes, mischief, monkey, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, urchin, whippersnapper; cherub; preteen, preteen-ager, subteen, teen, teenager, teener, teenybopper, tween; lad, nipper, shaver, stripling, tad; bobby-soxer, hoyden, tomboy

Near Antonyms
middle-ager; ancient, elder, golden-ager, oldster, old-timer, senior, senior citizen

Antonyms
adult, grown-up

2 a recently born person <wrapped the child in a blanket before taking him outside in the cold> — see BABY 1
3 a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <widespread stress is the child of the frenetic pace of the modern world> — see EFFECT 1

childbearing noun
the act or process of giving birth to children <in olden days many women died in childbearing> — see CHILDBIRTH

childbirth noun
the act or process of giving birth to children <women who choose to undergo childbirth without the use of anesthetics and other drugs>

Synonyms
accouchement, childbearing, delivery, labor, parturition, travail

Related Words
birth pang, contraction, pains; pregnancy; abortion, miscarriage; cesarean section (or caesarean section), natural childbirth; childbed, confinement, lying-in

childhood noun
the state or time of being a child <enjoy your childhood—it won't last forever>

Synonyms
nonage, springtime, youth

Related Words
boyhood, girlhood, toddlerhood; adolescence, juvenescence, minority; immaturity, juvenility; babyhood, infancy

Near Antonyms
majority; middle age, midlife; senectitude, sunset, winter

Antonyms
adulthood

childish adjective
having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children <you almost spoiled the ceremony for everyone with your childish giggling>

Synonyms
adolescent, babyish, immature, infantile, jejune, juvenile, kiddish, puerile

Related Words
boyish, brattish, bratty, girlie (or girly), girlish; childlike, innocent, naive (or naïve), simple, simplistic, unsophisticated

Near Antonyms
unchildlike; cosmopolitan, experienced, knowing, smart, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise

Antonyms
adult, grown-up, mature

child's play noun
1 something of little importance <the injury is child's play, just a scratch> — see TRIFLE
2 something that is easy to do <winning the game against those guys will be child's play> — see CINCH 1

chill adjective
1 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <were met with a chill gaze when they arrived home late from the party> — see COLD 2
2 uncomfortably cool <this chill weather is making my teeth chatter> — see CHILLY 1
3 having a low or subnormal temperature <no one should be coatless on a chill night as this> — see COLD 1
4 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the house's design may be cutting-edge, but it has a chill sterility about it that is anything but homey> — see GLOOMY 1

chill noun
an uncomfortable degree of coolness <there's a chill in the air, so you'd better wear a sweater>

Synonyms
bite, bitterness, bleakness, chilliness, nip, nippiness, rawness, sharpness

Related Words
briskness, crispness; coldness, frigidity, frigidness, frostiness, gelidity, iciness, wintriness; cold, freeze, snap

Near Antonyms
balminess, warmness, warmth; heat, hotness, sultriness

chill verb
1 to cause to lose heat <chill the gelatin for two hours, until it sets> — see COOL 1
2 to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety <you want to hang out with us and just chill this weekend?> — see RELAX 1
3 to lessen the courage or confidence of <investors chilled by the floundering economy> — see DISCOURAGE 1
4 to spend time doing nothing <instead of going out tonight, let's stay in and chill> — see IDLE

chilliness noun
an uncomfortable degree of coolness <the lingering chilliness in the church prompted everyone to put on jackets> — see CHILL

chilling adjective
uncomfortably cool <a Southern visitor who was unused to the chilling air of a Northeast winter> — see CHILLY 1

chill out verb, slang
1 to become still and orderly <stop making that racket, and just chill out!> — see QUIET 1
2 to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety <if you don't chill out, you're going to get an ulcer> — see RELAX 1

chilly adjective
1 uncomfortably cool <those chilly nights when a warm fire can be especially comforting>

Synonyms
bitter, bleak, chill, chilling, nipping, nippy, raw, sharp

Related Words
bracing, brisk, crisp, invigorating, rigorous, snappy; arctic, bitter, cold, coolish, freezing, frigid, frosty, glacial, ice-cold, icy, numbing, polar, shivery, wintry (also wintery); subfreezing, subzero; frore, frosted, frozen, iced, refrigerated, unheated

Near Antonyms
balmy, warm; lukewarm, tepid; heated, warmed

2 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <a chilly glare directed at the person who tried to go to the head of the line> — see COLD 2
3 having a low or subnormal temperature <a chilly spring morning> — see COLD 1

chime noun
1 usually chimes plural a series of short high ringing sounds <the welcoming chimes on our doorbell> — see TINKLE
2 peaceful coexistence <firmly believes that science and religion can keep chime with one another> — see HARMONY 2

chime verb
1 to form a pleasing relationship <the restaurant's manor-house decor chimes perfectly with the chef's traditionalist take on haute cuisine> — see HARMONIZE 1
2 to make the clear sound heard when metal vibrates <the doorbell chimed just as we were sitting down to eat> — see 2RING
3 to say or state again <TV commercial that chimes the same message over and over> — see REPEAT 1

chime in verb
1 to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion <“I don't like that show at all,” my friend chimed in> — see INTERRUPT
2 to form a pleasing relationship <unfortunately, his views on child rearing don't chime in with those of his new wife, who has two children from a previous marriage> — see HARMONIZE 1

chimera noun
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality <a monster in the closet would not have been the first chimera that the boy had seen in his mind's eye> — see FANTASY 1

chimerical also chimeric adjective
not real and existing only in the imagination <for the time being, interplanetary travel remains a chimerical feature of life in the 21st century> — see IMAGINARY

chin verb, slang
to engage in casual or rambling conversation <the kind of work environment in which staffers can knock off early on Friday and chin with the boss> — see CHAT 1

chine noun
a column of bones supporting the trunk of a vertebrate animal <uncovered the chine of some animal while digging in the backyard> — see SPINE

chink noun
1 a vulnerable point <before the tournament she studied tapes of her chief rival, looking for the chink in her game> — see ACHILLES' HEEL
2 an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure <plugged the chinks in the walls with mortar> — see CRACK 1

chink verb
to make a repeated sharp light ringing sound <in the breeze the flag's chain chinked against the flagpole> — see JINGLE

chin music noun
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <after listening to chin music all afternoon, I was ready for the sounds of silence> — see CHAT 1

chintzy adjective
1 costing little <for the party I want chintzy plates that we can throw away afterward> — see CHEAP 1
2 giving or sharing as little as possible <her husband can be pretty chintzy when it comes to buying gifts for others> — see STINGY 1

chin–wag noun, slang
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <a tireless practitioner of chin-wag, she makes every other talker seem a little taciturn> — see CHAT 1

chip noun
1 a small flat piece separated from a whole <wood chips were spread over the ground between the plants>

Synonyms
flake, sliver, spall, splint, splinter

Related Words
bit, disk (or disc), fragment, part, particle, portion, scrap, section, shard; flinders, shiver, smithereens; shred, tatter; clipping, paring, shave, shaving, snippet; leaf, sheet, slice

Near Antonyms
chunk, hunk, lump, slab

2 a V-shaped cut usually on an edge or a surface <watch out for the chip on the rim of that drinking glass> — see NOTCH 1
3 chips plural something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <was in the chips after hitting it big in the lottery> — see MONEY 1

chip in verb
1 to make a donation as part of a group effort <we all chipped in and bought flowers for the secretaries> — see CONTRIBUTE 1
2 chiefly British to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion <forgive me in chipping in like this, but I think I know a better way to get to Trafalgar Square> — see INTERRUPT

chipper adjective
having or showing a good mood or disposition <you're awfully chipper this morning> — see CHEERFUL 1

chippie also chippy noun
a boldly flirtatious or sexually promiscuous woman <detectives wanted to talk to the chippies who were regulars at the bar—to learn if they had seen anything> — see FLOOZY

chippy adjective
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <a chippy, defensive fellow whose alma mater was the school of hard knocks> — see BELLIGERENT

chirk (up) verb
to fill with courage or strength of purpose <presented her with an inspirational book to chirk her up during her prolonged hospitalization> — see ENCOURAGE 1

chirp verb
to make a short sharp sound like a small bird <the sparrows were chirping up a storm in the backyard>

Synonyms
cheep, chirrup, chitter, jargon, peep, pip, pipe, tweet, twitter

Related Words
cackle, chatter, jabber; sing, trill, warble

chirr noun
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion <the chirr of dragonflies> — see HUM

chirrup verb
to make a short sharp sound like a small bird <the kitten chirruped insistently for her dinner> — see CHIRP

chisel verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <ruthlessly chiseled other students out of their lunch money> — see FLEECE

chiseler or chiseller noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <the chiseler made off with nearly a million dollars before anyone realized what was going on> — see TRICKSTER 1

chitchat noun
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <a bit of chitchat over lunch with people we hadn't seen in a while> — see CHAT 1

chitter verb
to make a short sharp sound like a small bird <the chittering birds outside were driving the cat crazy> <the cell phone chittered in his pocket> — see CHIRP

chivalrous adjective
having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature <still engages in chivalrous behavior, such as holding doors for people> — see NOBLE 2

chivy or chivvy verb
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation <a boss with a reputation for chivying his workers about every little thing> — see BOTHER 1

chockablock adjective
containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible <the mantel was chockablock with knickknacks> — see FULL 1

chock–full or chockful adjective
containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible <returned from the buffet with a plate chock-full of food> — see FULL 1

chocolate–box adjective
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <a dog calendar that features the animals in cutesy, chocolate-box poses and robs them of their dignity> — see CORNY 1

choice adjective
1 having qualities that appeal to a refined taste <choice chocolates for which chocolate lovers are willing to pay extra>

Synonyms
dainty, delicate, elegant, exquisite, fine, rare, recherché, select

Related Words
bijou, jewellike; better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special; elite, exclusive; classic, excellent, fabulous, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, marvelous (or marvellous), noble, outstanding, par excellence, premium, prime, sensational, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, transcendant, unsurpassed, wonderful; ultrarare

Near Antonyms
coarse, gross, kitsch, kitschy, lowbrow, raffish, rough, rough-hewn, tasteless, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar; commercial, mass-produced, popular; common, ordinary; average, lesser, mediocre, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine (or run-of-mine), second-class, second-rate; deficient, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, wanting

2 of the very best kind <thus far, the pool of applicants for the job has been less than choice> — see EXCELLENT
3 singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking <the restaurant offers a small but choice list of wines from some of Europe's finest viticultural regions> — see SELECT 1

choice noun
1 the power, right, or opportunity to choose <you have no choice: you have to go to the conference>

Synonyms
alternative, discretion, druthers [dialect], election, liberty, option, pick, preference, selection, volition, way

Related Words
determination, free will, will; say, voice, vote; inclination, liking, partiality, penchant, predilection, proclivity, propensity, tendency; discernment, judgment (or judgement), perspicacity

Near Antonyms
coercion, duress, force; duty, obligation; Hobson's choice

2 a person or thing that is chosen <my choice for best song of all time>

Synonyms
bet, chosen, pick, selection

Related Words
favorite, like, liking, preference; elective, option; appointment, designation, nomination; appointee, candidate, nominee, selectee; preselection

Antonyms
rejectee

3 individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <that school accepts only the choice of the city's crop of high school students> — see ELITE 1
4 the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions <the prisoner had no choice but to do what he was told> — see FREE WILL
5 the act or process of selecting <you'll have to make a choice eventually> — see SELECTION 1

choiceness noun
exceptionally high quality <a chocolatier renowned for the choiceness of the cacao beans it uses> — see EXCELLENCE 1

choir noun
an organized group of singers <joined the choir for next year> — see CHORUS 1

choke verb
1 to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe <let go of my throat—you're choking me!>

Synonyms
garrote (or garotte), strangle, suffocate, throttle

Related Words
asphyxiate, smother, stifle; scrag

Near Antonyms
restore, resuscitate, revive

2 to experience complete or partial blockage of the windpipe <the recommended procedure for helping someone who is choking>

Synonyms
gag, suffocate

Related Words
heave, retch, throw up, vomit; asphyxiate, smother, stifle

Near Antonyms
breathe, respire; expire, inspire

3 to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air <thick, black smoke choked the trapped firefighters> — see SMOTHER 1
4 to prevent passage through by filling with something <overgrown bushes choked the narrow alleyway between the buildings> — see CLOG 1

choke (back) verb
to refrain from openly showing or uttering <choked back a sarcastic reply to an insulting question> — see SUPPRESS 2

choker noun
an ornamental chain or string (as of beads) worn around the neck <a pearl choker closely wrapped around her throat> — see NECKLACE

choler noun
1 an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <he felt his choler rising and choked back an angry reply> — see ANGER
2 readiness to show annoyance or impatience <the boss's reputation for choler made many employees reluctant to ask questions> — see PETULANCE

choleric adjective
1 easily irritated or annoyed <watch out for the choleric librarian at the reference desk> — see IRRITABLE
2 feeling or showing anger <I absolutely get choleric when a telemarketer calls during the dinner hour> — see ANGRY

chomp (on) verb
to crush or grind with the teeth <loudly chomped on popcorn during the movie> — see BITE ON

choose verb
1 to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities <choose a computer that best suits your needs>

Synonyms
cherry-pick, cull, elect, handpick, name, opt (for), pick, prefer, select, single (out), tag, take

Related Words
preselect; appoint, designate, fix, mark, nominate, set, tab, tap; accept, adopt, embrace, espouse; settle (on or upon)

Near Antonyms
disapprove, negative, repudiate, spurn; discard, jettison, throw away, throw out

Antonyms
decline, refuse, reject, turn down

2 to see fit <you can wear whatever you choose to the party>

Synonyms
like, please, want, will, wish

Related Words
ache (for), covet, crave, desire, die (for), fancy, hanker (for), hunger (for), itch (for), long (for), lust (for or after), pant (after), pine (for), repine (for), sigh (for), thirst (for), yearn (for); decide, determine, resolve

3 to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration <chose to write on a controversial topic for the local newspaper> — see DECIDE 1

chooser noun
someone with the right or responsibility for making a selection <among other things, the president must be a good chooser of competent individuals, both for his cabinet and for the U.S. Supreme Court> — see SELECTOR

choosing noun
the act or process of selecting <the choosing of a new mayor is often left to a few voters, unfortunately> — see SELECTION 1

choosy or choosey adjective
1 hard to please <a choosy dog who refuses all but the fanciest food> — see FINICKY
2 tending to select carefully <a choosy man when it came to clothes for the office> — see SELECTIVE

chop noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <delivered a sharp chop to his opponent's neck> — see 1BLOW

chop verb
to cut into small pieces <chop the onions before adding them to the pot>

Synonyms
dice, hash, mince

Related Words
chip, grate, grind, kibble, mash, puree (or purée), slice; butcher, carve, dissect

chop (down) verb
to bring down by cutting <we have to chop down that tree out front before it falls on the house> — see FELL 2

chop–chop adverb
with great speed <I need this project done chop-chop> — see FAST 1

chopper noun
a vehicle for traveling through the air that obtains its lift from rotors which spin horizontally <army choppers evacuated refugees from the war zone> — see HELICOPTER

choppy adjective
1 lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <a sharp, choppy wind coming off the lake> — see FITFUL
2 marked by a series of sharp quick motions <the old cable car provides a picturesque but choppy ride to the mountain's peak> — see JERKY 1
3 not clearly or logically connected <the plot was intriguing, but the author's style was so choppy that I finally gave up in frustration> — see INCOHERENT 1

chops plural noun
1 knowledge gained by actually doing or living through something <that pianist really doesn't yet have the musical chops to do that piece justice> — see EXPERIENCE 1
2 the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal <the toddler popped a candy into his chops and grinned stickily> — see MOUTH 1

chorale noun
1 a religious song <practiced a chorale to perform in church> — see HYMN 1
2 an organized group of singers <a chorale that is regarded as being among the best in the state> — see CHORUS 1

chord noun
a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation <the story of the family's woes struck a sympathetic chord with newspaper readers> — see CHORD

chord verb
to be in agreement on every point <the revised system chords perfectly with the original goals> — see CHECK 1

chore noun
1 a piece of work that needs to be done regularly <everyone in this household is expected to do weekly chores>

Synonyms
assignment, duty, job, task

Related Words
chare (or char); endeavor, enterprise, project, stint, undertaking; care, charge, commission, responsibility; function, mission, office, operation, post; errand; circuit, round, route

2 a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work <cleaning everything out of the attic was a real chore>

Synonyms
bear, beast, headache, job, killer, labor

Related Words
drudgery, grind, heavy lifting, lucubration; effort, strain, sweat; burden, load, weight; bother, nuisance, trouble

Near Antonyms
breeze, child's play, cinch, duck soup, kid stuff, setup, snap

choreograph verb
to work out the details of (something) in advance <the advance team completely choreographed the candidate's campaign appearances> — see PLAN 1

chorography noun
the physical features of a region as a whole <a detailed map of the region's chorography> — see GEOGRAPHY

chortle noun
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <the joke provoked a sudden chortle from a bystander> — see LAUGH 1

chortle verb
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound <audiences might chortle gently during the movie's amusing bits, but there are few knee-slappers> — see LAUGH 1

chorus noun
1 an organized group of singers <the annual Christmas program presented by the church's chorus>

Synonyms
choir, chorale, consort, glee club

Related Words
ensemble; minstrelsy

2 a part of a song or hymn that is repeated every so often <the whole congregation will join in for the chorus>

Synonyms
burden, refrain

Related Words
repeat, response

chosen adjective
singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking <the chosen few who are invited to a gathering at the CEO's house at the end of the year> — see SELECT 1

chosen noun
a person or thing that is chosen <of the five sons in the family, he was his father's chosen and thus showered with attention and special gifts> — see CHOICE 2

chouse verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <an open-air bazaar where generations of unwary tourists have been choused> — see FLEECE

chow noun
1 food eaten or prepared for eating at one time <that evening's chow was pretty basic because we were in a hurry> — see MEAL
2 substances intended to be eaten <there's always at least some chow in the house> — see FOOD 1

chowderhead noun
a stupid person <instantly concluded his new son-in-law was a chowderhead> — see IDIOT

christen verb
to give a name to <christened the new baby “Ophelia”> — see NAME 1

Christian name noun
a name that is placed before one's family name <although his Christian name is ordinary, his last name is quite distinctive> — see FORENAME

Christmastide noun
the season celebrating Christmas <may everyone be filled with peace and joy, this Christmastide!> — see YULETIDE

Christmastime noun
the season celebrating Christmas <there are always lots of lights on the neighborhood's houses around Christmastime> — see YULETIDE

chromatic adjective
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <the strikingly chromatic paintings of Matisse and the other Fauvists> — see COLORFUL

chronic adjective
being such by habit and not likely to change <a chronic smoker who has quit—many, many times> — see HABITUAL 1

chronicle noun
1 a relating of events usually in the order in which they happened <a chronicle of their adventure on the river> — see ACCOUNT 1
2 an account of important events in the order in which they happened <only sketchy information about King Arthur can be found in the chronicles of ancient England> — see HISTORY 1

chronicle verb
to give an oral or written account of in some detail <the book chronicles the efforts of two climbers to scale Mount Everest> — see TELL 1

chronicler noun
a student or writer of history <chroniclers who gave often conflicting accounts of battles, depending upon which side they favored> — see HISTORIAN

chronology noun
a relating of events usually in the order in which they happened <in his chronology of their relationship, they had communication problems right from the start> — see ACCOUNT 1

chronometer noun
a device to measure time <a fancy new chronometer that is light-years more advanced than your average wristwatch> — see TIMEPIECE

chubbiness noun
the condition of having an excess of body fat <a bit of chubbiness is normal in very small children> — see CORPULENCE

chubby adjective
having an excess of body fat <the chubby baby had slimmed down by the time she was a toddler> — see FAT 1

chuck noun, chiefly West
substances intended to be eaten <after a long day, the cowboys lined up for some chuck> — see FOOD 1

chuck verb
1 to get rid of as useless or unwanted <after the power outage we reluctantly chucked everything that had been sitting in the fridge> — see DISCARD
2 to give up (a job or office) <I swear, I have half a mind to chuck this job and become a hermit!> — see QUIT 1
3 to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <chucked a wad of paper at his friend's back> — see THROW 1

chuckle noun
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <a quick chuckle at the funny comment> — see LAUGH 1

chuckle verb
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound <everyone dutifully chuckled at the professor's intended jokes> — see LAUGH 1

chucklehead noun
a stupid person <most of the summer interns strike me as chuckleheads> — see IDIOT

chuckleheaded adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <a comedy about a pair of chuckleheaded guys who always blunder into trouble> — see STUPID 1

chucklesome adjective
causing or intended to cause laughter <an inadvertently chucklesome comment sent titters through the audience> — see FUNNY 1

chuff noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <the sort of ostentatious London townhouse that some greedy chuff of a billionaire might own> — see JERK 1

chuffed adjective, British
experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight <I was feeling rather chuffed with myself, having competed in a cricket tournament with some of England's best> — see GLAD 1

chum noun
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another <college chums who go way back> — see FRIEND 1

chum verb
to come or be together as friends <they always chum around together> — see ASSOCIATE 1

chumminess noun
the state of being in a very personal or private relationship <her chumminess with the boss did not sit well with some of her coworkers> — see FAMILIARITY 1

chummy adjective
1 closely acquainted <the neighboring families know each other but are hardly chummy> — see FAMILIAR 1
2 having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <she was so chummy to me that I sensed that she had put our quarrel behind her> — see FRIENDLY 1

chump noun
one who is easily deceived or cheated <the guy trying to unload that used car must have thought that I was a chump> — see 1DUPE

chump change noun
a very small sum of money <what seems like a huge amount of money to most people is only chump change to a billionaire> — see MITE 1

chunk noun
1 a considerable amount <that new sports car must have cost a real chunk of change> — see LOT 2
2 a small uneven mass <a little chunk of dirt> — see LUMP 1

chunky adjective
1 having small pieces or lumps spread throughout <chunky peanut butter adds an interesting layer of texture when paired with jelly>

Synonyms
clumpy, curdy, lumpy, nubbly, nubby

Related Words
ropy (also ropey), thick, viscous; knobbed, knobbly, knobby, lumpish; clabbered, clotted, coagulated, congealed, curdled, gelled, thickened; broken, bumpy, coarse, irregular, jagged, knotted, knotty, pebbly

Antonyms
smooth

2 being compact and broad in build and often short in stature <a chunky little toddler> — see STOCKY
3 having or being of relatively great depth or extent from one surface to its opposite <a chunky piece of bread> — see THICK 1

chunter verb, British
to speak softly and unclearly <in Hyde Park a clearly disturbed man was chuntering about something> — see MUMBLE

church noun
1 a building for public worship and especially Christian worship <a city that is noted for its many historic churches>

Synonyms
kirk [chiefly Scottish], tabernacle, temple

Related Words
abbey, bethel, cathedral, chapel, minster, mission, oratory, sanctuary, shrine; meetinghouse; mosque, pagoda, shul, synagogue (also synagog)

2 a body of persons gathered for religious worship <spoke to the whole church at once> — see CONGREGATION 1
3 the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church <a time when few young men seem to want to join the church> — see CLERGY

churchly adjective
of or relating to a church <refused to discuss churchly matters except on Sundays> — see ECCLESIASTICAL

churl noun
1 an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country <as far as he was concerned, anyone from outside the city was a backwater churl> — see HICK
2 a mean grasping person who is usually stingy with money <don't bother asking for donations at that house—the churl who lives there believes that charity begins and ends at home> — see MISER
3 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <a churl who gets thrown out of parties with remarkable regularity> — see JERK 1

churlish adjective
having or showing crudely insensitive or impolite manners <it would be churlish for any dinner guest to express anything but gratitude for his host's generous hospitality> — see CLOWNISH

churn verb
1 to be in a state of violent rolling motion <a churning sea made getting to the island a risky undertaking> — see SEETHE 1
2 to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly <churn the cream until it turns into butter> — see STIR 1

churr noun
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion <the churr of grasshoppers in the field> — see HUM

chutzpah also chutzpa or hutzpah or hutzpa noun
shameless boldness <had the chutzpah to demand that he be treated as a special case and be given priority in settling his insurance claim> — see EFFRONTERY

Cimmerian adjective
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <a wealthy recluse who lived in Cimmerian isolation in a decaying Victorian mansion> — see GLOOMY 1

cinch noun
1 something that is easy to do <the clear instructions made setting up the audiovisual system a cinch>

Synonyms
breeze, cake, cakewalk, child's play, cream puff, duck soup, kid stuff, picnic, pushover, roses, snap

Related Words
no-brainer, nothing; sitting duck; gimme, laugher, walkaway

Phrases
piece of cake, walk in the park

Near Antonyms
brainteaser, poser, stumper, toughie (also toughy); bother, nuisance, trouble

Antonyms
bear, beast, chore, headache, horror show, killer, labor, murder, pain, sticky wicket, stinker [slang]

2 one that is certain to succeed <after that hole in one, she's a cinch to make the cut for the next round of the tournament> — see SURE THING

cinch verb
to make sure, certain, or safe <the team's latest victory cinches a trip to the play-offs> — see ENSURE

cincture noun
a strip of flexible material (as leather) worn around the waist <wrapped a cincture around the dress as a stylish accessory> — see 2BELT 1

cinema noun
1 the art or business of making a movie <felt that the cinema was one of the most challenging and fulfilling forms of artistic expression> — see MOVIE 2
2 a building or part of a building where movies are shown <got a job cleaning the cinemas at the multiplex> — see THEATER 1

cipher noun
1 the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it <remember to put the cipher after the decimal point> — see ZERO 1
2 a person of no importance or influence <it was either write the Great American Novel or be consigned to the status of a cipher in the annals of literature> — see NOBODY

cipher verb
to determine (a value) by doing the necessary mathematical operations <were surprised by how much we had spent on the cruise after we had ciphered out the grand total> — see CALCULATE 1

ciphering noun
the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value <he wasn't very good at ciphering, but he had excellent language skills> — see CALCULATION

circle noun
1 something with a perfectly round circumference <a circle of columns surrounds the memorial to the fallen heroes>

Synonyms
cirque, ring, round, roundel

Related Words
circlet, ringlet; ellipse, loop, oval; ball, globe, orb, sphere

2 a circular strip <a decorative circle of silver on the rim of the commemorative plate for their 25th wedding anniversary> — see 1RING 2
3 a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <got together with her social circle once a week> — see GANG 2
4 a series of events or actions that repeat themselves regularly and in the same order <with the birth of a child coming so soon after the death of a grandparent, we were once again reminded of the circle of life> — see CYCLE 1
5 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <that lies outside the circle of our investigation> — see FIELD 2

circle verb
1 to form a circle around <everyone circled the lectern and waited their turn to read from the Bible> — see SURROUND
2 to travel completely around <with a look of extreme frustration, the commander circled the new recruit> — see ENCIRCLE 1

circuit verb
to travel completely around <after circuiting the exterior of the church, the procession headed inside> — see ENCIRCLE 1

circuitous adjective
1 not straightforward or direct <we took a circuitous route to the airport so as to avoid the massive traffic jam on the highway> — see INDIRECT
2 using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea <a circuitous explanation for what seems like a fairly basic concept> — see WORDY 1

circular adjective
not straightforward or direct <a rather circular discussion of the problem that never addresses it directly> — see INDIRECT

circular noun
a short printed publication with no cover or with a paper cover <promptly tosses out those advertising circulars that come in the newspaper> — see PAMPHLET

circulate verb
1 to cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people <circulate the plans for the new stadium around town to get people's reaction> — see SPREAD 1
2 to make (as a piece of information) the subject of common talk without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <circulated a rumor that someone was about to be fired> — see RUMOR
3 to become known <the prince denies the story about an extramarital affair that's been circulating in the tabloids> — see GET OUT 1

circulator noun
a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others <an ugly rumor about one of our staffers was circulating, and, as usual, the chief circulator was the in-house busybody> — see GOSSIP 1

circumference noun
1 the distance around a round body <the circumference of the earth at the equator>

Synonyms
girth

Related Words
ambit, circuit, compass; waistline; equator; diameter, radius; perimeter, periphery

2 the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <a silly little affair that's of interest to no one beyond the circumference of this campus> — see BORDER 1

circumfuse verb
to surround or cover closely <circumfused in darkness, the isolated house seemed the perfect spot for a clandestine meeting> — see ENFOLD 1

circumlocution noun
1 deliberate evasion in speech <rather than answering the question directly, he resorted to circumlocution, which made her suspect that he was hiding something>

Synonyms
equivocation, shuffle, tergiversation

Related Words
quibbling; ambiguity, ambiguousness, equivocalness, murkiness, nebulousness, obscureness, obscurity, opacity

Near Antonyms
candor, directness, forthrightness, frankness, openheartedness, openness, plainness, plumpness, straightforwardness

2 the use of too many words to express an idea <your papers have to be five pages long, but that's five pages of substance, not circumlocution> — see VERBIAGE 1

circumlocutory adjective
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea <the studio's statement that “the film's earnings did not live up to expectations” was a circumlocutory admission that the movie was a flop> — see WORDY 1

circumnavigate verb
1 to travel completely around <the first ship to circumnavigate the globe> — see ENCIRCLE 1
2 to avoid by going around <we can circumnavigate the traffic jam if we take the next exit> — see DETOUR 1

circumscribe verb
1 to set bounds or an upper limit for <circumscribed his enthusiasm so as not to make the losing side feel worse> — see LIMIT 1
2 to mark the limits of <Lake Michigan circumscribes the city of Chicago on the east> — see LIMIT 2

circumscribed adjective
having distinct or certain limits <the powers of that state's governor are so sharply circumscribed that often his hands are tied by the state legislature> — see LIMITED 1

circumscription noun
1 something that limits one's freedom of action or choice <such circumscriptions on the freedom of speech are antithetical to a free and open society> — see RESTRICTION 1
2 the act or practice of keeping something (as an activity) within certain boundaries <electronic monitoring bracelets are sometimes used to impose a circumscription of movement on people awaiting trial> — see RESTRICTION 2

circumspect adjective
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble <she has a reputation for being quiet and circumspect in investigating charges of child abuse> — see CAREFUL 1

circumspection noun
a close attentiveness to avoiding danger <circumspection is always good when considering charging someone with cheating> — see CAUTION 1

circumstance noun
1 a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand <the condemned murderer seemed indifferent to his circumstance> — see FATE 1
2 something that happens <due to unexpected circumstances, the test will be postponed> — see EVENT 1
3 the uncertain course of events <I was a victim of circumstance, for nothing that I could have done would have made a difference> — see CHANCE 1

circumstantial adjective
including many small descriptive features <the circumstantial account of his surgery told us more than we really wanted to know about the stomach> — see DETAILED 1

circumvent verb
1 to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness <employees who try to circumvent the company's dress code>

Synonyms
beat, bypass, dodge, get around, shortcut, sidestep, skirt

Related Words
avoid, duck, elude, end-run, escape, eschew, evade, outflank, shake, shirk, shun; disobey, disregard, flout, ignore; avert, deflect, divert, obviate, parry, prevent, ward (off)

Near Antonyms
accede (to), acquiesce (to), assent (to); accept, court, embrace, pursue, seek, welcome; catch, contract, incur

Antonyms
comply (with), follow, keep, obey, observe

2 to avoid by going around <circumvented the traffic jam by taking an alternate route> — see DETOUR 1
3 to travel completely around <most casual joggers will be able to circumvent the reservoir without too much of a strain> — see ENCIRCLE 1

circus noun
1 a large usually roofless building for sporting events with tiers of seats for spectators <the Roman circus is believed to have held 50,000 spectators in ancient times> — see STADIUM
2 a place of uproar or confusion <with seven kids in the house, it's a circus most of the time> — see MADHOUSE 2
3 an elaborate, visually exciting show or event <the media circus that took place outside the courthouse every day of the murder trial> — see EXTRAVAGANZA

cirque noun
something with a perfectly round circumference <the harvest moon was a glowing cirque in autumn sky> — see CIRCLE 1

citable adjective
worth remembering or mentioning <she has a lot of annoying little habits but none are really citable> — see NOTEWORTHY 1

citadel noun
a structure or place from which one can resist attack <a massive stone citadel continues to command the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia> — see FORT

citation noun
1 a formal expression of praise <the citation for the Nobel Prize winner noted his major contributions to quantum theory> — see ENCOMIUM
2 a formal recognition of an achievement or praiseworthy deed <a police officer who has received several citations for his work with troubled youths in the city> — see COMMENDATION 1
3 a passage referred to, repeated, or offered as an example <in your paper be sure to include citations to back up any points you make about the play> — see QUOTATION

cite verb
1 to give as an example <cited several experts' opinions to back up her argument> — see QUOTE 1
2 to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically <cited a number of similar instances of people surviving plane crashes> — see MENTION 1

citify verb
to accustom to the ways of the city <we've become so citified that many people have no idea where their food comes from>

Synonyms
urbanize

Related Words
civilize, cultivate

citizen noun
1 a person who owes allegiance to a government and is protected by it <conscientious citizens who regard voting as a duty as well as a right>

Synonyms
freeman, national, subject

Related Words
compatriot, countryman; inhabitant, native, nonimmigrant, resident

Near Antonyms
foreigner, stranger; immigrant, nonnative

Antonyms
alien, noncitizen

2 a person who lives in a town on a permanent basis <claimed that the good citizens of the town were sick of high property taxes> — see BURGHER

city noun
a thickly settled, highly populated area <commuters who drive every day between their homes in the suburbs and their jobs in the city>

Synonyms
asphalt jungle, burg, cosmopolis, megacity, megalopolis, metropolis, municipality, town

Related Words
borough; conurbation; urban sprawl; exurb, suburb, suburbia; central city, edge city, garden city; core city, downtown, inner city, midtown

city slicker noun
a person with the outlook, experience, and manners thought to be typical of big city dwellers <with their snotty attitude, the city slickers quickly wore out their welcome> — see COSMOPOLITAN

civil adjective
1 of or relating to a nation <the country was not destroyed by outside enemies but by a series of civil wars> — see NATIONAL
2 showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners <please try to be civil to your ex-husband at the upcoming family wedding> — see POLITE 1

civility noun
1 an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners <after the usual civilities, the parents and the principal had a serious talk about the boy>

Synonyms
amenity, attention, courtesy, formality, gesture, pleasantry, politeness

Related Words
honors; ceremony, observance, rite, ritual; decorum, etiquette, form, manners, mores, proprieties; addresses, devoirs, greetings, regards, respects; favor, grace, kindliness, kindness; protocol, rules

2 speech or behavior that is a sign of good breeding <treated people from all walks of life with the same unfailing civility> — see POLITENESS 1

civilization noun
1 the way people live at a particular time and place <a documentary on the advanced civilization created by the Mayas over a thousand years ago>

Synonyms
culture, life, lifestyle, society

Related Words
customs, manners, mores, values; folklore, heritage, legacy, tradition; subculture, subsociety

2 a high level of taste and enlightenment as a result of extensive intellectual training and exposure to the arts <by the 18th century Boston had reached a level of civilization sufficiently advanced to support a circle of portrait painters> — see CULTURE 1

civilized adjective
having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living <a civilized older couple who are celebrated for holding dinner parties that are attended by the city's best and brightest> — see CULTIVATED

civil servant noun
a worker in a government agency <took the examination to become a civil servant in the defense department> — see BUREAUCRAT

clack verb
to make a series of short sharp noises <her teeth clacked because she was freezing while waiting for the bus> — see RATTLE 1

clad verb
to cover with something that protects <if the vehicles are not clad in armor, they will remain vulnerable to roadside bombs> — see SHEATHE

claim noun
1 an entitlement to something <I'm announcing my claim to that last slice of pizza>

Synonyms
call, dibs, pretense (or pretence), pretension, right

Related Words
birthright, prerogative, title; favor, privilege; refusal

Near Antonyms
disclaimer, quitclaim, release, waiver

2 a legal right to participation in the advantages, profits, and responsibility of something <a shareholder has a claim in the business> — see INTEREST 1
3 a solemn and often public declaration of the truth or existence of something <Galileo's claim that the moon has a very irregular surface and thus is not the perfect sphere that the ancients had imagined> — see PROTESTATION
4 something that someone insists upon having <young children make great claims on their parents' time> — see DEMAND 1

claim verb
1 to state as a fact usually forcefully <people who claim that they have been kidnapped by aliens from other worlds>

Synonyms
affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow, contend, declare, insist, maintain, profess, protest, purport, warrant

Related Words
announce, broadcast, proclaim; argue, rationalize, reason; confirm, justify, vindicate; defend, persevere, support, uphold; reaffirm, reassert

Phrases
put forth

Near Antonyms
abandon; disavow, disclaim, disown, negate, negative, reject, repudiate; challenge, dispute, question; confute, disprove, rebut, refute; contradict, counter

Antonyms
deny, gainsay

2 to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority <after many years had passed, he suddenly appeared to claim his inheritance> — see DEMAND 1
3 to deprive of life <cancer claims hundreds of thousands of Americans each year> — see KILL 1
4 to have as a requirement <caring for her three small children claims virtually all of her time> — see NEED 1

clairvoyance noun
the power of seeing or knowing about things that are not present to the senses <people who claim to have clairvoyance are sometimes asked to help locate missing persons>

Synonyms
extrasensory perception, second sight, sixth sense

Related Words
foreknowledge, foresight, prescience; precognition; telepathy; parapsychology

clam noun
a U.S. currency bill representing 100 cents <it must take a whole lot of clams to buy a car like that> — see DOLLAR

clamant adjective
1 engaging in or marked by loud and insistent cries especially of protest <clamant students gathered outside the college president's office, protesting the denial of tenure for the popular professor> — see VOCIFEROUS
2 needing immediate attention <faced with utter bankruptcy, she didn't think that moist skin was one of her clamant needs at that moment> — see ACUTE 2

clamber verb
to move (as up or over something) often with the help of the hands in holding or pulling <clambered over a wall and was never seen again> — see CLIMB 1

clammy adjective
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <after a clammy handshake, the two bitter rivals squared off for a no-holds-barred debate> — see COLD 2

clamor noun
1 a violent shouting <a clamor arose from the crowd as the prisoner was brought forward>

Synonyms
howl, hubbub, hue and cry, hullabaloo, noise, outcry, roar, tumult, uproar, vociferation

Related Words
clangor, din, jangle, racket; cri de coeur, outburst, protest

Near Antonyms
mumble, mumbling, murmur, murmuring, rumble, rumbling

2 loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <the clamor of a dozen people practicing the trumpet at once> — see NOISE 1

clamor (for) verb
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority <a dozen customers clamoring for service all at once> — see DEMAND 1

clamorous adjective
1 engaging in or marked by loud and insistent cries especially of protest <a clamorous objection to the play that the students have chosen to put on this year> — see VOCIFEROUS
2 full of or characterized by the presence of noise <a clamorous kindergarten classroom that would try the patience of any sane adult> — see NOISY 2
3 marked by a high volume of sound <a rock band whose clamorous concerts will rattle your bones> — see LOUD 1

clamp verb
to put securely in place or in a desired position <clamped the headphones to her ears and began to listen> — see FASTEN 2

clamp down (on) verb
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <the need to clamp down on petty crime in the city> — see QUELL 1

clam up verb
to stop talking <the little girl clammed up when the doctor came into the room> — see SHUT UP 1

clan noun
1 a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <that clan of football fans has parties every weekend on which the New England Patriots play> — see GANG 2
2 a group of persons who come from the same ancestor <the whole clan gets together only for holidays> — see FAMILY 1

clandestine adjective
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <I took a clandestine peek at the price tag on the diamond necklace> — see SECRET 1

clang noun
the loud sound made when metal strikes metal <the horseshoe hit the stake with a satisfying clang>

Synonyms
clangor, clank, clash, whang

Related Words
chime, ding-dong, knell, peal, ping, plink, ring, tintinnabulation; chink, clink, clinkety-clank, jangle, jingle, rattle, tang, tinkle, twang; clap, clip-clop, clop, crack, crash, crunch; clump, clunk, thump

clanger noun, British
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <a newsreader who memorably dropped a clanger when she referred to Robert Burns as an English poet> — see ERROR 1

clangor noun
1 loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <the clangor of pots and pans coming from the kitchen as the cooks threw together an impromptu meal> — see NOISE 1
2 the loud sound made when metal strikes metal <the clangor of a battle in the Middle Ages, as steel hit against steel a thousand times> — see CLANG

clangorous adjective
1 full of or characterized by the presence of noise <grew up in a clangorous but warmhearted household> — see NOISY 2
2 making loud, confused, and usually unharmonious sounds <the teen's clangorous efforts to learn to play the drums> — see NOISY 1
3 marked by a high volume of sound <a clangorous sheet metal factory> — see LOUD 1

clank noun
the loud sound made when metal strikes metal <the car is making a funny clank, and this can't be good> — see CLANG

clannish adjective
bound together by feelings of very close association <a clannish family that can be rather cool to outsiders> — see CLOSE-KNIT

clap noun
1 a loud explosive sound <a clap of thunder that woke the whole house up>

Synonyms
bang, blast, boom, crack, crash, pop, report, slam, smash, snap, thunderclap, thwack, whack, whomp, whump

Related Words
thunk, wham; clang, clangor, clank, clash; knock, rap, tap; blare, clamor, howl, hubbub, hue and cry, hullabaloo, outcry, roar, tumult, uproar

2 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <a sharp clap to the head of the disrespectful youth> — see 1BLOW

clap verb
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <clapped him on the back as a friendly gesture> — see HIT 1

clap (together or up) verb
to perform, make, or do without preparation <we can clap together a repair on the tire that should last until we get home> — see IMPROVISE

claptrap noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <the idea that you can get a cold from not dressing warmly is claptrap> — see NONSENSE 1

clarification noun
a statement that makes something clear <after that clarification, I find I actually agree with you> — see EXPLANATION 1

clarify verb
1 to remove usually visible impurities from <clarify the melted butter by skimming off the milky bits>

Synonyms
clear, distill (also distil), filter, fine, garble, purify

Related Words
process, rectify, refine; clean, cleanse, decontaminate, elutriate, purge, wash; extract, leach; bolt, screen, sieve, sift; disinfect, sanitize

Near Antonyms
cloud, dull, muddy; contaminate, dirty, soil; defile, pollute, taint; begrime, besmirch, foul, sully

2 to make plain or understandable <it would help if you could clarify your position for us> — see EXPLAIN 1

clarity noun
1 the state or quality of being easily seen through <mountain streams with water of incredible clarity>

Synonyms
clearness, limpidity, limpidness, lucency, translucence, translucency, transparency

Related Words
brightness, brilliance, effulgence, luminosity, luminousness; definition, resolution, sharpness; apparentness, observability, visibility

Near Antonyms
fogginess, haziness, milkiness, mistiness, murkiness

Antonyms
cloudiness, opacity, opaqueness, turbidity, turbidness

2 clearness of expression <this explanation of the greenhouse effect is a marvel of clarity> — see SIMPLICITY 2

clash noun
1 a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <a clash between rival gangs that resulted in some serious injuries> — see FIGHT 1
2 the loud sound made when metal strikes metal <the clash of cymbals> — see CLANG

clash verb
to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably <the colors of your shirt and pants clash> <a parent's idea of proper dress often clashes with a teenager's>

Synonyms
collide, conflict, disaccord, discord, jar

Related Words
battle, combat, engage, fight, war (against); chafe, gall, grate, jangle; differ, disagree, dissent

Near Antonyms
agree, assent, coincide, concur, correspond

Antonyms
accord, blend, conform (to or with), fit, harmonize, match

clash (with) verb
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict <the Iroquois often clashed with the other Native American nations in the region> — see FIGHT 1

clashing adjective
not being in agreement or harmony <freedom and equality are often a clashing set of ideals> — see INCONSISTENT 1

clasp noun
the act or manner of holding <be careful that your clasp on the cat isn't too tight, or she could get hurt> — see HOLD 1

clasp verb
1 to put one's arms around and press tightly <clasped his long-lost sister and cried without restraint> — see EMBRACE 1
2 to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms <clasped a crayon and began drawing> — see TAKE 1

class noun
1 one of the segments of society into which people are grouped <a politician who appeals to people of every class>

Synonyms
caste, estate, folk, gentry, order, stratum

Related Words
bracket, echelon, grade, layer, level, tier; place, position, rank, standing, status; food chain, grouping, hierarchy, stratification; clan, family, fraternity, people, race, tribe; subcaste

2 one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <a new class of wireless devices that could be used for Internet access as well as personal communication>

Synonyms
bracket, category, classification, division, family, genus, grade, group, kind, league, order, rank(s), rubric, set, species, tier, type

Related Words
description, feather, ilk, kidney, like, manner, nature, sort; branch, section, speciality, specialty, subclass, subdivision, subgroup, subspecies, variety; breed, race; generation; heading, label, title

3 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <only a particular class of burglar would do that> — see SORT 1
4 a series of lectures on a subject <took a class on modern art> — see COURSE 2
5 degree of excellence <only horses of great class are allowed to enter the Kentucky Derby> — see QUALITY 1
6 dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style <an old mansion with tremendous class that puts today's gaudy behemoths to shame> — see ELEGANCE
7 high position within society <the woman exudes an aura of class and breeding> — see RANK 2

class verb
to arrange or assign according to type <I would class that suggestion as helpful, so let's make a note of it> — see CLASSIFY 1

classic adjective
1 constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated <classic designs in furniture that never go out of style> — see MODEL
2 of the very best kind <one of the really classic comedies in the history of movies> — see EXCELLENT
3 serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group <the anthropologist noted the classic facial features of the inhabitants of those islands> — see CHARACTERISTIC 1
4 being the most accurate and apparently thorough <the classic study of the alienation of the individual in modern urban society> — see DEFINITIVE 1

classic noun
1 someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation <among women who have devoted themselves to a life of scientific inquiry, Marie Curie is one of the acknowledged classics> — see IDEAL 1
2 something (as a work of art) that is a great achievement and often its creator's greatest achievement <the works of Michelangelo are regarded as classics of the sculptor's art> — see MASTERPIECE
3 the most perfect type or example <his journey of discovery was a classic of arduous effort and fierce determination> — see QUINTESSENCE 1

classical adjective
1 based on customs usually handed down from a previous generation <the classical preparation of a ham for Easter> — see TRADITIONAL 1
2 being the most accurate and apparently thorough <a writer celebrated for his classical profiles of eminent Victorians> — see DEFINITIVE 1

classification noun
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <dinosaur remains that do not fit any existing classification> — see CLASS 2

classify verb
1 to arrange or assign according to type <classify the baseball cards in your collection on the basis of rarity>

Synonyms
assort, break down, categorize, class, codify, compartment, compartmentalize, digest, distinguish, distribute, grade, group, peg, place, range, rank, relegate, separate, sort, type

Related Words
array, dispose, draw up, marshal (also marshall), order, organize, systematize; alphabetize, catalog (or catalogue), file, index, list, refer; pigeonhole, shelve; identify, recognize; cull, screen, set, sieve, sift, winnow; clump, cluster, colligate; recategorize, reclassify, regroup; subcategorize

Near Antonyms
confuse, disarrange, jumble, lump, mix (up), scramble; misclassify, missort, mistype

2 to put into a particular arrangement <classify the information you got from the Internet by source> — see ORDER 1

classiness noun
dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style <the classiness of the hotel's facade is in stark contrast to the kitsch of the casinos that surround it> — see ELEGANCE

classless adjective
having or showing crudely insensitive or impolite manners <I object not so much to what he did as the classless way he did it> — see CLOWNISH

classy adjective
having or showing elegance <a classy seaside resort that reeks of old money> — see ELEGANT 1

clatter noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <the clatter of a crowded cafeteria> — see COMMOTION

clatter verb
to make a series of short sharp noises <horses' hooves clattering on the pavement> — see RATTLE 1

clattering adjective
full of or characterized by the presence of noise <a huge, clattering warehouse> — see NOISY 2

clattery adjective
full of or characterized by the presence of noise <a clattery diner serving hordes of hungry workers> — see NOISY 2

clay noun
the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others <had the feeling that the natives were of a different clay than us and that neither side would ever understand the other> — see NATURE 1

clean adjective
1 free from dirt or stain <although the soccer team always starts out with clean uniforms, they don't stay that way for long>

Synonyms
antiseptic, chaste, fair, immaculate, pristine, spick-and-span (or spic-and-span), spotless, squeaky-clean, stainless, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied

Related Words
pure, taintless, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, wholesome; cleanly, germfree, hygienic, sanitary, sterile; abluted, bleached, cleansed, purified, scrubbed, washed, whitened; milky, snowy, white; flawless, unblemished; bright, shiny, sparkling

Near Antonyms
dingy, greasy, grimy, mucky, muddy, unwashed; defiled, germy, polluted, tainted, unsterile, unsterilized; blackened, discolored

Antonyms
besmirched, dirty, filthy, foul, grubby, smirched, soiled, spotted, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleaned

2 following or according to the rules <a clean check from the other hockey player> — see FAIR 3
3 free from any trace of the coarse or indecent <only clean songs will be permitted for the performances on the last night of summer camp> — see CHASTE 1
4 trying all possibilities <police made a clean sweep of the area before the governor's arrival> — see EXHAUSTIVE 1
5 having no exceptions or restrictions <the clean joy of running that young children experience> — see ABSOLUTE 2
6 lacking contents that could or should be present <the ship returned with a clean hold> — see EMPTY 1

clean adverb
1 according to the rules or the law <a boxer who doesn't fight clean> — see FAIRLY 2
2 to a full extent or degree <the thief got clean away> — see FULLY 1

clean verb
1 to remove the dirt from <we cleaned the clothes before donating them to charity>

Synonyms
cleanse, deterge, GI, turn out

Related Words
decontaminate, purge, purify; disinfect, sanitize; brush, comb, dry-clean, dust, launder, mop, muck (out), rinse, scour, scrub, shampoo, sponge, swab, sweep, vacuum, wash, wipe; brighten, deodorize, freshen, spruce (up), sweeten; pick up, straighten (up), tidy, unclutter

Near Antonyms
begrime, muddy; defile, pollute, taint; blacken, discolor

Antonyms
besmirch, dirty, foul, soil, spot, stain, sully

2 to take the internal organs out of <cleaned the rabbit before cooking it> — see GUT

clean (up) verb
1 to make a place neat and orderly by removing extraneous stuff <you're expected to clean up after you use the workroom>

Synonyms
pick up, tidy (up)

Related Words
houseclean, housekeep; clean (off), clean (up), neaten, police (up), straighten (up), turn out, unclutter; arrange, order

Phrases
clean house, set straight

Near Antonyms
clutter, disarrange, mess (up)

2 to remove objectionable parts from <cleaned up the rock star's interview before publishing it in the newspaper> — see CENSOR
3 to destroy all traces of <hurriedly cleaned up the mess that they had created in the kitchen> — see ANNIHILATE 1

cleaner noun
a substance used for cleaning <a kitchen shelf loaded with household cleaners>

Synonyms
cleanser, detergent, soap

Related Words
disinfectant, purifier, solvent; scrub, shampoo

cleanhanded adjective
free from guilt or blame <none of us is exactly cleanhanded in this affair> — see INNOCENT 2

cleanly adverb
according to the rules or the law <it was a cleanly fought match, so you have no grounds for complaint> — see FAIRLY 2

cleanse verb
1 to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially <in an elaborate ritual the priestess cleansed the gathering of supplicants> — see PURIFY 1
2 to remove the dirt from <cleanse the wound with soap and water before applying the bandage> — see CLEAN 1

cleanser noun
a substance used for cleaning <a bathroom cleanser> — see CLEANER

cleansing noun
the act or fact of freeing from sin or moral guilt <underwent a cleansing before he could enter the temple's most sacred chamber> — see PURIFICATION

clear adjective
1 easily seen through <the clear glass walls of the aquarium's giant ocean tank>

Synonyms
crystal, crystal clear, crystalline, limpid, liquid, lucent, pellucid, see-through, transparent

Related Words
colorless, uncolored; diaphanous, lucid, semitranslucent, semitransparent, sheer, translucent, transparentized; glassy, vitreous

Near Antonyms
colored, dark, glazed, tinted; filmy, foggy, hazy, misty, nebulous, smoky (also smokey); dense, muddy, murky, turbid

Antonyms
cloudy, opaque

2 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <the meaning of her broad smile was clear to the whole class>

Synonyms
apparent, bald, bald-faced, barefaced, bright-line, broad, clear-cut, crystal clear, decided, distinct, evident, lucid, luculent, luminous, manifest, nonambiguous, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, patent, pellucid, perspicuous, plain, ringing, straightforward, transparent, unambiguous, unambivalent, unequivocal, unmistakable

Related Words
cognizable, cognoscible, comprehendible, comprehensible, digestible, fathomable, graspable, intelligible, knowable, understandable; self-evident, self-explanatory; clean-cut, simple, tidy, uncomplicated; overt, undisguised; appreciable, perceptible, recognizable, sensible, tangible; discernible (also discernable), noticeable, observable, visible; black-and-white, explicit, trenchant, well-defined; clean, decipherable, fair, legible, readable

Near Antonyms
incomprehensible, indecipherable, unfathomable, unintelligible, unknowable; impalpable, imperceptible, inappreciable, indiscernible, insensible; cloudy, gauzy, gray (also grey), hazy, imprecise, indefinite, indeterminate, misty, murky, nebulous, noncommital, sketchy, slippery, subtle, vague; illegible, undecipherable, unreadable

Antonyms
ambiguous, clouded, cryptic, dark, enigmatic (also enigmatical), equivocal, indistinct, mysterious, nonobvious, obfuscated, obscure, unapparent, unclarified, unclear, unclouded

3 having or showing a mind free from doubt <I need to be absolutely clear about what you're saying> — see CERTAIN 2
4 not stormy or cloudy <novice pilots can only fly on clear days> — see FAIR 1
5 serving to put an end to all debate or questioning <the evidence is clear: he's innocent> — see CONCLUSIVE 1
6 allowing passage without obstruction <flooding was widespread, and only some roads are clear so far> — see OPEN 1
7 free from guilt or blame <slept with a clear conscience> — see INNOCENT 2
8 giving off or reflecting much light <spermaceti candles were once highly prized for the clear flame that they produced> — see BRIGHT 1

clear verb
1 to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way <the early settlers worked hard to clear the land for crops>

Synonyms
free, open, unblock

Related Words
ease, facilitate, loosen (up), smooth, unchoke, unclog, unplug, unstop; unclutter; strip

Near Antonyms
clog, close, dam, obstruct, plug, stop; clutter (up)

Antonyms
block

2 to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers <cleared the woods of brush> — see RID
3 to give what is owed for <finally cleared the last debt> — see PAY 2
4 to remove the contents of <cleared a drawer so there would be a place to store his clothes> — see EMPTY
5 to remove usually visible impurities from <cleared the car windows> — see CLARIFY 1
6 to set free from entanglement or difficulty <cleared himself of any involvement in the matter> — see EXTRICATE
7 to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions <plows promptly cleared the roads of snow> — see OPEN 2
8 to free from a charge of wrongdoing <she had once been accused of embezzlement, but an investigation by the bank cleared her> — see EXCULPATE
9 to give official acceptance of as satisfactory <the administration cleared the plan, and building should begin shortly> — see APPROVE
10 to take away from a place or position <cleared the dishes from the table> — see REMOVE 2
11 to give information to <please clear my mind about the new arrangement regarding reimbursement for traveling expenses> — see ENLIGHTEN 1
12 to receive after charges and deductions have been made <cleared enough from that stock transaction to be able to afford a new luxury automobile> — see 2NET

clear (up) verb
to make plain or understandable <a simple explanation cleared the matter up> — see EXPLAIN 1

clearance noun
the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something <we'll need official clearance before publishing this editorial> — see PERMISSION

clear–cut adjective
1 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <a clear-cut case of plagiarism that resulted in her immediate dismissal> — see CLEAR 2
2 so clearly expressed as to leave no doubt about the meaning <clear-cut instructions that even an idiot should be able to follow> — see EXPLICIT

cleared adjective
allowing passage without obstruction <for safety reasons, there must be a cleared staircase at all times> — see OPEN 1

clear–eyed adjective
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment <shows a clear-eyed understanding of what it takes to be successful in business> — see SHREWD 1

clearheaded adjective
1 having full use of one's mind and control over one's actions <waited until she was clearheaded to make the decision> — see SANE
2 not having one's mind affected by alcohol <woke up clearheaded and alert the next morning> — see SOBER 1

clearing noun
1 a setting free from a charge of wrongdoing <the clearing of his good name became his obsession> — see ACQUITTAL
2 a small area of usually open land <deer browsing in a clearing in the woods> — see FIELD 1

clearly adverb
without any question <your grandmother clearly needs to get her finances organized before she gets into further trouble> — see INDEED 1

clearness noun
the state or quality of being easily seen through <the clearness of a diamond is one of the factors used to judge its quality> — see CLARITY 1

clear off verb, chiefly British
to leave a place often for another <told the onlookers to clear off so that the police could do their work> — see GO 2

clear out verb
1 to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart <police used tear gas to clear out the demonstrators> — see SCATTER 1
2 to get free from a dangerous or confining situation <everyone cleared out as soon as the fire alarm began sounding> — see ESCAPE 1
3 to leave a place often for another <the lunch crowd usually clears out by 2:00 p.m. at the latest> — see GO 2

clear–sighted adjective
1 having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment <a clear-sighted businessman who doesn't let sentimentality or compassion affect his decisions> — see SHREWD 1
2 having unusually keen vision <a clear-sighted person could see for almost 20 miles from the observatory> — see SHARP-EYED

clear–sightedness noun
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters <a loan officer who has the clear-sightedness to know when a business venture is a sure loser> — see ACUMEN

cleavage noun
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces <the cleavages of an egg as an embryo develops> — see SEPARATION 1

cleave verb
to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion <you should resolutely cleave to the facts in your report> — see STICK 1

cleft noun
an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure <my fishing line managed to get wedged in a cleft in the rocks> — see CRACK 1

clemency noun
kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it <the judge chose to show clemency to the truly repentant embezzler> — see MERCY 1

clement adjective
1 marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low <Hawaii is known for its delightfully clement climate>

Synonyms
balmy, equable, genial, gentle, mild, moderate, soft, temperate

Related Words
clear, cloudless, fair, rainless, sunny, sunshiny; calm, halcyon, peaceful, placid, tranquil; delightful, fine, pleasant

Near Antonyms
blustering, blustery, breezy, gusty, rough, squally, stormy, windy; misty, rainy, showery; bleak, cloudy, dismal, foggy, gloomy, gray (also grey), hazy, overcast, sunless; bitter, dirty, foul, nasty, raw

Antonyms
harsh, inclement, intemperate, severe

2 tolerant and kind in the judgment of and expectations for others <his clement application of authority was a welcome change after years of managerial heavy-handedness> — see INDULGENT 1

clench noun
the act or manner of holding <fearful that his suitcase might be stolen, he never once relaxed his clench on the handle> — see HOLD 1

clench verb
to have or keep in one's hands <clenched a tissue in his hands as he told his story of misfortune> — see HOLD 1

clepe verb, archaic
to give a name to <the brewpub, yclept Ye Olde Taverne, has been decorated in Merrie Olde England to within an inch of its life> — see NAME 1

clergy noun
the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church <when people find out she's a member of the clergy, they suddenly change their manner>

Synonyms
church, cloth, first estate, ministry, spirituality, spiritualty

Related Words
diaconate, episcopate, hierarchy, presbytery; clerkship, monkhood, priesthood

Antonyms
laity

clergyperson noun
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church <a clergyperson of your choice would be the best one to advise on this spiritual matter>

Synonyms
cleric, clerical, clerk, deacon, divine, dominie, ecclesiastic, minister, preacher, priest, reverend

Related Words
churchman, clergyman, father, Holy Joe [slang], padre; clergywoman, deaconess, priestess; abbot, archbishop, archpriest, bishop, dean, diocesan, monsignor, pope, prelate, presbyter; abbé, curate, curé, parson, pastor, rector, shepherd, vicar; chaplain, confessor, sky pilot; evangelist, missionary, missioner, missionizer, revivalist; friar, mendicant, monastic, monk, oblate, religious; high priest, high priestess

Near Antonyms
lay reader, lector

Antonyms
layman, layperson, secular

cleric noun
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church <clerics were sharply divided on the issue of whether the war was morally justified> — see CLERGYPERSON

clerical adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy <clerical duties such as providing spiritual counseling and leading Bible study classes>

Synonyms
clerkly, ministerial, pastoral, priestly, sacerdotal

Related Words
evangelical (also evangelic), missionary; apostolic, canonical, diaconal, diocesan, episcopal, papal, patriarchal, pontifical; churchly, ecclesiastic, ecclesiastical; divine, holy, religious, sacramental; conventual, mendicant, monachal, monastic; caliphal, rabbinic (or rabbinical)

Antonyms
lay, nonclerical, secular, temporal

clerical noun
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church <some of the state's most prominent clericals have spoken out against the measure> — see CLERGYPERSON

clerisy noun
intellectuals considered as a social class <a society lacking a well-established clerisy with a strong commitment to democratic ideals> — see INTELLIGENTSIA

clerk noun
1 an official whose job is to keep records <you'll need to get a copy of your birth certificate from the office of the town clerk>

Synonyms
register, registrar, scribe, secretary

Related Words
archivist, bookkeeper, recorder, reporter, transcriptionist; annalist, chronicler, documenter, historian

2 a person employed to sell goods or services especially in a store <the clerk suggested a different brand> — see SALESPERSON
3 a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church <the clerks in the rural parishes were for the most part sons of merchants> — see CLERGYPERSON

clerkly adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy <a time when the clerkly duties of a country parson might include long rides on horseback to visit the more isolated members of the flock> — see CLERICAL

clever adjective
1 showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing <an inventor who was constantly coming up with clever devices for doing everyday chores>

Synonyms
artful, creative, imaginative, ingenious, innovative, inventive

Related Words
adventurous, fresh, groundbreaking, novel, original, visionary; cleverish, gadgety, gimmicky; convenient, handy, neat, nifty, practical, useful; complex, sophisticated; adroit, deft, dexterous (also dextrous), expert, handsome, tricky; brainy, intelligent, sharp, smart

Near Antonyms
dull, pedantic, pedestrian, stodgy; assembly-line, canned, cookie-cutter, derivative, hackneyed, unoriginal; impractical, useless

Antonyms
uncreative, unimaginative

2 having or showing quickness of mind <a clever student figured out a trick to do the assignment faster> — see INTELLIGENT 1
3 skillful with the hands <the Shakers were clever artisans who created many ingenious and highly useful devices> — see DEXTEROUS 1
4 given to or marked by mature intelligent humor <a clever joke that requires a little bit of thought on the part of the listener> — see WITTY
5 having the skill and imagination to create new things <I wonder what clever person thought of the digital camera> — see CREATIVE 1

cleverness noun
1 mental skill or quickness <it takes real cleverness to find a way around the rules> — see DEXTERITY 1
2 subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something <the undeniable cleverness of the negotiator, who managed to get each side to believe that they had won> — see SKILL 1
3 the skill and imagination to create new things <Cole Porter's overall cleverness with words, including his effortless ability to rhyme and pun> — see CREATIVITY 1

cliché also cliche adjective
used or heard so often as to be dull <a cliché tale of lust and betrayal among the fabulously rich> — see STALE 1

cliché also cliche noun
an idea or expression that has been used by many people <try to write a love story without resorting to well-worn clichés> — see COMMONPLACE

clichéd adjective
used or heard so often as to be dull <a clichéd joke about sex and the elderly> — see STALE 1

click verb
1 to form a close personal relationship <we just clicked from the moment we met> — see COMMUNE
2 to turn out as planned or desired <sometimes an idea simply clicks> — see SUCCEED 1

client noun
a person who buys a product or uses a service from a business <a law firm soliciting new clients through television advertising> — see CUSTOMER 1

cliff noun
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice <the cliff rises 200 feet from the island's south shore>

Synonyms
barranca (also barranco), bluff, crag, escarpment, palisade, precipice, scar, scarp

Related Words
butte, cuesta, hogback, tor; bulwark, embankment; declivity, drop-off, pitch

cliff–hanger noun
something (as a close contest) that induces much suspense as to its outcome <finally, a Super Bowl game that turned out to be a real cliff-hanger> — see NAIL-BITER

climacteric adjective
of, relating to, or being a major turning point <as the war reached its climacteric phase, the atrocities dramatically increased, both in number and brutality> — see CLIMACTIC

climacteric noun
a point in a chain of events at which an important change (as in one's fortunes) occurs <historians attempting to pinpoint the Roman Empire's climacteric, that precise moment when it began its long downhill slide> — see TURNING POINT

climactic adjective
of, relating to, or being a major turning point <the French Revolution is usually regarded as one of the climactic events in modern European history>

Synonyms
apocalyptic (also apocalyptical), climacteric

Related Words
apical, apogean, crestal, crowning, culminating, high, highest, meridian; critical, crossover, crucial, fateful, life-and-death (also life-or-death), vital; cataclysmal (or cataclysmic), earthshaking, epochal, momentous; deciding, decisive, payoff, pivotal, watershed; go-no-go, make-or-break

Near Antonyms
anticlimactic (also anticlimactical); inconsequential, indecisive, insignificant, noncritical, trivial, unimportant

climate noun
1 a special quality or impression associated with something <a new inner-city school designed to encourage a climate of learning> — see AURA 1
2 the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded <it's hard to concentrate in this hectic climate> — see ENVIRONMENT

climax noun
1 a point in a chain of events at which an important change (as in one's fortunes) occurs <the climax of the story occurs when the hero discovers the identity of his father> — see TURNING POINT
2 the highest part or point <the climax of her career as a performer> — see HEIGHT 1

climax verb
to bring to a triumphant conclusion <organizers climaxed the county fair with a down and dirty pie-eating contest> — see CROWN

climb noun
the act or an instance of rising or climbing up <a long hard climb up the mountain> — see ASCENT 1

climb verb
1 to move (as up or over something) often with the help of the hands in holding or pulling <visitors should use caution when climbing over the wet rocks along the shore>

Synonyms
clamber, scrabble, scramble, swarm

Related Words
shimmy, shin, shinny, skin; ascend, breast [chiefly British], free-climb, get up, mount, scale, summit, surmount; claw, sprawl, struggle

2 to move or extend upward <smoke from the cabin climbing in the still mountain air> — see ASCEND
3 to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number <complaints to the cable company climbed after the changeover> — see INCREASE 2

clime noun
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded <a nonconformist who left his jerkwater hometown for the more welcoming clime of the big city> — see ENVIRONMENT

clinch verb
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute <the rain clinched the matter: we would have the party indoors>

Synonyms
decide, determine, nail, settle

Related Words
demonstrate, establish, nail (down), prove, show; affirm, assure, ensure, insure, secure; define, specify, state, stipulate; clarify, clear (up), illuminate; conclude, end, finish

Near Antonyms
confuse, muddle, muddy, unsettle

clincher noun
something (as a fact or argument) that is decisive or overwhelming <the fact that the resort had tennis courts was the clincher in our deciding to stay there>

Synonyms
capper, coup de grâce (or coup de grace), crusher, topper

Related Words
confutation, deathblow, knockout; determinant, factor

Phrases
ace in the hole

cling noun
a physical sticking to as if by glue <for certain types of materials that plastic wrap has very little cling> — see ADHESION 1

cling verb
to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion <a dozen magnets clinging to the refrigerator> — see STICK 1

cling (to) verb
1 to give steadfast support to <continued to cling to the old ideas of child rearing long after they had gone out of fashion> — see ADHERE TO 1
2 to have or keep in one's hands <clung to a pole in the subway car to keep from falling as it lurched along> — see HOLD 1

clingy adjective
tending to adhere to objects upon contact <it took forever to clean up the clingy Styrofoam pellets that had been used as packing material for the lamp> — see STICKY 1

clink noun, slang
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <I once spent a night in the clink, and it's an experience I don't want to repeat> — see JAIL

clink verb
to make a repeated sharp light ringing sound <coins clinking in his pocket as he traipsed down the street> — see JINGLE

clinker noun
1 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <a documentary that had such clinkers as a reference to Iran as an Arab nation> — see ERROR 1
2 something that has failed <all of the toy company's new offerings for the Christmas season proved to be clinkers> — see FAILURE 3

clip noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <an unexpectedly low branch dealt him a clip to the head> — see 1BLOW

clip verb
1 to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument <a mother who's sad to see her little boy's curls clipped for the first time>

Synonyms
bob, crop, cut, cut back, dock, lop (off), nip, pare, poll, prune, shave, shear, snip, trim

Related Words
skive, whittle; manicure, mow; pinch, stump; curtail, shorten

Near Antonyms
elongate, extend, lengthen

2 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <the pitch clipped the batter's helmet with enough force to knock it clean off his head> — see HIT 1

clique noun
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <that clique refuses to even talk to outsiders at their lunch table> — see GANG 2

cliquey adjective
bound together by feelings of very close association <found the people at the brokerage house to be just as cliquey as a gaggle of high school cheerleaders> — see CLOSE-KNIT

cliquish adjective
bound together by feelings of very close association <the cliquish White House press corps soon let him know that he was not on the A-list> — see CLOSE-KNIT

cloak noun
1 something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <the cloak of mystery that surrounds the royal family>

Synonyms
blanket, cope, cover, covering, coverture, cover-up, curtain, hood, mantle, mask, pall, penumbra, robe, shroud, veil, wraps

Related Words
blind, concealer, screen, shield; fig leaf, Potemkin village, Trojan horse; camouflage, disguise, facade (also façade), face, mask, veneer; gloss, varnish

2 a sleeveless garment worn so as to hang over the shoulders, arms, and back <threw a cloak around his shoulders> — see 1CAPE

cloak verb
1 to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity <the outlaw nation had cloaked its chemical weapons plant as a fertilizer factory> — see DISGUISE 1
2 to keep secret or shut off from view <cloaked their military maneuvers from the outside world> — see 1HIDE 2

cloakroom noun, British
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <the lady discreetly whispered that she would be ready after a moment in the cloakroom> — see TOILET

clobber noun, British slang
covering for the human body <still wearing the same clobber he wore as an undergrad at Cambridge> — see CLOTHING

clobber verb
1 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <he clobbered the ball, sending it in a high arc toward the back wall> — see HIT 1
2 to defeat by a large margin <they clobbered the opposing team> — see WHIP 2

clock noun
a device to measure time <the clock reads 5:00 p.m.> — see TIMEPIECE

clock verb
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <sick of being insulted, he swung around and clocked his tormentor hard enough to knock him off his bar stool> — see HIT 1

clock (up) verb, chiefly British
to obtain (as a goal) through effort <among British actors he holds the distinction of having clocked up the most performances of Hamlet on the London stage> — see ACHIEVE 1

clod noun
1 a big clumsy often slow-witted person <despite his imposing size, he's no simple clod> — see OAF 1
2 a small uneven mass <a clod of dirt stuck to the bottom of the bucket> — see LUMP 1
3 the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow <faced with the task of burying his beloved wife in the cold, hard clod of the frontier> — see DIRT 1

cloddish adjective
having or showing crudely insensitive or impolite manners <the cloddish behavior of the frat boys at the party> — see CLOWNISH

clodhopper noun
1 an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country <a stereotypical depiction of clodhoppers visiting the city for the first time> — see HICK
2 a big clumsy often slow-witted person <I do not want that clodhopper handling my rare antiques!> — see OAF 1

clodpoll or clodpole noun
a stupid person <mistook the local farmers for a bunch of clodpolls who could be easily fleeced> — see IDIOT

clog noun
something that makes movement or progress difficult <she's not one to let moral principle be a clog upon her conscience> — see ENCUMBRANCE

clog verb
1 to prevent passage through by filling with something <the discovery that a ton of hair was clogging the drain in the tub>

Synonyms
block, choke, clot, congest, dam, gum (up), jam, obstruct, occlude, plug (up), stop (up), stuff

Related Words
bung, cork, spile, stopper, stopple; fill, gridlock, pack; fur, silt; flood, glut, inundate, overwhelm, swamp

Near Antonyms
excavate, hollow (out), scoop (out); empty, lighten

Antonyms
clear, free, open (up), unblock, unclog, unplug, unstop

2 to create difficulty for the work or activity of <a court system clogged by frivolous suits> — see HAMPER

cloister noun
a residence for men under religious vows <monks living in a cloister in the country> — see MONASTERY

cloistered adjective
screened or sequestered from view <behind the stately townhouses lie cloistered gardens that the public never sees> — see SECLUDED

clone noun
1 something that is made to look exactly like something else <the car is a clone under a different brand name—it's even manufactured in the same plant as its cousin> — see COPY
2 something or someone that strongly resembles another <the new television series is a clone of half a dozen police procedurals already on the air> — see IMAGE 1

clone verb
to make an exact likeness of <will clone the designer outfit for the ready-to-wear market> — see COPY 1

1close noun
an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls) <a garden in a close at the center of the complex> — see COURT 2

2close noun
1 the stopping of a process or activity <at the close of the evening> — see END 1
2 the last part of a process or action <managed to conduct the negotiations to a satisfactory close> — see FINALE

close adjective
1 having little space between items or parts <the soldiers marched in close formation against the enemy>

Synonyms
compact, crowded, dense, jam-packed, packed, serried, thick, tight

Related Words
crammed, jammed, overcrowded; crushed, massed, pressed, squeezed, wall-to-wall; airtight, snug; compacted, compressed, condensed, congested; firm, hard, solid; impenetrable, impermeable, impervious

Near Antonyms
commodious, roomy, spacious

Antonyms
airy, loose, open, uncrowded

2 not being distant in time, space, or significance <my birthday is close to Christmas> <a shopping mall that is very close to the highway> <these words are close synonyms>

Synonyms
close-up, immediate, near, nearby, neighboring, next-door, nigh, proximate

Related Words
abutting, adjacent, adjoining, bordering, contiguous; approaching, coming, forthcoming, oncoming, upcoming; accessible, convenient, handy; close-in, hand-to-hand

Phrases
at hand, to hand

Near Antonyms
divorced, removed, separated

Antonyms
away, deep, distant, far, faraway, far-off, remote

3 showing little difference in the standing of the competitors <the election results were so close that the votes had to be recounted>

Synonyms
down-to-the-wire, hairbreadth, narrow, neck and neck, nip and tuck, tight

Related Words
crowded

4 closely acquainted <a small wedding ceremony that was limited to close friends> — see FAMILIAR 1
5 given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge <she was as close as a stone when it came to talking about her love life> — see SECRETIVE
6 giving or sharing as little as possible <the kind of folks who are very close when charity calls> — see STINGY 1
7 lacking fresh air <a small room with an uncomfortably close atmosphere> — see STUFFY 1
8 meeting the highest standard of accuracy <a close analysis of the box-office performance of action movies> — see PRECISE 1

close adverb
at, within, or to a short distance or time <the stranded passengers drew close for reassurance> — see NEAR 1

close verb
1 to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening <be sure to close the gate when you leave>

Synonyms
make [chiefly dialect], shut, steek [chiefly Scottish]

Related Words
bar, batten (down), bolt, chain, fasten, latch, lock; plug, seal, stopper; secure; bang, clap, slam

Near Antonyms
unbar, unbolt, unchain, unfasten, unlatch, unlock, unseal

Antonyms
open

2 to stop the operations of <the merchant will close the store if business doesn't improve>

Synonyms
close (down), close out, shut

Related Words
phase out, turn off; extinguish, quell, suppress; gag, muzzle, silence; fail, fold

Near Antonyms
build, expand

Antonyms
open, start

3 to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point <we'll close the assembly with the singing of our national anthem>

Synonyms
close out, complete, conclude, end, finish, round (off or out), terminate, wind up, wrap up

Related Words
climax, crown; consummate, perfect; halt, stop, suspend

Phrases
put paid to [chiefly British], ring down the curtain (on)

Antonyms
begin, commence, inaugurate, open, start

4 to come to an end <the services closed with a short prayer> — see CEASE 1
5 to come near or nearer <the two groups closed with each other from opposite sides of the field> — see APPROACH 1

close (down) verb
to stop the operations of <the coal mine was closed down in the 1930s> — see CLOSE 2

close (off) verb
to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point <museum officials closed off the west wing after the fire>

Synonyms
bar, barricade, blockade, block (off), guard, wall (off)

Related Words
curtain (off), screen (off); dike, fence, gate, hedge; bolt, lock; obstruct

Near Antonyms
reopen, unblock, unbolt

Antonyms
open, unbar

close call noun
a barely successful escape from something undesirable <the doctor said I'd had a close call, and was lucky to be alive>

Synonyms
close shave, near miss

Related Words
squeaker

Phrases
hairbreadth escape, narrow escape, near escape

Near Antonyms
misfire

closed book noun
something hard to understand or explain <the couple's unorthodox marriage is definitely a closed book to those outside of the relationship> — see MYSTERY

closedown noun
the stopping of a process or activity <ordered a closedown of operations until the cause of the mine explosion could be determined> — see END 1

closefisted adjective
giving or sharing as little as possible <closefisted administrators objecting to legitimate office expenses> — see STINGY 1

close in verb
1 to come near or nearer <the eagle closed in on its prey> — see APPROACH 1
2 to grow dark <with evening closing in we knew we had to find shelter fairly soon> — see DARKEN 2

close–knit adjective
bound together by feelings of very close association <a close-knit family that constantly keeps in touch>

Synonyms
clannish, cliquey, cliquish

Related Words
bosom, chummy, close, familiar, friendly, inseparable, intimate, pack [chiefly Scottish], pally, palsy, palsy-walsy [slang], thick, tight; exclusive, snobbish, snobby; incestuous; forbidding, inhospitable, unfriendly

Near Antonyms
receptive, welcoming

closely adverb
to a close degree <closely resembling a normal outfit> — see NEAR 2

closemouthed adjective
1 given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge <he remained closemouthed about their activities> — see SECRETIVE
2 tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination) <encourage the closemouthed children to speak up and not be shy> — see SILENT 2

closeness noun
1 the practice or habit of keeping secrets or keeping one's affairs secret <we tried to penetrate her strange closeness about her domestic life> — see SECRECY
2 the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money <rebelled against his parents' closeness with his allowance> — see PARSIMONY 1
3 the quality or state of being very accurate <the body was too decomposed to estimate the time of death with any great closeness> — see PRECISION
4 the state of being in a very personal or private relationship <the closeness of their relationship was a matter of intense speculation among their coworkers> — see FAMILIARITY 1
5 the state or condition of being near <we were surprised by the closeness of everything to our downtown loft> — see PROXIMITY
6 strict attentiveness to what one is doing <how much you get out of the sermon will depend on the closeness with which you listen to it> — see CARE 1

close out verb
1 to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point <the team closed out the season with major losses> — see CLOSE 3
2 to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of <don't assume an attitude that closes out any possibility of a compromise> — see EXCLUDE
3 to stop the operations of <failing health forced the cardiologist to close out his practice> — see CLOSE 2

closer adjective
being the less far of two <the closer gas station was also more expensive> — see NEAR 1

close shave noun
a barely successful escape from something undesirable <the passengers in the jeep had a close shave when a mine exploded just a few yards away> — see CLOSE CALL

closet noun
1 a built-in space for storage behind a door <a broom closet for the vacuum, carpet sweeper, ironing board, etc.>

Synonyms
cuddy, cupboard, pantry, press

Related Words
ambry [chiefly British dialect], buttery [chiefly dialect], larder, spence [chiefly British dialect]; cloakroom, coatroom, garderobe, vestiary, wardrobe

2 an area within a building that has been set apart from surrounding space by a wall <a huge walk-in closet> — see ROOM 2
3 a storage case typically having doors and shelves <a china closet in the Hepplewhite style> — see CABINET

closet verb
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <he closeted himself in his study, vowing not to emerge until he had finished the term paper> — see ENCLOSE 1

close–up adjective
not being distant in time, space, or significance <come over here and get a close-up view of the painting> — see CLOSE 2

closing adjective
following all others of the same kind in order or time <the orchestra's closing piece is traditionally the national anthem> — see LAST 1

closing noun
the last part of a process or action <a stand-up comedian has to have a strong closing if he wants a spirited round of applause> — see FINALE

closure noun
the stopping of a process or activity <after the closure of the region's last copper mine, the population simply withered away> — see END 1

clot noun
1 a number of things considered as a unit <a clot of daisies occupied one corner of the flower bed> — see GROUP 1
2 a small uneven mass <clots of dirt that were flung up by the horses' hooves> — see LUMP 1
3 British a stupid person <was of the opinion that most of the people running for parliament were clots> — see IDIOT

clot verb
1 to prevent passage through by filling with something <phone lines clotted by Internet traffic> — see CLOG 1
2 to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly <scabs form over cuts when your blood starts to clot> — see COAGULATE

cloth noun
1 a woven or knitted material (as of cotton or nylon) <cotton canvas was the cloth traditionally used for a ship's sails>

Synonyms
fabric, textile

Related Words
fiber, thread, yarn; rag

2 the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church <he's a member of the cloth, but that doesn't keep him from enjoying a stiff drink every now and then> — see CLERGY

clothe verb
1 to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <they liked to clothe the twins in identical outfits just to confuse people>

Synonyms
apparel, array, attire, bedeck, caparison, costume, deck (out), do up, dress, dress up, enrobe, garb, garment, get up, gown, habit, invest, rig (out), robe, suit, tog (up or out), toilet, vesture

Related Words
cloak, frock, jacket, mantle, vest; drape, enswathe, hap [dialect], huddle, swaddle, swathe, wrap; accoutre (or accouter), bedight [archaic], equip, furnish, habilitate, outfit, tailor, uniform; dress down, underdress

Near Antonyms
denude, divest, uncover, undrape, unveil

Antonyms
disarray, disrobe, strip, unclothe, undress, untruss [archaic]

2 to convey in appropriate or telling terms <regulations clothed in obscure terminology> — see PHRASE

clothes plural noun
covering for the human body <put on your warmest clothes—it's freezing outside> — see CLOTHING

clothing noun
covering for the human body <a store that sells both men's and women's clothing>

Synonyms
apparel, attire, clobber [British slang], clothes, costumery, dress, duds, garments, gear, habiliment(s), habit [archaic], rags, raiment, rig, rigging, threads, toggery, togs, vestiary, vestments, vesture, wear, wearables, weeds

Related Words
garderobe, wardrobe; array, bravery, caparison, finery, gaiety (also gayety), glad rags, pretties, regalia, trim; foofaraw, frippery, gaudery, tawdry, trumpery [archaic]; tatters; costume, ensemble, frock, garb, getup, guise, livery, outfit; civvies (also civies), mufti; couture, prêt-à-porter (or pret-a-porter), ready-to-wear, tailoring; activewear, loungewear, outerwear, playwear, sportswear; nightclothes, sleepwear, smallclothes, underclothes, underwear; haberdashery, menswear

cloud noun
an overspreading element that produces an atmosphere of gloom <all day we were under a cloud until we heard the good news>

Synonyms
darkness, pall, shadow

Related Words
fog, haze, mist, murk, penumbra, umbra; midnight, night; mantle, shroud, veil

cloud verb
1 to make dark, dim, or indistinct <the diner's dark interior, clouded with smoke and grease>

Synonyms
becloud, bedim, befog, blacken, blear, blur, darken, dim, dislimn, fog, fuzz (up), haze, mist, obscure, overcast, overcloud, overshadow, shadow, shroud

Related Words
adumbrate, blot out, conceal, eclipse, hide, obliterate, screen, shade; camouflage, cloak, cover, curtain, disguise, mask, veil

Near Antonyms
expose, reveal, uncover, unveil

Antonyms
brighten, illuminate, illumine, light (up), lighten

2 to make (something) unclear to the understanding <cloud the issue with obscure statistics> — see CONFUSE 2

cloudburst noun
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity <the weatherman warned of possible cloudbursts in the afternoon> — see RAIN 1

clouded adjective
1 covered over by clouds <clouded skies did not diminish our fun> — see OVERCAST
2 filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension <with only a clouded view of the valley before, we canceled the hang gliding> — see HAZY 1

cloudless adjective
not stormy or cloudy <playing in the park on a cloudless summer day> — see FAIR 1

cloud nine noun
a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <I've been on cloud nine ever since I landed my dream job> — see ECSTASY

cloudy adjective
1 having visible particles in liquid suspension <the water coming out of the faucet was unusually cloudy>

Synonyms
muddy, riley, roiled, turbid

Related Words
dingy, filmy, hazy, scummy, unfiltered; inky, muddied, muddled, murky, puddled, sludgy; opaque

Near Antonyms
clarified, filtered, purified; colorless, transparent, uncolored

Antonyms
clear, crystal clear, crystalline

2 covered over by clouds <the skies grew cloudy and we headed home> — see OVERCAST
3 filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension <the room grew cloudy with smoke from the fire> — see HAZY 1
4 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <after his third failed marriage, he seemed destined to live the rest of his life in a permanently cloudy mood> — see GLOOMY 1

clout noun
1 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <gave the stubborn handle a solid clout to make it turn> — see 1BLOW
2 the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly <has a great deal of clout in the film industry> — see INFLUENCE 1

clout verb
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <clouted the nail with the hammer and drove it all the way into the wood> — see HIT 1

clown noun
1 a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior <a clown wearing big floppy shoes and a red wig>

Synonyms
buffo, buffoon, harlequin, zany

Related Words
cutup, madcap; antic [archaic], fool, gracioso, jester, motley, scaramouch (or scaramouche); mime, mimic, mummer, pantaloon; comedian, comedienne, comic, droll, farceur, funnyman, gagger, gagman, gagster, humorist, joker, jokester, merry-andrew, second banana, stand-up, top banana, wag, wit

2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <you should stay away from that clown> — see JERK 1

clown (around) verb
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior <as a youngster he was always clowning around in the classroom> — see CUT UP

clownery noun
wildly playful or mischievous behavior <it was clownery like that that resulted in an expensive vase being broken> — see HORSEPLAY

clowning noun
wildly playful or mischievous behavior <our coworker's clowning was distracting, but fun to watch> — see HORSEPLAY

clownish adjective
having or showing crudely insensitive or impolite manners <the clownish antics of some of the teenagers at the wedding reception>

Synonyms
boorish, churlish, classless, cloddish, loutish, uncouth

Related Words
coarse, ill-bred, uncultivated, unpolished, unrefined, unsophisticated; tasteless, vulgar; beastly, bestial; doltish, oafish, stupid; discourteous, impolite, mannerless, misleared [chiefly Scottish], rude, uncivil, ungracious, unmannerly; awkward, ungainly

Near Antonyms
couth, cultivated, polished, refined, sophisticated, well-bred; classy, courtly, genteel, gentlemanly, ladylike; civil, courteous, polite

cloying adjective
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <the cloying sentiments of so many Mother's Day cards> — see CORNY 1

club noun
1 a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <hit the prisoner with a club if he tries anything funny>

Synonyms
bastinado (or bastinade), bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, cane, cudgel, nightstick, rod, rung [Scottish], sap, shillelagh (also shillalah), staff, truncheon, waddy [Australian]

Related Words
blackjack, knobkerrie, mace; birch, crabstick, hickory, rattan, stave, switch; beetle, gavel, hammer, mallet, maul, sledgehammer; crook, crosier (or crozier), walking stick, whangee

2 the meeting place of an organization <the Elks gather at their club every Monday evening>

Synonyms
clubhouse, lodge

Related Words
den, hangout, haunt, hideaway, hideout, lair; camp, headquarters; conventicle, hall, house, meetinghouse

3 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <an alumni club> — see ASSOCIATION 2
4 a bar or restaurant offering special nighttime entertainment (as music, dancing, or comedy acts) <a weekly newspaper column devoted to current happenings on the local club scene> — see NIGHTCLUB

club verb
1 to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members <clubbed together to share their love of model rockets> — see ALLY
2 to strike repeatedly <frustrated, the gardener clubbed the inoffensive weed into submission> — see BEAT 1

clubbable also clubable adjective
likely to seek or enjoy the company of others <a frequenter of coffeehouses, Samuel Johnson has been called the most clubbable man in English literature> — see CONVIVIAL

clubby adjective
likely to seek or enjoy the company of others <new in town, she was hoping some of her clubbier coworkers might show her the city's hot spots> — see CONVIVIAL

clubhouse noun
the meeting place of an organization <we plan to meet at the clubhouse each week> — see CLUB 2

cluck noun
a stupid person <stuck with a bunch of clucks on an extended bus tour> — see IDIOT

clue noun
a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation) <vainly searched for a clue to the answer> — see HINT 1

clue (in) verb
to give information to <would you clue him in on the plan?> — see ENLIGHTEN 1

clueless adjective
not informed about or aware of something <television producers who seem utterly clueless about the concerns and interests of today's teenagers> — see IGNORANT 2

cluelessness noun
the state of being unaware or uninformed <the utter cluelessness of the parents astounded the police who raided the underage drinking party> — see IGNORANCE 1

clump noun
1 a number of things considered as a unit <scattered clumps of houses were visible from the air> — see GROUP 1
2 a small uneven mass <a clump of dirt> — see LUMP 1

clump verb
to move heavily or clumsily <a child clumping around the house in her father's oversized boots> — see LUMBER 1

clumpy adjective
having small pieces or lumps spread throughout <the soil was a little too clumpy to make for a good garden> — see CHUNKY 1

clumsy adjective
1 lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands <diamond cutting is no job for a clumsy person>

Synonyms
awkward, butterfingered, cack-handed [British], graceless, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, left-handed, maladroit, unhandy

Related Words
uncoordinated; bunglesome, bungling, gauche, inept, inexpert, unskilled, unskillful

Phrases
all thumbs

Near Antonyms
expert, masterly, skilled, skillful; coordinated

Antonyms
deft, dexterous (also dextrous), handy, sure-handed

2 having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner <a clumsy bow> <clumsy on the dance floor>

Synonyms
awkward, gawkish, gawky, graceless, klutzy, uncoordinated, ungainly

Related Words
galumphing, larruping [dialect], lubberly, lumbering, lumpish, shambling, shuffling, unsteady, wobbly (also wabbly)

Near Antonyms
light, light-footed (also light-foot), lissome (also lissom), lithe, nimble, sure-footed

Antonyms
coordinated, graceful

3 lacking social grace and assurance <felt clumsy in the unfamiliar uniform> — see AWKWARD 1
4 showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) <a clumsy joke> — see AWKWARD 2
5 difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design <a clumsy contraption, but it got the job done> — see CUMBERSOME
6 hastily or roughly constructed <a clumsy mock-up of the real thing> — see RUDE 1

clunk noun
a stupid person <don't be such a clunk and just get on with it> — see IDIOT

clunker noun
1 a dilapidated old automobile <she drove a clunker because she couldn't afford anything better> — see BEATER 1
2 something that has failed <a real clunker, the movie was soon littering the shelves of video stores everywhere> — see FAILURE 3

clunky adjective
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design <even my five-year-old laptop seems clunky next to some of the really slim new models> — see CUMBERSOME

cluster noun
1 a number of things considered as a unit <a cluster of stars in the southern sky> — see GROUP 1
2 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <a small cluster of reporters waited by the courthouse door> — see GROUP 2

cluster verb
1 to come together into one body or place <the mice clustered together into a small burrow> — see ASSEMBLE 1
2 to gather into a closely packed group <all the cottages are clustered on one end of the lake> — see 2PRESS 3

1clutch noun
1 a number of things considered as a unit <a clutch of medals adorned the general's chest> — see GROUP 1
2 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <a clutch of people traveling together> — see GROUP 2

2clutch noun
1 a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <a football quarterback who always comes through in the clutch> — see EMERGENCY
2 the right or means to command or control others <a nation no longer living in the clutch of a cruel tyrant> — see POWER 1

clutch verb
to have or keep in one's hands <he clutched the eggs carefully so he wouldn't drop them> — see HOLD 1

clutter noun
1 an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <a scrapbook that was a clutter of snapshots, diary entries, letters, and newspaper clippings> — see MISCELLANY 1
2 chiefly dialect a state of noisy, confused activity <the clutter created by the exhibitors setting up for the annual state fair> — see COMMOTION

cluttered adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <keeping a cluttered workshop makes it hard to find the right tool> — see MESSY

coach noun
a person who trains performers or athletes <a coach who is highly respected by all of the baseball players>

Synonyms
trainer

Related Words
handler, manager; instructor, teacher, tutor; driller, drillmaster; adviser (also advisor), cicerone, counselor (or counsellor), guide, mentor

coach verb
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed <carefully coached her through the home-buying process> — see GUIDE 1

coadjutor noun
a person who helps a more skilled person <he was appointed coadjutor to the president> — see HELPER

coagulate verb
to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly <the blood coagulated, and a scab formed on the wound>

Synonyms
clot, congeal, gel, gelate, gelatinize, jell, jelly, set

Related Words
cake, concrete, firm (up), fix, freeze, harden, indurate, solidify, stiffen; condense, thicken; clump, curd, curdle, gum, lump (up)

Near Antonyms
deliquesce, flux, fuse, liquefy (also liquify), melt, thaw

coalesce verb
1 to come together to form a single unit <several small townships have coalesced into a single metropolis> — see UNITE 1
2 to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members <the historic preservation movement gained momentum when the two groups coalesced> — see ALLY

coalition noun
1 a group of people acting together within a larger group <rival coalitions struggling for control of the party> — see FACTION
2 an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection <preservationists formed a coalition with the theater owners to preserve these historic structures> — see CONFEDERACY

coarse adjective
1 made up of large particles <coarse rock salt was sprinkled on the icy walkway>

Synonyms
grained, grainy, granular, granulated

Related Words
unfiltered, unrefined; earthy, gravelly, gritty, sandy; pebbly, rocky, stony (also stoney); coarse-grained, cracked, kibbled, lumpy, mealy

Near Antonyms
buttery, smooth, velvety; filtered, levigated, refined; close-grained, comminuted, ground, micronized, milled, mulled, pestled, pulverized, reduced, triturated

Antonyms
dusty, fine, floury, powdery, superfine, ultrafine

2 lacking in refinement or good taste <the hockey player's coarse manners turned his date off completely>

Synonyms
common, crass, crude, gross, ill-bred, illiberal [archaic], incult, insensible, low, lowbred, lowbrow, raffish, rough, rough-hewn, roughneck, rude, rugged, tasteless, uncouth, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar

Related Words
boorish, churlish, cloddish, clownish, loutish, ungentlemanly; clumsy, lubberly, lumpish, oafish; inconsiderate, indelicate, insensitive, thoughtless; countrified (also countryfied), provincial, rustic (also rustical), unsophisticated; graceless, inelegant, tacky; animallike, barbaric, barbarous, uncivilized; mannerless, unmannered, unmannerly

Near Antonyms
aristocratic, courtly, patrician; elegant, graceful, restrained; considerate, gracious, sensitive, thoughtful; citified, sophisticated, urbane

Antonyms
civilized, cultivated, cultured, genteel, polished, refined, smooth, tasteful, ultrarefined, well-bred

3 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <offended by the coarse humor at the celebrity roast> — see OBSCENE 1
4 harsh and dry in sound <a coarse laugh> — see HOARSE
5 not having a level or smooth surface <the coarse surface of the sandpaper> — see UNEVEN 1
6 of low quality <coarse imitations of quality merchandise> — see CHEAP 2

coarseness noun
1 the quality or state of being obscene <the coarseness of the movie's humor makes it unsuitable for children> — see OBSCENITY 1
2 the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste <there was a coarseness about her that really bothered her boyfriend's well-bred friends> — see VULGARITY 1

coast verb
to move or proceed smoothly and readily <coasting along easily in the light traffic> — see FLOW 2

coastal adjective
of, relating to, or situated in the waters near the shore <in the summer, coastal traffic is significantly increased by pods of weekend yachtsmen> — see INSHORE

coat noun
the hairy covering of a mammal especially when fine, soft, and thick <a poodle's coat is often extremely curly> — see FUR 1

coat verb
to form a layer over <thicken the sauce until it will coat the back of a spoon> — see COVER 2

coax verb
to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery <trying to coax their father into taking them on a ski trip, the teens mentioned what a great skier he is>

Synonyms
blandish, blarney, cajole, palaver, soft-soap, sweet-talk, wheedle

Related Words
adulate, flatter, overpraise; butter up, charm, massage, woo; beg, beseech, importune, urge; beguile, cozen, finagle, juggle, wangle, wile; entice, lure, seduce, tempt

Near Antonyms
bug, harass, nag, pester, tease; browbeat, bulldoze, bully, cow, intimidate; coerce, compel, constrain, demand, force, make, oblige, require

cobble (together or up) verb
to make or assemble roughly or hastily <the stranded hikers cobbled together a rickety shelter for the night>

Synonyms
jury-rig, patch (together), throw up

Related Words
dash (off); jerry-build

Phrases
knock together, throw together

Near Antonyms
craft, handcraft; fashion, forge, hammer out, pound (out)

cobwebby adjective
1 being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance <wore a gown of cobwebby georgette> — see FLIMSY 1
2 used or heard so often as to be dull <cobwebby bits of cracker-barrel philosophy that were stale even 200 years ago> — see STALE 1
3 very thin and easy to see through <a cobwebby crocheted doily> — see SHEER 1

1cock noun
a fixture for controlling the flow of a liquid <an automobile radiator cock> — see FAUCET

2cock noun
a quantity of things thrown or stacked on one another <a cock of hay> — see 1PILE 1

3cock noun
the act of positioning or an instance of being positioned at an angle <a slight cock of his head suggested that he was listening in on our conversation> — see TILT

cock verb
to set or cause to be at an angle <cocked his head to the side as he listened to her quizzically> — see LEAN 1

cock–a–hoop adjective
1 having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph <the district attorney's office was positively cock-a-hoop upon obtaining a conviction in the case against the mobster> — see EXULTANT
2 inclined or twisted to one side <topped with 50 burning candles all cock-a-hoop and dripping wax, the birthday cake made its dramatic appearance> — see AWRY

Cockaigne noun
an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <many gourmets still regard Paris as a culinary Cockaigne> — see PARADISE 1

cockalorum noun
1 boastful speech or writing <a boxer who was as famous for his prefight cockalorum as for his knockouts in the ring> — see BOMBAST 1
2 someone who boasts <Muhammad Ali's reputation as boxing's most colorful cockalorum> — see BRAGGART

cockamamy or cockamamie adjective
so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter <a cockamamy plan that could only have been dreamt up by a cartoonish mad scientist> — see RIDICULOUS 1

cockcrow noun
the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance <by cockcrow the mysterious stranger had vanished> — see DAWN 1

cocker verb
to treat with great or excessive care <overjoyed to be parents at last, they will likely cocker that child shamelessly> — see BABY

cockeyed adjective
1 inclined or twisted to one side <rakishly wears his hat a little cockeyed> — see AWRY
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a cockeyed scheme to build a shopping mall in the middle of nowhere> — see FOOLISH 1
3 being under the influence of alcohol <don't trust a thing that Wilson tells you when he's cockeyed> — see DRUNK

cockloft noun
a room or unfinished space directly beneath the roof of a building <the ski chalet features additional sleeping quarters in its cockloft, which is accessible through a pull-down ladder> — see ATTIC

cocksure adjective
1 displaying or marked by rude boldness <his cocksure assertion that he could bed any woman of his choice> — see NERVY 1
2 having or showing a mind free from doubt <you're always so cocksure about everything> — see CERTAIN 2

cocksureness noun
a state of mind in which one is free from doubt <the cocksureness with which he presented his investment scheme convinced others to jump in> — see CONFIDENCE 2

cocktail noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <an autopsy found a lethal cocktail of banned substances in the actor's body> — see BLEND

cocky adjective
displaying or marked by rude boldness <a cocky young actor who thought that he was God's gift to the theater> — see NERVY 1

cocoon noun
1 something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <he retired to the cocoon of his study whenever he'd had enough of the company> — see 1CASE 1
2 something that serves as a protective barrier <as the TV had been packed in a cocoon of Styrofoam, it arrived in one piece> — see CUSHION

cocoon verb
to surround or cover closely <cocooned in puffy down parkas, we braved the bitter cold as best we could> — see ENFOLD 1

cocotte noun
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money <in the new play, she takes on the somewhat racy role of a cocotte in fin de siècle Paris> — see PROSTITUTE

coddle verb
1 to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam <a hearty, traditional breakfast that included coddled eggs> — see BOIL 2
2 to treat with great or excessive care <accused the judiciary of coddling criminals> — see BABY

code noun
a collection or system of rules of conduct <Hammurabi was an ancient king of Babylon with a famous code of laws> <the tax code>

Synonyms
canon, constitution, decalogue, law

Related Words
discipline, establishment; common law, legislation

codger noun
a person of odd or whimsical habits <just an old codger who never harmed anyone> — see ECCENTRIC

codicil noun
a part added at the end of a book or periodical <a codicil to the treaty was necessary to clarify certain provisos that had proved to be ambiguous> — see ADDENDUM 1

codify verb
1 to arrange or assign according to type <codify these ancient cultures according to their political structures> — see CLASSIFY 1
2 to put into a particular arrangement <the rules for the game were codified over a hundred years ago> — see ORDER 1

codswallop noun, British
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <a trendy London restaurant serving bizarre concoctions that anyone with a brain and a stomach would dismiss as codswallop> — see NONSENSE 1

coequal adjective
resembling another in every respect <in my mind illegally downloading a music file is coequal to stealing a CD from a store> — see SAME 1

coequal noun
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value <viewing himself as the coequal of the Caesars of ancient Rome, Napoléon surrounded himself with the emblems of classical antiquity> — see EQUAL

coequality noun
the state or fact of being exactly the same in number, amount, status, or quality <felt that the success of their marriage was due to the coequality of their positions, with neither one being master of the other> — see EQUIVALENCE

coerce verb
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <was coerced into signing the document> — see FORCE 1

coerced adjective
not made or done willingly or by choice <coerced participation that couldn't last> — see INVOLUNTARY 1

coercion noun
the use of power to impose one's will on another <a promise obtained by coercion is never binding> — see FORCE 2

coetaneous adjective
existing or occurring at the same period of time <the Spanish founding of San Francisco and the British colonies' declaration of independence from the mother country were coetaneous events that occurred on opposite ends of the continent> — see CONTEMPORARY 1

coeval adjective
existing or occurring at the same period of time <two stars thought to be coeval because they have nearly the same mass and brightness> — see CONTEMPORARY 1

coeval noun
a person who lives at the same time or is about the same age as another <somewhat surprisingly, Saint Patrick and Attila the Hun were coevals> — see CONTEMPORARY

coexist verb
to occur or exist at the same time <two nations that should be able to coexist without conflict> — see COINCIDE 1

coexistence noun
the occurrence or existence of several things at once <the home video market could not long tolerate the coexistence of competing formats> — see CONCURRENCE 1

coexistent adjective
1 existing or occurring at the same period of time <the theory that there were two coexistent hominids inhabiting that region> — see CONTEMPORARY 1
2 present at the same time and place <a disorder that is often coexistent with a deficiency of certain vitamins> — see COINCIDENT 1

coexisting adjective
1 existing or occurring at the same period of time <coexisting but widely separated cultures that had no knowledge of one another> — see CONTEMPORARY 1
2 present at the same time and place <coexisting beliefs> — see COINCIDENT 1

coextensive adjective
1 occupying the same space <South Dakota's Todd County is coextensive with the Rosebud Sioux Reservation>

Synonyms
coincident, coinciding, conterminous, coterminous

Related Words
allover, overlaying, superimposed, superposed, underlying; conjoining, crisscrossing, intersecting, overlapping; coaxial, concurrent, convergent; congruent, conjunctional

Near Antonyms
nonconcurrent, noncongruent

2 existing or occurring at the same period of time <the golden age of Dutch culture was roughly coextensive with the Netherlands' reign as a world power> — see CONTEMPORARY 1

coffer noun
1 a specially reinforced container to keep valuables safe <kept the jewels in a locked coffer> — see SAFE
2 coffers plural available money <let me see what's in the household coffers and I'll get back to you about making a donation> — see FUND 2

coffin noun
a boxlike container for holding a dead body <coffins are said to be the preferred sleeping places of vampires>

Synonyms
bier, box, casket, pall, sarcophagus

Related Words
charnel (also charnel house), crypt, sepulchre (or sepulcher), sepulture, tomb, vault; urn; body bag

cogency noun
1 the capacity to persuade <the cogency of Thomas Paine's celebrated case for American independence>

Synonyms
authority, conclusiveness, convincingness, effectiveness, force, forcefulness, persuasion, persuasiveness, suasiveness

Related Words
impact, might, power, punch, strength, weight; believability, credibility, soundness, validity; authoritativeness, definitiveness; influence, sway; appeal, seductiveness

Near Antonyms
invalidity, shakiness, unsoundness; feebleness, powerlessness, weakness

Antonyms
inconclusiveness, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness

2 the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect <satirical comments of great cogency> — see 1PUNCH 1

cogent adjective
having the power to persuade <the results of the DNA fingerprinting were the most cogent evidence for acquittal>

Synonyms
compelling, conclusive, convincing, decisive, effective, forceful, persuasive, satisfying, strong, telling

Related Words
authoritative, definitive; sound, valid, well-founded; important, significant, weighty; material, pertinent, relevant

Near Antonyms
groundless, invalid, shaky, unfounded, unsound; inconsequential, insignificant, unimportant; immaterial, irrelevant; feeble, weak

Antonyms
inconclusive, indecisive, ineffective, uncompelling, unconvincing, unpersuasive

cogitate verb
to give serious and careful thought to <by the time he finishes cogitating what to do with his life, it'll be almost over> — see PONDER

cogitation noun
something imagined or pictured in the mind <as long as there's a national deficit, interplanetary exploration will most likely remain an agreeable cogitation and nothing more> — see IDEA 1

cogitative adjective
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking <a cogitative woman who was given to long silences, even in the company of her own family> — see CONTEMPLATIVE

cognate adjective
having qualities in common <alcoholism and drug addiction are cognate disorders> — see ALIKE

cognizance noun
1 a state of being aware <take cognizance of what is happening> — see ATTENTION 2
2 knowledge gained by personal experience <seemed to have no cognizance of last night's events> — see ACQUAINTANCE

cognizant adjective
having specified facts or feelings actively impressed on the mind <not fully cognizant of the details of the trade agreement> — see CONSCIOUS 1

cognize verb
to have a clear idea of <the philosopher's claim that we can never cognize—in a fundamental sense—anything> — see COMPREHEND 1

cognomen noun
1 a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual <richly deserved the cognomen of “Butterfingers”> — see NICKNAME
2 a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known <“Christopher Columbus” is the Latinized cognomen of the navigator who was known to his Spanish crewmates as Cristóbal Colón> — see NAME 1

cognoscente noun
1 a person having a knowledgeable and fine appreciation of the arts <a cognoscente of medieval painting> — see CONNOISSEUR 1
2 a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <cognoscenti in the art world knew that most of the works being auctioned off were second-rate stuff> — see EXPERT

cohere verb
1 to be in agreement on every point <the account in his journal coheres with the official report of the battle> — see CHECK 1
2 to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members <beset by personal animosities, the people of the neighborhood could not cohere into an effective civic association> — see ALLY

coherence noun
a balanced, pleasing, or suitable arrangement of parts <the house has been expanded and remodeled so many times that now it's a jumbled mess that lacks coherence> — see HARMONY 1

coherent adjective
1 according to the rules of logic <a coherent blueprint to hooking up a home theater system with a minimum of fuss> — see LOGICAL 1
2 capable of being understood <the victim of the attack was too distraught to make a coherent statement> — see INTELLIGIBLE
3 not having or showing any apparent conflict <a business venture that is coherent with the company's long-range goals> — see CONSISTENT

cohort noun
1 a person frequently seen in the company of another <if you're trying to give up drinking, your cohorts shouldn't be confirmed party animals> — see ASSOCIATE 1
2 one associated with another in wrongdoing <she and her cohorts were arrested for shoplifting> — see ACCOMPLICE

coiffure noun
a style or arrangement of hair <with his flashy suit and carefully sculpted coiffure, he looks like a slick car dealer> — see HAIRDO

coil noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <amidst the coil of the office renovations, we even managed to get some work done> — see COMMOTION

coil verb
to follow a circular or spiral course <a vine coiling around a pillar> — see WIND 1

coiling adjective
turning around an axis like the thread of a screw <the coiling strands of rope> — see SPIRAL

coin noun
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <seeking a job that pays plenty of coin> — see MONEY 1

coinage noun
something (as a device) created for the first time through the use of the imagination <this latest coinage from the minds who gave us the MP3 player> — see INVENTION 1

coincide verb
1 to occur or exist at the same time <the heaviest snowfall of the season coincided with the start of our weeklong ski vacation>

Synonyms
accompany, attend, coexist, concur, co-occur, synchronize

Related Words
chance, hap, happen, transpire

Near Antonyms
antedate, precede, predate; follow, succeed

2 to be in agreement on every point <the two lists coincide> — see CHECK 1
3 to have or come to the same opinion or point of view <their wishes coincide exactly with my desire> — see AGREE 1

coincidence noun
the occurrence or existence of several things at once <the coincidence of the last note of the violin with the sound of the bell> — see CONCURRENCE 1

coincident adjective
1 present at the same time and place <the hard economic times and the coincident increase in crime were a double strain on the city's social services>

Synonyms
accompanying, attendant, attending, coexistent, coexisting, coincidental, concomitant, concurrent

Related Words
contemporaneous, contemporary, simultaneous, synchronous; associated, collateral, connected, linked, related; consequent, resultant, resulting; ensuing, following, subsequent; accidental, casual, chance, fluky (also flukey), fortuitous, freak, incident, incidental

Near Antonyms
unassociated, unconnected, unrelated

2 occupying the same space <a study to determine whether the areas with the highest family incomes were coincident with the locations boasting the highest percentage of college graduates> — see COEXTENSIVE 1
3 existing or occurring at the same period of time <coincident changes in the region's demographic makeup that were little noted at the time> — see CONTEMPORARY 1

coincidental adjective
1 existing or occurring at the same period of time <the nearly coincidental deaths of Princess Diana and Mother Teresa> — see CONTEMPORARY 1
2 present at the same time and place <claims a connection between the proliferation of fast-food restaurants and the coincidental surge in the rate of obesity> — see COINCIDENT 1

coincidentally adverb
at one and the same time <the final stages of the Napoleonic Wars were fought coincidentally with the U.S.-British conflict known as the War of 1812> — see TOGETHER 1

coincidently adverb
at one and the same time <the outdoor concert is timed so that its rousing finale occurs coincidently with the setting of the summer sun> — see TOGETHER 1

coinciding adjective
occupying the same space <the coinciding bases of the two triangles> — see COEXTENSIVE 1

coition noun
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <studied the frequency of coition in animals that mate for life> — see SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

coitus noun
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <the act of coitus is the natural method by which conception occurs> — see SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

col noun
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <a remote col in the Alps> — see CANYON

cold adjective
1 having a low or subnormal temperature <the cold climate of the Yukon> <an unusually cold spring that was followed by a sweltering summer>

Synonyms
algid, arctic, bitter, bone-chilling, chill, chilly, coldish, cool, coolish, freezing, frigid, frosty, gelid, glacial, ice-cold, icy, nipping, nippy, numbing, polar, shivery, snappy, wintry (also wintery)

Related Words
cryogenic, subfreezing, subzero, ultracold; cutting, keen, penetrating, piercing, sharp; bracing, brisk, crisp, invigorating, rigorous; chilled, cooled, frosted, frozen, iced, refrigerated, unheated

Near Antonyms
lukewarm, tepid; heated, overheated, reheated, warmed; snug, toasty, warm; feverish, flushed, inflamed (also enflamed); canicular, equatorial, muggy, steamy, summery, tropical

Antonyms
ardent, blazing, boiling, broiling, burning, fervent, fervid, fiery, glowing, hot, igneous, molten, piping hot, red-hot, roasting, scalding, scorching, searing, seething, sizzling, sultry, sweltering, torrid, ultrahot, warming, white-hot

2 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <the prisoners got only a cold stare when they tried to befriend the guard>

Synonyms
antiseptic, arctic, brittle, chill, chilly, clammy, cold-blooded, cold-eyed, coldish, cool, frigid, frosty, frozen, gelid, glacial, hard-eyed, icy, unfriendly, unsympathetic, wintry (also wintery)

Related Words
bloodless, coldhearted, hard-hearted, heartless, kindless, pitiless, uncaring, unfeeling; reserved, soulless, undemonstrative, unemotional, unresponsive; apathetic, indifferent, unenthusiastic, uninterested; aloof, detached, dispassionate, impersonal, offish, standoffish; antisocial, unsociable, unsocial

Near Antonyms
compassionate, kind, kindhearted; demonstrative, emotional, expressive; eager, enthusiastic, passionate

Antonyms
cordial, friendly, genial, happy, hearty, sympathetic, warm, warm-blooded, warmhearted

3 having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <received a cold reception from the hostess> — see COOL 1
4 having lost consciousness <the boxer was out cold for a few minutes> — see UNCONSCIOUS 1
5 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the couple practiced a cold civility with each other, but they hadn't had a heart-to-heart talk in years> — see GLOOMY 1
6 no longer living <paramedics tried to revive him, but he was already cold> — see DEAD 1

cold noun
a weather condition marked by low temperatures <the cold will stay with us for another day, then temperatures should rise>

Synonyms
cold wave, deep freeze, freeze, snap

Related Words
cold front; frost; bite, chill, chilliness, chillness, coldness, frigidness, nip, wintriness

Near Antonyms
dog days; torridity, torridness

Antonyms
heat, heat wave

cold–blooded adjective
1 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <a cold-blooded criminal who never once showed an ounce of mercy to his victims> — see HARD 1
2 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <the cold-blooded selfishness shown by the miser when confronted by people in need> — see COLD 2
3 not feeling or showing emotion <a cold-blooded assessment of the situation showed that the company needed either to lay off workers or go bankrupt> — see IMPASSIVE 1
4 or coldblood being offspring produced by parents of different races, breeds, species, or genera <he may not be as fancy as the other horses they own, but that cold-blooded gelding is safe and gentle> — see MIXED 1

cold–eyed adjective
1 having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <the attendant's cold-eyed stare discouraged any thoughts about having a conversation> — see COOL 1
2 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <under the cold-eyed gaze of the director, I auditioned for the part> — see COLD 2

cold fish noun
a cold aloof person <her husband is such a cold fish that I'm reluctant to have them over for dinner>

Synonyms
cold turkey, iceberg, icicle

Related Words
clam, stick, wallflower; prig, snob, snoot, snot, stuffed shirt

Near Antonyms
dear, sweetheart, sweetie

coldish adjective
1 having a low or subnormal temperature <believe it or not, the weather was coldish the whole time we were in Florida> — see COLD 1
2 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <a coldish reply that told me that she wasn't prepared to bury the hatchet just yet> — see COLD 2

coldness noun
the absence of emotional involvement <her clinical coldness allows her to function in a job where she sees human misery every day> — see COOL 1

cold–shoulder verb
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely <cold-shouldered by his old friends after his family had lost all of its money> — see SNUB 1

cold shoulder noun
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly <at the party the two former friends consciously gave each other the cold shoulder>

Synonyms
brush-off, rebuff, repulse, silent treatment, snub

Related Words
dismissal, kiss-off, rejection; banishment, blackball, ostracism

Near Antonyms
acceptance, embrace, welcome; glad hand, welcome mat

Antonyms
open arms

cold storage noun
a state of temporary inactivity <the president's domestic programs had been in cold storage while he attended to a string of international crises> — see ABEYANCE

cold turkey noun
a cold aloof person <my new boss is a cold turkey and definitely not one for chitchat> — see COLD FISH

cold wave noun
a weather condition marked by low temperatures <the unseasonable cold wave in the Northeast has already put a strain on oil supplies> — see COLD

coliseum noun
a large usually roofless building for sporting events with tiers of seats for spectators <the local coliseum is a standard stop for rock bands on tour> — see STADIUM

collaborate verb
to participate or assist in a joint effort to accomplish an end <a trio of museums collaborated to mount this once-in-a-lifetime exhibit of van Gogh's major portraits> — see COOPERATE 1

collaboration noun
1 the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <a documentary film on the battle that was produced in collaboration with a society of historical reenactors> — see ASSOCIATION 1
2 the work and activity of a number of persons who individually contribute toward the efficiency of the whole <our collaboration produced a better result than any of us could have achieved alone> — see TEAMWORK

collaborative adjective
used or done by a number of people as a group <a culture in which the raising of children is regarded as a collaborative endeavor for a whole village> — see COLLECTIVE

collage noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <my scrapbook is just a collage of articles, pictures, cartoons, and observations that I have deemed worth saving> — see MISCELLANY 1

collapse noun
1 a complete depletion of energy or strength <suffered a mental collapse under the strain of studying for his bar exam> — see FATIGUE 1
2 a falling short of one's goals <the complete collapse of the invasion set off a round of finger-pointing and recrimination> — see FAILURE 2

collapse verb
1 to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure <the motel balcony collapsed under the weight of so many people>

Synonyms
buckle, cave (in), crumple, founder, give, go, go out, implode, tumble, yield

Related Words
deflate, flatten, melt, melt down; break, break down, conk (out), crash, die, fail, give out, stall; burst, shatter, smash, splinter, split; crack, crumble, pop, snap

Phrases
give way

Near Antonyms
inflate, rise, swell

2 to be unsuccessful <the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence> — see FAIL 2
3 to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together <the novel collapses events from four separate trips into one long odyssey> — see COMPRESS 1

collar noun
1 an ornamental chain or string (as of beads) worn around the neck <a simple gold collar is all that little black cocktail dress needs> — see NECKLACE
2 the act of taking or holding under one's control by authority of law <when the murderer was finally apprehended, the detective who doggedly checked every single lead got credit for the collar> — see ARREST 1

collar verb
1 to take or keep under one's control by authority of law <the juvenile delinquent was collared for robbing houses> — see ARREST 1
2 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <she collared the boy before he could get into the cookie jar> — see CATCH 1

colleague noun
a fellow worker <on her first day at work her colleagues went out of their way to make her feel welcome>

Synonyms
associate, confrere (also confrère), coworker

Related Words
equal, fellow, peer; accomplice, ally, cohort, collaborator, confederate, copartner, half, partner; buddy, chum, companion, comrade, crony, pal; compatriot, countryman

collect verb
1 to gain emotional or mental control of <applicants should collect their thoughts while waiting to be interviewed>

Synonyms
calm, compose, contain, control, re-collect, settle

Related Words
hold back, restrain; rally, recover; lull, quiet, soothe, still, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

2 to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass <dust has been collecting under my bed for years>

Synonyms
accrete, accumulate, amass, build up, concentrate, conglomerate, gather, mass, pile (up), stack (up)

Related Words
agglutinate, clump, lump; bank, drift, ridge

Near Antonyms
disperse, dissipate, scatter

3 to bring together from several sources into a single volume or list <collected the author's early short stories, which were originally published in several obscure sci-fi magazines> — see COMPILE
4 to bring together in one body or place <she collects antique silverware> — see GATHER 1
5 to come together into one body or place <a crowd collected at the beach as the sun slowly set over the horizon> — see ASSEMBLE 1

collectanea noun
a collection of writings <in the library I discovered a three-volume collectanea containing all of the author's known writings> — see ANTHOLOGY

collected adjective
free from emotional or mental agitation <stayed calm and collected while she was in the MRI unit> — see CALM 2

collectedly adverb
with everyone or everything taken into account at the same time <collectedly, the fund-raisers for the museum raised $300,000> — see ALL AROUND

collectedness noun
evenness of emotions or temper <with the collectedness of an old pro, the new governor responded to the other hostile questions of the press corps> — see EQUANIMITY

collection noun
1 an organized group of objects acquired and maintained for study, exhibition, or personal pleasure <his stamp collection has become quite valuable>

Synonyms
assemblage, library

Related Words
assortment, kaleidoscope, miscellanea, mixed bag, omnium-gatherum, phantasmagoria, treasure, treasure trove, trove; arsenal, cache, hoard, repertoire, repertory, reserve, stock, stockpile, store, supply; accumulation, assembly, gathering

Near Antonyms
bric-a-brac, clutter, heap, jumble, litter, pile, ragbag

2 a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered over a period of time <a collection of lint underneath the dryer> — see ACCUMULATION 1
3 a number of things considered as a unit <the historic village boasts an interesting collection of gift shops and antique stores> — see GROUP 1

collective adjective
used or done by a number of people as a group <the cleanup of the neighborhood park was a collective effort for which many people should be thanked>

Synonyms
collaborative, combined, common, communal, concerted, conjoint, conjunct, cooperative, joint, multiple, mutual, pooled, public, shared, united

Related Words
bilateral, consensual, reciprocal, symbiotic, synergic, synergistic, two-way; mass, popular; general, generic, universal

Near Antonyms
personal, private; independent, separate, several; esoteric, particular, special, specialized

Antonyms
exclusive, individual, one-man, one-sided, one-way, single, sole, solitary, unilateral

collectively adverb
with everyone or everything taken into account at the same time <collectively, the firm's partners have 107 years of experience> — see ALL AROUND

college noun
a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <a college of craftsmen dedicated to preserving the traditional crafts of Appalachia> — see ASSOCIATION 2

collegial adjective
having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <company luncheons that are designed to instill a collegial spirit among coworkers> — see FRIENDLY 1

collide verb
1 to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably <a story of what happens when modern American mores and traditional Asian values collide> — see CLASH
2 to come into usually forceful contact with something <fortunately, I wasn't hurt when my bike collided with that fence> — see HIT 2

collision noun
1 a forceful coming together of two things <the collision of two opposing philosophies regarding the rearing of children> — see IMPACT 1
2 the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact <a horrendous car collision on the highway> — see CRASH 1

colloquial adjective
1 used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing <the new coworker's rudeness soon began—to use a colloquial expression—to rub me the wrong way>

Synonyms
conversational, informal, nonformal, nonliterary, unbookish, unliterary, vernacular, vulgar

Related Words
dialectal, dialectical (also dialectic), nonstandard, regional; incorrect, nongrammatical, substandard, uneducated, ungrammatical, unlearned; slang, slangy

Near Antonyms
standard, undialectical; correct, educated, genteel, grammatical, proper

Antonyms
bookish, formal, learned, literary

2 having the style and content of everyday conversation <a colloquial essay on what makes a marriage successful> — see CHATTY 1

colloquy noun
1 a meeting featuring a group discussion <attended a colloquy on economic globalization> — see FORUM 1
2 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <the subject of the spirited colloquy was the disputed authorship of the plays attributed to Shakespeare> — see DISCUSSION 1
3 talking or a talk between two or more people <a casual colloquy between two old colleagues in the faculty lounge> — see CONVERSATION

collude verb
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends <accused of colluding to block the sale of the vacant land> — see PLOT

collusion noun
a secret agreement or cooperation between two parties for an illegal or dishonest purpose <there was collusion between the two companies to fix prices>

Synonyms
complicity, connivance, conspiracy

Related Words
chicanery, foul play, skulduggery (or skullduggery); double-dealing, duplicity; cover-up, frame-up, setup; conspiration, intrigue, plot, scheme

collywobbles plural noun
abdominal pain especially when focused in the digestive organs <her heavy meals always give me the collywobbles> — see STOMACHACHE

Colonel Blimp noun
a person with old-fashioned ideas <felt like a Colonel Blimp who had outlived his time> — see FOGY

colonial adjective
tending to group with others of the same kind <colonial organisms>

Synonyms
gregarious, sociable, social

Related Words
associational, consociational, subsocial; dependent, parasitic (also parasitical), precocial, symbiotic

Near Antonyms
autonomous, independent, self-contained, semiautonomous, semi-independent; altricial, self-subsistent, self-sufficient, self-supporting, self-sustaining; lone, recluse, reclusive, unsociable

Antonyms
nonsocial, solitary

colonial noun
a person who settles in a new region <European colonials who built coffee plantations in East Africa> — see FRONTIERSMAN

colonist noun
a person who settles in a new region <over time the colonists began to sense that they were becoming a people unto themselves> — see FRONTIERSMAN

colonize verb
to supply with inhabitants <citizens who were sent abroad to colonize the conquered lands> — see SETTLE 2

colonizer noun
a person who settles in a new region <the first colonizers of Easter Island must have faced untold challenges> — see FRONTIERSMAN

colony noun
1 a settlement in a new country or region <the early history of New York City when it was a Dutch colony>

Synonyms
plantation

Related Words
camp, diaspora, exclave, habitation, outpost, post; dependency, mandate, possession, protectorate, territory

2 a group of people with a common interest living in one place <New Hampshire's MacDowell colony was founded as a summer residence for writers and composers> — see COMMUNITY 2

color noun
1 a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished <a shirt that is available in every color of the rainbow>

Synonyms
cast, hue, shade, tincture, tinge, tint, tone

Related Words
overtone, undertone; primary color, secondary color, tertiary color; brightness, chroma, chromaticity, contrast, lightness, saturation, value; coloration, coloring, colorway, pigmentation

Near Antonyms
achromatism

2 a substance used to color other materials <added some red color to the base paint> — see PIGMENT
3 the hue or appearance of the skin and especially of the face <her color hasn't been good since she got sick> — see COMPLEXION 1
4 colors plural a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling <flew their country's colors atop the highest mast on the ship> — see FLAG 1
5 a rosy appearance (of the cheeks) <the stay in the country brought color to her cheeks> — see BLOOM 2
6 colors plural the combined army, air force, and navy of a nation <she hopes to carry on the family tradition and serve with the colors> — see ARMED FORCES
7 colors plural the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others <we saw his true colors during the emergency> — see NATURE 1

color verb
1 to give color or a different color to <she's colored her hair for so long and so often that no one knows what her natural color is>

Synonyms
bepaint [archaic], dye, paint, pigment, stain, tincture, tinge, tint

Related Words
brighten, lighten; darken, embrown, tone (down); checker, dapple, daub, fleck, marble, mottle, pattern, polychrome, speck, speckle, streak, striate, stripe, variegate

Near Antonyms
blanch, bleach, whiten

Antonyms
decolorize

2 to add to the interest of by including made-up details <he gave a highly colored version of a rather mundane experience> — see EMBROIDER
3 to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of <his news reporting is colored by his prejudices> — see GARBLE 1
4 to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment) <she colored after hearing the nasty remarks about her weight> — see BLUSH

colorant noun
a substance used to color other materials <in ancient times, a mollusk was used to produce a rich purple colorant for clothing and linens> — see PIGMENT

colored adjective
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <the highly colored glassware that is the studio's hallmark> — see COLORFUL

colorful adjective
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <the colorful robes and blankets of the Native Americans of the Southwest>

Synonyms
chromatic, colored, kaleidoscopic, motley, multicolored, multihued, polychromatic, polychrome, prismatic, rainbow, varicolored, varied, variegated, various

Related Words
iridescent, opalescent; brave, bright, brilliant, gay, vibrant; flashy, garish, gaudy, loud, showy, splashy; checkered, dotted, patterned, plaid, plaided, striped; dappled (also dapple), marbled, mottled, parti-color (or parti-colored), piebald, pied, pinto; flecked, specked, speckled, spotted; banded, barred, brindled (or brindle), streaked, striated; bichrome, bicolored (or bicolor), dichromatic, trichromatic, tricolor (or tricolored), two-tone, two-toned

Near Antonyms
achromatic; bleached, decolorized, faded, washed-out; dull, faint, gray (also grey), neutral, pale, pallid, unbrilliant

Antonyms
colorless; monochromatic, monochromic, monotone, self-colored, solid

colorfully adverb
in a manner that is colorful and tends to arouse gaiety <a colorfully illustrated children's alphabet book> — see GAILY 3

coloring noun
1 a substance used to color other materials <added more coloring to the buttercream frosting to get the perfect shade of blue> — see PIGMENT
2 the hue or appearance of the skin and especially of the face <the pale coloring of people of Irish descent> — see COMPLEXION 1
3 the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts <the unexciting facts were given a sensational coloring in the local news> — see EXAGGERATION

colorless adjective
1 lacking an addition of color <since we can't decide what color to paint the doghouse, our latest home project remains colorless for the time being>

Synonyms
tintless [archaic], uncolored, undyed, unpainted, unstained, white

Related Words
clear, limpid, liquid, lucent, pellucid, transparent; bleached, faded, palish, washed-out, washy; dull, faint, gray (also grey), neutral, pale, pallid; snow-white, snowy, whited

Near Antonyms
colorful, multicolored, polychromatic, polychrome, varicolored, variegated

Antonyms
colored, colorized, dyed, hued, painted, pigmented, stained, tinct, tinctured, tinged, tinted

2 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <page after page of colorless prose without even one neat turn of phrase> — see BORING

colossal adjective
unusually large <a colossal statue of the town's founder> — see HUGE

colossally adverb
1 to a great degree <after reading all the praise from critics, I found the play to be colossally disappointing> — see VERY 1
2 to a large extent or degree <the most colossally rude person she had ever met> — see GREATLY 2

colosseum noun
a large usually roofless building for sporting events with tiers of seats for spectators <run 10 laps around the colosseum> — see STADIUM

colossus noun
something that is unusually large and powerful <Leonardo da Vinci remains a colossus in the history of art> — see GIANT

colt noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <a colt who looked to the team's more experienced players for advice> — see BEGINNER

coltish adjective
given to good-natured joking or teasing <off camera the actor is high-spiritedly coltish, but turns serious once the camera starts rolling> — see PLAYFUL

coltishness noun
a natural disposition for playful behavior <although she's now in her 30s, she still displays the coltishness of a high-spirited teenager> — see PLAYFULNESS

column noun
1 a series of persons or things arranged one behind another <a column of ants stretched between the fallen hot dog and the ant hill> — see LINE 1
2 an upright shaft that supports an overhead structure <engraved columns supported the arch on either side> — see PILLAR 1

coma noun
a temporary or permanent state of unconsciousness <the girl lay in a coma for three days after the accident> — see FAINT

comatose adjective
lacking in gaiety, movement, or animation <the city's downtown has been comatose for years> — see DEAD 2

comb verb
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something <combed the library for the missing book> — see SEARCH 1

combat noun
1 active fighting during the course of a war <a soldier who served throughout the war without actually seeing combat>

Synonyms
action, battle, field

Related Words
attack, fire, firefight, pitched battle, single combat; hostilities, operations, warfare; duty, service

2 a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <the two stags entered a furious combat for dominance of the herd> — see FIGHT 1
3 an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <the fierce ideological combat between the religionists and the secularists> — see CONTEST 1

combat verb
1 to oppose (someone) in physical conflict <a general eager to combat the enemy on his own ground> — see FIGHT 1
2 to strive to reduce or eliminate <must marshal all of our resources to combat this disease> — see FIGHT 2

combative adjective
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <channeling his naturally combative impulses into sports> — see BELLIGERENT

combativeness noun
an inclination to fight or quarrel <the boxer was known more for his unbridled combativeness than for his technical skill> — see BELLIGERENCE

combination noun
1 a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <a victory that was due to a combination of luck and planning> — see BLEND
2 the act or an instance of joining two or more things into one <the combination of mint and chocolate in a delicious dessert> — see UNION 1
3 a number of businesses or enterprises united for commercial advantage <the companies formed a combination in an attempt to establish a monopoly in the rubber market> — see CARTEL
4 an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection <a combination of citizens dedicated to fighting higher property taxes> — see CONFEDERACY

combine noun
1 a number of businesses or enterprises united for commercial advantage <charged that the cable companies had formed an illegal combine for the purpose of keeping rates artificially high> — see CARTEL
2 an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection <one of the most notorious combines in the history of organized crime> — see CONFEDERACY

combine verb
1 to come together to form a single unit <the room's highly varied design elements combine to form a harmonious whole> — see UNITE 1
2 to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <combine the sugar and flour in a bowl> — see BLEND 1

combined adjective
used or done by a number of people as a group <a combined effort on the part of all of the members> — see COLLECTIVE

combining noun
the act or an instance of joining two or more things into one <abhors the combining of business and pleasure at sales conferences> — see UNION 1

combust verb
to be on fire especially brightly <anthracite, which is naturally hard, combusts more cleanly than bituminous coal> — see BURN 1

combustible adjective
capable of catching or being set on fire <don't store oily rags and other combustible materials in a hot attic>

Synonyms
burnable, combustive, fiery, flammable, ignitable (also ignitible), inflammable, touchy

Related Words
explosive, incendiary

Near Antonyms
nonexplosive

Antonyms
fireproof, incombustible, nonburnable, noncombustible, nonflammable, noninflammable, unburnable

combusting adjective
being on fire <combusting oxygen tanks turned the fire on the evacuees' bus into a raging inferno> — see ABLAZE 1

combustive adjective
capable of catching or being set on fire <with such a highly combustive inventory, the ropewalk was engulfed in flames in a matter of minutes> — see COMBUSTIBLE

come verb
1 to move closer to <come here and sit by the fire>

Synonyms
advance, approach, near, nigh

Related Words
drop in, enter, pop (in)

Near Antonyms
depart, exit, leave

Antonyms
go, recede (from), retreat, withdraw

2 to get to a destination <when do you think they'll come?>

Synonyms
appear, arrive, get in, get through, land, show up, turn up

Related Words
fetch, hit, make, reach; pull in, touch down; debark, disembark; barge (in), blow in, breeze (in), burst (in or into), waltz (in); check in, clock (in)

Near Antonyms
check out, clock (out); flee, vamoose

Antonyms
go, leave

3 to eventually have as a state or quality <your dreams can come true> — see BECOME
4 to take place <whatever may come we'll always be together> — see HAPPEN
5 to move forward along a course <how is the remodeling job coming?> — see GO 1

come (to) verb
1 to have a total of <your bill comes to $53.74> — see AMOUNT TO 1
2 to be the same in meaning or effect <it all comes to nothing in the end> — see AMOUNT TO 2
3 to enter the mind of <the actual name of the item didn't come to me until I was walking out of the store> — see OCCUR TO

come about verb
to take place <how did all this come about?> — see HAPPEN

come across (as) verb
to give the impression of being <the law professor comes across as a bit of an ogre at first, but he's actually quite personable> — see SEEM

come along verb
to move forward along a course <our backyard makeover is coming along nicely> — see GO 1

come around verb
to gain consciousness again <she came around surprisingly quickly after falling off the horse> — see COME TO

comeback noun
1 a quick witty response <always ready with a comeback for every insult> — see RETORT 1
2 something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question <regardless of the question posed by the prosecutor, the witness had a plausible comeback> — see ANSWER 1
3 the process or period of gradually regaining one's health and strength <trying to make a comeback after a career-threatening injury> — see CONVALESCENCE

come back verb
1 to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness <she's slowly coming back after being in a coma> — see CONVALESCE
2 to regain a former or normal state <the American bald eagle was once nearly extinct but has come back strong> — see RECOVER 2
3 to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction <he came back with another one of his smart remarks> — see ANSWER 1

come by verb
1 to make a brief visit <come by after work and I'll give you some clothes for the rummage sale> — see CALL 3
2 to receive as return for effort <a literary award like that isn't easy to come by> — see EARN 1

comedian noun
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor <struggled to eke out a living as a comedian in nightclubs> — see HUMORIST

comedic adjective
causing or intended to cause laughter <my friends insist that this new television show is the most comedic thing ever created by the mind of man> — see FUNNY 1

comedown noun
a loss of status <after a rapid rise to stardom, the rock band's comedown was just as quick>

Synonyms
decline, dégringolade, demise, descent, down, downfall, fall, flameout, Götterdämmerung

Related Words
breakdown, burnout, collapse, crash, meltdown, ruin, undoing; defeat, disappointment, reversal, setback; bottom, nadir; abasement, disgrace, humiliation

Near Antonyms
advance, headway, progress; flower, heyday, prime

Antonyms
aggrandizement, ascent, exaltation, rise, up

come down verb
to take place <let's wait and see what comes down at the meeting> — see HAPPEN

come down (with) verb
to become affected with (a disease or disorder) <I hope that you're not coming down with a cold> — see CONTRACT 1

comedy noun
1 humorous entertainment <presented a night of comedy as part of the weeklong celebrations>

Synonyms
farce, humor, slapstick

Related Words
high comedy, low comedy; burlesque, parody, satire; improv, stand-up; banter, drollery, persiflage, wit; foolery, fun, horseplay, knockabout, monkeyshine(s), shenanigan(s)

2 the amusing quality or element in something <I just don't see the comedy in someone flunking a driving test that they really needed to pass> — see HUMOR 1

comeliness noun
the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses <a verdant countryside of uncommon comeliness> — see BEAUTY 1

comely adjective
very pleasing to look at <a brood of comely children that any parent would be proud to claim> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

come off verb
1 to take place <couldn't believe that the wedding would actually come off—they've been “just dating” for years> — see HAPPEN
2 to turn out as planned or desired <the attempted revival of the city's downtown never really came off, and even more stores eventually closed> — see SUCCEED 1

come off (as) verb
to give the impression of being <she is an intelligent debater, but she can sometimes come off as arrogant> — see SEEM

come–on noun
something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain <the spectacular sale was enough of a come-on to get many shoppers to try the store for the first time> — see LURE 1

come on interjection
how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable <come on, you can't be serious in making such an offer!> — see NO

come out verb
1 to come to be <in the end everything came out OK>

Synonyms
fall out, pan out, prove, shake out, turn out

Related Words
develop, emerge, evolve, germinate, play out, unfold, work out

2 to come into view <come out, come out wherever you are!> — see APPEAR 1
3 to become known <if the truth of his sexuality ever came out, the actor's career would be ruined> — see GET OUT 1

come over verb
to make a brief visit <come over sometime and I'll show you my roses> — see CALL 3

come round verb
1 to gain consciousness again <the medic waved smelling salts under his nose until he came round> — see COME TO
2 to give or express one's approval (as to a proposal) <she's cool to the idea right now, but sooner or later she'll come round> — see ACCEDE

comestible adjective
suitable for use as food <some mushrooms are comfortably comestible, but others are decidedly poisonous> — see EDIBLE

comestibles plural noun
substances intended to be eaten <the gourmet food shop stocks a wide variety of comestibles from around the world> — see FOOD 1

come to verb
to gain consciousness again <after being in a coma for months, the patient quite unexpectedly came to>

Synonyms
come around, come round, revive

Related Words
pull through, rally, recover; awake, awaken, wake up

Near Antonyms
black out, faint, pass out

come up verb
1 to come near or nearer <the girl came up to the counter and asked if she could have her order prepared to go> — see APPROACH 1
2 to come to one's attention especially gradually or unexpectedly <let me know if anything else comes up during the project> — see ARISE 2

comeuppance noun
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense <as with many action movies, this one ends with a wild chase and an over-the-top fight sequence in which the bad guys finally get their comeuppance> — see PUNISHMENT

comfort noun
1 a feeling of ease from grief or trouble <the mourners found comfort in their pastor's words>

Synonyms
cheer, consolation, relief, solace

Related Words
encouragement, inspiration, uplift; assurance, reassurance; alleviation, assuagement, mitigation; contentment, gladness, happiness; commiseration, empathy, sympathy; aid, assistance, help, succor

Near Antonyms
cold comfort; anguish, distress, heartache, heartbreak, torment, torture

2 something that adds to one's ease of living <a family campground with all the comforts of home>

Synonyms
accommodation, amenity, convenience, creature comfort, luxury, mod con [chiefly British], nicety

Related Words
bonus, extra; benefit, help, service; anodyne, solace; delight, indulgence, joy, pleasure

Antonyms
burden, millstone, weight

3 reduction of or freedom from pain <a life of comfort> — see EASE 1
4 something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary <a hotel room featuring an array of domestic comforts> — see LUXURY 1

comfort verb
to ease the grief or distress of <the minister did his best to comfort the victims of the terrible tornado>

Synonyms
assure, cheer, console, reassure, solace, soothe

Related Words
commiserate, condole, empathize, sympathize; boost, buoy (up), elevate, lift, uplift; allay, alleviate, assuage, relieve; calm, quiet, relax, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

Near Antonyms
demoralize, discourage, dishearten; fret, upset, worry; aggravate, intensify, worsen; annoy, irk, irritate; harass, pester

Antonyms
distress, torment, torture, trouble

comfortable adjective
1 providing physical comfort <a large, overstuffed chair that is very comfortable>

Synonyms
comfy, cozy, cushy, easy, snug, soft

Related Words
easeful, relaxing, reposeful, restful; gemütlich, genial, hospitable, inviting, pleasant; commodious, roomy, spacious; homelike, homely, homey (also homy), intimate

Near Antonyms
hard, harsh, severe; inhospitable, uninviting, unpleasant

Antonyms
uncomfortable

2 enjoying physical comfort <make yourself comfortable in the living room while I fix us some snacks>

Synonyms
canny [chiefly Scottish], comfy, cozy, relaxed, snug

Related Words
toasty, warm; content, contented, pleased, satisfied; easeful, peaceful, resting; easygoing, laid-back; undisturbed, unperturbed, untroubled

Phrases
at ease, at home

Near Antonyms
discontented, displeased, dissatisfied; agitated, disturbed, perturbed, troubled

Antonyms
uncomfortable

3 being more than enough without being excessive <enjoying retirement with a comfortable income> — see PLENTIFUL

comforting adjective
1 making one feel good inside <the comforting smell of fresh bread> — see HEARTWARMING
2 tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress <a long comforting soak in a hot bath> — see SOOTHING 1

comforting noun
the giving of hope and strength in times of grief, distress, or suffering <the comforting of the sick has always been regarded as one of the major acts of charity> — see CONSOLATION 1

comfortless adjective
1 causing discomfort <one of those modern comfortless sofas that are more pleasurable to look at than to sit on> — see UNCOMFORTABLE 1
2 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <spent a night in a sleazy comfortless hotel> — see GLOOMY 1

comfort station noun
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <a theme park abundantly supplied with comfort stations> — see TOILET

comfy adjective
1 providing physical comfort <couldn't wait to return home and sleep in his own comfy bed> — see COMFORTABLE 1
2 enjoying physical comfort <customers are not likely to get too comfy in the restaurant's unforgiving chairs> — see COMFORTABLE 2

comic adjective
causing or intended to cause laughter <a comic monologue about his misadventures as a first-time camper> — see FUNNY 1

comic noun
1 a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor <a well-known TV comic> — see HUMORIST
2 a series of drawings that tell a story or part of a story <posted an especially funny comic by the watercooler> — see COMIC STRIP
3 the amusing quality or element in something <a celebrated humorist who, without fail, could find the comic in even the most mundane of situations> — see HUMOR 1

comical adjective
1 causing or intended to cause laughter <the comical antics of the circus clowns> — see FUNNY 1
2 so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter <the comical expression on his face when he realized that he had been swindled> — see RIDICULOUS 1

comicality noun
the amusing quality or element in something <there's a certain comicality to the outcome of the election: the candidate who ran against Washington, D.C., is now going there> — see HUMOR 1

comic strip noun
a series of drawings that tell a story or part of a story <a comic strip that is beloved by both children and adults>

Synonyms
cartoon, comic, funny, strip

Related Words
comic book, funny paper(s), graphic novel; animated cartoon, animation; caricature

coming adjective
1 being soon to appear or take place <a listing of the coming attractions> — see FORTHCOMING 1
2 being the one that comes immediately after another <in the coming year> — see NEXT
3 of a time after the present <over the coming weeks we'll be adding to the staff> — see FUTURE

coming noun
the act of coming upon a scene <the coming of the children meant we could finally get the party started> — see ARRIVAL

comingle verb
to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <the chemicals, when comingled, will spontaneously ignite> — see BLEND 1

comity noun
peaceful coexistence <the comity that has always existed among the town's houses of worship> — see HARMONY 2

command noun
1 a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <the captain's commands were followed without question>

Synonyms
behest, charge, commandment, decree, dictate, direction, directive, do, edict, imperative, injunction, instruction, order, word

Related Words
demand, requirement; mandate; countermand, counterorder; law, precept, prescript, prescription, rule; ordinance, regulation, statute

Near Antonyms
appeal, entreaty, petition, plea, urging; proposal, recommendation, suggestion

2 a highly developed skill in or knowledge of something <a command of French that is the result of a year spent in France as an exchange student>

Synonyms
IQ, mastership, mastery, proficiency

Related Words
virtuosity; facility, hang; fluency, literacy; experience, expertise, know-how, practice (also practise), skill(s); acquaintance, familiarity, intimacy

Near Antonyms
incompetence, incompetency; ignorance, illiteracy, unfamiliarity

3 the place from which a commander runs operations <the general set up his command in the old port city>

Synonyms
base, command post, headquarters

Related Words
home, seat

4 a place from which authority is exercised <central command> — see SEAT 1
5 the right or means to command or control others <the army officer in command during the attack> — see POWER 1
6 all that can be seen from a certain point <from his mountain perch, the scout had a command of the entire valley> — see VIEW 1

command verb
1 to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority <the general commanded his troops with Caesar-like imperiousness>

Synonyms
adjure, bid, boss (around), charge, direct, enjoin, instruct, order, tell

Related Words
ask, petition, request; beg, beseech, entreat; advise, counsel, warn; appoint, assign, authorize, commission; oversee, superintend, supervise; conduct, control, lead, manage; coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige, require

Near Antonyms
comply (with), follow, keep, observe

Antonyms
mind, obey

2 to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority <the governor has commanded that all state flags be flown at half-mast>

Synonyms
call, decree, dictate, direct, mandate, ordain, order

Related Words
ask, petition, request; demand, require

Phrases
call for

Near Antonyms
cancel, countermand, rescind

3 to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority <an act of courage that commands the admiration of all who witnessed it> — see DEMAND 1
4 to exercise authority or power over <a cabinet secretary who commands the largest department in the federal government> — see GOVERN 1
5 to keep, control, or experience as one's own <local government does not command the resources that are needed to respond to such a huge disaster> — see HAVE 1
6 to look down on <for centuries an imposing castle has commanded that stretch of the river> — see OVERLOOK 1
7 to serve as leader of <the head of the agency commands an army of workers trained to respond to the immediate needs of disaster victims> — see LEAD 2
8 to set or receive as a price <commands a high fee for his decorating services> — see CHARGE 1

commandant noun
one in official command especially of a military force or base <the commandant of a naval district> — see COMMANDER 1

commandeer verb
1 to take control of (a vehicle) by force <an airliner commandeered by terrorists>

Synonyms
hijack (also highjack)

Related Words
carjack, skyjack; appropriate, confiscate, expropriate, seize

2 to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right <commandeered all of the equipment, as if the chem lab belonged solely to him> — see APPROPRIATE 1

commandeering noun
the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority <the Spanish navy's commandeering of fishing boats and impressment of fishermen> — see APPROPRIATION 2

commander noun
1 one in official command especially of a military force or base <a surrender of the fort by the commander without a single shot having been fired>

Synonyms
captain, commandant, commanding officer

Related Words
commissioned officer, field officer

Phrases
commander in chief

2 a person in overall command of a ship <the intrepid commander of the HMS Surprise> — see CAPTAIN 1

commanding adjective
1 highest in rank or authority <with the death of the general, he instantly became the commanding officer on the field of battle> — see HEAD
2 likely to attract attention <even in a room filled with world leaders, he was a commanding presence> — see NOTICEABLE

commanding officer noun
one in official command especially of a military force or base <reported directly to the fort's commanding officer> — see COMMANDER 1

commandment noun
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <the boss left behind a list of commandments for running the office while he was away> — see COMMAND 1

command post noun
the place from which a commander runs operations <a historic home that for a time served as Washington's command post during the American Revolution> — see COMMAND 3

commemorate verb
1 to be a memorial of <a stone obelisk commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill>

Synonyms
memorialize, monumentalize

Related Words
celebrate, keep, observe, remember; enshrine, exalt, glorify, honor; bless, consecrate, sanctify, solemnize

Near Antonyms
disgrace, dishonor

2 to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony <let's commemorate Martin Luther King Day with readings of some of Dr. King's speeches> — see KEEP 1

commemorating adjective
serving to preserve the memory of a person, thing, or an event <a commemorating reenactment of the Civil War battle on the occasion of its 150th anniversary> — see COMMEMORATIVE

commemorative adjective
serving to preserve the memory of a person, thing, or an event <commemorative stamps for the stars of American popular music>

Synonyms
commemorating, honorary, memorial, memorializing

Related Words
epitaphial, epitaphic; dedicatory, testimonial; canonizing, enshrining, exalting, glorifying

commemorative noun
something that serves to keep alive the memory of a person or event <a stamp was issued as a commemorative of the event> — see MEMORIAL

commence verb
1 to take the first step in (a process or course of action) <commence the festivities> — see BEGIN 1
2 to come into existence <the games commenced early in the morning> — see BEGIN 2

commencement noun
the point at which something begins <there was a large turnout at the commencement of the conference, but the numbers dwindled as it progressed> — see BEGINNING

commend verb
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <I commend my fate into your hands> — see GIVE 2

commendable adjective
deserving of high regard or great approval <a commendable interest in classical music> — see ADMIRABLE

commendation noun
1 a formal recognition of an achievement or praiseworthy deed <a firefighter who has been awarded several commendations for bravery>

Synonyms
acknowledgment (or acknowledgement), citation, mention

Related Words
decoration, medal, ribbon; accolade, award, honor, kudo, prize, tribute; dedication

2 a formal expression of praise <a new novel that has received enthusiastic commendations from most of the critics> — see ENCOMIUM
3 commendations plural archaic best wishes <his Lordship extends his hearty commendations> — see COMPLIMENT 2

commendatory adjective
expressing approval <on the basis of several commendatory letters from his teachers, the student was admitted to the advanced studies program> — see FAVORABLE 1

commensurable adjective
corresponding in size, amount, extent, or degree <though his new job pays less, the pay is at least commensurable with the amount of work and the level of stress he must contend with> — see PROPORTIONAL

commensurate adjective
corresponding in size, amount, extent, or degree <was given a job commensurate with her abilities and experience> — see PROPORTIONAL

comment noun
1 a briefly expressed opinion <just ate the food without offering even a single comment> — see REMARK
2 comments plural a series of explanations or observations on something (as an event) <the pundit's comments on the political events of the previous week were astute as usual> — see COMMENTARY 1

comment verb
to make a statement of one's opinion <commenting on recent developments in the Middle East> — see REMARK 1

commentary noun
1 a series of explanations or observations on something (as an event) <the TV anchors provided a running commentary on the parade>

Synonyms
analysis, comment, exposition, play-by-play

Related Words
annotation, explication; descant (also discant), note, observation, remark; report, review, write-up

2 usually commentaries plural a relating of events usually in the order in which they happened <the general's commentaries on his military campaigns rank among the best firsthand accounts of the war> — see ACCOUNT 1

commerce noun
1 the buying and selling of goods especially on a large scale and between different places <a government agency in charge of regulating interstate commerce>

Synonyms
business, marketplace, trade, traffic

Related Words
free trade; black market, gray market; dealings, horse-trading; e-tail, merchandising, retailing, wholesaling; bartering

2 doings between individuals or groups <when I was doing outside consulting for the company, I never had much commerce with the in-house staff> — see RELATION 1
3 sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <rumors of commerce between the lady and the knight spread throughout the court> — see SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

commercial adjective
fit or likely to be sold especially on a large scale <the commercial fare produced by the Hollywood movie studios>

Synonyms
corporate, marketable, mass-market, salable (or saleable)

Related Words
mass-produced, wholesale

Antonyms
noncommercial, nonsalable, uncommercial, unmarketable, unsalable

commie noun
an adherent or advocate of an economic system in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state <alleged that commies had infiltrated every level of the federal government> — see COMMUNIST

commination noun
an often public or formal expression of disapproval <the tendency by some to regard every unfortunate natural disaster as a sign of the Almighty's commination of mankind's sinfulness> — see CENSURE

commingle verb
to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <commingled the remaining dry ingredients before adding them to the batter> — see BLEND 1

comminute verb
to reduce to fine particles <eons of incessant pounding by the waves have comminuted the once-rocky shoreline into a bed of fine-grained sand> — see POWDER

commiserate (with) verb
to have sympathy for <we commiserated with him but there was little we could do to make the situation better> — see PITY

commiseration noun
1 sorrow or the capacity to feel sorrow for another's suffering or misfortune <letters of commiseration sent to the hospitalized student> — see SYMPATHY 1
2 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <a heartless businessman with no commiseration for the less fortunate> — see HEART 1

commiserative adjective
having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another <the two passengers exchanged commiserative looks as another delay was announced over the loudspeaker> — see SYMPATHETIC 1

commissary noun
a person who acts or does business for another <will serve as commissary of religious education for the whole diocese> — see AGENT 2

commission noun
1 the granting of power to perform various acts or duties <President Jefferson's commission to Lewis and Clark to explore the Louisiana Territory>

Synonyms
accreditation, authorization, delegation, empowerment, license (or licence), mandate

Related Words
commendation, consignment, entrustment; facilitation, fostering, promotion; commanding, directing, ordering

2 the doing of an action <a single burglar was responsible for the commission of all the break-ins>

Synonyms
accomplishment, achievement, discharge, enactment, execution, fulfillment (or fulfilment), implementation, performance, perpetration, prosecution, pursuance

Related Words
dispatch, expedition; administration, direction, handling, management; application, operation, practice (also practise)

Antonyms
nonfulfillment, nonperformance

3 a select group of persons assigned to consider or take action on some matter <reported to a UN commission on the AIDS crisis> — see COMMITTEE
4 the state or fact of being chosen for a position or duty <her commission as head of the investigation> — see APPOINTMENT 1

commission verb
1 to appoint as one's representative <plans to commission a deputy to investigate the matter> — see DELEGATE 1
2 to give official or legal power to <was commissioned lieutenant> — see AUTHORIZE 1
3 to give a task, duty, or responsibility to <was commissioned to do the biography> — see ENTRUST 1
4 to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty <commissioned him to head the office of veterans affairs> — see APPOINT 2

commit verb
1 to carry through (as a process) to completion <accused of committing a felony> — see PERFORM 1
2 to obligate by prior agreement <we were committed to finishing the project> — see PLEDGE 1
3 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <commit only some power to each official> — see GIVE 2
4 to put in or as if in prison <committed the rapist to prison> — see IMPRISON

commitment noun
1 adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <his frequent absences made others question his commitment to the political campaign> — see FIDELITY
2 something one must do because of prior agreement <they made a commitment to pay the bill upon receipt of their order> — see OBLIGATION 1

committee noun
a select group of persons assigned to consider or take action on some matter <a committee in charge of planning the organization's annual Christmas party>

Synonyms
commission, panel

Related Words
standing committee, steering committee; subcommittee; delegation, mission; assembly, body, congress, convocation, council, synod

commix verb
to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <I learned which spices are commixed to make curry powder> — see BLEND 1

commodious adjective
more than adequate or average in capacity <a house with exceptionally commodious closets> — see SPACIOUS

commodity noun
1 one that has a real and independent existence <the docudrama really wasn't a commodity until the television networks started creating their own feature-length movies> — see ENTITY
2 commodities plural products that are bought and sold in business <commodities such as sugar and oil> — see MERCHANDISE

common adjective
1 often observed or encountered <horse ranches are a common sight in that part of the state>

Synonyms
common or garden [chiefly British], commonplace, everyday, familiar, frequent, garden-variety, household, ordinary, quotidian, routine, ubiquitous, usual

Related Words
normal, regular, standard; de rigueur, mandatory, obligatory; general, universal; ceaseless, constant, continual, continuous, incessant, unceasing; endemic, popular, prevailing, prevalent, rampant; perennial, recurrent, repeated

Phrases
a dime a dozen

Near Antonyms
aberrant, abnormal, irregular, unnatural; intermittent, occasional, sporadic

Antonyms
extraordinary, infrequent, rare, seldom, uncommon, unfamiliar, unusual

2 being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <just a common house cat but an extraordinary friend> — see ORDINARY 1
3 belonging or relating to the whole <facts of common knowledge> — see GENERAL 1
4 belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <a man of wealth and privilege who mingled without pretense with the common folk> — see IGNOBLE 1
5 held by or applicable to a majority of the people <a politician who works not for the special interests but for the common good> — see GENERAL 3
6 used or done by a number of people as a group <used a common bathroom while at the campground> — see COLLECTIVE
7 of average to below average quality <has a common singing voice that's good enough for performing at those venues> — see MEDIOCRE 1
8 of low quality <furniture of common workmanship that did not justify the high prices> — see CHEAP 2
9 lacking in refinement or good taste <embarrassed by the common manners of his new in-laws> — see COARSE 2

commonality noun
a point which two or more things share in common <one commonality between the two very different women is their passion for charity work> — see SIMILARITY 2

common denominator noun
a point which two or more things share in common <the only common denominator between the novel and the movie allegedly based on it appears to be the name of the main character> — see SIMILARITY 2

commoners plural noun
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite <the British nobles used to believe that they were fundamentally better than the commoners> — see MASS 1

commonly adverb
according to the usual course of things <the clusters of idle teens that can commonly be found hanging around any mall> — see NATURALLY 2

commonness noun
1 the fact or state of happening often <tardiness of as much commonness as the rising of the sun> — see FREQUENCY
2 the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste <the socialites were appalled by the newcomer's commonness> — see VULGARITY 1

common or garden adjective, chiefly British
often observed or encountered <lives in a common or garden row house in a nondescript suburb of London> — see COMMON 1

commonplace adjective
1 being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <a commonplace occurrence> — see ORDINARY 1
2 often observed or encountered <the large corporate mergers that have become commonplace> — see COMMON 1
3 used or heard so often as to be dull <a thriller that uses the commonplace plot twist of the evil twin> — see STALE 1

commonplace noun
an idea or expression that has been used by many people <the familiar summertime commonplace that “It's not the heat, it's the humidity”>

Synonyms
banality, bromide, chestnut, cliché (also cliche), groaner, homily, platitude, shibboleth, trope, truism

Related Words
conventional wisdom, party line, routine; inanity; generality, generalization, simplification; adage, proverb, saw, saying; old wives' tale, stereotype

Near Antonyms
profundity

commons plural noun
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite <the aristocracy feared what would happen if the commons were enfranchised> — see MASS 1

commonsense adjective
based on sound reasoning or information <the commonsense interpretation of this so-called mysterious sighting> — see GOOD 1

common sense noun
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters <common sense should tell you not to meet face-to-face with someone who is just an online acquaintance>

Synonyms
discreetness, discretion, gumption [chiefly dialect], horse sense, levelheadedness, nous [chiefly British], policy, prudence, sense, sensibleness, wisdom, wit

Related Words
street smarts; farsightedness, forehandedness, foresight, foresightedness, forethoughtfulness, judgment (or judgement); brains, gray matter, intelligence; logicality, logicalness, practicality, rationality, rationalness; discernment, discrimination, insight, sagacity, sapience; acumen, astuteness, clearheadedness, keenness, penetration, perspicacity, shrewdness; care, caution, circumspection, precaution, premeditation

Near Antonyms
shortsightedness; brainlessness, foolishness, half-wittedness, idiocy, senselessness, stupidity; carelessness, heedlessness; unreasonableness

Antonyms
imprudence, indiscretion

commonsensible adjective
based on sound reasoning or information <she takes a commonsensible approach to child rearing, blithely ignoring what the so-called experts suggest> — see GOOD 1

commonsensical adjective
based on sound reasoning or information <the only commonsensical solution would be to divide the children into groups according to age> — see GOOD 1

commonwealth noun
a body of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government <laws that will benefit all the citizens of the commonwealth> — see NATION 1

commotion noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <the commotion created when the nation's top rock band arrived in town>

Synonyms
ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother, bustle, clatter, clutter [chiefly dialect], coil, corroboree [Australian], disturbance, do [chiefly dialect], foofaraw, fun, furor, furore, fuss, helter-skelter, hoo-ha (also hoo-hah), hoopla, hubble-bubble, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly, hurly-burly, hurricane, hurry, hurry-scurry (or hurry-skurry), kerfuffle [chiefly British], moil, pandemonium, pother, row, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, shindy, splore [Scottish], squall, stew, stir, storm, to-do, tumult, turmoil, uproar, welter, whirl, williwaw, zoo

Related Words
cacophony, clamor, din, howl, hue and cry, noise, outcry, racket, roar; disorder, unrest, upheaval; eruption, flare-up, flurry, flutter, outbreak, outburst; brawl, fracas, fray, hassle, melee (also mêlée), scuffle; dither, fever, fret, lather, tizzy

Near Antonyms
calm, hush, peace, quiet, quietude, rest, stillness, tranquillity (or tranquility); order, orderliness

communal adjective
used or done by a number of people as a group <the swimming pool is part of the communal property of the condo complex> — see COLLECTIVE

commune verb
to form a close personal relationship <after a week in the wilderness, the scouts were really starting to commune with nature>

Synonyms
bond, click, relate

Related Words
befriend; empathize, identify, sympathize

Phrases
hit it off

communicable adjective
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another <communicable diseases that are usually transmitted sexually> — see CONTAGIOUS 1

communicate verb
1 to cause (something) to pass from one to another <the infected cook unknowingly communicated the disease to hundreds of people>

Synonyms
conduct, convey, give, impart, spread, transfer, transfuse, transmit

Related Words
deliver, hand over, surrender, turn over; broadcast, diffuse, disseminate, propagate; hand down, hand on; contaminate, infect, poison

Near Antonyms
catch, come down (with), contract

2 to engage in an exchange of information or ideas <for decades the two medical centers have been communicating about cancer research>

Synonyms
brainstorm, intercommunicate

Related Words
correspond; converse, talk; message; bond, commune, relate; accost, approach, board, contact

3 to make known (something abstract) through outward signs <his voice communicated a certain distrust and wariness> — see SHOW 2

communicate (with) verb
to transmit information or requests to <communicating with other ham radio enthusiasts> — see CONTACT

communication noun
1 a piece of conveyed information <the latest communication from the crew of the space station>

Synonyms
dispatch, message

Related Words
bulletin, communiqué, express [British], report; memo, memorandum, notice; epistle, letter, missive, note; electronic mail, e-mail, voice mail; intelligence, news, tidings, word; command, directive, instruction, order

2 the state or fact of being able to exchange information regarding one's current situation <we haven't been in communication with him since he left for the Alaskan wilderness> — see TOUCH 1

communion noun
a friendly relationship marked by ready communication and mutual understanding <gradually established a feeling of communion with her fellow physicians> — see RAPPORT

communiqué noun
a published statement informing the public of a matter of general interest <a White House communiqué> — see ANNOUNCEMENT

communist noun
an adherent or advocate of an economic system in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state <communists were plotting an overthrow of the government>

Synonyms
commie, comrade, Red, socialist

Related Words
leftist, lefty, pink, pinko, social democrat; Bolshevik, Leninist, Leninite, Maoist, Marxist, Stalinist, Trotskyist, Trotskyite; extremist, radical, revolutionary, revolutionist

Antonyms
capitalist

community noun
1 the people living in a particular area <the whole community rallied to the aid of the family who had lost its home>

Synonyms
neighborhood

Related Words
city, commune, hamlet, town, village; denizens, dwellers, inhabitants, residents; citizenry, culture, people, populace, public, society

2 a group of people with a common interest living in one place <a picturesque seacoast village that is known for its sizable community of artists>

Synonyms
colony

Related Words
circle, clique, coterie, set, society; band, company, troop; clan, family

3 a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <a large community of retired people in the coastal town> — see GANG 2
4 the body of people in a profession or field of activity <members of the medical community> — see CORPS
5 the quality or state of having many qualities in common <there's a community of aesthetics that makes a very modern-looking gallery an especially appropriate setting for primitive art> — see SIMILARITY 1
6 the feeling of closeness and friendship that exists between companions <interactive features that are designed to foster a sense of community among the visitors to the Web site> — see COMPANIONSHIP

commutable adjective
capable of being substituted in place of one another <for most of the book's recipes, fresh and dried herbs are not commutable> — see INTERCHANGEABLE

commutation noun
a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another <an international commutation of food for oil> — see EXCHANGE 1

commute verb
to give up (something) and take something else in return <commuting foreign currency to domestic> — see CHANGE 3

comp noun
something given to someone without expectation of a return <this hotel offers its guests more comps, including a free bottle of champagne, than most in its class> — see GIFT 1

compact adjective
1 having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure <a mattress with a compact foam core> — see FIRM 2
2 having little space between items or parts <compact soil that should provide good support for the plant> — see CLOSE 1
3 marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <compact prose without a single wasted word> — see CONCISE

compact noun
1 a formal agreement between two or more nations or peoples <a five-nation compact to control drug traffic> — see TREATY
2 an arrangement about action to be taken <the two made a compact never to artificially prolong the other's life in the event of incapacitating illness or injury> — see AGREEMENT 2

compact verb
1 to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control <the media giant decided to compact all of its far-flung operations onto a single site> — see CENTRALIZE
2 to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together <compact the snow into a tight ball for throwing> — see COMPRESS 1

compacting noun
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing <the compacting of wool fibers into felt> — see COMPRESSION

compaction noun
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing <the compaction of a complex topic into a short article means that a lot of niceties are going to get crushed> — see COMPRESSION

compactly adverb
in a few words <write the instructions as compactly as possible> — see SHORTLY 1

compactness noun
the quality or state of being marked by or using only few words to convey much meaning <the compactness of his prose requires a close, careful reading> — see SUCCINCTNESS

compadre noun
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another <they're longtime compadres who have been through a lot together> — see FRIEND 1

companion noun
1 a person frequently seen in the company of another <the reckless companions of one's youth> — see ASSOCIATE 1
2 one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy <a dapper gentleman who's a frequent companion of widowed dowagers at society galas> — see ESCORT
3 either of a pair matched in one or more qualities <a sketch that is a companion to the original drawing> — see MATE 1
4 something that is found along with something else <the report and its companion recommendations for action> — see ACCOMPANIMENT

companion verb
to go along with in order to provide assistance, protection, or companionship <movie heroes are often companioned by wisecracking sidekicks> — see ACCOMPANY 1

companionable adjective
1 having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <a companionable pat on the back let me know that my shipmates were now my friends> — see FRIENDLY 1
2 likely to seek or enjoy the company of others <a good club for companionable enthusiasts of the great outdoors> — see CONVIVIAL

companionship noun
the feeling of closeness and friendship that exists between companions <the widow's pet cats provided her with her only companionship>

Synonyms
brotherhood, camaraderie, community, company, comradery, comradeship, fellowship, society

Related Words
amity, benevolence, cordiality, friendliness, friendship, goodwill, kindliness; civility, comity, concord, harmony, rapport; charity, generosity; affinity, compassion, empathy, sympathy; chumminess, familiarity, inseparability, intimacy, nearness; affection, devotion, fondness, love

Near Antonyms
forlornness, loneliness, lonesomeness

company noun
1 an organized group of stage performers <a city that is fortunate enough to have two thriving opera companies>

Synonyms
troop, troupe

Related Words
stock company; cast, dramatis personae, ensemble

2 a group of people working together on a task <a company of carpenters constructed the frame of the house in no time> — see GANG 1
3 a commercial or industrial activity or organization <she works for a construction company> — see ENTERPRISE 1
4 the feeling of closeness and friendship that exists between companions <enjoying each other's company> — see COMPANIONSHIP
5 a position within view <I would prefer that you not mock your so-called friends while in my company> — see PRESENCE 1

company verb
1 to come or be together as friends <in her sermon the minister noted that Jesus had companied with the least privileged and most disadvantaged members of society> — see ASSOCIATE 1
2 to go along with in order to provide assistance, protection, or companionship <may the Good Lord company you on your journey home> — see ACCOMPANY 1

comparability noun
the quality or state of having many qualities in common <there's little comparability between the two vehicles: one's basic transportation and the other's a luxurious salon on wheels> — see SIMILARITY 1

comparable adjective
having qualities in common <two comparable selections that are hard to choose between> — see ALIKE

comparative adjective
being such only when compared to something else <if you consider the multimillionaire's yearly income, we're living in comparative poverty>

Synonyms
almost, approximate, near, relative

Related Words
alike, comparable, similar; equal, equivalent

Near Antonyms
genuine, real, true

Antonyms
absolute, complete, downright, out-and-out, outright, perfect, pure, unqualified

compare verb
1 to describe as similar <reviews that compared the adventure movie to a thrilling ride on a roller coaster>

Synonyms
analogize, assimilate, bracket, equate, liken

Related Words
associate, connect, couple, link; allude, refer, relate; equal, match, parallel

Antonyms
contrast

2 to regard or represent as equal or comparable <compared the restaurant's food to the nectar of the gods> — see EQUATE 1

compare (with) verb
to come near or nearer to in character or quality <nothing compares with the literary achievement of Shakespeare> — see APPROXIMATE

compartment noun
one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided <a backpack with many handy compartments for storing your camping gear>

Synonyms
bay, cabin, cell, chamber, cube, cubicle

Related Words
cubbyhole, pigeonhole, snuggery [chiefly British]; alcove, niche, nook, recess; cabinet, drawer, locker; cavity, hole, hollow; booth, box, crib, loge, stall; bunker, crypt, vault

compartment verb
to arrange or assign according to type <compartment the responses according to country of origin> — see CLASSIFY 1

compartmentalize verb
to arrange or assign according to type <we shouldn't compartmentalize the students into such restrictive categories as scholar and athlete, which are not mutually exclusive> — see CLASSIFY 1

compass noun
1 a guiding or motivating purpose or principle <a young go-getter who lost his moral compass in the course of his quest for fame and fortune>

Synonyms
cynosure, direction, focus, lodestar (also loadstar), polestar

Related Words
benchmark, criterion, grade, mark, measure, par, standard, touchstone, yardstick; aim, ambition, aspiration, dream, goal, intention, object, objective, purpose, target

2 an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends <within the compass of my voice> — see RANGE 2
3 the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <within the compass of the city walls> — see BORDER 1

compass verb
1 to carry through (as a process) to completion <attempting more than his modest abilities could compass> — see PERFORM 1
2 to travel completely around <the great age of exploration, when ships of sail compassed the earth> — see ENCIRCLE 1
3 to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends <the rebels are compassing the assassination of the king> — see PLOT
4 to form a circle around <a mysterious isle, compassed by treacherous seas> — see SURROUND
5 to have a clear idea of <the concept that the earth is billions of years old is one that the average mind struggles to compass> — see COMPREHEND 1

compassion noun
1 sorrow or the capacity to feel sorrow for another's suffering or misfortune <treats the homeless with great compassion> — see SYMPATHY 1
2 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <has no compassion for people who squander their money> — see HEART 1

compassionate adjective
1 having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others <a compassionate person by nature> — see HUMANE 1
2 having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another <a compassionate smile made the refugees feel a little better> — see SYMPATHETIC 1

compassionate verb
to have sympathy for <a gentle soul who could compassionate even the most reprobate of scoundrels and villains> — see PITY

compassionateness noun
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others <the unfailing compassionateness of the staff at the hospice> — see BENIGNANCY

compassionless adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <shocked by the mother's compassionless treatment of her autistic child> — see HARD 1

compatibility noun
peaceful coexistence <the remarkable compatibility of roommates from such widely divergent backgrounds> — see HARMONY 2

compatible adjective
1 having or marked by agreement in feeling or action <didn't think that they'd be compatible as roommates> — see HARMONIOUS 3
2 not having or showing any apparent conflict <a theory that is compatible with what we already know about early man> — see CONSISTENT

compatriot noun
1 a person living in or originally from the same country as another <an appeal to all of his compatriots to come to their country's aid in its hour of need>

Synonyms
countryman, landsman

Related Words
countrywoman; nationalist, patriot; citizen, national, subject; aborigine, native; homeboy, resident

Near Antonyms
alien, foreigner, immigrant, outsider

2 a person frequently seen in the company of another <doesn't indulge in the lavish lifestyle of his compatriots in the movie business> — see ASSOCIATE 1

1compeer noun
a person frequently seen in the company of another <like so many of his twentysomething compeers, he just had to get a tattoo> — see ASSOCIATE 1

2compeer noun
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value <contends that no military commander of modern times ranks as the compeer of Alexander the Great> — see EQUAL

compel verb
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <public opinion compelled her to fire her scandal-plagued aide> — see FORCE 1

compellation noun
a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known <apparently no one dares to enter the world of professional wrestling without a catchy compellation> — see NAME 1

compelling adjective
1 having the power to persuade <made a compelling argument against military intervention> — see COGENT
2 needing immediate attention <no compelling need to raise taxes at this time> — see ACUTE 2

compendious adjective
1 covering everything or all important points <her compendious knowledge of the monarch butterfly> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC
2 marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <a compendious summary of the referendum before the voters> — see CONCISE

compendium noun
a collection of writings <a book entirely devoted to poodles—a compendium of writings by breeders, trainers, and others in love with the breed> — see ANTHOLOGY

compensate verb
1 to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury <you'll have to compensate the neighbors for cutting down their tree>

Synonyms
indemnify, recompense, recoup, remunerate, requite, satisfy

Related Words
refund, reimburse, repay; redress, remedy, repair; discharge, pay, quit

2 to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received <compensate them well for their efforts> — see PAY 1

compensate (for) verb
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective <a mafioso thinking that he can compensate for the evil he's done by giving to charity> — see OFFSET

compensation noun
1 payment to another for a loss or injury <a warehouse worker who received a large compensation for his crippling injury while on the job>

Synonyms
damages, indemnification, indemnity, quittance, recompense, recoupment, redress, remuneration, reparation, reprisal(s), requital, restitution, satisfaction

Related Words
punitive damage, solatium; amends, atonement, expiation; refund, reimbursement, repayment; adjustment, settlement; punishment, retaliation

2 something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services <fair compensation for his work on the project> — see PAYMENT 2
3 the act of offering money in exchange for goods or services <his generous compensation was greatly appreciated> — see PAYMENT 1

compete verb
to engage in a contest <prizefighters competing for the world heavyweight championship>

Synonyms
battle, contend, face off, fight, race, rival, vie

Related Words
challenge, engage, play; jockey, jostle, maneuver; go out, try out; train, work

competence noun
the physical or mental power to do something <questioned his competence to finish the task without help> — see ABILITY

competency noun
the physical or mental power to do something <she's proved that she has the competency to run a major company> — see ABILITY

competent adjective
1 having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance <any competent mechanic should be able to fix that>

Synonyms
able, capable, equal, fit, good, qualified, suitable

Related Words
accomplished, ace, adept, experienced, expert, master, masterful, masterly, practiced (also practised), proficient, seasoned, skilled, skillful, veteran; overqualified; prepared, schooled, trained; apt, ready, willing; all-around (also all-round), protean, versatile

Phrases
on the ball

Near Antonyms
inexperienced, inexpert, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful; unprepared, unschooled, untrained; beginning, green, new, raw, untested, untried

Antonyms
incompetent, inept, poor, unfit, unfitted, unqualified

2 being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong <the arbiter has all the necessary information to make a competent decision on the matter> — see JUST 1

competently adverb
in a skillful or expert manner <performed the piece at least competently, if not superbly> — see WELL 3

competition noun
1 a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize <a competition between two fierce football rivals> — see GAME 1
2 one who strives for the same thing as another <tried to analyze his major competition in the tennis tournament> — see COMPETITOR
3 an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <the intense competition for bragging rights to being the city's best French restaurant> — see CONTEST 1

competitor noun
one who strives for the same thing as another <the competitors for this prestigious science award come from the best high schools in the country>

Synonyms
challenger, competition, contender, contestant, corrival, rival

Related Words
archrival; finalist, semifinalist; also-ran, entrant, entry, player; adversary, antagonist, opponent

Antonyms
noncompetitor

compilation noun
a collection of writings <the poet bound a compilation of her best work into a single volume> — see ANTHOLOGY

compile verb
to bring together from several sources into a single volume or list <compiled the best short stories ever written into one fat book>

Synonyms
anthologize, collect

Related Words
edit, recompile, redact, redraft, reedit, revamp, revise, rework; accumulate, amass, assemble, collate, gather, group

complacence noun
1 an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <the complacence of some of the rich kids at the exclusive private school>

Synonyms
amour propre, bighead, complacency, conceit, conceitedness, ego, egotism, pomposity, pompousness, pride, pridefulness, self-admiration, self-assumption, self-conceit, self-congratulation, self-esteem, self-glory, self-importance, self-love, self-opinion, self-satisfaction, smugness, swelled head, swellheadedness, vaingloriousness, vainglory, vainness, vanity

Related Words
assurance, confidence, self-assurance, self-confidence; self-righteousness; arrogance, disdainfulness, haughtiness, imperiousness, lordliness, self-assertion, snobbishness, superciliousness, superiority; hubris, overconfidence, presumption; pretense (or pretence), pretension, pretentiousness; egoism, self-centeredness, selfishness; self-pride, self-respect

Near Antonyms
diffidence, self-doubt; self-disgust, self-hate, self-loathing; altruism, unselfishness; bashfulness, demureness, shyness, timidity, timidness; passiveness, passivity

Antonyms
humbleness, humility, modesty

2 lack of interest or concern <someone who displayed a startling complacence toward his own financial plight> — see INDIFFERENCE

complacency noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <a momentary complacency that was quickly dispelled by the shock of cold reality> — see COMPLACENCE 1

complacent adjective
1 having or showing a lack of interest or concern <the auditors were taken aback by his complacent response to their findings of fraud> — see INDIFFERENT 1
2 having too high an opinion of oneself <a complacent junior exec who was certain of his indispensability to the company> — see CONCEITED

complain verb
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <the time-honored tradition of new recruits complaining about the food in the mess hall>

Synonyms
beef, bellyache, bitch, bleat, carp, caterwaul, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grizzle, grouch, grouse, growl, grumble, grump, holler, inveigh, keen, kick, kvetch, maunder [chiefly British], moan, murmur, mutter, nag, repine, scream, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, whinge [British], yammer, yawp (or yaup), yowl

Related Words
object (to), protest, quarrel (with); cavil, quibble; fret, stew, worry; blubber, cry, sob; bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament

Phrases
kick up a fuss

Near Antonyms
accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate; applaud, cheer, commend

Antonyms
crow, delight, rejoice

complainant noun
the person in a legal proceeding who makes a charge of wrongdoing against another <the complainant charged that the defendant had broken the ironclad contract that both had signed>

Synonyms
plaintiff, suer

Related Words
accuser; litigant, party, suitor; appellant, petitioner, pleader

Near Antonyms
accused

Antonyms
defendant

complainer noun
1 a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things <she early on got a reputation as a complainer after finding fault with her work space> — see CRYBABY
2 an irritable and complaining person <a chronic complainer> — see GROUCH 1

complaint noun
1 an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <a warning that if there were any more complaints, we were turning around and not going to the beach after all>

Synonyms
beef, bitch, bleat, carp, fuss, grievance, gripe, grouch, grouse, grumble, holler, kvetch, lament, miserere, moan, murmur, plaint, squawk, wail, whimper, whine, whinge [British], yammer

Related Words
challenge, demur, expostulation, kick, niggle [chiefly British], objection, protest, quibble, remonstrance, stink

Near Antonyms
commendation, compliment, plaudit; acclaim, applause, praise; approval, endorsement (also indorsement), sanction

2 a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent <the condo development proceeded despite the complaints of the neighborhood residents> — see OBJECTION
3 a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person <filed a complaint in court> — see CHARGE 1
4 an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <takes a slew of medicines for his many complaints> — see DISEASE

complaisance noun
a desire or disposition to please <the complaisance of his girlfriend is such that she meekly goes along with everything he says>

Synonyms
amenability, amiability, good-naturedness

Related Words
affability, amicability, amicableness, congeniality, cordiality, friendliness, geniality, sociability; agreeableness, graciousness, pleasantness; kindheartedness, kindliness, warmheartedness; acquiescence, compliance, docility, passivity, submissiveness

Near Antonyms
disagreeableness, sullenness, surliness, ungraciousness; disobedience, intractability, recalcitrance

compleat adjective
1 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <a training course that transformed the former technophobe into the compleat computer geek almost overnight> — see PROFICIENT
2 not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it <an exhaustive how-to guide for anyone planning the compleat wedding> — see COMPLETE 1

complement noun
1 something that serves to complete or make up for a deficiency in something else <with his practicality and her refreshing enthusiasm, they are perfect complements to each other>

Synonyms
correlate, supplement

Related Words
addendum, addition, appendix; adjunct, annex, appendage, extension; accessory (also accessary), accompaniment, appliance, attachment; additive, filler

2 the largest number or amount that something can hold <a full complement of sailors on the ship> — see CAPACITY 1

complement verb
to serve as a completing element to <this silk handkerchief will complement your suit very nicely and give it a bit of dash>

Synonyms
complete, round (off or out)

Related Words
finish (off), flesh (out); adorn, beautify, decorate, embellish; better, enhance, improve; constitute, form, make up; enrich, perfect

complementary adjective
related to each other in such a way that one completes the other <the complementary contributions of the cooking and cleanup committees were essential to the success of the church barbecue>

Synonyms
correlative, reciprocal, supplemental, supplementary

Related Words
cooperative, mutual, symbiotic; collective, combined, common, communal, conjoint, joint, shared, united

Antonyms
noncomplementary, nonreciprocal

complete adjective
1 not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it <a complete deck of cards>

Synonyms
compleat, comprehensive, entire, full, grand, intact, integral, perfect, plenary, total, whole

Related Words
unabridged, uncut, undiminished; all-out, exhaustive, extensive, maximal; full-blooded, full-blown, full-bore, full-fledged, full-on, full-out, full-scale

Near Antonyms
abbreviated, abridged, cut, diminished, reduced

Antonyms
imperfect, incomplete, partial

2 brought or having come to an end <your education is never complete—there's always something more to learn>

Synonyms
completed, concluded, done, down, ended, finished, over, over with, terminated, through, up

Related Words
accomplished, achieved, attained, compassed, realized; dead, defunct, extinct, kaput (also kaputt), obsolete; expired

Phrases
out of hand, out of the way

Antonyms
continuing, incomplete, ongoing, uncompleted, undone, unfinished

3 covering everything or all important points <will present complete coverage of the tennis tournament> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC
4 having no exceptions or restrictions <he's a complete lunatic> — see ABSOLUTE 2
5 trying all possibilities <a complete search of the computer file> — see EXHAUSTIVE 1
6 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <a riding school that will teach you all skills required of the complete equestrian> — see PROFICIENT

complete verb
1 to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done <managed to complete the assignment with time to spare> — see FINISH 1
2 to serve as a completing element to <the bird's beautiful song simply completes its appeal for pet owners> — see COMPLEMENT
3 to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point <the well-attended concert completed a great weekend of arts and entertainment events> — see CLOSE 3
4 to do what is required by the terms of <no payments will be made until the contract is completed> — see FULFILL 1

completed adjective
brought or having come to an end <unlike most completed construction projects, this one came in under budget> — see COMPLETE 2

completely adverb
1 to a full extent or degree <she waited until we were completely finished before starting the next part> — see FULLY 1
2 with attention to all aspects or details <an allegation that was completely investigated and found to be groundless> — see THOROUGHLY 1

completeness noun
the quality or state of being without restriction, exception, or qualification <the completeness of my respect for the theory of relativity is in no way diminished by the incompleteness of my understanding of the details> — see ENTIRENESS

complex adjective
1 having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <this camera is a complex instrument that requires careful handling> <complex issues regarding free speech and school discipline>

Synonyms
baroque, byzantine, complicate, complicated, convoluted, daedal, elaborate, intricate, involute, involved, knotty, labyrinthian, labyrinthine, sophisticated, tangled

Related Words
overcomplex, overcomplicated; composite, compound, heterogeneous, mixed, multibranched, multifaceted, multifarious, multipart, varied; challenging, difficult, tough; impenetrable, incomprehensible, inexplicable, Kafkaesque, unfathomable, unintelligible

Near Antonyms
oversimplified, simplified, simplistic; homogeneous, uniform, unvaried

Antonyms
noncomplex, noncomplicated, plain, simple, uncomplicated

2 made or done with great care or with much detail <a complex plan for evacuating the city in the event of a natural disaster> — see ELABORATE 1

complex noun
1 a structure that is designed and built for a particular purpose <an apartment complex> — see FACILITY
2 something made up of many interdependent or related parts <a complex of goverment programs designed to assist the needy> — see SYSTEM 1

complex verb
to make complex or difficult <there's no need to complex what should be a simple process for obtaining a building permit> — see COMPLICATE 1

complexify verb
to make complex or difficult <my proposal would simplify the process, whereas yours would needlessly complexify it> — see COMPLICATE 1

complexion noun
1 the hue or appearance of the skin and especially of the face <a sunscreen for people with very light complexions>

Synonyms
color, coloring

Related Words
shade, tint, tone; features, lineaments, looks; countenance, face, visage

2 the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others <changing the complexion of the department to reflect changing needs> — see NATURE 1

complexity noun
1 the state or quality of having many interrelated parts or aspects <the complexity of the company's computer system is such that a full-time repairman is needed>

Synonyms
complexness, complicacy, complicatedness, complication, elaborateness, intricacy, intricateness, involution, knottiness, sophistication

Related Words
diversity, heterogeneity, heterogeneousness, multifariousness; impenetrability, incomprehensibility, inexplicability

Near Antonyms
simplification; homogeneity, uniformity

Antonyms
plainness, simpleness, simplicity

2 something that makes a situation more complicated or difficult <the political complexities that the secretary-general must deal with> — see COMPLICATION 1

complexness noun
the state or quality of having many interrelated parts or aspects <a coffee-making machine of such staggering complexness as to be worthy of Rube Goldberg himself> — see COMPLEXITY 1

compliance noun
1 a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others <a strong-willed pop star who is not known for her compliance>

Synonyms
acquiescence, biddability, compliancy, deference, docility, obedience, submissiveness

Related Words
amenability, amiability, complaisance, good-naturedness; obsequiousness, servility, slavishness, subservience, subserviency; conformity; cooperativeness, receptiveness, receptivity; humoring, indulgence; acceptance, assent, consent; capitulation, submission, surrender; affability, amicability, congeniality, cordiality, friendliness, geniality, sociability

Near Antonyms
animosity, antipathy, enmity, hostility, ill will

Antonyms
defiance, disobedience, intractability, recalcitrance

2 a bending to the authority or control of another <an administrator who demands prompt and unquestioning compliance from his subordinates> — see OBEDIENCE 1
3 the following of a custom, rule, or law <compliance with the statute was far from universal> — see OBSERVANCE 1

compliancy noun
a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others <a husband who apparently doesn't know that the days of wifely compliancy are over> — see COMPLIANCE 1

compliant adjective
readily giving in to the command or authority of another <a corrupt regime aided by a compliant press> — see OBEDIENT

complicacy noun
1 something that makes a situation more complicated or difficult <the difference in time zones was yet another complicacy that had to be dealt with> — see COMPLICATION 1
2 the state or quality of having many interrelated parts or aspects <the complicacy of the theory of relativity is such that it cannot be reduced to a few words that are readily comprehensible to the layman> — see COMPLEXITY 1

complicate adjective
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <the kind of complicate machinery that is used in the field of robotics> — see COMPLEX 1

complicate verb
1 to make complex or difficult <the need to go to both a PTA conference and condo board meeting really complicates tonight's schedule>

Synonyms
complex, complexify, embarrass, entangle, perplex, sophisticate

Related Words
develop, elaborate, expand; intensify, magnify; confound, confuse, mess (up), mix (up), muddle; snarl, tangle

Near Antonyms
abbreviate, cut, shorten; ease, facilitate; disentangle, straighten (out), unravel, untangle; oversimplify

Antonyms
simplify, streamline

2 to make more severe <asthma that has recently been complicated by a bout of bronchitis> — see EXACERBATE

complicated adjective
1 having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <a complicated apparatus> — see COMPLEX 1
2 made or done with great care or with much detail <complicated plans for redeveloping the urban slum that involve both the private and public sectors> — see ELABORATE 1

complicatedness noun
the state or quality of having many interrelated parts or aspects <the complicatedness of the home theater system may require that it be installed by a professional> — see COMPLEXITY 1

complication noun
1 something that makes a situation more complicated or difficult <the food allergies of the guests were just another complication for the couple trying to plan their wedding reception>

Synonyms
complexity, complicacy, convolution, difficulty, intricacy

Related Words
aftereffect, ramification, side effect (also side reaction); subtlety, technicality; annoyance, bitch, bother, headache, inconvenience, matter, trouble

Phrases
fly in the ointment

2 an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <complications set in after the surgery> — see DISEASE
3 the state or quality of having many interrelated parts or aspects <a problem of such irreducible complication as to defy any easy solution> — see COMPLEXITY 1

complicity noun
a secret agreement or cooperation between two parties for an illegal or dishonest purpose <the two major auction houses acting in complicity to drive up the prices of art works> — see COLLUSION

compliment noun
1 an admiring personal remark <a woman who does not know how to accept a compliment graciously>

Synonyms
bouquet, kudo

Related Words
accolade, citation, commendation, encomium, eulogy, homage, paean, panegyric, salutation, tribute, valentine

Near Antonyms
affront, barb, dart, dig, epithet, insult, put-down, slight, slur

2 compliments plural best wishes <please extend our compliments to the chef for a great meal>

Synonyms
commendations [archaic], congratulations, felicitations, greetings, regards, respects

Related Words
approval, benediction, blessing, endorsement (also indorsement); acknowledgment (or acknowledgement), citation, commendation; adulation, flattery, praise; well-wishing

Near Antonyms
dig, gibe (or jibe), insult, put-down, taunt

compliment verb
to express to (someone) admiration for his or her success or good fortune <complimented her on her election victory> — see CONGRATULATE

complimentarily adverb
in an approving manner <a gigantic mall that was complimentarily hailed by its developer as “a total shopping experience”> — see ADMIRINGLY

complimentary adjective
1 expressing approval <the novel received overwhelmingly complimentary reviews> — see FAVORABLE 1
2 not costing or charging anything <the airline will continue to give out complimentary soft drinks on all domestic flights> — see FREE 4

comply (with) verb
1 to act according to the commands of <the guards rushed to comply with the warden's orders> — see OBEY
2 to do what is required by the terms of <were summarily threatened with a lawsuit if they did not comply with the contract> — see FULFILL 1

component noun
one of the parts that make up a whole <each set is composed of several distinct components> — see ELEMENT 1

comport verb
1 to be in agreement on every point <an outfit that most definitely does not comport with the company's guidelines for dress-down days> — see CHECK 1
2 to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way <the grieving relatives comported themselves with grace and dignity during that difficult time> — see BEHAVE

comportment noun
the way or manner in which one conducts oneself <the comportment of visitors who know that they are in effect their country's goodwill ambassadors> — see BEHAVIOR

compose verb
1 to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form <composed a statement on this hot-button issue that managed to satisfy absolutely no one>

Synonyms
cast, craft, draft, draw up, formulate, frame, prepare

Related Words
fabricate, fashion, form, mold, sculpture, shape; couch, express, phrase, state, verbalize, word; author, indite, pen, write; conceive, concoct, devise; build, construct, make; assemble, compound, piece (together); redraft, reformulate, reframe

Phrases
put together

2 to be all the substance of <the earth's crust is composed of mostly silicon with several other elements in smaller amounts> — see CONSTITUTE 1
3 to free from distress or disturbance <the first order of business was to compose the injured pedestrian> — see CALM 1
4 to gain emotional or mental control of <she took a deep breath and composed herself> — see COLLECT 1

composed adjective
free from emotional or mental agitation <stayed composed and focused despite all of the distractions> — see CALM 2

composedness noun
evenness of emotions or temper <he coped with the medical emergency with his usual composedness> — see EQUANIMITY

composer noun
a person who writes musical compositions <a versatile composer whose works include operas, symphonies, concertos, and sonatas>

Synonyms
melodist, musician

Related Words
cocomposer; songsmith, songwriter, tunesmith; symphonist; arranger, orchestrator (also orchestrater), scorer; librettist, lyricist, lyrist

composite adjective
made from the joining of two or more parts or elements <the movie's special effects included the use of many composite photographs>

Synonyms
amalgamated, compound

Related Words
blended, combined, commingled, mingled, mixed; coalescent, fused, integrated; interlaced, intermixed, intertwined, interwoven; cut-and-paste

Near Antonyms
uncombined, unmixed

Antonyms
noncompound, simple

composite noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <a striking composite of two separate images> — see BLEND

composite verb
to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <wood chips can be composited or sold as mulch> — see BLEND 1

composition noun
1 a literary, musical, or artistic production <the compositions of Michelangelo include the dome of St. Peter's, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and his monumental statue of David>

Synonyms
number, opus, piece, work

Related Words
classic, magnum opus, masterpiece, pièce de résistance, showpiece; model, outline, sketch; étude; canon, corpus, oeuvre

2 a short piece of writing done as a school exercise <a teacher who is fond of having her class write compositions>

Synonyms
paper, theme

Related Words
article, essay, story

3 the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged <student photographers learn the importance of composition in creating striking images>

Synonyms
arrangement, configuration, constellation, design, form, format, getup, layout, makeup, ordonnance, pattern

Related Words
motif, theme

4 a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view <submitted a composition to the local newspaper for its special section marking Martin Luther King Day> — see ESSAY 1

compos mentis adjective
having full use of one's mind and control over one's actions <went to court to prove that her grandmother was no longer compos mentis and needed a legal guardian> — see SANE

composure noun
evenness of emotions or temper <kept his composure in spite of the repeated provocations> — see EQUANIMITY

compound adjective
made from the joining of two or more parts or elements <a compound word> — see COMPOSITE

compound noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <mixed the chemicals together to form a new compound> — see BLEND

compound verb
1 to make greater in size, amount, or number <we compounded our error by waiting too long to call for help> — see INCREASE 1
2 to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole <the German language's propensity for compounding words> — see CONNECT 1

comprehend verb
1 to have a clear idea of <the age at which children can comprehend the difference between right and wrong>

Synonyms
appreciate, apprehend, assimilate, behold, catch, catch on (to), cognize, compass, conceive, cotton (to or on to), decipher, decode, dig, discern, get, grasp, grok, intuit, know, make, make out, perceive, recognize, register, savvy, see, seize, sense, tumble (to), twig, understand

Related Words
absorb, digest, take in; realize; fathom, penetrate, pierce

Phrases
pick up on

Near Antonyms
misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstand

Antonyms
miss

2 to have a practical understanding of <it took me a while to comprehend algebra> — see KNOW 1
3 to have as part of a whole <our notion of morality should comprehend much more than proper sexual behavior> — see INCLUDE 1

comprehendible adjective
capable of being understood <much of what the theoretical physicist wrote is hardly comprehendible by the average person> — see INTELLIGIBLE

comprehensible adjective
capable of being understood <a book that makes the subject of longitude comprehensible to most laymen> — see INTELLIGIBLE

comprehension noun
the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something <the president's comprehension of the current situation in the Middle East>

Synonyms
appreciation, apprehension, grasp, grip, hold, perception, percipience, understanding

Related Words
absorption, assimilation, digestion, uptake; conception, visualization; awareness, consciousness, enlightenment, realization

Near Antonyms
misapprehension, miscomprehension, misinterpretation, misperception, misunderstanding

Antonyms
incomprehension, noncomprehension

comprehensive adjective
1 covering everything or all important points <a comprehensive overview of European history since the French Revolution> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC
2 not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it <a comprehensive listing of all the paintings generally attributed to the Dutch artist Rembrandt> — see COMPLETE 1
3 trying all possibilities <comprehensive plans for covering just about any conceivable terrorist attack> — see EXHAUSTIVE 1

comprehensively adverb
with attention to all aspects or details <no period in American history has been as comprehensively studied as the Civil War> — see THOROUGHLY 1

compress verb
1 to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together <a science textbook that compresses a lot of information about human reproduction into a few short chapters>

Synonyms
capsule, capsulize, collapse, compact, condense, constrict, constringe, contract, narrow (down), squeeze, telescope

Related Words
cram, crowd, jam, jam-pack, pack; abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten; boil down, downsize, shrink; concentrate, consolidate; simplify, streamline; decrease, diminish, lessen

Near Antonyms
dilate, disperse, dissipate, scatter; distend, inflate, swell

Antonyms
decompress, expand, open, outspread, outstretch

2 to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter <the substance can compress under pressure> — see CONTRACT 2

compression noun
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing <the compression of a long, complicated story into a two-hour movie is never easy>

Synonyms
compacting, compaction, condensation, condensing, constricting, constriction, contracting, contraction, squeeze, squeezing, telescoping

Related Words
abbreviation, abridgment (or abridgement), curtailment, shortening; concentration, consolidation; simplification, streamlining; decreasing, diminishment, lessening

Near Antonyms
dilation, dispersion, dissipation, scattering; distension (or distention), inflation, swelling

Antonyms
decompression, expansion

comprise verb
1 to be made up of <the mall comprises three department stores and 80 smaller shops selling specialized goods>

Synonyms
consist (of), contain, muster

Related Words
comprehend, embrace, encompass, entail, include, involve, take in; assimilate, embody, incorporate

2 to be all the substance of <at the time, about 100,000 fighting men and women comprised our military force in that country> — see CONSTITUTE 1

compromise noun
the act or practice of each side giving up something in order to reach an agreement <eventually we reached a compromise on the number of hours per week that would be devoted to piano practice> — see CONCESSION 1

compromise verb
1 to place in danger <officials at the state department were concerned that his statements would compromise national security> — see ENDANGER
2 to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <the deletion of several critical points for space considerations really compromised the essay> — see DAMAGE 1

compulsion noun
the use of power to impose one's will on another <in that class I read books under compulsion that I ordinarily wouldn't have considered> — see FORCE 2

compulsive adjective
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge <his compulsive clowning around can sometimes be annoying>

Synonyms
besetting, driven, impulsive, obsessional, obsessive

Related Words
irrepressible, uncontrollable; automatic, instinctive, involuntary, knee-jerk, reflex, spontaneous; conditioned, mechanical; unconscious, unthinking, unwitting; capricious, unpredictable, whimsical

Near Antonyms
unforced, voluntary, willful (or wilful); controllable, manageable, resistible

compulsory adjective
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law <compulsory retirement at age 70> — see MANDATORY

compunction noun
an uneasy feeling about the rightness of what one is doing or going to do <throughout her school years she cheated without compunction> — see QUALM

compunctious adjective
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done <he appeared not the least bit compunctious about ditching his date at the bar and walking off with the woman he had just met> — see CONTRITE

computation noun
the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value <we were able to divide the dinner bill fairly with a little computation> — see CALCULATION

compute verb
to determine (a value) by doing the necessary mathematical operations <for the test we were required to compute the answers without using a calculator> — see CALCULATE 1

comrade noun
1 a person frequently seen in the company of another <the boy, and two others who are known to be his comrades, are wanted for questioning by the police> — see ASSOCIATE 1
2 a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another <we expect to be comrades for the rest of our lives> — see FRIEND 1
3 an adherent or advocate of an economic system in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state <a novel about an aging comrade's eventual disenchantment with communism and its excesses> — see COMMUNIST

comradely adjective
having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <a comradely handshake from an old friend whom he hadn't seen in years> — see FRIENDLY 1

comradery noun
the feeling of closeness and friendship that exists between companions <the special comradery that exists between soldiers that have experienced the crucible of combat together> — see COMPANIONSHIP

comradeship noun
the feeling of closeness and friendship that exists between companions <nursing home residents are able to offer each other support and comradeship> — see COMPANIONSHIP

1con noun
a person convicted as a criminal and serving a prison sentence <was uneasy with the fact that an ex-con was living next door> — see CONVICT

2con noun
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <the explanation was so plausible that I never suspected it was all a con to make off with my car> — see FRAUD 1

1con verb
1 to commit to memory <usually candidates con their entire campaign speech, right down to the jokes they supposedly ad-lib> — see MEMORIZE
2 to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) <seemed to be conning his face for any sign of romantic interest> — see INSPECT

2con verb
1 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <a fly-by-night operator who had conned hundreds of would-be homeowners out of their hard-earned money> — see FLEECE
2 to cause to believe what is untrue <tried to con me into thinking that he had actually won the lottery> — see DECEIVE

concatenate verb
1 to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole <concatenate several lists of instructions into a single master file> — see CONNECT 1
2 to put together into a series by means of or as if by means of a thread <the movie actually concatenates into one extended narrative several episodes from various books in the series> — see THREAD 2

concatenation noun
a series of things linked together <a complicated concatenation of events leading to the freak accident> — see CHAIN 1

concave adjective
curved inward <a concave lens> — see HOLLOW

concavity noun
a sunken area forming a separate space <water collected in a shallow concavity on the floor of the cave> — see HOLE 2

conceal verb
1 to put into a hiding place <wisely concealed the documents in a drawer beneath a false bottom> — see 1HIDE 1
2 to keep secret or shut off from view <tried to conceal her true intentions from immigration officials> — see 1HIDE 2

concealment noun
1 the placing of something out of sight <your choice of the oven for the concealment of the money was unwise>

Synonyms
caching, hiding, secretion, stashing

Related Words
burial, burying, entombment, interment, interring

Near Antonyms
disinterment, unearthing

Antonyms
display, exhibition, exposure, parading, showing

2 a place where a person goes to hide or to avoid others <cave-riddled mountains that offer a multitude of concealments where a fugitive could hide indefinitely> — see HIDEOUT

concede verb
1 to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly <she grudgingly conceded his point> — see ADMIT 1
2 to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) <he conceded as soon as it became clear that he could not win> — see YIELD 3

conceit noun
1 an elaborate or fanciful way of expressing something <the conceit that the crowd at the outdoor rock concert was a vast sea of people waving to the beat of the music>

Synonyms
metaphor

Related Words
device; analogy, circumlocution, code word, crank, dead metaphor, euphemism, simile; catachresis, mixed metaphor

Phrases
figure of speech

2 a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality <his dream of swimming in the Olympics is nothing more than a conceit> — see FANTASY 1
3 an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <even though her novels are enormously popular, the writer is more prone to insecurity than to conceit> — see COMPLACENCE 1

conceit verb, chiefly dialect
to form a mental picture of <after a huge meal like that, I cannot conceit eating another thing for the rest of the day> — see IMAGINE 1

conceited adjective
having too high an opinion of oneself <a conceited basketball player who was always too busy even to sign autographs>

Synonyms
assured, biggety (or biggity) [Southern & Midland], bigheaded, complacent, consequential, egoistic (also egoistical), egotistic (or egotistical), important, overweening, pompous, prideful, proud, self-conceited, self-important, self-opinionated, self-satisfied, smug, stuck-up, swellheaded, vain, vainglorious

Related Words
blusterous, blustery, boastful, bombastic, braggart, bragging, braggy, cocky, swaggering; arrogant, assumptive, bumptious, cavalier, chesty, disdainful, fastuous, haughty, high-and-mighty, high-hat, huffy, lofty, lordly, masterful, peremptory, pontifical, self-asserting, self-assertive, snobbish, snobby, snooty, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity; domineering, high-handed, imperious; highfalutin (also hifalutin), holier-than-thou, pretentious; overconfident, presuming, presumptuous; confident, self-assured, self-confident; self-adulatory, self-congratulatory, self-contented, self-gratulatory; self-applauding, self-dramatizing, self-glorifying, self-promoting; self-affected, self-centered, self-engrossed, selfish; condescending, patronizing

Near Antonyms
diffident, self-critical, self-distrustful, self-doubting, self-reproachful, self-reproving; meek, timid, unassertive; down-to-earth, unarrogant, unassuming, unpretentious; bashful, demure, introverted, mousy (or mousey), overmodest, retiring, sheepish, shrinking, shy

Antonyms
egoless, humble, modest, uncomplacent

conceitedness noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <she was annoyed by his persistent air of conceitedness> — see COMPLACENCE 1

conceivably adverb
it is possible <we could conceivably finish the project next week> — see PERHAPS

conceive verb
1 to form a mental picture of <it takes an idealist to conceive a world without war, and an activist to make it happen> — see IMAGINE 1
2 to have a clear idea of <I cannot conceive the reason for such pointless vandalism> — see COMPREHEND 1
3 to have as an opinion <I just can't conceive that he would have lied> — see BELIEVE 2

concenter verb
1 to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control <you'll have to concenter your nebulous thoughts on the subject before even attempting to write> — see CENTRALIZE
2 to come together into one body or place <most of the local motels have concentered around the theme park, which is the region's biggest attraction by far> — see ASSEMBLE 1

concentrate verb
1 to increase the amount of (a substance in a mixture) by removing other substances <prolonged boiling is required to concentrate the sap when making maple syrup>

Synonyms
condense

Related Words
clarify, clean, cleanse, distill (also distil), flush, leach, purge, purify, refine; boil down, decoct, reduce; compact, harden, solidify; deepen, enhance, heighten, intensify; evaporate, extract, remove; enrich, fortify, richen, strengthen; reconcentrate, recondense

Near Antonyms
adulterate, cut, thin, weaken

Antonyms
dilute, water (down)

2 to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective <a president who will try to concentrate public attention on the problems of inner cities>

Synonyms
center, fasten, focus, rivet, train

Related Words
aim, direct, home (in on), hone in (on), level, nail, point, set, zero (in on); attend, heed, mind; fixate (on), obsess (over); refocus

3 to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control <time to concentrate our efforts on the really important problems that confront us> — see CENTRALIZE
4 to bring together in one body or place <concentrate your forces on the right side of the battlefield> — see GATHER 1
5 to come together into one body or place <recent immigrants tend to concentrate in port cities> — see ASSEMBLE 1
6 to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass <the ozone layer is concentrated 20 to 30 miles above the Earth's surface> — see COLLECT 2

concentrated adjective
1 having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) <a concentrated mixture of lemonade and iced tea> — see FULL-BODIED
2 not divided or scattered among several areas of interest or concern <when you get a private conference with that financial adviser, you get nothing but his concentrated attention> — see WHOLE 1

concentration noun
a focusing of the mind on something <the noise from the party next door threatened to disturb the law student's concentration> — see ATTENTION 1

concept noun
1 an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation <trying to change the public's concept of a nightly newscast> — see GENERALIZATION
2 something imagined or pictured in the mind <a concept for a new kind of automobile that could revolutionize the industry> — see IDEA 1

conception noun
1 an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation <the false conception that wheelchair users are homebound and helpless> — see GENERALIZATION
2 something imagined or pictured in the mind <our changing conceptions of what constitutes art> — see IDEA 1

conceptual adjective
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea <conceptual thinking is often the most demanding kind of mental activity> — see ABSTRACT 1

concern noun
1 a commercial or industrial activity or organization <several banking concerns in the area> — see ENTERPRISE 1
2 an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <the recent crime wave has caused a great deal of concern in the neighborhood> — see ANXIETY 1

concern verb
1 to have (something) as a subject matter <the book concerns the challenges faced by children growing up in single-parent households>

Synonyms
cover, deal (with), pertain (to), treat (of)

Related Words
appertain (to), bear (on or upon), refer (to), relate (to); advert (to), allude (to), cite, glance (upon), instance, mention, name, note, notice, quote, specify, touch (upon); offer, present; contain, embrace, encompass, entail, include, incorporate

Phrases
have to do with

Near Antonyms
exclude, omit; disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, slur (over); brush (aside or off), reject, shrug off

2 to be the business or affair of <the problems of air and water pollution that concern all of us>

Synonyms
affect, involve, touch

Related Words
appertain (to), apply (to), bear (on), pertain (to), refer (to), relate (to); embroil, ensnare, entangle, implicate

3 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <we were greatly concerned by reports that yet another previously unknown virus is now posing a threat> — see DISTURB 1

concerning preposition
having to do with <we had a meeting with the principal today concerning the new policy on student-run organizations> — see ABOUT 1

concernment noun
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <as my layoff from work grew longer and longer, how I was going to pay my bills became a matter of concernment> — see ANXIETY 1

concert noun
an entertainment featuring singing or the playing of musical instruments <during the summer various groups give concerts on the town green>

Synonyms
musicale

Related Words
performance, presentation; recital, symphony; ceilidh (also ceili) [Scottish & Irish], hootenanny, jam, jam session, sing, songfest; festival, fete (or fête), shindig

concert verb
1 to bring about through discussion and compromise <warned that the rain forests are in danger of extinction unless the world's industrial powers concert a plan to prevent such an occurrence> — see NEGOTIATE 1
2 to participate or assist in a joint effort to accomplish an end <the governor is eager to concert with the federal authorities on this matter> — see COOPERATE 1

concerted adjective
used or done by a number of people as a group <a victory like that results only from the concerted effort of the entire team> — see COLLECTIVE

concertedly adverb
in or by combined action or effort <the two ball players seemed to be concertedly trying to shatter every batting record in the American League> — see TOGETHER 2

concession noun
1 the act or practice of each side giving up something in order to reach an agreement <when trying to get a raise in your salary, it's good to know the art of concession>

Synonyms
accommodation, compromise, give-and-take, negotiation

Related Words
haggle, horse trade; accord, arrangement, bargain, concurrence, consensus, deal, understanding; agreement, settlement; mediation, treaty

2 an open declaration of something (as a fault or the commission of an offense) about oneself <an abject concession of guilt from the governor is the only thing that will save her political career> — see CONFESSION
3 something granted as a special favor <a concession to sell their T-shirts at the village fair> — see PRIVILEGE

conciliate verb
1 to bring to a state free of conflicts, inconsistencies, or differences <it will be hard to conciliate the views of labor and management regarding health benefits> — see HARMONIZE 2
2 to lessen the anger or agitation of <a principal trying to conciliate the parents who did not receive their tickets to the graduation ceremonies> — see PACIFY 1

conciliating adjective
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility <small conciliating acts designed to win the trust of the new neighbors> — see PACIFIC 1

conciliator noun
one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement <his genius as a conciliator is that he is able to convince both sides that they got everything they wanted> — see MEDIATOR

conciliatory adjective
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility <eased the tension with conciliatory remarks> — see PACIFIC 1

concinnity noun
a balanced, pleasing, or suitable arrangement of parts <a choral work admired for its seamless concinnity of music and dance> — see HARMONY 1

concise adjective
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <a concise article on violence in the media that manages to say more than most books on the subject>

Synonyms
aphoristic, apothegmatic, brief, capsule, compact, compendious, crisp, curt, elliptical (or elliptic), epigrammatic, laconic, monosyllabic, pithy, sententious, succinct, summary, telegraphic, terse, thumbnail

Related Words
abrupt, blunt, brusque (also brusk), short, snippety, snippy; abbreviated, abridged, condensed, curtailed, shortened; meaty, substantial; meaningful, significant; well-turned

Near Antonyms
pleonastic, redundant, repetitious, tautological, tautologous; enlarged, expanded, supplemented; embellished, embroidered, exaggerated, inflated

Antonyms
circuitous, circumlocutory, diffuse, long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy, wordy

concisely adverb
in a few words <since there's little room on the form, you'll have to state concisely the reason why you're returning the merchandise> — see SHORTLY 1

conciseness noun
1 the condition of being short <we were disappointed by the unexpected conciseness of the presentation, since we wanted more details> — see BREVITY 1
2 the quality or state of being marked by or using only few words to convey much meaning <many have admired the restrained conciseness of Emily Dickinson's poetry> — see SUCCINCTNESS

concision noun
the quality or state of being marked by or using only few words to convey much meaning <the essay is a marvel of concision and clarity> — see SUCCINCTNESS

conclude verb
1 to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point <a brief reminder of tonight's game concluded the announcements> — see CLOSE 3
2 to come to an end <the concert concluded late in the evening> — see CEASE 1
3 to bring about through discussion and compromise <concluded an economic agreement among the world's leading industrial nations> — see NEGOTIATE 1
4 to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration <he concluded that the reprimand could wait until later> — see DECIDE 1
5 to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information <concluded that only the murderer could possibly have known that information> — see INFER 1

concluded adjective
brought or having come to an end <with another recently concluded fiscal year behind us, we are now ready to face new challenges> — see COMPLETE 2

concluding adjective
following all others of the same kind in order or time <the concluding statement will be read by the secretary> — see LAST 1

conclusion noun
1 an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning <the detective's conclusion that the murderer had to be left-handed>

Synonyms
consequence, deduction, determination, eduction, induction, inference, sequitur

Related Words
decision, deliverance, diagnosis, judgment (or judgement), resolution, ruling, verdict; conjecture, guess, surmise; assumption, presumption, supposition

2 a position arrived at after consideration <came to the conclusion that we couldn't go on vacation while the dog was sick> — see DECISION 1
3 a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <all their efforts came to no practical conclusion> — see EFFECT 1
4 the last part of a process or action <the conclusion of the speech was a national call to arms> — see FINALE
5 the stopping of a process or activity <a bell signaled the conclusion of the event> — see END 1

conclusive adjective
1 serving to put an end to all debate or questioning <the archeological discovery was conclusive proof that the Vikings had indeed settled in North America around 1000 A.D.>

Synonyms
absolute, clear, deciding, decisive, definitive, last

Related Words
determinate, determinative, dispositive, hands-down, inarguable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, irrefutable, unanswerable, undebatable, undeniable, undisputable, unquestionable; unchallenged, uncontested, undisputed; unambiguous, unequivocal; certain, definite, positive, sure; cogent, compelling, convincing, persuasive, telling

Near Antonyms
debatable, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, moot, problematic (also problematical), questionable, refutable; ambiguous, equivocal; controversial, debated, disputed

Antonyms
inconclusive, indecisive, unclear

2 having the power to persuade <a conclusive argument for allowing the students to put on a play of their own choosing> — see COGENT

conclusiveness noun
the capacity to persuade <the conclusiveness of DNA testing in paternity suits> — see COGENCY 1

concoct verb
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination <trying to concoct an explanation for how the lamp got broken by itself> — see INVENT

concoction noun
something (as a device) created for the first time through the use of the imagination <the first submarine must have seemed like the looniest concoction ever to spring from the human mind> — see INVENTION 1

concomitant adjective
present at the same time and place <an improvement in the facilities led to a concomitant improvement in morale> — see COINCIDENT 1

concomitant noun
something that is found along with something else <disease is all too often one of the concomitants of poverty> — see ACCOMPANIMENT

concord noun
peaceful coexistence <living in concord with people of different races and religions> — see HARMONY 2

concordant adjective
not having or showing any apparent conflict <the movie's opening-weekend gross was fairly concordant with box-office returns for that genre> — see CONSISTENT

concourse noun
a typically long narrow way connecting parts of a building <airline passengers had to pass through the security checkpoints before being allowed in the concourse> — see HALL 2

concrete adjective
1 existing in fact and not merely as a possibility <concrete evidence, and not just a theory, must be presented at a trial> — see ACTUAL
2 relating to or composed of matter <concrete objects like rocks and trees> — see MATERIAL 1
3 of a particular or exact sort <while there was a lot of hand-wringing, no one offered a practical, concrete plan for the energy shortage> — see EXPRESS 1

concrete verb
1 to become physically firm or solid <the mortar slowly concreted in the mold> — see HARDEN 1
2 to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <a choral work that concretes music and dance into a stunning theatrical experience> — see BLEND 1

concubine noun
<spent an exorbitant sum on furnishing living quarters for his concubine> — see MISTRESS

concupiscence noun
1 sexual appetite <the Puritans did not condemn concupiscence but rather the satisfaction of it in ways they deemed illicit> — see DESIRE 2
2 intense sexual desire <according the church theologian St. Augustine, concupiscence is a consequence of original sin> — see LUST 1

concupiscent adjective
having a strong sexual desire <such was Giacomo Casanova's notoriety as a promiscuous lover that his name became an epithet for a concupiscent man of the world> — see LUSTFUL

concur verb
1 to have or come to the same opinion or point of view <I concur with your assessment of the political situation> — see AGREE 1
2 to occur or exist at the same time <the lively 1960s, a decade in which the Cold War, the race to the moon, the Vietnam War, and the civil rights movement all concurred> — see COINCIDE 1
3 to participate or assist in a joint effort to accomplish an end <all sides concurred to pass the reform legislation on campaign financing> — see COOPERATE 1

concurrence noun
1 the occurrence or existence of several things at once <the concurrence of my birthday and the concert by my favorite rock band made my preference for a birthday present pretty obvious>

Synonyms
coexistence, coincidence, concurrency

Related Words
development, happening, occurrence; coevality, contemporaneousness, simultaneousness, synchronism, synchrony

Near Antonyms
asynchrony (or asynchronism)

2 the state of being of one opinion about something <looked for some sign of concurrence among the delegates to the conference> — see AGREEMENT 1
3 the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something <we needed the concurrence of the boss before proceeding with the project> — see PERMISSION

concurrency noun
1 the occurrence or existence of several things at once <the concurrency of several life-threatening emergencies made for a busy night at the trauma center> — see CONCURRENCE 1
2 the state of being of one opinion about something <there is general concurrency that the rule concerning the writing of thank-you notes still pertains> — see AGREEMENT 1

concurrent adjective
1 existing or occurring at the same period of time <concurrent expeditions to the Antarctic that were in a race to reach the South Pole> — see CONTEMPORARY 1
2 present at the same time and place <the postwar period of prosperity and the concurrent baby boom are the major topics in this history of the 1950s> — see COINCIDENT 1

concurrently adverb
at one and the same time <two major trade shows running concurrently at the convention center> — see TOGETHER 1

concussion noun
1 a forceful coming together of two things <the concussion of the airliner slamming into the skyscraper was felt for several blocks in all directions> — see IMPACT 1
2 the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact <the theory that such a concussion, by a giant asteroid or comet millions of years ago, led to the extinction of the dinosaurs> — see CRASH 1

condemn verb
1 to declare to be morally wrong or evil <it is a sign of human progress that slavery, which was once common, is now universally condemned>

Synonyms
anathematize, censure, damn, decry, denounce, execrate, reprehend, reprobate

Related Words
attack, blame, blast, criticize, dis (also diss) [slang], dispraise, fault, knock, pan, slam; belittle, deprecate, disparage; doom, sentence; convict; blacklist, excommunicate, ostracize; castigate, chastise, rebuke, reprimand, reproach; admonish, chide, reprove; berate, lambaste (or lambast), rake, scold, upbraid, vituperate; curse, imprecate; abhor, abominate, detest, hate, loathe, revile

Near Antonyms
approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; eulogize, exalt, extol (also extoll), glorify, laud, praise; acclaim, applaud, commend, hail, salute, tout; consecrate, hallow, sanctify; honor, revere, venerate

Antonyms
bless

2 to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of <a report that condemns the working conditions in the factories of many developing countries> — see CRITICIZE
3 to express public or formal disapproval of <the philosopher's works were once condemned by the church and placed on its list of forbidden books> — see CENSURE 1
4 to find or pronounce guilty <the accused was condemned by the news media even before the trial began> — see CONVICT
5 to impose a judicial punishment on <a stern judge who does not hesitate to condemn a felon to life behind bars> — see SENTENCE

condemnation noun
an often public or formal expression of disapproval <a condemnation of the war by the conference of bishops> — see CENSURE

condensation noun
1 a shortened version of a written work <a condensation of the opinion issued by the state's supreme court> — see ABRIDGMENT
2 the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing <a staff employed in the condensation of magazine articles> — see COMPRESSION

condense verb
1 to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter <over time the once-fluffy material in the pillow had condensed into a lumpy wad> — see CONTRACT 2
2 to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together <condense the information into as brief a report as possible> — see COMPRESS 1
3 to increase the amount of (a substance in a mixture) by removing other substances <added condensed milk to the mix> — see CONCENTRATE 1

condensing noun
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing <after the condensing of our stored junk, we actually had room in the garage for the car> — see COMPRESSION

condescend verb
1 to descend to a level that is beneath one's dignity <I will not condescend to answer the sore loser's charge that I cheated in order to win the race>

Synonyms
deign, stoop

Related Words
abase, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, lower, shame

Near Antonyms
rise

2 to assume or treat with an air of superiority <wealthy people who tend to be condescending toward their poor relations>

Synonyms
lord (it over), patronize, talk down (to)

Related Words
cold-shoulder, cut, high-hat, slight, snub; queen (it over)

condign adjective
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong <a suspension without pay is condign punishment for breaking the company's code of business ethics> — see JUST 1

condiment noun
something used to enhance the flavor of cooked or prepared food <the cafeteria's self-serve table has a full array of condiments>

Synonyms
seasoning

Related Words
herb, savory, spice; relish, sauce; flavoring

condition noun
1 a state of being or fitness <a car that was 10 years old but in still good condition>

Synonyms
estate, fettle, form, health, keeping, kilter, nick [British], order, repair, shape, trim

Related Words
practice (also practise); pass, phase, stage; footing, picture, posture, scene, status, situation; rank, standing

Near Antonyms
disorder, disrepair

2 something upon which the carrying out of an agreement or offer depends <you'll get a bonus with the condition that we meet our sales forecast>

Synonyms
contingency, if, provision, proviso, qualification, reservation, stipulation

Related Words
strings, terms; precondition, prerequisite, requirement, requisite; limitation, modification, restriction; exception, exemption; demand, essential, must, necessity, need

3 an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <a skin condition that prevents me from staying out in the sun for very long> — see DISEASE
4 something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable <water is a condition for life on Earth> — see ESSENTIAL 1
5 something that limits one's freedom of action or choice <their parents placed several conditions on their weekend plans> — see RESTRICTION 1

condition verb
1 to bring to a proper or desired state of fitness <the length of time that it takes for runners to condition their bodies for a marathon>

Synonyms
season, train

Related Words
fit, habilitate, prepare, ready; acclimate, acclimatize, accommodate, adapt, adjust, break in, orient, orientate, shape; accustom, familiarize, habituate, naturalize; fortify, harden, inure, season, shape up, steel, strengthen, toughen

Antonyms
decondition

2 to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation <an immigrant family that must condition its traditional attitudes regarding child rearing to the realities of modern American life> — see ADAPT

conditional adjective
determined by something else <the sale of the house is conditional upon the approval of a mortgage for the prospective buyer> — see DEPENDENT 2

conditioning noun
energetic movement of the body for the sake of physical fitness <the actor went through months of conditioning in order to play the role of the buffed hero in the action film> — see EXERCISE 1

condole (with) verb
to have sympathy for <condole with them in their hour of grief> — see PITY

condonable adjective
worthy of forgiveness <she doesn't think infidelity is ever condonable> — see VENIAL

condone verb
to dismiss as of little importance <he is too quick to condone his friend's faults> — see EXCUSE 1

conducive adjective
1 tending to promote or assist the development of something <the claim that the state's long-standing antitax attitude is conducive to entrepreneurship>

Synonyms
facilitative

Related Words
advantageous, beneficial, favorable, helpful, profitable, propitious, salutary

Near Antonyms
bad, damaging, deleterious, disadvantageous, harmful, injurious, unfavorable, unhelpful

2 providing service or assistance <the noisy environment of the dorms was not very conducive to studying> — see HELPFUL 1

conduct noun
1 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <the President was happy to leave the conduct of foreign affairs to his secretary of state>

Synonyms
administration, care, charge, control, direction, governance, government, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, oversight, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision

Related Words
generalship, leadership, rulership; agency; aegis (also egis), custody, guardianship, keeping, lap, protection, safekeeping, trust, tutelage, ward; engineering, logistics, machination, manipulation; coadministration, codirection, comanagement

2 the way or manner in which one conducts oneself <a child who has often been scolded for poor conduct in public> — see BEHAVIOR

conduct verb
1 to look after and make decisions about <the company's president continues to conduct the everyday affairs of the software firm he founded many years ago>

Synonyms
administer, administrate, carry on, control, direct, govern, guide, handle, keep, manage, operate, overlook, oversee, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, superintend, supervise, tend

Related Words
care (for), mind, watch; lead, pilot, steer; guard, protect, safeguard; micromanage, stage-manage; codirect, comanage

Phrases
watch over

2 to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway <the gutter conducts water to the curb, thus protecting the house's basement> — see CHANNEL
3 to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way <conducted themselves at the party like perfect ladies and gentlemen> — see BEHAVE
4 to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front <a job conducting tourists through the historical museum> — see LEAD 1
5 to cause (something) to pass from one to another <a material that conducts heat quite efficiently> — see COMMUNICATE 1

conduit noun
1 a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) <the major conduit for carrying water to the military base> — see PIPE 1
2 an open man-made passageway for water <water flowed along the conduit to the fountain> — see CHANNEL 1

confab noun
1 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <we had a little confab about the merits of the plan> — see DISCUSSION 1
2 friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <after the requisite confab, we got down to business> — see CHAT 1

confab verb
to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem <the members of the condo board have been confabbing about the security problem> — see CONFER 2

confabulate verb
to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem <an Alzheimer's support group in which caregivers can confabulate as well as commiserate> — see CONFER 2

confabulation noun
1 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <there seemed to be some sort of lengthy confabulation going on in the next room> — see DISCUSSION 1
2 friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <began our confabulation with that traditional icebreaker: an innocuous discussion of the weather> — see CHAT 1

confect verb
to form by putting together parts or materials <a cook who can confect a magnificent dinner from whatever ingredients are in the cupboards> — see BUILD

confection noun
a food having a high sugar content <following the main course there were assorted confections so delicious-looking as to tempt even determined dieters> — see SWEET 1

confederacy noun
an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection <a confederacy of several small nations who had promised to come to one another's aid if any were attacked>

Synonyms
alliance, axis, bloc, block, coalition, combination, combine, confederation, federation, league, union

Related Words
cabal, conspiracy, junto; cartel, syndicate, trust; faction, front, fusion, side, wing; association, group, organization; affiliation, cooperative, partnership; circuit, conference

confederate noun
1 one associated with another in wrongdoing <the police were able to track down his confederates once the thief started talking> — see ACCOMPLICE
2 someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support <relied on her confederates in the medical community for support> — see ALLY

confederate verb
to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members <the nations confederated in order to lower international trade barriers> — see ALLY

confederation noun
1 an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection <the smaller nations were forced to form a confederation out of self-defense> — see CONFEDERACY
2 the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <the big-budget movie was produced by the studio in confederation with another in order to lower the risk> — see ASSOCIATION 1

confer verb
1 to give the ownership or benefit of (something) formally or publicly <the British monarch continues to confer knighthood on those who are outstanding in their fields of endeavor>

Synonyms
accord, award, grant, vest

Related Words
bestow, contribute, donate, give, present, show; furnish, provide, supply; extend, offer, proffer; allocate, appropriate, assign; appoint, designate, dub, fix, name, set

Near Antonyms
abort, call, call off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke; abrogate, annul, invalidate, nullify, void, write off; recant, retract, take back, withdraw

2 to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem <my parents are going to confer with a financial adviser about saving for their retirement>

Synonyms
advise, confab, confabulate, consult, counsel, parley, powwow, treat

Related Words
argue, bandy, bat (around), chew over, debate, deliberate, discuss, dispute, hash (over), kick around, moot, palaver, talk, talk over, ventilate; rehash; coach, guide, tutor; recommend, suggest; direct, refer (to)

conference noun
1 a body of people come together in one place <the conference voted to conclude that day's meeting and to resume discussions the next morning> — see GATHERING 1
2 a meeting featuring a group discussion <a conference on the need for international cooperation in combating emerging viruses> — see FORUM 1
3 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <a parent-teacher conference to discuss a student having trouble in school> — see DISCUSSION 1

confess verb
1 to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid <the thief confessed to dozens of robberies>

Synonyms
admit, cop (to) [slang], fess (up), own (up)

Related Words
blab, talk, tattle; babble, spill

Near Antonyms
clam up, hush, quiet (down), shut up

2 to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly <political prisoners, under threat of torture, forced to confess their guilt> — see ADMIT 1

confession noun
an open declaration of something (as a fault or the commission of an offense) about oneself <a confession that he had been lying all along>

Synonyms
acknowledgment (or acknowledgement), admission, avowal, concession, self-confession

Related Words
self-accusation, self-betrayal, self-revelation; self-incrimination, self-recrimination, self-reproach; affirmation, assertion, avouchment, claim, confirmation, declaration, insistence, profession; allowance; apology, hand-wringing; betrayal, disclosure, divulgence, giveaway, revelation; announcement, declaration, proclamation, pronouncement; blame, fault, responsibility; contriteness, contrition, penitence, regret, remorse, remorsefulness, repentance, rue

Near Antonyms
denial, disallowance, disclaimer, recantation, rejection, renouncement, repudiation

Antonyms
disavowal, nonadmission

confidant noun
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another <she's my confidant; I tell her everything without reservation> — see FRIEND 1

confidante noun
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another <only her closest confidantes know what she's going through> — see FRIEND 1

confide verb
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <the local SPCA was looking for homes for a number of exotic animals confided to its care> — see GIVE 2

confidence noun
1 great faith in oneself or one's abilities <a lifelong confidence that enabled her to achieve great things despite powerful obstacles>

Synonyms
aplomb, assurance, self-assurance, self-assuredness, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-trust

Related Words
cockiness, complacence, complacency, conceit, conceitedness, ego, egoism, egotism, hubris, overconfidence, pomposity, pompousness, pride, pridefulness, self-admiration, self-applause, self-assumption, self-complacency, self-conceit, self-consequence, self-content, self-contentment, self-glorification, self-importance, self-opinion, self-partiality, self-satisfaction, smugness, vaingloriousness, vainglory, vanity; calmness, composure, coolness, equanimity; self-poise, self-possession; assumption, bumptiousness, haughtiness, hauteur, huffiness, imperiousness, loftiness, lordliness, peremptoriness, presumptuousness, pretentiousness, superciliousness, superiority, toploftiness

Near Antonyms
apprehension, doubt, misgiving

Antonyms
diffidence, insecurity, self-distrust, self-doubt

2 a state of mind in which one is free from doubt <the confidence with which the game show contestant answered every question>

Synonyms
assurance, assuredness, certainty, certitude, cocksureness, conviction, doubtlessness, face, positiveness, satisfaction, sureness, surety

Related Words
authoritarianism, dogmatism; decisiveness, determination, firmness, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution, resolve

Near Antonyms
hesitancy, hesitation, indecisiveness, irresolution; disbelief, incredulity, unbelief; anxiety, concern, misgiving; distrust, mistrust, suspicion

Antonyms
doubt, incertitude, nonconfidence, uncertainty

3 firm belief in the integrity, ability, effectiveness, or genuineness of someone or something <as players, we have complete confidence in our coach> — see TRUST 1
4 information shared only with another or with a select few <accused him of betraying an important confidence> — see SECRET 1

confidence man noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <taken in by a persuasive confidence man using the Internet> — see TRICKSTER 1

confident adjective
1 having or showing great faith in oneself or one's abilities <you'll need to be confident—even in the face of rejection—if you want to pursue a career in show business>

Synonyms
assured, secure, self-asserting, self-assured, self-confident

Related Words
collected, composed, cool, coolheaded, poised, recollected, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, unperturbed, unshaken; hopeful, optimistic, rosy, sanguine, upbeat; complacent, conceited, egoistic (also egoistical), egotistic (or egotistical), important, overweening, pompous, prideful, proud, self-affected, self-applauding, self-centered, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-contented, self-important, self-pleased, self-satisfied; self-promoting, smug, stuck-up, vain, vainglorious; imperturbable, nerveless, unflappable, unself-conscious, unshakable; disciplined, self-collected, self-composed, self-contained, self-controlled, self-poised; self-reliant, self-sufficient

Near Antonyms
meek, timid, unassertive; humble, modest, unassuming, unpretentious; jittery, jumpy, nervous; bashful, demure, mousy (or mousey), overmodest, quiet, reserved, shy; self-critical, self-reproachful, self-reproving

Antonyms
diffident, insecure, self-distrustful, self-doubting

2 having or showing a mind free from doubt <we were confident that the directions we had been given were accurate> — see CERTAIN 2

confidential adjective
not known or meant to be known by the general populace <someone leaked confidential government information to the press> — see PRIVATE 1

confidentially adverb
in a manner intended to prevent knowledge or awareness by others <he was furious when his friend revealed to others information that he had shared confidentially> — see PRIVATELY

confiding adjective
having or showing trust in another <a very confiding child who is a little too eager to trust total strangers> — see TRUSTING 1

configuration noun
1 the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form <the basic configuration of the building is that of a geodesic dome> — see FRAME 1
2 the way in which something is sized, arranged, or organized <a small business computer system in its simplest configuration> — see FORMAT 1
3 the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged <his photographs have an intentionally loose configuration, with no single object intended as the primary center of interest> — see COMPOSITION 3
4 the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance <a birthday cake in the configuration of a top hat> — see FORM 1

confine verb
1 to set bounds or an upper limit for <will confine my remarks to the subject we came here to discuss> — see LIMIT 1
2 to put in or as if in prison <the accused was confined until the trial could take place> — see IMPRISON

confined adjective
taken and held prisoner <confined citizens have basic rights under that nation's constitution> — see CAPTIVE

confinement noun
1 the act of confining or the state of being confined <some wild animals take to confinement very poorly> — see INTERNMENT
2 the act or practice of keeping something (as an activity) within certain boundaries <the confinement of commercial development to one stretch of roadway is intended to help preserve the town's rural character> — see RESTRICTION 2

confines plural noun
1 a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go <within the confines of the city> — see LIMIT 1
2 the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <outside the confines of the school walls> — see BORDER 1
3 an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends <that's beyond the confines of my power as dean of the college> — see RANGE 2

confirm verb
1 to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of <several eyewitnesses who can confirm the defendant's account of what happened>

Synonyms
argue, attest, authenticate, bear out, certify, corroborate, substantiate, support, validate, verify, vindicate

Related Words
avouch, back (up), testify (to), vouch (for), witness; guarantee, warrant; affirm, assert, aver, avow, declare, profess; demonstrate, document, establish, prove, reinforce (also reenforce)

Near Antonyms
contradict, gainsay; deny, disavow, disclaim; challenge, contest, dispute, question

Antonyms
disprove, rebut, refute

2 to give official acceptance of as satisfactory <the senate must confirm an appointment to an ambassadorship> — see APPROVE

confirmable adjective
capable of being proven as true or real <the theory was not confirmable, and eventually it had to be discarded in favor of one that was> — see VERIFIABLE

confirmation noun
something presented in support of the truth or accuracy of a claim <regards the finding as a confirmation of the theory that extraterrestrial impacts were responsible for the demise of the dinosaurs> — see PROOF

confirmational adjective
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something <that's an interesting hypothesis but one that still awaits confirmational data> — see CORROBORATIVE

confirmatory adjective
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something <a confirmatory test for pregnancy> — see CORROBORATIVE

confirmed adjective
1 being such by habit and not likely to change <a confirmed grouch who never seems to smile> — see HABITUAL 1
2 firmly established over time <a confirmed tendency to exaggerate about everything> — see INVETERATE 1

confirming adjective
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something <in the absence of confirming evidence, we should give him the benefit of the doubt> — see CORROBORATIVE

confiscate verb
to take ownership or control of (something) by right of one's authority <anything that might be used as a weapon will be confiscated by the security guards>

Synonyms
attach, expropriate, sequester

Related Words
garnishee; appropriate, arrogate, preempt, usurp; commandeer, seize, take over

Near Antonyms
cede, deliver, forfeit, give up, hand over, release, relinquish, render, surrender, turn over, yield

conflagrant adjective
being on fire <smoke from the conflagrant forest spread over hundreds of square miles> — see ABLAZE 1

conflagration noun
1 a destructive burning <the historic tavern burned to the ground in a horrible conflagration> — see FIRE 1
2 a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups <what began as a skirmish over disputed territory erupted into a conflagration that swept the continent> — see WAR 1

conflate verb
1 to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related <be careful not to conflate gossip with real news> — see CONFUSE 3
2 to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <the movie conflates documentary footage and dramatized reenactments so seamlessly and ingeniously that viewers may not know what is real and what is not> — see BLEND 1

conflation noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <the word “robustious” is probably a conflation of “robust” and “boisterous”> — see BLEND

conflict noun
1 a lack of agreement or harmony <the conflict between absolute freedom and personal responsibility> — see DISCORD
2 a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <an armed conflict between strikers and strikebreakers> — see FIGHT 1
3 a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups <the United Nations strives to prevent international conflicts> — see WAR 1
4 an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <the eternal conflict between the forces of good and evil> — see CONTEST 1

conflict verb
to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably <his statement conflicts with the facts, as given in the police report> — see CLASH

conflicted adjective
having a mixture of opposing feelings <I'm conflicted about the prospect of our only child going away to college>

Synonyms
ambivalent, equivocal

Related Words
doubtful, faltering, irresolute, questioning, uncertain, undecided, unsure, vacillating, wobbly (also wabbly); afraid, disinclined, dubious, hesitant, indisposed, loath (also loth or loathe), reluctant

Near Antonyms
certain, decided, resolute, sure, unquestioning

Antonyms
unambivalent

conflicting adjective
not being in agreement or harmony <conflicting reports from the witnesses at the scene> — see INCONSISTENT 1

confluence noun
the coming together of two or more things to the same point <a happy confluence of beautiful weather and spectacular scenery during our vacation> — see CONVERGENCE

confluent noun
a stream that flows into a larger body of water <several confluents slowly winding their way to the main river> — see TRIBUTARY

conform verb
1 to be in agreement on every point <the list conforms with the contents of the trunk> — see CHECK 1
2 to form a pleasing relationship <last-minute changes in the schedule that conform with our plans nicely> — see HARMONIZE 1
3 to bring to a state free of conflicts, inconsistencies, or differences <we'll have to conform this new rule with existing policy regarding student-run organizations on campus> — see HARMONIZE 2
4 to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation <I can be funny or serious, for I always conform my behavior to the situation> — see ADAPT

conform (to) verb
to act according to the commands of <an independent-minded person who refuses to conform to the dictates of society> — see OBEY

conformable adjective
readily giving in to the command or authority of another <one of the more conformable inmates in a prison that's filled with unruly ones> — see OBEDIENT

conformable (to) adjective
not having or showing any apparent conflict <student conduct must be at all times conformable to the principles and values of the school> — see CONSISTENT

conformance noun
1 a state of consistency <behavior found to be not in conformance with all company policies regarding sexual harassment> — see CONFORMITY 1
2 the following of a custom, rule, or law <a woman with no interest in conformance to the dictates of fashion> — see OBSERVANCE 1

conformation noun
1 the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance <an ice sculpture in the conformation of a swan> — see FORM 1
2 the way in which something is sized, arranged, or organized <the regular conformation of particles in a crystal> — see FORMAT 1
3 the act or process of changing something to fit a new use or situation <the conformation of their lives to the changing social order> — see ADAPTATION

conformity noun
1 a state of consistency <the simple lifestyle of the Amish is in conformity with their ascetic religious beliefs>

Synonyms
accord, accordance, agreement, conformance, congruence, congruency, congruity, consonance, harmony, tune

Related Words
compatibility; assimilation, integration; oneness, solidarity, togetherness; affinity, empathy, sympathy

Near Antonyms
contrast, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, diverseness, diversity, unlikeness; deviance, divergence; discord, discordance, dissension (also dissention), dissent, dissidence, disunity, friction, strife; variability, variance; incompatibility

Antonyms
conflict, disagreement, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness

2 the action of following a custom, rule, or law <a rebellious artist who has never shown any interest in conformity to social custom> — see OBSERVANCE 1
3 the following of a custom, rule, or law <a small community that still expected conformity to traditional gender roles> — see OBSERVANCE 1

confound verb
1 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <we were confounded by the player's remote control, which wasn't at all user-friendly> — see CONFUSE 1
2 to throw into a state of self-conscious distress <his renewed popularity has confounded the critics who said his singing career was dead> — see EMBARRASS 1
3 to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related <I think you've confounded astrology with astronomy> — see CONFUSE 3
4 to prove to be false <new discoveries that confound much of what archaeologists thought they knew about the Mayan civilization> — see DISPROVE

confounded adjective
1 deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <that confounded dog chewed up my shoe> — see DAMNABLE
2 faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do <the sudden burden of familial responsibility has left him anxious and confounded> — see HARD PUT
3 suffering from mental confusion <since their house is old and impressive-looking, they are frequently imposed upon by confounded tourists> — see DIZZY 2

confrere also confrère noun
a fellow worker <many of the judge's confreres on the Fifth Circuit bench don't feel as she does on the issue> — see COLLEAGUE

confront verb
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage <you must confront your fear in order to conquer it> — see FACE 2

confrontation noun
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <the softball rivals met in an epic confrontation on the last weekend of the summer> — see CONTEST 1

confrontational adjective
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <her confrontational, in-your-face manner doesn't help get legislation passed> — see BELLIGERENT

confuse verb
1 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <the similar-sounding words “censure” and “censor” often confuse people>

Synonyms
addle, baffle, bamboozle, beat, befog, befuddle, bemuse, bewilder, buffalo, confound, discombobulate, disorient, flummox, fox, fuddle, get, gravel, maze, muddle, muddy, mystify, perplex, pose, puzzle, vex

Related Words
stick, stump, weird out; abash, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle; agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, stun, unhinge, unsettle, upset; beguile, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, humbug, misguide, mislead, snow, string along, take in, trick

Phrases
blow one's mind, go to one's head

Near Antonyms
assure, reassure, satisfy; enlighten, inform

2 to make (something) unclear to the understanding <stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts>

Synonyms
becloud, befog, blur, cloud, fog, muddy, obfuscate

Related Words
complicate, perplex, sophisticate; entangle, snarl, tangle; disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disorder, disrupt, disturb, jumble, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, scramble, shuffle, tousle, upset

Near Antonyms
simplify, streamline; disentangle, straighten (out), undo, unravel, unscramble, untangle; decipher, decode; analyze, break down

Antonyms
clarify, clear (up), illuminate

3 to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related <a lot of people confuse popular fame with enduring achievement>

Synonyms
conflate, confound, mistake, mix (up)

Related Words
lump (together); misapply, miscall, misidentify, misname

Antonyms
difference, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, separate

4 to throw into a state of self-conscious distress <she was confused by the shocking bluntness of his marriage proposal> — see EMBARRASS 1
5 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files> — see DISORDER

confused adjective
1 lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <the cans were lying in a confused jumble in the basement> — see MESSY
2 suffering from mental confusion <she was briefly confused after her fall from the horse> — see DIZZY 2

confusedness noun
a state of mental uncertainty <such confusedness was laughable as well as pitiable> — see CONFUSION 1

confusion noun
1 a state of mental uncertainty <the farmer's driving directions to the fairground just left us in total confusion>

Synonyms
bafflement, bamboozlement, befuddlement, bemusement, bewilderedness, bewilderment, confusedness, discombobulation, distraction, fog, head-scratching, maze [chiefly dialect], muddle, mystification, perplexity, puzzlement, tangle, whirl

Related Words
abashment, discomfiture, disconcertment, embarrassment, mortification; agitation, chagrin, discomfort, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturbance, perturbation, upset; bother, commotion, dither, flurry, fluster, fuss, stew, turmoil

Near Antonyms
assurance, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, positiveness, sureness

2 a state in which everything is out of order <it was hard to find anything in that confusion in the attic> — see CHAOS
3 the emotional state of being made self-consciously uncomfortable <thrown into speechless confusion by the wild accusations> — see EMBARRASSMENT 1

confutation noun
something (as an argument) that serves to disprove <he crafted an elegant confutation to the argument that animals do not feel pain>

Synonyms
disconfirmation, disproof, rebuttal, refutation

Related Words
counterargument, counterevidence

Near Antonyms
attestation, confirmation, corroboration, documentation, evidence, substantiation, testament, testimony, validation, witness; authentication, identification, manifestation, verification

Antonyms
proof

confute verb
to prove to be false <theories which will eventually be confirmed or confuted by experience> — see DISPROVE

congé also congee noun
an expression of good wishes at parting <with an elaborately ceremonious congé, the ambassador took his leave> — see GOOD-BYE

congeal verb
1 to become physically firm or solid <the surface of the pond congealed after several days of frigid temperatures> — see HARDEN 1
2 to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly <the gravy had already started to congeal by the time the waiter served our dinners> — see COAGULATE

congenial adjective
1 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <a couple relaxing in the congenial atmosphere of a luxury health spa> — see PLEASANT 1
2 having or marked by agreement in feeling or action <congenial traveling companions who made our tour of Italy even more enjoyable than we had anticipated> — see HARMONIOUS 3

congenital adjective
being such from birth or by nature <a congenital liar who couldn't speak the truth if his life depended on it> — see NATURAL 1

congenitally adverb
by natural character or ability <she appeared to be congenitally incapable of telling the truth> — see NATURALLY 1

congest verb
to prevent passage through by filling with something <the usual weekend traffic congested the region's highways> — see CLOG 1

conglomerate noun
a group of businesses or enterprises under one control <the huge media conglomerate owns TV and radio stations, a cable company, and a movie studio>

Synonyms
empire

Related Words
multinational; cartel, combination, combine, syndicate, trust; chain; association, corporation, organization, pool

conglomerate verb
1 to come together into one body or place <people conglomerated in the downtown streets for an impromptu victory celebration> — see ASSEMBLE 1
2 to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass <over the years the town's discarded junk conglomerated at the bottom of the river> — see COLLECT 2

conglomerative adjective
produced by a series of additions of identical or similar things <the overabundance of historical detail has the conglomerative effect of overwhelming and boring the reader> — see CUMULATIVE

congratulate verb
to express to (someone) admiration for his or her success or good fortune <let me be the first to congratulate you on winning the award>

Synonyms
compliment, felicitate, hug

Related Words
applaud, cheer, commend, hail, salute; extol (also extoll), glorify, laud, praise

Near Antonyms
bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, deprecate, depreciate, diminish, discount, disparage, minimize, put down, write off; jeer, mock, ridicule, taunt, tease

congratulations plural noun
best wishes <a gift for you with our congratulations> — see COMPLIMENT 2

congregate verb
1 to bring together in one body or place <both captains congregated their team members for some pregame strategizing> — see GATHER 1
2 to come together into one body or place <pilgrims have been congregating in the town's historic square for centuries> — see ASSEMBLE 1

congregation noun
1 a body of persons gathered for religious worship <the whole congregation began to sing with great fervor>

Synonyms
assembly, church

Related Words
flock, laity, parish; communion, confession, denomination, fold, sect

2 a body of people come together in one place <a congregation of journalists were at the hotel bar, discussing the latest developments> — see GATHERING 1

congress noun
1 the highest lawmaking body of a political unit <the national emergency required a special session of congress>

Synonyms
parliament

Related Words
assembly, chamber, council, diet, house, legislative, legislature; general assembly, legislative assembly

2 a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose <following World War I a great congress of world leaders took place in Paris to plan the postwar world> — see MEETING 1
3 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <the Canada Trades and Labor Congress> — see ASSOCIATION 2
4 sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <laws that once prohibited congress between people of different races> — see SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

congruence noun
a state of consistency <little apparent congruence between her professed concern for the poor and her own extravagant lifestyle> — see CONFORMITY 1

congruency noun
a state of consistency <at least he acts in congruency with his avowed beliefs and values> — see CONFORMITY 1

congruent adjective
not having or showing any apparent conflict <a theory congruent with the known facts of the case> — see CONSISTENT

congruity noun
1 a point which two or more things share in common <the book alleges certain congruities between several political assassinations that were thought to be unrelated> — see SIMILARITY 2
2 a state of consistency <there's little congruity between your professed religious beliefs and your actual behavior> — see CONFORMITY 1

congruous adjective
1 having the parts agreeably related <the congruous layout of the mansion's formal gardens conveys a sense of both grandeur and intimacy> — see HARMONIOUS 2
2 not having or showing any apparent conflict <when performing his official duties, the president must be dressed in clothes that are congruous with his high position> — see CONSISTENT

congruously adverb
in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose <in a congruously solemn voice, he recited the oath of office> — see PROPERLY

conjectural adjective
existing only as an assumption or speculation <a necessarily conjectural account of Shakespeare's life, since there is so little hard information> — see THEORETICAL 1

conjecture noun
an opinion or judgment based on little or no evidence <the many conjectures about the true identity of Jack the Ripper>

Synonyms
guess, shot, supposition, surmise

Related Words
hypothesis, hypothetical, theory, thesis; dead reckoning, guessing, guesswork, speculation; hunch, intuition; belief, faith

Phrases
shot in the dark

conjecture verb
1 to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement <he conjectured that the theater could seat 1000 people more or less> — see ESTIMATE 2
2 to form an opinion from little or no evidence <you're only conjecturing that he was the culprit> — see GUESS 1

conjoin verb
1 to come together to form a single unit <several streets conjoin to form the crossroads known as New York's Times Square> — see UNITE 1
2 to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members <small farmers had to conjoin in order to compete with the agricultural conglomerates> — see ALLY
3 to participate or assist in a joint effort to accomplish an end <government agencies and private charities have conjoined to bring relief to the famine-stricken nation> — see COOPERATE 1

conjoint adjective
used or done by a number of people as a group <only through the conjoint effort of the entire department could we have finished this project on time> — see COLLECTIVE

conjointly adverb
in or by combined action or effort <the two departments worked conjointly to finish the project in less than half the usual time> — see TOGETHER 2

conjugal adjective
of or relating to marriage <newlyweds still in a rapturous state of conjugal happiness> — see MARITAL

conjugality noun
a union representing a special kind of social and legal partnership between two people <the level of mutual affection and respect that comes only with decades of contented conjugality> — see MARRIAGE 1

conjugate verb
1 to come together to form a single unit <biological cells conjugating under a microscope> — see UNITE 1
2 to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole <conjugate polymers in a chemistry lab> — see CONNECT 1

conjunct adjective
used or done by a number of people as a group <the supreme commander of the conjunct operations of the allied armies> — see COLLECTIVE

conjunction noun
the coming together of two or more things to the same point <the conjunction of the two major highways creates a massive influx of cars into the city> — see CONVERGENCE

conjuncture noun
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <an unfortunate conjuncture of events—peak demand at a time of reduced output from hurricane-ravished refineries—resulted in skyrocketing gas prices> — see EMERGENCY

conjuration noun
1 a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power <the preposterous claim that he could raise the spirits of the dead with a mystical conjuration> — see SPELL 1
2 an earnest request <a conjuration for divine guidance during a time of national crisis> — see PLEA 1

conjure verb
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner <I conjure you to hear my plea for mercy> — see BEG

conjure (up) verb
1 to form a mental picture of <with certain flowers I instantly conjure up memories of our Caribbean honeymoon> — see IMAGINE 1
2 to call into being through the use of one's inner resources or powers <managed to conjure up the courage to ask the boss for a raise> — see SUMMON 2

conjurer or conjuror noun
1 a person skilled in using supernatural forces <in the book the conjurer battles a barbarian swordsman> — see MAGICIAN 1
2 one who practices tricks and illusions for entertainment <a conjurer in Las Vegas who must make audiences believe in the impossible eight shows a week> — see MAGICIAN 2

conjuring noun
1 the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <his attempts at conjuring demonstrated the vanity of human wishes> — see MAGIC 1
2 the art or skill of performing tricks or illusions for entertainment <she's so good at conjuring that she's a much-sought-after entertainer at children's parties> — see MAGIC 2

conk noun, chiefly British slang
the part of the face bearing the nostrils and nasal cavity <a feisty cockney who had got his conk broken more than once in street brawls> — see NOSE 1

conk (out) verb
1 to lose consciousness <after three days without eating, he simply conked out> — see FAINT
2 to stop functioning <the engine conked out just as we were approaching the exact middle of nowhere> — see FAIL 1
3 to stop living <a list of people whose chief claim to fame is the unusual manner in which they conked out> — see DIE 1

conn also con verb
to operate or control the course of <there was white-knuckle tension as the captain conned the gunboat through the mine-infested harbor> — see NAVIGATE 1

connate adjective
having qualities in common <the central premise of the comedy is that organized crime and moviemaking are pretty much connate activities> — see ALIKE

connect verb
1 to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole <connect all the sets of lights and attach them to the branches of the Christmas tree>

Synonyms
catenate, chain, compound, concatenate, conjugate, couple, hitch, hook, interconnect, interlink, join, link, yoke

Related Words
articulate, dovetail, integrate, interlock, intermesh; cord, string, wire; cement, coalesce, combine, fuse, unite, weld

Near Antonyms
detach, disengage, divide, part, split; cleave, rupture, sever, sunder

Antonyms
disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, disunite, separate, unchain, uncouple, unhitch, unlink, unyoke

2 to come together to form a single unit <the two interstate highways connect, so a driver can go from one corner of the state to the other without much trouble> — see UNITE 1
3 to think of (something) in combination <opera is popularly connected with high society> — see ASSOCIATE 2

connecting noun
the act or an instance of joining two or more things into one <the connecting of the truck to the trailer was easily accomplished> — see UNION 1

connection noun
1 the fact or state of having something in common <the endless debate about the connection between crime and poverty>

Synonyms
affinity, association, bearing, kinship, liaison, linkage, relation, relationship

Related Words
correlation, interrelation; materiality, pertinence, relevance; bond, link, tie; affiliation, alliance, union; identicalness, sameness; alikeness, community, likeness, resemblance, similarity; accordance, agreement, conformity, congruity, correspondence

Near Antonyms
variability, variance; incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness

2 a place where two or more things are united <there's a problem at the connection where the outside wire is hooked up to the inside wiring> — see JOINT 1
3 an acquaintance who has influence especially in the business or political world <I have a connection in Hollywood who might be able to get you a part in a movie> — see CONTACT
4 the act or an instance of joining two or more things into one <that bridge is the only connection between the island and the mainland> — see UNION 1
5 the fact or state of being pertinent <that last comment of yours has no connection with what we've been talking about for the last hour> — see PERTINENCE
6 the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <in a truly secular society there is no connection between church and state> — see ASSOCIATION 1
7 an assignment at which one regularly works for pay <enjoyed self-employment and never wanted a connection with a big company> — see JOB 1

connivance noun
a secret agreement or cooperation between two parties for an illegal or dishonest purpose <was able to sneak out at night with the connivance of a camp counselor> — see COLLUSION

connive verb
1 to secretly sympathize with or pretend ignorance of something improper or unlawful <the principal connived at all the school absences that were recorded on the day of the city's celebration of its Super Bowl victory>

Synonyms
wink

Related Words
brush (aside or off), condone, disregard, excuse, forgive, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, overlook, pardon, pass over, shrug off, tolerate

Near Antonyms
disapprove (of), frown (on or upon); deny, disallow, refuse

2 to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends <suspects that his coworkers are conniving to get him fired> — see PLOT

connoisseur noun
1 a person having a knowledgeable and fine appreciation of the arts <a forthcoming exhibit at the art museum that is eagerly awaited by connoisseurs of ancient Greek pottery>

Synonyms
cognoscente, dilettante

Related Words
adept, authority, expert, maestro, master, past master, scholar, virtuoso; critic, reviewer; amateur, dabbler; collector; specialist; aficionado (also afficionado), buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan

Near Antonyms
groundling, lowbrow, materialist, philistine

2 a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <works that are highly prized by connoisseurs of art glass> — see EXPERT

connubial adjective
of or relating to marriage <a happy couple celebrating half a century of connubial bliss> — see MARITAL

connubiality noun
a union representing a special kind of social and legal partnership between two people <the sudden craze for connubiality had claimed its latest victim: a bachelor who swore that he'd never marry> — see MARRIAGE 1

conquer verb
1 to bring under one's control by force of arms <before his final defeat, Napoléon had managed to conquer much of Europe>

Synonyms
dominate, overpower, pacify, subdue, subject, subjugate, subordinate, vanquish

Related Words
annihilate, beat, clobber, crush, defeat, drub, lick, mow (down), overcome, prevail (over), reduce, rout, skunk, smash, thrash, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip; enslave; break, clamp down (on), crack down (on), put down, quash, quell, repress, silence, smother, snuff (out), squash, squelch, suppress

Near Antonyms
discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, free, liberate, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter

2 to achieve a victory over <love conquers all, or so romance novels would have us believe> — see BEAT 2
3 to achieve victory (as in a contest) <a coach who demands that his team conquer, whatever the cost> — see WIN 1

conqueror noun
one that defeats an enemy or opponent <hailed as conqueror of the barbarian forces> — see VICTOR 1

conquest noun
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control <the conquest of much of North and South America by the Spanish during the 16th century>

Synonyms
dominating, domination, overpowering, subduing, subjecting, subjection, subjugating, subjugation, vanquishing

Related Words
triumph, victory, win, winning; beating, defeat, drubbing, licking, shellacking, trimming, trouncing, whipping; enslavement; takeover

Near Antonyms
emancipation, enfranchisement, freeing, liberation, manumission, release

consanguineous adjective
being such by blood and not by adoption or marriage <felt just as close to his adopted brother as he did to his two consanguineous siblings> — see NATURAL 3

conscientious adjective
1 guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong <operated on the belief that most people are conscientious, the unattended farm stand has a price list and a money drawer for customers to leave payment for their purchases>

Synonyms
conscionable, ethical, honest, honorable, just, moral, principled, scrupulous

Related Words
decent, good, righteous, right-minded, straight, upright, virtuous; dutiful, observant, respectful; overconscientious; reliable, responsible, solid, tried-and-true, true, trustworthy, trusty; esteemed, law-abiding, reputable, respected, upstanding, worthy

Near Antonyms
bad, black, evil, evil-minded, immoral, indecent, sinful, unrighteous, wicked; unreliable, untrustworthy; corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, perverted, reprobate; atrocious, infamous, villainous; base, low, mean, vicious, vile; iniquitous, nefarious

Antonyms
cutthroat, dishonest, dishonorable, immoral, unconscionable, unethical, unjust, unprincipled, unscrupulous

2 taking, showing, or involving great care and effort <a counselor who serves patients by first being a conscientious listener> — see PAINSTAKING

conscientiousness noun
strict attentiveness to what one is doing <finished the last details with as much conscientiousness as the first> — see CARE 1

conscionable adjective
guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong <rejecting the title of hero, he insisted that any conscionable person would have done the same thing> — see CONSCIENTIOUS 1

conscious adjective
1 having specified facts or feelings actively impressed on the mind <conscious of the fact that my hands were sweating the whole time that I was making my presentation>

Synonyms
alive, apprehensive, aware, cognizant, mindful, sensible, sentient, ware, witting

Related Words
alert, attentive, careful, cautious, heedful, observant, open-eyed, regardful, safe, vigilant, wary, watchful, wide-awake; hyperaware, hyperconscious

Near Antonyms
careless, heedless, inattentive, incautious, mindless, unguarded, unheeding, unwary

Antonyms
insensible, oblivious, unaware, unconscious, unmindful, unwitting

2 made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing <a conscious effort to instill discord in the family> — see INTENTIONAL

consciously adverb
with full awareness of what one is doing <she consciously chose to take the more dangerous route down the mountain> — see INTENTIONALLY

consciousness noun
a state of being aware <a glaring problem that somehow has yet to penetrate the consciousness of the people that run this company> — see ATTENTION 2

conscribe verb
to pick especially for required military service <young men worried about whether they would be conscribed to fight in this latest conflict> — see DRAFT 1

conscript noun
a person forced or required to enroll in military service <as the war continued, the body of enlisted soldiers was supplemented by an increasing number of conscripts>

Synonyms
draftee, inductee, selectee

Related Words
levy; recruit, rookie

Near Antonyms
enlistee, volunteer

conscript verb
to pick especially for required military service <was conscripted into the army shortly after turning 18> — see DRAFT 1

consecrate adjective
set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God <the consecrate gold tablets which Joseph Smith claimed to have found> — see HOLY 2

consecrate verb
1 to keep or intend for a special purpose <a philanthropist who consecrated his considerable fortune to an array of charitable causes> — see DEVOTE 1
2 to make holy through prayers or ritual <plans to consecrate the altar in the new church with great ceremony> — see BLESS 1

consecrated adjective
set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God <built the cemetery on consecrated ground> — see HOLY 2

consecration noun
the act of making something holy through religious ritual <the consecration of the Host during Communion>

Synonyms
blessing, hallowing, sanctification

Related Words
purification; dedication; adoration, glorification, reverence, veneration, worship

Near Antonyms
debasement, defilement, desecration, impiety, irreverence, profanation, sacrilege

consecution noun
a series of things linked together <a consecution of schoolboy misdeeds, juvenile offenses, and misdemeanors that eventually led to a life as a career criminal> — see CHAIN 1

consecutive adjective
following one after another without others coming in between <the team's winning streak has lasted for seven consecutive games>

Synonyms
back-to-back, sequent, sequential, straight, succeeding, successional, successive

Related Words
serial; constant, continuous, uninterrupted; ensuing, following, later, next, posterior, subsequent

Near Antonyms
in series

Antonyms
inconsecutive, inconsequent, nonconsecutive, nonsequential

consecutively adverb
following one after another without others coming in between <talked of retirement after winning the title four times consecutively>

Synonyms
back-to-back, hand running [dialect], running, sequentially, seriatim, successionally, successively, together

Related Words
serially; constantly, continually, continuingly, continuously, night and day, repeatedly, unceasingly, uninterruptedly; subsequently

Phrases
on end

Near Antonyms
discontinuously, intermittently, interruptedly

consensus noun
the state of being of one opinion about something <finally reached a consensus on how to spend the money that the club had raised> — see AGREEMENT 1

consent noun
the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something <we had to get our neighbor's consent in order to trim the tree from his side> — see PERMISSION

consent verb
to give or express one's approval (as to a proposal) <refused to consent to the marriage> — see ACCEDE

consequence noun
1 a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <the flood was an inevitable consequence of the prolonged, heavy rains> — see EFFECT 1
2 the quality or state of being important <a mistake that was of no great consequence> — see IMPORTANCE
3 an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <a junior executive who strutted around the office with all of the consequence of a peacock in pinstripes> — see ARROGANCE
4 an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning <I am able to deduce several consequences from those premises> — see CONCLUSION 1

consequent adjective
1 according to the rules of logic <the conclusion that you have reached is neither consequent nor plausible> — see LOGICAL 1
2 coming as a result <her new job and consequent relocation added to the stress> — see RESULTANT

consequential adjective
1 coming as a result <his high-fat diet and the consequential weight gain> — see RESULTANT
2 having great meaning or lasting effect <the American Civil War is often regarded as the nation's most consequential event since its founding> — see IMPORTANT 1
3 having too high an opinion of oneself <for such a consequential businessman, he's head of a rather small company> — see CONCEITED

consequently adverb
for this or that reason <taxes were lowered, and consequently complaints were fewer> — see THEREFORE

conservancy noun
the careful maintaining and protection of something valuable especially in its natural or original state <she's devoted her life to conservancy of the rain forest> — see CONSERVATION 1

conservation noun
1 the careful maintaining and protection of something valuable especially in its natural or original state <everyone has a duty to aid in the conservation of our nation's wilderness areas>

Synonyms
conservancy, preservation, sustentation

Related Words
care, maintenance, upkeep; salvation, saving; defense, guardianship, guarding, keeping, protection, safeguarding, safekeeping; economy, husbandry, management

Near Antonyms
dereliction, ignoring, neglect, squandering, waste; destruction, ruin; damage, harm, hurt, injury

2 the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition <the conservation of the nation's monuments and memorials> — see MAINTENANCE

conservatism noun
attitudes or opinions tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <the state's well-known conservatism means that progressive legislation always has an uphill battle>

Synonyms
conservativeness, die-hardism, reactionaryism, traditionalism, ultraconservatism

Related Words
neoconservatism, Toryism; bigotry, illiberalism; conventionalism, conventionality, fogyism (or fogeyism)

Near Antonyms
neoliberalism; extremism, radicalism; nonconformism, nonconformity, unconventionalism, unorthodoxy

Antonyms
broad-mindedness, liberalism, liberalness, open-mindedness, progressivism

conservative adjective
1 tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <conservative baseball fans consider the new ballpark too modern-looking and plain ugly>

Synonyms
archconservative, brassbound, button-down (or buttoned-down), die-hard, hidebound, mossbacked, old-fashioned, old-line, old-school, orthodox, paleoconservative, reactionary, standpat, traditional, traditionalistic, ultraconservative, unprogressive

Related Words
conventional, square; devoted, faithful, loyal, staunch (also stanch), steadfast, steady, true, true-blue; blimpish, neoconservative, Tory, ultraright, ultrarightist; dowdy, fogyish (or fogeyish), fuddy-duddy, ossified, set, stodgy; right, right-wing; antiliberal, antimodern, antiprogressive, antireform, antirevolutionary

Near Antonyms
anticonventional, antiestablishment, antitraditional, extremist, radical, revolutionary; nonconformist; advanced, contemporary, modern; lefty, radical, ultraleft, ultraleftist, ultraprogressive, ultraradical

Antonyms
broad-minded, large-minded, liberal, nonconservative, nonconventional, nonorthodox, nontraditional, open-minded, progressive, unconventional, unorthodox

2 not excessively showy <dressing in conservative outfits so as to make a good impression at job interviews> — see QUIET 2
3 having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble <made conservative investments, and so he wasn't ruined when the market went into a free fall> — see CAREFUL 1

conservative noun
a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are <proposed legislation that was opposed by conservatives throughout the state>

Synonyms
archconservative, paleoconservative, reactionary, rightist, right-winger, Tory, traditionalist

Related Words
right, right-wing; conformist; neocon, neoconservative; diehard, standpatter; bourbon, Colonel Blimp, fuddy-duddy, square, stuffed shirt

Near Antonyms
extremist, radical, red, revolutionary, revolutionist; reformer, reformist

Antonyms
leftist, left-winger, lefty, liberal, progressive

conservativeness noun
attitudes or opinions tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <the judge is noted for his gentlemanly politeness and his judicial conservativeness> — see CONSERVATISM

conservatory noun
a glass-enclosed building for growing plants <the college's conservatory is entirely devoted to cultivating and displaying orchids>

Synonyms
glasshouse [chiefly British], greenhouse, hothouse

Related Words
cold frame, hot bed; nursery; botanical garden (also botanic garden)

conserve verb
1 to avoid the wasteful or destructive use of <the need to conserve oil and other finite fossil fuels>

Synonyms
husband

Related Words
economize, save, scrimp, skimp; preserve, protect, save; hoard, lay by, lay up

Near Antonyms
clean (out), consume, deplete, drain, exhaust, expend, impoverish, spend, use up

Antonyms
blow, dissipate, fritter (away), lavish, misspend, run through, squander, throw away, waste

2 to keep in good condition <conserve our national parks so that they may be enjoyed by future generations> — see MAINTAIN 1

conserving noun
the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition <the conserving of such national treasures as the flag that flew over Fort McHenry during its famous bombardment> — see MAINTENANCE

consider verb
1 to think of in a particular way <I consider him a very good friend>

Synonyms
account, call, count, esteem, hold, look (on or upon), rate, reckon, regard, set down, view

Related Words
believe, deem, feel, sense, think; conceive, fancy, imagine

Phrases
take for

2 to give serious and careful thought to <carefully considering our options> — see PONDER
3 to have as an opinion <consider the price too high> — see BELIEVE 2
4 to give consideration to (as unexpected circumstances or contingencies) <I had to consider the commute in deciding whether to take the job> — see ALLOW FOR
5 to think very highly or favorably of <her well-considered novels have seldom been best sellers> — see ADMIRE

considerable adjective
1 sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention <the considerable number of auto accidents that resulted from the surprise snowstorm>

Synonyms
biggish, good, goodly, handsome, healthy, largish, major, respectable, significant, sizable (or sizeable), substantial, substantive, tidy

Related Words
big, bulky, hefty, hulking, outsize (also outsized), oversize (or oversized), voluminous; astronomical (also astronomic), bumper, colossal, elephantine, enormous, gigantic, great, herculean, huge, immense, jumbo, king-size (or king-sized), mammoth, massive, monstrous, monumental, prodigious, titanic, tremendous, whopping

Near Antonyms
measly, minute, paltry, petty, picayune, picayunish, piddling, puny, trifling, trivial, unimportant; marginal, meager (or meagre), slight; little, small, tiny, undersized (also undersize); bitty, diminutive, miniature, pint-size (or pint-sized), pocket, pocket-size (also pocket-sized), pygmy, smallish

Antonyms
inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, insubstantial, negligible, nominal

2 of a size greater than average of its kind <a house with a considerable barn in back> — see LARGE 1

considerably adverb
to a large extent or degree <home electronic devices that have fallen considerably in price> — see GREATLY 2

considerate adjective
1 given to or made with heedful anticipation of the needs and happiness of others <a kindly woman who is very considerate of other people's feelings> — see THOUGHTFUL 1
2 having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble <you need to develop a more considerate temperament and learn to think before you speak> — see CAREFUL 1

considerately adverb
with good reason or courtesy <he considerately made breakfast for all of the exhausted rescue workers> — see WELL 4

consideration noun
1 a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something <after much consideration we decided to make an offer on the house>

Synonyms
account, advisement, debate, deliberation, reflection, study, thought

Related Words
cogitation, contemplation, meditation, pondering, rumination; introspection; agonizing, hesitation, indecision; premeditation

Antonyms
short shrift

2 something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services <since it was pro bono work, no consideration was made> — see PAYMENT 2

considered adjective
decided on as a result of careful thought <my considered opinion is that this is the best movie I've ever seen> — see DELIBERATE 1

considering conjunction
for the reason that <considering the police have almost nothing to go on, I wouldn't expect the case to be solved anytime soon> — see SINCE

consigliere noun
a person who gives advice especially professionally <the President's trusted consigliere and chief political strategist> — see CONSULTANT

consign verb
1 to cause to go or be taken from one place to another <consigned the prisoner to the dungeon> — see SEND
2 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <the deliveryman had consigned our package to a next-door neighbor> — see GIVE 2

consist verb
to be in agreement on every point <that account consists with the information in the other reports> — see CHECK 1

consist (of) verb
to be made up of <those cookies consist of flour, butter, sugar, chocolate, and vanilla> — see COMPRISE 1

consistence noun
the degree to which a fluid can resist flowing <the mixture should have the consistence of pancake batter> — see CONSISTENCY

consistency noun
the degree to which a fluid can resist flowing <beat the egg whites until they take on the consistency of whipped cream>

Synonyms
consistence, density, thickness, viscidity, viscosity

Related Words
compactness, firmness, solidity; ropiness, stickiness

consistent adjective
not having or showing any apparent conflict <the clothes you wear to work must be consistent with the company's dress code>

Synonyms
accordant, coherent, compatible, concordant, conformable (to), congruent, congruous, consonant, correspondent (with or to), harmonious, nonconflicting

Related Words
self-consistent; appropriate, befitting, felicitous, fit, fitting, meet, proper, right, suitable

Phrases
of a piece

Near Antonyms
improper, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, infelicitous, unsuitable

Antonyms
conflicting, conflictive, incompatible, incongruous, inconsistent, inharmonious, noncompatible

consistently adverb
on every relevant occasion <he consistently brings a sandwich for lunch> — see ALWAYS 1

consociate verb
to come or be together as friends <you'll be judged by those with whom you consociate> — see ASSOCIATE 1

consolation noun
1 the giving of hope and strength in times of grief, distress, or suffering <the consolation of the grieving family by their pastor>

Synonyms
comforting, consoling, reassurance, solace, solacing

Related Words
commiseration, compassion, condolence, feeling, sympathy; counseling (or counselling); humanity, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, mercy, pity

2 a feeling of ease from grief or trouble <the consolation that our favorite foods give us when we're having a bad day> — see COMFORT 1

console noun
a storage case typically having doors and shelves <a custom-built walnut console holds all of their home-theater components> — see CABINET

console verb
to ease the grief or distress of <the military officer who must console the bereaved at a soldier's funeral> — see COMFORT

consolidate verb
1 to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control <plans to consolidate several branches into one regional office> — see CENTRALIZE
2 to make markedly greater in measure or degree <another win would consolidate their hold on first place in their division> — see INTENSIFY

consolidation noun
the act or an instance of joining two or more things into one <the consolidation of several intelligence agencies into one super agency> — see UNION 1

consoling noun
the giving of hope and strength in times of grief, distress, or suffering <the responsibility for the consoling of the families of the firefighters fell to the mayor> — see CONSOLATION 1

consonance noun
1 a balanced, pleasing, or suitable arrangement of parts <at present, the living room lacks consonance because all of the furniture is on one side> — see HARMONY 1
2 a state of consistency <in good writing there is always consonance of thought and expression, as the use of simple words for simple thoughts> — see CONFORMITY 1

consonancy noun
a balanced, pleasing, or suitable arrangement of parts <what makes Citizen Kane so great is the consonancy between its larger-than-life subject and its bravura style> — see HARMONY 1

consonant adjective
1 having the parts agreeably related <the temples and palaces of ancient Greece are among the most consonant buildings in architectural history> — see HARMONIOUS 2
2 not having or showing any apparent conflict <his gentle behavior is consonant with his expressed belief in pacifism> — see CONSISTENT

1consort noun
1 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <a consort of doctors attended the case> — see GROUP 2
2 an organized group of singers <hired a consort of madrigal singers to perform at the wedding reception> — see CHORUS 1

2consort noun
the person to whom another is married <it is the queen's eldest son and not her consort who is next in line for the throne> — see SPOUSE

consort verb
1 to come or be together as friends <at college she began consorting with drug users, eventually becoming an addict herself> — see ASSOCIATE 1
2 to form a pleasing relationship <the restaurant's sophisticated menu consorts seamlessly with its sleek, modern ambience> — see HARMONIZE 1

consortium noun
a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <a consortium for the prevention of animal cruelty> — see ASSOCIATION 2

conspectus noun
a short statement of the main points <a book that could serve as a conspectus of the work thus far on the development of artificial intelligence> — see SUMMARY

conspicuous adjective
1 likely to attract attention <the seven-foot-tall basketball player is conspicuous in any crowd> — see NOTICEABLE
2 very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad <conspicuous bureaucratic waste that drives taxpayers crazy> — see EGREGIOUS

conspiracy noun
1 a group involved in secret or criminal activities <members of the conspiracy recognized each other by a secret handshake> — see 1RING 1
2 a secret agreement or cooperation between two parties for an illegal or dishonest purpose <a conspiracy among the leading manufacturers to fix prices> — see COLLUSION
3 a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends <several generals were engaged in a conspiracy to overthrow the government> — see PLOT 1

conspire verb
1 to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends <conspired to replace the leader with someone more easily influenced> — see PLOT
2 to participate or assist in a joint effort to accomplish an end <foul weather and airline foul-ups seemed to be conspiring to ruin our vacation> — see COOPERATE 1

constable noun, chiefly British
a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level <reported the crime to the local constable> — see OFFICER 1

constabulary noun
a body of officers of the law <all members of the local constabulary were on the alert for the escaped convict> — see POLICE 2

constancy noun
1 the state of continuing without change <the mistaken notion that there is constancy in language—words do indeed change their meanings over time>

Synonyms
changelessness, fixedness, immutability, immutableness, invariability, stability, steadiness, unchangeableness

Related Words
consistency, regularity, sameness, uniformity; durability, enduringness, lastingness, permanence

Near Antonyms
aperiodicity, inconsistence, inconsistency, irregularity, unevenness; caducity, evanescence, impermanence

Antonyms
capriciousness, changeability, changeableness, fickleness, instability, mutability, unpredictability, unsteadiness, variability, variableness, volatileness, volatility

2 adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <soldiers serving with constancy and devotion to country> — see FIDELITY
3 the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship <it takes determination and constancy to get through law school> — see FORTITUDE

constant adjective
1 not undergoing a change in condition <change is the only constant thing in the world of fashion>

Synonyms
changeless, stable, stationary, steady, unchanging, unvarying

Related Words
fast, fixed, hard-and-fast, immutable, inflexible, invariable, unalterable, unchangeable; established, set, settled; ceaseless, continuing, durable, enduring, lasting, permanent

Phrases
on an even keel (also on even keel)

Near Antonyms
adaptable, alterable, changeable, flexible, mutable, variable; ephemeral, evanescent, fleeting, momentary, transient, transitory; kaleidoscopic, phantasmagoric (or phantasmagorical)

Antonyms
capricious, changeful, changing, fickle, fluctuating, fluid, inconstant, mercurial, skittish, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, varying, volatile

2 appearing or occurring repeatedly from time to time <I get constant headaches during humid weather> — see REGULAR 1
3 firm in one's allegiance to someone or something <constant friends during times both good and bad> — see FAITHFUL 1

constantly adverb
1 many times <a crackpot who constantly wrote angry letters to the local newspaper> — see OFTEN
2 on every relevant occasion <stay constantly on guard until the danger of forest fire is past> — see ALWAYS 1

constellate verb
to bring together in one body or place <the museum has constellated many of the artist's most glorious paintings into one stunning exhibition> — see GATHER 1

constellation noun
1 a number of things considered as a unit <the constellation of beliefs, attitudes, and values that serve to define liberalism today> — see GROUP 1
2 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <the organization invited an impressive constellation of guest speakers> — see GROUP 2
3 the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged <there's a constantly shifting constellation of relationships among the characters of the novel> — see COMPOSITION 3

constituent noun
one of the parts that make up a whole <the soil contained all of the necessary constituents for growing crops> — see ELEMENT 1

constitute verb
1 to be all the substance of <nine players constitute a baseball team>

Synonyms
compose, comprise, form, make up

Related Words
embody, epitomize, incarnate, incorporate, integrate, materialize, personify, substantiate; complement, complete, supplement; fill (out), flesh (out)

2 to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of <a fund was constituted to help needy students attend the prep school> — see FOUND
3 to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty <the legally constituted authorities with jurisdiction in this matter> — see APPOINT 2
4 to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action <charged with enforcing such regulations as are constituted by the government> — see ENACT

constitution noun
1 the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others <the question of whether violent conflict is part of the constitution of human society> — see NATURE 1
2 the type of body that a person has <that marathon runner is known more for her strong constitution than for her speed> — see PHYSIQUE
3 a collection or system of rules of conduct <our society's constitution requires that every member in good standing pay yearly dues> — see CODE
4 a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature <the constitution against murder is universal among civilized societies> — see LAW 1

constitutional adjective
being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <a man notable for his poor hygiene and apparently constitutional aversion to soap> — see INHERENT

constitutional noun
a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure <went for my evening constitutional in the park> — see WALK 1

constitutionally adverb
by natural character or ability <I'm afraid that I'm constitutionally incapable of carrying a tune> — see NATURALLY 1

constitutive adjective
being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <the proposition that liberty and justice are constitutive elements of an enlightened society> — see INHERENT

constrain verb
1 to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <constrained by conscience to tell only the truth> — see FORCE 1
2 to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <constrained his anger at the needless interruption> — see CONTROL 1

constraint noun
1 the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others <in civilized society people do not just say or do whatever they feel like—they exercise some constraint>

Synonyms
continence, discipline, discretion, inhibition, refrainment, repression, reserve, restraint, self-command, self-control, self-restraint, suppression

Related Words
command, control, mastery, possession; self-censorship, self-containment, self-denial, self-discipline, self-government, self-mastery, will, willpower; composure, self-poise, self-possession; aloofness, detachedness, distance; bashfulness, modesty, shyness; reticence, silence, taciturnity

Near Antonyms
self-abandonment, uninhibitedness; unrestrainedness; gratification, indulgence, overindulgence, self-indulgence; bluntness, candor, frankness; immoderacy, intemperance

Antonyms
disinhibition, incontinence, unconstraint

2 something that limits one's freedom of action or choice <put legal constraints on the board's activities> — see RESTRICTION 1
3 the use of power to impose one's will on another <parental constraint can take several different forms, including a denial of the approval that children usually seek from their parents> — see FORCE 2

constrict verb
1 to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter <the vessel constricted, thereby reducing the flow of blood> — see CONTRACT 2
2 to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together <constricted the opening with a clamp> — see COMPRESS 1

constricting noun
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing <the constant constricting of the animal's throat had caused permanent damage> — see COMPRESSION

constriction noun
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing <tried to ease the tie's constriction of his neck> — see COMPRESSION

constringe verb
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together <a styptic pencil stops the bleeding by constringing the small blood vessels at the site of cut> — see COMPRESS 1

construct verb
1 to create or think of by clever use of the imagination <he managed to construct a theory that fits all the facts> — see INVENT
2 to form by putting together parts or materials <constructed a hydroelectric dam across the river> — see BUILD

construction noun
1 something put together by arranging or connecting an array of parts <the swing set turned out to be a more complicated construction than the “some assembly required” warning suggested>

Synonyms
erection, structure

Related Words
arrangement, assembly; configuration, frame, framework, shell, skeleton; geography, geometry

2 a statement that makes something clear <could you give us your construction of this passage in the Bible?> — see EXPLANATION 1

constructive adjective
having a role in deciding something's final form <his experiences as an exchange student played a constructive part in the course that his life would take> — see FORMATIVE

construe verb
to make plain or understandable <the role of the justices of the Supreme Court in construing the constitution> — see EXPLAIN 1

consult noun
an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <it was time for a change of do, which called for a consult with her hairdresser> — see DISCUSSION 1

consult verb
1 to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem <will consult with several experts on the disease before deciding which course of treatment to pursue> — see CONFER 2
2 to use or seek out as a source of aid, relief, or advantage <I often consult the dictionary when I am uncertain of a word's exact meaning> — see RESORT TO 1

consultant noun
a person who gives advice especially professionally <a consultant in public relations to a number of large corporations>

Synonyms
adviser (also advisor), consigliere, counsel, counselor (or counsellor)

Related Words
authority, expert, pro, professional, specialist; confidant; cabinet, kitchen cabinet; sounding board

Near Antonyms
counselee

consultation noun
an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <holding frequent consultations with his lawyer to discuss the case> — see DISCUSSION 1

consume verb
1 to destroy all trace of <massive fires had consumed hundreds of square miles of forest>

Synonyms
devour, eat (up)

Related Words
gut; deplete, drain, exhaust, expend, spend, use up; annihilate, decimate, demolish, desolate, devastate, do in, pulverize, raze, ruin, shatter, smash, tear down, waste, wreck; annihilate, blot out, eradicate, exterminate, extinguish, extirpate, obliterate, remove, rub out, stamp (out), wipe out

Near Antonyms
conserve, preserve, protect, save; build, construct, erect, put up, raise

2 to make complete use of <the mining company consumed all of the local mineral resources and then moved on> — see DEPLETE 1
3 to take in as food <hungry enough to consume most of the pie> — see EAT 1

consuming adjective
holding the attention or provoking interest <didn't find the plot of the novel particularly consuming> — see INTERESTING

consummate adjective
1 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <consummate cabinetmakers, they produced desks and chests of drawers that are now regarded as masterpieces of American furniture> — see PROFICIENT
2 having no exceptions or restrictions <a consummate liar who has practically made mendacity an art form> — see ABSOLUTE 2
3 of the greatest or highest degree or quantity <a ballerina renowned for her consummate grace> — see ULTIMATE 1

consummate verb
to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done <willing to do whatever it takes to consummate a business deal> — see FINISH 1

consummately adverb
in a skillful or expert manner <the archaeologist unearthed a consummately carved bust from the fourth century B.C.> — see WELL 3

consummation noun
1 the last part of a process or action <the signing of the contract marked the consummation of six months of negotiations> — see FINALE
2 the state of being actual or complete <the opening of the performing arts center brought to consummation years of planning> — see FRUITION

contact noun
1 an acquaintance who has influence especially in the business or political world <an intern who got her summer job in the governor's office through contacts>

Synonyms
connection

Related Words
in, insider; big shot, bigwig, somebody, VIP; arbiter, arbitrator, conciliator, go-between, intercessor, intermediary, interposer, mediator, middleman, peacemaker

2 the state or fact of being able to exchange information regarding one's current situation <she had moved to the other side of the country, but continued to stay in contact with her closest friends> — see TOUCH 1

contact verb
to transmit information or requests to <you can contact me at this number>

Synonyms
address, communicate (with), get, reach

Related Words
get through (to); acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, clue, enlighten, familiarize, fill in, inform, instruct, notify, tell, wise (up); buzz, call, phone, ring (up) [chiefly British], telephone; keep up (with)

Phrases
get hold of, get (or keep) in touch with, touch base (with)

contagious adjective
1 capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another <chicken pox, measles, German measles, and other contagious diseases>

Synonyms
catching, communicable, pestilent, transmissible, transmittable

Related Words
infectious, infective

Near Antonyms
noninfectious

Antonyms
noncommunicable

2 exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others <the enthusiasm of the new club members was contagious>

Synonyms
catching, epidemic, infectious, spreading

Related Words
palpable, perceptible, tangible; irresistible (also irresistable), overpowering, overwhelming; disarming, endearing, fetching, inviting, winning, winsome

contain verb
1 to have within <the top drawer of the cabinet contains my stamp collection>

Synonyms
bear, boast, hold

Related Words
accommodate, fit, take; case, encase, enclose (also inclose), encompass; harbor, house, lodge, shelter

2 to have as part of a whole <the contract contains several new clauses> — see INCLUDE 1
3 to be made up of <the recipe contains several parts> — see COMPRISE 1
4 to gain emotional or mental control of <could hardly contain herself when she heard that she had won the scholarship> — see COLLECT 1
5 to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <frantic efforts to contain the spread of the disease> — see CONTROL 1

container noun
something into which a liquid or smaller objects can be put for storage or transportation <save the plastic containers from the deli for other uses>

Synonyms
holder, receptacle, vessel

Related Words
carrier; cartridge; basket, bin, box, caddy, carton, case, casket, crate, handbasket, locker, trunk; bag, hamper, pocket, sack; cooler, warmer; basin, bottle, bowl, bucket, can, jar, jug, keg, kettle, kit, pack, pail, pitcher, pot, tub, vat

contaminant noun
something that is or that makes impure <a filter to remove contaminants from the drinking water> — see IMPURITY 1

contaminate verb
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable <a supply of drinking water that was contaminated by a toxic waste dump>

Synonyms
befoul, defile, foul, poison, pollute, taint

Related Words
infect; begrime, besmirch, blacken, dirty, foul up, grime, mire, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully; corrupt, rot, spoil; adulterate, doctor; dilute, water down

Near Antonyms
clarify, clean, cleanse, clear, distill (also distil), purge; filter; disinfect, sanitize, sterilize

Antonyms
decontaminate, purify

contaminated adjective
containing foreign or lower-grade substances <the hospitals had no choice but to throw out the contaminated blood supply> — see IMPURE 1

contamination noun
something that is or that makes impure <swimming in the lake is banned until the contamination is identified and neutralized> — see IMPURITY 1

contemn verb
to show contempt for <arrogant critics who contemn the general public's taste in art> — see SCORN 1

contemplate verb
1 to give serious and careful thought to <she contemplated the problem for several hours before reaching a decision> — see PONDER
2 to have in mind as a purpose or goal <he waited patiently, contemplating revenge all the while> — see INTEND 1

contemplation noun
1 long or deep thinking about spiritual matters <the decision to enter a monastery and to spend one's life in prayer and contemplation>

Synonyms
meditation

Related Words
brown study, daydreaming, introspection, muse, navel-gazing, reflection, retrospection, reverie, study, trance, woolgathering; cogitation, deliberation, musing, pondering, rumination

2 the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence <in contemplation of their children's college expenses, they started saving early> — see EXPECTATION

contemplative adjective
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking <a contemplative person who likes to go on solitary walks> <the contemplative life of the monks at the abbey>

Synonyms
broody, cogitative, meditative, melancholy, musing, pensive, reflective, ruminant, ruminative, thoughtful

Related Words
introspective, retrospective, self-reflective; earnest, grave, sedate, serious, serious-minded, severe, sober, solemn, somber (or sombre), weighty; philosophical (also philosophic); analytic (or analytical), logical, rational; deliberate, purposeful; absentminded, abstracted, preoccupied

Near Antonyms
featherbrained, flighty, flippant, frivolous, goofy, harebrained, light-headed, scatterbrained; brainless, mindless, silly, thoughtless, unthinking

Antonyms
unreflective

contemporaneous adjective
existing or occurring at the same period of time <contemporaneous accounts of the battle from officers on both sides> — see CONTEMPORARY 1

contemporaneously adverb
at one and the same time <Mozart was writing music contemporaneously with Haydn> — see TOGETHER 1

contemporary adjective
1 existing or occurring at the same period of time <the absurd notion that early cave dwellers were contemporary with the dinosaurs>

Synonyms
coetaneous, coeval, coexistent, coexisting, coextensive, coincident, coincidental, concurrent, contemporaneous, coterminous, simultaneous, synchronic, synchronous

Related Words
accompanying, attendant, attending, concomitant, incident

Antonyms
asynchronous, noncontemporary, nonsimultaneous, nonsynchronous

2 being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <a magazine devoted to contemporary fashions> — see MODERN

contemporary noun
a person who lives at the same time or is about the same age as another <Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin were exact contemporaries, actually being born on the same day in 1809>

Synonyms
coeval

Related Words
accompaniment, companion, concomitant; coordinate, counterpart, equal, equivalent, match, peer, rival

contemporize verb
to adapt to modern needs, taste, or usage <the new owners of the old-line French restaurant plan to contemporize the menu and make the place seem less intimidating> — see MODERNIZE

contempt noun
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect <my undying contempt for people who abuse animals>

Synonyms
contemptuousness, despisement, despite, despitefulness, disdain, misprision, scorn

Related Words
abhorrence, abomination, detestation, execration, hate, hatred, loathing, lovelessness; cattiness, hatefulness, invidiousness, malevolence, malice, maliciousness, malignancy, malignity, meanness, spite, spitefulness; aversion, disgust, distaste, horror, odium, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, enmity, gall, grudge, hostility, jealousy, pique, resentment; bile, jaundice, rancor, spleen, venom, vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol; aspersion, belittlement, deprecation, depreciation, detraction, diminishment, disparagement; derision, mockery, ridicule; abuse, invective, vituperation; censure, condemnation, denunciation

Near Antonyms
acceptance, tolerance; adoration, adulation, deference, deification, glorification, idolatry, idolization, lionization, reverence, veneration, worship; affection, fancy, fondness, liking, love

Antonyms
admiration, esteem, estimation, favor, regard, respect

contemptible adjective
1 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <the contemptible thieves who stole the Christmas gifts intended for needy children>

Synonyms
cheap, cruddy, deplorable, despicable, dirty, grubby, lame, lousy, mean, nasty, paltry, pitiable, pitiful, ratty, scabby, scummy, scurvy, sneaking, sorry, wretched

Related Words
abhorrent, abominable, condemnable, detestable, execrable, hateful, loathsome, odious; disgusting, reptilian, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, revulsive; discreditable, disgraceful, dishonorable, disreputable, ignominious, shameful; base, ignoble, low, shabby, sordid, squalid, vile; blamable, censurable, reprehensible, reproachable; cowardly, craven, dastardly; unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous

Near Antonyms
high-minded, honest, honorable, noble, principled, redoubtable, reputable, right-minded, scrupulous, upright; ethical, good, moral, right, righteous, virtuous

Antonyms
admirable, commendable, creditable, laudable, meritorious, praiseworthy

2 deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy) <a contemptible attempt at science fiction by someone with no understanding of the genre> — see PITIFUL 1
3 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <the contemptible behavior of the students who took part in the hazing> — see IGNOBLE 2

contemptuous adjective
1 feeling or showing open dislike for someone or something regarded as undeserving of respect or concern <loutish tourists who are contemptuous of the ways and traditions of their host countries>

Synonyms
abhorrent, disdainful, scornful

Related Words
bold-faced, brash, brassy, brazen, cheeky, cocky, discourteous, disrespectful, fresh, impertinent, impudent, insolent, sassy, saucy; arrogant, cavalier, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-handed, high-hat, pretentious, uppish, uppity; haughty, lofty, lordly, prideful, sniffish, snobbish, supercilious; pompous, self-important, superior; catty, cruel, despiteful, hateful, malevolent, malicious, malign, malignant, mean, nasty, spiteful

Near Antonyms
deferential, regardful, respectful; accepting, tolerant; courteous, polite

Antonyms
admiring, applauding, appreciative, approving

2 intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <contemptuous comments about the baseball team's pathetic showings> — see DEROGATORY

contemptuousness noun
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect <a glance filled with unrestrained contemptuousness for the rest of us> — see CONTEMPT

contend verb
1 to engage in a contest <two traditional rivals contending for the championship> — see COMPETE
2 to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration <contended that the senator's considerable experience made him the best candidate> — see ARGUE 1
3 to state as a fact usually forcefully <contended that his opponent was wrong about practically everything> — see CLAIM 1

contend (with) verb
1 to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <a multitude of problems to contend with as soon as he returned to the office> — see HANDLE 1
2 to strive to reduce or eliminate <medical missionaries who daily contend with disease and poverty> — see FIGHT 2

contender noun
1 one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award <a strong contender for the mayoral position> — see CANDIDATE
2 one who strives for the same thing as another <several contenders competing for the title of the city's best Italian restaurant> — see COMPETITOR

content adjective
feeling that one's needs or desires have been met <are you content with your present salary?>

Synonyms
contented, gratified, happy, pleased, satisfied

Related Words
blissful, delighted, glad, joyful, joyous, jubilant, rejoicing, tickled; ecstatic, elated, enraptured, euphoric, overjoyed, rapturous, thrilled; appeased, mollified, pacified, placated

Near Antonyms
disaffected, disgruntled, displeased, unsatisfied; abject, aggrieved, anguished, brokenhearted, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, discouraged, disheartened, dispirited, downcast, downhearted

Antonyms
discontent, discontented, displeased, dissatisfied, malcontent, malcontented, unhappy

1content noun
1 a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) <although I appreciate the poem's lyrical qualities, I don't understand its content> — see MATTER 1
2 the amount of something (as subject matter) included <judging from the table of contents, I'd have to say that this book covers most of the major topics in American history> — see COVERAGE
3 the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action <the speech was filled with fine words but devoid of any real content> — see MEANING 1

2content noun
the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met <slept to her heart's content on weekends> — see PLEASURE 1

content verb
to give satisfaction to <a person easily contented by life's simple pleasures> — see PLEASE 1

contented adjective
feeling that one's needs or desires have been met <having had her fill of candy, the contented girl sank back into the easy chair and dozed off> — see CONTENT

contentedness noun
the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met <the look of contentedness on the sleeping child's face> — see PLEASURE 1

contention noun
1 an idea or opinion that is put forth in a discussion or debate <my contention is that today's lower batting averages are the result of better pitching>

Synonyms
argument, assertion, thesis

Related Words
conjecture, guess, hunch, hypothesis, speculation, surmise, theory; proposal, proposition; assumption, presupposition, supposition; position, stand; case, explanation, rationale, reason

2 an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <several actresses seem to be in heated contention for the title of “worst dressed”> — see CONTEST 1

contentious adjective
1 feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <the Tartars were a contentious people who terrorized much of Asia and eastern Europe during the Middle Ages> — see BELLIGERENT
2 given to arguing <a tiresomely contentious person who likes to argue for the sake of arguing> — see ARGUMENTATIVE 1
3 relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions <gun control is likely to be a contentious subject in any group discussion> — see CONTROVERSIAL 1

contentiousness noun
an inclination to fight or quarrel <his natural tendency towards contentiousness made him a poor choice for a diplomatic post> — see BELLIGERENCE

contentment noun
the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met <a couple of golden-agers looking over their life together with a feeling of contentment and accomplishment> — see PLEASURE 1

conterminous adjective
1 having a border in common <for two nations that are conterminous from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the U.S. and Canada have had remarkably little strife> — see ADJACENT
2 occupying the same space <the county and the school district are conterminous> — see COEXTENSIVE 1

contest noun
1 an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <the eternal contest between the forces of good and the forces of evil>

Synonyms
ball game, battle, combat, competition, conflict, confrontation, contention, dogfight, duel, face-off, grapple, match, rivalry, strife, struggle, sweepstakes (also sweep-stake), tug-of-war, war, warfare

Related Words
horse race, nail-biter; showdown; clash, collision, discord, friction; argument, controversy, debate, disagreement, disputation, dispute, dissension (also dissention), quarrel, row, wrangle

Near Antonyms
concord, harmony, peace

2 a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize <a contest for the gold medal in diving> — see GAME 1
3 a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <what mighty contests have been waged on trivial matters> — see FIGHT 1

contest verb
to demand proof of the truth or rightness of <vowed to contest the claim in court> — see CHALLENGE 1

contestant noun
one who strives for the same thing as another <three contestants will compete on live TV for the cash prize> — see COMPETITOR

contestation noun
variance of opinion on a matter <the statement is certainly open to contestation among reasonable people> — see DISAGREEMENT 1

context noun
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded <in the context of the Great Depression, communism had a certain allure for some disillusioned Americans> — see ENVIRONMENT

contexture noun
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded <the whole contexture of Las Vegas is focused on escapism> — see ENVIRONMENT

contiguity noun
the state or condition of being near <because of the contiguity of the mall to the border, it attracts many shoppers from out of state> — see PROXIMITY

contiguous adjective
having a border in common <Connecticut and Massachusetts are contiguous states> — see ADJACENT

continence noun
1 abstention from sexual intercourse <argued for a pregnancy-prevention program that did not put so much faith in the continence of teenagers> — see CELIBACY
2 the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others <experiencing a moment of unusual continence, I refrained from returning her gratuitous insult> — see CONSTRAINT 1
3 the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions <a religious sect that demanded nearly superhuman continence from its adherents> — see WILL 1
4 voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites <a gambling mecca that has a reputation for being the sort of place where caution and continence are thrown to the wind> — see ABSTINENCE 1

continent adjective
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites <a religous sect that expects its unmarried members to be completely celibate and its married adherents to maintain continent relationships> — see ABSTEMIOUS

continent noun
one of the great divisions of land on the globe or the main part of such a division <Europe and Asia are sometimes considered together to be one continent> — see MAINLAND

continental noun
the smallest amount or part imaginable <complained that today's youth doesn't care a continental about their elders> — see JOT

contingence noun
something that might happen <the collapse of that nation's economy was one contingence that the architects of the war hadn't planned on> — see EVENT 2

contingency noun
1 something that might happen <agencies trying to provide for every contingency in a national emergency> — see EVENT 2
2 something upon which the carrying out of an agreement or offer depends <an offer to buy the house, with the contingency that it pass inspection> — see CONDITION 2

contingent noun
1 a body of persons chosen as representatives of a larger group <the local Scout troop traditionally sends a large contingent to the jamboree>

Synonyms
delegacy, delegation

Related Words
embassy, legation, mission; band, company, crew, detachment, gang, outfit, party, squad, team

2 something that might happen <officials in charge of managing the national emergency tried to prepare for every contingent, no matter how improbable> — see EVENT 2

contingent (on or upon) adjective
determined by something else <the train's scheduled departure is contingent on the prompt fixing of the mechanical fault> — see DEPENDENT 2

continual adjective
1 going on and on without any interruptions <the castaways hoped that the continual broadcast of the distress signal would eventually attract attention> — see CONTINUOUS
2 occurring or appearing at intervals <a history of continual invasions from countries to the west> — see INTERMITTENT 1

continually adverb
1 many times <grew up in a time when children were continually being told to mind their manners> — see OFTEN
2 on every relevant occasion <the computer program continually updates the file with new information> — see ALWAYS 1

continuance noun
1 the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress <the feud between the two families was bitter and of long continuance> — see DURATION 1
2 uninterrupted or lasting existence <the continuance of hunger in the world despite some valiant efforts to solve the problem> — see CONTINUATION

continuation noun
uninterrupted or lasting existence <the continuation of high unemployment has cost the government much support>

Synonyms
abidance, ceaselessness, continuance, continuity, continuousness, durability, duration, endurance, persistence, subsistence

Related Words
drawing out, elongation, extension, lengthening, prolongation, prolonging, stretching; enduringness, permanence; survival

Near Antonyms
abridgment (or abridgement), curtailment, cutback, shortening

Antonyms
cessation, close, discontinuance, discontinuity, end, ending, expiration, finish, stoppage, surcease, termination

continue verb
1 to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state <the heavy snow continued throughout the night>

Synonyms
abide, bide, endure, hold on, hold up, keep up, last, perdure, persist, remain, run on

Related Words
linger, stay, stick around, tarry; carry through, prevail, survive

Near Antonyms
abate, die (down), ebb, let up, moderate, subside, wane

Antonyms
cease, close, conclude, desist, die, discontinue, end, expire, finish, lapse, leave off, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up

2 to begin again or return to after an interruption <we'll continue this discussion after we've eaten> — see RESUME

continued adjective
going on and on without any interruptions <the continued drought is starting to take its toll on the region's farms> — see CONTINUOUS

continuing adjective
1 going on and on without any interruptions <the continuing success of the chain as it opens stores around the country> — see CONTINUOUS
2 having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish <the public's continuing interest in every aspect of the lives of celebrities> — see ABIDING

continuity noun
uninterrupted or lasting existence <after being shuttled from one foster home to another, the child needs some continuity of care> — see CONTINUATION

continuous adjective
going on and on without any interruptions <a city that has been under continuous bombardment for three days>

Synonyms
ceaseless, continual, continued, continuing, incessant, nonstop, perpetual, running, unbroken, unceasing, uninterrupted, unremitting

Related Words
dateless, deathless, endless, eternal, everlasting, immortal, interminable, permanent, undying, unending; changeless, constant, stable, steady, unchanging, unvarying; durable, enduring, lasting, persistent; imperishable, indestructible

Near Antonyms
intermittent, periodic, periodical, recurrent, recurring; alternate, alternating, cyclic (or cyclical), rhythmic (or rhythmical), seasonal, serial; erratic, fitful, irregular, occasional, spasmodic, sporadic, spotty, unsteady

Antonyms
discontinuous, noncontinuous

continuousness noun
uninterrupted or lasting existence <although their bickering wasn't particularly vicious, its merciless continuousness was wearying> — see CONTINUATION

contort verb
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition <the acrobat is able to contort his body so that it almost looks like a pretzel>

Synonyms
deform, distort, misshape, screw, squinch, torture, warp

Related Words
deface, disfigure; wrench, wrest, wring; coil, curl, loop, spiral, twine, wind, wreathe

Near Antonyms
straighten, unbend, uncurl

contortion noun
the twisting of something out of its natural or normal shape or condition <the comedian is renowned for his seemingly endless variety of facial contortions>

Synonyms
deformation, distortion, misshaping, screwing, squinching, torturing, warping

Related Words
defacement, deformity, disfigurement, malformation

contour noun
a line that traces the outer limits of an object or surface <a car with flowing contours> — see OUTLINE 1

contra preposition
opposed to; not for <a roundup of editorials pro and contra the proposed constitutional amendment> — see ANTI

contrabandist noun
a person who imports or exports goods secretly and illegally <contrabandists supplying the rebels with guns> — see SMUGGLER

contract noun
1 a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation <accused her of breaking their contract by not completing the decorating job on budget> — see GUARANTEE 1
2 an arrangement about action to be taken <a contract outlining what needed to be done by each person> — see AGREEMENT 2

contract verb
1 to become affected with (a disease or disorder) <before vaccines were invented, people lived in fear of contracting polio>

Synonyms
catch, come down (with), get, go down (with) [chiefly British], sicken (with), take

Related Words
break out (with); die (from), succumb (to); fail, languish, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither, worsen

Near Antonyms
come back, gain, heal, mend, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back; rally, rebound, recover (from), shake (off)

2 to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter <metal contracts at low temperatures>

Synonyms
compress, condense, constrict, shrink

Related Words
collapse, deflate, flatten; dry up, shrivel, wilt, wither; abate, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen; recede, retreat, withdraw

Near Antonyms
accumulate, grow, increase; balloon, inflate, puff (up)

Antonyms
balloon, expand, snowball, swell

3 to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together <contract the calf muscles in your legs> — see COMPRESS 1
4 to come to an arrangement as to a course of action <the farmer contracted for delivery of the hay by the first of July> — see AGREE 2

contracting noun
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing <the contracting of the time frame for the primaries tends to favor candidates who are already well-known> — see COMPRESSION

contraction noun
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing <most substances undergo contraction when cooled> — see COMPRESSION

contradict verb
1 to make an assertion that is contrary to one made by (another) <no matter what I say, you always have to contradict me>

Synonyms
disagree (with), gainsay

Related Words
challenge, contest, dispute, question; confute, rebut, refute; cross, fight, oppose, resist

Near Antonyms
confirm, corroborate, substantiate, verify; attest, authenticate, avouch, certify, testify (to), vouch (for), witness

Antonyms
agree (with), concur (with)

2 to declare not to be true <his account contradicted the story that they had gotten earlier> — see DENY 1

contradiction noun
1 someone or something with qualities or features that seem to conflict with one another <a loving father as well as a ruthless killer, the gangster is a living contradiction>

Synonyms
dichotomy, incongruity, paradox

Related Words
antinomy; conundrum, enigma, mystery, mystification, puzzle, puzzlement, riddle

2 a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement <the actress's contradiction of the marriage rumor caused quite a stir> — see DENIAL 2

contradictory adjective
being as different as possible <contradictory predictions regarding stock prices that were of no help to investors at all> — see OPPOSITE

contraption noun
an interesting and often novel device with a practical use <built a contraption for automatically buttering toast> — see GADGET

contrariety noun
the quality or state of being as different as possible <the inescapable contrariety of her chief interests: food and a desire for supermodel svelteness>

Synonyms
contrariness, oppositeness, opposition, polarity

Related Words
contradictoriness; antipode, antithesis; disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, divergence, unlikeness; inequality; conflict, disagreement, discrepancy, variance; incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness

Near Antonyms
agreement, alikeness, conformity, congruity, correspondence, likeness, parallelism, resemblance, similarity, similitude; analogousness; correlation, relationship

Antonyms
identicalness, sameness

contrarily adverb
just the opposite being true <contrarily, the most authentic novel about the American Civil War was written by someone born six years after it had ended> — see CONTRARIWISE

contrariness noun
1 refusal to obey <cursed the contrariness of her beloved mutt when it refused to come back inside the house> — see DISOBEDIENCE
2 the quality or state of being as different as possible <a contrariness between his professed altruism and his blatant selfishness> — see CONTRARIETY

contrariwise adverb
just the opposite being true <the rock singer is hardly a carouser; contrariwise, he totally abstains from alcohol>

Synonyms
again, contrarily, conversely

Phrases
if anything, on the contrary, to the contrary

Near Antonyms
even, indeed, nay, true, truly, verily, yea

contrary adjective
1 being as different as possible <the other jurors seemed sure the defendant was guilty, but I came to the contrary conclusion> — see OPPOSITE
2 engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior <a contrary child who wouldn't behave> — see NAUGHTY
3 given to resisting authority or another's control <the contrary soldier is facing a court-martial for insubordination> — see DISOBEDIENT

contrary noun
something that is as different as possible from something else <the admonition that we should not return hate with hate, but rather with its contrary—love> — see OPPOSITE

contrast noun
the quality or state of being different <the contrast between the two approaches to the problem of overeating could not be greater> — see DIFFERENCE 1

contrast verb
to be unlike; to not be the same <her depressed mood today contrasts sharply with her good spirits yesterday> — see DIFFER 1

contravene verb
to fail to keep <the unauthorized reproduction of the image contravenes copyright laws> — see VIOLATE 1

contravention noun
a failure to uphold the requirements of law, duty, or obligation <a clandestine weapons program that was a contravention of the international arms agreement> — see BREACH 1

contretemps noun
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <there was a bit of a contretemps over the seating arrangements for the upcoming wedding> — see ARGUMENT 1

contribute verb
1 to make a donation as part of a group effort <would you like to contribute to the Thanksgiving fund for needy families?>

Synonyms
chip in, kick in, pitch in

Related Words
bestow, donate, give, present; award, confer, dole (out), endow; afford, furnish, provide

2 to make a present of <contributes money to a variety of worthy causes> — see GIVE 1

contribution noun
a gift of money or its equivalent to a charity, humanitarian cause, or public institution <contributions for the victims of the earthquake began pouring in>

Synonyms
alms, benefaction, beneficence, charity, donation, philanthropy

Related Words
offering, tithe; bequest, endowment, legacy; aid, assistance, dole, handout, relief, welfare; grant, subsidy; benevolence, bestowal, largesse (also largess), present, presentation

contrite adjective
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done <being contrite is not enough to spare you an arrest if you're caught shoplifting>

Synonyms
apologetic, compunctious, penitent, regretful, remorseful, repentant, rueful, sorry

Related Words
ashamed, shamefaced, sheepish; dolorous, grieving, lugubrious, mournful, plaintive, sorrowful, wailing, weeping, woeful

Near Antonyms
compassionless, cruel, merciless, pitiless, ruthless, unmerciful; shameless, unashamed

Antonyms
impenitent, remorseless, unapologetic, unrepentant

contriteness noun
a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <his determination to make things right again was seen as a sign of his sincere contriteness> — see GUILT 1

contrition noun
a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <once again she heard her abusive husband's tearful expressions of contrition> — see GUILT 1

contrivance noun
1 an interesting and often novel device with a practical use <a new contrivance for cleaning computer keyboards> — see GADGET
2 something (as a device) created for the first time through the use of the imagination <despite the many modern contrivances for saving time and labor, we seem to have less leisure and energy than ever before> — see INVENTION 1
3 the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others <in that writer's hands, narrative contrivance can often deteriorate into pointless gimmickry> — see IMAGINATION 1

contrive verb
1 to create or think of by clever use of the imagination <contrived abstract metal sculptures using old household utensils> — see INVENT
2 to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends <the mischievous boys were always contriving and trying to pull the prank that would be the talk of the school> — see PLOT
3 to plan out usually with subtle skill or care <contrived a way of helping the needy family without their knowing it> — see ENGINEER

contrived adjective
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <the contrived applause of a TV studio audience that has been told when to clap> — see ARTIFICIAL 1

contriver noun
one who creates or introduces something new <a contriver of yet another piece of exercise equipment guaranteed to take off the pounds> — see INVENTOR

control noun
1 a mechanism for adjusting the operation of a device, machine, or system <the controls for the player are well marked>

Synonyms
controller, regulator

Related Words
actuator; button, dial, key, knob, lever, push button, selector, switch

2 the ability to direct the course of something <after the tail fell off, the plane went out of the pilot's control> <firefighters keeping control of the blaze>

Synonyms
grasp, hand(s)

Related Words
clutch, grip, hold, mastery; arm, command, dominion, helm, sway; authority, domination, jurisdiction, might, power; administration, direction, governance, government, guidance, management, operation, oversight, regulation, running, superintendence, supervision

Near Antonyms
helplessness, weakness; impotence, impotency, powerlessness

3 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <control of manufacturing operations was given to a new manager with fresh ideas> — see CONDUCT 1
4 the fact or state of having (something) at one's disposal <took control of the process of selecting candidates for the scholarship> — see POSSESSION 1
5 the right or means to command or control others <teachers are responsible for the students under their control> — see POWER 1

control verb
1 to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <you must learn to control your temper>

Synonyms
bridle, check, constrain, contain, curb, govern, hold, inhibit, keep, measure, pull in, regulate, rein (in), restrain, rule, tame

Related Words
bottle (up), choke (back), hold back, mince, muffle, pocket, repress, sink, smother, squelch, stifle, strangle, suppress, swallow; arrest, interrupt, stop; block, hamper, handcuff, hinder, impede, obstruct; gag, muzzle, silence

Near Antonyms
liberate, loose, loosen, unleash; air, express, take out, vent

Antonyms
lose

2 to gain emotional or mental control of <he controlled himself only with the greatest difficulty in the face of his opponent's insulting remarks> — see COLLECT 1
3 to exercise authority or power over <circumstances often control the choices we make in life> — see GOVERN 1
4 to look after and make decisions about <during the period that she controlled the company it was highly profitable> — see CONDUCT 1

controller noun
a mechanism for adjusting the operation of a device, machine, or system <the controllers for the video game system seem fairly well designed> — see CONTROL 1

controversial adjective
1 relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions <racial segregation was a controversial topic in the 1960s>

Synonyms
argumentative, contentious, disputatious, hot-button, polemical (also polemic)

Related Words
delicate, difficult, knotty, problematic (also problematical), spiny, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough

Near Antonyms
incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, undeniable, unquestionable; irrefutable; uncontested, undisputed

Antonyms
noncontroversial, safe, uncontroversial

2 given to arguing <controversial by temperament, she's the sort of political attack dog who kills all hope of bipartisanship> — see ARGUMENTATIVE 1

controversy noun
1 an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <the seemingly imperishable controversy over the teaching of evolution> — see ARGUMENT 1
2 variance of opinion on a matter <there is considerable controversy regarding the assassination of President Kennedy> — see DISAGREEMENT 1

controvert verb
to express different opinions about something often angrily <ever since the poem was first published, critics and scholars have controverted over the meaning of its concluding lines> — see ARGUE 2

controvertible adjective
open to question or dispute <a controvertible decision to permit smoking in certain public spaces around town> — see DEBATABLE 1

contumacious adjective
given to resisting authority or another's control <the judge threatened to charge the contumacious witness with contempt of court> — see DISOBEDIENT

contumacy noun
refusal to obey <a rogue archbishop who was excommunicated on grounds of contumacy> — see DISOBEDIENCE

contumelious adjective
marked by harsh insulting language <a well-reasoned thesis that merited more than just a scornful, contumelious response> — see ABUSIVE

contusion noun
a bodily injury in which small blood vessels are broken but the overlying skin is not <suffered multiple contusions as a result of a car accident>

Synonyms
bruise

Related Words
abrasion, boo-boo, bump, lump, scrape, scratch; black eye, hickey; discoloration

conundrum noun
something hard to understand or explain <the conundrum of how an ancient people were able to build such massive structures without the benefit of today's knowledge and technology> — see MYSTERY

convalesce verb
to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness <the long months that the soldier spent in the hospital slowly convalescing>

Synonyms
come back, gain, heal, mend, pull round [chiefly British], rally, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back

Related Words
come around, come round, come to, improve, pick up, revive; cheer (up), perk (up); pull through, survive; recruit

Near Antonyms
ail, collapse, come down, sicken; decline, degenerate, deteriorate, fade, fail, languish, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither, worsen; regress, relapse

convalescence noun
the process or period of gradually regaining one's health and strength <her release from the hospital was followed by a long convalescence at home>

Synonyms
comeback, healing, mending, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehab, rehabilitation, snapback

Related Words
resuscitation, revival; survival

Near Antonyms
decline, degeneration, deterioration, fading, failing, languishing, sinking, wasting (away), weakening, wilting, withering, worsening; regression, relapse

convene verb
1 to bring together in assembly by or as if by command <convened the members of the council for an emergency session> — see CONVOKE
2 to come together into one body or place <the conventioneers convened in the auditorium to hear the guest speaker> — see ASSEMBLE 1

convenience noun
1 something that adds to one's ease of living <a house with all the modern conveniences that buyers have come to expect> — see COMFORT 2
2 chiefly British a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <it can be hard to find a public convenience in an unfamiliar train station> — see TOILET

convenient adjective
situated within easy reach <the shopping mall is convenient to all of the area's major highways>

Synonyms
accessible, handy, reachable

Related Words
close, near, nearby, nigh; abutting, adjacent, adjoining; approachable, attainable, getatable, obtainable; ultraconvenient

Phrases
at hand, to hand

Near Antonyms
away, distant, far, faraway, far-off, remote, removed; unapproachable, unattainable, unavailable, unobtainable

Antonyms
inaccessible, inconvenient, unhandy, unreachable, untouchable

convention noun
1 a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose <attended a convention of mathematicians in California> — see MEETING 1
2 a formal agreement between two or more nations or peoples <an international convention banning the spread of nuclear weapons> — see TREATY
3 an arrangement about action to be taken <the Geneva Convention details proper treatment of prisoners of war> — see AGREEMENT 2
4 an inherited or established way of thinking, feeling, or doing <the bride decided to follow convention and to have her father give her away> — see TRADITION 1

conventional adjective
1 accepted, used, or practiced by most people <conventional wisdom holds that an incumbent president has an overwhelming advantage over his opponent> — see CURRENT 1
2 based on customs usually handed down from a previous generation <tried to break from the conventional attitudes regarding the proper roles for men and women> — see TRADITIONAL 1
3 following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules <conventional courtesy demands that the bridal couple send written thank-you notes for their gifts> — see FORMAL 1

converge verb
to come together into one body or place <hungry students converged on the cafeteria almost as soon as the class bell rang> — see ASSEMBLE 1

convergence noun
the coming together of two or more things to the same point <the convergence of the city's major arteries on a single rotary>

Synonyms
confluence, conjunction, convergency, meeting

Related Words
combination, combining, connecting, connection, consolidation, coupling, joining, junction, juncture, linking, merging, unification, union

Antonyms
divergence

convergency noun
the coming together of two or more things to the same point <the convergency of several trade routes brought the city immense wealth during the Middle Ages> — see CONVERGENCE

conversant adjective
having information especially as a result of study or experience <a world traveler who is highly conversant with the customs of foreign cultures> — see FAMILIAR 2

conversation noun
talking or a talk between two or more people <Thomas Jefferson was celebrated for his brilliant, wide-ranging conversations with a host of friends and acquaintances>

Synonyms
chat, colloquy, converse, dialogue (also dialog), discourse, discussion, exchange

Related Words
banter, chaff, cross fire, give-and-take, persiflage, raillery, repartee; conference, parley, powwow; babble, chatter, chin-wag [slang], chitchat, confabulation, gabfest, gossip, natter [chiefly British], palaver, prate, prattle, rap, small talk, table talk; round-robin, roundtable, symposium; debate, deliberation

conversational adjective
1 fond of talking or conversation <the antiques dealer is not the conversational sort, so customers should not expect any impromptu chats> — see TALKATIVE
2 having the style and content of everyday conversation <struck a very conversational tone in his reports of his travels through foreign countries> — see CHATTY 1
3 used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing <uses conversational language instead of more stilted expressions in her campaign speeches> — see COLLOQUIAL 1

conversationalist noun
a person who talks constantly <she was known as a compulsive conversationalist, so much so that it was often impossible to stop her once she got going> — see CHATTERBOX

converse noun
talking or a talk between two or more people <ideally, the college classroom should be a place of intellectual converse between student and teacher> — see CONVERSATION

converse verb
to engage in casual or rambling conversation <jurors are not allowed to converse while the attorneys go off to one side to confer with the judge> — see CHAT 1

converse (with) verb
to communicate with by means of spoken words <in a press conference, the president is not just addressing reporters—he's conversing with the public> — see TALK TO

conversely adverb
just the opposite being true <she cannot stand sugary food; conversely, her husband is fond of sweets> — see CONTRARIWISE

conversion noun
1 a change in form, appearance, or use <the conversion of the spare bedroom into a home office was easily accomplished>

Synonyms
changeover, metamorphosis, transfiguration, transformation

Related Words
shift, transition; adjustment, alteration, modification; reconstruction, reconversion, redo, redoing, refashioning, reformation, remaking, remodeling, revamping, revision, reworking, variation; deformation, disfigurement, distortion, mutation, transmutation; displacement, replacement, substitution, supplantation

2 the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action <the conversion of the natives to Christianity proved to be much more difficult than anticipated> — see PERSUASION 1

convert noun
1 a person who has recently been persuaded to join a religious sect <the converts were the most vocal and fervent worshippers in the church>

Synonyms
neophyte, proselyte

Related Words
regenerate; newcomer, novice, novitiate, recruit; catechumen

2 one who follows the opinions or teachings of another <the British biologist T. H. Huxley was one of the earliest converts to Darwin's theory of evolution> — see FOLLOWER 1

convert verb
1 to persuade to change to one's religious faith <young missionaries who go door-to-door trying to convert people>

Synonyms
proselyte, proselytize

Related Words
missionize; brainwash, influence, sway; propagate

Near Antonyms
secularize; dissuade

2 to change in form, appearance, or use <the old factory was converted into an apartment building>

Synonyms
alchemize, make over, metamorphose, transfigure, transform, transmute, transpose, transubstantiate

Related Words
adjust, alter, modify, recast; redefine, redesign, redo, reengineer, refashion, regenerate, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, vary; deform, disfigure, distort, mutate, transmogrify; displace, replace, substitute, supplant

3 to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest request <many who used to insist that global warming was a myth have since been converted> — see PERSUADE
4 to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right <the bailee converted the goods to his own use> — see APPROPRIATE 1

convexity noun
a part that sticks out from the general mass of something <he had been gaining weight, as the convexity over his belt buckle clearly showed> — see BULGE 1

convey verb
1 to cause (something) to pass from one to another <intends to personally convey the message to the governor> — see COMMUNICATE 1
2 to support and take from one place to another <conveying a package to his relatives> — see CARRY 1
3 to give over the legal possession or ownership of <upon her death, the house will be conveyed to a predesignated charity> — see TRANSFER 1

conveyance noun
something used to carry goods or passengers <the covered wagon was the major conveyance that transported settlers and their belongings across the frontier>

Synonyms
transport, transportation, vehicle

Related Words
carrier, hauler, mover; transit

convict noun
a person convicted as a criminal and serving a prison sentence <a warning that the three escaped convicts were armed and dangerous>

Synonyms
con, jailbird

Related Words
lifer, trusty; parolee, probationer; captive, capture, inmate, internee, prisoner

convict verb
to find or pronounce guilty <an accused person is presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law>

Synonyms
condemn

Related Words
accuse, arraign, charge, impeach, indict; censure, damn, denounce, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove; admonish, castigate, chastise; penalize, punish, sentence

Near Antonyms
cite, commend, endorse (also indorse); approve, bless, sanction

Antonyms
absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate

conviction noun
1 a state of mind in which one is free from doubt <spoke with conviction about her political beliefs> — see CONFIDENCE 2
2 an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge <held deep convictions about life after death> — see OPINION 1

convince verb
to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests <we convinced him to keep silent about our activities until we could spring the surprise> — see PERSUADE

convincing adjective
having the power to persuade <convincing evidence for the guilt of the accused> — see COGENT

convincing noun
the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action <it will take a great deal of convincing to make them see our point of view> — see PERSUASION 1

convincingness noun
the capacity to persuade <he spoke with such convincingness that we never dreamed he was lying> — see COGENCY 1

convivial adjective
likely to seek or enjoy the company of others <the hiking club attracts a wide range of convivial people who share a love of the outdoors>

Synonyms
boon, clubbable (also clubable), clubby, companionable, extroverted (also extraverted), gregarious, outgoing, sociable, social

Related Words
cordial, folksy, forthcoming, friendly, hospitable; affable, genial, gracious; agreeable, amiable, congenial, kindly, neighborly; animated, gay, jaunty, jolly, jovial, lively, peppy, perky, pert, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, vivacious; communicative, expansive, garrulous, talkative; bright, buoyant, cheerful, chipper, effervescent, upbeat; bubbly, exuberant, high-spirited

Near Antonyms
misanthropic; aloof, cold, cool, detached, distant, frosty, remote, reserved, standoffish; mum, mute, reticent, silent, taciturn

Antonyms
antisocial, insociable, introverted, nongregarious, reclusive, unsociable, unsocial

conviviality noun
1 joyful or festive activity <fondly remembers the many evenings spent in conviviality with her basketball teammates> — see MERRYMAKING
2 the quality or state of being social <his conviviality, warmth, and good nature are irresistible> — see SOCIABILITY

convocation noun
1 a body of people come together in one place <the first speaker to address the convocation> — see GATHERING 1
2 a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose <called for a national convocation of both the clergy and the laity to discuss the crisis in the church> — see MEETING 1

convoke verb
to bring together in assembly by or as if by command <convoked the leading experts on juvenile delinquency to study the situation>

Synonyms
assemble, call, convene, muster, summon

Related Words
rally; call in, call out, call up, knell; amass, collect, gather, group, round up; reassemble, reconvene

Near Antonyms
break up, dissolve

convoluted adjective
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <a convoluted explanation that left the listeners even more confused than they were before> — see COMPLEX 1

convolution noun
something that makes a situation more complicated or difficult <the inevitable convolutions involved in setting up an international teleconference> — see COMPLICATION 1

convoy verb
to go along with in order to provide assistance, protection, or companionship <will convoy the shipment to its destination in the war zone> — see ACCOMPANY 1

convulse verb
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <convulsing with silent laughter as the inept pianist blithely played on> — see SHAKE 1

convulsion noun
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) <the Russian Revolution was one of the major convulsions of the 20th century>

Synonyms
bouleversement, cataclysm, earthquake, paroxysm, storm, tempest, tumult, upheaval, uproar

Related Words
insurgency, insurrection, mutiny, overthrow, overturn, rebellion, revolt, revolution, subversion, unrest, uprising, upset; fit, seizure, spasm; eruption, flare-up, outbreak, outburst; bluster, bobbery, bustle, coil, commotion, furor, furore, fuss, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly-burly, pandemonium, rout, row, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, shindy, squall, stew, stir, to-do, turmoil, welter, williwaw; quaking, rocking, shaking, trembling

convulsive adjective
1 marked by sudden or violent disturbance <the assassination of Martin Luther King was one of the most convulsive events of the 1960s>

Synonyms
cataclysmal (or cataclysmic), stormy, tempestuous, tumultuous, turbulent

Related Words
fitful, spasmodic, sporadic; boisterous, clamorous, furious, noisy, riotous

Near Antonyms
calm, peaceful, placid, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, unshaken, untroubled

2 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <after a day of convulsive trading, the stock market was down 300 points> — see VIOLENT 1

co–occur verb
to occur or exist at the same time <the chronic depression that so often co-occurs with drug abuse> — see COINCIDE 1

cook noun
a person who prepares food by some manner of heating <the hearty meals prepared by the cook at summer camp>

Synonyms
chef, cooker, culinarian

Related Words
baker, pâtissier (or patissier); barbecuer, griller

cook verb
1 to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of <it turns out the pharmaceutical researcher had cooked her data> — see GARBLE 1
2 to take place <wondered what was cooking when several police cars pulled up to their neighbor's house> — see HAPPEN

cook (up) verb
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination <cooked up a scheme to get out of doing the dishes> — see INVENT

cooker noun
1 an appliance that prepares food for consumption by heating it <a portable gas-fired cooker that's perfect for camping trips>

Synonyms
cookstove, range

Related Words
broiler, fryer (also frier), microwave, microwave oven, oven, roaster, rotisserie, stove, toaster, toaster oven

2 a person who prepares food by some manner of heating <Dad was the traditional cooker of the big Sunday breakfast> — see COOK

cookery noun
the art or style of preparing food (as in a specified region) <tacos represented my introduction to Mexican cookery>

Synonyms
cooking, cuisine

Related Words
haute cuisine; gastronomy

cookie or cooky noun
1 a lovely woman <every time I see him, he's got some new cookie on his arm> — see BEAUTY 2
2 a member of the human race <the new CEO is said to be one sharp cookie> — see HUMAN

cooking noun
the art or style of preparing food (as in a specified region) <a TV show that teaches viewers the basics of French cooking> — see COOKERY

cookstove noun
an appliance that prepares food for consumption by heating it <a small cookstove that would be appropriate for an apartment> — see COOKER 1

cool adjective
1 having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <the locals were cool towards outsiders> <the schoolmaster's cool manner did not encourage chitchat>

Synonyms
aloof, antisocial, asocial, buttoned-up, cold, cold-eyed, detached, distant, dry, frosty, offish, remote, standoff, standoffish, unbending, unclubbable, unsociable

Related Words
indrawn, introverted, nongregarious, recessive, reclusive, reserved, unsocial, withdrawn; misanthropic; apathetic, hard, indifferent, unconcerned; clinical, dispassionate, impersonal, professional; disinterested, incurious, uninterested; reticent, silent, taciturn, uncommunicative; diffident, shy, timid; cliquey, cliquish, clubbish

Near Antonyms
boon, clubbable (also clubable), clubby, companionable, convivial, extroverted (also extraverted), gregarious, outgoing; communicative, expansive, garrulous, talkative; affable, folksy, genial, gracious, hospitable; agreeable, amiable, congenial, kindly, neighborly

Antonyms
cordial, friendly, sociable, social, warm

2 free from emotional or mental agitation <in a crisis keep a cool head, even if no one else is> — see CALM 2
3 having a low or subnormal temperature <a cool basement that would be perfect for storing wine> — see COLD 1
4 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <directed a cool glance at the student who was sneaking into class late> — see COLD 2
5 slang being in the latest or current fashion <the outfit you're wearing is so not cool on this campus> — see STYLISH
6 slang keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment <a Greek island that's the current favorite of the cool crowd> — see AU COURANT 1
7 slang of the very best kind <a really cool garage band that's starting to get some attention from the music industry> — see EXCELLENT

cool noun
1 the absence of emotional involvement <the judge's customary cool stood him in good stead during the sensational trial>

Synonyms
coldness, detachment, dispassion, dispassionateness

Related Words
equitability, equitableness, fairness; disinterest, disinterestedness, impartiality, nonpartisanship, objectivity, unbiasedness; balance, rationality, rationalness, reasonability, reasonableness; calm, calmness, peace, peacefulness, placidity, quiet, quietness, quietude, repose, restfulness, sereneness, serenity, tranquillity (or tranquility), tranquilness; reserve, undemonstrativeness, unresponsiveness; apathy, indifference

Near Antonyms
emotionalism; bias, favor, one-sidedness, partiality, partisanship, prejudice

2 the quality or state of being fashionable <I envy you your cool>

Synonyms
coolness, fashionableness, hip, hipness, hipsterism, modishness, stylishness, trendiness, voguishness

Related Words
chic, chicness, dapperness, elegance, poshness, smartness, style, swank, swankiness; class, grace, gracefulness, majesty, stateliness; artfulness, polish, sophistication, taste, tastefulness

Near Antonyms
flashiness, garishness, gaudiness, gracelessness, grotesqueness, tackiness, tastelessness, tawdriness

Antonyms
unfashionableness

3 evenness of emotions or temper <despite the flood of insults, the fledgling stand-up comic never lost his cool> — see EQUANIMITY

cool verb
1 to cause to lose heat <cool your drinks in the icy mountain stream>

Synonyms
chill, refrigerate

Related Words
air-condition; freeze, frost, ice, quick-freeze, supercool; ventilate

Near Antonyms
bake, boil, broil, steam; heat-treat, temper; microwave

Antonyms
heat, toast, warm

2 to become still and orderly <after the recess, tempers had cooled, and we could have a civil, rational discussion> — see QUIET 1

cooler noun
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <plea-bargained to avoid spending time in the cooler> — see JAIL

coolheaded adjective
free from emotional or mental agitation <a coolheaded response to the crisis> — see CALM 2

coolish adjective
having a low or subnormal temperature <made the mistake of wearing shorts on a coolish day> — see COLD 1

coolness noun
1 evenness of emotions or temper <his coolness under pressure makes him everyone's first choice to head a project with an ironclad deadline> — see EQUANIMITY
2 the quality or state of being fashionable <the coolness of their clothes is something that high schoolers tend to obsess over> — see COOL 2

coon's age noun
a long or seemingly long period of time <I haven't seen you in a coon's age!> — see AGE 2

coop noun
1 a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <like many of the city's hookers, she was back in the coop within a week of her release> — see JAIL
2 an enclosure with an open framework for keeping animals <a chicken coop> — see CAGE

coop (up) verb
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <restless kids cooped up in the house on a rainy day> — see ENCLOSE 1

cooperate verb
1 to participate or assist in a joint effort to accomplish an end <conservation groups cooperated with state authorities to find a humane way to manage the area's overpopulation of deer>

Synonyms
band (together), collaborate, concert, concur, conjoin, conspire, join, league, team (up), unite

Related Words
connive; affiliate, ally, associate, combine, confederate, hang together, interface

Phrases
make common cause, play ball, pull together

2 to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members <several industrialized nations cooperated in a trade agreement to reduce or eliminate tariffs> — see ALLY

cooperation noun
1 the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <a series of televised announcements made in cooperation with the tobacco companies warning teenagers about the hazards of smoking> — see ASSOCIATION 1
2 the work and activity of a number of persons who individually contribute toward the efficiency of the whole <everyone's cooperation will make the project go much faster> — see TEAMWORK

cooperative adjective
used or done by a number of people as a group <a cooperative space project undertaken by Russia and the U.S.> — see COLLECTIVE

co–opt verb
to make a part of a body or system <younger immigrants are inevitably co-opted by the culture of their adopted country, even as their elders struggle against the cultural assimilation> — see EMBODY 1

coordinate noun
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value <the Nobel Memorial Award for Economic Science is universally regarded as the coordinate of the original Nobel Prizes for peace, literature, medicine, physics, and chemistry> — see EQUAL

coordinate verb
1 to bring to a state free of conflicts, inconsistencies, or differences <coordinating the plans for the surprise party> — see HARMONIZE 2
2 to form a pleasing relationship <a very meticulous hostess, who makes sure that every aspect of her dinner parties—table settings, food, flowers—coordinate right down to the last detail> — see HARMONIZE 1

coordinateness noun
the state or fact of being exactly the same in number, amount, status, or quality <legislation that would enhance the power of the presidency and threaten the supposed coordinateness of the three branches of the federal government> — see EQUIVALENCE

coordination noun
the work and activity of a number of persons who individually contribute toward the efficiency of the whole <an operation requiring precise coordination among all branches of the armed forces> — see TEAMWORK

cop noun
a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level <a cop stopped her for speeding> — see OFFICER 1

cop verb, slang
1 to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for <I copped a great outfit for only $50> — see BUY 1
2 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <some concertgoers rush pell-mell through the doors so that they could cop the seats down front> — see CATCH 1

cop (to) verb, slang
to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid <that thug will make a deal with the prosecutor and end up copping to a charge of simple assault> — see CONFESS 1

copacetic also copasetic or copesetic adjective
being to one's liking <don't worry, because I assure you that everything's copacetic> — see SATISFACTORY 1

cope noun
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <committed their nefarious deeds under the dark cope of night> — see CLOAK 1

cope verb
to meet one's day-to-day needs <a young man learning to cope on his own at college> — see GET ALONG 1

cope (with) verb
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <coped with the latest foul-up gracefully> — see HANDLE 1

copious adjective
pouring forth in great amounts <a copious rush of words just poured out of the two friends who hadn't seen each other in years> — see PROFUSE

cop–out noun
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable <I think that saying you're sick is just a cop-out to get out of going to work> — see ESCAPE 2

cop out verb
to break a promise or agreement <don't cop out on your promise to pay for the damage> — see RENEGE 1

copper noun
a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level <a crime novel set in the days when policemen were coppers and safecrackers were “yeggs”> — see OFFICER 1

coppice noun
a thick patch of shrubbery, small trees, or underbrush <the deer bounded off into the coppice> — see THICKET

copse noun
a thick patch of shrubbery, small trees, or underbrush <a small copse of trees shaded the back of the house> — see THICKET

copter noun
a vehicle for traveling through the air that obtains its lift from rotors which spin horizontally <copters from the local TV stations made the obligatory reports on the bumper-to-bumper traffic at the start of the holiday weekend> — see HELICOPTER

copulate verb
to engage in sexual intercourse <the time of year when deer in the wild are likely to copulate>

Synonyms
breed, mate, sleep

Related Words
fool around, fornicate

Phrases
do it, have sex

copulating noun
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <our Puritan forebears imposed severe penalties for copulating outside of marriage> — see SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

copulation noun
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <laws against copulation between an adult and one who has not reached the legal age of consent> — see SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

copy noun
something that is made to look exactly like something else <a copy of the famous painting “Washington Crossing the Delaware”>

Synonyms
carbon, carbon copy, clone, dummy, dupe, duplicate, duplication, facsimile, imitation, mock, reduplication, replica, replication, reproduction

Related Words
counterfeit, fake, forgery, knockoff, phony (also phoney), rip-off, rubber stamp, sham; miniature, mock-up, simulation; reconstruction, re-creation; image, likeness, semblance, shadow; impression, imprint, print; approximation, reincarnation, version; extra, reserve, spare

Antonyms
archetype, original, prototype

copy verb
1 to make an exact likeness of <for the movie, set designers copied the Oval Office in the White House down to the smallest detail>

Synonyms
clone, copycat, duplicate, imitate, reduplicate, render, replicate, reproduce

Related Words
counterfeit, fake, forge, knock off, rip off; mimic, simulate; reconstruct, re-create

Near Antonyms
create, imagine, initiate, invent

Antonyms
originate

2 to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior <she shamelessly copies her idol's hairstyle and fashion choices> — see IMITATE 1

copycat noun
a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way <every rock singer who makes it big soon has a whole cluster of copycats>

Synonyms
aper, copyist, echo, follower, imitator, rubber stamp, wannabe (also wannabee)

Related Words
parrot; ape, emulator, impersonator, impressionist, mimic

copycat verb
1 to make an exact likeness of <asked her stylist to copycat a hairstyle from the magazine> — see COPY 1
2 to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior <a performer who slavishly copycats another never rises to the level of true stardom> — see IMITATE 1

copyist noun
1 a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way <she prides herself on being an innovator in fashion, and not a mere copyist> — see COPYCAT
2 one who writes from dictation or copies manuscripts <some scholars argue that the vexing passage reflects a misreading of the text by an early copyist> — see SCRIBE 1

coquet or coquette verb
to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun <at the country club she would often brazenly coquet with the husbands of the women to whom she was giving golf lessons> — see FLIRT 1

coquetry noun
the attitude or behavior of one who insincerely courts the amorous attentions of others <her compulsive coquetry at parties was embarrassing for her husband>

Synonyms
coquettishness, coyness, flirtation, flirtatiousness, kittenishness

Related Words
dalliance, play

coquettish adjective
affecting shyness or modesty in order to attract masculine interest <an 18th-century painting of a coquettish maiden dallying with a young moonstruck gallant> — see COY 1

coquettishness noun
the attitude or behavior of one who insincerely courts the amorous attentions of others <such displays of girlish coquettishness are really out of place in a business office> — see COQUETRY

cord noun
1 a length of braided, flexible material that is used for tying or connecting things <a vacuum cleaner with an extra long cord>

Synonyms
cable, lace, lacing, line, rope, string, wire

Related Words
guy, halyard, lanyard, stay; bungee cord, whipcord

2 a uniting or binding force or influence <the cords of trust and affection that exist between the longtime friends> — see BOND 2

cordial adjective
1 having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <a cordial inquiry about her mother's health> — see FRIENDLY 1
2 showing a natural kindness and courtesy especially in social situations <a cordial hostess who makes sure everyone is comfortable> — see GRACIOUS 1
3 having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind <he insisted that a cordial nip of brandy would be just the thing for someone suffering from shock> — see TONIC 1

cordiality noun
kindly concern, interest, or support <everyone appreciated the cordiality and thoughtfulness of the welcoming committee> — see GOODWILL 1

cordialness noun
kindly concern, interest, or support <an affluent suburb that has never been known for its cordialness toward the downtrodden> — see GOODWILL 1

core noun
1 the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions <in my very core I knew that an injustice was being committed>

Synonyms
belly, blood, bone(s), bosom, breast, gut, heart, heartstrings, inner space, inside, quick, soul

Related Words
conscience, mind

2 a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <the capitol building is the core of the political life of the state> — see CENTER 1
3 the central part or aspect of something under consideration <at last, we come to the core of the issue that has been dividing us> — see CRUX
4 the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts <a starfish can even survive the division of its core into two parts; both halves then regenerate> — see BODY 1
5 an area or point that is an equal distance from all points along an edge or outer surface <the mountain rises from ground that is almost precisely at the island's core> — see CENTER 2

corker noun
something very good of its kind <that last race was a real corker!> — see JIM-DANDY

corking adjective
of the very best kind <they've done a really corking job on restoring that old house> — see EXCELLENT

corking adverb
to a great degree <the novel is a corking good read> — see VERY 1

corkscrew adjective
turning around an axis like the thread of a screw <an angelic child with beautiful corkscrew curls> — see SPIRAL

corkscrew verb
1 to draw out by force or with effort <practically every word had to be corkscrewed out of the tight-lipped witness> — see EXTRACT
2 to follow a circular or spiral course <the trail corkscrews through dense woods to the top of the steep hill> — see WIND 1

cormorant noun
one who eats greedily or too much <Diamond Jim Brady was perhaps the most celebrated cormorant of the Gilded Age> — see GLUTTON

corn noun
something (as a work of literature or music) that is too sentimental <a story about a lost puppy that was pure corn>

Synonyms
goo, mush, schmaltz (also schmalz), sludge, slush, soap opera, sorghum

Related Words
claptrap, drivel, rubbish, tripe

cornball adjective
tiresomely obvious and unsophisticated <the show's shamelessly cornball jokes appealed to small-town America> — see CORNY 2

cornball noun
an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country <a movie about a cornball making his way through a world of cynical sophisticates> — see HICK

corner noun
1 a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <the writers have gotten themselves into a corner on that TV show> — see PREDICAMENT
2 a place where roads meet <we'll meet at the corner tomorrow> — see CROSSROAD 1
3 a point in a chain of events at which an important change (as in one's fortunes) occurs <the president believes that we have turned a corner in the war on drugs> — see TURNING POINT

cornerstone noun
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests <a concern for basic human rights was the cornerstone of the president's foreign policy> — see BASE 1

cornerways adverb
in a line or direction running from corner to corner <buttered toast cut cornerways> — see CROSSWISE

cornerwise adverb
in a line or direction running from corner to corner <fold the napkin cornerwise and then fold it again> — see CROSSWISE

cornet noun
something shaped like a hollow cone and used as a container <cornets of pastry dough that were baked and later filled with cream>

Synonyms
cornucopia, horn

Related Words
funnel, tube

corn–fed adjective
tiresomely obvious and unsophisticated <the musical's corn-fed humor harkens back to a more innocent, unjaded era> — see CORNY 2

cornpone adjective
tiresomely obvious and unsophisticated <the comedian's cornpone wisecracks were old even in the days of vaudeville> — see CORNY 2

cornucopia noun
1 an abundant source <even to the computer-addicted children, the old-fashioned toy chest was a cornucopia of delights> — see MINE 1
2 an amount or supply more than sufficient to meet one's needs <the rabbits found a cornucopia of food in the vegetable garden> — see PLENTY 1
3 something shaped like a hollow cone and used as a container <a cornucopia filled with fruits and vegetables in celebration of the harvest> — see CORNET

cornucopian adjective
1 being more than enough without being excessive <there were cornucopian profits for the last three quarters> — see PLENTIFUL
2 producing abundantly <one of the most cornucopian sources of all of literature, the legend of King Arthur has inspired everything from epic poems to musical dramas> — see FERTILE

corny adjective
1 appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <corny violin music during the movie's love scenes>

Synonyms
chocolate-box, cloying, drippy, fruity, gooey, lovey-dovey, maudlin, mawkish, mushy, novelettish, saccharine, sappy, schmaltzy, sentimental, sloppy, slushy, soppy, soupy, spoony (or spooney), sticky, sugarcoated, sugary, wet

Related Words
dreamy, misty-eyed, moonstruck, moony, nostalgic, starry-eyed; feel-good, fuzzy; melodramatic, soap-operatic, soapy, sudsy; flat, insipid, soft-boiled, tasteless, vapid, watery; cutesy, twee [chiefly British]

Near Antonyms
unadulterated, unvarnished; antisentimental, cynical, hard-boiled, hard-edged, hardheaded

Antonyms
unsentimental

2 tiresomely obvious and unsophisticated <the audience groaned as the emcee told one corny joke after another>

Synonyms
cornball, corn-fed, cornpone, hokey

Related Words
countrified (also countryfied), down-home, folksy, rustic (also rustical); hick, hickish

Near Antonyms
cosmopolitan, smart, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise; hip, trendy, with-it

corollary noun
1 a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <one corollary of the rise of television was a massive makeover of radio's programming> — see EFFECT 1
2 something that is found along with something else <increased taxes—or expanding deficits—are the inevitable corollary to any new government spending program> — see ACCOMPANIMENT

coronal also coronel noun
a decorative band or wreath worn about the head as a symbol of victory or honor <a Renaissance portrait of a nobel woman of Florence wearing a bejeweled coronal> — see CROWN 1

coronet noun
a decorative band or wreath worn about the head as a symbol of victory or honor <the prince wore a small gold coronet to denote his rank> — see CROWN 1

corporal adjective
of or relating to the human body <started to suffer the corporal ailments that come with advancing age> — see PHYSICAL 1

corporality noun
the fact of being or of being real <the age-old debate about the corporality of the human soul> — see EXISTENCE

corporate adjective
fit or likely to be sold especially on a large scale <chain hotels, even high-end ones, tend to all have the same corporate decor that doesn't evoke a sense of place> — see COMMERCIAL

corporation noun
an enlarged or bulging abdomen <a substantial corporation that showed that he was a sucker for all-you-can-eat buffets> — see POTBELLY

corporeal adjective
of or relating to the human body <corporeal cravings such as hunger and thirst> — see PHYSICAL 1

corporeality noun
the fact of being or of being real <a philosophical discussion about the corporeality of the intellect, as distinct from the brain> — see EXISTENCE

corps noun
the body of people in a profession or field of activity <a reporter who is widely respected throughout the press corps>

Synonyms
brotherhood, community, fellowship, fraternity, sodality, vocation

Related Words
calling, profession; association, club, federation, guild (also gild), organization, society

corps d'elite noun
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <the atomic bomb developers for the Manhattan Project constituted the corps d'elite of American science> — see ELITE 1

corpse noun
a dead body <the startling discovery of a corpse required a call to the police>

Synonyms
bones, cadaver, carcass, corpus, corse [archaic], relics, remains, stiff

Related Words
mummy; carnage, carrion; ashes; deceased, decedent

corpulence noun
the condition of having an excess of body fat <the doctor warned that the patient's corpulence was unhealthy and not merely unattractive>

Synonyms
adiposity, chubbiness, corpulency, embonpoint, fat, fatness, fattiness, fleshiness, grossness, obesity, plumpness, portliness, pudginess, pursiness, rotundity, weight

Related Words
bulkiness, heaviness; huskiness, stoutness; brawniness, burliness; endomorphy

Near Antonyms
fitness, trimness; gauntness, scrawniness, skinniness, weediness

Antonyms
leanness, reediness, slenderness, slimness, svelteness, thinness

corpulency noun
the condition of having an excess of body fat <her corpulency is such that she requires two seats on public conveyances> — see CORPULENCE

corpulent adjective
having an excess of body fat <a corpulent, elegantly dressed opera singer came out and sang, and we knew it was over> — see FAT 1

corpus noun
1 the complete works of an author <Jane Austen's corpus is modest in number but magnificent in achievement>

Synonyms
oeuvre

Related Words
output; canon

2 a dead body <international conventions requiring that the corpus of the enemy combatant be treated with respect and dignity> — see CORPSE

corrade verb
to damage or diminish by continued friction <the desert's windblown sands had corraded much of the ancient stone's inscription> — see ABRADE 1

corral noun
an enclosure with an open framework for keeping animals <the horses live in our corral, along with a cow> — see CAGE

corral verb
1 to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <corralled everyone in the conference room for a speech by the CEO> — see ENCLOSE 1
2 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <corralled a scattering of stray pens and quickly stuffed them in the drawer to tidy the desk> — see CATCH
3 to bring together in one body or place <corral all the members of the tour group in the lounge> — see GATHER 1

correct adjective
1 being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard <a real brainteaser with only one correct solution to it>

Synonyms
accurate, bang on [chiefly British], dead-on, exact, good, on-target, precise, proper, right, so, spot-on, true, veracious

Related Words
legitimate, logical, sound, valid; errorless, faultless, flawless, impeccable, inerrant, infallible, letter-perfect, perfect; rigorous, strict, stringent

Phrases
on target, on the money

Near Antonyms
defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect

Antonyms
false, improper, inaccurate, incorrect, inexact, off, untrue, wrong

2 following the established traditions of refined society and good taste <painfully correct dress for the state dinner at the White House> — see PROPER 1
3 marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details <the correct method for folding the American flag> — see CEREMONIOUS 1

correct verb
1 to remove errors, defects, deficiencies, or deviations from <more time will be needed to correct the computer program>

Synonyms
amend, debug, emend, rectify, red-pencil, reform, remedy

Related Words
redraft, redraw, restyle, revise, rework, rewrite; blue-pencil, cut, shorten; redress, right; ameliorate, better, improve; perfect, polish, touch up; fix, mend, repair; adjust, modulate, regulate; alter, change, modify

Near Antonyms
damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, spoil; aggravate, worsen

2 to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective <hopefully the young entrepreneur's professionalism will serve to correct his partner's extreme enthusiasm in the eyes of investors> — see OFFSET
3 to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime <an insensitive boss who liked to correct subordinates in front of their colleagues> — see PUNISH

correctable adjective
capable of being corrected <a racehorse with some minor, correctable faults> — see REMEDIABLE

correcting adjective
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment <questions the value of such correcting measures as prison sentences for drug addicts> — see PUNITIVE

correction noun
1 a change designed to correct or improve a written work <the copy editor's corrections were marked in red>

Synonyms
amendment, emendation

Related Words
cut, deletion; addition, amplification, supplement; adjustment, alteration, modification, revision; improvement, renovation; clarification, explanation, explication

2 suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense <received a severe correction after the third offense> — see PUNISHMENT

correctional adjective
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment <threatened to take correctional measures if the household chores were not done> <the state's largest correctional institution> — see PUNITIVE

corrective adjective
1 serving to raise or adjust something to some standard or proper condition <eyeglasses are called corrective lenses by the department of motor vehicles>

Synonyms
amendatory, rectifying, remedial, remedying, reformative, reformatory

Related Words
curative, medicinal, therapeutic; reparative, restorative; beneficial, helpful, salutary, wholesome; antidotal, counteractive, counterbalancing

2 inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment <a corrective sentence of five years' hard labor> — see PUNITIVE

corrective noun
1 a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective <a substantial outflow of people proved to be the necessary corrective for the spiraling cost of housing> — see COUNTERBALANCE
2 something that corrects or counteracts something undesirable <the only corrective to bad behavior is good, firm discipline> — see CURE 1

correctly adverb
in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose <dressed correctly for an appearance in court> — see PROPERLY

correlate noun
something that serves to complete or make up for a deficiency in something else <the often uneasy relationship between the employer and his correlate, the employee> — see COMPLEMENT 1

correlate verb
to think of (something) in combination <a demanding father who always correlated success with hard work> — see ASSOCIATE 2

correlative adjective
related to each other in such a way that one completes the other <the correlative contributions that both teacher and student make to the learning process> — see COMPLEMENTARY

correspond verb
1 to engage in an exchange of written messages <old friends who have been corresponding for years>

Synonyms
write

Related Words
communicate, intercommunicate; airmail, e-mail, telegraph; mail, post; answer, reply

2 to be in agreement on every point <the menu for the wedding banquet corresponds exactly with everyone's special requests> — see CHECK 1

correspond (to) verb
1 to be the exact counterpart of <the British chancellor of the exchequer corresponds to the U.S. secretary of the treasury> — see MATCH 1
2 to be the same in meaning or effect <“shut up” and “please be quiet” may correspond to each other in meaning, but please use the more polite phrase> — see AMOUNT TO 2

correspondence noun
1 a point which two or more things share in common <the correspondence in hair color is about all that the siblings have in common> — see SIMILARITY 2
2 the quality or state of having many qualities in common <the best friends' correspondence in looks is so striking that they could pass for twins> — see SIMILARITY 1
3 communications or parcels sent or carried through the postal system <piles of unanswered correspondence littered the office of the reclusive author> — see MAIL

correspondent adjective
having qualities in common <reading and writing are actually correspondent activities> — see ALIKE

correspondent noun
a person employed by a newspaper, magazine, or radio or television station to gather, write, or report news <a correspondent in the Middle East bureau just filed a new report on the coup> — see REPORTER

correspondent (with or to) adjective
not having or showing any apparent conflict <the new regulation regarding cell phones is correspondent with existing policy on the use of electronic devices> — see CONSISTENT

corresponding adjective
having qualities in common <solving a crime and diagnosing a disease are corresponding tasks: they both require a meticulous search for clues> — see ALIKE

correspondingly adverb
in like manner <if you're nice to someone, they'll probably be correspondingly polite> — see ALSO 1

corridor noun
1 a broad geographical area <the urban corridor along the state's eastern coast is considerably more liberal than the rural areas to the west> — see REGION 2
2 a typically long narrow way connecting parts of a building <the long, sterile corridors give the government building a forbidding air> — see HALL 2

corrigible adjective
capable of being corrected <there are corrigible lapses in the author's grammar, but nothing that a good editor cannot readily fix> — see REMEDIABLE

corrival noun
one who strives for the same thing as another <two universities that are long-standing corrivals for the title of best in the nation> — see COMPETITOR

corroborate verb
1 to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of <the witnesses corroborated the policeman's testimony> — see CONFIRM 1
2 to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) <my personal experience does not corroborate your faith in the essential goodness of people> — see SUPPORT 4

corroborating adjective
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something <corroborating information on the activities of the terrorists> — see CORROBORATIVE

corroboration noun
something presented in support of the truth or accuracy of a claim <that's a serious charge, so you certainly should have corroboration for it> — see PROOF

corroborative adjective
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something <the results of the DNA fingerprinting was all the corroborative evidence the jury needed to convict>

Synonyms
confirmational, confirmatory, confirming, corroborating, corroboratory, probative, probatory, substantiating, supporting, supportive, verifying, vindicating

Related Words
auxiliary, supplementary; beneficial, helpful

Near Antonyms
contradictory, contrary, counter, opposing

Antonyms
confuting, disproving, refuting

corroboratory adjective
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something <offered corroboratory testimony for the defendant's alibi> — see CORROBORATIVE

corroboree noun, Australian
a state of noisy, confused activity <quite a corroboree when Britain's royal couple paid a visit to Sydney> — see COMMOTION

corrode verb
to consume or wear away gradually <water slowly corrodes iron> — see EAT 2

corrosion noun
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction <the corrosion of family values that is often brought on by great wealth>

Synonyms
attrition, erosion, undermining, waste

Related Words
breakdown, decay, decomposition, disintegration, dissolution

Near Antonyms
gain, increase

Antonyms
buildup

corrosive adjective
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <a corrosive satire on the fashion industry and its movers and shakers> — see SARCASTIC

corrosiveness noun
biting sharpness of feeling or expression <the unconscionable corrosiveness with which he voiced his criticisms diminished their value and effectiveness> — see ACRIMONY 1

corrupt adjective
having or showing lowered moral character or standards <corrupt businessmen who are out to fleece the public> <corrupt business practices that should be investigated>

Synonyms
debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, jackleg, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, rakehell (or rakehelly), rakish, reprobate, sick, unclean, unwholesome, warped

Related Words
bent [chiefly British], crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous; contaminated, spoiled, tainted; bad, evil, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, nefarious, sinful, vicious, wicked

Near Antonyms
incorruptible; ethical, honest, principled; good, moral, righteous, virtuous

Antonyms
pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted

corrupt verb
1 to go through decomposition <a dead mouse corrupting in the walls produced a terrible smell> — see DECAY 1
2 to lower in character, dignity, or quality <some observers believe that grossly violent movies corrupt the people who watch them as well as the people who make them> — see DEBASE 1
3 to influence someone with a bribe <he bragged about having corrupted half of the officials on the city council> — see BRIBE

corrupted adjective
having undergone organic breakdown <corrupted corpses that sickened the animal control officers sent to investigate> — see ROTTEN 1

corruptible adjective
open to improper influence and especially bribery <there's a rumor that that judge is eminently corruptible> — see VENAL

corruption noun
1 the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances <the ancient Egyptians used special preservatives to spare their dead from complete corruption>

Synonyms
breakdown, decay, decomposition, festering, putrefaction, putrescence, rot, spoilage

Related Words
crumbling, disintegration, dissolution; curdling, fermentation, moldering, souring

Near Antonyms
growth, maturation, ripening

2 a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <the corruption of the upper classes eventually led to the fall of the Roman empire>

Synonyms
abjection, corruptness, debasement, debauchery, decadence, decadency, degeneracy, degenerateness, degeneration, degradation, demoralization, depravity, dissipatedness, dissipation, dissoluteness, libertinage, libertinism, perversion, pervertedness, rakishness, turpitude

Related Words
evil, immorality, sinfulness, villainy, wickedness; filth, gangrene, rot, squalor

Near Antonyms
goodness, morality, righteousness, virtue

3 immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society <Socrates was put to death because the ancient Athenians believed he was spreading corruption to their youth> — see VICE 1

corruptness noun
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <such corruptness in government threatens our democratic institutions> — see CORRUPTION 2

corsair noun
someone who engages in robbery of ships at sea <no one knows the fate of the corsair's treasure-filled ship> — see PIRATE

corse noun, archaic
a dead body <would have to inter the corse of many a fallen comrade before the war's end> — see CORPSE

cortege also cortège noun
1 a body of employees or servants who accompany and wait on a person <the movie star's cortege included her hair stylist, makeup artist, personal assistant, and press agent>

Synonyms
entourage, following, posse, retinue, suite, tail, train

Related Words
crew, personnel, staff; court; assistant, attendant, helper, retainer

2 a body of individuals moving along in an orderly and often ceremonial way <the funeral cortege of mourners stretched for three city blocks>

Synonyms
parade, procession

Related Words
progress; callithump; column, line, string, train

coruscate verb
to shoot forth bursts of light <a classic car from the 1950s, replete with yards of coruscating chrome> — see FLASH 1

cosmetic adjective
serving to add beauty <changes in the original design of the building were purely cosmetic> — see DECORATIVE

cosmetics plural noun
preparations intended to beautify the face <I need to buy some fresh cosmetics to use for the wedding> — see MAKEUP 1

cosmic also cosmical adjective
unusually large <predicted that the war would forever be regarded as a cosmic error> — see HUGE

cosmopolis noun
a thickly settled, highly populated area <a sprawling cosmopolis where ambitious people from all over come to make their fortune> — see CITY

cosmopolitan adjective
having a wide and refined knowledge of the world especially from personal experience <a college student who now seems conspicuously cosmopolitan after spending his junior year abroad> — see WORLDLY-WISE

cosmopolitan noun
a person with the outlook, experience, and manners thought to be typical of big city dwellers <as someone who had lived in Paris for a year as an exchange student, she seemed very much the cosmopolitan to her old classmates>

Synonyms
city slicker, cosmopolite, metropolitan, slicker, sophisticate

Related Words
urbanite; worldling

Antonyms
bumpkin, hick, provincial, rustic, yokel

cosmopolite noun
a person with the outlook, experience, and manners thought to be typical of big city dwellers <having sung in opera houses all over the world, she has the confident demeanor of a seasoned cosmopolite> — see COSMOPOLITAN

cosmos noun
the whole body of things observed or assumed <an essay that ponders the place of humankind in the vast cosmos> — see UNIVERSE

cosset verb
to treat with great or excessive care <a luxury spa where guests are cosseted with no expense spared> — see BABY

cost noun
1 a payment made in the course of achieving a result <the newlyweds spared no cost in building the kitchen of their dreams> — see EXPENSE
2 the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something <we can't afford the cost of a house just yet, so we're renting an apartment> — see PRICE 1
3 the loss or penalty involved in achieving a goal <they won the war, but at a terrible cost in lives> — see PRICE 2

cost verb
to have a price of <the raffle tickets cost a dollar each>

Synonyms
bring, fetch, go (for), run, sell (for)

Related Words
list (for); amount (to), come (to), total; command, exact; ask, demand

costless adjective
not costing or charging anything <maintaining a checking account with the bank is not the costless service that its advertising would have you believe> — see FREE 4

costly adjective
commanding a large price <running is one sport that does not require a lot of costly equipment>

Synonyms
big-ticket, dear, expensive, extravagant, high, high-end, high-ticket, precious, premium, priceless, pricey (also pricy), spendy [chiefly Northwest], ultraexpensive, valuable

Related Words
exorbitant, overpriced, prohibitive, sky-high, steep, stiff, unaffordable, uneconomic (or uneconomical), unreasonable; inestimable, invaluable; deluxe, luxurious, sumptuous

Near Antonyms
moderate, reasonable; valueless, worthless; discounted

Antonyms
cheap, inexpensive

costume noun
1 clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation <a tuxedo is the only acceptable costume for men attending a formal event> — see OUTFIT 1
2 clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else <Halloween costumes that caricature some of the “celebrities” created by the media over the past year> — see DISGUISE 1

costume verb
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <the days when people, costumed in their Sunday best, would parade along the grand avenue on Easter> — see CLOTHE 1

costumery noun
covering for the human body <a museum exhibit devoted to the costumery of women since the classical period> — see CLOTHING

coterie noun
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <a coterie of old friends who attend all of the home games of the high school basketball team> — see GANG 2

coterminous adjective
1 existing or occurring at the same period of time <the Alfred Lunt–Lynn Fontanne partnership was more or less coterminous with Broadway's golden age> — see CONTEMPORARY 1
2 occupying the same space <Massachusetts' Nantucket County isn't quite coterminous with the island of the same name, as the county includes two small nearby islets> — see COEXTENSIVE 1

cotillion also cotillon noun
a social gathering for dancing <young men hoping to meet the women of their dreams at the cotillion> — see DANCE

cottage noun
an often small house for recreational or seasonal use <for a month every summer we rent a cottage on the ocean>

Synonyms
bach [New Zealand], cabin, camp, chalet, lodge

Related Words
dacha, summerhouse; bungalow, cot; hut, shack, shanty

cotton (to or on to) verb
to have a clear idea of <failed to cotton on to the fact that her senatorial campaign was going nowhere> — see COMPREHEND 1

cotton candy noun
something attractive but lacking in substance <the beauty pageant is a variety of cotton candy that the public has clearly started to grow tired of>

Synonyms
candyfloss [British], eye candy, tinsel

Related Words
window dressing; fluff, froth, gossamer; glitter, gloss

cotton–picking adjective
1 deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <that cotton-picking scoundrel ought to be ashamed of himself> — see DAMNABLE
2 having no exceptions or restrictions <a perennial malcontent who is always sputtering about the cotton-picking idiocy of state officials and bureaucrats> — see ABSOLUTE 2

cottony adjective
1 covered with or as if with hair <that gray, cottony spot on the bread is mold> — see HAIRY 1
2 smooth or delicate in appearance or feel <fluffy, cottony hair> — see SOFT 2

couch noun
a long upholstered piece of furniture designed for several sitters <find yourself a place on the couch and make yourself at home>

Synonyms
chesterfield, davenport, divan, lounge, settee, sofa, squab

Related Words
lounger, love seat, recamier, tête-à-tête; daybed, sofa bed, studio couch; banquette, bench, ottoman

couch verb
1 to convey in appropriate or telling terms <I'm trying to couch this delicately: I don't think we should date anymore> — see PHRASE
2 to lie low with the limbs close to the body <I couched behind the partition so as to avoid an awkward situation with my ex> — see CROUCH

couch potato noun
a lazy person <a couch potato who refused to budge no matter what needed to be done> — see LAZYBONES

cougar noun
a large tawny cat of the wild <in many regions, suburban developments have encroached upon the habitat of the cougar>

Synonyms
catamount, cat-a-mountain, mountain lion, panther, puma

cough up verb
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress <finally got my brother to cough up the dough he owed me> — see SURRENDER 1

couloir noun
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <at one point the steep, ice-encrusted walls of the couloir are no more than 50 feet apart> — see CANYON

council noun
1 a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose <a war council attended by the top commanders of each of the armed services> — see MEETING 1
2 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <the neighborhood council decided to campaign for a new park> — see ASSOCIATION 2
3 a meeting featuring a group discussion <summoned to a council to discuss ways that the state could improve medical care for the elderly> — see FORUM 1
4 a local unit of an organization <the scout's own council chose to ignore the national organization's discriminatory policies> — see CHAPTER 1
5 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <an unscheduled council in the judge's chambers> — see DISCUSSION 1

counsel noun
1 a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations <if you cannot afford counsel, one will be provided for you> — see LAWYER
2 an opinion suggesting a wise or proper course of action <I suggest you take the teacher's counsel> — see ADVICE 1
3 a person who gives advice especially professionally <the toy manufacturer hired a public relations counsel to do some damage control> — see CONSULTANT
4 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <she approved the move after a counsel with her advisers> — see DISCUSSION 1

counsel verb
1 to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem <concerned parents counseling about the problem of substance abuse in their community> — see CONFER 2
2 to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed <every year the admissions officer counsels thousands of students about the process of applying to college> — see GUIDE 1
3 to give advice to <perhaps a psychologist would be better qualified to counsel you> — see ADVISE 1
4 to put (something) forward as one's choice for a wise or proper course of action <I would counsel caution and deliberation in this sensitive matter> — see ADVISE 2

counselor or counsellor noun
1 a person who gives advice especially professionally <a young couple going to a marriage counselor> — see CONSULTANT
2 a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations <get the best counselor that money can buy, especially if you're guilty> — see LAWYER

counselor–at–law noun
a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations <enjoyed a distinguished career as a counselor-at-law for more than 40 years> — see LAWYER

count noun
1 a total number obtained or recorded by noting each thing as it was being added <my count for the number of bird species and subspecies that visited the sanctuary that weekend was 43>

Synonyms
census, tale, tally

Related Words
score; amount, gross, sum, total, whole; recount

2 a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person <she's been charged with two counts of larceny> — see CHARGE 1

count verb
1 to find the sum of (a collection of things) by noting each one as it is being added <count the baseball gloves in the storage locker to see if there are enough to go around>

Synonyms
enumerate, number, tell

Related Words
add (up), tally, total; calculate, compute, reckon, table, tabulate; check, mark, tick (off); recount

2 to be of importance <punctuality and a neat appearance count during a job interview> — see MATTER
3 to place reliance or trust <I'm counting on you to show up tomorrow to help me move> — see DEPEND 2
4 to think of in a particular way <I'm not sure I'd count that as a serious effort> — see CONSIDER 1

count (out) verb
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of <I don't feel well, so count me out for the party tonight> — see EXCLUDE

count (up to) verb
to have a total of <that counts up to a pretty sum over the course of several years> — see AMOUNT TO 1

countenance noun
1 facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling <a pleasant countenance that puts visitors at ease> — see LOOK 1
2 the front part of the head <a fairly pretty countenance> — see FACE 1
3 evenness of emotions or temper <the EMT's purposeful countenance was in stark contrast to everyone else's hysteria> — see EQUANIMITY

countenance verb
1 to have a favorable opinion of <I don't countenance such behavior in children of any age> — see APPROVE OF
2 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <countenanced the delays and inconveniences of traveling by air with good grace> — see BEAR 2

counter adjective
opposed to one's interests <was unprepared for such a strong counter campaign by opponents of the legislative bill> — see ADVERSE 1

counter noun
1 a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective <strong moral guidance at home is the best counter to the pernicious allure of popular culture> — see COUNTERBALANCE
2 something that is as different as possible from something else <her version of the domestic dispute was almost the exact counter of what actually happened> — see OPPOSITE

counter verb
to strive to reduce or eliminate <efforts to counter poverty in every sector of our country> — see FIGHT 2

counteract verb
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective <this medication will counteract the symptoms but it won't kill the infection> — see OFFSET

counteraction noun
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective <the wind serves as a counteraction to gravity, making it possible for a kite to remain airborne> — see COUNTERBALANCE

counterassault noun
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack <a feeble counterassault that proved to be entirely futile> — see COUNTERATTACK

counterattack noun
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack <suddenly the tide of battle turned, and the rebels, who had been falling back, made a furious counterattack>

Synonyms
counterassault, counteroffensive, counterpunch, counterstrike

Related Words
sally, sortie; blitzkrieg, charge; assault, attack, offensive, onslaught

counterbalance noun
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective <charitable giving is usually a good counterbalance to the self-indulgent commercialism of the Christmas season>

Synonyms
balance, canceler (or canceller), corrective, counter, counteraction, counterforce, counterpoise, counterweight, equipoise, neutralizer, offset

Related Words
trade-off; ballast, weight

counterbalance verb
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective <a hearty dinner might counterbalance missing lunch> — see OFFSET

counterculturist noun
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs <the daughter of counterculturists, she had a very interesting, albeit undisciplined, childhood> — see NONCONFORMIST 1

counterfeit adjective
1 being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud <counterfeit currency that had been passed all over town>

Synonyms
bogus, fake, false, forged, inauthentic, phony (also phoney), queer, sham, snide, spurious, unauthentic

Related Words
artificial, factitious, imitation, man-made, mimic, mock, simulated, substitute, synthetic; dummy, nonfunctioning, ornamental; cultured, fabricated, manufactured; deceptive, delusive, misleading

Near Antonyms
natural; actual, true, valid

Antonyms
authentic, bona fide, genuine, real, unfaked

2 not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <when it comes to the poor, his compassion is so counterfeit—he gives a damn, and that's all that he gives> — see INSINCERE

counterfeit noun
an imitation that is passed off as genuine <the will as well as the other documents turned out to be counterfeits> — see FAKE 1

counterfeit verb
1 to imitate or copy especially in order to deceive <an expert at counterfeiting money> — see FAKE 1
2 to present a false appearance of <managing to counterfeit a happy expression while visiting a sick friend> — see FEIGN

counterforce noun
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective <the belief that higher interest rates are an effective counterforce to inflationary pressures> — see COUNTERBALANCE

counteroffensive noun
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack <the army launched a counteroffensive at dawn> — see COUNTERATTACK

counterpane noun
a decorative cloth used as a top covering for a bed <a beautiful counterpane that was a family heirloom>

Synonyms
bedcover (also bedcovering), bedspread, coverlet, hap [dialect], spread

Related Words
comforter, puff, quilt; bedclothes, bedding, clothes

counterpart noun
1 one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value <she worked with her counterpart in the other office to get the job done> — see EQUAL
2 something or someone that strongly resembles another <the daughter is her mother's counterpart in somewhat reduced form> — see IMAGE 1

counterpoise noun
1 a condition in which opposing forces are equal to one another <a musical piece with a counterpoise of loud and soft passages> — see BALANCE 1
2 a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective <the happiness brought by a new baby was a timely counterpoise to the grief occasioned by a death in the family> — see COUNTERBALANCE

counterpoise verb
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective <her overall healthiness largely counterpoised the virulence of the infection> — see OFFSET

counterproductive adjective
not producing the desired result <harsh disciplinary measures that prove to be counterproductive> — see INEFFECTIVE 1

counterpunch noun
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack <the last, desperate counterpunch of the German armies, known as the Battle of the Bulge> — see COUNTERATTACK

countersign noun
a word or phrase that must be spoken by a person in order to pass a guard <the guard demanded the countersign> — see PASSWORD

counterstrike noun
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack <after countless strikes and counterstrikes, the positions of both armies remained essentially unchanged> — see COUNTERATTACK

counterweight noun
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective <hard work can often be a counterweight to modest intelligence> — see COUNTERBALANCE

countless adjective
too many to be counted <I've told you countless times not to do that>

Synonyms
innumerable, innumerous, myriad, numberless, uncountable, uncounted, unnumbered, untold

Related Words
endless, infinite, unlimited, vast; many, multitudinous, numerous

Phrases
beyond number

Near Antonyms
finite, limited

Antonyms
countable, enumerable, numberable

country adjective
of, relating to, associated with, or typical of open areas with few buildings or people <plain country living among unpretentious people> — see RURAL

country noun
1 the land of one's birth, residence, or citizenship <a great love for my country>

Synonyms
fatherland, home, homeland, mother country, motherland, sod

Related Words
old country; community, neighborhood

2 the open rural area outside of big towns and cities <out in the country, where the air is fresh and the rivers are clean>

Synonyms
boondocks, boonies [slang], countryside, nowhere, sticks

Related Words
exurbia; backcountry, backwater, backwoods, bush, frontier, hinterland, outback, up-country; wild, wilderness

Phrases
middle of nowhere

Near Antonyms
conurbation, megalopolis, urban sprawl

3 a body of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government <usually in time of war, the whole country unites behind the president> — see NATION 1

countryman noun
1 a person living in or originally from the same country as another <met a fellow Canadian countryman while traveling in France> — see COMPATRIOT 1
2 an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country <though neither well-educated nor well-dressed, the countryman presented the farmers' case before the state legislature> — see HICK

country mile noun
a long distance <the distance from the car to the concert hall felt like a country mile in her new high heels> — see MILE

countryside noun
the open rural area outside of big towns and cities <everyone hates to see the countryside ruined by new developments> — see COUNTRY 2

coup noun
a successful result brought about by hard work <winning that big contract was a real coup> — see ACCOMPLISHMENT 1

coup de grâce or coup de grace noun
something (as a fact or argument) that is decisive or overwhelming <the prosecutor presented his coupe de grâce—a videotape of the beating> — see CLINCHER

coup de main noun
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <the Continental Army's attack on the British-Hessian encampment at Trenton, New Jersey, ranks as one of the most brilliant coups de main of the war> — see ATTACK 1

couple noun
1 a small number <there are only a couple of errors in the computer program> — see FEW
2 two things of the same or similar kind that match or are considered together <a couple of socks> — see PAIR

couple verb
1 to come together to form a single unit <at Pittsburgh, the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers couple to form the Ohio> — see UNITE 1
2 to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole <if you couple the two extension cords, the connection should be long enough to reach the next room> — see CONNECT 1

couplet noun
two things of the same or similar kind that match or are considered together <a couplet of statues flank the entrance to the church> — see PAIR

coupling noun
1 a place where two or more things are united <the coupling between two train cars> — see JOINT 1
2 the act or an instance of joining two or more things into one <credited with the coupling of several existing ideas into a single thesis> — see UNION 1
3 sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <the zoo announced that the giant pandas' most recent coupling was successful and that a cub was expected in March> — see SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

coupon noun
a small sheet of plastic, paper, or paperboard showing that the bearer has a claim to something (as admittance) <a book of discount coupons> — see TICKET 1

courage noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <the moral courage to speak out against injustice when no one else will>

Synonyms
bottle [British slang], bravery, courageousness, daring, daringness, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gallantry, greatheartedness, guts, gutsiness, hardihood, heart, heroism, intestinal fortitude, intrepidity, intrepidness, moxie, nerve, pecker [chiefly British], prowess, stoutness, valor, virtue

Related Words
backbone, fiber, fortitude, grit, gumption, mettle, pluck, pluckiness, spunk, temper; determination, perseverance, resolution; endurance, stamina, stomach, tenacity; audacity, boldness, brazenness, cheek, cojones [slang], effrontery, gall, temerity

Near Antonyms
cold feet, faintheartedness, fearfulness, mousiness, timidity, timorousness; feebleness, softness, weakness; impotence, ineffectualness; hesitation, indecision, indecisiveness, irresolution

Antonyms
cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, poltroonery, spinelessness

courageous adjective
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <the courageous decision to quit rather than obey an illegal order> — see BRAVE 1

courageously adverb
in a fearless manner <he courageously demanded fair treatment for those who could not speak for themselves> — see BRAVELY 1

courageousness noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <the soldiers' exceptional courageousness was credited with saving the mission from near disaster> — see COURAGE

courier noun
1 a person who imports or exports goods secretly and illegally <under wartime rationing, the only way to obtain some foods was from a courier> — see SMUGGLER
2 one that carries a message or does an errand <a courier just delivered a package for you> — see MESSENGER

course noun
1 a way of acting or proceeding <the president's usual course has been to obtain advice from several people and then make up his own mind>

Synonyms
line, methodology, policy, procedure, program

Related Words
blueprint, design, plan, scheme, strategy; intent, intention, purpose; approach, direction, method, path, pathway, tack

2 a series of lectures on a subject <a course on American history from the colonial period to the present>

Synonyms
class

Related Words
elective, refresher; clinic, institute, seminar, survey course; minicourse; core, curriculum

Phrases
course of study

3 a usually fixed or ordered series of actions or events leading to a result <set out on the course that would lead to a college degree> — see PROCESS 1
4 the direction along which something or someone moves <the river follows a southeasterly course to the ocean> — see PATH 1
5 an open man-made passageway for water <the Erie Canal was replaced by a much larger course, the New York State Barge Canal> — see CHANNEL 1

course verb
1 to go after or on the track of <after coursing the conspirators for months, the federal agents closed in and made the arrests> — see FOLLOW 2
2 to make one's way through, across, or over <once the threat of terrorism became apparent, fighter jets began coursing that corridor on a daily basis> — see TRAVERSE
3 to proceed or move quickly <racehorses coursing down the track> — see HURRY 2

court noun
1 the residence of a ruler <Hampton Court was the imposing residence of King Henry VIII>

Synonyms
palace

Related Words
castle, château, estate, mansion, villa; alcazar, seraglio

2 an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls) <the art museum boasts a glass-sided court that is filled with an array of greenery and sculpture>

Synonyms
close, courtyard, enclosure (also inclosure), patio, quad, quadrangle, yard

Related Words
atrium, galleria, parvis (also parvise), peristyle; forecourt, place, plaza, square; deck, terrace; curtilage

3 an assembly of persons for the administration of justice <this court is now called to order>

Synonyms
bar, bench, forum, tribunal

Related Words
criminal court, judicatory, judicature, judiciary; high court, supreme court; court-martial, drumhead court-martial; inquisition, kangaroo court

Phrases
court of law

4 a public official having authority to decide questions of law <if it please the court, I'd like to approach the bench> — see JUDGE 2

court verb
1 to act so as to make (something) more likely <you're courting disaster if you keep playing with matches>

Synonyms
ask (for), flirt (with), invite, woo

Related Words
angle (for), fish (for); hunt, search, seek; provoke, tempt

Phrases
look for

2 to go on dates that may eventually lead to marriage <they courted for a year before getting married>

Synonyms
date

Related Words
attend, gallant, romance, spark, woo; escort, see, take out; go out, step out

Phrases
go steady, keep company, make love

courteous adjective
showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners <their customer service department always gives courteous responses, even to rude people> — see POLITE 1

courteously adverb
with good reason or courtesy <courteously suggested that we try other bookstores> — see WELL 4

courteousness noun
speech or behavior that is a sign of good breeding <a gentleman of unfailing courteousness> — see POLITENESS 1

courtesan noun
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money <the protagonist of the novel is a composite of several real-life courtesans who plied their trade among the decadent aristocracy> — see PROSTITUTE

courtesy noun
1 an act of kind assistance <did me the courtesy of loaning me his jacket> — see FAVOR 1
2 an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners <the greeting “How are you?” is often intended as no more than a courtesy> — see CIVILITY 1
3 speech or behavior that is a sign of good breeding <a woman who responds to every situation with courtesy and kindness> — see POLITENESS 1

courting noun
the series of social engagements shared by a couple looking to get married <after two years of courting, they finally married> — see COURTSHIP

courtliness noun
dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style <there's a courtliness to rococo furniture that makes you feel like you should be wearing fine clothes and sipping champagne> — see ELEGANCE

courtly adjective
having or showing elegance <his courtly manners made him a favorite escort of widowed socialites> — see ELEGANT 1

courtship noun
the series of social engagements shared by a couple looking to get married <a long-married couple who look back on their whirlwind courtship with fondness and laughter>

Synonyms
courting, dating, lovemaking, suit

Related Words
suit, wooing; affair (also affaire), love affair, romance; betrothal, engagement

courtyard noun
an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls) <a series of lunchtime concerts in the museum's open-air courtyard> — see COURT 2

cousin noun
a person connected with another by blood or marriage <we both were surprised to learn that we are distant cousins> — see RELATIVE

couth adjective
having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living <he's remarkably couth for someone who grew up in a small town with limited cultural opportunities> — see CULTIVATED

couth noun
a high level of taste and enlightenment as a result of extensive intellectual training and exposure to the arts <their future son-in-law's lack of couth was of some concern to this patrician couple> — see CULTURE 1

cove noun
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline <a secluded cove that smugglers once used> — see GULF 1

coven noun
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <a coven of epicures who gather for monthly wine tastings> — see GANG 2

covenant noun
1 a formal agreement between two or more nations or peoples <the two countries signed a peace covenant that, it was hoped, would put an end to decades of bitter conflict> — see TREATY
2 a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation <I had to sign a covenant that I would return the rental car on time> — see GUARANTEE 1
3 an arrangement about action to be taken <the covenant that existed among neighbors in olden times whereby they would quickly respond to the call to help put out one another's house fires> — see AGREEMENT 2

covenant verb
1 to come to an arrangement as to a course of action <a traditional rule held that a husband could not enter into a covenant with his wife, because that was the equivalent of covenanting with himself> — see AGREE 2
2 to make a solemn declaration of intent <the home buyers had to covenant that they would restore and keep the house for at least 10 years in exchange for a low mortgage rate> — see PROMISE 1

cover noun
1 a piece placed over an open container to hold in, protect, or conceal its contents <where's the cover for the cookie jar?>

Synonyms
cap, lid, top

Related Words
dome, hood, roof; capsule, case, casing, covering, housing, jacket, sheath, shell

2 means or method of defending <provided cover while their comrades ran for safety> — see DEFENSE 1
3 something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <put the restaurant menus in clear plastic covers so that they would last longer> — see 1CASE 1
4 a person or thing that takes the place of another <people may only skip their shifts if they find a cover for themselves first> — see SUBSTITUTE
5 a raised covering over something for decoration or protection <all of the exhibits at the fair are under cover, so the weather won't be a factor> — see CANOPY
6 something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <under cover of friendship the con man insinuated himself in the lives of the unsuspecting couple> — see CLOAK 1

cover verb
1 to serve as a replacement usually for a time only <a friend covered for me as a hospital volunteer while my family went on vacation>

Synonyms
fill in, pinch-hit, stand in, step in, sub, substitute, take over

Related Words
understudy; relieve, spell; double (as)

2 to form a layer over <by morning a foot of snow covered the ground>

Synonyms
blanket, carpet, coat, overlay, overlie, overspread, sheet

Related Words
enclose (also inclose), enrobe, enshroud, enswathe, envelop, enwrap, mantle, shawl, shroud, swathe, wrap; cloak, clothe, curtain, veil; circle, encircle, encompass

3 to place a protective layer over <better cover your skin with sunblock if you don't want a sunburn, not to mention skin cancer>

Synonyms
screen, shield

Related Words
cloak, clothe, veil; drape, pall; canopy, cap, crown; disguise, mask, obscure

Near Antonyms
bare, expose, uncover

4 to have (something) as a subject matter <this section of the book covers kitchen makeovers for the enterprising do-it-yourselfer> — see CONCERN 1
5 to keep secret or shut off from view <covered the foxhole with grass and leaves> — see 1HIDE 2
6 to make one's way through, across, or over <we usually manage to cover a lot of ground in a single day> — see TRAVERSE
7 to pay continued close attention to (something) for a particular purpose <I'll cover the reception desk while you take a break> — see MONITOR
8 to drive danger or attack away from <covered the wounded soldier until he could be rescued from the downed chopper> — see DEFEND 1

cover (up) verb
to keep from being publicly known <the governor vainly tried to cover up the growing scandal> — see SUPPRESS 1

coverage noun
the amount of something (as subject matter) included <the biographical dictionary's coverage is limited to people no longer living>

Synonyms
content

Related Words
compass, gamut, range, scope, sweep; membership, participation

cover–all adjective
covering everything or all important points <a detailed plan for cover-all health insurance> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC

covering noun
1 something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <with the commotion on the dance floor as a covering, we were able to slip out undetected> — see CLOAK 1
2 something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <the plastic coverings on lamp shades should be removed> — see 1CASE 1

coverlet noun
a decorative cloth used as a top covering for a bed <bought a beautiful new coverlet to match the sheets> — see COUNTERPANE

covert adjective
1 screened or sequestered from view <a covert little hideaway that provides a lot of privacy> — see SECLUDED
2 undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <a covert operation to provide aid to the rebels> — see SECRET 1

covert noun
1 a place where a person goes to hide or to avoid others <set up a covert from which to watch wildlife without being detected> — see HIDEOUT
2 a thick patch of shrubbery, small trees, or underbrush <the rabbit rushed to the safety of the nearest covert> — see THICKET

coverture noun
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <under the coverture of a raging snowstorm, the rebels undertook their surprise attack on the fortress> — see CLOAK 1

cover–up noun
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <that contrived burglary was just a cover-up for murder> — see CLOAK 1

covet verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <I've been coveting that sleek sports car in the showroom for some time now> — see DESIRE 1

coveting adjective
having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions <cast a coveting glance at her friend's diamond necklace> — see GREEDY 1

covetous adjective
1 having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions <one aggressive bargain hunter rushed to make a covetous grab for the last marked-down TV> — see GREEDY 1
2 having or showing mean resentment of another's possessions or advantages <a covetous child who must destroy what he cannot have> — see ENVIOUS

covetousness noun
1 a painful awareness of another's possessions or advantages and a desire to have them too <his covetousness for his neighbors' things spoils any enjoyment he might have of his own possessions> — see ENVY
2 an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions <an insatiable covetousness made her work long hours so that she could afford expensive things> — see GREED

cow verb
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats <a sharp glare cowed the child into being quiet> — see INTIMIDATE

coward noun
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <the soldiers who ran as soon as the first shots were fired were branded as cowards>

Synonyms
chicken, craven, cur, dastard, funk, poltroon, recreant, sissy

Related Words
defeatist, quitter; cream puff, milquetoast, pushover, pussy [slang], weakling, wimp; caitiff, snake, sneak; ostrich, scaramouch (or scaramouche)

Near Antonyms
daredevil

Antonyms
hero, stalwart, valiant

cowardice noun
a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <the cowardice shown by political leaders who were willing to give the Nazis whatever they wanted>

Synonyms
cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, gutlessness, poltroonery, pusillanimity, spinelessness

Related Words
diffidence, faintheartedness, fearfulness, timidity, timorousness; carefulness, cautiousness, wariness; bashfulness, shyness; feebleness, softness, weakness

Near Antonyms
audacity, boldness, brazenness; backbone, fiber, fortitude, grit, gumption, mettle, pluck, spunk; determination, perseverance, resolution; endurance, stamina, tenacity

Antonyms
bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gallantry, greatheartedness, guts, hardihood, heart, heroism, intrepidity, intrepidness, nerve, stoutness, valiance, valor, virtue

cowardliness noun
a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <the soldier was court-martialed for cowardliness under fire> — see COWARDICE

cowardly adjective
having or showing a shameful lack of courage <a cowardly bully who picks on the weak and defenseless> <vile charges that were made in a cowardly, unsigned letter>

Synonyms
chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], poltroon, pusillanimous, recreant, spineless, unheroic, yellow

Related Words
diffident, fainthearted, fearful, timid, timorous; afraid, frightened, scared; careful, cautious, wary; bashful, coy, shy; feeble, soft, unmanly, weak

Near Antonyms
audacious, bold, brazen, cheeky, nervy; plucky, spirited, spunky; determined, resolute

Antonyms
brave, courageous, daring, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, hardy, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous

cowboy noun
a hired hand who tends cattle or horses at a ranch or on the range <cowboys were rounding up the cattle for branding>

Synonyms
buckaroo (also buckeroo), cowhand, cowman, cowpoke, cowpuncher, waddy (or waddie) [West], wrangler

Related Words
cowgirl; caballero [chiefly Southwest], gaucho, vaquero; horseman, horsewoman; cattleman, rancher, stockman; cowherd, drover, herder, herdsman

cower verb
to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission <the abused dog always cowered in the presence of its master>

Synonyms
cringe, grovel, quail

Related Words
flinch, recoil, shrink, squinch; blanch, blench, whiten; fawn, kowtow, toady

cowhand noun
a hired hand who tends cattle or horses at a ranch or on the range <we need to hire a new cowhand to help out> — see COWBOY

cowhide verb
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <was cowhiding the horse until a police officer intervened> — see WHIP 1

cowman noun
a hired hand who tends cattle or horses at a ranch or on the range <an expert cowman who can round up the livestock in no time> — see COWBOY

coworker noun
a fellow worker <my coworkers and I often send facetious e-mails to one another> — see COLLEAGUE

cowpoke noun
a hired hand who tends cattle or horses at a ranch or on the range <it takes a long time to train a good cowpoke> — see COWBOY

cowpuncher noun
a hired hand who tends cattle or horses at a ranch or on the range <cowpunchers hanging out and telling stories during branding time> — see COWBOY

coy adjective
1 affecting shyness or modesty in order to attract masculine interest <not wanting him to know that she was interested in him, she acted very coy at the dance>

Synonyms
coquettish, demure, kittenish

Related Words
flirtatious, flirty, girlish; goody-goody, governessy, overmodest, priggish, prim, prudish

Antonyms
uncoy

2 not comfortable around people <a coy toddler who hides whenever anyone comes to the house> — see SHY 2

coyness noun
the attitude or behavior of one who insincerely courts the amorous attentions of others <an actress better known for her come-hither coyness than for her acting chops> — see COQUETRY

cozen verb
1 to cause to believe what is untrue <cozened several elderly ladies into believing that he was intending marriage> — see DECEIVE
2 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <cozened scores of people by persuading them to hand over funds that he would “invest”> — see FLEECE

cozenage noun
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <through cozenage and flattery, the art dealer coaxed the unwary into selling their family treasures for a song> — see DECEIT 1

cozener noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <he was a “career” cozener who had worked one racket or another his whole life> — see TRICKSTER 1

cozy adjective
1 enjoying physical comfort <the cat looked very cozy, all cuddled up in the blankets> — see COMFORTABLE 2
2 providing physical comfort <a coffeehouse with soft, cozy chairs> — see COMFORTABLE 1

crab noun
an irritable and complaining person <you're always such a crab in the morning!> — see GROUCH 1

crab verb
1 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <their two-year-old whined and crabbed for the whole car trip> — see COMPLAIN
2 to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <crabbed the blossoming romance by becoming moody and demanding> — see DAMAGE 1

crabby adjective
1 easily irritated or annoyed <a crabby old dog who snapped at passersby> — see IRRITABLE
2 given to complaining a lot <a bunch of crabby kids who don't want to do any work> — see FUSSY 1

crabwise adverb
with one side faced forward <she inched crabwise out of the room, hoping no one would notice> — see SIDEWAYS 1

crack adjective
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <known as one of the college's crack tennis players> — see PROFICIENT

crack noun
1 an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure <a pebble struck the car's windshield and left a spidery crack in it>

Synonyms
check, chink, cleft, cranny, crevice, fissure, rift, split

Related Words
crevasse; craze, hairline; fracture, rupture; breach, gap, opening; cut, gash, incision, slit

2 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <a disciplinary crack on the hand with a ruler was once common in schoolrooms> — see 1BLOW
3 a loud explosive sound <the tree fell with a sharp crack> — see CLAP 1
4 an effort to do or accomplish something <this is my first crack at painting> — see ATTEMPT 1
5 something said or done to cause laughter <a whispered crack made the whole back row start laughing> — see JOKE 1
6 a person of odd or whimsical habits <that conspiracy theorist has been labeled a crack by the ballistics experts> — see ECCENTRIC

crack verb
1 to break suddenly with an explosive sound <the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight>

Synonyms
pop, snap

Related Words
rend, rive, split; crackle, hiss, sizzle, sputter; burst, explode, shatter; clack, clatter, click

2 to yield to mental or emotional stress <after hours of tough questioning the suspect finally cracked and blurted out a confession>

Synonyms
break down, break up, flip (out) [slang], freak (out), melt down, wig (out) [slang]

Related Words
choke

Phrases
blow one's cool, fall apart, go off the deep end, go to pieces, lose it

3 to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language <the United States military used the Navajo language as a code during World War II, and the enemy never cracked it> — see DECODE 1
4 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <cracked him on the bottom with a paddle> — see HIT 1
5 to find an answer for through reasoning <I've been mulling this riddle, but I just can't crack it> — see SOLVE
6 to cause to go insane or as if insane <cracked by years in solitary confinement, the prisoner could only maunder incoherently> — see CRAZE

crack (on) verb
to proceed or move quickly <the postman cracked on in an effort to get the mail delivered on time> — see HURRY 2

crackbrain noun
1 a person judged to be legally or medically insane <once a brilliant dancer, he died a crackbrain in a mental institution> — see LUNATIC 1
2 a person of odd or whimsical habits <a crackbrain who wore bedroom slippers to the grocery shop> — see ECCENTRIC

crackbrained adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <had the crackbrained idea that he was receiving radio signals from outer space> — see INSANE 1

crack down (on) verb
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <the government cracked down on political demonstrations with unprecedented brutality> — see QUELL 1

cracked adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <are you completely cracked?> — see INSANE 1

cracker noun
1 a person who illegally gains access to a computer system and sometimes tampers with its information <a cracker who had broken into the intelligence agency's database attempted to leak the classified information> — see HACKER 1
2 chiefly dialect someone who boasts <you're a fool if you believe half of what that cracker says> — see BRAGGART

cracker–barrel adjective
having or showing an unpretentious informality <his cracker-barrel campaign speeches strike a chord with voters>

Synonyms
down-home, folksy, homespun

Related Words
modest, unassuming, unpretentious; colloquial, conversational, informal; casual, familiar, fireside, intimate

Near Antonyms
affected, grandiose, highfalutin (also hifalutin), ostentatious, pompous, pretentious

crackerjack adjective
1 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <a crackerjack photographer who gets the news photo that is reprinted around the world> — see PROFICIENT
2 of the very best kind <a crackerjack book on the history of rock music> — see EXCELLENT

crackerjack also crackajack noun
1 a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <a young prospect who's supposed to be a crackerjack on the baseball diamond> — see EXPERT
2 something very good of its kind <the cheese maker's aged cheddar is a real crackerjack> — see JIM-DANDY

crackers adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <prisoners in that hellhole either died of disease or went crackers> — see INSANE 1

cracking adjective
of the very best kind <a writer renowned for her cracking tales of mystery and suspense> — see EXCELLENT

cracking adverb
to a great degree <tells a cracking good tale of a search for a lost city> — see VERY 1

crackpot adjective
1 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <all it took to bring down a president was one crackpot malcontent> — see INSANE 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a crackpot scheme to get rich quick> — see FOOLISH 1

crackpot noun
a person of odd or whimsical habits <everyone is tolerant of the town crackpot, a man who never hurt anyone> — see ECCENTRIC

crack–up noun
1 a mental or nervous collapse <a crack-up required him to take a year off from work> — see BREAKDOWN 1
2 the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact <two people were injured in a serious crack-up on the interstate> — see CRASH 1

crack up verb
1 to declare enthusiastic approval of <that sports car isn't all it's cracked up to be> — see ACCLAIM
2 to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively <the movie is being cracked up as the blockbuster of the summer> — see TOUT 1
3 to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound <try not to crack up at your own punch lines—it's funnier if you keep a straight face> — see LAUGH 1

cradle noun
1 a place of origin <Philadelphia is known as “the cradle of liberty” because it was there that the Declaration of Independence was signed> — see BIRTHPLACE
2 a point or place at which something is invented or provided <the 1848 meeting at Seneca Falls, New York, is often regarded as the cradle of the women's suffrage movement> — see SOURCE 1

craft noun
1 an occupation requiring skillful use of the hands <the craft of cabinetmaking was much admired in colonial times>

Synonyms
art, handcraft, handicraft, trade

Related Words
skill; calling, métier (also metier), occupation, profession, vocation

2 a small buoyant structure for travel on water <borrowed a craft to get across the river> — see BOAT 1
3 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <never hesitated to resort to craft to get what she wanted in life> — see DECEIT 1
4 skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <celebrated in political circles for his craft, he's the legislator who knows how to get bills passed> — see CUNNING 1
5 subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something <a really ingenious household appliance that shows a lot of craft on the part of its inventors> — see SKILL 1

craft verb
to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form <spent hours crafting the perfect letter of recommendation for her prize student> — see COMPOSE 1

crafter noun
a person whose occupation requires skill with the hands <as a crafter of handmade bedsteads, he's about the best there is> — see ARTISAN

craftiness noun
1 skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <other antique dealers envied her for her craftiness in getting people to sell their treasures for a song> — see CUNNING 1
2 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <according to the confidence man's credo of craftiness, “There's a sucker born every minute”> — see DECEIT 1

craftsman noun
a person whose occupation requires skill with the hands <if you want good work, hire a craftsman> — see ARTISAN

craftsperson noun
a person whose occupation requires skill with the hands <at the fair you should be able to find a craftsperson who can design and make a 19th-century style sunbonnet> — see ARTISAN

crafty adjective
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <a crafty real estate broker who got people to sell their property at bargain prices> — see ARTFUL 1

crag noun
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice <a menacing crag overhangs the hiking trail> — see CLIFF

craggy adjective
having an uneven edge or outline <goats scrambled nimbly up the craggy side of the mountain> — see RAGGED 1

cram noun
a great number of persons or things massed together <battling the rush-hour cram in the subway> — see CROWD 1

cram verb
1 to fit (people or things) into a tight space <tried to cram one more book into the backpack> — see CROWD 1
2 to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained <crammed his mouth with candy> — see FILL 1
3 to fill with food to capacity <one of those eating contests in which competitors attempt to cram themselves with as many hot dogs as they can in three minutes> — see GORGE 1
4 to swallow or eat greedily <the thoughtless guest crammed a dinner that had taken hours to prepare> — see GOBBLE

crammed adjective
containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible <the auditorium is usually crammed when that candidate makes an appearance> — see FULL 1

1cramp noun
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle <I was suddenly awakened by a cramp in my leg>

Synonyms
charley horse, crick, kink, spasm

Related Words
contraction, jerk, pang, stitch, twinge, twitch

2cramp noun
something that makes movement or progress difficult <an antismoking ordinance that was seen as just another cramp on business by bar owners> — see ENCUMBRANCE

cramp verb
to create difficulty for the work or activity of <having to constantly entertain guests at the summer cottage was really cramping my writing efforts> — see HAMPER

crane verb
to move from a lower to a higher place or position <craned her head to see the roof> — see RAISE 1

cranium noun
the case of bone that encloses the brain and supports the jaws of vertebrates <the cranium of a Neanderthal is striking for its brow ridges> — see SKULL

crank adjective, chiefly dialect
1 having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph <you shouldn't feel so crank, considering that you beat the worst softball team in the league> — see EXULTANT
2 joyously unrestrained <folks around here are downright crank that a local boy won a gold medal in the Olympics> — see EXUBERANT

crank noun
1 a person of odd or whimsical habits <she's a bit of a crank, but still a good-hearted person> — see ECCENTRIC
2 an irritable and complaining person <he's always a crank until he has his morning coffee> — see GROUCH 1
3 a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action <his endless and unpredictable cranks made spending time with him exhausting> — see WHIM

crank (up) verb
to cause to function <crank up the CD player so we can dance> — see ACTIVATE

crankiness noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <overtired children are often prone to crankiness> — see PETULANCE

cranky adjective
1 difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design <that old typewriter is handy sometimes, but rather cranky these days> — see CUMBERSOME
2 easily irritated or annoyed <the baby was cranky after not being fed for hours> — see IRRITABLE
3 given to complaining a lot <if cranky children don't appreciate what they already have, then they shouldn't get a thing more> — see FUSSY 1
4 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <that's just another of his cranky theories about the CIA> — see ODD 2
5 dialect having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <the man would inflict on innocent bystanders his cranky ruminations on world events> — see INSANE 1

cranny noun
an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure <one climbing shoe got wedged into a cranny on the face of the cliff> — see CRACK 1

crapola noun, slang
1 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <her book, in which she details the things that are purportedly wrong with the country, is crapola of the first magnitude> — see NONSENSE 1
2 that which is of low quality or worth <it's a sin that such crapola gets shown on TV> — see JUNK 1

crappy adjective, slang
of low quality <a crappy radio that immediately broke> — see CHEAP 2

crapshoot noun
a risky undertaking <there are almost no sure bets in the movie business—almost everything is a crapshoot> — see GAMBLE

crapulous adjective
given to excessive use of alcoholic beverages <a crapulous wastrel who went through the family's once-fabulous fortune in less than a decade>

Synonyms
bibulous, drunken, intemperate, sottish

Related Words
debauched, dissipated, dissolute; drunk, high, inebriated, intoxicated, loaded [slang], soused, tipsy

Near Antonyms
clearheaded, sober, straight; abstemious, abstinent, teetotal

Antonyms
temperate

crash noun
1 the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact <the fiery crash of two jumbo jet airplanes in midair>

Synonyms
collision, concussion, crack-up, smash, smashup, wreck

Related Words
accident, pileup; demolishment, destruction, ruin

2 a falling short of one's goals <refused to be discouraged by the crash of her hairdressing business> — see FAILURE 2
3 a loud explosive sound <the crash of cymbals> — see CLAP 1
4 a forceful coming together of two things <a story about the crash of two alien cultures and the unfortunate consequences> — see IMPACT 1

crash verb
1 to cause to break with violence and much noise <crashed the vase against the wall> — see SMASH 1
2 to come into usually forceful contact with something <the speeding car crashed into the tree with horrifying results> — see HIT 2
3 to stop functioning <my computer crashed yet again> — see FAIL 1
4 to force one's way <the drunken partygoer crashed into my room and promptly passed out> — see 2PRESS 4
5 to go to a lower level especially abruptly <sales of that digital camera have crashed since the competing version came out> — see DROP 2
6 slang to go to one's bed in order to sleep <I'm so exhausted that I'm just going to crash as soon as we get home> — see BED 1
7 slang to reside as a temporary guest <I'm going to crash at my sister's apartment when I'm in New York> — see VISIT 2

crashing adjective
having no exceptions or restrictions <a crashing bore, he can turn any party into a funeral> — see ABSOLUTE 2

crass adjective
lacking in refinement or good taste <a loudmouthed jerk given to rude jokes and crass comments> — see COARSE 2

crassness noun
the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste <the crassness of the observation shocked everyone into silence> — see VULGARITY 1

crate noun
a dilapidated old automobile <he keeps sinking money into that old crate> — see BEATER 1

crater verb
1 to be unsuccessful <a time when dot-coms were cratering left and right> — see FAIL 2
2 to go to a lower level especially abruptly <the stock price cratered when the company filed for Chapter 11> — see DROP 2

crave verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <craves ice cream at all hours of the day> — see DESIRE 1

craven adjective
having or showing a shameful lack of courage <a craven refusal to deliver the unwelcome news personally> — see COWARDLY

craven noun
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <a craven who ran away and left everyone else behind to deal with the crisis> — see COWARD

cravenness noun
a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <it was sheer cravenness to avoid the consequences of your actions> — see COWARDICE

craving noun
a strong wish for something <a pregnant woman with a craving for pickles> — see DESIRE 1

crawl verb
1 to move slowly with the body close to the ground <the time we had to crawl through a narrow passageway from one cave to another>

Synonyms
belly, creep, grovel, slide, slither, snake, worm, wriggle

Related Words
crouch, squat; edge, inch, nose; skulk, sneak, steal, tiptoe

2 to move slowly <the weekend traffic on the road to the beach just crawled>

Synonyms
creak (along), creep, drag, inch, limp, nose, ooze, plod, poke, slouch, snail

Related Words
lumber, shamble, shuffle, tramp, trudge

Near Antonyms
float, glide, sail; hurry, tear

Antonyms
fly, race, speed, whiz (or whizz), zip

3 to move or act slowly <the deadline is fast approaching, so this is no time to crawl> — see DELAY 1
4 to be copiously supplied <something must be up, as city hall is crawling with reporters> — see ABOUND

crawler noun
someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others <he's always the crawler who makes everyone else late> — see SLOWPOKE

crawling adjective
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <the crawling pace of the narrative is really frustrating> — see SLOW 1

craze noun
a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <if history is any guide, this latest diet for losing weight is just another craze> — see FAD

craze verb
to cause to go insane or as if insane <soldiers who had been crazed by months of combat and chaos in the countryside>

Synonyms
crack, derange, frenzy, loco, madden, unbalance, unhinge, unstring

Related Words
agitate, bother, confuse, discompose, disquiet, distract, disturb, perturb, unsettle, upset; annoy, irritate, vex

Near Antonyms
calm, quiet, relax, settle, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

crazed adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <the inmate's crazed and disturbing stare> — see INSANE 1

craziness noun
lack of good sense or judgment <this latest example of juvenile craziness does not incline us to trust you> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

crazy adjective
1 conceived or made without regard for reason or reality <the mansion is a crazy construction of several different styles> — see FANTASTIC 1
2 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <a crazy woman who tried to throw her baby out of a window> — see INSANE 1
3 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a crazy plan to climb Mount Everest without proper equipment> — see FOOLISH 1
4 showing urgent desire or interest <crazy for the latest entertainment news> — see EAGER
5 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <a downtown musician with crazy notions of what's stylish and what's not> — see ODD 2
6 inclined or twisted to one side <surrounded by crazy stacks of books, she began writing her paper> — see AWRY
7 marked by a long series of irregular curves <walked down a crazy path deep in the woods to a secluded swimming hole> — see CROOKED 1

crazy noun
1 a person judged to be legally or medically insane <one unsympathetic homeowner insisted that all homeless people are crazies> — see LUNATIC 1
2 a person who favors rapid and sweeping changes especially in laws and methods of government <beleaguered government officials tried to dismiss the protesters as a bunch of leftist crazies> — see RADICAL

crazy (about or over) adjective
filled with an intense or excessive love for <he's just crazy about that new drummer> — see ENAMORED OF

crazy quilt noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <an environmental issue that brought together a crazy quilt of people from all points on the political spectrum> — see MISCELLANY 1

creak noun
a harsh grating sound <the creak of a floorboard> — see RASP

creak (along) verb
to move slowly <the line at the registry of motor vehicles was just creaking along> — see CRAWL 2

cream noun
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <the school accepts only the cream of the world's young violinists> — see ELITE 1

cream verb
1 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <the head-on collision creamed the brand-new car in an instant> — see DESTROY 1
2 to defeat by a large margin <the novice player was creamed in her first tennis tournament> — see WHIP 2

cream puff noun
something easily done or dealt with <everyone thinks tonight's game will be a cream puff, and so it hasn't generated a lot of interest> — see CINCH 1

crease noun
a small fold in a soft and otherwise smooth surface <rolling, rather than folding, your clothes when you pack will usually prevent a lot of creases> — see WRINKLE 1

crease verb
to develop creases or folds <her face creased with worry> — see WRINKLE 1

create verb
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <it was your negligence that created this mess> — see EFFECT

creation noun
1 something (as a device) created for the first time through the use of the imagination <Dr. Frankenstein was divinely proud of his creation, at least at first> — see INVENTION 1
2 the whole body of things observed or assumed <an unshakable belief in a primal source, a fount of all creation> — see UNIVERSE
3 a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position <the creation of an unprecedented number of new cardinals by the pope> — see ADVANCEMENT 1

creative adjective
1 having the skill and imagination to create new things <Thomas Edison's status as perhaps America's greatest creative genius>

Synonyms
clever, imaginative, ingenious, innovational, innovative, innovatory, inventive, original, originative, Promethean

Related Words
gifted, inspired, talented; resourceful; fecund, fertile, fruitful, generative, germinal, productive, prolific

Near Antonyms
imitative, uninspired; infertile, unproductive; talentless

Antonyms
uncreative, unimaginative, uninventive, unoriginal

2 showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing <always coming up with creative ways to use hamburger> — see CLEVER 1

creativeness noun
the skill and imagination to create new things <a child with the creativeness to build his own figure of a superhero out of the parts of several toys> — see CREATIVITY 1

creativity noun
1 the skill and imagination to create new things <the arts and crafts fair showed the remarkable creativity of local artists and artisans>

Synonyms
cleverness, creativeness, imagination, imaginativeness, ingeniousness, ingenuity, innovativeness, invention, inventiveness, originality

Related Words
fecundity, fertility, fruitfulness, productiveness, productivity, prolificacy, prolificity, prolificness; capableness, resourcefulness; genius, giftedness, talent; fire, inspiration, muse

Near Antonyms
dryness, dullness (also dulness)

2 the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others <while his imaginary friend is a little annoying, you have to admire his creativity in thinking her up> — see IMAGINATION 1

creator noun
1 a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor <although some people see Freud as the creator of psychology, that isn't really true> — see FATHER 2
2 cap the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <she humbly gave thanks to her Creator for each new day> — see DEITY 2

creature noun
1 a member of the human race <we must try to be kind to our fellow creatures> — see HUMAN
2 one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings <a saint who is celebrated for his love of birds and other small creatures> — see ANIMAL

creature comfort noun
something that adds to one's ease of living <she's too addicted to creature comforts to enjoy roughing it, even for a few days> — see COMFORT 2

crèche noun
a school for children who are generally less than five years old <one of the first cities to establish crèches so that poor women with children could work outside of the home> — see NURSERY SCHOOL

credence noun
1 firm belief in the integrity, ability, effectiveness, or genuineness of someone or something <I'm afraid I don't put much credence in common gossip> — see TRUST 1
2 mental conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon <a foolish theory that, incredibly, once had wide credence among educated people> — see BELIEF 1

credentials plural noun
a skill, an ability, or knowledge that makes a person able to do a particular job <she certainly has the credentials for the position> — see QUALIFICATION 1

credible adjective
worthy of being accepted as true or reasonable <it's at least a credible explanation> — see BELIEVABLE

credit noun
1 the right to take possession of goods before paying for them <because of their reputation for not paying their bills, no store will extend the family credit>

Synonyms
trust

Related Words
installment plan, layaway; charge account, credit line

2 an asset that brings praise or renown <your intelligence and dedication are a credit to you, our choice for teacher of the year> — see GLORY 2
3 mental conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon <I give full credit to this report on the prevalence of cheating among college students today> — see BELIEF 1
4 public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <she deserves all the credit, since she did all the work> — see GLORY 1
5 the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly <despite his legal woes, he has not yet lost all his credit with the administration in the White House> — see INFLUENCE 1

credit verb
1 to explain (something) as being the result of something else <has to credit his success in picking winning lottery numbers to pure luck>

Synonyms
accredit, ascribe, attribute, chalk up, impute, lay, put down

Related Words
blame, charge, father (on), impute (to), pin (on); assign, refer; associate, attach, connect, link

2 to regard as right or true <I simply cannot credit that story about the boy who was supposedly raised by wolves> — see BELIEVE 1

creditable adjective
1 deserving of high regard or great approval <a creditable effort, even if it didn't succeed completely> — see ADMIRABLE
2 worthy of being accepted as true or reasonable <let's look for a scientifically creditable explanation before going off into the realm of the supernatural> — see BELIEVABLE

creditably adverb
in a satisfactory way <he performed the part creditably even though he had no experience acting on stage> — see WELL 1

credo noun
1 a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities <the credo of the ancient Egyptians involved a variety of polytheism> — see RELIGION 1
2 the basic beliefs or guiding principles of a person or group <we must abide by the simple credo that “The customer is always right”> — see CREED 1

credulity noun
readiness to believe the claims of others without sufficient evidence <the quack pushing the phony medicine was taking advantage of the credulity of people hoping for miracle cures>

Synonyms
credulousness, gullibility, naiveness, naïveté (also naivete or naiveté), simpleness

Related Words
artlessness, simplicity, unsophistication, unwariness, unworldliness; belief, credibility, faith, trust

Near Antonyms
sophistication, worldliness; distrust, misdoubt, mistrust, suspicion, suspiciousness, wariness; doubt, uncertainty

Antonyms
incredulity, skepticism

credulousness noun
readiness to believe the claims of others without sufficient evidence <her inveterate credulousness makes her an easy target for practical jokes> — see CREDULITY

creed noun
1 the basic beliefs or guiding principles of a person or group <central to the creed of this organization of medical volunteers is the belief that health care is a basic human right>

Synonyms
credo, doctrine, dogma, gospel, ideology (also idealogy), philosophy, testament

Related Words
manifesto; metaphysic, theory; axiom, tenet, watchword

2 a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities <the Amish live by a strict creed that rejects many of the values and practices of modern society> — see RELIGION 1

creek noun
1 a natural body of running water smaller than a river <the shallow creek that runs in back of our house>

Synonyms
beck [British], bourn (or bourne), brook, brooklet, burn [British], gill [British], rill, rivulet, run [chiefly Midland], runlet, runnel, streamlet

Related Words
arroyo, billabong [Australian], fresh, freshet, runoff; bayou, coulee, slough (also slew or slue), stream, wash; canal, channel, cut, cutoff, gut, kill, millrace, millstream, race, watercourse, waterway; affluent, branch, confluent, distributary, influent, tributary

2 chiefly British a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline <explored many of the creeks along the Cornwall coast of England> — see GULF 1

creep noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <after he had sent her several obnoxious e-mails, she reported the creep to the director of human resources> — see JERK 1

creep verb
1 to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits <water crept slowly over the top of the tub and onto the floor> — see ENCROACH
2 to move or act slowly <that Friday afternoon we were just creeping, waiting for the buzzer to sound so that we could start the long weekend> — see DELAY 1
3 to move slowly with the body close to the ground <the kitten crept silently across the floor before suddenly pouncing on the mouse> — see CRAWL 1
4 to move slowly <the class hour seems to creep by> — see CRAWL 2

creeping adjective
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <at this creeping pace of progress we'll never have the float ready for the parade> — see SLOW 1

creepy adjective
1 fearfully and mysteriously strange or fantastic <a fascinating but creepy stage show by an offbeat magician> — see EERIE
2 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <a creepy aura about the abandoned farmhouse—as though something horrific had happened there> — see NERVOUS 2

crème de la crème noun
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <a list of titles that represents the crème de la crème of the multitude of books published over the past year> — see ELITE 1

crepuscule or crepuscle noun
the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness <from the deck of our sloop we watched as the island slowly faded from sight in the golden crepuscule of a beautiful Caribbean day> — see DUSK 1

crescendo noun
the highest part or point <their divorce was merely the formal crescendo of a long period of marital stress and estrangement> — see HEIGHT 1

crest noun
1 the highest part or point <at that point the filmmaker was at the crest of his critical acclaim, which included winning an Oscar> — see HEIGHT 1
2 the line formed when two sloping surfaces come together along their topmost edge <the hiking party reached the crest of the mountain just as it began to thunder> — see RIDGE

crestfallen adjective
feeling unhappiness <she was crestfallen when she found out she hadn't got the job> — see SAD 1

cretin noun
1 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <a cretin who's constantly forwarding e-mails filled with racist and sexist jokes> — see JERK 1
2 a stupid person <in discussions anyone who disagrees with her is inevitably called a cretin> — see IDIOT

crevice noun
an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure <steam escaped from a long crevice in the volcano> — see CRACK 1

crew noun
1 a group involved in secret or criminal activities <when one boy turned informant, the police were able to nab the drug kingpin and the rest of his crew> — see 1RING 1
2 a group of people working together on a task <we'll need the whole crew to stay late tomorrow> — see GANG 1

crick noun
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle <got a crick in my neck from sleeping while sitting up> — see 1CRAMP

crime noun
1 activities that are in violation of the laws of the state <a promise by the president to step up the war against crime>

Synonyms
criminality, lawbreaking, lawlessness

Related Words
outlawry; gangsterism, hooliganism, racketeering; malfeasance, misconduct; wrongdoing; evil, immorality, sin, wickedness; corruption, depravity; malefaction, misdeed, misdoing, offense (or offence), transgression, trespass

2 a regrettable or blameworthy act <it's a crime to waste food, so give the rest of the pizza to me>

Synonyms
disgrace, pity, shame, sin

Related Words
outrage, scandal

3 a breaking of a moral or legal code <anyone who commits a crime should expect to be punished for it> — see OFFENSE 1

criminal adjective
contrary to or forbidden by law <people should know with certainty that criminal behavior will be punished> — see ILLEGAL 1

criminal noun
a person who has committed a crime <car thieves, pickpockets, burglars, and other criminals>

Synonyms
crook, culprit, felon, lawbreaker, malefactor, miscreant, offender

Related Words
misdemeanant; accomplice, principal; desperado, outlaw; convict, jailbird; perp, perpetrator; evildoer, gallows bird, misdoer, misfeasor, sinner, transgressor, trespasser, villain, wrongdoer; blackhander, button man, gangster, hoodlum, hooligan, mobster, racketeer, thug; enforcer, gun, gunman, gunsel [slang], hit man, triggerman; backslider, recidivist, relapser, repeater; accused, arrestee, defendant, detainee, fish, suspect

Near Antonyms
gangbuster, lawman

criminality noun
activities that are in violation of the laws of the state <criminality and physical violence often go hand in hand> — see CRIME 1

criminalize verb
to make or declare contrary to the law <wanted to criminalize an activity that the mountaineers had been engaging in for generations> — see ILLEGALIZE

criminate verb
to make a claim of wrongdoing against <scornfully declaring that he was not the school's lone drug dealer, he immediately began criminating a host of confederates> — see ACCUSE

crimp noun
1 a small fold in a soft and otherwise smooth surface <a small crimp in the dollar bill prevented it from being accepted by the bill changer> <made a tiny little crimp in the corner of the Queen of Spades> — see WRINKLE 1
2 something that makes movement or progress difficult <the strike could put a real crimp in the production schedule> — see ENCUMBRANCE

crimson verb
to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment) <he crimsoned the minute he realized the foolishness of what he'd said> — see BLUSH

cringe verb
1 to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust <gruesome crime scene photos that made several jurors cringe> — see FLINCH
2 to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission <the puppy cringed when his master raised the rolled-up newspaper> — see COWER

crinkle noun
a small fold in a soft and otherwise smooth surface <little crinkles at the corners of his mouth showed whenever he smiled> — see WRINKLE 1

crinkle verb
1 to make small sounds usually by rubbing or moving <a paper seat cover that crinkles with every move>

Synonyms
rustle

Related Words
crackle, crepitate; creak, squeak; swoosh, whoosh; babble, gurgle, murmur, sigh, whisper

2 to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in <crinkled the candy wrapper up and threw it away> — see CRUMPLE 1
3 to develop creases or folds <her forehead crinkled in consternation when her guests failed to arrive on time> — see WRINKLE 1

cripple verb
1 to cause severe or permanent injury to <the car crash may have crippled two people for life> — see MAIM
2 to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <the collision so severely crippled the ship that it had to be towed into port> — see DAMAGE 1
3 to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move <a wave of strikes crippled that nation's steel industry> — see PARALYZE 1

crisis noun
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <the governor responded swiftly and surely to the crisis> — see EMERGENCY

crisp adjective
1 having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure <the bag of crisp cookies had a lot of crumbs on the bottom>

Synonyms
brickle [dialect], brittle, crispy, crumbly, embrittled, flaky (also flakey), friable, short

Related Words
crackly, crisped, crispened, crunchy, crusty; breakable, delicate, fragile

Near Antonyms
elastic, flexible, pliable, pliant, resilient; strong, sturdy, tough

2 being clean and in good order <a pretty, crisp bedspread for the guest room> — see NEAT 1
3 marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <a crisp suggestion about what they could do with their boom box> — see CONCISE

crisply adverb
in a few words <the teacher crisply commanded the rubbernecking students to direct their attention forward> — see SHORTLY 1

crispness noun
the quality or state of being marked by or using only few words to convey much meaning <the crispness of the writing is such that this writer says more in nine paragraphs than some others say in nine pages> — see SUCCINCTNESS

crispy adjective
having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure <the crispy potato chips snapped satisfyingly in my mouth> — see CRISP 1

criterion noun
1 something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared <one criterion for grading these essays will be their conformity to the rules of traditional grammar> — see STANDARD 1
2 something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <an exceptionally high degree of physical risk is the preeminent criterion of an extreme sport> — see CHARACTERISTIC

critic noun
1 a person given to harsh judgments and to finding faults <the president's hard-core critics are going to attack him no matter what he does>

Synonyms
carper, castigator, caviler (or caviller), censurer, criticizer, disparager, faultfinder, hypercritic, knocker, niggler, nitpicker

Related Words
condemner (or condemnor), denouncer; belittler, decrier, denigrator, derider, detractor; assailant, attacker, crucifier; criticaster, hairsplitter, pettifogger, quibbler; admonisher, haranguer, railer, ranter, rebuker, reproacher, reprover, scold, upbraider; bellyacher, complainer, crybaby, fusser, griper, grouch, grouser, grumbler, whiner

Near Antonyms
commender, praiser

2 a person who makes or expresses a judgment on the quality of offerings in some field of endeavor <the restaurant critic said that the fries at that fast-food outlet were the worst she'd ever eaten>

Synonyms
pundit, reviewer

Related Words
analyst, annotator, columnist, commentator, observer; appraiser, evaluator, judge, referee

critical adjective
1 given to making or expressing unfavorable judgments about things <adults tend to be critical of teenagers' taste in music and movies>

Synonyms
captious, carping, caviling (or cavilling), faultfinding, hypercritical, judgmental, overcritical, rejective

Related Words
discerning, discriminating, judicious; demanding, exacting, fastidious, finical, finicky, fussy, nitpicky, particular, picky; pettifogging, quibbling; harsh, merciless, uncharitable, unforgiving

Near Antonyms
undiscriminating; undemanding, unfussy; charitable, forgiving

Antonyms
uncritical

2 needing immediate attention <this problem isn't critical, so we can go home now and tend to it in the morning> — see ACUTE 2
3 of the greatest possible importance <this is the critical exam that will largely determine your college career> — see CRUCIAL
4 impossible to do without <critical information for an informed medical diagnosis> — see ESSENTIAL 1

criticism noun
an essay evaluating or analyzing something <every criticism of the movie has noted that there are major holes in its plot>

Synonyms
critique, examen, notice, review

Related Words
column, commentary, editorial, punditry; appraisal, assessment, evaluation; analysis, examination, opinion, outline, study, survey

criticize verb
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of <people who criticize every single idea that the principal has for improving the school>

Synonyms
blame, censure, condemn, denounce, dis (also diss) [slang], dispraise, fault, knock, pan, reprehend, slag [chiefly British]

Related Words
skewer, tweak; assail, attack, blast, clobber, slam, slash; nick (at), snipe (at); beef, bellyache, bitch, carp, cavil, complain, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, kick, kvetch, moan, murmur, mutter, niggle, quibble, whine; admonish, chide, drub, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove; berate, castigate, crucify, excoriate, flay, gibbet, hammer, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lash, pillory, scold, upbraid; bad-mouth, belittle, decry, deride, discommend, disparage, put down

Phrases
come down hard (on), find fault (with), take to task

Near Antonyms
approve, commend, endorse (also indorse), recommend, sanction

Antonyms
extol (also extoll), laud, praise

criticizer noun
a person given to harsh judgments and to finding faults <those perennial criticizers of the local school board> — see CRITIC 1

critique noun
an essay evaluating or analyzing something <in a critique of the retrospective, the reviewer faulted it for not including more of the painter's mature works> — see CRITICISM

critter noun
one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings <she's so fond of every kind of critter that she ought to be a veterinarian> — see ANIMAL

croak verb
1 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <the cranky patient was always croaking to the nurses about something> — see COMPLAIN
2 slang to stop living <I wouldn't go around saying your great-grandmother “croaked”> — see DIE 1
3 slang to deprive of life <“I croaked the old bugger,” he bragged> — see KILL 1
4 slang to put to death deliberately <hooligans had croaked the street corner wino just for the hell of it> — see MURDER 1

croaker noun
1 an irritable and complaining person <she becomes a real croaker when she's overtired> — see GROUCH 1
2 slang a person specially trained in healing human medical disorders <ever more ornery as he grew older, he swore that he didn't need some croaker telling him that smoking was bad for his health> — see DOCTOR

croaking adjective
harsh and dry in sound <a croaking voice from smoking too many cigarettes> — see HOARSE

croaky adjective
harsh and dry in sound <a week of constant coughing left her with a croaky voice> — see HOARSE

crock noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <that whole thing about how surprised she was to win the award was a crock> — see NONSENSE 1

crocked adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <she found that after only three drinks she would be completely crocked> — see DRUNK

crockery noun
articles made of baked clay <a display of beautifully hand-painted crockery on the kitchen countertop>

Synonyms
earthenware, pottery, stoneware

Related Words
ceramics; china, ironstone china, porcelain, redware

Croesus noun
a wealthy person <if you have to ask the price, you're not the Croesus for whom this palatial yacht is intended> — see CAPITALIST

crone noun
a mean or ugly old woman <a run-down house that was inhabited by a cantankerous crone who kept to herself>

Synonyms
beldam (or beldame), carline (or carlin) [chiefly Scottish], hag, hellcat, trot, witch

Related Words
harpy, shrew, virago

crony noun
1 a person frequently seen in the company of another <the criminal's cronies were also closely questioned about the illegal gambling operation> — see ASSOCIATE 1
2 a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another <only my cronies can call me by my nickname> — see FRIEND 1

crook noun
1 a person who has committed a crime <a guy at the bar was raving about how all politicians are basically crooks> — see CRIMINAL
2 something that curves or is curved <carried the baby in the crook of her arm> — see BEND 1

crook verb
1 to cause to turn away from a straight line <crooked a finger> — see BEND 1
2 to turn away from a straight line or course <the road suddenly crooked to the left> — see CURVE 1

crooked adjective
1 marked by a long series of irregular curves <a long, crooked line of people had formed in front of the ticket booth>

Synonyms
bending, crazy, curled, curling, curved, curving, curvy, devious, serpentine, sinuous, tortuous, twisted, twisting, winding, windy

Related Words
zigzag, zigzagging; circling, coiled, coiling, corkscrew, looping, spiral, spiraling (or spiralling), swirling; circuitous, indirect, roundabout; meandering, rambling, wandering; irregular, jagged, uneven

Near Antonyms
direct, linear

Antonyms
straight, straightaway

2 given to or marked by cheating and deception <the common belief that gambling casinos are often crooked businesses> — see DISHONEST 2
3 inclined or twisted to one side <the photo on that wall is crooked> — see AWRY
4 marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <a crooked scheme to bill the government for medical services never performed> — see FRAUDULENT 1

crookedness noun
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <for sheer crookedness it would be hard to beat the used-car dealer who sold me that lemon> — see DECEIT 1

crookery noun
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <the dealer encouraged his sales reps to engage in crookery of all sorts, so long as it sold cars> — see DECEIT 1

crop noun
1 the quantity of an animal or vegetable product gathered at the end of a season <the wheat crop is going to be exceptionally large this year>

Synonyms
harvest

Related Words
return, yield; cut, cutting

2 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <the school's latest crop of graduates is its most academically gifted so far> — see GROUP 2

crop verb
1 to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care <a family that's been cropping potatoes on that piece of land for generations> — see GROW 1
2 to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument <grass cropped short by repeated grazing> <cropped the painting to fit the frame> — see CLIP 1

crop (up) verb
to come to one's attention especially gradually or unexpectedly <a new issue has just cropped up in the campaign> — see ARISE 2

cropper noun
a falling short of one's goals <more than a few people were glad to see the obnoxiously smug skater come a cropper at the national championships> — see FAILURE 2

croquette noun
a small usually rounded mass of minced food that has been fried <a fish croquette that tasted more of filler than of fish> — see CAKE 1

cross adjective
1 being offspring produced by parents of different races, breeds, species, or genera <raises both purebred and cross lambs> — see MIXED 1
2 easily irritated or annoyed <she was cross all day because of a nagging headache> — see IRRITABLE

cross noun
1 a test of faith, patience, or strength <dyslexia is just my cross to bear, and I accepted it long ago> — see TRIAL 1
2 an offspring of parents with different genes especially when of different races, breeds, species, or genera <the mare is an Arabian-Thoroughbred cross> — see HYBRID

cross verb
1 to be unfaithful or disloyal to <people who cross the local mob boss usually are found floating in the river> — see BETRAY 1
2 to divide by passing through or across <there's a light where that street crosses Main Street> — see INTERSECT
3 to make one's way through, across, or over <you may have to cross some woods on the way> — see TRAVERSE
4 to enter the mind of <the idea did cross me that he might be pulling my leg> — see OCCUR TO

cross (out) verb
to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it <cross out the old phone number and write in the new one> — see X OUT

cross (up) verb
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <your refusal to cooperate will cross up the whole investigation> — see DAMAGE 1

crossbred adjective
being offspring produced by parents of different races, breeds, species, or genera <a beautiful crossbred dog who had the pleading eyes of a beagle and the body of a greyhound> — see MIXED 1

crossbred noun
an offspring of parents with different genes especially when of different races, breeds, species, or genera <a puppy that was clearly a crossbred of a beagle and a dachshund> — see HYBRID

crossbreed noun
an offspring of parents with different genes especially when of different races, breeds, species, or genera <a Siamese crossbreed who was atypically black, but had the build and voice of a Siamese> — see HYBRID

cross fire noun
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <viewers tune in to witness the weekly cross fire between the liberal and conservative commentators> — see ARGUMENT 1

crossing noun
1 a journey over water in a vessel <an uneventful crossing from the United States to Britain> — see SAIL
2 a place where roads meet <turn left at the next crossing and then stay on that road for two miles> — see CROSSROAD 1

crossness noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <a librarian who had a reputation for chronic crossness> — see PETULANCE

crosspatch noun
an irritable and complaining person <that sweet little girl turns into a real crosspatch when she's hungry> — see GROUCH 1

crossroad noun
1 usually crossroads plural a place where roads meet <the fast-food chain has a restaurant at practically every crossroads>

Synonyms
carrefour, corner, crossing, crossway(s), intersection, junction

Related Words
cloverleaf, interchange, overpass, underpass; circle, rotary, roundabout [British], traffic circle

2 usually crossroads plural a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <we've come to a crossroads, and we have to make a decision> — see EMERGENCY

cross section noun
a number of things selected from a group to stand for the whole <a television ratings service that monitors the viewing of a representative cross section of the general population> — see SAMPLE 1

crossway noun, often crossways plural
a place where roads meet <carolers assembling at the village crossways on Christmas Eve> — see CROSSROAD 1

crossways adverb
in a line or direction running from corner to corner <the van had been deliberately parked crossways so as to take up both parking spaces> — see CROSSWISE

crosswise adverb
in a line or direction running from corner to corner <first cut the sandwiches crosswise and then trim the crusts>

Synonyms
athwart, bias, cornerways, cornerwise, crossways, diagonally, kitty-corner (also catty-corner or catercorner or kitty-cornered or catty-cornered or catercornered), obliquely, transversely

Related Words
across

Phrases
on the bias, on the diagonal

Near Antonyms
lengthwise, longitudinally

crotchet noun
an odd or peculiar habit <her one crotchet is a fondness for eating cookies while soaking in the tub> — see IDIOSYNCRASY

crotchetiness noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <the understandable crotchetiness of an overworked teacher> — see PETULANCE

crotchety adjective
easily irritated or annoyed <I get crotchety after a long day at work> — see IRRITABLE

crouch verb
to lie low with the limbs close to the body <the cat crouched in the bushes, waiting for the right moment to pounce on the chipmunk>

Synonyms
couch, huddle, hunch, hunker (down), scrunch, squat, squinch

Related Words
curl up

crow verb
1 to feel or express joy or triumph <being the home of the new Super Bowl champs was the first thing that city residents had to crow about in a very long time> — see EXULT
2 to praise or express pride in one's own possessions, qualities, or accomplishments often to excess <the in-your-face crowing by some of the winning athletes at the Olympics was embarrassing> — see BOAST 1

crowd noun
1 a great number of persons or creatures massed together <a huge crowd of fans was on hand to greet the returning World Series champions>

Synonyms
army, bike [chiefly Scottish], cram, crush, drove, flock, herd, horde, host, legion, mass, mob, multitude, press, rout, scrum, swarm, throng

Related Words
masses, millions, rabble, rabblement, riffraff; gaggle; heap, mountain, pile; jam, logjam

2 a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <the fashionable crowd at the polo tournament> — see GANG 2
3 the body of the community as contrasted with the elite <no national leader was ever more hated by the crowd> — see MASS 1

crowd verb
1 to fit (people or things) into a tight space <crowded all the boats into the harbor before the storm struck>

Synonyms
cram, crush, jam, ram, sandwich, shoehorn, squeeze, stuff, wedge

Related Words
fill, heap, jam-pack, load, pack

2 to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers <cars crowded the roads over the long holiday weekend>

Synonyms
flock, mob, swarm, throng

Related Words
beset, infest, invade, overrun; clog, dam, jam, obstruct, plug (up)

3 to gather into a closely packed group <everyone crowded around to see the baby being shown off by his proud parents> — see 2PRESS 3

crowded adjective
1 containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible <we kept circling around the crowded parking lot at the mall> — see FULL 1
2 having little space between items or parts <a crowded design that made the bedroom wallpaper a little overwhelming> — see CLOSE 1

crowd–pleasing adjective
enjoying widespread favor or approval <an actor who rarely ventures far afield from crowd-pleasing comedies and actioners> — see POPULAR 1

crowing adjective
having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph <in a crowing speech, the mayor thanked all who had helped get her reelected> — see EXULTANT

crown noun
1 a decorative band or wreath worn about the head as a symbol of victory or honor <the crown of laurel leaves that is traditionally placed on the winner of the marathon>

Synonyms
chaplet, coronal (also coronel), coronet, diadem

Related Words
anadem [archaic], tiara; garland, laurel

2 the position occupied by the one who comes in first in a competition <his lifelong dream of someday winning the heavyweight boxing crown>

Synonyms
championship, title

3 the highest part or point <covered in mud from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head> — see HEIGHT 1

crown verb
to bring to a triumphant conclusion <the Olympic Games were crowned by spectacular closing ceremonies>

Synonyms
cap (off), climax, culminate

Related Words
complete, conclude, finish, round (off or out), terminate, wrap up

crown jewel noun
an asset that brings praise or renown <the city's crown jewel is an emerald necklace of lushly landscaped parks> — see GLORY 2

crucial adjective
of the greatest possible importance <water is crucial to our survival>

Synonyms
critical, key, pivotal, vital

Related Words
decisive, life-and-death (also life-or-death), weighty; basic, elementary, fundamental; essential, indispensable, necessary, requisite; pressing, urgent

Near Antonyms
inconsequential, insignificant, minor, trivial, unimportant

crucible noun
a test of faith, patience, or strength <soldiers who had withstood the crucible of war> — see TRIAL 1

crud noun
1 foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something <you must have stepped in something, because there's crud all over your shoe> — see FILTH 1
2 slang a person whose behavior is offensive to others <I don't care how hip that clothing store is, their employees behave like absolute cruds> — see JERK 1

cruddy adjective
1 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <her cruddy treatment of her now-destitute parents, who had put her through medical school> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1
2 not clean <the refrigerator's cruddy shelves were a sign that the interior had never been cleaned> — see DIRTY 1

crude adjective
1 being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining <a sizable spill of crude oil along a coastline is the worst kind of environmental disaster>

Synonyms
native, natural, raw, rude, undressed, unprocessed, unrefined, untreated

Related Words
undeveloped; rough-hewn, semifinished, unfinished, unpolished; uncooked; impure, unfiltered

Phrases
in the raw, in the rough

Near Antonyms
filtered, pure, purified

Antonyms
dressed, processed, refined, treated

2 belonging to or characteristic of an early level of skill or development <the crude stone tools that those prehistoric peoples used> — see PRIMITIVE 1
3 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <crude jokes can be considered sexual harassment> — see OBSCENE 1
4 lacking in refinement or good taste <any discussion of one's money is considered crude by the club's blue-blooded members> — see COARSE 2
5 hastily or roughly constructed <a crude hut that was constructed by some shipwrecked sailors> — see RUDE 1

crudeness noun
1 the quality or state of being obscene <the blatant crudeness of the remark first made him blush and then made him angry> — see OBSCENITY 1
2 the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste <the lowbrow crudeness of the commentary at the fashion show horrified her> — see VULGARITY 1

crudity noun
1 the quality or state of being obscene <shocked by the crudity of the youngster's language> — see OBSCENITY 1
2 the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste <appalled by the crudity of the way her nephews referred to women> — see VULGARITY 1

cruel adjective
1 having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <a cruel dictator who tortured anyone who dared to speak out against him> <cruel and unusual punishments are forbidden by the U.S. Constitution>

Synonyms
atrocious, barbaric, barbarous, brutal, brute, butcherly, fiendish, heartless, inhuman, inhumane, sadistic, savage, truculent, vicious, wanton

Related Words
hard-hearted, ironhearted, merciless, pitiless, ruthless, stonyhearted, unfeeling; fell, ferocious, grim; bloodthirsty, cutthroat, murderous, sanguinary, sanguine; catty, despiteful, hateful, malevolent, malicious, malign, malignant, mean, nasty, spiteful, vindictive; draconian, draconic, hardhanded, harsh, heavy-handed, oppressive

Phrases
red in tooth and claw

Near Antonyms
tender, warm, warmhearted; charitable, clement, lenient, merciful, pitying; pacific, peaceable, peaceful

Antonyms
benign, benignant, compassionate, good-hearted, humane, kind, kindhearted, sympathetic, tenderhearted

2 difficult to endure <the cruel climate of the Arctic> — see HARSH 1
3 hard to accept or bear especially emotionally <the cruel situation of being orphaned at an early age> — see BITTER 2
4 having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it <the bully was fond of making cruel little jabs at his victim's sore points> — see HATEFUL

cruelness noun
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <far from being healers, the doctors in the Nazi death camps were notable for their senseless cruelness> — see CRUELTY

cruelty noun
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <centuries after he ravaged Europe, Attila the Hun remains notorious for his cruelty>

Synonyms
atrociousness, atrocity, barbarity, barbarousness, brutality, cruelness, fiendishness, heartlessness, inhumanity, inhumanness, sadism, savageness, savagery, truculence, viciousness, wantonness

Related Words
hard-heartedness, mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness, unfeelingness; fellness, ferociousness, ferocity, fierceness, grimness; bloodlust, bloodthirstiness, murderousness, sanguineness, sanguinity; cattiness, despitefulness, hatefulness, malevolence, maliciousness, malignity, meanness, nastiness, spitefulness; hardhandedness, harshness, heavy-handedness, oppressiveness

Near Antonyms
tenderness, warmheartedness, warmness, warmth; charitableness, clemency, leniency, mercifulness, mercy, pity

Antonyms
benignity, compassion, good-heartedness, humaneness, humanity, kindheartedness, kindness, sympathy, tenderheartedness

cruise noun
a journey over water in a vessel <took a luxury cruise for their first wedding anniversary> — see SAIL

cruise verb
1 to move about from place to place aimlessly <the girls happily cruised around the mall for hours> — see WANDER 1
2 to move or proceed smoothly and readily <she's been cruising through her daily physical therapy with remarkable ease> — see FLOW 2
3 to travel on water in a vessel <cruised to the Bahamas in their yacht> — see SAIL 1

crumb noun
1 a very small amount <a neglected dog who is desperate for any crumb of affection he might get from strangers> — see PARTICLE 1
2 a very small piece <eating pretzels in bed got crumbs between the sheets> — see BIT 1
3 slang a person whose behavior is offensive to others <if I ever start behaving as obnoxiously as those crumbs, be sure to give me a good slap on the kisser> — see JERK 1

crumble verb
to become worse or of less value <the stock of the energy company crumbled after the revelations of fraud and mismanagement> — see DETERIORATE 1

crumbly adjective
having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure <a crumbly shortbread cookie> — see CRISP 1

crummy also crumby adjective
falling short of a standard <the dry cleaners did a crummy job of pressing my suit> — see BAD 1

crump verb
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure <one aerial bomb failed to crump as it landed> — see EXPLODE 1

crumple verb
1 to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in <crumpled the piece of paper and angrily threw it in the wastebasket>

Synonyms
crinkle, rumple, scrunch, wrinkle

Related Words
corrugate, crease, crimp, fold, pleat, pucker, ruck; crisp, ripple, ruffle; contract, furrow, knit; mess (up), muss (up)

Near Antonyms
even, iron, press, straighten; unfold; neaten, tidy

Antonyms
flatten, iron out, smooth, smoothen, uncrumple

2 to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure <the box crumpled when I accidentally dropped a brick on it> — see COLLAPSE 1

crunch noun
1 a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <a severe energy crunch that resulted in long lines at the gas pumps> — see DEFICIENCY
2 a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <a player who's always good in a crunch, like when we need a goal to win the soccer match> — see EMERGENCY

crunch verb
to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound <I could hear the bicycle gears crunch as I shifted the derailleur> — see GRIND 2

crunch (on) verb
to crush or grind with the teeth <people who crunch on hard candies during movies really annoy me> — see BITE ON

crunch time noun
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <with only three minutes left in the game, it was definitely crunch time> — see EMERGENCY

crusade noun
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal <a grassroots crusade for spending more money on our public schools> — see CAMPAIGN

crusader noun
one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause <a crusader for improved safety in coal mines> — see ZEALOT

crush noun
1 a strong but often short-lived liking for another person <fondly remembers the crush that she had on a boy one summer long ago>

Synonyms
infatuation, mash, passion

Related Words
fixation, obsession; affection, devotion, fondness, love; craze, fad, rage, vogue

2 a great number of persons or creatures massed together <the huge crush in the store must have far exceeded safety limits> — see CROWD 1

crush verb
1 to cause to become a pulpy mass <dark-colored grapes that will be crushed to make red wine>

Synonyms
mash, pulp, squash

Related Words
press, squeeze; beat, pound, powder, pulverize

2 to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <the government is doing everything to crush the latest guerrilla uprising> — see QUELL 1
3 to reduce to fine particles <crushed the baby's medicine tablet and mixed it with applesauce> — see POWDER
4 to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress <the terrible news of her death simply crushed the entire family> — see OVERWHELM 1
5 to apply external pressure on so as to force out the juice or contents of <after crushing the grapes, let the skins soak in the juice in order to extract some color> — see 2PRESS 2
6 to fit (people or things) into a tight space <the desperate refugees were crushed into the back of the truck> — see CROWD 1
7 to put one's arms around and press tightly <she tearfully crushed the child to her breast> — see EMBRACE 1

crushed adjective
suffering grave abuse or injustice at the hands of one in authority <a tyrant seemingly untroubled by the crushed masses that he left in his wake> — see DOWNTRODDEN

crusher noun
something (as a fact or argument) that is decisive or overwhelming <the crusher was that we would be out of town that weekend in any event> — see CLINCHER

crust noun
shameless boldness <the grandchildren had the crust to ask for more money after wasting the first handout> — see EFFRONTERY

crust verb
to cover with a hardened layer <pipes crusted with mineral deposits> — see ENCRUST

crusty adjective
being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner <a crusty old fisherman who doesn't care to have his picture taken with silly tourists> — see BLUNT 1

crux noun
the central part or aspect of something under consideration <the crux of the problem is that the school's current budget is totally inadequate>

Synonyms
bottom line, bull's-eye, centerpiece, core, essence, gist, heart, kernel, keynote, meat, meat and potatoes, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot, point, root, sum

Related Words
course, direction, drift, tenor; body, content, substance; hypothesis, proposition, purport, subject, theme, thesis

Phrases
sum and substance, the long and short (or the long and the short)

cry noun
1 a loud vocal expression of strong emotion <a cry of despair arose when the smoke of the bomb blast cleared> — see SHOUT
2 a natural vocal sound made by an animal <the lonesome cry of a coyote> — see CALL 1
3 an attention-getting word or phrase used to publicize something (as a campaign or product) <“A chance to change America” was the cry on which the candidate was hoping to win the White House> — see SLOGAN
4 an earnest request <the king was deaf to their cries> — see PLEA 1
5 a sudden short emotional utterance <cries of disbelief greeted the announcement of the surprise winner for best picture> — see EXCLAMATION

cry verb
1 to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress <some kids started to cry even before the doctor had given them their shot>

Synonyms
bawl, blub [chiefly British], blubber, sob, weep

Related Words
greet [Scottish], grieve, keen, lament, mourn; howl, scream, squall, wail, yowl; bleat, mewl, pule, whimper, whine; sniffle, snivel; groan, moan, sigh

2 to utter one's distinctive animal sound <we knew that we were getting very close to the ocean when we could hear sea gulls crying>

Synonyms
call, sing

3 to speak so as to be heard at a distance <a mother crying for help> — see CALL 1

cry (out) verb
to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling <“I can't stand it!” he cried out> — see EXCLAIM

crybaby noun
a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things <car trips that were often spoiled by a couple of crybabies in the back seat>

Synonyms
baby, bellyacher, complainer, fussbudget, fusser, fusspot, griper, grumbler, kvetch, kvetcher, sniveler, whiner

Related Words
bawler, bleater, moaner, screamer, squawker, wailer, weeper; crab, grump, malcontent

Near Antonyms
happy camper

cry down verb
to express scornfully one's low opinion of <she cried down any party to which she wasn't invited> — see DECRY 1

crying adjective
needing immediate attention <a crying need for more activities for young people in this town> — see ACUTE 2

cry off verb
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) <their film deal had been abruptly cried off, and now the filmmakers were back to square one> — see CANCEL 1

crypt noun
an underground burial chamber <the old church's crypt is the final resting place for the president and his beloved wife>

Synonyms
catacomb(s), vault

Related Words
mausoleum, sepulchre (or sepulcher), sepulture, tomb

cryptic adjective
1 being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain <puzzled by the cryptic e-mail message left on his computer> — see MYSTERIOUS 1
2 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <the oracle offered only cryptic predictions that could be interpreted any number of different ways> — see OBSCURE 1

crystal adjective
easily seen through <an unspoiled region with majestic mountains and crystal streams> — see CLEAR 1

crystal clear adjective
1 easily seen through <drank thirstily of the crystal-clear water from the spring> — see CLEAR 1
2 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <what could be more crystal-clear than an emphatic “No!”> — see CLEAR 2

crystalline adjective
easily seen through <we could see fish swimming beneath the crystalline ice of the frozen lake> — see CLEAR 1

crystallize also crystalize verb
to take on a definite form <after months of planning, the project is finally starting to crystallize> — see FORM 1

cry up verb
to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively <in exchange for his hefty endorsement fee, the basketball player is expected to cry up that brand of sneaker at every opportunity> — see TOUT 1

cub noun
1 a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <the kind of big story that can propel a cub reporter into the stratosphere of the newspaper world> — see BEGINNER
2 a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <assigned to teach a bunch of young cubs how to play baseball> — see CHILD 1

cubage noun
the largest number or amount that something can hold <pipes with a cubage of over 1,000 cubic meters> — see CAPACITY 1

Cuban sandwich noun
a large sandwich on a long split roll <my favorite place to get a Cuban sandwich is in Chicago> — see SUBMARINE

cube noun
one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided <even though they worked in adjoining cubes, the two coworkers rarely acknowledged one another's existence> — see COMPARTMENT

cubicle noun
one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided <data entry clerks busily typing in cubicles> — see COMPARTMENT

cuckoo adjective
1 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <a cuckoo woman who wandered around town carefully gathering up useless trash> — see INSANE 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <offered a completely cuckoo suggestion for using the defunct strip mall> — see FOOLISH 1

cuckoo noun
1 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <one cuckoo at the campground tried to boil soup in a plastic cup> — see FOOL 1
2 a silly flighty person <didn't want to be among those cuckoos who race around the mall the day before Christmas> — see FLIBBERTIGIBBET

cuddle verb
to lie close <kittens cuddling in a basket> — see NUZZLE

1cuddy noun
a built-in space for storage behind a door <kept his stash of liquor in a small cuddy by the dining room> — see CLOSET 1

2cuddy or cuddie noun, British dialect
a stupid person <the pub seemed to be the favorite haunt of every cuddy in the village> — see IDIOT

cudgel noun
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <a farmer armed with a cudgel drove us off his land> — see CLUB 1

1cue noun
a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation) <taking a cue from nature, scientists are developing safe and effective insecticides using insect hormones> — see HINT 1

2cue noun
a series of persons or things arranged one behind another <the cue to get tickets to the concert moved with agonizing slowness> — see LINE 1

1cuff noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <the mama cat would give her kittens a cuff with a paw whenever they played too rough> — see 1BLOW

2cuff noun, usually cuffs plural
something that physically prevents free movement <the policeman snapped the cuffs on and led the prisoner away to the car> — see BOND 1

cuisine noun
the art or style of preparing food (as in a specified region) <spent several years in Tuscany mastering Italian cuisine> — see COOKERY

culinarian noun
a person who prepares food by some manner of heating <a celebrated culinarian who started his own cooking school> — see COOK

cull noun
something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others <the unbruised apples will be packed in bags, and the culls will be used for cider>

Synonyms
discard, reject, rejection, second

Related Words
castaway, throwaway; hand-me-down, white elephant; rubbish, scrap, trash, waste

cull verb
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities <culled the best short stories from the author's body of writings> — see CHOOSE 1

culminate verb
to bring to a triumphant conclusion <culminated the school year with a trip to New York> — see CROWN

culmination noun
the highest part or point <an acting performance that was seen as the culmination of a brilliant career on the stage> — see HEIGHT 1

culpability noun
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure <cannot find culpability where there is neither knowledge that a crime has been committed nor evidence of intent to commit a crime> — see BLAME 1

culpable adjective
deserving reproach or blame <are you any less culpable for murder if you acted in the heat of passion?> — see BLAMEWORTHY

culprit noun
a person who has committed a crime <the police caught the culprit a mere two blocks from the scene of the crime> — see CRIMINAL

cult noun
1 a group of people showing intense devotion to a cause, person, or work (as a film) <long after it had gone off the air, the TV series continued to have a huge cult>

Synonyms
audience, followership, following

Related Words
discipleship; fandom

2 a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities <an ancient cult that centered on the worship of the earth as the source of all life> — see RELIGION 1

cultivate verb
1 to come to have gradually <cultivated a taste for opera in order to fit in with his new circle of friends> — see DEVELOP 2
2 to help the growth or development of <cultivated a passion for learning among his students over the years> — see FOSTER 1
3 to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care <in an attempt to produce New World counterparts of the wines that he had enjoyed in Europe, Jefferson cultivated several varieties of grapes at Monticello> — see GROW 1
4 to work by plowing, sowing, and raising crops on <we ought to cultivate the field out back> — see FARM

cultivated adjective
having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living <the museum's annual gala for charity attracts not only a very wealthy, but also a very cultivated crowd>

Synonyms
accomplished, civilized, couth, cultured, genteel, polished, refined

Related Words
cerebral, highbrow, highbrowed, high-toned, intellectual, intellectualist, intellectualistic; bourgeois, middlebrow; educated, erudite, knowledgeable, learned, literate, scholarly, well-read; civil, courteous, mannerly, polite, well-bred; cosmopolitan, sophisticated, urbane; hypercivilized, overcivilized, oversophisticated

Near Antonyms
ignorant, illiterate, uneducated, unlettered; lowbrow, unintelligent; coarse, ill-bred, ill-mannered; backwoods, provincial, rustic (also rustical); inelegant, polyester, unsophisticated; boorish, churlish, cloddish, clownish, crude, uncouth, vulgar

Antonyms
barbaric, barbarous, philistine, uncivilized, uncultured, ungenteel, unpolished, unrefined

cultivation noun
a high level of taste and enlightenment as a result of extensive intellectual training and exposure to the arts <people of cultivation appreciate the special experience that only live theater can provide> — see CULTURE 1

cultivator noun
a person who cultivates the land and grows crops on it <encountered an indigenous people who were experienced cultivators of the soil as well as highly skilled craftsmen> — see FARMER

cultural adjective
of or relating to the fine arts <with its many museums, theaters, and opera and ballet companies, the city is a cultural paradise>

Synonyms
artistic

Related Words
aesthetic (also esthetic or aesthetical or esthetical), tasteful

Near Antonyms
nonaesthetic

Antonyms
nonartistic, noncultural

culture noun
1 a high level of taste and enlightenment as a result of extensive intellectual training and exposure to the arts <because of its wide reputation as a place of culture, Boston became known as “the Athens of America”>

Synonyms
accomplishment, civilization, couth, cultivation, polish, refinement

Related Words
education, erudition, intellectualism, intellectuality, knowledge, learning, literacy, scholarship; cosmopolitanism, sophistication, urbanity; breeding, genteelness, gentility, manners; class, elegance, grace, taste; civility, courteousness, courtesy, politeness

Near Antonyms
ignorance, illiteracy; parochialism, provincialism, rusticity, unsophistication; boorishness, churlishness, clownishness, coarseness, crudeness, vulgarity

Antonyms
barbarianism, barbarism, philistinism

2 the way people live at a particular time and place <a study of ancient Anasazi culture as it existed in the canyons of the American Southwest> — see CIVILIZATION 1

culture verb
to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care <culture bacteria in laboratory dishes> — see GROW 1

cultured adjective
having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living <the most highly cultured period of the country's long history> — see CULTIVATED

cumbersome adjective
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design <a long-handled wrench that is too cumbersome for tight spots, such as under the sink>

Synonyms
awkward, bunglesome, clumsy, clunky, cranky, cumbrous, ponderous, ungainly, unhandy, unwieldy

Related Words
uncontrollable, unmanageable; bulky, dinosaurian, dinosauric, elephantine, heavy, hulking, massive; impracticable, impractical

Near Antonyms
functional, practicable, practical, serviceable, useful

Antonyms
handy

cumbrous adjective
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design <it took two people to haul the cumbrous machine into the garage> — see CUMBERSOME

cummerbund also cumberbund noun
a strip of flexible material (as leather) worn around the waist <a cummerbund is the perfect accessory for a man's tuxedo> — see 2BELT 1

cumshaw noun
1 something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed <the clerk at Calcutta airport was clearly angling for a little cumshaw on the side> — see BONUS
2 something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision <the captain slipped the customs official his customary cumshaw at the Port of Shanghai> — see BRIBE

cumulation noun
a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered over a period of time <the cumulation of grime on the stove was really disgusting> — see ACCUMULATION 1

cumulative adjective
produced by a series of additions of identical or similar things <a cumulative weight gain of 20 pounds over the course of a year>

Synonyms
accretive, accumulative, additive, conglomerative, incremental

Related Words
gradual, step-by-step, stepwise; increscent, progressive; accruable, accrued, aggregated, amassed, built-up, compiled, conglomerated

Near Antonyms
decremental, decrescent, degressive, regressive

cumulus noun
a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered over a period of time <the cumulus of sundry things that fill up one's attic and somehow sum up a lifetime of experiences> — see ACCUMULATION 1

cunning adjective
1 clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <a cunning, underhanded plan to win the election by preying on people's fears and prejudices> — see ARTFUL 1
2 skillful with the hands <only the most cunning cabinetmaker could have crafted such a beautifully proportioned chest of drawers> — see DEXTEROUS 1

cunning noun
1 skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <the cunning with which Tom Sawyer was able to get others to whitewash the fence for him>

Synonyms
artfulness, artifice, caginess (also cageyness), canniness, craft, craftiness, cunningness, deviousness, foxiness, guile, guilefulness, slickness, slyness, sneakiness, subtleness, subtlety, wiliness

Related Words
calculation, care, design; savvy, sharpness, shrewdness; cleverness, ingeniousness, ingenuity, inventiveness; ease, facility, finesse; deceitfulness, duplicity, shiftiness, underhandedness

2 subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something <the unmatched cunning of the scout who led them safely through the trackless wilderness> — see SKILL 1
3 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <used cunning and subterfuge to work her way up the corporate ladder> — see DECEIT 1

cunningness noun
1 skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <it took a certain amount of cunningness on the photographer's part to obtain such revealing portraits of his rich and famous subjects> — see CUNNING 1
2 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <people should remember that it was cunningness and not kindness that made him a very wealthy lawyer> — see DECEIT 1

cup noun
a round vessel equipped with a handle and designed for drinking <a large cup that can hold almost a pint of hot chocolate>

Synonyms
mug

Related Words
beaker, blackjack, stein, tankard; chalice, goblet; demitasse, noggin; teacup

cupboard noun
1 a built-in space for storage behind a door <the colonial dining room features a double-door corner cupboard for the family's finest china> — see CLOSET 1
2 a storage case typically having doors and shelves <dishes go in the cupboard next to the sink> — see CABINET

cupidity noun
an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions <reports of great treasure in the Indies inflamed the cupidity of Columbus's crew> — see GREED

cur noun
1 a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <denounced as curs those police officers who deserted their posts during the hurricane and its aftermath> — see COWARD
2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <only a clueless cur would tell his girlfriend that, yes, a certain outfit did make her look fat> — see JERK 1

curative adjective
tending to cure disease or restore health <some believe that the herb has curative properties> — see MEDICINAL 1

curative noun
something that corrects or counteracts something undesirable <the best curative for her depression might be volunteer work at a local animal shelter> — see CURE 1

curb noun
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice <these international regulations act as a curb on the plundering of a nation's archaeological treasures> — see RESTRICTION 1

curb verb
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <try to curb your curiosity when it comes to your neighbors' business> — see CONTROL 1

curdy adjective
having small pieces or lumps spread throughout <curdy cottage cheese> — see CHUNKY 1

cure noun
1 something that corrects or counteracts something undesirable <a fun hobby is always a good cure for boredom>

Synonyms
antidote, corrective, curative, rectifier, remedy, therapeutic, therapy

Related Words
cure-all, elixir, panacea; answer, solution; aid, help, relief, succor; balm, medicinal, medicine, palliative

2 a substance or preparation used to treat disease <researchers tirelessly working to find a cure for cancer> — see MEDICINE

cure verb
1 to bring about recovery from <do you have anything that will cure my headache?>

Synonyms
heal, mend, remedy

Related Words
allay, alleviate, assuage, relieve; palliate, salve, soothe; ease, lighten, moderate, temper; doctor, nurse; medicate, treat; diagnose

Near Antonyms
aggravate, worsen; misdiagnose, overdiagnose, underdiagnose

2 to restore to a healthy condition <the antibiotic cured the sick boy of the bacterial infection> — see HEAL 1

cure–all noun
something that cures all ills or problems <raising a young person's self-esteem is not the cure-all that some people think>

Synonyms
catholicon, elixir, nostrum, panacea, theriac

Related Words
magic bullet, silver bullet; corrective, cure, remedy; miracle drug, wonder drug

curio noun
1 a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest <be careful of the fragile curios on the end tables> — see KNICKKNACK
2 something strange or unusual that is an object of interest <a museum's collection of curios brought back from the Far East by 19th-century traders> — see CURIOSITY 2

curiosity noun
1 an eager desire to find out about things that are often none of one's business <our neighbor's curiosity about what we were doing last night was really offensive>

Synonyms
curiousness, inquisitiveness, nosiness

Related Words
attentiveness, concern, interest, regard, wonderment; inquiry, interrogation, prying, questioning; interference, intrusiveness, meddlesomeness, obtrusiveness, officiousness; eavesdropping, rubbernecking

Near Antonyms
apathy, disinterestedness, disregard, indifference, unconcern

Antonyms
incuriosity, incuriousness

2 something strange or unusual that is an object of interest <the museum's curiosities include items constructed entirely out of toothpicks>

Synonyms
curio, exotic, objet d'art (also objet), oddity, oddment, rarity

Related Words
found object, objet trouvé; curiosa, ephemera, virtu (or vertu); marvel, prodigy, rara avis, rare bird, wonder; abnormality, anomaly, freak, monster, monstrosity; malformation, mutant, mutation

3 a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest <an assortment of curiosities from around the world that the family picked up during various vacations> — see KNICKKNACK
4 an odd or peculiar habit <Charles Dickens typically endowed his characters with an array of endearing curiosities> — see IDIOSYNCRASY

curious adjective
1 interested in what is not one's own business <curious neighbors peered out of their windows as the new people moved in>

Synonyms
inquisitive, nosy (or nosey), prying, snoopy

Related Words
interfering, intrusive, meddlesome, meddling, obtrusive, officious; inquisitional, inquisitorial, interrogative, questioning, quizzical; concerned, interested

Near Antonyms
apathetic, disinterested, indifferent, unconcerned, uninterested

Antonyms
incurious, uncurious

2 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <that's a curious argument to make in favor of legalizing certain drugs> — see ODD 2
3 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <a curious hairstyle for a young girl> — see UNUSUAL 1

curiousness noun
an eager desire to find out about things that are often none of one's business <children have a natural curiousness about where babies come from> — see CURIOSITY 1

curl noun
a length of hair that forms a loop or series of loops <a little girl with beautiful golden curls>

Synonyms
frizz, frizzle, ringlet

Related Words
kink; crimp, wave; perm, permanent, set; lock, tress

curl verb
to follow a circular or spiral course <an inviting path for joggers curls around the reservoir> — see WIND 1

curled adjective
1 forming or styled into loops <the strokes of the capital letters were elaborately curled> — see CURLY
2 marked by a long series of irregular curves <a curled and complicated route through a series of caves> — see CROOKED 1

curling adjective
marked by a long series of irregular curves <a curling labyrinth designed to discourage grave robbers from ever finding the inner burial chamber> — see CROOKED 1

curl up verb
to sit or recline comfortably or cozily <I love to curl up in a big chair with a book> — see SNUGGLE 1

curly adjective
forming or styled into loops <the boy's naturally curly locks>

Synonyms
curled

Related Words
crimped, crimpy, crisp, frizzled, frizzy, kinky, waved, wavy

Near Antonyms
lank, limp; straightened

Antonyms
straight, uncurled

curmudgeon noun
an irritable and complaining person <only a curmudgeon would object to the nursing home's holiday decorations> — see GROUCH 1

currency noun
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <I prefer to carry only paper currency, as coins are too heavy> — see MONEY 1

current adjective
1 accepted, used, or practiced by most people <current wisdom on parenting favors allowing children lots of self-expression>

Synonyms
conventional, customary, going, popular, prevailing, prevalent, standard, stock, usual

Related Words
average, common, everyday, normal, ordinary; regular, routine; epidemic, ubiquitous, universal, widespread; accustomed, wonted; fashionable, in, modish, stylish

Near Antonyms
abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, uncommon

Antonyms
nonstandard, unconventional, unpopular, unusual

2 being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <current therapies for treating cancer have success rates that were undreamed of only a few decades ago> — see MODERN
3 existing or in progress right now <the current fund-raising effort> — see PRESENT 1

current noun
1 a prevailing or general movement or inclination <the currents of fashion are always changing> — see TREND 1
2 noticeable movement of air in a particular direction <curtains that were being lightly lifted by a fresh current from the open window> — see 1WIND 1

currently adverb
at the present time <we're currently working on three separate projects> — see NOW 1

currish adjective
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <a coarse brute of a man who was prone to currish acts of violence against women> — see IGNOBLE 2

curry verb
to strike repeatedly <vowed to curry the hide of the person who stole his wallet> — see BEAT 1

curse noun
1 a prayer that harm will come to someone <uttered a curse upon his persecutor from the scaffold>

Synonyms
anathema, ban, execration, imprecation, malediction, malison, winze [Scottish]

Related Words
censure, condemnation, damnation, denunciation, excommunication; hex, hoodoo, jinx, mojo, spell, voodoo, whammy; pox

Near Antonyms
citation, commendation, endorsement (also indorsement)

Antonyms
benediction, benison, blessing

2 a disrespectful or indecent word or expression <started muttering curses after hitting his thumb with the hammer> — see SWEARWORD
3 a source of harm or misfortune <intolerance of personal differences is a curse of humanity> — see BANE 1

curse verb
1 to ask a divine power to send harm or evil upon <I curse the guy who had the idea of having annoying salespeople call up innocent people to sell them things they don't want>

Synonyms
anathematize, beshrew [archaic], imprecate, maledict

Related Words
condemn, damn, denounce, execrate, reprobate; hex, jinx, voodoo; dang, darn (also durn), dash; cuss (out), fulminate (against), rail (against), revile

Near Antonyms
applaud, commend, congratulate

Antonyms
bless

2 to cause persistent suffering to <misfortunes and problems seem to have cursed everyone ever associated with that house> — see AFFLICT
3 to use offensive or indecent language <you'll have to put a quarter in the jar every time you curse> — see SWEAR 1
4 to use profane or obscene language at or about <cursed him for showing up late—and drunk at that> — see DAMN 1

cursed also curst adjective
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <that cursed tree fell and blocked the road> — see DAMNABLE

cursorily adverb
with excessive or careless speed <cursorily glanced over the report before tossing it to one side> — see HASTILY 1

cursory adjective
acting or done with excessive or careless speed <your essays require more than a cursory effort at proofreading> — see HASTY 1

curt adjective
1 being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner <she was offended by the curt reply to her well-meaning question> — see BLUNT 1
2 marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <on a daily basis she e-mailed to her commanders curt reports on the situation> — see CONCISE

curtail verb
to make less in extent or duration <curtailed the school day because of the stormy weather> — see SHORTEN

curtain noun
1 something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <there has long been a curtain of secrecy surrounding that religious sect> — see CLOAK 1
2 curtains plural pieces of cloth hung to darken, decorate, or divide a room <the kittens keep climbing the curtains> — see DRAPERY
3 curtains plural the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <if you're caught in a government facility with a bomb, it's curtains for you> — see DEATH 1

curtain verb
to keep secret or shut off from view <she dropped her head and in shame curtained her face with her hair> — see 1HIDE 2

curtain–raiser noun
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event <the opening of the performing arts center proved to be a curtain-raiser for the rebirth of the city's downtown> — see PRELUDE 1

curtly adverb
in a few words <the beleaguered mayor curtly answered all questions with a simple “No comment”> — see SHORTLY 1

curvaceous also curvacious adjective
having a well-proportioned feminine figure <curvaceous swimsuit models>

Synonyms
curvy, pneumatic, shapely

Related Words
Junoesque, statuesque; plump, round, Rubenesque, voluptuous, zaftig (also zoftig); bosomy, built, busty, buxom, chesty, stacked, well-endowed; callipygian (also callipygous); well-turned

Near Antonyms
shapeless

curvature noun
something that curves or is curved <curvature of the spine is called scoliosis> — see BEND 1

curve noun
something that curves or is curved <the bold curve of the racing yacht's hull> — see BEND 1

curve verb
1 to turn away from a straight line or course <after following a straight path most of the way down the mountain, the ski trail abruptly curves to the right>

Synonyms
arc, arch, bend, bow, crook, fall off, hook, round, sweep, swerve, trend, wheel

Related Words
circle, coil, curlicue, curl, loop, spiral; turn, twist, wind; deviate, veer

Antonyms
straighten

2 to cause to turn away from a straight line <curved the wood to make a bow> — see BEND 1

curved adjective
marked by a long series of irregular curves <a curved strip of metal that had sheared off during the collision> — see CROOKED 1

curving adjective
marked by a long series of irregular curves <the curving shoreline on the island's south side is a beachcomber's paradise> — see CROOKED 1

curvy adjective
1 having a well-proportioned feminine figure <a curvy brunette with lots of male admirers> — see CURVACEOUS
2 marked by a long series of irregular curves <a perilously curvy stretch of a corniche along the Riviera> — see CROOKED 1

cushion noun
something that serves as a protective barrier <used a blanket as a cushion between the two tables in the moving van>

Synonyms
buffer, bumper, cocoon, cushioning, fender, pad

Related Words
baffle, muffler; padding; safeguard, shield; barricade, cordon

cushion verb
to lessen the shock of <a substantial nest egg helped to cushion the sudden loss of her job>

Synonyms
buffer, gentle, soften

Related Words
baffle, dampen, deaden, dull, obtund; moderate, modulate, temper; allay, alleviate, assuage, ease; lighten, mitigate, relieve

Near Antonyms
heighten, intensify, sharpen

cushioning noun
something that serves as a protective barrier <put plenty of cushioning around that bottle of wine if you're going to carry it home in your suitcase> — see CUSHION

cushy adjective
providing physical comfort <a big cushy chair that's perfect for watching television> — see COMFORTABLE 1

cusp noun
1 an interval of time just before the onset of something <medical researchers who are on the cusp of a major breakthrough> — see POINT 3
2 the last and usually sharp or tapering part of something long and narrow <the cusp of a fang> — see POINT 2

cuss noun
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression <a man who has never uttered a single cuss> — see SWEARWORD

cuss verb
to use offensive or indecent language <the little girl clapped her hands over her ears when her brother started cussing> — see SWEAR 1

cussed adjective
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <that cussed cat once again woke us up last night> — see DAMNABLE

cussword noun
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression <was reprimanded for teaching his little brother cusswords> — see SWEARWORD

custodian noun
1 a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner <the custodian made his usual rounds of the building to make sure that everything was OK>

Synonyms
caretaker, guardian, janitor, keeper, warden, watchman

Related Words
cocurator, curator; sexton, steward

2 a person or group that watches over someone or something <served as custodian of the prisoner until he could be turned over to federal authorities> — see GUARD 1
3 someone that protects <we must regard ourselves as custodians of the Earth so that its natural resources may be enjoyed by many generations to come> — see PROTECTOR

custodianship noun
responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something <a museum that regards its mission as nothing less than the custodianship of the nation's cultural heritage> — see CUSTODY

custody noun
responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something <the government department having custody of all official state gifts>

Synonyms
care, custodianship, guardianship, keeping, safekeeping, trust, ward

Related Words
control, governorship, hand(s), management, superintendence, supervision

custom adjective
made or fitted to the needs or preferences of a specific customer <that business tycoon wears only custom suits> — see CUSTOM-MADE

custom noun
1 a usual manner of behaving or doing <it is my custom to have half a bagel and coffee for breakfast> — see HABIT 1
2 an inherited or established way of thinking, feeling, or doing <the custom around here is that the bride's family pays for the wedding> — see TRADITION 1
3 transactions or economic support provided by customers <that restaurant certainly lost my custom after they were cited for health code violations> — see BUSINESS 1

customary adjective
1 accepted, used, or practiced by most people <the customary response to the greeting “How are you?” is “Fine, thanks”> — see CURRENT 1
2 based on customs usually handed down from a previous generation <the customary toasting of the bride and groom at their wedding reception> — see TRADITIONAL 1

customer noun
1 a person who buys a product or uses a service from a business <the store greatly values its regular customers>

Synonyms
account, client, guest, patron, punter [chiefly British]

Related Words
consumer, end user, user; buyer, correspondent, purchaser, vendee; browser, prospect, shopper, window-shopper; bargainer, haggler; regular

Near Antonyms
broker, merchant, seller, vendor (also vender); shopkeeper, tradesman; black marketer (or black marketeer), fence

2 a member of the human race <he's one tough customer, so you'd better not cross him> — see HUMAN

customized adjective
made or fitted to the needs or preferences of a specific customer <a customized car for a physically challenged person> — see CUSTOM-MADE

custom–made adjective
made or fitted to the needs or preferences of a specific customer <an odd-sized window that will require the purchase of custom-made curtains>

Synonyms
bespoke (also bespoken), custom, customized, custom-tailored, made-to-order, tailored, tailor-made

Related Words
particular, special, specialized; custom-built, handcrafted, handmade; made-to-measure

Antonyms
mass-produced, ready-made

custom–tailored adjective
made or fitted to the needs or preferences of a specific customer <a filing system that is custom-tailored to the needs of your office> — see CUSTOM-MADE

cut noun
1 a piece that has been separated from the whole by cutting <choose cuts of meat that have very little visible fat>

Synonyms
cutting, slice

Related Words
chop, cutlet; length, part, portion, section, segment; chunk, hunk, lump; clipping, paring, shaving, sliver, snippet, splinter

2 an individual part of a process, series, or ranking <one of the new recruits is a cut above the rest in intelligence> — see DEGREE 1
3 something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group <received my cut of the profits from the garage sale> — see SHARE 1
4 a style or arrangement of hair <she decided she needed a new cut after wearing her hair the same way for years> — see HAIRDO
5 an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <completely ignoring her was the unkindest cut of all> — see INSULT

cut verb
1 to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife) <I cut my hand on a piece of broken glass>

Synonyms
gash, incise, rip, shear, slash, slice, slit

Related Words
crosscut, hacksaw, saw, scissor; cleave, rive, split; pierce, stab; bruise, butcher, hack, haggle, lacerate, mangle; rend, tear; carve, chip, chisel, notch; anatomize, dissect, section; chop, dice, mince; amputate, cut off, sever

2 to fail to attend <a warning that she had been cutting too many classes without valid excuses>

Synonyms
blow off, miss, skip

Related Words
ignore, neglect, pass over

Phrases
absent oneself, play hooky

Antonyms
attend, show up (for)

3 to deliberately ignore or treat rudely <the snobbish lady cut anyone who didn't meet her standards of wealth and social standing> — see SNUB 1
4 to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument <when you cut the pad, make it a little smaller than the carpet> — see CLIP 1
5 to shorten the standing leafy plant cover of <you need to cut the lawn very soon—before it becomes a jungle> — see MOW 1
6 to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances <the fruit juice was so cut with water that it was barely a fruit-flavored drink> — see ADULTERATE
7 to depart abruptly from a straight line or course <cut towards the goal, eluding a defender> — see SWERVE 1
8 to divide by passing through or across <a long mountain range virtually cuts that country in half> — see INTERSECT
9 to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships <whichever way you cut it, we won't be seeing any profits from the business for at least three years> — see ANALYZE

cut (across) verb
to make one's way through, across, or over <cut across the field on the way to school> — see TRAVERSE

cut (down) verb
to bring down by cutting <we need to cut down that dying tree> — see FELL 2

cut–and–dried also cut–and–dry adjective
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <a cut-and-dried session of the convention just to get required business out of the way> — see ORDINARY 1

cut back verb
1 to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument <we need to cut back the bushes a bit so that the house number is visible from the street> — see CLIP 1
2 to make less in extent or duration <cut back the meeting so everyone could leave early for the long weekend> — see SHORTEN

cute adjective
1 clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <she's very nice, but she's not afraid to get cute when there's something she wants> — see ARTFUL 1
2 making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred <we're having a serious discussion here, so cut the cute remarks> — see FLIPPANT
3 very pleasing to look at <a cute baby that no one could resist cooing over> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

cuteness noun
the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses <that kitten's cuteness is simply overwhelming!> — see BEAUTY 1

cutie or cutey noun
1 a lovely woman <in her days as a chorus girl she was a real cutie> — see BEAUTY 2
2 a physically attractive person <a director hoping to find among that crowd of cuties someone who could actually act> — see DOLL 2

cut in verb
to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion <a stranger cut in with unsolicited advice on how we could fix our relationship> — see INTERRUPT

cutlet noun
a small usually rounded mass of minced food that has been fried <a breaded veal cutlet> — see CAKE 1

cutline noun
an explanation or description accompanying a pictorial illustration <the cutline wrongly identified the people in the photo> — see CAPTION 1

cutoff noun
the stopping of a process or activity <with a cutoff for funding the war, military operations soon ground to a halt> — see END 1

cut off verb
1 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <the majority party cut off debate and forced a vote on the bill> — see STOP 1
2 to set or keep apart from others <the dog cut off the one sheep that had to be sheared> — see ISOLATE

cut out verb
1 to stop functioning <the engine abruptly cut out> — see FAIL 1
2 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <now cut that out, or I'm turning this car around!> — see STOP 1
3 to leave a place often for another <after a few minutes of their brainless conversation I was ready to cut out> — see GO 2
4 to take the place of <this ambitious new friend of hers seems to be cutting out people that she's known for years> — see REPLACE 1

cut–price adjective, chiefly British
costing little <a cut-price purse that looked like a much more expensive brand> — see CHEAP 1

cut–rate adjective
1 costing little <opted for a cut-rate insurance policy because we didn't need anything more> — see CHEAP 1
2 of low quality <a cut-rate motel that looked like the kind at which people in horror movies always end up> — see CHEAP 2

cutter noun
an instrument with a metal length that has a sharp edge for cutting <a fabric cutter> — see KNIFE

cutthroat adjective
not guided by or showing a concern for what is right <cutthroat business practices intended to drive competitors out of business> — see UNPRINCIPLED

cutthroat noun
a person who kills another person <while traveling the ancient Silk Road, traders were constant prey to cutthroats and thieves> — see ASSASSIN

cutting adjective
1 causing intense discomfort to one's skin <a frigid day with a cutting wind that made it seem even colder>

Synonyms
biting, bitter, keen, penetrating, piercing, raw, sharp, shrewd, smarting, stinging

Related Words
brisk, invigorating, nippy, snappy; needlelike, prickly, tingling; caustic, corrosive

Near Antonyms
balmy, gentle, mild, soothing

2 having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something <the cutting side of the sword blade> — see SHARP 1
3 marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <her cutting comments serve only one purpose: to make someone cry> — see SARCASTIC

cutting noun
a piece that has been separated from the whole by cutting <a bag full of grass cuttings> — see CUT 1

cutting–edge adjective
being or employing the latest concepts, styles, or techniques <his insistent tracking shots and rapid-fire pacing earned him a reputation as a cutting-edge filmmaker> — see AVANT

cutting edge noun
1 the innovators of new concepts, styles, and techniques especially in the arts <an urban enclave that has an established reputation for being hospitable to artists who are part of the cutting edge> — see AVANT-GARDE
2 the leading or most important part of a movement <a company that has always been on the cutting edge of the new electronic media> — see FOREFRONT

cut up verb
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior <high-spirited cousins who cut up at every family gathering>

Synonyms
act up, clown (around), fool around, horse around, hotdog, monkey (around), showboat, show off, skylark

Related Words
carry on, misbehave; roughhouse; caper, cavort, disport, frisk, frolic, gambol, lark, rollick, romp; carouse, maffick, revel, roar, wassail

cybercitizen noun
an active participant in the online community of the Internet <cybercitizens have an obligation to treat one another with respect> — see NETIZEN

cybernaut noun
an active participant in the online community of the Internet <a cybernaut who bookmarks all of the weird sites that he stumbles across> — see NETIZEN

cyberpunk noun
a person who illegally gains access to a computer system and sometimes tampers with its information <the bank had to overhaul its online banking system after a cyberpunk broke into the accounts of thousands of customers> — see HACKER 1

cybersurfer noun
an active participant in the online community of the Internet <a cybersurfer who is constantly amazed by the length of her daily history> — see NETIZEN

cycle noun
1 a series of events or actions that repeat themselves regularly and in the same order <the cycle of birth, growth, decline, and death that is experienced by all life forms>

Synonyms
circle, merry-go-round, round, wheel, zodiac

Related Words
pattern, syndrome; course, development, progression, run; beat, circuit, loop, ring; rotation, revolution, turn, turnover; chain, sequence, series, string, succession, train

2 a long or seemingly long period of time <years, centuries, and cycles will pass before I budge on that issue> — see AGE 2
3 a two-wheeled vehicle that is propelled by the use of pedals and steered through the use of handlebars <a top-of-the-line cycle incorporating the latest technology> — see BICYCLE

cyclonic adjective
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <a man who was given to cyclonic rages> — see VIOLENT 1

cyclopean adjective
unusually large <a cyclopean granite statue that the dictator himself had commissioned> — see HUGE

cyclopedic adjective
covering everything or all important points <she has a cyclopedic memory—she just doesn't have a clue as to what's important and what isn't> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC

cynic noun
a person who distrusts other people and believes that everything is done for selfish reasons <a cynic who believes that nobody does a good deed without expecting something in return>

Synonyms
misanthrope, naysayer, pessimist

Related Words
misandrist, misogynist; doubter, negativist, skeptic; belittler, critic, derider, detractor, scoffer; malcontent; defeatist, quitter

Near Antonyms
optimist, Pollyanna, positivist; idealist, sentimentalist

cynical adjective
having or showing a deep distrust of human beings and their motives <so cynical that he can't understand why anyone would volunteer to help out at a homeless shelter>

Synonyms
misanthropic, pessimistic

Related Words
distrustful, mistrustful, negativist, negativistic, skeptical, suspicious; derisive, mocking, sardonic, scornful; defeatist, fatalistic, negative; ironic (also ironical), sarcastic; jaded, sophisticated, worldly-wise; hard-bitten, hard-boiled, hardcase, hard-edged, unsentimental

Near Antonyms
trustful, trusting, unsuspicious; cheerful, optimistic, positive, positivist, positivistic, rose-colored; ingenuous, innocent, naive (or naïve), unsophisticated; idealistic, impractical, romantic; maudlin, mushy, saccharine, sappy, sentimental

Antonyms
uncynical

cynosure noun
1 a guiding or motivating purpose or principle <with an unwavering commitment to equal rights for all as his only cynosure> — see COMPASS 1
2 a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <that company is the cynosure for anyone wishing to make it in the music business> — see CENTER 1

czar also tsar or tzar noun
a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field <a showbiz czar who is said to be able to make or break a career> — see MAGNATE

czarism also tsarism or tzarism noun
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power <historically, during times of national crisis, people have looked to czarism as an answer to their fears> — see DESPOTISM

czarist also tsarist or tzarist adjective
exercising power or authority without interference by others <the trustees felt that the university needed a strong, czarist leader who could propel it to world-class status> — see ABSOLUTE 1

D

1dab noun
1 a quick thrust <one more quick dab of the brush and he would be finished with his painting> — see 1POKE 1
2 a very small amount <she added a dab of sesame oil to the dressing before pouring it on the salad> — see PARTICLE 1
3 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <a bear can knock a man down with a simple dab of his paw> — see 1BLOW

2dab noun, chiefly British
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <a dab at finding unappreciated collectibles and reselling them at a considerable profit> — see EXPERT

dabbler noun
a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession <he was a dabbler, learning the basics of many arts but mastering none> — see AMATEUR 1

dab hand noun, chiefly British
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <a British mystery writer who's an undisputed dab hand at building suspense> — see EXPERT

dad noun
a male human parent <my dad did most of the cooking for dinner because he usually got home earlier than my mom> — see FATHER 1

daddy noun
1 a male human parent <I stopped calling my father “Daddy” because I thought it sounded childish> — see FATHER 1
2 something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed <Cook's Tours can be considered the daddy of all organized travel tours> — see ANCESTOR 2

daedal adjective
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <the daedal workings of the chime clock are a marvel to behold> — see COMPLEX 1

daffy adjective
1 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <lurid newspaper reports that portrayed the serial killer as clearly daffy> — see INSANE 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <their daffy antics made generations of movie audiences laugh> — see FOOLISH 1

daft adjective
1 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <the king was clearly daft, talking to trees and rocks as if they were people> — see INSANE 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a daft plan, doomed to wretched failure and merciless ridicule> — see FOOLISH 1

daftness noun
lack of good sense or judgment <his dithery daftness makes him unfit for any position but that of class clown> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

daily adjective
occurring, done, produced, or appearing every day <they made their daily stop at the coffee shop after work to relax before dinner>

Synonyms
day-to-day, diurnal, quotidian

Related Words
alternate, cyclic (or cyclical), intermittent, periodic, recurrent, recurring, regular; ceaseless, continual, continued, continuing, continuous, everlasting, frequent, incessant, nonstop, perpetual, unbroken, unceasing, uninterrupted, unremitting

Near Antonyms
monthly, weekly, yearly; erratic, infrequent, irregular; occasional, spasmodic, spastic, sporadic; interrupted

daily noun, British
a person hired to perform household or personal services <hired a daily to come in each morning to cook and clean> — see SERVANT

daintiness noun
the state or quality of having a delicate structure <we were less impressed by the daintiness of the etching on the crystal vase than by the heftiness of its price> — see DELICACY 2

dainty adjective
1 hard to please <you can't afford to be dainty about food when you're starving> — see FINICKY
2 having qualities that appeal to a refined taste <the dainty hors d'oeuvres were delicious, but not terribly filling> — see CHOICE 1
3 satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness <a set of dainty teacups that would be perfect for an elderly lady> — see DELICATE 1
4 very pleasing to the sense of taste <the sort of dainty finger foods that might be served at afternoon tea> — see DELICIOUS 1

dainty noun
something that is pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury <the widow plied her suitor with dainties and endless glasses of sherry> — see DELICACY 1

dais noun
a level usually raised surface <the speaker took his place at the front of the dais> — see PLATFORM 1

daisy noun
something very good of its kind <while the old crooner is now well past his prime, Grandma still harkens back to the “daisy of a performance” he could give in his heyday> — see JIM-DANDY

dale noun
an area of lowland between hills or mountains <a hunting lodge in a secluded dale in the country> — see VALLEY

dalliance noun
activity engaged in to amuse oneself <an extremely serious scientist who is not much given to dalliance or idle chitchat> — see PLAY 1

dallier noun
someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others <the dalliers began to hurry when they realized a violent storm was brewing> — see SLOWPOKE

dally verb
1 to engage in activity for amusement <he spent his college years dallying, seemingly determined to acquire as little knowledge as possible> — see PLAY 1
2 to move or act slowly <don't dally on the way to the interview> — see DELAY 1
3 to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun <she spent the summer dallying with a guy renting the neighboring beach house> — see FLIRT 1
4 to spend time doing nothing <I kept dallying at my desk until I couldn't put off doing my work any longer> — see IDLE

dallying adjective
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <the dallying diners seemed oblivious to the fact that other customers were impatiently waiting for tables> — see SLOW 1

dam noun
a bank of earth constructed to control water <the river backed up behind the dam until it formed a new lake>

Synonyms
dike, embankment, head, levee

Related Words
breakwater, jetty, seawall; breastwork, bulwark, earthwork, rampart; canal, channel, ditch, gutter, trough; lock; barricade, barrier, block; floodgate, sluice; barrage, milldam, stank [British], weir

dam verb
1 to prevent passage through by filling with something <ice floes were damming the river> — see CLOG 1
2 to close up so that no empty spaces remain <dam up the pipes> — see FILL 2

damage noun
1 something that causes loss or pain <the collision did a great deal of damage to her car> — see INJURY 1
2 damages plural a sum of money to be paid as a punishment <ordered by the court to pay $1000 in damages> — see FINE
3 damages plural payment to another for a loss or injury <the company was forced to pay millions in damages to the permanently disabled worker> — see COMPENSATION 1
4 the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something <he winced when he saw the damage after the family's shopping spree> — see PRICE 1

damage verb
1 to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <the explosion in the sewers damaged the entire city's water supply>

Synonyms
blemish, bloody, break, compromise, crab, cripple, cross (up), deface, disfigure, endamage, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, spoil, vitiate

Related Words
deteriorate, enervate, enfeeble, undermine, weaken; erode, scour, wash out, wear (away); blight, tarnish; dent, ding, dint; botch, gum (up), queer; lacerate, wound; disable, hamstring, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, torment, torture; annihilate, bang up, bash, batter, clobber, crush, dash, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, do in, pulverize, raze, ruin, scourge, shatter, smash, tear down, total, waste, wipe out, wreck

Near Antonyms
cure, heal, help, rectify, rehabilitate, remedy; edit, remodel, revise; ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refine

Antonyms
doctor, fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair, revamp

2 to cause bodily damage to <his knee was badly damaged in the accident, and he walked with a limp for months> — see INJURE 1

damaging adjective
causing or capable of causing harm <the damaging effects of the sun on unprotected skin> — see HARMFUL

dame noun
1 a dignified usually elderly woman of some rank or authority <as the grand dames of local society, they determined which charities received support> — see MATRIARCH
2 a woman of high birth or social position <the lords and dames of the shire eagerly awaited the royal visit> — see GENTLEWOMAN

damn adjective
having no exceptions or restrictions <that dilapidated house is a damn eyesore and should be torn down> — see ABSOLUTE 2

damn adverb
to a great degree <told her she'd never get married because she was too damn picky> — see VERY 1

damn noun
the smallest amount or part imaginable <I don't want to hear about your problems—I just don't give a damn> — see JOT

damn verb
1 to use profane or obscene language at or about <damned the car for once again breaking down>

Synonyms
curse

Related Words
imprecate, maledict; criticize, reprove; admonish, chide, rebuke, reprimand, reproach; blame, censure, reprehend, reprobate

Near Antonyms
bless, extol (also extoll), glorify, laud, magnify, praise; acclaim, applaud, commend, compliment, hail, salute

2 to declare to be morally wrong or evil <a heresy that was quickly damned by a hastily called church council> — see CONDEMN 1
3 to impose a judicial punishment on <damned him to life in prison without the possibility of parole> — see SENTENCE

damnable adjective
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <this damnable couch is falling apart>

Synonyms
accursed (or accurst), blasted, confounded, cotton-picking, cursed (also curst), cussed, dang, danged, darn (also durn), darned (also durned), deuced, doggone (or doggoned), freaking, goddamned (or goddamn or goddam), infernal

Related Words
atrocious, awful, bum, detestable, execrable, lousy, punk, rotten, terrible, wretched; abominable, odious, vile; contemptible, despicable, miserable, nasty, pitiable, pitiful, scabby, scummy, scurvy, shameful, sorry

Near Antonyms
commendable, creditable, laudable, praiseworthy; great, marvelous (or marvellous), wonderful

damned adjective
having no exceptions or restrictions <only a damned fool would say such a thing> — see ABSOLUTE 2

damned adverb
to a great degree <it's a damned fine day> — see VERY 1

damning adjective
bringing about ruin or misfortune <a damning flaw in the program cost the company millions of dollars> — see FATAL 1

damp adjective
1 containing or characterized by an uncomfortable amount of moisture <the damp air made 85 degrees feel like 105> — see HUMID
2 slightly or moderately wet <marks can usually be removed with a damp cloth> — see MOIST

damp noun
the amount of water suspended in the air in tiny droplets <we bought a dehumidifier for the basement when the damp down there began causing mold to grow> — see MOISTURE

damp verb
1 to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality <refused to let the setbacks damp his drive for success> — see DEHYDRATE 1
2 to make or become slightly or moderately wet <damp the shirt slightly before ironing it> — see MOISTEN
3 to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling <nothing seemed to damp the unwelcome attentions of her suitor> — see DULL 1

dampen verb
1 to make or become slightly or moderately wet <dampen a paper towel with water and use it to clean up the mess> — see MOISTEN
2 to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling <the oppressive heat dampened our spirits> — see DULL 1
3 to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality <nothing could dampen their enthusiasm> — see DEHYDRATE 1

damper noun
a device on a musical instrument that deadens or softens its tone <the pianist used the damper pedal on the piano for the quiet passages> — see MUTE

dampish adjective
slightly or moderately wet <the basement is still dampish even a week after that last rain caused some flooding> — see MOIST

dampness noun
the amount of water suspended in the air in tiny droplets <the dampness in the air made a mess of my new hairstyle> — see MOISTURE

damsel noun
a young unmarried woman <knights are celebrated in fairy tales for rescuing damsels in distress> — see GIRL 1

dance noun
a social gathering for dancing <who are you taking to the dance on Saturday night?>

Synonyms
ball, cotillion (also cotillon), formal, hop, prom

Related Words
blowout, celebration, event, festival, festivity, fete (or fête), gala, masque (also mask), masquerade, mixer, party, reception, shindig, soiree (or soirée); hoedown, square dance

dance verb
1 to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music <she can't resist dancing to her favorite rock bands>

Synonyms
foot (it), hoof (it), step

Related Words
prance, strut, trip; boogie (also boogy or boogey), bop, fox-trot, gavotte, jig, jitterbug, jive, mambo, polka, shag, shimmy, shuffle, tango, tap-dance, twist, waltz; tread

Phrases
shake a leg, trip the light fantastic

2 to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements <the lithe boxer danced around the ring, staying just out of the reach of his opponent> — see FLIT

dandle verb
to treat with great or excessive care <the college president is a past master at dandling wealthy alumni> — see BABY

dandy adjective
of the very best kind <that's a dandy new racing bike> — see EXCELLENT

dandy noun
1 a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance <that dandy was willing to spend all day and hundreds of dollars just to get the perfect pair of shoes>

Synonyms
beau, Beau Brummell, buck, dude, fop, gallant, jay, lounge lizard, macaroni, pretty boy, toff [chiefly British]

Related Words
coxcomb, fancy Dan, popinjay; blade, cavalier, dasher; clotheshorse, exquisite, swell

Near Antonyms
slob, sloven

2 something very good of its kind <that new PDA is a dandy> — see JIM-DANDY

dang adjective
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <we need to go shovel the dang snow again> — see DAMNABLE

dang adverb
to a great degree <we've driven too dang far to turn around now> — see VERY 1

danged adjective
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <that danged company lost our payment again> — see DAMNABLE

danger noun
1 the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil <he knew he was in danger when he received the threatening phone calls at home>

Synonyms
distress, endangerment, harm's way, imperilment, jeopardy, peril, risk, trouble

Related Words
exposure, liability, openness, vulnerability; precariousness, threat; susceptibility, susceptibleness; defenselessness, helplessness, weakness

Near Antonyms
preservation, salvation; defense, protection; exemption, immunity, impunity, inviolability, invulnerability

Antonyms
safeness, safety, secureness, security

2 something that may cause injury or harm <willing to face the dangers of the Arctic in quest of the Northwest Passage>

Synonyms
hazard, imminence, menace, peril, pitfall, risk, threat, trouble

Related Words
snare, trap; booby trap

Near Antonyms
guard, protection, safeguard, shield, ward; asylum, harbor, haven, refuge, retreat, shelter

dangerous adjective
1 involving potential loss or injury <the soldiers were specially selected to go on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines>

Synonyms
grave, grievous, hazardous, jeopardizing, menacing, parlous, perilous, risky, serious, threatening, unhealthy, unsafe, venturesome

Related Words
dicey, insecure, precarious, treacherous, uncertain; ultrahazardous; chance, haphazard, random; distressing, sickening, unpleasant; ugly, wicked; adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, deleterious, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, inimical, injurious, malignant, nasty, noxious, pernicious, pestilent; deadly, deathly, destructive, dire, fatal, fateful, fell, killer, lethal, mortal, murderous

Near Antonyms
advantageous, beneficial, good; ultrasafe

Antonyms
harmless, innocent, innocuous, nonhazardous, nonthreatening, safe, unthreatening

2 causing or capable of causing harm <the common knowledge that smoking is dangerous to one's health hasn't stopped some people> — see HARMFUL

dangle verb
to place on an elevated point without support from below <he dangled the string in front of the cat, hoping that it was in the mood for play> — see HANG 1

dangling adjective
extending freely from a support from above <there was a dangling banner in one corner of the room> — see DEPENDENT 1

dank adjective
slightly or moderately wet <vegetables tended to go bad quickly in the dank cellar> — see MOIST

dapper adjective
being strikingly neat and trim in style or appearance <the dapper gentleman drew admiring glances from all over the ballroom> — see SMART 1

dapple noun
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part <the clouds threw dapples of shadow over the eerily quiet street> — see SPOT 1

dapple verb
to mark with small spots especially unevenly <sunlight dappled the canopy of vines over our heads> — see SPOT 1

dappled also dapple adjective
1 marked with spots <a dappled fawn> — see SPOTTED 1
2 having blotches of two or more colors <a forest that was vibrant with the dappled foliage of autumn> — see PIED

dare verb
1 to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat <I dare you to repeat that to my face!> <he dared his friend to race to the end of the block> — see CHALLENGE 2
2 to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage <every day the old fisherman dared the elements to make his meager living> — see FACE 2

daredevil adjective
1 foolishly adventurous or bold <his daredevil stunts are sure to end in disaster someday> — see FOOLHARDY 1
2 having or showing a lack of concern for the consequences of one's actions <a daredevil driver who thinks that drag racing on city streets is a harmless game> — see RECKLESS 1

daredevil noun
a person who seeks out very dangerous or foolhardy adventures with no apparent fear <that little daredevil has broken an arm and an ankle this year alone>

Synonyms
devil, madcap, madman

Related Words
berserk (or berserker), cowboy, hotdog, showboat

daresay verb
to form an opinion from little or no evidence <I daresay we might manage to finish on time after all> — see GUESS 1

daring adjective
inclined or willing to take risks <daring acrobats who risk life and limb every day for the entertainment of the crowds at the circus> — see BOLD 1

daring noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <the daring that the early explorers of Oceania must have had> — see COURAGE

daringness noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <the sheer daringness of Hannibal's trek over the Alps with the aid of elephants> — see COURAGE

dark adjective
1 being without light or without much light <a dark alley that most people wisely avoided>

Synonyms
black, caliginous, darkened, darkish, darkling, darksome, dim, dimmed, dusk, dusky, gloomy, lightless, murky, obscure, obscured, pitch-black, pitch-dark, pitchy, rayless, somber (or sombre), stygian, tenebrific, tenebrous, unlit

Related Words
crepuscular, twilit; moonless, starless, sunless; cloudy, dull, dulled, lackluster; shadowlike, shadowy, shady; gray (also grey), leaden, pale; beclouded, befogged, clouded, foggy, fuliginous, misty, smoggy, soupy

Near Antonyms
ablaze, agleam, aglitter, alight, beaming, beamy, effulgent, glaring, glowing, incandescent, lambent, radiant, relucent, resplendent, shining, sparkling; ultrabright; glossy, lustrous, shiny; floodlit (also floodlighted), highlighted, spotlighted (or spotlit); moonlit, moony, starlit, sunlit

Antonyms
bright, brightened, brilliant, illuminated, illumined, light, lit (or lighted), lightsome, lucent, lucid, luminous

2 not having a light complexion <because of her dark good looks, the actress was usually cast as sultry temptresses>

Synonyms
black, brunet (or brunette), swart, swarthy

Near Antonyms
ashen, ashy, pale, palish, pallid, pasty, peaked, peaky, sallow, wan

Antonyms
light

3 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <her mind was filled with dark thoughts as she waited for the results of the medical test> — see GLOOMY 1
4 given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge <the actor was always quite dark about his life before his arrival in Hollywood> — see SECRETIVE
5 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <a troubled kid who was always muttering dark threats that someday they'd all be sorry> — see OBSCURE 1
6 lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <a dark period in European history when people lived in ignorance, fear, and want> — see IGNORANT 1
7 not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <dark deeds that resulted in the Russian czar being known to history as Ivan the Terrible> — see BAD 2

dark noun
1 a time or place of little or no light <I have a bad habit of running into tables in the dark>

Synonyms
black, blackness, candlelight, darkness, dusk, gloaming, gloom, murk, night, semidarkness, shade, shadows, twilight, umbra

Related Words
midnight; blackout, brownout, dimout; shadiness, umbrage; dullness (also dulness), somberness; cloudiness, fogginess, haziness, mistiness, murkiness; dimness, faintness, gloominess, grayness, paleness; half-light

Near Antonyms
moonlight, starlight, sunlight; effulgence, radiance, radiancy, shine, sunshine; incandescence, luminance, luminescence, luminosity, luminousness

Antonyms
blaze, brightness, brilliance, day, daylight, glare, glow, light, lightness

2 the time from sunset to sunrise when there is no visible sunlight <we were going to wait until dark to go trick-or-treating> — see NIGHT 1

darken verb
1 to take on a gloomy or forbidding look <his face slowly darkened as we told him the sad news>

Synonyms
gloom, glower, lower (also lour)

Related Words
frown, scowl; glare, stare; brood, mope, pet, pout, sulk; anger, bristle, fume, rage, steam, storm; intimidate, menace, threaten

Antonyms
brighten, cheer (up), lighten, perk (up)

2 to grow dark <the sky darkened as a storm moved in>

Synonyms
blacken, black out, close in, dusk

Related Words
dim, fade, wane; gloom, lower (also lour)

Near Antonyms
dawn; beam, glow, radiate, shine

Antonyms
brighten, light, lighten

3 to make dark, dim, or indistinct <years of accumulated grime have darkened the painting until it can barely be seen> — see CLOUD 1
4 to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable <posthumous revelations of marital infidelity have darkened the President's reputation somewhat> — see TAINT 1

darkened adjective
being without light or without much light <wanting to surprise her, we waited in the darkened room for her to get home> — see DARK 1

darkening adjective
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <a darkening sky that seemed to match our downcast spirits> — see GLOOMY 1

darkish adjective
being without light or without much light <the darkish galleries do not show off the museum's paintings to their best advantage> — see DARK 1

darkling adjective
being without light or without much light <the darkling valleys of Transylvania, where tales of vampires have long existed> — see DARK 1

darkness noun
1 a time or place of little or no light <the raiding party snuck up under cover of darkness> — see DARK 1
2 the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <the darkness of certain passages in the Book of Revelation> — see OBSCURITY 1
3 the time from sunset to sunrise when there is no visible sunlight <let's wait for darkness before telling ghost stories> — see NIGHT 1
4 an overspreading element that produces an atmosphere of gloom <the darkness of that period of my life is best forgotten> — see CLOUD

darksome adjective
being without light or without much light <a pile of darksome ruins in the heart of the forest> — see DARK 1

darling adjective
1 granted special treatment or attention <they poured gifts and affection on their darling child>

Synonyms
beloved, cherished, dear, fair-haired, favored, favorite, fond, loved, pet, precious, special, sweet, white-headed

Related Words
admired, adored, appreciated, esteemed, relished, revered; prized, treasured; preferred

Near Antonyms
abhorred, abominated, despised, detested, disdained, disfavored, disliked, execrated, hated, loathed, unfavorite; abandoned, forgotten, ignored; alienated, estranged

Antonyms
unbeloved

2 having qualities that tend to make one loved <a darling child that any couple would want to adopt> — see LOVABLE
3 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <what a darling set of dishes!> — see PLEASANT 1

darling noun
1 a person or thing that is preferred over others <for a while that candidate was the darling of the news media and could do no wrong> — see FAVORITE
2 a person with whom one is in love <anything you say, darling> — see SWEETHEART 1

darn noun
the smallest amount or part imaginable <nobody gave a darn about us when we were poor, but now that we are rich, we have friends we never knew about!> — see JOT

darn verb
to close up with a series of interlacing stitches <in the old days, holes in socks had to be darned by hand> — see SEW

darn also durn adjective
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <I can't seem to tie this darn shoe> — see DAMNABLE

darned also durned adjective
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <the darned computer is broken> — see DAMNABLE

dart noun
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <the darts flew fast and furiously when the two former friends bumped into each other at the party> — see INSULT

dart verb
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements <the housefly darted about the room until it found an open window and flew out> — see FLIT

dash noun
active strength of body or mind <the cavalry officer's dash and enthusiasm inspired his men to follow him into battle> — see VIGOR 1

dash verb
1 to go at a pace faster than a walk <one sprinter dashed to the finish line in record-breaking time> — see RUN 1
2 to proceed or move quickly <we dashed about in a panic, trying to get everything organized before the guests were scheduled to arrive> — see HURRY 2
3 to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <she dashed water in his face in an attempt to wake him up> — see THROW 1
4 to wet or soil by striking with something liquid or mushy <our clothes were dashed with the mud of passing cars> — see SPLASH 2
5 to cause (something liquid or mushy) to move along in sheets <a sudden jolt dashed the hot coffee onto the driver's lap> — see SPLASH 1
6 to make sad <she's always dashed by the failure of her matchmaking efforts> — see DEPRESS 1

dashing adjective
inclined or willing to take risks <the dashing heroes in stories about the American West> — see BOLD 1

dashingly adverb
in a strikingly neat and trim manner <a handsome young man dashingly dressed in a tuxedo for the prom> — see SMARTLY

dastard noun
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <the villain of the story is a dastard indeed> — see COWARD

dastardliness noun
a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <the dastardliness of the enemy's surprise attack> — see COWARDICE

dastardly adjective
having or showing a shameful lack of courage <his dastardly conduct in a critical moment haunted him for the rest of his life> — see COWARDLY

data plural noun
a collection of factual knowledge about something <we are putting together all the data we have obtained on the local housing market> — see INFORMATION 1

date noun
1 an agreement to be present at a specified time and place <I have a date to meet my financial consultant at seven o'clock> — see ENGAGEMENT 2
2 the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress <the embarrassingly short date of most of his romances> — see DURATION 1

date verb
1 to go on a social engagement with <I don't want to date him—I'd rather just be friends>

Synonyms
go out (with), take out

Related Words
accompany, escort, see; court, woo

2 to go on dates that may eventually lead to marriage <we dated for two years before we got engaged> — see COURT 2

dated adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <his jokes are awfully dated, referring to things that happened years ago> — see OBSOLETE

dateless adjective
1 dating or surviving from the distant past <dateless artifacts left by an obscure people of the distant past> — see ANCIENT 1
2 lasting forever <the dateless cycle of the seasons> — see EVERLASTING 1
3 having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish <it is because of their dateless themes that the plays of Shakespeare are still performed today> — see ABIDING

dating noun
the series of social engagements shared by a couple looking to get married <their dating had been going on for so long that she was starting to wonder if she'd ever take that trip down the aisle> — see COURTSHIP

datum noun
a single piece of information <let's begin our discussion of this matter with a datum from actual experience> — see FACT 3

daub verb
1 to make dirty <a tablecloth daubed with too many spills to ignore any longer> — see DIRTY
2 to rub an oily or sticky substance over <he begins his nightly transformation into a circus clown by daubing greasepaint on his face> — see SMEAR 1

daunt verb
to lessen the courage or confidence of <the raging inferno didn't daunt the firefighters for a moment> — see DISCOURAGE 1

dauntless adjective
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <dauntless heroes who are inclined to rush to danger, not away from it> — see BRAVE 1

dauntlessly adverb
in a fearless manner <the early suffragettes dauntlessly pursued their cause, even in the face of public ridicule> — see BRAVELY 1

dauntlessness noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <the inspiring dauntlessness of the soldiers who led the charge up the hill> — see COURAGE

davenport noun
a long upholstered piece of furniture designed for several sitters <we seated ourselves on the davenport while we waited for him to get ready> — see COUCH

dawdle verb
1 to move or act slowly <if you continue to dawdle, we'll be late for sure> — see DELAY 1
2 to spend time doing nothing <accused the city council of dawdling even as the crime rate was spiraling out of control> — see IDLE

dawdler noun
someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others <we encouraged the dawdlers to pick up the pace> — see SLOWPOKE

dawdling adjective
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <the dawdling pace of the movie was really making us restless> — see SLOW 1

dawn noun
1 the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance <we stayed up talking until dawn>

Synonyms
aurora, cockcrow, dawning, day, daybreak, daylight, light, morn, morning, sun, sunrise, sunup

Related Words
daytime; forenoon

Near Antonyms
dark, darkness, midnight, night, nighttime; afternoon, midday; dusk, evening, eventide, gloaming, twilight

Antonyms
nightfall, sundown, sunset

2 the point at which something begins <the dawn of civilization> — see BEGINNING

dawn verb
to come into existence <a smile dawned on his face as he got the joke> — see BEGIN 2

dawn (on) verb
to enter the mind of <it finally dawned on me that I had been going the wrong way> — see OCCUR TO

dawning noun
the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance <the cold, gray dawning of a wintry day> — see DAWN 1

day noun
1 the hours of light between one night and the next <during the day, we like to go play ball in the park>

Synonyms
daylight, daytime

Related Words
light, sunlight, sunshine; dawn, dawning, daybreak, forenoon, morn, morning, sunrise; afternoon, noon; dusk, eve, evening, gloaming, nightfall, sundown, sunset, twilight

Near Antonyms
black, blackness, dark, darkness

Antonyms
night, nighttime

2 an extent of time associated with a particular person or thing <the brief but glorious day of the clipper ship> — see AGE 1
3 the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance <at the break of day I was relieved to realize that I had survived another night in the wilderness> — see DAWN 1

daybook noun
a record of personal experiences, reflections, or ideas kept regularly for private use <each night, before bed, she jots down her thoughts in a daybook> — see JOURNAL 2

daybreak noun
the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance <I always seem to wake up at daybreak, regardless of what the clock says> — see DAWN 1

daydream noun
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality <hoped that one day world peace would be a reality and not just a daydream> — see FANTASY 1

daydreaming noun
the state of being lost in thought <if you're bored while traveling, daydreaming is a perfectly normal state to be in, regardless of what the road signs say> — see REVERIE

daylight noun
1 the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance <daylight was just breaking when we stumbled out of bed> — see DAWN 1
2 the hours of light between one night and the next <there isn't a lot of daylight left, so we'd better get home soon> — see DAY 1
3 daylights plural the normal or healthy condition of the mental abilities <nearly terrified the daylights out of him with that scream> — see MIND 2

day nursery noun
a school for children who are generally less than five years old <committed to the needs of its employees with young children, the insurance company has its own on-site day nursery> — see NURSERY SCHOOL

day one noun
the point at which something begins <since day one of this project, we've always insisted that we would create the best product possible without any consideration of cost> — see BEGINNING

daytime noun
the hours of light between one night and the next <it's a lot easier to find your way through a strange neighborhood in the daytime> — see DAY 1

day–to–day adjective
occurring, done, produced, or appearing every day <the day-to-day routine of commuting to work> — see DAILY

daze noun
a state of mental confusion <she was in a daze for a minute after being hit on the head by a volleyball> — see HAZE 2

daze verb
1 to make senseless or dizzy by a blow <the fall dazed him for a moment, causing him to become disoriented> — see STUN 1
2 to overpower with light <a skier dazed by the glare from the snow> — see DAZZLE

dazed adjective
suffering from mental confusion <the dazed goalie could only watch as the winning point went flying past him> — see DIZZY 2

dazedness noun
a state of mental confusion <a degree of dazedness that only the truly dissolute ever get to experience> — see HAZE 2

dazzle noun
the quality or state of having or giving off light <the dazzle of the stars on a cold but clear winter's night> — see BRILLIANCE 1

dazzle verb
to overpower with light <skiers were dazzled by the glare off of the slopes of freshly packed snow>

Synonyms
bedazzle, blind, daze

Related Words
confuse, overpower, overwhelm, stun

dazzling adjective
giving off or reflecting much light <the attraction that the dazzling lights of Broadway have for many young performers> — see BRIGHT 1

dazzlingly adverb
in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light <the dazzlingly colorful costumes worn by Las Vegas showgirls> — see BRIGHTLY 1

deacon noun
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church <my cousin was married by his uncle, who is also a deacon in his church> — see CLERGYPERSON

deactivate verb
to cause to stop functioning <deactivate the machine carefully, or you'll risk an electric shock>

Synonyms
kill, shut off, turn off

Related Words
flick (off); dismantle, mothball, phase out; arrest, brake, chock, cut off, draw up, halt, jam, stall, stick

Near Antonyms
charge, electrify, energize, fire, fuel, generate, power, push; discharge, launch, release, switch, trip; reactivate, recharge

Antonyms
activate, actuate, crank (up), drive, move, propel, run, set off, spark, start, touch off, trigger, turn on

dead adjective
1 no longer living <I inherited this heirloom from my dead great-grandfather>

Synonyms
asleep, breathless, cold, deceased, defunct, demised, departed, fallen, gone, late, lifeless, low

Related Words
extinct; dying, fading, moribund; stillborn; finished, lapsed, terminated; inanimate, insensate, nonliving

Phrases
bitten the dust

Near Antonyms
animated; dynamic, lively, thriving, vibrant, vital, vivacious; active, functioning, operative, running

Antonyms
alive, animate, breathing, going, live, living, quick

2 lacking in gaiety, movement, or animation <the store is often dead after 4:00 p.m.>

Synonyms
comatose, sleepy, slow

Related Words
lethargic, sluggish, torpid; dormant, fallow, free, idle, inactive, inert, inoperative, latent, off, vacant

Near Antonyms
abounding, overflowing, swarming, teeming, thronging

Antonyms
alive, animated, astir, bustling, busy, buzzing, flourishing, humming, lively, thriving, vibrant

3 depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <a long day of traveling left them just dead> — see WEARY 1
4 having no exceptions or restrictions <there was a dead silence following that incredibly moving performance> — see ABSOLUTE 2
5 lacking in sensation or feeling <my foot was dead after I absentmindedly sat on it for an hour> — see NUMB 1
6 no longer existing <the dead Babylonian culture> — see EXTINCT
7 not being in a state of use, activity, or employment <local coal mines that have been dead for years> — see INACTIVE 2
8 of, relating to, or suggestive of death <fell into a dead faint upon hearing the news> — see DEATHLY 1
9 facing certain defeat, disaster, or death <if we don't finish this project on time, we're dead> — see DONE FOR
10 lacking in taste or flavor <from the first sip I could tell that the wine hadn't aged well and was pretty much dead> — see INSIPID 1
11 producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation <the dead wastes of the far country to the west> — see BARREN 1

dead adverb
1 in a direct line or course <the finish line is dead ahead> — see DIRECTLY 1
2 to a full extent or degree <I'm dead certain that's the one I want> — see FULLY 1

dead noun
the state of being dead <it's impossible to raise someone from the dead> — see DEATH 2

deadbeat noun
a lazy person <he snapped instructions to the deadbeats who were standing around watching the work pile up> — see LAZYBONES

deaden verb
1 to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality <an excess of detail deadens much of the mystery novel's suspense> — see DEHYDRATE 1
2 to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling <a couple of aspirins deadened the headache> — see DULL 1

dead–end verb
to come to an end <after several fruitless years, the research seems to have simply dead-ended> — see CEASE 1

deadhead noun
a stupid person <people knew that he was a deadhead and voted for him anyway> — see IDIOT

dead heat noun
a situation in which neither participant in a contest, competition, or struggle comes out ahead of the other <the horses crossed the finish line in a dead heat> — see TIE 1

deadlock noun
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in <the jury sent a note to the judge that it was hopelessly stuck in a deadlock> — see IMPASSE 1

deadly adjective
1 likely to cause or capable of causing death <the doctors were alarmed about the outbreak of the deadly new virus>

Synonyms
baleful, deathly, fatal, fell, killer, lethal, mortal, murderous, pestilent, terminal, vital

Related Words
baneful, deleterious, destructive, harmful, injurious, noxious, pernicious, truculent; infectious, infective, pestilential, poisonous, sublethal, toxic, virulent; dangerous, grave, grievous, hazardous, jeopardizing, menacing, parlous, perilous, risky, serious, threatening, ugly, unhealthy, unsound; bloody, internecine, sanguinary, sanguine

Near Antonyms
beneficial, restorative, salubrious, salutary; alleviative, corrective, curative, remedial, tonic; advantageous, beneficial, useful; nonpoisonous, nontoxic, safe

Antonyms
healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal, wholesome

2 having no exceptions or restrictions <the deadly tedium of waiting for the fog to lift> — see ABSOLUTE 2
3 of, relating to, or suggestive of death <a deadly pallor spread across her face as the tragic news gradually sank in> — see DEATHLY 1

deadly adverb
to a great degree <I'm deadly serious about making an offer on the house> — see VERY 1

deadness noun
the state of being dead <the sheer deadness of the corpse was the creepiest thing about it> — see DEATH 2

dead–on adjective
being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard <a stand-up comedian known for her dead-on impressions of various divas of stage and screen> — see CORRECT 1

deadpan adjective
not expressing any emotion <he delivered the joke in such a deadpan voice that we thought at first that he was serious> — see BLANK 1

deadwood noun
discarded or useless material <much of the material in the file cabinets is just deadwood> — see GARBAGE 1

deafening adjective
marked by a high volume of sound <a boom box blasting deafening music> — see LOUD 1

1deal noun
a considerable amount <there is a great deal of waste in government> — see LOT 2

2deal noun
1 an arrangement about action to be taken <we made a deal to cooperate on the next assignment> — see AGREEMENT 2
2 the transfer of ownership of something from one person to another for a price <we closed the deal for the house last week> — see SALE
3 a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation <if the other party backs out of the deal after it's signed, you can sue> — see GUARANTEE 1
4 position with regard to conditions and circumstances <we don't yet know what the deal is with the new manager> — see SITUATION 1
5 something bought or offered for sale at a desirable price <that mail-order sweater isn't such a great deal after you factor in the cost of shipping and handling> — see BARGAIN 1

deal verb
1 to carry on the business of buying and selling goods or other property <that store deals in used furniture> — see TRADE 1
2 to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase <you're going to have to learn how to deal if you want to buy a car at a fair price> — see BARGAIN 1

deal (in) verb
to offer for sale to the public <the company deals in virtually all types of insurance> — see MARKET

deal (out) verb
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals <aid workers dealt out a packet of emergency supplies to each earthquake victim> — see ADMINISTER 1

deal (with) verb
1 to behave toward in a stated way <it's important to deal with others fairly> — see TREAT 1
2 to have (something) as a subject matter <this textbook deals with the history of France> — see CONCERN 1

dealer noun
1 a buyer and seller of goods for profit <a dealer in fine fabrics> — see MERCHANT
2 the person in a business deal who hands over an item in exchange for money <if both the dealer and the buyer are happy, then the item sold at a fair price> — see VENDOR

dealings plural noun
doings between individuals or groups <I've had dealings with those guys before> — see RELATION 1

dean noun
the senior member of a group <the dean of the Aspen ski instructors oversaw the training of the rescue team>

Synonyms
doyen, elder, elder statesman, éminence grise, nestor, senior

Related Words
better, superior; old hand, old-timer, vet, veteran

Near Antonyms
doyenne; inferior, subordinate, underling; beginner, colt, fledgling, freshman, greenhorn, neophyte, newbie, newcomer, novice, recruit, rookie, tenderfoot, tyro

Antonyms
baby, junior

dear adjective
1 commanding a large price <caviar has always been among the dearest of foods> — see COSTLY
2 granted special treatment or attention <spared no expense when caring for and feeding her dear little dog> — see DARLING 1
3 having qualities that tend to make one loved <a dear friend that I would do anything for> — see LOVABLE

dear noun
a person with whom one is in love <I love you, dear> — see SWEETHEART 1

dearth noun
1 a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <there was a dearth of usable firewood at the campsite> — see DEFICIENCY
2 the fact or state of being absent <the dearth of salesclerks at the shoe store annoyed us> — see LACK 1

death noun
1 the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <we were all saddened by the death of our friend>

Synonyms
curtains, decease, demise, dissolution, doom, end, exit, expiration, expiry, fate, grave, great divide, passage, passing, quietus, sleep

Related Words
casualty, fatality; martyrdom, self-destruction, self-murder, self-slaughter, suicide; annihilation, destruction, ending, extermination, ruin; assassination, execution, killing, massacre, slaughter

Near Antonyms
existence, life; creation, genesis, origination, rise

Antonyms
birth, nativity

2 the state of being dead <death is one of the few constants in the universe>

Synonyms
dead, deadness, grave, lifelessness, nothingness, sleep

Related Words
mortality

Near Antonyms
immortality; life span, lifetime

Antonyms
existence, life

3 the act of ceasing to exist <the death of the Soviet economic system in the wake of the breakup of the USSR>

Synonyms
demise, expiration, expiry, termination

Related Words
dispersion, dissolution; cessation, close, conclusion, decease, discontinuance, doom, end, ending, finish, halt, lapse, passing, quietus, shutdown, shutoff, stop, stoppage, surcease; suicide; annihilation, destruction, ruin

Near Antonyms
existence, persistence, prolongation; inauguration, initiation, institution, origination

Antonyms
alpha, beginning, birth, commencement, creation, dawn, genesis, inception, incipience, incipiency, launch, morning, onset, outset, start

4 something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life <that muscle car will be the death of him yet> — see DOWNFALL 1
5 the killing of a large number of people <thousands of soldiers were lost on the field of death> — see MASSACRE

death grip noun
the right or means to command or control others <the cult leader had such a death grip on his followers that all orders were carried out without the slightest objection> — see POWER 1

deathless adjective
lasting forever <an author who craved deathless fame> — see EVERLASTING 1

deathly adjective
1 of, relating to, or suggestive of death <his deathly pallor suggested that any attempt to find a pulse would be futile>

Synonyms
dead, deadly, mortal, mortuary

Related Words
cadaverous; ghostlike, ghostly, phantom, spectral; inactive, inert, inoperative, lifeless, quiescent, still; macabre; baleful, fatal, fateful, fell, killer, lethal, murderous, pestilent

Near Antonyms
active, alive, animate, breathing, live, living; animated, bouncing, brisk, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, lively, peppy, perky, pert, racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, springy, vigorous, vital, vivacious, zippy; able-bodied, chipper, fit, hale, healthy, hearty, robust, sound, well, whole, wholesome

2 likely to cause or capable of causing death <smallpox is one deathly disease that medical science has been able to conquer> — see DEADLY 1

debacle also débâcle noun
1 a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction <the financial debacle that was the stock market crash of 1929> — see DISASTER 1
2 something that has failed <the movie, which some had predicted would be a blockbuster, turned out to be the summer's biggest debacle at the multiplexes> — see FAILURE 3

debar verb
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of <the judge debarred all of the reporters from the courtroom> — see EXCLUDE

debark verb
to go ashore from a ship <the seasick passengers debarked as soon as the ship dropped anchor> — see DISEMBARK 1

debase verb
1 to lower in character, dignity, or quality <we debase ourselves when we adopt the moral code and behavior of our despised enemies>

Synonyms
abase, bastardize, canker, cheapen, corrupt, debauch, degrade, demean, demoralize, deprave, deteriorate, lessen, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, vitiate, warp

Related Words
befoul, begrime, contaminate, defile, dilute, dirty, pollute, taint, thin, water down, weaken; descend; disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, shame, take down; blemish, damage, deface, destroy, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, mar, ruin, spoil, stain, tarnish, wreck; depreciate, downgrade

Near Antonyms
dignify, exalt, honor; ameliorate, amend, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect; clarify, clean, cleanse, purify, refine, restore; respect

Antonyms
elevate, ennoble, uplift

2 to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <our failure to win a single game completely debased us> — see HUMBLE

debased adjective
having or showing lowered moral character or standards <a book that examines the debased character of the criminal mind> — see CORRUPT

debasement noun
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <the debasement of professional sports to a shamelessly commercial enterprise> — see CORRUPTION 2

debatable adjective
1 open to question or dispute <it's always debatable which college football team is really number one, since there's more than one ranking system>

Synonyms
arguable, controvertible, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, issuable, moot, negotiable, questionable

Related Words
contradictable, refutable; controversial, debated, disputed; dubious, iffy, inconclusive, indecisive, problematic (also problematical), shaky, uncertain; academic (also academical), hypothetical, speculative, theoretical (also theoretic); ambiguous, equivocal

Near Antonyms
irrefutable; definite; unambiguous, unequivocal; absolute, clear, conclusive, decisive; uncontested, undisputed

Antonyms
accomplished, certain, hands-down, inarguable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, irrefragable, positive, questionless, settled, sure, unanswerable, unarguable, unchallengeable, undebatable, undeniable, unquestionable

2 giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <the debatable wisdom of going back for another helping from the buffet> — see DOUBTFUL 2

debate noun
1 a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something <after much debate, I decided to get the chocolate ice cream> — see CONSIDERATION 1
2 variance of opinion on a matter <there was a great deal of debate over the need for cutting costs by eliminating some programs> — see DISAGREEMENT 1
3 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <there was no debate over the expenditures before the vote> — see DISCUSSION 1

debate verb
1 to give serious and careful thought to <still debating what to do> — see PONDER
2 to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion <we debated the advantages versus the disadvantages of the proposed waterfront development> — see DISCUSS

debater noun
a person who takes part in a dispute <the debater was unable to come up with a convincing rebuttal for his opponent's argument> — see DISPUTANT

debauch verb
to lower in character, dignity, or quality <the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew to the point where they no longer acted liked naval professionals> — see DEBASE 1

debauched adjective
having or showing lowered moral character or standards <the debauched philanderer was the talk of the town> — see CORRUPT

debauchee noun
1 a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard <the debauchees that are legendarily found at any fraternity party> — see DEGENERATE
2 a person whose life is devoted to luxury and sensual pleasures <the biography of a debauchee who underwent a late-life religious conversion and became a monk> — see VOLUPTUARY

debaucher noun
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard <in his youth the man had been a debaucher of the worst sort> — see DEGENERATE

debauchery noun
1 immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society <the fraternity brothers indulged in shameless debauchery all weekend> — see VICE 1
2 a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <the minister decried what he called the debauchery of today's society> — see CORRUPTION 2
3 excessive pursuit of fleshly pleasures <a night of drinking and debauchery at the gentleman's club> — see SENSUALITY

debilitate verb
to diminish the physical strength of <the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears> — see WEAKEN 1

debilitated adjective
lacking bodily strength <the debilitated prisoners could barely stand> — see WEAK 1

debilitation noun
1 a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body <the debilitation that all the prisoners of war had experienced during their captivity> — see DECLINE 1
2 the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <attributed the patient's general debilitation to an iron deficiency> — see WEAKNESS 1

debility noun
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <our grandmother's debility is due in large part to her advanced age> — see WEAKNESS 1

debit noun
a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success <one of the debits of living in the country was the lack of easy accessibility to health care> — see DISADVANTAGE 1

debonair adjective
1 having or showing freedom from worries or troubles <his debonair dismissal of my inquiry concerning his financial situation led me to believe that nothing was wrong> — see CAREFREE
2 having or showing very polished and worldly manners <the debonair gentleman charmed all of the ladies in the room> — see SUAVE

debris noun
1 discarded or useless material <the unsightly debris left after mining operations had ceased> — see GARBAGE 1
2 the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed <the demolition workers cleared away all of the debris from the demolished building> — see REMAINS 1

debt noun
1 something (as money) which is owed <he filed for bankruptcy when his debts exceeded his assets>

Synonyms
arrearage, arrears, indebtedness, liability (usually liabilities), obligation, score

Related Words
bond, debit, delinquency; bankruptcy, default, embarrassment, insolvency

Near Antonyms
quietus, quittance, repayment; asset

2 a breaking of a moral or legal code <forgive us our debts> — see OFFENSE 1

debug verb
to remove errors, defects, deficiencies, or deviations from <the computer program ran much faster after it was debugged> — see CORRECT 1

debunk verb
1 to prove to be false <a Web site that assiduously debunks urban legends> — see DISPROVE
2 to reveal the true nature of <the investigative reporter easily debunked the charlatan's claims of clairvoyance> — see EXPOSE 1

decadence noun
1 a change to a lower state or level <a symbol of the decadence of their once-mighty civilization> — see DECLINE 2
2 a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <clergymen striving to combat decadence and sin in their communities> — see CORRUPTION 2

decadency noun
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <a novel that examines the decadency of a group of overprivileged teens in an affluent suburb> — see CORRUPTION 2

decadent adjective
1 having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit <social critics claimed that their culture had become decadent and weak> — see EFFETE 1
2 having or showing lowered moral character or standards <opponents of gambling casinos claim that gambling is a decadent form of entertainment> — see CORRUPT
3 given to or marked by excessive gratification of one's desires <the impressionable heiress couldn't resist the decadent temptations of the jet-set life> — see HEDONISTIC

decadent noun
1 a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard <avant-garde artists who were scorned by the bourgeoisie as talentless decadents> — see DEGENERATE
2 a person whose life is devoted to luxury and sensual pleasures <a decadent who squandered her once considerable family fortune> — see VOLUPTUARY

decalogue noun
a collection or system of rules of conduct <the decalogue for scouting known as the Scout Oath> — see CODE

decamping noun
the act of leaving a place <the mass decamping for the mountains or the shore by city dwellers that occurs every summer weekend> — see DEPARTURE 1

decampment noun
the act of leaving a place <the simultaneous decampment of tens of thousands of sports fans from the stadium created the inevitable traffic jam> — see DEPARTURE 1

decapitate verb
to cut off the head of <a particularly gruesome series of murders in which the victims were decapitated>

Synonyms
behead, guillotine, head

Related Words
decollate; prune, shorten, trim; scalp

decay noun
1 a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body <middle-aged people who fervently hope that daily exercise will arrest the physical decay that usually accompanies advancing age> — see DECLINE 1
2 the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances <the cycle by which the decay of dead plants on the forest floor provides soil and nutrients for the next generation of plants> — see CORRUPTION 1

decay verb
1 to go through decomposition <the logs decayed on the rain forest floor> <the atom of plutonium decayed in the test chamber>

Synonyms
break down, corrupt, decompose, disintegrate, fester, foul, mold, molder, perish [chiefly British], putrefy, rot, spoil

Related Words
sour, turn, turn off [British]; contaminate, defile, pollute, taint; addle, curdle, ferment; mortify; rust; crumble, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, dilapidate, sink, wither

Phrases
fall apart, go to seed (or run to seed)

Near Antonyms
age, develop, grow, mature, ripen; refresh, renew, restore; cleanse, purify; assemble, compose, integrate; ameliorate, better, improve, meliorate

2 to become worse or of less value <the restaurant's standards for food and service had decayed over the years> — see DETERIORATE 1
3 to lose bodily strength or vigor <having reached her 80s, the woman could sense that her body was decaying> — see WEAKEN 2

decayed adjective
1 having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit <a candidate who vehemently rejects the idea that liberalism is a decayed political philosophy> — see EFFETE 1
2 having undergone organic breakdown <we routinely throw all decayed or unwanted organic matter into our compost heap> — see ROTTEN 1

decaying noun
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body <the decaying of the bone mass that is so regrettably common in elderly women> — see DECLINE 1

decease noun
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <in the event of the decease of the president, the vice president will immediately assume his duties> — see DEATH 1

decease verb
to stop living <no one knows what happened to the family fortune after the spinster deceased> — see DIE 1

deceased adjective
no longer living <the recently deceased tenant was found by a concerned neighbor> — see DEAD 1

deceit noun
1 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <a rise to power that was marked by treachery and deceit>

Synonyms
artifice, cheating, cozenage, craft, craftiness, crookedness, crookery, cunning, cunningness, deceitfulness, deception, deceptiveness, dishonesty, dissembling, dissimulation, double-dealing, dupery, duplicity, fakery, foxiness, fraud, guile, guilefulness, wiliness

Related Words
equivocation, lying, mendacity, prevarication; chicane, chicanery, fraudulence, hanky-panky, jugglery, legerdemain, mountebankery, obliquity, skulduggery (or skullduggery), subterfuge, swindling, trickery, wile; falsehood, falsity, fib, untruth; hypocrisy, insincerity, sanctimoniousness, two-facedness; artfulness, caginess (also cageyness), deviousness, shrewdness; treacherousness, underhandedness, unscrupulousness; covertness, furtiveness, secrecy, shadiness, sneakiness, stealthiness; oiliness, shiftiness, slickness, slipperiness, slyness, smoothness

Near Antonyms
candidness, candor, directness, frankness, openness, plainness, plainspokenness; honesty, probity; dependability, reliability, reliableness, solidity, trustability, trustiness, trustworthiness; decency, goodness, incorruptibility, integrity, righteousness, truthfulness, uprightness, virtuousness

Antonyms
artlessness, forthrightness, good faith, guilelessness, ingenuousness, sincerity

2 the tendency to tell lies <she's completely free of deceit> — see DISHONESTY 1

deceitful adjective
1 marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <charged the store owner with such deceitful practices as inflating the list prices for items only so he could put them on sale at drastically reduced prices> — see FRAUDULENT 1
2 tending or having power to deceive <the deceitful salesman neglected to mention some important information about the used car> — see DECEPTIVE 1

deceitfulness noun
1 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <her deceitfulness about the long-term effects of her weight-loss program was finally exposed> — see DECEIT 1
2 the tendency to tell lies <his lifelong deceitfulness began when he was just a toddler> — see DISHONESTY 1

deceive verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <he went to great lengths to deceive his family about the nature of his new job at the mall>

Synonyms
bamboozle, beguile, bluff, buffalo, burn, catch, con, cozen, delude, dupe, fake out, fool, gaff, gammon, gull, have, have on [chiefly British], hoax, hoodwink, hornswoggle, humbug, juggle, misguide, misinform, mislead, snooker, snow, spoof, string along, sucker, suck in, take in, trick

Related Words
kid, put on, tease; bleed, cheat, chisel, defraud, diddle, euchre, flam, fleece, gyp, hustle, mulct, rook, shortchange, skin, squeeze, stick, sting, swindle

Phrases
do a number on, lead one down the garden path (also lead one up the garden path), pull one's leg, pull the wool over one's eyes

Near Antonyms
debunk, expose, reveal, show up, uncloak, uncover, unmask; disclose, divulge, tell, unveil; disabuse, disenchant, disillusion

Antonyms
undeceive

deceiving adjective
tending or having power to deceive <the deceiving nature of most flat maps of the globe causes some people to believe erroneously that Greenland is actually bigger than South America> — see DECEPTIVE 1

decelerate verb
to cause to move or proceed at a less rapid pace <she decelerated the car as we entered the school zone> — see SLOW 1

deceleration noun
a usually gradual decrease in the pace or level of activity of something <demand for our product is dropping, so I have ordered a deceleration of production> — see SLOWDOWN

decency noun
1 socially acceptable behavior <the standards of basic decency demanded that they help the old lady with her groceries>

Synonyms
decorum, form, propriety

Related Words
etiquette; civility, courteousness, courtesy, gentilesse, gentility, graciousness, mannerliness, politeness, politesse; dignity, grace, refinement; discretion, prudence; appropriateness, correctitude, correctness, decorousness, fitness, rightness, seemliness; attention, attentiveness, care, carefulness; character, goodness, high-mindedness, honesty, honor, integrity, morality, probity, rectitude, righteousness, straightness, uprightness, virtue, virtuousness

Near Antonyms
coarseness, crudeness, gracelessness; discourtesy, impoliteness, incivility, vulgarity; imprudence, indiscretion; badness, evil, immorality, wickedness; debauchery, degeneracy, degradation, depravity, perversion; crookedness, dishonesty, underhandedness, unscrupulousness

Antonyms
impropriety, indecency, indecorum

2 conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong <expected all of the scouts in his troop to be models of decency> — see MORALITY 1

decent adjective
1 conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <as decent and kind a couple as you could ever hope to meet> — see GOOD 2
2 following the accepted rules of moral conduct <demanded nothing less than decent behavior by the troops serving overseas> — see HONORABLE 1
3 following the established traditions of refined society and good taste <decent clothing for someone attending a funeral, if only as a friend of a friend> — see PROPER 1
4 free from any trace of the coarse or indecent <students were warned that their skits could be funny but still had to remain decent> — see CHASTE 1
5 of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards <he did a decent job on the project, but there's still room for improvement> — see ADEQUATE

decently adverb
in a satisfactory way <her latest novel is selling decently, if not spectacularly> — see WELL 1

deception noun
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <a telemarketing company with a reputation for deception> — see DECEIT 1

deceptive adjective
1 tending or having power to deceive <in his deceptive answer about the vehicle's history, the salesman said that the used car had never been hit by another car>

Synonyms
beguiling, deceitful, deceiving, deluding, delusive, delusory, fallacious, false, misleading, specious

Related Words
artful, crafty, cunning, devious, foxy, guileful, shady, shifty, slick, sly, sneaking, sneaky, subtile, subtle, trick, trickish, tricky, underhand, underhanded, wily; inaccurate, incorrect, wrong; bewildering, confounding, distracting, perplexing, puzzling; ambidextrous, crooked, defrauding, dishonest, dissembling, double-dealing, duplicitous, faithless, fast, fraudulent, knavish, lying, mendacious, untrustworthy, untruthful; bogus, counterfeit, fake, feigned, forged, jive [slang], phony (also phoney), sham, spurious; insidious, perfidious, treacherous; ambiguous, circuitous, equivocal, evasive; artificial, backhanded, hypocritical, insincere, left-handed, two-faced

Near Antonyms
candid, direct, foursquare, frank, free-spoken, open, openhearted, outspoken, plain, plainspoken, straight; clarifying, elucidative, explanatory, illuminating; revealing, revelatory; honest, trustworthy, truthful

Antonyms
aboveboard, forthright, nondeceptive, straightforward

2 given to or marked by cheating and deception <a mail-order firm indicted for deceptive business practices> — see DISHONEST 2

deceptiveness noun
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <numerous complaints about the deceptiveness of the ad campaign> — see DECEIT 1

decibel noun, usually decibels plural
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <the crowd decibels increased dramatically as the horses neared the finish line> — see NOISE 1

decide verb
1 to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration <they decided to go out for pizza after the movie was over>

Synonyms
choose, conclude, determine, figure, name, opt, resolve, settle (on or upon)

Related Words
decree, rule; cull, elect, handpick, pick, prefer, select, single (out); adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, find, judge, referee, rule (on), umpire; chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, debate, deliberate, entertain, meditate, mull (over), ponder, question, ruminate, study, think (about or over), weigh

Near Antonyms
abstain, decline, refuse, reject, turn down; delay, halt, hesitate, stall, temporize; shilly-shally, vacillate, waffle, waver

2 to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) <the judge decided that the defendant was not liable for damages> — see JUDGE 1
3 to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of <we waited for our captors to decide our fate> — see ARRANGE 1
4 to make final, definite, or beyond dispute <the huge sum that they were offering decided the matter: we would sell the house> — see CLINCH
5 to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information <the commanding officer decided that the soldier was indeed telling the truth> — see INFER 1

decided adjective
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <a decided hint of perfume on her skin> — see CLEAR 2

decidedness noun
firm or unwavering adherence to one's purpose <for two years he pursued the presidential nomination with an undeviating decidedness> — see DETERMINATION 1

deciding adjective
serving to put an end to all debate or questioning <the project's prohibitive cost was the deciding factor in its cancellation> — see CONCLUSIVE 1

deciduous adjective
lasting only for a short time <he chose not to fret about the deciduous discomforts of his existence> — see MOMENTARY

decimate verb
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <the army's attack decimated the enemy's defenses beyond repair> — see DESTROY 1

decimation noun
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <the virtual decimation of the coastal town by the hurricane> — see DESTRUCTION 1

decipher verb
1 to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language <we deciphered the hidden message to find out when we were supposed to meet> — see DECODE 1
2 to have a clear idea of <a convoluted thriller, the plot of which I was never able to actually decipher> — see COMPREHEND 1

decision noun
1 a position arrived at after consideration <after much deliberation, we made a decision about what to have on our pizza>

Synonyms
award, call, conclusion, deliverance, determination, diagnosis, judgment (or judgement), opinion, resolution, verdict

Related Words
behest, charge, commandment, decree, dictate, directive, edict, instruction, mandate, order, word; last word, say-so; adjudication, disposition, doom, finding, ruling, sentence; choice, option, selection; consensus; belief, conviction, eye, feeling, mind, notion, persuasion, sentiment, view

Near Antonyms
deadlock, draw, halt, stalemate, standoff, tie

2 firm or unwavering adherence to one's purpose <acted with swift decision> — see DETERMINATION 1

decisive adjective
1 fully committed to achieving a goal <only a team with a decisive attitude is going to win a state championship> — see DETERMINED 1
2 having the power to persuade <a lawyer who knows how to construct the kind of decisive argument that sways a jury> — see COGENT
3 serving to put an end to all debate or questioning <the decisive finding of the coroner regarding the cause of death> — see CONCLUSIVE 1

decisiveness noun
firm or unwavering adherence to one's purpose <moved with speed and decisiveness in investigating the charges of the use of excessive force by the police> — see DETERMINATION 1

deck noun
a flat roofless structure attached to a building <the family usually ate on the deck on summer evenings> — see SUNDECK

deck verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <deck the halls with boughs of holly> — see DECORATE

deck (out) verb
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <all decked out in our finest outfits for the wedding> — see CLOTHE 1

declaim verb
1 to give a formal often extended talk on a subject <over the last two centuries some of the most illustrious personages of their times have declaimed in the town's historic lyceum> — see TALK 1
2 to talk as if giving an important and formal speech <he declaimed at some length about the nation's obligation to spread democratic values around the world> — see ORATE 1

declamation noun
a usually formal discourse delivered to an audience <inspired declamations about the global triumph of democracy within our lifetimes> — see SPEECH 1

declaration noun
a solemn and often public declaration of the truth or existence of something <once the delegates had made the declaration that the colonies were henceforth independent of Great Britain, their fate was sealed> — see PROTESTATION

declare verb
1 to make known openly or publicly <she chose to declare her presidential aspirations at her college alma mater> — see ANNOUNCE
2 to state as a fact usually forcefully <she would declare her innocence to the whole world if she could> — see CLAIM 1
3 to state clearly and strongly <our guest enthusiastically declared that the pie was the best he had ever eaten> — see ASSERT 1
4 to make known (something abstract) through outward signs <though she was silent, her expression declared her unwillingness to go along with the others> — see SHOW 2

declension noun
1 a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body <a noticeable declension of the fitness of the baseball players over the winter> — see DECLINE 1
2 a change to a lower state or level <a declension in her acting career from leading roles to cameos eventually> — see DECLINE 2
3 a downward slope <from this region to the seacoast there's a gentle declension of the landscape> — see DECLINE 3

declination noun
1 a change to a lower state or level <there's been a declination in basic civility in our society> — see DECLINE 2
2 an unwillingness to grant something asked for <congressional declinations of cabinet appointments have been relatively infrequent, most senators believing that the president is entitled to pick his own advisors> — see DENIAL 1

decline noun
1 a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body <her sad decline from a robust athlete to an old woman with arthritis>

Synonyms
debilitation, decay, decaying, declension, degeneration, descent, deterioration, ebbing, enfeeblement, weakening

Related Words
atrophy; exhaustion; drooping, flagging, limping; regression, relapse, setback

Near Antonyms
invigoration, strengthening; progress; rejuvenation, rejuvenescence

Antonyms
comeback, improvement, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehabilitation, revitalization, snapback

2 a change to a lower state or level <the decline of the Roman Empire>

Synonyms
decadence, declension, declination, degeneracy, degeneration, degradation, dégringolade, descent, deterioration, devolution, downfall, downgrade, ebb, eclipse, fall

Related Words
dark age, nadir, sunset; decay, rotting, spoiling; breakup, crumbling, decomposition, disintegration, dissolution; abasement, debasement; depreciation, lessening; decimation, demolishment, demolition, desolation, destruction, havoc, ruin, ruination; abatement, decrease, decrement, de-escalation, deflation, diminishment, diminution, dip, downslide, downtrend, downturn, drop, drop-off, falloff, loss, lowering, reduction, sag, shrinkage, slip, slump

Near Antonyms
advancement, development, evolution, growth; blossoming, flourishing, flowering; renewal, restoration, revitalization; heightening; accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, enhancement, gain, increase, increment, raise, supplement

Antonyms
ascent, rise, upswing

3 a downward slope <the bicyclist lost control on the unexpectedly steep decline>

Synonyms
declension, declivity, descent, dip, downgrade, downhill, fall, hang, hanging

Related Words
basin, depression, hollow

Near Antonyms
glacis, grade, gradient, hill, inclination, incline, lean, pitch, rake, tilt

Antonyms
acclivity, ascent, rise, upgrade, uphill, uprise

4 a loss of status <the engagement at the small club was an unmistakable sign of the rock band's decline> — see COMEDOWN
5 the amount by which something is lessened <a huge decline in the value of the artwork after its authenticity was questioned> — see DECREASE

decline verb
1 to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <he declined the invitation to the party> <she declined to participate in the soccer game>

Synonyms
balk (at), deselect, disapprove, negative, nix, pass, pass up, refuse, reject, reprobate, repudiate, spurn, throw out, throw over, turn down

Related Words
blow off, disdain, rebuff, scorn, scout, shoot down; overrule, veto; forbid, prohibit, proscribe; dismiss, ignore; abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from); deny, disavow, disclaim, dispute, gainsay; stick; abjure, forswear (also foreswear), recant, renounce, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw; avoid, bypass, detour; contradict, deny, disown, negate; controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute; back down, back off, backtrack; disallow, recall, renege, revoke

Phrases
turn one's back on

Near Antonyms
condone, countenance, swallow, tolerate; adopt, embrace, receive, take, welcome; accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, consent; choose, handpick, select; espouse, support

Antonyms
accept, agree (to), approve

2 to be unwilling to grant <declined our request to hold a party> — see DENY 2
3 to go to a lower level especially abruptly <new-car sales declined to their lowest level in years> — see DROP 2
4 to become worse or of less value <his reputation as a writer began to decline not long after his death> — see DETERIORATE 1
5 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <the winds should decline as soon as the cold front passes> — see DECREASE 2
6 to lead or extend downward <the bike path declines toward the riverbank and then follows the river for several miles> — see DESCEND 1

declined adjective
bending downward or forward <we awaited our punishment with declined heads> — see NODDING

declining adjective
bending downward or forward <the declining flowers perked up with the gentle rainfall> — see NODDING

declivity noun
a downward slope <the cabin is precariously perched on a declivity of the mountain's northern face> — see DECLINE 3

decode verb
1 to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language <the agents worked into the night to decode the intercepted message from the enemy spy>

Synonyms
break, crack, decipher, decrypt

Related Words
descramble, unscramble; render, translate; dope (out), figure out, puzzle (out), solve, unravel, unriddle, work, work out

Near Antonyms
garble, jumble (up), mix (up)

Antonyms
cipher, code, encipher, encode, encrypt

2 to have a clear idea of <I was never able to decode the strange relationship that existed between those two people> — see COMPREHEND 1

decolorize verb
to make white or whiter by removing color <the sample was decolorized before being examined under a microscope> — see WHITEN

decompose verb
to go through decomposition <detectives needed to know how long it would take a corpse to decompose to that advanced state> — see DECAY 1

decomposed adjective
having undergone organic breakdown <the decomposed remains of an old tree trunk> — see ROTTEN 1

decomposition noun
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances <the unmistakable smell of decomposition led us to some fruit that had fallen behind the refrigerator> — see CORRUPTION 1

decompress verb
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety <after she gets home from work, she needs some time to decompress before preparing dinner> — see RELAX 1

decompression noun
freedom from activity or labor <the waitstaff gets a welcome period of decompression between the lunch and dinner rushes> — see 1REST 1

deconsecrate verb
to remove the sacred qualities or status of <hoping to raise much-needed funds, the church elders deconsecrated the 18th-century silver chalice and consigned it to a high-end auction house> — see DESANCTIFY

deconstruct verb
to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships <deconstructing the economic theories of John Maynard Keynes> — see ANALYZE

deconstruction noun
the separation and identification of the parts of a whole <a lengthy deconstruction of the president's speech by a panel of pundits> — see ANALYSIS 1

decor or décor noun
the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production <a minimalist approach has been taken with the stage decor for this production of the play> — see SCENERY

decorate verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <decorated the mansion's hallways with priceless paintings and luxurious tapestries>

Synonyms
adorn, array, beautify, bedeck, bedizen, blazon, caparison, deck, do, doll up, do up, drape, dress, embellish, emblaze, emboss, enrich, fancify, fancy up, festoon, garnish, glitz (up), grace, gussy up, ornament, pretty (up), trim

Related Words
accessorize, dress up, trap, trick (out); brighten, freshen, smarten, spruce (up); boss, chase; braid, embroider, feather, figure, filigree, fillet, flounce, frill, fringe, furbelow, garland, hang, lace, ribbon, swag, wreathe; appliqué, gild, paint; diamond, gem, impearl, jewel, pearl; redecorate, redo

Near Antonyms
simplify, streamline; bare, denude, dismantle, display, divest, expose, reveal, strip, uncover; uglify

Antonyms
blemish, deface, disfigure, mar, scar, spoil

decoration noun
1 something that decorates or beautifies <traditionally the family puts lots of decorations on and around the Christmas tree>

Synonyms
adornment, beautifier, caparison, doodad, embellisher, embellishment, frill, garnish, garnishment, garniture, ornament, ornamentation, setoff, trim

Related Words
apparel, bells and whistles, blazonry, bric-a-brac, chichi, emblazonry, filigree, finery, foofaraw, frippery, frosting, froufrou; fal-lal, flounce, flourish, furbelow, ruffle; enhancement, enrichment, improvement; appliqué, embossment, embroidery, fancywork; bedizenment, gilt, glitter; design, figure, pattern; furnishings, regalia, trappings

Near Antonyms
blemish, defacement, disfigurement, scar; blot, spot, stain

2 something given in recognition of achievement <an army veteran proudly wearing his old military decorations> — see AWARD 1

decorative adjective
serving to add beauty <a necklace of decorative flowers was planted along the path to the cottage>

Synonyms
adorning, beautifying, cosmetic, embellishing, ornamental

Related Words
alluring, appealing, attractive, charming, delightful, glamorous (also glamourous), pleasing, prepossessing; beauteous, beautiful, bonny (also bonnie) [chiefly British], comely, fair, gorgeous, handsome, lovely, pretty, stunning; detailed, elaborate, fancy, ornate

Antonyms
functional, utilitarian

decorous adjective
1 following the established traditions of refined society and good taste <we were asked to be on our most decorous behavior at the formal event> — see PROPER 1
2 marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details <the oppressively decorous standards of a royal court> — see CEREMONIOUS 1

decorum noun
socially acceptable behavior <high standards of decorum are usually required when attending the opera> — see DECENCY 1

decouple verb
to set or force apart <to have a fruitful discussion, we need to decouple fact from opinion> — see SEPARATE 1

decoy noun
something used to attract animals to a hook or into a trap <we set the decoy afloat in the marsh and from the blind waited for the ducks to arrive> — see BAIT 1

decoy verb
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage <tacky souvenir shops to which first-time tourists had been decoyed into spending their hard-earned money> — see LURE

decrease noun
the amount by which something is lessened <the average decrease in the price of milk was five cents per gallon>

Synonyms
abatement, decline, decrement, dent, depletion, depression, diminishment, diminution, drop, drop-off, fall, falloff, loss, reduction, shrinkage, step-down

Related Words
deduction, subtraction; downturn, slip, slump; curtailment, cut, cutback, retrenchment, shortening

Near Antonyms
accretion, accrual, accumulation, addition, supplement; continuation, extension; upswing, uptrend, upturn

Antonyms
boost, enlargement, gain, increase, increment, raise, rise, step-up, uptick

decrease verb
1 to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent <workers decreased the volume of water flowing through the pipes in order to prevent an overflow>

Synonyms
abate, de-escalate, dent, deplete, diminish, downscale, downsize, drop, dwindle, ease, knock down, lessen, lower, reduce

Related Words
compress, condense, constrict, contract; abbreviate, abridge, clip, crop, curtail, cut, cut back, cut down, dock, nick, pare, prune, retrench, shorten, slash, trim, truncate, whittle; deflate, shrink; minimize; moderate, modify, modulate, qualify

Near Antonyms
blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, swell; elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract; add (to), complement, supplement; enhance, heighten, intensify; redouble

Antonyms
aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, raise

2 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <the force of the wind slowly decreased until the flowers were standing upright again>

Synonyms
abate, decline, de-escalate, die (away or down or out), diminish, drain (away), drop (off), dwindle, ease, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down) also rachet (down), recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, wane

Related Words
compress, condense, constrict, contract; evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away), give out, melt (away), peter (out), tail (off), vanish; slacken, slow (down); alleviate, relax; flag, sink, weaken; cave (in), collapse, deflate

Near Antonyms
appear, emerge, show up; blow up, distend, elongate, lengthen

Antonyms
accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax

decree noun
1 a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <the boss doesn't give out many decrees, but he does expect those that are issued to be fully obeyed> — see COMMAND 1
2 an order publicly issued by an authority <a decree issued by the state's supreme court to the legislature> — see EDICT 1

decree verb
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority <the new supervisor decreed that thenceforth coffee breaks would have a 15-minute limit> — see COMMAND 2

decrement noun
the amount by which something is lessened <each decrement in amount is limited to one third of the previous total> — see DECREASE

decry verb
1 to express scornfully one's low opinion of <scientists were quick to decry the claims of the psychic>

Synonyms
bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, diminish, dis (also diss) [slang], discount, dismiss, disparage, kiss off, minimize, play down, poor-mouth, put down, run down, talk down, trash, trash-talk, vilipend, write off

Related Words
discommend; abuse, scold; disapprove (of), dislike; censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, reprehend, reprobate; asperse, defame, malign, rip, slander, slur, traduce, vilify; discredit, disgrace

Phrases
dump on

Near Antonyms
approve, countenance, endorse (also indorse), favor, recommend, sanction; commend, compliment, eulogize

Antonyms
acclaim, applaud, exalt, extol (also extoll), glorify, laud, magnify, praise

2 to declare to be morally wrong or evil <a statement by the church decrying modern society's liberal attitude regarding marriage and divorce> — see CONDEMN 1

decrying adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <the usual decrying remarks about the clothes that the stars wore to the awards ceremony> — see DEROGATORY

decrypt verb
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language <decrypting the Germans' code was one of the Allies' greatest triumphs> — see DECODE 1

dedicate verb
to keep or intend for a special purpose <a young attorney who has decided to dedicate her career to helping the poor receive justice> — see DEVOTE 1

dedicated adjective
firm in one's allegiance to someone or something <a dedicated follower of the television show who wouldn't dream of missing an episode> — see FAITHFUL 1

dedication noun
adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <her dedication to the ideals of the organization is indeed admirable> — see FIDELITY

deduce verb
to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information <I can deduce from the simple observation of your behavior that you're trying to hide something from me> — see INFER 1

deducible adjective
being or provable by reasoning in which the conclusion follows necessarily from given information <the killer's identity is clearly deducible from the clues scattered throughout the novel> — see DEDUCTIVE

deduct verb
to take away (an amount or number) from a total <after deducting taxes, what's left is your net pay for the week> — see SUBTRACT

deduction noun
1 something that is or may be subtracted <contestants get a deduction from their scores for every incorrect guess>

Synonyms
abatement, discount, reduction

Related Words
giveback, kickback, rebate; dent, depreciation; decline, decrement, diminishment, diminution, drop, fall, loss; forfeit, forfeiture, penalty

Near Antonyms
accretion, accrual, augmentation, boost, gain, increase, increment, raise, rise; appreciation

Antonyms
accession, addition

2 the act or an instance of taking away from a total <the deduction of the amount awarded to the plaintiff in order to pay the legal fees> — see SUBTRACTION
3 an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning <his impressive deduction of the correct answer from only a few hints> — see CONCLUSION 1

deductive adjective
being or provable by reasoning in which the conclusion follows necessarily from given information <using deductive reasoning we must conclude that since everyone eventually dies, sooner or later it's going to be our turn>

Synonyms
a priori, deducible, derivable, inferable (also inferrible), inferential, reasoned

Related Words
conjectural, hypothetical, purported, supposed, suppositional; academic (also academical), speculative, theoretical (also theoretic); logical, rational

Near Antonyms
inducible, inductive; absolute, categorical (also categoric), definite, explicit, express; instinctive, intuitive; illogical, irrational

Antonyms
nondeductive

deed noun
1 an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness <traditionally heroes have been celebrated for their great deeds in song and story> — see FEAT 1
2 something done by someone <deeds always carry greater weight than words> — see ACTION 1

deed verb
to give over the legal possession or ownership of <the philanthropist unexpectedly deeded his entire fortune to the animal shelter> — see TRANSFER 1

deem verb
to have as an opinion <I deem it fitting that we mark this solemn occasion with a day of prayer and thanksgiving> — see BELIEVE 2

de–emphasize verb
to reduce in apparent importance <you're at a point in your career where you can de-emphasize your academic record and emphasize your work experience> — see SOFT-PEDAL

deep adjective
1 extending far downward <lowered their bucket down a deep well> <the ax made a deep cut into the wood>

Synonyms
abysmal, bottomless, profound

Related Words
abyssal, unfathomable; boundless, endless, immeasurable, inestimable, infinite, limitless, measureless, unlimited, vast

Near Antonyms
depthless, two-dimensional; even, flat, flush, horizontal, level, plane, smooth; confined, finite, limited, measured, restricted

Antonyms
shallow, shoal, skin-deep, superficial, surface

2 having a low musical pitch or range <the tour guide had an impressively deep voice>

Synonyms
bass, grave, low, throaty

Related Words
boomy, tubby; gruff, hoarse, husky, rough, smoky (also smokey)

Near Antonyms
squeaking, squeaky, squealing, thin; earsplitting, penetrating, piercing, strident; peeping, tinny

Antonyms
acute, high, high-pitched, piping, sharp, shrill, treble

3 being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain <a deep, dark secret that he took to his grave> — see MYSTERIOUS 1
4 difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand <her poetry is now regarded as sentimental and not very deep> — see PROFOUND 1
5 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <one of those deep passages in the Bible that can be interpreted in any number of different ways> — see OBSCURE 1
6 extreme in degree, power, or effect <fell into a deep sleep after taking the potion> — see INTENSE 1
7 firmly established over time <a deep devotion to obtaining justice for all, even society's most disadvantaged> — see INVETERATE 1
8 having considerable extent <an economist with a deep understanding of the forces that propel the global economy> — see EXTENSIVE
9 having the mind fixed on something <I was so deep in the mystery novel that I didn't hear the doorbell> — see ATTENTIVE 1
10 not close in time or space <an episode in her deep past that she had never spoken about, even to her husband> — see DISTANT 1

deep noun
1 the most intense or characteristic phase of something <the kind of cold weather that we usually have only in the deep of winter> — see THICK
2 the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three-fourths of the earth <sailors exploring the farther reaches of the briny deep> — see OCEAN 1
3 an immeasurable depth or space <the belief that somewhere in the deep of outer space humankind will meet its ultimate destiny> — see ABYSS

deepen verb
to make markedly greater in measure or degree <this book really deepens our knowledge of how the brain works> — see INTENSIFY

deep freeze noun
1 a state of temporary inactivity <his hunt for a new house was put in the deep freeze while he recovered from the auto accident> — see ABEYANCE
2 a weather condition marked by low temperatures <the deep freeze had everyone thinking that global warming might not be so bad> — see COLD

deepness noun
1 distance measured from the top to the bottom of something <the deepness of the well could not be determined by visual means> — see DEPTH 1
2 the quality of being great in extent (as of insight) <the deepness of his knowledge on the subject is truly impressive> — see DEPTH 2

deep pocket noun
a wealthy person <argued that the deep pockets will benefit most from the tax cuts> — see CAPITALIST

deep–pocketed adjective
having goods, property, or money in abundance <thanks to a deep-pocketed benefactor, she can pursue her dream of becoming an artist without worrying about how to pay the rent> — see RICH 1

deep–rooted adjective
firmly established over time <he had had a deep-rooted fear of the dark from the time he was a small child> — see INVETERATE 1

deep–sea adjective
of, relating to, or occurring in the open sea <chartered a boat to do some deep-sea fishing>

Synonyms
blue-water, oceanic, pelagic

Related Words
deepwater; marine, maritime, nautical

Near Antonyms
littoral

deep–seated adjective
firmly established over time <has deep-seated convictions about religion that no one is ever going to change> — see INVETERATE 1

deep–six verb
to get rid of as useless or unwanted <deep-sixed the documents with the incriminating evidence> — see DISCARD

deep throat noun
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <an accountant who had turned deep throat, he was the first to leak the information that the company had been cooking its books for years> — see INFORMER

de–escalate verb
1 to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent <first, the mediator tried to de-escalate the tension in the room> — see DECREASE 1
2 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <the fighting de-escalated as the peace talks progressed> — see DECREASE 2

def adjective, slang
keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment <of the rappers on the scene, he was definitely the most def> — see AU COURANT 1

deface verb
1 to deliberately cause the damage or destruction of another's property <the principal vowed to get the punks who defaced the statue in front of the school> — see VANDALIZE
2 to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <years of wear had defaced the fine engraving on the coins> — see DAMAGE 1

defacement noun
deliberate damaging or destroying of another's property <the defacement of the school's property ended up costing hundreds of dollars> — see VANDALISM

defacer noun
a person who damages or destroys property on purpose <so far the police have no leads on the identity of the defacer of the street signs> — see VANDAL

defacing noun
deliberate damaging or destroying of another's property <the neo-Nazis' defacing of the synagogue was condemned by the entire community> — see VANDALISM

de facto adjective
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility <with the death of his father, he became the de facto head of the family> — see ACTUAL

defamation noun
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation <accused the newspaper columnist of defamation of character> — see SLANDER

defamatory adjective
causing or intended to cause unjust injury to a person's good name <defamatory remarks that were published in the newspaper> — see LIBELOUS

defame verb
1 to make untrue and harmful statements about <of course I want to win the election, but I refuse to defame my opponent in order to do so> — see SLANDER
2 archaic to make a claim of wrongdoing against <so the harmless old woman was defamed of witchcraft> — see ACCUSE

defaming noun
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation <the callous defaming of the popular actress by the unscrupulous tabloid reporter> — see SLANDER

default noun
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action <a default in the repayment of a bank loan> — see FAILURE 1

defeasance noun
the doing away with something by formal action <the kind of gross misconduct that could result in the defeasance of the athlete's contract to endorse their products> — see ABOLITION

defeat noun
1 failure to win a contest <sore losers still griping about their defeat in the basketball game earlier that week>

Synonyms
beating, drubbing, licking, loss, lump, overthrow, plastering, rout, shellacking, trimming, trouncing, whipping

Related Words
collapse, debacle (also débâcle), failure, fiasco, fizzle, flop, nonsuccess, setback, upset; lurch, shutout, washout, whitewash

Near Antonyms
accomplishment, achievement; blowout, cakewalk, landslide, romp, runaway, sweep, walkaway, walkover

Antonyms
success, triumph, victory, win

2 a falling short of one's goals <truly disheartened by the defeat of his plans to revitalize downtown> — see FAILURE 2

defeat verb
to achieve a victory over <they defeated their archrivals easily and moved into the next round of the play-offs> — see BEAT 2

defeatist adjective
emphasizing or expecting the worst <your defeatist attitude is depressing everyone else on the team!> — see PESSIMISTIC 1

defeatist noun
one who emphasizes bad aspects or conditions and expects the worst <we told her that if she was going to be such a defeatist, she should keep her thoughts to herself> — see PESSIMIST 1

defect noun
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing <the statue has a slight defect on the base, so it's being sold at a discount> — see BLEMISH

defect (from) verb
to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another <soldiers defected from the rebel army en masse as the failure of their cause became apparent>

Synonyms
desert, rat (on)

Related Words
abandon, abdicate, abjure, apostatize, cut off, disown, forsake, quit, reject, renounce, repudiate, spurn; renege; depart, go, leave, withdraw

Phrases
go back on, jump ship, run out on, walk out on

Near Antonyms
adhere (to), cling (to), stick (to or with); cherish, cultivate, foster

defective adjective
having a fault <promptly took the defective microwave oven back to the store for a replacement> — see FAULTY

defector noun
a person who abandons a cause or organization usually without right <the defector demanded political asylum in exchange for information about his nation's spying operations> — see RENEGADE

defend verb
1 to drive danger or attack away from <a solemn oath to defend the mother country at any cost>

Synonyms
bulwark, cover, fence, fend, forfend, guard, keep, protect, safeguard, screen, secure, shield, ward

Related Words
avert, prevent; oppose, resist, withstand; battle, contend, fight, war; conserve, preserve, save; buffer, palisade, picket, wall

Phrases
stand up for

Near Antonyms
bombard, storm; beset, besiege, overrun; capitulate, cave, submit, yield

Antonyms
assail, assault, attack

2 to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections <she will pigheadedly defend any claim regardless of all evidence to the contrary> — see MAINTAIN 2

defendable adjective
1 capable of being defended against physical attack <that nation has long insisted on having borders that it regards as defendable> — see TENABLE 1
2 capable of being defended with good reasoning against verbal attack <your thesis had better be defendable for the attacks are going to be withering> — see TENABLE 2

defender noun
someone that protects <one of the traditional roles of an older brother is that of schoolyard defender> — see PROTECTOR

defense noun
1 means or method of defending <thorns are a rose's defense against grazing animals>

Synonyms
aegis (also egis), ammunition, armor, buckler, cover, guard, protection, safeguard, screen, security, shield, wall, ward

Related Words
arm, armament, munitions, weapon, weaponry; fastness, fort, fortress, palisade, stronghold

Near Antonyms
aggression, assault, attack, offense (or offence), offensive

2 an explanation that frees one from fault or blame <there's absolutely no defense for your actions> — see EXCUSE

defenseless adjective
lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack <the lack of warm clothing left the hikers defenseless against the unexpected cold snap> — see HELPLESS 1

defenselessness noun
the quality or state of having little resistance to some outside agent <our utter defenselessness against the rising floodwaters quickly became apparent> — see SUSCEPTIBILITY

defensible adjective
1 capable of being defended against physical attack <the pioneers retreated to a defensible hillside to take a stand against the raiders> — see TENABLE 1
2 capable of being defended with good reasoning against verbal attack <there's simply no defensible reason for dropping out of school> — see TENABLE 2

defensive adjective
intended to resist or prevent attack or aggression <a defensive alliance among the small nations against the aggressors>

Synonyms
protective, self-protective

Related Words
deterrent, preventive; safe, secure

Near Antonyms
aggressive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, in-your-face, militant, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, warlike

Antonyms
offensive

defensive noun
a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack <their unexpectedly harsh words put him on the defensive>

Synonyms
guard

Related Words
alert, lookout, qui vive, watch

Antonyms
offensive

defer verb
to assign to a later time <we agreed to defer a discussion of the issue until we had more information> — see POSTPONE

deference noun
a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others <the sycophantic deference with which the hotel treats celebrity guests> — see COMPLIANCE 1

deferent adjective
marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status <though he's already attained star status, the rookie remains deferent to the team's veteran players> — see RESPECTFUL

deferential adjective
marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status <the man had the deferential attitude of someone who had been a servant his entire life> — see RESPECTFUL

deferentially adverb
in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion <behaved deferentially when approaching someone in authority> — see LOWLY

defiance noun
1 refusal to obey <any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences> — see DISOBEDIENCE
2 the inclination to resist <the troubled youth seems to have an ingrained defiance to authority of any sort> — see RESISTANCE 1
3 an inclination to fight or quarrel <a deeply troubled person who seemed the very soul of defiance> — see BELLIGERENCE

defiant adjective
given to resisting authority or another's control <the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football> — see DISOBEDIENT

deficiency noun
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <there is a deficiency of fresh food in the diet of many of the working poor>

Synonyms
crunch, dearth, deficit, drought (also drouth), failure, famine, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, lack, lacuna, paucity, pinch, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, undersupply, want

Related Words
absence, omission; meagerness, poorness, skimpiness; necessity, need, privation

Near Antonyms
bountifulness, copiousness; excess, overabundance, oversupply, surfeit, surplus

Antonyms
abundance, adequacy, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenty, sufficiency, wealth

deficient adjective
1 lacking some necessary part <a diet deficient in calcium can lead to weak bones> — see INCOMPLETE
2 falling short of a standard <woefully deficient eyesight kept him out of military service> — see BAD 1
3 not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need <too deficient in common sense to be trusted to stay by himself> — see SHORT 3

deficiently adverb
in an unsatisfactory way <the road to the mountain lodge is so deficiently marked that we had a terrible time finding it> — see BADLY 1

deficit noun
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <a growing deficit in the number of hours devoted to sleep> — see DEFICIENCY

defile noun
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <the cattle, once they were cornered in the defile, were quickly rounded up> — see CANYON

defile verb
1 to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable <supplies of meat that had been defiled by maggots> — see CONTAMINATE
2 to treat (a sacred place or object) shamefully or with great disrespect <art conservators were careful not to do anything that might defile the holy relic> — see DESECRATE

defilement noun
1 an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things <for two centuries the Christian monasteries in England suffered defilements at the hands of Viking invaders> — see BLASPHEMY
2 something that is or that makes impure <souvenir shops, observation towers, and other tacky defilements on Civil War battlefields that should be considered hallowed ground> — see IMPURITY 1

define verb
1 to draw or make apparent the outline of <the glass skyscraper's sleek silhouette was strikingly defined by the setting sun to its west> — see OUTLINE 1
2 to mark the limits of <the river defines the town on the south> — see LIMIT 2
3 to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group <a woman who is defined by her unswerving loyalty to her friends> — see CHARACTERIZE 1
4 to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly <let me define the task so that there is no doubt in your minds about what needs to be done> — see PRESCRIBE

defined adjective
having distinct or certain limits <well defined guidelines on the range of activities in which the intelligence agency can engage> — see LIMITED 1

definite adjective
1 having distinct or certain limits <there should be a definite scope to your paper on the campaign for women's rights because you obviously cannot cover the whole history in five pages> — see LIMITED 1
2 so clearly expressed as to leave no doubt about the meaning <a definite instruction not to let anyone in the house while the parents were out for the evening> — see EXPLICIT
3 having no exceptions or restrictions <the house is a definite bargain by today's standards> — see ABSOLUTE 2

definitely adverb
without any question <that is definitely the kind of dog we're looking to adopt> — see INDEED 1

definition noun
a vivid representation in words of someone or something <he gave us his definition of the perfect romantic evening on the town> — see DESCRIPTION 1

definitive adjective
1 being the most accurate and apparently thorough <the definitive work on the attack on Pearl Harbor>

Synonyms
authoritative, classic, classical, magisterial

Related Words
conclusive, decisive; approved, official, sanctioned; accurate, correct; complete, comprehensive, exhaustive, thorough

2 serving to put an end to all debate or questioning <a definitive answer that put an immediate end to the discussion> — see CONCLUSIVE 1
3 so clearly expressed as to leave no doubt about the meaning <the insurance company's definitive statement on the types of surgical operations that are covered> — see EXPLICIT
4 constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated <Dashiell Hammett's Sam Spade is often cited as the definitive hard-boiled private detective> — see MODEL

deflect verb
to change the course or direction of (something) <the wind deflected the Frisbee just as I was about to lunge for it> — see TURN 2

deflection noun
a turning away from a course or standard <a stern father who would not tolerate the slightest deflection from the strict moral code that he imposed on his children> — see DIVERGENCE 2

deform verb
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition <a cynic whose face seems to be permanently deformed by a sneer> — see CONTORT

deformation noun
the twisting of something out of its natural or normal shape or condition <the catastrophic deformation of the steel girders under the enormous weight of the bridge> — see CONTORTION

deformed adjective
badly or imperfectly formed <his first sculpture looked more like a deformed rabbit than a galloping horse> — see MALFORMED

deformity noun
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing <a primitive culture that cast aside infants born with deformities, allowing them to die of exposure to the elements> — see BLEMISH

defraud verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <senior citizens generally were too smart to fall for the fast-talking salesman's attempts to defraud them> — see FLEECE

defrauder noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <the state's department of consumer protection has to contend with defrauders of every ilk> — see TRICKSTER 1

defrauding adjective
marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <every new technology has brought with it a raft of defrauding schemes that make full use of it> — see FRAUDULENT 1

defrock verb
to remove from a position of prominence or power (as a throne) <the movie's director was defrocked for going way over budget> — see DEPOSE 1

defrosted adjective
freed from a frozen state by exposure to warmth <I tossed a defrosted steak under the broiler for dinner> — see THAWED

deft adjective
1 accomplished with trained ability <a luthier whose deft craftsmanship is prized by violinists the world over> — see SKILLFUL 1
2 skillful with the hands <the deft jeweler quickly attached the diamond to its mount on the gold band> — see DEXTEROUS 1

deftly adverb
in a skillful or expert manner <the company spokesperson deftly sidestepped the investigative reporter's questions> — see WELL 3

deftness noun
1 ease and grace in physical activity <the effortless deftness with which he plays the piano> — see DEXTERITY 2
2 subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something <with deftness and aplomb she managed to keep the bickering relatives apart for the duration of the reception> — see SKILL 1

defunct adjective
1 no longer existing <a stack of brochures and a few faded placards are all that remain of the defunct organization> — see EXTINCT
2 no longer living <a defunct species that we know only through fossil remains> — see DEAD 1

defy verb
1 to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of <in those days a woman was brave if she defied fashion and wore white after Labor Day> — see DISOBEY
2 to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat <after missing the target, she defied her boyfriend to do better> — see CHALLENGE 2
3 to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage <a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm> — see FACE 2
4 to refuse to give in to <a bicyclist who regularly defies illness and infirmity in order to compete in races> — see RESIST

degeneracy noun
1 a change to a lower state or level <the sad degeneracy of the old neighborhood into a slum> — see DECLINE 2
2 a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <the degeneracy of the family into a gang of petty thieves> — see CORRUPTION 2

degenerate adjective
1 having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit <a degenerate society in which people had no sense of being citizens, only consumers> — see EFFETE 1
2 having or showing lowered moral character or standards <a movie about a gang of degenerate drug dealers> — see CORRUPT

degenerate noun
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard <a degenerate who is uninterested in anything but his own gratification>

Synonyms
backslider, debauchee, debaucher, decadent, deviate, libertine, perv, pervert, profligate, rake, rakehell, rip

Related Words
bankrupt, delinquent, derelict, incorrigible; blackguard, cad, heel, knave, miscreant, rascal, reprobate, rogue, scoundrel, villain; lecher, playboy, playgirl, satyr

Near Antonyms
saint

degenerate verb
to become worse or of less value <over the years the community-minded organization degenerated into a club for loafers> — see DETERIORATE 1

degenerateness noun
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <the sad degenerateness of the writer's last booze-filled days> — see CORRUPTION 2

degeneration noun
1 a change to a lower state or level <the organization's degeneration from a movement for political reform to just another political party> — see DECLINE 2
2 a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body <the troubling degeneration of his memory since he reached middle age> — see DECLINE 1
3 a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <the general degeneration that characterized so many old mining towns, which had only drinking and gambling for entertainment> — see CORRUPTION 2

degradation noun
1 a change to a lower state or level <English teachers bemoaning the degradation of the language that e-mail and instant messaging have allegedly brought about> — see DECLINE 2
2 a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <the belief that moral degradation is an unmistakable sign of a nation in decline> — see CORRUPTION 2

degrade verb
1 to bring to a lower grade or rank <the view that such a system degrades doctors to the status of medical employees who ultimately are not in charge of their patients' health care> — see DEMOTE
2 to lower in character, dignity, or quality <degrading the school's animal mascot with a silly costume> — see DEBASE 1
3 to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <the players degraded themselves with their crude antics off the field> — see HUMBLE

degraded adjective
having or showing lowered moral character or standards <many observers deplored the fact that the city's festivities for Mardi Gras had become a degraded, drunken celebration> — see CORRUPT

degrading adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <made degrading comments about his so-called friend behind his back> — see DEROGATORY

degree noun
1 an individual part of a process, series, or ranking <they worked on the project by degrees and eventually it got done>

Synonyms
chapter, cut, grade, inch, notch, peg, phase, place, point, stage, step

Related Words
angle, aspect, facet, side; amount, measure, plane; decrement, increment

2 the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement <a Freemason of the 32nd degree> — see RANK 1

dégringolade noun
1 a change to a lower state or level <the sad dégringolade of the holiday from a solemn day of remembrance to just another excuse to go shopping> — see DECLINE 2
2 a loss of status <a sad dégringolade for a theater company that once premiered important American plays> — see COMEDOWN

dehumanize verb
to make (someone) feel or behave more like an animal than a human being <being deprived of clothes dehumanized the prisoners> — see BRUTALIZE 1

dehydrate verb
1 to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality <years of being trapped in a loveless marriage had dehydrated his spirit>

Synonyms
castrate, damp, dampen, deaden, desiccate, devitalize, enervate, geld, lobotomize, petrify

Related Words
burn out, debilitate, do in, drain, enfeeble, exhaust, fatigue, sap, tucker (out), undermine, weaken, wear, wear out; daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

Near Antonyms
arouse, rouse, stir; charge, electrify, galvanize; excite, ferment, fire, foment, incite, inflame (also enflame), instigate, kindle, provoke, spark, trigger, whip (up); abet, boost, buoy, cheer, embolden, fortify, hearten, inspire, lift; reactivate, reanimate, reawake, reawaken, recharge, reenergize, refresh, regenerate, rejuvenate, rekindle, renew, resurrect, resuscitate, revitalize, revive

Antonyms
brace, energize, enliven, invigorate, quicken, stimulate, vitalize, vivify

2 to make dry <bought a dehumidifier in order to dehydrate the damp basement> — see DRY 1

deification noun
excessive admiration of or devotion to a person <the instant deification by the press of the country's newest war hero> — see WORSHIP

deify verb
1 to love or admire too much <materialistic people who deify money> — see IDOLIZE
2 to offer honor or respect to (someone) as a divine power <some ancient pagans deified such objects of nature as trees and rivers> — see WORSHIP 1
3 to assign a high status or value to <the sense of entitlement felt by athletes who have been deified all their lives> — see EXALT 1

deifying adjective
reflecting great admiration or devotion <the deifying descriptions of military heroes that are often published in wartime> — see WORSHIPFUL

deign verb
to descend to a level that is beneath one's dignity <I wouldn't deign to answer that absurd accusation> — see CONDESCEND 1

deity noun
1 a being having superhuman powers and control over a particular part of life or the world <to the ancient Greeks, Zeus was the deity who ruled over the sky and weather, and Poseidon was god of the sea>

Synonyms
divinity, god

Related Words
angel, demigod, demon (or daemon), devil, spirit, supernatural

2 cap the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <we prayed to the Deity for guidance>

Synonyms
Allah, Almighty, Author, Creator, Divinity, Eternal, Everlasting, Father, God, Godhead, Jehovah, Lord, Maker, Providence, Supreme Being, Yahweh (also Jahveh or Yahveh)

3 the quality or state of being divine <the repudiation of the claim of deity by the Japanese emperor after the end of World War II> — see DIVINITY

deject verb
to make sad <nothing dejects a TV pundit more than the reality check that nobody cares what he thinks> — see DEPRESS 1

dejected adjective
feeling unhappiness <the dejected players slowly made their way back to the locker room, where they could mourn their defeat in private> — see SAD 1

dejection noun
a state or spell of low spirits <I find that ice cream often works wonders when trying to overcome dejection> — see SADNESS

deke verb
to elude (an opponent in a sports contest) by making a deceptive or agile movement <deked the lone defenseman with a deft move of his stick and went in for the breakaway> — see JUKE

delay noun
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business <there was a delay for our boarding while the airplane unloaded incoming passengers>

Synonyms
detainment, detention, holdback, holding pattern, holdup, wait

Related Words
deferment, deferral, postponement; reprieve, respite; foot-dragging, hesitation, lag, pause, setback, slowdown

Near Antonyms
haste, rush; dispatch, promptitude, promptness

delay verb
1 to move or act slowly <she ordered the kids to stop delaying and to get to bed>

Synonyms
crawl, creep, dally, dawdle, diddle, dillydally, drag, lag, linger, loiter, lollygag (also lallygag), mope, poke, shilly-shally, tarry

Related Words
fiddle (around), fool around, mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle; hang (around or out), idle, loaf, loll, lounge; amble, ease, inch, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stagger, stroll; decelerate, slow (down or up); filibuster, procrastinate, stall, temporize

Phrases
drag one's feet (also drag one's heels), drop behind, fall behind, hang fire, mark time, take one's time

Near Antonyms
bowl, breeze, dart, hump, hurtle, hustle, scramble, stampede; gallop, jog, run, sprint, trot; accelerate, quicken, speed (up); catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake

Antonyms
barrel, bolt, career, course, dash, fly, hasten, hotfoot (it), hurry, race, rip, rocket, run, rush, scoot, scud, scurry, speed, tear, whirl, whisk, whiz (or whizz), zip

2 to assign to a later time <our guests delayed their departure until after dinner> — see POSTPONE

dele verb
to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it <the proofreader was instructed to dele stray characters and other typos> — see X OUT

delectability noun
the quality of being delicious <frozen entrées of surprising delectability> — see DELICIOUSNESS

delectable adjective
1 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <a delectable melody to listen to after a hard day> — see PLEASANT 1
2 very pleasing to the sense of taste <a delectable roast turkey lay on the table> — see DELICIOUS 1

delectable noun
something that is pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury <a gourmet shop filled with delectables for every palate, albeit not for every pocketbook> — see DELICACY 1

delectably adverb
in a pleasing way <a delectably witty comedy> — see WELL 5

delectation noun
1 a source of great satisfaction <tourists enjoying the delectations of this tropical paradise for the first time> — see DELIGHT 1
2 the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met <a musical concert was presented for the delectation of the guests> — see PLEASURE 1

delegacy noun
a body of persons chosen as representatives of a larger group <the committee chose a five-person delegacy to attend the national conference> — see CONTINGENT 1

delegate noun
1 a person sent on a mission to represent another <the delegate had a list of concerns to discuss with the country's new prime minister> — see AMBASSADOR
2 a person who acts or does business for another <the real estate developer sent a delegate to the town meeting to represent his interests> — see AGENT 2

delegate verb
1 to appoint as one's representative <he delegated his son to go pick up the tickets for him>

Synonyms
commission, depute, deputize

Related Words
assign, charge; appoint, designate, name, nominate

Near Antonyms
abrogate; abdicate

2 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <a manager who is reluctant to delegate authority to subordinates> — see GIVE 2

delegation noun
1 a body of persons chosen as representatives of a larger group <a delegation from the local scout troop is being sent to the national jamboree> — see CONTINGENT 1
2 the granting of power to perform various acts or duties <the delegation by the president to the secretary of state of complete control of the nation's foreign policy> — see COMMISSION 1

delete verb
to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it <the teacher deleted the last line of the student's essay, wisely sensing that it lessened the impact> — see X OUT

deleterious adjective
causing or capable of causing harm <nicotine has long been recognized as a deleterious substance> — see HARMFUL

deletion noun
something left out <one of the deletions from the final cut of the movie turned out to be my one line of dialogue> — see OMISSION

Delhi belly noun
abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools <her long-planned vacation was spoiled by a bad case of Delhi belly> — see DIARRHEA

deliberate adjective
1 decided on as a result of careful thought <the judge made a deliberate decision to impose the maximum sentence>

Synonyms
advised, calculated, considered, knowing, measured, reasoned, studied, thoughtful, thought-out, weighed

Related Words
aforethought, premeditated, prepense; educated, informed; intentional, purposeful; designed, intended, planned, projected; careful, meticulous; foresighted, forethoughtful, provident, prudent

Near Antonyms
half-cocked, ill-advised; chance, haphazard, hit-or-miss, random; aimless, desultory, purposeless; hasty, hurried, rushed; abrupt, impetuous, sudden; automatic, extemporaneous, impromptu, instinctive, spontaneous

Antonyms
casual, unadvised, uncalculated, unconsidered, unstudied

2 made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing <a deliberate act of vandalism that should not go unpunished> — see INTENTIONAL

deliberate verb
to give serious and careful thought to <the jury deliberated the case for three days before returning a verdict> — see PONDER

deliberately adverb
with full awareness of what one is doing <deliberately chose to break the rules> — see INTENTIONALLY

deliberation noun
1 a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something <gave the matter full deliberation before reaching a decision> — see CONSIDERATION 1
2 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <there was a great deal of deliberation among the representatives about the wording of the public statement> — see DISCUSSION 1

delicacy noun
1 something that is pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury <presented with a plate of national delicacies while they waited for the queen>

Synonyms
bit, cate [archaic], dainty, delectable, goody (or goodie), kickshaw, tidbit (also titbit), treat, viand

Related Words
morsel; candy, dessert, junket, sweet, sweetmeat

2 the state or quality of having a delicate structure <we never cease to marvel at the delicacy of a snowflake>

Synonyms
daintiness, exquisiteness, fineness, fragility, frangibility

Related Words
diaphanousness, flimsiness, insubstantiality, wispiness; brittleness, crumbliness, friability

Near Antonyms
firmness, solidity; strength

Antonyms
coarseness, crudeness, crudity, roughness, rudeness

3 the tendency to be or state of being squeamish <the urgent need for blood prompted many people to overcome their habitual delicacy and become first-time donors>

Synonyms
qualmishness, queasiness, squeamishness

Related Words
daintiness, fastidiousness, finicalness, finickiness, fussiness

Near Antonyms
boldness, gutsiness

Antonyms
indelicacy

4 the quality or state of being very accurate <the delicacy of the watch movement is incredible> — see PRECISION
5 the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <all of her life the shy poet gave the appearance of extreme delicacy> — see WEAKNESS 1
6 the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences <the delicacy of the sensor is such that it will be affected by the slightest vibration> — see ACUITY

delicate adjective
1 satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness <a heavy sauce would spoil the delicate flavor of this fish>

Synonyms
airy, dainty, exquisite, nuanced, refined, subtle

Related Words
choice, elegant, extraordinary, incomparable, peerless, preeminent, prime, rare, select, superior, superlative, supreme, transcendent, unsurpassed; picked, selected; fine, fragile, frail

Near Antonyms
coarse, crude, rough; common, ordinary; average, fair, indifferent, mediocre, medium, middling, run-of-the-mill, second-rate

Antonyms
robust, strong, sturdy

2 able to sense slight impressions or differences <only a person with delicate taste buds could tell the difference between these two wines> — see ACUTE 1
3 accomplished with trained ability <the delicate handling of a difficult diplomatic situation> — see SKILLFUL
4 easily broken <delicate glassware that must be carefully wrapped for shipping> — see FRAGILE 1
5 easily injured without careful handling <the delicate ecosystem of the wetlands> — see TENDER 1
6 hard to please <a person of delicate tastes> — see FINICKY
7 having qualities that appeal to a refined taste <delicate perfumes that only a connoisseur of scents would appreciate> — see CHOICE 1
8 lacking bodily strength <a delicate child who was never allowed to play sports> — see WEAK 1
9 made or done with extreme care and accuracy <delicate measurements of brain tumors that are only possible using the latest medical technology> — see FINE 2
10 meeting the highest standard of accuracy <extremely delicate instruments such as an atomic clock> — see PRECISE 1
11 not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect <a delicate breeze was floating in from the open window> — see GENTLE 1
12 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <the delicate challenge of inviting two people who don't like each other to the same party> — see TRICKY 1

delicious adjective
1 very pleasing to the sense of taste <the family sat down to a delicious Thanksgiving dinner>

Synonyms
ambrosial, appetizing, dainty, delectable, delish, flavorful, flavorsome, luscious, lush, mouthwatering, palatable, savory (also savoury), scrumptious, succulent, tasteful, tasty, toothsome, toothy, yummy

Related Words
digestible, eatable, edible; delightful, heavenly, pleasing; agreeable, gratifying, pleasant; satisfying; choice, delicate, exquisite, rare

Near Antonyms
banal, boring, commonplace, tedious; noisome, smelly, stinky; noxious, unwholesome; miserable, wretched; abhorrent, abominable, awful, detestable, disagreeable, disgusting, foul, horrid, nauseating, offensive, repellent (also repellant), repugnant, repulsive, sickening, unpleasant

Antonyms
distasteful, flat, flavorless, insipid, stale, tasteless, unappetizing, unpalatable, unsavory, yucky (also yukky)

2 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <a delicious breeze gave us welcome relief from the tropical heat> — see PLEASANT 1

deliciously adverb
in a pleasing way <a deliciously told anecdote on the DVD's commentary track> — see WELL 5

deliciousness noun
the quality of being delicious <the fancy feast was deliciousness itself>

Synonyms
delectability, lusciousness, palatability, palatableness, savor (also savour), savoriness, tastiness, toothsomeness

Related Words
digestability, edibility, edibleness; choiceness, daintiness, delicacy

Antonyms
distastefulness, flatness, insipidity, staleness, tastelessness, unpalatability

delight noun
1 a source of great satisfaction <the opportunity for travel was one of the major delights of the couple's golden years>

Synonyms
delectation, feast, gas [slang], joy, kick, manna, pleasure, treat

Related Words
amusement, diversion, entertainment, fun, recreation; comfort, relief, solace; gratification, indulgence; ambrosia

2 someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment <with his great sense of humor and bubbly personality, he is a delight to be around> — see FUN 1
3 the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met <we were filled with delight at the sight of everyone in the family together at last for the holidays> — see PLEASURE 1

delight verb
1 to feel or express joy or triumph <I delighted at the sight of my old schoolyard tormentor standing behind the fast-food counter, asking customers if they wanted fries> — see EXULT
2 to give satisfaction to <the news that you had won the Pulitzer delighted us beyond words> — see PLEASE 1

delight (in) verb
to take pleasure in <I've been delighting in your company, so I was wondering if we might have another date> — see ENJOY 1

delighted adjective
experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight <we're delighted to meet you finally!> — see GLAD 1

delightful adjective
1 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <a delightful rendition of our favorite song> — see PLEASANT 1
2 providing amusement or enjoyment <we had a delightful time at the party> — see FUN

delightfully adverb
in a pleasing way <a delightfully silly song about dancing bears> — see WELL 5

delightsome adjective
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <any man would find it most delightsome to gaze upon her lovely face> — see PLEASANT 1

delimit verb
to mark the limits of <the highway delimits the eastern edge of the downtown area> — see LIMIT 2

delineate verb
1 to draw or make apparent the outline of <the man's roly-poly shape was softly delineated by the glow of the fire> — see OUTLINE 1
2 to give a representation or account of in words <the story does a remarkable job of delineating the emotions that immigrants feel upon their arrival in a strange country> — see DESCRIBE 1

delineated adjective
producing a mental picture through clear and impressive description <the finely delineated characters of the novel will seem real to the reader> — see GRAPHIC 1

delineation noun
1 a picture using lines to represent the chief features of an object or scene <his simple but striking delineations of Dutch landscapes> — see DRAWING
2 a vivid representation in words of someone or something <a finely wrought delineation of a young woman's first experience with romantic love> — see DESCRIPTION 1

delinquency noun
1 the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action <we received a notice in the mail informing us of our delinquency in paying our utility bill> — see FAILURE 1
2 the quality or state of being late <delinquency of our mortgage payment meant that we would have to pay a surcharge> — see LATENESS

delinquent adjective
not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time <the bank was annoyed because our check was delinquent> — see LATE 1

delinquently adverb
after the due, usual, or proper time <he always paid his bills, but usually delinquently> — see LATE 1

deliquesce verb
to go from a solid to a liquid state <a rotting tomato slowly deliquescing in the hot summer sun> — see LIQUEFY

delirious adjective
1 feeling overwhelming fear or worry <we were delirious with anxiety when the boy failed to return home> — see FRANTIC 1
2 marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity <rushing about in a delirious state during the holidays> — see FURIOUS 1

deliriousness noun
a state of wildly excited activity or emotion <in the deliriousness of the emergency evacuation, a lot of things were overlooked> — see FRENZY

delirium noun
a state of wildly excited activity or emotion <shoppers running around in a delirium the day before Christmas> — see FRENZY

delish adjective
very pleasing to the sense of taste <the homemade chocolate sauce was absolutely delish> — see DELICIOUS 1

deliver verb
1 to free from the penalties or consequences of sin <deliver us from evil> — see SAVE 1
2 to remove from danger or harm <the doomed passengers kept hoping that a ship would miraculously appear and deliver them> — see SAVE 2
3 to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress <delivered up the ransom money> — see SURRENDER 1
4 to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption <the inn endeavors to deliver the luxuries that its well-heeled guests have come to expect> — see FURNISH 2
5 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <delivered the prisoners to the sheriff> — see GIVE 2
6 to turn out as planned or desired <finally, a summer blockbuster that delivers> — see SUCCEED 1
7 to bring forth from the womb <she delivered four healthy babies> — see BEAR 1
8 to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly <deeply dissatisfied with his dissolute lifestyle, he resolved to deliver himself over to the ways of the Lord> — see ABANDON 1

deliverance noun
1 the saving from danger or evil <looked to the European powers for deliverance from their country's cruel tyrant> — see SALVATION
2 a position arrived at after consideration <the jury's deliverance shocked the courtroom> — see DECISION 1

deliverer noun
1 a person who delivers goods to customers usually over a regular local route <we eagerly took the food and tipped the deliverer> — see DELIVERYMAN
2 one that saves from danger or destruction <the surviving passengers thanked their deliverers profusely> — see SAVIOR

delivery noun
1 a freeing from an obligation or responsibility <the school bell signaled our delivery from the tortures of math class> — see RELEASE 1
2 the act or process of giving birth to children <her second delivery took only three hours> — see CHILDBIRTH

deliveryman noun
a person who delivers goods to customers usually over a regular local route <the deliveryman dropped off a package for us while we were at the store>

Synonyms
deliverer

Related Words
delivery boy; bearer, carrier, courier, go-between, liaison, messenger

Delphic adjective
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <the Delphic pronouncements that are so typical of many stock market prognosticators> — see OBSCURE 1

delude verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <we deluded ourselves into thinking that the ice cream wouldn't affect our diet> — see DECEIVE

deluding adjective
tending or having power to deceive <the deluding appearance of the surface of the river, which is actually quite polluted> — see DECEPTIVE 1

deluge noun
1 a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms <a deluge of thanks and appreciation for the returning troops> — see FLOOD
2 a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity <the exiting moviegoers were caught in the deluge without umbrellas> — see RAIN 1

deluge verb
to cover with a flood <deluged with requests for help> — see FLOOD

delusion noun
1 a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality <her idea that her new man is a long lost prince is surely just a delusion> — see FANTASY 1
2 a false idea or belief <he appears to suffer from the delusion that he's the best reporter in the business> — see FALLACY 1

delusive adjective
tending or having power to deceive <delusive promises of high-paying jobs for the illegal immigrants> — see DECEPTIVE 1

delusory adjective
tending or having power to deceive <the delusory notion that wealth invariably brings happiness> — see DECEPTIVE 1

deluxe adjective
showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort <a classy hotel with truly deluxe accommodations> — see LUXURIOUS 1

delve noun, archaic
a naturally formed underground chamber with an opening to the surface <a poem in which a medieval knight encounters a mysterious beauty in a darkened delve> — see CAVE

delve (into) verb
to search through or into <we uncovered many interesting stories as we delved into the history of the house we were restoring> — see EXPLORE 1

delving noun
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something <we didn't want to pry and did as little personal delving as possible> — see INQUIRY 1

demagogue also demagog noun
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent <that politician is just a demagogue who preys upon people's fears and prejudices> — see AGITATOR

demand noun
1 something that someone insists upon having <the terrorists presented their list of demands>

Synonyms
claim, dun, importunity, requisition, ultimatum

Related Words
desire, request, want, wish; drive, need, requirement, stipulation; basic, essential, must; imposition; condition, provision

2 the state of being sought after especially for purchase <a steadily declining demand for film cameras>

Synonyms
call, market, request

Related Words
bear market, bull market; buyer's market, seller's market

3 something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable <we are very confident that our new employee is fully equal to the demands of the job> — see ESSENTIAL 1

demand verb
1 to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority <the losing party demanded a recount of the votes cast in the election>

Synonyms
call (for), claim, clamor (for), command, enjoin, exact, insist (on), press (for), quest, stipulate (for)

Related Words
ask, plead (for), request, want; cry (for), necessitate, need, require, take, warrant; requisition; impose; badger, dun, harass, hound

Near Antonyms
give up, relinquish, surrender, yield

2 to have as a requirement <a task that demands one's unremitting attention> — see NEED 1
3 to set or receive as a price <superstars who demand millions for appearing in a movie> — see CHARGE 1

demanding adjective
1 requiring much time, effort, or careful attention <the demanding assignment kept them working all night long>

Synonyms
arduous, burdensome, challenging, exacting, grueling (or gruelling), killing, laborious, onerous, persnickety, taxing, toilsome

Related Words
difficult, formidable, hard, herculean, rough, rugged, stiff, strenuous, testing, tough; oppressive, trying; rigid, rigorous, severe, stern, strict, stringent

Near Antonyms
easy, effortless, facile, simple, smooth

Antonyms
light, nondemanding, unchallenging, undemanding

2 hard to please <will play before a demanding audience of music critics, who are not easily impressed> — see FINICKY
3 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <the demanding task of reading and grading student compositions> — see HARD 2

demarcate verb
to mark the limits of <a yellow line demarcated the county on the road map> — see LIMIT 2

demarcation noun
the state of being kept distinct <the lines of demarcation between art and entertainment are often blurry> — see SEPARATION 2

demark verb
to mark the limits of <the Connecticut River demarks the eastern edge of the state of Vermont> — see LIMIT 2

dematerialize verb
to cease to be visible <the image suddenly dematerialized, and once again we were staring at a blank screen> — see DISAPPEAR

1demean verb
1 to lower in character, dignity, or quality <it demeans the political process to demand that candidates make promises that everyone knows are unrealistic> — see DEBASE 1
2 to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <we were demeaned by our shabby appearance at the funeral> — see HUMBLE

2demean verb
to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way <I shall endeavor to demean myself with utmost respect when our pastor comes to visit> — see BEHAVE

demeaning adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <demanded an apology from the men's football coach for his demeaning comments on women athletes> — see DEROGATORY

demeanor noun
the way or manner in which one conducts oneself <the director of the opera company has a haughty demeanor that can be irritating> — see BEHAVIOR

demented adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <a poor, demented animal that had obviously suffered years of abuse> — see INSANE 1

dementia noun
a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life <doctors were able to treat the patient's dementia with drugs and thus allow him to function on his own> — see INSANITY 1

demerit noun
a defect in character <as a typist she has the advantage of speed but the demerit of inaccuracy> — see FAULT 1

demesne noun
1 a part or portion having no fixed boundaries <the vast and frozen demesne of the northern tundra> — see REGION 1
2 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <the view that the issue is not in the demesne of the courts and is something that should be decided by the state legislature> — see FIELD 2
3 the area around and belonging to a building <the mansion's huge demesne covers more than 100 acres> — see GROUND 1

demilitarization noun
the reduction or elimination of a country's armed forces or weapons <the demilitarization of some formerly warlike nations that occurred in the aftermath of World War II> — see DISARMAMENT

demilitarize verb
to reduce the size and strength of the armed forces of <the two nations agreed to demilitarize themselves reciprocally> — see DISARM 1

demimonde noun
a social sphere that exists outside of the mainstream <a documentary examining the demimonde to which homosexuals were relegated before the start of the gay rights movement> — see NETHERWORLD

de minimis adjective
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <stock dividends that were decidedly de minimis> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

demise noun
1 the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <inherited all of the estate upon the sudden demise of his grandfather> — see DEATH 1
2 the act of ceasing to exist <the gradual demise of the Roman Empire over the course of several centuries> — see DEATH 3
3 a loss of status <after her demise as the doyenne of New York society, the mere mention of her name was regarded as a faux pas> — see COMEDOWN

demise verb
to stop living <our much beloved, recently demised leader> — see DIE 1

demised adjective
no longer living <a cemetery reserved for demised family pets> — see DEAD 1

demiworld noun
a social sphere that exists outside of the mainstream <a runaway teenager who ended up in the demiworld of street prostitution> — see NETHERWORLD

demo noun, British
a mass meeting for the purpose of displaying or arousing support for a cause or person <a demo to support the Prime Minister> — see RALLY 2

democracy noun
government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation <under our democracy the people have some control over their lives by being able to select their own political leaders>

Synonyms
republic, self-government, self-rule

Related Words
pure democracy; home rule, self-determination; autonomy, sovereignty (also sovranty)

Near Antonyms
despotism, dictatorship, monarchy, monocracy, totalitarianism, tyranny

democrat noun
one who advocates or practices social equality <a true democrat, he has always abhorred that nation's class system>

Synonyms
egalitarian, leveler (or leveller)

Related Words
populist; communist, Marxist, social democrat, socialist

Near Antonyms
snob, snoot

democratic adjective
of, relating to, or favoring political democracy <the democratic system ensures that every citizen's voice is heard>

Synonyms
popular, republican, self-governing, self-ruling

Related Words
representative; libertarian, nontotalitarian

Near Antonyms
autocratic (also autocratical), despotic, dictatorial, monarchal (or monarchial), monarchical (also monarchic), tyrannical (also tyrannic)

Antonyms
nondemocratic, undemocratic

démodé adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <an old-line French restaurant with stodgy food and a démodé decor straight out of the 1950s> — see OBSOLETE

demoded adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <with its demoded '70s look—shag carpeting, no less—that split-level is in need of some serious updating> — see OBSOLETE

demoiselle noun
a young unmarried woman <fell in love with a pretty demoiselle from a neighboring village> — see GIRL 1

demolish verb
1 to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces <developers demolished the old warehouse to make room for the new shopping mall>

Synonyms
level, pull down, raze, tear down, unbuild

Related Words
blow up, dynamite; abolish, annihilate, crack up, crush, dash, decimate, destroy, devastate, devour, dissolve, do in, eradicate, extirpate, finish, flatten, obliterate, overturn, pulverize, ravage, ruin, scourge, smash, total, unmake, waste, wipe out, wreck

Near Antonyms
build, construct, erect, put up, raise; rebuild, renew, renovate, restore; create, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, make, manufacture, shape

2 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <most of the buildings in the town had been demolished in the bombing raid> — see DESTROY 1
3 to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive <terrorists used a powerful pipe bomb to demolish the concrete wall around the compound> — see BLAST 1

demolishment noun
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <in the aftermath of its demolishment by the tornado, the house looked like nothing more than a discarded plaything> — see DESTRUCTION 1

demolition noun
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <several condemned buildings around the city are undergoing demolition as part of the revitalization program> — see DESTRUCTION 1

demon or daemon noun
1 an evil spirit <only in rare cases is the ancient rite of exorcism performed to cast out a troublesome demon>

Synonyms
cacodemon, devil, fiend, ghost, ghoul, ghoulie, imp, shaitan

Related Words
hag [archaic], lamia, vampire; incubus, nightmare, succubus; afreet (or afrit), genie, jinni (or jinn also djinni or djinn); apparition, banshee, bogey (also bogie or bogy), bugbear, familiar, familiar spirit, genius, phantasm (also fantasm), phantom, poltergeist, shade, shadow, specter (or spectre), spirit, spook, vision, wraith; brownie, dwarf, elf, faerie (also faery), fairy, fay, gnome, goblin, gremlin, hobgoblin, kobold, leprechaun, pixie (also pixy), puck, sprite, troll; monster, ogre

Near Antonyms
angel

2 a source of persistent emotional distress <a man who was finally able to conquer his demons and kick his drug habit>

Synonyms
affliction, hang-up, terror, torment

Related Words
bête noire, bogey (also bogie or bogy), bugaboo, bugbear, hobgoblin, ogre

demoniac also demoniacal adjective
of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit <the murderer seemed possessed by a demoniac wish to destroy life> — see FIENDISH 1

demonian adjective
of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit <a demonian laugh echoed through the haunted house> — see FIENDISH 1

demonic also demonical adjective
of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit <the villain in the movie cackled with demonic laughter> — see FIENDISH 1

demonstrable adjective
capable of being proven as true or real <as a serious scientist, she is only interested in demonstrable phenomena> — see VERIFIABLE

demonstrate verb
1 to gain full recognition or acceptance of <you must demonstrate your scientific thesis before a jury of your professional peers> — see ESTABLISH 1
2 to show the existence or truth of by evidence <the paleontologist hopes to demonstrate that dinosaurs once existed in central Peru by unearthing the fossil evidence> — see PROVE 1
3 to make known (something abstract) through outward signs <the babysitter's actions during the emergency demonstrate beyond doubt her general dependability> — see SHOW 2
4 to make plain or understandable <a few striking facts should demonstrate the complex nature of our topic> — see EXPLAIN 1
5 to show or make clear by using examples <the visiting physicist demonstrated very graphically several basic scientific principles> — see ILLUSTRATE 1

demonstration noun
1 a mass meeting for the purpose of displaying or arousing support for a cause or person <disgruntled students organized a demonstration to protest the change in university policy> — see RALLY 2
2 an outward and often exaggerated indication of something abstract (as a feeling) for effect <staged a grand demonstration of her love for her husband with a candlelight-and-champagne Valentine's Day dinner> — see SHOW 1

demonstrative adjective
1 showing feeling freely <my grandmother was always very demonstrative when we visited, showering us with hugs and kisses>

Synonyms
effusive, emotional, touchy-feely, uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained

Related Words
dramatic, histrionic, hyperemotional, melodramatic, theatrical (also theatric); gushing, gushy, maudlin, mawkish, mushy, schmaltzy, sentimental; communicative, expansive; extroverted (also extraverted), outgoing; affectionate, feeling, intense, loving, passionate, sensitive, soulful, warm; blunt, candid, frank, outspoken, plain

Near Antonyms
constrained; quiet, reticent, silent, taciturn; bashful, modest, retiring, shy; introverted, self-directed; aloof, detached, dispassionate, emotionless, impassive, indifferent, phlegmatic, stolid, unconcerned, unfeeling; chilly, cold, frigid, glacial, hard-boiled, hard-edged, hard-hearted, icy, unfriendly

Antonyms
inhibited, reserved, restrained, undemonstrative, unemotional

2 having or expressing great depth of feeling <a demonstrative welcome for the returning troops by their families and friends> — see FERVENT 1

demoralization noun
1 a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <a general state of demoralization prevailed at every level of the government> — see CORRUPTION 2
2 the state of being discouraged <the officers struggled to combat the demoralization of the troops as their tour of duty grew longer> — see DISCOURAGEMENT

demoralize verb
1 to deprive of courage or confidence <the mere sight of the forbidding cliffs demoralized the climbers> — see UNNERVE 1
2 to lessen the courage or confidence of <we refused to be demoralized by our humiliating defeat and vowed to come roaring back the following week> — see DISCOURAGE 1
3 to lower in character, dignity, or quality <felt society as a whole has been demoralized by the widespread availability of pornography> — see DEBASE 1

demoralized adjective
having or showing lowered moral character or standards <a demoralized nation that had forgotten the values that once made it great> — see CORRUPT

demote verb
to bring to a lower grade or rank <the court-martial's decision was to demote the officer responsible for the failed mission>

Synonyms
break, bust, degrade, disrate, downgrade, reduce

Related Words
can, cashier, dismiss, downsize, fire, lay off, sack; abase, debase, demean, humble, humiliate, lower

Near Antonyms
hire

Antonyms
advance, elevate, promote, raise

demotion noun
the act or an instance of bringing to a lower grade or rank <anyone who objects will get a demotion> — see BUMP 2

demount verb
to take apart <soldiers were expected to be able to demount and reassemble their weapons> — see DISASSEMBLE 1

demur noun
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent <we accepted his offer to pay for our dinners without demur> — see OBJECTION

demur verb
to present an opposing opinion or argument <don't hesitate to demur to the idea if you have any qualms> — see OBJECT

demure adjective
1 affecting shyness or modesty in order to attract masculine interest <the previously demure maiden began making some surprisingly shocking remarks> — see COY 1
2 not comfortable around people <hesitant and demure, she hardly spoke a word at the banquet table> — see SHY 2
3 not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness <wore a very demure outfit to the interview for the job at the church's headquarters> — see HUMBLE 1

demureness noun
the absence of any feelings of being better than others <her excessive demureness will be to her disadvantage if she wants a career in show business> — see HUMILITY

demurral noun
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent <surprisingly, she wrote the check for the parking fine without demurral> — see OBJECTION

demurrer noun
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent <the only demurrer voiced by most music critics was that the piece was too short> — see OBJECTION

demystify verb
to make plain or understandable <a wine book that does a lot to demystify the subject for the casual drinker who just wants a good bottle for dinner> — see EXPLAIN 1

den noun
1 the shelter or resting place of a wild animal <the foxes hid in their den until the bear finally left the area>

Synonyms
burrow, hole, house, lair, lodge

Related Words
nest; territory

2 a place where a person goes to hide or to avoid others <an abandoned building that is often used as a den by the city's petty criminals> — see HIDEOUT

dene noun, British
an area of lowland between hills or mountains <there are some deeply wooded denes in that part of Northumberland> — see VALLEY

denegation noun
a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement <this recent flip-flop is merely the latest in a series of denegations by the governor of previously held positions> — see DENIAL 2

denial noun
1 an unwillingness to grant something asked for <our supervisor's denial of unpaid personal leave got mixed reactions from the staff>

Synonyms
declination, disallowance, nay, no, nonacceptance, refusal, rejection, turndown

Related Words
rebuff, repudiation, repulse, spurn; negative; ban, injunction, veto; deterrence, discouragement, repression, suppression

Near Antonyms
acceptance, accession, acquiescence, agreement, assent, authorization, clearance, concurrence, consent, leave, license (or licence), permission, sanction, sufferance; imprimatur, seal, signature, stamp

Antonyms
allowance, approval, grant, OK (or okay)

2 a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement <the senator issued a flat denial of the accusation against her>

Synonyms
contradiction, denegation, disallowance, disavowal, disclaimer, disconfirmation, negation, rejection, repudiation

Related Words
disproof, rebuttal, refutation; negative

Near Antonyms
concession, confession; affirmation, assertion, declaration; attestation, corroboration, documentation, substantiation, testament, testimony, validation

Antonyms
acknowledgment (or acknowledgement), admission, avowal, confirmation

denigrate verb
to express scornfully one's low opinion of <theater critics have been denigrating her acting ability for years> — see DECRY 1

denigration noun
the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant <the unfair denigration of the social sciences by some people in the natural sciences> — see DEPRECIATION

denigrative adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <thanked her for the gift and then added the denigrative aside, “Not that it's anything special!”> — see DEROGATORY

denigratory adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <a denigratory observation that the novel wasn't half bad—considering it was written by an actor> — see DEROGATORY

denizen noun
1 someone who regularly spends time in a particular place <one of those muscle-bound denizens of the gym>

Synonyms
familiar, frequenter, habitué (also habitue), haunter, rat, regular

Related Words
client, customer, guest, patron; addict, aficionado (also afficionado), buff, bug, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fanatic, fancier, fiend, freak, lover, maniac, nut

2 one who lives permanently in a place <the polar bear is an iconic denizen of the snowy Arctic> — see INHABITANT

denominate verb
to give a name to <stargazing is nothing more than that, and denominating it as astrology does not make it a science> — see NAME 1

denomination noun
a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known <a variety of creative works that today come under the denomination of “art”> — see NAME 1

denotation noun
1 a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known <“soul” is the common denotation for that mysterious force within the human body that gives it life and yet is separate from it> — see NAME 1
2 the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action <although most people exercise for fitness, the denotation of the term “fitness” varies from exerciser to exerciser> — see MEANING 1

denotative adjective
indicating something <a string of absences from this course will be seen as denotative of the student's lack of interest in it> — see INDICATIVE

denote verb
1 to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind <a flashing red light that denotes danger> — see MEAN 1
2 to serve as a sign or symptom of <the unkempt yard denotes a homeowner with little concern for the well-being of his neighborhood> — see INDICATE 1

denoting adjective
indicating something <an arrow is a common denoting symbol for direction> — see INDICATIVE

denounce verb
1 to declare to be morally wrong or evil <the church council denounced the bishop's teachings, officially declaring them to be heresy> — see CONDEMN 1
2 to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of <denounced the shoddy merchandise that the local shops were foisting on tourists> — see CRITICIZE
3 to express public or formal disapproval of <the governor has denounced the court's decision and vows to press for a constitutional amendment> — see CENSURE 1

de novo adverb
yet another time <since a mistrial was declared, the case will have to be tried de novo> — see AGAIN 1

dense adjective
1 having little space between items or parts <the dense soil in the garden> — see CLOSE 1
2 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <she accused him of being dense when he didn't seem to understand her at first> — see STUPID 1

denseness noun
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <complained about the indefensible denseness of the shipping clerks who had misplaced his order> — see STUPIDITY 1

density noun
1 the degree to which a fluid can resist flowing <the simple fact that molasses has greater density than room-temperature water> — see CONSISTENCY
2 the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <only a person with the proverbial density of concrete could have missed that clue> — see STUPIDITY 1

dent noun
1 a sunken area forming a separate space <there was a big dent in the car's hood where something had hit it> — see HOLE 2
2 the amount by which something is lessened <a little belt-tightening would at least make a small dent in our credit-card debt> — see DECREASE

dent verb
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent <hopefully this vacation won't dent our bank account too much> — see DECREASE 1

dented adjective
curved inward <the dented car fender bore silent testament to an accident that no one in the family was owning up to> — see HOLLOW

denuded adjective
lacking a usual or natural covering <the denuded trees left behind after the forest fire had passed> — see NAKED 2

denunciation noun
an often public or formal expression of disapproval <the official denunciation of the congresswoman's actions before the full house> — see CENSURE

deny verb
1 to declare not to be true <the congressman denied all charges of wrongdoing>

Synonyms
contradict, disaffirm, disallow, disavow, disclaim, disconfirm, disown, gainsay, negate, negative, refute, reject, repudiate

Related Words
traverse; challenge, confute, disprove, rebut; disagree (with), dispute

Near Antonyms
accept, adopt, embrace, espouse; affirm, announce, assert, aver, claim, declare, maintain, profess, submit; authenticate, corroborate, substantiate, validate, verify

Antonyms
acknowledge, admit, allow, avow, concede, confirm, own

2 to be unwilling to grant <the director denied access to the top secret files to all but those with a need to know>

Synonyms
decline, disallow, disapprove, negative, nix, refuse, reject, reprobate, withhold

Related Words
ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto; rebuff, repel, spurn; check, constrain, curb, hold, keep, repress, restrain, restrict; balk (at), hinder, impede, obstruct

Near Antonyms
afford, furnish, give, provide, supply; authorize, commission, license (also licence); accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), warrant; accord, sanction, vouchsafe

Antonyms
allow, concede, grant, let, OK (or okay), permit

3 to refuse to acknowledge as one's own or as one's responsibility <in a futile attempt to get out of the contract, he even denied his own signature> — see DISCLAIM 1

deodorize verb
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses <the propaganda film attempts to deodorize the dictator's history of human rights abuses> — see PALLIATE 1

depart verb
1 to leave a place often for another <I'll sing one more song before I depart> — see GO 2
2 to stop living <a special tribute for those members of the motion picture academy who have departed over the past year> — see DIE 1

departed adjective
1 no longer existing <a few crumbling ruins are all that remain of that departed civilization> — see EXTINCT
2 no longer living <our dear departed friend> — see DEAD 1

departing noun
the act of leaving a place <his departing was accompanied by tears and heartfelt good wishes> — see DEPARTURE 1

department noun
1 a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization <the Department of the Interior> — see DIVISION 2
2 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <that's not my department, but maybe I can help you anyway> — see FIELD 2

departure noun
1 the act of leaving a place <his sudden departure left them wondering if they'd upset him>

Synonyms
decamping, decampment, departing, exit, exiting, farewell, going, leave, leave-taking, lighting out, outgo, parting, quitting, walking out

Related Words
flight, retirement, retreat, running away, withdrawal; diaspora, emigration, evacuation, exodus; embarkation, embarkment; disembarkation, egress; abandonment, forsaking, relinquishment

Near Antonyms
coming; approach, entrance, ingress

Antonyms
advent, appearance, arrival

2 a turning away from a course or standard <any departure from the modernist orthodoxy was scorned by the city's cultural elite> — see DIVERGENCE 2

depend verb
1 to be determined by, based on, or subject (to) <whether or not we play baseball will depend on how much rain we get>

Synonyms
hang, hinge, ride, turn

Related Words
base, establish, found, rest, stay; ground

2 to place reliance or trust <I know I can always depend on you for help when I really need it>

Synonyms
calculate, count, lean, reckon, rely

Related Words
commit, confide, entrust (also intrust), trust

Phrases
bank on, call on (or upon), figure on, look to, stand on

Near Antonyms
distrust, mistrust, question, suspect

dependability noun
worthiness as the recipient of another's trust or confidence <her dependability as a friend, in good times and bad, is legendary> — see RELIABILITY

dependable adjective
worthy of one's trust <seeking a dependable person to look after their summer home in the off-season>

Synonyms
calculable, good, reliable, responsible, safe, secure, solid, steady, sure, tried, tried-and-true, true, trustable, trustworthy, trusty

Related Words
constant, devoted, faithful, fast, loyal, staunch (also stanch), steadfast, true-blue; honest, sincere, single-minded; infallible, unerring; bedrock, firm, sound, strong; effective, telling; attested, authenticated, confirmed, proven, valid, validated, verified; blameless, faultless, guiltless, impeccable, inerrant, irreproachable, unimpeachable, unquestionable

Near Antonyms
disloyal, faithless, false, fickle, inconstant, perfidious, recreant, traitorous, treacherous, unfaithful, untrue; deceitful, dishonest, lying, mendacious, untruthful; debatable, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, dubious, fishy, problematic (also problematical), questionable, shady, shaky, suspect, uncertain, unsound; hazardous, risky; unconfirmed, untried

Antonyms
dodgy [chiefly British], uncertain, undependable, unreliable, unsafe, untrustworthy

dependableness noun
worthiness as the recipient of another's trust or confidence <the questionable dependableness of the no-name televisions being sold at a discount store> — see RELIABILITY

dependence also dependance noun
1 the quality or state of needing something or someone <a baby's total dependence upon his or her parents for every one of life's needs>

Synonyms
dependency, reliance

Related Words
reciprocity, relativity; confidence, credence, faith, stock, trust

Near Antonyms
autonomy, self-determination, sovereignty (also sovranty)

Antonyms
independence, independency, self-dependence, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, self-support

2 something or someone to which one looks for support <ultimately rice became the chief dependence in that state>

Synonyms
anchor, buttress, mainstay, pillar, reliance, standby

Related Words
backbone, sinew(s), spine; right hand; bolsterer, crutch, handmaiden (also handmaid), prop, stay; anchorage, harbor, refuge

3 a physiological need for certain drugs <acquired a dependence on prescription painkillers following back surgery> — see ADDICTION

dependency noun
the quality or state of needing something or someone <she was concerned about his heavy dependency on coffee to get him moving in the morning> — see DEPENDENCE 1

dependent adjective
1 extending freely from a support from above <the dependent willow branches swayed in the gentle breeze>

Synonyms
dangling, hanging, pendent (or pendant), pendulous, suspended

Related Words
drooping, flagging, lolling, sagging, wilting

2 determined by something else <our going to the movies tonight is dependent on whether or not we have any money left after we eat out>

Synonyms
conditional, contingent (on or upon), subject (to), tentative

Related Words
liable, open, susceptible; limited, modified, qualified, restricted; debatable, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, iffy, problematic (also problematical), questionable, shady, shaky, suspect, uncertain

Near Antonyms
absolute, all-out, arrant, categorical (also categoric), complete, consummate, out-and-out, outright, perfect, simple, total, ultimate, unadulterated, unalloyed, unconditional, unequivocal, unmitigated, unqualified, utter; basal, basic, fundamental, primary

Antonyms
independent, unconditional

depict verb
1 to give a representation or account of in words <this letter from an eyewitness depicts the battle in greater detail than any other account> — see DESCRIBE 1
2 to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group <the report depicted him as a reliable assistant and an employee who could be entrusted with any task> — see CHARACTERIZE 1
3 to present a picture of <the painting depicts a pastoral landscape on a summer day> — see PICTURE 1

depiction noun
a vivid representation in words of someone or something <the set piece of the novel is a depiction of the battle that makes readers feel like they were there> — see DESCRIPTION 1

deplete verb
1 to make complete use of <miners depleted the vein of copper ore after only a few months>

Synonyms
absorb, burn, consume, devour, drain, draw down, exhaust, expend, play out, spend, use up

Related Words
abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, reduce; eat, use; bankrupt, clean (out), impoverish; cripple, debilitate, disable, enfeeble, sap, undermine, weaken; dry up, empty; blow, dissipate, fritter (away), guzzle, lavish, misspend, run through, squander, throw away, waste

Phrases
run out of

Near Antonyms
augment, enlarge, increase; bolster, enforce, fortify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; rebuild, repair, restore, revive; conserve, preserve, save

Antonyms
renew, replace

2 to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent <disease and battlefield casualties had depleted troop strength to dangerously low levels> — see DECREASE 1

depletion noun
the amount by which something is lessened <the kind of catastrophic illness that can make a sizable depletion in a family's savings> — see DECREASE

deplorable adjective
1 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <we will not tolerate such deplorable behavior in a house of worship> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1
2 of a kind to cause great distress <condemned the deplorable conditions in which the family was living> — see REGRETTABLE

deplore verb
1 to feel or express sorrow for <a statement from the bishops deploring the loss of life in the war overseas> — see LAMENT 1
2 to feel sorry or dissatisfied about <deplored the fact that his guests were seeing his apartment at its messiest> — see REGRET

deploring adjective
expressing or suggesting mourning <a deploring look on his face long after the funeral had ended> — see MOURNFUL 1

deport verb
1 to force to leave a country <deported them back to their country of birth> — see BANISH 1
2 to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way <deported herself with grace and propriety at the country club cotillion> — see BEHAVE

deportation noun
the forced removal from a homeland <the deportation of the Jews from Spain in 1492> — see EXILE 1

deportee noun
a person forced to emigrate for political reasons <the deportee vowed that he would someday return to a liberated nation> — see ÉMIGRÉ 1

deportment noun
the way or manner in which one conducts oneself <her deportment during the bitter divorce was a model of self-restraint and class> — see BEHAVIOR

depose verb
1 to remove from a position of prominence or power (as a throne) <a military junta deposed the dictator after he had bankrupted the country>

Synonyms
defrock, deprive, dethrone, displace, oust, uncrown, unmake, unseat, unthrone

Related Words
can, cashier, discharge, dismiss, fire, muster out, remove, retire, sack; overthrow, subvert, supplant, topple, usurp; banish, boot (out), bounce, cast out, chase, drum (out), eject, expel, extrude, rout, run off, throw out

Near Antonyms
baptize, inaugurate, induct, initiate, install, instate, invest; appoint, designate, elect

Antonyms
crown, enthrone, throne

2 to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact <she was nervous when the time to depose before the jury finally arrived> — see TESTIFY
3 to arrange something in a certain spot or position <deposed her fan and gloves on the dressing table> — see PLACE 1

deposit noun
1 matter that settles to the bottom of a body of liquid <a deposit of silt on the river bed>

Synonyms
deposition, dregs, grounds, precipitate, sediment, settlings

Related Words
lees; ooze, silt, sludge; dross, slag, waste

2 a collection of things kept available for future use or need <a deposit of ammunition under lock and key> — see STORE 1
3 a sum of money set aside for a particular purpose <made a deposit at the bank every week> — see FUND 1

deposit verb
1 to put in an account <we quickly deposited the check in a bank account>

Synonyms
bank

Related Words
cache, hoard, lay away, reserve, salt away, save, squirrel (away), stash, store, stow; invest

Near Antonyms
remove, take out; disburse, expend, give, lay out, pay, spend

Antonyms
withdraw

2 to arrange something in a certain spot or position <deposited their luggage at the foot of the hotel bed> — see PLACE 1

deposition noun
matter that settles to the bottom of a body of liquid <several types of deposition on the bottom of the lake> — see DEPOSIT 1

depository noun
a building for storing goods <a book depository> — see STOREHOUSE

depot noun
1 a building for storing goods <a distribution depot for auto parts> — see STOREHOUSE
2 a place where military arms are stored <the guns and ammunition were stored in a depot in Concord> — see ARMORY

deprave verb
to lower in character, dignity, or quality <the belief that pornography depraves society as a whole> — see DEBASE 1

depraved adjective
having or showing lowered moral character or standards <the depraved actions of a gang of madmen who had gained control of an entire nation> — see CORRUPT

depravedness noun
the state or quality of being utterly evil <the prosecutor argued that the murders in their utter depravedness called for a sentence of nothing less than the death penalty> — see ENORMITY 1

depravity noun
1 a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <regards the widespread acceptance of gambling as another sign of the depravity of today's society> — see CORRUPTION 2
2 immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society <a section of the city long known as den of depravity> — see VICE 1
3 the state or quality of being utterly evil <the depravity of the demons and devils in many tales of horror> — see ENORMITY 1

deprecate verb
1 to express scornfully one's low opinion of <movie critics tried to outdo one another in deprecating the comedy as the stupidest movie of the year> — see DECRY 1
2 to hold an unfavorable opinion of <deprecates TV sitcoms as childish and simpleminded> — see DISAPPROVE OF

deprecation noun
1 refusal to accept as right or desirable <considering that he's a member of the old school, his deprecation of contemporary manners isn't surprising> — see DISAPPROVAL
2 the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant <she had low self-esteem, so she made up for it with a near-constant deprecation of other people> — see DEPRECIATION

deprecatory adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <he typically followed up any mention of his accomplishments with some deprecatory comments about his perceived failures> — see DEROGATORY

depreciate verb
1 to diminish the price or value of <a faded finish will really depreciate your car when you decide to trade it in>

Synonyms
attenuate, break, cheapen, depress, devaluate, devalue, downgrade, lower, mark down, reduce, sink, write down, write off

Related Words
debase, demonetize; underestimate, underprice, underrate, undervalue; abridge, compress, contract, de-escalate, deflate, downsize, dwindle, lessen, moderate, shrink

Near Antonyms
bloat, blow up, inflate; overestimate, overprice, overrate, overvalue; add, aggrandize, amplify, augment, balloon, boost, compound, dilate, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, heighten, increase, maximize, multiply, raise, swell, up

Antonyms
appreciate, enhance, mark up, upgrade

2 to express scornfully one's low opinion of <dared to depreciate Shakespeare, saying his works have no relevance for modern audiences> — see DECRY 1

depreciation noun
the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant <a depreciation of the role of minorities in the building of the nation was once a common feature of history books>

Synonyms
belittlement, denigration, deprecation, derogation, detraction, diminishment, disparagement, put-down

Related Words
aspersion, backbiting, calumny, defamation, libel, slander, vilification; derision, mockery, ridicule; abuse, invective, vituperation; censure, condemnation, criticism, denouncement, denunciation; de-emphasis, minimization, soft-pedaling

Near Antonyms
acclaim, praise; approbation, approval, blessing, commendation; hype, puffery

Antonyms
aggrandizement, ennoblement, exaltation, glorification, magnification

depreciative adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <the usual depreciative comments by the troops about the food in the mess hall> — see DEROGATORY

depreciatory adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <a customer making depreciatory remarks about the quality of the service at the restaurant> — see DEROGATORY

depress verb
1 to make sad <the thought of once again failing the bar exam depressed me>

Synonyms
bum (out), burden, dash, deject, get down, oppress, sadden, weigh down

Related Words
ail, distress, trouble; afflict, torment, torture; daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, get down, unnerve; agitate, bother, concern, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, disturb, exercise, freak (out), perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry

Near Antonyms
animate, enliven, invigorate; assure, comfort, console, reassure, solace, soothe; excite, inspire, stimulate; elate, exhilarate; encourage, hearten; delight, gratify, please; boost, elevate, lift, uplift

Antonyms
brighten, buoy, cheer (up), gladden, lighten, rejoice

2 to cause to fall intentionally or unintentionally <construction workers depressed the roadbed in order to make way for an overpass> — see DROP 1
3 to diminish the price or value of <the glut of wheat on the market has depressed that commodity for most of the past year> — see DEPRECIATE 1
4 to push steadily against with some force <depressed the lever to start the machine> — see 2PRESS 1

depressed adjective
1 curved inward <the depressed sections of the highway under the overpasses constantly get flooded during heavy rainstorms> — see HOLLOW
2 feeling unhappiness <I was depressed and didn't feel much like going to the party> — see SAD 1
3 kept from having the necessities of life or a healthful environment <a depressed class of people whose living conditions are abominable even by third world standards> — see DEPRIVED

depressing adjective
1 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the depressing atmosphere of the funeral> — see GLOOMY 1
2 causing unhappiness <more depressing news about the famine overseas> — see SAD 2

depression noun
1 a period of decreased economic activity <during the 1930s the U.S. suffered a great depression>

Synonyms
recession, slump

Related Words
bust, crash, panic; stagnation; downbeat, downdraft, downswing, downtrend, downturn, slowdown

Near Antonyms
development, growth; advancement, progress; rally, recovery

Antonyms
boom

2 a state or spell of low spirits <we threw our friend a party just to jar him out of his depression> — see SADNESS
3 a sunken area forming a separate space <the water generally collects in the patchwork of depressions in the city plaza> — see HOLE 2
4 the amount by which something is lessened <a depression in the number of new homes being built> — see DECREASE

depressive adjective
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the depressive air of a dingy barroom where locals went to drown their sorrows> — see GLOOMY 1

deprivation noun
the state of being robbed of something normally enjoyed <the concern of some that there has been a deprivation of rights since the passing of laws to combat the threat of terrorism> — see PRIVATION

deprive verb
1 to take something away from <working those long hours was depriving him of his sleep>

Synonyms
abate, bereave, divest, strip

Related Words
denude; cheat, clean (out), defraud, shortchange; bankrupt, disfurnish, impoverish

2 to remove from a position of prominence or power (as a throne) <one of scores of bishops who had been deprived after the anticlericals came to power> — see DEPOSE 1

deprived adjective
kept from having the necessities of life or a healthful environment <deprived children growing up in the slums>

Synonyms
depressed, disadvantaged, underprivileged

Related Words
beggared, broke, destitute, impecunious, impoverished, indigent, needy, penniless, penurious, poor, poverty-stricken, unprivileged; bankrupt, bankrupted, insolvent; pinched, reduced, straitened; displaced, dispossessed

Near Antonyms
blessed (also blest), fortunate, lucky; affluent, flush, loaded, moneyed (also monied), opulent, rich, wealthy, well-heeled, well-off, well-to-do; coddled, indulged, pampered, spoiled; comfortable, propertied, prosperous, successful; flourishing, prospering, thriving

Antonyms
advantaged, privileged

depth noun
1 distance measured from the top to the bottom of something <be sure to check the depth of the water before diving off the dock>

Synonyms
deepness, drop

Related Words
lowness; draft, sounding

Near Antonyms
shallowness; altitude, elevation, height, stature

2 the quality of being great in extent (as of insight) <the depth of the poet's understanding of human nature has given his works a timeless appeal>

Synonyms
deepness, profoundness, profundity

Related Words
discernment, perception, perceptiveness, perceptivity, percipience, sagacity, sapience, sense, sensibility, wisdom; braininess, brightness, brilliance, intellect, intelligence, judgment (or judgement), reason, sense, smartness, wit; acuity, acuteness, keenness, penetration, perspicacity, sensitivity, sharpness

Near Antonyms
shallowness, superficiality; brainlessness, idiocy, imbecility, mindlessness, simpleness, stupidity, witlessness; illogic, irrationality, unreasonableness, unsoundness

3 the most intense or characteristic phase of something <I was in the depths of profound thought when I was rudely interrupted> — see THICK
4 the lowest point or level <at the depth of her depression she had even contemplated suicide> — see NADIR 1
5 the most extreme or advanced point <even in the depth of the Great Depression people never lost hope> — see HEIGHT 2

depthless adjective
lacking significant physical depth <three inches of water may seem rather depthless, but unattended babies have drowned in bathtubs with that amount> — see SHALLOW 1

depute verb
to appoint as one's representative <the governor has the authority to depute anyone he wants> — see DELEGATE 1

deputize verb
to appoint as one's representative <he deputized a local citizen to take charge of the situation while he went for reinforcements> — see DELEGATE 1

deputy noun
1 a person who acts or does business for another <the club president sent a deputy to the conference to vote on our behalf> — see AGENT 2
2 a person who helps a more skilled person <a deputy supervisor to help out with routine tasks> — see HELPER

derail verb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <according to police, the suspect had been derailed in recent months by mounting financial problems> — see DISTURB 1

derange verb
1 to cause to go insane or as if insane <being stranded at night on a lonely road would derange anyone> — see CRAZE
2 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <the storage room had all been deranged by the earthquake, and it took hours to sort out things> — see DISORDER

deranged adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <a deranged prisoner who had been in that rat-infested hole for 20 years> — see INSANE 1

derangement noun
1 a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life <given powerful drugs to treat his derangement> — see INSANITY 1
2 an act or instance of the order of things being disturbed <the derangement of the carefully organized event by a single freak accident> — see UPSET

derelict adjective
1 failing to give proper care and attention <the guards were judged derelict in their duty> — see NEGLIGENT
2 left unoccupied or unused <an old derelict mansion that was rumored to be haunted> — see ABANDONED 1

derelict noun
an idle worthless person <a section of the city that seemed to be frequented mostly by derelicts> — see NE'ER-DO-WELL

dereliction noun
1 the act of abandoning <the family's shameful dereliction of their pets at the end of the summer season>

Synonyms
abandonment, desertion, forsaking

Related Words
defection; tergiversation; discard, dumping, jettisoning

Near Antonyms
retention; recoupment, repossession, retrieval

Antonyms
reclamation

2 failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes <the ski area was not held responsible for the injury on account of the skier's own manifest dereliction> — see NEGLIGENCE 1
3 the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action <both sentries were to be court-martialed for dereliction of duty> — see FAILURE 1
4 a defect in character <believes that society is guilty of a moral dereliction if it does not care for those unable to care for themselves> — see FAULT 1

deride verb
to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter <my brothers derided our efforts, but were forced to eat their words when we won first place> — see RIDICULE

de rigueur adjective
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste <though he was wearing a dinner jacket and a black bow tie, his jeans and tennis shoes were hardly de rigueur> — see PROPER 1

derision noun
1 a person or thing that is made fun of <in the 19th century any supporter of women's rights could expect to become a derision to her neighbors> — see LAUGHINGSTOCK
2 the making of unkind jokes as a way of showing one's scorn for someone or something <her absurd behavior on the awards show became a source of derision for comedians> — see RIDICULE

derisive adjective
so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter <the derisive performances of some of the singers on the talent show> — see RIDICULOUS 1

derisory adjective
1 intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <a literary snob, she invariably used the derisory term “the boob tube” when referring to television> — see DEROGATORY
2 so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter <the pawnbroker offered what I regarded as a derisory amount for the diamond ring> — see RIDICULOUS 1

derivable adjective
being or provable by reasoning in which the conclusion follows necessarily from given information <the solution was easily derivable from the clues we were given> — see DEDUCTIVE

derivate noun
something that naturally develops or is developed from something else <a cuisine that is regarded by some as a derivate of creole cookery> — see DERIVATIVE

derivation noun
something that naturally develops or is developed from something else <the noun is a derivation of a much earlier verb> — see DERIVATIVE

derivative adjective
taken or created from something original or basic <a derivative style that she took from earlier and better painters> — see SECONDARY 1

derivative noun
something that naturally develops or is developed from something else <the whole field of industrial robots is a derivative of technology developed for the space program>

Synonyms
by-product, derivate, derivation, offshoot, outgrowth, spin-off

Related Words
descendant (also descendent); aftermath, consequence, corollary, development, fruit, growth, issue, outcome, product, result, sequel, sequence, upshot; denouement (also dénouement), repercussion; aftereffect, side effect (also side reaction); copy, duplicate, facsimile, replica, reproduction

Near Antonyms
archetype, original, prototype; antecedent, cause, determinant, occasion, reason

Antonyms
origin, root, source

derive verb
to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information <from the summit, he was able to derive his location from the position of several prominent landmarks> — see INFER 1

dernier cri noun
a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <when deconstructionism became the dernier cri in literary criticism> — see FAD

derogate verb
to express scornfully one's low opinion of <there's no need to derogate him as a human being just because you disagree with him politically> — see DECRY 1

derogation noun
the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant <those remarks were not intended as a derogation of popular music> — see DEPRECIATION

derogative adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <since “housewife” is now regarded by some as a derogative word, designations such as “stay-at-home mom” have emerged> — see DEROGATORY

derogatory adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <fans made a steady stream of derogatory remarks about the players on the visiting team>

Synonyms
belittling, contemptuous, decrying, degrading, demeaning, denigrative, denigratory, deprecatory, depreciative, depreciatory, derisory, derogative, detractive, disdainful, disparaging, pejorative, scornful, slighting, uncomplimentary

Related Words
aspersing, calumnious, defamatory, insulting, libelous (or libellous), maligning, slandering, slanderous, vilifying; abusive, opprobrious, scurrilous; catty, cruel, despiteful, hateful, malevolent, malicious, malign, malignant, mean, nasty, spiteful, unkind, virulent; critical, denunciative, denunciatory; acrimonious, bitter, envious, jaundiced, jealous, rancorous, resentful; acrid, caustic, scathing, venomous

Near Antonyms
admiring, adulatory, applauding, approving, friendly, positive; appreciative, respectful; kind, kindhearted, kindly, sympathetic, unmalicious, warm, warmhearted

Antonyms
commendatory, complimentary, laudative, laudatory

derriere or derrière noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <swimsuits that should be worn only by those with tight little derrieres> — see BUTTOCKS

desacralize verb
to remove the sacred qualities or status of <deplores how contemporary society has desacralized and trivialized the celebration of Christmas> — see DESANCTIFY

desanctify verb
to remove the sacred qualities or status of <desanctified the church building and converted it into condos>

Synonyms
deconsecrate, desacralize

Related Words
defile, desecrate, profane, violate

Near Antonyms
canonize, deify, venerate; spiritualize; chasten, cleanse, purify; exorcise (also exorcize), expurgate

Antonyms
bless, consecrate, hallow, sacralize, sanctify

descant verb
1 to give a formal often extended talk on a subject <an English professor who loves to descant on his beloved Shakespeare> — see TALK 1
2 to produce musical sounds with the voice <the soprano descanted above the melody line> — see SING 1

descend verb
1 to lead or extend downward <the pathway descends to the river bank>

Synonyms
decline, dip, drop, fall, plunge, sink

Related Words
angle, cant, cock, heel, incline, lean, list, recline, slant, slope, tilt, tip

Near Antonyms
even, flatten, level, plane, smooth, straighten

Antonyms
arise, ascend, climb, mount, rise, uprise, upsweep, upturn

2 to become worse or of less value <the family's economic fortunes descended to the point where they were finally homeless> — see DETERIORATE 1
3 to go to a lower level especially abruptly <leaves slowly descended from the branches in the gentle autumn wind> — see DROP 2
4 to come down from something (as a vehicle) <the driver descended from the truck's cab, dreading to see what he had hit> — see ALIGHT 2

descend (on or upon) verb
to take sudden, violent action against <the shock troops descended on the village without warning> — see ATTACK 1

descendant also descendent adjective
bending downward or forward <the descendant branches of a weeping willow> — see NODDING

descending adjective
bending downward or forward <with descending heads the mourners made their way to the burial site> — see NODDING

descent noun
1 the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude <the airplane began its gradual descent to the landing field>

Synonyms
dip, dive, down, drop, fall, nosedive, plunge

Related Words
comedown, decline, downfall, downgrade; plummeting, sinking

Near Antonyms
advance, headway, progress, progression; betterment, improvement

Antonyms
ascent, climb, rise, rising, soaring, upswing, upturn

2 a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body <the family patriarch's heartbreaking descent into infirmity and senility> — see DECLINE 1
3 a change to a lower state or level <the nation's rapid descent into anarchy after the revolution> — see DECLINE 2
4 a loss of status <for throwing the game, the ballplayer underwent a huge descent in the eyes of the fans> — see COMEDOWN
5 a sudden attack on and entrance into hostile territory <the lightning descent of the invading army on that unsuspecting border town> — see RAID 1
6 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <the descent of the voracious locusts on the wheat fields> — see ATTACK 1
7 the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <a person of Finnish descent> — see ANCESTRY
8 a downward slope <on bicycle tours the ascents always seem to outnumber the descents> — see DECLINE 3

describe verb
1 to give a representation or account of in words <he tried to describe the dream he had last night as accurately as he could>

Synonyms
delineate, depict, draw, image, limn, paint, picture, portray, render, set out, sketch

Related Words
characterize, define, label, qualify, represent; demonstrate, illustrate; narrate, recite, recount, rehearse, relate, report, tell; display, exhibit, show; hint, suggest; draft, outline, silhouette, trace, vignette; summarize, sum up, touch off; redescribe, reimage

Near Antonyms
color, distort, falsify, garble, misdescribe, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, twist, warp

2 to give an oral or written account of in some detail <a biography of Washington that describes the decisive Battle of Yorktown at great length> — see TELL 1
3 to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group <how would you describe the Inupiat people you encountered in Alaska?> — see CHARACTERIZE 1

description noun
1 a vivid representation in words of someone or something <we immediately recognized the man from our cousin's description of him>

Synonyms
definition, delineation, depiction, picture, portrait, portraiture, portrayal, rendering, sketch, vignette

Related Words
account, anecdote, chronicle, narrative, report, story, tale, yarn; demonstration, exemplification, illustration; clarification, elucidation, explanation, explication, exposition

2 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <fixes small appliances and other things of that description> — see SORT 1

descry verb
1 to come upon after searching, study, or effort <we couldn't descry the reasons for his sudden departure> — see FIND 1
2 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <could just descry the ship coming over the horizon> — see SEE 1

desecrate verb
to treat (a sacred place or object) shamefully or with great disrespect <vandals desecrated the cemetery last night by covering the tombstones with graffiti>

Synonyms
defile, profane, violate

Related Words
deconsecrate, desacralize, desanctify; blaspheme, curse, swear; befoul, contaminate, foul, poison, pollute, soil, sully, taint; affront, defame, insult, offend, outrage; annihilate, crush, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, ravage, raze, ruin, waste, wreck; despoil, loot, pillage, plunder, raid, ransack, rob, sack, spoil, strip

Near Antonyms
bless, consecrate, dedicate, hallow, sanctify; honor, respect; cleanse, purge, purify

desecration noun
an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things <the communicants were aghast at the desecration of the altar> — see BLASPHEMY

deselect verb
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <he'll deselect any plan that doesn't put him in total control> — see DECLINE 1

desensitized adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <having lived through the horrors of war, the soldiers had seemingly become desensitized to virtually all human suffering> — see HARD 1

1desert noun
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops <we were lost in the desert for days without food> — see WASTELAND

2desert noun, usually deserts plural
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense <the robbers got their just deserts> — see PUNISHMENT

desert verb
1 to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another <the volunteer became disillusioned with his candidate and deserted to a political rival> — see DEFECT FROM
2 to cause to remain behind <deserted the kids at the food court for some independent shopping> — see LEAVE 1

deserted adjective
left unoccupied or unused <we had the deserted beach all to ourselves> — see ABANDONED 1

deserter noun
a person who abandons a cause or organization usually without right <we had orders to find and capture the deserters before they could reveal our location> — see RENEGADE

desertion noun
the act of abandoning <the soldiers were imprisoned for desertion of their posts> — see DERELICTION 1

deserve verb
to be or make worthy of (as a reward or punishment) <the team really deserved that victory after the way they played> — see EARN 2

deserved adjective
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong <a well deserved promotion for a hard worker> — see JUST 1

deserving adjective
having sufficient worth or merit to receive one's honor, esteem, or reward <gifts donated to deserving children every Christmas> — see WORTHY

desex verb
to remove the sex organs of <desex the baby chickens destined for market> — see NEUTER

desiccate verb
1 to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality <that historian's dryasdust prose desiccates what is actually an exciting period in European history> — see DEHYDRATE 1
2 to make dry <add a cup of desiccated coconut to the mix> — see DRY 1

desiderate verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <a wide gulf between what they desiderate and what they deserve> — see DESIRE 1

design noun
1 a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective <she always achieves her objective by design rather than by luck> — see PLAN 1
2 a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends <the adventurer had devised an elaborate design to get the widow's fortune> — see PLOT 1
3 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <the immigrant laborer had ambitious designs in mind for his daughter> — see GOAL
4 a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric) <the curtains have a lovely floral design> — see PATTERN 1
5 the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged <the design of the building's lobby encourages the free flow of traffic> — see COMPOSITION 3

design verb
1 to have in mind as a purpose or goal <early on she had designed to a top position in a major insurance company> — see INTEND 1
2 to work out the details of (something) in advance <the foreman designed a better layout for the factory floor to improve efficiency> — see PLAN 1

designate verb
1 to decide upon (the time or date for an event) usually from a position of authority <the designated time for the meeting> — see APPOINT 1
2 to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty <he has yet to designate his successor as head of the firm> — see APPOINT 2
3 to give a name to <he was designated “Air Jordan” by his fans> — see NAME 1

designated hitter noun
a person or thing that takes the place of another <you'll have to be my designated hitter in the office while I'm on business trips> — see SUBSTITUTE

designation noun
1 a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known <we've never given the homemade gadget a proper designation> — see NAME 1
2 the state or fact of being chosen for a position or duty <his surprising designation as the running mate raised a few eyebrows> — see APPOINTMENT 1

designedly adverb
with full awareness of what one is doing <the puzzle was designedly difficult to decipher> — see INTENTIONALLY

designee noun
one who has been chosen by some authority for a specific position or duty <the director or his designee shall sign the report> — see APPOINTEE

designer adjective
being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <that car manufacturer is claiming that their new models are the last word in designer technology> — see MODERN

designer noun
one who creates or introduces something new <credited as the designer of the first sneaker specifically intended for distance running> — see INVENTOR

designing adjective
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <he suspected his new admirer of being a designing woman who only wanted his money> — see ARTFUL 1

desirability noun
suitability for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <the desirability of immortality becomes a little less certain after some consideration of the consequences> — see EXPEDIENCY

desirable adjective
1 sexually attractive <the desirable young stars of a television reality show> — see SEXY 1
2 suitable for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <a desirable location for the new house> — see EXPEDIENT

desirableness noun
suitability for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <began to question the desirableness of a life of indolence on a tropical isle> — see EXPEDIENCY

desire noun
1 a strong wish for something <a desire for adventure and excitement prompted him to travel to Africa>

Synonyms
appetency, appetite, craving, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, jones [slang], letch, longing, lust, passion, pining, thirst, thirstiness, urge, yearning, yen

Related Words
compulsion, impulse, impulsion, will, zeal; liking, love, taste, weakness; eagerness, impatience; want, wish; necessity, need, requirement; obsession; acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, covetousness, cupidity, greed, greediness, rapaciousness, rapacity; cacoëthes, mania

Near Antonyms
abhorrence, abomination, allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, distaste, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion; apathy, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

2 sexual appetite <the nude pictures were clearly intended to provoke desire>

Synonyms
concupiscence, eroticism, horniness, hots, itch, lech, letch, libidinousness, lust, lustfulness, lustihood, passion, salaciousness

Related Words
libido; ardor, heat, rut; erotomania, hypersexuality, lecherousness, lechery, nymphomania, satyriasis; venery

Near Antonyms
abstinence, celibacy, chastity; frigidity, frigidness

3 an earnest request <at the delegate's desire, the voice vote on the controversial measure was followed by an actual roll call> — see PLEA 1

desire verb
1 to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <he greatly desired a new mountain bike for his next birthday>

Synonyms
ache (for), covet, crave, desiderate, die (for), hanker (for or after), hunger (for), itch (for), jones (for) [slang], long (for), lust (for or after), pant (after), pine (for), repine (for), salivate (for), sigh (for), thirst (for), want, wish (for), yearn (for), yen (for)

Related Words
spoil (for); adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, love, relish, revel (in); favor, prefer; admire, appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value

Phrases
set one's heart on

Near Antonyms
abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe; decline, refuse, reject, spurn

2 to make a request for <the host desires a response to the dinner invitation by tomorrow> — see ASK FOR 1

desirous adjective
showing urgent desire or interest <management is very desirous of finishing the project on time and within budget> — see EAGER

desirousness noun
urgent desire or interest <her desirousness for advancement in the corporation is such that she'll stamp on anyone in her way> — see EAGERNESS

desist (from) verb
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <ordered to desist from all attempts to contact his estranged wife> — see STOP 1

desk noun
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization <the city desk of a prominent newspaper> — see DIVISION 2

desolate adjective
1 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <a desolate house abandoned many years ago> — see GLOOMY 1
2 sad from lack of companionship or separation from others <destitute and desolate since her husband walked out on her> — see LONESOME 1
3 left unoccupied or unused <a desolate mining town that had its brief heyday more than a century ago> — see ABANDONED 1
4 producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation <wild, desolate plains on which only the hardiest could survive> — see BARREN 1

desolate verb
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <totally desolated the city with aerial bombs> — see DESTROY 1

desolation noun
1 a state or spell of low spirits <his desolation after his twin brother died was incurable> — see SADNESS
2 land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops <looked out over the vast untamed desolation to the north> — see WASTELAND
3 the state of being unattended to or not cared for <the desolation of the abandoned garden> — see NEGLECT 1
4 the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <the nuclear attack resulted in a scene of utter desolation> — see DESTRUCTION 1

despair noun
1 utter loss of hope <the endless drought drove the farmers to despair>

Synonyms
desperation, despond, despondence, despondency, forlornness, hopelessness

Related Words
blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, disconsolateness, dispiritedness, doldrums, dolor, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, gloom, gloominess, joylessness, melancholy, mopes, oppression, sadness, sorrow, unhappiness; self-despair, self-pity; dolefulness, mournfulness, sorrowfulness, woefulness; agony, distress, pain; misery, woe, wretchedness; cynicism, pessimism; acceptance, resignation

Phrases
slough of despond

Near Antonyms
cheer, cheerfulness, sunniness; optimism; gaiety (also gayety), glee, gleefulness, jollity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, mirth, mirthfulness; bliss, blissfulness, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, gladness, happiness, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, rapture, rapturousness

Antonyms
hope, hopefulness

2 the state of being discouraged <the other team's temporary lead caused some momentary despair> — see DISCOURAGEMENT

despair verb
to lose all hope or confidence <we despaired when we saw how little time we had left to complete our project>

Synonyms
despond

Related Words
give up, surrender, yield; darken, sadden; agonize, bleed, grieve, hurt, mourn, sorrow, suffer; discourage, dishearten, dispirit

Phrases
lose heart

Near Antonyms
exult, rejoice; assure, encourage, hearten, reassure; hope

Antonyms
brighten, cheer (up), perk (up)

despairing adjective
1 emphasizing or expecting the worst <despairing predictions regarding the effects of global overpopulation> — see PESSIMISTIC 1
2 feeling or showing no hope <despairing applicants need to be reminded that most students are eventually accepted somewhere> — see DESPONDENT 1

desperate adjective
feeling or showing no hope <desperate cancer patients who are vulnerable to the claims of unscrupulous quacks> — see DESPONDENT 1

desperately adverb
to a great degree <all of a sudden everything went desperately wrong> — see VERY 1

desperation noun
utter loss of hope <during the famine her desperation drove her to do things she wouldn't have normally considered> — see DESPAIR 1

despicable adjective
1 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <even within the prison population, pedophiles are regarded as particularly despicable> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1
2 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <the cad's despicable behavior toward women> — see IGNOBLE 2
3 deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy) <a despicable attempt at making a movie comedy> — see PITIFUL 1

despise verb
1 to dislike strongly <I despise anchovies on pizza, and I refuse to eat them!> — see HATE
2 to ignore in a disrespectful manner <a traitor hated and despised by the whole community> — see SCORN 2

despisement noun
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect <an expression of total despisement for the “unwashed masses”> — see CONTEMPT

despite noun
1 open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect <pointedly ignored his false friend out of despite> — see CONTEMPT
2 the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <sheer despite was the sole reason for her hurtful comments> — see MALICE
3 the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success <baffled as to why working-class voters would vote in despite of their own economic interests> — see DISADVANTAGE 2

despite preposition
without being prevented by <we went to the party despite the bad weather outside>

Synonyms
notwithstanding, regardless of, with

Phrases
in defiance of, in despite of, in spite of

despiteful adjective
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it <despiteful treatment of his poor relations during their visit> — see HATEFUL

despitefully adverb
in a mean or spiteful manner <a theater critic known for his despitefully negative reviews> — see NASTILY

despitefulness noun
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect <the undisguised despitefulness with which the fashion designer announces his “10 worst” list> — see CONTEMPT

despoil verb
to search through with the intent of committing robbery <the burglars despoiled the art museum in search of treasures they thought they could sell to a fence> — see RANSACK 1

despond noun
1 a state or spell of low spirits <he sank into a crushing despond after his wife left him> — see SADNESS
2 utter loss of hope <loss of his job threw him into a deep despond> — see DESPAIR 1

despond verb
to lose all hope or confidence <we must not despond even though we live in trying times> — see DESPAIR

despondence noun
1 a state or spell of low spirits <her slumping posture betrayed a growing despondence> — see SADNESS
2 utter loss of hope <the ability to endure defeat without despondence has allowed him to weather the ups and downs of an acting career> — see DESPAIR 1

despondency noun
1 a state or spell of low spirits <in despondency because he couldn't seem to settle into a lasting relationship> — see SADNESS
2 the state of being discouraged <in their despondency they seemingly forgot that losing teams can become winning teams in a single season> — see DISCOURAGEMENT
3 utter loss of hope <never once gave into despondency and self-pity during her long recovery from her injuries in the car crash> — see DESPAIR 1

despondent adjective
1 feeling or showing no hope <after four days and still no word that the missing plane had been located, the relatives were despondent>

Synonyms
despairing, desperate, forlorn, hopeless

Related Words
blue, brokenhearted, crestfallen, dejected, depressed, disconsolate, doleful, down, downcast, downhearted, gloomy, glum, hangdog, heartbroken, heartsick, heartsore, inconsolable, joyless, low, low-spirited, melancholy, miserable, mournful, sad, saddened, sorrowful, sorry, unhappy, woebegone, woeful, wretched; abject, disappointed, discouraged, disheartened, dispirited; grieving, wailing, weeping; bleak, cheerless, comfortless, dark, depressing, desolate, dismal, drear, dreary, funereal; cynical, pessimistic; accepting, resigned

Near Antonyms
ecstatic, elated, enraptured, entranced, euphoric, exhilarated, exuberant, exultant; blithe, blithesome, gay, jocund, jolly, jovial, lightsome, merry, mirthful; encouraged, heartened; animated, jaunty, lively, perky, sprightful, sprightly, vivacious; blissful, buoyant, cheerful, cheery, chipper, delighted, glad, gladdened, gladsome, gleeful, happy, joyful, joyous, jubilant, sunny, upbeat

Antonyms
hopeful, optimistic

2 feeling unhappiness <feeling despondent over the death of another close friend> — see SAD 1

despot noun
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way <the despot exiled political dissidents to remote labor camps, where they were left to rot>

Synonyms
caesar, dictator, führer (or fuehrer), oppressor, pharaoh, strongman, tyrannizer, tyrant

Related Words
autarch, autocrat, monocrat; authoritarian, Big Brother, paramount, potentate, totalitarian; caudillo, overlord, warlord; boss, captain, chief, dominator, kingpin, leader, master, overlord, ruler; king, lord, monarch, prince, queen, sovereign (also sovran); baron, czar (also tsar or tzar), magnate, mogul, tycoon; disciplinarian, discipliner, enforcer, martinet, taskmaster

Phrases
man on horseback

despotic adjective
1 exercising power or authority without interference by others <a nation ruled by a series of despotic rulers, each seemingly worse than the last> — see ABSOLUTE 1
2 fond of ordering people around <the despotic coach demands that his players obey him without question> — see BOSSY

despotism noun
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power <by the end of the 20th century many countries around the world had rejected despotism in favor of democracy>

Synonyms
absolutism, autarchy, authoritarianism, autocracy, Caesarism, czarism (also tsarism or tzarism), dictatorship, totalism, totalitarianism, tyranny

Related Words
monarchism, monarchy, monocracy; Big Brother, Big Brotherism, Communism, fascism, Nazism; domination, oppression

Near Antonyms
democracy, self-governance, self-government, self-rule; freedom, self-determination; autonomy, sovereignty (also sovranty)

destine verb
to determine the fate of in advance <his extreme height seemed to destine him for a career in basketball>

Synonyms
doom, fate, foredoom, foreordain, ordain, predestine, predetermine, preordain

Related Words
predestinate; augur, forecast, foretell, predict, presage, prognosticate, prophesy; preconceive, prejudge; condemn, sentence; bode, forebode (also forbode), portend; anticipate, divine, foreknow, foresee

destiny noun
a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand <I just knew that it wasn't my destiny to end up in a dead-end job> — see FATE 1

destitute adjective
1 lacking money or material possessions <many families were left destitute by the horrible fire> — see POOR 1
2 utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected <a lingering drought and a sky destitute of rain clouds> — see DEVOID 1

destituteness noun
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <the appalling destituteness of the people in that underdeveloped country> — see POVERTY 1

destitution noun
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <widespread destitution in Third World countries> — see POVERTY 1

de–stress verb
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety <he watches classic movie comedies as a way to de-stress> — see RELAX 1

destroy verb
1 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <they practically destroyed the safe in order to get at the money inside> <their poor scores on the final exam destroyed any chance they might have had to pass the course>

Synonyms
annihilate, cream, decimate, demolish, desolate, devastate, do in, extinguish, nuke, pull down, pulverize, raze, rub out, ruin, shatter, smash, tear down, total, vaporize, waste, wrack, wreck

Related Words
beat, best, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), rout, scotch, skunk, subdue, surmount, thrash, trim, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, win (against); blast, blow up, break, cripple, damage, deface, deteriorate, disfigure, disintegrate, dissolve, dynamite, harm, impair, injure, mangle, mar, mutilate, spoil, vitiate; erode, scour, sweep (away), wash out, wear (away); dilapidate, disassemble, dismantle, gut, take down, unbuild, undo, unmake; blot out, efface, eradicate, expunge, exterminate, extirpate, liquidate, obliterate, remove, root (out), snuff (out), stamp (out), wipe out; despoil, havoc, loot, pillage, plunder, ravage, sack, trample, trash, vandalize; assassinate, butcher, cut down, dispatch, execute, fell, kill, kill off, massacre, mow (down), murder, slaughter, slay, take out, zap

Near Antonyms
doctor, fix, mend, patch, recondition, repair, revamp; create, invent; assemble, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, mold, produce, shape; bring about, constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize; conserve, preserve, protect, save; rebuild, reconstruct, remodel, renovate, restore

Antonyms
build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rear, set up

2 to bring destruction to (something) through violent action <wildfires destroyed thousands of acres in forests across the state> — see RAVAGE
3 to deprive of life <regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse> — see KILL 1

destruction noun
1 the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <the violent storm resulted in the destruction of their tree house>

Synonyms
annihilation, decimation, demolishment, demolition, desolation, devastation, extermination, extinction, havoc, loss, mincemeat, obliteration, ruin, ruination, wastage, wreckage

Related Words
depredation, despoilment, despoliation; breakup, collapse, disintegration, dissolution; assassination, execution, killing, massacre, slaughter; dismantlement, effacement, eradication

Near Antonyms
rescue, salvage, salvation, saving; conservation, preservation, protection; reclamation, reconstruction, re-creation, refurbishment, regeneracy, remodeling, renovation, restoration

Antonyms
building, construction, erection, raising

2 something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life <alcohol will be her destruction if we don't intervene to help her> — see DOWNFALL 1

destructive adjective
1 causing or tending to cause destruction <the destructive storm blew down trees all over town, and blew the roof off our neighbor's house>

Synonyms
annihilatory, calamitous, cataclysmal (or cataclysmic), devastating, devastative, disastrous, ruinous

Related Words
antibiotic, biocidal; baleful, deadly, deathly, fatal, fell, killer, lethal, mortal, murderous, pestilent, poisonous, virulent, vital; deleterious, detrimental, harmful, pernicious

Near Antonyms
preservative, protective; constructive, creative, formative, productive; harmless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive; ameliorative, helpful, useful; healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal, salubrious, wholesome

Antonyms
nondestructive

2 bringing about ruin or misfortune <technology used for destructive ends> — see FATAL 1

desuetude noun
lack of use <despite the long years of desuetude, the old manual typewriter seemed to work just fine> — see DISUSE

desultorily adverb
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method <sat watching the movie, desultorily eating popcorn> — see HIT OR MISS

desultory adjective
1 lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern <a desultory search for something of interest on TV> — see RANDOM
2 passing from one topic to another <a desultory discussion about the news of the day> — see DISCURSIVE

detached adjective
1 having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <a detached observer at company parties, taking it all in and saying very little> — see COOL 1
2 not physically attached to another unit <a detached garage on the side of the house> — see SEPARATE 2

detachment noun
1 lack of favoritism toward one side or another <the judge showed commendable detachment when deciding the controversial case>

Synonyms
disinterest, disinterestedness, equity, evenhandedness, fair-mindedness, fairness, impartiality, justice, neutralism, neutrality, nonpartisanship, objectiveness, objectivity

Related Words
apathy, indifference, unconcern; broad-mindedness, open-mindedness, tolerance; fence-sitting, straddling

Near Antonyms
chauvinism, nepotism; subjectiveness, subjectivity; bent, inclination, leaning, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, propensity, tendency; preconception, prejudgment

Antonyms
bias, favor, favoritism, nonobjectivity, one-sidedness, partiality, partisanship, prejudice

2 a small military unit with a special task or function <the general sent a detachment ahead to scout the enemy's position>

Synonyms
detail

Related Words
commando, firing squad, outpost, paratroops, patrol, picket, rear guard, sentry, watch; battalion, command, company, corps, division, platoon, regiment, squad, squadron, troop, wing

3 the absence of emotional involvement <his detachment allowed him a clearer perspective on the child custody case> — see COOL 1

detail noun
1 a separate part in a list, account, or series <every detail was accounted for> — see ITEM 1
2 a single piece of information <didn't leave out a single detail in his police report on the burglary> — see FACT 3
3 a small military unit with a special task or function <the officer sent out a detail to patrol the perimeter of the compound> — see DETACHMENT 2
4 a specific task with which a person or group is charged <the soldier was placed on guard detail at the border crossing> — see MISSION

detail verb
1 to assign to a place or position <once again he was detailed to guard duty> — see 2POST
2 to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty <the new assistant was detailed to accompany the boss on the business trip> — see APPOINT 2
3 to specify one after another <detailed all of the reasons that the plan was a bad idea> — see ENUMERATE 1

detailed adjective
1 including many small descriptive features <a detailed report on all the activities that their Scout troop had been involved in over the past year>

Synonyms
blow-by-blow, circumstantial, elaborate, full, minute, particular, particularized, thorough

Related Words
enumerated, inventoried, itemized, listed, numerated; delineated, specific, specified; abundant, copious; comprehensive, encyclopedic, exhausting, exhaustive, inclusionary, inclusive, in-depth, omnibus, panoramic, thoroughgoing; accurate, correct, exact, precise; complete, entire, replete; distinct, explicit, sharp; mapped (out); descriptive, graphic (also graphical), picturesque, vivid

Near Antonyms
brief, compact, concise, crisp, pithy, short, succinct, terse; abbreviated, abridged, curtailed, cut, pruned, shortened, trimmed; ambiguous, indeterminate, nebulous, nondescript, sketchy, vague; bird's-eye, broad, general, nonspecific, overall, unspecified

Antonyms
compendious, summary

2 made or done with great care or with much detail <a detailed miniature of the royal palace> — see ELABORATE 1

detailedly adverb
with attention to all aspects or details <went over the proposal somewhat more detailedly than he had the first time> — see THOROUGHLY 1

detainer noun
1 the state of being held in lawful custody <keep him in detainer for at least 72 hours> — see DETENTION 1
2 the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority <she filed an action for unlawful detainer of land after nonpayment of rent> — see APPROPRIATION 2

detainment noun
1 an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business <the returning vacationers' detainment at the border only lasted a few minutes> — see DELAY
2 the state of being held in lawful custody <she'll be kept in detainment until the trial if she can't post bail> — see DETENTION 1

detect verb
to come upon after searching, study, or effort <I can detect just a hint of lemon in the soup> — see FIND 1

detectable adjective
able to be perceived by a sense or by the mind <there was a barely detectable hum coming from the refrigerator> — see PERCEPTIBLE

detection noun
the act or process of sighting or learning the existence of something for the first time <my detection of the scent of baked apple pie led me to the kitchen> — see DISCOVERY 1

detective noun
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons <the code used by the serial killer in his letters to the police was actually cracked by an amateur detective>

Synonyms
dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, investigator, operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator, shamus [slang], sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound

Related Words
shadow, tail, tracer, tracker; fed, Federal, G-man, narc (or nark) [slang], plainclothesman

detector noun
a device that detects some physical quantity and responds usually with a transmitted signal <a motion detector to thwart burglaries> — see SENSOR

detention noun
1 the state of being held in lawful custody <he's been in detention since the arrest>

Synonyms
detainer, detainment, hold, immurement, imprisonment, incarceration

Related Words
captivity, confinement, internment; apprehension, arrest, arrestment, bust [slang], collar, pinch; capture, entrapment, seizure; enchainment, restraint

Near Antonyms
emancipation, freedom, liberation

Antonyms
discharge, release

2 an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business <an inane joke about a bomb netted the airline passenger no laughs, only a two-hour detention that caused him to miss his flight> — see DELAY

deter verb
to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action <we tried to deter him from his crazy scheme, but to no avail> — see DISCOURAGE 2

deterge verb
to remove the dirt from <deterge the surface using an industrial-strength commercial soap> — see CLEAN 1

detergent noun
a substance used for cleaning <add the detergent to the washing machine before putting in the clothes> — see CLEANER

deteriorate verb
1 to become worse or of less value <the garden slowly deteriorated after months of neglect>

Synonyms
atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, sink, worsen

Related Words
abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane; break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy; sour, spoil; lessen, lower, reduce; debilitate, undermine; droop, fail, fall, flag, lag, languish, run down, sag, slip, waste (away), weaken, wilt

Phrases
go to pot, go to seed (or run to seed)

Near Antonyms
better, upgrade; enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen; advance, develop, march, proceed, progress

Antonyms
ameliorate, improve, meliorate

2 to lower in character, dignity, or quality <childish name-calling that merely deteriorates what should be a serious discussion on an important issue> — see DEBASE 1

deterioration noun
1 a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body <muscle deterioration resulting from prolonged disuse> — see DECLINE 1
2 a change to a lower state or level <a deterioration in the quality of food at that once-thriving restaurant> — see DECLINE 2

determinate adjective
1 having been established and usually not subject to change <a determinate order of succession to the throne> — see FIXED 1
2 having distinct or certain limits <contestants have a determinate length of time to answer the questions> — see LIMITED 1

determination noun
1 firm or unwavering adherence to one's purpose <the determination with which the pioneers settled the land despite many hardships and setbacks>

Synonyms
decidedness, decision, decisiveness, determinedness, firmness, granite, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution, resolve, stick-to-itiveness

Related Words
doggedness, obduracy, obdurateness, obstinacy, obstinateness, perseverance, persistence, persistency, stubbornness, tenaciousness, tenacity; certainty, certitude, confidence, sureness; alacrity, eagerness, gameness, readiness; backbone, fortitude, grit, iron, pluck, sand

Near Antonyms
doubt, incertitude, indetermination, uncertainty; aversion, disinclination, indisposition, reluctance, unwillingness

Antonyms
hesitation, indecision, indecisiveness, irresoluteness, irresolution, vacillation

2 a position arrived at after consideration <a determination by the judge regarding an appropriate sentence> — see DECISION 1
3 an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning <his determination of the truth of the matter> — see CONCLUSION 1

determine verb
1 to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) <a three-member panel will determine the case> — see JUDGE 1
2 to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration <trying to determine which direction we were facing> — see DECIDE 1
3 to come upon after searching, study, or effort <we failed to determine the answer to the riddle> — see FIND 1
4 to come to an end <your participation in the savings plan determines with the termination of your employment here> — see CEASE 1
5 to make final, definite, or beyond dispute <your choice of college could determine the rest of your life> — see CLINCH

determined adjective
1 fully committed to achieving a goal <his determined opponent would not be bluffed or shaken>

Synonyms
bent (on or upon), bound, decisive, do-or-die, firm, hell-bent (on or upon), intent, out, purposeful, resolute, resolved, set, single-minded

Related Words
bitter, vehement; certain, cocksure, confident, positive, sure; earnest, serious; steady, unfaltering, unhesitating, unswerving, unwavering; adamant, adamantine, dogged, hard, hardened, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inflexible, mulish, obdurate, persistent, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, tenacious, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful (or wilful)

Phrases
on one's mettle

Near Antonyms
distrustful, doubtful, dubious, mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, unsettled, unsure; disinclined, indisposed, loath (also loth or loathe), reluctant

Antonyms
faltering, hesitant, indecisive, irresolute, undetermined, unresolved, vacillating, wavering, weak-kneed

2 showing no signs of slackening or yielding in one's purpose <a determined effort to finish first in the race> — see UNYIELDING 1

determinedly adverb
with great effort or determination <determinedly unhip, the restaurant serves old-fashioned comfort food> — see HARD 1

determinedness noun
firm or unwavering adherence to one's purpose <she set about her goal of landing a rich husband with such determinedness that one could not observe the proceedings with anything but the greatest admiration> — see DETERMINATION 1

deterrent noun
something that makes movement or progress difficult <the homeowner put up a fence around his garden as a deterrent for animals> — see ENCUMBRANCE

detest verb
to dislike strongly <I detest pepperoni, and wouldn't eat it if you paid me!> — see HATE

detestable adjective
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <the detestable actions of a nasty little man> — see IGNOBLE 2

detestation noun
1 a very strong dislike <a congenital detestation of injustice, which drove her to become an activist for civil rights> — see HATE 1
2 something or someone that is hated <the family's pickiest eater is quite vehement in expressing his feelings about boiled cabbage, a particular detestation of his> — see HATE 2

dethrone verb
to remove from a position of prominence or power (as a throne) <the nation's last monarch was dethroned in a popular uprising many years ago> — see DEPOSE 1

detonate verb
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure <the bomb detonated with a thunder that could be heard for blocks in all directions> — see EXPLODE 1

detonation noun
the act or an instance of exploding <there was a series of detonations around the base of the condemned building, causing it to come crashing down in a matter of minutes> — see EXPLOSION 1

detour noun
a turning away from a course or standard <we'll regard this relapse as just a brief detour on your road to recovery from substance abuse> — see DIVERGENCE 2

detour verb
1 to avoid by going around <we had to detour the construction zone in order to get to the stadium>

Synonyms
bypass, circumnavigate, circumvent, skirt

Related Words
leapfrog; avoid, dodge, duck, elude, escape, eschew, evade, flee, shake, shun

Near Antonyms
confront, face, meet; accept, court, embrace, pursue, seek, welcome

2 to change one's course or direction <we had to detour for a few miles around the section of highway under construction> — see TURN 3

detract verb
to draw the attention or mind to something else <numerous typos in the text detract the reader's attention from the novel's intricate plot> — see DISTRACT 1

detraction noun
the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant <her inevitable detraction of every new idea is annoying to the other club members> — see DEPRECIATION

detractive adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <used the detractive epithet “McJob” to describe what his feckless son-in-law did for work> — see DEROGATORY

detriment noun
1 something that causes loss or pain <opponents of casino gambling claim that it is a detriment to society at large> — see INJURY 1
2 the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success <the requirement that runners wear shoes for the race worked to his detriment since he was used to running barefoot> — see DISADVANTAGE 2

detrimental adjective
causing or capable of causing harm <there were serious concerns that the factory's waste was detrimental to the local environment> — see HARMFUL

detritus noun
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed <the expanse of tree stumps represented the detritus of a vast forest that had been mercilessly clear-cut> — see REMAINS 1

deuced adjective
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <this deuced washing machine always gives me trouble> — see DAMNABLE

devaluate verb
to diminish the price or value of <plans to devaluate the peso> — see DEPRECIATE 1

devalue verb
to diminish the price or value of <normally, significant damage would devalue an antique> — see DEPRECIATE 1

devastate verb
1 to bring destruction to (something) through violent action <the city was devastated, first by the earthquake and then by fires> — see RAVAGE
2 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <the explosion devastated an entire city block> — see DESTROY 1
3 to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress <we were devastated by the awful news of his death> — see OVERWHELM 1

devastating adjective
causing or tending to cause destruction <a devastating blow to our morale> — see DESTRUCTIVE 1

devastation noun
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <the sheer devastation of the housing development by the forest fire> — see DESTRUCTION 1

devastative adjective
causing or tending to cause destruction <that kind of devastative tornado can tear the roof off of a house in a matter of seconds> — see DESTRUCTIVE 1

develop verb
1 to gradually become clearer or more detailed <as the story of the bombing developed, the scope of the tragedy became more apparent>

Synonyms
elaborate, evolve, unfold

Related Words
advance, fare, forge, get along, get on, march, proceed, progress; blossom, grow, mature, ripen; materialize; emerge, play out

2 to come to have gradually <the youngster developed a taste for green olives>

Synonyms
acquire, cultivate, form

Related Words
absorb, adopt, embrace, take in, take on; gain, get, obtain; achieve, attain, reach; foster, nourish, nurture, promote

Near Antonyms
abandon, desert, forsake; cast, discard, ditch, dump, fling (off or away), jettison, junk, reject, scrap, shed, shuck (off), slough (also sluff), throw away, throw out, unload

Antonyms
lose

3 to become mature <the wine is developing nicely in the new oak barrels> — see MATURE
4 to express more fully and in greater detail <marketing people developed the initial idea into a complete promotional campaign> — see EXPAND 1
5 to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort <outside consultants helped the company develop an effective marketing strategy> — see HAMMER OUT

developed adjective
being far along in development <a highly developed society with a rigid class system> — see ADVANCED 1

developer noun
one who creates or introduces something new <the developer of software that is used the world over> — see INVENTOR

development noun
1 the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced <the development of an idea into a marketable product>

Synonyms
elaboration, evolution, expansion, growth, progress, progression

Related Words
advancement, betterment, improvement, perfection, refinement; incubation, maturation, maturing, ripening; blossoming, flourishing, flowering; addition, augmentation, enhancement, supplementation; emergence, evolvement, metamorphosis

Near Antonyms
backslide, lapse, relapse; decadence, decay, decaying, declension, declination, decline, degeneracy, degeneration, degradation, descent, deterioration, devaluation, downfall, downgrade, ebbing, falling, weakening

Antonyms
regress, regression, retrogression, reversion

2 a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <a development that the writers of the law never anticipated or intended> — see EFFECT 1
3 the process of becoming mature <a tulip's development from a bulb into a flower> — see MATURATION

developmental adjective
made or done as an experiment <developmental weaponry that is classified as top secret by the Pentagon> — see EXPERIMENTAL 1

deviant adjective
departing from some accepted standard of what is normal <some studies show that many violent criminals begin exhibiting deviant behavior in early childhood>

Synonyms
aberrant, aberrational, abnormal, anomalous, atypical, deviate, devious, irregular, unnatural, untypical

Related Words
unrepresentative; extraordinary, preternatural; rare, uncommon, uncustomary, unusual, unwonted; bizarre, curious, far-out, funny, kinky, odd, outlandish, out-of-the-way, outré, peculiar, quaint, queer, queerish, quirky, remarkable, screwy, strange, wacky (also whacky), way-out, weird, wild; eccentric, freakish, idiosyncratic, nonconformist, unconventional, unorthodox; extraordinary, preternatural; rare, uncommon, uncustomary, unusual, unwonted; odd, peculiar, strange

Near Antonyms
common, commonplace, everyday, familiar, ordinary, routine, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine (or run-of-mine), unexceptional, unremarkable, workaday; customary, usual, wonted; archetypal (also archetypical), average, characteristic, representative

Antonyms
natural, normal, regular, standard, typical

deviant noun
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs <branded as social deviants by a society that did not value self-expression> — see NONCONFORMIST 1

deviate adjective
departing from some accepted standard of what is normal <the mother's deviate response to her child's death aroused suspicions> — see DEVIANT

deviate noun
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard <a sleazy bar that seemed to be an informal clubhouse for deviates> — see DEGENERATE

deviate verb
to change one's course or direction <sailors forced to deviate from their course in order to avoid the storm> — see TURN 3

deviation noun
a turning away from a course or standard <a memoir that was discovered to contain numerous deviations from fact> — see DIVERGENCE 2

device noun
1 a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <used every device and stratagem he knew to prevent his son's marriage> — see TRICK 1
2 an article intended for use in work <the salesclerk tried to sell me a new device for grooming cats> — see IMPLEMENT
3 devices plural a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <left to her own devices she'd eat at a fast-food restaurant every night of the week> — see INCLINATION 1

devil noun
1 cap the supreme personification of evil often represented as the ruler of hell <the Devil is traditionally seen as a being who relentlessly tempts people to commit evil>

Synonyms
archfiend, Beelzebub, fiend, Lucifer, Old Nick, Satan, serpent

Related Words
deuce, dickens; Mephistopheles

2 an evil spirit <acted as if possessed by some devil> — see DEMON 1
3 a member of the human race <that poor devil never did achieve his dream> — see HUMAN
4 an appealingly mischievous person <why, you little devil!> — see SCAMP 1
5 a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <he's a devil to everyone he does business with> — see VILLAIN
6 a person who seeks out very dangerous or foolhardy adventures with no apparent fear <originally snowboarders were regarded as devils on the slopes and a menace to skiers> — see DAREDEVIL

devilfish noun
any of several extremely large rays <they saw a devilfish when they went scuba diving in the Caribbean, but it swam away quickly>

Synonyms
manta, manta ray, sea devil

Related Words
ray, skate

devilish adjective
1 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <that's a devilish amount of bad luck for any person to have to endure> — see EXCESSIVE
2 of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit <a devilish plan to sabotage the other party's political convention> — see FIENDISH 1
3 tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <a devilish grin that told us he was up to something> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

devilishly adverb
beyond a normal or acceptable limit <a devilishly clever scheme to make money> — see TOO 1

devilishness noun
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <the children always concoct some sort of devilishness on Halloween> — see MISCHIEF 1

devil–may–care adjective
1 having a relaxed, casual manner <a devil-may-care golfer who knows that it's only a game> — see EASYGOING 1
2 having or showing a lack of concern for the consequences of one's actions <the devil-may-care speed with which he drives his sports car is going to cause a lot of grief someday> — see RECKLESS 1
3 having or showing freedom from worries or troubles <the devil-may-care attitude that some people have about needlessly contributing to global warming> — see CAREFREE

devilment noun
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <his devilment at school remains the stuff of local legend> — see MISCHIEF 1

devilry or deviltry noun
1 playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <children always getting into some devilry> — see MISCHIEF 1
2 the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <superstitious villagers who were quick to attribute an unexpected occurrence to devilry> — see MAGIC 1

devious adjective
1 clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <we always left it to our most devious friends to find out the latest information> — see ARTFUL 1
2 marked by a long series of irregular curves <a devious trail through the swampland> — see CROOKED 1
3 departing from some accepted standard of what is normal <her behavior is devious because of a developmental disorder> — see DEVIANT

deviousness noun
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <his deviousness was almost as awesome as his lack of scruples> — see CUNNING 1

devise verb
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination <she quickly devised a new scheme when the first one failed> — see INVENT

deviser noun
one who creates or introduces something new <Melvil Dewey was the deviser of a new system for organizing books> — see INVENTOR

devitalize verb
1 to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality <overuse has devitalized many a once-striking figure of speech> — see DEHYDRATE 1
2 to diminish the physical strength of <she was devitalized by the infection> — see WEAKEN 1

devoid adjective
1 utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected <the so-called comedy is totally devoid of intelligence, originality, and even laughs>

Synonyms
bankrupt, bare, barren, bereft, destitute, void

Related Words
blank, empty, innocent, stark, vacant, wanting; deficient, fragmental, fragmentary, incomplete, insufficient, partial, short; absent, missing

Near Antonyms
furnished, provided, supplied; brimming, bulging, bursting, chock-full (or chockful), crammed, crowded, fat, jammed, jam-packed, loaded, packed, saturated, stuffed; abounding, swarming, teeming, thick, thronging

Antonyms
filled, flush, fraught, full, replete, rife

2 lacking contents that could or should be present <the picnic jug was completely devoid of juice after only a few minutes> — see EMPTY 1

devoir noun
something one must do because of prior agreement <patient confidentiality has long been an integral part of a physician's professional devoir> — see OBLIGATION 1

devolution noun
a change to a lower state or level <the gradual devolution of the neighborhood from a thriving community of close-knit families to a drug-ridden slum> — see DECLINE 2

devolve verb
to become worse or of less value <the once-lovely neighborhood has devolved into a squalid slum> — see DETERIORATE 1

devote verb
1 to keep or intend for a special purpose <I conscientiously devote several hours every weekend to playing with my dog>

Synonyms
allocate, consecrate, dedicate, earmark, give up (to), reserve, save, set by

Related Words
bless, hallow, sanctify; commit, confide, consign, entrust (also intrust); apply, bestow, employ, use

Phrases
set apart, set aside

Near Antonyms
ignore, neglect; misapply, misuse

2 to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention <planning a diplomatic career, she's been intensely devoting herself to the study of foreign languages in college> — see APPLY

devoted adjective
1 feeling or showing love <a devoted couple who enjoy sharing their lives with one another> — see LOVING 1
2 firm in one's allegiance to someone or something <remembered her most devoted servants in her will> — see FAITHFUL 1

devotedness noun
1 a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone <the heartwarming devotedness that the newlywed couple felt for each other> — see LOVE 1
2 adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <the kind of devotedness that only a dog can show for its master> — see FIDELITY

devotee noun
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <a devotee of stamp collecting> — see FAN

devotion noun
1 a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone <Albert Schweitzer was world-renowned for his devotion to his fellow man> — see LOVE 1
2 adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <the knight's fierce devotion to his lord> — see FIDELITY
3 belief and trust in and loyalty to God <a people of deep spirituality and indomitable devotion> — see FAITH 1

devotional adjective
of, relating to, or used in the practice or worship services of a religion <a religious bookstore with an extensive stock of devotional literature> — see RELIGIOUS 1

devour verb
1 to destroy all trace of <a series of devastating storms devoured the beach on the south side of the island> — see CONSUME 1
2 to make complete use of <a catastrophic medical event that devoured their savings> — see DEPLETE 1
3 to swallow or eat greedily <the starving villagers simply devoured the relief food> — see GOBBLE

devout adjective
1 firm in one's allegiance to someone or something <devout Red Sox fans never lost faith during the long World Series drought> — see FAITHFUL 1
2 showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue <devout monks living a life of prayer and solitude> — see HOLY 1

devoutness noun
the quality or state of being spiritually pure or virtuous <a figure of such devoutness that a campaign for her canonization was begun shortly after her death> — see HOLINESS

dewy adjective
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <another version of the story of the dewy small-town girl hoping to make it big on Broadway> — see NAIVE 1

dewy–eyed adjective
1 lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <dewy-eyed newlyweds who had yet to experience the trials and tribulations of married life> — see NAIVE 1
2 readily taken advantage of <dewy-eyed young women who thought that they were going to a legitimate modeling agency> — see EASY 2

dexterity noun
1 mental skill or quickness <the ambassador showed great dexterity in his handling of the touchy situation>

Synonyms
adroitness, cleverness, finesse, sleight

Related Words
ability, aptitude, capability, capacity, faculty, knack, prowess, talent; competence, competency, efficiency, expertise, know-how, proficiency; ingeniousness, ingenuity, resourcefulness; savvy, sharpness, shrewdness; artfulness, artifice, caginess (also cageyness), canniness, craft, craftiness, cunning, cunningness, deviousness, foxiness, guile, slickness, slyness, sneakiness, subtleness, wiliness

Near Antonyms
inadequacy, incompetence, incompetency, ineptitude, ineptness; brainlessness, denseness, density, doltishness, dopiness, dullness (also dulness), dumbness, fatuity, foolishness, mindlessness, obtuseness, senselessness, simpleness, slowness, stupidity, stupidness, witlessness

2 ease and grace in physical activity <the juggler needed lots of dexterity in order to keep all five balls in the air at the same time>

Synonyms
agility, deftness, nimbleness, sleight, spryness

Related Words
coordination; flexibility, gracefulness, limberness, litheness, loose-jointedness, suppleness; handiness, sure-handedness; sure-footedness; adeptness, adroitness, finesse, prowess

Near Antonyms
disability, inability, incapability, incapacity; debilitation, disablement, impairment, incapacitation; unhandiness

Antonyms
awkwardness, clumsiness, gaucheness, gawkiness, gawkishness, gracelessness, ham-handedness, heavy-handedness, klutziness, ungainliness

dexterous also dextrous adjective
1 skillful with the hands <the dexterous watchmaker was able to repair the antique watch's delicate gears and parts>

Synonyms
clever, cunning, deft, handy

Related Words
agile, flexible, graceful, limber, lissome (also lissom), lithe, lithesome, nimble, spry; coordinated; able, adept, capable, competent, expert, habile, masterful, masterly, proficient, qualified, skilled, skillful, sure-handed; double-jointed, loose-jointed

Near Antonyms
awkward, bungling, clumsy, fumbling, gauche, gawky, graceless, klutzy, rough-hewn, stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungainly, ungraceful, wooden; uncoordinated; incapable, incompetent, inept, inexpert, maladroit

Antonyms
butterfingered, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, unhandy

2 accomplished with trained ability <dexterous handling of a potentially embarrassing situation> — see SKILLFUL

diablerie noun
1 playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <the boy, who was once filled with diablerie, grew up to be a staid and rather dull man> — see MISCHIEF 1
2 the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <since the common folk had an unshakable belief in a personal devil, a charge of diablerie was taken seriously> — see MAGIC 1

diabolical or diabolic adjective
of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit <the police quickly mobilized to track down the diabolical serial killer> — see FIENDISH 1

diabolicalness noun
the state or quality of being utterly evil <the diabolicalness of the serial killer's acts, which included cannibalism, defy belief> — see ENORMITY 1

diadem noun
a decorative band or wreath worn about the head as a symbol of victory or honor <Miss America's diadem was auctioned off for charity> — see CROWN 1

diagnosis noun
a position arrived at after consideration <my diagnosis of the situation is that immediate action needs to be taken> — see DECISION 1

diagnostic also diagnostical adjective
serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group <studies that show that cultural diversity is a diagnostic feature of a thriving city> — see CHARACTERISTIC 1

diagnostic noun
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <the thesis that moral decline is the infallible diagnostic of a decadent society> — see CHARACTERISTIC

diagonal adjective
running in a slanting direction <the diagonal design ran up the wall all the way from the lower left to the upper right-hand corner>

Synonyms
cant, canted, graded, inclined, leaning, listing, oblique, pitched, raked, slant, slanted, slantwise, sloped, sloping, tilted, tilting

Near Antonyms
horizontal, level; plumb, up-and-down, vertical; parallel, perpendicular

diagonal noun
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon <the ramp was set at a low diagonal to make it easier for physically challenged patrons> — see SLANT

diagonally adverb
in a line or direction running from corner to corner <placed two strips of pimiento diagonally on each deviled egg> — see CROSSWISE

diagram noun
something that visually explains or decorates a text <the explanation of the process of photosynthesis is accompanied by a very useful diagram> — see ILLUSTRATION 1

dial verb
to make a telephone call to <dialed 911 and asked for the police> — see CALL 2

dialect noun
the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field <the promotional team for the new computer used a dialect full of acronyms that the press found difficult to follow> — see TERMINOLOGY

dialogue also dialog noun
1 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <calling for an international dialogue on human rights> — see DISCUSSION 1
2 talking or a talk between two or more people <coworkers having a short dialogue about politics at the watercooler before heading back to work> — see CONVERSATION

diametric or diametrical adjective
being as different as possible <that husband and wife have seemingly diametric personalities, but somehow their marriage works> — see OPPOSITE

diapason noun
the distance or extent between possible extremes <the survey ultimately recorded the full diapason of seemingly possible replies regarding sexual practices> — see RANGE 3

diaphanous adjective
very thin and easy to see through <the bride wore a diaphanous veil> — see SHEER 1

diarrhea noun
abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools <I was taken with severe diarrhea while attending the conference>

Synonyms
Delhi belly, flux, Montezuma's revenge, runs, trots, turista

Related Words
dysentery, shigellosis; scour(s)

diary noun
a record of personal experiences, reflections, or ideas kept regularly for private use <has diligently kept a diary since she was 15> — see JOURNAL 2

diatribe noun
a long angry speech or scolding <he was forced to sit through a long diatribe after he came home late once too often> — see TIRADE

dibs plural noun
an entitlement to something <I get dibs on the front seat!> — see CLAIM 1

dice noun
a small cube marked on each side with one to six spots and usually played in pairs in various games <she anxiously rolled the dice, hoping to win the jackpot> — see DIE

dice verb
to cut into small pieces <quickly diced some peppers and onions and threw them into the stew> — see CHOP

dichotomy noun
someone or something with qualities or features that seem to conflict with one another <her outfit is a sartorial dichotomy: an elegant gown and ratty old tennis shoes> — see CONTRADICTION 1

dick noun
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons <a novel about a hard-boiled dick and the softhearted madam who loves him> — see DETECTIVE

dicker noun
a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another <was hoping to make a dicker with another collector of records from the 1950s> — see EXCHANGE 1

dicker verb
to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase <they dickered over the price of the car for a few minutes> — see BARGAIN 1

dictate noun
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <a starchily worded dictate from on high concerning the company's dress code> — see COMMAND 1

dictate verb
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority <dictated that the terms of surrender be negotiated by his senior staff> — see COMMAND 2

dictator noun
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way <the dictator had a fierce stranglehold on the country, keeping its people in poverty and ignorance> — see DESPOT

dictatorial adjective
1 exercising power or authority without interference by others <a dictatorial leader with total control over people's lives> — see ABSOLUTE 1
2 fond of ordering people around <no surprise that the dictatorial manager is highly unpopular among employees> — see BOSSY
3 having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity <even the teachers chafed under the dictatorial rule of the principal> — see ARBITRARY 1

dictatorship noun
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power <a revolution that only ended up replacing one dictatorship with another> — see DESPOTISM

diction noun
1 the clear and accurate pronunciation of words especially in public speaking <Shakespearean actors with very good diction>

Synonyms
articulation, enunciation

Related Words
elocution, expression, utterance; speech, wording

2 the way in which something is put into words <the spare diction that is the hallmark of the poetry of Robert Frost> — see WORDING 1

dictionary noun
a reference book giving information about the meanings, pronunciations, uses, and origins of words listed in alphabetical order <try to develop the habit of going to the dictionary whenever you encounter an unfamiliar word>

Synonyms
lexicon, wordbook

Related Words
gloss, glossary, nomenclator, thesaurus, vocabulary

didactic adjective
marked by or given to preaching moral values <the poet's works became increasingly didactic after his religious conversion> — see SERMONIC

diddle verb
1 to move or act slowly <even though the hurricane was fast approaching, federal and local polticians wasted precious time diddling> — see DELAY 1
2 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <an unscrupulous Broadway producer diddles little old ladies by persuading them to invest in a surefire flop> — see FLEECE

diddle (with) verb
to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously <if you use my home theater system, don't diddle with the settings—everything has been professionally calibrated> — see TAMPER WITH

diddly noun, slang
the smallest amount or part imaginable <that jerk doesn't know diddly about half the things he spouts off about> — see JOT

diddly–squat noun, slang
the smallest amount or part imaginable <your apology is long overdue and doesn't mean diddly-squat to me> — see JOT

dido noun
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <known for cutting didoes at the holiday party held each year at the office> — see PRANK

die noun
a small cube marked on each side with one to six spots and usually played in pairs in various games <he rolled the die, hoping for a six>

Synonyms
bones, dice

die verb
1 to stop living <the king died of old age after a long and fruitful reign>

Synonyms
check out, conk (out), croak [slang], decease, demise, depart, drop, end, exit, expire, fall, flatline, go, kick in [slang], kick off [slang], pass (on), pass away, part, peg out [chiefly British], perish, pop off, step out, succumb

Related Words
predecease; consume, disappear, dry up, fade, fail

Phrases
bite the dust, buy it (or buy the farm), give up the ghost, kick the bucket, snuff it [British]

Near Antonyms
come to, revive; linger; be, exist, subsist; flourish, prosper, thrive

Antonyms
breathe, live

2 to come to an end <the storm died just as dawn was breaking over the horizon> — see CEASE 1
3 to stop functioning <fortunately, when the engine died we were only two blocks from home> — see FAIL 1

die (away or down or out) verb
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <the fuss gradually died down as people found other things with which to concern themselves> — see DECREASE 2

die (for) verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <I'd die for some ice cream right now> — see DESIRE 1

die–hard adjective
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <the die-hard purists are never going to accept certain words, no matter who uses them> — see CONSERVATIVE 1

die–hardism noun
attitudes or opinions tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <a professor of economics who regards himself as the lone bastion of political die-hardism on an overwhelmingly liberal campus> — see CONSERVATISM

differ verb
1 to be unlike; to not be the same <my brother and I differ markedly in the way we handle money>

Synonyms
contrast, vary

Related Words
deviate, diverge, divide, fluctuate, separate

Near Antonyms
accord, agree, conform, correspond

Antonyms
compare, match

2 to have a different opinion <after much arguing, we simply have agreed to differ about the issue> — see DISAGREE

difference noun
1 the quality or state of being different <there's a great difference between claiming to care about the environment and living like you really do>

Synonyms
contrast, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, distance, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, diverseness, diversity, otherness, unlikeness

Related Words
deviance, divergence; differentiability, discriminability, distinguishability; change, modification, variation; conflict, discord, discordance, dissension (also dissention), dissent, dissidence, disunity, friction, strife; variability, variance; anomalousness, dichotomy, incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness, nonconformity; disproportion, imbalance, inequality, nonequivalence

Near Antonyms
identicalness, identity; accordance, agreement, conformity, congruity, correspondence, parallelism, similitude; equality, equivalence, equivalency; homogeneity, homogeneousness, uniformity

Antonyms
alikeness, analogousness, analogy, community, likeness, resemblance, sameness, similarity

2 variance of opinion on a matter <we must try to settle our differences without fighting> — see DISAGREEMENT 1
3 the act, process, or result of making different <it won't make any difference which one you choose> — see CHANGE 1

difference verb
to understand or point out the difference in <people who cannot difference God's will from their own selfish desires and prejudices> — see DISTINGUISH 1

different adjective
1 being not of the same kind <how are plantains different from bananas?>

Synonyms
disparate, dissimilar, distant, distinct, distinctive, distinguishable, diverse, nonidentical, other, unalike, unlike

Related Words
divers, miscellaneous, mixed, several, sundry, variant, varied, various; differentiable, discriminable; alternate, alternative, individual, particular, peculiar, single; disproportionate, divergent, unequal

Near Antonyms
equal, selfsame; equivalent, tantamount; akin, analogous, comparable, homological, homologous, related; homogeneous, homogenous, uniform

Antonyms
alike, identical, indistinguishable, kin, kindred, like, parallel, same, similar

2 not the same or shared <my brother and I sleep in different rooms when we travel> — see SEPARATE 1

differentia noun
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <a list of the chief differentiae between a controlling cult and a legitimate religious sect> — see CHARACTERISTIC

differential adjective
favoring, applying, or being unequal treatment of different classes of people <did away with differential pay scales for men and women doing the same work> — see DISCRIMINATORY

differentiate verb
to understand or point out the difference in <it was hard at first to differentiate between the two styles of music> — see DISTINGUISH 1

differently adverb
in a different way <we do things differently around here> — see OTHERWISE

differently abled adjective
deprived of the power to perform one or more natural bodily activities <won a gold metal in the Paralympics, an international Olympic competition for the differently abled> — see DISABLED

difficult adjective
1 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <difficult questions on the exam that required analytical thinking> — see HARD 2
2 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <it's a difficult situation when two of your friends are quarreling and you're trying to stay out of it> — see TRICKY 1

difficulty noun
1 something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal <the many difficulties that he encountered on the road from poor orphan to head of a major corporation>

Synonyms
adversity, asperity, hardness, hardship, rigor

Related Words
discomfort, inconvenience, nuisance; affliction, trial, tribulation; knock, misfortune, mishap, tragedy; bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, handicap, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, pons asinorum, rub, shackle, snag, stop, trammel; block, chain, deterrent, encumbrance, fetter, inhibition; hump

Near Antonyms
advantage, break, opportunity

2 something that makes a situation more complicated or difficult <there was a minor difficulty when we realized that the store had already closed> — see COMPLICATION 1
3 a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent <the only difficulty I have with the dress is its color—does it come in anything besides purple?> — see OBJECTION
4 variance of opinion on a matter <the theologian's ongoing difficulties with the Vatican> — see DISAGREEMENT 1

diffident adjective
not comfortable around people <for someone who makes a living performing for other people, the actress is remarkably diffident in real life> — see SHY 2

diffuse adjective
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea <a diffuse speech that took a great deal of time to make a very small point> — see WORDY 1

diffuseness noun
the use of too many words to express an idea <I was bored by the diffuseness of the Victorian novel I was trying to read> — see VERBIAGE 1

diffusion noun
the use of too many words to express an idea <the author's tendency toward diffusion makes the novel a tedious read> — see VERBIAGE 1

dig noun
1 a quick thrust <gave him a dig in the ribs with my elbow> — see 1POKE 1
2 an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <got in a couple of digs about lawyers at my friend's expense> — see INSULT
3 digs plural a room or set of rooms in a private house or a block used as a separate dwelling place <check out my new digs on the north side of town> — see APARTMENT 1

dig verb
1 to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth <a backhoe dug a hole in the backyard to make a swimming pool>

Synonyms
excavate, shovel

Related Words
dredge; burrow, claw, grub; dig in; scoop, spade; delve; mine, quarry

Near Antonyms
fill (in); smooth (out or over)

2 to take pleasure in <I really dig bluegrass music> — see ENJOY 1
3 to have a clear idea of <can you dig what I'm saying?> — see COMPREHEND 1
4 to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object <every time I slowed down, he'd dig me in the ribs> — see PROD 1

dig (away) verb
to devote serious and sustained effort <it took days of digging away at the subject, but he understands it thoroughly now> — see LABOR

dig (into) verb
to search through or into <we anxiously dug into the old records that we found in the 19th-century house that we were restoring> — see EXPLORE 1

dig (through) verb
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something <I roughly dug through the closet looking for my shoes> — see SEARCH 1

digest noun
1 a short statement of the main points <a digest of yesterday's departmental meeting> — see SUMMARY
2 a shortened version of a written work <on the ballot there will be a digest of the proposed law that is to be submitted for voter approval> — see ABRIDGMENT

digest verb
1 to arrange or assign according to type <this volume digests the state's laws regarding drugs and alcohol for easy reference by local authorities> — see CLASSIFY 1
2 to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) <I digested the results of my experiments into a few pages> — see SUMMARIZE

diggings plural noun
1 the place where one lives <he hasn't been seen around these diggings lately> — see HOME 1
2 chiefly British a room or set of rooms in a private house or a block used as a separate dwelling place <while at Oxford, his diggings were the envy of all the other undergraduates> — see APARTMENT 1

digit noun
a character used to represent a mathematical value <you only need to fill in the last two digits of the year in which you were born> — see NUMBER 1

dignified adjective
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner <assumed a dignified stance and ignored the taunting> <dignified funeral services for the fallen firemen>

Synonyms
august, distingué, distinguished, imposing, portly, solemn, staid, stately

Related Words
decorous, proper, seemly; grave, grim, po-faced [British], sober, somber (or sombre); aristocratic, elegant, elevated, handsome, lordly, magisterial, majestic, noble

Near Antonyms
coarse, crass, crude, improper, indecent, uncouth, unseemly, vulgar

Antonyms
flighty, frivolous, giddy, goofy, silly, undignified

dignify verb
to assign a high status or value to <our graduation ceremony was dignified by a visit from the mayor> — see EXALT 1

dignity noun
high position within society <the archbishop is very conscious of his dignity> — see RANK 2

dig out verb
1 to come upon after searching, study, or effort <she dug her old art supplies out of the basement> — see FIND 1
2 to leave a place often for another <without saying where she was going, the young woman dug out early the next morning> — see GO 2

digression noun
a departure from the subject under consideration <the professor's frequent and extended digressions are the stuff of campus legend> — see TANGENT

digressional adjective
passing from one topic to another <the freely digressional routines that many stand-up comedians employ> — see DISCURSIVE

digressionary adjective
passing from one topic to another <the professor's digressionary style is appealing to some students and completely off-putting to others> — see DISCURSIVE

digressive adjective
passing from one topic to another <a digressive lecture on current events around the world> — see DISCURSIVE

dig up verb
to come upon after searching, study, or effort <she tried to dig up any information she could for the report on sharks> — see FIND 1

dike noun
1 a bank of earth constructed to control water <an elaborate system of dikes built to protect the lowlands from the relentless onslaught of the sea> — see DAM
2 a long narrow channel dug in the earth <water flowed along the dike to the small pond> — see DITCH

diktat noun
an order publicly issued by an authority <a democratic government has to be something wanted by that nation's citizens and not something created by a foreign power's diktat> — see EDICT 1

dilapidated adjective
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <a dilapidated car that had seen better days> — see SHABBY 1

dilapidation noun
the state of being unattended to or not cared for <the sad dilapidation of the old downtown movie theater has finally prompted local preservationists to mount a restoration campaign> — see NEGLECT 1

dilate (on or upon) verb
to express more fully and in greater detail <refused to dilate upon his alleged plan for improving the economy in the event that he won the election> — see EXPAND 1

dilatory adjective
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <the homeowner is claiming that local firefighters were dilatory in responding to the call> — see SLOW 1

dilemma noun
1 a situation in which one has to choose between two or more equally unsatisfactory choices <faced with a dilemma whether to spend the night out in the cold or go inside and face his father>

Synonyms
catch-22, double bind, quandary

Related Words
deadlock, impasse, quagmire, stalemate, standoff; knot, problem; bind, difficulty, fix, hole, jam, pickle, pinch, plight, predicament, spot

Near Antonyms
breeze, cinch, duck soup, snap

2 a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <with home prices in a free fall, sellers were in a terrible dilemma> — see PREDICAMENT

dilettante adjective
lacking or showing a lack of expert skill <many dilettante efforts could be seen at the sidewalk art show> — see AMATEURISH

dilettante noun
1 a person having a knowledgeable and fine appreciation of the arts <she writes about art not from the point of view of an artist but from that of a committed dilettante> — see CONNOISSEUR 1
2 a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession <a dilettante at heart, she was never willing to commit the time and effort that ballet demands> — see AMATEUR 1

dilettantish adjective
lacking or showing a lack of expert skill <independently wealthy, she can afford to pursue a resolutely dilettantish interest in sculpture> — see AMATEURISH

dilettantism noun
a lack of the level of skill associated with an expert or professional <no charge of dilettantism could ever be leveled at English physicist Henry Cavendish, whose immense wealth allowed him to devote his life to scientific pursuits> — see AMATEURISHNESS

diligence noun
attentive and persistent effort <through the diligence and ingenuity of a single detective, the gang's ringleader was finally caught>

Synonyms
assiduity, assiduousness, industriousness, industry, sedulity, sedulousness

Related Words
application, attentiveness, attention, care, concentration; doggedness, perseverance, persistence, tenacity, tirelessness; bother, effort, effortfulness, pains, painstaking, trouble

Near Antonyms
carelessness, negligence, slackness; idleness, indolence, laziness

diligent adjective
involved in often constant activity <a student who has been unceasingly diligent in pursuit of a degree in mathematics> — see BUSY 1

diligently adverb
1 in a manner involving great or constant activity <struggling diligently to contact everyone who might need a ride to the polls> — see BUSILY
2 with great effort or determination <working diligently to finish his documentary in time for the film festival> — see HARD 1

dilly noun
something very good of its kind <came up with a dilly of an idea to get the fledgling company off the ground> — see JIM-DANDY

dillydally verb
1 to move or act slowly <don't dillydally on the way to the store> — see DELAY 1
2 to spend time doing nothing <restaurant employees who, during the slow periods, would rather be doing something instead of just dillydallying> — see IDLE

dillydallying adjective
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <the dillydallying congress hadn't passed any legislation, and the term was almost over> — see SLOW 1

dilute adjective
1 not containing very much of some important element <a dilute acid that's safe to handle in the classroom> — see WEAK 3
2 containing foreign or lower-grade substances <a dilute solution of ammonia> — see IMPURE 1

dilute verb
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances <the pharmacist was convicted of diluting prescription drugs in order to increase profits> — see ADULTERATE

diluted adjective
1 not containing very much of some important element <a glass of diluted wine for the children on special occasions only> — see WEAK 3
2 containing foreign or lower-grade substances <a diluted solution of sulfuric acid> — see IMPURE 1

dim adjective
1 being without light or without much light <a dim room in the basement that is very depressing> — see DARK 1
2 lacking a surface luster or gloss <over time, exposure to ultraviolet light will make bright pigments turn dim> — see MATTE
3 not seen or understood clearly <have only a dim knowledge of the subject> — see FAINT 1
4 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <she's kind of dim, but really sweet> — see STUPID 1

dim verb
to make dark, dim, or indistinct <the storm clouds dimmed our view of the city from the airplane> — see CLOUD 1

dim bulb noun, slang
a stupid person <she's a dim bulb for sure, but he certainly didn't marry her for her brains> — see IDIOT

dime noun
a very small sum of money <the beauty of this deal is that all the extras won't cost you a dime> — see MITE 1

dimension noun
1 the total amount of measurable space or surface occupied by something <the mansion is great in dimension but not in splendor> — see 1SIZE
2 dimensions plural an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends <the vast dimensions of the subject will require years of study> — see RANGE 2

dime–store adjective
costing little <a dime-store tablecloth that is certainly good enough for a picnic> — see CHEAP 1

diminish verb
1 to express scornfully one's low opinion of <tends to diminish any rival's accomplishments with snide remarks> — see DECRY 1
2 to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent <the state's blood supplies were severely diminished by the two consecutive disasters> — see DECREASE 1
3 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <the sound of the train diminished as our distance from it increased> — see DECREASE 2

diminishment noun
1 the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant <she grew increasingly resentful of her husband's constant diminishment of her flourishing catering business> — see DEPRECIATION
2 the amount by which something is lessened <there was a sharp diminishment in our checking account after Christmas shopping season> — see DECREASE

diminution noun
the amount by which something is lessened <a diminution of 60 percent over the course of the month> — see DECREASE

diminutive adjective
of a size that is less than average <a single diminutive shrub on the edge of the lawn> — see SMALL 1

diminutive noun
a living thing much smaller than others of its kind <dik-diks, the diminutives of the antelope family> — see DWARF 1

diminutiveness noun
the quality or state of being little in size <the diminutiveness of jockeys prompts some people to make them the butt of jokes> — see SMALLNESS 1

dimmed adjective
being without light or without much light <a dimmed lounge where students like to rest and sleep> — see DARK 1

dimwit noun
a stupid person <you're a dimwit if you think I'll sell my house for that price> — see IDIOT

dim–witted adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <the show's amateur sleuth always has to explain to the dim-witted police chief who really committed the murder> — see STUPID 1

dim–wittedness noun
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <frustrated by the apparent dim-wittedness of the clerks in customer service> — see STUPIDITY 1

din noun
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <there's always a great din from the cafeteria during lunch> — see NOISE 1

din verb
to say or state again <safety lessons dinned into us over and over> — see REPEAT 1

dine verb
1 to take a meal <they dined elegantly at the city's finest restaurant before taking in an opera downtown>

Synonyms
eat, fare, feed, partake, refresh, victual

Related Words
banquet, feast, repast; chow (down), dig in; glut, gorge, gormandize, overeat, overfeed, pig out; graze, nibble, nosh, pick, snack; board, mess, dine out; breakfast, lunch, sup; picnic

Phrases
break bread

Near Antonyms
diet, fast

2 to entertain with a fancy meal <the advertising agency lavishly wines and dines prospective clients> — see FEAST 1

diner noun
a public establishment where meals are served to paying customers for consumption on the premises <we'll just grab a quick hamburger at the local diner> — see RESTAURANT

ding–a–ling noun
a person who lacks good sense or judgment <some ding-a-ling set off the fire alarm by burning paper in a wastebasket> — see FOOL 1

dingbat noun
a person who lacks good sense or judgment <a dingbat who was constantly firing off nonsensical letters to the editor> — see FOOL 1

ding–dong noun
a person who lacks good sense or judgment <there's always one ding-dong in the tour group who wanders off and gets lost> — see FOOL 1

dinge noun
the state or quality of being dirty <a photograph that captures the dinge, the dreariness, and the despair of an addict's apartment> — see DIRTINESS 1

dinghy noun
a boat equipped with one or more sails <we went sailing on the secluded lake in a little two-person dinghy> — see SAILBOAT

dinginess noun
the state or quality of being dirty <she was appalled by the dinginess of the curtains that came with the apartment and took them all down to be cleaned> — see DIRTINESS 1

dingus noun
a small article the actual name of which one either does not know or cannot remember <it seems to be missing some little dingus that holds everything in place> — see DOODAD 1

dingy adjective
not clean <the bed sheets were pretty dingy so we threw them in the laundry pile> — see DIRTY 1

dink noun, slang
a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits <in those days a dink had a better chance of winning the lottery than of dating a cheerleader> — see NERD 1

dinkum adjective, Australian & New Zealand
being exactly as appears or as claimed <somewhat surprised to learn that our guide through the outback was a fair dinkum crocodile hunter> — see AUTHENTIC 1

dinky adjective
of a size that is less than average <recent college graduates crowding into a dinky New York City apartment> — see SMALL 1

dinner noun
a large fancy meal often accompanied by ceremony or entertainment <there will be a celebratory dinner at a local restaurant for the entire team> — see FEAST 1

dinnerware noun
dishes used for eating or serving food or drink <received three sets of dinnerware as wedding gifts> — see TABLEWARE 2

dinning adjective
making loud, confused, and usually unharmonious sounds <dinning honks and beeps arose from cars stuck in the massive traffic jam> — see NOISY 1

dinosaur noun
1 one that has passed the peak of effectiveness or popularity <as an old-time big-city boss, he's become something of a dinosaur in today's political world> — see HAS-BEEN
2 something or someone that is unusually large and powerful <not that his small lawn needed such a dinosaur, but he bought a riding mower anyway> — see GIANT

dint noun
a sunken area forming a separate space <left a small dint in the car's fender> — see HOLE 2

1dip noun
1 a downward slope <marathoners have one last dip before the race course levels off and the finish line comes into view> — see DECLINE 3
2 the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude <the city's population has taken a slight dip since the last census> — see DESCENT 1

2dip noun
a stupid person <how did that dip get through medical school?> — see IDIOT

dip verb
1 to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid <first dip a paper towel in water> <she dipped a hand into her pocket and pulled out a piece of candy>

Synonyms
douse (also dowse), duck, dunk, immerse, souse, sop, submerge, submerse

Related Words
bathe, moisten, soak, steep, wet; drench, drown, flood; dive, plunge, thrust

2 to lift out with something that holds liquid <carefully dipped water from the bucket to the kettle>

Synonyms
bucket, lade, ladle, scoop, spoon

Related Words
bail; deplete, drain, eliminate, empty, exhaust; bleed, draw (off); dish; slop; decant, draw, pump, siphon (also syphon), suction

Near Antonyms
pour; fill

3 to go to a lower level especially abruptly <the temperature dipped a bit in the evening> — see DROP 2
4 to lead or extend downward <slow down, the road dips here> — see DESCEND 1
5 to take a quick or hasty look <I dipped into the book, but I didn't have a chance to study it thoroughly> — see GLANCE 2

diplomacy noun
the ability to deal with others in touchy situations without offending them <that candidate is thought to lack the diplomacy necessary in dealing with people of power and influence> — see TACT

diplomatic adjective
having or showing tact <a diplomatic attempt at preventing any hurt feelings> — see TACTFUL

dipper noun
a utensil with a bowl and a handle that is used especially in cooking and serving food <the metal dipper left in the stew pot was too hot to touch> — see SPOON

dippiness noun
lack of good sense or judgment <I'll have none of this latest-thing fashion dippiness—I buy clothes with the classic look> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

dippy adjective
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a mindless movie about a bunch of dippy teenagers> — see FOOLISH 1

dipsomaniac noun
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <few suspected that this pillar of the community, ensconced in her suburban colonial, was a closet dipsomaniac> — see DRUNK 1

dipstick noun
a person who lacks good sense or judgment <which dipstick used the good china as a dog dish?> — see FOOL 1

dire adjective
1 being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come <a dire forecast of a plunge in stock prices> — see OMINOUS
2 causing fear <a series of dire tremors that hinted at a huge volcanic eruption> — see FEARFUL
3 needing immediate attention <a dire need for food and medicine in the famine-stricken country> — see ACUTE 2
4 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <with stock prices steadily falling, these are dire days on the trading floor> — see GLOOMY 1

direct adjective
1 done or working without something else coming in between <a zoologist whose works are based entirely on her direct observation of animals in the wild> <the virus was the direct cause of the disease>

Synonyms
firsthand, immediate, primary, unmediated

Related Words
clinical, empirical (also empiric); efficient, proximate; hands-on

Antonyms
indirect, secondhand

2 free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <our coach is very direct, never hesitating for a moment to tell a player whenever he isn't performing up to snuff> — see FRANK
3 going straight to the point clearly and firmly <clear and direct instructions that left no room for misinterpretation> — see STRAIGHTFORWARD 1
4 free from irregularities or digressions in course <this road provides the most direct route to your destination> — see STRAIGHT 1

direct adverb
in a direct line or course <flew direct to the coast> — see DIRECTLY 1

direct verb
1 to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway <the aqueduct directs the water into an artificial lake> — see CHANNEL
2 to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority <our tour guide directed us to wait in front of the building until she could rejoin us> — see COMMAND 1
3 to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority <the caretaker directed that all of the windows be closed before we left> — see COMMAND 2
4 to look after and make decisions about <the music teacher directs both the student orchestra and the marching band> — see CONDUCT 1
5 to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal <we quickly directed our attention toward the noise coming from the rear> — see AIM 1
6 to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front <the guide directed the tour through the museum with commendable efficiency and expertise> — see LEAD 1

direction noun
1 a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <we were given very specific directions for the first part of the exam> — see COMMAND 1
2 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <working under the close direction of the engineering supervisor> — see CONDUCT 1
3 a guiding or motivating purpose or principle <a life that seemed to lack any direction other than the mindless pursuit of empty pleasures> — see COMPASS 1
4 a prevailing or general movement or inclination <some older people worry about the overall direction that political discourse has taken lately> — see TREND 1

directive noun
1 a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <the company president regularly issues directives intended for all staff members> — see COMMAND 1
2 an order publicly issued by an authority <a directive issued by the archbishop that is to be read during Sunday services at every parish> — see EDICT 1
3 a written communication giving information or directions <a growing stack of unread directives from the company's senior vice president> — see MEMORANDUM 1

directly adverb
1 in a direct line or course <we went directly to the site without stopping to pick up extra supplies>

Synonyms
dead, direct, due, plumb, plump, right, straight, straightway

Phrases
as the crow flies

Near Antonyms
circuitously, deviously, veeringly

Antonyms
indirectly

2 in an honest and direct manner <the instructor deals with her art students very directly, always telling them the plain truth> — see STRAIGHTFORWARD
3 in the same words <quoted directly from the encyclopedia> — see VERBATIM
4 without delay <in case of a medical emergency, do not try to contact your doctor but instead go directly to the hospital> — see IMMEDIATELY
5 at or within a short time <dinner should be ready directly> — see SHORTLY 2

directness noun
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <his directness is much appreciated by his patients> — see CANDOR 1

director noun
1 a person who manages or directs something <the new director of the company plans to make a number of changes in daily operations> — see EXECUTIVE
2 a person who supervises the production of a stage show <the director of the drama club's next production will be a student> — see REGISSEUR

directorial adjective
suited for or relating to the directing of things <an applicant with a number of directorial positions on his résumé> — see EXECUTIVE

direful adjective
1 being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come <the stock market crash was the first direful indication of the dark days to come> — see OMINOUS
2 causing fear <heard the direful howling of the wolves during the night> — see FEARFUL 1

dirge noun
a composition expressing one's grief over a loss <bagpipes played a haunting dirge at the funeral for the fallen leader> — see LAMENT 2

dirt noun
1 the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow <dig into the dirt to a depth of about three inches>

Synonyms
clod, earth, ground, mold, soil

Related Words
blackland, clay, gault [chiefly British], gley, guck (or gook), gumbo, kaolin, muck, mud; dust, gravel, sand; humus, loam, topsoil; alluvium, colluvium, detritus, loess, marl, sediment, shingle, silt; duff, mull; subsoil, substratum

2 the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air <at the first sound of gunfire we hit the dirt> — see EARTH 2
3 foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something <there's some dirt on your shoes> — see FILTH 1
4 the quality or state of being obscene <appalled by the dirt in the author's novels> — see OBSCENITY 1
5 solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal <tread carefully, as there's cow dirt all over the pasture> — see DROPPING 1

dirtbag noun, slang
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <forgetting my birthday was the final straw—I had to dump the dirtbag> — see JERK 1

dirt cheap adjective
costing little <a dirt cheap little house that was the proverbial fixer-upper> — see CHEAP 1

dirtiness noun
1 the state or quality of being dirty <the health inspector took the manager to task over the general dirtiness of the restaurant>

Synonyms
blackness, dinge, dinginess, dustiness, filthiness, foulness, griminess, grubbiness, nastiness, smuttiness, soilage, sordidness, squalidness, uncleanliness, uncleanness

Related Words
discoloration, staining; impureness, impurity; messiness, mussiness, sloppiness, untidiness; insanitation, squalor; muckiness, muddiness, sootiness

Near Antonyms
purity

Antonyms
cleanliness, immaculateness, spotlessness

2 the quality or state of being obscene <the incontestable dirtiness of the film demands an adult rating> — see OBSCENITY 1

dirt–poor adjective
lacking money or material possessions <growing up dirt-poor in the rural South> — see POOR 1

dirty adjective
1 not clean <after working in the factory all day, his clothes are very dirty>

Synonyms
bedraggled, befouled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, black, blackened, cruddy, dingy, draggled, dusty, filthy, foul, grimy, grotty [chiefly British], grubby, grungy, mucky, muddy, nasty, smudged, smutty, soiled, sordid, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleanly

Related Words
contaminated, defiled, germy, impure, polluted, tainted; insanitary, uncleaned, unsanitary, unsterile, unsterilized, unwashed; greasy, gunky; chaotic, cluttered, confused, disarranged, disarrayed, disheveled (or dishevelled), disordered, jumbled, littered, messed, messy, muddled, mussed, mussy, rumpled, scruffy, sloppy, slovenly, unkempt, untidy; raunchy, scuzzy [slang], shabby, skanky [slang], sleazy, squalid; collied [chiefly British dialect], crocked [dialect], fuliginous, sooty

Near Antonyms
clear, limpid, pure; cleaned, cleansed, combed, groomed, neat, ordered, orderly, tidy; bleached, purified, whitened; bright, flawless, perfect, shiny, sparkling, unspotted, untouched; taintless, unblemished, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, virgin, wholesome

Antonyms
clean, cleanly, immaculate, spick-and-span (or spic-and-span), spotless, stainless, ultraclean, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied

2 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <some radio stations refused to play the song because of the dirty lyrics> — see OBSCENE 1
3 marked by wet and windy conditions <they were unknowingly sailing into dirty weather> — see FOUL 1
4 not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport <the school is known for the dirty football it plays> — see FOUL 2
5 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <accused the other campaign of playing dirty tricks> — see IGNOBLE 2
6 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <laying off longtime employees was a dirty way for the company for reduce labor costs> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1
7 open to improper influence and especially bribery <a movie about a dirty cop paid to protect a mafioso> — see VENAL

dirty verb
to make dirty <she dirtied her new sneakers when she splashed in the puddle>

Synonyms
befoul, begrime, bemire, besmirch, blacken, daub, distain [archaic], foul, gaum [dialect], grime, mire, muck, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully

Related Words
contaminate, defile, pollute, taint; discolor; confuse, disarrange, disarray, dishevel, disorder, draggle, jumble, mess, muddle; colly [chiefly British dialect], crock [dialect]

Near Antonyms
decontaminate, purge, purify; disinfect, sanitize; brush, dry-clean, dust, launder, mop, rinse, scour, scrub, sweep, wash, wipe; brighten, deodorize, freshen, renew, spruce (up); straighten (up), tidy (up)

Antonyms
clean, cleanse

dirty word noun
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression <I'm afraid I won't be much help on the trip—the only Spanish I know is a handful of dirty words> — see SWEARWORD

dis also diss noun, slang
1 an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <that's a dis that a person of any color should find offensive> — see INSULT
2 rude behavior <in the hood any dis is dealt with harshly> — see DISCOURTESY

dis also diss verb, slang
1 to show contempt for <don't you go dissing somebody just because you've got a few more dead presidents than they do> — see SCORN 1
2 to express scornfully one's low opinion of <a DJ who has dissed every album that rapper has put out> — see DECRY 1
3 to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in <are you dissing me?> — see INSULT
4 to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of <never dis a person's style of dressing in front of her friends> — see CRITICIZE

disable verb
1 to cause severe or permanent injury to <a promising athlete who was severely disabled in a plane crash> — see MAIM
2 to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move <disabled the controls for unauthorized users> — see PARALYZE 1

disabled adjective
deprived of the power to perform one or more natural bodily activities <the disabled man was unable to climb the stairs without help>

Synonyms
challenged, differently abled, exceptional, impaired, incapacitated

Related Words
special-needs; halt, lame, paralyzed, quadriplegic; immobile, immobilized; ailing, diseased, ill, sick, unfit, unhealthy, unsound, unwell; blind, deaf, hard of hearing, mute

Near Antonyms
bouncing, chipper, fit, hale, healthy, hearty, robust, sound, well, whole, wholesome

Antonyms
able-bodied, abled, nondisabled, unimpaired

disabuse verb
to free from mistaken beliefs or foolish hopes <let me disabuse you of your foolish notions about married life> — see DISILLUSION

disaccord noun
a lack of agreement or harmony <the perennial question of whether there's an irreconcilable disaccord between science and religion> — see DISCORD

disaccord verb
to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably <national security measures that disaccord with our cherished right to free expression> — see CLASH

disadvantage noun
1 a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success <their lack of height was a disadvantage on the basketball court>

Synonyms
debit, disbenefit, downside, drawback, handicap, incommodity, liability, minus, negative, strike

Related Words
albatross, millstone, stranglehold; disability, impairment; failing, shortcoming; bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, rub, shackle, stop, trammel

Near Antonyms
vantage; head start, jump, lead, margin, start; ascendancy (also ascendency), better, command, control, drop, mastery, predominance, superiority, supremacy, transcendence, upper hand; prerogative, privilege; break, opportunity; aid, assistance, help

Antonyms
advantage, asset, edge, plus

2 the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success <intense pretrial publicity worked to our disadvantage>

Synonyms
despite, detriment, disfavor, penalty

Related Words
deficit, deprivation, expense, loss; damage, harm, hurt, injury; prejudice

Near Antonyms
gain

Antonyms
advantage, favor

disadvantaged adjective
kept from having the necessities of life or a healthful environment <disadvantaged families struggling to get by in the inner city> — see DEPRIVED

disadvantageous adjective
opposed to one's interests <such an arrangement with the wholesalers would be disadvantageous for small farmers> — see ADVERSE 1

disaffect verb
1 to cause to change from friendly or loving to unfriendly or uncaring <a disaffected boyfriend was responsible for the vandalism to her home> — see ESTRANGE
2 to make discontented <the troops were disaffected by the extension of their tours of duty> — see DISCONTENT

disaffection noun
the loss of friendship or affection <widespread disaffection with the governor's administration in its final year> — see ESTRANGEMENT

disaffirm verb
to declare not to be true <her sullen mood disaffirmed her repeated protestations that everything was just fine> — see DENY 1

disagree verb
to have a different opinion <the leader thought we were still headed north on the trail, but I disagreed>

Synonyms
differ, dissent, nonconcur

Related Words
clash, collide, conflict, contrast; counter, debate, object, oppose, protest, resist; contest, dispute; argue, bicker, fall out, quarrel

Phrases
take issue

Near Antonyms
accede, accept, acquiesce, comply, consent, defer, subscribe; affiliate, ally, associate, collaborate, collude, come round, compromise, cooperate, get along, side

Antonyms
agree, assent, concur

disagree (with) verb
to make an assertion that is contrary to one made by (another) <she disagreed with me when I said that the jacket was dark blue> — see CONTRADICT 1

disagreeable adjective
1 having or showing a habitually bad temper <a disagreeable old grouch with no friends> — see ILL-TEMPERED
2 not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <a disagreeable smell coming from the closet> — see UNPLEASANT

disagreeing adjective
not being in agreement or harmony <the teenagers' disagreeing accounts of what happened that night make me wonder if either is telling the truth> — see INCONSISTENT 1

disagreement noun
1 variance of opinion on a matter <there was some disagreement about what color the missing sweater actually was>

Synonyms
contestation, controversy, debate, difference, difficulty, disputation, dispute, dissension (also dissention), dissensus, firestorm, nonconcurrence

Related Words
clash, collision, conflict, confliction, disaccord, discord, dissonance; apartness, divarication, division; combat, contention, strife, struggle; altercation, argument, bicker, falling-out, fight, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, set-to

Near Antonyms
acceptance, compliance; concord, peace

Antonyms
accord, agreement, consensus, harmony, unanimity

2 an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <a loud disagreement started as soon as we tried to order pizza for everyone> — see ARGUMENT 1
3 the quality or state of being different <there is some disagreement between the accounts on the sequence of events> — see DIFFERENCE 1

disallow verb
1 to declare not to be true <disallowing the philosophical concept of free will> — see DENY 1
2 to be unwilling to grant <disallowed the defendant's request for a new trial> — see DENY 2

disallowance noun
1 an unwillingness to grant something asked for <the taxpayer was notified of the disallowance of his claim for medical expenses> — see DENIAL 1
2 a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement <a categorical disallowance of all charges> — see DENIAL 2

disannul verb
to put an end to by formal action <the new administration seems intent on disannulling every social program instituted by its predecessor> — see ABOLISH 1

disappear verb
to cease to be visible <the stranger disappeared into the mists, never to be seen again>

Synonyms
dematerialize, dissolve, evanesce, evaporate, fade, flee, fly, go (away), melt, sink, vanish

Related Words
blank (out), clear, die (away or down or out), disperse, dissipate, dissolve, dry up; blur, dim

Phrases
drop out of sight

Near Antonyms
arrive, break out, come out, emerge, issue, loom, show up

Antonyms
appear, materialize

disappoint verb
to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of <they were disappointed by the outcome of the big game>

Synonyms
cheat, dissatisfy, fail, let down

Related Words
bum (out), chagrin, discontent, disgruntle, displease, distress, upset; disenchant, disillusion; deceive, delude, mock

Near Antonyms
fulfill (or fulfil); gladden

Antonyms
content, gratify, satisfy

disappointment noun
1 the emotion felt when one's expectations are not met <we felt keen disappointment when our offer on the house was rejected>

Synonyms
dismay, dissatisfaction, frustration, letdown

Related Words
crestfallenness, discontent, discontentedness, discontentment, disgruntlement, displeasure; disenchantment, disillusionment; blues, dejectedness, dejection, depression, desolateness, desolation, despondency, disconsolateness, distress, doldrums, dolefulness, dolor, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, gloom, gloominess, joylessness, melancholy, mopes, oppression, sadness, sorrow, unhappiness; chagrin, discomfiture

Near Antonyms
fulfillment (or fulfilment); bliss, felicity, gladness, happiness, joy

Antonyms
content, contentedness, contentment, gratification, satisfaction

2 something that disappoints <after all the publicity and high expectations, the sequel to the movie blockbuster was a huge disappointment>

Synonyms
bringdown, bummer, letdown

Related Words
anticlimax, failure, fiasco, fizzle; lemon, loser

Near Antonyms
success, winner; relief

disapprobation noun
refusal to accept as right or desirable <there was widespread disapprobation of their mixed marriage in that narrow-minded community> — see DISAPPROVAL

disapproval noun
refusal to accept as right or desirable <thus far, every one of her boyfriends has met with her parents' disapproval>

Synonyms
deprecation, disapprobation, discountenance, disesteem, disfavor, dislike, displeasure

Related Words
disrelish, distaste; rejection, thumbs-down; blame, censure, condemnation, criticism, denunciation, dispraise, opprobrium, reprehension, reproach, reprobation; antagonism, antipathy, hostility; belittlement, disparagement, objection, opposition

Near Antonyms
acclaim, commendation, praise; endorsement (also indorsement), sanction, thumbs-up; empathy, sympathy

Antonyms
approbation, approval, favor

disapprove verb
1 to be unwilling to grant <the committee disapproved the proposal to allow casino gambling in the state> — see DENY 2
2 to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <disapproved the first set of blueprints submitted by the firm> — see DECLINE 1

disapprove (of) verb
to hold an unfavorable opinion of <my sister disapproves of my smoking>

Synonyms
deprecate, discountenance, disesteem, disfavor, dislike, frown (on or upon), mislike, reprove, tsk-tsk, tut (over or about), tut-tut (over or about)

Related Words
disrelish, object (to), pooh-pooh (also pooh), reject, reprehend, reprobate, scorn; censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, discommend; chide, rebuke, reproach, scold

Phrases
look down one's nose (on)

Near Antonyms
endorse (also indorse), sanction, support; adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), love, relish, revel (in)

Antonyms
approve, favor, like

disarm verb
1 to reduce the size and strength of the armed forces of <the defeated nation was disarmed so that it would never again be a threat to international order>

Synonyms
demilitarize

Related Words
demobilize; denuclearize

Near Antonyms
equip, reequip, weapon; embattle, mechanize, mobilize

Antonyms
arm, militarize

2 to lessen the anger or agitation of <her future father-in-law was totally disarmed by her easy charm> — see PACIFY 1

disarmament noun
the reduction or elimination of a country's armed forces or weapons <the ambassador spoke at length about the possible unilateral disarmament of his country>

Synonyms
demilitarization

Related Words
demobilization; denuclearization

Near Antonyms
equipment, reequipment; mechanization, mobilization

Antonyms
armament, militarization

disarming adjective
1 having qualities that tend to make one loved <a thoroughly disarming little rascal who can talk his way out of any trouble> — see LOVABLE
2 likely or intended to win one's affection <there's a disarming lack of pretension about the girl> — see INGRATIATING
3 tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility <the secretary's disarming smile made me forget why I was angry> — see PACIFIC 1

disarrange verb
to undo the proper order or arrangement of <the wind had hopelessly disarranged my hair> — see DISORDER

disarranged adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <a disarranged collection of sports memorabilia scattered about the room> — see MESSY

disarrangement noun
a state in which everything is out of order <the disarrangement of the files makes it almost impossible to find anything> — see CHAOS

disarray noun
a state in which everything is out of order <the boys' bedroom was in its usual disarray> — see CHAOS

disarray verb
to undo the proper order or arrangement of <he had accidentally disarrayed his brother's CDs, leaving a telltale sign of borrowing without permission> — see DISORDER

disarrayed adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <a disarrayed pile of rugs in the attic> — see MESSY

disassemble verb
1 to take apart <they had to disassemble the television set in order to replace the wiring>

Synonyms
break down, demount, dismantle, dismember, dismount, knock down, strike, take down

Related Words
detach, disengage; break up, disaggregate, disarticulate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, disunite, divide, separate

Near Antonyms
build, erect, pitch; combine, unite

Antonyms
assemble, construct

2 to go off in different directions and cease to exist as a body or unified whole <the class was slow to disassemble, many waiting around to ask the instructor some questions> — see DISPERSE 1

disassociate verb
to set or force apart <the company tried to disassociate itself from the rest of the industry, which is widely viewed as corrupt> — see SEPARATE 1

disaster noun
1 a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction <hurricanes are natural disasters>

Synonyms
apocalypse, calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, debacle (also débâcle), tragedy

Related Words
bloodbath, collapse, crash, meltdown; Armageddon, doomsday, end-time; convulsion, paroxysm, upheaval; accident, casualty, fatality; misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap; blast, blow, double whammy, one-two (or one-two punch)

Near Antonyms
godsend, manna, windfall

2 something that has failed <an utter disaster, the play opened and closed on the same miserable night> — see FAILURE 3

disastrous adjective
1 bringing about ruin or misfortune <a split-second, disastrous decision that I would forever regret> — see FATAL 1
2 causing or tending to cause destruction <a disastrous fire from which the town never fully recovered> — see DESTRUCTIVE 1

disavow verb
1 to declare not to be true <disavowed the testimony that she had given earlier in the trial> — see DENY 1
2 to refuse to acknowledge as one's own or as one's responsibility <the government will disavow any knowledge of your mission> — see DISCLAIM 1

disavowal noun
a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement <the mayor's disavowal of the rumor that a terrorist threat had been received put our minds at rest> — see DENIAL 2

disband verb
1 to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization <the university disbanded the committee after the report had been submitted> <the rock group disbanded upon finishing their farewell tour>

Synonyms
break up, disperse, dissolve

Related Words
demobilize

Near Antonyms
incorporate; consolidate; hang together

Antonyms
band, join, unite

2 to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart <police disbanded the rioters with tear gas> — see SCATTER 1

disbandment noun
an act or process in which something scatters or is scattered <the disbandment of the crowd at the end of the outdoor rock concert> — see SCATTERING 1

disbelief noun
refusal to accept something as true <their story explaining their absence was met with frank disbelief>

Synonyms
incredulity, nonbelief, unbelief

Related Words
discredit, distrust, doubt, mistrust, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty; denial, rejection, repudiation, unfaith

Near Antonyms
acceptance, conviction, faith; trust

Antonyms
belief, credence, credit

disbelieve verb
to think not to be true or real <many disbelieved the medium's claims that she could communicate with the spirits of the dead>

Synonyms
discredit, negate

Related Words
deny, reject, repudiate; distrust, doubt, mistrust, suspect; debunk, disprove, refute; deride, pooh-pooh (also pooh), scoff (at)

Near Antonyms
trust

Antonyms
accept, believe, credit, swallow

disbeliever noun
a person who is always ready to doubt or question the truth or existence of something <the usual disbelievers refused to accept the president's claim that he was acting only in the public interest> — see SKEPTIC

disbelieving adjective
inclined to doubt or question claims <the senator stated her case before a disbelieving press corps> — see SKEPTICAL 1

disbenefit noun
a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success <the question whether allowing the big-box stores in would be a disbenefit to the community> — see DISADVANTAGE 1

disburden verb
1 to empty or rid of cargo <disburdened the oil tanker before it could leak any more oil> — see UNLOAD 1
2 to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers <the cinema was a place where we could disburden ourselves of our cares, if only for a couple of hours> — see RID

disburse verb
to hand over or use up in payment <the foundation disburses money to many worthy causes> — see SPEND 1

disbursement noun
1 a payment made in the course of achieving a result <substantial disbursements for research and development> — see EXPENSE
2 the act of offering money in exchange for goods or services <the disbursement of the foundation's funds to several cancer research centers> — see PAYMENT 1
3 the act or process of giving out something to each member of a group <the agency whose responsibilities included the disbursement of strains of the virus to medical research labs around the country> — see DISTRIBUTION 1

discard noun
something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others <toss all of your discards in the garbage> — see CULL

discard verb
to get rid of as useless or unwanted <discard an old, torn sweater>

Synonyms
cashier, cast (off), chuck, deep-six, ditch, dump, eighty-six (or 86), exorcise (also exorcize), fling (off or away), jettison, junk, lay by, lose, pitch, reject, scrap, shed, shuck (off), slough (off) also sluff (off), throw away, throw out, toss, unload

Related Words
abandon, abdicate, desert, forsake; dismiss, kick out; abolish, annihilate, eliminate, eradicate, expunge, exterminate, extinguish, extirpate, liquidate, remove, root (out), stamp (out), wipe out

Phrases
dispose of, set aside

Near Antonyms
adopt, embrace, take on; employ, use, utilize; hold, hold back, keep, retain

discarding noun
the getting rid of whatever is unwanted or useless <the daily discarding of all unwanted e-mail> — see DISPOSAL 1

discern verb
1 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <barely able to discern the garden gate through the mist> — see SEE 1
2 to understand or point out the difference in <too young to discern between right and wrong> — see DISTINGUISH 1
3 to have a clear idea of <we're still trying to discern the meaning of that cryptic remark> — see COMPREHEND 1

discernible also discernable adjective
able to be perceived by a sense or by the mind <discernible differences in the two authors' writing styles> — see PERCEPTIBLE

discerning adjective
having or showing deep understanding and intelligent application of knowledge <a discerning critic of modern art> — see WISE 1

discernment noun
the ability to understand inner qualities or relationships <the discernment to know when someone is a true friend> — see WISDOM 1

discharge noun
1 a directed propelling of a missile by a firearm or artillery piece <the thunderous discharge of the cannons> — see SHOT
2 a freeing from an obligation or responsibility <a full discharge from responsibility for the accident> — see RELEASE 1
3 the termination of the employment of an employee or a work force often temporarily <she was resentful over what she felt was a wrongful discharge> — see LAYOFF 1
4 the doing of an action <aided in the discharge of his duties by a capable assistant> — see COMMISSION 2

discharge verb
1 to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force <Robert Goddard was the first to discharge a rocket containing an instrument package> — see SHOOT 1
2 to empty or rid of cargo <docks for discharging containerships> — see UNLOAD 1
3 to give what is owed for <discharge a debt in full> — see PAY 2
4 to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <discharged the prisoners upon the signing of the peace treaty> — see FREE 1
5 to throw or give off <the mighty river discharges its waters into the ocean> — see EMIT 1
6 to cause a weapon to release a missile with great force <felt a strong recoil as the rifle discharged> — see SHOOT 2
7 to let go from office, service, or employment <15 people were discharged when the embezzling ring was discovered> — see DISMISS 1

disciple noun
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another <a circle of dedicated disciples who conscientiously wrote down everything the prophet said> — see FOLLOWER 1

disciplinary adjective
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment <called for disciplinary actions in response to the outrageous behavior> — see PUNITIVE

discipline noun
1 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <you must choose a discipline to focus on in college> — see FIELD 2
2 suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense <harsh discipline was imposed to keep order within the ranks> — see PUNISHMENT
3 the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others <she lacks the discipline that's essential for a job in customer relations> — see CONSTRAINT 1

discipline verb
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime <the pranksters were severely disciplined for their irresponsible stunt> — see PUNISH

disciplining adjective
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment <disciplining actions taken in response to the rowdiness> — see PUNITIVE

disclaim verb
1 to refuse to acknowledge as one's own or as one's responsibility <the prisoner disclaimed any part in the prank>

Synonyms
deny, disavow, disown, repudiate

Related Words
contradict, disallow, gainsay, negate, negative, refuse, reject; challenge, confute, criticize, disprove, rebut, refute; dispute, question; abdicate, abjure, recant, renounce, retract

Phrases
wash one's hands of

Near Antonyms
accept, adopt, embrace, espouse; admit, concede, confess, grant; affirm, announce, assert, aver, declare, maintain, profess, submit; authenticate, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, validate, verify

Antonyms
acknowledge, avow, claim, own, recognize

2 to declare not to be true <her spokesperson flatly disclaimed the marriage rumor circulating in the press> — see DENY 1

disclaimer noun
1 a document containing a declaration of an intentional giving up of a right, claim, or privilege <one brother filed a disclaimer, allowing all of the estate to go to his poorer siblings> — see WAIVER
2 a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement <the intelligence agency's pro forma disclaimer of any involvement in the assassination plot> — see DENIAL 2

disclose verb
to make known (as information previously kept secret) <the informer disclosed all sorts of details about the secret organization> — see REVEAL 1

disclosure noun
the act or an instance of making known something previously unknown or concealed <he offered full disclosure of the government files on the assassination> — see REVELATION

discombobulate verb
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <our grandmother seems a bit discombobulated by all of this birthday fuss> — see CONFUSE 1

discombobulation noun
a state of mental uncertainty <in my discombobulation I mistook a bathroom door for an exit> — see CONFUSION 1

discomfit verb
1 to prevent from achieving a goal <constant interruptions discomfited her in her attempt to finish the speech, and she finally gave up> — see FRUSTRATE 1
2 to throw into a state of self-conscious distress <he was discomfited by the awkward situation of having his ex-girlfriend meet his current one> — see EMBARRASS 1

discomfiting adjective
causing embarrassment <the discomfiting scrutiny of an audience of music critics> — see AWKWARD 3

discomfiture noun
the emotional state of being made self-consciously uncomfortable <blushed and lowered her eyes in evident discomfiture> — see EMBARRASSMENT 1

discomfort verb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <the harsh criticism of his musical talent did not discomfort him in the least> — see DISTURB 1

discomforting adjective
1 causing discomfort <a discomforting perch on the thin balcony rail> — see UNCOMFORTABLE 1
2 causing worry or anxiety <the layoff rumors created a discomforting situation for the workers who depend on the factory for a living> — see TROUBLESOME

discommode verb
to cause discomfort to or trouble for <the breakdown of her car didn't discommode her seriously> — see INCONVENIENCE

discommoding adjective
causing difficulty, discomfort, or annoyance <the thoroughly unpleasant and discommoding experience of changing a flat tire in the rain> — see INCONVENIENT 1

discompose verb
1 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <discomposed by the tone of the message left on his answering machine> — see DISTURB 1
2 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <the wind ruffled her hair and discomposed her carefully arranged papers> — see DISORDER

discomposing adjective
causing worry or anxiety <a discomposing response to our routine query about her health> — see TROUBLESOME

disconcert verb
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress <we were disconcerted by the unexpected changes to the program> — see EMBARRASS 1

disconcerting adjective
causing embarrassment <a disconcerting habit of chewing with his mouth open> — see AWKWARD 3

disconcertment noun
the emotional state of being made self-consciously uncomfortable <his disconcertment over having to tell the landlord he'd lost his key for the third time> — see EMBARRASSMENT 1

disconfirm verb
1 to declare not to be true <later updates on the news story disconfirmed many details of the initial report> — see DENY 1
2 to prove to be false <contends that we will never be able to confirm or disconfirm the existence of God> — see DISPROVE

disconfirmation noun
1 a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement <an official disconfirmation of the rumors that the military was planning an invasion> — see DENIAL 2
2 something (as an argument) that serves to disprove <members of the sect refused to accept the scientific evidence as being in any way a disconfirmation of their deeply held religious beliefs> — see CONFUTATION

disconnect verb
to set or force apart <disconnected the two parts of the light fixture> — see SEPARATE 1

disconnected adjective
1 not clearly or logically connected <a disconnected narrative of her time in a mental hospital> — see INCOHERENT 1
2 not physically attached to another unit <a disconnected computer terminal> — see SEPARATE 2

disconsolate adjective
1 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <spent her last years in the disconsolate environs of a cheap boarding house> — see GLOOMY 1
2 feeling unhappiness <she was utterly disconsolate when her best friend moved away> — see SAD 1

disconsolateness noun
a state or spell of low spirits <his disconsolateness over the loss of his dog threatened to last forever> — see SADNESS

discontent adjective
having a feeling that one has been wronged or thwarted in one's ambitions <a novel about a woman who is desperately discontent with the stifling limitations of her small-town life> — see DISCONTENTED

discontent noun
the condition of being dissatisfied with one's life or situation <the rebels worked to stir up discontent among the citizens>

Synonyms
discontentedness, discontentment, disgruntlement, displeasure, dissatisfaction

Related Words
bitterness, resentment; aggrievement, disquiet, perturbation, uneasiness; blues, dejection, depression, desolateness, desolation, despondency, disconsolateness, doldrums, dolefulness, dolor, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps; misery, sadness, sorrow, unhappiness, wretchedness

Near Antonyms
bliss, felicity, gladness, happiness, joy, lightheartedness; elatedness, exultation, jubilation, triumph

Antonyms
contentedness, contentment, pleasure, satisfaction

discontent verb
to make discontented <the ongoing lack of decent food discontented and demoralized the soldiers in the rebel army>

Synonyms
disaffect, disgruntle, displease, dissatisfy

Related Words
alienate, estrange; aggrieve, agitate, discompose, disquiet, disturb, perturb, upset; annoy, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve; depress, sadden

Near Antonyms
delight, gladden, tickle; calm, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

Antonyms
content, gratify, please, satisfy

discontented adjective
having a feeling that one has been wronged or thwarted in one's ambitions <he was becoming increasingly discontented with his dead-end job and his dead-end life>

Synonyms
aggrieved, discontent, disgruntled, displeased, dissatisfied, malcontent

Related Words
disappointed, disenchanted, disillusioned, frustrated, unfulfilled; disquieted, disturbed, perturbed, upset; dejected, depressed, despairing, despondent, disconsolate, doleful, down, downcast, downhearted, forlorn, hangdog, inconsolable, joyless, low-spirited, miserable, mournful, sad, sorrowful, unhappy

Phrases
out of joint

Near Antonyms
blissful, delighted, glad, happy, joyful, joyous; elated, exultant, jubilant, triumphant

Antonyms
content, contented, gratified, pleased, satisfied

discontentedness noun
the condition of being dissatisfied with one's life or situation <he was left with a vague feeling of discontentedness even after he got the car he had always wanted> — see DISCONTENT

discontentment noun
the condition of being dissatisfied with one's life or situation <widespread discontentment with the way the club was being run> — see DISCONTENT

discontinuance noun
the stopping of a process or activity <the possible discontinuance of one of the town's big holiday traditions> — see END 1

discontinuation noun
the stopping of a process or activity <discontinuation of treatment would almost certainly result in a reappearance of the cancer> — see END 1

discontinue verb
1 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <the editors were told to discontinue the printing of rumors in the student paper immediately> — see STOP 1
2 to stop doing (something) permanently <we have discontinued the manufacture of that item> — see QUIT 2
3 to come to an end <publication of the magazine will discontinue at the end of the year> — see CEASE 1

discontinuity noun
1 an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) <microscopic discontinuities in the connecting wires> — see GAP 1
2 a break in continuity <a noticeable discontinuity in the flow of the story> — see GAP 2

discontinuous adjective
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <the novel captures the discontinuous nature of a soldier's life: long stretches of boredom interrupted by flashes of chaos and panic> — see FITFUL

discord noun
a lack of agreement or harmony <the discord between two of the members threatened to tear our team of researchers apart>

Synonyms
conflict, disaccord, discordance, discordancy, disharmony, dissension (also dissention), dissent, dissidence, dissonance, disunion, disunity, division, friction, infighting, inharmony, schism, strife, variance, war, warfare

Related Words
clash, collision, competition, contention; altercation, argument, bicker, brawl, debate, disagreement, dispute, divide, fissure; falling-out, fight, hassle, jar, miff, mix-up, quarrel, row, run-in, scrap, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle; incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness, inconsistence, inconsistency, inconsonance, inharmoniousness; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, cold war, enmity, hostility, ill will, rancor

Near Antonyms
concurrence, cooperation

Antonyms
accord, agreement, concord, concordance, harmony, peace

discord verb
to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably <the evangelist's lavish lifestyle discords with his professed religious beliefs> — see CLASH

discordance noun
1 a lack of agreement or harmony <there was a real discordance between the tough guys that the actor played in the movies and the wimp that he was in real life> — see DISCORD
2 loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <the jarring discordance coming from the garage where the band was rehearsing> — see NOISE 1

discordancy noun
a lack of agreement or harmony <the discordancy between the film's flamboyant cinematography and its otherwise somber mood> — see DISCORD

discordant adjective
1 marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds <discordant tones coming from the poorly tuned instrument> — see DISSONANT
2 making loud, confused, and usually unharmonious sounds <the discordant cries of gulls fighting over the fishing boat's castoffs> — see NOISY 1
3 feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <a troubled, discordant family that would benefit from professional counseling> — see BELLIGERENT
4 not being in agreement or harmony <his views on the proper role of women are certainly discordant with most contemporary opinions on the subject> — see INCONSISTENT 1

discount noun
something that is or may be subtracted <a discount of 20% from the original price> — see DEDUCTION 1

discount verb
1 to dismiss as of little importance <even while acknowledging the primacy of the director, we should not discount the contributions of all the others who worked on the film> — see EXCUSE 1
2 to express scornfully one's low opinion of <shouldn't discount their contributions to our fund-raising efforts> — see DECRY 1

discountenance noun
refusal to accept as right or desirable <made known his long-standing discountenance of any form of religious belief> — see DISAPPROVAL

discountenance verb
1 to hold an unfavorable opinion of <a social philosopher who discountenanced all programs for helping the needy, claiming that society should encourage survival of the fittest> — see DISAPPROVE OF
2 to throw into a state of self-conscious distress <the political party was discountenanced by the actions of a few of its overly zealous members> — see EMBARRASS 1

discourage verb
1 to lessen the courage or confidence of <I didn't let losing discourage me from trying again>

Synonyms
chill, daunt, demoralize, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, frustrate, unman, unnerve

Related Words
browbeat, bully, cow, intimidate; depress, sadden, weigh; afflict, try; damp, dampen, deaden; distress, trouble; bother, irk, vex, worry; debilitate, enfeeble, undermine, weaken; frighten, horrify, scare

Phrases
throw cold water on

Near Antonyms
buoy (up), cheer, gladden; animate, enliven, invigorate; enforce, fortify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; assure, reassure; boost, energize, excite, galvanize, inspire, lift, provoke, quicken, rally, stimulate, stir

Antonyms
embolden, encourage, hearten, nerve, steel

2 to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action <the higher fines may help discourage drivers from speeding on the highway>

Synonyms
deter, dissuade, inhibit

Related Words
divert; unsell; repel

Near Antonyms
egg (on), exhort, goad, prod, urge; impel, induce, prompt

Antonyms
encourage, persuade

discouragement noun
the state of being discouraged <I tried desperately to avoid discouragement after failing the bar exam twice>

Synonyms
demoralization, despair, despondency, disheartenment, dismay, dispiritedness

Related Words
blues, dejection, depression, dumps, gloom, melancholy, mopes; defeatism, pessimism, resignation

Near Antonyms
optimism, sanguinity

Antonyms
encouragement

discourse noun
talking or a talk between two or more people <Thomas Jefferson is said to have been able to participate in knowledgeable discourse on a breathtaking array of subjects> — see CONVERSATION

discourse verb
1 to give a formal often extended talk on a subject <the guest lecturer discoursed at some length on the long-term results of the war> — see TALK 1
2 to talk as if giving an important and formal speech <grandly discoursed as though he were an expert on every subject> — see ORATE 1

discourteous adjective
showing a lack of manners or consideration for others <wouldn't tolerate anything so discourteous as the interruption of another speaker during a discussion> — see IMPOLITE

discourteousness noun
rude behavior <a campaign to try to remedy the increasing discourteousness of the state's drivers> — see DISCOURTESY

discourtesy noun
rude behavior <the courtiers shuddered at the discourtesy shown to the king>

Synonyms
dis (also diss) [slang], discourteousness, disrespect, disrespectfulness, impertinence, impertinency, impoliteness, impudence, incivility, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, insolence, rudeness, ungraciousness

Related Words
audacity, boldness, brashness, brassiness, forwardness, sauciness, shamelessness; boorishness, caddishness, churlishness, clownishness, crudeness, loutishness, vulgarity; abruptness, bluntness, brusqueness, crustiness, curtness, gruffness, sharpness; crabbedness, crossness, disagreeableness, grumpiness, sullenness, surliness; improperness, impropriety, inappropriateness, incorrectness, indecency, unfitness, unsuitability; arrogance, conceit, conceitedness, presumption, pretense (or pretence), pretension, pretentiousness

Near Antonyms
humility, meekness, modesty; deference, dutifulness, respectfulness, submissiveness; acceptability, appropriateness, correctness, decency, decorousness, fitness, goodness, propriety, respectability, respectableness, rightness, seemliness, suitability, suitableness; affability, cordiality, friendliness, geniality, hospitality, kindness; felicitousness, grace, gracefulness

Antonyms
civility, considerateness, consideration, courtesy, genteelness, gentility, graciousness, politeness, politesse, thoughtfulness

discover verb
1 to come to an awareness of <I was startled to discover that my keys were missing>

Synonyms
ascertain, catch on (to), find out, get on (to), hear, learn, realize, see, wise (up)

Related Words
hit (on or upon), tumble (to); descry, detect, encounter, espy, see, spot; calculate, dope (out), figure out, find, puzzle (out); discern, mind, note, observe, perceive; divine

Phrases
get wind of

Near Antonyms
miss, overlook; disregard, ignore; forget, unlearn; blanket, blot out, cloak, conceal, cover, curtain, enshroud, hide, mask, occult, screen, shroud, veil

2 to come upon after searching, study, or effort <we hope to discover the real reason for his odd behavior> — see FIND 1
3 to make known (as information previously kept secret) <discovered to his friend how people whom he had trusted had betrayed him> — see REVEAL 1

discovery noun
1 the act or process of sighting or learning the existence of something for the first time <the discovery of a new species of starfish>

Synonyms
detection, finding, spotting, unearthing

Related Words
awareness, espial, notice; disclosure, exposure, revelation, uncovering, unveiling; creation, invention; exploration; rediscovery

Near Antonyms
disappearance, loss; concealment, hiding

2 something discovered <his many zoological discoveries include several species of birds>

Synonyms
find

Related Words
pay dirt, strike, treasure trove; breakthrough

discredit noun
the state of having lost the esteem of others <to his everlasting discredit, the coach was found to have placed bets against his own team> — see DISGRACE 1

discredit verb
1 to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <attempted to discredit her political opponents by deliberately spreading false rumors> — see HUMBLE
2 to think not to be true or real <I discredit the story that the old inn is haunted> — see DISBELIEVE
3 to prove to be false <the pseudoscience of phrenology has been thoroughly discredited> — see DISPROVE

discreditable adjective
not respectable <the discreditable conduct of drunken college students celebrating a win by their team> — see DISREPUTABLE

discreet adjective
1 having or showing good judgment and restraint especially in conduct or speech <he was very discreet, only saying what was necessary>

Synonyms
intelligent, judgmatic (or judgmatical), judicious, prudent

Related Words
cautious, chary, circumspect, cozy; forehanded, foresighted, foresightful, forethoughtful; discerning, discriminating, sage, sane, sapient, senseful, sensible, wise; canny, provident; astute, perspicacious, sagacious, shrewd

Near Antonyms
careless, heedless, incautious, rash; improvident, shortsighted; foolish, unwise

Antonyms
imprudent, indiscreet, injudicious

2 not readily seen or noticed <with a discreet gesture, she signalled to her husband that she was ready to leave the party> — see UNOBTRUSIVE

discreetness noun
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters <I appreciated her discreetness in keeping quiet about my inability to pay for our date> — see COMMON SENSE

discrepancy noun
the quality or state of being different <the discrepancy of the calculations of my bill by the hotel and myself was a matter of concern> — see DIFFERENCE 1

discrepant adjective
not being in agreement or harmony <widely discrepant conclusions on the impact the real estate development would have on the local environment> — see INCONSISTENT 1

discrete adjective
not physically attached to another unit <several discrete sections to this vast medical complex, including a college of pharmacology and a research center> — see SEPARATE 2

discreteness noun
the state of being kept distinct <the discreteness of the sonnets is given visual emphasis by having each one on a separate page> — see SEPARATION 2

discretion noun
1 the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters <we'll rely on your discretion in handling this accusation of cheating> — see COMMON SENSE
2 the power, right, or opportunity to choose <ambassadorships are generally regarded as subject to the president's discretion> — see CHOICE 1
3 the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others <in that job you'll be expected to show discretion and act like a professional at all times> — see CONSTRAINT 1

discretionary adjective
subject to one's freedom of choice <discretionary spending on luxuries dropped dramatically last year> — see OPTIONAL

discriminate verb
to understand or point out the difference in <the human eye can discriminate between very slight gradations of color> — see DISTINGUISH 1

discriminating adjective
1 favoring, applying, or being unequal treatment of different classes of people <accused of discriminating practices in the hiring of employees> — see DISCRIMINATORY
2 serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group <a discriminating feature of poison ivy is a compound leaf with three mitten-shaped leaflets> — see CHARACTERISTIC 1

discrimination noun
the state of being kept distinct <in her mind there did not exist a discrimination between the imaginary and the real> — see SEPARATION 2

discriminational adjective
favoring, applying, or being unequal treatment of different classes of people <are you guilty of discriminational behavior toward people unlike yourself?> — see DISCRIMINATORY

discriminative adjective
favoring, applying, or being unequal treatment of different classes of people <fighting laws which were grossly discriminative> — see DISCRIMINATORY

discriminatory adjective
favoring, applying, or being unequal treatment of different classes of people <a company that was fined for its discriminatory practices in the hiring of women>

Synonyms
differential, discriminating, discriminational, discriminative

Related Words
biased, inequitable, partial, partisan, prejudiced, prejudicial, unequal, unfair, unjust; clubby, elitist, selective; segregative

Near Antonyms
equal, equitable, fair, just; impartial, neutral, objective, unbiased, uncolored, unprejudiced

Antonyms
nondiscriminatory

discursive adjective
passing from one topic to another <the speaker's discursive style made it difficult to understand his point>

Synonyms
desultory, digressional, digressionary, digressive, excursive, leaping, maundering, meandering, rambling, wandering

Related Words
circuitous, deviating, devious, indirect, roundabout

Near Antonyms
coherent, consistent, logical; direct, focused (also focussed), straightforward, undeviating

discuss verb
to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion <we discussed the new proposal for the school stadium>

Synonyms
agitate, argue, bandy, bat (around or back and forth), canvass (also canvas), debate, dispute, hash (over or out), moot, talk over

Related Words
review, speak (about), talk (about); broach, introduce, propound, raise, stir up; forge, hammer out, talk out, thrash (out), wrestle (with); chew over, consider, deliberate, weigh

discussion noun
1 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <the discussion about the club budget went on for hours>

Synonyms
argument, argumentation, argy-bargy [chiefly British], back-and-forth, colloquy, confab, confabulation, conference, consult, consultation, council, counsel, debate, deliberation, dialogue (also dialog), give-and-take, palaver, parley, talk

Related Words
bull session, chat room, forum, meeting, powwow, roundtable, seminar, skull session (also skull practice), symposium, talkathon; chat, conversation, rap, words; discourse, disquisition; bargaining, consultancy, negotiation, pourparler

2 talking or a talk between two or more people <discussions around the watercooler at work> — see CONVERSATION

disdain noun
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect <showing undisguised disdain for the other employees> — see CONTEMPT

disdain verb
to show contempt for <disdained the deserter as a coward> — see SCORN 1

disdainful adjective
1 feeling or showing open dislike for someone or something regarded as undeserving of respect or concern <a disdainful attitude toward people who work as waiters and waitresses> — see CONTEMPTUOUS 1
2 having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself <disdainful of manual labor of any kind> — see PROUD 1
3 intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <disdainful remarks regarding the cheap clothes that the local people were wearing> — see DEROGATORY

disease noun
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <they caught a rare disease while they were traveling in Africa and were sick for weeks>

Synonyms
affection, ail, ailment, bug, complaint, complication, condition, disorder, distemper, distemperature, fever, ill, illness, infirmity, malady, sickness, trouble

Related Words
contagion, contagious disease; contagium, infection; attack, bout, fit, spell; debility, decrepitude, feebleness, frailness, lameness, sickliness, unhealthiness, unsoundness, unwellness, weakness; malaise, matter, pip; epidemic, pest, pestilence, plague

Near Antonyms
fitness, healthiness, heartiness, robustness, soundness, wholeness, wholesomeness; fettle, shape

Antonyms
health, wellness

disembark verb
1 to go ashore from a ship <the cruise passengers disembarked as soon as they got to the terminal in Miami>

Synonyms
debark, land

Related Words
beach; anchor, dock, put in

Near Antonyms
board, get (on); weigh (anchor)

Antonyms
embark

2 to come down from something (as a vehicle) <before you disembark, make sure you haven't left anything on your seat> — see ALIGHT 2

disembarrass verb
to set free from entanglement or difficulty <still struggling to disembarrass herself of the emotional baggage of a failed relationship> — see EXTRICATE

disembowel verb
to take the internal organs out of <ancient Roman prophets would disembowel animals in order to read the future from their entrails> — see GUT

disenchant verb
to free from mistaken beliefs or foolish hopes <if you thought that you could pass this course without doing any work, let me be the first to disenchant you> — see DISILLUSION

disencumber verb
1 to empty or rid of cargo <we disencumbered our pack animals as soon as we made camp that night> — see UNLOAD 1
2 to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers <a simple statement of the terms of the contract disencumbered of legal jargon> — see RID

disencumbered adjective
no longer burdened with something unpleasant or painful <the paying off of my loan left me feeling delightfully disencumbered> — see FREE 2

disengage verb
to set free from entanglement or difficulty <sought to disengage myself from the embarrassing situation> — see EXTRICATE

disentangle verb
1 to separate the various strands of <it took forever to disentangle the knot> — see UNRAVEL 1
2 to set free from entanglement or difficulty <the years that it took to disentangle ourselves from our troubles after someone started using our social security numbers> — see EXTRICATE

disenthrall also disenthral verb
to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <we must disenthrall ourselves from time-honored ways of doing things, or we will never progress as a society> — see FREE 1

disesteem noun
1 refusal to accept as right or desirable <made clear his disesteem of her decision to pursue an acting career> — see DISAPPROVAL
2 the state of having lost the esteem of others <the medical researcher had fallen into great disesteem after having been caught faking her lab results> — see DISGRACE 1

disesteem verb
to hold an unfavorable opinion of <a survey showing that both candidates are disesteemed by the majority of eligible voters> — see DISAPPROVE OF

disfavor noun
1 a strong feeling of not liking or approving <made no attempt to hide his disfavor of his wife's relatives> — see DISLIKE 1
2 refusal to accept as right or desirable <their suggestion was met with disfavor by virtually all of the other club members> — see DISAPPROVAL
3 the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success <the defendant certainly acted to his own disfavor with his frequent outbursts> — see DISADVANTAGE 2

disfavor verb
1 to feel dislike for <a style of stage acting that is disfavored by most theatergoers today> — see DISLIKE 1
2 to hold an unfavorable opinion of <polls showing that this political candidate is highly disfavored by most voters> — see DISAPPROVE OF

disfigure verb
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <the statue was seriously disfigured by falling rubble during the earthquake> — see DAMAGE 1

disfigurement noun
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing <a plastic surgeon who occasionally donates his services to treat the disfigurements of needy children> — see BLEMISH

disgorge verb
to violently throw out or off (something from within) <the volcano disgorged lava in a spectacular nighttime show> — see ERUPT 1

disgrace noun
1 the state of having lost the esteem of others <the players who threw the game were in disgrace with their schoolmates>

Synonyms
discredit, disesteem, dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, reproach, shame

Related Words
scandal; contempt, despite, disdain, scorn; deprecation, disapprobation, disapproval, disfavor; abasement, debasement, debasing, degradation, dust, humbling, humiliation; blot, brand, shadow, slur, smirch, spot, stain, stigma, taint

Near Antonyms
admiration, appreciation, estimation, regard; awe, fear, reverence; fame, glory, renown, repute

Antonyms
esteem, honor, respect

2 a cause of shame <the exposure of his criminal record was a huge disgrace for the councilman>

Synonyms
dishonor, opprobrium, reflection, reproach, scandal

Related Words
blot, brand, slur, smirch, spot, stain, stigma, taint

Near Antonyms
boast, glory, jewel, pride, treasure

Antonyms
credit, honor

3 a regrettable or blameworthy act <it's a disgrace to let all the leftover food from the banquet go to waste, so let's deliver it to the homeless shelter> — see CRIME 2

disgrace verb
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <disgraced by the shameful actions of their leader> — see HUMBLE

disgraceful adjective
not respectable <disgraceful disruptions at the graduation ceremonies> — see DISREPUTABLE

disgruntle verb
1 to cause to change from friendly or loving to unfriendly or uncaring <an employee, disgruntled by the restaurant owner's shabby treatment, turned him in to the IRS> — see ESTRANGE
2 to make discontented <a crew disgruntled by a long voyage that provided no opportunity for recreation onshore> — see DISCONTENT

disgruntled adjective
having a feeling that one has been wronged or thwarted in one's ambitions <a disgruntled postal worker was responsible for the vandalism> — see DISCONTENTED

disgruntlement noun
1 the condition of being dissatisfied with one's life or situation <a survey showing the extent of people's satisfaction—or disgruntlement—with their marriages> — see DISCONTENT
2 the loss of friendship or affection <feelings of neglect that inevitably lead to disgruntlement among employees> — see ESTRANGEMENT

disguise noun
1 clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else <Mardi Gras revelers dressed in a colorful array of outlandish disguises>

Synonyms
camouflage, costume, guise

Related Words
domino, mask, veil, visor (also vizor), vizard; costumery, dress, getup, outfit, rig; coloring, cosmetic, makeup, paint

2 a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive <somehow, he managed to put on a disguise of happiness as he watched his secret crush marry someone else> — see MASQUERADE

disguise verb
1 to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity <the spies disguised themselves as harmless tourists>

Synonyms
camouflage, cloak, dress up, mask

Related Words
blanket, blot out, conceal, cover, curtain, enshroud, hide, obscure, occult, screen, shroud, veil; affect, assume, counterfeit, dissemble, dissimulate, feign, pose, pretend, sham, simulate; act, fake, impersonate, masquerade, play; cosmeticize, gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash

Near Antonyms
display, exhibit, expose, flaunt, parade, show, uncloak, unclothe, uncover, undrape, unveil; bare, betray, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, reveal

Antonyms
unmask

2 to keep secret or shut off from view <that investigative reporter usually does a good job of disguising her true motives for interviewing a person> — see 1HIDE 2

disgust noun
a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness <we turned from the grisly scene with disgust>

Synonyms
aversion, distaste, horror, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion

Related Words
abhorrence, abomination, antipathy, execration, hate, hatred; allergy, averseness, disapproval, disfavor, disinclination, dislike, disliking, displeasure

Near Antonyms
appetite, bent, fancy, favor, fondness, like, liking, love, partiality, penchant, predilection, preference, propensity, relish, shine, taste, use

disgust verb
to cause to feel disgust <the movie's graphic, nonstop violence disgusted us>

Synonyms
gross out, nauseate, put off, repel, repulse, revolt, sicken, turn off

Related Words
displease, distress; appall (also appal), disquiet, horrify; affront, insult, offend, outrage, shock

Phrases
turn one's stomach

Near Antonyms
allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, disarm, draw, enchant, entice, fascinate, lure, pull, seduce, tempt; delight, gratify, please, rejoice, tickle; enrapture, enthrall (or enthral), entrance; appeal (to), interest, intrigue

disgusted adjective
filled with disgust <the disgusted diners left, vowing to report the restaurant to the board of health> — see SICK 2

disgusting adjective
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <when we cleaned the room, we found a disgusting plate of moldy food under the bed> — see OFFENSIVE 1

dish noun
1 a usually circular utensil for holding something (as food) <we threw all of the ingredients for the salsa into a dish and mixed them together>

Synonyms
vessel

Related Words
bowl, casserole, charger, cup, plate, platter, salver, saucer, server, tray, waiter

2 a physically attractive person <what a dish my blind date turned out to be!> — see DOLL 2
3 information or opinion that is widely disseminated without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <she's the one to go to if you want the latest office dish> — see RUMOR

dish verb
to relate sometimes questionable or secret information of a personal nature <for someone who claims to mind her own business, she sure knows how to dish> — see GOSSIP

disharmony noun
a lack of agreement or harmony <having witnessed so much domestic disharmony while growing up, he was in no rush to join the ranks of the married> — see DISCORD

dishearten verb
to lessen the courage or confidence of <we were disheartened by the news that our grandmother was seriously ill> — see DISCOURAGE 1

disheartenment noun
the state of being discouraged <our excusable disheartenment in the face of overwhelming odds against winning the game> — see DISCOURAGEMENT

dished adjective
curved inward <Arabian horses are noted for their dished muzzles and large eyes> — see HOLLOW

dishevel verb
to undo the proper order or arrangement of <decorations for the garden wedding that had been disheveled by the wind> — see DISORDER

disheveled or dishevelled adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <a slovenly woman with disheveled hair and a cigarette hanging out of her mouth> — see MESSY

dishevelment noun
a state in which everything is out of order <given the degree of dishevelment in your workstation, it's a miracle that you can ever find anything> — see CHAOS

dishonest adjective
1 telling or containing lies <dishonest kids who lie about their ages in order to get into R-rated movies> <dishonest statements on the claims form>

Synonyms
lying, mendacious, untruthful

Related Words
erroneous, fallacious, false, misleading, untrue; double-dealing, hypocrite, hypocritical, insincere, mealymouthed, smooth-tongued, two-faced; perjurious

Near Antonyms
candid, open, plainspoken, straightforward; earnest, sincere, true; conscientious, moral, principled, scrupulous; dependable, reliable, trustable, trustworthy, trusty; decent, ethical, honorable, just, respectable, righteous, right-minded, straight, upright, upstanding, virtuous

Antonyms
honest, truthful, veracious

2 given to or marked by cheating and deception <dishonest car dealers who roll back mileage gauges> <dishonest business deals that landed him in jail>

Synonyms
bent [chiefly British], crooked, deceptive, double-dealing, duplicitous, fast, fraudulent, guileful, rogue, shady, sharp, shifty, underhand, underhanded

Related Words
unconscionable, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous; deceitful, deceiving, deluding, delusive, delusory, false; artful, beguiling, cagey (also cagy), crafty, cunning, foxy, slick, sly, subtle, wily; defrauding, devious, furtive, slippery, sneaking, sneaky, trickish, tricky; insidious, perfidious, treacherous

Near Antonyms
conscientious, decent, ethical, honorable, just, scrupulous, upright; forthright, straightforward

Antonyms
aboveboard, honest, straight

3 marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <dishonest appraisals of art works that were part of an elaborate scheme to defraud insurance companies> — see FRAUDULENT 1

dishonesty noun
1 the tendency to tell lies <if you gain a reputation for dishonesty, no one will believe you even when you're telling the truth>

Synonyms
deceit, deceitfulness, falsehood, mendaciousness, mendacity, untruthfulness

Related Words
artifice, craft, craftiness, crookedness, cunning, dissembling, dissimulation, double-dealing, duplicity, fakery, foxiness, guile, guilefulness, insincerity, trickishness, wiliness; falseness; hypocrisy

Near Antonyms
honor, incorruptibility; candidness, candor, frankness, good faith, plainspokenness, sincerity, straightforwardness; dependability, reliability, reliableness, trustworthiness; accuracy, objectivity; authenticity, correctness, genuineness; credibility

Antonyms
honesty, integrity, probity, truthfulness, veraciousness, veracity, verity

2 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <a religious cult that recruits members through dishonesty and subterfuge> — see DECEIT 1

dishonor noun
1 the state of having lost the esteem of others <a person of integrity who would prefer death to dishonor> — see DISGRACE 1
2 a cause of shame <your expulsion from the military academy for cheating is a dishonor to this family> — see DISGRACE 2

dishonor verb
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <dishonored herself by fixing the results of her medical research> — see HUMBLE

dishonorable adjective
1 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <resorted to dishonorable tactics in order to win first place in the science fair> — see IGNOBLE 2
2 not respectable <dishonorable conduct shown by some people while visiting foreign countries> — see DISREPUTABLE

dishy adjective
1 having the style and content of everyday conversation <twice a week he churns out a dishy column on the latest tidings from Tinseltown> — see CHATTY 1
2 sexually attractive <cast a dishy redhead in the main role, even though her acting skills seem minimal> — see SEXY 1

disillusion verb
to free from mistaken beliefs or foolish hopes <we were disillusioned when we saw how the movie star acted in real life>

Synonyms
disabuse, disenchant, undeceive

Related Words
sophisticate; advise, apprise, clue (in), fill in, wise (up); debunk, expose, refute, show up, uncloak, uncover, unmask; disclose, divulge, spill, tell, unveil

Near Antonyms
beguile, bluff, cozen, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, kid, misguide, misinform, mislead, misrepresent, snow, take in, trick

disinclination noun
1 a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something <it's an understatement to say that our dog shows a disinclination to get into the car to go to the vet> — see RELUCTANCE
2 a strong feeling of not liking or approving <a strong disinclination for Brussels sprouts since birth> — see DISLIKE 1

disinclined adjective
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty <disinclined to pay his friends a visit without calling first> — see HESITANT

disintegrate verb
1 to go through decomposition <fallen leaves slowly disintegrate over the course of the winter> — see DECAY 1
2 to reduce to fine particles <modern air pollution is gradually disintegrating the ancient temple's irreplaceable friezes> — see POWDER

disinter verb
to remove from place of burial <the Egyptian mummy was carefully disinterred in hopes that it would yield secrets about the Old Kingdom> — see EXHUME

disinterest noun
lack of favoritism toward one side or another <since the coach has a son on the team, his disinterest in the selection of a team captain cannot be assumed> — see DETACHMENT 1

disinterested adjective
1 having or showing a lack of interest or concern <the city's philistines, naturally disinterested in art, voted to cut the museum's budget> — see INDIFFERENT 1
2 marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias <a judge who is widely respected for his disinterested decisions> — see FAIR 2

disinterestedness noun
1 lack of favoritism toward one side or another <the disinterestedness with which the newspaper reports stories earns it the respect and trust of the community> — see DETACHMENT 1
2 lack of interest or concern <a fair measure of the level of disinterestedness in the proceedings was the near-constant yawning by both participants and observers> — see INDIFFERENCE

disjoin verb
to set or force apart <disjoined the two drinking glasses, which were stuck together, only with the greatest difficulty> — see SEPARATE 1

disjoint verb
1 to set or force apart <disjoint the parts of a chicken for frying> — see SEPARATE 1
2 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <the author deliberately disjoints his narrative in favor of a more impressionistic account of the war> — see DISORDER

disjointed adjective
not clearly or logically connected <a disjointed harangue about a hodgepodge of things that are supposedly wrong with our society> — see INCOHERENT 1

dislike noun
1 a strong feeling of not liking or approving <we have a strong dislike for olives and wouldn't eat them even if we were paid>

Synonyms
allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disinclination, disliking, disrelish, down [chiefly British], mislike

Related Words
disgust, distaste, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion; abhorrence, abomination, antipathy, detestation, execration, hate, hatred; deprecation, disapproval, displeasure, dissatisfaction; jaundice

Near Antonyms
affection, attachment, devotedness, devotion, love, passion; bent, leaning, penchant, predilection, propensity, tendency

Antonyms
appetite, favor, fondness, like, liking, partiality, preference, relish, shine, taste, use

2 refusal to accept as right or desirable <the public's general dislike of negative campaign ads> — see DISAPPROVAL

dislike verb
1 to feel dislike for <the two dogs disliked each other the first time they met, and never did become friends>

Synonyms
disfavor, disrelish, mislike

Related Words
abhor, abominate, detest, execrate, hate, loathe, resent; condemn, despise, scorn; cringe (at), disapprove (of), frown (on or upon), mind, object (to), shy (from or away from)

Near Antonyms
admire, appreciate, cherish, esteem, regard, respect; adore, deify, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate, worship; prize, treasure, value; drink (in), savor (also savour); dote (on), idolize; favor, prefer

Antonyms
adore, cotton (to), delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, love, relish, revel (in)

2 to hold an unfavorable opinion of <dislike the governor's heavy-handed way of pushing his agenda> — see DISAPPROVE OF

disliking noun
a strong feeling of not liking or approving <I had taken an instant disliking to the new neighbors> — see DISLIKE 1

dislimn verb
to make dark, dim, or indistinct <the apparition hovered, became dislimned by the fog, then disappeared altogether> — see CLOUD 1

dislocate verb
1 to change the place or position of <dislocated his shoulder in the accident> — see MOVE 1
2 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <the country's entire social structure was dislocated by the war> — see DISORDER

dislocation noun
an act or instance of the order of things being disturbed <the slightest dislocation in her daily routine bothered the elderly woman> — see UPSET

disloyal adjective
not true in one's allegiance to someone or something <we sensed that he was disloyal and would eventually turn on us> — see FAITHLESS

disloyalty noun
1 lack of faithfulness especially to one's husband or wife <she was greatly pained by her husband's disloyalty> — see INFIDELITY 1
2 the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another <sexual abuse of a young person by a clergyman is usually regarded as the ultimate disloyalty> — see BETRAYAL

dismal adjective
1 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <a suitably dismal setting for a haunted house> — see GLOOMY 1
2 causing unhappiness <the dismal failure of our hopes for the championship> — see SAD 2
3 extremely unsatisfactory <the quarterback's dismal performance suggested that he had not fully recovered from his recent injury> — see WRETCHED 1

dismantle verb
to take apart <dismantle the table for easier transport> — see DISASSEMBLE 1

dismay noun
1 the emotion felt when one's expectations are not met <filled with dismay at not making the finals> — see DISAPPOINTMENT 1
2 the state of being discouraged <in my dismay I failed to realize that there would be other chances> — see DISCOURAGEMENT

dismay verb
1 to lessen the courage or confidence of <the imposing climb up the mountain dismayed us even before we got started> — see DISCOURAGE 1
2 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <parents who became increasingly dismayed by their son's foundering marriage> — see DISTURB 1

dismember verb
1 to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly <quickly dismembered the old toolshed and hauled it off to the dump> — see BREAK 1
2 to take apart <dismembered the stage settings after the last performance> — see DISASSEMBLE 1

dismiss verb
1 to let go from office, service, or employment <the secretary was dismissed after it was discovered that she was stealing office supplies>

Synonyms
ax (or axe), bounce, can, cashier, discharge, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate, turn off

Related Words
downsize, excess, furlough, lay off, trim; boot (out), chuck (out), drum (out), kick out, throw out, unseat; separate

Phrases
send packing, show (one) the door

Near Antonyms
keep; reemploy, rehire; contract, subcontract; recruit

Antonyms
employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on

2 to drive or force out <the sick boy's nurse dismissed the visitors so he could get some rest> — see EJECT 1
3 to express scornfully one's low opinion of <critics dismissed his music as mere noise> — see DECRY 1

dismissal noun
the termination of the employment of an employee or a work force often temporarily <numerous dismissals from the company during the economic slump> — see LAYOFF 1

dismount verb
1 to come down from something (as a vehicle) <the coachman dismounted from his seat in order to assist the weary travelers> — see ALIGHT 2
2 to take apart <dismount a revolver for cleaning> — see DISASSEMBLE 1

disobedience noun
refusal to obey <they gave up on training the dog to fetch because of his constant disobedience>

Synonyms
balkiness, contrariness, contumacy, defiance, frowardness, insubordination, intractability, obstreperousness, rebellion, rebelliousness, recalcitrance, refractoriness, unruliness, waywardness, willfulness

Related Words
civil disobedience, noncooperation; discourteousness, disrespect, impertinence, impoliteness, impudence, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, insolence, rudeness, ungraciousness; doggedness, hardheadedness, mulishness, obduracy, obdurateness, obstinacy, obstinateness, peevishness, pertinaciousness, pertinacity, perversity, pigheadedness, self-will, stubbornness, tenaciousness, tenacity; knavery, mischievousness, naughtiness

Near Antonyms
agreeability, amenability, amiability; slavishness, submissiveness, subservience, subserviency; trainability; deference, docility, dutifulness

Antonyms
compliance, obedience, submission, subordinateness, subordination, tractability, tractableness

disobedient adjective
given to resisting authority or another's control <the disobedient child refused to eat his vegetables>

Synonyms
balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, recusant, refractory, restive, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful (or wilful)

Related Words
noncooperative, uncooperative; insurgent, mutinous; adamant, adamantine, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inflexible, mulish, negativistic, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, peevish, pertinacious, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding; fractious, restive, uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild; perverse, resistant, wrongheaded; bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, monkeying, monkeyish, naughty; undisciplined; dissident, nonconformist; discourteous, disrespectful, ill-bred, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impertinent, impolite, impudent, inconsiderate, insolent, ornery, rude, uncivil, uncouth, ungracious, unmannerly

Near Antonyms
acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, cooperative, deferential, obliging; yielding; behaved, disciplined, well-bred; courteous, polite, respectful; kowtowing, obsequious, servile, slavish, subservient; decorous, mannerly, orderly, proper; controllable, governable, manageable, trainable

Antonyms
amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, ruly, submissive, tractable

disobey verb
to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of <students who disobey their teachers and use cell phones in class> <drivers who consistently disobey traffic laws>

Synonyms
defy, mock, rebel (against)

Related Words
disoblige; mutiny (against), revolt (against); disregard, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, tune out; brush off, dismiss, flout, pooh-pooh (also pooh), reject, scoff (at), scorn, shrug off, wink (at); breach, break, infringe, transgress, violate; buck, combat, contest, dispute, fight, oppose, resist, withstand

Near Antonyms
capitulate (to), concede (to), defer (to), goose-step (to), serve, stoop (to), submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to); cooperate (with); keep, observe; accede (to), acquiesce (to), agree (to), assent (to), oblige; attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, watch

Antonyms
comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey

disoblige verb
to cause discomfort to or trouble for <didn't want to disoblige her relatives by spending the night at their place> — see INCONVENIENCE

disobliging adjective
causing difficulty, discomfort, or annoyance <a friend with the disobliging habit of never having the cash to pay his fair share of the restaurant check> — see INCONVENIENT 1

disorder noun
1 a state in which everything is out of order <the general disorder of the room after the guests finally left the party> — see CHAOS
2 an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <afflicted all her life with a nervous disorder> — see DISEASE

disorder verb
to undo the proper order or arrangement of <be careful not to disorder the carefully arranged contents of the dresser>

Synonyms
confuse, derange, disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disjoint, dislocate, disorganize, disrupt, disturb, hash, jumble, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, muss, rumple, scramble, shuffle, tousle, tumble, upset

Related Words
embroil, entangle, snarl, tangle; agitate, perturb, stir (up), unsettle; clutter

Near Antonyms
align (also aline), line, line up, queue; classify, codify, methodize, systematize, systemize; adjust, fix; groom, make up, spruce (up); unscramble

Antonyms
arrange, array, dispose, draw up, marshal (also marshall), order, organize, range, regulate, straighten (up), tidy

disordered adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <the doctor's disordered clothing was obviously thrown on in a hurry> — see MESSY

disorderedness noun
a state in which everything is out of order <the disarray in his car seemed to be a reflection of the general disorderedness of his life> — see CHAOS

disorderliness noun
a state in which everything is out of order <the studio had that studied disorderliness that appears to be de rigueur for bohemian artists> — see CHAOS

disorderly adjective
1 not restrained by or under the control of legal authority <disorderly mobs roamed the streets after the fall of the city> — see LAWLESS 1
2 lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <disorderly piles of clothes on various tables about the room> — see MESSY

disorderly house noun
a building in which prostitutes are available <the penalty for anyone convicted of running a disorderly house in the city> — see BORDELLO

disorganization noun
a state in which everything is out of order <all of her notes were in a state of disorganization> — see CHAOS

disorganize verb
to undo the proper order or arrangement of <those unexpected problems that can disorganize an entire plan> — see DISORDER

disorient verb
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <troops disoriented by the sudden change in battle plans> — see CONFUSE 1

disown verb
1 to declare not to be true <he steadfastly disowned that he was having an affair> — see DENY 1
2 to refuse to acknowledge as one's own or as one's responsibility <the dictatorial father angrily disowned his rebellious son> — see DISCLAIM 1

disparage verb
to express scornfully one's low opinion of <disparaged polo as a sport for the idle rich> — see DECRY 1

disparagement noun
the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant <his predictable disparagement of the latest fashions among young people> — see DEPRECIATION

disparager noun
a person given to harsh judgments and to finding faults <those professional disparagers of the minister care nothing about all the good work that he has done> — see CRITIC 1

disparaging adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <disparaging comments about the lack of talent among the musical performers> — see DEROGATORY

disparate adjective
being not of the same kind <disparate notions among adults and adolescents about when middle age begins> — see DIFFERENT 1

disparateness noun
the quality or state of being different <the disparateness of their notions of an ideal weekend may indicate that they would not make a compatible couple> — see DIFFERENCE 1

disparity noun
the quality or state of being different <an enormous disparity in the lives of the rich and the poor in that country> — see DIFFERENCE 1

dispassion noun
the absence of emotional involvement <viewed the problem with the weary dispassion of a police officer who seen everything> — see COOL 1

dispassionate adjective
marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias <dispassionate refereeing is all that we ask> — see FAIR 2

dispassionateness noun
the absence of emotional involvement <your heated tone makes me question your professed dispassionateness> — see COOL 1

dispatch noun
1 a message on paper from one person or group to another <a soldier sending daily dispatches to friends and family back home> — see 1LETTER
2 a piece of conveyed information <a dispatch from headquarters regarding a change in battle plans> — see COMMUNICATION 1

dispatch verb
1 to cause to go or be taken from one place to another <dispatched a messenger with urgent news> — see SEND
2 to deprive of life <the exterminator dispatched the termites with professional efficiency> — see KILL 1
3 to put to death deliberately <during his reign of terror the dictator dispatched thousands without the slightest qualm> — see MURDER 1
4 to achieve a victory over <they dispatched the other team without breaking a sweat> — see BEAT 2
5 to cause to go or be taken from one place to another <dispatched a messenger to warn the colonel about the attack> — see SEND

dispel verb
to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart <the sudden downpour dispelled the throng of street revelers> — see SCATTER 1

dispensable adjective
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end <a new invention that renders the old methods eminently dispensable> — see UNNECESSARY

dispensation noun
the act or process of giving out something to each member of a group <the emergency dispensation of medicine to the sick> — see DISTRIBUTION 1

dispense verb
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals <a conscientious pharmacist never dispenses pills to people without assurances that they understand the instructions> — see ADMINISTER 1

dispersal noun
an act or process in which something scatters or is scattered <the dispersal of plant seeds in the forests through natural means> — see SCATTERING 1

disperse verb
1 to go off in different directions and cease to exist as a body or unified whole <the crowd dispersed once the show ended>

Synonyms
disassemble, dissipate, dissolve, scatter

Related Words
branch (out), break up, disband, diverge, divide, fork, separate, spill; clear, disappear, evanesce, evaporate, fade, flee, go (away), melt

Near Antonyms
congregate, gather, meet

2 to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart <the family of the missing woman dispersed searchers to all corners of the national park> — see SCATTER 1
3 to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization <the campaign staff dispersed almost immediately after the election> — see DISBAND 1

dispersion noun
an act or process in which something scatters or is scattered <the dispersion of energy from a source> — see SCATTERING 1

dispirit verb
to lessen the courage or confidence of <dispirited by the overwhelming amount of information needed to write the report> — see DISCOURAGE 1

dispiritedness noun
1 a state or spell of low spirits <experienced a period of general dispiritedness following the birth of her first child> — see SADNESS
2 the state of being discouraged <the dispiritedness experienced by the losing team in the Super Bowl must be staggering> — see DISCOURAGEMENT

displace verb
1 to change the place or position of <the slight tremor displaced the dishes on the shelves, but didn't do any real damage> — see MOVE 1
2 to force to leave a country <World War II displaced people all over Europe> — see BANISH 1
3 to take the place of <inefficient methods displaced by newer ones> — see REPLACE 1
4 to remove from a position of prominence or power (as a throne) <the CEO was summarily displaced after the hostile takeover> — see DEPOSE 1

displacement noun
the forced removal from a homeland <the displacement of Jews from the land of their ancestors> — see EXILE 1

displant verb
to take the place of <long ago displanted by the automobile, the horse and buggy have become icons of a slower, gentler time> — see REPLACE 1

display noun
1 a public showing of objects of interest <a display of paintings by masters of French Impressionism> — see EXHIBITION 1
2 an outward and often exaggerated indication of something abstract (as a feeling) for effect <a display of sympathy that was totally phony> — see SHOW 1

display verb
1 to present so as to invite notice or attention <display the best items at the front of the showcase> — see SHOW 1
2 to make known (something abstract) through outward signs <an actress who can display a great range of emotion> — see SHOW 2

displease verb
to make discontented <her coworkers' tendency to pry displeased her> — see DISCONTENT

displeased adjective
having a feeling that one has been wronged or thwarted in one's ambitions <feeling vaguely displeased by the way his relationship with his girlfriend seemed to be going> — see DISCONTENTED

displeasing adjective
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <the new hotel is a displeasing mix of architectural styles> — see UNPLEASANT

displeasure noun
1 refusal to accept as right or desirable <fans showed their displeasure by loudly booing the umpire> — see DISAPPROVAL
2 the condition of being dissatisfied with one's life or situation <his displeasure with his job intensified as the years wore on> — see DISCONTENT

disport verb
1 to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied <disported themselves with silly games while they waited in the airport> — see AMUSE
2 to engage in activity for amusement <a full-service resort where vacationers may disport at a variety of indoor and outdoor activities> — see PLAY 1
3 to play and run about happily <the puppies disported in the backyard while we ate on the patio> — see FROLIC 1
4 to present so as to invite notice or attention <football fans triumphantly disported the sports memorabilia for which they had just paid extravagant prices> — see SHOW 1

disposal noun
1 the getting rid of whatever is unwanted or useless <trash disposal is on Wednesday in our neighborhood>

Synonyms
discarding, disposition, dumping, jettison, junking, removal, riddance, scrapping, throwing away

Related Words
clearance, clearing; decimation, demolishment, demolition, destruction

Near Antonyms
accumulation, acquirement, acquisition, collection, deposit, gathering

2 the way objects in space or events in time are arranged or follow one another <the disposal of troops along the ridge> — see ORDER 1

dispose verb
1 to arrange something in a certain spot or position <looking for the perfect spot to dispose the new knickknack> — see PLACE 1
2 to put into a particular arrangement <disposed the surgical instruments in the exact order in which they would be needed> — see ORDER 1

disposed adjective
having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action) <a dog that is disposed to bite> — see WILLING 1

disposition noun
1 one's characteristic attitude or mood <he has a cheerful disposition and is very rarely depressed>

Synonyms
grain, nature, temper, temperament

Related Words
cheer, frame, habit, humor, inclination, mode, spirit; angle, attitude, mind-set, outlook, perspective, slant, standpoint, viewpoint; emotion, feeling, heart, passion, sentiment, spirit; strain; belief, conviction, judgment (or judgement), mind, notion, opinion, persuasion, view; expression, tone, vein; character, identity, individuality, makeup, mettle, personality, selfhood, self-identity, setup; responsiveness, sensibility, sensitiveness, sensitivity

2 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <a woman with a disposition to fuss about trivial matters> — see INCLINATION 1
3 the getting rid of whatever is unwanted or useless <we'll have to find some means for the disposition of all of this junk> — see DISPOSAL 1
4 the way objects in space or events in time are arranged or follow one another <planned the disposition of events at her wedding with a precision that military commanders would envy> — see ORDER 1
5 an arrangement about action to be taken <all that remains is a disposition regarding the custody of the two children> — see AGREEMENT 2

dispossess verb
to end the occupancy or possession of <opponents of gentrification claim that the process unfairly dispossesses poorer residents of their long-established homes>

Synonyms
divest, expropriate, oust

Related Words
deforce, evict; disfurnish, strip; bereave, deprive, disinherit; annex, appropriate, commandeer, impound, seize, take over, usurp

dispraise verb
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of <the movie is an old-fashioned romance, and in calling it that, I don't mean to dispraise it at all> — see CRITICIZE

disproof noun
something (as an argument) that serves to disprove <the DNA evidence was all the disproof needed to overturn the wrongful conviction> — see CONFUTATION

disprove verb
to prove to be false <Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe disproved any lingering notions that the earth is flat>

Synonyms
belie, confound, confute, debunk, disconfirm, discredit, falsify, rebut, refute, shoot down

Related Words
overthrow, overturn; challenge, contest, query, question; doubt, mistrust; debate, discuss, hash (over), moot, talk over

Phrases
give the lie to

Near Antonyms
document, evidence, evince, record, show, support, witness; back (up), buttress, corroborate, substantiate; adduce, attest, authenticate, certify, identify; demonstrate, display, illustrate, manifest

Antonyms
confirm, establish, prove, validate, verify

disputable adjective
1 giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <a speech full of disputable generalizations about people> — see DOUBTFUL
2 open to question or dispute <all disputable claims must be referred to the committee> — see DEBATABLE 2

disputant noun
a person who takes part in a dispute <there were only three disputants in the argument, but they made enough noise for a dozen>

Synonyms
arguer, argufier, bickerer, brawler, debater, disputer, fighter, quarreler (or quarreller), scrapper, squabbler, wrangler

Related Words
advocate, codefendant, defendant, plaintiff, pleader; challenger, contender, contestant, skirmisher; fusser, nitpicker, pettifogger, quibbler

disputation noun
variance of opinion on a matter <a heated disputation over the true authorship of the poem popularly known as “The Night Before Christmas”> — see DISAGREEMENT 1

disputatious adjective
1 feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <a long history of little wars waged by the disputatious countries occupying that European peninsula> — see BELLIGERENT
2 given to arguing <a disputatious professor who could give you an argument on just about anything> — see ARGUMENTATIVE 1
3 relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions <dismayed at the prospect of enduring another disputatious meeting of the school board> — see CONTROVERSIAL 1

disputatiousness noun
an inclination to fight or quarrel <the stubborn disputatiousness of the committee members kept them from getting much accomplished> — see BELLIGERENCE

dispute noun
1 variance of opinion on a matter <a dispute over the proper pronunciation of “nuclear”> — see DISAGREEMENT 1
2 an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <after much dispute, the school committee decided that all backpacks would have to be stored in lockers during class hours> — see ARGUMENT 1

dispute verb
1 to demand proof of the truth or rightness of <a whole slew of relatives eager to dispute his claim to being the sole heir> — see CHALLENGE 1
2 to express different opinions about something often angrily <hometown fans disputing with visiting fans over which had the better team> — see ARGUE 2
3 to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion <in an extended session the city council disputed the need for a new high school> — see DISCUSS

disputer noun
a person who takes part in a dispute <in debate she's a dogged disputer who never gives an inch> — see DISPUTANT

disquiet noun
1 a disturbed or uneasy state <a period of disquiet before the results of the close election were confirmed> — see UNREST
2 an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <was filled with disquiet as the hours passed without any sign of the missing children> — see ANXIETY 1

disquiet verb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <we were disquieted by the strange noises we heard outside our tent at night> — see DISTURB 1

disquieting adjective
1 causing worry or anxiety <disquieting news of troubles downtown> — see TROUBLESOME
2 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <with a disquieting voice she asked me to investigate the strange noise coming from the basement> — see NERVOUS 2

disquietude noun
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <as updates of the devastation caused by the earthquake poured in, our disquietude only increased> — see ANXIETY 1

disquisition noun
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something <Adam Smith's celebrated disquisition on the factors contributing to the wealth of nations> — see INQUIRY 1

disrate verb
to bring to a lower grade or rank <several noncommissioned officers had been disrated> — see DEMOTE

disregard noun
lack of interest or concern <revelers firing guns in the air with complete disregard for the possible consequences> — see INDIFFERENCE

disregard verb
1 to ignore in a disrespectful manner <disregarded the wishes of his tradition-conscious family in his choice of a bride> — see SCORN 2
2 to fail to give proper attention to <disregarded the posted warnings of avalanche danger and went skiing anyway> — see NEGLECT 1
3 to dismiss as of little importance <this essay is so good that I can safely disregard a couple of spelling errors> — see EXCUSE 1

disregardful adjective
failing to give proper care and attention <rebuked by the judge for being disregardful of her responsibilities as a mother of two young children> — see NEGLIGENT

disrelish noun
a strong feeling of not liking or approving <she showed a clear disrelish for the task of cleaning the fish that her husband had caught> — see DISLIKE 1

disrelish verb
to feel dislike for <I disrelish the thought of sitting through endless meetings on the matter> — see DISLIKE 1

disremember verb
to be unable to recall or think of <with advancing age I seem to disremember quite a lot of things> — see FORGET 1

disrepair noun
the state of being unattended to or not cared for <the old house was in such disrepair that the roof had caved in> — see NEGLECT 1

disreputable adjective
not respectable <a disreputable Internet retailer that had a record of hundreds of complaints for shoddy merchandise and slow refunds>

Synonyms
discreditable, disgraceful, dishonorable, ignominious, infamous, louche, notorious, opprobrious, shady, shameful, shoddy, shy, unrespectable

Related Words
bad, criminal, immoral, seamy, sordid, unethical, unsavory, wicked; base, contemptible, despicable, detestable, dirty, low, mean, miserable, vile, wretched; black, evil, iniquitous, nefarious, rotten, sinful, unrighteous, vicious, villainous, wrong; blamable, blameworthy, censurable, inglorious, reprehensible; corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, gamy (or gamey), libertine, loose, perverted, reprobate

Near Antonyms
decent, ethical, good, honest, just, moral, noble, principled, righteous, upright, upstanding; esteemed, prestigious, reputed, respected; authorized, legal, licensed, permissible, permitted; approved, endorsed (also indorsed), sanctioned; clean, correct, decorous, exemplary, proper, seemly; blameless, commendable, creditable, guiltless

Antonyms
honorable, reputable, respectable

disrepute noun
the state of having lost the esteem of others <a once proud name fallen into disrepute> — see DISGRACE 1

disrespect noun
rude behavior <treated the resort's service workers with haughty disrespect> — see DISCOURTESY

disrespect verb
1 to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in <a comedian who shuns jokes that disrespect people because of their race or ethnicity> — see INSULT
2 to show contempt for <the player once again disrespected fans by refusing to sign autographs> — see SCORN 1

disrespectful adjective
showing a lack of manners or consideration for others <being four hours late is disrespectful of the people you promised to meet> — see IMPOLITE

disrespectfulness noun
rude behavior <she was now at an age when the disrespectfulness of young people really bothered her> — see DISCOURTESY

disrobe verb
to remove clothing from <the doctor instructed the patient to disrobe himself before the examination> — see UNDRESS 1

disrobed adjective
lacking or shed of clothing <a statue of a partially disrobed woman> — see NAKED 1

disrupt verb
1 to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly <an earthquake that had disrupted the elevated highway in several places> — see BREAK 1
2 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <the arrival of a baby in the household would totally disrupt their established routine> — see DISORDER

disruption noun
an act or instance of the order of things being disturbed <the flat tire resulted in an unfortunate disruption of the schedule for our road trip> — see UPSET

dissatisfaction noun
1 the condition of being dissatisfied with one's life or situation <a vague dissatisfaction with the state of their marriage, which seemed a little stale> — see DISCONTENT
2 the emotion felt when one's expectations are not met <she felt keen dissatisfaction at the hurried job the house painters had done> — see DISAPPOINTMENT 1

dissatisfactory adjective
falling short of a standard <this report is completely dissatisfactory on several counts> — see BAD 1

dissatisfied adjective
having a feeling that one has been wronged or thwarted in one's ambitions <the store prides itself on never allowing a customer to walk away dissatisfied> — see DISCONTENTED

dissatisfy verb
1 to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of <a restaurant serving portions that will not dissatisfy even the heartiest eater> — see DISAPPOINT
2 to make discontented <an administrative assistant dissatisfied by her meager paycheck> — see DISCONTENT

dissect verb
to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships <let's dissect the plot of this thriller to see what makes it thrilling> — see ANALYZE

dissection noun
the separation and identification of the parts of a whole <the book's dissection of the problem of obesity in this country> — see ANALYSIS 1

dissemble verb
1 to present a false appearance of <he dissembled happiness at the news that his old girlfriend was getting married—to someone else> — see FEIGN
2 to take on a false or deceptive appearance <children learn to dissemble at a surprisingly early age> — see PRETEND 1

dissembling noun
1 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <a crafty child given to frequent dissembling to get what she wants> — see DECEIT 1
2 the pretending of having virtues, principles, or beliefs that one in fact does not have <in the end the preacher's smarmy dissembling is discovered, and he is exposed as a fraud> — see HYPOCRISY

disseminate verb
to cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people <missionaries sent by their church to disseminate their faith> — see SPREAD 1

dissension also dissention noun
1 a lack of agreement or harmony <religious dissension threatened to split the colony> — see DISCORD
2 variance of opinion on a matter <continued dissension among historians on the exact spot of Columbus's first landing> — see DISAGREEMENT 1

dissensus noun
variance of opinion on a matter <a democracy relies on dissensus as much as on consensus> — see DISAGREEMENT 1

dissent noun
1 a lack of agreement or harmony <considerable dissent within the party's rank and file> — see DISCORD
2 departure from a generally accepted theory, opinion, or practice <the church reacted to any form of dissent by promptly excommunicating its proponents> — see HERESY

dissent verb
to have a different opinion <anyone who dissented was encouraged to speak out while they had the chance> — see DISAGREE

dissenter noun
a person who believes, teaches, or advocates something opposed to accepted beliefs <a society that prized conformity very highly and treated dissenters of any kind very harshly> — see HERETIC 1

dissentient adjective
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices <the communist party did not look favorably on dissentient opinions> — see HERETICAL

dissentient noun
a person who believes, teaches, or advocates something opposed to accepted beliefs <traditionalists who feared that their church was falling into the hands of dissentients and malcontents> — see HERETIC 1

dissenting adjective
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices <dissenting views were ruthlessly suppressed under the dictatorship> — see HERETICAL

disservice noun
unfair or inadequate treatment of someone or something or an instance of this <you do a great disservice to the professionals at the day-care center when you refer to them as “babysitters”>

Synonyms
inequity, injury, injustice, raw deal, shaft, unfairness, unjustness, wrong

Related Words
affront, indignity, insult, offense (or offence), outrage, put-down, slight, slur; beef, complaint, grievance

Near Antonyms
cricket

Antonyms
equitableness, equity, fairness, justice

dissever verb
to set or force apart <placed the dissevered pieces of chicken in the roasting pan> — see SEPARATE 1

dissidence noun
1 a lack of agreement or harmony <political dissidence had plagued the country for years> — see DISCORD
2 departure from a generally accepted theory, opinion, or practice <after abstract art became established, its proponents became just as intolerant of dissidence as earlier schools of art had been> — see HERESY

dissident adjective
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices <dissident elements within the Catholic Church> — see HERETICAL

dissident noun
a person who believes, teaches, or advocates something opposed to accepted beliefs <the conference drew political dissidents of every ilk> — see HERETIC 1

dissimilar adjective
being not of the same kind <a place where people with dissimilar backgrounds can interact> — see DIFFERENT 1

dissimilarity noun
the quality or state of being different <the effectiveness of a metaphor largely depends upon the superficial dissimilarity of the two things being compared> — see DIFFERENCE 1

dissimilitude noun
the quality or state of being different <there's a real dissimilitude between literature and film, and a critic shouldn't evaluate one in terms of the other> — see DIFFERENCE 1

dissimulate verb
to take on a false or deceptive appearance <as an actress she had been trained to dissimulate, so she had no trouble hiding her true feelings offstage as well> — see PRETEND 1

dissimulation noun
1 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <got whatever she wanted through shameless dissimulation> — see DECEIT 1
2 the pretending of having virtues, principles, or beliefs that one in fact does not have <teenagers indulging in dissimulation simply in order to be one of the in crowd> — see HYPOCRISY

dissipate verb
1 to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart <dissipated the enemy forces with unremitting artillery fire> — see SCATTER 1
2 to use up carelessly <dissipated the family fortune in reckless business ventures> — see WASTE 1
3 to go off in different directions and cease to exist as a body or unified whole <the fog should dissipate once the sun comes out in full force> — see DISPERSE 1

dissipated adjective
having or showing lowered moral character or standards <the dissipated and drunken son of the wealthiest man in the county> — see CORRUPT

dissipatedness noun
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <a novel chronicling the dissipatedness of a generation born to great wealth> — see CORRUPTION 2

dissipation noun
1 a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <the wasting of a once promising life in dissipation and drunkenness> — see CORRUPTION 2
2 an act or process in which something scatters or is scattered <the dissipation of the clouds by the early morning winds> — see SCATTERING 1

dissociate verb
to set or force apart <attempts to dissociate herself from her troubled past> — see SEPARATE 1

dissolute adjective
having or showing lowered moral character or standards <literature dealing with the dissolute and degrading aspects of human experience> — see CORRUPT

dissoluteness noun
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <the growing dissoluteness of the Roman nobles as the empire declined> — see CORRUPTION 2

dissolution noun
1 the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces <the dissolution of the empire into a patchwork of petty kingdoms> — see SEPARATION 1
2 the doing away with something by formal action <one of the junta's first acts was the dissolution of the national assembly> — see ABOLITION
3 the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <she believed that her leukemia, although in remission, would eventually be the cause of her dissolution> — see DEATH 1

dissolve verb
1 to cease to be visible <as the mist dissolved in the morning sun> — see DISAPPEAR
2 to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization <the company formally dissolved three months after declaring bankruptcy> — see DISBAND 1
3 to put an end to by formal action <the king simply dissolved parliament> — see ABOLISH 1
4 to go off in different directions and cease to exist as a body or unified whole <the clouds gradually dissolved, and the sun came out> — see DISPERSE 1

dissonance noun
a lack of agreement or harmony <the dissonance between what we are told and what we see with our own eyes> — see DISCORD

dissonant adjective
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds <a dissonant chorus of noises arose from the busy construction site>

Synonyms
cacophonous, discordant, inharmonious, unmelodious, unmusical, unvocal

Related Words
blaring, clanging, clangorous, clashing, clattering, dinning, grating, harsh, jangling, jangly, jarring, metallic, noisy, raspy, raucous, scratching, screeching, shrill, squeaky, strident; disagreeable, unpleasant, unpleasing; atonal, off-key, tuneless; resounding, sonorous; clamorous, uproarious

Near Antonyms
dulcet, euphonious, mellifluent, mellifluous, mellow, melodic, sweet, tuneful; resonant, sonorous; quavering, trilling, warbling; agreeable, appealing, pleasant; cadenced, lilting, lyric, lyrical, rhythmic (or rhythmical); chordal, harmonic, homophonic, orchestral, polyphonic (or polyphonous), symphonic, symphonious, tonal; calm, hushed; noiseless, quiet, silent, soundless, still

Antonyms
harmonious, harmonizing, melodious, musical

dissuade verb
to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action <tried to dissuade her from her intention to drop out of college> — see DISCOURAGE 2

distain verb, archaic
to make dirty <weary soldiers with hands distained with blood> — see DIRTY

distance noun
1 the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects <the distance between the earth and the sun is about 93 million miles>

Synonyms
lead, length, remove, spacing, spread, stretch, way

Related Words
altitude, area, breadth, depth, height, rise, space, volume, width; extension, extent; cast, range, reach, scope, shot, sweep, throw; drop, fall, flight, haul; berth, clearance

2 a wide space or area <a region marked by great, featureless distances> — see EXPANSE
3 the quality or state of being different <the brothers' personalities are like the distance between night and day> — see DIFFERENCE 1

distant adjective
1 not close in time or space <the distant towers were barely visible in the fog>

Synonyms
away, deep, far, faraway, far-flung, far-off, remote, removed

Related Words
apart, devious, isolated, lonesome, nowhere, obscure, odd, outlying, out-of-the-way, retired, secluded, secret, sequestered

Near Antonyms
adjacent, adjoining, contiguous

Antonyms
close, near, nearby, nigh

2 having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <was distant and distracted all throughout the interview> — see COOL 1
3 being not of the same kind <a marriage between two people from very distant cultures> — see DIFFERENT 1

distaste noun
a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness <usually views abstract paintings with distaste> — see DISGUST

distasteful adjective
1 disagreeable or disgusting to the sense of taste <cod-liver oil is so distasteful that it's worse than anything it cures>

Synonyms
brackish, unappetizing, unpalatable, unsavory, yucky (also yukky)

Related Words
abominable, awful, bad, filthy, foul, horrible, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, offensive, repellent (also repellant), repugnant, repulsive, revolting, shocking, sickening; bland, flat, flavorless, insipid, savorless, tasteless

Near Antonyms
appealing, attractive, flavorful, piquant, rich

Antonyms
appetizing, delectable, delicious, delish, palatable, savory (also savoury), tasty, toothsome, yummy

2 not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <concerned mothers who find some recent musical trends distasteful> — see UNPLEASANT
3 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <the distasteful nature of his job as a bill collector> — see OFFENSIVE 1

distemper noun
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <contracted some tropical distemper while he was doing research in the jungles of Borneo> — see DISEASE

distemper verb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <despite his career success, he has been distempered by nagging feelings of inadequacy his whole life> — see DISTURB 1

distemperature noun
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <a guinea pig with some sort of distemperature> — see DISEASE

distended adjective
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure <bees with abdomens distended with honey are less apt to sting> — see BLOATED 2

distill also distil verb
1 to fall or let fall in or as if in drops <the basement walls distill water every time it rains heavily> — see DRIP
2 to remove usually visible impurities from <distill the water before pouring it in the steam iron> — see CLARIFY 1

distinct adjective
1 being not of the same kind <two distinct approaches to the same problem> — see DIFFERENT 1
2 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <a person with a distinct Scottish accent> — see CLEAR 2
3 of a particular or exact sort <I left distinct instructions that my books were not to be touched> — see EXPRESS 1
4 serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group <one of the distinct traits of a preliterate society> — see CHARACTERISTIC 1

distinction noun
1 exceptionally high quality <a shop selling native handicrafts of distinction> — see EXCELLENCE 1
2 a quality that gives something special worth <has the distinction of being the oldest house in the city> — see EXCELLENCE 2
3 public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <I did all of the work, and the other guy got all the distinction> — see GLORY 1
4 the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance <a number of physicians of national distinction serve on the staff of the teaching hospital> — see EMINENCE 1
5 something given in recognition of achievement <won a number of distinctions in her long career as an actress> — see AWARD 1
6 the quality or state of being different <the distinction between the two photographic prints escapes me> — see DIFFERENCE 1
7 the state of being kept distinct <the distinction between liberty and license is often violated in today's freewheeling society> — see SEPARATION 2

distinctive adjective
1 being not of the same kind <she seems to alternate between two distinctive hairstyles> — see DIFFERENT 1
2 serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group <the distinctive odor of a barnyard> — see CHARACTERISTIC 1

distinctiveness noun
the quality or state of being different <the pronounced distinctiveness of his style of playing the violin> — see DIFFERENCE 1

distinctness noun
the quality or state of being different <the distinctness of Jane Austen's writing makes it easy to recognize on a test> — see DIFFERENCE 1

distingué adjective
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner <had the distingué air of a senior diplomat> — see DIGNIFIED

distinguish verb
1 to understand or point out the difference in <even at such a young age, he could distinguish the calls of various birds>

Synonyms
difference, differentiate, discern, discriminate, secern, separate

Related Words
contradistinguish; comprehend, grasp, know, understand; divide, part, sever; demarcate, mark (off), set off

Near Antonyms
confound, lump (together), mingle

Antonyms
confuse, mistake, mix (up)

2 to be an important feature of <muffin recipes distinguished by their ease and simplicity> — see CHARACTERIZE 2
3 to find out or establish the identity of <learned at an early age to distinguish the sound of a piano in an orchestra> — see IDENTIFY 1
4 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <could barely distinguish the garden gate through the mist> — see SEE 1
5 to arrange or assign according to type <please distinguish the specimens by acidity> — see CLASSIFY 1

distinguishable adjective
1 able to be perceived by a sense or by the mind <an evening star easily distinguishable by the naked eye> — see PERCEPTIBLE
2 being not of the same kind <snowflakes are distinguishable from each other under a microscope> — see DIFFERENT 1

distinguished adjective
1 having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner <heads turned as the well-dressed, distinguished couple strode through the hotel lobby> — see DIGNIFIED
2 standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <a distinguished astronomer who is widely respected in the field> — see EMINENT

distinguishing adjective
serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group <a novice birder still learning the distinguishing features of various finches> — see CHARACTERISTIC 1

distintegrate verb
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly <a tornado disintegrated the house in a matter of seconds> — see BREAK 1

distort verb
1 to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of <the coach's message was so distorted after passing through so many people that it was unintelligible> — see GARBLE 1
2 to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition <if you keep distorting your face like that, someday it's going to freeze in that position> — see CONTORT

distorted adjective
badly or imperfectly formed <surgery to correct a distorted foot> — see MALFORMED

distortion noun
the twisting of something out of its natural or normal shape or condition <a distortion of the car chassis resulting from collision> — see CONTORTION

distract verb
1 to draw the attention or mind to something else <we were distracted from our discussion by the noise outside>

Synonyms
abstract, call off, detract, divert, throw off

Related Words
amuse, beguile, entertain; stray, wander

Near Antonyms
concentrate, focus

2 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <distracted by the looming tax deadline> — see DISTURB 1

distracted adjective
1 feeling overwhelming fear or worry <she's been distracted about her son ever since he left on that polar expedition> — see FRANTIC 1
2 lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions <the distracted driver rear-ended the pickup truck that had stopped for the red light> — see ABSENTMINDED 1
3 suffering from mental confusion <she's been chronically depressed and distracted since her husband's death> — see DIZZY 2

distraction noun
1 a state of mental uncertainty <in my distraction I forgot where I was> — see CONFUSION 1
2 a state of wildly excited activity or emotion <driven to distraction by the constant screaming and bickering in the house> — see FRENZY
3 the act or activity of providing pleasure or amusement especially for the public <a minister who certainly doesn't view gambling as a harmless distraction for people of modest means> — see ENTERTAINMENT 1
4 someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment <a harmless distraction for children at the playground> — see FUN 1

distrait adjective
feeling overwhelming fear or worry <he grew more and more distrait as hours passed without confirmation that there were survivors of the plane crash> — see FRANTIC 1

distraught adjective
feeling overwhelming fear or worry <distraught relatives waiting to learn whether there were any survivors of the plane crash> — see FRANTIC 1

distress noun
1 a state of great suffering of body or mind <the upcoming bar exam is causing us considerable distress> <the survivors were in extreme distress after having been stranded on the island for a week with no food>

Synonyms
affliction, agony, anguish, excruciation, hurt, misery, pain, rack, strait(s), torment, torture, travail, tribulation, woe

Related Words
discomfort; cross, crucible, trial; heartache, heartbreak, joylessness, sadness, sorrow, unhappiness; emergency, pinch; asperity, difficulty, hardship, rigor; ache, pang, smarting, soreness, stitch, throe, twinge; danger, jeopardy, trouble

Near Antonyms
comfort, consolation, solace; alleviation, assuagement, ease, relief; peace, security; well-being

2 the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil <a ship in distress> — see DANGER 1

distress verb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <don't let all the bad news distress you> — see DISTURB 1

distressful adjective
1 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <the distressful period during which we waited to learn who had made the cut> — see NERVOUS 2
2 of a kind to cause great distress <the distressful living conditions in the refugee camp> — see REGRETTABLE

distressing adjective
1 causing worry or anxiety <distressing signs that another war might be imminent> — see TROUBLESOME
2 of a kind to cause great distress <the distressing death of our favorite actor> — see REGRETTABLE
3 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <the distressing habit of constantly fiddling with her hair> — see NERVOUS 2

distribute verb
1 to arrange or assign according to type <distribute the assignments according to seniority> — see CLASSIFY 1
2 to give as a share or portion <committed to distributing the school's limited scholarship money so that it benefits more students> — see ALLOT
3 to give out (something) to appropriate individuals <distributed pamphlets on recycling to everyone in the neighborhood> — see ADMINISTER 1

distribution noun
1 the act or process of giving out something to each member of a group <aid workers oversaw the distribution of medicine to the natives>

Synonyms
admeasurement, allocation, allotment, apportionment, disbursement, dispensation, division, issuance

Related Words
reallocation, reapportionment, redistribution, redivision, repartition; division, partition, separation

2 the way objects in space or events in time are arranged or follow one another <the distribution of those stars has long suggested the form of a dipper> — see ORDER 1

district noun
an area (as of a city) set apart for some purpose or having some special feature <Independence Hall in Philadelphia's historic district>

Synonyms
nabe, neighborhood, quarter, section

Related Words
belt, zone; department, division, part; precinct, ward; area, backyard, locality, place, region; barrio, enclave, ghetto, hood (or 'hood)

distrust noun
a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something <the psychic's bold claims were greeted with distrust and outright scorn> — see DOUBT

distrust verb
to have no trust or confidence in <we instinctively distrust those phone calls that tell us we have won a free vacation or car>

Synonyms
doubt, misdoubt, mistrust, question, suspect

Related Words
disbelieve, discount, discredit, negate

Near Antonyms
bank (on or upon), count (on or upon), depend (on or upon), rely (on or upon)

Antonyms
trust

distrustful adjective
1 inclined to doubt or question claims <she was distrustful of her boyfriend's claim of having saved the kitten from a raging fire> — see SKEPTICAL 1
2 not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something <naturally distrustful of politicians who claim to have all the answers> — see DOUBTFUL 1

distrustfully adverb
with distrust <to say that I read the stories in the tabloids distrustfully is putting it mildly> — see ASKANCE

distrustfulness noun
a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something <one voter who usually listens to campaign promises with an air of distrustfulness> — see DOUBT

disturb verb
1 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <all that talk of war disturbed us>

Synonyms
agitate, ail, alarm (also alarum), bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), fuss, hagride, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, weird out, worry

Related Words
aggravate, anger, annoy, bug, chafe, chivy (or chivvy), exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put off, put out, rile, vex; bedevil, haunt, plague; abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, jar, mortify, nonplus, rattle, shake up; daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, unnerve

Near Antonyms
allay, alleviate, assuage; appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

Antonyms
calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

2 to change the place or position of <the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone> — see MOVE 1
3 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move> — see DISORDER
4 to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation <sorry to disturb you while you're working> — see BOTHER 1
5 to cause discomfort to or trouble for <please do not disturb yourself—I'll get my own drink> — see INCONVENIENCE

disturbance noun
1 a state of noisy, confused activity <went to investigate the disturbance outside> — see COMMOTION
2 an act or instance of the order of things being disturbed <caused a disturbance in the carefully ordered proceedings> — see UPSET
3 the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another <the assistant apologized for the disturbance and got straight to the point> — see ANNOYANCE 1

disturbing adjective
1 causing annoyance <a disturbing visit by the next-door neighbor while I was trying to study> — see ANNOYING
2 causing embarrassment <there was a disturbing silence as I struggled to remember her name> — see AWKWARD 3
3 causing worry or anxiety <a disturbing trend in the nation's energy consumption> — see TROUBLESOME
4 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <a disturbing pause in the normally smooth operation of the machinery> — see NERVOUS 2

disunion noun
1 a lack of agreement or harmony <political union may longer no possible for a country continuously racked by religious disunion> — see DISCORD
2 the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces <in the 19th century the volatile issue of slavery resulted in the disunion of several Protestant denominations> — see SEPARATION 1

disunite verb
to set or force apart <attempted to disunite the members of the club by vicious gossip> — see SEPARATE 1

disunited adjective
disagreeing with each other <the disunited members of the committee couldn't accomplish anything> — see DIVIDED

disunity noun
a lack of agreement or harmony <troubling signs of disunity within the normally peaceful organization> — see DISCORD

disuse noun
lack of use <since the car has experienced years of disuse, starting it up won't be easy>

Synonyms
desuetude, idleness, inactivity

Related Words
abandonment, desertion, neglect; abeyance, dormancy, latency, quiescence

Antonyms
use

disused adjective
left unoccupied or unused <a disused warehouse that had become a den for drug dealers> — see ABANDONED 1

ditch noun
a long narrow channel dug in the earth <after skidding on the ice, our car went right into the ditch>

Synonyms
dike, fosse (or foss), gutter, sheugh [chiefly Scottish], trench, trough

Related Words
acequia [Southwest], culvert, drain, draw, gully (also gulley), ravine; drill, furrow; ha-ha, moat, stank [British dialect], sunk fence; kennel

ditch verb
1 to end a usually intimate relationship with <ditched his wife for a woman 30 years his junior>

Synonyms
blow off, break off (with), dump, jilt, kiss off, leave

Related Words
brush (aside or off), cold-shoulder, cut, high-hat, slight, snub; abandon, desert, forsake, maroon, quit

Phrases
kiss good-bye

Near Antonyms
hook up (with), take; befriend, latch (on or onto)

2 to get rid of as useless or unwanted <we ditched the old table at the town dump> — see DISCARD

dither noun
1 a state of nervous or irritated concern <Grandma usually gets in a dither if I don't make my weekly call> — see FRET
2 a sense of panic or extreme nervousness <we were all in a dither while we waited for the test results> — see JITTERS

dither verb
to show uncertainty about the right course of action <we dithered all afternoon over whether to go to the park or to the movies and ended up doing neither> — see HESITATE

dithery adjective
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <an expectant father in a high state of dithery alarm> — see NERVOUS 1

dithyramb noun
a formal expression of praise <a tongue-in-cheek dithyramb in honor of the chocolate chip cookie> — see ENCOMIUM

ditto adjective
having qualities in common <another mega mall filled with chain stores selling ditto merchandise> — see ALIKE

ditto adverb
in like manner <Tuesday was spent working all day, and Wednesday was spent ditto> — see ALSO 1

ditto verb
to say after another <since you've said what I wanted to say—only better—I will just ditto your comments in my final report> — see REPEAT 3

ditty noun
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment <sung a little ditty in a minor key> — see SONG 1

ditz noun
a silly flighty person <it's surprising that such a serious guy would have a total ditz for a girlfriend> — see FLIBBERTIGIBBET

ditzy or ditsy adjective
lacking in seriousness or maturity <tried to have a serious conversation with her, but she kept saying ditzy things like “Ooh, you're so cute!”> — see GIDDY 1

diurnal adjective
occurring, done, produced, or appearing every day <a love as constant and certain as the diurnal tides> — see DAILY

diurnal noun
a publication that appears at regular intervals <a microfilm containing a collection of diurnals published by 19th-century American abolitionists> — see JOURNAL 1

diva noun
a usually glamorous woman who is preeminent in her field of activity <the reigning diva of daytime television>

Synonyms
goddess, princess, queen

Related Words
high priestess, priestess; prima donna

divagation noun
1 a departure from the subject under consideration <this may well appear to be a divagation at first, but I hope to establish the relevance> — see TANGENT
2 a turning away from a course or standard <a self-consciously “literary” novel that represents a major divagation from traditional narrative> — see DIVERGENCE 2

divan noun
a long upholstered piece of furniture designed for several sitters <whenever I stayed over at their house I usually slept on the divan in the living room> — see COUCH

divarication noun
a movement in different directions away from a common point <the divarication of the various dialects of Latin that occurred with the decline of the Roman Empire> — see DIVERGENCE 1

dive noun
1 an act or instance of diving <the penguin took a dive off of the ice sheet>

Synonyms
pitch, plunge

Related Words
dip, immersion, submersion; fall, plump, slip, spill, stumble, tumble; descent, drop; belly flop, header, jackknife, swan dive

Near Antonyms
jump, leap

2 the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude <stock prices took a long, steady dive> — see DESCENT 1

dive verb
1 to cast oneself head first into deep water <we watched her dive in after the drowning man>

Synonyms
pitch, plunge, sound

Related Words
dip, immerse, submerge; belly flop, plump, plunk (or plonk)

Near Antonyms
surface

2 to go to a lower level especially abruptly <sales figures for existing homes dived dramatically when mortgage rates skyrocketed> — see DROP 2

dive (into) verb
to start work on energetically <the first morning back at work was spent diving into the huge pile of e-mails that had accumulated over the previous two weeks> — see ATTACK 3

diverge verb
1 to change one's course or direction <the deer abruptly diverged from its intended path the moment it spied the waiting lynx> — see TURN 3
2 to go or move in different directions from a central point <at that point the road and the railroad tracks diverge> — see SEPARATE 2

divergence noun
1 a movement in different directions away from a common point <a growing divergence of opinion about that U.S. president's place in history>

Synonyms
bifurcation, divarication, divergency, separation

Related Words
difference, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissidence, dissimilarity, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, diversity, unlikeness

Phrases
parting of the ways

Near Antonyms
accord, agreement; likeness, similarity

Antonyms
convergence

2 a turning away from a course or standard <any divergence from the community's strict moral code was met with social ostracism>

Synonyms
deflection, departure, detour, deviation, divagation, divergency, diversion

Related Words
regression, retrogression, reversion

Near Antonyms
adherence

divergency noun
1 a movement in different directions away from a common point <a growing divergency of opinion on that hot-button issue> — see DIVERGENCE 1
2 a turning away from a course or standard <a warning that no divergency from the church's traditional teachings on the subject would be permitted> — see DIVERGENCE 2

divers adjective
being of many and various kinds <the state fair offers divers amusements for the whole family> — see MANIFOLD

diverse adjective
being not of the same kind <a movement supported by people with diverse interests but one common goal> — see DIFFERENT 1

diverseness noun
1 the quality or state of being composed of many different elements or types <the diverseness of the offerings at the art fair made judging a challenge> — see VARIETY 1
2 the quality or state of being different <the diverseness of the two top movies in the running for Best Picture could not be more striking> — see DIFFERENCE 1

diversion noun
1 someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment <a scavenger hunt was organized as a diversion for the guests at the party> — see FUN 1
2 the act or activity of providing pleasure or amusement especially for the public <movies and television became two of the most popular and influential diversions of the 20th century> — see ENTERTAINMENT 1
3 a turning away from a course or standard <carefully weighed testimony that did not contain the slightest diversion from the truth> — see DIVERGENCE 2

diversity noun
1 the quality or state of being composed of many different elements or types <the diversity of plant life on that tropical island is staggering> — see VARIETY 1
2 the quality or state of being different <there's considerable diversity in the platforms for the two major parties> — see DIFFERENCE 1

divert verb
1 to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied <a light comedy to divert the tired business executive> — see AMUSE
2 to change the course or direction of (something) <the bike race was diverted around the construction zone> — see TURN 2
3 to draw the attention or mind to something else <trying to divert the child with a toy while the doctor was giving her a shot> — see DISTRACT 1

diverting adjective
providing amusement or enjoyment <some tall and diverting tales were told by the festival's roving storyteller> — see FUN

divertissement noun
someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment <for visitors seeking more cerebral divertissement, the city boasts a fine performing arts center> — see FUN 1

divest verb
1 to end the occupancy or possession of <unable to make their mortgage payments, they were summarily divested of their house> — see DISPOSSESS
2 to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers <the former CEO has divested himself of most of his responsibilities but will continue to work with the company as a consultant> — see RID
3 to take something away from <he was divested of the boxing title when the fraud was uncovered> — see DEPRIVE 1

divide verb
1 to set or force apart <volunteers divided the donated groceries into several dozen piles> — see SEPARATE 1
2 to go or move in different directions from a central point <the group divided based on those who wanted to go swimming and those who didn't> — see SEPARATE 2

divided adjective
disagreeing with each other <the club members are sharply divided on the need for more fund-raising>

Synonyms
disunited, split

Related Words
balkanized, fractionalized, fractionated; cohesionless, factious

Phrases
at loggerheads, at odds

Antonyms
unanimous, undivided, united

dividend noun
something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed <the reward money was an unexpected dividend for our good deed> — see BONUS

divider noun
something that divides, separates, or marks off <placed a divider across the gym so we could have two activities going on at once> — see DIVISION 1

divination noun
the art or practice of foretelling future events by interpreting omens <if her powers of divination are so great, why doesn't she know what the stock market will do?>

Synonyms
augury

Related Words
astrology, crystal gazing, geomancy, hydromancy, oneiromancy, pyromancy, rhabdomancy

divine adjective
1 of the very best kind <how about a piece of the most divine apple pie I've ever tasted!> — see EXCELLENT
2 of, relating to, or being God <for these divine gifts let us be truly thankful> — see HOLY 3

divine noun
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church <the great influence exerted by the Puritan divines in the Massachusetts Bay Colony> — see CLERGYPERSON

divine verb
to realize or know about beforehand <it was easy to divine his intention of asking his girlfriend to marry him> — see FORESEE

diviner noun
one who predicts future events or developments <somehow the diviner failed to foresee her own misfortunes with the law> — see PROPHET 1

divinity noun
1 the quality or state of being divine <Henry David Thoreau felt the presence of divinity in every part of nature>

Synonyms
deity, godhead, godhood

Related Words
blessedness, godliness, holiness, piousness, saintliness

2 a being having superhuman powers and control over a particular part of life or the world <a modest temple built for one of the minor divinities in ancient Greek mythology> — see DEITY 1
3 cap the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <communal worship of the Divinity was expected of every member of the colony> — see DEITY 2

divisible adjective
capable of being split into two or more parts or pieces <easily divisible into enough pieces for everyone> — see SEPARABLE

division noun
1 something that divides, separates, or marks off <we poked our heads over the division between the yards to see what the fuss was about>

Synonyms
divider, partition, separation, separator

Related Words
barrier, fence, wall; border, boundary, limit

2 a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization <the complaints division handled all of the calls from the angry townsfolk>

Synonyms
agency, arm, branch, bureau, department, desk, office, service

Related Words
subdepartment, subdivision

3 one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <one of the major divisions of birds> — see CLASS 2
4 the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces <the assembly line was a major development in the division of labor among workers> — see SEPARATION 1
5 the act or process of giving out something to each member of a group <the person in charge of the division of the profits among the business partners> — see DISTRIBUTION 1
6 a lack of agreement or harmony <that church has been racked by division for some time now, and a split into two denominations seems unavoidable> — see DISCORD

divorce verb
to set or force apart <in your head you need to divorce your wishes and fantasies from the realities of the world as it is> — see SEPARATE 1

divulge verb
to make known (as information previously kept secret) <we tried to make him divulge the name of the winner, but he wouldn't budge> — see REVEAL 1

divulgence noun
the act or an instance of making known something previously unknown or concealed <the government strictly prohibits the divulgence of classified information> — see REVELATION

dizzy adjective
1 having a feeling of being whirled about and in danger of falling down <I felt very dizzy after I got off of the roller coaster>

Synonyms
aswoon, giddy, light-headed, reeling, swimmy, vertiginous, whirling, woozy

Related Words
faint, weak; addled, befuddled, confused, dazed, groggy

Near Antonyms
clearheaded; stable, steady

2 suffering from mental confusion <he felt dizzy from trying to remember all of the dates and names that were sure to be asked on the test>

Synonyms
addle, addled, addlepated, bedeviled, befogged, befuddled, bemused, bewildered, bushed [chiefly Australian], confounded, confused, dazed, distracted, dopey (also dopy), fogged, mixed-up, muddleheaded, muzzy, pixilated (also pixillated), punch-drunk, punchy, raddled, shell-shocked, silly, slaphappy, spaced-out (or spaced), spacey (also spacy), stunned, stupefied, zonked, zonked-out

Related Words
senseless, unconscious

Phrases
at sea, out of it

Near Antonyms
alert, conscious

Antonyms
clearheaded, unconfused

3 moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <prices climbing at a dizzy rate> — see FAST 1
4 lacking in seriousness or maturity <Marilyn Monroe never entirely succeeded in shaking off her dizzy blonde image> — see GIDDY 1

do noun
1 a social gathering <it's supposed to be some sort of fancy do> — see PARTY 1
2 a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <issued a long list of dos and don'ts before we even started the project> — see COMMAND 1
3 a style or arrangement of hair <you can tell that the picture was taken in the 1980s from my permed do> — see HAIRDO
4 archaic something one must do because of prior agreement <in this hour of national crisis everyone must do their do> — see OBLIGATION 1
5 chiefly dialect a state of noisy, confused activity <in that small town a great deal of do could come from very little indeed> — see COMMOTION

do verb
1 to be fitting or proper <that outfit just won't do for the opera>

Synonyms
befit, beseem [archaic], fit [archaic], go, serve, suit

Related Words
satisfy, suffice; function, work

Phrases
fill the bill (or fit the bill)

2 to be enough <even half of that amount of sugar will do> — see SERVE 2
3 to carry through (as a process) to completion <do as much as you can and leave the rest> — see PERFORM 1
4 to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <did the living room in French provincial style> — see DECORATE
5 to meet one's day-to-day needs <I'm doing just fine> — see GET ALONG 1
6 to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <this neighborhood cleanup effort might just do some good> — see EFFECT
7 to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of <the laughing partygoers begged their host to do Marlon Brando again> — see MIMIC 1
8 to move forward along a course <how are you doing with the house restoration?> — see GO 1
9 to present a portrayal or performance of <she's done Eliza Doolittle on the stage so many times that she can probably play the flower girl in her sleep> — see ACT 1
10 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <did them out of their savings with surprising ease> — see FLEECE
11 to strike repeatedly <no one is sure who did them in that alley> — see BEAT 1
12 to take place <nothing's ever doing in this boring little town> — see HAPPEN

doable adjective
capable of being done or carried out <the assignment will be just barely doable in the time allowed> — see POSSIBLE 1

doc noun
a person specially trained in healing human medical disorders <currently completing a residency as an emergency room doc> — see DOCTOR

docile adjective
readily giving in to the command or authority of another <a docile young pony that went wherever it was led> — see OBEDIENT

docility noun
a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others <dogs bred for docility instead of aggressiveness> — see COMPLIANCE 1

dock noun
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers <the boat remained tied up at the dock for a week, waiting for the weather to clear>

Synonyms
float, jetty, landing, levee, pier, quai, quay, wharf

Related Words
berth, mooring, slip; embarcadero [West]; dockyard, marina, quayage, shipyard, wharfage

1dock verb
1 to make less in extent or duration <the editorial was docked by about a hundred words to make it fit on the page> — see SHORTEN
2 to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument <the boxer's tail was docked soon after birth> — see CLIP 1

2dock verb
to stop at or near a place along the shore <the cruise ship docked at the first port of call early the next morning> — see LAND 1

docker noun, chiefly British
one who loads and unloads ships at a port <dockers threatened to go on strike and shut down all shipping on the Thames> — see DOCKWORKER

docket noun
a listing of things to be presented or considered (as at a concert or play) <on the Broadway docket for the early part of this season> — see PROGRAM 1

dockhand noun
one who loads and unloads ships at a port <a trade embargo that was especially hard on the nation's dockhands> — see DOCKWORKER

dockworker noun
one who loads and unloads ships at a port <the dockworkers spent all afternoon taking crates off of the ship>

Synonyms
docker [chiefly British], dockhand, longshoreman, roustabout, rouster, stevedore

doctor noun
a person specially trained in healing human medical disorders <we called a doctor as soon as we realized the baby was sick>

Synonyms
croaker [slang], doc, medic, medico, physician, sawbones [slang]

Related Words
family doctor, family physician, family practitioner, general practitioner; anesthesiologist, dermatologist, gynecologist, internist, neurologist, ob-gyn, obstetrician, ophthalmologist, orthopedist, pathologist, pediatrician (also pediatrist), physiatrist, podiatrist, radiologist, urologist; attending, clinician, hospitalist; specialist; plastic surgeon, surgeon; intern (also interne), resident; aidman, nurse, nurse-practitioner; EMT, paramedic (also paramedical); physical therapist, physiotherapist

Antonyms
nondoctor, nonphysician

doctor verb
1 to give medical treatment to <a pledge to doctor the burn victims until they were whole again>

Synonyms
treat

Related Words
cure, heal, mend, rehabilitate, remedy; attend, care (for), dose, drug, hospitalize, minister (to), nurse

2 to put into good shape or working order again <spends his spare time doctoring old clocks> — see MEND 1
3 to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation <slightly doctored his standard campaign speech for a collegiate audience> — see ADAPT

doctrinaire adjective
given to or marked by the forceful expression of strongly held opinions <a doctrinaire conservative, the columnist takes special delight in baiting liberals> — see DOGMATIC

doctrine noun
1 a statement or body of statements concerning faith or morals proclaimed by a church <the Catholic Church's doctrine on the Eucharist>

Synonyms
canon, dogma

Related Words
canon law; belief, conviction, tenet; credo, creed, ideology (also idealogy), philosophy, theology; axiom, precept, principle; symbol

2 the basic beliefs or guiding principles of a person or group <the doctrine of quantum physicists> — see CREED 1

document noun
1 a piece of paper with information written or to be written on it <filled out the documents for a bank loan> — see FORM 2
2 a written or printed paper giving information about or proof of something <have your documents ready as you approach the border> — see CERTIFICATE

document verb
to show the existence or truth of by evidence <he tried in vain to document a link between ancient civilizations and extraterrestrials> — see PROVE 1

documentary adjective
restricted to or based on fact <a documentary film about the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor> — see FACTUAL 1

documentation noun
something presented in support of the truth or accuracy of a claim <the archaeologist presented convincing documentation of her theory at the conference> — see PROOF

dodder verb
to move forward while swaying from side to side <was doddering down the walk outside the nursing home> — see STAGGER 1

dodge noun
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <just another dodge to get out of working in the yard> — see TRICK 1

dodge verb
1 to move suddenly aside or to and fro <dodging through the crowd on his way to the exit>

Synonyms
duck, jink, sidestep, slalom, weave, zigzag

Related Words
avoid, elude, escape, evade, parry, shirk, skirt; deflect, turn; slide, slip

2 to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness <always trying to dodge the landlord's rule prohibiting pets> — see CIRCUMVENT 1
3 to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery <dodged the horde of paparazzi by leaving through the service entrance> — see ESCAPE 2

dodger noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <one of the most artful dodgers in the annals of American crime> — see TRICKSTER 1

dodging noun
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable <the governor's repeated dodging of tough questions at the press conference> — see ESCAPE 2

dodgy adjective, chiefly British
1 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <getting the trade unions to go along with the agreement will be a rather dodgy piece of work> — see TRICKY 1
2 clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <needed a dodgy barrister to get him acquited of the charge> — see ARTFUL 1
3 giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <the authenticity of the “lost” Shakespearean sonnet was more than a little dodgy> — see DOUBTFUL 2

dodo noun
1 a person with old-fashioned ideas <youngsters helping old dodos learn to use computers> — see FOGY
2 a stupid person <she called him a dodo after he lost the concert tickets> — see IDIOT

do down verb, British
to achieve a victory over <you'll do her down at cards, but she'll probably win at croquet> — see BEAT 2

doff verb
to rid oneself of (a garment) <the blazing sun soon had the men doffing their jackets> — see REMOVE 1

dog noun
1 a domestic mammal that is related to the wolves and foxes <a dog who needs a loving home>

Synonyms
canine, doggy (or doggie), hound, pooch, tyke (also tike)

Related Words
cur, mongrel, mutt; bitch; lapdog, pup, puppy, puppy dog, whelp; bandog, bird dog, coonhound, courser, gundog, hunter, sheepdog, sled dog, watchdog, wolf dog, wolfhound; guide dog, police dog, working dog

2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <she must think that you're a real dog after hearing those tasteless jokes you told last night> — see JERK 1

dog verb
1 to go after or on the track of <star athletes being dogged by fans when they're out in public> — see FOLLOW 2
2 to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders <tired of constantly having to dog their son about cleaning his room> — see NAG 1

dog collar noun
an ornamental chain or string (as of beads) worn around the neck <a gala at which one can expect to see a number of trophy wives wearing diamond-encrusted dog collars> — see NECKLACE

dog–eared adjective
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <an old dog-eared copy of a beloved book> — see SHABBY 1

dogface noun
a person engaged in military service <during World War II journalist Ernie Pyle gained fame for his sympathetic reports on the wartime experiences of the common dogface> — see SOLDIER

dogfight noun
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <the playful competition over who would get the new office turned into a real dogfight> — see CONTEST 1

dogged adjective
1 continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement <a madman who spent his life in dogged pursuit of power> — see PERSISTENT
2 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <your dogged adherence to a really lame argument is embarrassing> — see OBSTINATE
3 showing no signs of slackening or yielding in one's purpose <a dogged search for the missing piece of the puzzle> — see UNYIELDING 1

doggedly adverb
with great effort or determination <the detective doggedly pursued the suspect through the city's teeming streets> — see HARD 1

doggedness noun
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <being an effective detective requires doggedness as well as cleverness> — see OBSTINACY

dogging noun
the act of going after or in the tracks of another <the merciless dogging of the Hollywood couple by the press> — see PURSUIT 1

doggone or doggoned adjective
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <yet another doggone problem in the phone lines> — see DAMNABLE

doggy or doggie noun
a domestic mammal that is related to the wolves and foxes <what a good little doggy!> — see DOG 1

dogma noun
1 a statement or body of statements concerning faith or morals proclaimed by a church <the Catholic dogma of the bodily assumption of the Virgin Mary> — see DOCTRINE 1
2 the basic beliefs or guiding principles of a person or group <the Golden Rule encompasses a dogma that can serve all mankind> — see CREED 1

dogmatic also dogmatical adjective
given to or marked by the forceful expression of strongly held opinions <a critic's dogmatic insistence that abstract expressionism is the only school of 20th century art worthy of serious study>

Synonyms
doctrinaire, opinionated, opinionative, opinioned, pontifical, self-opinionated

Related Words
adamant, adamantine, hardheaded, headstrong, implacable, inflexible, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, unbending, unyielding

Near Antonyms
broadminded, open, open-minded, receptive

Antonyms
latitudinarian, undoctrinaire, undogmatic

dogmatism noun
stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices <a man much given to inflexible dogmatism when it came to the role of government in regulating the economy> — see BIGOTRY

dogmatist noun
one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices <a dogmatist as far as economics are concerned, he's an unquestioning supporter of the supply-side theory> — see BIGOT

dogmatizer noun
one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices <in his foreign policy speech the secretary of state showed that he is anything but a dogmatizer> — see BIGOT

do–good adjective
having or showing a concern for the welfare of others <a do-good social program that never worked out in the way that was intended> — see CHARITABLE 1

dogsbody noun, chiefly British
a person who does very hard or dull work <I worked for several years as a gofer and general dogsbody for a London publishing house> — see SLAVE 2

do in verb
1 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <a business venture that was done in by poor planning> — see DESTROY 1
2 to deprive of life <the early frost did in all of our tender plants> — see KILL 1
3 to put to death deliberately <somebody did the old man in late last night> — see MURDER 1
4 to use up all the physical energy of <the long day of hard work really did me in> — see EXHAUST 1
5 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <too savvy an investor to be done in by preposterous claims of astronomical returns> — see FLEECE

doing noun
something done by someone <is that mess in the kitchen your doing?> — see ACTION 1

doldrums plural noun
1 a state of temporary inactivity <the theater scene is usually in the doldrums during the summer> — see ABEYANCE
2 a state or spell of low spirits <the team had been in the doldrums ever since losing the championship> — see SADNESS
3 the state of being bored <in the doldrums while we waited for something to happen> — see BOREDOM

dole noun
the giving of necessities and especially money to the needy <an eccentric millionaire who was known for his annual Christmas dole to needy-looking strangers he met on the street> — see CHARITY 1

doleful adjective
1 expressing or suggesting mourning <a doleful expression on their faces as they said good-bye to the friends they had made over the summer> — see MOURNFUL 1
2 feeling unhappiness <the visibly doleful players, heartbroken about their loss> — see SAD 1

dolefully adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <the novelist dolefully remarked that the proceeds from his last book would scarcely buy a dollhouse, let alone a real house> — see HARD 2

dolefulness noun
1 a state or spell of low spirits <with the resigned dolefulness of an athlete who knows his playing days are over, he cleared out his locker for the last time> — see SADNESS
2 deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved <a period of dolefulness that seemed to last forever for the widower> — see SORROW

dole out verb
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals <she doles out office supplies as if she were paying for them out of her own pocket> — see ADMINISTER 1

dolesome adjective
expressing or suggesting mourning <the dolesome sound of a lone harmonica arising from the darkened encampment> — see MOURNFUL 1

doll noun
1 a small figure often of a human being used especially as a child's plaything <there was a row of dolls along the shelf in the bedroom>

Synonyms
action figure, dolly, poppet [Midland], puppet

Related Words
rag doll; figure, figurine; handpuppet, marionette

2 a physically attractive person <her new boyfriend is a real doll>

Synonyms
babe [slang], cutie (or cutey), dish, dreamboat [slang], fox, glamour-puss, hottie, knockout, looker, showstopper, ten

Related Words
beauty, eyeful, goddess, lovely, stunner; beefcake, hunk, stud, superstud; bimbette [slang], bimbo [slang], himbo

Antonyms
dog

dollar noun
a U.S. currency bill representing 100 cents <a wad of dollars in his pocket>

Synonyms
bone [slang], buck, clam, one, smacker [slang]

Related Words
greenback; dead presidents [slang]

dollars–and–cents adjective
of or relating to money, banking, or investments <a dollars-and-cents analysis of the situation> — see FINANCIAL

dollop noun
a small uneven mass <served crackers topped with dollops of caviar as an appetizer> — see LUMP 1

doll up verb
1 to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <if you were to doll up those Shaker-style rooms, you'd ruin their simple elegance> — see DECORATE
2 to put on one's best or formal clothes <got all dolled up for the party> — see DRESS UP

dolly noun
a small figure often of a human being used especially as a child's plaything <my kid sister was always playing with her dollies> — see DOLL 1

dolly bird noun, British
a lovely woman <back in the swinging '60s she was one of London's most celebrated dolly birds> — see BEAUTY 2

dolor noun
deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved <her sad poems grew out of a deep dolor that lasted for months> — see SORROW

dolorous adjective
expressing or suggesting mourning <dolorous ballads of death and regret> — see MOURNFUL 1

dolorously adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <another country singer wailing dolorously about the faithless woman who done him wrong> — see HARD 2

dolt noun
a stupid person <he's always jokingly calling his best friend a dolt> — see IDIOT

doltish adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <foolish and doltish behavior that was really beneath you> — see STUPID 1

doltishness noun
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <she's usually quite bright, with only occasional moments of inexplicable doltishness> — see STUPIDITY 1

domain noun
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <a museum director who is one of the most powerful figures in the art domain> — see FIELD 2

dome noun
the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth <the fitted cap is too small for my large dome> — see HEAD 1

domestic adjective
1 of or relating to a household or family <the surest way to maintain domestic peace and harmony is to have everyone pitch in on chores>

Synonyms
familial, household

Related Words
homelike, homely, homey (also homy); residential

Antonyms
nondomestic, nonfamilial

2 changed from the wild state so as to become useful and obedient to humans <domestic animals in a barnyard> — see TAME 1
3 belonging to a particular place by birth or origin <the domestic bird population has been virtually wiped out by the brown tree snake> — see NATIVE 1

domestic noun
a person hired to perform household or personal services <working as a team, the man and his wife hired themselves out as domestics for wealthy homeowners> — see SERVANT

domesticated adjective
changed from the wild state so as to become useful and obedient to humans <the domesticated horses are kept in a corral> — see TAME 1

domicile noun
the place where one lives <welcome to my domicile, humble though it may be> — see HOME 1

domicile verb
to provide with living quarters or shelter <the university domiciles students in a variety of buildings in and around its urban campus> — see HOUSE 1

dominance noun
1 controlling power or influence over others <although Napoléon had achieved dominance over the European continent, Great Britain still ruled the waves> — see SUPREMACY 1
2 the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance <the professor's dominance in the field of ancient Greek history> — see EMINENCE 1

dominant adjective
coming before all others in importance <the dominant authority on the English language> — see FOREMOST 1

dominate verb
1 to bring under one's control by force of arms <by 1941 Hitler had dominated much of Europe> — see CONQUER 1
2 to look down on <the ruined fortress dominates the town> — see OVERLOOK 1

dominating noun
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control <the gradual dominating of Europe by a few ruling families> — see CONQUEST

domination noun
1 controlling power or influence over others <auction houses battling for domination in the high-end art market> — see SUPREMACY 1
2 the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control <the Spanish domination of the Americas in the 16th century> — see CONQUEST

domineering adjective
fond of ordering people around <the younger children in the family were controlled by a domineering older sister> — see BOSSY

dominie noun
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church <a small village where the doctor and the dominie were the two pillars of society> — see CLERGYPERSON

dominion noun
1 controlling power or influence over others <in the Bible, man is given dominion over all the animals> — see SUPREMACY 1
2 the right or means to command or control others <was granted dominion over the household servants> — see POWER 1

don verb
to place on one's person <she donned her best gown for the ball> — see PUT ON 1

donate verb
to make a present of <we plan to donate all the profits from the rummage sale to charity> — see GIVE 1

donation noun
1 a gift of money or its equivalent to a charity, humanitarian cause, or public institution <a generous donation to the orphanage from an anonymous benefactor> — see CONTRIBUTION
2 something given to someone without expectation of a return <a chocolate cake was my donation to the office party> — see GIFT 1

donative noun
1 something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed <the support of the military was bought with a large donative to a couple of well-placed generals> — see BONUS
2 something given to someone without expectation of a return <regarded her annual bonus as a just recompense for her job performance and not as some corporate donative> — see GIFT 1

donator noun
one that helps another with gifts or money <a frequent donator of funds to research foundations> — see BENEFACTOR

done adjective
1 brought or having come to an end <the demanding job was finally done> — see COMPLETE 2
2 depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <after bicycling 30 miles we were completely done> — see WEARY 1
3 facing certain defeat, disaster, or death <at this point retailing in the city's downtown is done> — see DONE FOR
4 no longer existing <the day of the small independent grocer is done> — see EXTINCT

done for adjective
facing certain defeat, disaster, or death <with no means of escape, the stranded climbers knew that they were done for>

Synonyms
dead, done, doomed, finished, kaput (also kaputt), ruined, sunk

Related Words
endangered, imperiled (or imperilled)

Don Juan noun
a man given to seducing women <at the hotel bar she was immediately hit on by the local Don Juan>

Synonyms
Casanova, lecher, lothario, lounge lizard, masher, philanderer, satyr, wolf, womanizer

Related Words
amorist, gallant, ladies' man (also lady's man), lady-killer, lover, paramour, Romeo; debaucher, romancer, seducer; whoremaster, whoremonger

donkey noun
1 a sturdy and patient domestic mammal that is used especially to carry things <we put our bags on the donkey and headed down the canyon>

Synonyms
ass, burro, jackass, moke [British slang]

Related Words
jack, jennet, jenny; hinny, mule; pack animal

2 a stupid person <called him a donkey when he refused to go along with their plans> — see IDIOT

donkey's years noun, chiefly British
a long or seemingly long period of time <the greengrocer and the fishmonger haven't spoken in donkey's years> — see AGE 2

donkeywork noun
very hard or unpleasant work <the donkeywork involved in setting up one's own start-up software firm> — see 1TOIL

donnybrook noun
1 a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people <a dozen people were arrested after the donnybrook at the stadium> — see BRAWL 1
2 an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <the kind of hot-button issue that inevitably creates a donnybrook in the halls of the statehouse> — see ARGUMENT 1

donor noun
one that helps another with gifts or money <a list of donors in the charitable foundation's annual report> — see BENEFACTOR

do–nothing noun
1 a lazy person <the new boss quickly figured out who the do-nothings were and fired them> — see LAZYBONES
2 an idle worthless person <he indiscriminately dismisses the state legislators as a bunch of do-nothings who live at the taxpayers' expense> — see NE'ER-DO-WELL

Don Quixote noun
one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world <a latter-day Don Quixote, she's spent her life fighting the state's big logging companies> — see IDEALIST

doodad noun
1 a small article the actual name of which one either does not know or cannot remember <where does this little doodad go?>

Synonyms
dingus, doohickey, hickey, thingamabob, thingamajig (or thingumajig), thingummy, whatchamacallit, whatnot, whatsit (also whatsis or what-is-it)

2 a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest <has a habit of buying gadgets and doodads sold on television shopping channels> — see KNICKKNACK
3 something that decorates or beautifies <the array of doodads that some drivers hang from their rearview mirror> — see DECORATION 1

doodle verb
to spend time in aimless activity <I plan to spend the entire vacation just doodling> — see FIDDLE AROUND

doodley–squat or doodly–squat noun
the smallest amount or part imaginable <tried to act intelligent but it was painfully obvious that he didn't know doodley-squat about cosmology> — see JOT

doo–doo noun
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal <a three-year-old who thought talking about doo-doo was the funniest thing ever> — see DROPPING 1

doofus noun, slang
1 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <I don't want to be partnered on the project with that doofus> — see FOOL 1
2 a stupid person <that actor invariably plays a doofus on screen but he's anything but one in real life> — see IDIOT

doohickey noun
a small article the actual name of which one either does not know or cannot remember <screw in the doohickey at the top of the lamp shade> — see DOODAD 1

doom noun
1 a decision made by a court or tribunal regarding a case it has heard <the judge solemnly pronounced his doom before a hushed courtroom> — see SENTENCE
2 a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand <it was her doom to be haunted by the memory of that terrible day> — see FATE 1
3 the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <met his doom at the hands of a rampaging rhinoceros> — see DEATH 1

doom verb
1 to determine the fate of in advance <had always felt that he was doomed to remain single forever> — see DESTINE
2 to impose a judicial punishment on <doomed the murderer to life in prison without the possibility of parole> — see SENTENCE

doomed adjective
facing certain defeat, disaster, or death <at that point it was obvious to all that the astronauts were doomed> — see DONE FOR

doomsayer noun
one given to forebodings and predictions of impending calamity <doomsayers had been saying for some time that the housing bubble was going to burst>

Synonyms
Cassandra, Chicken Little, doomsdayer, doomster

Related Words
defeatist, fatalist; naysayer, negativist, pessimist; handwringer, worrier, worrywart

Antonyms
optimist, Pollyanna

doomsdayer noun
one given to forebodings and predictions of impending calamity <once again doomsdayers were issuing warnings about the dangers of nuclear proliferation> — see DOOMSAYER

doomster noun
one given to forebodings and predictions of impending calamity <from time immemorial doomsters have been saying that the world is going to hell in a handbasket> — see DOOMSAYER

doomy adjective
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come <the surging doomy music in the background was an unmistakable sign that things would not end well for the movie's hero> — see OMINOUS

door noun
1 a barrier by which an entry is closed and opened <we locked the door to the room so that no one could get in>

Synonyms
gate, hatch, portal

Related Words
double door, Dutch door, French door, lattice, portcullis, postern, revolving door, storm door, trapdoor, wicket

2 the opening through which one can enter or leave a structure <a steady stream of visitors through the front door>

Synonyms
doorway, entrance, gate, gateway, way

Related Words
hatch, hatchway

3 the means or right of entering or participating in <education unlocks the door to advancement> — see ENTRANCE 1

do–or–die adjective
fully committed to achieving a goal <a do-or-die abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison refused to give an inch on the issue of slavery> — see DETERMINED 1

doorkeeper noun
a person who tends a door <the doorkeeper held the door open for us so we didn't have to put down our packages>

Synonyms
doorman, gatekeeper, janitor, porter [chiefly British]

doorman noun
a person who tends a door <we tipped the hotel doorman for getting us a cab> — see DOORKEEPER

doormat noun
a person without strength of character <a doormat who always gave in to his father's demands> — see WEAKLING 2

doorway noun
1 the means or right of entering or participating in <the doorway to a life of luxury and leisure> — see ENTRANCE 1
2 the opening through which one can enter or leave a structure <he stood in the doorway until we finally invited him in> — see DOOR 2

doozy or doozie also doozer noun
something very good of its kind <you don't make mistakes very often, but when you do, it's a real doozy> — see JIM-DANDY

dope adjective, slang
of the very best kind <dude, there are some really dope rhymes on that rapper's latest album> — see EXCELLENT

dope noun
1 information not generally available to the public <the stool pigeon gave us the dope on the deal taking place that night at the warehouse>

Synonyms
book, 411 [slang], inside, lowdown, poop [slang], scoop, skinny [slang], tip

Related Words
dirt, dish, gossip, rumor, story; hint, pointer; information, intelligence, news, tidings, word

Near Antonyms
ancient history, open secret

2 a stupid person <that dope thought he could swim across the Colorado River at night> — see IDIOT

dope (out) verb
to find an answer for through reasoning <tried to dope out the answer from the little information we had been given> — see SOLVE

dopehead noun
a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally <threw his roommate out when he discovered that the guy was a dopehead> — see DOPER

doper noun
a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally <the doper had to go straight—there would be some serious jail time if he didn't>

Synonyms
addict, dopehead, druggie (also druggy), fiend, freak [slang], head, hophead [slang], hype [slang], junkie (also junky), stoner, user

Related Words
acidhead, cokehead, crackhead, pothead, speed freak; burnout

Antonyms
nonaddict, nonuser

dopey also dopy adjective
1 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <a sweet but dopey little dog who never learned any tricks> — see STUPID 1
2 suffering from mental confusion <we were still dopey from having all those facts and figures thrown at us> — see DIZZY 2

dopiness noun
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <amused by the sheer dopiness of the movie's plot> — see STUPIDITY 1

doppelgänger or doppelganger noun
something or someone that strongly resembles another <at the mall today I saw someone who could be your doppelgänger> — see IMAGE 1

do–rag noun
a scarf worn on the head <a rapper wearing a nylon do-rag over his cornrows> — see BANDANNA

dork noun, slang
1 a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits <a jock willing to pay to have one of the dorks write his term paper for him> — see NERD 1
2 a stupid person <he tried to be suave, but she still thought he was a dork> — see IDIOT

dorkiness noun
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <the delicious dorkiness of the vice president made him a ripe target for satirists> — see STUPIDITY 1

dorky adjective, slang
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <she's always being embarrassed by her dorky cousins> — see STUPID 1

dormancy noun
1 a state of temporary inactivity <some volcanoes have eruptive cycles marked by long stretches of dormancy> — see ABEYANCE
2 lack of action or activity <a fighting force that could be roused instantly from dormancy to action> — see INACTION

dormant adjective
1 being in a state of suspended consciousness <the bears lay dormant in their den during the winter> — see ASLEEP 1
2 not being in a state of use, activity, or employment <the engine lay dormant in the garage until we found a use for it> — see INACTIVE 2

doss noun, chiefly British
a place set aside for sleeping <the living room couch was my doss for the weekend I spent at my friend's Lake District cottage> — see BED 1

doss (down) verb, chiefly British
to go to one's bed in order to sleep <he frequently plays host at his London flat, and overnight guests pretty much doss down where they please> — see BED 1

dot noun
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part <there was just a dot on the tablecloth where the food had spattered> — see SPOT 1

dot verb
1 to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on <a hillside dotted with wildflowers> — see SCATTER 2
2 to mark with small spots especially unevenly <the practice of some chefs of positioning a small portion of food in the center and dotting the rest of the plate with sauce> — see SPOT 1

dotage noun
the state or period of mental decline that typically accompanies old age <he's now in that stage of his dotage where he has trouble remembering the simplest things>

Synonyms
caducity, second childhood, senility

Related Words
anility; decrepitude, feebleness, infirmity; geezerhood, senectitude, senescence

dote (on) verb
to love or admire too much <doted on her only grandchild> — see IDOLIZE

dotted adjective
marked with spots <a dotted tie that didn't go with his striped shirt at all> — see SPOTTED 1

dottiness noun
lack of good sense or judgment <the irrepressible dottiness of her aunt was actually rather endearing> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

dotty adjective
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <dotty relatives that we have to endure only on Thanksgiving> — see FOOLISH 1

dotty (over) adjective
filled with an intense or excessive love for <she's dotty over begonias—as you can see the minute you enter her house> — see ENAMORED OF

double adjective
1 consisting of two members or parts that are usually joined <an egg with a double yolk>

Synonyms
binary, bipartite, double-barreled, double-edged, dual, duplex, twin, twofold

Related Words
mated, paired

Near Antonyms
unpaired

Antonyms
single

2 being twice as great or as many <after it was ranked the best in the country, the college had double the usual number of applicants>

Synonyms
twofold

3 not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <she's known for speaking with a double tongue, so I doubt that her concern is very heartfelt> — see INSINCERE

double adverb
to two times the amount or degree <raced to his side double quick> — see DOUBLY

double noun
something or someone that strongly resembles another <he looks so much like you that he could be your double> — see IMAGE 1

double verb
1 to make twice as great or as many <we doubled our investment in six months>

Synonyms
duplicate, redouble

Related Words
compound, multiply; accumulate, balloon, build (up), burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, mount, mushroom, proliferate, rise, snowball, swell, wax

2 to lay one part over or against another part of <double the wet cloth and place it on the victim's forehead> — see FOLD 1

double–barreled adjective
consisting of two members or parts that are usually joined <the double-barreled goal of the company is to do well in the marketplace and to do good in the community> — see DOUBLE 1

double bind noun
a situation in which one has to choose between two or more equally unsatisfactory choices <the double bind faced by every politician: responding to scurrilous charges only gives them unwarranted publicity; not responding to such charges is often interpreted as an admission of guilt> — see DILEMMA 1

double–cross verb
to be unfaithful or disloyal to <she promised to share the profits but then double-crossed us> — see BETRAY 1

double cross noun
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another <politics is full of double crosses and backbiting> — see BETRAYAL

double–crosser noun
one who betrays a trust or an allegiance <we knew he was a double-crosser so we didn't tell him our real plans> — see TRAITOR

double–dealer noun
one who betrays a trust or an allegiance <the company seems to have one or two double-dealers who are selling information to competitors> — see TRAITOR

double–dealing adjective
1 marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <double-dealing business practices that are being investigated by the state's attorney general> — see FRAUDULENT 1
2 not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <the double-dealing salesman never told me that the car had been in an accident and repaired> — see INSINCERE
3 given to or marked by cheating and deception <the double-dealing team owners were pitting the two cities against one another, both of whom badly wanted the franchise> — see DISHONEST 2

double–dealing noun
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <a go-between suspected of double-dealing> — see DECEIT 1

double–dome noun
a person with strong intellectual interests <double-domes in the scientific community probably understand it—but the rest of us don't> — see INTELLECTUAL

double Dutch noun
unintelligible or meaningless talk <the fast-talking con man spouts some double Dutch, and it is only afterwards that the victim realizes that he's given two twenties for a ten> — see GIBBERISH 1

double–edged adjective
1 consisting of two members or parts that are usually joined <the double-edged purpose of the sales promotion is to clear out existing stock and to attract new customers> — see DOUBLE 1
2 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <her double-edged remark that she hoped that I ultimately got what I deserved> — see OBSCURE 1

double–faced adjective
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <you'll find out how double-faced she is when you're no further help to her career> — see INSINCERE

double–quick adverb
with great speed <she changed her mind double-quick when she learned that the sales conference would be held in Paris> — see FAST 1

double–talk noun
1 language marked by abstractions, jargon, euphemisms, and circumlocutions <the reporter listened to the senator's double-talk for about 30 seconds, and then repeated the question> — see GIBBERISH 2
2 unintelligible or meaningless talk <the man on the sidewalk rattled off some double-talk, shoved the petition in my face, and before I realized it, I had added my signature to the list> — see GIBBERISH 1

doubly adverb
to two times the amount or degree <we were doubly certain of her guilt after we read the article in the newspaper>

Synonyms
double, twice, twofold

doubt noun
a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something <from the beginning I had my doubts about the investment scheme>

Synonyms
distrust, distrustfulness, dubiety, dubitation [archaic], incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrust, mistrustfulness, query, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty

Related Words
disbelief, incredulity, unbelief; anxiety, concern, paranoia, wariness; compunction, niggle [chiefly British], qualm, scruple, tremor

Near Antonyms
credence, faith

Antonyms
assurance, belief, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, sureness, surety, trust

doubt verb
to have no trust or confidence in <I doubt that you can do all that you say> — see DISTRUST

doubtable adjective
1 giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <her argument rested entirely upon some highly doubtable logic> — see DOUBTFUL 2
2 open to question or dispute <that his wartime exploit happened at all is very doubtable> — see DEBATABLE 1

doubter noun
a person who is always ready to doubt or question the truth or existence of something <there will always be some hard-core doubters of the government's denial of the UFO incident> — see SKEPTIC

doubtful adjective
1 not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something <he was doubtful about the decision to complete the project despite its mounting problems>

Synonyms
distrustful, dubious, hinky [slang], mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, trustless, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, unsettled, unsure

Related Words
ambivalent, conflicted, equivocal; diffident, insecure; halting, hesitant, indecisive, irresolute, vacillating, wavering

Phrases
on the fence

Near Antonyms
assured, confident, sanguine, self-assured; decisive, determined, resolute

Antonyms
certain, convinced, positive, sure

2 giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <the election results were highly doubtful, so an investigation was begun>

Synonyms
debatable, disputable, dodgy [chiefly British], doubtable, dubious, dubitable, equivocal, fishy, problematic (also problematical), queer, questionable, shady, shaky, suspect, suspicious

Related Words
alleged, so-called, supposed; moot; ambiguous, open, unclear; uncertain, undecided, undetermined; far-fetched, flimsy, improbable, unlikely, weak

Near Antonyms
decisive, definitive; clear, obvious, open-and-shut, positive

Antonyms
certain, hands-down, incontestable, indisputable, indubitable, questionless, sure, undeniable, undoubted, unproblematic, unquestionable

3 not likely to be true or to occur <our winning the championship increasingly looks like a doubtful outcome> — see IMPROBABLE
4 open to question or dispute <a doubtful claim to the property> — see DEBATABLE 1

doubtfully adverb
with distrust <we followed our guide doubtfully, keeping our eyes open at all times> — see ASKANCE

doubting adjective
inclined to doubt or question claims <congenitally doubting viewers will wonder if there's anything real about that so-called reality show> — see SKEPTICAL 1

doubtingly adverb
with distrust <we looked at her doubtingly as she told the story of her life> — see ASKANCE

doubting Thomas noun
a person who is always ready to doubt or question the truth or existence of something <an astronomer who enjoys taking the role of the doubting Thomas in debates with UFOlogists> — see SKEPTIC

doubtless adjective
having or showing a mind free from doubt <another one of his doubtless predictions that will never come true> — see CERTAIN 2

doubtless adverb
1 without any question <she is doubtless the one and only girl for me> — see INDEED 1
2 by reasonable assumption <doubtless you have heard this story before, but I'll tell it anyway> — see PROBABLY

doubtlessness noun
a state of mind in which one is free from doubt <with the doubtlessness of a man who never spent a moment in self-reflection, the president barreled down the road to disaster> — see CONFIDENCE 2

dough noun
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <didn't have to spend a lot of dough for a new stereo> — see MONEY 1

doughtily adverb
in a fearless manner <doughtily persistent in his opposition to casino gambling in his state> — see BRAVELY 1

doughtiness noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <a new recruit with all of the doughtiness of the finest soldiers who ever saw battle> — see COURAGE

doughty adjective
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <the doughty heroes of old> — see BRAVE 1

doughy adjective
lacking a healthy skin color <she worried that her husband was very ill when she saw his doughy complexion> — see PALE 2

do up verb
1 to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <the whole house had been done up for Halloween> — see DECORATE
2 to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <on Wild West Day some of the women came to the office done up as showgirls, while the men were mostly outlaws> — see CLOTHE 1
3 to use up all the physical energy of <all of this fussing about the wedding has done me up> — see EXHAUST 1

dour adjective
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <a dour prison guard who didn't look like he'd be very understanding> — see GRIM 1

douse noun, British
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <those soccer hooligans need a sound douse or two from a police officer's club> — see 1BLOW

1douse verb
to rid oneself of (a garment) <in those days a gentleman would douse his hat when going indoors> — see REMOVE 1

2douse also dowse verb
1 to cause to cease burning <douse the campfire before leaving in the morning> — see EXTINGUISH 1
2 to make wet <the heavy rains thoroughly doused the tourists strolling the town streets> — see WET
3 to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid <douse the grapes in water to remove any grit> — see DIP 1

doused also dowsed adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <shook the water out of her thoroughly doused hair> — see WET 1

dove noun
1 a person who opposes war or warlike policies <the doves were in favor of using the surplus to improve the nation's schools and not its weapons systems>

Synonyms
pacifist, peacenik

Related Words
peacemaker

Near Antonyms
militarist; chauvinist, nationalist

Antonyms
hawk, jingo, war hawk, warmonger

2 an innocent or gentle person <he's a dove who wouldn't hurt a fly> — see LAMB

dovetail verb
to be in agreement on every point <the Union and the Confederate accounts of the battle don't dovetail at all> — see CHECK 1

dovish adjective
inclined to live in peace and to avoid war <the party's dovish faction has regarded the war as a bad idea from the get-go> — see PEACEFUL 1

dowager noun
a dignified usually elderly woman of some rank or authority <the town's dowagers frequently shake their heads over the younger generation> — see MATRIARCH

dowdily adverb
in a careless or unfashionable manner <dressed hurriedly and dowdily to go do her workout> — see SLOPPILY

dowdy adjective
1 lacking neatness in dress or person <a dowdy old matron> — see SLOPPY 1
2 marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste <the dowdy, beat-up furniture at the cheap motel> — see 1TACKY 1

down adjective
1 brought or having come to an end <eight down and two to go> — see COMPLETE 2
2 directed down <a down escalator> — see DOWNCAST 1
3 feeling unhappiness <feeling a bit down> — see SAD 1
4 temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body <down with the flu> — see SICK 1
5 not being in working order <while my computer was down, I attended to some unfinished odds and ends lying about my cubicle> — see INOPERABLE 1
6 slang of the very best kind <a small jazz club that showcases some really down musicians> — see EXCELLENT

down adverb
1 toward or in a lower position <the stairs went down to the basement>

Synonyms
below, downward (or downwards), over

Related Words
facedown; low; downgrade, downhill, downstairs

Near Antonyms
aloft

Antonyms
up, upward (or upwards), upwardly

2 from this or that place <came down from New York for the weekend> — see AWAY

1down noun
a soft airy substance or covering <a comforter filled with goose down> — see 1FUZZ

2down noun
1 something (as a situation or event) that is depressing <lately it's been one down after another in my life> — see DOWNER
2 chiefly British a lingering ill will towards a person for a real or imagined wrong <I don't understand why she'd have such a down against me; we've never even spoken to each other!> — see GRUDGE 1
3 chiefly British a strong feeling of not liking or approving <for years after the war her grandfather had an unshakable down on the Germans> — see DISLIKE 1
4 the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude <suffered with a psychological disorder in which she alternated between emotional ups and downs> — see DESCENT 1
5 a loss of status <experienced the ups and downs of a career in showbiz> — see COMEDOWN

3down noun, usually downs
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country <hold a festival on the downs> — see PLAIN 1

down verb
1 to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall <downed his opponent with one stunning blow> — see FELL 1
2 to take into the stomach through the mouth and throat <downing slices of pizza and guzzling bottles of soda> — see SWALLOW 1
3 to reject by or as if by a vote <all attempts to ban indoor smoking had been downed by the town council> — see NEGATIVE 1

down and dirty adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <hoisting aloft the down and dirty sign that we had just made, we joined the protest> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

down–and–out adjective
1 lacking bodily strength <I'm over the flu, but I still feel down-and-out> — see WEAK 1
2 lacking money or material possessions <a soup kitchen where the down-and-out daily line up for a hot meal> — see POOR 1

down–at–the–heels or down–at–heel also down–at–the–heel or down–at–heels adjective
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <the stately mansion where he lives now is a far cry from the down-at-the-heels triple-decker in which he grew up> — see SHABBY 1

downbeat adjective
emphasizing or expecting the worst <a downbeat prediction for the company's sales performance in the upcoming year> — see PESSIMISTIC 1

downcast adjective
1 directed down <her downcast gaze made us realize that she was shy>

Synonyms
bowed, down, downward, lowered

Near Antonyms
elevated, lifted, raised, uplifted, upward

2 feeling unhappiness <I'm always a little downcast on rainy days> — see SAD 1

downer noun
something (as a situation or event) that is depressing <that story of drug addiction was a real downer>

Synonyms
bummer, down

Related Words
bore, drag; accident, fatality, mishap, woe; calamity, catastrophe, debacle (also débâcle), misfortune, tragedy

Near Antonyms
pick-me-up, trip

Antonyms
upper

downfall noun
1 something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life <an insatiable love of money would be their downfall>

Synonyms
death, destruction, ruin, ruination, undoing

Related Words
bane, curse, torment; Achilles' heel, tragic flaw

Phrases
kiss of death

2 a change to a lower state or level <the gradual downfall of the Roman Empire> — see DECLINE 2
3 a loss of status <an ill-advised speech that proved to be the cause of the candidate's downfall> — see COMEDOWN
4 a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity <we ducked under an overhang to shelter ourselves from the sudden downfall> — see RAIN 1

downgrade noun
1 a change to a lower state or level <a singing career on the downgrade> — see DECLINE 2
2 a downward slope <the gentle downgrade of the parking area is designed for drainage> — see DECLINE 3

downgrade verb
1 to bring to a lower grade or rank <increased automation resulted in many jobs in the factory being downgraded> — see DEMOTE
2 to diminish the price or value of <the company's filing for Chapter 11 downgraded the stock to the point where it was selling for pennies a share> — see DEPRECIATE 1

downhearted adjective
feeling unhappiness <downhearted because his best friend was taking a job out of state> — see SAD 1

downheartedness noun
a state or spell of low spirits <his downheartedness lasted until another girl came along and won his heart> — see SADNESS

downhill adjective
involving minimal difficulty or effort <the project should be all downhill after this problem is fixed> — see EASY 1

downhill noun
a downward slope <most runners will have their best splits on the downhills> — see DECLINE 3

down–home adjective
having or showing an unpretentious informality <her down-home patter as she prepares comfort foods goes over well with television viewers> — see CRACKER-BARREL

down in the mouth adjective
feeling unhappiness <after a disastrous date like that, anyone would be down in the mouth> — see SAD 1

downplay verb
to reduce in apparent importance <he self-deprecatingly downplays his own contributions to the festival's success> — see SOFT-PEDAL

downpour noun
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity <the downpour was so heavy that we were soaked by the time we got to the car> — see RAIN 1

downright adjective
1 being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner <rural folks are often known for their downright speech, as they are generally not ones to beat around the bush> — see BLUNT 1
2 having no exceptions or restrictions <that's a downright lie, and you know it> — see ABSOLUTE 2

downscale verb
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent <the poor economy forced the plant to downscale production> — see DECREASE 1

downshift noun
a usually gradual decrease in the pace or level of activity of something <there are promising indications of a turnaround in the prolonged economic downshift> — see SLOWDOWN

downside noun
a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success <the downside of living in the country is, of course, the long commute to work> — see DISADVANTAGE 1

downsize verb
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent <the company downsized its overseas operations in an attempt to cut costs> — see DECREASE 1

down–the–line adjective
firm in one's allegiance to someone or something <a down-the-line supporter of the Republican Party> — see FAITHFUL 1

downtime noun
a period of often involuntary inactivity or idleness <a knee operation that could result in months of downtime for the ski racer>

Synonyms
layoff, time-out, winter

Related Words
break, breath, breather, interruption, lull, pause, recess; abeyance, doldrums, dormancy, latency, quiescence, suspense, suspension

down–to–earth adjective
1 not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness <we were all impressed by how down-to-earth the movie star turned out to be> — see HUMBLE 1
2 willing to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly <a down-to-earth guidance counselor who is frank in telling students which colleges they're likely to get into> — see REALISTIC 1

down–to–earthness noun
the absence of any feelings of being better than others <we were pleasantly surprised by the quiet down-to-earthness and self-deprecating humor of the billionaire> — see HUMILITY

down–to–the–wire adjective
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors <a down-to-the-wire contest for the pennant> — see CLOSE 3

downtown adjective
keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment <the downtown clientele of this bistro come to be seen, and the food is only an afterthought> — see AU COURANT 1

downtrodden adjective
suffering grave abuse or injustice at the hands of one in authority <a war that was supposed to liberate the downtrodden citizens of that nation>

Synonyms
crushed, oppressed, persecuted, tyrannized

Related Words
browbeaten, bullied, cowed, hectored, intimidated; abused, maltreated, mistreated; abject, despairing, disheartened, dispirited, downcast, hopeless

downward adjective
directed down <at that age where the downward pull of gravity on the body is obvious> — see DOWNCAST 1

downward or downwards adverb
toward or in a lower position <at this point the river flows gently downward to the sea> — see DOWN 1

downwind adjective
being in the direction that the wind is blowing <we were downwind of the deer, so it couldn't smell us>

Synonyms
leeward

Antonyms
upwind, windward

downy adjective
smooth or delicate in appearance or feel <the downy surface of a ripe peach> — see SOFT 2

doxy also doxie noun
1 a boldly flirtatious or sexually promiscuous woman <before gentrification the city's waterfront was known for sleazy dives that were frequented by hell-raising sailors and drunken doxies> — see FLOOZY
2 a female other than his wife with whom a married man has a continuing sexual relationship <he'll never leave his wife and kids for that low-rent doxy> — see MISTRESS

doyen noun
1 a person with long experience in a specified area <considered the doyen of American art critics> — see VETERAN
2 the senior member of a group <he's the doyen of American museum directors, and his opinion has considerable weight> — see DEAN

doze noun
a short sleep <a brief doze in the sun> — see 1NAP

doze verb
1 to be in a state of sleep <likes to doze through those lazy summer afternoons> — see SLEEP 1
2 to sleep lightly or briefly <she dozed fitfully in the car but never fell completely asleep> — see NAP 1

dozen noun
a considerable amount <dozens of new songs were auditioned and rejected> — see LOT 2

dozer noun
one who sleeps <the crash abruptly wakened the dozers on the bus> — see SLEEPER

doziness noun
the quality or state of desiring or needing sleep <a heavy lunch usually leaves me fighting off a spell of doziness in the afternoon> — see SLEEPINESS

dozing adjective
being in a state of suspended consciousness <the dozing dog was running—at least in his dream> — see ASLEEP 1

dozing noun
a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself <dozing is a natural response to the stifling heat of summer> — see SLEEP 1

dozy adjective
desiring or needing sleep <the big Thanksgiving dinner left us all feeling satisfied and dozy> — see SLEEPY 1

drab adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <the new city hall promises to be another drab pile of masonry for the town> — see BORING

drab noun
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money <in its time, this waterfront dive was decried as a den of iniquity, unfit even for the dissolute men and drabs who haunted it> — see PROSTITUTE

draft noun
1 a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported <the draft of an average-sized oil tanker> — see LOAD 1
2 the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time <took a long draft of the beer before putting his mug down> — see DRINK 2
3 noticeable movement of air in a particular direction <do you feel a draft from beneath the door?> — see 1WIND 1

draft verb
1 to pick especially for required military service <my grandfather was drafted to fight in a war that he opposed>

Synonyms
conscribe, conscript, levy

Related Words
impress, press; enlist, enroll (also enrol), recruit; call up; sign up, volunteer

Near Antonyms
discharge, muster out

2 to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form <draft a letter to the local newspaper giving your views on the problem> — see COMPOSE 1
3 to remove (liquid) gradually or completely <remember to draft the water from the pool so that we can close it up for the winter> — see DRAIN 1

draftee noun
a person forced or required to enroll in military service <the massive mobilization required draftees to be rushed through training> — see CONSCRIPT

drag noun
1 someone or something boring <that lecture was such a drag that half of the audience fell asleep>

Synonyms
bore, drip, droner, dullsville, nudnik (also nudnick), snooze, snoozer, yawn, yawner

Related Words
bummer, downer; bromide, pill

Near Antonyms
blast, gas [slang], kick, rush, upper

2 a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <the main drag in town> — see WAY 1
3 something that makes movement or progress difficult <the drag of overpopulation on raising the living standards of that developing country> — see ENCUMBRANCE
4 the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time <took a deep drag of tequila before speaking his piece> — see DRINK 2
5 a person who spoils the pleasure of others <the teenager was mortified to be seen in public with such drags—her parents> — see KILLJOY
6 clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation <an undercover cop who sometimes works her beat in streetwalker drag> — see OUTFIT 1

drag verb
1 to cause to follow by applying steady force on <the deliveryman dragged the barrels over against the wall> — see PULL 1
2 to move or act slowly <one of the climbers was beginning to drag> — see DELAY 1
3 to move slowly <the play dragged and seemed to take forever to get to its predictable conclusion> — see CRAWL 2

drag (out) verb
to make longer <pointless questions that merely dragged out the meeting another hour> — see EXTEND 1

dragger noun
someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others <we quickly left the draggers behind and sprinted up the hill> — see SLOWPOKE

dragging adjective
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <a mysterious, cloaked figure with a strange, dragging walk> — see SLOW 1

draggled adjective
not clean <the poor draggled teddy bear had clearly seen better days> — see DIRTY 1

dragon lady noun
a bad-tempered scolding woman <a conniving dragon lady, their mother attempted to dominate their lives well into their adult years> — see SHREW

dragoon verb
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <she was dragooned into agreeing to the fraudulent scheme> — see FORCE 1

drain verb
1 to remove (liquid) gradually or completely <we drained the water from the tank before cleaning it>

Synonyms
bleed, draft, draw (off), pump, siphon (also syphon), tap

Related Words
milk; suck; clear, empty, evacuate, exhaust, vacate, vacuate, void; decant, effuse; deplete; clean, flush, purge

Near Antonyms
bathe, douse (also dowse), drench, soak, souse, wash, water, wet; deluge, drown, flood, inundate, overflow; submerge, swamp

Antonyms
fill

2 to make complete use of <virtually drained the country's natural resources> — see DEPLETE 1
3 to use up all the physical energy of <the long hike drained us> — see EXHAUST 1

drain (away) verb
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <as the city lost population, its political influence drained away> — see DECREASE 2

drained adjective
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <we were completely drained after shoveling snow all afternoon> — see WEARY 1

drainpipe noun
a pipe or channel for carrying off water from a roof <our drainpipe is always getting clogged with leaves> — see GUTTER 1

dram noun
a very small amount <allow me to offer a dram of advice> — see PARTICLE 1

drama noun
1 the public performance of plays <he has been interested in drama from the first time he ever saw a play>

Synonyms
dramatics, stage, theater (or theatre), theatricals, theatrics

Related Words
boards; acting, footlights; entertainment, showbiz, show business; amusement, distraction, diversion, recreation; exhibition, pageant, pageantry, presentation, production, show, spectacle

2 a written work in which the story is told through speech and action that is intended to be acted out on stage <wrote a police drama that really captured the speech of cops and criminals> — see PLAY 2

dramatic adjective
1 having the general quality or effect of a stage performance <the basketball player's dramatic announcement of his sudden retirement held everybody spellbound>

Synonyms
histrionic, melodramatic, operatic, stagy (or stagey), theatrical (also theatric)

Related Words
affected, emotional, emotionalistic, sensational; actorish, actorly, actressy, dramaturgic (or dramaturgical), ham, hammy; amazing, astonishing, astounding, awesome, exciting, eye-opening, fabulous, marvelous (or marvellous), spectacular, surprising, wonderful, wondrous; overdramatic

Near Antonyms
matter-of-fact, monotonous, uneventful, unexciting; uninspiring, unnewsworthy, unrewarding, unsensational, unspectacular; common, commonplace, ordinary, stale, unexceptional

Antonyms
undramatic

2 given to or marked by attention-getting behavior suggestive of stage acting <oh, don't be so dramatic, and just tell us, without the pregnant pauses, what happened> — see THEATRICAL 1
3 likely to attract attention <a dramatic drop in the temperature overnight> — see NOTICEABLE

dramatics plural noun
the public performance of plays <took part in dramatics while a student at the local university> — see DRAMA 1

dramatization noun
a written work in which the story is told through speech and action that is intended to be acted out on stage <a dramatization of a true story> — see PLAY 2

dramshop noun
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises <according to the state's dramshop laws, anyone who serves alcohol automatically incurs certain liabilities> — see BARROOM

drape verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <a trophy wife who invariably appears at events draped in furs and diamonds> — see DECORATE

drapery noun
pieces of cloth hung to darken, decorate, or divide a room <the drapery for the picture window matched the color of the furniture in the center of the room>

Synonyms
curtains, drapes

Related Words
hanging(s), shade, tapestry, window shade

drapes plural noun
pieces of cloth hung to darken, decorate, or divide a room <we hung new drapes in the living room to match the new color scheme> — see DRAPERY

draw noun
1 a situation in which neither participant in a contest, competition, or struggle comes out ahead of the other <the game ended in a draw> — see TIE 1
2 something that attracts interest <city fathers hoped that the new waterfront development would be a big draw for tourists> — see MAGNET
3 the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force <took a draw on his cigarette and immediately started coughing> — see PULL 1

draw verb
1 to make a representation of by producing lines on a surface <see if you can draw the bowl of fruit>

Synonyms
picture

Related Words
caricature, cartoon; crayon, ink, pencil; outline, profile; scrawl, scribble, sketch

2 to cause to follow by applying steady force on <draw a chair up to the fire and sit with us> — see PULL 1
3 to give a representation or account of in words <a writer who draws characters with lifelike clarity> — see DESCRIBE 1
4 to receive as return for effort <draws a hefty weekly salary> — see EARN 1
5 to take away from a place or position <draw her aside so we can ask a quick question> — see REMOVE 2
6 to take the internal organs out of <hated the thought of having to pluck and draw a goose before cooking it> — see GUT
7 to shape with a hammer <drew the metal into a thin sheet by pounding it> — see HAMMER 1

draw (off) verb
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely <drew off the fat from the top of the drippings> — see DRAIN 1

drawback noun
a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success <this plan has only one drawback: it's unworkable> — see DISADVANTAGE 1

draw down verb
to make complete use of <I drew down my bank account just paying for tuition> — see DEPLETE 1

drawing noun
a picture using lines to represent the chief features of an object or scene <with an economy of lines, he created a vivid drawing of the tree>

Synonyms
cartoon, delineation, sketch

Related Words
contour, figure, outline, silhouette; caricature, doodle, illustration; depiction, image, likeness, portrait, representation; engraving, etch, etching; aquatint, charcoal, line drawing, pastel, watercolor; blueprint

drawing out noun
the act of making longer <the tedious drawing out of wool into thread that was required before weaving> — see EXTENSION 1

draw on verb
1 to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <the general's imprudent remarks drew on a public rebuke by the secretary of defense> — see EFFECT
2 to come near or nearer <night draws on, so we should hurry home> — see APPROACH 1

draw out verb
to make longer <the actor refused to draw out the interview any further> — see EXTEND 1

draw up verb
1 to bring (something) to a standstill <he drew up his horse outside the tavern> — see 1HALT 1
2 to put into a particular arrangement <drew up the troops into a line along the ridge> — see ORDER 1
3 to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form <draw up a proposal and submit it to the committee for approval> — see COMPOSE 1

dread adjective
causing fear <every ship on the Spanish Main was terrified of running into the dread pirate> — see FEARFUL 1

dread noun
1 suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune <the dread felt by people awaiting bad news> — see APPREHENSION 1
2 the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger <we were filled with dread when we saw the rapids we would be rafting down> — see FEAR 1
3 something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason <speaking in public is a perennial dread for many people> — see BOGEY 1

dreadful adjective
1 causing fear <a dreadful hurricane> — see FEARFUL 1
2 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <a dreadful performance of a beautiful piece of music> — see OFFENSIVE 1
3 extremely disturbing or repellent <dreadful news of a crime wave in the neighborhood> — see HORRIBLE 1
4 extreme in degree, power, or effect <the dreadful heat of the desert> — see INTENSE 1
5 having no exceptions or restrictions <made a dreadful mess of his first marriage> — see ABSOLUTE 2

dreadfulness noun
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay <the dreadfulness of an oncoming avalanche can scarcely be described> — see HORROR 1

dreadnought noun
something or someone that is unusually large and powerful <poor gas mileage did little to stem the popularity of that dreadnought of the roadways: the SUV> — see GIANT

dream noun
1 a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality <his invention is only a dream right now, but someday it might be a reality> — see FANTASY 1
2 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <my dream is to open my own restaurant> — see GOAL
3 something very good of its kind <the Alaskan cruise exceeded their wildest expectations—it was a dream of a vacation> — see JIM-DANDY

dream verb
to form a mental picture of <I dreamed that I was living on that proverbial desert island in the South Pacific> — see IMAGINE 1

dreamboat noun, slang
a physically attractive person <an actor who's still regarded as one of the screen's all-time great dreamboats> — see DOLL 2

dreamer noun
one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world <a dreamer who believes that war doesn't have to be part of the human condition> — see IDEALIST

dreamily adverb
in a pleasing way <our date at the restaurant went dreamily until the check arrived> — see WELL 5

dreamy adjective
1 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <a beach resort that is a perfectly dreamy place to relax> — see PLEASANT 1
2 tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress <the kind of dreamy music I want after a hard day at work> — see SOOTHING 1

drear adjective
1 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <it was a drear morning in January when I went to take my driving test> — see GLOOMY 1
2 causing unhappiness <a barren and drear existence in a remote village> — see SAD 2

dreariness noun
a state or spell of low spirits <my own dreariness seemed to match the dismal weather we were having> — see SADNESS

dreary adjective
1 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <vowed that he would never take a desk job working in a dreary office> — see GLOOMY 1
2 causing unhappiness <decided to see a professional counselor in order to save their dreary marriage> — see SAD 2
3 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <another dreary social event to suffer through> — see BORING

dreck also drek noun
1 discarded or useless material <he poured the dreck she called soup down the drain> — see GARBAGE 1
2 that which is of low quality or worth <can you believe that the gallery owner dares to call that dreck “art”?> — see JUNK 1

dredge verb
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something <I've been dredging my memory bank, and I simply can't remember her name> — see SEARCH 1

dredge (up) verb
to come upon after searching, study, or effort <I might be able to dredge up some old baby clothes to donate> — see FIND 1

dregs plural noun
matter that settles to the bottom of a body of liquid <poured the dregs into the sink> — see DEPOSIT 1

dreich adjective, chiefly Scottish
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <historically regarded as a dreich corner of Britain, Scotland's very name comes from the Greek word for “dark”> — see GLOOMY 1

drench verb
1 to make wet <we were drenched by the sudden rainstorm> — see WET
2 to wet thoroughly with liquid <when using the carpet shampooer, wet but do not drench the carpet> — see SOAK 1

drenched adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <the drenched tourists straggled into the visitors' center> — see WET 1

dress adjective
relating to or suitable for wearing to an event requiring elegant dress and manners <the naval commander wore his dress uniform to the ball>

Synonyms
dressy, formal

Related Words
costume, costumey; chic, dapper, fashionable, in, modish, natty, sharp, smart, snappy, stylish; custom-made, fitted, tailored; black-tie, evening, white-tie; semiformal

Near Antonyms
street; dowdy, outmoded, styleless, unfashionable, unstylish; frowsy (or frowzy), grungy, sloppy, sloven, slovenly, unkempt, untidy; disheveled (or dishevelled), messy, mussy, rumpled, wrinkled

Antonyms
casual, informal, sportif, sporty

dress noun
1 a garment with a joined blouse and skirt usually worn by a woman or girl <what a lovely dress you're wearing today!>

Synonyms
frock, gown

Related Words
chemise, coatdress, granny dress, housedress, jumper, kimono, kirtle, minidress, Mother Hubbard, muumuu, overdress, sack, sheath, shift, shirtdress, shirtwaist, sundress, sweaterdress, tea gown

2 clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation <a bagpiper in full Scottish Highlander dress> — see OUTFIT 1
3 covering for the human body <a businessman who is very conservative in his dress> — see CLOTHING
4 the outward form of someone or something especially as indicative of a quality <another version of the Cinderella story but in modern-romance dress> — see APPEARANCE 1

dress verb
1 to cover with a bandage <first wash and then dress the wound> — see BANDAGE
2 to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <let's dress up the room with some greenery for the holiday party> — see DECORATE
3 to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure <dress the granite block to be used as the headstone on all four sides> — see POLISH 1
4 to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <dressed the young girl in satin and lace> — see CLOTHE 1
5 to put on one's best or formal clothes <we don't usually dress for dinner> — see DRESS UP
6 to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care <dress the beans by applying fertilizer once a week> — see GROW 1

dress down verb
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <dressed down for boorish behavior at the dance> — see SCOLD

dressing noun
1 a medicated covering used to heal an injury <nurses put a dressing over his cuts so they wouldn't get infected>

Synonyms
cataplasm, plaster, poultice

Related Words
balm, cream, embrocation, liniment, lotion, ointment, salve, unguent

2 a savory fluid food used as a topping or accompaniment to a main dish <tangy salad dressing that wasn't overloaded with corn syrup> — see SAUCE 1

dress up verb
1 to put on one's best or formal clothes <we always like to dress up when going to parties>

Synonyms
doll up, dress

Related Words
preen, primp, prink, smarten (up); accessorize; apparel, array, attire, bedeck, bedizen, caparison, clothe, costume, deck, dude (up), garb, garment, invest, rig (out), robe, suit, tog (out or up)

2 to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity <the war was a fiasco that the administration tried to dress up as a triumph> — see DISGUISE 1
3 to make more desirable <dressed up the house with new windows and a paint job before putting it on the market> — see SWEETEN
4 to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <the girls were dressed up in skirts or dresses, but the boys were wearing jeans> — see CLOTHE 1

dressy adjective
relating to or suitable for wearing to an event requiring elegant dress and manners <shopping for a dressy handbag for a New Year's Eve party> — see DRESS

dribble noun
a very small piece <news about the remote earthquake was coming in dribbles> — see BIT 1

dribble verb
1 to fall or let fall in or as if in drops <water dribbling over the lip of the fountain> — see DRIP
2 to flow in a broken irregular stream <rainwater dribbling along the partially clogged gutter> — see GURGLE
3 to let saliva or some other substance flow from the mouth <picnickers dribbling in eager anticipation of the hamburgers on the grill> — see DROOL 1

driblet noun
1 a very small amount <money doled out in driblets to the workers> — see PARTICLE 1
2 the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass <rain leaked through the roof in solitary driblets here and there> — see DROP 1

drift noun
1 a pile or ridge of granular matter (as sand or snow) <deep drifts of snow blocked our driveway> — see 2BANK
2 a prevailing or general movement or inclination <the steady drift of the population away from large cities> — see TREND 1
3 the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action <you should expect a visit from the stork, if you get my drift> — see MEANING 1

drift verb
1 to move or proceed smoothly and readily <casual conversation drifting from one topic to another> — see FLOW 2
2 to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air <the boat drifted along on the current> — see FLOAT 1
3 to move about from place to place aimlessly <spent several years drifting from town to town, picking up odd jobs whenever he needed cash> — see WANDER 1

drifter noun
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination <the drifter just packed up and moved on to the next dead-end job> — see NOMAD

drill noun
1 an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity <shuttling the kids between extracurricular activities is all part of the suburban drill> — see ROUTINE 1
2 something done over and over in order to develop skill <doing vocabulary drills all afternoon in preparation for the test> — see EXERCISE 2

1drill verb
1 to make a hole or series of holes in <the nerve-jangling sound when a dentist drills a tooth> — see PERFORATE
2 to strike with a missile from a gun <drilled the target from 100 yards away> — see SHOOT 3

2drill verb
to put or set into the ground to grow <he drills soybeans in the same rows with corn> — see PLANT 1

drink noun
1 a liquid suitable for drinking <we went inside to have a drink after mowing the lawn>

Synonyms
beverage, drinkable, libation, potable, quencher

Related Words
potion; pop, soda, soda pop, soft drink; nectar; alcohol, brew, intoxicant, liquor, spirits; mix, mixer

2 the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time <the thirsty soldier took a long drink from his canteen>

Synonyms
belt, draft, drag, gulp, nip, quaff, shot, sip, slug, snort, sup, swallow, swig, swill

Related Words
dram, drop

3 a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <you can get drinks at the bar only if you show them a valid ID> — see ALCOHOL

drink verb
1 to swallow in liquid form <the doctor wants her to drink lots of water before the examination>

Synonyms
belt (down), gulp, guzzle, hoist, imbibe, knock back, pound (down), quaff, sip, slug (down), slurp, sup, swig, swill, toss (down or off)

Related Words
lap, lick, suck; consume, down, ingurgitate, kill, mouth (down), put away; nip, tipple; pledge, toast, wine

2 to partake excessively of alcoholic beverages <we're worried that she's started drinking again>

Synonyms
bib, booze, guzzle, liquor (up), lush (up) [slang], soak, tipple

Related Words
carouse, revel; imbibe, nip

Phrases
booze it up, hit the bottle

Near Antonyms
abstain

3 to take in (something liquid) through small openings <the hot surface of the porous rock drank water like a sponge> — see ABSORB 1

drink (in) verb
to receive or accept gladly or readily <the studio audience for the infomercial seemed to drink in—a little too readily—every word of the host's spiel> — see WELCOME

drinkable adjective
suitable for drinking <technically, that cheap stuff may be wine, but it's hardly drinkable> — see POTABLE

drinkable noun
a liquid suitable for drinking <the thoughtful hostess offered her guests an assortment of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinkables> — see DRINK 1

drinker noun
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <although he can still hold a job, he's definitely become a problem drinker> — see DRUNK 1

drip noun
1 someone or something boring <he's well-meaning, but kind of a drip> — see DRAG 1
2 the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass <the faucet leaked one drip after another no matter what I did to try to fix it> — see DROP 1

drip verb
to fall or let fall in or as if in drops <water from the leaky roof was dripping all over the floor> <the cracked bottle dripped wine>

Synonyms
distill (also distil), dribble, drop, trickle

Related Words
drizzle, sprinkle; flow, pour, roll, run, stream; cascade, gutter, riffle, ripple; bleed, exude, ooze, seep, weep; discharge

Near Antonyms
gush, spout, spurt

dripping adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <dripping shoes left on the porch to dry> — see WET 1

drippy adjective
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <drippy romance novels that are apparently intended for the terminally lovesick> — see CORNY 1

drive noun
1 a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <raced our motorcycles along the drive> — see WAY 1
2 a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal <a fund-raising drive for the school's marching band> — see CAMPAIGN
3 a strong wish for something <a drive to succeed in the television news business> — see DESIRE 1
4 active strength of body or mind <senior citizens who exercise regularly are more likely to have the drive to keep up with their grandchildren> — see VIGOR 1
5 readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity <a great opportunity for a sales representative who is full of drive> — see ENTERPRISE 2

drive verb
1 to urge, push, or force onward <cowboys drove the herd of cattle from San Antonio to San Francisco>

Synonyms
herd, punch, run

Related Words
shepherd; wrangle; egg, exhort, flog, goad, hound, press, prick, prod, prompt, scourge, spur, whip

2 to travel by a motorized vehicle <I'm going to drive across the country—want to come?>

Synonyms
automobile, motor, tool

Related Words
roll, wheel; joyride; chauffeur, hack, taxi; ride; drag, race

3 to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one <drove the plunger into the opening> — see PUSH 1
4 to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <the corrupt governor was driven out of office> — see FORCE 1
5 to cause to function <machinery driven by waterpower> — see ACTIVATE
6 to set or keep in motion <this motor drives the gears, which then turn the shaft> — see MOVE 2
7 to proceed or move quickly <the runner drove past the finish line and then came to a dead stop> — see HURRY 2

drive–by adjective
acting or done with excessive or careless speed <the administrator's schedule left her with no time to make more than a drive-by assessment of the situation> — see HASTY 1

drivel noun
1 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <that critic's reviews are nothing but self-important drivel> — see NONSENSE 1
2 unintelligible or meaningless talk <my roommate talks in her sleep, but it's just drivel> — see GIBBERISH 1

drivel verb
1 to let saliva or some other substance flow from the mouth <the panting dog driveled on my hand> — see DROOL 1
2 to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly <he driveled on about his “distinguished” family for what seemed like hours> — see BABBLE 1

driven adjective
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge <a man with a driven need to be loved or liked by everyone> — see COMPULSIVE

driver noun
a person who travels by automobile <fans arriving by public transportation will find the south entrance most convenient, but drivers will have a choice of entrances> — see MOTORIST

driver's seat noun
the place of leadership or command <with her boss's early retirement, she unexpectedly found herself in the driver's seat> — see HEAD 2

drizzle noun
a light or fine rain <the intermittent drizzle was just heavy enough to spoil all of our outdoor activities>

Synonyms
mist, mizzle, sprinkle

Related Words
precipitation, rainfall, shower

Near Antonyms
cloudburst, deluge, downpour, storm; rainstorm, thunderstorm; monsoon

droll adjective
causing or intended to cause laughter <made a droll comment about the commencement speaker's penchant for clichés> — see FUNNY 1

droll noun
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor <the drolls of late-night TV had a field day with that senator's sexual shenanigans> — see HUMORIST

drollery noun
1 something said or done to cause laughter <the film's sophisticated drolleries will elicit smiles and chuckles even upon repeated viewings> — see JOKE 1
2 the amusing quality or element in something <though generally serious, the novel about a seriously dysfunctional family is not without drollery> — see HUMOR 1

drollness noun
the amusing quality or element in something <fans of Edward Gorey appreciate the delicious drollness of his illustrations of poker-faced individuals caught in macabre situations> — see HUMOR 1

1drone noun
1 a lazy person <those drones just lie around while we do all the work> — see LAZYBONES
2 a person who does very hard or dull work <after lunch my fellow drones and I shuffle back to our cubicles> — see SLAVE 2

2drone noun
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion <heard the drone of an airplane overhead> — see HUM

drone verb
1 to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound <the sound of droning bees all around us> — see WHIRR
2 to spend time doing nothing <instead of getting a job, he preferred to drone and live off his parents> — see IDLE

droner noun
someone or something boring <the movie turned out to be a droner> — see DRAG 1

drool noun
1 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <the only thing more pathetic than the pop psychologist who gushed such drool was the public that lapped it up> — see NONSENSE 1
2 the fluid that is secreted into the mouth by certain glands <the baby left a puddle of drool on my shirt> — see SALIVA

drool verb
1 to let saliva or some other substance flow from the mouth <the dog drooled when we put the steak down on the floor>

Synonyms
dribble, drivel, salivate, slaver, slobber

Related Words
water; expectorate, spit; foam, froth, splutter; sputter

2 to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm <middle-aged men drooling over a starlet half their age> — see GUSH 2
3 to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly <stop drooling, slow down, and take a deep breath, because I can't understand you> — see BABBLE 1

droop noun
the extent to which something hangs or dips below a straight line <tighten the line at the top of the banner so there won't be so much droop> — see SAG

droop verb
1 to be limp from lack of water or vigor <the flowers drooped on their stalks in the blazing sun>

Synonyms
flag, hang, loll, sag, swag, wilt

Related Words
slouch, slump; cave (in), collapse, crumple, drop, fall, sink, subside, yield

Near Antonyms
distend, stiffen; rise, straighten, unbend, uncurl

2 to lose bodily strength or vigor <as the afternoon wore on, we started to droop> — see WEAKEN 2

drooping adjective
bending downward or forward <faded, drooping banners lining the walls of the old gym> — see NODDING

droopy adjective
1 bending downward or forward <the droopy heads of tired fans riding home on the bus> — see NODDING
2 not stiff in structure <a droopy stalk of celery> — see LIMP 1
3 feeling unhappiness <looking droopy and miserable while standing in the pouring rain> — see SAD 1

drop noun
1 the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass <a drop of water fell from the leaky faucet every few seconds>

Synonyms
bead, blob, driblet, drip, droplet, glob, globule

Related Words
gobbet; dewdrop, raindrop, tear, teardrop; spatter; dribble, trickle

2 distance measured from the top to the bottom of something <a drop of 10 feet from the roof to the ground> — see DEPTH 1
3 the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude <the sudden drop of the plane really shook up the passengers> — see DESCENT 1
4 the amount by which something is lessened <a huge drop in pressure> — see DECREASE
5 the more favorable condition or position in a competition <got the drop on his opponent very early in the wrestling match> — see ADVANTAGE 1

drop verb
1 to cause to fall intentionally or unintentionally <I dropped the fly ball> <drop the anchor>

Synonyms
depress, lower, throw, throw down

Related Words
flatten, floor, level; knock down, knock over, strike down, topple; plop, plunk down; bobble, bungle, foozle, fumble; immerse, sink, submerge

Antonyms
lift, pick up, raise

2 to go to a lower level especially abruptly <although they start out high, prices for home electronics eventually drop>

Synonyms
crash, crater, decline, descend, dip, dive, fall, lower, nose-dive, plummet, plunge, sink, skid, tumble

Related Words
abate, decrease, de-escalate, die (down), diminish, droop, dwindle, ebb, lessen, let up, moderate, subside, taper off, wane; recede, retreat

Near Antonyms
accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mushroom, pick up, snowball, swell, wax

Antonyms
arise, ascend, lift, mount, rise, soar, spike, up

3 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <drop what you're doing and come here> — see STOP 1
4 to stop doing (something) permanently <isn't it time you dropped that smoking habit and spent your money on better things?> — see QUIT 2
5 to lead or extend downward <the cable car tracks can drop suddenly, so be sure to hang onto something> — see DESCEND 1
6 to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) <drop that plan in favor of another> — see CANCEL 1
7 to bring forth from the womb <the cow dropped her calf early this morning> — see BEAR 1
8 to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall <dropped the would-be mugger in his tracks with a single well-aimed blow> — see FELL 1
9 to fail to win, gain, or obtain <the local hockey team has dropped two out of the last three contests> — see LOSE 2
10 to fall or let fall in or as if in drops <the cold glass dropped condensation> — see DRIP
11 to hand over or use up in payment <I dropped $50 on these shoes> — see SPEND 1
12 to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically <he would ever so “casually” drop the names of celebrities he knew personally> — see MENTION 1
13 to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent <with these icy road conditions, drivers should be dropping their speed> — see DECREASE 1
14 to stop living <during the Black Death people all over Asia and Europe were dropping like flies> — see DIE 1

drop (off) verb
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <my interest in photography has dropped off over the years> — see DECREASE 2

drop back verb
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) <a change in the wind direction forced the firefighters to drop back> — see RETREAT 1

drop by verb
to make a brief visit <I'll either drop by on the way there or on the way back> — see CALL 3

drop–dead adjective
very pleasing to look at <a drop-dead wedding dress that must have cost a fortune> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

drop–in noun
a person who visits another <we're having open house for New Year's, and drop-ins are welcome to come and go as they please> — see GUEST 1

drop in verb
to make a brief visit <drop in any time—we're always home> — see CALL 3

drop in (on) verb
to make a social call upon <as long as we're in town, we should drop in on my aunt> — see VISIT 1

droplet noun
the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass <there were only a few droplets left in the canteen> — see DROP 1

drop–off noun
the amount by which something is lessened <the drop-off in movie attendance was the greatest in more than a decade> — see DECREASE

dropping noun
1 droppings plural solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal <the only bad part about owning a rabbit was cleaning the droppings out of the litter box every night>

Synonyms
dirt, doo-doo, dung, excrement, excreta, feces, ordure, poop, scat, slops, soil, waste

Related Words
night soil, stool; dunghill, guano, manure, midden, muck; spoor; sewage, sewerage; coprolite

2 the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to <the dropping of an act from the talent show should bring it in on time> — see CANCELLATION 1

dross noun
discarded or useless material <get rid of the dross before closing up the shop> — see GARBAGE 1

drought also drouth noun
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <there's been a drought of good movies this year> — see DEFICIENCY

droughty adjective
marked by little or no precipitation or humidity <a droughty region that could never support settlements> — see DRY 1

drove noun
1 a great number of persons or creatures massed together <people flocked to the annual festival in droves> — see CROWD 1
2 a group of domestic animals assembled or herded together <a drove of cattle> — see HERD 1

drown verb
1 to cover with a flood <whole villages drowned by the rampaging river> — see FLOOD
2 to wet thoroughly with liquid <drowned the carpet with shampoo, and so it took forever to dry> — see SOAK 1
3 to make wet <cooked pasta drowned in marinara sauce> — see WET

drowse noun
a short sleep <was just falling into a drowse when you called> — see 1NAP

drowse verb
to sleep lightly or briefly <picnickers drowsing in the shade of an oak tree> — see NAP 1

drowsiness noun
the quality or state of desiring or needing sleep <we tried to fight our drowsiness but fell asleep anyway> — see SLEEPINESS

drowsy adjective
1 desiring or needing sleep <the drowsy students shuffled into the first-period class> — see SLEEPY 1
2 tending to cause sleep <listened to drowsy music while waiting in the dentist's office> — see HYPNOTIC

drub verb
1 to strike repeatedly <a crowd was drubbing the purse snatcher when the police arrived on the scene> — see BEAT 1
2 to defeat by a large margin <we drubbed our traditional football rivals so badly that it was basically no contest> — see WHIP 2

drubbing noun
failure to win a contest <took a terrible drubbing in last night's basketball game> — see DEFEAT 1

drudge noun
1 a person who does very hard or dull work <worked like a drudge at a low-paying job that had few benefits> — see SLAVE 2
2 very hard or unpleasant work <it took hours of pure drudge to sort through the junk in the basement> — see 1TOIL

drudge verb
to devote serious and sustained effort <factory workers who must drudge all day at repetitive tasks> — see LABOR

drudger noun
a person who does very hard or dull work <a youth striving to become something more than just a drudger working at some dead-end job> — see SLAVE 2

drudgery noun
very hard or unpleasant work <in the “good old days” household servants led lives filled with much drudgery and little pleasure> — see 1TOIL

drudging adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <the hours of drudging effort that went into straightening out the company's books> — see BORING

drug noun
a substance or preparation used to treat disease <prescribed a drug to treat the bacterial infection> — see MEDICINE

druggie also druggy noun
a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally <an old college classmate who became a druggie and ended up on skid row> — see DOPER

druggist noun
a person who prepares drugs according to a doctor's prescription <she got her prescription for antibiotics filled by the druggist>

Synonyms
apothecary, chemist [British], pharmacist

Related Words
pharmacologist

drugstore noun
a retail store where medicines and miscellaneous articles are sold <we picked up her medicine and some toothpaste at the drugstore>

Synonyms
apothecary, pharmacy

Related Words
dispensary; sick bay

drum noun
a metal container in the shape of a cylinder <an oil drum> — see CAN 1

drum verb
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically <absentmindedly drumming his fingers on the table> — see 1TAP

drum (out) verb
to drive or force out <drummed out of the service for conduct unbecoming an officer> — see EJECT 1

drumbeat noun
a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <a dizzying drumbeat of interviews in the hours following her winning of the Academy Award> — see BARRAGE

drumfire noun
a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <a rising drumfire of criticism for the president's latest nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court> — see BARRAGE

drum up verb
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination <anyone who drums up a better way of doing this tedious task will make a fortune> — see INVENT

drunk adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <several wedding guests who got a little drunk>

Synonyms
besotted, blasted [slang], blind, blitzed [slang], blotto [slang], bombed, boozy, canned [slang], cockeyed, crocked, drunken, fried, gassed, hammered [slang], high, impaired, inebriate, inebriated, intoxicated, juiced [slang], lit, lit up, loaded [slang], looped, oiled [slang], pickled, pie-eyed, plastered, potted [slang], ripped [slang], sloshed [slang], smashed [slang], sottish, soused, sozzled, squiffed (or squiffy), stewed, stiff, stinking [slang], stoned, tanked [slang], tiddly [chiefly British], tight, tipsy, wasted [slang], wet, wiped out [slang]

Related Words
maudlin; beery; befuddled, bleary-eyed, crapulous, dopey (also dopy), rocky, strung out, stupefied; debauched, dissipated, dissolute; alcoholic, bibulous, dipsomaniacal

Phrases
in one's cups, in the bag [slang], three sheets in the wind (or three sheets to the wind), under the influence, under the weather

Near Antonyms
abstemious, abstinent, dry, temperate, teetotal; clearheaded, cool, level, steady

Antonyms
sober, straight

drunk noun
1 a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <you can't trust anything that old drunk says>

Synonyms
alcoholic, alkie (or alky) [slang], boozehound, boozer, dipsomaniac, drinker, drunkard, inebriate, juicehead [slang], juicer [slang], lush, rummy, soak, soaker, sot, souse, tippler, toper, tosspot

Related Words
swigger, swiller; wino

Near Antonyms
abstainer, nondrinker, teetotaler (or teetotaller), teetotalist

2 a bout of prolonged or excessive drinking <after a weeklong drunk he was unable to remember anything> — see CAROUSE

drunkard noun
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <accused him of being a no-good drunkard who needed professional help for his problem> — see DRUNK 1

drunken adjective
1 being under the influence of alcohol <the drunken revelers made sure to take taxis home instead of trying to drive> — see DRUNK
2 given to excessive use of alcoholic beverages <drunken ne'er-do-wells who had been pressed into service in the British navy> — see CRAPULOUS

drunkenness noun
1 habitual or excessive drinking of intoxicants <unfortunately most of his time in college had been devoted to drunkenness and debauchery> — see INTEMPERANCE 1
2 the condition of being drunk <officials warning that public drunkenness would not be tolerated, even during Mardi Gras> — see INTOXICATION 1

druthers plural noun, dialect
the power, right, or opportunity to choose <If I had my druthers, I'd stay home tonight> — see CHOICE 1

dry adjective
1 marked by little or no precipitation or humidity <the dry climate of the American Southwest>

Synonyms
arid, droughty, sere (also sear), thirsty, waterless

Related Words
air-dry; bone-dry, hyperarid, ultradry; baked, dehydrated, parched, sunbaked; rainless; desert, desertic, desertlike, xerothermic

Near Antonyms
awash, bathed, doused (also dowsed), drenched, dripping, saturated, soaked, soaking, sodden, soggy, sopping, soppy, soused, washed, watered, waterlogged, watery; deluged, drowned, flooded, inundated, overflowed; submerged, swamped; hydrated

Antonyms
damp, dank, humid, moist, wet

2 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <a very dry topic for a lecture at a museum of natural history> — see BORING
3 having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <a dry temperament that suited him well in a desk job that required no interaction with the customers> — see COOL 1

dry verb
1 to make dry <the wind quickly dried their clothes>

Synonyms
dehydrate, desiccate, parch, scorch, sear

Related Words
dehumidify; drain; evaporate; mummify, shrivel, wither, wizen; air-dry, bake

Near Antonyms
bathe, deluge, douse (also dowse), drench, drown, flood, inundate, overflow, saturate, soak, sop, souse, waterlog; damp, dampen, humidify, moisten; rehydrate; dip, dunk, submerge, swamp

Antonyms
hydrate, wash, water, wet

2 to lose liveliness, force, or freshness <his creative talents were just drying on the vine in that small, provincial town> — see WITHER 1

dryad noun
a mythical goddess represented as a young girl and said to live outdoors <dryads were said to live within trees, their lives ending when the life of the tree ended> — see NYMPH 1

dry nurse noun
a girl or woman employed to care for a young child or children <after years of being a dry nurse to other women's children, she longed to have a child of her own> — see NURSE

dry run noun
a private performance or session in preparation for a public appearance <we had time for just one dry run of the play before opening night> — see REHEARSAL

dry up verb
to stop talking <sick of her constant complaining, he angrily told her to dry up> — see SHUT UP 1

dual adjective
consisting of two members or parts that are usually joined <dual axles> — see DOUBLE 1

dub noun
a clumsy, awkward person <even though I wasn't the most graceful skater on the ice, I thought I did well for a dub> — see KLUTZ

dub verb
1 to give a name to <I've dubbed my car the “Lone Ranger,” although “Loan Raider” probably would have been more apt> — see NAME 1
2 to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <he dubbed his first attempt at homemade wine, but he got it reasonably right on the second> — see BOTCH

dubiety noun
a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something <the comfort of having a faith free from all dubiety is what attracts people to the religious sect> — see DOUBT

dubious adjective
1 giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <any letter bearing the signature of Geronimo would be of dubious authenticity, to say the least> — see DOUBTFUL 2
2 slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty <I'm dubious about our plan to go hang gliding without having had any training> — see HESITANT
3 not likely to be true or to occur <made the dubious claim of being of royal blood> — see IMPROBABLE
4 not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something <dubious about a diet that claims I can eat all I want and still lose weight> — see DOUBTFUL 1

dubiously adverb
with distrust <the young girl approached the camel dubiously> — see ASKANCE

dubitable adjective
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <some highly dubitable “evidence” that the stone tower was built by the Vikings> — see DOUBTFUL 2

dubitation noun, archaic
a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something <with considerable dubitation we listened to his tall tales of adventure> — see DOUBT

duck noun
a member of the human race <her coworkers regard her as something of an odd duck> — see HUMAN

duck verb
1 to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery <don't try to duck your commitment to spending Thanksgiving with your family by claiming you have to work> — see ESCAPE 2
2 to move suddenly aside or to and fro <duck behind a pillar before they see us> — see DODGE 1
3 to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid <ducked the new camper in the lake as a joke> — see DIP 1

ducking noun
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable <the disgraceful ducking of your duties to your family> — see ESCAPE 2

duck soup noun
something that is easy to do <hooking up this home theater should be duck soup—right?> — see CINCH 1

ducky adjective
being to one's liking <if you don't want to come, that's just ducky with me> — see SATISFACTORY 1

duct noun
a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) <air ducts to provide ventilation> — see PIPE 1

dud noun
1 something that has failed <our first attempt was a complete dud, so we had to start over> — see FAILURE 3
2 duds plural covering for the human body <those are some pretty fancy duds you're wearing> — see CLOTHING
3 duds plural transportable items that one owns <you have one hour to pack up your duds and clear out of here> — see POSSESSION 2

dude noun
1 a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance <a dude given to sporting expensive suits and flashy jewelry> — see DANDY 1
2 an adult male human being <OK, dude, whatever you say> — see MAN 1

dudgeon noun
the feeling of being offended or resentful after a slight or indignity <stomped off in high dudgeon after having his honor questioned> — see PIQUE

due adjective
1 having reached the date at which payment is required <the loan is due next April>

Synonyms
mature

Related Words
delinquent, outstanding, overdue, owed, owing, receivable, unpaid, unsettled; payable

Near Antonyms
cleared, liquidated, paid (off or up), repaid, settled; prepaid

Antonyms
undue

2 being in accordance with the prescribed, normal, or logical course of events <their train is due to arrive in half an hour>

Synonyms
anticipated, awaited, expected, scheduled, slated

Near Antonyms
behind, behindhand, belated, delinquent, dilatory, late, latish, overdue, tardy; early, premature, untimely; unanticipated, unforeseen, unlooked-for

3 being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong <all the participants in the trial are required to treat the judge with due respect> — see JUST 1

due adverb
1 as stated or indicated without the slightest difference <the island lies due south of the headland> — see EXACTLY 1
2 in a direct line or course <a plane flying due east> — see DIRECTLY 1

due (to) adjective
coming as a result <success that is due to hard work> — see RESULTANT

duel noun
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <a duel for the title of captain of the team> — see CONTEST 1

duende noun
the power of irresistible attraction <even as a child, she had an unmistakable duende that attracted the attention of passersby> — see CHARM 2

due to preposition
as the result of <evening classes were cancelled due to heavy snow> — see BECAUSE OF

duff noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <I've been sitting on my duff all day> — see BUTTOCKS

du jour adjective
enjoying widespread favor or approval <that year the yellow tie was the fashion accessory du jour for ambitious male executives> — see POPULAR 1

dulcet adjective
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <although she flashed a dulcet smile, she was secretly seething with resentment> — see PLEASANT 1

dull adjective
1 lacking sharpness of edge or point <the dull knife just bounced off the skin of the tomato without cutting it>

Synonyms
blunt, blunted, dulled, obtuse

Related Words
dullish; rounded, smooth; even, flat, flattened, level

Near Antonyms
jagged, needlelike, prickly, spiked, spikelike, spiky (also spikey), spiny; jabbing, lacerating, piercing, scratching, stabbing; ultrasharp

Antonyms
cutting, edged, edgy, ground, honed, keen, pointed, sharp, sharpened, whetted

2 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <a dull dance recital that made us wish that we were someplace else> — see BORING
3 covered over by clouds <dull skies plagued most of our vacation days at the beach> — see OVERCAST
4 lacking a surface luster or gloss <a good polish should restore that car's dull finish> — see MATTE
5 lacking intensity of color <that canvas shirt should fade to an attractive, dull red over time> — see PALE 1
6 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <the importance of the discovery was lost on the dull minds of his colleagues> — see STUPID 1
7 not loud in pitch or volume <a dull roar from the distance> — see SOFT 1
8 slow to move or act <a dull market for luxury goods this holiday season> — see INACTIVE 1

dull verb
1 to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling <the aspirin dulled his headache and he was soon feeling better>

Synonyms
benumb, blunt, cauterize, damp, dampen, deaden, numb

Related Words
muffle, mute, tone (down); decrease, diminish, lessen, let up (on), lower, reduce, subdue; debilitate, enfeeble, weaken; dwindle, recede, subside, taper (off), wane; alleviate, ease, lighten; abate, moderate

Near Antonyms
amplify, augment, beef (up), boost, consolidate, deepen, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, redouble, step up, strengthen; animate, arouse, stimulate

Antonyms
sharpen, whet

2 to make white or lighter by removing color <the painting's once-vivid colors have been dulled by time> — see WHITEN

dullard noun
a stupid person <often mistaken for a dullard because he never said much in discussions> — see IDIOT

dulled adjective
1 lacking a surface luster or gloss <it might be best to paint the exposed pipes with a dulled enamel> — see MATTE
2 lacking intensity of color <the dulled colors and brownish tones are characteristic of this painter's works> — see PALE 1
3 lacking sharpness of edge or point <the dulled blade of a knife that had been stored in a drawer full of miscellaneous utensils> — see DULL 1

dullness also dulness noun
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <the dullness of the characters in horror movies cannot be overstated> — see STUPIDITY 1

dullsville noun
someone or something boring <that book is totally dullsville—you'll be asleep by page three> — see DRAG 1

duly adverb
in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose <the perpetrators of this outrageous crime will be duly punished> — see PROPERLY

dumb adjective
1 deliberately refraining from speech <the mayor has chosen to remain dumb about her activities that night> — see SILENT 1
2 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <don't call him dumb just because he makes the occasional mistake like the rest of us> — see STUPID 1
3 tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination) <he prefers to remain dumb, and replies in monosyllables if really pressed> — see SILENT 2

dumb verb
to stop the noise or speech of <the terrible news dumbed her for a long moment, and then she burst into tears> — see SILENCE 1

dumbbell noun
a stupid person <if we don't give him a shove, the poor dumbbell never will propose to her> — see IDIOT

dumbfound also dumfound verb
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected <the surprise ending will dumbfound even the most seasoned mystery reader> — see SURPRISE 1

dumbfounded also dumfounded adjective
1 affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise <dumbfounded by the realization that he had just won the grand prize in the multistate lottery> — see THUNDERSTRUCK
2 filled with amazement or wonder <dumbfounded visitors to the Grand Canyon> — see OPENMOUTHED

dumbfounding also dumfounding adjective
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness <the dumbfounding sight of the race car driver walking away from that horrific crash> — see SURPRISING 1

dumbhead noun
a stupid person <the dumbhead who designed this contraption should be shot> — see IDIOT

dumbness noun
1 incapacity for or restraint from speaking <the determined dumbness of the accountants who tally the votes for the Academy Awards> — see SILENCE 1
2 the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <couldn't believe the dumbness of the people who fell for that scam> — see STUPIDITY 1

dumbstruck adjective
affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise <the dumbstruck ecotourists gaped in silence as the enormous whale breached near their vessel> — see THUNDERSTRUCK

dum–dum noun
a stupid person <I'd rather be alone than spend an evening with those dum-dums> — see IDIOT

dummkopf noun
a stupid person <a good-looking guy, but a dummkopf with the brains of a potato> — see IDIOT

dummy adjective
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <the dummy shutters on the house are actually made of vinyl and are for decoration only> — see IMITATION

dummy noun
1 a stupid person <only a dummy would think that the mechanical monster was real> — see IDIOT
2 a three-dimensional representation of the human body used especially for displaying clothes <the dummies were arranged in the store window as if they were acting out scenes> — see MANNEQUIN 1
3 something that is made to look exactly like something else <for the movie, the props department made a dummy of the pistol actually used in the assassination> — see COPY

dummy up verb
to stop talking <all of a sudden the suspect just dummied up and demanded the presence of an attorney> — see SHUT UP 1

dump noun
1 a place where discarded materials (as trash) are dumped <all of the used packaging eventually ends up in the dump>

Synonyms
landfill, sanitary landfill, tip [chiefly British]

Related Words
dustbin, dustheap, junkyard, kitchen midden, midden; transfer station; mess, pigpen, pigsty, sty

2 a place where military arms are stored <a daring raid on the ammunition dump> — see ARMORY
3 a dirty or messy place <his place is always a dump, so he almost never has people over> — see PIGPEN

dump verb
1 to end a usually intimate relationship with <all of her friends were telling her to dump the jerk already> — see DITCH 1
2 to get rid of as useless or unwanted <dump the trash on the curb and go back inside> — see DISCARD

dumping noun
the getting rid of whatever is unwanted or useless <the dumping of last year's fashions by the garment manufacturers> — see DISPOSAL 1

dumps plural noun
a state or spell of low spirits <I've been down in the dumps all week> — see SADNESS

dumpy adjective
1 being compact and broad in build and often short in stature <dumpy little men trying to look like tough guys> — see STOCKY
2 showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <we could only find rooms at a dumpy motel on the outskirts of the city> — see SHABBY 1

dun noun
something that someone insists upon having <it's probably not a good idea to ignore a loan shark's dun for repayment> — see DEMAND 1

dunce noun
a stupid person <people with the learning disability dyslexia were once simply dismissed as dunces> — see IDIOT

dunderhead noun
a stupid person <wondered how long it would take the dunderheads at the head office to screw things up> — see IDIOT

dunderheaded adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <a novel featuring clever criminals who make fools of the dunderheaded cops> — see STUPID 1

dung noun
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal <researchers tracked the wild gorillas by following the piles of dung> — see DROPPING 1

dunk verb
to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid <dunking a doughnut in one's morning coffee> — see DIP 1

Dunkirk noun
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <with the company facing a financial Dunkirk, it was hoped that the new CEO could turn things around—and fast> — see EMERGENCY

duo noun
two things of the same or similar kind that match or are considered together <the shy boy and his outgoing friend make an unlikely duo> — see PAIR

1dupe noun
one who is easily deceived or cheated <the swindler was able to escape with all of the dupe's money>

Synonyms
chump, gull, mug [chiefly British], patsy, pigeon, pushover, sap, soft touch, sucker, tool

Related Words
cat's-paw, mark, target, victim; schlemiel (also shlemiel); butt, derision, laughingstock, mock, mockery; booby, dodo, fool, goose, half-wit, jackass, lunatic, monkey, nincompoop, ninny, nitwit, simp, simpleton, turkey, yo-yo; loser; blockhead, cretin, dolt, dope, dumbbell, dummy, dunce, idiot, imbecile, moron, schlub (also shlub) [slang], schlump [slang], schnook [slang]

Near Antonyms
cheat, cheater, confidence man, cozener, defrauder, dodger, hoaxer, shark, sharper, slicker, swindler, trickster

2dupe noun
something that is made to look exactly like something else <he built a dupe of the original model, which is locked in a vault> — see COPY

dupe verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <we were duped into thinking the dummy was a real alien> — see DECEIVE

dupery noun
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <accusations of widespread dupery in the mortgage business> — see DECEIT 1

duplex adjective
consisting of two members or parts that are usually joined <a duplex apartment with all of the bedrooms on the second floor> — see DOUBLE 1

duplicate adjective
resembling another in every respect <duplicate copies of the portrait that were painted by the artist himself> — see SAME 1

duplicate noun
1 something or someone that strongly resembles another <doll carriages that are duplicates of baby carriages> — see IMAGE 1
2 something that is made to look exactly like something else <a duplicate of a house key> — see COPY 1

duplicate verb
1 to make an exact likeness of <art students trying to duplicate paintings in the museum's collection as part of their training> — see COPY 1
2 to make or do again <we were unable to duplicate the experiment in our own lab, so we're suspicious> — see REPEAT 4
3 to make twice as great or as many <the recipe can be easily duplicated in order to feed a large family> — see DOUBLE 1

duplication noun
1 something or someone that strongly resembles another <in adulthood he became sort of a living duplication of his late father> — see IMAGE 1
2 something that is made to look exactly like something else <a duplication of an ancient Chinese vase for the mass market> — see COPY
3 the act of saying or doing over again <let's avoid duplication of effort on this group project if we can> — see REPEAT

duplicative adjective
marked by repetition <duplicative efforts in this area that are just a waste of time> — see REPETITIVE

duplicitous adjective
given to or marked by cheating and deception <warned her not to trust the duplicitous art dealer> — see DISHONEST 2

duplicity noun
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <we were lucky not to be taken in by his duplicity> — see DECEIT 1

durability noun
uninterrupted or lasting existence <the durability of the novel's popularity since it was first published in the 1930s> — see CONTINUATION

duration noun
1 the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress <for the whole duration of the speech the bored audience fidgeted>

Synonyms
continuance, date, life, life span, lifetime, run, standing, time

Related Words
spell, stretch; span, tenure, term; hitch, tour, turn; half-life; age, longevity

2 uninterrupted or lasting existence <scientists warning that the very duration of our civilization depends upon finding a solution to this major environmental problem> — see CONTINUATION

duress noun
the use of power to impose one's will on another <complied with the order only under duress> — see FORCE 2

during preposition
in the course of <we wrote notes during the boring lecture>

Synonyms
amid (or amidst), by, over, pending, through, throughout

dusk adjective
being without light or without much light <under a dusk sky, the campers wearily bedded down for the night> — see DARK 1

dusk noun
1 the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness <we stopped playing at dusk, since it was getting too dark to see the ball>

Synonyms
crepuscule (or crepuscle), eve, evenfall, evening, eventide, gloaming, night, nightfall, sundown, sunset, twilight

Related Words
dark, darkness, nighttime

Near Antonyms
day, daytime, light; forenoon

Antonyms
aurora, cockcrow, dawn, dawning, daybreak, daylight, morn, morning, sunrise, sunup

2 a time or place of little or no light <legends of fearsome beasts living in the dusk of the great forest> — see DARK 1
3 partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays <the forbidding dusk of Germany's famed Black Forest> — see SHADE 1

dusk verb
to grow dark <the grief-stricken woman continued to sit in the dusking room until she was completely enveloped in darkness> — see DARKEN 2

dusky adjective
being without light or without much light <in the dusky depths of the dungeon> — see DARK 1

dust noun
1 discarded or useless material <the piles of dust that future archaeologists will sift through for insights into our civilization> — see GARBAGE 1
2 the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air <laid him out in the dust with one blow to the head> — see EARTH 2

dust verb
to defeat by a large margin <the inexperienced sprinter somehow dusted the field of veterans> — see WHIP 2

dustiness noun
the state or quality of being dirty <we were glad for a shower after the dustiness of the hike> — see DIRTINESS 1

dustup noun
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <he came home with a black eye from the dustup at the bar> — see FIGHT 1

dusty adjective
1 consisting of very small particles <dusty soil> — see FINE 1
2 not clean <old dusty clothes> — see DIRTY 1
3 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <I almost fell asleep reading that dusty book of memoirs> — see BORING

dutiful adjective
marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status <the family showed a dutiful deference to their minister when he came to dinner> — see RESPECTFUL

duty noun
1 a charge usually of money collected by the government from people or businesses for public use <the shop at the airport charges no duty on tourist memorabilia> — see TAX
2 a piece of work that needs to be done regularly <the regular duties of a lifeguard> — see CHORE 1
3 something one must do because of prior agreement <I must obey the call of duty and serve my country> — see OBLIGATION 1

dwarf noun
1 a living thing much smaller than others of its kind <Shetland ponies are the dwarfs of the horse world>

Synonyms
diminutive, midget, mite, peewee, pygmy (also pigmy), runt, scrub, shrimp, Tom Thumb

Related Words
nubbin; mini, miniature; bantam; homunculus, hop-o'-my-thumb, manikin (also mannikin); half-pint

Near Antonyms
whale, whopper

Antonyms
behemoth, colossus, giant, jumbo, leviathan, mammoth, monster, titan

2 an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <Snow White and the seven dwarfs> — see FAIRY
3 a person of no importance or influence <it would be ridiculous to compare the two sculptors—one's a giant of the art world and the other's a dwarf> — see NOBODY

dwarf verb
to hold back the normal growth of <shrubs dwarfed by the lack of water> — see STUNT

dwarfish adjective
of a size that is less than average <a dwarfish people living deep in the rain forest> — see SMALL 1

dwell verb
1 to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time <dwelling with a farm family as an exchange student in France> — see 1STAY 1
2 to have a home <the widow dwells in the valley by herself> — see LIVE 1

dwell (on or upon) verb
to speak or write about insistently and usually tiresomely <she was always dwelling on past insults and snubs, both real and imagined> — see BELABOR 1

dweller noun
one who lives permanently in a place <the kinds of nuisances that city dwellers are all too familiar with> — see INHABITANT

dwelling noun
the place where one lives <the simple dwellings in which the Pilgrims spent the first winter at Plymouth> — see HOME 1

dwindle verb
1 to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent <the long winter dwindled our supply of firewood to practically nothing> — see DECREASE 1
2 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <our hopes dwindled as the reports of more casualties came in> — see DECREASE 2

dyad noun
two things of the same or similar kind that match or are considered together <the book examines the doctor-patient dyad from several perspectives> — see PAIR

dye noun
a substance used to color other materials <soaked the fabric in blue dye> — see PIGMENT

dye verb
to give color or a different color to <dyed her hair a startling red> — see COLOR 1

dyed–in–the–wool adjective
being such by habit and not likely to change <as a dyed-in-the-wool skeptic, I give these “confirmed” UFO sightings as much credence as I do the tooth fairy> — see HABITUAL 1

dyestuff noun
a substance used to color other materials <indigo is a dyestuff originally from India> — see PIGMENT

dying adjective
nearly dead <we watered the dying plants just in time> — see MORIBUND 1

dynamic adjective
1 having active strength of body or mind <a dynamic new challenger for the title of heavyweight champion> — see VIGOROUS 1
2 marked by or uttered with forcefulness <a dynamic speech expressing her party's goals and values> — see EMPHATIC 1

dynamically adverb
in a vigorous and forceful manner <presented her ideas so dynamically that the other committee members were instantly won over by her proposal> — see HARD 3

dynamism noun
active strength of body or mind <voters were attracted to the young challenger's dynamism, charisma, and progressive ideas> — see VIGOR 1

dynamite adjective
of the very best kind <a summer blockbuster that features some really dynamite special effects> — see EXCELLENT

dynamo noun
a very energetic person <a dynamo who barely needs to sleep, or so it seems> — see PISTOL

dyspeptic adjective
having or showing a habitually bad temper <as might be expected, the newspaper's resident curmudgeon took a dyspeptic view of the whole affair> — see ILL-TEMPERED

E

each adjective
being one of a group <each park visitor receives a free souvenir>

Synonyms
any, every

Related Words
all; several, various; particular; respective, specific; either

Phrases
each and every

Near Antonyms
neither

each adverb
for each one <raffle tickets selling for a dollar each> — see APIECE

eager adjective
showing urgent desire or interest <Tom was eager to try out his new pair of skis>

Synonyms
agog, antsy, anxious, ardent, athirst, avid, crazy, desirous, enthused, enthusiastic, excited, geeked [slang], great, greedy, gung ho, hepped up, hopped-up, hot, hungry, impatient, juiced, keen, nuts, pumped, raring, solicitous, stoked [slang], thirsty, voracious, wild

Related Words
engaged, interested; happy, hung up, obsessed; ambitious, appetent, covetous, craving, hankering, longing, pining; breathless, restive, restless; amenable, disposed, game, glad, inclined, ready, unreluctant, willing

Phrases
champing at the bit, chomping at the bit

Near Antonyms
casual, incurious, insouciant, nonchalant, unconcerned, uninterested; aloof, detached, disinterested; impassive, stolid; halfhearted, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, lukewarm, spiritless; averse, disinclined, hesitant, loath (also loth or loathe), reluctant, unwilling

Antonyms
apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic

eagerness noun
urgent desire or interest <students with an eagerness to learn>

Synonyms
appetite, ardor, avidity, avidness, desirousness, enthusiasm, excitement, hunger, impatience, keenness, lust, thirst

Related Words
alacrity, quickness; ambition, gusto, zest; appetence, appetency, fervency, passion, warmth, zeal; amenability, readiness, willingness

Near Antonyms
casualness, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern; aloofness, detachment; impassivity, languidness, languor; halfheartedness, lukewarmness

Antonyms
apathy, indifference

eagle–eyed adjective
having unusually keen vision <my eagle-eyed aunt quickly spotted my contact lens on the floor> — see SHARP-EYED

ear noun
a state of being aware <I'm trying to get the boss's ear in order to ask for a raise in my pay> — see ATTENTION 2

earlier adverb
so as to precede something in order of time <he had arrived earlier to take care of some preliminary matters> — see AHEAD 1

earliest adjective
coming before all others in time or order <the earliest computers were massive machines that practically filled up a room> — see FIRST 1

early adjective
1 relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period <early birds of the Jurassic period>

Synonyms
ancient, primal, primeval, primitive, primordial

Related Words
budding, embryonic, germinal, infant; aged, age-old, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, dateless, hoary, old, prehistoric (also prehistorical); obsolete, outmoded, out-of-date, passé

Near Antonyms
advanced, complex, developed, evolved, high, higher; full-blown, full-fledged, full-scale

Antonyms
late

2 occurring before the usual or expected time <we had an early dinner so as not to miss the concert>

Synonyms
inopportune, precocious, premature, unseasonable, untimely

Related Words
unanticipated, unexpected, unforeseen, unlooked-for; abrupt, sudden

Near Antonyms
behindhand, belated, delinquent, latish, overdue, slow, tardy; anticipated, expected; delayed, detained, postponed

Antonyms
late

early adverb
before the usual or expected time <that year spring arrived early>

Synonyms
beforehand, inopportunely, precociously, prematurely, unseasonably

Related Words
immediately, instantly, presently, promptly, pronto, punctually; apropos, betimes, seasonably

Antonyms
belatedly, late, tardily

earmark verb
to keep or intend for a special purpose <the earnings from my second job have been earmarked for a down payment on a car> — see DEVOTE 1

earn verb
1 to receive as return for effort <during my teen years I earned pocket money by mowing lawns>

Synonyms
acquire, attain, bag, bring in, capture, carry, come by, draw, gain, garner, get, knock down, land, make, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure, win

Related Words
clear, gross, net; accomplish, achieve, notch (up), score; accumulate, amass, draw, rack up; catch, pick up; annex, occupy, take over; reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake

Near Antonyms
accord, give, grant, pay; give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield

Antonyms
forfeit, lose

2 to be or make worthy of (as a reward or punishment) <you've earned the afternoon off after all that hard work>

Synonyms
deserve, merit, rate

Related Words
entitle, qualify

earnest adjective
not joking or playful in mood or manner <I'll accept only an earnest apology from you> — see SERIOUS 1

earnest noun
a mental state free of jesting or trifling <I am in deadly earnest about this marriage proposal> — see EARNESTNESS

earnestness noun
a mental state free of jesting or trifling <practiced the art of acting with great earnestness>

Synonyms
earnest, graveness, gravity, intentness, serious-mindedness, seriousness, soberness, sobriety, solemnity, solemnness, staidness

Related Words
gravitas, humorlessness; decisiveness, deliberation, determination, firmness, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolve; absorption, attentiveness, concentration, engrossment, enthrallment, immersion, intensity

Near Antonyms
lightness, shallowness, superficiality; dalliance, dilettantism; cheerfulness, gaiety (also gayety), glee, high-spiritedness, merriment, mirth

Antonyms
facetiousness, flightiness, flippancy, frivolity, frivolousness, levity, lightheartedness, lightness, play, unseriousness

earnings plural noun
1 an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property <earnings from her babysitting jobs that are being put away for college> — see INCOME 1
2 the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received <after subtracting what we spent on music and refreshments, the earnings from our charity gala were still impressive> — see PROFIT 1

earshot noun
range of hearing <babysitters should remain within earshot of young children>

Synonyms
hail, hearing, sound

Related Words
volume; distance, sight

earsplitting adjective
marked by a high volume of sound <the earsplitting noise coming from the jackhammers at the construction site> — see LOUD 1

earth noun
1 the celestial body on which we live <environmentalists who are committed to preserving the earth>

Synonyms
globe, planet, world

Related Words
cosmos, creation, nature, universe; ball, orb, sphere; macrocosm, microcosm, microcosmos

2 the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air <after nearly drowning, I was glad to feel the earth under my feet>

Synonyms
dirt, dust, ground, land, soil, terra firma

Related Words
continent, landmass, zone; island, isthmus, mainland, peninsula

3 the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow <set the plants deep enough into the earth so that they'll be sure to take root> — see DIRT 1
4 a very large amount of money <it'll cost the earth to repair that porcelain vase, so make sure that it's worth it> — see FORTUNE 2

earthborn adjective
1 having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven <turned away from earthborn concerns during the High Holidays> — see EARTHLY
2 relating to or characteristic of human beings <he claims to be above such earthborn concerns as material comfort> — see HUMAN

earthbound adjective
having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven <we have too many earthbound worries to speculate on the number of angels who can dance on the head of a pin> — see EARTHLY

earthenware noun
articles made of baked clay <a wide array of hand-painted earthenware available at the craft fair> — see CROCKERY

earthlike adjective
consisting or suggestive of earth <the basket of garden-fresh mushrooms had that typically earthlike smell> — see EARTHY 1

earthly adjective
having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven <a sermon against our obsession with earthly pursuits>

Synonyms
carnal, earthborn, earthbound, fleshly, material, mundane, sublunary, temporal, terrene, terrestrial, worldly

Related Words
animal, bodily, corporal, corporeal, physical; daily, diurnal; unspiritual; anthropic (or anthropical), anthropocentric

Near Antonyms
celestial, Elysian, empyreal, empyrean, supernal; metaphysical; devotional, divine, religious, sacred, spiritual, utopian; extraterrestrial; ethereal, supernatural, transcendent, transcendental

Antonyms
heavenly, nontemporal, unearthly, unworldly

earthquake noun
1 a shaking of the earth <the San Andreas Fault is notorious for its earthquakes>

Synonyms
quake, shake, temblor, tremor

Related Words
aftershock, foreshock, shock; cataclysm, convulsion, upheaval; microearthquake, microseism, seaquake

2 a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) <the election of the socialist candidate caused a political earthquake that nearly led to a military coup> — see CONVULSION

earthshaking adjective
having great meaning or lasting effect <earthshaking news—the President has been assassinated> — see IMPORTANT 1

earth–shattering adjective
having great meaning or lasting effect <scientists have made a few minor discoveries in that area, but nothing earth-shattering> — see IMPORTANT 1

earthy adjective
1 consisting or suggestive of earth <the unmistakably earthy aroma of a greenhouse>

Synonyms
earthlike, loamy

Related Words
clayey, dusty, muddy, sandy, silty

2 willing to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly <the dog trainer was earthy, no-nonsense, and blunt—with us, as well as our dog> — see REALISTIC 1

ease noun
1 reduction of or freedom from pain <the sunburn medication brought me instant ease>

Synonyms
alleviation, comfort, release, relief

Related Words
appeasement, assuagement, decrease, diminishment, mitigation, moderation, mollification; calming, salving, soothing

Near Antonyms
discomfort, unrest; agony, anguish, misery, suffering, torment, torture; ache, pain, pang, prick, smart, sting, stitch, throe, tingle, twinge

2 carefree freedom from constraint <a gymnast who can handle even the most demanding moves on the parallel bars with total ease> — see ABANDON
3 freedom from activity or labor <the dream of every lottery player is a life of fabulous luxury and everlasting ease> — see 1REST 1

ease verb
1 to free from obstruction or difficulty <measures intended to ease the flow of traffic during rush hour>

Synonyms
facilitate, grease, loosen (up), smooth, unclog

Related Words
accelerate, expedite, hasten, hurry, quicken, rush, speed; advance, forward, further, promote; abet, aid, assist, help, improve; disentangle, straighten (out), untangle; simplify, streamline

Phrases
pave the way (for)

Near Antonyms
hinder, impede; retard; aggravate, worsen; perplex, sophisticate

Antonyms
complicate

2 to make less taut <the rock climber eased the rope a little so that his fellow climber had room to maneuver> — see SLACKEN 1
3 to make more bearable or less severe <grandmother's firm belief that there are few ailments that chicken soup won't ease> — see HELP 2
4 to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent <the chairman of the Federal Reserve has promised to ease interest rates> — see DECREASE 1
5 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <new investments in the region have eased since the rise in interest rates> — see DECREASE 2

easily adverb
1 without difficulty <a skater who easily executes even the most difficult jumps>

Synonyms
easy, effortlessly, facilely, fluently, freely, handily, hands down, lightly, painlessly, readily, smoothly, well

Related Words
ably, adeptly, adroitly, competently, deftly, dexterously, efficiently, expertly, masterfully, proficiently, skillfully; instinctively, intuitively, naturally, spontaneously

Phrases
in a breeze, no sweat [slang], without ado, without a hitch

Near Antonyms
awkwardly, clumsily, gracelessly, ham-handedly, ineptly, maladroitly, unskillfully; meticulously, painfully, painstakingly, thoroughly; assiduously, diligently, indefatigably, industriously, intensely, intently, mightily, sedulously, tirelessly

Antonyms
arduously, hardly, laboriously, strenuously

2 without any question <we easily have enough people to get the project under way> — see INDEED 1

easy adjective
1 involving minimal difficulty or effort <a minor problem with an easy solution>

Synonyms
cheap, downhill, effortless, facile, fluent, fluid, hands-down, light, painless, ready, royal, simple, smooth, snap, soft

Related Words
idiotproof, mindless, quick, straightforward, unchallenging, uncomplicated; apparent, clear, clear-cut, distinct, evident, manifest, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, patent, perspicuous, plain, transparent, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable

Near Antonyms
burdensome, exhausting, onerous, oppressive, painful, stressful, taxing, troublesome; abstruse, complex, complicated, intricate, involved, knotty, problematic (also problematical), recondite

Antonyms
arduous, demanding, difficult, exacting, formidable, grueling (or gruelling), hard, herculean, killer, labored, laborious, murderous, rough, severe, stiff, strenuous, toilful, toilsome, tough

2 readily taken advantage of <senior citizens who are easy prey for scam artists>

Synonyms
dewy-eyed, exploitable, gullible (also gullable), naive (or naïve), susceptible, trusting, unwary, wide-eyed

Related Words
credulous, overcredulous, trustful, uncritical, unsuspecting, unsuspicious; artless, genuine, guileless, innocent, simple, unsophisticated, unworldly; fictile, malleable, pliable, pliant; deceivable; acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, obliging; yielding

Near Antonyms
critical, cynical, mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, wary; sophisticated; clear-eyed, clear-sighted, hardheaded; shrewd, street-smart, streetwise

3 providing physical comfort <my favorite easy chair for watching TV> — see COMFORTABLE 1
4 tolerant and kind in the judgment of and expectations for others <despite her easy approach to discipline, she had a remarkably well-behaved class> — see INDULGENT 1

easy adverb
without difficulty <we can make the trip in four hours easy> — see EASILY 1

easygoing adjective
1 having a relaxed, casual manner <counselors at the summer camp are pretty easygoing>

Synonyms
affable, breezy, devil-may-care, happy-go-lucky, laid-back, low-pressure, mellow

Related Words
carefree, casual, dégagé, lackadaisical, nonchalant, unaffected, unconcerned, unfussy, unperturbed, untroubled, unworried; familiar, homey (also homy), informal; flexible, lax, lenient, permissive, pliable, pliant, soft; accessible, approachable; imperturbable, nerveless, unflappable, unshakable; amicable, companionable, comradely, cordial, genial, hail-fellow-well-met, hearty, neighborly, warm, warmhearted

Near Antonyms
ceremonious, decorous, formal, rigid, strict; anxious, bothered, distressed, worried; jittery, jumpy, nervous, skittish, tense

Antonyms
high-strung, uptight

2 not bound by rigid standards <some men are pretty easygoing about housekeeping>

Synonyms
flexible, lax, loose, relaxed, slack, unrestrained, unrestricted

Related Words
careless, derelict, heedless, irresponsible, lazy, neglectful, negligent, remiss, slipshod, sloppy, sloven, slovenly, unfussy

Near Antonyms
constrained, restrained, restricted, tight; careful, conscientious, exact, fussy, meticulous, painstaking, punctilious, scrupulous; implacable, inflexible

Antonyms
hard, harsh, rigid, rigorous, severe, stern, strict

easy street noun
a situation or state of carefree comfort <just knew that if I hit the lottery, I'd be on easy street for the rest of my life> — see BEER AND SKITTLES

eat verb
1 to take in as food <having gone all day without food, we greedily ate the hamburgers>

Synonyms
consume, ingest, partake (of), put away, put down, tuck (away or in)

Related Words
digest, down, mouth (down), swallow; bolt, chow (down on), devour, glut (on), gobble (up or down), gorge, gulp, scoff, slop, snarf (down), swill, wolf; chew, gnaw (at or on), gum, lap, lick, nibble (on), nurse, pick (at); relish, savor (also savour), taste; banquet, dine, fare, feast, gormandize, pig out, regale; dispatch, polish off; breakfast, lunch, sup; munch, nosh, snack

2 to consume or wear away gradually <the pot's protective coating was eaten away by the acid>

Synonyms
bite (at), corrode, erode, fret, gnaw, nibble

Related Words
break down, break up, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve; decimate, destroy, devastate, ruin, waste, wreck

Near Antonyms
freshen, recreate, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, rejuvenate, renew, restore, revitalize, revive

3 to take a meal <where's the best place to eat in this town?> — see DINE 1
4 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <it really eats me the way people go to national parks to enjoy nature—and then leave their litter behind> — see IRRITATE 1

eat (up) verb
1 to receive or accept gladly or readily <predictably, moviegoers ate up the sequel to last summer's blockbuster> — see WELCOME
2 to destroy all trace of <the surf created by a powerful hurricane could really eat up what's left of the island's eastern beach> — see CONSUME 1

eatable adjective
suitable for use as food <a survival course in which you learn which wild plants are eatable> — see EDIBLE

eatables plural noun
substances intended to be eaten <the buffet table aboard the cruise ship always had a tempting array of eatables> — see FOOD 1

eatery noun
a public establishment where meals are served to paying customers for consumption on the premises <we usually go to lunch at an eatery that is just around the corner from the office> — see RESTAURANT

eating adjective
suitable for use as food <crab apples are not actually eating apples> — see EDIBLE

eats plural noun
substances intended to be eaten <there are some good eats at the buffet table> — see FOOD 1

eavesdrop (on) verb
to listen to (another in private conversation) <a nosy traveler who likes to eavesdrop on his fellow airline passengers>

Synonyms
listen in (on), overhear

Related Words
bug, tap, wiretap; monitor, snoop, spy, surveil; attend, hear, hearken, heed, mind

eaves trough noun
a pipe or channel for carrying off water from a roof <rain so heavy that the eaves trough couldn't handle it> — see GUTTER 1

ebb noun
a change to a lower state or level <a surprising ebb in the quality of workmanship in goods coming from that country> — see DECLINE 2

ebb verb
1 to become worse or of less value <the fortunes of the town slowly ebbed as factory after textile factory closed> — see DETERIORATE 1
2 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <the howling winds ebbed as the hurricane moved into the interior> — see DECREASE 2

ebbing noun
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body <seniors who stay active can keep at bay some of the inevitable ebbing of the memory that comes with advanced years> — see DECLINE 1

ebony adjective
having the color of soot or coal <the ebony loudspeakers on their chrome stands look very sleek and modern> — see BLACK 1

ebullition noun
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <the earsplitting ebullition of the fans following the from-the-jaws-of-defeat victory> — see OUTBURST 1

eccentric adjective
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <his eccentric decorating style isn't going over well with the neighbors> — see ODD 2

eccentric noun
a person of odd or whimsical habits <an eccentric who designed his house to look like a Scottish castle>

Synonyms
character, codger, crack, crackbrain, crackpot, crank, flake, fruitcake, head case, kook, nut, nutcase, nutter [British slang], oddball, oddity, original, quiz, screwball, weirdo, zany

Related Words
bohemian, maverick, nonconformist, quixote; coot, geezer; curio, rarity; freak; fantast, fantastico

Phrases
odd duck, piece of work

Near Antonyms
conformer, conformist, follower, sheep

eccentricity noun
an odd or peculiar habit <one of the woman's eccentricities was her lifelong habit of reading while soaking in the bathtub for hours> — see IDIOSYNCRASY

ecclesial adjective
of or relating to a church <the waning of ecclesial power in Europe as the number of lapsed Christians increases> — see ECCLESIASTICAL

ecclesiastic adjective
of or relating to a church <a council to make final determinations on ecclesiastic matters> — see ECCLESIASTICAL

ecclesiastic noun
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church <as the leading ecclesiastic for his church in the state, the bishop must be beyond reproach in everything he does> — see CLERGYPERSON

ecclesiastical adjective
of or relating to a church <ecclesiastical laws that have been in existence for centuries>

Synonyms
churchly, ecclesial, ecclesiastic

Related Words
blessed (also blest), consecrated, divine, hallowed, holy, religious, sacramental, sacred, sacrosanct, sanctified; apostolic, canonical, clerical, episcopal, evangelical (also evangelic), ministerial, papal, pastoral, patriarchal, pontifical, priestly, rabbinic (or rabbinical), sacerdotal

Near Antonyms
lay, profane, secular, temporal; nonclerical; nondenominational, nonsectarian

Antonyms
nonchurch, nonecclesiastical

echelon noun
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement <jobs in the upper echelons of the company pay quite well indeed> — see RANK 1

echo noun
1 a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way <a younger sister who was her echo all the while that they were growing up> — see COPYCAT
2 a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished <a few stone carvings are the only echoes that remain of a once-mighty civilization> — see VESTIGE 1

echo verb
1 to continue or be repeated in a series of reflected sound waves <my calls for help echoed off the walls of the abandoned mine shaft> — see REVERBERATE
2 to say after another <the little brats sassed the babysitter by echoing in a singsong voice everything she said> — see REPEAT 3

echt adjective
being exactly as appears or as claimed <an echt New Englander wouldn't think of putting tomatoes in clam chowder> — see AUTHENTIC 1

eclectic adjective
consisting of many things of different sorts <the museum's eclectic collection has everything from a giraffe skeleton to medieval musical instruments> — see MISCELLANEOUS

eclipse noun
a change to a lower state or level <the eclipse of the town from a grand seaside resort to a tacky tourist trap> — see DECLINE 2

eclipse verb
to be greater, better, or stronger than <the brilliant young pianist now eclipsed even his own mentor in musical artistry> — see SURPASS 1

economic adjective
yielding a profit <unfortunately, raising employees' salaries would not be economic—the business would have to fold> — see PROFITABLE 1

economical adjective
careful in the management of money or resources <we have to be economical in our use of the camp's limited supply of electricity> — see FRUGAL

economize verb
to avoid unnecessary waste or expense <in tough times people learn how to economize>

Synonyms
pinch, save, scrimp, skimp, spare

Related Words
conserve, husband, maintain, manage, preserve; scrape; cut back, cut down, retrench; hoard, lay up

Phrases
pinch pennies

Near Antonyms
blow, dissipate, fritter (away), lavish, misspend, run through, spend, squander, throw away; splurge

Antonyms
waste

economizing adjective
careful in the management of money or resources <economizing drivers aren't so affected by every hike in the price of gasoline> — see FRUGAL

economy noun
careful management of material resources <people on fixed incomes are used to practicing economy>

Synonyms
frugality, husbandry, parsimony, penny-pinching, providence, scrimping, skimping, thrift

Related Words
conservation, saving; miserliness, niggardliness, stinginess; belt-tightening, retrenchment; discretion, forehandedness, prudence; austerity, moderation, restraint, temperance

Near Antonyms
extravagance, improvidence, lavishness, prodigality, squandering

Antonyms
diseconomy, wastefulness

ecstasy noun
a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <actors are typically in ecstasy upon winning an Oscar>

Synonyms
cloud nine, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, heaven, high, intoxication, paradise, rapture, rhapsody, seventh heaven, swoon, transport

Related Words
exaltation; blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, delight, enchantment, felicity, gladness, happiness, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, pleasure; reverie, trance; inspiration; fervor, frenzy, madness, passion; cheer, cheerfulness, exuberance, gaiety (also gayety), glee, gleefulness, jubilance, jubilation, lightheartedness

Near Antonyms
misery, sadness, unhappiness, woe, wretchedness; blues, dejection, desolation, despair, despondency, disconsolateness, disheartenment, dispiritedness, doldrums, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, forlornness, gloom, gloominess, heartsickness, melancholy, mopes

Antonyms
depression

ecstatic adjective
experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <a football player who was ecstatic upon receiving a full athletic scholarship to the college of his choice>

Synonyms
elated, elevated, enrapt, enraptured, entranced, euphoric, exhilarated, giddy, heady, intoxicated, rapt, rapturous, rhapsodic (also rhapsodical)

Related Words
enchanted, exultant, glorying, jubilant, rejoicing, triumphant; enthusiastic, excited, gung ho, thrilled; blissed-out, blissful, delighted, glad, gratified, happy, joyful, joyous, pleased, satisfied, tickled

Phrases
on cloud nine, over the moon

Near Antonyms
blue, brokenhearted, crestfallen, dejected, despondent, disconsolate, disheartened, doleful, down, downcast, downhearted, forlorn, gloomy, glum, hangdog, heartbroken, heartsick, heartsore, inconsolable, joyless, low, low-spirited, melancholy, miserable, mournful, sad, saddened, sorrowful, sorry, unhappy, woebegone, woeful, wretched

Antonyms
depressed

edacious adjective
having a huge appetite <my edacious dining companion could always be counted on to order the largest—and often most expensive—item on the menu> — see VORACIOUS 1

Eden noun
an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <some of the first Europeans to explore Polynesia thought that they had indeed discovered a tropical Eden> — see PARADISE 1

edge noun
1 a harsh or sharp quality <the teacher's voice had a sarcastic edge as she welcomed the tardy student to class>

Synonyms
acerbity, acidity, acidness, acridity, acridness, acrimoniousness, acrimony, acuteness, asperity, bite, bitterness, harshness, keenness, poignance, poignancy, pungency, roughness, sharpness, tartness

Related Words
ginger, punch, spice, tang; raucousness, severeness, severity, shrillness, virulence, vitriol; cattiness, maliciousness; pointedness, thorniness

Near Antonyms
gentleness, kindliness

Antonyms
mildness, softness

2 the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <the design along the edge of the plate is badly worn> — see BORDER 1
3 the more favorable condition or position in a competition <my big feet give me something of an edge in swimming> — see ADVANTAGE 1
4 the power to produce a desired result <the utter lack of enforcement provisions totally blunts the edge of the law> — see EFFICACY
5 an interval of time just before the onset of something <the nation's economy was on the edge of collapse when the Federal Reserve took exceptionally bold action> — see POINT 3

edge verb
1 to make sharp or sharper <if you edge the tip of that stick, it should be a fine skewer for roasting marshmallows> — see SHARPEN
2 to serve as a border for <pavement edging the flower bed> — see BORDER

edged adjective
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something <always store your finely edged knives in a knife block> — see SHARP 1

edge in verb
to put among or between others <although she likes to profess journalistic impartiality when covering a story, she seldom refrains from edging in her personal observations> — see INSERT

edgeways adverb, chiefly British
with one side faced forward <he shoved the oversized book in edgeways so it would fit between the shelves> — see SIDEWAYS 1

edgewise adverb
with one side faced forward <you can squeeze through the narrow passage between the two caves if you go edgewise> — see SIDEWAYS 1

edginess noun
a state of nervousness marked by sudden jerky movements <the edginess of the basketball players in the moments before the start of the tournament was apparent> — see JUMPINESS

edging noun
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <the lace edging on the sleeves gives a blouse a pleasingly feminine look> — see BORDER 1

edgy adjective
1 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <with an edgy voice the spelling-bee contestant started to spell the tongue twister> — see NERVOUS 1
2 having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something <be careful as you walk along the beach—those broken clam shells are edgy enough to cut your feet> — see SHARP 1
3 serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction <a director known for his edgy, over-the-top satires on modern life> — see PROVOCATIVE

edible adjective
suitable for use as food <edible plant products>

Synonyms
comestible, eatable, eating, esculent

Related Words
absorbable, chewable, digestible, ingestible, swallowable; nourishing, nutritious, nutritive; appetizing, delicious, flavorful, palatable, savory (also savoury), succulent, tasty, toothsome, toothy

Near Antonyms
indigestible, nondigestible, nonnutritious, undigestible

Antonyms
inedible, nonedible, uneatable

edibles plural noun
substances intended to be eaten <even if the storm turns out to be a blizzard, there are enough edibles in the refrigerator to last us a week> — see FOOD 1

edict noun
1 an order publicly issued by an authority <the school board's edict put a new student dress code into effect>

Synonyms
bull, decree, diktat, directive, fiat, rescript, ruling, ukase

Related Words
call, conclusion, decision, deliverance, determination, diagnosis, judgment (or judgement), opinion, resolution, verdict; announcement, declaration, dictum, manifesto, proclamation, pronouncement; canon, encyclical

2 a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <this household's edict of long standing: no television until all homework has been completed> — see COMMAND 1

edifice noun
1 a large, magnificent, or massive building <the U.S. Capitol is one of our nation's most impressive edifices>

Synonyms
cathedral, hall, palace, tower

Related Words
construction, erection, structure; castle, château, countryseat, estate, hacienda, manor, manor house, mansion, showplace, villa; mausoleum, memorial, monument

2 something built as a dwelling, shelter, or place for human activity <the first edifices built by the colonists were primitive huts with walls of dried mud and roofs covered with thatch> — see BUILDING
3 the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form <the edifice of the argument is quite simple, once you get past the fancy language> — see FRAME 1

edify verb
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding <a family-oriented show that tried to edify the television audience as well as entertain it> — see ENLIGHTEN 2

edit verb
1 to prepare for publication by correcting, rewriting, or updating <the publisher edited a new version of its best-selling school dictionary>

Synonyms
redraft, revamp, revise, rework

Related Words
perfect, polish, touch up; copyedit, read, sub [British], subedit; reedit; amend, annotate, correct, emend, rectify; fact-check; anthologize, collect, compile; get out, issue, print, publish; abridge, blue-pencil, redact, red-pencil; engross, recopy

2 to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation <the restaurant chef has edited several of his gourmet dishes for preparation by the home cook> — see ADAPT

edit (out) verb
to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it <anything potentially offensive or disturbing was edited out of the newsletter before it was mailed> — see X OUT

editorialize verb
to make a statement of one's opinion <she never misses a chance to editorialize on the issues of the day—even the ones she knows nothing about> — see REMARK 1

educate verb
1 to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field <a revered professor of astronomy who is credited with educating many of today's leading astronomers> — see TEACH
2 to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding <the belief that parents better educate their children by example than by sending them to Sunday school> — see ENLIGHTEN 2

educated adjective
1 having or displaying advanced knowledge or education <educated people are often more aware and tolerant of cultural and ethnic diversity>

Synonyms
erudite, knowledgeable, learned, lettered, literate, scholarly, well-read

Related Words
civilized, cultivated, cultured; cerebral, highbrow, highbrowed, intellectual; polished, refined, well-bred; academic (also academical), bookish, didactic, didactical, inkhorn, pedantic, professorial; informed, instructed, schooled, skilled, trained; homeschooled, self-educated, self-instructed, self-taught; briefed, enlightened, informed, versed; overeducated, polyhistoric, polymath (or polymathic)

Near Antonyms
uncivilized, uncultivated, uncultured; lowbrow, semiliterate, unintellectual; ill-bred, unpolished, unrefined; uninformed, unknowledgeable; uninstructed, unschooled, untaught, untutored; semiliterate, undereducated

Antonyms
benighted, dark, ignorant, illiterate, uneducated, unlearned, unlettered, unscholarly

2 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <a violinist caressing the instrument with an educated touch> — see PROFICIENT

education noun
1 the act or process of imparting knowledge or skills to another <a teacher who devoted herself to the education of children with special needs>

Synonyms
instruction, schooling, teaching, training, tuition, tutelage, tutoring

Related Words
didactics, pedagogics, pedagogy; higher education, higher learning; coaching, conditioning, cultivation, preparation, readying; development, direction, guidance, nurturance, nurturing; edification, enlightenment, improvement

2 the understanding and information gained from being educated <a person whose extensive education was obvious to all who met him>

Synonyms
erudition, knowledge, learnedness, learning, literacy, scholarship

Related Words
culture, edification, enlightenment; reading; bookishness, pedantry

Near Antonyms
functional illiteracy

Antonyms
ignorance, illiteracy, illiterateness

educational adjective
1 providing useful information or knowledge <we found the talk on easy ways for families to recycle household products very educational> — see INFORMATIVE
2 of or relating to schooling or learning especially at an advanced level <the community college strives to meet the educational needs of the residents of its urban location> — see ACADEMIC 1

educationist noun, chiefly British
a person whose occupation is to give formal instruction in a school <educationists around the U.K. were largely in support of the reforms> — see TEACHER

educative adjective
providing useful information or knowledge <college students discover that what they experience outside the classroom can be just as educative as anything that happens within> — see INFORMATIVE

educator noun
a person whose occupation is to give formal instruction in a school <decided at a fairly young age that there is no more rewarding career than that of an educator> — see TEACHER

educe verb
to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved) <the gift of a puppy finally educed a response from the shy boy>

Synonyms
elicit, evoke, inspire, raise

Related Words
drag, dredge (up), extort, extract, pull, wangle, wrest, wring; coax (out), gain, get, obtain, procure, secure; bare, disclose, discover, divulge, evince, expose, reveal, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil

Phrases
call forth

Near Antonyms
disregard, forget, ignore, miss, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over

eduction noun
an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning <the policeman's eduction was that there was more than one murderer involved> — see CONCLUSION 1

e'er adverb
for all time <an act of heroism for which the nation will e'er be grateful> — see EVER 1

eerie also eery adjective
fearfully and mysteriously strange or fantastic <eerie noises would occasionally come from locked rooms in the castle>

Synonyms
creepy, haunting, spookish, spooky, uncanny, unearthly, weird

Related Words
ghastly, ghostlike, ghostly, ghoulish, spectral; bizarre, curious, odd, outlandish, outré, peculiar, quaint, queerish, quirky; unaccustomed, uncommon, unusual; metaphysical, preternatural, supernatural; enigmatic (also enigmatical), inscrutable, mysterious, puzzling; dreadful, fearsome, horrible, horrifying, terrible, terrifying

Near Antonyms
common, commonplace, everyday, normal, ordinary, prosaic, routine, typical, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual; natural; expected, familiar, predictable

efface verb
to destroy all traces of <when the supply ship finally arrived, it discovered that virtually all evidence of the colony at Roanoke had been effaced> — see ANNIHILATE 1

effect noun
1 a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <better health is always one of the effects of improved hygiene>

Synonyms
aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, fate, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot

Related Words
ramification; denouement (also dénouement), echo, implication, repercussion; afterclap, afterglow, aftershock; blowback, by-product, fallout, offshoot, ripple, side effect (also side reaction), spin-off

Phrases
matter of course

Near Antonyms
consideration, determinant, factor; base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork; impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, stimulus; mother, origin, root, source, spring

Antonyms
antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason

2 the power to bring about a result on another <religion has a profound effect on our lives>

Synonyms
impact, influence, mark, repercussion, sway

Related Words
authority, clout, prestige, pull, weight; command, domination, dominion, mastery; consequence, importance, significance; sovereignty (also sovranty), supremacy

Near Antonyms
helplessness, impotence, impotency, powerlessness, weakness

3 effects plural transportable items that one owns <the family packed up its household effects and moved to Florida> — see POSSESSION 2

effect verb
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <classroom discussions designed to effect a change in racial attitudes>

Synonyms
beget, breed, bring, bring about, bring on, catalyze, cause, create, do, draw on, effectuate, engender, generate, induce, invoke, make, occasion, produce, prompt, result (in), spawn, translate (into), work, yield

Related Words
conduce (to), contribute (to); decide, determine; begin, establish, father, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, set, set up, start; advance, cultivate, develop, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote; enact, render, turn out

Phrases
bring forth, give rise to

Near Antonyms
impede, limit, restrict; clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, dampen, put down, quash, quell, repress, smother, squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress; arrest, check, control, curb, inhibit, rein (in), restrain, retard; can [slang], kill, snuff (out), still; abolish, demolish, destroy, extinguish, liquidate, quench

effective adjective
1 producing or capable of producing a desired result <an effective treatment of the once-dreaded disease>

Synonyms
effectual, efficacious, efficient, fruitful, operative, potent, productive

Related Words
hyperefficient, ultraefficient; adequate, capable, competent; accomplished, adept, consummate, experienced, expert, masterly, practiced (also practised), proficient, skilled, skillful, versed, veteran, virtuoso; cogent, convincing, killer, sound, striking, telling, valid; active, dynamic; useful, working; applicable, feasible, functional, practicable, practical, realizable, usable (also useable), workable

Near Antonyms
counterproductive; incapable, incompetent, inexperienced, inexpert, unqualified, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful; abortive, bootless, futile, vain; empty, hollow, idle, pointless, unavailing, unprofitable, unsuccessful; inoperative, worthless

Antonyms
fruitless, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient, inoperative, unfruitful, unproductive, useless

2 having the power to persuade <made an effective argument in favor of the proposal> — see COGENT
3 existing in fact and not merely as a possibility <made the mistake of confusing the plant's production capacity with its effective output> — see ACTUAL

effectiveness noun
1 the capacity to persuade <the “guilty” verdict was all the proof needed of the effectiveness of the prosecutor's closing argument> — see COGENCY 1
2 the power to produce a desired result <the huge upsurge in sales pretty much demonstrated the effectiveness of the new ad campaign> — see EFFICACY
3 the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect <your writing lacks effectiveness because practically every sentence is in the passive voice> — see 1PUNCH 1

effectual adjective
producing or capable of producing a desired result <acting like a jerk has generally not been a terribly effectual dating strategy> — see EFFECTIVE 1

effectualness noun
the power to produce a desired result <the effectualness of that new cancer treatment has yet to be proven> — see EFFICACY

effectuate verb
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <the hope that the greater social interaction between native residents and the immigrants will effectuate greater understanding and harmony> — see EFFECT

effeminate adjective
of or relating to a man who has or displays qualities considered more suitable for women <a comedian deliberately affecting effeminate mannerisms>

Synonyms
effete, epicene, sissified, sissy, unmanly, womanish

Related Words
feminine, girlish, girlie (or girly), womanlike, womanly; old-maidish, overnice, prissy, spinsterish; dandyish, dudish, foppish, sappy; camp, campy; antimacho

Antonyms
manlike, manly, mannish, masculine, virile

effervescent adjective
joyously unrestrained <candidates for positions on the cheerleading squad should have naturally effervescent personalities> — see EXUBERANT

effete adjective
1 having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit <the soft, effete society that marked the final years of the Roman empire>

Synonyms
decadent, decayed, degenerate, overripe, washed-up

Related Words
effeminate, overrefined, precious; decaying, declining, dying, failing, waning; debilitated, enervate, enervated, enfeebled, feeble, frail, languid, sapped, soft, wasted, weak, weakened, wimpy; dissolute, immoral; debased, debauched, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute

Antonyms
undecadent

2 lacking bodily strength <the Western ranch takes effete youths from comfortable suburbs and turns them into rugged wranglers> — see WEAK 1
3 lacking strength of will or character <the governor is too effete to take on the powerful special interests that really run this state> — see WEAK 2
4 of or relating to a man who has or displays qualities considered more suitable for women <people were surprised to learn that the effete man played football> — see EFFEMINATE

efficacious adjective
producing or capable of producing a desired result <taking a cookie break while studying is one of the most efficacious ways of rejuvenating the mind that I have ever discovered> — see EFFECTIVE 1

efficaciousness noun
the power to produce a desired result <the debatable efficaciousness of many of the campaigns aimed at reducing smoking among teenagers> — see EFFICACY

efficacity noun
the power to produce a desired result <the limited efficacity of the primitive tool as an instrument for cutting raw meat> — see EFFICACY

efficacy noun
the power to produce a desired result <questioned the efficacy of the alarms in actually preventing auto theft>

Synonyms
edge, effectiveness, effectualness, efficaciousness, efficacity, efficiency, productiveness

Related Words
ability, capability, capacity; potency, puissance, strength

Near Antonyms
inability, inadequacy, inadequateness, incompetence, incompetency

Antonyms
ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficiency

efficiency noun
the power to produce a desired result <the proven efficiency of citizen patrols in reducing crime in urban neighborhoods> — see EFFICACY

efficient adjective
producing or capable of producing a desired result <that manual lawn mower is not a very efficient tool for doing a huge yard> — see EFFECTIVE 1

effloresce verb
to produce flowers <created an artificial environment in which plants grew and effloresced regardless of season> — see BLOOM 1

effluvium also effluvia noun
discarded or useless material <the effluvia from local sewage treatment plants polluting the river> — see GARBAGE 1

effort noun
the active use of energy in producing a result <the finished parade float was well worth the effort>

Synonyms
elbow grease, exertion, expenditure, labor, pains, sweat, trouble, while, work

Related Words
drudgery, grind, slog, strain, toil, travail; dint, energy; force, might, muscle, power, puissance; attempt, endeavor, essay, fling, go, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack

Near Antonyms
adroitness, ease, facility, fluency, smoothness; dormancy, idleness, inaction, inactivity, indolence, inertia, languor, laziness, quiescence

effortful adjective
requiring considerable physical or mental effort <the book's abstruse subject matter and dense prose make for effortful reading> — see HARD 2

effortless adjective
involving minimal difficulty or effort <using an automatic dishwasher is not quite as effortless as I would like—you still have to put the dishes away> — see EASY 1

effortlessly adverb
without difficulty <the pizza worker flung the round of dough into the air and effortlessly caught it> — see EASILY 1

effrontery noun
shameless boldness <the little squirt had the effrontery to deny eating any cookies, even with the crumbs still on his lips>

Synonyms
audaciousness, audacity, brashness, brass, brassiness, brazenness, cheek, cheekiness, chutzpah (also chutzpa or hutzpah or hutzpa), crust, face, gall, nerve, nerviness, pertness, presumption, presumptuousness, sauce, sauciness, temerity

Related Words
arrogance, assurance, cockiness, confidence, hardihood, overconfidence, sanguinity, self-assurance, self-confidence; discourteousness, disrespect, impertinence, impoliteness, impudence, incivility, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, insolence, rudeness, ungraciousness; back talk, sass; swagger, swash

Near Antonyms
bashfulness, diffidence, faintheartedness, hesitancy, modesty, shyness, timidity, timidness, timorousness; civility, courteousness, courtesy, gentility, graciousness, mannerliness, manners

effulgence noun
the quality or state of having or giving off light <the exceptional effulgence of the harvest moon is always a striking sight> — see BRILLIANCE 1

effulgent adjective
giving off or reflecting much light <the stars always seem more effulgent when viewed in the country, far away from the distracting lights of the city> — see BRIGHT 1

effuse verb
to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm <pundits who should have known better effused endlessly about this idealistic but naive senator> — see GUSH 2

effusive adjective
showing feeling freely <often effusive no matter what the occasion, my aunt is even more so at weddings and funerals> — see DEMONSTRATIVE 1

egalitarian noun
one who advocates or practices social equality <as egalitarians, they have always spurned the thought of hiring domestic help, even though they can well afford it> — see DEMOCRAT

egg noun
a member of the human race <kindhearted and generous, she's a real good egg by anyone's standard> — see HUMAN

egg (on) verb
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action <though exhausted, I was egged on by spectators to finish the marathon> — see URGE

eggbeater noun
a vehicle for traveling through the air that obtains its lift from rotors which spin horizontally <told stories of his days flying eggbeaters during the Vietnam War> — see HELICOPTER

egghead noun
a person with strong intellectual interests <the unlikely marriage between a literary egghead and a Hollywood sex symbol> — see INTELLECTUAL

eggheaded adjective
much given to learning and thinking <a play that appeals mainly to the small body of eggheaded theatergoers> — see INTELLECTUAL 1

ego noun
1 a reasonable or justifiable sense of one's worth or importance <I have enough ego not to want to give up easily in any contest or competition> — see PRIDE 1
2 an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <a star athlete with a refreshing lack of ego> — see COMPLACENCE 1

egocentric adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <the cult attracts egocentric people who are preoccupied with reaching their potential as individuals>

Synonyms
egoistic (also egoistical), egomaniacal, egotistic (or egotistical), narcissistic, self-absorbed, self-centered, self-concerned, self-infatuated, self-interested, self-involved, selfish, self-loving, self-obsessed, self-oriented, self-preoccupied, self-regarding, self-seeking, self-serving, solipsistic

Related Words
inner-directed; complacent, conceited, overweening, pompous, prideful, proud, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-contented, self-directed, self-glorifying, self-important, self-indulgent, self-opinionated, self-pleased, self-satisfied, smug, vain, vainglorious

Near Antonyms
altruistic, beneficent, benevolent, charitable, generous, greathearted, humanitarian, magnanimous, philanthropic (also philanthropical), self-denying, self-giving, self-sacrificing; other-directed; diffident, self-doubting; self-flagellating; self-questioning, self-reflective

Antonyms
self-forgetful, self-forgetting, selfless, unselfish

egocentric noun
a person who is overly concerned with his or her own desires, needs, or interests <he's such an egocentric that he painstakingly records every detail of his unremarkable life> — see EGOIST

egocentricity noun
excessive interest in oneself <his egocentricity is such that he simply cannot fathom that anyone would have an opposing view> — see EGOISM

egocentrism noun
excessive interest in oneself <her exquisite egocentrism informs her conception of reality: she thinks the world revolves around her> — see EGOISM

egoism noun
excessive interest in oneself <because of her egoism, she never gave a thought to asking how the others felt>

Synonyms
egocentricity, egocentrism, egomania, egotism, narcissism, navel-gazing, self-absorption, self-centeredness, self-concern, self-interest, self-involvement, selfishness, selfness, self-preoccupation, self-regard

Related Words
complacence, complacency, conceit, conceitedness, ego, pomposity, pompousness, pride, pridefulness, self-admiration, self-conceit, self-esteem, self-importance, self-indulgence, self-love, self-partiality, self-respect, self-satisfaction, self-sufficiency, smugness, vaingloriousness, vainglory, vainness, vanity; self-assumption, self-consequence, self-content, self-contentment, self-glorification

Near Antonyms
altruism, generosity, magnanimity, self-sacrifice; detachment, disinterestedness, fairness, impartiality, neutrality, objectivity; self-flagellation; self-annihilation, self-immolation

Antonyms
self-abandonment, self-forgetfulness, selflessness, unselfishness

egoist noun
a person who is overly concerned with his or her own desires, needs, or interests <their boss is a demanding egoist who insists that everything be done her way>

Synonyms
egocentric, egomaniac, egotist, ego-tripper, narcissist

Related Words
megalomaniac; beast, boor, cad, churl, clown, creep, cretin, cur, heel, jerk, joker, louse, lout, skunk, slob, snake, stinker

Near Antonyms
altruist, humanitarian, philanthropist

egoistic also egoistical adjective
1 having too high an opinion of oneself <unfortunately, the race car driver is so egoistic that he pats himself on the back before anyone else has a chance> — see CONCEITED
2 overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <they're too egoistic to even give a thought to becoming involved in something that benefits the whole community> — see EGOCENTRIC

egomania noun
excessive interest in oneself <even by Hollywood standards, that movie star's egomania is of epic proportions> — see EGOISM

egomaniac noun
a person who is overly concerned with his or her own desires, needs, or interests <even in a field rife with egomaniacs, that actress sets a new standard for self-absorption> — see EGOIST

egomaniacal adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <a brilliant but egomaniacal urban planner who ruthlessly sought to impose his vision of the ideal cityscape> — see EGOCENTRIC

egotism noun
1 an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <for someone who has won a Nobel Prize in physics, he is remarkably without egotism> — see COMPLACENCE 1
2 excessive interest in oneself <egotism is not something that winners of the Nobel Prize for peace usually have time for> — see EGOISM

egotist noun
a person who is overly concerned with his or her own desires, needs, or interests <she's an egotist who bores her coworkers with endless ruminations about herself and her problems> — see EGOIST

egotistic or egotistical adjective
1 having too high an opinion of oneself <the egotistic pro quarterback was always too busy to sign autographs, forgetting that the fans had paid good money to see him play> — see CONCEITED
2 overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <the true spirit of the Christmas season is the resolve to be less egotistic and more altruistic> — see EGOCENTRIC

ego–tripper noun
a person who is overly concerned with his or her own desires, needs, or interests <had been dating a hopeless ego-tripper who valued her only as a potential trophy wife> — see EGOIST

egregious adjective
very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad <the student's theme was marred by a number of egregious errors in spelling>

Synonyms
blatant, conspicuous, flagrant, glaring, gross, obvious, patent, pronounced, rank, striking

Related Words
arresting, clear, distinct, dramatic, emphatic, evident, eye-catching, marked, notable, noticeable, outstanding, plain, prominent, remarkable, salient, showy, splashy; absolute, arrant, downright, out-and-out, outright, sheer, stark, utter; detectable, discernible (also discernable), observable, perceptible, visible; abominable, atrocious, awful, deplorable, execrable, heinous, lousy, monstrous, outrageous, preposterous, shameful, shocking, terrible, wretched

Near Antonyms
imperceptible, inconspicuous, unnoticeable, unobtrusive; inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, slight, small, trifling, trivial; concealed, hidden, invisible

egress noun
a place or means of going out <the only egress from the nightclub was a dark, narrow stairway to the street below> — see EXIT 1

eidolon noun
someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation <an industrialist who remains an eidolon of the visionary and ambitious self-made man> — see IDEAL 1

eighty–six or 86 verb
to get rid of as useless or unwanted <decided to eighty-six his birth name the minute he arrived in Hollywood> — see DISCARD

either adverb
in addition to what has been said <you won't convince them, and, in fact, I don't agree either!> — see MORE 1

ejaculate verb
to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling <“Eureka!” the Greek mathematician Archimedes is said to have ejaculated upon discovering a method for determining the purity of gold> — see EXCLAIM

ejaculation noun
a sudden short emotional utterance <uttered a profane ejaculation upon stubbing his toe in the dark> — see EXCLAMATION

eject verb
1 to drive or force out <we summarily ejected the unwanted guest from our party>

Synonyms
banish, boot (out), bounce, cast out, chase, dismiss, drum (out), expel, extrude, kick out, oust, out, rout, run off, throw out, turf (out) [chiefly British], turn out

Related Words
deforce, deport, displace, dispossess, evict, exile, expatriate, ostracize, read out, shut out; ax (or axe), can, cashier, defenestrate, discharge, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate

Phrases
give one the gate [slang], send packing

Near Antonyms
accept, admit, receive, take, take in; welcome; entertain, harbor, house, lodge, shelter

2 to violently throw out or off (something from within) <the malfunctioning VCR abruptly stopped rewinding and ejected the tape> — see ERUPT 1

eke (out) verb
to get with great difficulty <eked out a living from the family's small farm>

Synonyms
scrape (up or together), scrounge, squeeze, wrest, wring

Related Words
acquire, attain, draw, earn, gain, land, obtain, procure, secure

elaborate adjective
1 made or done with great care or with much detail <elaborate festivities for the 200th anniversary of the town's founding>

Synonyms
complex, complicated, detailed, fancy, intricate, involved, sophisticated

Related Words
elegant, exquisite, grand, magnificent, ornate, splendid; chichi, extravagant, exuberant, fancified, flamboyant, frilly, gimmicked (up), grandiose, ostentatious, overwrought, showy, souped-up; Byzantine, convoluted, involute, involuted, labyrinthian, labyrinthine

Near Antonyms
modest, plain, plain-Jane, plain-vanilla, uncomplicated; bald, bare, naked, unadorned, undecorated, unvarnished

Antonyms
no-frills, simple, unfancy, unsophisticated

2 including many small descriptive features <the elaborate world known as Middle Earth that J.R.R. Tolkien created in his richly imagined novels> — see DETAILED 1
3 having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <plans for a huge mall that will actually be an elaborate center for sports, entertainment, and shopping> — see COMPLEX 1

elaborate verb
to gradually become clearer or more detailed <as mankind's understanding of the universe has elaborated> — see DEVELOP 1

elaborate (on) verb
1 to add to the interest of by including made-up details <my friend tends to elaborate on his hiking experiences, turning an ordinary walk in the woods into a hair-raising adventure> — see EMBROIDER
2 to express more fully and in greater detail <the candidate for governor refused to elaborate on how she would balance the state's budget> — see EXPAND 1

elaborateness noun
the state or quality of having many interrelated parts or aspects <the elaborateness of the parade is such that a virtual army of people spend the whole year working on it> — see COMPLEXITY 1

elaboration noun
1 the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced <the elaboration of the Internet from an exclusive computer network into a worldwide communications network of colossal proportions> — see DEVELOPMENT 1
2 the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts <the eyewitness was deemed unreliable because of his obvious elaboration of what he had actually seen> — see EXAGGERATION

elapse verb
to come to an end <in those coin-operated binoculars at scenic areas your viewing time seems to elapse almost before it has begun> — see CEASE 1

elastic adjective
1 able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted <elastic rubber bands>

Synonyms
bouncy, flexible, resilient, rubberlike, rubbery, springy, stretch, stretchable, stretchy, supple, whippy

Related Words
adaptable, ductile, kneadable, malleable, moldable, plastic, pliable, pliant; limber, lissome (also lissom), lithe, lithesome, willowy

Near Antonyms
compact, firm, hard, solid, unyielding; brittle, crisp, crumbly, flaky (also flakey), friable, short

Antonyms
inelastic, inflexible, nonelastic, rigid, stiff

2 capable of being readily changed <when vacationing, we generally have very elastic daily sightseeing plans> — see FLEXIBLE 1

elate verb
to fill with great joy <the winning of the state basketball championship elated the whole town>

Synonyms
elevate, enrapture, exhilarate, intoxicate, transport

Related Words
commove, excite, inspire, stimulate, uplift; content, delight, gladden, gratify, please, rejoice, satisfy, warm

Near Antonyms
demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit; distress, oppress, sadden

Antonyms
depress

elated adjective
experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <she was elated upon learning that she had been accepted by her first-choice college> — see ECSTATIC

elatedness noun
a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <with the elatedness of someone who had just won the lottery, he announced that his girlfriend had accepted his marriage proposal> — see ECSTASY

elation noun
a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <most people can't imagine the kind of elation that comes with winning a super lottery's grand prize, but they're dying to find out> — see ECSTASY

elbow verb
to force one's way <the sort of greedy person who is always the first to elbow to the front of the buffet table at every party> — see 2PRESS 4

elbow grease noun
the active use of energy in producing a result <with a little polish and a lot of elbow grease, I was able to make the old silver teapot shine again> — see EFFORT

elbow room noun
an extent or area available for or used up by some activity or thing <help me move the furniture so that we'll have enough elbow room to do some aerobics> — see ROOM 1

el cheapo adjective
1 costing little <took an el cheapo vacation, staying at a friend's cabin the whole time> — see CHEAP 1
2 of low quality <he bought el cheapo sneakers from someone on a street corner> — see CHEAP 2

elder noun
1 a person of advanced years <in that Asian society elders are accorded great respect> — see SENIOR CITIZEN
2 one who is above another in rank, station, or office <as your elder in the company, he is within his rights to tell you what to do> — see SUPERIOR
3 one who is older than another <it wouldn't hurt to show a little more respect for your elders> — see SENIOR 1
4 the senior member of a group <as the elder of the contingent of living former presidents, he was accorded a place of highest honor at the ceremonies> — see DEAN

elderliness noun
the state of being an old person <refuses to let her elderliness interfere with her indomitable zest for life> — see ANCIENTNESS 1

elderly adjective
being of advanced years and especially past middle age <elderly people who stay active are usually the healthiest and the happiest>

Synonyms
aged, aging (or ageing), ancient, geriatric, long-lived, old, older, over-the-hill, senescent, senior, unyoung

Related Words
centenarian, nonagenarian, octogenarian, septuagenarian, sexagenarian; oldish; adult, grown-up, mature, middle-aged; pensioned, retired, superannuated; matriarchal, patriarchal, venerable; anile, decrepit, doddering, senile, spavined, tottery; overage (also overaged)

Phrases
long in the tooth, of a certain age

Near Antonyms
ageless; youngish; adolescent, immature, juvenile, preteen, puerile; minor, underage; callow, green, inexperienced, raw; babyish, childish, childlike, infantile, infantine, kiddish

Antonyms
young, youthful

elder statesman noun
the senior member of a group <the elder statesman of the White House correspondents is finally retiring after nearly a half century of service> — see DEAN

elect adjective
singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking <this elect body of students represents the best that the nation's high schools have to offer> — see SELECT 1

elect noun
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <the members of this all-American team are the elect of collegiate football> — see ELITE 1

elect verb
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities <I've elected to study French as my foreign language> — see CHOOSE 1

election noun
1 the act or process of selecting <the election of a major is something that every college student has to do at some point> — see SELECTION 1
2 the power, right, or opportunity to choose <at the country inn, breakfast in bed is entirely at the election of the guest> — see CHOICE 1

elective adjective
subject to one's freedom of choice <a plastic surgeon who mainly does face-lifting and other kinds of elective surgery> — see OPTIONAL

electric adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <Dr. King's “I Have a Dream” speech was one of the truly electric moments in American oratory> — see EXCITING 1

electrify verb
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings <Marian Anderson electrified audiences with her soaring operatic voice> — see THRILL

electrifying adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <ranked the U.S. hockey team's victory in 1980 as one of the most electrifying moments in Olympic history> — see EXCITING 1

eleemosynary adjective
having or showing a concern for the welfare of others <used his vast fortune for establishing and funding a host of eleemosynary institutions> — see CHARITABLE 1

elegance noun
dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style <the elegance of the hotel's French furnishings>

Synonyms
class, classiness, courtliness, elegancy, fineness, grace, gracefulness, handsomeness, majesty, refinement, stateliness

Related Words
augustness, brilliance, gloriousness, glory, grandeur, grandness, lavishness, luxuriance, luxuriousness, luxury, magnificence, nobility, nobleness, opulence, ornateness, plushiness, plushness, resplendence, resplendency, richness, splendor, sumptuousness; artfulness, chic, polish, sophistication, taste, tastefulness; choiceness, classicism, dignity, exquisiteness, restraint, simplicity; affectedness, grandiosity, ostentation, ostentatiousness, pretentiousness, showiness

Near Antonyms
coarseness, crudeness, flamboyance, flashiness, garishness, gaudiness, glitz, grotesqueness, grotesquerie (also grotesquery), kitsch, tastelessness, tawdriness, vulgarity

Antonyms
gracelessness, inelegance

elegancy noun
dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style <there's a certain elegancy about this hotel that other places in Las Vegas don't have> — see ELEGANCE

elegant adjective
1 having or showing elegance <the most elegant First Lady in the nation's history> <the bride's elegant gown received nothing but praise>

Synonyms
classy, courtly, fine, graceful, handsome, majestic, refined, stately, tasteful

Related Words
august, baronial, gallant, glorious, grand, heroic (also heroical), imposing, lavish, luxurious, magnificent, monumental, noble, ornate, proud, regal, rich, royal, splendid, superb; artful, genteel, polished, sophisticated; classic, conservative, exquisite, quiet, restrained, simple, understated; aristocratic, patrician; à la mode (also a la mode), chic, fashionable, in, modish, posh, sharp, sleek, smart, snappy, stylish, swagger, swank (or swanky); affected, grandiose, ostentatious, pretentious, recherché

Near Antonyms
cheesy, coarse, crude, flamboyant, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, grotesque, loud, raffish, splashy, tacky, tawdry, ticky-tacky (also ticky-tack); rough-edged, rough-hewn, rude, trashy, uncouth, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar

Antonyms
dowdy, graceless, inelegant, styleless, tasteless, unfashionable, unhandsome, unstylish

2 having qualities that appeal to a refined taste <prepared an elegant dinner for the honored guests> — see CHOICE 1

elegiac also elegiacal adjective
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the sight of an old ruined church or castle can be a pleasantly elegiac experience> — see GLOOMY 1

elegy noun
a composition expressing one's grief over a loss <“O Captain! My Captain!” is Walt Whitman's elegy on the death of President Lincoln> — see LAMENT 2

element noun
1 one of the parts that make up a whole <a free press is an essential element of a democracy>

Synonyms
building block, component, constituent, factor, ingredient, member

Related Words
basis, part and parcel; detail, item, particular, point; aspect, characteristic, facet, feature, trait; division, fragment, particle, partition, piece, portion, section, sector, segment; subcomponent

Near Antonyms
aggregate, composite, compound, mass; entirety, sum, summation, total, totality; admixture, amalgam, amalgamation, blend, combination, intermixture, mix, mixture

Antonyms
whole

2 elements plural general or basic truths on which other truths or theories can be based <the elements of mathematics can be traced back to Euclid> — see PRINCIPLES 1
3 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <she felt a bit out of her element in the mathematics section of the exam> — see FIELD 2

elemental adjective
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject <even if you're not planning on becoming a scientist, you should have an elemental knowledge of chemistry> — see ELEMENTARY

elementary adjective
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject <students who do not have even an elementary knowledge of geography>

Synonyms
abecedarian, basal, basic, beginning, elemental, essential, fundamental, introductory, meat-and-potatoes, rudimental, rudimentary, underlying

Related Words
primal, primary, prime, simple; crude, primeval, primitive, primordial, rude, uncomplicated; preliminary, preparatory; crucial, important, key

Near Antonyms
complex, sophisticated; complicated, convoluted, detailed, elaborate, extensive, intricate; developed, evolved, high, higher, refined

Antonyms
advanced

elephant noun
something or someone that is unusually large and powerful <by any standard, the new shopping mall will be an elephant and one that is certain to alter the retail landscape> — see GIANT

elephantine adjective
unusually large <the wedding reception was held under an elephantine tent on the great lawn> — see HUGE

elevate verb
1 to fill with great joy <seeing their son ordained as a priest was one of the most elevating moments in their lives> — see ELATE
2 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <the old trick of using a fat phone book to elevate a child to a more comfortable position at the table> — see RAISE 1
3 to move higher in rank or position <the announcement that the pope will elevate several prelates to the rank of cardinal> — see PROMOTE 1
4 to assign a high status or value to <a decade in which greed and selfishness were elevated to the rank of virtues> — see EXALT 1

elevated adjective
1 being positioned above a surface <an elevated monorail that transports visitors all over the theme park>

Synonyms
lifted, raised, uplifted, upraised

Related Words
aerial, suspended; erect, perpendicular, standing, upright, upstanding, vertical

Near Antonyms
low, low-lying, short, squat

Antonyms
sunken

2 very dignified in form, tone, or style <the elevated language of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address>

Synonyms
eloquent, formal, high-flown, lofty, majestic, stately, towering

Related Words
affected, bombastic, declamatory, florid, flowery, grandiloquent, grandiose, highfalutin (also hifalutin), oratorical, pompous, pretentious, rhetorical (also rhetoric), stilted; Attic, cultured, refined; classy, courtly, fine, graceful, tasteful; aristocratic, genteel, patrician; correct, educated, grammatical, proper; academic (also academical), bookish, learned, literary

Near Antonyms
casual, colloquial, conversational, informal, nonformal, slangy, unbookish, unliterary, vernacular; coarse, common, crass, crude, gross, ill-bred, indecent, lowbred, lowbrow, rough, rough-hewn, rude, tasteless, uncouth, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar; incorrect, substandard, uneducated, ungrammatical, unlearned

Antonyms
ineloquent, low, undignified

3 being at a higher level than average <for the next several days temperatures will be a little elevated for this time of year> — see HIGH 2
4 having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature <the offspring of this very wealthy family have been instilled with the elevated notion that they should devote their lives to public service> — see NOBLE 2
5 located at a greater height than average or usual <from their elevated position the machine gunners had a commanding view of the whole battlefield> — see HIGH 3
6 experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <she's been in an elevated mood all week after hearing that she got the promotion> — see ECSTATIC

elevation noun
1 a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position <the appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor marked the first elevation of a woman to the U.S. Supreme Court> — see ADVANCEMENT 1
2 an area of high ground <Little Round Top is one of the most visited elevations in the entire Gettysburg National Military Park> — see HEIGHT 4
3 the distance of something or someone from bottom to top <the elevation of Angel Falls is 979 meters, making it the world's highest waterfall> — see HEIGHT 3
4 the most extreme or advanced point <some people contend that Western civilization reached its elevation in Greece five centuries before Christ> — see HEIGHT 2

elf noun
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <elves are often portrayed as rather mischievous> — see FAIRY

elfin adjective
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <the heroine in the story has an elfin beauty that men find irresistible> — see FASCINATING 1

elfish adjective
given to good-natured joking or teasing <an elfish comedian who often played lovable drunks and wisecracking sidekicks> — see PLAYFUL

elicit verb
to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved) <the role elicited the actress's flair for comedy that previous directors had overlooked> — see EDUCE

elide verb
1 to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it <some unnecessary verbiage will need to be elided, but otherwise the article is publishable> — see X OUT
2 to make less in extent or duration <the product presentation was not elided—it's always only 15 minutes long> — see SHORTEN

eliminate verb
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of <the stiff entry fee is intended to eliminate less-than-serious competitors> — see EXCLUDE

elision noun
something left out <unfortunately, when the book was condensed, some of the elisions rendered major plot developments incomprehensible> — see OMISSION

elite noun
1 individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <the winners of this science award represent the elite of our high schools>

Synonyms
A-list, aristocracy, best, choice, corps d'elite, cream, crème de la crème, elect, fat, flower, illuminati, pick, pink, pride, priesthood, prime, royalty, upper crust

Related Words
establishment, gentry, nobility, quality, society, top, top drawer, upper class; caviar (also caviare); who's who

Phrases
cream of the crop, Hall of Fame

Near Antonyms
commoners, herd, hoi polloi, masses, millions, mob, multitude, rank and file, unwashed

2 the highest class in a society <the country's elite owned or controlled most of the wealth> — see ARISTOCRACY 1

elitist adjective
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior <the complacent, elitist attitude of the members at that suburban country club> — see SNOBBISH

elixir noun
something that cures all ills or problems <warned that casino gambling would not be an elixir for all of the region's economic woes> — see CURE-ALL

elliptical or elliptic adjective
1 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <the poet's elliptical style is such that the reader often senses that an allusion is being made—but to what exactly?> — see OBSCURE 1
2 having the shape of an egg <the villa's marble pool is surrounded by an elliptic arrangement of ancient Greek statuary> — see OVAL
3 marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <his elliptical replies can seem rude to some people, but that's just his way> — see CONCISE

elliptically adverb
in a few words <the characters in Harold Pinter's plays speak elliptically leaving much of the meaning to be conveyed by the frequent, lengthy pauses> — see SHORTLY 1

elocution noun
the art of speaking in public eloquently and effectively <the oft-told story that he practiced elocution by learning to speak with a mouth full of pebbles> — see ORATORY 1

elongate verb
to make longer <in his paintings the artist elongated the bodies of angels to give them a spiritual quality> — see EXTEND 1

elongate or elongated adjective
of great extent from end to end <the giraffe's elongate neck is thought to be the result of natural selection> — see LONG 1

elongation noun
the act of making longer <the elongation of artificial fibers in the manufacturing process> — see EXTENSION 1

eloquence noun
the art or power of speaking or writing in a forceful and convincing way <the eloquence of Martin Luther King's “I Have a Dream” speech>

Synonyms
articulacy [chiefly British], articulateness, poetry, rhetoric

Related Words
expression, expressiveness; declamation, elocution, oratory; cogency, force, forcefulness, meaningfulness, persuasion, persuasiveness; ardor, emotion, fervency, fervidness, fervor, heat, intensity, passion, power, vehemence, warmth

Phrases
gift of gab

Antonyms
inarticulateness

eloquent adjective
1 able to express oneself clearly and well <an eloquent writer and speaker, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was one of the founders of the women's rights movement> — see ARTICULATE
2 clearly conveying a special meaning (as one's mood) <in an eloquent gesture, the defeated general was graciously given back his sword at the surrender ceremonies> — see EXPRESSIVE
3 very dignified in form, tone, or style <President Kennedy's eloquent inaugural address is often credited with inspiring a whole generation> — see ELEVATED 2

else adjective
resulting in an increase in amount or number <is there anything else you would like to add to your list?> — see ADDITIONAL

else adverb
in a different way <if you could do it over again, how else would you have done it?> — see OTHERWISE

elucidate verb
to make plain or understandable <colored charts that really help to elucidate the points made in the text> — see EXPLAIN 1

elucidation noun
a statement that makes something clear <the candidate issued what were supposed to be elucidations of his earlier statements, but they did little to quell the controversy> — see EXPLANATION 1

elucidative adjective
serving to explain <most editions of Shakespeare's plays now have elucidative footnotes to help the modern reader> — see EXPLANATORY

elude verb
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery <the millionaire had been eluding his fair share of taxes for years before getting caught> — see ESCAPE 2

eluding noun
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable <the bachelor's eluding of that dreaded trip to the altar came to an end when his girlfriend issued an ultimatum> — see ESCAPE 2

elusion noun
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable <his artful elusion of the worst work assignments> — see ESCAPE 2

elusive adjective
hard to find, capture, or isolate <the giant squid is one of the ocean's most elusive inhabitants>

Synonyms
evasive, fugitive, slippery

Related Words
cagey (also cagy), shifty; ephemeral, evanescent, fleeting, impermanent, momentary, passing, short-lived, temporary, transient, transitory; inaccessible, inconvenient, unapproachable, unattainable, unavailable, unobtainable, unreachable, untouchable

Near Antonyms
accessible, approachable, attainable, available, convenient, obtainable, reachable

elvish adjective
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <with elvish glee the fraternity brothers hazed the new members to the point of utter humiliation> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

elysian adjective
of, relating to, or suggesting heaven <the dream of retiring to a tropical isle and enjoying a life of elysian ease> — see CELESTIAL

elysian fields plural noun
a dwelling place of perfect happiness for the soul after death <those that live righteously will find peace in the elysian fields of the hereafter> — see HEAVEN 1

Elysium noun
1 a dwelling place of perfect happiness for the soul after death <the mourners were comforted by their belief that the saintly woman was now experiencing the joys of Elysium> — see HEAVEN 1
2 an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <the universal pipe dream that there exists somewhere an earthly Elysium where people live trouble-free lives> — see PARADISE 1

emaciate verb
to lose bodily strength or vigor <without adequate medical supplies, doctors could only look on helplessly as cholera victims continued to emaciate> — see WEAKEN 2

emaciated adjective
suffering extreme weight loss as a result of hunger or disease <the emaciated bodies of the survivors of the concentration camps>

Synonyms
cadaverous, gaunt, haggard, skeletal, wasted

Related Words
bony (also boney), lank, lanky, rawboned, scraggy, scrawny, sinewy, skinny, spare, thin; starved, underfed, undernourished; famished, hungry, starving; shriveled (or shrivelled), withered, wizened

Near Antonyms
beefy, brawny, burly, fit, hale, healthy, hearty, husky; chubby, corpulent, fat, fleshy, heavyset, obese, overweight, plump, portly, pudgy, roly-poly, rotund, stocky, thickset, tubby; flabby, soft

emanate verb
to throw or give off <honeysuckle emanating such a sweet scent> — see EMIT 1

emancipate verb
to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <under the cover of darkness animal rights activists emancipated the inhabitants of the mink ranch> — see FREE 1

emancipation noun
the act of setting free from slavery <a book discussing the role that the emancipation of slaves played in the nation's history> — see LIBERATION

emasculate verb
to deprive of courage or confidence <being eliminated early in one's very first tennis tournament can be an emasculating experience> — see UNNERVE 1

embankment noun
a bank of earth constructed to control water <the embankment is steep, so be careful walking along the ridge> — see DAM

embargo noun
an order that something not be done or used <there's a standing embargo against the use of foul language in this house> — see PROHIBITION 2

embark (on or upon) verb
to take the first step in (a process or course of action) <she's eager to finish college and to embark upon a career in teaching> — see BEGIN 1

embarrass verb
1 to throw into a state of self-conscious distress <the young soldier was embarrassed by the public praise for his heroism>

Synonyms
abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle

Related Words
agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, put off, put out, unhinge, unsettle, upset; debase, degrade, demean, humble, humiliate, queer, shame

Near Antonyms
calm, comfort, console, relieve, soothe; buoy, cheer, embolden, encourage, hearten; assure, reassure

2 to create difficulty for the work or activity of <a lot of this paperwork is unnecessary and just embarrasses the organization> — see HAMPER
3 to make complex or difficult <claims that the new government regulations will needlessly embarrass the operations of small businesses in the state> — see COMPLICATE 1

embarrassing adjective
causing embarrassment <an embarrassing failure of memory inauspiciously marked my first appearance as an actor> — see AWKWARD 3

embarrassment noun
1 the emotional state of being made self-consciously uncomfortable <experienced the great embarrassment of tripping while on stage>

Synonyms
abashment, confusion, discomfiture, disconcertment, fluster, mortification

Related Words
agitation, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discomposure, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturbance, perturbation, unease, uneasiness, upset; disgrace, ignominy, shame; debasement, degradation, humiliation, mortification; humble pie

Phrases
egg on one's face

Near Antonyms
aplomb, assurance, composure, confidence, coolness, equanimity, poise, self-assurance, self-confidence, self-possession

2 something that makes movement or progress difficult <a big suitcase filled with clothes proved to be more an embarrassment than a convenience on my trip> — see ENCUMBRANCE

embayment noun
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline <a fingerlike embayment of the Bay of Fundy> <a river embayment> — see GULF 1

embed also imbed verb
to set solidly in or as if in surrounding matter <the nails were solidly embedded in those old plaster walls> — see ENTRENCH

embellish verb
1 to add to the interest of by including made-up details <the story of the comic marriage proposal was embellished as it passed from one generation to the next in the family> — see EMBROIDER
2 to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <the walls of the French restaurant are embellished with scenes of Parisian life> — see DECORATE

embellisher noun
something that decorates or beautifies <that simple dress is beautiful by itself and doesn't need any embellishers> — see DECORATION 1

embellishing adjective
serving to add beauty <the chef tends to overuse sprigs of parsley and other embellishing garnishes on dishes that don't need them> — see DECORATIVE

embellishment noun
1 something that decorates or beautifies <a colorful mobile is just the embellishment that the soon-to-be nursery needs> — see DECORATION 1
2 the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts <the actor's penchant for embellishment suggests that his memoirs would be more appropriately shelved in the fiction section> — see EXAGGERATION

embitter verb
to implant bitter feelings in <the family refused to let their devastating collision with a drunk driver permanently embitter them>

Synonyms
antagonize, empoison, envenom

Related Words
aggravate, anger, enrage, incense, infuriate, madden; alienate, disaffect, disgruntle, estrange, set (against); curdle, sour

Near Antonyms
endear, ingratiate; appease, assuage, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate; sweeten

embittered adjective
having or showing deep-seated resentment <gradually the embittered woman realized that her lingering feelings of hatred were slowly destroying her> — see BITTER 1

emblaze verb
1 to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <the days when movies were shown in palaces that were lavishly emblazed to look like ancient Egypt or exotic Arabia> — see DECORATE
2 to supply with light <a time when Broadway was emblazed by the lights of dozens of theaters> — see ILLUMINATE 1

emblazon verb
to proclaim the glory of <colossal statues and other monumental constructions that were intended to emblazon his name for eons to come> — see PRAISE 1

emblem noun
a device, design, or figure used as an identifying mark <the oil company uses a scallop shell as its emblem>

Synonyms
ensign, hallmark, impresa, logo, symbol, totem, trademark

Related Words
attribute, icon (also ikon), pictograph; logogram, logograph; badge, coat of arms, cognizance, crest, insignia, monogram; colophon, stamp, token

emblematic also emblematical adjective
having the function or meaning of an object or figure that stands for something else <the dove is emblematic of the organization's mission to bring some peace to a troubled world> — see SYMBOLIC

emblematize verb
to serve as a material counterpart of <the burned-out church emblematizes how the religious strife has destroyed that nation> — see SYMBOLIZE

embodier noun
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <a devoted caregiver to her elderly parents, she is the flesh-and-blood embodier of filial duty> — see EMBODIMENT

embodiment noun
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <Mother Theresa was often regarded as the embodiment of selfless devotion to others>

Synonyms
abstract, avatar, embodier, epitome, externalization, genius, icon (also ikon), image, incarnation, incorporation, instantiation, manifestation, objectification, personification, personifier

Related Words
actualization, concretization, exemplification, personalization, realization, substantiation; essence, quintessence, soul; archetype, exemplar, model, paradigm, pattern; reincarnation

embody verb
1 to make a part of a body or system <they must embody their ideas in substantial institutions if they are to survive>

Synonyms
absorb, assimilate, co-opt, incorporate, integrate

Related Words
amalgamate, blend, combine, commingle, fuse, intermingle, merge, mingle; acculturate, accustom, condition, enculturate, habituate, naturalize

2 to represent in visible form <George Washington embodied so many of the virtues that Americans hold dear>

Synonyms
body, epitomize, express, externalize, incarnate, incorporate, instantiate, manifest, materialize, personalize, personify, substantiate

Related Words
actualize, concretize, realize; exemplify, illustrate, image, objectify, symbolize, typify

Antonyms
disembody

embolden verb
to fill with courage or strength of purpose <his poor showing in his first swim meet just emboldened him to train even harder> — see ENCOURAGE 1

emboldened adjective
inclined or willing to take risks <not too surprisingly, rock climbing tends to attract the more emboldened seekers of outdoor adventure> — see BOLD 1

embonpoint noun
the condition of having an excess of body fat <clothes for women who may be inclined to embonpoint but who still want to look stylish> — see CORPULENCE

embosom verb
to surround or cover closely <a villa that has been embosomed by the verdant hills of northern Italy for three centuries> — see ENFOLD 1

emboss verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <the simple country church has an aura of serene spirituality that is often missing in more embossed houses of worship> — see DECORATE

embower verb
to surround or cover closely <over the years grapevines have completely embowered the summerhouse in the garden> — see ENFOLD 1

embrace verb
1 to put one's arms around and press tightly <upon being finally reunited, the overjoyed father embraced his son>

Synonyms
bear-hug, clasp, crush, enclasp, enfold, grasp, hug, strain

Related Words
clamp, cling, cradle, grab, grip, hold; bosom, embosom, encircle, entwine, envelop, enwind; fold, lock, twine, wrap; cuddle, fondle, nestle, nuzzle, pat, pet, snuggle, stroke

2 to surround or cover closely <the stone walls that embrace the monastery serve to symbolize its function as a retreat from an unquiet world> — see ENFOLD 1
3 to take for one's own use (something originated by another) <rap music came to be embraced by people who were far removed from the inner cities where it originated> — see ADOPT
4 to receive or accept gladly or readily <the exchange student was gratified to be so quickly embraced by people of the small rural community> — see WELCOME
5 to have as part of a whole <a course in social studies can embrace everything from sociology to civics and economics> — see INCLUDE 1
6 to form a circle around <a sleepy village embraced by low hills> — see SURROUND

embracive adjective
covering everything or all important points <“pickle” is an embracive term for any kind of food preserved in brine or vinegar> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC

embrangle verb
to place in conflict or difficulties <it seems everyone who was even remotely connected to the man became somehow embrangled in the scandal surrounding him> — see EMBROIL

embrittled adjective
having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure <old, embrittled movie film that would never stand up to being run through a projector> — see CRISP 1

embroider verb
to add to the interest of by including made-up details <Dad likes to embroider his fishing stories>

Synonyms
color, elaborate (on), embellish, exaggerate, hyperbolize, magnify, pad, stretch

Related Words
dress up, gussy up; amplify, enhance, enlarge (on or upon), expand, flesh (out); fudge, hedge; overdo, overdraw, overemphasize, overplay, overstate; emphasize, play up, stress; caricature; satirize

Near Antonyms
belittle, minimize, play down, understate

embroidering noun
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts <with considerable embroidering the owners of the bed-and-breakfast have turned a few odd incidents into a full-blown legend of ghostly apparitions> — see EXAGGERATION

embroidery noun
1 decorative stitching done on cloth with the use of a needle <she's been able to turn her skill at embroidery into a second business selling decorative cushions at craft fairs> — see NEEDLEWORK
2 the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts <it's doubtful that she ever told an anecdote without considerable embroidery> — see EXAGGERATION

embroil verb
to place in conflict or difficulties <the town has been embroiled in controversy over the building of the huge shopping mall>

Synonyms
bog (down), broil, embrangle, mire

Related Words
enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, ensnarl, entangle, entrap, snare, tangle, trap

Near Antonyms
emancipate, free, liberate, release

emcee noun
a person who conducts a program of entertainment by making introductions and providing continuity <acted as emcee for the evening's entertainment at the political convention> — see ANNOUNCER

emend verb
to remove errors, defects, deficiencies, or deviations from <the first printout quickly revealed that our computer program needed to be emended> — see CORRECT 1

emendation noun
a change designed to correct or improve a written work <the governor's numerous emendations to the speechwriter's first draft left nary a sentence untouched> — see CORRECTION 1

emerge verb
to come to one's attention especially gradually or unexpectedly <problems emerged almost as soon as the contractor began the excavation for the swimming pool> — see ARISE 2

emergency noun
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <an alert, quick-thinking girl who is good to have around in an emergency>

Synonyms
boiling point, breaking point, clutch, conjuncture, crisis, crossroad(s), crunch, crunch time, Dunkirk, exigency, extremity, flash point, head, juncture, tinderbox, zero hour

Related Words
contingency, possibility; climax, turning point; happening, landmark, milestone; condition, pass, situation, strait; deadlock, impasse, stalemate; corner, fix, hole, hot water, jam, last ditch, pinch, predicament, scrape, spot; eleventh hour, last minute

Phrases
moment of truth, point of no return

emergent adjective
needing immediate attention <since it was not seen as an emergent problem, it was continually put off> — see ACUTE 2

emigrant noun
one that leaves one place to settle in another <a city teeming with emigrants from many lands>

Synonyms
émigré (also emigré), immigrant, incomer [chiefly British], in-migrant, migrant, out-migrant, settler

Related Words
defector, deportee, evacuee, exile, expatriate, refugee, relocatee, repatriate; alien, foreigner, illegal, noncitizen, nonnative; colonist, newcomer, squatter; migrator, pilgrim, pioneer, trekker

Near Antonyms
aborigine, native; citizen, habitant, inhabitant, national, resident

Antonyms
nonimmigrant

émigré also emigré noun
1 a person forced to emigrate for political reasons <the revolution resulted in a flood of émigrés into neighboring countries>

Synonyms
deportee, evacuee, exile, expat [chiefly British], expatriate, refugee

Related Words
alien, fugitive; castoff, outcast, pariah; loyalist, patriot

2 one that leaves one place to settle in another <the émigrés had little understanding of what awaited them in America> — see EMIGRANT

eminence noun
1 the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance <the eminence of the Nobel Prize in the field of awards and prizes>

Synonyms
distinction, dominance, noteworthiness, paramountcy, preeminence, preponderance, preponderancy, prepotency, prestigiousness, primacy, superiority, supremacy, transcendence

Related Words
celebrity, fame, famousness, glory, honor, kudos, renown, reputation, repute; megastardom, stardom, superstardom; greatness, illustriousness, nobleness, notableness; ascendance (also ascendence), ascendancy (also ascendency), authority, domination, dominion; influence, power, prestige, weight; infamy, notoriety

Near Antonyms
insignificance; inferiority, mediocrity; obscureness, obscurity

2 an area of high ground <the old citadel sits on an eminence with a commanding view of the city> — see HEIGHT 4

éminence grise noun
the senior member of a group <the revered éminence grise of Civil War historians> — see DEAN

eminent adjective
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <many eminent surgeons are on the hospital's staff>

Synonyms
astral, bright, distinguished, illustrious, luminous, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, preeminent, prestigious, redoubtable, signal, star, superior

Related Words
celebrated, exalted, famed, famous, glorious, honored, renowned, reputable; infamous, notorious; dominant, paramount, predominant

Near Antonyms
insignificant, minor, unimportant; average, inferior, mediocre; obscure, uncelebrated, unsung

eminently adverb
to a great degree <an applicant who is eminently qualified for the job> — see VERY 1

emissary noun
1 a person sent on a mission to represent another <most of the industrialized nations of the world sent emissaries to the conference on global warming> — see AMBASSADOR
2 a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country <the embassy's staff likely contains at least one emissary who reports to the home country's chief of intelligence> — see SPY

emit verb
1 to throw or give off <nuclei that emit gamma rays>

Synonyms
cast, discharge, emanate, evolve, exhale, expel, expire [archaic], give out, irradiate, issue, radiate, release, send (out), shoot, throw out, vent

Related Words
eliminate, evacuate, excrete, exude, ooze, secrete; eject, erupt, gush, jet, outpour, pour, spew, spout, spray, spurt, squirt

Near Antonyms
absorb, inhale, soak (up), sponge, suck (up), take up

2 to send forth using the vocal chords <I was so scared I couldn't emit a peep> — see UTTER 1

emolument noun
the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services <the annual emolument for the director of the charity is officially only one dollar> — see WAGE

emotion noun
1 a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation <my emotions after hearing the shocking news went from utter disbelief to overwhelming sorrow> — see FEELING 1
2 depth of feeling <the emotion that the singer is able to instill in “Amazing Grace” is truly stirring> — see ARDOR 1

emotional adjective
1 having or expressing great depth of feeling <worship at revival meetings often takes a markedly emotional form> — see FERVENT 1
2 having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies <in one emotional scene in the movie the boy must say goodbye to his extraterrestrial friend> — see MOVING
3 showing feeling freely <the fact that he is not a very emotional person does not mean that he is not a loving, caring father> — see DEMONSTRATIVE 1

emotionless adjective
not feeling or showing emotion <endured an unsatisfying marriage to a seemingly emotionless man> — see IMPASSIVE 1

emotionlessness noun
a lack of emotion or emotional expressiveness <her seeming emotionlessness at her husband's funeral masked a grief that was beyond words> — see APATHY 1

empathetic adjective
having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another <an empathetic social worker who soon realized that the single mother was at her breaking point> — see SYMPATHETIC 1

empathic adjective
having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another <gave an empathic nod as I recounted my repeated efforts to land a decent-paying job in a tough economy> — see SYMPATHETIC 1

emphasis noun
1 a special notice or importance given to something <a prep school with a long-established emphasis on sports>

Synonyms
accent, accentuation, stress, underscoring, weight

Related Words
attention, concentration, focus, spotlight; consequence, import, moment, note, significance, value, worth; precedence, primacy, priority, top billing; consideration, heed, regard

Near Antonyms
minimization, underemphasis; disregard, indifference

Antonyms
de-emphasis

2 the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression) <the emphasis with which my parents issued the warning about smoking left no doubt that they were serious> — see VEHEMENCE 1

emphasize verb
1 to indicate the importance of by centering attention on <supermarket tabloids that emphasize sensational news stories>

Synonyms
accent, accentuate, feature, foreground, highlight, illuminate, play up, point (up), press, punctuate, stress

Related Words
focus, identify, pinpoint, spotlight; advertise, boost, plug, promote, publicize; overplay

Phrases
bear down on, make much of

Near Antonyms
tone (down), underemphasize, understate; belittle, discount, disparage, minimize

Antonyms
de-emphasize, play down

2 to make more apparent <that huge belt buckle only emphasizes his big gut>

Synonyms
accentuate, bring out, italicize, stress, underline, underscore

Related Words
amplify, beef (up), boost, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; augment, deepen, enhance, enlarge, heighten, magnify, maximize, supplement; enliven, jazz (up)

Near Antonyms
decrease, diminish, lessen, minimize, reduce, subdue, tone (down), understate, weaken

Antonyms
de-emphasize

emphatic adjective
1 marked by or uttered with forcefulness <the governor issued an emphatic denial of all charges>

Synonyms
aggressive, assertive, dynamic, energetic, forceful, full-blooded, muscular, resounding, strenuous, vehement, vigorous, violent

Related Words
decided, insistent, marked, pointed; absolute, categorical (also categoric), clear, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal; arresting, compelling, conspicuous, impelling, noticeable, striking

Near Antonyms
guarded, mild, uncompelling, weak, wishy-washy; ambiguous, equivocal, halting, hesitant; understated

Antonyms
nonassertive, nonemphatic, unemphatic

2 likely to attract attention <with all of the decorative fishing nets, lobster pots, and oars, the seafood restaurant's nautical theme was a little too emphatic for my taste> — see NOTICEABLE

empire noun
a group of businesses or enterprises under one control <the media mogul's empire consists of newspapers, TV stations, and cable companies> — see CONGLOMERATE

empirical also empiric adjective
1 based on observation or experience <guidelines for raising children that are based on empirical evidence>

Synonyms
existential, experiential, experimental, objective, observational

Related Words
actual, factual, genuine, hard, material, real; accepted, established, tried, tried-and-true; indisputable, undeniable; demonstrable, provable, verifiable

Near Antonyms
conjectural, hypothetical, speculative; unproven, unsubstantiated; metaphysical, transcendentalist, visionary

Antonyms
nonempirical, theoretical (also theoretic), unempirical

2 capable of being proven as true or real <a philosopher who does not regard “God exists” as an empirical statement> — see VERIFIABLE

emplace verb
to arrange something in a certain spot or position <the plan is to emplace more guns on the ridge north of the camp> — see PLACE 1

emplacement noun
the area or space occupied by or intended for something <the emplacement of the house, which is between two hulking mansions, makes it seem smaller than it is> — see PLACE 1

employ noun
the state of being provided with a paying job <while you're under our employ, you can't do outside work for our competitors> — see HIRE 1

employ verb
1 to provide with a paying job <a new factory that will employ 500 people>

Synonyms
assume, engage, fee [chiefly Scottish], hire, lay on [chiefly British], pay, place, recruit, retain, sign (up or on), take on

Related Words
reemploy, reengage, rehire; apprentice, contract, job, partner, subcontract; enlist; advance, promote, upgrade; keep (on); headhunt, scout

Near Antonyms
furlough, lay off, lock out

Antonyms
ax (or axe), can, discharge, dismiss, fire, sack

2 to put into action or service <looking for a job in which she can employ her considerable writing skills> — see USE 1

employable adjective
capable of or suitable for being used for a particular purpose <this wall map of the bay is for decoration only—it's not employable for actual navigation> — see USABLE 1

employed adjective
involved in often constant activity <insisted that the children be employed in some useful activity, even during school vacations> — see BUSY 1

employee also employe noun
one who works for another for wages or a salary <an employer who was loved and admired by generations of employees>

Synonyms
hand, hireling, jobholder, retainer, worker

Related Words
assistant, cog, flunky (also flunkey or flunkie), subordinate, underling, yes-man; drudge, gandy dancer, grub, hack, jobber, laborer, navvy [chiefly British], toiler; nine-to-fiver, wage earner, wage slave, wageworker, workingman, workingwoman, workman, workwoman; associate, colleague, coworker; temp, temporary

Near Antonyms
boss, superior, supervisor

Antonyms
employer, gaffer [British]

employment noun
1 the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose <the employment of the kitchen oven as a storage cupboard had predictably disastrous results> — see USE 1
2 the activity by which one regularly makes a living <his regular employment is that of a restaurant waiter, but he always identifies himself as an actor> — see OCCUPATION 1
3 the state of being provided with a paying job <the parents tried to convey to their adult son the joys of steady employment> — see HIRE 1

empoison verb
to implant bitter feelings in <a series of misfortunes had empoisoned him against the whole world> — see EMBITTER

emporium noun
an establishment where goods are sold to consumers <an emporium for home electronic equipment filled with stuff I didn't know I needed but now desperately want> — see SHOP 1

empower verb
1 to give official or legal power to <the federal agency empowered to collect taxes> — see AUTHORIZE 1
2 to make able or possible <workshops in financial management to empower workers to plan for their retirement> — see ENABLE 1

empowerment noun
the granting of power to perform various acts or duties <the empowerment of her husband to make medical decisions on her behalf is clearly stated in her living will> — see COMMISSION 1

emprise noun
an exciting or noteworthy event that one experiences firsthand <he always seems to be having the sort of high emprise that most of us experience only in our dreams> — see ADVENTURE 1

emptiness noun
1 a need or desire for food <the emptiness that usually sets in about three o'clock in the afternoon> — see HUNGER 1
2 empty space <there in the vast emptiness of the desert was a long-abandoned jeep> — see VACANCY 1
3 the quality or state of being empty <the emptiness of the interior of the isolated house just made it seem all the more eerie> — see VACANCY 2

empty adjective
1 lacking contents that could or should be present <the refrigerator is empty, so we'll have to eat out>

Synonyms
bare, blank, clean, devoid, stark, toom [chiefly Scottish], vacant, vacuous, void

Related Words
barren, hollow; available, clear, free, open; unfilled, unfurnished; unattended, uninhabited, unoccupied; abandoned, deserted, emptied, forsaken, vacated; depleted, drained, dry, exhausted

Near Antonyms
complete; replete; furnished, provided, supplied; filled, occupied; flush, overflowing, packed, teeming

Antonyms
full

2 feeling a desire or need for food <as the long car trip wore on, we all started to feel a little empty> — see HUNGRY 1
3 having no meaning <spare me your empty apologies because if you were truly sorry, you'd change> — see MEANINGLESS
4 having no usefulness <an empty task that was assigned just to keep us busy> — see WORTHLESS
5 producing no results <all of the leads in the missing-person case were turning up empty> — see FUTILE 1
6 not expressing any emotion <the refugees' faces had the dazed, empty look of despair> — see BLANK 1

empty verb
to remove the contents of <empty the room before starting to paint the ceiling>

Synonyms
clear, evacuate, vacate, void

Related Words
deplete, drain, eliminate, exhaust, waste; bleed, draw (off); clean, flush, purge, scour, sweep

Antonyms
fill, load

empty–headed adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <she sometimes plays the stereotypical empty-headed blonde to trick people into underestimating her> — see STUPID 1

empyreal adjective
of, relating to, or suggesting heaven <a painting depicting the Deity as seated on an empyreal throne surrounded by saints and angels> — see CELESTIAL

empyrean adjective
of, relating to, or suggesting heaven <movie scenes set in heaven often suggest that harps are the favored instruments for empyrean music> — see CELESTIAL

empyrean noun
1 a dwelling place of perfect happiness for the soul after death <ascended into the empyrean after a life filled with good deeds> — see HEAVEN 1
2 an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <most ticket buyers have no trouble envisioning the empyrean that winning the lottery would inevitably bring about> — see PARADISE 1

emulate verb
1 to be the same in meaning or effect <what they offered at the new resort didn't begin to emulate the kind of pampering we were used to getting at the resort that closed down> — see AMOUNT TO 2
2 to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior <a pro athlete who has often said that children should emulate their parents—not him> — see IMITATE 1

emulative adjective
using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model <right now she's an emulative singer, not having yet created a style of her own> — see IMITATIVE 1

emulsion noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <milk is basically an oil-in-water emulsion> — see BLEND

enable verb
1 to make able or possible <my new glasses enable me to read the fine print>

Synonyms
allow, empower, let, permit

Related Words
fit, habilitate, prepare, qualify, ready; approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; condition, equip

Near Antonyms
inhibit, preclude; disallow, enjoin, forbid, prohibit

Antonyms
prevent

2 to give official or legal power to <a law that would enable the authorities to use wiretaps without obtaining court orders> — see AUTHORIZE 1

enact verb
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action <Congress enacts all laws relating to foreign trade and immigration>

Synonyms
constitute, lay down, legislate, make, ordain, pass

Related Words
reenact, repass; bring about, effect; allow, authorize, permit, sanction; decree, dictate, proclaim; administer, execute; approve, confirm, ratify

Near Antonyms
abolish, abrogate, annul, cancel, invalidate, kill, nullify; overturn, reverse, void

Antonyms
repeal, rescind, revoke

enactment noun
1 a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature <as a result of an enactment by Congress, this breathtaking canyon will be permanently protected from development> — see LAW 1
2 the doing of an action <the enactment of the murder is never actually shown on screen> — see COMMISSION 2

enamored (of) adjective
filled with an intense or excessive love for <many teenage girls became enamored of the movie idol for his boyish good looks>

Synonyms
besotted (by), crazy (about or over), dotty (over), enraptured (by), gaga (over), gone (on), infatuated (with), mad (about), nuts (about)

Related Words
hung up (on), obsessed; foolish, silly, wild; bewitched, captivated, charmed, enchanted, entranced, fascinated

Phrases
stuck on, sweet on

Near Antonyms
cool, detached, unenchanted, unimpressed; disenchanted, disillusioned; heart-free

encage verb
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <a stay-at-home mom who somehow felt encaged in her home> — see ENCLOSE 1

encamp verb
1 to live in a camp or the outdoors <the hike will take several days, and we plan to encamp along the trail> — see CAMP OUT
2 to provide with living quarters or shelter <as the hurricane raged outside, the stranded tourists were encamped overnight in the high school gym> — see HOUSE 1

encampment noun
a place where a group of people live for a short time in tents or cabins <a recreational area that will serve as this year's encampment for the Scouts' jamboree> — see CAMP 1

encapsulate verb
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) <can you encapsulate the president's speech in about a paragraph?> — see SUMMARIZE

encapsulation noun
a short statement of the main points <didn't have time to read the full news article, just the encapsulation on the second page> — see SUMMARY

encase verb
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <fear of the outside world can encase a person just as surely as stone walls> — see ENCLOSE 1

encasement noun
something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <an encasement of several inches of silt had helped to preserve the sunken remains of the historic ship> — see 1CASE 1

enceinte adjective
containing unborn young within the body <back in the days when a bride who was visibly enceinte was a cause for family embarrassment> — see PREGNANT 1

enchain verb
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains <children who were enchained by an overprotective mother> — see BIND 1

enchant verb
1 to attract or delight as if by magic <the child actress enchanted audiences with her bubbly personality> — see CHARM 1
2 to cast a spell on <out of spite, the jealous queen enchanted her chief rival for the title of the fairest one of all> — see BEWITCH 1
3 to hold the attention of as if by a spell <the tales about the young wizard have enchanted children around the globe> — see ENTHRALL 1

enchanted adjective
being or appearing to be under a magic spell <an enchanted isle of the South Pacific>

Synonyms
bewitched, charmed, entranced, magic, magical, spellbound

Related Words
cursed (also curst), jinxed, possessed; dreamy, fairy, fairylike; fantastic (also fantastical), miraculous, utopian, wondrous; hypnotized, mesmerized; bedazzled, captivated, fascinated

enchanter noun
a person skilled in using supernatural forces <in Shakespeare's play an enchanter creates a storm at sea that causes his rivals to be cast upon the shores of his magical isle> — see MAGICIAN 1

enchanting adjective
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <visitors have long found the Highlands of Scotland to be an enchanting place> — see FASCINATING 1

enchantingly adverb
in a pleasing way <we visited an enchantingly lovely village in Vermont> — see WELL 5

enchantment noun
1 a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power <eventually she realized that there wasn't an enchantment in the world that was going to turn her boyfriend into a prince> — see SPELL 1
2 the power of irresistible attraction <there's an enchantment about that handsome, young actor that women just adore> — see CHARM 2
3 the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <there are people even today who claim to be skilled in enchantment> — see MAGIC 1

enchantress noun
1 a woman believed to have often harmful supernatural powers <when misfortune occurred, it was not uncommon for some unpopular woman of the village to be branded an enchantress> — see WITCH 1
2 a woman whom men find irresistibly attractive <Scarlett O'Hara is one of literature's most celebrated enchantresses> — see SIREN
3 a lovely woman <an enchantress of the silver screen whose legend has only grown over the years> — see BEAUTY 2

encircle verb
1 to travel completely around <communication satellites encircling the earth>

Synonyms
circle, circuit, circumnavigate, circumvent, compass, girdle, orbit, ring, round

Related Words
circumambulate, cross, perambulate, traverse

2 to form a circle around <immediately after announcing their engagement, the couple was encircled by their applauding friends> — see SURROUND

enclasp verb
to put one's arms around and press tightly <reached around and enclasped all four children at once> — see EMBRACE 1

enclose also inclose verb
1 to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <dogs who spend the day enclosed in small cages>

Synonyms
box (in), cage, closet, coop (up), corral, encage, encase, envelop, fence (in), hedge, hem (in), house, immure, include, mew (up), pen, wall (in)

Related Words
bound, circumscribe, confine, contain, limit, restrict; encircle, encompass, enfold, enframe, enlace, frame, ring, surround; armor, cocoon, encapsulate, encapsule, encyst, ensheathe, ensphere, enwomb

2 to form a circle around <in a show of support, the women rushed to enclose their distraught friend> — see SURROUND
3 to surround or cover closely <the house was enclosed by a high hedge that shielded it from public view> — see ENFOLD 1

enclosure also inclosure noun
an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls) <a fenced-in enclosure where the sheep are allowed to graze unattended> — see COURT 2

encomium noun
a formal expression of praise <the encomiums bestowed on a teacher at her retirement ceremonies>

Synonyms
accolade, citation, commendation, dithyramb, eulogium, eulogy, homage, hymn, paean, panegyric, salutation, tribute

Related Words
award, decoration, dedication, honor, prize; acclaim, acclamation, laudation; applause, plaudit(s); bravo, hallelujah, kudo; approval, cachet, compliment, recommendation

Near Antonyms
censure, condemnation, denunciation, indictment, rebuke, reprimand, reproof; admonition, correction, harangue, lecture, sermon

encompass verb
1 to form a circle around <a necklace of sapphire-blue lakes encompasses the town> — see SURROUND
2 to have as part of a whole <textbooks on American history are now likely to encompass its social history as well as its political and military history> — see INCLUDE 1
3 to surround or cover closely <a fog of mystery has long encompassed this fraternal organization, which is known for its secret rituals> — see ENFOLD 1

encounter noun
a brief clash between enemies or rivals <survived an encounter with the school bully at the local park>

Synonyms
brush, hassle, run-in, scrape, skirmish

Related Words
argument, fight, quarrel, row, spat, squabble, tiff; battle, brawl, fray, wrangle

encounter verb
1 to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face <quite unexpectedly encountered our next-door neighbor while vacationing in Europe> — see MEET 1
2 to come upon unexpectedly or by chance <we encountered a host of unforeseen problems during the restoration of our 200-year-old house> — see HAPPEN ON OR UPON
3 to enter into contest or conflict with <the troops encountered bands of guerrilla fighters as they made their way across the desert> — see ENGAGE 2

encourage verb
1 to fill with courage or strength of purpose <a pep talk that encouraged the team to get out there and win>

Synonyms
bear up, buck up, buoy (up), cheer (up), chirk (up), embolden, hearten, inspire, inspirit, steel

Related Words
animate, enliven, invigorate; enforce, fortify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; assure, reassure; boost, energize, excite, galvanize, provoke, quicken, rally, stimulate, stir

Near Antonyms
demoralize, depress, sadden; debilitate, enfeeble, hamstring, undermine, weaken; intimidate, psych (out)

Antonyms
daunt, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

2 to help the growth or development of <asserted that the government should be encouraging small businesses, not smothering them with regulations> — see FOSTER 1
3 to rouse to strong feeling or action <the movie's cheap special effects will not encourage audiences to sit on the edge of their seats but to roll in the aisles with laughter> — see PROVOKE 1
4 to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action <the pastor continues to encourage the couple to work out their problems in hopes of saving their marriage> — see URGE

encouragement noun
something that arouses action or activity <the huge rebates that the auto companies were offering were all the encouragement I needed to buy a new car> — see IMPULSE 1

encouraging adjective
1 having qualities which inspire hope <encouraging signs that the economy is improving> — see HOPEFUL 1
2 making one feel good inside <the encouraging story of a young girl who overcame great social and physical obstacles to become an outstanding athlete> — see HEARTWARMING
3 pointing toward a happy outcome <we're off to an encouraging start on this project> — see FAVORABLE 2

encroach verb
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits <each year the sea continues to encroach upon the island's beaches>

Synonyms
creep, inch, worm

Related Words
snake, sneak; entrench (also intrench), impinge, infringe, intrude, invade; overpass, overreach, overrun, overshoot, overstep

encrust also incrust verb
to cover with a hardened layer <refrigerator shelves that were encrusted with the residue of many spills>

Synonyms
cake, crust, rime

Related Words
besmear, coat, smear, spread; cover, daub; coagulate, congeal, harden

encumber verb
1 to create difficulty for the work or activity of <the claim that all of these regulations encumber doctors, taking time away from the actual practice of medicine> — see HAMPER
2 to place a weight or burden on <don't encumber your pack animal so much that it can hardly move> — see LOAD 1

encumbrance noun
something that makes movement or progress difficult <without the encumbrance of a heavy backpack, I could sprint along the trail>

Synonyms
balk, bar, block, chain, clog, cramp, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, fetter, handicap, hindrance, holdback, hurdle, impediment, inhibition, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, shackles, stop, stumbling block, trammel

Related Words
catch, hitch, rub, snag; barrier, blockade, blockage, brick wall, stone wall; arrest, bit, brake, check, constraint, curb, hobble, rein, restraint; embargo, stoppage; delay, holdup, stall; burden, cumber, load; danger, hazard, peril, reef; adversity, difficulty, disadvantage, drawback, hardship

Near Antonyms
catalyst, goad, impetus, incentive, spur, stimulant, stimulus; advantage, break, edge; aid, assistance, benefit, boost, handmaiden (also handmaid), help

encyclopedic adjective
covering everything or all important points <a tour guide with an encyclopedic knowledge of New York City and its people>

Synonyms
all-embracing, all-in [chiefly British], all-inclusive, broad-gauge (or broad-gauged), compendious, complete, comprehensive, cover-all, cyclopedic, embracive, exhaustive, full, global, inclusive, in-depth, omnibus, panoramic, thorough, universal

Related Words
broad, catholic, encyclical, general, inclusionary, overall; cosmic (also cosmical), extensive, far, far-reaching, grand, large, panoptic, sweeping, vast, wide, wide-ranging; blanket, indiscriminate, unrestricted

Near Antonyms
circumscribed, limited, narrow, restricted, specialized; exact, precise; individual, singular, specific; incomplete, patchy, sketchy

end noun
1 the stopping of a process or activity <the end of hostilities brought general rejoicing>

Synonyms
arrest, arrestment, cease, cessation, check, close, closedown, closure, conclusion, cutoff, discontinuance, discontinuation, ending, expiration, finish, halt, lapse, offset, shutdown, shutoff, stay, stop, stoppage, surcease, termination

Related Words
mop-up, phaseout; abeyance, break, interruption, layoff, letup, moratorium, pause, standstill, suspension

Near Antonyms
extension, persistence, prolongation

Antonyms
continuance, continuation

2 a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go <I'm at the end of my patience with these little brats> — see LIMIT 1
3 an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value <a couple of ends of wallpaper were all that was left after we finished papering the room> — see 1SCRAP 1
4 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <in this case the ends definitely do not justify the means> — see GOAL
5 the last and usually sharp or tapering part of something long and narrow <a child's pair of scissors with blunt ends> — see POINT 2
6 the last part of a process or action <the war wasn't yet over, but we were definitely at the beginning of the end> — see FINALE
7 the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <the ends of his shirt cuffs were badly frayed> — see BORDER 1
8 the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <Henry Hudson and eight others were set adrift in the bay in a small boat, and how they met their end is unknown> — see DEATH 1
9 something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group <keep up your end of the bargain> — see SHARE 1

end verb
1 to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point <let's end the meeting with a short prayer> — see CLOSE 3
2 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <unfortunately, an argument ended their date, and they're still not speaking to each other> — see STOP 1
3 to come to an end <a book so good that you hate to see it end> — see CEASE 1
4 to stop living <a great general, who ended on the field of battle> — see DIE 1

endamage verb
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <a thoughtless indiscretion that endamaged a reputation that took a lifetime to build> — see DAMAGE 1

endanger verb
to place in danger <a reckless use of fireworks that endangered the lives of many people>

Synonyms
adventure, compromise, gamble (with), hazard, imperil, jeopard, jeopardize, menace, peril, risk, venture

Related Words
intimidate, threaten; expose; subject; chance, wager

Near Antonyms
guard, protect, shelter, shield; preserve, resume, save

endangered adjective
being in a situation where one is likely to meet with harm <a daring attempt to rescue the endangered passengers from the burning boat> — see LIABLE 1

endangerment noun
the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil <I didn't think I would be subject to any endangerment if I simply dangled my legs over the rock ledge> — see DANGER 1

endearing adjective
1 having qualities that tend to make one loved <you have to wonder about people who don't find kittens and puppies endearing> — see LOVABLE
2 likely or intended to win one's affection <his impish sense of humor is one of his more endearing traits> — see INGRATIATING

endeavor noun
an effort to do or accomplish something <the hope that this latest endeavor will yield much information about the atmosphere of the planet> — see ATTEMPT 1

endeavor verb
1 to devote serious and sustained effort <the trapped climber endeavored mightily to get the boulder to budge> — see LABOR
2 to make an effort to do <our club is forever endeavoring to find ways to raise more money for activities> — see ATTEMPT

ended adjective
brought or having come to an end <the recently ended season was one of the best that the baseball team ever had> — see COMPLETE 2

endemic adjective
belonging to a particular place by birth or origin <the fish is not an endemic species of the lake, and it is rapidly devouring the native trout population> — see NATIVE 1

endgame noun
the last part of a process or action <they're now in the endgame of the negotiations for a new labor contract> — see FINALE

ending noun
1 the last part of a process or action <the plagiarism scandal was a disgraceful ending to a once-promising academic career> — see FINALE
2 the stopping of a process or activity <the best part about any dental procedure is its ending> — see END 1

endless adjective
1 being or seeming to be without limits <from the promontory visitors can look out over an endless sea> — see INFINITE
2 lasting forever <the endless roar is what I remember most about Niagara Falls> — see EVERLASTING 1

endorse also indorse verb
to promote the interests or cause of <an increase in the number of parents who endorse the idea of school uniforms> — see SUPPORT 1

endow verb
1 to furnish freely or naturally with some power, quality, or attribute <a young performer endowed with a great singing voice>

Synonyms
bless, endue (or indue), favor, gift, invest

Related Words
equip, provide, supply; bestow (on or upon), clothe, confer (on), cover; accord, award, grant; empower, enable, enhance, enrich, heighten; bequeath, will

Near Antonyms
dispossess, divest, strip; deplete, drain, exhaust; skimp, stint

2 to furnish (as an institution) with a regular source of income <a wealthy businessman who endowed several museums>

Synonyms
finance, fund, subsidize

Related Words
establish, found, organize; bequeath, contribute, donate, subscribe, support, underwrite; award, grant; back, promote, sponsor; capitalize, invest (in)

Near Antonyms
draw, receive; subsist

Antonyms
defund, disendow

3 to provide money for <the program to bring the arts to inner-city youths is endowed by a grant from the federal government> — see FINANCE 1

endowment noun
a special and usually inborn ability <it's a sin to waste one's God-given endowments> — see TALENT

endue or indue verb
1 to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle <professional soldiers endued with an ironclad sense of duty and honor> — see INFUSE
2 to furnish freely or naturally with some power, quality, or attribute <she's always been endued with an unquenchable optimism> — see ENDOW 1

endurable adjective
capable of being endured <a flu shot is never pleasant, but I find the momentary pain entirely endurable> — see BEARABLE

endurance noun
uninterrupted or lasting existence <the endurance of his love for his wife was not arrested even by her death> — see CONTINUATION

endure verb
1 to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it <an elderly couple who have endured the ups and downs of a half century of married life> — see EXPERIENCE
2 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <at some point we all have to endure the loss of a beloved pet> — see BEAR 2
3 to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state <the fashion business is built on change, since nobody expects a particular clothing style to endure> — see CONTINUE 1

enduring adjective
having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish <science fiction's enduring fascination with worlds beyond our own> — see ABIDING

enemy noun
one that is hostile toward another <a beloved minister with no known enemies>

Synonyms
adversary, antagonist, foe, hostile, opponent

Related Words
archenemy, archfoe, nemesis; ill-wisher; bane, bête noire; assailant, attacker, combatant, invader; competitor, emulator, rival

Near Antonyms
buddy, chum, compadre, crony, fellow, hail-fellow, hail-fellow-well-met, hearty, hobnobber, mate, musketeer, pal; abettor (also abetter), accomplice, ally, collaborator, colleague, comrade, confederate, friendly, partner; adherent, disciple, follower; backer, benefactor, exponent, supporter, sympathizer, well-wisher

Antonyms
amigo, friend

energetic adjective
1 having active strength of body or mind <a lifelong fitness fanatic, he remained energetic well into his 80s> — see VIGOROUS 1
2 having much high-spirited energy and movement <trying to find the right music for an energetic aerobics routine> — see LIVELY 1
3 marked by or uttered with forcefulness <the salesperson gave us an energetic sales pitch, talking excitedly about the amazing features of this year's cars> — see EMPHATIC 1

energetically adverb
in a vigorous and forceful manner <the crew worked energetically to get the parade float done on time> — see HARD 3

energize verb
to give life, vigor, or spirit to <a teacher who knows how to energize history lessons with little-known but interesting facts about long-ago people> — see ANIMATE

energized adjective
made or become fresh in spirits or vigor <after a refreshing lunch, we felt energized and ready to hit the bike trail once again> — see NEW 4

energy noun
1 a spiritual force that is held to emanate from or give animation to living beings <many Eastern cultures believe in the significance of life energy in the healing process>

Synonyms
aura, chi (or ch'i also qi), ki, vibe(s), vibration(s)

Related Words
inner light, light, nature, orgone, soul, spirit; élan vital, life, lifeblood, Shakti (also Sakti), world soul; karma, mana

2 active strength of body or mind <for a woman of advanced years, she has remarkable energy> — see VIGOR 1
3 something with a usable capacity for doing work <some of the power needs of the house are provided by solar energy> — see FUEL
4 the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task <I'm so tired that I don't think I have the energy to take another step> — see POWER 2

enervate verb
1 to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality <a lifetime of working in dreary jobs had enervated his very soul> — see DEHYDRATE 1
2 to diminish the physical strength of <the surgery really enervated me for weeks afterwards> — see WEAKEN 1

enervated adjective
1 lacking bodily energy or motivation <as the heat wave wore on, everyone really started to feel enervated> — see LISTLESS
2 lacking bodily strength <months of recovery in the hospital had rendered the soldiers enervated and unfit> — see WEAK 1

enervation noun
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <took a dip in the pool to alleviate the enervation caused by the heat and humidity> — see WEAKNESS 1

enfant terrible noun
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs <an author who reveled in his role as the enfant terrible of American letters> — see NONCONFORMIST 1

enfeeble verb
to diminish the physical strength of <long periods of being confined to a hospital bed will enfeeble anyone> — see WEAKEN 1

enfeebled adjective
lacking bodily strength <the enfeebled old woman now needs a companion to help her with everyday tasks> — see WEAK 1

enfeeblement noun
1 a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body <daily exercise can help to halt some of the enfeeblement that comes with advanced years> — see DECLINE 1
2 the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <a lot of the enfeeblement I've experienced since the accident is being gradually diminished by daily physical therapy> — see WEAKNESS 1

enfetter verb
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains <enfettered by debt, she was in no position to take early retirement> — see BIND 1

enfold verb
1 to surround or cover closely <darkness began to enfold the lonely house on the hill>

Synonyms
bosom, bower, circumfuse, cocoon, embosom, embower, embrace, enclose (also inclose), encompass, enshroud, enswathe, envelop, enwrap, invest, involve, lap, mantle, muffle, shroud, swathe, veil, wrap

Related Words
curtain, drape; embed (also imbed), encase; swaddle; blanket, overlay, overspread; camouflage, cloak, disguise, mask; circle, encircle, enlace, enwind

Near Antonyms
bare, denude, expose, strip

2 to put one's arms around and press tightly <the winner enfolded the huge bouquet of roses in her arms and thanked the judges> — see EMBRACE 1

enforce verb
to carry out effectively <the duty of the police is to enforce the law>

Synonyms
administer, apply, execute, implement

Related Words
bring about, effect, effectuate; discharge, fulfill (or fulfil), render; cite, invoke; enact, legislate; honor, observe, uphold; prosecute; promulgate

Near Antonyms
disregard, ignore, neglect

enfranchise verb
to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <in a way, modern labor-saving appliances enfranchised people, giving them much more leisure time> — see FREE 1

enfranchisement noun
1 the act of setting free from slavery <the Emancipation Proclamation was merely the first step in the full enfranchisement of African-Americans> — see LIBERATION
2 the right to formally express one's position or will in an election <a time when enfranchisement was limited to white males who owned property> — see VOTE 1

engage verb
1 to hold the attention of <the challenging jigsaw puzzle engaged us all evening>

Synonyms
absorb, bemuse, busy, catch up, engross, enthrall (or enthral), enwrap, fascinate, grip, immerse, interest, intrigue, involve, occupy

Related Words
allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, obsess; hypnotize, mesmerize; distract, preoccupy; hog, monopolize

Phrases
catch one's eye

Near Antonyms
bore, jade, pall, tire, weary

2 to enter into contest or conflict with <the daring young captain was eager to engage the enemy>

Synonyms
battle, encounter, face, meet, take on

Related Words
emulate, rival; contend, fight, oppose

Near Antonyms
elude, escape, evade; retreat

3 to obligate by prior agreement <we can't go to the dance because we're already engaged to attend a piano recital> — see PLEDGE 1
4 to provide with a paying job <the wealthy couple are looking to engage a handyman to take care of the estate> — see EMPLOY 1
5 to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum <my sister and her boyfriend have engaged a chauffeured limousine for the prom> — see HIRE 1

engaged adjective
1 pledged in marriage <the engaged couple make a charming pair>

Synonyms
affianced, bespoke (also bespoken) [dialect], betrothed, promised [chiefly dialect]

Related Words
committed

Antonyms
unattached

2 involved in often constant activity <I'm engaged right now, so call back some other time> — see BUSY 1

engagement noun
1 the act or state of being engaged to be married <the fun couple recently announced their engagement>

Synonyms
betrothal, espousal, troth

Antonyms
disengagement

2 an agreement to be present at a specified time and place <a lifelong practice of marking all of my engagements on a weekly calendar>

Synonyms
appointment, assignation, date, rendezvous, tryst

Related Words
arrangement; invitation; interview; get-together, meeting; call, visit; schedule

3 the state of being provided with a paying job <his engagement as a caddie at the golf club was his first work experience> — see HIRE 1

engaging adjective
1 having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <movie stars often have an engaging aura that is hard to describe> — see FASCINATING 1
2 holding the attention or provoking interest <a movie with an engaging story that will hold your interest for a couple of hours> — see INTERESTING

engender verb
1 to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <a suggestion to go out for pizza that didn't seem to engender any interest> — see EFFECT
2 to come into existence <feelings of confidence and independence that were only just beginning to engender within her> — see BEGIN 2

engine noun
a device that changes energy into mechanical motion <a car with a 200-horsepower engine>

Synonyms
machine, motor

Related Words
converter, transformer; appliance, mechanism; equipment, tool; mill

engineer noun
a person who designs and guides a plan or undertaking <the engineer of a movement to eradicate hunger>

Synonyms
architect, mastermind

Related Words
builder, maker, producer; captain, commander, director, handler, leader, manager, quarterback; contriver, designer, formulator, originator, spawner; arranger, hatcher, organizer, planner, plotter, schemer; finagler, machinator, maneuverer; developer, generator, inaugurator, initiator, inspirer, instituter (or institutor), pioneer

engineer verb
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care <the mayor engineered an agreement to have a major league team play in our city>

Synonyms
contrive, finagle, finesse, frame, machinate, maneuver, manipulate, mastermind, negotiate, wangle

Related Words
arrange, concert, conclude, hammer out, work out; angle (for), compass, intrigue, plot, scheme; connive; brew, concoct, cook (up), hatch; captain, command, conduct, direct, handle, manage, quarterback, run; gerrymander

Near Antonyms
blow, bobble, botch, bungle, butcher, flub, fumble, gum (up), louse up, mangle, mess (up), mishandle, muff

engird verb, archaic
to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt <her forehead engirded with a band of gold> — see GIRD 1

engirdle verb
to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt <the cloud-engirdled peaks of the Andes> — see GIRD 1

engrave verb
1 to cut (as letters or designs) on a hard surface <engraved the birth and death dates on the tombstone>

Synonyms
etch, grave, incise, inscribe, insculp [archaic]

Related Words
carve, chisel, sculpt, sculpture; chase, groove, indent, notch; score, trace; affix, impress

2 to produce a vivid impression of <a scar that forever engraved the killer's face in the witness's mind>

Synonyms
brand, etch, impress, imprint, infix, ingrain (also engrain)

Related Words
enroot, imbue, implant, inculcate, infuse, instill; fix, set, stamp

Near Antonyms
blot out, erase, expunge, obliterate

engross verb
to hold the attention of <a mystery story that will engross readers all the way to the surprise ending> — see ENGAGE 1

engrossed adjective
having the mind fixed on something <I was too engrossed in the book to notice the time> — see ATTENTIVE 1

engrossing adjective
holding the attention or provoking interest <an engrossing lecture on Native American culture before the arrival of Europeans> — see INTERESTING

engrossment noun
a focusing of the mind on something <my engrossment in the video game made me lose track of time> — see ATTENTION 1

engulf verb
to cover with a flood <high waves from the hurricane engulfed large areas of the coastal community> — see FLOOD

enhance verb
1 to make better <some shrubbery would really enhance the curb appeal of that house> — see IMPROVE
2 to make markedly greater in measure or degree <the right makeup would enhance the beauty of her eyes> — see INTENSIFY
3 to make more desirable <leather seats and a state-of-the-art stereo system enhance the sedan> — see SWEETEN

enhancement noun
an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill <the phenomenal enhancements that have been made in home electronic equipment> — see ADVANCE 2

enigma noun
something hard to understand or explain <how Thomas Jefferson could be both a slaveholder and a champion of liberty remains an enigma> — see MYSTERY

enigmatic also enigmatical adjective
1 being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain <the discovery of the abandoned ship in mid ocean remains one of the most enigmatic episodes in seafaring history> — see MYSTERIOUS 1
2 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <the Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile> — see OBSCURE 1

enjoin verb
1 to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority <police enjoined the community's full cooperation in getting rid of the drug dealers> — see DEMAND 1
2 to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority <undeterred, the captain enjoined his crew to sail at full speed into the mine-filled harbor> — see COMMAND 1
3 to order not to do or use or to be done or used <Quakerism enjoins the taking of human life> — see FORBID

enjoining noun
the act of ordering that something not be done or used <the enjoining of the use of all tobacco products by the director of the baseball camp> — see PROHIBITION 1

enjoy verb
1 to take pleasure in <TV and DVDs are OK, but we still enjoy seeing movies on the big screen>

Synonyms
adore, delight (in), dig, fancy, get off (on), groove (on), like, love, rejoice (in), relish, revel (in), savor (also savour)

Related Words
admire, appreciate, cherish, revere, venerate, worship; prize, treasure, value; devour, drink (in), eat (up), feast (on); dote (on), idolize; cotton (to), favor, prefer; indulge (in), luxuriate (in), wallow (in)

Phrases
be partial to, get a kick (or charge) out of, go for, have a soft spot for, take to

Near Antonyms
abhor, abominate, detest, dislike, hate, loathe; condemn, despise, scorn

2 to keep, control, or experience as one's own <a country where the people enjoy the highest living standards in the world> — see HAVE 1

enjoyable adjective
1 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <the great food, service, and atmosphere made for a most enjoyable dinner> — see PLEASANT 1
2 providing amusement or enjoyment <the theme park's great variety of attractions mean that every member of the family will have an enjoyable time> — see FUN

enjoyably adverb
in a pleasing way <an enjoyably goofy comedy> — see WELL 5

enjoyment noun
1 the fact or state of having (something) at one's disposal <a scenic walkway along the ocean shore that is intended for the enjoyment of all> — see POSSESSION 1
2 the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met <this new video game should provide countless hours of enjoyment> — see PLEASURE 1

enkindle verb
to set (something) on fire <see if you can enkindle some paper in the fireplace while I look for logs> — see BURN 2

enlace verb
to cause to twine about one another <enlaced the strips of leather to create a decorative headband> — see INTERTWINE 1

enlarge verb
1 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <as the number of people with cell phones enlarges, more transmission towers will have to be built> — see INCREASE 2
2 to make greater in size, amount, or number <with a new member of the family on the way, maybe we should consider enlarging the house> — see INCREASE 1
3 to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <like a wild animal enlarged from a leghold trap, the freed prisoner raced about> — see FREE 1

enlarge (on or upon) verb
to express more fully and in greater detail <in your complaint, don't just say that your neighbor has been harassing you; enlarge on what you mean by that> — see EXPAND 1

enlighten verb
1 to give information to <the lecturer at the planetarium enlightened us about the latest astronomical discoveries>

Synonyms
acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, catch up, clear, clue (in), familiarize, fill in, hip, inform, instruct, tell, verse, wise (up)

Related Words
advertise, alert, notify; announce (to), disclose (to); assure, certify, convince, reassure, warrant; educate, lecture, school, teach, tutor; disabuse, disenchant, disillusion, undeceive

Phrases
keep (one) posted, let (one) know

Near Antonyms
misinform, mislead

2 to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding <many people around the world have been enlightened by the teachings of Gautama Buddha>

Synonyms
edify, educate, illume, illuminate, illumine, inspire, nurture

Related Words
elevate, ennoble, enrich, ensoul, lift, uplift; better, improve, regenerate, renew, transform; exalt, glorify, transfigure

Near Antonyms
confuse, perplex, puzzle; becloud, cloud, darken, obscure

enlightening adjective
providing useful information or knowledge <an enlightening pamphlet about the major changes that consumers can expect from their cable and Internet service providers> — see INFORMATIVE

enlist (in) verb
to become a member of <young men and women were enlisting in the navy in greater numbers> — see ENTER 2

enliven verb
to give life, vigor, or spirit to <in most instances it's a good idea to enliven a speech with a joke or two> — see ANIMATE

enmesh also immesh verb
to catch or hold as if in a net <soon after Eli Whitney had invented it, others copied his cotton gin, and he spent the rest of his life enmeshed in lawsuits trying to protect his invention> — see ENTANGLE 2

enmity noun
a deep-seated ill will <enmity had existed between the two families for generations>

Synonyms
animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, bad blood, bitterness, gall, grudge, hostility, jaundice, rancor

Related Words
blood feud, feud, score, vendetta; hate, hatred, loathing; vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol; alienation, disaffection, estrangement; conflict, coolness, discord, friction, strain, tension; inhospitableness, unfriendliness; malice, malignancy, malignity, spite, spitefulness, venom

Near Antonyms
amiability, amicability, civility, cordiality, friendliness, hospitality, neighborliness; comity, empathy, friendship, goodwill, sympathy, understanding

Antonyms
amity

ennoble verb
to assign a high status or value to <the heroic actions of firefighters during the terrorist attack did much to ennoble the profession of fire fighting in the public mind> — see EXALT 1

ennui noun
the state of being bored <the kind of ennui that comes from having too much time on one's hands and too little will to find something productive to do> — see BOREDOM

enormity noun
1 the state or quality of being utterly evil <the enormity of the crimes committed by the Nazis>

Synonyms
atrociousness, atrocity, badness, depravedness, depravity, diabolicalness, evilness, heinousness, hideousness, monstrosity, sinfulness, vileness, wickedness

Related Words
accursedness, baseness, cursedness, devilishness, execrableness, fiendishness, hellishness; corruption, decadence, degeneracy, pervertedness; immorality; infamy, notoriety

Near Antonyms
morality; chasteness, innocence, purity

Antonyms
goodness, righteousness, virtuousness

2 the quality or state of being very large <the enormity of the canyon can only be grasped by taking a trip through its entire length> — see IMMENSITY

enormous adjective
unusually large <that pumpkin is so enormous that it has to be a record holder> — see HUGE

enormously adverb
1 to a great degree <an enormously entertaining film> — see VERY 1
2 to a large extent or degree <the neighbors have been enormously helpful during this difficult time> — see GREATLY 2

enormousness noun
the quality or state of being very large <the enormousness of the mall is such that one could shop at a different store for every day of the year> — see IMMENSITY

enough adverb
1 in or to a degree or quantity that meets one's requirements or satisfaction <the elevator is big enough to hold everyone>

Synonyms
adequately, satisfactorily, sufficiently, suitably

Related Words
acceptably, decently, fairly, moderately, passably, tolerably; meetly, properly, rightly, seemly; agreeably, gratifyingly, satisfyingly; abundantly, amply, aplenty, optimally, plenteously, plentifully; commensurately, proportionately

Antonyms
inadequately, insufficiently, unsatisfactorily

2 to some degree or extent <I can play the piano well enough, but I have no hope for a musical career> — see FAIRLY 1
3 to a full extent or degree <I think we're prepared enough—we just lack the will to actually do it> — see FULLY 1

en passant adverb
by way of interjection or digression <she mentioned en passant that she'd been to New York> — see APROPOS

enrage verb
to make angry <the fact that the auto garage bungled the repair and then overcharged him simply enraged the customer> — see ANGER

enraged adjective
feeling or showing anger <the repair shop owner tore up the bill when he saw the enraged look on the customer's face> — see ANGRY

enrapt adjective
experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <enrapt concertgoers just sat there in motionless silence as the pianist flawlessly executed the piece> — see ECSTATIC

enrapture verb
1 to fill with great joy <enraptured upon learning that he would be attending college on a full sports scholarship> — see ELATE
2 to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight) <this classic ballet of the Christmas season never fails to enrapture audiences young and old> — see ENTRANCE

enraptured adjective
experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <the enraptured look on the fans' faces during the band's concerts> — see ECSTATIC

enraptured (by) adjective
filled with an intense or excessive love for <her friends have noticed that she usually becomes totally enraptured by her latest boyfriend—for about a month> — see ENAMORED OF

enrich verb
1 to make better <a truly great book can enrich your life> — see IMPROVE
2 to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <the church's magnificent interior is enriched with stunningly beautiful murals> — see DECORATE

enrobe verb
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <dreamed that one day she would be enrobed in satins and silks> — see CLOTHE 1

enroll also enrol verb
1 to add (a person) to a list or roll as a participant or member <the community college will enroll anyone who has a GED or high school diploma>

Synonyms
inscribe, list, matriculate, register

Related Words
enlist, impanel, induct; conscript, draft, muster; wait-list; book, schedule; check in

Near Antonyms
check off; exclude, expel, expunge, reject; omit, overlook

Antonyms
delist

2 to put (someone or something) on a list <can I enroll you on the list of volunteers for the church supper?> — see 1LIST 2

enroll (in) verb
to become a member of <she enrolled in the Democratic Party after being a Republican for most of her life> — see ENTER 2

enrollment also enrolment noun
the number of individuals registered <the school's enrollment currently stands at 500> — see REGISTRATION

enroot verb
1 to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set <everyone remembers that special teacher who enrooted within them a love of learning> — see IMPLANT 1
2 to set solidly in or as if in surrounding matter <a deeply enrooted tradition of respect for the elderly> — see ENTRENCH

ensconce verb
1 to establish or place comfortably or snugly <the kids had contentedly ensconced themselves on the couch before the TV> <happily ensconced in her new home>

Synonyms
install, lodge, nestle, perch, roost, settle

Related Words
deploy, emplace, fix, locate, park, plant, position, set, situate, station; anchor, bivouac, camp, camp (out); burrow, curl up, dig in; harbor, house

2 to put into a hiding place <ensconced the spare house key in a place where no intruder would think to look> — see 1HIDE 1

enshrine verb
to assign a high status or value to <some teachers tend to enshrine their personal preferences as sacred rules of English grammar> — see EXALT 1

enshroud verb
1 to keep secret or shut off from view <the criminal organization uses a strictly enforced vow of silence to enshroud its villainous doings> — see 1HIDE 2
2 to surround or cover closely <a dense fog enshrouded the bridge spanning the harbor> — see ENFOLD 1

ensign noun
1 a device, design, or figure used as an identifying mark <that ensign of tutorial authority, the hickory stick> — see EMBLEM
2 a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling <fittingly, the organization promoting the welfare of marine life features a dolphin on its ensign> — see FLAG 1

ensky verb
to assign a high status or value to <a society that seems to have enskied celebrity as an end in itself> — see EXALT 1

enslavement noun
the state of being a slave <having known the misery of enslavement first hand, Frederick Douglass went on devote his life to the cause of making others free> — see SLAVERY 1

ensnare verb
to catch or hold as if in a net <parked just out of view, the state trooper was lying in wait to ensnare unwary speeders> — see ENTANGLE 2

ensnarl verb
to catch or hold as if in a net <for two years the couple was ensnarled in the red tape of an international adoption> — see ENTANGLE 2

ensorcell or ensorcel verb
to cast a spell on <a dense, dark forest that is the scene for many a tale in which some unsuspecting traveler is ensorcelled by a witch or wizard> — see BEWITCH 1

ensorcellment noun
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <in the fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm, Germany's Black Forest figures prominently as a land of ensorcellment and mystery> — see MAGIC 1

ensuing adjective
1 being the one that comes immediately after another <business was slow in the restaurant's first year, but the ensuing year saw a much-needed increase> — see NEXT
2 being, occurring, or carried out at a time after something else <the war and the ensuing famine caused unimaginable suffering> — see SUBSEQUENT

ensure verb
to make sure, certain, or safe <regulations that ensure the wholesomeness of our food>

Synonyms
assure, cinch, guarantee, guaranty, ice, insure, secure

Related Words
attest, certify, vouch, warrant, witness; pledge, promise, swear

Near Antonyms
enfeeble, undermine, weaken

enswathe verb
to surround or cover closely <swelling buds still enswathed in their furry overcoats> — see ENFOLD 1

entail verb
to have as part of a whole <a lavish wedding entails extensive planning and often staggering expense> — see INCLUDE 1

entangle verb
1 to twist together into a usually confused mass <in the process of taking down the Christmas tree, we managed to entangle the string of lights into a hopeless mess of wires>

Synonyms
interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, knot, snarl, tangle

Related Words
jumble, scrabble, scramble; braid, enlace, entwine, entwist, inweave, plait, twine, weave, wind, wreathe, writhe

Near Antonyms
unknot, unravel, unscramble; unweave

Antonyms
disentangle, unsnarl, untangle, untwine, untwist

2 to catch or hold as if in a net <the young runaway gradually became entangled in a web of lies>

Synonyms
catch up, enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, ensnarl, entoil, entrap, mesh, net, snare, tangle, trap

Related Words
bag, birdlime, capture, collar; embroil, implicate, involve, mire

Near Antonyms
detach, disengage, extricate; clear, free, liberate

Antonyms
disentangle, untangle

3 to make complex or difficult <the history of Alexander the Great is entangled by variant accounts of his exploits> — see COMPLICATE 1

entanglement noun
something that catches and holds <his life is greatly complicated by his romantic entanglements> — see WEB 1

enter verb
1 to go or come in or into <the hikers entered the cave with considerable caution>

Synonyms
access, penetrate, pierce

Related Words
barge (in), breeze (in), burst (in or into), waltz (in); drop in, pop (in); stray (into), wander (into); crash, encroach, gate-crash, infiltrate, infringe, intrude, invade, trespass

Phrases
set foot in, step into

Antonyms
depart, exit, leave

2 to become a member of <patriotic young men and women entering the armed services> <debutantes entering society>

Synonyms
enlist (in), enroll (in), join, sign on (for), sign up (for)

Related Words
reenlist, reenroll, reenter, rejoin, re-up; get in

Near Antonyms
drop out, quit, withdraw

Antonyms
demit

3 to put (someone or something) on a list <new voters fill out a form and elections officials enter their names into the database> — see 1LIST 2
4 to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to <the club enters only five new members a year> — see ADMIT 2

enter (into or upon) verb
to take the first step in (a process or course of action) <a series of counseling sessions intended to help young couples about to enter into the trials and tribulations of marriage> — see BEGIN 1

enterprise noun
1 a commercial or industrial activity or organization <the booming economy witnessed the launch of many small enterprises>

Synonyms
business, company, concern, establishment, firm, house, interest, outfit

Related Words
conglomerate, corporation, multinational; association, cartel, chain, combine, syndicate, trust; agency, dealer, outlet; microenterprise

2 readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity <the enterprise shown by the early developers and promoters of personal computers>

Synonyms
action, aggressiveness, ambition, drive, go, hustle, initiative

Related Words
grit, gumption, pluck, snap, spirit, spunk, starch; ambitiousness, killer instinct, overambitiousness; assertiveness, self-reliance; energy, hardihood, pep, vigor, vitality

Near Antonyms
inactivity, inertia, passivity; diffidence, faintheartedness, timidity; hesitation, reluctance; indolence, laziness, lethargy

3 a risky undertaking <the general viewed the proposed invasion as a military enterprise that offered no easy way out> — see GAMBLE

enterprising adjective
1 having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal <the company is claiming that there will be huge financial rewards for enterprising sales representatives> — see AGGRESSIVE 1
2 inclined or willing to take risks <enterprising people of vision were responsible for the boom in technological industries> — see BOLD 1

entertain verb
1 to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied <entertain the kids while I go and prepare dinner> — see AMUSE
2 to give serious and careful thought to <have you ever entertained the thought that you could be wrong?> — see PONDER
3 to keep in one's mind or heart <I don't entertain the hope of ever getting a girl like that to go out with me> — see HARBOR 1

entertaining adjective
providing amusement or enjoyment <a list of entertaining things to do on a snow day> — see FUN

entertainment noun
1 the act or activity of providing pleasure or amusement especially for the public <we didn't stay for the featured entertainment because we don't care for comedy acts> <the film is purely for entertainment and not meant to be taken seriously>

Synonyms
amusement, diversion, recreation

Related Words
nightlife, show business; delectation, delight, enjoyment, joy, mirth; gratification, relaxation, relief, satisfaction; exhibition, performance, presentation, presentment, production, show, spectacle; escapism

2 someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment <what do you do for entertainment in this town?> — see FUN 1

enthrall or enthral verb
1 to hold the attention of as if by a spell <enthralled by the flickering fire in the hearth, we lost all track of time>

Synonyms
arrest, bedazzle, catch up, enchant, fascinate, grip, hypnotize, mesmerize, spellbind

Related Words
enrapture, entrance, thrill; beguile, bewitch, charm; absorb, engage, engross, involve

2 to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight) <for years these master magicians have been enthralling audiences with their astounding illusions> — see ENTRANCE
3 to hold the attention of <a play that will enthrall you for two hours> — see ENGAGE 1

enthralled adjective
having the mind fixed on something <gave her speech to several hundred enthralled listeners> — see ATTENTIVE

enthralling adjective
holding the attention or provoking interest <an enthralling account of life in the scientific community in Antarctica> — see INTERESTING

enthrallment noun
a focusing of the mind on something <the child's enthrallment with the new toy lasted about 30 minutes> — see ATTENTION 1

enthrone verb
to assign a high status or value to <the literary world has enthroned Shakespeare for so long that his preeminence among writers seems unassailable> — see EXALT 1

enthuse verb
to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm <the neighbors invited us over just so we could enthuse over their new car> — see GUSH 2

enthused adjective
showing urgent desire or interest <you don't seem that enthused about the idea> — see EAGER

enthusiasm noun
1 a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <this year's enthusiasm is often next year's laughingstock> — see FAD
2 urgent desire or interest <in my enthusiasm to get going, I forgot to pack any foul-weather clothing> — see EAGERNESS
3 depth of feeling <spoke about wildlife conservation with evident enthusiasm> — see ARDOR 1

enthusiast noun
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <skiing enthusiasts can't wait for the first snowfall of the season> — see FAN

enthusiastic adjective
showing urgent desire or interest <as soon as the gates to the concert area opened, enthusiastic fans rushed to get the best seats> — see EAGER

enthusiastically adverb
in an enthusiastic manner <sportswriters have praised this new pitching find so enthusiastically you'd think he's going to pitch nothing but no-hitters> — see SKY-HIGH

entice verb
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage <every commercial seemed to be for some tempting snack specifically designed to entice me from my diet> — see LURE

enticement noun
1 something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain <the hospital often offers T-shirts or caps as enticements for people to donate blood> — see LURE 1
2 the act or pressure of giving in to a desire especially when ill-advised <the enticement of the party buffet was just too great to ignore for very long> — see TEMPTATION 1

entire adjective
1 not divided or scattered among several areas of interest or concern <this matter is important, so please give me your entire attention> — see WHOLE 1
2 not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it <the entire team needs to be present for the photograph> — see COMPLETE 1

entire adverb
to a full extent or degree <a shocking revelation that would destroy entire the false little world that she had carefully constructed for herself> — see FULLY 1

entirely adverb
to a full extent or degree <are you entirely aware of what you're doing with that thing?> — see FULLY 1

entireness noun
the quality or state of being without restriction, exception, or qualification <impressed by the entireness of his commitment to the cause of equal rights for all>

Synonyms
absoluteness, completeness, entirety, fullness, perfectness, wholeness

Related Words
faultlessness, flawlessness, indefectibility, perfection; all-inclusiveness, comprehensiveness, exhaustiveness, extensiveness, inclusiveness, soundness, thoroughness

Near Antonyms
inadequacy, inadequateness; limitedness, narrowness, patchiness, sketchiness

Antonyms
imperfection, imperfectness, incompleteness, unsoundness

entirety noun
the quality or state of being without restriction, exception, or qualification <I wish that I could find a card for Valentine's Day that expresses the entirety of my love> — see ENTIRENESS

entitle verb
1 to give a right to <the card entitles my grandmother to the discount for senior citizens>

Synonyms
authorize, privilege, qualify

Related Words
empower, enable, enfranchise, license (also licence); approve, endorse (also indorse); allow, let, permit; accredit, certificate, certify, charter [British], ratify; legitimize, sanction, validate, warrant; reaccredit, reapprove, recertify, recharter, revalidate

Near Antonyms
disable, disempower, disenfranchise; decertify; disallow, forbid, proscribe; delegitimize, invalidate, nullify

Antonyms
disqualify

2 to give a name to <apart from the obvious, she couldn't decide what to entitle her painting of a vase with flowers> — see NAME 1

entitlement noun
a sum of money allotted for a specific use by official or formal action <entitlements to local school districts> — see APPROPRIATION 1

entity noun
one that has a real and independent existence <the question of whether extrasensory perception will ever be a scientifically recognized entity>

Synonyms
being, commodity, existent, individual, individuality, integer, object, reality, something, substance, thing

Related Words
body, subject; material, matter, quantity, stuff

Near Antonyms
nonentity

entoil verb
to catch or hold as if in a net <entoiled by the strings of fate> — see ENTANGLE 2

entomb verb
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea <a number of Boston's historic notables are entombed in the Old Granary Burying Ground> — see BURY 1

entombing noun
the act or ceremony of putting a dead body in its final resting place <the entombing of the pharaohs in the pyramids must have been a magnificent sight> — see BURIAL 1

entombment noun
the act or ceremony of putting a dead body in its final resting place <the entombment of President Kennedy in Arlington National Cemetery> — see BURIAL 1

entourage noun
a body of employees or servants who accompany and wait on a person <the gaggle of hangers-on that passes for the rock star's entourage> — see CORTEGE 1

entrails plural noun
the internal organs of the body <in ancient Rome predictions of future events would sometimes be based on an examination of the entrails of a sacrificial animal> — see GUT 1

entrance noun
1 the means or right of entering or participating in <entrance to the club is by invitation only>

Synonyms
access, accession, admission, admittance, door, doorway, entrée (or entree), entry, gateway, ingress, key, passport, ticket

Related Words
approval, authorization, certification, permission, qualification; open door, welcome mat

Near Antonyms
discharge, dismissal, ejection, expulsion, ouster, rejection, removal

2 the opening through which one can enter or leave a structure <when you come, use the entrance on the right side of the building> — see DOOR 2

entrance verb
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight) <a production of The Nutcracker ballet that will entrance audiences>

Synonyms
carry away, enrapture, enthrall (or enthral), rap, rapture, ravish, transport

Related Words
delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy; bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate; elate, excite, exhilarate, stir

Phrases
knock dead, knock one's socks off

entranced adjective
1 being or appearing to be under a magic spell <a striking beauty who was accustomed to having entranced and tongue-tied young suitors> — see ENCHANTED
2 experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <the entranced look on her face as she danced at the ball> — see ECSTATIC

entranceway noun
the entrance room of a building <the visitor thoughtfully removed her snow-covered hat and gloves in the entranceway> — see HALL 1

entrancing adjective
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <travelers to India say that it has an entrancing beauty that is hard to describe> — see FASCINATING 1

entrap verb
to catch or hold as if in a net <a string of inconsistent statements and outright lies that finally entrapped the witness> — see ENTANGLE 2

entreat verb
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner <she began her letter by entreating me to forgive the belatedness of her reply> — see BEG

entreating adjective
asking humbly <it was hard to refuse such an amusingly entreating panhandler> — see SUPPLIANT

entreaty noun
an earnest request <our entreaties to give us another few minutes to answer the test questions fell on deaf ears> — see PLEA 1

entrée or entree noun
the means or right of entering or participating in <entrée to the country club is through sponsorship by someone who is already a member> — see ENTRANCE 1

entrench also intrench verb
to set solidly in or as if in surrounding matter <a father who entrenched in our minds the belief that hard work pays off>

Synonyms
bed, embed (also imbed), enroot, fix, impact, implant, ingrain (also engrain), lodge, root

Related Words
imbue, infuse, instill; beat (into), drive (into); establish, place, put, settle, stick

Near Antonyms
eliminate, eradicate; eject, expel; detach, disconnect, disengage, remove

Antonyms
dislodge, root (out), uproot

entrenched also intrenched adjective
firmly established over time <I have an entrenched dislike of mimes> — see INVETERATE 1

entrust also intrust verb
1 to give a task, duty, or responsibility to <we entrusted our financial adviser with the investment of all of our savings>

Synonyms
assign, charge, commission, task, trust

Related Words
confer, impose; commit, confide, consign, delegate, recommend, relegate, repose; allocate, allot; authorize, empower, invest

2 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <we entrusted our pets to the care of our neighbor while we went on vacation> — see GIVE 2

entry noun
1 the entrance room of a building <please wait in the entry while I get the person you want> — see HALL 1
2 the means or right of entering or participating in <believed that a college education was one's entry to a life of luxury> — see ENTRANCE 1

entryway noun
the entrance room of a building <a small entryway to receive visitors> — see HALL 1

entwine verb
1 to cause to twine about one another <marveled at how the vines had delicately and intricately entwined themselves on the trellis> — see INTERTWINE 1
2 to follow a circular or spiral course <the quick-growing vine was soon entwining around the fence post> — see WIND 1

enumerate verb
1 to specify one after another <I proceeded to enumerate the reasons why I would be justified in filing a lawsuit for negligence>

Synonyms
detail, itemize, list, numerate, recite, reel off, rehearse, tick (off)

Related Words
outline; tabulate, tally; catalog (or catalogue), inventory; chart, diagram, graph; calculate, compute, estimate, figure, reckon; cite, mention, name

Near Antonyms
generalize

2 to find the sum of (a collection of things) by noting each one as it is being added <there were more birds hovering about the bird feeder than I could possibly enumerate> — see COUNT 1
3 to make a list of <let's enumerate the top ten reasons why Top Ten lists have gotten out of hand> — see 1LIST 1

enunciate verb
1 to utter clearly and distinctly <enunciate your words, and then you won't have to repeat them so often> — see ARTICULATE 1
2 to make known openly or publicly <today the President enunciated a new foreign policy> — see ANNOUNCE
3 to express (a thought or emotion) in words <a paper that enunciates the goals of the environmental organization> — see SAY 1

enunciation noun
the clear and accurate pronunciation of words especially in public speaking <a radio announcer who is known for his very careful enunciation> — see DICTION 1

envelop verb
1 to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <a chronic mistrust of outsiders envelops that neighborhood, cutting it off from the rest of the city> — see ENCLOSE 1
2 to surround or cover closely <the truth of the presidential assassination is enveloped in a dense fog of myths and conspiracy theories> — see ENFOLD 1

envenom verb
to implant bitter feelings in <thoughtless, self-indulgent antics that only managed to envenom his teammates> — see EMBITTER

envenomed adjective
containing or contaminated with a substance capable of injuring or killing a living thing <the envenomed spines of these tropical fishes make them a particular hazard of coral reefs> — see POISONOUS

envious adjective
having or showing mean resentment of another's possessions or advantages <a family that is envious of their neighbors' big house>

Synonyms
covetous, green-eyed, invidious, jaundiced, jealous, resentful

Related Words
begrudging, grudging; avaricious, grasping, greedy, rapacious; distrustful, suspicious; malicious, petty, spiteful

Phrases
eating one's heart out, green with envy

Near Antonyms
generous, kind, kindhearted; altruistic, benevolent, charitable; well-meaning

Antonyms
unenvious

enviousness noun
a painful awareness of another's possessions or advantages and a desire to have them too <Lisa's enviousness of Debra's athletic achievements was obvious to all of their friends> — see ENVY

environ verb
to form a circle around <a decaying, impoverished city environed by affluent suburbs> — see SURROUND

environment noun
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded <the joys of growing up in the environment that a small town offers>

Synonyms
ambient, atmosphere, climate, clime, context, contexture, environs, medium, milieu, mise-en-scène, setting, surround, surroundings, terrain

Related Words
location, place, position, space; backdrop, background; element; situation, status; geography, habitat; microenvironment

environs plural noun
1 the districts adjacent to a city <the city and its environs total about a million in population>

Synonyms
outskirts, purlieus, suburbia

Related Words
country, countryside, exurbia

Near Antonyms
core city, downtown, inner city, midtown

2 an adjoining region or space <you can get just about any kind of ethnic food in the environs of the university>

Synonyms
backyard, neighborhood, purlieus, vicinage, vicinity

Related Words
environment, surround, surroundings

3 the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded <growing up in the environs of the inner city wasn't easy, but he was determined to make something of himself> — see ENVIRONMENT

envisage verb
to form a mental picture of <I'm trying to envisage you on a surfboard> — see IMAGINE 1

envision verb
to form a mental picture of <challenged the voters to envision a nation in which no child was ever allowed to go hungry> — see IMAGINE 1

envoy noun
1 a person sent on a mission to represent another <the president sent the secretary of state as his personal envoy to gain the support of the country's allies> — see AMBASSADOR
2 a person who acts or does business for another <one of the hostage takers was chosen as the group's envoy for all dealings with the authorities> — see AGENT 2

envy noun
a painful awareness of another's possessions or advantages and a desire to have them too <her envy of her neighbor's fancy clothes wrecked their friendship>

Synonyms
covetousness, enviousness, green-eyed monster, invidiousness, jealousy, resentment

Related Words
animosity, enmity, hatred, ill will; malice, maliciousness, spitefulness

Near Antonyms
benevolence, goodwill, kindness, sympathy

envy verb
to have a resentful awareness of and desire for (another's possessions or advantages) or to feel resentment toward (someone) over possessions or advantages <her coworkers envied her chummy relationship with the senior vice president> <the other mothers envied her because she didn't have to work>

Synonyms
begrudge, resent

Related Words
ache (for), covet, crave, desire, die (for), hanker (for or after), hunger (for), itch (for), jones (for) [slang], long (for), lust (for or after), pant (after), thirst (for), want, wish (for), yearn (for), yen (for); salivate

enwind verb
to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt <a parcel enwound with red ribbons> — see GIRD 1

enwrap verb
1 to hold the attention of <enwrapped in my own reverie, I failed to notice the coworker standing outside my cubicle> — see ENGAGE 1
2 to surround or cover closely <an air of serene self-satisfaction enwraps the leafy, well-to-do suburb> — see ENFOLD 1

ephemeral adjective
lasting only for a short time <the autumnal blaze of colors is always to be treasured, all the more so because it is so ephemeral> — see MOMENTARY

ephemerality noun
the state or quality of lasting only for a short time <never has the ephemerality of fame been more apparent than in today's pop culture> — see IMPERMANENCE

epic adjective
large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <an epic plan for the revitalization of the city> — see GRAND 1

epicene adjective
of or relating to a man who has or displays qualities considered more suitable for women <an ancient statue of a young man of graceful, epicene beauty> — see EFFEMINATE

epicenter noun
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <by continually reinventing itself, Las Vegas has managed to remain a national epicenter for entertainment> — see CENTER 1

epicure noun
a person with refined tastes in food and wine <Thomas Jefferson was one of America's first great epicures>

Synonyms
bon vivant, epicurean, gastronome, gastronomist, gourmand, gourmet

Related Words
connoisseur, dilettante; foodie; savorer; oenophile, turophile

Near Antonyms
glutton, gorger, guzzler, hog, overeater, stuffer, swiller, trencherman

epicurean noun
a person with refined tastes in food and wine <an epicurean with a beautifully equipped kitchen> — see EPICURE

epidemic adjective
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others <the little girl's giggles were epidemic, and soon the entire gathering was laughing> — see CONTAGIOUS 2

epigone noun
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another <few of director Alfred Hitchcock's many epigones possess much of the master's wit or style> — see FOLLOWER 1

epigonic or epigonous adjective
using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model <an epic novel that would eventually spawn a vast body of epigonic and decidedly inferior fiction> — see IMITATIVE 1

epigram noun
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience <Benjamin Franklin's famous epigram, “Remember that time is money”> — see SAYING

epigrammatic adjective
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <Oscar Wilde's epigrammatic observation, “In America the young are always ready to give to those who are older than themselves the full benefits of their inexperience”> — see CONCISE

episode noun
something that happens <the episode in which the Native American Samoset walked into Plymouth Plantation and surprised the Pilgrims with the greeting, “Welcome, Englishman”> — see EVENT 1

episodic also episodical adjective
1 appearing in parts or numbers that follow regularly <the long novel was filmed for television as an episodic movie that was shown over the course of five evenings> — see SERIAL
2 lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <malaria is characterized by episodic attacks of chills and fever that coincide with mass destruction of blood cells> — see FITFUL

epistle noun
a message on paper from one person or group to another <the epistles of Saint Paul to various communities of early Christians> — see 1LETTER

epithet noun
1 a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual <King Richard I of England was given the very laudatory epithet “the Lion-Hearted”> — see NICKNAME
2 an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <the school has a strict ban against the use of racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual epithets> — see INSULT

epitome noun
1 a short statement of the main points <the golden rule is often cited as the epitome of moral conduct: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”> — see SUMMARY
2 a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <the prestigious prep school prides itself on being widely regarded as the epitome of tradition and old-fashioned values> — see EMBODIMENT
3 the most perfect type or example <Mahatma Gandhi is often cited as the epitome of resolute reformer who uses nonviolence to bring about social and political change> — see QUINTESSENCE 1

epitomize verb
1 to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) <his personal code of behavior on the playing field is epitomized by his favorite saying, “Nice guys finish last”> — see SUMMARIZE
2 to represent in visible form <the Parthenon in Athens epitomizes the ancient Greek ideal of architectural beauty> — see EMBODY 2

epoch noun
an extent of time associated with a particular person or thing <Sir Isaac Newton is usually credited with establishing the epoch of modern science> — see AGE 1

equable adjective
marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low <an area with an equable climate would be our first choice for a place in which to settle> — see CLEMENT 1

equal adjective
1 marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias <the basic belief that everyone is entitled to equal opportunity in employment> — see FAIR 2
2 resembling another in every respect <as far as I can see, except for the high price, the store-brand jacket is equal to the jacket with the designer label> — see SAME 1
3 having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance <looking for someone equal to the challenge of running a large state university> — see COMPETENT 1
4 free from emotional or mental agitation <he proceeded, in an equal tone, to recount the terrible events of the day> — see CALM 2

equal noun
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value <a basketball player who truly has no equal in his sport>

Synonyms
coequal, compeer, coordinate, counterpart, equivalent, fellow, like, match, parallel, peer, rival

Related Words
analogue (or analog); double, half, mate, twin; associate, colleague, companion, copartner, partner; competitor

equal verb
1 to produce something equal to (as in quality or value) <no one has equaled Shakespeare's plays>

Synonyms
match, meet, tie

Related Words
beat, better, eclipse, excel, outdistance, outdo, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend; amount (to), approach, touch; approximate, keep up, measure up (to), parallel, rival, stack up (against or with)

2 to be the same in meaning or effect <being confined to home for a whole weekend would equal a death sentence in the minds of a lot of teens> — see AMOUNT TO 2
3 to be the exact counterpart of <in the British system a public school equals an American prep school> — see MATCH 1

equality noun
the state or fact of being exactly the same in number, amount, status, or quality <it's absurd to suggest that there's an equality in the evil committed by the Nazis and the crimes of the government of that Asian country> — see EQUIVALENCE

equalize verb
to make equal in amount, degree, or status <a plan to equalize educational opportunities for all the state's children, rich and poor alike>

Synonyms
balance, equate, even, level

Related Words
equilibrate, equipoise; accommodate, adjust, compensate, fit; counterbalance; homogenize, normalize, regularize, standardize; democratize

Near Antonyms
disequilibrate

equanimity noun
evenness of emotions or temper <an Olympic diver who always displays remarkable equanimity on the platform>

Synonyms
aplomb, calmness, collectedness, composedness, composure, cool, coolness, countenance, equilibrium, imperturbability, placidity, repose, sangfroid, self-composedness, self-possession, serenity, tranquillity (or tranquility), tranquilness

Related Words
assurance, confidence, poise, self-assurance, self-assuredness, self-confidence, self-trust; easygoingness, laid-backness; apathy, detachment, impassivity, indifference, insensibility, numbness, phlegm, unconcern

Near Antonyms
alarm (also alarum), anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, care, concern, disquiet, solicitude, uneasiness, worry; excitability, excitableness, nervousness; disturbance

Antonyms
agitation, discomposure, perturbation

equate verb
1 to regard or represent as equal or comparable <a value system that equates money with success>

Synonyms
compare, liken

Related Words
associate, connect, correlate, identify, join, link, match, relate; group, lump (together); assort, categorize, class, classify, grade, group, sort

Near Antonyms
differentiate, discern, discriminate, distinguish, separate

2 to describe as similar <you're being silly when you equate the talent of that pop star with the musical genius of Mozart> — see COMPARE 1
3 to make equal in amount, degree, or status <you'll stop running up debts when you start equating what you spend with what you earn> — see EQUALIZE

equatorial adjective
being near the equator <a lush equatorial rain forest that is threatened by rampant development> — see LOW 1

equilibration noun
a condition in which opposing forces are equal to one another <striving to achieve an equilibration between the rights of the individual and the needs of society> — see BALANCE 1

equilibrium noun
1 a condition in which opposing forces are equal to one another <we must find an equilibrium between commercial development and conservation of our natural treasures> — see BALANCE 1
2 evenness of emotions or temper <that stunning insult left me speechless, and several minutes passed before I recovered my equilibrium> — see EQUANIMITY

equine noun
a large hoofed domestic animal that is used for carrying or drawing loads and for riding <one of the more esteemed equines of modern times was the racehorse Seabiscuit> — see HORSE

equip verb
1 to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function <years of service in the congress and in the cabinet equipped him better than most people for the office of the presidency> — see QUALIFY 2
2 to provide (someone) with what is needed for a task or activity <a visit to a ski shop to equip ourselves for a week of skiing in the Rockies> — see FURNISH 1

equipage noun
a horse-drawn wheeled vehicle for carrying passengers <for their old-fashioned wedding, the couple arrived at the church in a Victorian-era equipage, complete with costumed driver> — see CARRIAGE 1

equipment noun
items needed for the performance of a task or activity <the equipment for the polar expedition included ships, instruments, sleds, dogs, and provisions>

Synonyms
accoutrements (or accouterments), apparatus, gear, hardware, kit [chiefly British], material(s), matériel (or materiel), outfit, paraphernalia, stuff, tackle

Related Words
accessories, appurtenances, attachments, fittings; baggage, belongings, impedimenta; appliances, facilities, instruments, machinery, tools; apparel, attire, habiliments, raiment, trappings; armamentarium, armory, arsenal, battery; assets, resources

equipoise noun
1 a condition in which opposing forces are equal to one another <when participating in any dangerous sport, one should maintain an equipoise between fearless boldness and commonsense caution> — see BALANCE 1
2 a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective <her frugality is a much-needed equipoise to her husband's spendthrift ways> — see COUNTERBALANCE

equitable adjective
marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias <the will calls for an equitable distribution of the father's assets among his four children> — see FAIR 2

equity noun
1 lack of favoritism toward one side or another <the lower wages once paid to women for equal work violated the very notion of equity> — see DETACHMENT 1
2 the practice of giving to others what is their due <basic to the notion of equity is the principle that all people are of equal standing in the eyes of the law> — see JUSTICE 1

equivalence noun
the state or fact of being exactly the same in number, amount, status, or quality <moviegoers who mistakenly believe that there is an equivalence between the personality of an actor and that of his character>

Synonyms
coequality, coordinateness, equality, equivalency, par, parity, sameness

Related Words
comparability, compatibility, correlation, correspondence; alikeness, community, likeness, parallelism, resemblance, similarity, similitude; exchangeability, interchangeability; identicalness, identity

Near Antonyms
difference, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, divergence, diverseness, diversity; incompatibility; dissimilarity, unlikeness

Antonyms
imparity, inequality, nonequivalence

equivalency noun
the state or fact of being exactly the same in number, amount, status, or quality <as long as there's a rough equivalency in the armaments of the two countries, neither is likely to attack the other> — see EQUIVALENCE

equivalent noun
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value <that huge mansion is the equivalent of five ordinary houses> — see EQUAL

equivocal adjective
1 giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <the evidence that this latest diet really results in lasting weight loss is certainly equivocal> — see DOUBTFUL 2
2 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <his demand that I promptly pay what I owe him ended with the equivocal threat “or else”> — see OBSCURE 1
3 having a mixture of opposing feelings <a number of people are clearly equivocal about allowing casino gambling in the state> — see CONFLICTED

equivocalness noun
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <the intriguing equivocalness of her warning that I would get what I had coming to me> — see OBSCURITY 1

equivocate verb
to avoid giving a definite answer or position <the candidate equivocated as long as he could on controversial issues>

Synonyms
fudge, hedge, pussyfoot, tergiversate, waffle, weasel

Related Words
flip-flop, yo-yo; dodge, duck, elude, eschew, evade, shake, shirk, shun, sidestep, skirt; bypass, circumvent; cavil, quibble; straddle

Phrases
beat around (or about) the bush, hem and haw, straddle the fence

equivocation noun
1 deliberate evasion in speech <your equivocation when asked where you were last night is not reassuring> — see CIRCUMLOCUTION 1
2 the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <the equivocation of the last line of the poem, “That is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know”> — see OBSCURITY 1

era noun
an extent of time associated with a particular person or thing <the introduction of the mass production of cars on an assembly line ushered in the era of the automobile> — see AGE 1

eradicate verb
to destroy all traces of <the successful effort to eradicate smallpox around the globe> — see ANNIHILATE 1

erase verb
to destroy all traces of <yet another animal species has been erased from this earth> — see ANNIHILATE 1

ere preposition
earlier than <an old typewriter that was a relic of that ancient time ere the invention of word processors> — see BEFORE 1

erect adjective
rising straight up <a lone tree remained erect after the terrible tornado had passed>

Synonyms
perpendicular, plumb, raised, standing, stand-up, upright, upstanding, vertical

Related Words
elevated, lifted, upended, upraised; semierect; freestanding, stand-alone

Near Antonyms
prostrate, supine; diagonal, hanging, sagging, slant, slanted, slanting, slanty

Antonyms
flat, recumbent

erect verb
1 to fix in an upright position <the tribes of the Pacific Northwest erected totem poles in front of their dwellings>

Synonyms
pitch, put up, raise, rear, set up, upend, upraise

Related Words
brace, buttress, prop (up), shore (up), support; boost, crane, elevate, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack (up), lift, perk (up), pick up, up, uphold, uplift

Near Antonyms
demolish, flatten, knock down, level, raze, tear down

2 to form by putting together parts or materials <we'd better erect some sort of shelter before these woods are in total darkness> — see BUILD

erection noun
something put together by arranging or connecting an array of parts <when it was brand-new, the Eiffel Tower was considered as ugly an erection as Europe had ever seen> — see CONSTRUCTION 1

eremite noun
a person who lives away from others <an eremite wandering the desert alone as a test of his faith> — see RECLUSE

ergo adverb
for this or that reason <according to that line of reasoning, the eyewitness couldn't identify the aircraft, ergo it must have been from another planet> — see THEREFORE

erode verb
1 to consume or wear away gradually <the fear that inflation will continue to erode people's savings> — see EAT 2
2 to damage or diminish by continued friction <the winds and desert sands have eroded much of the original surface of these ancient monuments> — see ABRADE 1

erogenous adjective
of, relating to, exciting, or expressing sexual attraction or desire <certain body parts that are known sources of erogenous pleasure> — see EROTIC

eros noun
intense sexual desire <dedicated to the poet's lover, the sonnet has eros as its theme> — see LUST 1

erosion noun
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction <the erosion of the banks along the river worries flood experts> — see CORROSION

erotic also erotical adjective
of, relating to, exciting, or expressing sexual attraction or desire <the erotic aspects of the story of Beauty and the Beast>

Synonyms
amatory, amorous, aphrodisiac (also aphrodisiacal), erogenous, erotogenic, sexy, steamy

Related Words
autoerotic; carnal, fleshly, sensual, sensuous; bawdy, lascivious, lewd, lustful, obscene, prurient, racy, spicy, suggestive, titillating; dirty, filthy, foul, gross, indecent, nasty, pornographic, ribald, smutty, unprintable, vulgar; fetishistic, perversive

Near Antonyms
clean, decent, decorous, polite, proper, seemly; innocuous, inoffensive

Antonyms
nonerotic, unerotic, unsexy

eroticism noun
1 intense sexual desire <a novel in which the heroine is in a way victimized by her own repressed eroticism> — see LUST 1
2 sexual appetite <Alfred Kinsey's groundbreaking research in human eroticism> — see DESIRE 2

erotogenic adjective
of, relating to, exciting, or expressing sexual attraction or desire <the erotogenic component in horror movies> — see EROTIC

err verb
1 to make a mistake <we badly erred when we calculated the driving distance>

Synonyms
blunder, boob [British], flub, fluff, foul up, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mess (up), screw up, slip up, stumble, trip

Related Words
nod; bobble, botch, bungle, butcher, foozle, mangle, mishandle, muff, murder; miscalculate, misconceive, miscount, miscue, misdeem, misgauge, misjudge, mistake; misconstrue, misinterpret, misunderstand

Phrases
drop the ball, lay an egg

2 to commit an offense <when we err, we must be willing to accept the consequences> — see OFFEND 1

errant adjective
1 engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior <what he considers to be no more than errant conduct toward women would be regarded as sexual harassment by most people> — see NAUGHTY
2 traveling from place to place <the errant gunslinger as a standard character in western novels> — see ITINERANT

erratic adjective
1 lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern <so far your effort to land a summer job has been very erratic> — see RANDOM
2 lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <because of your erratic attendance at practice, you're in danger of being cut from the team> — see FITFUL
3 not staying constant <business at the fast-food restaurant has been so erratic lately that the manager never knows how much staff to have on hand> — see UNEVEN 2
4 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <the key to the code was the erratic punctuation the killer used> — see ODD 2

erratically adverb
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method <the police officer pulled over the driver, who had been driving very erratically> — see HIT OR MISS

erraticism noun
an odd or peculiar habit <an overuse of slow motion is one of the filmmaker's more annoying erraticisms> — see IDIOSYNCRASY

erroneous adjective
not being in agreement with what is true <a news article about the new virus that was filled with much erroneous information> — see FALSE 1

erroneously adverb
in a mistaken or inappropriate way <people erroneously believed that the disease was contagious> — see WRONGLY

erroneousness noun
the quality or state of being false <the erroneousness of so much that is printed in the tabloids is amazing> — see FALLACY 2

error noun
1 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <a report on the earthquake contained several unfortunate errors>

Synonyms
blunder, bobble, boob [British], boo-boo, brick, clanger [British], clinker, fault, flub, fluff, fumble, gaff, gaffe, goof, inaccuracy, lapse, miscue, misstep, mistake, oversight, screwup, slip, slipup, stumble, trip

Related Words
bloomer, blooper, boner, howler, pratfall; foul-up, snafu; misapprehension, miscalculation, miscomprehension, misconception, misconstruction, miscue, misdescription, misimpression, misinterpretation, misjudgment, misreading, misstatement, misunderstanding

Near Antonyms
accuracy, correctness, exactitude, exactness, preciseness, precision, strictness; inerrancy, infallibility, perfection

2 a breaking of a moral or legal code <we have all committed errors in our lives and strayed from the path of righteousness> — see OFFENSE 1
3 a false idea or belief <the church published a list of moral errors that it considers to be at odds with its teachings> — see FALLACY 1

ersatz adjective
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <like everything else the restaurant served, the whipped cream on the dessert was ersatz> — see IMITATION

erstwhile adjective
having been such at some previous time <my erstwhile friend ignored me when I ran into her at the mall> — see FORMER 1

erstwhile adverb
at an earlier or previous time <there's now a store where erstwhile lay green and pleasant pastures> — see FORMERLY 1

eruct verb
to violently throw out or off (something from within) <he suddenly snapped and began eructing his repressed anger> — see ERUPT 1

eructation noun
an expulsion of stomach gas through the mouth <an enormous eructation that startled everyone within earshot> — see BELCH

erudite adjective
1 having or displaying advanced knowledge or education <the most erudite people in medical research attended the conference> <an erudite lecture on the latest discoveries in astronomy> — see EDUCATED 1
2 suggestive of the vocabulary used in books <the erudite language of a textbook on philosophy> — see BOOKISH

erudition noun
the understanding and information gained from being educated <a theologian of impressive erudition but with a down-to-earth manner> — see EDUCATION 2

erupt verb
1 to violently throw out or off (something from within) <the volcano erupted clouds of poisonous gas and tons of hot ash>

Synonyms
belch, disgorge, eject, eruct, expel, jet, spew, spout, spurt

Related Words
gush, pour, squirt, stream, surge; emanate, exhale, issue, release, shoot, spit, spring, vent; discharge, emit, fire; cast, fling, heave, hurl, launch, pitch, toss

Near Antonyms
bottle (up), contain, restrain, shut (in or up)

2 to develop suddenly and violently <a fire erupted, and flames soon engulfed the room>

Synonyms
blaze (up), break out, burst (forth), explode, flame, flare (up)

Related Words
rocket, skyrocket; balloon, burgeon (also bourgeon), mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, snowball, swell, wax; blow up, detonate, touch off

eruption noun
1 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <a great eruption of glee as it suddenly dawned on her that she had won> — see OUTBURST 1
2 the act or an instance of exploding <the eruption of the volcano Krakatoa was one of the most violent in global history> — see EXPLOSION 1

escalate verb
1 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <as the war between the two countries escalated, it threatened to become a global conflict> — see INCREASE 2
2 to make greater in size, amount, or number <the president promised to escalate the government's program to combat the dreaded disease> — see INCREASE 1

escalated adjective
being at a higher level than average <for a time there was an escalated interest in the Titanic following the release of the blockbuster movie> — see HIGH 2

escapade noun
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <their escapades at the prep school became the stuff of boarding-school legend> — see PRANK

escape noun
1 the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement <a daring prison escape>

Synonyms
break, breakout, bunk [British], flight, getaway, lam, rout, slip

Related Words
jailbreak; deliverance, liberation, redemption, release, rescue, salvation; close call, close shave, near miss

Near Antonyms
captivity, confinement, immurement, imprisonment, incarceration, internment; custody, detention, hold, holding, retention; endangerment, hazard, imperilment, jeopardy, peril, risk, trouble

2 the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable <the reading of science fiction novels as an escape from boring reality>

Synonyms
avoidance, cop-out, dodging, ducking, eluding, elusion, eschewal, eschewing, evasion, out, shaking, shunning

Related Words
bypassing, circumvention, runaround, sidestepping, skirting; averting, deflection, obviation, precluding, prevention

Near Antonyms
abidance, endurance, submission, toleration

escape verb
1 to get free from a dangerous or confining situation <everyone managed to escape from the burning building in time>

Synonyms
abscond, break out (of), clear out, flee, fly, get out, lam, run away, run off

Related Words
avoid, elude, evade, lose, shun; decamp, depart, elope, exit, go, leave, move, pull out, quit, sally (forth), shove (off), take off, walk out; disentangle, extricate; bring off, emancipate, enfranchise, free, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, redeem, release, rescue, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter

Phrases
break free

Near Antonyms
abide, dwell, hang around, linger, remain, stay, stick around, tarry; come back, return

2 to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery <a judge who is very determined not to let criminals escape punishment>

Synonyms
avoid, dodge, duck, elude, eschew, evade, finesse, get around, scape, shake, shirk, shuffle (out of), shun, weasel (out of)

Related Words
miss; avert, deflect, divert, obviate, parry, prevent, ward (off); ban, bar, debar, eliminate, except, exclude, preclude, rule out; bypass, circumvent, skirt; foil, fox, frustrate, outfox, outsmart, outwit, overreach, thwart

Phrases
fight shy of, keep clear of, stay clear of, steer clear of

Near Antonyms
accept, court, embrace, pursue, seek, welcome; catch, contract, incur

escarpment noun
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice <the castle sits atop an escarpment that for hundreds of years made it virtually invulnerable to attack> — see CLIFF

eschew verb
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery <the minister eschews involvement in local politics, since he doesn't want to diminish his moral authority in the community> — see ESCAPE 2

eschewal noun
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable <a candidate who is to be admired for her eschewal of pat answers and quick fixes> — see ESCAPE 2

eschewing noun
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable <the basketball coach's steadfast eschewing of favoritism has won her the team's wholehearted respect> — see ESCAPE 2

escort noun
one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy <the mayor served as the First Lady's escort for her tour of the city>

Synonyms
attendant, companion, guard, guide

Related Words
chaperone (or chaperon), squire; shadow, sidekick; conductor, leader, pilot; convoy, courier, honor guard, outrider

escort verb
to go along with in order to provide assistance, protection, or companionship <a student from the college escorted my parents and me on our tour of the campus> — see ACCOMPANY 1

esculent adjective
suitable for use as food <harvesting wild mushrooms is no business for amateurs, since some of the esculent ones closely resemble poisonous varieties> — see EDIBLE

esoteric adjective
1 difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand <metaphysics is such an esoteric subject that most people are content to leave it to the philosophers> — see PROFOUND 1
2 not known or meant to be known by the general populace <must have had some esoteric motive for leaving his art collection to a museum halfway around the globe> — see PRIVATE 1

especial adjective
1 being out of the ordinary <a candidate who handled the stunning defeat with especial grace> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1
2 closely acquainted <he told his especial friends about the job offer but kept everyone else in the dark> — see FAMILIAR 1
3 of a particular or exact sort <with a very ordinary lawn, we don't have any especial need for a gardener> — see EXPRESS 1

especially adverb
1 in the specific case of one person or thing as distinguished from others <all employees, but especially the administrative assistants, will need to learn to use the new phone system>

Synonyms
particularly, specifically

Related Words
individually, personally; restrictively, selectively

Phrases
in especial, in particular

Near Antonyms
broadly, widely

Antonyms
generally

2 to a great degree <that university is especially strong in the sciences> — see VERY 1
3 in regard to something mentioned explicitly or in detail <he especially minded the proposed changes to the work schedule> — see SPECIFICALLY 1

espiègle adjective
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <the espiègle light in the young princess's eye faded when she contemplated the stifling restrictions of court life> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

espièglerie noun
1 a natural disposition for playful behavior <a delightful young woman whose espièglerie and sophisticated wit make her a favorite party guest> — see PLAYFULNESS
2 playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <a femme fatale with a penchant for sophisticated espièglerie that men found irresistible> — see MISCHIEF 1

espionage noun
the secret gathering of information on others <the acts of espionage on behalf of the Confederacy carried on by Belle Boyd and Rose Greenhow>

Synonyms
spying

Related Words
counterespionage, counterintelligence, intelligence; cloak-and-dagger; tradecraft; observation, reconnaissance, surveillance; bugging, eavesdropping, wiretapping; dope, goods, lowdown

espousal noun
1 a ceremony in which two people are united in matrimony <the expected espousal of the Hollywood actor and the singing superstar should attract the elite of show business> — see WEDDING
2 the act or state of being engaged to be married <considering how long her previous marriage lasted, she'd be wise to have an extended espousal> — see ENGAGEMENT 1

espouse verb
1 to give in marriage <a couple eager to espouse their eldest daughter> — see MARRY 2
2 to take as a spouse <heeded his father's advice to espouse someone with whom he had common interests> — see MARRY 3
3 to take for one's own use (something originated by another) <after working among them for two years in the Peace Corps, she felt compelled to espouse the peasants' cause for social justice> — see ADOPT

espouser noun
a person who actively supports or favors a cause <became an espouser of environmental causes only after she decided to run for office> — see EXPONENT 1

esprit noun
active strength of body or mind <the dance company has an infectious esprit that captivates audiences> — see VIGOR 1

espy verb
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <out of the corner of my eye I espied the squirrel making another raid on the bird feeder> — see SEE 1

essay noun
1 a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view <school essays on what it means to be a patriot>

Synonyms
article, composition, paper, theme

Related Words
causerie; column, commentary, editorial, feature, report, review, write-up; dissertation, thesis; tract, treatise; discourse, discussion, exposition, prolegomenon, study

2 an effort to do or accomplish something <my first essay at baking a cake did not go well> — see ATTEMPT 1
3 a procedure or operation carried out to resolve an uncertainty <a little homemade essay to determine the easiest way to strip the paint from the bookcase> — see EXPERIMENT

essay verb
to make an effort to do <he had been in gymnastics for some time before he even considered essaying that move> — see ATTEMPT

essence noun
1 the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is <the belief that power ultimately rests with the people is the very essence of democracy>

Synonyms
being, essentiality, nature, quiddity, quintessence, soul, stuff, substance

Related Words
heart, spirit; alpha and omega, center, core, keynote, marrow, pith, seat; embodiment, epitome, incarnation, manifestation, personification; aspect, attribute, feature, property; gist, kernel, nub

Phrases
name of the game

2 the central part or aspect of something under consideration <presented the essence of weeks of testimony in a 20-minute appeal to the jury> — see CRUX

essential adjective
1 impossible to do without <a well-stocked public library is essential for the well-being of a community>

Synonyms
all-important, critical, imperative, indispensable, integral, must-have, necessary, necessitous, needed, needful, required, requisite, vital

Related Words
prerequisite; compulsory, mandatory, nonelective, obligatory; consequential, crucial, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, weighty; basic, central, fundamental, key, organic; insistent, persistent, pressing, urgent

Phrases
of the essence

Near Antonyms
undesired, unwanted; inconsequential, insignificant, unimportant; excess, external, extra, extraneous, superfluous, surplus

Antonyms
dispensable, inessential, needless, nonessential, unessential, unnecessary, unneeded

2 of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject <anyone with an essential knowledge of human biology can follow the documentary> — see ELEMENTARY
3 being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <an unquenchable belief in the essential goodness of most people> — see INHERENT

essential noun
1 something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable <the essentials for success include a willingness to work and the right attitude>

Synonyms
condition, demand, must, must-have, necessary, necessity, need, needful, requirement, requisite, sine qua non

Related Words
precondition, prerequisite; advantage, edge, plus; desideration, desideratum, wish

Near Antonyms
amenity, comfort, extra, extravagance, frill, indulgence, luxury, superfluity, surplus, surplusage

Antonyms
nonessential, nonnecessity

2 essentials plural general or basic truths on which other truths or theories can be based <this will be just an introduction to the essentials of computer programming> — see PRINCIPLES 1

essentiality noun
the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is <physical strength or endurance is the essentiality that makes activity a sport and not just a game> — see ESSENCE 1

establish verb
1 to gain full recognition or acceptance of <a first novel that established him as one of the most promising writers of his generation>

Synonyms
demonstrate, prove, show, substantiate

Related Words
attest, authenticate, bear out, document, evidence, support, sustain, uphold; confirm, corroborate, justify, validate, verify

Near Antonyms
confute, discredit, invalidate, rebut, refute

Antonyms
disprove

2 to show the existence or truth of by evidence <the developers haven't established that there's a need for another shopping center in town> — see PROVE 1
3 to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of <established the first school for the education of Native Americans> — see FOUND

establisher noun
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor <Alfred Stieglitz is often credited as the establisher of photography as an art form> — see FATHER 2

establishment noun
1 a building, room, or suite of rooms occupied by a service business <one of the best dining establishments in the city> — see PLACE 2
2 a commercial or industrial activity or organization <new business establishments sprang up all over in the postwar boom> — see ENTERPRISE 1
3 a public organization with a particular purpose or function <the proposed change in pollution standards was opposed by environmental establishments across the board> — see INSTITUTION 1
4 a structure that is designed and built for a particular purpose <the city boasts a host of outstanding medical establishments> — see FACILITY

estate noun
1 a large impressive residence <the estates of multimillionaires line the shores of this ocean resort> — see MANSION
2 a state of being or fitness <the mayor pronounced the city's schools to be in their best estate ever> — see CONDITION 1
3 one of the segments of society into which people are grouped <the passionate belief that a society is judged by how well it treats and cares for those in the lowest estate> — see CLASS 1
4 a piece of land and its buildings used to grow crops or raise livestock <a huge coffee estate in Brazil> — see FARM

esteem noun
a feeling of great approval and liking <an athlete who is held in great esteem by her peers> — see ADMIRATION 1

esteem verb
1 to think of in a particular way <I had esteemed the whole affair to be a colossal waste of time> — see CONSIDER 1
2 to think very highly or favorably of <although the works of the Impressionist painters are esteemed today, they met with scorn when they were introduced> — see ADMIRE
3 to have as an opinion <I should have esteemed it most unlikely that their marriage had any chance of success> — see BELIEVE 2

esteemed adjective
having a good reputation especially in a field of knowledge <concerned about his heart, my grandfather went to see an esteemed cardiac specialist> — see RESPECTABLE 1

estimable adjective
1 deserving of high regard or great approval <a dramatist with an estimable body of work> — see ADMIRABLE
2 having a good reputation especially in a field of knowledge <no estimable archaeologist would be fooled by such a crude and obvious hoax> — see RESPECTABLE 1

estimate noun
1 the act of placing a value on the nature, character, or quality of something <what we owe our war veterans is beyond estimate>

Synonyms
appraisal, appraisement, assessment, estimation, evaluation, reckoning, valuation

Related Words
calculation, computation, measurement, mensuration; audit, check, checkup, examination, inspection, review, scan, scrutiny, survey; reassessment, transvaluation; overestimation, overevaluation; underestimation

2 an opinion on the nature, character, or quality of something <the estimate of many art specialists that the painting is a fake> — see ESTIMATION 1

estimate verb
1 to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding <experts estimated the value of the painting at a million dollars>

Synonyms
appraise, assess, evaluate, guesstimate, rate, set, valuate, value

Related Words
adjudge, deem, judge; ascertain, determine, discover, learn; price, prize; decide, settle; analyze, assay, survey, test; reappraise, reassess, reevaluate, rejudge, revalue; transvaluate, transvalue; misesteem, misjudge, misprize, underestimate, undervalue

2 to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement <we estimated the snowfall to be about a foot>

Synonyms
calculate, call, conjecture, figure, gauge (also gage), guess, judge, make, place, put, reckon, suppose

Related Words
conclude, deduce, extrapolate, gather, infer, reason, understand

Near Antonyms
calibrate, measure, scale; compute, work out

estimation noun
1 an opinion on the nature, character, or quality of something <the teacher's estimation of her student's scientific aptitude proved to be well-founded when he won a national science award>

Synonyms
appraisal, appraisement, assessment, estimate, evaluation, fix, judgment (or judgement), value judgment

Related Words
aperçu, feeling, impression, notion, perception; confidence, faith, stock, trust; belief, conviction, mind, persuasion, sentiment, view; conjecture, guess, hunch, hypothesis, surmise, theory

2 the act of placing a value on the nature, character, or quality of something <I may have been a little too hasty in my estimation of his musical abilities> — see ESTIMATE 1
3 a feeling of great approval and liking <a show business superstar who enjoys the estimation of fans and fellow performers alike> — see ADMIRATION 1

estrange verb
to cause to change from friendly or loving to unfriendly or uncaring <she estranged several of her coworkers when she let her promotion go to her head>

Synonyms
alien, alienate, disaffect, disgruntle, sour

Related Words
antagonize, embitter, envenom; aggravate, anger, enrage, incense, inflame (also enflame), infuriate, madden, outrage, rankle, rile, roil; break up, dissociate, disunite, divide, separate, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke; disappoint, disenchant, disillusion; annoy, bother, bug, chafe, exasperate, gall, grate, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pique, rile, vex

Near Antonyms
endear, ingratiate; appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

Antonyms
reconcile

estrangement noun
the loss of friendship or affection <a silly quarrel that eventually resulted in a complete and lasting estrangement between the onetime friends>

Synonyms
alienation, disaffection, disgruntlement, souring

Related Words
antagonism, embitterment, envenoming; breach, breakup, divorce, rift, rupture, schism, separation, split; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, hostility, jaundice, rancor; aggravation, furor, fury, incensing, indignation, infuriation, ire, outrage, rage, spleen, wrath; disenchantment, disillusionment

Near Antonyms
endearment, ingratiation; appeasement, conciliation, mollification, pacification, propitiation

Antonyms
reconcilement, reconciliation

estuary noun
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline <the city sits on the shores of a deep estuary where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean> — see GULF 1

esurient adjective
having a huge appetite <the deli is frequented by young, single professionals, esurient after those long hours spent staring at the monitor of a computer> — see VORACIOUS 1

etceteras plural noun
small useful items <tossed his razor, shaving cream, and assorted etceteras into his toiletry bag> — see NOTION 1

etch verb
1 to cut (as letters or designs) on a hard surface <the artist etched his landscape on a copper plate> — see ENGRAVE 1
2 to produce a vivid impression of <in just a few pages the writer etched an unforgettable portrait of one of the more remarkable First Ladies> — see ENGRAVE 2

eternal adjective
1 having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish <a charming fable that presents some eternal truths in a fresh way> — see ABIDING
2 lasting forever <the quest for some magic potion that promises eternal youth> — see EVERLASTING 1

Eternal noun
the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <spent much time pondering the nature of the Eternal> — see DEITY 2

eternalize verb
to give eternal or lasting existence to <the monument was created to eternalize the service and sacrifice of the sons of the village who fought in the American Civil War> — see PERPETUATE

eternally adverb
for all time <we will be eternally grateful for your kind generosity> — see EVER 1

eternity noun
1 endless time <the question whether the universe will end someday or continue to exist in eternity>

Synonyms
everlasting, foreverness, infinity, perpetuity

Related Words
boundlessness, endlessness, interminableness, limitlessness, permanence, permanency, timelessness

Near Antonyms
ephemerality, impermanence, temporariness, transience, transitoriness

2 unending existence after death <a firm belief in the eternity of the soul>

Synonyms
afterlife, beyond, hereafter, immortality

Related Words
afterworld, otherworld

3 a long or seemingly long period of time <we waited in line for tickets for an eternity> — see AGE 2

ethereal adjective
1 not composed of matter <that ethereal attribute that every performer should have—charisma> — see IMMATERIAL 1
2 resembling air in lightness <the bakery's scrumptious pastries have a wonderfully ethereal consistency> — see AIRY 1
3 of, relating to, or suggesting heaven <a land of ethereal beauty and tranquillity> — see CELESTIAL

ethical adjective
1 conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <the ethical behavior expected of every member of the police force> — see GOOD 2
2 following the accepted rules of moral conduct <the ethical course of action for the senator who lied to Congress would be to resign> — see HONORABLE 1
3 guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong <ethical writers do not use the words of other writers without giving them proper credit> — see CONSCIENTIOUS 1

ethics plural noun
the code of good conduct for an individual or group <the ethics of scouting require scouts to be loyal, clean, and reverent>

Synonyms
ethos, morality, morals, norms, principles, standards

Related Words
customs, dictates, etiquette, manners, mores, values; beliefs, dogma, faith, tenets

ethnic adjective
of, relating to, or reflecting the traits exhibited by a group of people with a common ancestry and culture <children who were raised in a home where there was a strong ethnic consciousness> — see RACIAL

ethnical adjective
of, relating to, or reflecting the traits exhibited by a group of people with a common ancestry and culture <the marriage flourished, despite the ethnical contrast between the partners> — see RACIAL

ethnicity noun
a people having a common language, culture, and body of traditions <a university that aggressively recruits a student body of diverse ethnicities> — see NATIONALITY

ethos noun
the code of good conduct for an individual or group <rigorous self-discipline was central to the ethos of the ancient Spartans> — see ETHICS

etiolate verb
to diminish the physical strength of <the long, stressful days and sleepless nights gradually etiolated him> — see WEAKEN 1

etiquette noun
personal conduct or behavior as evaluated by an accepted standard of appropriateness for a social or professional setting <the couple exhibited poor etiquette when they left the party without saying good-bye to the host and hostess> — see MANNER 1

euchre verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <a fast-talking speculator who thought that euchring the tribe out of their land would be easy> — see FLEECE

eulogium noun
a formal expression of praise <on the centennial of its completion, the building received the greatest possible eulogium: it remains a unique achievement in architectural design> — see ENCOMIUM

eulogy noun
a formal expression of praise <several eulogies were given at the special assembly marking the retirement of the company's longtime president> — see ENCOMIUM

eupeptic adjective
having or showing a good mood or disposition <our eupeptic colleague was unfazed by our gloomy expressions and dire predictions> — see CHEERFUL 1

euphonic adjective
having a pleasing mixture of notes <not wanting to burden their newborn with one of those unwieldy hyphenated surnames, the parents are looking for something a little more euphonic> — see HARMONIOUS 1

euphonious adjective
1 having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music <an opera singer with an appropriately euphonious name> — see LYRIC 1
2 having a pleasing mixture of notes <the doorbell had a noticeably euphonious chime> — see HARMONIOUS 1

euphoria noun
a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <a general euphoria seemed to engulf the city following the World Series win> — see ECSTASY

euphoric adjective
experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <the euphoric winner was momentarily speechless> — see ECSTATIC

eurythmic or eurhythmic adjective
having the parts agreeably related <the ratio of the height of the temple's colonnade to the width of the entablature and pediment make for an eye-pleasing and eurythmic facade> — see HARMONIOUS 2

evacuate verb
to remove the contents of <evacuate the cupboards completely before spraying the insecticide> — see EMPTY

evacuee noun
a person forced to emigrate for political reasons <evacuees by the thousands poured into the camps for displaced persons> — see ÉMIGRÉ 1

evade verb
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery <people who use every loophole in the law to evade paying taxes> — see ESCAPE 2

evaluate verb
to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding <a trained assistant to evaluate the needs of the patients waiting to see the doctor> — see ESTIMATE 1

evaluation noun
1 an opinion on the nature, character, or quality of something <what's your evaluation of her writing ability?> — see ESTIMATION 1
2 the act of placing a value on the nature, character, or quality of something <the evaluation of the defendant's mental condition was conducted by a team of psychiatrists> — see ESTIMATE 1

evanesce verb
to cease to be visible <the kids' rainy-day gloom evanesced the minute they heard that we were going out for ice cream> — see DISAPPEAR

evanescence noun
the state or quality of lasting only for a short time <the evanescence of a rainbow detracts not a whit from its beauty> — see IMPERMANENCE

evanescent adjective
lasting only for a short time <beauty that is as evanescent as a rainbow> — see MOMENTARY

evaporate verb
to cease to be visible <by mid-morning the fog that had enshrouded the island had just evaporated> — see DISAPPEAR

evasion noun
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable <pleading chronic back pain is my standard evasion for doing any heavy lifting> — see ESCAPE 2

evasive adjective
hard to find, capture, or isolate <believers in Bigfoot have never quite explained how such a large creature can be so evasive> — see ELUSIVE

eve noun
the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness <from morn to eve the settlers toiled to eke a living from the harsh land> — see DUSK 1

even adjective
1 being neither more nor less than a certain amount, number, or extent <the distance to town is an even mile>

Synonyms
exact, flat, precise, round

Near Antonyms
approximate, comparative, near, relative; imprecise

2 having a surface without bends, breaks, or irregularities <let's find an even stretch of ground to pitch our tent> — see LEVEL 1
3 resembling another in every respect <the armies of the two countries are fairly even> — see SAME 1
4 not varying <energy demands do not stay even throughout the day but peak significantly during the afternoon hours> — see UNIFORM

even adverb
1 not merely this but also <the blue whale is a huge, even awesome animal by any measure>

Synonyms
indeed, nay, truly, verily, yea

Related Words
assuredly, certainly, decidedly, definitely, doubtless, incontestably, incontrovertibly, indisputably, positively, really, surely, truly, undeniably, undoubtedly, unquestionably

Phrases
in fact, in reality, in truth

2 to a full extent or degree <I will love you even to the end of time> — see FULLY 1

even verb
1 to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps <even the filling before adding the top layer of the cake>

Synonyms
flatten, level, plane, smooth, smoothen

Related Words
clip, crop, pare, prune, shave, trim; lay, press, spread; card, comb, rake; surface

Near Antonyms
coarsen, rumple, wrinkle; bend, kink; dent, pit

Antonyms
rough, roughen

2 to make equal in amount, degree, or status <the contention that producing more arms will even us with the enemy and therefore make us more secure> — see EQUALIZE

evenfall noun
the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness <with the coming of evenfall the Greek island takes on an entirely different mood> — see DUSK 1

evenhanded adjective
marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias <an evenhanded meting out of punishment> — see FAIR 2

evenhandedness noun
lack of favoritism toward one side or another <we trust the evenhandedness of our marriage counselor implicitly> — see DETACHMENT 1

evening noun
1 a later period of one's life <now in the evening of their lives, the married couple are ready to hand the family business over to the next generation> — see AGE 3
2 the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness <in the evening a reddish glow often appears on the mountaintops> — see DUSK 1

even so adverb
in spite of that <I know you claim not to care about the breakup; even so, you keep talking about it> — see HOWEVER

event noun
1 something that happens <dinnertime was devoted to talking over the day's events, not to watching television>

Synonyms
affair, circumstance, episode, hap, happening, incident, occasion, occurrence, thing

Related Words
coincidence, co-occurrence, fluke, freak; landmark, milepost, milestone, page, phenomenon, turning point; adventure, experience, time; happenchance, happenstance; accident, crisis, emergency, juncture; achievement, deed, exploit, feat; news, tidings

2 something that might happen <in the event of rain, graduation ceremonies will be held indoors>

Synonyms
case, contingence, contingency, contingent, eventuality, possibility

Related Words
probability; accident, chance, hap, hazard, risk

3 a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize <figure skating is usually one of the most popular events in the winter Olympics> — see GAME 1
4 a social gathering <the mayor's evenings are often tied up with one event after another> — see PARTY 1

eventful adjective
having great meaning or lasting effect <the first moon landing was universally regarded as an eventful moment in human history> — see IMPORTANT 1

eventide noun
the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness <eventide was their favorite time for enjoying a quiet respite in the backyard> — see DUSK 1

eventuality noun
1 something that can develop or become actual <a cure for that form of cancer seems like a certain eventuality—it's just a matter of time> — see POTENTIAL
2 something that might happen <a full-force hurricane on the day of the picnic was one eventuality that we hadn't planned on> — see EVENT 2

eventually adverb
at a later time <stop whining about how long it's taking us—we'll get there eventually> — see YET 1

ever adverb
1 for all time <the name of Benedict Arnold will ever be linked with treason>

Synonyms
always, aye (also ay), e'er, eternally, everlastingly, evermore, forever, forevermore, indelibly, permanently, perpetually

Related Words
enduringly, long, perennially

Phrases
for good (also for good and all), for keeps

Near Antonyms
once

Antonyms
ne'er, never, nevermore

2 in any way or respect <how can we ever repay what you've done for us?> — see AT ALL
3 on every relevant occasion <the boy and his ever present dog were a common sight around the village> — see ALWAYS 1
4 to a great degree <boy, was I ever embarrassed> <it's been ever so long since we've seen you> — see VERY 1

everlasting adjective
1 lasting forever <valentines typically express the giver's everlasting love and devotion>

Synonyms
ceaseless, dateless, deathless, endless, eternal, immortal, permanent, perpetual, undying, unending

Related Words
durable, enduring, lasting, long-lived, persistent, stubborn; imperishable, indefeasible, indefectible, indelible, indestructible, indissoluble, inexpungible; timeless; abiding, stable, standing, steadfast, steady, unfailing, unfaltering; continual, continuing, continuous, incessant, unbroken, unceasing, uninterrupted, unremitting

Near Antonyms
ephemeral, evanescent, fleeting, fugacious, fugitive, momentary, passing, short-lived, transitory; interim, provisional, short-term

Antonyms
impermanent, mortal, temporary, transient

2 having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish <Shakespeare's plays are still being performed 400 years later because they deal with everlasting truths and universal emotions> — see ABIDING

everlasting noun
1 endless time <that special bond that has existed between mother and child from everlasting> — see ETERNITY 1
2 cap the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <people who believe that the magnificence of the natural world is proof of the existence of the Everlasting> — see DEITY 2

everlastingly adverb
for all time <the sacrifices made by our brave soldiers on this battlefield will be everlastingly remembered> — see EVER 1

evermore adverb
for all time <he promised to love her evermore, if only she would consent to be his wife> — see EVER 1

every adjective
being one of a group <every man here must decide for himself whether to go or to stay and fight> — see EACH

everybody pronoun
every person <everybody must do what his or her conscience dictates>

Synonyms
all, everyone

Related Words
anybody, anyone; somebody, someone

Phrases
each and everyone, one and all

Antonyms
nobody, none, no one

everyday adjective
1 being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <we're just an everyday family, with a dog and a cat and bills to pay> — see ORDINARY 1
2 having to do with the practical details of regular life <even the richest man in town has to do such everyday tasks as shaving his face and brushing his teeth> — see MUNDANE 1
3 not designed to be worn only on special occasions <everyday clothes will be fine for this party> — see CASUAL 1
4 often observed or encountered <fortunately, murder is not an everyday event around here> — see COMMON 1

everyman noun
an average or ordinary man <despite his superstar status, in his movies the actor is able to play the role of an everyman quite convincingly> — see JOE BLOW

everyone pronoun
every person <there's plenty of food for everyone> — see EVERYBODY

everyplace adverb
in every place or in all places <I can't be everyplace at once, so somebody has to help me> — see EVERYWHERE

everywhere adverb
in every place or in all places <freedom and happiness are the goals of people everywhere>

Synonyms
all over, everyplace, far and wide, high and low, throughout

Related Words
every which way; right and left

Phrases
all over the place (or map), far and near, in every corner (or quarter), on all hands (or on every hand)

Antonyms
nowhere

evidence noun
something presented in support of the truth or accuracy of a claim <do you have any evidence that this bike is yours?> — see PROOF

evident adjective
1 appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed <the evident motive for the assault was robbery> — see APPARENT 1
2 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <the man was discovered dead in his apartment, but there were no evident signs of foul play> — see CLEAR 2

evidently adverb
to all outward appearances <she was evidently dissatisfied with her job and abruptly quit> — see APPARENTLY

evil adjective
1 causing or capable of causing harm <the contention that pornography is an evil influence on society> — see HARMFUL
2 not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <their evil deeds rank among the worst in history> — see BAD 2
3 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <she refused to eat olives or anything which had their evil flavor> — see OFFENSIVE 1

evil noun
that which is morally unacceptable <our free will allows us to choose between good and evil>

Synonyms
bad, evildoing, ill, immorality, iniquity, sin, villainy, wrong

Related Words
atrociousness, atrocity, badness, balefulness, darkness, depravedness, devilishness, diabolism, enormity, evilness, heinousness, iniquitousness, satanism, sinfulness, vileness, wickedness; devilry (or deviltry), fiendishness; cancer, canker, decay, rot, squalor; corruption, debauchery, degeneracy, depravity, indecency, malefaction, perversion, pervertedness, scurrility, scurrilousness; abomination, anathema, taboo (also tabu)

Near Antonyms
decency, goodness, honesty, integrity, probity, rectitude, uprightness; goodness, righteousness, virtuousness

Antonyms
good, morality, right, virtue

evildoer noun
1 a person who commits moral wrongs <if good people stand by and do nothing, evildoers will triumph>

Synonyms
immoralist, malefactor, sinner, wrongdoer

Related Words
criminal, crook, felon, lawbreaker, miscreant, misdoer, misfeasor, offender, reprobate, transgressor, villain; corrupter (also corruptor)

Near Antonyms
angel, innocent, saint

2 a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <the novel's slave owner, Simon Legree, became one of the most notorious evildoers in all of literature> — see VILLAIN

evildoing noun
that which is morally unacceptable <a book that ponders the question of the presence of evildoing in a universe controlled by a benevolent Supreme Being> — see EVIL

evilness noun
the state or quality of being utterly evil <the evilness of the crimes committed by the mass murderer are beyond comprehension> — see ENORMITY 1

evince verb
to make known (something abstract) through outward signs <the teenager caught shoplifting seemed to evince no remorse> — see SHOW 2

eviscerate verb
to take the internal organs out of <the ancient Egyptians would eviscerate the bodies of the dead as part of the process of mummifying them> — see GUT

evocative adjective
provoking a memory or mental association <the Italian-American restaurant is decorated in a manner evocative of the charming outdoor cafés in Italy> — see SUGGESTIVE 2

evoke verb
to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved) <the old family photographs we found in the attic evoked a wealth of warm memories> — see EDUCE

evolution noun
the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced <the evolution of motion pictures from a peep-show novelty into a medium of mass entertainment and an art form> — see DEVELOPMENT 1

evolve verb
1 to gradually become clearer or more detailed <as the governor's plans for the reform of state government evolved, objections from various groups inevitably arose> — see DEVELOP 1
2 to throw or give off <baking soda and citric acid react with each other and evolve carbon dioxide> — see EMIT 1

evolved adjective
being far along in development <whether this is an evolved technology or one still in its infancy is a matter of debate> — see ADVANCED 1

ewer noun
a handled container for holding and pouring liquids that usually has a lip or a spout <a silver ewer in the elaborately ornamented style favored by the Victorians> — see PITCHER

exacerbate verb
to make more severe <a misconceived plan that only exacerbated the city's traffic problem>

Synonyms
aggravate, complicate, worsen

Related Words
amplify, deepen, intensify, magnify

Near Antonyms
ameliorate, better, improve

Antonyms
allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, help, mitigate, relieve

exact adjective
1 being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard <maybe I wasn't being very exact when I said I had done it a million times—but it sure seemed like it> — see CORRECT 1
2 being neither more nor less than a certain amount, number, or extent <the exact number of passengers on that airplane was 147> — see EVEN 1
3 following an original exactly <an exact replica of the notorious slave ship Amistad> — see FAITHFUL 2
4 made or done with extreme care and accuracy <the company stresses that its optical telescopes are exact instruments and should not be handled as toys> — see FINE 2
5 meeting the highest standard of accuracy <in order for the blind to fit properly, we must have the exact measurements of the window> — see PRECISE 1

exact verb
1 to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority <every war inevitably exacts the greatest sacrifice possible from some of the nation's best and brightest> — see DEMAND 1
2 to establish or apply as a charge or penalty <vowed to exact a heavy fine from any hockey player engaging in such outrageous behavior on the ice> — see IMPOSE
3 to get (as money) by the use of force or threats <that loan shark can be counted upon to exact repayment of his loan by whatever means necessary> — see EXTORT

exacting adjective
1 hard to please <he was shocked when his normally exacting supervisor complimented him on a job well done> — see FINICKY
2 not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards <the prep school's exacting standards for admission> — see RIGID 1
3 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <the new recruits had to adjust themselves to the exacting discipline of military life> — see HARD 2
4 requiring much time, effort, or careful attention <writing will always be an exacting task> — see DEMANDING 1

exactingness noun
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) <since I was a guest in their home, I was not about to critique the dinner with the exactingness of a professional restaurant reviewer> — see SEVERITY

exactitude noun
the quality or state of being very accurate <after its opening weekend, a movie's final box office gross can be estimated with considerable exactitude> — see PRECISION

exactly adverb
1 as stated or indicated without the slightest difference <we will meet at exactly six o'clock>

Synonyms
due, full, just, precisely, right, sharp, smack-dab, squarely

Phrases
on the button, on the nose

2 in the same manner <he wants to be exactly like his father> — see JUST 1
3 in the same words <a plagiarism suit alleging that one historian had copied large segments of another's text exactly> — see VERBATIM
4 without any relaxation of standards or precision <follow the rules exactly and you won't get into trouble> — see STRICTLY
5 to a full extent or degree <she listened to the advice, then did exactly what she wanted to anyway> — see FULLY 1
6 used to express agreement <“Are you calling me a liar?” “Exactly.”> — see YES

exactness noun
the quality or state of being very accurate <the exactness of the bathroom scale isn't such that you could use it in business> — see PRECISION

exaggerate verb
1 to add to the interest of by including made-up details <the American colonist John Smith is believed by many historians to have exaggerated his adventures> — see EMBROIDER
2 to describe or express in too strong terms <it would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of this entrance exam> — see OVERSTATE

exaggerated adjective
extended beyond normal or realistic bounds <loves the exaggerated emotions that are part and parcel of grand opera> — see BLOATED 1

exaggeration noun
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts <their exaggeration was such that a rainstorm became a hurricane>

Synonyms
caricature, coloring, elaboration, embellishment, embroidering, embroidery, hyperbole, magnification, overstatement, padding, stretching

Related Words
amplification, enhancement; fabrication, misrepresentation; fudging, hedging; hype, puffery; superlative

Near Antonyms
belittlement, disparagement, minimizing, poor-mouthing

Antonyms
meiosis, understatement

exalt verb
1 to assign a high status or value to <popular support and media hype have exalted Super Bowl Sunday to the level of a national holiday>

Synonyms
aggrandize, canonize, deify, dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, ensky, enthrone, glorify, magnify

Related Words
boost, lift, promote, raise, upgrade, uplift; heighten, intensify; idealize, romanticize, sanitize, sugarcoat; acclaim, extol (also extoll), honor, laud, praise

Near Antonyms
belittle, decry, depreciate, detract, disparage, minimize

Antonyms
abase, degrade, demean, humble, humiliate

2 to proclaim the glory of <monstrous, gaudy gambling palaces that seem to exalt the very notion of excess> — see PRAISE 1

exam noun
a set of questions or problems designed to assess knowledge, skills, or intelligence <the exam will cover everything we have studied this term> — see EXAMINATION 1

examen noun
1 a systematic search for the truth or facts about something <an examen of the president's assasination that has been plagued by controversy since its original publication> — see INQUIRY 1
2 an essay evaluating or analyzing something <an insightful examen of the poet's works> — see CRITICISM

examination noun
1 a set of questions or problems designed to assess knowledge, skills, or intelligence <applicants to the prep school are required to take a demanding examination>

Synonyms
exam, quiz, test

Related Words
aptitude test, intelligence test, placement test; pretest, retest; board(s), midterm, midyear; catechism; audition; final; checkup, inspection, review; inquiry, interrogation, investigation, probe, research

2 a systematic search for the truth or facts about something <an examination into the extent and causes of juvenile delinquency in the community> — see INQUIRY 1
3 a close look at or over someone or something in order to judge condition <even a hasty examination will tell any jeweler that that is not a real diamond> — see INSPECTION

examine verb
1 to put a series of questions to <the defense attorney was eager to examine her star witness>

Synonyms
catechize, grill, interrogate, pump, query, question, quiz, sweat [slang]

Related Words
debrief; cross-examine, cross-question; annoy, harass, hound, pester; canvass (also canvas), poll

Phrases
give the third degree to, pick the brains of

2 to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) <the customer painstakingly examined the antique piece of furniture from top to bottom before purchasing it> — see INSPECT
3 to search through or into <a groundbreaking study that examined the causes of juvenile delinquency> — see EXPLORE 1

example noun
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like <a war bonnet that is a fine example of Native American handicraft>

Synonyms
case, exemplar, exemplification, illustration, instance, prototype, representative, sample, specimen

Related Words
archetype, classic, locus classicus, paradigm; cross section, microcosm; evidence, indication, manifestation, sign

Phrases
case in point

exasperate verb
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <small children can exasperate their parents with endless questions about why this or that is so> — see IRRITATE 1

exasperated adjective
subjected to and reacting with irritation <overworked, exasperated parents barking at their children over little things> — see ANNOYED

exasperating adjective
causing annoyance <those exasperating details that come with almost any job> — see ANNOYING

exasperation noun
1 something that is a source of irritation <add people who use cell phones inconsiderately to the list of daily exasperations> — see ANNOYANCE 3
2 the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts <my rising exasperation with these constant interruptions> — see ANNOYANCE 2

excavate verb
to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth <workmen are excavating a long tunnel that will eventually replace the aboveground expressway> — see DIG 1

exceed verb
1 to go beyond the limit of <by resorting to corporal punishment, the teacher had clearly exceeded his authority>

Synonyms
break, outreach, outrun, overpass, overreach, overrun, overshoot, overstep, surpass, transcend

Related Words
encroach, entrench (also intrench), infringe, invade, trespass; overdo, overuse, overutilize, overwork

2 to be greater, better, or stronger than <her knowledge of French wines exceeds that of anyone else I know> — see SURPASS 1

exceeding adjective
being out of the ordinary <accepted the apology with exceeding graciousness> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1

exceedingly also exceeding adverb
to a great degree <the salesclerk was exceedingly patient with one customer who couldn't make up his mind> — see VERY 1

excel verb
to be greater, better, or stronger than <the special effects in this new sci-fi extravaganza excel any that we've seen previously> — see SURPASS 1

excellence noun
1 exceptionally high quality <the annual awards honor excellence in children's literature>

Synonyms
choiceness, distinction, excellency, first-rateness, greatness, perfection, preeminence, primeness, superbness, superiority, supremacy

Related Words
faultlessness, flawlessness, impeccability, perfectness; goodness, value, worth; consequence, importance, notability

Near Antonyms
averageness, badness, crumminess, inferiority, mediocrity, ordinariness, worthlessness

2 a quality that gives something special worth <the particular excellence of down in clothing and sleeping bags is its lightness>

Synonyms
cardinal virtue, distinction, excellency, grace, merit, value, virtue

Related Words
advantage, edge, plus, superiority

Near Antonyms
blemish, defect, failing, fault, flaw; drawback, minus, negative

Antonyms
deficiency, demerit, disvalue

excellency noun
1 a quality that gives something special worth <claimed that granite has so many excellencies as material for countertops that it is well worth the high price> — see EXCELLENCE 2
2 exceptionally high quality <the excellency of the violins crafted by Stradivarius is beyond dispute> — see EXCELLENCE 1

excellent adjective
of the very best kind <fast-food fans rate this chain's fries as excellent>

Synonyms
A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, bonny (also bonnie) [chiefly British], boss [slang], brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, cool [slang], corking, crackerjack, cracking, dandy, divine, dope [slang], down [slang], dynamite, fab, fabulous, famous, fantabulous [slang], fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, first-string, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters (also gangbuster), gilt-edged (or gilt-edge), gone [slang], grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class, hot, hype [slang], immense, jim-dandy, keen, lovely, marvelous (or marvellous), mean, neat, nifty, noble, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, out-of-sight [slang], par excellence, peachy, peachy keen, phat [slang], prime, primo [slang], prize, prizewinning, quality, radical [slang], righteous [slang], sensational, slick, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-flight, top-notch, top-of-the-line, topping [chiefly British], top-shelf, unsurpassed, wizard [chiefly British], wonderful

Related Words
acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, good, OK (or okay), passable, satisfactory, tolerable; better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, high-test, premium, select, special, superfine; classical, standard, traditional

Phrases
out of this world, too much

Near Antonyms
bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory; mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate

Antonyms
atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched

except verb
1 to present an opposing opinion or argument <I must except to your remark that there are no great novelists currently living> — see OBJECT
2 to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of <we'll have to except members who haven't paid their club dues from voting in the election> — see EXCLUDE

except also excepting conjunction
if it were not for the fact that <I'd go, except it's too far>

Synonyms
but, only, saving, yet

except also excepting preposition
not including <the store is open daily except Sundays>

Synonyms
apart from, aside from, bar, barring, beside, besides, but, except for, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside, outside of, save, saving

except for preposition
not including <except for newscasts, I hardly watch any television at all> — see EXCEPT

exception noun
1 a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent <I take strong exception to your assessment of his singing ability> — see OBJECTION
2 something that is different from what is ordinary or expected <her tardiness today is an exception; usually she's on time> — see ANOMALY 1

exceptionable adjective
provoking or likely to provoke protest <as long as the language is not exceptionable, people can discuss any topic they want in the chat room> — see OBJECTIONABLE

exceptional adjective
1 being out of the ordinary <an exceptional amount of snow fell in March>

Synonyms
aberrant, aberrated, abnormal, anomalous, atypical, especial, exceeding, extraordinaire, extraordinary, freak, odd, peculiar, phenomenal, preternatural, rare, singular, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, unusual, unwonted

Related Words
conspicuous, notable, noticeable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, salient, striking; bizarre, deviant, eccentric, freakish, monstrous, oddball, outlandish, quaint, strange, weird; incomprehensible, inconceivable, incredible, unimaginable, unthinkable

Near Antonyms
everyday, familiar, frequent

Antonyms
common, customary, normal, ordinary, typical, unexceptional, unextraordinary, usual

2 deprived of the power to perform one or more natural bodily activities <her experience working with exceptional children was rewarding and inspiring> — see DISABLED
3 having or showing quickness of mind <a special school for exceptional children> — see INTELLIGENT 1

excerpt noun
a part taken from a longer work <he'll read an excerpt from the novel at the book signing>

Synonyms
extract, passage

Related Words
clip, snippet, sound bite; citation, quotation; locus classicus, longueur, purple passage; context; sample, selection

excess adjective
being over what is needed <any excess food from the party will be donated to a shelter for the homeless> — see SPARE 1

excess noun
1 the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <a new television season with an excess of sitcoms featuring wisecracking teenagers>

Synonyms
bellyful, fat, overabundance, overage, overflow, overkill, overmuch, overplus, oversupply, plethora, plus, redundancy, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus, surplusage

Related Words
abundance, bounty, plentitude, plenty, profusion, sufficiency; overproduction, overstock

Near Antonyms
dearth, lack, scarcity, want

Antonyms
deficiency, deficit, insufficiency, undersupply

2 a propensity for extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits <the wretched excess that is so often found in the world of show business>

Synonyms
excessiveness, exorbitance, immoderacy, immoderation, insobriety, intemperance, intemperateness, nimiety

Related Words
extravagance, prodigality; extremism, irrationality, radicalism, unreasonableness

Antonyms
moderateness, moderation, temperance, temperateness

excessive adjective
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <nerdy hackers who spend an excessive amount of time sitting in front of their computers>

Synonyms
baroque, devilish, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, fancy, immoderate, inordinate, insane, intolerable, lavish, overdue, overextravagant, overmuch, overweening, plethoric, steep, stiff, towering, unconscionable, undue, unmerciful

Related Words
boundless, endless, immeasurable, infinite, limitless; unbearable, unjustifiable, unwarranted; improper, inappropriate, thick, unseemly; unrestrained

Phrases
a bit much, over the top

Near Antonyms
deficient, inadequate, insufficient; minimal, minimum

Antonyms
middling, moderate, modest, reasonable, temperate

excessively adverb
beyond a normal or acceptable limit <noise from the party was excessively loud> — see TOO 1

excessiveness noun
a propensity for extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits <the excessiveness for which decadent Rome has become famous in history> — see EXCESS 2

exchange noun
1 a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another <exchanges of commemorative pins are common among Olympic athletes>

Synonyms
back-and-forth, barter, commutation, dicker, quid pro quo, swap, trade, trade-off, truck

Related Words
replacement, substitution; reciprocation, recompense, requital; bargain, deal, horse trade, negotiation, transaction; bargaining, dealing, dickering, haggling, horse trading; logrolling

2 talking or a talk between two or more people <we had a brief exchange with the pastor as we passed him on the way out of church> — see CONVERSATION

exchange verb
to give up (something) and take something else in return <I'd like to exchange this sweater for one in a larger size> — see CHANGE 3

exchangeable adjective
capable of being substituted in place of one another <as far as small businesses near the border are concerned, the two currencies are exchangeable> — see INTERCHANGEABLE

exchequer noun
available money <their son would make beseeching requests for more money whenever his personal exchequer was getting low> — see FUND 2

excitable adjective
easily excited by nature <an excitable child who needs a stable home life>

Synonyms
fiddle-footed, flighty, fluttery, high-strung, hyper, hyperactive, hyperexcitable, hyperkinetic, jittery, jumpy, nervous, skittery, skittish, spasmodic, spooky

Related Words
hot-blooded, mercurial, temperamental, unstable, volatile, volcanic; anxious, edgy, flibbertigibbety, nervy, tense, uptight; emotional, emotionalistic, hypersensitive, intense, sensitive, soulful; dramatic, histrionic, melodramatic; irascible, irritable, perturbable, prickly, testy, touchy

Near Antonyms
calm, collected, cool, serene, tranquil; easy, easygoing, laid-back, relaxed

Antonyms
imperturbable, nerveless, unexcitable, unflappable, unshakable

excite verb
1 to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings <for some reason the first snowfall of the season never fails to excite us> — see THRILL
2 to rouse to strong feeling or action <televised pictures of the victims of the famine that would excite any viewer to pity> — see PROVOKE 1

excited adjective
1 being in a state of increased activity or agitation <excited trading on the stock exchange followed in the wake of the favorable economic report> — see FEVERISH 1
2 showing urgent desire or interest <everyone was excited about the upcoming family vacation at the ski resort> — see EAGER

excitement noun
1 something that arouses a strong response from another <there were few excitements of any kind on our very uneventful trip back home> — see PROVOCATION 1
2 urgent desire or interest <in our excitement to get going, we forgot to make sure that all of the lights in the house had been turned off> — see EAGERNESS

exciter noun
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent <many of the exciters of the so-called “tax revolt” were actually campaign workers for one of the gubernatorial candidates> — see AGITATOR

exciting adjective
1 causing great emotional or mental stimulation <an exciting, come-from-behind victory for the underdogs in the last game of the World Series>

Synonyms
breathtaking, charged, electric, electrifying, exhilarating, exhilarative, galvanic, galvanizing, hair-raising, heart-stopping, inspiring, intoxicating, kicky, mind-bending, mind-blowing, mind-boggling, rip-roaring, rousing, stimulating, stirring, thrilling

Related Words
arresting, interesting, intriguing, provocative, tantalizing, titillating; absorbing, engrossing, gripping, riveting; moving, poignant, touching; enchanting, enthralling, fascinating, spellbinding; dynamic, energetic, high-voltage, kinetic, lively, lusty

Near Antonyms
boring, mind-numbing, tedious, tiresome; dreary, dull, humdrum, monotonous, uninteresting

Antonyms
unexciting

2 serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction <and what exciting news have you for us today?> — see PROVOCATIVE

exclaim verb
to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling <the whole team exclaimed with one voice, “We won!”>

Synonyms
blat, blurt (out), bolt, cry (out), ejaculate

Related Words
blunder, leak; bellow, bleat, crow, holler, hoot, howl, roar, shout, whoop, yowl; aah (also ah), ooh; interject

exclamation noun
a sudden short emotional utterance <the good news was greeted with a chorus of joyous exclamations>

Synonyms
cry, ejaculation, interjection

Related Words
aah (also ah), ooh; holler, hoot, howl, shout, whoop, yell, yelp, yowl; scream, screech, shriek, squall, squeak, squeal

exclude verb
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of <the revelation that the candidate had once belonged to a country club that excluded minorities>

Synonyms
ban, bar, close out, count (out), debar, eliminate, except, freeze out, rule out, shut out

Related Words
blackball, blacklist, excommunicate, ostracize; banish, deport, exile, expel, oust, throw out; obviate, preclude, prevent, prohibit; block, hinder, impede, obstruct; cease, discontinue, halt, suspend; deter, stave off, ward (off); check off, disregard; comb (out), weed (out)

Phrases
close one's doors to

Near Antonyms
accept, embrace, entertain, receive, take in, welcome; unban

Antonyms
admit, include

excluding preposition
not including <excluding me, plan on five guests for dinner tonight> — see EXCEPT

exclusive adjective
1 belonging only to the one person, unit, or group named <residents of the apartment complex have exclusive use of the pool> — see SOLE 1
2 not divided or scattered among several areas of interest or concern <during interviews she always gives the job applicant her exclusive attention> — see WHOLE 1
3 appealing to affluent consumers <a section of the city where the exclusive boutiques and fashionable restaurants are concentrated> — see UPSCALE
4 being in the latest or current fashion <an exclusive designer gown of the sort that shows up on red carpets> — see STYLISH

exclusively adverb
for nothing other than <his best paintings are the ones that he did exclusively for the sheer pleasure they gave him> — see SOLELY 1

exclusive of preposition
not including <all food and beverages are included in the price, exclusive of any alcoholic drinks ordered from the bar> — see EXCEPT

excogitate verb
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination <she's a master at excogitating reasons not to do her assigned work> — see INVENT

excoriate verb
1 to criticize harshly and usually publicly <the mayor had hardly been in office for a month before she was being excoriated for problems of very long standing> — see ATTACK 2
2 to make sore by continued rubbing <the manacles had badly excoriated the prisoner's wrists> — see CHAFE 1

excoriation noun
an often public or formal expression of disapproval <the recent excoriation of dumbed-down textbooks by a panel of educators> — see CENSURE

excrement noun
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal <an ordinance that requires dog walkers to remove their animal's excrement from city streets> — see DROPPING 1

excrescence noun
1 an abnormal mass of tissue <concerned about the weird excrescence that seemed to be developing on his hand> — see GROWTH 1
2 something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing <local residents regard the hulking apartment building as a hideous excrescence on their once-lovely street> — see BLEMISH

excrescency noun
1 an abnormal mass of tissue <fortunately, the excrescency could be removed with surgery> — see GROWTH 1
2 something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing <some feel that the planned skyscraper would be an excrescency on the city's low-rise skyline> — see BLEMISH

excreta plural noun
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal <the cage badly needed to be cleaned of the rabbit's excreta> — see DROPPING 1

excruciate verb
to cause persistent suffering to <she has long been excruciated by a persistent pain in her knee> — see AFFLICT

excruciating adjective
1 intensely or unbearably painful <those who publicly disagreed with the government were subjected to excruciating torture>

Synonyms
agonizing, harrowing, racking, raging, tormenting, torturing, torturous, wrenching

Related Words
acute, exquisite, extreme, fierce, intense, vehement, violent; biting, cutting, penetrating, piercing, sharp, shooting, smarting, stabbing, stinging, tearing, tingling

2 difficult to endure <the excruciating heat that the settlers faced as they crossed the deserts of the Southwest> — see HARSH 1
3 hard to accept or bear especially emotionally <most excruciating of all was the endless wait for news of any survivors of the plane crash> — see BITTER 2
4 extreme in degree, power, or effect <the excruciating grief they felt upon the loss of their child> — see INTENSE 1

excruciation noun
a state of great suffering of body or mind <had never experienced such excruciation as when he contracted shingles> — see DISTRESS 1

exculpate verb
to free from a charge of wrongdoing <I will present evidence that will exculpate my client>

Synonyms
absolve, acquit, clear, exonerate, vindicate

Related Words
atone (for), expiate; discharge, liberate, redeem, release, unburden; condone, excuse, whitewash; forgive, pardon, remit; avenge, redress, revenge

Near Antonyms
accuse, arraign, charge, impeach, indict; convict

Antonyms
criminate, incriminate

exculpation noun
a setting free from a charge of wrongdoing <evidence that might bring about the exculpation of the defendant> — see ACQUITTAL

excursion noun
1 a short trip for pleasure <our weekend excursions have encompassed virtually all parts of our home state>

Synonyms
jaunt, junket, outing, ramble, sally, sashay, sortie, spin

Related Words
journey, travel(s), voyage; circuit, tour; expedition, odyssey, safari; detour; hike, peregrination, trek, walk; pilgrimage

2 a departure from the subject under consideration <the professor's frequent and sometimes far-ranging excursions in his lectures are the stuff of campus legend> — see TANGENT

excursionist noun
a person who travels for pleasure <a list of things to do for weekend excursionists in the city> — see TOURIST

excursive adjective
passing from one topic to another <an excursive story line that some readers of Melville's novel find very rewarding> — see DISCURSIVE

excursus noun
a part added at the end of a book or periodical <this biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine contains an interesting excursus on the status of women in the Middle Ages> — see ADDENDUM 1

excusable adjective
worthy of forgiveness <an excusable lapse of memory in a senior citizen> — see VENIAL

excuse noun
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame <“a really important business call” is no excuse for not paying proper attention to one's driving>

Synonyms
alibi, apology, defense, justification, plea, reason

Related Words
color, guise, pretense (or pretence), pretext, rationale, rationalization, vindication, whitewash; cop-out, out; acknowledgment (or acknowledgement), atonement, confession; extenuation, palliation

excuse verb
1 to dismiss as of little importance <more often than not, voters are willing to excuse a candidate's youthful indiscretion>

Synonyms
blink (at), brush (aside or off), condone, discount, disregard, forgive, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, overlook, overpass, paper over, pardon, pass over, remit, shrug off, whitewash, wink (at)

Related Words
explain, justify, rationalize; absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate; waive, wave (aside or off)

Phrases
close one's eyes to, forgive and forget

Near Antonyms
heed, mark, mind, note, object (to)

2 to be an acceptable reason for <having a female passenger in labor will generally excuse a little disregard for the speed limit> — see JUSTIFY 1
3 to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses <he's always excusing his chronic lying by claiming that everybody lies> — see PALLIATE 1

exec noun
a person who manages or directs something <a restaurant where the city's top execs like to have power lunches> — see EXECUTIVE

execrable adjective
1 extremely unsatisfactory <her execrable singing finally brought a complaint from the neighbors> — see WRETCHED 1
2 of low quality <another souvenir shop selling execrable knickknacks manufactured in some foreign sweatshop> — see CHEAP 2
3 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <a sordid murder case that was covered with execrable excess by the newspaper tabloids and cable news outlets> — see IGNOBLE 2

execrate verb
1 to declare to be morally wrong or evil <leaders from around the world execrated the terrorists responsible for the bomb blast> — see CONDEMN 1
2 to dislike strongly <execrates without apology anyone who would physically abuse children or animals> — see HATE

execration noun
1 a prayer that harm will come to someone <upon discovering that someone had stolen his golf bag, he let loose a volley of execrations> — see CURSE 1
2 a very strong dislike <a cowardly betrayal that earned him the execration of all who had remained loyal to the cause> — see HATE 1
3 something or someone that is hated <denounced as an abomination before God and man, the heretic would forever be an execration even amongst his own people> — see HATE 2

execute verb
1 to carry out effectively <the agency charged with executing the nation's drug laws> — see ENFORCE
2 to carry through (as a process) to completion <when you execute this dance step, try to keep your arms a little higher> — see PERFORM 1
3 to put to death deliberately <during the war those convicted of desertion were summarily executed> — see MURDER 1

execution noun
the doing of an action <the execution of this magic trick must be accomplished in one fluid motion> — see COMMISSION 2

executive adjective
suited for or relating to the directing of things <the executive skills needed to manage a large business office>

Synonyms
administrative, directorial, managerial, supervisory

Related Words
bureaucratic, governmental, ministerial, official, parliamentary; regulatory; authoritarian, despotic, dictatorial

Antonyms
nonmanagerial, nonsupervisory

executive noun
a person who manages or directs something <a program that teaches company executives how to better manage their staffs>

Synonyms
administrant, administrator, archon, director, exec, manager, superintendent, supervisor

Related Words
codirector, comanager, co-organizer; middle manager; boardman, officer, official; commissioner, minister; boss, chief, head, leader, president

exegesis noun
a statement that makes something clear <a psychobiography that purports to be the definitive exegesis of the late president's character> — see EXPLANATION 1

exegetical also exegetic adjective
serving to explain <a new edition of Shakespeare with an abundance of exegetical commentary for the modern reader> — see EXPLANATORY

exemplar noun
1 one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like <the village's Congregational church could serve as an exemplar of the white clapboard church with a steeple that is a fixture in old New England towns> — see EXAMPLE
2 someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation <few of history's heroes were quite the exemplars that generations of schoolteachers made them out to be> — see IDEAL 1
3 the most perfect type or example <the paintings of the French painter Claude Monet are often regarded as exemplars of Impressionism> — see QUINTESSENCE 1

exemplary adjective
1 constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated <as a hospital volunteer you have given exemplary service to your community> — see MODEL
2 serving as or offering a warning <armies have traditionally used public execution as an exemplary punishment for the crime of desertion> — see CAUTIONARY

exemplification noun
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like <a futile war that is now regarded as the exemplification of national naïveté and arrogance> — see EXAMPLE

exemplify verb
to show or make clear by using examples <in your review you don't really exemplify your points with specific examples from the novel> — see ILLUSTRATE 1

exemption noun
freedom from punishment, harm, or loss <those motorists who think that they can flout the town's parking regulations with exemption> — see IMPUNITY

exercise noun
1 energetic movement of the body for the sake of physical fitness <the doctor ordered plenty of fresh air and exercise>

Synonyms
activity, conditioning, exertion

Related Words
training, warm-up, workout; toning, trimming; aerobics, athletics, bodybuilding, body mechanics, calisthenics, gymnastics, isometrics, plyometrics, slimnastics, weight lifting; physical therapy

2 something done over and over in order to develop skill <a young piano student dutifully going through the standard finger exercises>

Synonyms
drill, practice (also practise), routine, training, workout

Related Words
assignment, homework, lesson; brushup, refresher, review

3 the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose <the observation that the best exercise for losing weight is the exercise of one's ability to say no to food> — see USE 1

exercise verb
1 to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively <a senator who consistently exercises his clout in Congress to get pork barrel projects for his state> — see EXERT
2 to do over and over so as to become skilled <the only way to exercise your writing skills is to do more writing> — see PRACTICE
3 to put into action or service <commended the firefighters for exercising really good judgment in that emergency> — see USE 1
4 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <the slightest change in travel plans is enough to get him all exercised> — see DISTURB 1

exert verb
to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively <parental involvement has consistently been shown to exert the most influence over a child's success in school>

Synonyms
apply, exercise, ply, put out, wield

Related Words
employ, use, utilize; abuse, misapply, misuse

exertion noun
1 energetic movement of the body for the sake of physical fitness <often the television addict's greatest attempt at exertion was switching channels on the remote control> — see EXERCISE 1
2 the active use of energy in producing a result <the number of blueberries that we were finding was hardly worth the exertion> — see EFFORT

exfoliate verb
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside <a soap that promises to help me exfoliate all that dry, flaky skin I've apparently been carrying around> — see SHED 1

exhale verb
1 to let or force out of the lungs <before answering, the suspect exhaled a cloud of cigarette smoke>

Synonyms
blow (out), breathe (out), expel, expire

Related Words
expectorate

Antonyms
inbreathe, inhale, inspire

2 to throw or give off <the lilacs were exhaling a sweet fragrance that virtually filled the room> — see EMIT 1

exhaust verb
1 to use up all the physical energy of <the long day at the county fair had exhausted everyone>

Synonyms
break, burn out, bust, do in, do up, drain, fag, fatigue, frazzle, harass, kill, knock out, outwear, tire, tucker (out), wash out, wear, wear out, weary

Related Words
debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, sap, waste, weaken

Phrases
wear to a frazzle

Near Antonyms
activate, energize, invigorate, rejuvenate, strengthen, vitalize; relax, rest, unwind

2 to make complete use of <we had been at the theme park barely for two hours, and we were on the verge of exhausting our spending money> — see DEPLETE 1

exhausted adjective
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <the exhausted runner crossed the finish line and just collapsed> — see WEARY 1

exhaustion noun
a complete depletion of energy or strength <with all of the work and activity that the holiday season brings, the working couple was on the point of exhaustion> — see FATIGUE 1

exhaustive adjective
1 trying all possibilities <after an exhaustive search of our house, we still hadn't found the cat>

Synonyms
all-out, clean, complete, comprehensive, full-scale, out-and-out, thorough, thoroughgoing, total

Related Words
broad, extensive, far-reaching, in-depth, sweeping, wide, wide-ranging; general, global, inclusive, methodical (also methodic), systematic; no-holds-barred, unhampered, unrestrained

Near Antonyms
aimless, desultory, haphazard, hit-or-miss, random; cursory, shallow, slipshod, superficial; limited, narrow, restricted

2 covering everything or all important points <an exhaustive survey of the nation's sexual habits> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC

exhaustively adverb
with attention to all aspects or details <the psychic's claims were exhaustively examined by scientific experts and found to be without merit> — see THOROUGHLY 1

exhibit noun
a public showing of objects of interest <a touring exhibit of national treasures from the Smithsonian Institution> — see EXHIBITION 1

exhibit verb
to present so as to invite notice or attention <these naturalists take their birds of prey on tour and exhibit them before groups of schoolchildren> — see SHOW 1

exhibition noun
1 a public showing of objects of interest <an exhibition of valuable and fascinating artifacts from a recovered pirate ship>

Synonyms
display, exhibit, expo, exposition, fair, show

Related Words
demonstration, performance, presentation, production; extravaganza, pageant, spectacle; auction, offering, presentment, sale

2 an outward and often exaggerated indication of something abstract (as a feeling) for effect <for the benefit of the crowd, the professional wrestler made a great exhibition of ferocity> — see SHOW 1

exhilarate verb
1 to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings <the exhilarating feeling of flying that hang gliding offers> — see THRILL
2 to fill with great joy <the climactic moment of commencement ceremonies usually exhilarates graduates and proud parents alike> — see ELATE

exhilarated adjective
experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <the winner's exhilarated glow was seen in newspaper photographs around the globe> — see ECSTATIC

exhilarating adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <no recording can capture the exhilarating feeling of being at a live rock concert> — see EXCITING 1

exhilaration noun
1 a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings <the lavish spectacle results in one exhilaration after another> — see THRILL
2 a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <the exhilaration of victory that spectators get to witness at the Olympic Games> — see ECSTASY

exhilarative adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <discovered that white-water rafting is an especially exhilarative adventure> — see EXCITING 1

exhort verb
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action <the speaker exhorted the graduating students to go forth and try to make a difference in the world> — see URGE

exhume verb
to remove from place of burial <the remains of John Paul Jones were exhumed in Paris and transported with great ceremony to the U.S. Naval Academy>

Synonyms
disinter, unearth

Antonyms
bury, entomb, inhume, inter, tomb

exigency noun
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <the exigencies requiring snap decisions that traders on the stock exchange face every day> — see EMERGENCY

exigent adjective
needing immediate attention <started his workday with a flood of exigent matters that required his quick decision> — see ACUTE 2

exiguous adjective
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <computer equipment that would be prohibitively expensive, given the rural school's exiguous resources> — see MEAGER

exile noun
1 the forced removal from a homeland <the exile of French settlers from Nova Scotia resulted in the birth of the Cajun community in the U.S.>

Synonyms
banishment, deportation, displacement, expatriation, expulsion, relegation

Related Words
ostracism; extradition; diaspora, dispersion, scattering; emigration, migration; evacuation; ethnic cleansing, transportation; dispossession, ejection, ouster

Near Antonyms
repatriation, return; immigration

2 a person forced to emigrate for political reasons <after being overthrown in a coup, the dictator spent the remainder of his life as an exile in a string of less-than-welcoming countries> — see ÉMIGRÉ 1

exile verb
to force to leave a country <with their conquest of the Moors complete, Ferdinand and Isabella next exiled the Jews from Spain> — see BANISH 1

exist verb
to have life <strive to have a full, rich life rather than merely exist> — see BE 1

existence noun
the fact of being or of being real <the existence of UFO's is something that people continue to argue about>

Synonyms
actuality, corporality, corporeality, reality, subsistence, thingness

Related Words
genuineness, realness; activity, animation, life; currency, presence, prevalence

Near Antonyms
absence, dearth, lack, want; potentiality, virtuality

Antonyms
inexistence, nonbeing, nonexistence, nothingness, unreality

existent adjective
1 existing in fact and not merely as a possibility <to some people, angels are as existent as aardvarks or astronomers> — see ACTUAL
2 having being at the present time <the coelacanth is one existent fish that was once thought to be entirely extinct> — see EXTANT 1

existent noun
one that has a real and independent existence <other worlds are existents that are generally taken for granted in works of science fiction> — see ENTITY

existential adjective
based on observation or experience <child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim believed that fairy tales help children cope with their existential anxieties and dilemmas> — see EMPIRICAL 1

existing adjective
having being at the present time <existing breeds of the turkey that graces our Thanksgiving table are said to bear little resemblance to the gamy birds that the Pilgrims enjoyed> — see EXTANT 1

exit noun
1 a place or means of going out <all of the building's exits were being watched by security guards>

Synonyms
egress, issue, outlet

Related Words
escape, escape hatch, release; gate, mouth, opening, passage, vent

Near Antonyms
access, entrée (or entree)

Antonyms
entrance, entranceway, entry, entryway, ingress

2 the act of leaving a place <the movie star's quick exit through the back of the hotel went unnoticed by the horde of photographers waiting out front> — see DEPARTURE 1
3 the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <determined that his exit be from a place and time of his own choosing, the terminally ill patient opted for suicide> — see DEATH 1

exit verb
1 to leave a place often for another <in case of fire, exit from the building in a calm and orderly fashion> — see GO 2
2 to stop living <expressed her wish to exit surrounded by family and friends> — see DIE 1

exiting noun
the act of leaving a place <their exiting of the boring party was swiftly and quietly accomplished> — see DEPARTURE 1

exodus noun
a flowing or going out <the mass exodus from the cities for the beaches and the mountains on most summer weekends> — see OUTFLOW

exonerate verb
to free from a charge of wrongdoing <the results of the DNA fingerprinting finally exonerated the man, but only after he had wasted 10 years of his life in prison> — see EXCULPATE

exoneration noun
a setting free from a charge of wrongdoing <the accused refused a plea bargain, asserting that he was innocent and would settle for nothing less than complete exoneration> — see ACQUITTAL

exorbitance noun
a propensity for extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits <an exorbitance that seemed to have been brought about by a midlife crisis> — see EXCESS 2

exorbitant adjective
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <the cost of our stay was so exorbitant you would have thought that we had bought the hotel and not just spent a few nights there> — see EXCESSIVE

exorbitantly adverb
beyond a normal or acceptable limit <the exorbitantly priced concert tickets had us wondering if we were personally footing the bill for the band's private jet> — see TOO 1

exorcise also exorcize verb
to get rid of as useless or unwanted <please exorcise that offensive word from your vocabulary> — see DISCARD

exordium noun
a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part <in his exordium the author warns his readers that they should expect a radically different interpretation of the causes of the war> — see INTRODUCTION

exotic adjective
excitingly or mysteriously unusual <the gradual disappearance of exotic lands in a culturally homogenized world>

Synonyms
bizarro, fantastic (also fantastical), glamorous (also glamourous), marvelous (or marvellous), outlandish, romantic, strange

Related Words
colorful, picture-book, picturesque, quaint; alien, foreign; dark, distant, faraway, remote; alluring, captivating, enchanting, fascinating, magical

Antonyms
familiar, nonexotic, nonglamorous, plain-Jane, unexotic, unglamorous, unromantic

exotic noun
something strange or unusual that is an object of interest <the botanical garden boasts an array of horticultural exotics from around the world> — see CURIOSITY 2

expand verb
1 to express more fully and in greater detail <an article on the First Ladies that the author later expanded into a book>

Synonyms
amplify, develop, dilate (on or upon), elaborate (on), enlarge (on or upon), flesh (out)

Related Words
add (to), complement, supplement; discourse, expatiate, ramble, run on

Near Antonyms
compress, contract; outline, summarize, sum up

Antonyms
abbreviate, abridge, condense, shorten

2 to make greater in size, amount, or number <we had to expand the list of wedding guests several times in order to accommodate all the relatives Mother wouldn't dream of excluding> — see INCREASE 1
3 to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area <a spare leaf for those times when we have to expand the dining table to accommodate extra guests> — see OPEN 3
4 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <water expands when it becomes frozen> — see INCREASE 2

expanse noun
a wide space or area <the great explorers who crossed the vast expanses of the seven seas in small ships>

Synonyms
breadth, distance, expansion, extent, field, length, plain, reach, sheet, spread, stretch, waste

Related Words
domain, sphere, territory; compass, range, scope, sweep; gamut, scale, spectrum; depth, emptiness, void; extension, latitude, span; amplitude, immensity, magnitude

expansion noun
1 something added (as by growth) <the museum's new wing is only the first in a series of expansions planned for the next decade> — see INCREASE 1
2 the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced <the expansion of remedial reading classes into a district-wide program using school volunteers for a variety of needs> — see DEVELOPMENT 1
3 a wide space or area <we gazed in awe at the star-strewn expansion of nighttime sky above us> — see EXPANSE

expansive adjective
having considerable extent <as the river nears the end of its long journey to the sea it becomes quite expansive in breadth> — see EXTENSIVE

expat noun, chiefly British
a person forced to emigrate for political reasons <a network of expats in London keeps her from missing the family she left behind> — see ÉMIGRÉ

expatiate verb
to give a formal often extended talk on a subject <the naturalist is known for her willingness to expatiate on any number of issues relating to wildlife and the environment> — see TALK 1

expatriate noun
a person forced to emigrate for political reasons <while in exile, the deposed king was accompanied by a small band of loyal expatriates> — see ÉMIGRÉ 1

expatriate verb
to force to leave a country <members of the deposed dictator's once-feared political party were expatriated as well> — see BANISH 1

expatriation noun
the forced removal from a homeland <the brutal expatriation of thousands of Cherokee to Indian Territory is now commonly referred to as the Trail of Tears> — see EXILE 1

expect verb
to believe in the future occurrence of (something) <we expect their arrival late this afternoon>

Synonyms
anticipate, await, hope (for), watch (for)

Related Words
bank on, count (on or upon), depend (on or upon), rely (on or upon), wait (for); envisage, envision, foresee; foretell, predict, prophesy; assume, presume, presuppose; contemplate, eye, view

Phrases
look for, look forward to

Near Antonyms
doubt, question

expectance noun
the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence <gave them the painting, with no expectance of anything in return> — see EXPECTATION

expectancy noun
the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence <that feeling of optimistic expectancy that fills theatergoers as they wait for the curtain to rise> — see EXPECTATION

expectant adjective
1 having or showing signs of eagerly awaiting something <expectant crowds gathered at the spot where the President was scheduled to make an appearance>

Synonyms
agape, agog, anticipant, anticipatory

Related Words
open-eyed, openmouthed; alert, vigilant, watchful; anxious, athirst, breathless, eager, enthusiastic, raring; antsy, impatient, restive, restless

Near Antonyms
apathetic, indifferent, unconcerned, unimpressed, uninterested, unmoved

2 containing unborn young within the body <a medication that should not be taken by expectant women without permission from their doctors> — see PREGNANT 1

expectant noun
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award <divinity students who were all expectants for a curacy> — see CANDIDATE

expectation noun
the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence <in expectation of a harsh winter, we budgeted more money than usual for the cost of heating our home>

Synonyms
anticipation, contemplation, expectance, expectancy, prospect

Related Words
alarm (also alarum), apprehension, dread, foreboding, misgiving

expected adjective
being in accordance with the prescribed, normal, or logical course of events <the children did their chores, but not without the expected whining> — see DUE 2

expecting adjective
containing unborn young within the body <the special nutritional needs of expecting women> — see PREGNANT 1

expedience noun
suitability for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <the proven expedience of the carrot over the stick in getting the most out of people> — see EXPEDIENCY

expediency noun
suitability for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <the expediency of such a plan is questionable>

Synonyms
advisability, advisableness, desirability, desirableness, expedience, judiciousness, prudence, wisdom

Related Words
advantageousness, beneficialness, profitability; feasibility, practicality, usefulness; opportuneness, seasonableness, timeliness

Near Antonyms
impracticality, infeasibility; inopportuneness, unseasonableness, untimeliness

Antonyms
imprudence, inadvisability, inexpedience, inexpediency, injudiciousness, unwisdom

expedient adjective
suitable for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <made the expedient decision to sell the land to whomever offered the most money>

Synonyms
advisable, desirable, judicious, politic, prudent, tactical, wise

Related Words
advantageous, beneficial, profitable; useful, utilitarian; feasible, possible, practicable, practical; opportune, seasonable, timely; opportunistic, self-seeking

Near Antonyms
impractical, profitless, unfeasible, unprofitable; inopportune, unseasonable, untimely

Antonyms
impolitic, imprudent, inadvisable, inexpedient, injudicious, unwise

expedient noun
1 a temporary replacement <if you're a spectator caught without rainwear at a sporting event, then a plastic garbage bag makes an acceptable, if unfashionable, expedient> — see MAKESHIFT
2 an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result <he vowed to use any expedient available to get the project done on time> — see MEASURE 1
3 something that one uses to accomplish an end especially when the usual means is not available <since there wasn't a single bandage left in our backpacks, we had to use a bandanna, our only expedient> — see RESOURCE 1

expedition noun
a going from one place to another usually of some distance <an avid mountain climber, always on an expedition to some far-off corner of the world> — see JOURNEY

expeditious adjective
having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation <a company that is well-regarded for its expeditious handling of any request or complaint> — see QUICK 1

expel verb
1 to drive or force out <animal lover though I am, I was determined to expel the uninvited mouse from my room> — see EJECT 1
2 to throw or give off <something in a wastebasket was expelling a foul odor> — see EMIT 1
3 to violently throw out or off (something from within) <ringing and flashing madly, the slot machine expelled a bucketful of quarters> — see ERUPT 1
4 to let or force out of the lungs <asked the patient to expel a deep breath> — see EXHALE 1

expend verb
1 to hand over or use up in payment <redecoration will have to wait, since we've just expended our last dollar in buying the house> — see SPEND 1
2 to make complete use of <settlers had to be sure not to expend their supply of firewood before the end of the long winter> — see DEPLETE 1

expenditure noun
1 a payment made in the course of achieving a result <you'll have to drastically cut back on your clothing expenditures if you hope to save anything> — see EXPENSE
2 the active use of energy in producing a result <the expenditure of the nation's military might on wars that may or may not involve the national interest> — see EFFORT

expense noun
a payment made in the course of achieving a result <they spared no expense in building the house of their dreams>

Synonyms
charge, cost, disbursement, expenditure, outgo, outlay

Related Words
overhead; outflow; pocket money, spending money; price, rate, tab, tariff, toll

expensive adjective
commanding a large price <expensive clothing that only the truly wealthy can afford> — see COSTLY

expensively adverb
in a luxurious manner <the pop singer's expensively decorated mansion was a testament to her commercial success> — see HIGH

experience noun
1 knowledge gained by actually doing or living through something <the hospital is looking for nurses with operating-room experience>

Synonyms
chops, expertise, know-how, moxie, proficiency, savvy, skills

Related Words
background; command, mastery; acquaintance, conversance, familiarity, intimacy

Near Antonyms
ignorance, unawareness, unfamiliarity

Antonyms
inexperience

2 an exciting or noteworthy event that one experiences firsthand <related in a book his experiences as a roving correspondent for network TV news> — see ADVENTURE 1

experience verb
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it <eventually we all have to experience the loss of a loved one>

Synonyms
endure, feel, have, know, pass, see, suffer, sustain, taste, undergo, witness

Related Words
encounter, meet; accept, receive; assimilate, digest

Phrases
go through

experienced adjective
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <for this delicate eye operation, seek out an experienced eye surgeon> — see PROFICIENT

experiential adjective
based on observation or experience <possesses the kind of experiential knowledge that is gained only from a long and eventful life> — see EMPIRICAL 1

experiment noun
a procedure or operation carried out to resolve an uncertainty <Benjamin Franklin's famous experiment in which he flew a kite in a thunderstorm to see if lightning and electricity were identical>

Synonyms
essay, experimentation, test, trial

Related Words
trial and error; dry run, shakedown; exercise, practice (also practise), rehearsal, tryout, workout; crucible, ordeal; attempt, effort, try

experimental adjective
1 made or done as an experiment <an experimental procedure for patients suffering from leukemia>

Synonyms
developmental, pilot, trial

Related Words
exploratory, investigative, probative; preliminary, preparatory, provisional, temporary, tentative; conjectural, hypothetical, speculative, theoretical (also theoretic); untested, untried; unproved, unproven

Near Antonyms
accepted, established, standard; tested, tried; advanced, developed; proved, proven; conclusive, decisive, definitive, final, permanent

2 based on observation or experience <asserted that experimental knowledge is vastly superior to idle speculation and theorizing> — see EMPIRICAL 1

experimentation noun
a procedure or operation carried out to resolve an uncertainty <people who oppose experimentations involving animals for the testing of cosmetics intended for humans> — see EXPERIMENT

experimenter noun
one who observes or studies by close examination and systematic inquiry <a psychology experimenter doing research into the sources of panic attacks> — see INVESTIGATOR 1

expert adjective
1 accomplished with trained ability <to a serious collector, the expert carving on the duck decoy justifies its high price> — see SKILLFUL
2 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <people interested in laser eye surgery are advised to seek out an expert practitioner> — see PROFICIENT

expert noun
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <experts at the crime lab were able to tell the sex, race, and approximate age of the murderer>

Synonyms
ace, adept, artist, authority, cognoscente, connoisseur, crackerjack (also crackajack), dab [chiefly British], dab hand [chiefly British], fiend, geek, guru, hand, hotshot, maestro, master, maven (also mavin), meister, past master, proficient, scholar, shark, sharp, virtuoso, whiz, wizard

Related Words
pro, professional; consultant, hired gun, specialist; addict, aficionado (also afficionado), buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan; craftsman, journeyman; all-rounder [British], jack-of-all-trades, Renaissance man; mistress

Near Antonyms
apprentice, beginner, neophyte, novice; dabbler, dilettante; layman, nonprofessional

Antonyms
amateur, inexpert, nonexpert

expertise noun
knowledge gained by actually doing or living through something <new dog owners who were seeking someone with expertise in animal obedience> — see EXPERIENCE 1

expertly adverb
in a skillful or expert manner <the apple pie was a traditional but expertly made version of an old favorite> — see WELL 3

expiate verb
to make up for (an offense) <Yom Kippur is the holy day on which Jews are expected to expiate sins committed during the past year>

Synonyms
atone (for), mend, redeem

Related Words
compensate, recompense, reimburse, remunerate, repay; amend, correct, rectify, redress; propitiate

Phrases
make amends for, make good for

expiration noun
1 the act of ceasing to exist <directed that upon her expiration her splendid Italian-style villa be given to the public as a museum> — see DEATH 3
2 the stopping of a process or activity <with the expiration of all brain activity there was no point in keeping the patient alive> — see END 1
3 the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <the cancer patient passed away sometime during the night, the exact moment of her expiration not being known> — see DEATH 1

expire verb
1 to come to an end <speakers will not be allowed to continue after their allotted time has expired> — see CEASE 1
2 to let or force out of the lungs <he vows to hold on to that belief until he expires his last breath> — see EXHALE 1
3 to stop living <made one last visit to his homeland and expired not long afterwards> — see DIE 1
4 archaic to throw or give off <linden trees expiring their rich perfume> — see EMIT 1

expired adjective
no longer existing <a wildlife organization dedicated to ensuring that the giant panda not be added to the list of expired species> — see EXTINCT

expiry noun
1 the act of ceasing to exist <the expiry of a great empire is always a cataclysmic event> — see DEATH 3
2 the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <once upon expiry, her soul entered the abode of the blessed dead> — see DEATH 1

explain verb
1 to make plain or understandable <a pamphlet that explains the medical procedure in language that any layperson can understand>

Synonyms
clarify, clear (up), construe, demonstrate, demystify, elucidate, explicate, expound, get across, illuminate, illustrate, interpret, simplify, spell out, unriddle

Related Words
decipher, decode; analyze, break down; disentangle, undo, unravel, unscramble, untangle; resolve, solve; define, specify; annotate, commentate, gloss

Near Antonyms
befog, cloud; confound, confuse, obfuscate

Antonyms
obscure

2 to give the reason for or cause of <can you explain your very odd behavior at the wedding reception?>

Synonyms
account (for), attribute, explain away, rationalize

Related Words
condone, excuse, forgive, justify; absolve, acquit, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate

explainable adjective
capable of having the reason for or cause of determined <investigators found that the so-called mysterious happenings at the house were entirely explainable> — see SOLVABLE

explain away verb
1 to give the reason for or cause of <after the surprise attack, military leaders struggled to explain away the nation's unpreparedness> — see EXPLAIN 2
2 to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses <tried to explain away his adulterous affairs by saying that men are promiscuous by nature> — see PALLIATE 1

explanation noun
1 a statement that makes something clear <an explanation of photosynthesis that most museum visitors will be able to understand>

Synonyms
clarification, construction, elucidation, exegesis, explication, exposition, illumination, illustration, interpretation, road map

Related Words
paraphrase, restatement, translation; annotation, comment, commentary, epexegesis, gloss; deciphering, decoding; disentanglement, unscrambling; analysis; edification, enlightenment; definition, meaning; demonstration, enactment; justification, rationale, rationalization, reasoning; caution, caveat, warning

2 a statement given to explain a belief or act <when questioned by authorities, the students were at a loss for an explanation for their senseless vandalism> — see REASON 1

explanative adjective
serving to explain <an edition of Melville's novel that could use more explanative footnotes about whaling> — see EXPLANATORY

explanatory adjective
serving to explain <the explanatory section has as its heading “What the New Tax Changes Mean”>

Synonyms
elucidative, exegetical (also exegetic), explanative, explicative, explicatory, expositive, expository, illuminative, illustrative, interpretative, interpretive

Related Words
analytic (or analytical), demonstrative, discursive; exculpatory, exonerative

expletive noun
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression <unleashed a slew of expletives upon losing the tennis match> — see SWEARWORD

explicable adjective
capable of having the reason for or cause of determined <the mystery of those strange noises became quite explicable once we realized that a colony of bats had taken up residence> — see SOLVABLE

explicate verb
to make plain or understandable <the physicist did his best to explicate the wave theory of light for the audience of laymen> — see EXPLAIN 1

explication noun
a statement that makes something clear <any explication of Einstein's theory of relativity probably wouldn't help me much> — see EXPLANATION 1

explicative adjective
serving to explain <a dearth of explicative material to help the layman understand the difficult subject matter> — see EXPLANATORY

explicatory adjective
serving to explain <most of the medical film's voice-over narration consists of explicatory remarks on the images being shown> — see EXPLANATORY

explicit adjective
so clearly expressed as to leave no doubt about the meaning <explicit instructions about what to do in an emergency>

Synonyms
clear-cut, definite, definitive, express, specific, unambiguous, unequivocal, univocal

Related Words
avowed, declared, specified, stated; categorical (also categoric), complete, comprehensive, exhaustive, full; certain, sure, unmistakable; clear, distinct, lucid, well-defined; exact, precise; direct, literal, plain, simple, straightforward; comprehensible, intelligible, understandable

Near Antonyms
cryptic, dark, enigmatic (also enigmatical), obscure, unclear; imprecise, inaccurate, incorrect, inexact; incomprehensible, unintelligible

Antonyms
implicit, implied, inferred; ambiguous, circuitous; equivocal, indefinite, inexplicit, unspecific, vague

explicitness noun
1 careful thoroughness of detail <the explicitness of the instruction about human reproduction should be appropriate for the age of the students receiving it> — see PARTICULARITY 1
2 clearness of expression <the user's manual is written with such rare explicitness that the average consumer actually has a chance of understanding it> — see SIMPLICITY 2

explode verb
1 to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure <the building was wrecked when a powerful bomb exploded>

Synonyms
blow, blow up, burst, crump, detonate, go off, pop

Related Words
fragment, shatter, smash, splinter; discharge, fire, shoot; balloon, burgeon (also bourgeon), mushroom

Near Antonyms
collapse, fizzle

Antonyms
implode

2 to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive <the bomb was so powerful that it exploded windows in several neighboring buildings> — see BLAST 1
3 to develop suddenly and violently <the mayor's latest unpopular decision caused long-suppressed resentment to explode into open anger> — see ERUPT 2

exploit noun
1 an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness <the fanciful exploits of the giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan> — see FEAT 1
2 something done by someone <once famed as an actor, John Wilkes Booth is now remembered for a single exploit, his assassination of Lincoln> — see ACTION 1
3 an exciting or noteworthy event that one experiences firsthand <a memoir recounting three decades of exploits as a roving foreign correspondent for TV news> — see ADVENTURE 1

exploit verb
1 to take unfair advantage of <the type of person who exploits a friend's good nature by constantly sponging off of him>

Synonyms
abuse, capitalize (on), cash in (on), impose (on or upon), leverage, milk, pimp, play (on or upon), use, work

Related Words
jerk around, manipulate, mistreat; bleed, cheat, fleece, overcharge, skin, soak, stick; commercialize, commodify

Phrases
trade on, walk on

2 to control or take advantage of by artful, unfair, or insidious means <a politician more than willing to exploit any national tragedy for political gain> — see MANIPULATE 1
3 to put into action or service <it will be a shame if you don't exploit your artistic talent to the fullest> — see USE 1

exploitable adjective
1 capable of or suitable for being used for a particular purpose <claimed that solar power is an exploitable form of energy that is being underutilized> — see USABLE 1
2 readily taken advantage of <the group opposes commercials on TV shows for kids, believing that young viewers are too exploitable by advertisers> — see EASY 2

exploration noun
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something <an exploration into the disappearance of famed aviator Amelia Earhart> — see INQUIRY 1

explore verb
1 to search through or into <communities must explore new ways of raising money for their cultural institutions>

Synonyms
delve (into), dig (into), examine, inquire (into), investigate, look (into), probe, research

Related Words
inspect, sift, study, view; browse, cruise, peruse, scan, skim (through), surf, thumb (through); coinvestigate, reinvestigate

Phrases
check into, check up on

2 to go into or range over for purposes of discovery <we must continue to explore the depths of the ocean>

Synonyms
hunt, probe, prospect, search, skirr

Related Words
reconnoiter (or reconnoitre), scout; disclose, discover, reveal, unearth; fathom, plumb, sound

explosion noun
1 the act or an instance of exploding <the explosion of the first atomic bomb at Hiroshima>

Synonyms
blast, blowup, burst, bursting, detonation, eruption, outburst

Related Words
discharge, firing, shooting; blowout, flare-up; bang, boom, pop; airburst, groundburst

Antonyms
implosion

2 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <the explosion of patriotic feeling that the country experienced after that momentous event> — see OUTBURST 1
3 an outburst or display of excited anger <the tennis player's expletive-enriched explosions on the court tested the patience of officials> — see TANTRUM

explosive adjective
1 extreme in degree, power, or effect <there's been an explosive interest in the sport since the Olympics> — see INTENSE 1
2 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <one of the most explosive storms to hit that area of the coast in some time> — see VIOLENT 1

explosively adverb
in a vigorous and forceful manner <the racehorses explosively broke from the starting gate> — see HARD 3

expo noun
a public showing of objects of interest <many of the bigger expos won't fit into the city's relatively small civic center> — see EXHIBITION 1

exponent noun
1 a person who actively supports or favors a cause <exponents of space exploration earnestly called for more missions to the outer reaches of the solar system>

Synonyms
advocate, advocator, apostle, backer, booster, champion, expounder, espouser, friend, gospeler (or gospeller), herald, hierophant, high priest, paladin, promoter, proponent, protagonist, supporter, true believer, tub-thumper, white knight

Related Words
loyalist, partisan (also partizan), stalwart; adherent, cohort, disciple, follower; interpreter; applauder, cheerleader, encourager, fellow traveler

Near Antonyms
enemy, foe, rival; belittler, critic, faultfinder

Antonyms
adversary, antagonist, opponent

2 one who brings an art or science to full realization <has long reigned as the nation's leading exponent of modern dance>

Synonyms
expounder, guru, high priest, interpreter, practitioner

Related Words
dean, doyen, grand old man; ideologue (also idealogue), philosopher, theorist; advocate, apostle, backer, booster, champion, promoter, proponent, supporter

expose verb
1 to reveal the true nature of <a well-researched article that exposes the UFO story as a hoax>

Synonyms
debunk, nail, show up, uncloak, uncover, undress, unmask

Related Words
demolish, discredit, disprove; disclose, divulge, tell, unveil

Phrases
blow the whistle on

Near Antonyms
conceal, hide, secrete, veil

Antonyms
camouflage, cloak, disguise, mask

2 to make known (as information previously kept secret) <the documentary claims to expose how winners of beauty pageants are really picked> — see REVEAL 1
3 to make known (something abstract) through outward signs <the tight race for the championship exposed one team's mean streak> — see SHOW 2
4 to present so as to invite notice or attention <I didn't want to expose my ignorance in front of the others, so I kept silent> — see SHOW 1

exposed adjective
1 being in a situation where one is likely to meet with harm <without our immune systems we'd be exposed to all sorts of deadly infections> — see LIABLE 1
2 lacking a usual or natural covering <the exposed electrical wires were a safety hazard> — see NAKED 2
3 lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack <the soldiers were so exposed in the open field that they were the proverbial sitting ducks> — see HELPLESS 1

exposition noun
1 a public showing of objects of interest <an exposition of flying machines from the early days of aviation> — see EXHIBITION 1
2 a series of explanations or observations on something (as an event) <the nonstop exposition of the ceremonies by the TV newscasters was both unnecessary and irritating> — see COMMENTARY 1
3 a statement that makes something clear <the astronomer's exposition of white dwarfs was a little helpful> — see EXPLANATION 1

expositive adjective
serving to explain <the writer's descriptions are objectively expositive and entirely without editorialization> — see EXPLANATORY

expository adjective
serving to explain <an expository piece on the workings of the internal-combustion engine> — see EXPLANATORY

expostulate verb
to present an opposing opinion or argument <the concerned parents tried to expostulate with their daughter when she announced her intention to live on her own in New York City> — see OBJECT

expostulation noun
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent <despite the earnest expostulations of her friends, Jessica continued to date the foul-tempered guy> — see OBJECTION

exposure noun
1 the state of being left without shelter or protection against something harmful <some people chronically avoid situations in which there is a high level of exposure to germs>

Synonyms
liability, openness, vulnerability

Related Words
predisposition, susceptibility; defenselessness, helplessness, weakness; danger, jeopardy, peril, risk

Near Antonyms
protection, safeguarding, sheltering, shielding

2 the state or fact of facing a particular direction <this plant will need to be in a room with a southern exposure>

Synonyms
aspect, frontage, orientation

Related Words
alignment (also alinement), arrangement

3 the act or an instance of making known something previously unknown or concealed <the exposure by the local newspaper of a kickback scheme in the public works department> — see REVELATION

expound verb
1 to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) <a rambling interview in which the celebrated author expounds his views on an array of topics> — see EXPRESS 1
2 to make plain or understandable <at the start of the trial the judge expounded the legal difference between libel and slander to the jury> — see EXPLAIN 1

expounder noun
1 a person who actively supports or favors a cause <an articulate expounder of the liberal position on the issue> — see EXPONENT 1
2 one who brings an art or science to full realization <one of the early expounders of abstract expressionism> — see EXPONENT 2

express adjective
1 of a particular or exact sort <a trip to the supermarket with the express purpose of buying milk>

Synonyms
concrete, distinct, especial, peculiar, precise, set, special, specific

Related Words
lone, only, separate, single, sole, solitary; distinctive, exclusive, individual, unique; limited, restricted; differentiated, specialized; given, specified

Near Antonyms
general, generalized, generic, nonexclusive, universal

Antonyms
nonspecific

2 so clearly expressed as to leave no doubt about the meaning <students are not allowed to leave the grounds during school hours unless they have express permission from the principal's office> — see EXPLICIT

express noun, British
one that carries a message or does an errand <the solicitors employ an express to deliver their summonses> — see MESSENGER

express verb
1 to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) <in a true democracy, a person can freely express his or her views>

Synonyms
air, expound, give, look, raise, sound, state, vent, ventilate, voice

Related Words
advertise, announce, declare, enounce, enunciate, proclaim, say; broadcast, circulate, disseminate, publish; describe, write, write up; sound off, speak out, speak up; chime in; communicate, convey, put across, put over; offer, submit

Phrases
give air to, put forth

Near Antonyms
censor, restrain, restrict

Antonyms
stifle, suppress

2 to apply external pressure on so as to force out the juice or contents of <except as a fun event at festivals, nowadays people do not make wine by expressing grapes with their feet> — see 2PRESS 2
3 to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind <an upraised thumb is now universally recognized as a gesture expressing approval or encouragement> — see MEAN 1
4 to convey in appropriate or telling terms <could you express your opinion of the book in words a little more precise than “lousy”?> — see PHRASE
5 to represent in visible form <towering spires express in glass and steel the optimism of the age> — see EMBODY 2

expression noun
1 an act, process, or means of putting something into words <the poem is his expression of his grief upon the loss of his beloved wife>

Synonyms
articulation, formulation, phrasing, statement, utterance, verbalism, voice, wording

Related Words
outlet, vent; observation, reflection, remark, thought; speech, tongue

2 facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling <we could tell by the fans' expressions that the Chicago Cubs had lost again> — see LOOK 1
3 a pronounceable series of letters having a distinct meaning especially in a particular field <the expression “John Doe” is used in legal proceedings to refer to a person whose actual name is either unknown or being withheld from the public> — see WORD 1
4 a sequence of words having a specific meaning <the popular expression “raining cats and dogs” is meaningless in other languages> — see PHRASE

expressionless adjective
not expressing any emotion <veteran poker players invariably have expressionless faces, regardless of the hand they're holding> — see BLANK 1

expressive adjective
clearly conveying a special meaning (as one's mood) <the teacher's expressive sigh showed that she had heard that excuse many times before>

Synonyms
eloquent, meaning, meaningful, pregnant, revealing, revelatory, significant, suggestive

Related Words
graphic (also graphical), pictorial, vivid; evocative, redolent, reminiscent; sententious, weighty; flavorful, full-bodied, rich

Antonyms
unexpressive

expressway noun
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <a baffling maze of high-speed expressways encircles the city> — see WAY 1

expropriate verb
1 to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right <dissidents were shot, and their lands expropriated under his regime> — see APPROPRIATE 1
2 to end the occupancy or possession of <the state will have to expropriate scores of homeowners in order to build the new road> — see DISPOSSESS
3 to take ownership or control of (something) by right of one's authority <plans by the city to expropriate entire blocks of houses in order to bulldoze them for expansion of the airport> — see CONFISCATE

expropriation noun
the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority <the development of the colony involved expropriation of large tracts of fertile farmland from the natives> — see APPROPRIATION 2

expulsion noun
the forced removal from a homeland <the ruthless expulsion of the French-speaking Acadians from Nova Scotia by the British> — see EXILE 1

expunge verb
to destroy all traces of <time and the weather have expunged any evidence that a thriving community once existed here> — see ANNIHILATE 1

expurgate verb
to remove objectionable parts from <the newspaper had to expurgate the expletive-laden speech that the criminal made upon being sentenced to life imprisonment> — see CENSOR

exquisite adjective
1 extreme in degree, power, or effect <felt such exquisite anger at being betrayed by a so-called friend that she could hardly think straight> — see INTENSE 1
2 having qualities that appeal to a refined taste <exquisite pen-and-ink drawings of city scenes grace the walls of the formal restaurant> — see CHOICE 1
3 satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness <waiters at the wedding reception served exquisite hors d'oeuvres from silver trays> — see DELICATE 1

exquisiteness noun
the state or quality of having a delicate structure <marveled at the exquisiteness of the lace on the bride's gown> — see DELICACY 2

extant adjective
1 having being at the present time <a celebrated author who is generally regarded as America's greatest novelist extant>

Synonyms
alive, around, existent, existing, living

Related Words
active, busy, flourishing, functioning, operating, working

Near Antonyms
defunct, destroyed, exterminated, kaput (also kaputt); departed, gone, lost; nonexistent; idle, inactive, inert

Antonyms
dead, extinct, nonextant

2 existing or in progress right now <when people envisage the future, they often base their predictions on the assumption that extant trends will continue indefinitely> — see PRESENT 1

extemporaneous adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <caught by surprise, I had to make an extemporaneous speech at the awards banquet>

Synonyms
ad hoc, ad-lib, down and dirty, extemporary, extempore, impromptu, improvisational, improvised, offhand, offhanded, off-the-cuff, snap, spur-of-the-moment, unconsidered, unplanned, unpremeditated, unprepared, unrehearsed, unstudied

Related Words
unscripted; automatic, impulsive, instinctive, involuntary, spontaneous; casual, cursive, informal, unauthorized; half-baked, half-cocked, ill-advised

Near Antonyms
deliberate, intended, intentional

Antonyms
considered, planned, premeditated, premeditative, prepared, rehearsed

extemporary adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <caught red-handed, the would-be embezzler proceeded to give some extemporary and not very convincing explanations for her actions> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

extempore adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <after the election both candidates admitted that they had made a number of extempore remarks that they later regretted> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

extemporization noun
something that is performed, made, or done without preparation <a guitar extemporization> — see IMPROVISATION

extemporize verb
to perform, make, or do without preparation <a good talk show host has to be able to extemporize the interviews when things don't go as planned> — see IMPROVISE

extend verb
1 to make longer <our guests from out of town extended their visit by a week>

Synonyms
drag (out), draw out, elongate, lengthen, outstretch, prolong, protract, stretch

Related Words
amplify, enlarge, expand, increase; attenuate, thin

Near Antonyms
decrease, diminish, lessen, reduce; thicken

Antonyms
abbreviate, abridge, curtail, cut, cut back, shorten

2 to put before another for acceptance or consideration <the couple extended an invitation to join them for a get-together at their house after the concert> — see OFFER 1
3 to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area <you can extend that chaise longue so that it lies completely flat> — see OPEN 3
4 to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction <our backyard extends all the way to that brook> — see RUN 3
5 to make greater in size, amount, or number <embarked on a series of wars intended to extend his empire> — see INCREASE 1
6 to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances <the company extends its ice cream with thickeners and other additives> — see ADULTERATE

extended adjective
1 expressing one thing in terms normally used for another <the word “snake” in its extended sense refers to a contemptible or treacherous person> — see FIGURATIVE
2 having considerable extent <an extended portion of the valley is now devoted to the growing of grapes for wine> — see EXTENSIVE
3 lasting for a considerable time <I've met her, but I have never had an extended conversation with her> — see LONG 2
4 of great extent from end to end <the two armies clashed along an extended line of battle that stretched for miles> — see LONG 1

extended family noun
those who live as a family in one house <their extended family includes a grandmother and widowed aunt> — see HOUSEHOLD

extension noun
1 the act of making longer <the board's extension of the school year drew howls of protest>

Synonyms
drawing out, elongation, lengthening, prolongation, prolonging, stretching

Antonyms
abbreviation, abridgment (or abridgement), curtailment, cutback, shortening

2 a smaller structure added to a main building <the new extension will connect the house with what is now a freestanding garage> — see ANNEX

extensive adjective
having considerable extent <a rock hound whose extensive reading enables him to identify just about any rock or mineral>

Synonyms
broad, deep, expansive, extended, far-flung, far-reaching, rangy, sweeping, wide, wide-ranging, widespread

Related Words
comprehensive, general, global, inclusive; boundless, endless, infinite, limitless, unlimited; capacious, commodious, roomy, spacious

Near Antonyms
circumscribed, limited, restricted

Antonyms
narrow

extensively adverb
to a large extent or degree <several beaches were extensively damaged by the hurricane> — see GREATLY 2

extent noun
1 a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go <the coach exceeded the extent of his authority by exempting some of the players from the requirement> — see LIMIT 1
2 a wide space or area <the seemingly endless extent of the windswept prairies> — see EXPANSE
3 an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends <the extent of this criminal investigation has widened considerably since it began> — see RANGE 2
4 the total amount of measurable space or surface occupied by something <looking at the extent of the stain on my shirt, you might think that I had spilled a gallon of coffee> — see 1SIZE

extenuate verb
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses <don't even try to extenuate their vandalism of the cemetery with the old refrain of “Boys will be boys”> — see PALLIATE 1

exterior adjective
situated on the outside or farther out <the house's exterior walls badly need to be painted> — see OUTER

exterior noun
an outer part or layer <the exterior of the tooth consists of very hard enamel>

Synonyms
face, outside, shell, skin, surface, veneer

Related Words
facade (also façade), front, top; cover, covering, facing; appearance, disguise, guise, mask, semblance, show

Antonyms
inside, interior

exterminate verb
to destroy all traces of <hope that the fumigant exterminates the whole colony of cockroaches, for any survivors may be resistant to any poison> — see ANNIHILATE 1

extermination noun
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <the virtual extermination of the native tribes by the colonizers> — see DESTRUCTION 1

external adjective
1 not being a vital part of or belonging to something <the defendant's socioeconomic status must be regarded as entirely external to his guilt or innocence> — see EXTRINSIC
2 situated on the outside or farther out <the external chambers of the ancient tomb gave little indication of the magnificence of the innermost chamber> — see OUTER

externalization noun
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <bizarre paintings that are the externalization of a very troubled psyche> — see EMBODIMENT

externalize verb
to represent in visible form <an actress with an expressive face that wonderfully externalizes a wide range of emotions> — see EMBODY 2

externship noun
a period of undergoing practical instruction in one's job or career <prior to graduation from the culinary school he had served an externship as a sous chef at a high-end restaurant> — see APPRENTICESHIP

extinct adjective
no longer existing <a few overgrown ruins are all that remain of that once mighty but now extinct civilization>

Synonyms
bygone, bypast, dead, defunct, departed, done, expired, gone, nonextant, vanished

Related Words
nonexistent; dying, faded, moribund; collapsed, fallen, overthrown; antiquated, dated, obsolete, passé; finished, lapsed, terminated; lost, missing

Near Antonyms
active, dynamic, thriving, vibrant

Antonyms
alive, existent, existing, extant, living

extinction noun
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <the state's population of moose has been replenished, having once been hunted almost to extinction> — see DESTRUCTION 1

extinguish verb
1 to cause to cease burning <the fire in the skillet was quickly extinguished by slamming the lid on>

Synonyms
blanket, douse (also dowse), put out, quench, snuff (out)

Related Words
choke, smother, suffocate; blow out, rub out, snub (out), stamp (out), stub

Antonyms
fire, ignite, inflame (also enflame), kindle, light

2 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <a fatal blunder that extinguished all hope that the team would actually win the play-offs> — see DESTROY 1
3 to stop the noise or speech of <her final, telling point extinguished her opponents on the city council> — see SILENCE 1

extirpate verb
to destroy all traces of <the triumph of modern medicine in extirpating certain diseases> — see ANNIHILATE 1

extol also extoll verb
to proclaim the glory of <campaign literature extolling the candidate's military record> — see PRAISE 1

extort verb
to get (as money) by the use of force or threats <a school bully who was used to extorting lunch money from weaker kids>

Synonyms
exact, wrest, wring

Related Words
bleed, fleece, gouge, milk, skin, squeeze; cheat, gyp, racketeer, swindle; coerce, compel, force

extortion noun
the exaction of a grossly excessive charge for goods or services <six dollars for a cup of coffee is just plain extortion>

Synonyms
fleecing, gouging, highway robbery, overcharging

Related Words
cheating, chiseling (or chiselling), defrauding, skinning, swindling

extortioner noun
a person who gets money from another by using force or threats <extortioners threatened to beat up the shop owner if he didn't pay the bribe> — see RACKETEER

extortionist noun
a person who gets money from another by using force or threats <tortured by a gang of extortionists into revealing the combination for the money vault> — see RACKETEER

extra adjective
being over what is needed <always has extra food on hand in the event that unexpected company drops by> — see SPARE 1

extra adverb
to a great degree <the children tried to be extra quiet while their mother was recovering> — see VERY 1

extra noun
1 an interchangeable part or piece of equipment that is kept on hand for replacement of an original <that portable player runs through batteries incredibly fast, so I always keep plenty of extras on hand> — see SPARE
2 something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary <the motel is clean and comfortable, but there are no extras> — see LUXURY 1
3 something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed <as an extra, the dealer filled the tank of my new car> — see BONUS

extract noun
a part taken from a longer work <the anthology includes a long extract from the epic poem> — see EXCERPT

extract verb
to draw out by force or with effort <extracted a splinter from my hand>

Synonyms
corkscrew, prize, pry, pull, root (out), tear (out), uproot, wrest, wring, yank

Related Words
mine, pluck, remove, take (out), withdraw

Near Antonyms
implant, insert, install, instill; cram, jam, ram, stuff, wedge

extraction noun
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <a family of Italian extraction> — see ANCESTRY

extracurricular adjective
relating to or being a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse <hired a private detective to investigate her husband's extracurricular activities> — see ADULTEROUS

extramarital adjective
relating to or being a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse <she had several extramarital affairs with coworkers> — see ADULTEROUS

extraneous adjective
1 not being a vital part of or belonging to something <the architect's streamlined modern style shuns any sort of extraneous ornamentation> — see EXTRINSIC
2 not having anything to do with the matter at hand <the professor would have covered all of the course material if she had refrained from her extraneous remarks on just about everything> — see IRRELEVANT

extraneousness noun
the quality or state of not having anything to do with the matter at hand <the extraneousness of the commentators' remarks became more pronounced as the broadcast dragged on> — see IRRELEVANCE

extraordinaire adjective
being out of the ordinary <the sort of chef extraordinaire who can whip up a fantastic meal, regardless of the ingredients on hand> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1

extraordinary adjective
1 being out of the ordinary <the marine is being cited for extraordinary courage> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1
2 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <no one noticed anything extraordinary about the airline passenger> — see UNUSUAL 1

extrapolate verb
to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information <we can extrapolate from past economic recessions the probable course of the current one> — see INFER 1

extrasensory perception noun
the power of seeing or knowing about things that are not present to the senses <discouraged by the lack of progress in the case, the police were willing to listen to a woman claiming extrasensory perception> — see CLAIRVOYANCE

extravagance noun
1 the quality or fact of being free or wasteful in the expenditure of money <Hollywood stars are famous for the extravagance of their parties>

Synonyms
extravagancy, lavishness, prodigality, profusion, wastefulness

Related Words
conspicuous consumption, splurge; bountifulness, generosity, liberality; improvidence, squandering; indulgence, overindulgence, self-indulgence; excess, immoderacy, overkill

Near Antonyms
austerity, moderation, restraint, temperance

Antonyms
economy, frugality, penny-pinching

2 an instance of spending money or resources without care or restraint <the purchase of a fur coat was simply the latest of his wife's extravagances> — see WASTE 1

extravagancy noun
the quality or fact of being free or wasteful in the expenditure of money <warned their spendthrift daughter that she would eventually pay the price for her extravagancy> — see EXTRAVAGANCE 1

extravagant adjective
1 given to spending money freely or foolishly <the billionaire's son is the typically extravagant playboy who hasn't earned any of what he spends> — see PRODIGAL
2 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <the book doesn't quite merit the extravagant praise that it has received> — see EXCESSIVE
3 commanding a large price <wooed her with an array of extravagant gifts> — see COSTLY

extravagantly adverb
in a luxurious manner <the ancient Roman emperors lived as extravagantly as any rulers in history> — see HIGH

extravaganza noun
an elaborate, visually exciting show or event <the over-the-top extravaganzas that are usually staged at halftime during the Super Bowl>

Synonyms
circus, pageant, raree-show, spectacle, spectacular

Related Words
display, exhibit, exhibition, exposition

extreme adjective
1 most distant from a center <spacecraft that is specially designed to explore the extreme edge of our solar system>

Synonyms
farthermost, farthest, furthermost, furthest, outermost, outmost, remotest, ultimate, utmost

Related Words
aftermost, rearmost, sternmost

Near Antonyms
intermediate, medial, median, mid, middle, midmost

Antonyms
inmost, innermost, nearest

2 being very far from the center of public opinion <their extreme political views attracted only a small band of followers>

Synonyms
extremist, fanatic (or fanatical), rabid, radical, revolutionary, revolutionist, ultra

Related Words
subversive, violent, wild; reactionary

Near Antonyms
conservative, moderate, temperate; conventional, orthodox, traditional; liberal, progressive

Antonyms
middle-of-the-road, nonrevolutionary, unrevolutionary

3 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <in their extreme zeal the members of the cult are willing to do whatever their leader dictates> — see EXCESSIVE

extremely adverb
to a great degree <an extremely hot day> — see VERY 1

extremist adjective
being very far from the center of public opinion <their extremist views on religious issues set them apart from the rest of the community> — see EXTREME 2

extremist noun
a person who favors rapid and sweeping changes especially in laws and methods of government <extremists wanted to do away with everything, even though they had no thought-out plan for what to do afterwards> — see RADICAL

extremity noun
1 a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <made offers of aid to the refugees, and of asylum in extremity> — see EMERGENCY
2 the most extreme or advanced point <at its extremity the fever was actually life-threatening> — see HEIGHT 2

extricate verb
to set free from entanglement or difficulty <you've woven such a web of lies that it's hard to see how you can extricate yourself now>

Synonyms
clear, disembarrass, disengage, disentangle, free, liberate, release, untangle

Related Words
deliver, redeem, rescue, save; disburden, disencumber, unburden; unravel, unsnarl, untie, untwine

Phrases
cut loose

Near Antonyms
block, hamper, hinder, impede, obstruct; burden, encumber, load, weigh

Antonyms
embroil, entangle

extrinsic adjective
not being a vital part of or belonging to something <the fact that the ring belonged to your grandmother is extrinsic to its value to a jeweler>

Synonyms
accidental, adventitious, alien, extraneous, external, foreign, supervenient

Related Words
exterior, outside; immaterial, inapplicable, insignificant, irrelevant; nonessential, unessential, unnecessary

Near Antonyms
congenital, deep-seated, inborn, inbred; inside, interior, internal; basic, essential, necessary

Antonyms
inherent, innate, intrinsic

extrovert also extravert noun
a gregarious and unreserved person <a natural extrovert, he mixes well in any social situation>

Synonyms
backslapper, glad-hander

Related Words
exhibitionist, show-off

Antonyms
introvert, shrinking violet, wallflower

extroverted also extraverted adjective
likely to seek or enjoy the company of others <a job in a research lab that is probably not well suited to an extroverted person> — see CONVIVIAL

extrude verb
to drive or force out <the sort of person who is determined to extrude every last gob of toothpaste from the tube> — see EJECT 1

exuberance noun
the quality or state of having abundant or intense activity <the exuberance of the housing market was an encouraging economic indicator> — see VITALITY 1

exuberant adjective
joyously unrestrained <exuberant crowds rushed to greet the returning national champions in collegiate basketball>

Synonyms
bouncy, bubbly, buoyant, crank [chiefly dialect], effervescent, frolic, frolicsome, gamesome, gay, high-spirited, vivacious

Related Words
extroverted (also extraverted), outgoing, uninhibited; carefree, happy-go-lucky, insouciant, joyful, lighthearted, lively, sprightly; boisterous, raucous, rollicking, rowdy; giddy, light-headed, overexuberant, silly; ecstatic, euphoric, lyric, rapturous; audacious, bold, brash, brazen, impertinent, impudent, insolent, saucy

Near Antonyms
constrained, inhibited, repressed, restrained, subdued; impassive, phlegmatic, stoic (or stoical), stolid; depressed, dour, glum, morose, surly

Antonyms
low-spirited, sullen

exuberantly adverb
in an enthusiastic manner <her last employer sang her praises so exuberantly that we just had to hire her> — see SKY-HIGH

exuberate verb
to feel or express joy or triumph <after their first World Series championship in 86 years, Bostonians felt that they had earned the right to exuberate with abandon> — see EXULT

exude verb
to flow forth slowly through small openings <a sticky resin exudes from the bark of the tree>

Synonyms
bleed, ooze, percolate, seep, strain, sweat, transude, weep

Related Words
dribble, drip, trickle; discharge, emit, give off, vent; emanate, flow, spring

Near Antonyms
flood, gush, pour, stream, surge

exult verb
to feel or express joy or triumph <the winners of the Super Bowl spent the next week exulting in their victory>

Synonyms
crow, delight, exuberate, glory, jubilate, joy, kvell, rejoice, triumph

Related Words
gloat, preen, swell; boast, brag; flaunt, parade, show off, strut, swagger

Phrases
kick up one's heels

Near Antonyms
bemoan, bewail, grieve, lament, regret, weep

exultant adjective
having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph <the exultant winner of the award for best country artist of the year>

Synonyms
cock-a-hoop, crank [chiefly dialect], crowing, exulting, glorying, jubilant, prideful, proud, rejoicing, triumphant

Related Words
ecstatic, elated, euphoric; arrogant, boastful, cocky; conquering, victorious, winning

Near Antonyms
crestfallen, defeated, dejected, depressed, disconsolate, dispirited, downcast

exulting adjective
having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph <with an exulting smile the winner of the beauty pageant waved to the cheering crowd> — see EXULTANT

eye noun
1 a circular strip <push the drawstring through the metal eye and knot it on one end> — see 1RING 2
2 a state of being aware <this young actor has the eye of every director in Hollywood> — see ATTENTION 2
3 a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <this wilderness area is at the eye of the controversy between conservation and development> — see CENTER 1
4 an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge <in my eye, cats make better pets than dogs> — see OPINION 1
5 an instance of looking especially briefly <all of the guys cast an appreciative eye on the new girl as they passed her in the hall> — see LOOK 2
6 the ability to see <her eyes are diminishing with age> — see EYESIGHT
7 a fixed intent look <peering through the window with an eager eye> — see GAZE

eye verb
1 to keep one's eyes on <a lot of his backyard bird watching was spent eyeing the squirrels as they depleted the bird feeder of seeds> — see WATCH 1
2 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <I was starting to believe her tale of woe, until I eyed the diamond ring on her finger> — see SEE 1
3 to give serious and careful thought to <we're eyeing the possibility of buying property there> — see PONDER

eyeball–to–eyeball adverb
in direct confrontation or competition <that inexperienced, upstart candidate will be going eyeball-to-eyeball with a senator who's a skilled debater> — see HEAD-TO-HEAD

eyeblink noun
a very small space of time <within an eyeblink I accepted their offer on the house> — see INSTANT

eye candy noun
something attractive but lacking in substance <a fashionable portrait painter in his day, he is now regarded as a minor purveyor of eye candy> — see COTTON CANDY

eye–catching adjective
likely to attract attention <Brad needs an eye-catching slogan for his campaign for president of the student body> — see NOTICEABLE

eyeful noun
a lovely woman <they watched their teenage daughter, once something of an ugly duckling, blossom into quite an eyeful> — see BEAUTY 2

eyeglasses plural noun
a pair of lenses set in a frame that is held in place with ear supports and which are usually worn to correct vision <uses her eyeglasses only for reading> — see GLASS 1

eyeless adjective
lacking the power of sight <his failing eyesight makes him fear that he may be eyeless in old age> — see BLIND 1

eye–opening adjective
1 causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness <hunting for a first apartment in a big city is an eye-opening experience for young people> — see SURPRISING 1
2 causing wonder or astonishment <that acclaimed animal-cum-magic act had a number of eye-opening moments> — see MARVELOUS 1

eyesight noun
the ability to see <the keen eyesight of a bird of prey>

Synonyms
eye, sight, vision

Related Words
myopia, nearsightedness; farsightedness, hypermetropia, hyperopia, presbyopia; aniseikonia, astigmatism, diplopia, squint, strabismus; double vision

eyesore noun
something unpleasant to look at <the old abandoned house was a neighborhood eyesore>

Synonyms
fright, hideosity, horror, mess, monstrosity, sight

Related Words
eye-catcher; blot, smear, smudge, spot, stain

Near Antonyms
vision

eyespot noun
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part <a tie having eyespots of blue on a light gray background> — see SPOT 1

eye view noun
a way of looking at or thinking about something <from my eye view, it looks as if both of you are in the wrong> — see PERSPECTIVE 1

F

fab adjective
of the very best kind <that designer's new line of spring clothing is absolutely fab> — see EXCELLENT

fable noun
1 a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life <this classic Christmas film is essentially a fable showing how every person's life has meaning and touches the lives of others> — see ALLEGORY
2 a traditional but unfounded story that gives the reason for a current custom, belief, or fact of nature <according to an ancient fable the waters of the mountain spring are the tears of a woman weeping for her lost children> — see MYTH 1
3 something that is the product of the imagination <the stories of lost cities of gold may have been fables deliberately concocted by Native Americans to dupe the Spanish> — see FICTION
4 a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive <the fables that people tell themselves to rationalize their failures and shortcomings> — see LIE

fabled adjective
based on, described in, or being a myth <the fabled unicorn continues to be a symbol of elusive and magical beauty> — see MYTHICAL 1

fabric noun
1 a woven or knitted material (as of cotton or nylon) <a fabric that is supposed to repel rain while at the same time allowing the wearer's perspiration to escape> — see CLOTH 1
2 the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form <you can't expect the fabric of society to survive if you do away with all moral imperatives> — see FRAME 1

fabricate verb
1 to bring into being by combining, shaping, or transforming materials <with a few inexpensive materials from a craft shop, we were able to fabricate our own holiday wreath> — see MAKE 1
2 to create or think of by clever use of the imagination <fabricated a daring plan to create an underground explosion that would take the enemy totally by surprise> — see INVENT
3 to form by putting together parts or materials <the house was essentially fabricated at the factory and then shipped to the site for assembly> — see BUILD
4 to make a statement one knows to be untrue <since he didn't have a good excuse for not having done his homework, he would have to fabricate one> — see 1LIE

fabrication noun
1 a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive <her claim that she had been a nurse during the war proved to be a total fabrication> — see LIE
2 something that is the product of the imagination <the notion that the Colossus of Rhodes could straddle the harbor was a fabrication of medieval writers> — see FICTION

fabricator noun
a person who tells lies <he's been a fabricator for so long that it no longer occurs to him to tell the truth> — see LIAR

fabulist noun
a person who tells lies <a once highly admired journalist whose reputation is now that of a disgraced fabulist> — see LIAR

fabulous adjective
1 based on, described in, or being a myth <the city of Phoenix is named after a fabulous bird that every 500 years destroys itself with fire, only to rise again from its own ashes> — see MYTHICAL 1
2 causing wonder or astonishment <the fabulous sites of dazzlingly lit Las Vegas> — see MARVELOUS 1
3 not real and existing only in the imagination <a story of a fabulous land where the people know nothing of war and live together in perfect harmony> — see IMAGINARY
4 of the very best kind <we had a fabulous time on our vacation> — see EXCELLENT

fabulously adverb
to a great degree <our fabulously wealthy neighbors> — see VERY 1

facade also façade noun
1 a forward part or surface <all of the stores in the mall have facades that are in keeping with the style of a 19th-century American village> — see FRONT 1
2 a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive <his interest in acting is just a facade—he joined the drama club to meet girls> — see MASQUERADE
3 a deceptively attractive external appearance <the company's facade of success collapsed when it was revealed that its financial officers had been cooking the books for years> — see GLOSS 1

face noun
1 the front part of the head <the criminal hid his face from the news cameras as he slumped into the patrol car>

Synonyms
countenance, kisser [slang], mug, pan [slang], puss [slang], visage

Related Words
appearance, aspect, features, lineaments, looks, mien, presence; expression, physiognomy

2 a forward part or surface <the face of the store building has been altered many times over the years to meet changing tastes and needs> — see FRONT 1
3 a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval <it's rude to make a face when your dinner hostess offers you broccoli> — see GRIMACE
4 an outer part or layer <a much-needed sandblasting revealed that the face of the old stone church is actually a pinkish granite> — see EXTERIOR
5 facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling <a rainy day is no excuse for just moping around with a long face, so let's do something> — see LOOK 1
6 outward and often deceptive indication <on the face of it, the country went to war for noble reasons> — see APPEARANCE 2
7 a member of the human race <I see they've hired some new faces> — see HUMAN
8 shameless boldness <you have to wonder how anyone has the face to ask such a personal question> — see EFFRONTERY
9 a state of mind in which one is free from doubt <he managed to maintain face despite the endless series of crises> — see CONFIDENCE 2

face verb
1 to stand or sit with the face or front toward <the house faces the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific Ocean>

Synonyms
front, look (toward), point (toward)

Related Words
abut, adjoin, border, bound, fringe, margin, meet, neighbor, rim, skirt, touch; command, dominate, overlook; look down (on)

2 to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage <movie superheroes who are ever ready to face danger without blinking an eye>

Synonyms
beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, defy, outbrave, outface

Related Words
face up (to), front; affront; challenge; encounter, meet; accost, approach, corner; repel, resist, stand, withstand; battle, combat, contend (with), fight, oppose, square (off)

Phrases
stand up to

Near Antonyms
avoid, eschew, shun; elude, escape, evade, shake

Antonyms
dodge, duck, funk, shirk, sidestep

3 to cover with something that protects <we decided to face our old frame house with aluminum siding> — see SHEATHE
4 to enter into contest or conflict with <the Boston Red Sox were eager to face their traditional rivals, the Yankees, in the play-offs> — see ENGAGE 2

faceless adjective
1 lacking in distinctive features or qualities <it was precisely because he was a faceless individual that the serial killer was able to go on for so long without detection> — see NONDESCRIPT
2 not named or identified by a name <faceless gossipmongers had been spreading rumors about the actor's sexual identity for years> — see NAMELESS 1

facelessness noun
the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown <the facelessness of those early participants in the American civil rights movement> — see OBSCURITY 2

face–off noun
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <the annual fall face-off between these traditional rivals is a big event for both football-mad colleges> — see CONTEST 1

face off verb
to engage in a contest <eager to face off with her longtime tennis rival> — see COMPETE

facet noun
a certain way in which something appears or may be regarded <there are so many facets to Benjamin Franklin: statesman, scientist, inventor, American original> — see ASPECT 1

facetious adjective
1 given to or marked by mature intelligent humor <the essay is a facetious commentary on the absurdity of war as a solution for international disputes> — see WITTY
2 making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred <a facetious and tasteless remark about people in famine-stricken countries being spared the problem of overeating> — see FLIPPANT

facetiousness noun
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time <underage drinking is a serious problem and not a matter for facetiousness and lame jokes> — see FRIVOLITY

face–to–face adverb
1 in person and usually privately <I won't believe that accusation until I meet with him face-to-face and ask him myself> — see TêTE-à-TêTE
2 in direct confrontation or competition <came face-to-face with her lifelong fear of flying even before the plane left the runway> — see HEAD-TO-HEAD

facile adjective
1 having or showing a lack of depth of understanding or character <the movie takes a facile look at what happens when teens enter into serious romantic relationships> — see SUPERFICIAL 2
2 involving minimal difficulty or effort <a few early facile victories misled the country into thinking that the war would be short and relatively painless> — see EASY 1

facilely adverb
without difficulty <most TV sitcoms give the impression that family problems can be solved facilely and in less than 30 minutes> — see EASILY 1

facilitate verb
to free from obstruction or difficulty <several religious organizations are involved in the effort to facilitate the settlement of the immigrants arriving in the area> — see EASE 1

facilitative adjective
1 providing service or assistance <managerial attitudes and practices that have proven to be highly facilitative of increased worker productivity> — see HELPFUL 1
2 tending to promote or assist the development of something <a well-equipped laboratory facilitative to research> — see CONDUCIVE 1

facility noun
a structure that is designed and built for a particular purpose <the city is known for its outstanding medical facilities>

Synonyms
complex, establishment, installation

Related Words
building, edifice; institute, institution; business, company, concern, outfit

facsimile noun
1 something or someone that strongly resembles another <the family resemblance is so strong that the boy is virtually a pint-size facsimile of his father> — see IMAGE 1
2 something that is made to look exactly like something else <this is not an antique copy of the Declaration of Independence but a modern facsimile> — see COPY

fact noun
1 the quality of being actual <like other scientists, astronomers deal in the realm of fact, not speculation>

Synonyms
actuality, factuality, materiality, reality

Related Words
authenticity, genuineness, truth, verity

Near Antonyms
fancy, fantasy (also phantasy), fiction, fictitiousness; dreaminess, surreality

Antonyms
irreality, unreality

2 something that actually exists <once considered a wild fantasy, the Internet is now a fact of everyday life>

Synonyms
actuality, case, materiality, reality

Related Words
certainty, inevitability; circumstance, event, occurrence, phenomenon; element, item, particular, thing

Near Antonyms
eventuality, possibility, potentiality, probability

Antonyms
fantasy (also phantasy), fiction, illusion

3 a single piece of information <a book of little-known facts about famous people>

Synonyms
datum, detail, nicety, particular, particularity, point, specific

Related Words
article, item; component, constituent, element, ingredient, member, part; aspect, circumstance, facet, factor; evidence, exhibit; database, information, knowledge

Near Antonyms
error, fallacy, falsehood, inaccuracy, misconception, misstatement, myth

4 facts plural a collection of factual knowledge about something <after reading the facts on the situation, the president concluded that an outbreak of hostilities was all but certain> — see INFORMATION 1

facticity noun
agreement with fact or reality <the facticity of the information is not at issue; it's whether something so private should ever be made public> — see TRUTH

faction noun
a group of people acting together within a larger group <several factions within the environmental movement have joined forces to save this wilderness area>

Synonyms
bloc, block, body, coalition, party, sect, set, side, wing

Related Words
splinter, split; crew, gang, pack, team; denomination, persuasion; schism, scission; caucus, movement

factitious adjective
1 being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <presumably the statue is of factitious marble, because for that price you're not going to get the real stuff> — see IMITATION
2 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <the factitious friendliness shown by the beauty-pageant contestants to one another> — see ARTIFICIAL 1

factor noun
1 a person who acts or does business for another <at the auction the high bidder for the painting was actually a factor for a wealthy art collector> — see AGENT 2
2 one of the parts that make up a whole <price was only one factor in my decision to buy the car> — see ELEMENT 1

factor (in or into) verb
to give consideration to (as unexpected circumstances or contingencies) <you should factor in inflation in making investment decisions> — see ALLOW FOR

factory noun
a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods <the new factory will create hundreds of much-needed jobs>

Synonyms
manufactory, mill, plant, shop, works, workshop

Related Words
sweatshop; atelier, studio, workplace, workroom; yard

factual adjective
1 restricted to or based on fact <a factual biography of George Washington that scoffs at the story about the cherry tree>

Synonyms
documentary, hard, historical, literal, matter-of-fact, nonfictional, objective, true

Related Words
actual, authentic, bona fide, genuine, real, right; documented, established; confirmable, reliable, supportable, sustainable, verifiable; demonstrable, provable; incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, irrefutable, undeniable, unquestionable; plain, simple; certain, undoubted

Near Antonyms
hypothetical, speculative, theoretical (also theoretic); apocryphal, unauthentic, undocumented; chimerical (also chimeric), fabulous, fanciful, fantastic (also fantastical), imaginary, imagined, invented, legendary, made-up, make-believe, mythical (or mythic), pretend; embroidered, exaggerated; insupportable, unsupportable

Antonyms
fictional, fictionalized, fictitious, nondocumentary, nonfactual, nonhistorical, unhistorical

2 existing in fact and not merely as a possibility <a serious scientist, she is only interested in factual phenomena and lets others speculate about the hypothetical> — see ACTUAL

factuality noun
1 agreement with fact or reality <some viewers complained that the TV docudrama was short on factuality and long on speculation> — see TRUTH
2 the quality of being actual <although this account of the murders seems like it must be fiction, its very factuality makes it all the more fascinating> — see FACT 1

faculty noun
1 a natural ability of the mind or body <although they are well into their 80s, the mental faculties of this couple are as sharp as ever> — see POWER 3
2 a special and usually inborn ability <even when he was still at a young age, John Singleton Copley's artistic faculties were readily recognizable> — see TALENT
3 the physical or mental power to do something <the belief that if someone loses their sight, all of their other physical faculties are heightened> — see ABILITY

fad noun
a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <once the fad for that kind of music had passed, nobody would have been caught dead listening to it>

Synonyms
buzz, chic, craze, dernier cri, enthusiasm, fashion, flavor, go, hot ticket, last word, latest, mode, rage, sensation, style, ton, trend, vogue

Related Words
nine days' wonder (also nine day wonder); new wave; crush, infatuation; fervor, passion; furor, fuss, hullabaloo, to-do, uproar; bandwagon, crusade, cult, movement; novelty, wrinkle; caprice, fancy, whim

Near Antonyms
classic, standard

faddish adjective
enjoying widespread favor or approval <a faddish novelist who impressed some critics, at least for a time> — see POPULAR 1

faddy adjective
enjoying widespread favor or approval <that chef's faddy cuisine was all the rage among foodies back in the 1990s> — see POPULAR 1

fade verb
1 to cease to be visible <the departing ship gradually faded over the horizon> — see DISAPPEAR
2 to make white or whiter by removing color <years of harsh sunlight had faded the car, which was once fire-engine red> — see WHITEN
3 to lose bodily strength or vigor <began to fade after battling the disease for years> — see WEAKEN 2

faded adjective
lacking intensity of color <rather than buy faded jeans, I get the dark blues and let time and the washing machine do their thing> — see PALE 1

faerie also faery noun
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <in ancient folklore faeries were often portrayed as powerful beings who could wreak havoc on the lives of humans> — see FAIRY

fag noun
a person who does very hard or dull work <a rigid class system, with fags at the very bottom of it> — see SLAVE 2

fag verb
1 to devote serious and sustained effort <the road crew fagged mightily to move the boulder out of the way> — see LABOR
2 to use up all the physical energy of <the long hike up the mountain had fagged us out> — see EXHAUST 1

fag end noun
an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value <a patchwork quilt sewn together from the fag ends of many bolts of cloth> — see 1SCRAP 1

fail verb
1 to stop functioning <my video camera failed just as I was about to shoot the big moment>

Synonyms
break, break down, conk (out), crash, cut out, die, give out, stall

Related Words
fizzle, sputter, wheeze; act up, malfunction; jam

Antonyms
start (up)

2 to be unsuccessful <despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office>

Synonyms
bomb, collapse, crater, flame out, flop, flunk, fold, founder, miss, strike out, tank, wash out

Related Words
flounder, struggle; decline, sink, skid, slip, slump, wane; crash, crumble, miscarry, misfire; go under; implode, self-destruct

Phrases
come a cropper, come to grief, come up empty, die on the vine, fall flat, fall on one's face, fall short, lay an egg

Near Antonyms
cook, flourish, prosper, thrive; prevail, triumph, win

Antonyms
click, come off, deliver, go, go over, pan out, succeed, work out

3 to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of <although the minor-league franchise continues to fail local fans, hope springs eternal> — see DISAPPOINT
4 to lose bodily strength or vigor <ever since she reached the age of 90, Grandma has been noticeably failing> — see WEAKEN 2
5 to miss the opportunity or obligation <failed to mention that he had already been paid for the job by the homeowner's wife> — see NEGLECT 3

failing noun
a defect in character <we could talk about your failings, but it would take all night> — see FAULT 1

fail–safe adjective
not likely to fail <men have traditionally regarded flowers as the fail-safe gift for Valentine's Day> — see INFALLIBLE 2

fail–safe noun
a measure taken to preclude loss or injury <there are so many fail-safes built into the system that a highly unlikely series of mistakes would have to be made before failure could occur> — see PRECAUTION

failure noun
1 the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action <your failure to check the batteries in the smoke detector could have tragic results>

Synonyms
default, delinquency, dereliction, misprision, neglect, negligence, nonfeasance, oversight

Related Words
carelessness, heedlessness, inadvertence, inadvertency, laxity

Near Antonyms
compliance, discharge, fulfillment (or fulfilment)

2 a falling short of one's goals <the failure of the school's fund-raising drive was a big disappointment to all>

Synonyms
collapse, crash, cropper, defeat, fizzle, nonachievement, nonsuccess

Related Words
futility, uselessness; ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficaciousness, inefficacy; deficiency, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency; disappointment, letdown, setback

Near Antonyms
victory, win

Antonyms
accomplishment, achievement, success

3 something that has failed <the students' first attempt to build a homemade rocket was a disappointing failure>

Synonyms
bomb, bummer, bust, catastrophe, clinker, clunker, debacle (also débâcle), disaster, dud, fiasco, fizzle, flop, frost, lemon, loser, miss, shipwreck, turkey, washout

Related Words
also-ran, disappointment, dog, has-been, near miss; botch, hash, mess, muddle, shambles; nonevent; nonstarter

Near Antonyms
corker, crackerjack (also crackajack), dandy, jim-dandy, phenomenon

Antonyms
blockbuster, hit, smash, success, winner

4 a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <the failure of the potato crop had a devastating effect on the population of Ireland> — see DEFICIENCY
5 the inability to pay one's debts <years of prolonged economic depression, when business failures were common> — see INSOLVENCY

fain adjective
having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action) <during the Renaissance most men of science and the arts were fain to express their noblest thoughts in Latin, the lingua franca of the learned> — see WILLING 1

fain adverb
by choice or preference <“I would fain not marry that suitor, my lord,” the princess pleaded> — see RATHER 1

faint adjective
1 not seen or understood clearly <after wandering in the woods for hours, we had only a faint idea of where we were>

Synonyms
blear, bleary, blurry, dim, foggy, fuzzy, gauzy, hazy, indefinite, indistinct, indistinguishable, misty, murky, nebulous, obscure, opaque, pale, shadowy, unclear, undefined, undetermined, vague

Related Words
dark, dusky, gloomy; impalpable, inappreciable, intangible, invisible; hieroglyphic (also hieroglyphical), incomprehensible, indecipherable, indiscernible, inexplicable, mysterious, obfuscatory, puzzling

Near Antonyms
bright, distinct, evident, obvious, plain; certain, firm, strong, sure

Antonyms
clear, definite, pellucid

2 lacking bodily strength <I was starting to feel a little faint after going so long without food> — see WEAK 1

faint noun
a temporary state of unconsciousness <shocking news can cause a person to fall into a faint>

Synonyms
blackout, insensibility, knockout, swim, swoon, syncope

Related Words
daze, stupor, trance; drowsiness, narcosis, sleep, somnolence

faint verb
to lose consciousness <the kind of person who faints at the sight of blood>

Synonyms
black out, conk (out), keel (over), pass out, swoon

Related Words
break down, collapse; zonk (out)

Antonyms
come around, come round, come to, revive

fainthearted adjective
easily frightened <the sport of river rafting is not for those who are fainthearted> — see SHY 1

faintheartedness noun
lack of willingness to assert oneself and take risks <his faintheartedness got the better of him, and he backed off from the ski trail intended for experts> — see TIMIDITY

faintness noun
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <after a year of increasing faintness, the old man quietly died in his sleep> — see WEAKNESS 1

fair noun
a public showing of objects of interest <a dazzling array of sleek cabin cruisers at the annual boat fair> — see EXHIBITION 1

fair adjective
1 not stormy or cloudy <we prayed for fair weather during our vacation at the beach>

Synonyms
bright, clear, cloudless, sunny, sunshiny, unclouded

Related Words
balmy, clement, gentle, mild, moderate, temperate; calm, halcyon, peaceful, placid, serene, tranquil; fine, pleasant

Near Antonyms
harsh, inclement, severe; blustering, blustery, breezy, gusty; foggy, hazy, misty, murky, soupy

Antonyms
bleak, cloudy, dirty, foul, nasty, overcast, rainy, raw, rough, squally, stormy, sunless, tempestuous, turbulent

2 marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias <a commanding officer who enjoyed the respect of his soldiers because his decisions were always fair>

Synonyms
candid, disinterested, dispassionate, equal, equitable, evenhanded, impartial, indifferent, just, nonpartisan, objective, square, unbiased, unprejudiced

Related Words
frank, forthright, open, straight, straightforward; balanced, rational, reasonable

Near Antonyms
deceitful, deceptive, dishonest; arbitrary, unconscionable, unreasonable; jaundiced, unfriendly, unsympathetic; colored, distorted, warped

Antonyms
biased, ex parte, inequitable, nonobjective, one-sided, partial, parti pris, partisan, prejudiced, unjust

3 following or according to the rules <a hockey player who is respected for his fair play>

Synonyms
clean, legal, sportsmanlike, sportsmanly

Related Words
just, law-abiding; ethical, moral, principled, scrupulous; honorable, irreproachable, unimpeachable

Near Antonyms
immoral, unethical, unprincipled, unrighteous, unscrupulous, vicious, wrong

Antonyms
dirty, foul, nasty, unfair, unsportsmanlike

4 of light complexion <fair people tend to sunburn easily>

Synonyms
light

Related Words
ashen, ashy, pale, paled, palish, pallid, pasty, peaked, peaky, sallow, sallowish, wan, white

Antonyms
black, brunet (or brunette), dark, swart, swarthy

5 having qualities which inspire hope <as long as the team keeps playing as hard as they can, they have a fair chance of winning—no matter what the scoreboard says> — see HOPEFUL 1
6 of a pale yellow or yellowish brown color <the abundance of people with fair hair in Scandinavia> — see BLOND
7 of average to below average quality <for what they charged us, the painters should have done better than a fair job of painting the house> — see MEDIOCRE 1
8 very pleasing to look at <generally considered the fairest girl in town, she had no lack of boyfriends> — see BEAUTIFUL 1
9 having no exceptions or restrictions <it would take a fair miracle for that project to be finished on time> — see ABSOLUTE 2
10 being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong <most thought his dismissal was fair since he had been given many chances to clean up his act> — see JUST 1
11 free from dirt or stain <a handwritten thank-you letter requires nothing less than a sheet of fair white paper> — see CLEAN 1

fair adverb
1 according to the rules or the law <we expect everyone on this basketball court to play fair> — see FAIRLY 2
2 chiefly British very close to but not completely <it fair takes your breath away when you find out what properties in London are going for> — see ALMOST

fair–haired adjective
granted special treatment or attention <she had been the teacher's fair-haired pupil—the one who could do no wrong> — see DARLING 1

fairing noun, British
something given to someone without expectation of a return <business takes him to all corners of the globe, but he never fails to bring back fairings for the family back in London> — see GIFT 1

fairish adjective
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards <did a fairish job of refinishing the old chest, especially since it was her first foray into furniture restoration> — see ADEQUATE

fairly adverb
1 to some degree or extent <for someone without professional training, she sings fairly well>

Synonyms
enough, kindly [chiefly Southern], kind of, like, moderately, more or less, pretty, quite, rather, relatively, something, somewhat, sort of

Related Words
acceptably, decently, passably, tolerably; little, negligibly, nominally, slightly, vaguely; half, halfway, incompletely, part, partially, partly, partway

Phrases
a bit, after a sort, a little, a mite, a tad, a touch, of sorts (or of a sort), to a degree

Near Antonyms
awfully, beastly, deadly, especially, exceedingly (also exceeding), exceptionally, extremely, frightfully, greatly, heavily, highly, hugely, mightily, mortally, particularly, surpassingly, terribly, very; considerably, extensively, significantly, substantially

2 according to the rules or the law <had acquired the land fairly>

Synonyms
clean, cleanly, fair, legally

Related Words
ethically, high-mindedly, morally, nobly; honorably

Near Antonyms
ignobly, immorally, underhandedly, unethically; dishonorably

Antonyms
dirty, illegally

3 very close to but not completely <he fairly knocked me flat on my face as he ran by> — see ALMOST

fair–mindedness noun
lack of favoritism toward one side or another <fortunately, the person chosen to determine custody for the chld is known for her fair-mindedness> — see DETACHMENT 1

fairness noun
1 the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses <a city of incomparable fairness, Venice has enchanted travelers for centuries> — see BEAUTY 1
2 lack of favoritism toward one side or another <fairness was certainly uppermost in the elderly woman's mind as she made arrangements for dividing the family heirlooms among her many grandchildren> — see DETACHMENT 1

fair shake noun
the practice of giving to others what is their due <it's going to be tough to get a fair shake the way this country's legal system is set up> — see JUSTICE 1

fairy noun
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <fairies are part of the folklore of many countries and cultures>

Synonyms
brownie, dwarf, elf, faerie (also faery), fay, gnome, goblin, gremlin, hobgoblin, kobold, leprechaun, pixie (also pixy), puck, sprite, troll

Related Words
little people; kelpie, nixie; changeling; imp; banshee, ghoul, hag, ogre

fairy godmother noun
one that helps another with gifts or money <when it came time for the girl to go to college, Aunt Edna once again proved to be a reliable fairy godmother> — see BENEFACTOR

fairy tale noun
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive <did you really see a bear, or are you telling us another one of your fairy tales?> — see LIE

faith noun
1 belief and trust in and loyalty to God <a people who are known for their strong and steadfast faith>

Synonyms
devotion, piety, religion

Related Words
devoutness, piousness, religiousness; adoration, reverence, veneration, worship; profession, protestation

Near Antonyms
disbelief, doubt, unbelief, unfaith; agnosticism, know-nothingism; apostasy, lapse, tergiversation

Antonyms
atheism, godlessness

2 a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities <the city of Jerusalem is sacred to three faiths: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism> — see RELIGION 1
3 adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <after they had to declare bankruptcy, the family found out how much faith their friends had> — see FIDELITY
4 firm belief in the integrity, ability, effectiveness, or genuineness of someone or something <never having had much faith in banks, the old miser kept his money under the mattress> — see TRUST 1
5 mental conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon <she has complete faith that the universe is controlled by a benevolent Supreme Being with a master plan> — see BELIEF 1

faithful adjective
1 firm in one's allegiance to someone or something <fans of the Chicago Cubs are famously faithful>

Synonyms
constant, dedicated, devoted, devout, down-the-line, fast, good, loyal, pious, staunch (also stanch), steadfast, steady, true, true-blue

Related Words
dependable, dutiful, reliable, responsible, solid, tried, tried-and-true, trustworthy, trusty; unfaltering, unhesitating, unwavering; determined, intent, resolute; confirmed, dyed-in-the-wool, inveterate, sworn; ardent, avid, enthusiastic, fervent, fervid, gung ho, impassioned, passionate, serious

Near Antonyms
irresponsible, undependable, unreliable, untrustworthy; faltering, hesitant, vacillating, wavering; dubious, irresolute, shaky, uncertain; apathetic, dispassionate, uninterested

Antonyms
disloyal, faithless, false, fickle, inconstant, perfidious, recreant, traitorous, treacherous, unfaithful, untrue

2 following an original exactly <a faithful filming of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Treasure Island>

Synonyms
accurate, authentic, exact, precise, right, strict, true, veracious

Related Words
lifelike, realistic; careful, conscientious, meticulous, punctilious, scrupulous; authoritative; bona fide, genuine, real, veridical

Near Antonyms
careless, slack, slipshod, slovenly; erroneous, incorrect, invalid, off, unsound, untrue, untruthful, wrong

Antonyms
corrupt, corrupted, false, imprecise, inaccurate, inauthentic, inexact, loose, unfaithful

faithfulness noun
adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <put the faithfulness of his disciples to the test> — see FIDELITY

faithless adjective
not true in one's allegiance to someone or something <faithless friends who deserted him in his time of need>

Synonyms
disloyal, false, fickle, inconstant, perfidious, recreant, traitorous, treacherous, unfaithful, untrue

Related Words
irresponsible, trustless, undependable, unreliable, untrustworthy; faltering, hesitant, vacillating, wavering; dubious, irresolute, uncertain; apathetic, dispassionate, uninterested

Near Antonyms
dependable, dutiful, reliable, responsible, solid, tried, tried-and-true, trustable, trustworthy, trusty; unfaltering, unhesitating, unwavering; determined, intent, resolute; confirmed, dyed-in-the-wool, inveterate, sworn; ardent, avid, enthusiastic, fervent, fervid, impassioned, passionate

Antonyms
constant, dedicated, devoted, devout, down-the-line, faithful, fast, loyal, staunch (also stanch), steadfast, steady, true

faithlessness noun
1 lack of faithfulness especially to one's husband or wife <a wife who long ago became resigned to the chronic faithlessness of her husband> — see INFIDELITY 1
2 the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another <the former butler's mercenary faithlessness shocked and offended the royal family> — see BETRAYAL

fake adjective
1 being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <opposed to the unnecessary killing of animals, she'll consider wearing only fake furs> — see IMITATION
2 being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud <arrested for peddling “designer” watches that were fake> — see COUNTERFEIT 1
3 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <the boss's pitiful attempts at humor were met with fake laughter> — see ARTIFICIAL 1
4 not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <the fake friendliness of the sales rep made me want to gag> — see INSINCERE

fake noun
1 an imitation that is passed off as genuine <experts declared that one of the museum's prized paintings was actually a fake>

Synonyms
counterfeit, forgery, hoax, humbug, phony (also phoney), sham

Related Words
copycat, knockoff; copy, facsimile, replica, reproduction; dummy, mock-up; fraud, gaff, imposture, spoof, swindle; simulation, synthetic; bastard, brummagem, duffer, shoddy

Near Antonyms
original

2 one who makes false claims of identity or expertise <a hidden-camera investigation revealed that the so-called psychic was a fake> — see IMPOSTOR

fake verb
1 to imitate or copy especially in order to deceive <pranksters faked giant footprints and then claimed that they had seen Bigfoot>

Synonyms
counterfeit, forge, phony

Related Words
simulate; duplicate, reduplicate, replicate, reproduce; crib, plagiarize; adulterate, doctor, fudge, juggle, manipulate, tamper (with); concoct, cook (up), fabricate, invent

2 to present a false appearance of <while running for class president, Dan was not above faking friendship with people just to get their votes> — see FEIGN
3 to perform, make, or do without preparation <if you give me the gist of the plan, I can probably fake enough for the speech> — see IMPROVISE
4 to elude (an opponent in a sports contest) by making a deceptive or agile movement <the running back faked the defense by stepping to his left and then quickly cutting to the right> — see JUKE

fake out verb
1 to cause to believe what is untrue <my friends faked me out for a whole day, letting me think that they had forgotten my birthday> — see DECEIVE
2 to elude (an opponent in a sports contest) by making a deceptive or agile movement <used a quick between-the-legs dribble to fake out the flat-footed defender> — see JUKE

faker noun
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise <the medium was exposed as a faker who was herself making the strange noises that she claimed were from the dead> — see IMPOSTOR

fakery noun
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <if the product were any good, the company wouldn't have to resort to fakery to get people to buy it> — see DECEIT 1

fakir noun
1 a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <a traveling carnival that was run by fakirs preying on small-town rubes> — see TRICKSTER 1
2 one who makes false claims of identity or expertise <a fakir peddling patent medicines that were mostly liquor and sugar> — see IMPOSTOR

fall noun
1 the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily <a bad fall that resulted in several broken bones>

Synonyms
slip, spill, stumble, tumble

Related Words
header, pratfall; misstep, trip; descent, dive, plunge, skid, slide; free-fall

2 a change to a lower state or level <last night's record fall in temperature was a sure sign that winter's coming, like it or not> — see DECLINE 2
3 a loss of status <being sent back to the minor leagues was quite a fall for the once-promising pitcher> — see COMEDOWN
4 the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude <panicked during his first unassisted fall when his parachute's rip cord didn't respond to the first tug> — see DESCENT 1
5 the amount by which something is lessened <that year the fall in prices was 10 cents for a gallon of regular gas> — see DECREASE
6 usually falls plural a fall of water usually from a great height <tourists were shocked to see a man jump into the water and go over the falls> — see WATERFALL
7 a downward slope <the sharp fall of the land sends rivers rushing to the seas> — see DECLINE 3

fall verb
1 to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily <better sand that walkway before somebody falls on the ice>

Synonyms
slip, stumble, topple, trip, tumble

Related Words
collapse, crumple, drop, flump, keel, plop, plunk (or plonk), slump (over); crash, free-fall, nose-dive, plummet, plunge, precipitate, wipe out; skid, slide

Antonyms
get up, rise, stand (up), uprise

2 to yield to the control or power of enemy forces <the city fell after weeks of merciless bombardment>

Synonyms
capitulate, give up, knuckle under, submit, succumb, surrender

Related Words
bow, buckle, cave (in), collapse, give (in); hand over, relinquish; lose; concede, fail, fold

Near Antonyms
buck, defy, fight, oppose, repel, resist, withstand; beat, overcome, win; conquer, prevail, triumph

Antonyms
endure, stand

3 to go to a lower level especially abruptly <word soon got out that the movie was no good, and box-office receipts fell like a rock> — see DROP 2
4 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <manufacturing in the area is falling, and closing signs are going up all over> — see DECREASE 2
5 to lead or extend downward <the lake bottom falls sharply just a few feet from the shoreline, so be careful> — see DESCEND 1
6 to undergo defeat <not surprisingly, the novice player fell to a much stronger opponent> — see LOSE 3
7 to commit an offense <even saints can fall> — see OFFEND 1
8 to stop living <if their brave leader falls, the men will lose their courage> — see DIE 1

fall (to) verb
to take the first step in (a process or course of action) <after some refreshments, she fell to working with renewed vigor> — see BEGIN 1

fallacious adjective
1 not using or following good reasoning <it's fallacious to say that something must exist because science hasn't proven its nonexistence> — see ILLOGICAL
2 tending or having power to deceive <consumers who harbor the fallacious belief that credit-card spending will never catch up with them> — see DECEPTIVE 1

fallaciousness noun
the quality or state of being false <the fallaciousness of that argument will be apparent as soon as we examine it> — see FALLACY 2

fallacy noun
1 a false idea or belief <the once-common fallacy that girls just weren't any good at math>

Synonyms
delusion, error, falsehood, falsity, hallucination, illusion, misbelief, misconception, myth, old wives' tale, untruth

Related Words
factoid; superstition; fiction, pretense (or pretence); distortion, inaccuracy, misapprehension, miscomprehension, misinterpretation, misjudgment, misperception, misunderstanding; misinformation, misknowledge, misreport, misrepresentation, misstatement; sophism, sophistry; fib, half-truth, lie, story, tale

Antonyms
truth, verity

2 the quality or state of being false <the fallacy of the notion of spontaneous generation was demonstrated by the Dutch naturalist Leeuwenhoek>

Synonyms
erroneousness, fallaciousness, falsehood, falseness, falsity, untruth

Related Words
speciousness, spuriousness; deception, deceptiveness, delusion; inaccuracy, incorrectness; dishonesty, mendaciousness, mendacity, untruthfulness

Near Antonyms
accuracy, actuality, correctness, factuality, factualness, genuineness; credibility, honesty, trustworthiness, truthfulness, veracity

Antonyms
truth, verity

fall away verb
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <as the years went by, the public's interest in the murder case fell away> — see DECREASE 2

fall back verb
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) <resistance from native forces was greater than expected, and the invading army was forced to fall back> — see RETREAT 1

fallen adjective
no longer living <let's take a moment to remember our fallen comrades> — see DEAD 1

fall guy noun
a person or thing taking the blame for others <the sandlot ball players wanted the littlest kid to be the fall guy for the broken window, figuring that he'd have the best chance of escaping punishment> — see SCAPEGOAT

falling–out noun
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <the two friends have been lonely and miserable since they had a falling-out> — see ARGUMENT 1

falloff noun
the amount by which something is lessened <the falloff in sales was more than the store could weather and so its closing was inevitable> — see DECREASE

fall off verb
to turn away from a straight line or course <the coastline falls off toward the north after you round the bay> — see CURVE 1

fall out verb
1 to express different opinions about something often angrily <club members were soon falling out about how to spend the money they'd made washing cars> — see ARGUE 2
2 to come to be <I had planned to have a sports career, but things fell out otherwise> — see COME OUT 1

fallow adjective
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment <the coal mine has been lying fallow since the drop in prices made it unprofitable> — see INACTIVE 2

false adjective
1 not being in agreement with what is true <early reports about the explosion contained much false information>

Synonyms
erroneous, inaccurate, incorrect, inexact, invalid, off, unsound, untrue, untruthful, wrong

Related Words
counterfactual; specious, spurious; deceptive, delusive, delusory, distorted, fallacious, fictitious, illusory, misleading; amiss, askew, awry; deceitful, dishonest, fraudulent, lying, mendacious; unconfirmed, unproven, untested; fabricated, invented, made-up, trumped-up

Phrases
off base

Near Antonyms
confirmed, demonstrated, established, proven, tested; faultless, flawless, impeccable, letter-perfect, perfect

Antonyms
accurate, correct, errorless, exact, factual, precise, proper, right, sound, true, valid, veracious

2 being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <George Washington's false teeth were not made of wood but of elephant ivory and cow's teeth> — see IMITATION
3 being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud <arrested for selling false ID cards to teenagers> — see COUNTERFEIT 1
4 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <so much of the sympathy that the widow received was false and hypocritical, since it came from people who never liked her husband in the first place> — see ARTIFICIAL 1
5 marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <false advertising that claimed that the vegetables were organically grown when they weren't> — see FRAUDULENT 1
6 not true in one's allegiance to someone or something <false friends who deserted the prizefighter when all his money was gone> — see FAITHLESS
7 tending or having power to deceive <it turned out that the con man had made false promises of marriage to a dozen women> — see DECEPTIVE 1

falsehood noun
1 a false idea or belief <the possibility of a perpetual motion machine is one falsehood that has been disproved by modern physics> — see FALLACY 1
2 a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive <several falsehoods in the witness's testimony that may be grounds for perjury> — see LIE
3 the quality or state of being false <scientists eventually demonstrated the falsehood of the claim that prehistoric fish did not evolve lungs and legs> — see FALLACY 2
4 the tendency to tell lies <a cynic who believes that politics are a veritable fount of falsehood> — see DISHONESTY 1

falseness noun
1 lack of faithfulness especially to one's husband or wife <so that their love would never know a moment of falseness, Thomas Jefferson promised his dying wife that he would never remarry> — see INFIDELITY 1
2 the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another <she could not believe that her so-called best friend could ever be guilty of such falseness> — see BETRAYAL
3 the quality or state of being false <the falseness of your reasoning is so blatant that it's no wonder you reached that absurd conclusion> — see FALLACY 2

falsify verb
1 to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of <taking that statement completely out of context essentially falsifies it, whether that's your intention or not> — see GARBLE 1
2 to prove to be false <telephone records falsified his claim that he wasn't home that night> — see DISPROVE

falsity noun
1 a false idea or belief <a papal letter condemning secularism and other movements that the church considered to be falsities of the modern age> — see FALLACY 1
2 a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive <when questioned by his parents about his drug use, the teenager told one blatant falsity after another> — see LIE
3 lack of faithfulness especially to one's husband or wife <the falsity of Guinevere usually figures prominently in medieval and modern tellings of the legend of King Arthur> — see INFIDELITY 1
4 the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another <despite being offered a fortune to spill the president's secrets, the trusted aide declared that he'd sooner die than be guilty of such falsity> — see BETRAYAL
5 the quality or state of being false <the falsity of Columbus's estimate of the earth's circumference was pretty much demonstrated when he made a head-on collision with the western hemisphere> — see FALLACY 2

falter verb
1 to show uncertainty about the right course of action <William Lloyd Garrison never once faltered in his demand that slavery be unconditionally abolished> — see HESITATE
2 to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side <the cut tree seemed to falter for a moment before crashing to the ground> — see TEETER 1

faltering noun
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action <when it's so clear that this is the right thing to do, there's no excuse for faltering> — see HESITATION

fame noun
1 the fact or state of being known to the public <many go to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune>

Synonyms
celebrity, notoriety, renown

Related Words
infamy; character, mark, name, report, reputability, reputation, repute; cachet, place, position, prestige, rank, standing, stature, status; megastardom, popularity, stardom, superstardom; distinction, eminence, glory, greatness, honor, illustriousness, note, preeminence, prominence, visibility; acclaim, accolade, acknowledgment (or acknowledgement), homage, kudos, laurels, praise, recognition; adoration, idolization

Near Antonyms
disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, odium, opprobrium, shame; inconspicuousness, invisibility; unpopularity

Antonyms
anonymity, oblivion, obscureness, obscurity

2 overall quality as seen or judged by people in general <he has some fame locally as an honest antiques dealer> — see REPUTATION

famed adjective
widely known <San Francisco's famed Golden Gate Bridge> — see FAMOUS 1

familial adjective
of or relating to a household or family <it's a familial duty as well as a tradition for everyone in my family to eat dinner together> — see DOMESTIC 1

familiar adjective
1 closely acquainted <the little inside jokes that people who have long been familiar like to share>

Synonyms
bosom, buddy-buddy, chummy, close, especial, friendly, inseparable, intimate, inward, near, thick, tight

Related Words
clannish, close-knit, tight-knit; affable, boon, companionable, convivial, cordial, genial, gracious, hearty; gregarious, sociable, social; comfortable, cozy, easy, snug; amicable, neighborly; confidential, secretive; adoring, affectionate, dear, devoted, fond, loving, tender, tenderhearted, warm

Near Antonyms
aloof, antisocial, cold, cool, detached, distant, frosty, remote, reserved, standoffish, unfriendly, unsociable, withdrawn

Antonyms
distant

2 having information especially as a result of study or experience <book editors who are familiar with what is being taught in the schools>

Synonyms
abreast, acquainted, au courant, conversant, informed, knowledgeable, up, up-to-date, versed, well-informed

Related Words
alive, aware, cognizant, conscious, heedful, mindful, sensible, sentient

Phrases
at home, in the know

Near Antonyms
insensible, unaware, unconscious, unmindful; blind, oblivious, unknowing, unwitting; inattentive, unheeding

Antonyms
ignorant, unacquainted, unfamiliar, uninformed, unknowledgeable

3 often observed or encountered <the woman and her pair of Welsh corgis were a familiar sight in the quiet neighborhood> — see COMMON 1
4 showing a lack of proper social reserve or modesty <rather too familiar for a first-time guest in our home, the woman kept asking how much we paid for this or for that> — see PRESUMPTUOUS 1

familiar noun
1 someone who regularly spends time in a particular place <a longtime familiar of the bar, she would most likely have been there on the night in question> — see DENIZEN 1
2 a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another <with old familiars the normally reserved writer can be quite warm and funny> — see FRIEND 1

familiarity noun
1 the state of being in a very personal or private relationship <the elderly couple enjoys a familiarity that is the result of many years of happy marriage>

Synonyms
belonging, chumminess, closeness, inseparability, intimacy, nearness

Related Words
immediacy; affinity, kinship; commitment, devotedness, devotion; affection, attachment, fondness, love, passion; constancy, faithfulness, fidelity; amity, fellowship, friendship, goodwill; affability, conviviality, cordiality, geniality; mutuality; cliquishness, clubbiness

Near Antonyms
aloofness, coldness, coolness, remoteness, reserve

Antonyms
distance

2 a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark <placing his hand on my shoulder was just one familiarity by the car salesman that I did not appreciate> — see IMPROPRIETY 2
3 knowledge gained by personal experience <the restaurant critic's considerable familiarity with restaurant kitchens should stand her in good stead> — see ACQUAINTANCE

familiarize verb
1 to give information to <the general's day-to-day duties included familiarizing the president on international developments> — see ENLIGHTEN 1
2 to impart knowledge of a new thing or situation to <one office worker is assigned with the task of familiarizing new staffers with the use of electronic equipment around the office> — see ACQUAINT 1

familiar spirit noun
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <asked the spiritualist to summon the familiar spirit of her late mother for some matrimonial guidance> — see GHOST 1

family noun
1 a group of persons who come from the same ancestor <the Adams family made remarkable contributions to American life for more than two centuries>

Synonyms
blood, clan, folks, house, kin, kindred, kinfolk (or kinfolks), kinsfolk, line, lineage, people, race, stock, tribe

Related Words
blended family, nuclear family; extended family, household, kith; brood; descendant (also descendent), issue, offspring, progeny, scion, seed; clansman, kinsman, kinswoman, relative; dynasty

Near Antonyms
ancestry, birth, descent, extraction, origin, pedigree

2 one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <the flute, the clarinet, the oboe, and other members of the woodwind family> — see CLASS 2

family name noun
a name shared by members of a family <many women today do not change their family name when they marry> — see SURNAME 1

family tree noun
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <his family tree includes writers, musical composers, and other notables in the arts> — see ANCESTRY

family way noun
the state of containing unborn young within the body <noticing the telltale bump, we guessed that she was in the family way again> — see PREGNANCY

famine noun
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <there's a famine of good general practitioners in many rural areas> — see DEFICIENCY

famished adjective
1 feeling a desire or need for food <after a full day of skiing, I was feeling absolutely famished> — see HUNGRY 1
2 lacking money or material possessions <do-gooders who were terribly distraught about the poor in other countries but were oblivious to the plight of the famished families in their own community> — see POOR 1

famishment noun
a need or desire for food <there's something about outdoor activity that invariably increases one's famishment> — see HUNGER 1

famous adjective
1 widely known <a book about some of the most famous people of the last century>

Synonyms
big-name, celebrated, famed, noted, notorious, prominent, renowned, star, visible, well-known

Related Words
fabled, fabulous, legendary; infamous; distinguished, eminent, exceptional, great, illustrious, leading, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, preeminent, prestigious, remarkable, supereminent, superior; important, significant; acknowledged, recognized, respected; favorite, popular, preferred; estimable, honorable, reputable, respectable; formidable, redoubtable

Near Antonyms
insignificant, unimportant; inconspicuous; undistinguished, unexceptional; unpopular

Antonyms
anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unfamous, unknown, unsung

2 of the very best kind <some truly famous Southern-style cooking> — see EXCELLENT

fan noun
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <lifelong fans of country and western music>

Synonyms
addict, aficionado (also afficionado), buff, bug, devotee, enthusiast, fanatic, fancier, fiend, fool, freak, habitué (also habitue), head, hound, junkie (also junky), lover, maniac, maven (also mavin), nut, sucker

Related Words
groupie; admirer, amateur, collector, connoisseur, dilettante; authority, expert; adherent, convert, cultist, disciple, follower, hanger-on, votary; advocate, apostle, backer, champion, evangelist, exponent, friend, patron, promoter, proponent, supporter; partisan (also partizan), zealot; booster, rooter, well-wisher; faddist

Near Antonyms
nonadmirer; belittler, carper, critic, detractor

Antonyms
nonfan

fan (out) verb
1 to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area <the accordionist smoothly fanned out the bellows of his instrument as he played> — see OPEN 3
2 to extend outwards from or as if from a central point <most of the city's subway lines fan out from this central station> — see RADIATE 1

fanatic noun
1 a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <football fanatics are pretty much booked up for weekends from Labor Day to Super Bowl Sunday> — see FAN
2 one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause <the vandalism was blamed on fanatics within the environmental movement> — see ZEALOT

fanatic or fanatical adjective
being very far from the center of public opinion <because of her fanatical views, her friends know better than to discuss religion with her> — see EXTREME 2

fancier noun
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <chocolate fanciers generally like their favorite confection without the addition of milk or a lot of sugar> — see FAN

fanciful adjective
1 conceived or made without regard for reason or reality <she harbors the fanciful notion that she has a talent for singing> — see FANTASTIC 1
2 not real and existing only in the imagination <the fanciful creatures that J.R.R. Tolkien created for his Middle Earth novels> — see IMAGINARY

fancify verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <you could take a store-bought cake and fancify it so that it looks semi-homemade> — see DECORATE

fancy adjective
1 made or done with great care or with much detail <we're having a little get-together after the concert—nothing fancy> — see ELABORATE 1
2 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <would rather go without than pay the hotel bar's fancy prices> — see EXCESSIVE

fancy noun
1 a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality <a writer with a prodigious talent for creating fancies that captivate readers young and old> — see FANTASY 1
2 a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action <is this a serious interest in music, or just your latest fancy that will be forgotten after a week?> — see WHIM
3 positive regard for something <now that he's rich he's taken a fancy to expensive sports cars> — see LIKING
4 the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others <to fans of Lewis Carroll, the animal creations of his fertile fancy are as real as any creature to be found at the zoo> — see IMAGINATION 1

fancy verb
1 to form a mental picture of <try to fancy, if you can, our mother on an elephant when she was touring India> — see IMAGINE 1
2 to take pleasure in <the teacher didn't fancy the idea of failing the student, even if he was the class clown> — see ENJOY 1

fancy man noun
a man who solicits clients for a woman who is willing to engage in sexual activities for money <an early hard-boiled detective novel featuring a whore who marries her fancy man and later murders him> — see PIMP

fancy up verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <had fancied up his van so much that it was virtually a palace on wheels> — see DECORATE

fancy woman noun
a boldly flirtatious or sexually promiscuous woman <in those days acting on stage was considered a profession fit only for a fancy woman> — see FLOOZY

fanfaronade noun
boastful speech or writing <all his talk of how he would easily win the boxing match turned out to be so much fanfaronade> — see BOMBAST 1

fanny noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <be careful on that icy walk, unless you want to fall on your fanny> — see BUTTOCKS

fantabulous adjective, slang
of the very best kind <shopping at the mall was just fantabulous> — see EXCELLENT

fantasied adjective
not real and existing only in the imagination <most of those auditioning had only a fantasied talent for singing> — see IMAGINARY

fantasize verb
to form a mental picture of <all those lottery players fantasizing themselves as living in extravagant luxury> — see IMAGINE 1

fantast noun
one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world <yet another short-lived utopian community that was the brainchild of a naive fantast> — see IDEALIST

fantastic also fantastical adjective
1 conceived or made without regard for reason or reality <a fantastic scheme for getting rich quick>

Synonyms
absurd, bizarre, crazy, fanciful, foolish, insane, nonsensical, preposterous, unreal, wild

Related Words
implausible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unthinkable; extravagant, grotesque; bizarro, curious, eccentric, far-out, funny, kinky, kooky (also kookie), odd, outlandish, out-of-the-way, outré, peculiar, quaint, queer, queerish, quirky, screwy, strange, wacky (also whacky), way-out, weird; farcical, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous; Alice-in-Wonderland, Kafkaesque, nightmarish; dreamlike, surreal

Phrases
off the wall [slang]

Antonyms
realistic, reasonable

2 excitingly or mysteriously unusual <to European explorers, the Far East was a fantastic land filled with unimaginable riches> — see EXOTIC
3 not real and existing only in the imagination <a science fiction writer who can conjure up fantastic worlds and make them seem as real as our own> — see IMAGINARY
4 too extraordinary or improbable to believe <concocted some fantastic story to try to explain why they had returned home so late> — see INCREDIBLE
5 fantastic of the very best kind <surfing conditions were simply fantastic> — see EXCELLENT

fantastically adverb
to a great degree <a community production of the classic musical that featured fantastically bad singing> — see VERY 1

fantasy verb
to form a mental picture of <she regularly fantasies sexual encounters that she knows will never happen> — see IMAGINE 1

fantasy also phantasy noun
1 a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality <a constant daydreamer who started to believe his own fantasies>

Synonyms
chimera, conceit, daydream, delusion, dream, fancy, figment, hallucination, illusion, nonentity, phantasm (also fantasm), pipe dream, unreality, vision

Related Words
ignis fatuus, mirage, will-o'-the-wisp; brainchild, idea; concoction, fable, fabrication, fiction, invention; envisaging, imaging, visualization; cloud-cuckoo-land, cloudland, Shangri-la, utopia; daymare, nightmare

Phrases
castle in Spain, castle in the air

Near Antonyms
actuality, fact, reality

2 the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others <the painter gave free rein to his fantasy to create pictures that capture the kind of reality we experience only in our dreams> — see IMAGINATION 1
3 something that is the product of the imagination <we were coming to the conclusion that the person Karen “saw” in the woods was another one of her fantasies> — see FICTION

fantasyland noun
an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <a lavish resort casino that transports its patrons to fantasyland—at least for a few hours> — see PARADISE 1

far adjective
1 lasting for a considerable time <the primitive rafts that ancient peoples built for their far journeys across the wide expanses of Oceania> — see LONG 2
2 not close in time or space <the dream of someday sending manned spacecraft to explore the far reaches of our solar system> — see DISTANT 1

far adverb
to a great degree <the solid advice that if you can't say something good about a person, it is far better to say nothing at all> — see VERY 1

far and away adverb
by a considerable margin <that Mexican restaurant is far and away the best in the area> — see HEAD AND SHOULDERS

far and wide adverb
in every place or in all places <we searched far and wide for a surgeon who could perform that delicate operation> — see EVERYWHERE

faraway adjective
not close in time or space <growing up in a seaport instilled in the youth a restless desire to travel to faraway places> — see DISTANT 1

farce noun
1 a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something <the recall of a duly elected official for a frivolous reason is not democracy in action but a farce> — see MOCKERY 1
2 humorous entertainment <the rubber-faced, loose-jointed comedian is a master of knockabout farce> — see COMEDY 1

farceur noun
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor <a knockabout comedy that was performed by a trio of accomplished farceurs> — see HUMORIST

farcical adjective
1 causing or intended to cause laughter <the farcical behavior of the troupe of circus clowns> — see FUNNY 1
2 so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter <the farcical routine that a person has to go through to get a refund from that company> — see RIDICULOUS 1

far cry noun
a long distance <the hotel is a far cry from the train station, so you'd better call a cab> — see MILE

fare noun
substances intended to be eaten <that restaurant is well-known for serving only fresh, seasonal fare from local suppliers> — see FOOD 1

fare verb
1 to meet one's day-to-day needs <residents of the flood-ravaged town are faring much better than one might have expected> — see GET ALONG 1
2 to move forward along a course <families can be seen faring along the road to the campground while driving or towing all manner of conveyance> — see GO 1
3 to take a meal <diners at this charming country inn will fare sumptuously in an authentic colonial atmosphere> — see DINE 1

farewell adjective
given, taken, or performed at parting <the singer's farewell tour seemed to last almost as long as her entire career> — see PARTING

farewell noun
1 an expression of good wishes at parting <the exchange student and her host family said their tearful farewells, promising to keep in touch> — see GOOD-BYE
2 the act of leaving a place <before making his final farewell, the company president personally spoke to as many employees as he could> — see DEPARTURE 1
3 the act or process of two or more persons going off in different directions <our farewell was rushed, and we didn't say all that we wanted to before heading off to colleges at opposite ends of the country> — see PARTING 1

far–fetched adjective
not likely to be true or to occur <an exciting thriller, but one with a far-fetched plot that no sensible person could believe> — see IMPROBABLE

far–flung adjective
1 having considerable extent <it could once be said that the sun never set on the far-flung British Empire> — see EXTENSIVE
2 not close in time or space <traveled to far-flung towns that had not seen a doctor in years> — see DISTANT 1

farm noun
a piece of land and its buildings used to grow crops or raise livestock <a farm that has been in the same family for five generations>

Synonyms
estate, farmstead, grange, ranch

Related Words
cropland, farmland, farmyard; farmhouse, hacienda, homestead, manor, plantation, spread; croft [chiefly British], smallholding [chiefly British], station, steading; garden, orchard

farm verb
to work by plowing, sowing, and raising crops on <we're planning on farming 50 acres the first year>

Synonyms
cultivate, tend, till

Related Words
crop, plant; harvest, reap; harrow, hoe; sharecrop

farmer noun
a person who cultivates the land and grows crops on it <a young farmer whose family has been growing wheat for many generations>

Synonyms
agriculturist (or agriculturalist), agronomist, cultivator, grower, planter, tiller

Related Words
farmhand, field hand, gleaner, harvester, plowman, reaper; workfolk (or workfolks); crofter [chiefly British], cropper, gentleman farmer, sharecropper, subsistence farmer, tenant farmer, yeoman; homesteader, nester [West]; granger; rancher, ranchero, ranchman; campesino

Antonyms
nonfarmer

farming adjective
engaged in or concerned with agriculture <years of drought had a devastating impact on the region's farming communities> — see AGRICULTURAL

farming noun
the science or occupation of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock <since an ancestor settled there in the 19th century, farming has been the only occupation for six generations of the family> — see AGRICULTURE

farmstead noun
a piece of land and its buildings used to grow crops or raise livestock <many of the area's proud, old farmsteads have been bulldozed by developers to make way for condominiums> — see FARM

far–off adjective
not close in time or space <many a young person has joined the military with the hope of traveling to far-off places> <the impossibility of predicting what life will be like in the far-off future> — see DISTANT 1

far–out adjective
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <the religious sect's far-out clothes and practices made them the talk of the small town> — see ODD 2

farrago noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the shop is filled with a whimsical farrago of artwork, antiques, and vintage clothing> — see MISCELLANY 1

far–reaching adjective
having considerable extent <to the pioneers the far-reaching prairies seemed like an endless sea of grass> — see EXTENSIVE

farseeing adjective
having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future <a farseeing corn farmer who realized that the future was in ethanol> — see FORESIGHTED

farsighted adjective
having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future <farsighted conservationists long ago realized that wilderness areas of breathtaking beauty needed to be protected from future development> — see FORESIGHTED

farsightedness noun
concern or preparation for the future <thanks to our farsightedness, we had sufficient emergency supplies when the storm knocked out our power> — see FORESIGHT 2

farther adjective
resulting in an increase in amount or number <for farther information on this condition, you should consult your family physician> — see ADDITIONAL

farther adverb
at or to a greater distance or more advanced point <they had traveled farther down the Colorado River than any previous explorers>

Synonyms
beyond, further, yon, yonder

farthermost adjective
most distant from a center <it's a long trip to a major hospital for residents of the farthermost corners of the state> — see EXTREME 1

farthest adjective
most distant from a center <for privacy and quiet, we requested a hotel room that was farthest from the elevator> — see EXTREME 1

fascinate verb
1 to attract or delight as if by magic <for years the zoo's family of giant pandas have fascinated visitors> — see CHARM 1
2 to hold the attention of as if by a spell <I can gaze at the sea for hours, fascinated by the never-ending waves crashing upon the shore> — see ENTHRALL 1
3 to hold the attention of <the subject of artificial intelligence fascinates me> — see ENGAGE 1

fascinating adjective
1 having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <the fascinating cities and peoples of central Asia have been intriguing travelers at least since the time of Marco Polo>

Synonyms
alluring, appealing, attractive, bewitching, captivating, charismatic, charming, elfin, enchanting, engaging, entrancing, fetching, glamorous (also glamourous), luring, magnetic, seductive

Related Words
absorbing, arresting, engrossing, enthralling, galvanic, gripping, hypnotic, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, riveting, spellbinding; enticing, tantalizing, tempting; exciting, haunting, interesting, intriguing, titillating; beckoning, inviting, winning; darling, delightful, pleasant, pleasing

Near Antonyms
boring, irksome, tedious, tiresome, wearisome; abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, distasteful, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, invidious, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, odious, offensive, shocking, sickening; drab, dreary, dull, flat, humdrum, jading, leaden, monotonous, pedestrian, ponderous

Antonyms
repellent (also repellant), repelling, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, unalluring

2 holding the attention or provoking interest <the fascinating—but dubious—legend that Pocahontas rescued John Smith from certain death> — see INTERESTING

fascination noun
the power of irresistible attraction <the fascination that the subject of dinosaurs has for most children> — see CHARM 2

fashion noun
1 a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <during the 1990s tattoos once again became a hot fashion especially for young men> — see FAD
2 a distinctive way of putting ideas into words <when angry, he tends to express himself in a fashion that shows that he has a mastery of all of the expletives in which the English language abounds> — see STYLE 1
3 a usual manner of behaving or doing <it has long been my fashion to rise early> — see HABIT 1
4 the means or procedure for doing something <you can mix the ingredients in any fashion you choose—by hand or by machine> — see METHOD
5 high position within society <a literary salon attended by people of fashion from all over the city> — see RANK 2
6 the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance <over the millennia, nature had worked the face of the rocky cliff into the fashion of a man's head> — see FORM 1

fashion verb
1 to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation <the ex-governor seems to be fashioning his political beliefs to win favor with a more conservative national electorate> — see ADAPT
2 to bring into being by combining, shaping, or transforming materials <for the Christmas pageant the boy's mother was able to fashion the length of fabric into something that could pass as a shepherd's outfit> — see MAKE 1

fashionability noun
the state of enjoying widespread approval <doesn't regard the fashionability of his fiction as prima facie evidence that it has no literary merit> — see POPULARITY

fashionable adjective
1 being in the latest or current fashion <a shopping district filled with expensive boutiques selling fashionable clothing from the top designers> — see STYLISH
2 enjoying widespread favor or approval <that breed of dog became fashionable after it became the preferred dog among Hollywood celebrities> — see POPULAR 1

fashionableness noun
1 the state of enjoying widespread approval <the fashionableness of that look took a nosedive after it began to show up on some very unfashionable people> — see POPULARITY
2 the quality or state of being fashionable <the fashionableness of tight jeans> — see COOL 2

fast adjective
1 moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <the fast pace of construction resulted in our new house being done ahead of schedule>

Synonyms
blistering, breakneck, breathless, brisk, dizzy, fleet, fleet-footed, flying, galloping, hasty, hot, lightning, nippy, quick, rapid, rapid-fire, rattling, snappy, speedy, splitting, swift, whirlwind, zippy

Related Words
expeditious, prompt, ready; accelerated, hastened, hurried, quickened, rushed; breathtaking; energetic, strenuous, strong, vigorous; high-speed; rush; ultrafast, ultrarapid

Phrases
at speed [chiefly British]

Near Antonyms
crawling, dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, languid, lingering, plodding, poking, poky (or pokey), slowish, sluggish, unhurried; deliberate, leisurely, measured; dilatory, late, tardy; ultraslow

Antonyms
slow

2 firm in one's allegiance to someone or something <the two girls soon became fast and inseparable friends> — see FAITHFUL 1
3 firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge <the rusty, old screws are so fast in the fitting that there's no hope of getting them out> — see TIGHT 2
4 given to or marked by cheating and deception <rolling back odometers was just one of the fast practices that the used-car dealer was guilty of> — see DISHONEST 2
5 marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion <as the storm approached, we checked to see that every thing on the outside of the house was fast and locked in position> — see STABLE 1
6 not lasting for a considerable time <after a fast explanation of the procedure, we were turned loose to do the work> — see SHORT 2
7 having or showing quickness of mind <I don't know how to operate this machine, but I'm a fast learner> — see INTELLIGENT 1

fast adverb
1 with great speed <run as fast as you can to get help>

Synonyms
apace, briskly, chop-chop, double-quick, fleetly, full tilt, hastily, hell-for-leather, hot, lickety-split, posthaste, presto, pronto, quick, quickly, rapidly, snappily, soon, speedily, swift, swiftly

Related Words
immediately, promptly, readily; impetuously, impulsively, rashly, recklessly; abruptly, suddenly; energetically, vigorously

Phrases
a mile a minute, at full throttle, at full tilt, by leaps and bounds, in a hurry, in short order, like a shot, like gangbusters, like wildfire

Near Antonyms
laggardly, lingeringly, ploddingly, sluggishly; deliberately, leisurely; belatedly, delinquently, tardily

Antonyms
slow, slowly

2 to a full extent or degree <everyone in camp was fast asleep within minutes of hitting the sack> — see FULLY 1

fasten verb
1 to cause (something) to hold to another <use this paper clip to fasten your picture to the application form>

Synonyms
affix, attach, bend, fix

Related Words
adhere, bolt, cinch, clamp, clasp, clench, clinch, clip, glue, hang, harness, hasp, lace, lash, latch, nail, paste, pin, plaster, rivet, screw, shackle, staple, stick, strap, tack, tackle, tie, toggle, yoke; coapt, connect, join, link, unite; reaffix, reattach, refasten, refix, resecure; batten, belay, button, do up

Near Antonyms
break up, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, part, separate, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke; loose, loosen; unbind, unfix, unlash, untie

Antonyms
detach, undo, unfasten, unhook

2 to put securely in place or in a desired position <don't forget to fasten all the lines on your tent>

Synonyms
anchor, catch, clamp, fix, hitch, moor, secure, set

Related Words
embed (also imbed), entrench (also intrench), implant, ingrain (also engrain), lodge, stuff, wedge

Near Antonyms
extract, prize, pry, pull, root (out), tear (out), uproot, wrest, yank

Antonyms
loose, loosen, unfasten, unfix, unloose, unloosen

3 to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective <if you could fasten your attention on one task for more than a minute, you just might get something done> — see CONCENTRATE 2

fastidious adjective
hard to please <he is very fastidious about how he arranges his music collection, and woe to anyone who dares to mess around with it> — see FINICKY

fastness noun
1 a high rate of movement or performance <the amazing fastness with which the boy took his shower had us wondering if he'd used any water> — see SPEED 1
2 a structure or place from which one can resist attack <the guerillas retreated to their network of hidden fastnesses deep within the mountains> — see FORT
3 adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <his uncompromising fastness to the cause of freedom was beyond question> — see FIDELITY

fast–track verb
to cause to move or proceed fast or faster <we're going to fast-track this project so that the product is in the stores for the holiday shopping season> — see HURRY 1

fat noun
1 individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <makers of fine wine will pay very high prices for grapes that are the fat of the harvest> — see ELITE 1
2 the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <claimed that there was absolutely no fat in the military's budget> — see EXCESS 1
3 the condition of having an excess of body fat <there's a definite predisposition for fat on his wife's side of the family> — see CORPULENCE

fat adjective
1 having an excess of body fat <the popular image of Santa Claus as a fat man in a red suit>

Synonyms
blubbery, chubby, corpulent, fleshy, full, gross, lardy, obese, overweight, plump, podgy [chiefly British], portly, pudgy, replete, roly-poly, rotund, round, tubby

Related Words
beefy, bulky, chunky, heavy, heavyset, plumpish, stocky, stout, thick, thickset, weighty; brawny, burly, hefty, husky; dumpy, squat, stubby; hippy, paunchy, potbellied; flabby, soft; ample, buxom, corn-fed, ripe, zaftig (also zoftig); endomorphic

Near Antonyms
angular, bony (also boney), gaunt, lank, lanky, rawboned, sinewy; cadaverous, emaciated, haggard, pinched, skeletal, wasted; puny, scraggy, scrawny, slight; rangy, reedy, spindling, spindly, stringy, svelte, sylphlike, twiggy, waspish, weedy, willowy; ectomorphic; anorexic

Antonyms
lean, skinny, slender, slim, spare, thin

2 containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible <the lake is so fat with trout that you probably could catch fish with a bare hook> — see FULL 1
3 having a greater than usual measure across <a set of fat encyclopedia volumes took up the whole shelf> — see WIDE 1
4 having or being of relatively great depth or extent from one surface to its opposite <the splendid sight of a fat, juicy steak cooked to perfection> — see THICK 1
5 producing abundantly <the fat soil in the river's delta> — see FERTILE
6 yielding a profit <the highly sought-after baseball player signed a fat contract that set a record for the major leagues> — see PROFITABLE 1
7 having goods, property, or money in abundance <while others suffered and sacrificed, the war profiteers grew fat> — see RICH 1

fatal adjective
1 bringing about ruin or misfortune <I made the fatal mistake of sharing my secret with the office's biggest blabbermouth>

Synonyms
calamitous, cataclysmal (or cataclysmic), catastrophic, damning, destructive, disastrous, fateful, ruinous, unfortunate

Related Words
apocalyptic (also apocalyptical); hapless, ill-fated, ill-starred, luckless; adverse, baleful, baneful, damaging, deleterious, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial

Near Antonyms
fluky (also flukey), fortuitous, fortunate, happy, lucky, providential; auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, hopeful, optimistic, promising, propitious, rose-colored, rosy, upbeat

2 likely to cause or capable of causing death <that snake's venom is fatal unless the victim is given the antidote almost immediately> — see DEADLY 1

fatality noun
a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed <the grim reminder that every holiday weekend inevitably results in a slew of highway fatalities> — see CASUALTY 1

fat–cat adjective
having goods, property, or money in abundance <the economy was in recession, but the fat-cat financiers on Wall Street didn't seem to be suffering> — see RICH 1

fat cat noun
1 a wealthy person <that last recession was particularly hard on the poor, but the fat cats barely noticed a dip in their bank accounts> — see CAPITALIST
2 one of high position or importance within a group <a candidate that has the backing of most of the party's fat cats> — see BIG SHOT

fate verb
to determine the fate of in advance <the warning that the lack of an advanced education will fate a person to a lifetime of below-average earnings> — see DESTINE

fate noun
1 a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand <the belief that it was this country's fate to extend from sea to sea>

Synonyms
circumstance, destiny, doom, fortune, kismet, lot, portion

Related Words
accident, casualty [archaic], chance, hap, happenchance, happenstance, hazard, luck; predestination; aftereffect, aftermath, conclusion, consequence, development, effect, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot

2 a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <the fate of the presidential election hinged on a few thousand votes in a single state> — see EFFECT 1
3 the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <he met his fate in a tragic highway accident> — see DEATH 1

fateful adjective
bringing about ruin or misfortune <a fateful encounter with a confidence man that they would long regret> — see FATAL 1

fathead noun
a stupid person <so who's the fathead who messed around with my movie collection?> — see IDIOT

father noun
1 a male human parent <the special relationship that exists between fathers and sons>

Synonyms
dad, daddy, old man, pa, papa (also poppa), pater [chiefly British], pop, sire

Related Words
paterfamilias, patriarch; father figure, father image; stepfather

2 a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor <Sir Isaac Newton is regarded by many as the father of modern science>

Synonyms
author, begetter, creator, establisher, founder, founding father, generator, inaugurator, initiator, instituter (or institutor), originator, sire

Related Words
cocreator, cofounder; conceiver, contriver, designer, deviser, formulator, innovator, introducer, inventor, spawner; builder, maker, producer; developer, pioneer, researcher, researchist; organizer, promoter; encourager, galvanizer, inspiration, inspirer

Near Antonyms
disciple, follower, pupil, student, supporter

3 a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent <our fathers founded this nation on the fundamental belief that no person is entitled to rule by divine right> — see ANCESTOR 1
4 cap the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <let us ask humbly for the blessings of our Father in heaven> — see DEITY 2

father verb
to become the father of <Paul Revere somehow found room in his small house for the large family he had fathered>

Synonyms
beget, get, sire

Related Words
multiply, procreate, propagate, reproduce, spawn; bear, engender, gender, generate, produce

fatherland noun
the land of one's birth, residence, or citizenship <though they had lived in their adopted country for many years, the immigrant families never broke their ties with the fatherland entirely> — see COUNTRY 1

fathom verb
to measure the depth of (as a body of water) typically with a weighted line <the pilot had to continually fathom the river, which drought conditions had lowered to unprecedented levels> — see 2SOUND 1

fathomable adjective
capable of being understood <acts of vandalism that were committed for no fathomable reason> — see INTELLIGIBLE

fathomless adjective
being or seeming to be without limits <impresses everyone with her fathomless knowledge of wildcats> — see INFINITE

fatigue verb
to use up all the physical energy of <the rescue workers pressed on, though their efforts to reach the miners had almost completely fatigued them> — see EXHAUST 1

fatigue noun
1 a complete depletion of energy or strength <the day-long battle against the blaze left firefighters in a state of utter fatigue>

Synonyms
burnout, collapse, exhaustion, frazzle, lassitude, prostration, tiredness, weariness

Related Words
debilitation, debility, disablement, enervation, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, impotence, infirmity, weakness; overfatigue; languor, lethargy, listlessness; sluggishness, slumber, stupor, torpidity, torpor; apathy, inertia, passiveness, passivity

Near Antonyms
bounce, dash, drive, energy, ginger, go, liveliness, pep, punch, sap, snap, starch, verve, vigor, vim, vitality, zing, zip; might, muscle, potency, power, puissance, strength; briskness, jauntiness, spiritedness, sprightliness, vivaciousness, vivacity

Antonyms
refreshment, rejuvenation, rejuvenescence, revitalization

2 very hard or unpleasant work <although he had joined the army for action and adventure, much of his day seemed to be devoted to mindless fatigues> — see 1TOIL

fatigued adjective
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <the fatigued hikers paused for some much-needed fun and frolic in the woodland stream> — see WEARY 1

fatless adjective
having a noticeably small amount of body fat <a beer commercial featuring bikini-clad women with shapely, fatless bodies> — see THIN 1

fatly adverb
in a luxurious manner <a television evangelist who lives fatly on a steady stream of donations from viewers of moderate means and immoderate gullibility> — see HIGH

fatness noun
the condition of having an excess of body fat <advised his patient that her fatness wasn't just unsightly—it was unhealthy> — see CORPULENCE

fattiness noun
the condition of having an excess of body fat <the surprising fattiness of so many of the children at the school> — see CORPULENCE

fatty adjective
containing animal fat especially in unusual amounts <fatty ground beef that was the cheapest available>

Synonyms
adipose

Related Words
blubbery; greasy, oily; lardy, rich

Near Antonyms
fibrous, gristly, stringy, tough; nonfat

Antonyms
defatted, lean

fatuity noun
1 a foolish act or idea <building another mall in an area that seems to already have a surplus of them seems like a gross fatuity> — see FOLLY 1
2 lack of good sense or judgment <the fatuity of the homeowner who used gasoline to burn a pile of brushwood> — see FOOLISHNESS 1
3 the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <the stupidity of the characters on that TV sitcom is probably nothing in comparison to the fatuity of its creators> — see STUPIDITY 1

fatuous adjective
1 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <the fatuous questions that the audience members asked after the lecture suggested to the oceanographer that they had understood little> — see STUPID 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <ignoring the avalanche warnings, the fatuous skiers continued on their course> — see FOOLISH 1

fatuousness noun
lack of good sense or judgment <the sheer fatuousness of the theory precludes any serious discussion> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

faucet noun
a fixture for controlling the flow of a liquid <don't forget to turn off the faucet>

Synonyms
cock, gate, spigot, stopcock, tap, valve

Related Words
hydrant, spout; petcock

faugh interjection
used to express disgust <faugh! I will not tolerate such ill-mannered behavior in my house!> — see YUCK

fault verb
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of <you should look at your own work before faulting what others have done> — see CRITICIZE

fault noun
1 a defect in character <the common fault of being quick to judge others>

Synonyms
demerit, dereliction, failing, foible, frailty, shortcoming, sin, vice, want, weakness

Related Words
blot, spot, stain; blemish, deficiency, flaw, imperfection, minus, nit; Achilles' heel, soft spot; corruption, depravity, evil, immorality, sinfulness, wickedness

Phrases
feet of clay

Near Antonyms
excellence, perfection; goodness, integrity, morality, probity, rectitude, righteousness

Antonyms
merit, virtue

2 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <there's a fault somewhere in the program> — see ERROR 1
3 responsibility for wrongdoing or failure <getting the time of the performance wrong was entirely my fault> — see BLAME 1
4 something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing <the minor faults in the leather are entirely natural and are what gives it a look different from vinyl> — see BLEMISH
5 the state of being held as the cause of something that needs to be set right <the auto accident was entirely the other driver's fault> — see RESPONSIBILITY 1

faultfinder noun
a person given to harsh judgments and to finding faults <no sooner had we finished decorating the church than the parish faultfinder decided that she didn't like it> — see CRITIC 1

faultfinding adjective
given to making or expressing unfavorable judgments about things <publishers now have to produce textbooks that pass muster with a slew of faultfinding committees> — see CRITICAL 1

faultily adverb
in a mistaken or inappropriate way <discovered that the foreign ambassador's statement had been faultily translated> — see WRONGLY

faultless adjective
1 being entirely without fault or flaw <this 18th-century chest of drawers is considered a faultless example of early American craftsmanship> — see PERFECT 1
2 free from guilt or blame <I may have broken my share of things in the past, but in this instance I am entirely faultless> — see INNOCENT 2

faultlessly adverb
without any flaws or errors <at the recital the young piano student performed the sonata faultlessly> — see PERFECTLY 1

faultlessness noun
the quality or state of being free from guilt or blame <the parents sought to assure the children of their complete faultlessness in the breakup of the marriage> — see INNOCENCE 1

faulty adjective
having a fault <the cause of the plane crash was traced to faulty wiring>

Synonyms
amiss, bad, defective, flawed, imperfect

Related Words
fallible; blemished, broken, crippled, damaged, defaced, disfigured, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, marred, spoiled, vitiated; deficient, inadequate, incomplete, insufficient, wanting

Phrases
on the blink

Near Antonyms
complete, entire, intact, whole; unblemished, undamaged, unimpaired, unspoiled

Antonyms
faultless, flawless, impeccable, perfect

faux adjective
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <even the animal rights activists were fooled by the faux furs> — see IMITATION

faux pas noun
a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark <according to an oft-told story, the queen set a guest at ease about a faux pas by politely imitating it> — see IMPROPRIETY 2

fave noun
a person or thing that is preferred over others <chocolate ice cream is my absolute fave> — see FAVORITE

favor verb
1 to do a service or favor for <although she was at the party as a guest, the singer favored us with a song> — see OBLIGE 1
2 to have a favorable opinion of <if this measure will reduce our property taxes, then I favor it> — see APPROVE OF
3 to show partiality toward <older moviegoers tend to favor films that have certain extras—like a plot and developed characters> — see PREFER 1
4 to furnish freely or naturally with some power, quality, or attribute <favored with good looks> — see ENDOW 1

favor noun
1 an act of kind assistance <a good and generous friend who is always doing favors for others>

Synonyms
benevolence, boon, courtesy, grace, indulgence, kindness, mercy, service, turn

Related Words
dispensation, waiver; advantage, benefit, blessing, godsend, manna; liberty, license (or licence), privilege

Near Antonyms
hindrance, hurdle, impediment, interference, obstacle

2 a feeling of great approval and liking <entertainers often learn that the favor of the public can be fickle indeed> — see ADMIRATION 1
3 an acceptance of something as satisfactory <over the years that kind of movie fell out of favor with the mass audience> — see APPROVAL
4 an attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting especially without considering any other possibilities <although his own son is on the hockey team that he coaches, Mr. Watkins conscientiously avoids any show of favor> — see BIAS 1
5 positive regard for something <was willing to do just about anything to keep the boss's favor> — see LIKING
6 the state of enjoying widespread approval <after that rock band fell out of favor—almost overnight—the stores couldn't give their CDs away> — see POPULARITY

favorable adjective
1 expressing approval <favorable reviews for the movie were few>

Synonyms
admiring, applauding, appreciative, approbatory, approving, commendatory, complimentary, friendly, good, positive

Related Words
accepting, warm; encomiastic, eulogistic, flattering, hagiographic (also hagiographical), laudative, laudatory, panegyrical, praiseful; respectful, supportive, sympathetic; adoring, adulatory, idolizing, worshipful, worshipping (also worshiping); advisory, recommendatory

Near Antonyms
captious, carping, caviling (or cavilling), censuring, critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, overcritical; belittling, contemptuous, disdainful, disparaging, scornful, slighting

Antonyms
adverse, depreciative, depreciatory, derogatory, disapproving, inappreciative, negative, unappreciative, uncomplimentary, unfavorable, unflattering, unfriendly

2 pointing toward a happy outcome <favorable economic conditions for opening a new business>

Synonyms
auspicious, bright, encouraging, golden, heartening, hopeful, promising, propitious

Related Words
fortunate, fortuitous, happy, lucky, providential; advantageous, beneficial, profitable, prosperous, salutary

Near Antonyms
unfortunate, unhappy, unlucky; calamitous, catastrophic, disastrous, fatal, ruinous; baleful, dark, dire, direful, doomy, foreboding, gloomy, ill, ill-boding, menacing, minatory, ominous, portentous, sinister, threatening

Antonyms
dim, discouraging, disheartening, futureless, hopeless, inauspicious, unfavorable, unpromising, unpropitious

3 promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being <moved to a region with a milder climate in the hope that it would be more favorable to his health> — see BENEFICIAL

favorably adverb
1 in a pleasing way <her violin teacher has been favorably impressed with her progress> — see WELL 5
2 in an approving manner <most critics reviewed the movie favorably> — see ADMIRINGLY

favored adjective
1 granted special treatment or attention <the youngest child was also the most favored—much to the envy of his siblings> — see DARLING 1
2 singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking <for a favored few, the restaurant always has a table available, no matter how busy it is> — see SELECT 1

favorite adjective
1 granted special treatment or attention <that teacher claims not to have any favorite students, although many in the class would disagree> — see DARLING 1
2 singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking <mint chocolate chip is my favorite flavor of ice cream> — see SELECT 1
3 enjoying widespread favor or approval <a radio station that mostly plays favorite songs from the 1960s and 1970s> — see POPULAR 1

favorite noun
a person or thing that is preferred over others <the youngest child was always Mother's favorite>

Synonyms
darling, fave, minion, pet, preference, speed

Related Words
beloved, dear, sweetheart; jewel, prize, treasure

Phrases
cup of tea

Near Antonyms
abomination, anathema, bête noire, bugbear

fawn verb
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior <a student who could not wait to fawn over the new teacher>

Synonyms
apple-polish, bootlick, fuss, kowtow, suck (up), toady, truckle

Related Words
drool, gush, slaver, slobber; endear, ingratiate; court, woo; adulate, idolize, worship; blandish, cajole, coax, flatter, overpraise, soft-soap; cower, cringe, grovel; abase, debase, demean; defer, submit, yield

Phrases
curry favor, kiss up to

Near Antonyms
despise, disdain, scorn; gibe (or jibe), jeer, scoff; brave, challenge, defy

fawner noun
a person who flatters another in order to get ahead <having surrounded himself with fawners who gave him only good news, the governor had no idea of the true state of affairs> — see SYCOPHANT

fay adjective
given to good-natured joking or teasing <with her slight build and perky manner, the actress was usually cast as the fay young woman who charms all the men in town> — see PLAYFUL

fay noun
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <in the tale a fay appears in the form of a beautiful and serene woman with an angelic air and a billowy gown> — see FAIRY

faze verb
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress <the collapse of part of the scenery didn't faze the actors one bit, and they just carried on> — see EMBARRASS 1

fealty noun
adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <as much as I wanted to back my friend up, my fealty to the truth was greater, and I could not lie for him> — see FIDELITY

fear verb
to experience concern or anxiety <her friends feared that she was dating a guy who was all wrong for her> — see WORRY 1

fear noun
1 the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger <the sight of the headless horseman filled the schoolmaster with fear>

Synonyms
alarm (also alarum), anxiety, dread, fearfulness, fright, horror, panic, scare, terror, trepidation

Related Words
phobia; creeps, jitters, nervousness, willies; pang, qualm, twinge; agitation, apprehension, consternation, discomposure, disquiet, funk, perturbation; concern, dismay, worry; cowardice, faintheartedness, timidity, timorousness

Near Antonyms
aplomb, assurance, boldness, confidence, self-assurance, self-confidence; bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, fortitude, gallantry, hardihood, intrepidity, intrepidness, stoutness, valor; audacity, guts, nerve

2 an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <fear for her family's safety drove her to seek help from neighbors she hardly knew> — see ANXIETY 1

fearful adjective
1 causing fear <the fearful roar of a lion>

Synonyms
alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, frightful, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, shocking, spine-chilling, terrible, terrifying

Related Words
daunting, demoralizing, disconcerting, discouraging, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, startling, threatening, troubling, trying, unnerving; bone-chilling, creepy, eerie (also eery), weird; appalling, atrocious, awful, grisly, gruesome (also grewsome), hideous, horrid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish

Near Antonyms
calming, comforting, consoling, inviting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, reassuring, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing); nonintimidating, nonthreatening

2 easily frightened <the stray cat that we took in is still fearful, even around us> — see SHY 1
3 extreme in degree, power, or effect <the fearful wind and cold simply made being outside a miserable experience> — see INTENSE 1
4 filled with fear or dread <fearful of venturing out onto the dark highway, the stranded motorist decided to wait in the car for help> — see AFRAID

fearfulness noun
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger <the fearfulness felt by hostages can scarcely be imagined> — see FEAR 1

fearless adjective
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <skydiving is one sport that tends to attract fearless types> — see BRAVE 1

fearlessly adverb
in a fearless manner <she had fearlessly backed the teaching of evolution in her school district> — see BRAVELY 1

fearlessness noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <the admirable fearlessness shown by the pioneers of the civil rights movement> — see COURAGE

fearsome adjective
1 causing fear <at night the child would always imagine that there were fearsome monsters lurking under his bed> — see FEARFUL 1
2 extreme in degree, power, or effect <after working all afternoon in the hot sun, I had developed a fearsome thirst> — see INTENSE 1
3 easily frightened <the more fearsome of the two children would only peer at the guests from a distance> — see SHY 1

feasible adjective
capable of being done or carried out <would it be feasible to build a cabin in so short a time?> — see POSSIBLE 1

feast noun
1 a large fancy meal often accompanied by ceremony or entertainment <some 90 Native Americans showed up for the feast put on by the Pilgrims at Plymouth>

Synonyms
banquet, dinner, feed, regale, spread

Related Words
chow, mess, repast, table; blowout, carnival, festival, fete (or fête), gala, party, shindig; festivity; barbecue, clambake, cookout, fry, luau, roast; buffet, luncheon, smorgasbord

2 a source of great satisfaction <the colorful Mardi Gras parade is a feast for the senses> — see DELIGHT 1
3 an amount or supply more than sufficient to meet one's needs <on the Internet there's a feast of information about this medical condition> — see PLENTY 1

feast verb
1 to entertain with a fancy meal <the returning war heroes were feasted all over the country>

Synonyms
banquet, dine, junket, regale

Related Words
board, cater, feed, provision; fete (or fête), honor, recognize

2 to give satisfaction to <feast your eyes on all the fresh flowers at the farmers' market> — see PLEASE 1

feat noun
1 an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness <Washington's legendary feat of tossing a silver dollar across the Rappahannock River>

Synonyms
deed, exploit, number, stunt, tour de force, trick

Related Words
accomplishment, achievement, attainment, coup, success, triumph; adventure; performance

2 something done by someone <famously rich, the oil magnate is today remembered less for his feats than for his finances> — see ACTION 1

feather noun
1 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <the two brothers are sports-obsessed jocks, and most of their friends are of the same feather> — see SORT 1
2 dressy clothing <prom couples strutted into the ballroom in full feather> — see FINERY
3 a state of mind dominated by a particular emotion <you're in fine feather today> — see MOOD 1

featherbrain noun
a silly flighty person <you would not want to have to rely on that featherbrain in an emergency> — see FLIBBERTIGIBBET

featherbrained adjective
lacking in seriousness or maturity <some featherbrained youngsters giggled through the graduation ceremonies> — see GIDDY 1

featherhead noun
1 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <she only seems like a featherhead; when you least expect it, she'll surprise you> — see FOOL 1
2 a silly flighty person <too important a diplomatic post to assign to some congenial featherhead> — see FLIBBERTIGIBBET

featherheaded adjective
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a completely featherheaded suggestion that would be best ignored> — see FOOLISH 1

featherlight adjective
having little weight <the company has designed a strong but featherlight fiber which it hopes to market to manufacturers of body armor> — see 1LIGHT 1

feathery adjective
having little weight <the apple pie had a wonderfully feathery crust> — see 1LIGHT 1

featly adjective
moving easily <featly swans gliding silently across the still waters of the lake> — see GRACEFUL 1

feature noun
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <perhaps the most striking feature of that house is the way it was constructed to fit into its hillside site> — see CHARACTERISTIC

feature verb
1 to indicate the importance of by centering attention on <a restaurant featuring an extensive list of American wines to complement its creative American cuisine> — see EMPHASIZE 1
2 to form a mental picture of <I can't feature that guy taking care of a baby, since he can't even take care of himself> — see IMAGINE 1

featureless adjective
lacking in distinctive features or qualities <was surprised to find that the desert was a flat, featureless, rock-strewn wasteland> — see NONDESCRIPT

feces plural noun
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal <examined the animal's feces for signs of intestinal parasites> — see DROPPING 1

feckless adjective
not producing the desired result <a well-intentioned but feckless response to the rise in school violence> — see INEFFECTIVE 1

feckly adverb, chiefly Scottish
very close to but not completely <an Edinburgh hotel that is feckly new> — see ALMOST

fecund adjective
producing abundantly <the Franklin stove, bifocals, and the lightning rod are just a few of the inventions that we owe to the fecund creativity of Benjamin Franklin> — see FERTILE

federate verb
to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members <in the years following World War II, the U.S. and the nations of western Europe made the decision to federate as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization> — see ALLY

federation noun
an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection <the new organization is a federation of existing organizations that were all dedicated to preserving Civil War battlefields> — see CONFEDERACY

fed up adjective
having one's patience, interest, or pleasure exhausted <fed up with the noise and bustle of the big city, the family decided to try country life> — see WEARY 2

fee noun
the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something <my dentist's fees seem to increase with every visit> — see PRICE 1

fee verb, chiefly Scottish
to provide with a paying job <the townspeople fee country lasses as housemaids, nurses, and cooks> — see EMPLOY 1

feeble adjective
lacking bodily strength <feeble members of the congregation are not expected to stand or kneel during services> — see WEAK 1

feebleness noun
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <the patient felt a lingering feebleness in the weeks following her heart surgery> — see WEAKNESS 1

feed noun
1 a large fancy meal often accompanied by ceremony or entertainment <the company barbecue was an elaborate feed that was enlivened by country music and dancing> — see FEAST 1
2 food eaten or prepared for eating at one time <after soccer practice we were all ready for a hot shower and a satisfying feed> — see MEAL

feed verb
1 to provide food or meals for <a charity dedicated to feeding the hungry>

Synonyms
board, cater, provision, victual

Related Words
serve, wait; nourish, nurture, sustain; banquet, dine, feast, regale; mess; batten, fatten, fill; force-feed, overfeed, surfeit; underfeed; hand-feed, spoon-feed; refeed, reprovision

2 to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption <all week long colleagues have been feeding me ideas for a magazine article> — see FURNISH 2
3 to take a meal <an all-you-can-eat buffet where families can feed heartily and fairly inexpensively> — see DINE 1

feed (on, upon, or off) verb
to seize and eat (something) as prey <the flycatcher is a bird that—as its name suggests—feeds on winged insects in midair> — see PREY ON OR UPON

feeder noun
a stream that flows into a larger body of water <the lake has several feeders that have their headwaters near the Canadian border> — see TRIBUTARY

feel noun
an indefinite physical response to a stimulus <the warm feel that fine cashmere gives> — see SENSATION 1

feel verb
1 to have a vague awareness of <I feel trouble brewing in the town>

Synonyms
perceive, scent, see, sense, smell, taste

Related Words
behold, descry, discern, distinguish, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, perceive, regard, remark, sight, spy, view, witness; ascertain, catch on (to), discover, find out, hear, learn, realize; anticipate, divine, expect, foreknow, foresee; assume, conjecture, guess, presume, speculate, suppose, surmise, suspect

2 to come into bodily contact with (something) so as to perceive a slight pressure on the skin <feel this blanket and perceive how soft it is> — see TOUCH 1
3 to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it <with the birth of their first child the couple came to feel true happiness for the first time> — see EXPERIENCE
4 to have as an opinion <I just feel that we haven't explored all of our options for raising funds> — see BELIEVE 2
5 to search for something blindly or uncertainly <the sudden blackout had us feeling around in the dark for a flashlight> — see GROPE
6 to give the impression of being <it felt like a good idea at the time> — see SEEM

feel (for) verb
to have sympathy for <a reminder that during the holidays we should all feel for those families who have members serving in the military abroad> — see PITY

feeling noun
1 a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation <an overall feeling of happiness about their new home>

Synonyms
chord, emotion, passion, sentiment

Related Words
impression, perception, sensation, sense; angle, attitude, outlook, perspective, standpoint, viewpoint; belief, conviction, judgment (or judgement), mind, notion, opinion, persuasion, verdict, view; receptiveness, receptivity, responsiveness, sensibility, sensitiveness, sensitivity

Near Antonyms
insensitiveness, insensitivity, unfeelingness

2 feelings plural general emotional condition <a remark that thoughtlessly hurt her feelings>

Synonyms
heartstrings, passions, sensibilities

Related Words
cheer, frame, humor, mode, mood, spirit, temper

3 an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge <an interesting think piece in which the congresswoman expressed her feelings about our nation's most pressing problems> — see OPINION 1
4 an indefinite physical response to a stimulus <that odd feeling of forward movement you get when the parked car next to you backs out> — see SENSATION 1
5 sorrow or the capacity to feel sorrow for another's suffering or misfortune <a rich person without much feeling for those who are less fortunate> — see SYMPATHY 1
6 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <a woman of great feeling, the princess wanted to use her status and influence to help the needy> — see HEART 1

feign verb
to present a false appearance of <I would never feign illness just to get out of a test>

Synonyms
act, affect, assume, bluff, counterfeit, dissemble, fake, pass (for), pretend, profess, put on, sham, simulate

Related Words
dissimulate, impersonate, let on, masquerade, play, playact, pose; forge, imitate; camouflage, conceal, disguise, mask; feint; malinger

Phrases
make believe

feigned adjective
1 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <the feigned applause that polite people give after a bad concert> — see ARTIFICIAL 1
2 not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <the feigned looks of innocence I got when I asked who had broken the lamp> — see INSINCERE

feistiness noun
an inclination to fight or quarrel <a panel of political pundits with a well-earned reputation for unfettered feistiness> — see BELLIGERENCE

feisty adjective
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <a feisty hockey player who has spent more than his share of time in the penalty box> — see BELLIGERENT

felicitate verb
to express to (someone) admiration for his or her success or good fortune <the other pianists rushed to felicitate the winner of the piano competition> — see CONGRATULATE

felicitations plural noun
best wishes <our heartfelt felicitations on the start of your new business> — see COMPLIMENT 2

felicitous adjective
1 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <a felicitous accompaniment to dinner is provided by a harpist on weekends at the restaurant> — see PLEASANT 1
2 meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <the museum's restaurant is featuring a French menu as a felicitous complement to the current show on French Impressionism> — see FIT 1

felicitously adverb
in a pleasing way <the evening passed quietly but felicitously as we chatted with the other guests at the inn> — see WELL 5

felicitousness noun
the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting <guests remarked on the perfect felicitousness of the rose garden as a site for a June wedding> — see APPROPRIATENESS

felicity noun
1 a feeling or state of well-being and contentment <told his friends that marriage had brought him a felicity that he had never known before> — see HAPPINESS 1
2 something that provides happiness or does good for a person or thing <the elderly couple counted their grandchildren as their most cherished felicities> — see BLESSING 2
3 the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting <the telling felicity of the epigraphs that precede each chapter of the novel> — see APPROPRIATENESS

feline noun
a small domestic animal known for catching mice <the commercial claims that the product will please the palate of even the most finicky feline> — see CAT 1

feline adjective
moving easily <the thief was eerily feline as he moved stealthily through the darkened rooms> — see GRACEFUL 1

fell adjective
1 likely to cause or capable of causing death <planning in the event that the enemy resorted to biological warfare and released some fell virus on the civilian population> — see DEADLY 1
2 violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition <Captain Cook died in a scuffle with some fell natives of the Hawaiian Islands> — see FIERCE 1

fell verb
1 to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall <a boxer who was often felled in the first round>

Synonyms
bowl (down or over), down, drop, floor, knock down, knock over, level, mow (down), prostrate

Related Words
kayo, knock out, KO; overthrow, throw down, topple; bang, bash, belt, bludgeon, clobber, hammer, hit, jab, paste, poke, pound, punch, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, swat, swipe, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale

2 to bring down by cutting <the settlers began the daunting task of felling the mighty trees that blanketed the island>

Synonyms
chop (down), cut (down), hew, mow

Related Words
bulldoze, demolish, flatten, level, raze, tear down

3 to deprive of life <the quest for a cure for malaria, the disease that felled so many during the digging of the Panama Canal> — see KILL 1

fella noun
an adult male human being <these fellas are the hardest working bunch of players a manager could ever hope to have> — see MAN 1

fellow noun
1 a male romantic companion <most of the women were bringing their fellows to the banquet after the tennis tournament> — see BOYFRIEND
2 a person frequently seen in the company of another <the singer's fellows were rumored to have ties to organized crime> — see ASSOCIATE 1
3 an adult male human being <what does a fellow have to do to get waited on around here?> — see MAN 1
4 either of a pair matched in one or more qualities <one ice skate isn't much good without its fellow> — see MATE 1
5 one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value <he is well regarded as a chemist by his fellows in the field> — see EQUAL

fellowship noun
1 a friendly relationship marked by ready communication and mutual understanding <the new counselor is eager to develop a trustful fellowship with the troubled teens at the center> — see RAPPORT
2 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <a fellowship of physicians dedicated to administering medical aid without regard to politics> — see ASSOCIATION 2
3 kindly concern, interest, or support <this music festival would not have been a success without the fellowship of many people in the community> — see GOODWILL 1
4 the body of people in a profession or field of activity <violated just about every ethical principle that the legal fellowship holds dear> — see CORPS
5 the feeling of closeness and friendship that exists between companions <the fellowship that exists among members of a college fraternity> — see COMPANIONSHIP

fellow traveler noun
someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support <a cause being promoted by Greenpeace and its fellow travelers in the environmental movement> — see ALLY

felonious adjective
contrary to or forbidden by law <the commission found that while the senator's actions were ethically questionable, they were not felonious> — see ILLEGAL 1

female adjective
of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with women <female standards of housekeeping imposed by the women at the vacation cottage weren't especially popular with the men> — see FEMININE

female noun
an adult female human being <the prospect of being in close company with females was the main reason why some males joined the amateur theater troupe> — see WOMAN 1

femaleness noun
the set of qualities considered appropriate for or characteristic of women <for some people, maternal instincts are an essential part of femaleness> — see FEMININITY

feminine adjective
of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with women <the feminine furnishings suggested that the bedroom was intended for a girl>

Synonyms
female, womanish, womanlike, womanly

Related Words
girlie (or girly), girlish; effeminate, effete, epicene, sissified, sissy, unmanly; ladylike; distaff, petticoat; ultrafeminine

Near Antonyms
boyish, hoydenish, tomboyish; male, manlike, manly, mannish, masculine, virile; androgynous, neuter; Amazonian, butch; hairy-chested, hypermasculine, macho

Antonyms
unfeminine, unwomanly

femininity noun
the set of qualities considered appropriate for or characteristic of women <she managed to become a CEO without sacrificing her femininity>

Synonyms
femaleness, feminity, muliebrity, womanhood, womanishness, womanliness

Related Words
girlishness; effeminacy, effeteness; girlhood, maidenhood

Near Antonyms
androgyny; boyishness, mannishness, tomboyishness

Antonyms
manhood, manliness, masculinity, virility

feminity noun
the set of qualities considered appropriate for or characteristic of women <she impressed them with her gentle feminity> — see FEMININITY

femme fatale noun
a woman whom men find irresistibly attractive <an actress who was often cast as cynical, sexy femmes fatales> — see SIREN

fen noun
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water <a day spent trudging through the fens in quest of game birds> — see SWAMP 1

fence noun
a physical object that blocks the way <the only way to prevent motorists from trying to use that unsafe bridge is to put a fence across the road leading to it> — see BARRIER

fence verb
to drive danger or attack away from <had worked as a bodyguard, fencing a number of pop stars at big events> — see DEFEND 1

fence (in) verb
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <fencing in the yard would keep our dog in as well as keep unwanted stray dogs out> — see ENCLOSE 1

fence–sitting noun
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action <in Congress there was a lot of fence-sitting regarding the war, with many representatives waiting to see which way the political wind was blowing> — see HESITATION

fend verb
to drive danger or attack away from <uses self-deprecating humor to fend herself from serious criticism> — see DEFEND 1

fend (off) verb
to drive back <several bystanders rushed to help the woman fend off the mugger> — see REPEL 1

fender noun
something that serves as a protective barrier <not wanting our brand-new cabin cruiser to get scratched, we put thick rubber fenders between it and the dock> — see CUSHION

feral adjective
1 living outdoors without taming or domestication by humans <animal experts discourage homeowners from trying to adopt feral animals as pets> — see WILD 1
2 having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal <a novel that reveals just how thin the veneer of civilization is and how feral we are at bottom> — see BESTIAL

ferine adjective
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal <the boxer's ferine ferocity in the ring is legendary> — see BESTIAL

ferment noun
a disturbed or uneasy state <the city was in ferment as its residents nervously awaited the airborne invasion that was sure to come> — see UNREST

ferment verb
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being <the various social and economic factors that fermented the major cultural change during the U.S. during the 1960s> — see INCITE 1

fermentation noun
a disturbed or uneasy state <a wave of immigration followed by a period of social fermentation> — see UNREST

ferocious adjective
1 extreme in degree, power, or effect <the ferocious appetite that athletic teenagers have been known to display> — see INTENSE 1
2 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <ferocious forest fires threatened to destroy hundreds of homes in the scrubland> — see VIOLENT 1
3 violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition <Captain Bligh and his castaways bypassed numerous Pacific islands, so afraid were they of the ferocious tribesmen> — see FIERCE 1
4 marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity <after a day of ferocious trading, the stock market was down 300 points> — see FURIOUS 1

ferret (out) verb
to come upon after searching, study, or effort <the reporter ferreted out massive evidence of corruption at city hall> — see FIND 1

ferry verb
1 to support and take from one place to another <there are shuttle buses to ferry visitors from the parking lots to the fairground> — see CARRY 1
2 to travel on water in a vessel <we're planning to ferry to several islands in the Lesser Antilles> — see SAIL 1

fertile adjective
producing abundantly <the fertile mind of Leonardo da Vinci explored art, architecture, engineering, mathematics, and many other fields>

Synonyms
cornucopian, fat, fecund, fructuous, fruitful, lush, luxuriant, productive, prolific, rich

Related Words
bearing, generative, producing, yielding; abounding, abundant, bountiful; copious, generous, liberal, plenteous, plentiful, plentitudinous; blooming, bursting, flourishing, swarming, teeming, thriving; creative, inventive, original

Near Antonyms
meager (or meagre), scant, scanty, skimp, skimpy, spare, sparse

Antonyms
barren, dead, infertile, sterile, unfertile, unfruitful, unproductive

fervency noun
depth of feeling <the guest soloist was able to infuse the familiar hymn with a moving fervency> — see ARDOR 1

fervent adjective
1 having or expressing great depth of feeling <a fervent speech that called for tolerance and compassion for those who are different>

Synonyms
ardent, blazing, burning, charged, demonstrative, emotional, fervid, feverish, fiery, flaming, glowing, hot-blooded, impassioned, incandescent, intense, passional, passionate, perfervid, red-hot, religious, superheated, torrid, vehement, warm, warm-blooded

Related Words
gushing, gushy, maudlin, mawkish, mushy, saccharine, sappy, schmaltzy, sentimental, sloppy, sugary; histrionic, melodramatic; enthusiastic, gung ho, keen, zealous; enamored, infatuated, obsessed; uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained; frenzied, orgiastic, overemotional, overexcited, overheated

Phrases
on fire

Near Antonyms
detached, dry, impersonal, objective; reserved, undemonstrative

Antonyms
cold, cool, dispassionate, emotionless, impassive, unemotional

2 having a notably high temperature <in the thick, fervent air of a tropical afternoon, a languor set in> — see HOT 1

fervid adjective
1 having or expressing great depth of feeling <at the school board meeting the librarian delivered a fervid speech defending the classic novel against would-be censors> — see FERVENT 1
2 having a notably high temperature <the fervid sands of Arabia, where T.E. Lawrence staked his claim to military glory> — see HOT 1

fervidness noun
depth of feeling <the fervidness that the actor brought to the part of Romeo made the play fresh all over again> — see ARDOR 1

fervor noun
depth of feeling <surprised by the fervor that her parents' old love letters contained when she discovered them in the attic> — see ARDOR 1

fess (up) verb
1 to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly <he fessed up to breaking the vase only after his guilt was obvious> — see ADMIT 1
2 to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid <he immediately fessed up once it was clear the cops had the goods on him> — see CONFESS 1

fest noun
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something <a country music fest> — see FESTIVAL

fester noun
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin <pus oozed out of the fester> — see POCK

fester verb
to go through decomposition <a week after the battle the corpses of the fallen were still festering in the fields> — see DECAY 1

festering noun
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances <the ghastly festering of the corpses abandoned on the battlefield> — see CORRUPTION 1

festival noun
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something <tourists flock to the town for its annual strawberry festival>

Synonyms
carnival, celebration, fest, festivity, fete (or fête), fiesta, gala, jubilee

Related Words
jamboree, jollification, jollity [British], merriment, merrymaking, rejoicing, revel, revelry; exhibit, exhibition, exposition, fair, show; exercises, honors

festive adjective
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor <we arrived at the Christmas party to find everyone already in a festive mood, perhaps owing in part to the punch> — see MERRY

festivity noun
1 a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter <rather than mourn our friend's death we celebrated his life, and his memorial service was more notable for its festivity than its funereal gloom> — see MIRTH
2 a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something <year-long festivities will mark the 300th anniversary of the city's founding> — see FESTIVAL
3 joyful or festive activity <in keeping with their habit of doing everything in a big way, the couple's wedding will entail a whole weekend of festivity> — see MERRYMAKING

festoon verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <for Valentine's Day the dance hall was festooned with a riot of red hearts and bow-wielding cupids> — see DECORATE

fetch verb
to have a price of <those old toys that we tossed away are now fetching big bucks as antiques> — see COST

1fetch noun
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <his latest fetch to win back his girlfriend smacks of desperation> — see TRICK 1

2fetch noun
something or someone that strongly resembles another <with its standard assortment of chain stores and central food court, the new mall is pretty much the fetch of 1,000 other malls> — see IMAGE 1

fetching adjective
1 having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <the woman's fetching smile has long made the painting a favorite with visitors to the museum> — see FASCINATING 1
2 very pleasing to look at <a most fetching outfit in which to go skiing> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

fetchingly adverb
in a pleasing way <the supermodel smiled fetchingly for the camera> — see WELL 5

fetch up verb
to bring (something) to a standstill <the driver fetched up the horse-drawn carriage in front of the church> — see 1HALT 1

fete or fête noun
1 a social gathering <the heiress wanted to do something with her life other than shuttle from fete to fete> — see PARTY 1
2 a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something <the island's annual fete is a celebration of the daffodil in all of its springtime beauty> — see FESTIVAL

fete or fête verb
to show appreciation, respect, or affection for (someone) with a public celebration <the returning servicemen and servicewomen were feted with a week's worth of celebrations> — see HONOR

fetid adjective
having an unpleasant smell <that fetid cheese from Belgium is definitely an acquired taste> — see MALODOROUS

fetish also fetich noun
1 something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned <dieting seems to be a fetish with some people> — see FIXATION
2 something worn or kept to bring good luck or keep away evil <an archaeologist discovering an old animal tooth that may have been worn as a fetish> — see CHARM 1

fetter noun
1 something that limits one's freedom of action or choice <a time-honored tradition is fine as long as it doesn't become a fetter that prevents us from trying something new> — see RESTRICTION 1
2 something that makes movement or progress difficult <claims that government regulations are unnecessary fetters that keep him from achieving his business goals> — see ENCUMBRANCE
3 something that physically prevents free movement <considered a seat belt a pointless fetter—until one saved his life in an auto accident> — see BOND 1

fetter verb
1 to confine or restrain with or as if with chains <museum artifacts that serve as somber reminders of the days when slaves were fettered with irons> — see BIND 1
2 to create difficulty for the work or activity of <the belief that too many rules and restrictions fetter children's creativity> — see HAMPER

fettle noun
a state of being or fitness <a visit to the relatives on the other side of the state revealed them all to be in fine fettle> — see CONDITION 1

fever noun
1 an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <before the days of modern medicine, when death remained a mystery, people said that someone died of a fever and left it at that> — see DISEASE
2 a state of wildly excited activity or emotion <in the fever of a political campaign a lot of things get said that never should have been said> — see FRENZY

feverish adjective
1 being in a state of increased activity or agitation <scary stories that were the product of a feverish imagination>

Synonyms
agitated, excited, frenzied, heated, hectic, hyperactive, overactive, overwrought

Related Words
hyperexcited, overexcited; afire, aflutter, aquiver, atingle; anxious, dithery, edgy, het up, high-strung, hyped-up, hyper, jittery, jumpy, nervy, nervous, perturbed, tense, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, uptight, wired

Phrases
in a lather, keyed up

Near Antonyms
calm, collected, composed, cool, coolheaded, placid, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, unshaken, untroubled, unworried

2 having or expressing great depth of feeling <the desperate prisoner made a feverish appeal for mercy> — see FERVENT 1
3 marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity <working at a feverish pace to get the project done on time> — see FURIOUS 1

feverishness noun
a state of wildly excited activity or emotion <the exhilarating feverishness of the final stages of a political campaign> — see FRENZY

few noun
a small number <a few of the songs on the album are good, but most are forgettable>

Synonyms
couple, handful, scatter, scattering, smatter, smattering, sprinkle, sprinkling

Related Words
minority; atom, crumb, fragment, grain, iota, jot, modicum, molecule, particle, scrap, shred, tittle, whit

Near Antonyms
majority, most; abundance, excess, plenty, surplus; deal, gobs, heap, lot, mass, much, peck, pile, plenitude, plenty, pot, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, slather, slew, stack, wad, wealth

Antonyms
army, crowd, flock, gazillion, horde, host, jillion, kazillion, legion, loads, many, mountain, multitude, oodles, scads, thousands, zillion

fewest adjective
being the least in amount, number, or size possible <the gymnast won the gold medal only because he made the fewest mistakes> — see MINIMAL

fiancé noun
the person to whom one is engaged to be married <couldn't wait to show off her fiancé to all of her relatives> — see BETROTHED

fiancée noun
the person to whom one is engaged to be married <his fiancée is insisting on an elaborate wedding> — see BETROTHED

fiasco noun
something that has failed <undaunted by his early fiascoes, he continued his experiments in rocketry> — see FAILURE 3

fiat noun
an order publicly issued by an authority <the school principal issued a fiat that caps were not to be worn inside the school, and that was that> — see EDICT 1

fib noun
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive <the claim that everyday living would be impossible without at least a few innocent fibs> — see LIE

1fib verb
to make a statement one knows to be untrue <fibbed and said that he had remembered to water her plants while she was away> — see 1LIE

2fib verb, British
to strike repeatedly <the two drunken pub crawlers proceeded to fib each other senseless> — see BEAT 1

fibber noun
a person who tells lies <research that shows that children learn to become fibbers at a remarkably early age> — see LIAR

fiber noun
1 the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship <a person of lesser fiber would not have spoken out against such an injustice> — see FORTITUDE
2 a thin, flexible structure that resembles a hair <the fibers found on the victim's body came from a carpet in the suspect's home> — see HAIR 2

fibrous adjective
resembling or having the texture of a mass of strings <thick, fibrous hair that was not easy to comb> — see STRINGY

fickle adjective
1 likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <a fickle friendship that was on and off over the years>

Synonyms
capricious, changeable, changeful, flickery, fluctuating, fluid, inconsistent, inconstant, mercurial, mutable, skittish, temperamental, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, variable, volatile

Related Words
aimless, arbitrary, desultory, erratic, haphazard, hit-or-miss, irregular, random, scattered, slapdash, stray; ambivalent, hesitating, shaky, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, vacillating, wavering; dicey, undependable, unreliable, untrustworthy; adaptable, mobile, protean, versatile

Phrases
up in the air

Near Antonyms
equable, even, uniform; abiding, durable, lasting, permanent, persistent; dependable, reliable, sure, tried, tried-and-true, true, trustworthy, trusty

Antonyms
certain, changeless, constant, immutable, invariable, predictable, settled, stable, stationary, steady, unchangeable, unchanging, unvarying

2 not true in one's allegiance to someone or something <when the family's fortune disappeared, so did their fickle friends> — see FAITHLESS

fiction noun
something that is the product of the imagination <most stories about famous outlaws of the Old West are fictions that have little or nothing to do with fact>

Synonyms
fable, fabrication, fantasy (also phantasy), figment, invention

Related Words
anecdote, narrative, novel, story, tale, yarn; fairy tale, falsehood, falsity, fib, lie, mendacity, misrepresentation, prevarication, untruth, whopper; make-believe

Near Antonyms
actuality, realness

Antonyms
fact, materiality, reality

fictional adjective
not real and existing only in the imagination <the events in the horror movie seemed so real to some fans that they could not believe that the whole thing was fictional> — see IMAGINARY

fictitious adjective
not real and existing only in the imagination <his wartime exploits turned out to be entirely fictitious, as he had never even been in the military> — see IMAGINARY

fiddle noun
1 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <oh, fiddle! I've heard that excuse a thousand times before> — see NONSENSE 1
2 chiefly British an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <the e-mail was another one of those fiddles from some supposed Nigerian millionaire seeking to transfer funds out of his country> — see FRAUD 1

fiddle verb
1 to make jerky or restless movements <the executive fiddled with a pen as she impatiently waited for the meeting to begin> — see FIDGET
2 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <conscienceless grifters who had spent their lives fiddling the naive> — see FLEECE

fiddle (around) verb
to spend time in aimless activity <we spent the snow day just fiddling around>

Synonyms
doodle, fool around, fribble, goof (around), hang about [British], kick around, mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

Related Words
dally, dawdle, dillydally, hang (around or out), idle, loaf, loll, lounge; clown (around), horse around; diddle (with), tinker

Near Antonyms
buckle (down), knuckle down, set (to), settle (down)

fiddle (with) verb
to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously <I could tell that someone had been fiddling with the carefully set controls on my entertainment system> — see TAMPER WITH

fiddle away verb
to use up carelessly <fiddled away the entire evening surfing the Internet> — see WASTE 1

fiddle–faddle noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <a grandmother who routinely pooh-poohed the advice of the so-called experts in child care as so much fiddle-faddle> — see NONSENSE 1

fiddle–footed adjective
easily excited by nature <although fiddle-footed now, the kitten should settle down once it adjusts to its new home> — see EXCITABLE

fiddlesticks plural noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <some people have one word for the game of golf: fiddlesticks!> — see NONSENSE 1

fiddling adjective
lacking importance <you should delegate these fiddling matters to your staff so that you can focus on more important issues> — see UNIMPORTANT

fidelity noun
adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <they have never wavered in their fidelity to the cause of freedom>

Synonyms
adhesion, allegiance, attachment, commitment, constancy, dedication, devotedness, devotion, faith, faithfulness, fastness, fealty, loyalty, piety, steadfastness, troth

Related Words
affection, fondness; determination, firmness, resolution; dependability, reliability, trustability, trustiness, trustworthiness

Near Antonyms
alienation, disaffection, estrangement, separation

Antonyms
disloyalty, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, inconstancy, infidelity, perfidiousness, perfidy, treachery, unfaithfulness

fidget verb
to make jerky or restless movements <small children are likely to fidget in church>

Synonyms
fiddle, jerk, jig, jiggle, squiggle, squirm, thrash, thresh, toss, twist, twitch, wiggle, wriggle, writhe

Related Words
flit, flutter, twitter; quake, quiver, shake, shiver, shudder, tremble; pace

Near Antonyms
relax, rest, unwind; calm (down), still

fidgetiness noun
a state of nervousness marked by sudden jerky movements <she couldn't stay still before her speech, and by her fidgetiness you could tell that she absolutely dreads speaking in public> — see JUMPINESS

fidgets plural noun
a state of nervousness marked by sudden jerky movements <one dental patient in the waiting room had a bad case of the fidgets> — see JUMPINESS

fidgety adjective
making jerky or restless movements <I get too fidgety to sit after a few minutes in a waiting room>

Synonyms
antsy, squirmy, twitchy, wiggly, wriggly

Related Words
aflutter, fluttery, twittery; quaking, quivering, shaking, shivering, shivery, shuddering, trembling; anxious, dithery, edgy, het up, hung up, jittery, jumpy, nervous, nervy, perturbed, restive, tense, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, uptight, worried

Near Antonyms
calm, collected, cool, easy, relaxed

Antonyms
motionless, still

fie interjection
1 how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable <fie! you expect me to believe that sorry excuse?> — see NO
2 used to express disgust <fie on anyone who disagrees!> — see YUCK

fief noun
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <the logistics of the relief effort is the director's fief> — see FIELD 2

fiefdom noun
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <you'll have to ask that guy—the project is his fiefdom> — see FIELD 2

field noun
1 a small area of usually open land <a field that is the frequent site of neighborhood softball games>

Synonyms
clearing, ground, lot, parcel, plat, plot, tract

Related Words
common(s), croft [chiefly British]; grass, green, greensward, lawn; glade, grassland, heath, heathland, lea (or ley), meadow, moor, pasture, pastureland

2 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <the first woman to enter the field of medicine>

Synonyms
area, arena, bailiwick, barony, business, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, firmament, front, game, kingdom, line, precinct, province, realm, specialty, sphere, terrain, walk

Related Words
frontier; study, subject; territory, turf; occupation, profession, pursuit, racket, vocation; ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, confine, dimension(s), extent, ken, reach, scope, sweep, width; subfield, subspecialty

3 a part or portion having no fixed boundaries <if you set your camera lens to small aperture, the field of sharp focus will be quite large> — see REGION 1
4 a place where a battle takes place <the field where two mighty armies met and changed the course of history> — see BATTLEFIELD
5 a place from which aircraft operate that usually has paved runways and a terminal <Worsham Field in Corpus Christi used to be home to a sizable crop dusting operation> — see AIRPORT
6 a wide space or area <the cemetery's field of crosses for the war's fallen seemed to stretch to infinity> — see EXPANSE
7 active fighting during the course of a war <in the classroom the general had been a brilliant theoretician, but in the field he proved to be a wholly incompetent tactician> — see COMBAT 1

field verb
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <gave the waitress a large tip because she kept smiling as she fielded their many requests> — see HANDLE 1

fiend noun
1 a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <even the utter horror of the terrorist attack did not deter some fiends from going on a looting spree> — see VILLAIN
2 a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally <the miserable, wasted lives of narcotic fiends> — see DOPER
3 a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <comic-book fiends seem to have their own little world> — see FAN
4 an evil spirit <the legend that a fiend continues to haunt what was once the castle's torture chamber> — see DEMON 1
5 the supreme personification of evil often represented as the ruler of hell <he swore that not even the fiend could tempt him to eat that dessert> — see DEVIL 1
6 a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <our in-house computer fiend fixed the problem in no time> — see EXPERT

fiendish adjective
1 of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit <a fiendish delight in playing cruel tricks>

Synonyms
cacodemonic, demoniac (also demoniacal), demonian, demonic (also demonical), devilish, diabolical (or diabolic), Luciferian, satanic

Related Words
hellish, infernal; baleful, evil, sinister; malevolent, malicious, malignant; heinous, monstrous; black, immoral, iniquitous, nefarious, vicious, vile, villainous, wicked; barbarous, cruel, ferocious, inhuman, savage

Near Antonyms
celestial, heavenly; beneficent, benevolent, benign, benignant; godly, holy, sainted, saintly; ethical, good, moral, righteous, virtuous

Antonyms
angelic (or angelical)

2 having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <shook with fiendish laughter as he watched his victims writhe in agony> — see CRUEL 1

fiendishness noun
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <the unconscionable fiendishness of the acts committed by terrorists> — see CRUELTY

fierce adjective
1 violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition <the Vikings had a well-earned reputation for being fierce warriors>

Synonyms
fell, ferocious, grim, savage, vicious

Related Words
argumentative, assaultive, bellicose, belligerent, brawly, chippy, combative, confrontational, discordant, disputatious, feisty, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, scrappy, warlike; bare-knuckle (also bare-knuckled or bare-knuckles), blood-and-guts, in-your-face, take-no-prisoners; contentious, quarrelsome, truculent; menacing, threatening; bestial, brute, inhuman, inhumane; barbaric, uncivilized, wild; heartless, implacable, merciless, pitiless, relentless, ruthless, unrelenting, wanton; bloodthirsty, bloody, homicidal, murdering, murderous, sanguinary, sanguine; rapacious, ravenous, voracious

Near Antonyms
amicable, companionable, comradely, congenial, cordial, friendly, genial, hearty, warm, warmhearted; compliant, submissive, tame; benign, compassionate, kind, merciful; pacific, peaceable, peaceful; amiable, complaisant, obliging; human, humane; civilized, cultured

Antonyms
gentle, mild, unaggressive

2 extreme in degree, power, or effect <a fierce wind made the frigid temperatures seem even worse> — see INTENSE 1
3 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <the fierce faces of the players on the opposing hockey team> — see GRIM 1
4 having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal <a social reformer of fierce and fearless determination> — see AGGRESSIVE 1
5 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <fierce fighting raged in the streets of the war-torn city> — see VIOLENT 1
6 marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity <fierce early-morning trading sent stocks soaring> — see FURIOUS 1

fiercely adverb
to a great degree <fiercely hot weather> — see VERY 1

fierceness noun
the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression) <the fierceness of her denial prompted many people to wonder if maybe she was innocent after all> — see VEHEMENCE 1

fiery adjective
1 being on fire <the fiery Yule log made a splendid backdrop for our holiday party> — see ABLAZE 1
2 having a notably high temperature <the long, dangerous trek across the fiery desert> — see HOT 1
3 having or expressing great depth of feeling <the fiery preacher held the members of the revival meeting spellbound> — see FERVENT 1
4 marked by a lively display of strong feeling <the controversial editorial sparked a page's worth of fiery letters to the editor> — see SPIRITED 1
5 capable of catching or being set on fire <with a fiery vapor like that, the lighting of a single match could cause an explosion> — see COMBUSTIBLE
6 easily irritated or annoyed <since the governor was known for his fiery temper, naturally his aides always shielded him from bad news> — see IRRITABLE

fiesta noun
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something <the city's Latinos have a series of fiestas throughout the summer> — see FESTIVAL

fig noun
the smallest amount or part imaginable <they choose to live modestly and don't seem to give a fig for the trappings of success> — see JOT

fight noun
1 a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <a troubled youth who got into one fight after another>

Synonyms
battle, clash, combat, conflict, contest, dustup, fracas, fray, hassle, scrap, scrimmage, scrum, scuffle, skirmish, struggle, tussle

Related Words
pitched battle, rough-and-tumble; affray [chiefly British], battle royal, brawl, broil, donnybrook, free-for-all, melee (also mêlée), mix-up, ruckus, ruction; blows, fistfight, fisticuffs, grapple, handgrips, punch-out, punch-up [chiefly British], slugfest; confrontation, duel, face-off, joust; altercation, argle-bargle [chiefly British], argument, argy-bargy [chiefly British], contretemps, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, falling-out, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, row, spat, squabble, tangle, tiff, wrangle; catfight

Near Antonyms
truce

2 a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective <the mayoral candidate pledged to lead a successful fight to improve the city's schools> — see STRUGGLE 1
3 an inclination to fight or quarrel <a tough, streetwise kid with a lot of fight in him> — see BELLIGERENCE
4 an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <the couple have their share of fights, but they quickly get over them> — see ARGUMENT 1

fight verb
1 to oppose (someone) in physical conflict <a proud people who have fiercely fought all invaders of their homeland>

Synonyms
battle, clash (with), combat, scrimmage (with), skirmish (with), war (against)

Related Words
duel, joust; bang, bash, bat, batter, beat, belt, bludgeon, bop, buffet, clobber, hammer, hit, knock, paste, pound, punch, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale; box, spar; brawl; grapple, scuffle, tussle, wrestle; bump, collide

Near Antonyms
give up, submit, surrender

2 to strive to reduce or eliminate <a civil rights leader who dedicated his life to fighting prejudice>

Synonyms
battle, combat, contend (with), counter, oppose, oppugn

Related Words
baffle, checkmate, foil, frustrate, resist, thwart, withstand; confront, defy, face, meet

Near Antonyms
abide, bear, endure, suffer; advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), support, uphold

Antonyms
advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote

3 to engage in a contest <everyone on that street seems to be fighting to see who can create the gaudiest holiday lighting display> — see COMPETE
4 to express different opinions about something often angrily <if you kids continue to fight, I'm turning this car around and we're heading back home!> — see ARGUE 2
5 to refuse to give in to <I tried to fight the temptation to eat another cookie—and lost> — see RESIST

fighter noun
1 a person engaged in military service <the debate whether more fighters are needed to bring order to that war-torn country> — see SOLDIER
2 one that engages in the sport of fighting with the fists <a program at the community center for training local youths as fighters> — see BOXER
3 a person who takes part in a dispute <kept the two fighters apart until they had calmed down and could talk sensibly> — see DISPUTANT

figment noun
1 a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality <unable to find any tracks in the snow the next morning, I was forced to conclude that the shadowy figure had been a figment of my imagination> — see FANTASY 1
2 something that is the product of the imagination <thus far, the invisible human being has been nothing more than a figment of fantasy writers> — see FICTION

figural adjective
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another <“a candidate running for office” is just a figural expression> — see FIGURATIVE

figurative adjective
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another <the figurative use of “allergy” to mean “a feeling of dislike”>

Synonyms
extended, figural, metaphoric (or metaphorical), tropical, tropological

Related Words
Aesopian (also Aesopic), allegorical, emblematic (also emblematical), symbolic (also symbolical); catachrestic (or catachrestical), sylleptic; euphemistic; nonliteral, veritable

Near Antonyms
literal; nonsymbolic

Antonyms
nonfigurative, nonmetaphorical

figure noun
1 a character used to represent a mathematical value <no doubt the figures on the price tags at the jewelry store are so small because the zeroes are so many> — see NUMBER 1
2 a line that traces the outer limits of an object or surface <we could gradually see the figure of a ship coming our way through the fog> — see OUTLINE 1
3 a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <figures from the worlds of sport and entertainment will be guests at the White House dinner> — see CELEBRITY 1
4 a small statue <painted wooden figures by untrained artists can be quite valuable on today's antiques market> — see FIGURINE
5 a three-dimensional representation of the human body used especially for displaying clothes <the museum features a collection of figures strikingly attired in suits of medieval armor> — see MANNEQUIN 1
6 a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric) <upholstered the chair with a fabric embossed with figures of fleur-de-lis> — see PATTERN 1
7 something that visually explains or decorates a text <the layout editor could have done a better job of getting the figures on the same page as the specific portion of text that they are intended to illustrate> — see ILLUSTRATION 1
8 the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something <a number of the paintings at the auction sold at figures far higher than had been estimated> — see PRICE 1
9 the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance <the ice sculpture at the banquet was in the figure of an eagle spreading its wings> — see FORM 1
10 the type of body that a person has <Martha has such a slender figure that just about anything looks good on her> — see PHYSIQUE
11 figures plural the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value <a person with a good head for figures> — see CALCULATION
12 the outward form of someone or something especially as indicative of a quality <unshaven and dirty, he presents a sorry figure> — see APPEARANCE 1

figure verb
1 to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration <we figured that we had better arrive early at the concert in order to get good seats> — see DECIDE 1
2 to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement <let's figure the juice in the pan to be about a cup and just add it to the mix> — see ESTIMATE 2
3 to determine (a value) by doing the necessary mathematical operations <the car dealer figured that our monthly car payment would be $357> — see CALCULATE 1
4 to have as an opinion <the father figures that girls should have the same athletic opportunities as boys and supports his daughter's interest in soccer> — see BELIEVE 2

figure out verb
to find an answer for through reasoning <a book of brainteasers that even a really clever person won't have an easy time figuring out> — see SOLVE

figurine noun
a small statue <his collection of figurines includes toy soldiers from every war that America has fought>

Synonyms
figure, statuette

Related Words
doll, dolly, hand puppet, marionette, puppet; bust, figurehead; carving, model, sculpture; dummy, form, manikin (also mannikin), mannequin

Antonyms
colossus

figuring noun
the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value <the figuring of the cost of the car repair was rushed, and so it bears little resemblance to the actual result> — see CALCULATION

filament noun
a thin, flexible structure that resembles a hair <the cable was made up of fine filaments twisted together> — see HAIR 2

filch verb
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <too hungry to wait until the party had started, he filched a cookie from the buffet table when no one was looking> — see STEAL 1

file noun
a series of persons or things arranged one behind another <a long file of people waiting to get tickets to the game> — see LINE 1

1file verb
to make smooth by friction <beautifully filed nails that obviously had been done by a manicurist> — see GRIND 1

2file verb
to move along with a steady regular step especially in a group <to the strains of that familiar music, this year's graduating class filed into the auditorium> — see MARCH 1

fill noun
soft material that is used to fill the hollow parts of something <we ripped the tag off years ago, so we have no idea what the fill in that pillow is> — see FILLING

fill verb
1 to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained <fill the basket with apples>

Synonyms
brim, charge, cram, heap, jam, jam-pack, load, pack, stuff

Related Words
drench, flood, glut, swamp; bloat, bulk; crowd, crush, mat, press, ram, shove, squash, squeeze; refill, refresh, reload, repack, replenish; overcharge, overfill, overflow, saturate; honeycomb, penetrate

Near Antonyms
lighten; deplete, drain, eliminate, exhaust; bleed, draw (off); clean, flush, purge, scour, sweep

Antonyms
clear, empty, evacuate, vacate, void

2 to close up so that no empty spaces remain <before starting to paint, fill all the cracks with putty>

Synonyms
block, bung, dam, pack, plug, stop, stuff

Related Words
choke, clog, close (off), clot, congest, jam, obstruct, occlude; caulk, chink, seal; repack, restuff

Near Antonyms
excavate, hollow (out), scoop (out), shovel

3 to do what is required by the terms of <orders received by this date will be filled in time for Christmas delivery of the merchandise> — see FULFILL 1

filled adjective
containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible <filled baskets of every variety of apple were available at the farmers' market> — see FULL 1

filler noun
soft material that is used to fill the hollow parts of something <the vase was packed in Styrofoam filler to protect it during shipping> — see FILLING

fill–in noun
a person or thing that takes the place of another <I'm just a fill-in, so I have no idea where office supplies are kept> — see SUBSTITUTE

fill in verb
1 to give information to <my friend quickly filled me in on the portion of the movie that I had missed> — see ENLIGHTEN 1
2 to serve as a replacement usually for a time only <she's only filling in while the regular secretary is on vacation> — see COVER 1

filling noun
soft material that is used to fill the hollow parts of something <the filling for the parka is goose down>

Synonyms
fill, filler, padding, stuffing, wadding

Related Words
packing; interlining, lining, quilting; buffer, bumper, cushion, fender, pad

fillip noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <gave him a sharp fillip on the noggin with her teakettle> — see 1BLOW

fillip verb
to give life, vigor, or spirit to <used a splash of orange-flavored liqueur to fillip the otherwise ordinary cranberry sauce> — see ANIMATE

filly noun
a female person who has not yet reached adulthood <she's still a filly, so she has plenty of time to decide what she wants to do in life> — see GIRL 2

film noun
1 a story told by means of a series of continuously projected pictures and a sound track <watched a film on the Hopi Indians at the multicultural center> — see MOVIE 1
2 the art or business of making a movie <learned about some of the special-effects techniques used in film> — see MOVIE 2

filmdom noun
the art or business of making a movie <that will go down in the annals of filmdom as the worst movie ever> — see MOVIE 2

filmland noun
the art or business of making a movie <a master director who is one of the most revered figures of filmland> — see MOVIE 2

filmmaking noun
the art or business of making a movie <plans to attend New York University to learn filmmaking> — see MOVIE 2

filmy adjective
1 being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance <filmy cobwebs covering the entryway to the cellar> — see FLIMSY 1
2 very thin and easy to see through <those filmy curtains don't block out enough light> — see SHEER 1

filter verb
1 to pass through a filter <steep the tea and then filter it to get rid of the leaves> — see STRAIN 2
2 to remove usually visible impurities from <after frying the chicken, we filtered the oil and kept it in the refrigerator to use again> — see CLARIFY 1

filth noun
1 foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something <the filth in the restaurant's kitchen was unbelievable>

Synonyms
crud, dirt, grime, gunk, muck, smut, soil

Related Words
scum, sewage, sewerage, slime, sludge, swill; dross, dust [British], garbage, junk, litter, refuse, rubbish, scrap, trash, waste; crock [dialect], soot; dinginess, dirtiness, dustiness, filthiness, foulness, griminess, grubbiness, nastiness, squalidness, uncleanliness, uncleanness

Near Antonyms
cleanliness, cleanness

2 the quality or state of being obscene <films full of filth and violence> — see OBSCENITY 1

filthiness noun
1 the quality or state of being obscene <the book was banned primarily because of the filthiness of the language> — see OBSCENITY 1
2 the state or quality of being dirty <the appalling filthiness of the oven in the vacated apartment> — see DIRTINESS 1

filthy adjective
1 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <you simply cannot use such filthy language on the public airwaves> — see OBSCENE 1
2 not clean <you can't go to the concert unless you clean this filthy room first> — see DIRTY 1

filthy adverb
to a great degree <grew up filthy poor and hated every minute of it> — see VERY 1

finagle verb
1 to plan out usually with subtle skill or care <let me look at my schedule and see if I can't finagle a visit to the museum> — see ENGINEER
2 to use dishonest methods to achieve a goal <she'll finagle until she gets exactly what she wants> — see CHEAT 1

finagler noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <financial finaglers who were suspected of insider trading> — see TRICKSTER 1

final adjective
1 following all others of the same kind in order or time <this will be my final order> — see LAST 1
2 having been established and usually not subject to change <the wedding date is final> — see FIXED 1

finale noun
the last part of a process or action <the finale to the festivities was a grand display of fireworks>

Synonyms
capper, close, closing, conclusion, consummation, end, endgame, ending, finis, finish, grand finale, home stretch, mop-up, windup, wrap-up

Related Words
acme, apex, capstone, climax, copestone, coup de grâce (or coup de grace), crescendo, crown, culmination, high-water mark, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, tip-top, top, zenith; aftermath, anticlimax, coda, epilogue (also epilog), postscript; shank, tag end, tail end

Near Antonyms
foreword, introduction, overture, preamble, preface, prelude, prologue (also prolog)

Antonyms
baseline, beginning, dawn, day one, nascence, nascency, opening, start

finalize verb
1 to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done <we're still finalizing our travel plans but hope to have them done by the end of the week> — see FINISH 1
2 to give official acceptance of as satisfactory <the bank won't finalize the loan before Tuesday because of the holiday> — see APPROVE

finally adverb
at a later time <we're making steady progress and may finally finish this project> — see YET 1

finance verb
1 to provide money for <a local business kindly financed the high school band's trip to New York City>

Synonyms
bankroll, capitalize, endow, fund, stake, subsidize, underwrite

Related Words
grubstake; cofinance, refinance; advocate, aid, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize, sponsor, support; maintain, nourish, provide (for); clear, defray, discharge, foot, liquidate, pay, pay off, pay up, quit, recompense, settle, spring (for), stand; refund

Antonyms
defund

2 to furnish (as an institution) with a regular source of income <established a fund to finance a visiting lecturer position at the local college> — see ENDOW 2

finances plural noun
available money <will have to take a look at our finances to see if we can afford it> — see FUND 2

financial adjective
of or relating to money, banking, or investments <the financial world was watching the stock market closely>

Synonyms
dollars-and-cents, fiscal, monetary, pecuniary, pocket

Related Words
capitalist (or capitalistic), commercial, economic

Antonyms
nonfinancial

find noun
something discovered <that antique plate was a great garage sale find> — see DISCOVERY 2

find verb
1 to come upon after searching, study, or effort <we finally found the information after searching dozens of Internet sites>

Synonyms
ascertain, descry, detect, determine, dig out, dig up, discover, dredge (up), ferret (out), find out, get, hit (on or upon), hunt (down or up), learn, locate, nose out, root (out), rout (out), rummage, run down, scare up, scout (up), track (down), turn up

Related Words
espy, sight, spot; look for, search (for or out), seek

Near Antonyms
lose, mislay, misplace, misset

Antonyms
miss, overlook, pass over

2 to come upon unexpectedly or by chance <hey, I found my notebook!> — see HAPPEN ON OR UPON

finding noun
1 a decision made by a court or tribunal regarding a case it has heard <the Supreme Court's finding was that the state law was unconstitutional> — see SENTENCE
2 the act or process of sighting or learning the existence of something for the first time <the scientists were thrilled with the finding of the new fossil> — see DISCOVERY 1

find out verb
1 to come to an awareness of <that was around the time that I found out I was adopted> — see DISCOVER 1
2 to come upon after searching, study, or effort <found out where she lived by checking the phone book> — see FIND 1

fine adverb
in a satisfactory way <you did just fine on the stress test> — see WELL 1

fine adjective
1 consisting of very small particles <the fine sand found on the island's beaches>

Synonyms
dusty, floury, powdery

Related Words
smooth; filtered, pulverized, refined; superfine, ultrafine

Near Antonyms
rough; unfiltered, unrefined; gravelly, gritty, sandy; pebbly, rocky, stony (also stoney); lumpy, mealy

Antonyms
coarse, grainy, granular, granulated

2 made or done with extreme care and accuracy <the fine distinction between bravery and recklessness>

Synonyms
delicate, exact, finespun, hairline, hairsplitting, minute, nice, nuanced, refined, subtle

Related Words
nitpicking, quibbling; frivolous, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, negligible, petty, piddling, trifling, trivial; demanding, exacting, fastidious, finical, finicking, finicky, fussy, meticulous, particular, picky

Near Antonyms
apparent, clear, clear-cut, evident, manifest, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, patent, perspicuous, plain, transparent, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable; broad, indefinite; careless, heedless, incautious, slapdash, slipshod, sloppy

Antonyms
coarse, inexact, rough

3 being of less than usual width <use a fine line for the outline of the facial features you intend to carve into the pumpkin> — see NARROW 1
4 being to one's liking <that arrangement is fine with me> — see SATISFACTORY 1
5 free from added matter <that silver is .9600 fine> — see PURE 1
6 meeting the highest standard of accuracy <making the final fine adjustments on the car's GPS> — see PRECISE 1
7 of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards <the wine steward declared that the complaint of corkiness was unjustified and that the wine was fine> — see ADEQUATE
8 of a size that is less than average <read the fine print> — see SMALL 1
9 of the very best kind <a fine performance of a classic ballet> — see EXCELLENT
10 having qualities that appeal to a refined taste <savored every morsel of the restaurant's fine cuisine> — see CHOICE 1
11 able to sense slight impressions or differences <hearing so fine that it can seemingly hear the tiniest twig snap> — see ACUTE 1
12 having or showing elegance <a fine old structure in the city's historic district> — see ELEGANT 1

fine noun
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment <a $50 fine for speeding>

Synonyms
damages, forfeit, forfeiture, mulct, penalty

Related Words
reparations; assessment, award, compensation; indemnity

1fine verb
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty <the police will fine you for driving with one headlight out> — see IMPOSE

2fine verb
to remove usually visible impurities from <the use of egg shells to fine wine> — see CLARIFY 1

fineness noun
1 the quality or state of being little in size <the fineness of the grains of sand enhances the appeal of the beach> — see SMALLNESS 1
2 the quality or state of being very accurate <the fineness of the telescope's lens and mirror> — see PRECISION
3 the state or quality of having a delicate structure <the fineness of the cat's bones> — see DELICACY 2
4 dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style <there's a fineness to the jewelry designs of Fabergé that elevates them to the level of decorative art> — see ELEGANCE

finery noun
dressy clothing <the guests arrived at the wedding in all their finery>

Synonyms
array, best, bravery, caparison, feather, frippery, full dress, gaiety (also gayety), glad rags, regalia

Related Words
apparel, attire, costume, duds, habiliment(s), rags, raiment, rig, rigging, threads, toggery, togs, vestiary, vesture, wear

Phrases
best bib and tucker

Near Antonyms
tatters; disarray, dishabille

finespun adjective
made or done with extreme care and accuracy <a finespun analysis of what makes an everyday occurrence funny> — see FINE 2

finesse noun
mental skill or quickness <maneuvered his opponent into checkmate with his customary finesse> — see DEXTERITY 1

finesse verb
1 to plan out usually with subtle skill or care <had to finesse the schedule a bit to fit in another patient that afternoon> — see ENGINEER
2 to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery <tried to finesse the blame for the foreign policy fiasco, even though he was secretary of state at the time> — see ESCAPE 2

finest noun
a body of officers of the law <proud to be a member of New York's finest> — see POLICE 2

finger verb
to find out or establish the identity of <thus far authorities haven't been able to finger the person who's been lighting fires around town> — see IDENTIFY 1

fingerprint noun
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <regards a sense of permanence as one of the fingerprints of a civilized society> — see CHARACTERISTIC

finical adjective
hard to please <a newspaper who's old-fashionedly finical about proper grammar> — see FINICKY

finicking adjective
hard to please <finicking drinkers will find the bar's trendy cocktails far too sweet> — see FINICKY

finicky adjective
hard to please <cats have a reputation for being finicky eaters>

Synonyms
choosy (or choosey), dainty, delicate, demanding, exacting, fastidious, finical, finicking, fussbudgety, fussy, nice, old-maidish, particular, pernickety [chiefly British], persnickety, picky

Related Words
hyperfastidious, overdemanding, ultrafastidious; discerning, discriminating, selective; insightful, knowledgeable; captious, carping, caviling (or cavilling), critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, overcritical; careful, meticulous, painstaking, punctilious, scrupulous; queasy (also queazy), squeamish; peevish, petulant, prickly, touchy; niminy-piminy, prim, prissy

Near Antonyms
affable, breezy, carefree, devil-may-care, happy-go-lucky, lackadaisical, laid-back, low-pressure, relaxed; flexible, lax, loose; lenient, permissive; uncritical; indiscriminating, undiscriminating

Antonyms
undemanding, unfastidious, unfussy

finis noun
the last part of a process or action <if the two countries keep up their arms race, the inevitable finis to their rivalry will be their mutual destruction> — see FINALE

finish noun
1 the last part of a process or action <a pie-eating contest is the fair's traditional finish> — see FINALE
2 the stopping of a process or activity <an all-out fight right to the finish> — see END 1

finish verb
1 to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done <we should finish the painting of the house by tomorrow>

Synonyms
complete, consummate, finalize, perfect, polish

Related Words
follow through (with), stick out; accomplish, achieve, effect; carry out, carry through, discharge, do, execute, fulfill (or fulfil), perform; ameliorate, amend, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate; machine, refine, round (off or out), shine, touch up

Phrases
get through

Near Antonyms
abandon, desert, discontinue, drop, forsake, quit

2 to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point <we'll finish the concert before dark> — see CLOSE 3
3 to come to an end <the three-day race finished yesterday> — see CEASE 1

finished adjective
1 brought or having come to an end <the frosting isn't finished until you've added all of the decorative roses> — see COMPLETE 2
2 facing certain defeat, disaster, or death <since there was no way it could possibly make up the scoring deficit, the team knew that it was finished> — see DONE FOR

finite adjective
1 having a limit <our nation's natural resources are abundant, but they are also finite>

Synonyms
limited

Related Words
circumscribed, confined, restricted; definable, defined, definite, determinate, discrete; decided, established, fixed, set; exact, precise, specific; fathomable, measurable, mensurable, numerable

Near Antonyms
unconfined, unrestricted; immeasurable, indefinite, indeterminate, measureless, undefinable, undefined, unfathomable

Antonyms
boundless, endless, illimitable, infinite, limitless, unbounded, unlimited

2 having distinct or certain limits <we have a finite number of options to consider> — see LIMITED 1

fink noun
1 a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <his own brother turned out to be the fink who ratted them out to the police> — see INFORMER
2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <that fink would sell out every one of us to save her own behind> — see JERK 1

fink verb
to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities <we never would have been caught if he hadn't finked on us> — see SQUEAL 1

fink out verb
to break a promise or agreement <I can't believe you'd fink out on me and leave me to go to the party alone!> — see RENEGE 1

fire noun
1 a destructive burning <a number of suspicious fires in the neighborhood recently>

Synonyms
conflagration, holocaust, inferno

Related Words
blaze, flare-up; backfire, bonfire, brush fire, campfire, forest fire, wildfire; arson

2 depth of feeling <had she the fire in her heart that a run for the White House requires?> — see ARDOR 1
3 a test of faith, patience, or strength <asked to be sent to the front lines, as he was eager to prove himself in the fire of battle> — see TRIAL 1

fire verb
1 to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force <police officers firing rubber bullets> — see SHOOT 1
2 to cause a weapon to release a missile with great force <soldiers fired at the enemy in panic-stricken disorder> — see SHOOT 2
3 to give life, vigor, or spirit to <a school outing to the natural history museum fired his imagination, and he grew up to become an eminent paleontologist> — see ANIMATE
4 to let go from office, service, or employment <fired the secretary for incompetence> — see DISMISS 1
5 to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <fired a pass to the running back> — see THROW 1
6 to set (something) on fire <lit some kindling before attempting to fire the logs> — see BURN 2

fire (up) verb
to rouse to strong feeling or action <the dynamic speaker fired up the audience as no one had previously done> — see PROVOKE 1

firearm noun
a portable weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder <will need a permit to carry a firearm> — see GUN 1

fireball noun
a very energetic person <what this club needs is a fireball who will bring some sorely needed energy and enthusiasm> — see PISTOL

firebrand noun
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent <a firebrand who urged crowds to riot during the blackouts> — see AGITATOR

fire–breather noun
an aggressive and fiercely determined person <the only hope for turning around that failing company would be a CEO who's a real fire-breather> — see PIT BULL

firebug noun
a person who deliberately and unlawfully sets fire to a building or other property <after the second suspicious fire, police set a trap for the firebug> — see ARSONIST

fire–eater noun
an aggressive and fiercely determined person <if you want to make it in Hollywood, you'll need a fire-eater for an agent> — see PIT BULL

firepower noun
the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task <right now the President doesn't have the political firepower to push his programs through Congress> — see POWER 2

fireproof adjective
incapable of being burned <remember to store valuable papers in a fireproof box> — see INCOMBUSTIBLE

fireside noun
the place where one lives <couldn't wait to get off the plane and back to his comfortable fireside> — see HOME 1

firestorm noun
variance of opinion on a matter <a seemingly endless firestorm was ignited by that U.S. Supreme Court decision> — see DISAGREEMENT 1

firewater noun
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <the bartender recommended a drink made with the local firewater, a potent gin> — see ALCOHOL

fireworks plural noun
1 an outburst or display of excited anger <can we have a calm, rational discussion without the usual fireworks?> — see TANTRUM
2 a spectacular display or performance of artistic or technical skill <the theatrical fireworks generated by two great stars of the stage> — see ACROBATICS

firing noun
a directed propelling of a missile by a firearm or artillery piece <found a flaw in the gun's firing> — see SHOT

firkin noun
an enclosed wooden vessel for holding beverages <the innkeeper opened up a firkin of his special ale for the weary travelers> — see CASK

firm noun
a commercial or industrial activity or organization <merged with another firm to become a major player in the brokerage business> — see ENTERPRISE 1

firm adjective
1 not showing weakness or uncertainty <a friendly fellow with a ready smile and a firm handshake>

Synonyms
forceful, hearty, iron, lusty, robust, solid, stout, strong, sturdy, vigorous

Related Words
hard, ironclad, mighty, powerful, tough, unyielding; animated, brisk, energetic, frisky, jaunty, jazzy, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy; assured, certain, confident, sanguine, secure, sure

Near Antonyms
feeble, fragile, frail; limp, listless, spiritless; diffident, insecure, self-doubting; characterless, effete, frail, spineless, weakened, weak-kneed, wimpy, wishy-washy

Antonyms
uncertain, weak

2 having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure <cold butter that was too firm to spread>

Synonyms
compact, hard, rigid, solid, stiff, unyielding

Related Words
case-hardened, compacted, compressed, hardened, indurated, stiffened, tempered; close, dense, heavy, thick, thickset; inelastic, inflexible, ramrod, unbending; compressed, condensed; adamantine, rocklike; sturdy, substantial; impenetrable, impermeable, nonporous

Near Antonyms
loose, scattered, thin; bendable, elastic, flexible, malleable, pliable, pliant, supple; droopy, flaccid, floppy, lank, limp, slack; airy, light; permeable, porous; ultrasoft

Antonyms
flabby, soft, spongy, squashy, squishy

3 firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge <was firm in the saddle during the canter> — see TIGHT 2
4 fully committed to achieving a goal <asked him to reconsider, but he was firm in his commitment to the project> — see DETERMINED 1
5 having been established and usually not subject to change <the selling price of the house is firm, so there'll be no dickering> — see FIXED 1
6 marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion <built on a firm foundation, so the house hasn't settled> — see STABLE 1
7 based on sound reasoning or information <that assassination theory is far from firm, since there's not a shred of actual evidence to back it up> — see GOOD 1

firm (up) verb
to become physically firm or solid <wait for the modeling clay to firm up before handling the finished pot> — see HARDEN 1

firmament noun
1 the expanse of air surrounding the earth <the stars in the firmament twinkled ever so brightly> — see SKY 1
2 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <a major figure in the classical music firmament> — see FIELD 2

firmly adverb
in a vigorous and forceful manner <stomped his feet firmly to get the snow off his boots> — see HARD 3

firmness noun
1 firm or unwavering adherence to one's purpose <a woman of remarkable firmness in the achievement of the goals she has set for herself> — see DETERMINATION 1
2 the ability to withstand force or stress without being distorted, dislodged, or damaged <test the firmness of the concrete before parking the car on it> — see STABILITY 1

first adverb
1 as a substitute <eat peas? I'd eat cockroaches first> — see INSTEAD
2 by choice or preference <we will not give in, but will fight for our freedom first> — see RATHER 1

first adjective
1 coming before all others in time or order <the much-studied first—and last—voyage of the Titanic>

Synonyms
earliest, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, original, pioneer, premier, virgin

Related Words
ancient, early, primal, primary, prime, primeval, primitive, primordial; antecedent, preceding, previous

Near Antonyms
advanced, late; consequent, ensuing, following, subsequent, succeeding; penultimate

Antonyms
final, last, latest, latter, terminal, terminating, ultimate

2 coming before all others in importance <there are a number of reasons we can't go, but the first is that we don't have the money> — see FOREMOST 1
3 highest in rank or authority <auditioned and got first clarinet in the band> — see HEAD

first–class adjective
of the very best kind <a first-class production of a classic American musical> — see EXCELLENT

first estate noun
the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church <a nation in which the first estate had long held a privileged position> — see CLERGY

firsthand adjective
done or working without something else coming in between <had firsthand knowledge of the events of that evening> — see DIRECT 1

first–line adjective
singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking <surgery is usually not considered a first-line treatment for this type of cancer> — see SELECT 1

firstly adverb
in the beginning <firstly, gather all the ingredients together> — see ORIGINALLY

first name noun
a name that is placed before one's family name <the parents still haven't picked a first name for the baby> — see FORENAME

first–rate adjective
of the very best kind <wanted a first-rate bike and not the cheap model she had been using> — see EXCELLENT

first–rateness noun
exceptionally high quality <touristy restaurants generally are not known for the first-rateness of their cuisine> — see EXCELLENCE 1

first–string adjective
of the very best kind <a first-string rendition of the musical piece> — see EXCELLENT

firth noun
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline <the Firth of Forth in Scotland> — see GULF 1

fiscal adjective
of or relating to money, banking, or investments <gained some fiscal knowledge by taking an economics course> — see FINANCIAL

fish verb
to search for something blindly or uncertainly <take a minute to fish for some change to drop in the donation box> — see GROPE

fish noun
a member of the human race <he's rather an odd fish> — see HUMAN

fisher noun
someone who catches fish <few fishers of lake trout are more ardent or adept than my father> — see FISHERMAN

fisherman noun
someone who catches fish <fishermen sorting out their catch>

Synonyms
fisher

Related Words
fisherfolk, fisherwoman; angler, fly fisherman, giller, surf caster, trawler, trawlerman, troller; waterman

fishy adjective
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <something's fishy about the way he's acting> — see DOUBTFUL 2

fissure noun
an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure <lava flows up through a fissure in the earth's crust> — see CRACK 1

fistful noun
a considerable amount <repairing the roof is going to cost a fistful of money> — see LOT 2

fit adjective
1 meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <clothing that is fit for horseback riding>

Synonyms
applicable, appropriate, apt, becoming, befitting, felicitous, fitted, fitting, good, happy, meet, pretty, proper, right, suitable

Related Words
condign, deserved, just, justified; needed, required, requisite; able, capable, competent, cut out, qualified, trained; pitch-perfect; acceptable, adequate, decent, kosher, satisfactory, serviceable, tolerable; correct, decorous, respectable, seemly; balanced, companionate, congruous, consonant, harmonious; rightful

Phrases
in order

Near Antonyms
incapable, incompetent, inept, inexpert, unqualified, unskilled, unskillful, untrained; inadequate, intolerable, unacceptable, unsatisfactory; graceless, incorrect, indecorous; incompatible, uncongenial

Antonyms
improper, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, incongruous, indecent, infelicitous, malapropos, misbecoming, unapt, unbecoming, unbeseeming, unfit, unfitting, unhappy, unmeet, unseemly, unsuitable, wrong

2 being in a state of fitness for some experience or action <fit for military service> — see READY 1
3 capable of or suitable for being used for a particular purpose <I don't think those bald tires are fit for winter driving> — see USABLE 1
4 enjoying health and vigor <eat well and stay fit> — see HEALTHY 1
5 having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance <need to hire someone whose language skills make them fit for the job> — see COMPETENT 1

fit noun
1 a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder <without her medication, she'd have an epileptic fit> — see ATTACK 2
2 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <helpless fits of laughter from the audience> — see OUTBURST 1
3 an outburst or display of excited anger <found out what his wife had spent on clothes and threw a fit> — see TANTRUM

fit verb
1 archaic to be fitting or proper <we hardly know them, so for Christmas a simple card will fit> — see DO 1
2 to be in agreement on every point <now that you've explained your absence to me, my records and the office's fit> — see CHECK 1
3 to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation <I can undo the hem on these old culottes and fit them into a skirt> — see ADAPT
4 to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function <that final computer course should fit him for a career in programming> — see QUALIFY 2
5 to make or have room for <we can fit you in the booth if the rest of us squeeze closer together> — see ACCOMMODATE 1
6 to make ready in advance <I won't have time to fit the spare room for the guests> — see PREPARE 1

fit (in or into) verb
to put among or between others <do you think you can fit this picture into the album?> <I can fit you in between my two o'clock and three o'clock appointments> — see INSERT

fit (out) verb
to provide (someone) with what is needed for a task or activity <fitted the hikers out with good boots and heavy socks> — see FURNISH 1

fitful adjective
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <a night of fitful sleep did not leave me feeling well rested the next morning>

Synonyms
aperiodic, casual, catchy, choppy, discontinuous, episodic (also episodical), erratic, intermittent, irregular, occasional, spasmodic, spastic, sporadic, spotty, unsteady

Related Words
convulsive, sudden, violent; broken, disconnected, fragmentary, interrupted; aimless, arbitrary, desultory, haphazard, hit-and-miss, hit-or-miss, odd, random, scattered, slapdash, stray; capricious, changeful, changing, flickery, fluctuating, fluid, inconstant, mercurial, mutable, temperamental, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, unstable, varying, wavering; changeable, fickle, variable, volatile

Near Antonyms
changeless, equable, even, stable, stationary, uniform; unchanging, unvarying, unwavering; methodical (also methodic), orderly, systematic; unrelenting, unremitting

Antonyms
constant, continuous, habitual, periodic, regular, repeated, steady

fitness noun
1 the condition of being sound in body <a gymnastics program promoting fitness and agility in school-aged children> — see HEALTH 1
2 the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting <I have to question the fitness of wearing a bright red dress to a funeral> — see APPROPRIATENESS

fitted adjective
meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <her personality is well fitted to a desk job> — see FIT 1

fitting adjective
meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <it is only fitting that you should be the one to take her back to the airport since she flew out to see you> — see FIT 1

fittingly adverb
in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose <he was dressed fittingly for the prom—all decked out in a spiffy tux> — see PROPERLY

fittingness noun
the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting <trusted their judgment and didn't have to worry about the fittingness of their choice for a school play> — see APPROPRIATENESS

five–star adjective
of the very best kind <at those prices the restaurant's food should be nothing but five-star> — see EXCELLENT

fix noun
1 a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <what a fix we're in!> — see PREDICAMENT
2 something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision <caught the judge on video accepting the fix from the mob boss> — see BRIBE
3 an opinion on the nature, character, or quality of something <what's your fix on the military situation over there?> — see ESTIMATION 1

fix verb
1 to arrange something in a certain spot or position <fixed my hair so that it would stop falling in my eyes> — see PLACE 1
2 to cause (something) to hold to another <first, you need to fix those pieces of wood together> — see FASTEN 1
3 to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of <make sure to fix the number of guests with the bride's family before drawing up a list of people from the groom's side> — see ARRANGE 1
4 to decide upon (the time or date for an event) usually from a position of authority <have we fixed a day for the party yet?> — see APPOINT 1
5 to make ready in advance <would you mind fixing dinner tonight?> — see PREPARE 1
6 to put into good shape or working order again <have to fix the car before we can go> — see MEND 1
7 to put securely in place or in a desired position <fixed the mittens to the child's snowsuit> — see FASTEN 2
8 to set solidly in or as if in surrounding matter <the image of what Santa Claus looks like is solidly fixed in our minds> — see ENTRENCH
9 to remove the sex organs of <the animal shelter requires a pledge from the adoptive owner that they will have their new pet fixed> — see NEUTER
10 to restore to a healthy condition <it took surgery and months of physical therapy to completely fix her bum knee> — see HEAL 1

fixable adjective
capable of being corrected <don't worry, that mistake in scheduling is fixable> — see REMEDIABLE

fixation noun
something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned <their weight is an unfortunate fixation for many teenagers>

Synonyms
fetish (also fetich), idée fixe, mania, obsession, preoccupation, prepossession

Related Words
monomania; complex, hang-up, problem, trip; appetite, cacoëthes, compulsion, craving, desire, drive, enthusiasm, fascination, hankering, hunger, infatuation, itch, longing, lust, passion, pining, thirst, urge, yearning, yen; idiosyncrasy, quirk; bent, disposition, inclination, leaning, partiality, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, propensity, tendency

Near Antonyms
apathy, disinterestedness, disregard, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern, unconcernedness

fixed adjective
1 having been established and usually not subject to change <the baseball card dealer's prices were fixed, so bargaining was not an option>

Synonyms
certain, determinate, final, firm, flat, frozen, hard, hard-and-fast, inexpugnable, set, settled, stable

Related Words
nonadjustable, noncancelable, nonnegotiable, unchangeable; constant, steady, unchanging, uniform, unwavering; definite, exact, explicit, specific; given, stated, stipulated; dependable, good, reliable, responsible, safe, solid, sure, tried, tried-and-true, true, trustworthy, trusty

Near Antonyms
adjustable, changeable, negotiable; indefinite, open-ended, unspecified; capricious, changeful, flickery, fluctuating, fluid, inconstant, mercurial, mutable, temperamental, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, variable, volatile

2 not capable of changing or being changed <interest accrues at a fixed rate> — see INFLEXIBLE 1

fixedness noun
the state of continuing without change <wasn't comfortable with the fixedness of her stare> — see CONSTANCY 1

fixture noun
a person who has long been associated with a place or activity <has been a fixture in the Republican Party for the last 30 years> — see INSTITUTION 2

fizz noun
a sound similar to the speech sound \s\ stretched out <the light bulb burned out with a quick fizz> — see HISS 1

fizz verb
to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\ <soda pop fizzing in the glass> — see HISS

fizzle noun
1 a falling short of one's goals <the home team's unexpected fizzle in that last game cost them the championship> — see FAILURE 2
2 something that has failed <the play was a fizzle, opening and closing the same night> — see FAILURE 3

fizzle verb
to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\ <oozing gobs of grease, a pair of fatty burgers fizzled on the grill> — see HISS

fjord also fiord noun
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline <a cruise through the breathtaking fjords along the coast of Norway> — see GULF 1

flabbergast verb
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected <your decision to suddenly quit your job flabbergasts me> — see SURPRISE 1

flabbergasted adjective
1 affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise <was flabbergasted when we heard she was moving out of the state> — see THUNDERSTRUCK
2 filled with amazement or wonder <responded to the news of his arrival with a flabbergasted gasp> — see OPENMOUTHED

flabbergasting adjective
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness <the flabbergasting sight of the mess that the teens had left in the kitchen> — see SURPRISING 1

flabby adjective
giving easily to the touch <his daughter playfully poked at his flabby belly> — see SOFT 3

flaccid adjective
not stiff in structure <the flaccid stalks of celery that had been around for far too long> — see LIMP 1

1flag verb
1 to be limp from lack of water or vigor <flowers flagging in the summer heat> — see DROOP
2 to lose bodily strength or vigor <we flagged as we neared the end of the long mountain trail> — see WEAKEN 2

2flag verb
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture <flagged the cars into the other parking lot> — see MOTION

flag noun
1 a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling <the flags of both countries were prominently displayed at the treaty signing>

Synonyms
banderole (or banderol), banner, colors, ensign, guidon, jack, pendant (also pendent) [chiefly British], pennant, pennon, standard, streamer

Related Words
bunting, gonfalon; black flag, Jolly Roger, tricolor, union jack, white flag; burgee, semaphore, signaler (or signaller), waft; badge, coat of arms, crest, insignia

2 an object intended to give public notice or warning <road crews using handheld stop signs as flags at both ends of the highway construction zone> — see SIGNAL 1

flagellate verb
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <some medieval monks believed it was necessary to flagellate themselves in order to keep their desires in check> — see WHIP 1

flagon noun
a handled container for holding and pouring liquids that usually has a lip or a spout <brought a flagon of wine to the table> — see PITCHER

flagrant adjective
very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad <that was a flagrant violation of the rules> — see EGREGIOUS

flag–waver noun
one who shows excessive favoritism towards his or her country <a newspaper columnist who never manages to be anything other than a knee-jerk flag-waver> — see NATIONALIST

flail verb
1 to move or cause to move with a striking motion <started to flail his arms wildly when he spied a bat in the house> — see FLAP
2 to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <gruesome evidence that the prisoner had been flailed> — see WHIP 1

flair noun
a special and usually inborn ability <a person with a flair for making friends quickly> — see TALENT

1flake noun
a small flat piece separated from a whole <sprinkle the cake with coconut flakes> — see CHIP 1

2flake noun
a person of odd or whimsical habits <the lady with all those cats is sweet, but kind of a flake> — see ECCENTRIC

flaky also flakey adjective
having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure <a tender but flaky crust on the pastry> — see CRISP 1

flamboyance noun
excessive or unnecessary display <the campy flamboyance of her costume almost guaranteed she'd win the masquerade pageant> — see OSTENTATION

flamboyant adjective
1 likely to attract attention <has a gallery of flamboyant gestures that makes him easy to imitate> — see NOTICEABLE
2 excessively showy <Las Vegas showgirls wearing flamboyant headdresses> — see GAUDY

flame noun
a person with whom one is in love <decided to look up an old flame while she was in town> — see SWEETHEART 1

flame verb
1 to be on fire especially brightly <guests gathered around as the Yule log flamed brightly in the inn's great stone fireplace> — see BURN 1
2 to develop suddenly and violently <my anger flamed when the usher told my friend to shut up> — see ERUPT 2
3 to shine with a bright harsh light <the noonday sun flamed down on the desert travelers> — see GLARE 1
4 to shoot forth bursts of light <the actress's ruby necklace flamed dazzlingly under the bright lights> — see FLASH 1

flameout noun
a loss of status <before her sudden, self-inflicted flameout, she was one of the state's brightest political stars> — see COMEDOWN

flame out verb
to be unsuccessful <even at the reception, some were predicting that the marriage would flame out before the fancy china ever got used> — see FAIL 2

flaming adjective
1 being on fire <a fancy restaurant serving eye-catching flaming desserts> — see ABLAZE 1
2 having or expressing great depth of feeling <a flaming speech in support of basic human rights> — see FERVENT 1

flammable adjective
capable of catching or being set on fire <avoid wearing loose flammable clothing when using the blowtorch> — see COMBUSTIBLE

flank noun
a place, space, or direction away from or beyond a central point or line <painted the name of the ship along its flank> — see SIDE 1

flank verb
to be adjacent to <the tackles flank the center on a football team's offensive line> — see ADJOIN 1

flanking adjective
having a border in common <flanking farms that share the same water source> — see ADJACENT

flannel noun, British
1 excessive praise <the one cabinet minister who never resorts to flannel—he always tells it like it is> — see FLATTERY
2 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <the first serious book about the British royal family that wasn't just flannel> — see NONSENSE 1

flap noun
a state of wildly excited activity or emotion <there was a major flap when area residents found out that the President would be visiting> — see FRENZY

flap verb
to move or cause to move with a striking motion <the stirring sight of a huge flock of geese flapping their wings>

Synonyms
beat, flail, flop, flutter, whip

Related Words
bang, batter, buffet, knock, pound, smack, spank, thump; flick, flicker, flit; fan, oscillate, sway, swing; undulate, wave; palpitate, pulse, throb

flapdoodle noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <a clear-eyed assessment of the problem minus the usual flapdoodle> — see NONSENSE 1

flapjack noun
a flat cake made from thin batter and cooked on both sides (as on a griddle) <for breakfast, there's bacon and flapjacks with syrup> — see PANCAKE

flare noun
1 a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity <a flare in antacid sales around the holidays> — see OUTBREAK 1
2 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <ended the quarrel with a stunning flare of swearwords> — see OUTBURST 1
3 the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible <in the darkness the flare of a single match might be seen by enemy troops> — see LIGHT 1

flare verb
to shine with a bright harsh light <floodlights flaring into the forbidding empty spaces surrounding the prison> — see GLARE 1

flare (out) verb
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area <can we flare out the umbrella a little more so that more of the picnic table is sheltered> — see OPEN 3

flare (up) verb
1 to become very angry <naturally I flared up when he insulted my girlfriend> — see BLOW UP
2 to develop suddenly and violently <her cold sores flared up again when she got the flu> — see ERUPT 2

flare–up noun
1 a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity <took medication to prevent a flare-up of her asthma> — see OUTBREAK 1
2 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <there's no need for an angry flare-up, as we'll take care of the problem immediately> — see OUTBURST 1

flaring adjective
excessively showy <flaring neon signs advertising all manner of amusement for tourists at the beach town> — see GAUDY

flash adjective
lasting only for a short time <flash floods in the local area> — see MOMENTARY

flash noun
1 a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity <a flash of last-minute trips to the video store before the onset of the big snowstorm> — see OUTBREAK 1
2 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <a much-needed flash of humor during the otherwise boring lecture> — see OUTBURST 1
3 a very small space of time <the shower will be over in a flash> — see INSTANT
4 something extraordinary or surprising <the new goalie for our hockey team was apparently quite a flash in his hometown> — see WONDER 1
5 excessive or unnecessary display <the expensive clothes, the luxury cars, and other apparent signs of success are all flash that belie the fact that the family is up to its ears in debt> — see OSTENTATION

flash verb
1 to shoot forth bursts of light <the actress's diamond necklace flashed as she hurried on stage to accept the award>

Synonyms
coruscate, flame, glance, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, luster (or lustre), scintillate, shimmer, spangle, sparkle, twinkle, wink, winkle

Related Words
beam, radiate, shine; bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle; blaze, burn, flare, glare, glow

2 to present so as to invite notice or attention <flashed a wad of cash as he paid for his coffee> — see SHOW 1
3 to shine with light at regular intervals <the disco lights flashed, and the revelers danced> — see BLINK 1
4 to make known openly or publicly <flashed the news of the royal birth around the world> — see ANNOUNCE

flash back (to) verb
to bring back to mind <the scent made me flash back to the days of my mother's home-cooked Sunday dinners> — see REMEMBER

flashiness noun
excessive or unnecessary display <his penchant for flashiness, as evidenced by his expensive, specially tailored suits> — see OSTENTATION

flash point noun
1 a potentially explosive place or situation <that troubled region remains one of the world's most dangerous flash points> — see TINDERBOX 1
2 a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <racial tensions in the city were at a flash point> — see EMERGENCY

flashy adjective
1 attractively eye-catching in style <I bought the CD primarily for its flashy cover design> — see JAZZY 1
2 excessively showy <wore flashy rings on almost all the fingers of his left hand> — see GAUDY

flat adjective
1 being neither more nor less than a certain amount, number, or extent <industrial growth has been a flat two percent for each of the last four quarters> — see EVEN 1
2 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <a flat portrayal of Benjamin Franklin in the new TV series> — see BORING
3 having a surface without bends, breaks, or irregularities <preferred riding her bike on a flat road> — see LEVEL 1
4 having been established and usually not subject to change <charged a flat rate for overseas calls> — see FIXED 1
5 having no exceptions or restrictions <a flat denial of the charges> — see ABSOLUTE 2
6 lacking a surface luster or gloss <used a flat paint for the condo's interior walls> — see MATTE
7 lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character <a dull, flat person who couldn't come up with an original idea to save her life> — see WISHY-WASHY 1
8 lacking in taste or flavor <this pasta dish tastes a little flat> — see INSIPID 1

flat adverb
to a full extent or degree <I am flat broke this week> — see FULLY 1

flat noun, chiefly British
a room or set of rooms in a private house or a block used as a separate dwelling place <had to take on a third roommate in order to afford the bigger flat> — see APARTMENT 1

flatfoot noun, slang
a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level <a comic strip about a square-jawed, trench-coated flatfoot who always caught the crooks in suitably dramatic fashion> — see OFFICER 1

flatline verb
to stop living <the patient was fading fast, and doctors expected him to flatline before the night was over> — see DIE 1

flat–out adjective
having no exceptions or restrictions <regarded their son-in-law as a flat-out loser and let him know it> — see ABSOLUTE 2

flatten verb
1 to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps <flattened out the wrinkled paper before attempting to trace the pattern> — see EVEN 1
2 to defeat by a large margin <if you don't understand the rules, you're going to get flattened when you try to play> — see WHIP 2

flatter verb
1 to praise too much <the billionaire has an army of assistants who are eager to flatter him at every opportunity>

Synonyms
adulate, belaud, blarney, butter up, hero-worship, honey, massage, overpraise, puff, soft-soap, stroke

Related Words
blandish, cajole, coax, sweet-talk, wheedle; fawn, kowtow, suck (up to), toady; idolize, worship; eulogize, extol (also extoll), laud, praise; applaud, commend, compliment; congratulate, felicitate; drool, gush, slaver, slobber; endear, ingratiate; court, romance, woo

Near Antonyms
bad-mouth, belittle, decry, depreciate, disparage, put down

2 to think highly of (oneself) <don't flatter yourself that no one has ever thought of that idea before> — see PRIDE

flattery noun
excessive praise <a talk show host who is known for charming her guests with disingenuous flattery>

Synonyms
adulation, blarney, butter, flannel [British], incense, overpraise, soft soap, sweet talk, taffy

Related Words
allurements, blandishments, endearments; caresses, compliments, congratulations, felicitations, greetings, regards, respects; adoration, idolatry, worship; fawning, sycophancy, toadying; cajolement, cajolery, ingratiation, smarm; acclaim, applause, commendation, praise

Near Antonyms
bad-mouthing, belittlement, depreciation, detraction, disparagement, put-down

flatulent adjective
marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases <on election night TV's self-important pundits let loose a fusillade of flatulent pontifications> — see RHETORICAL 1

flatware noun
eating and serving utensils <asked for inexpensive stemware and flatware for their wedding> — see TABLEWARE 1

flaunt verb
to present so as to invite notice or attention <she playfully flaunted her engagement ring in all of her coworkers' faces> — see SHOW 1

flaunting noun
an outward and often exaggerated indication of something abstract (as a feeling) for effect <at first, her flaunting of her affection for her boyfriend was funny, but after a while it became tiresome> — see SHOW 1

flavor noun
1 a special quality or impression associated with something <a birthday party whose Caribbean decorations gave it a tropical flavor> — see AURA 1
2 something (as a spice or herb) that adds an agreeable or interesting taste to food <a dish that incorporates most of the trademark flavors of southeast Asia> — see SEASONING 1
3 the property of a substance that can be identified by the sense of taste <loved the deep flavor of the native strawberries> — see TASTE 1
4 a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <it seems that short skirts are the new flavor of the month> — see FAD

flavor verb
to make more pleasant to the taste by adding something intensely flavored <try flavoring the beans with salt and oregano> — see SEASON 1

flavorful adjective
very pleasing to the sense of taste <makes a flavorful broth> — see DELICIOUS 1

flavoring noun
something (as a spice or herb) that adds an agreeable or interesting taste to food <soup made with beef flavoring> — see SEASONING 1

flavorless adjective
lacking in taste or flavor <a flavorless fruitcake that must have been given as a gift many times over> — see INSIPID 1

flavorsome adjective
very pleasing to the sense of taste <a variety of apple that is visually appealing but not very flavorsome> — see DELICIOUS 1

flaw noun
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing <noted the flaw in the diamond before I bought it> — see BLEMISH

flaw verb
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <that crack has flawed the vase to the extent that its value in the antiques market is greatly reduced> — see DAMAGE 1

flawed adjective
having a fault <a flawed paint job that resulted in some peeling almost as soon as the paint had dried> — see FAULTY

flawless adjective
being entirely without fault or flaw <a flawless performance of the piano concerto> — see PERFECT 1

flawlessly adverb
without any flaws or errors <flawlessly recited the first 100 digits of pi> — see PERFECTLY 1

flaxen adjective
of a pale yellow or yellowish brown color <fields of flaxen wheat waving in the wind> — see BLOND

flay verb
1 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <her husband flayed her constantly for her incessant shopping> — see SCOLD
2 to remove the natural covering of <flayed their kill right there in the forest, taking both the meat and the skin home> — see PEEL

fleck noun
1 a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part <flooring tile that is brown with flecks of white> — see SPOT 1
2 a very small piece <wiped a fleck of cookie off his jacket> — see BIT 1

fleck verb
to mark with small spots especially unevenly <to achieve the desired effect, fleck the canvas with paint simply by flicking the brush close to the surface> — see SPOT 1

flecked adjective
marked with spots <that flecked blue writing paper is so attractive> — see SPOTTED 1

fledgling noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <at hockey he's still a fledgling and needs to work on his basic skating skills> — see BEGINNER

flee verb
1 to cease to be visible <the fog fled with the arrival of the dawn> — see DISAPPEAR
2 to get free from a dangerous or confining situation <a murderer who fled on foot> — see ESCAPE 1
3 to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening <a toddler who fled when the ladybug he had been quietly watching suddenly began flying around the room> — see RUN 2

fleece noun
the hairy covering of a mammal especially when fine, soft, and thick <learning how to shear the fleece off a sheep> — see FUR 1

fleece verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <swindlers who use the telephone to fleece senior citizens out of their savings>

Synonyms
beat, bilk, bleed, cheat, chisel, chouse, con, cozen, defraud, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fiddle, flimflam, gaff, gyp, hose [slang], hustle, mulct, nobble [British slang], pluck, ream, rip off, rook, screw, shake down, short, shortchange, skin, skunk, squeeze, stick, stiff, sting, sucker, swindle, thimblerig, victimize

Related Words
extort, wrench, wrest, wring; clip, gouge, nick, overcharge, soak; exploit, milk; deceive, dupe, fool, gull, trick; rope (in); betray, bitch, double-cross; bamboozle, fast-talk

Phrases
sell a bill of goods to, take for a ride, take to the cleaners

fleecing noun
the exaction of a grossly excessive charge for goods or services <the fleecing of the summer tourists seems to be a time-honored tradition on that resort island> — see EXTORTION

fleecy adjective
covered with or as if with hair <there were signs of the family's fleecy poodle all over the upholstery> — see HAIRY 1

fleet adjective
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <a jewel thief said to be light of heart and fleet of foot> — see FAST 1

fleet noun
a group of vehicles traveling together or under one management <a fleet of buses rolling down the highway>

Synonyms
armada, caravan, cavalcade, line, motorcade, train

Related Words
argosy, convoy, flotilla, navy; column, cortege (also cortège), parade, procession

fleet–footed adjective
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <the Roman god Mercury was the fleet-footed messenger of the gods> — see FAST 1

fleeting adjective
lasting only for a short time <had a fleeting desire to jump into the cool lake but kept on hiking> — see MOMENTARY

fleetingness noun
the state or quality of lasting only for a short time <nothing makes the fleetingness of summer more apparent than the arrival of Labor Day> — see IMPERMANENCE

fleetly adverb
with great speed <horses galloping fleetly across the plain> — see FAST 1

fleetness noun
a high rate of movement or performance <clipper ships were renowned for their fleetness on the high seas> — see SPEED 1

flesh noun
animal and especially mammal tissue used as food <eats no flesh of any kind, only fruits, grains, and vegetables> — see MEAT 1

flesh (out) verb
to express more fully and in greater detail <a lengthy follow-up that fleshes out the original report on the military engagement> — see EXPAND 1

fleshiness noun
1 the condition of having an excess of body fat <the fleshiness of the foreign tourists was in sharp contrast to the gauntness of the native Africans> — see CORPULENCE
2 the quality or state of being full of juice <loves the fleshiness of ripe watermelon> — see SUCCULENCE

fleshly adjective
1 having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven <a time of year when people shouldn't focus on fleshly concerns, but instead on spiritual matters> — see EARTHLY
2 of or relating to the human body <the fleshly eye sees the only finished painting, but the mind's eye sees the genius behind its creation> — see PHYSICAL 1
3 pleasing to the physical senses <returning campers looking forward to all the fleshly pleasures of home, including warm baths> — see SENSUAL

fleshy adjective
1 full of juice <fleshy apples, the kind good for making cider> — see JUICY 1
2 having an excess of body fat <the fleshy man slowly heaved himself out of his chair> — see FAT 1

flexible adjective
1 capable of being readily changed <fortunately, that working mother has a very flexible schedule for her office job>

Synonyms
adaptable, adjustable, alterable, changeable, elastic, fluid, malleable, modifiable, pliable, variable

Related Words
changing, fluctuating, inconstant, labile, unstable, unsteady, varying, versatile

Near Antonyms
constant, stable, steady, unchanging, uniform, unvarying

Antonyms
established, fixed, immutable, inelastic, inflexible, invariable, nonmalleable, ramrod, set, unadaptable, unalterable, unbudgeable, unchangeable

2 not bound by rigid standards <parents with a flexible attitude when it comes to the children's bedtime> — see EASYGOING 2
3 able to bend easily without breaking <the tent was held up by crisscrossing flexible rods threaded through the top> — see WILLOWY
4 able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted <used a flexible plastic for the toy> — see ELASTIC 1

flibbertigibbet noun
a silly flighty person <forced to endure a long flight with a flibbertigibbet as a seat companion>

Synonyms
birdbrain, cuckoo, ditz, featherbrain, featherhead, nitwit, rattlebrain, scatterbrain, softhead

Related Words
fool, goose, silly, simpleton

Antonyms
sobersides

flick verb
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements <the horse's tail flicked in restless irritation> — see FLIT

flick noun
a story told by means of a series of continuously projected pictures and a sound track <we could catch a flick together next weekend> — see MOVIE 1

flicker verb
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements <a dragonfly flickering above the salt marsh> — see FLIT

flicker noun
1 a story told by means of a series of continuously projected pictures and a sound track <as a child, the future director would spend hours sitting in the theater, totally entranced by the flickers> — see MOVIE 1
2 a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity <usually there's a flicker in car sales when the new models come out> — see OUTBREAK 1
3 an almost imperceptible sign of something <there was a flicker of recognition in her eye when I mentioned his name, but she denied knowing him> — see HINT 2

flickery adjective
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <wise political leaders don't try to govern according to flickery public opinion> — see FICKLE 1

flier also flyer noun
1 a risky undertaking <willing to take a flier on the bold, new venture> — see GAMBLE
2 one who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft <a hot-air balloon flier> — see PILOT

1flight noun
travel through the air by the use of wings <for centuries people had been fascinated by the flight of birds>

Synonyms
flying

Related Words
aviation; aeronautics; ballooning, gliding, hang gliding, paragliding, skydiving, soaring

2flight noun
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement <a work of 19th-century Romanticism depicting the ancient Israelites' flight from Egypt> — see ESCAPE 1

flightiness noun
1 a lack of seriousness often at an improper time <a warning that her usual flightiness wouldn't be tolerated at the ceremony honoring war veterans> — see FRIVOLITY
2 a state of nervousness marked by sudden jerky movements <his flightiness before the bar exam was so bad that he nearly made himself sick> — see JUMPINESS

flighty adjective
1 easily excited by nature <you have to be quiet while the deer are grazing, as they are flighty animals and will run if they hear you> — see EXCITABLE
2 lacking in seriousness or maturity <flighty and giggly preteens at their first dance> — see GIDDY 1

flimflam noun
1 a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <giving the new guy at work her cell phone number—“in case of an emergency”—was just a flimflam to pique his romantic interest> — see TRICK 1
2 an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <just the latest Internet flimflam to get e-mail recipients to reveal bank account numbers and other personal information> — see FRAUD 1

flimflam verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <everyone likes to think that they're too smart to be flimflammed by anyone> — see FLEECE

flimsy adjective
1 being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance <a flimsy scarf that was more for decoration than for warmth>

Synonyms
cobwebby, filmy, frothy, gauzy, gossamer, gossamery, insubstantial, sleazy, unsubstantial

Related Words
dainty, delicate, fine; feeble, fragile, frail; diaphanous, sheer, transparent

Near Antonyms
durable, knockabout, lasting, tough; coarse, heavy, rough, rude

Antonyms
sturdy, substantial

2 not likely to be true or to occur <“The check is in the mail” is a pretty flimsy and tired excuse> — see IMPROBABLE

flinch verb
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust <there are some patients who flinch at the mere sight of a needle>

Synonyms
blench, cringe, quail, recoil, shrink, squinch, wince

Related Words
blanch, pale, whiten; quake, quiver, shake, shudder, tremble; crouch; jerk, start, twitch; recede, retire, retreat, withdraw; falter, hesitate, reel, waver

Near Antonyms
advance, approach, near; beard, challenge, confront, defy, face

fling noun
1 a time or instance of carefree fun <most families spend Labor Day weekend having one last summer fling>

Synonyms
binge, frisk, frolic, gambol, idyll (also idyl), lark, ploy, revel, rollick, romp, spree

Related Words
caper, escapade, prank; bender, brannigan, bum, bust, carouse, souse, splore [Scottish], toot; antic, monkeyshine(s), shenanigan(s); field day; festivity, merriment, merrymaking; enjoyment, indulgence, pleasure, self-indulgence; amusement, diversion, entertainment, recreation

2 an effort to do or accomplish something <take a fling at waterskiing and see how it goes> — see ATTEMPT 1
3 a brief romantic relationship <an ill-advised fling with a coworker> — see AFFAIR 1

fling verb
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <flinging rocks into the pond just for the fun of it> — see THROW 1

fling (off or away) verb
to get rid of as useless or unwanted <he flung away the used matchstick> <flinging off dirty clothes> — see DISCARD

flinty adjective
1 given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint <a flinty warrior hardened by years of battle> — see SEVERE 1
2 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <wrestling opponents intimidating each other with flinty stares> — see GRIM 1

flip adjective
making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred <made some flip comment about the marriage between the old man and the considerably younger woman> — see FLIPPANT

flip verb
1 to turn over pages in an idle or cursory manner <flip through this home decorating book to see if there's anything we could use> — see SKIM 1
2 to change the position of (an object) so that the opposite side or end is showing <flip the coin over> — see REVERSE 2

flip (out) verb, slang
1 to yield to mental or emotional stress <a movie about a submarine captain who flips out when there's an emergency, leaving the crew to deal with it on their own> — see CRACK 2
2 to become very angry <when my wife saw that I had broken her great-grandmother's vase, she absolutely flipped out> — see BLOW UP

flip–flop noun
a changing from one policy or point of view to virtually its exact opposite <the governor's frequent flip-flops would indicate that she has no core beliefs> — see ABOUT-FACE

flippancy noun
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time <no one appreciates your flippancy during our religious services> — see FRIVOLITY

flippant adjective
making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred <his flippant comment that the poor save on taxes offended many people>

Synonyms
cute, facetious, flip, pert, smart, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, smart-ass, smart-assed, smarty-pants, wise, wiseass

Related Words
flighty, frivolous; cheeky, cocky, fresh, impertinent, impish, impudent, mischievous, playful, roguish, sassy, saucy, waggish; disrespectful, rude; breezy, casual, glib, inappropriate, thoughtless

Near Antonyms
grave, serious, sober, solemn, somber (or sombre)

Antonyms
earnest, sincere

flirt noun
a person who playfully shows another amorous attention <he's just a harmless flirt, so don't take him seriously>

Synonyms
flirter, wanton

Related Words
coquet; coquette, jade, soubrette; vamp

flirt verb
1 to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun <the servers at that restaurant flirt with all the customers>

Synonyms
coquet (or coquette), dally, frivol, mess around, toy, trifle

Related Words
vamp; court, mash, woo; josh, kid, put on, razz, rib, tease; fool, lead on, string along; manipulate, play (with)

2 to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements <lazily watched the butterflies flirting among the wildflowers> — see FLIT

flirt (with) verb
to act so as to make (something) more likely <you're flirting with death by driving so recklessly> — see COURT 1

flirtation noun
the attitude or behavior of one who insincerely courts the amorous attentions of others <somehow got the bizarre notion that flirtation was appropriate during a job interview> — see COQUETRY

flirtatiousness noun
the attitude or behavior of one who insincerely courts the amorous attentions of others <his wink might have been flirtatiousness, or just innocent playfulness> — see COQUETRY

flirter noun
a person who playfully shows another amorous attention <she's a compulsive flirter, and you're just her prey for the moment> — see FLIRT

flit verb
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements <bargain hunters at the flea market flitted from table to table like hummingbirds in a garden>

Synonyms
dance, dart, flick, flicker, flirt, flitter, flutter, zip

Related Words
dash, fly, sail, shoot, speed, sprint, zing, zoom; scamper, scud, scurry, scuttle, skip, skitter; meander, ramble, roam, wander

Near Antonyms
float, hang, hover

flitter verb
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements <the birds flittered back and forth between the backyard feeder and the safety of the trees> — see FLIT

float noun
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers <the crew put the cargo on the float before heading back down the river> — see DOCK

float verb
1 to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air <a canoe floating down the river> <particles of dust floating in the air>

Synonyms
drift, glide, hang, hover, poise, ride, sail, swim, waft

Related Words
bob, dangle, suspend; buoy; balloon, raft

Near Antonyms
dive, lunge, plunge; dip, immerse, submerge, submerse

Antonyms
settle, sink

2 to move about from place to place aimlessly <lost touch with a childhood friend who spent much of his adult life floating from place to place> — see WANDER 1

floating adjective
riding upon the surface of a body of liquid <the wreckage remained floating for hours> — see AFLOAT

flock noun
1 a great number of persons or creatures massed together <a flock of obstreperous reporters at the press conference> — see CROWD 1
2 a group of domestic animals assembled or herded together <a flock of sheep crossing the road> — see HERD 1

flock verb
to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers <vacationers flocked to the towns along the shore in order to escape the August heat> — see CROWD 2

flog verb
1 to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <a graphic depiction of a sailor being flogged by the captain for disobeying orders> — see WHIP 1
2 to strike repeatedly <was fined heavily for flogging a horse> — see BEAT 1
3 British to move heavily or clumsily <for most of the night, searchers flogged through the marsh, crying out for the lost child> — see LUMBER 1
4 British to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually <ignoring the groans and catcalls that his speech was provoking, the backbencher flogged away> — see FLOUNDER 1

flogger noun
a long thin or flexible tool for striking <a horseman who believes that floggers should be used sparingly> — see WHIP

flood noun
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms <a flood nearly wiped out the town> <a flood of messages on my computer>

Synonyms
alluvion, bath, cataclysm, cataract, deluge, flood tide, inundation, Niagara, overflow, spate, torrent

Related Words
current, river, stream, tide; cloudburst, discharge, flush, gush, outflow, outpouring; flux, inflow, influx; engulfment, washout; avalanche, blizzard; cascade, waterfall; excess, glut, overabundance, overage, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus

Near Antonyms
dribble, drip, trickle

Antonyms
drought (also drouth)

flood verb
to cover with a flood <the lowlands were completely flooded> <angry calls flooded the radio station>

Synonyms
deluge, drown, engulf, gulf, inundate, overflow, overwhelm, submerge, submerse, swamp

Related Words
avalanche, smother; overcome, overrun; flow, flush, gush, pour, sluice, spout, spurt, stream; douse (also dowse), drench, soak, wet

Near Antonyms
dehydrate, dry, parch

Antonyms
drain

flood tide noun
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms <the flood tide of bad manners that seems to be inundating contemporary society> — see FLOOD

floor noun
the surface upon which a body of water lies <discovered a new species of crab living on the ocean floor> — see BOTTOM 2

floor verb
1 to cause an unpleasant surprise for <that you would say such a rude thing to my mother floors me> — see SHOCK 1
2 to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected <as you might expect, winning the lottery simply floored us> — see SURPRISE 1
3 to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall <the boxer floored his opponent in the second round, winning the fight by a knockout> — see FELL 1
4 to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress <the pushing and shoving at the clearance sale absolutely floored me, and I had to leave> — see OVERWHELM 1

floozy or floozie noun
a boldly flirtatious or sexually promiscuous woman <a floozy who was a familiar figure at barrooms around town>

Synonyms
bimbo [slang], chippie (also chippy), doxy (also doxie), fancy woman, hoochie [slang], hussy, Jezebel, minx, quean, slut, tramp, trollop, wench, whore

Related Words
siren, temptress, vamp; grisette, harlot, prostitute, trull

Phrases
woman of easy virtue

flop noun
something that has failed <the movie is such a flop that theaters showing it are the loneliest places in town> — see FAILURE 3

flop verb
1 to throw or set down clumsily or casually <they lazily flopped themselves onto the couch to watch the game> <flopped the bag of groceries onto the counter>

Synonyms
flump, plank, plop, plump, plunk (or plonk)

Related Words
fling, heave, sling, toss; ensconce, install, plant, settle

2 to be unsuccessful <the attempt to run the ball into the end zone flopped, and our team lost by five points> — see FAIL 2
3 to move or cause to move with a striking motion <a fish flopping around on the dock> — see FLAP

floppy adjective
not stiff in structure <my basset hound is always tripping over her long, floppy ears> — see LIMP 1

flora noun
green leaves or plants <a fascination with the lush flora of the South> — see GREENERY

floral adjective
of or relating to flowers <bedroom wallpaper with a somewhat overpowering floral pattern>

Synonyms
flowered, flowery

Related Words
florid; abloom, blossomy, floriferous

florescence noun
a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement <the florescence of Mayan art in the seventh century A.D.> — see BLOOM 1

florid adjective
1 elaborately and often excessively decorated <a florid, gilded mirror that took up most of the wall> — see ORNATE 1
2 full of fine words and fancy expressions <gave a florid speech in honor of the queen's visit> — see FLOWERY 1
3 having a healthy reddish skin tone <a jolly fat man with a florid complexion> — see RUDDY

florilegium noun
a collection of writings <a florilegium of ancient alchemical writings> — see ANTHOLOGY

floruit noun
a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement <the floruit of Greek art and literature in the fifth century B.C.> — see BLOOM 1

floss noun
a soft airy substance or covering <used cotton floss to simulate Santa's beard> — see 1FUZZ

flotsam noun
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed <the dispirited family picked through the flotsam of their possessions after the hurricane, looking for anything that could be salvaged> — see REMAINS 1

flounce noun
a strip of fabric gathered or pleated on one edge and used as trimming <a prom dress with small flounces along the hem> — see RUFFLE 1

flounder verb
1 to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually <unprepared choristers who floundered helplessly through the musical number>

Synonyms
blunder, bumble, flog [British], limp, lumber, plod, struggle, stumble, trudge

Related Words
jog, shamble, shuffle; wallow, welter; falter, lurch, reel, stagger, sway, teeter, totter; fumble, muddle

Near Antonyms
coast, fly, glide, kilt, sail, zip, zoom

2 to move heavily or clumsily <the car floundered through the heavy wet snow, constantly getting stuck> — see LUMBER 1

flourish verb
1 to grow vigorously <that plant flourishes in cool, wet weather> — see THRIVE 1
2 to reach a desired level of accomplishment <the arts program flourished once it received adequate funding> — see SUCCEED 2

flourishing adjective
1 having attained a desired end or state of good fortune <a flourishing actor in the early years of the talkies> — see SUCCESSFUL 1
2 marked by much life, movement, or activity <a flourishing market in sports memorabilia> — see ALIVE 2
3 marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically <a flourishing community that has become a major beneficiary of the high-tech boom> — see PROSPEROUS 1

floury adjective
consisting of very small particles <shelves of old books covered with floury dust> — see FINE 1

flout verb
to ignore in a disrespectful manner <an able-bodied motorist openly flouting the law and parking in a space reserved for the disabled> — see SCORN 2

flow verb
1 to move in a stream <water was flowing over the dam at a tremendous rate>

Synonyms
pour, roll, run, stream

Related Words
arise, disembogue, effuse, emanate, issue, spring; course, race, rush; fountain, gush, spout, spurt; deluge, engulf, flood, inundate, overflow, overrun, swamp; cascade, dribble, drip, gutter, riffle, ripple, sheet, trickle; flush, wash out

Near Antonyms
clot, coagulate, congeal, gel, harden, set

Antonyms
back up

2 to move or proceed smoothly and readily <as everyone relaxed, the conversation really started to flow>

Synonyms
bowl, breeze, brush, coast, cruise, drift, glide, roll, sail, skim, slide, slip, stream, sweep, whisk

Related Words
fly, race, rush, speed

Near Antonyms
limp, lumber, plod, stumble, trudge; shamble, shuffle; stamp, stomp, stump, tramp; labor, toil

Antonyms
flounder, struggle

flower verb
to produce flowers <the plant will keep flowering if you water it and regularly cut off the dead blossoms> — see BLOOM

flower noun
1 the usually showy plant part that produces seeds <flowers are always a thoughtful gift>

Synonyms
bloom, blossom

Related Words
bud, floret, floweret (also flowerette); bouquet, nosegay, posy; arrangement, boutonniere, corsage, garland, lei, spray, wreath

2 a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement <the skiing season is usually in full flower by Christmas> — see BLOOM 1
3 individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <without exception, the flower of this year's graduating class will be going to prestigious colleges> — see ELITE 1

flowered adjective
of or relating to flowers <a pretty tablecloth with a flowered border> — see FLORAL

flowery adjective
1 full of fine words and fancy expressions <the flowery verses that always appear on valentines>

Synonyms
aureate, florid, grandiloquent, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-flown, high-sounding, magnific, ornate, purple, rhetorical (also rhetoric)

Related Words
affected, bloated, fancy-pants, grandiose, inflated, pompous, pretentious, stilted; excessive, flattering, fulsome; boastful, bombastic; elevated, eloquent, lofty; bookish, inkhorn, learned

Near Antonyms
prosaic, unpoetic; bald, direct, lean, matter-of-fact, plain, plainspoken, simple, spare, stark, straightforward, unadorned; natural, unaffected, unpretentious

2 of or relating to flowers <Mother's Day cards typically have a flowery design on the cover> — see FLORAL

flowing adjective
capable of moving like a liquid <a flowing silk scarf> — see FLUID 1

flub noun
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <when she was told her information was wrong, she apologized for the flub and immediately corrected it> — see ERROR 1

flub verb
1 to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <added too much flour and flubbed the gravy> — see BOTCH
2 to make a mistake <at some point in your training you're going to flub, so don't let it rattle you> — see ERR 1

fluctuate verb
to pass from one form, state, or level to another <temperatures will fluctuate between the low and high 50s today> — see CHANGE 2

fluctuating adjective
1 likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <a fluctuating stock market makes it hard for investors to know what to do> — see FICKLE 1
2 not staying constant <our speed was constantly fluctuating, so the figure of 50 miles per hour is just an average> — see UNEVEN 2

fluctuation noun
the frequent and usually sudden passing from one condition to another <political instability that resulted in wild fluctuations in the overseas stock markets> — see FLUX 1

fluent adjective
1 able to express oneself clearly and well <a very fluent speaker who always communicates his points well> — see ARTICULATE
2 capable of moving like a liquid <heated the wax until it was fluent, then poured it into the mold> — see FLUID 1
3 involving minimal difficulty or effort <a fluent performance of one of the oldest magic tricks in the book> — see EASY 1

fluently adverb
without difficulty <fluently negotiates even the most challenging slalom courses> — see EASILY 1

fluff noun
1 a soft airy substance or covering <self-consciously picked the fluff off his sweater as he answered the officer's questions> — see 1FUZZ
2 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <the flustered newscaster's fluffs included a mispronunciation of the town's name> — see ERROR 1

fluff verb
1 to make a mistake <unnerved by her earlier missteps, the skater fluffed on the final jump as well> — see ERR 1
2 to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <I completely fluffed the introduction by calling the boss's wife by the wrong name> — see BOTCH

fluffy adjective
resembling air in lightness <big fluffy pillows> — see AIRY 1

fluid adjective
1 capable of moving like a liquid <warm the jam until it is fluid, then spread it over the cake>

Synonyms
flowing, fluent, liquid

Related Words
circumfluent, circumfluous; diluted, thin, watery, weak; semiliquid, semisolid

Near Antonyms
clotted, coagulated, gelatinous, gelled, jelled, jellied, thick; gluey, glutinous, gooey, gummy, viscous

Antonyms
hard, nonliquid, solid

2 capable of being readily changed <the script is still fluid at this point, so be prepared for last-minute rewrites> — see FLEXIBLE 1
3 involving minimal difficulty or effort <the dance looked smooth and fluid, though backstage we could see the dancer gasping for breath and sweating from the effort> — see EASY 1
4 likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <his arrival plans are fluid, so expect him anytime> — see FICKLE 1

fluke noun
an unexpected benefit or advantage resulting from the uncertain course of events <the discovery of oil on their property was just an amazing fluke>

Synonyms
break, strike

Related Words
accident, chance, circumstance, hap, happenchance, happenstance, hazard, luck

Phrases
stroke of luck

fluky also flukey adjective
1 coming or happening by good luck especially unexpectedly <a fluky coincidence that kept me safely at home when the blizzard hit> — see FORTUNATE 1
2 happening by chance <the fluky selection of consecutive numbers on consecutive days of the lottery> — see ACCIDENTAL 1

flume noun
1 a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <hiked through the flume and into the meadow beyond it> — see CANYON
2 an open man-made passageway for water <built a flume next to the road for runoff> — see CHANNEL 1

flummox verb
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <an actor who's easily flummoxed by any changes in the script> — see CONFUSE 1

flump verb
to throw or set down clumsily or casually <for now, just flump the rug on the floor—we'll unroll it later> — see FLOP 1

flunk verb
to be unsuccessful <the movie flunks, both as entertainment and as a dramatization of a historical incident> — see FAIL 2

flunky also flunkey or flunkie noun
1 a person hired to perform household or personal services <since I'm just the flunky who files his papers, I've no idea where he is> — see SERVANT
2 a person who flatters another in order to get ahead <a rock star who saw through the phonies and the flunkies> — see SYCOPHANT

fluorescence noun
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible <studied the fluorescence of certain elements> — see LIGHT 1

flurry noun
1 a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity <a flurry of activity on the floor of the stock market as soon as the news spread> — see OUTBREAK 1
2 a sudden brief rush of wind <a flurry that scattered the fallen leaves> — see GUST 1
3 a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <a patient with a mysterious illness being subjected to a flurry of tests> — see BARRAGE

flurry verb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <flurried by visions of falls and broken bones, the parents wouldn't even allow the child to ride a bike> — see DISTURB 1

flush adjective
1 having a healthy reddish skin tone <was flushed after getting out of the hot bath> — see RUDDY
2 having a surface without bends, breaks, or irregularities <the flush paneling on the door gives it a very plain and dull look> — see LEVEL 1
3 having active strength of body or mind <a flush, healthy man of 65> — see VIGOROUS 1
4 having goods, property, or money in abundance <she's very flush now that she has her inheritance> — see RICH 1
5 possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified <a field flush with flowers> — see RIFE
6 having a border in common <the front yard's floral border is flush with the sidewalk> — see ADJACENT

flush noun
1 a rosy appearance (of the cheeks) <looked for a flush on her cheeks as evidence of a fever> — see BLOOM 2
2 a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement <was in the flush of his youth> — see BLOOM 1
3 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <a flush of patriotic pride> — see OUTBURST 1

flush verb
1 to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse <use this cleaner to flush the drain in the sink>

Synonyms
irrigate, rinse, sluice, wash, wash out

Related Words
deluge, engulf, flood, inundate, swamp; flow, gush, rush, stream; douche, hose; drench, saturate, soak; douse (also dowse), slosh, splash

2 to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment) <he flushed deeply upon hearing the compliment> — see BLUSH

fluster noun
1 a state of nervous or irritated concern <all the yelling on the bus put the driver in a fluster> — see FRET
2 the emotional state of being made self-consciously uncomfortable <there was a palpable fluster in the audience when I asked my awkward question> — see EMBARRASSMENT 1

fluster verb
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress <was flustered when her parents dragged out her baby pictures for her new boyfriend> — see EMBARRASS 1

flustering adjective
causing embarrassment <a flustering situation that left us all silent> — see AWKWARD 3

flutter noun
1 a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity <the site saw a flutter of construction last month, but nothing's happening now> — see OUTBREAK 1
2 chiefly British a risky undertaking <most people regard the lottery as a harmless flutter> — see GAMBLE

flutter verb
1 to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements <a lonely butterfly fluttering across the lawn> — see FLIT
2 to move or cause to move with a striking motion <fluttered my eyelashes as I struck up a conversation with the new guy at work> — see FLAP

fluttery adjective
easily excited by nature <a fluttery bus driver who was obviously in the wrong line of work> — see EXCITABLE

flux noun
1 the frequent and usually sudden passing from one condition to another <the English language is always in a state of flux>

Synonyms
change, fluctuation, inconstancy, oscillation

Related Words
metamorphosis, mutation, transformation, transmogrification, transmutation; vacillation, wavering

2 a flowing or coming in <January typically brings a great flux of returns to department stores> — see INFLUX
3 abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools <Civil War doctors noted frequent cases of flux in the camps> — see DIARRHEA

flux verb
to go from a solid to a liquid state <a solid will flux more quickly under pressure> — see LIQUEFY

fly verb
1 to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings <the Wright brothers realized mankind's age-old wish to fly>

Synonyms
aviate, glide, plane, soar, wing

Related Words
drift, float, hang, hover, waft; coast, cruise, sail, sweep; dart, flit, flutter; catapult, helicopter, jet, orbit, rocket; dive, stoop

2 to get free from a dangerous or confining situation <you must fly to safety immediately> — see ESCAPE 1
3 to proceed or move quickly <flew down the concourse to catch his flight> — see HURRY 2
4 to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening <no one in the movies ever thinks to fly from the ax murderer and immediately call the police> — see RUN 2
5 to cease to be visible <the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us> — see DISAPPEAR
6 to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval <the familiar “Because I said so!” is a reason that won't fly with most teenagers> — see WASH 2

flyer also flier noun
a short printed publication with no cover or with a paper cover <came out of the store and saw a flyer for a restaurant on my windshield> — see PAMPHLET

flying adjective
1 acting or done with excessive or careless speed <a flying attempt at finishing the work> — see HASTY 1
2 moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <that car was flying as it careened down the streets> — see FAST 1

flying noun
travel through the air by the use of wings <had never had the slightest fear of flying> — see 2FLIGHT

flyspeck noun
a very small piece <surreptitiously removed a flyspeck of dirt from the china> — see BIT 1

foam noun
a light mass of fine bubbles formed in or on a liquid <a steaming cup of hot cocoa with a sprinkling of marshmallows drifting through the foam>

Synonyms
froth, head, lather, spume, suds, surf

Related Words
mousse; mist, spindrift, spray; scum

foam verb
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger <the old man foamed and raged when they told him he would have to give up the farm> — see BOIL 1

foaming adjective
feeling or showing anger <was so upset that he was really foaming> — see ANGRY

foamy adjective
covered with, consisting of, or resembling foam <foamy milk shakes>

Synonyms
frothy, lathery, sudsy

Related Words
bubbly, effervescent, fizzy, sparkling; soapy

fob off verb
to offer (something fake, useless, or inferior) as genuine, useful, or valuable <people who try to fob off to charities broken-down furniture that is fit only for the junkyard> — see FOIST

focus noun
1 a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <in the 19th century Paris was the focus of the art world> — see CENTER 1
2 a guiding or motivating purpose or principle <a wildlife conservation organization that seems to have lost its focus> — see COMPASS 1

focus verb
to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective <try to focus your attention on the task at hand> — see CONCENTRATE 2

focused also focussed adjective
1 having the mind fixed on something <was focused on the football game and didn't hear me knock> — see ATTENTIVE 1
2 not divided or scattered among several areas of interest or concern <a focused effort to provide shelter for the homeless during the winter> — see WHOLE 1

foe noun
1 one that is hostile toward another <are you friend or foe?> — see ENEMY
2 one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict <this Saturday our team will go up against our longtime foes in a game that will determine the champion of the conference> — see OPPONENT 1

fog noun
1 a state of mental confusion <didn't get enough sleep and now I'm in a fog> — see HAZE 2
2 an atmospheric condition in which suspended particles in the air rob it of its transparency <the fog lifted once the sun was out> — see HAZE 1
3 a state of mental uncertainty <I wandered around in a fog after the shocking news> — see CONFUSION 1

fog verb
1 to make (something) unclear to the understanding <extraneous matters that only serve to fog the central issue> — see CONFUSE 2
2 to make dark, dim, or indistinct <time will fog memories> — see CLOUD 1

fogged adjective
suffering from mental confusion <a discussion that did little more than leave the participants hopelessly fogged> — see DIZZY 2

foggy adjective
1 filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension <it's pretty foggy outside, so be careful driving home> — see HAZY 1
2 not seen or understood clearly <could only see a foggy outline of the intruder in the dark> — see FAINT 1

fogy also fogey noun
a person with old-fashioned ideas <old fogies who said that rap music would never last>

Synonyms
antediluvian, Colonel Blimp, dodo, fossil, fud, fuddy-duddy, mossback, reactionary, stick-in-the-mud, stuffed shirt

Related Words
conservative, rightist, Tory; mandarin, old hand, old-timer, veteran; old maid

Near Antonyms
liberal, progressive, radical

Antonyms
hipster, modern, trendy

foible noun
a defect in character <could tolerate my uncle's foibles because we loved him dearly> — see FAULT 1

foil verb
to prevent from achieving a goal <in popular fiction the hero will always foil the villain's plans> — see FRUSTRATE 1

foist verb
to offer (something fake, useless, or inferior) as genuine, useful, or valuable <shopkeepers who foist shoddy souvenirs on unsuspecting tourists>

Synonyms
fob off, palm, palm off, pass off, wish

Related Words
entail, force, impose, inflict; counterfeit, fake, forge; distort, falsify, misrepresent

fold noun
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <ready to welcome their old Liberal friend back into the fold> — see GANG 2

fold verb
1 to lay one part over or against another part of <fold the blanket so that it will fit inside the trunk>

Synonyms
double

Related Words
overlap, overlay, overlie; collapse, telescope; close, shut; plait, pleat

Antonyms
extend, open, spread, unfold, unroll

2 to be unsuccessful <the business folded after just two months> — see FAIL 2

folder noun
a short printed publication with no cover or with a paper cover <a folder offering tips for heating one's home efficiently> — see PAMPHLET

folderol also falderal noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <wanted a dignified, simple wedding and not the folderol that the wedding planner was trying to foist on them> — see NONSENSE 1

foliage noun
green leaves or plants <decided the office needed more foliage and bought a few plants> — see GREENERY

folk noun
1 folks plural a group of persons who come from the same ancestor <her folks have farmed that land for five generations> — see FAMILY 1
2 one of the segments of society into which people are grouped <the working-class folk with no airs or pretentions> — see CLASS 1
3 folks plural human beings in general <c'mon, folks, let's get to work> — see PEOPLE 1

folklore noun
the body of customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings associated with a people, thing, or place <the Scottish Highlands are rich in folklore>

Synonyms
legend, legendry, lore, myth, mythology, mythos, tradition

Related Words
folklife; information, knowledge, wisdom; anecdote, fable, folktale, old wives' tale, tale, yarn

folksy adjective
having or showing an unpretentious informality <a folksy manner that gives television viewers the feeling that they're visiting with a friend for an hour> — see CRACKER-BARREL

follow verb
1 to come after in time <a wrap-up always follows the Super Bowl broadcast>

Synonyms
postdate, succeed, supervene

Related Words
displace, replace, supersede, supplant; ensue

Antonyms
antedate, precede, predate

2 to go after or on the track of <let's follow the boys to their hiding place>

Synonyms
bird-dog, chase, course, dog, hound, pursue, run, shadow, tag, tail, trace, track, trail

Related Words
accompany, chaperone (or chaperon), escort; hunt, search (for), seek; eye, observe, watch

Phrases
run after

Near Antonyms
head

Antonyms
guide, lead, pilot

3 to act according to the commands of <follow me, and you'll do OK> — see OBEY
4 to make one's way through, across, or over <followed the path into the garden> — see TRAVERSE
5 to take notice of and be guided by <don't follow his advice> — see HEED 1
6 to keep one's eyes on <stood on the platform and followed the departing train until it disappeared from sight> — see WATCH 1

follower noun
1 one who follows the opinions or teachings of another <the followers of Gandhi have spread his philosophy of nonviolence all over the world>

Synonyms
acolyte, adherent, convert, disciple, epigone, liege man, partisan (also partizan), pupil, votarist, votary

Related Words
apostle, missionary, proselytizer, soldier; faithful, loyalist; advocate, backer, champion, supporter; protégé, scholar, student; ideologist, ideologue (also idealogue), sectarian; admirer, cultist, devotee, enthusiast, fan, idolater (or idolator), worshipper (or worshiper), zealot; apparatchik, camp follower, flunky (also flunkey or flunkie), hanger-on, henchman, lackey, lickspittle, minion, myrmidon, satellite, stooge, sycophant, toady, yes-man

Near Antonyms
apostate, defector, renegade, traitor, turncoat

Antonyms
coryphaeus, leader

2 a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way <Brando's Method acting inspired a whole generation of mumbling followers> — see COPYCAT

followership noun
a group of people showing intense devotion to a cause, person, or work (as a film) <the televangelist has a substantial followership in the rural South> — see CULT 1

following adjective
being the one that comes immediately after another <the following morning, I found the cat was gone> — see NEXT

following noun
1 a body of employees or servants who accompany and wait on a person <a prince with a large following to do practically everything for him> — see CORTEGE 1
2 a group of people showing intense devotion to a cause, person, or work (as a film) <that rock star attracts quite a following> — see CULT 1
3 the act of going after or in the tracks of another <took part in the following of the coyote> — see PURSUIT 1

following preposition
subsequent to in time or order <following the concert, there will be refreshments in the lobby> — see AFTER

follow through (with) verb
to carry through (as a process) to completion <you said you would put all of the files in order, but you didn't follow through with it> — see PERFORM 1

folly noun
1 a foolish act or idea <the American purchase of Alaska was originally considered a grand folly>

Synonyms
absurdity, asininity, bêtise, fatuity, foolery, foppery, idiocy, imbecility, inanity, insanity, lunacy, stupidity

Related Words
absurdness, craziness, foolishness, inaneness, madness, senselessness, witlessness; buffoonery, monkeyshine(s), shenanigan(s), tomfoolery; drivel, humbug, nonsense, twaddle; blunder, bungle, flub, goof, howler

Near Antonyms
discretion, forethought, prudence, sagacity, wisdom; brainstorm, inspiration

2 lack of good sense or judgment <in all my folly, I didn't think about how my actions would hurt my father> — see FOOLISHNESS 1
3 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <enough of this folly about moving to the Australian outback> — see NONSENSE 1

foment verb
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being <John Adams's wife, Abigail, told him that if women were not remembered by the new American government, they would “foment a Rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice or Representation”> — see INCITE 1

fomenter noun
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent <sent the fomenters of the rebellion to prison> — see AGITATOR

fond adjective
1 having a liking or affection <even lots of city people are fond of country music>

Synonyms
affected, attached, inclined, partial

Related Words
crazy (about or over), enamored, enraptured, gone (on), infatuated, mad (about), nuts (about); desirous, eager, enthusiastic, excited, gung ho, keen

Phrases
big on

Near Antonyms
apathetic, cool, indifferent, uninterested; contemptuous, disdainful, scornful; antagonistic, antipathetic, hostile; alienated, disaffected, disenchanted, estranged

Antonyms
allergic, averse, disinclined

2 feeling or showing love <gave me a fond embrace upon parting> — see LOVING 1
3 granted special treatment or attention <my fondest wish is to see my children marry well> — see DARLING 1

fondle verb
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner <a cat who enjoys being fondled by his loving owners>

Synonyms
caress, gentle, love, pat, pet, stroke

Related Words
bill, canoodle, cuddle, neck, nestle, nose, nuzzle, snuggle, spoon; feel up, paw; cradle, embrace, enfold, hug; bounce, dandle; knead, massage; baby, coddle, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

fondness noun
1 a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone <my fondness for you will never fail> — see LOVE 1
2 positive regard for something <I have a fondness for expensive chocolate> — see LIKING

font noun
a point or place at which something is invented or provided <a domestic diva who is a seemingly endless font of new ideas> — see SOURCE 1

food noun
1 substances intended to be eaten <a simple, little restaurant with excellent food>

Synonyms
bread, chow, chuck [chiefly West], comestibles, eatables, eats, edibles, fare, foodstuffs, grub, meat, provender, provisions, table, tucker [chiefly Australian], viands, victuals, vittles

Related Words
commissary, rations, supplies; aliment, nutriment; diet, nourishment, nurture, sustenance; mess, pap; ensilage, feed, fodder, forage, silage, slop, swill; feast, meal, refreshments, regale, repast, spread; board; dish, plate, platter, serving; finger food, natural food

Near Antonyms
bane, poison, toxin, venom

2 something that maintains or stimulates the intellect <a fascinating, highly readable book that will serve as brain food for those long winter evenings> — see SUSTENANCE

foodstuffs plural noun
substances intended to be eaten <stocked up on candles and foodstuffs before the hurricane> — see FOOD 1

foofaraw noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <the foofaraw that accompanies any big wedding> — see COMMOTION

fool noun
1 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <only a fool would attempt to climb that mountain unprepared>

Synonyms
berk [British], booby, charlie (also charley) [British], cuckoo, ding-a-ling, dingbat, ding-dong, dipstick, doofus [slang], featherhead, git [British], goose, half-wit, jackass, lunatic, mooncalf, nincompoop, ninny, ninnyhammer, nit [chiefly British], nitwit, nut, nutcase, simp, simpleton, turkey, yo-yo

Related Words
daredevil; madman, madwoman; airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, cretin, dodo, dolt, donkey, dope, dork [slang], dumbbell, dummy, dunce, fathead, gander, goon, half-wit, idiot, ignoramus, imbecile, know-nothing, knucklehead, moron, numskull (or numbskull), pinhead, schlub (also shlub) [slang], schlump [slang], schnook [slang], stock; featherbrain, scatterbrain; butt, dupe, laughingstock, mockery, monkey; chump, loser, schlemiel (also shlemiel); character, codger, crackbrain, crackpot, crank, kook, oddball, screwball, weirdo

Near Antonyms
sage, thinker; brain, genius

2 a person formerly kept in a royal or noble household to amuse with jests and pranks <a king's fool could get away with saying things that others in the palace couldn't>

Synonyms
jester, motley

Related Words
buffoon, clown, comedian, comedienne, comic, cutup, droll, harlequin, joker, jokester, madcap, merry-andrew, vice, wag, zany; mime, mummer

3 a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <I'm a fool for ice cream—virtually any flavor> — see FAN
4 a person judged to be legally or medically insane <he got out of serving in the army by successfully pretending to be a fool> — see LUNATIC 1

fool adjective
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <he's always got some fool plan or other> — see FOOLISH 1

fool verb
1 to cause to believe what is untrue <I fooled him into thinking that we were driving to the store, not to his surprise birthday party> — see DECEIVE
2 to make jokes <an edgy comedian fooling with an appreciative college audience> — see JOKE 1

fool (with) verb
to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously <not a good idea to fool with power tools before you've read the manual> — see TAMPER WITH

fool around verb
1 to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior <quit fooling around on the jungle gym, or you'll get hurt> — see CUT UP
2 to spend time in aimless activity <spent the rainy afternoon listening to music and fooling around> — see FIDDLE AROUND

foolery noun
1 a foolish act or idea <it's foolery to expect me to let you shoplift that DVD> — see FOLLY 1
2 wildly playful or mischievous behavior <let the kids have a little foolery once in a while> — see HORSEPLAY

foolhardy adjective
1 foolishly adventurous or bold <hikers who were foolhardy enough to remain on the summit during a thunderstorm>

Synonyms
audacious, brash, daredevil, madcap, overbold, overconfident, reckless, temerarious

Related Words
adventuresome, adventurous, bold, daring, venturesome, venturous; brave, courageous, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, hardy, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, manful, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, undauntable, undaunted, valiant, valorous; hotheaded; impetuous, imprudent, impulsive, incautious, rash; brainless, foolish, harebrained, scatterbrained; careless, heedless, thoughtless; hasty, headlong, precipitate

Near Antonyms
unadventurous, unambitious; fainthearted, fearful, mousy (or mousey), scary, shy, skittish, timid, timorous; calm, cool, levelheaded, sensible; alert, intelligent, quick-witted, sharp; chicken, chickenhearted, cowardly, craven, dastardly, lily-livered, pusillanimous, recreant, spineless, unheroic, yellow

Antonyms
careful, cautious, circumspect, guarded, heedful, prudent, safe, wary

2 having or showing a lack of concern for the consequences of one's actions <it's foolhardy to go hiking during late fall without warm clothes> — see RECKLESS 1

fooling adjective
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing <ribbed him with fooling comments about the weight that he had put on> — see QUIZZICAL

foolish adjective
1 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <foolish people who thought that the world would end in the year 2000> <a foolish scheme that was supposed to make us all rich>

Synonyms
absurd, asinine, balmy, brainless, bubbleheaded, cockeyed, crackpot, crazy, cuckoo, daffy, daft, dippy, dotty, fatuous, featherheaded, fool, half-baked, harebrained, half-witted, inept, insane, jerky, kooky (also kookie), loony (also looney), lunatic, lunkheaded, mad, nonsensical, nutty, preposterous, sappy, screwball, senseless, silly, simpleminded, stupid, tomfool, unwise, wacky (also whacky), weak-minded, witless, zany

Related Words
airheaded, birdbrained, boobish, brain-dead, chowderheaded, chuckleheaded, clueless, dense, dim, dim-witted, doltish, dopey (also dopy), dorky [slang], dull, dumb, dunderheaded, empty-headed, fatuous, feebleminded, gormless [chiefly British], idiotic (also idiotical), imbecile (or imbecilic), knuckleheaded, lamebrain (or lamebrained), mindless, moronic, oafish, obtuse, opaque, pinheaded, simple, slow, slow-witted, soft, softheaded, thoughtless, thick, thickheaded, unintelligent, vacuous, witless; fallacious, illogical, invalid, irrational, nonrational, surd, unreasonable, unreasoning, unsound, weak; farcical, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous; notional; buffoonish, clownish; ill-advised, unconsidered, unreasoned

Phrases
out to lunch

Near Antonyms
brainy, bright, clever, intelligent, smart; logical, rational, reasonable, valid; well-advised

Antonyms
judicious, prudent, sagacious, sage, sane, sapient, sensible, sound, wise

2 conceived or made without regard for reason or reality <foolish attempts to construct a perpetual motion machine> — see FANTASTIC 1
3 lacking importance <the current regulations are cluttered with foolish details that are unnecessarily burdensome> — see UNIMPORTANT

foolishness noun
1 lack of good sense or judgment <the foolishness of going off to search for the fountain of youth>

Synonyms
absurdity, asininity, balminess, brainlessness, craziness, daftness, dippiness, dottiness, fatuity, fatuousness, folly, imbecility, inanity, insanity, lunacy, madness, nonsensicalness, nuttiness, preposterousness, senselessness, silliness, simplicity, unwisdom, wackiness, witlessness, zaniness

Related Words
denseness, dim-wittedness, doltishness, dopiness, dullness (also dulness), dumbness, feeblemindedness, gormlessness [chiefly British], idiocy, mindlessness, oafishness, obtuseness, simplemindedness, simpleness, slowness, stupidity, stupidness, vacuity; fallacy, irrationality, unreasonableness; kookiness, weirdness; laughableness, ludicrousness, ridiculousness

Near Antonyms
logicality, logicalness, rationality, rationalness, reasonability, reasonableness, validity; discernment, insight, perception, percipience

Antonyms
prudence, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sanity, sapience, sensibleness, soundness, wisdom

2 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <couldn't listen to another second of their foolishness, so I told them to be quiet> — see NONSENSE 1
3 the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <you didn't fail the test because of any innate foolishness but because of a lack of preparation> — see STUPIDITY 1

foot noun
the lowest part, place, or point <the foot of the pedestal> — see BOTTOM 3

foot verb
to give what is owed for <I'll foot the bill for dinner> — see PAY 2

foot (it) verb
1 to go on foot <after the car broke down, we had to foot it to the movie> — see WALK 1
2 to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music <got out onto the dance floor and footed it like crazy> — see DANCE 1

foot (up) verb
to combine (numbers) into a single sum <please foot up your traveling expenses from this past month> — see ADD 2

foothold noun
a place from which an advance (as for military operations) is made <don't let the opposing team push us back down the field and gain a foothold> — see BASE 2

footing noun
1 an immaterial thing upon which something else rests <your donations help provide the charity with a firm financial footing for its work> — see BASE 1
2 position with regard to conditions and circumstances <the village's two churches are on a friendly footing> — see SITUATION 1
3 the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement <you'll have to work hard to get a better footing in the company> — see RANK 1

footle verb
to spend time doing nothing <spent the morning footling about while others were working> — see IDLE

footling adjective
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <the assistant's job was to shield the president from such footling problems> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

footloose adjective
1 not bound, confined, or detained by force <after having been chained for so long, the suddenly footloose dog ran helter-skelter about the yard> — see FREE 3
2 not held back by rules, duties, or worries <wished I could be as carefree as that footloose toddler> — see FREEWHEELING

footmark noun
the mark or impression made by a foot <the police found footmarks in the dirt beneath the window> — see FOOTPRINT

footpath noun
a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps <found the footpath leading down into the valley> — see TRAIL 1

footprint noun
the mark or impression made by a foot <mysterious footprints along the beach>

Synonyms
footmark, footstep, step, trace, vestige

Related Words
hoofprint; pug, spoor, track; tread

foot soldier noun
a person who does very hard or dull work <he's been a foot soldier for several environmental organizations over the years> — see SLAVE 2

footstep noun
the mark or impression made by a foot <saw muddy footsteps on the just-cleaned stairs> — see FOOTPRINT

foozle verb
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <foozled the attempt to move the couch into the apartment and tore the fabric on the arms> — see BOTCH

fop noun
a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance <he's such a fop that he drives nearly 50 miles just to get his hair cut by Monsieur Louis> — see DANDY 1

foppery noun
a foolish act or idea <regards the platform shoe as one of the unfortunate fopperies of the 1970s that should remain buried in fashion's scrap heap> — see FOLLY 1

for conjunction
for the reason that <the bill should be listed as paid, for I mailed it in on time> — see SINCE

forage verb
to feed on grass or herbs <cows foraging in the pasture> — see 1GRAZE

forage (for) verb
to go in search of <went foraging for change for the parking meter> — see SEEK 1

foray noun
a sudden attack on and entrance into hostile territory <made a nighttime foray into the enemy camp and took their command post> — see RAID 1

foray (into) verb
to enter for conquest or plunder <Vikings foraying into the village> — see INVADE

forbear verb
to resist the temptation of <she's old enough to make her own decisions, so we must forbear criticizing her taste in clothes>

Synonyms
abjure, abstain (from), forgo (also forego), keep (from), refrain (from), withhold (from)

Related Words
avoid, eschew, shun; check, constrain, curb, inhibit; deny, refuse, reject, repudiate; buck, combat, fight

Near Antonyms
acquiesce (to), capitulate, concede (to), knuckle under (to)

Antonyms
bow (to), give in (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to)

forbearance noun
1 the capacity to endure what is difficult or disagreeable without complaining <we thank you for your forbearance while we attend to the technical difficulties interrupting the TV program> — see PATIENCE
2 kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it <the judge showed forbearance, and gave the teenaged first offender a suspended sentence> — see MERCY 1

forbearing adjective
accepting pains or hardships calmly or without complaint <she was inspired by the forbearing patients of the intensive care unit> — see PATIENT 1

forbid verb
to order not to do or use or to be done or used <smoking is forbidden throughout the building> <we forbid you to see him>

Synonyms
ban, bar, enjoin, interdict, outlaw, prohibit, proscribe

Related Words
deter, discourage, dissuade; clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, put down, quash, quell, repress, silence, snuff (out), squash, squelch, subdue, suppress; halt, preclude, prevent, stop; embargo, exclude, rule out, shut out; debar, deprive, disallow, reject, repudiate, veto; bridle, check, curb, inhibit, rein (in), restrain; block, hinder, impede, obstruct

Near Antonyms
approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; authorize, license (also licence), warrant; abet, advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, further, nourish, nurture, promote, support; bid, command, order; abide, bear, brook, countenance, endure, tolerate

Antonyms
allow, let, permit, suffer

forbidden adjective
that may not be permitted <trespassing is forbidden> — see IMPERMISSIBLE

forbidding adjective
1 causing fear <a dark, forbidding house, that is reputed to be haunted> — see FEARFUL 1
2 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <told us in a forbidding voice to stop calling him by that name> — see GRIM 1

forbidding noun
the act of ordering that something not be done or used <the landlord's forbidding of loud music after 10:00 p.m.> — see PROHIBITION 1

force noun
1 a body of persons at work or available for work <the entire force of the shipyard will be needed to get this government order done on time>

Synonyms
help, labor force, manpower, personnel, pool, staff, workforce

Related Words
labor, proletariat, rank and file; band, company, crew, gang, outfit, party, squad, team; employee (also employe), helper, hireling, worker; blood; support

2 the use of power to impose one's will on another <a cruel tyrant who disbanded the parliament and ruled by force>

Synonyms
arm-twisting, coercion, compulsion, constraint, duress, pressure

Related Words
browbeating, bulldozing, bullying; fear, intimidation, menace, sword, terror, terrorism, threat, violence; squeeze, squeeze play; might, muscle, potency, puissance, strength; hardheadedness, self-will, willfulness; strain, stress

Near Antonyms
agreement, approval, consent, permission; convincing, persuasion, reason, suasion

3 the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task <got through the college board exams by sheer force of will> — see POWER 2
4 the capacity to persuade <surely you were influenced by the force of his arguments?> — see COGENCY 1
5 the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect <felt the full force of her denunciation of war as a morally acceptable option> — see 1PUNCH 1
6 the use of brute strength to cause harm to a person or property <threatened to resort to force if he wouldn't listen to reason> — see VIOLENCE 1
7 a body of officers of the law <the new police chief will most likely be someone from the force> — see POLICE 2
8 the number of individuals or amount of something available at any given time <the great debate during the Cold War was whether the nation's missile force was adequate> — see SUPPLY

force verb
1 to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <the government forced the natives to sell their land> <hunger forced the refugees to steal>

Synonyms
blackjack, coerce, compel, constrain, dragoon, drive, impel, impress, make, muscle, obligate, oblige, press, pressure, sandbag

Related Words
browbeat, bulldoze, bully, cow, hector, intimidate; blackmail, high-pressure, menace, shame, terrorize, threaten; drag; badger, harass, hound

Phrases
twist one's arm

Near Antonyms
allow, let, permit; argue, convince, induce, move, persuade, prevail (on or upon), satisfy, talk (into), win (over)

2 to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent <young men who should realize that there is no excuse for forcing a woman> — see RAPE

forced adjective
1 forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law <forced attendance at political indoctrination sessions> — see MANDATORY
2 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <wasn't too excited about their wedding plans and so gave them a forced smile> — see ARTIFICIAL 1
3 not made or done willingly or by choice <participation in the program was forced> — see INVOLUNTARY 1

force field noun
the power of irresistible attraction <an entrepreneur whose force field is intense enough to make you share in his dreams> — see CHARM 2

forceful adjective
1 having the power to persuade <made a very forceful argument against going to war> — see COGENT
2 marked by or uttered with forcefulness <he kept asking me out until I gave him a very forceful and blunt “no”> — see EMPHATIC 1
3 not showing weakness or uncertainty <took a forceful stand on the highly controversial issue> — see FIRM 1
4 having power over the minds or behavior of others <a forceful speaker whose words moved the audience to tears> — see INFLUENTIAL 1

forcefully adverb
in a vigorous and forceful manner <shut the door a little too forcefully and broke the glass> — see HARD 3

forcefulness noun
1 the capacity to persuade <the forcefulness of his argument is indisputable> — see COGENCY 1
2 the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect <delivered the punch line with appropriate forcefulness> — see 1PUNCH 1
3 the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression) <her clenched teeth only added to the forcefulness of her words> — see VEHEMENCE 1

forcibly adverb
in a vigorous and forceful manner <after getting in the ref's face once too often, he was forcibly ejected from the game> — see HARD 3

ford noun
a place where a body of water (as a sea or river) is shallow <didn't attempt getting the horses across the stream until we had reached the ford> — see SHOAL

fore adjective
being at or in the forward part or surface of something <cats have five fore toes but only four hind toes> — see FRONT

fore also 'fore preposition, chiefly dialect
1 earlier than <fore the baby's arrival, the young couple had been able to cope with their problems> — see BEFORE 1
2 preceding in space <fore the stranger there swarmed a gaggle of curious street urchins> — see BEFORE 2

forearm verb
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally <forearmed themselves for the championship game with the help of a sports psychologist> — see FORTIFY 1

forebear also forbear noun
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent <his forebears came to America on the Mayflower> — see ANCESTOR 1

forebearer noun
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent <villagers who still practice many of the customs of their forebearers> — see ANCESTOR 1

forebode also forbode verb
to show signs of a favorable or successful outcome <that police car parked outside the house doesn't forebode well> — see BODE

foreboding adjective
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come <foreboding war clouds began to gather> — see OMINOUS

foreboding noun
1 a feeling that something bad will happen <I have this strange foreboding that your ski vacation will not turn out well, so be extra careful> — see PREMONITION
2 something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event <used to think that if he saw a blackbird fly over his left shoulder it was a foreboding of harm> — see OMEN
3 suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune <a pessimist who is always overcome by a sense of foreboding before flying on an airplane> — see APPREHENSION 1

forecast noun
a declaration that something will happen in the future <want to catch the weather forecast so I'll know what kind of clothes to pack for the trip tomorrow> — see PREDICTION

forecast verb
to tell of or describe beforehand <the station's meteorologist forecasts sun for the next five days> — see FORETELL

forecaster noun
one who predicts future events or developments <a financial forecaster who is widely followed by small investors> — see PROPHET 1

forecasting noun
a declaration that something will happen in the future <the construction company's forecasting of a September 1 completion date for the new school was wildly optimistic> — see PREDICTION

foredoom verb
to determine the fate of in advance <since the dawn of the ages he was foredoomed to become king one day> — see DESTINE

forefather noun
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent <our forefathers bought this farm, and our family has worked it for three generations> — see ANCESTOR 1

forefeel verb
to realize or know about beforehand <did any of the passengers embarking on the Titanic's maiden voyage forefeel their impending doom?> — see FORESEE

forefront noun
the leading or most important part of a movement <a politician who was in the forefront of women's rights>

Synonyms
cutting edge, front line, leading edge, van, vanguard

Related Words
spearhead

forego verb
to go or come before in time <if the sparse crowds are any indication of the public's interest in the presidential candidate, then his reputation obviously foregoes him> — see PRECEDE

foregoer noun
1 one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another <a nearly November snowfall that appears to be a disconcerting foregoer of the harsh winter facing us> — see FORERUNNER 1
2 something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed <not many people still have manual typewriters, the foregoers to word processors> — see ANCESTOR 2

foregoing adjective
1 going before another in time or order <your foregoing statement contradicts your latest one> — see PREVIOUS
2 mentioned previously <for the foregoing reasons, I believe that we have no choice but to deliver a guilty verdict> — see AFORESAID

foreground verb
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on <repeatedly foregrounded his experience in international affairs in the course of his campaign for the presidency> — see EMPHASIZE 1

forehanded adjective
having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future <was forehanded enough to stock up on batteries for winter storms> — see FORESIGHTED

forehead noun
a forward part or surface <the forehead of the ancient temple features a frieze of dramatically posed figures> — see FRONT 1

foreign adjective
1 being, relating to, or characteristic of a country other than one's own <more Americans should take an interest in foreign languages>

Synonyms
alien, nonnative

Related Words
imported, introduced, naturalized, transplanted; external, international, multiculti, multicultural, multilateral, multinational; foreign-born, nonindigenous; distant, far-off, overseas, remote; bizarre, exotic, outlandish, strange

Near Antonyms
endemic, local; aboriginal, indigenous

Antonyms
domestic, native

2 not being a vital part of or belonging to something <pediatricians often have to remove peas or other foreign bodies from inside the ears of curious toddlers> — see EXTRINSIC
3 relating to or involving two or more nations <foreign trade has always been vital to the region's economic health> — see INTERNATIONAL

foreigner noun
a person who is not native to or known to a community <I can tell by your accent you're a foreigner in these parts> — see STRANGER

foreknow verb
to realize or know about beforehand <what couple can possibly foreknow the trials and tribulations that marriage will bring?> — see FORESEE

foreknowledge noun
the special ability to see or know about events before they actually occur <a suspenseful story about a man who has a frightening foreknowledge of disasters> — see FORESIGHT 1

foreland noun
an area of land that juts out into a body of water <from the plane I could see a foreland shaped like a large toe> — see 2CAPE

foreman noun
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do <asked the shift foreman if he could take a break> — see BOSS

foremost adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <Albert Einstein is regarded by many as the foremost figure of the 20th century>

Synonyms
arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, first, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme

Related Words
distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, prestigious, signal, star, stellar, superior; high-level, senior, top; important, influential, major, mighty, momentous, significant; incomparable, matchless, unequaled (or unequalled), unparalleled, unsurpassed; celebrated, famed, famous, renowned

Near Antonyms
inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant; collateral, inferior, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary

Antonyms
last, least

2 highest in rank or authority <wanted to speak to the foremost supervisor in our department> — see HEAD
3 coming before all others in time or order <when the foremost person in line tripped, everyone had to stop> — see FIRST 1

forename noun
a name that is placed before one's family name <a long string of forenames was given to the latest addition to the royal family>

Synonyms
Christian name, first name, given name, prename

Related Words
appellation, denomination, designation; cognomen, denotation, epithet, handle, nickname, sobriquet (also soubriquet), title; alias, nom de plume, pen name, pseudonym; baptismal name

forenamed adjective
mentioned previously <the forenamed members of the commission have been asked to serve a second term> — see AFORESAID

forenoon noun
the time from sunrise until noon <enjoy the relatively cool forenoon, for the afternoon promises to be a scorcher> — see MORNING 1

foreordain verb
to determine the fate of in advance <we are such good friends, it's almost like we were foreordained to meet> — see DESTINE

forepart noun
a forward part or surface <moved to the forepart of the machine to check the mechanism> — see FRONT 1

forerun verb
to give a slight indication of beforehand <the moral decay that traditionally foreruns the decline of a mighty empire> — see FORESHADOW

forerunner noun
1 one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another <the return of the swallows is traditionally regarded as a forerunner of spring>

Synonyms
angel, foregoer, harbinger, herald, outrider, precursor

Related Words
foreboder, foreshadower, foretaste, forewarning; advertiser, announcer, blazoner, crier, proclaimer; courier, messenger, runner; augury, auspice, boding, foreboding, foreshadowing, omen, portent, prefiguring, presage; mark, sign, symptom; bellwether

2 something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed <enjoyed the demonstration of the simple hand loom that was the forerunner of today's computer-controlled looms> — see ANCESTOR 2

foresee verb
to realize or know about beforehand <a freak accident that no one could possibly have foreseen>

Synonyms
anticipate, divine, forefeel, foreknow, prevision

Related Words
augur, forecast, foretell, predict, presage, prognosticate, prophesy; envisage, envision, foreshadow, prefigure, visualize; alert, caution, foretoken, forewarn; preview; descry, discern, perceive; apprehend, dread, fear

foreseeing adjective
having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future <some years ago the senator wrote a foreseeing essay on the threat of global terrorism> — see FORESIGHTED

foreseer noun
one who predicts future events or developments <in Greek mythology Cassandra was a foreseer who always accurately predicted misfortune but was never believed> — see PROPHET 1

foreshadow verb
to give a slight indication of beforehand <a series of small tremors that foreshadowed the massive earthquake the next day>

Synonyms
adumbrate, forerun, harbinger, herald, prefigure

Related Words
anticipate, foreknow, foresee; forecast, foretell, predict, prognosticate, prophesy; forewarn; augur, bode, forebode (also forbode), portend, presage, promise; allude, connote, hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, suggest

foreshadowing noun
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event <the hero's strange encounter with a grave digger is often seen as a foreshadowing of his own death> — see OMEN

foresight noun
1 the special ability to see or know about events before they actually occur <a mysterious woman who claims to have the gift of foresight>

Synonyms
foreknowledge, prescience

Related Words
foreboding, premonition, prenotion, presage, presentiment; clairvoyance, extrasensory perception, sixth sense; omniscience; divination

2 concern or preparation for the future <had the foresight to realize the global importance of the Internet>

Synonyms
farsightedness, foresightedness, forethought, prescience, providence, vision

Related Words
precaution, premeditation; discernment, discretion, insight, perception, perceptiveness, prudence, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sapience, wisdom

Near Antonyms
hindsight

Antonyms
improvidence, myopia, shortsightedness

foresighted adjective
having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future <the foresighted conservationists who worked to create the national park system>

Synonyms
farseeing, farsighted, forehanded, foreseeing, forethoughtful, forward, forward-looking, prescient, proactive, provident, visionary

Related Words
careful, cautious, heedful; discerning, insightful, perceptive, percipient, prudent, sagacious, sage, sapient, wise

Near Antonyms
careless, heedless, incautious

Antonyms
half-baked, half-cocked, improvident, myopic, shortsighted

foresightedness noun
concern or preparation for the future <thanks to your foresightedness, we have enough ice and food to last through the blackout> — see FORESIGHT 2

forest noun
a dense growth of trees and shrubs covering a large area <the endless forest that the first European settlers encountered>

Synonyms
forestland, timber, timberland, wood(s), woodland

Related Words
brake, brushwood, chaparral, coppice, copse, covert, grove, scrubland, stand, thicket; greenwood, wildwood; woodlot; arboretum, plantation

forestall verb
to keep from happening by taking action in advance <you can often forestall skidding on the ice simply by driving more slowly> — see PREVENT

forestallment noun
the act or practice of keeping something from happening <by raising the necessary funds, the historical society was able to effect a last-minute forestallment of the demolition of the town's oldest house> — see PREVENTION

forestland noun
a dense growth of trees and shrubs covering a large area <the region's vanishing forestland> — see FOREST

foretell verb
to tell of or describe beforehand <a 16th-century astrologer who, some claim, accurately foretold 20th-century events>

Synonyms
augur, call, forecast, predict, presage, prognosticate, prophesy, read, vaticinate

Related Words
alert, caution, forewarn, warn; bode, forebode (also forbode), portend, promise; anticipate, divine, foreknow, foresee; announce, declare, herald, proclaim

Near Antonyms
describe, narrate, recite, recount, relate, report, tell

foreteller noun
one who predicts future events or developments <some regard that 16th-century astrologer as an uncanny foreteller of some of the most disastrous events of the 20th century> — see PROPHET 1

foretelling noun
a declaration that something will happen in the future <the ludicrous foretellings of self-styled psychics at the end of each year> — see PREDICTION

forethought noun
concern or preparation for the future <in an unusual show of forethought, the city had set up a network of well-supplied emergency shelters to accommodate victims of the hurricane> — see FORESIGHT 2

forethoughtful adjective
having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future <doctors encouraging people to be forethoughtful and get their flu shots in advance of the flu season> — see FORESIGHTED

forever adverb
1 for all time <we'll be best friends forever> — see EVER 1
2 on every relevant occasion <he is forever reminding me to wear my hat and gloves in cold weather> — see ALWAYS 1

forever noun
a long or seemingly long period of time <it took forever to fill out all the forms> — see AGE 2

forevermore adverb
for all time <a hero that will be praised forevermore for his great deeds> — see EVER 1

foreverness noun
endless time <some men claim that it's the alleged foreverness of marriage that makes them fear it> — see ETERNITY 1

forewarn verb
to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or risk <I should forewarn you before you come to visit that we have a dog> — see WARN

forewarning noun
the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk <heeded the forewarning to stay off the ice until the town had checked to see if it was thick enough> — see WARNING 1

foreword noun
a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part <the editor makes some good points in the foreword about the author's life, so be sure to read it> — see INTRODUCTION

forfeit noun
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment <the forfeit for each baseball player involved in the brawl was $5,000> — see FINE

forfeiture noun
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment <the forfeiture for early withdrawal of the investment savings will be an amount equal to 10 percent of the investment> — see FINE

forfend verb
to drive danger or attack away from <a place of refuge where the settlers could forfend themselves from attack> — see DEFEND 1

forgather or foregather verb
to come together into one body or place <asked the townsfolk to forgather at the war monument for the Memorial Day ceremony> — see ASSEMBLE 1

1forge verb
to move forward along a course <the rescue team forged ahead despite the bad weather> — see GO 1

2forge verb
1 to imitate or copy especially in order to deceive <arrested for forging the doctor's signature on the prescription> — see FAKE 1
2 to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort <both sides labored mightily to forge a peace treaty> — see HAMMER OUT
3 to shape with a hammer <loved the artisan look of that hand-forged copper pot> — see HAMMER 1

forged adjective
being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud <a forged ancient document that didn't fool experts in cartography> — see COUNTERFEIT 1

forgery noun
an imitation that is passed off as genuine <that is a cheap forgery, not an authentic Ming Dynasty vase> — see FAKE 1

forget verb
1 to be unable to recall or think of <I forget exactly on which street that the house is>

Synonyms
disremember, unlearn

Related Words
lose, miss; blank; misremember; disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, slur (over)

Near Antonyms
remind

Antonyms
flash back (to), hark back (to), harken back (to), hearken back (to), mind [chiefly dialect], recall, recollect, remember, reminisce (about), think (of)

2 to fail to give proper attention to <she promised not to forget her high school friends after she went off to college> — see NEGLECT 1
3 to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness <he forgot the pot boiling on the stove> — see NEGLECT 2
4 to miss the opportunity or obligation <I forgot to call on his birthday> — see NEGLECT 3

forgetful adjective
inclined to forget what one has learned or to do what one should <we become more forgetful as we get older>

Synonyms
absentminded

Related Words
absent, abstracted, lost, oblivious, preoccupied, unmindful; amnesiac (or amnesic), senile; befogged, befuddled, bemused, bewildered, confused, dazed, muddled, scatterbrained, unfocused (also unfocussed); lax, neglectful, negligent, remiss, slack; careless, heedless, inconsiderate, thoughtless; inattentive, insensible, unaware, unconscious, unheeding, unknowing, unperceptive, unthinking

Near Antonyms
alert, attentive, awake, keen, open-eyed, sharp, vigilant, watchful, wide-awake; careful, cautious, circumspect, conscientious, heedful, thoughtful, wary

Antonyms
retentive

forgetfulness noun
a state of being disregardful or unconscious of one's surroundings, concerns, or obligations <I welcomed the forgetfulness of one's worries that only sleep can bring> — see OBLIVION

forgivable adjective
worthy of forgiveness <accidentally spilling your coffee on my newspaper is certainly a forgivable mishap> — see VENIAL

forgive verb
1 to cease to have feelings of anger or bitterness toward <it is not easy to forgive those who have hurt us>

Synonyms
pardon

Related Words
absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate; remit, shrive; condone, disregard, excuse, ignore, pass over, shrug off; discharge, liberate, redeem, release, unburden

Near Antonyms
abhor, abominate, despise, detest, dislike, execrate, hate, loathe; avenge, redress, requite, retaliate, revenge; discipline, penalize, punish

Antonyms
resent

2 to dismiss as of little importance <he has so many good qualities that I guess we can forgive a slight penchant for exaggeration> — see EXCUSE 1

forgiveness noun
release from the guilt or penalty of an offense <they asked her forgiveness for failing to invite her to the party> — see PARDON

forgo also forego verb
to resist the temptation of <I'll forgo dessert tonight—I'm trying to lose weight> — see FORBEAR

forgotten adjective
left unoccupied or unused <a forgotten doll under the bed> <a long-forgotten house down a winding dirt road> — see ABANDONED 1

fork verb
to go or move in different directions from a central point <the road forks up ahead and you'll want to take the right fork> — see SEPARATE 2

fork (over, out, or up) verb
to hand over or use up in payment <I hated to have to fork over that kind of money for a new set of tires> — see SPEND 1

forlorn adjective
1 feeling unhappiness <she was forlorn when she found out the trip had been cancelled> — see SAD 1
2 sad from lack of companionship or separation from others <a forlorn wanderer far from home> — see LONESOME 1
3 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <a forlorn little town whose brief economic boom ended decades ago> — see GLOOMY 1
4 feeling or showing no hope <the forlorn expression of a candidate who knows that he hasn't a prayer of winning the election> — see DESPONDENT 1

forlornness noun
1 a state or spell of low spirits <seemingly nothing could relieve the losing team's forlornness> — see SADNESS
2 utter loss of hope <with the forlornness of someone who had been disappointed many times before, he abandoned his quest> — see DESPAIR 1

form verb
1 to take on a definite form <my ideas on the subject are just starting to form>

Synonyms
crystallize (also crystalize), jell, shape (up), solidify

Related Words
associate, coalesce, cohere, fuse; combine, conjoin, conjugate, connect, couple, join, link (up), unify, unite

Near Antonyms
break down, decay, decompose, disintegrate

2 to be all the substance of <this one sentence really forms the basis of your argument> — see CONSTITUTE 1
3 to bring into being by combining, shaping, or transforming materials <formed the pot out of the clay> — see MAKE 1
4 to come into existence <the new company formed from two smaller ones> — see BEGIN 2
5 to come to have gradually <I don't want you beginning skiers to form any bad habits> — see DEVELOP 2

form noun
1 the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance <the wood-carver carved the block of wood into the form of a duck>

Synonyms
cast, configuration, conformation, fashion, figure, geometry, shape

Related Words
contour, outline, profile, silhouette; frame, framework, shell, skeleton; arrangement, design, format, layout, makeup, organization, pattern, plan, setup

Near Antonyms
composition, material, matter, raw material, stuff, substance

2 a piece of paper with information written or to be written on it <I filled out all the forms for applying to the school>

Synonyms
blank, document, paper

Related Words
instrument, writ; filing; sheet

3 personal conduct or behavior as evaluated by an accepted standard of appropriateness for a social or professional setting <it's bad form to throw a tantrum on the court just because you lost a tennis match> — see MANNER 1
4 a state of being or fitness <after a long season off, the football team is back in good form> — see CONDITION 1
5 a three-dimensional representation of the human body used especially for displaying clothes <put the dress on the form to finish pinning it together> — see MANNEQUIN 1
6 an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules <we'll use the second form in our church missals for today's Lenten service> — see RITE
7 socially acceptable behavior <displayed good form throughout the formal dinner> — see DECENCY 1
8 the means or procedure for doing something <there are established forms for voting on motions and amendments at meetings> — see METHOD
9 the type of body that a person has <he has the big-boned form of a linebacker> — see PHYSIQUE
10 the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged <museumgoers liked the asymmetrical form of the mobile> — see COMPOSITION 3

formal noun
a social gathering for dancing <he asked her to the formal at the end of the year> — see DANCE

formal adjective
1 following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules <a formal meeting of the board of directors> <a formal contract that was legally binding>

Synonyms
ceremonial, ceremonious, conventional, orthodox, regular, routine

Related Words
authorized, certified, official, sanctioned; accepted, correct, decorous, genteel, nice, polite, proper, respectable, seemly; formalistic, ritual, ritualistic; methodical (also methodic), orderly, systematic

Near Antonyms
unauthorized, unofficial; graceless, improper, inappropriate, incorrect, indecorous, inept, infelicitous, unapt, unbecoming, unfit, unhappy, unseemly, unsuitable

Antonyms
casual, freewheeling, informal, irregular, unceremonious, unconventional, unorthodox

2 being something in name or form only <was the formal head of the charitable organization though he never attended a single meeting> — see NOMINAL 1
3 marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details <gave her a formal invitation to dinner> — see CEREMONIOUS 1
4 relating to or suitable for wearing to an event requiring elegant dress and manners <the dress code is formal for tonight's event> <a shop that rents out formal wear> — see DRESS
5 very dignified in form, tone, or style <the formal language of the coronation ceremony> — see ELEVATED 2

formality noun
1 an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners <bowing to your guest is a formality you don't need to perform for me> — see CIVILITY 1
2 an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules <churchgoers loved the formalities of a traditional Christmas Eve candlelight service> — see RITE

formalize verb
1 to make agree with a single established standard or model <we'll need to formalize our research results before we submit our study for review> — see STANDARDIZE
2 to give official acceptance of as satisfactory <the plan has yet to be formalized by the city council> — see APPROVE

format noun
1 the way in which something is sized, arranged, or organized <the book's format is very user-friendly>

Synonyms
arrangement, configuration, conformation, formation, layout, setout, setup

Related Words
design, plan, scheme; composition, constitution, getup, makeup; build, construction, structure

2 the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged <this abstract painter bases the format of his works on color and its subtle gradations and not line or form> — see COMPOSITION 3

formation noun
the way in which something is sized, arranged, or organized <geese flying south in a V-formation> — see FORMAT 1

formative adjective
having a role in deciding something's final form <a teacher who was a formative influence on generations of students>

Synonyms
constructive, productive

Related Words
causal, creative; consequential, influential

Antonyms
nonconstructive, nonproductive, unproductive

former adjective
1 having been such at some previous time <the coach is a former professional baseball player>

Synonyms
erstwhile, late, old, once, onetime, other, past, quondam, sometime, whilom

Related Words
bygone, dead, defunct, departed, expired, extinct, gone, long-ago, vanished

Near Antonyms
contemporary, current, extant, ongoing, present, present-day; coming, future, prospective, unborn

2 going before another in time or order <the former manual had some errors, but the current version has its own problems> — see PREVIOUS

formerly adverb
1 at an earlier or previous time <the newspaper formerly known as “The Newsprint”>

Synonyms
erstwhile, once, onetime

Near Antonyms
lately, recently; currently, now, presently

2 so as to precede something in order of time <if you didn't get a malaria shot formerly, you'd better get one now> — see AHEAD 1

formidable adjective
1 causing fear <a formidable, irascible old man who frightened the neighborhood children> — see FEARFUL 1
2 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <running a marathon is a formidable undertaking> — see HARD 2

formless adjective
1 having no definite or recognizable form <a formless mass of clay that the potter transformed into an attractive bowl>

Synonyms
amorphous, shapeless, unformed, unshaped, unstructured

Related Words
characterless, featureless, nondescript; chaotic, disorganized, incoherent, systemless, unordered, unorganized; dim, fuzzy, hazy, inchoate, indefinite, indeterminate, indistinct, indistinguishable, murky, nebulous, obscure, unclear, undefined, undetermined, vague

Near Antonyms
coherent, ordered, orderly, organized; clear, decided, definite, distinct

Antonyms
formed, shaped, shapen, structured

2 not composed of matter <from this formless void the universe was supposed to have been created> — see IMMATERIAL 1

formulaic adjective
using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model <she thought the plots of most action movies were pretty formulaic> — see IMITATIVE 1

formulate verb
1 to convey in appropriate or telling terms <the doctor was trying to formulate a good way to tell her that she would need surgery> — see PHRASE
2 to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form <a writer planning to formulate a response to what he considered a very unfair review of his work> — see COMPOSE 1

formulation noun
an act, process, or means of putting something into words <his letter was a very accurate formulation of his thoughts on the matter> — see EXPRESSION 1

formulator noun
one who creates or introduces something new <the formulator of the microcomputer> — see INVENTOR

forsake verb
to cause to remain behind <forsaking most of our possessions, we evacuated just before the hurricane struck> — see LEAVE 1

forsaken adjective
left unoccupied or unused <the forsaken paper mill was now a rusting wreck> — see ABANDONED

forsaking noun
the act of abandoning <his hard-hearted forsaking of his wife and children was truly unforgivable> — see DERELICTION 1

forsooth adverb
1 to tell the truth <forsooth, the rumor is true: this lovely lass and I are getting married!> — see ACTUALLY 1
2 without any question <you're getting married without a penny to your name—a pretty story forsooth!> — see INDEED 1

forswear also foreswear verb
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) <the new government would have to forswear the use of torture if it wished to be granted full diplomatic recognition> — see ABJURE 1

fort noun
a structure or place from which one can resist attack <a series of forts along the frontier>

Synonyms
bastion, castle, citadel, fastness, fortification, fortress, hold, redoubt, stronghold

Related Words
battlement, breastwork, bulwark, earthwork, embattlement, parapet, rampart; bunker, dugout; blockhouse, garrison house; alcazar, casbah (also kasbah)

forte noun
something for which a person shows a special talent <doing funny impressions of people has always been my forte>

Synonyms
long suit, métier (also metier), speciality, specialty, strong suit, thing

Related Words
area, arena, bailiwick, business, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, fief, fiefdom, field, line, precinct, province, realm, sphere, terrain; element; aptitude, aptness, bent, faculty, flair, genius, gift, knack, talent; pursuit, racket, vocation; inclination, leaning, partiality, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, propensity, tendency

forth adverb
1 toward a point ahead in space or time <from that day forth we were fast friends> — see ONWARD 1
2 toward or at a point lying in advance in space or time <go forth into the world with love and hope> — see ALONG

forthcoming adjective
1 being soon to appear or take place <everyone's excited about the forthcoming company gala>

Synonyms
approaching, coming, imminent, impending, nearing, oncoming, pending, proximate, upcoming

Related Words
future; anticipated, awaited, expected, foreseen, predicted

Phrases
at hand, on hand, on tap, to come

Near Antonyms
bygone, erstwhile, foregone, former, old, onetime, other, past, quondam, sometime, whilom

Antonyms
late, recent

2 free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <it's hard to tell what her views on that hot-button issue exactly are, as she's not very forthcoming> — see FRANK

forthright adjective
1 free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <she sometimes was a little too forthright for her own good and ended up saying things that inadvertently offended people> — see FRANK
2 going straight to the point clearly and firmly <I appreciate your forthright explanation of the situation> — see STRAIGHTFORWARD 1

forthrightly adverb
in an honest and direct manner <the police commissioner forthrightly and unhesitatingly admitted his mistake> — see STRAIGHTFORWARD

forthrightness noun
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <I valued her forthrightness in telling me she didn't like being called “Susie”> — see CANDOR 1

forthwith adverb
without delay <if the fire alarm rings, leave the building forthwith> — see IMMEDIATELY

fortification noun
a structure or place from which one can resist attack <defenders at the border fortifications preparing for an attack> — see FORT

fortify verb
1 to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally <Kelly fortified herself for the basketball tournament with a series of confidence-boosting exercises>

Synonyms
brace, forearm, nerve, poise, psych (up), ready, steel, strengthen

Related Words
arm; harden, inure, season, toughen; bolster, boost, buoy (up), buttress, enforce, prop (up), reinforce (also reenforce), support, sustain; cheer (up), comfort, embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire; rally, rouse, stir

Near Antonyms
daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, psych (out), shake, unnerve; debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, prostrate, sap, soften, tire, undercut, undermine, weaken

2 to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force <he downed another granola bar to fortify himself for the rest of the bike ride> — see STRENGTHEN 1
3 to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure <bought lots of warm clothing to fortify ourselves against the cold> — see HARDEN 2

fortitude noun
the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship <it was only with the greatest fortitude that the Pilgrims were able to survive their first winter in Plymouth>

Synonyms
backbone, constancy, fiber, grit, grittiness, guts, intestinal fortitude, pluck, spunk

Related Words
determination, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution; bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gallantry, greatheartedness, intrepidity, intrepidness, nerve, stoutness, valor; endurance, forbearance, stamina, sufferance, tolerance; heart, mettle, spirit; audacity, boldness, brass, cheek, chutzpah (also chutzpa or hutzpah or hutzpa), effrontery, gall, hardihood, nerve, nerviness, temerity

Near Antonyms
indecisiveness, irresoluteness, irresolution, vacillation; cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, faintheartedness, pusillanimity, timidity, timorousness

Antonyms
spinelessness

fortress noun
a structure or place from which one can resist attack <the boys built a snow fortress and then challenged the neighborhood kids to an in-your-face snowball fight> — see FORT

fortuitous adjective
1 coming or happening by good luck especially unexpectedly <your arrival just before the thunderstorm was fortuitous> — see FORTUNATE 1
2 happening by chance <firmly believes that the creation of the universe was something other than just the fortuitous coming together of particles of matter> — see ACCIDENTAL 1

fortunate adjective
1 coming or happening by good luck especially unexpectedly <in a fortunate turn of events, the motel had one last vacancy>

Synonyms
fluky (also flukey), fortuitous, happy, heaven-sent, lucky, providential

Related Words
convenient, opportune, seasonable, timely; unexpected, unforeseen, unlooked-for; accidental, chance, coincidental, serendipitous; auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, heartening, hopeful, promising, propitious; benign, favorable, golden, good, halcyon; advantageous, beneficial, profitable

Near Antonyms
inconvenient, inopportune, unseasonable, untimely; anticipated, expected, foreseen; deliberate, intentional, planned; inauspicious, unpromising; calamitous, catastrophic, disastrous

Antonyms
hapless, ill-fated, ill-starred, luckless, star-crossed, unfortunate, unhappy, unlucky

2 having good luck <rabbits' feet are seen as making the carrier of them fortunate> — see LUCKY 1

fortunateness noun
success that is partly the result of chance <he attributed his habitual fortunateness to the lucky penny that he had long ago stuck in his shoe> — see LUCK 1

fortune noun
1 what is going to happen to someone in the time ahead <the telephone psychic proceeded to tell me my fortune—at great length>

Synonyms
future

Related Words
circumstance, destiny, doom, fate, hap, kismet, lot, portion; futurities, outlook, prospect

Near Antonyms
present

Antonyms
past

2 a very large amount of money <the billionaire's huge mansion must have cost a fortune>

Synonyms
big bucks, bomb [British], boodle, bundle, earth, king's ransom, megabucks, mint, packet [chiefly British], pile, wad

Related Words
heap, pot; bonanza, mine, treasure trove; assets, capital, means, property, riches, wealth, wherewithal; bread [slang], cash, chips, currency, dough, gold, jack [slang], legal tender, lucre, pelf, tender, wampum

Near Antonyms
petty cash, pin money, pocket money, spending money

Antonyms
mite, peanuts, pittance song

3 a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand <it was his fortune that he should wander in the wilderness before becoming king> — see FATE 1
4 success that is partly the result of chance <in a streak of good fortune, she won the lottery twice that year> — see LUCK 1
5 the total of one's money and property <the family fortune is mostly in rare paintings and real estate> — see WEALTH 1

fortune–teller noun
one who predicts future events or developments <the carnival's fortune-teller should have predicted that I'd pass right by her> — see PROPHET 1

forty winks plural noun
a short sleep <after turning the boat over to the first mate, the captain went below decks for forty winks> — see 1NAP

forum noun
1 a meeting featuring a group discussion <a public forum called to find out how residents felt about a large discount store being built in their neighborhood>

Synonyms
colloquy, conference, council, panel, panel discussion, parley, powwow, round-robin, roundtable, seminar, symposium

Related Words
colloquium; caucus, town meeting; assembly, conclave, congregation, congress, consistory, convention, convocation, synod; debate, deliberation; brainstorming; chat room, newsgroup

2 a place or opportunity for communicating ideas and information <that Web site serves as a forum for movie buffs who are passionate about their likes and dislikes> — see VENUE 1
3 an assembly of persons for the administration of justice <a jury may have acquitted Lizzie Borden, but she was guilty of murder in the forum of public opinion> — see COURT 3

forward adjective
1 showing a lack of proper social reserve or modesty <a stranger so forward as to ask what medication he was taking and what it was for> — see PRESUMPTUOUS 1
2 being at or in the forward part or surface of something <the ship's forward deck> — see FRONT
3 being far along in development <the local citizenry's attitude toward racial equality was very forward for its time> — see ADVANCED 1
4 having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future <she was forward enough to start investing in her retirement fund at the age of 18> — see FORESIGHTED

forward adverb
1 toward or at a point lying in advance in space or time <if you keep walking forward, you'll hit that wall> — see ALONG
2 toward a point ahead in space or time <from this day forward, our two nations will live in peace and harmony> — see ONWARD 1

forward verb
to help the growth or development of <their foundation will help forward better relations between young people from those warring nations> — see FOSTER 1

forward–looking adjective
having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future <a forward-looking business plan designed to take full advantage of emerging technologies> — see FORESIGHTED

forwards adverb
toward or at a point lying in advance in space or time <for every step that her campaign takes forwards, it seems to take two backwards> — see ALONG

fosse or foss noun
a long narrow channel dug in the earth <the first line of defense is a water-filled fosse that enemy troops would have to cross> — see DITCH

fossil noun
a person with old-fashioned ideas <some old fossil who thinks that a boy and a girl shouldn't be together unsupervised until they are engaged> — see FOGY

fossilized adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <fossilized notions about the proper place of women in society> — see OBSOLETE

foster verb
1 to help the growth or development of <the head librarian firmly declared that it is indeed the duty of local government to foster learning and a love of reading>

Synonyms
advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, further, incubate, nourish, nurse, nurture, promote

Related Words
advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), support, uphold; endow, finance, fund, patronize, stake, subsidize, underwrite; abet, aid, assist; advertise, boost, plug, publicize, tout; agitate (for), campaign (for), work (for)

Near Antonyms
ban, bar, enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prevent, prohibit, proscribe; battle, combat, contend (with), counter, fight, oppose; repress, snuff (out), squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress; arrest, check, halt, retard; encumber, fetter, hobble, impede, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle

Antonyms
discourage, frustrate, hinder, inhibit

2 to bring to maturity through care and education <a greathearted couple fostering two adopted children as well as three more of their own> — see BRING UP 1

foul verb
1 to make dirty <the mechanic fouled the bath towels with axle grease> — see DIRTY
2 to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable <industrial pollution fouling the water supply> — see CONTAMINATE
3 to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <the minister was irreparably fouled by baseless rumors and allegations> — see HUMBLE
4 to go through decomposition <unless you want to smell the organic refuse as it fouls, locate the compost heap away from the house> — see DECAY 1

foul adjective
1 marked by wet and windy conditions <the foul weather brought out the windbreakers and rain slickers as everyone braced for a day of rough sailing>

Synonyms
bleak, dirty, inclement, nasty, raw, rough, squally, stormy, tempestuous, turbulent

Related Words
blowy, blustering, blustery, breezy, gusty, windblown, windswept; cloudy, overcast, sunless; rainy, snowy; foggy, hazy, misty, murky, soupy

Near Antonyms
rainless; balmy, calm, halcyon, peaceful, placid, pleasant, serene

Antonyms
bright, clear, clement, cloudless, fair, sunny, sunshiny, unclouded

2 not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport <an aggressive hockey player who is known for his foul play and readiness for a fight>

Synonyms
dirty, illegal, nasty, unfair, unsportsmanlike

Related Words
dishonorable, shabby, shameful; ignoble, low, mean, ungentlemanly; immoral, rotten, unchivalrous, unethical, unjust, unprincipled, unrighteous, unscrupulous

Phrases
below the belt

Near Antonyms
just, law-abiding; ethical, moral, principled, righteous, scrupulous; honorable, irreproachable, unimpeachable

Antonyms
clean, fair, legal, sportsmanlike, sportsmanly

3 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <a foul taste that made us gag> — see OFFENSIVE 1
4 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <that movie features nonstop foul language> — see OBSCENE 1
5 having an unpleasant smell <the foul fumes from the paper mill> — see MALODOROUS
6 not clean <I wouldn't play in the foul rainwater that's collected in the feeding trough> — see DIRTY 1

foulness noun
1 the quality or state of being obscene <the foulness of your language means that your post won't get on the Web site's bulletin board> — see OBSCENITY 1
2 the state or quality of being dirty <she couldn't believe the foulness of her daughter's room, and ordered her to clean it> — see DIRTINESS 1

foul play noun
1 the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life <the coroner ruled that there was no evidence of foul play> — see HOMICIDE 1
2 the use of brute strength to cause harm to a person or property <the suspect has a long history of foul play, and was once convicted on assault and battery charges> — see VIOLENCE 1

foul–up noun
an instance of confusion <there was a foul-up with our mail order, and not one item arrived as ordered>

Synonyms
mix-up

Related Words
bobble, botch, bungle, fumble; blunder, error, fault, flub, goof, inaccuracy, lapse, miscue, misstep, mistake, oversight, slip, slipup, stumble; chaos, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, disorder, disorganization, hash, jumble, mess, muddle, shambles

foul up verb
1 to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <tried not to foul up the football play> — see BOTCH
2 to make a mistake <unfortunately, I fouled up and in my e-mail gave everyone the wrong date for the meeting> — see ERR 1

found verb
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of <John Harvard did not actually found the university that now bears his name>

Synonyms
begin, constitute, establish, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, plant, set up, start

Related Words
author, father, originate; conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), create, devise, fabricate, invent, make up, manufacture, produce, think (up); construct, put up; develop, enlarge, expand; endow, finance, fund, subsidize; arrange, organize, systematize, systemize; refound, reinitiate, reinstitute, relaunch

Near Antonyms
abolish, annihilate, annul, nullify; end, finish, halt, stop, terminate; round (off or out), wind up, wrap up

Antonyms
close (down), phase out, shut (up)

foundation noun
1 a public organization with a particular purpose or function <donated to a foundation that supported cancer research> — see INSTITUTION 1
2 an immaterial thing upon which something else rests <she had a good enough foundation in math to pursue an economics degree> — see BASE 1

foundationless adjective
having no basis in reason or fact <a careful investigation proved that the charges were foundationless> — see GROUNDLESS

founder noun
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor <Maria Montessori was the founder of an educational system dedicated to maximizing a child's creative potential> — see FATHER 2

founder verb
1 to be unsuccessful <the theater company foundered after its corporate funding dried up> — see FAIL 2
2 to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure <the twin towers started to sway and suddenly foundered> — see COLLAPSE 1

founding father noun
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor <Theodor Herzl is often credited as the founding father of modern Zionism> — see FATHER 2

fountain noun
a point or place at which something is invented or provided <regards the Bible as the fountain of all truth concerning the Divinity> — see SOURCE 1

fountainhead noun
1 a point or place at which something is invented or provided <historically, California has served as the fountainhead of that eclectic group of self-actualization movements known as the New Age> — see SOURCE 1
2 the source from which something grows or develops <a collection of lyrical ballads that became the fountainhead of a literary revolution> — see SEED 1

four–letter word noun
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression <clapped her hands over the toddler's ears so he wouldn't hear the four-letter word> — see SWEARWORD

411 noun, slang
1 a report of recent events or facts not previously known <received a call from their daughter, who excitedly gave them the 411 on all that had happened to her since arriving on campus> — see NEWS
2 information not generally available to the public <a guide that will give you the 411 on what's hot and what's not> — see DOPE 1

foursquare adjective
1 free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <it's no time to be foursquare if you're asked whether a certain outfit makes a person look fat> — see FRANK
2 going straight to the point clearly and firmly <a foursquare evaluation of her performance that didn't mince words> — see STRAIGHTFORWARD 1
3 having four equal sides and four right angles <the design of the foursquare Georgian mansion is strongly symmetrical, the wide central hallway being flanked by two rooms on either side> — see SQUARE 1

foursquare adverb
in an honest and direct manner <asked him foursquare if he was ever going to propose to her> — see STRAIGHTFORWARD

four–star adjective
of the very best kind <a home film library with nothing but four-star pictures> — see EXCELLENT

fox noun
1 a lovely woman <she's a real fox—smart, sassy, and sexy> — see BEAUTY 2
2 a physically attractive person <both he and his twin sister are foxes> — see DOLL 2

fox verb
1 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <she won't be foxed by such telemarketing tricks> — see CONFUSE 1
2 to get the better of through cleverness <no confidence man will ever fox me and get my hard-earned money> — see OUTWIT

foxiness noun
1 skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <it did not take an incredible amount of foxiness on his part to get you to spill the beans> — see CUNNING 1
2 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <an imposter of such formidable foxiness that a movie was made of his entertaining escapades> — see DECEIT 1
3 exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters <lacks the foxiness needed to make it in dog-eat-dog world of show business> — see ACUMEN

foxy adjective
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <the oft-told story of the foxy flatterer who works her way up the ladder of success by stepping on people as she goes> — see ARTFUL 1

foyer noun
1 a centrally located room in a building that serves as a gathering or waiting area or as a passageway into the interior <theatergoers crowded the foyer during the play's intermission>

Synonyms
hall, lobby

Related Words
entranceway, entry, entryway, hallway, vestibule; concourse, corridor, gallery, passageway; antechamber, anteroom, chamber, waiting room

2 the entrance room of a building <leave your muddy boots in the foyer and come into the house> — see HALL 1

fracas noun
1 a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <the police broke up the fracas in the bar and threw both combatants in the lockup> — see FIGHT 1
2 a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people <police preparing for any fracas that might follow the soccer game> — see BRAWL 1

fraction noun
a broken or irregular part of something that often remains incomplete <if even a tiny fraction of that cookie broke off and fell into the delicate watch works, it could mess things up> — see FRAGMENT

fractionalization noun
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces <new technology has led to the fractionalization of the product's traditional market> — see SEPARATION 1

fractionation noun
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces <originally conceived as one novel, The Lord of the Rings underwent a fractionation into a trilogy when its publisher feared it was too massive to sell as a single volume> — see SEPARATION 1

fracture verb
1 to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly <fractured his arm in the fall> — see BREAK 1
2 to fail to keep <civil liberties that have been fractured by the government's actions> — see VIOLATE 1

fractured adjective
forcibly separated into many pieces <a fractured radius that will have to be pieced together with a metal plate and screws> — see BROKEN 1

fragile adjective
1 easily broken <attaching the beautiful but fragile ornaments to the Christmas tree is always a touchy operation>

Synonyms
breakable, delicate, frail, frangible

Related Words
dainty, fine, gossamer; eggshell, flimsy, slight, tenuous; brittle, crisp, crispy, crumbly, crushable, embrittled, flaky (also flakey), friable, shaky, shivery, short; feeble, infirm, soft, spindly, tender, weak; inelastic, inflexible, stiff

Near Antonyms
compact, firm, hard, rigid, solid, substantial, unyielding; elastic, flexible, resilient, rubberlike, rubbery, springy, stretch, stretchable, supple

Antonyms
infrangible, nonbreakable, strong, sturdy, tough, unbreakable

2 easily injured without careful handling <babies are fragile, so remember to care for them gently> — see TENDER 1
3 small in degree <a fragile possibility that we might emerge from this fiasco unscathed> — see REMOTE 1

fragility noun
1 the state or quality of having a delicate structure <we marveled at the fragility and yet the surprising strength of the bird's wing bones> — see DELICACY 2
2 the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <the fragility of the abandoned baby bird> — see WEAKNESS 1

fragment verb
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly <you can fragment that peanut brittle easily, but how it breaks is basically up to the brittle> — see BREAK 1

fragment noun
a broken or irregular part of something that often remains incomplete <charred fragments of the exploded rocket were scattered over a huge area of ground>

Synonyms
bit, fraction, piece, scrap

Related Words
cantle, shred, tatter; end, leftover, oddment, remainder, remnant, stub; portion, section, segment; chip, flake, shard, shatter, shiver, sliver, splinter; clipping, paring, shaving; atom, crumb, dribble, fleck, flyspeck, grain, granule, molecule, morsel, mote, nubbin, nugget, particle, patch, scruple, snip, snippet, speck, tittle

fragmental adjective
lacking some necessary part <we will have to settle for a quick, fragmental explanation of what happened> — see INCOMPLETE

fragmentary adjective
lacking some necessary part <the historical record of this pharaoh's life and reign is fragmentary at best> — see INCOMPLETE

fragmented adjective
forcibly separated into many pieces <restoring the fragmented Roman sculpture was like putting together a jigsaw puzzle> — see BROKEN 1

fragrance noun
a sweet or pleasant smell <the fragrance of lilac trees in full bloom>

Synonyms
aroma, attar (also otto), balm, bouquet, fragrancy, incense, perfume, redolence, scent, spice

Related Words
essence, odor

Antonyms
fetor, malodor, reek, stench, stink

fragrancy noun
a sweet or pleasant smell <the fragrancy of roses on a warm summer evening> — see FRAGRANCE

fragrant adjective
having a pleasant smell <the balsam fir is a favorite as a Christmas tree because it is so fragrant>

Synonyms
ambrosial, aromatic, perfumed, redolent, savory (also savoury), scented, sweet

Related Words
flowery, fruity, pungent, spicy; odiferous, odored, odoriferous, odorous; clean, fresh, pure

Near Antonyms
odorless, unscented; fusty, musty, stale; gamy (or gamey)

Antonyms
fetid, foul, malodorous, noisome, putrid, rancid, rank, reeking, reeky, skunky, smelly, stenchful, stenchy, stinking, stinky, strong

frail adjective
1 easily broken <a frail eggshell> — see FRAGILE 1
2 easily injured without careful handling <be careful with your grandmother, as she's very frail and a fall would be disastrous> — see TENDER 1
3 lacking bodily strength <he was frail after a long battle with bronchitis> — see WEAK 1
4 lacking strength of will or character <a frail person, easily swayed by others> — see WEAK 2
5 small in degree <a frail hope of success> — see REMOTE 1

frailness noun
1 the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <his frailness prevented him from playing football> — see WEAKNESS 1
2 the quality or state of lacking strength of will or character <don't take advantage of your younger sister's frailness of character and get her to lie for you> — see WEAKNESS 2

frailty noun
1 a defect in character <selfishness is a common human frailty> — see FAULT 1
2 the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <frailty doesn't affect all elderly people, for many are indeed healthy and strong> — see WEAKNESS 1
3 the quality or state of lacking strength of will or character <the frailty shown by the apostle Peter when he denied Jesus three times> — see WEAKNESS 2

frame verb
1 to bring into being by combining, shaping, or transforming materials <framed a unique coffee table from an old, discarded chest of drawers> — see MAKE 1
2 to plan out usually with subtle skill or care <a composer framing the structure of a song> — see ENGINEER
3 to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form <you'll need to frame your argument well if you're going to win the debate> — see COMPOSE 1
4 to work out the details of (something) in advance <framed a schedule for the project> — see PLAN 1
5 to serve as a border for <trees framed the walkway> — see BORDER

frame noun
1 the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form <now that the frame has been built, we have a better idea of the size of our new house>

Synonyms
architecture, armature, cadre, configuration, edifice, fabric, framework, framing, infrastructure, shell, skeleton, structure

Related Words
cage, lattice, network; contour, figure, outline, profile, shape, silhouette; chassis

2 the type of body that a person has <a tall man with a big frame> — see PHYSIQUE
3 the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <a white curtain with a blue frame> — see BORDER 1

framework noun
the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form <you've got the framework of the story and just need to fill in the details> — see FRAME 1

framing noun
the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form <the framing of the debate will consist of a predetermined order of turns and follow-up comments> — see FRAME 1

franchise noun
the right to formally express one's position or will in an election <the Territory of Wyoming granted women the franchise in 1869, a full 51 years before the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote in all elections> — see VOTE 1

frangibility noun
the state or quality of having a delicate structure <the frangibility of the tree ornaments makes them inappropriate for handling by children> — see DELICACY 2

frangible adjective
easily broken <frangible china teacups that were totally inappropriate for a child's birthday party> — see FRAGILE 1

frank adjective
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <our ballet teacher is very frank about telling her students whether she thinks they have the talent for a career in dance>

Synonyms
candid, direct, forthcoming, forthright, foursquare, freehearted, free-spoken, honest, open, openhearted, out-front, outspoken, plain, plainspoken, straight, straightforward, unguarded, unreserved, up-front

Related Words
artless, earnest, guileless, ingenuous, innocent, naive (or naïve), natural, real, sincere, unaffected, undesigning, unpretending, unpretentious; outgoing, uninhibited, unrestrained; vocal, vociferous; abrupt, bluff, blunt, brusque (also brusk), crusty, curt, gruff, sharp; impertinent, impolite, inconsiderate, rude, tactless, thoughtless, uncivil, undiplomatic, ungracious, unmannerly, unsubtle

Near Antonyms
inhibited, reserved, restrained; close-mouthed, laconic, quiet, reticent, taciturn, tight-lipped, uncommunicative; ambiguous, circuitous, equivocal, evasive; diplomatic, politic, tactful; civil, considerate, courteous, polite

Antonyms
dissembling, uncandid, unforthcoming

frankly adverb
to tell the truth <frankly, I'd rather stay at home than go to the movies tonight> — see ACTUALLY 1

frankness noun
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <considering her reputation for frankness, I knew she would tell me what she really thought of my dress> — see CANDOR 1

frantic adjective
1 feeling overwhelming fear or worry <the frantic parents were searching all over the fairgrounds for their lost child>

Synonyms
agitated, delirious, distracted, distrait, distraught, frenzied, hysterical (also hysteric)

Related Words
alarmed, anxious, disquieted, disturbed, nervous, perturbed, tense, troubled, upset, worried, wrought (up); affrighted, aghast, alarmed, fearful, frightened, horrified, scared, spooked, terrified, terrorized; ballistic, berserk, crazed, demented, deranged, mad, maniacal (also maniac), nuclear; raging, ranting, raving

Phrases
beside oneself

Near Antonyms
calm, peaceful, placid, self-possessed, serene, tranquil; cool, coolheaded, undisturbed, unperturbed, unshaken, untroubled, unworried

Antonyms
collected, composed, recollected, self-collected, self-composed, self-possessed, unhysterical

2 marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity <the holiday season seems to be moving along at a frantic pace> — see FURIOUS 1

frantically adverb
in a confused and reckless manner <the veterinarian ran frantically from room to room looking for the escaped hamster> — see HELTER-SKELTER 1

fraternal adjective
of, relating to, or befitting brothers <there was a fraternal bond between the two boys all throughout their school years>

Synonyms
brotherly

Related Words
familial, sisterly; chummy, friendly, neighborly

fraternity noun
1 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <a firm believer in community service and a dedicated member of the local fraternity of Good Samaritans> — see ASSOCIATION 2
2 the body of people in a profession or field of activity <the fraternity of civil engineers> — see CORPS

fraternize verb
1 to come or be together as friends <don't fraternize just with people of the same race, religion, or social background> — see ASSOCIATE 1
2 to take part in social activities <a group of kids fraternizing together after school every day> — see SOCIALIZE

fraud noun
1 an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <thousands of people lost money when the investment scheme turned out to be a fraud>

Synonyms
bunco (or bunko), con, fiddle [chiefly British], flimflam, gyp, hustle, scam, shell game, sting, swindle

Related Words
cross, fix; Ponzi scheme, pyramid scheme; racket, rip-off; thimblerig, three-card monte; device, dodge, gimmick, jig, ploy, scheme, sleight, stratagem, trick, wile; gouging, overcharging, soaking; counterfeit, fake, forgery, hoax, humbug, phony (also phoney), sham

2 one who makes false claims of identity or expertise <the “blind” panhandler was just a fraud trying to con holiday shoppers out of their money> — see IMPOSTOR
3 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <charges that he had gained control of his elderly mother's estate by fraud> — see DECEIT 1

fraudster noun, chiefly British
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <an ingenious phishing operation that got him named the year's most inventive online fraudster> — see TRICKSTER 1

fraudulent adjective
1 marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <hoping to get millions from the insurance company, the man made the fraudulent claim that he had been seriously injured in the accident>

Synonyms
crooked, deceitful, defrauding, dishonest, double-dealing, false

Related Words
beguiling, deceiving, deceptive, deluding, delusive, delusory, duplicitous, fallacious, misleading, specious; spurious

Near Antonyms
legitimate, true, valid

Antonyms
aboveboard, honest, truthful

2 given to or marked by cheating and deception <fraudulent citizens who cheat on their taxes> — see DISHONEST 2

fraught adjective
1 possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified <every room in my childhood home is fraught with memories> — see RIFE
2 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <had a fraught meeting with his estranged wife to discuss a divorce settlement> — see NERVOUS 2

fray noun
1 a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective <another generation of scientists entered the fray to find a cure for AIDS> — see STRUGGLE 1
2 a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <a troubled youth always getting into frays at school> — see FIGHT 1
3 a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people <school officials broke up the fray and gave all guilty parties detention> — see BRAWL 1

fray verb
to damage or diminish by continued friction <constant rubbing against the rock face has badly frayed our climbing rope> — see ABRADE 1

frayed adjective
worn or torn into or as if into rags <she wore a beloved but badly frayed flannel shirt> — see RAGGED 2

frazzle noun
a complete depletion of energy or strength <months of overtime work have left her worn to a frazzle> — see FATIGUE 1

frazzle verb
1 to damage or diminish by continued friction <years of use have frazzled the cord for the window blinds to the breaking point> — see ABRADE 1
2 to use up all the physical energy of <trying to hold down two full-time jobs had completely frazzled him> — see EXHAUST 1
3 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <an endless series of dietary warnings that had served only to frazzle the general public> — see DISTURB 1

freak adjective
being out of the ordinary <even weather forecasters seemed surprised by the freak hailstorm> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1

freak noun
1 a person, thing, or event that is far from normal <that snowstorm in April was a freak, since our weather is usually much balmier by then>

Synonyms
abnormality, anomaly, monster, monstrosity

Related Words
abortion, malformation, miscreation, mutant, mutation; character, crackbrain, crackpot, crank, eccentric, kook, nut, oddball, screwball, weirdo; aberrant, deviant; individualist, maverick, nonconformist; curiosity, peculiarity, singularity; aberration, exception, irregularity, oddity, rarity

Near Antonyms
sample, specimen; commonplace, usual

Antonyms
average, norm, normal, par, standard

2 a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <I'm a hockey freak> — see FAN
3 a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action <suddenly had the bizarre freak to take a road trip across the country> — see WHIM
4 slang a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally <he knew that he'd never get his life in order if he continued to hang out with the crystal meth freaks> — see DOPER

freak (out) verb
1 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <don't talk about death, as it totally freaks me out> — see DISTURB 1
2 to yield to mental or emotional stress <the landlady totally freaked out when she saw the dead body in the hall> — see CRACK 2

freaking adjective
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <this freaking assignment is such a pain in the neck> — see DAMNABLE

freakish adjective
prone to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions <had a freakish roommate in college who once decided to drive all the way to Canada on the spur of the moment> — see WHIMSICAL

freakishness noun
an inclination to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions <though some mistook his freakishness for mental illness, it was just a quirk of his personality and nothing more> — see WHIMSICALITY

freckle verb
to mark with small spots especially unevenly <the baker freckled the frosting with flakes of coconut> — see SPOT 1

freckled adjective
marked with spots <a tanned girl with a freckled face> — see SPOTTED 1

free adjective
1 not being under the rule or control of another <the 20th century saw many African countries become free after many years of European rule>

Synonyms
autonomous, freestanding, independent, self-governed, self-governing, self-ruling, separate, sovereign (also sovran)

Related Words
freeborn; delivered, emancipated, freed, liberated, manumitted, redeemed, released; unconquered, unruled, unsupervised; empowered, enfranchised; democratic, republican

Near Antonyms
bound, captive, conquered, enslaved, fettered, subdued, subjugated; inferior, subordinate, subservient

Antonyms
dependent, nonautonomous, non-self-governing, subject, unfree

2 no longer burdened with something unpleasant or painful <after our son arrived home safely, we were grateful to be free from worry>

Synonyms
disencumbered, quit, shut (of), unburdened

Related Words
delivered, freed, liberated, released; unhampered, unimpeded

Near Antonyms
encumbered, handicapped, hindered, hobbled

3 not bound, confined, or detained by force <all of the animals in the game preserve are free to roam all over its vast area>

Synonyms
footloose, loose, unbound, unconfined, unrestrained

Related Words
escaped; uncaged, unchained, unfettered, unleashed; uncaught; unanchored, unbolted, undone, unfastened, untied; clear, disengaged

Phrases
at large, at liberty

Near Antonyms
caught; caged, chained, enclosed (also inclosed), immured, imprisoned, leashed, penned; anchored, bolted, fastened, fettered, manacled, shackled, tied; kidnapped (also kidnaped)

Antonyms
bound, confined, restrained, unfree

4 not costing or charging anything <although the museum normally charges admission, on Wednesdays it is free to all>

Synonyms
complimentary, costless, gratis, gratuitous

Related Words
nominal; bestowed, donated, given; pro bono; discretionary, freewill, optional, voluntary; honorary, uncompensated, unpaid

Phrases
on the house

Near Antonyms
paid; costly, dear, expensive, high

5 allowing passage without obstruction <make sure the pass is free before you attempt the trip through the mountains this winter> — see OPEN 1
6 giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <the lottery winner was very free with his money> — see GENEROUS 1
7 not being in a state of use, activity, or employment <this computer terminal is free if you need to use it> — see INACTIVE 2
8 showing a lack of proper social reserve or modesty <she's a little too free with information about her social life> — see PRESUMPTUOUS 1
9 not physically attached to another unit <an arrangement of free columns adds interest to the Greco-Roman sculpture garden> — see SEPARATE 2

free verb
1 to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <a global crusade to free Nelson Mandela from a South African prison had emerged>

Synonyms
discharge, disenthrall (also disenthral), emancipate, enfranchise, enlarge, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter

Related Words
bail (out), deliver, parole, ransom, redeem, rescue, save; adrift, disembarrass, disencumber, disengage, disentangle, extricate; unshackle

Phrases
turn loose

Near Antonyms
handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel; commit, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, lock (up); conquer, enslave, subdue, subjugate

Antonyms
bind, confine, enchain, fetter, restrain

2 to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions <we'll free the river by breaking up the ice jam> — see OPEN 2
3 to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way <would you mind freeing up the work area so I can work?> — see CLEAR 1
4 to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers <a phone call would free your parents from worry> — see RID
5 to set free from entanglement or difficulty <this plan should free us from debt> — see EXTRICATE

freebie or freebee noun
something given to someone without expectation of a return <I got this CD as a freebie for buying a receiver> — see GIFT 1

freebooter noun
someone who engages in robbery of ships at sea <the ship was captured by freebooters who were looking for gold> — see PIRATE

freedom noun
1 the state of being free from the control or power of another <we owe our freedom to the untold numbers of soldiers who have fought in our nation's wars since its founding>

Synonyms
autonomy, independence, independency, liberty, self-determination, self-governance, self-government, sovereignty (also sovranty)

Related Words
emancipation, enfranchisement, liberation, manumission, release

Near Antonyms
captivity, enchainment, enslavement, immurement, imprisonment, incarceration, internment, subjugation

Antonyms
dependence (also dependance), heteronomy, subjection, unfreedom

2 the right to act or move freely <as special guests of the owners, the youngsters had full freedom of the resort and its private beach>

Synonyms
authorization, free hand, latitude, license (or licence), run

Related Words
authority, clutch, command, control, dominion, grip, hold, mandate, mastery, power, sway; range, room, space; blank check, carte blanche

free–for–all adjective
freely available for use or participation by all <the public library has a free-for-all lending policy> — see OPEN 2

free–for–all noun
1 a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people <during the play-offs, fans of the opposing teams clashed in the streets in several free-for-alls> — see BRAWL 1
2 a state in which everything is out of order <it was a free-for-all when the doors to the arena opened and the crowd rushed in all at once> — see CHAOS

free hand noun
the right to act or move freely <gave him free hand in managing the club> — see FREEDOM 2

freehanded adjective
giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <she is very freehanded with her friends whenever she gets some extra money> — see GENEROUS 1

freehandedly adverb
in a generous manner <it's not prudent to loan money so freehandedly> — see WELL 2

freehearted adjective
1 free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <a surprisingly freehearted political candidate> — see FRANK
2 giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <a nation of freehearted people and always among the first to send relief to disaster-stricken areas> — see GENEROUS 1

freeheartedly adverb
in a generous manner <the review for that little restaurant was so freeheartedly favorable that I suspect the critic is friends with the owner> — see WELL 2

freeing noun
the act of setting free from slavery <a human rights group that works tirelessly for the freeing of political prisoners all over the world> — see LIBERATION

freeload verb
to live by relying on someone else's generosity or hospitality without sharing in the cost or responsibility <after college, he freeloaded off his parents for several years before finally moving out>

Synonyms
mooch, sponge

Related Words
leech; beg; exploit, use

freeloader noun
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return <a freeloader who apparently intends to live off of his long-suffering parents forever> — see LEECH

freely adverb
1 of one's own free will <I will freely give my life for my country> — see VOLUNTARILY
2 without difficulty <the horse broke the halter rope quite freely> — see EASILY 1

freeman noun
a person who owes allegiance to a government and is protected by it <after eight years of residency, you will be granted the status of freeman> — see CITIZEN 1

free rider noun
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return <claimed that welfare recipients were a bunch of free riders with little or nothing to offer society> — see LEECH

free spirit noun
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs <an artistically inclined free spirit who felt alienated and stifled while growing up in a small town> — see NONCONFORMIST 1

free–spoken adjective
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <I pride myself on being free-spoken and feel no hesitancy in telling you my honest opinion on just about anything> — see FRANK

freestanding adjective
1 not physically attached to another unit <a freestanding CD player that can easily be hooked up to your existing components> — see SEPARATE 2
2 not being under the rule or control of another <it's a freestanding store, not a franchise> — see FREE 1

free–swinging adjective
inclined or willing to take risks <free-swinging entrepreneurs who could see that the future lay in biotech and were willing to stake everything on that vision> — see BOLD 1

freeway noun
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <a new driver who's nervous about driving on the freeway for the first time> — see WAY 1

freewheeling adjective
not held back by rules, duties, or worries <James Bond has long been the model of the freewheeling hero who encounters danger and excitement in every corner of the globe>

Synonyms
footloose

Related Words
affable, breezy, casual, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, laid-back, nonchalant, relaxed; unattached, uncommitted; self-abandoned, unbridled, unrestrained; uninhibited; self-assured, self-confident, self-reliant

Near Antonyms
attached, committed, pledged

Antonyms
tied

freewill adjective
1 made, given, or done with one's own free will <a freewill confession of guilt made by the suspect during police interrogation> — see INTENTIONAL
2 done, made, or given with one's own free will <our office staff made a freewill offering for UNESCO> — see VOLUNTARY 1

free will noun
the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions <all of the workers at the homeless shelter are unpaid and are there of their own free will>

Synonyms
accord, autonomy, choice, self-determination, volition, will

Related Words
election, preference, selection; bent, devices, disposition, inclination, leaning, partiality, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, propensity, tendency; alternative, discretion, option, pick, way

Near Antonyms
coercion, compulsion, constraint, duress, force, pressure

freeze noun
a weather condition marked by low temperatures <the Midwest will experience an intense freeze later in the week> — see COLD

freeze verb
to become physically firm or solid <add antifreeze to the water in the radiator so it won't freeze and damage the engine> — see HARDEN 1

freeze out verb
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of <a housing market that effectively freezes out people of moderate means> — see EXCLUDE

freezing adjective
having a low or subnormal temperature <why aren't you wearing a coat, as it's freezing outside?> — see COLD 1

freight noun
1 a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported <shipped a large freight of steel to the manufacturer> — see LOAD 1
2 the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something <it's all very well to suggest increased government services, but who will pay the freight for them?> — see PRICE 1

freight verb
to place a weight or burden on <it took six hours to freight the cargo airplane> — see LOAD 1

frenetic adjective
marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity <the frenetic rush to get every member of the cast in place before the curtain went up> — see FURIOUS 1

frenetically adverb
in a confused and reckless manner <we spent all morning frenetically searching the house for the lost keys> — see HELTER-SKELTER 1

frenzied adjective
1 being in a state of increased activity or agitation <the frenzied scene at the mall in the final week before Christmas> — see FEVERISH 1
2 feeling overwhelming fear or worry <frenzied rescue workers searched through the snow, looking for more victims of the avalanche> — see FRANTIC 1
3 marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity <the frenzied pace of the first week of the new school year> — see FURIOUS 1

frenziedly adverb
in a confused and reckless manner <the frenziedly scattering protestors were fleeing the tear gas> — see HELTER-SKELTER 1

frenzy noun
a state of wildly excited activity or emotion <in its frenzy to flee the danger, the crowd became uncontrollable, and a number of people were trampled to death>

Synonyms
agitation, deliriousness, delirium, distraction, fever, feverishness, flap, furor, furore, fury, hysteria, rage, rampage, uproar

Related Words
chaos, confusion, disorder, havoc, pandemonium, turmoil; bedlam, bother, brouhaha, bustle, clamor, clatter, commotion, disturbance, fuss, hoo-ha (also hoo-hah), hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly-burly, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, shindy, squall, stew, stir, storm, to-do, tempest, tumult

Near Antonyms
calm, calmness, peace, peacefulness, placidity, quiet, quietude, repose, restfulness, sereneness, serenity, still, stillness, tranquillity (or tranquility), tranquilness

frenzy verb
to cause to go insane or as if insane <local football fans who were frenzied by the fact that their team was going to the Super Bowl> — see CRACK

frequence noun
the fact or state of happening often <the frequence of that cough is worrisome; perhaps you should see a doctor> — see FREQUENCY

frequency noun
the fact or state of happening often <the frequency of twins in that family is remarkable>

Synonyms
commonness, frequence, frequentness, prevalence

Related Words
chronicity, constancy, continualness, regularity; appearance, incidence, occurrence

Antonyms
infrequence, infrequency, rareness, uncommonness, unusualness

frequent adjective
1 appearing or occurring repeatedly from time to time <our local multiplex usually has frequent showings of blockbusters, with starting times about every half hour> — see REGULAR 1
2 often observed or encountered <finches are frequent sights in this part of the country> — see COMMON 1

frequent verb
to go to or spend time in often <like their counterparts elsewhere, the town's teenagers like to frequent the local malls>

Synonyms
affect, habituate, hang (at), haunt, resort (to), visit

Related Words
patronize; attend, take in; infest, invade, overrun, swarm; call (on or upon), drop by, drop in, pop (in), run (in), stop (in or by); camp (out in), sojourn (at), stay (at), stop (over), tarry (in)

Near Antonyms
dodge, duck, elude, escape, eschew, evade, shake

Antonyms
avoid, shun

frequenter noun
1 a person who visits another <he's a regular frequenter of their home> — see GUEST 1
2 someone who regularly spends time in a particular place <a nightclub frequenter, he knows what's hot in music and what's not> — see DENIZEN 1

frequently adverb
many times <our oddball uncle frequently lets himself into our house without knocking> — see OFTEN

frequentness noun
the fact or state of happening often <the frequentness and the fierceness of the storms that winter were unprecedented> — see FREQUENCY

fresh adjective
1 being in an original and unused or unspoiled state <the restaurant uses only really fresh ingredients in all of its dishes>

Synonyms
brand-new, mint, pristine, span-new, virgin, virginal

Related Words
unaltered, unblemished, unbruised, uncontaminated, undamaged, undefiled, unharmed, unhurt, unimpaired, uninjured, unmarred, unpolluted, unsoiled, unspoiled, unsullied, untainted, untouched, unworn; new, spick-and-span (or spic-and-span)

Near Antonyms
blemished, broken, bruised, damaged, defaced, defiled, disfigured, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, marred, soiled, sullied, tainted; faded, shopworn, used, well-worn, worn; contaminated, polluted, spoiled; hand-me-down, second hand

Antonyms
stale

2 displaying or marked by rude boldness <if you are fresh with the art teacher, she'll give you a detention immediately> — see NERVY 1
3 not known or experienced before <a fresh look at the situation> — see NEW 2
4 resulting in an increase in amount or number <she's making fresh changes on top of the existing ones> — see ADDITIONAL
5 slang being in the latest or current fashion <those are some fresh threads you have on, man!> — see STYLISH

freshen verb
to bring back to a former condition or vigor <cool glasses of lemonade freshened us after a day of hard work outside> — see RENEW 1

freshened adjective
made or become fresh in spirits or vigor <the team came back from the locker room freshened and ready for the rest of the game> — see NEW 4

freshly adverb
not long ago <a freshly-paved road> — see NEWLY

freshman noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <our senator is just a freshman in Congress> — see BEGINNER

freshness noun
the quality or appeal of being new <the freshness of that teacher's approach makes his classes fun and interesting> — see NOVELTY 1

fret verb
1 to consume or wear away gradually <over the span of thousands of years, the annual spring runoff fretted the rock, forming a deep channel> — see EAT 2
2 to damage or diminish by continued friction <don't let the girth fret the horse's belly or you won't be able to ride him> — see ABRADE 1
3 to experience concern or anxiety <don't fret over whether it will be sunny tomorrow, as there's nothing we can do about it> — see WORRY 1
4 to make sore by continued rubbing <the stiff, starchy collar was fretting my neck, and I couldn't wait to change out of that costume> — see CHAFE 1

fret noun
a state of nervous or irritated concern <one of my customers always gets into a fret if I'm so much as 15 minutes late delivering his newspaper>

Synonyms
dither, fluster, fuss, huff, lather, pother, stew, sweat, swelter, swivet, tizzy, twitter

Related Words
bother, dudgeon, pique; alarm (also alarum), hand-wringing, panic; ado, agitation, delirium, distraction, furor, hysteria, uproar; nervous breakdown

friable adjective
having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure <sand dollars are friable, so handle them carefully> — see CRISP 1

friary noun
a residence for men under religious vows <the Franciscans left the chapel and went to the friary for rest> — see MONASTERY

fribble verb
to spend time in aimless activity <somehow, he managed to spend the whole morning fribbling instead of doing his assigned work> — see FIDDLE AROUND

friction noun
a lack of agreement or harmony <there was friction between the two sides of the family> — see DISCORD

frictionless adjective
having or marked by agreement in feeling or action <enjoys an easygoing and frictionless relationship with her mother-in-law> — see HARMONIOUS 3

fried adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <grew up in a family in which Dad got fried on every weekend and holiday> — see DRUNK

friend noun
1 a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another <really close friends who like to do everything together and are always sharing secrets>

Synonyms
alter ego, amigo, buddy, chum, compadre, comrade, confidant, confidante, crony, familiar, intimate, mate [chiefly British], musketeer, pal

Related Words
acquaintance; associate, cohort, colleague, companion, fellow, hearty, hobnobber, partner, peer, sport; blood brother, brother, main man, sister; abettor (also abetter), accomplice, ally, collaborator, confederate; pen pal; benefactor, supporter, sympathizer, well-wisher; friendly

Near Antonyms
adversary, antagonist, competitor, opponent, rival; archenemy, nemesis

Antonyms
enemy, foe

2 a person who actively supports or favors a cause <hopes that the new governor will be a friend to environmental causes> — see EXPONENT 1

friendliness noun
kindly concern, interest, or support <the family was overwhelmed by the friendliness of the welcoming committee> — see GOODWILL 1

friendly adjective
1 having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <all of the people in my new department seem friendly> <as a friendly gesture, we presented our new neighbors with a plate of homemade cookies>

Synonyms
amicable, bonhomous, buddy-buddy, chummy, collegial, companionable, comradely, cordial, genial, hail-fellow, hail-fellow-well-met, hearty, matey [chiefly British], neighborly, palsy, palsy-walsy [slang], warm, warmhearted

Related Words
affable, agreeable, approachable, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, nice, sweet; clubby, convivial, folksy, gregarious, hospitable, sociable, social; jolly, jovial, merry; extroverted (also extraverted), outgoing; brotherly, fraternal, sisterly; close, familiar, intimate; adoring, affectionate, devoted, fond, lovesome, loving, tender, tenderhearted

Near Antonyms
alienated, estranged; chilly, cold, cold-blooded, cool, frigid, frosty, glacial, icy, wintry (also wintery); unsociable, unsocial; aggressive, argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, disputatious, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent; inhospitable, inimical

Antonyms
antagonistic, hostile, unfriendly

2 closely acquainted <we're friendly with our neighbors> — see FAMILIAR 1
3 expressing approval <a friendly sign that our pet project would be approved> — see FAVORABLE 1
4 willing to do a favor <a kid-friendly restaurant with high chairs and a special menu for small-fry appetites> — see ACCOMMODATING
5 promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being <the state's attitude towards commercial development is widely regarded as friendly to the business community> — see BENEFICIAL

friendship noun
kindly concern, interest, or support <I appreciate your friendship during this difficult time for my family> — see GOODWILL 1

fright noun
1 something unpleasant to look at <people in our neighborhood think that that orange and green office building is a hideous fright> — see EYESORE
2 the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger <the earthquake so filled me with fright that I still have trouble sleeping> — see FEAR 1

fright verb
to strike with fear <a ghastly sight that would fright even the most stouthearted soul> — see FRIGHTEN

frighten verb
to strike with fear <around the campfire the campers tried to frighten one another with ghostly legends and grisly tales>

Synonyms
affright, alarm (also alarum), fright, horrify, panic, scare, scarify, shock, spook, startle, terrify, terrorize

Related Words
appall (also appal), bowl over, dismay, floor, jolt, shake, shake up; amaze, astound, awe; chill, daunt, demoralize, dispirit, emasculate, psych (out), undo, unman, unnerve, unstring; discomfort, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distract, distress, disturb, perturb, unsettle, upset, worry

Phrases
give one the creeps, make one's flesh creep (or crawl)

Near Antonyms
assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe; embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, steel

Antonyms
reassure

frightened adjective
filled with fear or dread <I am frightened of the dark> — see AFRAID

frightening adjective
causing fear <a truly frightening movie> — see FEARFUL 1

frightful adjective
1 causing fear <a frightful sound emanated from somewhere deep within the forest> — see FEARFUL 1
2 extremely disturbing or repellent <I couldn't listen to the frightful details of the murder trial> — see HORRIBLE 1
3 extreme in degree, power, or effect <flew into a frightful fit of rage> — see INTENSE 1

frightfully adverb
to a great degree <that coat is frightfully expensive, so don't spill anything on it> — see VERY 1

frightfulness noun
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay <had heard stories about the frightfulness of the entrance exams> — see HORROR 1

frigid adjective
1 having a low or subnormal temperature <the poor old woman was discovered shivering in a frigid apartment> — see COLD 1
2 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <the innkeeper gave us a frigid and unnecessarily formal welcome> — see COLD 2

frill noun
1 a strip of fabric gathered or pleated on one edge and used as trimming <I just had to sew the frill onto the bottom of the skirt and the dress was finished> — see RUFFLE 1
2 something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary <didn't get any food or drinks on the no-frills flight> — see LUXURY 1
3 something that decorates or beautifies <a birthday cake decorated with frills like edible glitter> — see DECORATION 1

fringe noun
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <was on the fringes of the crowd and couldn't see the speaker> — see BORDER 1

fringe verb
1 to be adjacent to <the orchestral pit fringed the edge of the stage> — see ADJOIN 1
2 to serve as a border for <neat rows of red brick fringe the estate's flower beds> — see BORDER

fringing adjective
having a border in common <fringing nations fighting over territory on their shared border> — see ADJACENT

frippery noun
1 dressy clothing <dressed in their most elegant frippery for the big gala at the symphony> — see FINERY
2 something of little importance <socialites whose lives were almost entirely consumed by fripperies> — see TRIFLE

frisk verb
to play and run about happily <carefree kids laughing and frisking about in their backyard> — see FROLIC 1

frisk noun
a time or instance of carefree fun <fondly remembers the summer before he started college as one long frisk> — see FLING 1

friskiness noun
a natural disposition for playful behavior <as your puppy grows older, her friskiness will diminish a bit, but this breed is generally very energetic and playful> — see PLAYFULNESS

frisky adjective
1 given to good-natured joking or teasing <a frisky kid who keeps the class in stitches with his jokes> — see PLAYFUL
2 having much high-spirited energy and movement <the frisky colt didn't like to be kept in his stall> — see LIVELY 1

frisson noun
a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings <those two are still caught up in the giddy frisson of a new romance> — see THRILL

fritter noun
a small usually rounded mass of minced food that has been fried <she loves eating corn fritters with maple syrup> — see CAKE 1

fritter (away) verb
to use up carelessly <quit frittering away the afternoon playing video games and get some housework done!> — see WASTE 1

fritterer noun
someone who spends money freely or foolishly <a wastrel who had the dubious distinction of being the drunken fritterer of one of the largest fortunes ever amassed in America> — see PRODIGAL

frivol verb
to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun <my friends warned me not to frivol with that guy, as he was likely to take me seriously> — see FLIRT 1

frivolity noun
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time <the boys were scolded for joking during the funeral service, which was hardly the time for frivolity>

Synonyms
facetiousness, flightiness, flippancy, frivolousness, frothiness, levity, light-headedness, light-mindedness, lightness, silliness

Related Words
cheer, cheerfulness, festivity, gaiety (also gayety), glee, gleefulness, high-spiritedness, hilarity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, mirth, mirthfulness; childishness, goofiness, puerility

Near Antonyms
dejection, depression, despondency, dispiritedness, downheartedness, gloom, gloominess, heartsickness, joylessness, melancholy, mopes, moroseness, sadness, sullenness, unhappiness

Antonyms
earnestness, gravity, seriousness, soberness, solemnity, solemnness

frivolous adjective
1 lacking importance <judges are getting sick of people bringing frivolous lawsuits> — see UNIMPORTANT
2 lacking in seriousness or maturity <when asked by the waiter if we wanted anything else that evening, we made a frivolous request for free drinks> — see GIDDY 1

frivolousness noun
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time <his childish frivolousness at the awards ceremony wasn't appreciated by anyone> — see FRIVOLITY

frizz noun
a length of hair that forms a loop or series of loops <a photograph of a 1920s flapper with that trademark frizz on the forehead> — see CURL

frizzle noun
a length of hair that forms a loop or series of loops <the girl has enough frizzles to play Little Orphan Annie> — see CURL

fro adverb
from this or that place <ferries carrying passengers to and fro> — see AWAY

frock noun
1 a garment with a joined blouse and skirt usually worn by a woman or girl <please get into your nicest frock and join us at the party> — see DRESS 1
2 a sleeveless garment worn so as to hang over the shoulders, arms, and back <the man clutched his heavy frock as he made his way through the driving rain> — see 1CAPE

frolic noun
1 a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <we indulgently listened to the senior citizens share memories of long-ago frolics> — see PRANK
2 a time or instance of carefree fun <took the long weekend as a three-day frolic and spent it at the beach> — see FLING 1
3 activity engaged in to amuse oneself <firmly believes that childhood should be a time of carefree frolic> — see PLAY 1

frolic adjective
joyously unrestrained <the frolic atmosphere that envelops New Orleans during Mardi Gras> — see EXUBERANT

frolic verb
1 to play and run about happily <scores of swimmers were frolicking in the ocean surf along the beach>

Synonyms
caper, cavort, disport, frisk, gambol, lark, rollick, romp, sport

Related Words
bound, hop, leap, lope, skip, spring, trip, tumble; curvet, dance, prance; carouse, revel, roister; carry on, fool around, horse around; clown, cut up; joyride, roughhouse, skylark; kite

Phrases
cut capers, kick up one's heels

Near Antonyms
mope, pout, stew, sulk

2 to engage in activity for amusement <he would rather frolic than do yard work any day of the week> — see PLAY 1

frolicking noun
activity engaged in to amuse oneself <a night of frolicking by three soldiers just before they are sent to the war zone> — see PLAY 1

frolicsome adjective
1 given to good-natured joking or teasing <a frolicsome uncle who was a favorite among his relatives> — see PLAYFUL
2 joyously unrestrained <teachers smiling at the frolicsome students leaving school for summer vacation> — see EXUBERANT

front verb
to stand or sit with the face or front toward <the apartment complex fronts the ocean> — see FACE 1

front adjective
being at or in the part of something opposite the back part <visitors use the front door, but family knows to go around to the side entrance>

Synonyms
anterior, fore, forward, frontal, frontward (or frontwards)

Related Words
ventral

Near Antonyms
dorsal

Antonyms
aft, after, hind, hinder, hindmost, posterior, rear, rearward

front noun
1 a forward part or surface <the front of the church features a magnificent stained-glass window>

Synonyms
exterior, facade (also façade), face, forehead, forepart

Related Words
outside, skin, surface, veneer

Near Antonyms
innards, inside, interior

Antonyms
back, rear, rearward, reverse

2 a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive <that smile is just a front—I don't think she actually likes me at all> — see MASQUERADE
3 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <are we making any progress on the marketing front?> — see FIELD 2

frontage noun
the state or fact of facing a particular direction <the vineyard's southern frontage results in earlier-than-usual ripening of the grapes> — see EXPOSURE 2

frontal adjective
being at or in the forward part or surface of something <most cars have the engine in the frontal part> — see FRONT

frontier adjective
located at or near a border <a frontier town with a reputation for vice and lawlessness> — see BORDERLINE

frontier noun
1 a region along the dividing line between two countries <the Apaches were once feared on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico frontier>

Synonyms
border, borderland, march

Related Words
no-man's-land

2 a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country <Alaska has been called America's last frontier>

Synonyms
backcountry, backland(s), backwater, backwoods, bush, hinterland, outback, outlands, up-country

Related Words
boonies [slang], boondocks, country, countryside, sticks

Phrases
(the) back of beyond

frontiersman noun
a person who settles in a new region <the frontiersmen were willing to brave harsh living conditions in order to achieve a better life>

Synonyms
colonial, colonist, colonizer, homesteader, pioneer, settler

Related Words
explorer, pathfinder, trailblazer; bushranger, mountain man, woodsman

frontline adjective
of the very best kind <if I'm having brain surgery, I want it done at a frontline hospital> — see EXCELLENT

front line noun
the leading or most important part of a movement <Susan B. Anthony was on the front line of the struggle for woman suffrage> — see FOREFRONT

frontward or frontwards adjective
being at or in the forward part or surface of something <ship passengers in the frontward cabins were getting the worst of the rough seas> — see FRONT

frost noun
1 a covering of tiny ice crystals on a cold surface <the wintertime routine of scraping the frost off the car's windshield every morning>

Synonyms
hoar, hoarfrost, rime

Related Words
frostwork

2 something that has failed <the get-acquainted meeting with his fiancée's parents turned out to be a complete frost> — see FAILURE 3

frost verb
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <it was the salesclerk's high-handed rudeness that really frosted me> — see IRRITATE 1

frosty adjective
1 having a low or subnormal temperature <a frosty autumn that was a sign of the brutal winter that followed> — see COLD 1
2 having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <her response was frosty enough to tell me she didn't appreciate the question> — see COOL 1
3 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <she gave the telemarketer on the phone a frosty “No, thank you” and hung up> — see COLD 2

froth noun
a light mass of fine bubbles formed in or on a liquid <froth on the ocean waves> — see FOAM

frothiness noun
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time <try to restrain your natural frothiness at least for the duration of the lecture> — see FRIVOLITY

frothy adjective
1 covered with, consisting of, or resembling foam <a frothy dessert made of whipped egg whites and fruit puree> — see FOAMY
2 lacking in seriousness or maturity <a frothy comedy that wouldn't exert the brain of a gnat> — see GIDDY 1
3 being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance <the sort of frothy costumes worn by Las Vegas showgirls> — see FLIMSY 1

froward adjective
1 engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior <their froward pranks are not appropriate in the workplace> — see NAUGHTY
2 given to resisting authority or another's control <froward students sent to the office for chronic disciplinary problems> — see DISOBEDIENT
3 given to resisting control or discipline by others <acting like a froward preschooler is not going to get you what you want> — see UNCONTROLLABLE

frowardness noun
refusal to obey <the orphan was harshly disciplined for her chronic frowardness> — see DISOBEDIENCE

frown noun
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval <it was clear from the frown on the CEO's face that sales were headed in the wrong direction> — see GRIMACE

frown verb
to look with anger or disapproval <the boss just stood there and frowned at his assistant who, once again, was in trouble>

Synonyms
glare, gloom, glower, lower (also lour), scowl

Related Words
gape, gaze, ogle, stare; grimace, pout, sulk; growl, snarl, sneer, snigger

Phrases
look daggers (or stare daggers)

Antonyms
beam, grin, smile

frown (on or upon) verb
to hold an unfavorable opinion of <people of a certain age continue to frown on tattoos and body piercings> — see DISAPPROVE OF

frowsty adjective, chiefly British
having an unpleasant smell <a frowsty, mold-ridden flat in London's East End> — see MALODOROUS

frowsy or frowzy adjective
1 lacking neatness in dress or person <a frowsy family living in wretched poverty> — see SLOPPY 1
2 having an unpleasant smell <the abandoned house was dank and frowsy and barely fit for human habitation> — see MALODOROUS

frozen adjective
1 firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge <the car door was frozen ever since an accident had damaged the hinge> — see TIGHT 2
2 having been established and usually not subject to change <pay rates will remain frozen until the company does better financially> — see FIXED 1
3 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <responded to my greeting with a frozen “hello”and stared straight ahead> — see COLD 2

fructuous adjective
producing abundantly <settlers gradually migrated from the rocky shores to more fructuous lands> — see FERTILE

frugal adjective
careful in the management of money or resources <by being frugal, the family is able to stretch its monthly budget>

Synonyms
economical, economizing, provident, scrimping, sparing, thrifty

Related Words
conserving, preserving, saving; forehanded, foresighted, foresightful, prudent; penny-wise; cheap, close, closefisted, mean, miserly, niggard, niggardly, parsimonious, penny-pinching, penurious, pinching, spare, stingy, stinting, tight, tightfisted

Near Antonyms
improvident, shortsighted; bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, liberal, munificent, openhanded, unselfish, unsparing; extravagant, indulgent, lavish

Antonyms
prodigal, profligate, spendthrift, squandering, thriftless, unthrifty, wasteful

frugality noun
careful management of material resources <her lifelong frugality has enabled her to save enough money to go to college next year> — see ECONOMY

fruit noun
1 a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <one fruit of your faithfulness in carrying out your duties will be more rewarding responsibilities> — see EFFECT 1
2 something produced by physical or intellectual effort <a “miracle drug” that was the fruit of years of research and development> — see PRODUCT 1
3 the descendants of a person, animal, or plant <according to the Bible, God promised Abraham that the fruit of his loins would someday become a great nation> — see OFFSPRING

fruitcake noun
1 a person judged to be legally or medically insane <some fruitcake who insisted that he was an alien from another planet> — see LUNATIC 1
2 a person of odd or whimsical habits <the reclusive scientist has been called a loose cannon and a fruitcake by his detractors> — see ECCENTRIC

fruitful adjective
1 producing abundantly <a very fruitful tree that gives us plenty of apples every year> — see FERTILE
2 producing or capable of producing a desired result <I hope your efforts to find that missing package are fruitful> — see EFFECTIVE 1

fruition noun
the state of being actual or complete <when she landed the lead in a Broadway play, a lifelong dream was brought to fruition>

Synonyms
accomplishment, achievement, actuality, actualization, attainment, consummation, fulfillment (or fulfilment), pass, realization

Related Words
success, triumph

Near Antonyms
defeat, failure, fizzle, nonsuccess

Antonyms
naught (also nought), nonfulfillment

fruitless adjective
1 producing no results <this argument is totally fruitless, as neither of us will change our position> — see FUTILE 1
2 not able to produce fruit or offspring <a stand of blighted, fruitless trees> — see STERILE 1

fruity adjective
1 appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <letters in which his effusive declarations of love are interlaced with snatches of shamelessly fruity poetry> — see CORNY 1
2 slang having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <dreaded spending the holidays with her husband's fruity relatives> — see INSANE 1

frustrate verb
1 to prevent from achieving a goal <a multitude of conflicting opinions frustrated me in my attempt to find a computer that best suits my needs>

Synonyms
baffle, balk, beat, checkmate, discomfit, foil, thwart

Related Words
bar, block, clog, encumber, fetter, hamper, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, tie up, trammel; arrest, check, halt, set back, short-circuit, stall, stop; avert, forestall, obviate, preclude, prevent; negate, neutralize, nullify; counteract, offset; conquer, defeat, overcome

Near Antonyms
abet, aid, assist; ease, facilitate, smooth

Antonyms
advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nurture, promote

2 to lessen the courage or confidence of <challenge the math student, but don't frustrate him or her with overly difficult problems> — see DISCOURAGE 1

frustrating adjective
causing annoyance <these daily traffic jams are frustrating> — see ANNOYING

frustration noun
1 something that is a source of irritation <bad spelling is a constant frustration to language-arts teachers> — see ANNOYANCE 3
2 the emotion felt when one's expectations are not met <the kids couldn't hide their frustration when they couldn't get the electronic toy to work> — see DISAPPOINTMENT 1
3 the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts <the husband's frustration over his wife's constant nagging became too much to bear> — see ANNOYANCE 2

fud noun
a person with old-fashioned ideas <a stagnant company that has been run by some old fuds for far too long> — see FOGY

fuddle verb
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <the hotel staff is completely fuddled by the guest's request for a dozen pillows> — see CONFUSE 1

fuddy–duddy noun
a person with old-fashioned ideas <a fuddy-duddy who thought that anyone too young to vote shouldn't be out past 8:00 p.m.> — see FOGY

fudge noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <I was starting to realize that Grandpa's tales about when he was a boy were a lot of fudge> — see NONSENSE 1

fudge verb
1 to avoid giving a definite answer or position <the candidate wouldn't say whether he was for or against gun control but just fudged on the issue> — see EQUIVOCATE
2 to use dishonest methods to achieve a goal <she's been fudging on her taxes for years> — see CHEAT 1
3 to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of <fudged the facts about his educational background so he could get the position> — see GARBLE 1

fuel noun
something with a usable capacity for doing work <such nonrenewable fuels as coal, petroleum, and natural gas>

Synonyms
energy, power

Related Words
kindling, propellant (also propellent); force

fugacious adjective
lasting only for a short time <savor the fugacious pleasures of life as intensely as the more enduring ones> — see MOMENTARY

fugitive adjective
1 hard to find, capture, or isolate <that fugitive trait called artistic creativity> — see ELUSIVE
2 lasting only for a short time <had fugitive thoughts of leaving town after finishing high school but never acted on them> — see MOMENTARY
3 traveling from place to place <a small fugitive circus that traveled the countryside> — see ITINERANT

fugitiveness noun
the state or quality of lasting only for a short time <a sermon on the fugitiveness of all earthly existence> — see IMPERMANENCE

führer or fuehrer noun
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way <a nation that has suffered under the yoke of one führer after another, never knowing the freedoms of a democracy> — see DESPOT

fulfill or fulfil verb
1 to do what is required by the terms of <the football player must remain with the team one more year to fulfill his contract>

Synonyms
answer, complete, comply (with), fill, keep, meet, redeem, satisfy

Related Words
conclude, consummate, finalize, finish, perfect; accomplish, achieve, bring about, bring off, carry out, effect; commit, compass, discharge, execute, follow through (with), make, perform

Phrases
abide by, make good (or make good on)

Near Antonyms
default (on); disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight

Antonyms
breach, break, transgress, violate

2 to carry through (as a process) to completion <you have fulfilled your duties most admirably> — see PERFORM 1

fulfilling adjective
making one feel good inside <the college student had a fulfilling job tutoring inner-city youths> — see HEARTWARMING

fulfillment or fulfilment noun
1 the doing of an action <her commendably prompt fulfillment of any assignment given her> — see COMMISSION 2
2 the state of being actual or complete <he saw the entire project through, from initial idea to final fulfillment> — see FRUITION

fulgent adjective
giving off or reflecting much light <a fulgent sun peeked from behind the clouds> — see BRIGHT 1

fulgently adverb
in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light <under a fulgently full moon we camped out for the night> — see BRIGHTLY 1

fuliginous adjective
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <a fuliginous prose style that's not exactly ideal for writing for the mass media> — see OBSCURE 1

full adverb
1 to a full extent or degree <waited until it was full dark to launch the attack> — see FULLY 1
2 to a great degree <he knew full well that what he was doing was wrong> — see VERY 1
3 as stated or indicated without the slightest difference <full in the center of the square stands an enormous statue of the city's founder> — see EXACTLY 1

full noun
a complete amount of something <the account is now paid in full> — see WHOLE

full adjective
1 containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible <at the start of the game everyone was full of energy and hope> <the boy's bedroom is full of sports trophies and medals>

Synonyms
brimful, brimming, bursting, chockablock, chock-full (or chockful), crammed, crowded, fat, filled, jammed, jam-packed, loaded, packed, stuffed

Related Words
overcrowded, overfilled, overflowing, overfull, overladen, overloaded, overstuffed; abounding, flush, fraught, replete, rife, swarming, teeming

Near Antonyms
deficient, inadequate, incomplete, insufficient, short, shortish, shy, wanting; depleted, drained, exhausted

Antonyms
bare, blank, devoid, empty, stark, vacant, void

2 of the highest degree <even at the age of eighteen he hadn't reached his full height> <a boat going at full speed>

Synonyms
greatest, maximum, top, topmost, utmost, utter

Related Words
heightened, high

Near Antonyms
lessened, low

Antonyms
least, littlest, lowest, minimal, minimum, slightest

3 having one's appetite completely satisfied <even the heartiest eaters are sure to be full when they leave that restaurant>

Synonyms
replete, sated, satiate, satiated, stuffed, surfeited

Related Words
glutted, gorged, overfed, overfull, overstuffed

Near Antonyms
underfed, undernourished

Antonyms
empty, famished, hungry, starved, starving

4 covering everything or all important points <a full analysis of the problems facing our cities today> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC
5 having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) <the dessert had a rich, full chocolate flavor> — see FULL-BODIED
6 having an excess of body fat <she should have a hairdo that complements her full face> — see FAT 1
7 including many small descriptive features <a very full description of the city's cultural offerings> — see DETAILED 1
8 not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it <a full deck of cards> — see COMPLETE 1

full blast adverb
with all power or resources being used <the unsuspecting parents arrived home to find the stereo going full blast and the kitchen a mess>

Synonyms
all out, full tilt, tooth and nail

Related Words
completely, comprehensively, detailedly, exhaustively, fully, minutely, roundly, thoroughly, totally; extremely, utterly

Phrases
full steam ahead, in full career, like crazy, to the hilt

full–blood adjective
of unmixed ancestry <her ancestry is full-blood Irish> — see PUREBRED

full–blooded adjective
1 of unmixed ancestry <a full-blooded American Indian> — see PUREBRED
2 having a healthy reddish skin tone <had the full-blooded complexion of a rugged outdoorsman> — see RUDDY
3 marked by or uttered with forcefulness <mounted a full-blooded attack on his opponent's position regarding immigration> — see EMPHATIC 1

full–blown adjective
fully grown or developed <before he became a full-blown literary sensation, he wrote articles for little journals that paid even littler money> — see MATURE 1

full–bodied adjective
having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) <after that huge Sunday brunch, everyone needed a full-bodied coffee>

Synonyms
big, concentrated, full, heady, lusty, muscular, plush, potent, rich, robust, strong

Related Words
heavy; straight, undiluted, unmixed; high-octane, high-test; enriched, fortified; concentrated

Near Antonyms
dilute, diluted, watered-down, watery

Antonyms
delicate, light, mild, thin, thinned, weak, weakened

full dress noun
dressy clothing <suburban teens in full dress for the prom at the country club> — see FINERY

full–fledged adjective
fully grown or developed <it was years before he became a full-fledged star> — see MATURE 1

fullness noun
the quality or state of being without restriction, exception, or qualification <has regained fullness of motor control> — see ENTIRENESS

full–scale adjective
trying all possibilities <a full-scale search and rescue for the victims of the rock slide> — see EXHAUSTIVE 1

full tilt adverb
1 with all power or resources being used <during the war the nation's factories were going full tilt> — see FULL BLAST
2 with great speed <the fleeing robber ran full tilt down the hill> — see FAST 1

fully adverb
1 to a full extent or degree <only with daybreak did we fully realize the extent of the damage from the storm>

Synonyms
all, all of, all over, altogether, clean, completely, dead, enough, entire, entirely, even, exactly, fast, flat, full, heartily, out, perfectly, plumb [chiefly dialect], quite, soundly, thoroughly, through and through, totally, utterly, well, wholly, wide

Related Words
absolutely, categorically, cold, downright, hands down, plain, stone, stone-cold, unqualifiedly; basically, by and large, chiefly, generally, largely, mainly, more or less, mostly, overall, predominantly, predominately, primarily, principally, substantially; abundantly, copiously, generously, greatly

Phrases
all the way, at length, down the line, down to the ground, for fair, in whole, to bits, to pieces, to the hilt, to the max

Near Antonyms
barely, hardly, just, kind of, marginally, minimally, scarcely, slightly, superficially; approximately, roughly, somewhat

Antonyms
half, halfway, incompletely, part, partially, partly

2 with attention to all aspects or details <wanted to be fully involved in the project> — see THOROUGHLY 1

fulminate verb
to talk loudly and wildly <she was embarrassed when her friend began fulminating at the restaurant about what's wrong with today's kids> — see RANT

fulmination noun
harsh insulting language <players were told they had a right to be spared the foulmouthed fulmination of the hockey coach> — see ABUSE 1

fulsome adjective
1 overly or insincerely flattering <the player's fulsome praise for the coach showed just how hard he was trying to be named captain of the team>

Synonyms
adulatory, gushing, gushy, hagiographic (also hagiographical), oily, oleaginous, soapy, unctuous

Related Words
drooling, slavering, slobbering; cloying, sickening; demonstrative, effusive, mushy, uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained; artificial, backhanded, feigned, hypocritical, insincere, left-handed, mealymouthed, sanctimonious, two-faced; disarming, endearing, ingratiating, winning, winsome; extravagant, lavish, unrestrained; abundant, copious, profuse

Near Antonyms
artless, earnest, genuine, heartfelt, honest, ingenuous, sincere, true, unaffected, unfeigned, unpretending, unpretentious

2 giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <grateful survivors who were fulsome in their praise of the rescue team> — see GENEROUS 1
3 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <the author perpetuates some truly fulsome stereotypes in her novel> — see OFFENSIVE 1

fumble noun
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <played the entire piano piece without a single fumble> — see ERROR 1

fumble verb
1 to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <her assistant fumbled the party plans by getting the time wrong on the invitations> — see BOTCH
2 to search for something blindly or uncertainly <the librarian fumbled for the light switch as she entered the dark room> — see GROPE
3 to make a mistake <just when it looked like he was going to get away with the ruse, he fumbled> — see ERR 1

fumbled adjective
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) <my future father-in-law shook his head over my fumbled attempt to compliment his daughter> — see AWKWARD 2

fumbler noun
someone who bungles an effort <a well-meaning fumbler who somehow screwed up our computer network> — see BUTCHER

fume verb
1 to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger <he silently fumed as his ex-girlfriend danced with her new beau> — see BOIL 1
2 to express one's anger usually violently <when she found out her driver's license was being suspended, she fumed, throwing papers across the room and shouting at the top of her lungs> — see RAGE 1

fuming adjective
feeling or showing anger <I was fuming after losing the game by a single point> — see ANGRY

fun verb
to make jokes <just a couple of old friends funning with each other> — see JOKE 1

fun adjective
providing amusement or enjoyment <there were so many fun things to do at summer camp that the kids really hated to leave>

Synonyms
amusing, delightful, diverting, enjoyable, entertaining, pleasurable

Related Words
agreeable, beguiling, nice, pleasant, satisfying, welcome; recreational; antic, comic, comical, droll, farcical, funny, hilarious, humorous, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, riotous, risible, sidesplitting, uproarious; blithesome, gay, gleeful, happy, jocose, jocund, jolly, jovial, merry, mirthful, sunny; exciting, stimulating, thrilling

Near Antonyms
disagreeable, displeasing, distasteful, uncongenial, unlovely, unpleasant, unpleasing, unwelcome

Antonyms
boring, drab, dreary, dull, flat, heavy, humdrum, jading, leaden, monotonous, pedestrian, pleasureless, ponderous, stodgy, stuffy, tedious, tiresome, tiring, uninteresting, wearisome, weary, wearying

fun noun
1 someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment <theme parks with their rides, shows, and games are great fun for the whole family>

Synonyms
delight, distraction, diversion, divertissement, entertainment, pleasure, recreation

Related Words
escape, pastime, time killer; binge, fling, frolic, gambol, lark, revel, rollick, romp, spree; frolicking, rollicking; carousing, conviviality, festivity, gaiety (also gayety), hilarity, jollification, jollity, merrymaking, reveling (or revelling), revelry, whoopee; picnic; laugh, riot, scream; activity, game

Near Antonyms
killjoy, party pooper

Antonyms
bore, bummer, downer, drag

2 an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously <when I said that playing the piano like that could get you arrested, I only said it in fun>

Synonyms
game, jest, play, sport

Related Words
facetiousness, flightiness, flippancy, frivolity, frivolousness, frothiness, levity, light-mindedness, silliness

Near Antonyms
earnestness, gravity, seriousness, soberness, sobriety, solemnity

Antonyms
earnest

3 activity engaged in to amuse oneself <came outside to where we were playing touch football and joined the fun> — see PLAY 1
4 a state of noisy, confused activity <the fun really began when the deer broke out of its pen and started wandering down the street> — see COMMOTION

fun and games plural noun
1 a situation or state of carefree comfort <soon found out that owning and maintaining a yacht wasn't all fun and games> — see BEER AND SKITTLES
2 activity engaged in to amuse oneself <it's not all fun and games at the summer music camp, where students are expected to take their studies seriously> — see PLAY 1

function noun
1 a social gathering <made a brief appearance at the annual holiday function> — see PARTY 1
2 an assignment at which one regularly works for pay <what's your function in this company?> — see JOB 1
3 the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists <that machine's function is to sort bolts by size> — see ROLE

function verb
to have a certain purpose <the heart functions as a pump for the blood>

Synonyms
act, perform, serve, work

Related Words
operate, run; administer, carry on, control, direct, guide, handle, manage, oversee, regulate, supervise

functional adjective
1 being in effective operation <I don't think that vending machine is functional, so don't put money into it> — see ACTIVE 1
2 capable of being put to use or account <a functional knowledge of auto mechanics> — see PRACTICAL 1
3 capable of or suitable for being used for a particular purpose <a very functional kitchen utensil for peeling potatoes> — see USABLE 1

functionary noun
1 a person who holds a public office <spoke to high-ranking functionaries at the embassy in the hopes that they could help> — see OFFICIAL
2 a worker in a government agency <the faceless functionaries at the Internal Revenue Service> — see BUREAUCRAT

functioning adjective
being in effective operation <looked for a functioning washing machine, but the few that weren't broken were in use> — see ACTIVE 1

fund verb
1 to furnish (as an institution) with a regular source of income <her will funded a new science center for her beloved alma mater> — see ENDOW 2
2 to provide money for <Dad advised me to get a job because he wasn't going to fund my social life forever> — see FINANCE 1

fund noun
1 a sum of money set aside for a particular purpose <our club has a fund for parties—which we like to have as often as possible>

Synonyms
account, budget, deposit, kitty, nest egg, pool

Related Words
chest, coffer(s); assets, savings, savings account; bankroll, cache, collection, cushion, hoard, pocketbook, reserve, treasure; petty cash, pin money, pocket money, spending money

2 funds plural available money <my funds were a little low, so I asked my favorite lending institution—Dad—for a small advance on my first paycheck>

Synonyms
bankroll, coffers, exchequer, finances, pocket, resources, wherewithal

Related Words
shirt; bread [slang], cash, chips, currency, dough, gold, jack [slang], legal tender, lucre, pelf, scratch [slang], tender, wampum; assets, capital, deep pockets, fortune, means, opulence, riches, roll, substance, wealth; purse, treasury; cash flow; financing

Near Antonyms
debts, liabilities; indebtedness

3 the number of individuals or amount of something available at any given time <we have a deep fund of volunteers to call on when there is an unexpected need for help> — see SUPPLY

fundament noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <a naked fundament was clearly visible for an instant in the movie> — see BUTTOCKS

fundamental adjective
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject <the purpose of the course is to furnish students with fundamental knowledge of human reproduction> — see ELEMENTARY

fundamentals plural noun
general or basic truths on which other truths or theories can be based <all students at the school of music must take a course in the fundamentals of their chosen art> — see PRINCIPLES 1

funeral adjective
expressing or suggesting mourning <a slow and heavy funeral song> — see MOURNFUL 1

funeral director noun
a person who manages funerals and prepares the dead for burial or cremation <the funeral director instructed the pallbearers on how to proceed>

Synonyms
mortician, undertaker

Related Words
embalmer

funereal adjective
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <shivered with cold in the dark and funereal Victorian mansion> — see GLOOMY 1

fungible adjective
capable of being substituted in place of one another <since fruits and vegetables are regarded as fungible in this diet, you are allowed a total of five servings of either or both> — see INTERCHANGEABLE

1funk noun
a strong unpleasant smell <the overpowering funk of rotten meat emanated from the garbage bin> — see STINK 1

2funk noun
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <he may be a strong, athletic guy, but he's a real funk when it comes to donating blood> — see COWARD

funky adjective
1 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <a funky antique shop that reflects the owner's decidedly eccentric taste> — see ODD 2
2 having an unpleasant smell <a funky pair of old socks lying on the locker room floor> — see MALODOROUS

funnel verb
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway <funneled endless time and money into his misguided pet project> — see CHANNEL

funniness noun
the amusing quality or element in something <the funniness of the situation is often lost on the victim of the prank> — see HUMOR 1

funning adjective
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing <after he confided to his friends that he had a crush on his science lab partner, they made funning comments about the “chemistry” between the two sweethearts> — see QUIZZICAL

funny noun
1 a series of drawings that tell a story or part of a story <reading the Sunday funnies is part of my weekend ritual> — see COMIC STRIP
2 something said or done to cause laughter <let's can the funnies—we've got serious work to do here> — see JOKE 1

funny adjective
1 causing or intended to cause laughter <a very funny movie that had audiences rolling in the aisles>

Synonyms
antic, chucklesome, comedic, comic, comical, droll, farcical, hilarious, humoristic, humorous, hysterical (also hysteric), killing, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, riotous, risible, screaming, sidesplitting, uproarious

Related Words
amusing, diverting, entertaining; clownish, knockabout, slapstick, slapsticky, zany; facetious, flip, flippant, pert, smart, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, snickery; jocular, playful, waggish; campy, jokey (also joky); priceless, rich, whimsical, witty, wry; blithesome, gleeful, jocose, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, mad, merry, mirthful

Near Antonyms
earnest, grave, no-nonsense, sedate, serious, severe, sober, sobersided, solemn, somber (or sombre), staid, unsmiling, weighty; affecting, moving, poignant, touching, tragic (also tragical); lachrymose, mournful, sad, sorrowful, tearful, woeful

Antonyms
humorless, lame, unamusing, uncomic, unfunny, unhumorous, unhysterical

2 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <that's funny, for I could have sworn I put my keys right here yesterday> — see ODD 2
3 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <that's a funny-looking dog—what kind is it?> — see UNUSUAL 1

funnyman noun
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor <a funnyman who honed his shtick in vaudeville, Milton Berle was credited with popularizing the medium of television> — see HUMORIST

fur noun
1 the hairy covering of a mammal especially when fine, soft, and thick <the chinchilla is known for its exceptionally soft fur>

Synonyms
coat, fleece, hair, jacket, pelage, pile, wool

Related Words
undercoat, underfur; hide, leather, pelt, skin

2 a soft airy substance or covering <picked at the fur on the chenille pillows> — see 1FUZZ
3 the outer covering of an animal removed for its commercial value <furriers willing to pay good money for a lynx fur> — see HIDE 1

furbelow noun
a strip of fabric gathered or pleated on one edge and used as trimming <she opted for a simple wedding dress that did without all the frills and furbelows> — see RUFFLE 1

furbish verb
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure <the warrior furbished his sword and shield so that they glinted in the sunlight> — see POLISH 1

furious adjective
1 marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity <everyone worked at a furious pace in order to get the float ready for the parade>

Synonyms
delirious, ferocious, feverish, fierce, frantic, frenetic, frenzied, mad, rabid, violent, wild

Related Words
concentrated, high-pressured, intense, intensive, vehement; excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, immoderate, inordinate, lavish, overmuch, overweening, unconscionable, undue; crazed, crazy, demented, deranged, insane, irrational, lunatic, mad, maniacal (also maniac)

Near Antonyms
calm, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, subdued, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, untroubled; moderate, reasonable, temperate; casual, easygoing, low-pressure; balanced, sane, sound

Antonyms
relaxed

2 extreme in degree, power, or effect <a furious hurricane virtually destroyed the seaside town> — see INTENSE 1
3 feeling or showing anger <a furious customer demanding to see the manager> — see ANGRY
4 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <rioters went on a furious rampage, doing over $2,000,000 in damage> — see VIOLENT 1

furlough noun
the termination of the employment of an employee or a work force often temporarily <the landscaping company usually has to put most of its personnel on furlough during the extremely slow winter months> — see LAYOFF 1

furnish verb
1 to provide (someone) with what is needed for a task or activity <the art students were furnished with brushes, crayons, pencils, and various other art supplies>

Synonyms
accoutre (or accouter), equip, fit (out), gird, kit (up or out) [chiefly British], outfit, provision, rig, supply

Related Words
stock, store; bestow, contribute, donate, give, present; apportion, deal (out), dispense, distribute, dole out, hand out, mete (out), parcel (out), portion, prorate; allocate, allot, assign; arm, fortify, prepare; reequip, refit, refurnish, reoutfit

Near Antonyms
deprive, dispossess, divest, strip

2 to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption <we'll gladly furnish the food for any out-of-town guests>

Synonyms
deliver, feed, give, hand, hand over, provide, supply

Related Words
ply (with); administer, allocate, apportion, deal (out), dispense, distribute, dole out, mete (out), parcel (out), portion, prorate; assign, cede, deed, make over, transfer

Near Antonyms
conserve, keep up, maintain, preserve, save

Antonyms
hold (back), keep (back), reserve, retain, withhold

furnishings plural noun
the movable articles (such as tables and chairs) in a room <we moved the furnishings out of the room so we could sand down and refinish the wood floor> — see FURNITURE

furniture noun
the movable articles (such as tables and chairs) in a room <we bought all new furniture for our new house>

Synonyms
appointments, cabinetwork, furnishings, movables (or moveables)

Related Words
belongings, chattels, effects, gear, goods, holdings, paraphernalia, possessions, things; case goods

Near Antonyms
built-ins, fixtures

furor noun
1 a state of noisy, confused activity <the classroom was in a furor when the mice escaped from their cage> — see COMMOTION
2 a state of wildly excited activity or emotion <euphoric children in a gift-opening furor on Christmas morning> — see FRENZY
3 an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <residents were in a furor about the new paper mill being constructed within city limits> — see ANGER

furore noun
1 a state of noisy, confused activity <the store's going-out-of-business sale caused such a furore that security guards had to be called in to restore order> — see COMMOTION
2 a state of wildly excited activity or emotion <baseball fans in a furore as the game stretched to 11 innings> — see FRENZY

furred adjective
covered with or as if with hair <a girl who loves all furred animals, from hamsters to bears> — see HAIRY 1

furrow noun
a small fold in a soft and otherwise smooth surface <the furrows in his usually unwrinkled brow suggested that he was very worried> — see WRINKLE 1

furrow verb
1 to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement <we had to furrow the field before we could plant the wheat> — see PLOW 1
2 to develop creases or folds <his brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to figure out the math problem> — see WRINKLE 1

furry adjective
1 covered with or as if with hair <a furry teddy bear that would be so nice to cuddle up with> — see HAIRY 1
2 made of or resembling hair <green furry mold on old bread> — see HAIRY 2

further adjective
resulting in an increase in amount or number <I think further research is needed before we can say whether that treatment is safe or not> — see ADDITIONAL

further adverb
1 at or to a greater distance or more advanced point <go further along this road and you'll see the sign for the highway> — see FARTHER
2 in addition to what has been said <I'll say nothing further at this time> — see MORE 1

further verb
to help the growth or development of <she worked hard to further her operatic career> — see FOSTER 1

furtherance noun
forward movement in time or place <the 1965 Civil Rights Act was a major step in the furtherance of social justice in the U.S.> — see ADVANCE 1

furthermore adverb
in addition to what has been said <I'm not interested in what you are selling, and furthermore, I asked your company not to contact me ever again> — see MORE 1

furthermost adjective
most distant from a center <a probe that will travel into the furthermost reaches of deep space> — see EXTREME 1

furthest adjective
most distant from a center <this belongs in the aisle furthest from the cash registers> — see EXTREME 1

furtive adjective
1 given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions <a furtive guy who always seems to be up to something, and usually that something is no-good> — see SNEAKY 1
2 undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <gave each other furtive glances as we watched our friend open the booby-trapped soda> — see SECRET 1

fury noun
1 a bad-tempered scolding woman <tradition has it that Socrates' wife was such a fury that the philosopher's death sentence by the authorities was not an entirely unwelcome fate> — see SHREW
2 a state of wildly excited activity or emotion <the sudden appearance of the rock star whipped the crowd of onlookers into a fury of excitement> — see FRENZY
3 an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <in his fury, the duped gambler overturned the card table and declared that the game had been fixed> — see ANGER

fuse verb
1 to come together to form a single unit <our two local teams fused into a larger regional team> — see UNITE 1
2 to go from a solid to a liquid state <the lightning strike was so hot it caused the electrical wires to fuse and then drip onto the road> — see LIQUEFY
3 to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <the many foundries would daily fuse copper and zinc to create the brass that made the city famous> — see BLEND 1

fusillade noun
a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <responded calmly to the fusillade of criticism leveled at his design for the memorial> — see BARRAGE

fusion noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <a fusion of jazz and classical music> — see BLEND

fuss noun
1 a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent <she made a fuss over not being picked for the lead role in the play> — see OBJECTION
2 a state of nervous or irritated concern <the new parents are always in a fuss over whether the baby is dressed warmly enough> — see FRET
3 a state of noisy, confused activity <the company managed the move into the new building without any undue fuss> — see COMMOTION
4 an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <none of the employees dared to make a fuss over having to come to work in the huge snowstorm> — see COMPLAINT 1

fuss verb
1 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <the eldest daughter is always fussing that she gets stuck with all the chores around the house> — see COMPLAIN
2 to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm <fans fussing over their favorite rock guitarist> — see GUSH 2
3 to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant <the picky eater who fusses over the arrangement of food on his plate or who won't eat the rice if it touches the salad> — see QUIBBLE 1
4 to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior <given to fussing over her father whenever she wants a favor or some ready cash> — see FAWN
5 to experience concern or anxiety <there is no use in fussing over things that you can't control> — see WORRY 1
6 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <you shouldn't let a little thing like that fuss you> — see DISTURB 1

fussbudget noun
a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things <a customer who's a real fussbudget about wanting her food very hot> — see CRYBABY

fussbudgety adjective
hard to please <my fussbudgety aunt wouldn't even consider a B and B without private baths> — see FINICKY

fusser noun
1 a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things <sat next to an insufferable fusser, who whined during the entire bus trip> — see CRYBABY
2 an irritable and complaining person <a natural fusser who has never had a glimmer of gratitude for anything done for him> — see GROUCH 1

fusspot noun
a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things <as a professional gardener with a well-heeled clientele, he's used to dealing with fusspots> — see CRYBABY

fussy adjective
1 given to complaining a lot <predictably, the kids riding in the back were fussy passengers, always asking “Are we there yet?”>

Synonyms
crabby, cranky, grouchy, grumpy, querulous

Related Words
antsy, fidgety, restive, restless, squirmy, twitchy, uneasy, wiggly, wriggly; discontented, disgruntled, displeased, dissatisfied; fretful, nervous, worrisome; cantankerous, choleric, cross, crotchety, irascible, irritable, ornery, peevish, perverse, pettish, petulant, quick-tempered, short-tempered, snappish, snappy, snippy, testy, waspish

Near Antonyms
affable, agreeable, amiable, genial, good-humored, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, well-disposed; accommodating, complaisant, obliging; easygoing, laid-back, relaxed

Antonyms
forbearing, long-suffering, patient, stoic (or stoical), tolerant, uncomplaining

2 hard to please <cats have a well-deserved reputation for being fussy eaters> — see FINICKY
3 taking, showing, or involving great care and effort <a fussy teacher who reads through papers two and even three times before issuing a grade> — see PAINSTAKING
4 elaborately and often excessively decorated <the room, with its rococo furniture and its overabundance of knickknacks, is just too fussy for my taste> — see ORNATE 1

fustian adjective
marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases <one of those fustian odes to patriotic duty that were so beloved by school teachers> — see RHETORICAL 1

fustian noun
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere <a speech awash in old-fashioned fustian and bereft of all substance> — see RHETORIC 1

fusty adjective
having an unpleasant smell <couldn't stay too long in the fusty attic without sneezing> — see MALODOROUS

futile adjective
1 producing no results <the prison is so well guarded that all attempts to escape have been futile>

Synonyms
abortive, barren, bootless, empty, fruitless, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficacious, otiose, profitless, unavailing, unproductive, unprofitable, unsuccessful, useless, vain

Related Words
hollow, idle, meaningless, pointless, valueless, worthless; hopeless, impossible, lost, no-win, unattainable; inadequate, insufficient, lacking, wanting; counterproductive

Phrases
in vain, no dice, not worth the candle, of no avail

Near Antonyms
meaningful, worthwhile; adequate, sufficient; applicable, feasible, functional, practicable, practical, realizable, usable (also useable), workable

Antonyms
deadly, effective, effectual, efficacious, efficient, fruitful, potent, productive, profitable, successful, virtuous

2 lacking in seriousness or maturity <the futile chatter of gossip columnists about the comings and goings of Hollywood celebrities> — see GIDDY 1

future adjective
of a time after the present <we must preserve our national parks in all their glory so that future generations can experience the majesty of nature>

Synonyms
coming, unborn

Related Words
approaching, forthcoming, imminent, impending, nearing, oncoming, pending, upcoming; after, ensuing, later, posterior, subsequent; anticipated, awaited, expected, planned, predicted, projected, prospective; eventual, final, last, ulterior, ultimate

Near Antonyms
ancient, olden; antecedent, anterior, precedent, preceding, previous, prior

Antonyms
bygone, past

future noun
1 time that is to come <in the future, there may be medical discoveries that are beyond our fondest dreams>

Synonyms
by-and-by, futurity, hereafter, offing, tomorrow

Related Words
eventuality, finality; posterity

Near Antonyms
yesterday, yesteryear; antiquity, old, yore; moment, now, present, today

Antonyms
past

2 what is going to happen to someone in the time ahead <with such a strong academic record, his future looks bright> — see FORTUNE 1

futurist noun
one who predicts future events or developments <economic futurists predict a new world order in which information is the resource that drives a nation's economy> — see PROPHET 1

futurity noun
time that is to come <we can scarcely imagine what observers in some remote futurity will think of civilization as it existed at the dawn of the 21st century> — see FUTURE 1

1fuzz noun
a soft airy substance or covering <a comfortable old sweater with clumps of fuzz all over it>

Synonyms
down, floss, fluff, fur, lint, nap, pile

Related Words
batting

2fuzz noun
1 a body of officers of the law <we've got to get out of here before the fuzz catches on to our scam> — see POLICE 2
2 a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level <the weary fuzz hauled in yet another drunk> — see OFFICER 1

fuzz (up) verb
to make dark, dim, or indistinct <picture postcards never show those not-infrequent days when the coastal scenery is fuzzed up by fog> — see CLOUD 1

fuzzy adjective
1 made of or resembling hair <wore a fuzzy red wig at the Halloween party> — see HAIRY 2
2 not expressed in precise terms <the specifics of the program proposed by the candidate are rather fuzzy, perhaps intentionally so> — see VAGUE 1
3 not seen or understood clearly <saw a fuzzy outline through the fog> — see FAINT 1

G

gab verb
to engage in casual or rambling conversation <spent the time she should have been working gabbing with friends instead> — see CHAT 1

gab noun
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <a car salesman with the proverbial gift for gab> — see CHAT 1

gabble noun
unintelligible or meaningless talk <he claimed he was speaking Arabic, but an Egyptian friend confided that all his murmurings were just gabble> — see GIBBERISH 1

gabble verb
1 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <heard her parents' guests still gabbling in the living room late into the night> — see CHAT 1
2 to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly <during the filming of the party scene the extras were told to just gabble and act like they were having a great time> — see BABBLE 1

gabbler noun
a person who talks constantly <was a real gabbler who never let you get a word in edgewise> — see CHATTERBOX

gabby adjective
fond of talking or conversation <a gabby talk-show host whose interviews were almost as much about herself as about her guests> — see TALKATIVE

gabfest noun
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <the slumber party was an all-night gabfest filled with gossip, giggling, and whispered secrets> — see CHAT 1

gad (about) verb
to move about from place to place aimlessly <he gads about town every Saturday, flirting and gossiping with various shopkeepers and locals> — see WANDER 1

gadabout noun
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination <she was a thoughtful gadabout, always picking up souvenirs for her friends from wherever her travels took her> — see NOMAD

gadarene adjective
acting or done with excessive or careless speed <what began as the defection of a handful of employees soon became a gadarene exodus that threatened to leave the advertising agency understaffed> — see HASTY 1

gadfly noun
one who is obnoxiously annoying <a loud sports commentator who was a tactless gadfly during post-game interviews with the losing team> — see NUISANCE 1

gadget noun
an interesting and often novel device with a practical use <she tried out a new gadget for weeding the garden>

Synonyms
appliance, contraption, contrivance, gimmick, gizmo (also gismo), jigger, widget

Related Words
implement, instrument, tool, utensil; ingenuity, innovation, invention; accessory (also accessary), adjunct; mechanism, trick; dingus, doodad, doohickey, hickey, hootenanny [chiefly dialect], thingamabob, thingamajig (or thingumajig), thingummy

gaff noun
1 a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark <you can expect to make some amusing gaffs until you get more familiar with the language> — see IMPROPRIETY 2
2 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <double-check her writing, as it's typically riddled with gaffs> — see ERROR 1

gaff verb
1 to cause to believe what is untrue <a sleazy photographer who gaffed small-town girls into thinking he represented a big-city modeling agency> — see DECEIVE
2 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <the operators of the traveling carnival had gaffed the gullible with a variety of time-honored ruses> — see FLEECE

gaffe noun
1 a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark <committed a huge gaffe when she started drinking from the finger bowl> — see IMPROPRIETY 2
2 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <so-called debates, which were mainly about seeing which candidate made the most gaffes> — see ERROR 1

gag noun
1 something said or done to cause laughter <the movie featured a gag involving a chicken driving a car that audiences thought was hysterically funny> — see JOKE 1
2 a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <the timeworn gag of asking a tobacconist if he has “Prince Albert in a can”> — see PRANK

gag verb
1 to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth <the terrible smell of rotting fish made me gag> — see VOMIT
2 to experience complete or partial blockage of the windpipe <took a bite that was too large and began to gag> — see CHOKE 2
3 to make jokes <the actor typically mugs and gags through his movies, but in his latest vehicle he plays it straight> — see JOKE 1

gaga adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <after years of being alone in that remote outpost he had become totally gaga> — see INSANE 1

gaga (over) adjective
filled with an intense or excessive love for <lately Jack and his friends have been gaga over extreme skiing> — see ENAMORED OF

gage noun
something given or held to assure that the giver will keep a promise <in the old days a sheriff would take gage in the form of personal goods from an accused person who then had to appear in court or forfeit the goods> — see PLEDGE 1

gagger noun
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor <got her start in comedy as a gagger for the host of a talk show> — see HUMORIST

gagman noun
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor <politicians with no talent for humor often hire gagmen to write jokes for them> — see HUMORIST

gagster noun
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor <gagsters tried to outdo one another on jokes about the high-profile box office bomb> — see HUMORIST

gaiety also gayety noun
1 dressy clothing <attendees of the masquerade ball arrived dressed in all their gaiety> — see FINERY
2 joyful or festive activity <loved the gaiety of the annual harvest festival> <the gaiety of the wedding reception> — see MERRYMAKING
3 a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter <the gaiety of children enjoying an outing at an amusement park> — see MIRTH

gaily also gayly adverb
1 in a cheerful or happy manner <we sat around the table, gaily teasing each other and laughing about the good old days>

Synonyms
brightly, cheerfully, cheerily, happily, heartily, jocosely, jovially, merrily, mirthfully, smilingly

Related Words
amusedly, exuberantly, giddily, gigglingly, joyfully, joyously; blithely, blithesomely, breezily, gladly, gladsomely, laughingly, lightheartedly, sunnily; amicably, friendlily, friendly, good-humoredly, good-naturedly, jocularly; hopefully, optimistically, sanguinely; blissfully, elatedly, euphorically, rapturously

Near Antonyms
abjectly, dejectedly, despondently, disconsolately, dispiritedly, wretchedly; dolefully, dolorously, forlornly, mournfully, plaintively, sorrowfully; dourly, glumly, mirthlessly, sourly, sternly, sulkily, sullenly; blackly, dismally, drearily, gloomily, pessimistically

Antonyms
bleakly, cheerlessly, darkly, heavily, miserably, morosely, unhappily

2 in a quick and spirited manner <children gaily running to the buses on the last day of school>

Synonyms
airily, animatedly, animately, bouncily, buoyantly, high-spiritedly, livelily, lively, perkily, pertly, snappily, sparkily, spiritedly, sprightly, trippingly, vivaciously

Related Words
friskily, gamesomely, playfully, skittishly, sportively; briskly, crisply, effervescently, energetically, jazzily, racily, springily; breezily, cockishly, dapperly, dashingly, jauntily; agilely, nimbly, spryly; allegro

Near Antonyms
halfheartedly, idly, indolently, lazily, lethargically, slothfully; heavily, inactively, listlessly, tiredly, wearily

Antonyms
dully, inanimately, sluggishly, tardily

3 in a manner that is colorful and tends to arouse gaiety <the Mexican dancers were gaily dressed in lavish, bright costumes>

Synonyms
bravely, brightly, brilliantly, colorfully

Related Words
flamboyantly, flashily, garishly, gaudily, loud, loudly, ostentatiously; fancily, ornately, swankily; gorgeously, richly, spectacularly, splendidly, strikingly; dapperly, dashingly, gallantly, jazzily, nattily, neatly, pertly, smartly, snappily, spiffily; conspicuously, luridly, shockingly

Near Antonyms
colorlessly, inconspicuously, unobtrusively, unpretentiously; chastely, demurely, modestly; conservatively, plainly, quietly, simply; bleakly, severely, somberly

Antonyms
boringly, drably, dully

gain noun
1 something added (as by growth) <attributed her recent weight gain to the medication she was taking> — see INCREASE 1
2 the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received <the company posted a substantial fourth-quarter gain, signaling an end to their money-losing ventures> — see PROFIT 1
3 usually gains plural an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property <net gains this year were better than last> — see INCOME 1

gain verb
1 to gradually increase in <our hopes were raised as the movement gained strength>

Synonyms
build up, gather, grow (in), pick up

Related Words
double (in), triple (in); accrue, accumulate, amass; excite, stimulate; enhance, enlarge, enrich, expand, extend, maximize; boost, elevate, jack (up), mount, ramp (up), step up

Near Antonyms
abate, decline (in), diminish (in), dip, dwindle, fall (in), lessen, taper, taper off

Antonyms
decrease (in), lose

2 to receive as return for effort <gained her affections with his boyishly shy manner> — see EARN 1
3 to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness <is steadily gaining after his bout with the flu and will be back on his feet soon> — see CONVALESCE
4 to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number <the new version of the car gained in both width and length compared to the earlier model> — see INCREASE 2
5 to obtain (as a goal) through effort <vowed to gain control of the company by any means necessary> — see ACHIEVE 1
6 to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest request <the radical party was able to gain some supporters with intense recruitment on college campuses> — see PERSUADE

gainful adjective
yielding a profit <graduated from school and went looking for gainful employment> — see PROFITABLE 1

gainsay verb
1 to declare not to be true <it can't be gainsaid that most people wish they had more time and money> — see DENY 1
2 to make an assertion that is contrary to one made by (another) <repeatedly tried to gainsay me, though every point I made was backed up by facts> — see CONTRADICT 1

gal noun
a female romantic companion <after years of dating, Fred finally asked his gal to marry him> — see GIRLFRIEND

gala noun
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something <attended the gala celebrating the reopening of the museum> — see FESTIVAL

galactic adjective
unusually large <a galactic serving of soda that would have been enough for three moviegoers> — see HUGE

galaxy noun
a huge physical or conceptual distance <they're a galaxy apart when it comes to politics>

Synonyms
light-year, world

Related Words
country mile, long haul, way; infinity

Near Antonyms
hop, skip, and jump, shouting distance, stone's throw, striking distance; hair, hairbreadth (or hairsbreadth), inch

gale noun
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <the audience responded to the comedian's joke with gales of laughter> — see OUTBURST 1

galère noun
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <charged that the campus newspaper had been completely taken over by a galère of right-wing zealots> — see GANG 2

galette noun
a small usually rounded mass of minced food that has been fried <a golden-brown galette of lightly buttered and sautéed potato slices> — see CAKE 1

gall noun
1 a deep-seated ill will <her kindly feelings turned to gall when she found out her nephew only wanted her money> — see ENMITY
2 shameless boldness <I can't believe he had the gall to ask me how much I weigh> — see EFFRONTERY

gall verb
1 to damage or diminish by continued friction <move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it> — see ABRADE 1
2 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <humming through your nose like that absolutely galls me> — see IRRITATE 1
3 to make sore by continued rubbing <tie your shoes so they don't gall your heels sliding on and off like that> — see CHAFE 1

gallant adjective
1 feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <a gallant firefighter, rushing into the burning house to save the children> <a gallant rescue> — see BRAVE 1
2 having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature <a gallant knight> <the members of that service club are known for their gallant service to the community> — see NOBLE 2
3 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <a great and gallant sailing ship> — see GRAND 1

gallant noun
1 a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance <he was quite a gallant, primping more than either of his sisters> — see DANDY 1
2 a man who courts a woman usually with the goal of marrying her <she had a whole host of gallants vying for her hand in marriage> — see SUITOR 1

gallantly adverb
1 in a manner befitting a person of the highest character and ideals <gallantly offered to personally accompany the lost tourists back to their hotel> — see GREATLY 1
2 in a fearless manner <he ran gallantly to the rescue of the woman being mugged> — see BRAVELY 1

gallantry noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <commended the rescuers for their gallantry> — see COURAGE

galled adjective
subjected to and reacting with irritation <I was particularly galled when she didn't even offer to pay half the cab fare> — see ANNOYED

gallery noun
1 a building or part of a building in which objects of interest are displayed <visited an array of art galleries while on vacation> — see MUSEUM
2 a typically long narrow way connecting parts of a building <the guest rooms in the east wing rooms open up onto a long windowed gallery> — see HALL 2
3 Southern & Midland a covered structure adjoining an entrance to a building <a big old house with a wraparound gallery just made for a line of rocking chairs> — see PORCH

gallimaufry noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the collection is a gallimaufry of poems, essays, and short stories that have no apparent unifying theme> — see MISCELLANY 1

galling adjective
1 causing annoyance <her holier-than-thou attitude is galling> — see ANNOYING
2 hard to accept or bear especially emotionally <losing in the last round of play-offs was galling to our home team> — see BITTER 2

gallivant also galavant verb
to move about from place to place aimlessly <gallivanted about the country before returning to school in the fall> — see WANDER 1

gallivanting also galavanting adjective
traveling from place to place <the gallivanting entertainers stayed in town for a few days, then moved on> — see ITINERANT

gallop verb
to go at a pace faster than a walk <dawdles to school but gallops coming home> — see RUN 1

galloping adjective
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <the galloping pace of development in that Sunbelt state> — see FAST 1

galoot noun, slang
an adult male human being <he's a bighearted galoot, even if he's not the sharpest tool in the shed> — see MAN 1

galore adjective
1 pouring forth in great amounts <there was food galore at our Thanksgiving meal> — see PROFUSE
2 being more than enough without being excessive <with restaurants galore, the city is an epicure's delight> — see PLENTIFUL

galumph verb
to move heavily or clumsily <the Great Dane galumphed across the floor to greet us> — see LUMBER 1

galvanic adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <her galvanic rendition of the song received rapturous applause> — see EXCITING 1

galvanize verb
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings <theatergoers were galvanized by the actor's powerhouse performance as Hamlet> — see THRILL

galvanizing adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <the presentation on the international aid organization was galvanizing and thought-provoking> — see EXCITING 1

gambit noun
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <I couldn't tell whether her earlier poor-mouthing had been sincere or just a gambit to get me to pick up the dinner check> — see TRICK 1

gamble noun
a risky undertaking <it's a gamble, but I'm willing to take the risk>

Synonyms
adventure, chance, crapshoot, enterprise, flier (also flyer), flutter [chiefly British], speculation, throw, venture

Related Words
bet, hazard, stake, wager; liberty; dark horse, long shot, play

Antonyms
sure thing

gamble verb
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event <a foolish man who gambled his life savings on the lottery> — see BET

gamble (on) verb
to take a chance on <a movie studio willing to gamble on a new actress for its summer blockbuster> — see RISK 1

gamble (with) verb
to place in danger <you don't want to gamble with your life, so buckle up> — see ENDANGER

gambler noun
one that bets (as on the outcome of a contest or sports event) <marveled at the huge swarm of gamblers in the casino> — see BETTOR

gambol noun
a time or instance of carefree fun <she and her old college roommate headed off for one final European gambol before returning to the States to start their separate careers> — see FLING 1

gambol verb
to play and run about happily <dog owners chat while their pooches gambol on the park's great lawn> — see FROLIC 1

game adjective
having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action) <are you game for going out tonight?> — see WILLING 1

game noun
1 a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize <decided he would indulge in a friendly basketball game with his friends before dinner>

Synonyms
bout, competition, contest, event, match, matchup, meet, sweepstakes (also sweep-stake), tournament, tourney

Related Words
athletics, sport; battle, conflict, scrimmage, skirmish, struggle, tug-of-war, tussle; championship, national(s); final, nightcap, play-off, semifinal; derby, field day, gymkhana, open, outing; biathlon, decathlon, heptathlon, pentathlon, triathlon; marathon, race, ultramarathon; heat, round, run, set; rally, volley; round-robin, rubber, runoff, sudden death; dead heat, photo finish, seesaw; classic

2 a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective <the crook told his accomplice, “Here's the game: look surprised when the police ask about the money”> — see PLAN 1
3 an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously <there's no need to get upset, all our teasing is only a game> — see FUN 2
4 the activity by which one regularly makes a living <stand-up comedy is his game, and he's one of a handful of people making a decent living at it> — see OCCUPATION 1
5 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <the education game simply was no longer of interest to her> — see FIELD 2

gameness noun
cheerful readiness to do something <it requires a certain amount of gustatory gameness to try something like rattlesnake or alligator> — see ALACRITY

game plan noun
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective <what's our game plan for touring the city?> — see PLAN 1

gamesmanship noun
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end <that author doesn't go in for literary gamesmanship, so the reader is never led astray by the novel's narrator> — see TRICKERY

gamesome adjective
joyously unrestrained <a gamesome lass who seemed to revel in the sheer joy of living> — see EXUBERANT

gamester noun
one that bets (as on the outcome of a contest or sports event) <a casino with enough roulette wheels, blackjack tables, and slot machines to satisfy even the most die-hard gamester> — see BETTOR

gammon verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <good-hearted contributors have been gammoned into believing that most of the charity's funds go to the needy and not into the pockets of the administrators> — see DECEIVE

gamut noun
the distance or extent between possible extremes <the actress's work runs the gamut from goofy comedies to serious historical dramas> — see RANGE 3

gamy or gamey adjective
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent <a singles bar where the conversations and come-on lines tend to be gamy> — see SUGGESTIVE 1

1gander noun
an instance of looking especially briefly <suggested that they take a gander at the display of classic cars> — see LOOK 2

2gander noun
a stupid person <the village's chief of police was an ineffectual albeit pleasant gander> — see IDIOT

gang noun
1 a group of people working together on a task <a gang of neighborhood residents spent the weekend cleaning up the park>

Synonyms
army, band, brigade, company, crew, outfit, party, platoon, squad, team

Related Words
battalion, corps, troop; force, host, posse, stable, troupe; administration, department, help, personnel, staff

2 a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <the whole gang went out for pizza> <the school's computer hackers had their own little gang>

Synonyms
body, bunch, circle, clan, clique, community, coterie, coven, crowd, fold, galère, klatch (also klatsch), lot, network, pack, ring, set

Related Words
charmed circle, elite, in-group; closed shop; club, college, fellowship, guild (also gild), league, organization, society; camp, faction, sect, side, tribe; mess, squad; brotherhood, fraternity, order, sisterhood, sodality, sorority; commune; alliance, bloc, coalition, confederation, congress, council, federation, union

Near Antonyms
loner; individualist

3 a group involved in secret or criminal activities <politicians promising to stop the growth of inner-city gangs> — see 1RING 1

gangbanger noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <the argument that the DEA needs to focus more on the kingpins of the drug trade and less on the gangbangers in the street> — see HOODLUM

gangbusters also gangbuster adjective
of the very best kind <most of the pop singers in the competition were anything but gangbusters> — see EXCELLENT

gangling adjective
being tall, thin and usually loose-jointed <the riders at the barn just loved the gangling newborn colt> — see LANKY

gangly adjective
being tall, thin and usually loose-jointed <a gangly teenager who was born to play varsity basketball> — see LANKY

gangsta noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <the short, violence-filled life of an inner-city gangsta> — see HOODLUM

gangster noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <Al Capone remains one of the most notorious gangsters in American history> — see HOODLUM

gap noun
1 an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) <there were several visible gaps in the wall where the drywall had pulled away from the wall framing>

Synonyms
breach, break, discontinuity, gulf, hiatus, hole, interstice, interval, opening, rent, rift, separation, void

Related Words
chink, cleft, crack, cranny, crevice, fissure; notch, slit, slot, split; interspace, pore; abyss, aperture, cavity, chasm, gape, orifice; fracture, rupture, severance, sundering

2 a break in continuity <there was a 15-minute gap between the two televised sporting events>

Synonyms
discontinuity, hiatus, hiccup (also hiccough), interim, interlude, intermission, interregnum, interruption, interstice, interval, parenthesis

Related Words
caesura, comma, interspace, lag, pause, space, time lag, window; entr'acte; bumper; adjournment, discontinuance, lapse, suspension; lull, recess, respite, rest; subinterval

Near Antonyms
continuum, run, stretch; procession, progression

Antonyms
continuation, continuity

3 an incomplete or deficient area <a gap in his understanding>

Synonyms
hiatus, hole, lacuna, space, void

Related Words
defectiveness, detriment, disability, failing, fault, impairment, weakness; deficiency, deficit, imperfection, inadequacy, inadequateness, incompleteness, insufficience, insufficiency, lack, need, shortcoming, shortfall, want

Near Antonyms
completeness, fullness

4 a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <thought they were stuck until they found a gap in the mountain range that they could hike through> — see CANYON

gape noun
a fixed intent look <I told him to stop staring, that his rather stupid gape was annoying> — see GAZE

gape verb
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise <she suddenly realized she had been gaping at the good-looking waiter instead of giving him her order>

Synonyms
blink, gawk, gawp [chiefly British], gaze, goggle, peer, rubberneck, stare

Related Words
glare, gloat, glower; consider, eye, fixate, observe, regard, watch; leer, ogle; peruse, pore (over), study; outface, outstare, stare down

Near Antonyms
glance, glimpse, peek, peep; browse, dip (into), scan; wink (at)

garage sale noun
a sale of used household and personal items <prior to the move they held a garage sale to clear out all of their unwanted stuff> — see YARD SALE

garb noun
1 clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation <decided to clothe himself in traditional Scottish garb for the celebration> — see OUTFIT 1
2 the outward form of someone or something especially as indicative of a quality <a fable about personal redemption presented in the garb of a conventional horror story> — see APPEARANCE 1

garb verb
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <firefighters garbed in protective gear> — see CLOTHE 1

garbage noun
1 discarded or useless material <the stray dogs were looking for leftover food in the family's garbage>

Synonyms
chaff, deadwood, debris, dreck (also drek), dross, dust, effluvium (also effluvia), junk, litter, offal, offscouring, raffle, refuse, riffraff, rubbish, scrap, spilth, trash, truck, waste

Related Words
crud, sewage, slop, swill, wash; detritus, remains, rubble, ruins; dump, scrap heap; lumber, odds and ends, trumpery; flotsam, jetsam, wreckage; castoff, cull, discard, hand-me-down, reject, throwaway; nothing, straw, two bits

Near Antonyms
catch, gem, goody (or goodie), jewel, pearl, plum, prize, treasure, treasure trove, trove, valuable; booty, find, salvage

2 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <she was just talking garbage when she said that she was taking a loss on the sale of the house> — see NONSENSE 1

garble verb
1 to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of <the candidate complained that his views had been deliberately garbled by his opponent>

Synonyms
bend, color, cook, distort, falsify, fudge, misinterpret, misrelate, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, slant, twist, warp

Related Words
misdescribe, misspeak, mistranslate; belie, camouflage, disguise, dissemble, gloss (over), mask, veil, whitewash; bowdlerize, censor; complicate, confound, confuse, mistake, mix (up); mystify, obscure; equivocate, fib, lie, palter, prevaricate

Near Antonyms
clarify, clear (up), explain, illuminate, illustrate, interpret, spell out; decipher

2 to remove usually visible impurities from <garbled spices are less likely to contaminate a recipe> — see CLARIFY 1

garçon noun
a person who serves food or drink <“Garçon, bring another bottle of wine,” barked the haughty diner> — see SERVER

garden noun
a large room or building for enclosed public gatherings <we used to go to Boston's historic garden to hear concerts and see basketball games> — see HALL 3

garden–variety adjective
1 being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <the once-powerful hurricane eventually abated into just a garden-variety tropical storm> — see ORDINARY 1
2 often observed or encountered <the bakery's extravagant creations are not your garden-variety wedding cakes> — see COMMON 1

gargantuan adjective
unusually large <people seem to be buying ever more gargantuan SUVs these days> — see HUGE

garish adjective
excessively showy <the wedding guest's thick makeup was garish and unnecessary> — see GAUDY

garishness noun
excessive or unnecessary display <the garishness of the enormous statues in the small yard was almost funny> — see OSTENTATION

garment verb
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <a socialite who was among the most gorgeously garmented women of her time> — see CLOTHE 1

garments plural noun
covering for the human body <chimney sweeps wearing the traditional garments of their trade> — see CLOTHING

garner verb
1 to bring together in one body or place <a prisoner garnering food bit by bit and hiding it in his pillow> <an array of rock bands garnered from all over the country by the promoters of the festival> — see GATHER 1
2 to receive as return for effort <a novelist that has garnered praise for his literate police procedurals> — see EARN 1

garnish noun
something that decorates or beautifies <added a garnish of parsley to the plate before serving it> — see DECORATION 1

garnish verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <a chef who never served any dish without first garnishing it> — see DECORATE

garnishment noun
something that decorates or beautifies <a high-end caterer whose dishes feature an array of over-the-top garnishments> — see DECORATION 1

garniture noun
something that decorates or beautifies <she prefers a spare style of interior decoration and doesn't go in for a lot of garnitures> — see DECORATION 1

garret noun
a room or unfinished space directly beneath the roof of a building <bought a charming Victorian house with a garret that she hoped to turn into a writing room> — see ATTIC

garrote or garotte verb
to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe <the goons sent by the loan shark threatened to garrote the hero with his own necktie> — see CHOKE 1

garrulity noun
the use of too many words to express an idea <in her article the professor resorts to garrulity in a vain attempt to disguise the fact that she has very little worth saying> — see VERBIAGE 1

garrulous adjective
1 fond of talking or conversation <a garrulous boy who was in constant trouble for talking out of turn> — see TALKATIVE
2 using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea <now that he's in his anecdotage, Grandpa likes to tell garrulous, shaggy-dog accounts of his youthful misadventures> — see WORDY 1

garrulousness noun
the use of too many words to express an idea <the garrulousness of the senator's speeches invariably caused every eye in the room to glaze over> — see VERBIAGE 1

gas noun
1 boastful speech or writing <all that gas about being the best fisherman in the world> — see BOMBAST 1
2 language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere <the candidate's pledge that he'll fight for the common people is just a lot of gas> — see RHETORIC 1
3 slang a source of great satisfaction <that movie with the spectacular special effects was a gas> — see DELIGHT 1
4 active strength of body or mind <the tennis player ran out of gas toward the end of the long match> — see VIGOR 1

gas verb
1 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <a group of kids in the mall, gassing about their favorite music> — see CHAT 1
2 slang to give satisfaction to <a swinging jazz set that really gassed the crowd> — see PLEASE 1

gasbag noun
a person who talks constantly <that gasbag will talk your ear off about anything> — see CHATTERBOX

gascon noun
someone who boasts <one of history's most celebrated gascons was the Baron Münchhausen of Germany> — see BRAGGART

gasconade noun
boastful speech or writing <if you believe the gasconade of his memoirs, he pretty much won World War II on his own> — see BOMBAST 1

gasconade verb
to praise or express pride in one's own possessions, qualities, or accomplishments often to excess <the Baron Münchausen was so notorious for gasconading about his purported exploits as soldier and hunter that his name has become synonymous with the telling of tall tales> — see BOAST 1

gasconader noun
someone who boasts <retired military commanders are often portrayed as garrulous gasconaders constantly reliving old triumphs> — see BRAGGART

gaseous adjective
marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases <a pompous professor known for his gaseous lectures that often put students to sleep> — see RHETORICAL 1

gash verb
to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife) <her face had been gashed by the rocks as she tumbled down the embankment> — see CUT 1

gash noun
a long deep cut <got a gash in his knee that required four stitches>

Synonyms
incision, laceration, rent, rip, slash, slit, tear

Related Words
abrasion, score, scrape, scratch; injury, wound; crack, fracture, rupture, snag

gasp verb
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty <the runner was audibly gasping by the end of the marathon>

Synonyms
blow, heave, hyperventilate, pant, puff, wheeze

Related Words
choke, gag, gulp, huff; asphyxiate, smother, stifle, strangle; snore, snuffle; exhale, expire

Phrases
be out of breath

gassed adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <he likes to go out and get gassed on weekends> — see DRUNK

gassy adjective
marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases <another gassy speech by a long-winded politician> — see RHETORICAL 1

gastronome noun
a person with refined tastes in food and wine <gastronomes from all over make the pilgrimage to this temple of haute cuisine> — see EPICURE

gastronomist noun
a person with refined tastes in food and wine <a gastronomist and food historian who is very knowledgeable about Spanish cuisine> — see EPICURE

gate noun
1 a barrier by which an entry is closed and opened <be sure to latch the gate when you leave so the dog doesn't get out> — see DOOR 1
2 the opening through which one can enter or leave a structure <passed through the gates of the walled city> — see DOOR 2
3 a fixture for controlling the flow of a liquid <opens the gate in the lock so the ships can get through the canal> — see FAUCET

gatekeeper noun
a person who tends a door <those who are hopelessly unhip have little chance of making past the club's gatekeeper and his velvet rope> — see DOORKEEPER

gateway noun
1 something that allows someone to achieve a desired goal <hopefully, my college degree will be a gateway to a high-paying job> — see PASSPORT 1
2 the means or right of entering or participating in <Denver is the gateway to the West> — see ENTRANCE 1
3 the opening through which one can enter or leave a structure <there are security checkpoints at all of the stadium's gateways> — see DOOR 2

gather verb
1 to bring together in one body or place <he gathered the leftovers from the table and gave them to the dog> <let's gather the students and have them line up on the playground before going in from recess>

Synonyms
accumulate, amass, assemble, bulk (up), collect, concentrate, congregate, constellate, corral, garner, group, lump, pick up, round up

Related Words
ball, batch, bunch, cluster, huddle; heap, pile, stack; band, brigade, muster, raise, rally; flock, herd, hive, pack, press, swarm, throng; combine, connect, join, link, merge, pool, unite; archive, arrange, collate, compile, organize, systematize; scrape (up or together); re-collect, regather, regroup

Phrases
get together

Near Antonyms
break up, disband, disintegrate, dissolve, separate, sever, split (up); dismiss, send

Antonyms
dispel, disperse, dissipate, scatter

2 to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use <late summer is when we gather the tomatoes and begin canning them for the winter> — see HARVEST
3 to come together into one body or place <a crowd gathered around the street musician> <ask the faculty to gather in the lounge for the meeting> — see ASSEMBLE 1
4 to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information <I gather that, since you are back so early, she didn't want to see you?> — see INFER 1
5 to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass <the newspapers that had been allowed to gather on the front doorstep told thieves that the family was away on vacation> — see COLLECT 2
6 to gradually increase in <the movement gathered force as election day neared> — see GAIN 1
7 to call into being through the use of one's inner resources or powers <gathered the strength to finish the marathon> — see SUMMON 2

gathering noun
1 a body of people come together in one place <the President spoke before the gathering of student leaders>

Synonyms
assemblage, assembly, conference, congregation, convocation, ingathering, meeting, muster

Related Words
company, consort, coterie, gang, pack; caucus, forum, market, panel, rally, symposium, synod; audience, gallery, grandstand, house; crowd, flock, horde, legion, multitude, press, swarm, throng; crush, mob, rabble, rabblement

2 a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose <attended a gathering for descendants of people who came to America on the Mayflower> — see MEETING 1
3 a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered over a period of time <a great gathering of dust under the bed> — see ACCUMULATION 1

gauche adjective
lacking social grace and assurance <his loud talking at the opera marked him as gauche and uncultured> — see AWKWARD 1

gaud noun
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest <some tacky little gaud that they had picked up at a souvenir stand at an amusement park> — see KNICKKNACK

gaudiness noun
excessive or unnecessary display <the gaudiness of the velvety wallpaper and cut-glass lamps made the guests giggle in amusement> — see OSTENTATION

gaudy adjective
excessively showy <gaudy decorations on all the doors and windows at festival time>

Synonyms
flamboyant, flaring, flashy, garish, glitzy, loud, noisy, ostentatious, razzle-dazzle, splashy, swank (or swanky)

Related Words
excessive, extravagant, fulsome, hammy, overdone, over-the-top, overwrought; pretentious; baroque, bedizened, ornate; fancy, snazzy, zooty; blaring, bright, florid, glaring, glittery, overbright, spectacular; graceless, inelegant, lurid, tacky, tasteless, tawdry, tinselly, vulgar

Near Antonyms
appropriate, fitting, proper; inconspicuous, muted, restrained, subdued, toned (down), unobtrusive; elegant, graceful, tasteful; modest, plain, simple, unpretentious

Antonyms
conservative, quiet, understated, unflamboyant, unflashy

gauge also gage verb
1 to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement <glance over the pattern and try to gauge how much fabric you'll need> — see ESTIMATE 2
2 to find out the size, extent, or amount of <very difficult to gauge how upset he really is by his controlled reaction> — see MEASURE 1

gaum verb, dialect
to make dirty <the kitchen floor was all gaumed up from countless spills> — see DIRTY

gaunt adjective
suffering extreme weight loss as a result of hunger or disease <a gaunt patient suffering from the side effects of treatment> — see EMACIATED

gauntlet also gantlet noun
a test of faith, patience, or strength <before being adopted, school textbooks must often run the gauntlet of several local and state committees> — see TRIAL

gauze noun
an atmospheric condition in which suspended particles in the air rob it of its transparency <wrapped in the pale gauze of a misty afternoon, the city seemed eerily romantic to the strolling lovers> — see HAZE 1

gauzelike adjective
very thin and easy to see through <a beautiful, gauzelike fabric> — see SHEER 1

gauzy adjective
1 being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance <gauzy spiderwebs> — see FLIMSY 1
2 very thin and easy to see through <gauzy curtains that let plenty of light through> — see SHEER 1
3 not seen or understood clearly <I have only a gauzy recollection of those long-ago events> — see FAINT 1
4 filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension <the valley was bathed in the soft gauzy light of an October morn> — see HAZY 1

gawk noun
a big clumsy often slow-witted person <thought that the linebackers were dumb gawks until he got to know them better> — see OAF 1

gawk verb
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise <couldn't help gawking at the exotically dressed guests in the hotel lobby> — see GAPE

gawkish adjective
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner <the kind of gawkish girl who trips while receiving her high school diploma> — see CLUMSY 2

gawky adjective
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner <the stiff, gawky gait of a newborn colt> — see CLUMSY 2

gawp verb, chiefly British
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise <tourists in London gawping at royalty> — see GAPE

gay adjective
1 having much high-spirited energy and movement <couples dancing a gay, fast-paced jig> — see LIVELY 1
2 having or showing freedom from worries or trouble <a gay, thoughtless girl who didn't care whether her work was done or not> — see CAREFREE
3 indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor <had a gay old time at the party> — see MERRY
4 having or showing a good mood or disposition <with a gay toss of his coat over his shoulder, the dapper old gentleman set off for the party> — see CHEERFUL 1
5 serving to lift one's spirits <the skylark's gay song lifted me out of my gloom> — see CHEERFUL 2
6 joyously unrestrained <it was the era of the flappers, and young women were gay, bold, and defiant of convention> — see EXUBERANT

gayness noun
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter <the melancholy-tinged gayness of college-bound friends on their last fling together before going their separate ways> — see MIRTH

gaze verb
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise <just sat there and gazed at the panorama before us until it got too dark to see> — see GAPE

gaze noun
a fixed intent look <suddenly aware of her admiring gaze, he became self-conscious and uncomfortable>

Synonyms
aspect [archaic], eye, gape, regard, scrutiny, stare

Related Words
glare, glower; contemplation, fixation; attention, observance, observation, surveillance, watch; examination, inspection, perusal, study, survey

Near Antonyms
blink [chiefly Scottish], flash, glance, glimpse, peek, peep, sight, stime [chiefly Scottish & Irish]; oeillade, ogle; browse, scan

gazebo noun
a freestanding airy structure in a scenic setting (as a park) typically offering commanding views <a gazebo on the mansion's south lawn> — see BELVEDERE

gazette noun
a publication that appears at regular intervals <picked up the monthly car-buyer's gazette when he was in town> — see JOURNAL 1

gear noun
1 items needed for the performance of a task or activity <grabbed his gear, threw on his pads, and headed out to the football field for practice> — see EQUIPMENT
2 transportable items that one owns <you can store your gear in the overhead bin during the flight> — see POSSESSION 2
3 covering for the human body <the latest in kid gear> — see CLOTHING

geek noun
1 a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits <was quickly stereotyped as another computer geek> — see NERD 1
2 a person with strong intellectual interests <a jock-dominated campus on which geeks were either ridiculed or ignored> — see INTELLECTUAL
3 a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <a friend who is an audio-video geek set up my home theater for me> — see EXPERT

geeked adjective, slang
showing urgent desire or interest <she's really geeked to see the exhibit featuring the latest in home electronics> — see EAGER

geeky adjective
much given to learning and thinking <one university campus on which the geeky student will not feel like a social outcast> — see INTELLECTUAL 1

gee–whiz adjective
arousing a strong and usually superficial interest or emotional reaction <most of the movie's budget must have gone for its gee-whiz special effects> — see SENSATIONAL 1

Gehenna noun
1 a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness <the depression that has enshrouded her since the death of her husband is a Gehenna from which she may never be released> — see HELL 2
2 the place of punishment for the wicked after death <in a fire-and-brimstone sermon, the evangelist warned those assembled that they faced the fires of Gehenna if they failed to repent> — see HELL 1

gel verb
to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly <the fruit juice should gel after you add the pectin> — see COAGULATE

gelate verb
to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly <biomedical applications for substances that gelate in water> — see COAGULATE

gelatinize verb
to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly <pain relievers with a gelatinized coating> — see COAGULATE

geld verb
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality <by the time of the fourth rewrite, the screenplay had pretty much been gelded of all originality> — see DEHYDRATE 1

gelid adjective
1 having a low or subnormal temperature <the Titanic passengers could not long survive the gelid waters of the North Atlantic> — see COLD 1
2 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <the judge listened with the gelid detachment of someone who had heard it all before> — see COLD 2

gem noun
1 a usually valuable stone cut and polished for ornament <a ring set with diamonds and other precious gems>

Synonyms
brilliant, gemstone, jewel, rock [slang]

Related Words
bauble, bijou, trinket; birthstone; baguette, cabochon, cameo, scarab, solitaire, teardrop; paste, rhinestone, zircon; crown jewels, jewelry

Near Antonyms
rough

2 someone or something unusually desirable <that new car is a real gem> <she's dating a real gem these days> — see PRIZE 1

gemstone noun
a usually valuable stone cut and polished for ornament <traditionally, the gemstone for someone born in May is an emerald> — see GEM 1

gemütlichkeit noun
kindly concern, interest, or support <social events that foster a spirit of gemütlichkeit among members of the ski club> — see GOODWILL 1

gen noun, chiefly British
a report of recent events or facts not previously known <as he has for decades, he gets most of his gen from the BBC over the wireless> — see NEWS

gendarme noun
a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level <the senator reiterated his conviction that it is not the role of the United States to be a kind of global gendarme> — see OFFICER 1

genderless adjective
suitable to or for either sex <a trendy boutique selling genderless accessories—bandannas, caps, bracelets, etc.>

Synonyms
androgynous, unisex, unisexual

Related Words
ambisexual, intersexual; asexual, epicene, neuter, sexless, unsexed; AC/DC, bisexual; homosexual, lesbian; gender-bending, transgender (or transgendered), transsexual (also transexual), transvestite

Near Antonyms
feminine, masculine

Antonyms
gendered

genealogy noun
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <has a distinguished genealogy that traces back to William the Conqueror> — see ANCESTRY

general adjective
1 belonging or relating to the whole <a general increase in postage rates> <there's been a general improvement in the economy>

Synonyms
across-the-board, blanket, broad-brush, common, generic, global, overall, universal

Related Words
all-embracing, broad, broad-gauge (or broad-gauged), broadscale, comprehensive, extensive, inclusionary, overarching, pervasive, sweeping, ubiquitous, wholesale, wide, widespread; aggregate, collective, complete, full, plenary; planetary, worldwide

Near Antonyms
component, constituent; cross-sectional, divisional, fragmentary, partial; local, localized, regional, sectional

Antonyms
individual, particular

2 relating to the main elements and not to specific details <gave the general impression of being kindhearted> <a general course of study in American history>

Synonyms
all-around (also all-round), bird's-eye, broad, nonspecific, overall

Related Words
comprehensive, inclusive; absolute, boundless, expansive, extensive, infinite, panoramic, sweeping, vast, wide; indeterminate, nebulous, nondescript, vague; nonspecific, unlimited, unrestricted, unspecified

Near Antonyms
limited, restricted, specified; distinct, explicit, precise, sharp; comprehensive, elaborate, full, mapped (out), thorough; enumerated, inventoried, itemized, listed; individual, singular; particular, peculiar

Antonyms
close-up, delineated, detailed, molecular, particularized, specific

3 held by or applicable to a majority of the people <it was the general opinion that the politician was a liar> <the general mood of the nation was one of hope and optimism>

Synonyms
common, majority, overall, popular, prevailing, public, received, ruling, vulgar

Related Words
unanimous, universal; pop; everyday, familiar, household, usual, well-known; contemporary, current, present; dominant, predominant, preponderant; characteristic, typical; pandemic, pervasive, prevalent, rife, widespread; communal, shared

Near Antonyms
rare, strange, unknown, unusual; distinctive, especial, idiosyncratic, peculiar, special, unique; individual, separate, singular; nonpublic, personal, private

Antonyms
uncommon, unpopular

4 not limited or specialized in application or purpose <a new kitchen tool of general usefulness> <a general education>

Synonyms
all-around (also all-round), all-purpose, catholic, general-purpose, unlimited, unqualified, unrestricted, unspecialized

Related Words
mixed-use, multipurpose; broad, wide; nonspecific, unspecified, vague

Near Antonyms
bounded, circumscribed, confined, definite, demarcated, determinate, finite, qualified; dedicated, selective

Antonyms
limited, restricted, specialized, technical

generality noun
1 an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation <the idea that all boys are naturally messy is a gross generality> — see GENERALIZATION
2 the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts <an important but little-known Scottish inventor whose work was never appreciated by the generality of the public> — see BODY 1
3 the largest part or quantity of something <the generality of that high school's students will go on to college> — see MAJORITY 1

generalization noun
an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation <the generalization that children who like violent entertainment grow up to be violent criminals>

Synonyms
concept, conception, generality, notion, stereotype

Related Words
bromide, cliché (also cliche), commonplace, platitude, truism; adage, proverb, saw, saying; hypothesis, proposition, theory; oversimplification, simplification, simplism

generally adverb
1 according to the usual course of things <after lunch we generally go for a walk> — see NATURALLY 2
2 for the most part <generally, I don't care for raw vegetables> — see CHIEFLY

general–purpose adjective
not limited or specialized in application or purpose <a general-purpose glue for routine household repairs> — see GENERAL 4

generate verb
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <his rabble-rousing speech generated a lot of controversy among local taxpayers> — see EFFECT

generator noun
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor <the French painter Paul Cézanne is considered to be one of the principal generators of modern art> — see FATHER 2

generic adjective
belonging or relating to the whole <a love of big things—big cars, big meals—seems to be a generic trait of the American people> — see GENERAL 1

generosity noun
the quality or state of being generous <a sidewalk beggar who benefited from the generosity of kindhearted passersby> — see LIBERALITY

generous adjective
1 giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <a civic leader who is very generous with his money and time>

Synonyms
bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, free, freehanded, freehearted, fulsome, liberal, munificent, open, openhanded, unselfish, unsparing, unstinting

Related Words
extravagant, handsome, lavish, overgenerous, profuse; altruistic, beneficent, benevolent, hospitable, humanitarian, philanthropic (also philanthropical); big, greathearted, largehearted, magnanimous, openhearted; compassionate, good-hearted, kind, kindly, samaritan, sympathetic

Near Antonyms
mean, petty, small; frugal, spare, sparing, thrifty; chary, stinting; acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, desirous, grasping, hoggish, itchy, mercenary, rapacious; begrudging, envious, grudging, resentful

Antonyms
cheap, close, closefisted, costive, illiberal [archaic], mingy, miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious, selfish, stingy, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, ungenerous

2 being more than enough without being excessive <mashed potatoes with a generous serving of butter> — see PLENTIFUL

generously adverb
in a generous manner <gave generously to several charities> — see WELL 2

generousness noun
the quality or state of being generous <many of the donations seemed to have been made more out of a nagging sense of guiltiness than in a true spirit of generousness> — see LIBERALITY

genesis noun
the point at which something begins <was present at the meeting which was later considered the genesis of the new political movement> — see BEGINNING

genetic also genetical adjective
genetically passed or capable of being passed from parent to offspring <hemophilia and other genetic medical disorders> — see HEREDITARY

genial adjective
1 having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations <a genial host who makes a point of speaking personally to each and every guest> — see AMIABLE
2 having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <genial new neighbors who helped us unpack boxes and brought us dinner our first night in the new place> — see FRIENDLY 1
3 showing a natural kindness and courtesy especially in social situations <his genial offer to give me his seat on the bus> — see GRACIOUS 1
4 marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low <wanted to move to a more genial clime for health reasons> — see CLEMENT 1

geniality noun
the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others <her unforced geniality never fails to draw fellow passengers into a conversation with her> — see AMIABILITY 1

geniture noun
the act or instance of being born <in astrology, the influence of a planet on a geniture depends on the planet's position within the zodiac> — see BIRTH 1

genius noun
1 a very smart person <the 16-year-old college graduate was considered to be a genius>

Synonyms
brain, brainiac, intellect, thinker, whiz, wiz, wizard

Related Words
polyhistor, polymath, Renaissance man; blue, bluestocking, highbrow, intellectual; sage, savant; egghead, geek, longhair, nerd; master, virtuoso; ace, crackerjack (also crackajack), natural

Near Antonyms
ignoramus, illiterate, know-nothing, lowbrow; anti-intellectual, philistine; ass, donkey, fool, jackass; beast, boor, cad, churl, clown, creep, cretin, cur, heel, jerk, louse, lout, skunk, snake, stinker

Antonyms
blockhead, dodo, dolt, dope, dumbbell, dummy, dunce, fathead, goon, half-wit, hammerhead, idiot, imbecile, knucklehead, moron, nitwit, numskull (or numbskull), pinhead

2 a special and usually inborn ability <had a genius for remembering long strings of numbers> <had a genius for saying the wrong thing, no matter what the social situation> — see TALENT
3 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <a genius for gambling over his head> — see INCLINATION 1
4 the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others <putting the needs of the individual before those of society is alien to the genius of the Japanese people> — see NATURE 1
5 a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <the giant tortoise would seem to be the very genius of the unfathomable ancientness that one associates with the Galápagos Islands> — see EMBODIMENT

genre noun
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <the novel's hero is of a different genre than the traditional kind> — see SORT 1

gent noun
an adult male human being <ladies and gents> — see MAN 1

genteel adjective
1 following the established traditions of refined society and good taste <those bygone days when young women were taught how to drink tea while wearing long gloves and other genteel ways of behaving> — see PROPER 1
2 having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living <she grew up in genteel old Savannah> — see CULTIVATED
3 of high birth, rank, or station <the genteel ladies never mixed with the servants> <prohibited by reason of her genteel birth from marrying the man she loved> — see NOBLE 1
4 showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners <his genteel gesture of holding the door for the ladies> — see POLITE 1

genteelness noun
speech or behavior that is a sign of good breeding <the young man displays the kind of old-school genteelness that one rarely encounters on today's college campuses> — see POLITENESS 1

gentile noun
a person who does not worship the God of the Bible <a strict sect that believes that fellowship with gentiles should exist only for the purposes of conversion> — see HEATHEN 1

gentility noun
1 speech or behavior that is a sign of good breeding <was full of the same gentility and grace that marked the rest of the family> — see POLITENESS 1
2 the highest class in a society <as members of the gentility, they felt an obligation to help the less fortunate> — see ARISTOCRACY 1

gentle adjective
1 not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect <use a gentle detergent on that delicate silk blouse> <her gentle ways>

Synonyms
balmy, benign, bland, delicate, light, mellow, mild, nonabrasive, soft, soothing, tender

Related Words
calm, pacific, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, tranquil; clement, compassionate, easy, lenient, merciful; buffering, cushioning, emollient, softening; sleek, slick, smooth

Near Antonyms
exquisite, fierce, intense, powerful, severe; forceful, forcible, savage, violent; roughened, rugged, strong; abrading, irritating, roughening; grim, gruff, rude, stiff; heavy-handed, oppressive, pitiless, tyrannical (also tyrannic)

Antonyms
abrasive, caustic, coarse, hard, harsh, rough, scathing, stern, ungentle

2 marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low <whisk the egg yolks in a double boiler set over a gentle heat> — see CLEMENT 1
3 of high birth, rank, or station <loved reading about the days when gentle lords and ladies danced at fancy balls> — see NOBLE 1
4 not loud in pitch or volume <the mother spoke in a gentle voice to her child> — see SOFT 1

gentle noun
a man or woman of high birth or social position <the archbishop treated both the gentles and the commoners with respect and kindness> — see GENTLEPERSON

gentle verb
1 to lessen the anger or agitation of <employees soon learned that their hot-tempered boss needed to be gentled several times a day> — see PACIFY 1
2 to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner <soothingly gentled his cat's head as she was being treated by the vet> — see FONDLE
3 to lessen the shock of <adding a bit of sugar to the salsa will gentle the hot spiciness of the chili peppers> — see CUSHION

gentlefolk also gentlefolks plural noun
the highest class in a society <an 18th-century painter whose works are typically of well-dressed gentlefolk wooing and frolicking in sylvan settings> — see ARISTOCRACY 1

gentleman noun
1 a man of high birth or social position <many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were gentlemen who were risking everything>

Synonyms
grandee, lord, milord, nobleman, peer

Related Words
country gentleman, squire; cavalier, chevalier, knight; don, hidalgo, nabob, nawab, seigneur, seignior, sheikh (or sheik); baron, baronet, count, duke, earl, esquire, marchese, margrave, marquess (or marquis), master, prince, princelet, princeling, raja, viscount; lordship, sire [archaic]

Near Antonyms
boor, churl, cottar (or cotter), fellah, peasant, peon; commoner, pleb, plebeian; proletarian; toiler

2 an adult male human being <ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats> — see MAN 1
3 an honorable and courteous man <was such a gentleman that he offered to call a cab for me> — see CAVALIER

gentleperson noun
a man or woman of high birth or social position <gentlepersons did not want to be seen keeping company with commoners>

Synonyms
aristocrat, blue blood, gentle, noble, patrician

Related Words
socialite, swell; magnate, magnifico, mogul, nabob; gentlefolk (also gentlefolks)

Near Antonyms
canaille, commoner, pleb, plebeian, proletarian, roturier; boor, fellah, peasant, peon

gentlewoman noun
a woman of high birth or social position <in the 19th century a number of American gentlewomen used their wealth and influence to further abolitionism, women's rights, and other worthy causes>

Synonyms
dame, lady, milady, noblewoman, peeress

Related Words
baroness, countess, duchess, marchesa, marchioness, marquise, princess, queen, viscountess; dowager, matriarch, matron, mistress; ladyship, madam

gentry noun
1 the highest class in a society <poor tenant farmers working for landed gentry> — see ARISTOCRACY 1
2 one of the segments of society into which people are grouped <the old-line yachting gentry frowns on vulgar displays of wealth> — see CLASS 1

genuine adjective
1 being exactly as appears or as claimed <had a genuine van Gogh hanging in their living room> — see AUTHENTIC 1
2 free from any intent to deceive or impress others <genuine compliments about her boss's flair for fashion> — see GUILELESS
3 existing in fact and not merely as a possibility <there's genuine value in learning how to do household repairs on one's own> — see ACTUAL

genuinely adverb
in actual fact <is genuinely fond of her older brother> — see VERY 2

genus noun
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <the crime novel, written from the criminal's perspective, is sometimes seen as a particular species of the detective story genus> — see CLASS 2

geography noun
the physical features of a region as a whole <the geography of the region matches ancient descriptions of the location of the lost city>

Synonyms
chorography, geomorphology, landscape, terrain, topography

Related Words
scenery; ground, land, landform, terrane, terrene

geometry noun
the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance <the geometry of Sydney's famed opera house is suggestive of some modernistic sailing ship> — see FORM 1

geomorphology noun
the physical features of a region as a whole <the unique character of desert geomorphology> — see GEOGRAPHY

geriatric adjective
being of advanced years and especially past middle age <went into nursing to work with geriatric patients> — see ELDERLY

geriatric noun
a person of advanced years <most of the clinic's outpatients are geriatrics living on fixed incomes> — see SENIOR CITIZEN

germ noun
the source from which something grows or develops <this hastily scribbled equation on a cocktail napkin became the germ of a new scientific theory> — see SEED 1

germane adjective
having to do with the matter at hand <my personal opinion isn't germane to our discussion of the facts of the case> — see PERTINENT

germfree adjective
free from filth, infection, or dangers to health <had to prepare the microscope slides in an isolated and germfree environment> — see SANITARY

gest or geste noun
an exciting or noteworthy event that one experiences firsthand <before packing it all in, he was looking for one grand gest that would serve as a fitting finale for his life> — see ADVENTURE 1

gestation noun
the state of containing unborn young within the body <the length of gestation for the gray wolf is about 63 days> — see PREGNANCY

geste also gest noun, archaic
the way or manner in which one conducts oneself <historical fiction in which the hero faces every adversity with honorable geste> — see BEHAVIOR

gesticulation noun
a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling <as the argument grew more heated, his gesticulations got bigger and wilder> — see GESTURE 1

gesture verb
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture <the police officer gestured me to the side of the road to tell me my headlight was out> — see MOTION

gesture noun
1 a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling <a teenager who often shrugs her shoulders in a gesture of indifference>

Synonyms
gesticulation, mime, pantomime, sign, signal

Related Words
beck, beckon, flourish, shrug, wave; body language, posture; indication, motion; sign language

2 an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners <sent a handwritten thank-you note as a gesture of his gratitude> — see CIVILITY 1

get verb
1 to acquire complete knowledge, understanding, or skill in <I'm not sure I ever got the new math> — see LEARN 1
2 to become affected with (a disease or disorder) <don't cough on me—I don't want to get your cold> — see CONTRACT 1
3 to become the father of <Abraham was quite old when he got Isaac, his only son> — see FATHER
4 to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests <tried to get the mayor to let us stage the concert in the town square, but she refused> — see PERSUADE
5 to come upon after searching, study, or effort <redid the math problem until I got the right answer> — see FIND 1
6 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <continuously clearing your throat like that is starting to get to me> — see IRRITATE 1
7 to eventually have as a state or quality <it's going to get colder as winter approaches> — see BECOME
8 to receive as return for effort <got an A on his final paper> — see EARN 1
9 to have a clear idea of <she was speaking so fast—did you get what she said?> — see COMPREHEND 1
10 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <the defense tackled the running back and got the ball> — see CATCH 1
11 to leave a place often for another <will get away to the Bahamas for a vacation> — see GO 2
12 to achieve a victory over <you may have won this game, but I'll get you next time> — see BEAT 2
13 to transmit information or requests to <I've been trying all day, but I can't get either of them in order to ask the question> — see CONTACT
14 to put to death deliberately <“I'll get you if you talk to the cops,” the loan shark warned> — see MURDER 1
15 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <what gets me is why she would do such a weird thing> — see CONFUSE 1

get noun
the descendants of a person, animal, or plant <in some animal species, a new mate will refuse to raise another male's get> — see OFFSPRING

get about verb
to become known <it got about that the company was having financial difficulties> — see GET OUT 1

get across verb
to make plain or understandable <what I'm trying to get across is that there simply is no money for the project> — see EXPLAIN 1

get along verb
1 to meet one's day-to-day needs <most college students can get along with just a few hours of sleep at night>

Synonyms
cope, do, fare, get by, get on, make out, manage, shift

Related Words
carry on, contrive, scrape (by or through), scrounge; last, survive; eke out, scrape (out), squeeze, wrest, wring; afford, swing

Phrases
fend for oneself, make do, make ends meet, make shift

Near Antonyms
collapse, fail, fall short, fizzle, flounder; decline, peter (out), slump, wane; give up

2 to move forward along a course <the preparations for the party are getting along just fine> — see GO 1

get around verb
1 to achieve a victory over <somehow, an inexperienced lawyer managed to get around the media giant's stable of high-priced legal eagles> — see BEAT 2
2 to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness <somehow she managed to get around the rules for paying the sales tax on a car bought out of state> — see CIRCUMVENT 1
3 to become known <word of the discovery of gold quickly got around> — see GET OUT 1
4 to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery <their lawyer has spent months trying to get around certain restrictions in the contract> — see ESCAPE 2

getaway noun
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement <the bank robbers jumped into the waiting car and made their getaway> — see ESCAPE 1

get back verb
to get again in one's possession <the distraught owner cried that she would do anything to get back her lost dog> — see RECOVER 1

get by verb
to meet one's day-to-day needs <working at night paid my college tuition and enabled me to get by—but just barely> — see GET ALONG 1

get down verb
1 to come down from something (as a vehicle) <I was getting down from the seaplane when a gust of wind swept away my hat> — see ALIGHT 2
2 to make sad <it's really getting him down that there does not seem to be one woman who will date him> — see DEPRESS 1
3 to take into the stomach through the mouth and throat <with her sore throat, liquids are the only thing she can get down> — see SWALLOW 1

get–go also git–go noun
the point at which something begins <from the get-go, their relationship was tumultuous and doomed to fail> — see BEGINNING

get in verb
to get to a destination <it will be late when you get in, so you may have trouble finding a taxi> — see COME 2

get off verb
1 to leave a place often for another <told him to get off for home before it got dark> — see GO 2
2 to take the first step in (a process or course of action) <breakfast helps you get off to a good start in the morning> — see BEGIN 1

get off (on) verb
to take pleasure in <he really gets off on being the person in charge of everyone else> — see ENJOY 1

get on verb
1 to meet one's day-to-day needs <despite his new job's low pay, he was still getting on> — see GET ALONG 1
2 to move forward along a course <find out how the marketing department is getting on with the new ad campaign> — see GO 1

get on (to) verb
to come to an awareness of <by the time the CIA got on to the terrorist plot, it was already in progress> — see DISCOVER 1

get out verb
1 to become known <news of the rock star's secret wedding got out to the news media>

Synonyms
break, circulate, come out, get about, get around, get round, leak (out), out, spread

Related Words
develop, transpire, unfold; disclose, reveal, spill, tell

Near Antonyms
hush (up), suppress; conceal, disguise, hide, mask; secrete

2 to get free from a dangerous or confining situation <tried but couldn't get out of the old well without assistance> — see ESCAPE 1
3 to produce and release for distribution in printed form <a romance novelist who got a new book out every year> — see PUBLISH 1

get round verb
to become known <word got round that a movie star was spending the night at a local motel> — see GET OUT 1

get through verb
to get to a destination <we had trouble getting through because of the heavy snowfall> — see COME 2

get–together noun
1 a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose <promised to meet friends for lunch after that morning's get-together for sales reps> — see MEETING 1
2 a social gathering <was invited to a neighborhood get-together in the neighbors' backyard> — see PARTY 1

getup noun
1 clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation <went to the prom in some elaborately beaded getup> — see OUTFIT 1
2 the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged <the wine book's getup is pretty standard, with wines being arranged according to country of origin> — see COMPOSITION 3

get up verb
1 to leave one's bed <you need to get right up when the alarm goes off in the morning> — see ARISE 1
2 to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <all got up in her Sunday best> — see CLOTHE 1
3 to call into being through the use of one's inner resources or powers <I'm still trying to get up the energy to reply> — see SUMMON 2

get–up–and–go noun
active strength of body or mind <even after her broken hip healed, Grandma never regained her get-up-and-go> — see VIGOR 1

gewgaw also geegaw noun
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest <had a shelf devoted just to gewgaws featuring his favorite team's mascot> — see KNICKKNACK

ghastliness noun
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay <the ghastliness of the Holocaust can scarcely be described> — see HORROR 1

ghastly adjective
1 extremely disturbing or repellent <a ghastly murder that shocked even hard-bitten detectives> — see HORRIBLE 1
2 extreme in degree, power, or effect <I'm afraid that there's been a ghastly misunderstanding> — see INTENSE 1
3 causing fear <a ghastly crime that made local residents afraid to go out at night> — see FEARFUL 1

ghost noun
1 the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <looked for ghosts in the graveyard on Halloween>

Synonyms
apparition, bogey (also bogie or bogy), familiar spirit, hant [dialect], haunt [chiefly dialect], materialization, phantasm (also fantasm), phantom, poltergeist, shade, shadow, specter (or spectre), spirit, spook, sprite, vision, visitant, wraith

Related Words
angel, daimon, familiar, genie, genius, jinni (or jinn also djinni or djinn), shaitan; double, doppelgänger (or doppelganger), fetch; lemures, manes; incubus, lamia, succubus, vampire, zombie (also zombi); cacodemon, demon (or daemon), devil, fiend, ghoul, imp

2 the smallest amount or part imaginable <she may be a good endurance runner, but she doesn't stand a ghost of a chance of winning in a sprint> — see JOT
3 a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished <the down-at-the-heels town house is but a ghost of the neighborhood's former grandeur> — see VESTIGE 1
4 an evil spirit <the vengeful ghosts of seamen who were deliberately shipwrecked upon these shores> — see DEMON 1

ghoul noun
an evil spirit <in Arabic folklore, ghouls could change their shapes but had one unchanging feature: donkey's hooves for feet> — see DEMON 1

ghoulie noun
an evil spirit <a tale of a decrepit mansion haunted by a gallery of ghoulies> — see DEMON 1

GI verb
to remove the dirt from <in preparation for one of her mother-in-law's dreaded visits, she had GI'd the whole house> — see CLEAN 1

giant adjective
unusually large <the giant sycamore tree that dwarfs our house is almost 250 years old> — see HUGE

giant noun
something that is unusually large and powerful <the Great Pyramids of Egypt are giants among the world's architectural wonders>

Synonyms
behemoth, blockbuster, colossus, dinosaur, dreadnought, elephant, Goliath, jumbo, leviathan, mammoth, mastodon, monster, titan, whale, whopper

Related Words
amazon, giantess; bulk, hulk; heavyweight; juggernaut, steamroller

Near Antonyms
lightweight, weakling, wimp, wisp; nonentity, twerp, whippersnapper

Antonyms
diminutive, dwarf, half-pint, midget, mite, peewee, pygmy (also pigmy), runt, shrimp

giantism noun
the quality or state of being very large <the American taste for giantism: big cars, big houses, big servings of food> — see IMMENSITY

gibber verb
to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly <stop gibbering, and pull yourself together!> — see BABBLE 1

gibber noun
unintelligible or meaningless talk <all I could get from her gibber was that something had exploded> — see GIBBERISH 1

gibberish noun
1 unintelligible or meaningless talk <was so excited he could only talk gibberish>

Synonyms
abracadabra, babble, blabber, burble, double Dutch, double-talk, drivel, gabble, gibber, jabber, jabberwocky, mumbo jumbo, nonsense, prattle, slobber

Related Words
blah (also blah-blah), hocus-pocus, hokeypokey, twaddle; chatter, gab, patter, prate, tattle, twitter; cackle, clack, clatter

2 language marked by abstractions, jargon, euphemisms, and circumlocutions <all I got from the doctor's gibberish was that I had a sore throat, which I already knew>

Synonyms
bafflegab, double-talk, gobbledygook (also gobbledegook), rigmarole (also rigamarole), song and dance

Related Words
bureaucratese, computerese, educationese, governmentese, legalese, Pentagonese, psychobabble, technobabble; bombast, fustian, gas, grandiloquence, hot air, hype, oratory, rhetoric, wind

gibe or jibe verb
to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter <teammates gibing each other when one fouls up an important play> — see RIDICULE

giddy adjective
1 lacking in seriousness or maturity <the giddy youngsters continued to laugh, joke, and make faces during the ceremonies> <the old guy's having an affair with a giddy twentysomething>

Synonyms
birdbrained, ditzy (or ditsy), dizzy, featherbrained, flighty, frivolous, frothy, futile, goofy, harebrained, light-headed, light-minded, puerile, scatterbrained, silly, yeasty

Related Words
fatuous, foolish, inane, nonsensical, thoughtless, witless; crazy, daffy, daft, fruity; exuberant, flippant, fluttery, giggly, happy, light, lighthearted, playful; sappy, shallow, superficial

Near Antonyms
grave, melancholy, somber (or sombre), thoughtful; dignified, heavy, no-nonsense, sedate, severe, solemn, staid

Antonyms
earnest, serious, serious-minded, sober, unfrivolous

2 having a feeling of being whirled about and in danger of falling down <I love the giddy feeling you get riding roller coasters> — see DIZZY 1
3 experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <he's clearly giddy at the news that his ailing grandfather will be fine> — see ECSTATIC

gift noun
1 something given to someone without expectation of a return <gave him an unusual birthday gift>

Synonyms
bestowal, comp, donation, donative, fairing [British], freebie (or freebee), giveaway, handsel, lagniappe, largesse (also largess), present, presentation

Related Words
alms, benefaction, beneficence, benevolence, charity, contribution, dole, handout, oblation, offering, philanthropy, tithe; box [British], care package, foy [chiefly Scottish]; grant, subsidy; remembrance, tribute, valentine; bonus, boon, windfall; courtesy, favor, generosity, sacrifice; gratuity, propine [Scottish], tip; award, prize, reward; dowry; bequest, legacy

Near Antonyms
advance, loan; bribe, douceur, peace offering, sop

2 a special and usually inborn ability <has a gift for making guests feel right at home> — see TALENT

gift verb
to furnish freely or naturally with some power, quality, or attribute <gifted with an uncanny ability to persuade people to do things they ordinarily wouldn't> — see ENDOW 1

gigantesque adjective
unusually large <a gigantesque poster of the rock star covered most of the wall> — see HUGE

gigantic adjective
unusually large <a raccoon got into the trash and now there's a gigantic mess in our backyard> — see HUGE

gigantism noun
the quality or state of being very large <the gigantism that is this newest ocean liner is impossible to describe> — see IMMENSITY

giggle noun
1 chiefly British something said or done to cause laughter <poking fun at the royal family is nothing new, but this movie comedy has a few giggles you haven't heard before> — see JOKE 1
2 an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <couldn't help but giggle at his remark> — see LAUGH 1

giggle verb
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound <some audience members thought that they were being clever by giggling during the serious scenes> — see LAUGH 1

1gill noun
a female romantic companion <every Jack must have his Gill> — see GIRLFRIEND

2gill noun, British
1 a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <a narrow gill in the Cumbrian Mountains of the Lake District> — see CANYON
2 a natural body of running water smaller than a river <a narrow but surprisingly deep gill runs the length of the rocky gorge> — see CREEK 1

gilt–edged or gilt–edge adjective
of the very best kind <very little of that network's programming is what you would call gilt-edged> — see EXCELLENT

gimcrack adjective
of low quality <a store plastered with “going out of business” signs and notorious for selling gimcrack merchandise> — see CHEAP 2

gimcrack noun
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest <a remarkable amount of money is spent on gimcracks and other unnecessary items each year> <that woman has enough gimcracks to fill up a novelty company's mail-order catalog> — see KNICKKNACK

gimmick noun
1 a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <that free magazine subscription they offer is just a sales gimmick to get you to buy their product> — see TRICK 1
2 an interesting and often novel device with a practical use <a laptop equipped with a carrying handle and other neat gimmicks> — see GADGET
3 a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized <the deal sounds too good to be true, so make sure there aren't any gimmicks> — see PITFALL 1

ginger noun
active strength of body or mind <a 60-year-old with the ginger to consider skydiving lessons> — see VIGOR 1

ginger (up) verb
to give life, vigor, or spirit to <find some human-interest anecdotes that will ginger up this news article on the recent downturn in the economy> — see ANIMATE

gingerbread adjective
elaborately and often excessively decorated <marveled at all the woodwork on the historic gingerbread cottages that lined the coast> — see ORNATE 1

gingerbreaded adjective
elaborately and often excessively decorated <a gingerbreaded gazebo with multicolored shingles and frilly fretwork> — see ORNATE 1

gingerbready adjective
elaborately and often excessively decorated <festooned with Christmas lights and wreaths, the old Victorian house is particularly gingerbready in the winter> — see ORNATE 1

gingerliness noun
a close attentiveness to avoiding danger <for someone who usually falls head over heels in love, she's approaching this romance with uncharacteristic gingerliness> — see CAUTION 1

gingerly adjective
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble <gave the cork on the bottle of champagne a gingerly twist> — see CAREFUL 1

gingery adjective
1 having active strength of body or mind <a gingery old lobsterman who goes out every day regardless of the weather> — see VIGOROUS 1
2 marked by a lively display of strong feeling <I got a gingery rebuke when I asked the spry old woman if she needed any help crossing the street> — see SPIRITED 1

gin mill noun
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises <the streets are full of people staggering home when the area's numerous gin mills close> — see BARROOM

gird noun
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <in her farewell speech, the departing governor got in some retaliatory girds at the media> — see INSULT

gird verb
1 to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt <for the celebration of the heroes' return, well-wishers girded hundreds of trees with yellow ribbons> <she girded her waist with a delicate sash>

Synonyms
band, begird, belt, engird [archaic], engirdle, enwind, girdle, girt, girth, wrap

Related Words
tie up, truss; circle, enwreathe, loop, wind, wreathe; bandage, enswathe, swathe; chain, cord, enchain, lash, rope, shackle, tape, wire

Near Antonyms
unbind, unlash, unshackle, untie, unwind

Antonyms
ungird, unwrap

2 to provide (someone) with what is needed for a task or activity <the Spartan warrior girded himself for battle with sword and shield> — see FURNISH 1
3 to form a circle around <a tall hedge girds the exclusive estate and shields it from prying eyes> — see SURROUND

girdle noun
a strip of flexible material (as leather) worn around the waist <drew a handkerchief from the girdle around her waist and offered it to the knight as a token of affection> — see 2BELT 1

girdle verb
1 to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt <trees girdled the campus, essentially hiding it from view> <wire girdling the bundle of firewood> — see GIRD 1
2 to travel completely around <an asteroid belt that girdles the inner planets of the solar system> — see ENCIRCLE 1
3 to form a circle around <the rings that famously girdle the planet Saturn> — see SURROUND

girl noun
1 a young unmarried woman <most men would jump at the chance to marry a girl like that>

Synonyms
damsel, demoiselle, maid, maiden, miss

Related Words
virgin; deb, debutante, ingenue (or ingénue); bird [chiefly British], chick [slang], chicken, chit, filly, lass, lassie, sheila [Australian & New Zealand], sister; colleen, mademoiselle, senhorita, senorita (or señorita)

2 a female person who has not yet reached adulthood <when I was a girl, I wanted a horse so badly>

Synonyms
filly, lass, lassie, miss, missy, nymph, sheila [Australian & New Zealand]

Related Words
bobby-soxer, junior miss, schoolgirl, subdebutante, teenybopper; gamine, hoyden, pixie (also pixy), romp, snip, tomboy

3 a female romantic companion <sent her a note asking her to be his girl> — see GIRLFRIEND

girlfriend noun
a female romantic companion <he proposed to his girlfriend of seven years>

Synonyms
gal, gill, girl, inamorata, lady, ladylove, old lady, woman

Related Words
mistress, moll; beloved, darling, dear, favorite, flame, honey, love, lover, significant other, sweet, sweetheart, valentine

girt verb
to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt <his wounded leg was girted by bandages> — see GIRD 1

girth noun
the distance around a round body <a fallen tree with a girth of some 26 feet making it wide enough for a full-grown man to walk through> — see CIRCUMFERENCE 1

girth verb
1 to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt <you'll need to make sure you girth the saddle tightly or you'll fall off the horse> — see GIRD 1
2 to pass completely around <his arms couldn't quite girth the stone column> — see ENCIRCLE 1

gist noun
the central part or aspect of something under consideration <didn't catch every word between them, but heard enough to get the gist of the conversation> — see CRUX

git noun, British
a person who lacks good sense or judgment <oh, don't be such a silly git, of course your mates want you around> — see FOOL 1

give verb
1 to make a present of <math tutors generously give their time to help students after school>

Synonyms
bestow, contribute, donate, give away, present, volunteer

Related Words
chip in, kick in, pitch in, throw in; award, confer, endow, endue (or indue), render; afford, comp, furnish, provide; lavish, regale; aid, assist, benefit, help; administer, dish out, dispense, dole out, hand out, impart, issue, mete (out); extend, fork (over, out, or up), offer, pay, proffer, pungle (up), put up, tender; sacrifice

Phrases
give of

Near Antonyms
hold, keep, pocket, retain, withhold; preserve, save; advance, lend, loan; sell

2 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <gave my camera to my father to hold while I went swimming>

Synonyms
commend, commit, confide, consign, delegate, deliver, entrust (also intrust), give over, hand, hand over, leave, pass, recommend, repose, transfer, transmit, trust, turn over, vest

Related Words
confer, grant; assign, deal (out), dispense, disperse, distribute, divide; hand in, release, relinquish, submit, surrender, turn in, yield; bequeath, hand down, hand on, will; advance, lend, loan; furnish, supply; recommit, redeliver, regive, retransfer, retransmit

Near Antonyms
detain, hold back, reserve, withhold; own, possess; accept, receive, take in; occupy, take, take over

Antonyms
hold, keep, retain

3 to bring before the public in performance or exhibition <the author will give a reading from her latest work at 7:00 p.m.> — see PRESENT 1
4 to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure <they loaded the shopping cart with so much food it gave under all the weight> — see COLLAPSE 1
5 to hand over or use up in payment <I wouldn't give a nickel for such a run-down car> — see SPEND 1
6 to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) <she gave her opinion on the matter very firmly and unmistakably> — see EXPRESS 1
7 to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention <totally gave himself to his studies in the hopes of winning a scholarship for next year> — see APPLY 2
8 to produce as revenue <a company that consistently gives $30 million in profits to the owner> — see YIELD 2
9 to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption <gave him my e-mail address> — see FURNISH 2
10 to put before another for acceptance or consideration <she gave the committee her grant proposal> — see OFFER 1
11 to cause (something) to pass from one to another <she gave her cold to me, and now I'm so sick that I can barely get out of bed> — see COMMUNICATE 1

give–and–take noun
1 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <a give-and-take about what we should do Saturday night> — see DISCUSSION 1
2 the act or practice of each side giving up something in order to reach an agreement <negotiating the terms of the deal will require some give-and-take on both sides> — see CONCESSION 1
3 good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks <enjoyed the flirty give-and-take between the two romantic lead characters> — see BANTER

giveaway noun
something given to someone without expectation of a return <offering a Caribbean vacation giveaway to the millionth customer> — see GIFT 1

give away verb
1 to make known (something abstract) through outward signs <the insincerity of his apology was given away by that slight smirk on his face> — see SHOW 2
2 to make a present of <gave away all her potted plants when she moved> — see GIVE 1

give in verb
1 to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit) <give in and have some chocolate> — see YIELD 1
2 to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) <after withstanding hours of begging, their father finally gave in and let them go to the amusement park> — see YIELD 3

given adjective
1 being in the habit or custom <a quiet man not given to loud expressions of emotion> — see ACCUSTOMED
2 having a tendency to be or act in a certain way <she's given to exaggeration> — see PRONE 1
3 known but not named <candidates for the quiz show must complete the qualifying test within a given amount of time> — see CERTAIN 1

given noun
something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning <it's a given that television viewers are influenced by advertising, even consciously or subconsciously> — see ASSUMPTION 1

given name noun
a name that is placed before one's family name <everyone calls me Jack, but my given name is John> — see FORENAME

give out verb
1 to make known openly or publicly <that's information that I'm not prepared to give out> — see ANNOUNCE
2 to throw or give off <this heater gives out a funny smell sometimes> — see EMIT 1
3 to stop functioning <waiting for the fuel pump in my old car to give out> — see FAIL 1

give over verb
1 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <his wife suggested that he give over working such long hours if it was making him so unhappy> — see STOP 1
2 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <gave over his entire savings to an investor> — see GIVE 2

give up verb
1 to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress <was in so much debt he had to give up his house and move into a cheaper apartment> — see SURRENDER 1
2 to stop doing (something) permanently <I hope you won't give up playing the piano> — see QUIT 2
3 to yield to the control or power of enemy forces <with the prospect of a renewed enemy attack, the regiment decided to simply give up> — see FALL 2
4 to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly <even in the darkest days of her troubled marriage, she refused to give herself up to feelings of utter hopelessness> — see ABANDON 1

give up (to) verb
to keep or intend for a special purpose <unfortunately, when he was in college, weekends were largely given up to binge drinking> — see DEVOTE 1

giving noun
the act of offering money in exchange for goods or services <a diorama about pioneer life at the museum that depicts the giving of beads for clothes> — see PAYMENT 1

gizmo also gismo noun
an interesting and often novel device with a practical use <found all sorts of interesting woodworking gizmos in the garage> — see GADGET

glacial adjective
1 having a low or subnormal temperature <a glacial weather front coming down from Canada will bring freezing temperatures this weekend> — see COLD 1
2 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <her glacial manner discouraged him from attempting further conversation> — see COLD 2

glad adjective
1 experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight <the man was glad to see his old college buddies again, after so long an absence>

Synonyms
blissful, chuffed [British], delighted, gratified, happy, joyful, joyous, pleased, satisfied, thankful, tickled

Related Words
beaming, blithe, blithesome, buoyant, cheerful, cheery, gay, gladsome, lighthearted, sunny, upbeat; gleeful, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, merry, mirthful, smiling; beatific, ecstatic, elated, enraptured, entranced, euphoric, exhilarated, intoxicated, rapturous, rhapsodic (also rhapsodical); exuberant, exultant, jubilant, rapt, rejoicing, thrilled; hopeful, optimistic, rosy, sanguine

Near Antonyms
abject, aggrieved, anguished, blue, brokenhearted, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, disheartened, downcast, downhearted, forlorn, melancholy; doleful, dolorous, lachrymose, mournful, plaintive, sorrowful, sorry, woeful; black, dark, desolate, dispirited, gloomy, glum, gray (also grey), grieved, heartbroken, heartsick, miserable, woebegone, wretched

Antonyms
displeased, dissatisfied, joyless, sad, unhappy, unpleased, unsatisfied

2 having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action) <I am glad to do the work if it will help the cause> — see WILLING 1
3 serving to lift one's spirits <doctors brought glad tidings to the reporters awaiting news of the queen's condition> — see CHEERFUL 2
4 feeling or expressing gratitude <she was glad of the offer of a ride home> — see GRATEFUL 1

glad verb, archaic
to give satisfaction to <it hath gladded my heart to see thy face again> — see PLEASE 1

gladden verb
to give satisfaction to <it would gladden me to hear you sing again> — see PLEASE 1

gladdening adjective
making one feel good inside <the overdue change to warm, sunny weather is gladdening> — see HEARTWARMING

glad–hander noun
a gregarious and unreserved person <an irrepressible glad-hander, she's a natural for the company's public relations department> — see EXTROVERT

gladiator noun
one that engages in the sport of fighting with the fists <the two punch-drunk gladiators stumbled to their corners> — see BOXER

gladiatorial adjective
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <not a reasoned discussion but a shouting match between gladiatorial pundits from opposite ends of the political spectrum> — see BELLIGERENT

gladness noun
1 a feeling or state of well-being and contentment <felt nothing but gladness at seeing her best friend beat her out for the award> — see HAPPINESS 1
2 the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met <the children's gladness was evident as they opened their Christmas presents> — see PLEASURE 1

glad rags plural noun
dressy clothing <a trendy designer fashioning glad rags for the beautiful people> — see FINERY

gladsome adjective
having or showing a good mood or disposition <a gladsome group of carolers strolling through the city's historic district> <a gladsome smile> — see CHEERFUL 1

glamorize also glamourize verb
to represent or think of as better than reality would warrant <most people glamorize fame, not thinking of the lack of privacy that accompanies it> — see IDEALIZE

glamorous also glamourous adjective
1 excitingly or mysteriously unusual <the glamorous sights and scents of a Turkish market> — see EXOTIC
2 having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <glamorous Hollywood celebrities whose every move is breathlessly recorded by the media> — see FASCINATING 1

glamour also glamor noun
1 a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power <the children were so preternaturally well-behaved that they must have been under the power of a glamour of some sort> — see SPELL 1
2 the power of irresistible attraction <the glamour of the fashion industry> — see CHARM 2

glamour (up) verb
to represent or think of as better than reality would warrant <a movie that does its best to glamour up the field of archaeology> — see IDEALIZE

glamour–puss noun
a physically attractive person <not necessarily looking for someone who's a glamour-puss—just nice and wholesome> — see DOLL 2

glance noun
an instance of looking especially briefly <she was about to say something rude, but her mother silenced her with a glance> — see LOOK 2

glance verb
1 to strike and fly off at an angle <the basketball glanced off the rim> <her wild pitch glanced off my shoulder and landed in the dugout>

Synonyms
bounce, carom, rebound, ricochet, skim, skip

Related Words
brush, graze, nudge, rake, shave, sweep; bump, contact, hit, kiss, touch; sideswipe; reflect

2 to take a quick or hasty look <just glanced at the instructions before assembling the bike> <glanced over his shoulder to see if she was still there>

Synonyms
browse, dip, glimpse, glint, peek, skim

Related Words
keek [chiefly Scottish], peep; blink, squint; look over, peruse, rake, scan

Near Antonyms
examine, overlook, oversee, question, survey; study, view; peer, pry; gawk, goggle, rubberneck; leer, ogle

Antonyms
gaze, stare

3 to shoot forth bursts of light <diamonds glancing in the display case> — see FLASH 1

glare noun
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible <the sudden glare of the squad car's headlights in my rearview mirror> — see LIGHT 1

glare verb
1 to shine with a bright harsh light <the spotlight glared down on the suspect as the police questioned him relentlessly>

Synonyms
beat, blaze, burn, flame, flare

Related Words
beam, glow, radiate; flash, glance, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, scintillate, shimmer, sparkle, twinkle; bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle

2 to look with anger or disapproval <don't glare at me like that when I tell you “no”> — see FROWN

glaring adjective
very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad <no one missed the glaring spelling error in the title> — see EGREGIOUS

glass noun
1 glasses plural a pair of lenses set in a frame that is held in place with ear supports and which are usually worn to correct vision <I'm a little nearsighted, so I'm going to need glasses>

Synonyms
eyeglasses, specs, spectacles

Related Words
bifocals, half-glasses, trifocals; lorgnette, monocle, pince-nez; sunglasses; goggles; contact lens

2 a smooth or polished surface that forms images by reflection <the vain princess spent hours admiring the reflection in her glass> — see MIRROR

glasshouse noun, chiefly British
a glass-enclosed building for growing plants <a glasshouse for growing tropical plants> — see CONSERVATORY

gleam noun
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible <the door opened a crack and let in a gleam of light from the hallway> — see LIGHT 1

gleam verb
to shoot forth bursts of light <fine china and stemware gleaming in the candlelight> — see FLASH 1

glee noun
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter <the evident glee with which the tabloids report on the misfortunes of celebrities> — see MIRTH

glee club noun
an organized group of singers <sang with the glee club in college> — see CHORUS 1

gleeful adjective
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor <the gleeful atmosphere that envelops the host city of the Super Bowl> — see MERRY

gleefulness noun
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter <the infectious gleefulness that permeates the town during its annual Christmas stroll> — see MIRTH

glide verb
1 to move or proceed smoothly and readily <looking for a college course that he could just glide through> — see FLOW 2
2 to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings <a kite gliding on the autumn breeze> — see FLY 1
3 to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air <water striders gliding along the surface of the brook> — see FLOAT 1

glimmer noun
1 a very small amount <a glimmer of hope that there will be snow on Christmas> — see PARTICLE 1
2 an almost imperceptible sign of something <most of the students showed not even a glimmer of interest in what I had to say> — see HINT 2

glimmer verb
to shoot forth bursts of light <the waters of the rippling brook glimmered in the sun> — see FLASH 1

glimpse noun
an instance of looking especially briefly <I only got a glimpse of him as we drove by> — see LOOK 2

glimpse verb
to take a quick or hasty look <just glimpsed at the photo then turned his attention elsewhere> — see GLANCE 2

glint verb
1 to shoot forth bursts of light <the cat's eyes glinted in the moonlight> — see FLASH 1
2 to take a quick or hasty look <the thief glinted around the corner to see if anyone was coming> — see GLANCE 2

glisten verb
to shoot forth bursts of light <this seemingly dull opal really glistens in full light> — see FLASH 1

glistening adjective
having a shiny surface or finish <a glistening marble table top> — see GLOSSY

glister verb
to shoot forth bursts of light <the dew glistered in the soft light of the early morning> — see FLASH 1

glitter verb
to shoot forth bursts of light <the queen's crown glittered under the glare of the TV lights> — see FLASH 1

glitz noun
excessive or unnecessary display <a nice dinner, but without all the glitz of fancily folded napkins and chichi finger bowls> — see OSTENTATION

glitz (up) verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <the company's cafeteria had been glitzed up for the holiday party> — see DECORATE

glitzy adjective
excessively showy <I think that rhinestone-studded outfit is a little too glitzy for church> — see GAUDY

gloaming noun
1 a time or place of little or no light <lovers would often retreat to the gloaming of the park's many secluded recesses to steal a kiss> — see DARK 1
2 the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness <with the gloaming came the familiar call of the whip-poor-will> — see DUSK 1

glob noun
1 a small uneven mass <found a glob of chewing gum under my theater seat> — see LUMP 1
2 the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass <add a glob or two of molasses to the batter> — see DROP 1

global adjective
1 belonging or relating to the whole <do a global search and replace the misspelling throughout the whole document> — see GENERAL 1
2 covering everything or all important points <published a global report on the plight of Third World economies> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC
3 having every part of the surface the same distance from the center <one of the fair's more striking pavilions was a global structure with a monorail running through its center> — see ROUND 1

globe noun
1 a more or less round body or mass <the glassblower shaped the molten mass into a globe of remarkable thinness and clarity> — see 1BALL 1
2 the celestial body on which we live <New Year's celebrations around the globe> — see EARTH 1

globular adjective
having every part of the surface the same distance from the center <the globular streetlights give the pedestrian mall a Gay Nineties look> — see ROUND 1

globule noun
the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass <fat globules of hot wax dripping onto the table> — see DROP 1

glom verb
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <the manager glommed the shoplifter just as she was about to bolt out of the store> — see CATCH 1

gloom noun
1 a state or spell of low spirits <has been in a perpetual gloom since his dog died> — see SADNESS
2 a time or place of little or no light <the gloom of a rainy night is the perfect setting for a mystery story> — see DARK 1

gloom verb
1 to look with anger or disapproval <we just sat there, glooming, as we waited and waited for our dinners to arrive> — see FROWN
2 to take on a gloomy or forbidding look <he continued to gloom over the fact that he had been passed over for promotion to district manager> — see DARKEN 1

gloominess noun
a state or spell of low spirits <even in the depths of her gloominess she never lost hope entirely> — see SADNESS

gloomy adjective
1 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the cold rain made for a gloomy day>

Synonyms
black, bleak, cheerless, chill, Cimmerian, cloudy, cold, comfortless, dark, darkening, depressing, depressive, desolate, dire, disconsolate, dismal, drear, dreary, dreich [chiefly Scottish], elegiac (also elegiacal), forlorn, funereal, glum, godforsaken, gray (also grey), lonely, lonesome, lugubrious, miserable, morbid, morose, murky, plutonian, saturnine, sepulchral, solemn, somber (or sombre), sullen, sunless, tenebrific, tenebrous, wretched

Related Words
blue, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, down, droopy, hangdog, inconsolable, low, melancholic, melancholy, mirthless, sad, unhappy, woebegone, woeful; dim, discomfiting, discouraging, disheartening, dismaying, dispiriting, distressful, distressing, upsetting; desperate, hopeless, pessimistic; lamentable, mournful, plaintive, sorrowful; colorless, drab, dull; dour, grim, lowering (also louring), lowery (also loury), menacing, negative, oppressive, threatening

Near Antonyms
blithe, blithesome, buoyant, gay, jocund, jolly, joyful, joyous, merry, mirthful; encouraging, hopeful, optimistic; lighthearted, lightsome

Antonyms
bright, cheerful, cheering, cheery, comforting, cordial, festive, friendly, gay, heartwarming, sunshiny

2 feeling unhappiness <has been gloomy ever since the breakup with his girlfriend> — see SAD 1
3 being without light or without much light <that house would be less gloomy if some of the overgrown trees and shrubs were cleared away> — see DARK 1

glop noun
a thick semiliquid substance (as food) that is unattractive <the restaurant served glop that brought back unpleasant memories of my high school cafeteria>

Synonyms
slop, swill

Related Words
crud, goo, goop, guck (or gook), gunk

glorify verb
1 to assign a high status or value to <a number of big names were recruited in the hopes that their presence would glorify the university's school of medicine in the eyes of the medical world> — see EXALT 1
2 to offer honor or respect to (someone) as a divine power <let us now glorify the Lord> — see WORSHIP 1
3 to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively <fond parents who glorify everything that their precious offspring do> — see TOUT 1
4 to proclaim the glory of <the hillsides ablaze in red and gold silently glorify New England in the fall> — see PRAISE 1
5 to represent or think of as better than reality would warrant <don't let the job title “team spirit coordinator” fool you—he's nothing more than a glorified college cheerleader> — see IDEALIZE

glorious adjective
large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <the advent of the printing press in the West ushered in a glorious new era of learning> — see GRAND 1

gloriously adverb
in a pleasing way <for Easter services the choir rose to the occasion and sang gloriously> — see WELL 5

gloriousness noun
impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <the indisputable gloriousness of the Taj Mahal> — see MAGNIFICENCE

glory verb
to feel or express joy or triumph <the whole city gloried in the home team's winning of the World Series> — see EXULT

glory noun
1 public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <the theater director gave the stage crew all the glory for the successful production>

Synonyms
acclaim, accolade, applause, bay(s), credit, distinction, homage, honor, kudos, laud, laurels, props [slang], réclame, sun

Related Words
celebrity, fame, renown, repute; compliment, encomium, eulogy, panegyric, toast, tribute; acclamation, ovation, plaudit, praise, rave, rhapsody; citation, commendation, kudo, note, recommendation; elevation, enshrinement, enthronement, exaltation, glorification

2 an asset that brings praise or renown <the new art museum has become the glory of the college campus>

Synonyms
boast, credit, crown jewel, honor, jewel, pride, treasure, trophy

Related Words
pièce de résistance, showpiece; attraction, feature, highlight; distinction, excellence, merit, value, virtue

Phrases
a feather in one's cap

Near Antonyms
disgrace, dishonor; blemish, blot, defect, shame, slur, smirch, smudge, stain, stigma; eyesore, fright, horror, mess

3 impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <was overwhelmed by the imperial glory of Rome> — see MAGNIFICENCE
4 an artistic rendering of radiant light around the head or body of a sacred personage <an altarpiece depicting God seated on His throne and bathed in celestial glory> — see AUREOLE

glory or glory be interjection
how delightful <glory! I thought I'd never see this day come> — see HOORAY

glorying adjective
having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph <the Olympic athletes were told to stifle the glorying antics and to accept their medals with some measure of humility> — see EXULTANT

gloss noun
1 a deceptively attractive external appearance <used a computer to give her astrological predictions the gloss of real science>

Synonyms
facade (also façade), veneer, window dressing

Related Words
cotton candy, fluff, tinsel; fig leaf; charade, front, guise, masquerade, pose, semblance, show

2 brightness created by light reflected from a surface <the surface has such a high gloss, you can see your face reflected in it> — see SHINE 1

gloss verb
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure <the action of the water will serve to gloss the seal's coat> — see POLISH 1

gloss (over) verb
1 to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses <I don't want to gloss over her misbehavior, but keep in mind that she's been under a lot of stress lately> — see PALLIATE 1
2 to dismiss as of little importance <this biographer tends to gloss over his subject's many character flaws> — see EXCUSE 1

glossy adjective
having a shiny surface or finish <the glossy finish on the gym floor> <a sports car with an interior upholstered with glossy leather>

Synonyms
buffed, burnished, glistening, lustrous, polished, rubbed, satin, satiny, sleek

Related Words
brushed, eggshell, semigloss, semilustrous; silken, silky, slick, slippery; glassy, glazed, lacquered, shellacked, varnished; gleaming, glittering, reflective, shining

Near Antonyms
lackluster; unvarnished

Antonyms
dim, dull, flat, lusterless, matte (also mat or matt)

glow noun
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible <the glow of the restaurant's table lamps is especially flattering to diners> — see LIGHT 1

glow verb
1 to be on fire especially brightly <the coals glowed red-hot> — see BURN 1
2 to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment) <when they found out he had won the tournament, his parents glowed with pride> — see BLUSH

glower verb
1 to look with anger or disapproval <baseball fans glowering at their TVs as they watched their favorite team lose> — see FROWN
2 to take on a gloomy or forbidding look <the old man just sat in his rocking chair, his face glowering at the prospect of unwanted company> — see DARKEN 1

glowing adjective
1 giving off or reflecting much light <enjoyed the warmth of the glowing fire> — see BRIGHT 1
2 having a healthy reddish skin tone <was glowing after spending an afternoon outside splitting firewood> — see RUDDY
3 having or being an outward sign of good feelings (as of love, confidence, or happiness) <her glowing face made it evident she'd been offered the job> — see RADIANT 1
4 having or expressing great depth of feeling <glowing declarations of everlasting love> — see FERVENT 1

glowingly adverb
in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light <the cat's eyes shone glowingly from the dark corner> — see BRIGHTLY 1

gloze (over) verb
1 to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses <he tried to gloze over his drinking problem by noting that he had never done drugs> — see PALLIATE 1
2 to dismiss as of little importance <we're certainly willing to gloze over a couple of minor historical inaccuracies in an otherwise splendid movie> — see EXCUSE 1

glue noun
a substance used to stick things together <used glue to stick the photo in the album>

Synonyms
adhesive, bond, cement, size

Related Words
epoxy, epoxy resin, library paste, mucilage, paste, superglue, water glass; dope, goo, gum

gluey adjective
tending to adhere to objects upon contact <don't overbeat the mashed potatoes, or they will be thick and gluey instead of light and fluffy> — see STICKY 1

glum adjective
1 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the usual glum waiting room at the tax collector's office> <a cold, glum day> — see GLOOMY 1
2 feeling unhappiness <how can you be glum after such a great day?> — see SAD 1
3 given to or displaying a resentful silence and often irritability <a chronically glum and pouting child> — see SULKY

glumness noun
a state or spell of low spirits <her obvious glumness told us that she hadn't gotten the job> — see SADNESS

1glut verb
to fill with food to capacity <prefers not to watch those nature programs where all they show are predators glutting themselves on the kill> — see GORGE 1

2glut verb, archaic
to swallow or eat greedily <it seemed that he could glut enough food to feed 10 men> — see GOBBLE

glutinous adjective
tending to adhere to objects upon contact <a bad horror movie from the 1950s about a glutinous blob that devoured Manhattan> — see STICKY 1

glutton noun
one who eats greedily or too much <he's such a glutton that he ate the whole cake>

Synonyms
cormorant, gorger, gormandizer, gourmand, hog, overeater, pig, stuffer, swiller

Related Words
feaster, trencherman; muncher; guzzler

Near Antonyms
dieter, nibbler, picker

gluttonous adjective
having a huge appetite <gluttonous customers had practically emptied the all-you-can-eat buffet> — see VORACIOUS 1

gluttonousness noun
the excessive consumption of food <the legendary gluttonousness of England's Henry VIII> — see GLUTTONY

gluttony noun
the excessive consumption of food <the view that gluttony is a serious failure in self-discipline>

Synonyms
gluttonousness, overeating

Related Words
immoderation, intemperance, overindulgence

Near Antonyms
dieting

Antonyms
abstemiousness

glyph noun
a written or printed mark that is meant to convey information to the reader <a rock inscribed with mysterious glyphs that some have speculated as being of Norse origin> — see CHARACTER 1

gnash verb
to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound <dogs gnashing their teeth> — see GRIND 2

gnaw verb
to consume or wear away gradually <time has gnawed that author's reputation to the point where he rates little more than a footnote> — see EAT 2

gnaw (on) verb
to crush or grind with the teeth <please don't gnaw on that steak bone—it's very unseemly> — see BITE ON

gnawer noun
one who is obnoxiously annoying <like a dog who won't let go of a bone, that gnawer in the backseat wouldn't quit mentioning that I had made a wrong turn and gotten us lost> — see NUISANCE 1

gnome noun
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <in Europe, gnomes are thought to guard underground treasure, so that may be why statues of them are commonly placed in gardens> — see FAIRY

go adjective
being in a state of fitness for some experience or action <all systems are go> — see READY 1

go noun
1 a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <snowboarding is all the go> — see FAD
2 active strength of body or mind <a healthy six-year-old full of go> — see VIGOR 1
3 an effort to do or accomplish something <it took several goes to get the car started> — see ATTEMPT 1
4 readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity <a young executive with the go to make this company grow> — see ENTERPRISE 2

go verb
1 to move forward along a course <everything is going according to our plans>

Synonyms
advance, come, come along, do, fare, forge, get along, get on, go along, go off, march, pace, proceed, progress

Related Words
accelerate, fast-forward, speed; approach, near; journey, pass, repair, run, travel, wend; actuate, drive, impel, propel, push; take out

Phrases
gain ground

Near Antonyms
arrest, balk, block, check, detain, halt, hinder, hold back, impede, nip, obstruct, slow (down or up), stem; repress, retard, stunt, suppress; delay, interrupt, stall; cramp, hamper, inhibit; cease, let up, pause; regress; wait

Antonyms
remain, stand, stay, stop

2 to leave a place often for another <will go on vacation at the end of the year> <decided it would be better to go before she got any angrier>

Synonyms
bail, bail out, begone, book [slang], bugger off [British slang], bug off, bug out, buzz (off), clear off [chiefly British], clear out, cut out, depart, dig out, exit, get, get off, go off, move, pack (up or off), part, peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, quit, run along, sally (forth), scarper [British], shove (off), step (along), take off, vamoose, walk out

Related Words
set out, start, strike out; abscond, decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, mizzle [chiefly British], run away, scat, scram, skip; go out, light out, step out; abandon, desert, forsake, vacate; emigrate; adjourn, remove, retire, retreat, withdraw

Phrases
beat it, hit the road, pull stakes (or pull up stakes), take a hike (also take a walk), take a powder

Near Antonyms
abide, dwell, lodge, remain, settle, stay, tarry; approach, close, near; hit, land, reach

Antonyms
arrive, come, show up, turn up

3 to be fitting or proper <at Mardi Gras, just about anything goes> — see DO 1
4 to be in agreement on every point <your account of how the fire started doesn't go with what she said> — see CHECK 1
5 to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction <the highway goes right along the river> — see RUN 3
6 to eventually have as a state or quality <she goes crazy on the dance floor when they start playing 1980s pop> <the room went dark> — see BECOME
7 to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure <watched the building go after the demolition crew detonated the charges> — see COLLAPSE 1
8 to have or be in a usual or proper place <these plates go in this cabinet> — see BELONG 1
9 to lose bodily strength or vigor <when you get old, your eyesight starts to go> — see WEAKEN 2
10 to make one's way through, across, or over <I went the length of the street before finding an empty parking space> — see TRAVERSE
11 to occur within a continuous range of variation <selling prices for houses in that neighborhood generally go between one and two million> — see RUN 4
12 to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event <to play in this game of poker, you have to be willing to go at least five dollars per round> — see BET
13 chiefly Southern & Midland to have in mind as a purpose or goal <I didn't go to fire the gun—it just went off> — see INTEND 1
14 to come to an end <we were having so much fun that the evening just came and went> — see CEASE 1
15 to have enough money for <I think I can go for the new car after all> — see AFFORD
16 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <I can't go the smell of that rotting food for one more minute> — see BEAR 2
17 to stop living <her grandmother went peacefully last night> — see DIE 1
18 to turn out as planned or desired <we tried very hard to get the food cooperative to go, but it never really worked out> — see SUCCEED 1

go (for) verb
to have a price of <those cars go for $25,000> — see COST

go (to) verb
to use or seek out as a source of aid, relief, or advantage <when the sales representative refused to help us, we went to the store manager> — see RESORT TO 1

goad noun
something that arouses action or activity <the threat of skin cancer—not to mention the prospect of wrinkles—should be sufficient goad for using sunscreen> — see IMPULSE 1

goad verb
1 to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action <tried to goad me into auditioning for the play> — see URGE
2 to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object <goading the horse forward into the stall> — see PROD 1

go–ahead noun
an ambitious person who eagerly goes after what is desired <a born go-ahead, he was determined to be the first in his family to graduate from college> — see GO-GETTER

goal noun
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <leaving the world a better place than I found it is one of my main goals>

Synonyms
aim, ambition, aspiration, bourne (also bourn), design, dream, end, idea, ideal, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, plan, point, pretension, purpose, target, thing

Related Words
grail, holy grail; plot, project, scheme; desire, hope, mind, wish; nirvana; destination, terminus

Phrases
name of the game

Near Antonyms
means, method, way

go along verb
to move forward along a course <everything was going along swimmingly until you interfered> — see GO 1

goat noun
a person or thing taking the blame for others <an unhappy childhood was the goat he used to rationalize every failure and shortcoming> — see SCAPEGOAT

goatish adjective
having a strong sexual desire <a seedy grind house that was patronized mainly by goatish men wearing raincoats> — see LUSTFUL

1gob noun
1 a small uneven mass <grabbed a gob of clay from the block and threw it on the pottery wheel> — see LUMP 1
2 gobs plural a considerable amount <has gobs of money> — see LOT 2

2gob noun, chiefly British
the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal <he threatened the yob with a punch in the gob if he didn't stop insulting everyone> — see MOUTH 1

3gob noun
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel <avast, ye gobs, and haul anchor!> — see SAILOR

gobbet noun
a small uneven mass <deftly avoided stepping in a gobbet of spit on the sidewalk> — see LUMP 1

gobble verb
to swallow or eat greedily <gobbled the sandwiches like they hadn't eaten for days>

Synonyms
bolt, cram, devour, glut [archaic], gorge, gormandize, gulp, ingurgitate, inhale, raven, scarf, scoff, slop, wolf

Related Words
overeat, pig out, swill

Near Antonyms
nibble, peck, pick

gobbledygook also gobbledegook noun
language marked by abstractions, jargon, euphemisms, and circumlocutions <cut through the gobbledygook and just tell me what the final cost of the car would be> — see GIBBERISH 2

go–between noun
1 one that carries a message or does an errand <I won't act as go-between between you and your ex> — see MESSENGER
2 one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement <acted as go-between for the two warring nations during the peace process> — see MEDIATOR

goblin noun
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <dressed up the toddlers like goblins for Halloween> — see FAIRY

god noun
1 a being having superhuman powers and control over a particular part of life or the world <in some belief systems, natural forces like the wind and the sea were gods> — see DEITY 1
2 cap the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <let us give thanks to God> — see DEITY 2
3 a person who is the object of extreme or uncritical devotion <in the eyes of many film critics, Alfred Hitchcock is one of the undisputed gods of cinema> — see IDOL

goddamned or goddamn or goddam adjective
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <the goddamned car needs another costly repair> — see DAMNABLE

goddess noun
1 a lovely woman <like any guy in love, he thought his new girlfriend was a goddess> — see BEAUTY 2
2 a usually glamorous woman who is preeminent in her field of activity <one of the goddesses of the silver screen during the silent era> — see DIVA

godforsaken adjective
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <grew up in the kind of godforsaken town in which everyone drank in order to forget that they were there> — see GLOOMY 1

godhead noun
1 the quality or state of being divine <in some cultures, the ruler of the people has godhead and is worshipped accordingly> — see DIVINITY
2 cap the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <most Christians believe that there are three separate persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—that make up the Godhead> — see DEITY 2

godhood noun
the quality or state of being divine <according to Greek myth, Hercules was granted godhood after his death> — see DIVINITY

godless adjective
lacking religious emotions, principles, or practices <treated the God-fearing and the godless with equal respect and compassion> — see IRRELIGIOUS

godlike adjective
of, relating to, or being God <the godlike splendor of creation> — see HOLY 3

godliness noun
the quality or state of being spiritually pure or virtuous <they say that cleanliness is next to godliness> — see HOLINESS

godly adjective
1 showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue <a godly and humble man who will be richly rewarded in the next world> — see HOLY 1
2 of, relating to, or being God <a godly voice from the heavens commanded him to build an ark> — see HOLY 3

go down verb, slang
to take place <when's the drug deal supposed to go down?> — see HAPPEN

go down (with) verb, chiefly British
to become affected with (a disease or disorder) <across the United Kingdom a number of children have gone down with chicken pox this week> — see CONTRACT 1

God's acre noun
a piece of land used for burying the dead <was laid in rest in God's acre, with a comforting view of the river he loved so much> — see CEMETERY

godsend noun
something that provides happiness or does good for a person or thing <that holiday bonus has proved to be a godsend for my bills> — see BLESSING 2

Godspeed noun
an expression of good wishes at parting <a hearty Godspeed was extended to all the departing troops> — see GOOD-BYE

go–getter noun
an ambitious person who eagerly goes after what is desired <a go-getter with his sights set on the presidency>

Synonyms
bootstrapper, go-ahead, highflier (or highflyer), hummer, hustler, live wire, powerhouse, rustler, self-starter

Related Words
eager beaver; achiever, comer, doer, enterpriser; he-man, individualist

Near Antonyms
dawdler, idler, loafer, lounger, putterer, trifler; goldbrick, malingerer, procrastinator, shirker, slacker; drone, lazybones, sluggard; dallier, laggard, lingerer, loiterer, slowpoke, stick-in-the-mud; ignorer, ne'er-do-well, neglecter; daydreamer, dreamer; dropout, quitter

go–getting adjective
1 having a strong desire for personal advancement <this job is a great opportunity for some go-getting young person> — see AMBITIOUS 1
2 having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal <a determined newcomer who made a go-getting bid for the governorship> — see AGGRESSIVE 1

go–getting noun
eager desire for personal advancement <with all his go-getting, he should move quickly up the corporate ladder> — see AMBITION 1

goggle verb
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise <goggled at the elaborate costumes and floats in the Mardi Gras parade> — see GAPE

go in (on) verb
to take sudden, violent action against <law enforcement officials decided to wait before going in on the barricaded gunman> — see ATTACK 1

going adjective
1 accepted, used, or practiced by most people <what's the going price for a good used washing machine?> — see CURRENT 1
2 being in effective operation <he just can't keep his small bookstore going> — see ACTIVE 1
3 having attained a desired end or state of good fortune <our continued partnership with them is a going concern> — see SUCCESSFUL 1

going noun
1 forward movement in time or place <tried to get down the hill quickly, but it was slow going with an injured foot> — see ADVANCE 1
2 the act of leaving a place <was so absorbed in her TV show she didn't notice his comings or goings> — see DEPARTURE 1

going–over noun
a close look at or over someone or something in order to judge condition <received a thorough going-over before being sent on stage> — see INSPECTION

gold noun
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <all the gold in the world won't buy happiness> — see MONEY 1

goldbrick noun
one who deliberately avoids work or duty <the goldbricks among the colonists were warned: no work, no food> — see SLACKER 1

golden adjective
1 having qualities which inspire hope <this may be your golden moment to impress a baseball scout, so don't blow it> — see HOPEFUL 1
2 marked by conspicuously full and rich sounds or tones <sang in a golden alto that filled the concert hall> — see RESONANT
3 marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically <the golden age of industrialization> — see PROSPEROUS 1
4 of a pale yellow or yellowish brown color <a golden Labrador> — see BLOND
5 pointing toward a happy outcome <that new job is a golden opportunity> — see FAVORABLE 2

golden age noun
a period of high artistic or cultural development <a memoir of her days as an actress in the golden age of Hollywood> — see BELLE EPOQUE

golden–ager noun
a person of advanced years <offered discounts and special tours for golden-agers> — see SENIOR CITIZEN

golden mean noun
a middle point between extremes <when it comes to money, the golden mean is saving some income, while giving yourself a modest spending allowance> — see MEAN 1

gold mine noun
an abundant source <the estate sale promises to be a gold mine for antique dealers> — see MINE 1

gold standard noun
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared <the gold standard for accurate experimental procedures is the double-blind medication trial> — see STANDARD 1

golem noun
a stupid person <the supervisor was a golem who never had an unprogrammed thought in her life> — see IDIOT

Goliath noun
something or someone that is unusually large and powerful <the family-owned company lost the contract to a multibillion-dollar Goliath> — see GIANT

Gomorrah noun
a place of great vice and corruption <looks upon Las Vegas as a Gomorrah that undermines traditional values> — see AUGEAN STABLE

gone adjective
1 no longer existing <woolly mammoths have been long gone> — see EXTINCT
2 no longer living <doctors came to the waiting room to give the sad news that the operation hadn't been successful and the heart patient was gone> — see DEAD 1
3 no longer possessed <I put my watch right here on the table, but now it's gone> — see LOST
4 containing unborn young within the body <a woman who's seven months gone> — see PREGNANT 1
5 slang of the very best kind <in jazz circles he was regarded as a real gone trumpeter> — see EXCELLENT

gone (on) adjective
filled with an intense or excessive love for <I've never seen her so gone on a man before> — see ENAMORED OF

goo noun
something (as a work of literature or music) that is too sentimental <the latest goo from a children's author who knows how to lay it on thick> — see CORN

good adverb
in a satisfactory way <things are going good for us> — see WELL 1

good noun
1 something that provides happiness or does good for a person or thing <let us praise God, from Whom all goods flow> — see BLESSING 2
2 the state of doing well especially in relation to one's happiness or success <I am doing this for your own good> — see WELFARE
3 goods plural products that are bought and sold in business <had a hard time selling leftover Easter goods that were still on the shelves by Mother's Day> — see MERCHANDISE
4 goods plural a skill, an ability, or knowledge that makes a person able to do a particular job <the hiring committee thinks this latest applicant really has the goods> — see QUALIFICATION 1
5 goods plural transportable items that one owns <before moving to Florida, the couple sold their house and auctioned off their household goods> — see POSSESSION 2

good adjective
1 based on sound reasoning or information <had enough information to make a good assessment of the situation>

Synonyms
commonsense, commonsensible, commonsensical, firm, hard, informed, just, justified, levelheaded, logical, rational, reasonable, reasoned, sensible, sober, solid, valid, well-founded

Related Words
actual, real, true; certain, sure; certified, validated, verified; confirmed, corroborated, substantiated; cogent, convincing; colorable, credible, plausible

Near Antonyms
unsubstantiated, unsupported, unwarranted; flimsy, implausible, unconvincing, weak; fallacious, false, misguided, misled

Antonyms
groundless, illogical, invalid, irrational, nonrational, nonsensical, nonvalid, unfounded, uninformed, unjustified, unreasonable, unreasoned, unsound

2 conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <a good person who seldom did wrong> <good behavior will earn you the respect of others>

Synonyms
all right, decent, ethical, honest, honorable, just, moral, nice, right, righteous, right-minded, straight, true, upright, virtuous

Related Words
correct, decorous, proper, seemly; high-minded, noble, principled; commendable, creditable, exemplary, legitimate; esteemed, law-abiding, menschy, reputable, respected, upstanding, worthy; blameless, clean, guiltless, immaculate, incorrupt (also incorrupted), incorruptible, innocent, inoffensive, irreproachable, unobjectionable; angelic (or angelical), lily-white, pure, scrupulous, spotless, uncorrupted, unerring; goody-goody, moralistic, pharisaical, rectitudinous, sanctimonious, self-righteous

Near Antonyms
improper, incorrect, indecorous, naughty, unbecoming, unseemly; corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, libertine, perverted, reprobate; unprincipled, unscrupulous; atrocious, infamous, villainous; base, low, mean, vicious, vile; blameworthy, objectionable, offensive; iniquitous, nefarious; errant, erring, fallen

Antonyms
bad, black, dishonest, dishonorable, evil, evil-minded, immoral, indecent, sinful, unethical, unrighteous, wicked, wrong

3 according to the rules of logic <you don't need a good reason to stop doing that—it's because I said so> — see LOGICAL 1
4 being to one's liking <that band's music is good> — see SATISFACTORY 1
5 expressing approval <gave the restaurant a good review> — see FAVORABLE 1
6 firm in one's allegiance to someone or something <a good Democrat who wouldn't dream of voting for a Republican candidate> — see FAITHFUL 1
7 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <we had a good time at the movies> — see PLEASANT 1
8 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <he's good at math> — see PROFICIENT
9 having sufficient worth or merit to receive one's honor, esteem, or reward <she is good enough to win a fellowship> — see WORTHY
10 having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance <that electrician is good at what he does> — see COMPETENT 1
11 meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <those rotten apples aren't good to eat> — see FIT 1
12 sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention <had a good number of valuable baseball cards in his collection> — see CONSIDERABLE 1
13 worthy of one's trust <a car that should be good for another few years> — see DEPENDABLE
14 being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard <if these measurements are good, the venetian blind should fit the window perfectly> — see CORRECT 1
15 very pleasing to look at <an actress who always looks good on-screen> — see BEAUTIFUL 1
16 beneficial to the health of body or mind <eating a good breakfast will provide you with more energy during the day> <didn't like broccoli even though he knew it was good for him> — see HEALTHFUL
17 having or showing a concern for the welfare of others <if the church is to stay open, it's going to have to receive more than good intentions from its members> — see CHARITABLE 1
18 of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards <the food at that restaurant is good but hardly great> — see ADEQUATE
19 promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being <product packaging that is intended to be good for the environment> — see BENEFICIAL

Good Book noun
a book made up of the writings accepted by Christians as coming from God <what does the Good Book say about temptation?> — see BIBLE

good–bye or good–by noun
an expression of good wishes at parting <said our good-byes and headed for home>

Synonyms
adieu, au revoir, ave, bon voyage, congé (also congee), farewell, Godspeed

Related Words
leave-taking, send-off

Near Antonyms
greeting(s), salutation, salute; welcome

Antonyms
hello

good deal noun
a considerable amount <he knows a good deal about the current situation in Africa> — see LOT 2

good–fellowship noun
kindly concern, interest, or support <in the spirit of good-fellowship, the opposing softball players asked us to join them for drinks after the game> — see GOODWILL 1

good–for–nothing adjective
having no ambition, success, or value to society <refused to leave anything in his will to his good-for-nothing grandchildren> — see NO-ACCOUNT 1

good–for–nothing noun
an idle worthless person <teacher after teacher had predicted that he would never be more than a good-for-nothing> — see NE'ER-DO-WELL

good–hearted adjective
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others <a good-hearted doctor who regularly sees poor patients for free> — see HUMANE 1

good–heartedness noun
1 sympathetic concern for the well-being of others <the woman's inherent good-heartedness impelled her to share the little food she had> — see BENIGNANCY
2 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <thanks to the good-heartedness of its dedicated volunteers, the soup kitchen has never been understaffed> — see HEART 1

good life noun
a life marked by material wealth and comfort <vowed to live the good life if he ever won the lottery>

Synonyms
American dream

Related Words
dolce vita (or la dolce vita); easy street

good–looking adjective
very pleasing to look at <she's a good-looking woman, regardless of her age> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

goodly adjective
1 of a size greater than average of its kind <$10,000 is a goodly reward to offer for a missing wedding ring> — see LARGE 1
2 sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention <a goodly number of people gathered to watch the spectacle> — see CONSIDERABLE 1
3 very pleasing to look at <the smartly dressed soldiers marching snappily along made for a goodly sight> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

good–natured adjective
having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations <the guests at the party were a good-natured bunch> — see AMIABLE

good–naturedness noun
1 a desire or disposition to please <his good-naturedness makes him an easy person to work with> — see COMPLAISANCE
2 the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others <the good-naturedness of her response to the teasing made her a hit with the guys> — see AMIABILITY 1

goodness noun
conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong <a person of such unaffected goodness that his friends were inspired to lead better lives> — see MORALITY 1

good–tempered adjective
having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations <her children were good-tempered and well-behaved in public> — see AMIABLE

good–temperedness noun
the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others <the volunteer's general good-temperedness was infectious and lifted the spirits of those waiting to give blood> — see AMIABILITY 1

goodwill noun
1 kindly concern, interest, or support <the long tradition of goodwill that exists between the United States and Canada>

Synonyms
amity, benevolence, brotherhood, charity, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship, friendliness, friendship, gemütlichkeit, good-fellowship, kindliness, neighborliness

Related Words
bonhomie, camaraderie, collegiality, community, companionship, company, comradeship; civility, comity, concord, harmony, rapport, rapprochement; charity, generosity; affinity, communion, empathy, kindness, sympathy, tolerance; altruism, philanthropy, selflessness, unselfishness

Near Antonyms
disfavor, intolerance; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hate, hatred, hostility, incivility, malice, rancor; belligerency, quarrelsomeness, querulousness

Antonyms
ill will, malevolence, venom

2 cheerful readiness to do something <took on the task of coaching the soccer team with lots of zeal and goodwill> — see ALACRITY

goody or goodie noun
something that is pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury <couldn't wait to sample the bonbons, tortes, and other goodies> — see DELICACY 1

gooey adjective
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <things get especially gooey during the scene in which the lovers are reunited at long last> — see CORNY 1

gooeyness noun
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) <prefers the darkness of the original Grimms' fairy tales to the gooeyness of the modern cartoon versions> — see SENTIMENTALITY

goof noun
1 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <that typo is one of the text's rare goofs> — see ERROR 1
2 a stupid person <leave it to that goof to forget the bait on a fishing trip> — see IDIOT

goof (around) verb
to spend time in aimless activity <we've been goofing around long enough; it's time to get some real work done> — see FIDDLE AROUND

goof (off) verb
to spend time doing nothing <returned home unannounced and found the au pair goofing off> — see IDLE

goof (up) verb
1 to make a mistake <we must have goofed up somewhere, because this cake clearly didn't turn out right> — see ERR 1
2 to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <he goofed up his first sale at the dealership> — see BOTCH

go off verb
1 to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure <specialists were able to deactivate the bomb before it went off> — see EXPLODE 1
2 to move forward along a course <the wedding went off without so much as a single glitch> — see GO 1
3 to leave a place often for another <don't go off without telling us where we can find you> — see GO 2

goofy adjective
lacking in seriousness or maturity <it's not appropriate to be goofy at a funeral> — see GIDDY 1

goon noun
1 a stupid person <an unfortunate tendency to call those who disagree with him “brainless goons”> — see IDIOT
2 a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <the crime boss threatened to send the goons after him if he squealed> — see HOODLUM

go on verb
1 to take place <what in the world is going on in there?> — see HAPPEN
2 to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point <my, but Aunt Betty does go on about all of her aches and pains> — see RAMBLE 1

goose noun
a person who lacks good sense or judgment <don't be such a silly goose—you're dressed just fine for the party> — see FOOL 1

goose egg noun
the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it <was such a bad bowler that his final score was a big, fat goose egg> — see ZERO 1

goose–step (to) verb
to act according to the commands of <the new president has everyone goose-stepping to her every whim lest they provoke her wrath> — see OBEY

goosey adjective
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <have been feeling goosey all morning, knowing that I have that driving test hanging over my head> — see NERVOUS 1

go out verb
1 to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure <there was concern that the dam would go out under the force of the flood waters> — see COLLAPSE 1
2 to take part in social activities <she enjoys going out on weekends, but during the week she's a homebody> — see SOCIALIZE

go out (with) verb
to go on a social engagement with <I'm going to go out with that foxy woman from work next Saturday night> — see DATE 1

go over verb
to turn out as planned or desired <his sales pitch went over as expected and he saw a 200% increase in his commissions> — see SUCCEED 1

gore verb
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, may sound like fun, but the bulls have been known to gore runners who get too close> — see IMPALE

gorge noun
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <walked the bridge over the gorge, marveling at the spectacular drop> — see CANYON

gorge verb
1 to fill with food to capacity <we gorged ourselves on the four pies Aunt Martha had brought for Thanksgiving>

Synonyms
cram, glut, sate, stuff, surfeit

Related Words
gobble, gormandize, pig out; gulp, guzzle; cloy, fill; banquet, feast, regale

Near Antonyms
diet, fast

2 to eat greedily or to excess <the kids began gorging on Halloween candy the minute they got back from trick-or-treating>

Synonyms
gormandize, overeat, pig out, swill

Related Words
devour, glut, sate, stuff, surfeit, wolf; banquet, feast, regale; bolt, cram, gulp, guzzle

Phrases
load up on

Near Antonyms
nibble, peck, pick, taste

3 to swallow or eat greedily <the ravenous dogs furiously gorged the scraps of meat> — see GOBBLE

gorgeous adjective
very pleasing to look at <sunsets in Hawaii are just gorgeous> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

gorgeousness noun
1 the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses <nothing compares to the gorgeousness of the first snow of the winter> — see BEAUTY 1
2 impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <taken aback by the indescribable gorgeousness of the Grand Canyon at sunset> — see MAGNIFICENCE

gorger noun
one who eats greedily or too much <a shark that is such a gorger it can't move after devouring a meal> — see GLUTTON

gorilla noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <the loan shark sent a couple of gorillas to “convince” him to pay up> — see HOODLUM

gormandize verb
1 to eat greedily or to excess <everybody tends to gormandize on Thanksgiving—it's traditional!> — see GORGE 2
2 to swallow or eat greedily <hungry soccer players who will gormandize whatever they happen to find in the fridge> — see GOBBLE

gormandizer noun
one who eats greedily or too much <an inconsiderate gormandizer who eats his hosts out of house and home> — see GLUTTON

gormless adjective, chiefly British
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <a comedy show that invariably portrays the British aristocracy as a bunch of gormless twits> — see STUPID 1

gormlessness noun, chiefly British
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <the backbencher professed himself horrified by the gormlessness and naïveté of the prime minister> — see STUPIDITY 1

gory adjective
smeared or stained with blood <doesn't watch too many movies that feature gory violence> — see BLOODY 1

gospel noun
the basic beliefs or guiding principles of a person or group <her private gospel is to do good cheerfully and without any expectation of reward> — see CREED 1

gospeler or gospeller noun
a person who actively supports or favors a cause <Horatio Alger is remembered as the great gospeler of the American success story> — see EXPONENT 1

gossamer adjective
1 being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance <fairies are usually depicted as wearing gossamer or tattered clothing> — see FLIMSY 1
2 resembling air in lightness <the gossamer veil seemed to float about the bride as she walked down the aisle> — see AIRY 1
3 very thin and easy to see through <didn't see the gossamer spider webs until the sun hit them just right> — see SHEER 1

gossamery adjective
1 being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance <that gossamery dress should be washed gently by hand so it doesn't disintegrate> — see FLIMSY 1
2 resembling air in lightness <a gossamery feather floating on the breeze> — see AIRY 1
3 very thin and easy to see through <use this gossamery cheesecloth to strain the liquid out of the cottage cheese> — see SHEER 1

gossip noun
1 a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others <because her friend was such a compulsive gossip, she couldn't help but wonder if her private life wasn't also being made the talk of the town>

Synonyms
circulator, gossiper, gossipmonger, newsmonger, quidnunc, talebearer, tale-teller, telltale, yenta

Related Words
betrayer, blabbermouth, informant, informer, snitcher, squealer, stool pigeon, tattler, tattletale; libeler, scandalmonger

2 friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <lingered at the water fountain for a little gossip> — see CHAT 1
3 information or opinion that is widely disseminated without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <idle gossip can really damage a person's reputation even if it is later proven to be false> — see RUMOR

gossip verb
to relate sometimes questionable or secret information of a personal nature <a neighbor who loves to gossip with others about that couple's loud arguments>

Synonyms
blab, dish, talk, tattle, wag

Related Words
bandy (about), circulate, noise (about or abroad), rumor; blabber, disclose, divulge, reveal, tell; hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, let on, suggest; inform, report, snitch, squeal, tip (off); babble, spill; confide

Phrases
spill the beans

Near Antonyms
clam up, shut up

gossiper noun
a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others <the exact nature of the relationship between the two coworkers was a topic that kept the office gossipers too busy to do any work> — see GOSSIP 1

gossipmonger noun
a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others <the upcoming nuptials between the sixtyish businessman and the twentysomething have sent the gossipmongers into overdrive> — see GOSSIP 1

gossipy adjective
having the style and content of everyday conversation <this book on the people who have occupied the White House is a little too gossipy to qualify as serious history> — see CHATTY 1

gotcha noun
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized <the gotcha in the low monthly rate quoted by the cable company is that it is a teaser and good for only six months> — see PITFALL 1

Götterdämmerung noun
a loss of status <a film that chronicles the chaotic Götterdämmerung of the Third Reich> — see COMEDOWN

gouge verb
to charge (someone) too much for goods or services <since I had forgotten the sunscreen, I was forced to buy it from the concession stand at the beach—where they gouged me for it> — see OVERCHARGE 1

gouging noun
the exaction of a grossly excessive charge for goods or services <a hotline that consumers may use to report gouging at gasoline stations> — see EXTORTION

gourmand noun
1 a person with refined tastes in food and wine <a finicky gourmand who vacationed in Europe every year simply for the wine> — see EPICURE
2 one who eats greedily or too much <the kind of gourmand who swallows food without even pausing to taste it> — see GLUTTON

gourmet noun
a person with refined tastes in food and wine <food critics have to be gourmets in order to write about food in an informed way> — see EPICURE

govern verb
1 to exercise authority or power over <the president is elected in order to govern the country, not to follow public opinion polls>

Synonyms
boss, captain, command, control, preside (over), rule, sway [archaic]

Related Words
conduct, direct, head, lead; administer, manage, micromanage, oversee, regulate, superintend, supervise; dictate, dominate, domineer, lord (it over), master, oppress, reign (over), tyrannize; conquer, subdue, subjugate

2 to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <you need to govern your speech and be able to communicate your outrage without resorting to profanity> — see CONTROL 1
3 to look after and make decisions about <the company's finances are governed by its chief financial officer> — see CONDUCT 1

governance noun
1 lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) <after World War II, the four Allied nations shared the governance of the territory of postwar Germany under the Allied Control Council> — see RULE 2
2 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <while a financial advisor can be helpful, the governance of your family finances ultimately rests with you> — see CONDUCT 1

government noun
1 lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) <government by the people, for the people> — see RULE 2
2 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <a board involved in the government of the distribution of benefits to veterans> — see CONDUCT 1

gown noun
1 a garment with a joined blouse and skirt usually worn by a woman or girl <a shopping trip for the express purpose of finding the perfect gown for the wedding> — see DRESS 1
2 a loose pullover garment worn in bed <answered the front door still dressed in the gown that she had been sleeping in> — see NIGHTGOWN

gown verb
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <a Renaissance portrait of a queen gowned in exotic silks and satins> — see CLOTHE 1

grab noun
an instance of theft <a political activist who thinks the government's lease of public lands to logging companies amounts to an illegal land grab> — see THEFT 2

grab verb
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <don't grab my arm like that> — see CATCH 1

grab bag noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the festival featured a grab bag of independent films from widely disparate genres> — see MISCELLANY 1

grabby adjective
1 having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions <very young children tend to be grabby and often refuse to share> — see GREEDY 1
2 likely to attract attention <a tabloid that invariably favors grabby headlines, even for underwhelming stories> — see NOTICEABLE

grace noun
1 an act of kind assistance <in Victor Hugo's novel, Les Misérables, Jean Valjean's decision to go to jail for the man mistaken for him is a grace that goes beyond thanks> — see FAVOR 1
2 dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style <a beautiful actress who was the epitome of grace during her too-brief career> — see ELEGANCE
3 a quality that gives something special worth <as if taste were not enough, red wine has the added grace of being healthy for the heart> — see EXCELLENCE 2

grace verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <I hope that you will grace our gathering with your presence> — see DECORATE

graceful adjective
1 moving easily <the graceful ballerina effortlessly leapt across the stage>

Synonyms
agile, featly, feline, gracile, light, light-footed (also light-foot), lightsome, lissome (also lissom), lithe, lithesome, nimble, spry

Related Words
acrobatic, flexible, limber, loose-jointed, pliable, pliant, supple; adroit, deft, dexterous (also dextrous), light-fingered; fleet-footed, sure-footed; athletic, balletic, coordinated

Near Antonyms
uncoordinated; inflexible, rigid, stiff; bungling, inept, maladroit

Antonyms
awkward, clumsy, gawky, graceless, klutzy, lumbering, ungainly, ungraceful

2 having or showing elegance <sat down in the old plantation home's very graceful parlor> — see ELEGANT 1

gracefulness noun
dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style <a home decorated with all of the gracefulness you'd expect of a fashion designer> <impressed by the gracefulness of the antebellum mansion> — see ELEGANCE

graceless adjective
1 lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands <a graceless person who was a butterfingered lout when it came to playing basketball> — see CLUMSY 1
2 lacking social grace and assurance <was a graceless preteen but evolved into a confident teenager> — see AWKWARD 1
3 not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <one guest made a graceless comment about the bride's bleached hair> — see INAPPROPRIATE
4 having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner <her graceless dancing was painful to watch> — see CLUMSY 2
5 showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations <indifferent to the nuances of constructive criticism, she sometimes says things which are hurtful or graceless> — see INDISCREET

gracile adjective
moving easily <gracile as any pair of classically trained dancers, the bride and groom made their way around the dance floor> — see GRACEFUL 1

gracious adjective
1 showing a natural kindness and courtesy especially in social situations <a gracious host who goes out of his way to make every guest feel welcome>

Synonyms
affable, cordial, genial, hospitable, sociable

Related Words
agreeable, amiable, benign, benignant, congenial, convivial, friendly, kind, kindly, neighborly; accommodating, obliging; considerate, courteous, polite, thoughtful; cosmopolitan, sophisticated, urbane; approachable, attentive, outgoing

Near Antonyms
boorish, churlish; abrupt, blunt, brusque (also brusk), curt, gruff, sharp, snippy; antisocial, disagreeable, discourteous, ill-mannered, impolite, rude, sullen, surly, uncivil, unfriendly, unkind, unmannerly; crabbed, crabby, cross, crusty, grumpy

Antonyms
inhospitable, ungenial, ungracious, unsociable

2 having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations <a gracious innkeeper whose jokes and laughter made weary travelers feel right at home> — see AMIABLE
3 showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners <he was a gracious man, habitually offering his seat on the bus to elderly women> — see POLITE 1

graciously adverb
with good reason or courtesy <flattered to be asked but unable to attend, she graciously turned down the wedding invitation> — see WELL 4

graciousness noun
1 speech or behavior that is a sign of good breeding <at this type of private school, young women would be taught upper-class graciousness> — see POLITENESS 1
2 the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others <his graciousness and wit kept his fellow diners entertained throughout the meal> — see AMIABILITY 1

gradational adjective
proceeding or changing by steps or degrees <gradational increases in altitude> — see GRADUAL

gradationally adverb
by small steps or amounts <by adding the white tint drop by drop, she gradationally changed the color from dark red to pink> — see GRADUALLY

grade noun
1 an individual part of a process, series, or ranking <just one grade removed from completion> — see DEGREE 1
2 degree of excellence <only motor oil of the highest grade for his fancy sports car> — see QUALITY 1
3 one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <there are various grades of wool to consider when selecting a fabric> — see CLASS 2
4 something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared <that painting just doesn't make the grade> — see STANDARD 1
5 the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon <the hill rises at a seven percent grade> — see SLANT

grade verb
1 to arrange or assign according to type <grade these apples “extra fancy” and those “fancy”> — see CLASSIFY 1
2 to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes <believe it or not, that music grades pretty high with young teens> — see RANK 1

graded adjective
running in a slanting direction <a graded creek bed, with the creek's center depth being about three feet> — see DIAGONAL

gradient noun
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon <the path goes up at a pretty steep gradient before leveling off> — see SLANT

gradual adjective
proceeding or changing by steps or degrees <a gradual drop in gas prices will take place over the next several months>

Synonyms
gradational, incremental, phased, piecemeal, step-by-step

Related Words
progressive, stepped, tapered; imperceptible, inching; decrescent, increscent

Near Antonyms
discontinuous, saltatory; acute, sharp; changeable, dynamic, meteoric, volatile

Antonyms
abrupt, sudden

gradually adverb
by small steps or amounts <gradually worked his way down the class roster> <add the sugar to the beaten egg whites gradually to make the meringue>

Synonyms
gradationally, inchmeal, little by little, piece by piece, piecemeal

Related Words
hierarchically; crescively, increasingly, progressively; fractionally, imperceptibly; slowly

Phrases
bit by bit, by degrees, inch by inch

Near Antonyms
acutely, sharply, steeply; hastily, precipitously

Antonyms
abruptly, suddenly

graduation noun
a scheme of rank or order <had a graduation of testing levels into which to divide the students> — see 3SCALE 1

grain noun
1 a very small piece <just give me a grain of information about what to expect on the program> — see BIT 1
2 one's characteristic attitude or mood <cheating, even on my income taxes, goes against my grain> — see DISPOSITION 1

grained adjective
made up of large particles <the sugar in some countries has a much more grained consistency than what we're used to in the U.S.> — see COARSE 1

grainy adjective
made up of large particles <grainy sand kept it off the rankings as one of the nation's best beaches> — see COARSE 1

grammar noun
general or basic truths on which other truths or theories can be based <student directors learning the grammar of filmmaking> — see PRINCIPLES 1

grand adjective
1 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <the grand ceremonies that typically mark the opening of the Olympic Games>

Synonyms
august, baronial, epic, gallant, glorious, grandiose, heroic (also heroical), Homeric, imperial, imposing, magnific, magnificent, majestic, massive, monumental, noble, proud, regal, royal, splendid, stately

Related Words
colossal, monstrous, prodigious, stupendous, tremendous; kingly, lordly, princely, queenly; awesome, awful, cosmic (also cosmical), sublime, wondrous; formidable, impressive, prepossessing, redoubtable; apocalyptic (also apocalyptical), inflated, operatic, overblown, pompous; marvelous (or marvellous), superb, terrific, wonderful; extravagant, lavish, luxurious, opulent, palatial, palatine, sumptuous; gorgeous, resplendent, splendiferous; extraordinary, killer, remarkable, sensational, striking; celestial, divine, heavenly

Near Antonyms
lowly, modest, unprepossessing; average, common, mediocre, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, second-rate; abject, mean, meretricious, shabby, sordid; insignificant, measly, paltry, petty, puny, trifling, trivial

Antonyms
humble, unheroic, unimposing, unimpressive

2 coming before all others in importance <won the grand prize> — see FOREMOST 1
3 not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it <the grand total comes to $350> — see COMPLETE 1
4 of a size greater than average of its kind <in the grand ring of the three-ring circus stood the lion tamer himself> — see LARGE 1
5 of high birth, rank, or station <everyone wanted to be seen with Palm Beach society's grand dame> — see NOBLE 1
6 of the very best kind <that picnic in the mountains was simply grand> — see EXCELLENT
7 unusually large <before them lay a grand treeless plain that stretched as far as the eye could see> — see HUGE

granddaddy also grandaddy noun
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed <the granddaddy of all English mystery novels> — see ANCESTOR 2

grande dame noun
a dignified usually elderly woman of some rank or authority <the city's grandes dames still hold considerable sway in its cultural life> — see MATRIARCH

grandee noun
a man of high birth or social position <only a Spanish grandee—and no one of lesser rank—can address comments to the king and queen of Spain> — see GENTLEMAN 1

grandeur noun
impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <struck by the grandeur of the sun setting over the Golden Gate Bridge> — see MAGNIFICENCE

grandfather noun
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent <this tradition has been passed down from our pioneer grandfathers> — see ANCESTOR 1

grand finale noun
the last part of a process or action <the award for best picture is traditionally the evening's grand finale> — see FINALE

grandiloquence noun
1 boastful speech or writing <a heavyweight champion who was famous for his entertaining grandiloquence prior to every match> — see BOMBAST 1
2 language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere <the predictably wearisome grandiloquence of the speeches at a political convention> — see RHETORIC 1

grandiloquent adjective
1 full of fine words and fancy expressions <poets in the 19th century tended to write poetry filled with grandiloquent phrases> — see FLOWERY 1
2 marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases <at Independence Day celebrations grandiloquent speeches by local politicians are as traditional as fireworks> — see RHETORICAL 1

grandiose adjective
1 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <a grandiose plan to upgrade the entire interstate highway system in 10 years> — see GRAND 1
2 self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance <made some grandiose claim that she was the descendant of a French princess> — see PRETENTIOUS 1

grandiosity noun
the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case <I'd rather be thought of as a person with simple integrity, not a person given to grandiosity and exaggeration> — see PRETENSE 1

grandly adverb
1 in a luxurious manner <we were staying at the Plaza Hotel in New York and living rather grandly> — see HIGH
2 in a manner befitting a person of the highest character and ideals <had grandly offered to pay the entire cost of the Christmas party at the children's hospital> — see GREATLY 1

grandness noun
1 impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <wanted to see the Alps in all of their wintertime grandness> — see MAGNIFICENCE
2 the quality or state of being large in size <were impressed with the grandness of the movie set> — see LARGENESS

grange noun
a piece of land and its buildings used to grow crops or raise livestock <asked the community's farmers to meet at the Howard family grange to help raise a new barn> — see FARM

granite noun
firm or unwavering adherence to one's purpose <had the granite to see the project out to the end> — see DETERMINATION 1

grant noun
a sum of money allotted for a specific use by official or formal action <applied for a federal grant to restore the church, one of the oldest and most architecturally significant in the state> — see APPROPRIATION 1

grant verb
1 to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly <you will grant that she is difficult to work with> — see ADMIT 1
2 to give the ownership or benefit of (something) formally or publicly <by the power vested in me, I grant you the keys to the city> — see CONFER 1

granting noun
the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something <your granting of an interview for this job opening will be much appreciated> — see PERMISSION

granular adjective
made up of large particles <icy, granular snow makes for terrible skiing—if you can, ski on light, powdery snow> — see COARSE 1

granulated adjective
made up of large particles <don't use powdered sugar in that recipe, use granulated sugar> — see COARSE 1

granule noun
a very small piece <is there one granule of truth in that statement?> — see BIT 1

graphic noun
something that visually explains or decorates a text <the use of graphics in the text of the dictionary helps to break up the visual monotony of the page> — see ILLUSTRATION 1

graphic also graphical adjective
1 producing a mental picture through clear and impressive description <the report offered many graphic details about the devastating earthquake that rocked the area>

Synonyms
delineated, pictorial, picturesque, visual, vivid

Related Words
depicted, descriptive, expressive; concrete, explicit, specific; faithful, lifelike, natural, photographic, realistic; fresh, incisive, sharp

Near Antonyms
indeterminate, nebulous, obscure, sketchy, unclear, vague; bleary, blurry, dark, dim, faint, foggy, fuzzy, hazy, indefinite, indistinct, indistinguishable, muddy, murky, shadowlike, shadowy; ambiguous, cryptic, dark, enigmatic (also enigmatical), equivocal, inscrutable, mysterious

2 consisting of or relating to pictures <got a degree in graphic design> — see PICTORIAL 1

grapple noun
1 the act or manner of holding <was simply unable to break my opponent's viselike grapple and lost the wrestling match> — see HOLD 1
2 an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <after a grapple with his conscience, he confessed to having an affair> — see CONTEST 1

grapple verb
1 to seize and attempt to unbalance one another for the purpose of achieving physical mastery <two sumo wrestlers grappling like a pair of mammoth bears> — see WRESTLE
2 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <a crane grappled the sunken boat and hoisted it above water> — see CATCH 1

grapple (with) verb
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <a medical ethicist who grapples with extremely difficult questions all the time> — see HANDLE 1

grasp noun
1 the ability to direct the course of something <for a time it looked like most of Europe would be within Hitler's grasp> — see CONTROL 2
2 the act or manner of holding <during the roller coaster ride, my date clutched my arm with a deathlike grasp> — see HOLD 1
3 the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something <I think I finally have a grasp of Spanish grammar> — see COMPREHENSION

grasp verb
1 to have a practical understanding of <he just doesn't grasp how important it is that he call when he'll be late> — see KNOW 1
2 to put one's arms around and press tightly <the departing soldier grasped his children a little closer than usual> — see EMBRACE 1
3 to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms <the attendant grasped my arm and steered me towards the door> — see TAKE 1
4 to have a clear idea of <the emergency operator finally grasped what he was trying to tell her> — see COMPREHEND 1

graspable adjective
capable of being understood <the immensity of the world is not graspable to a child of that age, so the notion of a globe-trotting Santa Claus is plausible> — see INTELLIGIBLE

grasping adjective
having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions <a grasping person who would rather buy a car he didn't need than give a dime to charity> — see GREEDY 1

graspingness noun
an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions <that period of the 19th century when the graspingness of the robber barons knew no bounds is often called the Gilded Age> — see GREED

grass (on) verb, British slang
to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities <that bloke would grass on his own mater to save himself> — see SQUEAL 1

grassland noun
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country <stunning pictures of the giraffes and zebras roaming the grasslands of Africa> — see PLAIN 1

grate verb
1 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <unintentionally or not, you say rude things that grate people> — see IRRITATE 1
2 to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface <the sled grated along the bare pavement> — see SCRAPE 1
3 to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound <he grated the pieces of metal together> — see GRIND 2

G–rated adjective
free from any trace of the coarse or indecent <the comic's G-rated routine is something that the whole family can enjoy> — see CHASTE 1

grateful adjective
1 feeling or expressing gratitude <she was grateful for her neighbor's help after she broke her foot>

Synonyms
appreciative, appreciatory, glad, obliged, thankful

Related Words
beholden, indebted; contented, delighted, gratified, pleased, satisfied, tickled; thanking

Near Antonyms
inhospitable, rude, thoughtless, ungracious

Antonyms
inappreciative, thankless, unappreciative, ungrateful

2 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <I'm glad for the grateful warmth of the fire on such a cold day> — see PLEASANT 1

gratefulness noun
acknowledgment of having received something good from another <a note expressing her sincere gratefulness for our help> — see THANKS

gratification noun
the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met <eating good chocolate gives me a sense of intense gratification> — see PLEASURE 1

gratified adjective
1 experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight <I am deeply gratified that you'll be able to come to the wedding> — see GLAD 1
2 feeling that one's needs or desires have been met <a good meal eaten in excellent company is enough to keep me gratified for some time> — see CONTENT

gratify verb
1 to give in to (a desire) <just gratify this one whim of mine> — see INDULGE 1
2 to give satisfaction to <your presence at the holiday table would really gratify your grandmother> — see PLEASE 1

gratifying adjective
1 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <a spectacular film that is gratifying to both the mind and the eyes> — see PLEASANT 1
2 making one feel good inside <your warm welcome sure is gratifying to this tired soul> — see HEARTWARMING

gratifyingly adverb
in a pleasing way <the popular television series' gratifyingly conclusive finale> — see WELL 5

grating adjective
1 disagreeable to one's aesthetic or artistic sense <the mix of colors in that painting is terribly grating> — see HARSH 2
2 harsh and dry in sound <with a grating voice, she croaked a feeble “hello”> — see HOARSE

gratis adjective
not costing or charging anything <if you sign up today, you get a 13-inch TV gratis> — see FREE 4

gratitude noun
acknowledgment of having received something good from another <accept these flowers as a token of my gratitude> — see THANKS

gratuitous adjective
1 not costing or charging anything <they will throw in a gratuitous box of chocolates when you spend $30 or more in their shop> — see FREE 4
2 not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end <that violent scene was completely gratuitous and didn't need to be in the movie at all> — see UNNECESSARY

gratuity noun
1 a small sum of money given for a service over and above what is due <for parties of eight or more, we automatically add a 15% gratuity onto the bill> — see 2TIP 1
2 something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed <got a $100 gratuity in addition to his regular pay> — see BONUS

grave adjective
1 having a matter of importance as its topic <leaving gossip and celebrities to other magazines, this journal focuses on the grave issues confronting the nation> — see SERIOUS 2
2 involving potential loss or injury <going over Niagara Falls poses a grave danger> — see DANGEROUS 1
3 not joking or playful in mood or manner <when I asked him how his dog was doing, he looked grave and said, “Not good”> — see SERIOUS 1
4 having a low musical pitch or range <a grave hexachord> — see DEEP 2

grave verb
to cut (as letters or designs) on a hard surface <the doomed climber graved his initials into the rock face> — see ENGRAVE 1

grave noun
1 a final resting place for a dead person <the forlorn boy put flowers on his mother's grave>

Synonyms
burial, sepulchre (or sepulcher), sepulture, tomb

Related Words
catacomb, charnel (also charnel house), columbarium, crypt, mausoleum, vault; cemetery, churchyard, graveyard, potter's field; barrow, mound, tumulus

2 the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <a rock star who found his early grave in a plane crash> — see DEATH 1
3 the state of being dead <a terrible fear of the grave> — see DEATH 2

gravel adjective
harsh and dry in sound <after his bout with laryngitis, he had a terribly gravel voice> — see HOARSE

gravel verb
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <managed to gravel his opponent in the debate by focusing on atypical examples> — see CONFUSE 1

gravelly adjective
harsh and dry in sound <his singing voice is a little gravelly, but otherwise he's a fine musician> — see HOARSE

graveness noun
a mental state free of jesting or trifling <the doctor's unexpected graveness warned us that the news was bad> — see EARNESTNESS

gravestone noun
a shaped stone laid over or erected near a grave and usually bearing an inscription to identify and preserve the memory of the deceased <we love to tour old cemeteries and read the hauntingly poetic inscriptions on the gravestones> — see TOMBSTONE

graveyard noun
a piece of land used for burying the dead <reflecting the Quaker avoidance of personal vanity, the graveyard is not marked by so much as a single headstone> — see CEMETERY

gravid adjective
containing unborn young within the body <the patient is a gravid woman in her seventh month> — see PREGNANT 1

gravidity noun
the state of containing unborn young within the body <a study examining the effects of gravidity on women's athletic performance> — see PREGNANCY

gravity noun
a mental state free of jesting or trifling <the hospital waiting room was filled with the kind of gravity that inevitably accompanies worry> — see EARNESTNESS

gravy noun
1 a savory fluid food used as a topping or accompaniment to a main dish <order a large serving of fries with extra gravy> — see SAUCE 1
2 something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed <you only pay for three CDs; the fourth one they give you is just gravy> — see BONUS

gravy train noun
something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed <the new tax law offers a real gravy train to certain categories of investors> — see BONUS

gray also grey adjective
1 of the color gray <the gray elephant and the gaudily dressed circus performer created a striking contrast>

Synonyms
argentine, grayish, leaden, pewter, silver, silvery, slate, slaty (also slatey), steely

Related Words
achromatic, colorless, neutral; dirty, dull, faded, sad, washed-out; ashen, ashy, chalky, livid, mousy (or mousey), pale, palish, white, whitish; chocolate, dun, sandy, sepia; brindled (or brindle), grizzled, hoar, hoary

Near Antonyms
ablaze, bright, deep, gay, rich; chromatic, colored; colorful, motley, multicolored, polychromatic, polychrome, varicolored, variegated

2 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <a gray rainy day> — see GLOOMY 1

grayish adjective
of the color gray <the black stallion and white mare produced a grayish filly> — see GRAY 1

gray matter noun
the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems <she's got the gray matter to figure that equation out> — see INTELLIGENCE 1

1graze verb
to feed on grass or herbs <cows grazing in the meadow>

Synonyms
browse, forage, pasture, rustle

Related Words
eat, feed, nibble; range, stock; overgraze

2graze verb
1 to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface <I grazed my elbow diving for the ball> — see SCRAPE 2
2 to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing <the volleyball just grazed my face, so I'm okay> — see 2BRUSH

graze noun
an area of skin roughened or worn away by harsh rubbing against another surface <a stumble that resulted in nothing more serious than a graze on the knee> — see ABRASION

grease verb
1 to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction <make sure you grease the pan before you put the batter in> — see LUBRICATE
2 to free from obstruction or difficulty <your help might grease the complicated adoption proceedings> — see EASE 1

greased adjective
having or being a surface so smooth as to greatly reduce traction <the floor was greased with condensation, and so we slid everywhere we went> — see SLICK 1

greasy adjective
having or being a surface so smooth as to greatly reduce traction <that wet tarmac road is greasy enough to send the car into a skid> — see SLICK 1

great adjective
1 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <one of the great anthropologists> — see PROFICIENT
2 having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature <a great humanitarian> <great acts of charity> — see NOBLE 2
3 lasting for a considerable time <haven't seen them in a great while> — see LONG 2
4 of a size greater than average of its kind <saw a great moose calmly walking through our backyard> — see LARGE 1
5 of the very best kind <this cake is great!> — see EXCELLENT
6 showing urgent desire or interest <she's great on any type of sport that requires endurance> — see EAGER
7 coming before all others in importance <regards global warming as the great issue of the day> — see FOREMOST 1
8 of high birth, rank, or station <a descendant of one of the great families of Philadelphia> — see NOBLE 1

great adverb
in a pleasing way <the game was going great for the home team> — see WELL 5

greatcoat noun
a warm outdoor coat <the men donned their greatcoats for the ride in the open carriage> — see OVERCOAT

great divide noun
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <many religions claim to know what happens after we cross the great divide> — see DEATH 1

greatest adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <the greatest achievement in the history of cinema> — see FOREMOST 1
2 of the highest degree <I have the greatest respect for the selfless medical missionaries working around the world> — see FULL 2

greathearted adjective
1 feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <those greathearted but otherwise ordinary individuals who answered their country's call for military service> — see BRAVE 1
2 having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature <a greathearted program to provide basic necessities to millions of children in war-torn countries> — see NOBLE 2

greatheartedly adverb
in a manner befitting a person of the highest character and ideals <greatheartedly refusing to profit from his pharmacological discoveries, he never applied for any patents> — see GREATLY 1

greatheartedness noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <it took a special kind greatheartedness for the conscientious objector to remain true to his beliefs> — see COURAGE

greatly adverb
1 in a manner befitting a person of the highest character and ideals <as commander of the Union army's first black regiment, Robert Gould Shaw died as greatly as he had lived>

Synonyms
gallantly, grandly, greatheartedly, heroically, high-mindedly, honorably, magnanimously, nobly

Related Words
loftily, venerably; magnificently, majestically; bravely, chivalrously, courageously, valiantly

Near Antonyms
abominably, contemptibly, despicably, detestably, hatefully, nastily, pitiably, sorrily, wretchedly; degenerately

Antonyms
basely, currishly, dishonorably, ignobly

2 to a large extent or degree <authorities have greatly increased the scope of their investigation of corruption in the mayor's office>

Synonyms
astronomically, big-time, broadly, colossally, considerably, enormously, extensively, highly, hugely, largely, massively, monstrously, monumentally, much, sizably, staggeringly, stupendously, tremendously, utterly, vastly

Related Words
appreciably, noticeably, significantly; abundantly, amply, copiously, healthily, plentifully

Phrases
a lot, by half, no end

Near Antonyms
modestly; fractionally; imperceptibly, infinitesimally, insignificantly, invisibly, microscopically, minutely; barely, hardly, just, minimally, scarcely

Antonyms
little, negligibly, nominally, slightly

3 to a great degree <I'm not greatly bothered by this setback> — see VERY 1

greatness noun
1 exceptionally high quality <a poet whose work is of enduring greatness> — see EXCELLENCE 1
2 the quality or state of being large in size <the overwhelming greatness of the canyon is what visitors first notice> — see LARGENESS

greed noun
an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions <don't let greed for riches control you>

Synonyms
acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, avidness, covetousness, cupidity, graspingness, greediness, mercenariness, rapaciousness, rapacity

Related Words
commercialism, materialism, possessiveness; gluttonousness, gluttony, piggishness; appetite, craving, desire, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, longing, lust, passion, pining, ravenousness, thirst, voracity, yearning, yen; egoism, egotism, self-centeredness, self-interest, selfishness, self-regard

Near Antonyms
contentment, fulfillment (or fulfilment), gratification, satisfaction; bounteousness, bountifulness, bounty, charity, generosity, generousness, largesse (also largess), liberality, magnanimity, openhandedness, openheartedness, unselfishness; altruism, selflessness

greediness noun
an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions <her all-consuming greediness blinded her to the pain she caused others in her drive to get rich> — see GREED

greedy adjective
1 having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions <a young rocker who was greedy for fame and riches> <the greedy exploitation of the land by developers>

Synonyms
acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, grabby, grasping, mercenary, moneygrubbing, rapacious

Related Words
commercialistic, materialistic, philistine; desirous, eager, itchy, lickerish, miserly; hoggish, piggish, piggy, swinish; devouring, gluttonous, gobbling, insatiable, ravenous, unquenchable, voracious; egocentric, egoistic (also egoistical), egotistic (or egotistical), self-centered, self-seeking; discontent, discontented, malcontent, unsatisfied; begrudging, grudging, resentful

Near Antonyms
nonmaterialistic; altruistic, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, greathearted, handsome, liberal, magnanimous, munificent, openhanded, openhearted, selfless, unselfish, unsparing; controlled, moderate, restrained, temperate; content, sated, satisfied

2 having a huge appetite <he's so greedy you have to carefully watch your plate during dinner, lest he snatch food off it> — see VORACIOUS 1
3 showing urgent desire or interest <he's greedy for new assignments that will really challenge him> — see EAGER

green adjective
1 covered with a thick, healthy natural growth <fields green with meadow grass> — see LUSH 1
2 lacking in adult experience or maturity <a new pitcher who's pretty green, even by rookie standards> — see CALLOW
3 lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <in spite of her age, she's still green enough to be hoodwinked by fast-talking scammers> — see NAIVE 1
4 lacking the warm skin color indicative of or associated with good health <after going on the fastest roller coaster in the world, we were all looking a little green> — see SICKLY 2

green noun
1 green leaves or plants <the lonely soldier dreamt of the fields of green that he had wandered in as a youth> — see GREENERY
2 something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <I need to save up some green before I can afford that cruise> — see MONEY 1

greenback noun
a piece of printed paper used as money in the United States <she threw a few greenbacks on the counter to pay for the drinks> — see 1BILL 2

greenery noun
green leaves or plants <Scottish highlands covered with lush greenery>

Synonyms
flora, foliage, green, herbage, leafage, vegetation, verdure

Related Words
grassland, prairie; underbrush, undergrowth

green–eyed adjective
having or showing mean resentment of another's possessions or advantages <an anonymous online review of the restaurant that looks like it may have been written by a green-eyed competitor> — see ENVIOUS

green–eyed monster noun
a painful awareness of another's possessions or advantages and a desire to have them too <the green-eyed monster dogged her whenever she visited her wealthy sister> — see ENVY

greenhorn noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <go easy on him—he's just a greenhorn and doesn't have all the experience you do> — see BEGINNER

greenhouse noun
a glass-enclosed building for growing plants <needed to move the plants into the greenhouse before the first frost killed them> — see CONSERVATORY

green–light verb
to give permission for or to approve of <as soon as the project is green-lighted, we'll schedule a planning meeting> — see ALLOW 1

green light noun
the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something <we were given the green light to use the town commons for our fund-raiser> — see PERMISSION

greenness noun
the quality or state of being simple and sincere <was charmed by her genteel greenness and childlike innocence> — see NAïVETÉ 1

greeting noun
1 an expression of goodwill upon meeting <the volunteer directed the conference participants towards the coffee after offering them a cheerful greeting> — see HELLO
2 greetings plural best wishes <when you see him, give him my sincerest greetings> — see COMPLIMENT 2

gregarious adjective
1 likely to seek or enjoy the company of others <a gregarious child who ran up to every person on the playground and wanted to be their friend> — see CONVIVIAL
2 tending to group with others of the same kind <walruses are highly gregarious> — see COLONIAL

gregariousness noun
the quality or state of being social <his natural gregariousness serves him well as a salesman> — see SOCIABILITY

gremlin noun
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <during the World Wars, fighter pilots adopted the fanciful notion that gremlins were responsible for mechanical failures on their planes> — see FAIRY

griddle cake noun
a flat cake made from thin batter and cooked on both sides (as on a griddle) <buckwheat griddle cakes served with strawberry butter> — see PANCAKE

gridlock noun
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in <with the White House controlled by one party and Congress by the other, the nation experienced four years of legislative gridlock> — see IMPASSE 1

grief noun
1 deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved <even the gruff grandfather felt a heartbreaking grief when the family dog died> — see SORROW
2 the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts <there seemed to be no end to the grief that the school bullies were giving to the young boy> — see ANNOYANCE 2

grievance noun
1 a lingering ill will towards a person for a real or imagined wrong <this is no place to air your grievances against him> — see GRUDGE 1
2 an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <she decided to file a formal grievance against the utility company> — see COMPLAINT 1

grieve verb
to feel deep sadness or mental pain <we all grieved over the lost cat>

Synonyms
agonize, anguish, bleed, hurt, mourn, sorrow, suffer

Related Words
ache, long (for), pine (away), sigh, smart; rack, torment, torture; bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament, rue; bawl, blubber, cry, groan, howl, keen, moan, sob, take on, wail, weep, yammer, yowl; languish; regret

Phrases
eat one's heart out, tear one's hair

Near Antonyms
beam, cheer, crow, delight, exult, glory, joy, laugh, ravish, rejoice, triumph; assure, cheer, comfort, commiserate, console, reassure, solace, soothe, sympathize

grieve (for) verb
to feel or express sorrow for <I grieve for our loss> — see LAMENT 1

grieving adjective
expressing or suggesting mourning <the grieving sobs of the widow could be heard throughout the funeral service> — see MOURNFUL 1

grievous adjective
1 difficult to endure <the months of chemotherapy seemed almost as grievous an affliction as the cancer itself> — see HARSH 1
2 hard to accept or bear especially emotionally <the death of a spouse can be a grievous loss from which one never recovers> — see BITTER 2
3 involving potential loss or injury <a grievous wound that requires a doctor's immediate attention> — see DANGEROUS 1
4 of a kind to cause great distress <the grievous cost of the war in human lives weighed heavily on the president's mind> — see REGRETTABLE

grievously adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <I was grievously disappointed not to be invited to the wedding> — see HARD 2

grill noun
a public establishment where meals are served to paying customers for consumption on the premises <headed down to the local bar and grill for a beer and a burger> — see RESTAURANT

grill verb
1 to put a series of questions to <police grilled the suspect, but had to release him when it became clear he didn't have the information they were looking for> — see EXAMINE 1
2 to put a question or questions to <grilled the children about her ex-husband's new girlfriend> — see ASK 1

grim adjective
1 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <a grim and desolate landscape> <a grim and short-tempered shopkeeper who didn't exactly invite friendly conversation>

Synonyms
austere, dour, fierce, flinty, forbidding, gruff, intimidating, lowering (also louring), rough, rugged, severe, stark, steely, stern, ungentle

Related Words
bleak, cold, hostile, inhospitable, inimical, unfriendly, unsympathetic; adamant, bound, determined, firm, intent, purposeful, resolute, resolved, steadfast, unflinching; fixed, hard, hardened, hardheaded, immovable, implacable, inflexible, ironhanded, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, rigid, self-willed, set, stiff, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful (or wilful); immutable, unchangeable; black, cheerless, dark, gloomy, glum, joyless, melancholic, moody, morose, sulky, sullen, surly; brooding, grave, humorless, melancholy, serious, sober, sobersided, solemn, somber (or sombre), staid, unsmiling, weighty

Near Antonyms
bland, meek, mellow, soft, soothing; easy, quiet, tranquil; agreeable, bright, cheerful, inviting, pleasant, pleasing, sweet; glad, happy, lighthearted, merry, mirthful, sunny; featherbrained, flighty, frivolous, giddy, goofy, harebrained, light-headed, playful, scatterbrained, silly

Antonyms
benign, benignant, gentle, mild, nonintimidating, tender

2 difficult to endure <this winter is supposed to be particularly grim, so stock up on firewood> — see HARSH 1
3 showing no signs of slackening or yielding in one's purpose <with grim determination, the woman worked three jobs to put her fatherless children through college> — see UNYIELDING 1
4 violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition <grim warriors heading into battle> — see FIERCE 1

grimace verb
to distort one's face <playgoers grimaced at the actor's terrible attempt at a French accent> — see MUG 1

grimace noun
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval <he made a grimace when he tasted the medicine>

Synonyms
face, frown, lower (also lour), moue, mouth, mow, mug, pout, scowl, snoot

Related Words
flinch, squinch, wince; growl, snarl; rictus, simper, smirk; scoff, sneer; glare, glower, look, stare

Near Antonyms
grin, laugh, smile

grime noun
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something <this new product really cuts through grime> — see FILTH 1

grime verb
to make dirty <countless hours of work were needed to clean the floors of the old warehouse that had been grimed from a century of use> — see DIRTY

griminess noun
the state or quality of being dirty <disgusted by the griminess in which the previous tenant had left the appliances> — see DIRTINESS 1

grimy adjective
not clean <this mirror is so grimy you can barely see your reflection in it> — see DIRTY 1

grin verb
to express an emotion (as amusement) by curving the lips upward <grinned at the kids' fooling around in the pool> — see SMILE 1

grinch noun
a person who spoils the pleasure of others <accused the mayor of being a grinch after he cancelled the city's annual holiday parade for budgetary reasons> — see KILLJOY

grind noun
1 a harsh grating sound <the grind of ice in the blender sent the cat running from the room> — see RASP
2 a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits <don't be such a grind—go out with your friends and enjoy yourself> — see NERD 1
3 very hard or unpleasant work <yard work is a real grind> — see 1TOIL
4 an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity <the daily grind of a 50-mile commute was getting old> — see ROUTINE 1

grind verb
1 to make smooth by friction <after they are ground and polished, these stones can be used for jewelry>

Synonyms
buff, file, hone, rasp, rub, sand

Related Words
plane, scrape; sandblast, scour; burnish, dress, gloss, polish, shine, smooth; edge, hone, sharpen, strop, whet; regrind

Near Antonyms
coarsen, rough (up), roughen, scuff

2 to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound <everyone in the car winced when the driver ground the gears trying to shift into second>

Synonyms
crunch, gnash, grate, grit, scrape, scrunch

Related Words
creak, groan, moan, rasp, scratch, whine; clash, collide, jangle, jar

3 to make sharp or sharper <better grind down that ax before you even think about trying to cut down that tree> — see SHARPEN
4 to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure <used the finest polishing paper he could to grind down the facets of the diamond before dusting it with a soft cloth> — see POLISH 1
5 to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface <ground the rock against the stone wall> — see SCRAPE 1
6 to reduce to fine particles <grind whole coffee beans if you want the freshest coffee> — see POWDER

grind (down) verb
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress <the workers are being ground down by the long work hours which leave them little time for anything else> — see OVERWHELM 1

grind (out) verb
to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort <after several years of aborted attempts, the band finally ground out a new album> — see HAMMER OUT

grinder noun
a large sandwich on a long split roll <ordered a meatball grinder from the beach's concession stand> — see SUBMARINE

grip noun
1 a bag carried by hand and designed to hold a traveler's clothing and personal articles <she placed her grip in the train's overhead rack and seated herself comfortably> — see TRAVELING BAG
2 the act or manner of holding <get a better grip on the lid and try to open the jar again> — see HOLD 1
3 the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something <he has a good grip on basic Spanish grammar and spelling> — see COMPREHENSION
4 the right or means to command or control others <a tyrant that keeps the masses tightly in his grip> — see POWER 1
5 a part by which an implement is held <bought new pots with heat-resistant grips> — see HANDLE 1

grip verb
1 to have or keep in one's hands <gripped the handlebars tightly and raced down the hill> — see HOLD 1
2 to hold the attention of as if by a spell <that true crime story gripped me as much as any whodunit> — see ENTHRALL 1
3 to hold the attention of <that movie will grip any true sports car fan> — see ENGAGE 1
4 to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms <the baby gripped my fingers and wouldn't let go> — see TAKE 1

gripe noun
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <I would rather not listen to gripes about your latest disasters in the dating game> — see COMPLAINT 1

gripe verb
1 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <constant complaints from the customers griped her to the point where she started snapping back> — see IRRITATE 1
2 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <her tendency to gripe constantly drove everyone away> — see COMPLAIN

griper noun
1 a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things <a petty griper who drove us nuts with his merciless nitpicking> — see CRYBABY
2 an irritable and complaining person <driving across the country in four days would make anyone a confirmed griper> — see GROUCH 1

gripping adjective
holding the attention or provoking interest <I found the exhibit on the Holocaust intensely gripping and quite moving> — see INTERESTING

grisliness noun
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay <the grisliness of the crime scene was too much for the jury> — see HORROR 1

grisly adjective
extremely disturbing or repellent <recounted the visit to the murder scene in grisly detail> — see HORRIBLE 1

grit noun
the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship <she was an athlete with true grit, continuing her training despite bad weather and an injury> — see FORTITUDE

grit verb
to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound <the crash victim gritted his teeth as a way of coping with the pain> — see GRIND 2

grittiness noun
the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship <the movie somewhat exaggerates the frontier grittiness of the explorers, but the basic facts are correct> — see FORTITUDE

grizzle verb
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <the kind of person who wouldn't be happy if she didn't have something to grizzle about> — see COMPLAIN

groan noun
1 a crying out in grief <when the underdogs lost the playoffs, the groans of millions of disappointed fans were heard throughout the land> — see LAMENT 1
2 a long low sound indicating pain or grief <let out a groan when he tried to stand on the sprained ankle> — see MOAN 1

groan verb
to utter a moan <heard someone groaning in pain> — see MOAN 1

groaner noun
an idea or expression that has been used by many people <the play's dialogue featured all of the groaners that seem to be de rigueur for any dysfunctional-family drama> — see COMMONPLACE

grog noun
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <sailors clamoring for more grog> — see ALCOHOL

grogshop noun, chiefly British
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises <last saw them heading down to the local grogshop for a pint of beer> — see BARROOM

grok verb
to have a clear idea of <the eternal struggle of the human race to grok its place in the grand scheme of the universe> — see COMPREHEND 1

groom verb
to make ready in advance <the hotel's penthouse suite is being groomed for a royal visit> — see PREPARE 1

groomed adjective
being clean and in good order <the front office is always carefully groomed in order to give customers a good first impression> — see NEAT 1

groove noun
1 an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity <I can't get into the groove on Monday morning without a cup of coffee> — see ROUTINE 1
2 a situation or activity for which a person or thing is best suited <after years of bouncing from job to job, she discovered that her natural groove was social work> — see NICHE 2

groove verb
1 to mark with or as if with a line or groove <if you groove that piece of wood, we should be able to fit this smaller board into it> — see SCORE 1
2 to form a pleasing relationship <surprisingly, his flighty, artistic sensibility and her no-nonsense practicality groove together rather well> — see HARMONIZE 1

groove (on) verb
to take pleasure in <thrill-seekers who groove on skiing will love snowboarding> — see ENJOY 1

groovy adjective
1 of the very best kind <a great movie with groovy special effects> — see EXCELLENT
2 keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment <old college buddies fondly recalling the days when bell-bottom jeans were about the grooviest thing around> — see AU COURANT 1

grope verb
to search for something blindly or uncertainly <she nervously groped for her car keys> <groping for the right answer>

Synonyms
feel, fish, fumble, scrabble

Related Words
grabble; cast about, hunt, look, reach, seek (out); capture, clutch, corral, get, grab, nab, nail, seize, snatch; comb, dig (through), dredge, rake, ransack, rifle, rummage, scour

gross adjective
1 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <he was thrown out of class for making a gross gesture> — see OBSCENE 1
2 having an excess of body fat <a very gross man trying to squeeze into a seat in the plane's coach section> — see FAT 1
3 lacking in refinement or good taste <refused to mix with what she called “the gross masses who are unappreciative of fine art”> — see COARSE 2
4 very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad <a gross mistake that some proofreader should have caught> — see EGREGIOUS
5 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <the little boy insisted that worms are gross> — see OFFENSIVE 1

grossness noun
1 the condition of having an excess of body fat <that level of grossness is more than simply unsightly—it's seriously unhealthy> — see CORPULENCE
2 the quality or state of being obscene <a movie of such indisputable grossness that people who thought that they had seen everything were proven wrong> — see OBSCENITY 1
3 the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste <the grossness of his table manners disgusted the other wedding guests> — see VULGARITY 1

gross out verb
to cause to feel disgust <that dead frog in our driveway grosses me out> — see DISGUST

grot noun
a naturally formed underground chamber with an opening to the surface <the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in a long-forgotten grot by a shepherd boy> — see CAVE

grotesque adjective
1 disagreeable to one's aesthetic or artistic sense <the gaudy, overdecorated interior of the gambling casino was just too grotesque for my taste> — see HARSH 2
2 unpleasant to look at <that bloody Halloween mask is grotesque> — see UGLY 1

grotesque noun
a strange or horrible and often frightening creature <a gallery of grotesques from some sicko horror movie> — see MONSTER 1

grotesquerie also grotesquery noun
a strange or horrible and often frightening creature <born Joseph Merrick, the so-called Elephant Man was for a time exhibited as a sideshow grotesquerie> — see MONSTER 1

grotto noun
a naturally formed underground chamber with an opening to the surface <at the heart of the shrine is a small rocky grotto into which pilgrims can descend> — see CAVE

grotty adjective, chiefly British
not clean <get rid of that grotty old rag> — see DIRTY 1

grouch noun
1 an irritable and complaining person <an uncle who is a real grouch when he's sick>

Synonyms
bear, bellyacher, complainer, crab, crank, croaker, crosspatch, curmudgeon, fusser, griper, grouser, growler, grumbler, grump, murmurer, mutterer, sourpuss, whiner

Related Words
hunks; malcontent, sorehead; grinch, killjoy, party pooper, spoilsport; defeatist, pessimist; faultfinder, kicker, nagger, nitpicker, objector, quibbler, repiner; crock [slang], hypochondriac

Near Antonyms
optimist, Pollyanna; happy camper

2 a state of resentful silence or irritability <having been proven wrong, he had a grouch on for hours afterwards> — see POUT
3 an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <it wouldn't be a workday if we didn't hear his daily grouch about the coffee> — see COMPLAINT 1

grouch verb
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <a woman who likes to grouch about how unappreciated she is> — see COMPLAIN

grouchiness noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <while some people thought that toddler's grouchiness was cute, it drove me nuts> — see PETULANCE

grouchy adjective
1 easily irritated or annoyed <a lack of sleep would make anyone grouchy> — see IRRITABLE
2 given to complaining a lot <a grouchy kid who refuses to eat his vegetables> — see FUSSY 1

ground adjective
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something <a finely ground axe> — see SHARP 1

ground noun
1 grounds plural the area around and belonging to a building <an escorted tour of the White House and its surrounding grounds>

Synonyms
demesne, park, premises (also premisses), yard

Related Words
acres, estate, land, lot, parcel, plot, property, real estate, realty; campus; backyard, churchyard, dooryard, schoolyard; close, enclosure (also inclosure), garden, garth, plaza

2 grounds plural matter that settles to the bottom of a body of liquid <strain the coffee to remove the grounds> — see DEPOSIT 1
3 grounds plural something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing <your dislike of her tattoos would be insufficient grounds for firing her> — see REASON 2
4 a small area of usually open land <I'll meet you at the parade ground in two hours> — see FIELD 1
5 an immaterial thing upon which something else rests <opposed to the notion that religious law should be used as a ground for civil law> — see BASE 1
6 the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow <stuck the shovel in the ground and went inside for a glass of water> — see DIRT 1
7 the physical conditions or features that form the setting against which something is viewed <take her picture against a blue ground in order to bring out her blue eyes> — see BACKGROUND 1
8 the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air <one of the Nordic creation myths states that the ground was formed by the body of the giant Ymir when he was killed by Odin and his brothers> — see EARTH 2

ground verb
to find a basis <you're grounding your entire case on circumstantial evidence> — see BASE

grounded adjective
resting on the shore or bottom of a body of water <once his boat was grounded, all he could do was wait for the tide to come back in and raise it off the sand bar> — see AGROUND

groundless adjective
having no basis in reason or fact <please stop making groundless accusations against people you happen to dislike> <fears of a strike proved groundless>

Synonyms
baseless, foundationless, invalid, nonvalid, unfounded, unreasonable, unsubstantiated, unsupported, unwarranted

Related Words
illogical, irrational, nonlogical, unconscionable, unsound; fallacious, false, misled, wrong; gratuitous, uncalled-for, unnecessary; flimsy, implausible, misleading, specious, unconvincing, untenable, weak; ill-advised, unreasoned; inconsistent; absurd, asinine, brainless, crackpot, crazy, fatuous, foolish, half-witted, harebrained, meaningless, nonsensical, preposterous, senseless, silly, simpleminded, stupid, unwise; insane, lunatic, mad, nutty, wacky (also whacky)

Near Antonyms
certified, validated, verified; confirmed, corroborated; informed, logical, rational; commonsense, sane, sensible, sober, wise; actual, genuine, real, true; certain, sure; clear, cogent, compelling, convincing, credible, persuasive, plausible, satisfying, solid, sound

Antonyms
good, hard, just, justified, reasonable, reasoned, substantiated, valid, well-founded, well-grounded

ground plan noun
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective <their ground plan is first to finish college and then get married> — see PLAN 1

ground rule noun
a statement spelling out the proper procedure or conduct for an activity <before the debate begins, let's lay out some ground rules> — see RULE 1

groundwork noun
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests <they had collectively laid the groundwork for a new kind of art> — see BASE 1

ground zero noun
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <a city that was once ground zero for the insurance industry> — see CENTER 1

group verb
1 to arrange or assign according to type <you should first group the invertebrates by genus> — see CLASSIFY 1
2 to bring together in one body or place <group the kids together and we'll see who's missing> — see GATHER 1

group noun
1 a number of things considered as a unit <car buffs stood around admiring a group of classic cars in the parking lot>

Synonyms
array, assemblage, band, bank, batch, battery, block, bunch, clot, clump, cluster, clutch, collection, constellation, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, muster, package, parcel, passel, set, suite

Related Words
accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomeration; agglomeration, assortment, hodgepodge, jumble, miscellany, mixture, odds and ends, sundries, variety; cycle, run, series, suit

Phrases
the whole kit and caboodle

Near Antonyms
entity, item, single, unit

2 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <the next tour group was being seated for dinner>

Synonyms
array, band, batch, battery, body, boodle, bunch, cluster, clutch, consort, constellation, crop, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, parcel, party, passel

Related Words
assembly, collective, congregation, gathering, muster, organization; circle, clan, clique, coterie, fellowship, gang, ring, round, set; faction, guild (also gild), order, school, sect; brigade, crew, outfit, phalanx, platoon, posse, task force, team; alliance, bloc, coalition, confederacy, confederation, federation, league, union; battalion, squadron; bevy, brood, covey

Phrases
the whole kit and caboodle

Near Antonyms
individual, single

3 one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <you'll find both good and bad in every ethnic group> — see CLASS 2

grouping noun
1 a number of things considered as a unit <the standard grouping for an average living room: sofa, matching wing chairs, and the inevitable coffee table> — see GROUP 1
2 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <the next grouping of tourists can start the house tour as soon as the last bunch leaves> — see GROUP 2

grouse verb
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <hasn't stopped grousing since we started this vacation> — see COMPLAIN

grouse noun
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <a forum in which employees can air their grouses> — see COMPLAINT 1

grouser noun
an irritable and complaining person <had the misfortune of waiting on a table full of grousers, who sent her back to the kitchen constantly and then refused to tip her> — see GROUCH 1

grovel verb
1 to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission <the way in which the abused dog would grovel whenever its owner came near> — see COWER
2 to move slowly with the body close to the ground <because of their anatomy, bats can only grovel while moving along the ground> — see CRAWL 1

grow verb
1 to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care <a dedicated home gardener who grows tomatoes in her small garden every summer>

Synonyms
crop, cultivate, culture, dress, promote, raise, rear, tend

Related Words
breed, produce, propagate; plant, sow; gather, glean, harvest, reap; germinate, quicken, ripen, root, sprout

Near Antonyms
kill; dig, extirpate, pick, pluck, pull (up), uproot; cut, hay, mow

2 to become mature <you've grown so much since we last saw each other> — see MATURE
3 to eventually have as a state or quality <he will grow angry if we don't answer his question> — see BECOME

grow (in) verb
to gradually increase in <you've grown in wisdom over the years> — see GAIN 1

grower noun
a person who cultivates the land and grows crops on it <orange growers in Florida were hard hit by the hurricane> — see FARMER

growl verb
1 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <he was growling about how much work he had to do> — see COMPLAIN
2 to make a long loud deep noise or cry <the neighbor's dog growls every time we pass the house> — see ROAR 1
3 to make a low heavy rolling sound <I'm sorry my stomach is growling, but I'm just really hungry> — see RUMBLE

growler noun
an irritable and complaining person <we can't figure out why our very happy and optimistic friend is dating that chronic growler> — see GROUCH 1

grown adjective
covered with a thick healthy natural growth <a field lavishly grown with poppies> — see LUSH 1

grown–up adjective
relating to or typical of adults; displaying proper maturity <they have yet to find a grown-up way of handling their marital problems> — see ADULT 1

grown–up noun
a fully grown person <once you turn 12, you get to eat with the grown-ups at Thanksgiving> — see ADULT

growth noun
1 an abnormal mass of tissue <found a growth on the dog's neck under her collar>

Synonyms
excrescence, excrescency, lump, neoplasm, tumor

Related Words
outgrowth; cancer, carcinoma, lymphoma, malignancy, melanoma, polyp; cyst, tubercle, wart

2 the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced <the growth of the gambling industry into an economic mainstay in some locations> — see DEVELOPMENT 1
3 the process of becoming mature <her reflections and mature behavior certainly demonstrate just how much emotional growth took place last summer> — see MATURATION

grow up verb
to become mature <everyone has to grow up at some point in their lives> — see MATURE

grub noun
1 substances intended to be eaten <after the game, we headed to the diner for some hearty grub> — see FOOD 1
2 a person who does very hard or dull work <you may have to spend some time working as a grub before challenging work comes your way> — see SLAVE 2

grub verb
to devote serious and sustained effort <grubbing away at the yard work before the first snow of the season> — see LABOR

grubber noun
a person who does very hard or dull work <most of the inhabitants of the seedy town are just downtrodden grubbers living from paycheck to paycheck> — see SLAVE 2

grubbiness noun
the state or quality of being dirty <the grubbiness and general dilapidation of the old house discouraged potential buyers> — see DIRTINESS 1

grubby adjective
1 not clean <clean off those grubby hands before you touch anything> — see DIRTY 1
2 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <that's a grubby reason to stop talking to a friend> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1

grudge noun
1 a lingering ill will towards a person for a real or imagined wrong <he's had a grudge against her ever since she snubbed him at the dance>

Synonyms
down [chiefly British], grievance, resentment, score

Related Words
condemnation; offense (or offence), umbrage; complaint; dudgeon, huff, peeve, pique; despite, hatefulness, malevolence, malice, maliciousness, meanness, nastiness, spite, spitefulness, spleen, venom, viciousness; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, enmity, hostility, rancor

2 a deep-seated ill will <there's been a grudge between the two families for years> — see ENMITY

grueling or gruelling adjective
1 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <running a marathon is grueling> — see HARD 2
2 requiring much time, effort, or careful attention <cutting diamonds can be grueling work> — see DEMANDING 1

gruesome also grewsome adjective
extremely disturbing or repellent <didn't stick around to hear the gruesome details of the car accident> — see HORRIBLE 1

gruesomeness noun
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay <permanently scarred by the sheer gruesomeness of what she had witnessed during the war> — see HORROR 1

gruff adjective
1 harsh and dry in sound <she had a gruff speaking voice, but a surprisingly sweet singing voice> — see HOARSE
2 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <I didn't exchange one word with the gruff mountaineer who sat next to me in the diner> — see GRIM 1

grumble noun
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <a chorus of moans and grumbles when they found out that the overnight camping trip had been cancelled> — see COMPLAINT 1

grumble verb
1 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <he grumbled about how sore his feet were after standing all day> — see COMPLAIN
2 to make a low heavy rolling sound <heavily loaded trucks grumbling as they passed over the steel bridge> — see RUMBLE

grumbler noun
1 an irritable and complaining person <the motor coach tour would have been okay if I hadn't been paired up with a grumbler who whined through the whole thing> — see GROUCH 1
2 a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things <how can you be such a grumbler when so much in your life is going well?> — see CRYBABY

grump noun
an irritable and complaining person <a real grump in the morning> — see GROUCH 1

grump verb
1 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <those incessantly grumping patients were generally ignored by the nursing home staff> — see COMPLAIN
2 to silently go about in a bad mood <he's been grumping about the house all morning because the golf tournament got rained out> — see SULK

grumpiness noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <I don't want your customary grumpiness to spoil the evening> — see PETULANCE

grumpy adjective
1 easily irritated or annoyed <a grumpy neighbor whose yard we had long ago learned not to trespass> — see IRRITABLE
2 given to complaining a lot <the baby's sure to be grumpy if she doesn't get her afternoon nap> — see FUSSY 1

grungy adjective
1 not clean <after playing outside, the kids came in grungy and in need of a good bath> — see DIRTY 1
2 showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <even though this grungy sweatshirt is falling apart, it's still my favorite> — see SHABBY 1

grunt noun
1 speech that is not clear enough to be understood <preoccupied with what he was doing, the mechanic gave only a grunt when I asked when the car would be ready> — see MUMBLE
2 a person who does very hard or dull work <we have an opening in the warehouse if you don't mind doing grunt work> — see SLAVE 2

grunt verb
to speak softly and unclearly <was so absorbed with the video game that when asked what he wanted for dinner, he just grunted> — see MUMBLE

grunting noun
speech that is not clear enough to be understood <says he talks in his sleep, but really it's just snorts and grunting> — see MUMBLE

guarantee verb
1 to assume responsibility for the satisfactory quality or performance of <the shop will guarantee all work done on the car for 30 days> — see WARRANT 1
2 to make sure, certain, or safe <I can guarantee that you'll feel better after using my product for 30 days> — see ENSURE
3 to state clearly and strongly <I guarantee that this movie is better than the last one in the series> — see ASSERT 1

guarantee noun
1 a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation <the contractors gave us a written guarantee that the work on the house would be done by Christmas>

Synonyms
bond, contract, covenant, deal, guaranty, surety, warranty

Related Words
oath, pledge, troth, vow, word; accord, bargain, compact, concordat, convention, pact, treaty; assurance, insurance, seal; bail, deposit, pawn, security

2 something given or held to assure that the giver will keep a promise <you'll have to give your car keys as a guarantee that you'll come back> — see PLEDGE 1

guarantor noun
a person who takes the responsibility for some other person or thing <the town police force is the guarantor of our safety> — see SPONSOR

guaranty noun
1 a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation <this fridge comes with a money-back guaranty of complete customer satisfaction> — see GUARANTEE 1
2 something given or held to assure that the giver will keep a promise <couples exchange engagement rings as a symbolic guaranty that they will marry> — see PLEDGE 1

guaranty verb
1 to make sure, certain, or safe <a house guarantied against termite damage> — see ENSURE
2 to assume responsibility for the satisfactory quality or performance of <a watch guarantied to be water-resistant to a depth of 100 feet> — see WARRANT 1

guard noun
1 a person or group that watches over someone or something <checked in with the security guard at the gate>

Synonyms
custodian, guardian, keeper, lookout, minder, picket, sentinel, sentry, warden, warder, watch, watcher, watchman

Related Words
observer, patrol, spotter, surveillant, watchdog; bodyguard, convoy, defender, escort, honor guard; gatekeeper; hack [slang]

2 a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack <be on your guard against snakes in the swamp> — see DEFENSIVE
3 a protective device (as on a weapon) to prevent accidental operation <slid the guard into place over the chainsaw chain> — see SAFETY 2
4 means or method of defending <the boxer's sparring partner managed to get a blow in under his left guard> — see DEFENSE 1
5 one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy <the honor guards raised their sabers as the happy couple descended the church steps> — see ESCORT
6 someone that protects <a battalion of burly guards surrounding the celebrity> — see PROTECTOR

guard verb
1 to drive danger or attack away from <guard the quarterback so he doesn't get sacked> — see DEFEND 1
2 to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point <a fire-breathing dragon guarded the entrance to the castle> — see CLOSE OFF

guard (against) verb
to be cautious of or on guard against <unfortunately, you have to guard against theft while you're traveling> — see BEWARE OF

guarded adjective
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble <a guarded man who knew better than to reveal such delicate information> <guarded actions> — see CAREFUL 1

guardedness noun
a close attentiveness to avoiding danger <you should have shown a little more guardedness about sharing personal information with someone you just met online> — see CAUTION 1

guardian noun
1 a person or group that watches over someone or something <the state became his guardian when he was put into protective custody> — see GUARD 1
2 a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner <the guardians of the summer estate awaited the return of the tycoon> — see CUSTODIAN 1
3 someone that protects <the editor defended his newspaper's unrelenting exposure of government corruption, arguing that it is journalism's role to act as a guardian of democracy> — see PROTECTOR
4 a person who has responsibility for the care of another <when her parents died, her aunt became her legal guardian> — see CAREGIVER

guardian angel noun
someone that protects <his work with the pet rescue center has led many to hail him as a guardian angel and friend to all animals> — see PROTECTOR

guardianship noun
responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something <gave the guardianship of his estate to his children> <has guardianship of the dogs while I'm in the hospital> — see CUSTODY

guardrail noun
a protective barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and its supports <the car ran off the road, but fortunately only hit the guardrail> — see RAILING

guardroom noun
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <hauled the prisoners of war into the guardroom and sent for the doctor on duty> — see JAIL

guck or gook noun
soft wet earth <don't walk on that clean floor with guck on your shoes> — see MUD

guess noun
an opinion or judgment based on little or no evidence <if you don't know the answer for sure, just make a guess> — see CONJECTURE

guess verb
1 to form an opinion from little or no evidence <though she does not speak with an accent, I would still guess that she is a foreigner>

Synonyms
assume, conjecture, daresay, imagine, presume, speculate, suppose, surmise, suspect, suspicion [chiefly dialect]

Related Words
conclude, deduce, gather, infer; hypothecate, hypothesize, theorize; believe, conceive, expect, judge, reckon [chiefly dialect], take, think

Near Antonyms
demonstrate, document, establish, prove, substantiate, validate; ascertain, determine, find out, learn

2 to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement <I would guess the road goes for about two miles before you have to take a left> — see ESTIMATE 2
3 to have as an opinion <I never would have guessed that she was capable of such a terrible thing> — see BELIEVE 2

guesstimate verb
to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding <I'm going to guesstimate that this ring is worth $200 or so> — see ESTIMATE 1

guest noun
1 a person who visits another <invited the afternoon guests to stay for dinner>

Synonyms
caller, drop-in, frequenter, visitant, visitor

Related Words
houseguest; company; invitee; crasher, hanger-on

Near Antonyms
denizen, dweller, habitant, inhabitant, occupant, resident, resider; cohost, cohostess, host, hostess

2 a person who buys a product or uses a service from a business <the headwaiter will seat the guests as soon as the waitress clears and sets a table for them> — see CUSTOMER 1

guff noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <and don't give me any of your usual guff about having to work late> — see NONSENSE 1

guffaw noun
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <managed to keep a straight face for a minute before he let loose with a loud guffaw> — see LAUGH 1

guggle verb
to flow in a broken irregular stream <water guggled down the drain> — see GURGLE

guidance noun
1 an opinion suggesting a wise or proper course of action <sought career guidance from the college counselor> — see ADVICE 1
2 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <felt secure under the president's cautious guidance of foreign affairs> — see CONDUCT 1
3 the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control <an adviser who undertakes the guidance of his students' academic careers> — see SUPERVISION 1

guide noun
one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy <followed our guide through the dangerous mountain trails> — see ESCORT

guide verb
1 to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed <the pastry chef guided her through the creation of the wedding cake, showing her how to ice the layers, fashion the elaborate decorations, and assemble the whole shebang>

Synonyms
coach, counsel, lead, mentor, pilot, shepherd, show, tutor

Related Words
godfather; direct, engineer, steer, sway; accompany, attend, chaperone (or chaperon), convoy, escort, see, squire; oversee, superintend, supervise; drill, train; brief, enlighten, inform; instruct, school, teach, tutor; inculcate, indoctrinate; cultivate, foster, nurture

Phrases
walk through

2 to look after and make decisions about <thought the new superintendent would guide the school system well> — see CONDUCT 1
3 to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front <would be happy to guide you folks to the historic part of town> — see LEAD 1

guidon noun
a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling <each army command unit flew a different color guidon, though they were all the same shape> — see FLAG 1

guild also gild noun
a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <after his apprenticeship, he was able to join the stonemasons' guild> — see ASSOCIATION 2

guile noun
1 skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <a shady salesman who usually relies on a combination of quick thinking and guile> — see CUNNING 1
2 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <a person so full of guile he can't even be trusted to give you the correct time of day> — see DECEIT 1

guileful adjective
1 clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <tried to fix the game with a guileful plot to sabotage the other team's bats, but the umpire caught them> — see ARTFUL 1
2 given to or marked by cheating and deception <received a guileful answer when I asked the dealer if the used car had ever been in a collision> — see DISHONEST 2

guilefulness noun
1 skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <he had an inherent guilefulness that made him a formidable power broker in Washington> — see CUNNING 1
2 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <it was guilefulness and not goodness that got the gold digger her millions> — see DECEIT 1

guileless adjective
free from any intent to deceive or impress others <she was an easygoing, guileless young woman who was comfortable just being herself>

Synonyms
artless, genuine, honest, ingenuous, innocent, naive (or naïve), natural, real, simple, sincere, true, unaffected, unpretending, unpretentious

Related Words
childlike, dewy-eyed, gee-whiz, impressionable, inexperienced, malleable, persuadable, persuasible, simpleminded, unsophisticated, unworldly, wide-eyed; spontaneous, unforced, unstudied; candid, direct, frank, free, free-spoken, open, openhearted, plain, plainspoken, single-minded, straight, straightforward, unguarded; trustful, trusting; exploitable, gullible (also gullable), susceptible, unwary

Phrases
on the level

Near Antonyms
critical, cynical, mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, wary; cosmopolitan, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise; civilized, cultivated, cultured, polished, refined; crooked, deceitful, deceptive, devious, double-dealing, hypocritical, manipulative, two-faced; arch, calculating, canny, crafty, cunning, designing, foxy, knavish, scheming, sharp, shifty, shrewd, slick, slippery, sly, subtle, tricky, underhanded, wily; flattering, mealymouthed, smooth, sycophantic, unctuous; feigned, forced, strained

Antonyms
affected, artful, artificial, assuming, dishonest, dissembling, dissimulating, fake, false, guileful, insincere, phony (also phoney), pretentious

guilelessly adverb
without any attempt to impress by deception or exaggeration <she's a naturally beautiful young woman, guilelessly unaware of the effect she has on men> — see NATURALLY 3

guilelessness noun
the quality or state of being simple and sincere <the small-town boy's guilelessness is endearing, but it may not serve him well in the ruthless big city> — see NAïVETÉ 1

guillotine verb
to cut off the head of <French Revolutionary forces captured and guillotined countless aristocrats in the chaotic period following the downfall of the monarchy> — see DECAPITATE

guilt noun
1 a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <he was wracked with guilt after he accidentally broke his sister's antique grandfather clock>

Synonyms
contriteness, contrition, penitence, regret, remorse, remorsefulness, repentance, rue, self-reproach, shame

Related Words
compunction, misgiving, prick, qualm, scruple; blame, culpability, fault; liability, rap, responsibility; chagrin, embarrassment; anguish, distress, grief, ruth, sadness, sorrow; bloodguilt, bloodguiltiness; apology, excuses, hand-wringing, mea culpa

Antonyms
impenitence, remorselessness

2 responsibility for wrongdoing or failure <the chief financial officer was saddled with the guilt for the company's failure> — see BLAME 1

guiltless adjective
free from guilt or blame <if the jury acquits him, he is guiltless in the eyes of the law> — see INNOCENT 2

guiltlessness noun
the quality or state of being free from guilt or blame <her guiltlessness is obvious, since she couldn't possibly have been at the scene of the crime> — see INNOCENCE 1

guilty adjective
suffering from or expressive of a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <she was burdened with a guilty conscience after stealing the newspaper from the newsstand>

Synonyms
ashamed, shamed, shamefaced

Related Words
apologetic, contrite, penitent, remorseful, repentant, sorry; compunctious, regretful, rueful; penitential; blushing, chagrined, embarrassed, hangdog, sheepish; blamable, blameworthy, culpable

Near Antonyms
impenitent, remorseless, unapologetic, unrepentant; brazen, cheeky, impudent; blameless, guiltless, innocent

Antonyms
shameless, unashamed

guise noun
1 a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive <my new neighbor began seeking my company under the guise of friendship, but he turned out to be a member of a religious cult bent on conversion> — see MASQUERADE
2 clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation <she felt as though she should be wearing some sort of Germanic guise, complete with dirndl, for the fall festival featuring traditional German food and drink> — see OUTFIT 1
3 clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else <he snuck into the castle to rescue Ivanhoe in the guise of a priest coming to give Ivanhoe his last rites> — see DISGUISE 1
4 outward and often deceptive indication <hazing rituals may have the guise of harmless fun, but often the reality is serious physical abuse> — see APPEARANCE 2

gulch noun
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <the gulch floods in the spring with the runoff from the mountains, so wait until later in the summer to hike it> — see CANYON

gulf noun
1 a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline <we dipped our feet in the warm waters of the gulf>

Synonyms
arm, bay, bight, cove, creek [chiefly British], embayment, estuary, firth, fjord (also fiord), inlet, loch [Scottish]

Related Words
harbor, port, road(s), roadstead; narrow, sound, strait; bayou; backwater, slough (also slew or slue)

2 an immeasurable depth or space <the great gulf of time and space that separates us from the first inhabitants of North America> — see ABYSS
3 a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <the gulf was too wide to cross, so we had to hike down into it and go through it> — see CANYON
4 an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) <a wide gulf in the defensive wall meant the city was in grave danger> — see GAP 1
5 water moving rapidly in a circle with a hollow in the center <the doomed ship was sucked into the gulf and consigned to Davy Jones's locker> — see WHIRLPOOL

gulf verb
to cover with a flood <with the administration gulfed by so many real problems, it's absurd for the president to concern himself with this nonissue> — see FLOOD

gull noun
one who is easily deceived or cheated <that multimillionaire is enough of a gull to believe that it's his personality that attracts women> — see 1DUPE

gull verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <we were gulled into believing that if we answered the e-mail, we'd somehow become millionaires, but instead we just got put on a list for junk mail> — see DECEIVE

gullibility noun
readiness to believe the claims of others without sufficient evidence <teased her about her well-known gullibility by repeatedly offering to sell her the Continental Divide> — see CREDULITY

gullible also gullable adjective
readily taken advantage of <he thought his grandmother was gullible simply because she was elderly, but she was sharper than he was in many ways> — see EASY 2

gulp noun
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time <took a big gulp of water> — see DRINK 2

gulp verb
1 to swallow in liquid form <hastily gulping down the last of her tea before rushing out the door> — see DRINK 1
2 to swallow or eat greedily <you never taste your food—you just gulp it> — see GOBBLE

gum (up) verb
to prevent passage through by filling with something <arteries gummed up with atheromas> — see CLOG 1

gumbo noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <drew his artistic inspiration from the city's rich gumbo of races and ethnicities> — see MISCELLANY 1

gummy adjective
tending to adhere to objects upon contact <the outside of the bottle was gummy with old dribbles of salad oil> — see STICKY 1

gumption noun, chiefly dialect
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters <that girl has no more gumption than a grasshopper and is likely to marry the first man who comes along> — see COMMON SENSE

gumshoe noun
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons <the suspicious wife paid a gumshoe to follow her husband> — see DETECTIVE

gun verb
to strike with a missile from a gun <traded stories of the Wild West, when outlaws gunned men down in broad daylight and in cold blood> — see SHOOT 3

gun noun
1 a portable weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder <while her father preferred hunting with a crossbow, she preferred a gun>

Synonyms
arm, firearm, heat [slang], piece, small arm

Related Words
derringer, forty-five (or .45), gat [slang], handgun, pistol, revolver, rod [slang], roscoe [slang], sidearm, six-gun, six-shooter, zip gun; self-loader, semiautomatic; blunderbuss, breechloader, culverin, fieldpiece, firelock, flintlock, harquebus (or arquebus), matchlock, musket, rifle, shotgun, smoothbore, twenty-two (or .22); AK-47, assault rifle, assault weapon, automatic, carbine, machine gun, machine pistol, repeater, submachine gun, tommy gun; speargun

2 guns plural large firearms (as cannon or rockets) <the field commander called for the big guns to be deployed for the full-scale assault> — see ARTILLERY

gung ho adjective
showing urgent desire or interest <he was gung ho about his accounting class> — see EAGER

gunk noun
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something <I have to wash my hands; I got gunk all over them somehow> — see FILTH 1

gurgle verb
to flow in a broken irregular stream <the tiny stream gurgled down the rocky slope and joined the larger river at the bottom of the hill>

Synonyms
bubble, dribble, guggle, lap, plash, ripple, splash, trickle, wash

Related Words
eddy, purl, swirl; swash, swish, swoosh, whish; drip, drop; gush, jet, rush, spew, spout, spurt, squirt

Near Antonyms
run

Antonyms
pour, roll, stream

guru noun
1 a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <one of those weather gurus that the television networks always drag out whenever there's a big blizzard brewing> — see EXPERT
2 one who brings an art or science to full realization <the leading guru of electronic music in the 1960s> — see EXPONENT 2

gush noun
1 a flowing or going out <the dam burst with a stupendous gush of water> — see OUTFLOW
2 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <with his customary gush of tears, he once again begged his long-suffering wife to stay> — see OUTBURST 1

gush verb
1 to flow out in great quantities or with force <the dam cracked and water gushed from the break>

Synonyms
jet, pour, rush, spew, spout, spurt, squirt, swoosh

Related Words
cascade, issue, roll, run, stream; plash, slosh, splash, wash; surge, swell; flush, sluice; deluge, drown, engulf, flood, inundate, overflow, overwhelm, submerge, submerse, swamp; fountain

Near Antonyms
spatter, sprinkle; bleed, exude, leak, ooze, percolate, seep, strain, weep

Antonyms
dribble, drip, drop, trickle

2 to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm <he gushed about his favorite basketball player, calling him “the best there ever was”>

Synonyms
drool, effuse, enthuse, fuss, rave, rhapsodize, slobber

Related Words
dote (on), fawn; emote

gushing adjective
1 overly or insincerely flattering <heaped disgustingly gushing praise on her boss's very modest singing skills> — see FULSOME 1
2 pouring forth in great amounts <the gushing water from the opened fire hydrant reduced water pressure to a dangerous level> — see PROFUSE

gushy adjective
overly or insincerely flattering <a gushy review of a novel by an author who just happened to be a friend of the critic> — see FULSOME 1

gussy up verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <gone are the days when the high school prom was held in the gym, which had been gussied up for the occasion> — see DECORATE

gust noun
1 a sudden brief rush of wind <a gust tore her umbrella from her grip and blew it down the street>

Synonyms
blast, blow, flurry, scud, williwaw, windblast

Related Words
breeze, zephyr; current, draft; air, breath, waft; puff, whiff; bluster, gale, hurricane, squall, tempest, tornado, windstorm; northeaster, norther, northerly, northwester, southeaster, southwester, westerly

2 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <the stressed-out coworker cried out with a gust of emotion that we had never witnessed before> — see OUTBURST 1

gusto noun
active strength of body or mind <I don't have the gusto to go on a strenuous hike right now> — see VIGOR 1

gusty adjective
marked by strong wind or more wind than usual <watch out for gusty conditions as the storm blows in> — see 1WINDY 1

gut noun
1 guts plural the internal organs of the body <the student dissected the frog and looked at its guts with a mixture of fascination and disgust>

Synonyms
entrails, innards, inside(s), inwards, viscera, vitals

Related Words
bowel(s), intestine(s); chitterlings (or chitlins), giblet(s), variety meat

2 guts plural strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <it took a lot of guts to rush into that burning building and save her cat> — see COURAGE
3 guts plural the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship <had the guts to keep running the race even though she felt like quitting> — see FORTITUDE
4 the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis <eating too many french fries will result in a substantial gut> — see STOMACH 1
5 an enlarged or bulging abdomen <an ever-expanding gut was sorry evidence that she had been neglecting her workouts> — see POTBELLY
6 the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions <the film packs an emotional wallop that the viewer will feel in his gut> — see CORE 1

gut verb
to take the internal organs out of <you'll need to gut the fish and wash it out before you can cook it>

Synonyms
clean, disembowel, draw, eviscerate

Related Words
bone, dress; cut, excise, extract, remove, withdraw, yank; transplant

gutless adjective
having or showing a shameful lack of courage <a gutless attack on a writer who is now deceased and unable to defend herself> — see COWARDLY

gutlessness noun
a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <the unconscionable gutlessness shown by the school board when extremists called for banning certain literary classics from the library> — see COWARDICE

gutsily adverb
in a fearless manner <in her newspaper columns she gutsily took on the state's corrupt politicians> — see BRAVELY 1

gutsiness noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <it takes a certain gutsiness to take an unpopular position before a crowd of people> — see COURAGE

gutsy adjective
1 inclined or willing to take risks <a gutsy coach willing to let her team improvise on the court> — see BOLD 1
2 feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <they were gutsy enough to attempt a rescue on their own> — see BRAVE 1

gutter adjective
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <a novel that does a good job of rendering the gutter language of that stratum of society> — see OBSCENE 1

gutter noun
1 a pipe or channel for carrying off water from a roof <one of his chores is to clean leaves and sticks out of the gutters before winter sets in>

Synonyms
drainpipe, eaves trough, rainspout, spout, trough, waterspout

Related Words
drain, flume, sluice; conduit, duct; aqueduct

2 a long narrow channel dug in the earth <rainwater running off the road into the gutters> — see DITCH

gutty adjective
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <standing up for what is right, especially if it's unpopular, is about the guttiest thing a person can do> — see BRAVE 1

guy noun
1 a member of the human race <what would you guys like to order?> — see HUMAN
2 an adult male human being <was not the kind of guy she ever thought she'd date> — see MAN 1

guzzle verb
1 to swallow in liquid form <guzzled my soda before I could stop him> — see DRINK 1
2 to partake excessively of alcoholic beverages <teenagers sneaking out to guzzle in the woods> — see DRINK 2

gym noun
a building or room used for sports activities and exercising <he decided to get up early and go to the gym to lift weights>

Synonyms
gymnasium, health club, health spa, spa

Related Words
arena, bowl, coliseum, colosseum, stadium

gymnasium noun
a building or room used for sports activities and exercising <since it was raining, the kids had recess in the gymnasium> — see GYM

gymnast noun
one who performs feats of physical strength, balance, and agility on special apparatus <the years of training required to become a champion gymnast> — see ACROBAT 1

gyp verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <gypped them into spending a fortune on counterfeit jewels, not real diamonds> — see FLEECE

gyp noun
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <we were very disappointed when the “free weekend in Las Vegas” offer turned out to be a gyp> — see FRAUD 1

gypsy noun
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination <a guitar-toting gypsy, the folk singer tours the country in an endless round of one-night gigs> — see NOMAD

gyrate verb
to move in circles around an axis or center <the gyroscope got its name for the way the disk inside the instrument gyrates around an axis> — see SPIN 1

gyration noun
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point <dizzy from the spirally gyrations of the roller coaster> — see SPIN 1

gyve verb
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains <a woman who was gyved by a fear of being alone in the world> — see BIND 1

H

ha or hah interjection
how delightful <ha! I was right all along!> — see HOORAY

habiliment noun, usually habiliments plural
covering for the human body <the lady's rich habiliments and haughty manner made the host's servants think she was someone important> — see CLOTHING

habilitate verb
to make better in behavior or character <believes that society should be responsible for habilitating nonviolent offenders> — see REFORM 1

habit noun
1 a usual manner of behaving or doing <it was his habit to rise early>

Synonyms
custom, fashion, habitude, pattern, practice (also practise), ritual, second nature, trick, way, wont

Related Words
addiction; disposition; bent, inclination, proclivity, set, tendency, tenor, turn; bag, convention, form, mode, style; usage, use; deportment, manners, mores; drill, groove, jog trot, regime (also régime), regimen, rote, routine, rut; affectation, airs, pose; attribute, characteristic, mark, trait; eccentricity, kink, oddity, peculiarity, quirk, singularity, tic

2 a physiological need for certain drugs <a cocaine habit of long standing> — see ADDICTION
3 the type of body that a person has <an imposing man of vigorous habit> — see PHYSIQUE
4 archaic covering for the human body <dressed in the habit of a knight from the golden age of chivalry> — see CLOTHING

habit verb
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <his exclusive clothing store had habited the town's upper crust for as long as anyone could remember> — see CLOTHE 1

habitable adjective
suitable for living in <the frigid Arctic is not habitable for amphibians and reptiles—or for humans, either, for that matter> — see LIVABLE

habitant noun
one who lives permanently in a place <the habitants of Indiana are nicknamed “Hoosiers”> — see INHABITANT

habitat noun
the place where a plant or animal is usually or naturally found <a forest in California is set aside to preserve the unique brushy, rugged habitat required by nesting California condors> — see HOME 2

habitation noun
1 the act or fact of residing in a place <the city declared the area unsafe for habitation until it had been decontaminated> — see OCCUPANCY
2 the place where one lives <even though they spend most of their time at their condo in Florida, they still consider their farmhouse in Nebraska their permanent habitation> — see HOME 1

habit–forming adjective
causing or relating to a physiological need for certain drugs <warned the patient to be careful, because morphine can be habit-forming> — see ADDICTIVE

habitual adjective
1 being such by habit and not likely to change <she admits she's an habitual procrastinator, but she still manages to meet all her deadlines>

Synonyms
bred-in-the-bone, chronic, confirmed, dyed-in-the-wool, inveterate

Related Words
incorrigible, unreconstructed, unregenerate; born, natural; persistent, regular, repeat, serial, steady, unchanging, unfailing; addicted; accustomed, habituated, used, wonted; deep-rooted, deep-seated, entrenched (also intrenched), inbred, inherent, innate, intrinsic; apt, inclined, prone; mulish, obstinate, set, stubborn

Near Antonyms
unaccustomed, unused; intermittent, occasional

2 appearing or occurring repeatedly from time to time <her supervisor warned her that she could be fired for habitual tardiness> — see REGULAR 1

habituate verb
to go to or spend time in often <the sort of lounge lizard known to habituate bars and nightclubs> — see FREQUENT

habituated adjective
being in the habit or custom <not only did the early-morning anchorman become habituated to getting up early, he found he actually liked it> — see ACCUSTOMED

habitude noun
1 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <a lifelong habitude for talking too much> — see INCLINATION 1
2 a usual manner of behaving or doing <contrary to his long-established habitude, he forwent his morning constitutional in favor of a leisurely breakfast> — see HABIT 1

habitué also habitue noun
1 a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <confirmed habitués of the theater, they support serious dramas as well as comedies and musicals> — see FAN
2 someone who regularly spends time in a particular place <a confirmed habitué of the country club, she keeps tabs on who's having an affair> — see DENIZEN 1

hacienda noun
a large impressive residence <the sugar baron spared no expense in building a grand hacienda on his plantation near Cuernavaca> — see MANSION

hack adjective
used or heard so often as to be dull <the abrupt revelation of an enemy masquerading as a friend is such a hack plot twist> — see STALE 1

1hack noun
1 a V-shaped cut usually on an edge or a surface <smallish hacks made in the bark of the trees marked the trail through the forest> — see NOTCH 1
2 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <completely stunned by a vicious hack across the neck> — see 1BLOW

2hack noun
1 an automobile that carries passengers for a fare usually determined by the distance traveled <after a week of hailing hacks and inhabiting hotels, the sales rep was happy to be home> — see TAXICAB
2 a person who lacks experience and competence in an art or science <is he really any good at the piano or just a hack?> — see AMATEUR 2

hack verb
1 to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <I doubt that she can hack a job with so many responsibilities> — see HANDLE 1
2 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <she's not sure she can hack that miserable job much longer> — see BEAR 2

hack (around) verb
to spend time doing nothing <would prefer to be put to work rather than spend his days at the ranch just hacking around> — see IDLE

hack (off) verb
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <people who ask blatantly stupid questions really hack me off> — see IRRITATE 1

hacker noun
1 a person who illegally gains access to a computer system and sometimes tampers with its information <the company's security experts spent days trying to figure out how a hacker could have gotten past the firewall>

Synonyms
cracker, cyberpunk

Related Words
computerist; gearhead, geek, propeller-head, techie, technocrat, technophile; phisher

Near Antonyms
computerphobe, technophobe

2 a person who lacks experience and competence in an art or science <weekend golf hackers who are there mainly for the social networking> — see AMATEUR 2

hackney adjective
used or heard so often as to be dull <she quickly learned to ignore her children's hackney complaints like “It isn't fair” and “Why me?”> — see STALE 1

hackney verb
to use so much as to make less appealing <advertisers have hackneyed the word “revolutionary” so much that it now just means that a product is new>

Synonyms
overexpose, overuse, stereotype, vulgarize

Related Words
bore, exhaust, overdo; coarsen; deplete, jade, tire, wear out; popularize

hackneyed adjective
used or heard so often as to be dull <it's hackneyed, but true—the more you save the more you earn> — see STALE 1

haft noun
a part by which an implement is held <the blade of the adze is still good, but the haft is broken and will have to be replaced> — see HANDLE 1

hag noun
1 a mean or ugly old woman <although she looks like a hag, she's really the sweetest old lady you could ever hope to meet> — see CRONE
2 a woman believed to have often harmful supernatural powers <falsely accused of being a hag who had caused the plague> — see WITCH 1

haggard adjective
suffering extreme weight loss as a result of hunger or disease <the rescued hiker appeared haggard and worn after a week in the woods> — see EMACIATED

haggle verb
to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase <had to haggle to get his friend to sell his guitar for 20 bucks> — see BARGAIN 1

hagiographic also hagiographical adjective
overly or insincerely flattering <a hagiographic portrait of one of the pioneers of the automotive age> — see FULSOME 1

hagride verb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <hagridden by the specter of a terrorist attack, residents of the city were on edge> — see DISTURB 1

1hail noun
1 a heavy fall of objects <a hail of small stones warned them of the oncoming avalanche> — see RAIN 2
2 a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <even under the hail of angry questions, the press secretary stayed cool> — see BARRAGE

2hail noun
range of hearing <stay within hail of the restaurant's front desk so you'll know when your table is ready> — see EARSHOT

hail verb
1 to declare enthusiastic approval of <the museum director hailed the artist's new installation as a groundbreaking work of genius> — see ACCLAIM
2 to demand or request the presence or service of <let's hail a taxi> <hailed the waiter for the check> — see SUMMON 1

hail–fellow adjective
having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <has the hail-fellow manner of an automobile salesman with something up his sleeve> — see FRIENDLY 1

hail–fellow–well–met adjective
having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <a hail-fellow-well-met politician who genuinely enjoys pressing the flesh> — see FRIENDLY 1

hair noun
1 a very small distance or degree <a race that was won by a hair>

Synonyms
ace, hairbreadth (or hairsbreadth), hairline, hop, skip, and jump, inch, neck, shouting distance, step, stone's throw

Related Words
bit, crumb, dab, iota, jot, minim, mite, particle, smidgen (also smidgeon or smidgin or smidge), trace, trifle

Near Antonyms
infinity, light-year

Antonyms
country mile, long haul, mile

2 a thin, flexible structure that resembles a hair <discovered hairs on the plant's stem>

Synonyms
bristle, fiber, filament, thread

Related Words
microfiber; cord, rope, string, wire, yarn; fuzz, tuft

3 the hairy covering of a mammal especially when fine, soft, and thick <has no hair, but wears a wig> <a coat made of camel's hair> — see FUR 1

hairbreadth adjective
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors <a hairbreadth victory, but a victory nevertheless> — see CLOSE 3

hairbreadth or hairsbreadth noun
a very small distance or degree <just missed the bull's-eye by a hairbreadth> — see HAIR 1

haircut noun
a style or arrangement of hair <he hopes the new haircut will make him look more mature for the job interview> — see HAIRDO

haircutter noun
a person who cuts and arranges hair <my sister is a perfectly adequate haircutter, so I don't see why I should pay to go to some fancy salon> — see HAIRDRESSER

hairdo noun
a style or arrangement of hair <that hairdo makes her face look softer and rounder>

Synonyms
coiffure, cut, do, haircut, hairstyle

Related Words
Afro, conk, cornrow, dreadlocks, perm, permanent; beehive, big hair, bun, chignon, French twist, pageboy, pug, updo, upsweep; bob, buzz cut, crew cut, crop, fade, Mohawk, shag, shingle, trim; braid, pigtail, plait, ponytail, queue; comb-over, ducktail, pompadour, roach

hairdresser noun
a person who cuts and arranges hair <she recommended her hairdresser to a friend who wanted to get a perm>

Synonyms
barber, haircutter, hairstylist, stylist

Related Words
beautician, coiffeur, coiffeuse, cosmetologist, trichologist

hairline adjective
1 being of less than usual width <a hairline crack in the mug, almost too small to notice, was enough to make the mug break when filled with hot tea> — see NARROW 1
2 made or done with extreme care and accuracy <a hairline distinction between her rating of certain things as “necessary” and others as “absolutely necessary”> — see FINE 2
3 meeting the highest standard of accuracy <an ultrasensitive telescope that requires hairline placement of the lenses> — see PRECISE 1

hairline noun
a very small distance or degree <the controversial measure passed by a hairline, the margin of victory being but a single vote> — see HAIR 1

hairpiece noun
a headpiece made of natural or synthetic hair usually worn to cover a bald area <if no one had told me he wore a hairpiece, I would have thought his hair was his own>

Synonyms
rug [slang], toupee, wig

Related Words
fright wig; extension, fall, postiche, switch, wiglet

hair–raiser noun
something (as a close contest) that induces much suspense as to its outcome <since they had been dating for five years, her answer to his proposal wasn't exactly a hair-raiser> — see NAIL-BITER

hair–raising adjective
1 causing fear <hair-raising stories of headless corpses and disembodied screams> — see FEARFUL 1
2 causing great emotional or mental stimulation <a theme park that is legendary for its lightning-fast roller-coaster and other hair-raising rides> — see EXCITING 1

hair shirt noun
something that is a source of irritation <the constant need to cut costs was a hair shirt, but one that the theater company had to live with> — see ANNOYANCE 3

hairsplitting adjective
made or done with extreme care and accuracy <usage experts have attempted to make some hairsplitting distinctions between the two words, but most writers blithely ignore them> — see FINE 2

hairstyle noun
a style or arrangement of hair <the senator's long parade of hairstyles seem to reflect a relentless need to constantly reinvent herself> — see HAIRDO

hairstylist noun
a person who cuts and arranges hair <the hairstylist fashioned the model's hair into an elegant updo> — see HAIRDRESSER

hairy adjective
1 covered with or as if with hair <a hairy spider>

Synonyms
bristly, brushy, cottony, fleecy, furred, furry, hirsute, rough, shaggy, silky, unshorn, woolly (also wooly)

Related Words
bearded, bewhiskered, mustachioed (also moustachioed), whiskered; stubbled, stubbly; downy, fluffy, fuzzy, linty, nappy

Near Antonyms
beardless, shaved, shaven

Antonyms
bald, furless, glabrous, hairless, shorn, smooth

2 made of or resembling hair <found enough hairy clumps around the house to make another cat> <a hairy mass of fiberglass insulation>

Synonyms
furry, fuzzy, rough, shaggy, woolly (also wooly)

Related Words
downy, fluffy, nappy, puffy; hairlike

3 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <landing on that airstrip is always a hairy proposition> — see TRICKY 1
4 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <the snowstorm made for a hairy commute back home that evening> — see NERVOUS 2

halcyon adjective
1 free from storms or physical disturbance <a halcyon era following the American Civil War> — see CALM 1
2 marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically <during those early halcyon years the company's potential for growth seemed unlimited> — see PROSPEROUS 1

hale adjective
enjoying health and vigor <still hale and strong at 80, often outdoing his younger golfing buddies> — see HEALTHY 1

hale verb
to cause to follow by applying steady force on <the fishermen haled the huge net onto the deck of the ship> — see PULL 1

half adjective
lacking some necessary part <half measures that did nothing but prolong the problem> — see INCOMPLETE

half adverb
1 in any way or respect <this cut on your arm isn't half as bad as it looks> — see AT ALL
2 in some measure or degree <what you said is only half true> — see PARTLY

half noun
1 one of two equal or nearly equal parts <to be fair, we should each get half the pie>

Synonyms
moiety

Related Words
halvers; hemisphere, meridian, semicircle; component, constituent, division, element, fraction, part, piece, portion, section, segment

Near Antonyms
aggregate, sum, total, whole

2 either of a pair matched in one or more qualities <it's the bottom half of the ninth inning, and the Yankees are up at bat> — see MATE 1

half–baked adjective
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <he's always got some half-baked “solution” to a difficult, complex problem> — see FOOLISH 1

halfhearted adjective
showing little or no interest or enthusiasm <a halfhearted attempt to clean the house before the arrival of the in-laws> — see TEPID 1

half–pint adjective
of a size that is less than average <one of those half-pint refrigerators that are designed for small apartments> — see SMALL 1

half–pint noun
a person of no importance or influence <when I called the company to complain, I was shuttled from one half-pint to the next> — see NOBODY

halfway adjective
1 lacking some necessary part <when halfway measures, such as posting signs, failed to keep people off the property, a fence was erected> — see INCOMPLETE
2 occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes <by the time she had reached the halfway point, she was ready to quit the marathon> — see MIDDLE 1

halfway adverb
in some measure or degree <that was a halfway decent performance of a difficult piece> — see PARTLY

half–wit noun
1 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <some half-wit had left the gate open, and all the sheep had gotten loose> — see FOOL 1
2 a stupid person <even a half-wit knows that ice cream melts if it's not in the freezer> — see IDIOT

half–witted adjective
1 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <the young genius mastered calculus while his peers, who seemed half-witted in comparison, labored over basic addition and subtraction> — see STUPID 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <had the half-witted idea to try to swim across the raging river, and would have drowned if someone hadn't rescued him> — see FOOLISH 1

half–world noun
a social sphere that exists outside of the mainstream <the half-world of tattoo addicts who regard the body embellishments not merely as fashion statements but as works of art and fundamental expressions of personal identity> — see NETHERWORLD

hall noun
1 the entrance room of a building <the dinner guests hung their coats in the hall>

Synonyms
entranceway, entry, entryway, foyer, hallway, lobby, vestibule

Related Words
antechamber, anteroom, lounge, waiting room; door, doorway, entrance, portal, threshold

2 a typically long narrow way connecting parts of a building <the bedroom is at the end of the hall>

Synonyms
concourse, corridor, gallery, hallway, passage, passageway

Related Words
arcade, breezeway, cloister, loggia, piazza

3 a large room or building for enclosed public gatherings <the concert hall was full>

Synonyms
amphitheater, arena, auditorium, garden, theater (or theatre)

Related Words
arena theater, music hall, odeum, playhouse, theater-in-the-round; ballroom; lyceum; chamber, house, senate; cafetorium

4 a centrally located room in a building that serves as a gathering or waiting area or as a passageway into the interior <from the main hall of the museum, turn left to see the ancient pottery collection and turn right to see the mummies> — see FOYER 1
5 a large impressive residence <Lord Plentiworth has opened his family's hereditary home, Richley Hall, to visitors on Tuesdays> — see MANSION
6 a large, magnificent, or massive building <on your right, you will see Parliament Hall, a splendid example of Georgian architecture> — see EDIFICE 1

hallelujah interjection
how delightful <hallelujah, the bank is approving our loan application> — see HOORAY

hallmark noun
1 a device, design, or figure used as an identifying mark <the hallmark of the Primrose Pottery Works is the small rose emblem etched on each piece> — see EMBLEM
2 something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <regards kindness and gentleness as the hallmarks of a real man> — see CHARACTERISTIC

hallow verb
to make holy through prayers or ritual <Lincoln's memorable words at the Gettysburg battlefield, “we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground”> — see BLESS 1

hallowed adjective
1 deserving honor and respect especially by reason of age <the college's hallowed tradition of ringing the chapel bell one hundred times before commencement ceremonies> — see VENERABLE 1
2 set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God <a church erected on one of Christianity's most hallowed sites> — see HOLY 2
3 not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with <hallowed traditions that bind the present generation with all those that have gone before> — see SACRED 1

hallowing noun
the act of making something holy through religious ritual <the church's belief that the marriage ceremony is a hallowing of the union between a man and a woman> — see CONSECRATION

hallucination noun
1 a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality <were the voices real, or merely a hallucination?> — see FANTASY 1
2 a false idea or belief <the common hallucination that gluttony during the holiday season doesn't have consequences> — see FALLACY 1

hallway noun
1 a typically long narrow way connecting parts of a building <the hallway between the bedroom and bathroom was strewn with toys> — see HALL 2
2 the entrance room of a building <visitors to the Georgian mansion are received in a handsomely proportioned hallway featuring an open staircase> — see HALL 1

halo noun
1 a special quality or impression associated with something <the halo of unimpeachable honesty in which the politician had long basked> — see AURA 1
2 an artistic rendering of radiant light around the head or body of a sacred personage <a naturalistic depiction of Saint Peter that shows him as a humble fisherman and without the traditional halo> — see AUREOLE

halt noun
1 a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in <negotiations are at a halt, with neither management nor the union budging on the issue of salary limits> — see IMPASSE 1
2 the stopping of a process or activity <gardening came to a halt during the week of solid rain> — see END 1

1halt verb
1 to bring (something) to a standstill <traffic was halted by the parade>

Synonyms
arrest, bring up, catch, check, draw up, fetch up, hold up, pull up, stall, stay, still, stop

Related Words
baffle, balk, block, blockade, bottleneck, clog, dam, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, obstruct, snag, stem; conclude, cut off, end, terminate; call, discontinue, suspend; choke off, rein (in), repress, squash, squelch, stanch (or staunch), stunt, suppress, turn back

Near Antonyms
carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep (on), keep up, persist, run on; advance, fare, go along, march, move, proceed, progress, wend; actuate, budge, drive, goad, impel, propel, push, spur, stir

2 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <the private eye abruptly halted his surveillance of the building upon being spotted by his subject> — see STOP 1
3 to come to an end <all filming halted when the star of the movie quit in a huff> — see CEASE 1

2halt verb
1 to walk while favoring one leg <even with her twisted ankle, she managed to halt along and complete her Walk for Peace> — see LIMP 1
2 to show uncertainty about the right course of action <she was often confused, halting between the responsibilities of her job and the demands of her home life> — see HESITATE

hamadryad noun
a mythical goddess represented as a young girl and said to live outdoors <the ancients believed that hamadryads adopted particular trees as their permanent dwelling places> — see NYMPH 1

ham–fisted adjective
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands <that's a ham-fisted paint job if I ever saw one> — see CLUMSY 1

ham–handed adjective
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands <much too ham-handed to use one of those tiny cell phones> — see CLUMSY 1

hamlet noun
a small residential settlement <she always longed to return to the quiet hamlet where she had been born> — see VILLAGE

hammer verb
1 to shape with a hammer <medieval artisans hammered brass into various bowls and trays, which they then embossed with elaborate designs>

Synonyms
beat, draw, forge, pound

Related Words
chase, planish; fashion, form, knead, model, mold, pat, work; coin, mint, stamp; abate, boast, carve, chisel, cut, grave, hew, knap, sculpt, sculpture

2 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <hammer a nail> <hammered the ball for a home run> — see HIT 1
3 to strike repeatedly <tried hammering the door to wake them up> <the crops were hammered with hail> — see BEAT 1
4 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <the critics have long been hammering the stage actress for resorting to the same mixed bag of mannerisms over and over> — see SCOLD

hammer–and–tongs adjective
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <the scuffle escalated into a hammer-and-tongs fight> — see VIOLENT 1

hammered adjective, slang
being under the influence of alcohol <college students regularly getting hammered at keggers> — see DRUNK

hammerhead noun
a stupid person <we despair of ever getting those hammerheads to buckle their seat belts without prodding> — see IDIOT

hammer out verb
to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort <the city council hammered out new commercial development regulations with input from residents, business owners, and environmental activists>

Synonyms
carve (out), develop, forge, grind (out), thrash (out), work out, work up

Related Words
churn out, crank out, turn out; cobble (together or up), throw up; compose, construct, craft, create, engineer, fabricate, fashion, form, frame, generate, manufacture, mint, model, shape, tailor; conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), devise, hatch, invent, originate; accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry out, effect

Phrases
bring forth

Near Antonyms
demolish, destroy, dismantle, raze, tear down; ruin, undo, unmake, wreck

hammy adjective
given to or marked by attention-getting behavior suggestive of stage acting <a hammy singer whose overwrought renditions of love songs just beg listeners to cry> — see THEATRICAL 1

hamper verb
to create difficulty for the work or activity of <fallen branches hampered the hikers as they made their way along the narrow path>

Synonyms
clog, cramp, embarrass, encumber, fetter, handcuff, handicap, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, short-circuit, stymie, tie up, trammel

Related Words
balk, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain; bind, chain, halter, leash, tether, tie; arrest, brake, delay, retain, retard; barricade, block, blockade, roadblock; bog (down), mire; choke, smother, stifle, strangle, suffocate; baffle, foil, frustrate, stump, thwart; derail, disrupt, sabotage; muzzle, repress, suppress; confine, hedge (in), hem (in)

Phrases
cramp one's style, give a hard time

Near Antonyms
clear, make way, open, unclog, unplug, unstop; free, liberate, release, untie; loosen, smooth; encourage, further, promote

Antonyms
aid, assist, facilitate, help

hams plural noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <after sitting on my hams all day, I could use a good workout> — see BUTTOCKS

hamstring verb
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move <the downtown development committee claims that it's hamstrung by city ordinances protecting historic buildings> — see PARALYZE 1

hamstrung adjective
1 not producing the desired result <several hamstrung attempts to reorganize the local parent-teacher association were made> — see INEFFECTIVE 1
2 unable to act or achieve one's purpose <hamstrung by recent congressional limitations on executive power, the president can do little in this situation> — see POWERLESS

hand noun
1 a certain way in which something appears or may be regarded <on the one hand, you would have more storage space in a larger house, but on the other, you would have more rooms to heat> — see ASPECT 1
2 a place, space, or direction away from or beyond a central point or line <tall buildings rose on either hand> <nothing but wide open space on either hand> — see SIDE 1
3 an arrow-shaped piece on a dial or scale for registering information <both hands of the clock pointed to 12> — see POINTER 1
4 one who works for another for wages or a salary <the restaurant always hires several more hands for the busy summer season> — see EMPLOYEE
5 the form or style of a particular person's writing <writes with a flowing, old-fashioned hand> — see HANDWRITING 1
6 usually hands plural the ability to direct the course of something <the final decision is in your hands> — see CONTROL 2
7 hands plural the fact or state of having (something) at one's disposal <I'd like to get my hands on that vintage Cadillac convertible> — see POSSESSION 1
8 an act or instance of helping <the downstairs tenant gave us a hand getting the heavy dresser up the stairs> — see HELP 1
9 a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <once she got her own place, the young woman showed that she was quite a hand at interior decoration> — see EXPERT
10 a person's name written in their own handwriting often given to indicate awareness or consent <the subpoena required a lawyer's hand> — see SIGNATURE

hand verb
1 to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption <was happy to hand her grandmother's cookie recipes to the parish ladies to put in their cookbook> — see FURNISH 2
2 to shift possession of (something) from one person to another <the clerk handed her the receipt> — see PASS 1
3 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <handed me her bundles while she fished for her house keys> — see GIVE 2

handbag noun
1 a bag carried by hand and designed to hold a traveler's clothing and personal articles <flies only with a handbag so he doesn't have to check his luggage> — see TRAVELING BAG
2 a container for carrying money and small personal items <her handbag is just big enough to hold her favorite photos and wallet> — see PURSE

handbook noun
a book used for instruction in a subject <a handbook of grammar> — see TEXTBOOK

handcraft noun
an occupation requiring skillful use of the hands <we learned about traditional handcrafts like barrel-making and leather-working at the colonial history museum> — see CRAFT 1

handcrafted adjective
created by a hand process rather than by a machine <bought a handcrafted wooden bowl at the arts and crafts fair> — see HANDMADE

handcraftsman noun
a person whose occupation requires skill with the hands <using traditional methods, the handcraftsmen at the small workshop fashion pieces of wood furniture that are really works of art> — see ARTISAN

handcuff noun, usually handcuffs plural
something that physically prevents free movement <the man reluctantly held out his wrists so the policeman could snap on handcuffs> — see BOND 1

handcuff verb
1 to confine or restrain with or as if with chains <wanted to take the trip, but was handcuffed by her responsibility to watch her ailing father> — see BIND 1
2 to create difficulty for the work or activity of <the fear that the new mandatory, standardized tests will handcuff the state's teachers, who will have to specifically tailor their lesson plans for the test> — see HAMPER

handcuffed adjective
unable to act or achieve one's purpose <handcuffed by a dearth of funding, the preservation society can do little but stand by as these historic structures deteriorate> — see POWERLESS

handful noun
a small number <only a handful of people signed up for the wintertime hike> — see FEW

handgrip noun
1 a part by which an implement is held <the vegetable peeler has a no-slip handgrip> — see HANDLE 1
2 the act or manner of holding <the tube TV was so bulky that it was difficult for the movers to get a solid handgrip on it> — see HOLD 1

handhold noun
the act or manner of holding <she tried to maintain her tight handhold on the umbrella as the wind picked up> — see HOLD 1

handicap noun
1 a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success <her natural shyness was not a handicap when she played chess> — see DISADVANTAGE 1
2 something that makes movement or progress difficult <her uncomfortable shoes became a handicap on the walking tour of the city, as she often had to sit and rest her sore feet> — see ENCUMBRANCE

handicap verb
to create difficulty for the work or activity of <the baseball player's small size did not handicap him in the least> — see HAMPER

handicraft noun
an occupation requiring skillful use of the hands <volunteers demonstrating early American handicrafts, such as blacksmithing, glassblowing, and weaving> — see CRAFT 1

handicrafter noun
a person whose occupation requires skill with the hands <an accomplished handicrafter who cards, spins, and weaves wool from the sheep she raises> — see ARTISAN

handicraftsman noun
a person whose occupation requires skill with the hands <a handicraftsman who makes custom birdhouses> — see ARTISAN

handily adverb
without difficulty <handily whipped up a fluffy meringue and spread it on the pie> — see EASILY 1

hand in glove or hand and glove adverb
in or by combined action or effort <as citizens we must work hand in glove with the local police to protect our children from sexual predators> — see TOGETHER 2

handiwork noun
something produced by physical or intellectual effort <proud of his handiwork, he was certain that the birdhouse would win first place in its category> — see PRODUCT 1

handkerchief noun
1 a scarf worn on the head <tied a handkerchief around her head and set about cleaning out the dust-covered attic> — see BANDANNA
2 a small, often square piece of material that is used for personal hygiene purposes <usually dries her hands on her handkerchief when there are no towels available> — see HANKIE

handle noun
1 a part by which an implement is held <was given a set a steak knives with wooden handles>

Synonyms
grip, haft, handgrip, helve

Related Words
bar, handlebar; bail, bow, loop; hilt, shaft; crop, whipstock; broomstick

2 a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known <likes to go by the handle “Champ”> — see NAME 1
3 a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual <since it seemed decreed that every new firefighter have a handle, his was soon “Hulk”> — see NICKNAME

handle verb
1 to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <as host of a live TV talk show, she must handle any situation that comes up>

Synonyms
address, contend (with), cope (with), field, grapple (with), hack, manage, maneuver, manipulate, negotiate, play, swing, take, treat

Related Words
engineer, finesse, jockey; bring off, carry off, carry out, get off, pull; command, direct, guide, steer; control, micromanage, regulate, run; react (to), respond (to)

Phrases
come to grips with, have a grip on

Near Antonyms
botch, bungle, foozle, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mess (up), mishandle, muff, scamp

2 to behave toward in a stated way <handles all requests professionally, even when customers are rude> — see TREAT 1
3 to control the mechanical operation of <learned how to handle basic woodworking power tools> — see OPERATE 1
4 to look after and make decisions about <she takes care of the flower beds, and he handles all the lawn care> — see CONDUCT 1
5 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <I can't handle much more of this foul weather> — see BEAR 2
6 to be in charge of <I'll be handling the team's workouts while the leader is on vacation> — see BOSS 1

handless adjective
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands <she's far too handless to be good at needlework> — see CLUMSY 1

handling noun
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <the handling of proper order in the courtroom is the job of the sergeant at arms> — see CONDUCT 1

handmade adjective
created by a hand process rather than by a machine <received a handmade sweater at the baby shower>

Synonyms
handcrafted, handwrought

Related Words
homemade, man-made, manual; bespoke (also bespoken), crafted, custom-built, custom-made

Near Antonyms
automatic, machined, mass-produced

handmaiden also handmaid noun
a female domestic servant <the princess was intensely shy, and allowed only her handmaiden to enter her chambers> — see MAID 1

hand out verb
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals <no system yet in place for handing out room assignments> — see ADMINISTER 1

handover noun
the usually forced yielding of one's person or possessions to the control of another <though the handover of my wallet was painful, it was better than getting shot by some trigger-happy punk> — see SURRENDER

hand over verb
1 to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress <the police officer ordered the suspect to hand over his weapons> — see SURRENDER 1
2 to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption <in response to a desperate plea, we handed over all our extra blankets and pillows to the homeless shelter> — see FURNISH 2
3 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <handed over their valuables to the desk clerk, who put them in the hotel safe> — see GIVE 2
4 to shift possession of (something) from one person to another <hand over that screwdriver, will you please?> — see PASS 1

handpick verb
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities <handpicked what she considered to be the cutest kitten from the litter> — see CHOOSE 1

handpicked adjective
singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking <the senator's handpicked campaign staff> — see SELECT 1

hand running adverb, dialect
in succession without others coming in between <worked on repairing the fencing for five days hand running> — see CONSECUTIVELY

hands–down adjective
involving minimal difficulty or effort <after all that worrying, the game for the championship turned out to be a hands-down win> — see EASY 1

hands down adverb
1 without any question <she is hands down the most gifted musician in the class> — see INDEED 1
2 without difficulty <she'll win the dancing competition hands down> — see EASILY 1

handsel noun
something given to someone without expectation of a return <gave little handsels to their houseguests on New Year's Day> — see GIFT 1

handsome adjective
1 having or showing elegance <the glass-topped table was a handsome addition to the room> — see ELEGANT 1
2 of a size greater than average of its kind <earns a handsome salary as senior vice president of the firm> — see LARGE 1
3 very pleasing to look at <a handsome man with finely chiseled features> — see BEAUTIFUL 1
4 sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention <real estate developers realized a handsome profit on that deal> — see CONSIDERABLE 1

handsomely adverb
in a generous manner <rewarded handsomely the kids who had found his lost dog> — see WELL 2

handsomeness noun
1 dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style <a modern-style addition that detracts from the handsomeness of that neoclassic building> — see ELEGANCE
2 the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses <she never had noticed his handsomeness until he got a more becoming haircut> — see BEAUTY 1

hand–to–mouth adjective
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <survived on a hand-to-mouth income that came from any odd job that he could find> — see MEAGER

handworker noun
a person whose occupation requires skill with the hands <it's hard to find a handworker to tailor clothes these days> — see ARTISAN

handwringer noun
a person who is inclined to worry <opponents of the nuclear power plant were dismissed as a bunch of handwringers who were standing in the way of progress> — see NERVOUS NELLIE

handwriting noun
1 the form or style of a particular person's writing <she immediately recognized the handwriting on the envelope as that of her old college roommate>

Synonyms
hand, penmanship, script

Related Words
cacography, hen scratch, hen track, scratch, scrawl, scribble; backhand, copperplate, cursive, print, running hand; autograph, John Hancock, John Henry, signature

2 writing done by hand <the columnist laments the decline of fine handwriting, as so few people write letters by hand anymore>

Synonyms
calligraphy, longhand, manuscript, penmanship, script

Related Words
lettering; phonography, shorthand, steno, stenography

Antonyms
print, type, typewriting

handwrought adjective
created by a hand process rather than by a machine <ordered handwrought andirons for the fireplace in their restored 18th-century saltbox> — see HANDMADE

handy adjective
1 situated within easy reach <keeps a box of tissue handy whenever she watches Romeo and Juliet on her home theater> — see CONVENIENT
2 skillful with the hands <handy with a needle and thread> — see DEXTEROUS 1

handyman noun
a person who does general repairs or maintenance work <hired a handyman to paint the porch, clean the gutters, and replace the broken window>

Synonyms
handyperson

Related Words
jack-of-all-trades; doctor, mender, renovator, repairer; mechanic, repairman, serviceman, troubleshooter; tinkerer; do-it-yourselfer

handyperson noun
a person who does general repairs or maintenance work <she's a real handyperson who can fix anything around the house> — see HANDYMAN

hang noun
1 a downward slope <anyone foolish enough to ski that hang would end up with a broken neck> — see DECLINE 3
2 the extent to which something hangs or dips below a straight line <there's too much hang in the bunting on the parade float—nothing should be touching the ground> — see SAG

hang verb
1 to place on an elevated point without support from below <hang your coats on the coat rack in the hall>

Synonyms
dangle, sling, suspend, swing

Related Words
hook, mount, pin, tack; drape, festoon, garland, string; extend (out), jut, project, stick out; overhang, protrude; cascade, depend, fall; balance, poise

2 to be determined by, based on, or subject (to) <our plan to go to the amusement park has all been worked out; now it just hangs on the weather> — see DEPEND 1
3 to be limp from lack of water or vigor <as they neared the end of the long, hard march all but the most hardy were hanging, and some could barely put one foot in front of the other> — see DROOP 1
4 to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air <hanging just above the horizon was a little pink cloud> — see FLOAT 1
5 to find a basis <that's very slim evidence upon which to hang a theory> — see BASE

hang (around or out) verb
1 to come or be together as friends <she still hangs around with her college roommate> — see ASSOCIATE 1
2 to spend time doing nothing <for my vacation I plan to rent a beach house and just hang out> — see IDLE

hang (at) verb
to go to or spend time in often <most summer afternoons, we'd hang at the municipal pool for a few hours> — see FREQUENT

hang (over) verb
to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on <as long as the possibility of having to move again was hanging over them, the family couldn't really settle in> — see THREATEN

hang about verb, British
1 to spend time doing nothing <a London slum where lots of unemployed young men could be seen hanging about> — see IDLE
2 to spend time in aimless activity <we'll be hanging about at the pub if you need us> — see FIDDLE AROUND

hang around verb
to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time <if you hang around until my husband gets home, you can meet him> — see 1STAY 1

hang back verb
to show uncertainty about the right course of action <even though the young mother wanted the job, she still hung back because she wasn't sure if she should spend time away from her family> — see HESITATE

hangdog adjective
feeling unhappiness <“Why do you look so hangdog today?” she asked> — see SAD 1

hanger–on noun
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return <almost overnight, the singer was a star, and almost overnight, he was surrounded by hangers-on who wanted something> — see LEECH

hanging adjective
1 bending downward or forward <hanging branches blocked our way for a good part of the trail> — see NODDING
2 extending freely from a support from above <light from a hanging chandelier filled the great hall> — see DEPENDENT 1

hanging noun
a downward slope <with a steep hanging like that, the roofers can't be too careful> — see DECLINE 3

hangout noun
a place for spending time or for socializing <a favorite hangout of the golden-agers is the local community center>

Synonyms
haunt, purlieu, rendezvous, resort, stamping ground, stomping ground

Related Words
camp, canteen, club, clubhouse, country club, key club, service club, union; harbor, harborage, haven, nest, refuge, retreat, sanctuary

hang–up noun
a source of persistent emotional distress <low self-esteem is only one of his many hang-ups> — see DEMON 2

hanker (for or after) verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <hankering for some company in his lonely mountain cabin> <hanker after a life of leisure> — see DESIRE 1

hankering noun
a strong wish for something <I've had a hankering for pizza with anchovies all afternoon> — see DESIRE 1

hankie or hanky noun
a small, often square piece of material that is used for personal hygiene purposes <held a hankie up to his nose and blew vigorously>

Synonyms
handkerchief, kerchief

Related Words
napkin, serviette [chiefly British], tissue, towel; bandanna (or bandana)

hanky–panky noun
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end <had to resort to a certain amount of hanky-panky to sneak away from the house without his dog seeing him> — see TRICKERY

hant noun, dialect
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <those old ladies are so superstitious that they see hants everywhere> — see GHOST 1

1hap noun
1 something that happens <we must make the best of both the good and the bad haps of life> — see EVENT 1
2 the uncertain course of events <by hap and circumstance, he ended up as a cartoonist in New York> — see CHANCE 1

2hap noun, dialect
a decorative cloth used as a top covering for a bed <the hap was a patchwork quilt that the old woman had made herself> — see COUNTERPANE

hap verb
to take place <what wondrous events hath happed this Christmas Day?> — see HAPPEN

haphazard adjective
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern <considering the haphazard way you measured the ingredients, it's a wonder the cookies came out this good> — see RANDOM

haphazard adverb
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method <shoes were tossed haphazard into the closet> — see HIT OR MISS

haphazardly adverb
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method <you should not begin writing haphazardly; first, make an outline> — see HIT OR MISS

hapless adjective
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck <the hapless motorist had barely paid his bill and driven away from the body shop when a truck sideswiped his car> — see UNLUCKY 1

happen verb
to take place <did anything exciting happen over the summer?>

Synonyms
be, befall, betide, chance, come, come about, come down, come off, cook, do, go down [slang], go on, hap, occur, pass, transpire

Related Words
break, develop, rise, shape (up); arise, come up, crop (up), materialize, spring (up); intervene; fall out, follow, result, turn out; go off, proceed

Phrases
come to pass

happen (on or upon) verb
to come upon unexpectedly or by chance <happened on the filming of a movie>

Synonyms
chance (upon), encounter, find, hit (upon), light (on or upon), meet, pitch (upon), stumble (on or onto), tumble (upon)

Related Words
luck (out, on, onto, or into); confront, face; discover, strike, turn up

Phrases
bump into, come across, run across, run against, run into, run upon

happen (upon) verb
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face <happened upon the hotel manager in the lobby and promptly complained about the room> — see MEET 1

happening adjective
1 being in the latest or current fashion <those are some happening duds, man> — see STYLISH
2 marked by much life, movement, or activity <the downtown theater district is a happening place this autumn> — see ALIVE 2
3 enjoying widespread favor or approval <that might be a happening outfit right now, but not on a woman who'll never see 40 again> — see POPULAR 1

happening noun
1 an exciting or noteworthy event that one experiences firsthand <the President's visit to the school was a real happening for teachers and students alike> — see ADVENTURE 1
2 something that happens <gave a detailed account of all the happenings of the weekend> — see EVENT 1

happily adverb
1 in a cheerful or happy manner <happily accepted the invitation to dinner> — see GAILY 1
2 in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose <one of those rare occasions on which business and pleasure happily mixed> — see PROPERLY

happiness noun
1 a feeling or state of well-being and contentment <her happiness was complete when she got her very own house>

Synonyms
beatitude, blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, felicity, gladness, joy, warm fuzzies

Related Words
elatedness, elation, exhilaration, exultation, high, intoxication; ecstasy, euphoria, glory, heaven, nirvana, paradise, rapture, rapturousness, ravishment, seventh heaven, transport; delectation, delight, enjoyment, pleasure; cheer, cheerfulness, comfort, exuberance, gaiety (also gayety), gladsomeness, glee, gleefulness, jocundity, jollity, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilance, jubilation, lightheartedness, merriness, mirth; content, contentedness, gratification, satisfaction, triumph

Near Antonyms
agony, anguish, desolation, joylessness, sorrow, sufferance, woe, woefulness; blues, cheerlessness, dejection, depression, desolateness, despondency, disheartenment, dispiritedness, doldrums, downheartedness, gloom, gloominess, melancholy, mournfulness, plaintiveness; Gehenna, hell, purgatory

Antonyms
calamity, ill-being, misery, sadness, unhappiness, wretchedness

2 the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met <finally found true happiness as a doctor in a poor rural area> — see PLEASURE 1
3 the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting <the striking happiness of the phrase “fatal attraction” as the title for an erotic thriller> — see APPROPRIATENESS

happy adjective
1 coming or happening by good luck especially unexpectedly <a happy discovery, finding the letter that would prove her innocence> — see FORTUNATE 1
2 experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight <made bread for the first time and was happy with the tasty result> — see GLAD 1
3 feeling that one's needs or desires have been met <has been much happier ever since she moved> — see CONTENT
4 having good luck <the happy person who is both appreciated and rewarded for all his hard work> — see LUCKY 1
5 meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <the wine was a happy complement to such a fine meal> — see FIT 1
6 having extreme or relentless concern <poll-happy pundits just care about which political candidate is winning, and never about the issues> — see HUNG UP 1

happy–go–lucky adjective
1 having a relaxed, casual manner <he is completely happy-go-lucky on fishing trips—if he catches something, fine; if he doesn't, that's fine, too> — see EASYGOING 1
2 having or showing freedom from worries or trouble <went on her happy-go-lucky way, totally unaware that she was strewing litter behind her> — see CAREFREE

harangue noun
1 a long angry speech or scolding <launched into a long harangue about poor customer service without realizing that I wasn't even an employee!> — see TIRADE
2 a usually formal discourse delivered to an audience <the dictator's lengthy harangue before a captive audience> — see SPEECH 1

harangue verb
1 to give a formal often extended talk on a subject <the eminent professor harangued for three hours on his favorite subject, the clash of East and West> — see TALK 1
2 to talk as if giving an important and formal speech <a talk-show guest using the interviewer's questions as an opportunity to harangue on a variety of pet peeves> — see ORATE 1

harass verb
to use up all the physical energy of <had been visibly harassed by the demands of the presidency> — see EXHAUST 1

harasser noun
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another <the firm takes the issue of sexual harassment very seriously, and harassers are harshly disciplined> — see TORMENTOR

harassment noun
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another <he owes her a lot of money, so he shouldn't be surprised at her constant harassment for a repayment> — see ANNOYANCE 1

harbinger noun
one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another <her father's successful job interview was seen as a harbinger of better times to come> — see FORERUNNER 1

harbinger verb
to give a slight indication of beforehand <the hope that the housing slump does not harbinger a general economic recession> — see FORESHADOW

harbor noun
1 a part of a body of water protected and deep enough to be a place of safety for ships <the tanker stayed in Boston harbor three days to undergo repairs>

Synonyms
anchorage, harborage, haven, port

Related Words
basin, dock, marina, moorage, mooring; arm, bay, bight, cove, creek [chiefly British], embayment, estuary, firth, fjord (also fiord), gulf, inlet, lagoon, loch [Scottish], lough [chiefly Irish], narrow, roads, roadstead; canal, channel, sound, strait; containerport, home port, seaport

2 something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger <seeking a harbor from the drenching rain, we unfortunately chose a bank where a robbery was taking place> — see SHELTER

harbor verb
1 to keep in one's mind or heart <he had long harbored a grudge against his old employer, who had high-handedly fired him without cause>

Synonyms
bear, cherish, entertain, have, hold, nurse

Related Words
cultivate, foster, nurture, support, sustain; carry, keep, maintain, preserve, remember, retain, treasure; cleave (to), cling (to), hug, stick (to); brood (about or over), fixate (on or upon), obsess (about or over)

Phrases
hang on to, hold on to

Near Antonyms
disregard, drop, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook; abjure, decline, deny, disdain, refuse, reject, repudiate, scorn; abandon, desert, discard, forsake, give up, part (with), quit, renounce, throw out; erase, expunge

2 to provide with living quarters or shelter <the woods in our suburb harbor deer, foxes, raccoons, and skunks> — see HOUSE 1
3 to be or provide a shelter for <the little cabin is harbored from the wind by a thick growth of pines> — see SHELTER 1

harborage noun
1 a part of a body of water protected and deep enough to be a place of safety for ships <the city boasts one of the best deepwater harborages on the Atlantic coast> — see HARBOR 1
2 something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger <the only harborage from the storm was a lone pine tree, which looked like it could get hit by lightning any minute> — see SHELTER

hard adjective
1 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <a hard man, who never had a kind word for anyone>

Synonyms
affectless, callous, case-hardened, cold-blooded, compassionless, desensitized, hard-boiled, hard-hearted, heartless, indurate, inhuman, inhumane, insensate, insensitive, ironhearted, merciless, obdurate, pachydermatous, pitiless, remorseless, ruthless, slash-and-burn, soulless, stony (also stoney), stonyhearted, take-no-prisoners, thick-skinned, uncharitable, unfeeling, unmerciful, unsparing, unsympathetic

Related Words
boorish, heedless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, uncaring, unfriendly, unloving, unthinking; grim, hard-bitten, harsh, heavy-handed, ironfisted, ironhanded, jackbooted, knock-down, drag-out (or knock-down-and-drag-out), oppressive, rough, rough-and-tumble, severe, sledgehammer, stern, tough, ungentle; abusive, acrimonious, disagreeable, hateful, ill-natured, ill-tempered, malevolent, malicious, mean, rancorous, spiteful, surly, virulent; barbarous, bestial, brutal, brutish, cruel, evil-minded, savage, vicious; austere, cold, frosty

Near Antonyms
benevolent, benignant, gentle, kind; clement, indulgent, lenient, mild; cordial, friendly, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious; tolerant, understanding; affectionate, fond, loving

Antonyms
charitable, compassionate, humane, kindhearted, kindly, merciful, sensitive, softhearted, sympathetic, tender, tenderhearted, warm, warmhearted

2 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <clearing land is hard work> <a hard exam to pass>

Synonyms
arduous, Augean, backbreaking, challenging, demanding, difficult, effortful, exacting, formidable, grueling (or gruelling), heavy, hellacious, herculean, killer, laborious, moiling, murderous, pick-and-shovel, rigorous, rough, rugged, severe, stiff, strenuous, sweaty, tall, testing, toilsome, tough, uphill

Related Words
abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, elusive, hairy, insoluble, intricate, involved, knotty, opaque, problematic (also problematical), recondite, serious, spiny, stubborn, thorny, ticklish, tricky; bruising, burdensome, exhausting, labored, onerous, oppressive, stressful, taxing, tight, trying; annoying, bothersome, distressing, irksome, troublesome, vexatious; grievous, grim, strict, stringent; brutal, cruel, inhuman, painful

Near Antonyms
achievable, clear, doable, elementary, manageable, uncomplicated; comforting, gentle, painless, relaxed, smooth, soothing; accessible, friendly, idiotproof, user-friendly

Antonyms
cheap, easy, effortless, facile, light, mindless, simple, soft, undemanding

3 able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure <they were forced to import sheep of a harder stock, one that could thrive in the harsh climate> — see HARDY 1
4 based on sound reasoning or information <do you have any hard evidence that this was once the site of a Native American village?> — see GOOD 1
5 difficult to endure <the hard life of a migrant farm worker> — see HARSH 1
6 extreme in degree, power, or effect <a carpet that withstood years of hard wear> — see INTENSE 1
7 given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint <a hard disciplinarian who is quick to punish the tiniest violation of the rules> — see SEVERE 1
8 having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure <hard candies> <fell on the hard floor and bruised her arm> — see FIRM 2
9 having been established and usually not subject to change <there isn't always a hard line between right and wrong> — see FIXED 1
10 having or showing deep-seated resentment <maintained hard feelings toward those who had cheated him> — see BITTER 1
11 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <a woman with a hard will who never budged from her chosen path> — see OBSTINATE
12 restricted to or based on fact <that newscast is strictly devoted to hard news, as the producers prefer to leave the gossip to others> — see FACTUAL 1

hard adverb
1 with great effort or determination <we took a much-needed break after working hard all week> <a hard-won victory>

Synonyms
amain, arduously, assiduously, determinedly, diligently, doggedly, hardly, industriously, intensely, intensively, intently, laboriously, mightily, purposefully, resolutely, sedulously, slavishly, strenuously

Related Words
actively, animatedly, briskly, busily, dynamically, energetically, feverishly, spiritedly, vehemently, vigorously, zealously; continuously, ploddingly, steadfastly, steadily, unabatedly, unrelentingly, unremittingly; ardently, attentively, conscientiously, earnestly, exhaustively, meticulously, painstakingly, seriously, thoroughly; indefatigably, tirelessly, unflaggingly, untiringly, wearilessly; obstinately, stubbornly, willfully

Near Antonyms
casually, desultorily, halfheartedly, indolently, lackadaisically, languidly, lazily, listlessly, shiftlessly, sluggishly, spiritlessly, tiredly, wearily

2 with feelings of bitterness or grief <took the news of their grandfather's death hard>

Synonyms
agonizingly, bitterly, dolefully, dolorously, grievously, hardly, inconsolably, lugubriously, mournfully, painfully, plaintively, regretfully, resentfully, ruefully, sadly, sorely, sorrowfully, unhappily, wailfully, woefully, wretchedly

Related Words
abjectly, cheerlessly, crestfallenly, dejectedly, despairingly, despondently, disconsolately, dispiritedly, downheartedly, low-spiritedly; blackly, darkly, dismally, distressfully, distressingly, dourly, drearily, forlornly, gloomily, glumly, joylessly, mirthlessly, miserably, morosely, pessimistically, somberly, sullenly; acutely, harshly, keenly, piercingly, poignantly, severely, sharply; cruelly, hurtfully, ill, rancorously

Near Antonyms
cheerfully, cheerily, delightedly, gaily (also gayly), gleefully, good-naturedly, lightheartedly, merrily, mirthfully, rejoicingly, sunnily; blithely, blithesomely, calmly, casually, dispassionately, easily, impassively, indifferently, lightly, nonchalantly, stoically, unconcernedly; favorably, well

Antonyms
blissfully, gladly, happily, joyfully, joyously

3 in a vigorous and forceful manner <hit the ball hard, causing it to soar out of bounds> <the wind blew hard all day>

Synonyms
dynamically, energetically, explosively, firmly, forcefully, forcibly, mightily, muscularly, powerfully, roundly, stiffly, stoutly, strenuously, strongly, sturdily, vigorously

Related Words
fiercely, hammer and tongs, robustly, roughshod, sharply, vehemently, violently; actively, animatedly, briskly, crisply, eagerly, gamely, heartily, lustily, snappily, spiritedly, spunkily, vivaciously; decidedly, determinedly, directly, emphatically, fast, fixedly, intensively, intently, purposefully, resolutely, rigidly, smartly, solidly, soundly, squarely, steadfastly, steadily, sturdily, surely; aggressively, assertively, manfully, potently

Phrases
like gangbusters, to beat the band, with a vengeance, with might and main

Near Antonyms
delicately, faintly, frailly, shakily; bloodlessly, halfheartedly, languidly, lazily, listlessly, spiritlessly; impotently, ineffectively, ineffectually, lamely, nervelessly, spinelessly, uncertainly

Antonyms
feebly, gently, softly, weakly

4 at, within, or to a short distance or time <the groom stood hard by, ready to help, as the lady mounted the skittish horse> — see NEAR 1
5 in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering <the dog had been treated hard by his previous owner> — see HARDLY 1

hard–and–fast adjective
1 having been established and usually not subject to change <hard-and-fast rules that governed the corporate environment in those days included strictures regarding office dress that were rigidly enforced> — see FIXED 1
2 not capable of changing or being changed <hard-and-fast beliefs that are the rock-solid foundation of their religion> — see INFLEXIBLE 1

hard–bitten adjective
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure <a hard-bitten Apache chief who could endure the scorching heat of the Arizona desert> — see HARDY 1

hard–boiled adjective
1 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <a hard-boiled Puritan schoolmaster who was as unyielding as New England granite> — see HARD 1
2 having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment <made the hard-boiled business decision to downsize the company, thereby costing thousands of longtime employees their jobs> — see SHREWD 1

hard–core adjective
firmly established over time <the hard-core habits that generate our mountains of trash everyday will be extremely difficult to change> — see INVETERATE 1

hard–driving adjective
having a strong desire for personal advancement <she's the most hard-driving malpractice lawyer I've ever seen> — see AMBITIOUS 1

harden verb
1 to become physically firm or solid <the glue begins to harden as soon as it is exposed to air>

Synonyms
concrete, congeal, firm (up), freeze, indurate, set, solidify

Related Words
cake, callus, encrust (also incrust); clot, coagulate, gel, gelate, gelatinize, jell, jelly, stiffen, thicken; calcify, crystallize (also crystalize), ossify, petrify, rigidify; anneal, case-harden, temper

Near Antonyms
deliquesce, dissolve, flux, fuse, melt, smelt, thaw, unfreeze

Antonyms
liquefy (also liquify), soften

2 to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure <pioneer women who had been hardened by years of living on the plains>

Synonyms
fortify, indurate, inure, season, steel, strengthen, toughen

Related Words
acclimate, acclimatize, adapt, adjust; anneal, temper; invigorate, vitalize; immunize; bolster, boost, brace, buttress, enforce, forearm, prop (up), reinforce (also reenforce), support; break in, limber (up), train; accustom, condition, habituate, naturalize

Near Antonyms
emasculate, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, sap, weaken; cripple, debilitate, hamstring, incapacitate; sensitize

Antonyms
soften

3 to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force <arm muscles that were hardened by all the years of casting and hauling his fishing nets> — see STRENGTHEN 1
4 to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe <the government hardened restrictions on travel to and from the war-torn nation> — see HARSHEN

hardened adjective
1 able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure <hardened from years of deprivation and grief, the man regarded the house fire as just another misfortune in a life filled with them> — see HARDY 1
2 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <hardened cynics regarded those TV shows as being anything but reality-based> — see OBSTINATE

hard–eyed adjective
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <stared back at the prisoner with a hard-eyed glint> — see COLD 2

hardhanded adjective
difficult to endure <the hardhanded rule of a tyrannical regime> — see HARSH 1

hardhead noun
a stupid person <a hardhead who has to learn every life lesson the hard way> — see IDIOT

hardheaded adjective
1 having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment <a hardheaded politician who never hesitated to set aside principle in favor of expediency> — see SHREWD 1
2 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <Granny remained hardheaded about keeping her house and not moving into a nursing home> — see OBSTINATE
3 willing to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly <a hardheaded minister who understands the difficulties teenagers face today> — see REALISTIC 1

hardheadedness noun
1 a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <her unrelenting hardheadedness didn't win many friends, but it helped her to get her way most of the time> — see OBSTINACY
2 exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters <the hardheadedness of a bean counter> — see ACUMEN

hard–hearted adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <a hard-hearted brush-off to a homeless man asking for money> — see HARD 1

hardihood noun
1 active strength of body or mind <the 80-year-old grandmother attributes her hardihood to having eaten a cup of yogurt every day for the past 50 years> — see VIGOR 1
2 strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <the explorers were driven by an almost reckless hardihood in the face of the unknown> — see COURAGE

hard–line adjective
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards <a hard-line approach to the sentencing of repeat offenders> — see RIGID 1

hard–luck adjective
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck <a hard-luck ball club that never could get the breaks it needed> — see UNLUCKY 1

hardly adverb
1 in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering <the new judge vowed to deal hardly with repeat offenders>

Synonyms
brutally, hard, harshly, ill, oppressively, roughly, severely, sternly, stiffly

Related Words
callously, cold-bloodedly, hard-heartedly, heartlessly, inhumanely, inhumanly, insensately, insensitively, mercilessly, obdurately, pitilessly, ruthlessly, tyrannically, uncharitably, unfeelingly, unmercifully, unsparingly; abusively, brutishly, savagely, viciously; aggressively, assertively, decidedly, determinedly, firmly, grimly, gruffly, resolutely, strongly, toughly

Near Antonyms
benevolently, benignantly, considerately, cordially, graciously, kindly, lovingly, tenderly; charitably, compassionately, humanely, mercifully, softheartedly, sympathetically, tolerantly, understandingly

Antonyms
clemently, gently, leniently, lightly, mildly, softly

2 certainly not <I would hardly think someone with her attitude could make a good manager>

Synonyms
ill, no, none, no way, scarcely

Related Words
near, never, nothing, nowhere, nowise

Phrases
by no means, nothing doing, on no account

Near Antonyms
awful, awfully, enormously, exceedingly (also exceeding), extremely, greatly, highly, hugely, immensely, mightily, mighty, most, quite, terribly, very; assuredly, clearly, hands down, perfectly, plainly, really, truly, unequivocally, unquestionably, utterly; doubtless, more or less, mostly, rather, slightly, somewhat

Antonyms
absolutely, certainly, completely, definitely, positively, surely

3 by a very small margin <we were hardly able to make it back to camp before darkness set in> — see JUST 2
4 with feelings of bitterness or grief <his broker did not think that he would take his financial losses so hardly> — see HARD 2
5 with great effort or determination <the state championship was a hardly fought contest between two evenly matched teams> — see HARD 1

hardness noun
1 something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal <the test questions were rated for hardness, a rating of five indicating the most difficult> — see DIFFICULTY 1
2 the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) <the aunt's hardness gradually crumbled under the influence of the little orphan's endearing ways> — see SEVERITY

hard–nosed adjective
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <the team's hard-nosed coach doesn't make exceptions for anybody> — see OBSTINATE

hard–pressed adjective
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do <they will be hard-pressed to come up with any facts that actually support their argument> — see HARD PUT

hard put adjective
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do <she was hard put to explain her department's excessive expenditures>

Synonyms
baffled, confounded, hard-pressed, nonplussed (also nonplused), perplexed

Related Words
bewildered, confused, disconcerted, fazed; embarrassed, flustered, put out

Phrases
at a loss, put to it

Near Antonyms
undaunted, unfazed; composed, untroubled

hardscrabble adjective
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation <it was hard to eke out even a bare existence on the hardscrabble lands> — see BARREN 1

hardship noun
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal <working two jobs was a hardship he was willing to endure to get out of debt> — see DIFFICULTY 1

hard up adjective
lacking money or material possessions <despite being undeniably hard up, they had too much pride to accept charity> — see POOR 1

hardware noun
items needed for the performance of a task or activity <gathered together the hardware needed to set up a first aid station at the finish line for the marathon> — see EQUIPMENT

hardwired adjective
being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <a cat with a hardwired compulsion to knock expensive knickknacks off of shelves> — see INHERENT

hardy adjective
1 able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure <chrysanthemums are hardy enough to survive a light frost> <the settlers of the Old West were a hardy lot>

Synonyms
cast-iron, hard, hard-bitten, hardened, inured, rugged, stout, strong, sturdy, tough, toughened, vigorous

Related Words
flinty, leathery, resilient, stalwart; durable, enduring, everlasting, immortal, imperishable, lasting, permanent, stable, staunch (also stanch), staying, tenacious, unyielding; flourishing, prospering, thriving; able-bodied, brawny, muscular; fit, fortified, hale, healthy, husky, lusty, red-blooded, robust, sound, strapping, virile; annealed, seasoned, tempered

Near Antonyms
emasculated, enervated, enfeebled, exhausted, run-down, sapped, wasted, weakened, worn, worn out; crippled, debilitated, diseased, incapacitated, infirm, unsound; fragile, frail, puny; resistless, sensitive, susceptible, unresistant, vulnerable, yielding; mortal, perishable, temporary, transient

Antonyms
delicate, nonhardy, soft, tender, weak

2 inclined or willing to take risks <hardy souls who pioneered new paths into outer space> — see BOLD 1

hare verb
to proceed or move quickly <she's always haring off to attend to some emergency> — see HURRY 2

harebrained adjective
1 lacking in seriousness or maturity <the movie follows the harebrained antics of a pair of stoners who seem incapable of growing up> — see GIDDY 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a harebrained idea to go for a hike in an area where grizzly bear attacks had recently been reported> — see FOOLISH 1

hark verb
to pay attention especially through the act of hearing <upon hearing the offending ringing, the teacher sarcastically cried, “Hark! Could that possibly be a cell phone?”> — see LISTEN

hark back (to) verb
to bring back to mind <the new stadium, designed for nostalgic appeal, harks back to the intimate ballparks of yore> — see REMEMBER

harken verb
to pay attention especially through the act of hearing <young people would do well to read this wise and witty book and harken to its message> — see LISTEN

harken back (to) verb
to bring back to mind <let's harken back to what we learned last week> — see REMEMBER

harlequin noun
a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior <among the court entertainers waiting to enter the grand hall were masked harlequins in brightly colored pantaloons> — see CLOWN 1

harlot noun
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money <the touristy port town little resembled the haven for thieves, cutthroats, and harlots it had once been> — see PROSTITUTE

harlotry noun
the practice of engaging in sexual activities for money <a city that in biblical times was infamous for licentiousness and harlotry> — see PROSTITUTION

harm noun
something that causes loss or pain <you were lucky to survive the fire without harm> <no harm in trying> — see INJURY 1

harm verb
1 to cause bodily damage to <though she wasn't harmed by the flying glass, she slipped and fell on a piece and cut her hand> — see INJURE 1
2 to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <the company's reputation has been harmed by allegations of crooked accounting> — see DAMAGE 1

harmful adjective
causing or capable of causing harm <DDT has been proven to be extremely harmful to the environment>

Synonyms
adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, evil, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, wicked

Related Words
hostile, inimical, unfriendly; contagious, deadly, infectious, infective, pestiferous, pestilent, pestilential, poisonous, venomous; insidious, menacing, ominous, sinister, threatening; hazardous, imperiling (or imperilling), jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe, unsound; nasty, noisome, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome; destructive, fatal, killer, lethal, malignant, ruinous

Near Antonyms
advantageous, beneficial, useful; favorable, good, propitious; curative, healthful, healthy, helpful, palliative, remedial, salubrious, salutary, wholesome; secure, sound; benignant; noncorrosive, nondestructive, nonfatal, noninfectious, nonlethal, nonpoisonous, nonpolluting, nontoxic, nonvenomous

Antonyms
anodyne, benign, harmless, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, safe

harmless adjective
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt <a perfectly harmless little spider>

Synonyms
anodyne, benign, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, safe, white

Related Words
healthful, healthy, salubrious, wholesome; benignant; sound, trustworthy; gentle, gracious, mild; nonthreatening, painless, unobjectionable; noncorrosive, nondestructive, nonfatal, noninfectious, nonlethal, nonpoisonous, nonpolluting, nontoxic, nonvenomous

Near Antonyms
poisonous, venomous; menacing, ominous, sinister, threatening; hazardous, imperiling (or imperilling), jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe, unsound; nasty, noisome, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome; offensive, painful, scathing, wounding; deadly, fatal, lethal, ruinous; destructive, insidious, malignant, noxious, pestilent, polluted, tainted

Antonyms
adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, wicked

harmonic adjective
having the parts agreeably related <the desire to live the kind of harmonic life in which work and family are perfectly balanced> — see HARMONIOUS 2

harmonious adjective
1 having a pleasing mixture of notes <the naturally harmonious sounds of a forest glen in springtime>

Synonyms
canorous, euphonic, euphonious, harmonizing, melodious, musical, symphonic, symphonious, tuneful

Related Words
blending, chiming, flowing, mellifluent, mellifluous; dulcet, mellow, melodic, sweet; echoing, resonant, sonorous; quavering, trilling, warbling; agreeable, appealing, pleasant; cadenced, lilting, lyric, lyrical, rhythmic (or rhythmical), songful, songlike; chordal, harmonic, homophonic, orchestral, polyphonic (or polyphonous), tonal

Near Antonyms
blaring, clanging, clashing, clattering, grating, harsh, jangling, jarring, metallic, raspy, raucous, scratching, screeching, shrill, squeaky, strident; disagreeable, unpleasant, unpleasing; atonal, off-key

Antonyms
discordant, disharmonious, dissonant, inharmonious, tuneless, unmelodious, unmusical

2 having the parts agreeably related <a harmonious arrangement of archways and doorways in the palace courtyard>

Synonyms
balanced, congruous, consonant, eurythmic (or eurhythmic), harmonic

Related Words
even, proportioned, regular, symmetrical (or symmetric); aesthetic (also esthetic or aesthetical or esthetical), artistic, becoming, elegant, graceful, tasteful; agreeable, felicitous, pleasant, pleasing, satisfying; coherent, cohesive, compatible, coordinated, correspondent, matched, matching; Apollinian, Apollonian

Near Antonyms
asymmetrical (or asymmetric), disordered, irregular, skewed, unequal, uneven, unsymmetrical; distasteful, graceless, inartistic, inelegant, tasteless, unaesthetic, unbecoming, ungraceful, unlovely; disagreeable, displeasing, dissatisfying, infelicitous, unfortunate, unpleasant, unsightly; clashing, conflicting, disunited, incompatible, uncoordinated

Antonyms
disharmonic, disharmonious, incongruous, inharmonic, inharmonious, unbalanced

3 having or marked by agreement in feeling or action <an unusually harmonious meeting among the leaders resulted in a quick peace agreement>

Synonyms
agreeable, amicable, compatible, congenial, frictionless, kindred, unanimous, united

Related Words
pacific, peaceable, peaceful; collaborating, cooperative, symbiotic, synergetic, synergic; noncompetitive, nonconflicting, uncompetitive; sympathetic, tolerant, understanding; affable, amiable, cordial, friendly, genial, neighborly

Near Antonyms
antagonistic, antipathetic, clashing, conflicting, hostile, inimical, unfriendly; belligerent, contentious, quarrelsome; contradicting, contradictory, contrary, opposing, opposite; competing, competitive, rivaling (or rivalling)

Antonyms
disagreeable, discordant, disharmonious, disunited, incompatible, inharmonious, uncongenial

4 not having or showing any apparent conflict <no form of social discrimination can ever be harmonious with the basic principles and ideals of our nation> — see CONSISTENT

harmonize verb
1 to form a pleasing relationship <the color of the walls harmonized nicely with the blue tones in the carpet>

Synonyms
agree, assort, blend, chime, chime in, conform, consort, coordinate, groove

Related Words
balance, correlate, correspond, dovetail, hang together, match; meet, parallel; bond, coalesce, cohere, conjoin, fuse, merge, square, tally

Near Antonyms
contradict, contrast, counter, differ, diverge, jar; cancel (out), counteract, negate, offset

Antonyms
clash, collide, conflict

2 to bring to a state free of conflicts, inconsistencies, or differences <an attempt to harmonize the New Testament version of events with the accounts of the ancient Romans>

Synonyms
accommodate, attune, conciliate, conform, coordinate, key, reconcile

Related Words
adapt, tune; blend, combine, connect, correlate, dovetail, fit, fuse, integrate, join, match, merge, orchestrate, pair, square, suit, synchronize, synthesize, unify, unite; align (also aline), arrange, array, balance, equalize, even, order, proportion, regularize, standardize

Near Antonyms
confuse, disarray, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, disturb, skew, upset; alienate, estrange

Antonyms
disharmonize

3 to be in agreement on every point <interrogated in separate rooms, the two burglary suspects gave stories that didn't harmonize at all> — see CHECK 1

harmonizing adjective
having a pleasing mixture of notes <a harmonizing chorus of early-morning chirps arose from the bird-laden trees> — see HARMONIOUS 1

harmony noun
1 a balanced, pleasing, or suitable arrangement of parts <her face had an angelic harmony that fascinated the leading painters of her day>

Synonyms
balance, coherence, concinnity, consonance, consonancy, orchestration, proportion, symmetry, symphony, unity

Related Words
coordination, correlation, correspondence, equalization, equilibrium, evenness, order, orderliness, regularity, uniformity

Near Antonyms
confusion, disorganization, dissonance, disturbance, tension; disconnectedness, disjointedness, incompatibility; irregularity, unevenness

Antonyms
asymmetry, discordance, disproportion, disunity, imbalance, incoherence, violence

2 peaceful coexistence <the apparent inability of the party's right and left wings to resolve their conflicts and live in harmony at least during the convention>

Synonyms
chime, comity, compatibility, concord, peace

Related Words
amity, companionship, compatibleness, congeniality, fellowship, fraternization, friendship; collaboration, reciprocity, symbiosis; agreement, consensus, unanimity; cohesion, cohesiveness, unity; affinity, connection, empathy, kinship, oneness, rapport, solidarity, sympathy, understanding; peacefulness, sereneness, serenity, sweetness and light, tranquillity (or tranquility)

Near Antonyms
antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hatred, hostility, unfriendliness; alienation, breach, divorce, estrangement, rupture, schism, scission, severance; dissent, dissidence; anarchy, disorder, disturbance, strife, turmoil

Antonyms
conflict, discord, dissension (also dissention), variance

3 a state of consistency <for once, the kids' idea of a vacation was in perfect harmony with their parents' notion of total relaxation> — see CONFORMITY 1

harm's way noun
the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil <got everyone out of harm's way just minutes before the house was ripped apart by the tornado> — see DANGER 1

harness verb
to put into action or service <huge dams harness the power of water to produce electricity> — see USE 1

harp (on) verb
to speak or write about insistently and usually tiresomely <there were so many good things about the stage production that it seems churlish to harp on a couple of minor missteps> — see BELABOR 1

harpoon verb
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <she deftly harpooned a shrimp with her skewer and held it over the fire> — see IMPALE

harpy noun
1 a bad-tempered scolding woman <in fairy tales stepmothers are often portrayed as harpies who make the lives of their stepchildren miserable> — see SHREW
2 a person who habitually preys upon others <having just started to make it really big in the music business, he found himself surrounded by a flock of harpies greedy for a piece of the action> — see PREDATOR

harridan noun
a bad-tempered scolding woman <if you were married to that harridan, you, too, would take to drink> — see SHREW

harrow verb
to cause persistent suffering to <the villagers were gaunt and sickly, harrowed by years of disease and starvation> — see AFFLICT

harrowing adjective
1 hard to accept or bear especially emotionally <a harrowing portrayal of the ravages of war> — see BITTER 2
2 intensely or unbearably painful <the harrowing amputations without any anesthetic that soldiers and sailors once were forced to endure> — see EXCRUCIATING 1

harrying noun
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another <the relentless harrying of the sensitive teen by his classmates eventually drove him to suicide> — see ANNOYANCE 1

harsh adjective
1 difficult to endure <harsh conditions in the refugee camp>

Synonyms
bitter, brutal, burdensome, cruel, excruciating, grievous, grim, hard, hardhanded, heavy, inhuman, murderous, onerous, oppressive, rough, rugged, searing, severe, stiff, tough, trying

Related Words
austere, bleak, comfortless, discomforting, forbidding, inhospitable, spartan, uncomfortable; biting, inclement, intemperate, wild; rigorous, strict, stringent; agonizing, heartbreaking, heartrending, painful, wretched; crushing, grinding, overwhelming, wearing; insufferable, insupportable, intolerable, unbearable, unendurable; harrowing, tortuous; bad, disagreeable, hostile, unfriendly, unpleasant

Near Antonyms
comfortable, cozy, luxurious, snug; agreeable, friendly, genial, hospitable, pleasant; peaceful, relaxing, reposeful, restful; bearable, endurable, painless, tolerable; balmy, calm, clement, gentle, mild, moderate, temperate

Antonyms
easy, light, soft

2 disagreeable to one's aesthetic or artistic sense <the harsh lighting in the cafeteria makes the food look slightly off-color>

Synonyms
grating, grotesque, jarring, unaesthetic

Related Words
acid, flashy, garish, gaudy, loud, tawdry; tacky, tasteless, vulgar; inartistic, unartistic; artless, clumsy, crude, graceless, inelegant, rude; uncouth, uncultured, unrefined; disgusting, gross, obscene, repugnant, repulsive, ugly; disagreeable, jolting, unpleasant, unpleasing; blaring, clashing, discordant, disharmonious, dissonant, inharmonious, jangling, off-key, ragged, raspy, raucous, unmelodious, unmusical; bizarre, kinky, odd, outlandish, shocking

Near Antonyms
artful, artistic; attractive, beautiful, becoming, comely; agreeable, appealing, felicitous, good, harmonious, harmonizing, pleasing, seemly; calming, comforting, soothing; softened, subdued; cultured, elegant, graceful, gracious, polished, refined, tasteful

Antonyms
aesthetic (also esthetic or aesthetical or esthetical)

3 causing discomfort <the harsh northern climate> — see UNCOMFORTABLE 1
4 given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint <a harsh judge when it comes to drug users and especially drug dealers> — see SEVERE 1
5 hard to accept or bear especially emotionally <the harsh reality of failure> <harsh words of criticism from her music teacher> — see BITTER 2
6 not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <winced at the harsh sound that the beginner violinist was making> — see UNPLEASANT

harshen verb
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe <recent changes to the drunk driving laws harshen penalties for repeat offenders>

Synonyms
harden, stiffen, strengthen, toughen

Near Antonyms
lessen, moderate, soften

Antonyms
ameliorate, ease

harshly adverb
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering <treated the prisoners harshly, and many died> — see HARDLY 1

harshness noun
1 a harsh or sharp quality <there was a harshness about her voice that made her an unlikely but surprisingly evocative singer of torch songs> — see EDGE 1
2 the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) <was surprised at the harshness of the choirmaster's criticism, since he was usually pretty easygoing> — see SEVERITY

harum–scarum adjective
having or showing a lack of concern for the consequences of one's actions <a harum-scarum dash through the crowded terminal to make the flight> — see RECKLESS 1

harum–scarum adverb
in a confused and reckless manner <tossed everything harum-scarum from the closet in a desperate attempt to find her shoes> — see HELTER-SKELTER 1

harvest noun
the quantity of an animal or vegetable product gathered at the end of a season <we can thank the bountiful harvest of 1621 for our traditional feast of turkey and all the trimmings every November> — see CROP 1

harvest verb
to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use <harvest salmon from nearby rivers> <every year we harvest corn from our own garden>

Synonyms
gather, pick, reap

Related Words
clam, fish, seal, shrimp, whale; accumulate, forage, garner; glean; cut, hay, mow; bag, capture, hunt, net, snare, trap; crop, grow, raise

Near Antonyms
plant, seed, sow

has–been noun
one that has passed the peak of effectiveness or popularity <now a has-been, the actor's been reduced to appearing on a third-rate reality show>

Synonyms
dinosaur, relic

Related Words
dodo, fogy (also fogey), fossil, old-timer; fuddy-duddy, mossback, stick-in-the-mud, stodge [British], troglodyte; throwback

Near Antonyms
comer, rising star, up-and-comer

hash noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the docudrama was a hash of facts, half-truths, speculation, and pure fiction> — see MISCELLANY 1

hash verb
1 to cut into small pieces <he hashed some roast beef, put it in a pie shell, and topped it with a layer of mashed potatoes> — see CHOP
2 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <the bookkeeper had so hashed the figures it took weeks to straighten out the accounts> — see DISORDER

hash (over or out) verb
to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion <for months the town councilmen hashed over the proposal to allow a big-box store in their rural community> — see DISCUSS

hassle noun
1 a brief clash between enemies or rivals <the best way to avoid hassles with those aggressive panhandlers is to ignore them> — see ENCOUNTER
2 a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <the moment the police arrived, the hassle broke up, and no one was seriously injured> — see FIGHT 1
3 an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <had a huge hassle with an airline representative before she got her ticket refunded> — see ARGUMENT 1
4 something that is a source of irritation <it's a hassle to find a parking space downtown> — see ANNOYANCE 3

hassle verb
1 to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults <a small group of jeering protesters hassled the politically active singer at every appearance she made> — see TEASE 2
2 to express different opinions about something often angrily <constantly hassled with the chef over the need to cook pork thoroughly> — see ARGUE 2

haste noun
1 a high rate of movement or performance <made haste to get there on time> — see SPEED 1
2 excited and often showy or disorderly speed <haste makes waste> <in her haste, she forgot her keys> — see HURRY 1

hasten verb
1 to cause to move or proceed fast or faster <hasten the activation of yeast with heat> — see HURRY 1
2 to proceed or move quickly <the contractors hastened to complete the project before the deadline> — see HURRY 2

hastily adverb
1 with excessive or careless speed <the hastily put together report contained a lot of errors>

Synonyms
cursorily, headlong, hotfoot, hurriedly, pell-mell, precipitately, precipitously, rashly

Related Words
headfirst, headily, hotheadedly, impatiently, impetuously, impulsively, recklessly, thoughtlessly; automatically, glancingly, haphazardly; impromptu, spontaneously; abruptly, suddenly; offhand, offhandedly

Phrases
on the spur of the moment

Near Antonyms
calculatingly, circumspectly, designedly; falteringly, haltingly, hesitantly, hesitatingly, tentatively; leisurely, slowly

Antonyms
deliberately, studiedly

2 with great speed <the congresswoman hastily made her way towards the waiting elevator> — see FAST 1

hastiness noun
excited and often showy or disorderly speed <several council members objected to the hastiness with which the proposal was brought to a vote> — see HURRY 1

hasty adjective
1 acting or done with excessive or careless speed <Anna later regretted her hasty decision to sell her car>

Synonyms
cursory, drive-by, flying, gadarene, headlong, helter-skelter, hurried, overhasty, pell-mell, precipitate, precipitous, rash, rushed

Related Words
breakneck, breathtaking; headstrong, heady, hotheaded, impatient, impetuous, impulsive, madcap, reckless, unadvised; quick, rapid, speedy, swift; horseback, impromptu, makeshift, offhand, offhanded, off-the-cuff, rush, slapdash, snap, spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment; abrupt, sudden

Near Antonyms
calculated, calculating, measured; circumspect, foresighted, forethoughtful; drawn-out, extended, long-term, prolonged; faltering, hesitant, hesitating, tentative; dallying, dawdling, laggard, leisurely, poky (or pokey), shilly-shallying, slow

Antonyms
deliberate, unhurried, unrushed

2 moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <we all wish our sick friend a hasty recovery> — see FAST 1

hat noun
a covering for the head usually having a shaped crown <in those days, no properly dressed person left home without a hat>

Synonyms
cap, chapeau, headdress, headgear, headpiece, lid [slang]

Related Words
baseball cap, beret, billycock [British], biretta, boater, bonnet, bowler, calotte, capuche, casque, castor, cloche, cocked hat, cowboy hat, cowl, derby, fedora, fez, garrison cap, hard hat, helm, helmet, high hat, homburg, hood, kepi (also képi), kufi, leghorn, miter (or mitre), nightcap, opera hat, overseas cap, panama, picture hat, pillbox, plug hat, porkpie hat, service cap, shako, silk hat, skimmer, skullcap, sombrero, sou'wester, Stetson, stocking cap, stovepipe, sunbonnet, tam, tam-o'-shanter, ten-gallon hat, top hat, topper, toque, tricorne (or tricorn), turban, zucchetto; warbonnet

hatch noun
a barrier by which an entry is closed and opened <watertight hatches provided access through the ship's bulkheads> — see DOOR 1

hatch verb
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop <the mallards and geese have begun hatching in their nests down by the pond> — see SET 1

hate noun
1 a very strong dislike <hate can sometimes be replaced with tolerance when people meet face to face>

Synonyms
abhorrence, abomination, detestation, execration, hatred, loathing

Related Words
cattiness, despite, despitefulness, hatefulness, invidiousness, malevolence, malice, maliciousness, malignancy, malignity, meanness, spite, spitefulness; aversion, disgust, distaste, horror, odium, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, contempt, disdain, enmity, grudge, hostility, jealousy, pique, resentment, scorn; bile, jaundice, rancor, spleen, venom, virulence, vitriol

Near Antonyms
appetite, inclination, liking; admiration, adoration, veneration, worship; acceptance, tolerance; passion, relish, taste

Antonyms
affection, devotion, fondness, love

2 something or someone that is hated <the Alaska pipeline is a pet hate of environmentalists>

Synonyms
abhorrence, abomination, anathema, antipathy, aversion, bête noire, detestation, execration

Related Words
dread, hang-up, horror, phobia; bogey (also bogie or bogy), bugaboo, bugbear; adversary, enemy; annoyance, grievance, hassle, nuisance, peeve

Near Antonyms
beloved, darling, dear, honey, sweetheart; delight, enjoyment, felicity, joy, pleasure; favorite, like, preference; treasure

Antonyms
love

hate verb
to dislike strongly <she hates her job, she hates her friends, and she hates her life!>

Synonyms
abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, loathe

Related Words
deplore, deprecate, disapprove (of), discountenance, disdain, disfavor, scorn

Phrases
have it in for

Near Antonyms
desire, fancy, favor, like, prefer; enjoy, relish; admire, adore, approve (of), esteem, hallow, idolize, revere, venerate, worship; cherish, prize, treasure

Antonyms
love

hateful adjective
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it <the girl's classmates were bullying her online, sending her hateful e-mails and text messages>

Synonyms
bad [slang], bitchy, catty, cruel, despiteful, malevolent, malicious, malign, malignant, mean, nasty, spiteful, vicious, virulent

Related Words
devious, scoundrelly, scurvy, snakelike; acrimonious, bitter, envious, jaundiced, jealous, rancorous, resentful, vindictive, vitriolic; contemptuous, deprecating, derogatory, disdainful, disparaging, mean-spirited, obnoxious, opprobrious, scornful, snide, snotty, unkind, unkindly, unloving; baleful, baneful, evil; harsh, hostile, inimical; acrid, caustic, poisonous, scathing, venomous

Near Antonyms
compassionate, good, good-hearted, kind, kindhearted, kindly, sympathetic, warm, warmhearted; affable, agreeable, amiable, cordial, friendly, genial, gracious, nice, pleasant; affectionate, amorous, sweet, tender, tenderhearted; humane; altruistic, high-minded, humanitarian, magnanimous, noble, philanthropic (also philanthropical)

Antonyms
benevolent, benign, benignant, loving, unmalicious

hatefully adverb
in a mean or spiteful manner <many voters were turned off by the way the candidate hatefully dredged up his opponent's marital troubles> — see NASTILY

hatefulness noun
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <her political commentary seems to be nothing more than an exercise in hatefulness and vicious invective> — see MALICE

hat in hand adverb
in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion <he was forced to apologize hat in hand for the offensive comment> — see LOWLY

hatred noun
a very strong dislike <a lifelong hatred of war that inspired him to join a peace movement> — see HATE 1

haughtiness noun
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <it was surprising to see such haughtiness in someone who had come from such humble origins> — see ARROGANCE

haughty adjective
1 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <the haughty waiter smirked when I remarked that it was odd that a French restaurant didn't even have french fries on the menu> — see ARROGANT
2 having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself <the student reporter received a haughty letter in reply to his request for an interview with the governor> — see PROUD 1

haul noun
1 the total amount collected or obtained especially at one time <our latest trip to collect shells at the beach resulted in quite a haul>

Synonyms
bounty, catch, take, yield

Related Words
bag; earnings, gain, gross, income, net, payoff, proceeds, profit, receipts, return, revenue, winnings; booty, loot, plunder, spoils, swag; appropriation, collection

Near Antonyms
deduction, loss, subtraction

2 a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported <a truck carrying a large haul of lumber> — see LOAD 1
3 the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force <the sharp haul strained the rope but didn't break it> — see PULL 1

haul verb
1 to cause to follow by applying steady force on <a pair of strong oxen hauled the plow> — see PULL 1
2 to support and take from one place to another <a vast army of trucks haul produce across America every day> — see CARRY 1

haunches plural noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <squatted down on her haunches to get a better shot of the ducks with her camera> — see BUTTOCKS

haunt noun
1 a place for spending time or for socializing <one of their favorite after-school haunts is Joe's Pizza> — see HANGOUT
2 chiefly dialect the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <we heard the local tales of a haunt in the choir loft and of a specter in the graveyard> — see GHOST 1

haunt verb
to go to or spend time in often <much of her time is spent haunting antique shops in search of unique knobs for the curio cabinets she builds> — see FREQUENT

haunter noun
someone who regularly spends time in a particular place <she's been a haunter of bookstores since her college days> — see DENIZEN 1

haunting adjective
fearfully and mysteriously strange or fantastic <the haunting tones of the Highland bagpipes> — see EERIE

hauteur noun
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <she looked at him with the hauteur of someone who is accustomed to being instantly obeyed> — see ARROGANCE

have noun
a wealthy person <a society that discriminates between the haves and the have-nots> — see CAPITALIST

have verb
1 to keep, control, or experience as one's own <my uncle has a sizable collection of black powder rifles>

Synonyms
command, enjoy, hold, own, possess, retain

Related Words
keep, reserve, withhold; bear, carry; boast, show off, sport

Phrases
rejoice in

Near Antonyms
abandon, cede, disclaim, disown, hand over, relinquish, renounce, surrender, yield; discard, dump; decline, reject, repudiate, spurn; need, require

Antonyms
lack, want

2 to agree to receive whether willingly or reluctantly <we decided that I would have the job of calling the volunteers on the phone> <she refused to have him as a husband> — see TAKE 2
3 to bring forth from the womb <her grandmother had 11 children> — see BEAR 1
4 to cause to believe what is untrue <he'd been had —the painting was a fake, and he never saw the “art dealer” or his money again> — see DECEIVE
5 to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it <had a great time at the party> <had three operations on her leg> — see EXPERIENCE
6 to give permission for or to approve of <I will not have any more nonsense about a party in celebration of my retirement> — see ALLOW 1
7 to influence someone with a bribe <an upstanding judge who could not be had at any price> — see BRIBE
8 to keep in one's mind or heart <I have never had an unkind thought for him> <do you have an opinion?> — see HARBOR 1

have (to) verb
to be under necessity or obligation to <I have to take out the trash before we can leave> <has to take medicine for her heart> — see NEED 2

haven noun
1 a part of a body of water protected and deep enough to be a place of safety for ships <this picturesque cove is one of the most popular havens on all of the cape for weekend yachtsmen> — see HARBOR 1
2 something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger <the cross-country skiers hoped desperately to find a cave, as a haven from the blizzard> — see SHELTER

have on verb, chiefly British
to cause to believe what is untrue <you're having me on, aren't you, mate?> — see DECEIVE

havoc noun
1 a state in which everything is out of order <computer network problems created havoc throughout the office> — see CHAOS
2 the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <the powerful hurricane wreaked havoc all along the coast> — see DESTRUCTION 1

hawk noun
one who urges or attempts to cause a war <the hawks were claiming that without war there could be no peace> — see WARMONGER

hawk verb
to sell from place to place usually in small quantities <a determined bootstrapper who went from hawking newspapers on the street corner to running a media empire> — see PEDDLE

hawker noun
one who sells things outdoors <street corner hawkers selling everything from fake designer purses to original works of art> — see PEDDLER

hawkeyed adjective
having unusually keen vision <the hawkeyed driver spotted the state trooper lying in wait for unwary speeders> — see SHARP-EYED

hawkshaw noun
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons <the firm hired a hawkshaw to find out who was fencing stock from their warehouse> — see DETECTIVE

hay noun
1 a very small sum of money <their credit card debt isn't hay—it'll take years to pay it off> — see MITE 1
2 slang a place set aside for sleeping <dragging myself out of the hay on such a cold, dreary morning seemed like an act of sheer masochism> — see BED 1

haymaker noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <dealt his opponent a haymaker that sent him reeling across the boxing ring> — see 1BLOW

hayseed noun
an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country <though educated and sophisticated, the country singer always put on the facade of an amiable hayseed when in public> — see HICK

haywire adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <she gradually went haywire after the tragic death of her husband> — see INSANE 1

hazard noun
1 something that may cause injury or harm <the tumbledown old barn was considered a fire hazard> — see DANGER 2
2 the uncertain course of events <it was only by hazard and good fortune that we found our way back to the trail> — see CHANCE 1

hazard verb
1 to place in danger <just so the tourists could see the sea lions up close, the captain needlessly hazarded his ship> — see ENDANGER
2 to take a chance on <was unwilling to hazard landing the plane on the small island, which didn't even have an airfield> — see RISK 1

hazardous adjective
involving potential loss or injury <a hazardous journey across the arctic ice> — see DANGEROUS 1

haze noun
1 an atmospheric condition in which suspended particles in the air rob it of its transparency <Jim could barely make out the tall buildings through the haze>

Synonyms
brume, fog, gauze, mist, murk, reek, smog, soup

Related Words
bank, cloud, fume, miasma, smoke, smother, steam

2 a state of mental confusion <people wandered around in a haze in the days following the earthquake>

Synonyms
daze, dazedness, fog, muddle, spin, swoon

Related Words
reverie, stupor, trance; befuddlement, bewilderment, perplexity, puzzlement; delirium, malaise, paralysis; cloudiness, fogginess

Near Antonyms
alertness, levelheadedness

1haze verb
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults <the roughnecks on the oil rig would haze the young man for his refined manners and educated speech> — see TEASE 2

2haze verb
to make dark, dim, or indistinct <unfortunately, smog was hazing the view of the distant city skyline> — see CLOUD 1

hazed adjective
covered over by clouds <hazed skies made the flat landscape look even duller> — see OVERCAST

hazy adjective
1 filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension <hazy skies made it dangerous to fly> <the hazy sunshine so common in August>

Synonyms
beclouded, befogged, brumous, clouded, cloudy, foggy, gauzy, misty, murky, smoggy, soupy

Related Words
overcast, rainy, stormy, thick; dirty, miry, mucky, muddy, slimy, slushy, turbid; miasmal, miasmatic, miasmic; smoky (also smokey), smudgy, sooty; filmy, milky, opaque

Near Antonyms
bright, clean; clement, fair, sunny, sunshiny; translucent, transparent

Antonyms
clear, cloudless, limpid, pellucid, unclouded

2 covered over by clouds <when taking landscape photographs, compensate for dull, hazy skies by emphasizing colorful features on the ground> — see OVERCAST
3 not seen or understood clearly <the meaning of “you should” here is hazy—does it mean “you are strongly urged” or “you are commanded”?> — see FAINT 1

head adjective
highest in rank or authority <as head editor at the TV station for 17 years, he has hired and fired innumerable staff members>

Synonyms
chief, commanding, first, foremost, high, lead, leading, preeminent, premier, presiding, primary, prime, principal, supereminent, supreme, top

Related Words
high-level, senior; controlling, directing, managing, officiating, overseeing, regnant, reigning, ruling, supervisory; main, major, paramount, predominant, predominate, sovereign (also sovran); ascendant (also ascendent), dominant, grand, superior, topmost, upmost, upper, uppermost

Phrases
in charge

Near Antonyms
ancillary, inferior, last, less, lesser, lower, lowly, second, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary; assistant, assisting, coadjutor, deputy, junior, under

head noun
1 the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth <I hit my head as I went through the low doorway>

Synonyms
bean, block [slang], dome, mazard (or mazzard) [chiefly dialect], nob, noddle, noggin, noodle, nut [slang], pate, poll

Related Words
cranium, crown, scalp, skull; occiput

2 the place of leadership or command <every year a different parent is placed at the head of the troop's cookie drive>

Synonyms
chair, driver's seat, headship, helm, rein(s)

Related Words
chieftainship, commandership, directorship; forefront, lead, vanguard; captainship, chairmanship, deanship, dictatorship, generalship, governorship, kingship, mastership, mastery, premiership, presidency, presidentship, superintendency; dominance, dominion, jurisdiction, sovereignty (also sovranty), sway, upper hand; eminence, height, pedestal, pinnacle, seat, throne, top

Near Antonyms
ranks

3 a light mass of fine bubbles formed in or on a liquid <the head on the ice cream soda rose a good two inches above the rim of the glass> — see FOAM
4 a member of the human race <the tour guide counted heads, and everyone was present> — see HUMAN
5 a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <the security issue came to a head when an employee was robbed in broad daylight in the company parking lot> — see EMERGENCY
6 the beginning part of a stream <Lake Itasca in Minnesota is the head of the Mississippi River> — see HEADWATER
7 the highest part or point <stood at the head of the stairs and looked down> — see HEIGHT 1
8 the normal or healthy condition of the mental abilities <you're out of your head if you think you can swim across that river> — see MIND 2
9 the part of a person that feels, thinks, perceives, wills, and especially reasons <challenged us to put our heads together and find a solution to the skyrocketing costs of the company's health insurance plans> — see MIND 1
10 the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do <as head of the planning committee, he had the responsibility of appointing someone to look into the parking situation> — see BOSS
11 a bank of earth constructed to control water <built a head to create a millpond> — see DAM
12 a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <give me a chance to visit the head, and I'll be all set to go> — see TOILET
13 a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally <a shop near campus where all the heads used to get their paraphernalia> — see DOPER
14 a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <she's a total tech head who adores home electronics and computers> — see FAN
15 a word or series of words often in larger letters placed at the beginning of a passage or at the top of a page in order to introduce or categorize <rechecked to make sure that all the heads were in boldface> — see HEADING
16 a special and usually inborn ability <I have no head for numbers> — see TALENT

head verb
1 to go on a specified course or in a certain direction <the migrant workers were heading for California for the grape harvest>

Synonyms
bear, make

Related Words
aim, bend, direct, point, turn; beeline, light out, put, put out, set off, set out, strike, take off; face, orient, steer; about-face, back, come about, come round, cut, incline, put about, reverse, swerve, tack, turn back, veer, wheel, yaw

2 to be at the front of <heading the procession at the dog show was a miniature poodle, followed by dogs seemingly of every breed> — see LEAD 3
3 to be in charge of <who headed the CIA when Ronald Reagan was president?> — see BOSS 1
4 to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction <the road to riches headed north, thought many, as off they went to Alaska to try their luck at panning gold> — see RUN 3
5 to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal <after a long day at the beach, we headed the car toward home> — see AIM
6 to serve as leader of <Robert La Salle headed the expedition that claimed Louisiana for the French king> — see LEAD 2
7 to cut off the head of <got a job at the slaughterhouse heading cattle> — see DECAPITATE

headache noun
1 a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work <filling out all the required forms was a real headache> — see CHORE 2
2 something that is a source of irritation <one of the headaches of being a band teacher is never knowing if the school's music program will be cut> — see ANNOYANCE 3

head and shoulders adverb
by a considerable margin <a performance that was head and shoulders above all the others in the talent competition>

Synonyms
far and away

Related Words
decidedly, definitely, really, undoubtedly, unquestionably; considerably, extensively, significantly, substantially, well

Phrases
by all odds, by a long shot, by far, by half

Near Antonyms
barely, hardly, just, marginally, scarcely, slightly; minimally, minutely

head case noun
1 a person judged to be legally or medically insane <while serving in the military hospital's psychiatric unit, he got to observe a wide variety of head cases> — see LUNATIC 1
2 a person of odd or whimsical habits <an area of scientific research that's a good niche for social misfits and hard-core head cases> — see ECCENTRIC

headdress noun
a covering for the head usually having a shaped crown <most of the acrobats riding the horses and elephants wore some sort of fancy headdress> — see HAT

header noun
a word or series of words often in larger letters placed at the beginning of a passage or at the top of a page in order to introduce or categorize <why does each column have a header except the last one?> — see HEADING

headgear noun
a covering for the head usually having a shaped crown <in some states a helmet is required headgear for motorcycle riders> — see HAT

heading noun
a word or series of words often in larger letters placed at the beginning of a passage or at the top of a page in order to introduce or categorize <the recipe for turkey gumbo is under the heading “stews” rather than under “soups”>

Synonyms
caption, head, header, headline, rubric, title

Related Words
banner, streamer; catch word, guide word, running head; greeting, salutation; superscript, superscription; subhead, subheading, subtitle

headland noun
1 an area of high ground jutting out into a body of water beyond the line of the coast <the lighthouse, situated on a narrow, rocky headland, commands an expansive view of the coast>

Synonyms
ness, point, promontory

Related Words
cape, foreland, peninsula, spit; breakwater, jetty, levee

2 an area of land that juts out into a body of water <navigation is notoriously difficult at the southernmost tip of South America, where ships must round the headland of Cape Horn> — see 2CAPE

headline noun
a word or series of words often in larger letters placed at the beginning of a passage or at the top of a page in order to introduce or categorize <I usually just glance at the headlines in the morning paper before dashing off to work> — see HEADING

headliner noun
the person who has the most important role in a play, movie, or TV show <a headliner on variety shows in the early days of TV> — see STAR 2

headlong adjective
acting or done with excessive or careless speed <terrified forest creatures in a headlong retreat from the rapidly spreading fire> — see HASTY 1

headlong adverb
1 with excessive or careless speed <plunged headlong into the crowd in pursuit of the purse snatcher> — see HASTILY 1
2 without delay <had barely finished the last project when we went headlong into the next one> — see IMMEDIATELY

headman noun
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do <as headman at the newspaper 20 years ago, he hired the then-promising young reporter who won this year's Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting> — see BOSS

headmost adjective
coming before all others in time or order <the headmost horse shied at the sight of a snake> — see FIRST 1

head off verb
to keep from happening by taking action in advance <if we act quickly, we may still be able to head off disaster> — see PREVENT

head–on adverb
in direct confrontation or competition <the underdog team met its more talented opponent head-on and won the hockey game through sheer grit> — see HEAD-TO-HEAD

headpiece noun
1 a covering for the head usually having a shaped crown <the bride will be wearing a flowing veil fastened to a pearl-covered headpiece> — see HAT
2 the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems <she has looks and personality but not much in the way of a headpiece> — see INTELLIGENCE 1

headquarters plural noun
1 a place from which authority is exercised <the headquarters of the newly established United States government was in New York City, the nation's first capital> — see SEAT 1
2 the place from which a commander runs operations <the scout went straight to the large tent in the center of the camp, correctly assuming that it served as the division's headquarters> — see COMMAND 3

head–scratcher noun
something hard to understand or explain <why he chose to sink all of his money into a failing business is a real head-scratcher> — see MYSTERY

head–scratching noun
a state of mental uncertainty <poorly worded instructions that must have resulted in a lot of head-scratching> — see CONFUSION 1

headship noun
1 the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control <while he was in the hospital, the CEO had his most trusted lieutenant assume temporary headship of the firm> — see SUPERVISION 1
2 the place of leadership or command <the person at the headship of the firm will face daunting challenges, given the current state of the economy> — see HEAD 2

headstone noun
a shaped stone laid over or erected near a grave and usually bearing an inscription to identify and preserve the memory of the deceased <many of the headstones were for children who had died during the influenza epidemic> — see TOMBSTONE

headstream noun
the beginning part of a stream <the headstreams of the Ganges River arise in the Himalayas> — see HEADWATER

headstrong adjective
1 given to resisting control or discipline by others <a headstrong child who likes to test the limits of his parents' patience> — see UNCONTROLLABLE
2 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <the tenants of the building remain headstrong in their determination not to be evicted by the developer> — see OBSTINATE

heads–up noun
the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk <thanks for the heads-up about the upcoming visit from the corporate big shots> — see WARNING 1

head–to–head adverb
in direct confrontation or competition <it's fitting that the two best teams during the regular season will go head-to-head for the championship>

Synonyms
eyeball-to-eyeball, face-to-face, head-on, mano a mano, one-on-one, toe-to-toe

headwater noun, usually headwaters plural
the beginning part of a stream <the first exploration of the Missouri River from its mouth to its headwaters was made by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in the early 1800s>

Synonyms
head, headstream, source

Related Words
fountain, fountainhead, geyser, headspring, hot spring, spring, wellspring; branch, feeder, tributary

headway noun
forward movement in time or place <the ant was making little headway carrying a crumb that was about five times his size> — see ADVANCE 1

heady adjective
1 experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <still heady from his election win, he announced his first cabinet appointments> — see ECSTATIC
2 having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment <one of the headiest politicians around, he knows how to read the public mood at any given moment> — see SHREWD 1
3 having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) <a rich meal full of heady sauces and strong spices> — see FULL-BODIED

heal verb
1 to restore to a healthy condition <a low-fat vegetarian diet, moderate exercise, and stress management help heal a diseased heart> <heal the sick>

Synonyms
cure, fix, mend, rehab, rehabilitate, set up

Related Words
attend (to), care (for), doctor, medicate, minister (to), nurse, physic, treat; fortify, rejuvenate, renew, resuscitate, revitalize, revive; alleviate, relieve, remedy, repair

Near Antonyms
cripple, damage, disable, harm, hurt, impair, injure, lacerate, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, wound; afflict, ail, debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, lay up, sap, sicken, waste, weaken

2 to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness <most of the soldiers could go home while they were still healing from their wounds> — see CONVALESCE
3 to bring about recovery from <time heals all wounds, even those of the heart> — see CURE 1

healing adjective
tending to cure disease or restore health <the native peoples of South America recognized the healing powers of the dried bark of the cinchona tree, formerly used as a specific in malaria> — see MEDICINAL 1

healing noun
the process or period of gradually regaining one's health and strength <the long period of healing following the operation> — see CONVALESCENCE

health noun
1 the condition of being sound in body <Sam gradually regained his health after a long bout with cholera>

Synonyms
fitness, healthiness, heartiness, robustness, sap, soundness, verdure, wellness, wholeness, wholesomeness

Related Words
fettle, shape; cleanliness, hygiene; hardiness, lustiness, robustiousness, ruggedness, stamina, strength, toughness, vigor, vigorousness, vitality; bloom, flush, flushness; activeness, agility, liveliness, spryness; weal, welfare, well-being

Near Antonyms
debility, decrepitude, feebleness, frailness, infirmity, lameness, sickliness, weakness; ailment, condition, disease, disorder, malady, trouble

Antonyms
illness, sickness, unhealthiness, unsoundness

2 a state of being or fitness <a country in good economic health now that the recession is past> — see CONDITION 1

health club noun
a building or room used for sports activities and exercising <plays racquetball at the nearby health club> — see GYM

healthful adjective
beneficial to the health of body or mind <one of the most healthful forms of exercise is a brisk walk>

Synonyms
good, healthy, medicinal, restorative, salubrious, salutary, salutiferous, sanative, tonic, wholesome

Related Words
alleviative, corrective, curative, recuperative, refreshing, rehabilitative, rejuvenating, rejuvenescent, remedial; advantageous, useful; antiseptic, aseptic, clean, hygienic, sanitary; nourishing, nutritional, nutritious; nonpoisonous, nontoxic

Near Antonyms
damaging, deleterious, harmful, injurious, pernicious; infectious, poisonous, sickening, toxic; insanitary, unhygienic, unsanitary

Antonyms
insalubrious, noxious, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome

healthiness noun
the condition of being sound in body <healthy teeth are an indication of a horse's overall healthiness> — see HEALTH 1

health spa noun
a building or room used for sports activities and exercising <a health spa offering aerobics classes for all levels of fitness> — see GYM

healthy adjective
1 enjoying health and vigor <always a hard worker, Grandma has remained healthy into her 80s>

Synonyms
able-bodied, bouncing, fit, hale, hearty, robust, sound, well, well-conditioned, whole, wholesome

Related Words
hard, hardy, iron, lusty, rugged, stalwart, strong, sturdy, tough; ambulatory, nondisabled, uncrippled; active, agile, chipper, lively, sprightful, sprightly, spry, vigorous, vital; blooming, clean-cut, flourishing, flush, prospering, thriving; all right, good, right

Phrases
in fine fettle, in shape, in the pink

Near Antonyms
decrepit, enfeebled, feeble, infirm, run-down, sickened, sickly, weak, weakened, weakly, worn-out; challenged, crippled, debilitated, differently abled, disabled, halt, incapacitated, lame; delicate, fragile, frail; emaciated, gaunt, haggard, malnourished, undernourished; afflicted, troubled; bad, poorly

Antonyms
ailing, diseased, ill, sick, unfit, unhealthy, unsound, unwell

2 beneficial to the health of body or mind <the air in here isn't healthy> <ads that promote healthy eating habits> — see HEALTHFUL
3 sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention <a healthy turnout of volunteers to plant trees on Arbor Day> — see CONSIDERABLE 1
4 marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically <coming out of a prolonged recession, the restaurant business seemed to be healthy again> — see PROSPEROUS 1

heap noun
1 a considerable amount <she always has a heap of good ideas> <you're in a heap of trouble for missing curfew!> — see LOT 2
2 a quantity of things thrown or stacked on one another <found her shoe under a heap of clothes on the floor> — see 1PILE 1

heap verb
1 to give readily and in large quantities <the critics heaped scorn on the wannabe blockbuster and its implausible plot> — see RAIN 2
2 to lay or throw on top of one another <heaped the stones in a corner of the yard> — see PILE 1
3 to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained <heaped her plate with spaghetti> — see FILL 1

hear verb
1 to come to an awareness of <I heard your sister is home from the hospital> — see DISCOVER 1
2 to pay attention especially through the act of hearing <at least hear what I have to say before you start disagreeing> — see LISTEN

hearing noun
range of hearing <let's make sure she's out of hearing before I tell you what I got her for her birthday> — see EARSHOT

hearken verb
to pay attention especially through the act of hearing <hearken! I hear the distant beat of the hooves of many horses> — see LISTEN

hearken back (to) verb
to bring back to mind <an elderly man who liked to hearken back to “the good old days”> — see REMEMBER

hearsay noun
information or opinion that is widely disseminated without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <supposedly, he's planning to quit, but that's only hearsay> — see RUMOR

hearse verb
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea <the cemetery hearses an average of eight bodies a week> — see BURY 1

heart noun
1 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <those who refuse to contribute to the fund for the famine victims must have no heart>

Synonyms
bigheartedness, charity, commiseration, compassion, feeling, good-heartedness, humanity, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, largeheartedness, mercy, pity, ruth, softheartedness, sympathy, warmheartedness

Related Words
feelings, responsiveness, sensibility, sensitivity; affection, love, regard; affinity, empathy, rapport; altruism, benevolence, benignancy, benignity, generosity, goodwill, humaneness, humanism, humanitarianism, philanthropy

Near Antonyms
callousness, coldness, disinterest, indifference, unconcern; cruelty, harshness; animosity, antipathy, dislike, hatred, hostility

Antonyms
coldheartedness, hard-heartedness, inhumanity, inhumanness, mercilessness, pitilessness

2 a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <the heart of the village economy was the outdoor market> — see CENTER 1
3 strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <never lost heart while she was lost in the woods> — see COURAGE
4 the central part or aspect of something under consideration <at the heart of the problem is the school's outmoded computer system> <avoided any small talk and got right to the heart of the matter> — see CRUX
5 the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions <deep down in her heart, she knew he was telling the truth> — see CORE 1

heartache noun
deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved <the heartache she felt when she saw the innocent victims of the war> — see SORROW

heartbeat noun
a very small space of time <I'd accept a job offer from that company in a heartbeat> — see INSTANT

heartbreak noun
deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved <I understand the heartbreak you must feel over your grandmother's death> — see SORROW

heartbreaking adjective
1 causing unhappiness <a heartbreaking story of a family torn asunder by war> — see SAD 2
2 of a kind to cause great distress <the heartbreaking state of Main Street now that most of the businesses have closed> — see REGRETTABLE
3 deserving of one's pity <a heartbreaking attempt to escape that ends in disaster> — see PATHETIC 1

heartbroken adjective
1 feeling unhappiness <not as heartbroken over missing out on the trip to New York as I thought she would be> — see SAD 1
2 expressing or suggesting mourning <was utterly heartbroken when his pet dog died> — see MOURNFUL 1

hearten verb
to fill with courage or strength of purpose <thinking we were hopelessly lost, we were heartened by the sight of a familiar farmhouse> — see ENCOURAGE 1

heartening adjective
1 having qualities which inspire hope <a heartening visit to the hospital, where the patient was alert and sitting up> — see HOPEFUL 1
2 making one feel good inside <hearing how his students still appreciated him after all those years was heartening to the music teacher> — see HEARTWARMING
3 pointing toward a happy outcome <the accomplishments of the first day were a heartening start to our renovation of the house> — see FAVORABLE 2

heartfelt adjective
genuine in feeling <a number of the retiring teacher's former students have expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the invaluable lessons they learned in his classroom> — see SINCERE 1

hearth noun
the place where one lives <all were welcome, friends and strangers alike, to their humble hearth> — see HOME 1

hearthstone noun
the place where one lives <after years abroad, the eldest son returned to the family hearthstone, the old house in Philadelphia> — see HOME 1

heartily adverb
1 in a cheerful or happy manner <the parishioners laughed heartily at the pastor's good-natured quips> — see GAILY 1
2 to a full extent or degree <I am heartily tired of this spring-cleaning> — see FULLY 1

heartiness noun
the condition of being sound in body <Granddad's heartiness on the hike put everyone else to shame—he wouldn't even hear of stopping to rest> — see HEALTH 1

heartless adjective
1 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <a heartless boss who would fire people for missing work, even if they were sick as a dog> — see HARD 1
2 having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <his heartless whipping of runaway slaves virtually to the point of death shocked even other slave owners> — see CRUEL 1

heartlessness noun
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <the gung ho heartlessness with which the secret police tortured prisoners was beyond belief> — see CRUELTY

heartrending adjective
1 causing unhappiness <couldn't bear to see the heartrending photos of victims of the famine> — see SAD 2
2 hard to accept or bear especially emotionally <a heartrending choice between saving his daughter or his son> — see BITTER 2
3 of a kind to cause great distress <heartrending memories of all the terrible crimes he'd committed and was sorry for now> — see REGRETTABLE
4 deserving of one's pity <the heartrending sight of a starving child holding out his hands for food> — see PATHETIC 1

heartsease noun
freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions <winning such a prestigious award did not bring the artist the heartsease and contentment she thought it would> — see PEACE 2

heartsick adjective
feeling unhappiness <felt heartsick over having to give up the family farm> — see SAD 1

heartsickness noun
a state or spell of low spirits <could not begin to describe the heartsickness he felt when he sold the family farm> — see SADNESS

heartsore adjective
feeling unhappiness <a grandmother feeling heartsore and despondent when all her relatives left en masse after the holidays> — see SAD 1

heart–stopping adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <the movie's climax is a heart-stopping chase through the streets of San Francisco> — see EXCITING 1

heartstrings plural noun
1 general emotional condition <always said she didn't care much for cats, but now the little kitten was tugging at her heartstrings> — see FEELING 2
2 the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions <a story that will touch the very heartstrings of its readers> — see CORE 1

heartwarming adjective
making one feel good inside <Sarah was deeply touched by the heartwarming welcome she received from her relatives in Israel>

Synonyms
cheering, comforting, encouraging, fulfilling, gladdening, gratifying, heartening, rewarding, satisfying

Related Words
affecting, inspiring, inspiriting, moving, poignant, stirring, touching; edifying, elevating, uplifting; sympathetic, tender; kind, kindly, loving, warm; animating, enlivening, exciting, exhilarating, invigorating, rousing, stimulating, thrilling; pleasing, pleasurable, welcoming

Near Antonyms
cheerless, disappointing, disgruntling, displeasing, dissatisfying, heartbreaking, heartrending, saddening; discomforting, disconcerting, dismaying, distressing, disturbing, upsetting; cold, unfeeling, unfriendly, unkind, unloving, unpleasant

Antonyms
demoralizing, depressing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting

hearty adjective
1 characterized by unqualified enthusiasm <his decision to marry at long last has the whole family's hearty approval>

Synonyms
wholehearted, whole-souled

Related Words
single-minded; ardent, avid, eager, enthusiastic, excited, exuberant, fervent, gung ho, impassioned, keen, mettlesome, passionate, raring, vehement, warm, zealous; animated, energetic, lively, spirited, vigorous; absolute, bona fide, earnest, genuine, heartfelt, sincere, unaffected, undisguised, unequivocal, unfeigned, unrestrained

Near Antonyms
apathetic, disinterested, dispassionate, indifferent, uninterested; lackadaisical, listless, perfunctory, spiritless, uneager, unenthusiastic, unexcited; equivocal, hesitant, qualified, tentative, uncertain; delayed, dilatory, doubtful, hedging, hesitating; forced, reluctant, resistant, reticent, unwilling

Antonyms
grudging, halfhearted, lukewarm, tepid

2 enjoying health and vigor <you're looking really hearty after that month in the clear mountain air!> — see HEALTHY 1
3 having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <the mayor gave the assembled volunteers his hearty thanks for their restoration of the bandstand on the town square> — see FRIENDLY 1
4 not showing weakness or uncertainty <gave the reins a hearty tug but the horse wouldn't budge> — see FIRM 1

hearty noun
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel <gather round me hearties, and I'll tell you a sea tale that'll shiver your timbers for sure> — see SAILOR

heat noun
1 depth of feeling <informed the doctor, with considerable heat, that she had been kept waiting for three hours> — see ARDOR 1
2 slang a portable weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder <a private detective packing heat> — see GUN 1
3 slang a body of officers of the law <he thought he was so slick, but the heat was onto him in no time> — see POLICE 2

heat verb
to cause to have or give off heat to a moderate degree <heat water for tea> <heat the oven to 350 degrees before you put the cake in> — see WARM 1

heated adjective
1 being in a state of increased activity or agitation <a heated discussion about who should pay for the pizza> — see FEVERISH 1
2 having or giving off heat to a moderate degree <early settlers put heated bricks under the blankets to keep warm> — see WARM 1

heath noun
1 a broad area of level or rolling treeless country <not much grows on the heath besides heather> — see PLAIN 1
2 land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops <drove through a vast, empty heath that seemingly had no end> — see WASTELAND

heathen adjective
not civilized <old missionaries who mistakenly thought that they were going off to China to tame the heathen hordes> — see SAVAGE 1

heathen noun
1 a person who does not worship the God of the Bible <a missionary sent to distant lands to convert the heathens>

Synonyms
gentile, idolater (or idolator), pagan

Related Words
atheist, giaour, infidel, misbeliever, miscreant, nonbeliever, unbeliever; non-Christian, non-Jew, non-Muslim; neo-pagan, polytheist

Near Antonyms
Christian, Jew, Muslim

2 an uncivilized person <European colonizers, who considered the New World peoples to be heathens, forced them to conform to European ways>

Synonyms
barbarian, savage

Related Words
Neanderthal, primitive; noble savage

heathenish adjective
not civilized <believing that going to church in bare feet was heathenish, the missionaries made the natives wear shoes> — see SAVAGE 1

heave verb
1 to lift with effort <I heaved my duffel bag into the bus's overhead compartment>

Synonyms
boost, heft, hoist, jack (up), upheave

Related Words
elevate, hike, pick up, raise, rear, up, uplift, upraise, uprear

Near Antonyms
depress, drop, lower; sink, submerge, submerse

2 to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth <heaved as soon as he stepped off the roller coaster> — see VOMIT
3 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <heaved the bucket from the bottom of the well> — see RAISE 1
4 to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <heaved the brick over the fence> — see THROW 1
5 to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty <by the time he reached the top step of the tower, he was heaving> — see GASP

heaven noun
1 a dwelling place of perfect happiness for the soul after death <prayed that the souls of the deceased would go to heaven>

Synonyms
above, bliss, elysian fields, Elysium, empyrean, kingdom come, New Jerusalem, paradise, sky, Zion (also Sion)

Related Words
Beulah, glory, happy hunting ground, nirvana, promised land, Valhalla; afterlife, afterworld, hereafter, otherworld

Phrases
on high

Near Antonyms
inferno; limbo, purgatory; hades, netherworld, underworld; abyss, pit

Antonyms
Gehenna, hell, Pandemonium, perdition

2 an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <compared to my old job, this new one is heaven> — see PARADISE 1
3 a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <she was in heaven the day she learned she was one of the finalists for the science scholarship> — see ECSTASY
4 usually heavens plural the expanse of air surrounding the earth <the starry heavens> <the space shuttle gradually disappeared into the heavens> — see SKY 1

heavenly adjective
1 of the very best kind <had a heavenly time at the dance> — see EXCELLENT
2 of, relating to, or being God <do not concern yourself with material possessions, but with things heavenly, the prophet admonished> — see HOLY 3
3 of, relating to, or suggesting heaven <heavenly hosts singing “Alleluia!”> — see CELESTIAL
4 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <the heavenly aroma of chocolate fills the shop> — see PLEASANT 1

heaven–sent adjective
coming or happening by good luck especially unexpectedly <a heaven-sent offer to be the all-expenses-paid chaperone to some students on a trip to Paris> — see FORTUNATE 1

heavily adverb
to a great degree <heavily spiced sausage> <the family was heavily in debt> — see VERY 1

heaviness noun
1 the amount that something weighs <the numbers on the back of each sample indicate the heaviness of the carpeting material> — see WEIGHT 1
2 the state or quality of being heavy <the backpack was filled with water bottles that gave it an extra heaviness> — see WEIGHTINESS 1

heavy adjective
1 having great weight <this trunk full of books is much too heavy for one person to lift>

Synonyms
hefty, massive, ponderous, weighty

Related Words
burdensome, leaden, lumpish; bulky, elephantine, massy, outsize (also outsized), voluminous; overweight, top-heavy; solid, substantial; ultraheavy

Near Antonyms
airy, ethereal, feathery, fluffy, gossamer, gossamery; flimsy, insubstantial, slight; lightweight, undersized (also undersize), underweight; ultralight, ultralightweight

Antonyms
light, weightless

2 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <the study of history doesn't have to be all about dull heavy reading and the memorization of dates> — see BORING
3 containing much seasoning, fat, or sugar <avoid heavy desserts like cheesecake and pecan pie> — see RICH 2
4 covered over by clouds <heavy skies threatening rain> — see OVERCAST
5 difficult to endure <ignoring common sense, she drank the parasite-infested pond water and paid a heavy penalty for it> — see HARSH 1
6 extreme in degree, power, or effect <heavy rains> <the heavy fighting has just begun, so there are no casualties to report> — see INTENSE 1
7 having a matter of importance as its topic <got into a heavy discussion about death and the afterlife> — see SERIOUS 2
8 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <until we find our groove, it's going to be heavy sledding on this project> — see HARD 2
9 having great power or influence <she's not among the handful of heavy critics who can make or break a Broadway show> — see IMPORTANT 2
10 containing unborn young within the body <the heifer was heavy with young and soon would be birthing> — see PREGNANT 1

heavy noun
1 a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <she hates having to play the heavy all the time, but her husband refuses to be the disciplinarian in the family> — see VILLAIN
2 one of high position or importance within a group <in the field of secondary education, she definitely ranks as one of the heavies> — see BIG SHOT

heavy–duty adjective
1 extreme in degree, power, or effect <some heavy-duty lobbying on the part of the president to get the bill passed> — see INTENSE 1
2 having great power or influence <a group of heavy-duty politicians and other notables attended the gala> — see IMPORTANT 2

heavy–handed adjective
1 given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint <the gym teacher is heavy-handed with the boys and much more lenient with the girls> — see SEVERE 1
2 lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands <felt heavy-handed and awkward when she held the newborn infant> — see CLUMSY 1

heavyhearted adjective
feeling unhappiness <she was heavyhearted at losing the election, in which she had invested everything> — see SAD 1

heavy hitter noun
one of high position or importance within a group <many of the heavy hitters in the wine industry were boozing and schmoozing at the expo> — see BIG SHOT

heavyset adjective
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature <has the heavyset build of a weight lifter> — see STOCKY

heavyweight noun
one of high position or importance within a group <a heavyweight in the U.S. Senate, he has a lot of clout in judicial confirmations> — see BIG SHOT

hebetude noun
physical or mental inertness <faced with a class forever enveloped in a miasma of apathy and intellectual hebetude, the professor had little hope of kindling an interest in medieval European history> — see LETHARGY

heck noun
a state in which everything is out of order <it looks like heck in that boy's bedroom> — see CHAOS

heckle verb
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults <a controversial player who was constantly heckled by the fans> — see TEASE 2

heckler noun
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another <avoided the hecklers who hung out on the street corner making threatening remarks to passersby> — see TORMENTOR

hectic adjective
being in a state of increased activity or agitation <exhausted from a hectic day at the office> — see FEVERISH 1

hectically adverb
in a confused and reckless manner <a moth kept banging hectically against the screen, seeking the light on the other side> — see HELTER-SKELTER 1

hector noun
a person who teases, threatens, or hurts smaller or weaker persons <a small-town hector with no job and lots of time on his hands> — see BULLY 1

hector verb
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats <the children used to constantly hector the poor dog, and now he growls at everybody> — see INTIMIDATE

hedge noun
a physical object that blocks the way <the messenger was confronted with a hedge of spears held aloft by the castle guards> — see BARRIER

hedge verb
1 to avoid giving a definite answer or position <she kept hedging whenever he asked her to go on a date with him> — see EQUIVOCATE
2 to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <the prison was hedged by a high stone wall> — see ENCLOSE 1

hedonism noun
excessive pursuit of fleshly pleasures <their spring break trip to Mexico became an exercise in heedless hedonism> — see SENSUALITY

hedonist noun
a person whose life is devoted to luxury and sensual pleasures <every year the Mexican resort is taken over by collegiate hedonists on spring break> — see VOLUPTUARY

hedonistic adjective
given to or marked by excessive gratification of one's desires <a hedonistic rock star whose life is one nonstop party> <a city known for its wild, hedonistic nightlife>

Synonyms
decadent, indulgent, luxurious, overindulgent, self-indulgent, sybaritic

Related Words
carnal, fleshly, sensual, sensuous, voluptuous; masturbatory, onanistic, self-absorbed, self-obsessed; gluttonous, greedy, rapacious, voracious; extravagant, incontinent, intemperate, reckless, splurging, uncontrolled, wanton

Near Antonyms
abstemious, abstinent, continent, sober, temperate; ascetic (also ascetical), austere, spartan; disciplined, self-controlled, self-disciplined, self-governed

Antonyms
self-abnegating, self-denying

heebie–jeebies plural noun
a sense of panic or extreme nervousness <got a bad case of the heebie-jeebies before the audition> — see JITTERS

heed noun
1 a state of being aware <took heed of the student's learning disability so as to arrive at reasonable expectations for him> — see ATTENTION 2
2 strict attentiveness to what one is doing <pay heed to what you're doing with that knife while you're talking> — see CARE 1

heed verb
1 to take notice of and be guided by <if we had heeded the ranger's advice, we might not have gotten lost>

Synonyms
follow, listen (to), mind, note, observe, regard, watch

Related Words
consider, contemplate, mull, ponder, weigh; comply (with), conform (to), keep, obey, respect; attend (to), hark (to), hear, hearken (to); mark, notice, see

Near Antonyms
brush (aside or off), discount, dismiss, gloss (over), gloze (over), neglect, pass over, pooh-pooh (also pooh), scorn, shrug off; defy, flout; slight, snub

Antonyms
disregard, ignore, tune out

2 to pay attention especially through the act of hearing <that boy never heeds when I caution him about running with his shoelaces untied> — see LISTEN

heedful adjective
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble <heedful of snakes, we watched our footing while walking through the tall grass to the lake's edge> — see CAREFUL 1

heedfulness noun
1 a close attentiveness to avoiding danger <despite their habitual heedfulness, even good drivers can get into accidents> — see CAUTION 1
2 strict attentiveness to what one is doing <always exercises extreme heedfulness when she handles her best china> — see CARE 1

heedless adjective
not paying or showing close attention especially for the purpose of avoiding trouble <heedless drivers who back out of parking spaces without looking> — see CARELESS 1

heedlessness noun
failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes <the dog's lack of protection against rabies was purely due to his owner's heedlessness> — see NEGLIGENCE 1

hee–haw noun
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <the humor may have been corny and obvious, but the audience responded with hearty hee-haws> — see LAUGH 1

hee–haw verb
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound <those hayseeds will hee-haw at even the dumbest jokes> — see LAUGH 1

heel noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <felt like a heel when she found out that she'd blamed the wrong person> — see JERK 1

heel verb
to set or cause to be at an angle <the strong gust heeled the sailboat almost to the point of capsizing, but we managed to right it> — see LEAN 1

heft noun
1 the amount that something weighs <some synthetic fabrics are nice and warm, but I prefer wool because it has more heft> — see WEIGHT 1
2 the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly <as a former senator, he still had some heft in political circles> — see INFLUENCE 1
3 archaic the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts <the heft of the wainwright's business had been the building of hay wagons> — see BODY 1

heft verb
1 to lift with effort <hefted his growing son onto his shoulders> — see HEAVE 1
2 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <heft your baggy gym shorts a little higher—you're showing us more than we care to see> — see RAISE 1

heftiness noun
1 the quality or state of being large in size <a restaurant known for the heftiness of its portions> — see LARGENESS
2 the state or quality of being heavy <clerks no longer have to deal with the heftiness of paper files now that everything is filed on computers> — see WEIGHTINESS 1

hefty adjective
1 having great weight <that's a pretty hefty book bag for a tiny person like you> — see HEAVY 1
2 of a size greater than average of its kind <received a hefty donation from the local business association for holiday lights along Main Street> — see LARGE 1
3 strongly and heavily built <hefty since childhood, he became a champion wrestler> — see 1HUSKY 1

hegemony noun
controlling power or influence over others <European intellectuals have long debated the consequences of the hegemony of American popular culture around the world> — see SUPREMACY 1

height noun
1 the highest part or point <many regard the painting of the Sistine Chapel as the height of Michelangelo's career>

Synonyms
acme, apex, apogee, capstone, climax, crescendo, crest, crown, culmination, head, high noon, high tide, high-water mark, meridian, ne plus ultra, noon, noontime, peak, pinnacle, sum, summit, tip-top, top, zenith

Related Words
bloom, blossom, flood tide, flower, glory, heyday, prime; cap, ceiling, roof; extreme, extremity, tip, vertex; high, highlight, highspot

Near Antonyms
abyss, base, foot; minimum

Antonyms
bottom, nadir, rock bottom

2 the most extreme or advanced point <the student's defiant use of a cell phone during class was regarded by the professor as the height of insolence>

Synonyms
depth, extremity, limit

Related Words
consummation, epitome, quintessence, ultimate

3 the distance of something or someone from bottom to top <the average height of the players on the volleyball team is well over six feet>

Synonyms
altitude, elevation, inches, stature

Related Words
rise; highness, loftiness, tallness

4 an area of high ground <Gulliver, standing on a height near the shore, saw an island suspended above the sea>

Synonyms
altitude(s), elevation, eminence, highland, hill, hump, mound, prominence, rise, upland

Related Words
alp, mount, mountain, peak; butte, mesa, plateau, table, tableland; bluff, cliff, crag, precipice, steep, tor; ridge, sierra; dome, sugarloaf; foothill, hillock, hummock, knob, knoll; downs

Near Antonyms
dale, dell, depression, dingle, glen, hollow, vale, valley; basin, bottom, bottomland, fen, flat, floodplain, plain, tidewater

Antonyms
lowland

5 the most intense or characteristic phase of something <at the very height of the storm, someone knocked on the door> — see THICK

heighten verb
1 to make markedly greater in measure or degree <several controversial measures have heightened parental awareness of the impact of school policy decisions> — see INTENSIFY
2 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <heightened the hem on her skirt just a couple of inches> — see RAISE 1

heightened adjective
being at a higher level than average <there were heightened levels of lead in the drinking water> — see HIGH 2

heinie noun, slang
the part of the body upon which someone sits <a skirt so tight that her heinie was clearly outlined> — see BUTTOCKS

heinousness noun
the state or quality of being utterly evil <the heinousness of the Holocaust was only fully realized after the war> — see ENORMITY 1

heir noun
a person who has the right to inherit property <upon his death, Mr. Parkworth's property was divided evenly among his heirs, four sons and three daughters>

Synonyms
heir at law, inheritor, legatee

Related Words
claimant; heir apparent, representative, succeeder, successor; coheir, coheiress, heiress; assignee, beneficiary, devisee, grantee; descendant (also descendent), scion

heir at law noun
a person who has the right to inherit property <all of the heirs at law must be located before settlement of the estate is completed> — see HEIR

heist noun
an instance of theft <it was the largest jewelry heist in the city's history> — see THEFT 2

heist verb
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <a professional burglar was able to heist a box of jewelry from the safe in the closet> — see STEAL 1

helical adjective
turning around an axis like the thread of a screw <Sirius, the brightest star in the heavens, travels a helical path through space> — see SPIRAL

helicopter noun
a vehicle for traveling through the air that obtains its lift from rotors which spin horizontally <took a helicopter tour to get a better sense of the grandeur of the Grand Canyon>

Synonyms
chopper, copter, eggbeater, helo, whirlybird

Related Words
rotary-wing aircraft, rotorcraft; autogiro (or autogyro), convertiplane (or convertaplane), gyroplane, tilt-rotor; slick [slang]

hell noun
1 the place of punishment for the wicked after death <condemned to hell for their sins>

Synonyms
Gehenna, Pandemonium, perdition, Tophet

Related Words
blazes, inferno; purgatory; hades, netherworld, shades, Tartarus, underworld; Sheol; abyss, pit; fire and brimstone, hellfire

Near Antonyms
glory, happy hunting ground, nirvana, promised land, Valhalla

Antonyms
bliss, elysian fields, Elysium, empyrean, heaven, kingdom come, New Jerusalem, paradise, sky, Zion (also Sion)

2 a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness <picking cotton under the hot summer sun was hell>

Synonyms
agony, Gehenna, horror, misery, murder, nightmare, torment, torture

Related Words
affliction, calvary, cross, curse, ordeal, trial, tribulation; calamity, misfortune, tragedy; gall, thorn; bummer, downer, drag

Near Antonyms
delight, diversion, entertainment, fun, joy, pleasure, recreation; lark, picnic, riot

Antonyms
heaven, paradise

3 a state in which everything is out of order <all hell broke loose when the jury's verdict was announced> — see CHAOS

hellacious adjective
1 extreme in degree, power, or effect <the hellacious heat was more than we could bear> — see INTENSE 1
2 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <the pioneers survived a particularly hellacious river crossing with their covered wagon barely in one piece> — see HARD 2

hell–bent (on or upon) adjective
fully committed to achieving a goal <she's hell-bent on a career in show business and heaven help anyone who gets in her way> — see DETERMINED 1

hellcat noun
a mean or ugly old woman <one of the two spinster sisters is said to be a hellcat, and the other is as sweet as can be> — see CRONE

hell–for–leather adjective
having or showing a lack of concern for the consequences of one's actions <having been behind for most of the race, the stock car driver made a hell-for-leather dash to the finish> — see RECKLESS 1

hell–for–leather adverb
with great speed <we ran hell-for-leather out of that spooky house> — see FAST 1

hellhole noun
a dirty or messy place <his first apartment was a hellhole in an unsafe neighborhood> — see PIGPEN

hellion noun
an appealingly mischievous person <the little hellions were tearing through the house squirting their water pistols> — see SCAMP 1

hello noun
an expression of goodwill upon meeting <we said our hellos and got right down to business>

Synonyms
greeting, salutation, salute, welcome

Related Words
ave, hail; amenities, civilities, pleasantries; regards, respects, wishes

Antonyms
adieu, bon voyage, congé (also congee), farewell, Godspeed, good-bye (or good-by)

hell–raising adjective
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way <would often reminisce with his buddies about their hell-raising adventures as teenagers> — see BOISTEROUS

helm noun
the place of leadership or command <with a blind person at the helm, the city has made a lot of improvements for the physically challenged> — see HEAD 2

helm verb
to operate or control the course of <a treacherous route for any weekend sailor just learning to helm his vessel> — see NAVIGATE 1

helmsman noun
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do <had a complaint and demanded to talk to the helmsman of this vast construction project, not some underling> — see BOSS

helo noun
a vehicle for traveling through the air that obtains its lift from rotors which spin horizontally <the rescue helo swept in and landed on the roof of the skyscraper> — see HELICOPTER

help noun
1 an act or instance of helping <I could use your help getting this tire back on the car>

Synonyms
abetment, aid, assist, assistance, backing, boost, hand, helping hand, leg up, lift, support

Related Words
advancement, encouragement, facilitation, forwarding, furtherance, furthering, nurturance; benefaction, patronage, promotion, sponsorship; advice, care, counsel, guidance, mentoring; attendance, attention, hand-holding, service; beneficence, charity, favor, kindness, philanthropy; assuagement, palliation, relief, succor

Near Antonyms
constraint, frustration, inhibition, interference, obstruction, repression, restraint; deterrence, discouragement

Antonyms
hindrance

2 a thing that helps <the computer is a great help for writing reports>

Synonyms
advantage, aid, asset, benefit, boon

Related Words
hand, lift, pick-me-up; support, sustenance; blessing, godsend, windfall; recourse, refuge, resort, resource

Near Antonyms
constraint, inhibitor, liability, obstacle, obstruction, restraint, stranglehold

Antonyms
disadvantage, drawback, encumbrance, hindrance, impediment, minus

3 a body of persons at work or available for work <it's so hard to get good help these days> — see FORCE 1

help verb
1 to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end <offered to help her widowed father when he moved into an apartment>

Synonyms
abet, aid, assist, back, backstop, prop (up), support

Related Words
advance, ease, facilitate, forward, foster, further, launch; champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize, promote, sponsor; attend, care (for), comfort, minister (to), succor; sustain; bolster, boost, buttress, reinforce (also reenforce); advise, counsel, guide, mentor, nurture; bail out, deliver, rescue, save; embolden, encourage, hearten; benefit, favor, oblige, profit, serve

Phrases
bear a hand, to stand one in good stead

Near Antonyms
balk, bar, block, constrain, hamper, handicap, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, restrain, strangle; baffle, foil, frustrate, inconvenience, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart; desert, disappoint, fail, let down; discourage, dishearten; repress, retard, stifle, straiten, stunt; damage, harm, hurt, injure

Antonyms
hinder

2 to make more bearable or less severe <the new ointment didn't help Josh's sunburn one bit>

Synonyms
allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, mitigate, mollify, palliate, relieve, soothe

Related Words
abate, lighten, moderate, soften, temper; cure, heal, remedy; amend, correct, emend, fix, mend, rectify, reform, repair; ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refine

Near Antonyms
harm, hurt, impair, injure; heighten, intensify, sharpen

Antonyms
aggravate, exacerbate

3 to keep from happening by taking action in advance <they couldn't help the way things turned out> — see PREVENT
4 to provide with something useful or desirable <being independently wealthy certainly helped him during his years as a struggling young artist> — see BENEFIT
5 to make better <some minor revisions would help this essay immensely> — see IMPROVE

helper noun
a person who helps a more skilled person <over the summer Chris worked as a carpenter's helper>

Synonyms
adjunct, adjutant, aid, aide, apprentice, assistant, coadjutor, deputy, helpmate, helpmeet, lieutenant, mate, sidekick

Related Words
attendant, handmaiden (also handmaid), maid, maidservant, scullion, servant; auxiliary, legman, subordinate, underling; employee (also employe), hand, help, hireling, laborer, swamper, worker; gal Friday, girl Friday; man Friday, right hand; aide-de-camp

helpful adjective
1 providing service or assistance <a Web site that I've always found to be helpful for finding information on common medical problems>

Synonyms
conducive, facilitative, useful

Related Words
advantageous, beneficial, efficacious, favorable, productive, profitable, salutary; accommodating, obliging

Near Antonyms
ineffective, ineffectual; adverse, disadvantageous, inconvenient, profitless, unfavorable

Antonyms
unhelpful, useless

2 promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being <it would be helpful to have more than one thesaurus in the classroom> — see BENEFICIAL

helping hand noun
an act or instance of helping <a skilled mechanic who generously provides a helping hand when his neighbors are plagued by car troubles> — see HELP 1

helpless adjective
1 lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack <after the storm we found a helpless baby bird that had fallen out of its nest>

Synonyms
defenseless, exposed, susceptible, undefended, unguarded, unprotected, unresistant, vulnerable

Related Words
indefensible, untenable; uncovered, unsafe; overcome, preyed (on or upon); disarmed, passive, resistless, unarmed; feeble, frail, weak; abandoned, high and dry, marooned

Phrases
in the lurch

Near Antonyms
defensible; covered, fortified, safe, screened, secure, sheltered; armed, armored; immune, impenetrable, impregnable, invincible, strong, unassailable, unbeatable, unconquerable; almighty, omnipotent

Antonyms
guarded, invulnerable, protected, resistant, shielded

2 unable to act or achieve one's purpose <we watched, feeling helpless, as the vase slipped from her hand and crashed to the floor> — see POWERLESS

helpmate noun
1 a person who helps a more skilled person <after several years as a photographer's helpmate, the young man decided to pursue his own ambitions in commercial photography> — see HELPER
2 the female partner in a marriage <the man and his helpmate of 50 years decided that it was high time they took a trip around the world together> — see WIFE

helpmeet noun
1 a person who helps a more skilled person <exasperated, the army surgeon requested a helpmeet who wouldn't faint at the sight of blood> — see HELPER
2 the female partner in a marriage <chose for his helpmeet a woman who could share his passion for rock climbing> — see WIFE

helter–skelter adjective
1 acting or done with excessive or careless speed <a bill that was pushed through committee in a last-minute helter-skelter burst of legislative activity> — see HASTY 1
2 lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern <the offspring of unreconstructed flower children, they've been educated in a somewhat helter-skelter fashion> — see RANDOM

helter–skelter adverb
1 in a confused and reckless manner <the sheep ran helter-skelter inside their pen when the coyote appeared in their midst>

Synonyms
amok (or amuck), berserk, berserkly, frantically, frenetically, frenziedly, harum-scarum, hectically, madly, pell-mell, wild, wildly

Related Words
agitatedly, confusedly, crazily, desperately, feverishly, haywire, skittishly, uncontrollably; heedlessly, hotheadedly, recklessly, wantonly; chaotically, riotously, tumultuously, turbulently; aimlessly, haphazard, haphazardly, hit-or-miss, topsy-turvy

Near Antonyms
calmly, collectedly, composedly, coolly (also cooly), imperturbably, peacefully, placidly, self-composedly, self-possessedly, serenely, unconcernedly; meekly, mildly, passively, tamely; methodically, orderly, systematically

2 without definite aim, direction, rule, or method <goods arranged helter-skelter on the shelves of the variety store> — see HIT OR MISS

helter–skelter noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <in the helter-skelter at the refugee camp the child got separated from his parents> — see COMMOTION

helve noun
a part by which an implement is held <the head of the ax was crudely lashed to a wooden helve> — see HANDLE 1

hem noun
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <the hem of the blouse was gold> — see BORDER 1

hem (in) verb
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <a village hemmed in on all sides by mountains> — see ENCLOSE 1

hence adverb
1 for this or that reason <an endangered orchid species, hence illegal to pick> — see THEREFORE
2 from this or that place <the exorcist commanded, “Get thee hence, Satan!”> — see AWAY

henceforth adverb
from this point on <henceforth, there will be no more prolonged coffee breaks>

Synonyms
henceforward, hereafter

Related Words
afterward (or afterwards), later, subsequently; hereupon, thereupon

henceforward adverb
from this point on <you have sworn to tell the truth in this court, and henceforward you are bound by your oath> — see HENCEFORTH

henpeck verb
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders <neighbors say she henpecked him into giving up golf and selling his clubs> — see NAG 1

hep adjective
keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment <hep devotees of jazz were willing to brave any venue to hear him play> — see AU COURANT 1

hepped up adjective
showing urgent desire or interest <all hepped up about buying a new motorcycle> — see EAGER

herald noun
1 a person who actively supports or favors a cause <an outspoken herald of prison reform> — see EXPONENT 1
2 one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another <the American robin—the herald of spring in the North> — see FORERUNNER 1

herald verb
1 to give a slight indication of beforehand <the reshuffle of the company's management heralded the sweeping changes to come> — see FORESHADOW
2 to make known openly or publicly <herald the great tidings to all the world> — see ANNOUNCE

herbage noun
green leaves or plants <added some ferns and other herbage to the sidewalk planters> — see GREENERY

herculean adjective
1 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <the herculean task of grading 60 student essays over one weekend> — see HARD 2
2 unusually large <a herculean banquet table that took eight men to lift it> — see HUGE

herd noun
1 a group of domestic animals assembled or herded together <the great herds of cattle that cowboys once drove across the plains>

Synonyms
drove, flock

Related Words
colony, covey, gaggle, pack, plump [chiefly dialect], pod, school, swarm

2 the body of the community as contrasted with the elite <aspire to achieve something, to distinguish yourself from the herd> — see MASS 1
3 a great number of persons or things massed together <gearing up for the herd of holiday shoppers at the mall on the day after Thanksgiving> — see CROWD 1

herd verb
to urge, push, or force onward <the guards briskly herded us through the museum in order to prevent overcrowding> — see DRIVE 1

herder noun
a tender of livestock <the nomadic reindeer herders of Siberia live in reindeer-skin tents>

Synonyms
herdsman

Related Words
buckaroo (also buckeroo), cowboy, cowgirl, cowhand, cowherd, cowman, cowpoke, cowpuncher, gaucho, ranchero, vaquero; sheepherder, shepherd, shepherdess; goatherd; swineherd; wrangler; drover

herdsman noun
a tender of livestock <a lone herdsman stood with his sheep and his dog on the hillside> — see HERDER

hereafter adverb
from this point on <he is giving up all his worldly goods and hereafter will devote his life to the poor> — see HENCEFORTH

hereafter noun
1 time that is to come <apologized, for being late to the meeting and assured his boss that there would be no such recurrences in the hereafter> — see FUTURE 1
2 unending existence after death <hoped to be reunited with his deceased wife in the hereafter> — see ETERNITY 2

here and now noun
the time currently existing or in progress <while we can plan for the future, we must first deal with the here and now> — see 1PRESENT

here and there adverb
1 in one place and another <an overgrown lawn with yellow patches of dandelions scattered here and there>

Synonyms
about, around, passim

Related Words
all over, everyplace, everywhere, far and wide, high and low, right and left, throughout, ubiquitously

Near Antonyms
nowhere

2 on some occasions <she spoke so softly that I only caught a word here and there> — see SOMETIMES

hereditary adjective
genetically passed or capable of being passed from parent to offspring <eye and hair color are hereditary>

Synonyms
genetic (also genetical), heritable, inborn, inheritable, inherited

Related Words
congenital, inbred, inherent, innate, native, natural

Near Antonyms
acquired

Antonyms
nonhereditary

heresiarch noun
a person who believes, teaches, or advocates something opposed to accepted beliefs <his about-face on welfare reform has led him to be seen as a heresiarch among his party's faithful> — see HERETIC 1

heresy noun
departure from a generally accepted theory, opinion, or practice <the heresy of asserting that Shakespeare was not a great writer>

Synonyms
dissent, dissidence, heterodoxy, nonconformity

Related Words
error, fallacy, falsehood, misbelief, misconception, myth; apostasy, defection, infidelity, schism, scission, sectarianism, separatism; deviance, deviation, iconoclasm, unconventionality; disagreement, discord, dissension (also dissention)

Near Antonyms
agreement, conformation, conventionality

Antonyms
conformity, orthodoxy

heretic noun
1 a person who believes, teaches, or advocates something opposed to accepted beliefs <Galileo was condemned as a heretic for supporting Copernicus's thesis that the earth revolves around the sun and not vice versa>

Synonyms
dissenter, dissentient, dissident, heresiarch, nonconformist

Related Words
apostate, defector, renegade; schismatic, sectarian, separationist, separatist; disbeliever, infidel, misbeliever, unbeliever; bohemian, individualist

Near Antonyms
believer

Antonyms
conformer, conformist

2 a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs <he's the ultimate heretic: a Yankees fan living deep in the heart of the Red Sox Nation> — see NONCONFORMIST 1

heretical also heretic adjective
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices <the belief that women should be allowed to have careers outside the home was once considered heretical>

Synonyms
dissentient, dissenting, dissident, heterodox, iconoclastic, maverick, nonconformist, nonorthodox, out-there, unconventional, unorthodox

Related Words
free-spirited, freethinking, nontraditional; apostate, defecting, renegade; schismatic (also schismatical), sectarian, separatist

Antonyms
conforming, conformist, conventional, orthodox

heretofore adverb
up to this or that time <having been heretofore unwilling to fly, he was forced to make an exception for his brother's out-of-state wedding> — see HITHERTO

heritable adjective
genetically passed or capable of being passed from parent to offspring <heritable characteristics like skin and eye and hair color> — see HEREDITARY

heritage noun
1 an inherited or established way of thinking, feeling, or doing <hospitality is a cherished Southern heritage> — see TRADITION 1
2 something that is or may be inherited <this farm is my heritage from my father, as it was for him from his father> — see INHERITANCE

herky–jerky adjective
marked by a series of sharp quick motions <filmed in a herky-jerky style that will give many moviegoers a headache> — see JERKY 1

hermetic also hermetical adjective
difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand <wrote hermetic poetry whose sole intended readership was himself> — see PROFOUND 1

hermit noun
a person who lives away from others <St. Jerome is said to have spent two years as a hermit in the desert, searching for inner peace> — see RECLUSE

hermitage noun
1 a place where a person goes to hide or to avoid others <the artist's desert hermitage was a small adobe house at the end of a long dusty road> — see HIDEOUT
2 a residence for men under religious vows <monks in that hermitage take a vow of silence> — see MONASTERY

hero noun
1 a person who is the object of extreme or uncritical devotion <fans of the sports hero didn't care what the facts were—in their minds, he was innocent of all criminal charges> — see IDOL
2 a large sandwich on a long split roll <shared a foot-long meatball hero with his friend> — see SUBMARINE

heroic also heroical adjective
1 feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <a memorial honoring the heroic nurses who served in the war> — see BRAVE 1
2 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <an opera production of heroic proportions> — see GRAND 1
3 unusually large <a heroic statue of Alexander the Great astride his horse> — see HUGE

heroically adverb
1 in a fearless manner <struggled heroically to raise three children on her meager salary> — see BRAVELY 1
2 in a manner befitting a person of the highest character and ideals <doctors and nurses worked heroically through the night to keep the patient alive> — see GREATLY 1

heroism noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <the inspiring heroism of the firefighters who risked their lives to save the people trapped in the burning building> — see COURAGE

hero–worship verb
1 to love or admire too much <people who hero-worship celebrities are setting themselves up for disappointment> — see IDOLIZE
2 to praise too much <a golfing pro who is hero-worshipped by hordes of weekend duffers> — see FLATTER 1

hero worship noun
excessive admiration of or devotion to a person <once the object of uncritical hero worship, the aging quarterback now faces the derision of his team's fickle fans> — see WORSHIP

hesitance noun
1 a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something <sales figures for the month were up, as consumers began to overcome their hesitance about purchasing big-ticket items> — see RELUCTANCE
2 a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action <she mistook my hesitance to mean I didn't like her poem, but I was trying to come up with appropriate words of praise> — see HESITATION

hesitancy noun
1 a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something <his appointment to the superintendency was confirmed by the school board without the least hesitancy> — see RELUCTANCE
2 a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action <his hesitancy in pulling over into the next lane while he had a chance resulted in him missing his exit> — see HESITATION

hesitant adjective
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty <he was hesitant about committing himself to the oversight of the project, which he knew would be long and difficult>

Synonyms
cagey (also cagy), disinclined, dubious, indisposed, loath (also loth or loathe), reluctant, reticent

Related Words
uneager, unenthusiastic; averse, unwilling; ambivalent, conflicted, doubtful, faltering, halting, indecisive, infirm, irresolute, questioning, skeptical, uncertain, undecided, unsure, vacillating, wobbly (also wabbly); fainthearted, shy, timid

Near Antonyms
eager, enthusiastic, glad, happy, keen; ready, willing; certain, decided, determined, resolute, sure, unquestioning

Antonyms
disposed, inclined

hesitate verb
to show uncertainty about the right course of action <I didn't hesitate to tell them that what they were doing was wrong and that I wanted no part of it>

Synonyms
balance, dither, falter, halt, hang back, scruple, shilly-shally, stagger, teeter, vacillate, waver, wobble (also wabble)

Related Words
haw, hem; dally, dawdle, delay, linger, pause, procrastinate, wait; back down, chicken (out); consider, debate, deliberate, ponder, weigh; oscillate, sway; equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, waffle

Near Antonyms
decide; budge, stir; advance, continue

Antonyms
dive (in), plunge (in)

hesitation noun
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action <one moment's hesitation on my part, and the elusive butterfly was lost to me forever>

Synonyms
faltering, fence-sitting, hesitance, hesitancy, indecision, irresolution, pause, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, vacillation, wavering, wobbling (also wabbling)

Related Words
delay, hawing, procrastination, waiting; arrière-pensée, misgiving, second thought; consideration, debate, deliberation, doubt, incertitude, indecisiveness, indetermination, uncertainness, uncertainty; avoidance, equivocation; aversion, disinclination, indisposition, reluctance, unwillingness; faintheartedness, shyness, timidity, timidness

Near Antonyms
certainty, certitude, confidence, decisiveness, determination, firmness, resoluteness, resolution, sureness; alacrity, eagerness, readiness

heterodox adjective
1 deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices <a Christian clergyman with a very heterodox opinion on the divinity of Jesus> — see HERETICAL
2 not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules <her heterodox approach to teaching science initially met with some resistance from her peers> — see INFORMAL 1

heterodoxy noun
departure from a generally accepted theory, opinion, or practice <Copernicus's theory that the earth revolved around the sun was arrant heterodoxy at a time when the earth was thought to be the center of the universe> — see HERESY

heterogeneity noun
the quality or state of being composed of many different elements or types <the cultural heterogeneity of its residents is a point of pride for the city> — see VARIETY 1

heterogeneous adjective
consisting of many things of different sorts <the seating in the hall was a heterogeneous collection of old school desk chairs, wood and metal folding chairs, and even a few plush theater seats> — see MISCELLANEOUS

heterogeneousness noun
the quality or state of being composed of many different elements or types <the ever increasing heterogeneousness of the nation's population will bring about a whole new set of challenges> — see VARIETY 1

het up adjective
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <it won't do you any good to get all het up before the tryouts and lose sleep> — see NERVOUS 1

hew verb
1 to bring down by cutting <laboriously hewed trees to build their rude log cabins> — see FELL 2
2 to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion <decided to hew to the original plan rather than change everything> — see STICK 1

hew (to) verb
to give steadfast support to <no longer was able to hew to the party line and so he switched political parties> — see ADHERE TO 1

hex noun
1 a woman believed to have often harmful supernatural powers <people who used to believe that misfortune was caused by evil hexes and mischievous sprites> — see WITCH 1
2 something that brings bad luck <there seemed to be a hex on him, for all of his business ventures came to naught despite his hard work> — see JINX
3 a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power <the wizard had put a hex on the evil gnome that turned him to stone> — see SPELL 1

hex verb
to cast a spell on <I think our plans have been hexed from the start—everything is going wrong> — see BEWITCH 1

hey interjection
how delightful <hey, I won the lottery!> — see HOORAY

heyday noun
a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement <in its heyday, the circus was a major form of entertainment for small-town America> — see BLOOM 1

hiatus noun
1 an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) <steam was rising from an hiatus in the ground> — see GAP 1
2 an incomplete or deficient area <a hiatus in the law which prevented the district attorney from prosecuting the offenders> — see GAP 3
3 a break in continuity <a three-year hiatus before the fifth book in the series appeared> — see GAP 2

hiccup also hiccough noun
a break in continuity <the business has grown steadily for 14 years, with only a few minor hiccups> — see GAP 2

hick noun
an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country <city dwellers who looked down on their cousins from northern Maine as hicks>

Synonyms
bumpkin, chawbacon, churl, clodhopper, cornball, countryman, hayseed, hillbilly, provincial, rube, rustic, yokel

Related Words
boor, clod, clown, gawk, lout, oaf; greenhorn, tenderfoot; peasant, peon; backwoodsman, mountaineer

Near Antonyms
slicker, smoothy (or smoothie); metropolitan, suburbanite, urbanite

Antonyms
cosmopolitan, cosmopolite, sophisticate

1hickey noun
a small article the actual name of which one either does not know or cannot remember <I lost the hickey that locks and unlocks the car's doors by remote control> — see DOODAD 1

2hickey noun
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin <the last thing she needed on her wedding day was a hickey for her radiant face> — see POCK

hidden adjective
screened or sequestered from view <a hidden beach that very few know how to get to> — see SECLUDED

hide noun
1 the outer covering of an animal removed for its commercial value <seal hides are used by Eskimos to make footwear, boats, shelters, bags, and clothing>

Synonyms
fur, leather, pelt, skin

Related Words
badger, beaver, chamois, chinchilla, ermine, fisher, fox, marten, mink, muskrat, otter, Persian lamb, rabbit, raccoon (also racoon), sable, seal; bearskin, buckskin, calfskin, coonskin, cowhide, deerskin, doeskin, goatskin, horsehide, karakul, kidskin, kolinsky, lambskin, pigskin, rawhide, sealskin, sharkskin, sheep, sheepskin, snakeskin; fleece, mouton; alligator, crocodile; cordovan, morocco, patent leather, suede

2 the hairless natural covering of an animal prepared for use <boots made of shiny alligator hide> — see LEATHER 1

1hide verb
1 to put into a hiding place <the thief had hidden the stolen jewelry under the floorboards>

Synonyms
bury, cache, conceal, ensconce, secrete

Related Words
hoard, squirrel (away), stash; entomb, inter

Near Antonyms
bare, expose, reveal, show, uncover, unmask, unveil, unwrap; flaunt, parade, show off; disinter, unearth

Antonyms
display, exhibit

2 to keep secret or shut off from view <he tried to hide his criminal past> <she hid the cat's litter box behind a screen>

Synonyms
belie, blanket, blot out, cloak, conceal, cover, curtain, disguise, enshroud, mask, obscure, occult, paper over, screen, shroud, suppress, veil

Related Words
bury, camouflage, cover (up), smother; gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash; becloud, bedim, befog, block, cloud, darken, eclipse, obstruct, occlude, overcast, overshadow, shade

Near Antonyms
bring out, present; clarify, illuminate; advertise, air, broadcast, get out, proclaim, publicize, publish, spread

Antonyms
bare, disclose, display, divulge, expose, reveal, show, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil

3 to remain out of sight <he hid in the closet while his roommate lied to the probation officer>

Synonyms
hole up, lie, lurk, repose, skulk

Related Words
slink, sneak; avoid, elude, evade

Phrases
lie low, sit tight

Near Antonyms
come out, materialize, show up, turn up

Antonyms
appear

2hide verb
1 to strike repeatedly <the grizzled quartermaster threatened to hide any soldier caught stealing provisions> — see BEAT 1
2 to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <threatened to hide the boys with his cane if he ever found them on his property again> — see WHIP 1

hideaway noun
a place where a person goes to hide or to avoid others <the novelist has a little hideaway in the country where he goes whenever he wants to do some serious writing> — see HIDEOUT

hidebound adjective
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <the hidebound innkeeper refused to see the need for a Web site, insisting that the inn had done without one for over 150 years> — see CONSERVATIVE 1

hideosity noun
something unpleasant to look at <residents of the historic district have protested that a fast-food joint would be a hideosity and totally out of character with the rest of the neighborhood> — see EYESORE

hideous adjective
1 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <the hideous way in which she treated her maid after she discovered her ring was missing> — see OFFENSIVE 1
2 extremely disturbing or repellent <a hideous crime that could not be fully described in the newspapers> — see HORRIBLE 1
3 unpleasant to look at <wearing a hideous Halloween mask that made the kids all jump with fright> — see UGLY 1

hideousness noun
1 the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay <the indescribable hideousness of the squalor in which the villagers are forced to live> — see HORROR 1
2 the state or quality of being utterly evil <the hideousness of the defendant's alleged crimes should not prevent him from getting a fair trial> — see ENORMITY 1

hideout noun
a place where a person goes to hide or to avoid others <police found the stolen jewels under the floorboards in the thief's hideout, a cabin deep in the woods>

Synonyms
concealment, covert, den, hermitage, hideaway, hidey-hole (or hidy-hole), lair, nest

Related Words
blind, cover, nook, recess; hangout, harbor, harborage, haunt, haven, redoubt, refuge, retreat, shelter

hidey–hole or hidy–hole noun
a place where a person goes to hide or to avoid others <commandos captured the deposed dictator in a carefully camouflaged cellar that he had been using as a hidey-hole> — see HIDEOUT

hiding noun
the placing of something out of sight <fearing that the enemy would soon be upon them, the museum director oversaw the hiding of the most valuable works of art> — see CONCEALMENT 1

hie verb
to proceed or move quickly <we had best hie home before the snow gets worse> — see HURRY 2

hierarchy noun
a scheme of rank or order <honesty sits at the top of my hierarchy of values> — see SCALE 1

hierophant noun
a person who actively supports or favors a cause <as an early hierophant of birth control, Margaret Sanger had to face down often vehement opposition> — see EXPONENT 1

higgledy–piggledy adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <the quilt was a higgledy-piggledy patchwork of odd-shaped fabric scraps, each of which held a fond memory for the family> — see MESSY

high adjective
1 extending to a great distance upward <as the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest is mountaineering's holy grail>

Synonyms
altitudinous, lofty, tall, towering

Related Words
dominant, dominating, eminent, prominent; elevated, lifted, raised, uplifted, upswept; high-rise, statuesque

Near Antonyms
flat, stubby, stumpy

Antonyms
low, low-lying, short, squat

2 being at a higher level than average <gasoline prices are high right now> <a high fever> <people with high incomes>

Synonyms
elevated, escalated, heightened, increased, jacked (up), raised, up

Related Words
extreme, full, maximized, maximum, peaked, sky-high, utmost; inflated, over, overfilled, overflowing, overfull, overlarge, overloaded, oversize (or oversized)

Near Antonyms
decreased, depressed, dropped, knockdown [chiefly British], receded, under

Antonyms
down, low

3 located at a greater height than average or usual <an eagle's nest high on the cliff> <an old house with high ceilings>

Synonyms
airy, elevated, nosebleed

Related Words
ascendant (also ascendent), ascending, soaring; overhead, overlooking, raised, upheld, uplifted, upraised; topmost, upmost, upper, uppermost, upward

Near Antonyms
depressed, descendant (also descendent), descending, down, dropped, fallen, grounded, lowered, sunken; lowermost, nethermost, undermost; abreast, even, level

Antonyms
low, low-lying

4 being far along in development <a cabal of self-proclaimed Luddites who argued that the evils of high technology far outweighed its virtues> — see ADVANCED 1
5 being under the influence of alcohol <not only has he never been high, he has never even tasted alcohol> — see DRUNK
6 commanding a large price <the concert tickets weren't cheap—you don't even want to know how high they were> — see COSTLY
7 having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature <she had the highest intentions, but her “help” turned out to be a disaster> — see NOBLE 2
8 highest in rank or authority <high government officials> <lord high executioner> — see HEAD
9 being under the influence of a recreational drug <he's clean now, but when he was younger he used to get high every day> — see STONED 1

high adverb
in a luxurious manner <after he had won the lottery Philip lived pretty high—until all the money was gone>

Synonyms
expensively, extravagantly, fatly, grandly, large, lavishly, luxuriously, opulently, palatially, plushly, richly, sumptuously

Related Words
imposingly, impressively, magnificently, splendidly; grandiosely, ostentatiously, pompously, pretentiously; affluently, comfortably, fine, wealthily; immoderately, indulgently, intemperately, prodigally, wantonly, wastefully

Near Antonyms
unpretentiously; cheaply, economically, frugally, inexpensively, meagerly, poorly, skimpily, sparely, sparingly, thriftily; conservatively, moderately, prudently, reasonably, restrainedly, sensibly, temperately

Antonyms
austerely, humbly, modestly, plainly, simply

high noun
1 a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <it took days for the high of the World Series win to wear off> — see ECSTASY
2 the expanse of air surrounding the earth <V formations of honking geese on high mean winter will soon be here> — see SKY 1

high and dry adjective
unable to act or achieve one's purpose <the inadequate supplies of vaccine left many people high and dry when the flu season arrived> — see POWERLESS

high and low adverb
in every place or in all places <I've been looking high and low for my glasses> — see EVERYWHERE

high–and–mighty adjective
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <a boss so high-and-mighty that no one could reason with him about anything> — see ARROGANT

highball verb
to proceed or move quickly <trying to make up for lost time, the train just highballed through the station without stopping> — see HURRY 2

highborn adjective
of high birth, rank, or station <skeptics have argued that these dramatic masterpieces must have been written by someone more highborn than one William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon> — see NOBLE 1

highbred adjective
of high birth, rank, or station <as the highbred descendant of one of the state's oldest families, he bristled at being ordered about by an uncouth upstart> — see NOBLE 1

highbrow adjective
much given to learning and thinking <finally, a TV series that appeals to a highbrow audience> — see INTELLECTUAL 1

highbrow noun
a person with strong intellectual interests <guests at her elegant dinner parties are a mix of the city's highbrows and captains of industry> — see INTELLECTUAL

highbrowed adjective
much given to learning and thinking <highbrowed readers were not bothered by the novel's lack of a conventional plot> — see INTELLECTUAL 1

high–class adjective
of the very best kind <had some surprisingly high-class food at the church supper> — see EXCELLENT

high–end adjective
1 appealing to affluent consumers <a high-end haberdashery that serves its clients by appointment only> — see UPSCALE
2 commanding a large price <high-end digital cameras intended for professionals and serious amateurs> — see COSTLY

higher adjective
being far along in development <an institute of higher learning> <higher primates, such as the apes> — see ADVANCED 1

highest adjective
1 being at a point or level higher than all others <the highest grade> <the highest flag on the pole> — see TOP 1
2 coming before all others in importance <turned to the highest authority for answers> <the highest official in the land> — see FOREMOST 1

highfalutin also hifalutin adjective
1 full of fine words and fancy expressions <his highfalutin paean to the working class failed to win over a crowd that wanted to hear down-to-earth proposals for economic relief> — see FLOWERY 1
2 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <her highfalutin relatives from New York made the snide remark that her little house “has that lived-in look”> — see ARROGANT
3 having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself <refused to be intimidated by the highfalutin manner of the sales staff in the fashionable boutique> — see PROUD 1
4 self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance <“fine Southern cuisine” sounds a bit highfalutin for a barbecue shack> — see PRETENTIOUS 1

highflier or highflyer noun
an ambitious person who eagerly goes after what is desired <one of New York's largest law firms, it attracts highfliers looking for a big-time legal career> — see GO-GETTER

high–flown adjective
1 full of fine words and fancy expressions <gave a high-flown reply instead of a simple “yes” or “no” answer> — see FLOWERY 1
2 very dignified in form, tone, or style <high-flown speeches about the nobleness of their cause> — see ELEVATED 2

high ground noun
the more favorable condition or position in a competition <one would have thought that having the superior product would have given the company the high ground in the video format war> — see ADVANTAGE 1

high–handed adjective
1 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <the manager displayed a high-handed demeanor that increasingly demoralized the members of his staff> — see ARROGANT
2 having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity <that country club tends to be rather high-handed about whom they let in and whom they shut out> — see ARBITRARY 1

high–hat adjective
1 being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior <at the wedding reception the bride's high-hat relatives did their considerable best to ignore us> — see SNOBBISH
2 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <several high-hat society types arrived after we did, but they got seated first> — see ARROGANT

high–hat verb
1 to show contempt for <one presidential candidate presents himself as an outsider who has long been high-hatted by the Beltway elite> — see SCORN 1
2 to deliberately ignore or treat rudely <was high-hatted by an old college friend who's now a power player on Wall Street> — see SNUB 1

high horse noun
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <I won't deal with you until you get off your high horse and stop patronizing me> — see ARROGANCE

high jinks also hijinks plural noun
wildly playful or mischievous behavior <despite the team's dismal record, the players have won over many fans with their exuberant high jinks> — see HORSEPLAY

highland noun
an area of high ground <there are permanent glaciers in the cool, humid highlands of the Pacific Northwest> — see HEIGHT 4

highlight verb
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on <according to the TV schedule, this week's “Astronomy Today” highlights the accomplishments of Maria Mitchell> — see EMPHASIZE 1

highly adverb
1 to a great degree <though she didn't win, she was highly satisfied with her personal results for the marathon> — see VERY 1
2 to a large extent or degree <that is highly different from your first idea for a family vacation> — see GREATLY 2

high–minded adjective
1 having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature <high-minded efforts to improve the lives of people who are less fortunate> — see NOBLE 2
2 self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance <she was too high-minded to admit publicly to watching trashy movies, but privately she loved them> — see PRETENTIOUS 1

high–mindedly adverb
in a manner befitting a person of the highest character and ideals <high-mindedly gave his colleagues all the credit for the successful completion of the project> — see GREATLY 1

high–muck–a–muck or high–muckety–muck noun
one of high position or importance within a group <failed to pass muster with the country club's high-muck-a-mucks> — see BIG SHOT

high noon noun
1 a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement <the high noon of the whaling industry occurred in the first half of the 19th century> — see BLOOM 1
2 the highest part or point <the exhibition showcased works painted at the high noon of French Impressionism> — see HEIGHT 1
3 the middle of the day <the dedication ceremony began at high noon with a 21-gun salute> — see NOON 1

high–pitched adjective
having a high musical pitch or range <the high-pitched sound of a siren> — see SHRILL

high–pressure adjective
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal <a high-pressure salesman who wouldn't take “no” for an answer> <“for a limited time only” and other standbys of high-pressure advertising> — see AGGRESSIVE 1

high priest noun
1 a person who actively supports or favors a cause <the high priest of tax relief for the state's property owners> — see EXPONENT 1
2 one who brings an art or science to full realization <as the high priest of nouvelle cuisine, he was enormously influential in the food world> — see EXPONENT 2

high road noun
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <hair-raising tales of outlaws who ambushed coaches traveling the high roads> — see WAY 1

high roller noun
someone who spends money freely or foolishly <in the carefree environment of a vacation, even a person of modest means has the urge to play the high roller> — see PRODIGAL

high–rolling adjective
given to spending money freely or foolishly <an overpriced nightclub that caters mainly to high-rolling tourists> — see PRODIGAL

high–sounding adjective
full of fine words and fancy expressions <high-sounding speeches full of promises that the candidates would never keep> — see FLOWERY 1

high–spirited adjective
1 joyously unrestrained <a high-spirited crowd loudly cheering the basketball team on> — see EXUBERANT
2 marked by a lively display of strong feeling <the band struck up a high-spirited march as the President's motorcade approached> — see SPIRITED 1

high–spiritedly adverb
in a quick and spirited manner <the teens high-spiritedly donned clown costumes in preparation for the party they were giving at the Children's Hospital> — see GAILY 2

high–strung adjective
easily excited by nature <a dog that tends to be high-strung is not the best pet for young children> — see EXCITABLE

hightail (it) verb
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening <when a fight broke out, we hightailed it out of the bar> — see RUN 2

high–ticket adjective
commanding a large price <a specialty store selling high-ticket goods to a well-heeled clientele> — see COSTLY

high–water mark noun
the highest part or point <he hit the high-water mark of his acting career when he played Tiny Tim in a school play> — see HEIGHT 1

highway noun
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <the four-lane highway narrows to two lanes once you leave the city> — see WAY 1

highway robbery noun
the exaction of a grossly excessive charge for goods or services <what some rock superstars charge for concert tickets is simply highway robbery> — see EXTORTION

hijack also highjack verb
to take control of (a vehicle) by force <some loser tried to hijack the plane with a toy gun> — see COMMANDEER 1

hijacking also highjacking noun
the unlawful or forcible carrying away of a person or animal <a country in which hijackings of foreign executives has become commonplace> — see ABDUCTION

hike verb
1 to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure <she hiked along the trail around the pond>

Synonyms
amble, perambulate, ramble, saunter, stroll, tramp, tromp

Related Words
roam, rove, wander; peregrinate, traipse, traverse, trek, walk; march, promenade; power walk

2 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <with a determined look, he hiked his trousers up and buckled down to work> — see RAISE 1

hiker noun
a person who travels by foot for exercise or pleasure <the hikers set out before dawn in order to have the trail to themselves>

Synonyms
ambler, perambulator, rambler, tramper, walker

Related Words
pedestrian; roamer, rover, trekker, wanderer, wayfarer; alpinist, backpacker, climber, mountaineer

hilarious adjective
causing or intended to cause laughter <hilarious cartoons that the whole family can enjoy> <the clown's hilarious antics> — see FUNNY 1

hilariousness noun
the amusing quality or element in something <the hilariousness of the situation only struck us later, and we had a good laugh> — see HUMOR 1

hilarity noun
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter <hilarity is the last thing you expect to find at a funeral, but we were there to celebrate his life rather than to dwell on his death> — see MIRTH

hill noun
1 a quantity of things thrown or stacked on one another <the ants made little hills of dirt> — see 1PILE 1
2 an area of high ground <a town nestled in a valley surrounded by green hills> — see HEIGHT 4
3 an upward slope <I got stuck behind a truck going up a hill in a no-passing zone> — see ASCENT 2

hill verb
to form into a pile or ridge of earth <hilled peat moss around the rosebushes to protect them from the freeze> — see MOUND 1

hillbilly noun
an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country <in the skit, he was a shy hillbilly in love with a city girl> — see HICK

Himalayan adjective
unusually large <as military blunders go, the disastrous Pickett's Charge was of Himalayan proportions> — see HUGE

hind adjective
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part <the frog's long hind legs> <the hawk's reddish hind feathers> — see BACK

hinder adjective
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part <the animal's case of mange was especially bad in its hinder parts> — see BACK

hinder verb
to create difficulty for the work or activity of <was not hindered by a lack of money because she could use what food she had on hand> — see HAMPER

hindmost adjective
1 being at or in the part of something opposite the front part <the dance teacher had to keep reminding us to kick our hindmost foot when we reversed direction> — see BACK
2 following all others of the same kind in order or time <the hindmost wagon in the caravan had the roughest ride because of the deep ruts and dust created by the others> — see LAST 1

hindrance noun
something that makes movement or progress difficult <made a survey of all the hindrances to wheelchair access, such as curbs and stairs> — see ENCUMBRANCE

hinge verb
to be determined by, based on, or subject (to) <the outcome of the game hinged on a single play> — see DEPEND 1

hinky adjective, slang
1 not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something <the cop was feeling hinky about the whole situation and was starting to think that it was a setup> — see DOUBTFUL 1
2 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <after noticing that the driver seemed hinky, the border guard demanded that he submit to an inspection of his vehicle> — see NERVOUS 1

hint noun
1 a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation) <can't you give me some hint as to where you're taking me?>

Synonyms
clue, cue, indication, inkling, intimation, lead, suggestion

Related Words
breath, flicker, glimmer, glimpse, mention, scent, whiff, wind; hunch, idea, inspiration, notion; allusion, implication, inference, innuendo, insinuation; denotation, evidence, guidepost, key, mark, overtone, pointer, sign, signal, telltale, token; assistance, nod, prompt, tip, tip-off, wink; feeling, foreboding, intuition, premonition, presentiment, suspicion; augury, foreshadower, foretaste, harbinger, omen, portent, prefigurement, presage, symptom

Near Antonyms
answer, solution

2 an almost imperceptible sign of something <there was the slightest hint of scorn in her voice>

Synonyms
breath, flicker, glimmer, suggestion, tang, touch, trace, whiff

Related Words
inkling, intimation, scent, wind; evidence, indication, mark, sign

Near Antonyms
permeation, pervasion, saturation

3 a piece of advice or useful information especially from an expert <some helpful hints for cleaning carpet stains> — see 1TIP 1
4 a very small amount <I detect just a hint of mint in the sauce> — see PARTICLE 1

hint verb
to convey an idea indirectly <kept hinting that she wouldn't mind an invitation to spend the weekend at their beach house>

Synonyms
allude, imply, indicate, infer, insinuate, intimate, suggest

Related Words
advert, mention, point, refer, signal, signalize, signify; smack (of), smell (of)

Near Antonyms
announce, declare, proclaim; elucidate, explain, spell out; delineate, describe

hinterland noun
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country <the colonies hugged the coastline, while the hinterland remained largely unexplored> — see FRONTIER 2

hip adjective
1 being in the latest or current fashion <hip sunglasses whose fancy prices will make you squint in disbelief> — see STYLISH
2 having inside information <he wasn't hip to what was going on behind the scenes and was taken totally unawares by the company shake-up> — see WISE 2
3 keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment <hip fashionistas wouldn't be caught dead in that outfit> — see AU COURANT 1

hip noun
the quality or state of being fashionable <kids dyeing their hair in pursuit of hip> — see COOL 2

hip verb
to give information to <if you want to get hipped on what goes on behind the scenes at a television network, you should read this book> — see ENLIGHTEN 1

hipness noun
the quality or state of being fashionable <such hipness does not come cheap, and his clothes budget is out of sight> — see COOL 2

hipsterism noun
the quality or state of being fashionable <college hipsterism that year meant ragged flannel shirts and faded jeans> — see COOL 2

hire noun
1 the state of being provided with a paying job <he spent most of his career in the hire of high-paying defense contractors>

Synonyms
employ, employment, engagement

Related Words
appointment, assignment, conscription, enlistment, recruitment; incumbency, tenure; occupation, place, position, post, situation, work

Near Antonyms
boot, discharge, dismissal, firing, removal, sack, severance; demotion, suspension; furlough, layoff, leave, liberty, retirement

Antonyms
joblessness, nonemployment, unemployment

2 the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services <used to mow lawns for hire> — see WAGE

hire verb
1 to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum <the Youngs hired a limousine for their daughter's wedding>

Synonyms
charter, engage, lease, rent

Related Words
sublease, sublet; check out; arrange (for), bespeak, book, contract (for), order, reserve, sign up (for)

2 to provide with a paying job <the farm hires teenagers to pick blueberries in the summer> — see EMPLOY 1

hireling noun
one who works for another for wages or a salary <demanded to speak to the store's owner and not one of his hirelings> — see EMPLOYEE

hirsute adjective
covered with or as if with hair <wore a hirsute mask as part of his werewolf costume> — see HAIRY 1

hiss noun
1 a sound similar to the speech sound \s\ stretched out <the hiss of air escaping from a balloon>

Synonyms
fizz, sizzle, swish, whish, whiz (or whizz)

Related Words
swoosh, wheeze, whistle, whoosh, zip; sibilance, sibilant

2 a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval <there was a chorus of boos and hisses from the fans when the umpire called the runner out> — see CATCALL

hiss verb
to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\ <the frightened kitten hissed at us when we tried to pick it up>

Synonyms
fizz, fizzle, sizzle, swish, whish, whiz (or whizz)

Related Words
swoosh, wheeze, whistle, whoosh, zip; bubble, effervesce; buzz, drone, hum

hissy noun, chiefly Southern & southern Midland
an outburst or display of excited anger <she throws a royal hissy whenever her food is late> — see TANTRUM

hissy fit noun
an outburst or display of excited anger <the demanding diva had a major hissy fit when she had to wait for her trailer to be ready> — see TANTRUM

historian noun
a student or writer of history <historians are still trying to sort out fact from fiction in the story of Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks>

Synonyms
annalist, chronicler

Related Words
autobiographer, biographer; archivist, chronologist, genealogist, hagiographer

historic adjective
having great meaning or lasting effect <a historic peace agreement between the two nations> — see IMPORTANT 1

historical adjective
restricted to or based on fact <a historical novel that tells the story of Hannibal's crossing of the Alps through the eyes of a young boy> — see FACTUAL 1

history noun
1 an account of important events in the order in which they happened <a history of the American civil rights movement during the 1960s>

Synonyms
annals, chronicle, record

Related Words
blog, commentary, diary, journal, memoir, reminiscence(s); autobiography, biography, life; epic, legend, narrative, saga, story, tale; archives, documentation, log, register, report; chronology, genealogy

2 a relating of events usually in the order in which they happened <we heard the whole history of her illness in excruciating detail> — see ACCOUNT 1
3 the events or experience of former times <history has many lessons to teach us, if only we would listen> — see PAST

histrionic adjective
1 given to or marked by attention-getting behavior suggestive of stage acting <a penchant for dish throwing, door slamming, and other histrionic displays of temper> — see THEATRICAL 1
2 having the general quality or effect of a stage performance <we never tired of his histrionic reenactment of how he found money under the floorboards of a house he was renovating> — see DRAMATIC 1

hit noun
1 a person or thing that is successful <the new babysitter turned out to be a hit with the kids>

Synonyms
blockbuster, megahit, smash, success, supernova, winner

Related Words
blue chip, blue chipper, corker, crackerjack (also crackajack), dandy, jim-dandy, pip, prizewinner; gem, jewel, treasure; marvel, natural, phenomenon, sensation, wonder; coup, triumph, victory

Near Antonyms
disappointment, fizzle, lemon, loser

Antonyms
bomb, bummer, bust, catastrophe, clinker, debacle (also débâcle), dud, failure, fiasco, flop, misfire, turkey, washout

2 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <the quarterback can't take too many more hits like that and escape permanent injury> — see 1BLOW

hit verb
1 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <a good carpenter hits a nail just two or three times to drive it in>

Synonyms
bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, crack, hammer, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, tag, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, zap

Related Words
batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, lace, lambaste (or lambast), lick, mangle, maul, pelt, pepper, pommel, pummel, rough; scuff; bunt, flick, stroke, tap; bump, butt, jab, jostle, kick, knee, poke, prod, push, shove, stamp; bowl (down or over), cream, deck, dump [slang], fell, floor, knock down, level; rabbit-punch, sucker punch; cane, club, cudgel, flail, flog, lash, sap, slash, sledge, sledgehammer, spear, stab, switch, thrash, whip; bean, brain, conk, skull

Phrases
hang one on

2 to come into usually forceful contact with something <when she fell on the ice, she hit hard and badly bruised her elbow>

Synonyms
bang, bash, bump, collide, crash, impact, impinge, knock, ram, slam, smash, strike, swipe, thud

Related Words
bounce, carom, clunk, glance, rebound, ricochet, skim, skip; contact, land, touch; brush, graze, kiss, nudge, scrape, shave, sweep; bulldoze, jostle, muscle, press, push

Near Antonyms
miss, skirt

3 to obtain (as a goal) through effort <the rock band hit “the big time” with their third album> — see ACHIEVE 1

hit (on or upon) verb
to come upon after searching, study, or effort <the doctor finally hit on what was wrong with the pain-wracked woman> — see FIND 1

hit (up) verb
to make a request of <she's always hitting me up for money> — see ASK 2

hit (upon) verb
to come upon unexpectedly or by chance <the popular belief that Sir Isaac Newton hit upon his understanding of gravity at the sight of an apple falling from a tree> — see HAPPEN ON OR UPON

hitch noun
1 a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized <there are always a few hitches when you launch a system as complex as this one> — see PITFALL 1
2 a fixed period of time during which a person holds a job or position <signed on for a three-year hitch in the army> — see TERM 1

hitch verb
1 to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion <kept hitching up his pants because they were too big in the waist> — see JERK 1
2 to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole <she escaped out the window by using a makeshift rope of bedsheets and clothing she'd hitched together> — see CONNECT 1
3 to put securely in place or in a desired position <hitched the trailer to the back of the car> — see FASTEN 2
4 to travel by securing free rides <her brother hitched across the country after he graduated from college> — see HITCHHIKE

hitcher noun
one who hitchhikes <never stops for hitchers on interstates, where hitchhiking is illegal> — see HITCHHIKER

hitchhike verb
to travel by securing free rides <another one of those novels in which the hero undertakes a journey of self-discovery by hitchhiking around the country>

Synonyms
hitch, thumb

Related Words
bum; stow away; carjack, hijack (also highjack)

hitchhiker noun
one who hitchhikes <police have issued warnings about a serial killer who is believed to be preying upon hitchhikers>

Synonyms
hitcher

Related Words
stowaway; carjacker, hijacker

hither adjective
being the less far of two <we began to explore the hither bank while our companions crossed the creek to explore the yonder bank> — see NEAR 1

hitherto adverb
up to this or that time <at the talent show Kyle revealed his hitherto unknown gift for doing impressions>

Synonyms
heretofore, theretofore, yet

Related Words
before, formerly, previously

Phrases
so far, thus far

Near Antonyms
afterward (or afterwards), later, subsequently; hereupon, thereupon

Antonyms
henceforth, henceforward, hereafter, thenceforth, thenceforward (also thenceforwards), thereafter

hit–or–miss adjective
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern <your hit-or-miss schedule for taking your medication is going to land you in the hospital again> — see RANDOM

hit or miss adverb
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method <I was learning Spanish hit or miss, mostly just by hearing my friends speak it>

Synonyms
aimlessly, anyhow, anyway, anywise, desultorily, erratically, haphazard, haphazardly, helter-skelter, irregularly, randomly, willy-nilly

Related Words
arbitrarily, capriciously, carelessly, casually, indiscriminately, informally, offhand, offhandedly, promiscuously, whimsically; accidentally, fortuitously, inadvertently, unconsciously, unintentionally, unwittingly; disconnectedly, disjointedly, fitfully, intermittently, spottily, unpredictably; higgledy-piggledy, topsy-turvy

Phrases
at random

Near Antonyms
carefully, formally, gingerly, meticulously, orderly, punctiliously; deliberately, intentionally, purposefully, purposely

Antonyms
methodically, systematically

hoagie also hoagy noun
a large sandwich on a long split roll <had a steak-and-cheese hoagie for the first time in Philadelphia> — see SUBMARINE

hoar adjective
dating or surviving from the distant past <the hoar and crumbling stones of ruined temples> — see ANCIENT 1

hoar noun
a covering of tiny ice crystals on a cold surface <the hoar-covered meadow gleamed in the early-morning sun> — see FROST 1

hoard noun
1 a supply stored up and often hidden away <keeps a hoard of empty yogurt containers in his basement workshop for storing whatnots>

Synonyms
cache, stash, stockpile, store

Related Words
coffers, deposit, funds, nest egg, savings, sinking fund, treasure; inventory, pool, reserve, reservoir, stock; provisions, resources; accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering, harvest; repertory

2 a collection of things kept available for future use or need <she couldn't find one pencil with an eraser in her entire hoard of pencil stubs> — see STORE 1

hoard verb
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place <he's been hoarding empty yogurt containers all winter, with the intention of using them to start seedlings in the spring>

Synonyms
cache, lay away, lay by, lay in, lay up, put by, salt away, squirrel (away), stash, stockpile, store, stow, treasure

Related Words
accumulate, acquire, amass, assemble, collect, concentrate, garner, gather, pick up, round up, scrape (together); heap, pile, stack; conserve, husband, preserve; bank, coffer, deposit, hold, keep, reserve, retain, save, set by, stock, withhold; bury, conceal, ensconce, secrete

Phrases
set aside

Near Antonyms
cast, discard, ditch, dump, fling (off or away), jettison, throw away, throw out, unload; consume, squander, use up, waste; hand out, hand over, relinquish, surrender; blow, dissipate, fritter (away), lavish, misspend, run through, spend; deplete, exhaust, expend, impoverish; dispel, disperse, dissipate, scatter

hoarfrost noun
a covering of tiny ice crystals on a cold surface <the hoarfrost formed a delicate swirly pattern on the window> — see FROST 1

hoariness noun
the state of being something old <the hoariness of that joke is such that Noah probably used it to entertain his fellow passengers on the ark> — see ANCIENTNESS 2

hoarse adjective
harsh and dry in sound <the dying man spoke in a hoarse whisper>

Synonyms
coarse, croaking, croaky, grating, gravel, gravelly, gruff, husky, rasping, raspy, rusty, scratchy, throaty

Related Words
growling, growly, guttural; abrasive, cacophonous, discordant, grinding, jarring, rough, scraping, scratching; cawing, raucous, screeching, squawking, strident; choked, cracked, strained, strangled; dissonant, inharmonious, unmelodious, unmusical

Near Antonyms
gentle, gliding, golden, liquid, mellifluent, mellifluous, mellow, soothing, sweet, tender; satiny, silken, smooth, soft, velvety; euphonious, lyric, lyrical, melodic, melodious, musical

hoary adjective
dating or surviving from the distant past <hoary oak trees with dripping moss and gnarled limbs shaded us from the sun> — see ANCIENT 1

hoax noun
an imitation that is passed off as genuine <the skeleton of the purported ancient hominid turned out to be a hoax> — see FAKE 1

hoax verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <a skilled forger who hoaxed the art world into believing that the paintings were long-lost Vermeers> — see DECEIVE

hoaxer noun
1 a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <if it sounds too good to be true, you're probably dealing with a hoaxer in a boiler room somewhere> — see TRICKSTER 1
2 one who makes false claims of identity or expertise <his college roommate turned out be a complete hoaxer and not the son of a wealthy shipping tycoon he said he was> — see IMPOSTOR

hob noun
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <our indoor Frisbee game—my dog's and mine—played hob with a couple of lamps and a vase> — see MISCHIEF 1

hobble verb
1 to create difficulty for the work or activity of <we were hobbled by the snowstorm from getting out to do some Christmas shopping> — see HAMPER
2 to walk while favoring one leg <I hobbled home with a twisted ankle> — see LIMP 1

hobby noun
an activity outside of one's regular occupation that is engaged in primarily for pleasure <his ranch is just a weekend hobby—he makes his real money as an investment banker> — see AVOCATION

hobbyhorse noun
an activity outside of one's regular occupation that is engaged in primarily for pleasure <oil painting became the hobbyhorse of her long years of retirement> — see AVOCATION

hobbyist noun
a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession <a book on crafting fine wood furniture that is intended for the home hobbyist> — see AMATEUR 1

hobgoblin noun
1 an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, Puck is a hobgoblin who plays pranks such as spoiling milk and tripping old ladies> — see FAIRY
2 something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason <the fear of success and the pressures that come with it can be more of a hobgoblin than the possibility of failure> — see BOGEY 1

hobnob verb
1 to come or be together as friends <those two have been hobnobbing together since freshman year> — see ASSOCIATE 1
2 to take part in social activities <spent some time hobnobbing with the rich and famous while in Los Angeles> — see SOCIALIZE

hobnobber noun
a person frequently seen in the company of another <the actor's agent is a hobnobber with a lot of big movie producers> — see ASSOCIATE 1

hobo noun
a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living <kind folks who always gave hoboes who came to the farm a meal and then sent them on their way> — see TRAMP 1

hock noun
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <some lowlife who had been in and out of hock most of his adult life> — see JAIL

hock verb
to leave as a guarantee of repayment of a loan <the prince had to hock the family jewels to pay his gambling debts> — see PAWN

hocus–pocus noun
the art or skill of performing tricks or illusions for entertainment <with some well-crafted hocus-pocus, the illusionist made the dove disappear from his hands> — see MAGIC 2

hodgepodge noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the exhibit was a hodgepodge of mediocre art, bad art, and really bad art> — see MISCELLANY 1

hog noun
one who eats greedily or too much <if I had known that my guests were going to be such hogs, I would have prepared twice as much food> — see GLUTTON

hoggish adjective
having a huge appetite <was feeling hoggish after the hike and ate the whole bag of cookies> — see VORACIOUS 1

hog heaven noun
a situation or state of carefree comfort <a drink was in my hand, my butt was in a hot tub, and I was in hog heaven> — see BEER AND SKITTLES

hogshead noun
an enclosed wooden vessel for holding beverages <the ship's hold carried 164 hogsheads of molasses> — see CASK

hog–tie verb
to create difficulty for the work or activity of <their principals' inflexible demands virtually hog-tied the diplomats' efforts to negotiate a peace treaty> — see HAMPER

hog–tied adjective
unable to act or achieve one's purpose <prosecutors were hog-tied as the convicted felon was freed on a technicality> — see POWERLESS

hogwash noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <the librarian told us a lot of hogwash about how you can go to jail for having overdue books> — see NONSENSE 1

ho–hum adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <the characterizations are good, but the plot is just ho-hum> — see BORING

hoick verb
to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion <hoicked up his pants and hastily waded into the water> — see JERK 1

hoi polloi plural noun
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite <“I pay no attention to the opinions of the hoi polloi,” the writer sniffed> — see MASS 1

hoist verb
1 to lift with effort <dockworkers hoisted all 164 barrels of molasses out of the ship's hold when it arrived in port> — see HEAVE 1
2 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <hoisted the flag on the flagpole> — see RAISE 1
3 to swallow in liquid form <I have time to hoist a couple beers before heading home> — see DRINK 1

hokey adjective
tiresomely obvious and unsophisticated <their father's sense of humor was hokey beyond belief and most people's endurance> — see CORNY 2

hokeypokey noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <every year the legislature has to go through the same hokeypokey before it balances the state budget> — see NONSENSE 1

hokum noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <a movie about the disaster that's pure Hollywood hokum> — see NONSENSE 1

hold noun
1 the act or manner of holding <make sure you have a firm hold on the chain saw before you turn it on>

Synonyms
clasp, clench, grapple, grasp, grip, handgrip, handhold

Related Words
anchorage, leverage, purchase; grab, seizure; foothold, footing, toehold; clinch, embrace, hug

Near Antonyms
release, relinquishment

2 a structure or place from which one can resist attack <the ruins of an ancient Roman hold> — see FORT
3 the right or means to command or control others <the government has no hold over where we live and work> — see POWER 1
4 the state or fact of being able to exchange information regarding one's current situation <I worry that I won't be able to get hold of you in an emergency> — see TOUCH 1
5 a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <upon hearing the guilty verdict, the accused realized that he would lie in that godforsaken hold for the remainder of his life> — see JAIL
6 the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something <I need to get hold of the situation before planning a course of action> — see COMPREHENSION
7 the state of being held in lawful custody <a suspected terrorist who was abducted at an airport and put in hold at an undisclosed location> — see DETENTION 1

hold verb
1 to have or keep in one's hands <this casserole dish is too hot to hold, so grab a potholder>

Synonyms
clench, cling (to), clutch, grip

Related Words
bear, carry; bag, capture, catch, collar, corral, grab, grapple, hook, land, latch (on or onto), nab, nail, seize, snap (up), snare, snatch, take, trap; feel, finger, handle, paw; clasp, embrace, grasp, hug; cradle

Phrases
hang on to, hold on to

Near Antonyms
drop, give, hand, unclasp, unhand; cede, deliver, give up, hand out, hand over, release, relinquish, render, turn over, yield

2 to continue to have in one's possession or power <she, and she alone, held the keys to the mysterious chest> — see KEEP 2
3 to have as an opinion <“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal”> — see BELIEVE 2
4 to have within <the mysterious chest held an ancient book on magic spells and potions> — see CONTAIN 1
5 to keep in one's mind or heart <still held her close to his heart, though they had long parted> — see HARBOR 1
6 to keep, control, or experience as one's own <the same family has held this piece of land for over 300 years> — see HAVE 1
7 to make or have room for <the couple needed to rent a hall that would hold 300 people> — see ACCOMMODATE 1
8 to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms <please hold my arm on these slippery stairs> — see TAKE 1
9 to think of in a particular way <held to be the best blueberry pies in the state> — see CONSIDER 1
10 to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <we managed to hold our laughter until we got outside> <hold your temper until you hear the whole story> — see CONTROL 1
11 to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal <held a gun on the store clerk and ordered him to empty the till> — see AIM 1

holdall noun, chiefly British
a bag carried by hand and designed to hold a traveler's clothing and personal articles <there was a forgotten holdall in the bus station loo> — see TRAVELING BAG

holdback noun
1 an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business <there'll be a holdback on production until the new machinery is fully installed> — see DELAY
2 something that makes movement or progress difficult <the only holdback to starting the new job is my contractual commitment to my current position> — see ENCUMBRANCE

hold back verb
1 to create difficulty for the work or activity of <the only thing holding Joe back from joining the swim team is lack of transportation> — see HAMPER
2 to refrain from openly showing or uttering <held back her tears until she was alone> — see SUPPRESS 2

hold down verb
to set bounds or an upper limit for <efforts to hold down taxes keep running up against the legislature's ingrained unwillingness to cut spending> — see LIMIT 1

holder noun
1 one who has a legal or rightful claim to ownership <the holders of the land gave us permission to camp on it> — see PROPRIETOR
2 something into which a liquid or smaller objects can be put for storage or transportation <her hat made a good holder for the shells she collected on the beach> — see CONTAINER

holding noun
1 a decision made by a court or tribunal regarding a case it has heard <the holding of “not guilty” took everyone by surprise> — see SENTENCE
2 usually holdings plural transportable items that one owns <the museum's holdings of ancient manuscripts are among the rarest in the world> — see POSSESSION 2

holding pattern noun
1 a state of temporary inactivity <repair work on the bridge was in a holding pattern for the duration of the winter> — see ABEYANCE
2 an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business <the couple has been trapped in this holding pattern for six months, as adoption officials create more red tape> — see DELAY

hold off (on) verb
to assign to a later time <we held off on accepting the invitation in the hopes that something better would come along> — see POSTPONE

hold on verb
1 to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state <the ancient beliefs still held on in remote mountain villages> — see CONTINUE 1
2 to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something <hold on a minute—it's not your turn> — see WAIT

hold out verb
to continue to operate or to meet one's needs <we hoped our supply of firewood would hold out until power was restored> <luckily, the old outboard motor held out till we made it to shore>

Synonyms
hold up, keep up, last, prevail, survive

Related Words
bear up, carry on, cope, endure, fare, get along, get by, get on, go, hang in, make out, manage, persevere; abide, continue, draw out, hang on, hold on, linger, persist, remain, run on, stretch

Near Antonyms
break, break down, collapse, conk (out), crash, cut out, die, expire, stall, stop; run down, wane

Antonyms
fail, fizzle, give out, go out, peter (out), run out

hold over verb
to assign to a later time <the golf tournament had to be held over until the line of thunderstorms had passed through> — see POSTPONE

holdup noun
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business <a holdup in construction due to the weather> — see DELAY

hold up verb
1 to assign to a later time <held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address> — see POSTPONE
2 to bring (something) to a standstill <traffic was held up for miles by the accident> — see 1HALT 1
3 to create difficulty for the work or activity of <if lack of transportation is the only thing holding you up, I can give you a ride> — see HAMPER
4 to continue to operate or to meet one's needs <the air conditioner held up this year, but it's not going to make it through another summer> — see HOLD OUT
5 to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state <the storm's hurricane-force winds did not hold up once it hit the coast> — see CONTINUE 1
6 to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval <an argument that won't hold up in court> — see WASH 2

hole noun
1 a place in a surface allowing passage into or through a thing <line up the pegs on section A with the holes in section B and press the two together>

Synonyms
aperture, opening, orifice, perforation

Related Words
loophole; breach, break, chink, cleft, crack, cranny, crevice, cut, fissure, gash, notch, rent, rift, rupture, slash, slit, split, tear; slot, space; exit, mouth, outlet, pore, vent; entrance, inlet, intake; pinhole, pinprick, punch, puncture; airhole, armhole, buttonhole, keyhole, knothole, peephole, pothole, wormhole

Near Antonyms
fill, filler, filling, patch, plug, seal, stopper; barrier, blockage, obstacle, obstruction

2 a sunken area forming a separate space <dig a hole big enough to plant the tree>

Synonyms
cavity, concavity, dent, depression, dint, hollow, indentation, indenture, pit, recess

Related Words
burrow, cave, cavern, ditch, excavation, furrow, groove, gutter, trench, trough; basin, bowl, valley; alcove, cleft, niche, nook, opening, recess, socket; alveolus, dimple, gouge, impression, imprint, notch, pocket; borehole, chuckhole, crater, posthole, pothole, sinkhole, wallow, water hole, well; abyss, chasm, gulf, vacuity, vacuum, void

Near Antonyms
hill, mound, rise; bump, bunch, hump, lump, pimple, swell, swelling, tumor

Antonyms
bulge, camber, convexity, jut, projection, protrusion, protuberance

3 a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <Bill dug himself into a hole by promising to be in two places at the same time> — see PREDICAMENT
4 a dirty or messy place <when people see my room, they often ask, “How can you live in this hole?”> — see PIGPEN
5 an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) <found a hole in the chain-link fence big enough to squeeze through> — see GAP 1
6 the shelter or resting place of a wild animal <watched the snake slither into its hole> — see DEN 1
7 an incomplete or deficient area <there's a huge hole in your logic> — see GAP 3

hole verb
to make a hole or series of holes in <holed the target with a round of shots> — see PERFORATE

hole–and–corner adjective
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <a hole-and-corner antiterrorist operation whose very existence has been steadfastly denied by the government> — see SECRET 1

hole up verb
to remain out of sight <we'll hole up in the cellar and wait out the hurricane> — see 1HIDE 3

holiday noun, chiefly British
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended <the member of parliament met his wife while on holiday in the south of France> — see VACATION

holiday verb
to take or spend a vacation <saw kangaroos while holidaying in Australia> — see VACATION

holiness noun
the quality or state of being spiritually pure or virtuous <known throughout the world for his holiness, the prophet was visited daily by hundreds of pilgrims>

Synonyms
blessedness, devoutness, godliness, piety, piousness, sainthood, saintliness, saintship, sanctity

Related Words
asceticism, devotion, morality, prayerfulness, religiousness, spirituality; priestliness; goodness, rectitude, righteousness, uprightness, virtue, virtuousness; consecration, sacredness

Near Antonyms
blasphemousness, irreverence, sacrilegiousness; depravedness, depravity, evilness, heinousness, monstrosity, sinfulness, vileness, wickedness; hypocrisy, sanctimoniousness, sanctimony

Antonyms
godlessness, impiety, ungodliness, unholiness

holler noun
1 a loud vocal expression of strong emotion <heard a holler from somewhere in the woods and ran toward it> — see SHOUT
2 an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <there didn't seem to be a thermostat setting that wouldn't bring a holler from somebody> — see COMPLAINT 1

holler verb
1 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <another city council meeting with residents hollering about the unsatisfactory collection of garbage> — see COMPLAIN
2 to speak so as to be heard at a distance <there's no need to holler; I'm in the next room> — see CALL 1

hollo or halloo also hallo verb
to speak so as to be heard at a distance <far into the night searchers could be heard holloing for the lost child> — see CALL 1

hollow adjective
curved inward <there's a noticeably hollow spot in the mattress where he has been sleeping>

Synonyms
concave, dented, depressed, dished, indented, recessed, sunken

Related Words
alveolar, cavernous, crescentic, cuplike, cupped, cuppy, recurved; dimpled, pockmarked; compressed, condensed, contracted, diminished, reduced

Near Antonyms
ballooning, bloated, blown up, bulbous, distended, enlarged, expanded, extended, inflated, jutting, projecting, puffed, puffy, risen, swollen; domed, global, globular, round, rounded, spherical

Antonyms
bulging, cambered, convex, protruding, protrusive, protuberant

hollow noun
1 a sunken area forming a separate space <made a little hollow in her mound of mashed potatoes and filled it with gravy> — see HOLE 2
2 an area of lowland between hills or mountains <a quaint village nestled in a hollow among green hills> — see VALLEY

holocaust noun
1 a destructive burning <the holocaust caused by the ignited chemicals completely destroyed the factory and several surrounding homes> — see FIRE 1
2 the killing of a large number of people <as many as 2,000,000 people may have perished in the holocaust perpetrated by Cambodia's Khmer Rouge> — see MASSACRE

hols plural noun, British
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended <my friends from university are all going abroad for the summer hols> — see VACATION

holy adjective
1 showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue <the holy monk spent many hours on his knees in prayer>

Synonyms
devout, godly, pious, religious, sainted, saintly

Related Words
ascetic (also ascetical), prayerful, reverent, reverential, spiritual, worshipful; pietistic, religiose; beatified, blessed (also blest), canonized, venerable; angelic (or angelical), cherubic; chaste, moral, pure, righteous, upright, virtuous

Near Antonyms
blasphemous, desecrating, irreverent, profanatory, profane, sacrilegious; nonreligious, secular, unspiritual, worldly; backsliding, unfaithful; black, evil, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, sinful, sinning, unrighteous, wicked

Antonyms
antireligious, faithless, godless, impious, irreligious, ungodly, unholy

2 set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God <the Torah contains the holy writings of Judaism>

Synonyms
blessed (also blest), consecrate, consecrated, hallowed, sacral, sacred, sacrosanct, sanctified

Related Words
adored, enshrined, glorified, revered, venerated, worshipped (also worshiped); ceremonial, liturgical, priestly, religious, ritual, sacramental, spiritual; biblical, scriptural

Near Antonyms
nonreligious, unspiritual; earthly, mundane, profane, secular, temporal, worldly

Antonyms
deconsecrated, desacralized, unconsecrated, unhallowed

3 of, relating to, or being God <the Holy Trinity>

Synonyms
blessed (also blest), divine, godlike, godly, heavenly, sacred, supernatural

Related Words
eternal, everlasting, immortal; all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent, omniscient, supreme

Near Antonyms
human, mortal, natural

4 not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with <the hour every Saturday she listens to her radio program is holy and you'd better not make her miss it> — see SACRED 1

Holy Writ noun
a book made up of the writings accepted by Christians as coming from God <quotes extensively from Holy Writ in his sermons> — see BIBLE

homage noun
1 a formal expression of praise <the poem is a moving homage to all who have served in our nation's armed services> — see ENCOMIUM
2 public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <the unique homage that we grant to Olympic athletes> — see GLORY 1

hombre noun
an adult male human being <two tough-looking hombres sauntered into the bar and ordered … lemonade> — see MAN 1

home noun
1 the place where one lives <as we entered his 34-room mansion, our host playfully exclaimed, “Welcome to my humble home!”>

Synonyms
abode, diggings, domicile, dwelling, fireside, habitation, hearth, hearthstone, house, lodging, pad, place, quarters, residence, roof

Related Words
accommodations, housing, nest, residency, shelter; bungalow, cabin, casita, chalet, cottage; duplex, ranch, ranch house, saltbox, semi [chiefly British], split level, townhome, town house, tract house, triplex; apartment, apartment house, condominium, flat, tenement, tenement house, walk-up; penthouse, salon, suite; barracks, billet, boardinghouse, dorm, dormitory, lodging house, lodgment (or lodgement), room(s), rooming house; castle, château, countryseat, estate, hall, manor, manor house, mansion, palace, villa; farmhouse, grange, hacienda, homestead; double-wide, houseboat, house trailer, mobile home, motor home, recreational vehicle, trailer; hermitage, manse, parsonage, rectory, vicarage; hooch (or hootch) [slang], hovel, hut, hutch, shack, shanty

2 the place where a plant or animal is usually or naturally found <the American south, the home of the armadillo>

Synonyms
habitat, niche, range, territory

Related Words
element, environment, environs, haunt, locality, milieu, neighborhood, setting, surroundings

3 the land of one's birth, residence, or citizenship <people who have a common home, traditions, language, and food tend to form their own communities in their adopted countries> — see COUNTRY 1
4 those who live as a family in one house <a man who believes that a person's home is the most important thing in life> — see HOUSEHOLD
5 a place of origin <Springfield, Massachusetts, is the home of basketball, for it was there that the first hoops were hung in 1891> — see BIRTHPLACE

homeboy noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <the papers described the two youths accused of the robbery as homeboys whose street activities had been known to the police for some time> — see HOODLUM

homeland noun
the land of one's birth, residence, or citizenship <travels every year to Italy, her homeland for the first two decades of her life> — see COUNTRY 1

homely adjective
unpleasant to look at <a vast family fortune can make even the homeliest of women seem like good marriage material> — see UGLY 1

Homeric adjective
large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <the climactic scene of the movie is a pitched battle of Homeric proportions> — see GRAND 1

homespun adjective
having or showing an unpretentious informality <dispenses his homespun philosophy of life in a weekly newspaper column> — see CRACKER-BARREL

homesteader noun
a person who settles in a new region <in the 1800s homesteaders in search of cheap land and a new life headed to the West in droves> — see FRONTIERSMAN

home stretch noun
the last part of a process or action <this project has been a lot of work, but we're finally in the home stretch> — see FINALE

homey or homie noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <the fatal shooting of a fellow homey was just the wake-up call he needed to get out of the drug trade> — see HOODLUM

homicidal adjective
eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing <court-appointed psychiatrists have described the accused as a homicidal maniac who should be put away for life> — see BLOODTHIRSTY

homicide noun
1 the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life <the missing man was thought to be the victim of a homicide, but his body was never found>

Synonyms
blood, foul play, murder, rubout, slaying

Related Words
chance-medley, killing, manslaughter; bloodshed, butchery, carnage, decimation, destruction, massacre, slaughter; assassination, execution, hit; euthanasia, mercy killing; filicide, fratricide, matricide, parricide, patricide, regicide, uxoricide

2 a person who kills another person <throughout the ages society has stigmatized the homicide> — see ASSASSIN

homiletic or homiletical adjective
marked by or given to preaching moral values <tends to speak in homiletic aphorisms, which can be a little tiresome> — see SERMONIC

homily noun
1 a public speech usually by a member of the clergy for the purpose of giving moral guidance or uplift <last Sunday's homily was about being kind to your neighbors> — see SERMON
2 an idea or expression that has been used by many people <a TV movie filled with the usual hokey homilies about people triumphing over life's adversities> — see COMMONPLACE

homogenize verb
1 to make agree with a single established standard or model <plans to homogenize the science curriculum in public high schools throughout the state> — see STANDARDIZE
2 to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <chain stores and fast-food restaurants have homogenized the nation's highways and byways to the point where every place looks like every other place> — see BLEND 1

homologate verb
to give official acceptance of as satisfactory <to be effectual, a judge must homologate the plea bargain between the district attorney and the defense> — see APPROVE

Homo sapiens noun
the human race <how far into outer reaches of the universe will Homo sapiens someday be able to go?> — see MANKIND

hon noun
a person with whom one is in love <I'm so glad you're home, hon> — see SWEETHEART 1

honcho noun
1 one of high position or importance within a group <the office was all abuzz because some honchos from corporate headquarters were coming for a visit> — see BIG SHOT
2 the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do <he's definitely the head honcho in that company> — see BOSS

hone verb
1 to make sharp or sharper <honed the knife's blade to razor-like sharpness> <honed his crossword-puzzle skills by reading the dictionary as though it were a thrilling novel> — see SHARPEN
2 to make smooth by friction <honed the edge of the axe until it was amazingly sharp> — see GRIND 1

honed adjective
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something <using a finely honed butcher knife will make cutting meat easier> — see SHARP 1

honest adjective
1 being in the habit of telling the truth <at least the weatherman is honest and doesn't pretend to be able to predict the unpredictable> — see TRUTHFUL
2 conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <honest and industrious farm folk> — see GOOD 2
3 following the accepted rules of moral conduct <that rare, honest customer who doesn't hesitate to tell the cashier she's given him too much change> — see HONORABLE 1
4 free from any intent to deceive or impress others <the sort of person who helps others from an honest desire to do good, and not because she might need a favor from them someday> — see GUILELESS
5 free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <appreciate your honest friends, who tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear> — see FRANK
6 guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong <made an honest attempt to return the money she had found in the cafeteria> — see CONSCIENTIOUS 1
7 being exactly as appears or as claimed <a restaurant serving honest down-home Southern cooking> — see AUTHENTIC 1

honest broker noun
one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement <after all the bad blood on both sides, we need to find someone who hasn't been influenced and can act as an honest broker> — see MEDIATOR

honestly adverb
to tell the truth <honestly, I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about> — see ACTUALLY 1

honesty noun
1 devotion to telling the truth <George Washington has gone down in history for his honesty>

Synonyms
integrity, probity, truthfulness, veracity, verity

Related Words
honor, honorableness, incorruptibility, rectitude, righteousness, right-mindedness, scrupulosity, scrupulousness, uprightness; artlessness, candidness, candor, forthrightness, frankness, good faith, guilelessness, ingenuousness, plainspokenness, sincerity, straightforwardness; dependability, reliability, reliableness, trustability, trustiness, trustworthiness; accuracy, objectivity; authenticity, correctness, genuineness, truth; credibility

Near Antonyms
artifice, cozenage, crookedness, deception, dissembling, dissimulation, double-dealing, dupery, duplicity, fakery, falseness, falsity, fraudulentness, hypocrisy, insincerity, two-facedness; beguilement, craftiness, cunning, cunningness, furtiveness, guile, indirection, insidiousness, oiliness, perfidy, slickness, slipperiness, slyness, smoothness, treacherousness, trickery, underhandedness, unscrupulousness, wiliness; equivocation, prevarication; exaggeration, inaccuracy

Antonyms
deceit, deceitfulness, dishonesty, lying, mendaciousness, mendacity, untruthfulness

2 conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong <he's known for his honesty in business dealings> — see MORALITY 1
3 faithfulness to high moral standards <she knew she could count on her students' honesty, even if she left the classroom for a few moments during the test> — see HONOR 1
4 the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <I am speaking with all honesty when I say that your apple pie is the best I've ever tasted> — see CANDOR 1

honey noun
1 a lovely woman <she's a honey, all right> — see BEAUTY 2
2 something very good of its kind <this morning one of my employees had a real honey of an excuse for being late for work> — see JIM-DANDY
3 a person with whom one is in love <he usually gives his honey a dozen red roses on Valentine's Day> — see SWEETHEART 1

honey verb
to praise too much <she knew that the hairstylist was honeying her for a reason—the expectation of a generous tip> — see FLATTER 1

honker noun, slang
the part of the face bearing the nostrils and nasal cavity <with a honker like that, you must need a hankie the size of a bedsheet> — see NOSE 1

honor noun
1 faithfulness to high moral standards <the mayor, a man of honor, never broke a promise to the voters>

Synonyms
honesty, integrity, probity, rectitude, righteousness, uprightness

Related Words
blamelessness, character, conscientiousness, decency, fairness, high-mindedness, incorruptibility, irreproachability, irreproachableness, justice, morality, nobility, reputability, respectability, right-mindedness, scrupulousness, virtue, virtuousness

Near Antonyms
corruptibility, corruption, corruptness, debasement, debauchery, decadence, degeneracy, degradation, depravity, disgrace, disgracefulness, disreputableness, dissipatedness, dissipation, dissoluteness, looseness, perversion, pervertedness, profligacy, shamelessness, venality; blameworthiness, criminality, crookedness, dishonesty, immorality, unrighteousness, unscrupulousness; knavery, rascality, roguishness; meanness, reprehensibleness, rottenness, sinfulness, vileness, villainy, wickedness, wretchedness

Antonyms
baseness, dishonor, lowness

2 an asset that brings praise or renown <a dedicated, caring teacher who is an honor to the teaching profession> — see GLORY 2
3 public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <the honor we give to our soldiers on Veterans Day> — see GLORY 1
4 something given in recognition of achievement <has received several honors from the Boy Scouts for his many years of service> — see AWARD 1
5 something granted as a special favor <it will be an honor for me to show your aunt around the city> — see PRIVILEGE

honor verb
to show appreciation, respect, or affection for (someone) with a public celebration <the newlyweds were honored with a dinner given by the bride's grandmother>

Synonyms
fete (or fête), recognize

Related Words
acknowledge, cite, commend, compliment, credit, thank; extol (also extoll), glorify, laud, praise, tout; acclaim, applaud, cheer, hail, laureate, salute; celebrate, commemorate, memorialize, observe; congratulate, felicitate

Near Antonyms
discredit, disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, shame; bad-mouth, defame, libel, malign, slander; boo, hiss, hoot, jeer; censure, condemn, damn, denounce, reprobate; mock, put down, ridicule, slight

honorable adjective
1 following the accepted rules of moral conduct <the only honorable thing to do is to admit that you were wrong and apologize>

Synonyms
decent, ethical, honest, just, noble, principled, respectable, righteous, stand-up, upright, upstanding

Related Words
blameless, guiltless, irreproachable, unassailable, unimpeachable; chivalrous, classy, high-minded, menschy, right-minded; conscientious, fair, good, incorruptible, moral, reputable, respected, scrupulous, uncorrupted, virtuous; decorous, nice, polite, proper, seemly

Near Antonyms
bad, blackguardly, corrupt, criminal, crooked, evil, immoral, iniquitous, knavish, mean, nefarious, rascally, reprehensible, roguish, rotten, scoundrelly, sinful; unfair, unscrupulous, vile, villainous, wicked, wretched; blamable, blameworthy, censurable, culpable; debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, disgraceful, disreputable, dissipated, dissolute, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, profligate, reprobate, shameful, venal

Antonyms
base, dishonest, dishonorable, ignoble, low, unethical, unjust, unprincipled, unrighteous, unworthy

2 conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <it was honorable of you to give all the credit to your friend> — see GOOD 2
3 guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong <I believe that if I genuinely cannot decide fairly, I should do the honorable thing and decline to serve on the panel> — see CONSCIENTIOUS 1

honorably adverb
in a manner befitting a person of the highest character and ideals <their sons died honorably, fighting a war to preserve freedom for future generations> — see GREATLY 1

honorary adjective
serving to preserve the memory of a person, thing, or an event <an honorary plaque marking the site of the first public school in America> — see COMMEMORATIVE

1hooch noun, slang
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <during Prohibition, everybody drank homemade hooch> — see ALCOHOL

2hooch or hootch noun, slang
a small, simply constructed, and often temporary dwelling <the soldiers quickly threw up the hooches where they would be living for the next few weeks> — see SHACK

hoochie noun, slang
a boldly flirtatious or sexually promiscuous woman <took up with some hoochie he had met at a biker bar> — see FLOOZY

1hood noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <when a gang of hoods started hanging out in front of the store, customers went elsewhere> — see HOODLUM

2hood noun
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <counterfeiters conducting their affairs under a hood of secrecy> — see CLOAK 1

hoodlum noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <a couple of hoodlums held up the convenience store>

Synonyms
bully, gangbanger, gangsta, gangster, goon, gorilla, homeboy, homey (or homie), hood, hooligan, mobster, mug, plug-ugly, punk, roughneck, rowdy, ruffian, thug, tough, toughie (also toughy), yob [British], yobbo [British]

Related Words
cutthroat, scoundrel, villain; assassin, bandit, bravo, brigand, criminal, crook, desperado, felon, gunman, highwayman, lawbreaker, mafioso, malefactor, offender, outlaw, perp, perpetrator, pirate; pickpocket, racketeer, robber, swindler, thief, vandal; juvenile delinquent, tearaway [British]

hoodoo noun
1 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <some economists have characterized the proposal as economic hoodoo that should be hooted down> — see NONSENSE 1
2 something that brings bad luck <some hoodoo must be at work—I lost both sets of house keys> — see JINX

hoodwink verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <Tom Sawyer famously hoodwinked the other boys into thinking there was nothing more enjoyable than whitewashing a fence> — see DECEIVE

hooey noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <stories about the inn being haunted are just a lot of hooey> — see NONSENSE 1

hoof (it) verb
1 to go on foot <I hoofed it to the library to save bus fare> — see WALK 1
2 to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music <he hoofs it from seven to eight every Thursday night with other avid square dancers> — see DANCE 1

hoo–ha also hoo–hah noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <the media hoo-ha that inevitably occurs when a politician makes a gaffe, no matter how inconsequential> — see COMMOTION

hook noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <delivered a hard right hook that struck his opponent in the eye> — see 1BLOW

hook verb
1 to cause to turn away from a straight line <the pitcher hooked the ball, and the batter missed> — see BEND 1
2 to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole <hooked up three short chains together to make a longer necklace> — see CONNECT 1
3 to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <the monkey hooked four bananas from the basket and scampered away to enjoy them> — see STEAL 1
4 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <at the clearance sale I hooked one of the few remaining digital cameras> — see CATCH 1
5 to turn away from a straight line or course <hang the bird feeder on a branch that hooks upward> — see CURVE 1

hooker noun
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money <the undercover cop's beat was a seedy stretch of town popular with the hookers and junkies> — see PROSTITUTE

hookup noun
the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <the drama club's hookup with a local acting company provided several aspiring young actors with experience doing summer theater> — see ASSOCIATION 1

hook up verb
to come or be together as friends <how that odd couple ever hooked up we'll never know> — see ASSOCIATE 1

hooligan noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <shouldn't you hooligans be in school instead of threatening old ladies?> — see HOODLUM

hoop noun
a circular strip <made Christmas garlands from hoops of red and green construction paper> — see 1RING 2

hoopla noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <for all of the hoopla, very little news emerged from the governor's press conference> — see COMMOTION

hooray also hurrah or hurray interjection
how delightful <“Hooray!” he cried when he heard that his team had won>

Synonyms
glory (or glory be), ha (or hah), hallelujah, hey, hot dog, huzzah, wahoo [chiefly West], whee, whoopee, yahoo, yippee

Related Words
wow, zowie; ooh; gee, gee whiz, gosh

Near Antonyms
alack, alas, aw, boo

hoosegow noun
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <she ended up in the hoosegow for disorderly conduct> — see JAIL

hoot noun
1 a loud vocal expression of strong emotion <the courtroom erupted in hoots of laughter upon hearing the witness's sarcastic retort> — see SHOUT
2 a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval <he ignored the hoots and jeers coming from the back of the crowd and kept on speaking> — see CATCALL
3 the smallest amount or part imaginable <I don't give a hoot whether you want to go or not—you're going> — see JOT
4 someone or something that is very funny <that stand-up comic is a hoot all right, if endless bathroom jokes propel you into paroxysms of laughter> — see SCREAM

hop noun
1 a social gathering for dancing <back in those days taking someone to the school hop was a big deal> — see DANCE
2 an act of leaping into the air <she made it across the rocky creek in two hops> — see JUMP 1

hop verb
1 to move with a light springing step <a rabbit hopped across the frozen grass> — see SKIP 1
2 to propel oneself upward or forward into the air <the bus stopped, a lone passenger hopped on, and the driver continued on his way> — see JUMP 1

hope (for) verb
to believe in the future occurrence of (something) <he was hoping for an A in English> — see EXPECT

hopeful adjective
1 having qualities which inspire hope <economists are offering a hopeful forecast for a healthy economy in the coming year>

Synonyms
auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, likely, optimistic, promising, propitious, roseate, rose-colored, rosy, upbeat

Related Words
cheering, comforting, reassuring, soothing; assured, confident, decisive, doubtless, positive, sure, unhesitating; beamish, bullish, eupeptic; favorable, good

Near Antonyms
cheerless, comfortless; doubtful, dubious, uncertain; bearish, grim, negative, unfavorable; funereal, glum, gray (also grey), miserable, wretched

Antonyms
bleak, dark, depressing, desperate, discouraging, disheartening, dismal, downbeat, dreary, gloomy, hopeless, inauspicious, pessimistic, unencouraging, unlikely, unpromising, unpropitious

2 pointing toward a happy outcome <in a hopeful response to the ad, several people called to say they'd seen our lost cat> — see FAVORABLE 2

hopeful noun
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award <the three mayoral hopefuls are going to debate on local TV> — see CANDIDATE

hopeless adjective
1 not capable of being cured or reformed <a hopeless optimist who looked for the good in everyone and everything> <a hopeless criminal who spent most of his adult life in jail>

Synonyms
incorrigible, incurable, irrecoverable, irredeemable, irreformable, irremediable, irretrievable, unrecoverable, unredeemable

Related Words
irreparable, irreversible, uncorrectable; unencouraging, unpromising; impenitent, unreformed, unregenerate, unrepentant

Near Antonyms
reversible; encouraging, promising; penitent, regretful, remorseful, repentant, rueful, sorry; correctable, fixable, rectifiable, repairable, reparable, salvable, salvageable

Antonyms
curable, reclaimable, recoverable, redeemable, reformable, remediable, retrievable, savable (or saveable)

2 emphasizing or expecting the worst <the poor old woman was feeling hopeless about ever finding her lost cat> — see PESSIMISTIC 1
3 incapable of being solved or accomplished <keeping this desk organized is hopeless> — see IMPOSSIBLE
4 feeling or showing no hope <the hopeless look on the faces of the people in the refugee camp> — see DESPONDENT 1

hopelessness noun
utter loss of hope <the utter hopelessness of the people in the refugee camp> — see DESPAIR 1

hophead noun, slang
a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally <in the early 20th century hopheads were people one expected to find only in the netherworld of jazz> — see DOPER

hopped–up adjective
1 being under the influence of a recreational drug <killed in an attempted robbery by some hopped-up hoodlum> — see STONED 1
2 showing urgent desire or interest <the parents get almost as hopped-up about Christmas as the kids> — see EAGER

hopping adjective
1 feeling or showing anger <when he saw what I'd done to his car, the other driver was hopping> — see ANGRY
2 marked by much life, movement, or activity <by the time we arrived at the club, the place was hopping> — see ALIVE 2
3 involved in often constant activity <caring for six kids always keeps her hopping> — see BUSY 1

hop, skip, and jump noun
a very small distance or degree <it looked like only a hop, skip, and jump on the map, but the drive took six hours> — see HAIR 1

horde noun
a great number of persons or creatures massed together <a horde of mosquitoes> <hordes of shoppers crowding the stores the week before Christmas> — see CROWD 1

horizonless adjective
being or seeming to be without limits <a horizonless array of opportunities for a young, ambitious person at the new company> — see INFINITE

horn noun
something shaped like a hollow cone and used as a container <musketeers carrying their gunpowder in powder horns> — see CORNET

horniness noun
1 intense sexual desire <another movie comedy that celebrates the unbridled horniness of the teenage boy> — see LUST 1
2 sexual appetite <a sexagenarian with the horniness of a man half his age> — see DESIRE 2

horn–mad adjective
feeling or showing anger <the residents were horn-mad when they found out their housing project had been built on a waste dump site> — see ANGRY

hornswoggle verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <I think we've been hornswoggled by that carnival barker> — see DECEIVE

horny adjective
having a strong sexual desire <in her view, “teenage boys are perpetually horny”> — see LUSTFUL

horrendous adjective
1 causing fear <a horrendous explosion shook the building> — see FEARFUL 1
2 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <a horrendous breach of good manners that should not escape censure> — see OFFENSIVE 1
3 extremely disturbing or repellent <emergency room personnel must not flinch even from the most horrendous injuries> — see HORRIBLE 1

horrible adjective
1 extremely disturbing or repellent <a horrible car accident that left eyewitnesses in a state of shock>

Synonyms
appalling, atrocious, awful, dreadful, frightful, ghastly, grisly, gruesome (also grewsome), hideous, horrendous, horrid, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmare, nightmarish, shocking, terrible, terrific

Related Words
alarming, bloodcurdling, dire, direful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, gut-wrenching, hair-raising, heart-stopping, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, terrifying; abhorrent, deplorable, disagreeable, disgusting, distasteful, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, obscene, offensive, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, sickening; abominable, evil, foul, heinous, noxious, odious, unspeakable, vile; grotesque, ugly, unsightly

Near Antonyms
agreeable, appealing, attractive, delectable, delicious, delightful, enjoyable, enticing, inviting, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome; cheering, comforting, soothing

2 causing fear <a horrible scream that made shivers go up and down our spines> — see FEARFUL 1
3 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <I can never forgive her for the horrible way she treated her stepdaughter> — see OFFENSIVE 1
4 extremely unsatisfactory <I'm never going back to that restaurant; the service was horrible> — see WRETCHED 1

horrid adjective
1 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <accused him of stealing and said mean and horrid things about him> — see OFFENSIVE 1
2 extremely disturbing or repellent <died a horrid death in the fire> — see HORRIBLE 1

horridness noun
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay <imagine the horridness of not being able to escape from the path of lava spewing from a volcano> — see HORROR 1

horrific adjective
extremely disturbing or repellent <horrific images of torture that shocked the conscience of the world> — see HORRIBLE 1

horrified adjective
filled with fear or dread <he sat rigid in his seat, horrified that the plane would crash> — see AFRAID

horrify verb
to strike with fear <the news that a convicted sex offender lived in her neighborhood horrified her> — see FRIGHTEN

horrifying adjective
1 causing fear <received horrifying death threats from the townspeople because he had accused the popular football coach of sexual misconduct> — see FEARFUL 1
2 extremely disturbing or repellent <the horrifying sight of children suffering from malnutrition> — see HORRIBLE 1

horror noun
1 the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay <it's difficult to even begin to comprehend the horror of the Holocaust>

Synonyms
atrociousness, atrocity, awfulness, dreadfulness, frightfulness, ghastliness, grisliness, gruesomeness, hideousness, horridness, monstrosity, repulsiveness

Related Words
badness, baseness, depravedness, depravity, diabolicalness, evil, evilness, foulness, heinousness, immorality, iniquitousness, iniquity, invidiousness, sinfulness, ungodliness, viciousness, vileness, wickedness; accursedness, cursedness, deplorableness, despicableness, detestableness, execrableness, hatefulness, loathsomeness, reprehensibleness; creepiness, eeriness, fearfulness, fearsomeness, ghostliness, ghoulishness, scariness; agony, anguish, hellishness, misery, torment, torture

Near Antonyms
agreeableness, delightfulness, pleasantness, pleasurableness; allurement, appeal, attraction, attractiveness, desirability, desirableness

2 a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness <had never experienced the horrors of war> — see HELL 2
3 something unpleasant to look at <are you really going to hang that horror on the wall?> — see EYESORE
4 the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger <imagine my horror at finding myself face to face with a lion on the loose> — see FEAR 1
5 a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness <cat lover or no, she regards cleaning the litter box with horror> — see DISGUST

horror–struck adjective
filled with fear or dread <horror-struck, the villagers watched helplessly as the tsunami hit the shore> — see AFRAID

horse noun
a large hoofed domestic animal that is used for carrying or drawing loads and for riding <the mounted police stable their horses in the city park>

Synonyms
equine, nag, steed

Related Words
equid; colt, filly, foal, gelding, mare, stallion; bronco, mustang, pony; charger, courser, cow pony, cutting horse, galloper, hack, hackney, mount, packhorse, prancer, quarter horse, racehorse, saddle horse, trotter, warhorse, workhorse; bay, black, buckskin, chestnut, dun, palomino, pinto, roan, skewbald, sorrel; cob, dobbin, jade, plug, skate

horse around verb
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior <the boys were horsing around on the boat when one of them fell overboard> — see CUT UP

horsefeathers plural noun, slang
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <horsefeathers! don't believe everything you read in the papers> — see NONSENSE 1

horselaugh noun
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <even in a crowded auditorium you wouldn't have trouble picking out his earsplitting horselaugh> — see LAUGH 1

horseless carriage noun
a self-propelled passenger vehicle on four wheels <with the coming of the horseless carriage, distances between places were greatly reduced and the national landscape was transformed> — see CAR

horseplay noun
wildly playful or mischievous behavior <when he saw us spraying each other with the hose instead of washing the car, Dad yelled, “Cut out the horseplay!”>

Synonyms
buffoonery, clownery, clowning, foolery, high jinks (also hijinks), horsing around, monkey business, monkeying, monkeyshine(s), roughhouse, roughhousing, shenanigan(s), skylarking, slapstick, tomfoolery

Related Words
childishness, clownishness, foolishness, funning, jesting, joking, nonsense, silliness, waggery; boisterousness, rambunctiousness, rowdiness, rowdyism, rumbustiousness [chiefly British]; devilry (or deviltry), impishness, knavery, mischief, mischievousness, prankishness, rascality, roguery, roguishness, trickery; cavorting, frivolity, frolicking, gamboling (or gambolling), merrymaking, playfulness, revelry, roistering, romping, sporting, sportiveness

horsepower noun
the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task <that architectural firm probably doesn't have the creative horsepower to produce a truly innovative design> — see POWER 2

horse sense noun
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters <pure horse sense should tell you not to stand so close to the space heater> — see COMMON SENSE

horse–trade verb
to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase <I horse-traded with the painter: I did his tax returns, and he did my kitchen> — see BARGAIN 1

horsewhip verb
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <the cruel guards promptly horsewhipped the prisoners if they collapsed under the heavy loads they were forced to carry> — see WHIP 1

horsing around noun
wildly playful or mischievous behavior <at the beach there was a lot more horsing around on the sand than actual swimming in the water> — see HORSEPLAY

hose noun
a close-fitting covering for the foot and leg <a reenactor dressed like Benjamin Franklin in waistcoat, breeches, and hose> — see STOCKING

hose verb, slang
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <when the guy failed to return with our money, we sooned realized that we had been hosed> — see FLEECE

hospice noun
a place that provides rooms and usually a public dining room for overnight guests <the monks run a hospice for travelers in their mountain retreat> — see HOTEL

hospitable adjective
showing a natural kindness and courtesy especially in social situations <the family is unfailingly hospitable whenever guests show up unexpectedly at their summer cottage> — see GRACIOUS 1

host noun
1 a great number of persons or creatures massed together <a host of people of all faiths gathered in St. Peter's Square to see the Pope> — see CROWD 1
2 a large body of men and women organized for land warfare <the small band of defenders was no match for the enemy's mighty host of thousands> — see ARMY 1
3 a person who conducts a program of entertainment by making introductions and providing continuity <our favorite morning TV show has a new host> — see ANNOUNCER

hostel noun
a place that provides rooms and usually a public dining room for overnight guests <in the old days, a traveler could spend the night at one of the hostels placed along the coach route> — see HOTEL

hostelry noun
a place that provides rooms and usually a public dining room for overnight guests <the grande dame of the city's hostelries, it has played host to presidents, kings, and Hollywood royalty> — see HOTEL

hostile adjective
1 marked by opposition or ill will <our landlord has a hostile attitude toward foreigners and refuses to rent to them>

Synonyms
adversarial, adversary, antagonistic, antipathetic, inhospitable, inimical, jaundiced, mortal, negative, unfriendly, unsympathetic

Related Words
adverse, argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, clashing, combative, conflicting, contentious, contrary, disputatious, militant, opposed, pugnacious, quarrelsome, resisting, scrappy, truculent; antisocial, cold, cool, disagreeable, disapproving, distant, frigid, icy; biased, prejudiced; discourteous, ill-bred, ill-mannered, impertinent, impolite, inconsiderate, rude, surly, uncivil, unfavorable, unkind, unmannerly, unpleasant, unsociable; acrimonious, bitter, despiteful, hateful, malevolent, malicious, malign, malignant, opprobrious, rancorous, spiteful, unloving, vindictive, virulent

Near Antonyms
affable, amiable, amicable, civil, companionable, comradely, convivial, cordial, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, gregarious, neighborly, pleasant, sociable, social, warm; affectionate, devoted, kind, kindly, loving, nice, sweet; accepting, agreeable, approving, benign, empathetic, favorable, understanding, warmhearted, welcoming

Antonyms
friendly, hospitable, nonantagonistic, nonhostile, sympathetic

2 opposed to one's interests <the company's president vows to fight the hostile takeover by the giant corporation> — see ADVERSE 1

hostile noun
one that is hostile toward another <reports of hostiles in the area kept the settlers on edge> — see ENEMY

hostility noun
1 a deep-seated ill will <a lingering hostility between the two neighbors ever since since they had that property-line dispute> — see ENMITY
2 hostilities plural a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups <both sides agreed to cease all hostilities for Hanukkah and Christmas> — see WAR 1

hot adjective
1 having a notably high temperature <the casserole, just out of the oven, was too hot to eat>

Synonyms
ardent, boiling, broiling, burning, fervent, fervid, fiery, piping hot, red, red-hot, roasting, scalding, scorching, searing, sultry, superheated, sweltering, torrid, ultrahot, white-hot

Related Words
blazing, glowing, igneous, molten, seething, sizzling; heated, overheated, reheated, warmed; snug, toasty, warm, warmish; feverish, flushed, inflamed (also enflamed); canicular, muggy, steamy, summerlike, summery, tropical

Near Antonyms
chill, chilly, coldish, cool, coolish, nippy, snappy; blizzardly, frosty, snowy, subfreezing, subzero, wintry (also wintery); chilled, cooled, refrigerated, unheated; benumbed, numb, shivering

Antonyms
algid, arctic, bitter, bone-chilling, cold, freezing, frigid, frozen, glacial, ice-cold, iced, icy

2 being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <this spring it's the cool shades of lipstick that are hot> — see MODERN
3 enjoying widespread favor or approval <was surprised to learn that American jazz has long been hot in Russia> — see POPULAR 1
4 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <your hot temper is going to get you in trouble> <a hot battle for first place in the American League> — see VIOLENT 1
5 showing urgent desire or interest <we were hot to get the baseball game started and wished it would stop raining> — see EAGER
6 sexually attractive <my sisters only watched the game because they think the outfielder is hot> — see SEXY 1
7 feeling or showing anger <you don't have to get all hot about it> — see ANGRY
8 moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <bought a hot new car that should tear up the roadways> — see FAST 1
9 of the very best kind <since you're guilty as hell, you'd better get a hot lawyer> — see EXCELLENT
10 having a strong sexual desire <he admitted that the nude photos made him hot> — see LUSTFUL

hot adverb
with great speed <workers were working hot and heavy to repair the breach in the levee> — see FAST 1

hot (up) verb, chiefly Southern, southern Midland, & British
to cause to have or give off heat to a moderate degree <with a silky Southern drawl, the waitress asked, “Want me to hot up that pie?”> — see WARM 1

hot air noun
1 boastful speech or writing <his taking credit for the rescue was mostly hot air, since the boat was actually saved by the Coast Guard> — see BOMBAST 1
2 language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere <her campaign promise to “fight for the people” showed a taste for stale hot air> — see RHETORIC 1

hotbed noun
a place or environment that favors the development of something <prerevolutionary Boston was viewed as a hotbed of treason by the British> — see BREEDING GROUND

hot–blooded adjective
having or expressing great depth of feeling <after watching the successful defense of Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key quickly wrote the hot-blooded poem that later became known as “The Star-Spangled Banner”> — see FERVENT 1

hot–button adjective
relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions <the new plan raises a number of hot-button issues that are sure to get voters riled up> — see CONTROVERSIAL 1

hotcake noun
a flat cake made from thin batter and cooked on both sides (as on a griddle) <hotcakes and maple syrup will be served at the church breakfast> — see PANCAKE

hotchpotch noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <Sunday supper was a hotchpotch of leftovers> — see MISCELLANY 1

hotdog verb
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior <a skier who couldn't resist the urge to hotdog on the slopes whenever he wanted to impress a girl> — see CUT UP

hot dog interjection
how delightful <“Hot dog!” the child cried, “We're going to the circus!”> — see HOORAY

hotel noun
a place that provides rooms and usually a public dining room for overnight guests <for their 50th anniversary they stayed at one of the finest hotels in San Francisco>

Synonyms
auberge, caravansary (or caravanserai), hospice, hostel, hostelry, inn, lodge, public house, tavern

Related Words
B and B, bed-and-breakfast, guesthouse; apartment hotel; accommodations, lodgings, rest; court, motel, motor court, motor inn, motor lodge, resort, spa, tourist court, youth hostel; camp, campground; bunkhouse, dorm, dormitory; boardinghouse, lodging house, rooming house; doss-house [chiefly British], fleabag, flophouse

hotfoot adverb
with excessive or careless speed <lowered his plane hotfoot onto a pasture when the engine started to sputter> — see HASTILY 1

hotfoot (it) verb
to proceed or move quickly <you'd better hotfoot it to the bus stop if you're going to catch the bus> — see HURRY 2

hothouse noun
1 a glass-enclosed building for growing plants <grows tomatoes in his hothouse all winter long> — see CONSERVATORY
2 a place or environment that favors the development of something <an urban enclave of bohemians that acquired a reputation for being a hothouse of creativity> — see BREEDING GROUND

hotness noun
the state of enjoying widespread approval <the phenomenal hotness of the movie's stars is the driving force behind all of the advance publicity> — see POPULARITY

hots plural noun
sexual appetite <he has the hots for any woman who doesn't have the good sense to reject him> — see DESIRE 2

hotshot noun
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <while still in his 20s, he was known on Wall Street as an investment hotshot> — see EXPERT

hot stuff noun
something very good of its kind <wow, that dress is hot stuff—I've never seen anything like it!> — see JIM-DANDY

hot ticket noun
a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <the hot ticket this season is the retro look> — see FAD

hottie noun
a physically attractive person <if you're not a hottie, you haven't a prayer of getting on that reality show> — see DOLL 2

hottish adjective
having or giving off heat to a moderate degree <the island's temperature is mild in winter and hottish in summer, but never extreme> — see WARM 1

hot war noun
a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups <fortunately, the cool relationship between the two nations never escalated into a hot war> — see WAR 1

hound noun
1 a domestic mammal that is related to the wolves and foxes <in the yard an old hound greeted us with a single bark> — see DOG 1
2 a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <a camera hound even before the baby arrived, he's now become obsessive> — see FAN
3 a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <a no-good hound who got his girlfriend pregnant and then took off> — see VILLAIN
4 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <nobody could stand that low-down hound and his penchant for mean-spirited pranks> — see JERK 1

hound verb
1 to go after or on the track of <after she was publicly dumped by her boyfriend, the actress was hounded by reporters night and day> — see FOLLOW 2
2 to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders <kept hounding his mother to let him drive her car until she gave in> — see NAG 1

hounding noun
the act of going after or in the tracks of another <the rock star eventually couldn't take the constant hounding by reporters and fans> — see PURSUIT 1

hourly adverb
many times <that couple argues hourly, about everything> — see OFTEN

house noun
1 a commercial or industrial activity or organization <a publishing house that specializes in school textbooks> — see ENTERPRISE 1
2 a group of persons who come from the same ancestor <the present British royal family belongs to the House of Windsor> — see FAMILY 1
3 the place where one lives <come over to my house for supper so I can show off my new stove> — see HOME 1
4 those who live as a family in one house <the whole house is in a state of excited anticipation for the holidays> — see HOUSEHOLD
5 the shelter or resting place of a wild animal <prairie dogs make their house underground> — see DEN 1

house verb
1 to provide with living quarters or shelter <some of the freshmen were temporarily housed in local motels while the new dorm was being finished>

Synonyms
accommodate, bestow, billet, bivouac, board, bunk, camp, chamber, domicile, encamp, harbor, lodge, put up, quarter, roof, room, shelter, take in

Related Words
ensconce, home, roost, secure, shed, stable, tent; barrack; bed (down)

Near Antonyms
eject, evict

2 to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <housed the stereo speakers in attractive walnut cabinets that match the furniture> — see ENCLOSE 1

house cat noun
a small domestic animal known for catching mice <the house cat at the Cheshire Cat Bookstore has the dual responsibility of being mascot and mouser> — see CAT 1

house girl noun
a female domestic servant <visited the old plantation where her grandmother had long ago toiled as a house girl> — see MAID 1

household adjective
1 of or relating to a household or family <he spent the weekend at home, helping with household chores> — see DOMESTIC 1
2 often observed or encountered <“ozone” is now a household word, thanks to global warming> — see COMMON 1

household noun
those who live as a family in one house <a household that consists of a single mom, her two kids, and her widowed mother>

Synonyms
extended family, home, house, ménage

Related Words
blood, folks, kin, kindred, kinfolk (or kinfolks), kinsfolk, kith; brood; nuclear family; clan, community

housekeeper noun
a female domestic servant <the bachelor doctor could easily afford to hire a housekeeper to cook and clean> — see MAID 1

housemaid noun
a female domestic servant <scrubbing the floors invariably fell to the lowliest housemaid> — see MAID 1

housing noun
something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <a camera with a waterproof housing for taking pictures of coral reefs and other underwater features> — see 1CASE 1

hovel noun
a small, simply constructed, and often temporary dwelling <refugees living in crowded hovels> — see SHACK

hover verb
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air <claimed that the UFO hovered a moment, then spun off into space at incredible speed> — see FLOAT 1

hover (over) verb
to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on <after the first big layoff, the possibility of losing their jobs hovered over all of the factory's workers> — see THREATEN

how adverb
in what manner or way <if you show me precisely how this is confusing, I would be happy to explain> — see WHERE 2

how noun
the means or procedure for doing something <the environmental activist eagerly launched into an explanation of the hows and whys of developing renewable energy sources> — see METHOD

howbeit adverb
in spite of that <I've never written a poem before; howbeit, I feel my first attempt is quite good> — see HOWEVER

howbeit conjunction
in spite of the fact that <our visit to Niagara Falls was very pleasant, howbeit slightly shorter than we had planned> — see ALTHOUGH

however adverb
in spite of that <I'm all out of eggs; however, I can still make us a nice breakfast>

Synonyms
even so, howbeit, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, still, still and all, though, withal, yet

Related Words
after all, anyhow, regardless; per contra

Phrases
all the same (or just the same), at the same time

howl noun
1 a crying out in grief <the agonized howl of the grief-stricken parents rose toward heaven> — see LAMENT 1
2 a loud vocal expression of strong emotion <heard howls of laughter from the children watching the clown's silly antics> — see SHOUT
3 a violent shouting <the crowd raised a howl when the notorious murderer appeared at the courthouse door> — see CLAMOR 1

howl verb
1 to make a long loud mournful sound <several coyotes began howling close by as the sun went down> <the wind howled on the open plain>

Synonyms
bay, keen, ululate, wail, yowl

Related Words
bawl, caterwaul, scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squall, squeal, yawp (or yaup), yell, yelp

2 to cry out loudly and emotionally <the boy howled in pain when his baby sister bit him> — see SCREAM 1

hoydenish adjective
having qualities or traits that are traditionally considered inappropriate for a girl or woman <a hoydenish woman, who smoked cigars and wore heavy work boots to town> — see UNFEMININE

hub noun
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <Broadway is the hub of theater life in New York> — see CENTER 1

hubble–bubble noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <amidst the hubble-bubble of Christmas morning we forgot to walk the dog> — see COMMOTION

hubbub noun
1 a state of noisy, confused activity <imagine all the hubbub at the zoo when the lion escaped> — see COMMOTION
2 a violent shouting <the people who had been in line for tickets made a huge hubbub when they were told that the concert was all sold out> — see CLAMOR 1

hubby noun
the male partner in a marriage <my hubby's been gone on a business trip all week, and I really miss him> — see HUSBAND

huckster noun
one who sells things outdoors <hucksters outside the auditorium selling everything from key chains to life-size cutouts of the rock star> — see PEDDLER

huddle noun
1 a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose <after an all-night huddle, the state legislature finally approved a budget for the coming year> — see MEETING 1
2 a number of things considered as a unit <saw a huddle of tents that turned out to be a Boy Scout encampment> — see GROUP 1
3 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <in the lobby during intermission huddles of theatergoers were excitedly discussing the play> — see GROUP 2

huddle verb
1 to gather into a closely packed group <the puppies huddled together to keep warm> — see 2PRESS 3
2 to lie low with the limbs close to the body <huddled under her bed when she heard an intruder> — see CROUCH

hue noun
a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished <suggested she wear brighter hues to complement her skin tone> — see COLOR 1

hue and cry noun
a violent shouting <the hue and cry in the classroom when someone let loose a snake> — see CLAMOR 1

huff noun
1 a state of nervous or irritated concern <was in a huff because everyone was running late and the hot breakfast she had prepared was getting cold> — see FRET
2 an outburst or display of excited anger <gets all in a huff every time anyone makes the slightest criticism> — see TANTRUM
3 the feeling of being offended or resentful after a slight or indignity <left the restaurant in a huff after waiting 15 minutes to be seated> — see PIQUE

huff verb
to talk loudly and wildly <demanding to speak to the branch manager, she huffed about the rudeness of the bank teller> — see RANT

huffiness noun
1 an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <her huffiness seemed silly, considering what a stupid question she'd just asked> — see ARROGANCE
2 readiness to show annoyance or impatience <there's no point in telling her what you think unless you want to put up with her huffiness> — see PETULANCE

huffish adjective
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <huffish wealthy people who expected to receive top priority in the ship's dining room> — see ARROGANT

huffy adjective
1 easily offended <the comedy is about a huffy actress who loudly protests every perceived insult, no matter how slight> — see TOUCHY 1
2 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <he's been acting very huffy ever since he was named head of the department> — see ARROGANT

hug verb
1 to express to (someone) admiration for his or her success or good fortune <she hugged herself for having made a killing on the investment> — see CONGRATULATE
2 to put one's arms around and press tightly <Grandma hugged the grandchildren good-bye> — see EMBRACE 1

huge adjective
unusually large <the old stadium was replaced by a huge new one that seats 100,000 spectators>

Synonyms
astronomical (also astronomic), Brobdingnagian, bumper, colossal, cosmic (also cosmical), cyclopean, elephantine, enormous, galactic, gargantuan, giant, gigantesque, gigantic, grand, herculean, heroic (also heroical), Himalayan, humongous (also humungous), immense, jumbo, king-size (or king-sized), leviathan, mammoth, massive, mega, mighty, monster, monstrous, monumental, mountainous, oceanic, pharaonic, planetary, prodigious, super, super-duper, supersize, supersized, titanic, tremendous, vast, vasty, walloping, whacking, whopping

Related Words
big, bulky, considerable, extensive, good, goodly, great, gross, handsome, hefty, hulking, largish, major, outsize (also outsized), overgrown, oversize (or oversized), sizable (or sizeable), substantial, tidy, voluminous; august, formidable, grandiose, imposing, lofty, majestic; cavernous, monolithic, overwhelming, staggering, stupendous, towering; boundless, immeasurable, infinite

Near Antonyms
little, mini, petite, pint-size (or pint-sized), puny, small, smallish, undersized (also undersize); dinky, dwarfish, half-pint

Antonyms
bantam, bitty, diminutive, infinitesimal, Lilliputian, little bitty, micro, microminiature, microscopic (also microscopical), midget, miniature, minuscule, minute, pocket, pygmy, teensy, teensy-weensy, teeny, teeny-weeny, tiny, wee

hugely adverb
1 to a great degree <hugely mistaken about the character of the people he had rented the house to> — see VERY 1
2 to a large extent or degree <this donation has added hugely to the library's collection of music manuscripts> — see GREATLY 2

hugeness noun
the quality or state of being very large <you can only appreciate the hugeness of the dome when you see how tiny the people standing under it look> — see IMMENSITY

hugger–mugger adjective
1 lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <a hugger-mugger presentation of the facts of the case that left everyone confused> — see MESSY
2 undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <a tale of hugger-mugger doings and international espionage> — see SECRET 1

hulk noun
a big clumsy often slow-witted person <the big-boned girl felt like a hulk standing in line next to the slender, delicate ballerinas> — see OAF 1

hulking adjective
1 of a size greater than average of its kind <a heavy, hulking stone blocked the way> — see LARGE 1
2 strongly and heavily built <I need a strong hulking young man to carry out the television set> — see 1HUSKY 1

hull noun
something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <the coffin was placed in a cement hull> — see 1CASE 1

hull verb
to remove the natural covering of <hull the pinto beans before adding them> — see PEEL

hullabaloo noun
1 a state of noisy, confused activity <there was a lot of needless hullabaloo as the new millennium approached> — see COMMOTION
2 a violent shouting <there was such a hullabaloo in the room that he couldn't hear himself think> — see CLAMOR 1

hum noun
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion <we heard the hum of an outboard motor and a few minutes later the small craft came into sight>

Synonyms
burr, buzz, chirr, churr, drone, purr, thrum, whir (also whirr), whiz (or whizz), zoom

Related Words
babble, coo, gasp, gurgle, hiss, moan, murmur, rustle, sigh, suspiration, susurration, susurrus, whisper; whish, zing, zip

Near Antonyms
bawl, howl, roar, scream, screech, shriek, squall, squeal, yelp, yell

hum verb
1 to be copiously supplied <one restaurant was humming with diners, while a neighboring eatery was practically empty> — see ABOUND
2 to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound <a helicopter hummed overhead> — see WHIRR

human adjective
relating to or characteristic of human beings <it's human nature to care about what people think of us>

Synonyms
earthborn, mortal, natural

Related Words
anthropoid, creatural, hominid, humanlike, humanoid

Near Antonyms
angelic (or angelical), divine, godlike, preternatural, superhuman, supernatural, supernormal; immortal, omnipotent, omniscient; animal, beastly, bestial, brute, infrahuman; inhuman, robotic, subhuman

Antonyms
nonhuman

human noun
a member of the human race <humans are the only mammals not endowed with a natural defense against the elements, such as fur or a thick hide>

Synonyms
baby, being, bird, bod [British], body, character, cookie (or cooky), creature, customer, devil, duck, egg, face, fish, guy, head, human being, individual, life, man, mortal, party, person, personage, scout, slob, sort, soul, specimen, stiff, thing, wight

Related Words
hominid, homo, humanoid; brother, fellow, fellowman, neighbor; celebrity, personality, self, somebody

Phrases
son of man

Near Antonyms
animal, beast, beastie, brute, critter

human being noun
a member of the human race <we're all human beings, regardless of our differences> — see HUMAN

humane adjective
1 having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others <humane guards who treated the prisoners decently> <the Geneva conventions spelled out standards for the humane treatment of prisoners of war>

Synonyms
beneficent, benevolent, benignant, compassionate, good-hearted, kind, kindhearted, kindly, softhearted, sympathetic, tender, tenderhearted, warmhearted

Related Words
attentive, considerate, solicitous, thoughtful; affable, amicable, benign, companionable, comradely, cordial, friendly, genial, gentle, good, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, mild, neighborly, nice, pleasant, sweet, warm; clement, forbearing, forgiving, lenient, merciful, soft; patient, pitying, tolerant, understanding; altruistic, brotherly, charitable, freehanded, generous, greathearted, humanitarian, liberal, magnanimous, munificent, noble, openhearted, philanthropic (also philanthropical), selfless, unselfish, unsparing; anticruelty, cruelty-free

Near Antonyms
ironhearted, merciless, pitiless, ruthless, stonyhearted; inconsiderate, insensitive, thoughtless, uncaring, unthinking; grim, hard-boiled, harsh, heavy-handed, severe, stern, tough, unsentimental; hateful, malevolent, malicious, malign, malignant, mean, nasty, spiteful, virulent; antihumanitarian, uncharitable

Antonyms
atrocious, barbaric, barbarous, bestial, brutal, brute, brutish, callous, cold-blooded, cruel, fiendish, hard-hearted, heartless, inhuman, inhumane, insensate, sadistic, savage, truculent, uncompassionate, unfeeling, unkind, unkindly, unsympathetic, vicious, wanton

2 having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another <the movie's humane depiction of people who are physically and mentally challenged> — see SYMPATHETIC 1

humaneness noun
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others <with more humaneness than good sense, I decided to take in yet another stray cat> — see BENIGNANCY

humanitarian adjective
having or showing a concern for the welfare of others <humanitarian efforts to aid the earthquake victims> — see CHARITABLE 1

humanity noun
1 human beings in general <all humanity can learn from this tragedy> — see PEOPLE 1
2 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <a country known for the humanity of its liberal immigration policy> — see HEART 1
3 the human race <in Greek mythology, the gods display many of the weaknesses of humanity, such as jealousy, foolishness, and greed> — see MANKIND

humankind noun
1 human beings in general <all humankind shares the desire for peace> — see PEOPLE 1
2 the human race <perhaps someday humankind will find the key that unlocks the mystery of the universe> — see MANKIND

humble adjective
1 not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness <a medical scientist who remained remarkably humble even after winning the Nobel Prize> <even though she'd been proven wrong, her attitude was still far from humble>

Synonyms
demure, down-to-earth, lowly, meek, modest, unassuming, unpretentious

Related Words
acquiescent, compliant, deferential, resigned, submissive, unaggressive, unassertive, yielding; cowering, cringing, shrinking; ingenuous, naive (or naïve), plain, simple, unaffected; bashful, diffident, introverted, mousy (or mousey), overmodest, passive, quiet, reserved, retiring, sheepish, shy, subdued, timid, unobtrusive; aw-shucks, self-deprecating, self-deprecatory, self-effacing

Near Antonyms
aggressive, assertive, audacious, bold, brash, brassy, cheeky, forward, impertinent, impudent, saucy; cocksure, cocky, confident, hubristic, overconfident, self-confident; egocentric, egoistic (also egoistical), narcissistic, prideful, self-affected, self-centered, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-congratulatory, self-contented, self-engrossed, self-important, self-obsessed, self-pleased, self-satisfied, smug, stuck-up, swelled-headed; boastful, bombastic, braggy, swaggering, vain, vainglorious; condescending, disdainful, dominant, dominating, domineering, magisterial, overbearing, patronizing, pontificating; flamboyant, ostentatious, showy; extroverted (also extraverted), immodest, outgoing, uninhibited, unreserved

Antonyms
arrogant, bumptious, chesty, conceited, egotistic (or egotistical), fastuous, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, hoity-toity, huffish, huffy, imperious, lordly, overweening, peremptory, pompous, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, self-asserting, self-assertive, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity

2 belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <a humble peasant girl who claimed she was chosen by God to restore the French king to his throne> — see IGNOBLE 1
3 showing, expressing, or offered in a spirit of humility or unseemly submissiveness <please accept my humble thanks for this unexpected favor> — see ABJECT

humble verb
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <Philip was utterly humbled by a crushing defeat in the first round of the state chess tournament>

Synonyms
abase, chasten, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, humiliate, lower, shame, sink, smirch, take down

Related Words
abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle; belittle, castigate, criticize, cry down, decry, depreciate, detract, diminish, discount, disparage, minimize, put down, ridicule, write off; bad-mouth, defame, defile, libel, malign, slander; affront, insult; censure, condemn, damn, denounce, execrate, reprehend, reprobate

Near Antonyms
acclaim, applaud, boast, celebrate, cheer, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate, eulogize, extol (also extoll), fete (or fête), hail, honor, laud, praise, salute, tout; acknowledge, recognize; highlight, play up, spotlight; dignify, ennoble, enshrine, ensky, enthrone, glorify, magnify; advance, boost, lift, promote, raise, upgrade, uplift; idealize, romanticize

Antonyms
aggrandize, canonize, deify, elevate, exalt

humbleness noun
the absence of any feelings of being better than others <in a display of true humbleness he gave much of the credit for his discovery to others> — see HUMILITY

humbly adverb
in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion <humbly accepted the criticism> — see LOWLY

humbug noun
1 an imitation that is passed off as genuine <tests showed that the “old” map of America was a cleverly made humbug> — see FAKE 1
2 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <those UFO stories are a lot of humbug> — see NONSENSE 1
3 one who makes false claims of identity or expertise <one humbug after another claimed to be the miraculously surviving daughter of the Russian czar> — see IMPOSTOR

humbug verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <humbugged into believing that the bones were the skeleton of a prehistoric human being> — see DECEIVE

humbuggery noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <a lot of humbuggery about a mean old witch that lives in the woods> — see NONSENSE 1

humdinger noun
something very good of its kind <the concert concluded with a humdinger of a fireworks display> — see JIM-DANDY

humdrum adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <she leads a humdrum life that will never be made into a major motion picture> <a humdrum meal> — see BORING

humdrum noun
a tedious lack of variety <loathed the humdrum of daily life in a small town> — see MONOTONY

humid adjective
containing or characterized by an uncomfortable amount of moisture <the air was so humid that our beach towels hanging on the line never really got dry>

Synonyms
damp, muggy, sticky, sultry

Related Words
steamy, summerlike, summery, sweltering, torrid; semitropical (also semitropic), subhumid, subtropical (also subtropic), tropic, tropical; close, heavy, oppressive, smothering, stifling, stuffy, suffocating; clammy, dank, moist; awash, bathed, doused (also dowsed), drenched, dripping, saturated, soaked, soaking, sodden, soggy, sopping, soppy, soused, washed, watered, waterlogged, watery, wet

Near Antonyms
bracing, cool, crisp, fresh, invigorating, refreshing; arid, baked, burned (or burnt), dehydrated, desert, droughty, dusty, parched, scorched, seared, semiarid, sere (also sear), sunbaked, thirsty, waterless

Antonyms
dry

humidity noun
the amount of water suspended in the air in tiny droplets <the oppressive humidity made the hot day seem even hotter> — see MOISTURE

humiliate verb
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <no student feels humiliated for not having the “right” clothes because everyone is wearing a school uniform> — see HUMBLE

humility noun
the absence of any feelings of being better than others <displaying genuine humility, the peace activist accepted the Nobel Prize on behalf of all who have worked to end the violence>

Synonyms
demureness, down-to-earthness, humbleness, lowliness, meekness, modesty

Related Words
acquiescence, compliance, deference, passivity, resignedness, submission, submissiveness; ingenuousness, naïveté (also naivete or naiveté); directness, plainness, simpleness; bashfulness, diffidence, mousiness, quietness, reserve, reservedness, retiringness, sheepishness, shyness, timidity, timidness

Near Antonyms
aggressiveness, assertiveness; attitude, audaciousness, boldness, brashness, brassiness, cheek, cheekiness, cockiness, cocksureness, forwardness, overconfidence, swagger, swash, temerity; impertinence, impudence, insolence, nerve, sauciness; boastfulness, chest-thumping, self-applause, self-assumption, self-centeredness, self-complacency, self-conceit, self-glorification, self-importance, self-opinion, self-partiality, self-satisfaction, vaingloriousness, vanity; condescension, disdain, scorn; flamboyance, ostentation, ostentatiousness, showiness

Antonyms
arrogance, assumption, bumptiousness, conceit, egoism, egotism, haughtiness, hauteur, huffiness, imperiousness, loftiness, lordliness, peremptoriness, pomposity, pompousness, presumptuousness, pretense (or pretence), pretension, pretentiousness, pride, pridefulness, superciliousness, superiority, toploftiness

hummer noun
1 an ambitious person who eagerly goes after what is desired <he's a real hummer when it comes to getting new clients for his advertising agency> — see GO-GETTER
2 something very good of its kind <this is the author's first mystery novel, and it's a hummer> — see JIM-DANDY

humming adjective
marked by much life, movement, or activity <the new science center is usually humming with school groups on Thursdays> — see ALIVE 2

humongous also humungous adjective
unusually large <I'm sleepy because I ate a humongous lunch> — see HUGE

humor noun
1 the amusing quality or element in something <we failed to see any humor in his racially charged jokes>

Synonyms
comedy, comic, comicality, drollery, drollness, funniness, hilariousness, humorousness, richness, uproariousness

Related Words
amusement, enjoyment, fun, pleasure; absurdity, irony, laughableness, ludicrousness, ridiculousness; whimsicality, wittiness, wryness; burlesque, caricature, farce, jest, lampoon, parody, satire, slapstick, spoof, takeoff; jocularity, jokiness, playfulness, waggishness

Near Antonyms
agony, anguish, dolor, grief, heartache, heartbreak, misery, sorrow, torment, torture, tribulation, woe; gravity, seriousness, soberness, solemnity, solemnness, somberness

Antonyms
pathos

2 humorous entertainment <a screenwriter best known for lowbrow humor> — see COMEDY 1
3 a state of mind dominated by a particular emotion <the prospect of going out to dinner put her in a good humor all day> — see MOOD 1
4 a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action <she was seized by a sudden humor to contact an old college friend that she hadn't seen in ages> — see WHIM

humor verb
to give in to (a desire) <humored her grandfather by listening to his war stories for the hundredth time> — see INDULGE 1

humorist noun
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor <Mark Twain is perhaps America's most beloved humorist>

Synonyms
card, comedian, comic, droll, farceur, funnyman, gagger, gagman, gagster, jester, joker, jokester, wag, wit

Related Words
comedienne, entertainer; banterer, cutup, kidder, knockabout, practical joker, prankster, quipper, quipster, teaser, wisecracker; buffoon, clown, fool, harlequin, zany; caricaturist, lampooner, parodist, satirist

humoristic adjective
causing or intended to cause laughter <a somewhat humoristic scene in an otherwise dark and brooding drama> — see FUNNY 1

humorless adjective
not joking or playful in mood or manner <humorless people who can't see the lighter side of life> — see SERIOUS 1

humorous adjective
1 causing or intended to cause laughter <the humorous moments in an otherwise somber affair> <“most humorous costume” went to the girl dressed as Little Bo Peep> — see FUNNY 1
2 given to or marked by mature intelligent humor <the movie's a humorous look at love and marriage> — see WITTY

humorousness noun
the amusing quality or element in something <the humorousness of falling on a banana peel is usually lost on the person who falls> — see HUMOR 1

hump noun
1 British a state of resentful silence or irritability <failing her A-levels has certainly given her the hump> — see POUT
2 an elevation of land higher than a hill <a cloud-capped hump straddles the border separating the two countries> — see MOUNTAIN 1
3 an area of high ground <the grassy hump at the center of the park is a popular sledding spot during the winter> — see HEIGHT 4

hump verb
1 to devote serious and sustained effort <the farmers had to really hump to get the harvest in before the rains> — see LABOR
2 to proceed or move quickly <the boat was really humping before the motor started to sputter all of a sudden> — see HURRY 2

hunch verb
to lie low with the limbs close to the body <he hunched next to a bush to avoid being seen> — see CROUCH

hundred noun
a considerable amount <it seems like we've answered this question hundreds of times> — see LOT 2

hung adjective
bending downward or forward <stood penitently before the judge with a hung head while he received his sentence> — see NODDING

hunger noun
1 a need or desire for food <no degree of hunger would induce me to eat octopus>

Synonyms
appetite, belly, emptiness, famishment, munchies, stomach

Related Words
rapaciousness, rapacity, ravenousness, voraciousness, voracity; malnutrition, starvation, undernourishment; craving, sweet tooth; famine, fast, hunger strike; gluttony, gourmandism, greed, hoggishness

Near Antonyms
fill, fullness, glut, repleteness, repletion, satiation, satiety, satisfaction, surfeit

Antonyms
inappetence

2 a strong wish for something <a lonely girl with a desperate hunger for love> — see DESIRE 1
3 urgent desire or interest <reads everything he can find on airplanes with a seemingly insatiable hunger> — see EAGERNESS

hunger (for) verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <voters hungering for honest and upright leadership> — see DESIRE 1

hungry adjective
1 feeling a desire or need for food <John was still hungry after eating only a muffin for breakfast>

Synonyms
empty, famished, peckish [chiefly British], starved, starving

Related Words
rapacious, ravenous, voracious, wolfish; malnourished, underfed, undernourished; gluttonous, gormandizing, greedy, hoggish, insatiable, piggish, piggy

Near Antonyms
engorged, glutted, gorged, overfed, overfull, overstuffed, replete, stuffed, surfeited

Antonyms
full, sated, satiate, satiated, satisfied

2 showing urgent desire or interest <hungry for the latest news> — see EAGER

hung up adjective
1 having extreme or relentless concern <parents of a toddler who are already hung up about her getting into a good college>

Synonyms
happy, obsessed, queer

Related Words
absorbed, anxious, concerned, distracted, engaged, engrossed, full, involved, knee-deep, occupied, preoccupied, prepossessed, worried; ardent, crazy, dotty, fervent, fervid, feverish, foolish, impassioned, nuts, passionate, silly

Near Antonyms
apathetic, casual, cool, detached, disinterested, dispassionate, incurious, indifferent, insouciant, nonchalant, unconcerned, uncurious, unenthusiastic, uninterested, uninvolved

2 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <so hung up about having his tax returns audited that he can't sleep> — see NERVOUS 1

hunk noun
1 a physically attractive man <her new boyfriend is quite the hunk>

Synonyms
beefcake, pretty boy, stud, superstud

Related Words
babe [slang], dish, doll, dreamboat [slang], eye candy, eyeful, fox, knockout, stunner; lady-killer, sheik, womanizer

Near Antonyms
dog, grotesquerie (also grotesquery), monster, nerd

2 a small uneven mass <what looked like a hunk of potato in her stew turned out to be a pebble> — see LUMP 1

hunker (down) verb
to lie low with the limbs close to the body <had to hunker down so no one would see him behind the gate> — see CROUCH

hunkers plural noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <the tree had a stout branch, and I found the boy perched there on his hunkers> — see BUTTOCKS

hunks plural noun
a mean grasping person who is usually stingy with money <a horrible old hunks who refused to lend money to his destitute brother> — see MISER

hunky–dory adjective
being to one's liking <if she just agrees to cooperate, everything will be hunky-dory> — see SATISFACTORY 1

hunt noun
an act or process of looking carefully or thoroughly for someone or something <soon the whole family was involved in the hunt for Mom's car keys> — see SEARCH

hunt verb
1 to seek out (game) for food or sport <Native Americans of the plains hunted buffalo for food, clothing, and shelter>

Synonyms
chase, stalk

Related Words
capture, drag, net, snare, trap; dog, ferret, hawk, hound; course, pursue, run, run down, spoor, track, trail; gun (for), harpoon, kill, shoot; poach; cull

2 to go in search of <I spent all afternoon hunting a job for the summer> — see SEEK 1
3 to go into or range over for purposes of discovery <a bag lady hunts the neighborhood for returnable bottles> — see EXPLORE 2

hunt (down or up) verb
to come upon after searching, study, or effort <managed to hunt down his ancestors, who arrived back to the 16th century> — see FIND 1

hunt (through) verb
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something <she hunted through old birth and marriage records to trace the family tree> — see SEARCH 1

hunter noun
a person who hunts game <hunters must have a license to shoot deer>

Synonyms
huntsman, nimrod

Related Words
huntress, sportsman, sportswoman; archer, gunner; birder, falconer, fowler, hawker; hunter-gatherer, trapper; poacher

Antonyms
nonhunter

huntsman noun
a person who hunts game <the huntsman presented the king with two pheasants for the royal table> — see HUNTER

hurdle noun
something that makes movement or progress difficult <the many hurdles he had to overcome on the road to success> — see ENCUMBRANCE

hurl verb
1 to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth <that meal was so gross I thought I was going to hurl> — see VOMIT
2 to proceed or move quickly <a fighter jet hurled through the sky> — see HURRY 2
3 to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <hurled snowballs at each other> — see THROW 1

hurly noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <the high-spirited hurly that engulfs the college campus as students begin arriving en masse for the start of the academic year> — see COMMOTION

hurly–burly noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <lost sight of his children in all the hurly-burly of the fair> — see COMMOTION

hurricane noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <economic news that unleashed a hurricane on the trading floor> — see COMMOTION

hurried adjective
acting or done with excessive or careless speed <hurried shoppers who grab the wrong items> <ate a hurried meal> — see HASTY 1

hurriedly adverb
with excessive or careless speed <hurriedly dashed off a note to let them know she'd been called away for an emergency> — see HASTILY 1

hurry noun
1 excited and often showy or disorderly speed <after all her hurry to get her report done on time, Elizabeth learned that it wasn't due till the following week>

Synonyms
haste, hastiness, hustle, precipitation, precipitousness, rush

Related Words
bustle, flurry, flutter, scurry, scuttle, stir, whirl; beeline, dash, scramble, stampede; hotheadedness, impetuosity, impetuousness, impulsiveness, impulsivity, rashness; expedition, expeditiousness, fastness, fleetness, quickness, rapidity, rapidness, speed, speediness, swiftness, velocity; celerity, dispatch, promptitude, promptness

Near Antonyms
dilatoriness, lateness, pokiness, procrastination, slowness; languor, leisureliness, lethargy, sluggishness, torpor; dormancy, inaction, inactivity, inertia, inertness, quiescence

Antonyms
deliberateness, deliberation

2 a high rate of movement or performance <a person who does everything in a hurry> — see SPEED 1
3 a state of noisy, confused activity <in all the hurry of the modern world, people tend to forget what's really important> — see COMMOTION

hurry verb
1 to cause to move or proceed fast or faster <the new nurses were hurried through the orientation program because they were so desperately needed on the ward>

Synonyms
accelerate, bundle, fast-track, hasten, quicken, rush, speed (up), whisk

Related Words
drive, goad, prod, propel, push, race, spur, stir, urge; aid, dispatch, ease, encourage, expedite, facilitate

Near Antonyms
delay, encumber, fetter, hamper, hinder, hobble, hold back, hold up, impede, interfere (with), manacle, rein (in), restrain, shackle, tie up, trammel; arrest, check, stall, stay, still, stop

Antonyms
brake, decelerate, retard, slow (down)

2 to proceed or move quickly <if we hurry, we'll make the four o'clock train>

Synonyms
barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb [slang], bowl, breeze, bundle, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, crack (on), dash, drive, fly, hare, hasten, hie, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurtle, hustle, jet, jump, motor, nip, pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, run, rush, rustle, scoot, scurry, scuttle, shoot, speed, step, tear, travel, trot, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom

Related Words
beetle, dart, flit, scamper, scud, scuffle; stampede, streak, whiz (or whizz); gallop, jog, sprint; accelerate, quicken, step out; catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake; arrow, beeline

Phrases
beat it, get a move on, make tracks, shake a leg, step on it

Near Antonyms
dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry; amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll; decelerate, slow (down or up)

Antonyms
crawl, creep, poke

hurry–scurry or hurry–skurry noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <for all the hurry-scurry you would have thought that the guests were the British royal family and not my in-laws> — see COMMOTION

hurt noun
1 a state of great suffering of body or mind <in her hurt she said a lot of things to her boyfriend that she didn't really mean> — see DISTRESS 1
2 something that causes loss or pain <a totally baseless accusation that caused lasting hurt to his reputation> — see INJURY 1

hurt verb
1 to feel or cause physical pain <my head hurts> <a bad sprain that really hurts> <I hurt all over>

Synonyms
ache, pain, smart

Related Words
bite, bleed, burn, chafe, cramp, fester, itch, nag, pinch, pound, rack, sting, swell, throb, tingle, twinge; agonize, anguish, suffer; afflict, harrow, torment, torture

2 to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <don't worry that you'll hurt the new lawn by walking across it> — see DAMAGE 1
3 to cause bodily damage to <the common belief that reading in poor light hurts your eyes> — see INJURE 1
4 to feel deep sadness or mental pain <I know you must be hurting from the cruel words they said> — see GRIEVE

hurtful adjective
1 causing or capable of causing harm <the most hurtful thing you can do to this silk dress is put it in the dryer> — see HARMFUL
2 hard to accept or bear especially emotionally <her ex-husband said hurtful things that she could never forgive> — see BITTER 2

hurting adjective
causing or feeling bodily pain <a badly hurting finger kept her from writing neatly> — see PAINFUL 1

hurtle verb
1 to proceed or move quickly <the probe hurtled through space to its destination: Jupiter> — see HURRY 2
2 to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <hurtled his spear at the tiger as it lunged toward him> — see THROW 1

hurtless adjective
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt <unlike some parodies, which are mean-spirited, this one was marked by hurtless humor and affectionate exaggeration> — see HARMLESS

husband noun
the male partner in a marriage <she and her husband just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary>

Synonyms
hubby, man, mister, old man

Related Words
better half, companion, consort, mate, partner, significant other, spouse; Mr. Right; soul mate; bridegroom, groom; benedict; widower; househusband

husband verb
to avoid the wasteful or destructive use of <husband our natural resources so that our children and grandchildren may benefit from them> — see CONSERVE 1

husbandry noun
1 careful management of material resources <in accordance with his practice of good husbandry, he never buys anything on credit> — see ECONOMY
2 the science or occupation of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock <a family of winemakers whose tradition of vineyard husbandry goes back several generations> — see AGRICULTURE

hush noun
1 a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <the storm passed, and a hush fell over the sea> — see CALM 1
2 the near or complete absence of sound <a hush fell over the auditorium as the lights went down> — see SILENCE 2

hush verb
1 to become still and orderly <the whole room hushed when the queen made her entrance> — see QUIET 1
2 to stop talking <the talkative lady next to me on the train never hushed once during the whole four-hour trip> — see SHUT UP 1
3 to stop the noise or speech of <he tried to hush the baby by making a lot of silly faces> — see SILENCE 1

hush (up) verb
to keep from being publicly known <the well-connected family was able to hush up the scandal so it never reached the papers> — see SUPPRESS 1

hushed adjective
1 free from disturbing noise or uproar <entered the hushed interior of the Gothic church> — see QUIET 1
2 free from storms or physical disturbance <the hushed lake was smooth as glass the morning after the storm> — see CALM 1
3 mostly or entirely without sound <a hushed sickroom> — see SILENT 3
4 not known or meant to be known by the general populace <hushed negotiations between the two countries> — see PRIVATE 1

hush–hush adjective
1 not known or meant to be known by the general populace <the reporter suspected there was a hush-hush reason why the company agreed to the deal> — see PRIVATE 1
2 undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <top-echelon diplomats met in a hush-hush conference in a last-ditch effort to head off an international crisis> — see SECRET 1

husk noun
something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <corn husks> <a high stone wall is the husk that protects the actor from prying curiosity seekers> — see 1CASE 1

husk verb
to remove the natural covering of <the tedious task of husking coconuts> — see PEEL

1husky adjective
1 strongly and heavily built <a husky weight lifter>

Synonyms
beefy, brawny, burly, hefty, hulking, mesomorphic

Related Words
able-bodied, athletic, herculean, mighty, muscle-bound, muscular, powerful, robust, rugged, sinewy, stalwart, stout, strapping, strong, sturdy; chunky, compact, heavy, heavyset, solid, squat, squatty, stocky, thickset; chubby, dumpy, lumpish, podgy [chiefly British], portly, pudgy, roly-poly, tubby

Near Antonyms
lean, light, lightweight, slender, slight, slim, svelte, sylphlike, thin, willowy; bony (also boney), gangling, gangly, gaunt, gawky, lanky, reedy, scraggy, scrawny, skinny, spare, stringy, twiggy, waspish, weedy; spidery, wiry; debilitated, delicate, effete, emaciated, enervated, enfeebled, feeble, fragile, frail, infirm, puny, unathletic, weak, weakly, wimpy

2 of a size greater than average of its kind <the neighbors bought a fairly husky lawn mower for their small yard> — see LARGE 1

2husky adjective
harsh and dry in sound <a voice that was husky from years of smoking> — see HOARSE

hussy noun
a boldly flirtatious or sexually promiscuous woman <the antiquated view that any unmarried woman who lived on her own was a hussy> — see FLOOZY

hustle noun
1 a scheme in which the victim is cheated out of his money after first gaining his trust <finally got wise to his hustle and threatened to call the police>
2 excited and often showy or disorderly speed <the hustle and bustle of the holiday season> — see HURRY 1
3 readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity <with his characteristic hustle, he had everything lined up in two days> — see ENTERPRISE 2
4 an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <a clever hustle that tricked people into revealing their bank account information> — see FRAUD 1

hustle verb
1 to devote serious and sustained effort <everyone really hustled to get the magazine out on schedule> — see LABOR
2 to proceed or move quickly <we'd better hustle, or we'll miss the train> — see HURRY 2
3 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <a customer hustled the cashier by getting her all confused while she was making change> — see FLEECE

hustler noun
1 a woman who engages in sexual activities for money <a truck stop that featured cheap lodgings and even cheaper hustlers> — see PROSTITUTE
2 an ambitious person who eagerly goes after what is desired <the ad for the sales job claims that for someone who's a real hustler, the sky's the limit> — see GO-GETTER

hut noun
a small, simply constructed, and often temporary dwelling <smoke rose from a fisherman's hut on the shore of the lake> — see SHACK

hutch noun
1 a small, simply constructed, and often temporary dwelling <the destitute family lives in a tiny hutch made of tin and cardboard> — see SHACK
2 a storage case typically having doors and shelves <keeps her best china in a hutch in the dining room> — see CABINET
3 an enclosure with an open framework for keeping animals <the owner took the rabbit out of the hutch so the children could pet it> — see CAGE

hutment noun
1 a place where a group of people live for a short time in tents or cabins <the arriving national guardsmen were forced to live in a hutment until permanent barracks could be constructed> — see CAMP 1
2 a small, simply constructed, and often temporary dwelling <a group of shabby hutments that had been erected to shelter the refugees> — see SHACK

huzzah or huzza interjection
how delightful <the beleaguered soldiers cried, “Huzzah!” as badly needed reinforcements appeared> — see HOORAY

hybrid adjective
being offspring produced by parents of different races, breeds, species, or genera <a hybrid rose called “American Beauty” was actually first developed in France> — see MIXED 1

hybrid noun
an offspring of parents with different genes especially when of different races, breeds, species, or genera <a tangelo is a hybrid of the tangerine and the grapefruit>

Synonyms
cross, crossbred, crossbreed, intercross, mongrel

Related Words
mule; outcross; half-bred; mulatto

Near Antonyms
full-blood, pureblood, purebred, thoroughbred

hygienic adjective
free from filth, infection, or dangers to health <food packaging done under rigidly hygienic conditions> — see SANITARY

hymn noun
1 a religious song <our Sunday church services always open with a hymn>

Synonyms
anthem, canticle, carol, chorale, psalm, spiritual

Related Words
dirge, lament, requiem, threnody; Gloria Patri, hallelujah, paean; mass, oratorio; processional, recessional

2 a formal expression of praise <the documentary on the Shakers is essentially a hymn to the simple life> — see ENCOMIUM

hymn verb
to proclaim the glory of <during the honeymoon following the inauguration, newspaper articles seemed to hymn the president's every move> — see PRAISE 1

hymnal noun
a book of hymns <hymnals are distributed among the congregation before the church service so everyone can join in the singing>

Synonyms
hymnary, hymnbook, psalmody

Related Words
breviary, missal, Psalter; songbook, songster; antiphonal, antiphonary

hymnary noun
a book of hymns <everyone turn to page 22 in the hymnary, please> — see HYMNAL

hymnbook noun
a book of hymns <a worshipper who knew the words of all the church songs and didn't need a hymnbook> — see HYMNAL

hype adjective, slang
of the very best kind <a couple of the tracks on the album feature some really hype vocals> — see EXCELLENT

1hype noun, slang
1 a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally <a derelict building that's now a shooting gallery for heroin hypes> — see DOPER
2 a slender hollow instrument by which material is put into or taken from the body through the skin <scattered inside the abandoned building were hypes and other signs of drug use> — see NEEDLE 1

2hype noun
information released to the media that is designed to gain public attention or support for a person, business, or cause <the prelaunch hype for the new cell phone translated into phenomenal sales numbers on release day> — see PUBLICITY

1hype verb
to make greater in size, amount, or number <the TV writers tried to hype interest in the fading soap opera with flashy new plotlines> — see INCREASE 1

2hype verb
to provide publicity for <the auto company has been hyping its forthcoming line of hybrids for almost a year now> — see PUBLICIZE 1

hyper adjective
easily excited by nature <she's so hyper that she's the last person you'd want to turn to in an emergency> — see EXCITABLE

hyperactive adjective
1 being in a state of increased activity or agitation <the skyrocketing price of oil resulted in a wildly fluctuating, hyperactive stock market> — see FEVERISH 1
2 easily excited by nature <hyperactive children who are in dire need of a guardian with a firm hand> — see EXCITABLE

hyperbole noun
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts <“enough food to feed a whole army” is a common example of hyperbole> — see EXAGGERATION

hyperbolize verb
to add to the interest of by including made-up details <even if she did hyperbolize her account of an encounter with a bear, it still must have been pretty scary> — see EMBROIDER

hyperbolized adjective
extended beyond normal or realistic bounds <the hyperbolized sentiments that are so commonly found in popular love songs> — see BLOATED 1

hypercritic noun
a person given to harsh judgments and to finding faults <of course the hypercritics were quick to jump on the film for every time it deviated even slightly from the novel on which it was based> — see CRITIC 1

hypercritical adjective
given to making or expressing unfavorable judgments about things <if you go by what that hypercritical reviewer says, you are going to end up seeing very few movies> — see CRITICAL 1

hyperexcitable adjective
easily excited by nature <those hyperexcitable contestants on TV game shows who celebrate winning by jumping up and down uncontrollably> — see EXCITABLE

hyperintelligent adjective
having or showing quickness of mind <from an early age he showed signs of being a hyperintelligent child> — see INTELLIGENT 1

hyperkinetic adjective
easily excited by nature <an elderly couple who are unable to control their hyperkinetic grandson> — see EXCITABLE

hypersexual adjective
having a strong sexual desire <typically users of crystal meth report that the powerful stimulant leaves them feeling hypersexual as well as euphoric> — see LUSTFUL

hyperventilate verb
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty <he was so nervous he began hyperventilating, and the extra oxygen made him dizzy> — see GASP

hypnosis noun
the art or act of inducing in a person a sleeplike state during which he or she readily follows suggestions <with hypnosis there's some question as to just how involuntary the actions of the hypnotized person really are>

Synonyms
hypnotism, mesmerism

Related Words
autohypnosis, automatism, autosuggestion, self-hypnosis, self-suggestion; bewitchment, enchantment, spellbinding

hypnotic adjective
tending to cause sleep <her eyes soon grew heavy from the hypnotic rhythm of the train's wheels>

Synonyms
drowsy, narcotic, opiate, sleepy, slumberous (or slumbrous), somniferous, somnolent, soporific

Related Words
depressant, relaxant, sedative, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing); calming, comforting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, relaxing, restful, settling, soothing; analgesic, anesthetic, anesthetizing, benumbing, deadening, dulling, numbing; hypnotizing, mesmerizing, stupefying

Near Antonyms
arousing, awakening, energizing, invigorating, rousing, stimulating, wakening, waking; bracing, refreshing, restorative, reviving, stimulative, stimulatory

Antonyms
stimulant

hypnotism noun
the art or act of inducing in a person a sleeplike state during which he or she readily follows suggestions <some people have undergone hypnotism in order to induce them to give up their smoking habit> — see HYPNOSIS

hypnotize verb
to hold the attention of as if by a spell <the crowd was hypnotized by the powerful, eloquent speaker> — see ENTHRALL 1

hypocrisy noun
the pretending of having virtues, principles, or beliefs that one in fact does not have <the hypocrisy of people who claim to care about the environment but ride around in gas-guzzlers>

Synonyms
cant, dissembling, dissimulation, insincerity, piousness

Related Words
deceit, deceitfulness, deception, deceptiveness, dishonesty, double-dealing, falsity, perfidy, two-facedness; affectation, affectedness, pretense (or pretence), pretension, pretentiousness, sanctimoniousness, self-righteousness, self-satisfaction; duplicity, fakery, falseness, fraudulentness, shamming; artificiality, glibness, oiliness, smoothness, unctuousness

Near Antonyms
candor, directness, forthrightness, frankness, honesty, openheartedness, openness, probity, straightforwardness, truthfulness; artlessness, guilelessness, naturalness, unaffectedness

Antonyms
genuineness, sincereness, sincerity

hypocritical adjective
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <it's hypocritical to say mean things behind someone's back, and then to act nice when you want something from her> — see INSINCERE

hypodermic noun
a slender hollow instrument by which material is put into or taken from the body through the skin <he hardly felt it when the nurse stuck the hypodermic in his arm> — see NEEDLE 1

hypodermic needle noun
a slender hollow instrument by which material is put into or taken from the body through the skin <doesn't mind getting shots as long as he doesn't catch sight of the hypodermic needle> — see NEEDLE 1

hypodermic syringe noun
a slender hollow instrument by which material is put into or taken from the body through the skin <the nurse filled a different hypodermic syringe for each injection> — see NEEDLE 1

hypothecate verb
to take as true or as a fact without actual proof <even before a single vote had been cast, media pundits were hypothecating that the former senator would be the party's nominee> — see ASSUME 2

hypothesis noun
an idea that is the starting point for making a case or conducting an investigation <working on the hypothesis that teenagers function better in the late morning, some high schools are starting classes later> — see THEORY

hypothesize verb
to take as true or as a fact without actual proof <if we hypothesize that current population trends continue for the next 50 years> — see ASSUME 2

hypothetical adjective
existing only as an assumption or speculation <we talked about what we would do in various hypothetical emergencies> — see THEORETICAL 1

hypothetical noun
something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning <believes that predictions of the extinction of certain species as the result of global warming are based upon too many hypotheticals> — see ASSUMPTION 1

hysteria noun
a state of wildly excited activity or emotion <the hysteria of the mother when she realized that she had lost her four-year-old son in the crowd> — see FRENZY

hysterical also hysteric adjective
1 causing or intended to cause laughter <some of the things little kids come out with are hysterical> — see FUNNY 1
2 feeling overwhelming fear or worry <the police officer assured the mother that there was no need to get hysterical, for most missing children are found safe and sound> — see FRANTIC 1
3 filled with fear or dread <upon hearing the announcement that a shark had been sighted, hysterical beachgoers raced out of the water> — see AFRAID

I

ice verb
1 to make sure, certain, or safe <with that win, the team has pretty much iced a spot in the play-offs> — see ENSURE
2 slang to put to death deliberately <that gang leader wouldn't hesitate to ice anyone who tries to invade his turf> — see MURDER 1

iceberg noun
a cold aloof person <a brilliant doctor, no doubt, but both patients and staff complain that he is an iceberg> — see COLD FISH

ice–cold adjective
having a low or subnormal temperature <ice-cold hands from hours spent shoveling snow> — see COLD 1

icicle noun
a cold aloof person <his wife is such an icicle you're lucky to get so much as a greeting from her> — see COLD FISH

icky adjective
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <the novel has an icky sentimentality that makes my skin crawl> — see UNPLEASANT

icon also ikon noun
1 a person who is the object of extreme or uncritical devotion <Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and other icons of pop culture> — see IDOL
2 a written or printed mark that is meant to convey information to the reader <the player's remote control is very user-friendly as it doesn't use any icons that you haven't seen a million times before> — see CHARACTER 1
3 a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <cites Marlene Dietrich as an icon of old-time Hollywood glamour> — see EMBODIMENT
4 a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <a sports bar filled with photos of icons from football, basketball, and baseball> — see CELEBRITY 1
5 a two dimensional design intended to look like a person or thing <any icon of the Deity is regarded as blasphemous by adherents of that religion> — see PICTURE 1

iconoclast noun
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs <notorious as an iconoclast, that music critic isn't afraid to go after sacred cows> — see NONCONFORMIST 1

iconoclastic adjective
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices <the book offers iconoclastic and irreverant portraits of some of history's most sacred cows> — see HERETICAL

icy adjective
1 having a low or subnormal temperature <an icy drink that was especially refreshing on that hot afternoon> — see COLD 1
2 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <she wondered why the salesclerk at the boutique had given her an icy glare> — see COLD 2

ID verb
to find out or establish the identity of <studies that show that eyewitnesses are surprisingly unreliable when called upon to ID the perpetrators of crimes> — see IDENTIFY 1

idea noun
1 something imagined or pictured in the mind <my idea of the perfect vacation spot is an uncrowded, unspoiled beach>

Synonyms
abstraction, cogitation, concept, conception, image, impression, intellection, mind's eye, notion, picture, thought

Related Words
apprehension, premonition, presentiment; preconception, prejudice, prepossession; chimera, delusion, hallucination, illusion, phantasm (also fantasm); caprice, conceit, fancy, freak, kink, vagary, whim; cognition, observation, perception, reflection; assumption, belief, conclusion, conviction; conjecture, guess, hunch, hypothesis, speculation, supposition, surmise, theory; brainchild, brainstorm, brain wave, inspiration

Near Antonyms
actuality, fact, reality

2 someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation <Helen Keller remains my idea of a person with indomitable spirit> — see IDEAL 1
3 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <the idea is to get the information without seeming to be nosy> — see GOAL

ideal adjective
1 dealing with or expressing a quality or idea <honesty is an ideal entity that has more admirers than practitioners> — see ABSTRACT 1
2 not real and existing only in the imagination <depicts an ideal society in which conflict and privation are unknown> — see IMAGINARY
3 being entirely without fault or flaw <for years she's been searching for a man who would make an ideal husband, and she's still looking> — see PERFECT 1

ideal noun
1 someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation <she's our ideal of the concerned, caring physician>

Synonyms
beau ideal, classic, eidolon, exemplar, idea, model, nonesuch, nonpareil, paragon, patron saint

Related Words
role model; embodiment, epitome, incarnation, manifestation, personification, phantom, pink; archetype, example, mirror, paradigm, pattern; guideline, principle, rule; gauge (also gage), standard, touchstone; essence, quintessence; acme, apex, apotheosis, culmination, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith

2 the most perfect type or example <the Taj Mahal in India is generally regarded as the ideal of Mogul architectural beauty> — see QUINTESSENCE 1
3 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <his ideal is to make enough money so that he can retire at 50> — see GOAL

idealist adjective
having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality <an idealist attempt to make a go of a mom-and-pop hardware store on Main Street> — see IDEALISTIC

idealist noun
one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world <an idealist sees the best in everyone, regardless of how they behave>

Synonyms
Don Quixote, dreamer, fantast, idealizer, ideologue (also idealogue), romantic, romanticist, utopian, visionary

Related Words
emotionalist, sentimentalist; daydreamer, fantasizer, woolgatherer; Micawber, optimist, Pollyanna; do-gooder, reformer; perfectionist; doctrinaire, theorist, thinker

Near Antonyms
cynic, defeatist, pessimist; empiric, empiricist

Antonyms
hardnose, pragmatist, realist

idealistic adjective
having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality <idealistic pacifists who thought that tyranny could be toppled by rational argument and mutual understanding>

Synonyms
idealist, quixotic, quixotical, romantic, starry, starry-eyed, utopian, visionary

Related Words
impractical, unrealistic; crusading, messianic, zealous; dewy-eyed, moonstruck, moony, sentimental, tender-minded; hopeful, optimistic, Pollyannaish (also Pollyannish), rosy, upbeat; doctrinaire, ideological (also ideologic)

Near Antonyms
hardheaded, hard-nosed, tough-minded, unsentimental; practical, pragmatic (also pragmatical), realistic

Antonyms
clear-eyed, clear-sighted

idealize verb
to represent or think of as better than reality would warrant <he had a tendency to idealize his heroes and believe they could do no wrong>

Synonyms
glamorize (also glamourize), glamour (up), glorify, romanticize

Related Words
heroicize, heroize; euphemize, poeticize, soften, sweeten; adulate, canonize, deify, idolize; aggrandize, dignify, ennoble, enshrine, enthrone, magnify

Near Antonyms
belittle, decry, denigrate, deprecate, disparage, minimize, put down

Antonyms
deglamorize

idealizer noun
one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world <an idealizer, she thinks that any convicted criminal is capable of being redeemed by the love of a good woman> — see IDEALIST

ideally adverb
without any flaws or errors <an ideally executed routine on the parallel bars that earned him perfect scores from the judges> — see PERFECTLY 1

ideate verb
to form a mental picture of <the psychotic would repeatedly ideate the act of committing murder, and eventually he came to believe his own delusions> — see IMAGINE 1

ideation noun
the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others <caregivers are trained to watch for signs of depression and suicidal ideation—some patients are likely to put their fantasies to action> — see IMAGINATION 1

ideational adjective
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea <ideograms are ideational—they are meant to suggest some general idea and not a particular word or phrase> — see ABSTRACT 1

idée fixe noun
something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned <had this bizarre idée fixe that people were spying on her with electromagnetic waves> — see FIXATION

identical adjective
1 being one and not another <both families wanted the identical puppy and weren't accepting the argument that its littermates were just as good> — see SAME 2
2 resembling another in every respect <identical dresses whose only difference is a designer label that fetches a high price> — see SAME 1

identicalness noun
the state of being exactly alike <the identicalness of your answers to your friend's suggests that someone copied> — see IDENTITY 1

identify verb
1 to find out or establish the identity of <sufficient forensic evidence to allow investigators to identify the perpetrator>

Synonyms
distinguish, finger, ID, pinpoint, single (out)

Related Words
diagnose; determine, find; locate, pick out, place, recognize, spot; check, examine, inspect, investigate, notice, observe, scrutinize; betray, disclose, discover, reveal

Phrases
put one's finger on

Near Antonyms
camouflage, conceal, disguise, hide; counterfeit, feign, sham, simulate

2 to think of (something) in combination <for some reason, he always identified the color red with flowers> — see ASSOCIATE 2

identifying adjective
serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group <the marching band's striking black-and-silver uniforms serve as its identifying mark for thousands of parade spectators> — see CHARACTERISTIC 1

identity noun
1 the state of being exactly alike <although the covers of the two paperback editions of the novel are different, there's a complete identity in the texts>

Synonyms
identicalness, sameness

Related Words
oneness, selfsameness; homogeneity, homogeneousness, homology; equality, equivalence; accordance, agreement, conformity, congruity, correspondence, likeness, resemblance, similarity

Near Antonyms
alteration, change, modification, variation; distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, exoticness, individuality, separateness, separation, uniqueness, unusualness; deviance, divergence; variance; incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness; contrast

Antonyms
difference, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, unlikeness

2 the set of qualities that make a person different from other people <children begin to form their own identity by the age of two> — see INDIVIDUALITY 1

ideologue also idealogue noun
1 one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause <as long as there are ideologues controlling both sides of the aisle, legislative compromise is out of the question> — see ZEALOT
2 one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world <the revolutionaries proved to be impractical ideologues who had no idea how to run a country> — see IDEALIST

ideology also idealogy noun
the basic beliefs or guiding principles of a person or group <members of that sect follow an ideology of nonviolence and freely given cooperation> — see CREED 1

idiocy noun
a foolish act or idea <trying to get that many people to agree on anything was pure idiocy> — see FOLLY 1

idiom noun
a sequence of words having a specific meaning <the English idiom “how are you doing?” is our version of a greeting that in some other languages can be translated as “how are you going?”> — see PHRASE

idiomatic adjective
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person <the new teacher's idiomatic approach to dealing with special-needs students is already showing signs of success> — see INDIVIDUAL 1

idiosyncrasy noun
an odd or peculiar habit <his only idiosyncrasy is his inveterate wearing of sneakers, even with business suits>

Synonyms
crotchet, curiosity, eccentricity, erraticism, individualism, kink, mannerism, oddity, peculiarity, quiddity, quip, quirk, singularity, tic, trick, twist

Related Words
affectation, airs; attribute, characteristic, mark, property, trait; custom, habit, pattern, practice (also practise), way, wont; addiction; abnormality, neuroticism, perversion, weirdness; disposition, genius, leaning, partiality; bent, inclination, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, propensity, tendency, turn; attitude, character, humor, identity, individuality, nature, personality, temperament

Near Antonyms
conformity, sameness

idiot noun
a stupid person <only an idiot would invest in a company just because a casual acquaintance recommended it>

Synonyms
airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, bonehead, bubblehead, chowderhead, chucklehead, clodpoll (or clodpole), clot [British], cluck, clunk, cretin, cuddy (or cuddie) [British dialect], deadhead, dim bulb [slang], dimwit, dip, dodo, dolt, donkey, doofus [slang], dope, dork [slang], dullard, dumbbell, dumbhead, dum-dum, dummkopf, dummy, dunce, dunderhead, fathead, gander, golem, goof, goon, half-wit, hammerhead, hardhead, ignoramus, imbecile, jackass, know-nothing, knucklehead, lamebrain, loggerhead [chiefly dialect], loon, lump, lunkhead, meathead, mome [archaic], moron, mug [chiefly British], mutt, natural, nimrod [slang], nincompoop, ninny, ninnyhammer, nit [chiefly British], nitwit, noddy, noodle, numskull (or numbskull), oaf, pinhead, prat [British], ratbag [chiefly Australian], saphead, schlub (also shlub) [slang], schnook [slang], simpleton, stock, stupe, stupid, thickhead, turkey, woodenhead, yahoo, yo-yo

Related Words
booby, buffoon, fool, goose, loony, lunatic, madman, nut, zany; loser; gawk; featherbrain, scatterbrain; beast, boor, cad, churl, clown, creep, cur, heel, jerk, skunk, snake, stinker, villain; bimbette [slang], bimbo [slang], himbo

Phrases
dumb cluck

Near Antonyms
egghead, intellect, intellectual, sage, thinker, whiz, wizard; polymath, Renaissance man; sharpie (or sharpy)

Antonyms
brain, genius

idiot box noun
an electronic device with a screen and speakers that reproduces images and sound <she huffily declared that she wouldn't have an idiot box in her home> — see TELEVISION

idle adjective
1 not being in a state of use, activity, or employment <the car was idle for two weeks while they went on vacation> — see INACTIVE 2
2 not easily aroused to action or work <an idle employee who always seems to be either on break or at lunch> — see LAZY 1

idle verb
to spend time doing nothing <she likes to idle during the summer, maintaining that there's a lot to be said for sloth>

Synonyms
bum, chill, dally, dawdle, dillydally, drone, footle, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), hang about [British], kick around, kick back, laze, lazy, loaf, loll, lounge, veg out

Related Words
fiddle (around), fool, mess, monkey, muck, piddle, play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle; doze, estivate (also aestivate), hibernate; lag, linger, loiter, poke, relax, rest, tarry; amble, mosey, saunter, stroll, swan; furlough, goldbrick, malinger, truant

Phrases
kill time, twiddle one's thumbs

Near Antonyms
drudge, grind, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg, plod, plow, plug, slave, sweat, toil, travail, work; apply, buckle (down); exert, put out

idleness noun
1 an inclination not to do work or engage in activities <the brothers' innate idleness meant that neither did much, either inside or outside their ramshackle cabin> — see LAZINESS
2 lack of action or activity <a day spent in idleness is nice, but a month of doing nothing is boring!> — see INACTION
3 lack of use <the idleness of the sewing machine was apparent by its thick layer of dust> — see DISUSE

idler noun
a lazy person <an idler by nature, he expected to be waited on by his new wife> — see LAZYBONES

idol noun
a person who is the object of extreme or uncritical devotion <a movie idol whose reprehensible offscreen behavior caused him to experience a spectacular fall from grace>

Synonyms
god, hero, icon (also ikon)

Related Words
beau ideal, classic, exemplar, ideal, model, nonpareil, paragon

idolater or idolator noun
a person who does not worship the God of the Bible <by and large the American colonists were not particularly tolerant of those who were regarded as idolaters> — see HEATHEN 1

idolatry noun
excessive admiration of or devotion to a person <her idolatry of her favorite rock star is one step removed from stalking> — see WORSHIP

idolization noun
excessive admiration of or devotion to a person <the mass idolization of sports figures often results in the public's refusal to believe that they could ever do wrong> — see WORSHIP

idolize verb
to love or admire too much <she blindly idolized her older sister, refusing to acknowledge her considerable faults>

Synonyms
adore, adulate, canonize, deify, dote (on), hero-worship, worship

Related Words
appreciate, cherish, esteem, prize, treasure, value; fancy, favor, like, prefer; regard; hallow, respect, revere, venerate; approve, endorse (also indorse), support

Near Antonyms
abhor, abominate, despise, detest, disdain, dislike, hate, loathe; belittle, deprecate, disparage, misprize, put down

idolizing adjective
reflecting great admiration or devotion <gave his fiancée an idolizing glance> — see WORSHIPFUL

idyll also idyl noun
a time or instance of carefree fun <her year as a vineyard worker in the south of France was not the idyll that she had expected it to be> — see FLING 1

if noun
1 something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning <your conclusion may turn out to be accurate, but you're postulating a lot of ifs> — see ASSUMPTION 1
2 something upon which the carrying out of an agreement or offer depends <there are a number of ifs in the proposal> — see CONDITION 2

ignitable also ignitible adjective
capable of catching or being set on fire <gasoline fumes are quite ignitable> — see COMBUSTIBLE

ignite verb
to set (something) on fire <tried using newspapers as kindling to ignite the logs in the fireplace> — see BURN 2

ignited adjective
being on fire <the ignited fireworks caused explosions that leveled the building> — see ABLAZE 1

ignoble adjective
1 belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <an ignoble child who would one day grow up to be a prince among playwrights>

Synonyms
baseborn, common, humble, inferior, low, lowborn, lower-class, low-life, lowly, lumpen, mean, plebeian, prole, proletarian, unwashed, vulgar

Related Words
bourgeois, middle-class; plain, poor, simple, working-class; déclassé, down-market, downscale

Near Antonyms
eminent, illustrious, notable, prominent

Antonyms
aristocratic, blue-blooded, genteel, gentle, grand, great, high, highborn, highbred, lofty, noble, partrician, upper-class, upper-crust, wellborn

2 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <such an ignoble act is completely unworthy of a military officer>

Synonyms
base, contemptible, currish, despicable, detestable, dirty, dishonorable, execrable, ignominious, low, low-down, low-minded, mean, nasty, paltry, snide, sordid, vile, wretched

Related Words
bad, black, evil, foul, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, wicked, wrong; cruel, vicious; blamable, blameworthy, censurable, reprehensible; corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, perverted; atrocious, villainous; unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous; discreditable, disgraceful, disreputable, shameful, unworthy

Near Antonyms
ethical, honest, just, principled, righteous, right-minded, scrupulous; commendable, excellent, exemplary, good, moral, right; decent, proper, reputable, respectable, seemly; blameless, guiltless; incorruptible, irreproachable; uncorrupted, unerring

Antonyms
high, high-minded, honorable, lofty, noble, straight, upright, venerable, virtuous

ignominious adjective
1 not respectable <some of his friends considered the job of janitor to be an ignominious fate for the laid-off executive> — see DISREPUTABLE
2 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <the prison guards degraded themselves with their inhumane, ignominious treatment of the prisoners> — see IGNOBLE 2

ignominy noun
the state of having lost the esteem of others <he spent the remainder of his life in ignominy after being involved in a bribery scandal> — see DISGRACE 1

ignoramus noun
a stupid person <only an ignoramus would be foiled by the building's security system> — see IDIOT

ignorance noun
1 the state of being unaware or uninformed <ignorance of the law is no excuse>

Synonyms
benightedness, cluelessness, incognizance, innocence, nescience, obliviousness, unawareness, unfamiliarity

Related Words
callowness, greenness, inexperience, naïveté (also naivete or naiveté), rawness, simpleness, unsophistication

Near Antonyms
experience, know-how; sophistication

Antonyms
acquaintance, awareness, cognizance, familiarity

2 the state of being unlearned <with such vast sums spent on education, the level of ignorance among graduating seniors is a national disgrace>

Synonyms
illiteracy

Related Words
functional illiteracy, innumeracy; brainlessness, dumbness, idiocy, imbecility, stupidity; philistinism; foolishness, mindlessness, senselessness, witlessness

Near Antonyms
education, instruction, training; enlightenment, knowledge; erudition, scholarship

Antonyms
learning, literacy

ignorant adjective
1 lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <they may be poor, ignorant farmers, but they are not stupid>

Synonyms
analphabetic, benighted, dark, illiterate, nonliterate, rude, simple, uneducated, uninstructed, unlearned, unlettered, unread, unschooled, untaught, untutored

Related Words
functionally illiterate, innumerate, semiliterate, unknowledgeable; artless, lowbrow, philistine, uncultivated, uncultured; callow, green, inexperienced, innocent, naive (or naïve); unsophisticated; raw, unskilled, untrained; brainless, dumb, idiotic (also idiotical), imbecile (or imbecilic), moronic, stupid, witless; foolish, senseless, silly

Near Antonyms
brilliant, intelligent, smart; experienced, expert, trained; erudite, learned, polyhistoric, polymath (or polymathic), scholarly; cultivated, cultured, highbrow, intellectual; sophisticated; acquainted, aware, familiar

Antonyms
educated, knowledgeable, lettered, literate, schooled, well-informed, well-read

2 not informed about or aware of something <he was ignorant of their wedding plans>

Synonyms
clueless, incognizant, innocent, insensible, nescient, oblivious, unacquainted, unaware, unconscious, uninformed, unknowing, unmindful, unwitting

Related Words
uneducated, unschooled, untaught; absent, absentminded, abstracted, heedless, inattentive, inconscient

Phrases
in the dark

Near Antonyms
au courant, hip, plugged-in, up-to-date; educated, knowledgeable, schooled, taught; heedful, observant; sensitive, sentient

Antonyms
acquainted, aware, cognizant, conscious, conversant, grounded, informed, knowing, mindful, witting

ignore verb
1 to fail to give proper attention to <ignoring your health now will haunt you further down the road> — see NEGLECT 1
2 to dismiss as of little importance <although the movie is a cinematic tour de force, one can't ignore the fact that it seriously distorts history> — see EXCUSE 1

ilk noun
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <we're looking for chestnuts and other items of that ilk for our autumn decorations> — see SORT 1

ill adjective
1 affected with nausea <she grew ill from the constant rocking motion of the boat> — see NAUSEOUS 1
2 causing or capable of causing harm <one of the ill effects of winter weather is the rapid spread of germs as people spend more time together indoors> — see HARMFUL
3 temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body <since I'm ill, I guess that I'll just have to miss that dental appointment> — see SICK 1
4 falling short of a standard <such ill behavior will not be tolerated> — see BAD 1
5 being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come <the abrupt breakdown of negotiations appears to be an ill omen for this ongoing hostage situation> — see OMINOUS

ill adverb
1 in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering <in those days society treated debtors very ill, even going so far as to put them in prison> — see HARDLY 1
2 certainly not <you can ill afford to miss another day of work> — see HARDLY 2

ill noun
1 an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <chicken pox and the other ills that were once a fixture of childhood> — see DISEASE
2 that which is morally unacceptable <idealistic people who try to cure all of our society's ills> — see EVIL
3 bad luck or an example of this <the travelers merrily set off on their journey, scarcely imagining the ills that would befall them> — see MISFORTUNE

ill–advised adjective
showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations <an ill-advised criticism of the boss at a company function> — see INDISCREET

ill at ease adjective
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <I'm usually ill at ease when addressing a large crowd of people> — see NERVOUS 1

ill–boding adjective
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come <in an ill-boding turn of events, the government began rounding up political dissidents> — see OMINOUS

ill–bred adjective
1 lacking in refinement or good taste <the ill-bred habit of chewing with the mouth open> — see COARSE 2
2 showing a lack of manners or consideration for others <only an ill-bred, conceited person would demand that everyone cater to their whims> — see IMPOLITE

illegal adjective
1 contrary to or forbidden by law <it is illegal to import those birds into this country>

Synonyms
criminal, felonious, illegitimate, illicit, lawless, unlawful, wrongful

Related Words
bad, evil, immoral, shameful, sinful, unethical, wicked, wrong; blamable, blameworthy, censurable, reprehensible; banned, barred, contraband, criminalized, disallowed, discouraged, forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed; adulterine, bootleg, unauthorized, unlicensed, unsanctioned; under-the-counter, under-the-table; corrupt, unprincipled, unscrupulous, villainous

Near Antonyms
ethical, good, just, principled, right, righteous, virtuous; allowed, permitted; authorized, licensed; approved, endorsed (also indorsed), sanctioned; abetted, encouraged, promoted, suggested, supported; correct, decent, decorous, proper, seemly

Antonyms
lawful, legal, legitimate

2 not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport <an illegal pass> — see FOUL 2

illegalize verb
to make or declare contrary to the law <a bill that would illegalize the private use of fireworks>

Synonyms
criminalize, outlaw

Related Words
ban, bar, enjoin, forbid, interdict, prohibit, proscribe

Near Antonyms
allow, let, permit, suffer; approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction

Antonyms
decriminalize, legalize

illegible adjective
incapable of being read or deciphered <illegible signatures on the petition will be disregarded>

Synonyms
indecipherable, undecipherable, unreadable

Related Words
faint, indistinct, obscure, unclear

Antonyms
clean, decipherable, fair, legible, readable

illegitimacy noun
the state or fact of being born out of wedlock <she had learned of her illegitimacy while rummaging through old family records in the attic>

Synonyms
bar sinister, bastardy, spuriousness

Antonyms
legitimacy

illegitimate adjective
1 born to a father and mother who are not married <despite being illegitimate, Alexander Hamilton rose to greatness>

Synonyms
baseborn, bastard, misbegotten, natural, spurious, supposititious, unfathered

Related Words
fatherless, motherless; nameless; adopted, orphaned

Antonyms
legitimate

2 contrary to or forbidden by law <an illegitimate use of campaign contributions for personal expenses> — see ILLEGAL 1
3 not using or following good reasoning <made several illegitimate inferences> — see ILLOGICAL

ill–fated adjective
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck <the ill-fated trip ended in disaster for all> — see UNLUCKY 1

ill–favored adjective
unpleasant to look at <an ill-favored and yapping little dog that reminded people a lot of its owner> — see UGLY 1

ill–humored adjective
having or showing a habitually bad temper <an ill-humored person should probably not take a job that requires dealing with the public> — see ILL-TEMPERED

illiberal adjective
1 not broad or open in views or opinions <an illiberal society that viewed any artistic depiction of the nude as inherently indecent> — see NARROW 2
2 unwilling to grant other people social rights or to accept other viewpoints <some of the more illiberal residents were opposed to having a hospice for AIDS patients in the neighborhood> — see INTOLERANT 2
3 archaic lacking in refinement or good taste <people who had been scorned as illiberal because they were poor> — see COARSE 2

illiberalism noun
stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices <a woman who fails to see that her unexamined faith in political liberalism actually makes her guilty of illiberalism> — see BIGOTRY

illiberality noun
stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices <liked the peace and quiet of small-town life but chafed at its social and religious illiberality> — see BIGOTRY

illiberalness noun
stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices <the illiberalness of her religious beliefs made any theological discussion rather pointless> — see BIGOTRY

illicit adjective
contrary to or forbidden by law <had a long history of using illicit drugs> — see ILLEGAL 1

illimitable adjective
being or seeming to be without limits <the illimitable expanse of the universe> — see INFINITE

illiteracy noun
the state of being unlearned <far too many children are doomed to a lifetime of illiteracy in that country> — see IGNORANCE 2

illiterate adjective
1 violating approved patterns of speaking and writing <most of the messages left on the Web site's bulletin board are illiterate>

Synonyms
ungrammatical

Related Words
unidiomatic; nonstandard, substandard

Near Antonyms
idiomatic

Antonyms
grammatical

2 lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <offered menus with pictures, presumably for the many illiterate people who must eat there> — see IGNORANT 1

ill–mannered adjective
showing a lack of manners or consideration for others <an ill-mannered child who refuses to say “please” or “thank you”> — see IMPOLITE

ill–natured adjective
having or showing a habitually bad temper <an ill-natured and unpleasant old horse that sometimes bites> — see ILL-TEMPERED

illness noun
1 an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <suffered from a mysterious illness that left her weak and tired all the time> — see DISEASE
2 the condition of not being in good health <prone to illness as a child, he was sent to a western ranch with the expectation that it would toughen him up> — see SICKNESS 1

illogical adjective
not using or following good reasoning <the illogical claim that playing basketball makes people taller because one sees so many tall players> <illogical people are likely to believe every sensational claim made on TV>

Synonyms
fallacious, illegitimate, inconsequent, inconsequential, invalid, irrational, nonrational, unreasonable, unreasoning, unsound, weak

Related Words
eristic (also eristical), misleading, sophistic (or sophistical), specious; half-baked, ill-advised, misguided, unconsidered, unreasoned; inconsistent; absurd, asinine, foolish, meaningless, nonsensical, preposterous, reasonless, senseless, silly; Kafkaesque, odd, peculiar, strange, surreal, unusual, weird; insane, mad, nutty, wacky (also whacky); disordered, disorganized, rambling, random; unconvincing; inexplicable, unaccountable, unexplainable

Near Antonyms
commonsense, sane, sensible, sober, wise; enlightened, informed, just, justified, reasoned; ordered, organized; clear, cogent, compelling, convincing, credible, persuasive, plausible, satisfying, solid; certain, sure, true; confirmed, corroborated, demonstrated, established, substantiated, validated

Antonyms
logical, rational, reasonable, sound, valid, well-founded, well-grounded

ill–starred adjective
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck <an ill-starred attempt to circumnavigate the earth in a balloon> — see UNLUCKY 1

ill–tempered adjective
having or showing a habitually bad temper <an ill-tempered cat will scratch with little provocation>

Synonyms
acid, bearish, bilious, bloody-minded [chiefly British], cantankerous, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ornery, splenetic, surly

Related Words
choleric, crabby, cranky, crotchety, fussy, grouchy, grumpy, querulous; irascible, irritable, peevish, peppery, petulant, quick-tempered, short-tempered, snappish, snippy, testy, touchy; argumentative, contentious, contrary, cussed; angry, exasperated, indignant, irate, mad, upset, uptight; depressed, dour, glum, morose, sullen; anal, old-maidish, schoolmarmish

Near Antonyms
agreeable, amicable, congenial, friendly, pleasant; benign, gentle, kind, nice, sweet; bubbly, cheerful, cheery, effervescent, exuberant, high-spirited, joyful, lighthearted, lively, vivacious; content, glad, happy; calm, placid, serene; long-suffering, patient, tolerant

Antonyms
amiable, good-humored, good-natured, good-tempered

ill–treat verb
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <anyone who ill-treats their pets should not be allowed to have any> — see ABUSE 1

illume verb
1 to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding <a favorite line of an Eastern Church hymn reads, “through fast-closed doors Thou camest Thy Disciples to illume”> — see ENLIGHTEN 2
2 to supply with light <during the vigil service the church's Gothic interior was illumed by the light of hundreds of tapers> — see ILLUMINATE 1

illuminant noun
something that provides illumination <at the time, a spermaceti candle was the brightest indoor illuminant available> — see LIGHT 2

illuminate verb
1 to supply with light <a floor lamp illuminates a living room rather nicely>

Synonyms
bathe, beacon, emblaze, illume, illumine, irradiate, light, lighten

Related Words
brighten; beam, beat (down), radiate, shine; enhalo, halo; floodlight; highlight, spotlight; blaze, burn, fire, flame, glare, glow, ignite, incinerate, kindle; bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle; gleam, glisten, glitter

Near Antonyms
dim, dull, obscure; cover, shroud, veil; douse (also dowse), extinguish, put out, quench, snuff (out)

Antonyms
blacken, darken, obfuscate

2 to make plain or understandable <the museum's exhibit on the refraction of light really illuminated the subject for us> — see EXPLAIN 1
3 to supplement with pictorial matter for the purpose of explanation or decoration <no one knows for sure the identity of the artist who illuminated that medieval manuscript so beautifully> — see ILLUSTRATE 2
4 to indicate the importance of by centering attention on <that city's total unpreparedness for the powerful hurricane illuminated the need for all cities to have plans in place before disaster strikes> — see EMPHASIZE 1
5 to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding <how man is illuminated by a higher spirit> — see ENLIGHTEN 2

illuminated adjective
filled with much light <an intensely illuminated room is usually needed for producing live television shows> — see BRIGHT 2

illuminati plural noun
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <a book launching party to which only New York's cultural illuminati were invited> — see ELITE 1

illuminating adjective
providing useful information or knowledge <the DVD is an illuminating tutorial on the proper calibration of a high-definition television> — see INFORMATIVE

illumination noun
1 a statement that makes something clear <the candidate's so-called illuminations of his views on a number of controversial issues left many voters in the dark> — see EXPLANATION 1
2 the quality or state of having or giving off light <in that clime the illumination of the full moon is such as you can practically read by it> — see BRILLIANCE 1
3 the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible <a steady illumination from the flashlight was all I had while changing the tire> — see LIGHT 1

illuminative adjective
serving to explain <illuminative descriptions of the sights to be seen from the observatory gave us a much better idea of what we were looking at> — see EXPLANATORY

illumine verb
1 to supply with light <small table lamps illumine the inn's dining room in a most romantic way> — see ILLUMINATE 1
2 to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding <readers of great literature are both entertained and illumined> — see ENLIGHTEN 2

illumined adjective
filled with much light <illumined display windows in the street's many shops add much to the holiday glow> — see BRIGHT 2

ill–use verb
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <the alcoholic had ill-used his long-suffering wife for years> — see ABUSE 1

illusion noun
1 a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality <the magician specializes in creating illusions, so that people believe they have seen something when they really haven't> — see FANTASY 1
2 a false idea or belief <the idea that we as a nation can ever enjoy perfect security is an illusion> — see FALLACY 1

illusionist noun
one who practices tricks and illusions for entertainment <tried to figure out how the illusionist made his assistant disappear from the stage> — see MAGICIAN 2

illustrate verb
1 to show or make clear by using examples <she illustrated her point with a story about her experiences as a field anthropologist>

Synonyms
demonstrate, exemplify, instance

Related Words
adduce, cite, mention, quote; name, specify; analyze, break down; clarify, clear (up), explain, explicate, expound; edify, elucidate, enlighten; illuminate; construe, interpret; simplify, spell out; detail, enumerate, list

Near Antonyms
becloud, blur, cloud, darken, fog, muddy, obscure; confuse, perplex, puzzle

2 to supplement with pictorial matter for the purpose of explanation or decoration <lavishly illustrated the monograph on Caravaggio with color plates>

Synonyms
illuminate, pictorialize

Related Words
image, picture, visualize

3 to make plain or understandable <the recent devastating fire illustrates the need for improved safety codes> — see EXPLAIN 1

illustration noun
1 something that visually explains or decorates a text <this book on birds has gorgeous illustrations>

Synonyms
diagram, figure, graphic, plate, visual

Related Words
art, artwork; drawing, illumination, image, pictogram, pictograph, picture; caption, key, legend; inset; depiction, pictorialization, portrait, portrayal, representation; clarification, elucidation, explanation, explication, exposition

2 a statement that makes something clear <forced to give several illustrations until she was understood> — see EXPLANATION 1
3 a two-dimensional design intended to look like a person or thing <the doctor sketched an illustration to explain the procedure to the patient> — see PICTURE 1
4 one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like <chose one essay as an illustration of the high quality of the collection> — see EXAMPLE

illustrative adjective
serving to explain <an illustrative analogy in which the relationship between God and humanity is likened to that between a shepherd and his flock> — see EXPLANATORY

illustrious adjective
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <an illustrious physicist who is a sure bet for a Nobel Prize> — see EMINENT

image verb
1 to present a picture of <in the painting Sacagawea is imaged as an intrepid woman pointing the way for Lewis and Clark> — see PICTURE 1
2 to give a representation or account of in words <the brochure images a vacation at the resort in language that makes you want to make a reservation this instant> — see DESCRIBE 1
3 to reproduce or show (an exact likeness) as a mirror would <the burnished chrome fixtures imaged the jewelry store's glittery merchandise> — see REFLECT 1
4 to form a mental picture of <anyone who still images the cape's coastline as a scene of unspoiled beauty is in for a rude awakening> — see IMAGINE 1

image noun
1 something or someone that strongly resembles another <the girl is growing up to be the perfect image of her mother>

Synonyms
alter ego, carbon, carbon copy, clone, counterpart, doppelgänger (or doppelganger), double, duplicate, duplication, facsimile, fetch, likeness, look-alike, match, mirror image, picture, replica, ringer, spit, spitting image, twin

Related Words
Chinese copy; effigy, portrait, portrayal; companion, fellow, mate; equal, equivalent; analogue (or analog), parallel

Near Antonyms
antithesis, converse, opposite, reverse

2 a two-dimensional design intended to look like a person or thing <a cave with prehistoric images of wild animals> — see PICTURE 1
3 something imagined or pictured in the mind <a sentimental visit to her childhood home to see if it still matched her mental image of the place> — see IDEA 1
4 a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <a general who became for many the very image of the stoic warrior> — see EMBODIMENT

imaginal adjective
1 consisting of or relating to pictures <after a desensitizing series of imaginal exposures to the feared object, the phobic person is then exposed to the actual object> — see PICTORIAL 1
2 not real and existing only in the imagination <the equator is merely an imaginal line> — see IMAGINARY

imaginary adjective
not real and existing only in the imagination <told by the psychologist that it was perfectly normal for their child to have an imaginary friend>

Synonyms
chimerical (also chimeric), fabulous, fanciful, fantasied, fantastic (also fantastical), fictional, fictitious, ideal, imaginal, imagined, invented, made-up, make-believe, mythical (or mythic), notional, phantasmal, phantasmic, phantom, pretend, unreal, visonary

Related Words
fabled, legendary, romantic; abstract, hypothetical, theoretical (also theoretic); unbelievable, unconvincing, unlikely; conceived, envisaged, envisioned, pictured, visualized; daydreamlike, deceptive, delusional, delusive, hallucinatory, illusory, phantasmagoric (or phantasmagorical); concocted, fabricated, feigned, fictive; inexistent, nonexistent

Near Antonyms
authentic, genuine, true; factual, verifiable, verified; believable, convincing, realistic; corporeal, material, physical, solid, substantial; palpable, tangible

Antonyms
actual, existent, existing, real

imagination noun
1 the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others <a cartoonist needs a fertile imagination in order to create interesting cartoons on demand>

Synonyms
contrivance, creativity, fancy, fantasy (also phantasy), ideation, imaginativeness, invention, inventiveness, originality

Related Words
brainstorm, brainstorming, inspiration; fecundity, fertility; ingenuity, resourcefulness; versatility; chimera, daydream, delusion, dream, figment, hallucination, illusion, mind's eye, mirage, phantasm (also fantasm), pipe dream; envisaging, visualization

Near Antonyms
literality, literalness

2 the skill and imagination to create new things <she lacks the imagination to be anything but an imitator of other directors' cinematic styles> — see CREATIVITY 1

imaginative adjective
1 having the skill and imagination to create new things <an imaginative child who is always writing short stories about her pet cat> — see CREATIVE 1
2 showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing <found an imaginative gadget that can grind the beans and heat the water to brew coffee> — see CLEVER 1

imaginativeness noun
1 the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others <what sets apart geniuses like Thomas Edison and Ben Franklin from the average person is their keen intellect and restless imaginativeness> — see IMAGINATION 1
2 the skill and imagination to create new things <it took exceptional imaginativeness and tireless dedication to invent the airplane> — see CREATIVITY 1

imagine verb
1 to form a mental picture of <she was determined to have the wedding that she had always imagined>

Synonyms
conceit [chiefly dialect], conceive, conjure (up), dream, envisage, envision, fancy, fantasize, fantasy, feature, ideate, image, picture, see, vision, visualize

Related Words
daydream, stargaze; hallucinate; re-create, reflect, relive, reminisce; contemplate, meditate, muse, ponder, ruminate; concoct, fabricate, invent, make up, manufacture, plan, project; foresee, prefigure

2 to have as an opinion <I imagine that's true, but you still have to prove it> — see BELIEVE 2
3 to form an opinion from little or no evidence <I imagine things will change rapidly once we begin> — see GUESS 1

imagined adjective
not real and existing only in the imagination <got needlessly upset about imagined dangers> — see IMAGINARY

imbecile noun
a stupid person <only an imbecile would leave their car unlocked, with the keys in the ignition, and then be surprised when the vehicle was stolen> — see IDIOT

imbecility noun
1 a foolish act or idea <was arrested for the sheer imbecility of speeding down a dark road with no headlights on> — see FOLLY 1
2 lack of good sense or judgment <we were stunned by the imbecility of the ideas presented by this once-respected biologist> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

imbibe verb
1 to swallow in liquid form <an array of colorful and tasty drinks for party guests to imbibe> — see DRINK 1
2 to take in (something liquid) through small openings <plants can imbibe water through their roots> — see ABSORB 1

imbrication noun
a partial covering of one thing by an adjoining member <a scalloped pattern formed by the imbrication of the rounded roof tiles> — see OVERLAP

imbroglio noun
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <a celebrated imbroglio involving some big names in the New York literary scene> — see ARGUMENT 1

imbue verb
to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle <her training at the school for the deaf imbued her with a sense of purpose that she had never known before> — see INFUSE

imitable adjective
constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated <most readers of classic English literature could recognize Jane Austen's imitable style instantly> — see MODEL

imitate verb
1 to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior <teenage musicians who imitate whichever rock stars are hot>

Synonyms
ape, copy, copycat, emulate, mime, mimic

Related Words
ditto, echo, reecho, repeat; burlesque, caricature, lampoon, mock, parody, travesty; impersonate, perform, play; pantomime

2 to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of <imitating someone's stutter and laughing at them is a cruel thing to do> — see MIMIC 1
3 to make an exact likeness of <a second-rate artist who was notorious for imitating the works of other painters> — see COPY 1

imitation noun
something that is made to look exactly like something else <challenged me to tell the real roses from the silk imitations> — see COPY

imitation adjective
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <the stage production uses only imitation diamonds, as real gems would be prohibitively expensive>

Synonyms
artificial, bogus, dummy, ersatz, factitious, fake, false, faux, imitative, man-made, mimic, mock, pretend, sham, simulated, substitute, synthetic

Related Words
cultured, manufactured, process; unauthentic; adulterated, designer, doctored, engineered, fudged, juggled, manipulated, tampered (with); concocted, fabricated; counterfeit, deceptive, forged, fraudulent, misleading, phony (also phoney); affected, brummagem, feigned, pinchbeck, pseudo, spurious

Near Antonyms
authentic, bona fide, legitimate, true; premium, quality, valuable; pure, unadulterated

Antonyms
genuine, natural, real

imitative adjective
1 using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model <your writing style tends to be imitative of whichever author you've recently read>

Synonyms
apish, canned, emulative, epigonic (or epigonous), formulaic, mimetic, mimic, slavish, unoriginal

Related Words
copied, cribbed, plagiarized; artificial, bogus, factitious, fake, false, imitation, man-made, mock, sham, simulated, substitute, synthetic; duplicated, photocopied, reduplicated, reproduced, transcribed; backup; counterfeit, deceptive, forged, fraudulent, misleading; cut-and-dried (also cut-and-dry), perfunctory, routine, uninspired

Near Antonyms
authentic, bona fide, legitimate, true; genuine, natural, real; classic, ideal, model

Antonyms
archetypal (also archetypical), original

2 being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <an imitative extract never has the flavor of the real thing> — see IMITATION

imitator noun
1 a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way <an Elvis imitator in a sequinned jumpsuit> — see COPYCAT
2 a person who imitates another's voice and mannerisms for comic effect <that comedian is a hilarious imitator of a surprising array of current celebrities> — see MIMIC

immaculacy noun
the quality or state of being morally pure <no one could have a heart of such immaculacy—she was too good to be true> — see CHASTITY 1

immaculate adjective
1 free from any trace of the coarse or indecent <an immaculate soul> — see CHASTE 1
2 free from dirt or stain <somehow managed to keep the white carpet immaculate> — see CLEAN 1
3 being entirely without fault or flaw <a fussy groundskeeper who always manages to restore the football field to an immaculate expanse of healthy, well-manicured turf> — see PERFECT 1

immaculately adverb
without any flaws or errors <from a technical point of view, the songs are immaculately produced and engineered, but somehow they fail to emotionally engage the listener> — see PERFECTLY 1

immanent adjective
being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <a question as to whether altruism is immanent in all individuals or is instead acquired from without> — see INHERENT

immaterial adjective
1 not composed of matter <it is only possible to study immaterial forces like gravity by observing their effects on the physical world>

Synonyms
bodiless, ethereal, formless, incorporeal, insubstantial, nonmaterial, nonphysical, spiritual, unbodied, unsubstantial

Related Words
metaphysical, psychic (also psychical), supernatural; impalpable, insensible, intangible, invisible; airy, diaphanous, gaseous, gossamery, tenuous, thin, vaporous, wispish

Near Antonyms
animal, carnal, fleshly; detectable, discernible (also discernable), noticeable, observable, palpable, sensible, tangible, visible; bulky, heavy, massive, solid

Antonyms
bodily, corporeal, material, physical, substantial

2 not having anything to do with the matter at hand <while undoubtedly upsetting, that story is immaterial to the question of why you are late> — see IRRELEVANT

immateriality noun
the quality or state of being unimportant <the cost of such a lavish affair may be a matter of some immateriality to the wedding planner, but not to the person who has to foot the bill> — see INSIGNIFICANCE

immature adjective
1 being in the early stage of life, growth, or development <immature frogs are called “tadpoles”> — see YOUNG
2 having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children <an immature teenager who still threw tantrums> — see CHILDISH
3 lacking in adult experience or maturity <many high school students are still too immature to foresee the consequences of their actions> — see CALLOW

immeasurable adjective
being or seeming to be without limits <the immeasurable expanse of the ocean> — see INFINITE

immediacy noun
the state or condition of being near <the immediacy of Christmas is just beginning to dawn on many last-minute shoppers> — see PROXIMITY

immediate adjective
1 done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time <felt immediate relief after taking the painkiller> — see INSTANTANEOUS
2 done or working without something else coming in between <she is my immediate superior, so I report to her> — see DIRECT 1
3 done, carried out, or given without delay <immediate treatment saved the victim of the massive heart attack> — see PROMPT 1
4 not being distant in time, space, or significance <for the victims of the terrorist attack, the incident is as immediate as yesterday's news> — see CLOSE 2
5 existing or in progress right now <we need to solve the immediate problems before working on the more long-term ones> — see PRESENT 1

immediately adverb
without delay <if we don't leave immediately, we'll be late for the concert>

Synonyms
bang, directly, forthwith, headlong, incontinently, instantaneously, instanter, instantly, now, PDQ, plumb, presently, promptly, pronto, right, right away, right now, right off, straightaway, straight off, straightway

Related Words
away, freely; anon, momentarily, shortly, soon; apace, briskly, fast, fleetly, full-tilt, posthaste, quick, quickly, rapidly, readily, snappily, speedily, swift, swiftly; abruptly, presto, suddenly, unexpectedly; hastily, impetuously, impulsively, rashly, recklessly; exactly, opportunely, punctually, seasonably

Phrases
at once, in no time, off the bat, on a dime, on the double, on the spot

Near Antonyms
slowly; late, tardily

immediately conjunction, chiefly British
just at the moment that <give us a ring immediately you get back> — see WHEN 2

immemorial adjective
dating or surviving from the distant past <the immemorial Alps, where once Hannibal's army marched> — see ANCIENT 1

immense adjective
1 unusually large <the elephant was simply immense, even as elephants go> — see HUGE
2 of the very best kind <we had simply an immense time at the luxury resort> — see EXCELLENT

immensely adverb
to a great degree <an immensely successful debut album> — see VERY 1

immenseness noun
the quality or state of being very large <the overwhelming immenseness of the stadium made me feel like an ant> — see IMMENSITY

immensity noun
the quality or state of being very large <the immensity of the mountain was awe-inspiring, especially up close>

Synonyms
enormity, enormousness, giantism, gigantism, hugeness, immenseness, magnitude, massiveness, prodigiousness, vastitude, vastness

Related Words
bigness, extensiveness, greatness, largeness, sizableness, voluminousness, weightiness; awesomeness, grandness, stupendousness, tremendousness; boundlessness, limitlessness; ampleness, capaciousness, commodiousness, spaciousness; excessiveness, extravagance, extremeness, gaudiness, grandiosity, immoderacy

Near Antonyms
littleness, puniness, smallness; triviality

Antonyms
diminutiveness, minuteness, tininess

immensurable adjective
being or seeming to be without limits <a man who displayed immensurable courage even in the face of overwhelming adversity> — see INFINITE

immerse verb
1 to hold the attention of <that documentary on human reproduction never fails to immerse an audience> — see ENGAGE 1
2 to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid <tried to immerse the balloon in the water> — see DIP 1

immersed adjective
having the mind fixed on something <the child was so immersed in a book that she didn't hear her mother calling> — see ATTENTIVE 1

immersing adjective
holding the attention or provoking interest <an immersing documentary on the array of animal species threatened with extinction> — see INTERESTING

immersion noun
a focusing of the mind on something <a program of complete immersion in the language is the only way you're going to learn it> — see ATTENTION 1

immigrant noun
one that leaves one place to settle in another <America was founded by immigrants and they have been its lifeblood ever since> — see EMIGRANT

imminence noun
something that may cause injury or harm <since the end of the Cold War, nuclear annihilation has seemed to be a less likely imminence> — see DANGER 2

imminent adjective
1 giving signs of immediate occurrence <a storm is imminent, so you should seek shelter now>

Synonyms
impending, looming, pending, threatening

Related Words
approaching, coming, forthcoming, future, near, nearing, oncoming, upcoming; brewing, gathering; likely, possible, probable; inevitable, unavoidable; apocalyptic (also apocalyptical), lowering, menacing, ominous, portentous; anticipated, awaited, expected, foreseen, predicted

Phrases
around the corner

Near Antonyms
distant, far-off, remote; eventual, ultimate; bygone, former, past; late, recent

2 being soon to appear or take place <an imminent development that should radically transform how we treat the disease> — see FORTHCOMING 1

immingle verb
to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <the immingled cries and groans of the dying soldiers were forever etched in his memory> — see BLEND 1

immix verb
to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <deep in her lair, the old crone immixed the secret ingredients into a magic potion> — see BLEND 1

immobile adjective
1 fixed in a place or position <the patient must remain immobile while he is in the MRI unit> — see STATIONARY 1
2 incapable of moving or being moved <a huge, immobile tree of an endangered species that the creators of the theme park decided to make part of the design> — see IMMOVABLE 1

immobilize verb
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move <town councils felt immobilized by the powers newly granted to the state legislation> — see PARALYZE 1

immoderacy noun
a propensity for extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits <the same immoderacy that caused him to become a drug addict later impelled him to embrace religious fanaticism> — see EXCESS 2

immoderate adjective
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <the young widow remarried with what was regarded as immoderate haste by most observers> — see EXCESSIVE

immoderation noun
a propensity for extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits <immoderation seemed to inhabit every facet of the actress's over-the-top life> — see EXCESS 2

immodest adjective
showing a lack of proper social reserve or modesty <an immodest proposal for altering the town's traditional character by an uppity newcomer at his first town meeting> — see PRESUMPTUOUS 1

immolate verb
to give up as an offering to a god <a ceremony in which they immolated their cherished possessions so that the gods would send rain> — see SACRIFICE

immolation noun
something offered to a god <the blood-drenched immolations that the ancient Aztecs annually offered by the thousands> — see SACRIFICE

immoral adjective
1 not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <blatantly immoral behavior by members of the clergy that should not be tolerated by the community> — see BAD 2
2 not guided by or showing a concern for what is right <stealing another's words, even over the Internet, remains an immoral act> — see UNPRINCIPLED

immoralist noun
a person who commits moral wrongs <among history's imperial immoralists, few can compare with the Roman emperor Caligula> — see EVILDOER 1

immorality noun
1 immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society <religious denominations that regard drinking, smoking, and even dancing as examples of immorality> — see VICE 1
2 that which is morally unacceptable <a sermon about modern society's casual acceptance of or indifference to immorality> — see EVIL

immortal adjective
1 lasting forever <the age-old quest for immortal fame> — see EVERLASTING 1
2 having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish <vowed that his hatred of that family was immortal and that someday he'd get his revenge> — see ABIDING

immortality noun
unending existence after death <central to most religions is a belief in the immortality of the soul> — see ETERNITY 2

immortalize verb
to give eternal or lasting existence to <immortalized the words “Call me Ishmael” as the novel's opening line> — see PERPETUATE

immotile adjective
incapable of moving or being moved <a free-form sculpture that manages to suggest movement while remaining an immotile object> — see IMMOVABLE 1

immovable adjective
1 incapable of moving or being moved <that boulder is immovable, even with a bulldozer>

Synonyms
immobile, immotile, irremovable, nonmotile, nonmoving, unbudging, unmovable

Related Words
motionless, moveless, static, stationary, still; fast, fixed, rooted, steadfast, stuck, wedged

Near Antonyms
portable, removable (also removeable), transferable (also transferrable), transportable

Antonyms
mobile, motile, movable (or moveable), moving

2 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <despite tears and pleading, the police officer was immovable on the matter of a hefty fine for speeding> — see OBSTINATE

immunity noun
freedom from punishment, harm, or loss <the suspect refused to name his partners unless he was granted immunity> — see IMPUNITY

immure verb
1 to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <scientists at the research station in Alaska are immured by the frozen wastelands that surround them> — see ENCLOSE 1
2 to put in or as if in prison <immured by a controlling, possessive mother, the young woman had no outside social life> — see IMPRISON

immurement noun
1 the act of confining or the state of being confined <the immurement of Japanese-Americans continued for the duration of the war> — see INTERNMENT
2 the state of being held in lawful custody <condemned the long-term immurement of prisoners who have yet to be convicted of anything> — see DETENTION 1

immutability noun
the state of continuing without change <the immutability of the laws of physics is a myth, since refinements of those laws continue to be made> — see CONSTANCY 1

immutable adjective
not capable of changing or being changed <one of the immutable laws of television is that low ratings inevitably lead to cancellation> — see INFLEXIBLE 1

immutableness noun
the state of continuing without change <according to some behavioral scientists, a person's personality is set in early childhood and from then on nothing can challenge its essential immutableness> — see CONSTANCY 1

imp noun
1 an appealingly mischievous person <scooped up the little imp and took him to bed> — see SCAMP 1
2 an evil spirit <a story about a crumbling mansion infested with a brood of imps> — see DEMON 1

impact verb
1 to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response <the tragic loss of his father impacted the boy for the rest of his life> — see 1AFFECT 1
2 to come into usually forceful contact with something <the damage sustained when a car going 40 miles an hour impacts with a brick wall> — see HIT 2
3 to set solidly in or as if in surrounding matter <the bullet was found impacted in the police officer's protective vest> — see ENTRENCH

impact noun
1 a forceful coming together of two things <the glass shattered immediately upon impact with the floor>

Synonyms
bump, collision, concussion, crash, impingement, jar, jolt, jounce, kick, shock, slam, smash, strike, wallop

Related Words
blow, buffet, hit, knock, punch, rap, slap, thump; bashing, battering, bludgeoning, clobbering, hammering, lambasting, licking, pounding, pummeling (also pummelling), thrashing; contact, encounter, meeting, touch

2 the power to bring about a result on another <the execution had such a powerful impact on her that she became a crusader for the abolition of capital punishment> — see EFFECT 2
3 the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect <the story has real dramatic impact> — see 1PUNCH 1

impactful adjective
having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies <an impactful story of love and redemption> — see MOVING

impair verb
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <already impaired by a crack, the windshield shattered upon impact with the baseball> — see DAMAGE 1

impaired adjective
1 being under the influence of alcohol <driving while impaired is against the law> — see DRUNK
2 deprived of the power to perform one or more natural bodily activities <special devices for sight-impaired visitors> — see DISABLED

impale verb
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <impale a marshmallow or two on that stick and let's start toasting>

Synonyms
gore, harpoon, jab, lance, peck, pick, pierce, pink, puncture, run through, skewer, spear, spike, spit, stab, stick, transfix, transpierce

Related Words
spindle; perforate, riddle; bayonet, dirk, gimlet, pike, poniard, prong, quill; pinprick, poke, prick, punch, thrust; cut, knife, slice

impalpable adjective
1 not capable of being perceived by the sense of touch <the rich colors used in the wall coverings and furniture give the room an impalpable warmth> — see INTANGIBLE
2 not perceptible by a sense or by the mind <any difference between the two sound systems is impalpable to all but the most discerning audiophiles> — see IMPERCEPTIBLE

impart verb
to cause (something) to pass from one to another <imparted the latest information on the approaching snowstorm> — see COMMUNICATE 1

impartial adjective
marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias <an impartial evaluation of the job applicant's qualifications that does not consider age, gender, or race> — see FAIR 2

impartiality noun
lack of favoritism toward one side or another <the defense lawyers challenged the impartiality of the presiding judge> — see DETACHMENT 1

impassable also impassible adjective
impossible to get through or into <the road was impassable until snowplows cleared it> — see IMPENETRABLE 1

impasse noun
1 a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in <in their bitter custody battle, the divorcing couple are at a total impasse>

Synonyms
deadlock, gridlock, halt, logjam, Mexican standoff, stalemate, standoff, standstill

Related Words
dead end; bind, bottleneck, corner, dilemma, fix, hole, jam, morass, pickle, pinch, plight, predicament, quagmire, quandary, spot; difficulty; problem

2 a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <the impossible impasse faced by those who opposed the war but did not want to seem disloyal to the troops> — see PREDICAMENT

impassible adjective
not feeling or showing emotion <years of living behind bars had rendered him impassible> — see IMPASSIVE 1

impassion verb
to rouse to strong feeling or action <the obvious intent of the documentary was to impassion viewers to do something about global warming> — see PROVOKE 1

impassioned adjective
having or expressing great depth of feeling <an impassioned plea for justice> — see FERVENT 1

impassive adjective
1 not feeling or showing emotion <she remained impassive as the officers informed her of her son's death>

Synonyms
affectless, apathetic, cold-blooded, emotionless, impassible, numb, passionless, phlegmatic, stoic (or stoical), stolid, undemonstrative, unemotional

Related Words
cold, cool, dispassionate, unmoved; calm, collected, composed; imperturbable, unflappable; reserved, reticent, taciturn; bland, blank, deadpan, dry, empty, expressionless, inexpressive, stone-faced, straight-faced, vacant, wooden; enigmatic (also enigmatical), impenetrable, inscrutable; aloof, bloodless, detached, indifferent, insensible, unconcerned, unsentimental; impersonal, objective, unresponsive; hard-hearted, pitiless, unfeeling; inconsiderate, thoughtless

Near Antonyms
blazing, burning, fiery, flaming, glowing, red-hot; ardent, enthusiastic, gung ho, warm-blooded, zealous; gushing, maudlin, mawkish, mushy, sentimental; dramatic, histrionic, melodramatic, overemotional, overheated, perfervid; compassionate, responsive, sympathetic; reactive, sensitive

Antonyms
demonstrative, emotional, fervent, fervid, hot-blooded, impassioned, passional, passionate, vehement

2 not expressing any emotion <an impassive expression on the prisoner's face as his sentence was read> — see BLANK 1

impassiveness noun
a lack of emotion or emotional expressiveness <the child's inexplicable impassiveness, after all he'd been through, was a source of concern for his relatives> — see APATHY 1

impassivity noun
a lack of emotion or emotional expressiveness <the killer's apparent impassivity as he dispatched his victims> — see APATHY 1

impatience noun
urgent desire or interest <the child's impatience for Christmas morning is engaging> — see EAGERNESS

impatient adjective
1 showing urgent desire or interest <she was impatient to give her presentation before the landmark commission> — see EAGER
2 unable or unwilling to endure <those airline passengers who are so impatient of delays, even for the most obvious of reasons> — see INTOLERANT 1

impeach verb
1 to make a claim of wrongdoing against <the company's president has been impeached by the Securities and Exchange Commission> — see ACCUSE
2 to demand proof of the truth or rightness of <questionable methodology that should cause us to impeach the findings of this survey on obesity> — see CHALLENGE 1

impeccability noun
the quality or state of being free from guilt or blame <the impeccability of the nun's moral character and untiring selflessness qualified her for sainthood> — see INNOCENCE 1

impeccable adjective
1 being entirely without fault or flaw <the etiquette expert was celebrated for her absolutely impeccable manners> — see PERFECT 1
2 free from guilt or blame <the head of the investigation must be a person of impeccable probity and honesty> — see INNOCENT 2
3 free from sin <the belief that there can be no such thing as an impeccable soul> — see INNOCENT 1

impeccably adverb
without any flaws or errors <he speaks French impeccably> — see PERFECTLY 1

impecuniosity noun
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <such was the level of my impecuniosity that I could not afford to eat at the cheapest greasy spoon> — see POVERTY 1

impecunious adjective
lacking money or material possessions <they were so impecunious that they couldn't afford to give one another even token Christmas gifts> — see POOR 1

impecuniousness noun
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <her claims of impecuniousness rang false when we noticed the luxuries she had bought for herself> — see POVERTY 1

impede verb
to create difficulty for the work or activity of <the construction work impeded the smooth running of the office for several months> — see HAMPER

impediment noun
something that makes movement or progress difficult <tough going for the burros on the canyon trail, even without the added impediment of heavy loads> — see ENCUMBRANCE

impel verb
1 to set or keep in motion <gasoline impels a car's engine> — see MOVE 2
2 to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <I felt impelled to tell the truth, however painful it might be> — see FORCE 1

impend verb
to be about to happen <for confirmed pessimists some disaster always seems to be impending> — see LOOM

impend (over) verb
to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on <fears of an economic recession impended over the stock market> — see THREATEN

impending adjective
1 being soon to appear or take place <an impending celebration of the 100th anniversary of the college's founding> — see FORTHCOMING 1
2 giving signs of immediate occurrence <an aura of impending doom hung over the city> — see IMMINENT 1

impenetrability noun
the quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or explain <the impenetrability of her prose is apparently the basis of her appeal to literary snobs> — see INSCRUTABILITY 1

impenetrable adjective
1 impossible to get through or into <the ancient temple was surrounded by vast stretches of impenetrable jungle>

Synonyms
impassable (also impassible), impermeable, impervious, impregnable

Related Words
close, compact, dense, thick, tight; compressed, condensed; sturdy, substantial, tough; firm, frozen, hard, solid, stiff; inflexible, rigid, unbending, unyielding

Near Antonyms
soft, squishy; bendable, elastic, flexible, giving, malleable, pliable, yielding; absorbent, porous

Antonyms
negotiable, passable, penetrable, permeable

2 being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain <the mysteries of that religion are completely impenetrable to outsiders> — see MYSTERIOUS 1
3 impossible to understand <the textbook's language is completely impenetrable, at least to me> — see INCOMPREHENSIBLE
4 not allowing penetration (as by gas, liquid, or light) <the container of toxic waste has an impenetrable seal to prevent leaks> — see TIGHT 1

impenitent adjective
not sorry for having done wrong <an impenitent criminal who said he'd do it all over again, given the chance> — see REMORSELESS 1

imperative adjective
1 forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law <reporting signs of physical abuse is now an imperative duty for hospital and school personnel> — see MANDATORY
2 impossible to do without <proper equipment is imperative for the success of this chemical experiment> — see ESSENTIAL 1
3 needing immediate attention <an imperative need for medical supplies in the earthquake-ravaged country> — see ACUTE 2

imperative noun
1 a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <a secretary of defense who was fond of issuing harshly worded imperatives> — see COMMAND 1
2 something one must do because of prior agreement <although he had little taste for the social imperatives that come with being governor, he put on a brave face> — see OBLIGATION 1

imperceptible adjective
not perceptible by a sense or by the mind <a slight difference in hue between the two glasses that's imperceptible unless they're placed side by side>

Synonyms
impalpable, inappreciable, indistinguishable, insensible

Related Words
inaudible, intangible, invisible; inconspicuous, indistinct, unnoticeable, unseeable, unseen; faint, insignificant, liminal, slender, slight, subtle, trivial; buried, concealed, covert, disguised, hidden, obscure, shrouded, unapparent, vague

Near Antonyms
audible, observable, recognizable, tangible, visible; clear, conspicuous, evident, eye-catching, manifest, noticeable, obvious, plain, prominent, striking; apparent, distinct, significant, straightforward

Antonyms
appreciable, discernible (also discernable), palpable, perceptible, ponderable, sensible

imperceptive adjective
not having or showing a deep understanding of something <imperceptive critics who failed to see that it was much more than another mindless action movie>

Synonyms
impercipient, insentient, unperceptive, unwise

Related Words
undiscriminating; dense, dull, obtuse, sluggish, thickheaded; brainless, dumb, feebleminded, foolish, idiotic (also idiotical), imbecile (or imbecilic), moronic, silly, simple, slow, stupid, thoughtless, unintelligent, witless

Near Antonyms
discriminating; acute, perspicacious; brainy, bright, brilliant, clever, intelligent, keen, nimble, quick, quick-witted, smart; cerebral, erudite, learned, literate, scholarly; astute, sharp, shrewd; contemplative, reflective, thoughtful

Antonyms
discerning, insightful, perceptive, percipient, sagacious, sage, sapient

impercipient adjective
not having or showing a deep understanding of something <impercipient interpretations of the novel failed to note its dark humor> — see IMPERCEPTIVE

imperfect adjective
having a fault <an imperfect representation of the circumstances surrounding Paul Revere's famous ride> — see FAULTY

imperfection noun
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing <the shirt was marked down because of a minor imperfection> — see BLEMISH

imperial adjective
large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <envisioned an imperial city that would rival the capitals of Europe for beauty and magnificence> — see GRAND 1

imperil verb
to place in danger <a single mistake could imperil the lives of everyone involved in the military operation> — see ENDANGER

imperilment noun
the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil <the city has reduced the number of its firefighters, to the imperilment of every homeowner> — see DANGER 1

imperious adjective
1 fond of ordering people around <an imperious little boy who liked to tell the other scouts what to do> — see BOSSY
2 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <an imperious movie star who thinks she's some sort of goddess> — see ARROGANT
3 having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity <an office administrator with an imperious manner that really grates on people> — see ARBITRARY 1
4 needing immediate attention <as war casualties mounted, the need for trained nurses became imperious> — see ACUTE 2

imperiousness noun
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <the imperiousness of that fashion designer irritates everyone around her> — see ARROGANCE

imperishable adjective
1 impossible to destroy <energy is imperishable> — see INDESTRUCTIBLE
2 having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish <the belief that through military glory one could achieve imperishable fame> — see ABIDING

imperium noun
controlling power or influence over others <a nation whose economic imperium waned after the war> — see SUPREMACY 1

impermanence noun
the state or quality of lasting only for a short time <the ancient Roman ruins are a telling reminder of the impermanence of even the grandest man-made constructions>

Synonyms
ephemerality, evanescence, fleetingness, fugitiveness, impermanency, momentariness, temporariness, transience, transiency, transitoriness

Related Words
brevity, shortness

Near Antonyms
continuance, continuation; longevity

Antonyms
endurance, permanence, permanency

impermanency noun
the state or quality of lasting only for a short time <builders of elaborate sand castles seem not at all bothered by the impermanency of their creations> — see IMPERMANENCE

impermanent adjective
1 intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time <built an impermanent structure to serve for the archaeologists' living quarters during the dig> — see TEMPORARY 1
2 lasting only for a short time <a summer romance that was an impermanent fancy, quickly forgotten> — see MOMENTARY

impermeable adjective
1 impossible to get through or into <the wall of security people surrounding the rock band was impermeable> — see IMPENETRABLE 1
2 not allowing penetration (as by gas, liquid, or light) <an impermeable seal on the ancient tomb had preserved the artifacts exceptionally well> — see TIGHT 1

impermissible adjective
that may not be permitted <trial juries must be able to discern the difference between a permissible inference and impermissible speculation>

Synonyms
banned, barred, forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, taboo (also tabu), verboten

Related Words
intolerable, unacceptable, unbearable, unendurable; illegal, illegitimate, illicit, improper, inappropriate, unauthorized, unlawful, unlicensed; ineffable, unmentionable; unseemly, unsuitable; objectionable; disallowed, disapproved, discouraged; refused, rejected, revoked, unsanctioned, vetoed; repressed, suppressed; precluded, prevented, stopped; excluded, ruled out, shut out; blocked, hindered, impeded, obstructed

Near Antonyms
acceptable, bearable, endurable, tolerable; accepted, accredited, allowed, appropriate, approved, authorized, certified, endorsed (also indorsed), lawful, legal, legitimate, licensed, OK (or okay), permitted, warranted; accorded, granted, sanctioned, vouchsafed; brooked, condoned, countenanced; encouraged, promoted, supported; commanded, mandatory, ordered, required; proper, seemly, suitable, tolerated, unobjectionable

Antonyms
allowable, permissible, permissive, sufferable

impersonate verb
1 to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior <a school intruder was caught trying to impersonate a teacher>

Synonyms
act, masquerade (as), personate, play, pose (as)

Related Words
ape, copy, imitate, mime, mimic, mock, monkey, parody, travesty; perform, portray

2 to present a portrayal or performance of <interpreters at the living history museum impersonate figures who are known to have actually lived in the colonial town> — see ACT 1

impersonator noun
1 a person who imitates another's voice and mannerisms for comic effect <a versatile impersonator, he conjures up a glittering array of female stars and divas in the course of his act> — see MIMIC
2 one who acts professionally (as in a play, movie, or television show) <a gifted impersonator who can convincingly portray both heroes and heels> — see ACTOR 1

impertinence noun
1 disrespectful or argumentative talk given in response to a command or request <a disciplinarian of the old school, he refused to tolerate any impertinence from his children> — see BACK TALK
2 rude behavior <the impertinence of deliberately ignoring waiting customers while they finished their conversation> — see DISCOURTESY
3 the quality or state of not having anything to do with the matter at hand <the impertinence of that issue renders any discussion of it a waste of our time> — see IRRELEVANCE

impertinency noun
rude behavior <the shameless impertinency of the teenagers at the beach> — see DISCOURTESY

impertinent adjective
1 displaying or marked by rude boldness <the impertinent child had a smart answer for everything> — see NERVY 1
2 showing a lack of manners or consideration for others <impertinent salesmen who telephone people during the dinner hour> — see IMPOLITE
3 not having anything to do with the matter at hand <your résumé needlessly lists skills that are impertinent to the job for which you are applying> — see IRRELEVANT

imperturbability noun
evenness of emotions or temper <his imperturbability in a crisis is legendary among hospital staffers> — see EQUANIMITY

imperturbable adjective
not easily panicked or upset <the chef was absolutely imperturbable—even when the kitchen caught on fire> — see UNFLAPPABLE

impervious adjective
1 not allowing penetration (as by gas, liquid, or light) <the material for this coat is supposed to be impervious to rain> — see TIGHT 1
2 impossible to get through or into <the rain forest is impervious to all but the most dedicated explorers> — see IMPENETRABLE 1

impetrate verb
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner <since deists do not believe in a Creator who interferes in human affairs, they generally regard as fruitless any effort to impetrate Him for divine favors> — see BEG

impetus noun
something that arouses action or activity <the reward money should be sufficient impetus for someone to come forward with information about the robbery> — see IMPULSE 1

impiety noun
an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things <the unspeakable impiety of spitting in a church> — see BLASPHEMY

impinge verb
to come into usually forceful contact with something <hail was noisily impinging upon the car's exterior> — see HIT 2

impingement noun
a forceful coming together of two things <the impingement of the hailstones on the metal roof was making quite a racket> — see IMPACT 1

impious adjective
not showing proper reverence for the holy or sacred <an impious act that horrified their pious mother> — see IRREVERENT

impish adjective
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <the gang of impish children ran into the street, utterly oblivious to the traffic> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

impishness noun
1 a natural disposition for playful behavior <her irrepressible impishness means that no one is ever safe from her practical jokes> — see PLAYFULNESS
2 playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <the boys' impishness was easy to forgive, since it caused no real harm> — see MISCHIEF 1

implacable adjective
1 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <an implacable judge who knew in his bones that the cover-up extended to the highest levels of government> — see OBSTINATE
2 showing no signs of slackening or yielding in one's purpose <an implacable dedication to the proposition that everyone is entitled to a quality education> — see UNYIELDING 1

implant verb
1 to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set <a music teacher who strove to implant within his students a love of the classics>

Synonyms
breed, enroot, inculcate, infix, inseminate, instill, plant, sow

Related Words
drive, hammer, pound; embed (also imbed), entrench (also intrench), fix, lodge, root; imbue, infuse, ingrain (also engrain), inoculate, invest, steep, suffuse

2 to set solidly in or as if in surrounding matter <the gemstone was poorly implanted in the setting, so it was constantly popping out> — see ENTRENCH

implausible adjective
too extraordinary or improbable to believe <the terrorist attacks generated a whole passel of implausible conspiracy theories that dishonor the memory of those who perished> — see INCREDIBLE

implement verb
to carry out effectively <implemented the evacuation plan without a hitch> — see ENFORCE

implement noun
an article intended for use in work <gardening implements such as hoes, spades, and pruners>

Synonyms
device, instrument, tool, utensil

Related Words
apparatus, appliance, mechanism; contraption, contrivance, gadget, gizmo (also gismo), jigger; accessory (also accessary), accoutrement (or accouterment), adjunct, appendage, attachment

implementation noun
the doing of an action <the implementation of the idea turned out to be harder than its conception> — see COMMISSION 2

implicate verb, archaic
to cause to twine about one another <the implicated vines did form a most restful garden bower> — see INTERTWINE 1

implicit adjective
1 understood although not put into words <the implicit agreement among members of the outing club is that everyone pays his or her own way on all trips>

Synonyms
implied, tacit, unexpressed, unspoken, unvoiced, wordless

Related Words
inferred, presumed; construed, interpreted; unannounced, undeclared, unsaid, untold; hinted, insinuated, intimated, suggested

Near Antonyms
apparent, blatant, evident, manifest, obvious, plain, straightforward; unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable

Antonyms
explicit, express, expressed, spoken, stated, voiced

2 having or showing a mind free from doubt <members of the expedition must have implicit trust in their leaders> — see CERTAIN 2
3 existing only as a possibility and not in fact <there's a risk implicit in any overseas operation undertaken by the military> — see POTENTIAL

implied adjective
understood although not put into words <an implied agreement is not legally enforceable> — see IMPLICIT 1

implode verb
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure <a controlled demolition during which the entire building imploded in a matter of seconds> — see COLLAPSE 1

implore verb
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner <the victims of the hurricane implored the governor to put the full resources of the state into the relief effort> — see BEG

imploring adjective
asking humbly <the imploring boy tearfully asked the veterinarian to do what he could to save the life of his dog> — see SUPPLIANT

imply verb
to convey an idea indirectly <they may have implied that they'd help, but they didn't actually say so> — see HINT

impolite adjective
showing a lack of manners or consideration for others <the librarian was shocked that anyone could be so impolite as to continue talking despite repeated warnings to be quiet>

Synonyms
discourteous, disrespectful, ill-bred, ill-mannered, impertinent, inconsiderate, rude, thoughtless, uncalled-for, uncivil, ungracious, unhandsome, unmannered, unmannerly

Related Words
arch, audacious, bold, bold-faced, brash, brassy, brazen, cheeky, fresh, impudent, insolent, lippy, sassy, saucy, shameless; boorish, caddish, churlish, clownish, loutish, uncouth, vulgar; abrupt, blunt, brusque (also brusk), crusty, curt, gruff, sharp, snippety, snippy; antisocial, crabbed, cross, disagreeable, grumpy, sullen, surly; improper, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, unseemly; arrogant, bumptious, conceited, haughty, high-handed, imperious, peremptory, pompous, presumptuous, pretentious, supercilious, superior

Near Antonyms
humble, meek, modest, unassertive; deferential, dutiful, respectful, submissive, yielding; acceptable, appropriate, becoming, befitting, correct, decent, decorous, fit, fitting, good, meet, proper, respectable, right, seemly, suitable; affable, cordial, friendly, genial, hospitable, sociable; felicitous, graceful; chivalrous, courtly, gallant; ceremonious; elegant, refined

Antonyms
civil, considerate, courteous, genteel, gracious, mannerly, polite, thoughtful, well-bred

impoliteness noun
rude behavior <such flagrant impoliteness must never be tolerated> — see DISCOURTESY

import noun
1 the quality or state of being important <I can't overemphasize the import of this examination on your future academic career> — see IMPORTANCE
2 the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action <didn't understand all the technical jargon, but got the general import of the speech> — see MEANING 1

import verb
1 to be of importance <it imports little whether you like Grandma's gift; you should have graciously thanked her> — see MATTER
2 to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind <the word “freedom” can import different things to different people> — see MEAN 1

importance noun
the quality or state of being important <a final exam has great importance>

Synonyms
account, consequence, import, magnitude, moment, momentousness, significance, weight, weightiness

Related Words
celebrity, distinction, eminence, fame, note, noteworthiness, notoriety, preeminence, prominence, renown; store, substance, substantiveness, value, worth, worthiness; gravity, seriousness; authority, control, dominion, mastery, potency, power, sway; mark, name, report, reputation, repute; centrality, essentiality, essentialness; cachet, position, prestige, rank, standing, stature, status; glory, greatness, honor, illustriousness

Near Antonyms
paltriness, pettiness, valuelessness, worthlessness; discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, infamy, odium, opprobrium, shame; anonymity; obscurity

Antonyms
insignificance, littleness, puniness, slightness, smallness, triviality

important adjective
1 having great meaning or lasting effect <the discovery of penicillin was a very important event in the history of medicine>

Synonyms
big, consequential, earthshaking, earth-shattering, eventful, historic, major, material, meaningful, momentous, monumental, much, significant, substantial, tectonic, weighty

Related Words
decisive, fatal, fateful, strategic; earnest, grave, heavy, serious, sincere; distinctive, exceptional, impressive, outstanding, prominent, remarkable; valuable, worthwhile, worthy; distinguished, eminent, great, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, preeminent, prestigious; famous, notorious, renowned; all-important, central, critical, crucial, essential, key, pivotal, seminal, vital

Near Antonyms
paltry, petty, worthless; anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unknown

Antonyms
inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, minor, negligible, slight, small, trifling, trivial, unimportant

2 having great power or influence <Rachel Carson was an important figure in the environmental movement>

Synonyms
heavy, heavy-duty, influential, mighty, potent, powerful, puissant, significant, strong

Related Words
high-level, senior, top; able, capable, competent, effective, efficient; authoritarian, autocratic (also autocratical), despotic, dictatorial, magisterial, tyrannical (also tyrannic); celebrated, distinguished, dominant, eminent, famed, famous, great, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, notorious, outstanding, preeminent, prestigious, prominent, renowned; dynamic, energetic, forceful, high-powered, robust, vigorous

Near Antonyms
feeble, flimsy, frail, infirm; anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unknown; incapable, incompetent, ineffective, inept, inexpert, unfit, unqualified, unskilled, unskillful

Antonyms
helpless, impotent, insignificant, little, powerless, unimportant, weak

3 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <an important businessman who always expects special treatment wherever he goes> — see ARROGANT
4 having too high an opinion of oneself <oh, you're so important—you think the world revolves around you> — see CONCEITED

importunate adjective
needing immediate attention <the demands of the chairmanship were becoming too importunate for me to continue without an assistant> — see ACUTE 2

importune verb
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner <she was always importuning people for favors, even when she had no right to ask> — see BEG

importunity noun
1 something that someone insists upon having <overwhelmed by the often conflicting importunities of pressure groups> — see DEMAND 1
2 the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another <resented the importunity of those door-to-door Bible-thumpers> — see ANNOYANCE 1

impose verb
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty <that state now imposes a fine for text messaging while driving>

Synonyms
assess, charge, exact, fine, lay, levy, put

Related Words
dock, excise, mulct, penalize, tax; extort, shake down, wrest, wring; bleed, fleece, gouge, milk, skin, squeeze; coerce, compel, force; inflict, wreak; set; reapply, reimpose, relay

Near Antonyms
abate, diminish, lessen; forgive, release; condone, disregard, excuse, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, pardon

Antonyms
remit

impose (on or upon) verb
to take unfair advantage of <thanks for offering your own bed, but I wouldn't dream of imposing on you and will be perfectly happy on the couch> — see EXPLOIT 1

imposing adjective
1 having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner <the president of the bank is exactly the sort of imposing figure that one might expect> — see DIGNIFIED
2 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <the corporation's imposing headquarters were designed by one of the nation's cutting-edge architects> — see GRAND 1

imposition noun
a charge usually of money collected by the government from people or businesses for public use <an imposition of 10% on imported goods> — see TAX

impossible adjective
incapable of being solved or accomplished <the seemingly impossible problem of world hunger> <fitting everything in my backpack seemed an impossible task>

Synonyms
hopeless, insoluble, insolvable, insuperable, unattainable, undoable, unrealizable, unsolvable

Related Words
impracticable, impractical, infeasible, unusable, unworkable; debatable, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, dubious, far-fetched, fishy, improbable, problematic (also problematical), questionable, shady, shaky, suspect, suspicious, unfeasible, unlikely; implausible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unthinkable; futile, useless; absurd, fantastic (also fantastical), outlandish, preposterous, ridiculous

Near Antonyms
applicable, functional, practicable, practical, reasonable, serviceable, usable (also useable), useful, working; likely, probable; acceptable, believable, conceivable, credible, plausible

Antonyms
achievable, attainable, doable, feasible, possible, realizable, resolvable, soluble, workable

impost noun
a charge usually of money collected by the government from people or businesses for public use <consumers steadfastly resisted any impost on merchandise purchased over the Internet> — see TAX

impostor or imposter noun
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise <the man who claimed to be a prince turned out to be an impostor>

Synonyms
charlatan, fake, faker, fakir, fraud, hoaxer, humbug, mountebank, phony (also phoney), pretender, quack, quacksalver, ringer, sham

Related Words
copycat, imitator, impersonator, mimic; actor, bluffer, counterfeiter, deceiver, dissembler, duper, feigner, misleader, operator, trickster; poseur; cozener, defrauder, dodger, fraudster [chiefly British], scammer, scamster, sharper, sharpie (or sharpy), skinner, swindler

Near Antonyms
ace, adept, authority, crackerjack (also crackajack), expert, maestro, master, past master, professional, virtuoso, whiz, wizard

impotence noun
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means <the congressional committee's essential impotence in affecting the management of the war was frustrating to its members> — see INABILITY

impotent adjective
1 not able to produce fruit or offspring <most mules are impotent> — see STERILE 1
2 unable to act or achieve one's purpose <an impotent ruler who was just a figurehead> — see POWERLESS

impoundment noun
the act of confining or the state of being confined <after his impoundment in the garage all weekend, the family dog was ready to frolic> — see INTERNMENT

impoverished adjective
1 lacking money or material possessions <the widespread hope that the lottery's record-setting jackpot is won by an impoverished family> — see POOR 1
2 producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation <an impoverished field that over the years had been overgrazed> — see BARREN 1

impoverishment noun
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <the gradual loss of manufacturing jobs plunged the area into a level of impoverishment it had never known> — see POVERTY 1

impracticable adjective
not capable of being put to use or account <an impracticable plan for dealing with the recent intrusion of bears in the suburban neighborhood> — see IMPRACTICAL

impractical adjective
not capable of being put to use or account <the flimsy little toy shovel was cute, but completely impractical for digging up tree stumps>

Synonyms
impracticable, inoperable, nonpractical, unserviceable, unusable, unworkable, useless

Related Words
unsuitable; inaccessible, unattainable, unavailable, unobtainable, unreachable; dead, dormant, fallow, free, idle, inactive, inert, inoperative, latent; arrested, interrupted, suspended; unrealistic

Near Antonyms
accessible, acquirable, available, obtainable, procurable, reachable; all-around (also all-round), handy; active, alive, busy, employed, functioning, operating, operative, running, working

Antonyms
applicable, feasible, functional, operable, operational, practicable, practical, serviceable, ultrapractical, usable (also useable), useful, utilizable, workable

imprecate verb
to ask a divine power to send harm or evil upon <with her dying breath the witch imprecated the villagers for their relentless persecution of her> — see CURSE 1

imprecation noun
a prayer that harm will come to someone <the defiant prisoner continued to hurl imprecations and insults at the guards> — see CURSE 1

imprecise adjective
not precisely correct <3.14 is an imprecise approximation of the value of pi> — see INEXACT 1

impregnable adjective
1 incapable of being defeated, overcome, or subdued <an impregnable fortress that had foiled one invader after another over the centuries> — see INVINCIBLE
2 impossible to get through or into <the castle's supposedly impregnable walls> — see IMPENETRABLE 1

impregnate verb
to wet thoroughly with liquid <impregnated the cloth with furniture polish> — see SOAK 1

impresa noun
a device, design, or figure used as an identifying mark <the family's selection of the lily as its impresa dates from the 16th century> — see EMBLEM

impress noun
a perceptible trace left by pressure <the stamp left a smudgy impress on the paper> — see PRINT 1

impress verb
1 to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response <impressed him with the intensity of their musical performance> — see 1AFFECT 1
2 to produce a vivid impression of <impressed the importance of safe driving habits by displaying photos of horrific crashes> — see ENGRAVE 2
3 to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <after weeks of nagging, they impressed her into going to the masquerade party> — see FORCE 1

impression noun
1 a perceptible trace left by pressure <a shoe impression in the dirt that could lead police to the culprit> — see PRINT 1
2 something imagined or pictured in the mind <had a vague impression that the guide would be female> — see IDEA 1

impressionist noun
a person who imitates another's voice and mannerisms for comic effect <a celebrated impressionist who can do enough rapid-fire imitations to populate an entire stage with characters> — see MIMIC

impressive adjective
having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies <an impressive play about a loving family attempting to lift themselves out of poverty> — see MOVING

imprimatur noun
an acceptance of something as satisfactory <could not begin the project without the boss's imprimatur> — see APPROVAL

imprint noun
1 a mark or series of marks left on a surface by something that has passed along it <found an imprint on the road where something apparently had been dragged> — see TRACK 1
2 a perceptible trace left by pressure <an imprint of a dinosaur's foot embedded in the limestone> — see PRINT 1

imprint verb
to produce a vivid impression of <that early lesson on the value of honesty permanently imprinted itself on my mind> — see ENGRAVE 2

imprison verb
to put in or as if in prison <in this society, we try to imprison criminals so that they can't do any more harm>

Synonyms
commit, confine, immure, incarcerate, intern, jail, jug, lock (up)

Related Words
constrain, limit, restrain, restrict, shut; bar, gate; apprehend, arrest, bust [slang], capture, catch, detain, nab, pick up, pinch, seize; impress, shanghai; hold, impound, keep; bind, enchain, fetter, handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel

Near Antonyms
emancipate, enfranchise, manumit, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter

Antonyms
discharge, free, liberate, release

imprisoned adjective
taken and held prisoner <took up the cause of imprisoned political dissidents> — see CAPTIVE

imprisonment noun
1 the act of confining or the state of being confined <the offense is punishable by a fine or imprisonment> — see INTERNMENT
2 the state of being held in lawful custody <the long years of imprisonment had taken their toll on his mind and spirit as well as his body> — see DETENTION 1

improbable adjective
not likely to be true or to occur <it seems improbable that the two writers never met since they traveled in the same social circles>

Synonyms
doubtful, dubious, far-fetched, flimsy, questionable, unapt, unlikely

Related Words
implausible, impossible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unthinkable; absurd, bizarre, crazy, fantastic (also fantastical), foolish, insane, nonsensical, odd, outlandish, preposterous, ridiculous, unreal, wild; outside, remote, slight

Near Antonyms
believable, conceivable, credible, earthly, imaginable, plausible; possible, potential; liable

Antonyms
likely, probable

impromptu adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <our dinner guest thanked us with an impromptu song> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

impromptu noun
something that is performed, made, or done without preparation <although five different lines had been written, the best choice turned out to be an impromptu from the tired actor himself> — see IMPROVISATION

improper adjective
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <an improper use of slang in a formal piece of writing> — see INAPPROPRIATE

improperly adverb
in a mistaken or inappropriate way <the manufacturer's warranty is no longer valid if the appliance is used improperly> — see WRONGLY

improperness noun
the quality or state of being unsuitable or unfitting <the improperness of such behavior at a religious ceremony should have been achingly obvious> — see INAPPROPRIATENESS 1

impropriety noun
1 the quality or state of not being socially proper <the impropriety of the song that the campers sang for the visitors was embarrassing>

Synonyms
inappropriateness, incorrectness, indecency, indecorousness, indecorum, indelicateness, unbecomingness, unseemliness, untowardness

Related Words
coarseness, crudeness, vulgarity; immodesty, naughtiness; imprudence, indiscreetness, indiscretion; churlishness, discourteousness, disrespect, impertinence, impoliteness, impudence, incivility, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, insolence, rudeness, ungraciousness

Near Antonyms
discretion, prudence; etiquette, form, manners, proprieties; considerateness, consideration, genteelness, gentility, graciousness, thoughtfulness

Antonyms
appropriateness, correctness, decency, decorousness, decorum, fitness, properness, propriety, rightness, seemliness, suitability, suitableness

2 a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark <such improprieties as asking people how much money they make>

Synonyms
familiarity, faux pas, gaff, gaffe, indiscretion, solecism

Related Words
blunder, error, flub, fumble, goof, lapse, miscue, misstep, mistake, oversight, slip, slipup, stumble; discourtesy, incivility, offense (or offence); boner, howler; foul-up, muff; misapprehension, miscalculation, misconception, misjudgment, misstatement, misunderstanding

Near Antonyms
form, manners, mores, proprieties

Antonyms
amenity, attention, civility, courtesy, formality, gesture, pleasantry

3 the quality or state of being unsuitable or unfitting <I see no impropriety in referring to certain anatomical parts by their standard names> — see INAPPROPRIATENESS 1

improv noun
something that is performed, made, or done without preparation <the performance features a two-minute improv as well as scripted segments> — see IMPROVISATION

improve verb
to make better <a little salt would improve this bland food>

Synonyms
ameliorate, amend, better, enhance, enrich, help, meliorate, perfect, refine, upgrade

Related Words
correct, emend, rectify, reform, remediate, remedy; edit, fine-tune, redraft, refurbish, rehab, rehabilitate, revamp, revise, rework; beef (up), boost, fortify, intensify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; fine, hone, polish; retouch, touch up

Near Antonyms
damage, endamage, harm, hurt, impair, injure, spoil, tarnish, vitiate; blemish, blight, deface, disfigure, flaw, mar; diminish, lessen, lower, reduce

Antonyms
worsen

improved adjective
being far along in development <an improved version of the software is now available> — see ADVANCED 1

improvement noun
an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill <there's been a great improvement in your handwriting—I can actually read it!> — see ADVANCE 2

improvident adjective
not thinking about and providing for the future <the improvident view that the wearing away of the ozone layer need not concern us>

Synonyms
myopic, shortsighted

Related Words
careless, heedless, imprudent, incautious, injudicious, mindless, unguarded, unsafe, unwary, unwise; extravagant, prodigal, profligate, spendthrift, thriftless, unthrifty; indulgent, lavish, reckless, wasteful

Near Antonyms
careful, judicious, prudent, sensible, wise; economic, economical, economizing, frugal, scrimping, sparing, thrifty; conserving, preserving, saving

Antonyms
farsighted, forehanded, foreseeing, foresighted, forethoughtful, provident

improvisation noun
something that is performed, made, or done without preparation <that comedy skit was a totally unrehearsed improvisation>

Synonyms
ad-lib, extemporization, impromptu, improv

Related Words
concoction, contrivance, creation, innovation, invention, wrinkle

Near Antonyms
bit, drill, routine

improvisational adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <an improvisational comedy sketch that showcased his lightning-fast wit> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

improvise verb
to perform, make, or do without preparation <since the award was a complete surprise, I improvised an acceptance speech>

Synonyms
ad-lib, clap (together or up), extemporize, fake

Related Words
concoct, contrive, cook (up), devise, fabricate, hatch, invent, make up, manufacture, think (up); cobble (together or up), dash (off)

Near Antonyms
arrange, lay, prepare, ready; consider, contemplate, ponder, study; exercise, practice (also practise), rehearse

improvised adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <stumbled through an improvised reply to an unexpected question at the press conference> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

imprudent adjective
showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations <a very sweet girl, but so imprudent that no one trusts her with a secret> — see INDISCREET

impudence noun
1 disrespectful or argumentative talk given in response to a command or request <my mother would not tolerate impudence from any of us> — see BACK TALK
2 rude behavior <their impudence irritated everyone at the wedding reception> — see DISCOURTESY

impudent adjective
displaying or marked by rude boldness <the guest's impudent inquiries about the cost of just about everything we had in the house> — see NERVY 1

impuissant adjective
unable to act or achieve one's purpose <claims that such restrictions on military interventions on foreign soil would render the nation an impuissant giant on the world stage> — see POWERLESS

impulse noun
1 something that arouses action or activity <the new auto factory was just the impulse that the local economy needed>

Synonyms
boost, encouragement, goad, impetus, incentive, incitation, incitement, instigation, momentum, motivation, provocation, spur, stimulant, stimulus, yeast

Related Words
inducement, invitation; antecedent, cause, consideration, grounds, motive, occasion, reason; catalyst, catalyzer, fuel, spark

Phrases
shot in the arm

Antonyms
counterincentive, disincentive

2 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <the universal, fundamental impulse of self-preservation> — see INCLINATION 1

impulsive adjective
1 caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge <an impulsive purchase of a very expensive jacket> — see COMPULSIVE
2 prone to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions <an impulsive woman who never seems to have the same opinion about anything for longer than 10 minutes> — see WHIMSICAL

impulsiveness noun
an inclination to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions <his irrepressible impulsiveness sometimes got him into trouble> — see WHIMSICALITY

impunity noun
freedom from punishment, harm, or loss <she mistakenly believed that she could insult people with impunity>

Synonyms
exemption, immunity

Related Words
aegis (also egis), armor, cover, defense, guard, protection, safeguard, safety, security, shield; buffer, bumper, screen; absolution, absolving, dispensation, forgiveness

Near Antonyms
exposure, liability, openness, susceptibility, susceptibleness, vulnerability

impure adjective
1 containing foreign or lower-grade substances <be careful, because impure motor oil can damage your car's engine>

Synonyms
adulterate, adulterated, alloyed, contaminated, dilute, diluted, polluted, tainted, thinned, weakened

Related Words
unclarified, unfiltered, unrefined; befouled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, corrupted, debased, defiled, dirtied, fouled, maculate (or maculated), soiled, spoiled, sullied; blended, commingled, incorporated, intermingled, intermixed, merged, mingled, mixed; coalesced, combined, compounded; cheapened, doctored

Near Antonyms
clarified, filtered, purified, refined, ultrarefined; neat, plain, straight; concentrated, strong; uncombined; pasteurized; sterile, sterilized; clean, immaculate, spotless, stainless, unsoiled, unsullied

Antonyms
fine, pure, ultrapure, unadulterated, unalloyed, uncontaminated, uncut, undiluted, unmixed, unpolluted, untainted

2 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <Victorian notions of what qualified as impure art now strike us as laughable> — see OBSCENE 1

impureness noun
the quality or state of being obscene <the alleged impureness of a novel that was banned in the United States until 1959> — see OBSCENITY 1

impurity noun
1 something that is or that makes impure <impurities in the water made it cloudy>

Synonyms
adulterant, contaminant, contamination, defilement, pollutant

Related Words
blot, blotch, spot, stain, taint; dirt, filth, grime, muck, scum, sludge, smut, soil; blemish, defect, disfigurement, fault, flaw; abnormality, imperfection, irregularity

Near Antonyms
clarifier, filter, purifier, refiner; cleanliness, immaculateness, purity

2 the quality or state of being obscene <the impurity of her thoughts was troubling, given her strict upbringing> — see OBSCENITY 1

imputation noun
a slyly or subtly derogatory remark <I resent the imputation that I'm nice to Grandmother because she has money> — see INNUENDO

impute verb
to explain (something) as being the result of something else <people often impute his silence to unfriendliness and not to the shyness it really represents> — see CREDIT 1

in adjective
1 being in the latest or current fashion <the in hairstyle this spring> — see STYLISH
2 enjoying widespread favor or approval <the in thing to do is not always the right thing to do> — see POPULAR 1
3 keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment <in gearheads had already decided that the format was a loser> — see AU COURANT 1
4 being within the confines of a specified place <the doctor isn't in right now> — see PRESENT 2

in adverb
at, within, or to a short distance or time <the fielders closed in> — see NEAR 1

in noun
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly <her years of experience with the federal regulatory agency gives her a tremendous in as a lobbyist for the nuclear power industry> — see INFLUENCE 1

in preposition
using the means or agency of <drawn on the wall in crayon> — see BY 2

inability noun
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means <the apparent inability of young children to sit still>

Synonyms
impotence, inadequacy, incapability, incapacity, incompetence, incompetency, ineptitude, insufficiency, powerlessness

Related Words
disqualification, inaptitude; ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficaciousness, inefficacy, inefficiency

Near Antonyms
aptitude, bent, endowment, flair, genius, gift, knack, talent; effectiveness, effectualness, efficaciousness, efficiency; fitness, suitability, suitableness; potency, power, puissance, sinew, strength

Antonyms
ability, adequacy, capability, capacity, competence, competency, potency

inaccessible adjective
hard or impossible to get to or get at <the tumor is centered in an inaccessible part of the brain>

Synonyms
inapproachable, inconvenient, unapproachable, unattainable, unavailable, unobtainable, unreachable, untouchable

Related Words
away, distant, far, faraway, far-off, remote, removed; apart, hidden, isolated, out-of-the-way, secluded

Near Antonyms
close, immediate, near, nearby, neighboring, next-door, nigh

Antonyms
accessible, acquirable, approachable, attainable, convenient, getatable, handy, obtainable, procurable, reachable

inaccuracy noun
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <an unfortunate inaccuracy in the report> — see ERROR 1

inaccurate adjective
1 not being in agreement with what is true <he claimed that the TV ratings were inaccurate because they didn't take into account all those viewers in health clubs> — see FALSE 1
2 not precisely correct <the estimate is inaccurate, but will do for our purposes> — see INEXACT 1

inaccurately adverb
in a mistaken or inappropriate way <inaccurately reported that she was absent that day> — see WRONGLY

inaction noun
lack of action or activity <as a result of the park department's inaction, the city's pools are not ready to open for the summer>

Synonyms
dormancy, idleness, inactivity, inertness, nonaction, quiescence

Related Words
indolence, inertia, languor, lassitude, laziness, lethargy, listlessness, shiftlessness, sleepiness, sloth, sluggishness; dallying, loafing, lolling, lounging

Near Antonyms
animateness, briskness, exuberance, jazziness, liveliness, peppiness, robustness, sprightliness, vibrancy, vivacity; assiduity, assiduousness, business, diligence, employment, industriousness, industry, occupation

Antonyms
action, activeness, activity

inactive adjective
1 slow to move or act <it's easiest to catch snakes early in the morning, while they're still cold and inactive>

Synonyms
dull, inert, lethargic, quiescent, sleepy, sluggish, torpid

Related Words
ambitionless, apathetic, indolent, languorous, lazy, lazyish, listless, shiftless, slack, slothful, sluggard, sluggardly; dormant, inanimate, motionless, resting, sedentary, static, still; dead; dopey (also dopy), drugged; asleep, drowsy, somnambulant; catatonic, comatose

Near Antonyms
busy, engaged, occupied, working; animated, bouncing, dynamic, energetic, kinetic, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightly, springy, vigorous, vital, vivacious, zippy; assiduous, diligent, hardworking, industrious, sedulous

Antonyms
active

2 not being in a state of use, activity, or employment <an inactive oil well>

Synonyms
dead, dormant, fallow, free, idle, inert, inoperative, latent, off, unused, vacant

Related Words
abeyant, arrested, interrupted, suspended; unoccupied; asleep, comatose, lifeless, moribund, quiescent, sleepy; inoperable, unusable, unworkable, useless; dull, slow

Phrases
at rest, on the shelf, out of commission

Near Antonyms
functional, operable, operational, workable; assiduous, industrious, sedulous; energetic, vigorous; feasible, practical, usable (also useable), useful, viable

Antonyms
active, alive, busy, employed, functioning, going, living, on, operating, operative, running, working

inactivity noun
1 lack of action or activity <the inactivity outside the school led me to think that it must have been vacation week> — see INACTION
2 lack of use <after weeks of inactivity, the car wouldn't start> — see DISUSE

inadequacy noun
1 a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <the inadequacy of our servings was soon apparent, as hungry guests started clamoring for seconds> — see DEFICIENCY
2 the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means <tried to blame others in order to hide the inadequacy of his leadership> — see INABILITY

inadequate adjective
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need <an inadequate amount of food on hand for so many unexpected guests> — see SHORT 3

inadequately adverb
in an unsatisfactory way <she did the job quickly, but inadequately> — see BADLY 1

inadequateness noun
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <the inadequateness of our emergency food supplies should have been obvious> — see DEFICIENCY

inadvertent adjective
happening by chance <an inadvertent encounter with a rattlesnake in the brush> — see ACCIDENTAL 1

inadvisable adjective
showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations <it's inadvisable to have public arguments in the hallways> — see INDISCREET

inalterable adjective
not capable of changing or being changed <the inalterable record of history, which we ignore at our peril> — see INFLEXIBLE 1

inamorata noun
a female romantic companion <a number of women have been suggested as the inamorata who inspired such passionate love poetry> — see GIRLFRIEND

inane adjective
having no meaning <inane and useless phrases, such as “have a nice day”> — see MEANINGLESS

inanimate adjective
lacking animate awareness or sensation <“pathetic fallacy” is the literary term for the ascription of human feelings or motives to inanimate natural elements> — see INSENSATE 1

inanity noun
1 a foolish act or idea <quickly realized that her suggestion was an inanity and withdrew it> — see FOLLY 1
2 lack of good sense or judgment <the jaw-dropping inanity of the singer's comments on the awards show> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

inappeasable adjective
incapable of being satisfied <at the time the public seemed to have an inappeasable appetite for reality TV shows> — see INSATIABLE

inapplicability noun
the quality or state of not having anything to do with the matter at hand <the sheer inapplicability of the comment made everyone else at the meeting stare in bewilderment> — see IRRELEVANCE

inapplicable adjective
not having anything to do with the matter at hand <the judge refused to allow mention of the defendant's conviction for shoplifting, ruling that it was inapplicable to the case at hand> — see IRRELEVANT

inapposite adjective
1 not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <that comparison is completely inapposite; there are no parallels between the two books at all> — see INAPPROPRIATE
2 not having anything to do with the matter at hand <a speech laden with inapposite anecdotes and unfunny jokes> — see IRRELEVANT

inappositeness noun
the quality or state of being unsuitable or unfitting <the inappositeness of the description quickly became clear> — see INAPPROPRIATENESS 1

inappreciable adjective
not perceptible by a sense or by the mind <an inappreciable change in the temperature> — see IMPERCEPTIBLE

inapproachable adjective
hard or impossible to get to or get at <conventional wisdom had long held that the mountain's summit was inapproachable from the northen slope> — see INACCESSIBLE

inappropriate adjective
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <a bathing suit is inappropriate dress for strolling the streets of this seaside village>

Synonyms
amiss, graceless, improper, inapposite, inapt, incongruous, incorrect, indecorous, inept, infelicitous, malapropos, perverse, unapt, unbecoming, unfit, unhappy, unseemly, unsuitable, untoward, wrong

Related Words
inopportune, unfortunate, unseasonable, untimely; extraneous, immaterial, inapplicable, irrelative, irrelevant; misbecoming, mismatched; incompatible, inconsistent, uncongenial; bad, naughty, sinful; blamable, blameworthy, censurable; banned, barred, disallowed; forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed; awkward, gauche, ungraceful; unacceptable, unsatisfactory

Phrases
out of place, out of the way

Near Antonyms
fortunate, opportune, seasonable, timely; applicable, apposite, apropos, apt, germane, material, pat, pointed, relative, relevant; compatible, congenial, harmonious; allowed, authorized, permitted; approved, endorsed (also indorsed), kosher, licensed, sanctioned; abetted, encouraged, promoted, supported; acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, fine, OK (or okay), passable, respectable, satisfactory, tolerable; commendable, creditable, exemplary; blameless, irreproachable; balanced, companionate, congruous, consonant, harmonious

Antonyms
appropriate, becoming, befitting, correct, decorous, felicitous, fit, fitting, genteel, happy, meet, proper, right, seemly, suitable

inappropriately adverb
in a mistaken or inappropriate way <she inappropriately referred to my chaperone as my father, and not as my stepfather> — see WRONGLY

inappropriateness noun
1 the quality or state of being unsuitable or unfitting <I cannot even begin to describe the inappropriateness of such language for the dinner table>

Synonyms
improperness, impropriety, inappositeness, inaptness, incorrectness, infelicity, unfitness, wrongness

Related Words
extraneousness, inadequacy, inadequateness, inadmissibility, inapplicability, irrelevance, meaninglessness, pointlessness, senselessness; inauspiciousness, inexpedience, inexpediency, intolerability, undesirability, undesirableness, unsatisfactoriness, uselessness; unbecomingness; unseasonability

Near Antonyms
admissibility, applicability, bearing, connection, materiality, pertinence, pointedness, relevance, relevancy

Antonyms
appositeness, appropriateness, aptness, correctness, felicitousness, felicity, fitness, fittingness, properness, propriety, rightness, seemliness, suitability, suitableness

2 the quality or state of not being socially proper <the inappropriateness of belching in a restaurant should have been apparent even to you> — see IMPROPRIETY 1

inapt adjective
1 not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <an inapt but well-meaning attempt to inject some humor into the proceedings> — see INAPPROPRIATE
2 lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job <a recruit who was utterly inapt for most soldierly duties, so he spent most of his time playing in the army band> — see INCOMPETENT

inaptly adverb
in a mistaken or inappropriate way <the development was inaptly named Apple Orchard Condominiums, presumably in honor of what was destroyed in order to build them> — see WRONGLY

inaptness noun
the quality or state of being unsuitable or unfitting <the inaptness of the ski outfit made her stand out among the somberly dressed mourners> — see INAPPROPRIATENESS 1

inarguable adjective
not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <the colonists presented their case for political independence with what they regarded as inarguable logic> — see IRREFUTABLE

inarguably adverb
without any question <was inarguably the most important factor in our victory over the other team> — see INDEED 1

inarticulate adjective
unable to speak <the sudden rumblings of an earthquake rendered people inarticulate with fear> — see MUTE 1

inasmuch as conjunction
1 to the degree that <the economic forecast for the coming decade looks promising, inasmuch as we can predict that far in advance>

Synonyms
insofar as, insomuch as, insomuch that, so far as

2 for the reason that <you should not use that source, inasmuch as it is badly out-of-date> — see SINCE

inaugural adjective
coming before all others in time or order <the inaugural event in the city's week long festival honoring the sailing ships> — see FIRST 1

inaugural noun
the process or an instance of being formally placed in an office or organization <attended the inaugurals of the city's last three mayors> — see INSTALLATION 1

inaugurate verb
1 to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of <inaugurated the college's athletic program for women> — see FOUND
2 to put into an office or welcome into an organization with special ceremonies <the president inaugurated the newest member of the club with a welcoming speech> — see INSTALL 1

inauguration noun
the process or an instance of being formally placed in an office or organization <the pomp and circumstance of a presidential inauguration> — see INSTALLATION 1

inaugurator noun
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor <the famed inaugurator of the assembly line in the production of automobiles> — see FATHER 2

inauspicious adjective
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come <this many problems so early in the project is a most inauspicious sign> — see OMINOUS

inauthentic adjective
being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud <an inauthentic warbonnet that was probably made in an overseas factory a few months ago> — see COUNTERFEIT 1

inborn adjective
1 being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <an inborn talent for dancing> — see INHERENT
2 genetically passed or capable of being passed from parent to offspring <certain instincts are inborn in mice> — see HEREDITARY

inbred adjective
being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <an inbred desire to do good in the world> — see INHERENT

in camera adverb
in a manner intended to prevent knowledge or awareness by others <the board of trustees met in camera to decide the fate of the embattled university president> — see PRIVATELY

incandescence noun
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible <candles made from whale oil were once highly prized because they burned with an incandescence superior to that of other candles> — see LIGHT 1

incandescent adjective
1 giving off or reflecting much light <sitting in darkness, except for the incandescent coals of our campfire> — see BRIGHT 1
2 having or expressing great depth of feeling <a speaker incandescent with righteous anger over the treatment of the refugees> — see FERVENT 1

incandescently adverb
in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light <with lights burning as incandescently as the midday sun, soundstages on early color films often reached 100 degrees> — see BRIGHTLY 1

incantation noun
a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power <hovering over the sick child, the witch doctor muttered mysterious incantations> — see SPELL 1

incapability noun
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means <the apparent incapability of the president's staff to deal with the crisis> — see INABILITY

incapable adjective
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job <hired a supremely incapable assistant who only made a mess of things> — see INCOMPETENT

incapacitate verb
1 to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move <the malfunctioning of a single component can incapacitate the engine> — see PARALYZE 1
2 to cause severe or permanent injury to <the stroke left her completely incapacitated> — see MAIM

incapacitated adjective
deprived of the power to perform one or more natural bodily activities <was temporarily incapacitated by the car accident> — see DISABLED

incapacity noun
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means <her entrenched incapacity for decision-making doesn't make her a very good boss> — see INABILITY

incarcerate verb
to put in or as if in prison <the state incarcerated over 1900 people last year> — see IMPRISON

incarcerated adjective
taken and held prisoner <incarcerated residents of that state are still allowed to vote in elections> — see CAPTIVE

incarceration noun
1 the act of confining or the state of being confined <he was bored and frustrated by his incarceration in the quarantine> — see INTERNMENT
2 the state of being held in lawful custody <sentenced to six months of incarceration for dealing in narcotics> — see DETENTION 1

incarnate verb
to represent in visible form <the general view that Hitler incarnated extreme egotism and indeed evil itself> — see EMBODY 2

incarnation noun
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <she is the very incarnation of grace and tactfulness> — see EMBODIMENT

incaution noun
failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes <as a result of an agent's colossal incaution, a laptop filled with top-secret intelligence was missing> — see NEGLIGENCE 1

incautious adjective
not paying or showing close attention especially for the purpose of avoiding trouble <an incautious comment got her in political hot water> — see CARELESS 1

incautiousness noun
failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes <a mere moment of incautiousness can cause an accident> — see NEGLIGENCE 1

incendiary noun
1 a person who deliberately and unlawfully sets fire to a building or other property <firefighters caught the incendiary, who was watching the effects of his handiwork> — see ARSONIST
2 a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent <blamed the protests on outside incendiaries who were intent on overthrowing the government> — see AGITATOR

incendiary adjective
tending to excite political disorder or insurrection <recklessly made incendiary remarks during a period of heightened racial tensions> — see INFLAMMATORY

incense noun
1 a sweet or pleasant smell <the heavenly incense of spring flowers> — see FRAGRANCE
2 excessive praise <count on the office manager to spread the incense whenever there's a visiting VIP from the head office> — see FLATTERY

1incense verb
to make angry <the insult so incensed him that he had to be restrained from hitting the guy> — see ANGER

2incense verb
to fill or infuse with a pleasant odor or odor-releasing substance <the gift shop was heavily incensed with a cloying mixture of herbal essences> — see SCENT 1

incensed adjective
feeling or showing anger <incensed residents demanded that the police apprehend the punks who vandalized the cemetery> — see ANGRY

incentive noun
something that arouses action or activity <the handsome reward for the missing dog was an incentive for me to start looking> — see IMPULSE 1

inception noun
the point at which something begins <this seemed like a good program at its inception, but it isn't working out as planned> — see BEGINNING

inceptive adjective
beginning to come into existence <only just recently gained an inceptive understanding of the overwhelming vastness of the universe> — see NASCENT

incertitude noun
a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something <a growing incertitude about the honesty of the housekeeper they had just hired> — see DOUBT

incessant adjective
going on and on without any interruptions <the incessant noise from an outside repair crew was a real distraction during the test> — see CONTINUOUS

incessantly adverb
on every relevant occasion <she incessantly made the same suggestion for a Roman theme whenever anyone mentioned holding a party> — see ALWAYS 1

inch noun
1 a very small distance or degree <give them an inch, and they'll take a mile> — see HAIR 1
2 an individual part of a process, series, or ranking <inch by inch, we're making progress toward our fund-raising goal> — see DEGREE 1
3 inches plural the distance of something or someone from bottom to top <made the most of her inches by standing on her tiptoes to reach the top shelf> — see HEIGHT 3

inch verb
1 to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits <every year the water inches further up the embankments, threatening to permanently engulf the island city> — see ENCROACH
2 to move slowly <the car inched carefully across the snow-covered causeway> — see CRAWL 2

inchmeal adverb
by small steps or amounts <the troops moved through the village inchmeal, recapturing it virtually house by house> — see GRADUALLY

inchoate adjective
beginning to come into existence <inchoate feelings of affection for a man whom she had, up till now, thought of as only a friend> — see NASCENT

incident noun
1 something that happens <the odd little incident was reported in the local paper> — see EVENT 1
2 something that is found along with something else <a teen discovering that taxes are the inevitable and evil incident of a paying job> — see ACCOMPANIMENT

incidental adjective
1 happening by chance <an incidental meeting of two ships in the middle of the Atlantic> — see ACCIDENTAL 1
2 lacking importance <we still have to work out a few incidental details, but the proposal is largely complete> — see UNIMPORTANT

incidentally adverb
by way of interjection or digression <incidentally, have you seen the new building they're putting up?> — see APROPOS

incipience noun
the point at which something begins <since its incipience, the show has been on the cutting edge of comedy> — see BEGINNING

incipiency noun
the point at which something begins <from its incipiency the city's monthlong festival of the performing arts has been a great success> — see BEGINNING

incipient adjective
beginning to come into existence <I have an incipient dislike and distrust of that guy, and I only met him this morning> — see NASCENT

incise verb
1 to cut (as letters or designs) on a hard surface <incised a pattern into the copper plate> — see ENGRAVE 1
2 to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife) <incised the tree with a sharp ax to get the sap flowing> — see CUT 1

incision noun
a long deep cut <the surgeon made a thin incision with the scalpel> — see GASH

incitation noun
1 something that arouses a strong response from another <the rabble-rousing speech was seen by many as an incitation to ethnic violence> — see PROVOCATION 1
2 something that arouses action or activity <a mild heart attack was all the incitation he needed to adopt an exercise regimen and a healthy diet> — see IMPULSE 1

incite verb
1 to bring (something volatile or intense) into being <the rock band's failure to show up incited a riot, as the crowd had waited for hours>

Synonyms
abet, brew, ferment, foment, instigate, pick, provoke, raise, stir (up), whip (up)

Related Words
advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote, sow, stimulate; detonate, set, set off, trigger; excite, galvanize, inflame (also enflame), inspire, motivate, rouse; activate, energize, enliven, fire, invigorate, jazz (up), liven (up), pep (up), quicken, stimulate, vitalize

Phrases
set in motion

Near Antonyms
bridle, check, constrain, curb, discourage, hold, inhibit, regulate, rein (in), restrain, tame; allay, calm, quiet, settle, soothe, still, subdue, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

2 to rouse to strong feeling or action <the demagogue's fiery rant incited the crowd to riot> — see PROVOKE 1

incitement noun
1 something that arouses a strong response from another <the insulting remark was all the incitement that was needed for a fight to break out> — see PROVOCATION 1
2 something that arouses action or activity <the approaching deadline was certainly an incitement to get going on the assignment> — see IMPULSE 1

inciter noun
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent <the governor warned that inciters of mob violence would be dealt with harshly> — see AGITATOR

inciting adjective
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction <a deliberately inciting comment questioning someone's manhood started the brawl> — see PROVOCATIVE

incivility noun
rude behavior <I won't tolerate incivility, and that includes text messaging while I'm speaking> — see DISCOURTESY

inclement adjective
marked by wet and windy conditions <the weather report warned that the holiday weekend would be spoiled by inclement weather> — see FOUL 1

inclination noun
1 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <her natural inclination to help people in need>

Synonyms
affection, affinity, aptitude, bent, bias, bone, devices, disposition, genius, habitude, impulse, leaning, partiality, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, propensity, tendency, turn

Related Words
favor, one-sidedness, partisanship, prejudice; endowment, faculty, flair, genius, gift, knack, talent; addiction, appetite, fancy, fondness, like, liking, preference, taste; forte, speciality, specialty; convention, custom, habit, pattern, practice (also practise), routine, trick, way, wont; eccentricity, idiosyncrasy, kink, oddity, peculiarity, quirk, singularity

Near Antonyms
allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disrelish, distaste; detachment, impartiality, neutrality, objectivity; apathy, disinterestedness, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

2 the act of positioning or an instance of being positioned at an angle <the photographer adjusted the inclination of the sitter's head> — see TILT
3 the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon <the inclination of the hill is gentle, so walking up it isn't too bad> — see SLANT

incline noun
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon <the steep incline of the hill meant that it was impossible to ride a bicycle up it> — see SLANT

incline verb
1 to set or cause to be at an angle <carefully inclined the ladder against the house> — see LEAN 1
2 to show a liking or proneness (for something) <a good restaurant for diners who incline to spicy food> — see LEAN 2

inclined adjective
1 having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action) <we couldn't have convinced her if she weren't already so inclined> — see WILLING 1
2 having a liking or affection <a nightclub strictly for those inclined towards loud music> — see FOND 1
3 having a tendency to be or act in a certain way <a kindly couple who are inclined to be helpful to strangers> — see PRONE 1
4 running in a slanting direction <the highway ramps and other inclined roadways were treacherous during the ice storm> — see DIAGONAL

inclining adjective
bending downward or forward <the inclining branches of the evergreens seemed almost ready to break under the weight of the heavy snow> — see NODDING

include verb
1 to have as part of a whole <the college application included some thought-provoking essay questions>

Synonyms
carry, comprehend, contain, embrace, encompass, entail, involve, number, subsume, take in

Related Words
comprise, consist (of); bracket; have, hold, own, possess; admit, receive; compose, constitute, form, make; assimilate, embody, incorporate, integrate

Near Antonyms
ban, bar, debar, preclude, prevent, prohibit; deny, refuse, reject; eliminate, except, rule out; lose, mislay, misplace

Antonyms
exclude, leave (out), miss out [British], omit

2 to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <that inextinguishable spark of liberty that is included within every human being> — see ENCLOSE 1

inclusive adjective
covering everything or all important points <a butterfly expert with an inclusive knowledge of his subject> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC

inclusively adverb
with everyone or everything taken into account at the same time <for the complete body makeover, a week at the spa costs, inclusively, $10,000> — see ALL AROUND

incognito adjective
not named or identified by a name <an incognito source in the CIA was the source of the information> — see NAMELESS 1

incognizance noun
the state of being unaware or uninformed <your complete incognizance of the inflammatory effect of such language is amazing> — see IGNORANCE 1

incognizant adjective
not informed about or aware of something <a bunch of loud partygoers who seemed utterly incognizant of the disturbance they were creating> — see IGNORANT 2

incoherent adjective
1 not clearly or logically connected <the thriller's incoherent plot left movie audiences wondering who did what>

Synonyms
choppy, disconnected, disjointed, unconnected

Related Words
baffling, bewildering, confounding, confused, confusing, disordered, disorderly, disorganized, muddled, perplexing, puzzling, unorganized; disconcerting, frustrating; fallacious, illogical, inconsistent, invalid, irrational, unsound; absurd, asinine, bizarre, curious, eccentric, foolish, odd, outlandish, outré, peculiar, screwy, strange, unreasonable, unusual, weird; meaningless, nonsensical, nutty, preposterous, ridiculous, senseless, silly; unconvincing; inexplicable, unaccountable, unexplainable

Near Antonyms
ordered, orderly, organized, systematic, systematized; logical, rational, reasonable, sensible, solid, sound, valid; cogent, compelling, convincing, persuasive, plausible, satisfying; clear, clear-cut, lucid, perspicuous, transparent, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable

Antonyms
coherent, connected

2 consisting of particles that do not stick together <a driveway covered with incoherent gravel> — see LOOSE 2

incombustible adjective
incapable of being burned <we keep our important papers in an incombustible safe in the basement>

Synonyms
fireproof, noncombustible, nonflammable, noninflammable

Related Words
nonexplosive

Near Antonyms
ablaze, afire, aflame, blazing, burning, combusting, fiery, flaming, ignited, inflamed (also enflamed), kindled, lit (or lighted); consumable; explosive, incendiary, volcanic

Antonyms
burnable, combustible, flammable, ignitable (also ignitible), inflammable

income noun
1 an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property <her summer job gave her some extra income>

Synonyms
earnings, gain(s), incoming(s), proceeds, profit, return, revenue, yield

Related Words
killing, windfall; salary, take-home pay, tips, wages; bankroll, capital, coffers, exchequer, finances, funds, money, pocket, pocketbook, resources, wherewithal

Near Antonyms
charge, cost, disbursement, expenditures, expenses, outgo, outlay

2 a flowing or coming in <the income of matériel is still hampered by inadequate logistical support> — see INFLUX

incomer noun, chiefly British
one that leaves one place to settle in another <a steady stream of incomers to Australia from all parts of the Commonwealth> — see EMIGRANT

incoming noun
1 the act of coming upon a scene <the endless succession of incomings had us wondering how we would ever find room for everyone> — see ARRIVAL
2 usually incomings plural an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property <the company's incomings from its brick-and-mortar stores, online sales, and Web site advertising> — see INCOME 1

incommode verb
to cause discomfort to or trouble for <the innkeeper tried to hide how much the request incommoded them> — see INCONVENIENCE

incommoding adjective
causing difficulty, discomfort, or annoyance <such incommoding features of air travel as flight delays and time-consuming security screenings> — see INCONVENIENT 1

incommodity noun
a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success <cited reduced privacy as one of the incommodities of apartment living> — see DISADVANTAGE 1

incommunicable adjective
beyond the power to describe <the vastness of the universe is incommunicable> — see INDESCRIBABLE

incommutable adjective
not capable of changing or being changed <a traditionalist and staunch opponent of relativism, she argues that there is indeed a timeless and incommutable moral code by which all must abide> — see INFLEXIBLE 1

incomparable adjective
having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability <the incomparable jewel known as the Hope Diamond> — see ONLY 1

incompatible adjective
not being in agreement or harmony <the committee's incompatible goals—develop new projects and cut costs—meant that they got very little accomplished> — see INCONSISTENT 1

incompetence noun
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means <the astounding incompetence of the new assistant> — see INABILITY

incompetency noun
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means <the incompetency of the secretary was revealed only after she had left the company, and her successor discovered years of filing left undone> — see INABILITY

incompetent adjective
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job <an incompetent carpenter had built the deck, and the railings were loose already>

Synonyms
inapt, incapable, inept, inexpert, unable, unfit, unfitted, unqualified, unskilled, unskillful

Related Words
ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient; amateurish, callow, dilettantish, green, inexperienced, raw, unprofessional; unequipped, unprepared, untrained; useless, worthless; disqualified, ineligible; wanting

Near Antonyms
prepared, ready, trained; overqualified; accomplished, ace, adept, consummate, crack, experienced, practiced (also practised), seasoned, veteran, virtuoso; all-around (also all-round), protean, versatile

Antonyms
able, capable, competent, expert, fit, qualified, skilled, skillful, ultracompetent

incomplete adjective
lacking some necessary part <an incomplete puzzle that has several pieces missing>

Synonyms
deficient, fragmental, fragmentary, half, halfway, partial

Related Words
broken, damaged, flawed, impaired, imperfect, injured, marred, spoiled; sketchy, unassembled, uncompleted, unfinished

Near Antonyms
flawless, unbroken, undamaged, unimpaired, uninjured, unmarred; completed, finished

Antonyms
complete, entire, full, intact, integral, perfect, whole

incompletely adverb
in some measure or degree <a physiological process that is incompletely understood at the present time> — see PARTLY

incompliant adjective
given to resisting authority or another's control <a perpetually incompliant employee who seemed to think that the rules did not apply to him> — see DISOBEDIENT

incomprehensible adjective
impossible to understand <rocket science is incomprehensible to most people>

Synonyms
impenetrable, unfathomable, ungraspable, unintelligible

Related Words
abstruse, enigmatic (also enigmatical), esoteric, indecipherable, inscrutable, recondite, unsearchable; cryptic, darkling, deep, mysterious, mystic, oblique, obscure, occult, uncanny; unanswerable, unknowable; baffling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling; inconceivable, unimaginable, unthinkable

Near Antonyms
basic, elemental, elementary, essential, fundamental, rudimentary, underlying; easy, simple; coherent, connected, ordered, orderly, organized, systematic, systematized; clear, cogent, compelling, convincing, lucid, pellucid, perspicuous, plain, straightforward

Antonyms
fathomable, intelligible, understandable

incomprehension noun
a failure to understand correctly <the anthropologist's apparent incomprehension of the ceremonial rites she describes in her book surprised reviewers> — see MISUNDERSTANDING 1

inconceivable adjective
too extraordinary or improbable to believe <the formerly inconceivable idea that humans could land on the moon> — see INCREDIBLE

incongruity noun
someone or something with qualities or features that seem to conflict with one another <she's an incongruity: an impeccably groomed woman who keeps a messy house> — see CONTRADICTION 1

incongruous adjective
1 not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <there's an incongruous modernism to the actor's performance in this period piece> — see INAPPROPRIATE
2 not being in agreement or harmony <incongruous theories about the origins of matter> — see INCONSISTENT 1

inconsequence noun
the quality or state of being unimportant <up to that point his life had been one largely marked by inconsequence> — see INSIGNIFICANCE

inconsequent adjective
not using or following good reasoning <presents an inconsequent argument for a major reversal in the nation's policy on narcotics> — see ILLOGICAL

inconsequential adjective
1 lacking importance <that's an inconsequential problem compared to the other issues> — see UNIMPORTANT
2 so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <an inconsequential error that does nothing to lessen the value of the report> — see NEGLIGIBLE
3 not using or following good reasoning <an inconsequential line of argument that did little to further the prosecution's case> — see ILLOGICAL

inconsequentiality noun
the quality or state of being unimportant <the inconsequentiality of a question before the council seemed to have no bearing upon the amount of time wasted discussing it> — see INSIGNIFICANCE

inconsiderable adjective
1 lacking importance <the duties of the club's vice president are inconsiderable by any standard> — see UNIMPORTANT
2 so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <an inconsiderable number of complaints about the car seat> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

inconsiderableness noun
the quality or state of being unimportant <the inconsiderableness of his duties in the make-work job was downright embarrassing> — see INSIGNIFICANCE

inconsiderate adjective
showing a lack of manners or consideration for others <she was inconsiderate by nature, never bothering to hold the door for the next person> — see IMPOLITE

inconsiderateness noun
rude behavior <for sheer inconsiderateness, that lout has everyone else beat> — see DISCOURTESY

inconsideration noun
rude behavior <fortunately, the inconsideration and self-centeredness of toddlers is eventually outgrown> — see DISCOURTESY

inconsistent adjective
1 not being in agreement or harmony <inconsistent theories make it difficult to settle on one explanation>

Synonyms
clashing, conflicting, disagreeing, discordant, discrepant, incompatible, incongruous, inconsonant, inharmonious, mutually exclusive, repugnant

Related Words
irreconcilable; antagonistic, antipodal, antipodean, antithetical, contradictory, contrary, diametric (or diametrical), opposing, opposite

Phrases
at odds, at variance

Near Antonyms
akin, like, similar

Antonyms
accordant, agreeing, compatible, concordant, conformable (to), congruent, congruous, consistent, consonant, correspondent (with or to), harmonious, nonconflicting

2 likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <an inconsistent breeze was our only relief from the heat> — see FICKLE 1

inconsolable adjective
feeling unhappiness <he was inconsolable after the death of his wife> — see SAD 1

inconsolably adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <she cried inconsolably for weeks after her dog died> — see HARD 2

inconsonant adjective
not being in agreement or harmony <that is inconsonant with established judicial tradition> — see INCONSISTENT 1

inconspicuous adjective
not readily seen or noticed <left an inconspicuous scratch on the wall> — see UNOBTRUSIVE

inconstancy noun
1 lack of faithfulness especially to one's husband or wife <a wife who was long inured to the chronic inconstancy of her husband> — see INFIDELITY 1
2 the frequent and usually sudden passing from one condition to another <the inconstancy of public opinion is such that today's hero may be tomorrow's punching bag> — see FLUX 1

inconstant adjective
1 likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <our windjammer sailed wherever the inconstant winds took us> — see FICKLE 1
2 not true in one's allegiance to someone or something <an inconstant but always entertaining friend> — see FAITHLESS

incontestable adjective
not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <the incontestable statement that every contest has a winner and a loser> — see IRREFUTABLE

incontestably adverb
without any question <you are incontestably correct that tomorrow is another day> — see INDEED 1

incontinently adverb
without delay <upon reading the rave review, I incontinently called the restaurant for a reservation> — see IMMEDIATELY

incontrollable adjective
given to resisting control or discipline by others <police have vowed to crack down on the speeding, racing, and other driving misdeeds being committed by the town's incontrollable teenagers> — see UNCONTROLLABLE

incontrovertible adjective
not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <incontrovertible facts that left the jury with no choice but to convict> — see IRREFUTABLE

incontrovertibly adverb
without any question <an incontrovertibly accurate measurement of the height of the mountain> — see INDEED 1

inconvenience noun
something that is a source of irritation <the inconvenience of having to walk everywhere until the car is fixed> — see ANNOYANCE 3

inconvenience verb
to cause discomfort to or trouble for <he inconvenienced his sister by moving into her tiny apartment>

Synonyms
discommode, disoblige, disturb, incommode, put out, trouble

Related Words
burden, encumber, saddle, weigh; fetter, hamper, hamstring, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, tie up, trammel; aggravate, anger, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, exasperate, gall, get, irk, nettle, peeve, pique, rile, vex; grate, inflame (also enflame), provoke; agitate, perturb, upset

Near Antonyms
abet, aid, assist, help; ease, facilitate, smooth; appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, pacify, placate; delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy; comfort, console, content

Antonyms
accommodate, favor, oblige

inconvenient adjective
1 causing difficulty, discomfort, or annoyance <the unexpected visitors showed up at an inconvenient time>

Synonyms
awkward, discommoding, disobliging, incommoding

Related Words
bothersome, burdensome, onerous, troublesome; annoying, disturbing, exasperating, frustrating, galling, irksome, irritating, maddening, nagging, nettlesome, riling, vexatious, vexing

Near Antonyms
acceptable, bearable, endurable, sufferable, tolerable; advantageous, desirable, good, helpful

Antonyms
convenient, ultraconvenient

2 hard or impossible to get to or get at <for some reason, the homeowners placed the dishes in an inconvenient cabinet> — see INACCESSIBLE

inconvincible adjective
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <she's inconvincible on the issue as she is on everything else, so don't even bother> — see OBSTINATE

incorporate verb
1 to make a part of a body or system <astronomers had to incorporate the existence of Pluto into their scheme of the solar system after the dwarf planet was discovered> — see EMBODY 1
2 to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <incorporated all the ingredients for the cheesecake mixture> — see BLEND 1
3 to represent in visible form <the one-of-a-kind house incorporates the architect's fundamental belief that a structure should be fully integrated into its setting> — see EMBODY 2

incorporation noun
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <the workers stood nervously before the company boss, for he was to them the incorporation of all that controlled their fate> — see EMBODIMENT

incorporeal adjective
not composed of matter <ghosts are supposed to be incorporeal> — see IMMATERIAL 1

incorrect adjective
1 having an opinion that does not agree with truth or the facts <you're incorrect about the date of the final exam—it's next Tuesday, not Wednesday>

Synonyms
mistaken, wrong

Related Words
confused, misguided, misinformed, misled; erroneous, false, inaccurate, inexact, untrue; deceived, deluded, duped, tricked

Phrases
all wet, full of it

Near Antonyms
informed; accurate, exact, precise, true

Antonyms
correct, right

2 not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <chose the incorrect military uniform for the treaty ceremony> — see INAPPROPRIATE
3 not being in agreement with what is true <an incorrect but not intentionally deceitful statement> — see FALSE 1

incorrectly adverb
in a mistaken or inappropriate way <you incorrectly identified the part of speech of one of the words in the sentence> — see WRONGLY

incorrectness noun
1 the quality or state of being unsuitable or unfitting <the alleged incorrectness of the hat she wore to her daughter's wedding mattered only to gossips> — see INAPPROPRIATENESS 1
2 the quality or state of not being socially proper <the utter incorrectness of the use of such language in a church can scarcely be expressed> — see IMPROPRIETY 1

incorrigible adjective
not capable of being cured or reformed <an incorrigible criminal who should spend the rest of his life behind bars> — see HOPELESS 1

increase noun
1 something added (as by growth) <shortly after he turned 12, he had a sudden height increase>

Synonyms
accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, expansion, gain, increment, more, plus, proliferation, raise, rise, step-up, supplement, uptick

Related Words
accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering; complement; accession, appendix, continuation, extension, uptrend, upturn; jump, run-up, spike

Near Antonyms
deduction, subtraction

Antonyms
abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down

2 the act or process of becoming greater in number <the increase in the number of students enrolled at the school was very gradual> — see MULTIPLICATION

increase verb
1 to make greater in size, amount, or number <we have to increase the number of season-ticket holders if the local sports franchise is to survive>

Synonyms
accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, build up, compound, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, hype, multiply, pump up, raise, swell, stoke, supersize, up

Related Words
boom, jump, skyrocket, spike; bump (up), ratchet (up) also rachet (up); blow up, dilate, distend, inflate; draw out, elongate, flesh (out), lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch; develop, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify; complement, supplement; beef (up), reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; maximize; accumulate, amass, collect; follow up, parlay

Near Antonyms
abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten; compress, condense, constrict, contract; cut back, retrench

Antonyms
abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from)

2 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <the number of Internet users increased exponentially during the 1990s>

Synonyms
accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon (also bourgeon), climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, gain, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax

Related Words
jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge; heighten, intensify, redouble; blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up); crescendo, crest, peak

Antonyms
contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

increased adjective
being at a higher level than average <an increased concentration of sugar in the bloodstream> — see HIGH 2

incredible adjective
too extraordinary or improbable to believe <tried to explain her weeklong disappearance with an incredible tale of abduction by a total stranger>

Synonyms
fantastic (also fantastical), implausible, inconceivable, incredulous, unbelievable, uncompelling, unconceivable, unconvincing, unimaginable, unthinkable

Related Words
debatable, disputable, dodgy [chiefly British], doubtable, doubtful, dubious, dubitable, far-fetched, fishy, flimsy, questionable, shaky, suspect, suspicious, unlikely, unreasonable; hopeless, impossible; absurd, comical, farcical, laughable, ludicrous, outlandish, preposterous, ridiculous, risible, silly; indefensible, insupportable, untenable

Phrases
full of it

Near Antonyms
likely, possible, probable; reasonable; certain, incontestable, indisputable, indubitable, questionless, sure, undeniable, undoubted, unquestionable

Antonyms
believable, cogitable, conceivable, convincing, credible, creditable, imaginable, plausible, supposable, thinkable

incredibly adverb
to a great degree <the entrance exam to the elite prep school was incredibly difficult> — see VERY 1

incredulity noun
refusal to accept something as true <the teacher's incredulity about the claims in the essay proved to be well-founded> — see DISBELIEF

incredulous adjective
1 inclined to doubt or question claims <incredulous by nature, I'm of course very suspicious of anyone who claims to be able to communicate with the dead> — see SKEPTICAL 1
2 too extraordinary or improbable to believe <an incredulous account of alien abduction that the tabloids had a field day with> — see INCREDIBLE

increment noun
something added (as by growth) <added another big increment to the sales total this quarter> — see INCREASE 1

incremental adjective
1 proceeding or changing by steps or degrees <the incremental evolution of the collection from a specialized gallery into a comprehensive art museum> — see GRADUAL
2 produced by a series of additions of identical or similar things <the incremental total for my collection of baseball cards> — see CUMULATIVE

incriminate verb
to make a claim of wrongdoing against <in exchange for a reduced sentence, the thief agreed to incriminate his accomplice> — see ACCUSE

incubate verb
1 to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop <the hen incubated her eggs for two weeks> — see SET 1
2 to help the growth or development of <hopefully, these youthful visits to the museum will incubate an enduring love of art> — see FOSTER 1

inculcate verb
1 to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle <dedicated teachers inculcating young minds with a love of learning> — see INFUSE
2 to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set <a malcontent who inculcated in his offspring an abiding distrust of all civil authority> — see IMPLANT 1

inculpable adjective
free from guilt or blame <you may not have started the ugly rumor, but you helped to spread it, so you're hardly inculpable> — see INNOCENT 2

incult adjective
lacking in refinement or good taste <our incult ancestors, who dwelt in rude huts> — see COARSE 2

incumbency noun
something one must do because of prior agreement <few incumbencies of her office are as distasteful to the college president as fund-raising, of which there seems to be no end> — see OBLIGATION 1

incumbent adjective
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law <it is incumbent upon you to attend every staff meeting> — see MANDATORY

incurable adjective
not capable of being cured or reformed <an incurable flirt at school dances> — see HOPELESS 1

incuriosity noun
lack of interest or concern <a teacher who is trying to overcome her students' entrenched incuriosity about world events> — see INDIFFERENCE

incurious adjective
having or showing a lack of interest or concern <a quick incurious glance at the pile of junk mail> — see INDIFFERENT 1

incuriousness noun
lack of interest or concern <her husband's utter incuriousness about her work was especially galling to her> — see INDIFFERENCE

incursion noun
a sudden attack on and entrance into hostile territory <there were incursions from the border every summer> — see RAID 1

indebted adjective
being under obligation for a favor or gift <thereafter forever felt indebted to the producer for giving her her lucky break> — see BEHOLDEN

indebtedness noun
something (as money) which is owed <his total indebtedness exceeded a year's income> — see DEBT 1

indecency noun
1 the quality or state of being obscene <parents complained about the indecency of the song's lyrics> — see OBSCENITY 1
2 the quality or state of not being socially proper <that a remark of such indisputable indecency was uttered at a meeting of the school board made everyone gasp> — see IMPROPRIETY 1

indecent adjective
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <paintings of nude figures are artistic, not indecent> — see OBSCENE 1

indecipherable adjective
incapable of being read or deciphered <after so many years the paper label in the drawer of the antique desk is indecipherable> — see ILLEGIBLE

indecision noun
a state or an instance of temporary inaction about the right course of action <her indecision about where to go for dinner, while everyone was getting hungrier by the minute, was frustrating> — see HESITATION

indecorous adjective
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <an indecorous joke for a solemn moment in the marriage ceremony> — see INAPPROPRIATE

indecorousness noun
the quality or state of not being socially proper <for sheer indecorousness it would be hard to beat the telling of bawdy jokes at a child's birthday party> — see IMPROPRIETY 1

indecorum noun
the quality or state of not being socially proper <the thoughtless indecorum of wearing a floor-length white dress as a guest at a wedding> — see IMPROPRIETY 1

indeed interjection
how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable <indeed, you really did shave all your hair off!> — see NO

indeed adverb
1 without any question <I know that you can indeed do better than that>

Synonyms
all right, alright, assuredly, certainly, clearly, definitely, doubtless, easily, forsooth, hands down, inarguably, incontestably, incontrovertibly, indisputably, plainly, really, so, sure, surely, truly, unarguably, undeniably, undoubtedly, unquestionably

Related Words
conceivably, likely, perhaps, possibly, probably; obviously, unmistakably

Phrases
by all means, by all odds, damn well, for certain, for sure

2 not merely this but also <that is not merely a reason, but is indeed the entire point> — see EVEN 1
3 to tell the truth <that woman can be difficult—indeed, she can be insufferable> — see ACTUALLY 1

indefatigable adjective
showing no signs of weariness even after long hard effort <an indefatigable laborer who can work from sunrise to sunset> — see TIRELESS

indefectible adjective
being entirely without fault or flaw <the indefectible logic of the polemist's arguments> — see PERFECT 1

indefensible adjective
too bad to be excused or justified <the city's lack of preparedness for a major natural disaster was utterly indefensible> — see INEXCUSABLE

indefinable adjective
beyond the power to describe <some indefinable quality makes that movie star very appealing> — see INDESCRIBABLE

indefinite adjective
1 being or seeming to be without limits <the indefinite vastness of the frozen tundra> — see INFINITE
2 not expressed in precise terms <an indefinite longing for something new and exciting in her life> — see VAGUE 1
3 not seen or understood clearly <through the dense fog we could just barely discern the indefinite form of another boat> — see FAINT 1

indelible adjective
not easily forgotten <winning the state basketball championship was our team's most indelible experience> — see UNFORGETTABLE

indelibly adverb
for all time <the advertiser hopes that the slogan will be indelibly imprinted on consumers' memories> — see EVER 1

indelicacy noun
the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste <the indelicacy of their dinner conversation made the other guests wince in embarrassment> — see VULGARITY 1

indelicate adjective
showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations <the company considered his indelicate handling of such a personal matter to be unprofessional> — see INDISCREET

indelicateness noun
1 the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste <the well-known indelicateness of the comedian's humor made him a poor choice for master of ceremonies> — see VULGARITY 1
2 the quality or state of not being socially proper <the indelicateness of the topic makes it a poor choice for dinner conversation> — see IMPROPRIETY 1

indemnification noun
payment to another for a loss or injury <that insurance company is known to be slow when processing claims for indemnification> — see COMPENSATION 1

indemnify verb
to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury <the company generously indemnifies workers who are injured on the job> — see COMPENSATE 1

indemnity noun
payment to another for a loss or injury <the widow now lives on a pension and an indemnity from her late husband's company> — see COMPENSATION 1

indent noun
a V-shaped cut usually on an edge or a surface <with the heel of his boot he made a sizable indent in the dirt as a temporary marker> — see NOTCH 1

indentation noun
1 a sunken area forming a separate space <the previous occupant's furniture had left some fairly noticeable indentations in the carpet> — see HOLE 2
2 a V-shaped cut usually on an edge or a surface <deep indentations along the edge of the leaf> — see NOTCH 1

indented adjective
curved inward <that indented area of the mountainside is prone to avalanches> — see HOLLOW

indenture noun
1 a sunken area forming a separate space <the dropped hammer left an indenture in the floor> — see HOLE 2
2 a V-shaped cut usually on an edge or a surface <made a small indenture to mark the spot where the plank was to be sawed> — see NOTCH 1

independence noun
1 the ability to care for one's self <children are supposed to achieve some measure of independence by the time they are 18—so it's time for that 30-year-old to move out!> — see SELF-SUFFICIENCY
2 the state of being free from the control or power of another <college freshmen often revel in their newfound independence> — see FREEDOM 1

independency noun
the state of being free from the control or power of another <adolescence is typically an awkward time for young people, as they are making the difficult transition from the dependency of childhood to the independency of adulthood> — see FREEDOM 1

independent adjective
1 able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help <an independent young man who moved out of his parents' house while still a college student> — see SELF-SUFFICIENT
2 not being under the rule or control of another <finally they are an independent people, after centuries of domination by their more powerful neighbors> — see FREE 1

independently adverb
without aid or support <independently came to the same conclusion> — see ALONE 1

in–depth adjective
covering everything or all important points <an in-depth report on the issue of violence in popular entertainment> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC

indescribable adjective
beyond the power to describe <the indescribable immensity of Mount Everest>

Synonyms
incommunicable, indefinable, ineffable, inenarrable, inexpressible, nameless, uncommunicable, unspeakable, unutterable

Related Words
unsayable; inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unthinkable; inexplicable, unexplainable; characterless, featureless, nondescript

Near Antonyms
conceivable, imaginable, thinkable

Antonyms
communicable, definable, expressible, speakable

indestructible adjective
impossible to destroy <diamonds are widely considered to be indestructible because they are one of the hardest known substances>

Synonyms
imperishable, inextinguishable

Related Words
incorruptible; deathless, immortal, perpetual, undying; indelible, indissoluble, ineffaceable, ineradicable, inexpungible; durable, enduring, everlasting, lasting, permanent, unbreakable; strong, sturdy, tough

Near Antonyms
mortal; impermanent, transient, transitory; breakable, delicate, flimsy, fragile, frail

Antonyms
destructible, extinguishable, perishable

index noun
an arrow-shaped piece on a dial or scale for registering information <the index on the thermometer dropped below zero> — see POINTER 1

index verb
to put (someone or something) on a list <indexed all the books in the library by category> — see 1LIST 2

Indian sign noun, chiefly British
something that brings bad luck <the Indian sign has apparently been put on that rugby team, which has lost 10 straight games> — see JINX

indicate verb
1 to serve as a sign or symptom of <his attitude seems to indicate that he has little interest in the project>

Synonyms
bespeak, betoken, denote, mean, point (to), signify, tell (of)

Related Words
bode, foreshow, foretell, presage

2 to convey an idea indirectly <her expression indicated that she was uncomfortably cold, but she was too polite to say so> — see HINT

indication noun
a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation) <there are indications that a medical breakthrough in the treatment of the disease is imminent> — see HINT 1

indicative adjective
indicating something <a wide-eyed look that is indicative of his constant curiosity>

Synonyms
denotative, denoting, reflective, significant, signifying, telltale

Related Words
alluding, allusive, referring; characteristic, symptomatic; demonstrative, exhibiting, expressive; symbolic (also symbolical); connoting, hinting, implying, insinuating, suggestive

indicator noun
an arrow-shaped piece on a dial or scale for registering information <you should refill when the indicator on the gas gauge shows that there's only a quarter of a tank left> — see POINTER 1

indict verb
to make a claim of wrongdoing against <the grand jury could indict the mayor for fraud and embezzlement> — see ACCUSE

indictment noun
a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person <that prosecutor gets an indictment for 90% of his cases> — see CHARGE 1

indifference noun
lack of interest or concern <an alarming indifference toward the well-being of his own children>

Synonyms
apathy, casualness, complacence, disinterestedness, disregard, incuriosity, incuriousness, insouciance, nonchalance, torpor, unconcern

Related Words
halfheartedness, lukewarmness, tepidity, tepidness; carelessness, heedlessness, recklessness, unawareness; lethargy, listlessness; aloofness, coldness, cool, detachment, dispassion; callosity, callousness, hard-heartedness, hardness, insensitivity; bloodlessness, impassiveness, impassivity, phlegm, stoicism, stolidity

Near Antonyms
attention, attentiveness, awareness, conscientiousness, curiosity, heedfulness, keenness; sensitivity, warmheartedness; bias, partiality, prejudice; ardor, desire, fervency, passion, vehemence, warmth, zeal

Antonyms
concern, interest, regard

indifferent adjective
1 having or showing a lack of interest or concern <indifferent about the result of the football game>

Synonyms
apathetic, casual, complacent, disinterested, incurious, insensible, insouciant, nonchalant, perfunctory, pococurante, unconcerned, uncurious, uninterested

Related Words
halfhearted, lukewarm, tepid; aloof, cold, numb, remote, unemotional; callous, hard-hearted, insensitive, unfeeling; calm, cool, detached, dispassionate; careless, heedless, mindless; impassive, impervious, phlegmatic, stoic (or stoical), stolid; lethargic, listless; unimpressed

Near Antonyms
attentive, aware, conscientious, heedful, mindful; caring, sensitive, warmhearted; ardent, fervent, keen, passionate, warm, zealous

Antonyms
concerned, interested

2 of average to below average quality <an indifferent but drinkable cup of coffee> — see MEDIOCRE 1
3 marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias <they believed their art teacher could offer an indifferent judgment on their works' merits> — see FAIR 2

indigence noun
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <there are various state and federal programs to help relieve indigence> — see POVERTY 1

indigene also indigen noun
a member of the first race to inhabit a region <the indigenes had not merely adapted to the harsh climate, but had in fact prospered in it> — see ABORIGINE

indigenous adjective
1 belonging to a particular place by birth or origin <the culture of the indigenous people of that country> — see NATIVE 1
2 being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <the drive to create that is indigenous to humanity> — see INHERENT

indigent adjective
lacking money or material possessions <indigent people who require some outside assistance> — see POOR 1

indignant adjective
feeling or showing anger <the poker player became indignant at the accusation of cheating> — see ANGRY

indignation noun
an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <her indignation at the offensive television show led her to start a grassroots campaign for its cancellation> — see ANGER

indignity noun
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <minor indignities such as intentionally mispronouncing a person's name> — see INSULT

indirect adjective
not straightforward or direct <the cab driver took a very indirect route to the hotel> <a long-winded, indirect answer to a very simple question>

Synonyms
circuitous, circular, roundabout

Related Words
crooked, curvy, serpentine, sinuous, tortuous, twisting, winding; meandering, rambling, wandering; circumlocutory, long-winded, prolix, verbose; deceitful, deceptive, devious, dishonest, duplicitous, insidious, misleading, sneaky, underhand, underhanded; calculating, crafty, cunning, subtle, tricky

Near Antonyms
candid, forthright, frank, honest, open, plain, unconcealed, undisguised

Antonyms
direct, straight, straightforward

indiscreet adjective
showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations <telling a friend's secrets is indiscreet, and unkind as well>

Synonyms
brash, graceless, ill-advised, imprudent, inadvisable, indelicate, injudicious, tactless, undiplomatic, unwise

Related Words
dumb, idiotic (also idiotical), moronic, stupid; careless, heedless, inconsiderate, mindless, thoughtless; ill-mannered, improper, inappropriate, indecorous, unbecoming, uncivil, unseemly; foolish, harebrained, nonsensical, preposterous, senseless, silly

Near Antonyms
intelligent, logical, rational, sensible, smart, sound; appropriate, becoming, civil, decorous, proper, seemly; sage, sane, sapient

Antonyms
advisable, discreet, judicious, prudent, tactful, wise

indiscretion noun
a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark <a single indiscretion can get someone kicked out of that exclusive club> — see IMPROPRIETY 2

indiscriminate adjective
consisting of many things of different sorts <donated an indiscriminate jumble of toys, books, and old clothes to the rummage sale> — see MISCELLANEOUS

indispensable adjective
impossible to do without <fully aware that he was an indispensable assistant, he decided that it was high time that he be paid what he was worth> — see ESSENTIAL 1

indisposed adjective
1 slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty <one person in our reading group is very indisposed to choosing a racy book> — see HESITANT
2 temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body <stays home from work whenever he feels the least indisposed> — see SICK 1

indisposition noun
the condition of not being in good health <a brief indisposition made her miss the party> — see SICKNESS 1

indisputable adjective
not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <an indisputable fact that is not subject to interpretation according to one's political beliefs> — see IRREFUTABLE

indisputably adverb
without any question <you are indisputably correct in your calculations> — see INDEED 1

indistinct adjective
not seen or understood clearly <managed to discern a blurry, indistinct shadow through the downpour> — see FAINT 1

indistinctive adjective
lacking in distinctive features or qualities <a line of indistinctive sportswear that does not justify its premium price point> — see NONDESCRIPT

indistinguishable adjective
1 not perceptible by a sense or by the mind <indistinguishable differences that can be measured only electronically> — see IMPERCEPTIBLE
2 not seen or understood clearly <indistinguishable shapes in the fog> — see FAINT 1
3 resembling another in every respect <a synthetic fabric that supposedly is indistinguishable from real silk> — see SAME 1

individual noun
1 a member of the human race <every individual has value> — see HUMAN
2 one that has a real and independent existence <our general concept of what constitutes a chair is based on our experience with many individuals that were called chairs> — see ENTITY

individual adjective
1 of, relating to, or belonging to a single person <everyone has his or her own individual opinion about the subject, but you will have to work together>

Synonyms
idiomatic, individualized, particular, patented, peculiar, personal, personalized, private, privy, separate, singular, subjective, unique

Related Words
characteristic, distinctive, intimate; identifying, idiosyncratic; especial, express, special, specific; independent, nonconformist, self-directed, self-sufficient; custom, customized, specialized

Near Antonyms
broad, prevailing, prevalent, widespread; common, normal, regular, typical

Antonyms
general, generic, popular, public, shared, universal

2 not the same or shared <guest rooms at the inn have individual bathrooms> — see SEPARATE 1
3 serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group <he's got a highly individual laugh that I would know anywhere> — see CHARACTERISTIC 1

individualism noun
1 an odd or peculiar habit <the novelist gives each character an assortment of individualisms that sets them apart> — see IDIOSYNCRASY
2 the set of qualities that make a person different from other people <his individualism and epic vision set him well apart from other architects of his generation> — see INDIVIDUALITY 1

individualist noun
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs <an individualist who steadfastly refuses to do what everyone else is doing> — see NONCONFORMIST 1

individuality noun
1 the set of qualities that make a person different from other people <her individuality showed through in everything she did>

Synonyms
character, identity, individualism, personality, selfhood, self-identity

Related Words
distinctiveness, idiosyncrasy, oneness, peculiarity, separateness, singleness, singularity, uniqueness; disposition, humor, nature, temper, temperament; independence

Near Antonyms
conformity, conventionality

2 one that has a real and independent existence <according to immanentism, God is not so much an individuality as an abstract mind or spirit that pervades the world> — see ENTITY

individualized adjective
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person <an individualized plan of study for the gifted student in the class> — see INDIVIDUAL 1

indoctrinate verb
to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field <indoctrinated children in proper safety procedures> — see TEACH

indolence noun
an inclination not to do work or engage in activities <a general feeling of indolence usually overtakes them during summer vacation> — see LAZINESS

indolent adjective
not easily aroused to action or work <an indolent boy who had to be forced to help out with the chores> — see LAZY 1

indomitable adjective
incapable of being defeated, overcome, or subdued <an indomitable spirit was needed to endure the rigors of pioneer life> — see INVINCIBLE

indubitable adjective
not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <the indubitable fact that there are no more woolly mammoths or saber-toothed tigers around> — see IRREFUTABLE

induce verb
1 to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <the medication induced labor> — see EFFECT
2 to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests <finally induced the eyewitness to the gangland slaying to cooperate with the police> — see PERSUADE

inducement noun
the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action <gave up smoking only after a prolonged inducement by all the other family members> — see PERSUASION 1

inducing noun
the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action <after the intense inducing of his friends, he went on a diet and joined a health club> — see PERSUASION 1

induct verb
to put into an office or welcome into an organization with special ceremonies <inducted the pitcher into the Baseball Hall of Fame> — see INSTALL 1

inductee noun
a person forced or required to enroll in military service <a new crop of inductees produced by the draft> — see CONSCRIPT

induction noun
1 the process or an instance of being formally placed in an office or organization <the formal induction will be tomorrow, but the college president has already started work> — see INSTALLATION 1
2 an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning <the urbanologist's controversial induction that a thriving bohemian community is vital to a city's economic health> — see CONCLUSION 1

indulge verb
1 to give in to (a desire) <the grandparents indulged the child's wishes to an extent that they never did with their own children>

Synonyms
cater (to), gratify, humor

Related Words
bask, luxuriate, revel, wallow; coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil; delight, please, pleasure; sate, satiate, satisfy

Near Antonyms
bridle, check, constrain, curb, inhibit, restrain, stifle

2 to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly <conventioneers who were obviously eager to indulge themselves in all of the vices that Las Vegas might offer> — see ABANDON 1
3 to treat with great or excessive care <you indulge those grandkids in ways you never did with your own kids> — see BABY

indulgence noun
1 an act of kind assistance <as an only child, she was used to getting every kind of indulgence from her doting parents> — see FAVOR 1
2 something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary <bubble baths were her one indulgence> — see LUXURY 1

indulgent adjective
1 tolerant and kind in the judgment of and expectations for others <she was perhaps a bit too indulgent with her children, who always seemed to get away with everything>

Synonyms
charitable, clement, easy, soft

Related Words
accommodating, acquiescent, amenable, obliging; easygoing, laid-back, undemanding

Near Antonyms
demanding; uncharitable, unforgiving; inflexible, intolerant, unbending, uncompromising, unyielding

Antonyms
hard, harsh, severe, stern, strict

2 given to or marked by excessive gratification of one's desires <inherited riches helped fuel her indulgent lifestyle> — see HEDONISTIC
3 willing to do a favor <an indulgent clerk who let me try on practically every size-seven shoe the store had> — see ACCOMMODATING

indurate adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <an indurate heart that admits no love or mercy> — see HARD 1

indurate verb
1 to become physically firm or solid <clay that had been indurated by long exposure to the summer sun> — see HARDEN 1
2 to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure <such a brutal upbringing could only callous his soul and indurate his heart to the suffering of others> — see HARDEN 2

industrious adjective
involved in often constant activity <an industrious worker who never seems to sleep> — see BUSY 1

industriously adverb
1 with great effort or determination <worked industriously to complete the project ahead of schedule> — see HARD 1
2 in a manner involving great or constant activity <she's been industriously putting together the plans for the charity ball> — see BUSILY

industriousness noun
attentive and persistent effort <she did twice as much work as anyone else through sheer industriousness> — see DILIGENCE

industry noun
attentive and persistent effort <he isn't the smartest kid in class, but he gets the best grades by determined industry> — see DILIGENCE

inebriant noun
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <stocking up on her in-laws' favorite inebriants for the holidays> — see ALCOHOL

inebriate adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <those inebriate sports fans who yell and scream throughout the game> — see DRUNK

inebriate noun
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <having performed in countless bars and clubs, the stand-up comedian was used to being heckled by inebriates in the back of the house> — see DRUNK 1

inebriated adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <after a night spent partying, the fraternity brothers were all severely inebriated> — see DRUNK

inebriation noun
the condition of being drunk <students who seem to think uninhibited inebriation is an essential part of the college experience> — see INTOXICATION 1

inebriety noun
the condition of being drunk <there were times during her bouts of inebriety when she actually thought that her boyfriend's jokes were funny> — see INTOXICATION 1

ineffable adjective
beyond the power to describe <an ineffable beauty descends upon the canyon as the sun begins to set> — see INDESCRIBABLE

ineffective adjective
1 not producing the desired result <an ineffective effort to reduce unemployment that only spurred inflation>

Synonyms
counterproductive, feckless, hamstrung, ineffectual, inefficacious, inefficient, inexpedient

Related Words
abortive, bootless, fruitless, futile, nonproductive, pointless, profitless, unavailing, unproductive, unprofitable, unsuccessful, useless, worthless

Near Antonyms
availing, beneficial, helpful, productive, profitable, successful, useful, worthwhile

Antonyms
effective, effectual, efficacious, efficient, expedient, operant, ultraefficient

2 producing no results <an ineffective medication that will be denied FDA approval> — see FUTILE 1

ineffectual adjective
1 not producing the desired result <an ineffectual effort to find the trail again did at least lead them to another stunning view of the canyon> — see INEFFECTIVE 1
2 producing no results <another ineffectual plan to lose weight without dieting or exercising> — see FUTILE 1

inefficacious adjective
1 not producing the desired result <his efforts to restore the neglected houseplant back to health were belated and sadly inefficacious> — see INEFFECTIVE 1
2 producing no results <an inefficacious medication for a rare form of tuberculosis> — see FUTILE 1

inefficient adjective
not producing the desired result <inefficient measures to solve the problem of teenage smoking> — see INEFFECTIVE 1

inelegant adjective
1 lacking social grace and assurance <inelegant teens still learning how to act at formal events> — see AWKWARD 1
2 marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste <inelegant furniture that looked like it belonged in a budget motel> — see 1TACKY 1

ineluctability noun
the quality or state of being impossible to avoid or evade <the continuing debate over the ineluctability of global warming> — see INEVITABILITY

ineluctable adjective
impossible to avoid or evade <the ineluctable approach of winter had many worried about the cost of heating their homes> — see INEVITABLE

ineluctably adverb
because of necessity <writing poetry is an ineluctably solitary activity> — see NEEDS

ineludible adjective
impossible to avoid or evade <police officers have an ineludible responsibility to protect the public, and never more so than in times of natural disaster> — see INEVITABLE

inenarrable adjective
beyond the power to describe <the filmmaker's decision to depict the essentially inenarrable phenomenon called love by means of a series of lush metaphors> — see INDESCRIBABLE

inept adjective
1 lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job <a well-meaning but inept secretary who can't seem to keep the boss's appointments straight> — see INCOMPETENT
2 not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <an inept comparison between nursing-home residents and day-care children that many found offensive> — see INAPPROPRIATE
3 showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) <an inept effort to become friends with their future son-in-law> — see AWKWARD 2
4 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <she offers one inept suggestion after another for saving the parish church> — see FOOLISH 1

ineptitude noun
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means <the nurse's ineptitude made it clear that she would be happier in a different line of work> — see INABILITY

inequity noun
1 the state of being unfair or unjust <the inequity of the punishment led many people to believe that the defendant was being punished for his political beliefs> — see INJUSTICE 1
2 unfair or inadequate treatment of someone or something or an instance of this <the unavoidable inequities of any system for distributing benefits> — see DISSERVICE

inert adjective
1 not being in a state of use, activity, or employment <the inert, abandoned factories that are scattered all over that dying city> — see INACTIVE 2
2 slow to move or act <a sleepy, inert reptile that is no threat to people when left alone> — see INACTIVE 1

inertia noun
an inclination not to do work or engage in activities <the inertia that grips so many of the club's members is the reason why nothing ever gets done> — see LAZINESS

inertness noun
lack of action or activity <the noticeable inertness of the campus on weekends, when most of the students go home> — see INACTION

inescapable adjective
impossible to avoid or evade <some people believe that your fate is determined at birth and thus inescapable> — see INEVITABLE

inescapably adverb
because of necessity <inescapably, we must take some drastic measures to avoid a catastrophe> — see NEEDS

inessential adjective
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end <he writes very spare prose, with nary an inessential word to be found> — see UNNECESSARY

inestimable adjective
having a value beyond any ability to appraise or adequately appreciate <Einstein's inestimable contributions to science> — see PRICELESS 1

inevitability noun
the quality or state of being impossible to avoid or evade <a hockey team that has refused to accept the inevitability of defeat>

Synonyms
certainty, ineluctability, inevitableness

Related Words
likelihood, probability; inexorability, inexorableness, relentlessness

Near Antonyms
preventability; improbability, unlikelihood, unlikeliness; doubtfulness, dubiousness

Antonyms
uncertainty

inevitable adjective
impossible to avoid or evade <getting wet is inevitable if you are going to try to give your dog a bath>

Synonyms
certain, ineluctable, ineludible, inescapable, necessary, sure, unavoidable, unescapable

Related Words
decided, definite, settled; likely, possible, probable; destined, fated, foreordained, predestined, predetermined, preordained; inexorable, relentless, unremitting, unstoppable

Phrases
in the bag, in the cards (also on the cards)

Near Antonyms
preventable (also preventible); doubtful, dubious, questionable, shaky, unclear; undecided, unsettled; undependable, unreliable; improbable, unlikely

Antonyms
avoidable, evadable, uncertain, unsure

inevitableness noun
the quality or state of being impossible to avoid or evade <given the age of her car, she has resigned herself to the inevitableness of its demise in the not-too-distant future> — see INEVITABILITY

inevitably adverb
because of necessity <we must inevitably make some sacrifices if we are going to save money> — see NEEDS

inexact adjective
1 not precisely correct <a thousand is an inexact figure for the number of islands in the St. Lawrence River>

Synonyms
approximate, approximative, ballpark, imprecise, inaccurate, loose, squishy

Related Words
erroneous, false, incorrect, off, wrong; general, indefinable, indefinite, indeterminate, indistinct, mushy, undefined, undetermined, unsettled, vague; faulty, flawed, mistaken; specious; distorted, fallacious, misleading; doubtful, dubious, questionable, uncertain; inconclusive, indecisive; debatable, disputable; invalidated, unconfirmed, unsubstantiated, unsupported

Near Antonyms
certain, incontestable, indubitable, positive, sure, undeniable, unquestionable; correct, errorless, factual, right, sound, true, valid; clear-cut, decisive, definable, defined, definite; incontrovertible, indisputable, irrefutable; absolute, unqualified; confirmed, corroborated, determined, established, substantiated, supported, validated

Antonyms
accurate, dead, dead-on, exact, precise, ultraprecise, veracious

2 not being in agreement with what is true <an inexact and misleading statement regarding the number of combat casualties> — see FALSE 1

inexcusable adjective
too bad to be excused or justified <spitting at a teacher is inexcusable behavior and will be severely punished>

Synonyms
indefensible, inexpiable, insupportable, unforgivable, unjustifiable, unpardonable, unwarrantable

Related Words
insufferable, intolerable, unbearable, unendurable; abominable, atrocious, heinous, monstrous, outrageous, scandalous, shocking; egregious, flagrant, glaring, gross, rank; unacceptable, untenable; black, evil, iniquitous, vicious, wicked; base, contemptible, deplorable, despicable, dirty, execrable, ignoble, reprobate, vile, wretched; cruel, nasty; blamable, blameworthy, censurable, reprehensible; banned, barred, condemned, disallowed, forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed

Near Antonyms
acceptable, tolerable; authorized, legal, permissible; allowed, permitted, tolerated; approved, endorsed (also indorsed), sanctioned; abetted, encouraged, promoted, supported; ethical, good, moral, virtuous

Antonyms
defensible, excusable, forgivable, justifiable, pardonable, venial

inexhaustible adjective
showing no signs of weariness even after long hard effort <seemingly inexhaustible horses that pulled heavy wagons across the wide prairies> — see TIRELESS

inexpedient adjective
not producing the desired result <a nutritionally dubious, inexpedient method for losing weight> — see INEFFECTIVE 1

inexpensive adjective
costing little <inexpensive but pretty jewelry that can be worn every day> — see CHEAP 1

inexperienced adjective
1 lacking in adult experience or maturity <inexperienced teenagers who, naturally, thought they knew everything> — see CALLOW
2 lacking or showing a lack of expert skill <an inexperienced carpenter had obviously built the rough-hewn cabin> — see AMATEURISH

inexpert adjective
1 lacking or showing a lack of expert skill <an inexpert attempt at putting on an outdoor concert> — see AMATEURISH
2 lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job <the inexpert mechanic only made the problem worse—and charged me a fortune for doing it> — see INCOMPETENT
3 showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) <well-meaning but inexpert expressions of sympathy from friends after the funeral> — see AWKWARD 2

inexpert noun
a person who lacks experience and competence in an art or science <the shoddy tiling in the bathroom was a sure sign that it was the work of an inexpert> — see AMATEUR 2

inexpertness noun
a lack of the level of skill associated with an expert or professional <the inexpertness of the plasterwork is painfully obvious to all who visit that historic house> — see AMATEURISHNESS

inexpiable adjective
too bad to be excused or justified <apparently, the gubernatorial candidate is guilty of the inexpiable sin of speaking out too openly and honestly about the state's financial woes> — see INEXCUSABLE

inexplainable adjective
impossible to explain <a computer prone to inexplainable crashes> — see INEXPLICABLE

inexplicable adjective
impossible to explain <an inexplicable desire for ice cream at two in the morning>

Synonyms
inexplainable, unaccountable, unexplainable

Related Words
indefinable, indescribable, inexpressible, unsayable; cryptic, enigmatic (also enigmatical), impenetrable, incomprehensible, inscrutable, mysterious, unfathomable, unknowable; irrational, unreasonable, unsound; foolish, illogical, mindless, senseless; absurd, odd, peculiar, strange, unusual, weird

Near Antonyms
logical, rational, reasonable, tenable, understandable; sane, sensible, wise; compelling, convincing, persuasive, plausible, satisfying; confirmed, corroborated, determined, established, explained, substantiated, validated

Antonyms
accountable, explainable, explicable

inexplicit adjective
not expressed in precise terms <for questions like “What do you think of my new haircut?” sometimes an inexplicit response is safest> — see VAGUE 1

inexpressible adjective
beyond the power to describe <overcome by an inexpressible awe at the sight of the thunderous waterfall> — see INDESCRIBABLE

inexpressive adjective
not expressing any emotion <kept a resolutely inexpressive face throughout the poker game> — see BLANK 1

inexpugnable adjective
having been established and usually not subject to change <an inexpugnable belief in the essential goodness of people> — see FIXED 1

inextinguishable adjective
1 impossible to destroy <freedom remains an inextinguishable dream for people around the world> — see INDESTRUCTIBLE
2 incapable of being satisfied <possesses an inextinguishable optimism that the voters find very appealing> — see INSATIABLE

infallible adjective
1 not being or likely to be wrong <a teacher with an infallible memory for names>

Synonyms
unerring, unfailing

Related Words
errorless, faultless, flawless, impeccable; certain, foolproof, inerrant, perfect, sure; dependable, reliable

Near Antonyms
defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect; undependable, unreliable

Antonyms
fallible

2 not likely to fail <an infallible cure for hiccups>

Synonyms
can't-miss, certain, fail-safe, sure, surefire, unfailing

Related Words
dependable, reliable; deadly, unerring

Near Antonyms
doubtful, questionable, uncertain

Antonyms
fallible

infamous adjective
not respectable <the infamous criminal who remains known only by the moniker of “Jack the Ripper” > — see DISREPUTABLE

infamy noun
the state of having lost the esteem of others <despite her eventual pardons, she could never completely free herself of the infamy of being named a war criminal> — see DISGRACE 1

infant noun
a recently born person <infants should be kept warm at all times> — see BABY 1

infantile adjective
having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children <the infantile humor that teenage boys are justly famous for> — see CHILDISH

infatuated (with) adjective
filled with an intense or excessive love for <hopelessly infatuated with the rock band's lead singer> — see ENAMORED OF

infatuation noun
a strong but often short-lived liking for another person <had a brief infatuation with the captain of the ski team> — see CRUSH 1

infectious adjective
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others <an infectious giggle that got the whole class laughing> — see CONTAGIOUS 2

infelicitous adjective
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <an infelicitous comment on the weight of the guest of honor at the banquet> — see INAPPROPRIATE

infelicity noun
the quality or state of being unsuitable or unfitting <the infelicity of holiday decorations at a funeral home> — see INAPPROPRIATENESS 1

infer verb
1 to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information <he inferred that she had left because her coat was gone>

Synonyms
conclude, decide, deduce, derive, extrapolate, gather, judge, make out, reason, understand

Related Words
assume, suppose; conjecture, guess, speculate, surmise; construe, interpret, read; contemplate, philosophize, rationalize, think; ascertain, dope (out), find out

Phrases
draw a conclusion

2 to convey an idea indirectly <the results infer that there might be a problem with one piece of the equipment> — see HINT

inferable also inferrible adjective
being or provable by reasoning in which the conclusion follows necessarily from given information <the inferable but unstated conclusion of the report on juvenile delinquency> — see DEDUCTIVE

inference noun
an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning <that seems like a reasonable inference, but in this case it happens to be incorrect> — see CONCLUSION 1

inferential adjective
being or provable by reasoning in which the conclusion follows necessarily from given information <there is only inferential evidence that the ancient site was used for celebrations of the summer solstice> — see DEDUCTIVE

inferior noun
one who is of lower rank and typically under the authority of another <she is nice to her inferiors as well as to her superiors> — see UNDERLING

inferior adjective
1 situated lower down <creatures that inhabit the dark, inferior depths of the ocean>

Synonyms
lower, nether

Related Words
lowest, nethermost; underlying

Near Antonyms
highest, uppermost; overhanging, overhead

Antonyms
higher, superior, upper

2 of little or less value or merit <a girl who has always felt inferior to her older sister>

Synonyms
mean, minor, secondary, second-class, second-rate

Related Words
junior, lesser, lower, low-level, petty, smaller, subordinate, under; average, common, fair, middling, ordinary; amiss, bad, defective, unsatisfactory, wrong; deficient, inadequate, insufficient, unacceptable; littler, slighter, smaller; jerkwater, low-rent, one-horse, small-time, two-bit

Near Antonyms
major, more, primary, senior; choice, exceptional, first-class, first-rate, high-grade, premium, prime, select, selected; acceptable, adequate, sufficient

Antonyms
greater, higher, superior

3 belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <at one time, the upper crust liked to believe that inferior people were fit only to be servants> — see IGNOBLE 1
4 falling short of a standard <an inferior science textbook that was out-of-date the day that it was published> — see BAD 1
5 having not so great importance or rank as another <an inferior officer cannot strike a superior under any circumstances> — see LESSER
6 of low quality <inferior chocolate candy that no serious chocolate lover would think of eating> — see CHEAP 2

infernal adjective
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure <I detest that infernal machine> — see DAMNABLE

inferno noun
a destructive burning <the intense heat of the raging inferno repeatedly drove back the firefighters> — see FIRE 1

infertile adjective
1 not able to produce fruit or offspring <an infertile cow is of limited use to a farmer> — see STERILE 1
2 producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation <only parched, infertile fields remained after months of drought> — see BARREN 1

infest verb
to spread or swarm over in a troublesome manner <in desperation, we called in an exterminator because the house was infested with ants>

Synonyms
overrun

Related Words
beset, overspread, overwhelm; abound, crawl, teem; annoy, pester, plague; contaminate, infect

infidelity noun
1 lack of faithfulness especially to one's husband or wife <infidelity can lead to divorce>

Synonyms
disloyalty, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, inconstancy, perfidiousness, perfidy, unfaithfulness

Related Words
adultery; betrayal, double-cross, double-dealing, duplicity, sellout, treachery, treason; deceit, deception, lying

Near Antonyms
staunchness, steadfastness; dependability, reliability; honesty, trustworthiness

Antonyms
allegiance, constancy, devotedness, devotion, faith, faithfulness, fealty, fidelity, loyalty

2 the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another <the one thing that the political boss will not forgive is infidelity> — see BETRAYAL
3 a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse <had known about his wife's infidelities for years> — see ADULTERY

infighting noun
a lack of agreement or harmony <continued infighting has just completely robbed that political action committee of its effectiveness> — see DISCORD

infiltrate verb
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way <over time, undercover agents infiltrated the crime ring and eventually busted their gambling racket> — see INSINUATE

infinite adjective
being or seeming to be without limits <the infinite expanse of outer space>

Synonyms
bottomless, boundless, endless, fathomless, horizonless, illimitable, immeasurable, immensurable, indefinite, limitless, measureless, unbounded, unfathomable, unlimited

Related Words
abysmal; countless, incalculable, incomputable, inestimable, innumerable, unmeasured; exhaustless, inexhaustible; extensive, far-flung, immense, vast

Near Antonyms
fathomable, measurable; depthless, shallow, superficial

Antonyms
bounded, circumscribed, confined, definite, finite, limited, restricted

infinitesimal adjective
very small in size <a soft drink with only an infinitesimal amount of caffeine> — see TINY

infinity noun
endless time <it seemed as though that meeting might extend into infinity> — see ETERNITY 1

infirm adjective
lacking bodily strength <the elderly and infirm have to be especially careful during the winter months> — see WEAK 1

infirmity noun
1 an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <an 18th-century quack who specialized in those mysterious infirmities that are known only to the idle rich> — see DISEASE
2 the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <a period of infirmity left the athlete completely out of shape> — see WEAKNESS 1

infix verb
1 to produce a vivid impression of <a puzzling detail that had been infixed in the detective's mind for over a decade> — see ENGRAVE 2
2 to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set <a football coach celebrated for infixing in his players an all-consuming will to win> — see IMPLANT 1

inflame also enflame verb
1 to make angry <the newspaper editorial inflamed her enough to inspire her to dash off a letter to the editor> — see ANGER
2 to set (something) on fire <a carelessly tossed cigarette inflamed the papers in the trash can> — see BURN 2

inflamed also enflamed adjective
1 being on fire <the inflamed hillsides in one of the largest wildfires in the state's history> — see ABLAZE 1
2 feeling or showing anger <he gets red-faced when he's inflamed enough> — see ANGRY

inflammable adjective
capable of catching or being set on fire <some pajamas are made of inflammable material, so be careful> — see COMBUSTIBLE

inflammatory adjective
tending to excite political disorder or insurrection <the restless crowd was stirred up by the inflammatory rhetoric>

Synonyms
incendiary, seditious

Related Words
agitational, instigative, provocative; mutinous, rebellious, revolutionary

Near Antonyms
conciliatory, pacific; diplomatic; calming, soothing

inflated adjective
extended beyond normal or realistic bounds <he's been walking around with an inflated ego every since he got the promotion> — see BLOATED 1

inflation noun
the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case <the personal essay accompanying his college application was devoid of the inflation and self-aggrandizement that all too often is found in such writings> — see PRETENSE 1

inflection noun
something that curves or is curved <the inflection of the river is even more obvious when viewed from the summit of the nearby mountain> — see BEND 1

inflexibility noun
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) <the principal's inflexibility in matters of discipline is the stuff of school legend> — see SEVERITY

inflexible adjective
1 not capable of changing or being changed <the inflexible law of gravity>

Synonyms
fixed, hard-and-fast, immutable, inalterable, incommutable, invariable, unalterable, unchangeable

Related Words
changeless, constant, determinate, established, set, settled, stable, steadfast, steady, unaltered, unchanging, unvarying; immovable, unmovable

Near Antonyms
adaptable, adjustable; fickle, fluctuating, inconstant, uncertain, unsettled, unstable, varying; plastic, pliable, pliant, supple, willowy

Antonyms
alterable, changeable, elastic, flexible, mutable, variable

2 incapable of or highly resistant to bending <shoes made of inflexible plastic hurt my feet> — see STIFF 1
3 not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards <inflexible entry rules for the contest ban anyone who works for the company as well as any of their relatives> — see RIGID 1
4 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <her inflexible father was unmoved by tears and pleading, and he grounded her anyway> — see OBSTINATE

inflow noun
a flowing or coming in <the inflow of new students every September means that there will always be new blood for student organizations> — see INFLUX

influence verb
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response <the news reports of the devastating flood influenced a great many people to make contributions for food and supplies> — see 1AFFECT 1

influence noun
1 the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly <a mayor who doesn't hesitate to use her influence to get business leaders behind civic improvements>

Synonyms
authority, clout, credit, heft, in, juice [slang], leverage, pull, sway, weight

Related Words
counterinfluence; command, dominance, dominion, mastery, predominance, reign, scepter, sovereignty (also sovranty), supremacy; consequence, eminence, importance, moment; impact, impress, impression, imprint, mark

Near Antonyms
helplessness, impotence, impotency, powerlessness, weakness

2 the power to bring about a result on another <the basic premise of astrology is that the position of the stars has an influence on human affairs> — see EFFECT 2

influent noun
a stream that flows into a larger body of water <along with its influents, the Missouri and Ohio rivers, the Mississippi River drains all or part of 31 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces> — see TRIBUTARY

influential adjective
1 having power over the minds or behavior of others <in light of the effect that they have had, religious leaders such as Jesus and Muḥammad must be regarded as among the most influential people ever>

Synonyms
authoritative, forceful, weighty

Related Words
cogent, controlling, dominating, masterful; dominant, predominant, regnant, sovereign (also sovran), supreme; eminent, important, momentous

Near Antonyms
helpless, impotent, powerless, weak; incapable, unable

2 having great power or influence <a particularly influential politician got the team a new ballpark> — see IMPORTANT 2

influx noun
a flowing or coming in <a sudden influx of people into the exurbs>

Synonyms
affluence, flux, income, inflow, inpouring, inrush

Related Words
deluge, flood, flow, inundation, overflow, spate, torrent; rush, stampede; river, stream, tide

Near Antonyms
emigration, exodus, flight

Antonyms
outflow, outpouring

info noun
a report of recent events or facts not previously known <wondered about the fate of newspapers, seeing as so many people now go on the Internet for info> — see NEWS

inform verb
1 to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities <the police only caught the mastermind of the burglary because his disgruntled partner informed> — see SQUEAL 1
2 to give information to <chose teaching as a career because it affords the opportunity to inform a whole generation of young minds> — see ENLIGHTEN 1

informal adjective
1 not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules <an informal meeting allowed everyone to get acquainted>

Synonyms
heterodox, irregular, unceremonious, unconventional, unorthodox

Related Words
unauthorized, unofficial; casual, easygoing, familiar, free and easy, lax, loose, offhand, relaxed, ultracasual

Near Antonyms
correct, decorous, proper; constrained, inhibited, restrained, rigid, stiff, stuffy, uptight

Antonyms
ceremonial, ceremonious, conventional, formal, orthodox, regular, routine

2 not designed to be worn only on special occasions <chose an informal flowery dress> — see CASUAL 1
3 used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing <the use of informal language in a scholarly article is really inappropriate> — see COLLOQUIAL 1

informant noun
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <the FBI is working closely with informants to find out about the subversive group> — see INFORMER

information noun
1 a collection of factual knowledge about something <the network correspondent spent the entire day gathering information for her report on the brewing scandal>

Synonyms
data, facts

Related Words
findings, intelligence

2 a report of recent events or facts not previously known <what's the latest information about the wildfires out in the West?> — see NEWS

informational adjective
providing useful information or knowledge <an informational presentation from the company's health care provider> — see INFORMATIVE

informative adjective
providing useful information or knowledge <some Web sites for family vacation resorts are very informative and some are practically useless>

Synonyms
educational, educative, enlightening, illuminating, informational, informatory, instructional, instructive

Related Words
comprehensive, copious, detailed, full; communicatory, edifying, elucidative, explanatory; chatty, gossipy, newsy; availing, beneficial, constructive, helpful, profitable; practical, serviceable, usable (also useable), useful, worthwhile

Near Antonyms
impractical, unhelpful, unusable, useless

Antonyms
unenlightening, unilluminating, uninformative, uninstructive

informatory adjective
providing useful information or knowledge <an informatory brochure is available for first-time visitors to the historic site> — see INFORMATIVE

informed adjective
1 based on sound reasoning or information <the expert's informed opinion persuaded many fence-sitters to get a flu shot> — see GOOD 1
2 having information especially as a result of study or experience <people who are informed about nutrition have some serious misgivings about this new diet> — see FAMILIAR 2

informer noun
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <the informer who told the police about that conspiracy has angered a lot of dangerous people>

Synonyms
betrayer, canary [slang], deep throat, fink, informant, nark [British], rat, rat fink, snitch, snitcher, squealer, stoolie, stool pigeon, talebearer, tattler, tattletale, telltale, whistle-blower

Related Words
collaborator; blabber, blabbermouth, gossip, gossiper, leaker; snoop, snooper, spy; notifier

infraction noun
a failure to uphold the requirements of law, duty, or obligation <speeding is only a minor infraction, but vehicular homicide is a serious felony> — see BREACH 1

infrastructure noun
the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form <a bold plan to deal a crippling blow to the infrastructure of international terrorism> — see FRAME 1

infrequent adjective
not often occurring or repeated <a shut-in who made infrequent trips to the store>

Synonyms
isolated, occasional, odd, rare, sporadic

Related Words
scarce, scattered, uncommon, unique, unusual; choppy, discontinuous, erratic, fitful, intermittent, irregular, spasmodic, spotty, unsteady

Phrases
few and far between

Near Antonyms
daily, regular; common, ordinary, routine

Antonyms
frequent

infrequently adverb
not often <their grandparents were disappointed that they visited so infrequently> — see SELDOM

infringe (on or upon) verb
to fail to keep <a law that was struck down by the court for infringing upon the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution> — see VIOLATE 1

infringement noun
a failure to uphold the requirements of law, duty, or obligation <any government action limiting freedom of speech is an infringement of the U.S. Constitution> — see BREACH 1

infuriate verb
to make angry <the quarterback's stupid mistake infuriated the coach> — see ANGER

infuriate adjective
feeling or showing anger <Casanova made a hasty retreat from the woman's bedroom, with the infuriate husband in hot pursuit> — see ANGRY

infuriated adjective
feeling or showing anger <an infuriated correspondent who keeps sending increasingly vicious letters> — see ANGRY

infuse verb
to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle <parents who infuse their children with strong moral values>

Synonyms
endue (or indue), imbue, inculcate, ingrain (also engrain), inoculate, invest, steep, suffuse

Related Words
animate, charge, enliven, invigorate, leaven; implant, instill, plant; impregnate, permeate, pervade, saturate; deluge, drown, fill, flood, inundate, overwhelm, submerge

Near Antonyms
deprive, divest, strip; clear, empty; eliminate, remove, take away

ingathering noun
a body of people come together in one place <before an ingathering of local members of the clergy the mayor addressed some of the problems facing the city> — see GATHERING

ingenious adjective
1 having the skill and imagination to create new things <an ingenious but rather eccentric inventor> — see CREATIVE 1
2 showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing <a chair that can't tip over is quite ingenious> — see CLEVER 1

ingeniousness noun
the skill and imagination to create new things <hired a new designer whose vision demonstrates a real ingeniousness> — see CREATIVITY 1

ingenuity noun
the skill and imagination to create new things <the mystery writer's exceptional ingenuity enabled her to devise plots that always had readers guessing to the very end> — see CREATIVITY 1

ingenuous adjective
1 free from any intent to deceive or impress others <photographs that capture the ingenuous smiles of young children at play> — see GUILELESS
2 lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <the story of an ingenuous newcomer to the big city who outwits the slickers at their own game> — see NAIVE 1

ingenuously adverb
without any attempt to impress by deception or exaggeration <like some other supermodels, she ingenuously claims that she doesn't consider herself beautiful> — see NATURALLY 3

ingenuousness noun
the quality or state of being simple and sincere <his aw-shucks ingenuousness endeared him to his sophisticated new friends> — see NAïVETÉ 1

ingest verb
1 to take in as food <claims that the average person ingests considerably more calories than is necessary or desirable> — see EAT 1
2 to take into the stomach through the mouth and throat <ingested the foul-tasting medicine with only the greatest difficulty> — see SWALLOW 1

ingrain also engrain verb
1 to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle <the journalism professor has long ingrained his students with a deep respect for their chosen profession> — see INFUSE
2 to produce a vivid impression of <the third-world privation he had witnessed forever ingrained itself upon the young doctor's memory> — see ENGRAVE 2
3 to set solidly in or as if in surrounding matter <tried to ingrain traditional values in their children> — see ENTRENCH

ingrain adjective
being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <an ingrain skepticism that saves him from falling for every hoax that comes along> — see INHERENT

ingrained also engrained adjective
being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <her deeply ingrained distrust of all authority> — see INHERENT

ingratiating adjective
likely or intended to win one's affection <one of the orphans had a most ingratiating smile>

Synonyms
disarming, endearing, insinuating, winning, winsome

Related Words
adorable, charming, likable (or likeable), lovable (also loveable); affecting, poignant, touching; adulatory, deferential, effusive, flattering, fulsome, groveling (or grovelling), kowtowing, obsequious, servile, sycophantic; drooling, oleaginous, slavering, slobbering; saccharine, soapy, sugary, unctuous

Near Antonyms
alienating, disaffecting, displeasing; repugnant, repulsive; arrogant, disdainful, haughty, insolent, proud, scornful

Antonyms
unendearing, uningratiating

ingratitude noun
failure or refusal to acknowledge receipt of something good from another <their daughter's ingratitude for all that they have done for her is truly appalling>

Synonyms
thanklessness, ungratefulness

Related Words
inappreciativeness, unappreciation

Antonyms
appreciation, appreciativeness, gratefulness, gratitude, thankfulness, thanks

ingredient noun
one of the parts that make up a whole <one of the ingredients in the salad dressing is sugar> — see ELEMENT 1

ingress noun
the means or right of entering or participating in <with limited ingress and egress to the freeway, the stadium is the frequent scene of bottlenecks> — see ENTRANCE 1

ingurgitate verb
to swallow or eat greedily <with no time for fine dining, we just ingurgitated our food and went on our way> — see GOBBLE

inhabitable adjective
suitable for living in <the search for an inhabitable planet> — see LIVABLE

inhabitant noun
one who lives permanently in a place <the inhabitants of the town don't like the tourists>

Synonyms
denizen, dweller, habitant, inhabiter, occupant, resident, resider, tenant

Related Words
cohabitant, coresident; aborigine, native; citizen, national, subject; colonist, émigré (also emigré), migrant, newcomer, settler; burgher, local, localite, townee [chiefly British], townie (or towny), townsman, villager

Near Antonyms
alien, foreigner, nonresident; guest, tourist, visitor; defector, emigrant, escaper, evacuee, exile, expatriate, refugee

Antonyms
transient

inhabiter noun
one who lives permanently in a place <he was the sole inhabiter of a 60-room mansion> — see INHABITANT

inhale verb
to swallow or eat greedily <inhaled the doughnuts so quickly that you would have missed it if you blinked> — see GOBBLE

inharmonious adjective
1 not being in agreement or harmony <the inn bans young children because the owners believe that they are inharmonious with the quiet atmosphere other guests desire> — see INCONSISTENT 1
2 marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds <a deliberately inharmonious piece of music in the modern idiom> — see DISSONANT

inharmony noun
a lack of agreement or harmony <a striking inharmony between the evangelist's professed spiritual concerns and his materialistic pleasures> — see DISCORD

inherent adjective
being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <an inherent concept of justice>

Synonyms
built-in, constitutional, constitutive, essential, hardwired, immanent, inborn, inbred, indigenous, ingrain, ingrained (also engrained), innate, integral, intrinsic, native, natural

Related Words
basic, deep-rooted, elemental, fundamental; congenital, hereditary, inherited, inmost, inner, interior; internal; characteristic, distinctive, peculiar; habitual, inveterate; normal, regular, typical

Phrases
in one's blood

Near Antonyms
alien, foreign; accidental, coincidental, incidental; acquired, adscititious; superficial, surface; exterior, external

Antonyms
adventitious, extraneous, extrinsic

inherently adverb
by natural character or ability <the judge's observation that women are not inherently better at parenting than men> — see NATURALLY 1

inheritable adjective
genetically passed or capable of being passed from parent to offspring <eye color is an inheritable trait> — see HEREDITARY

inheritance noun
something that is or may be inherited <a keen sense of humor was her inheritance from her mother>

Synonyms
bequest, birthright, heritage, legacy, patrimony

Related Words
heirloom; bestowal, gift, offering, present

inherited adjective
genetically passed or capable of being passed from parent to offspring <hair color is inherited> — see HEREDITARY

inheritor noun
a person who has the right to inherit property <someday that little boy will become the inheritor of one of the largest private fortunes in the country> — see HEIR

inhibit verb
1 to create difficulty for the work or activity of <the cold inhibited her from getting much work done that morning> — see HAMPER
2 to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <laws designed to inhibit the powers of the intelligence organizations> — see CONTROL 1
3 to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action <a fundamental sense of propriety should have inhibited you from making a drunken spectacle of yourself> — see DISCOURAGE 2

inhibition noun
1 the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others <an innate inhibition made it difficult for him to tell his girlfriend what he was really feeling> — see CONSTRAINT 1
2 something that makes movement or progress difficult <without the inhibition of their jackets, the boys were able to wrestle more vigorously> — see ENCUMBRANCE

inhospitable adjective
marked by opposition or ill will <the proposal received an unexpectedly inhospitable response from the city council> — see HOSTILE 1

inhuman adjective
1 difficult to endure <kept the prisoners in criminally inhuman conditions> — see HARSH 1
2 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <an inhuman indifference to the sufferings of other human beings> — see HARD 1
3 having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <a classic sociological study showing just how inhuman an individual can become when given absolute power over another> — see CRUEL 1

inhumane adjective
1 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <inhumane wardens who regularly ignored the crying children in their care> — see HARD 1
2 having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <an inhumane dictator who tortured and murdered thousands of his own people> — see CRUEL 1

inhumanity noun
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <man's inhumanity to man has been a recurring theme in human history> — see CRUELTY

inhumanness noun
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <the unspeakable inhumanness of the pseudoscientific experiments performed on inmates of the concentration camps> — see CRUELTY

inhumation noun
the act or ceremony of putting a dead body in its final resting place <there is evidence that this ancient culture practiced cremation as well as inhumation> — see BURIAL 1

inhume verb
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea <there were so many dead that it was impossible to inhume them all promptly> — see BURY 1

inimical adjective
1 marked by opposition or ill will <received an inimical response rather than the anticipated support> — see HOSTILE 1
2 opposed to one's interests <laws designed to enhance national security that some regard as inimical to cherished freedoms> — see ADVERSE 1

inimitable adjective
having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability <an inimitable performer of violin solos> — see ONLY 1

iniquitous adjective
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <zero tolerance at the academy for cheating and other iniquitous practices> — see BAD 2

iniquitousness adjective
immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society <a movie about an unhinged taxi driver who is disgusted by the iniquitousness of the city's tenderloin and goes on a murderous rampage> — see VICE 1

iniquity noun
1 immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society <the use of illegal narcotics is not only a destroyer of personal health but also an iniquity that undermines our society> — see VICE 1
2 that which is morally unacceptable <a nation still struggling with the aftereffects of the iniquity of slavery> — see EVIL

initial adjective
coming before all others in time or order <you've resolved my initial complaint, but now I have a new question> — see FIRST 1

initially adverb
in the beginning <we initially intended to rebuild our hurricane-damaged home from the ground up> — see ORIGINALLY

initiate verb
1 to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of <no one knows who initiated written language> — see FOUND
2 to impart knowledge of a new thing or situation to <initiated the new recruits in the unspoken laws of military conduct> — see ACQUAINT 1
3 to put into an office or welcome into an organization with special ceremonies <initiated her as Surgeon General before an army of reporters and photographers> — see INSTALL 1

initiation noun
the process or an instance of being formally placed in an office or organization <the initiation of the newest members of the local chamber of commerce> — see INSTALLATION 1

initiative noun
readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity <the sentry showed remarkable initiative and uncommon bravery in foiling the terrorist attack> — see ENTERPRISE 2

initiator noun
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor <as the initiator of printing from movable type, Gutenberg revolutionized people's access to written language> — see FATHER 2

inject verb
to put among or between others <injected one more comment into the body of the text> — see INSERT

injudicious adjective
showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations <lost a job because of an injudicious comment regarding the boss's toupee> — see INDISCREET

injunction noun
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <in the cult there were injunctions for and against everything, as nothing was a matter of personal choice> — see COMMAND 1

injure verb
1 to cause bodily damage to <injured himself while skiing>

Synonyms
damage, harm, hurt, wound

Related Words
batter, bloody, blow out, bruise, contuse, cut, gash, gore, lacerate, scald, scar, scathe, strain, tear; crease, graze, nick; cripple, hamstring, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate; abuse, aggrieve, afflict, maltreat, torment, torture; lay up; blemish, impair, mar, scrape, spoil

Near Antonyms
cure, fix, heal, mend, remedy

2 to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <the agent's treachery has injured our national security for years to come> — see DAMAGE 1

injurious adjective
causing or capable of causing harm <inaccurate news reports are injurious to the public's faith in the media> — see HARMFUL

injury noun
1 something that causes loss or pain <the harsh words were the worst injury that his father could inflict>

Synonyms
affliction, damage, detriment, harm, hurt

Related Words
disservice, injustice, outrage, wrong; affront, dart, indignity, insult, offense (or offence); beating, crippling, mayhem, mutilation; defacement, disability, disablement, disfigurement, impairment; lesion; rupture, strain; abrasion, chafe, scrape, scratch; boo-boo, bruise, contusion, swelling, wound; bump, concussion; cut, gash, laceration; burn, scald, scar, scathe, sear

Near Antonyms
healing, recovery; cure, fix, remedy

2 unfair or inadequate treatment of someone or something or an instance of this <the state did the rancher an injury when it destroyed his herd of cattle without adequate proof that it was diseased> — see DISSERVICE

injustice noun
1 the state of being unfair or unjust <the injustice of the coach's accusation that I'd been lazy frustrated and angered me>

Synonyms
inequity, unfairness, unjustness

Related Words
dirtiness, foulness

Antonyms
equity, fairness, justice

2 unfair or inadequate treatment of someone or something or an instance of this <a group that has long suffered injustice at the hands of our judicial system> — see DISSERVICE

ink verb
to write one's name on (as a document) <the basketball star just inked a two-year contract with the most celebrated franchise in the NBA> — see SIGN

inkling noun
a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation) <did not give the slightest inkling that he was planning to quit> — see HINT 1

inlet noun
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline <went fishing in the quiet inlets of the coast> — see GULF 1

in–migrant noun
one that leaves one place to settle in another <the recent flood of in-migrants has completely altered the state's cultural and political landscape> — see EMIGRANT

inn noun
a place that provides rooms and usually a public dining room for overnight guests <we decided to stay at an inn rather than keep driving all night> — see HOTEL

innards plural noun
1 the internal organs of the body <unpleasant memories of having to examine the innards of a frog for science class> — see GUT 1
2 an interior or internal part <consumers are warned against poking around in the innards of the air conditioner> — see INSIDE 1

innate adjective
being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <an innate athletic ability that allowed him to excel at just about any sport he tried his hand at> — see INHERENT

innately adverb
by natural character or ability <Anne Frank's memorable belief that most people are innately good> — see NATURALLY 1

inner adjective
1 situated farther in <an inner area of the national park that is some distance from the nearest road>

Synonyms
inside, interior, internal, inward

Related Words
inmost, innermost; central, mid, middle, midmost

Near Antonyms
outermost, outmost; surface

Antonyms
exterior, external, outer, outside, outward

2 of or relating to the mind <kept his inner life private> — see MENTAL 1

inner space noun
the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions <an intensely private individual, he treats his inner space as sacred ground that is off-limits to other people> — see CORE 1

innkeeper noun
the owner or manager of an inn <the innkeeper was a very genial, accommodating host>

Synonyms
boniface, landlord, taverner

Related Words
padrone, patron; hosteler (or hosteller), hotelier, hotelman

innocence noun
1 the quality or state of being free from guilt or blame <the accused embezzler eventually proved her innocence and was released>

Synonyms
blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness, impeccability, innocency, irreproachability, irreproachableness

Related Words
decency, goodness, honesty, incorruptibility, integrity, law-abidingness, righteousness, uprightness, virtuousness; morality, virtue; chastity, purity, sinlessness; harmlessness, inoffensiveness

Near Antonyms
blame, fault, responsibility; corruption, criminality, depravity, evil, immorality, reprehensibleness, sinfulness, wickedness; harmfulness, offensiveness

Antonyms
blameworthiness, culpability, guilt, guiltiness

2 the quality or state of being simple and sincere <the innocence of the child's question touched everyone present> — see NAïVETÉ 1
3 the state of being unaware or uninformed <in my innocence I just assumed that quoted rate was for a week's stay and not for a single night at the health spa> — see IGNORANCE 1
4 the quality or state of being morally pure <in Melville's novel, the sailor Billy Budd serves as a symbol of absolute innocence> — see CHASTITY 1

innocency noun
the quality or state of being free from guilt or blame <let me be the first to declare my own innocency in the matter: I neither spread nor believed the malicious gossip> — see INNOCENCE 1

innocent noun
an innocent or gentle person <an innocent who is often puzzled by and prey to the evils of the world> — see LAMB

innocent adjective
1 free from sin <an innocent baby>

Synonyms
impeccable, pure, sinless, white

Related Words
chaste, moral, virgin, virtuous; immaculate, spotless, unblemished, unstained, unsullied; decent, ethical, good, honest, honorable, righteous, upright, virtuous; blameless, guiltless

Near Antonyms
lascivious, lecherous, lewd, libidinous, lickerish, lustful, oversexed, unchaste; evil, immoral, iniquitous, reprobate, unrighteous, virtueless, wicked; corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, erring, fallen, lost, perverted; condemned, damned

Antonyms
impure, peccant, sinful, sinning

2 free from guilt or blame <the robbery suspect was eventually found to be innocent>

Synonyms
blameless, cleanhanded, clear, faultless, guiltless, impeccable, inculpable, irreproachable, lily-white

Related Words
absolved, acquitted, cleared, exonerated, vindicated; ethical, law-abiding, moral, righteous, upright, virtuous

Phrases
in the clear

Near Antonyms
blamable, blameworthy, censurable, culpable, impeachable, indictable, punishable; accused, impeached, indicted; condemned, convicted; hangdog, shamed, shamefaced

Antonyms
guilty

3 free from any intent to deceive or impress others <an innocent offer to sing before the gathering> — see GUILELESS
4 lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <an innocent young woman who felt a little out of place among her more sophisticated roommates> — see NAIVE 1
5 not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt <good-natured teasing that is just innocent fun> — see HARMLESS
6 not informed about or aware of something <a woman who seems entirely innocent of good manners and common courtesy> — see IGNORANT 2

innocently adverb
1 without any attempt to impress by deception or exaggeration <“You look nice,” she commented innocently> — see NATURALLY 3
2 with purity of thought and deed <very young children approach the world so innocently> — see PURELY 1

innocuous adjective
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt <those innocuous lies we must tell every day if society is to remain civil> — see HARMLESS

innominate adjective
not named or identified by a name <those innominate artisans and artists who built and decorated the great medieval cathedrals of Europe> — see NAMELESS 1

innovate verb
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of <innovated a new system for filing books that dramatically improved efficiency in libraries> — see FOUND

innovation noun
something (as a device) created for the first time through the use of the imagination <the computer is one innovation that revolutionized the business world> — see INVENTION 1

innovational adjective
having the skill and imagination to create new things <in the high-tech sector, a company is either innovational—or it's history> — see CREATIVE 1

innovative adjective
1 having the skill and imagination to create new things <an award for the most innovative designer of consumer electronics> — see CREATIVE 1
2 showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing <innovative automotive technology> — see CLEVER 1

innovativeness noun
the skill and imagination to create new things <a surprising new product from a company that has never been a wellspring of innovativeness> — see CREATIVITY 1

innovator noun
one who creates or introduces something new <thank goodness for the innovator who thought up the remote control> — see INVENTOR

innovatory adjective
having the skill and imagination to create new things <the composer Charles Ives is remembered for his innovatory use of dissonance and polytonal harmonies> — see CREATIVE 1

innuendo noun
a slyly or subtly derogatory remark <repeatedly made innuendos regarding his opponent's business dealings but feigned innocence when called upon to substantiate them>

Synonyms
imputation, insinuation

Related Words
aspersion, libel, slander, smear; affront, dig, epithet, indignity, insult, slight, slur; hint, inkling, intimation, suggestion

innumerable adjective
too many to be counted <our reasons to give thanks are as innumerable as the stars> — see COUNTLESS

innumerous adjective
too many to be counted <had offered to help with the cleaning on innumerous occasions> — see COUNTLESS

inoculate verb
to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle <inoculated them with the idea that the individual can always make a difference in this world> — see INFUSE

inoffensive adjective
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt <an inoffensive little joke at the opening of his speech> — see HARMLESS

inoperable adjective
1 not being in working order <we have several inoperable cars on the property>

Synonyms
down, inoperative, kaput (also kaputt), malfunctioning, nonfunctional, nonfunctioning, nonoperating

Related Words
broken; off; deactivated, deadlocked, ineffective, ineffectual, nonproductive, unproductive, unusable, unworkable, useless

Phrases
on the blink, on the fritz, out of commission

Near Antonyms
effective, effectual, employable, performing, producing, productive, serving, usable (also useable), useful, viable, workable

Antonyms
functional, functioning, operable, operant, operating, operational, operative, running, working

2 not capable of being put to use or account <a delightfully creative but inoperable plan for building a theme park in the area> — see IMPRACTICAL

inoperative adjective
1 not being in a state of use, activity, or employment <be careful when putting your hands in even an inoperative garbage disposal> — see INACTIVE 2
2 not being in working order <looking for an expert to fix the inoperative grandfather clock> — see INOPERABLE 1
3 having no legal or binding force <the decision of the state's supreme court has rendered the law inoperative> — see NULL 1

inopportune adjective
occurring before the usual or expected time <their inopportune arrival before the house was cleaned> — see EARLY 2

inopportunely adverb
before the usual or expected time <dropped in inopportunely, before dinner was ready> — see EARLY

inordinate adjective
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <an inordinate number of complaints about the slow pace of snow removal around the city> — see EXCESSIVE

inordinately adverb
beyond a normal or acceptable limit <taking an inordinately long time to finish the house> — see TOO 1

inpouring noun
a flowing or coming in <that small nation has been overwhelmed by an inpouring of refugees from its war-torn neighbor> — see INFLUX

input noun
1 matter that is fed into something <at that point I was being subjected to so much sensory input that I had to close my eyes>

Synonyms
intake

Related Words
accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, gain, increment, supplement

Antonyms
output, outturn, production, throughput

2 an opinion suggesting a wise or proper course of action <he solicited input from several trusted sources before making the investment> — see ADVICE 1

inquest noun
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something <the police conducted an inquest into the case> — see INQUIRY 1

inquire (into) verb
to search through or into <the principal inquired into the possibility of holding graduation at a larger hall> — see EXPLORE 1

inquire (of) verb
to put a question or questions to <casually inquired of the neighbors the identity of the house's previous owner> — see ASK 1

inquiry noun
1 a systematic search for the truth or facts about something <an inquiry into the origins of the universe>

Synonyms
delving, disquisition, examen, examination, exploration, inquest, inquisition, investigation, probation, probe, probing, research, study

Related Words
quest; audit, check; checkup, diagnosis, inspection; hearing, interrogation, trial; feeler, query, question; poll, questionary, questionnaire, survey; challenge, cross-examination, going-over, grilling, quiz; rehearing, reinvestigation; self-examination, self-exploration, self-questioning, self-reflection, self-scrutiny, soul-searching

2 an act or instance of asking for information <one student made a hesitant inquiry about the assignment> — see QUESTION 2

inquisition noun
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something <there's no need to conduct an inquisition about so trivial a matter> — see INQUIRY 1

inquisitive adjective
interested in what is not one's own business <an inquisitive woman who tends to everybody's business but her own> — see CURIOUS 1

inquisitiveness noun
an eager desire to find out about things that are often none of one's business <his irksome inquisitiveness made people reluctant to socialize with him> — see CURIOSITY 1

inroad noun
a sudden attack on and entrance into hostile territory <the army is finally making inroads into enemy territory> — see RAID 1

inrush noun
a flowing or coming in <a sudden inrush of air blew my hair back> — see INFLUX

insalubrious adjective
bad for the well-being of the body <after inhaling the insalubrious city smog for a month, I was happy to once again breathe in the fresh air of the country> — see UNHEALTHY 1

ins and outs plural noun
the characteristic peculiarities and technicalities of something <still learning the ins and outs of the brokerage business>

Synonyms
mechanics, ropes, workings

Related Words
details, incidentals, minutiae, particulars; oddities, quirks; brass tacks, nuts and bolts

insane adjective
1 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <only an insane person would intentionally jump off a skyscraper>

Synonyms
balmy, barmy [chiefly British], bats, batty, bedlam, bonkers, brainsick, bughouse [slang], certifiable, crackbrained, cracked, crackers, crackpot, cranky [dialect], crazed, crazy, cuckoo, daffy, daft, demented, deranged, fruity [slang], gaga, haywire, kooky (also kookie), loco [slang], loony (also looney), loony tunes (or looney tunes), lunatic, mad, maniacal (also maniac), mental, meshuga (or meshugge also meshugah or meshuggah), moonstruck, non compos mentis, nuts, nutty, psycho, psychotic, scatty [chiefly British], screwy, unbalanced, unhinged, unsound, wacko (also whacko), wacky (also whacky), wud [chiefly Scottish]

Related Words
dotty, fey, loopy, off, potty [chiefly British], teched (or tetched), touched; aberrant, delirious, delusional, delusionary, disordered, disturbed, neurotic, obsessive-compulsive, paranoiac (also paranoic), paranoid (also paranoidal), schizoid, schizophrenic, sociopathic; eccentric, odd, oddball, pixilated (also pixillated), queer, strange; foolish, senseless, witless; irrational, unreasonable; amok (or amuck), ape, ballistic, bananas, berserk, nuclear; depressed; distracted, distraught, frantic, frenzied, haywire, hysterical (also hysteric), raving, wigged-out; fixated, monomaniac, monomaniacal, obsessed

Phrases
around the bend, off one's gourd, off one's head, off one's rocker, out of one's head (or mind), out to lunch [slang]

Near Antonyms
clear, lucid, rational, reasonable; judicious, sensible, wise; healthy, normal, well-adjusted; unneurotic

Antonyms
balanced, compos mentis, sane, sound, uncrazy

2 conceived or made without regard for reason or reality <a completely insane plan to build an opera house in the middle of nowhere> — see FANTASTIC 1
3 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <an insane plan to blow all of their savings on lottery tickets> — see FOOLISH 1
4 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <wanted an insane amount of money to paint our house> — see EXCESSIVE

insanity noun
1 a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life <his incurable insanity requires that he spend the rest of his life in a mental hospital>

Synonyms
aberration, dementia, derangement, lunacy, madness, mania, rage [archaic]

Related Words
neurosis, psychosis; instability, irrationality, unreasonableness; delirium, frenzy, hysteria; hallucinosis, hypomania, paranoia, schizophrenia; senile dementia; delusion, hallucination; monomania, obsession, phobia; abnormality, dementedness, unsoundness

Near Antonyms
lucidity, rationality, rationalness, reasonability, reasonableness; normality, soundness

Antonyms
mind, saneness, sanity

2 a foolish act or idea <everyone laughed at the latest insanity from the town eccentric> — see FOLLY 1
3 lack of good sense or judgment <had the insanity to think that taking over a government building in protest of our foreign policy was a good idea> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

insatiable adjective
incapable of being satisfied <an insatiable need for the approval of others>

Synonyms
inappeasable, inextinguishable, insatiate, quenchless, unappeasable, unquenchable, unslakable

Related Words
unappeased, unsatisfied; avid, rapacious, ravenous, voracious; demanding, exigent, importunate, insistent, urgent; clamorous, crying, pressing, yearning

Near Antonyms
satiate, satiated, satisfied; controlled, curbed, restrained

Antonyms
appeasable, extinguishable, satiable, satisfiable

insatiate adjective
incapable of being satisfied <an insatiate avarice that impels him to work incessantly for a fortune that he will never have time to enjoy> — see INSATIABLE

inscribe verb
1 to cut (as letters or designs) on a hard surface <paid a jeweler to inscribe their names and wedding date on their wedding rings> — see ENGRAVE 1
2 to add (a person) to a list or roll as a participant or member <inscribed the couple in the society of sustaining donors to the museum> — see ENROLL 1
3 to put (someone or something) on a list <inscribed his name on the list of those to be executed> — see 1LIST 2

inscrutability noun
1 the quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or explain <the inscrutability of divine intentions is something that people of faith usually just accept>

Synonyms
impenetrability, inscrutableness, mysteriousness, numinousness, obscurity, uncanniness

Related Words
deepness, profundity; darkness, murkiness, obscurity, shadowiness, vagueness; ambiguity, equivocality, equivocalness; incomprehensibility, unintelligibility, unintelligibleness; inexplicability, inexplicableness; unanswerability; unknowability; abstruseness, abstrusity, esotericism, hermetism, reconditeness

Near Antonyms
intelligibility, understandability; clarity, obviousness, plainness, self-evidence, straightforwardness, transparency

2 the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <the inscrutability of the notations in the ledger—who, for example, was the recipient of “gift to X” ?> — see OBSCURITY 1

inscrutable adjective
1 being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain <the many inscrutable beliefs of that ancient religion> — see MYSTERIOUS 1
2 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <ancient oracles typically uttered inscrutable prophecies that could be interpreted almost any way one chose> — see OBSCURE 1

inscrutableness noun
1 the quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or explain <it's the sheer inscrutableness of the lady's smile that has tantalized art lovers for centuries> — see INSCRUTABILITY 1
2 the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <the inscrutableness of the inscriptions left by the doomed colonists of Roanoke Island has inspired many theories concerning their fate> — see OBSCURITY 1

insculp verb, archaic
to cut (as letters or designs) on a hard surface <laid to rest under a stone insculpt with the figure of an angel> — see ENGRAVE 1

insect noun
a person of no importance or influence <the magazine's editor in chief was notorious for treating staffers as insects, often not even bothering to learn their names> — see NOBODY

insecure adjective
1 not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched <insecure twine allowed the bundle of newspapers to break open as soon as it was tossed to the ground> — see LOOSE 1
2 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <I always feel insecure in those high-end highfalutin restaurants> — see NERVOUS 1

insecurity noun
the quality or state of not being firmly fixed in position <the insecurity of the bookcase made it dangerous for a household with small children who like to climb> — see INSTABILITY

inseminate verb
to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set <the notion that their monarch ruled by divine right had been inseminated in the people for countless generations> — see IMPLANT 1

insensate adjective
1 lacking animate awareness or sensation <the belief that God is immanent in all things, even insensate objects>

Synonyms
inanimate, insensible, insentient, senseless, unfeeling

Related Words
exanimate, lifeless; comatose, unconscious

Near Antonyms
aware, cognizant, conscious; animated, lively, vibrant

Antonyms
animate, feeling, sensate, sensible, sensitive, sentient

2 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <an insensate boss who refuses to allow time off for funerals> — see HARD 1

insensibility noun
1 a lack of emotion or emotional expressiveness <the husband's general insensibility is creating great tension in the marriage> — see APATHY 1
2 a temporary state of unconsciousness <knocked into insensibility by the blow to the head> — see FAINT

insensible adjective
1 having lost consciousness <if a choking person is insensible, you should lay them down on their back before performing the Heimlich maneuver> — see UNCONSCIOUS 1
2 not perceptible by a sense or by the mind <the fragile glass flowers can be damaged by even the most insensible tremors> — see IMPERCEPTIBLE
3 having or showing a lack of interest or concern <city hall remains insensible to our complaints about the downtown parking situation> — see INDIFFERENT 1
4 lacking animate awareness or sensation <even the canyon's insensible rocks seemed to mock the stranded climber's utter helplessness> — see INSENSATE 1
5 lacking in refinement or good taste <married an insensible brute upon whom the niceties of life were completely lost> — see COARSE 2
6 not informed about or aware of something <a scientist who usually is so engrossed in his work that he is quite insensible of the passage of time> — see IGNORANT 2

insensitive adjective
1 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <an insensitive remark about his deceased wife that was incredibly rude> — see HARD 1
2 lacking in sensation or feeling <fingers rendered insensitive by the cold> — see NUMB 1

insentient adjective
1 lacking animate awareness or sensation <refused to believe that the universe as we know it evolved from the random interactions of insentient particles of matter> — see INSENSATE 1
2 not having or showing a deep understanding of something <an insentient therapist who failed to see what the teenager's real problem was> — see IMPERCEPTIVE

inseparability noun
the state of being in a very personal or private relationship <never seen apart, the two women had an inseparability that was legendary among their friends> — see FAMILIARITY 1

inseparable adjective
closely acquainted <they've been inseparable friends since they met at summer camp years ago> — see FAMILIAR 1

insert verb
to put among or between others <surreptitiously inserted the book in its proper place on the shelf>

Synonyms
edge in, fit (in or into), inject, insinuate, intercalate, interject, interpolate, interpose, intersperse, introduce, sandwich (in or between), work in

Related Words
cut in, inlay, inset, install; interfile, interline, lard, weave; cram, shove, thrust, wedge; add, append, attach

Near Antonyms
eject, eliminate, exclude, expel, extract, withdraw; deduct, detach, subtract; reject

inshore adjective
of, relating to, or situated in the waters near the shore <an oil spill that was devastating to inshore fisheries in the area>

Synonyms
alongshore, coastal, littoral, nearshore, offshore, shoreside

Related Words
beachside, seaside, waterside

Near Antonyms
blue-water, deepwater, oceanic

inside adjective
1 not known or meant to be known by the general populace <made a stock trade based on inside information> — see PRIVATE 1
2 situated farther in <chose the inside lane to run around the track> — see INNER 1

inside noun
1 an interior or internal part <the inside of the clock features an amazingly complex mechanism>

Synonyms
innards, interior, within

Related Words
belly, bowels, guts; stuffing; recesses; center, core, heart

Near Antonyms
border, boundary, brim, brink, edge, end, extremity, fringe, limit, lip, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim; surface

Antonyms
exterior, outside

2 usually insides plural the internal organs of the body <medical students eager to see what people's insides look like> — see GUT 1
3 the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions <not one to share her fears and worries, she keeps it all on the inside> — see CORE 1
4 information not generally available to the public <a person with the inside on what really happened at the board meeting> — see DOPE 1

inside out adverb
with attention to all aspects or details <after 20 years of employment there, he has come to know the company inside out> — see THOROUGHLY 1

inside track noun
the more favorable condition or position in a competition <the applicant with actual experience in pharmaceutical sales will definitely have the inside track for the job> — see ADVANTAGE 1

insight noun
the ability to understand inner qualities or relationships <a therapist with real insight into people's personalities> — see WISDOM 1

insightful adjective
having or showing deep understanding and intelligent application of knowledge <a critical study featuring an insightful analysis of the novelist's recurring themes> — see WISE 1

insignificance noun
the quality or state of being unimportant <a tabloid newspaper devoted to people and events of astonishing insignificance>

Synonyms
immateriality, inconsequence, inconsequentiality, inconsiderableness, insignificancy, littleness, negligibility, nullity, pettiness, slightness, smallness, triviality

Related Words
emptiness, valuelessness, worthlessness

Near Antonyms
substance, value, worth

Antonyms
bigness, consequence, import, importance, magnitude, moment, significance, weight, weightiness

insignificancy noun
1 a person of no importance or influence <forced to face the fact that he would always be an insignificancy in such a large law firm, he decided to strike out on his own> — see NOBODY
2 the quality or state of being unimportant <we shouldn't even be talking about a matter of such patent insignificancy> — see INSIGNIFICANCE

insignificant adjective
1 lacking importance <an insignificant detail that we can safely ignore> — see UNIMPORTANT
2 so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <the insignificant wear on the doll's face does nothing to diminish its considerable value as an antique> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

insincere adjective
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <the insincere compliments of a spiteful gossip>

Synonyms
artificial, backhanded, counterfeit, double, double-dealing, double-faced, fake, feigned, hypocritical, Janus-faced, jive [slang], left-handed, lip, mealy, mealymouthed, Pecksniffian, phony (also phoney), phony-baloney (or phoney-baloney), pretended, two-faced, unctuous

Related Words
affected, assumed, claptrap, contrived, forced, mechanical, put-on, simulated, strained, unnatural; empty, hollow, meaningless; deceitful, devious, dishonest, false, untruthful; facile, glib, superficial; bogus, sham; campy, facetious, jocular, tongue-in-cheek; canting, pharisaical, pious, sanctimonious, self-righteous, simon-pure

Near Antonyms
direct, forthright, frank, heart-to-heart, open, plain, straightforward

Antonyms
artless, candid, genuine, heartfelt, honest, sincere, undesigning, unfeigned

insincerity noun
the pretending of having virtues, principles, or beliefs that one in fact does not have <the insincerity of the family's professed concern for the environment is pretty much exposed by the gas-guzzler parked in the driveway> — see HYPOCRISY

insinuate verb
1 to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way <years were needed for the agent to insinuate himself into the terrorist organization>

Synonyms
infiltrate, slip, sneak, wind, work in, worm, wriggle

Related Words
creep, edge, wiggle; insert, interpolate, interpose, introduce

2 to convey an idea indirectly <are you insinuating that I won by cheating?> — see HINT
3 to put among or between others <quietly insinuated herself among the concertgoers raptly listening to the piano solo> — see INSERT

insinuating adjective
likely or intended to win one's affection <the fortune hunter's insinuating attentions were having their intended effect on the naive heiress> — see INGRATIATING

insinuation noun
a slyly or subtly derogatory remark <the insinuation that there were considerations other than love for the actor having such a high-profile wedding> — see INNUENDO

insipid adjective
1 lacking in taste or flavor <an apple pie with a mushy, insipid filling that strongly resembled soggy cardboard>

Synonyms
dead, flat, flavorless, savorless, tasteless, unsavory

Related Words
bland, dilute, thin, watery, weak; plain, unflavored

Near Antonyms
disgusting, distasteful, loathsome, sickening, unappetizing, unpalatable; cloying, mawkish; appetizing, delectable, delicious, palatable, toothsome; keen, piquant, seasoned, spicy; flavored; heavy, rich

Antonyms
flavorful, flavorsome, sapid, savory (also savoury), tasteful, tasty

2 lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character <an insipid and somewhat boring movie about teenagers in love> — see WISHY-WASHY 1

insist verb
to state as a fact usually forcefully <she continued to insist that she was right, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary> — see CLAIM 1

insist (on) verb
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority <the director insisted on absolute quiet on the set> — see DEMAND 1

insistence noun
a solemn and often public declaration of the truth or existence of something <a continued insistence that there was a massive cover-up by the government> — see PROTESTATION

insistent adjective
continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement <Margaret Sanger is remembered as an insistent crusader for birth control> — see PERSISTENT

insobriety noun
1 a propensity for extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits <a short, unhappy life characterized chiefly by insobriety> — see EXCESS 2
2 habitual or excessive drinking of intoxicants <her once-promising singing career was undermined by insobriety and emotional instability> — see INTEMPERANCE 1

insofar as conjunction
to the degree that <insofar as I know, there are no other complications for obtaining the building permit> — see INASMUCH AS 1

insolence noun
1 disrespectful or argumentative talk given in response to a command or request <amazed that parents would tolerate such insolence from their teenaged children> — see BACK TALK
2 rude behavior <her frequent displays of insolence have lowered her standing among movie fans> — see DISCOURTESY

insolent adjective
displaying or marked by rude boldness <an appallingly insolent reply to a reasonable request> — see NERVY 1

insoluble adjective
incapable of being solved or accomplished <the seemingly insoluble mystery concerning the identity of the people who built these ancient structures> — see IMPOSSIBLE

insolvable adjective
incapable of being solved or accomplished <faced with the perennially insolvable dilemma of having to choose between career and family> — see IMPOSSIBLE

insolvency noun
the inability to pay one's debts <unless the economy improves, many resorts in the area face insolvency>

Synonyms
bankruptcy, failure, ruin

Related Words
Chapter 11

Antonyms
solvency

insomnia noun
the inability to obtain adequate sleep <has suffered from insomnia virtually his entire life>

Synonyms
sleeplessness, wakefulness

Related Words
alertness, restlessness

Near Antonyms
drowsiness, sleepiness; narcolepsy

insomniac adjective
not sleeping or able to sleep <an insomniac veteran tormented by his memories of the war> — see WAKEFUL

insomuch as conjunction
to the degree that <insomuch as one can ever know about these things, their marriage seems solid as a rock> — see INASMUCH AS 1

insomuch that conjunction
to the degree that <insomuch that it is humanely possible, I try not to lie about anything> — see INASMUCH AS 1

insouciance noun
lack of interest or concern <wandered into the meeting with complete insouciance to the fact that she was late> — see INDIFFERENCE

insouciant adjective
1 having or showing freedom from worries or trouble <the insouciant gaiety of the idle rich> — see CAREFREE
2 having or showing a lack of interest or concern <an insouciant attitude about punctuality that is really discourteous to her coworkers> — see INDIFFERENT 1

inspect verb
to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) <inspected the collie before the dog show>

Synonyms
audit, check (out), con, examine, overlook, oversee, review, scan, scrutinize, survey, view

Related Words
notice, observe, watch; comb, peruse, pore (over); analyze, dissect, parse; delve (into), explore, investigate, plumb, probe, research, study; categorize, classify; pick over; reinspect, rereview, resurvey

Phrases
go over

Near Antonyms
skim; glance (at or over); miss, overlook

inspection noun
a close look at or over someone or something in order to judge condition <a prison cell inspection should include looking under the bed, to say the least>

Synonyms
audit, check, checkup, examination, going-over, look-see, review, scan, scrutiny, survey, view

Related Words
analysis, assay, close-up, deconstruction, dissection; exploration, investigation, probe, research, study; inquisition, interrogation; once-over, perusal; recheck, reinspection, resurvey; observation, surveillance, watch; checkout, test-drive, trial run

inspire verb
1 to fill with courage or strength of purpose <the rousing campaign speech inspired everyone to get out the vote> — see ENCOURAGE 1
2 to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved) <what inspired that comment?> — see EDUCE
3 to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding <great works of visual art can inspire us in ways that the written word often cannot> — see ENLIGHTEN 2

inspiring adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <an inspiring idea for a national program in which young people would commit themselves to a year of community service> — see EXCITING 1

inspirit verb
to fill with courage or strength of purpose <the sight of the royal family doughtily enduring the bombing raids greatly inspirited the rest of the population> — see ENCOURAGE 1

instability noun
the quality or state of not being firmly fixed in position <the instability of the bridge became tragically apparent when it suddenly collapsed>

Synonyms
insecurity, precariousness, shakiness, unstableness, unsteadiness

Related Words
insubstantiality, unsoundness; changeability, inconstancy, mutability; laxness, looseness, slackness

Near Antonyms
firmness, soundness, substantiality

Antonyms
fastness, fixedness, security, stability, steadiness

install verb
1 to put into an office or welcome into an organization with special ceremonies <installed her as the new principal of the high school>

Synonyms
baptize, inaugurate, induct, initiate, instate, invest, seat

Related Words
swear in; consecrate, enshrine; accept, admit, receive, take in; enlist, enroll (also enrol)

Near Antonyms
can, discharge, fire, terminate; muster out

2 to establish or place comfortably or snugly <installed herself in an easy chair by the fireplace and remained there for the rest of the afternoon> — see ENSCONCE 1

installation noun
1 the process or an instance of being formally placed in an office or organization <the installation of a new president takes place once every four years>

Synonyms
baptism, inaugural, inauguration, induction, initiation, installment (also instalment), investiture, investment

Related Words
enlistment, enrollment (also enrolment); promotion

Near Antonyms
discharge, removal

2 a structure that is designed and built for a particular purpose <a massive installation that supplies the electrical power needs for the entire state> — see FACILITY

installment also instalment noun
the process or an instance of being formally placed in an office or organization <attended the installment of the new university president> — see INSTALLATION 1

instance noun
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like <this is just one instance of his repeated failure to do what he promised> — see EXAMPLE

instance verb
1 to give as an example <instanced one particular incident as an illustration of their penchant for practical jokes> — see QUOTE 1
2 to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically <instanced the latest astronomical research in her presentation on measuring star magnitude> — see MENTION 1
3 to show or make clear by using examples <instanced the hero's moral courage with several examples from the novel> — see ILLUSTRATE 1

instant adjective
1 done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time <an instant response to the cry for help> — see INSTANTANEOUS
2 needing immediate attention <an instant need for food supplies in the famine-stricken country> — see ACUTE 2
3 existing or in progress right now <we should be more concerned with instant dangers than with those in the far-off future> — see PRESENT 1

instant noun
a very small space of time <it all happened in an instant>

Synonyms
beat, eyeblink, flash, heartbeat, jiff, jiffy, minute, moment, nanosecond, New York minute, second, shake, split second, trice, twinkle, twinkling, wink

Related Words
microsecond; snatch, spurt

Near Antonyms
aeon (or eon), age, eternity, forever; infinity, lifetime

instantaneous adjective
done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time <the thunder following the flash of lightning was nearly instantaneous>

Synonyms
immediate, instant, split-second, straightaway

Related Words
summary; fast, hit-and-run, prompt, quick, rapid, speedy, swift

Near Antonyms
dilatory, tardy; slow, sluggish; prolonged, protracted; deferred, delayed

instantaneously adverb
without delay <I had just slammed the car door shut when I instantaneously remembered that I had left the keys inside> — see IMMEDIATELY

instanter adverb
without delay <as soon as I had called out that answer, I instanter knew that it was wrong> — see IMMEDIATELY

instantiate verb
to represent in visible form <his imposing mansion is intended to instantiate for visitors his staggering success as an entrepreneur> — see EMBODY 2

instantiation noun
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <a generation that regarded Susan Sontag as the instantiation of the modern urban intellectual> — see EMBODIMENT

instantly adverb
without delay <showed leadership by reacting instantly to the crisis> — see IMMEDIATELY

instantly conjunction
just at the moment that <we realized there would be problems instantly we saw the final report> — see WHEN 2

instate verb
to put into an office or welcome into an organization with special ceremonies <the new secretary of the treasury was instated on Monday> — see INSTALL 1

instead adverb
as a substitute <I was offered a ride, but I chose to walk instead>

Synonyms
first, rather

Related Words
alternately, alternatively

Phrases
in lieu

instigate verb
1 to bring (something volatile or intense) into being <the medical breakthrough instigated a whole new field of therapy> — see INCITE 1
2 to rouse to strong feeling or action <the charge that the scene in the movie had instigated teenagers to commit similar acts of vandalism> — see PROVOKE 1

instigating adjective
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction <an artist who deliberately creates instigating works of art that are sure to arouse controversy> — see PROVOCATIVE

instigation noun
1 something that arouses a strong response from another <without instigation of any kind, the man suddenly threw a punch> — see PROVOCATION 1
2 something that arouses action or activity <the promise of windfall profits was all the instigation they needed to invest in the scheme> — see IMPULSE 1

instigative adjective
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction <she is no stranger to controversy, having penned several instigative and inflammatory books attacking liberals> — see PROVOCATIVE

instigator noun
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent <an instigator who always managed to be innocently standing by once the fighting began> — see AGITATOR

instill verb
to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set <a charismatic leader who instilled in his followers a passionate commitment to the cause> — see IMPLANT 1

instinctive adjective
done instantly and without conscious thought or decision <the instinctive reaction of a mother is to protect her children> — see AUTOMATIC 1

instinctual adjective
done instantly and without conscious thought or decision <the birds' instinctual response is to fly away when startled> — see AUTOMATIC 1

institute noun
1 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <founded an institute to combat the cruel treatment of animals> — see ASSOCIATION 2
2 a public organization with a particular purpose or function <a scientific institute researching a cure for cancer> — see INSTITUTION 1

institute verb
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of <Elizabeth Cady Stanton is generally credited with instituting the women's-rights movement in 1848> — see FOUND

instituter or institutor noun
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor <Eli Whitney is known as the instituter of the American system of manufacture on account of his pioneering concept of the mass production of interchangeable parts> — see FATHER 2

institution noun
1 a public organization with a particular purpose or function <a charitable institution devoted to raising funds to feed the hungry>

Synonyms
establishment, foundation, institute

Related Words
body, collective, group; corporation, enterprise; charity, philanthropy; think tank

2 a person who has long been associated with a place or activity <an actor who has been a Broadway institution for decades>

Synonyms
fixture

Related Words
first lady, grand old man; icon (also ikon), symbol; dean, elder statesman

3 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <an institution devoted to studying social problems and proposing solutions for them> — see ASSOCIATION 2
4 a place where insane people are cared for <their father was committed to an institution after his mental health began to rapidly deteriorate> — see MADHOUSE 1

instruct verb
1 to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field <spent his military career instructing young pilots> — see TEACH
2 to give information to <instructed everyone in the use of the new telephone system> — see ENLIGHTEN 1
3 to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority <the proctors instructed everyone to put their pencils down and hand in their tests> — see COMMAND 1

instruction noun
1 a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <needed an administrative assistant who was good at following instructions> — see COMMAND 1
2 the act or process of imparting knowledge or skills to another <the view that the instruction of our nation's youth should be our highest priority> — see EDUCATION 1

instructional adjective
providing useful information or knowledge <an instructional DVD on home repair for do-it-yourselfers> — see INFORMATIVE

instructive adjective
providing useful information or knowledge <an instructive demonstration of the proper way to pack a suitcase so your clothes don't arrive in a mess> — see INFORMATIVE

instructor noun
a person whose occupation is to give formal instruction in a school <had spent most of his adulthood as an instructor in the local school system> — see TEACHER

instrument noun
1 a written or printed paper giving information about or proof of something <a valid will is a legal instrument> — see CERTIFICATE
2 an article intended for use in work <always choose the right instrument for any woodworking job> — see IMPLEMENT
3 something used to achieve an end <he sees scouting as an instrument for building character in young people> — see AGENT 1
4 one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another <the claim that the scientists are mere instruments of the tobacco companies, who pay them to produce findings that are highly suspect> — see 1PAWN

instrumentalist noun
a person who plays a musical instrument <he excels as a conductor, a composer, and as an instrumentalist> — see MUSICIAN 1

instrumentality noun
something used to achieve an end <computer literacy is only an instrumentality for acquiring an education, and not an end in itself> — see AGENT 1

insubordinate adjective
given to resisting authority or another's control <the junior officer was court-martialed for being insubordinate> — see DISOBEDIENT

insubordination noun
refusal to obey <was fired for chronic insubordination> — see DISOBEDIENCE

insubstantial adjective
1 being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance <an insubstantial carton that could not possibly stand up during long-distance shipping> — see FLIMSY 1
2 not composed of matter <energy is insubstantial> — see IMMATERIAL 1

insufferable adjective
more than can be put up with <an insufferable bore whose only topic of conversation is himself> — see UNBEARABLE

insufficiency noun
1 a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <dealt with the school's insufficiency of art supplies by buying materials out of her own pocket> — see DEFICIENCY
2 the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means <her alleged insufficiency for the job> — see INABILITY

insufficient adjective
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need <there's been an insufficient number of volunteers for the job, so I'll have to select someone> — see SHORT 3

insular adjective
not broad or open in views or opinions <an insular community that is not receptive of new ideas, especially from outsiders> — see NARROW 2

insulate verb
to set or keep apart from others <tried to insulate their children from the often disturbing news in the mass media> — see ISOLATE

insulation noun
the state of being alone or kept apart from others <she had grown up in such rural insulation that she'd never met anyone of a different race> — see ISOLATION

insult noun
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <panelists on that political talk show simply exchange insults, not ideas>

Synonyms
affront, barb, brickbat, cut, dart, dig, dis (also diss) [slang], epithet, gird, indignity, name, offense (or offence), outrage, personality, poke, put-down, sarcasm, slap, slight, slur

Related Words
catcall, gibe (or jibe), jeer, mock, quip, sneer, taunt; abuse, invective, vituperation; disapproval, opprobrium; disgrace, dishonor, shame; attack, criticism, knock, slam, swipe; torment, torture

Near Antonyms
accolade, commendation, compliment; acclaim, applause, praise; adulation, flattery

insult verb
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in <insulted their hosts by casually remarking about the outdated look of their home>

Synonyms
affront, dis (also diss) [slang], disrespect, offend, outrage, slap, slight, wound

Related Words
cut, snub; displease, distress, disturb, hurt, miff, pain, trouble, upset; jeer, mock, ridicule, sneer (at), taunt; defame, disparage, libel, malign, revile, slander, slur, smear; oppress, persecute, torment, torture

Near Antonyms
acclaim, applaud, approve, hail; commend, compliment, eulogize, praise; adulate, flatter, sweet-talk; exalt, glorify, honor; delight, gratify, please, satisfy

insuperable adjective
1 incapable of being defeated, overcome, or subdued <the building project ran into insuperable financial difficulties and had to be scrapped> — see INVINCIBLE
2 incapable of being solved or accomplished <insuperable problems have arisen which make it very unlikely that we will ever finish this project> — see IMPOSSIBLE

insupportable adjective
1 more than can be put up with <the insupportable arrogance of that jerk is more than anyone should have to bear> — see UNBEARABLE
2 too bad to be excused or justified <the organization's racist views have been denounced as morally insupportable> — see INEXCUSABLE

insure verb
to make sure, certain, or safe <took steps to insure the timely completion of the project> — see ENSURE

insurgence noun
open fighting against authority (as one's own government) <the insurgence eventually succeeded in undermining the corrupt dictatorship> — see REBELLION 1

insurgency noun
open fighting against authority (as one's own government) <there always seems to be insurgency of some type in that troubled country> — see REBELLION 1

insurgent adjective
taking part in a rebellion <any insurgent soldiers will be dealt with harshly> — see REBELLIOUS 1

insurgent noun
a person who rises up against authority <the government subjected the insurgents to the most inhuman torture imaginable> — see REBEL

insurmountable adjective
incapable of being defeated, overcome, or subdued <the familiar story of the underdog who ultimately triumphs despite insurmountable odds> — see INVINCIBLE

insurrection noun
open fighting against authority (as one's own government) <the famous insurrection of the slaves in ancient Rome under Spartacus> — see REBELLION 1

insurrectionary adjective
taking part in a rebellion <a small insurrectionary force that was soundly defeated by the loyalists> — see REBELLIOUS 1

insurrectionary noun
a person who rises up against authority <only a small band of insurrectionaries who were willing to stand up to the dictator> — see REBEL

insurrectionist noun
a person who rises up against authority <a would-be insurrectionist with a plan to bomb the capitol> — see REBEL

intact adjective
not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it <it's rare to find such an old chess set that is intact> — see COMPLETE 1

intake noun
matter that is fed into something <the intake on that paper shredder is limited to five sheets at a time> — see INPUT 1

intangible adjective
not capable of being perceived by the sense of touch <electrical energy is completely intangible>

Synonyms
impalpable

Related Words
bodiless, immaterial, incorporeal, insubstantial, unsubstantial; ethereal, spiritual, unreal

Near Antonyms
corporeal, physical; embodied, material, real, solid, substantial

Antonyms
palpable, tactile, tangible, touchable

integer noun
1 a character used to represent a mathematical value <three is a positive integer> — see NUMBER 1
2 one that has a real and independent existence <an event that is seen as the point at which the gay rights movement became an integer and not just a smattering of protests> — see ENTITY

integral adjective
1 being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <a car dealer respected for his integral honesty and straightforwardness with customers> — see INHERENT
2 impossible to do without <she's an integral member of the team of archaeologists at that dig> — see ESSENTIAL 1
3 not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it <a prep school that adheres to the belief that athletics are essential to an integral life> — see COMPLETE 1

integrate verb
1 to make a part of a body or system <integrate the new developments into our understanding of cancer> — see EMBODY 1
2 to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <integrate the powders thoroughly before adding them to the liquid> — see BLEND 1

integrity noun
1 conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong <demonstrated that he was a man of integrity by taking full responsibility for his actions> — see MORALITY 1
2 devotion to telling the truth <her integrity is such that she tells the truth even when people least want to hear it> — see HONESTY 1
3 faithfulness to high moral standards <a politician of great honesty and integrity> — see HONOR 1

intellect noun
1 a very smart person <one of the finest intellects of our time> — see GENIUS 1
2 the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems <a child of great intellect as well as artistic talent> — see INTELLIGENCE 1

intellection noun
1 something imagined or pictured in the mind <notebooks filled with his intellections on an amazing array of topics> — see IDEA 1
2 the thought processes that have been established as leading to valid solutions to problems <ever since Decartes famously declared, “I think, therefore I am,” people have tended to regard acts of conscious intellection as proof of their own existence> — see LOGIC

intellectual adjective
1 much given to learning and thinking <as the daughter of college professors, she's used to being around intellectual people>

Synonyms
blue, cerebral, eggheaded, geeky, highbrow, highbrowed, intellectualist, intellectualistic, long-haired (or longhair), nerdish, nerdy

Related Words
cultivated, cultured; middlebrow; erudite, learned, literate, polyhistoric, polymath (or polymathic), scholarly, well-read; academic (also academical), bookish, professorial; didactic, high-toned, hyperintellectual, pedantic; high-hat, snobbish, snobby, snooty; educated, schooled; brainy, bright, brilliant, clever, intelligent, quick-witted, smart

Near Antonyms
uncultivated, uncultured; ignorant, illiterate, uneducated, unlettered, unread; dumb, foolish, idiotic (also idiotical), moronic, slow, stupid, unintelligent; benighted, unenlightened

Antonyms
anti-intellectual, lowbrow, nonintellectual, philistine

2 of or relating to the mind <intellectual pursuits such as reading and studying> — see MENTAL 1
3 of or relating to schooling or learning especially at an advanced level <research that shows that people from very intellectual backgrounds are happiest with spouses having comparable educations> — see ACADEMIC 1

intellectual noun
a person with strong intellectual interests <discovered that in politics a reputation for being an intellectual was regarded as a liability>

Synonyms
double-dome, egghead, geek, highbrow, intellectualist, longhair, nerd

Related Words
blue, bluestocking; Brahmin, mandarin, sage; intellectualizer, pseud [British]; brain, genius, intellect, thinker, whiz, wizard

Near Antonyms
blockhead, dolt, dope, dumbbell, dummy, dunce, fathead, half-wit, imbecile, moron, nitwit, pinhead, simpleton

Antonyms
anti-intellectual, lowbrow, philistine

intellectualist adjective
much given to learning and thinking <a small cadre of intellectualist reformers who had no idea of the concerns of the common folk> — see INTELLECTUAL 1

intellectualist noun
a person with strong intellectual interests <being an intellectualist, he has little in common with the status-seeking philistines who live next door> — see INTELLECTUAL

intellectualistic adjective
much given to learning and thinking <while living in Paris she fell in with a coterie of self-consciously arty, intellectualistic bohemians> — see INTELLECTUAL 1

intellectuality noun
the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems <one doesn't need the intellectuality of a rocket scientist to understand the problem> — see INTELLIGENCE 1

intelligence noun
1 the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems <high scores on this test supposedly demonstrate great intelligence>

Synonyms
brain(s), brainpower, gray matter, headpiece, intellect, intellectuality, mentality, reason, sense, smarts

Related Words
eggheadedness, highbrowism, intellectualism; braininess, brilliance; acumen, alertness, apprehension, astuteness, discernment, discriminability, insight, judgment (or judgement), perception, percipience, perspicacity; common sense, horse sense, mother wit; aptitude, talent; sagacity, sapience, wisdom, wit; head, mind, skull

Near Antonyms
denseness, density, doltishness, dopiness, dullness (also dulness), dumbness, fatuity, feeblemindedness, foolishness, half-wittedness, idiocy, imbecility, senselessness, simpleness, slowness, stupidity

2 a report of recent events or facts not previously known <usually received the latest intelligence about how the war was going> — see NEWS
3 exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters <as head of the customer service department, he has handled complaints and disputes with unfailing intelligence and good humor> — see ACUMEN

intelligencer noun
1 a person employed by a newspaper, magazine, or radio or television station to gather, write, or report news <the student journalist asked questions as probing as those of a seasoned intelligencer> — see REPORTER
2 a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country <as the nation's top intelligencer, the director of the CIA should have been more skeptical of the information he was being fed> — see SPY

intelligent adjective
1 having or showing quickness of mind <proud parents typically insist that their child is intelligent way beyond his or her years> <his intelligent response to the emergency averted a disaster>

Synonyms
alert, brainy, bright, brilliant, clever, exceptional, fast, hyperintelligent, keen, nimble, quick, quick-witted, sharp, sharp-witted, smart, supersmart, ultrasmart

Related Words
apt, ingenious, resourceful; acute, astute, discerning, heady, insightful, knowing, perceptive, percipient, perspicacious, sagacious, sapient, savvy, wise; cerebral, erudite, genial, highbrow, knowledgeable, learned, literate, scholarly, well-read; educated, informed, schooled, skilled, trained; creative, inventive, judicious, prudent, sage, sane, sapient, sensible, sound, wise; crafty, cunning, foxy, shrewd, wily; logical, rational, reasonable

Near Antonyms
feebleminded, simpleminded; boobish, foolish, half-baked, idiotic (also idiotical), imbecile (or imbecilic), moronic, silly; ignorant, illiterate, lowbrow, nonintellectual, unacademic, uneducated, uninformed, unintellectual, untaught, unthinking; absurd, asinine, balmy, cockeyed, crackpot, crazy, cuckoo, daffy, daft, dippy, dotty, featherheaded, fool, half-baked, harebrained, insane, kooky (also kookie), loony (also looney), lunatic, mad, nonsensical, nutty, preposterous, sappy, screwball, tomfool, unwise, wacky (also whacky), zany

Antonyms
airheaded, birdbrained, boneheaded, brain-dead, brainless, bubbleheaded, chuckleheaded, dense, dim, dim-witted, doltish, dopey (also dopy), dorky [slang], dull, dumb, dunderheaded, empty-headed, fatuous, gormless [chiefly British], half-witted, knuckleheaded, lamebrain (or lamebrained), lunkheaded, mindless, obtuse, opaque, pinheaded, senseless, simple, slow, slow-witted, soft, softheaded, stupid, thick, thickheaded, thick-witted, unbrilliant, unintelligent, unsmart, vacuous, weak-minded, witless

2 having the ability to reason <there is some debate over whether dolphins are intelligent animals> — see RATIONAL 1
3 having or showing good judgment and restraint especially in conduct or speech <the only intelligent response to such a tasteless joke is to quickly change the subject> — see DISCREET 1

intelligentsia noun
intellectuals considered as a social class <a presidential candidate who was the darling of the intelligentsia—and very few others>

Synonyms
clerisy, literati

Related Words
avant-garde, culturati; chosen, illuminati; best, choice, cream, elect, elite, fat, flower, pick, prime, upper crust

Near Antonyms
booboisie

intelligible adjective
capable of being understood <speculation on the odds that a communication from a far-off planet would be intelligible>

Synonyms
accessible, apprehensible, coherent, comprehendible, comprehensible, fathomable, graspable, legible, scrutable, understandable

Related Words
decipherable; plain, simple, straightforward; articulate, fluent, well-spoken

Near Antonyms
inarticulate; cryptic, esoteric, mysterious, obscure

Antonyms
incoherent, incomprehensible, inscrutable, insensible

intemperance noun
1 habitual or excessive drinking of intoxicants <in his harangue on the perils of drink, the prohibitionist claimed that intemperance has always been the number one destroyer of marriages>

Synonyms
alcoholism, drunkenness, insobriety, intemperateness

Related Words
inebriety, intoxication; bibulousness, dipsomania; debauchery, dissoluteness

Near Antonyms
abstention, abstinence, teetotalism

Antonyms
sobriety, temperance

2 a propensity for extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits <there's a wearisome intemperance in his verbal attacks against any and all who dare to disagree with him> — see EXCESS 2

intemperate adjective
1 showing no signs of being under control <intemperate anger that is so extreme that the man should be in therapy> — see RAMPANT 1
2 given to excessive use of alcoholic beverages <a serious course in wine appreciation that does not welcome intemperate drinkers and party animals> — see CRAPULOUS

intemperateness noun
1 a propensity for extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits <a talk show that seems to select political pundits mostly for their exhibitionistic intemperateness> — see EXCESS 2
2 habitual or excessive drinking of intoxicants <as far as the townspeople are concerned, the students at the local college seem to be far more noteworthy for their intemperateness than for their intellectualism> — see INTEMPERANCE 1

intend verb
1 to have in mind as a purpose or goal <an aspiring entrepreneur who intends to revolutionize the biotech industry>

Synonyms
aim, allow [chiefly Southern & Midland], aspire, calculate, contemplate, design, go [chiefly Southern & Midland], look, mean, meditate, plan, propose, purport, purpose

Related Words
dream, hope, wish; consider, debate, mull (over), ponder; attempt, endeavor, strive, struggle, try; plot, scheme; accomplish, achieve, effect, execute, perform

Phrases
figure on

2 to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind <lawyers for both sides argued for days about what was intended by a particular phrase in the law> — see MEAN 1

intendance noun
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <his scrupulous intendance of the university's finances> — see CONDUCT 1

intended noun
the person to whom one is engaged to be married <after a bit of bickering, she and her intended have finally picked out a wedding site> — see BETROTHED

intended adjective
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing <you may feign innocence, but I know that that last remark was an intended dig> — see INTENTIONAL

intense adjective
1 extreme in degree, power, or effect <the intense cold of the polar regions>

Synonyms
acute, almighty, blistering, deep, dreadful, excruciating, explosive, exquisite, fearful, fearsome, ferocious, fierce, frightful, furious, ghastly, hard, heavy, heavy-duty, hellacious, intensive, keen, profound, terrible, vehement, vicious, violent

Related Words
accentuated, aggravated, concentrated, deepened; emphasized, enhanced, heightened, intensified, magnified; stressed; exhaustive, thorough; harsh, rigorous, severe

Near Antonyms
feeble, weak; shallow, superficial; moderated, qualified; alleviated, eased, lightened, toned (down); abated, decreased, diminished, lessened, reduced, subdued

Antonyms
light, moderate, soft

2 having or expressing great depth of feeling <an intense actor who favors edgy film roles> — see FERVENT 1

intensely adverb
1 with great effort or determination <struggled intensely to master the language of her adopted country> — see HARD 1
2 to a great degree <the senate race was intensely close> — see VERY 1

intenseness noun
1 depth of feeling <she presents her religious convictions with an intenseness that makes some people uncomfortable> — see ARDOR 1
2 the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression) <every challenge that he undertakes is tackled with an intenseness that would exhaust most people> — see VEHEMENCE 1

intensify verb
to make markedly greater in measure or degree <intensified her efforts to preserve the town's historic buildings and landmarks>

Synonyms
accentuate, amp (up), amplify, beef (up), boost, consolidate, deepen, enhance, heighten, magnify, redouble, step up, strengthen

Related Words
broaden, enlarge, expand, extend, lengthen; accelerate, hasten, quicken; emphasize, point (up), sharpen, stress; augment, enforce, reinforce (also reenforce), restrengthen, supplement; maximize; enliven, jazz (up); aggravate, exacerbate

Near Antonyms
decrease, diminish, lessen, let up (on), reduce, subdue, tone (down), weaken; dwindle, recede, subside, taper (off), wane; alleviate, ease, lighten

Antonyms
abate, moderate

intensity noun
1 depth of feeling <spoke with great intensity and eloquence on the need to combat racism> — see ARDOR 1
2 the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression) <the intensity of the actor's performance had theatergoers on the edge of their seats> — see VEHEMENCE 1

intensive adjective
extreme in degree, power, or effect <an intensive effort to prevent an adult bookstore from opening in town> — see INTENSE 1

intensively adverb
with great effort or determination <labored intensively in order to get the film ready for its premiere> — see HARD 1

intent adjective
1 fully committed to achieving a goal <intent on finishing her sculpture in time for the group show> — see DETERMINED 1
2 having the mind fixed on something <he was so intent on his work that he didn't hear the dog bark> — see ATTENTIVE 1

intent noun
1 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings; that wasn't my intent> — see GOAL
2 the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action <the wording was a little unclear, but I think I grasped the intent> — see MEANING 1

intention noun
1 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <her intention is to climb the highest peak in each of the 50 states> — see GOAL
2 the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action <she was uncertain of the intention of his frantic gesturing> — see MEANING 1

intentional adjective
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing <I'm fairly sure that your “accidental” cutting down of my rosebush was really intentional>

Synonyms
conscious, deliberate, intended, knowing, purposeful, purposive, set, voluntary, willed, willful (or wilful), witting

Related Words
designed, planned; conscious; advised, calculated, considered, measured, reasoned, studied, thoughtful, weighed; premeditated, premeditative, prepense; discretionary, elective, optional, volunteer

Near Antonyms
inadvertent, unwitting; accidental, chance, haphazard, hit-or-miss, incidental, random; aimless, desultory, purposeless; abrupt, impetuous, sudden; coerced, forced, involuntary; compulsory, mandatory, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, ordered, required; casual; extemporaneous, impromptu, impulsive, instinctive, spontaneous, unforced, unpremeditated

Antonyms
nondeliberate, nonpurposive, unintentional

intentionally adverb
with full awareness of what one is doing <the witness intentionally gave misleading answers to the questions>

Synonyms
advisedly, consciously, deliberately, designedly, knowingly, purposefully, purposely, purposively, willfully, wittingly

Related Words
calculatedly, studiedly; voluntarily, willingly; premeditatedly

Phrases
on purpose

Near Antonyms
accidentally, incidentally; haphazardly, randomly; involuntarily, unwillingly; impulsively, instinctively, spontaneously

Antonyms
inadvertently, unconsciously, unintentionally, unknowingly, unwittingly

intently adverb
with great effort or determination <intently studied his notes just before the exam> — see HARD 1

intentness noun
a mental state free of jesting or trifling <studied the dance steps with obvious intentness> — see EARNESTNESS

inter verb
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea <the soldier was interred with great honors at Arlington National Cemetery> — see BURY 1

interaction noun
doings between individuals or groups <she guessed from the friendly interaction that they were close to the other parents in the organization> — see RELATION 1

intercalate verb
to put among or between others <between the recipes for hearty peasant dishes, the author intercalates fond reminiscences of her year in the French countryside> — see INSERT

intercede verb
to act as a go-between for opposing sides <asked an old friend of the family to intercede in the bitter dispute over the inheritance> — see INTERVENE

interceder noun
one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement <respected around the world, the secretary-general of the United Nations was asked to be the interceder in several international disputes> — see MEDIATOR

intercept verb
to stop, seize, or interrupt while in progress or on course <the cat was about to hightail it out the front door when I intercepted her>

Synonyms
block, interdict, pick off

Related Words
capture, catch, collar, corral, grab, seize, snare, snatch, trap

intercessor noun
one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement <eventually, they hired an intercessor, because they were getting nowhere on their own> — see MEDIATOR

interchangeable adjective
capable of being substituted in place of one another <the concept of interchangeable parts revolutionized the mass production of manufactured goods>

Synonyms
commutable, exchangeable, fungible, substitutable, switchable

Related Words
replaceable

Antonyms
noninterchangeable

intercommunicate verb
to engage in an exchange of information or ideas <the two agencies will need to intercommunicate better if the nation is ever to become truly secure from international terrorism> — see COMMUNICATE 2

interconnect verb
to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole <we interconnected all of our audio and video components to get the full home theater experience> — see CONNECT 1

intercourse noun
1 doings between individuals or groups <the niceties of social intercourse are lost on that nerd> — see RELATION 1
2 sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <intercourse is one of ways by which the disease is commonly spread> — see SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

intercross noun
an offspring of parents with different genes especially when of different races, breeds, species, or genera <that pink rose is an intercross of red and white roses> — see HYBRID

interdict noun
an order that something not be done or used <the church's controversial interdict against the use of birth control devices> — see PROHIBITION 2

interdict verb
1 to order not to do or use or to be done or used <the state legislature moved to interdict the use of radar-detection devices by motorists> — see FORBID
2 to stop, seize, or interrupt while in progress or on course <federal agents are able to interdict only a small percentage of the narcotic shipments into the country> — see INTERCEPT

interdicted adjective
that may not be permitted <an interdicted hold in wrestling> — see IMPERMISSIBLE

interdicting noun
the act of ordering that something not be done or used <the interdicting against bullying at school, along with stiff penalties, was long overdue> — see PROHIBITION 1

interdiction noun
1 an order that something not be done or used <a written interdiction against the wearing of clothing incorporating gang colors> — see PROHIBITION 2
2 the act of ordering that something not be done or used <the recent interdiction against open fires on the beach has riled summer revelers> — see PROHIBITION 1

interest verb
to hold the attention of <the book didn't interest me, so I ended up watching the parade of people on the sidewalk> — see ENGAGE 1

interest noun
1 a legal right to participation in the advantages, profits, and responsibility of something <all of the workers at the food cooperative have an interest in it>

Synonyms
claim, share, stake

Related Words
co-ownership, ownership, part, partnership, possession, title

2 the state of doing well especially in relation to one's happiness or success <make no mistake: she's determined to act in her own interest in this business deal> — see WELFARE
3 a commercial or industrial activity or organization <a multinational corporation with interests on every continent> — see ENTERPRISE 1
4 a group of people with a common identifying interest that they seek to protect and promote <the contention that the nation's financial interests have too much power> — see INTEREST GROUP

interest group noun
a group of people with a common identifying interest that they seek to protect and promote <agricultural interest groups are adamantly opposed to the bill>

Synonyms
interest, pressure group, special interest

Related Words
vested interest; political action committee

interesting adjective
holding the attention or provoking interest <an interesting lecture on conflicts in the Middle East since the demise of the Ottoman Empire>

Synonyms
absorbing, arresting, consuming, engaging, engrossing, enthralling, fascinating, gripping, immersing, intriguing, involving, riveting

Related Words
breathtaking, electric, electrifying, exciting, exhilarating, galvanizing, inspiring, rousing, stimulating, stirring, thrilling; provocative, tantalizing; emphatic, showy, splashy, striking; alluring, attractive, bewitching, captivating, charming, enchanting, spellbinding; hypnotizing, mesmerizing; curious, odd, unusual, weird; amazing, astonishing, astounding, eventful, eye-opening, fabulous, marvelous (or marvellous), surprising, wonderful, wondrous; amusing, entertaining

Near Antonyms
operose, tiresome, tiring, wearisome, wearying; sterile, unexciting; dreary, humdrum, pedantic, pedestrian; demoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting

Antonyms
boring, drab, dry, dull, heavy, monotonous, tedious, uninteresting

interfere verb
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern <a strong resentment of outsiders who attempted to interfere with their traditional ways of doing things>

Synonyms
butt in, interlope, intermeddle, intrude, meddle, mess, muck (about or around), nose, obtrude, poke, pry, snoop

Related Words
intercede, interpose, intervene; barge (in), chisel (in), encroach, infringe, invade, trespass; fiddle, fool, monkey, play, tamper

Near Antonyms
avoid, eschew, shun; disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook

interfere (with) verb
to create difficulty for the work or activity of <claims that the countless federal regulations interfere with his business and are of no benefit to anyone> — see HAMPER

interference noun
something that makes movement or progress difficult <without the interference of the rain, we could have made good time on that road trip> — see ENCUMBRANCE

interferer noun
a person who meddles in the affairs of others <an incurable interferer, she couldn't mind her own business to save her life> — see BUSYBODY

interfering adjective
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <an interfering woman by nature, she was precisely the kind of mother-in-law that every new bride dreads> — see INTRUSIVE

interfuse verb
1 to come together to form a single unit <comedy and social commentary interfuse seamlessly in this hilariously satirical movie> — see UNITE 1
2 to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <an attractive cologne that interfuses herbal and woodsy scents> — see BLEND 1

interim adjective
1 intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time <putting up some students in local motels is obviously just an interim solution to the college's housing shortage> — see TEMPORARY 1
2 serving in a position for the time being <will serve as interim head of the police department until the investigation is completed> — see ACTING

interim noun
a break in continuity <there was a brief interim in the proceedings while everyone got organized> — see GAP 2

interior noun
an interior or internal part <the interior of the computer was clogged with dust> — see INSIDE 1

interior adjective
1 of or relating to the mind <the novel's characters have plenty of adventures, but their interior lives are never explored> — see MENTAL 1
2 situated farther in <was given a windowless interior office> — see INNER 1

interject verb
to put among or between others <she occasionally interjected comments into the conversation> — see INSERT

interjection noun
a sudden short emotional utterance <a chorus of angry interjections greeted the announcement that our flight would be delayed> — see EXCLAMATION

interlace verb
1 to cause to twine about one another <interlaced strands of her hair for a new look> — see INTERTWINE 1
2 to scatter or set here and there among other things <interlaced jokes between the serious passages in the speech> — see THREAD 1
3 to twist together into a usually confused mass <I've interlaced the cables on my audio-video system so confusingly that I've no idea what connects what> — see ENTANGLE 1

interlink verb
to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole <she was idly interlinking paper clips into a chain as she listened> — see CONNECT 1

interlope verb
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern <regarded the new couple as a pair of interloping parvenus who were sure to upset the town's social hierarchy> — see INTERFERE

interloper noun
a person who meddles in the affairs of others <summer residents were regarded as interlopers who had no deep commitment to the town's welfare> — see BUSYBODY

interlude noun
a break in continuity <there was a brief interlude in the performance while the stagehands shifted scenery> — see GAP 2

intermeddle verb
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern <she can no more refrain from intermeddling than she can from breathing> — see INTERFERE

intermeddler noun
a person who meddles in the affairs of others <local voters regarded the out-of-state campaign workers as impertinent intermeddlers> — see BUSYBODY

intermediary adjective
occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes <the bridal couple were regally ensconced in intermediary seats at the head table> — see MIDDLE 1

intermediary noun
one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement <in the past he's served as an intermediary in several hostage situations> — see MEDIATOR

intermediate adjective
1 being about midway between extremes of amount or size <with a compact being too small and a van too large, we settled on an intermediate-sized sedan> — see MIDDLE 2
2 occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes <although the party activists tend to back candidates with somewhat extreme views, ordinary voters generally prefer the intermediate aspirant> — see MIDDLE 1

intermediate noun
one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement <she often used her father as an intermediate in arguments with her mother> — see MEDIATOR

intermediate verb
to act as a go-between for opposing sides <if the secretary-general chooses to intermediate in this dispute, he'll need all of his diplomatic skills just to get both sides in the same room> — see INTERVENE

interment noun
the act or ceremony of putting a dead body in its final resting place <a respectful but nonreligious interment in a private cemetery> — see BURIAL 1

intermingle verb
to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <thoroughly intermingle the different kinds of candy so that each bag will get a good assortment> — see BLEND 1

intermission noun
a break in continuity <an awkward intermission between speeches> — see GAP 2

intermittent adjective
1 occurring or appearing at intervals <intermittent showers had me opening and closing my umbrella all day long>

Synonyms
continual, on-and-off, periodic, periodical, recurrent, recurring

Related Words
alternate, alternating, cyclic (or cyclical), rhythmic (or rhythmical), seasonal, serial; aperiodic, erratic, fitful, irregular, occasional, spasmodic, sporadic, spotty, unsteady

Near Antonyms
eternal, everlasting, interminable, perpetual

Antonyms
constant, continuous, incessant, unceasing

2 lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <the breadwinner's intermittent employment put the family in a difficult position financially> — see FITFUL

intermix verb
to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <intermixed the ingredients just until there were no more lumps in the batter> — see BLEND 1

intermixture noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <the building is an intriguing intermixture of classical and modern elements> — see BLEND

intern verb
to put in or as if in prison <some Polish citizens were interned in Russian camps during World War II> — see IMPRISON

internal adjective
1 situated farther in <somehow grave robbers hadn't managed to locate and enter the internal chambers of the Egyptian tomb> — see INNER 1
2 of or relating to the mind <the never-ending internal monologue of the novel's main character> — see MENTAL 1

international adjective
relating to or involving two or more nations <an international trade agreement>

Synonyms
foreign, multinational, transnational

Related Words
intercontinental, transcontinental

Near Antonyms
domestic, internal, national

interned adjective
taken and held prisoner <the soldiers daringly rescued their interned comrades without the loss of a single life> — see CAPTIVE

internee noun
one that has been taken and held in confinement <all internees were released upon the cessation of hostilities> — see CAPTIVE

internment noun
the act of confining or the state of being confined <the internment of Americans of Japanese descent during World War II is one of the more shameful chapters in United States history>

Synonyms
captivity, confinement, immurement, impoundment, imprisonment, incarceration, prison

Related Words
bondage, enslavement, servitude; restraint, restriction; arrest, capture, entrapment; custody, detainer, detainment, detention, house arrest

Near Antonyms
emancipation, liberation, manumission, redemption, release; freedom, independence, liberty

internship noun
a period of undergoing practical instruction in one's job or career <seeking a summer internship at a local television station> — see APPRENTICESHIP

interpenetrate verb
to spread throughout <with tie-dyeing, the dye does not interpenetrate the entire fabric> — see PERMEATE

interpolate verb
to put among or between others <interpolated a new paragraph into the online encyclopedia article> — see INSERT

interpose verb
1 to act as a go-between for opposing sides <an elder statesman who has interposed a number of times in international conflicts> — see INTERVENE
2 to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion <I hate to interpose, but could you tell me what you meant by that last remark?> — see INTERRUPT
3 to put among or between others <a solid line of police in riot gear interposed itself between the trade ministers and the crowd of protesters> — see INSERT

interposer noun
one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement <I hope that we can resolve this dispute by ourselves, without the help of some outside interposer> — see MEDIATOR

interpret verb
1 to make plain or understandable <a biblical passage that scholars haven't been able to interpret to everyone's satisfaction> — see EXPLAIN 1
2 to present a portrayal or performance of <interpreted the role of Fletcher Christian in a challengingly new way> — see ACT 1

interpretation noun
1 a statement that makes something clear <that's one possible interpretation of that cryptic remark> — see EXPLANATION 1
2 a presentation of an artistic work (as a piece of music) from a particular point of view <a sensitive interpretation of a piece that is a touchstone for violinists> — see ACCOUNT 2
3 a distinct treatment of something (as a story or a play) <a very Freudian interpretation of The Nutcracker> — see RIFF

interpretative adjective
serving to explain <fundamentalists who believe that the Bible means exactly what it says and thus requires no interpretative commentary> — see EXPLANATORY

interpreter noun
one who brings an art or science to full realization <Monet is generally regarded as the foremost interpreter of pure impressionism> — see EXPONENT 2

interpretive adjective
serving to explain <an edition of Shakespeare's plays with many interpretive footnotes that students should find very helpful> — see EXPLANATORY

interregnum noun
a break in continuity <the democratic regime proved to be a short-lived interregnum between dictatorships> — see GAP 2

interring noun
the act or ceremony of putting a dead body in its final resting place <fittingly, the interring took place on a gloomy, rainy day> — see BURIAL 1

interrogate verb
1 to put a question or questions to <interrogated him about where he'd gone the night before> — see ASK 1
2 to put a series of questions to <police interrogated the murder suspect for hours on end> — see EXAMINE 1

interrogative noun
an interrogative expression often used to test knowledge <though she phrased it as an interrogative, it was clear that the utterance was more of a command> — see QUESTION 1

interrupt verb
to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion <it's rude to interrupt when someone is making an important point>

Synonyms
break in, chime in, chip in [chiefly British], cut in, interpose, intrude

Related Words
barge (in), bother, horn in; add, contribute, put in

interruption noun
1 a break in continuity <an interruption in cable service during the lightning storm> — see GAP 2
2 a momentary halt in an activity <a brief interruption in the discussion while we all got coffee> — see PAUSE 1

intersect verb
to divide by passing through or across <an elevated highway now intersects that old urban neighborhood>

Synonyms
bisect, cross, cut

Related Words
crisscross, decussate

intersection noun
a place where roads meet <take a left turn at the next intersection> — see CROSSROAD 1

intersperse verb
1 to scatter or set here and there among other things <for variety, intersperse some photos among the other decorations on the wall> — see THREAD 1
2 to put among or between others <intersperses some fascinating factoids about wine between his profiles of the nation's leading wineries> — see INSERT

interstice noun
1 a break in continuity <there's an occasional interstice in the tedium, but most of the novel is boring> — see GAP 2
2 an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) <pesky weeds growing in the interstices between the flagstones> — see GAP 1

intertwine verb
1 to cause to twine about one another <intertwined two different colors of yarn>

Synonyms
enlace, entwine, implicate [archaic], interlace, intertwist, interweave, inweave, lace, ply, twist, weave, wreathe, writhe

Related Words
braid, plait, plat, pleach; blend, fuse, join, link, mix

Near Antonyms
disentangle, uncoil, untangle, untwine, unwind

2 to twist together into a usually confused mass <intertwining yarn is usually a bad idea, because you'll never get it all sorted out again> — see ENTANGLE

intertwist verb
1 to cause to twine about one another <intertwisted the cables in his roommate's entertainment system just out of spite> — see INTERTWINE 1
2 to twist together into a usually confused mass <the tree's intertwisted roots seemed to extend forever> — see ENTANGLE 1

interval noun
1 a break in continuity <there were intervals of thousands of years between the major ice ages> — see GAP 2
2 an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) <unable to find my way out of the maze, I cheated and squeezed through a convenient interval in the hedge> — see GAP 1

intervene verb
to act as a go-between for opposing sides <intervened in the argument before any real harm was done>

Synonyms
intercede, intermediate, interpose, mediate

Related Words
butt in, interfere, intrude, meddle, obtrude, pry, snoop; arbitrate, moderate, negotiate, referee; barge (in), bother; break (in), chime in, cut in; infringe, invade, trespass

Near Antonyms
stand by; avoid, eschew, shun; disregard, ignore, overlook

interview verb
to go around and approach (people) with a request for opinions or information <a reporter at the scene interviewing witnesses to the explosion> — see CANVASS 1

interviewer noun
a person who goes around and approaches people with a request for opinions or information <had no time for an interviewer who wanted to ask me about my phone service> — see CANVASSER

interweave verb
1 to cause to twine about one another <interweaved garlands of red and gold beads and wrapped them around the Christmas tree> — see INTERTWINE 1
2 to scatter or set here and there among other things <the author artfully interweaves excerpts from soldiers' letters into his history of the Vietnam War> — see THREAD 1
3 to twist together into a usually confused mass <in our play the kitten and I managed to interweave the skeins of yarn into a hopeless tangle> — see ENTANGLE 1

intestinal fortitude noun
1 strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <the one person who had the intestinal fortitude to stand up and denounce the injustice of it all> — see COURAGE
2 the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship <you'll need considerable intestinal fortitude to put up with that corporate diva, but the work experience will be worth it> — see FORTITUDE

intimacy noun
the state of being in a very personal or private relationship <there can be both rewards and regrets from intimacy with another person> — see FAMILIARITY 1

intimate adjective
1 closely acquainted <intimate friends who can practically finish each other's sentences> — see FAMILIAR 1
2 not known or meant to be known by the general populace <they broke up after she shared intimate information with all 500 of her closest friends> — see PRIVATE 1

intimate noun
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another <usually quite aloof in public, he's actually quite relaxed with his intimates> — see FRIEND 1

intimate verb
to convey an idea indirectly <trying to intimate that there was more going on than anyone knew> — see HINT

intimately adverb
in a manner intended to prevent knowledge or awareness by others <intimately shared information that is only now being divulged in the memoirs of his sole confidant> — see PRIVATELY

intimation noun
a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation) <the newscaster could not resist giving a slight intimation that the voting was going contrary to predictions> — see HINT 1

intimidate verb
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats <refusing to be intimidated by the manager's harsh stare, I demanded my money back>

Synonyms
blackjack, bogart, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, bullyrag, cow, hector, mau-mau, strong-arm

Related Words
bluster, trash-talk; affright, alarm (also alarum), frighten, horrify, scare, shock, spook, startle, terrify; menace, terrorize, threaten; badger, harass, hound; bludgeon, coerce, compel, constrain, dragoon, force, make, oblige, press, pressure, push around; demoralize, psych (out), unman, unnerve; discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, upset

Phrases
pick on

Near Antonyms
cheer, comfort, console, reassure, solace, soothe; embolden, encourage, hearten, steel; convince, persuade

intimidating adjective
1 causing fear <the intimidating prospect of the college entrance exams> — see FEARFUL 1
2 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <an intimidating bodyguard keeping the fans away from the rock star> — see GRIM 1

intimidator noun
a person who teases, threatens, or hurts smaller or weaker persons <the loan shark hired an intimidator to make sure that he got all that was owed him> — see BULLY 1

intolerable adjective
1 more than can be put up with <this stifling heat is intolerable> — see UNBEARABLE
2 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <the intolerable haste with which the press passed judgment on the accused> — see EXCESSIVE

intolerably adjective
beyond a normal or acceptable limit <a lot of actresses are divas, but that one is intolerably vain and arrogant> — see TOO 1

intolerance noun
stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices <a memoir of a time when racial intolerance was socially acceptable> — see BIGOTRY

intolerant adjective
1 unable or unwilling to endure <intolerant of fools, she is not an easy person to work for>

Synonyms
impatient

Related Words
uncompromising, unforgiving, unyielding; complaining, fussing, griping, grumbling, kvetching, protesting, squawking, whining

Near Antonyms
accepting, forgiving, long-suffering, resigned, uncomplaining, willing; indulgent

Antonyms
abiding, enduring, forbearing, patient, tolerant

2 unwilling to grant other people social rights or to accept other viewpoints <intolerant people who callously deny others the very rights that they take for granted>

Synonyms
bigoted, illiberal, narrow, narrow-minded, prejudiced, small-minded

Related Words
conservative, hidebound, old-fashioned, reactionary; blindfolded, blinkered, insular, parochial, provincial; biased, one-sided, partial, partisan

Near Antonyms
extreme, progressive, radical; impartial, objective, unbiased

Antonyms
broad-minded, liberal, open-minded, tolerant, unprejudiced

intolerantness noun
stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices <there's an element of intolerantness in his religious writings that many readers find unsettling> — see BIGOTRY

intonate verb
to utter in musical or drawn out tones <the priest then proceeded to intonate the prayer's familiar opening words> — see CHANT 1

intone verb
to utter in musical or drawn out tones <“The day is begun,” the narrator intoned> — see CHANT 1

intoxicant noun
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <a religious denomination that strictly forbids the use of all intoxicants> — see ALCOHOL

intoxicate verb
1 to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings <the stunning spectacle of this Las Vegas show is sure to intoxicate spectators> — see THRILL
2 to fill with great joy <she was intoxicated by the news that she'd gotten the job of her dreams> — see ELATE

intoxicated adjective
1 being under the influence of alcohol <state police warned that there would be zero tolerance for intoxicated drivers over the long holiday weekend> — see DRUNK
2 experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <the intoxicated moment when she found out that she'd won the award> — see ECSTATIC

intoxicating adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <naive, young men who had once regarded the thought of going off to war as an intoxicating notion> — see EXCITING 1

intoxication noun
1 the condition of being drunk <there's a firm distinction between the moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages and overindulgence to the point of intoxication>

Synonyms
drunkenness, inebriation, inebriety

Related Words
tipsiness; insobriety, intemperance; alcoholism; bender, binge, brannigan, jag, souse, spree, toot

2 a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <the intoxication felt by two people who have just fallen in love> — see ECSTASY

intractability noun
refusal to obey <the dog's frustrating intractability forced the family to try obedience training by a professional> — see DISOBEDIENCE

intractable adjective
1 given to resisting authority or another's control <an intractable child who deliberately does the opposite of whatever he is told> — see DISOBEDIENT
2 given to resisting control or discipline by others <cats are by nature fairly intractable animals> — see UNCONTROLLABLE

intransigence noun
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <her intransigence on the issue was simply frustrating> — see OBSTINACY

intransigent adjective
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <he has remained intransigent, refusing all suggestions for improvement of the process> — see OBSTINATE

intrepid adjective
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <an intrepid explorer who probed parts of the rain forest never previously attempted> — see BRAVE 1

intrepidity noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <he managed to get back to camp, despite the grizzly bears, through sheer intrepidity> — see COURAGE

intrepidly adverb
in a fearless manner <spies sneaked intrepidly into the enemy's camp> — see BRAVELY 1

intrepidness noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <a globe-trotting journalist of remarkable intrepidness who never flinches from any challenge life has to offer> — see COURAGE

intricacy noun
1 something that makes a situation more complicated or difficult <just now learning the intricacies of owning one's own business> — see COMPLICATION 1
2 the state or quality of having many interrelated parts or aspects <the intricacy of the puzzle requires close concentration> — see COMPLEXITY 1

intricate adjective
1 having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <an intricate machine that requires some training to use it properly> — see COMPLEX 1
2 made or done with great care or with much detail <an intricate hairstyle that requires far too much maintenance to suit my taste> — see ELABORATE 1

intricateness noun
the state or quality of having many interrelated parts or aspects <the awesome intricateness of the human eye> — see COMPLEXITY 1

intrigue noun
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends <the intrigue was quickly discovered, and the would-be assassins were arrested> — see PLOT 1

intrigue verb
1 to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends <evidence that the leading manufacturers had intrigued to keep prices artificially high> — see PLOT
2 to hold the attention of <the mystery story intrigued me so that I read it in one sitting> — see ENGAGE 1

intriguing adjective
holding the attention or provoking interest <an intriguing concept that should engender much debate among climatologists> — see INTERESTING

intrinsic adjective
being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <the question of whether people have an intrinsic sense of right and wrong> — see INHERENT

intrinsically adverb
by natural character or ability <he's worked hard to be good at baseball, as he's not intrinsically athletic> — see NATURALLY 1

intro noun
a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part <in her intro the author offers rather precise definitions of some of the key words that she will be using throughout her book> — see INTRODUCTION

introduce verb
1 to make (one person) known (to another) socially <a friend introduced him to the woman who later became his wife>

Synonyms
acquaint, present

Related Words
address, greet, hail, meet; reacquaint, reintroduce

2 to present or bring forward for discussion <after about 20 minutes the moderator introduced a new topic for the debate>

Synonyms
bring up, broach, moot, place, raise

Related Words
allude (to), cite, mention, name, refer (to); offer, propose, suggest; air, express, speak (of), talk (about), vent, ventilate; interject, interrupt; debate, discuss, thrash (out or over)

Near Antonyms
censor, hush (up), quiet, silence, suppress

3 to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of <Luther Burbank introduced the idea of plant breeding, developing over 800 new varieties of fruits, vegetables, grains, and grasses> — see FOUND
4 to impart knowledge of a new thing or situation to <introduced everyone to the company's new phone system> — see ACQUAINT 1
5 to put among or between others <introduce a new variable to the equation> — see INSERT

introducer noun
one who creates or introduces something new <the introducer of the ballpoint pen was a man by the name of John Loud> — see INVENTOR

introduction noun
a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part <a leading biologist wrote the introduction to that new textbook>

Synonyms
exordium, foreword, intro, preamble, preface, prelude, proem, prologue (also prolog), prolusion

Related Words
beginning, commencement, initiation, opening, origin, origination, outset, start

Near Antonyms
envoi (or envoy), postscript; aftermath; cessation, close, closing, conclusion, end, finale, finish, stop, termination

Antonyms
epilogue (also epilog)

introductory adjective
1 coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows <an introductory paragraph to the chapter on evolution> — see PRELIMINARY
2 of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject <an introductory course in computer programming> — see ELEMENTARY

introspection noun
examination of one's own thoughts and feelings <not a man given to introspection, he grew impatient with his wife's constant need to discuss their relationship>

Synonyms
self-contemplation, self-examination, self-observation, self-questioning, self-reflection, self-scrutiny, self-searching, soul-searching

Related Words
self-analysis, self-awareness, self-consciousness, self-recognition; introversion, self-absorption, self-centeredness, self-concern, self-involvement; self-actualization, self-discovery, self-exploration, self-fulfillment, self-realization; self-knowledge, self-revelation; self-concept, self-image, self-perception; contemplation, meditation, reflection, rumination

introvert noun
a shy or reserved person <although interested in the public welfare, he was too much of an introvert to consider personally running for political office>

Synonyms
shrinking violet, wallflower

Related Words
mouse; cold fish, iceberg, icicle

Antonyms
extrovert (also extravert)

introverted adjective
not comfortable around people <a quiet, introverted child who likes to sit at home and read books> — see SHY 2

intrude verb
1 to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion <forgive me for intruding, but I think I know where that restaurant is> — see INTERRUPT
2 to interest oneself in what is not one's concern <the story of a would-be matchmaker who intrudes into the lives of her friends> — see INTERFERE

intrude (upon) verb
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation <a man with an opinion on everything, he doesn't hesitate to intrude upon whoever happens to be standing by> — see BOTHER 1

intruder noun
a person who meddles in the affairs of others <an inveterate intruder, he needs to get a life> — see BUSYBODY

intruding adjective
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <a relentlessly intruding child who likes to interrupt adult conversations simply to get attention> — see INTRUSIVE

intrusive adjective
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <she's that proverbially intrusive neighbor who never knocks before coming in>

Synonyms
busy, interfering, intruding, meddlesome, meddling, nosy (or nosey), obtrusive, officious, presuming, presumptuous, protrusive, prying, pushing, pushy, snoopy

Related Words
bold, brazen, bumptious, impertinent, impudent, insolent, rude; invading, trespassing; curious, inquisitive; annoying, harassing, pestiferous; overbearing, superserviceable

Near Antonyms
hands-off; uninvolved; quiet, reclusive, reserved, reticent, retiring, silent, taciturn, withdrawn; inhibited, restrained, subdued

Antonyms
unobtrusive

intuit verb
to have a clear idea of <an imaginative genius like Shakespeare could intuit the thoughts, feelings, and motives of a vast array of characters> — see COMPREHEND 1

inundate verb
to cover with a flood <water from the overflowing bathtub inundated the bathroom floor> — see FLOOD

inundation noun
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms <the family's shed was washed away in the last inundation> — see FLOOD

inure verb
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure <the hardship of army training inured her to the rigors of desert warfare> — see HARDEN 2

inured adjective
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure <the weather-beaten, inured faces of farmers> — see HARDY 1

invade verb
to enter for conquest or plunder <a superpower that had a tendency to invade and take over smaller and weaker countries>

Synonyms
foray (into), overrun, raid

Related Words
despoil, loot, maraud, pillage, plunder, ransack, ravage, sack, strip; conquer, crush, dominate, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, subdue, subject, subjugate, vanquish; assail, assault, attack, beset, charge, rush, storm, strike; battle, clash (with), combat, fight, war (with); encroach, harass, infringe, trespass; beleaguer, besiege, blockade, invest; garrison, occupy

Near Antonyms
defend, guard, protect, safeguard, shield, ward; defy, oppose, repel, resist, withstand; capitulate (to), cede (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to)

invader noun
one that starts armed conflict against another especially without reasonable cause <vigilant defenders at the border were quick to repel the invaders> — see AGGRESSOR

1invalid adjective
chronically or repeatedly suffering from poor health <an old and now invalid woman who rarely gets out anymore> — see SICKLY 1

2invalid adjective
1 having no legal or binding force <the treaty is invalid once one side violates it> — see NULL 1
2 not being in agreement with what is true <that's an invalid assumption on your part> — see FALSE 1
3 not using or following good reasoning <an argument which has one untrue premise is invalid> — see ILLOGICAL
4 having no basis in reason or fact <an invalid claim that can be easily disproved by the facts> — see GROUNDLESS

invalidate verb
to put an end to by formal action <those nations eventually invalidated their trade agreement> — see ABOLISH 1

invalidation noun
the doing away with something by formal action <sought speedy invalidation of the contract, which had been signed without parental consent> — see ABOLITION

invaluable adjective
having a value beyond any ability to appraise or adequately appreciate <the list of likely donors proved to be invaluable to our fund-raising efforts> — see PRICELESS 1

invariability noun
the state of continuing without change <the invariability of the weather around here gets boring sometimes> — see CONSTANCY 1

invariable adjective
not capable of changing or being changed <an invariable interest rate> — see INFLEXIBLE 1

invariably adverb
on every relevant occasion <their slacker son invariably gives the same response to the questions about his career plans> — see ALWAYS 1

invariant adjective
not varying <an invariant value> — see UNIFORM

invasion noun
a sudden attack on and entrance into hostile territory <the invasion of the Soviet Union by Germany during World War II> — see RAID 1

invective noun
harsh insulting language <hurled curses and invective at the driver who heedlessly cut them off in traffic> — see ABUSE 1

invective adjective
marked by harsh insulting language <an overbearing, bullying boss who is fond of sending invective e-mails to long-suffering assistants> — see ABUSIVE

inveigh verb
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <always inveighing against the high property taxes that they were forced to pay> — see COMPLAIN

invent verb
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination <they invented an explanation for the broken vase that would satisfy their grandmother>

Synonyms
concoct, construct, contrive, cook (up), devise, drum up, excogitate, fabricate, make up, manufacture, think (up), trump up, vamp (up)

Related Words
coin, design, hatch, produce; daydream, dream, fantasize; conceive, envisage, envision, imagine, picture, vision, visualize; ad-lib, extemporize, improvise

Phrases
come up with

Near Antonyms
clone, copy, copycat, duplicate, imitate, mimic, reduplicate, replicate, reproduce

invented adjective
not real and existing only in the imagination <a daydreamer who lives mostly in her invented magic kingdom> — see IMAGINARY

invention noun
1 something (as a device) created for the first time through the use of the imagination <his clever invention made people's lives easier>

Synonyms
brainchild, coinage, concoction, contrivance, creation, innovation, wrinkle

Related Words
contraption, device, gadget, gizmo (also gismo), novelty; design, product, work; dream, fantasy (also phantasy), picture, vision; conception, imagining, origination

Near Antonyms
carbon copy, clone, copy, dupe, duplicate, duplication, facsimile, imitation, reduplication, replica, replication, reproduction

2 something that is the product of the imagination <unsurprisingly, the story about being kidnapped by aliens was pure invention> — see FICTION
3 the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others <a writer with great invention, she is able to create on the page worlds that don't exist but certainly seem like they could> — see IMAGINATION 1
4 the skill and imagination to create new things <a person of seemingly endless invention, Thomas Edison held a world-record 1,093 patents> — see CREATIVITY 1

inventive adjective
1 showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing <inventive electronic games> <inventive ways to use leftovers> — see CLEVER 1
2 having the skill and imagination to create new things <an inventive youth, he devised an automatic feeding system for his dog> — see CREATIVE 1

inventiveness noun
1 the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others <the artist's fertile inventiveness allows her to put on canvas landscapes that have never been trod by mortal feet> — see IMAGINATION 1
2 the skill and imagination to create new things <the contention that, in order to prosper, cities must attract young, well-educated people of great inventiveness in both the arts and high technology> — see CREATIVITY 1

inventor noun
one who creates or introduces something new <the inventor of the electric light bulb>

Synonyms
contriver, designer, developer, deviser, formulator, innovator, introducer, originator

Related Words
author, begetter, creator, establisher, father, founder, generator, inaugurator, initiator, instituter (or institutor), sire; groundbreaker, pioneer, planner, researcher, researchist; builder, maker, producer; dreamer; codeveloper, coinventer, coproducer, coresearcher

Near Antonyms
aper, copier, copycat, duplicator, imitator, mimic

inventory verb
to make a list of <would you inventory the supplies in the back room?> — see 1LIST 1

inventory noun
1 the number of individuals or amount of something available at any given time <the dealership has an unusually large inventory of pre-owned vehicles> — see SUPPLY
2 a short statement of the main points <offers an informative inventory of everything that is known about the virus at this time> — see SUMMARY

invert verb
to change the position of (an object) so that the opposite side or end is showing <if you invert the coin, there's a picture of a buffalo on the back> — see REVERSE 2

invertebrate adjective
lacking strength of will or character <an invertebrate Congress that blithely went along with the President's ill-conceived plan> — see WEAK 2

invest verb
1 to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle <invested the film with his own enthusiasm for the wonders of flight> — see INFUSE
2 to furnish freely or naturally with some power, quality, or attribute <a woman invested with the strong desire to make the world a better place> — see ENDOW 1
3 to give official or legal power to <invested him with power of attorney> — see AUTHORIZE 1
4 to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <a fashion designer who has invested a number of the winners of the best actress award> — see CLOTHE 1
5 to put into an office or welcome into an organization with special ceremonies <the beloved actor was finally invested as a knight by the queen> — see INSTALL 1
6 to surround (as a fortified place) with armed forces for the purpose of capturing or preventing commerce and communication <the city was mercilessly invested for an entire year, but never fell> — see BESIEGE 1
7 to surround or cover closely <nightfall invested the land> — see ENFOLD 1

investigate verb
to search through or into <experts investigating new ways of dealing with the problem> — see EXPLORE 1

investigation noun
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something <officials launched an extensive investigation of the plane crash> — see INQUIRY 1

investigator noun
1 one who observes or studies by close examination and systematic inquiry <investigators who discovered new evidence that the universe was much older than had been previously estimated>

Synonyms
experimenter, researcher

Related Words
monitor, observer; empiric, empiricist, fact finder; field-worker; examiner, inspector

2 a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons <the investigator in charge of the case was touted as an expert at tracing stolen art> — see DETECTIVE

investiture noun
the process or an instance of being formally placed in an office or organization <the investiture of a new member of parliament> — see INSTALLATION 1

investment noun
1 the cutting off of an area by military means to stop the flow of people or supplies <the investment of Cuba was one of the decisive moments in the Cuban Missile Crisis> — see BLOCKADE
2 the process or an instance of being formally placed in an office or organization <the investment of a new diocesan bishop is typically a grand and solemn occasion> — see INSTALLATION 1

inveterate adjective
1 firmly established over time <he has an inveterate tendency to tell some very tall tales>

Synonyms
bred-in-the-bone, confirmed, deep, deep-rooted, deep-seated, entrenched (also intrenched), hard-core, rooted, settled

Related Words
firm, fixed, frozen, hard, hard-and-fast, immutable, irradicable, set, unalterable, unchangeable; embedded (also imbedded), implanted, inculcated, instilled; inborn, inbred, ingrained (also engrained), inherent, innate, integral, intrinsic, natural; accustomed, chronic, customary, habitual, regular, typical, usual; abiding, enduring, lifelong, persistent, persisting

Near Antonyms
brief, ephemeral, fleeting, impermanent, interim, momentary, provisional, short-lived, short-term, temporary, transient

2 being such by habit and not likely to change <the man is an inveterate liar who only rarely tells the truth> — see HABITUAL 1

invidious adjective
having or showing mean resentment of another's possessions or advantages <inevitably, his remarkable success attracted the invidious attention of the other sales representatives> — see ENVIOUS

invidiousness noun
a painful awareness of another's possessions or advantages and a desire to have them too <she pretended to be happy for her friend's good fortune, but there was an unmistakable invidiousness about her supposedly heartfelt congratulations> — see ENVY

invigorate verb
to give life, vigor, or spirit to <the fresh air and sunshine invigorated the children after a long winter indoors> — see ANIMATE

invigorated adjective
made or become fresh in spirits or vigor <an invigorated worker returning from a relaxing vacation> — see NEW 4

invigorating adjective
having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind <an invigorating breeze made our afternoon sail all the more enjoyable> — see TONIC 1

invincible adjective
incapable of being defeated, overcome, or subdued <an invincible wrestler who has never lost a match>

Synonyms
bulletproof, impregnable, indomitable, insuperable, insurmountable, invulnerable, unbeatable, unconquerable, unstoppable

Related Words
inviolable, unassailable, unbreachable, untouchable; armored, defended, guarded, protected, safe, safeguarded, secure, shielded; unbeaten, unbowed, unconquered, undefeated, unsubdued

Near Antonyms
exposed, imperiled (or imperilled), insecure, liable, open, susceptible, unguarded, unprotected, unsafe; defenseless, helpless, powerless, weak

Antonyms
superable, surmountable, vincible, vulnerable

inviolable adjective
not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with <a person with inviolable moral standards> <an inviolable trust between lawyer and client> — see SACRED 1

invisible adjective
not readily seen or noticed <the stitches are invisible, so the mended skirt looks as good as new> — see UNOBTRUSIVE

invite verb
1 to request the presence or participation of <she's invited only select friends to visit her new house>

Synonyms
ask, bid

Related Words
solicit; beckon, call, summon

2 to act so as to make (something) more likely <you're just inviting ridicule by making such outrageous claims> — see COURT 1

invocation noun
a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power <a Siberian shaman muttering mysterious invocations to ward off evil> — see SPELL 1

invoice noun
a record of goods sold or services performed together with the costs due <the invoice stated that we owed $1500> — see 1BILL 1

invoke verb
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <we should be prepared for the possibility that any solution may invoke another set of problems> — see EFFECT

involuntary adjective
1 not made or done willingly or by choice <my long stays on the sidelines during our football games were strictly involuntary>

Synonyms
coerced, forced, unintended, unintentional, unwilling, will-less

Related Words
accidental, unplanned, unpremeditated; automatic, impulsive, instinctive, spontaneous, unprompted; inadvertent, unconscious, unknowing, unwitting

Near Antonyms
advised, conscious, considered, knowing, planned, premeditated, premeditative, prepense, purposeful; volitional; self-imposed, self-inflicted

Antonyms
deliberate, freewill, intentional, uncoerced, unforced, voluntary, willful (or wilful), willing

2 done instantly and without conscious thought or decision <breathing is involuntary> — see AUTOMATIC 1
3 forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law <the abolition of involuntary servitude by civilized society> — see MANDATORY

involute adjective
1 having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <the novel's deliberately involute plot is intended as a brainteaser for readers> — see COMPLEX 1
2 turning around an axis like the thread of a screw <the chambered nautilus is readily identified by its involute seashell> — see SPIRAL

involution noun
the state or quality of having many interrelated parts or aspects <the involution of the thriller's plot made it hard to follow> — see COMPLEXITY 1

involve verb
1 to be the business or affair of <this isn't something that involves you, so don't worry about it> — see CONCERN 2
2 to have as part of a whole <a tragic play usually involves a number of plot devices, including the hero's fatal flaw> — see INCLUDE 1
3 to hold the attention of <her blissful daydream so completely involved her that she never heard the knock on the door> — see ENGAGE 1
4 to surround or cover closely <a mind that was deeply involved in doubt about his wife's fidelity> — see ENFOLD 1

involved adjective
1 having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <a remarkably involved story for a writer so young> — see COMPLEX 1
2 made or done with great care or with much detail <very involved descriptions of every last detail of the lavish wedding> — see ELABORATE 1

involving adjective
holding the attention or provoking interest <an involving book that you won't be able to put down> — see INTERESTING

invulnerable adjective
incapable of being defeated, overcome, or subdued <typically teenagers suppose themselves to be invulnerable, so they take needless risks> — see INVINCIBLE

inward adjective
1 situated farther in <moved towards the inward room for more privacy> — see INNER 1
2 closely acquainted <he's more inward with the president than most members of the cabinet> — see FAMILIAR 1

inwards plural noun
the internal organs of the body <the hunter cleaned the deer by slicing open the belly and removing the inwards> — see GUT 1

inweave verb
to cause to twine about one another <inweave the strips of dough to make a decorative border> — see INTERTWINE 1

in–your–face adjective
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal <an in-your-face attitude that sometimes puts people off> — see AGGRESSIVE 1

iota noun
the smallest amount or part imaginable <there's not an iota of doubt regarding the defendant's guilt> — see JOT

ipso facto adverb
because of necessity <if we refuse to tolerate bigotry, do we become, ipso facto, as intolerant as those whom we condemn?> — see NEEDS

IQ noun
a highly developed skill in or knowledge of something <he has a movie IQ that is off the charts> — see COMMAND 2

irascibility noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <his natural irascibility tends to make people leave him alone> — see PETULANCE

irascible adjective
easily irritated or annoyed <forced to endure a memorably irascible boss on her first job after college> — see IRRITABLE

irascibleness noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <she typically responds to stupid requests with the irascibleness of a black mamba> — see PETULANCE

irate adjective
feeling or showing anger <the big increase in cable rates prompted a flood of irate calls and letters> — see ANGRY

irateness noun
an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <his irateness was such that we feared he might have a heart attack or stroke> — see ANGER

ire noun
an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <the patronizing comment from the snooty waiter roused her ire> — see ANGER

ire verb
to make angry <nothing ires him more than having to wait for his dinner> — see ANGER

ireful adjective
feeling or showing anger <ireful expressions on the faces of the protesters of the tax increase> — see ANGRY

iridescent adjective
having a rainbowlike play of colors <an iridescent soap bubble>

Synonyms
nacreous, opalescent, pearlescent

Related Words
chatoyant; colorful, motley, multicolored, polychromatic, polychrome, varicolored, variegated

irk verb
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <she irked her friend by chewing her gum loudly during the movie> — see IRRITATE 1

irk noun
something that is a source of irritation <one of the prof's major irks is a cell phone that rings during a lecture> — see ANNOYANCE 3

irked adjective
subjected to and reacting with irritation <irked drivers were honking and shouting at the cows in the road> — see ANNOYED

irksome adjective
causing annoyance <the irksome habit of leaving all the kitchen cabinet doors open> — see ANNOYING

iron adjective
not showing weakness or uncertainty <he had an iron determination to succeed in on Wall Street> — see FIRM 1

ironhearted adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <the touching reunion scene caused even the most ironhearted audience members to cry> — see HARD 1

irons plural noun
something that physically prevents free movement <guards forced the prisoners to sleep while still shackled in irons> — see BOND 1

irradiate verb
1 to supply with light <the light from a galaxy of flashing signs irradiates the heart and soul of Las Vegas> — see ILLUMINATE 1
2 to throw or give off <irradiating an aura of supreme confidence on the playing field> — see EMIT 1

irrational adjective
not using or following good reasoning <it's irrational to think that you can continue to consume an excess of calories and not gain weight> — see ILLOGICAL

irrecoverable adjective
1 not capable of being cured or reformed <unfortunately, he was destined to live out his days as an irrecoverable alcoholic> — see HOPELESS 1
2 not capable of being repaired, regained, or undone <one computer file proved to be irrecoverable after the crash> — see IRREPARABLE

irredeemable adjective
1 not capable of being cured or reformed <resigned to the fact that his in-laws are irredeemable practical jokers> — see HOPELESS 1
2 not capable of being repaired, regained, or undone <the irredeemable loss of innocence that the war brought about> — see IRREPARABLE

irreformable adjective
not capable of being cured or reformed <an irreformable liar who long ago lost all interest in telling the truth> — see HOPELESS 1

irrefragable adjective
not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <the prosecutor painstakingly built an irrefragable case> — see IRREFUTABLE

irrefutable adjective
not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <the irrefutable reply of “Because I like it!”>

Synonyms
accomplished, certain, inarguable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, irrefragable, positive, sure, unanswerable, unarguable, unchallengeable, undeniable, unquestionable

Related Words
unambiguous, unequivocal; absolute, clear, conclusive, decisive, definite, hands-down; uncontested, uncontradicted, undisputed, unquestioned

Near Antonyms
controversial, debated, disputed; doubtful, dubious, iffy, inconclusive, indecisive, uncertain; ambiguous, equivocal; academic (also academical), hypothetical, speculative, theoretical (also theoretic)

Antonyms
answerable, arguable, contradictable, controvertible, debatable, disputable, doubtable, moot, negotiable, problematic (also problematical), questionable, refutable

irregular adjective
1 departing from some accepted standard of what is normal <it was a bank customer's slightly irregular behavior that made people suspicious> — see DEVIANT
2 lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <irregular mail delivery to the island> — see FITFUL
3 not having a level or smooth surface <although the moon looks smooth from here, it actually has a very bumpy and irregular surface> — see UNEVEN 1
4 not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules <the request is irregular, but I'll allow it> — see INFORMAL 1
5 not staying constant <irregular gusts of wind> — see UNEVEN 2

irregularly adverb
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method <attended class only irregularly> — see HIT OR MISS

irrelative adjective
not having anything to do with the matter at hand <these irrelative points only to serve to dilute what is otherwise a strong case> — see IRRELEVANT

irrelevance noun
the quality or state of not having anything to do with the matter at hand <the irrelevance of the comment brought conversation to a standstill>

Synonyms
extraneousness, impertinence, inapplicability

Related Words
improperness, inappositeness, inappropriateness, inaptness, unfitness, unsuitability; immateriality, inconsequentiality, insignificance; emptiness, inaneness, inanity, meaninglessness, pointlessness, uselessness

Near Antonyms
appropriateness, aptness, fitness, suitability, suitableness; importance, significance; usefulness

Antonyms
applicability, bearing, connection, materiality, pertinence, relevance, relevancy

irrelevant adjective
not having anything to do with the matter at hand <irrelevant questions that merely disrupted the classroom lesson>

Synonyms
extraneous, immaterial, impertinent, inapplicable, inapposite, irrelative

Related Words
incidental, peripheral, tangent, tangential; dead, moot; inconsequential, insignificant, unimportant; empty, inane, meaningless, pointless, senseless, useless; inappropriate, inapt, unsuitable

Phrases
beside the point, neither here nor there

Near Antonyms
important, meaningful, significant; sensible, useful; appropriate, apt, fit, suitable

Antonyms
applicable, apposite, apropos, germane, material, pertinent, pointed, relative, relevant

irreligious adjective
lacking religious emotions, principles, or practices <raised in an irreligious family where the subject of God was never even discussed>

Synonyms
godless, nonreligious, religionless

Related Words
churchless, unchurched; heathen, pagan, paganish, ungodly, unholy; blasphemous, impious, irreverent, profanatory, sacrilegious; agnostic, atheistic (or atheistical); unconsecrated, unhallowed; profane, secular, temporal, worldly

Near Antonyms
devout, God-fearing, godly, holy, pious, prayerful, reverent, sainted, saintly, worshipful, worshipping (also worshiping); sanctimonious; blessed (also blest), consecrated, hallowed, sacred, sacrosanct, sanctified; devotional, spiritual

Antonyms
religious

irremediable adjective
1 not capable of being cured or reformed <the firm belief that no juvenile delinquent is irremediable> — see HOPELESS 1
2 not capable of being repaired, regained, or undone <it turned out that the flood damage was not irremediable> — see IRREPARABLE

irremovable adjective
incapable of moving or being moved <the driveway had to be built to curve around an irremovable tree> — see IMMOVABLE 1

irreparable adjective
not capable of being repaired, regained, or undone <irreparable damage to the car>

Synonyms
irrecoverable, irredeemable, irremediable, irretrievable, irreversible, unrecoverable, unredeemable

Related Words
irreplaceable, irrevocable; unredeemed

Near Antonyms
corrected, fixed, recovered, remedied, repaired

Antonyms
correctable, corrigible, fixable, redeemable, remediable, repairable, reparable, retrievable, undoable

irreproachability noun
the quality or state of being free from guilt or blame <commended the children on the irreproachability of their table manners> — see INNOCENCE 1

irreproachable adjective
1 free from guilt or blame <the captain of the force is a police officer of absolutely irreproachable character> — see INNOCENT 2
2 being entirely without fault <an irreproachable solution to the problem that should satisfy everyone> — see PERFECT 1

irreproachableness noun
the quality or state of being free from guilt or blame <the irreproachableness of the sergeant's conduct was in marked contrast to that of his fellow officers in the corruption-ridden precinct> — see INNOCENCE 1

irresolution noun
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action <after a moment of anguished irresolution, I raised my rifle and fired at the charging animal> — see HESITATION

irresponsible adjective
having or showing a lack of concern for the consequences of one's actions <it was irresponsible to go off and leave your baby unattended in an automobile> — see RECKLESS 1

irretrievable adjective
1 not capable of being cured or reformed <an irretrievable drug addict who had wasted a once-promising life> — see HOPELESS 1
2 not capable of being repaired, regained, or undone <this is just an irretrievable mess, so let's start all over again> — see IRREPARABLE

irreverence noun
an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things <certain sects of Islam consider a woman showing her face in public to be a gross irreverence> — see BLASPHEMY

irreverent adjective
not showing proper reverence for the holy or sacred <irreverent behavior during church services>

Synonyms
blasphemous, impious, profane, sacrilegious

Related Words
agnostic, atheistic (or atheistical); godless, heretical (also heretic), irreligious, miscreant, nonreligious, religionless, secular; ungodly, unholy; unconsecrated, unhallowed; heathen, pagan, paganish

Near Antonyms
devout, God-fearing, godly, holy, prayerful, religious, sainted, saintly, worshipful, worshipping (also worshiping); consecrated, hallowed, sacred, sacrosanct, sanctified

Antonyms
pious, reverent

irreversible adjective
not capable of being repaired, regained, or undone <fortunately, the misprint wasn't an irreversible error since it was discovered early> — see IRREPARABLE

irrigate verb
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse <if you get the chemical in your eye, irrigate the eye thoroughly with water> — see FLUSH 1

irritability noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <the librarian's well-known irritability makes students hesitant to ask questions> — see PETULANCE

irritable adjective
easily irritated or annoyed <that irritable old man always yells at people to stay off of his lawn>

Synonyms
choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, crotchety, fiery, grouchy, grumpy, irascible, peevish, perverse, pettish, petulant, prickly, quick-tempered, raspy, ratty, short-tempered, snappish, snappy, snarky, snippety, snippy, stuffy, testy, waspish

Related Words
bearish, bilious, cantankerous, cross-grained, curmudgeonly, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, off-color (or off-colored), ornery, querulous, snarly, surly; argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, disputatious, fractious, fretful, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent; huffy, pouty, sensitive, short, sulky, sullen, tetchy, thin-skinned, touchy; hot-blooded, passionate

Phrases
out of humor, out of sorts

Near Antonyms
affable, companionable, cordial, extroverted (also extraverted), friendly, genial, gregarious, outgoing, sociable; agreeable, amiable, good-natured, good-tempered, sweet, well-disposed; carefree, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, relaxed; forbearing, long-suffering, obliging, patient, stoic (or stoical), tolerant, uncomplaining, understanding

irritableness noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <the old man's chronic irritableness makes him the terror of the nursing home> — see PETULANCE

irritant noun
something that is a source of irritation <the whining child was a constant irritant to his long-suffering parents> — see ANNOYANCE 3

irritate verb
1 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <constant chatter irritated the student, who was trying to concentrate on a hard assignment>

Synonyms
aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, eat, exasperate, frost, gall, get, grate, gripe, hack (off), irk, itch, nark [British], nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, vex

Related Words
hassle, heckle; nag; inflame (also enflame), provoke, rouse; badger, bait, bullyrag (also ballyrag), devil, hagride, harass, harry, pester, plague, tease; anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, infuriate, madden, rankle, roil; agitate, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, exercise, freak (out), fret, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry; affront, insult, miff, offend, outrage

Phrases
get one's goat, get on one's nerves, get to, rub the wrong way, set one's teeth on edge, stick in one's craw, wear on

Near Antonyms
appease, conciliate, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate; delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy; assure, cheer, comfort, console, content, quiet, reassure, solace, soothe

2 to make sore by continued rubbing <new shoes usually irritate my feet> — see CHAFE 1

irritated adjective
subjected to and reacting with irritation <irritated viewers were bombarding the station with complaints about the game's delayed start> — see ANNOYED

irritating adjective
1 causing annoyance <his particularly irritating habit of leaving his dirty clothes on the floor> — see ANNOYING
2 causing an unpleasant tingling sensation <this soap leaves a residue that might be a little irritating if you have sensitive skin> — see SCRATCHY 2

irritation noun
the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts <Dad's general irritation at the incessant complaining coming from the back seat of the car> — see ANNOYANCE 2

irruption noun
a sudden attack on and entrance into hostile territory <the irruptions of the Goths into Italy in the fifth century> — see RAID 1

island noun
a fairly small area of land completely surrounded by water <the island of Hawaii is the largest in the Hawaiian archipelago>

Synonyms
isle, islet

Related Words
atoll, barrier reef, cay, coral reef, key

Near Antonyms
continent, main, mainland

isle noun
a fairly small area of land completely surrounded by water <the Australian seas are rife with uninhabited isles> — see ISLAND

islet noun
a fairly small area of land completely surrounded by water <landed the boat on a tiny islet that we had all to ourselves> — see ISLAND

isolate noun
a person who lives away from others <interpersonal relationships are very stressful for him, so he lives as a virtual isolate on the Upper West Side of Manhattan> — see RECLUSE

isolate verb
to set or keep apart from others <outlying villages that had been isolated by the massive earthquake>

Synonyms
cut off, insulate, seclude, segregate, separate, sequester

Related Words
quarantine; confine, immure, incarcerate, intern, jail, lock (up), restrain, restrict; abstract, detach, disengage, remove; detain, hold, keep

Near Antonyms
assimilate, associate, connect, join, link, unite; discharge, free, liberate, loose, release

Antonyms
desegregate, integrate, reintegrate

isolated adjective
1 screened or sequestered from view <the hikers unexpectedly came upon an isolated mountain cabin> — see SECLUDED
2 not often occurring or repeated <fortunately for this neighborhood, the burglary was just an isolated incident> — see INFREQUENT

isolation noun
the state of being alone or kept apart from others <forced isolation always made the sociable child lonely>

Synonyms
aloneness, insulation, privacy, secludedness, seclusion, segregation, separateness, sequestration, solitariness, solitude

Related Words
loneliness, lonesomeness; vacuum; confinement, incarceration, internment, quarantine; retirement, withdrawal; ghettoization

Near Antonyms
camaraderie, companionship, company, comradeship, fellowship, society

issuable adjective
open to question or dispute <an issuable claim that the food additive causes cancer> — see DEBATABLE 1

issuance noun
the act or process of giving out something to each member of a group <the issuance of an instruction sheet to each member of the class> — see DISTRIBUTION 1

issue noun
1 a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <one of the issues of the Civil War was a resolution to the question of states' rights> — see EFFECT 1
2 a place or means of going out <since the lake is the issue of the polluted river, it is becoming polluted as well> — see EXIT 1
3 the descendants of a person, animal, or plant <someone who dies without issue might have their estate turned over to the state> — see OFFSPRING

issue verb
1 to produce and release for distribution in printed form <plans to issue a monthly newsletter> — see PUBLISH 1
2 to throw or give off <a volcano issuing vast clouds of hot ash> — see EMIT 1

Italian sandwich noun
a large sandwich on a long split roll <that restaurant makes a great Italian sandwich> — see SUBMARINE

italicize verb
to make more apparent <high-definition television italicizes every line and wrinkle in an actor's face> — see EMPHASIZE 2

itch noun
1 sexual appetite <he has had an itch for that woman since the day she started working in the office> — see DESIRE 2
2 a strong wish for something <has an itch to travel to far-off and exciting places> — see DESIRE 1
3 intense sexual desire <sailors on shore leave looking to satisfy the itch with the first available woman> — see LUST 1

itch verb
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <don't let her snide put-downs itch you—just ignore her> — see IRRITATE 1

itch (for) verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <a bully who's just itching for a fight> — see DESIRE 1

itchy adjective
1 causing an unpleasant tingling sensation <the child in the pew ahead of us kept tugging at his itchy church clothes> — see SCRATCHY 2
2 having a strong sexual desire <a red-light district that was a favorite haunt of itchy sailors on shore leave> — see LUSTFUL

item noun
1 a separate part in a list, account, or series <she got all the items on her grocery list except cereal>

Synonyms
detail, particular, point

Related Words
article, belonging, object, stuff, thing; characteristic, component, constituent, element, factor, feature, member; ingredient; division, particle, partition, piece, portion, section, segment

Near Antonyms
aggregate, composite, compound, conglomerate; entirety, sum, summation, total, totality, whole

2 a report of recent events or facts not previously known <our next item is about the blizzard blanketing the East Coast> — see NEWS

itemize verb
1 to make a list of <itemized the expenses for the business trip> — see 1LIST 1
2 to specify one after another <itemized the potential problems if a wind farm is built there> — see ENUMERATE 1

iterate verb
to say or state again <no matter how many times I iterate that this so-called prank is a bad idea, no one listens> — see REPEAT 1

iteration noun
the act of saying or doing over again <your constant iteration of the same piddling complaints is wearing thin> — see REPEAT

itinerant adjective
traveling from place to place <an itinerant musician can see a lot of the world>

Synonyms
ambulant, ambulatory, errant, fugitive, gallivanting (also galavanting), nomad, nomadic, perambulatory, peregrine, peripatetic, ranging, roaming, roving, vagabond, vagrant, wandering, wayfaring

Related Words
drifting, footloose, meandering, rambling; sauntering, strolling, traipsing, walking; migrant, migratory

Phrases
on the move

Near Antonyms
immobile, nonmoving, settled, standing, static, stationary; motionless, still

itty–bitty or itsy–bitsy adjective
very small in size <maddening swarms of itty-bitty insects flew around our faces> — see TINY

ivory–tower adjective
very learned or educated but inexperienced in practical matters <a large public university that needs as its president not some ivory-tower intellectual but a skilled administrator> — see ACADEMIC 2

ivory–towered adjective
very learned or educated but inexperienced in practical matters <an ivory-towered elite that always favors the candidate who is idealistic but unelectable> — see ACADEMIC 2

ivory–towerish adjective
very learned or educated but inexperienced in practical matters <the governor dismissed his critics at the state university as a gaggle of ivory-towerish goo-goos> — see ACADEMIC 2

J

jab noun
a quick thrust <gave the jellyfish on the beach a cautious jab with my stick> — see 1POKE 1

jab verb
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <jabbed a pickle and tossed it on the plate> — see IMPALE

jabber noun
unintelligible or meaningless talk <to me the baby's speech was simply jabber, but his mother claimed to know exactly what he was saying> — see GIBBERISH 1

jabber verb
1 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <please do not jabber during the rabbi's sermon> — see CHAT 1
2 to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly <monkeys jabbering at each other in their cages> — see BABBLE 1

jabberer noun
a person who talks constantly <the sort of office jabberer who has an opinion on everything> — see CHATTERBOX

jabberwocky noun
unintelligible or meaningless talk <when he gets angry, he talks in a sort of agitated jabberwocky that is really quite comical> — see GIBBERISH 1

jack noun
1 slang something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <I'd buy that watch, but I don't have the jack right now> — see MONEY 1
2 a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling <a Portuguese ship flying the national jack> — see FLAG 1
3 an adult male human being <hey, jack, can you spare some change?> — see MAN 1
4 one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel <the streets of the old seaport were once full of jacks, harlots, and other dockside denizens> — see SAILOR
5 the total of the bets at stake at one time <tension was mounting as the jack was getting bigger by the minute> — see POT 1
6 a person whose job is to cut down trees <we'll need to hire more jacks to get this forest cleared before winter> — see LUMBERJACK

jack (up) verb
1 to lift with effort <jack up the car so we can change that tire> — see HEAVE 1
2 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <local restaurants jacked up their prices for the summer tourist season> — see RAISE 1

jackass noun
1 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <only a jackass would dive into a lake without first checking to see how deep the water is> — see FOOL 1
2 a stupid person <you don't have to act like a jackass just to get a girl to notice you> — see IDIOT
3 a sturdy and patient domestic mammal that is used especially to carry things <with our jackasses loaded with supplies, we slowly made our way down to the floor of the canyon> — see DONKEY 1

jacked (up) adjective
being at a higher level than average <the convenience store had the item I needed but at a ridiculously jacked up price> — see HIGH 2

jacket noun
1 something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <slip the art book into its jacket so it won't get dirty> — see 1CASE 1
2 the hairy covering of a mammal especially when fine, soft, and thick <llamas are prized for their soft, lush jackets> — see FUR 1

jackleg adjective
1 being such only for recreation <a toolshed that can be built by any jackleg carpenter who's capable of hitting a nail without smashing his thumb> — see AVOCATIONAL
2 lacking or showing a lack of expert skill <he did such a jackleg installation of that door frame that now the door won't shut> — see AMATEURISH
3 having or showing lowered moral character or standards <a jackleg lawyer whose clients consist mainly of drug dealers and child molesters> — see CORRUPT

jackleg noun
a person who lacks experience and competence in an art or science <you can't rely on a bunch of jacklegs to run your dairy farm> — see AMATEUR 2

jackpot noun
1 chiefly West a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <a wily dude who managed to get himself out of one jackpot after another> — see PREDICAMENT
2 the total of the bets at stake at one time <once the jackpot hit $100 million, everybody and his cousin was buying lottery tickets> — see POT 1

jack–tar noun
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel <a jack-tar swabbing the deck under the critical eye of the first mate> — see SAILOR

jade verb
to make weary and restless by being dull or monotonous <a steady diet of nothing but lobster would jade the palate of even the most ardent lobster lover> — see 2BORE

jaded adjective
1 depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <after that long bar exam, I'm too jaded for anything but a nap> — see WEARY 1
2 having one's patience, interest, or pleasure exhausted <even jaded sci-fi fans are finding this new space adventure fresh and exciting> — see WEARY 2

jading adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <the jading task of sorting and counting change> — see BORING

jagged adjective
1 having an uneven edge or outline <it's going to be hard to repair the jagged tear in the tablecloth so that it doesn't show> — see RAGGED 1
2 not having a level or smooth surface <rode our mountain bikes down the trail's jagged terrain, which made for a bumpy ride> — see UNEVEN 1

jail noun
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <sentenced to three years in jail for his crime>

Synonyms
bastille, big house [slang], bridewell, brig, calaboose, can, clink [slang], cooler, coop, guardroom, hock, hold, hoosegow, jailhouse, joint [slang], jug, lockup, nick [British slang], pen, penitentiary, pokey [slang], prison, quod [British slang], slam, slammer, stir [slang], stockade, tolbooth [Scottish]

Related Words
bull pen, cage, cell, hole, tank; block, ward; glasshouse [British], guardhouse, hulk(s); concentration camp, gulag, labor camp, prison camp, stalag, work camp; dungeon, keep, oubliette; reformatory, reform school, training school

Near Antonyms
outside

jail verb
to put in or as if in prison <threatened to jail the punks if they so much as jaywalked> — see IMPRISON

jailbird noun
a person convicted as a criminal and serving a prison sentence <had spent most of his sorry life as a jailbird in hoosegows across the South> — see CONVICT

jailed adjective
taken and held prisoner <the jailed protestors were noisily demanding to see their lawyers> — see CAPTIVE

jailhouse noun
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <received a tip from an informant inside the county jailhouse> — see JAIL

jake adjective, slang
being to one's liking <once they hook up the game system, everything will be jake around here> — see SATISFACTORY 1

jalopy noun
a dilapidated old automobile <his parents gave him an old jalopy for school> — see BEATER 1

jam noun
1 a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement <thousands of cars trying to leave the stadium's parking lot at the same time are sure to create a jam>

Synonyms
backup, bottleneck, jam-up, logjam, snarl, tailback [British], tie-up

Related Words
tangle; gridlock, lock; congestion, traffic; crawl, delay, slowdown, stoppage

2 a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <the heavy rain puts us in a real jam: all of the preparations are for a garden wedding> — see PREDICAMENT

jam verb
1 to fit (people or things) into a tight space <jammed his clothes into the already bulging hamper> — see CROWD 1
2 to prevent passage through by filling with something <firefighters found the nightclub's doorways jammed with trapped patrons> — see CLOG 1
3 to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained <the inn will jam a guest's picnic basket with an array of tempting foods> — see FILL 1
4 to force one's way <several more people jammed into the bus even though there was hardly room to stand> — see 2PRESS 4

jambalaya noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <its jambalaya of widely diverse nationalities and races gives the urban neighborhood a rich vitality> — see MISCELLANY 1

jamboree noun
a bout of prolonged or excessive drinking <he was a bit remorseful when he returned to the farm after his jamboree in town> — see CAROUSE

jammed adjective
1 containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible <tour buses, jammed with eager sightseers, invariably stop at that spot> — see FULL 1
2 firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge <this jammed door just won't budge> — see TIGHT 2

jam–pack verb
to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained <we jam-packed the box with goodies for our sick friend> — see FILL 1

jam–packed adjective
1 containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible <a film jam-packed with spectacular action sequences> — see FULL 1
2 having little space between items or parts <the jam-packed placement of the chicken pieces in the frying pan prevented them from browning properly> — see CLOSE 1

jam–up noun
a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement <knowing that there was a big traffic jam-up ahead, we took the detour that the locals always use> — see JAM 1

jangle noun
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <the hall was abuzz with the usual preconvention jangle> — see CHAT 1

janitor noun
1 a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner <got a job as the night janitor at the elementary school> — see CUSTODIAN 1
2 a person who tends a door <according to popular Christian tradition, St. Peter acts as janitor at heaven's pearly gates> — see DOORKEEPER

Janus–faced adjective
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <there was a Janus-faced quality to the interview: for all of the smiling and nodding, the interviewer's body language expressed deep boredom> — see INSINCERE

jape noun
something said or done to cause laughter <by the standards of today's no-holds-barred satire, Will Rogers' homespun japes about politicians seem awfully gentle> — see JOKE 1

jape verb
to make jokes <the characters in Oscar Wilde's plays jape with a readiness and sophistication that is rarely, if ever, encountered in real life> — see JOKE 1

jar noun
1 a forceful coming together of two things <this padded case should protect your laptop from the jars normally experienced while traveling> — see IMPACT 1
2 something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected <the flow of her day was interrupted with the jar of an unexpected crisis> — see SURPRISE 1
3 a harsh grating sound <the jar of a stuck car door> — see RASP

jar verb
1 to express different opinions about something often angrily <those two coworkers have such incompatible personalities that it's no wonder they constantly jar> — see ARGUE 2
2 to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably <the bright orange of the walls jars with the light pastels of the furnishings> — see CLASH

jargon noun
the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field <I don't understand a lot of computer jargon> — see TERMINOLOGY

jargon verb
to make a short sharp sound like a small bird <the birds who began jargoning to greet the dawn> — see CHIRP

jarring adjective
1 causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness <the jarring news that major financial institutions were on the verge of collapse> — see SURPRISING 1
2 disagreeable to one's aesthetic or artistic sense <the final chord of that song is too jarring for me> — see HARSH 2

jaundice noun
a deep-seated ill will <the jaundice in the eyes of the two feuding neighbors was enough to kill crabgrass> — see ENMITY

jaundiced adjective
1 having or showing mean resentment of another's possessions or advantages <took a jaundiced view of his opponent's triumphs on the tennis court> — see ENVIOUS
2 marked by opposition or ill will <environmentalists tend to cast a jaundiced eye on those oversized, gas-guzzling vehicles> — see HOSTILE 1

jaunt noun
a short trip for pleasure <took a leisurely jaunt up to the mountains for the day> — see EXCURSION 1

jaunty adjective
having much high-spirited energy and movement <oozing charm, the jaunty dance instructor literally swept the women off their feet> — see LIVELY 1

javelin noun
a weapon with a long straight handle and sharp head or blade <from atop his horse the warrior hurled a javelin that pierced the chest of his hapless foe> — see SPEAR

jaw noun
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <now that he's retired, he's got all afternoon for a jaw with his friends at the senior center> — see CHAT 1

jaw verb
1 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <you don't have to jaw me to death just because I bite my nails> — see SCOLD
2 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <just a group of girls sitting around the locker room and jawing about the usual stuff> — see CHAT 1

jaw–dropper noun
something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected <the underdog's victory was a jaw-dropper in boxing circles> — see SURPRISE 1

jaw–dropping adjective
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness <the jaw-dropping prices for high-end modern art at the auction houses this season> — see SURPRISING 1

jay noun
1 a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance <a snooty little jay who refused to wear anything but designer labels> — see DANDY 1
2 a person who talks constantly <the stranger's incessant chatter was annoying, and she was the kind of jay that I didn't have in mind when I entered the park> — see CHATTERBOX

jazz noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <don't give me that jazz about how you didn't know that it was illegal> — see NONSENSE 1

jazz (up) verb
to give life, vigor, or spirit to <your assignment is to jazz up the design of that Web page> — see ANIMATE

jazziness noun
the quality or state of having abundant or intense activity <the surprising jazziness of the city's art scene> — see VITALITY 1

jazzy adjective
1 attractively eye-catching in style <that's a jazzy bathing suit, with all those spangles>

Synonyms
flashy, pizzazzy (or pizazzy), snazzy, splashy

Related Words
cool, fresh (slang), hip, neat; à la mode (also a la mode), chic, chichi; dapper, dashing, natty, sharp, smart, snappy, spruce; faddish, fashionable, happening, in, modish, stylish, swish, trendy; custom, designer; showy, striking; flamboyant, garish, gaudy, glittery, glitzy, jaunty, loud, ostentatious, raffish, rakish, swank (or swanky), wild

Near Antonyms
modest, plain, quiet, simple, unadorned; conservative, muted, restrained, subdued, toned-down, understated, unpretentious; styleless, unfashionable, unstylish; démodé, old-fashioned, outmoded, out-of-date, passé

2 having much high-spirited energy and movement <a jazzy little dance routine that the aerobics instructor created> — see LIVELY 1

jealous adjective
1 intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness <a boyfriend who became jealous whenever she paid attention to anyone but him>

Synonyms
possessive

Related Words
controlling, demanding, domineering, grasping; covetous, envious, invidious, jaundiced; distrustful, mistrustful, suspicious; overprotective, protective

Near Antonyms
undemanding; permissive, tolerant, tolerating, trustful, trusting, understanding

2 having or showing mean resentment of another's possessions or advantages <was jealous of his friend's great popularity with the girls> — see ENVIOUS

jealousy noun
a painful awareness of another's possessions or advantages and a desire to have them too <her jealousy over her sister's singing career drove the two of them apart> — see ENVY

jeer noun
a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval <ignored the jeers of the other team's fans and just focused on making her free throw shot> — see CATCALL

jeer verb
to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter <the unforgiving crowd jeered the magician when the final trick went awry> — see RIDICULE

jefe noun
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do <the jefe of a drug cartel operating out of Central America> — see BOSS

Jehovah noun
the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength> — see DEITY 2

jejune adjective
1 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <another moralizing tale filled with jejune platitudes> — see BORING
2 having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children <an essay filled with jejune, simplistic opinions about international politics> — see CHILDISH

jell verb
1 to take on a definite form <our ideas for the marketing campaign are just beginning to jell> — see FORM 1
2 to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly <the sauce will jell once it cools down> — see COAGULATE

jelly verb
to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly <this fruit juice is taking longer to jelly than I expected> — see COAGULATE

jellyfish noun
a person without strength of character <a jellyfish who was afraid to tell her boss that her latest brainstorm was just plain bad> — see WEAKLING 2

jeopard verb
to place in danger <a scandal that could seriously jeopard his political career> — see ENDANGER

jeopardize verb
to place in danger <don't do anything that will jeopardize your place on the advisory board> — see ENDANGER

jeopardizing adjective
involving potential loss or injury <that stupid prank could turn out to be a jeopardizing event in your academic career> — see DANGEROUS 1

jeopardy noun
the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil <the city's firefighters routinely put their lives in jeopardy by executing daring rescues> — see DANGER 1

jeremiad noun
a long angry speech or scolding <a jeremiad against the political apathy shown by so many young people> — see TIRADE

jerk noun
1 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <his constant rudeness and insensitivity made everyone think he was a real jerk>

Synonyms
bastard, beast, bleeder [British], blighter [chiefly British], boor, bounder, bugger, buzzard, cad, chuff, churl, clown, creep, cretin, crud [slang], crumb [slang], cur, dirtbag [slang], dog, fink, heel, hound, joker, louse, lout, pill, rat, rat fink, reptile, rotter, schmuck [slang], scum, scumbag [slang], scuzzball [slang], skunk, sleaze, sleazebag [slang], sleazeball [slang], slime, slimeball [slang], slob, snake, so-and-so, sod [chiefly British], stinkard, stinker, swine, toad, varmint, vermin

Related Words
barbarian, brute, caveman, Neanderthal, savage; loudmouth, vulgarian; lowlife, miscreant, rascal, rogue, roughneck, scab, scamp, scoundrel, villain, wretch; booby, doofus [slang], fool, jackass, nincompoop, ninny, nit [chiefly British], nitwit, nut, schmo (or schmoe) [slang]; airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, dink [slang], dolt, dope, dork [slang], goon, half-wit, idiot, imbecile, moron, turkey; brat, insolent, nuisance, pest, snip; snob, snoot, snot; dweeb [slang], nerd

Phrases
son of a gun

Near Antonyms
hero, heroine, idol, role model; gentleman, lady; angel, saint

2 the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force <guided the rowboat with a jerk of the rope> — see PULL 1

jerk verb
1 to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion <I jerked to one side to avoid getting hit> <jerked the leash to get the dog's attention>

Synonyms
buck, hitch, hoick, jolt, twitch, yank

Related Words
bump, jounce, lurch, pitch, stagger; jig, jiggle, jog, joggle, shake; drag, lug, pull, tug; pluck, tweak; grab, rip, snap (up), snatch, tear, wrench, wrest, wring

2 to make jerky or restless movements <you've got to quit jerking, or the barber will nick you by accident> — see FIDGET
3 to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <the car jerked with every shift of the gear> — see SHAKE 1

jerky adjective
1 marked by a series of sharp quick motions <made jerky progress walking with the new crutches>

Synonyms
bumpy, choppy, herky-jerky, jouncy, rough

Related Words
erratic, fitful, irregular, spasmodic, spastic, unsteady; jagged, ragged, uneven

Near Antonyms
calm, placid, smooth, steady, still

2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <he's acting jerky just to get people's attention> — see FOOLISH 1

jerry–built adjective
hastily or roughly constructed <my jerry-built wine racks may not look pretty, but they get the job done> — see RUDE 1

jerry–rigged adjective
hastily or roughly constructed <a jerry-rigged switch to keep the machine in operation until it can be repaired> — see RUDE 1

jest noun
1 an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously <you should know that our teasing was done entirely in jest> — see FUN 2
2 something said or done to cause laughter <laughed politely at his feeble jest about his pet mosquito> — see JOKE 1
3 a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <putting a mouse in her desk drawer was intended to be a harmless jest> — see PRANK
4 a person or thing that is made fun of <his outlandish costumes made him the jest of the town> — see LAUGHINGSTOCK

jest verb
to make jokes <when I asked my sister for a loan, she laughingly replied, “Surely you jest!”> — see JOKE 1

jester noun
1 a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor <a gentle jester, the cartoonist more often tries to evoke a broad smile than a hearty guffaw> — see HUMORIST
2 a person formerly kept in a royal or noble household to amuse with jests and pranks <the king called for some much-needed entertainment from his jester> — see FOOL 2

jesting adjective
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing <made jesting comments about my need for serious fashion advice> — see QUIZZICAL

jesting noun
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks <lots of laughter and elbow-nudging jesting at family reunions> — see BANTER

jet noun
a usually forceful stream of fluid discharged from a narrow opening <bought a new showerhead that emits a superpowerful jet of water>

Synonyms
spout, spurt, squirt

Related Words
flush, gush, spew; spit, spray, spritz; geyser, spouter; blast, burst

jet verb
1 to flow out in great quantities or with force <water jetting out of opened fire hydrants at a dangerously high rate> — see GUSH 1
2 to violently throw out or off (something from within) <the volcano has been jetting out fiery lava in life-threatening amounts> — see ERUPT 1
3 to proceed or move quickly <the presidential candidates jetted through the state for a week before racing off to the next primary> — see HURRY 2

jettison noun
the getting rid of whatever is unwanted or useless <with his ship rapidly sinking, the captain ordered a last-ditch jettison of much of its cargo> — see DISPOSAL 1

jettison verb
to get rid of as useless or unwanted <just jettison that plan, because we know it won't work> — see DISCARD

jetty noun
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers <didn't see any passengers waiting for the ferry, so the captain sailed past the jetty> — see DOCK

jewel noun
1 a usually valuable stone cut and polished for ornament <a necklace set with priceless jewels> — see GEM 1
2 an asset that brings praise or renown <an illuminated medieval manuscript that is the jewel of the library's collection of rare books> — see GLORY 2
3 someone or something unusually desirable <a star athlete who would be a jewel for any team> — see PRIZE 1

Jezebel noun
a boldly flirtatious or sexually promiscuous woman <as far as the family matriarch was concerned, her son's fiancée was a gold digger and a Jezebel> — see FLOOZY

jibe verb
to be in agreement on every point <that doesn't jibe with what I know about his character> — see CHECK 1

jiff noun
a very small space of time <give me a jiff while I go to get my coat> — see INSTANT

jiffy noun
a very small space of time <I'll be there in a jiffy> — see INSTANT

jig noun
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <okay, buster, the jig is up> — see TRICK 1

jig verb
to make jerky or restless movements <the mother could tell that her little boy had to use the bathroom because he was jigging> — see FIDGET

jigger noun
an interesting and often novel device with a practical use <a kitchen store filled with neat little jiggers that you didn't know you needed> — see GADGET

jiggery–pokery noun
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end <the judge ordered the corporation to hand over all records, with no jiggery-pokery about unexpected problems and missing information> — see TRICKERY

jiggle verb
1 to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <the gelatin salad continued to jiggle after she set it on the table> — see SHAKE 1
2 to make jerky or restless movements <the applicant's knees constantly jiggled, betraying her nervousness> — see FIDGET

jiggling noun
a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side <the nerve-rattling jiggling we got when we drove over the railroad tracks> — see VIBRATION 1

jilt verb
to end a usually intimate relationship with <still trying to get over being jilted by his longtime girlfriend> — see DITCH 1

jim–dandy noun
something very good of its kind <the brand new car was a jim-dandy>

Synonyms
beaut, beauty, bee's knees, cat's meow, corker, crackerjack (also crackajack), daisy, dandy, dilly, doozy (or doozie also doozer), dream, honey, hot stuff, humdinger, hummer, knockout, lollapalooza, lulu [slang], nifty, peach, pip, pippin, ripper, ripsnorter, snorter, sockdolager (or sockdologer), standout, sweetheart

Related Words
marvel, phenomenon, prodigy, sensation, wonder; catch, crown jewel, diamond, gem, imperial, jewel, pearl, plum, treasure

Phrases
something else

Near Antonyms
bust, disappointment, dud, failure, flop, lemon, letdown, loser, stinker, turkey

jim–dandy adjective
of the very best kind <a jim-dandy guitarist who would be an asset to any garage band> — see EXCELLENT

jimjams plural noun
a sense of panic or extreme nervousness <heights don't give me the jimjams, but flying does> — see JITTERS

jimmy verb
to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever <let's try to jimmy the door lock with my credit card> — see 1PRY 1

jingle noun
1 a series of short high ringing sounds <the jingle of change in my pocket> — see TINKLE
2 a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment <loved that jingle in the commercial for the fast-food place> — see SONG 1

jingle verb
to make a repeated sharp light ringing sound <the bell on the kitten's collar jingled as she walked>

Synonyms
chink, clink, tingle, tinkle

Related Words
clang, clangor, clank, clash, crash; clack, clatter, rattle; chime, ding, ding-dong, gong, jangle, ping, plink, ring

jingo noun
1 one who shows excessive favoritism towards his or her country <a jingo who thought other countries should automatically follow his country's policies> — see NATIONALIST
2 one who urges or attempts to cause a war <the often bitter rhetoric between the jingoes and the committed pacifists> — see WARMONGER

jingoism noun
excessive favoritism towards one's own country <his loudmouthed jingoism will not win us any foreign allies> — see CHAUVINISM

jingoist adjective
having or showing excessive favoritism towards one's own country <a jingoist speech that just stopped short of calling for a declaration of war> — see NATIONALIST 1

jingoist noun
one who urges or attempts to cause a war <jingoists applauding the appointment of a hard-line foreign minister> — see WARMONGER

jingoistic adjective
having or showing excessive favoritism towards one's own country <dismissed the political action committee as a bunch of jingoistic extremists who never met a war they wouldn't support> — see NATIONALIST 1

jink verb
to move suddenly aside or to and fro <jinking here and there with remarkable agility, the thieving urchin frustrated all attempts to catch him> — see DODGE 1

jinx noun
something that brings bad luck <believed the broken mirror was a jinx>

Synonyms
hex, hoodoo, Indian sign [chiefly British], whammy

Related Words
Jonah; curse, evil eye, pox, spell, voodoo; augury, omen, portent

Near Antonyms
amulet, charm, fetish (also fetich), talisman

jinxed adjective
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck <this fishing rod must be jinxed, seeing as how I never catch anything> — see UNLUCKY 1

jitteriness noun
a state of nervousness marked by sudden jerky movements <sensing the team's jitteriness before the big game, the coach gave a pregame speech that was more reassuring than inspirational> — see JUMPINESS

jitters plural noun
a sense of panic or extreme nervousness <always got the jitters right before a test>

Synonyms
butterflies, dither, heebie-jeebies, jimjams, nerves, screaming meemies, shakes, shivers, whim-whams, willies

Related Words
cold sweat, creeps, fidgets, goose bumps; agitation, anxiety, fear, hysteria, uneasiness; frazzle, nervous breakdown; edginess, jumpiness, skittishness

Near Antonyms
aplomb, calm, composure, equanimity, imperturbability, self-possession, tranquillity (or tranquility)

jittery adjective
1 easily excited by nature <a jittery person who shouldn't even consider a career as an air traffic controller> — see EXCITABLE
2 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <feeling a little jittery before the flight> — see NERVOUS 1

jive adjective, slang
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <don't give me that jive talk about me being your new best friend> — see INSINCERE

jive noun
the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field <a novel that captures dead-on the jive of young Hollywood hipsters> — see TERMINOLOGY

jive verb
1 to make fun of in a good-natured way <don't be upset—we're just jiving you> — see TEASE 1
2 to make jokes <our team was laughing and jiving after our surprise win> — see JOKE 1

job noun
1 an assignment at which one regularly works for pay <a high-paying job as a banker>

Synonyms
appointment, berth, billet, capacity, connection, function, place, position, post, situation

Related Words
business, employ, employment, occupation, profession; work; office, spot; calling, pursuit, trade, vocation; line, racket; engagement, gig; livelihood, living; career, lifework, practice (also practise); duty, mission, posting, service, task

Near Antonyms
avocation; joblessness, unemployment

2 a piece of work that needs to be done regularly <taking the trash out is one of my jobs> — see CHORE 1
3 a specific task with which a person or group is charged <your job on this committee is to review the curriculum and suggest changes> — see MISSION
4 the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists <a coffeemaker's job is to make coffee, and this overpriced machine doesn't do it very well> — see ROLE
5 a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work <boy, doing all that filing was a real job> — see CHORE 2

jobholder noun
one who works for another for wages or a salary <more jobholders than the state agency has ever had in the past> — see EMPLOYEE

jobless adjective
having no job <having been jobless for six months, he was starting to get seriously discouraged> — see UNEMPLOYED

jocose adjective
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor <the comedian's jocose introductions kept the awards ceremony from becoming a stodgy affair> — see MERRY

jocosely adverb
in a cheerful or happy manner <a group of friends sitting around and commenting jocosely on the other wedding guests> — see GAILY 1

jocular adjective
1 given to or marked by mature intelligent humor <made the jocular observation that the best way to make a small fortune in the wine business is to start off with a large fortune> — see WITTY
2 indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor <the children at the library were charmed by the jocular storyteller> — see MERRY

jocund adjective
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor <old friends engaged in jocund teasing> — see MERRY

jocundity noun
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter <the kind of forced jocundity that one finds so often at corporate events> — see MIRTH

joe noun
an adult male human being <your average joe isn't a particularly big fan of the opera> — see MAN 1

Joe Blow noun
an average or ordinary man <the typical Joe Blow can't afford to stay at the new five-star hotel>

Synonyms
everyman, Joe Six-Pack, John Doe, little guy, little man, lug, slob

Related Words
commoner, pleb, plebeian, prole, proletarian; everywoman, plain Jane; laborer, peon, worker

Phrases
man in the street

Near Antonyms
big cheese, big shot, big wheel, big wig, fat cat, mover and shaker, VIP

Joe Six–Pack noun
an average or ordinary man <the political ads airing during the football game were an obvious attempt to gain the votes of the Joe Six-Packs in the audience> — see JOE BLOW

jog verb
1 to go at a pace faster than a walk <had to jog to catch up to them> — see RUN 1
2 to make short up-and-down movements <her purse was jogging against her hip as she walked> — see NOD

joggle verb
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <the old bus joggled as it barreled down the dirt road> — see SHAKE 1

john noun
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <man, that guy seems to spend hours in the john> — see TOILET

John Barleycorn noun
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <she blamed John Barleycorn for the breakdown of their marriage> — see ALCOHOL

John Doe noun
an average or ordinary man <to John Doe the most important issues in any election are usually those that affect his wallet> — see JOE BLOW

John Hancock noun
a person's name written in their own handwriting often given to indicate awareness or consent <let me just scribble my John Hancock on the bottom of the form> — see SIGNATURE

join noun
a place where two or more things are united <a small crack in the chalice at the join of the stem and the bowl> — see JOINT 1

join verb
1 to be adjacent to <the condo complex joins the golf course> — see ADJOIN 1
2 to become a member of <we're always looking for new people to join our book club> — see ENTER 2
3 to come together to form a single unit <one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms join to make one water molecule> — see UNITE 1
4 to participate or assist in a joint effort to accomplish an end <nations joining to bring aid to the earthquake-devastated region> — see COOPERATE 1
5 to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole <the plan is to join the various bike paths so that cyclists can travel from one end of the cape to the other> — see CONNECT 1

joining adjective
having a border in common <out of regard for your coworkers in the joining cubicles, please wear headphones when listening to electronic devices> — see ADJACENT

joining noun
a place where two or more things are united <the joining of the original house and the later addition is barely noticeable> — see JOINT 1

joint adjective
used or done by a number of people as a group <a joint effort by residents of the neighborhood to help reduce crime> — see COLLECTIVE

joint noun
1 a place where two or more things are united <the leak was found at a joint in the pipe>

Synonyms
connection, coupling, join, joining, jointure, junction, juncture

Related Words
link, nexus, tie; interconnection, intersection; abutment, articulation, attachment; seam, suture; concourse, confluence, meeting; union

Near Antonyms
cleft, crack, crevice, fissure, gap, rift, separation

2 a building, room, or suite of rooms occupied by a service business <let's go to the local burger joint> — see PLACE 2
3 slang a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <violate your probation and you'll be back in the joint in short order, loser> — see JAIL

jointly adverb
in or by combined action or effort <we always purchase our mother's birthday present jointly> — see TOGETHER 2

jointure noun
a place where two or more things are united <every jointure in the roof of the harbor tunnel shows signs of leakage> — see JOINT 1

joke noun
1 something said or done to cause laughter <he was known for his hilarious jokes>

Synonyms
boff (or boffo), boffola, crack, drollery, funny, gag, giggle [chiefly British], jape, jest, josh, laugh, nifty, one-liner, pleasantry, quip, rib, sally, waggery, wisecrack, witticism, yuk (or yuck also yak or yock) [slang]

Related Words
funning, joking, wisecracking; knee-slapper, panic [slang], riot, scream, thigh-slapper; antic, buffoonery, caper, leg-pull, monkeyshine(s), practical joke, prank, trick; burlesque, caricature, lampoon, mock, mockery, parody, put-on, riff; banter, kidding, persiflage, raillery, repartee; drollness, facetiousness, funniness, hilariousness, humorousness; comedy, humor, wit, wordplay

2 a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something <her rendition of the national anthem is a joke> — see MOCKERY 1
3 a person or thing that is made fun of <having lost his looks and his voice years ago, these days he's just a show business joke and fodder for late-night comedy> — see LAUGHINGSTOCK

joke verb
1 to make jokes <he was known for his ability to joke about his lack of anything resembling a social life>

Synonyms
banter, chaff, fool, fun, gag, jape, jest, jive, jolly, josh, kid, quip, wisecrack, yuk (or yuck) [slang]

Related Words
gibe (or jibe), haze, jeer, mock, rag, rally, razz, rib, ridicule, tease; caricature, lampoon, parody, satirize; amuse, divert, entertain

Phrases
crack wise

2 to make fun of in a good-natured way <oh, don't get offended, I was just joking you> — see TEASE 1

joker noun
1 a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor <he's the joker of the family, always making us laugh> — see HUMORIST
2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <just ignore that joker and his rude comments> — see JERK 1
3 an adult male human being <sat at the bar next to some poor joker who had just lost his job> — see MAN 1
4 a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized <read the contract carefully before signing to make sure there aren't any jokers> — see PITFALL 1

jokester noun
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor <hired the hot new Hollywood jokester to write the sitcom script> — see HUMORIST

joking adjective
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing <grinned and gave him a joking nudge with my elbow> — see QUIZZICAL

jollies plural noun
a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings <a provocateur who gets his jollies from stirring up political controversy> — see THRILL

jollification noun
joyful or festive activity <each year the mountain men of the Old West would gather for a week of carousing, tall tale-telling, and general jollification> — see MERRYMAKING

jollity noun
joyful or festive activity <I love all of the warmhearted jollity of the holiday season> — see MERRYMAKING

jolly adjective
1 indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor <an especially jolly crowd of well-wishers at their wedding reception> — see MERRY
2 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <we always have a jolly time at their seaside cottage> — see PLEASANT 1

jolly adverb
to a great degree <I jolly well agree that you did the right thing> <has become a jolly careful driver since his recent accident> — see VERY 1

jolly verb
to make jokes <spent their nights around the campfire good-naturedly jollying and telling scary stories> — see JOKE 1

jolt noun
1 a forceful coming together of two things <pack the glass vase so that it won't fall victim to any hard jolts in transit> — see IMPACT 1
2 something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected <the news of the CEO's sudden retirement was a jolt to us all> — see SURPRISE 1

jolt verb
1 to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <the roller coaster car jerked and jolted as it coursed along the old wooden tracks> — see SHAKE 1
2 to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion <she jolted the door open with her elbow> — see JERK 1
3 to cause an unpleasant surprise for <the sneak terrorist attack jolted the country out of its indolence and indifference> — see SHOCK 1

jolting adjective
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness <the jolting news about our friend's premature death> — see SURPRISING 1

jones noun, slang
1 a physiological need for certain drugs <that dude had a jones for heroin like you wouldn't believe> — see ADDICTION
2 a strong wish for something <I have a real jones for a milk shake> — see DESIRE 1

jones (for) verb, slang
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <I'm really jonesing for a cup of coffee right now> — see DESIRE 1

josh noun
something said or done to cause laughter <a close-knit family constantly exchanging lighthearted joshes at the dinner table> — see JOKE 1

josh verb
1 to make fun of in a good-natured way <don't get all hot and bothered! I'm just joshing you> — see TEASE 1
2 to make jokes <a very outgoing man who joshes with everyone he meets> — see JOKE 1

joshing adjective
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing <a joshing response to my earnest question> — see QUIZZICAL

joshing noun
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks <for all his joshing, he can be very serious when he needs to be> — see BANTER

jostle verb
to force one's way <everyone glared at the man who jostled to the front of the line> — see 2PRESS 4

jot noun
the smallest amount or part imaginable <it's obvious that he doesn't have a jot of interest in history>

Synonyms
beans, bubkes (also bupkes or bupkus), continental, damn, darn (also durn), diddly [slang], diddly-squat [slang], doodley-squat (or doodly-squat), fig, ghost, hoot, iota, lick, modicum, rap, squat [slang], syllable, tittle, whit, whoop

Related Words
ace, bit, crumb, dab, driblet, glimmer, hint, little, mite, nip, ounce, particle, peanuts, pin, ray, scrap, scruple, semblance, shade, shadow, shred, skosh, smidgen (also smidgeon or smidgin or smidge), snap, speck, spot, sprinkling, strain, streak, suspicion, touch, trace

jot (down) verb
to make a written note of <I'll jot down the message> — see RECORD 1

jotting noun
a usually brief written reminder <the judges reviewed their jottings one last time before selecting the pinot noir as the best wine of the tasting overall> — see NOTE 1

jounce noun
a forceful coming together of two things <we felt a definite jounce every time the car hit a pothole> — see IMPACT 1

jounce verb
1 to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <a rickety cart jouncing as it was being pulled over the cobblestoned streets> — see SHAKE 1
2 to make short up-and-down movements <her head jounced as the horse began to gallop> — see NOD

jouncy adjective
marked by a series of sharp quick motions <I'm afraid the car will give a rather jouncy ride until I can get the shocks repaired> — see JERKY 1

journal noun
1 a publication that appears at regular intervals <a monthly scientific journal>

Synonyms
book, bulletin, diurnal, gazette, mag, magazine, newspaper, organ, paper, periodical, rag, review, serial, zine

Related Words
annual, bimonthly, biweekly, daily, monthly, quarterly, semimonthly, semiweekly, triweekly, weekly, yearbook; digest, little magazine; fanzine; pictorial, slick; broadside, edition, extra, sheet, supplement, tab, tabloid; newsletter, newsmagazine, newsweekly

2 a record of personal experiences, reflections, or ideas kept regularly for private use <the writer faithfully records his dreams in a journal, believing that they are a vital key to self-understanding>

Synonyms
daybook, diary

Related Words
itinerary; blog, Weblog; log, logbook

journalist noun
a person employed by a newspaper, magazine, or radio or television station to gather, write, or report news <a journalist who has won awards for two of his feature stories> — see REPORTER

journey noun
a going from one place to another usually of some distance <they were hungry and tired after their long journey>

Synonyms
expedition, passage, peregrination, travel(s), trek, trip

Related Words
commutation, commute, errand, excursion, flight, hop, jaunt, junket, outing, sally, sortie, tour; cruise, sail, voyage; drive, ride, spin; grand tour, odyssey, pilgrimage, progress, quest, safari; hike, slog, tramp, walk, walkabout

journey verb
to take a trip especially of some distance <an intense yearning to journey to distant lands> — see TRAVEL 1

jovial adjective
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor <the trip to the amusement park put everyone in a jovial mood> — see MERRY

joviality noun
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter <the company's holiday parties often had an air of forced joviality> — see MIRTH

jovially adverb
in a cheerful or happy manner <jovially waved good morning to us> — see GAILY 1

joy noun
1 a feeling or state of well-being and contentment <the inexpressible joy that the couple are feeling upon the birth of their first child> — see HAPPINESS 1
2 a source of great satisfaction <my car is my pride and joy> — see DELIGHT 1

joy verb
to feel or express joy or triumph <the whole town is joying in the fact that its oldest church has been restored to its Victorian splendor> — see EXULT

joyful adjective
experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight <the news of the child's safe return made us all joyful> — see GLAD 1

joyless adjective
feeling unhappiness <was utterly joyless after his bitter divorce> — see SAD 1

joylessness noun
a state or spell of low spirits <the inescapable joylessness that marred Yuletide celebrations during the war years> — see SADNESS

joyous adjective
experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight <a joyous crowd eagerly awaiting the countdown to midnight on New Year's Eve> — see GLAD 1

jubilant adjective
having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph <the nominee's jubilant acceptance speech before the cheering crowd> — see EXULTANT

jubilate verb
to feel or express joy or triumph <a medical researcher too committed to his work to pause and jubilate even upon hearing that he had won the Nobel Prize> — see EXULT

jubilee noun
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something <the town is planning a year-long jubilee in celebration of its founding 200 years ago> — see FESTIVAL

Judas noun
one who betrays a trust or an allegiance <she heatedly called her best friend a Judas after she found out her secrets had been spread all over town> — see TRAITOR

judder verb, chiefly British
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <the engine began to judder alarmingly just a few miles outside of Brighton> — see SHAKE 1

judge noun
1 a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy <their father always played the role of judge when there was a disagreement between the siblings>

Synonyms
adjudicator, arbiter, arbitrator, referee, umpire

Related Words
jurist, justice, magistrate; intermediary, intermediate, mediator, mediatrix, moderator, negotiator; conciliator, go-between, peacemaker, reconciler, troubleshooter; decider

2 a public official having authority to decide questions of law <the judge gave the defendant a suspended sentence>

Synonyms
adjudicator, beak [chiefly British], bench, court, jurist, justice, magistrate

Related Words
chief justice, circuit judge, justice of the peace, squire; auditor, master; jurisconsult, jurisprudent

judge verb
1 to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) <the committee will judge the case solely on the evidence>

Synonyms
adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, decide, determine, referee, rule (on), settle, umpire

Related Words
consider, deem, deliberate, hear, ponder, weigh; size up; mediate, moderate, negotiate; prosecute, try; find (for or against); conclude, resolve; redetermine, rejudge

Near Antonyms
equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, skirt

2 to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement <considering the amount of dough we have, I judge we'll get about six dozen cookies out of it> — see ESTIMATE 2
3 to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information <I judge that the girl has had a troubled relationship with her mother> — see INFER 1
4 to have as an opinion <I judge that he knew what kind of woman she was when he married her> — see BELIEVE 2

judgmatic or judgmatical adjective
having or showing good judgment and restraint especially in conduct or speech <not the most judgmatic way to tell a woman that she could stand to lose a few pounds> — see DISCREET 1

judgment or judgement noun
1 a decision made by a court or tribunal regarding a case it has heard <the court will give its judgment in this case tomorrow morning> — see SENTENCE
2 a position arrived at after consideration <built her fortune by making intelligent judgments about the performance of stocks> — see DECISION 1
3 an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge <your judgment of the situation isn't a very good one> — see OPINION 1
4 an opinion on the nature, character, or quality of something <critical judgment on that new comedy has been overwhelmingly negative> — see ESTIMATION 1

judgmental adjective
given to making or expressing unfavorable judgments about things <culinary purists who tend to be judgmental about home cooks who take shortcuts> — see CRITICAL 1

judicious adjective
1 having or showing good judgment and restraint especially in conduct or speech <a good teacher who knows how to give judicious criticism as well as praise> — see DISCREET 1
2 suitable for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <I'll ask for the raise at a time I deem most judicious> — see EXPEDIENT

judiciousness noun
suitability for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <the judiciousness of using such harsh language in a letter of complaint is questionable at best> — see EXPEDIENCY

jug noun
1 a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <some no-good fellow who had spent most of his life in and out of the county jug> — see JAIL
2 a handled container for holding and pouring liquids that usually has a lip or a spout <put a jug of milk on the table> — see PITCHER

jug verb
to put in or as if in prison <the luckless crooks got jugged before they knew what hit them> — see IMPRISON

juggernaut noun
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal <there was no escaping the juggernaut of hype for the studio's biggest summer blockbuster> — see CAMPAIGN

juggle noun
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <a temporary suspension of the gas tax was just a crowd-pleasing juggle that was not a long-term solution to the energy problem> — see TRICK 1

juggle verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <everyone thinks that they are too smart to be juggled by con artists> — see DECEIVE

jugglery noun
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end <you wouldn't believe the jugglery I have to resort to in order to get the cat in the carrier for a trip to the vet's> — see TRICKERY

jugular noun
a vulnerable point <a sadistic training instructor who would seek out a recruit's jugular and then go for it> — see ACHILLES' HEEL

juice noun
1 active strength of body or mind <the aging quarterback proved he still had the juice to play the whole game> — see VIGOR 1
2 slang the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly <those activists don't have the political juice to sway the vote of a single legislator> — see INFLUENCE 1
3 slang a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <I had heard my friend was hitting the juice again, and I was concerned> — see ALCOHOL

juiced adjective
1 showing urgent desire or interest <I've been juiced for this Caribbean cruise for almost a year> — see EAGER
2 slang being under the influence of alcohol <he has to get juiced first, but you'll find he's quite a dancer> — see DRUNK

juicehead noun, slang
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <that old juicehead actually cleaned up his act after his wife dumped him> — see DRUNK 1

juicer noun, slang
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <a perpetually hung-over juicer living a dead-end life> — see DRUNK 1

juice up verb
to give life, vigor, or spirit to <some parlor games that will juice up an otherwise dull evening at home> — see ANIMATE

juiciness noun
the quality or state of being full of juice <the delicious juiciness of ripe pears> — see SUCCULENCE

juicy adjective
1 full of juice <she bit into the juicy orange>

Synonyms
fleshy, pulpy, succulent

Related Words
sappy, watery

Near Antonyms
dehydrated, desiccated, dry, sere (also sear), shriveled (or shrivelled), withered

Antonyms
juiceless, sapless

2 yielding a profit <the former president landed a juicy book deal> — see PROFITABLE 1

juke verb
to elude (an opponent in a sports contest) by making a deceptive or agile movement <juked defenders with a series of spin moves and picked up 15 yards on the running play>

Synonyms
deke, fake, fake out

Related Words
dodge, evade, sidestep, slip; pump-fake, stutter-step; maneuver (around)

jumble noun
1 a state in which everything is out of order <the house is always in a jumble before and after vacation trips> — see CHAOS
2 an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <a jumble of rubber bands, batteries, and pencil stubs all stuffed into that drawer> — see MISCELLANY 1

jumble verb
to undo the proper order or arrangement of <the contest editor has jumbled the letters of some common words> — see DISORDER

jumbled adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <a jumbled closet in which she could never find anything> — see MESSY

jumbo adjective
unusually large <a jumbo jet> — see HUGE

jumbo noun
something that is unusually large and powerful <the winner in the contest for biggest pumpkin was a jumbo that weighed in at over a thousand pounds> — see GIANT

jump noun
1 an act of leaping into the air <took a small jump forward to avoid stepping in the puddle>

Synonyms
bound, hop, leap, spring, vault

Related Words
bounce, lope, skip; caper, capriole, gambado, gambol; attack, pounce; dive, pitch, plunge

2 the more favorable condition or position in a competition <get a jump on the competition by starting early> — see ADVANTAGE 1

jump verb
1 to propel oneself upward or forward into the air <jumped across the ditch>

Synonyms
bound, hop, leap, spring, vault

Related Words
bounce, hurdle, leapfrog, lope, skip; buck; caper, capriole, cavort, frolic, gambol, romp; attack, pounce; shoot, skyrocket

2 to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) <the sudden appearance of a mouse scurrying across the floor made me jump> — see START 1
3 to proceed or move quickly <when I tell you to do something, I expect you to jump> — see HURRY 2

jump (on) verb
1 to take sudden, violent action against <the robbers waited until he had passed by them and then jumped on him without warning> — see ATTACK 1
2 to criticize harshly and usually publicly <no need to jump on him just because he locked the keys in the car> — see ATTACK 2

jumpiness noun
a state of nervousness marked by sudden jerky movements <the police detective interpreted the suspect's jumpiness as a sign of guilt>

Synonyms
edginess, fidgetiness, fidgets, flightiness, jitteriness, restiveness, skittishness

Related Words
agita, agitation, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, disquiet, feverishness, franticness, freneticism, hand-wringing, perturbation, restlessness, trepidation, unease, uneasiness, upset, worry; nerves, tenseness, tension; butterflies, dither, heebie-jeebies, jimjams, jitters, shakes, shivers, willies

Near Antonyms
confidence, self-assurance, self-confidence, sureness; control, self-control; aplomb, calm, calmness, collectedness, composure, coolness, ease, easiness, equanimity, equilibrium, imperturbability, poise, repose, self-possession, tranquillity (or tranquility), tranquilness

jump–start verb
to give life, vigor, or spirit to <an intentionally provocative comment that was supposed to jump-start the discussion> — see ANIMATE

jumpy adjective
1 easily excited by nature <a jumpy little terrier> — see EXCITABLE
2 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <flight attendants had to calm jumpy passengers after the plane hit unexpected turbulence> — see NERVOUS 1

junction noun
1 a place where two or more things are united <situated at the junction of several major railways, the city has long been a transportation hub> — see JOINT 1
2 the act or an instance of joining two or more things into one <the junction of the coalition's two military forces has not been without problems> — see UNION 1
3 a place where roads meet <the town finally installed a traffic light at that busy junction> — see CROSSROAD 1

juncture noun
1 a particular and often important moment in time <at the present juncture, I think the country is looking for a strong president> — see POINT 1
2 a place where two or more things are united <the water is leaking at the juncture of those two pipes> — see JOINT 1
3 a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <we have now arrived at a juncture where something must be done to avert war> — see EMERGENCY

jungle noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <clearing out the jungle of boxes cluttering up the garage is her project for the weekend> — see MISCELLANY 1

junior adjective
having not so great importance or rank as another <junior advisers to the governor> — see LESSER

junior noun
one who is of lower rank and typically under the authority of another <she's his junior in the company> — see UNDERLING

junk noun
1 that which is of low quality or worth <couldn't believe that such junk was chosen to be read for the book club> <my car is junk—it spends more time in the shop than on the road>

Synonyms
cheese, crapola [slang], dreck (also drek), muck, rubbish, sleaze, slop, slush, trash, tripe

Related Words
camp, kitsch; claptrap, humbug, nonsense; bomb, clinker, clunker, dud, lemon, stinker, turkey; mess, muddle, shambles

2 discarded or useless material <junk on the side of the road waiting for the trash collection> — see GARBAGE 1

junk verb
to get rid of as useless or unwanted <we'll have to junk this old car> — see DISCARD

junker noun
a dilapidated old automobile <they finally traded in their old junker for a nice new car> — see BEATER 1

junket noun
a short trip for pleasure <took a junket to the city for some sightseeing and shopping> — see EXCURSION 1

junket verb
to entertain with a fancy meal <a lobbyist who regularly junkets politicians who are friendly toward the oil industry> — see FEAST 1

junkie also junky noun
1 a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally <heroin junkies wasting their lives> — see DOPER
2 a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <a television cartoon junkie> — see FAN

junking noun
the getting rid of whatever is unwanted or useless <that old chair needs junking> — see DISPOSAL 1

junky adjective
1 having no usefulness <that broken watch you're wearing is junky> — see WORTHLESS
2 of low quality <a junky coat that is sure to fall apart after one winter> — see CHEAP 2

jurisdiction noun
lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) <the United States has no jurisdiction over Cuba> — see RULE 2

jurist noun
a public official having authority to decide questions of law <earned a reputation as one of the most learned jurists in the federal courts> — see JUDGE 2

jury–rig verb
to make or assemble roughly or hastily <we jury-rigged shelves out of cartons and crates until we could afford real furniture> — see COBBLE TOGETHER OR UP

jury–rigged adjective
hastily or roughly constructed <a jury-rigged system for supplying the town's water while the main pumping station is being repaired> — see RUDE 1

just adjective
1 being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong <a just punishment should fit the crime>

Synonyms
competent, condign, deserved, due, fair, justified, merited, right, rightful, warranted

Related Words
applicable, appropriate, apt, fit, fitting, meet, proper, requisite, suitable; lawful, legal, legitimate; accurate, correct, true; rhadamanthine, strict, stringent, uncompromising; equitable, impartial, square

Near Antonyms
incoherent, incorrect, irrelative, irrelevant; improper, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, indefensible, unjustifiable, unreasonable, unsuitable; biased, inequitable, partial, unequal; arbitrary, despotic; illegitimate, unlawful

Antonyms
undeserved, undue, unfair, unjust, unjustified, unmerited, unwarranted

2 based on sound reasoning or information <there are just reasons for the state's ban of the private use of fireworks> — see GOOD 1
3 conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <they are a just people who are guided by a firm belief in God and a love of traditional values> — see GOOD 2
4 following the accepted rules of moral conduct <the sort of just conduct that we expect of every soldier> — see HONORABLE 1
5 guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong <stopping to help a stranded motorist is simply the just thing to do> — see CONSCIENTIOUS 1
6 marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias <a just appraisal of the political situation over there> — see FAIR 2

just adverb
1 in the same manner <you can do it just the way they do>

Synonyms
exactly, precisely

Related Words
even, expressly, faultlessly, perfectly; identically, uniformly; alike, likewise, similarly

Phrases
to a T

Near Antonyms
slightly, somewhat, vaguely; differently, variably

2 by a very small margin <I was just over the minimum age requirement for the senior citizen discount>

Synonyms
barely, hardly, marginally, narrowly, scarcely, slightly

Related Words
minimally, minutely, scantly; almost, approximately, closely, more or less, nearly, partly, plus or minus, roughly, somewhat

Phrases
by the skin of one's teeth

Near Antonyms
definitely, easily, plainly, positively, quite, unquestionably; abundantly, completely, copiously, fully, generously, greatly

Antonyms
considerably, significantly, substantially, vastly, well

3 nothing more than <I was just kidding>

Synonyms
but, merely, only, purely, simply

4 as stated or indicated without the slightest difference <the length of the curtain is just right> — see EXACTLY 1
5 for nothing other than <got this present just for you> — see SOLELY 1
6 not long ago <I just bought this dress> — see NEWLY

justice noun
1 the practice of giving to others what is their due or an instance of this <the victim's family felt that justice had been done in the case>

Synonyms
equity, fair shake, right

Related Words
equitability, equitableness, evenhandedness, fair-mindedness, fairness, impartiality; goodness, righteousness, virtue; honor, integrity, uprightness

Near Antonyms
bias, one-sidedness, partiality, prejudice; unfairness, unjustness, wrongfulness; corruption, impropiety; crime, offense (or offence), wrongdoing; disservice, harm

Antonyms
inequity, injustice, raw deal, wrong

2 a public official having authority to decide questions of law <a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court> — see JUDGE 2
3 lack of favoritism toward one side or another <with scrupulous justice, the marriage counselor noted that both parties had much to atone for> — see DETACHMENT 1

justifiable adjective
capable of being defended with good reasoning against verbal attack <had justifiable reasons for leaving early> — see TENABLE 2

justification noun
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame <offered a weak justification for why he was so late> — see EXCUSE

justified adjective
1 based on sound reasoning or information <in a well-justified ruling the court voted unanimously to overturn the law> — see GOOD 1
2 being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong <the use of force to capture the armed fugitive was fully justified> — see JUST 1

justify verb
1 to be an acceptable reason for <you seem to think that losing a basketball game justifies a temper tantrum>

Synonyms
excuse

Related Words
account (for), alibi, explain, explain away, rationalize; brush (aside or off), condone, disregard, forgive, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, pardon, pass over, remit, shrug off, wink (at)

2 to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections <failed to justify the need for a war at this time> — see MAINTAIN 2

jut noun
a part that sticks out from the general mass of something <Cape Fear is one of the more colorfully named juts along the North Carolina coast> — see BULGE 1

jut verb
to extend outward beyond a usual point <the sandbar juts out into the ocean> — see BULGE 1

juvenile adjective
1 being in the early stage of life, growth, or development <a juvenile alligator just hatched from its egg> — see YOUNG
2 having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children <throwing a tantrum is rather juvenile behavior for a person of your age> — see CHILDISH
3 lacking in adult experience or maturity <a spoiled, juvenile golfer who does not know how to win gracefully> — see CALLOW

juvenile noun
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <a medical study that followed juveniles through adolescence and into adulthood> — see CHILD 1

juxtaposed adjective
having a border in common <the juxtaposed photographs of the country's richest and poorest areas are a telling commentary on inequality> — see ADJACENT

K

kahuna noun
one of high position or importance within a group <a big kahuna at a Hollywood talent agency, he's got the fancy car to prove it> — see BIG SHOT

kale noun, slang
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <trying to scrape up the kale to buy more dope> — see MONEY 1

kaleidoscopic adjective
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <a trendy bar that offers a kaleidoscopic array of new-wave martinis that go way beyond the colorless original> — see COLORFUL

kamikaze adjective
having or showing a lack of concern for the consequences of one's actions <a bike messenger who regularly cuts across busy city streets with a kamikaze boldness> — see RECKLESS 1

kaput also kaputt adjective
1 facing certain defeat, disaster, or death <once the Germans were forced to retreat from Stalingrad, the Nazi cause was kaput> — see DONE FOR
2 having passed its time of use or usefulness <hard-line Soviet-style Communism became kaput in Russia> — see OBSOLETE
3 not being in working order <the heating system went kaput on the coldest day of the year> — see INOPERABLE 1

karma noun
a special quality or impression associated with something <as the site of a string of failed businesses, the building definitely had bad karma> — see AURA 1

katzenjammer noun
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <traffic was all tied up, the kids were fighting, and in the midst of all this katzenjammer, the phone rang> — see NOISE 1

keel noun
a large craft for travel by water <for a few days at least, the Titanic was the largest and grandest keel afloat> — see SHIP

keel (over) verb
to lose consciousness <I swear I'll keel over if you make me dissect a frog> — see FAINT

keelhaul verb
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <there's no need to keelhaul him—it was an honest mistake, and a small one at that> — see SCOLD

keen adjective
1 able to sense slight impressions or differences <pilots with especially keen eyesight> — see ACUTE 1
2 causing intense discomfort to one's skin <the keen wind gave me chapped lips> — see CUTTING 1
3 having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something <lanced the boil with a keen scalpel> — see SHARP 1
4 having or showing quickness of mind <readers who were keen enough to realize that the writer was being satirical> — see INTELLIGENT 1
5 of the very best kind <that new digital camera sure is keen> — see EXCELLENT
6 showing urgent desire or interest <a keen hunger for fame and fortune in the fashion industry> — see EAGER
7 extreme in degree, power, or effect <movies gave him keen enjoyment like nothing else> — see INTENSE 1

keen noun
a crying out in grief <the loud keens of the widows were heard throughout the war-ravaged city> — see LAMENT 1

keen verb
1 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <victims of the disaster have been keening for weeks about the slowness of governmental aid> — see COMPLAIN
2 to make a long loud mournful sound <mourners keening for the victims of the bombing> — see HOWL 1

keenness noun
1 a harsh or sharp quality <the keenness of the knife should tell you that it was sharpened recently> <a writer famous for the keenness of her wit> — see EDGE 1
2 urgent desire or interest <was looking forward to his birthday party with the keenness of a youngster> — see EAGERNESS
3 exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters <had the financial keenness to know that the stock was overvalued> — see ACUMEN
4 the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences <there's an enhanced keenness of hearing that young mothers seem to develop> — see ACUITY

keep noun
the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition <the keep of the stable is mainly left to the two equine-loving daughters> — see MAINTENANCE

keep verb
1 to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony <keep the Sabbath by not working>

Synonyms
celebrate, commemorate, observe

Related Words
bless, consecrate, sanctify, solemnize; fete (or fête), honor, laud, praise; memorialize, remember

Near Antonyms
blow off, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook

Antonyms
break, transgress, violate

2 to continue to have in one's possession or power <the money is yours to keep> <keep my secret and don't tell it to anyone>

Synonyms
hold, reserve, retain, withhold

Related Words
conserve, guard, preserve, protect, save; boast, enjoy, have, own, possess; command, control, detain, direct, manage, rule; bear, harbor; cherish, cling (to), hug, treasure

Phrases
hang on to, hold on to

Near Antonyms
abandon, cede, drop; contribute, donate, give, hand out; discard, dump; decline, reject, repudiate, spurn; lose

Antonyms
give up, hand over, release, relinquish, surrender, yield

3 to do what is required by the terms of <make sure you keep your promise to help out at the homeless shelter> — see FULFILL 1
4 to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability <I keep extra toothbrushes for unexpected overnight guests> — see STORE 1
5 to pay the living expenses of <looking for a sugar daddy to keep her in a style to which she'd dearly love to become accustomed> — see SUPPORT 2
6 to look after and make decisions about <enlisted a relative to keep the store while she was away> — see CONDUCT 1
7 to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <at least try to keep your temper during the holiday meal> — see CONTROL 1
8 to drive danger or attack away from <may God bless and keep you> — see DEFEND 1

keep (from) verb
to resist the temptation of <try to keep from eating all the chocolate in one day!> — see FORBEAR

keep (to) verb
to give steadfast support to <always keeps to his political positions, even when they are unpopular> — see ADHERE TO 1

keeper noun
1 a person or group that watches over someone or something <how should I know where she is? I'm not her keeper> — see GUARD 1
2 a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner <during the winter the keeper of the family's beach house is a local resident who looks after the place> — see CUSTODIAN 1

keeping noun
1 responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something <put the house keys into a neighbor's secure keeping while they were on vacation> — see CUSTODY
2 the fact or state of having (something) at one's disposal <my aunt has all of our family's old photographs in her keeping> — see POSSESSION 1
3 the following of a custom, rule, or law <the keeping of religious laws and traditions> — see OBSERVANCE 1
4 a state of being or fitness <the estate hasn't been in good keeping since the owner suffered financial reverses> — see CONDITION 1

keepsake noun
something that serves to keep alive the memory of a person or event <saved the tassel from her mortarboard as a keepsake of her high school graduation> — see MEMORIAL

keep up verb
1 to continue to operate or to meet one's needs <let's hope that old air conditioner keeps up through this heat wave> — see HOLD OUT
2 to keep in good condition <kept the house up while the owners were gone> — see MAINTAIN 1
3 to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state <let's hope this beautiful weather keeps up for the rest of our vacation> — see CONTINUE 1

keg noun
an enclosed wooden vessel for holding beverages <a keg of beer> — see CASK

keister also keester noun, slang
the part of the body upon which someone sits <he fell right on his keister in front of the whole crowd> — see BUTTOCKS

kempt adjective
being clean and in good order <a distinguished-looking gentleman with a kempt beard and an old-world manner> — see NEAT 1

kenspeckle adjective, chiefly Scottish
likely to attract attention <the kind of kenspeckle performance art that is much in evidence at Edinburgh's Fringe Festival> — see NOTICEABLE

kerchief noun
1 a scarf worn on the head <tied the kerchief around her head to keep her hair out of her face> — see BANDANNA
2 a small, often square piece of material that is used for personal hygiene purposes <dabbed the sweat on his brow with a kerchief> — see HANKIE

kerf noun
a V-shaped cut usually on an edge or a surface <with a handsaw I made a kerf in the board to mark where I needed to cut> — see NOTCH 1

kerfuffle noun, chiefly British
a state of noisy, confused activity <predictably, the royal scandal caused quite a kerfuffle on Fleet Street> — see COMMOTION

kernel noun
the central part or aspect of something under consideration <the kernel of your argument seems to be the inevitability of the division of that nation along ethnic lines> — see CRUX

key adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <maintains that Sir Isaac Newton remains the key figure in physical science> — see FOREMOST 1
2 of the greatest possible importance <first—and this is key—I wasn't even there that evening> — see CRUCIAL

key noun
1 an explanatory list of the symbols on a map or chart <in order to know what those dotted lines represent, you'll need to look at the key> — see LEGEND 1
2 something that allows someone to achieve a desired goal <a good education is the key to success> — see PASSPORT 1
3 the means or right of entering or participating in <he had found the key to her heart> — see ENTRANCE 1

key verb
to bring to a state free of conflicts, inconsistencies, or differences <her response was perfectly keyed to the situation> — see HARMONIZE 2

keynote noun
the central part or aspect of something under consideration <the need for a greater sense of self-reliance is the keynote of his self-help message> — see CRUX

keystone noun
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests <a committed socialist who argues that greed is the keystone of capitalism> — see BASE 1

ki noun
a spiritual force that is held to emanate from or give animation to living beings <martial artists learn to use ki to fend off would-be attackers> — see ENERGY 1

kibitz also kibbitz verb
to engage in casual or rambling conversation <a martial arts student who seemed more interested in kibitzing than in karate> — see CHAT 1

kibitzer also kibbitzer noun
a person who meddles in the affairs of others <a nosy kibitzer who always knows who is dating whom> — see BUSYBODY

kick noun
1 a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings <I get a kick out of downhill skiing> — see THRILL
2 a source of great satisfaction <it was a kick for the parents to see their once-shy son star in a Broadway play> — see DELIGHT 1
3 a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent <nowadays there seem to be few words in the dictionary that do not raise a kick from one person or another> — see OBJECTION
4 a forceful coming together of two things <I felt a kick in my hands as the jackhammer came roaring to life> — see IMPACT 1

kick verb
1 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <he's been kicking all week about not getting the promotion> — see COMPLAIN
2 to present an opposing opinion or argument <fiscal conservatives have already started to kick about the proposed program, claiming it will increase the state's deficit substantially> — see OBJECT

kick around verb
1 to give serious and careful thought to <the board spent the afternoon kicking around the feasibility of opening an overseas office> — see PONDER
2 to spend time in aimless activity <I really can't do much but kick around at work until I get the rest of the submissions> — see FIDDLE AROUND
3 to spend time doing nothing <spent the afternoon kicking around, while his wife bought out the mall> — see IDLE
4 to move about from place to place aimlessly <after spending a year in Europe kicking around, the backpacker was ready to return home> — see WANDER 1
5 to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <children who were raised by an alcoholic father who regularly kicked them around> — see ABUSE 1

kick back verb
1 to refrain from labor or exertion <I plan to spend the day kicking back and watching television> — see REST 1
2 to spend time doing nothing <a good resort for people who want to kick back and watch others exercise strenuously> — see IDLE

kick in verb
1 to make a donation as part of a group effort <if everyone in the department kicks in, we can give him an especially nice present for his retirement> — see CONTRIBUTE 1
2 slang to stop living <the ornery cuss finally kicked in at the ripe old age of 90> — see DIE 1

kickoff noun
the point at which something begins <a political cycle in which an election marks not only the end of one campaign but also the kickoff for the next one> — see BEGINNING

kick off verb
1 to take the first step in (a process or course of action) <I'll kick off the discussion on ethics with this question> — see BEGIN 1
2 slang to stop living <surprisingly, the recluse was worth a cool million when he kicked off> — see DIE 1

kick out verb
to drive or force out <kicked out of the game for using bad language> — see EJECT 1

kickshaw noun
1 a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest <a display case in the antiques shop filled with costume jewelry and various kickshaws from the 1920s> — see KNICKKNACK
2 something that is pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury <the company's holiday party always features an array of artfully confected kickshaws> — see DELICACY 1

kickup noun
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <after their last kickup, they didn't speak to each other for a week> — see ARGUMENT 1

kicky adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <needing one last kicky experience in my life, I decided to try bungee jumping> — see EXCITING 1

kid noun
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <the fire was accidentally started by a couple of kids fooling around> — see CHILD 1

kid verb
1 to make fun of in a good-natured way <everybody's kidding me about my new haircut> — see TEASE 1
2 to make jokes <he always kids around about his “wild and crazy” life as an accountant> — see JOKE 1

kiddie also kiddy noun
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <there are plenty of attractions at the state fair that will amuse the kiddies> — see CHILD 1

kidding adjective
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing <made kidding remarks about her lack of skills in the kitchen> — see QUIZZICAL

kiddish adjective
having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children <such kiddish behavior is not appropriate in church> — see CHILDISH

kiddo noun
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <let's go out to a restaurant where there won't be any screaming kiddos running around> — see CHILD 1

kidnap verb
to carry away (as a person) forcibly or unlawfully <the child of the wealthy industrialist was kidnapped and held for ransom>

Synonyms
abduct

Related Words
capture, crimp, impress, seize, shanghai, waylay; abscond (with), snatch, spirit; hijack (also highjack); catch, cop [slang], steal, take

Phrases
make away with, make off with, run off with

Near Antonyms
deliver, ransom, redeem, rescue; restore, return

kidnapping also kidnaping noun
the unlawful or forcible carrying away of a person or animal <an alert system for the prompt reporting of juvenile kidnappings> — see ABDUCTION

kidney noun
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <her new boyfriend is of a different kidney than what she usually dates> — see SORT 1

kid stuff noun
something easily done or dealt with <sorting the books was kid stuff, since all I had to do was go by their size> — see CINCH 1

kilderkin noun
an enclosed wooden vessel for holding beverages <the kilderkins that line one wall of the brewpub are just for decoration—there's no beer in them> — see CASK

kill verb
1 to deprive of life <during the war more soldiers were killed by disease than anything else>

Synonyms
carry off, claim, croak [slang], destroy, dispatch, do in, fell, slay, take

Related Words
bump off, butcher, cut down, finish, get, ice [slang], knock off, murder, neutralize, off [slang], put away, rub out, scrag, snuff, take out, waste, whack [slang]; annihilate, blot out, decimate, kill off, massacre, mow, slaughter, smite; assassinate, execute, martyr, terminate; euthanize (also euthanatize), put down; suicide

Phrases
do away with, do for [chiefly British], make away with

Near Antonyms
raise, restore, resurrect, resuscitate, revive; nurture

Antonyms
animate

2 to reject by or as if by a vote <the Senate killed the bill by a single vote> — see NEGATIVE 1
3 to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it <I think that paragraph is irrelevant, so kill it> — see X OUT
4 to use up all the physical energy of <the long hike up the mountain just about killed us> — see EXHAUST 1
5 to attract or delight as if by magic <with his dark good looks he would positively kill the ladies> — see CHARM 1
6 to cause to stop functioning <kill the engine before it overheats> — see DEACTIVATE

killer adjective
1 likely to cause or capable of causing death <killer viruses that claimed millions of lives> — see DEADLY 1
2 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <a killer exercise program guaranteed to whip you into shape> — see HARD 2

killer noun
1 a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work <weeding out that overgrown garden is going to be a killer> — see CHORE 2
2 a person who kills another person <gunned down by hired killers> — see ASSASSIN

killing adjective
1 causing or intended to cause laughter <he's usually quiet, but occasionally unleashes some killing remark that cracks everyone up> — see FUNNY 1
2 requiring much time, effort, or careful attention <a killing schedule that requires the touring company to play in a different city every night> — see DEMANDING 1

killjoy noun
a person who spoils the pleasure of others <his perpetually negative attitude made him a real killjoy when others were trying to have fun>

Synonyms
drag, grinch, party pooper, spoilsport, wet blanket

Related Words
fuddy-duddy, goody-goody, Goody Two-shoes, old maid, stick-in-the-mud; defeatist, Jeremiah, knocker, pessimist; complainer, crab, cynic, grouch, grump, sorehead, sourpuss, whiner; bore, downer, drip

Near Antonyms
cutup, jester, live wire; carouser, celebrant, celebrator, merrymaker, rejoicer, reveler (or reveller), roisterer; libertine, playboy, playgirl, rake

kilter noun
a state of being or fitness <since I dropped my food processor, it's been all out of kilter> — see CONDITION 1

kin noun
1 a group of persons who come from the same ancestor <invited all of his kith and kin to his graduation party> — see FAMILY 1
2 a person connected with another by blood or marriage <since she did not appear to be kin to either side, we've no idea what she was doing at the wedding> — see RELATIVE

kind adjective
1 given to or made with heedful anticipation of the needs and happiness of others <providing the grieving widow with a homemade meal was a kind deed> — see THOUGHTFUL 1
2 having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others <a kind person who regularly volunteers at the homeless shelter> — see HUMANE 1

kind noun
1 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <I like that kind of candy> — see SORT 1
2 one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <we looked at just about every kind of flooring before deciding which to use in the kitchen> — see CLASS 2

kindhearted adjective
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others <a kindhearted young man who shoveled his elderly neighbor's driveway after the blizzard> — see HUMANE 1

kindheartedness noun
1 sympathetic concern for the well-being of others <through the kindheartedness of a local veterinarian, the stray cat's broken leg was mended without charge> — see BENIGNANCY
2 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <her natural kindheartedness is one reason why she's thinking about becoming a medical missionary> — see HEART 1

kindle verb
to set (something) on fire <worried that lightning will kindle the forest in the drought-striken nature preserve> — see BURN 2

kindled adjective
being on fire <kindled straw was responsible for the blaze that destroyed the barn> — see ABLAZE 1

kindler noun
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent <a kindler of riots and public protests, the anarchist Emma Goldman was eventually deported to Russia> — see AGITATOR

kindliness noun
1 kindly concern, interest, or support <was touched by the kindliness of his neighbors, who voluntarily took care of his dog while he was in the hospital> — see GOODWILL 1
2 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <as a result of her kindliness, several poor families have the makings for a Thanksgiving feast> — see HEART 1
3 sympathetic concern for the well-being of others <an elderly couple of modest means but infinite kindliness> — see BENIGNANCY

kindly adjective
1 having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others <brought homemade chicken soup out of kindly concern for my health> — see HUMANE 1
2 promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being <a vegetarian diet can be very kindly to a person hoping to lose a few pounds> — see BENEFICIAL

kindly adverb
1 with good reason or courtesy <would you kindly hand me the scissors?> — see WELL 4
2 chiefly Southern to some degree or extent <their visit was kindly a surprise> — see FAIRLY 1

kindness noun
1 an act of kind assistance <what a kindness to allow us to use your car for the funeral> — see FAVOR 1
2 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <out of the kindness of your heart, would you at least consider adopting this stray cat?> — see HEART 1
3 sympathetic concern for the well-being of others <with touching kindness, the couple offered the stranded tourists a place to stay for the night> — see BENIGNANCY

kind of adverb
to some degree or extent <those sheets are kind of new, so use something else to cover the floor while painting> — see FAIRLY 1

kindred adjective
1 having a close connection like that between family members <archaeology and the kindred science of anthropology> — see RELATED
2 having or marked by agreement in feeling or action <finally found people who were kindred spirits when she joined the hiking club> — see HARMONIOUS 3

kindred noun
a group of persons who come from the same ancestor <the kingdom's royal kindred actually numbers in the thousands> — see FAMILY 1

kinetic adjective
1 having much high-spirited energy and movement <the novel's plot is kinetic and fast-paced, and its effect on the reader is much like that of a surfeit of caffeine> — see LIVELY 1
2 marked by much life, movement, or activity <the loft district is the locus of the city's kinetic arts scene> — see ALIVE 2

kinfolk or kinfolks plural noun
a group of persons who come from the same ancestor <let's invite all our kinfolk for the holidays> — see FAMILY 1

king noun
1 a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field <the undisputed king of automobile sales for the entire metropolitan area> — see MAGNATE
2 cap the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <all bowed their heads in worship to the King> — see DEITY 2

kingdom noun
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <a studio head who was once the undisputed ruler of the kingdom of Hollywood> — see FIELD 2

kingdom come noun
a dwelling place of perfect happiness for the soul after death <be careful with that thing, or you'll send us all to kingdom come> — see HEAVEN 1

kingfish noun
one of high position or importance within a group <as a kingfish in the state's political circles, he was accustomed to being courted by presidential hopefuls> — see BIG SHOT

kingliness noun
a dignified bearing or appearance befitting someone of royal status <from an early age he had that special something, an aura of kingliness that foretold his future rise to the country's presidency> — see MAJESTY 1

kingly adjective
fit for or worthy of a royal ruler <a kingly gift of 50 million dollars to his old alma mater> — see MONARCHICAL

kingpin noun
1 one of high position or importance within a group <a police sting that nabbed several kingpins of the city's drug trade> — see BIG SHOT
2 the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do <finally nailed the mob kingpin who had been controlling all the gambling rackets in the city> — see BOSS

king–size or king–sized adjective
1 unusually large <built a king-size mansion with the money he had made in the stock market> — see HUGE
2 of great extent from end to end <the king-size snake known as the anaconda> — see LONG 1

king's ransom noun
a very large amount of money <that enormous diamond ring must have cost a king's ransom> — see FORTUNE 2

kink noun
1 a painful sudden tightening of a muscle <got a kink in my neck from lying in that awkward position for too long> — see 1CRAMP
2 an odd or peculiar habit <the boss's fondness for nicknames is one of those kinks that staffers just have to put up with> — see IDIOSYNCRASY
3 a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action <whenever he got a kink in his head, he'd drop whatever he was doing to pursue this latest obsession> — see WHIM

kinky adjective
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <while passing through the airport, don't wear any kinky clothing that is likely to pique the interest of security> — see ODD 2

kinsfolk plural noun
a group of persons who come from the same ancestor <my kinsfolk all live in the East> — see FAMILY 1

kinship noun
the fact or state of having something in common <she and I have a special kinship since we both grew up in England> — see CONNECTION 1

kinsman noun
a person connected with another by blood or marriage <to protect the family honor, he sought to revenge the murder of his kinsman> — see RELATIVE

kiosk noun
a freestanding airy structure in a scenic setting (as a park) typically offering commanding views <the kiosk in the waterfront park is a favorite meeting place for city residents> — see BELVEDERE

kip noun
1 a place set aside for sleeping <he was in kip when I knocked on the door> — see BED 1
2 chiefly British a short sleep <after an afternoon kip, we were ready to sample all the nightlife that London had to offer> — see 1NAP

kip verb, British
to sleep lightly or briefly <after a rigorous walk over the Devon moors, I needed to kip down a bit on the daybed> — see NAP 1

kirk noun, chiefly Scottish
a building for public worship and especially Christian worship <left Edinburgh early in the morning for St. John's Kirk in Perth> — see CHURCH 1

kismet noun
a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand <he always said that it was kismet that they met at a showing of their favorite movie> — see FATE 1

kiss verb
1 to touch one another with the lips as a sign of love <it's traditional for couples to kiss under the mistletoe at Christmastime>

Synonyms
smooch

Related Words
buss, French-kiss, lip, osculate, smack; canoodle, make out, neck, pet, spoon; caress, embrace, fondle, hug, love; bill, cuddle, nestle, snuggle

2 to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing <a gentle breeze kissing the water's surface> — see 2BRUSH

kisser noun, slang
1 the front part of the head <angrily threw the unwanted valentine back in the would-be suitor's kisser> — see FACE 1
2 the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal <how'd you like a punch right in the kisser?> — see MOUTH 1

kiss off verb
1 to end a usually intimate relationship with <kisses off every girlfriend with the line, “It's not you…it's me”> — see DITCH 1
2 to express scornfully one's low opinion of <a chef who airily kisses off the cuisine of his rivals as homey comfort food> — see DECRY 1

kit noun, chiefly British
items needed for the performance of a task or activity <soldiers were dispatched to get their kit> — see EQUIPMENT

kit (up or out) verb, chiefly British
to provide (someone) with what is needed for a task or activity <go see the quartermaster to be kitted out in your new uniforms> — see FURNISH 1

kit bag noun
a soft-sided case designed for carrying belongings especially on the back <a soldier's kit bag> — see PACK 1

kitchen–sink adjective
consisting of many things of different sorts <many of the bartender's recipes are for kitchen-sink cocktails that sound like they would be a waste of good liquor> — see MISCELLANEOUS

kite noun
a person who habitually preys upon others <characterized the neighborhood store owners as kites who ruthlessly gouged their inner-city customers> — see PREDATOR

kittenish adjective
affecting shyness or modesty in order to attract masculine interest <the days when young ladies at a dance were supposed to be kittenish around young men> — see COY 1

kittenishness noun
the attitude or behavior of one who insincerely courts the amorous attentions of others <her cuddly kittenishness can get old really fast> — see COQUETRY

1kitty noun
a small domestic animal known for catching mice <delighted to adopt a stray kitty from the pound> — see CAT 1

2kitty noun
a sum of money set aside for a particular purpose <why don't you get us all sodas and just take the money from the party kitty?> — see FUND 1

kitty–corner also catty–corner or catercorner or kitty–cornered or catty–cornered or catercornered adverb
in a line or direction running from corner to corner <walked kitty-corner across the quadrangle to the registration booth> — see CROSSWISE

klatch also klatsch noun
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <his klatch of friends hasn't changed all that much since college> — see GANG 2

kloof noun, South African
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <halfway up its side, the couple sat in the cool shadows of the cliff overlooking the length of the kloof> — see CANYON

klutz noun
a clumsy, awkward person <how can she be such a klutz after studying ballet for so many years?>

Synonyms
butterfingers, dub, looby, lubber, lummox, spaz [slang]

Related Words
clodhopper, gawk, gawky, lout, lump, oaf, tawpie [chiefly Scottish], tyke (also tike) [chiefly British]; bungler, duffer, fumbler, stumblebum, stumbler

klutzy adjective
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner <a klutzy kid who was always bumping into things> — see CLUMSY 2

knack noun
1 a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <she's tried every knack in Cupid's book to get her guy to marry her> — see TRICK 1
2 a special and usually inborn ability <a jazz musician with an incredible knack for improvisation> — see TALENT

knackered adjective, British
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <I'm absolutely knackered, so no pub-crawling for me tonight> — see WEARY 1

knapsack noun
a soft-sided case designed for carrying belongings especially on the back <grabbed my knapsack from the hook and ran to catch my ride> — see PACK 1

knave noun
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <he plays the role of the duplicitous knave who tries to foil the play's hero> — see VILLAIN

knavery noun
1 a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <the sort of frat-boy knaveries that become the stuff of campus legend> — see PRANK
2 playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <suspects some knavery going on in the political campaign> — see MISCHIEF 1

knavish adjective
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <a knavish bunch of urchins racing pell-mell through the marketplace> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

knee–jerk adjective
done instantly and without conscious thought or decision <a colleague known for her knee-jerk rejection of any proposal that she didn't originate> — see AUTOMATIC 1

knee–slapper noun
someone or something that is very funny <the movie is a real knee-slapper if you are a fan of lowbrow humor> — see SCREAM

knell verb
to make the clear sound heard when metal vibrates <the church bells knelled to mark the death of the nation's beloved leader> — see 2RING

knickknack also nicknack noun
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest <a variety of pretty porcelain knickknacks adorned the mantel>

Synonyms
bauble, bibelot, curio, curiosity, doodad, gaud, gewgaw (also geegaw), gimcrack, kickshaw, novelty, ornamental, tchotchke, trinket

Related Words
bijouterie, bric-a-brac, gimcrackery, trinketry, trumpery, virtu (or vertu); bagatelle, trifle; figurine, objet d'art (also objet), ornament; keepsake, memento, souvenir; conversation piece; collectible (or collectable), collector's item

knife noun
an instrument with a metal length that has a sharp edge for cutting <be careful in using the knife to split open the cardboard box>

Synonyms
blade, cutter, shank [slang], shiv [slang]

Related Words
cleaver, hack; bayonet, bodkin, bolo, bowie knife, cutlass, dagger, dirk, jackknife, machete, pocketknife, poniard, sheath knife, stiletto, stylet, switchblade, switch knife, yataghan; rapier, saber (or sabre), steel, sword; scalpel

knob noun
a small uneven mass <toss a knob of butter into the frying pan> — see LUMP 1

knock noun
1 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <gave the door a good knock> — see 1BLOW
2 bad luck or an example of this <getting his college degree was a six year adventure not without its share of knocks along the way> — see MISFORTUNE
3 a change in status for the worse usually temporarily <the geneticist's reputation took a knock when several of his peers were unable to confirm his research findings> — see REVERSE 1

knock verb
1 to come into usually forceful contact with something <my knee knocked against the table leg when I tried to get up quickly> — see HIT 2
2 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <threatened to knock him upside the head if he didn't do as he was told> — see HIT 1
3 to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of <hey, don't knock it until you've tried it> — see CRITICIZE

knock (about) verb
to move about from place to place aimlessly <we knocked about from town to town, looking for work> — see WANDER 1

knockabout adjective
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way <a knockabout game of football in the mud> — see BOISTEROUS

knockabout noun
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination <the book is one writer's journey of self-discovery as a restless knockabout> — see NOMAD

knock back verb
to swallow in liquid form <desperately thirsty, she knocked back an entire glass of water without pausing> — see DRINK 1

knock down verb
1 to receive as return for effort <she's knocking down a good salary, but she has to work very hard> — see EARN 1
2 to take apart <right after the holidays the stores start to knock down the window displays> — see DISASSEMBLE 1
3 to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall <the overexcited dog knocked the toddler down> — see FELL 1
4 to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent <they'll have to knock down the price of those televisions if they expect to sell any> — see DECREASE 1

knock–down, drag–out or knock–down–and–drag–out adjective
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <the football game was a knock-down, drag-out battle between bitter rivals> — see VIOLENT 1

knocker noun
a person given to harsh judgments and to finding faults <the secretary of defense needs supporters, not knockers, to get through this crisis> — see CRITIC 1

knock off verb
1 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <knock it off!> — see STOP 1
2 to stop doing (something) permanently <decided it was time to knock off telling fantastic fibs about her family background> — see QUIT 2
3 to take away (an amount or number) from a total <a proposal to knock 10 cents off the gasoline tax> — see SUBTRACT
4 to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully <Bonnie and Clyde coped with the Great Depression by knocking off banks> — see ROB
5 to put to death deliberately <various assassins have tried to knock off the dictator over the years> — see MURDER 1

knockout adjective
very pleasing to look at <a knockout sports car that's the talk of the neighborhood> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

knockout noun
1 a lovely woman <the cosmetics company wants a model who's a real knockout> — see BEAUTY 2
2 a temporary state of unconsciousness <a splash of cold water brought the boxer out of his knockout> — see FAINT
3 something very good of its kind <the band's new album is a knockout> — see JIM-DANDY
4 a physically attractive person <only a few of the show's cast members are real knockouts> — see DOLL 2

knock out verb
to use up all the physical energy of <the entire staff knocked itself out getting the project finished on time> — see EXHAUST 1

knock over verb
1 to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully <he knocked over six convenience stores before getting caught> — see ROB
2 to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall <knocked me over trying to get out the door> — see FELL 1

knock up verb, British
to cause to stop sleeping <I asked the clerk at the hotel to knock me up at 7:00 a.m.> — see WAKE 1

knot noun
1 a number of things considered as a unit <from the summit we could see knots of houses up and down the river valley> — see GROUP 1
2 a small rounded mass of swollen tissue <felt a small knot on the back of his head> — see BUMP 1
3 a uniting or binding force or influence <their business partnership is strengthened by the knot of personal friendship> — see BOND 2
4 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <knots of people were quietly chatting around the meeting hall> — see GROUP 2
5 something that requires thought and skill for resolution <mercy killing is generally seen as a matter fraught with legal and medical knots> — see PROBLEM 1

knot verb
to twist together into a usually confused mass <the extension cords were hopelessly knotted together> — see ENTANGLE 1

knottiness noun
the state or quality of having many interrelated parts or aspects <the staggering knottiness of the legal procedure that we had to go through> — see COMPLEXITY 1

knotty adjective
1 having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <the knotty problems that arise when every nation is part of the global marketplace> — see COMPLEX 1
2 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <the candidates cautiously gave their views on an array of knotty issues> — see TRICKY 1

know verb
1 to have a practical understanding of <a career diplomat who knows several languages>

Synonyms
comprehend, grasp, understand

Related Words
appreciate, apprehend, cognize, fathom, follow, ken [chiefly Scottish], perceive, savvy; have, possess; catch on (to), pick up

Near Antonyms
misapprehend, misconceive, misinterpret, misknow, misperceive, misunderstand

2 to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it <a gripping news story about orphans who have come to know full well the horrors of war> — see EXPERIENCE
3 to have a clear idea of <I think I know what you're trying to say> — see COMPREHEND 1

know–how noun
knowledge gained by actually doing or living through something <you'll gain some practical know-how in this auto mechanics class> — see EXPERIENCE 1

knowing adjective
1 having inside information <exchanged a knowing look with her business partner during the sales presentation> — see WISE 2
2 having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment <knowing movie producers do not invest their own money in their risky ventures> — see SHREWD 1
3 made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing <after giving knowing offense to people of Italian ancestry, he gave the lame excuse that it had all been a joke> — see INTENTIONAL
4 decided on as a result of careful thought <with knowing malice, she mentioned the fact that the baby's birth had been “premature”> — see DELIBERATE 1

knowingly adverb
with full awareness of what one is doing <cannot convict unless the defendant knowingly committed perjury> — see INTENTIONALLY

knowingness noun
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters <all the knowingness that comes from 20 years in the police department was evident in his appraisal of the situation> — see ACUMEN

knowledge noun
1 a body of facts learned by study or experience <the forest ranger shared some of his vast knowledge of the woods with us>

Synonyms
lore, science, wisdom

Related Words
dope, information, intelligence, know, lowdown, news, skinny [slang]; data, evidence, facts; acquaintance, awareness, familiarity, literacy; erudition, learning, scholarship; expertise, know-how

Near Antonyms
ignorance, inexperience, innocence, nescience, unfamiliarity

2 the understanding and information gained from being educated <tests evaluate how much knowledge you have gained in a particular subject> — see EDUCATION 2
3 a state of being aware <my knowledge that I was watching a true story made the film more compelling> — see ATTENTION 2

knowledgeable adjective
1 having information especially as a result of study or experience <I'm fairly knowledgeable about wine> — see FAMILIAR 2
2 having or displaying advanced knowledge or education <knowledgeable historians regard that story as pure fiction> <a knowledgeable report on the latest advances in cancer research> — see EDUCATED 1

know–nothing noun
a stupid person <often disparaged her coworkers as a bunch of know-nothings> — see IDIOT

knucklehead noun
a stupid person <I'd like to get my hands on the knucklehead who designed that paper-towel dispenser> — see IDIOT

knuckleheaded adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <the editorial lampooned the knuckleheaded legislation, which was yet another attempt by the government to protect people from themselves> — see STUPID 1

knuckle under verb
1 to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) <encouraged her to stand firm and not knuckle under to political pressure> — see YIELD 3
2 to yield to the control or power of enemy forces <the remote outpost was overrun and forced to knuckle under> — see FALL 2

kobold noun
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <the metal cobalt gets its name from the medieval Germanic belief that its appearance in silver ore was the handiwork of mischievous, thieving kobolds> — see FAIRY

kook noun
a person of odd or whimsical habits <if you insist on painting your house bright orange, everyone will assume you are a kook> — see ECCENTRIC

kooky also kookie adjective
1 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <I'm not sure that someone with such kooky ideas on biology should be teaching the subject to high schoolers> — see ODD 2
2 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <if you think that drugs aren't bad for you, you haven't met that guy's kooky friends> — see INSANE 1
3 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a kooky bicyclist who stubbornly refuses to wear a helmet> <that was a kooky thing to do> — see FOOLISH 1

kowtow verb
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior <you can try kowtowing to the boss, but he'll see right through you> — see FAWN

kudo noun
1 something given in recognition of achievement <an honorary degree from her alma mater that is simply the latest kudo for an outstanding career in journalism> — see AWARD 1
2 an admiring personal remark <a kudo is in order for the way the young people acquitted themselves at their first formal dance> — see COMPLIMENT 1

kudos noun
public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <the attorney did pro bono work because it was the right thing to do, and not for any future kudos that it might bring> — see GLORY 1

kvell verb
to feel or express joy or triumph <proud grandparents who kvell over every thing that their precious little darlings do> — see EXULT

kvetch noun
1 a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things <according to the kvetch on the bus tour, there was little about Europe that was satisfactory> — see CRYBABY
2 an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <vainly hoped that his mother would spare him another kvetch about still being single> — see COMPLAINT 1

kvetch verb
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <a chronically resentful person who seems to look for things to kvetch about> — see COMPLAIN

kvetcher noun
a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things <if that kvetcher is to be believed, the nursing home has yet to serve a decent meal> — see CRYBABY

L

label noun
a slip (as of paper or cloth) that is attached to something to identify or describe it <on its frame the painting had a label with its title and the name of the artist>

Synonyms
marker, tag, ticket

Related Words
caption, legend; brand, emblem, hallmark, logo, mark, symbol, trademark; badge, decal, plaque, seal, stamp, sticker

label verb
1 to attach an identifying slip to <he labeled all of the poisonous materials with the familiar skull and crossbones>

Synonyms
mark, tag, ticket

Related Words
caption, earmark, hallmark, stamp; call, designate, identify, name, tab; entitle, style, term, title; brand, stigmatize

2 to give a name to <in the past, teachers had a tendency to label the students “slow learners” when in fact they had treatable learning disabilities> — see NAME 1

labor noun
1 a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work <one of the labors of Hercules in classical mythology was to clean out the stables of King Augeas> — see CHORE 2
2 the active use of energy in producing a result <a superhuman amount of labor must have gone into designing and building the pyramids of Egypt> — see EFFORT
3 very hard or unpleasant work <a political dissident forced to do six months of hard labor in the salt mines as punishment> — see 1TOIL
4 the act or process of giving birth to children <the mother's labor lasted for six hours> — see CHILDBIRTH
5 something produced by physical or intellectual effort <a small, personal film that was clearly a labor of love for the director and actors> — see PRODUCT 1

labor verb
to devote serious and sustained effort <he labored most of the day over the difficult legal brief>

Synonyms
bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, endeavor, fag, grub, hump, hustle, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, tug, work

Related Words
apply (oneself), buckle (down), dig in, hammer (away), knuckle down, pitch in; attack, drive; essay, try; exercise, exert, overexert, overwork; eke out, grind (out), put out, scrabble, scratch; trudge, wade

Phrases
sweat blood

Near Antonyms
break, ease (up), let up, slacken; bum, chill, dally, dillydally, footle, goldbrick, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk, slack (off), veg out; bask, loll, relax, repose, rest, unwind; dabble, doodle, fool around, fribble, goof (around), hang, hang about [British], mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

laborer noun
a person who does very hard or dull work <having no real skills, the men could only find work as laborers unloading cargo ships> — see SLAVE 2

labor force noun
a body of persons at work or available for work <the corporation has a labor force of nearly 100,000 people> — see FORCE 1

laborious adjective
1 involved in often constant activity <the volunteers have been commendably laborious in their cleanup of the beach> — see BUSY 1
2 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <the laborious task of cleaning up the oil spill> — see HARD 2
3 requiring much time, effort, or careful attention <that report is the product of months of laborious research> — see DEMANDING 1

laboriously adverb
1 in a manner involving great or constant activity <working laboriously late into the night in order to meet the deadline> — see BUSILY
2 with great effort or determination <the farmer laboriously pruned all season long to produce the finest crop of grapes possible> — see HARD 1

laborsaving adjective
designed to replace or decrease human labor and especially physical labor <a new laborsaving device let us clean the house in half the time>

Synonyms
automated, automatic, robotic, self-acting, self-operating, self-regulating

Related Words
mechanical, motorized, nonmanual; computerized; aiding, helping; easing, relieving; time-saving; semiautomatic

Antonyms
nonautomated, nonautomatic

labyrinth noun
a confusing and complicated arrangement of passages <we eventually realized that we were lost in the labyrinth of hallways in the museum> — see MAZE 1

labyrinthian adjective
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <a Web site with an exceptionally labyrinthian procedure for ordering merchandise> — see COMPLEX 1

labyrinthine adjective
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <the labyrinthine politics of Central Europe left us totally befuddled> — see COMPLEX 1

lace noun
1 a length of braided, flexible material that is used for tying or connecting things <I had to replace the lace of my shoe because it kept breaking whenever I pulled the knot too tight> — see CORD 1
2 a length of something formed of three or more strands woven together <there will be gold lace decorating both sleeves of the new uniform> — see BRAID

lace verb
1 to cause to twine about one another <the gardener laced the shoots of ivy around the trellis to direct their growth> — see INTERTWINE 1
2 to scatter or set here and there among other things <the decorator laced small mirrors among the knickknacks for added effect> — see THREAD 1
3 to strike repeatedly <energetically laced the seaman's back with the cat-o'-nine-tails> — see BEAT 1
4 to make more pleasant to the taste by adding something intensely flavored <a savory dish laced with saffron and ginger> — see SEASON 1
5 to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances <the unsuspecting woman's drink had been laced with a roofie> — see ADULTERATE

laceration noun
a long deep cut <the fall from the motocross bike left him with several lacerations from the sharp rocks> — see GASH

lachrymose adjective
given to expressing strong emotion (as sorrow) by readily shedding tears <the more lachrymose mourners at the funeral required a steady supply of tissues> — see TEARFUL 1

lacing noun
1 a length of braided, flexible material that is used for tying or connecting things <stopped briefly to tighten the lacing on his shoe> — see CORD 1
2 a length of something formed of three or more strands woven together <the lacing on the uniform gives it a smart look> — see BRAID

lack noun
1 the fact or state of being absent <the lack of news about the fate of the soldiers was frustrating>

Synonyms
absence, dearth, want

Related Words
deficiency, deficit, failure, famine, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, meagerness, paucity, poverty, scantiness, scantness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, skimpiness, undersupply; deprivation, loss, necessity, need, needfulness, omission; privation; blankness, emptiness, vacuity, vacuum, void

Near Antonyms
abundance, amplitude, bounty, plenitude, plenteousness, plentifulness, plentitude, plenty, wealth; adequacy, sufficiency; excess, overabundance, oversupply, superabundance, surfeit, surplus; deluge, flood; bushel, deal, gobs, heap, loads, lot, mass, mountain, much, oodles, peck, pile, pot, quantity, raft, reams, scads, stack, volume, wad; fund, pool, stock, supply; cache, hoard, stash, stockpile

Antonyms
presence

2 a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <the lack of eligible candidates for the jury kept the trial from getting started> — see DEFICIENCY
3 a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful <the lack of fresh water at the campsite definitely would be a problem> — see NEED 1

lackadaisical adjective
lacking bodily energy or motivation <feeling particularly lackadaisical in the summer heat, they lazily tossed a ball back and forth> — see LISTLESS

lackey noun
a person hired to perform household or personal services <the housekeeper sent the lackey to fetch some more coffee> — see SERVANT

lacking adjective
1 not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need <we felt the afternoon television offerings were somewhat lacking in entertainment value> — see SHORT 3
2 not present or in evidence <for the moment anyway, wood for the fireplace is lacking> — see ABSENT 2

laconic adjective
1 marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <the sportscaster's color commentary tends to be laconic but very much to the point> — see CONCISE
2 tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination) <laconic by nature, he found the monastery's vow of silence was very much to his liking> — see SILENT 2

laconically adverb
in a few words <the witness answered the prosecutor's questions rather laconically and had to be coaxed into giving more details> — see SHORTLY 1

lacuna noun
1 a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <attributes many of the nation's problems to a lacuna of leadership at the top> — see DEFICIENCY
2 an incomplete or deficient area <a lacuna in its collection of Impressionists that the museum is trying to fill> — see GAP 3

lad noun
1 a male person who has not yet reached adulthood <fond of telling tall tales of the days when he was just a lad> — see BOY 1
2 an adult male human being <pass me another beer—will you, lad?> — see MAN 1

ladder noun
a scheme of rank or order <their team placed third on the tournament ladder> — see 3SCALE 1

laddie noun
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood <not all the laddies in Scotland wear kilts, you know!> — see BOY 1

lade verb
1 to lift out with something that holds liquid <the cook laded the stew into small bowls> — see DIP 2
2 to place a weight or burden on <the trucks were heavily laden with produce for the market> — see LOAD 1

laden verb
to place a weight or burden on <laden a ship with emergency medical supplies> — see LOAD 1

la–di–da also la–de–da or lah–de–dah or lah–dee–dah or lah–di–dah adjective
self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance <there's no need to be la-di-da with your friends—we all know that classy accent is a put-on> — see PRETENTIOUS 1

lading noun
a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported <a bill of lading is a document issued by a carrier that lists goods being shipped and specifies the terms of their transport> — see LOAD 1

ladle noun
a utensil with a bowl and a handle that is used especially in cooking and serving food <the chef hunted for a ladle to add the chicken broth to the pot> — see SPOON

ladle verb
to lift out with something that holds liquid <the server ladled out the soup from a large tureen> — see DIP 2

lady noun
1 an adult female human being <“ladies and gentlemen, please observe closely,” said the magician> — see WOMAN 1
2 the female partner in a marriage <in public the husband was frequently seen holding hands with his lady> — see WIFE
3 a woman of high birth or social position <the ladies of the royal court were all dressed extravagantly> — see GENTLEWOMAN
4 a female romantic companion <warned his fellow biker to stop messing with his lady> — see GIRLFRIEND

ladylove noun
a female romantic companion <ever the gallant, he bought an enormous bouquet of flowers for his ladylove> — see GIRLFRIEND

lag adjective
following all others of the same kind in order or time <we're now in the lag end of the project> — see LAST 1

lag verb
1 to lose bodily strength or vigor <during the fourth quarter the whole team seemed to lag> — see WEAKEN 2
2 to move or act slowly <the tired puppy was lagging behind the rest of the pack> — see DELAY 1

laggard adjective
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <I hate being stuck behind laggard motorists on the freeway> — see SLOW 1

laggard noun
someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others <tried to spur on the laggards at the back of the line during the hike> — see SLOWPOKE

laggardly adverb
at a pace that is less than usual, desirable, or expected <some students laggardly wandered in to class, obviously dreading the upcoming quiz> — see SLOW

lagger noun
someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others <after 10 hours, there weren't any spectators left to cheer on the laggers as they finished the marathon> — see SLOWPOKE

lagging adjective
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <the lagging pace of work on the project was worrisome> — see SLOW

lagniappe noun
1 something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed <the meal was served with a lagniappe of freshly made cornbread> — see BONUS
2 something given to someone without expectation of a return <the hotel threw in some free shampoo as a lagniappe> — see GIFT 1

laid–back adjective
having a relaxed, casual manner <a laid-back fisherman, he didn't really care if he caught anything, being content to relax and enjoy the sunshine> — see EASYGOING 1

lair noun
1 a place where a person goes to hide or to avoid others <the detectives tracked the thieves to their lair and made immediate arrests> — see HIDEOUT
2 the shelter or resting place of a wild animal <we found an abandoned fox's lair in the woods behind the barn> — see DEN 1
3 British dialect a place set aside for sleeping <a homeless man whose usual lair was a bench in Hyde Park> — see BED 1

lam noun
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement <the prisoners were recaptured after only three days on the lam> — see ESCAPE 1

lam verb
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation <let's lam out of this hellhole while there's still time> — see ESCAPE 1

lamb noun
an innocent or gentle person <the new guys at football camp were lambs who hardly knew what awaited them>

Synonyms
angel, dove, innocent, sheep

Related Words
babe, colt, cub, fledgling, greenhorn, ingenue (or ingénue), naïf (or naif), newbie, tenderfoot, virgin; cherub, saint; mollycoddle, sissy, softy (or softie), weakling, wimp; dupe, pigeon, sap, sucker

Near Antonyms
bully, roughneck, rowdy, tough; beast, boor, cad, churl, clown, creep, cretin, cur, heel, jerk, joker, louse, lout, slob; shark, skunk, snake, stinker; devil, knave, miscreant, no-good, rapscallion, rascal, reprobate, rogue, scalawag (or scallywag), scamp, scoundrel, varlet, villain

Antonyms
wolf

lambaste or lambast verb
1 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <the director lambasted them mercilessly for forgetting their lines during the final dress rehearsal> — see SCOLD
2 to criticize harshly and usually publicly <movie critics across the country lambasted the thriller for its orgy of violence> — see ATTACK 2
3 to strike repeatedly <stern schoolmasters who lambasted the boys for the smallest violation of the rules> — see BEAT 1

lambency noun
the quality or state of having or giving off light <the lambency of the sunlit stained-glass window was breathtaking> — see BRILLIANCE 1

lambent adjective
giving off or reflecting much light <the lambent flames from our campfire cast a comforting glow> — see BRIGHT 1

lambently adverb
in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light <a single candle burned lambently in the window of the secluded cottage> — see BRIGHTLY 1

lame adjective
1 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <just some lame stereotyping of ethnic minorities> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1
2 falling short of a standard <the amenities at this hotel are lame; there's not even a television in the room> — see BAD 1

lame verb
to cause severe or permanent injury to <we were afraid that the horse would be lamed by its horrible fall> — see MAIM

lamebrain noun
a stupid person <who's the lamebrain who put an empty coffee carafe back on a hot burner?> — see IDIOT

lamebrain or lamebrained adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <he offended a number of people with that insensitive, lamebrain comment> — see STUPID 1

lamella noun
a small thin piece of material that resembles an animal scale <the gemstone's distinctive iridescence is caused by light passing from one lamella of crystal to another> — see 2SCALE

lament noun
1 a crying out in grief <the national lament that was heard when President Kennedy was assassinated>

Synonyms
groan, howl, keen, lamentation, moan, plaint, wail

Related Words
cry, sob, tears; agonizing, grieving, mourning, sorrowing, suffering, weeping; hand-wringing, regret; complaint, cri de coeur, outcry, protest; anguish, dolor, grief, heartache, heartbreak, sorrow, woe

Near Antonyms
cheering, laughing, smiling

Antonyms
exultation, rejoicing

2 a composition expressing one's grief over a loss <a poem that is her lament for her late grandmother>

Synonyms
dirge, elegy, requiem, threnody

Related Words
taps; elegiac (also elegiacal), monody

Near Antonyms
encomium, eulogy, paean, panegyric

3 an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <the career woman's lament that there aren't any good men left> — see COMPLAINT 1

lament verb
1 to feel or express sorrow for <she lamented the loss of her beloved pet to a degree that went way beyond words>

Synonyms
bemoan, bewail, deplore, grieve (for), mourn, wail (for)

Related Words
elegize; cry (for), keen, moan, weep; regret, rue; bawl, blubber, sob; agonize, bleed, hurt, sorrow, suffer

Near Antonyms
beam, cheer, grin, laugh, smile

Antonyms
delight, exult (in), glory (in), joy, rejoice (in)

2 to feel sorry or dissatisfied about <the youth lamented not having spent more time with his late grandfather> — see REGRET

lamentable adjective
1 expressing or suggesting mourning <the lamentable cries of the women for their slain sons were heard throughout the village> — see MOURNFUL 1
2 of a kind to cause great distress <it's a lamentable situation, but I don't see how it can be fixed> — see REGRETTABLE

lamentation noun
a crying out in grief <there was a great lamentation on Wall Street when the government's latest unemployment figures were published> — see LAMENT 1

lamina noun
a small thin piece of material that resembles an animal scale <the laminae of stratified rock were deposited separately, building upwards as time passed> — see 2SCALE

lamp noun
something that provides illumination <I didn't realize it had gotten so dark in the room until my wife came in and turned on the lamp, momentarily blinding me> — see LIGHT 2

lampoon noun
a creative work that uses sharp humor to point up the foolishness of a person, institution, or human nature in general <this classic musical is a lampoon of the movie business at the time when sound was introduced> — see SATIRE

lanai noun
a covered structure adjoining an entrance to a building <a low-slung Hawaiian beach house with an open-sided lanai to catch the tropical breezes> — see PORCH

lance noun
a weapon with a long straight handle and sharp head or blade <the lance struck squarely on the knight's shield, knocking him from his horse> — see SPEAR

lance verb
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <doctors used to lance infected sores, so that they could drain clean> — see IMPALE

land noun
1 a body of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government <the whole land rose up in outrage over the tyrant's unconscionable cruelties> — see NATION 1
2 a broad geographical area <the land to the west was said to have incredibly rich soil and plentiful water> — see REGION 2
3 the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air <it's always good to be back on dry land after a long boat ride> — see EARTH 2

land verb
1 to stop at or near a place along the shore <the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth after exploring Cape Cod Bay>

Synonyms
anchor, dock

Related Words
berth, moor, tie up; beach, ground; harbor; arrive, reach, show up, turn up; debark, disembark

Phrases
make port

Near Antonyms
embark, launch, sail

2 to get to a destination <we landed at the hotel just before midnight> — see COME 2
3 to go ashore from a ship <the passengers on the cruise landed at St. George in Bermuda> — see DISEMBARK 1
4 to come to rest after descending from the air <our plane is landing in 15 minutes, so we need to put all of our things away> — see ALIGHT 1
5 to receive as return for effort <because of his work on the boss's pet project, he landed a promotion as well as a raise> — see EARN 1
6 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <after struggling for half an hour, the fisherman finally landed a 10-pound bass> — see CATCH 1

landfill noun
a place where discarded materials (as trash) are dumped <we took all of our old, broken furniture to the landfill> — see DUMP 1

landing noun
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers <our families waved good-bye to us from the landing as we left on our honeymoon cruise> — see DOCK

landlord noun
1 the owner of land or housing that is rented to another <agreed to pay the landlord the rent on the first Monday of each month>

Synonyms
lessor, letter, renter

Related Words
landlady; laird, landholder, landowner; proprietor; slumlord

Antonyms
lessee, lodger, roomer, tenant

2 the owner or manager of an inn <a weekend workshop that is intended to disabuse would-be landlords of a bed-and breakfast that the job is one long vacation> — see INNKEEPER

landmark noun
a point in a chain of events at which an important change (as in one's fortunes) occurs <typically, people feel that turning 21 is a landmark in one's life> — see TURNING POINT

landmass noun
one of the great divisions of land on the globe or the main part of such a division <the islands of Ireland and Great Britain were once part of the Eurasian landmass> — see MAINLAND

land mine noun
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized <parents of teenagers never know when they might set off an emotional land mine> — see PITFALL 1

landscape noun
the physical features of a region as a whole <radar images that map the lunar landscape> — see GEOGRAPHY

landsman noun
a person living in or originally from the same country as another <during the time he was an American in Paris he felt a special kinship with his fellow landsmen> — see COMPATRIOT 1

language noun
1 the stock of words, pronunciation, and grammar used by a people as their basic means of communication <Great Britain, the United States, Australia, and other countries where English is the dominant language>

Synonyms
lingo, mother tongue, speech, tongue, vocabulary

Related Words
acrolect; argot, cant, colloquial, dialect, idiolect, idiom, jargon, parlance, patois, patter, pidgin, slang, slanguage, vernacular; colloquialism, localism, provincialism, regionalism, shibboleth, vernacularism; terminology; coinage, modernism, neologism

2 the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field <“love” means “nothing” in the language of tennis> — see TERMINOLOGY
3 the way in which something is put into words <we're finding the language of the legal documents to be tough going> — see WORDING 1

languid adjective
1 lacking bodily energy or motivation <a few languid dancers swayed about on the dance floor without much enthusiasm> — see LISTLESS
2 lacking bodily strength <the tired athlete's languid movements on the tennis court> — see WEAK 1
3 moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <the film's languid pace will not be to the taste of many moviegoers> — see SLOW 1

languidness noun
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <the languidness of her sigh suggested that death would not be long in the coming> — see WEAKNESS 1

languish verb
to lose bodily strength or vigor <older people, especially, were languishing during the prolonged heat wave> — see WEAKEN 2

languishing adjective
lacking bodily energy or motivation <his lingering sickness left him languishing and uninterested in his usual activities> — see LISTLESS

languor noun
1 physical or mental inertness <the beach was packed with sunbathers wallowing in the languor brought on by a scorching summer day> — see LETHARGY
2 the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <the tropical heat sapped our strength, leaving us in a state of unaccustomed languor> — see WEAKNESS 1

languorous adjective
lacking bodily energy or motivation <the drummer's languorous playing caused the rest of the band to keep missing the beat> — see LISTLESS

lank adjective
not stiff in structure <right after a shower, her lank hair hung down to her shoulders> — see LIMP 1

lanky adjective
being tall, thin and usually loose-jointed <the lanky basketball star was great at slam-dunking>

Synonyms
gangling, gangly, rangy, spindling, spindly

Related Words
angular, bony (also boney), gaunt, lank, rawboned, scraggy, scrawny, skinny; lean, slender, slim, spare, thin; racy, reedy, spidery, stringy, twiggy, waspish, weedy, willowy, wiry; spindle-legged, spindle-shanked

Near Antonyms
beefy, bulky, chubby, chunky, heavyset, pudgy, squat, stocky, stout, stubby, stumpy, sturdy, thick-bodied, thickset, weighty; muscle-bound; corpulent, fat, fleshy, full, gross, obese, overweight, plump, portly, roly-poly, rotund, round, tubby

lap noun
a portion of a trip <we were on the last lap of the journey, eagerly heading for home> — see LEG 2

1lap verb
1 to flow along or against <the waves gently lapped the sandy shore> — see WASH 1
2 to flow in a broken irregular stream <the creek lapped along through the ravine before collecting in the pond> — see GURGLE
3 to move with a splashing motion <a stiff breeze that was causing the lake waters to lap against the hull with some force> — see SLOSH 1

2lap verb
1 to lie over parts of one another <the armadillo's plates lap tightly so as to form a protective shield> — see OVERLAP
2 to surround or cover closely <this recording of the symphony is sure to lap listeners in stereophonic bliss> — see ENFOLD 1

lap (up) verb
to receive or accept gladly or readily <a show-off who laps up attention the way a kitten does milk> — see WELCOME

lapping noun
a partial covering of one thing by an adjoining member <the lapping of the roofing shingles should be several inches in order to avoid leaks> — see OVERLAP

lapse noun
1 a change in status for the worse usually temporarily <the scandal caused the president to suffer a dramatic lapse in popularity> — see REVERSE 1
2 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <his slip of the tongue about the mayor's name was an unfortunate lapse> — see ERROR 1
3 the stopping of a process or activity <wasn't bothered by the lapse of her membership at the health club> — see END 1

lapse verb
to come to an end <the contract will lapse at the end of the year unless we renew> — see CEASE 1

larcenist noun
one who steals <when the serial larcenist Willie Sutton was asked why he continued to rob banks, he supposedly replied, “because that's where the money is”> — see THIEF

larceny noun
the unlawful taking and carrying away of property without the consent of its owner <the security guard waited until the shoplifter had actually left the store with the item, so as to have proof of larceny> — see THEFT 1

lardy adjective
having an excess of body fat <he's become quite lardy since he began neglecting his exercise regimen> — see FAT 1

large adjective
1 of a size greater than average of its kind <he was hungry, so he ordered the large pizza>

Synonyms
big, biggish, boxcar, bulky, considerable, goodly, grand, great, handsome, hefty, hulking, husky, largish, outsize (also outsized), oversize (or oversized), sizable (or sizeable), substantial, tidy, voluminous

Related Words
astronomical (also astronomic), Brobdingnagian, bumper, Bunyanesque, cavernous, colossal, cosmic (also cosmical), cyclopean, elephantine, enormous, galactic, gargantuan, gigantic, gross, hellacious, herculean, heroic (also heroical), Himalayan, huge, humongous (also humungous), immense, jumbo, king-size (or king-sized), leviathan, major, mammoth, massive, monolithic, monstrous, monumental, mountainous, pharaonic, prodigious, staggering, stupendous, super, super-duper, supersized, titanic, tremendous, vast, vasty, walloping, whacking, whopping; excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, immoderate, inordinate; abundant, ample, appreciable, copious, plentiful; fat, thick; capacious, commodious, roomy, spacious

Near Antonyms
diminutive, half-pint, infinitesimal, Lilliputian, little-bitty, microminiature, microscopic (also microscopical), mini, miniature, minuscule, minute, pint-size (or pint-sized), pocket-size (also pocket-sized), pygmy, teensy, teensy-weensy, teeny, teeny-weeny, tiny, wee; petite, slender, slight, slim, thin

Antonyms
bantam, dinky, dwarf, dwarfish, little, puny, shrimpy, small, smallish, undersized (also undersize)

2 enjoying widespread favor or approval <a color that will be very large this spring if the fashion designers have their way> — see POPULAR 1

large adverb
in a luxurious manner <college students living large on generous allowances from indulgent parents> — see HIGH

largeheartedness noun
the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <the famed largeheartedness of a city that has welcomed refugees with open arms on more than one occasion> — see HEART 1

largely adverb
1 for the most part <the earth's surface is largely composed of water> — see CHIEFLY
2 to a large extent or degree <with this land purchase, the corporation largely increases its holdings in the area> — see GREATLY 2

largeness noun
the quality or state of being large in size <I was impressed by the largeness of the portions at the new restaurant>

Synonyms
bigness, bulkiness, grandness, greatness, heftiness, substantiality, voluminousness

Related Words
enormity, enormousness, extensiveness, grossness, healthiness, hugeness, immenseness, immensity, magnitude, massiveness, mightiness, mountainousness, prodigiousness, stupendousness, vastness; excessiveness, extravagance, extremeness, immoderacy; abundance, ampleness, bountifulness, copiousness, generosity, handsomeness, liberality, muchness; adequacy, sufficiency; weightiness

Near Antonyms
diminutiveness, minuteness, tininess; slightness; meagerness, poorness, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, skimpiness, slenderness, slimness, spareness, sparseness, sparsity, stinginess; deficiency, inadequacy, inadequateness

Antonyms
fineness, littleness, puniness, smallness

largess also largesse noun
1 something given to someone without expectation of a return <the alumna's huge bequest was an unexpected largess> — see GIFT 1
2 the quality or state of being generous <the philanthropist was known for his largess to all of the city's cultural institutions> — see LIBERALITY

largish adjective
1 of a size greater than average of its kind <she was hungry, so she took a somewhat largish portion of food from the buffet> — see LARGE 1
2 sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention <a largish amount of media attention was paid to something that was a nonstory> — see CONSIDERABLE 1

lariat noun
a rope or long leather thong with a noose used especially for catching livestock <the cowboy could throw a lariat around a running steer's head from 20 yards away> — see LASSO

lark noun
a time or instance of carefree fun <the kids will have a grand lark at the carnival> — see FLING 1

lark verb
to play and run about happily <we would rather lark about in the summer than get part-time jobs> — see FROLIC 1

larkiness noun
a natural disposition for playful behavior <within the confines of the private club, these hotshot lawyers display a larkiness that would do a frat boy proud> — see PLAYFULNESS

larky adjective
given to good-natured joking or teasing <a larky group of youths enjoying a night out on the town> — see PLAYFUL

larrup noun, dialect
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <he gave the ball a good larrup with his club, and it easily cleared the ditch> — see 1BLOW

larva noun
a young wingless often wormlike form (as a grub or caterpillar) that hatches from the egg of many insects <the larva looked ugly, but it was destined to hatch into a beautiful butterfly>

Synonyms
naiad, nymph

Related Words
pupa

lascivious adjective
1 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <was fired for making lascivious remarks to a coworker> — see OBSCENE 1
2 having a strong sexual desire <all of the debutantes were warned about the lascivious playboy> — see LUSTFUL

lasciviousness noun
the quality or state of being obscene <the minister preached a sermon against the lasciviousness that pervades so much of popular culture> — see OBSCENITY 1

lash noun
1 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <suddenly felt the lash of her drunken husband's hand on her cheek> — see 1BLOW
2 a long thin or flexible tool for striking <the rider repeatedly struck the horse with the lash to force it to go faster> — see WHIP

lash verb
1 to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <the cat's tail nervously lashed the table leg> — see WHIP 1
2 to strike repeatedly <all night long sheets of rain lashed the windows> — see BEAT 1

lashings also lashins plural noun, chiefly British
a considerable amount <we've prepared lashings of wassail for the holiday party> — see LOT 2

lass noun
a female person who has not yet reached adulthood <she's only a gawky lass now, but she'll be a beautiful woman some day> — see GIRL 2

lassie noun
a female person who has not yet reached adulthood <a pretty young lassie of 16 years> — see GIRL 2

lassitude noun
1 a complete depletion of energy or strength <our lassitude was such that we couldn't even be bothered to get more soda from the fridge> — see FATIGUE 1
2 physical or mental inertness <as his cancer progresses, his days are increasingly marked by lassitude and isolation from the outside world> — see LETHARGY

lasso noun
a rope or long leather thong with a noose used especially for catching livestock <the cowpuncher skillfully tossed the lasso around the calf's neck>

Synonyms
lariat, reata, riata

last adjective
1 following all others of the same kind in order or time <last one in the pool is a rotten egg>

Synonyms
bottommost, closing, concluding, final, hindmost, lag, latest, latter, rearmost, terminal, terminating, ultimate

Related Words
consequent, ensuing, eventual, following, succeeding; conclusive, crowning, decisive, definitive; farthermost, farthest, furthermost, furthest, remotest; lowermost, lowest, nethermost; endmost, extreme, outermost, outmost, utmost; penultimate

Near Antonyms
eminent, premier, superior

Antonyms
beginning, earliest, first, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, opening, original, pioneer, primary, starting

2 serving to put an end to all debate or questioning <a book on the Kennedy assassination that supposedly is the last statement on what happened that fateful day> — see CONCLUSIVE 1
3 of the greatest or highest degree or quantity <our last praise should be reserved for those original thinkers who expand the frontiers of science> — see ULTIMATE 1

last verb
1 to continue to operate or to meet one's needs <we were lucky that the batteries lasted until we could get to the store to buy more> — see HOLD OUT
2 to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state <this heavy drought has lasted all summer> — see CONTINUE 1

lasting adjective
having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish <one of the few books published last year that is likely to have lasting significance> — see ABIDING

last name noun
a name shared by members of a family <please write your first name, middle initial, and last name at the top of the form> — see SURNAME 1

last word noun
a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <a swimsuit that is the last word in sportswear this season> — see FAD

late adjective
1 not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time <I ran as fast as I could, but was still late for class>

Synonyms
behind, behindhand, belated, delinquent, latish, overdue, tardy

Related Words
delayed, detained, postponed; dallying, dawdling, dilatory, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, lagging, poky (or pokey), slow, sluggish, unhurried

Near Antonyms
opportune, seasonable, timely; prompt, punctual

Antonyms
early, inopportune, precocious, premature, unseasonable, untimely

2 having been such at some previous time <the late musical director said he would never have allowed such behavior while he was in charge> — see FORMER 1
3 no longer living <our late granduncle remembered us in his will> — see DEAD 1
4 being far along in development <late impressionism gave rise to pointillism> — see ADVANCED 1

late adverb
1 after the due, usual, or proper time <she has a habit of arriving late for everything>

Synonyms
belatedly, delinquently, tardily

Related Words
afterward (or afterwards), anon, eventually, later, latterly, subsequently, thereafter; dilatorily, laggardly, pokily, slow, slowly, sluggishly

Near Antonyms
immediately, promptly, punctually; pronto, quickly, rapidly, snappily, speedily, swiftly

Antonyms
beforehand, early, inopportunely, precociously, prematurely, unseasonably

2 not long ago <the actress, late of New York but now of Los Angeles, is being eagerly sought for film roles> — see NEWLY

lately adverb
not long ago <have you been listening to the radio much lately?> — see NEWLY

latency noun
a state of temporary inactivity <the flower bulbs went from latency to full bloom in a matter of days> — see ABEYANCE

lateness noun
the quality or state of being late <we were unable to get into the movie due to our lateness in arriving>

Synonyms
belatedness, delinquency, tardiness

Related Words
dilatoriness, sluggishness

Near Antonyms
promptitude, promptness, punctuality

Antonyms
earliness, prematureness, prematurity

latent adjective
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment <he has a latent talent for acting that he hasn't had a chance to express yet> — see INACTIVE 2

later adjective
being, occurring, or carried out at a time after something else <the details of the plan will be filled in at a later date> — see SUBSEQUENT

later adverb
following in time or place <we're going to go to the mall later on> — see AFTER

lateral adjective
of, relating to, or located on one side <from the lateral view you can see how thick the wall really is> — see SIDE

latest adjective
following all others of the same kind in order or time <the latest news reveals many details we didn't know before> — see LAST 1

latest noun
a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <that skirt is the absolute latest!> — see FAD

lather noun
1 a light mass of fine bubbles formed in or on a liquid <she worked the shampoo into a lather before rubbing it into her pet dog's coat> — see FOAM
2 a state of nervous or irritated concern <he worked himself into a lather waiting for the results of the AIDS test> — see FRET

lather verb
to strike repeatedly <the flinty rancher did not hesitate to lather a recalcitrant horse> — see BEAT 1

lathery adjective
covered with, consisting of, or resembling foam <the lathery crests of the waves washed up and down the sandy beach> — see FOAMY

latish adjective
not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time <the bus was often a little latish, but never more than by a few minutes> — see LATE 1

latitude noun
1 an allowable margin of freedom or variation <the regulations regarding the pasteurization of dairy products don't allow for much latitude> — see SLACK 1
2 the right to act or move freely <the new laws gave the police more latitude in dealing with suspected criminals> — see FREEDOM 2

latrine noun
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <where's the nearest latrine, soldier?> — see TOILET

latter adjective
following all others of the same kind in order or time <the multiplex was showing a comedy and a horror film, and we decided that the latter would be more fun to watch> — see LAST 1

latterly adverb
following in time or place <he had been a teacher, a librarian, and some years latterly, a novelist> — see AFTER

laud noun
public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <an actor who in his lifetime received all the laud and honor that the theater world could bestow> — see GLORY 1

laud verb
1 to declare enthusiastic approval of <the critics have lauded the best-selling author's newest novel> — see ACCLAIM
2 to proclaim the glory of <the nation's people were expected to laud the dictator at every opportunity> — see PRAISE 1

laudable adjective
deserving of high regard or great approval <you showed laudable restraint in dealing with that ridiculously demanding customer> — see ADMIRABLE

laugh noun
1 an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <the child's frown turned into a laugh when he saw the clown>

Synonyms
belly laugh, boff (or boffo), boffola, cachinnation, cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, hee-haw, horselaugh, laughter, snicker, snigger, titter, twitter

Related Words
crow, whoop; grin, simper, smile, smirk

Near Antonyms
cry, groan, moan, sob, wail; face, frown, grimace, lower (also lour), mouth, pout, scowl

2 someone or something that is very funny <that new sitcom is a laugh> — see SCREAM
3 something said or done to cause laughter <the film comedy had a good laugh in just about every scene> — see JOKE 1

laugh verb
1 to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound <everyone laughed when the clown dramatically slipped and fell>

Synonyms
break up, cackle, chortle, chuckle, crack up, giggle, hee-haw, roar, scream, snicker, titter, twitter

Related Words
grin, smile

Phrases
split one's sides

Near Antonyms
bawl, blubber, cry, sob, weep; howl, scream, squall, wail, yowl; bleat, pule, whimper, whine; sniffle, snivel; groan, moan, sigh

2 to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions <you're going to try out for the football team? Don't make me laugh!> — see SNEER

laugh (at) verb
to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter <most viewers seem to tune in just to laugh at the self-deluded souls who think that they can actually sing> — see RIDICULE

laughable adjective
1 causing or intended to cause laughter <the laughable, boisterous antics of the circus clowns> — see FUNNY 1
2 so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter <it was simply laughable to see this middle-aged, hopelessly square candidate trying to appear young and hip> — see RIDICULOUS 1

laughing adjective
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor <the satisfying comedy put us in a laughing mood for the rest of the evening> — see MERRY

laughingstock noun
a person or thing that is made fun of <his nerdy clothes made him the laughingstock of the schoolyard>

Synonyms
butt, derision, jest, joke, mark, mock, mockery, sport, target

Related Words
chump, dupe, fall guy, fool, gull, monkey, pigeon, sap, sucker, victim

Near Antonyms
darling, favorite, pet

laughter noun
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <the nervous producers were reassured by the sounds of laughter coming from the theater> — see LAUGH 1

launch noun
1 a rising from a surface at the start of a flight (as of a rocket) <the reporters held their collective breath as they silently watched the space shuttle's launch> — see LIFTOFF
2 the point at which something begins <we are at the launch of a new age of space exploration> — see BEGINNING

launch verb
1 to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of <after retiring, he launched a small company devoted to making medical devices> — see FOUND
2 to take the first step in (a process or course of action) <she launched a career in journalism after quitting acting school> — see BEGIN 1
3 to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <infantrymen launching grenades at the nest of machine gunners> — see THROW 1

launder verb
to remove objectionable parts from <had to launder the quarterback's off-the-cuff's remarks before they could be quoted in the newspaper> — see CENSOR

laurels plural noun
public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <the medics received many laurels for their heroic actions during the disaster> — see GLORY 1

lavaliere also lavalliere noun
an ornament worn on a chain around the neck or wrist <gave his girlfriend a golden lavaliere engraved with his name> — see PENDANT 1

lavatory noun
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <the school's filthy, broken-down lavatories were a disgrace> — see TOILET

lave verb
to flow along or against <the cold water from the stream gently laved her burned fingers> — see WASH 1

lavish adjective
1 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <this lavish consumption of our natural resources simply cannot continue> — see EXCESSIVE
2 pouring forth in great amounts <the lavish praise that the novel was receiving had some wondering if it could ever live up to readers' expectations> — see PROFUSE
3 showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort <the lavish apartment even boasted a marble bathroom with gold-plated fixtures> — see LUXURIOUS 1

lavish verb
1 to give readily and in large quantities <doting parents lavishing lots of attention on their children> — see RAIN 2
2 to use up carelessly <a great actor who lavished his talent in lousy movies> — see WASTE 1

lavishly adverb
1 in a generous manner <complained that the university spends lavishly on the football program but underfunds other sports> — see WELL 2
2 in a luxurious manner <Hollywood celebrities are known for living lavishly> — see HIGH

lavishness noun
the quality or fact of being free or wasteful in the expenditure of money <the lottery winner's friends were struck by the lavishness of his new lifestyle> — see EXTRAVAGANCE 1

law noun
1 a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature <a record number of laws were passed in that legislative session>

Synonyms
act, bill, constitution, enactment, ordinance, statute

Related Words
command, commandment, decree, dictate, directive, edict, fiat, ruling; bylaw, ground rule, regulation, rule; amendment, legislation; common law, martial law; blue law; prohibition, proscription, restriction; canon, capitulary, encyclical

Near Antonyms
higher law

2 a collection or system of rules of conduct <it's important to obey the law at all times, or else you might end up in jail> — see CODE
3 the department of government that keeps order, fights crime, and enforces statutes <a petty thief who had somehow managed to avoid the law for most of his life> — see POLICE 1

law–abiding adjective
readily giving in to the command or authority of another <the law-abiding citizens of the neighborhood did everything they could to help reduce street crime> — see OBEDIENT

lawbreaker noun
a person who has committed a crime <legislation that mandates lengthy prison sentences for chronic lawbreakers> — see CRIMINAL

lawbreaking adjective
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority <some sociologists specialize in studying the lawbreaking elements of society> — see LAWLESS 1

lawbreaking noun
1 a breaking of a moral or legal code <even something as simple as littering is considered an example of lawbreaking> — see OFFENSE 1
2 activities that are in violation of the laws of the state <an outbreak of lawbreaking plagued the city in the months following the end of the war> — see CRIME 1

lawful adjective
permitted by law <hunting is a lawful activity only if you have the proper license> — see LEGAL 1

lawfulness noun
the quality or state of being legal <the lawyers had to work for weeks to determine the lawfulness of the proposed contract> — see LEGALITY

lawgiver noun
a member of an organized body of persons having the authority to make laws <political activists strenuously lobbied the state's lawgivers to expand the scope of the civil rights legislation> — see LEGISLATOR

lawless adjective
1 not restrained by or under the control of legal authority <the lawless rioters were destroying everything in sight>

Synonyms
anarchic (also anarchical), disorderly, lawbreaking, unruly

Related Words
defiant, insubordinate, mutinous, rebellious, refractory, riotous; undisciplined; criminal, felonious, illegal, illegitimate, illicit, unlawful, wrongful; disobedient, froward, intractable, recalcitrant

Near Antonyms
lawful, legal, legalized, legitimate; amenable, compliant, docile, obedient, submissive, tractable

Antonyms
law-abiding, orderly

2 contrary to or forbidden by law <the level of lawless activity in the territory had reached the point where the authorities felt compelled to act> — see ILLEGAL 1

lawlessness noun
1 a state in which there is widespread wrongdoing and disregard for rules and authority <the western frontier was notorious for its lawlessness> — see ANARCHY
2 activities that are in violation of the laws of the state <lawlessness in the city had reached an unconscionable and intolerable level> — see CRIME 1

lawmaker noun
a member of an organized body of persons having the authority to make laws <the state's lawmakers worked long into the night drafting a bill that would be acceptable to everyone> — see LEGISLATOR

lawman noun
a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level <as the rural county's chief lawman, the sheriff has to patrol a vast area with only minimal manpower> — see OFFICER 1

lawsuit noun
a court case for enforcing a right or claim <the homeowner filed a lawsuit against the moving company that was refusing to be held responsible for damaging her furniture>

Synonyms
action, proceeding, suit

Related Words
litigation; case, cause, complaint; counterclaim, countersuit, cross action, cross-claim

lawyer noun
a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations <their lawyers told them that they couldn't use the park for the concert without permission from the city>

Synonyms
advocate, attorney, attorney-at-law, counsel, counselor (or counsellor), counselor-at-law, legal eagle

Related Words
cocounsel; district attorney, prosecuting attorney, prosecutor, solicitor; criminal lawyer, mouthpiece [slang], public defender, trial lawyer; solicitor; jurist; lawgiver, lawmaker, legislator, solon; ambulance chaser, pettifogger, Philadelphia lawyer, shyster

lax adjective
1 failing to give proper care and attention <lax parents who let their kids stay out as late as they want> — see NEGLIGENT
2 not bound by rigid standards <the guidelines for the essay contest were fairly lax, permitting a wide variety of topics> — see EASYGOING 2
3 not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched <the sheet on the foresail was lax, and so the sail was flapping wildly in the stiff wind> — see LOOSE 1

laxness noun
failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes <the mountain climber's uncharacteristic laxness almost caused an accident> — see NEGLIGENCE 1

1lay noun
1 a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect <the minstrel strummed a cheerful lay on his lute> — see MELODY
2 a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment <she sang a short lay in dedication to her husband> — see SONG 1

2lay noun
the activity by which one regularly makes a living <my main lay is as a general contractor, but I do side work as a carpenter> — see OCCUPATION 1

lay verb
1 to arrange something in a certain spot or position <just lay the book over there on the table for now> — see PLACE 1
2 to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid) <the rain was just hard enough to lay the dust in the air> — see SETTLE 1
3 to establish or apply as a charge or penalty <state officials tried to lay a tax on merchandise sold over the Internet> — see IMPOSE
4 to make ready in advance <she's laying plans for the charity auction months ahead of time> — see PREPARE 1
5 to put a layer of on a surface <the mason laid mortar over the first row of bricks before starting the second> — see SPREAD 2
6 to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event <I'll lay five dollars that you can't do it> — see BET
7 to explain (something) as being the result of something else <an electrical fire that was laid to faulty wiring> — see CREDIT 1
8 to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea <lay the corpse to rest> — see BURY 1

layabout noun
a lazy person <she regretted ever asking that layabout to be her roommate, as he created the mess of two people and refused to help with anything> — see LAZYBONES

lay away verb
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place <the weather forecast warned of a severe storm, so we laid away a generous supply of bottled water and canned food just in case> — see HOARD

lay by verb
1 to get rid of as useless or unwanted <a politician who had laid by his principles years ago> — see DISCARD
2 to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place <ever since the last hurricane caught them unprepared, they have laid by emergency supplies> — see HOARD

lay down verb
1 to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action <the city council promises to lay down new ordinances that will force dog walkers to clean up after their animals> — see ENACT
2 to state clearly and strongly <at the risk of their popularity, the parents laid down the rules for the party and wouldn't accept any arguments> — see ASSERT 1
3 to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly <the supervisor laid down the procedure for a complaint of sexual harassment> — see PRESCRIBE
4 to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress <commanded the surrounded troops to lay down their weapons> — see SURRENDER 1

lay figure noun
one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another <the novel's characters are not fully fleshed humans, but are simply lay figures strutted out to serve as mouthpieces for conflicting points of view> — see 1PAWN

lay in verb
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place <be sure to lay in enough food for the long Alaska winter> — see HOARD

layman noun
a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession <the discussion about investing was geared more to the layman than to the professional investor> — see AMATEUR 1

layoff noun
1 the termination of the employment of an employee or a work force often temporarily <even senior employees lost their jobs in the massive layoff>

Synonyms
ax (or axe), discharge, dismissal, furlough, redundancy [chiefly British]

Related Words
pink slip; bird [chiefly British], boot, bum's rush, downsizing, firing, heave-ho, sack; closing, shutdown; shakeout, shake-up

Near Antonyms
callback, recall, reemployment, rehire, rehiring

2 a period of often involuntary inactivity or idleness <after such a long layoff the boxer badly needed to get back into shape> — see DOWNTIME

lay off verb
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <you need to lay off eating those jelly doughnuts, or you'll end up looking like one> — see STOP 1

lay off (of) verb
to stop doing (something) permanently <we warned him to lay off of the cigarette smoking> — see QUIT 2

lay on verb
1 to put a layer of on a surface <she lays the butter on so thickly that you hardly taste the bagel> — see SPREAD 2
2 chiefly British to provide with a paying job <lay on more staff for the busy tourist season in the Lake District> — see EMPLOY 1

layout noun
1 the way in which something is sized, arranged, or organized <the decorator changed the layout of the living room three times before declaring it finished> — see FORMAT 1
2 the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged <the layout of his portraits typically consists of a finely drawn subject against a roughly sketched background> — see COMPOSITION 3

lay out verb
1 to hand over or use up in payment <he laid out big bucks for a new lawnmower that runs by itself> — see SPEND 1
2 to work out the details of (something) in advance <the transatlantic balloonists laid out a backup plan in case of an emergency> — see PLAN 1
3 to put into a particular arrangement <plants in the botanical gardens are laid out according to biogeographic region> — see ORDER 1
4 to present so as to invite notice or attention <for the historic celebration, the museum laid out its full collection of native artifacts> — see SHOW 1

layover noun
a brief halt in a journey <our flight from New York to San Francisco made a layover in Chicago> — see STOP 1

lay over verb
to assign to a later time <we'll have to lay over a discussion of the issue until the next meeting> — see POSTPONE

lay up verb
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place <an eating disorder that would impel her to lay up candy bars in her closet for all-night food binges> — see HOARD

laze verb
to spend time doing nothing <the kind of sultry August day that makes you want to do nothing but laze> — see IDLE

laziness noun
an inclination not to do work or engage in activities <although she often talks about ambitious household projects, nothing even gets started because of her chronic laziness>

Synonyms
idleness, indolence, inertia, shiftlessness, sloth

Related Words
apathy, languor, lassitude, lethargy, listlessness, sluggishness, supineness; dallying, goldbricking, loafing, lolling, lounging

Near Antonyms
ambition, enterprise, go, hustle, initiative; assiduity, assiduousness, diligence, perseverance; animation, briskness, energy, exuberance, jazziness, liveliness, lustiness, pep, peppiness, robustness, sprightliness, vibrancy, vigor, vim, vitality, vivacity

Antonyms
drive, industriousness, industry

lazy adjective
1 not easily aroused to action or work <the lazy dog just wanted to lie on the couch all day and sleep>

Synonyms
idle, indolent, shiftless, slothful

Related Words
apathetic, drowsy, dull, inert, languorous, lazyish, lethargic, listless, quiescent, sleepy, sluggish, supine, torpid

Near Antonyms
ambitious, diligent, enterprising, zealous; active, animated, bouncing, brisk, dynamic, energetic, exuberant, frisky, jaunty, jazzy, lively, peppy, perky, pert, snappy, spirited, sprightly, springy, vigorous, vivacious, zippy

Antonyms
industrious

2 failing to give proper care and attention <that cookbook author can be lazy about giving cooking times and temperatures> — see NEGLIGENT

lazy verb
to spend time doing nothing <a good afternoon to spend lazying on the back porch> — see IDLE

lazybones plural noun
a lazy person <he's a lazybones who is never willing to do any work>

Synonyms
couch potato, deadbeat, do-nothing, drone, idler, layabout, loafer, lotus-eater, slouch, slug, slugabed, sluggard

Related Words
bum, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well; crawler, creeper, dawdler, laggard, putterer, slowpoke, snail, stick-in-the-mud, straggler; clock-watcher, goldbrick, malingerer, shirker, slacker; dallier, lingerer, loiterer, loller, lounger, saunterer; delayer, procrastinator; dropout, quitter

Near Antonyms
achiever, comer, highflier (or highflyer); live wire, powerhouse

Antonyms
doer, go-ahead, go-getter, hummer, hustler, rustler, self-starter

lea or ley noun
1 a broad area of level or rolling treeless country <across the lea rolls a lonely wagon> — see PLAIN 1
2 open land over which livestock may roam and feed <the cattle were free to range over the lea> — see RANGE 1

lead adjective
highest in rank or authority <the lead diplomat is responsible for making policy for the entire embassy> — see HEAD

lead noun
1 the person who has the most important role in a play, movie, or TV show <the actor's career has really taken off since he became the lead in that prime-time drama> — see STAR 2
2 the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects <the runner maintained a lead of several meters all the way around the track> — see DISTANCE 1
3 a piece of advice or useful information especially from an expert <my sister got a lead on the job opening from her neighbor, who is the human resources director for the company> — see 1TIP 1
4 a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation) <the police are now working on several leads generated by the evidence gathered at the crime scene> — see HINT 1

lead verb
1 to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front <an enthusiastic docent led our group through the art museum>

Synonyms
conduct, direct, guide, marshal (also marshall), pilot, route, show, steer, usher

Related Words
precede; accompany, attend, chaperone (or chaperon), convoy, escort, see; control, manage

Near Antonyms
dog, hound, shadow, tail, tailgate

Antonyms
follow, trail

2 to serve as leader of <a senior programmer is leading the team that is developing the new accounting software>

Synonyms
boss, captain, command, head, spearhead

Related Words
control, dominate; direct, govern, handle, manage, oversee, regulate, run, superintend, supervise

Near Antonyms
bow (to), comply (with), defer (to), follow, obey, serve, submit (to), yield (to)

3 to be at the front of <the local high school's marching band led the parade>

Synonyms
head

Related Words
precede; announce, herald; accompany, attend, escort, usher

Near Antonyms
conclude, end, finish, stop, terminate; tail, tailgate; dog, follow, trail

4 to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction <this old road leads to an abandoned quarry> — see RUN 3
5 to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed <the salesclerk led us through the maze of options now available to television buyers> — see GUIDE 1

leaden adjective
1 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <a leaden performance of a classic American play that nearly put us to sleep> — see BORING
2 of the color gray <the leaden sky made everything seem dark and depressing> — see GRAY 1

leader noun
1 a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) <the leader funnels water off of the roof and down into the cistern> — see PIPE 1
2 the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do <the team leader is good at making sure that everyone keeps busy at their assigned tasks> — see BOSS
3 one that takes the lead or sets an example <an architectural firm that is widely regarded as a leader in innovative residential design> — see BELLWETHER

leading adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <they are the leading suppliers of processed meat in the country> — see FOREMOST 1
2 highest in rank or authority <served as the leading counsel on the defendant's legal team> — see HEAD

leading edge noun
the leading or most important part of a movement <an activist who is on the leading edge of the fight for equal marriage rights> — see FOREFRONT

leadoff adjective
coming before all others in time or order <the leadoff batter> — see FIRST 1

lead off verb
to take the first step in (a process or course of action) <plans to lead off the news conference with a prepared statement> — see BEGIN 1

lead on verb
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage <a con man whose dupes are usually led on by their own greed and eagerness to turn an easy buck> — see LURE

leaf verb
to turn over pages in an idle or cursory manner <we must have spent hours leafing through wallpaper books before we found something we both liked> — see SKIM 1

leafage noun
green leaves or plants <the springtime leafage enveloping the park makes it seem much more private> — see GREENERY

leaflet noun
a short printed publication with no cover or with a paper cover <the company hires college students to work the phones and distribute leaflets for its clients> — see PAMPHLET

leafy adjective
covered with a thick, healthy natural growth <the backyard's leafy bushes look nice, but have a tendency to attract deer> — see LUSH 1

league noun
1 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <a league of concerned parishioners who are seeking a greater voice in church affairs> — see ASSOCIATION 2
2 an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection <created to avert future wars, the League of Nations was a forerunner of the United Nations> — see CONFEDERACY
3 one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <that falls into a different league of fiction—the popular novel> — see CLASS 2

league verb
1 to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members <the whole block leagued together to keep a liquor store from opening in their neighborhood> — see ALLY
2 to participate or assist in a joint effort to accomplish an end <some unlikely political bedfellows leagued together to get the bill passed> — see COOPERATE 1

leaguer noun
the cutting off of an area by military means to stop the flow of people or supplies <Germany's abandonment of the leaguer of Stalingrad is seen as a major turning point of World War II> — see BLOCKADE

leaguer verb, archaic
to surround (as a fortified place) with armed forces for the purpose of capturing or preventing commerce and communication <an impregnable fortress that not even the mightiest army on earth would venture to leaguer> — see BESIEGE 1

leak (out) verb
to become known <the candidate's campaign didn't want his choice of a running mate to leak out before an official announcement was made> — see GET OUT 1

leakproof adjective
unable to be penetrated by water because of construction or treated material <the campers stayed dry in their leakproof tents> — see WATERPROOF

lean adjective
having a noticeably small amount of body fat <all of the marathoners are extremely lean> — see THIN 1

lean noun
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon <the wall has enough of a lean that we can't set a bookcase against it> — see SLANT

lean verb
1 to set or cause to be at an angle <just lean the ladder against the tree and climb up it>

Synonyms
angle, cant, cock, heel, incline, list, pitch, slant, slope, tilt, tip

Related Words
bank; bend, deviate, swerve, veer; decline, descend, recline, retreat

Near Antonyms
even, flatten, level, straighten

2 to show a liking or proneness (for something) <the family's diet leans toward greasy food>

Synonyms
incline, run, tend, trend

Related Words
go, gravitate; indicate, point, suggest

Near Antonyms
avoid, shun, shy (from or away from)

3 to place reliance or trust <you can always lean on me if you need help> — see DEPEND 2

lean (toward or towards) verb
to show partiality toward <I'm leaning toward sausage on our pizza tonight—we got pepperoni the last three times> — see PREFER 1

leaning adjective
running in a slanting direction <the leaning tower of Pisa is a popular tourist attraction in Italy> — see DIAGONAL

leaning noun
1 a prevailing or general movement or inclination <the news media are often accused of having liberal leanings> — see TREND 1
2 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <despite what his athletic leanings might suggest, he was actually a very lazy kid> — see INCLINATION 1

leap noun
an act of leaping into the air <the horse cleared the hurdle with a tremendous leap> — see JUMP 1

leap verb
to propel oneself upward or forward into the air <the outfielder leaped into the air to catch the ball before it went over the fence> — see JUMP 1

leaping adjective
passing from one topic to another <we had trouble following the lecturer's leaping look at archaeological discoveries around the world> — see DISCURSIVE

learn verb
1 to acquire complete knowledge, understanding, or skill in <after months of trying, he finally learned the dance steps>

Synonyms
get, master, pick up

Related Words
apprehend, comprehend, grasp, know, understand; absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in), imbibe; ascertain, descry, detect, determine, dig up, discern, discover, examine, find out, hear, hit (on or upon), run down, scare up, search (for), see, track (down), tumble (to), unearth; major (in), study; memorize

Phrases
get the hang of

Near Antonyms
forget; misunderstand; miss, overlook; disregard, ignore, neglect

Antonyms
unlearn

2 to come to an awareness of <the directors have since learned that they should examine the company's financial reports a little more closely> — see DISCOVER 1
3 to come upon after searching, study, or effort <the police were astonished when they learned the identity of the students who had vandalized the school> — see FIND 1
4 to commit to memory <he learned the words to the song while performing karaoke> — see MEMORIZE

learned adjective
1 having or displaying advanced knowledge or education <the learned professor can speak knowledgeably on a wide array of subjects> — see EDUCATED 1
2 suggestive of the vocabulary used in books <a teaching assistant who tries to impress us with all of his learned words> — see BOOKISH

learnedness noun
the understanding and information gained from being educated <the university's head librarian exuded an aura of learnedness> — see EDUCATION 2

learning noun
the understanding and information gained from being educated <the learning that you get from books is just as important as the experience you get from life> — see EDUCATION 2

lease verb
1 to give the possession and use of (something) in return for periodic payment <the landlord was willing to lease the apartment for less than we had expected> — see RENT 1
2 to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum <I couldn't afford to buy a car outright, so I decided to lease one instead> — see HIRE 1

leastways adverb, dialect
whatever else is done or is the case <the minister is fixing to get married, leastways that's what everyone at the diner was saying> — see ALWAYS 2

leastwise adverb
whatever else is done or is the case <leastwise you have a job, and that's more than some folks can say> — see ALWAYS 2

leather noun
1 the hairless natural covering of an animal prepared for use <the company claims to use only the finest leathers for its shoes and handbags>

Synonyms
hide, skin

Related Words
coat, fleece, fur, pelt; alligator, antelope, buckskin, cabretta, calfskin, capeskin, chamois, cordovan, cowhide, crocodile, deerskin, doeskin, goatskin, horsehide, kid, kidskin, lambskin, morocco, ostrich, pigskin, seal, sharkskin, sheepskin, snakeskin; nubuck, patent leather, suede

2 the outer covering of an animal removed for its commercial value <this jacket was made from real leather> — see HIDE 1

leather verb
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <an expert rider will find almost no reason to leather a horse> — see WHIP 1

leathery adjective
not easily chewed <the leathery meat served in the cafeteria drove many of us to start bringing our own lunches> — see TOUGH 1

leave noun
1 a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended <the soldier was on leave for three days before having to report back to base> — see VACATION
2 the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something <the editor gave the reporters leave to follow up on their initial investigation of the senator's fund-raising practices> — see PERMISSION
3 the act of leaving a place <the party was clearly dying down, and it was time to take our leave> — see DEPARTURE 1

leave verb
1 to cause to remain behind <you can leave your lunch in the refrigerator while we're outside> <starry-eyed lovers who promise never to leave one another>

Synonyms
abandon, desert, forsake, maroon, quit, strand

Related Words
discard, ditch, dump, fling, jettison, junk, scrap, shed, shuck (off), throw away, throw out; deliver, give up, hand over, relinquish, surrender, yield; escape, retreat (from), take off (from), vacate, withdraw (from); abjure, cut off, disown, reject, renounce, repudiate, separate (from); sacrifice; distance; disregard, forget, ignore, neglect

Phrases
walk away from, walk out on

Near Antonyms
harbor, have, hold, keep, own, possess, reserve, retain, withhold; redeem, rescue, save

Antonyms
reclaim

2 to give by means of a will <I'm going to leave all of my possessions to my children>

Synonyms
bequeath, will

Related Words
deed; hand down, hand on, pass (down); devise

3 to give up (a job or office) <he left his job in the city and moved out into the country> — see QUIT 1
4 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <why don't you leave your watch with me while you swim?> — see GIVE 2
5 to end a usually intimate relationship with <is there ever a good way to leave a lover?> — see DITCH 1
6 to give permission to <aw, leave him come> — see ALLOW 2

leave off verb
1 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <we usually leave off working as soon as the bell rings> — see STOP 1
2 to come to an end <the snow should leave off around midnight> — see CEASE 1

leave–taking noun
1 the act of leaving a place <the leave-taking of the guest of honor was scheduled for 11 o'clock> — see DEPARTURE 1
2 the act or process of two or more persons going off in different directions <the sweethearts' leave-taking was filled with tearful pauses and promises to meet again> — see PARTING 1

leavings plural noun
a remaining group or portion <the leavings of the banquet were packed up and delivered to a shelter for the homeless> — see REMAINDER 1

lech noun
sexual appetite <a story about a detective with a nose for crime and a lech for redheads> — see DESIRE 2

lecher noun
a man given to seducing women <a friendly warning to the new assistant about the office lecher> — see DON JUAN

lecherous adjective
having a strong sexual desire <most of the male patrons at the bar appeared to be lecherous conventioneers looking for some action> — see LUSTFUL

lecture verb
1 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <the frustrated manager lectured the waitstaff about its poor level of service> — see SCOLD
2 to give a formal often extended talk on a subject <a physician who has lectured before countless women's groups on the importance of self-examination in the early detection of breast cancer> — see TALK 1

lecturer noun
a person who makes usually formal public speeches <this evening's lecturer has an uncanny ability to make highly abstruse material understandable to lay audiences> — see ORATOR

leech noun
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return <whenever the gang went out for pizza, the leech in the group always had an excuse for not paying his fair share>

Synonyms
bloodsucker, freeloader, free rider, hanger-on, moocher, parasite, sponge, sponger

Related Words
dependent; deadbeat, idler; flunky (also flunkey or flunkie), henchman, lackey, satellite, stooge, sycophant, toady, yes-man; cheapskate, miser, niggard, piker, scrooge, skinflint, tightwad

Near Antonyms
benefactor, philanthropist, supporter

leer (at) verb
to look at in a flirtatious or desiring way <the boys would always leer at the girls in the swimming pool> — see OGLE

leeward adjective
being in the direction that the wind is blowing <we moved to the leeward side of the ship so that we wouldn't have the wind in our faces> — see DOWNWIND

leeway noun
an allowable margin of freedom or variation <you will be given some leeway in choosing how to carry out the project> — see SLACK 1

left noun
a political belief stressing progress, the essential goodness of humankind, and individual freedom <a rising politician who is being hailed as the new voice of the left> — see LIBERALISM

left–handed adjective
1 lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands <I'd rather have no help at all than have his left-handed “assistance”> — see CLUMSY 1
2 not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <failed to realize that he had received a left-handed compliment> — see INSINCERE

leftism noun
a political belief stressing progress, the essential goodness of humankind, and individual freedom <the candidate's opponents are working overtime to paint him as a champion of extreme leftism> — see LIBERALISM

leftover noun
1 an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value <that doormat is just a leftover from when the new carpet was installed> — see 1SCRAP 1
2 leftovers plural a remaining group or portion <take as many of these calendars as you want, and put the leftovers back on the shelf> — see REMAINDER 1

left wing noun
a political belief stressing progress, the essential goodness of humankind, and individual freedom <the left wing has lost considerable influence in the party, which is now aggressively courting political moderates> — see LIBERALISM

leg noun
1 a lower limb of an animal <he broke his leg when he accidentally stepped in that gopher hole>

Synonyms
pin

Related Words
member; foreleg, forelimb; calf, drumstick, ham, shank, shin, thigh

2 a portion of a trip <on the first leg of the cruise they went south to the Caribbean>

Synonyms
lap, stage

Related Words
layover, stopover

leg (it) verb
to go on foot <the car was in the shop so we had to leg it to work for a couple of days> — see WALK 1

legacy noun
something that is or may be inherited <the old locket was part of the legacy from my great-great-grandmother> — see INHERITANCE

legal adjective
1 permitted by law <the congressman's fund-raising efforts, though arguably unethical, were determined to be legal>

Synonyms
lawful, legit [slang], legitimate, licit

Related Words
allowable, authorized, noncriminal, permissible; justifiable, warrantable; constitutional; de jure, regulation, statutory; good, innocent, just, proper, right

Near Antonyms
bad, corrupt, evil, immoral, iniquitous, reprobate, sinful, wicked, wrong; banned, criminal, forbidden, guilty, impermissible, outlawed, prohibited, unauthorized, unjust; under-the-counter, under-the-table; nonconstitutional, unconstitutional

Antonyms
illegal, illegitimate, illicit, lawless, unlawful, wrongful

2 following or according to the rules <the referee declared it a legal play> — see FAIR 3

legal eagle noun
a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations <the actor hired a dream team of high-priced legal eagles to help him beat the murder rap> — see LAWYER

legality noun
the quality or state of being legal <the senator questioned the legality of the proposed espionage operation>

Synonyms
lawfulness, legitimacy

Related Words
rightfulness, rightness; permissibility, permissibleness

Near Antonyms
badness, immorality, iniquitousness, iniquity, sinfulness, unjustness, wickedness, wrongness; criminality, unconstitutionality

Antonyms
illegality, illegitimacy, unlawfulness, wrongfulness

legally adverb
according to the rules or the law <that's not a move that can be made legally in chess> — see FAIRLY 2

legal tender noun
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <coins and bills are considered legal tender, but postage stamps are not> — see MONEY 1

legate noun
a person sent on a mission to represent another <the legate was charged with a list of objectives to accomplish on behalf of his country> — see AMBASSADOR

legatee noun
a person who has the right to inherit property <the couple had no children, so they declared their nephew their only legatee> — see HEIR

legend noun
1 an explanatory list of the symbols on a map or chart <the legend indicated that a large circle represented a major city, while a small circle stood for a small town>

Synonyms
key

Related Words
scale; caption; guide, table

2 an explanation or description accompanying a pictorial illustration <the legend in the science textbook indicated that the accompanying picture had been enlarged by 1000%> — see CAPTION 1
3 a traditional but unfounded story that gives the reason for a current custom, belief, or fact of nature <some ancient civilizations had legends about spirits that inhabited trees and rocks> — see MYTH 1
4 the body of customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings associated with a people, thing, or place <that story of how the world came to be has long been part of Native American legend> — see FOLKLORE

legendary adjective
based on, described in, or being a myth <the unicorn is a legendary creature> — see MYTHICAL 1

legendry noun
the body of customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings associated with a people, thing, or place <although the historic King Arthur lived in the sixth century, most of the legendry regarding him and the Knights of the Round Table is set in the far more romantic age of medieval chivalry> — see FOLKLORE

legerdemain noun
1 the art or skill of performing tricks or illusions for entertainment <the illusionist's show is an entertaining blend of legerdemain and over-the-top showmanship> — see MAGIC 2
2 the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end <the reduction of the deficit is due in part to financial legerdemain that masks the true costs of running the government> — see TRICKERY

legible adjective
capable of being understood <an anxious mood that was clearly legible upon her face> — see INTELLIGIBLE

legion adjective
being of a large but indefinite number <the obstacles that the programmers had to overcome have been legion> — see MANY

legion noun
1 a large body of men and women organized for land warfare <joined the French Foreign Legion> — see ARMY 1
2 a great number of persons or creatures massed together <legions of fans crowded the stadium for the rock concert> — see CROWD 1

legionary noun
a person engaged in military service <the daring exploits of the French legionaries have long been the stuff of literary and cinematic legend> — see SOLDIER

legionnaire noun
a person engaged in military service <the legionnaires are well respected for their fighting prowess> — see SOLDIER

legislate verb
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action <wants the Congress to legislate new laws banning the use of these types of weapons> — see ENACT

legislator noun
a member of an organized body of persons having the authority to make laws <the legislators met in an all-night session to hammer out the details of the bill>

Synonyms
lawgiver, lawmaker, solon

Related Words
assemblyman, assemblywoman; congressman, congresswoman; senator

legit adjective, slang
permitted by law <the barbershop, which appears to be a legit operation, is actually a front for a local mobster> — see LEGAL 1

legitimacy noun
the quality or state of being legal <the legitimacy of the military dictatorship was not recognized by most other nations> — see LEGALITY

legitimate adjective
permitted by law <the mistrust created among investors by the financial scandal has hurt even companies engaged in wholly legitimate business practices> — see LEGAL 1

leg up noun
an act or instance of helping <a key endorsement that would give the struggling candidate a real leg up right now> — see HELP 1

lei noun
an ornamental chain or string (as of beads) worn around the neck <we were presented with flowery leis as soon as we stepped off the plane in Hawaii> — see NECKLACE

leisure noun
freedom from activity or labor <upon retiring, the elderly couple looked forward to a life of well-deserved leisure> — see 1REST 1

leisurely adjective
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <after buying our stuff, we just wandered around the mall at a leisurely pace> — see SLOW 1

leisurely adverb
at a pace that is less than usual, desirable, or expected <the old hound dog leisurely sauntered over to his water bowl to take a drink> — see SLOW

lemon noun
something that has failed <the used car he bought turned out to be a lemon, and he soon had trouble starting the thing> — see FAILURE 3

lend verb
to give to another for temporary use with the understanding that it or a like thing will be returned <I can lend you my copy of the textbook until the weekend> <can you lend me five dollars?>

Synonyms
advance, loan

Related Words
furnish, give, grant; lease, let [chiefly British], rent

Near Antonyms
receive, take

Antonyms
borrow

length noun
1 a wide space or area <vowed that he would journey the lengths of the earth to find her> — see EXPANSE
2 the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects <the length of a professional tennis court is 78 feet from baseline to baseline> — see DISTANCE 1

lengthen verb
to make longer <I had to lengthen the handle of the paint roller in order to reach the top of the wall> — see EXTEND 1

lengthening noun
the act of making longer <a lengthening of the school year is favored by many of the parents in the school district> — see EXTENSION 1

lengthy adjective
1 of great extent from end to end <she used a lengthy piece of rope to tie her dog to a tree> — see LONG 1
2 lasting for a considerable time <the store manager gives new associates a lengthy sermon on the evils of shoplifting> — see LONG 2

lenience noun
kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it <a judge's reputation for lenience towards first-time criminals> — see MERCY 1

leniency noun
kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it <the defense requested leniency in light of their client's lack of a prior criminal record> — see MERCY 1

lenity noun
kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it <a social critic who argues that judicial lenity is chiefly to blame for the increased criminality that plagues us> — see MERCY 1

lensman noun
one who takes photographs <an expert lensman whose work has appeared in dozens of magazines> — see PHOTOGRAPHER

leper noun
one who is cast out or rejected by society <a convicted child molester who is treated as a leper wherever he goes> — see OUTCAST

leprechaun noun
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <the story that if you follow a rainbow to its end, you'll find a leprechaun's pot of gold> — see FAIRY

leprechaunish adjective
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <he broke into a leprechaunish grin at the mere thought of his devilish plan for revenge> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

less adjective
having not so great importance or rank as another <the restaurant's chowder has been declared the state's best by no less a person than the governor himself> — see LESSER

lessee noun
one who rents a room or apartment in another's house <the lessee has the right to expect the lessor to make all necessary repairs in a timely manner> — see TENANT 1

lessen verb
1 to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent <we lessened our efforts as it became clear they weren't having an effect> — see DECREASE 1
2 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <the pain should begin to lessen within minutes of taking the medication> — see DECREASE 2
3 to lower in character, dignity, or quality <blatant hypocrisy that lessened him in the eyes of the voters> — see DEBASE 1

lesser adjective
having not so great importance or rank as another <it was the lesser evil of the two choices>

Synonyms
inferior, junior, less, lower, minor, smaller, subordinate

Related Words
little, mean, small; minute, petty; jerkwater, one-horse, second-class, second-rate, two-bit; associate, auxiliary, secondary, subsidiary

Near Antonyms
choice, exceptional, first-class, first-rate

Antonyms
greater, higher, major, more, primary, prime, senior, superior, superordinate

lesson noun
something assigned to be read or studied <your lesson for tonight will be the chapter on chemical reactions>

Synonyms
assignment, reading

Related Words
homework, schoolwork; lecture; drill, exercise, practice (also practise); étude, study

lesson verb
to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field <would tirelessly lesson the children in proper manners> — see TEACH

lessor noun
the owner of land or housing that is rented to another <lessors are free to charge as much as they want for a house> — see LANDLORD 1

let noun
something that makes movement or progress difficult <a private resort that allows vacationers to experience without let the joys of nudism> — see ENCUMBRANCE

let verb
1 to give permission to <my parents would not let me drive until I had a job and could pay for my own gas> — see ALLOW
2 chiefly British to give the possession and use of (something) in return for periodic payment <the pensioner has begun letting rooms in her East End home to earn some extra money> — see RENT 1
3 to make able or possible <the low gravity on the moon lets you make enormous leaps and jumps> — see ENABLE 1
4 to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference <they let their kids get away with murder> — see ALLOW 3

let alone conjunction
to say nothing of <I don't have enough money for a new car, let alone a luxury sedan>

Synonyms
much less, never mind, still less

Phrases
not to mention

letch noun
1 a strong wish for something <a sudden letch for chocolate> — see DESIRE 1
2 sexual appetite <she's developed quite a letch for that movie star—and he's young enough to be her son> — see DESIRE 2

letdown noun
1 the emotion felt when one's expectations are not met <the museum exhibit was just so-so, and we returned home with a vague sense of letdown> — see DISAPPOINTMENT 1
2 something that disappoints <the eagerly anticipated new movie starring our favorite actor turned out to be a big letdown> — see DISAPPOINTMENT 2

let down verb
to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of <with my poor performance I really felt that I had let my teammates down> — see DISAPPOINT

lethal adjective
likely to cause or capable of causing death <we were lucky that the snake's venom wasn't lethal, and our friend turned out to be all right> — see DEADLY 1

lethargic adjective
slow to move or act <a big meal always makes me feel lethargic and sleepy> — see INACTIVE 1

lethargy noun
physical or mental inertness <the doctor suspected that the patient's depression and lethargy were a result of seasonal affective disorder>

Synonyms
hebetude, languor, lassitude, listlessness, stupor, torpor

Related Words
boredom, indifference; malaise; laziness; fatigue, sleepiness; narcosis; idleness, inaction

Near Antonyms
eagerness, enthusiasm, keenness, spiritedness; ambition, enterprise

Antonyms
vigor, vim, vitality, vivacity

let on verb
to take on a false or deceptive appearance <she's not half as innocent as she likes to let on> — see PRETEND 1

let on (about) verb
to make known (as information previously kept secret) <we agreed not to let on about our marriage plans to anyone> — see REVEAL 1

1letter noun
a message on paper from one person or group to another <he faithfully wrote her a letter every week they were apart>

Synonyms
dispatch, epistle, memo, memorandum, missive, note

Related Words
billet-doux, open letter; airmail, card, electronic mail, e-mail, junk mail, mail, postal card, postcard; communication, report; encyclical

2letter noun
the owner of land or housing that is rented to another <it is the letter of the apartment—not the lessee—who is responsible for basic repair and upkeep> — see LANDLORD 1

letter carrier noun
a person who delivers mail <we like to leave a little gift in the mailbox around Christmas for our letter carrier> — see POSTMAN

lettered adjective
having or displaying advanced knowledge or education <the lettered crowd is well acquainted with the author, but the average person probably hasn't heard of him> — see EDUCATED 1

letter–perfect adjective
being entirely without fault or flaw <the actress's recitation was letter-perfect> — see PERFECT 1

letup noun
a usually gradual decrease in the pace or level of activity of something <the downpour continued for hours without letup> — see SLOWDOWN

let up verb
1 to come to an end <the rain let up just as we reached the house> — see CEASE 1
2 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <the windmill slowed down as the wind let up> — see DECREASE 2

levee noun
1 a bank of earth constructed to control water <the raging floodwaters were too much for the levee to handle> — see DAM
2 a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers <we tied the boat up at the levee and started unloading the fish we had caught> — see DOCK

level adjective
1 having a surface without bends, breaks, or irregularities <looked for a level place to land the plane>

Synonyms
even, flat, flush, plane, smooth

Related Words
exact, uniform; aligned (also alined), regular, true; horizontal, tabular; plumb, straight, vertical

Near Antonyms
inexact, irregular, unaligned, warped; undulating, undulatory, wavy; pitted, pockmarked, pocky

Antonyms
bumpy, coarse, lumpy, rough, uneven, unsmoothed

2 free from emotional or mental agitation <in a much more level mood now that the worst is over> — see CALM 2

level noun
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement <a young karate student ready to rise to the next level in his chosen art of self-defense> — see RANK 1

level verb
1 to make equal in amount, degree, or status <we'll give both teams the same equipment so as to level the playing field> — see EQUALIZE
2 to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps <the construction workers leveled the ground before laying a foundation for the new house> — see EVEN 1
3 to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal <the marksman leveled his gun at the target and fired> — see AIM 1
4 to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall <the boxer leveled his badly outclassed opponent with a single blow> — see FELL 1
5 to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces <an architectural gem that was leveled to build a parking lot> — see DEMOLISH 1

leveler or leveller noun
one who advocates or practices social equality <a nation of levelers, Norway has a tax structure designed to reduce the gap between the richest and the poorest> — see DEMOCRAT

levelheaded adjective
based on sound reasoning or information <I've always appreciated my father's levelheaded advice> — see GOOD 1

levelheadedness noun
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters <the judge had developed a reputation for no-nonsense levelheadedness in deciding cases> — see COMMON SENSE

lever verb
to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever <the workers used crowbars to lever the heavy stone block into its new position> — see 1PRY 1

leverage noun
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly <lacking much of the leverage it once had, the union is now being forced to make some humiliating concessions> — see INFLUENCE 1

leverage verb
to take unfair advantage of <a reality show contestant who's trying to leverage her 15 minutes of fame> — see EXPLOIT 1

leviathan adjective
unusually large <the Titanic was a leviathan ship by the standards of the time> — see HUGE

leviathan noun
something that is unusually large and powerful <a leviathan of the seas, that cruise ship is said to be the largest passenger vessel afloat> — see GIANT

levity noun
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time <the teachers disapprove of any displays of levity during school assemblies> — see FRIVOLITY

levy noun
a charge usually of money collected by the government from people or businesses for public use <the legislators approved a new levy on imported cattle to help protect American ranchers> — see TAX

levy verb
1 to pick especially for required military service <unprepared for war, the government was forced to levy men on a scale that was unprecedented in its history> — see DRAFT 1
2 to establish or apply as a charge or penalty <the baseball commissioner is levying a fine of $10,000 against every player involved in the fracas> — see IMPOSE

lewd adjective
1 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <bystanders were shocked by the lewd behavior of the couple in the park> — see OBSCENE 1
2 having a strong sexual desire <with his unwelcome advances, the lewd executive had alienated all of the women in the office> — see LUSTFUL
3 hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent <a nearby diner kept telling lewd jokes until we told him to shut up> — see SUGGESTIVE 1

lewdness noun
the quality or state of being obscene <the lewdness of the material on that Web site makes it inappropriate for children> — see OBSCENITY 1

lexical adjective
of or relating to words or language <a dictionary provides lexical information—it tells you what the word “cat” means, not all there is to know about cats> — see VERBAL 1

lexicon noun
a reference book giving information about the meanings, pronunciations, uses, and origins of words listed in alphabetical order <an avid word enthusiast who is compiling a lexicon of archaic and unusual words> — see DICTIONARY

liability noun
1 a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success <a retired football player whose chief asset—his prodigious girth—has now become a liability> — see DISADVANTAGE 1
2 the state of being held as the cause of something that needs to be set right <the liability for the accident is held by the person who was driving too fast> — see RESPONSIBILITY 1
3 the state of being left without shelter or protection against something harmful <failure to properly clean the wound could increase your liability to infection> — see EXPOSURE 1
4 the quality or state of being likely to occur <what's the liability that he'll file a formal complaint if he's refused admission?> — see PROBABILITY 1
5 usually liabilities plural something (as money) which is owed <your liabilities total about $200,000> — see DEBT 1

liable adjective
1 being in a situation where one is likely to meet with harm <because of his frail constitution, he's liable to diseases>

Synonyms
endangered, exposed, open, sensitive, subject (to), susceptible, vulnerable

Related Words
likely, prone; uncovered, undefended, unguarded, unprotected, unscreened, unsecured

Phrases
at risk, in deep water, in jeopardy

Near Antonyms
covered, guarded, protected, safeguarded, screened, secured, sheltered, shielded, warded

Antonyms
insusceptible, invulnerable, unexposed, unsusceptible

2 being the one who must meet an obligation or suffer the consequences for failing to do so <the owner of a pet is liable for any damage that that pet might do> — see RESPONSIBLE 1

liaison noun
1 the fact or state of having something in common <a variety of political factions are attracted to that presidential contender, but there doesn't appear to be much of a liaison between them and the candidate> — see CONNECTION 1
2 the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <the strong liaison between the parents and teachers is based on the fact that both have the students' best interests at heart> — see ASSOCIATION 1

liar noun
a person who tells lies <she knew he was a liar when he started claiming that he was an astronaut>

Synonyms
fabricator, fabulist, fibber, prevaricator, storyteller

Related Words
exaggerator, mythomaniac; calumniator, defamer, libeler, libelist, slanderer; perjurer; distorter, falsifier; equivocator, palterer; gossip, gossiper, talebearer; charlatan, cheat, cheater, counterfeiter, cozener, deceiver, defrauder, dissembler, dissimulator, double-dealer, fraud, hustler, knave, mountebank, operator, pretender

Near Antonyms
square shooter

libation noun
a liquid suitable for drinking <a variety of libations will be available at the wedding reception> — see DRINK 1

libel noun
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation <the governor's office issued a statement accusing the state's largest newspaper of libel> — see SLANDER

libel verb
to make untrue and harmful statements about <the court decided that the newspaper's reportage of the former mayor, while irresponsible, did not constitute an effort to libel him> — see SLANDER

libeling or libelling noun
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation <the underhanded politician resorted to libeling when it became clear that that was the only way he was going to win the election> — see SLANDER

libelous or libellous adjective
causing or intended to cause unjust injury to a person's good name <libelous statements about a celebrity for which the tabloid was sued>

Synonyms
calumnious, defamatory, scandalous, slanderous

Related Words
erroneous, false, inaccurate, incorrect, inexact, invalid, off, unsound, untrue, wrong; denigrative, denigratory, depreciative, depreciatory, derogatory, detractive, disparaging, uncomplimentary, unfavorable, unflattering; invidious, objectionable; maligning, traducing, vilifying; hateful, malevolent, malicious, spiteful

Near Antonyms
appreciative, complimentary, favorable; adulatory, commendatory, eulogistic, hagiographic (also hagiographical), laudatory; accurate, correct, errorless, factual, right, sound, true, valid

liberal adjective
1 not bound by traditional ways or beliefs <parents who take a very liberal attitude toward letting their children stay out late>

Synonyms
broad-minded, nonconventional, nonorthodox, nontraditional, open-minded, progressive, radical, unconventional, unorthodox

Related Words
advanced, contemporary, modern; forbearing, indulgent, large-minded, lenient, permissive, tolerant; extreme; impartial, objective, unbiased

Near Antonyms
hard, rigid, strict; doctrinal, dogmatic (also dogmatical); bigoted, blinkered, intolerant, narrow-minded; reactionary, unreconstructed

Antonyms
conservative, conventional, hidebound, nonprogressive, old-fashioned, orthodox, stodgy, traditional

2 being more than enough without being excessive <he always puts liberal amounts of grated cheese on his pizza> — see PLENTIFUL
3 giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <a doctor who has been very liberal in dispensing low-cost care to patients who could not otherwise afford it> — see GENEROUS 1

liberalism noun
a political belief stressing progress, the essential goodness of humankind, and individual freedom <liberalism had always claimed to stand for the greatest social good>

Synonyms
left, leftism, left wing

Related Words
neoliberalism; radicalism, socialism

Near Antonyms
neoconservatism

Antonyms
conservatism, illiberalism, immobilism, right

liberality noun
the quality or state of being generous <already known for his liberality, the billionaire continued to give away record amounts of money>

Synonyms
bigheartedness, bountifulness, bounty, generosity, generousness, largesse (also largess), munificence, openhandedness, openheartedness, philanthropy, unselfishness

Related Words
beneficence, charity, kindliness, selflessness; kindness; gift, gratuity, lagniappe; tribute; extravagance, improvidence, lavishness, prodigality, wastefulness; spendthrift; dissipating, squandering

Near Antonyms
conserving, economizing, economy, frugality, husbandry, providence, scrimping, skimping, thrift; conservation, saving; husbanding, managing; scraping; cutting back

Antonyms
cheapness, closeness, meanness, miserliness, parsimony, penuriousness, pinching, selfishness, stinginess, tightness, ungenerosity

liberally adverb
in a generous manner <she spread frosting liberally over the cake until it oozed over the edges> — see WELL 2

liberate verb
1 to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <the animal rightists snuck into the laboratory in the middle of the night to liberate all of the monkeys> — see FREE 1
2 to set free from entanglement or difficulty <we were liberated from our financial woes when we hit the grand prize in the lottery> — see EXTRICATE

liberation noun
the act of setting free from slavery <the liberation of the slaves was one of the key results of the Civil War>

Synonyms
emancipation, enfranchisement, freeing, manumission

Related Words
deliverance, redemption, salvation; autonomy, freedom, independence, independency, liberty, self-government, sovereignty (also sovranty)

Near Antonyms
bondage, serfdom, servitude, thralldom (or thraldom), yoke; captivity, enchainment, imprisonment, incarceration, internment; conquest, subjugation

Antonyms
enslavement

libertinage noun
1 a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <his frat-boy libertinage was abruptly halted when his fed-up father cut him off financially> — see CORRUPTION 2
2 immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society <a young prince more interested in libertinage than leadership> — see VICE 1

libertine adjective
having or showing lowered moral character or standards <his libertine sister had got caught up in the urban drug scene and had died of an overdose> — see CORRUPT

libertine noun
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard <the legend of Don Juan depicts him as a playboy and libertine> — see DEGENERATE

libertinism noun
1 a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <a group of urban bohemians who were better known for their libertinism than for their intellectualism> — see CORRUPTION 2
2 immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society <even by the standards of ancient Rome, Caligula's reign was marked by a libertinism that went beyond the pale> — see VICE 1

liberty noun
1 the power, right, or opportunity to choose <he doesn't want to go to the sales conference, but he doesn't have that liberty> — see CHOICE 1
2 the state of being free from the control or power of another <the hope that the country's first-ever elections will usher in a new era of liberty and respect for the rule of law> — see FREEDOM 1

libidinous adjective
having a strong sexual desire <a novel about a libidinous lawyer who becomes an abject slave to his sexual addiction> — see LUSTFUL

libidinousness noun
sexual appetite <an expression of raging libidinousness that would have been worthy of a whole company of soldiers> — see DESIRE 2

library noun
1 a place where books, periodicals, and records are kept for use but not for sale <I went to the library to do some research for my report>

Synonyms
archive

Related Words
rental library (or lending library); bibliotheca; stacks

2 an organized group of objects acquired and maintained for study, exhibition, or personal pleasure <a confirmed cineast with an impressive library of classic movies on DVD> — see COLLECTION 1

license also licence verb
to give official or legal power to <a state statute licenses county sheriffs to choose their own deputies> — see AUTHORIZE 1

license or licence noun
1 the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something <the company is seeking license to operate several more power plants in the state> — see PERMISSION
2 the granting of power to perform various acts or duties <a restaurant owner has to get a license to serve food and drink> — see COMMISSION 1
3 the right to act or move freely <military commanders on the ground must be granted considerable license, as wars cannot be micromanaged by people back in Washington> — see FREEDOM 2

licentious adjective
having a strong sexual desire <a moralist who decried what she regarded as the licentious and corrupt culture of the entertainment industry> — see LUSTFUL

licentiousness noun
immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society <our minister often condemns the licentiousness he sees cavalierly portrayed in today's mass media> — see VICE 1

licit adjective
permitted by law <law enforcement agencies are demanding stricter regulation of the sale of licit medications that can later be used in the home manufacture of illicit drugs> — see LEGAL 1

lick noun
1 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <gave the ball a solid lick with the bat> — see 1BLOW
2 a very small amount <the soup needs just a lick more of salt> — see PARTICLE 1
3 the smallest amount or part imaginable <you haven't done a lick of work all day> — see JOT

lick verb
1 to strike repeatedly <your father will lick you good if he hears you using swear words> — see BEAT 1
2 to achieve a victory over <he's determined to do everything he can to lick the cancer> — see BEAT 2

lickety–split adverb
with great speed <the scared dog ran lickety-split for home> — see FAST 1

licking noun
failure to win a contest <our team took a licking last night, but we'll get them next time> — see DEFEAT 1

lickspittle noun
a person who flatters another in order to get ahead <a partisan news program whose host is more of a lickspittle for the White House than a serious journalist> — see SYCOPHANT

lid noun
1 a piece placed over an open container to hold in, protect, or conceal its contents <I had to get a screwdriver to pry the lid off of the paint can> — see COVER 1
2 slang a covering for the head usually having a shaped crown <as he left the field, the pitcher tipped his lid to the cheering crowd> — see HAT

lie noun
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive <he wanted to deny the accusation, but he couldn't tell a lie>

Synonyms
fable, fabrication, fairy tale, falsehood, falsity, fib, mendacity, prevarication, story, tale, taradiddle (or tarradiddle), untruth, whopper

Related Words
distortion, exaggeration, half-truth; ambiguity, equivocation, obliquity; defamation, libel, slander; perjury; bluff, fiction, pose, pretense (or pretence); humbug, jive, nonsense; canard, fallacy, misconception, myth; falsification, misinformation, misreport, misrepresentation, misstatement; deceit, deceitfulness, dishonesty, duplicity, fraudulence

Near Antonyms
fact, truism, verity; honesty, truthfulness, veracity; authentication, confirmation, substantiation, validation, verification

Antonyms
truth

1lie verb
to make a statement one knows to be untrue <would I lie to you about that?>

Synonyms
fabricate, fib, prevaricate

Related Words
forswear (also foreswear), perjure; equivocate, fudge, palter; beguile, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, kid, snow, take in, trick; defame, libel, slander, traduce; falsify, misreport, misrepresent, misstate; distort, garble; dissemble, dissimulate; misguide, misinform, mislead

Near Antonyms
assert, swear, testify; authenticate, confirm, substantiate, validate, verify

2lie verb
1 to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction <the train tracks lie just over that hill> — see RUN 3
2 to occupy a place or location <I left the book lying on the counter> — see STAND 1
3 to remain out of sight <paparazzi were lying in wait outside the restaurant, a well-known celebrity hangout> — see 1HIDE 3

lie detector noun
an instrument for detecting physical signs of the tension that goes with lying <hooked the suspect up to a lie detector before interrogating him about the robbery>

Synonyms
polygraph

liege man noun
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another <a highly influential anthropologist whose liege men can now be found be a score of major universities> — see FOLLOWER 1

lieutenant noun
a person who helps a more skilled person <the drug lord has a pair of brutal lieutenants who do most of his dirty work for him> — see HELPER

life noun
1 a history of a person's life <a renowned historian who has written lives of several early presidents> — see BIOGRAPHY
2 a member of the human race <an appalling number of lives were lost in the war> — see HUMAN
3 active strength of body or mind <even though he's 86 years old, he still shows a lot of life> — see VIGOR 1
4 the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress <the Egyptian civilization had an extremely long life> — see DURATION 1
5 the way people live at a particular time and place <frontier life must have been rugged, exciting, challenging, and more than a little dangerous> — see CIVILIZATION 1

lifeless adjective
no longer living <the kayaker's lifeless body was found just downstream of the rapids where he had capsized> — see DEAD 1

lifelessness noun
the state of being dead <the sight of her husband's corpse, in all of its embalmed lifelessness, was heartbreaking> — see DEATH 2

lifelike adjective
closely resembling the object imitated <the eyes of the lifelike portrait seem to follow visitors around the room> — see NATURAL 2

life span noun
the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress <I saw no need to pay more for a better-built computer that would just grow obsolete before the end of its life span> — see DURATION 1

lifestyle noun
the way people live at a particular time and place <retirees enjoying a more casual, stress-free lifestyle> — see CIVILIZATION 1

lifetime noun
the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress <the lifetime of the camera's batteries was so short we couldn't get through a day trip without having to replace them> — see DURATION 1

lift noun
1 an act or instance of helping <the company's senior vice president gave his son a much-needed lift up the corporate ladder> — see HELP 1
2 a means of getting to a destination in a vehicle driven by another <I'll need a lift to work while my car is in the shop> — see RIDE

lift verb
1 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <I needed help lifting the heavy globe back up to the top shelf> — see RAISE 1
2 to move or extend upward <once the sun started to cut through the morning fog, the colorful hot-air balloons began to lift off from the field> — see ASCEND
3 to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <she turned her back for just a moment, and somebody lifted her purse> — see STEAL 1

lifted adjective
being positioned above a surface <with lifted heels and bent knees, the runners tensely waited for the gun to go off> — see ELEVATED 1

liftoff noun
a rising from a surface at the start of a flight (as of a rocket) <everyone was quiet in the control room as they waited for lift-off>

Synonyms
blastoff, launch, takeoff

Related Words
ascent

Near Antonyms
crash; splashdown

Antonyms
landing

ligature noun
1 something that physically prevents free movement <the surgeon tied a ligature around the tube to keep it in place> — see BOND 1
2 a uniting or binding force or influence <a common language is often the ligature that unites the people of a nation> — see BOND 2

light noun
1 the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible <he read poetry to her by the light of the moon>

Synonyms
blaze, flare, fluorescence, glare, gleam, glow, illumination, incandescence, luminescence, radiance, shine

Related Words
flash, glimmer, glint, glitter, scintillation, shimmer, sparkle, twinkle; daylight, moonlight, sunlight, sunshine; afterglow, aureole (or aureola), aurora, beam, halo, ray, shaft, streak, stream, sunbeam; glisten, gloss, luster (or lustre), polish, reflection, sheen

Near Antonyms
blackness, dark, darkness, dimness, dusk, duskiness, gloom, night, shadow

2 something that provides illumination <turn off the light when you go to bed>

Synonyms
beacon, illuminant, lamp

Related Words
arc lamp (also arc light), candelabra, candelabrum, candle, chandelier, dark lantern, electric, flare, flash, flashbulb, flashcube, flashlight, floodlight, fluorescent lamp, gaslight, gasolier, girandole, headlight, incandescent lamp, klieg light (or kleig light), lantern, light bulb, lighthouse, lighting, sconce, spotlight, streetlight, sun lamp

3 a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <a leading light in the acting profession> — see CELEBRITY 1
4 the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance <with the coming of light we could see all the damage that the storm had caused> — see DAWN 1

1light adjective
1 having little weight <the suitcase was as light as a feather after all the clothes were removed>

Synonyms
featherlight, feathery, lightweight, underweight, weightless

Related Words
bantam, diminutive, little, minute, puny, small, smallish, tiny, undersized (also undersize), wee; flimsy, fragile, insubstantial; petite, slender, slight, slim, thin

Near Antonyms
big, considerable, extensive, goodly, great, handsome, huge, hulking, jumbo, king-size (or king-sized), large, largish, massive, overscale (or overscaled), oversize (or oversized), sizable (or sizeable), substantial, super, voluminous, whacking; bulky, cumbersome, unwieldy

Antonyms
heavy, hefty, leaden, overweight, ponderous, weighty

2 involving minimal difficulty or effort <a little light work was all it took to straighten up the room> — see EASY 1
3 less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <traffic on the highway seems to be very light today> — see MEAGER
4 moving easily <the dancer was exceptionally light on her feet> — see GRACEFUL 1
5 not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect <light punishment to fit a minor offense> — see GENTLE 1
6 resembling air in lightness <the waves had an especially light foam at their crests because of the strong breeze> — see AIRY 1

2light adjective
1 filled with much light <the light, airy room is exceptionally cheerful> — see BRIGHT 2
2 lacking intensity of color <we painted the walls a light blue> — see PALE 1
3 of light complexion <her light skin tends to freckle easily in the sun> — see FAIR 4

1light verb
1 to set (something) on fire <we lit the kindling before adding the heavier logs> — see BURN 2
2 to supply with light <the lights from the TV cameras will light this room as though it were high noon> — see ILLUMINATE 1

2light verb
1 to come to rest after descending from the air <the bird lit on the branch and began to sing> — see ALIGHT 1
2 to come down from something (as a vehicle) <he hurriedly lighted from the bus and started walking up the street> — see ALIGHT 2

light (on or upon) verb
to come upon unexpectedly or by chance <the novelist lit upon the plot for his latest thriller while visiting a remote lighthouse in Maine> — see HAPPEN ON OR UPON

1lighten verb
to become glad or hopeful <the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment> — see CHEER UP 1

2lighten verb
to supply with light <the room was gradually lightened by the rising sun> — see ILLUMINATE 1

light–footed also light–foot adjective
moving easily <the light-footed cat crept silently through the house> — see GRACEFUL 1

light–headed adjective
1 having a feeling of being whirled about and in danger of falling down <I always get light-headed after riding roller coasters, even when I'm standing still again> — see DIZZY 1
2 lacking in seriousness or maturity <we couldn't concentrate on our work because we were feeling so light-headed> — see GIDDY 1

light–headedness noun
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time <teenagers, with all of their usual light-headedness, are not the best audience for this serious play> — see FRIVOLITY

lighthearted adjective
having or showing freedom from worries or trouble <his lighthearted attitude in the face of danger was the source of some concern> — see CAREFREE

lightheartedness noun
carefree freedom from constraint <he approaches his medical duties with a lightheartedness that some patients find disturbing> — see ABANDON

lighting out noun
the act of leaving a place <your lighting out of church before the end of services did not go unnoticed> — see DEPARTURE 1

lightless adjective
being without light or without much light <wondered what might be lurking in the lightless corners of the basement> — see DARK 1

lightly adverb
without difficulty <you're not going to get off lightly if they catch you!> — see EASILY 1

light–minded adjective
lacking in seriousness or maturity <the movie was a light-minded take on the biblical story of Noah and the Flood> — see GIDDY 1

light–mindedness noun
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time <she displays a light-mindedness that might be excusable in a teenager but not in someone hoping to make it in the business world> — see FRIVOLITY

1lightness noun
1 the state or quality of having little weight <the first thing I noticed about the little bird was its lightness; I could hardly tell I was holding it in my hand>

Synonyms
slightness, weightlessness

Related Words
airiness, delicacy, ethereality, etherealness; flimsiness, fluffiness, insubstantiality

Near Antonyms
solidity, solidness, substantiality

Antonyms
heaviness, heftiness, massiveness, ponderousness, weightiness

2 a lack of seriousness often at an improper time <the inappropriate lightness of the anchorman's tone while he was reading the story of the freak accident in which people had died> — see FRIVOLITY

2lightness noun
the quality or state of having or giving off light <the photographer was concerned that the lightness of the background would cast the main subject into shadow> — see BRILLIANCE 1

lightning adjective
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <he made a lightning dash for the goal> — see FAST 1

1lightsome adjective
filled with much light <a lovely and lightsome room with huge windows> — see BRIGHT 2

2lightsome adjective
1 having or showing a good mood or disposition <lighthearted lovers skipping along the beach with a lightsome gait> — see CHEERFUL 1
2 having or showing freedom from worries or troubles <set off on his grand tour of Europe with a lightsome heart> — see CAREFREE
3 moving easily <still lightsome despite her advancing years, the cat continued to ignore orders not to leap onto the kitchen table> — see GRACEFUL 1

lightweight adjective
having little weight <it's going to be hot, so wear mostly lightweight clothing> — see 1LIGHT 1

lightweight noun
a person of no importance or influence <among astronomers she's considered a lightweight> — see NOBODY

light–year noun
a huge physical or conceptual distance <my sister and I are close in age, but personality-wise, there are light-years between us> — see GALAXY

1like noun
1 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <you can never trust his like, because they'll always let you down> — see SORT 1
2 one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value <we'd never seen its like in any other shop in town> — see EQUAL

2like noun
positive regard for something <she thought her new boyfriend was unusually interested in her likes and dislikes> — see LIKING

like adjective
having qualities in common <you're not talking about like things when you compare football and golf> — see ALIKE

like adverb
1 to some degree or extent <the cat would curl up, tightly like, and just go to sleep> — see FAIRLY 1
2 close to but not exactly <the distance is more like 500 miles> — see APPROXIMATELY

like conjunction
the way it would be or one would do if <it looks like it's going to rain at any moment> — see AS IF

like verb
1 to wish to have <I'd like another slice of pizza, but I've already eaten more than I should have>

Synonyms
care (for), want

Related Words
adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), love, relish, revel (in), welcome; covet, crave, desire, die (for), hanker (for or after), wish (for), yearn (for)

Phrases
feel like

2 to show partiality toward <I like romantic comedies more than action movies> — see PREFER 1
3 to take pleasure in <an adventuresome young woman who likes skydiving> — see ENJOY 1
4 to see fit <feel free to order whatever you like from the menu> — see CHOOSE 2

likelihood noun
the quality or state of being likely to occur <the weatherman on TV said that the likelihood of rain today was fairly high> — see PROBABILITY 1

likely adjective
1 having a high chance of occurring <if you don't graduate from high school, your likely fate is a low-paying job>

Synonyms
probable

Related Words
conceivable, earthly, imaginable, possible, potential, supposable; apt, bound, certain, doubtless, imminent, inescapable, inevitable, liable, necessary, sure, unavoidable

Near Antonyms
impossible, inconceivable, unimaginable

Antonyms
doubtful, dubious, improbable, questionable, unlikely

2 having qualities which inspire hope <this looks like a likely spot for good trout fishing> — see HOPEFUL 1
3 worthy of being accepted as true or reasonable <we didn't find her excuse a very likely story> — see BELIEVABLE
4 very pleasing to look at <a likely gal such as yourself should have no trouble getting a date> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

likely adverb
by reasonable assumption <the picnic will likely be cancelled if the storm continues> — see PROBABLY

liken verb
1 to describe as similar <he generally likened a root canal to some horrible form of torture> — see COMPARE 1
2 to regard or represent as equal or comparable <I think that we can liken the two pianists, at least in terms of natural talent> — see EQUATE 1

likeness noun
1 a two-dimensional design intended to look like a person or thing <the wealthy businessman hired a leading artist to paint his likeness> — see PICTURE 1
2 something or someone that strongly resembles another <why, you're the very likeness of your mother!> — see IMAGE 1
3 the quality or state of having many qualities in common <the forgery was difficult to detect due to the pinpoint likeness it bore to the original> — see SIMILARITY 1

likewise adverb
1 in addition to what has been said <the owner of the restaurant is likewise the owner of the deli next door> — see MORE 1
2 in like manner <I mind my own business, and you should do likewise> — see ALSO 1

liking noun
positive regard for something <I have a liking for dark chocolate>

Synonyms
appetite, fancy, favor, fondness, like, love, love affair, partiality, preference, relish, shine, taste, use

Related Words
craving, desire, hankering, longing, thirst, yen; enthusiasm, gusto, interest, passion; bias, prejudice; bent, inclination, leaning, propensity, tendency; tooth; palate; weakness

Near Antonyms
apathy, disinclination; indifference, unconcern

Antonyms
aversion, disfavor, disgust, dislike, distaste, hatred, loathing, mislike

Lilliputian adjective
1 not broad or open in views or opinions <to the Lilliputian minds of that small town any depiction of the nude, regardless of its artistry, was pornographic> — see NARROW 2
2 of a size that is less than average <a model train carrying Lilliputian figures through a miniature landscape> — see SMALL 1

lily–livered adjective
having or showing a shameful lack of courage <the pacifist was mistakenly accused of being a lily-livered coward> — see COWARDLY

lily–white adjective
free from guilt or blame <the state's lieutenant governor was the only member of the administration who could claim to have remained lily-white during the scandal> — see INNOCENT 2

limb noun
a major outgrowth from the main stem of a woody plant <we hung the swing from the highest limb of the tree that we could reach> — see BRANCH 1

limber adjective
able to bend easily without breaking <he shaped the basket out of limber branches that could bend easily around a frame> — see WILLOWY

limelight noun
the center of public attention <an actress who discovered that the limelight was not such a glowing experience when her privacy was invaded> — see CENTER STAGE

limit noun
1 a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go <there was no limit to the number of challenges they faced>

Synonyms
bound, boundary, cap, ceiling, confines, end, extent, limitation, line, termination

Related Words
extremity, fag end, terminus; border, brim, edge, margin, rim, verge; outside; bar, barrier, fence, hedge, restraint, stop, wall

2 the most extreme or advanced point <those bratty kids have pushed my patience to the limit> — see HEIGHT 2

limit verb
1 to set bounds or an upper limit for <limit the note to a few words>

Synonyms
cap, circumscribe, confine, hold down, restrict

Related Words
bar, block, hamper, hinder, impede, obstruct; constrict, contract, lessen, narrow, pinch, squeeze, tighten; quell, repress, suppress; number; modify, qualify

Near Antonyms
broaden, expand, widen; overextend, overreach

Antonyms
exceed

2 to mark the limits of <adjectives limit the meanings of nouns>

Synonyms
bound, circumscribe, define, delimit, demarcate, demark, mark (off), terminate

Related Words
control, determine, govern; delineate, describe

limitation noun
1 a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go <the bridge has a weight limitation that bars heavy trucks from crossing it> — see LIMIT 1
2 something that limits one's freedom of action or choice <the state has some fairly strict limitations on the sale and use of alcoholic beverages> — see RESTRICTION 1
3 the act or practice of keeping something (as an activity) within certain boundaries <the limitation on the number of vehicles allowed on the island does not sit well with year-round residents> — see RESTRICTION 2

limited adjective
1 having distinct or certain limits <to avoid overcrowding, the number of tickets to the outdoor concerts is limited>

Synonyms
bounded, circumscribed, defined, definite, determinate, finite, measured, narrow, restricted

Related Words
modified, qualified; detailed, exact, precise, specific; confined, constricted, moderate, modest; minute, puny, small, tiny; determined, fixed, settled

Near Antonyms
bottomless, countless, incalculable, inestimable, inexhaustible, innumerable, unfathomable; unqualified, unreserved; general, indeterminate, nebulous, vague; enlarged, escalated, expanded; copious, plenitudinous, plentiful; big, bulky, bumper, considerable, extensive, goodly, great, handsome, hefty, hulking, jumbo, king-size (or king-sized), large, largish, overscale (or overscaled), oversize (or oversized), respectable, sizable (or sizeable), substantial, super, vast, voluminous, whacking; epic, grandiose, major; ample, broad, comprehensive, cosmopolitan, expansive, global, inclusive, sweeping, universal, whole

Antonyms
boundless, dimensionless, endless, illimitable, immeasurable, indefinite, infinite, limitless, measureless, unbounded, undefined, unlimited, unmeasured

2 having a limit <competition for limited resources among growing populations is often a source of international conflict> — see FINITE 1

limitless adjective
being or seeming to be without limits <the limitless nature of the universe is awe-inspiring> — see INFINITE

limn verb
to give a representation or account of in words <he limned the scene in the courtroom so perfectly I could practically see it> — see DESCRIBE 1

limp adjective
1 not stiff in structure <his broken arm was limp as he held it against his side>

Synonyms
droopy, flaccid, floppy, lank, yielding

Related Words
flabby, mushy, semisoft, soft, squashy, squishy; delicate, flimsy, insubstantial; elastic, flexible, lax, loose, pliant, relaxed, resilient, springy, stretchy, supple

Near Antonyms
firm, hard, indurated, solid, sound, strong; brittle, crisp; compact, dense, substantial

Antonyms
inflexible, resilient, rigid, stiff, sturdy, tense

2 depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <the limp runners just dropped to the ground after crossing the finish line> — see WEARY 1
3 lacking bodily energy or motivation <the team's limp performance has many calling for the head coach's resignation> — see LISTLESS

limp verb
1 to walk while favoring one leg <she limped all day after stubbing her toe on the lawn sprinkler>

Synonyms
halt, hobble

Related Words
hitch; blunder, falter, flounder, lurch, shamble, shuffle, stagger, stumble, teeter, totter, waver, wobble (also wabble); dodder

Near Antonyms
breeze, glide, sail

Antonyms
stride

2 to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually <the damaged boat limped back into port> — see FLOUNDER 1
3 to move slowly <we'll have to stop limping if we are ever going to make our destination in time> — see CRAWL 2

limpid adjective
1 easily seen through <her eyes are the blue of a limpid stream of water> — see CLEAR 1
2 free from emotional or mental agitation <the limpid conscience of a man who is at peace with himself as he awaits death> — see CALM 2

limpidity noun
the state or quality of being easily seen through <Crystal Lake was obviously named for the limpidity of its water> — see CLARITY 1

limpidness noun
the state or quality of being easily seen through <the limpidness of the water allows visitors to actually see fish swimming along the bottom> — see CLARITY 1

limp–wristed adjective
lacking strength of will or character <maintained that the nation's foreign policy should not be in the hands of limp-wristed bleeding hearts with no military experience> — see WEAK 2

line noun
1 a series of persons or things arranged one behind another <the line for tickets stretched around the block>

Synonyms
column, cue, file, queue, range, string, train

Related Words
echelon, rank, row, tier; chain, progression, sequence, succession; array

2 a way of acting or proceeding <since the election, the president has taken a very conservative line> — see COURSE 1
3 the activity by which one regularly makes a living <my line of business is “pre-owned” vehicles, and have I got a deal for you!> — see OCCUPATION 1
4 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <advanced mathematics is a little outside of my line, but I'll see what I can do to help> — see FIELD 2
5 a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go <you really crossed the line with that outrageous display of bad behavior> — see LIMIT 1
6 a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) <the workers rushed to fix the leak in the gas line> — see PIPE 1
7 a length of braided, flexible material that is used for tying or connecting things <he made sure to bring extra fishing line in case a fish broke free> — see CORD 1
8 a group of vehicles traveling together or under one management <she owns a line of limousines> — see FLEET
9 the direction along which something or someone moves <the airplane took a southerly line toward the capital> — see PATH 1
10 a group of persons who come from the same ancestor <a 10th of all island residents are members of the line of this early settler> — see FAMILY 1
11 the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <he comes from a noble line that goes back several centuries> — see ANCESTRY

lineage noun
1 the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <his Italian lineage was very important to him> — see ANCESTRY
2 a group of persons who come from the same ancestor <it is now generally accepted that the lineage of Thomas Jefferson includes black as well as white members> — see FAMILY 1

linear adjective
free from irregularities or digressions in course <the bullets from early firearms were notorious for not following a strictly linear path through the air> — see STRAIGHT 1

linger verb
to move or act slowly <since they were charging by the hour, the house painters lingered in finishing up their work> — see DELAY 1

lingerer noun
someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others <he's known as a lingerer, always the last to arrive and the last to leave> — see SLOWPOKE

lingo noun
1 the stock of words, pronunciation, and grammar used by a people as their basic means of communication <medical missionaries struggling to learn the lingo of the African tribe that they were treating> — see LANGUAGE 1
2 the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field <the shorthand medical lingo that the hospital staffers use with one another> — see TERMINOLOGY

linguistic also linguistical adjective
of or relating to words or language <the age at which children begin to acquire linguistic skills> — see VERBAL 1

link noun
1 a rod-shaped portion of seasoned ground meat in a casing <I like to put maple syrup on my breakfast links> — see SAUSAGE
2 a uniting or binding force or influence <those old love letters were her only remaining link with her late grandparents> — see BOND 2

link verb
1 to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole <she linked the flowers together to form a long chain> — see CONNECT 1
2 to think of (something) in combination <since childhood I have always linked trips to the beach with the discomforts of sunburn and sand in my clothes> — see ASSOCIATE 2

link (up) verb
to come together to form a single unit <carbon atoms link up to form a diamond crystal> — see UNITE 1

linkage noun
the fact or state of having something in common <the accountants noticed a linkage between the two supposedly independent companies> — see CONNECTION 1

linking noun
the act or an instance of joining two or more things into one <the linking of state roads and highways into one interstate highway system> — see UNION 1

linkup noun
the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <the linkup of the two art museums has proved beneficial to both institutions> — see ASSOCIATION 1

linn noun, chiefly Scottish
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <climb to the cairn above the loch, and from there you'll get a broad view of the linn> — see CANYON

lint noun
a soft airy substance or covering <it's important to clean the lint out of the dryer every time you use it> — see 1FUZZ

lion noun
a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field <the book festival brought together two lions of contemporary poetry for a joint reading> — see MAGNATE

lionhearted adjective
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <traditionally young Masai men are consigned to a period of isolation in the bush in order to turn them into strong, lionhearted warriors> — see BRAVE 1

lion's share noun
the largest part or quantity of something <the lead actress deservedly got the lion's share of credit for the show's success> <the lion's share of ballots went the incumbent's way> — see MAJORITY 1

lip adjective
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <part of the ritual of the awards ceremony is the nominee's lip praise for the performances of his or her competitors> — see INSINCERE

lip verb
to flow along or against <the waves, reflecting the red glow of the sunset, gently lipped the prow> — see WASH 1

liquefy also liquify verb
to go from a solid to a liquid state <the steel liquefied in the intense heat of the forge>

Synonyms
deliquesce, flux, fuse, melt, run, thaw

Related Words
found, gutter, smelt, try; dissolve, render; soften, thin

Near Antonyms
clot, coagulate, congeal, gel, jell, jelly, thicken

Antonyms
harden, set, solidify

liquid adjective
1 capable of moving like a liquid <always have in the kitchen a dispenser of liquid soap available for hand washing> — see FLUID 1
2 easily seen through <the liquid air of the remote mountains> — see CLEAR 1

liquidate verb
1 to destroy all traces of <a decisive act that liquidated all doubts and fears about his governing abilities> — see ANNIHILATE 1
2 to put to death deliberately <his first act as absolute ruler was to liquidate his opponents> — see MURDER 1
3 to give what is owed for <used our lottery winnings to liquidate our debts> — see PAY 2

liquor noun
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <you can't order liquor in a bar until you're 21 years old> — see ALCOHOL

liquor (up) verb
to partake excessively of alcoholic beverages <the men liquored up at the roadhouse and then thought it would be a good idea to go hunting> — see DRINK 2

lissome also lissom adjective
1 moving easily <the lissome actress's dance training is apparent in the way she moves on stage> — see GRACEFUL 1
2 able to bend easily without breaking <rattan is such a lissome material that it can be used for all manner of furniture and baskets> — see WILLOWY

1list noun
a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system <we put eggs, sour cream, tomatoes, roast beef, and cheddar cheese on the shopping list>

Synonyms
canon, catalog (or catalogue), checklist, listing, menu, register, registry, roll, roll call, roster, schedule, table

Related Words
agenda, bibliography, catalogue raisonné, compendium, compilation, directory, docket, enumeration, glossary, index, inventory, manifest, payroll; calendar, chronology, timetable

2list noun
the act of positioning or an instance of being positioned at an angle <the extreme list of the racing yacht made it hard for the untried crew to keep their balance> — see TILT

3list noun
a long narrow piece of material <shave a thin list from the side of the board> — see STRIP 1

1list verb
1 to make a list of <the coach listed the people on the team>

Synonyms
enumerate, inventory, itemize, numerate

Related Words
count, mark, number; check (off), tick (off)

2 to put (someone or something) on a list <her number isn't listed in the phone book>

Synonyms
catalog (or catalogue), enroll (also enrol), enter, index, inscribe, put down, record, register, schedule, slate

Related Words
book, card, file, note; classify, compile, tabulate, tally; reschedule

Near Antonyms
delete

3 to add (a person) to a list or roll as a participant or member <our grandfather is listed among the war dead honored by the memorial> — see ENROLL 1
4 to specify one after another <do I need to list all of the reasons why your idea won't work?> — see ENUMERATE 1

2list verb
to set or cause to be at an angle <the sudden shift of the load in the hull listed the ship badly> — see LEAN 1

listen verb
to pay attention especially through the act of hearing <would you listen to what I have to say?>

Synonyms
attend, hark, harken, hear, hearken, heed, mind

Phrases
prick up one's ears

Near Antonyms
discount, disregard

Antonyms
ignore, tune out

listen (to) verb
to take notice of and be guided by <you'd better listen to my advice!> — see HEED 1

listen in (on) verb
to listen to (another in private conversation) <it's not polite to listen in on other people's private conversations> — see EAVESDROP ON

listing adjective
1 inclined or twisted to one side <the listing battleship limped back to port for repairs> — see AWRY
2 running in a slanting direction <the listing lines of a poem scrawled on a chalkboard> — see DIAGONAL

listing noun
a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system <an alphabetical listing of all of the students currently enrolled in the school> — see 1LIST

listless adjective
lacking bodily energy or motivation <when I had the flu, I felt listless and worn-out>

Synonyms
enervated, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, limp, spiritless

Related Words
indolent, lazy, slothful; dull, lethargic, logy (also loggy), sleepy, sluggish, torpid; exhausted, knackered [British], tired, weary; feeble, frail, weak; apathetic, impassive, indifferent, phlegmatic, stolid; careless, heedless, thoughtless, unwary; inactive, inert

Near Antonyms
active, dynamic, industrious, kinetic; avid, eager, enthusiastic, keen, lively, pumped, vivacious; cheerful, chipper, perky, up; agog, alert, awake, dapper, open-eyed, sleepless, vigilant, watchful, wide-awake

Antonyms
ambitious, animated, energetic, enterprising, motivated

listlessness noun
1 physical or mental inertness <following a couple of big mistakes early in the game, the team sank into an uncharacteristic listlessness and was never able to recover the lead> — see LETHARGY
2 the state of being bored <we searched desperately for something to jar us out of our listlessness> — see BOREDOM
3 the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <general listlessness is often a side effect of chemotherapy> — see WEAKNESS 1

1lit or lighted adjective
1 filled with much light <the coat room was just lit well enough for us to identify our jackets> — see BRIGHT 2
2 being on fire <some lighted torches lined the path to the shrine> — see ABLAZE 1

2lit adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <his wife was definitely lit after her night out with the girls from the office> — see DRUNK

literacy noun
the understanding and information gained from being educated <he impressed everyone with his general literacy as well as his natural intelligence> — see EDUCATION 2

literal adjective
restricted to or based on fact <a literal account of the explorer's adventures is actually a lot less interesting than his own exaggerated stories> — see FACTUAL 1

literalism noun
realistic depiction in art and literature <if audiences ever got the literalism they claim they want in movies, they'd be fast asleep by the second reel> — see VERISIMILITUDE

literary adjective
suggestive of the vocabulary used in books <the novel's dialogue is a little too literary in flavor to be entirely convincing> — see BOOKISH

literate adjective
having or displaying advanced knowledge or education <the columnist's witty and literate comments on current events make her a popular guest on political talk shows> — see EDUCATED 1

literati plural noun
intellectuals considered as a social class <Boston's 19th-century literati often referred to their city as “the Athens of America”> — see INTELLIGENTSIA

lithe adjective
1 able to bend easily without breaking <the lithe blade of a fencing foil> — see WILLOWY
2 moving easily <lithe dancers glided across the stage> — see GRACEFUL 1
3 having a noticeably small amount of body fat <she has the lithe, sinewy body of a distance runner> — see THIN 1

lithesome adjective
1 able to bend easily without breaking <stretching exercises designed to make the athlete's limbs more lithesome> — see WILLOWY
2 moving easily <the lithesome panther moved effortlessly and noiselessly through the rain forest> — see GRACEFUL 1

litter noun
1 an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <a litter of magazines covered the bedroom floor> — see MISCELLANY 1
2 discarded or useless material <if you get caught throwing your litter on the sidewalk, you'll get slapped with a fine> — see GARBAGE 1

litterateur or littérateur noun
a person who creates a written work <Washington Irving is generally credited as the first American litterateur to gain a reputation in Britain and on the Continent> — see AUTHOR 1

littered adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <is there any wonder that you can never find anything in your littered desk?> — see MESSY

little adjective
1 having relatively little height <there was a little hedge separating the two lawns> — see SHORT 1
2 lacking importance <there were just a few little details left to take care of> — see UNIMPORTANT
3 not broad or open in views or opinions <little-minded people who dislike the fact that human society is always progressing> — see NARROW 2
4 not lasting for a considerable time <let's take a little pause to relax> — see SHORT 2
5 of a size that is less than average <the petting zoo has a little horse in addition to all of the goats and sheep> — see SMALL 1

little adverb
1 in a very small quantity or degree <we had little more than we needed to survive in the wilderness>

Synonyms
negligibly, nominally, slightly

Related Words
meagerly, scantily; barely, hardly, just, marginally, minimally, scarcely

Phrases
a bit, a trifle

Near Antonyms
completely, entirely, purely, thoroughly, totally, utterly; eminently, exceptionally; appreciably, discernibly, noticeably, palpably; abundantly, plentifully; generously, handsomely, liberally; astronomically, grandly, hugely, monstrously, monumentally

Antonyms
awful, awfully, beastly, considerably, deadly, especially, exceedingly (also exceeding), extensively, extra, extremely, far, frightfully, full, greatly, heavily, highly, jolly, mightily, mighty, mortally, most, much, particularly, rattling, real, right, significantly, so, something, substantially, super, terribly, too, very, whacking

2 not often <he's been studying very little for the bar exam> — see SELDOM

little noun
a very small amount <there's just a little of the pie left> — see PARTICLE 1

little bitty adjective
very small in size <all that was left when I finally got to the dessert table was one little bitty piece of pie> — see TINY

little by little adverb
by small steps or amounts <little by little, we pieced together the jigsaw puzzle> — see GRADUALLY

little guy noun
an average or ordinary man <for a politician who likes to portray himself as a friend of the little guy, he sure is fond of rubbing elbows with the fat cats> — see JOE BLOW

little man noun
an average or ordinary man <claims that the wind farm would benefit only its developers and that the little man would get nothing out of it> — see JOE BLOW

littleness noun
1 the quality or state of being little in size <the littleness of the painting hardly gives any indication of its price—which is a fortune> — see SMALLNESS 1
2 the quality or state of being unimportant <you can hardly imagine the appalling littleness of the stuff that she obsesses over> — see INSIGNIFICANCE

littlest adjective
being the least in amount, number, or size possible <the littlest kitten in the litter was also the cutest> — see MINIMAL

little woman noun
the female partner in a marriage <I'll check with the little woman about whether we can go> — see WIFE

littoral adjective
of, relating to, or situated in the waters near the shore <littoral warfare includes amphibious landings> — see INSHORE

lit up adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <he finally wandered in at 3:00 a.m., obviously lit up> — see DRUNK

livable also liveable adjective
suitable for living in <after we added some furniture and painted the walls, the apartment was livable>

Synonyms
habitable, inhabitable

Related Words
comfortable, cozy, homelike, homey (also homy), intimate, snug; deluxe, lavish, luxuriant, luxurious, plush, sumptuous; opulent, palatial, rich; acceptable, bearable, endurable, sufferable, supportable, sustainable, tolerable

Near Antonyms
uncomfortable; humble, spartan; economical, frugal, spare, thrifty; insupportable, intolerable, unacceptable, unbearable, unendurable

Antonyms
uninhabitable, unlivable

live adjective
1 being in effective operation <didn't realize that the microphone was live and proceeded to make some rather indiscreet comments> — see ACTIVE 1
2 having or showing life <there is a tank of live lobsters sitting at the front of the restaurant> — see ALIVE 1

live verb
1 to have a home <he lives next door to the hospital>

Synonyms
abide, dwell, reside

Related Words
lodge, settle, stay; frequent, hang (at), haunt, visit; cohabit, inhabit, occupy; people, populate; lease, rent, sublet, tenant

2 to have life <Socrates was a philosopher who lived in ancient Greece> — see BE 1

livelily adverb
in a quick and spirited manner <the boat skipped livelily across the lake> — see GAILY 2

liveliness noun
the quality or state of having abundant or intense activity <we were surprised by the liveliness of the crowd at the nightclub despite the early hour> — see VITALITY 1

lively adverb
in a quick and spirited manner <now then, step lively there> — see GAILY 2

lively adjective
1 having much high-spirited energy and movement <the lively puppy was racing around the dining room floor chasing after people's shoelaces>

Synonyms
active, airy, animate, animated, bouncing, brisk, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, mettlesome, peppy, perky, pert, pizzazzy (or pizazzy), racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy

Related Words
dapper, dashing, spiffy; agog, alert, awake, open-eyed, up, wide-awake; agile, nimble, spry; bright, buoyant, cheerful, chipper, chirpy, chirrupy, effervescent, sparkly, upbeat; eager, enthusiastic, keen; frolicsome, impish, pixieish, playful; boisterous, bubbly, ebullient, exuberant, high-spirited; high-strung, nervous, skittish

Phrases
on the go

Near Antonyms
indolent, lazy, unambitious; inert, lethargic, sleepy, sluggish, tired, torpid, weary; apathetic, impassive, phlegmatic, stolid; boring, dull, irksome, tedious

Antonyms
dead, inactive, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, leaden, lifeless, limp, listless, spiritless, vapid

2 marked by much life, movement, or activity <the party was a lively affair that lasted into the small hours of the morning> — see ALIVE 2

liven (up) verb
to give life, vigor, or spirit to <the bandleader tried to liven up the party by playing more energetic music so people would dance> — see ANIMATE

livery noun
the distinctive clothing worn by members of a particular group <the limousine chauffeur was easily distinguished from the cab drivers by his livery> — see UNIFORM

live wire noun
1 a very energetic person <the babysitter will have her hands full with those two little live wires> — see PISTOL
2 an ambitious person who eagerly goes after what is desired <that new reporter on the police beat is a real live wire> — see GO-GETTER

livid adjective
1 feeling or showing anger <the boss was livid when yet another deadline was missed> — see ANGRY
2 lacking a healthy skin color <her face was livid with fear> — see PALE 2

lividity noun
an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <the level of the boss's lividity was something I'd never seen outside of cartoons—I almost expected steam to rise out of his head> — see ANGER

lividness noun
an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <their employer's titanic lividness over the situation had them all wondering if they'd all get fired> — see ANGER

living adjective
1 being in effective operation <a living tradition of the holiday season> <a living culture that has survived a number of foreign invasions> — see ACTIVE 1
2 having being at the present time <there are fewer than a dozen living former presidents> — see EXTANT 1
3 having or showing life <is your hamster still living?> — see ALIVE 1
4 closely resembling the object imitated <an outdoor museum that is a living re-creation of a typical New England village circa 1840> — see NATURAL 2

llano noun
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country <for generations the family has raised cattle on the llanos of the American Southwest> — see PLAIN 1

load noun
1 a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported <hoisted a load of grain on the truck going to Florida>

Synonyms
burden, cargo, draft, freight, haul, lading, loading, payload, weight

Related Words
consignment; boatload, carload, shipload, trainload, truckload, wagonload; ballast, deadweight; overload, surcharge; bale, bundle, pack, package, packet, parcel, shipment; manifest; body, bulk, mass

2 loads plural a considerable amount <there's no rush, since we've got loads of time left> — see LOT 2

load verb
1 to place a weight or burden on <students complaining that their teachers were loading them with work>

Synonyms
burden, encumber, freight, lade, laden, lumber, saddle, weight

Related Words
clog, clutter, fill, pack; heap, mound, pile, stack; press, weigh; strain, tax; overburden, overload, overtax, surcharge; hamper, handicap; afflict, oppress

Near Antonyms
alleviate, ease, lighten, relieve

Antonyms
disburden, discharge, disencumber, unburden, unlade, unload

2 to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained <she loaded her plate at the buffet with as much food as she could carry and with more than any sane person should eat> — see FILL 1

loaded adjective
1 containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible <the department stores were loaded with goods for the holiday shopping season> — see FULL 1
2 having goods, property, or money in abundance <the guy in the fancy foreign sports car obviously was loaded> — see RICH 1
3 slang being under the influence of alcohol <the departing party guest was loaded, so we held his car keys until he had sobered up> — see DRUNK
4 slang being under the influence of a recreational drug <wasted his life getting loaded and watching TV all day> — see STONED 1

loading noun
a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported <the accident was caused by an 18-wheeler with a loading in excess of the legal limit> — see LOAD 1

loaf verb
to spend time doing nothing <the kind of sultry August afternoon that makes you just want to loaf> — see IDLE

loafer noun
a lazy person <an incorrigible loafer who never accomplished anything> — see LAZYBONES

loamy adjective
consisting or suggestive of earth <that loamy section of the backyard is perfect for growing a garden> — see EARTHY 1

loan verb
to give to another for temporary use with the understanding that it or a like thing will be returned <can you loan me your lawn mower this weekend?> — see LEND

loath also loth or lothe adjective
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty <I was loath to accept his claim of having climbed Mount Everest> — see HESITANT

loathe verb
to dislike strongly <I simply loathe tapioca pudding> — see HATE

loathing noun
1 a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness <the sight of his mortal enemy getting that undeserved promotion filled him with loathing> — see DISGUST
2 a very strong dislike <I have an uncompromising loathing for anyone who would deliberately harm an animal> — see HATE 1

loathsome adjective
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <we traced the foul smell to a pile of loathsome garbage by the back wall> — see OFFENSIVE 1

lob verb
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <he lightly lobbed the errant ball over the fence to the waiting schoolboy> — see THROW 1

lobby noun
1 a centrally located room in a building that serves as a gathering or waiting area or as a passageway into the interior <our tour group met downstairs in the lobby of the hotel before going out to dinner> — see FOYER 1
2 the entrance room of a building <the ticket booth is located in the theater's outer lobby> — see HALL 1

lobotomize verb
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality <fear of saying anything controversial has so lobotomized this book on geopolitics that it fails to say anything at all> — see DEHYDRATE 1

local noun
1 a local unit of an organization <the truck drivers are members of Local 349 of the Teamsters' Union> — see CHAPTER 1
2 a usually longtime resident of a locality <few locals seem to patronize the city's touristy restaurants, leaving them to diners who prefer atmosphere over food> — see NATIVE 1

locale noun
1 the area or space occupied by or intended for something <we found an ideal locale for our annual picnic> — see PLACE 1
2 the place and time in which the action for a portion of a dramatic work (as a movie) is set <the movie's locale is ambiguous, though the architecture and dress are suggestive of 19th-century Europe> — see SCENE 1

localite noun
a usually longtime resident of a locality <visitors to the Florida Keys soon learn that “conch” is a term for a localite as well as a mollusk> — see NATIVE 1

locality noun
the area or space occupied by or intended for something <a locality filled with exotic plants> — see PLACE 1

locate verb
to come upon after searching, study, or effort <we were finally able to locate the missing cat, who had been sleeping in the closet the whole time> — see FIND 1

location noun
the area or space occupied by or intended for something <we chose the historic church on Main Street as the location for the ceremony> — see PLACE 1

loch noun, Scottish
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline <in his biography of Samuel Johnson, James Boswell tells of being conducted by a Scottish boatman “across one of the lochs, as they call them, or arms of the sea”> — see GULF 1

lock noun
one that is certain to succeed <the governor is regarded as a lock for his party's presidential nomination> — see SURE THING

lock (up) verb
to put in or as if in prison <if they catch you, they're going to lock you up and throw away the key!> — see IMPRISON

locker noun
1 a covered rectangular container for storing or transporting things <the enlisted man usually stored his uniform in his locker at the foot of his bed> — see CHEST
2 a storage case typically having doors and shelves <a down-at-the heels health club where most of the lockers look to be unusable> — see CABINET

locker–room adjective
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <keep your locker-room talk for your fraternity brothers> — see OBSCENE 1

lockstep noun
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity <followed the lockstep that had been in his family for generations: prep school, Ivy League university, job on Wall Street> — see ROUTINE 1

lockup noun
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <the firm conviction that juvenile offenders should never be held in adult lockups> — see JAIL

loco adjective, slang
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <that dog's plumb loco, just running around in circles all day long> — see INSANE 1

loco verb
to cause to go insane or as if insane <years of living alone had clearly locoed the old rancher> — see CRACK

locomote verb
to change one's position <most babies begin to locomote—by crawling—when they are seven to ten months old> — see MOVE 3

locum tenens noun
a person or thing that takes the place of another <I'm just a locum tenens, so any major decisions should be deferred until your regular doctor returns from vacation> — see SUBSTITUTE

locus noun
1 a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <an area of the Southwest that has been the locus of a number of New Agey movements> — see CENTER 1
2 the area or space occupied by or intended for something <the locus of brightness occurs where the rays of sunlight converge in front of the lens> — see PLACE 1

locution noun
a distinctive way of putting ideas into words <in the poet's somewhat affected locution, word order is often reversed and so we have “the sea serene”> — see STYLE 1

lodestar also loadstar noun
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle <a society seemingly with unbridled greed as its only lodestar> — see COMPASS 1

lodestone also loadstone noun
something that attracts interest <the young woman's wealth unfortunately made her a lodestone for fortune hunters> — see MAGNET

lodge noun
1 a place that provides rooms and usually a public dining room for overnight guests <when we go on our country vacation, we always stay at this little lodge in the middle of nowhere> — see HOTEL
2 an often small house for recreational or seasonal use <every summer we rent a small fishing lodge by the lake> — see COTTAGE
3 the meeting place of an organization <the Masons meet at the lodge every Thursday evening> — see CLUB 2
4 the shelter or resting place of a wild animal <the family of beavers built a lodge near the narrow point of the river> — see DEN 1

lodge verb
1 to provide with living quarters or shelter <the landlord can legally lodge up to 20 people in his apartment building at one time> — see HOUSE 1
2 to establish or place comfortably or snugly <our pet guinea pig lodged himself in the far corner of his cage and simply refused to come out> — see ENSCONCE 1
3 to set solidly in or as if in surrounding matter <the gunman had managed to lodge a bullet in my back, just inches from my spine> — see ENTRENCH

lodged adjective
firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge <the rusty, old bolts were so well lodged that a power wrench was needed to extract them> — see TIGHT 2

lodger noun
one who rents a room or apartment in another's house <the mysterious lodger slept all day and only went out at night> — see TENANT 1

lodging noun
1 the place where one lives <food and lodging are two of the largest expenses of living in the city> — see HOME 1
2 lodgings plural a room or set of rooms in a private house or a block used as a separate dwelling place <I've rented lodgings in the old boardinghouse downtown> — see APARTMENT 1
3 a place to sleep and related amenities for the temporary use of a tourist or traveler <lodging was whatever budget motel we could find for each leg of our trip> — see ACCOMMODATION 1

lodgment or lodgement noun
1 a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered over a period of time <the lodgment of a week's worth of newspapers in the doorway was a telltale sign that the family was away> — see ACCUMULATION 1
2 a place to sleep and related amenities for the temporary use of a tourist or traveler <dismayed at the shabby lodgments that were the only option of cross-country travelers at the time> — see ACCOMMODATION 1

loft noun
a room or unfinished space directly beneath the roof of a building <the cottage has two bedrooms on the ground floor and a second-floor loft that could be converted into a third one> — see ATTIC

loft verb
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <he lofted the ball down the center of the field toward a receiver> — see THROW 1

loftiest adjective
being at a point or level higher than all others <from the loftiest part of the mountain ridge you could see all the way to the next state> — see TOP 1

loftiness noun
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <we were offended by the new club member's air of loftiness> — see ARROGANCE

lofty adjective
1 extending to a great distance upward <the ever-increasing lofty heights of the world's skyscrapers> — see HIGH 1
2 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <she acts all lofty and superior just because she went to an Ivy League college> — see ARROGANT
3 having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself <his lofty attitude toward menial chores really rankles the other camp counselors> — see PROUD 1
4 having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature <remained true to the cause's lofty ideals, regardless of the changing winds of popular opinion> — see NOBLE 2
5 very dignified in form, tone, or style <the lofty nature of the coronation ceremony> — see ELEVATED 2

log verb
1 to make a written note of <the station captain logged the arrest and then left for home> — see RECORD 1
2 to obtain (as a goal) through effort <an actor who has logged a record number of Academy Award nominations in the course of her career> — see ACHIEVE 1

logged adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <usually the driftwood is so logged with water that it needs an extended drying period before it can be used by the artist> — see WET 1

logger noun
a person whose job is to cut down trees <the loggers were obliged to plant as many trees as they cut down> — see LUMBERJACK

loggerhead noun, chiefly dialect
a stupid person <that loggerhead couldn't find the business end of a cow even if his life depended on it> — see IDIOT

logic noun
the thought processes that have been established as leading to valid solutions to problems <I tried to use logic to figure out the solution to the puzzle>

Synonyms
intellection, ratiocination, reason, reasoning, sense

Related Words
cogency, coherence, logicality, logicalness, rationality, rationalness; convincingness, persuasiveness; syllogism, synthesis; analysis, dissection; deduction, induction; argumentation, disputation

Near Antonyms
illogic, incoherence; absurdity, brainlessness, insanity, irrationality, nonsensicalness, preposterousness, senselessness

logical adjective
1 according to the rules of logic <the lawyer won the case with a logical argument about the motives of the suspect>

Synonyms
analytic (or analytical), coherent, consequent, good, rational, reasonable, sensible, sound, valid, well-founded, well-grounded

Related Words
a posteriori, a priori, syllogistic; cognitive, empirical (also empiric); defendable, defensible, justifiable, maintainable, supportable, sustainable, tenable

Near Antonyms
casuistic (or casuistical), eristic (also eristical), fallacious, misleading, sophistic (or sophistical), specious; unarticulated; unscientific; absurd, cockeyed, crazy, daffy, fatuous, half-baked, half-witted, harebrained, insane, loony (also looney), mad, nonsensical, nutty, preposterous, simpleminded, stupid, weak-minded, witless; senseless, thoughtless; uncompelling, unconvincing

Antonyms
illegitimate, illogical, incoherent, inconsequent, inconsequential, invalid, irrational, unreasonable, unsound, weak

2 based on sound reasoning or information <that's the logical choice under the circumstances> — see GOOD 1

logjam noun
1 a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement <the presence of an ambulance on the side of the highway created a logjam of rubberneckers who just had to have a look> — see JAM 1
2 a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in <efforts to break the logjam in the talks between union and management> — see IMPASSE 1

logo noun
a device, design, or figure used as an identifying mark <the company's logo is instantly recognizable all over the world> — see EMBLEM

logorrhea noun
the use of too many words to express an idea <the article suffers from the logorrhea that infects so much academic writing> — see VERBIAGE 1

logorrheic adjective
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea <his blog entries generally begin as focused and succinct arguments but too often devolve into logorrheic screeds> — see WORDY 1

logy also loggy adjective
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <the next morning I was feeling logy, having stayed up half the night> — see WEARY 1

loiter verb
to move or act slowly <don't loiter in this neighborhood after dark> — see DELAY 1

loiterer noun
someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others <she yelled at the loiterers at the end of the line to hurry up> — see SLOWPOKE

loll verb
1 to be limp from lack of water or vigor <the heads of the flowers lolled on their stems in the blistering heat> — see DROOP 1
2 to refrain from labor or exertion <farmhands lolling about in the shade and taking a break from the midday sun> — see REST 1
3 to spend time doing nothing <some members of the decorating committee were hard at work, and others were just lolling about> — see IDLE

lollapalooza noun
something very good of its kind <a huge birthday bash that promises to be a lollapalooza of a party> — see JIM-DANDY

lollop verb
to move with a light springing step <the dog raced off and then lolloped back with a large stick in its mouth> — see SKIP 1

lolly noun, British
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <I had to cough up the lolly when I lost the bet> — see MONEY 1

lollygag also lallygag verb
to move or act slowly <accused the government of lollygagging while survivors of the earthquake continued to live in the most wretched conditions> — see DELAY 1

lone adjective
1 being the one or ones of a class with no other members <the lone ripe apple in the entire bag> — see ONLY 2
2 not being in the company of others <just one lone cow in the middle of the field> — see ALONE 1

lonely adjective
1 not being in the company of others <a single lonely cactus in the desert> — see ALONE 1
2 sad from lack of companionship or separation from others <I was lonely when I first got to Los Angeles, but I soon made friends> — see LONESOME 1
3 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the lonely streets of a honky-tonk beach town in the off-season> — see GLOOMY 1

loner noun
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs <that guy in tech support is a loner, and never wants to hang out with the rest of us> — see NONCONFORMIST 1

lone ranger noun
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs <something of a lone ranger among anthropologists, she does her research without either a lending hand or an eye toward trendy topics> — see NONCONFORMIST 1

lonesome adjective
1 sad from lack of companionship or separation from others <a lonesome kitten left at the pound by its hard-hearted owners>

Synonyms
desolate, forlorn, lonely, lorn

Related Words
friendless; abandoned, deserted, forgotten, forsaken, neglected, rejected; alone, lone, solitary, solo, unaccompanied; only, sole

Near Antonyms
accompanied, attended, escorted

2 not being in the company of others <a lonesome cypress tree on a rocky, windswept point> — see ALONE 1
3 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the playground seems especially lonesome now that there are no young children in the neighborhood> — see GLOOMY 1

lone wolf noun
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs <a lone wolf in the art world, he has his own style and paints only to please himself> — see NONCONFORMIST 1

long adjective
1 of great extent from end to end <giraffes have long necks to help them reach leaves on tall trees>

Synonyms
elongate (or elongated), extended, king-size (or king-sized), lengthy

Related Words
extensive, far-reaching, longish, outstretched; oblong, rectangular; big, biggish, considerable, hefty, hulking, jumbo, large, largish, overscale (or overscaled), oversize (or oversized), sizable (or sizeable), substantial, super

Near Antonyms
abbreviated, abridged, curtailed, diminished, shortened; bitty, diminutive, little, miniature, minute, puny, small, smallish, teeny, tiny, undersized (also undersize), wee

Antonyms
brief, curt, short, shortish

2 lasting for a considerable time <if it's boring, even a movie with a running time of 90 minutes can seem long>

Synonyms
extended, far, great, lengthy, long-drawn-out (or long-drawn), long-lived, long-term

Related Words
aeonian (or aeonic), endless, everlasting, interminable, persistent; longish, overlong, prolonged, protracted; permanent; all-day, all-night; multiday, multiyear

Near Antonyms
abrupt, sudden; abbreviated, condensed, curtailed, shortened; ephemeral, fleeting, momentary, transient, transitory; impermanent; short-range

Antonyms
brief, little, mini, short, shortish, short-lived, short-term

long noun
a long or seemingly long period of time <they should be here before long> — see AGE 2

long (for) verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <I long for the day when cancer is but a distant and unpleasant memory> — see DESIRE 1

long–drawn–out or long–drawn adjective
lasting for a considerable time <a long-drawn-out acceptance speech by an overemotional actor> — see LONG 2

long green noun, slang
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <where did he get the long green to afford wheels like that?> — see MONEY 1

longhair noun
a person with strong intellectual interests <long-standing tension between the townies and the longhairs at the elite college> — see INTELLECTUAL

long–haired or longhair adjective
much given to learning and thinking <one of those long-haired idealists who founded short-lived utopias in rural America> — see INTELLECTUAL 1

longhand noun
writing done by hand <my computer was down for most of the afternoon, so I wrote out my report in longhand> — see HANDWRITING 2

long haul noun
a long distance <growing up in suburban New England, I used to think the 10 miles between our house and the mall was a long haul> — see MILE

longing noun
a strong wish for something <by four o'clock in the afternoon, I usually experience a strong longing for chocolate> — see DESIRE 1

long–lived adjective
1 being of advanced years and especially past middle age <that sequoia tree is especially long-lived, having reached an age generally estimated to be at least 3,000 years> — see ELDERLY
2 lasting for a considerable time <much to the relief of his parents, the youth's interest in the piano proved to be long-lived> — see LONG 2

longshoreman noun
one who loads and unloads ships at a port <the longshoremen moved all of the fish into cold storage for shipment to the market> — see DOCKWORKER

long–suffering adjective
accepting pains or hardships calmly or without complaint <the long-suffering parents calmly waited until the tantrum had passed> — see PATIENT 1

long–suffering noun
the capacity to endure what is difficult or disagreeable without complaining <you will need infinite long-suffering to put up with that arrogant jerk> — see PATIENCE

long suit noun
something for which a person shows a special talent <one-on-one politicking is her long suit> — see FORTE

long–term adjective
lasting for a considerable time <before approving a new drug, the government insists on some long-term research to determine any possible side effects> — see LONG 2

long–winded adjective
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea <his long-winded explanation could have been boiled down to two sentences> — see WORDY 1

long–windedness noun
the use of too many words to express an idea <that professor's long-windedness has long been legendary on campus> — see VERBIAGE 1

loo noun, chiefly British
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <he inquired as to whether there was a loo anywhere in the building> — see TOILET

looby noun
a clumsy, awkward person <although he was a looby physically, he was a towering figure in mathematics> — see KLUTZ

look noun
1 facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling <you should have seen the look on your face when we yelled “Surprise!”>

Synonyms
cast, countenance, expression, face, visage

Related Words
frown, grimace, lower (also lour), mouth, pout, scowl; grin, smile; air, appearance, aspect, bearing, demeanor, manner, mien, presence

2 an instance of looking especially briefly <she gave the junk mail a quick look before throwing it in the wastebasket>

Synonyms
cast, eye, gander, glance, glimpse, peek, peep, regard, sight, view

Related Words
gape, gaze, glare, leer, ogle, stare; side-glance; squinny, squint; coup d'oeil

3 the outward form of someone or something especially as indicative of a quality <the bride's father has the look of a prosperous businessman> — see APPEARANCE 1
4 looks plural the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses <a supermodel's career tends to be entirely based on her exceptional good looks> — see BEAUTY 1

look verb
1 to give the impression of being <it looks like it might rain> — see SEEM
2 to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) <the music teacher looked her displeasure with a fierce frown> — see EXPRESS 1
3 to have in mind as a purpose or goal <they were looking to make a fast buck> — see INTEND 1

look (at) verb
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <I found her at the mall looking at the new outfits on the mannequins> — see SEE 1

look (into) verb
to search through or into <the owner is being forced to look into new options for promoting his declining business> — see EXPLORE 1

look (on or upon) verb
to think of in a particular way <you could call the comment mean-spirited, but I do not look on it that way at all> — see CONSIDER 1

look (toward) verb
to stand or sit with the face or front toward <the bay window looks toward the park> — see FACE 1

look–alike noun
something or someone that strongly resembles another <at first glance these two mattresses may be look-alikes, but a comparison of their innards tells a different story> — see IMAGE 1

look down (on or upon) verb
to show contempt for <I am tired of the way they look down on us like we aren't good enough for them> — see SCORN 1

looker noun
a physically attractive person <a college campus that has its fair share of lookers> — see DOLL 2

looking glass noun
a smooth or polished surface that forms images by reflection <always remember that the image is reversed in the looking glass> — see MIRROR

lookout noun
1 a high place or structure from which a wide view is possible <we went up to the lookout on the top of the hill to watch the fireworks>

Synonyms
observatory, outlook, overlook

Related Words
aerie, crow's nest, tower, watchtower; promontory

2 all that can be seen from a certain point <we were struck by the amazing beauty of the lookout from the top of the tower> — see VIEW 1
3 a person or group that watches over someone or something <make sure to post a lookout so that no one can sneak up on us> — see GUARD 1
4 an act or period of watching for signs of activity, danger, or opportunity <one of the robbers kept a lookout for the police> — see VIGIL

look out (for) verb
1 to be cautious of or on guard against <if you go in those woods, look out for snakes!> — see BEWARE OF
2 to have an interest or concern for <she looks out for number one, and everyone else can go hang> — see CARE

look–see noun
a close look at or over someone or something in order to judge condition <gave the painting a preliminary look-see to determine whether it could possibly be a genuine old master> — see INSPECTION

look up verb
1 to go in search of <be sure to look me up if you're ever in town> — see SEEK 1
2 to become glad or hopeful <by the next morning, the skies had begun to clear and we were looking up> — see CHEER UP 1

loom verb
to be about to happen <he could tell that trouble was looming when the bullies swaggered into the park>

Synonyms
brew, impend

Related Words
advance, approach, close in, draw on, gather, near; hang, hover, lower (also lour), menace, overhang, threaten

Near Antonyms
abate, decline, de-escalate, die down, diminish, disappear, dwindle, ebb, fade, fall, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, vanish, wane; fall back, pass, recede, retreat, withdraw

looming adjective
giving signs of immediate occurrence <some economists see a looming collapse of the stock market> — see IMMINENT 1

loon noun
1 a person judged to be legally or medically insane <giggled like a loon at his own jokes> — see LUNATIC 1
2 a stupid person <the loons at the grocery store had put the potato chips at the bottom of the bag> — see IDIOT

loony noun
a person judged to be legally or medically insane <his insistence that aliens from outer space were monitoring his thoughts forced doctors to conclude that he was in fact a loony> — see LUNATIC 1

loony also looney adjective
1 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <that's got to be the looniest idea I've ever heard> — see FOOLISH 1
2 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <unfortunately, that homeless man talking to himself on the street is indeed loony> — see INSANE 1

loony tunes or looney tunes adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <anyone living alone in that remote cabin would be sure to go loony tunes> — see INSANE 1

loop noun
a circular strip <cut the paper into narrow strips, and then paste those into loops> — see 1RING 2

looped adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <I must've been looped when I agreed to work as a tiger exerciser at the zoo> — see DRUNK

loose adjective
1 not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched <secure your neckerchief with a loose knot>

Synonyms
insecure, lax, loosened, relaxed, slack, slackened, unsecured

Related Words
detached, free, unattached, unbound, undone, unfastened, untied; baggy, blousy, saggy

Near Antonyms
constrained, restrained; attached, bound, fastened, tied; fast, firm, jammed, snug, stuck, wedged

Antonyms
taut, tense, tight

2 consisting of particles that do not stick together <the car wheels slipped on the loose gravel in the driveway>

Synonyms
incoherent, unconsolidated

Related Words
nonadhesive, nonviscous; disconnected, disjointed, separate, unconnected; coarse, granular, rough

Near Antonyms
connected, solid; compacted, compressed; adhesive, gelatinous, gluey, glutinous, gooey, gummy, sticky, viscid, viscous

Antonyms
coherent, compact, dense, packed

3 not bound by rigid standards <the generally loose discipline practiced by many weekend dads> — see EASYGOING 2
4 not bound, confined, or detained by force <there was a brief panic when the lion got loose from its cage at the zoo> — see FREE 3
5 not precisely correct <a loose guess about the size of the crowd at the outdoor concert> — see INEXACT 1
6 having or showing lowered moral character or standards <the loose life that he led in the years before his death by a drug overdose> — see CORRUPT

loose verb
1 to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force <the archers loosed a great volley of arrows at the foot soldiers charging towards them> — see SHOOT 1
2 to find emotional release for <do not loose your pent-up frustrations on the next person who happens by> — see TAKE OUT 1
3 to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <animal-rights activists loosed the monkeys from their laboratory cages> — see FREE 1
4 to set free (from a state of being held in check) <the storm loosed its full fury when it hit the coastline at high tide> — see RELEASE 1

loosen verb
1 to make less taut <the lead climber loosened the climbing rope so that the other climber could have more room to maneuver> — see SLACKEN 1
2 to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <the secret police have ways of loosening your tongue> — see FREE 1
3 to set free (from a state of being held in check) <the well-known fact that alcohol tends to loosen a person's inhibitions> — see RELEASE 1

loosen (up) verb
to free from obstruction or difficulty <asked the school administrators to loosen up the rules on what can be printed on T-shirts> — see EASE 1

loosened adjective
not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched <the loosened nuts finally dropped off of the screws> — see LOOSE 1

loosen up verb
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety <a high-pressure job that makes it hard for him to loosen up even on weekends> — see RELAX 1

loot noun
1 valuables stolen or taken by force <the burglar was caught when he foolishly stopped to examine the loot from the robbery>

Synonyms
booty, pillage, plunder, spoil, swag

Related Words
prize; catch, haul, take, treasure; pilferage; windfall

2 something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <a top-ranked golfer earning plenty of loot> — see MONEY 1

loot verb
to search through with the intent of committing robbery <the bandits looted the archaeological dig before riding off into the night> — see RANSACK 1

lop (off) verb
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument <the hair stylist started by lopping off several inches from her long tresses, before beginning to shape what was left> — see CLIP 1

lope verb
to move with a light springing step <the jogger happily loped along, just enjoying the fresh morning air> — see SKIP 1

lopsided adjective
inclined or twisted to one side <the portrait in the foyer was lopsided, so I straightened it while I was waiting> — see AWRY

loquacious adjective
fond of talking or conversation <sometimes the loquacious talk show host barely lets her guests get a word in> — see TALKATIVE

lord noun
1 a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field <as lords of the local real estate scene, they own nearly all of the city's prime pieces of property> — see MAGNATE
2 cap the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <at this point all that we can do is put our fate in the hands of the Lord> — see DEITY 2
3 a man of high birth or social position <lords and ladies arriving at the palace> — see GENTLEMAN 1

lord (it over) verb
to assume or treat with an air of superiority <waiters at that fancy restaurant like to lord it over the customers, acting like they're doing them a favor just being there> — see CONDESCEND 2

lordliness noun
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <the lordliness of his manner really got on his colleagues' nerves, as he had no real authority over them> — see ARROGANCE

lordly adjective
1 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <one dinner guest was a little lordly about her status as a vegetarian, even asking the other diners how they could bear to eat dead animals> — see ARROGANT
2 having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself <his lordly attitude toward people who enjoy popular music> — see PROUD 1
3 having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature <born to great wealth, he has always displayed a lordly generosity toward the less fortunate> — see NOBLE 2

lore noun
1 a body of facts learned by study or experience <the home gardener had acquired her herbal lore from many years of trial and error> — see KNOWLEDGE 1
2 the body of customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings associated with a people, thing, or place <set out to study the rich lore of the Cajun people of Louisiana before it all vanished> — see FOLKLORE

lorn adjective
sad from lack of companionship or separation from others <lorn beyond all description, the widow struggled to cope with her crushing grief> — see LONESOME 1

lose verb
1 to be unable to find or have at hand <I always lose my keys>

Synonyms
mislay, misplace

Related Words
forget, miss, overlook, pass over

Near Antonyms
enjoy, have, hold, keep, occupy, own, possess, retain; descry, detect, find, locate, run down, scare up, scout (up), track (down)

2 to fail to win, gain, or obtain <if the team loses this game, they're out of the play-offs>

Synonyms
drop

Related Words
forfeit

Near Antonyms
conquer, prevail (over), triumph (over)

Antonyms
nail (down), win

3 to undergo defeat <she really hates to lose at anything, and inevitably throws tantrums when it happens>

Synonyms
bow out, fall

Related Words
falter; tank, throw; forfeit; bomb, collapse, crack (up), fail, flop, flunk, fold, founder, miss, strike out, wash out

Phrases
take the count

Near Antonyms
flourish, prosper, succeed, thrive

Antonyms
conquer, prevail, triumph, win

4 to get rid of as useless or unwanted <we told the recent grad to lose the flashy shirts and dress conservatively for the job interview> — see DISCARD
5 to use up carelessly <we lost a good hour while he tried to find his keys> — see WASTE 1

loser noun
something that has failed <the first movie in the series was good, but all the sequels have been losers> — see FAILURE 3

loss noun
1 the act or an instance of not having or being able to find <he was upset over the loss of his wedding ring>

Synonyms
mislaying, misplacement

Related Words
deprivation, dispossession, privation; forfeit, forfeiture, penalty; sacrifice; bereavement; absence, lack, need, want

Near Antonyms
control, hands, having, keeping, possession

Antonyms
acquisition, gain

2 a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed <the platoon was able to accomplish its reconnaissance mission without any losses> — see CASUALTY 1
3 failure to win a contest <we're discouraged by our loss on Friday, but we're training hard for next week's game nevertheless> — see DEFEAT 1
4 the amount by which something is lessened <was determined to stay on the diet until he showed a loss of 10 pounds> — see DECREASE
5 the state of being robbed of something normally enjoyed <her loss of sleep meant that she would have trouble concentrating at work the next day> — see PRIVATION
6 the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <the loss of the oil tanker was more significant than the loss of its cargo> — see DESTRUCTION 1

lost adjective
no longer possessed <we searched all over the house for the lost keys>

Synonyms
gone, mislaid, misplaced, missing

Related Words
absent, castaway; irrecoverable, irretrievable; forgotten, unknown

Near Antonyms
cherished, loved, prized, protected, treasured, valued

Antonyms
owned, possessed, retained

lot noun
1 a small piece of land that is developed or available for development <the softball team often plays in the vacant lot down at the end of the street>

Synonyms
parcel, plat, plot, property, tract

Related Words
patch; frontage; lease; development; real estate

2 a considerable amount <you'll need to do a lot of studying for the test> <you sure bought a lot of clothing>

Synonyms
abundance, barrel, basketful, boatload, bucket, bunch, bundle, bushel, carload, chunk, deal, dozen, fistful, gobs, good deal, heap, hundred, lashings (also lashins) [chiefly British], loads, mass, mess, mountain, much, multiplicity, myriad, oodles, pack, passel, peck, pile, plateful, plenitude, plentitude, plenty, pot, potful, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, scads, sheaf, shipload, sight, slew, spate, stack, store, ton, truckload, volume, wad, wealth, yard

Related Words
epidemic, plague, rash; bonanza, embarrassment, excess, overabundance, overage, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, plethora, redundancy, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus; deluge, flood, overflow; army, bevy, cram, crowd, crush, drove, flock, herd, horde, host, legion, mob, multitude, press, score, sea, swarm, throng; gazillion, jillion, kazillion, million, thousands, trillion, zillion

Phrases
all kinds (of), quite a bit

Near Antonyms
atom, crumb, dot, fleck, flyspeck, fragment, grain, granule, iota, jot, modicum, molecule, mote, nubbin, particle, ray, scintilla, scrap, shred, tittle, whit; smatter, smattering; dash, drop, morsel, shot; piece, portion, section; absence, dearth, famine, lack, paucity, poverty, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, undersupply, want; deficiency, deficit, inadequacy, insufficiency, meagerness, scantiness, scantness, skimpiness

Antonyms
ace, bit, dab, dram, driblet, glimmer, handful, hint, lick, little, mite, mouthful, nip, ounce, peanuts, pinch, pittance, scruple, shade, shadow, smidgen (also smidgeon or smidgin or smidge), speck, spot, sprinkle, sprinkling, strain, streak, suspicion, tad, taste, touch, trace

3 a small area of usually open land <there were still plenty of Christmas trees available for sale in the lot> — see FIELD 1
4 a number of things considered as a unit <the auctioneer next introduced a lot containing several pieces of fine china> — see GROUP 1
5 a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand <will it always be my lot to be picked last in gym class?> — see FATE 1
6 a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <you should stop hanging out with that lot, or you'll end up in trouble> — see GANG 2
7 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <the school is indeed fortunate in its science teachers, because there's not a bad one in the lot> — see GROUP 2

lot verb
to give as a share or portion <everyone is lotted opportunities in life, and it's their responsibility to take them> — see ALLOT

lothario noun
a man given to seducing women <a novel about the loveless existence of an aging lothario> — see DON JUAN

lotus–eater noun
a lazy person <a tropical resort that perfect for live wires and lotus-eaters alike> — see LAZYBONES

lotusland noun
an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <the tropical resort's advertising depicts it as a lotusland of luxury and indolence> — see PARADISE 1

louche adjective
not respectable <before gentrification, it was the sort of louche neighborhood where people went looking for illegal drugs> — see DISREPUTABLE

loud adjective
1 marked by a high volume of sound <loud music that could be heard all over the neighborhood>

Synonyms
blaring, blasting, booming, clamorous, clangorous, deafening, earsplitting, piercing, plangent, resounding, ringing, roaring, slam-bang, sonorous, stentorian, thundering, thunderous

Related Words
brazen, dinning, discordant, noisy, obstreperous, raucous, rip-roaring, vociferous; grating, harsh, overloud, sharp, shrill, squealing, strident

Near Antonyms
dead, quiet, silent, still, stilly, ultraquiet; calm, dreamy, peaceful, restful, serene, soothing, tranquil; hushed, muffled, muted, softened, toned (down)

Antonyms
gentle, low, soft

2 excessively showy <his loud Hawaiian shirt made his face look especially pale> — see GAUDY

lounge noun
a long upholstered piece of furniture designed for several sitters <the tired youth stretched out on the lounge and breathed a huge sigh of relief> — see COUCH

lounge verb
1 to refrain from labor or exertion <police found the burglar lounging in the shade behind the building> — see REST 1
2 to spend time doing nothing <after putting in tons of overtime at the office, all we wanted to do on vacation was lounge around> — see IDLE

lounge lizard noun
1 a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance <a slick lounge lizard in a silk suit> — see DANDY 1
2 a man given to seducing women <a balding, paunchy lounge lizard whose days and nights of conquest were behind him> — see DON JUAN

louse noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <I can't believe you're willing to spend time with that lying louse> — see JERK 1

louse up verb
1 to make a mistake <everything is riding on this project, so we can't afford to louse up> — see ERR 1
2 to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <I loused up the wallpapering job in the bedroom—the seams show too much> — see BOTCH

lousily adverb
in an unsatisfactory way <the new tennis racket did nothing for my game; I performed as lousily as ever> — see BADLY 1

lousy adjective
1 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <why, you lousy cheater!> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1
2 falling short of a standard <I actually play a pretty lousy game of tennis> — see BAD 1
3 extremely unsatisfactory <a lousy meal that we shouldn't have had to pay for> — see WRETCHED 1
4 of low quality <a tacky store selling lousy souvenirs that were made in some foreign sweatshop> — see CHEAP 2
5 possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified <a Manhattan neighborhood that is lousy with wannabe actors> — see RIFE

lout noun
1 a big clumsy often slow-witted person <watch where you're going, you big lout!> — see OAF 1
2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <Howard's rude behavior at the country club earned him a reputation as a lout> — see JERK 1

loutish adjective
having or showing crudely insensitive or impolite manners <the loutish bully didn't have a whole lot of friends> — see CLOWNISH

lovable also loveable adjective
having qualities that tend to make one loved <she was a lovable child, always helpful and kind>

Synonyms
adorable, darling, dear, disarming, endearing, lovesome, precious, sweet, winning, winsome

Related Words
embraceable, kissable; beloved, cherished, favored, favorite, loved, treasured; attractive, beautiful, desirable, lovely; alluring, appealing, captivating, charming, enchanting, engaging, entrancing, fascinating, fetching; admirable, likable (or likeable), reputable, respectable; affable, agreeable, cheerful, cordial, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, kind, nice, pleasant; delightful, pleasing, well-disposed

Near Antonyms
unloved; contemptible, disagreeable, disgusting, distasteful, heinous, horrible, lousy, nasty, offensive, unlikable, unpleasant, wretched; frightful, grotesque, hideous, ill-favored, monstrous, ogreish, repellent (also repellant), repugnant, repulsive; ugly, unattractive, unsightly, vile; appalling, awful, dreadful, foul, horrendous, horrid, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, obscene, revolting, scandalous, shocking, sickening

Antonyms
abhorrent, abominable, detestable, hateful, loathsome, odious, unlovable

love noun
1 a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone <her love for her children was truly selfless>

Synonyms
affection, attachment, devotedness, devotion, fondness, passion

Related Words
appetite, fancy, favor, like, liking, partiality, preference, relish, taste; craving, crush, desire, infatuation, longing, lust, yearning; ardor, eagerness, enthusiasm, fervor, zeal; appreciation, esteem, estimation, regard, respect; adoration, adulation, deification, idolatry, idolization, worship; allegiance, faithfulness, fealty, fidelity, loyalty, steadfastness

Near Antonyms
allergy, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, aversion, disfavor, dislike, enmity, hostility; abhorrence, disgust, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion; misanthropy

Antonyms
abomination, hate, hatred, loathing, rancor

2 a person with whom one is in love <she is the love of my life> — see SWEETHEART 1
3 positive regard for something <a love of chocolate, which I will pay anything to indulge> — see LIKING
4 a brief romantic relationship <he refused to discuss past loves> — see AFFAIR 1

love verb
1 to hold dear <patriots who loved their country well enough to die for it>

Synonyms
appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value

Related Words
delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, relish, revel (in); admire, apprize, esteem, regard, respect, revere, reverence, venerate; enshrine, memorialize; adore, caress, dote (on), idolize, worship

Phrases
set store by (or set store on)

Near Antonyms
undervalue; abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe; disdain, high-hat, scorn, scout, slight, sniff (at), snub; bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, deprecate, depreciate, disparage, kiss off, minimize, put down, write off; abandon, forget, neglect

Antonyms
disvalue

2 to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for <a husband who loves his wife more than anything>

Synonyms
adore, cherish, worship

Related Words
adulate, canonize, deify, idealize, idolize; revere, reverence, venerate; delight (in), dote (on)

Phrases
carry a torch for (or carry the torch for), fall for, lose one's heart (to)

Near Antonyms
antagonize, displease; disapprove (of), disfavor, dislike; disgust, nauseate, repel, repulse, revolt, sicken, turn off

Antonyms
abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe

3 to take pleasure in <I love playing Frisbee in the summer rain> — see ENJOY 1
4 to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner <the baby responded to my caresses and kisses by loving me right back> — see FONDLE

love affair noun
1 a brief romantic relationship <the tabloids feel obliged to keep us informed of the love affairs of celebrities, whether we care to know or not> — see AFFAIR 1
2 positive regard for something <a group of young men united by their love affair with the muscle car> — see LIKING

love child noun
an illegitimate child <a woman who claimed to be the love child of two of Hollywood's most beloved stars during its golden age> — see BASTARD 1

loved adjective
granted special treatment or attention <her grandparents' constant doting made her feel especially loved> — see DARLING 1

loveliness noun
the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses <our daughter was a vision of loveliness in her prom dress> — see BEAUTY 1

lovely adjective
1 of the very best kind <thanked their hosts for the lovely time they had at the party> — see EXCELLENT
2 very pleasing to look at <a lovely painting of young girls in their summer dresses> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

lovemaking noun
1 sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <does not allow her young daughter to watch any films in which lovemaking is shown, however discreetly> — see SEXUAL INTERCOURSE
2 the series of social engagements shared by a couple looking to get married <a series of Rococo paintings in which the lovemaking of French aristocrats is depicted with erotic playfulness> — see COURTSHIP

lover noun
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <an enthusiastic lover of all kinds of team sports> — see FAN

lovesome adjective
1 having qualities that tend to make one loved <a lovesome child that any couple would eagerly adopt> — see LOVABLE
2 very pleasing to look at <the kind of young and lovesome woman that any man would want for a wife> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

lovey–dovey adjective
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <lovey-dovey songs that were supposedly inspired by his feelings for his beloved wife> — see CORNY 1

lovey–doveyness noun
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) <the lovey-doveyness of the wedding vows, personally written by the couple, had me rolling my eyes> — see SENTIMENTALITY

loving adjective
1 feeling or showing love <they were a loving family, supporting each other when times were bad>

Synonyms
adoring, affectionate, devoted, fond, tender, tenderhearted

Related Words
caring, compassionate, considerate, cordial, doting, forgiving, friendly, humane, kind, understanding, warmhearted; ardent, fervent, impassioned, passionate, warm; amatory, amorous, erotic (also erotical); enamored, infatuated, lovesick; lovey-dovey, mushy, romantic, sappy, sentimental; brotherly, fatherly, motherly, sisterly

Near Antonyms
aloof, antisocial, cold-eyed, cool, detached, distant, dry, frosty, hard-hearted, indifferent, offish, pitiless, remote, reserved, standoffish, unbending, uncaring, unfeeling; disaffected, unconcerned, uninvolved; cold, frigid, unfriendly; callous, cold-blooded, hard-boiled, heartless, pitiless, ruthless, soulless, unromantic, unsentimental

Antonyms
unloving

2 taking, showing, or involving great care and effort <the homemade costume clearly showed the loving work that had gone into it> — see PAINSTAKING

lovingness noun
attention accompanied by protectiveness and responsibility <with a fierce lovingness she has maintained her family's cherished heirlooms for future generations> — see CARE 2

low adjective
1 being near the equator <we took a cruise to the low northern latitudes>

Synonyms
equatorial, tropical

Related Words
semitropical (also semitropic), subtropical (also subtropic)

Near Antonyms
temperate

Antonyms
polar

2 belonging to or characteristic of an early level of skill or development <once considered the latest thing, electric typewriters now look like low technology indeed> — see PRIMITIVE 1
3 belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <people, both high and low, have been worshipping in this cathedral for centuries> — see IGNOBLE 1
4 feeling unhappiness <I was feeling low, and wanted to do something exciting to cheer myself up> — see SAD 1
5 having a low musical pitch or range <the tuba's low notes made the floor vibrate> — see DEEP 2
6 having relatively little height <the low hedge surrounding the garden wasn't meant to keep anything out, just to look pretty> — see SHORT 1
7 lacking bodily strength <the weeklong bout of chicken pox laid her low> — see WEAK 1
8 lacking in refinement or good taste <jokes about toilets are generally considered low humor> — see COARSE 2
9 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <low tactics of that sort will not be tolerated on this hockey team> — see IGNOBLE 2
10 not loud in pitch or volume <murmured her answer in a low voice> — see SOFT 1
11 costing little <gas is low right now, but prices will inevitably rise this summer, when people start driving more> — see CHEAP 1
12 of, relating to, or located at the bottom <currently enjoys a low standing in the polls> — see BOTTOM
13 not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need <levels for school volunteers remain low, at least compared to what was expected> — see SHORT 3
14 no longer living <thousands of the elderly were laid low by the deadly strain of flu> — see DEAD 1

lowborn adjective
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <his patrician parents were very slow to accept his lowborn wife> — see IGNOBLE 1

lowbred adjective
lacking in refinement or good taste <having been brought up in a genteel family, she began to resent her fiancé's lowbred ways> — see COARSE 2

lowbrow adjective
lacking in refinement or good taste <at office gatherings his lowbrow humor often embarrassed his coworkers> — see COARSE 2

lowbrow noun
a person who is chiefly interested in material comfort and is hostile or indifferent to art and culture <the town's lowbrows think that the school's music program is a complete waste of taxpayers' money> — see PHILISTINE

lowdown noun
information not generally available to the public <have you heard the lowdown on the new chairman of the department?> — see DOPE 1

low–down adjective
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <of all the low-down tricks that have ever been played in the history of that game> — see IGNOBLE 2

low–end adjective
costing little <a low-end stereo system that's good enough for casual listening> — see CHEAP 1

lower adjective
1 having not so great importance or rank as another <a lower position in the company> — see LESSER
2 situated lower down <this book goes on the lower shelf> — see INFERIOR 1

1lower verb
1 to cause to fall intentionally or unintentionally <workmen slowly lowered the heavy statue into place> — see DROP 1
2 to go to a lower level especially abruptly <prices of the new type of televisions lowered considerably as competition and sales increased> — see DROP 2
3 to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent <decided to lower his career ambitions to something more achievable> — see DECREASE 1
4 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <the noise of the jet engine lowered as the plane disappeared in the distance> — see DECREASE 2
5 to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <how could you lower yourself by passing off someone else's work as your own?> — see HUMBLE
6 to diminish the price or value of <over time, inflation lowers incomes and savings in terms of actual buying power> — see DEPRECIATE 1

2lower also lour verb
1 to take on a gloomy or forbidding look <the sky lowered overhead, threatening a fierce thunderstorm> — see DARKEN 1
2 to look with anger or disapproval <the motorist lowered at the jerk who had cut in front of her> — see FROWN

lower also lour noun
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval <he turned to see the scornful lower on her face> — see GRIMACE

lower–class adjective
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <they were finally earning enough to get out of the lower-class tax bracket> — see IGNOBLE 1

lowered adjective
directed down <she wouldn't look at me, preferring instead to just sit there with lowered eyes> — see DOWNCAST 1

lowering also louring adjective
1 covered over by clouds <the lowering sky made us think twice about going to the park> — see OVERCAST
2 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <we chose our next words carefully, mindful of the lowering expression on his face> — see GRIM 1

lowermost adjective
of, relating to, or located at the bottom <even when her singing career was at its lowermost point, she still got gigs at small clubs> — see BOTTOM

lowest adjective
being the least in amount, number, or size possible <I play my radio at the lowest volume, but the neighbors still complain about the noise> — see MINIMAL

low–grade adjective
of low quality <plumbing fixtures that were made out of low-grade materials> — see CHEAP 2

low–key also low–keyed adjective
not excessively showy <hoping to make a good impression, he deliberately chose a low-key tie with a subtle pattern> — see QUIET 2

low–life adjective
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <photographs of the low-life residents of postwar Paris> — see IGNOBLE 1

lowliness noun
the absence of any feelings of being better than others <that saint is often held up as a role model for her piety and unaffected lowliness> — see HUMILITY

lowly adjective
1 belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <a tycoon who struggled all his life to overcome his lowly origins> — see IGNOBLE 1
2 not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness <the nuns at the convent regard themselves as lowly servants of the Lord> — see HUMBLE 1

lowly adverb
in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion <lowly bowing before his king, he accepted his knighthood>

Synonyms
abjectly, deferentially, hat in hand, humbly, meanly, meekly, modestly, sheepishly, submissively

Related Words
obsequiously, servilely, subserviently; fearfully, mousily, timidly; bashfully, diffidently, self-deprecatingly, shyly, timorously; civilly, courteously, politely, respectfully, suppliantly

Phrases
cap in hand

Near Antonyms
fearlessly; discourteously, disdainfully, disrespectfully, impertinently, rashly, recklessly, saucily; bitchily, impolitely, impudently, rudely, uncivilly, ungraciously

Antonyms
arrogantly, audaciously, boldly, brashly, brazenly, contemptuously, haughtily, huffily, imperiously, loftily, pompously, presumptuously, pretentiously, pridefully, proudly, scornfully, self-importantly, superciliously, swaggeringly, uppishly

low–lying adjective
having relatively little height <the low-lying hills blocked our view of the sea only a little bit> — see SHORT 1

low–minded adjective
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <even by the standards of our times, that was low-minded, gutter politics> — see IGNOBLE 2

lown adjective, dialect
free from storms or physical disturbance <a lown and pleasant valley> — see CALM 1

lowness noun
1 the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste <the shameless lowness of the comedian's humor is something movie fans either love or hate> — see VULGARITY 1
2 the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <her lingering illness reduced her to a state of lowness she had never known before> — see WEAKNESS 1

low–pressure adjective
having a relaxed, casual manner <a low-pressure boss who lets employees do their work without looking over their shoulders> — see EASYGOING 1

low–rent adjective
of low quality <a store full of low-rent items> — see CHEAP 2

low–slung adjective
having relatively little height <only low-slung hotels have been built around the lake, so development isn't as intrusive as at other resorts> — see SHORT 1

low–spirited adjective
feeling unhappiness <the captain tried to cheer up her low-spirited teammates after their big loss> — see SAD 1

loyal adjective
firm in one's allegiance to someone or something <we remain loyal to the ideals for which this organization stands> — see FAITHFUL 1

loyalist noun
a person who loves his or her country and supports its interests and policies <die-hard loyalists engaging in espionage against the revolutionaries> — see PATRIOT

loyalty noun
adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <there was no denying that dog's loyalty to his master> — see FIDELITY

lozenge noun
a small mass containing medicine to be taken orally <take one of these lozenges for your cold> — see PILL 1

lubber noun
1 a big clumsy often slow-witted person <although he's something of a lubber, everyone agrees that he has a kind heart> — see OAF 1
2 a clumsy, awkward person <the two lubbers who came to deliver my furniture> — see KLUTZ

lubricate verb
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction <it's not a good idea to use olive oil to lubricate the gears in an appliance>

Synonyms
grease, oil, slick, wax

Related Words
bathe, douse (also dowse), drench, soak, souse, wash, water, wet

Near Antonyms
coarsen, rough, roughen; dehydrate, dry, parch, sear

lubricated adjective
having or being a surface so smooth as to greatly reduce traction <the lubricated parts of the machine were whirring smoothly> — see SLICK 1

lubricious or lubricous adjective
having a strong sexual desire <back in the days when lubricious employers could, with impunity, take advantage of naive factory girls> — see LUSTFUL

lucency noun
the state or quality of being easily seen through <the lucency of the membrane> — see CLARITY 1

lucent adjective
1 easily seen through <the pristine waters of lucent mountain streams> — see CLEAR 1
2 giving off or reflecting much light <the moon was a lucent orb in the cloudless autumn sky> — see BRIGHT 1

lucid adjective
1 giving off or reflecting much light <those lucid bands that spread across the arctic sky and are known as the northern lights> — see BRIGHT 1
2 having full use of one's mind and control over one's actions <decided to make out her will while she was still lucid> — see SANE
3 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <tried to make his instructions as lucid as possible so that everyone would understand what to do> — see CLEAR 2

lucidity noun
clearness of expression <the lucidity of the recipe should ensure a minimum of confusion> — see SIMPLICITY 2

lucidness noun
clearness of expression <she was impressed by the lucidness of her surgeon's explanation of the operation> — see SIMPLICITY 2

Lucifer noun
the supreme personification of evil often represented as the ruler of hell <Lucifer is depicted as a powerful but proud angel who leads a revolt against heaven> — see DEVIL 1

Luciferian adjective
of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit <the movie's villain wore a Luciferian expression of supreme confidence> — see FIENDISH 1

luck noun
1 success that is partly the result of chance <some people have all the luck>

Synonyms
fortunateness, fortune, luckiness

Related Words
blessing, boon, fluke, godsend, hit, serendipity, strike, windfall; break, chance, opportunity; coup, stroke

Near Antonyms
knock, misadventure, mishap; adversity, curse, debacle (also débâcle), sorrow, tragedy, trouble; calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, disaster; defeat, failure, fizzle, nonachievement, nonsuccess; accident, casualty; disappointment, lapse, letdown, reversal, reverse, setback, slipup; circumstance, destiny, doom, fate, lot, portion; hex, jinx

Antonyms
mischance, misfortune, unluckiness

2 the uncertain course of events <let's plan our vacation rather than leave everything to luck> — see CHANCE 1

luckiness noun
success that is partly the result of chance <the supposed luckiness of a rabbit's foot—it didn't do much for the rabbit> — see LUCK 1

luckless adjective
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck <a bar where luckless gamblers go to drown their sorrows> — see UNLUCKY 1

lucky adjective
1 having good luck <the lucky gambler waltzed out of the casino with $10,000>

Synonyms
fortunate, happy

Related Words
blessed (also blest), favored, gifted, privileged; fair, golden, promising; hot

Near Antonyms
cursed (also curst), disadvantaged

Antonyms
hapless, ill-fated, ill-starred, luckless, snakebit (or snakebitten), star-crossed, unfortunate, unhappy, unlucky

2 coming or happening by good luck especially unexpectedly <finding this $20 bill on the way to the candy store was a lucky break> — see FORTUNATE 1

lucrative adjective
yielding a profit <the hired gun's mission was to turn the failing store into a lucrative operation> — see PROFITABLE 1

lucre noun
1 something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <foreign coins are not acceptable lucre in most vending machines in this country> — see MONEY 1
2 the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received <it's usually lucre and not lust that motivates someone to set up a pornographic Web site> — see PROFIT 1

luculent adjective
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <the district attorney's brilliant, luculent summation sealed the case for the prosecution> — see CLEAR 2

Lucullan also Lucullian adjective
showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort <a Lucullan lifestyle that included the requisite mansion and yacht> — see LUXURIOUS 1

ludicrous adjective
1 causing or intended to cause laughter <the ludicrous sight of their teacher in a Halloween costume> — see FUNNY 1
2 so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter <a ludicrous and easily detected attempt to forge his father's signature on a note to school> — see RIDICULOUS 1

lug noun
1 a big clumsy often slow-witted person <get off of my feet, you big lug!> — see OAF 1
2 an average or ordinary man <the billionaire industrialist was totally clueless about the concerns of the blue-collar lugs that worked for him> — see JOE BLOW

lug verb
1 to cause to follow by applying steady force on <lugged the lawn mower out into the backyard> — see PULL 1
2 to support and take from one place to another <I don't understand why he's always lugging all of his books around when his locker is right over there> — see CARRY 1

lugubrious adjective
1 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the diner's dim lighting makes eating there a particularly lugubrious experience> — see GLOOMY 1
2 expressing or suggesting mourning <in Victorian times, people who could affect particularly lugubrious expressions were hired to march in funeral processions as professional mourners> — see MOURNFUL 1

lugubriously adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <18th-century gravestones typically have inscriptions in which the brevity of life and the certainty of death are lugubriously noted> — see HARD 2

lukewarm adjective
1 having or giving off heat to a moderate degree <I left the bowl of soup sitting on the counter too long, and now it's lukewarm> — see WARM 1
2 showing little or no interest or enthusiasm <the dentist's lecture on the merits of flossing got only a lukewarm response> — see TEPID 1

lukewarmness noun
the quality or state of being moderate in temperature <the lukewarmness of the soda pop did nothing for its taste> — see WARMTH 1

lull noun
a momentary halt in an activity <we took the opportunity of a lull in the conversation to announce that we were engaged to be married> — see PAUSE 1

lull verb
to free from distress or disturbance <the absence of attacks for such an extended period had lulled the nation into a false sense of security> — see CALM 1

lullaby verb
to free from distress or disturbance <reclining peacefully on the deck, lullabied by the gentle motion of the ship> — see CALM 1

lulling adjective
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress <the lulling sound of a gently flowing stream> — see SOOTHING 1

lulu noun, slang
something very good of its kind <joked that the streaker gave a lulu of a performance> — see JIM-DANDY

lumber noun
tree logs as prepared for human use <a huge amount of lumber will be needed to build the house> — see WOOD 1

lumber verb
1 to move heavily or clumsily <the elephant lumbered through the jungle>

Synonyms
barge, clomp, clump, flog [British], flounder, galumph, lump, plod, pound, scuff, scuffle, shamble, shuffle, slog, slough, stamp, stomp, stumble, stump, tramp, tromp, trudge

Related Words
drag, flop, haul; blunder, careen, dodder, lurch, reel, stagger, sway, teeter, totter, waddle, weave, wobble (also wabble)

Near Antonyms
drift, float, hang, hover, poise, waft

Antonyms
breeze, coast, glide, slide, waltz, whisk

2 to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually <the novel's plot lumbers to its predictable conclusion after 500 long pages> — see FLOUNDER 1
3 to make a low heavy rolling sound <the horse-drawn wagon lumbered along the trail> — see RUMBLE
4 to place a weight or burden on <preparations that will lumber the expedition with unnecessary equipment and supplies> — see LOAD 1

lumberjack noun
a person whose job is to cut down trees <the sawmill gets most of its business from the lumberjacks up north>

Synonyms
jack, logger, lumberman

Related Words
lumberer; sawyer; forester

lumberman noun
a person whose job is to cut down trees <a lumberman who supervises the rest of the team during logging season> — see LUMBERJACK

luminance noun
1 brightness created by light reflected from a surface <the emerald had a pure, icy green luminance> — see SHINE 1
2 the quality or state of having or giving off light <the landscapes of the French painter Claude Lorraine have a unique luminance that no other artist has quite captured> — see BRILLIANCE 1

luminary noun
1 a ball-shaped gaseous celestial body that shines by its own light <awed by the vast number of luminaries in the night sky> — see STAR 1
2 a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <luminaries from the worlds of sports, entertainment, and politics were at the gala> — see CELEBRITY 1

luminescence noun
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible <we could see inside the cave even without a flashlight because of the luminescence coming from some of the fungus on the walls> — see LIGHT 1

luminosity noun
the quality or state of having or giving off light <the luminosity of the fireflies made for an enchanting nighttime show> — see BRILLIANCE 1

luminous adjective
1 giving off or reflecting much light <the luminous moon bathed the snow-covered fields with a pearly glow> — see BRIGHT 1
2 standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <some of the most luminous writers in the nation's history have graced that magazine's pages> — see EMINENT
3 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <an author with a simple, luminous prose style that is free of affectation and pretention> — see CLEAR 2

luminously adverb
in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light <in the soft candlelight her eyes sparkled luminously at him> — see BRIGHTLY 1

luminousness noun
the quality or state of having or giving off light <there's a special luminousness to the air over the island that painters and photographers have long sought to capture> — see BRILLIANCE 1

lummox noun
a clumsy, awkward person <that player is a lummox in the outfield, with three errors just this week> — see KLUTZ

lump noun
1 a small uneven mass <she dumped a lump of clay on the table and started to sculpt>

Synonyms
blob, chunk, clod, clot, clump, dollop, glob, gob, gobbet, hunk, knob, nub, nubble, nugget, wad

Related Words
bead, drop, globule; block, body, bulk; particle, piece, portion; bit, chip, crumb, granule, morsel, nubbin, patch, scrap

2 a small rounded mass of swollen tissue <I got a good-sized lump on my head from that fall> — see BUMP 1
3 an abnormal mass of tissue <advised by her doctor to examine her breasts regularly for unusual lumps> — see GROWTH 1
4 failure to win a contest <you can't win all the time, so learn to take your lumps in stride> — see DEFEAT 1
5 a stupid person <gazed disgustedly at the lump her daughter had married> — see IDIOT
6 a big clumsy often slow-witted person <standing next to those ballet dancers, with their delicate features and lithe bodies, I felt like a lump> — see OAF 1

lump verb
1 to bring together in one body or place <when we lumped all of our pocket change together, we found that we had just enough a buy a carton of ice cream> — see GATHER 1
2 to move heavily or clumsily <while I was on crutches, I was lumping about the house like an elephant> — see LUMBER 1

lumpen adjective
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <a kind of music that has traditionally appealed to the lumpen segment of the musical audience> — see IGNOBLE 1

lumpy adjective
1 having small pieces or lumps spread throughout <the lumpy mashed potatoes were cold as well> — see CHUNKY 1
2 not having a level or smooth surface <before painting, we had to sand the lumpy surface to make it smooth> — see UNEVEN 1

lunacy noun
1 a foolish act or idea <you want to sneak into the building after the alarm is set—what lunacy!> — see FOLLY 1
2 a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life <the judge ruled that the certified lunacy of the accused made him incompetent to stand trial> — see INSANITY 1
3 lack of good sense or judgment <our friend's good-natured lunacy makes him of no use in an emergency but very entertaining companion nevertheless> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

lunatic adjective
1 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <he had a lunatic obsession with personal hygiene that was genuinely disturbing> — see INSANE 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <such lunatic clowning during church services is completely inappropriate> — see FOOLISH 1

lunatic noun
1 a person judged to be legally or medically insane <the lunatic was committed to an institution after running naked through the department store>

Synonyms
bug, crackbrain, crazy, fool, fruitcake, head case, loon, loony, maniac, nut, nutcase, nutter [British slang], psycho, psychopath, sickie, sicko, wacko (also whacko)

Related Words
madman, madwoman; abnormal, deviant; manic-depressive, monomaniac, mythomaniac, neurotic, obsessive, obsessive-compulsive, paranoid, psychoneurotic, psychotic, schizo, schizoid, schizophrene, schizophrenic, sociopath; character, codger, crack, crackpot, crank, eccentric, fantastic (also fantastical), flake, kook, oddball, oddity, original, quiz, screwball, tyke (also tike) [chiefly British], weirdo, zany; case, patient

2 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <we all knew she was a lunatic, but we never expected her to try to jump off of the roof of the school with a hang glider> — see FOOL 1

lunch time noun
the middle of the day <every Wednesday at lunch time the museum offers a free lecture or musical performance> — see NOON 1

lunge noun
a quick thrust <anticipated the lunge and jumped aside to avoid being stabbed> — see 1POKE 1

lunkhead noun
a stupid person <don't let that lunkhead anywhere near your work tools> — see IDIOT

lunkheaded adjective
1 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <a lunkheaded but good-hearted man> — see STUPID 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <the actor plays a cheerfully lunkheaded character in the new comedy> — see FOOLISH 1

lurch verb
1 to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions <the room lurched with every jolt of the earthquake> — see ROCK 1
2 to move forward while swaying from side to side <dressed in his zombie costume, the boy lurched down the street in his quest for Halloween candy> — see STAGGER 1

lure noun
1 something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain <the promise of easy money is always the lure for some people to take up a life of crime>

Synonyms
allurement, bait, come-on, enticement, siren song, temptation, turn-on

Related Words
appeal, call; attraction, boost, encouragement, goad, impetus, impulse, incentive, inducement, motivation, persuasion, seducement, seduction, spur, stimulus; decoy, snare, trap; entrapment, mousetrap

Near Antonyms
alarm (also alarum), alert, caution, forewarning, notice, warning

2 something used to attract animals to a hook or into a trap <the fish simply didn't seem to like the lure I was using, so I didn't catch a thing> — see BAIT 1
3 the act or pressure of giving in to a desire especially when ill-advised <the lure of the video game was distracting me from my studies> — see TEMPTATION 1

lure verb
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage <the hunter lured the lion into the open with the antelope carcass>

Synonyms
allure, bait, beguile, betray, decoy, entice, lead on, seduce, solicit, tempt

Related Words
draw in, inveigle, persuade, rope (in), snow; catch, enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, entrap, mesh, snare, tangle, trap; bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate, magnetize, wile

Near Antonyms
alert, caution, forewarn, ward (off), warn; drive (away or off), repulse, turn away

lurid adjective
1 extremely disturbing or repellent <we quickly drove past the lurid scene of the crash> — see HORRIBLE 1
2 lacking a healthy skin color <the doctor was alarmed by the patient's lurid complexion> — see PALE 2
3 arousing a strong and usually superficial interest or emotional reaction <the lurid news reports about the romance between the two Hollywood stars> — see SENSATIONAL 1

luring adjective
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <the luring sight of sparkling gemstones in a jewelry-store window> — see FASCINATING 1

lurk verb
1 to move about in a sly or secret manner <we caught a glimpse of someone lurking around the corner> — see SNEAK 1
2 to remain out of sight <watch out for snakes lurking in the tall grass> — see 1HIDE 3

lurker noun
someone who acts in a sly and secret manner <suddenly, the mysterious lurker leapt out into the light!> — see SNEAK

luscious adjective
1 very pleasing to the sense of taste <a luscious strawberry bursting with juice> — see DELICIOUS 1
2 pleasing to the physical senses <luscious silk fabric that slid across her hands> — see SENSUAL
3 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <the luscious thought that while she was basking on the beach, her coworkers were slaving away at the office> — see PLEASANT 1
4 sexually attractive <a luscious bod like that has spent a lot of time in the gym or under the knife of a good plastic surgeon> — see SEXY 1

lusciousness noun
the quality of being delicious <it was hard to resist the decadent lusciousness of the three-layer chocolate cake> — see DELICIOUSNESS

lush adjective
1 covered with a thick healthy natural growth <they loved to go for picnics in the lush woodlands>

Synonyms
green, grown, leafy, luxuriant, overgrown, verdant

Related Words
fat, fecund, fertile, fruitful, productive, prolific, rich; dense, tangled

Near Antonyms
bleak, depleted, impoverished, infertile, poor, stark, unproductive; arid, dead, desert, dry, parched, sere (also sear), waterless

Antonyms
barren, leafless

2 growing thickly and vigorously <lush dandelions had turned the meadow into a sea of yellow> — see RANK 1
3 very pleasing to the sense of taste <lush desserts that are well worth the boatload of calories> — see DELICIOUS 1
4 marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically <those were lush times for the gambling industry, which kept building ever grander casinos> — see PROSPEROUS 1
5 pleasing to the physical senses <I could listen to the baritone's lush voice for hours> — see SENSUAL
6 producing abundantly <his lush fields were the envy of neighboring farmers> — see FERTILE

lush noun
1 a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <she accused him of being a lush and a spendthrift> — see DRUNK 1
2 slang a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <you guys can drink if you want, but I'm laying off the lush> — see ALCOHOL

lush (up) verb, slang
to partake excessively of alcoholic beverages <frat boys lushing up on beer during freshman rush> — see DRINK 2

lust noun
1 intense sexual desire <he was overcome with lust when he saw the images>

Synonyms
ardor, concupiscence, eros, eroticism, horniness, itch, lustfulness, passion

Related Words
erotomania, nymphomania, satyriasis; lasciviousness, lewdness, libidinousness, licentiousness, lickerishness, randiness, salaciousness, wantonness

Near Antonyms
frigidity

2 a strong wish for something <the belief that most politicians have a lust for power> — see DESIRE 1
3 urgent desire or interest <vacation tours for people with a lust for adventure> — see EAGERNESS
4 sexual appetite <a no-strings-attached relationship in which both parties were there merely for the satisfaction of their lust> — see DESIRE 2

lust (for or after) verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <I'm lusting after that new SUV> — see DESIRE 1

luster or lustre noun
1 brightness created by light reflected from a surface <the Hope diamond is famous for its brilliant luster> — see SHINE 1
2 the quality or state of having or giving off light <on a clear night at sea the stars seem to take on a magical luster> — see BRILLIANCE 1

luster or lustre verb
to shoot forth bursts of light <her pearl necklace lustered softly in the candlelight of the restaurant> — see FLASH 1

lusterless adjective
lacking a surface luster or gloss <a small tombstone of lusterless granite marks his modest grave> — see MATTE

lustful adjective
having a strong sexual desire <a chronically lustful college jock who was always chasing after girls>

Synonyms
concupiscent, goatish, horny, hot, hypersexual, itchy, lascivious, lecherous, lewd, libidinous, licentious, lubricious (or lubricous), oversexed, passionate, randy, salacious, satyric, wanton

Related Words
aroused, excited; easy, fast, loose, promiscuous; dissipated, dissolute, libertine; corrupt, debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, immoral, indecent

Near Antonyms
celibate, chaste, decent, immaculate, modest, moral, pure, virtuous; monastic, monkish; maidenly, virginal; innocent, lily-white; priggish, prim, prudish, puritanical, straitlaced (or straightlaced), Victorian

Antonyms
frigid, undersexed

lustfulness noun
1 intense sexual desire <a sermon on lustfulness and the weakness of the flesh> — see LUST 1
2 sexual appetite <the legendary lustfulness of sailors who have been at sea for far too long> — see DESIRE 2

lustihood noun
sexual appetite <behind that demure facade lurked an unexpected lustihood> — see DESIRE 2

lustiness noun
the quality or state of having abundant or intense activity <campaign volunteers working for their candidate with a lustiness that is inspiring> — see VITALITY 1

lustrous adjective
1 giving off or reflecting much light <the lustrous finish on the satin bedspread adds to the feeling of luxury> — see BRIGHT 1
2 having a shiny surface or finish <lustrous silver jewelry adorned her neck> — see GLOSSY

lustrously adverb
in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light <he tenderly caressed her lustrously soft hair> — see BRIGHTLY 1

lustrousness noun
the quality or state of having or giving off light <the lovely lustrousness of her hair just made you want to stroke it> — see BRILLIANCE 1

lusty adjective
1 having active strength of body or mind <the lusty young rowers on the college crew team> — see VIGOROUS 1
2 not showing weakness or uncertainty <a lusty spirit of adventure> — see FIRM 1
3 having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) <such a lusty dish calls for an equally rich wine> — see FULL-BODIED

luxe adjective
showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort <we stayed only in luxe accommodations on the trip through the Loire Valley> — see LUXURIOUS 1

luxuriant adjective
1 covered with a thick, healthy natural growth <an older man who still has a luxuriant head of hair> — see LUSH 1
2 growing thickly and vigorously <a luxuriant coat of fur> — see RANK 1
3 producing abundantly <luxuriant soil that yields endless fields of grain> — see FERTILE
4 showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort <the fashion model always wore the most luxuriant outfits> — see LUXURIOUS 1

luxurious adjective
1 showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort <the luxurious apartment was filled with the latest electronic gadgets and fine works of art>

Synonyms
Babylonian, deluxe, lavish, Lucullan (also Lucullian), luxe, luxuriant, luxury, opulent, palace, palatial, plush, plushy, silken, sumptuous

Related Words
costly, dear, expensive, precious, premium, rich; extravagant, grandiose, ostentatious, pretentious, showy; august, awesome, awful, baronial, beautiful, gorgeous, grand, heroic (also heroical), imposing, impressive, kingly, magnificent, majestic, monumental, noble, proud, regal, royal, splendid, stately; comfortable, cozy, homelike, homey (also homy), snug

Near Antonyms
economical, frugal, meager (or meagre), spare, stingy, thrifty

Antonyms
ascetic (also ascetical), austere, humble, no-frills, spartan

2 given to or marked by excessive gratification of one's desires <squandered his fortune in the relentless satisfaction of his luxurious tastes> — see HEDONISTIC

luxuriously adverb
in a luxurious manner <we welcomed the opportunity to live luxuriously while on the ocean liner> — see HIGH

luxury adjective
showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort <a luxury ski lodge for those whose idea of roughing it includes private whirlpool baths> — see LUXURIOUS 1

luxury noun
1 something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary <a private yacht is a luxury>

Synonyms
amenity, comfort, extra, frill, indulgence, superfluity

Related Words
extravagance, nonessential; dainty, delicacy, nicety, treat; accessory (also accessary), accoutrement (or accouterment), bells and whistles, option

Antonyms
basic, essential, fundamental, must, necessity, requirement

2 something that adds to one's ease of living <having one's own bathroom is one of life's greatest luxuries> — see COMFORT 2

lying adjective
telling or containing lies <that lying son of a gun told me that the used car had never been in an accident> — see DISHONEST 1

lynx–eyed adjective
having unusually keen vision <the lynx-eyed copy editor never seemed to miss an error in the reporters' work> — see SHARP-EYED

lyric adjective
1 having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music <they performed a slow, lyric dance for the audience>

Synonyms
euphonious, lyrical, mellifluent, mellifluous, mellow, melodic, melodious, musical

Related Words
dulcet, golden, sweet

Near Antonyms
disconnected, staccato; discordant, dissonant, grating, harsh, inharmonious, jarring, strident, unmelodious, unmusical

Antonyms
unlyrical

2 having qualities suggestive of poetry <the film's lyric photography really enhanced its romantic mood> — see POETIC

lyric noun
1 a composition using rhythm and often rhyme to create a lyrical effect <would you care to read your short lyric aloud?> — see POEM
2 a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment <the guitarist sang a gentle lyric while playing> — see SONG 1

lyrical adjective
1 having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music <the lyrical cadences of voice-over narration give the film a very poignant quality> — see LYRIC 1
2 having qualities suggestive of poetry <the photographer achieves a very lyrical effect with her intentionally blurred images of flowers growing in the wild> — see POETIC

M

ma noun
a female human parent <I told my ma that on Mother's Day we'd be dining at the town's toniest restaurant> — see MOTHER

mac or mack noun, British
a coat made of water-resistant material <I'm glad the little nipper remembered his mac today, because it's supposed to rain> — see RAINCOAT

macabre adjective
extremely disturbing or repellent <a macabre movie about animated corpses> — see HORRIBLE 1

macaroni noun
a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance <the glitter rock of the 1970s seemed more about mascaraed macaronis than about music> — see DANDY 1

macédoine noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <a quirky secondhand bookstore with a macédoine of out-of-print titles> — see MISCELLANY 1

macerate verb
to wet thoroughly with liquid <garnished with cherries that had been macerated in liqueur> — see SOAK 1

Machiavellian adjective
not guided by or showing a concern for what is right <yet another tale of a power-mad dictator with a Machiavellian plan to take over the world> — see UNPRINCIPLED

machinate verb
1 to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends <a trio of courtiers who were discovered to be machinating against the queen> — see PLOT
2 to plan out usually with subtle skill or care <the hackers machinated a way to steal credit numbers from the company's Web site> — see ENGINEER

machination noun
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends <incredibly complicated machinations to assassinate the president that inevitably failed> — see PLOT 1

machine noun
1 a device that changes energy into mechanical motion <a machine that washes dishes for you> — see ENGINE
2 a self-propelled passenger vehicle on four wheels <that Corvette is a machine that any guy would love to own> — see CAR

machinery noun
something used to achieve an end <sincerely believes that the machinery of government can be used to better people's lives> — see AGENT 1

machismo noun
the set of qualities considered appropriate for or characteristic of men <a culture that prizes machismo and has rigid gender roles> — see VIRILITY

macho noun
the set of qualities considered appropriate for or characteristic of men <their annual guys-only hunting trip is a celebration of macho> — see VIRILITY

mackintosh also macintosh noun, chiefly British
a coat made of water-resistant material <be sure to wear a mackintosh while hiking over the misty mountains of England's Lake District> — see RAINCOAT

macrocosm noun
the whole body of things observed or assumed <almost the entirety of the vast macrocosm remains beyond our reach> — see UNIVERSE

mad adjective
1 feeling or showing anger <the constant harassment from telemarketers finally made her good and mad> — see ANGRY
2 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <the man who thinks he's been turned into a bug is clearly mad> — see INSANE 1
3 marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity <a mad rush to finish the shopping before Christmas> — see FURIOUS 1
4 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <her mad decision to quit a good job and run off to the big city with a man she barely knew> — see FOOLISH 1

mad noun
an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <watch out, the boss has got a bit of a mad on just now> — see ANGER

mad verb
to make angry <her endless excuses for not doing the work madded her overburdened coworkers> — see ANGER

mad (about) adjective
filled with an intense or excessive love for <he's virtually inseparable from his new girlfriend and seems to be just mad about her> — see ENAMORED OF

madam noun
the female partner in a marriage <the madam and I are planning to go out for a nice dinner on our anniversary> — see WIFE

madcap adjective
foolishly adventurous or bold <a madcap scheme to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel> — see FOOLHARDY 1

madcap noun
a person who seeks out very dangerous or foolhardy adventures with no apparent fear <an incorrigible madcap who loves drag racing and white-water rafting> — see DAREDEVIL

madden verb
1 to cause to go insane or as if insane <the endless swarms of mosquitoes all but maddened the explorers> — see CRAZE
2 to make angry <her perpetual tardiness maddened her friends to no end> — see ANGER

maddening adjective
causing annoyance <after a few days, she found the monotonous work to be absolutely maddening> — see ANNOYING

made–to–order adjective
made or fitted to the needs or preferences of a specific customer <the manufacturer offers its online customers made-to-order computer systems> — see CUSTOM-MADE

made–up adjective
not real and existing only in the imagination <the bogeyman was one of those made-up monsters whose sole purpose was to threaten children> — see IMAGINARY

madhouse noun
1 a place where insane people are cared for <it was hard to believe that this place with the bright cheery walls was really a madhouse>

Synonyms
asylum, bedlam, institution

Related Words
hospital; halfway house, home; hospice, sanatorium, sanitarium, sanitorium

2 a place of uproar or confusion <our house is always a madhouse on school mornings, with five kids and two dogs running around>

Synonyms
babel, bedlam, circus, scrum [British], three-ring circus

Related Words
bustle, commotion, pandemonium, racket, ruckus, tumult, turmoil; brouhaha, clamor, clatter, din, hubbub, noise; chaos, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, disorder, havoc, hell, mess, muss, shambles

Near Antonyms
arcadia, heaven, paradise, utopia; order, orderliness, organization; calm, lull, peace, respite; hush, quiet, silence, stillness

madly adverb
1 in a confused and reckless manner <dashed madly around the house during last-minute preparations for the party> — see HELTER-SKELTER 1
2 in an enthusiastic manner <the young singer has been so madly praised by the critics you'd think she had invented singing itself> — see SKY-HIGH

madman noun
a person who seeks out very dangerous or foolhardy adventures with no apparent fear <as far as I'm concerned, anyone who likes skydiving is a madman> — see DAREDEVIL

madness noun
1 a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life <nowadays certain forms of madness are quite treatable> — see INSANITY 1
2 lack of good sense or judgment <to do something so reckless would be sheer madness> — see FOOLISHNESS 1
3 an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <her incessant insults goaded him to such madness that he would storm around breaking dishes and slamming doors> — see ANGER

madras noun
a scarf worn on the head <an Indian woman wearing a madras in bright yellow> — see BANDANNA

Maecenas noun
one that helps another with gifts or money <the opera company no longer has an array of moneyed Maecenases to which it can turn for financial support> — see BENEFACTOR

maelstrom noun
water moving rapidly in a circle with a hollow in the center <our rubber raft got caught in a maelstrom in a particularly rough stretch of white water> — see WHIRLPOOL

maestro noun
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <a maestro of the violin> — see EXPERT

Mafia noun
a group involved in secret or criminal activities <the local Mafia largely finances itself through extortion rackets and drug trafficking> — see 1RING 1

mag noun
a publication that appears at regular intervals <flip through this month's fashion mags to find out what's in style> — see JOURNAL 1

magazine noun
1 a building for storing goods <the village kept a magazine where people left common supplies> — see STOREHOUSE
2 a place where military arms are stored <the magazine is heavily guarded to prevent theft> — see ARMORY
3 a publication that appears at regular intervals <a weekly sports magazine> — see JOURNAL 1

mage noun
a person skilled in using supernatural forces <an ancient tale of a mage who made lush gardens grow in the desert> — see MAGICIAN 1

maggot noun
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action <the last maggot he got in his head resulted in a disastrous extramarital affair> — see WHIM

Magian noun
a person skilled in using supernatural forces <in Shakespeare's The Tempest, Prospero is a benevolent Magian who rules over an enchanted tropical island> — see MAGICIAN 1

magic adjective
1 being or appearing to be under a magic spell <a magic castle in which even the furniture comes to life> — see ENCHANTED
2 having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers <truth seekers of all sorts seem to be attracted to this magic spot in the desert> — see MYSTIC 1

magic noun
1 the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <he claimed that he could summon a storm through magic>

Synonyms
bewitchery, bewitchment, conjuring, devilry (or deviltry), diablerie, enchantment, ensorcellment, mojo, necromancy, sorcery, thaumaturgy, voodooism, witchcraft, witchery, wizardry

Related Words
abracadabra, amulet, charm, fetish (also fetich), mascot, periapt, phylactery, talisman; conjuration, glamour (also glamor), incantation, spell; curse, hex, jinx; augury, crystal gazing, divination, divining, forecasting, foreknowing, foreseeing, foretelling, fortune-telling, predicting, presaging, prognosticating, prophesying, soothsaying, sortilege; hexerei, hoodoo, occultism, spiritualism; augur, omen; exorcism; alchemy

Near Antonyms
science

2 the art or skill of performing tricks or illusions for entertainment <hired an entertainer to perform magic for their child's 10th birthday party>

Synonyms
conjuring, hocus-pocus, legerdemain, prestidigitation

Related Words
deception, deceptiveness, trickery

Phrases
sleight of hand

3 the power of irresistible attraction <a leader so charismatic that his appeal was like magic> — see CHARM 2

magical adjective
1 being or appearing to be under a magic spell <the gym was decorated to resemble a magical wonderland for the party> — see ENCHANTED
2 being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature <modern aviation must seem magical to someone who doesn't understand basic aeronautics> — see SUPERNATURAL 2
3 having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers <the child prodigy's musical talent is so spectacular that it seems magical> — see MYSTIC 1

magician noun
1 a person skilled in using supernatural forces <the magician was able to summon the birds of the air and the beasts of the field with a simple spell>

Synonyms
charmer, conjurer (or conjuror), enchanter, mage, Magian, magus, necromancer, sorcerer, voodoo, voodooist, witch, wizard

Related Words
enchantress, hag, hex, sorceress; warlock; occultist; thaumaturge, thaumaturgist, theurgist, wonder-worker; medicine man, shaman, shamanist, witch doctor; crystal gazer, diviner, foreseer, fortune-teller, prognosticator, prophesier, prophet, seer, soothsayer; medium; exorciser, exorcist

2 one who practices tricks and illusions for entertainment <the famous magician's signature trick was pulling a rabbit out of a hat>

Synonyms
conjurer (or conjuror), illusionist, prestidigitator, trickster

Related Words
charmer, enchanter, enchantress

magisterial adjective
being the most accurate and apparently thorough <a magisterial biography of Thomas Jefferson that has never been superseded> — see DEFINITIVE 1

magistrate noun
a public official having authority to decide questions of law <chose to take their case before the local magistrate> — see JUDGE 1

magnanimous adjective
having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature <a magnanimous donation to the town's animal shelter> — see NOBLE 2

magnanimously adverb
in a manner befitting a person of the highest character and ideals <magnanimously decided to forgive her former classmates, who had treated her so badly> — see GREATLY 1

magnate noun
a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field <a studio magnate who had the biggest stars in Hollywood at his beck and call>

Synonyms
baron, captain, czar (also tsar or tzar), king, lion, lord, mogul, monarch, Napoleon, prince, tycoon

Related Words
big boy, big cheese, bigfoot, biggie, big gun, big shot, big wheel, bigwig, fat cat, figure, heavy, heavyweight, honcho, kahuna, main man, mover and shaker, nabob, nawab, notable, personage, pooh-bah (also poo-bah), supremo [chiefly British], VIP; celebrity, personality, star, superstar; deity, demigod, god

Near Antonyms
half-pint, lightweight, small-timer; inferior, subordinate, underling; nobody, nothing, zero

magnet noun
something that attracts interest <the giant theme park is a magnet for tourists to the area>

Synonyms
attraction, draw, lodestone (also loadstone)

Related Words
capital, center, cynosure, epicenter, mecca, pole, polestar; allure, allurement, bait, enticement, fascination, lure, temptation, turn-on; appeal, call; incentive, inducement, persuasion, spur, stimulus; curiosity, sight(s), spectacle

magnetic adjective
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <a cult leader who attracted followers with his magnetic gaze> — see FASCINATING 1

magnetism noun
the power of irresistible attraction <she managed to win the election by sheer magnetism> — see CHARM 2

magnetize verb
to attract or delight as if by magic <the store's gorgeous window displays never fail to magnetize shoppers and sightseers> — see CHARM 1

magnific adjective
1 full of fine words and fancy expressions <his letter to me was written in such a magnific style that I half wondered if he had penned it with a quill> — see FLOWERY 1
2 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <the pyramids at Giza remain among the most magnific edifices the world has ever seen> — see GRAND 1

magnification noun
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts <most movies don't deal in reality but in a magnification of reality where everything is more intense> — see EXAGGERATION

magnificence noun
impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <the magnificence of the great castle hallway is beyond description>

Synonyms
augustness, brilliance, gloriousness, glory, gorgeousness, grandeur, grandness, majesty, nobility, nobleness, resplendence, resplendency, splendidness, splendiferousness, splendor, stateliness, stupendousness, sublimeness, superbness

Related Words
awesomeness, formidability, marvelousness, wonderfulness, wondrousness; dignity, elegance, grace; lavishness, luxuriance, luxuriousness, luxury, opulence, princeliness, richness, sumptuousness; grandiosity, ostentation, pretentiousness; elaborateness, flashiness, gaudiness, ornateness, poshness, ritziness, showiness, swankiness; extraordinariness, remarkableness

magnificent adjective
large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <a magnificent mansion that still takes away the breath of visitors> — see GRAND 1

magnify verb
1 to add to the interest of by including made-up details <there's no need to magnify the events of your trip in order to make it seem impressive> — see EMBROIDER
2 to assign a high status or value to <his newfound fame as an actor has finally magnified him in the eyes of his perennially doubting family> — see EXALT 1
3 to make markedly greater in measure or degree <the movie's sound effects magnify every crash and boom in the action scenes> — see INTENSIFY
4 to proclaim the glory of <imposing cathedrals that were built to magnify the Lord and to inspire awe in worshippers> — see PRAISE 1

magniloquence noun
boastful speech or writing <he's prone to fits of maudlin magniloquence when he's drunk> — see BOMBAST 1

magnitude noun
1 the quality or state of being important <the magnitude of the issue can scarcely be overstated> — see IMPORTANCE
2 the quality or state of being very large <the mountain's sheer magnitude usually leaves tourists speechless> — see IMMENSITY
3 the total amount of measurable space or surface occupied by something <the magnitude of the planned skyscraper is totally disproportionate with that of the other buildings on the block> — see 1SIZE

magnum opus noun
something (as a work of art) that is a great achievement and often its creator's greatest achievement <this symphony is usually considered Beethoven's magnum opus> — see MASTERPIECE

magpie adjective
consisting of many things of different sorts <a pack rat whose cramped apartment is filled with a magpie collection of books, old newspapers, and tchotchkes> — see MISCELLANEOUS

magpie noun
a person who talks constantly <media magpies will no doubt seize upon the president's latest gaffe and blow it all out of proportion> — see CHATTERBOX

magus noun
a person skilled in using supernatural forces <attributed the storms to a clash of wills between the two most powerful magi in the land> — see MAGICIAN 1

maid noun
1 a female domestic servant <hired a maid to do the housework after the baby was born>

Synonyms
biddy, char [British], charwoman, handmaiden (also handmaid), house girl, housekeeper, housemaid, maidservant, skivvy [British], wench

Related Words
attendant, chambermaid; abigail, lady-in-waiting, maid-in-waiting; au pair, nursemaid; domestic, menial; amah, ayah

2 a young unmarried woman <a dance where the fair maids and handsome bucks of the village hoped to meet one another> — see GIRL 1

maiden adjective
1 coming before all others in time or order <the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage> — see FIRST 1
2 never having had sexual relations <only maiden girls were allowed to serve as priestesses in that temple in ancient Roman times> — see VIRGIN 1

maiden noun
a young unmarried woman <a story about a beautiful maiden and her mysterious father> — see GIRL 1

maidservant noun
a female domestic servant <a large estate that once had many maidservants> — see MAID 1

mail noun
communications or parcels sent or carried through the postal system <began receiving lots of mail after he became known as a frequent donor to charities>

Synonyms
correspondence, matter, parcel post, post [chiefly British], snail mail

Related Words
airmail, airpost, certified mail, registered mail, rural delivery, rural free delivery, special delivery, special handling; direct mail, junk mail, mailer; card, dispatch, epistle, letter, message, missive, note, postal card, postcard, printed matter; bundle, package, shipment

mail verb
to send through the postal system <if you don't mail that letter soon, it's going to arrive late>

Synonyms
post

Related Words
airmail, frank; address, consign; direct, dispatch, forward, remit, route, ship, transmit, transport; register

Near Antonyms
get, receive

mail carrier noun
a person who delivers mail <we always give our faithful mail carrier a special card for Christmas> — see POSTMAN

mailman noun
a person who delivers mail <the mailman usually leaves packages outside the mailbox> — see POSTMAN

maim verb
to cause severe or permanent injury to <on-the-job accidents maim far too many workers every year>

Synonyms
cripple, disable, incapacitate, lame, mutilate

Related Words
dismember, hamstring, hobble, paralyze; batter, bruise, bung up, mangle, maul, rough (up); gore, lacerate, wing, wound; disfigure, scar; kneecap; break, damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure; bash, beat, belt, bludgeon, buffet, drub, hammer, lace, lambaste (or lambast), lick, paste, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, thump; bang, box, hit, punch, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, swat, swipe, thrash, thwack, whack; flog, lash, wallop, whip; kill, murder; torment, torture

Near Antonyms
cure, heal, rehabilitate, remedy; doctor, fix, mend, patch; rejuvenate, renew, repair, restore

main adjective
coming before all others in importance <this is the main point of the study—everything else is secondary> — see FOREMOST 1

main noun
1 muscular strength <all their might and main could not budge the stalled car> — see MUSCLE 1
2 one of the great divisions of land on the globe or the main part of such a division <islanders periodically traveled back to the main for supplies> — see MAINLAND
3 the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts <the main of the tree is still healthy> — see BODY 1

mainland noun
one of the great divisions of land on the globe or the main part of such a division <the boat back to the mainland leaves once every two days>

Synonyms
continent, landmass, main

Related Words
subcontinent, supercontinent

Near Antonyms
island, isle, islet; atoll, barrier reef, cay, coral reef, key; cape, headland, peninsula, promontory

mainly adverb
for the most part <you mainly need to focus on improving your golf swing> — see CHIEFLY

mainstay noun
something or someone to which one looks for support <Mom has been our mainstay in this crisis> — see DEPENDENCE 2

maintain verb
1 to keep in good condition <he repairs and maintains antique cars as a hobby>

Synonyms
conserve, keep up, preserve, save

Related Words
service; support, sustain; care (for), husband, manage; defend, guard, protect, safeguard, screen, shield; cure, fix, heal, remedy; mend, patch, rebuild, reconstruct, rehabilitate, rejuvenate, restore

Near Antonyms
disregard, ignore, neglect; break, damage, destroy, harm, hurt, impair, injure, ruin, wreck

2 to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections <part of debating is learning to maintain your position in the face of harsh challenges>

Synonyms
defend, justify, support, uphold

Related Words
advocate, champion, espouse; confirm, vindicate, warrant; affirm, assert, aver, avouch, avow, claim, contend, insist, plead, proclaim, profess, protest, state; argue, debate, discuss; emphasize, stress, underline, underscore

Phrases
stand up for, stick up for

Near Antonyms
abandon, abjure, forsake, recant, retract, take back, withdraw; reverse, switch; controvert, disprove, rebut, refute

3 to pay the living expenses of <we simply cannot afford to maintain a horse> — see SUPPORT 2
4 to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration <she continued to maintain that a sewing machine would end up paying for itself since she could make her own clothes> — see ARGUE 1
5 to state as a fact usually forcefully <he maintains that there is indeed hard evidence for extraterrestrial visitors> — see CLAIM 1

maintainable adjective
capable of being defended with good reasoning against verbal attack <it is important to choose a maintainable position for your thesis> — see TENABLE 2

maintenance noun
the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition <I was hired to perform basic maintenance until the property could be sold>

Synonyms
care and feeding, conservation, conserving, keep, preservation, preserving, sustentation, upkeep

Related Words
conservancy; support, sustaining; care, custody, guardianship; defense, guarding, protection, safeguarding, safekeeping

Near Antonyms
dereliction, disregard, ignoring, inattention, neglect, negligence; damage, demolition, destruction, harm, hurt, injury, ruin, ruination

majestic adjective
1 having or showing elegance <a majestic pillar of society who continues to entertain in grand style> — see ELEGANT 1
2 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <a majestic Egyptian pyramid that has enthralled travelers for aeons> — see GRAND 1
3 very dignified in form, tone, or style <the majestic language and beautiful cadences of the King James Version of the Bible> — see ELEVATED 2

majesty noun
1 a dignified bearing or appearance befitting someone of royal status <even as a child, the princess possessed a certain majesty that would later serve her well>

Synonyms
augustness, kingliness, royalty, stateliness

Related Words
high-mindedness, magnanimity, nobility, nobleness; haughtiness, lordliness, pomposity, pompousness; dignity, poise; gloriousness, grandeur, grandness, greatness, impressiveness, magnificence, resplendence, resplendency, splendidness, splendor; class, elegance, grace

2 dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style <the bishop carries himself with an impressive majesty> — see ELEGANCE
3 impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <the majesty of the Roman Colosseum is breathtaking> — see MAGNIFICENCE

major adjective
1 sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention <with several blockbuster hits under her belt, the actress now commands some major cash for appearing in a movie> — see CONSIDERABLE 1
2 having great meaning or lasting effect <a major change in how science is taught in our high schools> — see IMPORTANT 1

majority adjective
held by or applicable to a majority of the people <the majority opinion among the tour group members was that they should cancel the rest of the trip> — see GENERAL 3

majority noun
1 the largest part or quantity of something <a vast majority of the town's residents support the proposed tax reduction>

Synonyms
bulk, generality, lion's share, mass, preponderance

Related Words
plurality; maximum, most; abundance, heap, loads, lot, much, oodles, plenty, profusion, reams, scads, wealth

Near Antonyms
couple, few, handful, smattering, sprinkling; least, minimum

Antonyms
minority

2 the state of being fully grown or developed <she will inherit a fortune upon her majority> — see MATURITY 1

major league noun
the highest level of a field of endeavor <when you've landed a tenure-track position at that university, you're playing in the major leagues> — see BIG TIME

major leaguer noun
one of high position or importance within a group <it was never a major leaguer among book publishers> — see BIG SHOT

majorly adverb
to a great degree <we're majorly frustrated about the situation back at home> — see VERY 1

make verb
1 to bring into being by combining, shaping, or transforming materials <will you help me make the dough for the cookies?>

Synonyms
fabricate, fashion, form, frame, manufacture, produce

Related Words
assemble, build, construct, erect, make up, put up, raise, rear, set up, structure, throw up; craft, handcraft; hew; forge, mold, shape; cobble (together or up), knock out, patch (together), throw up; prefabricate; create, invent, mint, originate; establish, father, institute, organize; concoct, contrive, cook (up), design, devise, imagine, think (up); conceive, envisage, picture, visualize; refashion, remake, remanufacture

Phrases
put together

Near Antonyms
disassemble, dismantle, take apart; break up, dismember; abolish, annihilate, demolish, destroy, devastate, eradicate, exterminate, extinguish, flatten, pulverize, raze, ruin, shatter, smash, wreck; blow up, explode

2 to obtain (as a goal) through effort <we finally made it!> — see ACHIEVE 1
3 to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <the cats made quite a disturbance when they knocked the Christmas tree over> — see EFFECT
4 to carry through (as a process) to completion <one person from each department will be asked to make a short presentation at the meeting> — see PERFORM 1
5 to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <made him do all the work while everyone else just lounged around> — see FORCE 1
6 to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement <I make that to be about six feet long> — see ESTIMATE 2
7 to form by putting together parts or materials <make a model airplane> — see BUILD
8 to give the impression of being <the family made merry despite their financial worries> — see SEEM
9 to go on a specified course or in a certain direction <the baby made straight for the toy lying on the rug> — see HEAD 1
10 to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action <the legislature failed to make any new laws last session> — see ENACT
11 to receive as return for effort <I make considerably more money now than I did when I first started working here> — see EARN 1
12 to have a clear idea of <what do you make of the latest information?> — see COMPREHEND 1
13 chiefly dialect to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening <make the gate when ye leave> — see CLOSE 1

make–believe adjective
not real and existing only in the imagination <zoomed around the house in a make-believe car> — see IMAGINARY

make out verb
1 to meet one's day-to-day needs <we're not rich, but we're making out all right> — see GET ALONG 1
2 to have a clear idea of <I can't quite make out what she is trying to say> — see COMPREHEND 1
3 to take on a false or deceptive appearance <he tried to make out that he didn't mind losing his job, but friends suspected he was desperately worried> — see PRETEND 1
4 to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information <as best as I can make out, the police were informed of the incident but didn't think it was worth investigating> — see INFER 1

make over verb
1 to change in form, appearance, or use <the old factory was completely made over and is now an upscale shopping center> — see CONVERT 2
2 to give over the legal possession or ownership of <made the deed over to his daughter> — see TRANSFER 1
3 to make different in some way <just got up one day and decided to make over her hairstyle and her appearance in general> — see CHANGE 1

Maker noun
the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <let us give thanks to our Maker for this meal> — see DEITY 2

makeshift adjective
taking the place of one that came before <turned a towel into a makeshift skirt> — see NEW 1

makeshift noun
a temporary replacement <when his belt broke, he was forced to use string as a makeshift>

Synonyms
expedient, stopgap

Related Words
quick fix; recourse, refuge, resort; alternate, backup, standby, stand-in, substitute, understudy

makeup noun
1 preparations intended to beautify the face <she never left the house without applying her makeup and arranging her jewelry>

Synonyms
cosmetics, maquillage, paint, war paint

Related Words
greasepaint; camo, camouflage; cold cream, cream, eye shadow, kohl, lipstick, lotion, mascara, oil, powder, rouge, vanishing cream

2 the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged <the makeup of the memorial is strikingly simple: a single massive globe signifying world unity> — see COMPOSITION 3

make up verb
1 to be all the substance of <the book is made up of 20 chapters> — see CONSTITUTE 1
2 to create or think of by clever use of the imagination <she keeps making up excuses as to why she hasn't yet finished the project> — see INVENT
3 to form by putting together parts or materials <we'll have to make up the bookcase, which came in a box marked “some assembly required”> — see BUILD

make up (for) verb
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective <the lavish present almost made up for her forgetting his birthday> — see OFFSET

making noun, often pl makings
the basic elements from which something can be developed <she has all the makings of an excellent leader, but she needs some experience first>

Synonyms
material, raw material, stuff, substance, timber

Related Words
possibility, potential, potentiality; matter, metal

maladminister verb
to manage badly <because the organization maladministered the relief effort, thousands of refugees went hungry needlessly> — see MISMANAGE

maladroit adjective
1 lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands <some maladroit steering on her part caused the bicycle to go crashing into the bushes> — see CLUMSY 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) <the socially maladroit young man often has a difficult time meeting new people> — see AWKWARD 2

malady noun
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <in the olden days people were always suffering from some unknown malady> — see DISEASE

malapropos adjective
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <a newscaster's malapropos attempt at humor upon the death of a beloved figure> — see INAPPROPRIATE

malarkey also malarky noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <the old lady declared that everything politicians say is pure malarkey> — see NONSENSE 1

malcontent adjective
having a feeling that one has been wronged or thwarted in one's ambitions <she seems like a very malcontent person, always acting as if the entire world were out to get her> — see DISCONTENTED

male adjective
of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with men <the radio program offers both male and female perspectives on many common relationship issues> — see MASCULINE

male noun
an adult male human being <research shows that more males than females are responding positively to the new ad campaign> — see MAN 1

maledict verb
to ask a divine power to send harm or evil upon <a fiery televangelist who was notorious for maledicting liberals and their ilk on a weekly basis> — see CURSE 1

malediction noun
a prayer that harm will come to someone <the two old women began casting aspersions and heaping maledictions upon one another> — see CURSE 1

malefaction noun
a breaking of a moral or legal code <the town treasurer has been linked to the kickback scheme and other financial malefactions> — see OFFENSE 1

malefactor noun
1 a person who commits moral wrongs <she regards anyone who would cause the breakup of a family as a malefactor of the worst sort> — see EVILDOER 1
2 a person who has committed a crime <the victim was able to give a clear description of the malefactor to the police> — see CRIMINAL

malevolence noun
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <only mindless malevolence would explain this cruel vandalism> — see MALICE

malevolent adjective
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it <the novel grossly oversimplified the conflict as a struggle between relentlessly malevolent villains on one side and faultless saints on the other> — see HATEFUL

malevolently adverb
in a mean or spiteful manner <“I'll get you yet!” she hissed malevolently> — see NASTILY

malfeasance noun
improper or illegal behavior <a campaign to impeach the governor for malfeasance in office> — see MISCONDUCT 1

malformed adjective
badly or imperfectly formed <a clay sculpture of an eagle that was so malformed that it looked more like a feathered football>

Synonyms
deformed, distorted, misshapen, monstrous, shapeless

Related Words
defaced, disfigured; aberrant, abnormal, freakish, mutant; asymmetrical (or asymmetric), crooked, disproportionate, irregular, lopsided, nonsymmetrical, overbalanced, unbalanced, unequal; horrible, horrific, terrible; ugly, unattractive

Near Antonyms
shapely; flawless, perfect

Antonyms
undeformed

malfunctioning adjective
not being in working order <a malfunctioning computer cost us days of work> — see INOPERABLE 1

malice noun
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <there was no reason other than pure malice to spread such disgusting lies all over campus>

Synonyms
cattiness, despite, hatefulness, malevolence, maliciousness, malignance, malignancy, malignity, meanness, nastiness, spite, spitefulness, spleen, venom, viciousness

Related Words
abusiveness, cruelty; abhorrence, abomination, execration, hate, hatred, loathing; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, enmity, grudge, hostility, ill will, jaundice, mean-spiritedness, rancor, resentment; despicableness, invidiousness; vengefulness, vindictiveness; aversion, disgust, distaste, horror, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion; bitchery, bitchiness, contempt, disdain; jealousy, pique, resentment, scorn; bile, rancor, virulence, vitriol

Near Antonyms
devotion, love, passion; amiability, amicability, amity, civility, cordiality, friendliness, hospitality; adoration, ardor, infatuation, veneration, worship; affection, charity, kindliness, kindness; comity, empathy, friendship, goodwill, sympathy, understanding

malicious adjective
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it <the neighborhood chatterbox has again been spreading malicious gossip> — see HATEFUL

maliciously adverb
in a mean or spiteful manner <maliciously tried to ruin her reputation> — see NASTILY

maliciousness noun
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <the young thugs acted with a maliciousness that the once-quiet neighborhood was not accustomed to> — see MALICE

malign adjective
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it <both parties to the divorce showed a malign desire to make each other's future life utterly miserable> — see HATEFUL

malign verb
to make untrue and harmful statements about <a candidate who believes that it is possible to win an election without maligning anyone> — see SLANDER

malignance noun
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <in meting out the harsh sentence, the judge cited the exceptional malignance and ruthlessness with which the rape was committed> — see MALICE

malignancy noun
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <her irrepressible malignancy was such that she even attacked her friends behind their backs> — see MALICE

malignant adjective
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it <a malignant wish to lash out at everyone who was smarter, richer, or better-looking than he was> — see HATEFUL

malignantly adverb
in a mean or spiteful manner <she's malignantly conspiring to ruin her best friend's marriage> — see NASTILY

maligning noun
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation <public maligning of a person can actually be grounds for a lawsuit> — see SLANDER

malignity noun
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <one of the characters in the novel is a slave driver of such malignity that he came to be one of the most famous villains in all of literature> — see MALICE

malison noun
a prayer that harm will come to someone <muttered terrible malisons against her child's murderers> — see CURSE 1

mall noun
a public place for strolling <the pedestrian traffic through the grassy mall is heaviest during the summer lunch hours> <the tree-lined mall in the city's historic district remains the favored site for strutting about in one's Easter finery> — see PROMENADE

malleability noun
the quality or state of being easily molded <the malleability and conductivity of gold makes it well-suited for use in electronic circuitry> — see PLASTICITY

malleable adjective
1 capable of being easily molded or modeled <malleable cookie dough> — see PLASTIC 1
2 capable of being readily changed <the cult leader took advantage of the malleable, compliant personalities of his followers> — see FLEXIBLE 1

malodorous adjective
having an unpleasant smell <the cellar will need to be cleared of several malodorous, maggot-infested piles of garbage>

Synonyms
fetid, foul, frowsty [chiefly British], frowsy (or frowzy), funky, fusty, musty, noisome, rank, reeking, reeky, ripe, smelly, stenchy, stinking, stinky, strong

Related Words
putrid, rancid, skunky, stale; bad, disgusting, offensive, repulsive, revolting, vile; decayed, decaying, decomposed, decomposing, rotted, rotten, rotting, spoiled, spoiling; dirty, filthy, nasty, noxious; odiferous, odoriferous, odorous

Near Antonyms
flowery, fruity, spicy, woodsy

Antonyms
ambrosial, aromatic, fragrant, perfumed, redolent, savory (also savoury), scented, sweet

maltreat verb
1 to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <emotionally maltreated and neglected for years by her husband, she had long ago resigned herself to a loveless marriage> — see ABUSE 1
2 to abuse physically <if you maltreat the puppy, we will take it away immediately> — see MANHANDLE 1

mama also mamma or momma noun
a female human parent <I'm not your mama—you'll have to clean up after yourself> — see MOTHER

mammoth adjective
unusually large <a mammoth book with color plates of birds native to North America> — see HUGE

mammoth noun
something that is unusually large and powerful <even as sport-utility vehicles go, that one is a mammoth> — see GIANT

mammy noun
a female human parent <the toddler clung to her mammy and eyed the strangers fearfully> — see MOTHER

man noun
1 an adult male human being <several men will be needed to dig up the old tree stump in the backyard>

Synonyms
bastard, bloke [chiefly British], buck, cat, chap [chiefly British], chappie [British], dude, fella, fellow, galoot [slang], gent, gentleman, guy, hombre, jack, joe, joker, lad, male

Related Words
master, mister, sir; buddy, buster

2 a male romantic companion <I'm going to see my man again tonight> — see BOYFRIEND
3 a member of the human race <every man has a responsibility to safeguard the planet> — see HUMAN
4 the human race <man is always coming up with new advances in science and technology> — see MANKIND
5 the male partner in a marriage <I now pronounce you man and wife> — see HUSBAND
6 a body of officers of the law <the crowd of onlookers quickly scattered when the man arrived on the scene> — see POLICE 2

manacle noun
1 usually manacles plural something that physically prevents free movement <manacles prevented the bear from roaming beyond a very small area> — see BOND 1
2 something that makes movement or progress difficult <the warring groups need to shake off the manacle of their troubled past and learn to live with one another in peace> — see ENCUMBRANCE

manacle verb
1 to confine or restrain with or as if with chains <manacled the prisoner to the wall> — see BIND 1
2 to create difficulty for the work or activity of <in this situation, the police are manacled by unnecessary regulations> — see HAMPER

manage verb
1 to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <as usual, she managed the crisis with a minimum of fuss> — see HANDLE 1
2 to look after and make decisions about <managed a household and a business simultaneously> — see CONDUCT 1
3 to meet one's day-to-day needs <it'll be hard for a few weeks, but we'll manage> — see GET ALONG 1

management noun
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <fiscal management of the city's sports facility can be challenging> — see CONDUCT 1

manager noun
a person who manages or directs something <we wanted an exemption from the policy regarding refunds, but the store manager refused> — see EXECUTIVE

managerial adjective
suited for or relating to the directing of things <her managerial style is very direct and detail-oriented> — see EXECUTIVE

man–at–arms noun
a person engaged in military service <the condottieri who served as men-at-arms for the Italian city-states often sold their allegiance to the highest bidder> — see SOLDIER

mandarin noun
a worker in a government agency <the officious mandarins in the motor vehicles department refused to let me renew my license without all of the required forms> — see BUREAUCRAT

mandate noun
the granting of power to perform various acts or duties <the committee has been given a mandate to reform the process for admitting applicants to the university> — see COMMISSION 1

mandate verb
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority <the president of the sports league has mandated drug testing for all active members> — see COMMAND 2

mandatory adjective
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law <the tests are mandatory for all students wishing to graduate>

Synonyms
compulsory, forced, imperative, incumbent, involuntary, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, peremptory, required

Related Words
all-important, essential, indispensable, needed, requisite; insistent, persistent, pressing, urgent; demanded, enforced; coercive

Near Antonyms
chosen, discretionary; dispensable, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted; inconsequential, insignificant, nonessential, unimportant

Antonyms
elective, optional, voluntary

maneuver verb
1 to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <maneuvered the conversation so as to avoid the touchy subject of her divorce> — see HANDLE 1
2 to plan out usually with subtle skill or care <successfully maneuvered a way to get him to ask her to the dance> — see ENGINEER

manful adjective
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <he made the manful decision to stick by his friends when everyone else had abandoned them> — see BRAVE 1

manfully adverb
in a fearless manner <manfully accepted the responsibility of raising his deceased sister's children> — see BRAVELY 1

mangle verb
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <you've mangled this so badly that we'll have to do it over> — see BOTCH

mangy adjective
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <a mangy old car that was covered in rust> — see SHABBY 1

manhandle verb
1 to abuse physically <charges that the police manhandled peaceful protesters>

Synonyms
maltreat, maul, mishandle, rough (up)

Related Words
abuse, ill-treat, ill-use, mistreat, misuse; roughhouse, wrestle; bash, batter, beat, buffet, drub, lambaste (or lambast), lick, pommel, pound, pummel, slap, thrash; harm, hurt, injure, wound; oppress, persecute, wrong; ambush, assail, attack; clobber, fight, gang up (on), hit, jump, knock; torment, torture

Near Antonyms
caress, fondle, pet; coddle, mollycoddle, pamper; care (for), foster, nurture

2 to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <if you see anyone manhandling a child, you should call the authorities> — see ABUSE 1

manhood noun
the set of qualities considered appropriate for or characteristic of men <a society that highly values manhood and courage> — see VIRILITY

mania noun
1 a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life <that form of mania often manifests itself in excessive and often incoherent talkativeness> — see INSANITY 1
2 something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned <his wife was baffled and amused by his mania for old comic books> — see FIXATION

maniac noun
1 a person judged to be legally or medically insane <they should permanently put away the maniac who is responsible for these kidnappings> — see LUNATIC 1
2 a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <I'm a maniac for anything flavored with peppermint> — see FAN

maniacal also maniac adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <the movie's villain was a just a clichéd axe-wielding nutcase with a maniacal laugh> — see INSANE 1

manifest adjective
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <despite the his manifest lack of leadership skills, the shift supervisor managed to keep his position> — see CLEAR 2

manifest verb
1 to make known (something abstract) through outward signs <a frustration that is often manifested by a minor facial tic> — see SHOW 2
2 to represent in visible form <graduates of the military academies manifest, we hope, the best that this country has to offer> — see EMBODY 2

manifestation noun
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <a portrait of a mother and child that is regarded as the very manifestation of maternal love> — see EMBODIMENT

manifold adjective
being of many and various kinds <the manifold attractions of that state make it an ideal destination for a family vacation>

Synonyms
divers, multifarious, myriad

Related Words
multiform, multiple, multiplex, multitudinous; heterogeneous, heterogenous, miscellaneous, mixed, sundry, various; different, diverse, unlike, varied

Near Antonyms
homogeneous, homogenous, monolithic, unmixed, unvaried; alike, identical, same; distinct, distinctive, individual, separate; alone, lone, only, sole, solitary; singular, unique

manifoldness noun
the quality or state of being composed of many different elements or types <the mind-boggling manifoldness of Leonardo da Vinci's genius> — see VARIETY 1

manikin also mannikin noun
1 a three-dimensional representation of the human body used especially for displaying clothes <the store has manikins so lifelike that they have startled me on more than one occasion> — see MANNEQUIN 1
2 a person who poses with or wears merchandise (as clothes) often for pictorial advertising <the undulating movements of the manikins as they strutted down the catwalk> — see MODEL 2

manipulate verb
1 to control or take advantage of by artful, unfair, or insidious means <the con man would slyly manipulate the emotions of his marks in order to win their sympathy and trust>

Synonyms
exploit, play (upon)

Related Words
engineer, finagle, jockey, maneuver; beguile, bluff, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, kid, shanghai, snow, take in, trick; intrigue, machinate, plot, scheme; arrange, contrive, devise, finesse, mastermind; cheat, chisel, con, defraud, fleece, gyp, hustle, swindle

2 to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <a scientist effortlessly manipulating a slew of statistics while testifying before Congress> — see HANDLE 1
3 to plan out usually with subtle skill or care <manipulated the schedule of presidential primaries so that the choice of the party elders would win the nomination> — see ENGINEER

mankind noun
the human race <all of mankind stands to gain if world peace is ever achieved>

Synonyms
Homo sapiens, humanity, humankind, man

Related Words
being, body, creature, fellowman, human, individual, mortal, party, person

manlike adjective
1 of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with men <some people still consider nursing to be a less manlike occupation> — see MASCULINE
2 having qualities or traits that are traditionally considered inappropriate for a girl or woman <polls have shown that strong-willed, assertive women running for public office are regarded by some voters as too manlike> — see UNFEMININE

manliness noun
the set of qualities considered appropriate for or characteristic of men <studio executives wondered if the actor possessed the manliness expected in an action hero> — see VIRILITY

manly adjective
of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with men <a manly deep voice> — see MASCULINE

man–made adjective
1 being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <man-made diamonds that were really just glass> — see IMITATION
2 produced by humans rather than natural processes <the houses in the new development are built around a man-made lake> — see SYNTHETIC 1

manna noun
1 a source of great satisfaction <the announcement that there would be a sequel was manna to the many fans of the original movie> — see DELIGHT 1
2 something that provides happiness or does good for a person or thing <the company's Christmas bonus was especially welcome manna this year> — see BLESSING 2

mannequin noun
1 a three-dimensional representation of the human body used especially for displaying clothes <the mannequin over there looks so real>

Synonyms
dummy, figure, form, manikin (also mannikin)

Related Words
doll

2 a person who poses with or wears merchandise (as clothes) often for pictorial advertising <several mannequins posing for this year's catalogue look especially emaciated> — see MODEL 2

manner noun
1 manners plural personal conduct or behavior as evaluated by an accepted standard of appropriateness for a social or professional setting <the young man's impeccable manners are an unmistakable sign of a good upbringing>

Synonyms
etiquette, form, mores, proprieties

Related Words
amenities, civilities, pleasantries; bearing, demeanor, deportment, mien; courtesy, decorum, mannerliness, politeness; formalities, protocol, rules; air, attitude, carriage, poise, polish, pose, posture, presence; custom, habit, pattern, practice (also practise), trick, way, wont; convention, fashion, mode, style

2 a distinctive way of putting ideas into words <the former doctor writes his novels very much in the manner of someone who is used to observing the smallest details> — see STYLE 1
3 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <fish and all manner of sea life on view at the aquarium> — see SORT 1
4 the means or procedure for doing something <you happened to reach the correct answer, but the manner by which you solved the problem was all wrong> — see METHOD

mannerism noun
an odd or peculiar habit <quirky mannerisms such as toying with her hair and tapping her toes> — see IDIOSYNCRASY

mannerliness noun
speech or behavior that is a sign of good breeding <the elderly gentleman comported himself with old-world, old-school mannerliness> — see POLITENESS 1

mannerly adjective
showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners <a mannerly child is welcome everywhere> — see POLITE 1

mannish adjective
1 of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with men <a woman with a somewhat mannish gait> — see MASCULINE
2 having qualities or traits that are traditionally considered inappropriate for a girl or woman <for her first outing as a spelunker she wore the same mannish jeans as the guys> — see UNFEMININE

mano a mano adverb
in direct confrontation or competition <the two brothers decided to go mano a mano in one final match to determine who was the better tennis player> — see HEAD-TO-HEAD

manor noun
a large impressive residence <the old family manor has 117 rooms> — see MANSION

manor house noun
a large impressive residence <entertained everyone at their manor house after the wedding ceremony> — see MANSION

manpower noun
a body of persons at work or available for work <we're a little short on manpower today, so we'll need you to do some extra tasks> — see FORCE 1

manse noun
a large impressive residence <the ivy-covered manse is one of the town's oldest and most prominent landmarks> — see MANSION

mansion noun
a large impressive residence <if I ever win the lottery, I'm going to buy a mansion in the hills>

Synonyms
castle, château, estate, hacienda, hall, manor, manor house, manse, palace, villa

Related Words
showplace; abode, domicile, dwelling, habitation, hearth, home, house, lodging(s), pad, place; housing, nest, quarter(s), residency, roof; great house; country house, countryseat; aerie, penthouse; salon, suite, town house

man–size or man–sized adjective
of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with men <worked up a man-size appetite playing soccer> — see MASCULINE

manslayer noun
a person who kills another person <Cain has the distinction of being the Bible's first and most infamous manslayer> — see ASSASSIN

manta noun
any of several extremely large rays <a manta glided along the sea bottom> — see DEVILFISH

manta ray noun
any of several extremely large rays <the manta ray blended in beautifully with the sandy ocean floor> — see DEVILFISH

manteau noun
a sleeveless garment worn so as to hang over the shoulders, arms, and back <Muslim women in loose black manteaus> — see 1CAPE

mantilla noun
a scarf worn on the head <a beautiful Spanish lady with a lace mantilla> — see BANDANNA

mantle noun
1 a sleeveless garment worn so as to hang over the shoulders, arms, and back <a long black velvet mantle> — see 1CAPE
2 something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <the mantle of secrecy that surrounds the operations of the organization's hierarchy> — see CLOAK 1

mantle verb
to surround or cover closely <early-morning fog mantled the fields along the river> — see ENFOLD 1

manual noun
a book used for instruction in a subject <an owner's manual comes with the camera> — see TEXTBOOK

manufactory noun
a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods <recent years have seen a tremendous growth in manufactories all along the river> — see FACTORY

manufacture verb
1 to bring into being by combining, shaping, or transforming materials <the company manufactures appliances and electronics> — see MAKE 1
2 to create or think of by clever use of the imagination <he manufactured some story about how his car broke down and he was unable to call home and let anyone know that he would be late> — see INVENT

manumission noun
the act of setting free from slavery <the official manumission of the slaves came after the Civil War> — see LIBERATION

manumit verb
to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <though he was an outspoken defender of liberty, this son of Virginia did not manumit his own slaves until he was on his deathbed> — see FREE 1

manuscript noun
writing done by hand <beautiful, careful manuscript on the school's diplomas> — see HANDWRITING 2

many adjective
being of a large but indefinite number <a journey of many miles begins with a single step>

Synonyms
beaucoup [slang], legion, multifold, multiple, multiplex, multitudinous, numerous

Related Words
countless, innumerable, numberless, uncountable, unnumbered, untold; several, some; miscellaneous, mixed, sundry, various; divers, manifold, multifarious, myriad

Phrases
all kinds of, quite a few

Near Antonyms
countable, limited

Antonyms
few

map noun
an illustration of certain features of a geographical area <a wall map of the United States>

Synonyms
chart

Related Words
ground plan, plan, plat, plot; relief map

map (out) verb
to work out the details of (something) in advance <mapped out a plan for the fledgling company to become profitable within two years> — see PLAN 1

maquillage noun
preparations intended to beautify the face <the aging actress's thick maquillage made her look like a parody of her younger self> — see MAKEUP 1

mar noun
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing <the Johnsons complained to the movers about broken dishes and mars on the furniture> — see BLEMISH

mar verb
1 to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable <mar a politician's reputation with scurrilous rumors> — see TAINT 1
2 to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <the once glossy surface is now marred by numerous small pits and abrasions> — see DAMAGE 1

marathon adjective
lasting for a considerable time <a marathon study session the night before the exam> — see LONG 2

maraud verb
to search through with the intent of committing robbery <just for kicks, bored teenagers marauded neighborhood houses while their owners were away> — see RANSACK 1

marble verb
to mark with small spots especially unevenly <marble the paper with several different dyes to get a striking effect> — see SPOT 1

marbled adjective
having blotches of two or more colors <a marbled chocolate and vanilla cake> — see PIED

marbles plural noun
the normal or healthy condition of the mental abilities <everyone thought she'd lost her marbles when she made such an illogical suggestion> — see MIND 2

1march noun
a region along the dividing line between two countries <when it was first built, this castle protected what was then the country's northern march> — see FRONTIER 1

2march noun
forward movement in time or place <the march of time> — see ADVANCE 1

march verb
1 to move along with a steady regular step especially in a group <the band had to practice for hours to be able to march in perfect step>

Synonyms
file, pace, parade, stride

Related Words
goose-step; perambulate, step, traipse, tread; hike, tramp; lumber, plod, stamp, stomp, stride, trudge

Near Antonyms
amble, meander, ramble, stroll, wander

2 to move forward along a course <bleary-eyed commuters marching off to the train station for the morning commute> — see GO 1

march (with) verb
to be adjacent to <on the west, Maine marches entirely with the state of New Hampshire> — see ADJOIN 1

mare's nest noun
a state in which everything is out of order <the lack of planning had resulted in the city's evacuation being a mare's nest of epic proportions> — see CHAOS

margin noun
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <the margins of the paper should only be an inch wide> — see BORDER 1

margin verb
to serve as a border for <the riverbed is margined by a flat beach of smooth rocks> — see BORDER

marginal adjective
located at or near a border <marginal locations in the open-air market are a bit cheaper> — see BORDERLINE

marginally adverb
by a very small margin <the team lost another game, but at least they performed marginally better this time out> — see JUST 2

marine adjective
1 of or relating to the sea <he loves collecting little marine creatures while at the beach>

Synonyms
maritime, oceanic, pelagic

Related Words
abyssal, deep-sea, deepwater, saltwater; benthic; admiralty, nautical, naval; undersea, underwater; hydrographic, oceanographic (also oceanographical)

2 of or relating to navigation of the sea <a collection of marine instruments, including a sextant>

Synonyms
maritime, nautical, navigational

Related Words
admiralty, naval; oceangoing, seafaring, seagoing; hydrographic, oceanographic (also oceanographical)

mariner noun
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel <the ancient Phoenicians were outstanding mariners who explored and colonized much of the eastern Mediterranean> — see SAILOR

marital adjective
of or relating to marriage <neither of them ever forgot their marital vows, no matter how hard things sometimes got>

Synonyms
conjugal, connubial, married, matrimonial, nuptial, wedded

Related Words
espoused, matched, mated; bridal, prenuptial; spousal, wifely; affianced, betrothed, committed, engaged, pledged, promised

Antonyms
nonmarital

maritime adjective
1 of or relating to navigation of the sea <a rare maritime chart from the 17th century> — see MARINE 2
2 of or relating to the sea <the city's extraordinary boom is almost entirely due to the increase in maritime commerce> — see MARINE 1

mark noun
1 a person or thing that is made fun of <in the wake of the sex scandal, the governor became the favorite mark of late-night comedians> — see LAUGHINGSTOCK
2 a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule <the child's small stature and offbeat personality made her an easy mark for bullies> — see TARGET 1
3 overall quality as seen or judged by people in general <a brand of crystal that bears the mark of excellence> — see REPUTATION
4 something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared <lately his playing hasn't been up to the mark expected of a concert pianist> — see STANDARD 1
5 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <set marks for expected daily output> — see GOAL
6 something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <a sensitive expression that is the mark of a poet> — see CHARACTERISTIC
7 something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing <a small mark where the car had scraped a wall> — see BLEMISH
8 the power to bring about a result on another <a person of some mark in the field of evolutionary biology> — see EFFECT 2

mark verb
1 to attach an identifying slip to <marked each application with a numbered sticker> — see LABEL 1
2 to be an important feature of <an annual event marked mostly by noise and confusion> — see CHARACTERIZE 2
3 to make a written note of <mark down the names of those who are planning to attend the dinner> — see RECORD 1

mark (off) verb
to mark the limits of <marked off the outline of the mural first> — see LIMIT 2

mark down verb
to diminish the price or value of <marked down all seasonal goods immediately after the holidays> — see DEPRECIATE 1

marked adjective
likely to attract attention <walks with a marked limp> — see NOTICEABLE

marker noun
1 a slip (as of paper or cloth) that is attached to something to identify or describe it <the markers on the rock and mineral specimens were old and faded> — see LABEL
2 something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <after many blind dates, he's come to realize that self-absorption is the infallible marker of a real loser> — see CHARACTERISTIC

market noun
the state of being sought after especially for purchase <a great decline in the market for VCRs> — see DEMAND 2

market verb
to offer for sale to the public <local farmers market their garden-fresh produce at roadside stands all over the valley>

Synonyms
deal (in), merchandise (also merchandize), put up, retail, sell, vend

Related Words
presell, wholesale; remarket, resell; hawk, peddle; barter, distribute, exchange, export, handle, trade, traffic (in); advertise, ballyhoo, boost, plug, promote, tout; bargain, chaffer, dicker, haggle, horse-trade, palter; auction; provide, supply; carry, keep, stock

Antonyms
buy, purchase

marketable adjective
1 fit to be offered for sale <realized that the birdhouses he enjoyed making were marketable and began selling them at craft fairs>

Synonyms
merchantable, salable (or saleable), sellable

Related Words
commercial, profitable; costly, fancy, fine, high-grade, precious, premium, prime, valuable; dear, expensive, extravagant

Near Antonyms
damaged, shopworn; cheap, useless, worthless; bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory

Antonyms
nonsalable, unmarketable, unsalable, unsellable

2 fit or likely to be sold especially on a large scale <trying to turn their invention into a marketable product> — see COMMERCIAL

marketplace noun
the buying and selling of goods especially on a large scale and between different places <nations struggling to compete in the global marketplace> — see COMMERCE 1

marksman noun
a person skilled in shooting at a target <only the best marksmen can hit the bull's-eye at 500 feet>

Synonyms
sharpshooter, shooter, shot

Related Words
sniper; rifleman; trapshooter; gun, gunman, gunner; markswoman

maroon verb
to cause to remain behind <pets that had been cruelly marooned by their owners at the end of the summer> — see LEAVE 1

marriage noun
1 a union representing a special kind of social and legal partnership between two people <some religions consider marriage a sacrament>

Synonyms
conjugality, connubiality, match, matrimony, wedlock

Related Words
monogamy; bigamy, polyandry, polygamy, polygyny; intermarriage, miscegenation, mixed marriage, remarriage; cohabitation, common-law marriage; civil union, domestic partnership; attachment, commitment, relationship; betrothal, engagement, espousal, hand, pledge, promise, proposal, troth

Near Antonyms
annulment, divorce, separation

2 a ceremony in which two people are united in matrimony <just a small group of family and friends have been invited to witness the marriage> — see WEDDING

married adjective
of or relating to marriage <a sermon on the joys and responsibilities of married love> — see MARITAL

marry verb
1 to perform the ceremony of marriage for <they chose a priest who was a family friend to marry them>

Synonyms
wed

Related Words
match, mate; conjoin, connect, unite; affiance

2 to give in marriage <the couple worried about the cost of marrying off five daughters>

Synonyms
espouse, match, wed

Related Words
commit, engage; affiance, betroth, pledge, promise

3 to take as a spouse <he married his girlfriend three years ago, and they've been happy ever since>

Synonyms
espouse, wed

Related Words
affiance, betroth, commit, engage, pledge, promise, propose; remarry

Near Antonyms
separate (from)

Antonyms
divorce

4 to take a spouse <she had always believed she would never marry, but fate proved her wrong>

Synonyms
wed

Related Words
couple, mate; pair off, remarry

Phrases
tie the knot

Near Antonyms
divorce, separate

5 to come together to form a single unit <white wine and chicken marry especially well> — see UNITE 1

marsh noun
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water <the marshes along the coast support a remarkable profusion of plants and animals> — see SWAMP 1

marshal also marshall verb
1 to assemble and make ready for action <marshaled their forces for battle> — see MOBILIZE
2 to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front <marshaling a small group of children on a tour of the science museum> — see LEAD 1
3 to put into a particular arrangement <marshal your arguments before you stand up to speak> — see ORDER 1

marshaling or marshalling noun
an act of gathering forces together to renew or attempt an effort <the last-minute marshaling of the reserves failed to repel the onslaught> — see RALLY 1

marshland noun
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water <grasses, sedges, and rushes are the plant species most commonly found in marshlands> — see SWAMP 1

martial adjective
1 of, relating to, or suitable for war or a warrior <the marching band played “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and several other martial airs>

Synonyms
military, soldierly

Related Words
aggressive, bellicose, combative, contentious, guerrilla, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, warlike; belligerent, militant, militarist, militaristic, warring; antagonistic, argumentative, fierce, gladiatorial, hot-tempered; mercenary

Near Antonyms
civil, civilian, nonmilitary; conciliatory, nonviolent, pacific, peaceable, peaceful; affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, complaisant, cordial, easygoing, friendly, genial, good-natured, gracious, ingratiating, obliging

Antonyms
unsoldierly

2 of or relating to the armed services <one of the basic tenets of martial law> — see MILITARY 1

marvel noun
something extraordinary or surprising <that new electric car really is a marvel> — see WONDER 1

marveling or marvelling adjective
filled with amazement or wonder <with marveling stares, onlookers gathered round the remarkable invention> — see OPENMOUTHED

marvelous or marvellous adjective
1 causing wonder or astonishment <the sheer immensity of the ancient ruin known as Stonehenge is marvelous to behold>

Synonyms
amazing, astonishing, astounding, awesome, awful, eye-opening, fabulous, miraculous, portentous, prodigious, staggering, stunning, stupendous, sublime, surprising, wonderful, wondrous

Related Words
incomprehensible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unthinkable; extraordinary, phenomenal, rare, sensational, spectacular; singular, uncommon, unique, unusual, unwonted; conspicuous, notable, noticeable, outstanding, remarkable; impressive, smashing, striking; mind-bending, mind-blowing, mind-boggling; animating, energizing, enlightening, enlivening, exciting, galvanizing, invigorating, stimulating; alluring, attracting, attractive, beguiling, bewitching, captivating, charming, enchanting, entertaining, enthralling, fascinating, interesting

Near Antonyms
unimpressive, uninspiring, unremarkable; boring, dull, jading, monotonous, tedious, tiring, uninspired, uninteresting, wearisome, weary, wearying; common, customary, mundane, normal, ordinary, typical, unexceptional, usual; draining, enervating, exhausting, fatiguing, wearing; debilitating, enfeebling; demoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting

2 excitingly or mysteriously unusual <old seafarers' tales of marvelous lands and their strange inhabitants> — see EXOTIC
3 of the very best kind <the novel is a marvelous example of a children's book which has not been dumbed down for its intended audience> — see EXCELLENT

mascot noun
something worn or kept to bring good luck or keep away evil <she wears a mascot made of ebony and silver on a chain around her neck> — see CHARM 1

masculine adjective
of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with men <some people consider a deep voice to be a particularly appealing masculine trait>

Synonyms
male, manlike, manly, mannish, man-size (or man-sized), virile

Related Words
hairy-chested, hypermasculine, macho, ultramasculine; boyish, hoydenish, tomboyish; Amazonian, butch

Near Antonyms
metrosexual, unmacho; effeminate, girlish, sissified, sissy; feminine, womanish, womanlike, womanly; emasculated, impotent, weakened; androgynous, neuter

Antonyms
unmanly, unmasculine

masculinity noun
the set of qualities considered appropriate for or characteristic of men <some men believe that wearing pink would undermine their masculinity> — see VIRILITY

mash noun
a strong but often short-lived liking for another person <she's usually got a mash on moviedom's hunk du jour> — see CRUSH 1

mash verb
1 to apply external pressure on so as to force out the juice or contents of <this press can mash 10 bushels of apples at a time> — see 2PRESS 2
2 to cause to become a pulpy mass <mash the ripe banana before adding it to the mixture> — see CRUSH 1

masher noun
a man given to seducing women <a would-be masher who was more pathetic than anything else> — see DON JUAN

mask noun
1 a cover or partial cover for the face used to disguise oneself <an elaborate mask that would be suitable for a fancy masquerade ball>

Synonyms
vizard

Related Words
camouflage, costume, disguise, guise; bill, cloak, domino, hood, veil, visor (also vizor)

2 something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <his unexpected friendliness is just a mask, for he always has an ulterior motive> — see CLOAK 1

mask verb
1 to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity <the federal agents masked their surveillance vehicle so that it looked like an ordinary moving van> — see DISGUISE 1
2 to keep secret or shut off from view <masked his real motives for wanting to see the house that was for sale> — see 1HIDE 2

masquerade noun
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive <although she was deeply bored, she maintained a masquerade of polite interest as her guest droned on>

Synonyms
act, airs, charade, disguise, facade (also façade), front, guise, playacting, pose, pretense (or pretence), put-on, semblance, show

Related Words
impersonation, performance, portrayal; image, persona; appearance, color, gloss; camouflage, cloak; affectation, deceit, deception, dissembling, dissimulation, double-dealing, duplicity, fakery, fraud, guile; betrayal, double cross, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, infidelity, perfidy, treachery, treason, unfaithfulness; excuse, pretext

Near Antonyms
bluntness, candidness, candor, directness, forthrightness, frankness, openheartedness, outspokenness, plainspokenness, sincerity, straightforwardness; artlessness, genuineness, naïveté (also naivete or naiveté)

masquerade (as) verb
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior <the intruder was arrested for masquerading as a doctor and trying to steal another woman's baby> — see IMPERSONATE 1

mass noun
1 masses plural the body of the community as contrasted with the elite <the masses demanded the elimination of tax breaks for the rich>

Synonyms
commoners, commons, crowd, herd, hoi polloi, millions, mob, multitude, people, plebeians, plebs, populace, public, rank and file

Related Words
cattle, proletariat, rabble, rabblement, ragtag and bobtail, riffraff, rout, scum, tag, rag, and bobtail (or tagrag and bobtail), trash, unwashed; bourgeoisie, middle class

Near Antonyms
gentility, gentlefolk (also gentlefolks), gentry, haute monde, nobility, patriciate, peerage, quality, royalty, society

Antonyms
A-list, aristocracy, best, choice, corps d'elite, cream, elect, elite, fat, flower, pick, pink, pride, upper crust

2 a considerable amount <I have a mass of work to do tonight> — see LOT 2
3 a distinct and separate portion of matter <a mass of leaves in a corner of the yard> — see BODY 2
4 the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts <when taking pictures, focus your attention on the mass of the main subject> — see BODY 1
5 the largest part or quantity of something <believes that the great mass of voters are in the polical center and consider themselves neither conservative nor liberal> — see MAJORITY 1
6 a great number of persons or creatures massed together <a huge mass of people had gathered in the park to protest the government's latest policy> — see CROWD 1

mass verb
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass <clouds massing on the western side of the mountain range> — see COLLECT 2

massacre noun
the killing of a large number of people <the infamous massacre of more than 200 Sioux at Wounded Knee, South Dakota>

Synonyms
bloodbath, butchery, carnage, death, holocaust, slaughter

Related Words
bloodletting, bloodshed, foul play, homicide, killing, manslaughter, murder, slaying; mortality; annihilation, decimation, demolishing, destruction, devastation, eradication, extermination; genocide, pogrom; assassination, execution

massacre verb
to kill on a large scale <the country's rival ethnic groups began massacring one another>

Synonyms
butcher, mow (down), slaughter

Related Words
assassinate, croak [slang], dispatch, do in, execute, fell, murder, slay, smite, snuff; annihilate, blot out, decimate, demolish, destroy, devastate, eradicate, exterminate, waste, wipe out

massage verb
to praise too much <a candidate who knows that you have to massage the voters if you want to get elected> — see FLATTER 1

massive adjective
1 having great weight <a massive piece of furniture that was nearly impossible to move> — see HEAVY 1
2 unusually large <the massive statue took up most of the small yard> — see HUGE
3 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <the war memorial's massive dignity moves most visitors to reflective silence> — see GRAND 1

massively adverb
to a large extent or degree <I am massively irritated by this new development> — see GREATLY 2

massiveness noun
1 the quality or state of being very large <the massiveness of the puppy's paws suggested that this would be a very large dog> — see IMMENSITY
2 the state or quality of being heavy <I need something with sufficient massiveness to block the wheels so this car won't roll down the ramp> — see WEIGHTINESS 1

mass–market adjective
fit or likely to be sold especially on a large scale <the kind of mass-market candy bars that connoisseurs of chocolate love to disdain> — see COMMERCIAL

mass–produced adjective
made beforehand in large numbers <a cheap mass-produced plastic toy> — see READY-MADE

master adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <thought of themselves as belonging to humanity's master race> — see FOREMOST 1
2 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <a master craftsman who makes fine wood furniture of his own designs> — see PROFICIENT

master noun
1 a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <a master at chess> — see EXPERT
2 one that defeats an enemy or opponent <little did the tennis pro know that his new student would someday become his master> — see VICTOR 1
3 the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do <I'm the master of this operation, and you'll do what I say> — see BOSS

master verb
1 to achieve a victory over <finally mastered her longtime opponent at chess> — see BEAT 2
2 to acquire complete knowledge, understanding, or skill in <I think I've mastered algebra at last> — see LEARN 1

masterful adjective
1 accomplished with trained ability <a masterful performance of a difficult piece for the violin> — see SKILLFUL 1
2 fond of ordering people around <a masterful coworker who liked to tell other people how to do their jobs> — see BOSSY
3 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <a masterful businesswoman who didn't hesitate to step on a lot of people as she climbed the ladder of success> — see ARROGANT
4 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <a president who was celebrated as a masterful communicator of his administration's policies> — see PROFICIENT

masterfully adverb
in a skillful or expert manner <plays the violin masterfully, especially for a performer of her age> — see WELL 3

masterfulness noun
1 subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something <the sheer masterfulness of the thieves' plan could not be denied, even by the police> — see SKILL 1
2 an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <the shameless masterfulness that invested his every move was positively galling to his colleagues> — see ARROGANCE

masterly adjective
1 accomplished with trained ability <a masterly performance of one of the most difficult ballets in the repertory> — see SKILLFUL 1
2 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <a masterly handling of a complex topic in philosophy> — see PROFICIENT

masterly adverb
in a skillful or expert manner <a masterly executed somersault> — see WELL 3

mastermind noun
a person who designs and guides a plan or undertaking <the real mastermind behind the embezzlement scheme> — see ENGINEER

mastermind verb
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care <he was charged with masterminding a plan to redecorate the suite of offices without seriously disrupting business operations> — see ENGINEER

masterpiece noun
something (as a work of art) that is a great achievement and often its creator's greatest achievement <Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel are often considered to be his masterpieces>

Synonyms
chef d'oeuvre, classic, magnum opus, masterwork

Related Words
masterstroke, pièce de résistance, showpiece, tour de force; blockbuster, megahit, smash, success, winner; gem, jewel, prize, treasure

Near Antonyms
bomb, catastrophe, clunker, debacle (also débâcle), disaster, dud, failure, fiasco, fizzle, flop, loser, turkey, washout

master plan noun
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective <my neighbor assured me that the wisdom of his master plan for his yard would be apparent once everything was finished> — see PLAN 1

mastership noun
a highly developed skill in or knowledge of something <we're still working on mastership of the new computer system> — see COMMAND 2

masterwork noun
something (as a work of art) that is a great achievement and often its creator's greatest achievement <his most famous novel is regarded as a masterwork of Western literature> — see MASTERPIECE

mastery noun
1 a highly developed skill in or knowledge of something <the exchange student returned from her year in Spain with a complete mastery of the language> — see COMMAND 2
2 the right or means to command or control others <the British monarch has only token mastery over the citizens of the United Kingdom> — see POWER 1

masticate verb
to crush or grind with the teeth <mindlessly masticated peanuts while watching the baseball game on TV> — see BITE ON

mastodon noun
something or someone that is unusually large and powerful <mom-and-pop stores just can't compete with these mastodons of retailing> — see GIANT

match noun
1 a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize <a chess match> — see GAME 1
2 a union representing a special kind of social and legal partnership between two people <from all appearances those two have got a good match there> — see MARRIAGE 1
3 either of a pair matched in one or more qualities <I can't find the match to this sock> — see MATE 1
4 one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value <for a wife he wants a woman who will be his match in every aspect of their lives> — see EQUAL
5 something or someone that strongly resembles another <Erin is so nearly my exact match you'd think she must be my twin and not just my cousin> — see IMAGE 1
6 an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <the discussion soon degenerated into a pointless shouting match> — see CONTEST 1

match verb
1 to be the exact counterpart of <does this handbag's shade of blue match my navy blue pants?> <the rare blood type that exactly matched that of the transplant recipient>

Synonyms
correspond (to), equal, parallel

Related Words
blend (with), conform (to), coordinate (with), go (with), harmonize (with); complement, supplement; counterbalance, counterpoise; echo, image, mirror, repeat; add up (to), amount (to), approach, come (to), near; measure (up), partake (of), rival, suggest

2 to give in marriage <they were happy to match their daughter to a man from a good family> — see MARRY 2
3 to produce something equal to (as in quality or value) <no one has ever been able to match that novel for its portrayal of the horrors of war> — see EQUAL 1

matching adjective
having qualities in common <was fond of dressing the twins in matching outfits> — see ALIKE

matchless adjective
having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability <the matchless beauty and grandeur of Yosemite Valley> — see ONLY 1

matchup noun
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize <a boxing matchup that promises to be a sportswriter's dream> — see GAME 1

mate noun
1 either of a pair matched in one or more qualities <have you seen the mate to this glove anywhere?>

Synonyms
companion, fellow, half, match, twin

Related Words
coordinate; coequal, counterpart, equal, equivalent, like, parallel, peer, rival; carbon copy, double, duplicate, facsimile, identical twin, likeness, mirror image, replica, ringer; analogue (or analog), similarity

Near Antonyms
antipode, antithesis, contrary, converse, opposite, reverse

2 a person frequently seen in the company of another <that lout and his mates are known troublemakers in the neighborhood> — see ASSOCIATE 1
3 chiefly British a person who helps a more skilled person <a plumber and his mate showed up to fix the sink in our London hotel room> — see HELPER
4 the person to whom another is married <they vowed to each other that they would remain mates for life> — see SPOUSE
5 chiefly British a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another <spent the weekend in London with some of his mates from Oxford> — see FRIEND 1

mate verb
to engage in sexual intercourse <cats conceive almost every time they mate> — see COPULATE

mater noun, chiefly British
a female human parent <the public school student addressed the letter to “Dear Mater”> — see MOTHER

material adjective
1 relating to or composed of matter <there's no material evidence, such as a dead body, that a murder has been committed>

Synonyms
concrete, physical, substantial

Related Words
bodily, carnal, corporal, corporeal, embodied, fleshly; apparent, appreciable, detectable, discernible (also discernable), noticeable, observable, palpable, perceptible, seeable, sensible, tangible, touchable, visible; objective, phenomenal; bulky, heavy, hefty, massive, ponderous, solid, weighty

Near Antonyms
bodiless, discarnate, disembodied, formless, incorporeal, unbodied; ethereal, insubstantial, unsubstantial; impalpable, imperceptible, insensible, intangible, invisible, unnoticeable; airy, diaphanous, gossamery, tenuous, thin, vaporous, wispish; metaphysical, spiritual

Antonyms
immaterial, nonmaterial, nonphysical

2 having great meaning or lasting effect <there's no material difference between the two designs for the skyscraper: one's as bad as the other> — see IMPORTANT 1
3 having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven <people who worry more about material concerns than about spiritual ones> — see EARTHLY
4 having to do with the matter at hand <that information, while fascinating, is not material to our discussion> — see PERTINENT
5 of or relating to the human body <material needs such as food and warmth> — see PHYSICAL 1

material noun
1 the basic elements from which something can be developed <she's clearly movie star material> — see MAKING
2 usually materials plural items needed for the performance of a task or activity <I have all the materials to build the mobile> — see EQUIPMENT

materialist noun
a person who is chiefly interested in material comfort and is hostile or indifferent to art and culture <a materialist who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing> — see PHILISTINE

materiality noun
1 something that actually exists <preferred a single materiality to a slew of hypotheticals> — see FACT 2
2 the fact or state of being pertinent <the materiality of that fact is not in dispute> — see PERTINENCE
3 the quality of being actual <seems to question the very materiality of the universe> — see FACT 1

materialization noun
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <since no one lived in the attic, the landlord suggested that the new tenant might have seen the materialization of a woman once murdered there> — see GHOST 1

materialize verb
1 to come into existence <the business speculator promised profits that never seemed to materialize> — see BEGIN 2
2 to come into view <the train station materialized through the fog> — see APPEAR 1
3 to come to one's attention especially gradually or unexpectedly <an unforeseen problem with this project seems to have materialized> — see ARISE 2
4 to represent in visible form <a statue of a grieving woman that seems to materialize the very concept of grief> — see EMBODY 2

matériel or materiel noun
items needed for the performance of a task or activity <the army is running short of clothing and other matériel> — see EQUIPMENT

maternal adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of a mother <her maternal instincts told her that something was wrong> — see MOTHERLY

maternity noun
motherly character or qualities <she had such maternity at such a young age that all her classmates went to her for comfort>

Synonyms
motherliness

Related Words
nurturance; fertileness, fertility, fruitfulness, productivity, richness

matey adjective, chiefly British
having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <the pub keeper adopted a matey tone with me, as if he were my dearest chum> — see FRIENDLY 1

math noun
the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value <I did the math, and we can't afford to keeping spending like this> — see CALCULATION

mathematical adjective
meeting the highest standard of accuracy <produced an answer of mathematical precision> — see PRECISE 1

mathematics plural noun
the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value <I can't do the mathematics in my head, so I'll need a pen and paper> — see CALCULATION

mating noun
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <if the mare doesn't get pregnant from this mating, you don't have to pay for the second try> — see SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

matriarch noun
a dignified usually elderly woman of some rank or authority <even though she was 87, the matriarch of the family knew everything that was going on>

Synonyms
dame, dowager, grande dame, matron

Related Words
grandam (or grandame); headmistress, mistress; materfamilias; ma, mama (also mamma or momma), mammy, mom, mother

matriculate verb
to add (a person) to a list or roll as a participant or member <the college matriculated 1000 students for the fall semester> — see ENROLL 1

matrimonial adjective
of or relating to marriage <she plans to focus on matrimonial concerns after she's established in her career> — see MARITAL

matrimony noun
a union representing a special kind of social and legal partnership between two people <we intend to be joined in matrimony until “death do us part”> — see MARRIAGE 1

matron noun
a dignified usually elderly woman of some rank or authority <the matron firmly ordered the rowdy little boys back to their seats> — see MATRIARCH

matte also mat or matt adjective
lacking a surface luster or gloss <I chose a paint with a matte finish so the walls wouldn't be too shiny>

Synonyms
dim, dull, dulled, flat, lusterless

Related Words
tarnished, unpolished; cloudy, dingy, dirty, drab, lackluster, mousy (or mousey), muddy; gray (also grey), leaden, pale, palish; black, dark, darkened, darkish, dimmed, dusky, gloomy, murky, obscure, obscured, pitch-black, pitch-dark, somber (or sombre), stygian, tenebrific, tenebrous

Near Antonyms
buffed, burnished, glazed, lacquered, polished, rubbed, shellacked, varnished; satin, satiny; silken, silky; slick, slippery; gemmy, gleaming, glimmering, glinting, glistening, glittering, scintillating, shimmering, shining, sparkling, twinkling; beaming, bedazzling, bright, brightened, brilliant, candescent, dazzling, effulgent, fulgent, glowing, incandescent, lambent, lucent, lucid, luminous, radiant, refulgent, resplendent, shining

Antonyms
glossy, lustrous, shiny, sleek

matter noun
1 a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) <that is not relevant to the matter under discussion>

Synonyms
content, motif, motive, question, subject, theme, topic

Related Words
subject matter; talking point; count, idea, point, purpose; consideration, issue, problem; body, bulk, burden, centerpiece, core, crux, essence, fundamental, generality, gist, grist, heart, kernel, keynote, main, marrow, mass, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot, purport, quick, staple, substance, sum; basis; bottom, essential, essentiality; affair, argument, debate

Near Antonyms
aside, digression, excursion, interjection, parenthesis, tangent

2 something to be dealt with <we must take care of this matter before it becomes a real problem>

Synonyms
affair, business, thing

Related Words
consideration, issue, problem; crisis, crossroad(s), crunch, emergency, exigency, flash point, head, juncture, strait, zero hour; concern, trouble, worry; care, lookout, responsibility; deadlock, halt, impasse, stalemate, standstill; corner, fix, hole, hot water, jam, pickle, pinch, predicament, scrape, spot

Phrases
ball of wax

3 communications or parcels sent or carried through the postal system <first-class matter> — see MAIL
4 something that requires thought and skill for resolution <I've been thinking about the matter all night, and I believe I have a solution> — see PROBLEM 1
5 an approximate amount, extent, or degree <a simple meal that can be prepared in a matter of 20 to 30 minutes> — see NEIGHBORHOOD 1

matter verb
to be of importance <she believes that doing well in school really does matter>

Synonyms
count, import, mean, signify, weigh

Related Words
affect, concern, influence, sway; add up (to), amount (to)

Phrases
carry weight, cut ice

matter–of–fact adjective
1 restricted to or based on fact <a matter-of-fact recitation of the events of the last week> — see FACTUAL 1
2 willing to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly <a matter-of-fact woman who didn't worry about “what ifs”> — see REALISTIC 1

maturation noun
the process of becoming mature <a flower's maturation from bud to full bloom can take weeks>

Synonyms
development, growth, maturing, ripening

Related Words
blossoming, flourishing, flowering; mellowing, softening; evolution, evolvement, expansion, progression; coming-of-age, maturity

Near Antonyms
decadence, decay, decaying, declension, decline, declining, degeneration, descent, deterioration; ebbing, fading, shriveling (or shrivelling), waning, wilting, withering; death, decease, demise, dying, end, exit, expiration, expiring, expiry, perishing; regression, retrogression, reversion

mature adjective
1 fully grown or developed <I like pears when they're still hard, before they're mature>

Synonyms
adult, full-blown, full-fledged, matured, ripe, ripened

Related Words
aged, aging (or ageing), long-lived, old, older; golden, mellow

Near Antonyms
blooming, blossoming, burgeoning, flourishing, flowering; undeveloped, unfinished, unfledged, unformed

Antonyms
adolescent, green, immature, juvenile, unripe, unripened, young, youngish, youthful

2 having reached the date at which payment is required <mature bonds> — see DUE 1
3 relating to or typical of adults; displaying proper maturity <that wasn't a very mature response to my well-meaning criticism> — see ADULT 1
4 dealing in or with explicitly sexual material <a mature talk show that is available only on pay-cable> — see ADULT 2

mature verb
to become mature <a young figure skater whose talent is still maturing>

Synonyms
age, develop, grow, grow up, progress, ripen

Related Words
mellow, soften; bloom, blossom, burgeon (also bourgeon), flourish, flower; open, unfold; advance, evolve; get along, get on, gray (also grey)

Near Antonyms
decay, decline, degenerate, deteriorate, sink, worsen; droop, dry, fade, flag, sag, shrivel, wane, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither; regress, retrogress, revert; backslide, lapse, return

matured adjective
fully grown or developed <a matured plant in full bloom> — see MATURE 1

maturing noun
the process of becoming mature <the maturing of young horses can take several years> — see MATURATION

maturity noun
1 the state of being fully grown or developed <people are legally considered to have reached maturity at the age of 18 in the United States>

Synonyms
adulthood, adultness, majority

Related Words
manhood, womanhood; bloom, flush, heyday, prime; autumn, middle age, midlife

Near Antonyms
babyhood, infancy, toddlerhood; adolescence, childhood, youth

Antonyms
immaturity, minority, nonage

2 the state of being an old person <special senior citizen discounts are one advantage of maturity> — see ANCIENTNESS 1

maudlin adjective
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <a maudlin movie about a lovable tramp> — see CORNY 1

maul verb
1 to abuse physically <demonstrators who claimed that they had been mauled by the police> — see MANHANDLE 1
2 to strike repeatedly <the irate store owner was mauling the shoplifter when the police showed up> — see BEAT 1

mau–mau verb
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats <the self-appointed guardians of political correctness have been trying to mau-mau the university president into rescinding everyone's freedom of speech> — see INTIMIDATE

maunder verb
1 to move about from place to place aimlessly <maundered all over town on his day off> — see WANDER 1
2 to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point <ask her a question and she'll maunder for half an hour> — see RAMBLE 1
3 chiefly British to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <a couple of mates maundering over their beer in a dark corner of the pub> — see COMPLAIN

maunderer noun
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination <the city has many quaint alleys and backstreets to interest the urban maunderer> — see NOMAD

maundering adjective
passing from one topic to another <a long, maundering conversation about what was wrong with the world and how he could fix it> — see DISCURSIVE

maven also mavin noun
1 a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <an investment maven, he was doing well even when the market was doing poorly> — see EXPERT
2 a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <a science-fiction maven who could talk for hours about fictional technology> — see FAN

maverick adjective
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices <George Sand's maverick views on marriage scandalized 19th-century French society> — see HERETICAL

maverick noun
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs <there's always one maverick who has to go his own way> — see NONCONFORMIST 1

mawkish adjective
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <a mawkish plea for donations to the charity> — see CORNY 1

mawkishness noun
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) <the grating mawkishness of her poetry makes me want to stamp on wildflowers> — see SENTIMENTALITY

max adjective
of the greatest or highest degree or quantity <the max number of complaints received on any given day was 15> — see ULTIMATE 1

max noun
the greatest amount, number, or part <at the max there will be 25 people at the party> — see MOST

maxim noun
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience <it's a common maxim that “a watched pot never boils,” but that's not literally true> — see SAYING

maximum adjective
1 of the greatest or highest degree or quantity <the maximum amount of time needed to complete the project> — see ULTIMATE 1
2 of the highest degree <he always puts out maximum effort> — see FULL 2

maximum noun
the greatest amount, number, or part <achieved the maximum> — see MOST

maybe adverb
it is possible <maybe we can make it to the concert, if we hurry> — see PERHAPS

mayhap adverb
it is possible <mayhap I could see you again next week? I so enjoyed our date tonight> — see PERHAPS

mazard or mazzard noun, chiefly dialect
the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth <Granny threatened to whop me on the mazard if I didn't start minding my manners> — see HEAD 1

maze noun
1 a confusing and complicated arrangement of passages <the mansion had a beautifully landscaped maze that was constructed of tall cypresses>

Synonyms
labyrinth, rabbit warren, warren

Related Words
meander; jungle, quagmire; catacomb, cat's cradle, knot, snarl, tangle, web; entanglement, entrapment, snare, trap

2 chiefly dialect a state of mental uncertainty <she's been walking around in a maze ever since her husband walked out on her> — see CONFUSION 1

maze verb
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <I'm completely mazed by the multitude of plans for health insurance> — see CONFUSE 1

MC noun
a person who conducts a program of entertainment by making introductions and providing continuity <when we needed an impromptu MC at the wedding reception, my brother volunteered> — see ANNOUNCER

meager or meagre adjective
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <ever since he started the diet, his dinners have been more meager than he would like>

Synonyms
exiguous, hand-to-mouth, light, niggardly, poor, scant, scanty, scarce, skimp, skimpy, slender, slim, spare, sparing, sparse, stingy

Related Words
deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, short, wanting; bare, bare-bones; least, littlest, lowest, mere, minimal, slightest; slight, small, thin; barren, infertile, sterile, unfruitful, unproductive

Phrases
thin on the ground

Near Antonyms
adequate, enough, satisfactory, sufficient, tolerable; fat, fecund, fertile, fruitful, prolific, rich; lavish, luxuriant; blooming, bursting, flourishing, proliferative, swarming, teeming, thriving; excess, extra, surplus

Antonyms
abundant, ample, bountiful, copious, generous, liberal, plenteous, plentiful

meal noun
food eaten or prepared for eating at one time <all she wants to do is sit quietly after the large Thanksgiving meal>

Synonyms
chow, feed, menu, mess, refection, repast, table

Related Words
board; breakfast, buffet, collation, dinner, lunch, luncheon, refreshments, smorgasbord, snack, supper, tea; bite, gulp, morsel, serving, taste; banquet, feast, regale, spread; bake, barbecue (also barbeque), clambake, cookout, fry, fry-up [British], luau, picnic, potluck, roast

mealy adjective
1 lacking a healthy skin color <her mealy complexion might be OK if she were a mime, but she isn't> — see PALE 2
2 not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <a mealy apology that was really no apology at all> — see INSINCERE

mealymouthed adjective
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <a mealymouthed compliment from a jealous competitor> — see INSINCERE

1mean adjective
being about midway between extremes of amount or size <for the state of Florida, what is the mean number of sunny days per month?> — see MIDDLE 2

2mean adjective
1 belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <Alexander Hamilton seems to have had feelings of inferiority because of his mean origins> — see IGNOBLE 1
2 giving or sharing as little as possible <a mean child who hoarded all her toys> — see STINGY 1
3 having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it <a mean, embittered old woman who wanted company for her misery> — see HATEFUL
4 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <a mean trick to play on a trusting person> — see IGNOBLE 2
5 of little or less value or merit <it's no mean feat to memorize that long poem> — see INFERIOR 2
6 of the very best kind <I'm a mean dancer, so you could do worse than go to the prom with me> — see EXCELLENT
7 showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <he worked hard to escape the mean neighborhood of his youth> — see SHABBY 1
8 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <that was no mean stunt to pull off, especially with so little advance preparation> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1

mean noun
1 a middle point between extremes <that candidate's moderate views were seen as the mean that voters were looking for>

Synonyms
golden mean, medium, middle, middle ground, midpoint

Related Words
arithmetic mean, average; median, norm, par, standard

Phrases
middle of the road

Near Antonyms
maximum, utmost; minimum

2 means plural an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result <won the competition by fair and honest means> — see MEASURE 1
3 means plural something used to achieve an end <the ends don't justify the means> — see AGENT 1
4 means plural the total of one's money and property <a woman of considerable means> — see WEALTH 1

mean verb
1 to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind <the national anthem means various things to various people>

Synonyms
denote, express, import, intend, signify, spell

Related Words
connote, imply, suggest; add up (to), amount (to); hint, infer, insinuate, intimate; embody, epitomize, personify, represent, symbol, symbolize; advert, allude (to), cite, instance, mention, refer (to), specify, touch (on or upon); designate, indicate, point (to), signal; announce, declare, proclaim; elucidate, explain

2 to be of importance <your presence at my graduation would mean a lot to me> — see MATTER
3 to have in mind as a purpose or goal <I mean to win this race> — see INTEND 1
4 to serve as a sign or symptom of <these colder nights mean autumn has truly arrived> — see INDICATE 1

meander verb
to move about from place to place aimlessly <theatergoers meandering around the lobby waiting for the play to start> — see WANDER 1

meandering adjective
passing from one topic to another <a meandering interview with the presidential hopeful that covered everything from his family life to his proposed foreign policy> — see DISCURSIVE

meanie also meany noun
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <the class thought the substitute teacher was a big meanie when she assigned homework over the holidays> — see VILLAIN

meaning adjective
clearly conveying a special meaning (as one's mood) <gave me a meaning look after I said that> — see EXPRESSIVE

meaning noun
1 the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action <the unmistakable meaning of the skier's upraised arms as he finished his spectacular run>

Synonyms
content, denotation, drift, import, intent, intention, purport, sense, significance, signification

Related Words
connotation; clue, cue, hint, implication, indication, inkling, intimation, suggestion; message, tenor, theme; bottom, essence, essentiality, nature, soul, spirit, stuff; acceptance, acceptation, definition; burden, crux, gist; core, heart, kernel, marrow, nub, nucleus, pith, point, quick; matter, motif, motive, question, subject, topic

2 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <the people have a right to know what the president's meaning is in getting the nation involved in this war> — see GOAL

meaningful adjective
1 clearly conveying a special meaning (as one's mood) <gave a meaningful sigh when I asked her how things were going> — see EXPRESSIVE
2 having great meaning or lasting effect <his time in office was too brief to accomplish anything meaningful> — see IMPORTANT 1

meaningless adjective
having no meaning <this argument over seating arrangements is an utterly meaningless bit of nonsense>

Synonyms
empty, inane, pointless, senseless

Related Words
frivolous, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant; absurd, asinine, balmy, brainless, crackpot, crazy, cuckoo, daffy, daft, dotty, empty-headed, fatuous, foolish, half-witted, harebrained, insane, jerky, kooky (also kookie), loony (also looney), lunatic, mad, mindless, nonsensical, nutty, preposterous, sappy, silly, simpleminded, stupid, tomfool, unintelligent, unwise, wacky (also whacky), weak-minded, witless, zany; irrational, unreasonable; aimless, haphazard, purposeless

Near Antonyms
eloquent, expressive, pregnant, revealing, suggestive, telling; logical, rational, reasonable, valid; consequential, eventful, important, key, major, momentous, substantial, weighty

Antonyms
meaningful, significant

meanly adverb
1 in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion <meanly silent up to that point, he now felt that fair criticism was turning into gratuitous insult> — see LOWLY
2 in a mean or spiteful manner <in a meanly worded letter she told me that she never wanted to see me again> — see NASTILY

meanness noun
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <nothing more than unprovoked meanness drove him to smash the child's toy> — see MALICE

measly adjective
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <offered her guest only one measly cookie> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

measure noun
1 an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result <such new security measures as metal detectors at all the entrances>

Synonyms
expedient, means, move, shift, step

Related Words
act, action, deed, doing, feat, thing; course, procedure, proceeding, process; accomplishment, achievement, attainment, coup, exploit, success, triumph; activity, affair, business, dealing, enterprise, event; attempt, crack, endeavor, essay, fling, go, initiative, operation, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, undertaking, whack; effort, exertion, labor, pains, trouble, while, work; project, proposal, proposition; makeshift, resort, resource, stopgap; countermeasure, countermove, counterstep

2 a given or particular mass or aggregate of matter <each day prisoners were given only a small measure of rice to live on> — see AMOUNT
3 something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared <during the Renaissance, man came to be viewed as the measure of all things> — see STANDARD 1
4 the recurrent pattern formed by a series of sounds having a regular rise and fall in intensity <the song's soft, soothing measures make it a good lullaby> — see RHYTHM
5 the total amount of measurable space or surface occupied by something <a slipcover for the couch that was made to measure> — see 1SIZE

measure verb
1 to find out the size, extent, or amount of <for this experiment, you need to carefully measure all the chemicals before you mix them together>

Synonyms
gauge (also gage), scale, span

Related Words
weigh; calibrate, caliper; quantify, quantitate; lay off, mark (off); calculate, cipher, compute, figure, reckon, work out; appraise, assess, conjecture, estimate, evaluate, guess, guesstimate, judge, suppose, valuate, value; add up, sum, tally, total; ascertain, determine, discover, dope (out), figure out, find out

2 to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <he carefully measured his response to the provocative question> — see CONTROL 1

measured adjective
1 decided on as a result of careful thought <a measured response to the terrorist attack> — see DELIBERATE 1
2 having distinct or certain limits <the measured authority of the mayor in running the town's affairs> — see LIMITED 1
3 marked by or occurring with a noticeable regularity in the rise and fall of sound <the soldier's funeral procession moved along to the measured beating of a drum> — see RHYTHMIC

measureless adjective
being or seeming to be without limits <the bodies of the fallen sailors were consigned to the measureless depths of the sea> — see INFINITE

measurement noun
the total amount of measurable space or surface occupied by something <the measurement of the average house lot in that neighborhood is half an acre> — see 1SIZE

measure up (to) verb
to come near or nearer to in character or quality <he always worried about measuring up to his older brother> — see APPROXIMATE

meat noun
1 animal and especially mammal tissue used as food <we need to go shopping; there's only enough meat in the freezer for one more dinner>

Synonyms
flesh

Related Words
game, poultry, red meat, variety meat

2 substances intended to be eaten <offered his guests meat and drink> — see FOOD 1
3 the central part or aspect of something under consideration <he dances all around it without ever addressing the meat of the issue> — see CRUX

meat–and–potatoes adjective
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject <a meat-and-potatoes knowledge of figure skating is all that a spectator really needs> — see ELEMENTARY

meat and potatoes plural noun
the central part or aspect of something under consideration <an article that never gets into the meat and potatoes of a solution to the city's rising crime rate> — see CRUX

meathead noun
a stupid person <he's a meathead, but handy to have around if there's any heavy lifting to be done> — see IDIOT

mecca noun
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <that region of Connecticut is a mecca for antique hunters> — see CENTER 1

mechanic adjective
done instantly and without conscious thought or decision <the snapping of the handcuffs was followed by a mechanic reading of the suspect's rights> — see AUTOMATIC 1

mechanical adjective
1 done instantly and without conscious thought or decision <the waiter's mechanical reply of “Everything on the menu is good”> — see AUTOMATIC 1
2 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <a somewhat mechanical vocal performance> — see ARTIFICIAL 1

mechanics plural noun
the characteristic peculiarities and technicalities of something <the mechanics of running one's own online business> — see INS AND OUTS

mechanization noun
the process of putting an apparatus, operation, or system under the control or regulation of mechanical or electronic devices <a huge volume of mail that became possible only after the mechanization of the sorting process> — see AUTOMATION

medal noun
a piece of metal given in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement <the display case held an impressive array of military medals from World War II>

Synonyms
medallion, order

Related Words
decoration, honor; crown, insignia, laurel, ribbon, title; bronze, gold, silver; badge, button, chevron, clasp, cockade, color, ensign, rosette, star; distinction; award, prize, trophy; citation, commendation

medallion noun
a piece of metal given in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement <the hockey team received a gold medallion at the Olympics> — see MEDAL

meddle verb
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern <please stop meddling in your sister's marriage, even though you mean well> — see INTERFERE

meddler noun
a person who meddles in the affairs of others <a meddler who stayed up all night watching the neighbors> — see BUSYBODY

meddlesome adjective
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <meddlesome neighbors kept asking the couple when they were going to have children> — see INTRUSIVE

meddling adjective
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <the bride's parents promised that they would never be meddling in-laws> — see INTRUSIVE

medial adjective
occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes <four is the medial number between one and seven> — see MIDDLE 1

median adjective
1 being about midway between extremes of amount or size <the median price of a home in the area> — see MIDDLE 2
2 occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes <determine the median point between your two speakers, and test your stereo system from there> — see MIDDLE 1

mediate adjective
occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes <has a black-and-white view of human nature, believing that there is no mediate state between good and evil> — see MIDDLE 1

mediate verb
to act as a go-between for opposing sides <their middle child is often asked to mediate between the oldest and the youngest> — see INTERVENE

mediator noun
one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement <if you two cannot resolve this argument on your own, we'll have to bring in a mediator>

Synonyms
broker, buffer, conciliator, go-between, honest broker, interceder, intercessor, intermediary, intermediate, interposer, middleman, peacemaker

Related Words
troubleshooter; moderator; bargainer, negotiant, negotiator; appeaser, pacificator, pacifier, reconciler; agent, attorney, deputy, factor, procurator, proxy; liaison, medium; ambassador, emissary, envoy, legate, messenger; delegate, representative; busybody, interferer, meddler; arbiter, arbitrator, judge, referee, umpire; adviser (also advisor), counselor (or counsellor)

medic noun
a person specially trained in healing human medical disorders <the wounded soldier called for a medic> — see DOCTOR

medicament noun
a substance or preparation used to treat disease <in the 19th century a physician's bag of medicaments most likely included powerful opiates> — see MEDICINE

medication noun
a substance or preparation used to treat disease <the doctor prescribed two different medications for the infection> — see MEDICINE

medicinal adjective
1 tending to cure disease or restore health <even in Roman times the hot mineral springs of Bath, England, were believed to possess medicinal properties>

Synonyms
curative, healing, officinal, remedial, restorative, therapeutic

Related Words
healthful, healthy, salubrious, salutary, sanative, wholesome; alleviative, corrective, tonic

Near Antonyms
insalubrious, noisome, noxious, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome; deleterious, injurious, pernicious; infectious, poisonous, toxic; adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, detrimental, harmful, hurtful, ill; insanitary, unhygienic, unsanitary

2 beneficial to the health of body or mind <if gin and tonic is the medicinal potion that he claims, then he's done a lot of self-medication of late> — see HEALTHFUL

medicinal noun
a substance or preparation used to treat disease <the discovery that the plant is a potent medicinal once it has been refined> — see MEDICINE

medicine noun
a substance or preparation used to treat disease <if you don't take all the doses of your medicine, you might get sick again>

Synonyms
cure, drug, medicament, medication, medicinal, pharmaceutical, physic, remedy, specific

Related Words
cure-all, nostrum, panacea; botanical, patent medicine, prescription, prescription drug; cordial, potion, tonic; miracle drug, wonder drug; cap, capsule, pill, tablet; injection, shot; embrocation, liniment, lotion, ointment, potion, poultice, salve; syrup (also sirup), tincture; antibiotic, antiseptic, serum; cathartic, purgative

medico noun
a person specially trained in healing human medical disorders <a woman who is suspicious of all medicos, regardless of their credentials> — see DOCTOR

medieval also mediaeval adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <get rid of that medieval kerosene stove—it stinks and it's dangerous> — see OBSOLETE

mediocre adjective
1 of average to below average quality <your grades are mediocre and barely acceptable>

Synonyms
common, fair, indifferent, medium, middling, ordinary, passable, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine (or run-of-mine), second-class, second-rate, so-so

Related Words
acceptable, adequate, all right, alright, decent, OK (or okay), reasonable, satisfactory, sufficient, sufficing, tolerable; moderate, modest; presentable, respectable; minimal, unexceptional; fine, good, nice

Near Antonyms
A1, capital, choice, classic, distinguished, excellent, exceptional, exquisite, fabulous, fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, marvelous (or marvellous), matchless, maximum, nifty, number one (also No. 1), optimal, optimum, outstanding, par excellence, peerless, preeminent, prime, sensational, special, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supreme, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch; unmatched, unparalleled, unsurpassed; deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, wanting

2 of low quality <mediocre carvings in a pseudo-African style that are sold to tourists> — see CHEAP 2

meditate verb
1 to give serious and careful thought to <I've been meditating a career change for months> — see PONDER
2 to have in mind as a purpose or goal <had meditated a quick return to work after having the baby, but circumstances changed> — see INTEND 1

meditation noun
long or deep thinking about spiritual matters <the busy executive devotes an hour a day to quiet meditation> — see CONTEMPLATION 1

meditative adjective
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking <I've been in a meditative mood all day> — see CONTEMPLATIVE

medium adjective
1 being about midway between extremes of amount or size <taxpayers of medium income> — see MIDDLE 2
2 occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes <a politician who first reads the polls and then inevitably takes the medium stance on every issue> — see MIDDLE 1
3 of average to below average quality <another medium effort from a movie director who can do better> — see MEDIOCRE 1

medium noun
1 a middle point between extremes <trying to achieve a happy medium as far as the demands of career and family are concerned> — see MEAN 1
2 something used to achieve an end <regards political activism on the local level as the best medium for effecting social change> — see AGENT 1
3 the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded <an artist who enjoys the cultural medium of the big city> — see ENVIRONMENT
4 a person who claims to speak with or for the spirits of the dead <the medium claims that she can put the grieving parents in touch with the spirit of their deceased son> — see CHANNELER
5 a place or opportunity for communicating ideas and information <I think a blog might be a good medium for sharing your reviews of local restaurants> — see VENUE 1

medley noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <a medley of snack foods available on the buffet table> — see MISCELLANY 1

meek adjective
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness <a meek girl who quietly went along with whatever her circle of friends wanted> — see HUMBLE 1

meekly adverb
in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion <the dominant personality, he is always taking advantage of his so-called best friend, who just meekly accepts it> — see LOWLY

meekness noun
the absence of any feelings of being better than others <like most other things, meekness is best practiced in moderation> — see HUMILITY

meet adjective
meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <in this case, splitting the winnings of the contested lottery ticket seems like a meet solution> — see FIT 1

meet noun
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize <a swim meet> — see GAME 1

meet verb
1 to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face <we never once met another car on that lonely country road>

Synonyms
catch, chance (upon), encounter, happen (upon), stumble (upon)

Related Words
accost, confront; face, greet, salute; collide (with), crash (into); crisscross, cross, pass; hit (upon), light (upon), tumble (to); reencounter, remeet

Phrases
bump into, cross paths (with), run across, run into, run upon

Near Antonyms
avoid, dodge, duck, elude, escape, evade, shake, shun

2 to come together into one body or place <we'll meet for dinner, with a discussion to follow, next week> — see ASSEMBLE 1
3 to come upon unexpectedly or by chance <met her future husband at a party> — see HAPPEN ON OR UPON
4 to do what is required by the terms of <a financially struggling city trying to meet its loans> — see FULFILL 1
5 to enter into contest or conflict with <the up-and-coming boxer will meet the reigning champ for the first time tomorrow> — see ENGAGE 2
6 to produce something equal to (as in quality or value) <I'll meet your bet, nay, I'll even raise it> — see EQUAL 1
7 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <trying to meet the challenge of going to college while working at a full-time job> — see BEAR 2
8 to give what is owed for <I paid a portion of the long-distance bill to keep my carrier from cutting off service until I can meet the remainder of the charges> — see PAY 2

meeting noun
1 a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose <there will be another committee meeting next week to discuss the parish fair>

Synonyms
assembly, congress, convention, convocation, council, gathering, get-together, huddle, powwow

Related Words
clinic, workshop; cabinet, caucus, conclave, synod; demonstration, rally; confab, conversation, dialogue (also dialog), discourse, discussion, palaver, talk; negotiation, parley, summit; conference, forum, round-robin, roundtable, seminar, symposium; audience, interview, session

2 a body of people come together in one place <a meeting marked by no consensus of what needs to be done> — see GATHERING 1
3 the coming together of two or more things to the same point <a meeting of two railroad lines> — see CONVERGENCE

meetly adverb
in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose <the governor meetly and rightly did his duty when he vetoed a bill that was clearly unconstitutional> — see PROPERLY

mega adjective
unusually large <I will never understand why people build those mega houses on tiny lots> — see HUGE

megabucks plural noun
a very large amount of money <a baseball player with a contract worth megabucks> — see FORTUNE 2

megacity noun
a thickly settled, highly populated area <such modern megacities as São Paulo and Mexico City> — see CITY

megahit noun
a person or thing that is successful <the band's latest album is a megahit> — see HIT 1

megalopolis noun
a thickly settled, highly populated area <what was once a series of discrete towns interspersed with countryside is now one vast megalopolis> — see CITY

megastar noun
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <even a cast of megastars couldn't keep the would-be blockbuster from fizzling at the box office> — see CELEBRITY 1

megrim noun
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action <having no sense of purpose, he was often at the mercy of the strange megrims that sprang into his head> — see WHIM

meister noun
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <asked the office's wine meister to recommend a good bottle for a dinner party that she was hosting> — see EXPERT

melancholic adjective
feeling unhappiness <she becomes quite melancholic when she reflects on all the lost opportunities of her life> — see SAD 1

melancholy adjective
1 causing unhappiness <the melancholy thought of having to say good-bye to all the friends he had made over the summer> — see SAD 2
2 feeling unhappiness <she was a bit melancholy after her youngest child left for college> — see SAD 1
3 given to or marked by long, quiet thinking <a melancholy period in the artist's life that is reflected in his work> — see CONTEMPLATIVE

melancholy noun
a state or spell of low spirits <the bleakness of winter sometimes gives me cause for melancholy> — see SADNESS

mélange noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <a mélange of outfits for her workouts at the gym> — see MISCELLANY 1

meld noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <her music is a meld of rock and country> — see BLEND

meld verb
to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <a cuisine that melds East and West into strikingly original flavor combinations> — see BLEND 1

melee noun
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people <a verbal disagreement at the football game soon turned into a general melee involving scores of spectators> — see BRAWL 1

meliorate verb
to make better <regulations intended to meliorate the working conditions of migrant farm laborers> — see IMPROVE

mellifluent adjective
having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music <the seamless editing gives the lushly romantic film a very mellifluent feel> — see LYRIC 1

mellifluous adjective
having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music <a rich, mellifluous voice that gets her a lot of work in radio and TV commercials> — see LYRIC 1

mellow adjective
1 having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music <the mellow tones of an old violin> — see LYRIC 1
2 not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect <a teacher with a mellow approach to classroom discipline> <mellow soaps> — see GENTLE 1
3 having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations <mellow and unflappable, the office manager greatly contributes to the work environment> — see AMIABLE
4 having a relaxed, casual manner <she's rather high-strung, and her boyfriend is mellow, so they counterbalance each other nicely> — see EASYGOING 1

mellow (out) verb
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety <I'm going to need to mellow out when this stressful week is finally at an end> — see RELAX 1

melodic adjective
having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music <a sweetly melodic chant> — see LYRIC 1

melodious adjective
1 having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music <preferred the melodious sounds of the woodlands to anything produced in a concert hall> — see LYRIC 1
2 having a pleasing mixture of notes <a particularly melodious ringtone that was instantly recognizable> — see HARMONIOUS 1

melodist noun
a person who writes musical compositions <a melodist whose music is not likely to be very accessible to the casual listener> — see COMPOSER

melodramatic adjective
1 given to or marked by attention-getting behavior suggestive of stage acting <our office drama queen yet again made the melodramatic declaration that he was contemplating suicide> — see THEATRICAL 1
2 having the general quality or effect of a stage performance <he gave his usual melodramatic speech that he had learned his lesson and thereafter would always remain faithful to his wife> — see DRAMATIC 1

melody noun
a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect <this week, we'll learn to play a more complicated melody on the saxophone>

Synonyms
air, lay, song, strain, tune, warble

Related Words
descant (also discant); cadence, measure, meter, rhythm; ballad, ditty, hymn, lyric, madrigal

melt verb
1 to cease to be visible <the fog soon melted away with the rising of the sun> — see DISAPPEAR
2 to go from a solid to a liquid state <a forgotten carton of ice cream was melting away on the counter> — see LIQUEFY

melt down verb
to yield to mental or emotional stress <apparently beset by personal problems, the actor proceeded to melt down before startled theatergoers> — see CRACK 2

member noun
1 one of the parts that make up a whole <you're only one member of this group effort> — see ELEMENT 1
2 one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled <lost an indispensable member of the model airplane kit> — see PART 1

memento noun
something that serves to keep alive the memory of a person or event <kept a seashell as a memento of their first meeting, which happened to be at the beach> — see MEMORIAL

memo noun
1 a message on paper from one person or group to another <a long series of memos between the two authors collaborating on the book> — see 1LETTER
2 a usually brief written reminder <taped a memo to her computer about the upcoming meeting> — see NOTE 1
3 a written communication giving information or directions <memos were the standard means of office communication before the arrival of e-mail> — see MEMORANDUM 1

memoir noun
a history of a person's life <the ex-president has a lucrative contract to write his memoirs, in which he will supposedly set the record straight> — see BIOGRAPHY

memorable adjective
1 not easily forgotten <the troupe put on the most memorable performance of Hamlet that I have ever seen> — see UNFORGETTABLE
2 worth remembering or mentioning <a classic Broadway musical with a raft of memorable songs> — see NOTEWORTHY 1

memorandum noun
1 a written communication giving information or directions <I'm waiting for the memorandum that will explain the new vacation policy>

Synonyms
directive, memo, notice

Related Words
announcement, bulletin, declaration, notification, posting, proclamation, pronouncement, release; dispatch, report; edict, pronunciamento, rescript; charge, command, dictate; directions, instructions, orders, word; encyclical, epistle, jotting, letter, mail, message, missive, note, post [chiefly British]

2 a message on paper from one person or group to another <the studio executives depend on endless memoranda to keep track of what's going on at a movie shot on location> — see 1LETTER
3 a usually brief written reminder <dispatched a memorandum to her secretary about the assignment> — see NOTE 1

memorial adjective
serving to preserve the memory of a person, thing, or an event <a memorial plaque on the bridge for a diver who died in the line of duty> — see COMMEMORATIVE

memorial noun
something that serves to keep alive the memory of a person or event <the Vietnam War Memorial is a starkly beautiful testimonial to the bravery of the soldiers who served in Vietnam>

Synonyms
commemorative, keepsake, memento, monument, remembrance, reminder, souvenir, token

Related Words
memorabilia; relic, vestige; cairn, landmark, marker; testimonial, tribute; cenotaph

memorialize verb
to be a memorial of <at the entrance to the park stands a statue memorializing the novelist Sir Walter Scott> — see COMMEMORATE 1

memorializing adjective
serving to preserve the memory of a person, thing, or an event <a memorializing book on the sinking of the Titanic> — see COMMEMORATIVE

memorial park noun
a piece of land used for burying the dead <Forest Lawn in Glendale, California, is the memorial park that serves as the final resting place for many of Hollywood's greatest> — see CEMETERY

memorize verb
to commit to memory <everyone has to memorize a poem for next week's class>

Synonyms
con, learn, study

Related Words
hark back (to), mind [chiefly dialect], recall, recollect, relive, remember, reminisce (about), retain, think (of); accept, apprehend, comprehend, get, grasp, know, understand; absorb, digest

Near Antonyms
disremember, forget, misremember; disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, slur (over)

Antonyms
unlearn

memory noun
1 the power or process of recalling what has been previously learned or experienced <a photographic memory makes taking tests entirely too easy>

Synonyms
mind, recollection, remembrance, reminiscence

Related Words
hypermnesia, total recall; contemplation, meditation, musing, reflection, retrospection, thinking; awareness, cognizance, consciousness; apprehension, comprehension, grasp, grip, perception, understanding

Near Antonyms
amnesia, repression; forgetfulness

2 a particular act or instance of recalling or the thing remembered <I have only the vaguest memory of the family vacation we took the year I turned three>

Synonyms
anamnesis, recall, recollection, remembrance, reminiscence

Related Words
flashback; memento, memorial, reminder, souvenir, token; association

menace noun
something that may cause injury or harm <a loaded gun is a menace that this household doesn't need> — see DANGER 2

menace verb
1 to place in danger <menaced the children by leaving them in the car unattended> — see ENDANGER
2 to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on <stockpiles of nuclear weapons that continue to menace the inhabitants of this planet> — see THREATEN

menacing adjective
1 being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come <warns that the emergence of new viruses is one of the most menacing developments we face> — see OMINOUS
2 involving potential loss or injury <fears that the unemployment rate may be reaching menacing proportions> — see DANGEROUS 1

ménage noun
those who live as a family in one house <getting the whole unruly ménage ready for an outing takes quite a while> — see HOUSEHOLD

menagerie noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the living room is eclectically furnished with a menagerie of garage-sale finds> — see MISCELLANY

mend verb
1 to put into good shape or working order again <that shirt will be as good as new when I'm finished mending it>

Synonyms
doctor, fix, patch, recondition, renovate, repair, revamp

Related Words
fix up, furbish, overhaul, rebuild, reconstruct, refurbish; aid, cure, heal, help; condition, prepare, ready; care (for), maintain, service; freshen, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, rejuvenate, renew, restore, revitalize, revive; adjust, correct, modify, rectify, redress, reform, right; ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate

Near Antonyms
blemish, break, damage, deface, disfigure, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, ruin, spoil, vandalize, wreck; cripple, disable, maim, mangle, mutilate

2 to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness <she's mending after a particularly nasty bout of the flu> — see CONVALESCE
3 to restore to a healthy condition <mended the broken plant so that it was soon thriving again> — see HEAL 1
4 to make up for (an offense) <the proverb “least said, soonest mended” should be heeded by anyone tempted to angrily blurt out things they really don't mean> — see EXPIATE
5 to change one's behavior or character for the better <everyone's written her off as a liar and a thief, but I say it's never too late to mend> — see REFORM 2
6 to bring about recovery from <the old adage that only time can mend a broken heart> — see CURE 1

mendacious adjective
telling or containing lies <that tabloid routinely publishes the most moronically mendacious stories about celebrities> — see DISHONEST 1

mendaciousness noun
the tendency to tell lies <her memoirs have such an air of pervasive mendaciousness that she seems to have lost all sense of what truth is> — see DISHONESTY 1

mendacity noun
1 a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive <highly fictionalized “memoirs” in which the facts were few and the mendacities many> — see LIE
2 the tendency to tell lies <you need to overcome this deplorable mendacity, or no one will ever believe anything you say> — see DISHONESTY 1

mendicant noun
a person who lives by public begging <those wretched mendicants on the streets of Calcutta> — see BEGGAR

mending noun
the process or period of gradually regaining one's health and strength <it was a long slow mending of his injuries from the car crash, but he's fine now> — see CONVALESCENCE

menial adjective
showing, expressing, or offered in a spirit of humility or unseemly submissiveness <every command was obeyed in the menial manner of someone who seemed grateful just to be in the presence of a celebrity> — see ABJECT

menial noun
a person hired to perform household or personal services <immigrants to that country faced fierce prejudice and could expect to find work only as menials> — see SERVANT

menstruation noun
an occurrence of menstruating <a first menstruation can be somewhat scary for girls who are unprepared> — see PERIOD 1

mental adjective
1 of or relating to the mind <a funny mental image made him laugh out loud>

Synonyms
cerebral, inner, intellectual, interior, internal, psychological (also psychologic)

Related Words
cognitive, conscious, epistemic, knowing; noetic; psychic (also psychical), telepathic; alert, brainy, bright, brilliant, clever, intelligent, quick-witted, rational, reasoning, sharp, sharp-witted, smart, thinking

Near Antonyms
bodily, carnal, corporal, corporeal, fleshly, physical, somatic; unconscious; brainless, dense, doltish, dopey (also dopy), fatuous, half-witted, mindless, obtuse, simple, slow-witted, stupid, thick, thickheaded, unintelligent, weak-minded, witless

Antonyms
nonmental

2 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <humane treatment of mental patients> — see INSANE 1

mentality noun
the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems <most teenagers do not have the mentality to foresee the consequences of such risky behavior> — see INTELLIGENCE 1

mention noun
a formal recognition of an achievement or praiseworthy deed <received a special mention for her submission to the exhibition of local artists> — see COMMENDATION 1

mention verb
1 to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically <you only mentioned in passing some of your accomplishments>

Synonyms
advert (to), cite, drop, instance, name, note, notice, quote, refer (to), specify, touch (on or upon)

Related Words
allude (to), hint (at), imply, indicate, infer, intend, intimate, suggest; point (out), signal, signify; denominate, designate; indicate; bring up, broach, interject, interpolate, interpose, introduce; infiltrate, insinuate, worm; advertise, announce, broadcast, declare, proclaim, pronounce, publicize, publish, sound; clarify, clear (up), elucidate, explain, explicate, spell out

Near Antonyms
disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight

2 to give as an example <mentioned several legal precedents in support of her argument> — see QUOTE 1

mentionable adjective
worth remembering or mentioning <a lot of films have been relased thus far this year, but none have been mentionable as far as awards go> — see NOTEWORTHY 1

mentor verb
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed <we're looking for volunteers to mentor students in the theater arts> — see GUIDE 1

menu noun
1 a list of foods served at or available for a meal <the menu at the fancy restaurant listed many dishes that I had never heard of>

Synonyms
card

Related Words
chow, chuck [chiefly West], cuisine, fare, grub, provender, table

Phrases
bill of fare

2 a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system <checked the menu of available books> — see 1LIST
3 food eaten or prepared for eating at one time <a nine-course menu that consisted of pocket-size portions of the chef's specialties> — see MEAL

mercenariness noun
an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions <she possesses the unmistakable mercenariness of a confirmed gold digger> — see GREED

mercenary adjective
having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions <they were a mercenary couple, who defined themselves not by what they were but by what they owned> — see GREEDY 1

merchandise noun
products that are bought and sold in business <we stock only the finest-quality merchandise in this store>

Synonyms
commodities, goods, wares

Related Words
line; export, import; inventory, staples, stock, stuff, supply; job lot; domestics, durables (also durable goods), hard goods

merchandise also merchandize verb
to offer for sale to the public <the now-familiar practice of stores merchandising goods at dramatically lower prices on the day after Thanksgiving> — see MARKET

merchandiser noun
1 a buyer and seller of goods for profit <the wholesale merchandiser makes a 15% profit on those toys> — see MERCHANT
2 the person in a business deal who hands over an item in exchange for money <a scattering of small merchandisers selling souvenirs around the fairgrounds> — see VENDOR

merchant noun
a buyer and seller of goods for profit <free trade agreements that are favored by merchants on both sides of the border>

Synonyms
dealer, merchandiser, trader, tradesman, trafficker

Related Words
businessman, enterpriser, entrepreneur; buyer, marketer, purchaser; hawker, huckster, hustler, peddler (also pedlar); retailer, seller, shopkeeper, storekeeper, vendor (also vender); engrosser, monopolist; jobber, middleman, wholesaler; distributor, provider, provisioner, purveyor, supplier

merchantable adjective
fit to be offered for sale <a logging operation that strips an area of all of its trees, only a small percentage of which will yield merchantable timber> — see MARKETABLE

mercifulness noun
kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it <preached that the mercifulness of the Lord is without limit> — see MERCY 1

merciless adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <she is a merciless competitor at board games of any kind> — see HARD 1

mercurial adjective
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <the boss's mood is so mercurial that we never know how he's going to react to anything> — see FICKLE 1

mercy noun
1 kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it <always show your enemies mercy, because it makes you a better person>

Synonyms
charity, clemency, forbearance, lenience, leniency, lenity, mercifulness, quarter

Related Words
humanitarianism, philanthropy; empathy, pity, sympathy, understanding; commiseration, favor, grace; benevolence, care, compassion, gentleness, goodness, goodwill, humaneness, kindliness, kindness, meekness, mildness, niceness, softness, tenderness; altruism, generosity, magnanimity, nobility; affection, devotion, love, worship

Near Antonyms
hard-heartedness, mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness, uncharitableness; reprisal, requital, retaliation, retribution, revenge, vengeance; venom, vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol; atrocity, barbarity, brutality, cruelty, sadism, savageness, savagery, truculence, viciousness, violence, wantonness; castigation, chastisement, discipline, punishment, scolding; abhorrence, abomination, detestation, execration, hate, hatred, loathing; cattiness, malevolence, malice, maliciousness, malignancy, malignity, meanness, nastiness, spite, spitefulness, spleen; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, enmity, gall, grudge, hostility, jealousy, pique, resentment; bile, jaundice, rancor; hatefulness, invidiousness; coarseness, hardness, harshness, roughness

2 an act of kind assistance <did a mercy for the stranded motorist and was richly rewarded> — see FAVOR 1
3 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <a woman of such mercy that she's been known to cry over dead rodents> — see HEART 1

mere adjective
being this and no more <the mere idea of your traveling alone to Europe is ridiculous>

Synonyms
bare, very

Related Words
absolute, all-out, arrant, out-and-out, outright, pure, sheer, simple, stark, total, unadulterated, unalloyed, unmitigated, unqualified, utter; alone, lone, only, singular, sole, solitary, solo, unique

mere noun, chiefly British
a small often deep body of water <one of the most scenic meres in England's Lake District> — see 1POOL

merely adverb
nothing more than <the outside noise was merely a raccoon knocking over the garbage can> — see JUST 3

merge verb
to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <years of living side by side had failed to merge the various ethnic groups into one community, and the city remained more of a mosaic than a melting pot> — see BLEND 1

merger noun
the act or an instance of joining two or more things into one <the merger of the two companies will create the largest Internet service provider in the country> — see UNION 1

merging noun
the act or an instance of joining two or more things into one <the merging of the two companies resulted in a corporation with a totally different configuration> — see UNION 1

meridian noun
the highest part or point <a lawyer at the meridian of his career arguing a case before the U.S. Supreme Court> — see HEIGHT 1

merit noun
1 a quality that gives something special worth <this mystery novel at least has the merit of an original plot> — see EXCELLENCE 2
2 the relative usefulness or importance of something as judged by specific qualities <that idea has some merit, so let's explore it> — see WORTH 1

merit verb
to be or make worthy of (as a reward or punishment) <that selfless act of heroism merited a public ceremony to honor the young swimmer> — see EARN 2

merited adjective
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong <the punishment, although harsh, was entirely merited> — see JUST 1

meritorious adjective
1 deserving of high regard or great approval <worked all night with meritorious determination to get the project done on time> — see ADMIRABLE
2 having sufficient worth or merit to receive one's honor, esteem, or reward <all agreed that the most meritorious science project had won the competition> — see WORTHY

merrily adverb
in a cheerful or happy manner <our coworker merrily announced that it was her birthday, so we felt obligated to treat her to lunch> — see GAILY 1

merriment noun
1 a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter <their unexpected merriment made him nervously inquire as to the reason for it> — see MIRTH
2 joyful or festive activity <the wedding reception merriment lasted long into the night> — see MERRYMAKING

merriness noun
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter <I hate the forced merriness of so many New Year's Eve parties> — see MIRTH

merry adjective
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor <the traditional depiction of Santa Claus as a rotund man with merry, twinkling blue eyes>

Synonyms
blithesome, festive, gay, gleeful, jocose, jocular, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, mirthful, sunny

Related Words
amused, beaming, chuckling, giggling, smiling; bright, buoyant, carefree, cheerful, cheery, chipper, lighthearted, lightsome, upbeat; animated, bouncing, frisky, jaunty, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, vivacious, zippy; blessed (also blest), blissful, delighted, ecstatic, elated, enraptured, entranced, euphoric, exhilarated, exuberant, exultant, gladsome, happy, high, joyful, joyous, jubilant, overjoyed, radiant, rapturous, ravished, thrilled, tickled; amusing, facetious, flippant, frolicsome, funny, hilarious, jesting, joking, joshing, playful, sportive, witty; cavalier, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, insouciant, unconcerned; hopeful, optimistic, rosy, sanguine; antic, comic, comical, farcical, humorous, riotous, sidesplitting, uproarious

Near Antonyms
abject, aggrieved, anguished, blue, brokenhearted, crestfallen, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, disheartened, dispirited, downcast, downhearted, forlorn, glum, heartbroken, heartsick, heavyhearted, low-spirited, melancholy, sad, saddened, sorrowful, unhappy; crying, groaning, moaning, sobbing, wailing, weeping; discontented, disgruntled, moody; doleful, dolorous, joyless, lachrymose, lugubrious, mournful, plaintive, sorry, woeful; black, bleak, cheerless, comfortless, dark, depressing, desolate, dismal, dreary, gloomy, glum, gray (also grey), morose, saturnine, somber (or sombre), sullen; miserable, woebegone, wretched; dull, lethargic, listless, sluggish, torpid

merry–go–round noun
a series of events or actions that repeat themselves regularly and in the same order <weary of the daily merry-go-round of commuting to his job in the city> — see CYCLE 1

merrymaker noun
one who engages in merrymaking especially in honor of a special occasion <merrymakers at the country club like to celebrate New Year's Eve in an especially grand style> — see CELEBRANT

merrymaking noun
joyful or festive activity <Christmas Eve is always an occasion of much merrymaking at our home>

Synonyms
conviviality, festivity, gaiety (also gayety), jollification, jollity, merriment, rejoicing, reveling (or revelling), revelry, whoopee

Related Words
carousal, carouse; delight, diversion, entertainment, fun, mischief, pleasure, recreation, riot; cheer, cheerfulness, cheeriness, glee, gleefulness, hilarity, joviality, merriness, mirth, mirthfulness; carnival, celebration, festival, party, revel; frolicking, gamboling (or gambolling), rollicking, romping; enjoyment, happiness, joy; binge, fling, frolic, gambol, lark, rollick, romp, spree; buffoonery, clownery, clownishness, flippancy, frivolity, funning, jesting, jocularity, joking, joshing, levity, lightheartedness, playfulness, zaniness

Near Antonyms
blackness, darkness, dolefulness, dolor, gloom, gloominess, glumness, grief, heartache, heartbreak, heartsickness, miserableness, misery, mournfulness, mourning, woe, wretchedness; dejection, depression, despondence, despondency, disconsolateness, dispiritedness, doldrums, downheartedness, dumps, forlornness, joylessness, melancholy, sorrow, unhappiness

mesa noun
a broad flat area of elevated land <a mesa in the Arizona desert> — see PLATEAU

mesh noun
1 usually meshes plural something that catches and holds <a routine request that got hung up in the meshes of the state bureaucracy> — see WEB 1
2 a fabric made of strands loosely twisted, knotted, or woven together at regular intervals <spread a mesh across the doorway to keep out insects> — see 1NET 1

mesh verb
to catch or hold as if in a net <dolphins sometimes become meshed in fishnets> — see ENTANGLE 2

meshuga or meshugge also meshugah or meshuggah adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <when your mother is meshuga like his was, a lifetime of therapy is pretty much a foregone conclusion> — see INSANE 1

mesmerism noun
the art or act of inducing in a person a sleeplike state during which he or she readily follows suggestions <made a living at mesmerism and the selling of medical remedies of dubious value> — see HYPNOSIS

mesmerize verb
to hold the attention of as if by a spell <discovered that the children were mesmerized by a television show> — see ENTHRALL 1

mesomorphic adjective
strongly and heavily built <the shot put, hammer throw, and other field events for which mesomorhic athletes are well-suited> — see 1HUSKY 1

mess noun
1 a state in which everything is out of order <the bachelor party had left the house in a total mess> — see CHAOS
2 food eaten or prepared for eating at one time <a mess of oatmeal> — see MEAL
3 something unpleasant to look at <the car was a mess after the accident> — see EYESORE
4 a considerable amount <an unexpected Super Bowl loss that unleashed a whole mess of finger-pointing and second-guessing> — see LOT 2

mess verb
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern <please don't mess with me while I'm trying to concentrate> — see INTERFERE

mess (up) verb
1 to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <messed up the drawing and had to start over> — see BOTCH
2 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <a nap had messed up her hair and she looked a sight> — see DISORDER
3 to make a mistake <if anyone messes up even once while we're recording, we have to start all over again> — see ERR 1
4 to strike repeatedly <“If I catch you looking at my girlfriend, I'm going to mess you up!” he threatened> — see BEAT 1

mess (with) verb
to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously <please don't mess with the buttons on the camera> — see TAMPER WITH

message noun
a piece of conveyed information <answered the phone and took a message> — see COMMUNICATION 1

mess around verb
1 to spend time in aimless activity <spent the vacation day just messing around> — see FIDDLE AROUND
2 to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun <a guy who goes to the health club mainly to mess around with the women> — see FLIRT 1
3 to come or be together as friends <if you continue to mess around with such narrow-minded boobs, you'll begin to think and act like them> — see ASSOCIATE 1

messed adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <came home to find a messed basement with his tools scattered about> — see MESSY

messenger noun
one that carries a message or does an errand <the messenger comes by twice a day to pick up packages>

Synonyms
courier, express [British], go-between, page, runner

Related Words
forerunner, harbinger, herald; agent, ambassador, delegate, deputy, emissary, envoy, representative; bearer, carrier, deliveryman, letter carrier, mail carrier, mailman

messiness noun
a state in which everything is out of order <a professional chef would not tolerate such messiness in the kitchen> — see CHAOS

mess over verb, slang
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <her no-good boyfriend has been messing her over for years> — see ABUSE 1

messy adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <having a messy room is virtually de rigueur for a college student>

Synonyms
chaotic, cluttered, confused, disarranged, disarrayed, disheveled (or dishevelled), disordered, disorderly, higgledy-piggledy, hugger-mugger, jumbled, littered, messed, muddled, mussed, mussy, pell-mell, rumpled, sloppy, topsy-turvy, tousled, tumbled, unkempt, untidy, upside-down

Related Words
bedraggled, befouled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, blackened, cruddy, dingy, dirty, draggled, filthy, foul, grimy, grotty [chiefly British], grubby, grungy, mucky, nasty, smudged, soiled, spotted, squalid, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleanly; dowdy, frowsy (or frowzy), shaggy, slatternly, sloven, slovenly, uncombed; wrinkled; adulterated, contaminated, defiled, polluted, tainted; knotted, snarled, tangled; seedy, shabby, sleazy, sordid; neglected, neglectful, negligent

Phrases
at sixes and sevens, out of joint

Near Antonyms
antiseptic, clean, cleaned, cleanly, hygienic, immaculate, sparkling, spick-and-span (or spic-and-span), spotless, stainless, unsoiled, unsullied; methodical (also methodic), regular, systematic, systematized; careful, fastidious, finicky, fussy, meticulous; combed, groomed, manicured, well-groomed; taintless, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, wholesome

Antonyms
bandbox, crisp, kempt, neat, neatened, ordered, orderly, organized, shipshape, snug, tidied, tidy, trim, uncluttered, well-ordered

metamorphose verb
to change in form, appearance, or use <a science fiction story in which radiation metamorphoses people into giant bugs> — see CONVERT 2

metamorphosis noun
a change in form, appearance, or use <the metamorphosis of caterpillars into butterflies> <the metamorphosis of the abandoned factory into a mixed-use property> — see CONVERSION 1

metaphor noun
an elaborate or fanciful way of expressing something <“it's raining cats and dogs” is just a colorful metaphor and not a meteorological announcement> — see CONCEIT 1

metaphoric or metaphorical adjective
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another <an author fond of such metaphorical phrases as “the desert was a fiery furnace”> — see FIGURATIVE

metaphysical adjective
1 dealing with or expressing a quality or idea <a work that deals with such metaphysical questions as the very nature of knowledge> — see ABSTRACT 1
2 of, relating to, or being part of a reality beyond the observable physical universe <belief in a metaphysical world beyond the one in which we live> — see SUPERNATURAL 1

mete (out) verb
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals <determined to mete out an appropriate punishment for the CEO guilty of insider trading> — see ADMINISTER 1

meter noun
the recurrent pattern formed by a series of sounds having a regular rise and fall in intensity <the poem's heavy meter is meant to reinforce the atmosphere of gloom> — see RHYTHM

method noun
the means or procedure for doing something <the city council is stuck in the last century and needs to adopt more modern methods for doing things>

Synonyms
approach, fashion, form, how, manner, methodology, recipe, strategy, style, system, tack, tactics, technique, way

Related Words
mode, modus operandi; blueprint, design, game, game plan, ground plan, intrigue, layout, line, model, plan, plot, program, route, scheme; expedient, move, shift, step; practice (also practise), process, routine; policy

methodical also methodic adjective
following a set method, arrangement, or pattern <a methodical study plan that included lists of points to memorize>

Synonyms
neat, orderly, organized, regular, systematic, systematized

Related Words
ordered, regularized, standardized, structured; accurate, clocklike, correct, exact, precise; detailed, specific

Near Antonyms
chaotic, disordered, disorderly, shambolic [chiefly British], unordered

Antonyms
disorganized, haphazard, hit-or-miss, immethodical, irregular, nonsystematic, patternless, planless, systemless, unsystematic

methodology noun
1 a way of acting or proceeding <for solving crossword puzzles my usual methodology is to begin by filling in all of the answers I'm reasonably sure of> — see COURSE 1
2 the means or procedure for doing something <other cardiologists have questioned the methodology that was used to conduct the study> — see METHOD

meticulosity noun
strict attentiveness to what one is doing <the meticulosity with which she placed each piece of china, crystal, and silver on the table> — see CARE 1

meticulous adjective
taking, showing, or involving great care and effort <did a meticulous job of restoring the painting> — see PAINSTAKING

meticulousness noun
strict attentiveness to what one is doing <he dressed himself with uncharacteristic meticulousness, which made us suspect he was going on a date> — see CARE 1

métier also metier noun
something for which a person shows a special talent <public speaking is not my métier, as others can attest> — see FORTE

metric noun
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared <according to the usual metrics by which we judge fiction, this novel is an utter failure> — see STANDARD 1

metrical or metric adjective
marked by or occurring with a noticeable regularity in the rise and fall of sound <the metrical chugging of the machinery had a hypnotic effect> — see RHYTHMIC

metropolis noun
a thickly settled, highly populated area <a big, teeming metropolis where ambitious people from all over come to make their mark> — see CITY

metropolitan noun
a person with the outlook, experience, and manners thought to be typical of big city dwellers <a TV series about the lives and loves of a group of young, attractive metropolitans> — see COSMOPOLITAN

mettlesome adjective
1 having much high-spirited energy and movement <the mettlesome opening dance number got the audience all jazzed up> — see LIVELY 1
2 marked by a lively display of strong feeling <a mettlesome debate on the teaching of evolution in the schools> — see SPIRITED 1

mew (up) verb
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <bored with being mewed up in a stuffy house all day> — see ENCLOSE 1

mewl verb
to utter feeble plaintive cries <the tiny kitten mewled for its mother> — see WHIMPER 1

Mexican standoff noun
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in <in the battle over bedtime the parents and their son are at a Mexican standoff> — see IMPASSE 1

Mickey Mouse adjective
1 lacking importance <a woman who at town meetings insists on airing every little Mickey Mouse concern she has> — see UNIMPORTANT
2 so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <as far as his schoolmarm of a boss is concerned, no rule is so Mickey Mouse that it can be ignored> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

microminiature adjective
very small in size <a microminiature model of the city to be used for the movie's special effects> — see TINY

microscopic also microscopical adjective
very small in size <even a microscopic speck of dust in the eye will cause pain> — see TINY

mid adjective
occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes <her mid molar will have to be extracted and replaced by a bridge> — see MIDDLE 1

mid preposition
in or into the middle of <mid a tangle of weeds grew a perfect rose> — see AMONG

midday noun
the middle of the day <by midday the sun and heat were unbearable> — see NOON 1

middle adjective
1 occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes <you must mark the exact middle point of each of these lines in order to solve the problem>

Synonyms
central, halfway, intermediary, intermediate, medial, median, mediate, medium, mid, midmost

Related Words
equidistant; inmost, inner, innermost, nearest; betwixt and between, borderline, gray (also grey), in-between

Near Antonyms
outer, peripheral

Antonyms
extreme, farthest, farthermost, furthermost, furthest, outermost, outmost, remotest, utmost

2 being about midway between extremes of amount or size <a house that is middle-sized for that neighborhood> <a man of middle height>

Synonyms
average, intermediate, mean, median, medium, middling, midsize (also midsized), moderate, modest

Related Words
reasonable; common, commonplace, conventional, normal, popular, regular, routine, standard, typical, usual; adequate, passable, tolerable

Near Antonyms
excessive, extreme; exceptional, rare, strange, uncommon, unusual; distinctive, idiosyncratic, special, unique; individual, peculiar, private

middle noun
1 a middle point between extremes <his salary is exactly at the middle of the company's pay scale> — see MEAN 1
2 an area or point that is an equal distance from all points along an edge or outer surface <put the serving dish in the middle of the table> — see CENTER 2
3 the middle region of the human torso <clutched the football tightly against her middle> — see MIDRIFF
4 the most intense or characteristic phase of something <I'm right in the middle of a tax audit, so can you come back later?> — see THICK

middle ground noun
a middle point between extremes <both parties entered the negotiations hoping to find some middle ground> — see MEAN 1

middleman noun
one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement <the retired statesman is often asked to be a middleman in international disputes> — see MEDIATOR

middle–of–the–road adjective
avoiding major social change or extreme political ideas <a candidate with middle-of-the-road views on most hot-button issues> — see MODERATE 2

middle–of–the–roader noun
a person who holds moderate views <since the party's middle-of-the-roaders often lack verve, the activists inevitably nominate some extremist who can't win in the general election> — see CENTRIST

middling adjective
1 being about midway between extremes of amount or size <tired of the city but not particularly interested in small-town life, he moved to a suburb of middling size> — see MIDDLE 2
2 of average to below average quality <was disappointed in the renowned historian's latest book, which is only middling> — see MEDIOCRE 1

middlingly adverb
in a satisfactory way <this vacuum handles basic jobs middlingly, but I'd recommend the other one for heavy-duty cleaning> <she's a middlingly successful architect, but no world-beater> — see WELL 1

midget noun
a living thing much smaller than others of its kind <a breed that is the midget of the horse world> — see DWARF 1

midmost adjective
occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes <the midmost subway car is usually the most crowded one in the train, so try to avoid it> — see MIDDLE 1

midpoint noun
1 a middle point between extremes <always choose a wine that is at the midpoint of the range of prices on the list> — see MEAN 1
2 an area or point that is an equal distance from all points along an edge or outer surface <that house is the precise midpoint of the school district> — see CENTER 2

midriff noun
the middle region of the human torso <midriff-baring tops are popular this summer>

Synonyms
middle, midsection, waist, waistline

Related Words
trunk; abdomen, belly, gut, stomach

midsection noun
the middle region of the human torso <did sit-ups to strengthen the muscles in her midsection> — see MIDRIFF

midsize also midsized adjective
being about midway between extremes of amount or size <the midsize company was finding it increasingly difficult to compete with the corporate giants> — see MIDDLE 2

midst noun
1 an area or point that is an equal distance from all points along an edge or outer surface <stood in the midst of the crowd> — see CENTER 2
2 the most intense or characteristic phase of something <in the midst of illustrating a new book> — see THICK

midst preposition
in or into the middle of <gave a victory speech midst cheering supporters> — see AMONG

mien noun
the outward form of someone or something especially as indicative of a quality <the stern mien of the librarian suggested that she was not one to put up with any nonsense> — see APPEARANCE 1

miff noun
the feeling of being offended or resentful after a slight or indignity <“No one asked you!” she retorted, with some miff> — see PIQUE

might noun
the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task <currently the President lacks the political might to push his programs through the Congress> — see POWER 2

mightily adverb
1 to a great degree <every volunteer contributed mightily to the cause> — see VERY 1
2 with great effort or determination <struggled mightily to climb up the steep cliff> — see HARD 1
3 in a vigorous and forceful manner <it is a foregone conclusion that the President's supporters will mightily applaud virtually every line of his speech> — see HARD 3

mighty adjective
1 having great power or influence <one of the mighty leaders of the U.S. financial world> — see IMPORTANT 2
2 unusually large <a mighty castle towered over everything nearby> — see HUGE

mighty adverb
to a great degree <he was mighty hungry after raking leaves all afternoon> — see VERY 1

migrant adjective
having a way of life that involves moving from one region to another typically on a seasonal basis <migrant laborers living in substandard housing> — see MIGRATORY

migrant noun
one that leaves one place to settle in another <the city will have to expand and upgrade its social services in order to handle the latest influx of migrants> — see EMIGRANT

migratory adjective
having a way of life that involves moving from one region to another typically on a seasonal basis <most of the apple crop is picked by migratory workers> <migratory birds heading south for the winter>

Synonyms
migrant, mobile

Related Words
errant, fugitive, itinerant, nomadic, peregrine, peripatetic, ranging, roaming, roving, tramp, traveling (or travelling), vagabond, vagrant, wandering, wayfaring; ambulant, ambulatory, drifting, fiddle-footed, footloose, gadabout, gallivanting (also galavanting), meandering, rambling, sauntering, strolling, traipsing, walking

Near Antonyms
immobile, stationary; established, fast, fixed, rooted, sedentary, set, settled

Antonyms
nonmigrant, nonmigrating, nonmigratory, resident

milady noun
a woman of high birth or social position <the 18th-century quack Franz Anton Mesmer specialized in the curing of those mysterious ailments to which pampered miladies seem especially prone> — see GENTLEWOMAN

mild adjective
1 marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low <the mild weather that makes springtime such a delight> — see CLEMENT 1
2 not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect <a quiet gentleman with a kindly soul and a mild disposition> — see GENTLE 1

mile noun
a long distance <the recluse lived in a small cabin miles away from his closest neighbor>

Synonyms
afar, country mile, far cry, long haul

Related Words
infinity, light-year

Antonyms
hair, inch, step, stone's throw

mileage noun
the capacity for being useful for some purpose <I bought this dishwasher just last year—there is still a lot of mileage left in it> — see USE 2

milepost noun
a point in a chain of events at which an important change (as in one's fortunes) occurs <a milepost in the development of a global economy> — see TURNING POINT

milestone noun
a point in a chain of events at which an important change (as in one's fortunes) occurs <the new drug was regarded as a milestone in the treatment of heart disease> — see TURNING POINT

milieu noun
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded <young, innovative artists thrive in the freewheeling milieu that a big city offers> — see ENVIRONMENT

militance noun
an inclination to fight or quarrel <the level of militance varied significantly among the abolitionist groups> — see BELLIGERENCE

militancy noun
an inclination to fight or quarrel <the militancy of the radical organization made the authorities a little nervous> — see BELLIGERENCE

militant adjective
1 feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <political radicals with a militant unwillingness to compromise on any issue> — see BELLIGERENT
2 having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal <after a campaign by militant feminists lasting more than 70 years, American women received the right to vote in 1919> — see AGGRESSIVE 1

militant noun
one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause <militants within the movement insisted that there could be no compromise on the abolition of slavery> — see ZEALOT

militantness noun
an inclination to fight or quarrel <the militantness of the group's manifesto is unsettling> — see BELLIGERENCE

militarist noun
one who urges or attempts to cause a war <the militarists who dominated the Japanese government in the first half of the 20th century> — see WARMONGER

military adjective
1 of or relating to the armed services <the colonel testified that revealing any more information would have required giving away military secrets>

Synonyms
martial, service

Related Words
naval; GI, gladiatorial, mercenary, soldierly; militant, militarist, militaristic, warlike; enlisted, regular; paramilitary

Near Antonyms
civil, civilian

Antonyms
nonmilitary

2 of, relating to, or suitable for war or a warrior <after returning from the war, the college president very unsuccessfully tried to impose military discipline on the students> — see MARTIAL 1

military noun
the combined army, air force, and navy of a nation <some would insist that the military's budget is still inadequate> — see ARMED FORCES

milk verb
to take unfair advantage of <unscrupulous people trying to milk the welfare system for all it's worth> — see EXPLOIT 1

milk–and–water adjective
1 lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character <a milk-and-water campaign speech that most likely did not inspire a single person> — see WISHY-WASHY 1
2 lacking strength of will or character <we need to elect a leader with a bold vision, not someone who's been a milk-and-water yes-man all his life> — see WEAK 2

milk–livered adjective, archaic
having or showing a shameful lack of courage <vented his spleen at those milk-livered men who refused to fight for king and country> — see COWARDLY

mill noun
a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods <a steel mill that remains the town's principal employer> — see FACTORY

mill verb
to reduce to fine particles <a demonstration of how dried kernels of corn were milled in colonial times> — see POWDER

millions plural noun
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite <intellectuals sneered that television was a medium clearly aimed at the millions> — see MASS 1

milord noun
a man of high birth or social position <a city that was a favorite stop for English milords on the grand tour> — see GENTLEMAN 1

mime noun
1 an actor in a story performed silently and entirely by body movements <that annoying mime on the sidewalk is pretending to be in an invisible box again>

Synonyms
mimic, mummer, pantomime, pantomimist

Related Words
busker [chiefly British], entertainer, performer, player, trouper; aper, imitator, impersonator, impressionist; clown, pantaloon

2 a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling <the speech-impaired patient had to convey his wishes with mime or scribbled notes> — see GESTURE 1

mime verb
to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior <as a joke, Eric knelt by the dinner table and began miming a dog begging for food> — see IMITATE 1

mimetic adjective
using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model <boys have a tendency toward mimetic behavior, often imitating their fathers at a fairly early age> — see IMITATIVE 1

mimic adjective
1 being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <police were concerned that the mimic gun, although intended only as a toy, might be confused with the real thing in certain situations> — see IMITATION
2 using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model <a mimic battle fought by kids playing around in the schoolyard> — see IMITATIVE 1

mimic noun
1 a person who imitates another's voice and mannerisms for comic effect <a gifted mimic who can do a terrific imitation of anyone's voice>

Synonyms
imitator, impersonator, impressionist, personator

Related Words
burlesquer, caricaturist, lampooner, mocker, parodist, satirist; mime, mimer, mummer, pantomime, pantomimist; actor, entertainer, performer, player, trouper; ape, copycat, echo, parrot, rubber stamp

2 an actor in a story performed silently and entirely by body movements <a mimic in black clothes and white facial makeup> — see MIME 1

mimic verb
1 to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of <the comedian was famous for mimicking the President's distinctive lisp>

Synonyms
burlesque, caricature, do, imitate, mock, parody, send up, spoof, travesty

Related Words
lampoon, pasquinade, satirize; deride, gibe (or jibe), ridicule; ape, copycat, monkey, parrot; duplicate, emulate, replicate, reproduce; act, counterfeit, dissemble, fake, feign, pretend, sham, simulate; elaborate, embellish, embroider, exaggerate, magnify, pad, play up, stretch; amplify, enhance, enlarge (on or upon), expand, flesh (out), overdraw, overstate, put on; mime, pantomime; impersonate, perform, personate, play

2 to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior <began to learn their language by mimicking the sounds they made> — see IMITATE 1

minatory adjective
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come <the novel's protagonist is haunted by a minatory black specter> — see OMINOUS

mince verb
to cut into small pieces <minced some garlic and added it to the stew> — see CHOP

mincemeat noun
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <the artillery quickly made mincemeat of the enemy's fortifications> — see DESTRUCTION 1

mind noun
1 the part of a person that feels, thinks, perceives, wills, and especially reasons <scientists still disagree about exactly where the mind is located>

Synonyms
brain, cerebrum, head, psyche, thinker

Related Words
belfry, gray matter, intellect, intelligence, loaf [British slang], noodle, reason, skull; acumen, alertness, astuteness, brilliance, insight, judgment (or judgement), mentality, perception, perspicacity, sagacity, sapience, wisdom, wit; awareness, cognizance, consciousness, self-awareness, self-consciousness

2 the normal or healthy condition of the mental abilities <everyone used to tease him and tell him he was out of his mind when he swore he'd seen a flying saucer>

Synonyms
daylights, head, marbles, reason, saneness, sanity, wit(s)

Related Words
rationality, reasonableness, sense; health, healthfulness, healthiness, wholesomeness; clearheadedness, lucidity, lucidness, normalcy, normality, soundness; wisdom

Near Antonyms
delusion, hallucination; delirium, frenzy, hysteria

Antonyms
dementia, derangement, insanity, lunacy, madness, mania, unreason

3 an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge <please speak your mind freely on this matter> — see OPINION 1
4 the power or process of recalling what has been previously learned or experienced <call to mind the events of last year> — see MEMORY 1

mind verb
1 to pay attention especially through the act of hearing <you'll be in big trouble if you don't straighten up and mind> — see LISTEN
2 chiefly dialect to bring back to mind <I seem to mind such a tale from way back> — see REMEMBER
3 to act according to the commands of <tell the children to mind the babysitter> — see OBEY
4 to be cautious of or on guard against <mind the slippery steps> — see BEWARE OF
5 to have an interest or concern for <don't mind him; he's always complaining> — see CARE
6 to take charge of especially on behalf of another <the salesperson will mind the store while the manager goes out to lunch> — see 2TEND 1
7 to take notice of and be guided by <mind the instructions that appear at the top of the first page of the exam> — see HEED 1

mind–bending adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <a spy novel with a truly mind-bending plot> — see EXCITING 1

mind–blowing adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <viewers will be stunned by the movie's mind-blowing twist ending> — see EXCITING 1

mind–boggling adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <a big-box store with a mind-boggling array of home-improvement supplies for the do-it-yourselfer> — see EXCITING 1

minded adjective
having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action) <in most David vs. Goliath contests, people are generally minded to side with the underdog> — see WILLING 1

minder noun
a person or group that watches over someone or something <those self-appointed minders of other people's morals> — see GUARD 1

mindful adjective
having specified facts or feelings actively impressed on the mind <a truly considerate person, always mindful of the needs of others> — see CONSCIOUS 1

mindfulness noun
a state of being aware <his mindfulness of his limited education made him ill at ease around academics> — see ATTENTION 2

mindless adjective
1 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <a dead-end job fit only for mindless drones> — see STUPID 1
2 not paying or showing close attention especially for the purpose of avoiding trouble <mindless of danger, the foolhardy skiers ignored the avalanche warnings> — see CARELESS 1

mindlessness noun
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <despised the sheer mindlessness of the movie's violence> — see STUPIDITY 1

mind–numbing adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <that movie is just a series of mind-numbing explosions and car chases> — see BORING

mind's eye noun
something imagined or pictured in the mind <there was a disturbing detail that he kept seeing in his mind's eye of the accident scene> — see IDEA 1

mine noun
1 an abundant source <a baseball fanatic who is a mine of fascinating trivia about the game>

Synonyms
argosy, cornucopia, gold mine, mother lode, treasure trove, wellspring

Related Words
armory, repository, stockpot, store, storehouse, treasure-house; cache, hoard, stash; bonanza, Golconda, gravy train, honeypot

Near Antonyms
black hole, sinkhole

2 a usually concealed explosive device designed to go off when disturbed <the soldiers were careful to disarm any mines they found in their path> — see BOOBY TRAP 1

mine verb
to place hidden explosive devices in or under <the troops hurriedly mined the field before relinquishing it to the enemy>

Synonyms
booby-trap

Related Words
blow up, bomb; ambush, snare, trap; attack

mingle verb
1 to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <the site where the river and the ocean mingle their waters to form a broad estuary> — see BLEND 1
2 to take part in social activities <mingling at a cocktail party> — see SOCIALIZE

mingy adjective
giving or sharing as little as possible <the company's mingy Christmas bonuses haven't exactly helped sagging employee morale> — see STINGY 1

miniature adjective
very small in size <a dollhouse with miniature furnishings> — see TINY

miniature noun
an exact representation of something in greatly reduced size <a diorama filled with miniatures of town buildings as they looked in the 19th century> — see MODEL 1

minimal adjective
being the least in amount, number, or size possible <the beached whales were returned to the sea with only minimal loss of life>

Synonyms
fewest, littlest, lowest, minimum, minutest, slightest, smallest, tiniest

Related Words
fewer, lesser, low, minor, modest, slight, small, smaller; infinitesimal, micro, subminimal, ultramicro; irreducible

Near Antonyms
highest

Antonyms
biggest, full, greatest, hugest, largest, maximum, most, top, topmost, utmost

minimize verb
to express scornfully one's low opinion of <sore losers trying to minimize the other team's victory> — see DECRY 1

minimum adjective
being the least in amount, number, or size possible <spent the minimum amount necessary to acquire the property> — see MINIMAL

minion noun
a person or thing that is preferred over others <most of the top appointments went to the new governor's personal minions and political cronies> — see FAVORITE

minister noun
1 a person sent on a mission to represent another <the British ministers at the international peace conference> — see AMBASSADOR
2 a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church <our minister gives an interesting sermon every week> — see CLERGYPERSON
3 a person who acts or does business for another <she's merely a minister of the corporation> — see AGENT 2

minister (to) verb
to attend to the needs and comforts of <volunteered to help minister to the sick at the local hospice> — see NURSE 1

ministerial adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy <a priest conscientiously tending to his ministerial duties> — see CLERICAL

ministry noun
1 something used to achieve an end <I don't care by what ministry it's accomplished, so long as it's done> — see AGENT 1
2 the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church <the ranks of the ministry have dwindled considerably in recent years> — see CLERGY

minor adjective
1 having not so great importance or rank as another <some minor official with an exaggerated sense of his own importance> — see LESSER
2 of little or less value or merit <a minor poet who is little read nowadays> — see INFERIOR 2
3 lacking importance <only a minor detail, which we can easily disregard for the moment> — see UNIMPORTANT

minority noun
the transitional period between childhood and adulthood <a teenager during his minority has some of the rights of an adult, but not all> — see ADOLESCENCE

minstrel noun
a person who writes poetry <Edna St. Vincent Millay was unofficially the minstrel of Maine, as her poetry celebrates its coast and countryside> — see POET

minstrelsy noun
writing that uses rhythm, vivid language, and often rhyme to provoke an emotional response <the traditional forms of German minstrelsy> — see POETRY 1

mint adjective
being in an original and unused or unspoiled state <a mint baseball card that should be worth a lot to a collector> — see FRESH 1

mint noun
a very large amount of money <she made a mint when the real estate market was hot> — see FORTUNE 2

minus noun
a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success <a plan with lots of pluses and only a few minuses> — see DISADVANTAGE 1

minus preposition
not having <the contraption was like a giant carousel minus the horses> — see WITHOUT 1

minuscule adjective
very small in size <public health officials have claimed that the chemical is harmless in such minuscule amounts> — see TINY

minute adjective
1 including many small descriptive features <a minute description of the setting of the story> — see DETAILED 1
2 lacking importance <a person who wastes her time on the most minute aspects of everyday life> — see UNIMPORTANT
3 so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <only minute differences between the two photographic prints> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1
4 made or done with extreme care and accuracy <a minute examination of the marine specimen> — see FINE 2
5 very small in size <made some minute adjustments to the controls> — see TINY

minute noun
a very small space of time <I'll be with you in just a minute> — see INSTANT

minutely adverb
with attention to all aspects or details <a minutely detailed analysis of the series of glitches that resulted in the blackout> — see THOROUGHLY 1

minutest adjective
being the least in amount, number, or size possible <a sophisticated instrument designed to pick up the minutest changes in temperature and humidity> — see MINIMAL

minx noun
a boldly flirtatious or sexually promiscuous woman <a blond actress who was usually typecast as the minx in melodramas> — see FLOOZY

miracle noun
something extraordinary or surprising <it's a miracle that you weren't hurt in the accident> — see WONDER 1

miraculous adjective
1 being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature <the miraculous nature of the revelation> — see SUPERNATURAL 2
2 causing wonder or astonishment <his miraculous escape from the burning building> — see MARVELOUS 1

mire noun
1 soft wet earth <played on a football field that was thick with mire> — see MUD
2 spongy land saturated or partially covered with water <much of the land in that area is mire that cannot be developed> — see SWAMP 1
3 a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <an abused wife who was hopelessly stuck in a mire of emotional dependency> — see PREDICAMENT

mire verb
1 to make dirty <the sight of the standard, which had emerged from the battle mangled and mired, still stirred the soldiers' hearts> — see DIRTY
2 to place in conflict or difficulties <the case has been mired in probate court for years> — see EMBROIL

mirror noun
a smooth or polished surface that forms images by reflection <breaking a mirror is supposed to bring seven years of bad luck>

Synonyms
glass, looking glass

Related Words
cheval glass, dressing glass, hand glass, pier glass, pier mirror; reflector

mirror verb
to reproduce or show (an exact likeness) as a mirror would <the still waters of the pond mirroring the cloudless sky above> — see REFLECT 1

mirror image noun
something or someone that strongly resembles another <looking at the idealistic intern, the elderly physician could not help but see the mirror image of himself 40 years earlier> — see IMAGE 1

mirth noun
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter <as charming as your mutual mirth is, could you refrain from nudging each other and giggling during class?>

Synonyms
cheer, cheerfulness, cheeriness, festivity, gaiety (also gayety), gayness, glee, gleefulness, hilarity, jocundity, joviality, merriment, merriness, mirthfulness

Related Words
frivolity, levity; jollification, jollity, reveling (or revelling), revelry; brightness, buoyancy, good-humoredness, good-naturedness, humor, sunniness; gamesomeness, insouciance, lightheartedness, playfulness, sportiveness; buffoonery, clownishness, flippancy, funning, jest, jesting, jocoseness, jocosity, jocularity, joking, joshing; animation, giddiness, jauntiness, liveliness, perkiness, vivacity; joyfulness, joyousness, jubilance, rejoicing; frolicking, gamboling (or gambolling), rollicking, romping

Near Antonyms
blues, dejection, depression, despondence, forlornness, sadness, sorrow, unhappiness; bile, gloom, melancholy, sourness, spleen; earnestness, graveness, gravity, grimness, seriousness, soberness, sobersidedness, solemnity, solemnness; discontent, disgruntlement, moodiness; dolefulness, dolorousness, joylessness, mournfulness, plaintiveness, woe, woefulness; blackness, darkness, gloominess, glumness; desolateness, desolation; heartbreak, miserableness, misery, mourning, wretchedness

mirthful adjective
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor <the mirthful laughter of old teammates telling lame jokes and ribald stories> — see MERRY

mirthfully adverb
in a cheerful or happy manner <an album of bawdy songs from the Elizabethan era, all of them lustily and mirthfully sung> — see GAILY 1

mirthfulness noun
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter <the mirthfulness of the revelers was contagious, and pretty soon everyone in the bar was laughing and singing> — see MIRTH

miry adjective
full of or covered with soft wet earth <miry fields that required a good pair of boots> — see MUDDY 1

misadventure noun
bad luck or an example of this <a string of financial misadventures eventually left him broke> — see MISFORTUNE

misanthrope noun
a person who distrusts other people and believes that everything is done for selfish reasons <a former misanthrope who now professes a newly discovered love of mankind> — see CYNIC

misanthropic adjective
having or showing a deep distrust of human beings and their motives <a misanthropic outlook on life that probably stems from a childhood filled with physical and emotional abuse> — see CYNICAL

misapplication noun
incorrect or improper use <this silly gossiping is a serious misapplication of your time> — see MISUSE

misapply verb
to put to a bad or improper use <you've misapplied the theorem to certain problems that require a different formula> <kids who misapply their boundless energy and get into trouble>

Synonyms
abuse, misemploy, misuse, pervert, profane, prostitute

Related Words
degrade, twist; mismanage; corrupt, debase, desecrate

Near Antonyms
apply, employ, use, utilize; respect

misapprehend verb
to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of <unfortunately, the message that the artist was trying to convey has been misapprehended by many museum patrons> — see MISUNDERSTAND

misapprehension noun
1 a failure to understand correctly <tried to eliminate all misapprehensions about the planned riverfront development> — see MISUNDERSTANDING 1
2 a wrong judgment <a common misapprehension about how our language functions> — see MISTAKE 1

misappropriate verb
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <a financial manager misappropriating funds from her clients' accounts> — see STEAL 1

misbegotten adjective
born to a father and mother who are not married <a misbegotten child who never knew his father> — see ILLEGITIMATE 1

misbehave verb
to behave badly <scolded the children for misbehaving and sent them to bed early>

Synonyms
act out, act up, carry on

Related Words
misconduct; disobey, rebel; clown (around), cut up, fool around, horse around, kid (around); show off; roughhouse

Phrases
raise Cain (or raise hell), run riot

Near Antonyms
obey; acquit, act, bear, comport, conduct, demean, deport, quit; comply, conform; check, collect, compose, constrain, contain, control, curb, handle, inhibit, move, quiet, repress, restrain

misbehaving adjective
engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior <a new approach for disciplining a chronically misbehaving child> — see NAUGHTY

misbehavior noun
improper or illegal behavior <would not tolerate any misbehavior from her students> — see MISCONDUCT 1

misbelief noun
a false idea or belief <the common misbelief that the Great Wall of China is visible from the moon> — see FALLACY 1

miscalculate verb
to make an incorrect judgment regarding <they miscalculated how difficult the mountainous trek would be>

Synonyms
misconceive, misdeem, misestimate, misgauge, misjudge, mismeasure, mistake

Related Words
misapprehend, misconstrue, misinterpret, misknow, misperceive, misunderstand; overestimate, overrate, overvalue; misesteem, underestimate, underrate, undervalue; miscount, misreckon

miscalculation noun
a wrong judgment <treating her opponent as an intellectual lightweight was a serious miscalculation on her part> — see MISTAKE 1

miscarry verb
to go wrong <the scheme to save the stranded dolphins miscarried, and all were lost>

Synonyms
misfire

Related Words
miss; break down, bust, conk (out), crash, die, fail, founder, stall; bomb, fizzle, flame out, flop, flunk, fold, wash out; flounder, struggle; decline, skid, slip, slump, tank, wane

Phrases
come a cropper, come to grief, fall flat, fall short

Near Antonyms
prevail, succeed; flourish, prosper, thrive

miscellanea plural noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <searching through the miscellanea in the archive, she came across the draft of an unpublished and previously unknown poem by the reclusive writer> — see MISCELLANY 1

miscellaneous adjective
consisting of many things of different sorts <the bottom of the drawer was always a miscellaneous accumulation of odds and ends>

Synonyms
assorted, eclectic, heterogeneous, indiscriminate, kitchen-sink, magpie, mixed, motley, patchwork, piebald, promiscuous, raggle-taggle, ragtag, varied

Related Words
manifold, multifarious; multiple, multiplex, myriad; disparate, divergent, diverse, sundry, various; chaotic, cluttered, confused, disarranged, disarrayed, disheveled (or dishevelled), disordered, farraginous, jumbled, littered, messed, messy, muddled; amalgamated, blended, combined, commingled, commixed, conglomerated, fused, incorporated, intermingled, intermixed, merged, mingled; composite, conglomerate, hybrid; unclassified, unsorted

Near Antonyms
monolithic, uniform; alike, identical, like, same; distinct, distinctive, individual, separate

Antonyms
homogeneous

miscellaneousness noun
the quality or state of being composed of many different elements or types <the miscellaneousness of the store's merchandise makes it a browser's delight> — see VARIETY 1

miscellany noun
1 an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the box from the attic contained a miscellany of old records, family photo albums, and long-forgotten love letters>

Synonyms
agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, clutter, collage, crazy quilt, farrago, gallimaufry, grab bag, gumbo, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jambalaya, jumble, jungle, litter, macédoine, medley, mélange, menagerie, miscellanea, mishmash, mixed bag, montage, motley, muddle, olio, olla podrida, omnium-gatherum, pastiche, patchwork, patchwork quilt, potpourri, ragbag, ragout, rummage, salad, salmagundi, scramble, shuffle, smorgasbord, stew, tumble, variety, welter

Related Words
detritus, notions, oddments, odds and ends, sundries; accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomerate, conglomeration; catchall; admixture, alloy, amalgam, blend, combination, commixture, composite, compound, fusion, intermixture, mix-up; bollix, chaos, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, disorder, dog's breakfast [chiefly British], mess, morass, muddle, shambles; imbroglio, knot, snarl, tangle

2 a collection of writings <the volume is a miscellany of tales and legends of the New England coast> — see ANTHOLOGY

mischance noun
1 a chance and usually sudden event bringing loss or injury <the smallest mischance could spell disaster for our plan> — see ACCIDENT 1
2 bad luck or an example of this <by mischance she took a wrong turn and became hopelessly lost in the city> — see MISFORTUNE

mischief noun
1 playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <the children claimed that setting off a firecracker was harmless mischief, but they got a lecture anyway>

Synonyms
devilishness, devilment, devilry (or deviltry), diablerie, espièglerie, hob, impishness, knavery, mischievousness, rascality, roguery, roguishness, shenanigan(s), waggery, waggishness, wickedness

Related Words
diabolicalness, misbehavior, misconduct, naughtiness, troublemaking; buffoonery, friskiness, playfulness, sportiveness; chicanery, trickery; goings-on, hanky-panky, high jinks (also hijinks), monkey business, monkeying, monkeyshine(s), skylarking, tomfoolery; horseplay, roughhousing; antic, caper, dido, practical joke, trick; aggravation, annoyance, exasperation, irritation

Near Antonyms
gravitas, gravity, seriousness, solemnity, solemnness

2 a natural disposition for playful behavior <your mother was full of mischief as a child, believe it or not> — see PLAYFULNESS
3 an appealingly mischievous person <he's a little mischief who means no harm> — see SCAMP 1

mischievous adjective
1 tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <the children had been so mischievous that we had to pay the babysitter extra and then clean up the mess>

Synonyms
arch, devilish, elvish, espiègle, impish, knavish, leprechaunish, pixie (also pixy), pixieish, prankish, puckish, rascally, roguish, scampish, sly, tricksy, waggish, wicked

Related Words
antic, coltish, coy, frisky, frolicsome, kittenish, playful, sportful, sportive; gay, happy, lighthearted, whimsical; energetic, lively, spirited, sprightly; artful, crafty, cunning, trickish, tricky, wily; misbehaving, naughty, troublemaking; pestering, riling, teasing

Near Antonyms
grave, grim, sedate, sober, solemn, staid, stern

2 engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior <punished for their mischievous tricks on the neighbors> — see NAUGHTY
3 causing or capable of causing harm <mischievous gossip that ruined a good woman's reputation> — see HARMFUL

mischievousness noun
1 a natural disposition for playful behavior <as they grew older, they lost much of their youthful mischievousness> — see PLAYFULNESS
2 playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <bored kids often engage in a certain amount of mischievousness during the long summer vacation> — see MISCHIEF 1

misconceive verb
to make an incorrect judgment regarding <misconceived the scope of the nation's financial crisis> — see MISCALCULATE

misconception noun
a false idea or belief <it is a popular misconception that toilets flush in the opposite direction in the Southern Hemisphere> — see FALLACY 1

misconduct noun
1 improper or illegal behavior <some rough play got the hockey player fined for misconduct on the ice>

Synonyms
malfeasance, misbehavior, misdoing, wrongdoing

Related Words
crime, malefaction, misdeed, misdemeanor, sin, transgression, trespass, wrong; malpractice; goings-on, hanky-panky; familiarity, gaffe, impropriety, indiscretion; blunder, error, fault, flub, fumble, goof, lapse, miscue, misstep, mistake, slip, slipup, stumble

2 a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse <both parties cited misconduct as the reason for the divorce> — see ADULTERY

misconduct verb
to manage badly <misconducted the polar expedition and paid for his mistakes with his life> — see MISMANAGE

misconstruction noun
a failure to understand correctly <his misconstruction of the blueprints led to some costly and time-consuming repairs> — see MISUNDERSTANDING 1

misconstrue verb
to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of <claimed that the press had misconstrued her comments> — see MISUNDERSTAND

misconstruing noun
a failure to understand correctly <there are several words in English that are the result of the common misconstruing of singular forms as plurals> — see MISUNDERSTANDING 1

miscreant noun
1 a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <halt, vile miscreant, and face justice!> — see VILLAIN
2 a person who has committed a crime <a youthful offender surrounded in prison by hard-bitten miscreants who had committed just about every crime imaginable> — see CRIMINAL

miscue noun
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <the slightest miscue could make the trapeze artist lose his grip and fall to the mat below> — see ERROR 1

misdeed noun
a breaking of a moral or legal code <punished for her misdeeds by the church elders> — see OFFENSE 1

misdeem verb
to make an incorrect judgment regarding <my son is a shy, quiet boy, but you seriously misdeem him if you believe him to be stupid> — see MISCALCULATE

misdoing noun
1 a breaking of a moral or legal code <the sordid misdoings of the city councilman were exposed as a result of an intense investigation by the local newspaper> — see OFFENSE 1
2 improper or illegal behavior <kept a watchful eye for any misdoing by the members of the clergy> — see MISCONDUCT 1

misdoubt noun
a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something <whatever misdoubts I had about her qualifications were erased by the interview> — see DOUBT

misdoubt verb
to have no trust or confidence in <unexpectedly elevated to the throne, the new king acknowledged that many misdoubted his ability to lead his people> — see DISTRUST

mise–en–scène noun
1 the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production <an era in which the mise-en-scène of Broadway musicals became ever more spectacular> — see SCENERY
2 the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded <the movie captures the mise-en-scène of bawdiness and ribaldry that we associate with a pirate port of call> — see ENVIRONMENT

misemploy noun
to put to a bad or improper use <findings in genetics that were later misemployed by eugenicists and racists to support the extermination of people deemed to be of “inferior” stock> — see MISAPPLY

misemployment noun
incorrect or improper use <the misemployment of genetic research to justify racist theories> — see MISUSE

miser noun
a mean grasping person who is usually stingy with money <the miser liked to sit and play with his money>

Synonyms
cheapskate, churl, hunks, niggard, penny-pincher, piker, scrooge, skinflint, tightwad

Related Words
hoarder, pack rat, saver

Near Antonyms
prodigal, profligate, spender, spendthrift, squanderer, waster, wastrel

miserable adjective
1 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <a miserable jail cell in which the political prisoner was left to rot> — see GLOOMY 1
2 feeling unhappiness <the awful news made us miserable> — see SAD 1
3 of low quality <a miserable meal that I wouldn't feed to a dog> — see CHEAP 2
4 showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <a miserable little apartment> — see SHABBY 1
5 deserving of one's pity <miserable refugees from the war-torn country> — see PATHETIC 1
6 deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy) <that ugly mutt is one miserable excuse for a dog> — see PITIFUL 1

miserableness noun
a state or spell of low spirits <the magnitude of the parents' miserableness could scarcely be imagined by those who had never lost a child> — see SADNESS

miserere noun
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <an essay that is essentially a long miserere about the decline of good manners in our society> — see COMPLAINT 1

miserliness noun
the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money <some kids like to grouse about the miserliness of their parents as far as allowances are concerned> <the company's misguided miserliness is the reason we're still using these inefficient, outdated computers> — see PARSIMONY 1

miserly adjective
giving or sharing as little as possible <my brother, who is notoriously miserly, surprised us when he offered to pick up the tab> — see STINGY 1

misery noun
1 a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness <the flood brought misery to the many hundreds whom it had made homeless> — see HELL 2
2 a state of great suffering of body or mind <a medication that promises to provide greater relief to those living in chronic misery because of arthritis> — see DISTRESS 1

misestimate verb
to make an incorrect judgment regarding <sorely misestimated the character of the young man they hired to look after their vacation home> — see MISCALCULATE

misfire verb
to go wrong <their scheme to rob the bank misfired disastrously and landed them all in jail> — see MISCARRY

misfortune noun
bad luck or an example of this <through sheer misfortune our car got a flat tire and we were late for the ceremony> <our misfortunes of the last year included the loss of a beloved pet>

Synonyms
adversity, ill, knock, misadventure, mischance, mishap, tragedy

Related Words
calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, disaster; affliction, hardship, trial, tribulation, woe; distress, misery, suffering, unhappiness; defeat, failure, fizzle, nonsuccess; curse, evil, sorrow, trouble; accident, casualty; blow, body blow, disappointment, letdown, setback; circumstance, destiny, doom, fate, lot, portion

Near Antonyms
break, chance, fluke, godsend, hit, opportunity, strike, stroke, windfall; accomplishment, achievement, success

Antonyms
fortune, luck, serendipity

misgauge verb
to make an incorrect judgment regarding <the candidate fatally misgauged voters' concerns, and his negative ads only served to alienate many would-be supporters> — see MISCALCULATE

misgiving noun
1 a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something <I had misgivings about the alleged victim's story, but I was afraid to speak up> — see DOUBT
2 an uneasy feeling about the rightness of what one is doing or going to do <he was filled with misgivings about committing himself to such a huge loan> — see QUALM
3 suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune <overcome by a sudden misgiving upon seeing the creepy old mansion> — see APPREHENSION 1

misgovern verb
to manage badly <the ruling party was soundly defeated at the polls for having disastrously misgoverned the country> — see MISMANAGE

misguide verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <we were misguided by the flashy advertisements for what turned out to be pretty lousy pizza> — see DECEIVE

mishandle verb
1 to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <having been shuffled from foster home to foster home, the orphaned girl felt she had been mishandled by an uncaring society> — see ABUSE 1
2 to abuse physically <adopted a sadly mishandled puppy from the pound> — see MANHANDLE 1
3 to manage badly <we took over as soon as we realized that the fill-in had been mishandling the situation> — see MISMANAGE

mishap noun
1 a chance and usually sudden event bringing loss or injury <the usual mishaps of a family vacation> — see ACCIDENT 1
2 bad luck or an example of this <mishap followed wherever he went> — see MISFORTUNE

mishmash noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the painting was just a mishmash of colors and abstract shapes as far as we could tell> — see MISCELLANY 1

misimpression noun
a failure to understand correctly <she was under the misimpression that the class was for beginners, but it was actually for advanced students> — see MISUNDERSTANDING 1

misinform verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <had been misinformed about the purpose of the meeting and walked in on what was a surprise birthday party> — see DECEIVE

misinterpret verb
1 to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of <his note on this passage in the novel seriously misinterprets the author's meaning> — see GARBLE 1
2 to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of <we misinterpreted the directions and ended up on the wrong side of town> — see MISUNDERSTAND

misinterpretation noun
a failure to understand correctly <his misinterpretation of the ambiguously worded instructions was hardly his fault> — see MISUNDERSTANDING 1

misjudge verb
to make an incorrect judgment regarding <the gymnast misjudged her landing and sprained her ankle> — see MISCALCULATE

misjudging noun
a wrong judgment <a series of small misjudgings along the way eventually amounted to a colossal mistake> — see MISTAKE 1

misjudgment noun
a wrong judgment <one serious misjudgment at this point could cost the candidate the election> — see MISTAKE 1

misknow verb
to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of <so often, for all of our presumption, we misknow the hearts of others> — see MISUNDERSTAND

misknowledge noun
a failure to understand correctly <the traveler's misknowledge of local customs led him to make some embarrassing faux pas> — see MISUNDERSTANDING 1

mislaid adjective
no longer possessed <a traveler looking for his mislaid passport> — see LOST

mislay verb
to be unable to find or have at hand <I'm always mislaying my bus pass> — see LOSE 1

mislaying noun
the act or an instance of not having or being able to find <your mislaying of the car keys caused us to be late for work once again> — see LOSS 1

mislead verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <the coral snake's attractive colors can mislead you into thinking that it is harmless> — see DECEIVE

misleading adjective
tending or having power to deceive <the misleading text of the advertisement would like you to believe that you're getting something for nothing> — see DECEPTIVE 1

mislike noun
a strong feeling of not liking or approving <a well-known mislike of stuffy, formal affairs> — see DISLIKE 1

mislike verb
1 to feel dislike for <as Shakespeare's Othello famously pleaded, “Mislike me not for my complexion”> — see DISLIKE 1
2 to hold an unfavorable opinion of <he's such a polite, friendly, and kind young man, it's hard to see how any prospective father-in-law could mislike him> — see DISAPPROVE OF

mismanage verb
to manage badly <the business was mismanaged so seriously that it eventually had to declare bankruptcy>

Synonyms
maladminister, misconduct, misgovern, mishandle, misrule

Related Words
abuse, ill-treat, ill-use, maltreat, mistreat, misuse; damage, harm, hurt, violate; botch, bungle

Near Antonyms
govern, handle, husband, manage, rule; care (for), nurture; aid, help, protect, rescue

mismeasure verb
to make an incorrect judgment regarding <the television network seriously mismeasured public reaction to the unceremonious dismissal of the popular anchorwoman> — see MISCALCULATE

misorder noun
a state in which everything is out of order <the chronic misorder that plagued her candidancy from the very start> — see CHAOS

misperceive verb
to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of <humor-challenged members of the audience misperceived the speaker's harmless joke as an insult to their organization> — see MISUNDERSTAND

misplace verb
to be unable to find or have at hand <I seem to have misplaced my keys> — see LOSE 1

misplaced adjective
no longer possessed <we eventually found the misplaced tickets in his coat pocket> — see LOST

misplacement noun
the act or an instance of not having or being able to find <they worried that his misplacement of the invitation would keep them from getting in, but fortunately their names were on the list> — see LOSS 1

misprision noun
1 open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect <his intense misprision for comic books and other “trash literature” is well known> — see CONTEMPT
2 the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action <an elected official charged with misprision and bribery> — see FAILURE 1

misread verb
to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of <I misread her body language and thought she was becoming confrontational> — see MISUNDERSTAND

misreading noun
a failure to understand correctly <your misreading of the definition of the word is what got you into trouble> — see MISUNDERSTANDING 1

misrelate verb
to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of <that Hollywood anecdote has been misrelated so many times that at this point no one knows what was actually said> — see GARBLE 1

misrepresent verb
1 to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of <this summary seriously misrepresents the general tone and substance of the speech> — see GARBLE 1
2 to give a misleading impression of <deliberately misrepresented the facts of the case> — see BELIE 1

misrule noun
a state in which there is widespread wrongdoing and disregard for rules and authority <the country's long period of misrule had made it a hotbed for terrorist organizations> — see ANARCHY

misrule verb
to manage badly <accused of misruling his island nation to the point of economic collapse> — see MISMANAGE

1miss noun
1 a female person who has not yet reached adulthood <a special perfume for the little miss> — see GIRL 2
2 a young unmarried woman <you should ask that young miss if she would like to dance> — see GIRL 1

2miss noun
something that has failed <a television season with far fewer hits than misses> — see FAILURE 3

miss verb
1 to fail to attend <had to miss work for a week because of the flu> — see CUT 2
2 to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of <I think you're missing the point> — see MISUNDERSTAND
3 to be unsuccessful <everyone knows that most of the new television series will miss and be gone before anyone notices> — see FAIL 2

misshape verb
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition <the crippling disease had grotesquely misshaped his formerly lithe body> — see CONTORT

misshapen adjective
badly or imperfectly formed <the returning camper proudly presented his mother with a misshapen clay bowl that he had made in crafts class> — see MALFORMED

misshaping noun
the twisting of something out of a natural or normal shape or condition <the rear bumper suffered some pretty noticeable misshaping from the accident> — see CONTORTION

missing adjective
1 no longer possessed <the missing socks turned up in the dog's special hiding place> — see LOST
2 not present or in evidence <any sense of how real people talk and act is missing from this novel> — see ABSENT 2
3 not at a certain place <our church organist is missing this morning, so we'll have to sing without her accompaniment> — see ABSENT 1

mission noun
a specific task with which a person or group is charged <your mission is to clean up the house before company arrives>

Synonyms
assignment, brief, business, charge, detail, job, operation, post

Related Words
burden, chore, duty, need, obligation, office, requirement, responsibility; errand, labor, work; commitment, pledge, promise; appointment, commission, designation, nomination; compulsion, constraint, restraint

missive noun
a message on paper from one person or group to another <the two old friends like to fire off missives filled with good-natured teasing and mock insults> — see 1LETTER

misspend verb
to use up carelessly <warned that a childhood spent playing video games was a misspent youth indeed> — see WASTE 1

misstate verb
to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of <a person who can be counted on to misstate even the simplest telephone message> — see GARBLE 1

misstep noun
1 a wrong judgment <another misstep like that, and the company could go belly-up> — see MISTAKE 1
2 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <a misstep that could lead to disaster> — see ERROR 1

missus or missis noun
the female partner in a marriage <usually the missus has the final say-so on buying a house, and the mister has the last word on the purchase of a car> — see WIFE

missy noun
a female person who has not yet reached adulthood <and how old is the little missy?> — see GIRL 2

mist noun
1 a light or fine rain <a mist was falling on the streets as we drove home> — see DRIZZLE
2 an atmospheric condition in which suspended particles in the air rob it of its transparency <a heavy mist obscured our view of the city from the observatory> — see HAZE 1

mist verb
to make dark, dim, or indistinct <the damp air misted the window pane> — see CLOUD 1

mistake noun
1 a wrong judgment <I made a mistake when I assumed that you were looking for a serious relationship>

Synonyms
misapprehension, miscalculation, misjudging, misjudgment, misstep, slip, slipup

Related Words
blunder, boner, boob [British], clinker, errancy, error, fault, flub, fumble, gaffe, goof, inaccuracy, lapse, miscue, stumble, trip; foul-up, muff; misstatement; misconception, misconstruction, misconstruing, misimpression, misinterpretation, misprision, misunderstanding

2 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <made a mistake on the exam that almost cost her a passing grade> — see ERROR 1

mistake verb
1 to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of <the auctioneer mistook my nod for a bid, and I ended up buying a painting I don't even like> — see MISUNDERSTAND
2 to make an incorrect judgment regarding <you seriously mistake me if you think I scare so easily> — see MISCALCULATE
3 to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related <she mistook physical attraction for love> — see CONFUSE 3

mistaken adjective
having an opinion that does not agree with truth or the facts <meat loaf is on the cafeteria's menu today, if I'm not mistaken> — see INCORRECT 1

mistakenly adverb
in a mistaken or inappropriate way <we mistakenly thought that this was our conference room> — see WRONGLY

mister noun
the male partner in a marriage <I'll check with the mister and see if we're free that weekend> — see HUSBAND

mistreat verb
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <the foster parent who had been mistreating his charges was sent to jail> — see ABUSE 1

mistress noun
a female other than his wife with whom a married man has a continuing sexual relationship <he lavished gifts upon his mistress but completely ignored his wife>

Synonyms
concubine, doxy (also doxie), other woman, woman

Related Words
lover, paramour; courtesan, demimondaine, demirep, odalisque; harlot, prostitute, strumpet, whore; girlfriend

mistrust noun
a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something <had an unfortunate mistrust of doctors, so her medical condition was allowed to worsen> — see DOUBT

mistrust verb
to have no trust or confidence in <a recluse who mistrusts her neighbors and stays in her house all day> — see DISTRUST

mistrustful adjective
1 inclined to doubt or question claims <we were mistrustful of the so-called “miracle cure” for obesity> — see SKEPTICAL 1
2 not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something <inhabitants of that remote community tend to be mistrustful of outsiders> — see DOUBTFUL 1

mistrustfully adverb
with distrust <our cat tends to view strangers mistrustfully> — see ASKANCE

mistrustfulness noun
a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something <eyed the strange invention with his usual mistrustfulness> — see DOUBT

misty adjective
1 filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension <enjoyed the misty view of the thunderous falls from the deck of the sightseeing boat> — see HAZY 1
2 not seen or understood clearly <I've a misty understanding of the issue but not so much that I could vote intelligently> — see FAINT 1

misunderstand verb
to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of <you misunderstood that poem because you took everything so literally>

Synonyms
misapprehend, misconstrue, misinterpret, misknow, misperceive, misread, miss, mistake

Related Words
misconceive, misdeem, misjudge; mishear

Antonyms
appreciate, apprehend, catch, comprehend, conceive, fathom, get, grasp, grok, know, make out, penetrate, perceive, savvy, see, seize, take in, understand

misunderstanding noun
1 a failure to understand correctly <people once thought that there were canals on Mars because of a common misunderstanding of a report by an Italian astronomer>

Synonyms
incomprehension, misapprehension, misconstruction, misconstruing, misimpression, misinterpretation, misknowledge, misreading

Related Words
astigmatism, misconception, misperception, misprision, mistake

Near Antonyms
appreciation, apprehension, comprehension, conception, grasp, grokking, knowledge, perception, prehension, understanding; awareness, consciousness, realization

2 an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <tried to resolve their misunderstandings peacefully> — see ARGUMENT 1

misusage noun
incorrect or improper use <the teacher was appalled by the new student's misusage of some basic scientific terms> — see MISUSE

misuse noun
incorrect or improper use <the warranty for this dryer is null and void if you subject the product to deliberate misuse>

Synonyms
abuse, misapplication, misemployment, misusage, misutilization, perversion

Related Words
mishandling, mismanagement, mismanaging; ill-treatment, ill-usage, maltreatment, mistreatment; damage, destruction, ruin, spoiling, wrecking; corruption, debasement, desecration, profanation, prostitution

Near Antonyms
application, employment, use, utilization

misuse verb
1 to put to a bad or improper use <an actor who misused his considerable talent by appearing in too many lousy movies> — see MISAPPLY
2 to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <sadly misused by the people he had trusted> — see ABUSE 1

misutilization noun
incorrect or improper use <the report documents how the misutilization of the drug can have serious side effects> — see MISUSE

mite noun
1 a very small sum of money <I have only a mite left to buy lunch for the rest of the week>

Synonyms
chicken feed [slang], chump change, dime, hay, peanuts, pin money, pittance, shoestring, song, two cents

Related Words
petty cash, pocket money, spending money

Near Antonyms
bankroll, capital, funds, means, wherewithal; opulence, pelf, riches, treasure, wealth; heap, pile, pot; bonanza, mine, treasure trove, treasury

Antonyms
big buck(s), boodle, bundle, fortune, king's ransom, megabuck(s), mint, wad

2 a living thing much smaller than others of its kind <the kitten was just a mite, hardly the size of my palm> — see DWARF 1
3 a very small amount <that speech didn't make a mite of sense> — see PARTICLE 1

mitigate verb
to make more bearable or less severe <this medicine should mitigate the pain until the strained muscle heals itself> — see HELP 2

mix noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <guacamole is usually a mix of avocado, tomato, onion, and spices> — see BLEND

mix verb
1 to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout <those ingredients should not be mixed until the last stage of the recipe> — see BLEND 1
2 to take part in social activities <happily mixing with the other guests at the party> — see SOCIALIZE

mix (up) verb
1 to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related <you've mixed piety up with pietism> — see CONFUSE 3
2 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <in my rush I had mixed up the files and had to sort them out later> — see DISORDER

mixed adjective
1 being offspring produced by parents of different races, breeds, species, or genera <our mixed dog has a greyhound's body but the features of a collie>

Synonyms
cold-blooded (or coldblood), cross, crossbred, hybrid, mongrel

Related Words
grade, half-bred; dihybrid, trihybrid; crossed, hybridized, interbred, outcrossed

Near Antonyms
pedigreed (or pedigree); inbred, linebred, straightbred

Antonyms
blooded, full-blood, full-blooded, purebred, thoroughbred

2 consisting of many things of different sorts <the continuing education program offers a very mixed selection of courses> — see MISCELLANEOUS

mixed bag noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <a mixed bag of professional astronomers and amateur enthusiasts attended the conference> — see MISCELLANY 1

mixed–up adjective
suffering from mental confusion <I was all mixed-up, and I was still on page two of the instructions> — see DIZZY 2

mixture noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <add eggs to the mixture of dry ingredients> — see BLEND

mix–up noun
an instance of confusion <there was a mix-up at the airport and our luggage was accidentally sent to Ohio> — see FOUL-UP

mizzle noun
a light or fine rain <as I wandered around the city, the late afternoon mizzle seemed the perfect accompaniment to my melancholy mood> — see DRIZZLE

moan noun
1 a long low sound indicating pain or grief <she uttered an agonized moan and clutched her stomach>

Synonyms
groan, wail

Related Words
blubbering, crying, sniveling, sobbing, weeping, whimpering, whining, yammering; keen, lament, lamentation, plaint; bawl, cry, howl, shriek, squall, whimper, whine, yelp, yowl

Near Antonyms
cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, laugh, snicker, snigger, titter, twitter

2 a crying out in grief <a great moan arose from the crowd when the awful news was announced> — see LAMENT 1
3 an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <not the sort of person who would accept without a moan chronic emotional abuse from a domestic partner> — see COMPLAINT 1

moan verb
1 to utter a moan <he moaned and cried for days after his dog, his only companion, died>

Synonyms
groan, wail

Related Words
blubber, cry, sob, weep; sniff, snivel, whimper, whine; bemoan, bewail, deplore, keen, lament, rue; agonize, anguish, bleed, grieve, hurt, mourn, sorrow, suffer; bawl, howl, shriek, squall, yammer, yelp, yowl

Near Antonyms
cackle, chortle, chuckle, crack up, giggle, guffaw, laugh, snicker, titter, twitter

2 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <their son moaned whenever anyone asked him to do some work> — see COMPLAIN

mob noun
1 a great number of persons or creatures massed together <a mob of pigeons soon flocked around us after they spied the bread crumbs> — see CROWD 1
2 a group involved in secret or criminal activities <the club owner was accused of having connections with a mob of racketeers> — see 1RING 1
3 the body of the community as contrasted with the elite <political speeches designed to appeal to the mob> — see MASS 1

mob verb
to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers <the snack bar was mobbed as soon as the meeting was over> — see CROWD 2

mobile adjective
1 capable of being moved especially with ease <a mobile electric generator> — see MOVABLE
2 having a way of life that involves moving from one region to another typically on a seasonal basis <mobile workers who work the New England resorts in the summer and the ones in Florida during the winter> — see MIGRATORY

mobilization noun
an act of gathering forces together to renew or attempt an effort <called for the prompt mobilization of all national resources to combat the deadly epidemic> — see RALLY 1

mobilize verb
to assemble and make ready for action <we are prepared to mobilize the troops on very short notice>

Synonyms
marshal (also marshall), muster, rally

Related Words
arrange, group, line up, order, organize; call (up), convene, summon; activate; collect, round up

Near Antonyms
disarrange, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, disturb; deactivate, dismiss; break up, disband, dissolve, split (up)

Antonyms
demob [chiefly British], demobilize

mobster noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <the mobster threatened to break his legs if he didn't pay up> — see HOODLUM

mock adjective
1 being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <mock turtle soup> — see IMITATION
2 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <since I had inadvertently learned what I was getting, I opened the present with mock surprise> — see ARTIFICIAL 1

mock noun
1 a person or thing that is made fun of <they made a mock of the new recruit in front of the whole unit> — see LAUGHINGSTOCK
2 something that is made to look exactly like something else <obviously, the “priceless” Grecian urn that is destroyed in the movie was a mock> — see COPY

mock verb
1 to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of <mocked the bully's swaggering walk behind his back> — see MIMIC 1
2 to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter <the fashion gurus loved to mock the first lady for her unsophisticated clothes> — see RIDICULE
3 to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of <a person willing to mock the religious prohibition against working on the Sabbath> — see DISOBEY

mocker noun
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another <someday, she swore, she'd get back at the mockers who were making her life miserable> — see TORMENTOR

mockery noun
1 a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something <the resort's Old West show for tourists is a mockery of Native American culture>

Synonyms
caricature, cartoon, farce, joke, parody, sham, travesty

Related Words
burlesque, comedy; lampoon, takeoff; counterfeit, fake, feigning, forgery, hoax, humbug, knockoff, phony (also phoney), pretense (or pretence), sham, simulation

Near Antonyms
homage, tribute

2 a person or thing that is made fun of <you won't make a mockery of me!> — see LAUGHINGSTOCK
3 the making of unkind jokes as a way of showing one's scorn for someone or something <insulted by their mockery of his Southern mannerisms> — see RIDICULE

mod adjective
1 being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <the young artist's converted loft is decorated in a self-consciously mod style> — see MODERN
2 keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment <a chichi boutique for mod dressers with deep pockets> — see AU COURANT 1

mod con noun, chiefly British
something that adds to one's ease of living <bedrooms at the English country inn are filled with 18th-century charm, while the bathrooms have all the mod cons that 21st-century tourists demand> — see COMFORT 2

1mode noun
1 a distinctive way of putting ideas into words <uses a colloquial mode of expression for his informal essays> — see STYLE 1
2 a state of mind dominated by a particular emotion <when I'm in my cooking mode, I just have to go into the kitchen and make something> — see MOOD 1

2mode noun
a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <slim, tanned bodies are definitely the mode at this beach resort> — see FAD

model adjective
constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated <why can't you be like your sister, who is such a well-behaved model child?>

Synonyms
archetypal (also archetypical), classic, definitive, exemplary, imitable, paradigmatic, quintessential, textbook

Related Words
ideal, nonpareil, special, unique; absolute, flawless, impeccable, perfect; A-OK, A1, bang-up, banner, capital, choice, crackerjack, dandy, excellent, fabulous, fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, groovy, jim-dandy, keen, marvelous (or marvellous), nifty, par excellence, prime, primo [slang], sensational, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, unsurpassed, wizard [chiefly British], wonderful; exceptional, fancy, high-grade

Near Antonyms
bad, low-grade, poor, substandard, unsatisfactory; atrocious, execrable, vile, wretched; deficient, disappointing, failed, inadequate, inferior; average, normal, ordinary, representative, typical; mediocre, second-class, second-rate

model noun
1 an exact representation of something in greatly reduced size <the dollhouse was a tiny, perfect model of the family's actual house>

Synonyms
miniature

Related Words
carbon, carbon copy, clone, copy, dummy, dupe, duplicate, duplication, facsimile, imitation, mock, reduplication, replica, replication, reproduction; dwarf, midget, mini, pocket edition, pygmy (also pigmy)

Near Antonyms
archetype, original, prototype; blowup, enlargement

2 a person who poses with or wears merchandise (as clothes) often for pictorial advertising <the most famous models can earn thousands of dollars an hour>

Synonyms
manikin (also mannikin), mannequin

Related Words
figure, form; doll, dummy; spokesmodel, supermodel

3 someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation <she's the very model of the dedicated teacher> — see IDEAL 1

moderate adjective
1 avoiding extremes in behavior or expression <he was only a moderate drinker, generally stopping after a couple of glasses of wine>

Synonyms
temperate

Related Words
controlled, curbed, disciplined, inhibited, restrained, self-controlled, self-denying, self-disciplined; calculated, deliberate, measured; levelheaded, rational, reasonable, sensible; average, mediocre, medium, modest, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine (or run-of-mine), so-so; normal, ordinary, regular, routine, typical, usual

Near Antonyms
excessive, extreme, inordinate, radical; irrational, unreasonable, unreasoning; extremist, fanatic (or fanatical), rabid; unbridled, unchecked, uncontrolled, unrestrained

Antonyms
immoderate, intemperate

2 avoiding major social change or extreme political ideas <the principal's moderate position on cell phones is that students can use them at school but only for emergencies>

Synonyms
central, centrist, middle-of-the-road

Related Words
conventional, nonrevolutionary, orthodox, traditional; levelheaded, rational, reasonable, sensible; neutral

Near Antonyms
excessive; conservative, reactionary, rightist; leftist, liberal, progressive; fanatic (or fanatical), rabid, subversive, violent; agitating, exciting, fomenting, incendiary, inciting, inflammatory, instigating, provocative, provoking; rabble-rousing; dissenting

Antonyms
extremist, radical, revolutionary, revolutionist, ultra

3 being about midway between extremes of amount or size <a moderate snowfall was forecast for the region> — see MIDDLE 2
4 marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low <a city that is celebrated for its moderate climate> — see CLEMENT 1

moderate noun
a person who holds moderate views <to the community's detriment, moderates were often shouted down at town meetings by the local hotheads> — see CENTRIST

moderate verb
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <the wind began to moderate as the night wore on> — see DECREASE 2

moderately adverb
to some degree or extent <it was raining moderately hard outside> — see FAIRLY 1

moderateness noun
an avoidance of extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits <the moderateness of their enthusiasm for my proposed outing suggested that they would rather do something else> — see TEMPERANCE 1

moderation noun
an avoidance of extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits <the kind of person who does everything in moderation> — see TEMPERANCE 1

moderator noun
a person in charge of a meeting <the moderator should make sure that everyone gets a chance to speak> — see CHAIR 1

modern adjective
being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <this hairstyle is absolutely the most modern fashion out there>

Synonyms
contemporary, current, designer, hot, mod, modernistic, new, new age, newfangled, new-fashioned, present-day, red-hot, space-age, state-of-the-art, ultramodern, up-to-date, up-to-the-minute

Related Words
fashionable, happening, in, modish, nouvelle, now, stylish; last, latest; modernized, updated; futuristic, high-tech (also hi-tech); latter-day, recent

Near Antonyms
anachronistic; aged, age-old, ancient, antediluvian, hoary, old, venerable; bygone, former, late, olden, past; antique, historic, historical; retro, retrograde; kaput (also kaputt), obsolete, outmoded, outworn, unmodernized; old-world; discarded, disused, moth-eaten; forgotten, remote; ageless, dateless, timeless

Antonyms
antiquated, archaic, dated, fusty, musty, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, passé

modern noun
a person with very modern ideas <the leaders of the American suffragists were originally regarded by many people as uppity moderns who should have stayed in their place>

Synonyms
modernist, ultramodernist

Related Words
neophiliac; leftist, lefty, liberal, progressive; extremist, radical, reformer, reformist, revolutionary, revolutionist; bohemian

Near Antonyms
conservative, rightist, right-winger, standpatter, Tory; old hand, old-timer, veteran; conformist, traditionalist; archconservative, Bourbon, diehard, neocon, neoconservative, paleoconservative; Colonel Blimp, square, stuffed shirt

Antonyms
antediluvian, dodo, fogy (also fogey), fossil, fuddy-duddy, reactionary, stick-in-the-mud

modernist noun
a person with very modern ideas <a time when Paris was the center of the universe for modernists in the art world> — see MODERN

modernistic adjective
being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <a trendy hotel with modernistic room lamps that required some figuring just to turn on> — see MODERN

modernize verb
to adapt to modern needs, taste, or usage <a proposal to modernize the old school and bring it into the 21st century>

Synonyms
contemporize, streamline, update

Related Words
recast, redesign, redevelop, redo, reengineer, refashion, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework

modest adjective
1 being about midway between extremes of amount or size <he was awarded a modest pension when he retired> — see MIDDLE 2
2 free from any trace of the coarse or indecent <tended to wear more modest swimsuits than the thong-clad guests at the resort> — see CHASTE 1
3 not comfortable around people <a modest winner who said a quick thank-you and promptly left the stage> — see SHY 2
4 not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness <appealingly modest about her success in the fashion industry> — see HUMBLE 1

modestly adverb
1 in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion <spoke modestly about his accomplishments as an entrepreneur> — see LOWLY
2 with purity of thought and deed <dressed modestly to go to church> — see PURELY 1

modesty noun
1 the absence of any feelings of being better than others <his natural modesty makes him reluctant to run for public office> — see HUMILITY
2 the quality or state of being morally pure <in this day and age, that's very becoming modesty in a teenager> — see CHASTITY 1

modicum noun
the smallest amount or part imaginable <only a modicum of skill is necessary to put the kit together> — see JOT

modifiable adjective
capable of being readily changed <architects designed the arena to be easily modifiable for staging a variety of events> — see FLEXIBLE 1

modification noun
the act, process, or result of making different <the rough draft needed only a few modifications before it was ready to hand in> — see CHANGE 1

modify verb
1 to limit the meaning of (as a noun) <adjectives are words that modify nouns, while adverbs can modify adjectives and verbs> — see QUALIFY 1
2 to make different in some way <he modified the appliance so that it would run more quietly> — see CHANGE 1

modish adjective
1 being in the latest or current fashion <the strikingly modish gowns that actresses wear to award shows> — see STYLISH
2 enjoying widespread favor or approval <a modish chef who is currently the darling of the restaurant reviewers> — see POPULAR 1

modishness noun
1 the quality or state of being fashionable <when it comes to clothes, she prefers modesty to modishness> — see COOL 2
2 the state of enjoying widespread approval <the modishness of that hairstyle is now so transparent that the really hip people have moved on to something else> — see POPULARITY

moggy also moggie noun, British
a small domestic animal known for catching mice <an unattached schoolteacher who lives in a London flat with a moggy as her only companion> — see CAT 1

mogul noun
a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field <movie moguls promising to turn young actresses into stars> — see MAGNATE

moiety noun
one of two equal or nearly equal parts <the lot was split into two equal moieties> — see HALF 1

moil noun
1 a state of noisy, confused activity <went for a retreat at the monastery for a temporary respite from the moil of the modern world> — see COMMOTION
2 very hard or unpleasant work <fed up with the moil and moneygrubbing of Wall Street, he decided to open a bed-and-breakfast in Vermont> — see 1TOIL

moil verb
1 to devote serious and sustained effort <miners moiling all day in the sunless recesses of the earth> — see LABOR
2 to be in a state of violent rolling motion <the angry mob moiled around the courthouse> — see SEETHE 1

moiling adjective
requiring considerable physical or mental effort <the kind of moiling work that was done by unskilled laborers before the age of mechanization> — see HARD 2

moist adjective
slightly or moderately wet <luckily, my new suede shoes are only a bit moist after I accidentally wore them in the rain>

Synonyms
damp, dampish, dank, wettish

Related Words
semimoist; dewy, misty; clammy; humid, muggy, sticky; sultry, summery, sweltering, torrid, tropical; awash, bathed, doused (also dowsed), drenched, dripping, saturate, saturated, soaked, soaking, sodden, soggy, sopping, soppy, soused, steeped, washed, watered, waterlogged, water-soaked

Near Antonyms
arid, dry, waterless; baked, bone-dry, burned (or burnt), dehydrated, desert, droughty, dusty, parched, scorched, seared, sere (also sear), sunbaked; hyperarid, ultradry; waterproof, water-repellent, water-resistant, watertight

moisten verb
to make or become slightly or moderately wet <moisten the cloth before cleaning with it>

Synonyms
bedew, damp, dampen

Related Words
bathe, lave; douse (also dowse), drench, impregnate, saturate, soak, souse, steep, wash, water, wet; humidify; dip, dunk, immerge, immerse; flush, irrigate, rinse, sluice; refresh, rehydrate, remoisten

Near Antonyms
dehumidify, dehydrate, desiccate, parch, scorch, sear

Antonyms
dry

moistness noun
the amount of water suspended in the air in tiny droplets <the moistness of the limestone caves creates an ideal environment for the ripening of Roquefort cheese> — see MOISTURE

moisture noun
the amount of water suspended in the air in tiny droplets <dew is really just moisture from the air that condenses and collects when the temperature drops at night>

Synonyms
damp, dampness, humidity, moistness

Related Words
mugginess, stickiness, stuffiness; sultriness; clamminess, dankness, soddenness, sogginess, wetness

Near Antonyms
aridity, dehumidification, dehydration, dryness

mojo noun
1 something worn or kept to bring good luck or keep away evil <a mojo is a type of voodoo charm> — see CHARM 1
2 the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <he joked that he had worked his mojo to assure a sunny day for the picnic> — see MAGIC 1

moke noun, British slang
a sturdy and patient domestic mammal that is used especially to carry things <scolded his assistant for having no more intelligence than a moke> — see DONKEY 1

mold noun
the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow <mold so rich that just about anything will grow in it> — see DIRT 1

mold verb
to go through decomposition <plants molding in the abandoned garden> — see DECAY 1

moldable adjective
capable of being easily molded or modeled <as the clay dries out, it becomes less and less moldable> — see PLASTIC 1

molder verb
to go through decomposition <leaves moldering in the compost pile> — see DECAY 1

mole noun
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country <for years we have had a mole in the enemy's national intelligence agency> — see SPY

molecule noun
a very small piece <not a molecule of sense in that girl> — see BIT 1

mollify verb
1 to lessen the anger or agitation of <an apology would probably mollify your friend> — see PACIFY 1
2 to make more bearable or less severe <a friendly gesture that did a lot to mollify their suspicions about the new neighbor> — see HELP 2

mollifying adjective
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility <a future son-in-law using mollifying flattery to overcome a bad first impression> — see PACIFIC 1

mollycoddle verb
to treat with great or excessive care <refused to mollycoddle her malingering son and sent him off to school> — see BABY

molt verb
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside <a crab molts its shell as it grows larger> — see SHED 1

mom noun
a female human parent <be sure to tell your mom and dad that you'll be home late for supper> — see MOTHER

mome noun, archaic
a stupid person <he's a mome, but a harmless fellow for all of that> — see IDIOT

moment noun
1 a particular point at which an event takes place <at that moment he suddenly turned around and headed toward me> — see OCCASION 1
2 the quality or state of being important <an event of great moment> — see IMPORTANCE
3 a very small space of time <I'll be there in just a moment> — see INSTANT
4 the time currently existing or in progress <I'm not doing anything at the moment> — see 1PRESENT

momentarily adverb
at or within a short time <we'll be finished momentarily> — see SHORTLY 2

momentariness noun
the state or quality of lasting only for a short time <the momentariness of the pain from the needle prick hardly compares to the lasting good feelings that a blood donor experiences> — see IMPERMANENCE

momentary adjective
lasting only for a short time <the pain of the flu shot was only momentary>

Synonyms
brief, deciduous, ephemeral, evanescent, flash, fleeting, fugacious, fugitive, impermanent, passing, short-lived, temporary, transient, transitory

Related Words
little, short, shortish; acting, interim, provisional, short-term

Near Antonyms
lifelong; continuing, durable, persistent; imperishable, indefectible, indestructible

Antonyms
ceaseless, dateless, deathless, endless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, lasting, long-lived, permanent, perpetual, timeless, undying, unending

momentous adjective
having great meaning or lasting effect <a momentous occasion that will go down in the history books> — see IMPORTANT 1

momentousness noun
the quality or state of being important <no one could fail to realize the momentousness of the occasion> — see IMPORTANCE

momentum noun
something that arouses action or activity <the former president's endorsement was all the momentum the campaign needed> — see IMPULSE 1

mommy noun
a female human parent <the little boy cried for his mommy> — see MOTHER

monarch noun
1 one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority <the ruling monarch of Britain at that time was Queen Elizabeth I>

Synonyms
autocrat, potentate, ruler, sovereign (also sovran)

Related Words
coruler; Caesar, czar (also tsar or tzar), emir (or amir also ameer), emperor, empress, kaiser, khan, khedive, king, lord, mikado, mogul, prince, queen, satrap, shah, sultan, suzerain; authoritarian, Big Brother, despot, dictator, führer (or fuehrer), monocrat, overlord, paramount, tyrant

2 a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field <the glitzy gala was attended by most of the reigning monarchs of the recording industry> — see MAGNATE

monarchal or monarchial adjective
fit for or worthy of a royal ruler <a singing superstar with a monarchal haughtiness that drives her assistants crazy> — see MONARCHICAL

monarchical also monarchic adjective
fit for or worthy of a royal ruler <guests who stay in the hotel's most expensive suite live in monarchical splendor>

Synonyms
kingly, monarchal (or monarchial), princely, queenly, regal, royal

Related Words
aristocratic, baronial, imperial, lordly, noble, patrician; grandiose, heroic (also heroical), imposing, magnificent, majestic, monumental, splendid, stately

monastery noun
a residence for men under religious vows <Gregory Mendel worked out his concepts of genetics by doing breeding experiments using pea plants in the monastery's garden>

Synonyms
abbey, cloister, friary, hermitage, priory

Related Words
house; convent, nunnery; lamasery

monetary adjective
of or relating to money, banking, or investments <an economist who is critical of this administration's monetary policies> — see FINANCIAL

money noun
1 something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <are you sure you have enough money to buy all that?>

Synonyms
bread [slang], bucks, cabbage [slang], cash, change, chips, coin, currency, dough, gold, green, jack [slang], kale [slang], legal tender, lolly [British], long green [slang], loot, lucre, moola (or moolah) [slang], needful, pelf, scratch [slang], shekels (also sheqels or shekelim or shekalim or sheqalim), tender, wampum

Related Words
coinage, specie; dead presidents [slang], folding money, paper money, scrip; banknote, cashier's check, check, draft, money order, note, promissory note; bill, dollar, greenback; bankroll, capital, finances, funds, roll [slang], wad, wallet; chump change, dibs [slang], dime, mite, peanuts, pittance, shoestring; big bucks, bomb [British], boodle, bundle, earth, fortune, king's ransom, megabucks, mint, packet [chiefly British], pile, pot; abundance, means, opulence, riches, treasure, wealth; resources, wherewithal; mad money, petty cash, pin money, pocket money, spending money

2 a wealthy person <she had always planned to marry money> — see CAPITALIST

moneybags plural noun
a wealthy person <the old moneybags was used to being deferred to by his fellow townspeople> — see CAPITALIST

moneyed also monied adjective
having goods, property, or money in abundance <luxury goods that are purchased mainly by moneyed tourists from abroad> — see RICH 1

moneygrubbing adjective
having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions <works two jobs to satisfy his moneygrubbing wife> — see GREEDY 1

moneymaking adjective
yielding a profit <a celebrity chef with a moneymaking line of cookware> — see PROFITABLE 1

money–spinning adjective, chiefly British
yielding a profit <turning his stately ancestral home into a tourist attraction proved to be a money-spinning venture for the earl> — see PROFITABLE 1

mongrel adjective
being offspring produced by parents of different races, breeds, species, or genera <a mongrel dog> — see MIXED 1

mongrel noun
an offspring of parents with different genes especially when of different races, breeds, species, or genera <mongrels often suffer fewer health problems than purebreds> — see HYBRID

moniker also monicker noun
1 a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual <seeing as no respectable rodeo performer could possibly be known as Leslie, a suitably masculine moniker was created for him> — see NICKNAME
2 a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known <“Cornelius Jedidiah Beauregard” is his rather unwieldy moniker> — see NAME 1

monitor verb
to pay continued close attention to (something) for a particular purpose <police regularly monitor that road to record traffic density and to catch speeders>

Synonyms
cover, watch

Related Words
surveil; eye; behold, espy, look, note, notice, observe, regard, see, sight, spy, view, witness; gape, gawk, gaze, glare, goggle, peer, rubberneck, stare; glance, glimpse, peek, peep

Phrases
keep an eye on

monitory adjective
serving as or offering a warning <historically natural disasters have often been interpreted by some as punitive or monitory measures against sin-ridden humanity> — see CAUTIONARY

monkey noun
1 a physiological need for certain drugs <I've got this monkey on my back, and going to detox is the only way to get it off> — see ADDICTION
2 an appealingly mischievous person <come back here, you little monkey!> — see SCAMP 1

monkey (around) verb
1 to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior <stop monkeying around in the house or you'll break something> — see CUT UP
2 to spend time in aimless activity <would rather just monkey around instead of doing work> — see FIDDLE AROUND

monkey (with) verb
to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously <don't monkey with that broken lawnmower> — see TAMPER WITH

monkey business noun
wildly playful or mischievous behavior <the new nanny will not tolerate such monkey business from her charges> — see HORSEPLAY

monkeying noun
wildly playful or mischievous behavior <all that monkeying was sure to end in someone or something getting hurt> — see HORSEPLAY

monkeyshine noun
1 usually monkeyshines plural wildly playful or mischievous behavior <hockey players who are known for their monkeyshines on and off the ice> — see HORSEPLAY
2 usually monkeyshines plural a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <on the alert for paleontological monkeyshines ever since the unmasking of Piltdown man> — see PRANK

monochromatic adjective
1 having or consisting of a single color <although marble and bronze sculptures are monochromatic, they can be amazingly lifelike>

Synonyms
monochrome, monochromic, self, self-colored, solid

Related Words
achromatic, neutral

Near Antonyms
dappled (also dapple), marbled, shaded; mottled, parti-color (or parti-colored), piebald, pied, pinto, skewbald; banded, barred, brindled (or brindle), streaked, striated; checkered, dotted, patterned, plaid, striped; flecked, specked, speckled, spotted; bichrome, bicolored (or bicolor), dichromatic, trichromatic, tricolor (or tricolored), two-tone

Antonyms
chromatic, colorful, kaleidoscopic, motley, multicolored, polychromatic, polychrome, rainbow, varicolored, varied, variegated

2 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <a monochromatic portrayal of a hero seemingly without flaws or even distinctive traits> — see BORING

monochrome adjective
having or consisting of a single color <an artist who produces monochrome pencil drawings> — see MONOCHROMATIC 1

monochromic adjective
having or consisting of a single color <dull, monochromic decor> — see MONOCHROMATIC 1

monocratic adjective
exercising power or authority without interference by others <as the newspaper's monocratic publisher, he simply did not tolerate any dissent from his policies and decrees> — see ABSOLUTE 1

monopolize verb
to have complete control over <it is illegal in the United States to monopolize an entire industry> <you shouldn't monopolize the exercise equipment while others are waiting to use it>

Synonyms
sew up

Related Words
bogart, corner, hog; absorb, consume, engross; have, hold, own, possess; command, control, direct, govern, manage, reign (over), rule

monosyllabic adjective
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <the sullen teenager would give only a monosyllabic response to even the friendliest question> — see CONCISE

monotone noun
a tedious lack of variety <there's a monotone to the landscape in that part of the state: uniformly flat land in all directions, for as far as the eye can see> — see MONOTONY

monotonous adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <the lecturer's monotonous delivery threatened to put us to sleep> — see BORING

monotonousness noun
a tedious lack of variety <detested the mind-numbing monotonousness of the task but knew that it had to be done> — see MONOTONY

monotony noun
a tedious lack of variety <the monotony of the cafeteria's selections was as bad as the quality>

Synonyms
humdrum, monotone, monotonousness, sameness

Related Words
uniformity; blahs, boredom, drabness, dullness (also dulness), ennui, restlessness, tediousness, tedium, tiresomeness, weariness, wearisomeness

Near Antonyms
diversity, multiplicity, variety; variability, variation; absorption, engagement, engrossment, enthrallment, fascination, grip, interest, intrigue, involvement; animation, enlivenment, excitement, invigoration, stimulation

monster adjective
unusually large <a monster truck competition> — see HUGE

monster noun
1 a strange or horrible and often frightening creature <both children insisted that their parents check under the bed for monsters every night>

Synonyms
grotesque, grotesquerie (also grotesquery), monstrosity, ogre

Related Words
ogress; Frankenstein; bête noire, bogey (also bogie or bogy), bugaboo, bugbear; banshee, bogeyman (also bogyman), demon (or daemon), devil, fiend, fright, imp, incubus; horror, terror; abomination, anathema; abnormality, freak; mutant, mutation

2 a person, thing, or event that is far from normal <the gardener destroyed all of the monsters that mutated from his tomato plants> — see FREAK 1
3 a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <the guards at the concentration camps were monsters who enjoyed seeing their victims suffer> — see VILLAIN
4 something large of its kind <a monster of a sandwich that could easily feed two hearty eaters> — see GIANT

monstrosity noun
1 a person, thing, or event that is far from normal <any monstrosities born to the farm animals were sent to the agricultural college for study> — see FREAK 1
2 a strange or horrible and often frightening creature <filled the haunted house with all sorts of spooks and mechanical monstrosities> — see MONSTER 1
3 something unpleasant to look at <we were glad when the city tore down that monstrosity that used to stand across from the park> — see EYESORE
4 the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay <the monstrosity of the famine can scarcely be conveyed to those who have not witnessed it in person> — see HORROR 1
5 the state or quality of being utterly evil <the monstrosity of the terrorists' actions shocked the entire civilized world> — see ENORMITY 1

monstrous adjective
1 badly or imperfectly formed <a monstrous melon that was clearly not fit to eat> — see MALFORMED
2 extremely disturbing or repellent <the monstrous measures taken by the dictator against anyone who opposed his regime> — see HORRIBLE 1
3 unusually large <a monstrous tomato as big as a basketball> — see HUGE
4 unpleasant to look at <some monstrous high-rises have begun to spoil that lovely residential neighborhood> — see UGLY 1

monstrous adverb, chiefly dialect
to a great degree <a monstrous pretty gal, she was> — see VERY 1

monstrously adverb
1 beyond a normal or acceptable limit <our team wasn't merely bad—we were monstrously inept> — see TOO 1
2 to a large extent or degree <a monstrously expensive movie that nearly bankrupted the studio> — see GREATLY 2

montage noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <my memories of the childhood trip are a montage of the sights, smells, and sounds of India> — see MISCELLANY 1

Montezuma's revenge noun
abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools <the one person in the tour group who didn't drink the water was spared Montezuma's revenge> — see DIARRHEA

monthlies plural noun
an occurrence of menstruating <she couldn't go swimming because of her monthlies> — see PERIOD 1

months plural noun
a long or seemingly long period of time <that meeting lasted for months> — see AGE 2

monument noun
1 a shaped stone laid over or erected near a grave and usually bearing an inscription to identify and preserve the memory of the deceased <the Quakers disapproved of monuments, regarding them as idolatrous, so thousands of Nantucketers spend their eternal rest in complete anonymity> — see TOMBSTONE
2 something that serves to keep alive the memory of a person or event <a moving monument to the great war and a tribute to the untold millions who died in it> — see MEMORIAL

monumental adjective
1 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <a monumental misunderstanding that had far-reaching consequences> — see GRAND 1
2 unusually large <serves a monumental sundae that usually requires three people to finish it> — see HUGE
3 having great meaning or lasting effect <the moon landing was seen as a monumental event in human history> — see IMPORTANT 1

monumentalize verb
to be a memorial of <adding to the appeal of the Taj Mahal is the fact that it monumentalizes one man's undying love for his wife> — see COMMEMORATE 1

monumentally adverb
to a large extent or degree <your parents will be monumentally disappointed if you don't go to college> — see GREATLY 2

mooch verb
1 to live by relying on someone else's generosity or hospitality without sharing in the cost or responsibility <he's always mooching off of his friends, even though he can easily pay his own way> — see FREELOAD
2 to move about in a sly or secret manner <I suspect she's mooching around in the background and keeping an eye on us> — see SNEAK 1
3 to move about from place to place aimlessly <kids on vacation mooching about the house and looking for something to do> — see WANDER 1

moocher noun
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return <unfortunately, too many people at the community potluck were moochers who didn't bring any food of their own> — see LEECH

mood noun
1 a state of mind dominated by a particular emotion <losing my favorite sweater left me in a bad mood for the rest of the day>

Synonyms
cheer, feather, humor, mode, spirit, temper

Related Words
angle, attitude, mind-set, outlook, perspective, slant, standpoint, viewpoint; emotion, feeling, heart, passion, sentiment; strain; belief, conviction, judgment (or judgement), mind, opinion; expression, tone, vein; character, disposition, identity, individuality, makeup, mettle, personality, selfhood, self-identity, temper, temperament; responsiveness, sensibility, sensitiveness, sensitivity

Phrases
frame of mind

2 a special quality or impression associated with something <there's a haunting mood of melancholy about the ruined old castle> — see AURA 1
3 archaic an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <in his mood, the king spared no one his venomous tongue> — see ANGER

moody adjective
frequently influenced by moods and especially bad moods <teenagers are often both moody and changeable>

Synonyms
temperamental

Related Words
capricious, changeable, changeful, fickle, fluctuating, fluid, freakish, impulsive, inconstant, mercurial, mutable, uncertain, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, variable, volatile, whimsical; pouty, sulky; choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, crotchety, grouchy, grumpy, irascible, irritable, peevish, petulant, quick-tempered, short-tempered, snappish, snippety, snippy, testy, waspish

Near Antonyms
equable, even; immutable, inflexible, invariable, unalterable, unchangeable; changeless, constant, settled, stable, steady, unchanging

moola or moolah noun, slang
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <we dropped some serious moola on that home theater system> — see MONEY 1

moon noun
a long or seemingly long period of time <we've been planning this big event for many moons> — see AGE 2

mooncalf noun
a person who lacks good sense or judgment <he was a helpless mooncalf when it came to making decisions about even the most trivial things> — see FOOL 1

moonshine noun
1 illegally produced liquor <during Prohibition, moonshine and “bathtub gin” were made secretly>

Synonyms
bootleg, mountain dew, white lightning

Related Words
bathtub gin, red-eye, rotgut; alcohol, ardent spirits, booze, drink, firewater, grog, hooch [slang], John Barleycorn, juice [slang], potable, rum, spirits, strong drink, tipple

2 a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <serving all sorts of moonshine at the bar> — see ALCOHOL
3 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <a book about the so-called good old days that's sentimental moonshine> — see NONSENSE 1

moonstruck adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <police asked psychiatrists to put together a portrait of the moonstruck marksman who was responsible for the shootings> — see INSANE 1

moor noun
1 a broad area of level or rolling treeless country <as she wanders the windswept moor, the novel's heroine vows that she will never marry the vicar> — see PLAIN 1
2 spongy land saturated or partially covered with water <a mysterious figure who was said to have haunted the moors of southwest England> — see SWAMP 1

moor verb
to put securely in place or in a desired position <moored the boat to the dock> — see FASTEN 2

moot adjective
open to question or dispute <it's a moot question what might have happened if the American colonies had not broken away from Great Britain> — see DEBATABLE 1

moot verb
1 to present or bring forward for discussion <conservatives had shouted down the proposal when it was first mooted> — see INTRODUCE 2
2 to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion <the issue of whether a person's nature or upbringing is more important continues to be mooted by experts and laymen alike> — see DISCUSS

mope verb
1 to move or act slowly <we were in a rush, and the Sunday driver in front of us was just moping along> — see DELAY 1
2 to silently go about in a bad mood <she's been moping all weekend because her boyfriend hasn't called even once> — see SULK

mopes plural noun
a state or spell of low spirits <he's got the mopes because his girlfriend is mad at him> — see SADNESS

mopey adjective
given to or displaying a resentful silence and often irritability <I don't know what's made him all mopey, but he's getting hard to live with> — see SULKY

moppet noun
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <a host of adorable moppets were hired for the ad campaign> — see CHILD 1

mop–up noun
the last part of a process or action <the general announced that the remaining fighting would be only a mop-up to a war that was all but over> — see FINALE

moral adjective
1 conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <the kind of moral behavior that is expected of everyone in the parish's youth organization> — see GOOD 2
2 guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong <a moral decision to refrain from sexual relations until after marriage> — see CONSCIENTIOUS 1

moralism noun
a tendency to care a great deal about seemly behavior and morals especially in sexual matters <the moralism that the candidate displays on the campaign trail is in stark contrast to his rumored sexual indiscretions off the stump> — see PRUDERY

moralist noun
a person who is greatly concerned with seemly behavior and morality especially regarding sexual matters <a smattering of moralists around the country tried to get the songs banned from the radio> — see PRUDE

moralistic adjective
marked by or given to preaching moral values <parental opinion was divided on the school's moralistic curriculum> — see SERMONIC

morality noun
1 conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong <given his reputation for unswerving morality, scandal of any kind would wreck his political career>

Synonyms
character, decency, goodness, honesty, integrity, probity, rectitude, righteousness, rightness, uprightness, virtue, virtuousness

Related Words
high-mindedness, honor, incorruptibility, irreproachability, irreproachableness, right-mindedness, scrupulosity, scrupulousness; appropriateness, correctness, decorousness, decorum, etiquette, fitness, propriety, seemliness; ethics, morals

Near Antonyms
impropriety, indecency, indecorum, indiscretion; debauchery, degeneracy, degradation, depravity, perversion, pervertedness, sinfulness; crookedness, dishonesty, underhandedness, unscrupulousness; lowness, meanness, viciousness, vileness; corruption

Antonyms
badness, evil, evildoing, immorality, iniquity, sin, villainy, wickedness

2 the code of good conduct for an individual or group <the morality that members of the Mafia are expected to adhere to—or suffer the consequences> — see ETHICS

moralizing adjective
marked by or given to preaching moral values <I found the novel's moralizing tone a bit much for beach reading> — see SERMONIC

morally adverb
with purity of thought and deed <a politician who is in the habit of acting legally without behaving morally> — see PURELY 1

morals plural noun
the code of good conduct for an individual or group <at issue were the doctor's professional ethics, not her private morals> — see ETHICS

morass noun
1 something that catches and holds <advised against becoming involved in that country's civil war, warning that escape from that morass might prove nigh impossible> — see WEB 1
2 spongy land saturated or partially covered with water <the distracted driver had driven his car off the road and into a morass> — see SWAMP 1

moratorium noun
a state of temporary inactivity <the director of the blood bank called for a moratorium in donations until the surplus could be used up> — see ABEYANCE

morbid adjective
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <a pessimist who is given to morbid introspection and thoughts of death> — see GLOOMY 1

mordancy noun
biting sharpness of feeling or expression <the surprising mordancy with which the two physicians contested each other's claim to having discovered an effective vaccine for polio> — see ACRIMONY 1

mordant adjective
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <a mordant review of the movie that compared it to having one's teeth pulled for two hours> — see SARCASTIC

more adjective
resulting in an increase in amount or number <bought more apples in order to make a bigger pie> — see ADDITIONAL

more adverb
1 in addition to what has been said <the sci-fi movie was totally unbelievable and, what's more, it was boring>

Synonyms
additionally, again, also, besides, either, further, furthermore, likewise, moreover, then, too, withal, yet

Phrases
as well, for good measure, in addition to, into the bargain (also in the bargain), on top of, to boot, what's more

2 to a greater or higher extent <the boxers for this bout are more evenly matched than the last two were>

Synonyms
better

more noun
something added (as by growth) <add a little more to the mixture> — see INCREASE 1

more or less adverb
1 very close to but not completely <the lot is 16 acres more or less> — see ALMOST
2 to some degree or extent <most couples in the survey said that they were more or less happy in their marriage> — see FAIRLY 1
3 close to but not exactly <the box weighs 60 pounds more or less> — see APPROXIMATELY

moreover adverb
in addition to what has been said <swimming alone is against the rules and, moreover, it's dangerous> — see MORE 1

mores plural noun
personal conduct or behavior as evaluated by an accepted standard of appropriateness for a social or professional setting <the mores of academic life as opposed to those of the business world> — see MANNER 1

moribund adjective
1 nearly dead <with its run-down look and empty aisles, the grocery store appeared moribund>

Synonyms
dying

Related Words
expiring, fading, passing away, sinking; decadent, declining, deteriorating; dead, deceased, defunct, demised, departed, fallen, gone, lifeless, passed away; terminal

Phrases
at death's door

Near Antonyms
alive, animate, live, living, quick; being, breathing, existing, subsisting, surviving; booming, flourishing, prospering, roaring, thriving; animated, bouncing, energetic, frisky, jazzy, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy

2 having passed its time of use or usefulness <youngsters snickering at the moribund slang their parents were using> — see OBSOLETE

morn noun
1 the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance <my herald of the morn is my cat, sticking his paw in my face to wake me up> — see DAWN 1
2 the time from sunrise until noon <so, how are you this lovely morn?> — see MORNING 1

morning noun
1 the time from sunrise until noon <after working in the fields all morning, we were ready for a hearty lunch>

Synonyms
forenoon, morn

Related Words
aurora, dawn, dawning, daybreak, daylight; cockcrow, sunrise, sunup; day, daytime, light

Near Antonyms
dark, darkness, night, nighttime, twilight; dusk, evening, nightfall, sundown, sunset; afternoon

2 the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance <morning has broken> — see DAWN 1
3 the point at which something begins <the period when people in ancient Mesopotamia began living in cities is usually regarded as the morning of civilization> — see BEGINNING

moron noun
a stupid person <some moron forgot to lock the doors before going home> — see IDIOT

morose adjective
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <those morose job seekers who have grown accustomed to rejection> — see GLOOMY 1

morsel noun
1 a small piece or quantity of food <the chef's cuisine is so good that diners will want to savor every morsel>

Synonyms
bite, mouthful, nibble, nugget, taste, tidbit (also titbit)

Related Words
collop, medallion, noisette; nosh, snack; appetizer, canapé, hors d'oeuvre; bit, chew, crumb, dab, dribble, driblet, fleck, hint, mote, nubbin, particle, pinch, scrap, scruple, shred, smidgen (also smidgeon or smidgin or smidge), snip, snippet, speck, spot, sprinkling, suspicion, tittle, touch, trace; dash, drop; lap, lick; gulp, swallow, swig

2 a very small piece <searching for any morsel of useful information> — see BIT 1
3 a person of no importance or influence <a morsel like her wouldn't last a week in the rough-and-tumble world of Wall Street> — see NOBODY

mortal adjective
1 likely to cause or capable of causing death <a mortal wound> — see DEADLY 1
2 of, relating to, or suggestive of death <a wounded soldier writhing in mortal agony> — see DEATHLY 1
3 relating to or characteristic of human beings <just an ordinary guy with all the usual mortal limitations> — see HUMAN
4 marked by opposition or ill will <have always had a mortal aversion to narcissistic people> — see HOSTILE 1

mortal noun
a member of the human race <just an ordinary mortal living an ordinary life> — see HUMAN

mortally adverb
to a great degree <I'm mortally certain that I've seen that guy before> — see VERY 1

mortgage verb
to obligate by prior agreement <I've mortgaged all my free time this week to the hospice and won't be able to come to the party> — see PLEDGE 1

mortician noun
a person who manages funerals and prepares the dead for burial or cremation <the mortician will take care of all of the arrangements for the funeral> — see FUNERAL DIRECTOR

mortification noun
the emotional state of being made self-consciously uncomfortable <the mortification of being dumped the night before the prom> — see EMBARRASSMENT 1

mortify verb
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress <was mortified by her children's atrocious manners> — see EMBARRASS 1

mortuary adjective
of, relating to, or suggestive of death <the huge department store's mortuary atmosphere in its sad, last weeks of operation> — see DEATHLY 1

mossback noun
a person with old-fashioned ideas <those mossbacks at the intelligence agency didn't get the memo that the world had changed> — see FOGY

mossbacked adjective
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <the restaurant's mossbacked owner refuses to bow to contemporary casualness and relax his dress code> — see CONSERVATIVE 1

mossy adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <mossy rules of etiquette that date from the Victorian era> — see OBSOLETE

1most adverb
to a great degree <a most careful driver, especially in bad weather> — see VERY 1

2most adverb
very close to but not completely <the cost of most everything is higher nowadays> — see ALMOST

most adjective
of the greatest or highest degree or quantity <the player with the most ability on the tennis team> — see ULTIMATE 1

most noun
the greatest amount, number, or part <this room will accommodate 50 people at the most>

Synonyms
max, maximum, outside

Related Words
best, ultimate, utmost; extreme

Antonyms
least, minimum

mostly adverb
for the most part <the weather this month has been mostly mild> — see CHIEFLY

mote noun
a very small piece <there's not a mote of dirt in that woman's house> — see BIT 1

moth–eaten adjective
1 having passed its time of use or usefulness <moth-eaten scientific theories that no one's believed in ages> — see OBSOLETE
2 showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <a man who's been wearing the same moth-eaten clothes for decades> — see SHABBY 1
3 used or heard so often as to be dull <an uncle who tells the same moth-eaten stories every Thanksgiving> — see STALE 1

mother adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of a mother <she often offered to babysit for friends, hoping to satisfy her mother urges until she had children of her own> — see MOTHERLY

mother noun
a female human parent <he dreaded telling his mother that her favorite figurine had gotten broken>

Synonyms
ma, mama (also mamma or momma), mammy, mater [chiefly British], mom, mommy, old lady

Related Words
materfamilias, matriarch, matron; stepmother; supermom, superwoman

mother verb
1 to bring forth from the womb <I hope to mother at least one child> — see BEAR 1
2 to attend to the needs and comforts of <mothered the patients with chicken soup> — see NURSE 1

mother country noun
1 a place of origin <Greece can boast to being the mother country of democracy> — see BIRTHPLACE
2 the land of one's birth, residence, or citizenship <even after decades of living in their adopted nation, they maintained a strong attachment to the mother country> — see COUNTRY 1

motherland noun
1 a place of origin <for many oenophiles, France remains the motherland of fine wines> — see BIRTHPLACE
2 the land of one's birth, residence, or citizenship <all his life he longed to return to his motherland> — see COUNTRY 1

motherliness noun
motherly character or qualities <he cherished his foster parent for her motherliness> — see MATERNITY

mother lode noun
an abundant source <the university has long been a mother lode of athletic talent, with many alumni joining the rarefied ranks of the professionals> — see MINE 1

motherly adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of a mother <she showed a sweet motherly tenderness toward the tiny kitten she was taking care of>

Synonyms
maternal, mother

Related Words
parental; female, feminine, womanish, womanlike, womanly; matriarchal, matronly; caring, giving, nurturing

mother–naked adjective
lacking or shed of clothing <shocked to find that many of the participants at the spring break bacchanal were mother-naked> — see NAKED 1

mother tongue noun
the stock of words, pronunciation, and grammar used by a people as their basic means of communication <although the anthropologist could speak the local language fairly well, she was always glad to find someone who shared her mother tongue> — see LANGUAGE 1

motif noun
1 a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) <the motif of mute figures standing in lonely isolation is a recurrent one in the artist's works> — see MATTER 1
2 a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric) <the fabric for the upholstery features a scallop shell motif> — see PATTERN 1

motion noun
the act or an instance of changing position <we were instructed not to make any sudden motions or we might scare away the deer> — see MOVEMENT 1

motion verb
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture <the referee motioned the team captains to confer with him on the sideline>

Synonyms
beckon, flag, gesture, signal, wave

Related Words
nod; gesticulate, mime, pantomime, sign; signalize; acquaint, advise, inform, relate, tell; flourish, shrug

motionlessly adverb
without motion <could sit motionlessly for hours> — see STILL 1

motion picture noun
1 a story told by means of a series of continuously projected pictures and a sound track <a popular novel that was made into a major motion picture> — see MOVIE 1
2 motion pictures plural the art or business of making a movie <to the industrialist, producing motion pictures seemed a lot more glamorous than manufacturing synthetics> — see MOVIE 2

motivation noun
something that arouses action or activity <fear of failing should be plenty of motivation to study for the test> — see IMPULSE 1

motive noun
1 a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) <the principal motive of the piece was introduced in the flute section> — see MATTER 1
2 a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric) <decorated with a paisley motive> — see PATTERN 1
3 something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing <the detective felt that the first suspect didn't have any motive for committing the crime> — see REASON 2

motley adjective
1 consisting of many things of different sorts <a ship with a motley crew of old salts, young adventurers, and shifty characters of all ages> — see MISCELLANEOUS
2 marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <a tropical bird with motley plumage> — see COLORFUL

motley noun
1 a person formerly kept in a royal or noble household to amuse with jests and pranks <the motleys with their colorful outfits> — see FOOL 2
2 an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <a motley of old junk stored in the attic> — see MISCELLANY 1

motor noun
1 a device that changes energy into mechanical motion <the device was equipped with a small electrical motor to make the gears spin> — see ENGINE
2 a self-propelled passenger vehicle on four wheels <went shopping for a new automobile at Valley Motors> — see CAR

motor verb
1 to proceed or move quickly <effortlessly motored past the other runners for a first-place finish> — see HURRY 2
2 to travel by a motorized vehicle <motoring along the highway at the speed limit> — see DRIVE 2

motorboat noun
a boat equipped with a motor <motorboats are banned on the lake because they are a hazard to swimmers>

Synonyms
powerboat, speedboat, stinkpot [slang]

Related Words
cabin cruiser, cruiser, hydrofoil, motor sailer, runabout, sedan, sportfisherman

motorcade noun
a group of vehicles traveling together or under one management <the next part of the parade was a motorcade of fire engines> — see FLEET

motorcar noun
a self-propelled passenger vehicle on four wheels <a convention for those who love antique motorcars> — see CAR

motor home noun
a motor vehicle that is specially equipped for living while traveling <they lived out of their motor home until they found a suitable house> — see CAMPER

motorist noun
a person who travels by automobile <environmental organizations suggest that motorists get together and carpool to avoid adding to pollution levels>

Synonyms
automobilist, driver, wheelman

Related Words
operator; codriver; chauffeur; carpooler

Antonyms
nondriver

motormouth noun
a person who talks constantly <I had to listen to the motormouth's cell phone conversations for the entire commute> — see CHATTERBOX

motormouthed adjective
fond of talking or conversation <that motormouthed moron can go on endlessly about absolutely nothing> — see TALKATIVE

motor vehicle noun
a self-propelled passenger vehicle on four wheels <got a license to drive a motor vehicle the minute she turned 16> — see CAR

mottle noun
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part <canvases covered with streaks and mottles> — see SPOT 1

mottle verb
to mark with small spots especially unevenly <old papers that were mottled by mold> — see SPOT 1

mottled adjective
1 having blotches of two or more colors <a mottled complexion> — see PIED
2 marked with spots <mottled leather upholstery that isn't supposed to look perfect> — see SPOTTED 1

moue noun
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval <a moue of distaste at the display of bad manners> — see GRIMACE

mound noun
1 a pile or ridge of granular matter (as sand or snow) <mounds of snow after the plow had passed> — see 2BANK
2 a quantity of things thrown or stacked on one another <an ever-growing mound of dirty laundry on the floor> — see 1PILE 1
3 an area of high ground <a pitcher's mound> — see HEIGHT 4

mound verb
1 to form into a pile or ridge of earth <mound the mulch around the plants>

Synonyms
bank, hill

Related Words
heap, pile, pyramid, stack; embank; bunch, bundle, clump, lump, mass, wad; accumulate, amass, assemble, collect, conglomerate, gather, group

2 to lay or throw on top of one another <mounding slices of cheese on top of her sandwich meat> — see PILE 1

1mount noun
an elevation of land higher than a hill <Mount Everest> — see MOUNTAIN 1

2mount noun
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else <hammered together a mount for the cameras> — see SUPPORT 1

mount verb
1 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <medical expenses began to mount> — see INCREASE 2
2 to bring before the public in performance or exhibition <the huge amount of money needed to mount an opera> — see PRESENT 1
3 to move or extend upward <the cable car continues to mount to ever higher terrain until the moment when the entire valley comes into view> — see ASCEND

mountain noun
1 an elevation of land higher than a hill <my cousin likes to climb mountains just because she can>

Synonyms
alp, hump, mount, peak

Related Words
cordillera, mountain range, range, sierra; inselberg, knob, seamount; aiguille, horn, mountaintop, pinnacle, summit

Near Antonyms
basin, bowl, depression, hollow, vale, valley

2 a considerable amount <receives a mountain of mail every year for the holidays> — see LOT 2
3 a quantity of things thrown or stacked on one another <he piled a mountain of mashed potatoes on his plate> — see 1PILE 1

mountain dew noun
illegally produced liquor <one sip of the hillbilly's potent mountain dew left inexperienced drinkers gasping> — see MOONSHINE 1

mountain lion noun
a large tawny cat of the wild <the problems created by mountain lions coming into contact with humans in suburban developments> — see COUGAR

mountainous adjective
unusually large <the seemingly mountainous obstacles he had to overcome while growing up> — see HUGE

mountebank noun
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise <claimed that many doctors were frauds and mountebanks> — see IMPOSTOR

mounting noun
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else <built a new mounting for the engine> — see SUPPORT 1

mourn verb
1 to feel deep sadness or mental pain <we mourned for weeks after our beloved pet's death> — see GRIEVE
2 to feel or express sorrow for <an editorial that mourns the loss of the town's last movie theater> — see LAMENT 1

mournful adjective
1 expressing or suggesting mourning <she had such a mournful expression that someone teasingly asked if her dog had died>

Synonyms
aching, agonized, anguished, bemoaning, bewailing, bitter, deploring, doleful, dolesome, dolorous, funeral, grieving, heartbroken, lamentable, lugubrious, plaintive, plangent, regretful, rueful, sorrowful, sorry, wailing, weeping, woeful

Related Words
dirgelike, elegiac (also elegiacal), melancholy; dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, dispirited, downcast, downhearted, heartsick, heartsore, inconsolable, tearful; brokenhearted, careworn, crestfallen, downcast, downhearted, forlorn, gloomy, glum, low-spirited, miserable, sad, triste, unhappy, woebegone; bawling, crying, groaning, howling, keening, moaning, yammering; bleeding, suffering; black, bleak, cheerless, comfortless, dark, darkening, desolate, dismal, dreary, funereal, gloomy, glum, gray (also grey), joyless, low, miserable, moody, morbid, morose, pathetic, pessimistic, piteous, saturnine, somber (or sombre), sullen, wretched

Near Antonyms
delighted, exulting, glorying, happy, joyful, rejoicing, triumphant; bright, cheerful, cheering, cheery; laughing, smiling; blissful, blithe, blithesome, buoyant, jocund, jolly, joyous, lighthearted, merry, mirthful; encouraging, hopeful, optimistic; ecstatic, elated, euphoric, exhilarated, giddy, heady, rapturous, rhapsodic (also rhapsodical)

2 feeling unhappiness <the mournful survivors of the disaster were faced with the grim task of burying the dead> — see SAD 1
3 causing unhappiness <the mournful death of a beloved entertainer> — see SAD 2

mournfully adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <cried out mournfully for the son who would never return home from the war> — see HARD 2

mournfulness noun
a state or spell of low spirits <the memorial to the war's dead has an aura of mournfulness that cannot be conveyed in words> — see SADNESS

mouse verb
to move about in a sly or secret manner <a cat mousing along in the shadows of the garden> — see SNEAK 1

mousy or mousey adjective
easily frightened <a mousy little girl who hid behind her mother the entire time we were there> — see SHY 1

mouth noun
1 the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal <the baby chicks opened their mouths very wide and chirped piteously when their mother came back with worms>

Synonyms
chops, gob [chiefly British], kisser [slang], mug, piehole [slang], trap [slang], yap [slang]

Related Words
countenance, face, puss [slang], visage; muzzle; jaws, mandible, maxilla; gullet, maw

2 a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval <the boy usually makes a mouth when he gets an injection> — see GRIMACE
3 disrespectful or argumentative talk given in response to a command or request <I won't tolerate you giving your mother mouth about everything> — see BACK TALK
4 a person who speaks for another or for a group <the press secretary is the official mouth of the administration> — see SPOKESPERSON

mouth verb
1 to distort one's face <when her mother told her to mind, the little girl mouthed insolently and rolled her eyes> — see MUG 1
2 to speak softly and unclearly <the prompter mouthed the forgotten words under his breath> — see MUMBLE

mouth (off) verb
to talk as if giving an important and formal speech <some crank mouthing off in the center of town to anyone who would listen> — see ORATE 1

mouthful noun
a small piece or quantity of food <took a small mouthful of the soup to see if she liked it> — see MORSEL 1

mouthpiece noun
a person who speaks for another or for a group <a statement read by the official mouthpiece of the company> — see SPOKESPERSON

mouthwatering adjective
very pleasing to the sense of taste <an eye-catching display of mouthwatering cakes and pastries> — see DELICIOUS 1

mouthy adjective
fond of talking or conversation <those mouthy motorists who can't seem to stay off their cell phones> — see TALKATIVE

movable or moveable adjective
capable of being moved especially with ease <any furniture that is not movable will be covered with protective cloths by the painters>

Synonyms
mobile, portable

Related Words
adjustable, flexible, modular; removable (also removeable), transferable (also transferrable), transportable; motile, moving; unbalanced, unstable, unsteady; manageable

Near Antonyms
immotile, nonmotile, nonmoving; motionless, moveless, standing, static, stationary, still, stuck, wedged; fast, fixed, rooted, steadfast

Antonyms
immobile, immovable, irremovable, nonmobile, unmovable

movables or moveables plural noun
1 the movable articles (such as tables and chairs) in a room <when painting a room, you should first cover or remove all of the movables> — see FURNITURE
2 transportable items that one owns <packed our movables into the van and headed off to our new home> — see POSSESSION 2

move noun
1 an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result <retiring early was a smart move> — see MEASURE 1
2 the act or an instance of changing position <don't make a move> — see MOVEMENT 1

move verb
1 to change the place or position of <I need you to move all your books off that chair before company gets here>

Synonyms
budge, dislocate, displace, disturb, relocate, remove, reposition, shift, transfer, transpose

Related Words
bear, carry, cart, convey, drive, haul, lug, tote, transmit, transplant, transport; replace, supersede, supplant; alter, make over, modify, redo, refashion, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, vary

Near Antonyms
anchor, fix, freeze, moor, secure, set, stabilize; embed (also imbed), entrench (also intrench), implant, ingrain (also engrain), lodge, root

2 to set or keep in motion <the hands of the wall clock are moved by battery>

Synonyms
actuate, drive, impel, propel, work

Related Words
activate, motivate, provoke; abet, ferment, foment, incite, raise, stir (up), whip (up); set off, trigger, trip; arouse, excite, fire (up), galvanize, inflame (also enflame), inspire, instigate, rouse, stimulate

Near Antonyms
bridle, check, constrain, contain, control, curb, inhibit, regulate, rein (in), restrain

3 to change one's position <don't move while I'm trying to draw your portrait>

Synonyms
budge, locomote, shift, stir

Related Words
fiddle, fidget, jiggle, squiggle, squirm, toss, twitch, wiggle, wriggle, writhe; rouse

Near Antonyms
hang around, remain, stay, stick around, tarry; stabilize

Antonyms
freeze, still

4 to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response <we were deeply moved by the program of patriotic music> — see 1AFFECT 1
5 to rouse to strong feeling or action <the heartfelt appeal moved the people to reach into their pockets and donate generously> — see PROVOKE 1
6 to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests <the report moved me to change my mind about the issue> — see PERSUADE
7 to cause to function <this one button moves the whole machine> — see ACTIVATE
8 to leave a place often for another <the police officer told the loiterers to move along> — see GO 2

movement noun
1 the act or an instance of changing position <a sudden movement in the far corner of the room made her turn in that direction>

Synonyms
motion, move, shift, shifting, stir, stirring

Related Words
dislocation, migration, relocation; locomotion, mobility, motility, motivity; fiddling, fidgeting, squirm, squirming, twitching, wriggling, writhing; flailing, flapping, waving

Near Antonyms
immobility; inertia, inertness, stillness; cessation, discontinuance, ending, expiration, finish, halt, lapse, pause, shutdown, shutoff, stop, stoppage, surcease, termination

Antonyms
motionlessness

2 a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal <a movement for political reform in the city> — see CAMPAIGN

movie noun
1 a story told by means of a series of continuously projected pictures and a sound track <there was much excitement when it was announced that the popular children's book would be turned into a movie>

Synonyms
film, flick, flicker, motion picture, moving picture, picture

Related Words
animated cartoon, cartoon, docudrama, documentary, feature, featurette, short, short subject; silent, talkie; B movie, B picture, cofeature

2 movies plural the art or business of making a movie <many a small-town girl has gone to Hollywood, dreaming of making it big in the movies>

Synonyms
big screen, cinema, film, filmdom, filmland, filmmaking, moviemaking, pictures, screen, silver screen

Related Words
Bollywood, Hollywood; showbiz, show business

moviemaking noun
the art or business of making a movie <a director with 25 years of experience at moviemaking> — see MOVIE 2

moving adjective
having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies <he gave a truly moving graduation speech that had some graduates in tears>

Synonyms
affecting, emotional, impactful, impressive, poignant, stirring, touching

Related Words
eloquent, expressive, meaningful, significant; demonstrative, excitable, feeling, passionate, responsive, sensitive; exciting, inspirational, provoking, rousing, stimulating; dramatic, histrionic, melodramatic, theatrical (also theatric); cathartic

Near Antonyms
cold, cool, detached, dispassionate, emotionless; deadpan

Antonyms
unaffecting, unemotional, unimpressive

moving picture noun
a story told by means of a series of continuously projected pictures and a sound track <in the 20th century moving pictures became an important form of artistic expression> — see MOVIE 1

mow noun
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval <her mow suggested that she wasn't looking forward to a long evening of political speeches> — see GRIMACE

mow verb
1 to shorten the standing leafy plant cover of <you really should mow the lawn before it gets much higher>

Synonyms
cut

Related Words
clip, crop, curtail, cut back, dock, hack, lop, manicure, nip, pare, prune, trim; bob, shave, shear, snip

2 to bring down by cutting <an afternoon spent mowing hay> — see FELL 2

mow (down) verb
1 to kill on a large scale <machine guns mowed down the advancing troops without mercy> — see MASSACRE
2 to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall <the crowd rushing in for the sale mowed down the poor clerks standing at the front entrance> — see FELL 1

moxie noun
1 knowledge gained by actually doing or living through something <it was old-fashioned military moxie that got medical supplies to the disaster site in record time> — see EXPERIENCE 1
2 strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <a fearless journalist who denounced McCarthyism when few had the moxie to do so> — see COURAGE
3 active strength of body or mind <say, you're full of moxie this morning!> — see VIGOR 1

Mrs. noun
the female partner in a marriage <“How nice to see you! How's the Mrs.?” inquired the charming older gentleman> — see WIFE

Mrs. Grundy noun
a person who is greatly concerned with seemly behavior and morality especially regarding sexual matters <the librarian pointed out that many of the books that contain material that was once offensive to the Mrs. Grundys of the world are now revered as literary classics> — see PRUDE

much adjective
having great meaning or lasting effect <actually, nothing much changed> — see IMPORTANT 1

much adverb
1 to a great degree <much gratified by the favorable response to her novel> — see VERY 1
2 to a large extent or degree <the new decorations made me much happier> — see GREATLY 2
3 very close to but not completely <today the old neighborhood looks much as it did years ago> — see ALMOST
4 many times <I don't do that much anymore> — see OFTEN
5 close to but not exactly <he behaves much the same as I did at that age> — see APPROXIMATELY

much noun
a considerable amount <much of what people think they know about words is inaccurate or downright false> — see LOT 2

much as conjunction
in spite of the fact that <much as I'd like to blame you, I know I can't> — see ALTHOUGH

much less conjunction
to say nothing of <after spraining his ankle, the gymnast hadn't been expected to appear in today's event, much less win it> — see LET ALONE

muck noun
1 foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something <spattered with muck from the pigpen> — see FILTH 1
2 soft wet earth <her shoes were covered with muck by the end of the soccer game> — see MUD
3 that which is of low quality or worth <what's this muck that you've been watching on TV, anyway?> — see JUNK 1
4 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <there's some solid substance in this book, but the reader has to trudge through a lot of muck to get to it> — see NONSENSE 1

muck verb
to make dirty <you can't work in the garden and not expect to muck your clothes> — see DIRTY

muck (about or around) verb
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern <regretted the day she thought that it would be a good idea to muck about in the neighbors' marital problems> — see INTERFERE

muckety–muck also muck–a–muck or mucky–muck noun
one of high position or importance within a group <the obituary mentioned that he was a muckety-muck in several service clubs> — see BIG SHOT

muck up verb
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <I swear, she mucks up everything she tries> — see BOTCH

mucky adjective
1 full of or covered with soft wet earth <the ground was very mucky after a night of pouring rain> — see MUDDY 1
2 not clean <only too happy to remove those old mucky clothes> — see DIRTY 1

mud noun
soft wet earth <we cannot play softball today because the field turned to mud after last night's heavy rain>

Synonyms
guck (or gook), mire, muck, ooze, slime, slop, sludge, slush

Related Words
gumbo, silt; clay, dirt, gravel, humus, loam, sand, soil

muddle noun
1 a state in which everything is out of order <things at the newly built school were all in a muddle on opening day> — see CHAOS
2 a state of mental confusion <I was in such a muddle after the accident that I didn't know where I was> — see HAZE 2
3 a state of mental uncertainty <the new, supposedly improved forms simply put taxpayers in a bigger muddle> — see CONFUSION 1
4 an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <a muddle of old magazines piled on the shelves> — see MISCELLANY 1

muddle verb
1 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <a car shopper thoroughly muddled by too much well-meaning advice> — see CONFUSE 1
2 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <some mischievous brat had muddled the household accounts> — see DISORDER

muddled adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <a muddled arrangement of trophies in the display case> — see MESSY

muddleheaded adjective
suffering from mental confusion <a muddleheaded waiter gave us another party's bill> — see DIZZY 2

muddy adjective
1 full of or covered with soft wet earth <please do not walk in the house with muddy boots on, as you will get the carpet dirty>

Synonyms
miry, mucky, oozy, slimy, sludgy, slushy

Related Words
clayey, loamy, roily, silty; bedraggled; befouled, begrimed, cruddy, dirty, filthy, foul, grimy, grotty [chiefly British], grubby, grungy, gunky, impure, smutty, soiled, squalid, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleanly

Near Antonyms
antiseptic, clean, cleanly, immaculate, pristine, sparkling, spick-and-span (or spic-and-span), spotless, squeaky-clean, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied

2 having visible particles in liquid suspension <whether muddy or not, water taken from lakes and streams should be boiled by campers> — see CLOUDY 1
3 not clean <we were all muddy after playing outside> — see DIRTY 1

muddy verb
1 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <my mind had been thoroughly muddied by the long hours of exacting work> — see CONFUSE 1
2 to make (something) unclear to the understanding <that argument is irrelevant and will just muddy the issue we're trying to resolve> — see CONFUSE 2
3 to make dirty <forgot to take off our shoes and accidentally muddied the kitchen floor> — see DIRTY

mudslinger noun
one who makes harsh, personal attacks against opponents <a local hot-button issue that has turned some normally mild-mannered neighbors into letter-writing mudslingers> — see ATTACK DOG

mudslinging noun
the use of personal attacks or insults in order to undermine an opponent <the ceaseless mudslinging merely convinced voters that neither candidate was worth voting for> — see NAME-CALLING

muff verb
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <muffed the repair job and had to do it again> — see BOTCH

muffle verb
1 to deaden the sound of <the walls muffled their conversation so that only a low murmur was heard>

Synonyms
mute, stifle

Related Words
insulate, soundproof; pad; dampen, mellow, soften, subdue, tone (down); baffle; smother

Near Antonyms
amplify, boost, deepen, enhance, heighten, increase, magnify, step up, strengthen

Antonyms
unmuffle

2 to surround or cover closely <the airport had been muffled in fog all morning long> — see ENFOLD 1

mug noun
1 a round vessel equipped with a handle and designed for drinking <a coffee mug> — see CUP
2 a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <just a bunch of mugs with no respect for anyone, not even themselves> — see HOODLUM
3 the front part of the head <she joked about not having to see his ugly mug anymore> — see FACE 1
4 the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal <keep your mug shut and listen up> — see MOUTH 1
5 a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval <an involuntary mug at the revolting sight> — see GRIMACE
6 chiefly British one who is easily deceived or cheated <the cardsharp was always on the lookout for a new mug> — see 1DUPE
7 chiefly British a stupid person <those mugs couldn't blow up a balloon, let alone the Houses of Parliament> — see IDIOT

mug verb
1 to distort one's face <every time their picture was snapped, both children mugged by sticking out their tongues or scrunching up their faces>

Synonyms
grimace, mouth

Related Words
pout; contort, deform, twist, warp; frown, glare, gloom, glower, lower (also lour), scowl; gape, gaze, ogle, stare; growl, snarl, sneer; simper, smirk

Phrases
make a face (or make faces), pull a face

Near Antonyms
beam, grin, smile

2 to take a photograph of <mugging captured criminals for the police records> — see PHOTOGRAPH

muggy adjective
containing or characterized by an uncomfortable amount of moisture <the air was so muggy we felt we just had to go for a swim> — see HUMID

mulct noun
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment <the loan shark usually imposed a mulct of an additional 20% on overdue payments> — see FINE

mulct verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <trying to mulct the insurance company for an accident that never happened> — see FLEECE

muliebrity noun
the set of qualities considered appropriate for or characteristic of women <with her lovely outfit and graceful manners, she was the epitome of matronly muliebrity> — see FEMININITY

mulish adjective
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <a mulish determination to have his own way> — see OBSTINATE

mulishness noun
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action <cursed their mulishness for failing to own up to what seemed like an obvious mistake to him> — see OBSTINACY

mull verb
to reduce to fine particles <the dentist was in the habit of mulling the mercury amalgam in the palm of his hand> — see POWDER

mull (over) verb
to give serious and careful thought to <mull over the idea for a while and then let me know> — see PONDER

multicolored adjective
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <displays of multicolored pottery from her native Mexico> — see COLORFUL

multifarious adjective
being of many and various kinds <the multifarious interests and activities in which Benjamin Franklin immersed himself> — see MANIFOLD

multifariousness noun
the quality or state of being composed of many different elements or types <the remarkable multifariousness of the conglomerate's commercial activities> — see VARIETY 1

multifold adjective
being of a large but indefinite number <the advantages of the new accounting system are multifold> — see MANY

multihued adjective
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <used multihued dinnerware and stemware to give the table settings a casual, festive look> — see COLORFUL

multinational adjective
relating to or involving two or more nations <multinational efforts to negotiate a lasting peace in the region> — see INTERNATIONAL

multiple adjective
1 used or done by a number of people as a group <multiple ownership of a vacation condo> — see COLLECTIVE
2 being of a large but indefinite number <the multiple achievements of her long career in public education> — see MANY

multiplex adjective
being of a large but indefinite number <would sometimes experience multiplex moods in the course of a single day> — see MANY

multiplication noun
the act or process of becoming greater in number <there's been a steady multiplication in our attic of old video equipment since the revolution in consumer electronics>

Synonyms
accumulating, accumulation, addition, increase, mushrooming, proliferation

Related Words
doubling, quadrupling, tripling; creep, growth, rise, spread; enlargement, escalation, expansion; amplification, distension (or distention), inflation; accretion, accrual, augmentation, cumulation; extension, lengthening; boost, gain, hike, increment, rise

Near Antonyms
abatement, compressing, compression, condensation, condensing, constricting, constriction, contracting, contraction, diminishing, diminishment, diminution, drop, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, shrinking; retrenching, retrenchment, shortening

Antonyms
decrease

multiplicity noun
1 a considerable amount <a multiplicity of suggestions for turning the company around> — see LOT 2
2 the quality or state of being composed of many different elements or types <Shakespeare's works seem to encompass the full multiplicity of human experience> — see VARIETY 1

multiply verb
1 to bring forth offspring <rabbits multiply with proverbial rapidity> — see PROCREATE
2 to make greater in size, amount, or number <the booming economy multiplied the wealth of investors> — see INCREASE 1
3 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <with each attempt the problems multiplied> — see INCREASE 2

multitude noun
1 a great number of persons or creatures massed together <awed by the multitude of stars in the night sky> — see CROWD 1
2 the body of the community as contrasted with the elite <the nation's idle rich frolicked while the multitude starved> — see MASS 1

multitudinous adjective
being of a large but indefinite number <the multitudinous questions that seem to be an inevitable part of opening day at school> — see MANY

mum adjective
deliberately refraining from speech <kept mum about the surprise bridal shower> — see SILENT 1

mumble noun
speech that is not clear enough to be understood <please answer the question without your usual mumble and try to use complete sentences>

Synonyms
grunt, grunting, murmur, murmuring, mutter, muttering

Related Words
rumor, undertone, whisper; babble, babbling, blab, blabbing, chatter, chattering, drivel, driveling (or drivelling), gabble, gabbling, jabber, jabbering, maundering, prattle, prattling, rambling

mumble verb
to speak softly and unclearly <I can't understand you if you mumble>

Synonyms
chunter [British], grunt, mouth, murmur, mutter

Related Words
babble, blab, chatter, drivel, gabble, gibber, jabber, maunder, prattle, ramble; breathe, gasp, pant, whisper; buzz

Near Antonyms
articulate, enunciate

Antonyms
speak out, speak up

mumbo jumbo noun
unintelligible or meaningless talk <the soothsayer's predictions were nothing but mumbo jumbo> — see GIBBERISH 1

mummer noun
1 an actor in a story performed silently and entirely by body movements <a street festival featuring mummers in a pantomime> — see MIME 1
2 one who acts professionally (as in a play, movie, or television show) <those moonstruck mummers on TV soap operas who have more hair than talent> — see ACTOR 1

munchies plural noun
a need or desire for food <I often get the munchies while watching TV late at night> — see HUNGER 1

mundane adjective
1 having to do with the practical details of regular life <they didn't want to be bothered with mundane concerns like doing the dishes while on vacation>

Synonyms
everyday, nitty-gritty, prosaic, terrestrial, workaday

Related Words
earthly, temporal, worldly; average, common, commonplace, customary, familiar, garden, generic, normal, ordinary, plain, popular, routine, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine (or run-of-mine), standard, typical, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual; frequent, habitual, regular; expected, predictable

Near Antonyms
high-minded, lofty, noble, sublime; aberrant, abnormal, atypical; exceptional, extraordinary, freak, peculiar, phenomenal, rare, singular, special, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, unusual, unwonted; bizarre, curious, far-out, funny, odd, outlandish, out-of-the-way, outré, quaint, quirky, remarkable, screwy, strange, weird, wild

2 having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven <a period for reflection and penitence, when spiritual concerns should take precedence over those that are mundane> — see EARTHLY

municipality noun
a thickly settled, highly populated area <a municipality with an excellent police department> — see CITY

munificence noun
the quality or state of being generous <a number of poor communities now have school computers as a result of that billionaire's munificence> — see LIBERALITY

munificent adjective
giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <a munificent host who has presided over many charitable events at his mansion> — see GENEROUS 1

munificently adverb
in a generous manner <has shared her wealth munificently on countless occasions> — see WELL 2

murder noun
1 a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness <this weather is murder on my sinuses> — see HELL 2
2 the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life <arrested for attempting to commit murder> — see HOMICIDE 1

murder verb
1 to put to death deliberately <those people made me so mad I felt like I wanted to murder them>

Synonyms
assassinate, bump off, croak [slang], dispatch, do in, execute, get, ice [slang], knock off, liquidate, neutralize, off [slang], put away, rub out, slay, snuff, take out, terminate, whack [slang]

Related Words
blow away, shoot, shoot down; blot out, carry off, claim, cut down, destroy, fell, kill, smite, zap; butcher, massacre, mow (down), slaughter; annihilate, eliminate, eradicate, exterminate, wipe out

Phrases
do away with

Near Antonyms
animate, raise, restore, resurrect, resuscitate, revive

2 to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <we listened in horror as she murdered our favorite song on stage> — see BOTCH

murderer noun
a person who kills another person <the murderer was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole> — see ASSASSIN

murdering adjective
eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing <a vow to bring down the murdering fiend who had destroyed his family> — see BLOODTHIRSTY

murderous adjective
1 difficult to endure <the murderous heat of the desert> — see HARSH 1
2 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <those exams were murderous> — see HARD 2
3 likely to cause or capable of causing death <braved murderous machine-gun fire to capture the hill from the enemy> — see DEADLY 1
4 eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing <Viking warriors became legendary for the murderous fury they displayed in battle> — see BLOODTHIRSTY

murk noun
1 a time or place of little or no light <a robber lying unseen in the murk> — see DARK 1
2 an atmospheric condition in which suspended particles in the air rob it of its transparency <stuck outside in the murk and the rain> — see HAZE 1

murkiness noun
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <we had trouble understanding the passage because of its murkiness> — see OBSCURITY 1

murky adjective
1 being without light or without much light <I didn't like walking around the murky campground without a flashlight> — see DARK 1
2 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the murky shadows of the cemetery> — see GLOOMY 1
3 filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension <skies made murky from the smoke of forest fires that were many miles to the west> — see HAZY 1
4 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <a murky reply to a question about his intentions> — see OBSCURE 1
5 not seen or understood clearly <a gubernatorial candidate with a murky position on the hot-button issue of capital punishment> — see FAINT 1

murmur noun
1 an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <finished the tedious job without a murmur> — see COMPLAINT 1
2 speech that is not clear enough to be understood <could just barely hear the murmurs of the audience> — see MUMBLE

murmur verb
1 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <no prisoner dared murmur out loud> — see COMPLAIN
2 to speak softly and unclearly <a college professor who tends to murmur> — see MUMBLE

murmurer noun
an irritable and complaining person <the murmurers among the patients usually got fed last> — see GROUCH 1

murmuring noun
speech that is not clear enough to be understood <his surprising announcement brought murmurings from the crowd> — see MUMBLE

muscle noun
1 muscular strength <I'm going to need someone with real muscle to help me move all this furniture>

Synonyms
beef, brawn, main, thew

Related Words
force, might, potency, power, puissance, sinew; energy, vigor

Near Antonyms
impotence, impotency, weakness; debilitation, debility, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, infirmity

2 the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task <at the time the military lacked the muscle to fight two wars at once> — see POWER 2

muscle verb
1 to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <he was muscled out of command by his opponents at military headquarters> — see FORCE 1
2 to force one's way <muscling straight through the packed crowd of people waiting to board the ship> — see 2PRESS 4

muscular adjective
1 marked by a well-developed musculature <Olympic runners tend to have very muscular legs>

Synonyms
brawny, sinewy

Related Words
wiry; powerful, strong; beefy, burly, hefty, hulking, husky; able-bodied, athletic, herculean, mighty, robust, rugged, stalwart, stout, strapping, sturdy; muscle-bound; sculpted

Near Antonyms
nonathletic; debilitated, delicate, effete, enervated, enfeebled, feeble, fragile, frail, weak, weakened, weakly, wimpy; light, lightweight, slight; lean, slender, slim, svelte, sylphlike, thin, willowy; emaciated, gaunt, lank, rawboned, scraggy, spare

Antonyms
scrawny, skinny

2 having muscles capable of exerting great physical force <a muscular superhero who can easily lift a ton or more> — see STRONG 1
3 marked by or uttered with forcefulness <a presidential speech that promises to be a muscular enunciation of the nation's foreign policy> — see EMPHATIC 1
4 having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) <a muscular red wine that goes especially well with beef> — see FULL-BODIED

muscularly adverb
in a vigorous and forceful manner <the driving rhythms and dramatic crescendos of the muscularly played final movement brought concertgoers to their feet> — see HARD 3

muse noun
a person who writes poetry <where is the muse who will sing of this man's great and noble deeds?> — see POET

museum noun
a building or part of a building in which objects of interest are displayed <a trip to the Museum of Natural History>

Synonyms
gallery, salon

Related Words
archives, assemblage, collection, library; display, exhibition; studio

museum piece noun
something belonging to or surviving from an earlier period <that old wooden ironing board she uses is a museum piece> — see ANTIQUE

mush noun
1 something (as a work of literature or music) that is too sentimental <an opera that is pure mush> — see CORN
2 the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) <couldn't stand all the mush in the movie's romantic scenes> — see SENTIMENTALITY

mushiness noun
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) <prefers mindless action movies to the “mushiness” of romantic comedies> — see SENTIMENTALITY

mushroom verb
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <the suburb's population has mushroomed tremendously in the last decade> — see INCREASE 2

mushrooming noun
the act or process of becoming greater in number <this mushrooming of options for phone, cable, and Internet service has left me hopelessly confused> — see MULTIPLICATION

mushy adjective
1 appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <a mushy love story> — see CORNY 1
2 giving easily to the touch <mushy fruit that was obviously overripe> — see SOFT 3

musical adjective
1 having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music <the musical sounds of the babbling brook> — see LYRIC 1
2 having a pleasing mixture of notes <the song of the skylark has been celebrated for being especially musical> — see HARMONIOUS 1

musicale noun
an entertainment featuring singing or the playing of musical instruments <gathered every month in someone's home for an informal musicale> — see CONCERT

musician noun
1 a person who plays a musical instrument <the violinist was a famous and exquisitely talented musician>

Synonyms
instrumentalist, player

Related Words
minstrel; artist, performer; maestro, virtuoso; accompanist, recitalist, soloist, symphonist; accordionist, bassoonist, clarinetist (or clarinettist), cornetist (or cornettist), drummer, fiddler, flautist, flutist, guitarist, harpist, hornist, keyboardist, oboist, organ-grinder, organist, percussionist, pianist, picker, piper, reedman, saxophonist, trombonist, trumpeter, violinist, violist

2 a person who writes musical compositions <that musician is known for having written music that is very difficult to perform> — see COMPOSER

musing adjective
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking <he was clearly in a musing mood, and did not feel like talking just then> — see CONTEMPLATIVE

muskeg noun
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water <local farmers can make extra money by digging peat out of the nearby muskeg> — see SWAMP 1

musketeer noun
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another <the two little musketeers were never seen apart> — see FRIEND 1

muss noun
a state in which everything is out of order <careful planning had eliminated most of the muss that usually accompanies a move to a new house> — see CHAOS

muss verb
to undo the proper order or arrangement of <the wind mussed up my hair> — see DISORDER

mussed adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <the charmingly mussed look of a rock star in full rebel regalia> — see MESSY

mussy adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <a mussy pile of papers and books> — see MESSY

must noun
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable <exercise is a must if you want to stay healthy> — see ESSENTIAL 1

must verb
to be under necessity or obligation to <we must be quiet during the performance> — see NEED 2

muster noun
1 a body of people come together in one place <a muster of concerned citizens> — see GATHERING 1
2 a number of things considered as a unit <considering the muster of suggestions that were submitted for “word of the year”> — see GROUP 1

muster verb
1 to assemble and make ready for action <a command to muster the troops> — see MOBILIZE
2 to bring together in assembly by or as if by command <all the supporters that I could muster for the fund-raising campaign> — see CONVOKE
3 to be made up of <the corps of regular wine drinkers musters only about 10% of the population> — see COMPRISE 1

muster out verb
to let go from office, service, or employment <mustered out of the army at the end of the war> — see DISMISS 1

must–have adjective
impossible to do without <aprons are must-have accessories for the cooking class> — see ESSENTIAL 1

must–have noun
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable <hiking boots are a must-have for this trip> — see ESSENTIAL 1

musty adjective
1 having an unpleasant smell <musty old gym socks> — see MALODOROUS
2 used or heard so often as to be dull <the musty prose of writers who use the same expressions over and over> — see STALE 1

mutable adjective
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <a politician with very mutable positions on all the issues> — see FICKLE 1

mutate verb
to pass from one form, state, or level to another <colored lights that slowly mutate from green to blue and so on across the color spectrum> — see CHANGE 2

mute adjective
1 unable to speak <the child is both deaf and mute because her hearing was lost at birth>

Synonyms
inarticulate, speechless, voiceless

Related Words
tongue-tied; incoherent, incomprehensible; closemouthed, laconic, reserved, reticent, taciturn, tight-lipped, uncommunicative; mum, nonspeaking, quiet, silent, wordless

Near Antonyms
blabby, chatty, communicative, expansive, gabby, garrulous, loquacious, talkative, talky, vocal; expatiating, speaking out, speaking up; articulating, speaking, talking; articulate, eloquent, fluent, voluble

2 deliberately refraining from speech <remained mute no matter how much we pleaded for an answer> — see SILENT 1

mute noun
a device on a musical instrument that deadens or softens its tone <I was practicing my trumpet at three in the morning when the mute fell out, and I managed to wake everyone up>

Synonyms
damper

Related Words
muffler, quieter, softener, soft pedal

mute verb
1 to stop the noise or speech of <muted the television while she was on the phone> — see SILENCE 1
2 to deaden the sound of <closing the windows muted the traffic noise so we could get to sleep> — see MUFFLE 1

muted adjective
1 mostly or entirely without sound <the muted cry of a frightened witness to a murder> — see SILENT 3
2 not excessively showy <painted with muted colors> — see QUIET 2
3 deliberately refraining from speech <she was unexpectedly muted in the presence of her literary idol> — see SILENT 1

muteness noun
incapacity for or restraint from speaking <we were baffled by his uncharacteristic muteness> — see SILENCE 1

mutilate verb
to cause severe or permanent injury to <was lucky not to be mutilated in the car crash> — see MAIM

mutineer noun
a person who rises up against authority <the mutineers were captured after they turned to piracy on the open seas> — see REBEL

mutinous adjective
taking part in a rebellion <vowed that he would someday see the mutinous crew hang> — see REBELLIOUS 1

mutiny noun
open fighting against authority (as one's own government) <a mutiny led by the ship's cook> — see REBELLION 1

mutiny verb
to rise up against established authority <the party's conservative faction mutinied just before the election> — see REBEL

mutt noun
a stupid person <it's an expensive camera, and I'd rather not turn it over to some mutt> — see IDIOT

mutter noun
speech that is not clear enough to be understood <the distracting mutter of some member of the audience> — see MUMBLE

mutter verb
1 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <a muttering group of workers> — see COMPLAIN
2 to speak softly and unclearly <muttering to himself under his breath> — see MUMBLE

mutterer noun
an irritable and complaining person <the usual mutterers about the food in the cafeteria> — see GROUCH 1

muttering noun
speech that is not clear enough to be understood <barely heard mutterings of discontent> — see MUMBLE

mutual adjective
used or done by a number of people as a group <every film is a mutual effort by the director, writer, actors, and a host of others> — see COLLECTIVE

mutually exclusive adjective
not being in agreement or harmony <the two plans are mutually exclusive; implementing one will automatically rule out the other> — see INCONSISTENT 1

muzzy adjective
1 not expressed in precise terms <in an attempt to be all things to all people, the candidate offered to the voters an intentionally muzzy campaign message> — see VAGUE 1
2 suffering from mental confusion <with my mind still muzzy from the medication, I had no idea what the nurse was saying> — see DIZZY 2

myopic adjective
1 able to see near things more clearly than distant ones <he became so myopic that he finally broke down and got contact lenses> — see NEARSIGHTED
2 not thinking about and providing for the future <the myopic city designers who did not plan for growth> — see IMPROVIDENT

myriad adjective
1 being of many and various kinds <the myriad problems that today's cities face> — see MANIFOLD
2 too many to be counted <the myriad influences that shape a person's character> — see COUNTLESS

myriad noun
a considerable amount <the car can be outfitted with a myriad of options> — see LOT 2

mysterious adjective
1 being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain <the huge stone statues on Easter Island are ancient, mysterious, and haunting>

Synonyms
arcane, cryptic, deep, enigmatic (also enigmatical), impenetrable, inscrutable, mystic, occult, uncanny

Related Words
dark, darkling, fuzzy, murky, obscure, shadowy, vague; ambiguous, equivocal; imponderable, incomprehensible, unfathomable, unintelligible, unsearchable; inexplicable, unaccountable, unexplainable; unanswerable, unknowable; metaphysical, mystical, numinous, supernatural; abstruse, esoteric, recondite; baffling, befuddling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, disorienting, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling

Near Antonyms
fathomable, intelligible, understandable; apparent, clear, evident, manifest, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, patent, perspicuous, plain, straightforward, transparent, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable

2 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <the stranger's mysterious prediction> — see OBSCURE 1

mysteriousness noun
1 the quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or explain <the mysteriousness of the nocturnal noises evaporated with the arrival of daybreak> — see INSCRUTABILITY 1
2 the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <the unexpected mysteriousness of the phone message had them a little concerned> — see OBSCURITY 1

mystery noun
something hard to understand or explain <why my sister married that guy is still a mystery to my parents>

Synonyms
closed book, conundrum, enigma, head-scratcher, mystification, puzzle, puzzlement, riddle, secret

Related Words
brainteaser, case, challenge, knot, matter, perplexity, poser, problem, stumper, trouble

mystic adjective
1 having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers <the notion that a cat has nine lives is based upon the belief that nine is a mystic number>

Synonyms
magic, magical, numinous, occult, weird

Related Words
bewitched, enchanted, spellbound; bewitching, charming, conjuring, enchanting, wiling; amazing, astonishing, astounding, awesome, extraordinary, fabulous, marvelous (or marvellous), miraculous, portentous, stunning, stupendous, sublime, wondrous; divining, forecasting, foreknowing, foreseeing, foretelling, fortune-telling, predicting, presaging, prognosticating, prophesying, soothsaying; metaphysical, preternatural, unearthly; paranormal, supernormal

Near Antonyms
commonplace, everyday, normal, ordinary, prosaic, routine, run-of-the-mill, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual, workaday

2 being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain <the belief that there are mystic forces at work here> — see MYSTERIOUS 1
3 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <mystic prophesies that are never understood until it is too late> — see OBSCURE 1

mystification noun
1 a state of mental uncertainty <the new information did little to ease our mystification> — see CONFUSION 1
2 something hard to understand or explain <an event that is one of the great mystifications in all of maritime history> — see MYSTERY

mystify verb
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <we were mystified by the sudden changes in the tax code> — see CONFUSE 1

myth noun
1 a traditional but unfounded story that gives the reason for a current custom, belief, or fact of nature <according to an ancient Greek myth, humans acquired fire from Prometheus, a Titan who had stolen it from heaven>

Synonyms
fable, legend, mythos

Related Words
allegory, parable; fabrication, fantasy (also phantasy), fiction, figment, invention; narrative, saga, story, tale, yarn

2 the body of customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings associated with a people, thing, or place <over the years Davy Crockett evolved from an actual person to one of the great figures of American myth> — see FOLKLORE
3 a false idea or belief <the idea that alligators can live in the sewers of New York is just a myth> — see FALLACY 1

mythical or mythic adjective
1 based on, described in, or being a myth <for years the Spanish conquistadors searched for the mythical El Dorado, a place of unimaginable riches>

Synonyms
fabled, fabulous, legendary

Related Words
famed, romanticized, storied; chimerical (also chimeric), fabricated, fantastic (also fantastical), fictional, fictitious; fanciful, imaginary, imagined, invented, made-up, make-believe, pretend, unreal; allegorical, mythological (also mythologic); semilegendary

Near Antonyms
actual, existent, real, real-world; historical; factual, true; attested, authenticated, confirmed, established, proven, substantiated, validated, verified; authentic, bona fide, genuine, real-life

2 not real and existing only in the imagination <the mythical unicorn> — see IMAGINARY

mythology noun
the body of customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings associated with a people, thing, or place <Ares is the god of war in Greek mythology> — see FOLKLORE

mythos noun
1 a traditional but unfounded story that gives the reason for a current custom, belief, or fact of nature <according to one creation mythos, humans sprang from the forehead of a god> — see MYTH 1
2 the body of customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings associated with a people, thing, or place <the Superman mythos has long since become ingrained in popular American culture> — see FOLKLORE

my word interjection
how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable <my word, how that child has grown!> — see NO

N

nab verb
1 to take or keep under one's control by authority of law <the officer nabbed the purse snatcher before he could escape> — see ARREST 1
2 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <a pickpocket nabbed my wallet> — see CATCH 1

nabe noun
an area (as of a city) set apart for some purpose or having some special feature <although it has undergone several transformations over the years, Times Square remains one of New York's most fabled nabes> — see DISTRICT

nabob noun
one of high position or importance within a group <dressed conservatively so as to make a good impression with the nabobs on the co-op's board> — see BIG SHOT

nacreous adjective
having a rainbowlike play of colors <the nacreous lining of the shell of a mollusk> — see IRIDESCENT

nadir noun
1 the lowest point or level <the discussion really reached its nadir when people resorted to name-calling>

Synonyms
bedrock, bottom, depth, rock bottom, zero

Related Words
abyss, armpit, pit

Near Antonyms
bloom, flood tide, flower, glory, heyday; crescendo, high; cap, ceiling, crest, roof

Antonyms
acme, apex, climax, crown, culmination, head, height, high-water mark, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, tip-top, top, zenith

2 the lowest part, place, or point <got into the stock market when it was at its nadir and then watched prices soar> — see BOTTOM 3

nag noun
a large hoofed domestic animal that is used for carrying or drawing loads and for riding <a poor farmer who could only afford one old nag> — see HORSE

nag verb
1 to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders <she kept nagging him to fix the furnace before the weather got any colder>

Synonyms
dog, henpeck, hound, needle, peck (at)

Related Words
carp (at), fuss (about or over), nitpick; annoy, badger, bait, bother, bug, chivy (or chivvy), harass, harry, hassle, irk, pester, plague, ride, vex, yap (at); egg, goad, incite, prod, prompt, spur, urge; exhort, insist, press, pressure, push; blandish, cajole, coax, wheedle; beg, importune, plead

Phrases
pick at

Near Antonyms
compliment; commend, laud, praise, recommend, tout; acclaim, applaud, build up, eulogize, extol (also extoll)

2 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <if all you can do is nag, then you are of no use to this organization at all> — see COMPLAIN

nagging adjective
causing worry or anxiety <I have this nagging feeling that something will still go wrong> — see TROUBLESOME

naiad noun
1 a mythical goddess represented as a young girl and said to live outdoors <in Greek mythology, naiads supposedly drowned the young men with whom they became enamored> — see NYMPH 1
2 a young wingless often wormlike form (as a grub or caterpillar) that hatches from the egg of many insects <students in science class learning how to distinguish a dragonfly naiad from an earthworm> — see LARVA

naïf or naif adjective
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <the senator, newly elected and still naïf, will learn soon enough how Washington really works> — see NAIVE 1

nail verb
1 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <the boxer nailed his opponent with a devastating left hook> — see HIT 1
2 to make final, definite, or beyond dispute <this latest infidelity nails it—I'm filing for divorce> — see CLINCH
3 to reveal the true nature of <an investigative report that nailed the teenage novelist as someone who had plagiarized the works of others> — see EXPOSE 1
4 to take or keep under one's control by authority of law <the very first time I tried to steal anything, I got nailed> — see ARREST 1
5 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <the running back saw the pass coming in and nailed it> — see CATCH 1

nail–biter noun
something (as a close contest) that induces much suspense as to its outcome <a presidential election that was one of the great nail-biters of all time>

Synonyms
cliff-hanger, hair-raiser, suspenser, thriller

Related Words
photo finish, squeaker

Near Antonyms
yawner; blowout

nail–biting adjective
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <for a couple of nail-biting moments we thought that we had actually won the mega lottery> — see NERVOUS 2

naive or naïve adjective
1 lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <a first-time buyer who was so naive that he believed the salesman's spiel and paid good money for the rusty and broken-down car>

Synonyms
aw-shucks, dewy, dewy-eyed, green, ingenuous, innocent, naïf (or naif), primitive, simple, simpleminded, uncritical, unknowing, unsophisticated, unsuspecting, unsuspicious, unwary, unworldly, wide-eyed

Related Words
callow, childish, immature, inexperienced, raw; childlike, idealistic, impractical, unrealistic; believing, credulous, gullible (also gullable), susceptible, trustful, trusting, unguarded; beguiled, duped, gulled, tricked; careless, heedless, thoughtless

Near Antonyms
critical, cynical, doubting, incredulous, skeptical, suspecting, suspicious, unconvinced; careful, cautious, guarded, leery (also leary), wary, watchful; down-to-earth, hardheaded, pragmatic (also pragmatical), realistic, sober; street-smart, streetwise

Antonyms
cosmopolitan, experienced, knowing, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise

2 free from any intent to deceive or impress others <the young girl gave honest and naive answers to the social worker's probing questions> — see GUILELESS
3 readily taken advantage of <we get piles of junk mail because you are naive enough to keep entering these dumb contests> — see EASY 2

naively or naïvely adverb
without any attempt to impress by deception or exaggeration <she naively admitted to the job interviewer that she actually had little work experience> — see NATURALLY 3

naiveness noun
1 readiness to believe the claims of others without sufficient evidence <I can't believe the naiveness of people who don't realize there's always some catch to so-called free offers> — see CREDULITY
2 the quality or state of being simple and sincere <the innate naiveness of young children is one of their most endearing qualities> — see NAïVETÉ 1

naïveté also naivete or naiveté noun
1 the quality or state of being simple and sincere <her naïveté led her to leave her new car unlocked while she shopped at the mall>

Synonyms
artlessness, greenness, guilelessness, ingenuousness, innocence, naiveness, naivety (also naïvety) [chiefly British], naturalness, simplemindedness, simpleness, simplicity, unsophistication, unworldliness, viridity

Related Words
candor, frankness, genuineness, honesty, openness, sincerity, straightforwardness, unaffectedness, unpretentiousness; callowness, childishness, coltishness, inexperience, rawness; insularity, parochialism, provincialism; carelessness, heedlessness, thoughtlessness; ignorance, obliviousness, unawareness; credulity, credulousness, gullibility, impressionability; idealism, impracticality, optimism

Near Antonyms
affectedness, artificiality, pretentiousness; deviousness, dishonesty, insincerity; disbelief, doubtfulness, incredulity, suspiciousness; carefulness, caution, street smarts, wariness; pessimism, skepticism; maturity

Antonyms
artfulness, cynicism, knowingness, sophistication, worldliness

2 readiness to believe the claims of others without sufficient evidence <though he was streetwise, the investigative reporter regularly assumed an air of naïveté when he was interviewing confidence men, charlatans, counterfeiters, and other assorted swindlers of the general public> — see CREDULITY

naivety also naïvety noun, chiefly British
the quality or state of being simple and sincere <the contention that the royal family took advantage of the young Diana's naivety> — see NAïVETÉ 1

naked adjective
1 lacking or shed of clothing <had recurrent nightmares about being naked in public>

Synonyms
au naturel, bare, bottomless, disrobed, mother-naked, nude, raw, starkers [chiefly British], stripped, unclad, unclothed, undressed

Related Words
seminude, topless; denuded, peeled; unveiled

Phrases
in the altogether (or the buff or the nude or one's birthday suit or the raw), stark naked

Near Antonyms
covered, veiled; arrayed, caparisoned, decked (out), rigged (out), tricked (out); vested; decent

Antonyms
appareled (or apparelled), attired, clad, clothed, dressed, garbed, invested, robed, suited

2 lacking a usual or natural covering <the winter trees now look so naked without their colorful fall foliage>

Synonyms
bald, bare, denuded, exposed, open, peeled, stripped, uncovered

Related Words
displayed, revealed; hairless, shaven; disrobed, unclad, unclothed, undressed; furless, skinned; divested; unprotected

Near Antonyms
mantled; overgrown, overrun, overspread; bearded, hairy

Antonyms
covered

3 free from all additions or embellishment <a naked room waiting for an interior decorator's inspired touch> — see PLAIN 1

nakedness noun
the state of having no clothes on one's body <the sadistic guards took full advantage of the prisoner's nakedness to torment and humiliate him> — see NUDITY

namby–pamby adjective
1 lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character <she's such a namby-pamby nothing that it's no wonder she's never asked out> — see WISHY-WASHY 1
2 lacking strength of will or character <mocked namby-pamby intellectuals who endlessly debate the pros and cons of everything and invariably end up accomplishing nothing> — see WEAK 2

namby–pamby noun
a person without strength of character <those namby-pambies at city hall are never going to get serious about our crime problem> — see WEAKLING 2

name adjective
having a good reputation especially in a field of knowledge <the university's physics department boasts a number of name physicists> — see RESPECTABLE 1

name noun
1 a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known <introduced himself and then asked what my name was>

Synonyms
appellation, appellative, cognomen, compellation, denomination, denotation, designation, handle, moniker (also monicker), nomenclature, title

Related Words
baptismal name, Christian name, first name, forename, given name; family name, maiden name, middle name, surname; matronymic, patronymic; byname, diminutive, epithet, hypocorism, nickname, sobriquet (also soubriquet); banner, rubric, tag; alias, cryptonym, nom de guerre, nom de plume, pen name, pseudonym; binomial, monomial; trivial name, vernacular; misnomer; brand name, label, trademark, trade name

2 an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <quit calling her names> — see INSULT
3 outward and often deceptive indication <a celebrity who is the head of the charitable organization in name only> — see APPEARANCE 2
4 overall quality as seen or judged by people in general <has a good name among fellow marine biologists> — see REPUTATION
5 a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <managed to get several names to appear at the restaurant's opening> — see CELEBRITY 1

name verb
1 to give a name to <decided to name her new puppy “Bubbles”>

Synonyms
baptize, call, christen, clepe [archaic], denominate, designate, dub, entitle, label, nominate, style, term, title

Related Words
brand, stigmatize, tag; denote, specify; miscall, misname, mistitle; code-name, nickname; rechristen, relabel, rename; surname

2 to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically <I don't want to name anyone in particular, but someone in this room fiddled with my car's radio> — see MENTION 1
3 to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty <was named the provost of the university> — see APPOINT 2
4 to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities <you don't like my offer? Just name your price> — see CHOOSE 1
5 to decide upon (the time or date for an event) usually from a position of authority <you name the date and I'll make sure I'm there> — see APPOINT 1
6 to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration <they finally named a date for the wedding> — see DECIDE 1

nameable also namable adjective
worth remembering or mentioning <not one nameable accomplishment in all of her years in the senate> — see NOTEWORTHY 1

name–calling noun
the use of personal attacks or insults in order to undermine an opponent <the campaign quickly degenerated into name-calling rather than an intelligent discussion of the issues>

Synonyms
character assassination, mudslinging

Related Words
defamation, libel, maligning, slander, smearing, vilification; belittlement, detraction, disparagement; abuse, invective, vituperation; censure, denunciation, revilement; aspersion, innuendo

nameless adjective
1 not named or identified by a name <the victim of the crime will remain nameless to protect his privacy> <those nameless editors who write the synopses for TV shows in the newspaper>

Synonyms
anonymous, faceless, incognito, innominate, unbaptized, unchristened, unidentified, unnamed, untitled

Related Words
undetermined, unspecified; obscure, uncelebrated, unheard-of, unheralded, unknown, unsung; unexceptional, unremarkable

Near Antonyms
denominated, designated, specified; labeled (or labelled), tabbed, titled; celebrated, famed, famous, known, notable, noted, noteworthy, remarkable, renowned, well-known; exceptional

Antonyms
baptized, christened, dubbed, named, termed

2 beyond the power to describe <was seized with a nameless, vague fear that made her seek the companionship of another person> — see INDESCRIBABLE
3 not widely known <a nameless poet who has just been rediscovered by devotees of love poems> — see OBSCURE 2

namelessness noun
the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown <the namelessness of the builders of the Mayan pyramids is no way diminishes the greatness of their achievement> — see OBSCURITY 2

namely adverb
that is to say <there's always one person stuck with cleaning up the mess, namely me>

Synonyms
scilicet, to wit, videlicet

Related Words
especially, expressly, particularly, specially, specifically

namer noun
someone with the right or responsibility for making a selection <we can't start the ceremony until the namer of the scholarship winners shows up> — see SELECTOR

nanny also nannie noun
a girl or woman employed to care for a young child or children <wrote a memoir recounting her days as a nanny for the rich and often indiscreet> — see NURSE

nanosecond noun
a very small space of time <a nanosecond was about all that it took her to accept his marriage proposal> — see INSTANT

1nap noun
a short sleep <so tired that she needed to take a refreshing nap before soccer practice>

Synonyms
catnap, doze, drowse, forty winks, kip [chiefly British], siesta, snooze, wink

Related Words
repose, rest; slumber; bed

2nap noun
a soft airy substance or covering <high-quality suede has a good, even nap> — see 1FUZZ

nap verb
1 to sleep lightly or briefly <decided to let the kids nap for a few more minutes before waking them>

Synonyms
catnap, doze, drowse, kip [British], slumber, snooze

Related Words
relax, repose, rest; couch, lay, lie, roost; lull

Near Antonyms
arise, arouse, awake, awaken, get up, rise, rouse, uprise, wake (up), waken

2 to be in a state of sleep <I'm just going to nap the entire afternoon> — see SLEEP 1

Napoleon noun
a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field <started out as a small-time banker but ultimately became a Napoleon of finance> — see MAGNATE

napping adjective
being in a state of suspended consciousness <the napping children looked so peaceful> — see ASLEEP 1

napping noun
a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself <some people think that napping in the afternoon will keep you from sleeping well at night> — see SLEEP 1

narcissism noun
excessive interest in oneself <in his narcissism, he just assumed that everyone else wanted to hear the tiny details of his day> — see EGOISM

narcissist noun
a person who is overly concerned with his or her own desires, needs, or interests <with the rise of TV reality shows, attention-craving narcissists had a public forum for their self-infatuation> — see EGOIST

narcissistic adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <trying to raise the social consciousness of the normally narcissistic Hollywood community> — see EGOCENTRIC

narcotic adjective
1 tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress <some therapists believe that certain scents can have a narcotic effect on people> — see SOOTHING 1
2 tending to cause sleep <the lecturer droned on in a narcotic monotone that eventually had the entire class struggling to stay awake> — see HYPNOTIC

narcotic noun
something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security <an irradicable sense of self-righteousness seems to be the narcotic that inures these religious fanatics from any realization of the harm they have done> — see OPIATE

nark noun, British
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <he began to suspect that there was a nark in his organization who was tipping off Scotland Yard> — see INFORMER

nark verb, British
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <during the war some of the British were narked by their American allies, who were perceived as arrogant> — see IRRITATE 1

narked adjective, British
subjected to and reacting with irritation <the greengrocer was narked at having to make do with what was left over> — see ANNOYED

narrate verb
to give an oral or written account of in some detail <got a CD of the best-selling children's story that happened to be narrated by the author herself> — see TELL 1

narration noun
a relating of events usually in the order in which they happened <a narration that vastly overstates her minor role in this international affair> — see ACCOUNT 1

narrative noun
1 a relating of events usually in the order in which they happened <wrote a witty, chatty narrative of all the happenings at the party> — see ACCOUNT 1
2 a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel <in such narratives as “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and “The Purloined Letter,” Edgar Allan Poe essentially created the modern detective story> — see STORY 1

narrow adjective
1 being of less than usual width <found a narrow opening in the fence that he was able to squeeze through>

Synonyms
fine, hairline, needlelike, paper-thin, skinny, slender, slim, slim-jim, thin, ultrathin

Related Words
attenuate, attenuated, elongate (or elongated), linear; bottleneck, close, compressed, condensed, constricted, contracted, squeezed, tight, tightened; lanky, rangy, reedy, shoestring, spindly, stalky, stringy, twiggy, willowy, wispy; lank, spare

Near Antonyms
chunky, squat, stocky, stumpy, thick, thickset; bulky, massive, voluminous; thickish, widish

Antonyms
broad, fat, wide

2 not broad or open in views or opinions <a narrow person who thought that anyone who even owned a television had been morally corrupted by society>

Synonyms
illiberal, insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow-minded, parochial, petty, picayune, provincial, sectarian, small, small-minded

Related Words
inflexible, ironbound, obdurate, obstinate, rigid, set, stubborn, unyielding, wrongheaded; bigoted, intolerant; biased, discriminating, discriminatory, jaundiced, one-sided, partial, partisan, prejudiced; brass bound, hidebound, old-fashioned, reactionary, stodgy, straitlaced (or straightlaced), stuffy; dogmatic (also dogmatical), opinionated, opinionative; limited; hick, unsophisticated

Near Antonyms
impartial, nonpartisan, objective, unbiased, unprejudiced; freethinking

Antonyms
broad-minded, catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal, open, open-minded, receptive, tolerant

3 having distinct or certain limits <a play about human suffering, but in a narrower sense, also about the modern struggles of the working-class poor> — see LIMITED 1
4 showing little difference in the standing of the competitors <a narrow gubernatorial contest, the outcome of which may depend upon a handful of votes> — see CLOSE 3
5 unwilling to grant other people social rights or to accept other viewpoints <a narrow man who wouldn't work for a woman simply because he refused to believe women had the proper temperament for management> — see INTOLERANT 2

narrow (down) verb
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together <plans to narrow down the scope of the investigation into the government scandal> — see COMPRESS 1

narrowly adverb
by a very small margin <they narrowly escaped with their lives> — see JUST 2

narrow–minded adjective
1 unwilling to grant other people social rights or to accept other viewpoints <integration of the public schools was once vigorously opposed by narrow-minded people who feared social change> — see INTOLERANT 2
2 not broad or open in views or opinions <narrow-minded people who instinctively feared and opposed any and all immigrants> — see NARROW 2

narrow–mindedness noun
stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices <the narrow-mindedness of the islanders prevents them from seeing that not all changes are for the worse> — see BIGOTRY

narrows plural noun
a narrow body of water between two land masses <we had to cautiously navigate our dinghy through the narrows before reaching the open water of the bay> — see CHANNEL 2

nascence noun
the point at which something begins <the poem's publication is often regarded as the nascence of the Beat movement> — see BEGINNING

nascency noun
the point at which something begins <witnessed firsthand the nascency of the American space program> — see BEGINNING

nascent adjective
beginning to come into existence <one of the leading figures in the nascent civil-rights movement>

Synonyms
aborning, budding, inceptive, inchoate, incipient

Related Words
first, formative, inaugural, inchoative, initial, original; elementary, embryonic, fundamental, rudimentary; formless, incoherent; introductory, preliminary, preparatory; crude, primitive, rude

Near Antonyms
advanced, developed, evolved, high, higher, improved, refined

Antonyms
adult, full-blown, full-fledged, mature, ripe, ripened

nastily adverb
in a mean or spiteful manner <he nastily stuck his foot out and tripped the front runner, simply because he couldn't stand to see her win>

Synonyms
bitchily, cattily, despitefully, hatefully, malevolently, maliciously, malignantly, meanly, spitefully, viciously, villainously, virulently, wickedly

Related Words
contemptuously, deprecatingly, disdainfully, scornfully; acrimoniously, antagonistically, caustically, envyingly, hostilely, invidiously, obnoxiously, rancorously, venomously, vindictively, vituperatively; bitterly, enviously, jealously, resentfully; balefully, caddishly, callously, cruelly, evil-mindedly, felly, hard-heartedly, heartlessly, inhumanely, kindlessly, mercilessly, pitilessly, ruthlessly, soullessly, unfeelingly; disagreeably, ill, ungraciously, unkindly; ill-naturedly, inconsiderately, insensitively, thoughtlessly; diabolically, fiendishly; misanthropically

Near Antonyms
affably, agreeably, amiably, cordially, genially, good-humoredly, good-naturedly, graciously, nicely, pleasantly; altruistically, humanely; considerately, feelingly, lovingly, mercifully, sensitively, softheartedly, solicitously, soulfully, thoughtfully; compassionately, sympathetically; angelically, divinely, gently, sweetly, tenderly

Antonyms
benevolently, benignantly, good-heartedly, kindheartedly, kindly

nastiness noun
1 the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <there was a natural nastiness about him that was evident from the time he was a small child> — see MALICE
2 the quality or state of being obscene <the nastiness of the graffiti required that the school remove it immediately> — see OBSCENITY 1
3 the state or quality of being dirty <the piles of rotting food in the kitchen were only one element in the apartment's general impression of appalling nastiness> — see DIRTINESS 1

nasty adjective
1 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <fortunately, the story's nasty characters are balanced by some truly good people> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1
2 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <a nasty video game that was so violent that I could hardly watch the opening scenes> — see OFFENSIVE 1
3 causing or feeling bodily pain <a nasty cut on my lip> — see PAINFUL 1
4 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <nasty magazines that are not sold to minors> — see OBSCENE 1
5 having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it <made nasty comments about how ugly she was> — see HATEFUL
6 marked by wet and windy conditions <bring your raincoat, as the weather's supposed to be nasty> — see FOUL 1
7 not clean <it's incredibly nasty inside that garbage bin, so stay away from there> — see DIRTY 1
8 not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <the smell of those old leftovers is downright nasty> — see UNPLEASANT
9 causing worry or anxiety <she had the nasty sense that she'd made a mistake somewhere> — see TROUBLESOME
10 not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport <a nasty hit got the hockey player suspended> — see FOUL 2
11 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <that was a nasty trick to play on people who were so trusting> — see IGNOBLE 2
12 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <given the high-ranking people involved, it will be a nasty job to hammer out a compromise> — see TRICKY 1

natch adverb, slang
according to the usual course of things <the next day the office lothario was claiming, “The chicks at the party couldn't resist a looker like myself, natch”> — see NATURALLY 2

nates plural noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <the cleavage of his nates was obvious in those low-slung pants> — see BUTTOCKS

nation noun
1 a body of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government <the American people became one nation when they adopted the Constitution in 1789>

Synonyms
commonwealth, country, land, sovereignty (also sovranty), state

Related Words
city-state, microstate, ministate, nation-state; domain, dominion, empire, kingdom, realm, republic; duchy, dukedom, emirate, principality, seigniory (or seignory), sultanate; democracy, dictatorship, monarchy, monocracy, oligarchy, sovereign (also sovran), theocracy; client state, colony, condominium, dependency, mandate, province, settlement, soil, trust territory; fatherland, homeland, motherland; great power, power, sea power, superpower, world power; welfare state

2 a people having a common language, culture, and body of traditions <an international organization dedicated to upholding the basic human rights of people from all nations> — see NATIONALITY

national adjective
of or relating to a nation <played the home team's national anthem before the start of the soccer game>

Synonyms
civil, public

Related Words
civic, federal, municipal; government, governmental; domestic, internal, intestine; democratic, republican; nationwide

Near Antonyms
global, international; alien, external, foreign

Antonyms
nonnational

national noun
a person who owes allegiance to a government and is protected by it <recommended that foreign nationals living in the region evacuate immediately> — see CITIZEN 1

nationalism noun
1 excessive favoritism towards one's own country <Nazism's almost epic nationalism appealed to downtrodden Germans still suffering the humiliation of being defeated in World War I> — see CHAUVINISM
2 love and support for one's country <American nationalism is often most visible during Fourth of July celebrations> — see PATRIOTISM

nationalist adjective
1 having or showing excessive favoritism towards one's own country <a nationalist rant against the immigrants supposedly flooding the country>

Synonyms
chauvinist, chauvinistic, jingoist, jingoistic, nationalistic, superpatriotic

Related Words
spread-eagle; loyal, patriotic; antiforeign, anti-immigrant, nativist, nativistic, xenophobic

Near Antonyms
internationalist

2 having or showing love and support for one's country <nationalist fervor is often at its highest when a country is at war> — see PATRIOTIC

nationalist noun
one who shows excessive favoritism towards his or her country <a staunch nationalist who favored any policy that would give the country more power in the international arena>

Synonyms
chauvinist, flag-waver, jingo, superpatriot

Related Words
loyalist, patriot; hawk, warmonger; nativist

Near Antonyms
internationalist; neutralist

nationalistic adjective
1 having or showing love and support for one's country <a nationalistic display of the country's flag at all civic events> — see PATRIOTIC
2 having or showing excessive favoritism towards one's own country <a nationalistic economic policy that raises up enormous barriers against the importation of goods from other countries> — see NATIONALIST 1

nationality noun
a people having a common language, culture, and body of traditions <New York City may have more nationalities than any other metropolis in the world>

Synonyms
ethnicity, nation, race

Related Words
minority; clan, family, folk, house, kindred, tribe

native adjective
1 belonging to a particular place by birth or origin <though she now lived in the Northeast, she was a native Midwesterner>

Synonyms
aboriginal, autochthonous, born, domestic, endemic, indigenous

Related Words
local, regional; original

Near Antonyms
imported, introduced, transplanted; alien, exotic, foreign, strange; expatriate, immigrant

Antonyms
nonindigenous, nonnative

2 being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining <diamonds in their native state are not the bright, flashy gems that one might imagine> — see CRUDE 1
3 being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <a native energy and ambition that would allow him to rise above his humble beginnings> — see INHERENT

native noun
1 a usually longtime resident of a locality <the natives seem to resent the summer tourists even though they depend upon them for their livelihood>

Synonyms
local, localite, townie (or towny), year-rounder

Related Words
denizen, dweller, habitant, inhabitant, occupant, resident, resider

Near Antonyms
excursionist, sightseer, traveler (or traveller); holidayer, vacationer, vacationist

2 a member of the first race to inhabit a region <to the missionaries, the religious beliefs of the natives were nothing more than superstitions that called for complete obliteration> — see ABORIGINE

nativity noun
the act or instance of being born <my father and grandparents were proud observers of my nativity> — see BIRTH 1

natter noun, chiefly British
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <a section of the park in which nannies like to gather for a relaxed natter> — see CHAT 1

natter verb
to engage in casual or rambling conversation <could sit for hours nattering about nothing> — see CHAT 1

nattily adverb
in a strikingly neat and trim manner <he's very nattily dressed in a new tailored suit> — see SMARTLY

natty adjective
being strikingly neat and trim in style or appearance <a natty woman, she's usually impeccably dressed in tailored clothing from Europe> — see SMART 1

natural adjective
1 being such from birth or by nature <from his first visits to the wading pool, we could tell that our little boy loved water and was a natural swimmer>

Synonyms
born, congenital

Related Words
chronic, confirmed, habitual, incorrigible, ingrained (also engrained), inveterate, proper, regular, unreconstructed, unregenerate; constitutional, consummate; elemental, elementary, essential; connate, hereditary, inborn, inherent, innate, intimate, intrinsic, native; instinctual, intuitive

Near Antonyms
cultivated, developed, trained; alien, foreign, unnatural

Antonyms
nonnatural

2 closely resembling the object imitated <the diorama featuring stuffed birds and plastic plants actually looked very natural>

Synonyms
lifelike, living, naturalistic (also naturalist), near, photo-realistic, realistic, three-dimensional

Related Words
alike, like, matching, similar, verisimilar; akin, analogous, approximate, comparable, resembling; accurate, close, faithful, true; compelling, convincing; expressive, graphic (also graphical), gritty, vivid

Near Antonyms
dissimilar, off, unalike, unlike; incomparable, unmatched; contrasted, contrasting, different, disparate; fake, mock, phony (also phoney), sham

Antonyms
nonnatural, nonrealistic, unnatural, unrealistic

3 being such by blood and not by adoption or marriage <an adult adoptee who has decided to search for his natural parents>

Synonyms
biological (also biologic), birth, consanguineous

Related Words
legitimate

Near Antonyms
illegitimate

Antonyms
adopted, adoptive, nonbiological

4 being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing <her natural talent for music first became apparent when, unbidden, she started banging on a toy piano> — see INHERENT
5 being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining <natural salts are not edible until they are washed and processed> — see CRUDE 1
6 existing without human habitation or cultivation <photographs of animals in their natural habitat> — see WILD 2
7 free from any intent to deceive or impress others <she was completely natural in expressing her feelings for him, unafraid of how they would be received> — see GUILELESS
8 relating to or characteristic of human beings <it's only natural to make mistakes—it's part of being human> — see HUMAN
9 born to a father and mother who are not married <had fathered an unknown number of natural children> — see ILLEGITIMATE 1
10 having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature <his late grandfather was as kind and natural a man as one could ever hope to meet> — see NOBLE 2
11 not civilized <a natural man, unacquainted with the blessings and burdens of society> — see SAVAGE 1

natural noun
a stupid person <European explorers had a tendency to view the nonwhite peoples they encountered as uncivilized naturals> — see IDIOT

naturalism noun
realistic depiction in art and literature <a major exponent of naturalism, Theodore Dreiser depicted life's harsh realities unflinchingly and without moral judgment> — see VERISIMILITUDE

naturalistic also naturalist adjective
closely resembling the object imitated <the movie's volcanic eruption is so naturalistic that it's easy to forget that it all came out of a computer> — see NATURAL 2

naturally adverb
1 by natural character or ability <tour guides who are naturally outgoing and can easily approach and converse with strangers>

Synonyms
congenitally, constitutionally, inherently, innately, intrinsically

Related Words
basically, elementally, essentially, fundamentally; instinctively, intuitively; intimately

Near Antonyms
artificially, unnaturally

2 according to the usual course of things <we naturally like to be as comfortable as possible>

Synonyms
commonly, generally, natch [slang], normally, ordinarily, typically, usually

Related Words
customarily, habitually, regularly, routinely; familiarly; conventionally, traditionally

Phrases
as a rule, needless to say, of course, on the whole

Near Antonyms
funnily, oddly, peculiarly, queerly, strangely, weirdly; anomalously, irregularly; radically

Antonyms
abnormally, atypically, extraordinarily, uncommonly, untypically, unusually

3 without any attempt to impress by deception or exaggeration <a boy trying to act naturally around the girl he has a crush on>

Synonyms
artlessly, guilelessly, ingenuously, innocently, naively (or naïvely), sincerely, unaffectedly, unfeignedly, unpretentiously

Related Words
genuinely, honestly, simply, truly; freely, openheartedly, openly; candidly, frankly, matter-of-factly; casually, coolly (also cooly), nonchalantly; informally, relaxedly, unceremoniously

Near Antonyms
artfully, cannily, deceitfully, deceptively, deviously, dishonestly, falsely; archly, calculatingly, craftily, cunningly, furtively, insidiously, sharply, shiftily, slickly, slyly (also slily), underhand, underhanded, underhandedly; flatteringly, sycophantically, unctuously

Antonyms
affectedly, artificially, hypocritically, insincerely, pretentiously, unnaturally

naturalness noun
1 carefree freedom from constraint <the children danced with a naturalness born of the sheer enjoyment of music and movement> — see ABANDON
2 the quality or state of being simple and sincere <has always admired the very naturalness of the Amish lifestyle> — see NAïVETÉ 1

nature noun
1 the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others <it was the violent nature of his stories that got them banned from school libraries> <her nature was such that lying was never an option for her> <the stoic nature of these people enables them to endure one calamity after another>

Synonyms
character, clay, colors, complexion, constitution, genius, personality, self, tone

Related Words
distinctiveness, distinctness, individuality, singularity, uniqueness; attribute, characteristic, earmark, essentiality, feature, flavor, hallmark, mark, point, property, savor (also savour), stamp, trait; disposition, grain, sort, temper, temperament; composition, makeup; essence, essentiality, interior, interiority, soul, spirit; metal, stuff, substance; habit, way

2 that part of the physical world that is removed from human habitation <needed to get out of the office and back to nature in order to clear his head>

Synonyms
open, open air, outdoors, out-of-doors, wild, wilderness

Related Words
backwoods, bush, country, frontier, hinterland, sticks, up-country; outside, without; badland, barren, desert, waste, wasteland

3 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <group together anything round: buttons, lids, coins, and other things of that nature> — see SORT 1
4 one's characteristic attitude or mood <a boy of a quiet and shy nature> — see DISPOSITION 1
5 the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is <some artists maintain that color, light, and shadow are the very nature of painting> — see ESSENCE 1
6 the whole body of things observed or assumed <the belief that all of nature is controlled by an unseen Supreme Being> — see UNIVERSE

naught also nought noun
the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it <my locker number is naught-seven-two> — see ZERO 1

naughty adjective
engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior <told her to act her age and stop throwing temper tantrums like a naughty little girl>

Synonyms
bad, contrary, errant, froward, misbehaving, mischievous

Related Words
defiant, disrespectful, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impolite, improper, impudent, indecorous, insolent, rude, uncouth, unmannerly; disobedient, headstrong, intractable, obstreperous, recalcitrant, refractory, transgressing, unruly, untoward, willful (or wilful); balky, restive, uncontrollable, ungovernable, wayward, wild; arch, elfish, impish, knavish, monkeying, monkeyish, ornery, pixieish, prankish, rascally, roguish, waggish; dissolute, perverse, wrongheaded; disorderly, rowdy, ruffianly; corrupt, evil, wicked; insurgent, mutinous, rebellious; disobliging, inconsiderate, selfish, thoughtless, unkind, unkindly; babyish, childish, immature, infantile, jejune, juvenile, kiddish, puerile

Near Antonyms
acquiescent, compliant, complying, dutiful, obedient, submissive; clean, correct, decent, decorous, moral, proper, respectable; considerate, courteous, kindly, mannerly, polite, thoughtful; angelic (or angelical), cherubic, divine, heavenly; amenable, docile, governable, tractable; amiable, complaisant, good-natured, obliging, pleasant; discreet, modest; adult, grown-up, mature

Antonyms
behaved, behaving, nice, orderly

nausea noun
1 a disturbed condition of the stomach in which one feels like vomiting <symptoms include fever accompanied by a loss of appetite and nausea>

Synonyms
nauseousness, qualmishness, queasiness, queerness, sickness, squeamishness

Related Words
qualm; airsickness, altitude sickness, car sickness, morning sickness, motion sickness, mountain sickness, seasickness

2 a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness <such graphic scenes of senseless violence fill me with nausea> — see DISGUST

nauseate verb
to cause to feel disgust <such hateful graffiti would nauseate anyone with an ounce of human decency> — see DISGUST

nauseated adjective
1 affected with nausea <being aboard ship during that storm would make anyone but the most experienced sailor nauseated> — see NAUSEOUS 1
2 filled with disgust <nauseated critics panned the movie comedy for its celebration of unspeakably gross behavior> — see SICK 2

nauseating adjective
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <her relentlessly vicious gossiping is absolutely nauseating> — see OFFENSIVE 1

nauseous adjective
1 affected with nausea <after eating the last four pieces of the two-week-old pizza, he was feeling a little nauseous>

Synonyms
ill, nauseated, qualmish, queasy (also queazy), queer, queerish, sick, sickish, squeamish

Related Words
green, peaked, peaky, sickly; unsettled, upset, woozy

Near Antonyms
settled; healthy, well

2 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <it turned out that a dead mouse between the walls was causing the nauseous stench> — see OFFENSIVE 1

nauseousness noun
a disturbed condition of the stomach in which one feels like vomiting <the nervousness I experienced before getting on the roller coaster paled in comparison to the nauseousness I suffered soon afterwards> — see NAUSEA 1

nautical adjective
of or relating to navigation of the sea <collected sextants and other antique nautical equipment> — see MARINE 2

navel noun
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <a city that likes to regard itself as the nation's navel of art and culture> — see CENTER 1

navel–gazing noun
excessive interest in oneself <a singer-songwriter whose compositions are too often exercises in self-important navel-gazing> — see EGOISM

navigable adjective
capable of being traveled on <this map shows which rivers are navigable and which aren't> — see PASSABLE 1

navigate verb
1 to operate or control the course of <the hours of training that are required before a student pilot is allowed to navigate an airplane solo>

Synonyms
conn (also con), helm, pilot, steer

Related Words
commandeer, hijack (also highjack)

2 to travel on water in a vessel <the months that were once required to navigate around South America in the days before the Panama Canal> — see SAIL 1
3 to make one's way through, across, or over <it will take some effort to navigate that stretch of hills, but we can do it> — see TRAVERSE

navigational adjective
of or relating to navigation of the sea <the folly of trying to sail with outdated navigational maps> — see MARINE 2

navigator noun
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel <our crew comprised a captain, a navigator, and a few deckhands> — see SAILOR

nawab noun
one of high position or importance within a group <a meeting with the nawabs on the university's board of trustees> — see BIG SHOT

nay adverb
not merely this but also <I was angry—nay, furious—at the way they were treating that poor dog> — see EVEN 1

nay noun
1 a vote or decision against something <when the votes were tallied, it was 241 yeas and 54 nays> — see NO 1
2 an unwillingness to grant something asked for <gave a resounding nay to the request for a mixed-company camping trip> — see DENIAL 1

naysayer noun
a person who distrusts other people and believes that everything is done for selfish reasons <those naysayers who attack the integrity of the entire judicial system> — see CYNIC

nazi noun
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <the guy behind the food counter is a nazi with an apron: you either follow his rules, or you don't get served> — see VILLAIN

Neanderthal noun
1 a big clumsy often slow-witted person <they looked like a tribe of Neanderthals compared to the bridegroom's patrician-looking family> — see OAF 1
2 a man with crude manners and habits and outmoded attitudes <made the mistake of dining with some Neanderthal who repeatedly mistook his shirtsleeve for a napkin> — see CAVEMAN

Neanderthal or Neandertal adjective
not civilized <her boyfriend's Neanderthal tastes and manners were often embarrassing> — see SAVAGE 1

near adjective
1 being the less far of two <grab the comforter from the near side of the bed and fold it in half>

Synonyms
closer, hither, nigher, this

Related Words
fore, forward, front, inside

Near Antonyms
distant, remote, remoter; back, outside

Antonyms
far, farther, further, opposite, other, that

2 being such only when compared to something else <the incessant busyness of the family next-door makes us look like we live in near retirement> — see COMPARATIVE
3 closely resembling the object imitated <the dress is made from a near silk that would fool anyone but an expert> — see NATURAL 2
4 not being distant in time, space, or significance <the famous prediction that in the near future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes> — see CLOSE 2
5 closely acquainted <only her nearest friends know she's pregnant> — see FAMILIAR 1

near adverb
1 at, within, or to a short distance or time <as the campers grew cold, so they gravitated nearer to the campfire> <as summer draws near, we usually start planning our annual vacation>

Synonyms
around, by, close, hard, in, nearby, nigh

Related Words
hereabouts (or hereabout), hereaway (or hereaways) [dialect], thereabouts (also thereabout); along, alongside; accessibly, conveniently, handily

Phrases
at close quarters, at hand, on one's doorstep, within call

2 to a close degree <copy the artist's drawing into your own sketchbook as near as you can>

Synonyms
closely, nearly

Near Antonyms
distantly, remotely

3 very close to but not completely <it's near six o'clock, so we should start preparing dinner> — see ALMOST
4 close to but not exactly <it takes somewhere near an hour to get there> — see APPROXIMATELY

near preposition
close to <please don't cough near me> — see AROUND 1

near verb
1 to come near or nearer <as the procession nears, you'll be able to take a better picture of the graduates> — see APPROACH 1
2 to move closer to <as we near the church, you'll be able to see the bas-relief sculptures better> — see COME 1

nearby adjective
not being distant in time, space, or significance <grabbed the nearby quilt and gently laid it over the sleeping child> — see CLOSE 2

nearby adverb
at, within, or to a short distance or time <I'll be nearby if you need anything> — see NEAR 1

nearing adjective
being soon to appear or take place <teachers preparing for the fast-nearing school year> — see FORTHCOMING 1

nearly adverb
1 to a close degree <copy that design as nearly as you can> — see NEAR 2
2 very close to but not completely <I nearly fell down the stairs> — see ALMOST

near miss noun
a barely successful escape from something undesirable <a near miss with death prompted him to give up skydiving> — see CLOSE CALL

nearness noun
1 the state of being in a very personal or private relationship <my cousin and I have lost that nearness we had when we were kids> — see FAMILIARITY 1
2 the state or condition of being near <our nearness to the theme park has made us beloved by relatives from all over the country> — see PROXIMITY

nearshore adjective
of, relating to, or situated in the waters near the shore <red tide had a particularly devastating effect on nearshore shellfisheries> — see INSHORE

nearsighted adjective
able to see near things more clearly than distant ones <I am a little nearsighted and need to wear glasses to drive>

Synonyms
myopic, shortsighted

Related Words
astigmatic; purblind

Near Antonyms
presbyopic

Antonyms
farsighted, hypermetropic, hyperopic

neat adjective
1 being clean and in good order <keep the kitchen neat so the cook doesn't have to work around piles of dirty dishes>

Synonyms
antiseptic, bandbox, crisp, groomed, kempt, orderly, picked up, prim, shipshape, smug, snug, tidied, tidy, trig, trim, uncluttered, well-groomed

Related Words
dapper, natty, saucy, smart, spiffy, spruce; immaculate, spick-and-span (or spic-and-span), spotless; rakish, sleek, streamlined, taut; organized, straight, systematic

Near Antonyms
scruffy, seedy, shabby, slipshod, sloppy; dirty, filthy, foul, nasty, sordid, squalid; dowdy, frowsy (or frowzy), rumpled, tousled, tumbled; disorganized, unsystematic

Antonyms
disheveled (or dishevelled), disordered, disorderly, messy, mussed, mussy, sloven, slovenly, unkempt, untidy

2 free from added matter <I like my soda neat, so skip the ice cubes> — see PURE 1
3 of the very best kind <that new skateboard park is neat> — see EXCELLENT
4 following a set method, arrangement, or pattern <regime change is rarely a neat process, particularly in a country where a coup d'état is more likely to occur than an election> — see METHODICAL

neaten verb
to make neat <neatened the living room in anticipation of company>

Synonyms
pick up, redd (up or out) [chiefly dialect], spruce (up), straighten (up or out), tidy (up), trim

Related Words
arrange, array, classify, codify, dispose, draw up, marshal (also marshall), order, organize, range, systematize

Near Antonyms
disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, disturb, jumble, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, muss, rumple, scramble, shuffle, tousle, tumble, upset

neath preposition, dialect
in a lower position than <neath his calm surface there was seething anger> — see BELOW 1

neb noun
1 the jaws of a bird together with their hornlike covering <the cardinal has a black face and a noticeable bright red neb> — see BEAK 1
2 the part of the face bearing the nostrils and nasal cavity <with her round glasses perched on her small neb, the librarian certainly presents an owlish appearance> — see NOSE 1

nebulosity noun
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <the stupefying nebulosity of his philosophical musings> — see OBSCURITY 1

nebulous adjective
1 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <made nebulous references to some major changes the future may hold> — see OBSCURE 1
2 not seen or understood clearly <could just make out the nebulous outline of a fishing shack in the dense fog> — see FAINT 1

nebulousness noun
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <the nebulousness of the imagery in his poetry seems to be part of its attraction to some readers> — see OBSCURITY 1

necessarily adverb
because of necessity <the argument that the existence of the universe necessarily implies the existence of an all-powerful being responsible for creating it> — see NEEDS

necessary adjective
1 forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law <an emissions test is necessary before you can renew the registration for your car> — see MANDATORY
2 impossible to avoid or evade <taxes will always be a necessary evil> — see INEVITABLE
3 impossible to do without <food and water are necessary for survival> — see ESSENTIAL 1

necessary noun
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable <a modest income that provided the family with only the necessaries of life> — see ESSENTIAL 1

necessitate verb
to have as a requirement <getting new shoes would necessitate another trip to the mall> — see NEED 1

necessitous adjective
1 impossible to do without <all the dreaded, necessitous decisions that one must make when arranging the funeral of a loved one> — see ESSENTIAL 1
2 lacking money or material possessions <amidst the holiday feasting, merrymaking and spending, it was easy to overlook the necessitous members of the community> — see POOR 1
3 needing immediate attention <firmly of the belief that no matter is so necessitous that it cannot be put off until tomorrow> — see ACUTE 2

necessity noun
1 something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable <on any road trip, accurate maps are a necessity> — see ESSENTIAL 1
2 the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <two years of unemployment had reduced the family to abject necessity> — see POVERTY 1

neck noun
1 a broad geographical area <we're going to be in your neck of the woods in July, so maybe we can get together then> — see REGION 2
2 a narrow body of water between two land masses <only a narrow neck of the South China Sea separates Taiwan from mainland China> — see CHANNEL 2
3 a very small distance or degree <for most of the race he trailed the leader by only a neck> — see HAIR 1

neck and neck adjective
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors <a neck and neck finish in which only a fraction of a second separated the winner from the runner-up> — see CLOSE 3

necklace noun
an ornamental chain or string (as of beads) worn around the neck <found a lovely necklace to match the bracelet and ring her mother had given her>

Synonyms
choker, collar, dog collar, lei

Related Words
torque (or torc); beads, carcanet [archaic], rivière; rope, strand; bangle, lavaliere (also lavalliere), locket, pendant (also pendent)

necrology noun
a notice of a person's death usually with a short biographical account <the club's founder recently died, and this month's newsletter includes a lengthy necrology> — see OBITUARY

necromancer noun
a person skilled in using supernatural forces <in ancient times any kind of natural disaster was apt to be regarded as the work of some evil-minded necromancer> — see MAGICIAN 1

necromancy noun
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <in the conjuring of the souls of the dead, necromancy seemed to offer human beings a means of exerting some control over an uncertain world> — see MAGIC 1

necropolis noun
a piece of land used for burying the dead <an ancient necropolis that has given archaeologists valuable insights into how people once lived and died> — see CEMETERY

necropsy noun
examination of a dead body especially to find out the cause of death <a necropsy failed to definitively establish a cause of death> — see AUTOPSY

need noun
1 a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful <when it came time to wrap the presents, he found he was in need of adhesive tape>

Synonyms
absence, lack, needfulness, want

Related Words
deficiency, deficit, inadequacy, insufficiency; dearth, meagerness, paucity, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, skimpiness; defect, minus; deprivation, famishment, privation; demand, essential, necessity, requirement, requisite

Near Antonyms
adequacy, enough, sufficiency; fund, pool, stock, supply; excess, fill, overabundance, oversupply, plenty, surfeit, surplus; hoard, stockpile

2 something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable <got a job that barely provided for his basic needs> — see ESSENTIAL 1
3 something one must do because of prior agreement <no need to apologize> — see OBLIGATION 1
4 the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <donating money to help those in need> — see POVERTY 1

need verb
1 to have as a requirement <a national crisis that needs a strong leader to solve it>

Synonyms
bear, challenge, claim, demand, necessitate, require, take, want, warrant

Related Words
entail, involve; ask, beg, claim, clamor (for), cry (for); hurt (for), lack; command, enjoin, exact, insist, press, quest, stipulate

Phrases
call for

Near Antonyms
own, possess

Antonyms
have, hold

2 to be under necessity or obligation to <you need not stand when she enters the room>

Synonyms
have (to), must, ought (to), shall, should

Related Words
will

needed adjective
impossible to do without <pack only what will be needed> — see ESSENTIAL 1

needful adjective
1 impossible to do without <purchase needful provisions> — see ESSENTIAL 1
2 lacking money or material possessions <let's first help the needful families in our own community> — see POOR 1

needful noun
1 something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <fortunately, the family had the needful to stock up the larder before the long hard winter> — see MONEY 1
2 something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable <packed a warm jacket and other needfuls for an autumn weekend in the country> — see ESSENTIAL 1

needfulness noun
a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful <I can scarcely describe my needfulness for a hot shower after a hard-fought game of racquetball> — see NEED 1

neediness noun
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <a family's general level of neediness is the determining factor in the allocation of charitable donations> — see POVERTY 1

needle noun
1 a slender hollow instrument by which material is put into or taken from the body through the skin <the nurse inserted the needle into his vein and collected some blood for testing>

Synonyms
hype [slang], hypodermic, hypodermic needle, hypodermic syringe, syringe

2 an arrow-shaped piece on a dial or scale for registering information <simply by reading the compass needle you should be able to figure out in which direction we're heading> — see POINTER 1

needle verb
1 to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults <we needled him mercilessly for thinking that he had any chance of being the prom date for the school's most popular girl> — see TEASE 2
2 to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders <quit needling me! I'll take out the trash in a minute!> — see NAG 1

needlelike adjective
being of less than usual width <I need a needlelike piece of wire to finish making this wreath> — see NARROW 1

needler noun
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another <those merciless needlers who had the child in tears almost every day at school> — see TORMENTOR

needless adjective
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end <needless expenditures that pushed the construction project way over budget> — see UNNECESSARY

needlework noun
decorative stitching done on cloth with the use of a needle <a visit to the art museum to see an exhibition of 18th-century needlework>

Synonyms
embroidery

Related Words
crewel, cross-stitch, needlepoint; fagoting (or faggoting), hemstitch, smocking; fancywork

needs adverb
because of necessity <the dangers of global warming must needs be recognized—and recognized soon—by the industrialized nations of the world>

Synonyms
ineluctably, inescapably, inevitably, ipso facto, necessarily, perforce, unavoidably

Related Words
involuntarily

Antonyms
unnecessarily

needy adjective
lacking money or material possessions <those generous souls who regularly give money and donate clothes to help the needy> — see POOR 1

ne'er adverb
at no time <fare thee well, for ne'er shall I return> — see NEVER 1

ne'er-do-well adjective
having no ambition, success, or value to society <the ne'er-do-well denizens of a seedy bar near the docks> — see NO-ACCOUNT 1

ne'er-do-well noun
an idle worthless person <the local ne'er-do-wells seem to hang out on the street corners at all hours of the day and night>

Synonyms
bum, derelict, do-nothing, good-for-nothing, no-account, no-good, no-goodnik, slacker, vagrant

Related Words
hobo, sundowner [Australian], tramp, vagabond; drifter, roamer, transient; beggar, panhandler; dodger, goldbrick, shirker; gamine, ragamuffin, urchin, waif; drone, idler, lazybones, loafer, slouch, slug, sluggard; down-and-out (or down-and-outer), indigent, pauper

Near Antonyms
success, winner

nefarious adjective
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <the chaste heroines and nefarious villains of old-time melodramas> — see BAD 2

negate verb
1 to declare not to be true <this evidence negates his claim that he was not at the scene of the crime> — see DENY 1
2 to put an end to by formal action <Prohibition was established by the 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, only to be negated by the 21st amendment 13 years later> — see ABOLISH 1
3 to think not to be true or real <you simply can't negate your feelings for someone, even if they don't feel the same way about you> — see DISBELIEVE

negation noun
1 a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement <issued specific negations of all of the charges against her> — see DENIAL 2
2 the doing away with something by formal action <a ruling by the Supreme Court that many regarded as a negation of the basic right of privacy> — see ABOLITION

negative adjective
1 marked by opposition or ill will <classes that hopefully will change the negative attitude that some students have toward the recent immigrants> — see HOSTILE 1
2 opposed to one's interests <the almost universally negative reaction to the book> — see ADVERSE 1

negative noun
1 a vote or decision against something <in the absence of an unambiguous negative from the commander, we decided to continue on the mission> — see NO 1
2 something that is as different as possible from something else <the desire to control another person is actually the negative of real love> — see OPPOSITE
3 a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success <the main negative of this job is that I have to get up at 4:30 a.m.> — see DISADVANTAGE 1

negative verb
1 to reject by or as if by a vote <although the rebuttal was very eloquent, the jury negatived it in favor of the prosecution's argument> <we promptly negatived the idea of having pizza again for dinner, noting that we had already had it for three nights that week>

Synonyms
blackball, down, kill, nix, shoot down, veto

Related Words
decline, disallow, disapprove, dismiss, refuse; blacklist

Near Antonyms
admit, allow, approve, assent (to), pass, sanction; elect, support

Antonyms
confirm, ratify

2 to declare not to be true <the governor's press secretary promptly negatived the rumor that he was not intending to run for reelection> — see DENY 1
3 to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <even though I had originally negatived the invitation, Mom thought I should go anyway> — see DECLINE 1
4 to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective <no amount of flattery is likely to negative that overheard insult> — see OFFSET
5 to be unwilling to grant <ultimately, we negatived the request for a personal loan> — see DENY 2

negativistic adjective
inclined to doubt or question claims <if we were to listen to those negativistic bean counters, we would never have a marketing campaign of any kind> — see SKEPTICAL 1

neglect noun
1 the state of being unattended to or not cared for <for years the barn sat in neglect until one day it finally fell down>

Synonyms
desolation, dilapidation, disrepair, seediness

Related Words
inattention, negligence; abandonment, desertion; decay, decrepitude, dereliction, deterioration, disintegration, dumpiness, ruin, ruination

Near Antonyms
conservation, preservation, upkeep

Antonyms
keeping, repair

2 the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action <your ongoing neglect of your health is going to land you in the hospital someday> — see FAILURE 1

neglect verb
1 to fail to give proper attention to <as usual the news media neglected the real issues of the campaign and focused on personalities>

Synonyms
bypass, disregard, forget, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, slur (over)

Related Words
fail; miss, omit; brush (aside or off), reject, shrug off, slough (off) also sluff (off); disdain, pooh-pooh (also pooh), scorn; scant, skimp

Near Antonyms
appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value; cultivate, foster, nurse, nurture; pamper; remember; listen (to), watch; follow, mark, note, notice, observe, remark

Antonyms
attend (to), heed, mind, regard, tend (to)

2 to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness <I've neglected my garden, and now it's overgrown with weeds>

Synonyms
forget, shirk

Related Words
slack (off)

Near Antonyms
carry out, do, execute, perform; accomplish, achieve; keep up, maintain

Antonyms
attend (to), remember

3 to miss the opportunity or obligation <conveniently, the job applicant neglected to mention his criminal record>

Synonyms
fail, forget, omit

Related Words
disregard, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, pretermit, slight; slide, slip; default; skip

Phrases
miss out on

Near Antonyms
heed, mind, remember; keep, observe; carry out, do, execute, perform, practice (also practise); discharge, fulfill (or fulfil), meet, satisfy; comply (with)

neglected adjective
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <a neglected teddy bear, missing one eye and both ears, shoved into the closet> — see SHABBY 1

neglectful adjective
failing to give proper care and attention <he's certainly not a neglectful father as he takes very good care of his children> — see NEGLIGENT

neglectfulness noun
failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes <as a result of the mother's chronic neglectfulness of their welfare, the children were placed in foster care> — see NEGLIGENCE 1

neglecting adjective
failing to give proper care and attention <our chronically neglecting custodian has let trash accumulate around the warehouse> — see NEGLIGENT

negligence noun
1 failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes <exhibiting his usual negligence, he failed to set the emergency brake, and the car rolled down the steep hill and crashed into the telephone pole>

Synonyms
carelessness, dereliction, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, laxness, neglectfulness, remissness, slackness

Related Words
foolhardiness, rashness, recklessness, wildness; neglect, omission; delinquency, irresponsibility, irresponsibleness, malfeasance, malpractice, misconduct; misdirection, mishandling, mismanagement; forgetfulness, inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inattentiveness, obliviousness, shortsightedness, unwariness

Near Antonyms
alertness, attention, attentiveness, awareness; circumspection, observance, vigilance, watchfulness; responsibility, responsibleness

Antonyms
care, carefulness, caution, cautiousness, heedfulness

2 the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action <the factory's owners are being charged with criminal negligence for the fire that killed a dozen workers> — see FAILURE 1

negligent adjective
failing to give proper care and attention <the youngster has been woefully negligent in taking care of the vacationing neighbor's dog, repeatedly forgetting to feed the poor animal>

Synonyms
careless, derelict, disregardful, lax, lazy, neglectful, neglecting, remiss, slack

Related Words
heedless, incautious, irresponsible, reckless, wild; unguarded, unwary; forgetful; disregardful, disregarding, inattentive, oblivious, thoughtless, unheeding, unmindful, unthinking; apathetic, disinterested, indifferent, unconcerned, uninterested; delinquent; loose

Near Antonyms
meticulous, painstaking, punctilious; cautious, chary, circumspect, gingerly, guarded; alert, heedful, heeding, mindful, observant, regardful, regarding, vigilant, wary, watchful; foresighted, forethoughtful, provident, responsible; thinking, thoughtful; concerned, interested

Antonyms
attentive, careful, conscientious, nonnegligent

negligibility noun
the quality or state of being unimportant <the negligibility of so much that is churned out by weekly television> — see INSIGNIFICANCE

negligible adjective
1 so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <the two cents in change was such a negligible sum that she left the store without bothering to take it>

Synonyms
chicken, de minimis, footling, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, measly, Mickey Mouse, minute, niggling, no-account, nominal, paltry, peanut, petty, picayune, piddling, piddly, piffling, pimping, slight, trifling, trivial

Related Words
inferior, mean; imperceptible, inappreciable; little, puny, tiny; hairsplitting, nitpicking, pettifogging, quibbling; one-horse, small-fry, two-bit

Near Antonyms
serious, substantial, weighty; eventful, momentous, pivotal; conspicuous, noteworthy, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, striking; appreciable, discernible (also discernable), measurable

Antonyms
big, consequential, considerable, important, material, significant

2 lacking importance <the results from that small study of coffee drinkers are negligible and can be ignored> — see UNIMPORTANT
3 small in degree <there's a negligible chance I may make it to the picnic, but don't count on it> — see REMOTE 1

negligibly adverb
in a very small quantity or degree <this box is negligibly bigger than the other one, but it's such a slight difference I don't think it matters> — see LITTLE 1

negotiable adjective
1 capable of being traveled on <some of the national park's roads are not negotiable in winter> — see PASSABLE 1
2 open to question or dispute <the final judgment is not negotiable> — see DEBATABLE 1

negotiate verb
1 to bring about through discussion and compromise <wanted to negotiate a higher salary before she accepted the job offer>

Synonyms
arrange, bargain, concert, conclude

Related Words
settle (on or upon); chaffer, deal, dicker, haggle, horse-trade, palter; agree; contract, covenant; argue, debate, discuss, hammer out, hash (over), reason, talk, talk over, work out; renegotiate

2 to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <she's good at negotiating personality conflicts between coworkers> — see HANDLE 1
3 to plan out usually with subtle skill or care <the prisoners negotiated their escape by using Morse code to tap messages to each other through the walls> — see ENGINEER
4 to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase <told them I'd take $8,000 for the car and wasn't in the mood to negotiate> — see BARGAIN 1
5 to carry through (as a process) to completion <scores of experiments later, the chemists managed to negotiate the development of a more durable polymer> — see PERFORM 1

negotiation noun
the act or practice of each side giving up something in order to reach an agreement <it will take some negotiation, but I think we can get each side to agree to a cease-fire> — see CONCESSION 1

neigh verb
to make the cry typical of a horse <the horses neighed when the rider came into the barn>

Synonyms
nicker, whicker, whinny

neighbor verb
to be adjacent to <the baseball field neighbors a parking lot> — see ADJOIN 1

neighborhood noun
1 an approximate amount, extent, or degree <a movie that's said to have cost in the neighborhood of 100 million dollars>

Synonyms
matter, tune, vicinity

Related Words
ballpark; nearness, proximity

2 an area (as of a city) set apart for some purpose or having some special feature <are you familiar with the city's Latino neighborhood?> — see DISTRICT
3 the people living in a particular area <invited practically the whole neighborhood over for a big party> — see COMMUNITY 1
4 an adjoining region or space <we were somewhere in the neighborhood of the Capitol because we could see the dome> — see ENVIRONS 2

neighboring adjective
1 having a border in common <he and his future wife grew up on neighboring farms> — see ADJACENT
2 not being distant in time, space, or significance <the statehouse and its neighboring buildings> — see CLOSE 2

neighborliness noun
kindly concern, interest, or support <showing uncommon neighborliness, one of my new coworkers took me out to lunch on my first day> — see GOODWILL 1

neighborly adjective
having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <they were neighborly folks, always ready to lend a helping hand whenever necessary> — see FRIENDLY 1

nemesis noun
1 one who inflicts punishment in return for an injury or offense <Batman is the Joker's main nemesis and always foils his wicked plots>

Synonyms
avenger, castigator, chastiser, punisher, scourge, vigilante

Related Words
revenger; redresser, righter; requiter

Near Antonyms
ransomer, redeemer, vindicator

2 suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense <social ostracism was once society's nemesis for those who defied its sexual mores> — see PUNISHMENT
3 a source of harm or misfortune <irrationality is the nemesis of democracy, for good government depends upon the wisdom of the electorate> — see BANE 1

neolithic adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <my old manual typewriter now seems positively neolithic> — see OBSOLETE

neonate noun
a recently born person <the hospital has added a new wing especially for neonates> — see BABY 1

neophyte noun
1 a person who has recently been persuaded to join a religious sect <neophytes are assigned an experienced church member to guide them through their first year> — see CONVERT 1
2 a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <a neophyte in snowboarding> — see BEGINNER

neoplasm noun
an abnormal mass of tissue <removed a neoplasm from the patient's abdomen> — see GROWTH 1

ne plus ultra noun
the highest part or point <this new sports car is being billed as the ne plus ultra of automotive achievement> — see HEIGHT 1

Neptune noun
the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three-fourths of the earth <sailors shipwrecked by the wild waves of Neptune> — see OCEAN 1

nerd noun
1 a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits <was such a nerd in college that she spent Saturday nights at the library>

Synonyms
bookworm, dink [slang], dork [slang], geek, grind, swot [British], weenie, wonk

Related Words
double-dome, egghead, highbrow, intellectual; brain, genius; academic, bookman, scholar; gearhead, techie

Near Antonyms
goldbrick, goof-off, slacker, underachiever; lowbrow

2 a person with strong intellectual interests <an unlikely romance between a nerd and a campus beauty queen> — see INTELLECTUAL

nerdish adjective
much given to learning and thinking <nerdish students will find several university organizations where they will fit in> — see INTELLECTUAL 1

nerdy adjective
much given to learning and thinking <a fringe party of nerdy political activists who have no chance of getting elected> — see INTELLECTUAL 1

nerts plural noun, slang
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <nerts! that's all I have to say about that idea> — see NONSENSE 1

nerve noun
1 shameless boldness <you've got a lot of nerve showing up here> — see EFFRONTERY
2 strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <that daring rescue took some nerve> — see COURAGE
3 nerves plural a sense of panic or extreme nervousness <a veteran performer who still gets a case of the nerves before performances> — see JITTERS

nerve verb
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally <needs to nerve himself for the big game tomorrow> — see FORTIFY 1

nerve center noun
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <Wall Street's undisputed status as the nerve center for the world of high finance> — see CENTER 1

nerved adjective
inclined or willing to take risks <a nerved and fearless driver of race cars> — see BOLD 1

nerveless adjective
1 lacking strength of will or character <he's a nerveless pushover who'll be eaten alive by his own staff> — see WEAK 2
2 not easily panicked or upset <to be a paramedic, you need to be calm, clearheaded, and nerveless in emergencies> — see UNFLAPPABLE

nerve–racking or nerve–wracking adjective
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <the nerve-racking wait to learn the identities of the passengers who were killed in the plane crash> — see NERVOUS 2

nerviness noun
shameless boldness <didn't appreciate her nerviness in asking my boyfriend on a date> — see EFFRONTERY

nervosity noun
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <a palpable feeling of nervosity in every corner of the city after the terrorist attack> — see ANXIETY 1

nervous adjective
1 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <he was nervous about how he would do at the varsity basketball tryouts>

Synonyms
aflutter, antsy, anxious, atwitter, dithery, edgy, goosey, het up, hinky [slang], hung up, ill at ease, insecure, jittery, jumpy, nervy, perturbed, queasy (also queazy), tense, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, uptight, worried

Related Words
aggrieved, bothered, concerned, disquieted, distraught, distressed, disturbed, freaked, freaked-out, shook-up; apprehensive, foreboding, hesitant, misgiving; fretful, fretting, stewing, vexed; qualmish, qualmy; flustered, twittered, undone, unnerved, unstrung; obsessed, preoccupied, restless; fidgety, flighty, fluttery, high-strung, hypertense, skittish, spooky

Phrases
keyed up, on edge, on pins and needles, on tenterhooks

Near Antonyms
confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure; controlled, self-controlled

Antonyms
calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed

2 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <a nervous silence filled the room as the teacher handed out the graded exams>

Synonyms
agitating, anxious, creepy, disquieting, distressful, distressing, disturbing, fraught, hairy, nail-biting, nerve-racking (or nerve-wracking), restless, tense, uneasy, unnerving, unsettling, worrisome

Related Words
bothersome, troublesome; foreboding, misgiving; discouraging, disheartening, strained; restive, restless, unrestful; awkward, embarrassing

Near Antonyms
restful; pacific

Antonyms
calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting, tranquil

3 easily excited by nature <a nervous sort of person, she's completely thrown by anything unexpected> — see EXCITABLE

nervous breakdown noun
a mental or nervous collapse <you're going to have a nervous breakdown if you keep up that pace> — see BREAKDOWN 1

nervous Nellie or nervous Nelly noun
a person who is inclined to worry <many new parents are nervous Nellies when it comes to the health of their babies>

Synonyms
handwringer, worrier, worrywart

Related Words
defeatist, fatalist, pessimist

Phrases
nervous wreck

Near Antonyms
optimist, Pollyanna

nervousness noun
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <your nervousness over your son's safety is only natural> — see ANXIETY 1

nervy adjective
1 displaying or marked by rude boldness <the nervy waiter held up the small tip and called out to the departing customers, “Hope it doesn't break the bank!”>

Synonyms
arch, audacious, bold, bold-faced, brash, brassbound, brassy, brazen, brazen-faced, cheeky, cocksure, cocky, fresh, impertinent, impudent, insolent, sassy, saucy, wise

Related Words
assertive, forward, obtrusive; audacious, defiant, disrespectful; shameless, unabashed, unblushing; bluff, blunt, curt; cute, facetious, flip, flippant, pert, smart, smart-aleck, smart-alecky; lippy, mouthy

Near Antonyms
demure, humble, modest; courteous, genteel, mannerly, polite, proper; deferential, respectful; abashed, ashamed, blushing, embarrassed, shamefaced; gentle, mild; inconspicuous, unobtrusive

Antonyms
meek, mousy (or mousey), retiring, shy, timid

2 inclined or willing to take risks <nervy rock climbers wanting to make gravity-defying ascents> — see BOLD 1
3 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <I'm a little nervy about my first job interview> — see NERVOUS 1

nescience noun
the state of being unaware or uninformed <the appalling nescience of today's high schoolers concerning international affairs> — see IGNORANCE 1

nescient adjective
not informed about or aware of something <narrow-minded, provincial people who are blissfully nescient of the world beyond their little suburb> — see IGNORANT 2

ness noun
1 an area of high ground jutting out into a body of water beyond the line of the coast <from atop the ness, there was a beautiful view of the coastline as it stretched for miles into the distance> — see HEADLAND 1
2 an area of land that juts out into a body of water <the little skiff rounded the tip of the ness> — see 2CAPE

nest noun
1 a place or environment that favors the development of something <suspected that the elite private universities were a nest of antigovernment sentiments> — see BREEDING GROUND
2 a place where a person goes to hide or to avoid others <headed back to her cozy nest in the mountains for a little rest and relaxation> — see HIDEOUT

nest egg noun
a sum of money set aside for a particular purpose <paid for the computer out of his nest egg> — see FUND 1

nestle verb
1 to lie close <nestled in next to the other kittens in the box> — see NUZZLE
2 to sit or recline comfortably or cozily <nestling with her children on the couch> — see SNUGGLE 1
3 to establish or place comfortably or snugly <we had scarcely nestled the children in their beds when there was a knock at the door> — see ENSCONCE 1

nestor noun
the senior member of a group <as the grizzled nestor of American film critics, he greatly influences what other reviewers write> — see DEAN

1net noun
1 a fabric made of strands loosely twisted, knotted, or woven together at regular intervals <the basketball didn't go into the basket—it just hit the net>

Synonyms
mesh, netting, network

Related Words
web, webbing; grille (also grill), lattice, screen, screening, wirework; bobbinet, Brussels lace, filigree, fishnet, lace, marquisette, tulle

2 a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise <drug runners caught in an elaborate net set by the police> — see TRAP 1
3 something that catches and holds <caught in a net of palace intrigues> — see WEB 1

2net noun
1 the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received <his net for the year was about 60% of his total income> — see PROFIT 1
2 the central part or aspect of something under consideration <the net of the report on race relations is that things are better but not good enough> — see CRUX

1net verb
1 to catch or hold as if in a net <the kite was stubbornly netted in the branches of the willow tree> — see ENTANGLE 2
2 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <a police sting that netted drug dealers from all parts of the city> — see CATCH 1

2net verb
to receive after charges and deductions have been made <the entrepreneur netted millions on that deal>

Synonyms
clear

Related Words
earn, gain, garner, get, make, realize; cash in (on), rake (in); clean up

Near Antonyms
gross

nether adjective
situated lower down <skied the nether slope of the mountain> — see INFERIOR 1

nethermost adjective
of, relating to, or located at the bottom <some strange creature from the nethermost region of the ocean> — see BOTTOM

netherworld noun
a social sphere that exists outside of the mainstream <the shadowy netherworld of all-night raves>

Synonyms
demimonde, demiworld, half-world, underbelly, underworld

Related Words
abyss, depths

netizen noun
an active participant in the online community of the Internet <the dismaying rudeness that so many netizens exhibit while online>

Synonyms
cybercitizen, cybernaut, cybersurfer

Related Words
browser, surfer

netting noun
a fabric made of strands loosely twisted, knotted, or woven together at regular intervals <wore a veil of netting> — see 1NET 1

nettle verb
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <don't nettle your brother while he's trying to do his homework> — see IRRITATE 1

nettlesome adjective
causing annoyance <a few nettlesome details that still required attention> — see ANNOYING

nettling adjective
causing annoyance <your constant sniffling is extremely nettling> — see ANNOYING

network noun
1 a fabric made of strands loosely twisted, knotted, or woven together at regular intervals <didn't like to embroider network as it tore so easily> — see 1NET 1
2 something made up of many interdependent or related parts <a telephone network> — see SYSTEM 1
3 a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <being gradually introduced to the network of African-American business leaders in the city> — see GANG 2

neuter verb
to remove the sex organs of <agreed to let the children have the dog on the condition that they have her neutered>

Synonyms
alter, desex, fix

Related Words
castrate, emasculate, geld; spay; sterilize

neutral adjective
1 not favoring or joined to either side in a quarrel, contest, or war <Sweden remained neutral during World War II, refusing to join either side in the conflict>

Synonyms
nonpartisan

Related Words
nonaligned; hands-off, noninterventionist; autonomous, independent, sovereign (also sovran), unaffiliated; nonbelligerent; individualistic; disinterested, evenhanded, fair, impartial, indifferent, unbiased, uninfluenced, unprejudiced; bipartisan

Phrases
on the fence

Near Antonyms
biased, partial, partisan, prejudiced, unfair; affiliated, associated, federated; belligerent

Antonyms
allied, confederate

2 lacking in distinctive features or qualities <the hero is the novel's only fully fleshed person, all the others being rather neutral characters who are just there to advance the plot> — see NONDESCRIPT

neutralism noun
lack of favoritism toward one side or another <his neutralism in the matter is questionable, since he owns thousands of shares in the company> — see DETACHMENT 1

neutrality noun
lack of favoritism toward one side or another <his unimpeachable neutrality makes him the ideal person to judge which of us is right> — see DETACHMENT 1

neutralize verb
1 to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective <a pro-government rally that is intended to neutralize the antiwar demonstrations> — see OFFSET
2 to put to death deliberately <orders to find the renegade colonel and to neutralize him> — see MURDER 1

neutralizer noun
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective <a police crackdown that's intended as a neutralizer on the rising violence> — see COUNTERBALANCE

never adverb
1 at no time <I have never been out of the country>

Synonyms
ne'er

Related Words
nevermore; not; infrequently, little, rarely, seldom

Near Antonyms
eternally, everlastingly, evermore, invariably; frequently, often, recurrently, repeatedly

Antonyms
always, constantly, continuously, endlessly, ever, forever, perpetually

2 not in any degree, way, or under any condition <though she turned down his offer of marriage twice, he was never convinced that she did not love him>

Synonyms
no, none, nothing, noway (or noways), nowise

Related Words
nowhere near

Phrases
by no means, in no wise, nothing doing, on no account

Near Antonyms
completely, extremely, full, fully, par excellence, right, very; altogether, exactly; somehow, someway (also someways); out

Antonyms
anyhow, anyway, anywise, at all, ever, half, however

never mind conjunction
to say nothing of <I have a hard enough time getting out of bed before sunrise, never mind getting to work so early> — see LET ALONE

never–never land noun
an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <a depiction of Merry Old England that debunks the popular notion that it was ever some sort of never-never land> — see PARADISE 1

nevertheless adverb
in spite of that <I really don't want to; nevertheless, I will do it because you asked me to> — see HOWEVER

new adjective
1 taking the place of one that came before <after my bike was stolen, my scooter became my new mode of transportation>

Synonyms
makeshift, substitute, substitutive

Related Words
alternate, alternative, pinch; different, other, separate; extra, spare; improvised, jury; another, second; utility; successive; equivalent

Near Antonyms
first, former; equal, identical, same; lasting, permanent

Antonyms
original

2 not known or experienced before <Spanish was a new course of study for her> <the Americas were new lands for the European explorers>

Synonyms
fresh, novel, original, strange, unaccustomed, unfamiliar, unheard-of, unknown, unprecedented

Related Words
innovative, unique; nontraditional, unconventional, untried, unused, unworn; pathbreaking, pioneering, trailblazing

Near Antonyms
conventional, established, traditional, tried, tried-and-true; derivative, imitative

Antonyms
familiar, hackneyed, old, time-honored, tired, warmed-over

3 recently made and never used before <that unique scent that is the telltale sign of a new car>

Synonyms
brand-new, spick-and-span (or spic-and-span), unused

Related Words
clean, fresh, mint, pristine, unspoiled; untouched; newfangled, new-fashioned; natural, raw, unprocessed, untreated, unworked, virgin

Near Antonyms
dirty, soiled, spoiled, stale; aged, beat-up, old, shabby, shopworn, well-handled, worn

Antonyms
hand-me-down, second hand, used

4 made or become fresh in spirits or vigor <a little rest made him a new man after the exhausting basketball game>

Synonyms
energized, freshened, invigorated, newborn, reanimated, reborn, recreated, reenergized, refreshed, regenerated, reinvigorated, renewed, resuscitated, revived

Related Words
animated, enlivened, exhilarated, jazzed (up); resurrected; rested, untired, unwearied

Near Antonyms
tired, weary; dampened, deadened; emasculated, unmanned; demoralized, disheartened, dispirited

Antonyms
drained, enervate, enervated, exhausted, knackered [British], weakened

5 being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <new techniques in plastic surgery> — see MODERN

new adverb
not long ago <new-mown grass> — see NEWLY

new age adjective
being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <a kitchen crammed full of new age appliances> — see MODERN

newbie noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <a newbie to the Internet, he was still trying to cope with the visual clutter of cyberspace> — see BEGINNER

newborn adjective
made or become fresh in spirits or vigor <felt like a newborn activist after that pep rally> — see NEW 4

newborn noun
a recently born person <intentionally bought clothes that were too big for her newborn but which undoubtedly would fit him in a few months> — see BABY 1

newcomer noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <he's a newcomer to ice hockey> — see BEGINNER

newfangled adjective
being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <got one of those newfangled espresso makers> — see MODERN

new–fashioned adjective
being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <husbands staying at home to raise their children is a fairly new-fashioned idea> — see MODERN

New Jerusalem noun
1 a dwelling place of perfect happiness for the soul after death <prayed that the those recently departed will spend eternal life in New Jerusalem> — see HEAVEN 1
2 an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <an idealistic senator who thought that he could singlehandedly turn Washington into the New Jerusalem> — see PARADISE 1

newly adverb
not long ago <a newly married couple still getting to know one another>

Synonyms
freshly, just, late, lately, new, now, only, recently

Related Words
latterly

Phrases
of late

Near Antonyms
ago, before, earlier, early, erstwhile, formerly, previously; heretofore, hitherto

Antonyms
anciently

newness noun
the quality or appeal of being new <all that the skyscraper has going for it is its newness, for it's an ugly, poorly designed building> — see NOVELTY 1

news plural noun
a report of recent events or facts not previously known <dropped by to give me the latest news about her daughter>

Synonyms
advice(s), 411 [slang], gen [chiefly British], info, information, intelligence, item, story, tidings, uncos [chiefly Scottish], word

Related Words
announcement, bulletin, communication, correspondence, dispatch, message, reportage; dope, lowdown, scoop, tidbit (also titbit), tip; gossip, rumor, tale, tattle; feedback; disinformation, propaganda

newscaster noun
one who reads and introduces news reports on a news program <newscasters were scrambling to put together an updated report after the unexpected turn of events> — see ANCHORPERSON

newshound noun
a person employed by a newspaper, magazine, or radio or television station to gather, write, or report news <a newshound of the old school, he was highly skeptical of the claim that the firings weren't politically motivated> — see REPORTER

newsman noun
a person employed by a newspaper, magazine, or radio or television station to gather, write, or report news <any newsman will tell you that if you talk to enough people, you'll eventually get a money quote> — see REPORTER

newsmonger noun
a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others <the neighborhood newsmonger came over to tell us that the Clarksons were putting in a pool> — see GOSSIP 1

newspaper noun
a publication that appears at regular intervals <liked to read the newspaper every morning> — see JOURNAL 1

newsperson noun
a person employed by a newspaper, magazine, or radio or television station to gather, write, or report news <the host of that morning show prefers to think of himself as a newsperson and not as an entertainer> — see REPORTER

newsreader noun, chiefly British
one who reads and introduces news reports on a news program <the legendary BBC newsreader now has her own current affairs program> — see ANCHORPERSON

newsy adjective
having the style and content of everyday conversation <a newsy TV program covering the local scene> — see CHATTY 1

New York minute noun
a very small space of time <in a New York minute she had signed the contract and was off on her first assignment> — see INSTANT

next adjective
being the one that comes immediately after another <my house is the next one> <turn at the next street, not this one> <she was next in line for concert tickets>

Synonyms
coming, ensuing, following, succeeding

Related Words
consecutive, sequential, successive; posterior, subsequent; immediate; second

Phrases
on deck

Near Antonyms
anterior, former; past; last

Antonyms
antecedent, foregoing, precedent, preceding, previous, prior

next–door adjective
not being distant in time, space, or significance <a next-door neighbor who is always helpful and friendly> — see CLOSE 2

next to adverb
very close to but not completely <bought it for next to nothing> — see ALMOST

next to preposition
1 close to <enjoys living next to the ocean> — see AROUND 1
2 subsequent to in time or order <next to the war, the flagging economy was the biggest campaign issue> — see AFTER

nexus noun
1 a series of things linked together <the oft-repeated claim that any person on the planet can be connected to any other person through a nexus of six relationships> — see CHAIN 1
2 a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <as the nexus for three great religions, Jerusalem has had a troubled as well as illustrious history> — see CENTER 1

Niagara noun
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms <that uncensored remark brought a Niagara of angry calls to the television station> — see FLOOD

nib noun
1 the jaws of a bird together with their hornlike covering <a finch cracking seeds in its nib> — see BEAK 1
2 the last and usually sharp or tapering part of something long and narrow <make sure the nib has been sharpened before you try to cut anything> — see POINT 2

nibble noun
a small piece or quantity of food <I don't want a whole dessert, so can I just have a nibble of yours?> — see MORSEL 1

nibble verb
1 to eat reluctantly and in small bites <having no real appetite at all, I just nibbled during the party>

Synonyms
peck, pick

Related Words
graze, nosh, snack; taste

Near Antonyms
gorge, gormandize, overeat, pig out, swill

2 to crush or grind with the teeth <nibbling crackers> — see BITE ON
3 to consume or wear away gradually <discovered that inflation had steadily nibbled their savings> — see EAT 2

nibs plural noun
one of high position or importance within a group <a staff appointment that must be approved by his nibs, the magazine's editor in chief> — see BIG SHOT

nice adjective
1 following the established traditions of refined society and good taste <had nice manners> — see PROPER 1
2 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <a cool glass of lemonade sure would be nice> — see PLEASANT 1
3 hard to please <she's far too nice about her clothes for me to even consider giving her clothing for her birthday> — see FINICKY
4 having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations <such a nice person to have as a party guest> — see AMIABLE
5 made or done with extreme care and accuracy <the noticeably nice folding of the dinner napkins told us that we were in the home of a domestic diva> — see FINE 2
6 conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <in those days nice people would not have been caught dead in a gambling casino> — see GOOD 2
7 marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details <a gentleman's club with a nice code of honor that no one can breach and still remain a member> — see CEREMONIOUS 1

nicely adverb
1 in a pleasing way <he's a nicely helpful child> — see WELL 5
2 in a satisfactory way <I'm doing nicely, and thanks for asking> — see WELL 1
3 with good reason or courtesy <excuse yourself nicely and you should be fine> — see WELL 4

nice–nelly adjective
given to or marked by very conservative standards regarding personal behavior or morals <the novel's wildly off base portrayal of 18th-century aristocrats as nice-nelly exemplars of decorum> — see STRAITLACED

nice nelly noun
a person who is greatly concerned with seemly behavior and morality especially regarding sexual matters <some nice nelly bowdlerized this collection of wartime ditties that were lustily sung by the men around the campfire> — see PRUDE

nice–nellyism noun
a tendency to care a great deal about seemly behavior and morals especially in sexual matters <a misguided nice-nellyism prompted the city-owned art museum to cancel its scheduled exhibit on the nude in photography> — see PRUDERY

niceness noun
the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others <his unfailing niceness makes him a great student to have in class> — see AMIABILITY 1

nicety noun
1 a single piece of information <knows all the niceties of diplomatic protocol> — see FACT 3
2 something that adds to one's ease of living <a woman too fond of the niceties of urban living to even consider becoming a farmer's wife> — see COMFORT 2
3 the quality or state of being very accurate <there's a nicety of detail in his meticulously painted landscapes> — see PRECISION

niche noun
1 a hollowed-out space in a wall <statues of various saints occupy the niches lining the abbey's many corridors>

Synonyms
alcove, nook, recess

Related Words
corner, cranny, cubbyhole; cubicle; dent, embrasure, indent, indentation, indenture; ambry, housing, shrine

2 a situation or activity for which a person or thing is best suited <after several false starts, she finally found her niche in the restaurant business>

Synonyms
groove, place, slot

Related Words
appointment, berth, billet, capacity, function, job, position, post; rank, standing, station, status; forte, long suit, métier (also metier), speciality, specialty, strong suit, thing

3 the place where a plant or animal is usually or naturally found <the platypus's niche is the waters of eastern Australia and Tasmania> — see HOME 2

nick noun
1 a V-shaped cut usually on an edge or a surface <I made a nick in the frame when I accidentally dropped it> — see NOTCH 1
2 British slang a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <the blokes at the pub traded stories of nights spent in the nick after having lifted too many pints> — see JAIL
3 British a state of being or fitness <the princess is in excellent nick these days> — see CONDITION 1

nick verb, British slang
1 to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <that lorry was a piece of rubbish, I don't know why anyone would want to nick it> — see STEAL 1
2 to take or keep under one's control by authority of law <a petty thief who was always getting nicked for picking the pockets of tourists outside Buckingham Palace> — see ARREST 1

nicker verb
to make the cry typical of a horse <horses nickering in the barn> — see NEIGH

nickname noun
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual <his wavy hair earned him the nickname “Curly” early in life>

Synonyms
alias, byname, cognomen, epithet, handle, moniker (also monicker), sobriquet (also soubriquet), surname

Related Words
appellation, denomination, denotation, designation, label, tag, title; anonym, nom de guerre, nom de plume, pen name, pseudonym

nidus noun
a place or environment that favors the development of something <a type of contact lens that proved to be a nidus of infection> — see BREEDING GROUND

nifty adjective
of the very best kind <that popcorn popper is nifty> — see EXCELLENT

nifty noun
1 something said or done to cause laughter <though ostensibly a drama, the play is filled with zingy little nifties that lighten the mood> — see JOKE 1
2 something very good of its kind <that joke was a nifty> — see JIM-DANDY

niggard adjective
giving or sharing as little as possible <in Shakespeare's sonnet, the narrator begs his love to give him more praise “than niggard truth would willingly impart”> — see STINGY 1

niggard noun
a mean grasping person who is usually stingy with money <such a niggard that he refused to hand out candy at Halloween, saying it would cost too much money> — see MISER

niggardliness noun
the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money <remembered for her legendary niggardliness, financier Hetty Green lived the life of a pauper but died with a net worth of over $100 million> — see PARSIMONY 1

niggardly adjective
1 giving or sharing as little as possible <she's a niggardly woman, so don't expect a handout from her> — see STINGY 1
2 less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <niggardly portions of meat for dinner> — see MEAGER

niggle verb
to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant <you know it drives me crazy when you niggle like that> — see QUIBBLE 1

niggler noun
a person given to harsh judgments and to finding faults <you can't pay attention to every niggler, simply because you can't please every one> — see CRITIC 1

niggling adjective
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <only niggling differences between the original Broadway musical and the film version that followed> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

nigh adjective
not being distant in time, space, or significance <the end is nigh> — see CLOSE 2

nigh adverb
1 at, within, or to a short distance or time <have worked for them for nigh on 10 years> — see NEAR 1
2 very close to but not completely <he has nigh completed his degree> — see ALMOST

nigh preposition
close to <a field nigh the church> — see AROUND 1

nigh verb
1 to come near or nearer <as the hour of his death was nighing> — see APPROACH 1
2 to move closer to <as the old man was nighing his hour of death> — see COME 1

nigher adjective
being the less far of two <the town has only two motels, and the one nigher to the train station is actually the better one> — see NEAR 1

night adjective
of, relating to, or occurring in the night <took a night flight out to the coast> — see NOCTURNAL

night noun
1 the time from sunset to sunrise when there is no visible sunlight <loved to sit outside at night and watch the stars>

Synonyms
dark, darkness, nighttime

Related Words
dusk, evening, gloaming, nightfall, twilight; midnight

Near Antonyms
dawn, daybreak, sunrise, sunup; forenoon, morning; high noon, midday, noon, noonday, noontide, noontime; afternoon

Antonyms
day, daytime

2 a time or place of little or no light <snuck out of town under the cover of night> — see DARK 1
3 the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness <we waited until night to begin lighting the candles in the windows> — see DUSK 1

night and day adverb
on every relevant occasion <night and day she reminded him that if it weren't for her, he'd be a nobody> — see ALWAYS 1

nightclub noun
a bar or restaurant offering special nighttime entertainment (as music, dancing, or comedy acts) <decided to go dancing at a local nightclub after the long dinner and movie>

Synonyms
bistro, boîte, cabaret, café (also cafe), club, nightspot, nitery (also niterie), roadhouse, supper club

Related Words
a-go-go, disco, discotheque (or discothéque); barroom, pub [chiefly British], public house [chiefly British], saloon, tavern; clip joint [slang], dive, honky-tonk, key club, speakeasy; canteen, watering hole, watering place

nightdress noun
a loose pullover garment worn in bed <bought a long nightdress for the cold winter months ahead> — see NIGHTGOWN

nightfall noun
the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness <since you aren't taking a flashlight, make sure you're back at camp by nightfall> — see DUSK 1

nightgown noun
a loose pullover garment worn in bed <decided to buy a flannel nightgown instead of pajamas>

Synonyms
gown, nightdress, nightshirt

Related Words
nightclothes; pajamas, pj's; nightcap; lingerie, negligee (also negligé), nightie (or nighty)

nighthawk noun
a person who is active late at night <an all-night diner that is patronized by nighthawks from every segment of society> — see NIGHT OWL

nightly adjective
of, relating to, or occurring in the night <the elderly couple's nightly walk around the neighborhood> — see NOCTURNAL

nightmare adjective
extremely disturbing or repellent <survivors of a nuclear holocaust would surely face a nightmare existence> — see HORRIBLE 1

nightmare noun
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness <that 20-page exam was a nightmare> — see HELL 2

nightmarish adjective
extremely disturbing or repellent <a photographic exhibit of nightmarish images from the wars of the 20th century> — see HORRIBLE 1

night owl noun
a person who is active late at night <a night owl whose spouse is more of an early bird>

Synonyms
nighthawk

Related Words
nightclubber, pub crawler; night rider, nightwalker; noctambulist, sleepwalker

Near Antonyms
early bird

nightshirt noun
a loose pullover garment worn in bed <preferred nightshirts over pajama sets> — see NIGHTGOWN

nightspot noun
a bar or restaurant offering special nighttime entertainment (as music, dancing, or comedy acts) <one of the city's few nightspots featuring a dance floor and a live band> — see NIGHTCLUB

nightstick noun
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <police officers fitted out with nightsticks and handcuffs> — see CLUB 1

nighttime adjective
of, relating to, or occurring in the night <warnings about protecting household pets from nighttime predators in the outer reaches of suburbia> — see NOCTURNAL

nighttime noun
the time from sunset to sunrise when there is no visible sunlight <before electricity, gas lamps were used for illumination during the nighttime> — see NIGHT 1

nil noun
the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it <the difference in the audio performance of those two CD players is nil> — see ZERO 1

nimble adjective
1 having or showing quickness of mind <possessing a nimble wit, he always has a cutting comeback for any intended insult thrown his way> — see INTELLIGENT 1
2 moving easily <her nimble fingers make knitting look so easy> — see GRACEFUL 1

nimbleness noun
ease and grace in physical activity <that dance routine requires a certain amount of nimbleness and flexibility> — see DEXTERITY 2

nimbus noun
1 a special quality or impression associated with something <fans are inevitably disappointed when the nimbus of glamour about their favorite celebrity turns out to be an illusion> — see AURA 1
2 an artistic rendering of radiant light around the head or body of a sacred personage <the nimbi for the sculpted figures around the exterior of the church are simple disks about the saints' heads> — see AUREOLE

nimiety noun
a propensity for extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits <the artist's ingrained nimiety results in cloying pictures of cute kids holding even cuter animals> — see EXCESS 2

nimrod noun
1 a person who hunts game <a mighty nimrod with the heads of big game mounted on his walls> — see HUNTER
2 slang a stupid person <there are lots of nimrods out in the woods, so always wear bright red during hunting season> — see IDIOT

nincompoop noun
1 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <quit acting like a nincompoop, because I know you are smarter than that> — see FOOL 1
2 a stupid person <who wants a nincompoop as a business partner?> — see IDIOT

ninny noun
1 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <only a ninny would try to cross a swollen, raging river> — see FOOL 1
2 a stupid person <was such a ninny that he kept forgetting my name, even though I was wearing a name tag> — see IDIOT

ninnyhammer noun
1 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <what kind of ninnyhammer would believe that?> — see FOOL 1
2 a stupid person <don't just stand there like a ninnyhammer —give me some help> — see IDIOT

1nip noun
1 the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses <the barbecue sauce has a nip to it that balances out the sweetness> — see PIQUANCY
2 a very small amount <I'll have just a nip of your sandwich> — see PARTICLE 1
3 an uncomfortable degree of coolness <there's a nip in the air today> — see CHILL

2nip noun
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time <give me just a nip of milk to help me swallow this pill> — see DRINK 2

nip verb
1 to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument <I'm just going to nip these hedges, and then I'll be done with the work outside> — see CLIP 1
2 to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points <the puppy nipped her hand while playing> — see PINCH 1
3 to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <that guy nipped my wallet from the restaurant table when I turned away> — see STEAL 1
4 to proceed or move quickly <I'll just nip off to the corner store for some milk> — see HURRY 2

nip and tuck adjective
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors <the race was nip and tuck to the very end, with the judges needing to look at photos of the finish three times> — see CLOSE 3

nipper noun
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood <the little nipper can't quite reach the cabinet> — see BOY 1

nippiness noun
an uncomfortable degree of coolness <a new nippiness in the mornings hinted at the coming of winter> — see CHILL

nipping adjective
1 having a low or subnormal temperature <a group of campers waking up to the nipping air of a Rocky Mountain morning> — see COLD 1
2 uncomfortably cool <better wear a windbreaker if you're going sailing in this nipping wind> — see CHILLY 1

nippy adjective
1 having a low or subnormal temperature <bring a jacket, as it's a little nippy outside> — see COLD 1
2 having a powerfully stimulating odor or flavor <blue cheese is a little too nippy for my taste> — see SHARP 2
3 moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <racing around the neighborhood on a nippy scooter> — see FAST 1
4 uncomfortably cool <a nippy wind that chilled parade watchers to the bone> — see CHILLY 1

nirvana noun
1 a state of being disregardful or unconscious of one's surroundings, concerns, or obligations <the spa experience was a week of pure nirvana> — see OBLIVION
2 an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <the popular fantasy that life as a beachcomber in the South Pacific would be never-ending nirvana> — see PARADISE 1

nit noun, chiefly British
1 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <stop being such a great nit and listen to what I have to say> — see FOOL 1
2 a stupid person <some nit at the bar was claiming all politicians are crooked> — see IDIOT

nitery also niterie noun
a bar or restaurant offering special nighttime entertainment (as music, dancing, or comedy acts) <niteries in this college town attract a predictably youngish crowd> — see NIGHTCLUB

nitpick verb
to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant <her husband nitpicks about everything: from how she puts the plates away to how she files the bills> — see QUIBBLE 1

nitpicker noun
a person given to harsh judgments and to finding faults <a tiresome nitpicker who seems to think that I can't do anything right> — see CRITIC 1

nitty–gritty adjective
having to do with the practical details of regular life <a look at the nitty-gritty aspects of putting out a newspaper> — see MUNDANE 1

nitty–gritty noun
the specific practical details of something <the governor tends to leave the nitty-gritty of running the state government to others>

Synonyms
brass tacks, nuts and bolts, ropes

Related Words
incidentals, ins and outs, minutiae, particulars, specifics, technicalities; oddities, peculiarities, quirks; ramifications

Near Antonyms
big picture

nitwit noun
1 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <don't be a nitwit—wear a seat belt!> — see FOOL 1
2 a stupid person <an absolute nitwit as far as geography is concerned> — see IDIOT
3 a silly flighty person <a nitwit who never should have been given a position of responsibility in the company> — see FLIBBERTIGIBBET

nix verb
1 to be unwilling to grant <our supervisor nixed my request to work from home, if only on a trial basis> — see DENY 2
2 to reject by or as if by a vote <movie audiences have effectively nixed the idea of the reviving the old-fashioned western by emphatically ignoring this latest effort> — see NEGATIVE 1
3 to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <the committee nixed the additional expenditures> — see DECLINE 1

no adverb
1 not in any degree, way, or under any condition <this cake is no better than the last one we made> — see NEVER 2
2 certainly not <in no uncertain terms we were told to leave> — see HARDLY 2

no interjection
how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable <no—you can't possibly mean that I failed that test! I studied for days!>

Synonyms
ah, aha, come on, fie, indeed, my word, pshaw, well, what, why

Related Words
gee, gee whiz, ha, hello, hey, lo, oh; fiddlesticks, phooey, pooh; there; oops (or whoops also woops), ugh; egad, gad, gadzooks [archaic], the deuce, the devil, the dickens, zounds

no noun
1 a vote or decision against something <though I wanted spaghetti for dinner, the consensus was a decisive no>

Synonyms
nay, negative, non placet

Related Words
con; blackball, veto; denial, negation, refusal

Near Antonyms
pro; acceptance, approval, grace

Antonyms
positive, yea, yes

2 an unwillingness to grant something asked for <gave him a polite no when he asked her to dance> — see DENIAL 1

no–account adjective
1 having no ambition, success, or value to society <only heard from his no-account relatives when they wanted a handout>

Synonyms
good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well, no-good

Related Words
idle, indolent, lazy, shiftless, slothful, unambitious; useless, worthless

Near Antonyms
ambitious, diligent, enterprising, industrious

2 so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <some miscellaneous no-account expenses that we simply paid for with our own pocket money> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

no–account noun
an idle worthless person <claims that every last one of his in-laws is a nerveless no-account> — see NE'ER-DO-WELL

Noachian adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <Noachian farm equipment that probably belongs in a museum somewhere> — see OBSOLETE

1nob noun
the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth <the detective had an odd habit of scratching the side of his nob whenever he asked a question> — see HEAD 1

2nob noun, chiefly British
one of high position or importance within a group <all of the London's political nobs were there for the dedication of the memorial> — see BIG SHOT

nobble verb, British slang
1 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <an old scam that's been used for years to nobble unsuspecting London tourists> — see FLEECE
2 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <a London bobby nobbled the pickpocket just as he was about to make off with the tourist's watch> — see CATCH 1

nobility noun
1 impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <was struck by the nobility of such an old, distinguished castle> — see MAGNIFICENCE
2 the highest class in a society <wealthy plantation owners constituted the nobility of colonial Virginia> — see ARISTOCRACY 1

noble adjective
1 of high birth, rank, or station <despite his noble background, the prince is known for his unpretentious way with common people>

Synonyms
aristocratic, blue-blooded, genteel, gentle, grand, great, highborn, highbred, patrician, silk-stocking, upper-class, upper-crust, wellborn

Related Words
high, lofty, superior; elevated, ennobled, exalted; gentlemanly, kingly, knightly, ladylike, lordly, princely, queenly, regal, royal; high-level, senior

Near Antonyms
inferior, knavish; bastard, illegitimate; ordinary, plain; abased, degraded; junior, subordinate

Antonyms
baseborn, common, humble, ignoble, low, lower-class, lowly, mean, nonaristocratic, plebeian, ungenteel

2 having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature <the factory owner had a kind, noble disposition that showed in his unstinting generosity toward the poor> <our country was founded on the noble ideas that are put forth in the Founding Fathers' writings>

Synonyms
big, chivalrous, elevated, gallant, great, greathearted, high, high-minded, lofty, lordly, magnanimous, natural, sublime

Related Words
ennobled, exalted, glorified; heroic (also heroical), honorable, valiant, venerable, worthy; knightly, princely, regal; inspiring, moving, numinous, uplifting; august, magnificent, majestic

Near Antonyms
sordid, squalid, vile, wretched; abominable, contemptible, despicable, detestable, hateful, offensive, repulsive, ugly, vicious; dastardly, dirty, lousy, sorry; little, mean, narrow, small-minded; degrading, discreditable, humiliating, ignominious; coarse, crude, vulgar

Antonyms
base, debased, degenerate, degraded, ignoble, low

3 following the accepted rules of moral conduct <his noble behavior even as he was being unjustly attacked by his political opponents> — see HONORABLE 1
4 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <Peter the Great's plan to build for Russia a capital city as noble as any in Europe> — see GRAND 1
5 of the very best kind <a noble racehorse> — see EXCELLENT
6 standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <a noble professor known internationally for his medical research> — see EMINENT

noble noun
a man or woman of high birth or social position <an elite school for children of nobles> — see GENTLEPERSON

nobleman noun
a man of high birth or social position <his impeccable manners immediately marked him as a nobleman> — see GENTLEMAN 1

nobleness noun
impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <these snapshots just don't convey the breathtaking nobleness of St. Peter's basilica in Rome> — see MAGNIFICENCE

noblewoman noun
a woman of high birth or social position <traditionally, noblewomen—whether they are titled or not—have served as great patronesses of the arts> — see GENTLEWOMAN

nobly adverb
in a manner befitting a person of the highest character and ideals <civil rights activists nobly striving for justice and equality> — see GREATLY 1

nobody noun
a person of no importance or influence <tired of feeling like a nobody, she decided to launch her own business>

Synonyms
cipher, dwarf, half-pint, insect, insignificancy, lightweight, morsel, nonentity, nothing, nullity, number, pip-squeak, pygmy (also pigmy), shrimp, snippersnapper, twerp, whippersnapper, zero, zilch

Related Words
no-name, noncelebrity; least; inferior, mediocrity, obscurity; figurehead, puppet; nonperson

Near Antonyms
chief, head, lead, leader; celebrity, luminary, notable, personality, planet, star, superstar; authority, superior; great power, party, power

Antonyms
big shot, big wheel, bigwig, eminence, figure, kahuna, kingpin, magnate, nabob, personage, somebody, VIP

nobody pronoun
no person <there is nobody home> <nobody wants to clean up that mess>

Synonyms
none, no one

Near Antonyms
anybody, anyone; somebody, someone

Antonyms
everybody, everyone

nocturnal adjective
of, relating to, or occurring in the night <he bought a new telescope so he could pursue his favorite nocturnal hobby of astronomy>

Synonyms
night, nightly, nighttime

Related Words
late; midnight, overnight

Near Antonyms
noon

Antonyms
daily, diurnal

nocuous adjective
causing or capable of causing harm <hand washing is one of the easiest ways to help prevent the spread of nocuous germs> — see HARMFUL

nod verb
to make short up-and-down movements <though she couldn't see the rain, she knew it had started because she could see the flowers nod as raindrops hit them>

Synonyms
bob, bobble, jog, jounce, pump, seesaw, wag

Related Words
jerk, jiggle, shake, wiggle, wobble (also wabble); oscillate, rock, sway, swing, undulate; drop, duck

nodding adjective
bending downward or forward <some students, with nodding heads, were helplessly falling asleep during the boring lecture>

Synonyms
bowed, bowing, declined, declining, descendant (also descendent), descending, drooping, droopy, hanging, hung, inclining, pendulous, sagging, stooping, weeping

Related Words
floppy, limp; dangling, falling, pendent (or pendant), suspended; dipping, sinking, slumping

Near Antonyms
erect, inflexible, rigid, stiff; elevated, raised, upraised

Antonyms
unbending, upright

noddle noun
the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth <tapped his noddle to indicate he was thinking> — see HEAD 1

noddy noun
a stupid person <which one of you noddies put an empty milk carton back in the fridge?> — see IDIOT

node noun
a small rounded mass of swollen tissue <the doctor examined the node on my knee before deciding it was the result of arthritis> — see BUMP 1

nodule noun
a small rounded mass of swollen tissue <a nodule on the leaf indicated that a worm had laid eggs there> — see BUMP 1

Noel noun
the season celebrating Christmas <for Noel the town puts on a festival of indoor and outdoor events, including strolling carolers in Victorian dress> — see YULETIDE

no–frills adjective
providing only the essentials and nothing fancy or luxurious <a low-cost, no-frills vacation during which we camped out and cooked our own meals>

Synonyms
austere, spartan, stark

Related Words
plain, simple, unadorned, undecorated, unelaborate, unfancy

Near Antonyms
adorned, decorated, elaborate, fancy

Antonyms
deluxe, Lucullan (also Lucullian), luxe, luxurious, plush

noggin noun
the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth <watch the lintel above the door, unless you want to bang your noggin> — see HEAD 1

no–good adjective
1 having no ambition, success, or value to society <tired of supporting their spendthrift, no-good daughter, who has yet to find a job commensurate with her alleged abilities> — see NO-ACCOUNT 1
2 having no usefulness <that no-good chair should be thrown away> — see WORTHLESS

no–good noun
1 a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <neighbors remembered the killer as having been an utter no-good since childhood> — see VILLAIN
2 an idle worthless person <we'll have to pay more than minimum wage for the job if we expect to get people other than no-goods> — see NE'ER-DO-WELL

no–goodnik noun
an idle worthless person <an otherwise intelligent woman who has a singular gift for picking boyfriends who invariably turn out to be no-goodniks> — see NE'ER-DO-WELL

noise noun
1 loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <the incessant noise of traffic on Fifth Avenue made normal conversation impossible>

Synonyms
babel, blare, bluster, bowwow, brawl, bruit [archaic], cacophony, chatter, clamor, clangor, decibel(s), din, discordance, katzenjammer, racket, rattle, roar

Related Words
discord, dissonance; commotion, furor, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly-burly, rumpus, tumult, uproar; clatter, jangle; bang, blast, boom, clap, crack, crash

Near Antonyms
calm, hush, lull; quietude, serenity, tranquillity (or tranquility)

Antonyms
quiet, silence, silentness, still, stillness

2 a violent shouting <keep the noise down, you kids!> — see CLAMOR 1
3 information or opinion that is widely disseminated without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <there's been a lot of noise that the stock is ready to skyrocket, but I'll believe it when I see it> — see RUMOR

noise (about or abroad) verb
to make (as a piece of information) the subject of common talk without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <for weeks afterwards, staffers noised about the department head's sudden, unexplained departure> — see RUMOR

noiseless adjective
mostly or entirely without sound <tried to remain noiseless as he crept up the stairs> — see SILENT 3

noisome adjective
1 bad for the well-being of the body <it's no fun having asthma and living in an area with noisome smog> — see UNHEALTHY 1
2 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <a noisome remark about my weight that stuck with me for days> — see OFFENSIVE 1
3 having an unpleasant smell <the noisome air of the area of the city that was downwind of the dog food factory> — see MALODOROUS

noisy adjective
1 making loud, confused, and usually unharmonious sounds <the noisy crowd marched up the street, shouting ever louder as they approached the palace>

Synonyms
clangorous, dinning, discordant, rackety

Related Words
cacophonous, dissonant; resounding, sonorous; clamorous, uproarious; blatant, obstreperous, strident, vociferous; blaring, booming, brassy, brazen, clanging, earsplitting, jangly

Near Antonyms
calm, hushed

Antonyms
noiseless, quiet, silent, soundless, still

2 full of or characterized by the presence of noise <the crowded auditorium was noisy, packed with excited theatergoers eager for the show to start> <the manufacturing plant was a decidedly noisy place, so we wore ear protection while we toured it>

Synonyms
clamorous, clangorous, clattering, clattery, rackety, resounding, uproarious

Related Words
resonant, sonorous; buzzing, humming, murmuring; blustery, boisterous, raucous, rip-roaring, roaring, roistering, romping, rowdy; tumultuous, woolly (also wooly); obstreperous, vociferous

Near Antonyms
calm, peaceful, serene, tranquil

Antonyms
hushed, noiseless, quiet, silent, soundless, stilled, stilly

3 excessively showy <the wallpaper was far too noisy for what was supposed to be a restful bedroom> — see GAUDY
4 likely to attract attention <the movie had been preceded by months of noisy hype, only to die a quick death at the box office> — see NOTICEABLE

nomad adjective
traveling from place to place <nomad caravans of Bedouins> — see ITINERANT

nomad noun
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination <after college she became quite the nomad, backpacking through Europe with no particular destination>

Synonyms
drifter, gadabout, gypsy, knockabout, maunderer, rambler, roamer, rover, stroller, vagabond, wanderer, wayfarer

Related Words
laggard, straggler; lingerer, loiterer, sojourner; bum, hobo, tramp; passenger, sightseer, traveler (or traveller); migrant, transient, vagrant; ambler, saunterer

Phrases
bird of passage

Near Antonyms
homebody; denizen, dweller, habitant, inhabitant, resident, settler

nomadic adjective
traveling from place to place <raised in a nomadic family, she attended half a dozen different high schools> — see ITINERANT

no–man's–land noun
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops <the city's decayed industrial quarter is a no-man's-land of abandoned factories and weedy vacant lots> — see WASTELAND

nom de guerre noun
a fictitious or assumed name <an acerbic and provocative blogger known to most only by her online nom de guerre> — see PSEUDONYM

nomenclature noun
a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known <the nomenclature, “tuxedo,” derives from the fact that the jacket first became popular in the resort area of Tuxedo Park, New York> — see NAME 1

nominal adjective
1 being something in name or form only <he was the nominal head of state—everyone knew the country was actually run by one of his advisers>

Synonyms
formal, paper, titular

Related Words
so-called; phantom, virtual; apparent, assumed, evident, ostensible, presumed, seeming, supposed

Near Antonyms
actual, real, true

2 so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <when you pay $400 for an airline ticket, a ticketing fee of five dollars seems nominal> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

nominally adverb
in a very small quantity or degree <although the more expensive TV set is nominally better than the other, it's not worth the big difference in price> — see LITTLE 1

nominate verb
1 to give a name to <this first drawing, which we'll nominate as Plan A, shows how the house would look with the smaller annex> — see NAME 1
2 to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty <the U.S. Constitution directs the president to nominate ambassadors> — see APPOINT 2

nominee noun
one who has been chosen by some authority for a specific position or duty <as the club's vice presidential nominee, she was expected to support the president's position> — see APPOINTEE

nonabrasive adjective
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect <nonabrasive polishes> <the congregation much preferred the nonabrasive manner of the soft-spoken curate> — see GENTLE 1

nonacceptance noun
an unwillingness to grant something asked for <the university's nonacceptance of my application for admission was accompanied by considerable regret, if you believe the rejection letter> — see DENIAL 1

nonachievement noun
a falling short of one's goals <a youthful drug addict who's headed for a lifetime of nonachievement> — see FAILURE 2

nonaction noun
lack of action or activity <your nonaction on this matter will result in an arrest warrant> — see INACTION

nonage noun
1 the state or time of being a child <the short stories of the novelist's nonage have only recently been discovered by scholars> — see CHILDHOOD
2 the transitional period between childhood and adulthood <the indiscretions of his long-ago nonage have come back to haunt him now that he's a serious presidential contender> — see ADOLESCENCE

nonambiguous adjective
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <I need a nonambiguous “yes” or “no”> — see CLEAR 2

no–name adjective
not widely known <a low-budget movie with a cast of no-name actors> — see OBSCURE 2

nonbelief noun
refusal to accept something as true <my nonbelief in UFO's should not be construed as an unshakable belief in their nonexistence—I'm just waiting for proof> — see DISBELIEF

nonbinding adjective
having no legal or binding force <a verbal agreement is considered nonbinding in this state> — see NULL 1

nonchalance noun
lack of interest or concern <with their usual nonchalance they arrived at the wedding ceremony half an hour late> — see INDIFFERENCE

nonchalant adjective
having or showing a lack of interest or concern <you shouldn't be so nonchalant about something that is so important to your parents> — see INDIFFERENT 1

noncombustible adjective
incapable of being burned <firefighting gear is made of noncombustible material> — see INCOMBUSTIBLE

noncommittal adjective
lacking in distinctive features or qualities <the novelist has repeatedly used bland, noncommittal words that lack emotional resonance> — see NONDESCRIPT

non compos mentis adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <will seek to prove that the elderly tycoon was non compos mentis when he dictated that will> — see INSANE 1

nonconcur verb
to have a different opinion <the one nonconcurring judge in the case issued his own opinion> — see DISAGREE

nonconcurrence noun
variance of opinion on a matter <a statement explaining the basis of the justice's nonconcurrence with the majority opinion> — see DISAGREEMENT 1

nonconflicting adjective
not having or showing any apparent conflict <there are several nonconflicting reports on the effectiveness of the new drug> — see CONSISTENT

nonconformer noun
a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs <a community in which men and women were expected to conform to traditional gender roles, and nonconformers were socially ostracized> — see NONCONFORMIST 1

nonconformist adjective
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices <a cattle-ranching family that took some time in getting used to their daughter's nonconformist adoption of vegetarianism> — see HERETICAL

nonconformist noun
1 a person who does not conform to generally accepted standards or customs <always the nonconformist, she insisted on wearing red on St. Patrick's Day and not green like everyone else>

Synonyms
bohemian, boho, counterculturist, deviant, enfant terrible, free spirit, heretic, iconoclast, individualist, loner, lone ranger, lone wolf, maverick, nonconformer

Related Words
freethinker; character, codger, crackbrain, crackpot, crank, eccentric, freak, kook, nut, oddball, screwball, weirdo; eight ball, misfit, outsider; aberrant, anomaly

Near Antonyms
adherent, follower, supporter; sheep

Antonyms
conformer, conformist

2 a person who believes, teaches, or advocates something opposed to accepted beliefs <a nonconformist who was excommunicated from her church for her teachings> — see HERETIC 1

nonconformity noun
departure from a generally accepted theory, opinion, or practice <an artistic movement that doesn't tolerate nonconformity> — see HERESY

noncontroversial adjective
unlikely to provoke controversy or offense <a noncontroversial proposal for increasing security at nuclear power plants> — see SAFE 3

nonconventional adjective
not bound by traditional ways or beliefs <his nonconventional cures were the subject of some controversy> — see LIBERAL 1

nondescript adjective
lacking in distinctive features or qualities <travelers settling for nondescript motel rooms that could be located anywhere>

Synonyms
beige, characterless, faceless, featureless, indistinctive, neutral, noncommital, vanilla

Related Words
boring, drab, dreary, dry, dull, flat, humdrum, leaden, monotonous, pedestrian, stodgy, stuffy, tame, tedious, tiresome, tiring, uninteresting, wearisome, weary, wearying

Near Antonyms
arresting, bold, catchy, dramatic, emphatic, eye-catching, flamboyant, showy, splashy, striking

nondrinker noun
a person who abstains from alcoholic beverages <a variety of nonalcoholic drinks for the nondrinkers at the party>

Synonyms
abstainer, teetotaler (or teetotaller), teetotalist

Related Words
dry, prohibitionist

Near Antonyms
alcoholic, barfly, boozehound, boozer, drunk, drunkard, inebriate, sot, souse, tippler; wet

Antonyms
bibber, drinker

none adverb
1 certainly not <your help comes none too soon> — see HARDLY 2
2 not in any degree, way, or under any condition <I'll switch his mug with mine, and he'll be none the wiser> — see NEVER 2

none pronoun
no person <none will come to the party> — see NOBODY

nonelective adjective
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law <language arts, math, and science are nonelective subjects taken by all students at the school> — see MANDATORY

nonentity noun
1 a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality <the arctic circle is a nonentity—you won't see it on the way to the north pole> — see FANTASY 1
2 a person of no importance or influence <was so quiet he was almost a nonentity at the meeting> — see NOBODY

nonessential adjective
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end <money's tight, so we'll have to skip nonessential purchases> — see UNNECESSARY

nonesuch noun
someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation <in medieval legend Sir Galahad is the nonesuch of the noble knight with a pure and unselfish heart> — see IDEAL 1

nonetheless adverb
in spite of that <sometimes you can be a real jerk, but I like you nonetheless> — see HOWEVER

nonexistent adjective
not present or in evidence <our perennially nonexistent computer tech is, once again, not here today> — see ABSENT 2

nonexpert noun
a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession <as a nonexpert, I enjoy her readable articles on physics and astronomy> — see AMATEUR 1

nonextant adjective
no longer existing <we know that Renaissance artwork only through copies made by other artists, the original painting being nonextant> — see EXTINCT

nonfeasance noun
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action <you can sue for nonfeasance if the company doesn't fulfill the contract> — see FAILURE 1

nonfictional adjective
restricted to or based on fact <a nonfictional account of a disastrous ascent of Mount Everest> — see FACTUAL 1

nonfigurative adjective
using elements of form (as color, line, or texture) with little or no attempt at creating a realistic picture <the gallery owner is resigned to the fact that nonfigurative works generally do not appeal to tourists> — see ABSTRACT 2

nonflammable adjective
incapable of being burned <children's pajamas made of nonflammable fabric> — see INCOMBUSTIBLE

nonformal adjective
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing <use of the nonformal “Dad” would be a little jarring in a prayer to our Heavenly Father> — see COLLOQUIAL 1

nonfunctional adjective
not being in working order <that gas pump is nonfunctional, which is the reason for the plastic bag over the nozzle> — see INOPERABLE 1

nonfunctioning adjective
not being in working order <the Ferris wheel is nonfunctioning at the moment> — see INOPERABLE 1

nonidentical adjective
being not of the same kind <the nonidentical bullet fragments were presented as evidence that more than one gun was involved> — see DIFFERENT 1

noninflammable adjective
incapable of being burned <noninflammable materials used for construction of the interior of the nightclub> — see INCOMBUSTIBLE

nonliterary adjective
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing <slang words are usually considered nonliterary> — see COLLOQUIAL 1

nonliterate adjective
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <an organization helping nonliterate adults improve their reading skills> — see IGNORANT 1

nonmaterial adjective
not composed of matter <Newton's laws explain the effects of nonmaterial forces on bodies> — see IMMATERIAL 1

nonmotile adjective
incapable of moving or being moved <an examination of the slides of nonmotile cells> — see IMMOVABLE 1

nonmoving adjective
1 fixed in a place or position <the casino is actually in a nonmoving vessel permanently docked on the city's waterfront> — see STATIONARY 1
2 incapable of moving or being moved <all of the machine's nonmoving parts> — see IMMOVABLE 1

nonnative adjective
being, relating to, or characteristic of a country other than one's own <nonnative customs that made the recent immigrants stand out in their new country> — see FOREIGN 1

nonnative noun
a person who is not native to or known to a community <the problems encountered by a nonnative after moving into a close-knit community> — see STRANGER

nonnatural adjective
produced by humans rather than natural processes <pure vanilla extract that was made without any nonnatural ingredients> — see SYNTHETIC 1

nonobjective adjective
using elements of form (as color, line, or texture) with little or no attempt at creating a realistic picture <the real subject of his nonobjective paintings is color—and the intense emotional response it can provoke in the viewer> — see ABSTRACT 2

nonobjectivity noun
an attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting especially without considering any other possibilities <the judge's nonobjectivity in the case was apparent from the first day of the trial> — see BIAS 1

no–nonsense adjective
not joking or playful in mood or manner <a no-nonsense gymnastics coach> — see SERIOUS 1

nonoperating adjective
not being in working order <fixed all nonoperating parts> — see INOPERABLE 1

nonorthodox adjective
1 deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices <one of the few colonies to tolerate nonorthodox religious beliefs> — see HERETICAL
2 not bound by traditional ways or beliefs <a nonorthodox approach to teaching music> — see LIBERAL 1

nonpareil adjective
having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability <the nonpareil beauty of Helen of Troy> — see ONLY 1

nonpareil noun
someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation <among the knights of the Round Table, Galahad stood alone as the nonpareil of nobility and selflessness> — see IDEAL 1

nonpartisan adjective
1 marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias <made a nonpartisan decision that satisfied all concerned> — see FAIR 2
2 not favoring or joined to either side in a quarrel, contest, or war <nonpartisan observers who were there to ensure a fair election> — see NEUTRAL 1

nonpartisanship noun
lack of favoritism toward one side or another <the nonpartisanship of the congressional committee members is suspect, as they are all allies of the president> — see DETACHMENT 1

nonphysical adjective
not composed of matter <ghosts are generally thought to be nonphysical in nature> — see IMMATERIAL 1

non placet noun
a vote or decision against something <the motion to award the controversial scholar an honorary degree from the university passed by an overwhelming margin, with only two recorded non placets> — see NO 1

nonplus verb
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress <I was nonplussed by his openly expressed admiration of me> — see EMBARRASS 1

nonplussed also nonplused adjective
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do <the self-possessed actress seemed uncharacteristically nonplussed after the director's harsh appraisal of her performance> — see HARD PUT

nonpractical adjective
not capable of being put to use or account <an inventor who seemed to be able to create only nonpractical gadgets> — see IMPRACTICAL

nonproblem noun
something of little importance <the state legislature has wasted its time on nonproblems and has ignored the serious challenges that we face> — see TRIFLE

nonprofessional adjective
1 being such only for recreation <racing stunts that nonprofessional drivers should not attempt to duplicate> — see AVOCATIONAL
2 lacking or showing a lack of expert skill <didn't like the nonprofessional photos the modeling agency did for her> — see AMATEURISH

nonprofessional noun
a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession <one need not be a legal professional to join the bar association; it is open to professionals and nonprofessionals alike> — see AMATEUR 1

nonpublic adjective
not known or meant to be known by the general populace <school records are regarded as nonpublic information> — see PRIVATE 1

nonrational adjective
not using or following good reasoning <was so upset that he was completely nonrational for a moment> — see ILLOGICAL

nonrealistic adjective
using elements of form (as color, line, or texture) with little or no attempt at creating a realistic picture <a nonrealistic rendering of the chaos and destruction wreaked by war> — see ABSTRACT 2

nonreligious adjective
1 lacking religious emotions, principles, or practices <grew up in a nonreligious family> — see IRRELIGIOUS
2 not involving religion or religious matters <a display of nonreligious holiday decorations on municipally owned property> — see PROFANE 1

nonrepresentational adjective
using elements of form (as color, line, or texture) with little or no attempt at creating a realistic picture <nonrepresentational photographs that are really about the play of light on rapidly moving objects> — see ABSTRACT 2

nonresistant adjective
receiving or enduring without offering resistance <the nonresistant arrest of most of the demonstrators> — see PASSIVE

nonsense noun
1 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <told the little brat to stop his mischievous nonsense and start behaving properly> <the discussion about building a time machine was complete nonsense> <a hundred years ago, the idea that man could walk on the moon was regarded as impractical nonsense>

Synonyms
applesauce [slang], balderdash, baloney (also boloney), beans, bilge, blah (also blah-blah), blarney, blather, blatherskite, blither, bosh, bull [slang], bunk, bunkum (or buncombe), claptrap, codswallop [British], crapola [slang], crock, drivel, drool, fiddle, fiddle-faddle, fiddlesticks, flannel [British], flapdoodle, folderol (also falderal), folly, foolishness, fudge, garbage, guff, hogwash, hokeypokey, hokum, hoodoo, hooey, horsefeathers [slang], humbug, humbuggery, jazz, malarkey (also malarky), moonshine, muck, nerts [slang], nuts, piffle, poppycock, punk, rot, rubbish, senselessness, silliness, slush, stupidity, taradiddle (or tarradiddle), tommyrot, tosh, trash, trumpery, twaddle

Related Words
absurdity, asininity, fatuity, foolery, idiocy, imbecility, inaneness, inanity, insanity, kookiness, lunacy; absurdness, craziness, madness, senselessness, witlessness; hoity-toity, monkey business, monkeyshine(s), shenanigan(s), tomfoolery; gas, hot air, rigmarole (also rigamarole); double-talk, greek, hocus-pocus

Near Antonyms
levelheadedness, rationality, reasonability, reasonableness, sensibleness; common sense, horse sense, sense; discernment, judgment (or judgement), wisdom

2 unintelligible or meaningless talk <when you talk with your mouth full of food, everything just comes out as nonsense> — see GIBBERISH 1

nonsensical adjective
1 conceived or made without regard for reason or reality <the idea that we could counteract global warming by opening all of the world's refrigerators at once is nonsensical at best> — see FANTASTIC 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <your plan to lose weight through total starvation is completely nonsensical> — see FOOLISH 1

nonsensicalness noun
lack of good sense or judgment <the nonsensicalness of your attempt to swim across the icy river is beyond words> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

nonspecific adjective
relating to the main elements and not to specific details <his criticism of the picture is fairly nonspecific, but he clearly doesn't like it> — see GENERAL 2

nonstop adjective
going on and on without any interruptions <nonstop negotiations in an eleventh-hour attempt to avert a strike> — see CONTINUOUS

nonsuccess noun
a falling short of one's goals <refused to let the nonsuccess of her bid for a seat in the state senate discourage her from a career in poltics> — see FAILURE 2

nontraditional adjective
not bound by traditional ways or beliefs <a nontraditional couple who are planning a very unconventional wedding> — see LIBERAL 1

nonvalid adjective
1 having no basis in reason or fact <a nonvalid theory that most scientists rejected long ago> — see GROUNDLESS
2 having no legal or binding force <failure to inform the suspect of his rights rendered his confession nonvalid> — see NULL 1

nonviolent adjective
not involving violence or force <nonviolent protests> — see PEACEFUL 2

noodle noun
1 a stupid person <a sweet girl, but a noodle whom you wouldn't want to depend on in an emergency> — see IDIOT
2 the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth <since he's a seven-footer, it shouldn't be too difficult to spot his noodle in this crowd> — see HEAD 1

nook noun
a hollowed-out space in a wall <books filled every nook in the house> — see NICHE 1

noon noun
1 the middle of the day <we eat a big lunch around noon then have dinner in the evening>

Synonyms
high noon, lunch time, midday, noonday, noontide, noontime

Related Words
forenoon, morning; afternoon, evening

2 the highest part or point <she died too young and never even reached the noon of her life> — see HEIGHT 1

noonday noun
the middle of the day <in the tropics the noonday heat can be overwhelming> — see NOON 1

no one pronoun
no person <no one is home> — see NOBODY

noontide noun
the middle of the day <we like to work off lunch with a noontide ramble> — see NOON 1

noontime noun
1 the highest part or point <far removed from the noontime of their popularity, when they had performed at sold-out arenas, the band now played at small clubs> — see HEIGHT 1
2 the middle of the day <listening to the radio at noontime for news updates> — see NOON 1

noose noun
something that catches and holds <a confirmed bachelor, he vows never to get caught in the noose of matrimony> — see WEB 1

norm noun
1 what is typical of a group, class, or series <sales figures that are within the norm of a store of that size> — see AVERAGE
2 norms plural the code of good conduct for an individual or group <societal norms dictate that murder is wrong> — see ETHICS

normal adjective
1 being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <that fateful day had begun just like any normal workday> — see ORDINARY 1
2 having full use of one's mind and control over one's actions <if you run around screaming like that, no one will think you are normal> — see SANE
3 having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind <she has normal reading abilities for a child her age> — see TYPICAL 1

normal noun
what is typical of a group, class, or series <a temperature chart showing the normals and extremes for various regions> — see AVERAGE

normalcy noun
the state or fact of being the way things usually are <a combat-weary soldier longing for the normalcy of peacetime life> — see NORMALITY

normality noun
the state or fact of being the way things usually are <the county slowly has returned to normality after a week of flash flooding>

Synonyms
normalcy, status quo

Related Words
groove, routine, rut; currency, prevalence; conventionality; harmony, orderliness, peace

Near Antonyms
irregularity, uncommonness, unusualness; disorderliness, disruptiveness; disruption, disturbance; anomalousness, deviance; exceptionalness, extraordinariness, noteworthiness, remarkableness; unconventionality

Antonyms
abnormality

normalize verb
to make agree with a single established standard or model <English spelling wasn't normalized until printed books became common> — see STANDARDIZE

normally adverb
according to the usual course of things <normally I go to my health club after work, but today I'm giving myself a break> — see NATURALLY 2

nose noun
1 the part of the face bearing the nostrils and nasal cavity <with that nose, the baby sure looks like his father>

Synonyms
beak, conk [chiefly British slang], honker [slang], neb, nozzle [slang], proboscis, schnoz (or schnozz) [slang], schnozzle [slang], smeller, snoot, snout

Related Words
pug, pugnose

2 the last and usually sharp or tapering part of something long and narrow <bent the wire around the nose of the pliers> — see POINT 2

nose verb
1 to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose <could nose the garbage from across the street> — see SMELL 1
2 to interest oneself in what is not one's concern <a neighbor who likes to nose around and discover everyone's secrets> — see INTERFERE
3 to move slowly <the line to get tickets is just nosing, so we are going to be here for a while> — see CRAWL 2

nosebleed adjective
located at a greater height than average or usual <we were sitting way up in the nosebleed seats> — see HIGH 3

nosedive noun
the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude <the pilot struggled to pull his plane out of a nosedive> — see DESCENT 1

nose–dive verb
to go to a lower level especially abruptly <prices on just about everything nose-dived right after the holidays> — see DROP 2

nosegay noun
a bunch of flowers <a stately procession of bridesmaids holding small nosegays> — see BOUQUET 1

nose out verb
to come upon after searching, study, or effort <independent investigators eventually nosed out proof of White House wrongdoing> — see FIND 1

nosey parker noun, chiefly British
a person who meddles in the affairs of others <the nosey parker next door is insane with frustration because I won't take her advice about how to nurse my baby> — see BUSYBODY

nosiness noun
an eager desire to find out about things that are often none of one's business <your annoying nosiness isn't going to win you any friends> — see CURIOSITY 1

nostrum noun
something that cures all ills or problems <a quack nostrum for cancer of all types> — see CURE-ALL

nosy or nosey adjective
1 interested in what is not one's own business <nosy in-laws asking about our finances> — see CURIOUS 1
2 thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <a nosy coworker sat down right next to us as we were having an unmistakably private conversation> — see INTRUSIVE

notability noun
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <an opening night that was attended by some of Broadway's biggest notabilities> — see CELEBRITY 1

notable adjective
1 standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <a panel made up of notable authorities on the virus> — see EMINENT
2 worth remembering or mentioning <predicts trends in the stock market with notable accuracy> — see NOTEWORTHY 1

notable noun
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <directors, actors, and other notables at the annual gathering for the Academy Awards> — see CELEBRITY 1

notably adverb
in regard to something mentioned explicitly or in detail <some contributors to the museum, notably those in the past few years, have been very helpful> — see SPECIFICALLY 1

notation noun
a usually brief written reminder <he had scribbled his notation so quickly I couldn't read it> — see NOTE 1

notch noun
1 a V-shaped cut usually on an edge or a surface <lifted up the fence rail and positioned it in the notch cut into the post>

Synonyms
chip, hack, indent, indentation, indenture, kerf, nick

Related Words
joggle, nock, punch, snip; groove, score, undercut; slit, slot

2 a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <try to get through the notch before the storm blows in> — see CANYON
3 an individual part of a process, series, or ranking <sales for the album increased, and it moved up another notch on the music charts> — see DEGREE 1

notch (up) verb
to obtain (as a goal) through effort <a stunning performance that notched up a second Academy Award for the actor> — see ACHIEVE 1

note noun
1 a usually brief written reminder <I'll make a note to myself so I don't forget to pick up some milk on the way home>

Synonyms
jotting, memo, memorandum, notation

Related Words
bordereau, memoir, memorial, minutes, protocol, report; line; document, writing

2 a message on paper from one person or group to another <write a friendly note to the neighbors asking them to keep the noise down> — see 1LETTER
3 a natural vocal sound made by an animal <can you distinguish between the notes of the whippoorwill and the mockingbird?> — see CALL 1
4 a piece of printed paper used as money in the United States <will you be paying in coins or notes?> — see 1BILL 2
5 a special quality or impression associated with something <spoke with a note of irritation in her voice> — see AURA 1
6 overall quality as seen or judged by people in general <a writer of note among readers of modern poetry> — see REPUTATION
7 a briefly expressed opinion <let me read a few notes I jotted down while you were auditioning> — see REMARK
8 a state of being aware <during my long convalescence I had taken note of which friends had helped me and which ones had found other things to do> — see ATTENTION 2
9 something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <an intense, full-bodied red wine with all of the spicy notes for which that grape variety is famous> — see CHARACTERISTIC

note verb
1 to make a statement of one's opinion <I'd like to note that I don't care for that tone of voice> — see REMARK 1
2 to make a written note of <a waitress hurriedly noting our orders> — see RECORD 1
3 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <note the artist's rendering of the trees, how their leaves seem to dance in the wind> — see SEE 1
4 to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically <the lecturer noted several sources where listeners could go for further information> — see MENTION 1
5 to take notice of and be guided by <please note that the office will be closed tomorrow> — see HEED 1

noted adjective
widely known <a serious play that needs a noted Broadway actor for the lead if it is to attract audiences> — see FAMOUS 1

noteless adjective
not widely known <his father was a noteless artist who never got the big break that he deserved> — see OBSCURE 2

notepad noun
a number of sheets of writing paper glued together at one edge <used a different notepad for each class's notes> — see PAD 1

noteworthiness noun
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance <her long-standing noteworthiness as a neurosurgeon gets her many referrals from doctors around the country> — see EMINENCE 1

noteworthy adjective
1 worth remembering or mentioning <former neighbors claimed that there was nothing noteworthy about the serial killer who had once quietly lived among them>

Synonyms
citable, memorable, mentionable, nameable (also namable), notable, observable, remarkable

Related Words
quotable, repeatable; indelible, unforgettable; newsworthy

Near Antonyms
average, ordinary, prosaic, routine, run-of-the-mill, standard, unexceptional

Antonyms
forgettable, unmemorable, unremarkable

2 standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <winner of the Nobel Prize for his noteworthy contributions to the field of genetics> — see EMINENT

nothing adverb
not in any degree, way, or under any condition <nothing daunted by the poor reception his first novel received, he proceeded to write another one> — see NEVER 2

nothing noun
1 a person of no importance or influence <his friends couldn't understand why he'd want to marry a girl who was an obvious nothing> — see NOBODY
2 something of little importance <you're always worrying about nothing> — see TRIFLE
3 the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it <two minus two equals nothing> — see ZERO 1

nothingness noun
the state of being dead <the inevitable nothingness that awaits all of us> — see DEATH 2

notice noun
1 a published statement informing the public of a matter of general interest <a public safety notice regarding the need for a smoke detector in the home> — see ANNOUNCEMENT
2 a state of being aware <this malicious e-mail will be brought to the notice of the department head> — see ATTENTION 2
3 a written communication giving information or directions <received a notice of promotion from the head of the company> — see MEMORANDUM 1
4 an essay evaluating or analyzing something <avidly reads the latest theater notices in the paper> — see CRITICISM
5 the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk <in the event of a terrorist threat, the building will be evacuated with little notice beforehand> — see WARNING 1

notice verb
1 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <did you notice what she was wearing?> — see SEE 1
2 to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically <briefly noticed in his lecture the author's first published work> — see MENTION 1

noticeable adjective
likely to attract attention <the stain on the new carpet was quite noticeable, and nothing we did made it any lighter>

Synonyms
arresting, bodacious, bold, brilliant, catchy, commanding, conspicuous, dramatic, emphatic, eye-catching, flamboyant, grabby, kenspeckle [chiefly Scottish], marked, noisy, prominent, pronounced, remarkable, showy, splashy, striking

Related Words
detectable, discernible (also discernable), observable, perceptible, recognizable, visible; outstanding, salient; distinguished, eminent, impressive, notable, noteworthy; highlighted, spotlighted; flagrant, glaring, howling, screaming; flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, jazzy, loud, meretricious, swank (or swanky), tawdry; highfalutin (also hifalutin), ostentatious, pretentious; extravagant, fancy, florid, glittery, spectacular; opulent, ornate, overdone, overwrought; absorbing, engrossing, enthralling, fascinating, interesting, riveting

Near Antonyms
subtle; concealed, hidden, shrouded; dim, faint, obscure; insignificant, undistinguished, unimportant; modest, unaffected, unassuming, unpretentious; conservative, plain, quiet, simple, understated; muted, restrained, subdued, subtle, toned-down, unflashy

Antonyms
inconspicuous, unemphatic, unflamboyant, unnoticeable, unobtrusive, unremarkable, unshowy

notification noun
a published statement informing the public of a matter of general interest <a notification posted by the health board that its inspectors had cited the restaurant for several violations> — see ANNOUNCEMENT

notion noun
1 notions plural small useful items <the fabric store had a wide variety of thread, pins, buttons, and other notions>

Synonyms
etceteras, novelties, odds and ends, sundries

Related Words
baubles, bric-a-brac, gewgaws (also geegaws), knickknacks (also nicknacks), trinkets; gadgets, gimmicks, jiggers; hodgepodge, miscellany, variety

2 a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action <I have a notion to go in-line skating this afternoon> — see WHIM
3 an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge <has this naive notion that most people are basically honest> — see OPINION 1
4 something imagined or pictured in the mind <that modernistic building does not match my notion of what a country cottage should look like> — see IDEA 1
5 an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation <the popular notion that college athletes are airheads> — see GENERALIZATION

notional adjective
1 dealing with or expressing a quality or idea <she has a notional understanding of romantic love but no actual experience of being in love> — see ABSTRACT 1
2 not real and existing only in the imagination <your computer's “visits” to various parts of cyberspace are entirely notional—you stay put and the Web pages come to you> — see IMAGINARY

notoriety noun
1 a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <a television show featuring a rogues' gallery of notorieties from 20 years of overhyped scandals> — see CELEBRITY 1
2 the fact or state of being known to the public <a lawyer of notoriety for the huge awards he's won in medical malpractice cases> — see FAME 1

notorious adjective
1 not respectable <a notorious mastermind of terrorist activities> — see DISREPUTABLE
2 widely known <a book signing for a notorious author of tell-all celebrity biographies> — see FAMOUS 1

notwithstanding adverb
in spite of that <you're rather late getting here, but you're welcome to join us for dinner notwithstanding> — see HOWEVER

notwithstanding conjunction
in spite of the fact that <the man suspected of being the serial killer is little known to his neighbors, notwithstanding he has lived in the apartment complex for years> — see ALTHOUGH

notwithstanding preposition
without being prevented by <we went to see the show, my objections notwithstanding> — see DESPITE

nourish verb
1 to help the growth or development of <wanted to nourish her students' love of art> — see FOSTER 1
2 to supply with nourishment <we've always been nourished by such good food when staying at their house> — see SUSTAIN 1
3 to bring to maturity through care and education <he willingly nourished a child that was not his own> — see BRING UP 1

nourishing adjective
providing the substances necessary for health and bodily growth <milk should be part of a nourishing breakfast> — see NUTRITIOUS

nourishment noun
something that maintains or stimulates the intellect <a series of fantasy novels that provide wonderful nourishment for a child's imagination> — see SUSTENANCE

nous noun, chiefly British
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters <an Oxford don who was long on erudition but a little short on everyday nous> — see COMMON SENSE

nouveau riche noun
one who has recently acquired wealth and social position <a nouveau riche who is reportedly using his money to buy his way into Palm Beach society>

Synonyms
arriviste, parvenu, upstart

Related Words
arrivé, comer; adventurer, snob, social climber; fat cat, moneybags, nabob

novel adjective
not known or experienced before <that's a novel idea for a TV series> — see NEW 2

novelette noun
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel <bought a collection of his novels and novelettes> — see STORY 1

novelettish adjective
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <readers will encounter surprisingly novelettish dialogue for a work that is supposed to be a literary novel> — see CORNY 1

novella noun
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel <pressed for time, many English teachers have their students read the one novella among the novelist's works> — see STORY 1

novelty noun
1 the quality or appeal of being new <the novelty of having a cat wore off after the first time I had to change the litter box>

Synonyms
freshness, newness, originality

Related Words
hipness, trendiness; bizarreness, strangeness, unfamiliarity, unusualness; progressiveness; currentness, recentness, up-to-dateness; departure, divergence, innovation, offshoot, shoot

Near Antonyms
banality, commonness, familiarity; outdatedness, staleness

2 novelties plural small useful items <travel kits filled with small bars of soap, a folding toothbrush, and other novelties> — see NOTION 1
3 a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest <a shop selling souvenirs, T-shirts, and assorted novelties for tourists passing through> — see KNICKKNACK

novice noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <a novice chess player> — see BEGINNER

novitiate noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <a novitiate in the rarefied world of international diplomacy, the recently appointed ambassador is treading cautiously> — see BEGINNER

now adjective
keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment <questioned the moral values of the now generation> — see AU COURANT 1

now adverb
1 at the present time <that company doesn't make those toys now because they are unsafe>

Synonyms
anymore, currently, nowadays, presently, right now, today

Related Words
here

Phrases
at present, for the time being

Near Antonyms
away, far, farthest, remotest; heretofore, hitherto, since; ago, previously

Antonyms
before, formerly, long, once, then

2 not long ago <I was just now wondering what to do about those old clothes> — see NEWLY
3 on some occasions <goes now here, now there—all seemingly without plan or purpose> — see SOMETIMES
4 without delay <come here right now> — see IMMEDIATELY

now conjunction
for the reason that <I'll repeat my question now that you are paying attention> — see SINCE

now noun
the time currently existing or in progress <I know I said you could go, but that was then and this is now> — see 1PRESENT

nowadays adverb
at the present time <nowadays wives are just as likely to work outside the home as their husbands are> — see NOW 1

now and then adverb
on some occasions <we do go to the library now and then, but not as often as we should> — see SOMETIMES

noway adverb
1 or noways not in any degree, way, or under any condition <that will noway hurt your chances of getting on the team> — see NEVER 2
2 usually no way certainly not <no way will I go with you to the dance> — see HARDLY 2

nowhere noun
1 the open rural area outside of big towns and cities <from the looks of things, we're stranded in nowhere and most likely its proverbial middle> — see COUNTRY 2
2 the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown <in a few short years he rose out of nowhere to prominence in the dot-com world> — see OBSCURITY 2

nowheresville noun
the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown <after years of languishing in nowheresville, she started to make it really big in the art world> — see OBSCURITY 2

nowise adverb
not in any degree, way, or under any condition <her romance novels are nowise different from those of scores of other writers> — see NEVER 2

noxious adjective
1 bad for the well-being of the body <mixing bleach and ammonia can cause noxious fumes that can seriously harm you> — see UNHEALTHY 1
2 causing or capable of causing harm <noxious smog that for years has been encrusting the historic cathedral with soot> — see HARMFUL
3 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <a noxious new breed of horror movie in which graphic depictions of torture are presented as entertainment> — see OFFENSIVE 1

nozzle noun, slang
the part of the face bearing the nostrils and nasal cavity <in this classic film noir, a private eye gets his nozzle sliced when he starts poking it into places where it's not welcome> — see NOSE 1

nth adjective
of the greatest or highest degree or quantity <exaggerates to the nth degree about everything she ever did> — see ULTIMATE 1

nuanced adjective
1 made or done with extreme care and accuracy <a nuanced, shaded representation of a hot-button issue that is too often depicted in black and white> — see FINE 2
2 satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness <a sauce with a nuanced lemon flavor that doesn't overwhelm the taste of the fish> — see DELICATE 1

nub noun
1 a small uneven mass <throw a nub of butter into the frying pan> — see LUMP 1
2 the central part or aspect of something under consideration <the nub of the argument is that the intelligence agencies failed the country> — see CRUX

nubbin noun
1 a very small piece <had only a nubbin of crayon left> — see BIT 1
2 the central part or aspect of something under consideration <this nubbin of the intelligence report is the prediction that the country's government will soon fall> — see CRUX

nubble noun
a small uneven mass <dropped a nubble of clay on the floor of the pottery> — see LUMP 1

nubbly adjective
having small pieces or lumps spread throughout <the walls were painted with a nubbly paint that was supposed to give them an interesting texture> — see CHUNKY 1

nubby adjective
having small pieces or lumps spread throughout <a nubby yarn that produces bumpy fabrics when woven> — see CHUNKY 1

nucleus noun
1 a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <a college campus that was a nucleus of opposition to the war> — see CENTER 1
2 the central part or aspect of something under consideration <the nucleus of the movement's methodology has always been passive resistance> — see CRUX

nude adjective
lacking or shed of clothing <Picasso's paintings of nude art models> — see NAKED 1

nude noun
the state of having no clothes on one's body <the artist painted some models in the nude> — see NUDITY

nudge verb
1 to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing <accidentally nudged me as they squeezed past> — see 2BRUSH
2 to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action <the car salesman nudged me into taking a test-drive, even though I had said that I was just looking> — see URGE

nudity noun
the state of having no clothes on one's body <a film actress for whom nudity is not a problem>

Synonyms
altogether, bareness, birthday suit, bottomlessness, buff, nakedness, nude, raw

Related Words
toplessness; naturism, nudism

nudnik also nudnick noun
1 one who is obnoxiously annoying <dreads family gatherings, as that nudnik of a brother-in-law is always sure to be there> — see NUISANCE 1
2 someone or something boring <nobody wants to hang around with that nudnik—all he wants to do is talk shop> — see DRAG 1

nugatory adjective
1 having no legal or binding force <the congressional resolution has symbolic value only, as it relates to a matter governed by the states and is thus nugatory> — see NULL 1
2 lacking importance <the book is entertaining, but its contributions to Shakespearean scholarship are nugatory> — see UNIMPORTANT

nugget noun
1 a small piece or quantity of food <nuggets of beef in the chow mein> <fried chicken nuggets> — see MORSEL 1
2 a small uneven mass <a nugget of gold> — see LUMP 1
3 a very small piece <a seemingly inconsequential nugget of information that proved to be the key to cracking the case> — see BIT 1

nuisance noun
1 one who is obnoxiously annoying <the new neighbor is threatening to become a nuisance, dropping in on us several times a day>

Synonyms
annoyance, annoyer, bother, gadfly, gnawer, nudnik (also nudnick), pain, persecutor, pest, tease, teaser

Related Words
headache; harrier, heckler, interrupter (also interruptor); hassle, plague; harasser, molester, tormentor (also tormenter), torturer

Phrases
pain in the neck

Near Antonyms
charmer, smoothy (or smoothie); comforter, solacer, soother

2 something that is a source of irritation <folding up this map correctly is such a nuisance> — see ANNOYANCE 3

nuke verb
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <a pretty sizable piece of real estate would be nuked if an asteroid struck> — see DESTROY 1

null adjective
1 having no legal or binding force <the contract was null because one party forgot to sign it>

Synonyms
bad, inoperative, invalid, nonbinding, nonvalid, nugatory, null and void, void

Related Words
illegal; useless, worthless; ineffective, ineffectual

Near Antonyms
legal; working

Antonyms
binding, good, valid

2 having no usefulness <that information is as null as no information at all> — see WORTHLESS

null verb
to put an end to by formal action <asked the state court to null the election results because of widespread voting irregularities> — see ABOLISH 1

null and void adjective
having no legal or binding force <public disclosure of the terms of the out-of-court settlement renders it null and void> — see NULL 1

nullification noun
the doing away with something by formal action <an act aimed at curbing sedition that was perhaps the most serious attempt at nullification of freedom of the press in the nation's history> — see ABOLITION

nullify verb
to put an end to by formal action <the constitutional amendment that nullified Prohibition> — see ABOLISH 1

nullity noun
1 a person of no importance or influence <that tiny country's ambassador from the U.S. is usually some nullity who happens to be a friend or supporter of the current president> — see NOBODY
2 the quality or state of being unimportant <one of the basic themes of the theater of the absurd is the essential nullity of human existence> — see INSIGNIFICANCE

numb adjective
1 lacking in sensation or feeling <I've been sitting in the same position for too long and now my feet are numb>

Synonyms
asleep, benumbed, dead, insensitive, numbed, torpid, unfeeling

Related Words
chilled, nipped; anesthetized, cocainized, deadened, drugged, stupefied; blunted, dulled, obtunded; insensible, senseless, unconscious; inanimate, insensate

Near Antonyms
awake

Antonyms
feeling, sensible, sensitive

2 not expressing any emotion <apparently in shock, he answered the police officer's questions with a numb expression on his face> — see BLANK 1
3 not feeling or showing emotion <years of physical and emotional abuse had rendered the woman numb and withdrawn> — see IMPASSIVE 1

numb verb
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling <wait for the medication to numb your mouth> — see DULL 1

numbed adjective
lacking in sensation or feeling <numbed fingers that needed warming by the fire> — see NUMB 1

number noun
1 a character used to represent a mathematical value <asked him to write out the equation in numbers, not letters>

Synonyms
digit, figure, integer, numeral, numeric, whole number

Related Words
decimal, fraction; cipher; symbol

2 a literary, musical, or artistic production <a doomsday novel that turns out to be one of those it-was-all-a-dream numbers> — see COMPOSITION 1
3 a performance regularly presented by an individual or group <a modern dance number> — see ACT 1
4 a person of no importance or influence <doesn't want to go to some mammoth state university where she would be just a number> — see NOBODY
5 an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness <a stunning gymnastics number that really impressed the judges> — see FEAT 1
6 numbers plural the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value <if you believe the president's numbers, we can afford these new programs and still have tax cuts> — see CALCULATION

number verb
1 to find the sum of (a collection of things) by noting each one as it is being added <number those apples and tell me how many you have> — see COUNT 1
2 to have a total of <the full-time staff numbers 30 people> — see AMOUNT TO 1
3 to have as part of a whole <is numbered among the great minds of our times> — see INCLUDE 1

number crunching noun
the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value <he did a little number crunching and made an offer on the house> — see CALCULATION

numberless adjective
too many to be counted <the numberless stars in the universe> — see COUNTLESS

number one also No. 1 adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <considers international terrorism to be the number one threat to national security> — see FOREMOST 1
2 of the very best kind <the company's chocolate is rated as number one by serious chocoholics> — see EXCELLENT

numbing adjective
1 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <an utterly numbing class in statistics> — see BORING
2 having a low or subnormal temperature <the numbing air of that wintry morning> — see COLD 1

numbness noun
a lack of emotion or emotional expressiveness <the prisoner exhibited the numbness of someone who had spent more years behind bars than he could remember> — see APATHY 1

numeral noun
a character used to represent a mathematical value <write the answer in Roman numerals> — see NUMBER 1

numerate verb
1 to make a list of <numerate the dish's ingredients for me> — see 1LIST 1
2 to specify one after another <I don't have the time to numerate all the reasons, so I'll offer just a few> — see ENUMERATE 1

numeric noun
a character used to represent a mathematical value <in addition to the standard alphabetical letters and numerics, the keyboard features rows of special characters> — see NUMBER 1

numero uno adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <she's the numero uno tabloid celebrity at the moment> — see FOREMOST 1
2 of the very best kind <if you've got the bucks, the company's hand-tooled leather boots are numero uno> — see EXCELLENT

numerous adjective
being of a large but indefinite number <received numerous complaints about that product> — see MANY

numinous adjective
having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers <some have sensed a numinous energy in the landscape around Sedona, Arizona> — see MYSTIC 1

numinousness noun
the quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or explain <the undeniable numinousness of so many of the articles of faith embraced by that sect> — see INSCRUTABILITY 1

numskull or numbskull noun
a stupid person <don't be such a numskull—we can't afford a new car!> — see IDIOT

nuncupative adjective
made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing <the soldier left a nuncupative will that was witnessed by two of his comrades> — see VERBAL 2

nuptial adjective
of or relating to marriage <newlyweds still in a state of nuptial bliss> — see MARITAL

nuptial noun, usually nuptials plural
a ceremony in which two people are united in matrimony <their nuptials will take place at the university chapel> — see WEDDING

nurse noun
a girl or woman employed to care for a young child or children <sent his little son back to his nurse so that he could return to his study to work>

Synonyms
babysitter, dry nurse, nanny (also nannie), nursemaid, nurser, sitter

Related Words
amah, ayah; au pair, bonne; mammy; duenna, fraulein, governess, mademoiselle

nurse verb
1 to attend to the needs and comforts of <willingly lent a hand to nurse his grandmother in her final years, helping her get from one room to the other and making sure she was warm>

Synonyms
administer (to), care (for), minister (to), mother

Related Words
cure, heal, remedy; doctor, treat; aid, conserve, preserve, provide (for), support; baby, coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil; cater (to), humor; indulge

Phrases
do for [chiefly British], look after, look out for, look to, see to, take care of, wait on (also wait upon)

Near Antonyms
brush (aside or off), forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, slight

2 to give milk to from the breast <a new mother's decision to nurse her baby>

Synonyms
breast-feed, suckle, wet-nurse

Related Words
bottle-feed

Near Antonyms
wean

3 to keep in one's mind or heart <he continues to nurse a tender affection for his first girlfriend> — see HARBOR 1
4 to treat with great or excessive care <nursed his sprained ankle for the rest of the week> — see BABY
5 to bring to maturity through care and education <as foster parents they accepted and nursed 16 needy children over the years> — see BRING UP 1
6 to help the growth or development of <her teachers did much to nurse her literary talent> — see FOSTER 1
7 to use or give out in stingy amounts <he carefully nursed his energy during the marathon so that he would have something left for the final stretch> — see SPARE 1

nursemaid noun
a girl or woman employed to care for a young child or children <sent the children to their nursemaid> — see NURSE

nurser noun
a girl or woman employed to care for a young child or children <volunteered at the hospital as a nurser to hold premature babies> — see NURSE

nursery noun
1 a place or environment that favors the development of something <ancient Greece is often cited as the nursery of democracy> — see BREEDING GROUND
2 a school for children who are generally less than five years old <are asking parents not to bring their children to the nursery if they have the flu virus> — see NURSERY SCHOOL

nursery school noun
a school for children who are generally less than five years old <parents trying to find the right nursery school for their children>

Synonyms
crèche, day nursery, nursery, pre-K, prekindergarten, preschool

nurture verb
1 to help the growth or development of <wanted to find the art school that would best nurture his artistic talent> — see FOSTER 1
2 to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding <she feels that her lifelong practice of reading the Bible daily has nurtured her in ways she cannot describe> — see ENLIGHTEN 2
3 to supply with nourishment <nurtured her children through the long winters with home-cooked soup> — see SUSTAIN 1

nut noun
1 a person of odd or whimsical habits <a show devoted to those lovable nuts who collect the weirdest things just for fun> — see ECCENTRIC
2 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <anyone who runs into traffic like that sure is a nut> — see FOOL 1
3 a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <a baseball nut who waited 86 years for the Boston Red Sox to win the World Series> — see FAN
4 a person judged to be legally or medically insane <the man walking down the street talking to himself looked like a nut until we realized he was talking into his cell phone> — see LUNATIC 1
5 something that requires thought and skill for resolution <the question of how to increase functionality without decreasing efficiency may prove to be a tough nut to crack> — see PROBLEM 1
6 slang the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth <he didn't appreciate his friend's jibe about watching his big nut when getting into the car> — see HEAD 1
7 nuts plural language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <responding to your opponent's every argument with “Nuts!” is not exactly finely reasoned refutation> — see NONSENSE 1

nutcase noun
1 a person judged to be legally or medically insane <some nutcase was arrested for sending the threatening letters to the White House> — see LUNATIC 1
2 a person of odd or whimsical habits <around the condo complex she's known as the nutcase who consistently ignores the rules> — see ECCENTRIC
3 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <only a nutcase would try to accelerate a campfire by dousing it with gasoline> — see FOOL 1

nutrient adjective
providing the substances necessary for health and bodily growth <a breakfast drink enriched with nutrient proteins and vitamins> — see NUTRITIOUS

nutritional adjective
providing the substances necessary for health and bodily growth <the doctor recommended nutritional supplements> — see NUTRITIOUS

nutritious adjective
providing the substances necessary for health and bodily growth <opted for a nutritious snack and bought an apple instead of a candy bar>

Synonyms
nourishing, nutrient, nutritional, nutritive

Related Words
enriched, fortified; dietary, dietetic; beneficial, healthful, healthy, restorative, salubrious, salutary, wholesome

Near Antonyms
fattening; insalubrious, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome

Antonyms
nonnutritious, nonnutritive

nutritive adjective
providing the substances necessary for health and bodily growth <some people contend that whole wheat bread is significantly more nutritive than white bread> — see NUTRITIOUS

nuts adjective
1 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <the bizarre rantings in the notes left behind by the serial killer convinced the police that the guy was nuts> — see INSANE 1
2 showing urgent desire or interest <I'm nuts for the homecoming game> — see EAGER

nuts (about) adjective
filled with an intense or excessive love for <a group of old girlfriends fondly recalling teen heartthrobs that they were once nuts about> — see ENAMORED OF

nuts and bolts plural noun
the specific practical details of something <the nuts and bolts of the merger of the two companies have yet to be worked out> — see NITTY-GRITTY

nutter noun, British slang
1 a person of odd or whimsical habits <rather than ostracizing them, the British seem to cherish their nutters> — see ECCENTRIC
2 a person judged to be legally or medically insane <the theory that Jack the Ripper was a nutter infected with venereal disease by a prostitute> — see LUNATIC 1

nuttiness noun
lack of good sense or judgment <her incurable nuttiness makes her an easy target for scam artists> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

nutty adjective
1 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <the only other prisoner in the dungeon was a nutty soul who feasted on bugs> — see INSANE 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <that's a nutty idea that won't work at all> — see FOOLISH 1

nuzzle verb
to lie close <newborn puppies nuzzling against their mother to stay warm>

Synonyms
cuddle, nestle, snoozle [chiefly dialect], snuggle

Related Words
curl up; crouch, huddle

Near Antonyms
blench, flinch, quail, recoil, shrink, shy, start, wince

nymph noun
1 a mythical goddess represented as a young girl and said to live outdoors <she bought the book of fairy tales for the beautiful engravings of nymphs and fairies featured between the stories>

Synonyms
dryad, hamadryad, naiad, oread, wood nymph

Related Words
mermaid, Nereid, Oceanid, sea-maid (or sea-maiden), siren, water nymph

2 a young wingless often wormlike form (as a grub or caterpillar) that hatches from the egg of many insects <mayfly nymphs> — see LARVA
3 a female person who has not yet reached adulthood <the neighborhood nymphs were gathered at the local pizza parlor, checking out the hot guys> — see GIRL 2

O

o noun
the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it <our zip code is six-o-three-seven-five> — see ZERO 1

oaf noun
1 a big clumsy often slow-witted person <it's not polite to call your brother a stupid oaf>

Synonyms
clod, clodhopper, gawk, hulk, lout, lubber, lug, lump, Neanderthal, palooka

Related Words
chump, loser, schlemiel (also shlemiel), turkey; slouch; airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, blunderer, bonehead, bubblehead, chowderhead, chucklehead, clodpoll (or clodpole), clot [British], cluck, clunk, cuddy (or cuddie) [British dialect], deadhead, dim bulb [slang], dimwit, dip, dodo, dolt, donkey, doofus [slang], dope, dork [slang], dullard, dumbbell, dumbhead, dum-dum, dummkopf, dummy, dunce, dunderhead, fathead, galoot [slang], gander, golem, goof, goon, half-wit, hammerhead, hardhead, idiot, ignoramus, imbecile, jackass, know-nothing, knucklehead, lamebrain, loggerhead [chiefly dialect], loon, lump, lunkhead, meathead, mome [archaic], moron, mug [chiefly British], mutt, natural, nimrod [slang], nincompoop, ninny, ninnyhammer, nit [chiefly British], nitwit, noddy, noodle, numskull (or numbskull), pinhead, prat [British], ratbag [chiefly Australian], saphead, schlub (also shlub) [slang], schnook [slang], simp, simpleton, stock, stupe, stupid, thickhead, turkey, woodenhead, yahoo, yo-yo; anthropoid, ape, beast, boor, brute, cad, churl, clown, creep, cretin, cur, heel, louse, skunk, snake, stinker, tyke (also tike) [chiefly British], villain; booby, fool, goose, loony (also looney), lunatic, madman, nut; featherbrain, scatterbrain; rascal, rogue, scamp

Near Antonyms
brain, brainiac, egghead, genius, intellectual, sage, thinker, whiz, wizard

2 a stupid person <anyone who took him for an oaf and tried to cheat him would be in for a nasty surprise> — see IDIOT

oafish adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <far from being oafish, the professional wrestler was in fact a college graduate> — see STUPID 1

oafishness noun
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <the oafishness of the investigators, who missed clues and mishandled physical evidence, is the reason why that crime was never solved> — see STUPIDITY 1

oar noun
a person who drives a boat forward by means of oars <“All oars ho!” the boatswain ordered> — see OARSMAN

oar verb
to move a boat by means of oars <since the wind had completely died, they had to oar the sailboat back to shore> — see 1ROW

oarsman noun
a person who drives a boat forward by means of oars <the only oarsman in a rowboat designed for two>

Synonyms
oar, rower, sculler

Related Words
bowman, oarswoman; coxswain, crewman; puller; gob, hearty, jack, jack-tar, mariner, navigator, sailor, salt, sea dog, seafarer, seaman, shipman, swab, tar; kayaker

oath noun
a person's solemn declaration that he or she will do or not do something <I need your oath that you won't do anything until I've had time to make a decision> — see PROMISE

obbligato noun
something that is found along with something else <with the babble of the brook as an obbligato, we enjoyed our picnic> — see ACCOMPANIMENT

obduracy noun
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <the administrator was known for her unyielding obduracy even in the face of proof that she was wrong> — see OBSTINACY

obdurate adjective
1 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <the obdurate refusal of the crotchety old man to let the neighborhood kids retrieve their stray ball from his backyard> — see HARD 1
2 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <an obdurate farmer who could never be convinced to try a different method of fertilization> — see OBSTINATE

obdurateness noun
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <the man clung to his views on gun control with an obdurateness that was peculiarly impressive> — see OBSTINACY

obedience noun
1 a bending to the authority or control of another <the drill sergeant demanded complete and unquestioning obedience from the recruits>

Synonyms
compliance, conformity, submission, subordination

Related Words
abidance, agreeability, amenability, teachableness, tractability, tractableness, trainability; acquiescence, capitulation, obeisance, obsequiousness, submissiveness, surrender, yielding; deference, docility, dutifulness, humility, meekness, modesty, servility, slavishness, subordinateness, subservience, subserviency; inhibition, repression, restraint, suppression; control, discipline, dutifulness, order

Near Antonyms
noncooperation, recusancy; disrespect, impudence, insolence, rudeness; insurgence, insurgency, insurrection, mutiny, outbreak, revolt; hardheadedness, mulishness, mutinousness, obstinacy, obstinateness, perversity, pigheadedness, stubbornness; misbehavior, mischievousness, naughtiness; dissent, dissidence

Antonyms
balkiness, contrariness, contumacy, defiance, disobedience, frowardness, insubordination, intractability, noncompliance, obstreperousness, rebelling, rebellion, rebelliousness, recalcitrance, refractoriness, self-will, unruliness, waywardness, willfulness

2 a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others <the cowardly obedience with which the dictator's henchmen followed his every command> — see COMPLIANCE 1
3 the following of a custom, rule, or law <expectations of strict obedience to the guidelines were soon dashed> — see OBSERVANCE 1

obedient adjective
readily giving in to the command or authority of another <that boy is so obedient that he does everything the first time he is asked>

Synonyms
amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, law-abiding, submissive, tractable

Related Words
acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, duteous, dutiful, obliging, placable; soft, surrendering, yielding; fawning, kowtowing, obeisant, obsequious, servile, slavish, subordinate, subservient; decorous, disciplined, mannerly, orderly; constrained, curbed, inhibited, repressed, restrained; controllable, disciplinable, governable, handleable, manageable, tame, teachable, tractable, trainable; gentle, meek, mild

Near Antonyms
insurgent, mutinous; dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, peevish, pigheaded, self-willed, stubborn, unyielding; uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild; balky, defiant, perverse, resistant; bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, naughty; ill-bred, undisciplined; dissident, nonconformist; disrespectful, ill-mannered, impolite, impudent, insolent, rude

Antonyms
balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, noncompliant, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, restive, unamenable, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful (or wilful)

obese adjective
having an excess of body fat <the basset hound was so obese that its stomach touched the floor> — see FAT 1

obesity noun
the condition of having an excess of body fat <obesity has been linked to a number of health risks, such as heart disease> — see CORPULENCE

obey verb
to act according to the commands of <she taught her dog to obey her when she said “Sit!”> <most people obey the law and wear their seat belts>

Synonyms
adhere (to), comply (with), conform (to), follow, goose-step (to), mind, observe

Related Words
defer (to), submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to); accede (to), acquiesce (to), agree (to), assent (to); attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, take, watch

Phrases
abide by, fall in with, keep to

Near Antonyms
disoblige; challenge, dare; refuse, renounce, repudiate; direct, lead; brush off, disregard, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, tune out, wink (at); dismiss, pooh-pooh (also pooh), shrug off; breach, break, infringe, transgress, violate; deride, flout, mock, scoff (at), scorn; mutiny (against), revolt (against); buck, combat, contest, dispute, fight, oppose, resist, withstand

Antonyms
defy, disobey, rebel (against)

obfuscate verb
to make (something) unclear to the understanding <irrelevant matters that only serve to obfuscate the fundamental issue of guilt or innocence> — see CONFUSE 2

obit noun
a notice of a person's death usually with a short biographical account <she reads the obits as soon as she gets her morning paper> — see OBITUARY

obituary noun
a notice of a person's death usually with a short biographical account <several obituaries for Herman Melville portrayed him as an obscure, largely forgotten author>

Synonyms
necrology, obit

Related Words
eulogy, memorial, testimonial, tribute; epitaph, hic jacet, inscription

object noun
1 something material that can be perceived by the senses <I kept tripping over countless little objects scattered about the darkened room>

Synonyms
thing

Related Words
article, item, piece; being, entity, substance; commodity, good, ware; dingus, doohickey, thingamabob, thingamajig (or thingumajig), thingummy, whatchamacallit, whatnot; accessory (also accessary), accompaniment, bauble, curio; gaud, gewgaw (also geegaw), knickknack (also nicknack), novelty, ornamental, spangle, token, trinket

2 one that has a real and independent existence <trying to determine whether communication with the dead is an object for study, a hoax, or a figment of the imagination> — see ENTITY
3 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <the object of this course is to teach you algebra> — see GOAL

object verb
to present an opposing opinion or argument <they objected to the conductor's insistence that their train tickets were not valid>

Synonyms
demur, except, expostulate, kick, protest, remonstrate

Related Words
cavil, quibble; challenge, dare, defy, fight; conflict, debate, dispute, hassle, quarrel, squabble, wrangle; beef, bellyache, bitch, bleat, carp, caterwaul, complain, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grizzle, grouch, grouse, growl, grumble, grump, holler, keen, maunder [chiefly British], moan, murmur, mutter, nag, repine, scream, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, whinge [British], yammer, yawp (or yaup), yowl; balk, gag, stick; censure, criticize, denounce; disobey, rebel, withstand; demonstrate

Phrases
take exception, take issue

Near Antonyms
approve, sanction; accept; accede, acquiesce, agree, assent; adhere, comply, conform, follow, mind, obey, observe; advocate, champion, defend, maintain, support, sustain, uphold; applaud, cheer, commend

objectification noun
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <a statue that is often cited as an objectification of the ancient Greeks' notion of beauty> — see EMBODIMENT

objection noun
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent <pardon me, but I have an objection to any plan that requires staying out all night>

Synonyms
challenge, complaint, demur, demurral, demurrer, difficulty, exception, expostulation, fuss, kick, protest, question, remonstrance, stink

Related Words
compunction, doubt, misgiving, qualm, scruple; misunderstanding; cavil, niggle [chiefly British], quibble; argument, conflict, debate, dispute, dissent, hassle, quarrel, squabble, static; censure, criticism; defiance, disobedience, rebellion; distrust, distrustfulness, dubiety, dubitation [archaic], incertitude, indetermination, misdoubt, mistrust, mistrustfulness, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty; qualmishness, unease, uneasiness; reluctance, unwillingness

Near Antonyms
willingness; approval, sanction; acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent; compliance, obedience

objectionable adjective
provoking or likely to provoke protest <a T-shirt with an objectionable image>

Synonyms
censurable, exceptionable, obnoxious, offensive, reprehensible

Related Words
unacceptable, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome; disagreeable, displeasing, distasteful, unpleasant; bad, execrable, lousy, miserable, terrible, unspeakable, wretched; atrocious, infamous; abhorrent, disgusting, gross, loathsome, repellent (also repellant), repugnant, repulsive, revolting, sickening, sickish, vile; naughty, wicked; debasing, perverted, profane; off, off-color (or off-colored), racy, salty, suggestive; indecent, indecorous, unbecoming; earthy, unprintable; bawdy, coarse, crude, dirty, filthy, foul, gross, lewd, nasty, obscene, smutty, vulgar; blamable, blameworthy, lascivious, pornographic, ribald, scurrilous

Near Antonyms
acceptable, agreeable, blessed (also blest), congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, dreamy, dulcet, easy, enjoyable, felicitous, good, grateful, gratifying, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, pretty, relishable, satisfying, welcome; good; approved, endorsed (also indorsed), sanctioned; abetted, encouraged, promoted, supported; becoming, correct, decent, decorous, exemplary, proper, respectable, seemly; blameless, commendable, creditable; immaculate, perfect, pure, spotless; politically correct

Antonyms
inoffensive, unobjectionable

objective adjective
1 based on observation or experience <an objective assessment based solely upon the results of the experiment> — see EMPIRICAL 1
2 marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias <the judge removed herself from the case because she doubted her ability to remain objective, given her friendship with one of the attorneys> — see FAIR 2
3 restricted to or based on fact <the paper's news stories strive to be scrupulously objective, with opinions clearly labeled as commentary> — see FACTUAL 1

objective noun
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <the summer camp's stated objective is to produce tournament-level tennis players> — see GOAL

objectiveness noun
lack of favoritism toward one side or another <in the evaluation of their children's musical talent, objectiveness is probably the last thing that we should expect from doting parents> — see DETACHMENT 1

objectivity noun
lack of favoritism toward one side or another <the teacher's objectivity would be seriously compromised if his own child were placed in the class> — see DETACHMENT 1

objet d'art also objet noun
something strange or unusual that is an object of interest <the museum's collection is strongest in objets d'art from the South Pacific> — see CURIOSITY 2

objurgate verb
to express public or formal disapproval of <even used his last will and testament as a final opportunity to objurgate his prodigal son> — see CENSURE 1

objurgation noun
an often public or formal expression of disapproval <particularly humiliating for the general was the White House's objurgation of his misguided and unauthorized attempt at enunciating foreign policy> — see CENSURE

obligate verb
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <the problem is of your own making, so don't think that you can obligate me to help> — see FORCE 1

obligated adjective
being under obligation for a favor or gift <we have been their guests so many times that we feel obligated to return their hospitality> — see BEHOLDEN

obligation noun
1 something one must do because of prior agreement <their financial obligations keep them from giving to charities as much as they would like>

Synonyms
burden, charge, commitment, devoir, do [archaic], duty, imperative, incumbency, need, office, responsibility

Related Words
oath, pledge, promise, troth, vow, word; arrangement, prearrangement, setup; compact, contract, covenant, pact, trust; debt, payment, tribute; compulsion, constraint, restraint; must, requirement; coercion, duress, force; appointment, engagement, reservation; burden, onus

Near Antonyms
grace, postponement, stay; discharge, ease, exemption, release, relief, waiver; loophole; alternative, choice, option, pick, preference, selection

2 something (as money) which is owed <I have to pay off my current obligations before I can buy a new car> — see DEBT 1

obligatory adjective
1 forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law <in this state, school attendance is obligatory until the age of 16> — see MANDATORY
2 used or heard so often as to be dull <the obligatory cliff-hanger endings for season finales of TV shows> — see STALE 1

oblige verb
1 to do a service or favor for <I would appreciate it greatly if you could oblige me by bringing a dessert to the party>

Synonyms
accommodate, favor

Related Words
humor, indulge; coddle, mollycoddle, pamper; appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate; delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy; abet, aid, assist, help, support; attend, care (for), comfort, minister (to), relieve, succor

Near Antonyms
bother, discommode, disturb, incommode, inconvenience, trouble; burden, encumber, saddle, weigh; desert, disappoint, fail, let down; constrain, hamper, hamstring, hinder, hobble, hold back, impede, obstruct, restrain; frustrate, oppose, sabotage, thwart

Antonyms
disoblige

2 to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <I know you're in a hurry, but you can't oblige me to drive any faster than the speed limit> — see FORCE 1

obliged adjective
1 being under obligation for a favor or gift <my new neighbor gave me a Christmas present, and now I feel obliged to reciprocate> — see BEHOLDEN
2 feeling or expressing gratitude <I'd be much obliged if you could do me this favor> — see GRATEFUL 1

obliging adjective
willing to do a favor <an obliging concierge used her pull to get us reservations at the town's hottest restaurant> — see ACCOMMODATING

obligingness noun
cheerful readiness to do something <she's not exactly known for her obligingness when it comes time to help clean up> — see ALACRITY

oblique adjective
1 inclined or twisted to one side <gave the eavesdropper an oblique glance out of the corner of her eye> — see AWRY
2 running in a slanting direction <in the painting the artist repeats the oblique line of the path with the oblique line of the outstretched arm> — see DIAGONAL

obliquely adverb
in a line or direction running from corner to corner <the photographer has framed the shot so that the river runs obliquely through it, creating a great sense of depth for the viewer> — see CROSSWISE

obliqueness noun
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <the deliberate obliqueness of his reply left her wondering> — see OBSCURITY 1

obliquity noun
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <her poetry is sure to satisfy those readers who readily confuse obliquity with profundity> — see OBSCURITY 1

obliterate verb
to destroy all traces of <in a stroke, the March snowstorm obliterated our hopes for an early spring> — see ANNIHILATE 1

obliteration noun
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <the ill-advised obliteration of the town's historic district in order to make way for a shopping center> — see DESTRUCTION 1

oblivion noun
a state of being disregardful or unconscious of one's surroundings, concerns, or obligations <for two weeks each year the stressed-out couple enjoy the blissful oblivion that comes with a vacation at the beach>

Synonyms
forgetfulness, nirvana, obliviousness

Related Words
ignorance, incognizance, innocence, insensibility, nescience, unawareness, unconsciousness, unfamiliarity; amnesia, blindness; absentmindedness, absorption, abstraction, inattention, inattentiveness, preoccupation

Near Antonyms
memory, recall, recollection, remembrance; alertness, awareness, cognizance, consciousness

oblivious adjective
not informed about or aware of something <the out-of-state motorist claimed to be oblivious of the local speed limit, even though the signs must have been hard to miss> — see IGNORANT 2

obliviousness noun
1 a state of being disregardful or unconscious of one's surroundings, concerns, or obligations <her general obliviousness often results in her walking into walls and other hard-to-miss objects> — see OBLIVION
2 the state of being unaware or uninformed <obliviousness of a law is not an acceptable excuse for breaking it> — see IGNORANCE 1

obloquy noun
1 harsh insulting language <unable to mount a rational defense of her position, she unleashed a torrent of obloquy on her opponent> — see ABUSE 1
2 the state of having lost the esteem of others <although he had beaten the murder rap, the accused murderer was condemned to live out his days in perpetual obloquy> — see DISGRACE 1

obnoxious adjective
1 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <an obnoxious law that was widely flouted and engendered a whole new level of criminal activity> — see OFFENSIVE 1
2 provoking or likely to provoke protest <an obnoxious comment for which there should be an immediate apology> — see OBJECTIONABLE

obscene adjective
1 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <obscene gestures are totally inappropriate in the workplace>

Synonyms
bawdy, blue, coarse, crude, dirty, filthy, foul, gross, gutter, impure, indecent, lascivious, lewd, locker-room, nasty, pornographic, porny, profane, raunchy, ribald, smutty, stag, trashy, unprintable, vulgar, wanton, X-rated

Related Words
broad, coarse-grained, gamy (or gamey), off, off-color (or off-colored), racy, risqué, salacious, salty, suggestive; barnyard, earthy, scatological; immodest, indecorous, indelicate, low, unbecoming; depraved, kinky, louche, naughty, perverse, perverted, wicked; exceptionable, objectionable, unacceptable, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome; abhorrent, debasing, disgusting, loathsome, offensive, repellent (also repellant), repugnant, repulsive, revolting; distasteful, obnoxious, unpleasant; blamable, blameworthy, censurable, reprehensible; atrocious, infamous; abusive, scurrilous; hard-core, soft, soft-core

Near Antonyms
priggish, prim, prudish, puritanical, staid, straitlaced (or straightlaced), Victorian; correct, decorous, genteel, nice, polite, proper, respectable, seemly; innocuous, inoffensive; acceptable, agreeable, desirable, pleasant, pleasing, welcome; appropriate, becoming, fit, meet, suitable; immaculate, perfect, pure, spotless, virginal; approved, endorsed (also indorsed), sanctioned

Antonyms
clean, decent, G-rated, nonobscene, wholesome

2 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <that ugly new store is really an obscene bit of architecture> — see OFFENSIVE 1

obscenity noun
1 the quality or state of being obscene <the issue of whether obscenity is a fundamental part of rap music>

Synonyms
bawdiness, blueness, coarseness, crudeness, crudity, dirt, dirtiness, filth, filthiness, foulness, grossness, impureness, impurity, indecency, lasciviousness, lewdness, nastiness, profanity, raunch, raunchiness, ribaldry, smut, smuttiness, vulgarity, wantonness

Related Words
broadness, earthiness, gaminess, raciness, saltiness, suggestiveness; immodesty, indecorousness, indelicacy, indelicateness, lowness, unbecomingness; lechery; depravedness, depravity, kinkiness, naughtiness, perverseness, perversion, perversity, pervertedness, wickedness; exceptionability, objectionableness, unacceptability, undesirability; reprehensibility, reprehensibleness; abusiveness, scurrilousness; atrociousness, atrocity, infamy, loathsomeness, offensiveness, repellency, repugnance, repulsiveness; distastefulness, obnoxiousness, unpleasantness

Near Antonyms
priggery, priggishness, primness, prudery, prudishness, puritanism; correctness, decency, decorousness, decorum, seemliness; appropriateness, fitness, suitability, suitableness; immaculateness, perfection, purity, spotlessness

2 a disrespectful or indecent word or expression <uttered a loud obscenity when he dropped the hammer on his toe> — see SWEARWORD

obscure adjective
1 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <a fantasy writer who likes to put lots of obscure references and images in her tales of wizards and warlocks>

Synonyms
ambiguous, arcane, cryptic, dark, deep, Delphic, double-edged, elliptical (or elliptic), enigmatic (also enigmatical), equivocal, fuliginous, inscrutable, murky, mysterious, mystic, nebulous, occult, opaque

Related Words
abstruse, esoteric, recondite; cloaked, concealed, disguised, masked, shrouded; beclouded, bedimmed, befogged, clouded, cloudy, dim, faint, foggy, fuzzy, hazy, indistinct, indistinguishable, misty, muddy, obfuscatory, obnubilated, obscurant (or obscurantic), shaded, shadowlike, shadowy, sphinxlike; indefinite, inexact, inexplicit, noncommittal, questionable, unclear, uncertain, undefined, undetermined, vague; impenetrable, incomprehensible, indecipherable, inexplicable; eerie (also eery), uncanny, weird; impalpable, inappreciable, intangible, invisible; unanswerable, unknowable; baffling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling, unfathomable; circuitous, indirect, roundabout; complex, complicated, difficult, obtuse

Near Antonyms
comprehensible, fathomable, intelligible, knowable, legible, pellucid, understandable; bright, distinct, evident, self-evident, self-explanatory; certain, firm, strong, sure; defined, determined; direct, straightforward; definite, exact, explicit; appreciable, palpable, tangible, visible; blatant, patent, unmistakable

Antonyms
accessible, clear, nonambiguous, obvious, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal

2 not widely known <he's an obscure artist now, but he's sure to be famous someday>

Synonyms
nameless, no-name, noteless, uncelebrated, unfamous, unknown, unrecognized, unsung

Related Words
insignificant, minor, unimportant; undistinguished, unexceptional, unremarkable; unpopular; anonymous, faceless, unnoticeable, unrecognizable; unnewsworthy, unnoticed; forgotten, unremembered

Near Antonyms
fabled, fabulous, legendary; infamous; distinguished, eminent, exceptional, great, illustrious, notable, outstanding, prestigious, remarkable; estimable, honorable, reputable, respectable; important, influential, leading, major, newsworthy, noteworthy, significant; favorite, popular, preferred

Antonyms
celebrated, famed, famous, noted, notorious, prominent, renowned, well-known

3 being without light or without much light <hid in an obscure spot among the trees> — see DARK 1
4 not seen or understood clearly <a distinction so obscure that only the experts can really see it> — see FAINT 1

obscure verb
1 to keep secret or shut off from view <the investigative reporters obscured their real motives for visiting the company by pretending the story was about something else> — see 1HIDE 2
2 to make dark, dim, or indistinct <when it isn't obscured by smog, the view of the city from the observatory can be spectacular> — see CLOUD 1

obscured adjective
being without light or without much light <an obscured area of the prison yard that was the perfect escape route> — see DARK 1

obscurity noun
1 the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <the 16th-century astrologer's predictions are so filled with obscurity that people can interpret them any way they want>

Synonyms
ambiguity, ambiguousness, darkness, equivocalness, equivocation, inscrutability, inscrutableness, murkiness, mysteriousness, nebulosity, nebulousness, obliqueness, obliquity, opacity, opaqueness

Related Words
mystery, reconditeness; cloudiness, dimness, faintness, fogginess, fuzziness, haziness, indefiniteness, indistinctness, mistiness, shade, shadow, uncertainty, vagueness; impenetrability, incomprehensibility, incomprehensibleness; circuitousness, circuity, indirectness; deepness, depth, profoundness; abstruseness, abstrusity, complexity, complication, difficulty, obtuseness

Near Antonyms
comprehensibility, intelligibility, legibility; brightness, distinctness, self-evidence; certainty, surety; definiteness, exactness, explicitness, incision, incisiveness, lucidity, lucidness, perspicuity, perspicuousness; directness, forthrightness, openness, straightforwardness; palpability, tangibility, tangibleness, visibility; readability, readableness; obviousness

Antonyms
clarity, clearness, obviousness, plainness

2 the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown <the singer languished in relative obscurity for years before becoming famous>

Synonyms
anonymity, facelessness, namelessness, nowhere, nowheresville, silence

Related Words
oblivion; inconspicuousness, invisibility, invisibleness; insignificance; unpopularity

Near Antonyms
character, mark, name, note, rep [slang], report, reputation, repute; favor, popularity; importance, significance; distinction, eminence, glory, greatness, honor, illustriousness, note, preeminence, prominence; megastardom, superstardom; cachet, kudos, position, prestige, rank, standing, stature; acclaim, acknowledgment (or acknowledgement), praise, recognition; adoration, idolization

Antonyms
celebrity, fame, notoriety, renown

3 the quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or explain <her novels were favored by gullible critics who confuse obscurity with profundity> — see INSCRUTABILITY 1

obsequy noun, usually obsequies plural
the act or ceremony of putting a dead body in its final resting place <the murder victim's father was the chief mourner at the obsequies> — see BURIAL 1

observable adjective
1 capable of being seen <scientists often work with phenomena that are not directly observable> — see VISIBLE 1
2 worth remembering or mentioning <a man who apparently was devoid of any observable virtue> — see NOTEWORTHY 1

observance noun
1 the following of a custom, rule, or law <the observance of this family tradition would make your grandmother very happy> <observance of the smoking ban in public buildings>

Synonyms
abidance, adherence, compliance, conformance, conformity, keeping, obedience, observation

Related Words
deference, honor, regard, respect, upholding; accession, acquiescence, submission, surrender; attendance, attention, heed, notice

Near Antonyms
brush-off, disregard, ignoring; delinquency, dereliction, forgetting, neglect, overlooking; offense (or offence), sin, wrong; challenge, defiance, flouting, rebellion

Antonyms
breach, contravention, infraction, infringement, nonobservance, transgression, trespass, violation

2 an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules <some religions require very specific observances on holy days> — see RITE
3 a state of being aware <if you've been doing any significant housecleaning, it has escaped my observance> — see ATTENTION 2

observant adjective
1 paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity <if you were more observant, you would perceive that something is troubling her deeply> — see ALERT 1
2 having the mind fixed on something <observant viewers will notice that the position of hero’s facial wound changes in the course of the scene> — see ATTENTIVE 1

observation noun
1 a state of being aware <it has come to my observation that you've been missing a lot of school lately> — see ATTENTION 2
2 the following of a custom, rule, or law <a society in which a strict observation of business etiquette is expected of visiting foreigners> — see OBSERVANCE 1

observational adjective
based on observation or experience <her reports on the great apes were based on firsthand observational evidence> — see EMPIRICAL 1

observatory noun
a high place or structure from which a wide view is possible <the observatory is located on a mountaintop> — see LOOKOUT 1

observe verb
1 to act according to the commands of <you must observe all the rules of this school, not simply the ones that meet with your personal approval> — see OBEY
2 to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony <a time when few people in New England observed Christmas> — see KEEP 1
3 to keep one's eyes on <happily spent many hours observing the birds at the backyard feeder> — see WATCH 1
4 to make a statement of one's opinion <“I think you might be mistaken,” he observed> — see REMARK 1
5 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <she observed that the weather had changed again> — see SEE 1
6 to take notice of and be guided by <generally observes the suggestions of the experts regarding baby care> — see HEED 1

observer noun
someone who sees or watches something <observers of the boxing match seemed to be divided as to who won> — see SPECTATOR

obsessed adjective
having extreme or relentless concern <the youngster was so obsessed with video games that he had little interest in playing outside> — see HUNG UP 1

obsession noun
something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned <her latest obsession is a movie star who she thinks is very handsome> — see FIXATION

obsessional adjective
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge <had an obsessional need to be liked by everybody> — see COMPULSIVE

obsessive adjective
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge <intrigued by the man's obsessive counting of everyday objects> — see COMPULSIVE

obsolete adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <I was told my old printer is obsolete and I can't get replacement parts>

Synonyms
antiquated, archaic, dated, démodé, demoded, fossilized, kaput (also kaputt), medieval (also mediaeval), moribund, mossy, moth-eaten, neolithic, Noachian, outdated, outmoded, out-of-date, outworn, passé, prehistoric (also prehistorical), rusty, Stone Age, superannuated

Related Words
aging (or ageing), obsolescent; discarded, disused, inoperable, unusable, unworkable, useless; dead, defunct, expired, extinct, vanished; dormant, fallow, free, idle, inactive, inert, inoperative, latent; ancient, antediluvian, antique, dateless, fusty, musty, old; oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, retro, vintage; aged, age-old, hoary, venerable; atavistic, bygone, erstwhile, former, historic, historical, late, old-world, past

Near Antonyms
contemporary, current, mod, modern, new, newfangled, new-fashioned, present-day, recent, ultramodern, up-to-date, up-to-the-minute; fresh; modernized, refurbished, remodeled, renewed; functional, operable, operational, workable; active, alive, busy, employed, functioning, operating, operative

obstacle noun
something that makes movement or progress difficult <stumbling on all the obstacles along the path> — see ENCUMBRANCE

obstinacy noun
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <the mindless obstinacy of those people who continue to insist that the earth is flat>

Synonyms
bullheadedness, doggedness, hardheadedness, intransigence, mulishness, obduracy, obdurateness, obstinateness, opinionatedness, pertinaciousness, pertinacity, pigheadedness, self-opinionatedness, self-will, stubbornness, willfulness

Related Words
anal-retentiveness, perverseness, perversity, waywardness, wrongheadedness; adamancy (also adamance), determination, implacability, inexorability, inflexibility, inveteracy, perseverence, persistence, persistency, relentlessness, resolve, single-mindedness, steadfastness, stick-to-itiveness, tenaciousness, tenacity; firmness, hardness, rigor, rigorousness, sternness, strictness; narrow-mindedness, rigidity, rigidness; bloody-mindedness [chiefly British], cantankerousness, contrariness, cussedness; balkiness, contumacy, defiance, disobedience, frowardness, immovability, immovableness, insubordination, intractibility, obstreperousness, rebelliousness, recalcitrance, recalcitrancy, refractoriness, unruliness

Near Antonyms
broad-mindedness, open-mindedness, reasonability, reasonableness, receptiveness, receptivity; acceptance, acquiescence, flexibility, pliability, pliableness, pliancy, pliantness; compliance, docility, obedience, subordinateness, subordination; submission, surrender, willingness, yielding; slavishness, subservience, subserviency

obstinate adjective
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <the child was obstinate about wanting that specific toy, despite being offered several others>

Synonyms
adamant, adamantine, bullheaded, dogged, hard, hardened, hardheaded, hard-nosed, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inconvincible, inflexible, intransigent, mulish, obdurate, opinionated, ossified, pat, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, self-opinionated, self-willed, stiff-necked, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful (or wilful)

Related Words
anal-retentive, obsessive; wayward, wrongheaded; determined, hell-bent, inexorable, persistent, relentless, resolved, set, single-minded, steadfast, stouthearted, tenacious, unflinching; firm, hard-line, hard-shell (or hard-shelled), iron, severe, stern, strict; hidebound, narrow-minded, rigid; bloody-minded [chiefly British], cantankerous; contrary, cussed; contumacious, disobedient, froward, insubordinate, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, uncooperative, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly; defiant, insurgent, mutinous; indomitable, invincible, unconquerable; confirmed, inveterate, unregenerate; demanding, exacting

Phrases
deaf to reason

Near Antonyms
docile, obedient, placable, submissive, tractable; accepting, persuadable, receptive, responsive, willing; governable, manageable, reasonable, temperate; slavish, subservient

Antonyms
acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, flexible, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding

obstinateness noun
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <regardless of the issue, she holds onto her position with an obstinateness that would exhaust the patience of a saint> — see OBSTINACY

obstreperous adjective
1 engaging in or marked by loud and insistent cries especially of protest <an obstreperous crowd protesting the government's immigration policy> — see VOCIFEROUS
2 given to resisting authority or another's control <the club's president was at his wits' end with obstreperous members who refused to cooperate> — see DISOBEDIENT

obstreperousness noun
refusal to obey <the toddler occasionally felt the need to demonstrate her independence with a foot-stamping obstreperousness> — see DISOBEDIENCE

obstruct verb
1 to create difficulty for the work or activity of <this would go much faster if you would stop obstructing me with your constant interruptions> — see HAMPER
2 to prevent passage through by filling with something <at the moment the city's only tunnel between downtown and the airport is obstructed by an overturned tanker truck> — see CLOG 1

obstruction noun
something that makes movement or progress difficult <an obstruction in the drain has the water all backed up> — see ENCUMBRANCE

obtain verb
to receive as return for effort <after years of proving herself, she obtained recognition as a serious journalist> — see EARN 1

obtainable adjective
possible to get <gas was in such short supply that it was just not obtainable at any price> — see AVAILABLE 1

obtainment noun
something added to an existing supply <moving required that we sort through the mountain of obtainments that comes from living in the same house for 30 years> — see ACCESSION 1

obtrude verb
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern <please stop obtruding in your brother's affairs> — see INTERFERE

obtrusive adjective
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <meddling in other people's romantic lives is both obtrusive and presumptuous> — see INTRUSIVE

obtuse adjective
1 lacking sharpness of edge or point <obtuse scissors designed so that young users will not cut themselves> — see DULL 1
2 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <forgive me for being obtuse, but I wish you'd explain that to me again> — see STUPID 1

obtuseness noun
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <our guest's obtuseness was such that he failed to take even the broadest hint that it was time to leave> — see STUPIDITY 1

obverse noun
something that is as different as possible from something else <the new administration had promised peace and prosperity, but what we got was the obverse: war and recession> — see OPPOSITE

obviate verb
to keep from happening by taking action in advance <brushing regularly should obviate the need for frequent trips to the dentist> — see PREVENT

obvious adjective
1 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <that remark was an obvious joke, so lighten up> — see CLEAR 2
2 very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad <obvious errors in the book that the editor or proofreader should have caught> — see EGREGIOUS

occasion noun
1 a particular point at which an event takes place <on that occasion, I didn't actually meet your father>

Synonyms
moment, time

Related Words
flash, instant, jiffy, minute, second, shake, split second, trice, twinkle, wink; bit, space, spell, stretch, while

2 a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place <the substitute violinist rose to the occasion and performed the piece beautifully> — see OPPORTUNITY
3 someone or something responsible for a result <the missing money proved to be the occasion of much strife between the two brothers> — see CAUSE 1
4 something that happens <weddings are generally happy occasions> — see EVENT 1

occasion verb
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <the announcement concerning the change in scheduling occasioned much confusion> — see EFFECT

occasional adjective
1 lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <the weekend forecast is for occasional showers> — see FITFUL
2 not often occurring or repeated <an occasional mechanical problem with our car, but nothing serious> — see INFREQUENT

occasionally adverb
on some occasions <we occasionally stop for ice cream on the way home> — see SOMETIMES

occlude verb
to prevent passage through by filling with something <a blood clot had occluded a major artery in his body> — see CLOG 1

occult adjective
1 being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain <the occult ways in which the human mind works> — see MYSTERIOUS 1
2 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <an occult reference in the text that has puzzled scholars ever since> — see OBSCURE 1
3 having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers <Great Britain's Stonehenge is one of those occult places where people expect something of cosmic significance to happen> — see MYSTIC 1

occult verb
to keep secret or shut off from view <occulted their house from prying eyes by planting large trees around it> <the actor's private life had long been occulted by a contrived public persona> — see 1HIDE 2

occupancy noun
the act or fact of residing in a place <the landlord notified us of the need to cease occupancy in three months, when our apartment building would be sold>

Synonyms
habitation, occupation, possession, residency

Related Words
tenancy, tenantry; ownership, proprietorship; trespass

Near Antonyms
dispossession, ejection, ejectment; vacancy; vacating, vacation

occupant noun
one who lives permanently in a place <the only occupants of that house are an old lady and her cat> — see INHABITANT

occupation noun
1 the activity by which one regularly makes a living <my primary occupation is stockbroker, but I'm a drummer in a rock band on the weekends>

Synonyms
calling, employment, game, lay, line, profession, trade, vocation, work

Related Words
call, lifework; business, enterprise, field, livelihood, living, métier (also metier), racket [slang]; assignment, engagement, gig, mission; art, craft, handcraft, handicraft; appointment, berth, billet, office, place, position, post, situation; duty, function, job, load, task, workload

Near Antonyms
avocation, hobby, pursuit

2 the act or fact of residing in a place <occupation of a condemned building is illegal> — see OCCUPANCY

occupied adjective
involved in often constant activity <the boy is constantly occupied, usually with sports or schoolwork> — see BUSY 1

occupy verb
to hold the attention of <a puzzle will occupy that child for hours> — see ENGAGE 1

occur verb
to take place <let me know when the lunar eclipse is scheduled to occur> — see HAPPEN

occur (to) verb
to enter the mind of <it didn't occur to me to ask until much later>

Synonyms
come (to), cross, dawn (on), strike

Related Words
recall, recollect, remember, reminisce; con, learn, memorize; appear, arrive, emerge, materialize

Near Antonyms
forget, unlearn; disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook

occurrence noun
something that happens <life is full of random occurrences> — see EVENT 1

ocean noun
1 the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three-fourths of the earth <the ocean still holds mysteries that we are only beginning to unravel>

Synonyms
blue, brine, deep, Neptune, sea, seven seas

Related Words
blue water, high seas, main, waters; basin; Davy Jones's locker, depths

2 an immeasurable depth or space <with a single bound from top of the cliff, he propelled the hang glider into the ocean of air over the valley> — see ABYSS

oceanic adjective
1 of or relating to the sea <the theory that ancient mariners took advantage of oceanic currents to roam the seas on primitive rafts> — see MARINE 1
2 of, relating to, or occurring in the open sea <during his solo crossing of the Atlantic he managed to avoid the fierce oceanic storms that rage in those tropical latitudes> — see DEEP-SEA
3 unusually large <an oceanic field of wheat that stretched as far as the eye could see> — see HUGE

ocular adjective
of, relating to, or used in vision <recommends regular eye examinations for the early detection of such ocular diseases as glaucoma> — see VISUAL 1

odd adjective
1 being one of a pair or set without a corresponding mate <somehow, there's always at least one odd sock that comes out of the dryer>

Synonyms
unmatched, unpaired

Related Words
alone, lone, only, single, singular, sole, solitary

Antonyms
matched, paired

2 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <odd behavior that prompted one of the waiting passengers to alert airport security>

Synonyms
bizarre, bizarro, cranky, crazy, curious, eccentric, erratic, far-out, funky, funny, kinky, kooky (also kookie), offbeat, off-kilter, off-the-wall, outlandish, out-of-the-way, outré, peculiar, quaint, queer, queerish, quirky, remarkable, rum [chiefly British], screwy, spaced-out, strange, wacky (also whacky), way-out, weird, weirdo, wild

Related Words
aberrant, abnormal, addlepated, flaky; extraordinary, fantastic (also fantastical), freak, freakish, freaky, phantasmagoric (or phantasmagorical), phenomenal; atypical, rare, singular, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, unusual, unwonted; conspicuous, notable, noticeable, outstanding, prominent, salient, striking; atrocious, outrageous, shocking; crotchety, idiosyncratic, nonconformist, nonmainstream, out-there, unconventional, unorthodox; baffling, bewildering, confounding, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling

Near Antonyms
average, commonplace, everyday, garden, normal, ordinary, prosaic, routine, run-of-the-mill, standard, typical, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual, workaday; conformist, conservative, conventional; expected, familiar, knee-jerk, predictable; common, customary, frequent, habitual, regular, wonted

3 being out of the ordinary <the only odd grade for the exam was the one perfect score> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1
4 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <the odd occurrences in the area attracted the attention of people interested in psychic phenomena> — see UNUSUAL 1
5 not often occurring or repeated <with the exception of the odd sick day, he never takes time off from work> — see INFREQUENT

oddball noun
a person of odd or whimsical habits <she's known as the office oddball> — see ECCENTRIC

oddity noun
1 an odd or peculiar habit <his one oddity is collecting used pencil leads> — see IDIOSYNCRASY
2 something strange or unusual that is an object of interest <years ago circus sideshows used to display people with unusual physical features as oddities> — see CURIOSITY 2
3 something that is different from what is ordinary or expected <she is an oddity in the mostly male world of high-level corporate executives> — see ANOMALY 1
4 a person of odd or whimsical habits <an oddity with a penchant for weaving cat fur> — see ECCENTRIC

oddment noun
1 an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value <the fabric store sells oddments left over from cutting> — see 1SCRAP 1
2 something that is different from what is ordinary or expected <one of those medical oddments that has perplexed and intrigued generations of medical historians> — see ANOMALY 1
3 something strange or unusual that is an object of interest <an exhibit devoted to the incredible array of oddments that are collected by people the world over> — see CURIOSITY 2

odds plural noun
a measure of how often an event will occur instead of another <the odds of winning the lottery are currently 200 million to one> — see PROBABILITY 2

odds and ends plural noun
1 small useful items <she's always searching among the odds and ends in the drawer for some tool that she needs> — see NOTION 1
2 a remaining group or portion <almost all of the piece of leather will be needed for upholstering the chair, so just throw away any odds and ends> — see REMAINDER 1

odious adjective
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <an odious and unforgivable insult> — see OFFENSIVE 1

odium noun
the state of having lost the esteem of others <time did nothing to diminish the odium in which the traitor lived out his days> — see DISGRACE 1

odor noun
1 a special quality or impression associated with something <there's an odor of decay about the mom-and-pop amusement park, which clearly has seen better days> — see AURA 1
2 the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose <some people find the odor of skunk rather pleasant> — see SMELL 1
3 overall quality as seen or judged by people in general <her movie career has not been in good odor since her latest box office failure> — see REPUTATION

odorize verb
to fill or infuse with a pleasant odor or odor-releasing substance <the fans are used to odorize the air outside the confectioner's shop in order to lure more passersby> — see SCENT 1

oeuvre noun
the complete works of an author <a novel that occupies a relatively minor position in the author's oeuvre> — see CORPUS 1

of preposition
1 earlier than <it's ten minutes of two right now> — see BEFORE 1
2 having to do with <the librarian read stories of kings and princesses to the youngsters> — see ABOUT 1

off adjective
1 falling short of a standard <the milk tasted off> — see BAD 1
2 not being in a state of use, activity, or employment <the computer is off, so you'll have to turn it on in order to use it> — see INACTIVE 2
3 not being in agreement with what is true <that claim that everyone is actually related to everyone else seems a bit off> — see FALSE 1
4 small in degree <on the off chance that you do get straight A's, you can skip a grade> — see REMOTE 1
5 hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent <a telltale smirk suggested that there was something off about his parting shot> — see SUGGESTIVE 1

off adverb
from this or that place <move off a few yards before I throw the football> — see AWAY

off verb, slang
to put to death deliberately <the hit man bragged that he'd offed at least three people in the last year alone> — see MURDER 1

offal noun
discarded or useless material <a pile of offal from the tannery operating in the neighborhood> — see GARBAGE 1

offbeat adjective
1 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <an offbeat approach to the task, but it gets the job done> — see ODD 2
2 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <this writer has an enjoyably offbeat sense of humor> — see UNUSUAL 1

off–color or off–colored adjective
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent <the movie was rated PG for some swearing and off-color jokes> — see SUGGESTIVE 1

offend verb
1 to commit an offense <since this is the first time you've offended, we'll let you off lightly>

Synonyms
err, fall, sin, stray, transgress, trespass, wander

Related Words
breach, break, infringe, violate; backslide, lapse; mess up

Phrases
break the law, fall from grace

Near Antonyms
forgive, justify, pardon; regret, repent, rue

2 to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in <the visitor unintentionally offended his hosts terribly by failing to compliment them on the elaborately prepared meal> — see INSULT
3 to fail to keep <keeping company without a chaperone present definitely would have offended the social standards of the day> — see VIOLATE 1

offender noun
a person who has committed a crime <juvenile offenders have their criminal records sealed when they turn 18> — see CRIMINAL

offense or offence noun
1 a breaking of a moral or legal code <wartime offenses that are crimes against all of humanity>

Synonyms
breach, crime, debt, error, lawbreaking, malefaction, misdeed, misdoing, sin, transgression, trespass, violation, wrongdoing

Related Words
bias crime, hate crime; felony, misconduct, misdemeanor, misfeasance; fault, foible, peccadillo; break, infringement; immorality, iniquitousness, iniquity, sinfulness, vice, wickedness; corruption, debauchery, depravity, licentiousness; abuse, criminality, illegality, lawlessness, unlawfulness; descent, downfall, fall

Near Antonyms
blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness, impeccability, innocence, irreproachability; goodness, morality, righteousness, virtue, virtuousness

Antonyms
noncrime

2 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <combat casualties grew enormously as the weapons of offense became far more technologically advanced than defensive armor> — see ATTACK 1
3 an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <a diplomat never deliberately gives offense> — see INSULT
4 the feeling of being offended or resentful after a slight or indignity <my mother was prone to take offense even at the most innocent remark> — see PIQUE

offensive adjective
1 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <I find your disrespectful attitude toward religion very offensive> <the smell of rotting food is quite offensive>

Synonyms
abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful, evil, foul, fulsome, gross, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, noxious, obnoxious, obscene, odious, rancid, repellent (also repellant), repugnant, repulsive, revolting, scandalous, shocking, sickening, ugly

Related Words
exceptionable, objectionable; brackish, disagreeable, dislikable (also dislikeable), unpleasant; contemptible, despicable, detestable, hard, hateful; unhealthy, unsavory, unwholesome; execrable, lousy, miserable; atrocious, frightful, ghastly, grim, grisly, gruesome (also grewsome), heinous, horrendous, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish, shocking, sick, sickish, sickly, terrible, unspeakable, vile; off-putting, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome; barbarous, unchristian, uncivilized, ungodly, unholy; distressing, disturbing, upsetting

Near Antonyms
acceptable, agreeable, alluring, appealing, attractive, blessed (also blest), congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, desirable, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, gratifying, heavenly, inviting, likable (or likeable), luscious, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, savory (also savoury), sweet, welcome; unexceptionable, unobjectionable; healthful, healthy, restorative, salubrious, salutary, wholesome

Antonyms
innocuous, inoffensive

2 provoking or likely to provoke protest <insensitive, offensive remarks about the plight of the homeless> — see OBJECTIONABLE

offensive noun
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <the primary offensive by the ground forces will commence at dawn tomorrow> — see ATTACK 1

offer noun
1 an effort to do or accomplish something <made the usual halfhearted offer to grab the check before his dinner companion could> — see ATTEMPT 1
2 something which is presented for consideration <a job offer that I couldn't refuse> — see PROPOSAL

offer verb
1 to put before another for acceptance or consideration <I offered my boss an alternative to the original plan, which would have required me to work overtime>

Synonyms
extend, give, proffer, tender, trot out

Related Words
pose, propose; hold out; give in, submit; volunteer

Phrases
run by (or run past)

Near Antonyms
accept, receive, take; accredit, approbate, approve, authorize, clear, confirm, finalize, formalize, homologate, OK (or okay), ratify, sanction, warrant; decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, reject, turn down, veto; rebuff, rebut, refuse, spurn; retract, withdraw; disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook

2 to set before the mind for consideration <offered the idea of a vacation at a beach resort in the Caribbean> — see PROPOSE 1
3 to bring before the public in performance or exhibition <a summer theater offering a full schedule of musicals to the vacationing public> — see PRESENT 1
4 to give up as an offering to a god <when fruits, flowers, or crops are offered, the offering is known as a bloodless sacrifice> — see SACRIFICE

offering noun
something offered to a god <some ancient gods were thought to demand burnt offerings> — see SACRIFICE

offhand adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <an offhand comment that later caused the politician much embarrassment> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

offhanded adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <a quick, offhanded suggestion that was actually much better than any of the prepared proposals> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

office noun
1 a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization <the company's main office is in Atlanta> — see DIVISION 2
2 something one must do because of prior agreement <one of the chief offices of a friend is to be there in someone's hour of need> — see OBLIGATION 1

officeholder noun
a person who holds a public office <the last officeholder was extremely conscientious about not using public funds for his personal gain> — see OFFICIAL

officer noun
1 a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level <if you are ever lost, find the nearest officer and ask for help>

Synonyms
bobby [British], bull [slang], constable [chiefly British], cop, copper, flatfoot [slang], fuzz, gendarme, lawman, policeman, police officer, shamus [slang]

Related Words
patrolman, policewoman; detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, inspector, investigator, plainclothesman, sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound; marshal (also marshall), sheriff, trooper; peace officer; captain, lieutenant, sergeant; constabulary, heat [slang], man, police, police force; operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator

Near Antonyms
civilian

2 a person who holds a public office <an officer of the court> — see OFFICIAL

official adjective
ordered or allowed by those in authority <the official languages for those Olympic Games were French and English>

Synonyms
authorized, sanctioned

Related Words
lawful, legal, legit [slang], legitimate, licit, permissible, regulation; approved, endorsed (also indorsed); abetted, encouraged, promoted, suggested, supported; certified, licensed; authoritative, canonical, ex officio; semiofficial

Near Antonyms
illegal, illegitimate, illicit, impermissible, lawless, unlawful, wrongful; unapproved, unlicensed, verboten

Antonyms
nonofficial, unauthorized, unofficial, unsanctioned

official noun
a person who holds a public office <some of our best public officials do their jobs quietly and are never in the news>

Synonyms
functionary, officeholder, officer, public servant

Related Words
bureaucrat; administrator, commissioner, director, executive, head, manager, regulator, superintendent, supervisor; chair, chairman; flunky (also flunkey or flunkie), minion, underling; co-official

officinal adjective
tending to cure disease or restore health <the discovery of officinal plants that continues to this day> — see MEDICINAL 1

officious adjective
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <an officious little man who was always telling everyone else how to do their jobs> — see INTRUSIVE

offing noun
time that is to come <major changes are in the offing for the company> — see FUTURE 1

offish adjective
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <she was consistently surly and offish with the would-be suitors who came calling> — see COOL 1

off–kilter adjective
1 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <he's nice enough, but there's something a little off-kilter about him> — see ODD 2
2 inclined or twisted to one side <to me, the painting on the wall looks a little off-kilter> — see AWRY

off–load verb
to empty or rid of cargo <the warehouse needs to hire more people to load and off-load the trucks> — see UNLOAD 1

offscouring noun
1 discarded or useless material <the foundry's offscouring was the neighborhood's eyesore> — see GARBAGE 1
2 one who is cast out or rejected by society <the hills are controlled by bandits and other unsavory offscourings who have taken up a life outside the law> — see OUTCAST

offset noun
1 a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective <a better performance this time will be an offset to last year's dismal showing> — see COUNTERBALANCE
2 the stopping of a process or activity <symptoms that were striking for their abrupt onset and their equally abrupt offset> — see END 1

offset verb
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective <if you get a high grade on this quiz, it will offset the D from your last one>

Synonyms
annul, cancel (out), compensate (for), correct, counteract, counterbalance, counterpoise, make up (for), negative, neutralize

Related Words
invalidate, negate, neuter, nullify; atone (for); outbalance, outweigh, redeem; redress, relieve, remedy; override, overrule

offshoot noun
1 a branch of a main stem especially of a plant <we knew the rosebush had survived the harsh winter when it began producing offshoots and turning green again>

Synonyms
outgrowth, shoot, sprout

Related Words
excrescence, growth; bough, branchlet, limb, twig; bud, floret; spray, sprig, spur

2 something that naturally develops or is developed from something else <opened a shop selling fancy foods as an offshoot of their very successful restaurant> — see DERIVATIVE

offshore adjective
of, relating to, or situated in the waters near the shore <environmentalists adamantly opposed offshore drilling in the area> — see INSHORE

offspring noun
the descendants of a person, animal, or plant <the racehorse's offspring all proved to be very good racers as well> <the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by three generations of offspring>

Synonyms
fruit, get, issue, posterity, progeny, seed, spawn

Related Words
brood, hatch, litter, young; child, scion; family, kin; lineage, stock

Near Antonyms
ancestor, antecedent, father, forebear (also forbear), forebearer, forefather, grandfather, parent, primogenitor, progenitor

off–the–cuff adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <having gotten into hot water with some unfortunate off-the-cuff remarks, the candidate now limits himself to his carefully prepared campaign speech> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

off–the–peg adjective, chiefly British
made beforehand in large numbers <accustomed to bespoke suits, he would never condescend to wear an off-the-peg smoking jacket> — see READY-MADE

off–the–rack adjective
made beforehand in large numbers <the fashionistas were aghast that the actress would wear an off-the-rack dress to the Oscars> — see READY-MADE

off–the–shelf adjective
made beforehand in large numbers <she chose to have her computer designed to her specifications rather than buying an off-the-shelf machine> — see READY-MADE

off–the–wall adjective
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <she does have some off-the-wall suggestions about home decorating> — see ODD 2

oft adverb
many times <as I have oft said, you need to look before you leap> — see OFTEN

often adverb
many times <I seem to stumble often when I try to walk in high heels>

Synonyms
again and again, constantly, continually, frequently, hourly, much, oft, oftentimes (or ofttimes), over and over, repeatedly

Related Words
always, consistently, continuingly, continuously, night and day, perpetually, unceasingly, uninterruptedly; afresh, again, anew; commonly, habitually, ordinarily, regularly, routinely; intermittently, periodically, recurrently; generally, usually

Phrases
a lot, time after time, time and again

Near Antonyms
now, now and then, occasionally, sometimes, sporadically; ne'er, never; once

Antonyms
infrequently, little, rarely, seldom

oftentimes or ofttimes adverb
many times <children oftentimes don't realize how quickly time passes> — see OFTEN

ogle verb
to look at in a flirtatious or desiring way <I do wish you two would stop ogling each other during class>

Synonyms
leer (at)

Related Words
eye, gape, gawk, gaze, glare, goggle, peer, rubberneck, stare

Phrases
make eyes (at)

ogre noun
1 a strange or horrible and often frightening creature <a horror movie filled with ogres and demons of every description> — see MONSTER 1
2 something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason <the ogre of the standardized test keeps recurring> — see BOGEY 1

oh noun
the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it <the number is one-oh-two-four> — see ZERO 1

oil noun
a picture created with oil paint <that artist is known to have created only oils and charcoal sketches> — see PAINTING

oil verb
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction <if you oil the machinery on a regular basis, it will operate more efficiently> — see LUBRICATE

oiled adjective
1 having or being a surface so smooth as to greatly reduce traction <following the fuel spill, the resulting oiled stretch of roadway had to be closed to traffic> — see SLICK 1
2 slang being under the influence of alcohol <Mary will do just about anything once she's pretty well oiled> — see DRUNK

oil painting noun
a picture created with oil paint <hung a beautiful oil painting of the bay on the living room wall> — see PAINTING

oilskin noun
a coat made of water-resistant material <the oilskins worn by the fishing boat's crew gave them scant protection from the cold, driving rain> — see RAINCOAT

oily adjective
overly or insincerely flattering <an executive who surrounds herself with oily, sycophantic assistants> — see FULSOME 1

OK or okay adjective
1 being to one's liking <that dinner was OK, but I liked yesterday's better> — see SATISFACTORY 1
2 of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards <this latest draft of the essay is OK but could be better> — see ADEQUATE

OK or okay adverb
1 in a satisfactory way <you did OK on that last test> — see WELL 1
2 used to express agreement <OK, fine, I'll go to the party> — see YES

OK or okay noun
an acceptance of something as satisfactory <our supervisor gave his OK on the project, so we can go ahead with it> — see APPROVAL

OK or okay verb
1 to give official acceptance of as satisfactory <a judge will have to OK the search warrant> — see APPROVE
2 to have a favorable opinion of <I'm glad that my friends OK'd my choice of girlfriend> — see APPROVE OF

okeydoke or okeydokey adverb
used to express agreement <okeydoke, we'll be there at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow> — see YES

old adjective
1 being of advanced years and especially past middle age <every day the old fisherman set out in his small boat to brave the dangers of the sea> — see ELDERLY
2 dating or surviving from the distant past <an extremely old piece of jewelry was discovered in the Egyptian ruins> — see ANCIENT 1
3 having been such at some previous time <I ran into my old fourth-grade teacher yesterday> — see FORMER 1
4 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <even the most stirring speeches start to get old after you've heard them a few times> — see BORING

older adjective
being of advanced years and especially past middle age <an older woman was the chief librarian for the town> — see ELDERLY

oldfangled adjective
pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time <those big solid-iron phones are an oldfangled reminder of the time when you had to rent a phone from the telephone company> — see OLD-FASHIONED 1

old–fashioned adjective
1 pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time <an elegant, old-fashioned bun that was held in place with pearl hairpins>

Synonyms
antique, oldfangled, old-school, old-time, old-timey, old-world, quaint, retro, retrograde, vintage

Related Words
antiquated, moldy, obsolete, rinky-dink; historic, historical, olden, traditional; old hat, outdated, outmoded, out-of-date, outworn, passé, superannuated; dated, fusty, moth-eaten, musty, stodgy; aged, age-old, ancient, antediluvian, atavistic, fossilized, hoary, venerable; bygone, erstwhile, former, late, past; forgotten, remote; ageless, dateless; timeless; anachronistic (also anachronic), anachronous

Near Antonyms
fresh, new; chic, designer, fashionable, smart, stylish; modernized, refurbished, remodeled, renewed, updated; last, latest; futuristic, high-tech (also hi-tech), latter-day, nontraditional; recent

Antonyms
contemporary, current, hot, mod, modern, modernist, modernistic, new age, newfangled, new-fashioned, present-day, red-hot, space-age, state-of-the-art, ultramodern, up-to-date

2 tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <I'm so old-fashioned that I actually think people should use standard grammar and punctuation when composing e-mails> — see CONSERVATIVE 1

old hand noun
a person with long experience in a specified area <with 25 years on the job, Vinnie was the old hand everyone went to with their problems> — see VETERAN

old lady noun
1 a female human parent <the story is that my old lady wanted to name me “Cecil,” but the old man prevailed> — see MOTHER
2 the female partner in a marriage <he jokingly commented that he'd love to buy a sports car, but his old lady would throw a fit> — see WIFE
3 a female romantic companion <if he ever tried stepping out on her, his old lady would fill him with buckshot> — see GIRLFRIEND

old–line adjective
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <an old-line professor who still taught as if it were 1930> — see CONSERVATIVE 1

old–maidish adjective
hard to please <an old-maidish teacher who required that every essay be written in very formal English> — see FINICKY

old man noun
1 a male human parent <I'll ask my old man if he's up for a round of golf this weekend> — see FATHER 1
2 the male partner in a marriage <my old man and I have been together for 10 years now> — see HUSBAND
3 a male romantic companion <my old man and I have decided to move in together> — see BOYFRIEND

Old Nick noun
the supreme personification of evil often represented as the ruler of hell <he gave me a look that would scare Old Nick> — see DEVIL 1

old–school adjective
1 pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time <an old-school romantic comedy in which the two leads don't jump into bed at the first opportunity> — see OLD-FASHIONED 1
2 tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <an old-school gentleman who opened doors and pulled out chairs for women> — see CONSERVATIVE 1

oldster noun
a person of advanced years <a family film that will appeal to youngsters and oldsters alike> — see SENIOR CITIZEN

old–time adjective
pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time <an old-time song that took the long-married couple back to when they were first dating> — see OLD-FASHIONED 1

old–timer noun
1 a person of advanced years <a group of old-timers playing shuffleboard> — see SENIOR CITIZEN
2 a person with long experience in a specified area <old-timers in the fishing industry couldn't remember a time when catches were so low> — see VETERAN

old–timey adjective
pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time <tourists can pose for pictures wearing old-timey dresses or top hats> — see OLD-FASHIONED 1

old wives' tale noun
a false idea or belief <the belief that going outside with wet hair will cause you to catch cold is just an old wives' tale> — see FALLACY 1

old–world adjective
pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time <the theater has been painstakingly restored to its old-world elegance> — see OLD-FASHIONED 1

oleaginous adjective
overly or insincerely flattering <the office manager greeted the corporate bigwigs with an oleaginous welcome that should have embarrassed him> — see FULSOME 1

olio noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the performance was an old-fashioned olio of songs, dances, and puppetry> — see MISCELLANY 1

olla podrida noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the olla podrida of tongues that one hears on the streets of a bustling metropolis like New York City> — see MISCELLANY 1

omen noun
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event <some people still believe that a black cat crossing your path is a bad omen>

Synonyms
augury, auspice, boding, foreboding, foreshadowing, portent, prefiguring, presage

Related Words
forerunner, harbinger, herald, precursor; foretaste, hint, inkling, intimation, suggestion; forewarning; forecast, foretelling, prediction, prognostication, prophecy (also prophesy); badge, mark, note, token; divination

Phrases
straw in the wind

ominous adjective
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come <that comment about downsizing from the company president sounded ominous>

Synonyms
baleful, dire, direful, doomy, foreboding, ill, ill-boding, inauspicious, menacing, minatory, portentous, sinister, threatening

Related Words
black, bleak, cheerless, chill, Cimmerian, cloudy, cold, comfortless, dark, darkening, depressing, depressive, desolate, dim, disconsolate, dismal, drear, dreary, dreich [chiefly Scottish], elegiac (also elegiacal), forlorn, funereal, gloomy, glum, godforsaken, gray (also grey), lonely, lonesome, lugubrious, miserable, morbid, morose, murky, plutonian, saturnine, sepulchral, somber (or sombre), sullen, sunless, tenebrific, tenebrous, wretched; discouraging, disheartening, hopeless, unfavorable, unpromising, unpropitious; ill-fated, ill-starred, star-crossed, troubled, unfortunate, unlucky; evil, malign, malignant

Near Antonyms
auspicious, benign, bright, encouraging, favorable, golden, heartening, hopeful, promising, propitious, prosperous

Antonyms
unthreatening

omission noun
something left out <the disk contains a selection of deleted scenes, and a couple of the omissions greatly add to the intelligibility of the movie's plot>

Synonyms
deletion, elision

Related Words
elimination; blank, skip; lapse, slip; deduction, reduction, subtraction; default, delinquency, dereliction, failure, neglect, negligence, oversight, pretermission; abbreviation, condensation

Near Antonyms
inclusion; accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, expansion, gain, increase, increment, more, plus, raise, rise, supplement

omit verb
to miss the opportunity or obligation <you must not omit mentioning the sources you used in researching your paper> — see NEGLECT 3

omnibus adjective
covering everything or all important points <the president's state of the union speech is usually an omnibus look at the issues that the country is confronting> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC

omnipotent adjective
having unlimited power or authority <the nearly universal religious belief that God is omnipotent and omniscient>

Synonyms
all-powerful, almighty

Related Words
great, sovereign (also sovran), supreme, towering, transcendent; authoritative, chief, majestic, master, masterful; mighty, potent, powerful, puissant, strong; divine, godlike; able, capable, competent, effective, efficient; multitalented, omnicompetent, omnificent; authoritarian, autocratic (also autocratical), despotic, dictatorial, magisterial, tyrannical (also tyrannic)

Near Antonyms
helpless, impotent, impuissant, powerless; limited, restricted; hamstrung, handcuffed, high and dry, hog-tied, paralyzed, weak; incapable, incompetent, ineffective, ineffectual, inept, unfit, useless; feeble, frail, infirm

omnipresent adjective
present in all places and at all times <seeking some much-needed relief from the omnipresent noise of the big city>

Synonyms
ubiquitous, universal, wall-to-wall

Related Words
boundless, endless, fathomless, horizonless, illimitable, immeasurable, immensurable, indefinite, infinite, limitless, measureless, unbounded, unfathomable, unlimited; extensive, far-flung, widespread

Near Antonyms
bounded, circumscribed, confined, finite, limited, measured, narrow, restricted

omnium–gatherum noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the album features an omnium-gatherum of greatest hits from rock bands who peaked in the 1980s> — see MISCELLANY 1

omphalos noun
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <during the Vietnam War the university's campus effectively became the area's omphalos for antiwar activity> — see CENTER 1

on adjective
being in effective operation <please don't leave the sanding machine on if you're not going to be near it> — see ACTIVE 1

on adverb
1 toward a point ahead in space or time <we really must move on now if we're going to end this meeting before midnight> — see ONWARD 1
2 toward or at a point lying in advance in space or time <he's getting on in years and doesn't see or hear as well as he used to> — see ALONG

on preposition
1 having to do with <books on sports heroes are my favorite reading matter> — see ABOUT 1
2 in or into contact with <don't lean on that ladder—you'll knock it over> — see AGAINST 1

on–and–off adjective
occurring or appearing at intervals <an on-and-off friendship over the years> — see INTERMITTENT 1

once adjective
having been such at some previous time <the once child star is now a lawyer in the entertainment industry> — see FORMER 1

once adverb
at an earlier or previous time <I once knew the quotation, but time has taken its toll on my brain cells> — see FORMERLY 1

once conjunction
just at the moment that <you should have stopped wrestling once you knew someone was getting hurt, not five minutes later> — see WHEN 2

oncoming adjective
being soon to appear or take place <we're looking forward to your oncoming visit> — see FORTHCOMING 1

one adjective
1 being the one or ones of a class with no other members <that's the one author I would stand in line for hours to get an autograph from> — see ONLY 2
2 known but not named <one person that I know said that it was the best movie he had ever seen> — see CERTAIN 1

one noun
a U.S. currency bill representing 100 cents <I don't have any ones on me just now> — see DOLLAR

one–dimensional adjective
having or showing a lack of depth of understanding or character <a one-dimensional analysis of a novel that has a lot to say about personal courage> — see SUPERFICIAL 2

one–liner noun
something said or done to cause laughter <the senator deftly inserted some smart one-liners into an otherwise sober speech> — see JOKE 1

one–off adjective
1 being the one or ones of a class with no other members <an actress who commissioned a one-off dress from the designer for the Oscars> — see ONLY 2
2 happening only once <the tour is a one-off event to commemorate the band's 20th anniversary> — see ONETIME

one–on–one adverb
in direct confrontation or competition <bragged that no one could go one-on-one with her in a game of darts and win> — see HEAD-TO-HEAD

onerous adjective
1 difficult to endure <had the onerous and stressful job of notifying the families of soldiers killed in action> — see HARSH 1
2 requiring much time, effort, or careful attention <building the scale model of the frigate was an onerous task> — see DEMANDING 1

one–shot adjective
happening only once <this offer is a one-shot deal; if you refuse, you won't get another chance> — see ONETIME

one–sided adjective
inclined to favor one side over another <my neighbor's account of how the feud got started was somewhat one-sided> — see PARTIAL 1

one–sidedness noun
an attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting especially without considering any other possibilities <the obvious one-sidedness of the host means that his radio talk show isn't the open forum that he pretends it is> — see BIAS 1

onetime adjective
1 happening only once <with any luck, that was a onetime mistake>

Synonyms
one-off, one-shot

Related Words
nonce; inconstant, infrequent, intermittent, irregular, occasional

Near Antonyms
common, commonplace, everyday, familiar, ordinary, routine, ubiquitous, usual; cyclic (or cyclical); around-the-clock, constant, continual, hourly, round-the-clock; accustomed, chronic, confirmed, customary, habitual, inveterate; expected; annual, yearly

Antonyms
frequent, periodic, periodical, recurrent, recurring, regular, repeated, steady

2 having been such at some previous time <the onetime English teacher now works for a newspaper> — see FORMER 1

onetime adverb
at an earlier or previous time <an athlete who onetime competed in marathons on a regular basis> — see FORMERLY 1

ongoing adjective
1 being in progress or development <we do seem to be making some headway on that ongoing project> <the ever ongoing quest for knowledge by men and women of science>

Synonyms
afoot, proceeding

Related Words
functioning, happening, operating, working; afloat, alive, going; advancing, continuing, gaining

Near Antonyms
receding, regressing, retrogressing

Antonyms
arrested, ended, halted, stalled, stopped

2 existing or in progress right now <the ongoing presidential campaign> — see PRESENT 1
3 having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish <an ongoing commitment to improving their community> — see ABIDING

onlooker noun
someone who sees or watches something <several onlookers gave chase after the thief grabbed the woman's purse> — see SPECTATOR

only adjective
1 having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability <the only way to really appreciate the beauty of the forest is to walk through it>

Synonyms
incomparable, inimitable, matchless, nonpareil, peerless, unequaled (or unequalled), unexampled, unmatched, unparalleled, unrivaled (or unrivalled), unsurpassable, unsurpassed

Related Words
alone, singular, unique; exceptional, extraordinary, rare, uncommon, unusual; A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, boffo, bonny (also bonnie) [chiefly British], boss [slang], brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, cool [slang], corking, crackerjack, cracking, dandy, divine, dope [slang], down [slang], dynamite, excellent, fab, fabulous, famous, fantabulous [slang], fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, first-string, five-star, frontline, gangbusters (also gangbuster), gone [slang], grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class, hot, hype [slang], immense, jim-dandy, keen, lovely, marvelous (or marvellous), mean, neat, nifty, noble, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, out-of-sight [slang], par excellence, peachy, peachy keen, phat [slang], prime, primo [slang], prize, prizewinning, quality, radical [slang], righteous [slang], sensational, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, wizard [chiefly British], wonderful; better, preferred; exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special

Phrases
out of sight

Near Antonyms
common, commonplace, everyday, familiar, frequent, garden, household, normal, ordinary, routine, ubiquitous, usual; inferior, lesser, worse, worst; bad, bastard, bush, bush-league, deficient, depressed, dissatisfactory, ill, inferior, lame, lousy, low, lower, off, paltry, poor, punk, substandard, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, wanting; low-grade, substandard; mediocre, second-class, second-rate; atrocious, awful, execrable, pathetic, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched

2 being the one or ones of a class with no other members <that is the only possible right answer> <we were the only passengers on the tour bus>

Synonyms
alone, lone, one, one-off, singular, sole, solitary, special, sui generis, unique

Related Words
single, solo, unaccompanied, unattended; incomparable, inimitable, matchless, peerless, unequaled (or unequalled), unmatched, unparalleled, unrivaled (or unrivalled), unsurpassable, unsurpassed; distinct, distinctive, individual, separate; nonce

Near Antonyms
divers, manifold, multifarious, myriad; assorted, heterogenous, miscellaneous, mixed, motley, patchwork, promiscuous, varied; popular, prevailing, prevalent, rampant; perennial, recurrent, repeated

only adverb
1 for nothing other than <you're doing that only to annoy me> — see SOLELY 1
2 not long ago <we won the election only six days ago> — see NEWLY
3 nothing more than <I was only fooling when I said I saw a shark in the water> — see JUST 3

only conjunction
if it were not for the fact that <that's a very nice idea, only it won't help> — see EXCEPT

onrush noun
forward movement in time or place <a sudden onrush of development in an area that was rural until very recently> — see ADVANCE 1

onset noun
1 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <the walls withstood the onset of the first battalion> — see ATTACK 1
2 the point at which something begins <the claim that if you take enough vitamin C at the onset of a cold, you'll often recover faster> — see BEGINNING

onslaught noun
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <the massive onslaught of enemy troops caught the country by surprise> — see ATTACK 1

on–target adjective
being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard <an economic forecast for three percent growth that turned out to be entirely on-target> — see CORRECT 1

onus noun
1 a mark of guilt or disgrace <hoping to avoid the onus of failure by lowering expectations ahead of time> — see STAIN 1
2 responsibility for wrongdoing or failure <he perpetually tries to shift the onus for any mistakes onto other team members> — see BLAME 1

onward also onwards adverb
1 toward a point ahead in space or time <we must continue to move onward, or we will die in this desert>

Synonyms
ahead, forth, forward, on

Near Antonyms
backward (or backwards)

2 toward or at a point lying in advance in space or time <work on the project has been continuing onward at a steady pace> — see ALONG

oodles plural noun
a considerable amount <the neighbors let us know that they bought oodles of candy for Halloween this year> — see LOT 2

oomph noun
1 active strength of body or mind <still had the oomph to pass other runners in the homestretch> — see VIGOR 1
2 the power of irresistible attraction <a supermodel with the kind of oomph to make you want to run out and buy the perfume> — see CHARM 2

ooze noun
soft wet earth <our car tires sank deep in the ooze> — see MUD

ooze verb
1 to flow forth slowly through small openings <maple sap oozed slowly from the cut in the tree and into the bucket> — see EXUDE
2 to move slowly <the line more or less oozes past the body lying in state, as mourners are not allowed to pause> — see CRAWL 2

oozy adjective
full of or covered with soft wet earth <lost a shoe in the oozy field> — see MUDDY 1

opacity noun
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <the opacity of the abstract painter's works simply baffles many gallery visitors> — see OBSCURITY 1

opalescent adjective
having a rainbowlike play of colors <once given away as a cheap prize at carnivals, this opalesecent glass is now highly prized by collectors> — see IRIDESCENT

opaque adjective
1 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning <somehow listeners seem to connect with the songwriter, despite his deeply personal, often opaque lyrics> — see OBSCURE 1
2 not seen or understood clearly <an opaque remark that seemed to hint that there would be future retaliation> — see FAINT 1
3 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <people are sometimes rude to her, but fortunately she's too opaque to realize what's happening> — see STUPID 1

opaqueness noun
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning <the opaqueness of the narrative will not bother readers more interested in complex characters than in a gripping yarn> — see OBSCURITY 1

open adjective
1 allowing passage without obstruction <thank you for clearing out the hallway so that it's open again>

Synonyms
clear, cleared, free, unclogged, unclosed, unobstructed, unstopped

Related Words
enterable, navigable, passable; emptied, empty, unoccupied, vacant; exposed, revealed; gaping, wide, yawning; unbarred, unbolted, unclasped, unfastened, unlatched, unlocked, unsealed; unbuttoned, unclenched, unfolded, unfurled, unzipped

Near Antonyms
impassable (also impassible); constricted, cramped, encumbered, hampered, hindered, impeded, interfered (with), trammeled (or trammelled); barricaded, blockaded, dammed, gated

Antonyms
blocked, clogged, closed, jammed, obstructed, plugged, shut, stopped, stuffed, uncleared

2 freely available for use or participation by all <the lanes at the bowling alley will be open during the afternoon, but will be available only for league play in the evening>

Synonyms
free-for-all, public, unrestricted

Related Words
collective, common, communal, shared; accessible, available, free; unregulated, unreserved

Near Antonyms
limited; inaccessible, unavailable

Antonyms
closed, exclusive, off-limits, private, restricted

3 being in a situation where one is likely to meet with harm <the country's open to invasion if its borders remain unguarded> — see LIABLE 1
4 free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <a talkative and open child who tells people more than they want to know> — see FRANK
5 lacking a usual or natural covering <open wounds in his legs> — see NAKED 2
6 not known by only a select few <the two boxers have an open dislike for each other> — see PUBLIC 1
7 not yet settled or decided <that issue will have to remain open until the supervisor can decide> — see PENDING 1
8 willing to consider new or different ideas <she is always open and ready to listen to anyone's suggestions> — see OPEN-MINDED 1
9 giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <he's very open with his opinions, many of which are not welcome> — see GENEROUS 1

open noun
that part of the physical world that is removed from human habitation <a daguerreotype of a cowboy whose face is roughened from a hard life in the open> — see NATURE 2

open verb
1 to change from a closed to an open position <please open the door to let the cat out>

Synonyms
unclose

Related Words
unbar, unbolt, unclasp, unfasten, unlatch, unlock; unbutton, unclench, unfold, unfurl, unzip; disengage, release, slip

Near Antonyms
bar, bolt, clasp, fasten, latch, lock; button (up), zip (up)

Antonyms
close, shut

2 to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions <we need to open this drain that's clogged with hair>

Synonyms
clear, free, unclog, unplug, unstop

Related Words
ease, facilitate, loosen (up), smooth

Near Antonyms
constrict, encumber, hamper, hinder, impede, interfere (with), obstruct, trammel; barricade, blockade

Antonyms
block, clog (up), close, dam (up), plug (up), stop

3 to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area <when we got too close, the cardinal opened its wings and flew to a higher branch>

Synonyms
expand, extend, fan (out), flare (out), outspread, outstretch, spread (out), stretch (out), unfold, unfurl

Related Words
overspread

Near Antonyms
compact, compress, condense, reduce

Antonyms
close, contract, fold

4 to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way <snowplows opened the runway without much trouble> — see CLEAR 1
5 to take the first step in (a process or course of action) <we will open the proceedings tomorrow with a short ceremony> — see BEGIN 1

open–air adjective
of, relating to, or held in the open air <an open-air concert under the stars> — see OUTDOORS

open air noun
that part of the physical world that is removed from human habitation <a family of city dwellers who can't wait to go camping in the open air> — see NATURE 2

open–and–shut adjective
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <an open-and-shut case of robbery> — see CLEAR 2

open–eyed adjective
paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity <an open-eyed deer cautiously grazed in the backyard> — see ALERT 1

openhanded adjective
giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <in the aftermath of the disaster, many people were exceptionally openhanded with their donations to charity> — see GENEROUS 1

openhandedly adverb
in a generous manner <the CEO openhandedly gave the intern advice about succeeding in the business> — see WELL 2

openhandedness noun
the quality or state of being generous <the governor doesn't exactly have a reputation for openhandedness when it comes to commuting death sentences> — see LIBERALITY

openhearted adjective
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <many therapists believe that it is better to be openhearted than to repress one's feelings, however hostile they may be> — see FRANK

openheartedness noun
1 the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <the openheartedness with which he discussed his private life often startled new acquaintances> — see CANDOR 1
2 the quality or state of being generous <their natural openheartedness made them easy prey for every trickster with a sad story> — see LIBERALITY

opening noun
1 a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place <the talk show host's usual modus operandi is to talk over his guests, thereby denying them an opening to articulate their positions> — see OPPORTUNITY
2 a place in a surface allowing passage into or through a thing <an opening in the roof is letting rain drip inside> — see HOLE 1
3 an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) <the rabbit found a little opening in the bushes and darted through> — see GAP 1

open–minded adjective
1 willing to consider new or different ideas <all I ask is that you try to be open-minded when we present our suggestions>

Synonyms
broad-minded, open, receptive

Related Words
impartial, neutral, objective, unbiased, unprejudiced; easygoing, nonjudgmental, tolerant; calm, detached, dispassionate; amenable, compliant; impressionable, suggestible, susceptible; persuadable, persuasible

Near Antonyms
biased, narrow, one-sided, partial, partisan, prejudiced; bigoted, intolerant

Antonyms
narrow-minded, unreceptive

2 not bound by traditional ways or beliefs <younger people are often more open-minded on social and political issues> — see LIBERAL 1

openmouthed adjective
filled with amazement or wonder <the stunning view from the mountaintop left us openmouthed and at a loss for words>

Synonyms
amazed, astonished, astounded, awed, awestruck (also awestricken), dumbfounded (also dumfounded), flabbergasted, marveling (or marvelling), wondering

Related Words
startled, surprised (also surprized); bemused, bewildered, puzzled; overwhelmed, staggered, stunned, stupefied

Near Antonyms
unimpressed; disinterested, incurious, indifferent, unconcerned, uninterested; dispassionate, emotionless, impassive, unemotional; bored, jaded

openness noun
1 the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <her openness was refreshing after the tiresome coyness of her friends> — see CANDOR 1
2 the state of being left without shelter or protection against something harmful <doctors are concerned about the population's openness to the new strain of the flu virus> — see EXPOSURE 1

open sesame noun
something that allows someone to achieve a desired goal <it turned out that a simple “please” was the open sesame for charming the hotel manager into giving us a room with a better view> — see PASSPORT 1

operable adjective
capable of or suitable for being used for a particular purpose <the historic wooden ship has been fully restored and is once again an operable seafaring vessel> — see USABLE 1

operate verb
1 to control the mechanical operation of <do not operate heavy machinery, including cars, after taking this medication>

Synonyms
handle, run, work

Related Words
use; maneuver, manipulate, ply, wield; command, control, direct, drive, guide, pilot, steer

2 to look after and make decisions about <it takes years to learn how to operate that kind of business so that it makes money> — see CONDUCT 1
3 to produce a desired effect <the medicine will take an hour or so to operate the first time you use it> — see ACT 2
4 to put into action or service <wouldn't dream of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol> — see USE 1

operatic adjective
having the general quality or effect of a stage performance <the fall of the scandal-ridden government seemed operatic in its scope and consequences> — see DRAMATIC 1

operating adjective
being in effective operation <the only operating nuclear power plant in the state> — see ACTIVE 1

operation noun
1 a specific task with which a person or group is charged <a secret operation which, if it is discovered, the government will deny any knowledge of> — see MISSION
2 a usually fixed or ordered series of actions or events leading to a result <a specific mathematical operation is required in order to get the correct answer> — see PROCESS 1
3 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <given the constant threat of robbery, the operation of a convenience store can be quite stressful> — see CONDUCT 1
4 the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose <a considerable amount of training is required for the operation of these new high-tech weapons systems> — see USE 1

operational adjective
being in effective operation <a fully operational oil refinery> — see ACTIVE 1

operative adjective
1 being in effective operation <the last operative bookbinder of its kind in the business> — see ACTIVE 1
2 producing or capable of producing a desired result <unfortunately, the operative amount of the medication and the lethal amount were too close for it to be used safely> — see EFFECTIVE 1

operative noun
1 a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country <CIA operatives take terrible risks to find out the secrets of foreign countries> — see SPY
2 a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons <set in the 1930s, the novel is about a washed-out operative working for a third-rate detective agency> — see DETECTIVE

opiate adjective
tending to cause sleep <morphine is an opiate drug> — see HYPNOTIC

opiate noun
something that soothes, calms, or induces passivity or a sense of security <a cultural critic who argues that the Internet has now joined television as an opiate of the American people>

Synonyms
anesthetic, anodyne, narcotic

Related Words
security blanket; pacifier, palliative; hypnotic, sedative, soporific, tranquilizer (also tranquillizer)

opine verb
to make a statement of one's opinion <the food critic opined that the restaurant's fare was something that one might serve a dog—if one didn't like dogs> — see REMARK 1

opinion noun
1 an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge <a number of voters expressed the opinion that all politicians, regardless of party affiliation, are corrupt>

Synonyms
belief, conviction, eye, feeling, judgment (or judgement), mind, notion, persuasion, sentiment, verdict, view

Related Words
say; impression, perception, take; attitude; assumption, presumption, presupposition; conclusion, decision, determination; deliverance, esteem, estimate, estimation; credence, credit, faith; concept, conception, idea, thought; position, stance, stand; comment, obiter dictum, observation, reflection, remark; conjecture, guess, hunch, hypothesis, surmise, theory; advice, input, recommendation, suggestion; angle, outlook, perspective, shoes, slant, standpoint, viewpoint; counterview

Near Antonyms
fact, truth

2 a position arrived at after consideration <after reviewing the evidence, the athletic board came to the opinion that the team be disqualified for recruiting violations> — see DECISION 1

opinionated adjective
1 given to or marked by the forceful expression of strongly held opinions <those talk shows want opinionated pundits, not cautious, diffident debaters> — see DOGMATIC
2 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <an opinionated professor who often clashes with students who dare to disagree with him> — see OBSTINATE

opinionatedness noun
1 a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <guests on that political talk show seem to be far more prized for their uninhibited opinionatedness than for any trace of reasonableness> — see OBSTINACY
2 stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices <in matters of religion, she seems to confuse self-righteous opinionatedness with godly devotion> — see BIGOTRY

opinionative adjective
given to or marked by the forceful expression of strongly held opinions <one particularly opinionative caller informed the talk show host that he was an idiot> — see DOGMATIC

opinioned adjective
given to or marked by the forceful expression of strongly held opinions <a theater critic who is notorious for his scathingly opinioned reviews> — see DOGMATIC

opponent noun
1 one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict <in martial arts, before the match begins, always bow to your opponent>

Synonyms
adversary, antagonist, foe, rival

Related Words
equal, match; enemy; archenemy, nemesis; competitor, contestant; bane, bête noire, curse; assailant, attacker, combatant, invader

Near Antonyms
accomplice, ally, confederate, partner; advocate, champion, exponent, proponent, supporter, sympathizer

2 one that is hostile toward another <the senator has many political opponents who would love to ruin his career> — see ENEMY

opportune adjective
especially suitable for a certain time <an opportune rain shower gave them an excuse to leave the outdoor concert early> — see TIMELY 1

opportunist noun
1 a person who dexterously and expediently changes or adopts opinions <ever the opportunist, she immediately set about becoming the incoming administrator's new best friend> — see ACROBAT 2
2 one who does things only for his own benefit and with little regard for right and wrong <an opportunist who makes friends and then drops them as soon as they aren't useful anymore> — see SELF-SEEKER

opportunity noun
a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place <this art school could be a wonderful opportunity for you to finally develop your talent for painting>

Synonyms
break, chance, occasion, opening, room, shot

Related Words
play, way; juncture, pass

oppose verb
1 to refuse to give in to <I will continue to oppose any attempts to infringe upon our civil liberties> — see RESIST
2 to strive to reduce or eliminate <we must oppose ignorance and prejudice wherever and whenever they arise> — see FIGHT 2

opposite adjective
being as different as possible <those two are fundamentally opposite—she being loquacious and outgoing where he is quiet and reserved>

Synonyms
antipodal, antipodean, antithetical, contradictory, contrary, diametric (or diametrical), polar

Related Words
adverse, negative, unfavorable; antagonistic, antipathetic, counter, cross, hostile; converse, inverse, obverse, reverse; alien, disparate, dissimilar, divergent, unalike, unlike

Near Antonyms
alike, analogous, like, similar; equivalent, identical, same; synonymous

Antonyms
noncontradictory

opposite noun
something that is as different as possible from something else <no matter what I say, you insist on the opposite>

Synonyms
antipode, antithesis, contrary, counter, negative, obverse, reverse

Related Words
negation; antonym; counterpoint; converse, inverse, mirror image

Near Antonyms
synonym; analogue (or analog), counterpart; carbon copy, copy, duplicate, replica

oppositeness noun
the quality or state of being as different as possible <the complete oppositeness of the two principal meanings of the word “handicap”> — see CONTRARIETY

opposition noun
1 the inclination to resist <most of the opposition to the proposed smoking ban is coming from bar owners worried about its impact on their businesses> — see RESISTANCE 1
2 the quality or state of being as different as possible <her actions stand in direct opposition to her words> — see CONTRARIETY

oppress verb
1 to make sad <this gloomy weather is oppressing all of us> — see DEPRESS 1
2 to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress <a film about a man who is haunted and oppressed by the secrets of his past> — see OVERWHELM 1

oppressed adjective
suffering grave abuse or injustice at the hands of one in authority <setting out on a quixotic quest to right wrongs and to raise up the oppressed peoples of the world> — see DOWNTRODDEN

oppression noun
a state or spell of low spirits <suffered a lingering oppression in the weeks after his dog died> — see SADNESS

oppressive adjective
difficult to endure <an oppressive regime that rules through terror> — see HARSH 1

oppressively adverb
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering <forced to live under an oppressively cruel government> — see HARDLY 1

oppressor noun
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way <the dictatorship had scarcely been overthrown when the formerly oppressed suddenly abandoned their democratic ideals and became the oppressors> — see DESPOT

opprobrious adjective
1 marked by harsh insulting language <an opprobrious attack on the alleged corruption in the police department> — see ABUSIVE
2 not respectable <contends that visiting a brothel is the sort of opprobrious conduct for which a public official should be censured> — see DISREPUTABLE

opprobrium noun
1 a cause of shame <saw no reason why “secretary” should suddenly become a term of opprobrium among the politically correct> — see DISGRACE 2
2 the state of having lost the esteem of others <the opprobrium that was long attached to the convicted embezzler's name> — see DISGRACE 1

oppugn verb
1 to demand proof of the truth or rightness of <had the temerity to oppugn the merits of a study in a discipline that he knows nothing about> — see CHALLENGE 1
2 to strive to reduce or eliminate <guardians of liberty who staunchly oppugned tyranny, whether from the right or the left> — see FIGHT 2

opt verb
to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration <after that near catastrophe, they opted to reinstate the telephone service> — see DECIDE 1

opt (for) verb
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities <I opted for the smaller car after I calculated how much money I would save on gas every week> — see CHOOSE 1

optic adjective
of, relating to, or used in vision <the optic nerve> — see VISUAL 1

optical adjective
of, relating to, or used in vision <an optical illusion that fools most people> — see VISUAL 1

optimism noun
an inclination to believe in the most favorable outcome <your perpetual optimism even when things look bleak>

Synonyms
bullishness, sanguinity

Related Words
brightness, cheerfulness, perkiness, sunniness; hope, hopefulness, rosiness; idealism, meliorism

Near Antonyms
skepticism; apprehension, caution, concern; cynicism; despair, desperation, discouragement, disheartenment, hopelessness; bleakness, cheerlessness, dreariness, gloom, gloominess; pragmatism, realism

Antonyms
bearishness, pessimism

optimistic adjective
having qualities which inspire hope <the economic predictions for the coming year are actually quite optimistic> — see HOPEFUL 1

option noun
1 something that is not necessary in itself but adds to the convenience or performance of the main piece of equipment <a slew of options that would add several thousand dollars to the base price of the car> — see ACCESSORY 1
2 the power, right, or opportunity to choose <you will have the option to select one of several quite different health insurance plans> — see CHOICE 1

optional adjective
subject to one's freedom of choice <at the resort all recreational activities are optional, and you may choose to participate in none of them>

Synonyms
discretionary, elective, voluntary

Related Words
alternate, alternative, chosen; dispensable, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted

Near Antonyms
essential, indispensable, necessary, requisite

Antonyms
compulsory, mandatory, nonelective, nonvoluntary, obligatory, required

opulence noun
the total of one's money and property <in some parts of the city nearly unimaginable opulence can be found side by side with nearly unthinkable poverty> — see WEALTH 1

opulent adjective
1 having goods, property, or money in abundance <an opulent upper crust that liked to show off its possessions> — see RICH 1
2 showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort <an opulent mansion filled with priceless art and antiques> — see LUXURIOUS 1

opulently adverb
in a luxurious manner <an opulently furnished palace> — see HIGH

opus noun
a literary, musical, or artistic production <the composer's final opus was performed posthumously to great acclaim> — see COMPOSITION 1

oral adjective
1 expressed or communicated by voice <a baby's crying is usually interpreted as an oral expression of distress> — see VOCAL
2 made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing <lawyers for the plaintiff will be presenting oral arguments before the Supreme Court next week> — see VERBAL 2

orate verb
1 to talk as if giving an important and formal speech <given the opportunity, many politicians will orate at considerable length on just about any subject>

Synonyms
declaim, discourse, harangue, mouth (off), perorate

Related Words
rant, rave; bloviate, blow; lecture, preach, sermonize; advertise, announce, broadcast, declare, proclaim, pronounce; speak, speechify, talk

2 to give a formal often extended talk on a subject <the respected anthropologist is expected to orate about her latest research findings before a packed auditorium> — see TALK 1

oration noun
a usually formal discourse delivered to an audience <the celebrated orations of Daniel Webster in unwavering support of the federal union> — see SPEECH 1

orator noun
a person who makes usually formal public speeches <though a brilliant wordsmith, Thomas Jefferson was by his own admission an unskilled orator>

Synonyms
lecturer, speaker

Related Words
rhetorician, spellbinder; declaimer, spouter; spieler

oratorical adjective
marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases <a speech that was an oratorical endorsement of the value of education but one that refused to call for greater spending on education> — see RHETORICAL 1

oratory noun
1 the art of speaking in public eloquently and effectively <a presidential hopeful with a gift for oratory and a highly charismatic personality>

Synonyms
elocution, public speaking

Related Words
bombast, grandiloquence; eloquence, rhetoric; discourse, speech, talk

2 language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere <the politician's oratory sounded good only to people who didn't bother to think> — see RHETORIC 1

orb noun
a more or less round body or mass <out of the countless celestial orbs twirling in space, the planet Earth remains the only one we can call home, so perhaps we should take care of it> — see 1BALL 1

orbit verb
to travel completely around <the moon orbits the Earth> — see ENCIRCLE 1

orchestra noun
a usually large group of musicians playing together <the orchestra will be performing a selection of Beethoven pieces tomorrow night> — see 2BAND 1

orchestration noun
a balanced, pleasing, or suitable arrangement of parts <the trade respresentatives are working towards an orchestration of the two countries' often competing economic interests> — see HARMONY 1

ordain verb
1 to determine the fate of in advance <he is stoic in the face of adversity, bolstered by his faith that everything in life has been ordained by a higher power> — see DESTINE
2 to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority <a new bill that would ordain the funding of public schools through state lottery revenues> — see COMMAND 2
3 to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action <the founders of the African republic ordained a form of government that was closely modeled on that of the United States> — see ENACT

ordeal noun
a test of faith, patience, or strength <the hikers were finally rescued after a three-day ordeal in the wilderness> — see TRIAL 1

order noun
1 the way objects in space or events in time are arranged or follow one another <you always keep your books in perfect alphabetical order> <we haven't found out the order of the speeches yet>

Synonyms
arrangement, array, disposal, disposition, distribution, ordering, sequence, setup

Related Words
continuity; precedence, priority; chain, procession, progression, succession; series; aligning (also alining), alignment (also alinement), lining up; design, layout, pattern, structure, system

Near Antonyms
confusion, disorder, disorganization, disruption, upset; disconnection, disjointedness

2 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <a religious order> — see ASSOCIATION 2
3 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <collects movie posters, photographs and autographs of the stars, and other memorabilia of that order> — see SORT 1
4 a piece of metal given in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement <a book with full-color illustrations of British orders and decorations> — see MEDAL
5 a state of being or fitness <finally got the car back in working order> — see CONDITION 1
6 a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <the commander issued an order that the number of guards for the prisoner be doubled> — see COMMAND 1
7 one of the segments of society into which people are grouped <the lower orders were once expected to be content living out their lives as servants to the upper classes> — see CLASS 1
8 one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <regards draftees as an entirely different order of soldier and less desirable than volunteers> — see CLASS 2

order verb
1 to put into a particular arrangement <I've ordered all of my CDs according to type of music> <he likes to order his life so that there are few surprises>

Synonyms
arrange, array, classify, codify, dispose, draw up, lay out, marshal (also marshall), organize, range, systematize

Related Words
groom, make up, spruce (up), straighten (up), tidy (up); unscramble; align (also aline), cue, line, line up, queue; alphabetize, file, hierarchize, prioritize, sequence; emplace, place, set; display, map (out), set out

Antonyms
derange, disarrange, disarray, disorder, mess (up), muss (up), rumple, upset

2 to give a request or demand for <the players ordered hamburgers for lunch>

Synonyms
ask (for), put in (for), request, requisition

Related Words
commission, solicit; charter, hire, license (also licence)

Phrases
call for

3 to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority <the teacher ordered that everyone sit down immediately and be quiet> — see COMMAND 2
4 to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority <the police officer ordered the crowd to back away from the suspect> — see COMMAND 1

ordering noun
1 a scheme of rank or order <in the ordering of crimes, ripping the tags off upholstered furniture should rank fairly low> — see 3SCALE 1
2 the way objects in space or events in time are arranged or follow one another <the ordering of the children in the procession was according to height> — see ORDER 1

orderly adjective
1 being clean and in good order <a small, unpretentious inn offering pleasant, orderly rooms> — see NEAT 1
2 following a set method, arrangement, or pattern <the consultant developed an orderly procedure that allows us to process our Internet sales much more quickly and efficiently> — see METHODICAL

ordinance noun
a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature <a local ordinance forbids all street parking during snowstorms> — see LAW 1

ordinarily adverb
according to the usual course of things <ordinarily, I get off work at five, but this week I'm working late to meet a project deadline> — see NATURALLY 2

ordinary adjective
1 being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <it was a perfectly ordinary and undistinguished shirt>

Synonyms
average, common, commonplace, cut-and-dried (also cut-and-dry), everyday, garden-variety, normal, prosaic, routine, run-of-the-mill, standard, standard-issue, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual, workaday

Related Words
regular, typical, unextraordinary; familiar, homely, plain, plain-Jane, popular, vulgar; natural; customary, wonted; insignificant, trivial, unimportant; frequent, habitual; expected, predictable

Phrases
par for the course

Near Antonyms
curious, funny, peculiar, quaint, queer; aberrant, anomalous, atypical, irregular, untypical; rare, recherché, scarce; fantastic (also fantastical), phenomenal; bizarre, far-out, Kafkaesque, outrageous, outré, wacky (also whacky), way-out, weird, wild; eccentric, idiosyncratic, kooky (also kookie), nonconformist, oddball, offbeat, unconventional, unorthodox; freak, freakish; conspicuous, notable, novel, outstanding, prominent, salient, signal, striking, unexampled, unprecedented; singular, unique, unparalleled

Antonyms
abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, odd, out-of-the-way, strange, unusual

2 of average to below average quality <the pizza at that restaurant is just ordinary—it's nothing to write home about> — see MEDIOCRE 1
3 often observed or encountered <an ordinary hairstyle for boys of that age> — see COMMON 1

ordnance noun
large firearms (as cannon or rockets) <the army is waiting for the heavy ordnance to be brought in> — see ARTILLERY

ordonnance noun
the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged <the novel's intricate ordonnance might not be apparent to the casual reader> — see COMPOSITION 3

ordure noun
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal <polite people do not discuss ordure in public> — see DROPPING 1

oread noun
a mythical goddess represented as a young girl and said to live outdoors <oreads supposedly prefer to live in hills and mountains> — see NYMPH 1

organ noun
1 a publication that appears at regular intervals <that newspaper is intended as an organ for the whole university community> — see JOURNAL 1
2 something used to achieve an end <uses the business as an organ to fund a variety of political and social causes> — see AGENT 1

organization noun
a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <an organization of people devoted to promoting world peace> — see ASSOCIATION 2

organize verb
1 to put into a particular arrangement <carefully organized the hotel's silverware by pattern> — see ORDER 1
2 to work out the details of (something) in advance <started organizing the anniversary party months in advance> — see PLAN 1

organized adjective
following a set method, arrangement, or pattern <our department is more organized and, therefore, more efficient in handling the tasks assigned to it> — see METHODICAL

orient verb
to impart knowledge of a new thing or situation to <a training program to orient new employees to the requirements and dimensions of the job> — see ACQUAINT 1

orientate verb
to impart knowledge of a new thing or situation to <will orientate all incoming freshmen to the layout of the campus> — see ACQUAINT 1

orientation noun
the state or fact of facing a particular direction <a building's orientation is an important consideration in the Chinese practice of feng shui> — see EXPOSURE 2

orifice noun
a place in a surface allowing passage into or through a thing <the mouth is a bodily orifice> — see HOLE 1

origin noun
1 a point or place at which something is invented or provided <the origins of human language remain a matter of considerable debate> — see SOURCE 1
2 the source from which something grows or develops <the origin of the tradition of giving presents at Christmastime> — see SEED 1
3 the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <they could trace their origins back 15 generations> — see ANCESTRY

original adjective
1 coming before all others in time or order <the original plan had to be discarded when the situation changed drastically> — see FIRST 1
2 having the skill and imagination to create new things <an original artist who wanted his paintings to convey his emotional responses to the people, objects, and landscapes he painted> — see CREATIVE 1
3 not known or experienced before <separate categories for original and adapted screenplays> — see NEW 2

original noun
1 something from which copies are made <please make copies to hand out, but keep the original>

Synonyms
archetype, prototype

Related Words
source; example, mold, paradigm, pattern; beau ideal, classic, exemplar, ideal, model, nonpareil, paragon; blueprint, draft

Near Antonyms
copy, imitation, replica, reproduction; counterfeit, fake, forgery, sham

2 a person of odd or whimsical habits <the town's singing mailman is an original, all right> — see ECCENTRIC

originality noun
1 the quality or appeal of being new <the originality of the war memorial sparked a heated controversy, as most people had been expecting something more traditional> — see NOVELTY 1
2 the skill and imagination to create new things <a poet of great originality, she brought a whole new range of subject matter and imagery to poetry> — see CREATIVITY 1
3 the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others <a graphic novel that shows a lot of originality on the part of its creator> — see IMAGINATION 1

originally adverb
in the beginning <we originally planned to go out tonight, but we changed our minds>

Synonyms
firstly, initially, primarily

Related Words
incipiently; primitively

Phrases
at first, to start with

Near Antonyms
finally, lastly, ultimately

originate verb
to come into existence <the theory of relativity originated with Albert Einstein> — see BEGIN 2

originative adjective
having the skill and imagination to create new things <an originative genius whose mark on postmodern architecture can be seen all over the globe> — see CREATIVE 1

originator noun
1 one who creates or introduces something new <Thomas Edison was the originator of the light bulb> — see INVENTOR
2 a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor <Copernicus is sometimes hailed as the originator of modern astronomy, for he overturned the notion of an earth-centered universe> — see FATHER 2

orison noun
an address to God or a deity <a fervent orison asking for divine guidance in bringing about a peaceful solution to the grave international crisis> — see PRAYER 1

ornament noun
something that decorates or beautifies <her collection of plaster gnomes which she uses as lawn ornaments> — see DECORATION 1

ornament verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <delicate crystal figurines ornament the mantel over the fireplace> — see DECORATE

ornamental adjective
serving to add beauty <the trim on Victorian houses is sometimes elaborately ornamental> — see DECORATIVE

ornamental noun
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest <a collection of fragile ornamentals kept in a glass cabinet> — see KNICKKNACK

ornamentation noun
something that decorates or beautifies <didn't care for Victorian houses and all of their ornamentations> — see DECORATION 1

ornate adjective
1 elaborately and often excessively decorated <an ornate gambling casino that is designed to look like an Italian palace>

Synonyms
bedizened, florid, fussy, gingerbread, gingerbreaded, gingerbready, overdecorated, overwrought

Related Words
arabesque, baroque, rococo; extravagant, flamboyant, spectacular, splashy; bedaubed, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, loud, ostentatious, pretentious, showy, swank (or swanky), tawdry; elaborate, extreme; adorned, arrayed, beautified, bedecked, decked, decorated, dressed, embellished, enriched, garnished, ornamented, trimmed; flowery, frilly, lacy; enhanced, heightened, intensified; bejeweled (or bejewelled), bossed, chased, emblazoned, embossed, embroidered, flounced, fringed, garlanded, gilded (or gilt), laced, sequined (or sequinned), wreathed

Near Antonyms
bare, denuded, exposed, naked, stripped, uncovered; modest, simple, unassuming, unpretentious; conservative, muted, quiet, restrained, subdued, tasteful, toned-down, understated, unobtrusive

Antonyms
austere, plain, severe, stark, unadorned

2 full of fine words and fancy expressions <the ornate prose that was standard in all diplomatic correspondence in those days> — see FLOWERY 1

ornery adjective
having or showing a habitually bad temper <an ornery old man who always yells at the neighborhood kids to keep off his lawn> — see ILL-TEMPERED

orotund adjective
1 marked by conspicuously full and rich sounds or tones <the tenor's orotund voice was just what this soaring aria needs> — see RESONANT
2 marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases <a master of the orotund prose that is favored by academic journals of literary criticism> — see RHETORICAL 1

orthodox adjective
1 following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules <schoolteachers tended to favor poets who followed a very orthodox style of poetry> — see FORMAL 1
2 tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <orthodox in their view of the world, the Founding Fathers subscribed to the 18th-century notion that only men with property should be allowed to vote> — see CONSERVATIVE 1

oscillation noun
1 the frequent and usually sudden passing from one condition to another <fickle springtime weather in which there seemed to be an unceasing oscillation between unseasonable heat and unseasonable cold> — see FLUX 1
2 a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side <the precise oscillations of the quartz crystal that allows a quartz watch to keep such accurate time> — see VIBRATION 1

ossified adjective
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <the company's ossified management team failed to see the technological revolution that was sweeping their own industry> — see OBSTINATE

ostensible adjective
appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed <the ostensible reason for the meeting turned out to be a trick to get him to the surprise party> — see APPARENT 1

ostensibly adverb
to all outward appearances <ostensibly a university student studying abroad, he was actually an espionage agent> — see APPARENTLY

ostensive adjective
appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed <the ostensive purpose of his visit was to discuss the terms of his will> — see APPARENT 1

ostensively adverb
to all outward appearances <he stops by his old office periodically, ostensively just to say “hi”> — see APPARENTLY

ostentation noun
excessive or unnecessary display <the sheer ostentation of the rock star's mansion was overwhelming>

Synonyms
flamboyance, flash, flashiness, garishness, gaudiness, glitz, ostentatiousness, pretentiousness, showiness, swank

Related Words
pretense (or pretence); éclat, extravaganza, mummery, pageant, parade, show; dazzle, fanfare, foofaraw, pageantry, pomp, razzle-dazzle, razzmatazz, spectacle; adornment, decoration, dressing, embellishment, garnishment, ornamentation, trimming; extravagance, fanciness, luxuriance, luxuriousness, magnificence, opulence, richness, sumptuousness; luridness; meretriciousness, tawdriness, vulgarity

Near Antonyms
conservativeness, moderation, modesty, restraint, simplicity, understatement; elegance, gracefulness, tastefulness; minimalism

Antonyms
austerity, plainness, severity

ostentatious adjective
1 excessively showy <wears an ostentatious diamond ring on his little finger> — see GAUDY
2 self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance <an ostentatious man who desperately wants to impress people with his newly acquired wealth> — see PRETENTIOUS 1

ostentatiousness noun
excessive or unnecessary display <the over-the-top ostentatiousness of the wedding banquet was in poor taste> — see OSTENTATION

other adjective
1 being not of the same kind <no, I need the other pen, the blue one> — see DIFFERENT 1
2 resulting in an increase in amount or number <we'll be taking one other person on the trip> — see ADDITIONAL
3 having been such at some previous time <I was something of a celebrity in other days> — see FORMER 1

other (than) adverb
in a different way <we cannot make it to the party other than by canceling the previous engagement> — see OTHERWISE

otherness noun
the quality or state of being different <from an early age he could sense that there was an otherness about him—he was somehow different from the other kids> — see DIFFERENCE 1

other than preposition
not including <other than a new jacket, I bought no special clothes for the wedding> — see EXCEPT

otherwise adverb
in a different way <the candidate was gracious in his defeat, though he clearly wished the election had gone otherwise>

Synonyms
differently, else, other (than)

Related Words
dissimilarly, diversely, variously

Near Antonyms
similarly

Antonyms
likewise

other woman noun
a female other than his wife with whom a married man has a continuing sexual relationship <tired of being the other woman, she gave him an ultimatum: divorce his wife or take a hike> — see MISTRESS

otherworldly adjective
of, relating to, or being part of a reality beyond the observable physical universe <a movie in which otherworldly beings live among us in a parallel universe> — see SUPERNATURAL 1

otiose adjective
producing no results <since you haven't read the book, I suppose that it would be otiose to inquire what you thought of it> — see FUTILE 1

ought (to) verb
to be under necessity or obligation to <you ought to buy him a new book to replace the one you lost> — see NEED 2

ounce noun
a very small amount <an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure> — see PARTICLE 1

oust verb
1 to drive or force out <she was ousted from her job after it was proven she'd been pilfering company supplies> — see EJECT 1
2 to remove from a position of prominence or power (as a throne) <the people finally rose up and ousted the corrupt dictator> — see DEPOSE 1
3 to end the occupancy or possession of <the squatters were forcibly ousted from the abandoned building> — see DISPOSSESS

out adjective
1 fully committed to achieving a goal <he's out to get even with the guy who beat him last time around> — see DETERMINED 1
2 not at a certain place <half the staff is out with the flu> — see ABSENT 1

out adverb
1 in or into the open air <you really should get out more> — see OUTDOORS
2 with one's normal voice speaking the words <the search parties were sent in different directions and told to cry out if they discovered anything> — see ALOUD
3 to a full extent or degree <when stretched out, the ribbon was just long enough> — see FULLY 1
4 from this or that place <people staggered out from the burning building gasping for breath> — see AWAY

out noun
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable <I really don't want to go to the party, and I've been searching for an out> — see ESCAPE 2

out verb
1 to become known <the truth will out eventually> — see GET OUT 1
2 to drive or force out <before moving in, we outed all the furry little creatures who had settled in the cabin over the winter> — see EJECT 1

out–and–out adjective
1 having no exceptions or restrictions <an out-and-out cheater at every game she plays> <her story is not just an exaggeration, it's an out-and-out lie> — see ABSOLUTE 2
2 trying all possibilities <mounted an out-and-out effort to find the lost child> — see EXHAUSTIVE 1

outback noun
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country <people who live in the Australian outback tend to be self-sufficient> — see FRONTIER 2

outbrave verb
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage <completing the survival course is largely a matter of one's willingness to outbrave both the elements and the specter of total isolation> — see FACE 2

outbreak noun
1 a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity <there was an immediate outbreak of paper shuffling and a pretense of work when the supervisor passed through the room>

Synonyms
burst, flare, flare-up, flash, flicker, flurry, flutter, outburst, spurt

Related Words
recrudescence, recurrence, renewal; binge, jag, spree; boost, increase, pickup, upswing, upturn; epidemic, eruption, explosion, paroxysm; deluge, flood, rush, spate, surge, volley; commotion, furor, uproar

Near Antonyms
calm, doldrums, slump

2 open fighting against authority (as one's own government) <the government quelled the outbreak with ruthless efficiency> — see REBELLION 1

outburst noun
1 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <the judge directed the courtroom spectators to refrain from any outbursts when the verdict was read>

Synonyms
agony, blaze, burst, ebullition, eruption, explosion, fit, flare, flare-up, flash, flush, gale, gush, gust, paroxysm, spasm, storm

Related Words
blowup, grouch, rage, tantrum; ecstasy, rapture, transport; delirium, firestorm, frenzy, furor

2 a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity <there was a remarkable outburst of work in the office as the visiting VIPs made their tour> — see OUTBREAK 1
3 the act or an instance of exploding <in the outburst known as a supernova, the star may reach an intrinsic luminosity one billion times that of the sun> — see EXPLOSION 1

outcast noun
one who is cast out or rejected by society <the professor is something of an outcast in the halls of academe now that his former support of a dictatorial regime has become public>

Synonyms
castaway, castoff, leper, offscouring, pariah, reject

Related Words
untouchable; outsider; deportee, exile

Near Antonyms
insider

outclass verb
to be greater, better, or stronger than <a tennis player who outclassed the competition, breezing through the tournament without losing a set> — see SURPASS 1

outcome noun
a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <one expected outcome of hard work is greater success> — see EFFECT 1

outcry noun
a violent shouting <I went to the window to see what the sudden outcry from the street below was about> — see CLAMOR 1

outdated adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <an outdated rotary telephone> — see OBSOLETE

outdistance verb
to be greater, better, or stronger than <the new student rapidly outdistanced the rest of the class in math> — see SURPASS 1

outdo verb
to be greater, better, or stronger than <two vaccine developers who spent years vigorously trying to outdo one another's research> — see SURPASS 1

outdoor also outdoors adjective
of, relating to, or held in the open air <an outdoor picnic is always at the mercy of the weather, of course>

Synonyms
alfresco, open-air, out-of-door (or out-of-doors), outdoorsy

Related Words
airy; exterior, external, outer, outside, outward; outermost, outmost

Near Antonyms
inner, inside, interior, internal, inward; inmost, innermost

Antonyms
indoor

outdoors adverb
in or into the open air <please wait until you're outdoors to light up your cigarette>

Synonyms
alfresco, out, outside

Related Words
without

Near Antonyms
in, inside, within

Antonyms
indoors

outdoors noun
that part of the physical world that is removed from human habitation <our family loves to hike and camp in the great outdoors> — see NATURE 2

outdoorsy adjective
of, relating to, or held in the open air <a retirement community offering tennis, golf, and other outdoorsy activities> — see OUTDOOR

outer adjective
situated on the outside or farther out <the outer edge of the blade of your figure skate always wears out faster than the inner because you use it more>

Synonyms
exterior, external, outside, outward

Related Words
outermost, outlying, outmost; superficial, surface

Near Antonyms
inmost, innermost; mid, middle, midmost

Antonyms
inner, inside, interior, internal, inward

outermost adjective
most distant from a center <the outermost ring of listeners had trouble hearing the concert> — see EXTREME 1

outface verb
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage <rescue workers who outface the daily threat of catastrophe> — see FACE 2

outfit noun
1 clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation <the restaurant provides its waitstaff with themed outfits> <do you want to buy a new outfit for the Halloween party?>

Synonyms
costume, drag, dress, garb, getup, guise, togs

Related Words
apparel, attire, clothes, duds, habiliment(s), raiment; fashion, mode, style; array, caparison, vestments

2 a commercial or industrial activity or organization <they're an outfit specializing in travel tours for senior citizens> — see ENTERPRISE 1
3 a group of people working together on a task <the whole outfit quit early for lunch> — see GANG 1
4 items needed for the performance of a task or activity <for this class, you will need a professional camera outfit which includes at least one telephoto lens and one wide-angle lens> — see EQUIPMENT
5 the distinctive clothing worn by members of a particular group <the highway patrol outfit includes jackboots and a high-crowned hat> — see UNIFORM

outfit verb
to provide (someone) with what is needed for a task or activity <outfitted the scuba instructors handsomely with all new gear> — see FURNISH 1

outflow noun
a flowing or going out <over the last year the state experienced an unprecedented brain drain as the outflow of highly educated professionals exceeded the inflow>

Synonyms
exodus, gush, outpour, outpouring

Related Words
drain, flow; ebb, reflow, reflux; rush, stampede; diaspora, emigration, flight; discharge, effluence, emanation, emission

Near Antonyms
deluge, flood, inundation, overflow, spate, torrent; river, stream, tide

Antonyms
flux, inflow, influx, inrush

outfox verb
to get the better of through cleverness <the prisoners outfoxed the guards by tunneling beneath the prison walls> — see OUTWIT

out–front adjective
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <he's always been out-front about his sexuality> — see FRANK

outgo noun
1 a payment made in the course of achieving a result <last year the film company's outgoes exceeded its revenues by a wide margin> — see EXPENSE
2 the act of leaving a place <the outgo of the town's only remaining manufacturing plant was a disaster> — see DEPARTURE 1

outgoing adjective
likely to seek or enjoy the company of others <a salesman whose aggressively outgoing personality could sometimes be overbearing> — see CONVIVIAL

outgrowth noun
1 a branch of a main stem especially of a plant <trimmed back some of the tree's outgrowths so they wouldn't interfere with the power lines> — see OFFSHOOT 1
2 a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <a predictable outgrowth of the suburb's ever growing population will be the need for more schools> — see EFFECT 1
3 something that naturally develops or is developed from something else <an industry that is an outgrowth of the technology first developed for the U.S. space program> — see DERIVATIVE

outgun verb
to be greater, better, or stronger than <a marketing firm whose innovative ad campaigns have consistently outgunned its rivals'> — see SURPASS 1

outing noun
a short trip for pleasure <an outing to the zoo> — see EXCURSION 1

outlander noun
a person who is not native to or known to a community <although we have lived in the village for years, to the natives whose families have been here for generations, we are still outlanders> — see STRANGER

outlandish adjective
1 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <an outlandish outfit made entirely out of bottle caps> — see ODD 2
2 excitingly or mysteriously unusual <the outlandish tribal rituals that astonished early explorers of that land> — see EXOTIC

outlands plural noun
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country <missionaries to the nation's rugged outlands> — see FRONTIER 2

outlast verb
to last longer than <I truly hope this car will outlast our previous one> <your work will probably outlast you>

Synonyms
outlive, outwear

Related Words
survive; outstay; abide (beyond), endure (past), hold (past), hold out (past), last (beyond), persist (beyond); draw out, perpetuate; succeed

outlaw verb
1 to make or declare contrary to the law <a push to outlaw smoking in all public buildings> — see ILLEGALIZE
2 to order not to do or use or to be done or used <fed up with the constant interruptions, the physician has outlawed all cell phone use from his office> — see FORBID

outlawed adjective
that may not be permitted <a refugee seeking asylum because in his home country he risks persecution as a member of an outlawed religious group> — see IMPERMISSIBLE

outlawing noun
the act of ordering that something not be done or used <the outlawing of open containers of beer in moving vehicles is intended to reduce drunk driving> — see PROHIBITION 1

outlay noun
a payment made in the course of achieving a result <the outlays for the couple's upcoming wedding seem to be multiplying at an incredible rate> — see EXPENSE

outlay verb
to hand over or use up in payment <the nation had outlaid nearly 20 billion dollars on social programs at that point> — see SPEND 1

outlet noun
1 a place or means of going out <this road is the only outlet for traffic coming from the racetrack> — see EXIT 1
2 a place or opportunity for communicating ideas and information <technology has provided many new outlets for amateur writers and artists to share their work with a global audience> — see VENUE 1

outline noun
1 a line that traces the outer limits of an object or surface <place your hand on the paper and draw an outline around it>

Synonyms
contour, figure, silhouette

Related Words
delineation, sketch; profile, skyline; cast, configuration, conformation, form, geometry, shape; framework, skeleton

2 a short statement of the main points <a printed outline of the lecture has been made available for all attendees> — see SUMMARY

outline verb
1 to draw or make apparent the outline of <she carefully outlined the tree before she started drawing in the leaves>

Synonyms
define, delineate, silhouette, sketch, trace

Related Words
line; bound, fringe, margin, skirt; edge, hem, rim, trim; frame; circle, compass, encircle, girdle, girth, loop, ring, round, surround; chart, diagram, draw, map (out)

2 to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) <outlined the important points in the introduction> — see SUMMARIZE

outlive verb
to last longer than <tortoises will outlive most people, as they live to be over 100 years old> — see OUTLAST

outlook noun
1 a high place or structure from which a wide view is possible <the cliff-top outlook provides an expansive view of the sleepy village down in the valley> — see LOOKOUT 1
2 a way of looking at or thinking about something <tried to keep a cheerful outlook on life> — see PERSPECTIVE 1
3 all that can be seen from a certain point <the outlook from the tower is spectacular in all directions> — see VIEW 1

out loud adverb
with one's normal voice speaking the words <registered their dissatisfaction with the meal out loud to the waiter> — see ALOUD

outmaneuver verb
to get the better of through cleverness <outmaneuvered his congressional opponent by co-opting his call for change in Washington> — see OUTWIT

outmatch verb
to be greater, better, or stronger than <believes Secretariat would outmatch any other horse in racing history> — see SURPASS 1

out–migrant noun
one that leaves one place to settle in another <most out-migrants cited the state's high cost of living as their main reason for leaving> — see EMIGRANT

outmoded adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <outmoded computers that can be recycled> — see OBSOLETE

outmost adjective
most distant from a center <the outmost areas of the park, where few tourists venture, are still wilderness> — see EXTREME 1

out–of–date adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <the sorely out-of-date information that one finds all too frequently online> — see OBSOLETE

out–of–door or out–of–doors adjective
of, relating to, or held in the open air <an out-of-door performance under the stars> — see OUTDOORS

out–of–doors noun
that part of the physical world that is removed from human habitation <hiking in the out-of-doors can be a tremendous appetite builder> — see NATURE 2

out–of–sight adjective, slang
of the very best kind <the food at that restaurant is out-of-sight—but then so are the prices> — see EXCELLENT

out–of–the–way adjective
1 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <a tell-all book that focused obsessively on the out-of-the-way sexual activities allegedly engaged in by the film star> — see ODD 2
2 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <there was nothing out-of-the-way about the hitchhiker's appearance that might arouse suspicion> — see UNUSUAL 1

outpour noun
a flowing or going out <the roadways around the new plant are being widened to handle the expected outpour of vehicles at the end of the day shift> — see OUTFLOW

outpouring noun
a flowing or going out <an outpouring of affection and support for the high school athlete in need of an organ transplant> — see OUTFLOW

output noun
something produced by physical or intellectual effort <an author known for his prodigious literary output> — see PRODUCT 1

outrage noun
1 an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <the booing during the graduation speech was an outrage> — see INSULT
2 an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <the actress could barely contain her outrage at being passed over for an Oscar yet again> — see ANGER

outrage verb
1 to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in <the spiteful comment outraged her so much that she's still holding a grudge> — see INSULT
2 to make angry <the vandalism in the cemetery outraged the entire community> — see ANGER
3 to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent <the invading barbarians brutally outraged the women, killed the men, and enslaved the children> — see RAPE

outraged adjective
feeling or showing anger <the judge was outraged to discover that several jurors had disregarded her orders not to speak with members of the press> — see ANGRY

outrank verb
to be greater in importance than <one hard fact outranks a mountain of speculation anytime> — see OUTWEIGH

outré adjective
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <an actor known more for his outré offscreen antics than for his on-screen performances> — see ODD 2

outreach verb
to go beyond the limit of <a young actress whose ambition outreaches her talent, unfortunately> — see EXCEED 1

outrider noun
one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another <sexologist Alfred Kinsey is now viewed as an outrider of the sexual revolution of the 1960s> — see FORERUNNER 1

outright adjective
having no exceptions or restrictions <that's an outright lie!> — see ABSOLUTE 2

outrun verb
to go beyond the limit of <our expenses have been outrunning our revenues for some months now> — see EXCEED 1

outset noun
the point at which something begins <I wish you'd mentioned this problem at the outset> — see BEGINNING

outshine verb
to be greater, better, or stronger than <the trumpeter outshines all of his fellow band members> — see SURPASS 1

outside adjective
1 situated on the outside or farther out <slower moving vehicles should keep to the outside lane> — see OUTER
2 small in degree <though they haven't been playing at their best, they still have an outside chance of making it into the championship series> — see REMOTE 1
3 of the greatest or highest degree or quantity <the outside cost for repairing the item will be a thousand dollars> — see ULTIMATE 1

outside adverb
in or into the open air <go outside and smoke, if you must> — see OUTDOORS

outside noun
1 an outer part or layer <painted the outside of the house> — see EXTERIOR
2 the greatest amount, number, or part <there were 300 people at the outside who attended the softball game> — see MOST
3 the outward form of someone or something especially as indicative of a quality <on the outside, he was the self-assured star athlete> — see APPEARANCE 1

outside preposition
1 not including <outside that one suggestion, I haven't heard any better ideas> — see EXCEPT
2 out of the reach or sphere of <it is always refreshing to be assigned a project at work that is outside one's usual range of responsibility> — see BEYOND 2

outside of preposition
1 not including <outside of that project you don't like, I don't think you have many choices> — see EXCEPT
2 out of the reach or sphere of <budget cuts will result in some teachers teaching courses outside of their primary areas of expertise> — see BEYOND 2

outsider noun
a person who is not native to or known to a community <she seems to enjoy the odd distinction of being the only outsider in such a small community> — see STRANGER

outsize also outsized adjective
1 unusually large <an outsize cat who weighs 25 pounds> — see HUGE
2 of a size greater than average of its kind <she likes to make dramatic appearances wearing her trademark outsize sunglasses> — see LARGE 1
3 extended beyond normal or realistic bounds <I'm tired of having to deal with so many outsize egos at the office> — see BLOATED 1

outskirts plural noun
the districts adjacent to a city <some people prefer to live on the outskirts and work inside the city> — see ENVIRONS 1

outslick verb
to get the better of through cleverness <an overly confident con man who thought that he could outslick anyone, even the local Mob leader> — see OUTWIT

outsmart verb
to get the better of through cleverness <an inexpensive security system that would likely be outsmarted by anyone with a serious interest in circumventing it> — see OUTWIT

outspoken adjective
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <a newspaper columnist who has been very outspoken on a number of controversial issues> — see FRANK

outspokenness noun
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <some people find the celebrated outspokenness of that talk show host to be rather offensive> — see CANDOR 1

outspread verb
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area <when it outspread its wings, a pteranodon would have had a wingspan in excess of 20 feet> — see OPEN 3

outstanding adjective
1 not yet paid <there are several outstanding bills left, but at least we paid the rest>

Synonyms
overdue, owed, owing, payable, unpaid, unsettled

Related Words
due, mature

Near Antonyms
prepaid

Antonyms
cleared, liquidated, paid (off or up), repaid, settled

2 standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <the award goes to the most outstanding student in science> — see EMINENT

outstretch verb
1 to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area <the dog had outstretched his legs and was lying across the width of the doorway> — see OPEN 3
2 to make longer <having outstretched our lunch break beyond all reason, we reluctantly headed back to work> — see EXTEND 1

outstrip verb
to be greater, better, or stronger than <before he had reached his teens, the child prodigy had outstripped his music teacher's abilities> — see SURPASS 1

out–there adjective
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices <the professor's out-there political views have made him a lightning rod for controversy on campus> — see HERETICAL

outthink verb
to get the better of through cleverness <the company's growth is due in large part to its marketing division's ability to outthink the competition> — see OUTWIT

outward adjective
situated on the outside or farther out <the wall's outward face is painted over with a colorful mural honoring illustrious members of the community> — see OUTER

outward noun
outward and often deceptive indication <never was there in a man such a fine, heroic outward and such a cowardly interior> — see APPEARANCE 2

outwear verb
1 to last longer than <these running shoes have outworn any others that I have ever bought> — see OUTLAST
2 to use up all the physical energy of <a daily grind that would outwear anybody> — see EXHAUST 1

outweigh verb
to be greater in importance than <in most elections the state of the economy outweighs all other issues>

Synonyms
outrank, overbalance, overshadow, overweigh

Related Words
count, import, matter, mean, signify, weigh; dwarf; exceed, outstrip, surpass, transcend

outwit verb
to get the better of through cleverness <a plan to outwit their opponents at their own game>

Synonyms
fox, outfox, outmaneuver, outslick, outsmart, outthink, overreach

Related Words
outguess, second-guess; baffle, balk, circumvent, foil, frustrate, thwart; cozen, deceive, dupe, fool, gull, trick; conquer, defeat, lick, overcome; bar, block, hinder, impede, obstruct

outworn adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <outworn clothes with holes in them> — see OBSOLETE

oval adjective
having the shape of an egg <the Oval Office in the White House>

Synonyms
elliptical (or elliptic), ovate, ovoid (also ovoidal)

ovate adjective
having the shape of an egg <the governor's bald, ovate head makes him an easy target for caricaturists> — see OVAL

ovation noun
enthusiastic and usually public expression of approval <received a standing ovation for the masterly performance> — see APPLAUSE 1

over adjective
brought or having come to an end <the play is over now> — see COMPLETE 2

over adverb
1 from one side to the other of an intervening space <let's swim over to that island>

Synonyms
across, athwart, through

Related Words
clear

2 yet another time <several executives missed the presentation and would like you to do it over for them later this afternoon> — see AGAIN 1
3 to or in a higher place <I heard the noise and was startled to discover that the plane was directly over> — see ABOVE
4 from beginning to end <read it over until you understand it thoroughly> — see THROUGH 1
5 toward or in a lower position <the baby toddled two steps and then fell over> — see DOWN 1

over preposition
1 higher than <the boy towered over his siblings> — see ABOVE
2 in the course of <the students learned a lot over the summer> — see DURING
3 on or to the farther side of <peered over the wall> — see BEYOND 1
4 to the opposite side of <hopped over the dropped ball> — see ACROSS 1
5 in random positions within the boundaries of <marbles scattered all over the room> — see AROUND 2

overabundance noun
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <an overabundance of desserts at a potluck dinner> — see EXCESS 1

overactive adjective
being in a state of increased activity or agitation <the boy manages to panic himself by his own overactive imagination> — see FEVERISH 1

overage noun
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <several selectmen argued that the town's cash overage was significant enough to warrant a reduction of the residential property tax> — see EXCESS 1

overall adjective
1 belonging or relating to the whole <the overall view seems to be that we're doing fine economically> — see GENERAL 1
2 relating to the main elements and not to specific details <there's an overall similarity in the looks of the models for that chain of clothing stores> — see GENERAL 2
3 held by or applicable to a majority of the people <the overall mind-set among the people in our town seems to be that any increase in taxes is bad> — see GENERAL 3

overall adverb
1 with everyone or everything taken into account at the same time <reduce the budget overall by 15 percent> — see ALL AROUND
2 for the most part <overall, this is a good speech, but it could use a little humor> — see CHIEFLY

over and above preposition
in addition to <we'll need another gallon of milk over and above what we already have> — see BESIDES 1

over and over adverb
many times <the little girl demanded over and over to be picked up so she could see the performers on stage> — see OFTEN

overbalance verb
to be greater in importance than <my determination to finish the job overbalanced my exhaustion> — see OUTWEIGH

overbear verb
to achieve a victory over <that year the football team simply overbore opponent after opponent with steamroller ruthlessness> — see BEAT 2

overbearing adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <the overbearing problem in our nation's schools> — see FOREMOST 1
2 fond of ordering people around <the doctor's overbearing attitude is resented by nurses and patients alike> — see BOSSY

overblown adjective
extended beyond normal or realistic bounds <overblown predictions of financial calamity after the company had one bad quarter> — see BLOATED 1

overbold adjective
foolishly adventurous or bold <one overbold tourist almost tumbled over the rocks and into the sea> — see FOOLHARDY 1

overburden verb
to fill or load to excess <it is important that you bring on the hike plenty of food and water, but don't overburden your pack with unnecessary gear> — see OVERLOAD

overcast adjective
covered over by clouds <the dark, overcast sky made the whole day seem depressing>

Synonyms
beclouded, clouded, cloudy, dull, hazed, hazy, heavy, lowering (also louring), overclouded

Related Words
bedimmed, befogged, blackened, darkened, darksome, dim, dimmed, dulled, dusky, misty, murky, obscure, obscured, overshadowed; sunless; black, bleak, cheerless, dark, desolate, dismal, drear, dreary, funereal, gloomy, glum, gray (also grey), sepulchral, somber (or sombre), sullen

Near Antonyms
sunlit, sunny, sunshiny; brightened, brilliant, dazzling, illuminated, illumined, lit (or lighted), lightened, radiant, shiny

Antonyms
clear, cloudless

overcast verb
to make dark, dim, or indistinct <an impenetrable fog overcast our view of the harbor> — see CLOUD 1

overcharge verb
1 to charge (someone) too much for goods or services <I think that store may have overcharged us for the shoes, which were supposed to be on sale>

Synonyms
gouge, soak, sting, surcharge

Related Words
cheat, defraud, stick; clip, fleece, skin; mischarge

Antonyms
undercharge

2 to fill or load to excess <overcharged his thesis with long, fancy words> — see OVERLOAD

overcharging noun
the exaction of a grossly excessive charge for goods or services <stores that were prosecuted for overcharging during and after the hurricane> — see EXTORTION

overcloud verb
to make dark, dim, or indistinct <the eerie dusk of an approaching storm overclouded the plains> — see CLOUD 1

overclouded adjective
covered over by clouds <overclouded skies are a common feature in that Dutch artist's landscape paintings> — see OVERCAST

overcoat noun
a warm outdoor coat <put your overcoat on—it's freezing out there!>

Synonyms
greatcoat, surcoat, topcoat

Related Words
chesterfield, frock coat, mackinaw, ulster; jacket, parka, surtout; oilskin, raincoat, sou'wester; wrap

Near Antonyms
undercoat

overcome verb
1 to achieve a victory over <the baseball team finally overcame their opponents in the 13th inning> — see BEAT 2
2 to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress <already under stress, she was overcome by news of a death in the family> — see OVERWHELM 1

overconfident adjective
foolishly adventurous or bold <the overconfident quarterback made some careless decisions that cost him the game> — see FOOLHARDY 1

overcritical adjective
given to making or expressing unfavorable judgments about things <an overcritical teacher can discourage even the most dedicated of students> — see CRITICAL 1

overdecorated adjective
elaborately and often excessively decorated <the room was so overdecorated that no one thing was shown to its best advantage> — see ORNATE 1

overdo verb
to describe or express in too strong terms <the fashion designer's claim that his new line of clothing would revolutionize the way we dress was perhaps overdoing it just a bit> — see OVERSTATE

overdraw verb
to describe or express in too strong terms <commentators have overdrawn the dangers of the sport in order to make it appear more exciting> — see OVERSTATE

overdrawn adjective
extended beyond normal or realistic bounds <overdrawn claims of her accomplishments that any job interviewer could see right through> — see BLOATED 1

overdue adjective
1 not arriving, or occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time <an overdue library book will be subject to daily fines> — see LATE 1
2 not yet paid <an overdue bill that's started incurring interest charges> — see OUTSTANDING 1
3 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <spends an overdue percentage of her income on beauty products and services> — see EXCESSIVE

overeat verb
to eat greedily or to excess <because he watches his diet for most of the year, he feels free to overeat during the holidays> — see GORGE 2

overeater noun
one who eats greedily or too much <not every fat person is actually an overeater> — see GLUTTON

overeating noun
the excessive consumption of food <the medical community's warning that the nation's most dangerous epidemic may be overeating> — see GLUTTONY

overestimate verb
to place too high a value on <the contractors overestimated their ability to do the work on such short notice>

Synonyms
overrate, overvalue

Related Words
appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value; admire, esteem, regard, respect; adore, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate, worship

Near Antonyms
minimize, play down, soft-pedal; belittle, decry, depreciate, disparage; despise, disdain, scorn; abhor, abominate, detest, loathe

Antonyms
underestimate, underrate, undervalue

overexpose verb
to use so much as to make less appealing <seeking to capitalize on its only breakout hit, the network fatally overexposed the game show by scheduling it every night of the week> — see HACKNEY

overextravagant adjective
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <no musician could live up to the overextravagant praise that was heaped on that promising violinist> — see EXCESSIVE

overfamiliar adjective
showing a lack of proper social reserve or modesty <the company cautions their managers against fraternization and being overfamiliar with their subordinates> — see PRESUMPTUOUS 1

overfill verb
1 to fill or load to excess <overfilled the wheelbarrow with bricks until finally no one could push it> — see OVERLOAD
2 to flow over the brim or top of <water overfilled the tub and poured onto the floor> — see OVERFLOW 1

overflow noun
1 a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms <a great overflow of water from the heavy rains swept mud and silt down onto the highway> — see FLOOD
2 the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <an overflow of help actually made the job more complicated> — see EXCESS 1

overflow verb
1 to flow over the brim or top of <while the wine steward stood there gawking at the nearby celebrity, my expensive champagne was overflowing its glass and pouring onto our table>

Synonyms
overfill

Related Words
boil over, run over, spill, well (up); flow, flush, gush, pour, sluice, spout, spurt, stream; deluge, drown, engulf, flood, inundate, overwhelm, submerge, submerse, swamp; wash (over); brim, cascade, slop, slosh

Near Antonyms
recede

2 to cover with a flood <the swollen river overflowed the surrounding land and washed several houses away> — see FLOOD
3 to be copiously supplied <a magazine that usually overflows with home-repair tips for the do-it-yourselfer> — see ABOUND

overgrown adjective
covered with a thick, healthy natural growth <the trail has become so overgrown that it is nearly impassable in spots> — see LUSH 1

overhang noun
a part that sticks out from the general mass of something <a recess in the face of the cliff that is hidden by the thick vines dangling from the jagged overhang above> — see BULGE 1

overhang verb
1 to extend outward beyond a usual point <the narrow streets of the old European city are lined with row houses often having overhanging second stories> — see BULGE 1
2 to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on <a cancer patient who refuses to put his life on hold even though the constant threat of death has been overhanging him for several years> — see THREATEN

overhasty adjective
acting or done with excessive or careless speed <an overhasty reading of the recipe resulted in the omission of a critical ingredient> — see HASTY 1

overhaul verb
to move fast enough to get even with <in the final moments of the race, the horse in the rear sped forward at a furious pace and overhauled the horse that had been leading> — see OVERTAKE

overhead adverb
to or in a higher place <the majestic sight of eagles soaring overhead> — see ABOVE

overhear verb
to listen to (another in private conversation) <it's not polite to try to overhear intimate friends sharing confidences> — see EAVESDROP ON

overindulgent adjective
given to or marked by excessive gratification of one's desires <overindulgent vacationers who thought the nation's strict drug laws did not apply to them> — see HEDONISTIC

overinflated adjective
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure <an overinflated balloon will burst> — see BLOATED 2

overkill noun
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <the song already borders on the maudlin—the addition of a syrupy string accompaniment would just be overkill> — see EXCESS 1

overlap noun
a partial covering of one thing by an adjoining member <the orthodontist will try to fix that overlap of two of your upper incisors>

Synonyms
imbrication, lapping

Related Words
shingling; overlaying, overlying, overspreading

overlap verb
to lie over parts of one another <the brochures on the display table should overlap but not so much that the titles are obscured>

Synonyms
lap, overlay, overlie, overspread

Related Words
shingle

overlay verb
1 to form a layer over <you should apply a coat of primer first, and then overlay it with two coats of paint> — see COVER 2
2 to lie over parts of one another <cedar shingles overlaying one another on the roof> — see OVERLAP

overlie verb
1 to lie over parts of one another <the puzzle pieces overlay one another in complete disarray on the floor> — see OVERLAP
2 to form a layer over <there will be freezing rain tonight, so we can expect to find a thick layer of ice overlying the car windshield in the morning> — see COVER 2

overload verb
to fill or load to excess <try not to overload your backpack, or you could end up with back problems>

Synonyms
overburden, overcharge, overfill

Related Words
stuff; burden, charge, encumber, lade, laden, load, lumber, saddle, weigh down, weight

Near Antonyms
lighten, unburden, unload

overlook noun
a high place or structure from which a wide view is possible <just down the road there's a great overlook where you can get a panoramic view of the valley below> — see LOOKOUT 1

overlook verb
1 to look down on <the fortress overlooks the city>

Synonyms
command, dominate

Related Words
face, front

2 to fail to give proper attention to <you've overlooked your chores again this week> — see NEGLECT 1
3 to be in charge of <you'll be asked to overlook larger projects in the future> — see BOSS 1
4 to cast a spell on <the superstitious grandmother actually believed that the baby had been overlooked by a gypsy woman> — see BEWITCH 1
5 to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) <quickly overlooked the table of used books to see if there was anything of value> — see INSPECT
6 to dismiss as of little importance <definitely not the kind of spouse to overlook even a single instance of marital infidelity> — see EXCUSE 1
7 to look after and make decisions about <the engineer hired to overlook the construction of the canal> — see CONDUCT 1

overly adverb
beyond a normal or acceptable limit <there's no need to be overly careful about the rough draft, since we'll polish it afterwards> — see TOO 1

overmaster verb
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress <the student was overmastered by the stress of taking the college placement test and broke down crying> — see OVERWHELM 1

overmastering adjective
coming before all others in importance <a matter that should be given overmastering priority by the incoming administration> — see FOREMOST 1

overmatch verb
to achieve a victory over <an indomitable spirit that no amount of adversity could overmatch> — see BEAT 2

overmuch adjective
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <I think you put overmuch care into your personal appearance—get over yourself> — see EXCESSIVE

overmuch adverb
beyond a normal or acceptable limit <you worry overmuch about what other people think> — see TOO 1

overmuch noun
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <you must not expect an overmuch of gratitude from a very young child> — see EXCESS 1

overpass verb
1 to dismiss as of little importance <to keep peace in the family, he was forced to overpass his in-laws' frequent put-downs> — see EXCUSE 1
2 to go beyond the limit of <a filmmaker whose technical bravura overpasses his ability to tell a coherent story> — see EXCEED 1
3 to fail to give proper attention to <army officers who had been unjustly overpassed for promotion> — see NEGLECT 1

overplus noun
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <the store was stuck with an overplus of tie-ins for a movie that fizzled at the box office> — see EXCESS 1

overpower verb
1 to bring under one's control by force of arms <the invading army overpowered the countryside with lightning speed> — see CONQUER 1
2 to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress <overpowered by fear of the unknown> — see OVERWHELM 1

overpowering noun
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control <the overpowering of much of Europe by the Nazis during World War II> — see CONQUEST

overpraise noun
excessive praise <the piano instructor believes in encouraging her students but avoids any overpraise that might make them complacent> — see FLATTERY

overpraise verb
to praise too much <proud parents are likely to overpraise their children for their earnest efforts at making handicrafts> — see FLATTER 1

overrate verb
to place too high a value on <I think the critics seriously overrated that movie> — see OVERESTIMATE

overreach verb
1 to get the better of through cleverness <a real estate developer who is always trying to overreach his competitors, fair means or foul> — see OUTWIT
2 to go beyond the limit of <the mountain climbers overreached their abilities and paid for it dearly> — see EXCEED 1

overriding adjective
coming before all others in importance <the overriding question is how we will pay for this hurricane cleanup> — see FOREMOST 1

overripe adjective
having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit <an overripe artist whose abstract paintings are no longer considered fresh or significant> — see EFFETE 1

overrun verb
1 to enter for conquest or plunder <waves of barbarians overran the Roman Empire during its long decline> — see INVADE
2 to go beyond the limit of <he must not overrun his authority as governor> — see EXCEED 1
3 to spread or swarm over in a troublesome manner <ants are overrunning the garden> — see INFEST

oversee verb
1 to look after and make decisions about <will oversee the new manufacturing division> — see CONDUCT 1
2 to be in charge of <looking for someone to oversee the project from start to finish> — see BOSS 1
3 to take charge of especially on behalf of another <oversee the household until Dad gets home> — see 2TEND 1
4 to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) <her job was to oversee each and every dish before it left the kitchen and was served to a customer> — see INSPECT

oversexed adjective
having a strong sexual desire <a raunchy movie comedy featuring the usual assortment of oversexed teenagers hoping to lose their virginity> — see LUSTFUL

overshadow verb
1 to make dark, dim, or indistinct <large trees overshadow the yard and darken the house for much of the day> — see CLOUD 1
2 to be greater in importance than <later you'll find that verbal skills overshadow any skills you have at video games> — see OUTWEIGH

overshoot verb
to go beyond the limit of <don't worry if you overshoot the length requirement by three pages> — see EXCEED 1

oversight noun
1 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <oversight of the club's fund-raising activities> — see CONDUCT 1
2 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <claiming “three billion” instead of “three million” was just an oversight> — see ERROR 1
3 the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control <you'll have oversight of the troop until the scoutmaster returns> — see SUPERVISION 1
4 the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action <failing to lock the car can be an expensive oversight if it gets stolen> — see FAILURE 1

oversize or oversized adjective
1 unusually large <the woman's oversize hat was blocking my view of the minister> — see HUGE
2 of a size greater than average of its kind <a softball is an oversize and less densely stuffed baseball> — see LARGE 1

overspread verb
1 to form a layer over <the butter should evenly overspread the baking pan> — see COVER 2
2 to lie over parts of one another <autumn leaves overspreading one another on the lawn to form a colorful mosaic> — see OVERLAP

overstate verb
to describe or express in too strong terms <it appears you've somewhat overstated your computer skills, if you can't find the “on” button!>

Synonyms
exaggerate, overdo, overdraw, put on

Related Words
color, elaborate, embellish, embroider, magnify, pad, play up, stretch; fudge, hedge; melodramatize, overemphasize, overplay, sensationalize

Near Antonyms
belittle, minimize, play down

Antonyms
understate

overstatement noun
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts <a claim to worldwide fame is a bit of an overstatement on the part of that nightclub> — see EXAGGERATION

overstep verb
to go beyond the limit of <the principal overstepped her authority in ordering everyone to remain in the unheated school> — see EXCEED 1

oversupply noun
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <an oversupply of new homes is helping to drive down housing prices> — see EXCESS 1

overtake verb
to move fast enough to get even with <she had to hurry to overtake her friends, who had forgotten their umbrellas> <the thunderstorm overtook them suddenly>

Synonyms
catch, catch up (with), overhaul

Related Words
chase, pursue; gain, reach; pass, surpass

Near Antonyms
fall short

over–the–hill adjective
being of advanced years and especially past middle age <the overwhelming majority of that rock band's fans are over-the-hill baby boomers on a nostalgia trip> — see ELDERLY

overthrow noun
failure to win a contest <the surprising overthrow of the world's top-ranked chess player> — see DEFEAT 1

overtop verb
to be greater, better, or stronger than <a manager whose arrogance was overtopped only by his ineptitude> — see SURPASS 1

overture noun
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event <the parade down Main Street served as the overture for a weekend of fun and festivities> — see PRELUDE 1

overturn verb
to turn on one's side or upside down <afraid that my kayak would overturn> — see CAPSIZE

overuse verb
to use so much as to make less appealing <she had overused that joke to the point where it was eliciting groans and not guffaws> — see HACKNEY

overvalue verb
to place too high a value on <some people overvalue material things> — see OVERESTIMATE

overweening adjective
1 having too high an opinion of oneself <a director who has little patience for overweening actors who think they are above taking advice and criticism> — see CONCEITED
2 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <overweening desire for wealth and fame> — see EXCESSIVE
3 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <an overweening administrator who simply doesn't know how to manage people> — see ARROGANT
4 extended beyond normal or realistic bounds <an overweening national pride that prompted its citizens to denigrate other countries> — see BLOATED 1

overweigh verb
to be greater in importance than <proper food and sleep should overweigh all-night partying in your priorities> — see OUTWEIGH

overweight adjective
having an excess of body fat <an overweight person who had difficulty running even a short distance> — see FAT 1

overwhelm verb
1 to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress <just the thought of how much work there is to do overwhelms me>

Synonyms
crush, devastate, floor, grind (down), oppress, overcome, overmaster, overpower, prostrate, snow under, swamp, whelm

Related Words
deluge, drown, sink; confute, defeat, refute; break, demoralize, distress, disturb, rock, shatter, stagger, throw, unman, unnerve, upset

2 to cover with a flood <that spring the massive runoff from melting snows overwhelmed the valley> — see FLOOD

over with adjective
brought or having come to an end <we'll all be glad when this latest media obsession is over with> — see COMPLETE 2

overwrought adjective
1 being in a state of increased activity or agitation <became overwrought when she heard that her child was missing> — see FEVERISH 1
2 elaborately and often excessively decorated <the author's prose is overwrought with purple passages and florid metaphors> — see ORNATE 1

ovoid adjective
having the shape of an egg <an ovoid toy that the baby couldn't tip over> — see OVAL

owed adjective
not yet paid <finally paid the owed amount> — see OUTSTANDING 1

owing adjective
not yet paid <there's one bill still owing> — see OUTSTANDING 1

owing to preposition
as the result of <owing to the extra snow days this year, we'll have to run an additional two days into June> — see BECAUSE OF

own verb
to keep, control, or experience as one's own <we own a modest house and an equally modest car> — see HAVE 1

own (up) verb
to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid <had a strong suspicion about which coworker stole her food from the office fridge, but the likely culprit refused to own up> — see CONFESS 1

own (up to) verb
to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly <owned up to damaging the car> — see ADMIT 1

owner noun
one who has a legal or rightful claim to ownership <the owner of the building will have to decide whether or not to sell> — see PROPRIETOR

P

pa noun
a male human parent <I cherish my memories of the times that I went fishing with my pa> — see FATHER 1

pabulum noun
something that maintains or stimulates the intellect <we have reached a cultural low if reality television is regarded as pabulum for the masses> — see SUSTENANCE

pace verb
1 to move along with a steady regular step especially in a group <six jugglers paced neatly alongside one another in the parade> — see MARCH 1
2 to move forward along a course <the couple paced through the motions of a marriage, but it was never more than a financial and social arrangement> — see GO 1

pacemaker noun
one that takes the lead or sets an example <has long been regarded as a pacemaker in home electronics> — see BELLWETHER

pacer noun
one that takes the lead or sets an example <a highly competitive industry in which any company that isn't a pacer quickly becomes a belly-up also-ran> — see BELLWETHER

pacesetter noun
one that takes the lead or sets an example <a company that has been a pacesetter in its field for offering health care benefits to employees> — see BELLWETHER

pachydermatous adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <a pachydermatous pop diva with little regard for punctuality or other people's schedules> — see HARD 1

pacific adjective
1 tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility <as a pacific gesture, we invited our feuding neighbors to our backyard barbecue>

Synonyms
appeasing, conciliating, conciliatory, disarming, mollifying, pacifying, peacemaking, placating, placatory, propitiatory

Related Words
endearing, ingratiating, winning, winsome; peaceable, peaceful; nonbelligerent, unaggressive, unassertive; calming, comforting, lulling, quieting, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing); obliging, satisfying; affable, agreeable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, genial, gentle, good-natured, good-tempered, kind, kindly; passive, submissive, surrendering, yielding

Near Antonyms
abrasive, aggravating, annoying, chafing, exasperating, frustrating, galling, inflammatory, irksome, irritating, maddening, nagging, nettlesome, nettling, offensive, provocative, provoking, rankling, riling, vexing; engaging, incensing, infuriating, maddening; antagonistic, antipathetic, hostile, inhospitable, inimical, unfriendly, unsympathetic; aggressive, agonistic, argumentative, assertive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, confrontational, contentious, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent; martial, militant, militaristic, military, warlike

Antonyms
antagonizing

2 inclined to live in peace and to avoid war <a pacific nation that has managed to remain neutral even during times of world conflict> — see PEACEFUL 1

pacifist noun
a person who opposes war or warlike policies <a committed pacifist, Gandhi succeeded in bringing about Indian independence using only nonviolence> — see DOVE 1

pacifist or pacifistic adjective
inclined to live in peace and to avoid war <the newspaper's editorial board has clearly staked out a pacifist position on the current conflict> — see PEACEFUL 1

pacify verb
1 to lessen the anger or agitation of <the only thing that would pacify the child and end the tantrum was a new toy>

Synonyms
appease, assuage, conciliate, disarm, gentle, mollify, placate, propitiate

Related Words
calm, comfort, console, content, hush, quiet, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize); endear (to), ingratiate; delight, gladden, gratify, please; adulate, blarney, flatter, overpraise, soft-soap; quench, sate, satiate, satisfy; cater (to), humor, indulge; blandish, cajole, coax, sweet-talk, wheedle; baby, coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil; dulcify, sweeten

Near Antonyms
aggravate, annoy, antagonize, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, cross, exasperate, gall, get, grate, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pique, put out, rankle, rile, roil, ruffle, vex; provoke, rouse; harass, harry, persecute, pester; agitate, discomfort, distress, disturb, fret, perturb, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry; affront, insult, offend, slight

Antonyms
anger, enrage, incense, inflame (also enflame), infuriate, ire, madden, outrage

2 to bring under one's control by force of arms <additional ground forces were needed to occupy those areas that had already been pacified> — see CONQUER 1

pacifying adjective
1 tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress <a pacifying treat of milk and cookies> — see SOOTHING 1
2 tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility <the referee adopted a pacifying tone to try to calm everyone down> — see PACIFIC 1

pack noun
1 a soft-sided case designed for carrying belongings especially on the back <part of basic training is becoming accustomed to taking very long hikes with an 80-pound pack>

Synonyms
backpack, kit bag, knapsack, packsack, rucksack

Related Words
haversack; carryall, carry-on, grip, handbag, holdall [chiefly British], portmanteau, suitcase, traveling bag; fanny pack, school bag, seabag; overnight bag, overnight case, weekend bag

2 a wrapped or sealed case containing an item or set of items <she tucked a small pack of lozenges into her bag> — see PACKAGE 1
3 a considerable amount <it took a pack of courage to stand up before that crowd and tell the truth> — see LOT 2
4 a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <had run with a pack of hot-rodders when he was in high school> — see GANG 2

pack verb
1 to close up so that no empty spaces remain <carefully pack the food containers so we'll have as much as possible for the picnic> — see FILL 2
2 to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained <I had packed the suitcase so tightly that it wouldn't close> — see FILL 1
3 to support and take from one place to another <remember to pack several changes of clothing> — see CARRY 1
4 to wear or have on one's person <a private detective packing a weapon> — see CARRY 2

pack (off) verb
to cause to go or be taken from one place to another <packed the child off to a good boarding school> — see SEND

pack (up or in) verb
1 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <the auto company is downsizing and will be packing up operations at the local plant> — see STOP 1
2 to stop doing (something) permanently <after two years of college, he decided to pack in that academic stuff and join the army> — see QUIT 2

pack (up or off) verb
to leave a place often for another <with the dinner conversation becoming more and more desultory, the time had clearly come to pack off> — see GO 2

package noun
1 a wrapped or sealed case containing an item or set of items <got a job sorting packages in the mail room>

Synonyms
bundle, pack, packet, parcel

Related Words
bag, poke [chiefly Southern & Midland], pouch, sack; bale; box, container, crate

2 a number of things considered as a unit <ate a whole package of cookies at once> — see GROUP 1

packed adjective
1 containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible <the auditorium was packed> — see FULL 1
2 having little space between items or parts <a densely packed sequence of events> — see CLOSE 1

packet noun
1 a wrapped or sealed case containing an item or set of items <a packet of letters that her husband wrote while he was in the army> — see PACKAGE 1
2 British the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services <of course your wage packet for the London job will be bigger, given the city's high cost of living> — see WAGE
3 chiefly British a very large amount of money <that town house in Mayfair cost a packet> — see FORTUNE 2

packsack noun
a soft-sided case designed for carrying belongings especially on the back <she spent weeks traveling across Europe and living out of a packsack> — see PACK 1

pact noun
1 a formal agreement between two or more nations or peoples <a pact between the two small nations to defend one another in case of attack> — see TREATY
2 an arrangement about action to be taken <they made a pact to meet every week at the same time> — see AGREEMENT 2

pad noun
1 a number of sheets of writing paper glued together at one edge <we'll need to buy a new pad for telephone messages soon>

Synonyms
notepad, tablet

Related Words
scratch pad; album, notebook, scrapbook; booklet, pamphlet

2 a place set aside for sleeping <I went back to my pad to get some rest> — see BED 1
3 something that serves as a protective barrier <a pad on the chair to keep it from getting scratched> — see CUSHION
4 the place where one lives <welcome to my pad> — see HOME 1

1pad verb
to add to the interest of by including made-up details <the journalist was fired for padding certain stories to make them more interesting> — see EMBROIDER

2pad verb
to go on foot <a cat padded silently by> — see WALK 1

padding noun
1 soft material that is used to fill the hollow parts of something <the padding is leaking out of that pillow> — see FILLING
2 the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts <that feature writer is sometimes guilty of padding, but he keeps it from getting out of hand> — see EXAGGERATION

paddle verb
1 to move a boat by means of oars <I like to paddle on the river for exercise and relaxation> — see 1ROW
2 to strike repeatedly <back in those times it was acceptable for teachers to paddle misbehaving students> — see BEAT 1

paean noun
a formal expression of praise <his retirement party featured many paeans for his long years of service to the company> — see ENCOMIUM

pagan noun
a person who does not worship the God of the Bible <the Spanish conquistadores regarded the native peoples of the lands that they conquered as pagans who were uncivilized and inherently inferior> — see HEATHEN 1

page noun
one that carries a message or does an errand <dispatch a page to bring coffee to the senator> — see MESSENGER

pageant noun
1 a staged presentation often with music that consists of a procession of narrated or enacted scenes <we always put on a Christmas pageant every year>

Synonyms
cavalcade

Related Words
tableau; kaleidoscope, montage, panorama; drama, dramatization, play; demonstration, performance, presentation, production; exhibition, extravaganza, show, spectacle; parade, procession, progress

2 an elaborate, visually exciting show or event <an annual summertime pageant depicting the town's founding and colorful early history> — see EXTRAVAGANZA

pail noun
a round container that is open at the top and outfitted with a handle <fetch me a pail full of water, please>

Synonyms
bucket

Related Words
cauldron, kettle, pot; canteen, flagon, jar, jug, pitcher; bail, hod; tank, tub, vat; holder, receptacle, vessel

pain noun
1 a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body <the child was crying because of a pain in her knee>

Synonyms
ache, pang, prick, shoot, smart, sting, stitch, throe, tingle, twinge

Related Words
discomfort, distress, soreness, tenderness; affliction, agony, anguish, misery, sufferance, suffering, torment, torture; inflammation, sore, swelling; damage, detriment, harm, hurt, injury; backache, bellyache, charley horse, colic, complaint, earache, gripe, headache, stomachache, toothache

Near Antonyms
comfort, ease, easiness

2 a state of great suffering of body or mind <a sprained ankle caused him great pain for a week> — see DISTRESS 1
3 pains plural strict attentiveness to what one is doing <take pains to be sure that you don't damage anything while moving the furniture> — see CARE 1
4 pains plural the active use of energy in producing a result <she was at pains to reassure us that everything would be fine> — see EFFORT
5 one who is obnoxiously annoying <sometimes that child, who apparently never tires of asking questions, can be such a pain> — see NUISANCE 1

pain verb
to feel or cause physical pain <my poor head was paining so from all that racket> — see HURT 1

painful adjective
1 causing or feeling bodily pain <her broken arm was too painful for her to go on the trip>

Synonyms
aching, achy, afflictive, hurting, nasty, sore

Related Words
agonizing, excruciating, torturous; damaging, deleterious, detrimental, harmful, hurtful, injurious, noxious, pernicious; raw, tender; bleeding, burning, chafing, cramping, festering; itching, nagging, pinching, pricking, prickling, smarting, stinging; inflamed (also enflamed), swollen; grievous, severe, threatening, wounding

Near Antonyms
curative, healing, helping, remedial

Antonyms
indolent, painless

2 hard to accept or bear especially emotionally <it's been very painful to accept that my father is gone forever> — see BITTER 2

painfully adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <painfully she recounted the years of physical abuse she had received at his hands> — see HARD 2

painkiller noun
something (as a drug) that relieves pain <a lot of painkillers have turned out to be addictive substances for patients>

Synonyms
analgesic, anesthetic, anodyne

Related Words
sedative, tranquilizer (also tranquillizer); narcotic, opiate

painless adjective
involving minimal difficulty or effort <getting paid to watch and review movies seems like a painless way to earn a living> — see EASY 1

painlessly adverb
without difficulty <the move to our new house was accomplished rather painlessly> — see EASILY 1

painstaking adjective
taking, showing, or involving great care and effort <she was always painstaking about her work>

Synonyms
careful, conscientious, fussy, loving, meticulous, scrupulous

Related Words
assiduous, diligent, indefatigable, persevering, sedulous; exhaustive, thorough, thoroughgoing; alert, attentive, observant, vigilant, watchful; accurate, exact, precise, strict; critical, demanding, discriminating, exacting, fastidious, finicky, particular; cautious, chary, circumspect, gingerly, guarded, heedful, mindful, wary; deliberate, plodding, slow; studied, thoughtful; all-out, determined, dogged, intensive, patient, tenacious, tireless, zealous

Near Antonyms
cursory, halfhearted; heedless, inattentive, incautious, mindless, regardless, unguarded, unsafe, unwary; lax, neglectful, negligent, slipshod, sloppy, slovenly; imprecise; inaccurate, uncritical, undemanding, undiscriminating; bold, impetuous, rash, reckless; apathetic, indifferent, lackadaisical, lazy, lazyish

Antonyms
careless

paint noun
preparations intended to beautify the face <a woman of a certain age, as they say, who refuses to be seen in public without her paint> — see MAKEUP 1

paint verb
1 to give a representation or account of in words <the description painted a perfect image of the sun setting over the ocean> — see DESCRIBE 1
2 to give color or a different color to <I've decided to paint the bathroom walls purple> — see COLOR 1

painting noun
a picture created with oil paint <the Mona Lisa is a haunting painting of a woman with a most mysterious smile>

Synonyms
canvas (also canvass), oil, oil painting

Related Words
fresco, mural, panorama; diptych, triptych; acrylic, aquarelle, gouache, watercolor; distemper, drawing, etching, finger painting, pastel, sketch, tempera; masterpiece; pièce de résistance, showpiece

pair noun
two things of the same or similar kind that match or are considered together <a pair of blue socks> <the cheerleader and the computer nerd make quite a pair together>

Synonyms
brace, couple, couplet, duo, dyad, twain, twosome

Related Words
span, yoke; partnership, team; companion, complement, doublet, fellow, half, match, mate, twin; coordinate, counterpart, equal, equivalent, like, parallel, peer, rival

pal noun
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another <I always choose my best pal for my softball team first> — see FRIEND 1

pal (around) verb
to come or be together as friends <they began to pal around after discovering that they both had kids on the same soccer team> — see ASSOCIATE 1

palace adjective
showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort <a palace railroad car that was built for a 19th-century robber baron> — see LUXURIOUS 1

palace noun
1 a large impressive residence <the billionaire's “summer cottage” turned out to be an over-the-top palace> — see MANSION
2 a large, magnificent, or massive building <the governor's opponents have accused him of building palaces to house the state government> — see EDIFICE 1
3 the residence of a ruler <Buckingham Palace flies a special flag to indicate when the monarch is in residence> — see COURT 1

paladin noun
a person who actively supports or favors a cause <an idealistic paladin seeking better treatment for the homeless> — see EXPONENT 1

palatability noun
the quality of being delicious <military rations that were obviously chosen for their durability and not their palatability> — see DELICIOUSNESS

palatable adjective
1 being to one's liking <I did not find the idea of moving again very palatable> — see SATISFACTORY 1
2 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <I always associate the palatable aroma of roasting turkey with Thanksgiving> — see PLEASANT 1
3 very pleasing to the sense of taste <the vegetarian version of that classic dish turned out to be surprisingly palatable> — see DELICIOUS 1

palatableness noun
the quality of being delicious <a dish whose inventiveness greatly exceeded its palatableness> — see DELICIOUSNESS

palatably adverb
in a pleasing way <the musical play palatably combines sophisticated wit and tender romance> — see WELL 5

palatial adjective
showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort <a palatial penthouse apartment> — see LUXURIOUS 1

palatially adverb
in a luxurious manner <a premium membership in the club gives you exclusive access to a palatially appointed locker room and spa> — see HIGH

palaver noun
1 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <seemingly endless palaver between the negotiating parties> — see DISCUSSION 1
2 friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <we should get together and have a nice palaver sometime> — see CHAT 1

palaver verb
1 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <mothers palavering and drinking coffee while watching their children play> — see CHAT 1
2 to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery <I let the salesclerk at the electronics store palaver me into a service contract that I didn't need> — see COAX

pale adjective
1 lacking intensity of color <we chose a very pale pink for the walls of the room>

Synonyms
dull, dulled, faded, light, pastel, washed-out, washy

Related Words
flat, lackluster, lusterless, matte (also mat or matt); dim, faint; dirty, muddy; achromatic, colorless, uncolored, undyed, unpainted, unstained; blanched, bleached, washed, white, whitened; gray (also grey), indistinct, neutral

Near Antonyms
bright, brilliant, vibrant, vivid; chromatic, colored, dyed, painted, stained, tinged, tinted; colorful, motley, multicolored, polychromatic, polychrome, prismatic, rainbow, varicolored, variegated; flashy, garish, gaudy, loud, showy, splashy

Antonyms
dark, deep, gay, rich

2 lacking a healthy skin color <after a week with the flu, she was deathly pale and noticeably thinner>

Synonyms
ashen, ashy, blanched, cadaverous, doughy, livid, lurid, mealy, paled, pallid, pasty, peaked, wan

Related Words
sallow, sallowish, sick, sickly, waxen, waxy; white, whitened; anemic, bloodless; untanned; whey-faced, white-faced

Near Antonyms
blushing, flushed, pink

Antonyms
blooming, florid, flush, full-blooded, glowing, red, rosy, rubicund, ruddy, sanguine

3 not seen or understood clearly <a pale outline off in the distance proved to be someone out for a walk> — see FAINT 1

pale verb
to make white or whiter by removing color <the sun eventually paled my bright blue shirt> — see WHITEN

paled adjective
lacking a healthy skin color <the shock of the news left him paled and shaking> — see PALE 2

paleoconservative adjective
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <members of the religious sect are positively paleoconservative in their beliefs on the proper role of women> — see CONSERVATIVE 1

paleoconservative noun
a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are <paleoconservatives who would never sanction gambling casinos in their state> — see CONSERVATIVE

palisade noun
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice <the palisades that line the west bank of the Hudson River for about 15 miles> — see CLIFF

pall noun
1 a boxlike container for holding a dead body <bearing her husband's pall were her four brothers and two nephews> — see COFFIN
2 an overspreading element that produces an atmosphere of gloom <a persistent pall of distrust has overtaken this administration and will remain until the president resigns> — see CLOUD
3 something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <a pall of gloom overshadowed the failing theater's last production> — see CLOAK 1

pall verb
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <viewers' interest in the reality show eventually palled> — see DECREASE 2

palladium noun
a measure taken to preclude loss or injury <believes that a vigorously free press is one of our nation's most vital palladia against tyranny> — see PRECAUTION

palliate verb
1 to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses <don't try to palliate your constant lying by claiming that everybody lies>

Synonyms
deodorize, excuse, explain away, extenuate, gloss (over), gloze (over), whitewash

Related Words
sugarcoat, varnish; apologize, atone, confess; account (for), explain, justify, rationalize; minimize, play down, soft-pedal; alleviate, ease, lessen, lighten, mitigate, moderate, soften, temper; absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate

2 to make more bearable or less severe <this medicine should palliate your cough at least a little> — see HELP 2

pallid adjective
lacking a healthy skin color <a pallid man who looked as though he'd never seen the sun> — see PALE 2

palm noun
an instance of defeating an enemy or opponent <the judges' decision was unanimous: the palm would go to the pianist who had played an early piece by Chopin> — see VICTORY

palm verb
to offer (something fake, useless, or inferior) as genuine, useful, or valuable <another low-rent company trying to palm cheesy merchandise upon mail-order customers> — see FOIST

palm off verb
to offer (something fake, useless, or inferior) as genuine, useful, or valuable <please stop trying to palm off your leftovers onto me> — see FOIST

palmy adjective
1 having attained a desired end or state of good fortune <they knew her in her palmy days when she was living high> — see SUCCESSFUL 1
2 marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically <a palmy suburb with lots of new homes and shopping malls> — see PROSPEROUS 1

palooka noun
a big clumsy often slow-witted person <I wish he wouldn't bring over here that bunch of palookas he calls his friends> — see OAF 1

palpable adjective
1 able to be perceived by a sense or by the mind <the tension in the negotiating room was palpable> — see PERCEPTIBLE
2 capable of being perceived by the sense of touch <a small but palpable lump in my neck> — see TANGIBLE
3 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <a palpable case of lying under oath> — see CLEAR 2

palpitate verb
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner <the man's heart began to palpitate, and he feared another attack was coming on> — see PULSATE

palpitation noun
a rhythmic expanding and contracting <a palpitation of the blood vessels> — see PULSATION

palsy adjective
having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <the salesman changed his palsy attitude when he realized that I wasn't buying> — see FRIENDLY 1

palsy noun
complete or partial loss of physical function (as motion or sensation) in a part of the body <palsy can sometimes be caused by a brain injury> — see PARALYSIS

palsy–walsy adjective, slang
having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <she's gotten very palsy-walsy with the boss all of a sudden> — see FRIENDLY 1

palter verb
to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase <unwilling to palter over the price of the car> — see BARGAIN 1

paltry adjective
1 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <a paltry, underhanded scheme to get someone fired> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1
2 falling short of a standard <the hotel's shabby, outdated exercise room was its paltry attempt at a health spa> — see BAD 1
3 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <just some paltry ruse to bilk the system> — see IGNOBLE 2
4 so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <wanted me to sell him my old records for a paltry sum> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

pampa noun
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country <a folktale about gauchos on the pampas> — see PLAIN 1

pamper verb
to treat with great or excessive care <pamper a sick child> — see BABY

pamphlet noun
a short printed publication with no cover or with a paper cover <pamphlets about common safety precautions that we all can put into use>

Synonyms
booklet, brochure, circular, flyer (also flier), folder, leaflet

Related Words
dodger, flysheet, handbill, handout, throwaway; advertisement, catalog (or catalogue), shopper; tract; paperback, paperbound, pocket book; guidebook, handbook, how-to, instructions, manual

pan noun, slang
the front part of the head <hey, I could do without seeing your ugly pan for a few days> — see FACE 1

pan verb
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of <virtually all the movie critics have panned this latest sequel in a tired series> — see CRITICIZE

panacea noun
something that cures all ills or problems <a woman who seems to believe that chicken soup is a panacea for nearly everything> — see CURE-ALL

pancake noun
a flat cake made from thin batter and cooked on both sides (as on a griddle) <every Sunday morning, we have pancakes and bacon for breakfast>

Synonyms
flapjack, griddle cake, hotcake, slapjack

Related Words
oatcake, wheat cake; blin, blintze (or blintz), crepe (or crêpe); waffle

pandemonium noun
1 a state of noisy, confused activity <Christmas morning at our house is always marked by pandemonium> — see COMMOTION
2 cap the place of punishment for the wicked after death <a surrealist painting in which all the torments of Pandemonium are vividly depicted> — see HELL 1

pander noun
a man who solicits clients for a woman who is willing to engage in sexual activities for money <an arrest record that revealed that he had variously been a pander, a pickpocket, and a drug dealer> — see PIMP

panegyric noun
a formal expression of praise <wrote a panegyric on the centennial of the Nobel laureate's birth> — see ENCOMIUM

panel noun
1 a meeting featuring a group discussion <there will be a discussion panel on Tuesday> — see FORUM 1
2 a select group of persons assigned to consider or take action on some matter <assembled a prestigious panel to investigate ways to stem the rising cost of health care> — see COMMITTEE

panel discussion noun
a meeting featuring a group discussion <a panel discussion on capital punishment> — see FORUM 1

pang noun
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body <those hunger pangs that strike you in the middle of the afternoon> — see PAIN 1

panhandler noun
a person who lives by public begging <a panhandler asking for money to buy food> — see BEGGAR

panic noun
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger <the sudden sight of a grizzly bear filled the hiker with panic> — see FEAR 1

panic verb
to strike with fear <for some reason, the herd of feeding animals at the zoo panicked him> — see FRIGHTEN

panorama noun
all that can be seen from a certain point <we admired the breathtaking panorama from the top of the mountain> — see VIEW 1

panoramic adjective
covering everything or all important points <a panoramic look at America's fascination with the automobile> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC

pan out verb
1 to come to be <the eagerly anticipated kayaking trip never panned out> — see COME OUT 1
2 to turn out as planned or desired <the investment scheme didn't quite pan out> — see SUCCEED 1

pant verb
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty <the dog was panting heavily after his breakneck run across the field> — see GASP

pant (after) verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <teenage gamers panting after the latest video game> — see DESIRE 1

pantaloons plural noun
an outer garment covering each leg separately from waist to ankle <loose-fitting cotton pantaloons that are designed to be worn as loungewear> — see PANTS

panther noun
a large tawny cat of the wild <the panther is surprisingly difficult to spot> — see COUGAR

pantomime noun
1 a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling <the game requires that you use pantomime to communicate an idea> — see GESTURE 1
2 an actor in a story performed silently and entirely by body movements <in ancient Rome pantomimes performed tragic love stories> — see MIME 1

pantomimist noun
an actor in a story performed silently and entirely by body movements <an exquisitely graceful pantomimist> — see MIME 1

pantry noun
a built-in space for storage behind a door <homemade jams and pickles are stored in a separate pantry off the kitchen> — see CLOSET 1

pants plural noun
an outer garment covering each leg separately from waist to ankle <you'll need a nice pair of pants for the job interview>

Synonyms
breeches, britches, pantaloons, slacks, trousers

Related Words
baggies, bell-bottoms, blue jeans, cargo pants, cords, corduroys, denims, jeans; hose, legging (or leggin), sweatpants; pants suit, pantsuit; bloomers, knee breeches, knickerbockers

papa also poppa noun
a male human parent <a proud papa of newborn twins> — see FATHER 1

paper adjective
being something in name or form only <there's a paper boycott of that company's products that nobody seems to be honoring> — see NOMINAL 1

paper noun
1 a piece of paper with information written or to be written on it <handed in the correct papers> — see FORM 2
2 a publication that appears at regular intervals <we get the paper every morning> — see JOURNAL 1
3 a short piece of writing done as a school exercise <write a paper about your favorite author> — see COMPOSITION 2
4 a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view <the papers written by the Founding Fathers urging adoption of the federal constitution> — see ESSAY 1

paper over verb
1 to dismiss as of little importance <the differences between the two factions are too great to be papered over in the name of party unity> — see EXCUSE 1
2 to keep secret or shut off from view <the company tried to paper over its red ink, issuing assurances that it was still financially sound> — see 1HIDE 2

paper–thin adjective
being of less than usual width <since the wall separating our cubicles is paper-thin, I get way too much information about my coworker's love life> — see NARROW 1

papule noun
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin <the reddish, itchy papules that are characteristic of the rash> — see POCK

par noun
1 something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared <that last dining experience was not quite up to par> — see STANDARD 1
2 the state or fact of being exactly the same in number, amount, status, or quality <these California wines are on a par with the best produced in Europe> — see EQUIVALENCE
3 what is typical of a group, class, or series <a pulse of 70 is par for people of that age group> — see AVERAGE

parable noun
a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life <the parable in which the repentant sinner is compared to the returning prodigal son who is welcomed home> — see ALLEGORY

parade noun
a body of individuals moving along in an orderly and often ceremonial way <a Fourth of July parade> — see CORTEGE 2

parade verb
1 to move along with a steady regular step especially in a group <the marching band paraded past jubilant crowds> — see MARCH 1
2 to present so as to invite notice or attention <intends to parade her expensive new dress at the party> — see SHOW 1

paradigmatic adjective
constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated <a paradigmatic essay in which the writer presents his point of view clearly and engagingly> — see MODEL

paradise noun
1 an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <an idealist who trotted the globe looking for paradise>

Synonyms
Camelot, Cockaigne, Eden, Elysium, empyrean, fantasyland, heaven, lotusland, never-never land, New Jerusalem, nirvana, promised land, Shangri-la, utopia, Zion (also Sion)

Related Words
arcadia; dreamland, dreamworld, fairyland, wonderland; blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, euphoria, gladness, joy

Phrases
Garden of Eden

Near Antonyms
fool's paradise

Antonyms
anti-utopia, dystopia, hell

2 a dwelling place of perfect happiness for the soul after death <a firm belief that good people will be rewarded in paradise> — see HEAVEN 1
3 a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <that early stage of a romance when lovers are in paradise> — see ECSTASY

paradox noun
someone or something with qualities or features that seem to conflict with one another <the paradox of fighting a war for peace> — see CONTRADICTION 1

paragon noun
someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation <in Arthurian legend, Sir Galahad is depicted as the one knight who is a paragon of virtue> — see IDEAL 1

parallel adjective
having qualities in common <parallel lives of two friends who first met in college> — see ALIKE

parallel noun
1 a point which two or more things share in common <her professor pointed out some parallels between the two novels> — see SIMILARITY 2
2 one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value <an advance that is without parallel in the history of virology> — see EQUAL

parallel verb
to be the exact counterpart of <developments in the television show paralleled those in the lead actor's real life> — see MATCH 1

parallelism noun
the quality or state of having many qualities in common <the striking parallelism between the two crimes got police to thinking that they were committed by the same mastermind> — see SIMILARITY 1

paralysis noun
complete or partial loss of physical function (as motion or sensation) in a part of the body <the car accident left one athlete with paralysis from the waist down>

Synonyms
palsy

Related Words
cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, poliomyelitis; debilitation, debility, decrepitude, enfeeblement, feebleness, frailness, frailty, weakness; infirmity, lameness; disability, impairment; diplegia, hemiplegia, paraplegia, paresis, quadriplegia, spastic paralysis

Near Antonyms
mobility, motility, sensation

paralytic adjective
affected with paralysis <at first, he would not accept that he was now paralytic and needed help>

Synonyms
paralyzed

Related Words
challenged, crippled, disabled, maimed, mutilated; halt, hobbled, lame, lamed; impaired, incapacitated; hamstrung; hemiplegic, paraplegic, paretic, quadriplegic; debilitated, decrepit, enfeebled, feeble, frail, infirm, wasted, weak, weakened

Near Antonyms
able-bodied; fit, hale, healthy, hearty, robust, sound, well, whole

paralyze verb
1 to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move <a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days>

Synonyms
cripple, disable, hamstring, immobilize, incapacitate, prostrate

Related Words
attenuate, debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, sap, tire, undercut, undermine, weaken; hobble, lame; maim, mutilate; knock out

Near Antonyms
energize, galvanize, invigorate, vitalize; fortify, strengthen; empower; freshen, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, rejuvenate, restore, revitalize, revive

2 to deprive of courage or confidence <the school board is paralyzed by the threat of lawsuits for just about everything> — see UNNERVE 1

paralyzed adjective
1 affected with paralysis <special ramps for paralyzed people in wheelchairs> — see PARALYTIC
2 unable to act or achieve one's purpose <a seemingly paralyzed mayor sat by as the city's crime rate soared> — see POWERLESS

paramount adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <the paramount goal is to restore the colonial-era house with complete historical accuracy> — see FOREMOST 1
2 of the greatest or highest degree or quantity <maintaining the secrecy of the agreement is of paramount importance> — see ULTIMATE 1

paramountcy noun
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance <a nation that has long enjoyed economic paramountcy in the region> — see EMINENCE 1

paranormal adjective
of, relating to, or being part of a reality beyond the observable physical universe <there are rumors that the old deserted mansion is the site of paranormal activity> — see SUPERNATURAL 1

paraphernalia noun
1 items needed for the performance of a task or activity <mountain-climbing paraphernalia> — see EQUIPMENT
2 transportable items that one owns <packed up all of their paraphernalia for the move across the country> — see POSSESSION 2

paraphrase noun
an instance of expressing something in different words <your essays on human rights should have some original thought and not be simply a paraphrase of what's in the textbook>

Synonyms
rephrasing, restatement, restating, rewording, translating, translation

Related Words
rehash; abstract, recap, recapitulation, reiteration, summary

Near Antonyms
copy, transcript, transcription

Antonyms
quotation, quote

paraphrase verb
to express something (as a text or statement) in different words <could you paraphrase your diagnosis of my medical condition, using simpler language?>

Synonyms
rephrase, restate, reword, translate

Related Words
boil down, recapitulate, reiterate, summarize, sum up

Near Antonyms
echo, repeat; copy, reproduce, transcribe

Antonyms
quote

parasite noun
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return <a parasite who lived in the family's basement and refused to get a job or pay rent> — see LEECH

parboil verb
to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam <parboil a lobster> — see BOIL 2

parcel noun
1 a number of things considered as a unit <her absurd explanation for the collision was a parcel of lies> — see GROUP 1
2 a small area of usually open land <wandered around the little parcel out back> — see FIELD 1
3 a small piece of land that is developed or available for development <subdivided the huge farm into smaller parcels for sale> — see LOT 1
4 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <a parcel of kids trailing at their heels> — see GROUP 2
5 a wrapped or sealed case containing an item or set of items <received a mysterious parcel in the mail> — see PACKAGE 1

parcel (out) verb
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals <parceled out the assignments for work on the parish fair> — see ADMINISTER 1

parcel post noun
communications or parcels sent or carried through the postal system <only parcel post bearing a return address and not exceeding size and weight limits will be accepted> — see MAIL

parch verb
to make dry <the heat has really parched my throat> — see DRY 1

pardon noun
release from the guilt or penalty of an offense <the criminal is hoping for a presidential pardon>

Synonyms
absolution, amnesty, forgiveness, remission, remittal

Related Words
parole; acquittal, exculpation, exoneration, vindication; condonation; exemption, immunity, impunity, indemnity; commutation, commuting, reprieve; clemency, leniency, mercy

Near Antonyms
conviction, sentence; assessment, charge, fine, imposition, levying; castigation, chastening, chastisement, condemnation

Antonyms
penalty, punishment, retribution

pardon verb
1 to cease to have feelings of anger or bitterness toward <he eventually pardoned his sister for interfering in his marriage> — see FORGIVE 1
2 to dismiss as of little importance <I'm willing to pardon a little sloppiness of dress in such a kind and loving person> — see EXCUSE 1

pardonable adjective
worthy of forgiveness <the new parents' gushing pride was pardonable> — see VENIAL

pare verb
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument <pared the stray branches on the tree> — see CLIP 1

parentage noun
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <they were pleased that their son's girlfriend was of good parentage> — see ANCESTRY

parenthesis noun
a break in continuity <regarded her husband's brief fling with a coworker as no more than a parethesis in an otherwise solid marriage> — see GAP 2

parenthood noun
the caring for a child by its parents <parenthood is a difficult task requiring great commitment> — see PARENTING

parenting noun
the caring for a child by its parents <as the big day approaches, the expectant couple are starting to get worried about their fitness for parenting>

Synonyms
parenthood

Related Words
raising, rearing, upbringing; fatherhood, fathering, paternity; maternity, motherhood, mothering; caregiving, caretaking

par excellence adjective
of the very best kind <sophisticated cuisine that is obviously the work of a chef par excellence> — see EXCELLENT

pariah noun
one who is cast out or rejected by society <I felt like a pariah when I wore the wrong outfit to the dinner party> — see OUTCAST

parity noun
the state or fact of being exactly the same in number, amount, status, or quality <rules requiring that there be parity in what schools spend on men's and women's sports> — see EQUIVALENCE

park noun
the area around and belonging to a building <the tycoon's country estate is surrounded by a 500-acre park> — see GROUND 1

parley noun
1 a meeting featuring a group discussion <held a parley to debate the proposed change in the town's zoning laws> — see FORUM 1
2 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <can we meet for an informal parley to see if we can effect a compromise?> — see DISCUSSION 1

parley verb
to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem <in an effort to win the goodwill of the locals, the developers parleyed with them before finalizing plans for the massive mall> — see CONFER 2

parliament noun
the highest lawmaking body of a political unit <the treaty was referred to the nation's parliament for ratification> — see CONGRESS 1

parlor noun
a building, room, or suite of rooms occupied by a service business <an ice cream parlor with an old-timey theme> — see PLACE 2

parlous adjective
involving potential loss or injury <window washing can indeed be a parlous occupation on a skyscraper> — see DANGEROUS 1

parochial adjective
not broad or open in views or opinions <the parochial outlook of the people in that rural backwater> — see NARROW 2

parody noun
1 a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect <the musical is a parody of every biblical epic ever made>

Synonyms
burlesque, caricature, put-on, rib, send-up, spoof, takeoff, travesty

Related Words
lampoon, mockery, satire; comedy, farce, humor, sketch, slapstick, squib; distortion, exaggeration; imitation, impersonation, mimicking

2 a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something <the young man sported a feeble parody of a mustache in a vain attempt to make himself look older> — see MOCKERY 1

parody verb
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of <parodying a public figure's distinctive mannerisms takes particular talent> — see MIMIC 1

paroxysm noun
1 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <a paroxysm of laughter greeted the pratfall> — see OUTBURST 1
2 a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) <Darwin's introduction of the theory of evolution created paroxysms in both religion and science that are still being felt today> — see CONVULSION

paroxysmal adjective
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <paroxysmal mood swings that made being around him very challenging> — see VIOLENT 1

parrot verb
to say after another <the toddler parroted everything her father said, often to the latter's embarrassment> — see REPEAT 3

parsimonious adjective
giving or sharing as little as possible <a parsimonious woman who insists that charity begins—and ends—at home> — see STINGY 1

parsimony noun
1 the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money <her parsimony was so extreme that she'd walk five miles to the store to save a few cents on gas>

Synonyms
cheapness, cheeseparing, closeness, miserliness, niggardliness, penny-pinching, penuriousness, pinching, stinginess, tightfistedness, tightness

Related Words
conserving, economizing, economy, frugality, husbandry, providence, scrimping, skimping, thrift; conservation, saving; husbanding, managing

Near Antonyms
bountifulness, bounty, generosity, largesse (also largess), liberality, openhandedness, openheartedness, philanthropy, unselfishness; extravagance, lavishness; dissipation, improvidence, prodigality, squandering, wastefulness

2 careful management of material resources <people often think that the good times will last forever and have little interest in parsimony> — see ECONOMY

part adverb
in some measure or degree <well, you're at least part right about her original name> — see PARTLY

part noun
1 one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled <the model car came in several small parts that had to be put together>

Synonyms
member, partition, portion, section, segment

Related Words
component, constituent, element, factor, ingredient, moiety, parcel; cut, length; bit, fragment, particle, scrap

Near Antonyms
whole; aggregate, composite, compound, sum, total, totality

2 something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group <wanted no part of the profits> — see SHARE 1
3 the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists <I'll do my part, so don't worry> — see ROLE
4 usually parts plural a broad geographical area <I'm not from around these parts> — see REGION 2

part verb
1 to go or move in different directions from a central point <after traveling together for three weeks, we parted at Rome> — see SEPARATE 2
2 to leave a place often for another <parted with great ceremony but with little preparation for the dangers that lay ahead> — see GO 2
3 to set or force apart <parted the prongs with pliers> — see SEPARATE 1
4 to stop living <before I part, I hope I have the opportunity to say my good-byes> — see DIE 1

partake verb
1 to take a share or part <we should all partake of the city's rich cultural offerings while we have the opportunity>

Synonyms
participate, share

Related Words
endure, experience, feel, know, see, taste, undergo; encounter, meet; accept, receive

2 to take a meal <“let us partake,” our minister declared, unfolding his napkin and eyeing the feast laid out before us> — see DINE 1

partake (of) verb
to take in as food <anyone planning to partake of the vegetarian meal needs to sign up for it beforehand> — see EAT 1

partaker noun
one who takes part in something <any partaker of forbidden activities will be severely punished by the sect's elders> — see PARTICIPANT

partial adjective
1 inclined to favor one side over another <that judge is always partial to the defense, so be careful>

Synonyms
biased, one-sided, parti pris, partisan, prejudiced

Related Words
hostile, inimical, jaundiced, unfriendly, unsympathetic; colored, distorted, misrepresented, shaded, warped; convinced, influenced, persuaded, predisposed, prepossessed, swayed; affected, concerned, interested

Near Antonyms
open, open-minded, persuasible, receptive; honest, just, reasonable; bipartisan; autonomous, independent; aloof, detached, dispassionate, hardheaded, impersonal, unemotional; cold, distant, remote; apathetic, incurious, indifferent, unconcerned, uncurious, unenthusiastic, uninterested

Antonyms
disinterested, equal, equitable, evenhanded, fair, impartial, neutral, nonpartisan, objective, unbiased, unprejudiced

2 having a liking or affection <partial to chocolate cake> — see FOND 1
3 lacking some necessary part <a partial answer to the problem> — see INCOMPLETE

partiality noun
1 an attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting especially without considering any other possibilities <partiality blinded the administrator to the benefits of the proposed system for distributing work> — see BIAS 1
2 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <a person with an unfortunate partiality for jumping to conclusions> — see INCLINATION 1
3 positive regard for something <a partiality toward outdoor sports of all kinds> — see LIKING

partially adverb
in some measure or degree <the construction project is only partially complete> — see PARTLY

participant noun
one who takes part in something <he seemed to be a willing participant in the prank>

Synonyms
actor, partaker, participator, party, player, sharer

Related Words
accessory (also accessary), aide, assistant, helper; colleague, partner

Near Antonyms
bystander, looker-on, observer, onlooker, spectator, watcher; wallflower

Antonyms
nonparticipant

participate verb
to take a share or part <eager to participate in the city's cultural life> — see PARTAKE 1

participator noun
one who takes part in something <a willing participator in any parlor game anyone suggested> — see PARTICIPANT

particle noun
1 a very small amount <there was not a particle of truth in what she said>

Synonyms
ace, bit, crumb, dab, dram, driblet, glimmer, hint, lick, little, mite, nip, ounce, peanuts, ray, scintilla, scruple, shade, shadow, shred, skosh, smack, smell, smidgen (also smidgeon or smidgin or smidge), snap, soupçon, spark, spatter, speck, splash, spot, sprinkling, strain, streak, suspicion, tad, touch, trace

Related Words
hoot, iota, jot, minim, minimum, modicum, semblance, syllable, tittle, vestige, whit; atom, dot, fleck, flyspeck, grain, granule, molecule, morsel, mote, nubbin, patch, scrap; dash, drop, pinch; part, portion, section; bite, nibble, taste; handful, scattering, smatter, smattering; dose, shot; chip, flake, fragment, shard, shiver, sliver, smithereens, splinter; shred, tatter; clipping, paring, shaving

Phrases
drop in the bucket

Near Antonyms
abundance, barrel, boatload, bucket, bundle, bushel, deal, fistful, gobs, heaps, lashings (also lashins) [chiefly British], loads, lot, mass, mess, mountain, much, oodles, passel, peck, pile, plenty, potful, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, scads, stack, wad, wealth; volume; bonanza, embarrassment, excess, overabundance, overage, overflow, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus; chunk, hunk, lump, slab

2 a very small piece <a particle of cookie fell on the carpet> — see BIT 1

particular adjective
1 hard to please <she's very particular about the cleanliness of her car> — see FINICKY
2 of, relating to, or belonging to a single person <that particular mug is Mike's> — see INDIVIDUAL 1
3 tending to select carefully <he's particular about the corn he buys> — see SELECTIVE
4 including many small descriptive features <a very particular account of the breakdown of their marriage from the husband's perspective> — see DETAILED 1

particular noun
1 a separate part in a list, account, or series <requested a bill of particulars for the care he received in the hospital> — see ITEM 1
2 a single piece of information <everyone wanted to know all the particulars about the forthcoming merger> — see FACT 3

particularity noun
1 careful thoroughness of detail <with great particularity she described the qualities she's looking for in a boyfriend>

Synonyms
explicitness, specificity

Related Words
attentiveness, care, carefulness, conscientiousness, finicalness, finickiness, fussiness, meticulosity, meticulousness; alertness, cautiousness, circumspection, heedfulness, scrupulousness; discrimination, selectivity; accuracy, definitude, exactitude, exactness, fineness, preciseness, precision

Near Antonyms
imprecision, inaccuracy, inexactness; indistinctness, vagueness

Antonyms
generality

2 a single piece of information <I can't comment without knowing the particularities of the case before the court> — see FACT 3
3 something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <a novel that gets the particularities of life in academia exactly right> — see CHARACTERISTIC

particularized adjective
including many small descriptive features <the hope is that from their particularized descriptions of the landscape we can retrace the explorers' route> — see DETAILED 1

particularly adverb
1 in the specific case of one person or thing as distinguished from others <all of you, but particularly anyone with a problem, should feel free to contact me at any time> — see ESPECIALLY 1
2 in regard to something mentioned explicitly or in detail <she complained particularly about the suggestion that she make a greater effort to consider other viewpoints> — see SPECIFICALLY 1
3 to a great degree <a particularly good explanation> — see VERY 1

parting adjective
given, taken, or performed at parting <she gave him a parting gift to remember her by>

Synonyms
farewell, valedictory

Related Words
closing, concluding, final, last, ultimate; departing, leaving

parting noun
1 the act or process of two or more persons going off in different directions <although their parting was sad, they knew they would see each other again>

Synonyms
farewell, leave-taking, separation

Related Words
departure, egress, exit, exiting, exodus, going, leaving, quitting, running away; decamping, decampment, flight, withdrawal; abandonment, desertion, forsaking

Near Antonyms
reunion; arrival, greeting, salutation, welcome; gathering, joining, meeting

2 the act of leaving a place <everyone waved goodbye at his parting> — see DEPARTURE 1

parti pris adjective
inclined to favor one side over another <a parti pris interpretation of the causes of the war> — see PARTIAL 1

parti pris noun
an attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting especially without considering any other possibilities <the longer a president is dead, the better we are able to evaluate without parti pris his political achievements> — see BIAS 1

partisan adjective
inclined to favor one side over another <a shamelessly partisan reporter covering the primary campaign> — see PARTIAL 1

partisan also partizan noun
1 one who follows the opinions or teachings of another <partisans of the charismatic leader refuse to tolerate any criticism of him at all> — see FOLLOWER 1
2 one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause <a partisan of the revolution who was even willing to give her life for it> — see ZEALOT
3 one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices <she's too much of a political partisan to ever concede that the other side might have a valid point> — see BIGOT

partisanship noun
1 an attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting especially without considering any other possibilities <partisanship can discourage any serious search for the truth> — see BIAS 1
2 stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices <there's a pervasive partisanship in the company that prevents it from acknowledging that other companies are outpacing it with innovative ideas> — see BIGOTRY

partition noun
1 one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled <one of the partitions of a prefabricated house> — see PART 1
2 something that divides, separates, or marks off <put up a partition to divide the room into two> — see DIVISION 1
3 the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces <the partition of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia> — see SEPARATION 1

partly adverb
in some measure or degree <you're only partly right>

Synonyms
half, halfway, incompletely, part, partially, partway

Related Words
fragmentarily; enough, fairly, kindly [chiefly Southern], kind of, like, moderately, more or less, pretty, quite, rather, relatively, something, somewhat, sort of

Phrases
in part

Near Antonyms
absolutely, dead, downright, plain; especially, exceedingly (also exceeding), exceptionally, extremely, greatly, highly, hugely, particularly, very

Antonyms
all, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, perfectly, quite, totally, utterly, wholly

partner noun
the person to whom another is married <takes marriage very seriously and wants a man who will be her partner for life> — see SPOUSE

partnership noun
the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <the symphony orchestra is presenting the choral piece in partnership with the city's leading choral society> — see ASSOCIATION 1

parturition noun
the act or process of giving birth to children <parturition can sometimes proceed more quickly than anticipated> — see CHILDBIRTH

partway adverb
in some measure or degree <his alibi wasn't even partway believable> — see PARTLY

party noun
1 a social gathering <we're all invited to the big party to celebrate the end of the year>

Synonyms
affair, bash, binge, blast, blowout, do, event, fete (or fête), function, get-together, powwow, reception, shindig

Related Words
benefit, fund-raiser; ball, dance, formal, prom; celebration, gala, occasion; bacchanal, bacchanalia, orgy, saturnalia; bake, clambake, cocktail party, hen party, house party, housewarming, icebreaker, kaffeeklatsch, kegger (also keg party), klatch (also klatsch), masquerade, meet and greet, mixer, salon, shower, social, soiree (or soirée), stag, supper, symposium, tea, tea party

2 a group of people acting together within a larger group <a small party got together to protest the new chairman's decision> — see FACTION
3 a group of people working together on a task <a search party> — see GANG 1
4 a member of the human race <my grandfather's a determined old party, so don't underestimate him> — see HUMAN
5 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <for parties of more than six people the restaurant automatically adds a 15% service charge to the bill> — see GROUP 2
6 one who takes part in something <a party to the agreement> — see PARTICIPANT

partyer also partier noun
one who engages in merrymaking especially in honor of a special occasion <a Mardi Gras celebration that has long attracted serious partyers from around the country> — see CELEBRANT

partygoer noun
one who engages in merrymaking especially in honor of a special occasion <chauffeured transportation was provided for those partygoers who had overindulged themselves at the bar> — see CELEBRANT

party pooper noun
a person who spoils the pleasure of others <a party pooper who insisted they turn the music down> — see KILLJOY

parvenu noun
one who has recently acquired wealth and social position <the kind of trophy house that a parvenu buys to prove to people, and to himself, that he has indeed arrived> — see NOUVEAU RICHE

pasquinade noun
a creative work that uses sharp humor to point up the foolishness of a person, institution, or human nature in general <a pasquinade of Washington society that features thinly disguised portraits of several political power brokers> — see SATIRE

1pass noun
1 a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <a mountain pass that was impassable during the winter> — see CANYON
2 a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <take the second pass on the right> — see WAY 1

2pass noun
1 a small sheet of plastic, paper, or paperboard showing that the bearer has a claim to something (as admittance) <a pass to leave the military base for the weekend> — see TICKET 1
2 an effort to do or accomplish something <a final pass at the assignment> — see ATTEMPT 1
3 the state of being actual or complete <eventually, all their career goals came to pass> — see FRUITION

pass verb
1 to shift possession of (something) from one person to another <could you please pass me the phone?>

Synonyms
buck, hand, hand over, reach, transfer

Related Words
relay; bear, carry; finger, handle, paw; cede, deliver, give, give up, release, relinquish, render, surrender, turn over, yield

2 to come to an end <eventually, the storm passed> — see CEASE 1
3 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <pass your forms to the department head once they're filled out> — see GIVE 2
4 to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action <Congress cannot pass any law restricting free speech> — see ENACT
5 to take place <and the destruction of the town came to pass, just as the seer had predicted> — see HAPPEN
6 to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it <a presidential candidate who doesn't yet know how it feels to pass the scrutiny of the national press> — see EXPERIENCE
7 to express (a thought or emotion) in words <she'll occasionally pass some insightful comment, but in general she doesn't have much to contribute> — see SAY 1
8 to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <we appreciate the invitation to the party, but we'll have to pass> <I'll pass on the coffee> — see DECLINE 1
9 to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval <the finished product isn't perfect, but it will pass> — see WASH 2

pass (for) verb
to present a false appearance of <in public they pass for being a loving couple, but in reality they are anything but> — see FEIGN

pass (on) verb
to stop living <my grandfather passed on at the age of 92> — see DIE 1

pass (over) verb
to make one's way through, across, or over <passed over two bridges> — see TRAVERSE

passable adjective
1 capable of being traveled on <after the snowstorm ends, the roads might not be passable for the morning ride to school>

Synonyms
navigable, negotiable

Related Words
clear, cleared, free, open, unclogged, unclosed, unobstructed, unstopped

Near Antonyms
blocked, choked, clogged, closed, congested, dammed, jammed, obstructed, plugged (up), stopped (up), stuffed; barricaded, blockaded

Antonyms
impassable (also impassible), unnegotiable, unpassable

2 capable of being passed into or through <the jungle is not passable without a machete> — see PENETRABLE
3 of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards <that's a passable paper> — see ADEQUATE
4 of average to below average quality <the actor's Scottish accent is passable at best> — see MEDIOCRE 1

passably adverb
in a satisfactory way <looking for a husband who is rich as well as passably handsome> — see WELL 1

passage noun
1 an established course for traveling from one place to another <the long passage down the Atlantic seaboard, around Cape Horn, and up the Pacific Coast to California>

Synonyms
approach, avenue, path, route, way

Related Words
bypath, byway, lane, laneway [British]; artery, boulevard, bypass, drive, expressway, freeway, high road, highway, pass, passageway, pike, road, roadway, routeway [chiefly British], row, street, thoroughfare, turnpike; walk, walkway; trace, track, trail; airway; bikeway, cycleway [British]; channel, gat, watercourse, waterway; door, doorway, gate, gateway, hatch, portal

2 a going from one place to another usually of some distance <an arduous passage across the country> — see JOURNEY
3 a journey over water in a vessel <the passage to Britain requires several days> — see SAIL
4 a part taken from a longer work <the news report quoted a passage from the novel> — see EXCERPT
5 forward movement in time or place <a swift passage from mere liking to actual love> — see ADVANCE 1
6 the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <weary of this world, he looked forward to the next and sought passage with poison> — see DEATH 1

passageway noun
a typically long narrow way connecting parts of a building <the passageway to the other side of the office> — see HALL 2

pass away verb
to stop living <the old woman passed away quietly> — see DIE 1

passé adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <that literary style is a bit passé nowadays> — see OBSOLETE

passel noun
1 a number of things considered as a unit <reporters had a whole passel of questions for the new basketball coach> — see GROUP 1
2 a usually small number of persons considered as a unit <the young couple had a passel of babies in the span of a few years> — see GROUP 2
3 a considerable amount <a whole passel of unauthorized software on his computer> — see LOT 2

passim adverb
in one place and another <the book belonged to my father, and his trenchant comments are found passim—both in the margins and between the lines of text> — see HERE AND THERE 1

passing adjective
lasting only for a short time <his parents were willing to buy him a piano if he demonstrated that his interest in music was more than a passing fancy> — see MOMENTARY

passing adverb
to a great degree <a passing strange turn of events> — see VERY 1

passing noun
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <the precise moment of his passing was recorded by the machines at his bedside> — see DEATH 1

passion noun
1 a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone <married at the age of 18, they share a passion that has lasted for over half a century> — see LOVE 1
2 a strong but often short-lived liking for another person <her passion passed when the next hunky movie star arrived on the scene> — see CRUSH 1
3 a strong wish for something <a passion to become a doctor> — see DESIRE 1
4 a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation <people are sometimes slaves to their own passions> — see FEELING 1
5 depth of feeling <your passion for your cause is admirable, but you still can't insult people who disagree with you> — see ARDOR 1
6 passions plural general emotional condition <people who are swayed by their passions and not by reason> — see FEELING 2
7 intense sexual desire <an addiction to online pornography that was clear proof that he had become a slave to passion> — see LUST 1
8 sexual appetite <the kind of pent-up passion that comes from having spent the winter in remote isolation> — see DESIRE 2

passional adjective
having or expressing great depth of feeling <a rather passional declaration of love from someone she had just started dating> — see FERVENT 1

passionate adjective
1 having a strong sexual desire <a passionate couple plunging recklessly into an adulterous affair> — see LUSTFUL
2 having or expressing great depth of feeling <a passionate defense of the controversial play> — see FERVENT 1

passionateness noun
depth of feeling <delivers his sermons with a degree of passionateness that is positively electrifying> — see ARDOR 1

passionless adjective
not feeling or showing emotion <the passionless prose of the divorce papers gave little hint of the bitter feelings that accompanied the end of their marriage> — see IMPASSIVE 1

passive adjective
receiving or enduring without offering resistance <the union rank and file were surprisingly passive about the givebacks in the new labor contract>

Synonyms
acquiescent, nonresistant, resigned, tolerant, tolerating, unresistant, yielding

Related Words
forbearing, impassive, long-suffering, patient, stoic (or stoical), uncomplaining; agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, conformable, conformist, docile, guidable, law-abiding, obedient, pliable, pliant, subordinate, tractable, willing; obeisant, submissive, surrendering; amiable, obliging; slavish, subservient; disciplined, governable, manageable; apathetic, uncaring, unresponsive

Near Antonyms
defiant; contrary, contumacious, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, insurgent, intractable, mutinous, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, restive, uncontrollable, ungovernable, unruly, untoward; balky, perverse, wayward, wrongheaded; headstrong, willful (or wilful); indomitable; undisciplined, unmanageable; dissident, nonconformist

Antonyms
protesting, resistant, resisting, unyielding

pass off verb
to offer (something fake, useless, or inferior) as genuine, useful, or valuable <the con man tried to pass off a piece of blue glass as a sapphire> — see FOIST

pass out verb
to lose consciousness <I passed out from the flu> — see FAINT

pass over verb
1 to fail to give proper attention to <you seem to have passed over an important e-mail notice> — see NEGLECT 1
2 to dismiss as of little importance <I'd be willing to pass over this latest episode of tardiness if there hadn't been so many before> — see EXCUSE 1

passport noun
1 something that allows someone to achieve a desired goal <meeting that movie director could be your passport to a big acting career>

Synonyms
gateway, key, open sesame, secret, ticket

Related Words
password; accomplishment, achievement, attainment, coup, success, triumph; approach, manner, means, method, style, system, technique, way; blueprint, design, ground plan, plan, program, scheme, strategy

2 the means or right of entering or participating in <to its followers, the cult seemed like their passport to heaven> — see ENTRANCE 1

pass up verb
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <I must pass up the offer to be chairman of this event> — see DECLINE 1

password noun
a word or phrase that must be spoken by a person in order to pass a guard <the password for the all-night rave will be changed next week>

Synonyms
countersign, watchword, word

Related Words
shibboleth, sign; signal; hint, indication; parole

past adjective
having been such at some previous time <a past editor of the newspaper> — see FORMER 1

past noun
the events or experience of former times <we spent a pleasant evening recalling the past together>

Synonyms
auld lang syne, history, yesterday, yesteryear, yore

Related Words
bygone; flashback; annals, chronicle, record; memoir; antiquity, long ago

Near Antonyms
by-and-by, future, futurity, hereafter, offing, tomorrow; moment, now, present, today

past preposition
1 on or to the farther side of <I drive past the school every day> — see BEYOND 1
2 subsequent to in time or order <it's ten minutes past six o'clock> — see AFTER

paste verb
1 to defeat by a large margin <with the economy having gone south, it was hardly surprising that the incumbent party got pasted in the general election> — see WHIP 2
2 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <pasted the soccer ball halfway across the field> — see HIT 1

pasteboard noun
a small sheet of plastic, paper, or paperboard showing that the bearer has a claim to something (as admittance) <those pasteboards I got from a scalper cost me four times their face value> — see TICKET 1

pastel adjective
lacking intensity of color <a pastel blue to go with the pale pink walls> — see PALE 1

pastiche noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <each addition to the house was done in a markedly different architectural idiom, and the result is a whimsical pastiche> — see MISCELLANY 1

past master noun
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <a movie director who was widely regarded as the past master of suspense> — see EXPERT

pastoral adjective
1 of, relating to, associated with, or typical of open areas with few buildings or people <painted a pastoral scene of a flower-filled meadow> — see RURAL
2 of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy <pastoral advice to a young couple preparing to marry> — see CLERICAL

pasturage noun
open land over which livestock may roam and feed <put the cows out on the back pasturage> — see RANGE 1

pasture noun
open land over which livestock may roam and feed <horses grazing in a fenced pasture> — see RANGE 1

pasture verb
to feed on grass or herbs <pasturing sheep on town lands was actually a cheaper alternative to mowing> — see 1GRAZE

pasty adjective
lacking a healthy skin color <she's pasty after a whole winter spent indoors> — see PALE 2

pat adjective
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <on the issue of raising taxes the governor stands pat> — see OBSTINATE

pat adverb
without any flaws or errors <after months of practicing for the competition, the cheerleaders have their moves down pat> — see PERFECTLY 1

pat verb
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner <affectionately patted the baby on the head> — see FONDLE

patch noun
1 a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part <a black cat with a small patch of white next to her nose> — see SPOT 1
2 a very small piece <a patch of land hardly big enough for a garden> — see BIT 1

patch verb
to put into good shape or working order again <patch the tire and it'll be as good as new> — see MEND 1

patch (together) verb
to make or assemble roughly or hastily <the stranded hikers patched together a shelter that afforded some protection from the wind> — see COBBLE TOGETHER OR UP

patchwork adjective
consisting of many things of different sorts <a patchwork collection of antiques from different periods> — see MISCELLANEOUS

patchwork noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the state's patchwork of outdated laws regulating commercial activity on Sundays> — see MISCELLANY 1

patchwork quilt noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the essay isn't so much a cogent argument as a patchwork quilt of the writer's random musings> — see MISCELLANY 1

pate noun
the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth <plopped a cap on his bald pate> — see HEAD 1

patent adjective
1 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <unfortunately, the patent stupidity of the proposal did not deter the city council from putting it up for a vote> — see CLEAR 2
2 very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad <a patent error that should have been caught before the book was published> — see EGREGIOUS

patented adjective
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person <the radio commentator went into one of his patented tirades after an astute caller questioned his knowledge of the facts> — see INDIVIDUAL 1

pater noun, chiefly British
a male human parent <Pater had promised to pay for military school after third form> — see FATHER 1

path noun
1 the direction along which something or someone moves <try to stay out of the path of the golf balls while playing> <I tripped over a rock directly in my path>

Synonyms
course, line, pathway, route, routeway [chiefly British], steps, track, way

Related Words
circle, circuit, loop, orbit; arc, flight path, trajectory; ascent, descent

2 a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps <a path worn through the library lawn by too many people walking over it> — see TRAIL 1
3 an established course for traveling from one place to another <the path along which ancient traders traveled from Europe to China was known as the Silk Road> — see PASSAGE 1

pathetic adjective
1 deserving of one's pity <the plight of the homeless family was quite pathetic>

Synonyms
heartbreaking, heartrending, miserable, piteous, pitiable, pitiful, poor, rueful, sorry, wretched

Related Words
deplorable, lamentable, regrettable; emotional, impressive, inspiring; affecting, moving, poignant, stirring, touching; awful, horrible, terrible; distressing, disturbing, upsetting; grievous, mournful, sad, sorrowful, woeful

Near Antonyms
unimpressive, uninspiring

2 causing unhappiness <a pathetic story that made her cry> — see SAD 2
3 deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy) <the crowd mercilessly booed the boxer's pathetic performance> — see PITIFUL 1
4 so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter <the pundit's latest book is another pathetic jumble of factual errors, half-baked political views, and baseless accusations> — see RIDICULOUS 1

pathless adjective
not having been traveled over or through <the team of scientists will use dogsleds to travel across the pathless Antarctic wilderness>

Synonyms
trackless, untraveled, untraversed, untrodden (also untrod)

Related Words
pristine, virgin; undiscovered, unexplored

Near Antonyms
bustling, busy, crowded; swarming, teeming, thronging

Antonyms
traveled (or travelled), trod (or trodden)

pathway noun
1 a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps <we parked our car near a rambling pathway that led down to the pond> — see TRAIL 1
2 the direction along which something or someone moves <the long, winding pathway of the river before it meets the sea> — see PATH 1

patience noun
the capacity to endure what is difficult or disagreeable without complaining <the teacher's patience is being sorely tested this year by several parents who seem to have no interest in their children's education>

Synonyms
forbearance, long-suffering, sufferance, tolerance

Related Words
acquiescence, resignation; passiveness, passivity; amenability, compliance, conformism, docility, obedience, subordination, tractability, willingness; discipline, self-control; submission, submissiveness

Near Antonyms
defiance; contrariness, disobedience, insubordination, intractability, recalcitrance, resistance, willfulness

Antonyms
impatience

patient adjective
1 accepting pains or hardships calmly or without complaint <you were very patient about having to wait for me for so long>

Synonyms
forbearing, long-suffering, stoic (or stoical), tolerant, uncomplaining

Related Words
lenient; acquiescent, passive, resigned, unresistant, yielding; agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, conformist, docile, law-abiding, obedient, placable, submissive, subordinate, tractable, willing; slavish, subservient; amiable, obliging; collected, composed; constrained, contained, curbed, inhibited, repressed, restrained; disciplined, self-contained, self-controlled; apathetic, uncaring, unresponsive

Near Antonyms
bored, tired, weary; defiant, resistant; contrary, disobedient, insubordinate, intractable, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly

Antonyms
complaining, fed up, impatient, kvetching, kvetchy, protesting

2 continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement <a patient effort to finish college despite the mounting debts> — see PERSISTENT

patient noun
an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment <the nurse asked the patient to change into a paper gown>

Synonyms
case

Related Words
inpatient, outpatient; rehabilitant; sufferer, victim; convalescent, nursling

patina noun
a special quality or impression associated with something <although the winery is brand-new, it has been constructed and decorated to give it a patina of old-world quaintness> — see AURA 1

patio noun
an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls) <there's a patio in the center of the apartment complex> — see COURT 2

patois noun
the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field <the medical patois that the hospital staffers used among themselves was incomprehensible to me> — see TERMINOLOGY

patrician adjective
of high birth, rank, or station <came from a patrician family> — see NOBLE 1

patrician noun
a man or woman of high birth or social position <the Southern patricians who once resided in these stately plantation homes> — see GENTLEPERSON

patriciate noun
the highest class in a society <the patriciate regarded patronage of the arts as a moral and social duty> — see ARISTOCRACY 1

patrimony noun
something that is or may be inherited <her patrimony was the family's newspaper business> — see INHERITANCE

patriot noun
a person who loves his or her country and supports its interests and policies <the contention that true patriots would be willing to do anything for their country>

Synonyms
loyalist

Related Words
chauvinist; flag-waver, jingoist, nationalist, superpatriot; compatriot, countryman

Near Antonyms
collaborator, quisling, spy, traitor; betrayer, deserter, recreant; renegade

patriotic adjective
having or showing love and support for one's country <hanging a flag outside one's home is a patriotic gesture>

Synonyms
nationalist, nationalistic

Related Words
chauvinist; jingoist, jingoistic, superpatriotic; constant, devoted, faithful, loyal, staunch (also stanch), steadfast, steady, true; ardent, fervent, fervid, impassioned, passionate

Near Antonyms
traitorous, treasonous; disaffected, disloyal, faithless, false, fickle, inconstant, perfidious, recreant, treacherous, unfaithful

Antonyms
unpatriotic

patriotism noun
love and support for one's country <her patriotism was so heartfelt that she quit her job to work for the war effort>

Synonyms
nationalism

Related Words
chauvinism; jingoism; allegiance, constancy, devotion, faithfulness, fealty, loyalty, staunchness, steadfastness; fervency, fervidness, passion

Near Antonyms
desertion, treason; disaffection, disloyalty, faithlessness, falseness, fickleness, inconstancy, perfidiousness, treachery, unfaithfulness

patron noun
1 a person who buys a product or uses a service from a business <a restaurant patron> — see CUSTOMER 1
2 a person who takes the responsibility for some other person or thing <the wealthy philanthropist is one of the city's most generous patrons of its symphony orchestra> — see SPONSOR
3 one that helps another with gifts or money <the patron for the museum's current blockbuster is the city's biggest banking institution> — see BENEFACTOR

patronage noun
1 the financial support and general guidance for an undertaking <a symphony orchestra that had long relied upon the patronage of the city's moneyed old guard> — see AUSPICE 1
2 transactions or economic support provided by customers <he refuses to give his patronage to any corporation that is not socially conscious> — see BUSINESS 1

patronize verb
1 to assume or treat with an air of superiority <a director with an unpleasant habit of patronizing even his most gifted actors> — see CONDESCEND 2
2 to promote the interests or cause of <a company that loyally patronizes the arts> — see SUPPORT 1

patron saint noun
someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation <around the statehouse he's known as the patron saint of partisan politics> — see IDEAL 1

patsy noun
one who is easily deceived or cheated <an Internet newbie who's the perfect patsy for a cyber scam> — see 1DUPE

patter noun
1 friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <their incessant patter was getting on my nerves> — see CHAT 1
2 the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field <the patter of highbrow criticism that one hears in fashionable art galleries> — see TERMINOLOGY

patter verb
to engage in casual or rambling conversation <the toddler pattered on for what seemed like hours> — see CHAT 1

pattern noun
1 a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric) <a coverlet with a nosegay of tiny pink roses as the pattern>

Synonyms
design, figure, motif, motive

Related Words
scheme; device; adornment, caparison, decoration, embellishment, frill, garnish, ornament, trim

2 a usual manner of behaving or doing <her daily pattern begins with coffee and a bagel every morning for breakfast> — see HABIT 1
3 an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity <with her, everything must be done strictly according to pattern> — see ROUTINE 1
4 the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged <many of the artist's paintings use the same pattern of a lone figure surrounded by a vast landscape> — see COMPOSITION 3

patty also pattie noun
a small usually rounded mass of minced food that has been fried <the enticing aroma of sausage patties sizzling in the skillet> — see CAKE 1

paucity noun
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <a paucity of useful answers to the problem of traffic congestion at rush hour> — see DEFICIENCY

paunch noun
an enlarged or bulging abdomen <Santa is depicted as a white-bearded man with a big paunch> — see POTBELLY

paunchy adjective
having a large protruding abdomen <not surprisingly, the new Hollywood biopic casts a young, athetically trim actor in the role of the paunchy, balding artist>

Synonyms
beer-bellied, potbellied

Related Words
chubby, corpulent, fat, fleshy, full, gross, obese, overweight, plump, podgy [chiefly British], portly, pudgy, roly-poly, rotund, round, tubby; flabby, soft

Near Antonyms
chiseled (or chiselled), cut; lean, lithe, skinny, slender, slim, spare, svelte, sylphlike

pauperism noun
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <now discredited, the science of eugenics was once proclaimed as a means of ridding society of such undesirable traits as pauperism and criminality> — see POVERTY 1

pauperized adjective
lacking money or material possessions <out of the job and newly pauperized, the single father had no idea what to do next> — see POOR 1

pause noun
1 a momentary halt in an activity <there was a brief pause for applause in her speech>

Synonyms
break, breath, breather, interruption, lull, recess

Related Words
time-out; interim, interlude, intermission, interval, respite, rest; cessation, discontinuance, downtime, ending, expiration, finishing, hitch, lapse, stoppage, stopping, termination; abeyance, moratorium, surcease, suspension; discontinuity, gap, hiatus

Near Antonyms
continuation, endurance, persistence, progress, progression; extension, prolongation

2 a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action <the question caught the professor off guard, and there was a pause before he responded> — see HESITATION

pause verb
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity <he paused for a moment to regain his composure>

Synonyms
break

Related Words
hesitate; break in, interrupt; cease, discontinue, end, finish, stop, terminate; knock off, lay off, quit; lapse, let up

Phrases
catch one's breath, hold one's horses

Near Antonyms
continue, persist; advance, progress; extend, prolong, stretch

pavilion noun
a freestanding airy structure in a scenic setting (as a park) typically offering commanding views <the park's pavilions may be rented for wedding receptions and other social gatherings> — see BELVEDERE

1pawn noun
one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another <though he liked to play up his influence with city hall, he was really just another pawn of the political bosses>

Synonyms
cat's-paw, instrument, lay figure, puppet, tool

Related Words
chump, dupe, foil, gull, sucker, victim; minion, stooge; lap dog, yes-man

2pawn noun
something given or held to assure that the giver will keep a promise <offered her license as a pawn that she would bring back the rental canoe> — see PLEDGE 1

pawn verb
to leave as a guarantee of repayment of a loan <he pawned his antique watch in order to pay off his gambling debt>

Synonyms
hock, pledge

Related Words
deposit, mortgage; bond

Near Antonyms
buy (back), redeem, win (back)

pay noun
1 the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services <it's difficult to support two children on her pay> — see WAGE
2 something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services <we should demand pay for all the overtime we're putting in> — see PAYMENT 2

pay verb
1 to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received <we need to pay the cashier and then we can leave>

Synonyms
compensate, recompense, remunerate

Related Words
refund, reimburse, repay, requite; remit; pay off, pay up, prepay

Near Antonyms
stiff

2 to give what is owed for <you ought to pay that bill before it's overdue>

Synonyms
ante up, balance, clear, discharge, foot, liquidate, meet, pay off, pay up, pony up, quit, recompense, settle, spring (for), stand

Antonyms
repudiate

3 to hand over or use up in payment <rock fans were willing to pay enormous sums to get into the concert> — see SPEND 1
4 to produce as revenue <an investment paying six percent> — see YIELD 2
5 to provide with a paying job <pay someone to mow the lawn for the summer> — see EMPLOY 1

payable adjective
not yet paid <keep the bills payable separate from the receipts> — see OUTSTANDING 1

payback noun
the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury <we are hoping to get payback for the humiliating defeat we suffered at the hands of our rivals during our last matchup> — see REVENGE

paycheck noun
the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services <almost half of her paycheck goes to child care and transportation expenses> — see WAGE

pay envelope noun
the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services <with this recession going on, workers shouldn't be expecting fatter pay envelopes> — see WAGE

paying adjective
yielding a profit <finally found a paying job> — see PROFITABLE 1

paying noun
the act of offering money in exchange for goods or services <the actual shopping was quick, but with the long lines, paying for the stuff seemed to take forever> — see PAYMENT 1

payload noun
a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported <the space shuttle can carry a maximum payload of approximately 50,000 pounds> — see LOAD 1

payment noun
1 the act of offering money in exchange for goods or services <they are very prompt in the payment of their credit card bills>

Synonyms
compensation, disbursement, giving, paying, remitment, remittance, remuneration

Related Words
rendering, tendering; reimbursement, repayment; paying off, paying up, prepayment; overpayment

Near Antonyms
underpayment

Antonyms
nonpayment

2 something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services <our payment for all the work we did barely covered our expenses> <we finally mailed our last car payment last week>

Synonyms
compensation, consideration, pay, recompense, remittance, remuneration, requital

Related Words
salary, stipend, wage(s); disbursement, expenditure, outlay; rebate, refund; indemnity, recoupment, redress, reparation, restitution; adjustment, settlement; deposit; reimbursement, repayment; prepayment; overpayment; rent, rental

3 the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services <your payment will be issued as a weekly check> — see WAGE

payoff noun
the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received <the payoff on the investment was only about $500> — see PROFIT 1

pay off verb
1 to give what is owed for <I finally paid off the loan> — see PAY 2
2 to influence someone with a bribe <she paid off the security guard so that she could steal whatever she liked> — see BRIBE

pay up verb
to give what is owed for <for once our bills are all paid up> — see PAY 2

PDQ adverb
without delay <the boss wants the report, and he wants it PDQ> — see IMMEDIATELY

peace noun
1 a state without war <after a long and bitter war, the troubled region finally achieved peace>

Synonyms
peacefulness

Related Words
accord, amity, concord, harmony; calm, quiet, serenity, tranquillity (or tranquility); order, stability; pacification

Near Antonyms
conflict, contention, discord, dissidence, strife, trouble; tumult, turmoil, unrest, upheaval; fighting, warfare; action, battle, combat

Antonyms
war

2 freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions <a light, humorous novel that is good for putting my mind at peace right before I go to sleep>

Synonyms
calm, calmness, heartsease, peacefulness, placidity, sereneness, serenity, tranquillity (or tranquility)

Related Words
content, contentment, ease; comfort, consolation, relief, solace; quiet, quietude, repose

Near Antonyms
care, concern, perturbation; strain, stress, tenseness, tension; consternation, desperateness, desperation, discomfort, discomposure, dismay, distraction, distress, disturbance, edginess, jitters, jumpiness, nervousness; fear, fearfulness, torment, upset; doubt, dread, foreboding, incertitude, misgiving, presentiment, suspense, uncertainty

Antonyms
agitation, alarm (also alarum), anguish, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, uneasiness, vexation, worry

3 a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <the eerie peace after a tornado> — see CALM 1
4 peaceful coexistence <can't we all just live in peace?> — see HARMONY 2

peaceable adjective
1 inclined to live in peace and to avoid war <a peaceable nation that has never had any interest in conquest> — see PEACEFUL 1
2 not involving violence or force <trying to find a peaceable resolution> — see PEACEFUL 2

peaceful adjective
1 inclined to live in peace and to avoid war <a peaceful tribe that had quietly inhabited these shores for centuries before the arrival of the Europeans>

Synonyms
dovish, pacific, pacifist (or pacifistic), peaceable

Related Words
irenic, nonaggressive, nonbelligerent, noncombative, unaggressive, unwarlike; antimilitarist, antimilitaristic, antiviolence, antiwar; calm, mild, neutral, quiet, relaxed, serene, tranquil; affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, genial, gentle, kind, kindly; submissive, yielding

Near Antonyms
militarist, militaristic; aggressive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, discordant, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent; antagonistic, argumentative, fierce, gladiatorial, hostile, hot-tempered

Antonyms
bloodthirsty, hawkish, martial, warlike

2 not involving violence or force <UN officials struggled to find a peaceful solution to the troublesome conflict>

Synonyms
nonviolent, peaceable

Related Words
bloodless; conciliatory, irenic, pacific, peacemaking; nonbelligerent, unaggressive, unassertive; appeasing, conciliating, mollifying, pacifying, placating; calming, quieting, soothing

Near Antonyms
armed, martial, militant, military, warlike; aggressive, assertive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, quarrelsome; antagonistic, argumentative, fierce, gladiatorial, hostile; tempestuous, volcanic

Antonyms
forced, violent

3 free from disturbing noise or uproar <a peaceful house, now that the kids are all grown and departed> — see QUIET 1
4 free from storms or physical disturbance <a peaceful lake> — see CALM 1
5 free from emotional or mental agitation <the patient is peaceful and resting comfortably> — see CALM 2

peacefulness noun
1 a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <the peacefulness of the secluded beach was refreshing> — see CALM 1
2 a state without war <a period of peacefulness that remained unbroken until World War I> — see PEACE 1
3 freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions <after coming to terms with his sexuality, he felt a peacefulness that he had never experienced before> — see PEACE 2

peacemaker noun
one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement <the former diplomat is coming out of retirement to lend his talents as a peacemaker to these crucial negotiations> — see MEDIATOR

peacemaking adjective
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility <efforts at peacemaking overtures in the region have largely been ignored by both warring parties> — see PACIFIC 1

peacenik noun
a person who opposes war or warlike policies <peaceniks argued that all the nonmilitary options had not been exhausted> — see DOVE 1

peach noun
something very good of its kind <fondly remembers his old Studebaker as being a peach of a car> — see JIM-DANDY

peachy adjective
of the very best kind <a look back at those innocent days when the offerings at the local soda fountain might have been described as “simply peachy”> — see EXCELLENT

peachy keen adjective
of the very best kind <back is the days when a wienie roast was a peachy keen way to spend a date> — see EXCELLENT

peak noun
1 an elevation of land higher than a hill <the nearest peak worth climbing is hundreds of miles away> — see MOUNTAIN 1
2 the highest part or point <a pop singer at the peak of her career> — see HEIGHT 1
3 the projecting front part of a hat or cap <accidentally stepped on the hat and crushed the peak> — see VISOR

1peaked adjective
tapering to a thin tip <the church's peaked spire is a prominent feature of the town's skyline> — see POINTED 1

2peaked adjective
1 lacking a healthy skin color <you probably should go home, as you're looking awfully peaked> — see PALE 2
2 temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body <I'm feeling a little peaked, so I'm going to lie down> — see SICK 1

peaky adjective
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body <her mother announced that she still looked peaky, and felt her forehead for a fever> — see SICK 1

peal verb
to make the clear sound heard when metal vibrates <the village bells pealed every hour in commemoration> — see 2RING

peanut adjective
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <this is a peanut matter, and we're fools for wasting time on it> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

peanuts plural noun
1 a very small amount <that's peanuts compared to what I had to deal with yesterday> — see PARTICLE 1
2 a very small sum of money <employees griping that they were working for peanuts> — see MITE 1

pearl noun
someone or something unusually desirable <friends who agree that his new bride is a real pearl> — see PRIZE 1

pearlescent adjective
having a rainbowlike play of colors <the sedan comes in an array of colors, with either a metallic or pearlescent finish> — see IRIDESCENT

pebbly adjective
not having a level or smooth surface <a jerky ride on a pebbly road> <the rubber handles have a pebbly texture that makes them easier to grip when they are wet> — see UNEVEN 1

peck noun
a considerable amount <now you're in a peck of trouble> — see LOT 2

peck verb
1 to eat reluctantly and in small bites <found out that fashion models never really eat—they just peck at small meals in expensive restaurants> — see NIBBLE 1
2 to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <the bird continued to peck the suet cake intently> — see IMPALE

peck (at) verb
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders <kept pecking at their prodigal daughter to get off the couch and to start looking for a job> — see NAG 1

pecker noun, chiefly British
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <Churchillian speeches that encouraged Britons to keep their pecker up during those trying times> — see COURAGE

peckish adjective, chiefly British
feeling a desire or need for food <I think I'll have a snack before we go, as I'm feeling a bit peckish> — see HUNGRY 1

Pecksniffian adjective
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <a Pecksniffian pandering to religious conservatives, especially in the weeks before the election> — see INSINCERE

peculiar adjective
1 being out of the ordinary <a writer with a peculiar talent for capturing the feel of everyday conversation> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1
2 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <a peculiar and catlike way of walking> — see ODD 2
3 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <a peculiar response to a polite query about his health> — see UNUSUAL 1
4 of, relating to, or belonging to a single person <his peculiar way of talking> — see INDIVIDUAL 1
5 serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group <the koala is peculiar to Australia> — see CHARACTERISTIC 1
6 of a particular or exact sort <a psychopathic killer who took peculiar delight in torturing his victims> — see EXPRESS 1

peculiarity noun
1 an odd or peculiar habit <had the peculiarity of constantly fussing with his hair> — see IDIOSYNCRASY
2 something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <as its name indicates, the red-winged blackbird has the distinctive peculiarity of a red patch on its wings> — see CHARACTERISTIC

pecuniary adjective
of or relating to money, banking, or investments <that makes good pecuniary sense> <the judge recused himself from the case because he had a pecuniary interest in the company that was being sued> — see FINANCIAL

pedagogue noun
a person whose occupation is to give formal instruction in a school <a pedagogue whose classroom lessons consisted entirely of reading directly from the textbook in a monotone> — see TEACHER

peddle verb
to sell from place to place usually in small quantities <seldom saw their father, who traveled around the country peddling Bibles>

Synonyms
hawk

Related Words
retail, wholesale; deal (in), distribute, high-pressure, hustle, market, merchandise (also merchandize), trade (in), vend

peddler also pedlar noun
one who sells things outdoors <the peddler on the street corner selling baseball caps>

Synonyms
hawker, huckster

Related Words
dealer, merchandiser, merchant, seller, vendor (also vender); costermonger [British]; concessionaire; black marketer (or black marketeer), bootlegger, fence, fencer, hustler, pusher, smuggler, trader

Near Antonyms
buyer, purchaser; consumer, end user, user

pedestrian adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <a TV detective show filled with pedestrian plots stolen from older and better series> — see BORING

pedigree noun
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <a woman of good pedigree> — see ANCESTRY

pedigreed or pedigree adjective
of unmixed ancestry <a pedigreed puppy is expensive> — see PUREBRED

peek noun
an instance of looking especially briefly <took a peek at her Christmas gift hidden in the closet> — see LOOK 2

peek verb
to take a quick or hasty look <peek out the window and see if it's raining> — see GLANCE 2

peel verb
to remove the natural covering of <she peels apples with lightning speed>

Synonyms
bark, flay, hull, husk, shell, shuck, skin

Related Words
bare, denude, expose, scale, strip; pare

peel (off) verb
to rid oneself of (a garment) <peeled off the wet clothes and tossed them over the shower rod> — see REMOVE 1

peeled adjective
lacking a usual or natural covering <a peeled banana> — see NAKED 2

peel off verb
to leave a place often for another <it's rude to peel off like that without thanking your host> — see GO 2

peep noun
an instance of looking especially briefly <stole a peep at our neighbor's new pool> — see LOOK 2

peep verb
to make a short sharp sound like a small bird <the baby peeps and burbles when her mother picks her up> — see CHIRP

peer noun
1 a man of high birth or social position <claims to be related to an English peer> — see GENTLEMAN 1
2 one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value <a jury of one's peers> — see EQUAL

peer verb
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise <visitors seem mesmerized as they peer at the variety of marine life in the aquarium's huge tank> — see GAPE

peeress noun
a woman of high birth or social position <a wedding invitation eagerly sought by every peer and peeress in the realm> — see GENTLEWOMAN

peerless adjective
having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability <the show's enduring success was a testimony to the peerless talents of its ensemble cast> — see ONLY 1

peeve noun
1 something that is a source of irritation <my main peeve with the animal welfare organization is the endless stream of unsolicited trinkets in my mailbox> — see ANNOYANCE 3
2 the feeling of being offended or resentful after a slight or indignity <he holds on to a peeve until the offending person apologizes> — see PIQUE

peeve verb
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <she is constantly peeved by his habit of humming show tunes while she is trying to focus on her work> — see IRRITATE 1

peeved adjective
subjected to and reacting with irritation <we were short a cook, and peeved diners were getting up and leaving before we could serve them> — see ANNOYED

peeving adjective
causing annoyance <a peeving insistence that everyone drop their work just to help him> — see ANNOYING

peevish adjective
easily irritated or annoyed <I would rather figure things out on my own than ask that peevish librarian for help> — see IRRITABLE

peevishness noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <his constant peevishness made everyone around him cranky as well> — see PETULANCE

peewee noun
a living thing much smaller than others of its kind <that particular species is the peewee of the salmon world> — see DWARF 1

peg noun
an individual part of a process, series, or ranking <took the arrogant student down a peg> — see DEGREE 1

peg verb
1 to arrange or assign according to type <pegged her as a backstabber right from the beginning> — see CLASSIFY 1
2 to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <pegged the ball to the second baseman> — see THROW 1

peg (away) verb
to devote serious and sustained effort <the writer pegged away at his first novel for three years before he felt that it was ready to be published> — see LABOR

peg out verb, chiefly British
to stop living <when her pet pig pegged out she grieved for weeks> — see DIE 1

pejorative adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <the reviewer used the pejorative word “versifier” to refer to the writer, whose poems had struck a responsive chord with the general public> — see DEROGATORY

pelage noun
the hairy covering of a mammal especially when fine, soft, and thick <color variation in the snow leopard's pelage> — see FUR 1

pelagic adjective
1 of or relating to the sea <among pelagic animals the undisputed king is the blue whale, the largest creature currently roaming the face of the earth> — see MARINE 1
2 of, relating to, or occurring in the open sea <at one time pelagic whaling was the cornerstone of the island's economy> — see DEEP-SEA

pelf noun
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <a politician who seems more interested in pelf than in policy> — see MONEY 1

pellet noun
a usually round or cone-shaped little piece of lead made to be fired from a firearm <the tightly packed pellets of a shotgun cartridge> — see BULLET

pell–mell adjective
1 acting or done with excessive or careless speed <when the theater doors opened, there was a pell-mell rush for the best seats> — see HASTY 1
2 lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <pell-mell piles of books everywhere in the professor's library> — see MESSY

pell–mell adverb
1 in a confused and reckless manner <tossed stuff pell-mell into the dorm room> — see HELTER-SKELTER 1
2 with excessive or careless speed <ran pell-mell down the road to get help> — see HASTILY 1

pellucid adjective
1 easily seen through <the pellucid waters that lap upon that island's beaches> — see CLEAR 1
2 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <her poetry has a pellucid simplicity that betrays none of the sweat that went into writing it> — see CLEAR 2

1pelt noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <gave the dog a sharp pelt on the nose with her rolled up newspaper> — see 1BLOW

2pelt noun
the outer covering of an animal removed for its commercial value <caught beavers and sold the pelts to fur traders> — see HIDE 1

pelt verb
1 to proceed or move quickly <pelted away when the cops arrived> — see HURRY 2
2 to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <pelted snowballs at each other while waiting for the bus> — see THROW 1
3 to strike repeatedly <pelted the other kids with pebbles> — see BEAT 1

1pen noun
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <earned six years in a federal pen> — see JAIL

2pen noun
an enclosure with an open framework for keeping animals <a goat pen> — see CAGE

3pen noun
a person who creates a written work <Alexander Hamilton is reckoned to be the pseudonymous pen behind two thirds of the Federalist Papers> — see AUTHOR 1

1pen verb
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <remember to pen up the dogs when visitors come over> — see ENCLOSE 1

2pen verb
to compose and set down on paper the words of <though relatively unknown at the time of his death, the composer had penned some of the most memorable show tunes of his era> — see WRITE 1

penal adjective
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment <Australia was once a penal colony> — see PUNITIVE

penalize verb
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime <the player was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct> — see PUNISH

penalizing adjective
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment <forced to listen to a penalizing lecture on the consequences of lying> — see PUNITIVE

penalty noun
1 a sum of money to be paid as a punishment <the penalty for speeding is $10 for every mile over the speed limit> — see FINE
2 suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense <in some cases, the new penalties for drug offenses were harsher than those for violent crimes> — see PUNISHMENT
3 the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success <suffered the penalty of his decision to leave school without graduating> — see DISADVANTAGE 2

penchant noun
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <a penchant for sitting by the window and staring moodily off into space> — see INCLINATION 1

pendant also pendent noun
1 an ornament worn on a chain around the neck or wrist <Navajo necklaces with pendants finely crafted in genuine sky-blue turquoise>

Synonyms
bangle, charm, lavaliere (also lavalliere)

Related Words
locket, teardrop

2 chiefly British a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling <a pendant that once flew on Nelson's flagship> — see FLAG 1

pendent or pendant adjective
extending freely from a support from above <the dining area is lit by tasteful pendent lamps over the tables> — see DEPENDENT 1

pending adjective
1 not yet settled or decided <a decision is pending about whether to buy computers or sports equipment with this money>

Synonyms
open, undecided, undetermined, unresolved, unsettled

Related Words
hanging; arguable, debatable, disputable, moot, uncertain, unsure

Phrases
in hand

Near Antonyms
confirmed, established; certain, sure

Antonyms
decided, determined, resolved, settled

2 being soon to appear or take place <a pending review of your work so far this term> — see FORTHCOMING 1
3 giving signs of immediate occurrence <the sky darkened with a pending storm> — see IMMINENT 1

pending preposition
in the course of <the government must continue to function pending negotiations for next year's budget> — see DURING

pendulous adjective
1 bending downward or forward <a cow with a pendulous udder> — see NODDING
2 extending freely from a support from above <a pendulous crystal chandelier dominated the ballroom> — see DEPENDENT 1

penetrable adjective
capable of being passed into or through <unfortunately, our netting proved to be a rather penetrable barrier that allowed in our cabin a steady stream of mosquitoes>

Synonyms
passable, permeable, pervious, porous

Related Words
absorbent; breathable

Near Antonyms
airtight, watertight; close, compact, dense, thick

Antonyms
impassable (also impassible), impenetrable, impermeable, impervious, nonporous

penetrate verb
to go or come in or into <a needle penetrated the heavy canvas only with great effort> — see ENTER 1

penetrating adjective
causing intense discomfort to one's skin <an icy, penetrating rain that made you feel really miserable> — see CUTTING 1

peninsula noun
an area of land that juts out into a body of water <the peninsula is constantly buffeted by storms> — see 2CAPE

penitence noun
a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <the sincerity of the player's penitence is questionable—he began to express remorse only after the suspension was handed down> — see GUILT 1

penitent adjective
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done <a penitent gossip who had come to ask for forgiveness> — see CONTRITE

penitentiary noun
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <a sentence in the state penitentiary for robbery> — see JAIL

penman noun
1 a person who creates a written work <the prolific penman of dozens of horror stories> — see AUTHOR 1
2 one who writes from dictation or copies manuscripts <an essay on Jacob Shallus, the penman who inked the United States Constitution> — see SCRIBE 1

penmanship noun
1 the form or style of a particular person's writing <doctors are famous for their illegible penmanship> — see HANDWRITING 1
2 writing done by hand <the students spend far more time honing their computer skills than they do improving their penmanship> — see HANDWRITING 2

pennant noun
a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling <the stadium was festooned with pennants from past championships> — see FLAG 1

penniless adjective
lacking money or material possessions <went from being a penniless girl to owner of her own restaurant> — see POOR 1

pennon noun
a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling <pennons flew from the yachts gathered in the harbor for the festival> — see FLAG 1

penny–pincher noun
a mean grasping person who is usually stingy with money <we've ended up treating that penny-pincher to dinner three times and she's never once offered to pay> — see MISER

penny–pinching adjective
giving or sharing as little as possible <the new CEO's penny-pinching ways have helped to keep the company out of bankruptcy> — see STINGY 1

penny–pinching noun
1 careful management of material resources <they'll have to practice some penny-pinching if they want to save for a house> — see ECONOMY
2 the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money <reusing your tea bags is perhaps taking penny-pinching too far> — see PARSIMONY 1

pennyworth noun
something bought or offered for sale at a desirable price <even a used lawnmower would be a pennyworth at that price> — see BARGAIN 1

pensive adjective
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking <rainy days often put her in a pensive mood> — see CONTEMPLATIVE

penstock noun
a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) <a penstock carried water for the waterwheel> — see PIPE 1

penthouse noun
a smaller structure added to a main building <had a small penthouse built to serve as a toolshed> — see ANNEX

penumbra noun
1 partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays <the lunar eclipse began with a subtle darkening of the lunar surface as it passed within the Earth's penumbra> — see SHADE 1
2 something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <a penumbra of despair fell over the doomed city> — see CLOAK 1

penurious adjective
1 giving or sharing as little as possible <the company's penurious management could not be convinced of the need to earmark more money for research and development> — see STINGY 1
2 lacking money or material possessions <the most penurious members of the community are forced to depend on the services of the food bank> — see POOR 1

penuriousness noun
1 the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money <he daily practiced such penuriousness that few would have guessed that he was one of the state's wealthiest residents> — see PARSIMONY 1
2 the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <the abject penuriousness of so many of the city's inhabitants should be a cause for concern> — see POVERTY 1

penury noun
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <lived in a time when single women like herself faced a lifetime of genteel penury> — see POVERTY 1

peon noun
a person who does very hard or dull work <the company had plenty of low-paying positions for people who were content to be peons all their lives> — see SLAVE 2

people plural noun
1 human beings in general <despite the horrors she witnessed, Anne Frank never lost her faith in people>

Synonyms
folks, humanity, humankind, public, species, world

Related Words
community, society; crowd, masses, mob, populace, proletariat, rabble, rabblement, riffraff

2 the body of the community as contrasted with the elite <tensions mounted until the people rose up in rebellion> — see MASS 1
3 a group of persons who come from the same ancestor <introduced my new boyfriend to my people> — see FAMILY 1

people verb
to supply with inhabitants <a science-fiction novel about a mission to people Mars> — see SETTLE 2

pep noun
active strength of body or mind <the students always display considerably more pep during the weeks immediately prior to the holidays> — see VIGOR 1

pep (up) verb
to give life, vigor, or spirit to <the music at the party pepped everyone up> — see ANIMATE

pepper verb
1 to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on <pepper the costume with flecks of glitter> — see SCATTER 2
2 to mark with small spots especially unevenly <spilled flour peppered the kitchen floor> — see SPOT 1

peppery adjective
marked by a lively display of strong feeling <the author of several peppery diatribes on religious intolerance> — see SPIRITED 1

peppiness noun
the quality or state of having abundant or intense activity <the peppiness of the city's music scene in the last year has been encouraging> — see VITALITY 1

peppy adjective
1 having active strength of body or mind <a peppy and entertaining group of young musicians> — see VIGOROUS 1
2 having much high-spirited energy and movement <a peppy dance performance> — see LIVELY 1

per adverb
for each one <you can have them at 50 cents per or three for $1.25> — see APIECE

per preposition
using the means or agency of <the infection is spread to the rest of the body per the bloodstream> — see BY 2

perambulate verb
1 to make one's way through, across, or over <we decided to lazily perambulate the entire length of the esplanade and enjoy the fresh air> — see TRAVERSE
2 to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure <long summer evenings spent perambulating up and down the tree-lined streets of the quaint village> — see HIKE 1

perambulation noun
a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure <took an invigorating perambulation around the lake to get some fresh air> — see WALK 1

perambulator noun
1 a person who travels by foot for exercise or pleasure <counts himself among that select group of hikers who are perambulators of the entire Appalachian Trail> — see HIKER
2 chiefly British a small four-wheeled vehicle designed for pushing a baby around in <nannies pushing perambulators around London's Hyde Park> — see BABY CARRIAGE

perambulatory adjective
traveling from place to place <perambulatory groups of protesters were all over the city during the political convention> — see ITINERANT

per capita adverb
for each one <we expect the students to receive less funding per capita this year due to a marked increase in the school-age population> — see APIECE

perceive verb
1 to have a vague awareness of <I thought I perceived a problem, but I wasn't sure> — see FEEL 1
2 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <perceived that it was going to be a nice day> — see SEE 1
3 to have a clear idea of <I perceive your point, but I still disagree> — see COMPREHEND 1

percentage noun
a measure of how often an event will occur instead of another <since most car thefts are never solved, there will always be greedy people ready to take advantage of this percentage> — see PROBABILITY 2

perceptible adjective
able to be perceived by a sense or by the mind <you should note a perceptible temperature change when you add the second element>

Synonyms
appreciable, apprehensible, detectable, discernible (also discernable), distinguishable, palpable, sensible

Related Words
audible, observable, tangible, visible; clear, conspicuous, evident, eye-catching, manifest, noticeable, obvious, plain, ponderable, prominent, striking; apparent, distinct, identifiable, significant, straightforward

Near Antonyms
inaudible, intangible, invisible; inconspicuous, indistinct, unnoticeable, unobtrusive; faint, insignificant, slight, trivial; buried, concealed, covert, disguised, hidden, obscure, shrouded, vague

Antonyms
impalpable, imperceptible, inappreciable, indistinguishable, insensible, undetectable

perception noun
1 the ability to understand inner qualities or relationships <a writer of considerable perception, she remembers how it feels to be confused and insecure> — see WISDOM 1
2 the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something <a growing perception of the enormity of the problem> — see COMPREHENSION

perceptive adjective
1 able to sense slight impressions or differences <due to their ability to rotate their ears, cats are very perceptive when it comes to pinpointing the source of a sound> — see ACUTE 1
2 having or showing deep understanding and intelligent application of knowledge <a perceptive therapist was able to discover what was really troubling the youth> — see WISE 1

perceptiveness noun
1 the ability to understand inner qualities or relationships <the author's keen perceptiveness allows her some unique insights into the lives of real-life heroes> — see WISDOM 1
2 the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences <a drama critic who was much respected for the perceptiveness of his critical observations> — see ACUITY

perceptivity noun
1 the ability to understand inner qualities or relationships <with great perceptivity the author sees that the controversy embroiling the town is really about class and cultural differences> — see WISDOM 1
2 the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences <the perceptivity of that epicure's palate is legendary in food and wine circles> — see ACUITY

perch verb
1 to come to rest after descending from the air <pigeons perching on the roof> — see ALIGHT 1
2 to establish or place comfortably or snugly <perched the baby in a basket> — see ENSCONCE 1

perchance adverb
it is possible <perchance he is playing the devil's advocate, and the opinions he has expressed are not actually his own> — see PERHAPS

percipience noun
the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something <a novelist who reveals an exceptional percipience of human aspirations and desires> — see COMPREHENSION

percolate verb
to flow forth slowly through small openings <water percolating through the coffee filter> — see EXUDE

percolate (into) verb
to spread throughout <the closing shot of the film is one of those iconic images that has long since percolated into the cultural consciousness> — see PERMEATE

perdition noun
the place of punishment for the wicked after death <simple stupidity is not enough to doom one to perdition> — see HELL 1

perdure verb
to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state <in so many ways, the influence and legacy of the Roman empire perdures to this very day> — see CONTINUE 1

peregrinate verb
1 to make one's way through, across, or over <Jack Kerouac's celebrated novel about penniless free spirits peregrinating the United States> — see TRAVERSE
2 to take a trip especially of some distance <a couple of backpacking college students who decided to spend the summer peregrinating around Ireland> — see TRAVEL 1

peregrination noun
a going from one place to another usually of some distance <planning a leisurely peregrination across Europe for our honeymoon> — see JOURNEY

peregrine adjective
traveling from place to place <a loyal cadre of peregrine workers who follow the presidential candidate from primary to primary> — see ITINERANT

peremptoriness noun
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <the peremptoriness that was all too apparent in his voice irritated everyone> — see ARROGANCE

peremptory adjective
1 fond of ordering people around <the governor's peremptory personal assistant began telling the crowd of reporters and photographers exactly where they had to stand> — see BOSSY
2 forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law <a peremptory summons to appear before the committee> — see MANDATORY
3 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <she had such a peremptory approach to running the club that people started to avoid her> — see ARROGANT
4 having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity <a peremptory insistence that the staff wait on them first> — see ARBITRARY 1

perennial adjective
having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish <her perennial pessimism was really starting to annoy her coworkers> — see ABIDING

perfect adjective
1 being entirely without fault or flaw <a stunningly perfect performance—not the slightest mistake—won her the gold medal in women's figure skating>

Synonyms
absolute, faultless, flawless, ideal, immaculate, impeccable, indefectible, irreproachable, letter-perfect, picture-book, picture-perfect, seamless, unblemished

Related Words
consummate, expert, masterly; classic, dandy, excellent, fabulous, fine, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, marvelous (or marvellous), prime, superb, superior, superlative, terrific, top, top-notch, unsurpassed; completed, finished, perfected, polished; complete, entire, intact, whole; mint, unbruised, undamaged, unimpaired, uninjured, unmarred, unspoiled; exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special; airtight, bulletproof; accurate, correct, exact, precise; inerrant, infallible, unerring, unfailing

Near Antonyms
deficient, inadequate, incomplete, insufficient, wanting; unfinished, unpolished; fallible; blemished, blighted, broken, damaged, defaced, disfigured, impaired, injured, malformed, marred, misshapen, spoiled, vitiated; atrocious, execrable, wretched; imprecise, inaccurate, incorrect, inexact, wrong

Antonyms
amiss, bad, censurable, defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect, reproachable

2 having no exceptions or restrictions <living in perfect happiness in the country> — see ABSOLUTE 2
3 not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it <I have a perfect recollection of that conversation> — see COMPLETE 1

perfect verb
1 to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done <perfected the arrangements for their long-awaited European vacation> — see FINISH 1
2 to make better <an art teacher who seems to believe that you can always perfect a painting with some additional brush strokes> — see IMPROVE

perfection noun
1 exceptionally high quality <Louis Comfort Tiffany produced art glass of such exquisite perfection that he has achieved cult status> — see EXCELLENCE 1
2 the most perfect type or example <Rembrandt's portraits are the perfection of the art of using facial expression, pose, and gesture to reveal the subject's interior life> — see QUINTESSENCE 1
3 the quality or state of being very accurate <audio recordings were reaching a level of perfection that earlier technicians had never dreamt possible> — see PRECISION

perfectly adverb
1 without any flaws or errors <you did that handspring perfectly on your first try>

Synonyms
faultlessly, flawlessly, ideally, immaculately, impeccably, pat

Related Words
excellently, fabulously, finely, grandly, greatly, marvelously, superbly, superiorly, superlatively, terrifically; exceptionally, fancily, specially

Phrases
to a nicety, to a T, to a turn, to the nines

Near Antonyms
deficiently, inadequately, incompletely, insufficiently; fallibly; atrociously, execrably, wretchedly

Antonyms
amiss, badly, defectively, faultily, imperfectly

2 to a full extent or degree <you know perfectly well what I'm talking about, so don't pretend> — see FULLY 1

perfectness noun
the quality or state of being without restriction, exception, or qualification <the perfectness of my happiness during that long-ago summer idyll can scarcely be described> — see ENTIRENESS

perfervid adjective
having or expressing great depth of feeling <the perfervid prose of a romance novel> — see FERVENT 1

perfidious adjective
not true in one's allegiance to someone or something <a perfidious campaign worker revealed the senator's strategy to his leading rival for the nomination> — see FAITHLESS

perfidiousness noun
lack of faithfulness especially to one's husband or wife <perfidiousness seems to descend to a whole other level when a husband cheats on a wife who's terminally ill> — see INFIDELITY 1

perfidy noun
1 lack of faithfulness especially to one's husband or wife <he decided to forgive his wife's perfidy, choosing to ascribe it to a moment of uncharacteristic weakness> — see INFIDELITY 1
2 the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another <the full cost—both in compromised intelligence and in human life—of the double agent's perfidy is not yet known> — see BETRAYAL

perforate verb
to make a hole or series of holes in <he perforated the sheet with his pencil and put it in his binder>

Synonyms
bore, drill, hole, pierce, punch, puncture, riddle

Related Words
broach, tap; poke, prick, prickle; penetrate; burrow (into), excavate, gouge, groove, hollow; break, cut, gash, notch, rend, rupture, slash, slit, split

Near Antonyms
fill, patch, plug, seal

perforation noun
1 a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument <absentmindedly made perforations in his paper with his pencil> — see PRICK 1
2 a place in a surface allowing passage into or through a thing <poked the button through a perforation in the fabric> — see HOLE 1

perforce adverb
because of necessity <we must, perforce, deal with this issue immediately, as procrastination is not an option> — see NEEDS

perform verb
1 to carry through (as a process) to completion <she performed the task quickly and expertly>

Synonyms
accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off, carry out, commit, compass, do, execute, follow through (with), fulfill (or fulfil), make, negotiate, perpetrate, prosecute, pull off, put through

Related Words
bring about, effect, effectuate, implement; ace, nail; engage (in), practice (also practise); work (at); reduplicate, reenact, repeat; actualize, attain, realize; complete, end, finish, wind up

Phrases
go through

Near Antonyms
fail; skimp, slight, slur

2 to have a certain purpose <the kidneys perform as a filtering system for the blood> — see FUNCTION
3 to present a portrayal or performance of <has always dreamed of performing Hamlet on stage> — see ACT 1
4 to produce a desired effect <the new medication performed surprisingly well> — see ACT 2

performance noun
1 a presentation of an artistic work (as a piece of music) from a particular point of view <a disappointing, lackluster performance of a classic of the musical theater> — see ACCOUNT 2
2 the doing of an action <the performance of her nightly ritual, the taking of a warm bath, calmed her> — see COMMISSION 2

perfume noun
a sweet or pleasant smell <the perfume of fresh flowers filled the room> — see FRAGRANCE

perfume verb
to fill or infuse with a pleasant odor or odor-releasing substance <roses perfumed the wedding chapel> — see SCENT 1

perfumed adjective
having a pleasant smell <delicately perfumed stationery> — see FRAGRANT

perfunctory adjective
having or showing a lack of interest or concern <the violinist delivered a perfunctory performance that displayed none of the passion and warmth he was once known for> — see INDIFFERENT 1

perhaps adverb
it is possible <perhaps we will not have to take this exam, but I doubt it>

Synonyms
conceivably, maybe, mayhap, perchance, possibly

Related Words
likely, probably; certainly, doubtless, sure, surely, undoubtedly; assumably, presumably, presumedly, supposably, supposedly

periapt noun
something worn or kept to bring good luck or keep away evil <even rational, enlightened people have their periapts, which somehow make them feel a little more secure in an uncertain world> — see CHARM 1

peril noun
1 something that may cause injury or harm <life is full of unexpected perils> — see DANGER 2
2 the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil <they were unhappy about sending their son into peril overseas> — see DANGER 1

peril verb
to place in danger <a tribute to the men and women who, as firefighters, peril their lives daily> — see ENDANGER

perilous adjective
involving potential loss or injury <a perilous journey through hostile territory> — see DANGEROUS 1

perimeter noun
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <soldiers guarding the perimeter of the camp> — see BORDER 1

period noun
1 an occurrence of menstruating <girls having their period will be excused from gym class>

Synonyms
menstruation, monthlies

Related Words
menses

2 an extent of time associated with a particular person or thing <the Romantic period in music> — see AGE 1

periodic adjective
1 appearing or occurring repeatedly from time to time <sent out periodic reminders about the office dress code> — see REGULAR 1
2 occurring or appearing at intervals <periodic snow showers that might leave up to an inch> — see INTERMITTENT 1

periodical adjective
1 appearing in parts or numbers that follow regularly <a periodical town newsletter that is supported by local advertisers> — see SERIAL
2 occurring or appearing at intervals <periodical announcements from airline personnel concerning the delay> — see INTERMITTENT 1
3 appearing or occurring repeatedly from time to time <periodical visits to the dentist will help keep your teeth healthy> — see REGULAR 1

periodical noun
a publication that appears at regular intervals <subscribed to three new periodicals> — see JOURNAL 1

peripatetic adjective
traveling from place to place <a peripatetic reporter for a cable news network> — see ITINERANT

peripheral adjective
available to supply something extra when needed <the IT consultant suggested that we update the drivers for all of the computer's peripheral devices> — see AUXILIARY

periphery noun
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <the dogs are confined by an invisible electronic fence that runs along the periphery of the yard> — see BORDER 1

periphrasis noun
the use of too many words to express an idea <congressional hearings into the Watergate scandal were marked by an orgy of periphrasis, the expression “at this point in time” being a memorable example> — see VERBIAGE 1

perish verb
1 to stop living <12 people perished in the plane crash> — see DIE 1
2 chiefly British to go through decomposition <after being left out in the summer heat, the milk perished and had to be thrown out> — see DECAY 1

perk noun
something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed <the salary's not great, but the perks make up for it> — see BONUS

perk (up) verb
1 to become glad or hopeful <we perked up once the sun came out> — see CHEER UP 1
2 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <the dog tilts her head and perks up her ears whenever someone speaks to her> — see RAISE 1

perkily adverb
in a quick and spirited manner <perkily took over the kitchen and whipped up a meal for her ailing aunt> — see GAILY 2

perky adjective
having much high-spirited energy and movement <a perky cheerleader> — see LIVELY 1

permanent adjective
lasting forever <a temporary compromise has been accepted until a more permanent solution can be agreed upon> — see EVERLASTING 1

permanently adverb
for all time <planned to stay there permanently> — see EVER 1

permeable adjective
capable of being passed into or through <a permeable fabric that allows your body heat to escape will be much more comfortable in the summertime> — see PENETRABLE

permeate verb
to spread throughout <the smell of freshly baked bread permeated the house>

Synonyms
interpenetrate, percolate (into), pervade, riddle, suffuse, transfuse

Related Words
diffuse (through), impregnate, pass (into), penetrate; fill (up); drench, imbue, infuse, saturate, soak, steep; flood, glut

permissible adjective
that may be permitted <deployment overseas would be regarded as a permissible reason for late filing by members of the military>

Synonyms
admissible, allowable

Related Words
acceptable, bearable, endurable, tolerable; accredited, allowed, authorized, certified, endorsed (also indorsed), licensed, OK (or okay), permitted, sanctioned, warranted; lawful, legal, licit; mandatory, ordered, required

Near Antonyms
intolerable, unacceptable, unbearable, unendurable; objectionable; denied, disallowed, refused, rejected, vetoed; repressed, suppressed; outlawed

Antonyms
banned, barred, forbidden, impermissible, inadmissible, interdicted, prohibited, proscribed, verboten

permission noun
the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something <she asked for permission to have a piece of candy> <the President granted permission for the foreign diplomats to have special quarters>

Synonyms
allowance, authorization, clearance, concurrence, consent, granting, green light, leave, license (or licence), sanction, sufferance, warrant

Related Words
imprimatur, seal, signature, stamp; accreditation, certification; liberty, pass; concession, patent, permit; tolerance, toleration; acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent, OK (or okay); accord, grant

Near Antonyms
denial, refusal, rejection, revocation; taboo (also tabu); injunction, veto; deterrence, discouragement, repression, suppression; ban, embargo, exclusion

Antonyms
interdiction, prohibition, proscription

permit verb
1 to give permission for or to approve of <the school won't permit such an activity on its grounds> — see ALLOW 1
2 to give permission to <you are not permitted to swim at the town pond without a season pass> — see ALLOW 2
3 to make able or possible <we'll have our picnic on Thursday, weather permitting> — see ENABLE 1
4 to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference <the college permits way too much drinking, in my opinion> — see ALLOW 3

permit (of) verb
to make possible especially to the exclusion of other possibilites <the photo is too grainy to permit of anything more than a slight enlargement> — see ALLOW OF

pernicious adjective
causing or capable of causing harm <the pernicious effects of illegal narcotics on society> — see HARMFUL

pernickety adjective, chiefly British
hard to please <an Oxford don who's definitely a pernickety old chap> — see FINICKY

perorate verb
to talk as if giving an important and formal speech <an arrogant scholar who never passes up an opportunity to posture and perorate on stunningly unimportant matters> — see ORATE 1

peroration noun
a usually formal discourse delivered to an audience <gave an eloquent peroration celebrating the nation's long tradition of religious tolerance and pluralism> — see SPEECH 1

perpend verb
to give serious and careful thought to <spent the long weekend perpending what he wanted to do with his life> — see PONDER

perpendicular adjective
rising straight up <river rafters staring awestruck at the canyon's nearly perpendicular cliffs> — see ERECT

perpetrate verb
to carry through (as a process) to completion <the anonymity of the Web allows pranksters to perpetrate their hoaxes with impunity> — see PERFORM 1

perpetration noun
the doing of an action <the perpetration of a series of pranks that resulted in an expulsion from school> — see COMMISSION 2

perpetual adjective
1 going on and on without any interruptions <the perpetual rise and fall of the sea> — see CONTINUOUS
2 having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish <freedom of religion is a perpetual right that is guaranteed by the nation's constitution> — see ABIDING
3 lasting forever <an immature jerk who seemed to be in a state of perpetual adolescence> — see EVERLASTING 1

perpetually adverb
1 for all time <a group of jaded teenagers with their perpetually bored expressions> — see EVER 1
2 on every relevant occasion <the perpetually smiling host of the morning talk show> — see ALWAYS 1

perpetuate verb
to give eternal or lasting existence to <we hope to perpetuate this holiday tradition>

Synonyms
eternalize, immortalize

Related Words
commemorate, memorialize; celebrate, enshrine, honor; conserve, keep up, maintain, preserve, support, sustain; defend, guard, protect, safeguard

Near Antonyms
extinguish, put out, snuff (out); annihilate, crush, decimate, demolish, destroy, devastate; eradicate, erase, expunge, extirpate, obliterate, wipe out

perpetuity noun
endless time <lands that should remain in their wild state in perpetuity> — see ETERNITY 1

perplex verb
1 to make complex or difficult <let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns> — see COMPLICATE 1
2 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <the question perplexed me> — see CONFUSE 1

perplexed adjective
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do <the convoluted instructions for calibrating a high-definition television will leave many consumers utterly perplexed> — see HARD PUT

perplexity noun
a state of mental uncertainty <seeing her perplexity, the teacher stepped in with a helpful hint> — see CONFUSION 1

perquisite noun
1 a small sum of money given for a service over and above what is due <give the movers a perquisite if they do a good job> — see 2TIP 1
2 something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed <the use of a company car is one perquisite of the job> — see BONUS

persecute verb
1 to cause persistent suffering to <people who were persecuted simply for practicing their religious faith> — see AFFLICT
2 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <she likes to persecute her sister with pointless, annoying questions at very inopportune times> — see IRRITATE 1

persecuted adjective
suffering grave abuse or injustice at the hands of one in authority <a nation that is still regarded as a refuge for persecuted people from around the world> — see DOWNTRODDEN

persecutor noun
1 a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another <years later his schoolyard persecutor would end up being one of his low-paid employees> — see TORMENTOR
2 one who is obnoxiously annoying <on this flight my airline-appointed persecutor was a chattering nitwit who could not stop talking about himself> — see NUISANCE 1

persevere verb
to continue despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement <although he was frustrated by the lack of financial resources and support, he persevered in his scientific research>

Synonyms
carry on, persist

Related Words
dig in, hang on, keep up; follow through (with); knuckle down

Phrases
gut it out, hang in there

Near Antonyms
give up, knock off, quit; bow, give in, submit, succumb, surrender, yield; falter, hang back, hesitate, shilly-shally, vacillate, waver, wobble (also wabble)

persevering adjective
continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement <at the end of the long, winding trail, persevering hikers will be rewarded with an inviting, secluded lake> — see PERSISTENT

persiflage noun
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks <their tongue-in-cheek persiflage is sometimes mistaken for an exchange of insults by people who don't know them> — see BANTER

persist verb
1 to continue despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement <she persisted in her efforts and eventually got the job she wanted> — see PERSEVERE
2 to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state <my headache persisted for almost the entire day> — see CONTINUE 1

persistence noun
uninterrupted or lasting existence <the persistence of the fever for a week caused me great worry> — see CONTINUATION

persistent adjective
continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement <although his first attempts were singularly unsuccessful, he was persistent in his pursuit of a career in rock music>

Synonyms
dogged, insistent, patient, persevering, pertinacious, tenacious

Related Words
assured, certain, dedicated, determined, firm, hell-bent, intent, positive, resolute, resolved, single-minded, sure; adamant, bullheaded, dogged, hardened, hardheaded, headstrong, implacable, indurate, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, peevish, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, self-willed, stiff-necked, stubborn, unregenerate, unyielding, willful (or wilful); unfaltering, unhesitating, unwavering; resistant, wayward, wrongheaded; constant, devoted, faithful, good, loyal, staunch (also stanch), steadfast, steady, true; indomitable, unconquerable; hard, inflexible, relentless, stern, unbending, unflinching, unrelenting

Near Antonyms
quitting, surrendering, yielding; faltering, hesitant, hesitating, irresolute, vacillating, wavering; disloyal, faithless, false, fickle, inconstant, perfidious, traitorous, treacherous

persnickety adjective
1 hard to please <as she got older, she got more and more persnickety> — see FINICKY
2 requiring much time, effort, or careful attention <lacked the patience to deal with such persnickety tasks as hanging wallpaper> — see DEMANDING 1
3 being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior <his persnickety attitude lost him some friends when they found out what he really thinks of “their kind”> — see SNOBBISH

person noun
a member of the human race <is there any person here who knows how to speak Spanish?> — see HUMAN

personableness noun
the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others <never exactly known for his personableness, our boss unexpectedly showed his warm side at the company picnic> — see AMIABILITY 1

personage noun
1 a member of the human race <these sci-fi conventions attract personages of every description> — see HUMAN
2 a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <personages from the fields of sports and entertainment will be special guests at the political convention> — see CELEBRITY 1

personal adjective
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person <he kept personal items in a separate drawer> — see INDIVIDUAL 1

personal effects plural noun
transportable items that one owns <put all of your personal effects in the bin so that they can be x-rayed> — see POSSESSION 2

personality noun
1 a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <a local television personality who is beloved by area residents> — see CELEBRITY 1
2 the set of qualities that make a person different from other people <she's got a great personality> — see INDIVIDUALITY 1
3 the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others <it has never been in the nation's personality to adhere to a rigid class system> — see NATURE 1
4 an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <every debate that was supposedly about the issues quickly degenerated into a juvenile exchange of personalities> — see INSULT

personalize verb
to represent in visible form <in the character of the good-hearted, virtuous seaman, the author has personalized the concept of perfect innocence> — see EMBODY 2

personalized adjective
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person <a personalized jewelry box that had been engraved with her initials> — see INDIVIDUAL 1

personally adverb
in person and usually privately <the hostess told me personally that I was invited> — see TêTE-à-TêTE

personal property noun
transportable items that one owns <any personal property that is left in the lockers overnight will be impounded> — see POSSESSION 2

personalty noun
transportable items that one owns <and I will my personalty to my children> — see POSSESSION 2

personate verb
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior <likes to personate the man of the world, but he's still the small-town hick that he always was> — see IMPERSONATE 1

personator noun
a person who imitates another's voice and mannerisms for comic effect <the science museum hired an Albert Einstein personator to greet guests for its special exhibit on the scientist> — see MIMIC 1

personification noun
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <he's the personification of kindness> — see EMBODIMENT

personifier noun
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) <hailed the young war hero as a living personifier of all that is right with the generation now coming of age> — see EMBODIMENT

personify verb
to represent in visible form <through her many good works she just personifies the spirit of charity> — see EMBODY 2

personnel noun
a body of persons at work or available for work <we finally have enough personnel to start that big project> — see FORCE 1

perspective noun
1 a way of looking at or thinking about something <whether she was being rude or candid is all a matter of perspective>

Synonyms
angle, eye view, outlook, shoes, slant, standpoint, vantage point, viewpoint

Related Words
interpretation, spin; belief, conviction, eye, feeling, judgment (or judgement), mind, mind-set, notion, opinion, perception, persuasion, sentiment, verdict, view; impression, take

Phrases
frame of reference, point of view

2 all that can be seen from a certain point <the perspective from the hotel balcony was dominated by the lake and mountains> — see VIEW 1

perspicuity noun
clearness of expression <the perspicuity of this author's prose is one of the reasons why her novels are still read and those of her contemporaries are gathering dust> — see SIMPLICITY 2

perspicuous adjective
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <believing that poetry need not be as perspicuous as prose, he writes poems that are intentionally ambiguous> — see CLEAR 2

perspicuousness noun
clearness of expression <the undeniable perspicuousness of the prosecutor's closing argument> — see SIMPLICITY 2

persuade verb
to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest request <she persuaded us that she can indeed communicate with the dead> <he persuaded his teachers to grant an extension>

Synonyms
argue, bring, bring around, convert, convince, gain, get, induce, move, prevail (on or upon), satisfy, talk (into), win (over)

Related Words
blandish, blarney, cajole, coax, entreat, exhort, fast-talk, urge, wheedle; allure, beguile, lead on, lure, seduce, snow, tempt; brainwash, overpersuade; incline, influence, move, prompt, sell, sway; attract, draw, entice, interest; chew over, converse, debate, discuss, dispute, hash (over), moot; reason (with)

Near Antonyms
deter, discourage, dissuade, unsell

persuading noun
the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action <no amount of persuading could make her change her mind> — see PERSUASION 1

persuasion noun
1 the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action <the suffragists' gradual persuasion of the American people that voting rights had to be extended to women>

Synonyms
conversion, convincing, inducement, inducing, persuading, suasion

Related Words
blandishment, cajolement, cajolery, coaxing, entreaty, exhortation, urging, wheedling; seduction, tempting; influencing, prompting, swaying; lobbying, pressuring; brainwashing, overpersuasion

2 a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities <debating theology with someone of a different persuasion> — see RELIGION 1
3 an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge <he's of the persuasion that everything that happens in this world is part of a divine plan> — see OPINION 1
4 the capacity to persuade <there was an inherent persuasion in his sonorous voice that made listeners put aside any misgivings about his message> — see COGENCY 1

persuasive adjective
having the power to persuade <a persuasive argument for increasing funding of the city's library system> — see COGENT

persuasiveness noun
the capacity to persuade <the persuasiveness of her closing statement changed the minds of several jurors who had been leaning toward conviction> — see COGENCY 1

pert adjective
1 having much high-spirited energy and movement <a pert girl who is a member of the cheerleading squad> — see LIVELY 1
2 making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred <a pert retort that irritated the teacher> — see FLIPPANT
3 sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses <a pert suggestion for a truly original marketing campaign> — see PIQUANT

pertain verb
1 to be the property of a person or group of persons <the belief that quality medical care is a right that pertains to everyone> — see BELONG 2
2 to have a relation or connection <a person who is an expert in anything pertaining to the history of the American theater> — see APPLY 1

pertain (to) verb
to have (something) as a subject matter <where would I find books pertaining to birds?> — see CONCERN 1

pertinacious adjective
1 continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement <a pertinacious little boy who was determined to catch and collect reptiles> — see PERSISTENT
2 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <a pertinacious salesman who would simply not take “No!” for an answer> — see OBSTINATE

pertinaciousness noun
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <thanks to his pertinaciousness, he eventually succeeded where all others had failed> — see OBSTINACY

pertinacity noun
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <without the pertinacity of the suffragists, voting rights for women would never have become a reality> — see OBSTINACY

pertinence noun
the fact or state of being pertinent <job applicants should question the pertinence of any questions about their personal lives>

Synonyms
applicability, bearing, connection, materiality, relevance, relevancy

Related Words
appositeness, appropriateness, aptness, felicitousness, fitness, fittingness, rightness, seemliness, suitability, suitableness; importance, significance; usefulness

Near Antonyms
inappositeness, inappropriateness, inaptness, infelicity, unfitness, unsuitability; insignificance; meaninglessness, pointlessness, uselessness

Antonyms
extraneousness, inapplicability, irrelevance, irrelevancy

pertinent adjective
having to do with the matter at hand <he impressed the jury with his concise, pertinent answers to the attorney's questions>

Synonyms
applicable, apposite, apropos, germane, material, pointed, relative, relevant

Related Words
appropriate, apt, fit, fitting, suitable; important, meaningful, significant; sensible, useful; admissible, allowable

Phrases
to the point

Near Antonyms
frivolous, inconsequential, insignificant, little, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant; meaningless, purposeless, senseless, useless; inappropriate, inapt, unsuitable; inadmissible

Antonyms
extraneous, immaterial, impertinent, inapplicable, inapposite, irrelative, irrelevant, pointless

pertly adverb
in a quick and spirited manner <the young girl pertly informed him that he was her favorite uncle> — see GAILY 2

pertness noun
shameless boldness <the startling pertness with which the waitress responded to our request to make a substitution> — see EFFRONTERY

perturb verb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <the caller's strange remark perturbed me enough to keep me awake that night> — see DISTURB 1

perturbation noun
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <in her perturbation she kept calling her son, a freshman, to see if everything was all right at college> — see ANXIETY 1

perturbed adjective
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <a perturbed look betrayed her nervousness at her first job interview> — see NERVOUS 1

perturbing adjective
causing worry or anxiety <the perturbing news meant that we'd have to end our vacation prematurely> — see TROUBLESOME

peruse verb
to go over and mentally take in the content of <perused the manuscript, checking for grammatical errors> — see READ 1

perv noun
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard <an undercover officer visiting chat rooms in search of pervs preying on naive teens> — see DEGENERATE

pervade verb
to spread throughout <the delicious scent of roasting turkey pervaded the house> — see PERMEATE

perverse adjective
1 easily irritated or annoyed <how can you be so cheerful one day, and so perverse the next?> — see IRRITABLE
2 having or showing lowered moral character or standards <social conservatives who believe that Hollywood is a perverse world that exerts an unhealthy influence on the young> — see CORRUPT
3 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <a fact so self-evident that not even the most perverse of opponents could deny it> — see OBSTINATE
4 not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <a convicted criminal seemed like a perverse choice for scoutmaster> — see INAPPROPRIATE

perverseness noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <the kind of perverseness that makes you want to snap at anyone who makes the mistake of greeting you> — see PETULANCE

perversion noun
1 a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <claimed that rap and rock music were responsible for the perversion of the nation's young people> — see CORRUPTION 2
2 incorrect or improper use <if there's a hidden charge for the service, then that's a perversion of the word “free”> — see MISUSE

perversity noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <a certain coworker's habitual perversity makes him unpleasant to be around> — see PETULANCE

pervert noun
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard <longtime residents warned us not to go near the neighborhood pervert> — see DEGENERATE

pervert verb
1 to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of <that summary really perverts the other candidate's views on taxes> — see GARBLE 1
2 to lower in character, dignity, or quality <a movie that perverted the Bible story by reveling in the sinners' lewd behavior until just before the moment of divine retribution> — see DEBASE 1
3 to put to a bad or improper use <accused of perverting the Internal Revenue Service by using it to harass political opponents> — see MISAPPLY

perverted adjective
having or showing lowered moral character or standards <the perverted values of a society that had taken permissiveness to the extreme> — see CORRUPT

pervertedness noun
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <once hailed as a champion of the downtrodden, the cult leader is now remembered for his unspeakable pervertedness> — see CORRUPTION 2

pervious adjective
capable of being passed into or through <the new road has a pervious surface that will cut down on the amount of water that collects on it during heavy rains> — see PENETRABLE

pesky adjective
causing annoyance <the pesky problem of what to do with all the leftovers> — see ANNOYING

pessimist noun
1 one who emphasizes bad aspects or conditions and expects the worst <she's such a pessimist that she's convinced she'll fail every test>

Synonyms
defeatist

Related Words
Cassandra, Jeremiah; cynic, fatalist, nihilist; hardnose, pragmatist, realist; anti-utopian; knocker, naysayer; worrier, worrywart

Near Antonyms
Don Quixote, dreamer, fantast, idealist, idealizer, ideologue (also idealogue), romantic, romanticist, utopian, visionary; sentimentalist

Antonyms
optimist, Pollyanna

2 a person who distrusts other people and believes that everything is done for selfish reasons <a true pessimist, he's convinced that there will be wars as long as there are people to wage them> — see CYNIC

pessimistic adjective
1 emphasizing or expecting the worst <with that pessimistic attitude, it's no wonder you're depressed>

Synonyms
bearish, defeatist, despairing, downbeat, hopeless

Related Words
cynical, fatalistic, nihilist, nihilistic; desperate, discouraging, disheartening, inauspicious, unlikely, unpromising; bleak, cheerless, comfortless, depressing, desolate, dismal, dreary, funereal, gloomy, morose, saturnine, sepulchral, somber (or sombre), sullen; grim; contrary, hostile, negative

Near Antonyms
auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, likely, promising, propitious; cheering, comforting, reassuring; favorable, good, positive; idealist, romantic, utopian, visionary; cheerful, cheery, chipper, sunny

Antonyms
hopeful, optimistic, Panglossian, Pollyanna, Pollyannaish (also Polyannish), rose-colored, rosy, upbeat

2 having or showing a deep distrust of human beings and their motives <pessimistic about the prospects for a lasting peace in the area> — see CYNICAL

pest noun
1 a widespread disease resulting in a high rate of death <one of the great pests of the 20th century was the influenza epidemic of 1918, which killed millions across the globe> — see PLAGUE
2 one who is obnoxiously annoying <stop being a pest to your sister and go find something else to do> — see NUISANCE 1
3 something that is a source of irritation <a never-ending construction project that continues to be a pest for motorists> — see ANNOYANCE 3

pester verb
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation <one resident pestered the condo board about every little thing> — see BOTHER 1

pestering noun
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another <the endless pestering finally drove me to study at the library> — see ANNOYANCE 1

pestiferous adjective
causing annoyance <a pestiferous weed that has given gardeners no end of grief> — see ANNOYING

pestilence noun
a widespread disease resulting in a high rate of death <the fear that terrorists could unleash a pestilence that would wreak unspeakable havoc> — see PLAGUE

pestilent adjective
1 capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another <proper hand washing will help prevent the spread of most pestilent diseases> — see CONTAGIOUS 1
2 causing annoyance <pestilent reporters hounding him night and day> — see ANNOYING
3 likely to cause or capable of causing death <pestilent diseases such as bubonic plague and smallpox> — see DEADLY 1

pestilential adjective
causing annoyance <these pestilential little mosquitoes!> — see ANNOYING

pesty adjective
causing annoyance <a pesty toddler who never stopped asking questions> — see ANNOYING

pet adjective
granted special treatment or attention <spent my free time on my pet project> — see DARLING 1

1pet noun
a person or thing that is preferred over others <the teacher's pet was always getting special privileges> — see FAVORITE

2pet noun
a state of resentful silence or irritability <the teenager stalked off in a pet after being refused permission to go the movies> — see SULK

pet verb
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner <a cat who loves to be petted> — see FONDLE

petition noun
an earnest request <a flurry of petitions from eating and drinking establishments to be exempt from the new antismoking regulations> — see PLEA 1

petition verb
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner <petitioned the judge to be excused from jury duty for financial hardship> — see BEG

petitioner noun
one who asks earnestly for a favor or gift <the lottery winner was beset by a horde of petitioners, all of whom thought that they were most deserving of his charity> — see SUPPLICANT

petrify verb
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality <groupthink and peer pressure have so petrified the thinking of the company's top brass that they haven't produced an innovative product in years> — see DEHYDRATE 1

pettiness noun
the quality or state of being unimportant <the astonishing pettiness of most of the things that she fusses over> — see INSIGNIFICANCE

pettish adjective
easily irritated or annoyed <a pettish baby who always seemed to be crying> — see IRRITABLE

pettishness noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <his self-indulgent pettishness is more than his coworkers should endure> — see PETULANCE

petty adjective
1 not broad or open in views or opinions <a petty little town that was not ethnically diverse and very happy about the situation> — see NARROW 2
2 so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <obsessed over even petty problems> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

petulance noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <I do not appreciate your petulance and eagerness to argue>

Synonyms
biliousness, choler, crankiness, crossness, crotchetiness, grouchiness, grumpiness, huffiness, irascibility, irascibleness, irritability, irritableness, peevishness, perverseness, perversity, pettishness, testiness, waspishness

Related Words
cantankerousness, crustiness, curmudgeonliness, disagreeableness, dyspepsia, fretfulness, orneriness, sulkiness, surliness; aggression, aggressiveness, bellicosity, belligerence, belligerency, combativeness, contentiousness, contrariness, disputatiousness, feistiness, fight, pugnaciousness, pugnacity, quarrelsomeness, scrappiness, truculence, truculency; fussiness, querulousness, rudeness; oversensitiveness, sensitivity, supersensitivity, touchiness; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, fierceness, hostility, jaundice, rancor, unfriendliness; anger, exasperation, fury, indignation, rage, spleen, wrath; hot-bloodedness, passion

Near Antonyms
forbearance, long-suffering, patience, tolerance, understanding; affability, agreeableness, amenity, amicability, cordiality, friendliness, geniality, sociability; amiability, amiableness, good-humoredness, good-naturedness, good-temperedness; coolness, serenity, tranquillity (or tranquility); easygoingness, gentleness, kindliness, mildness

petulant adjective
easily irritated or annoyed <a petulant and fussy man who is always blaming everyone else for his problems> — see IRRITABLE

pewter adjective
of the color gray <a pewter car that's almost invisible in fog> — see GRAY 1

phantasm also fantasm noun
1 a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality <frightened by the phantasms of his own making> — see FANTASY 1
2 the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <believed that she'd seen the phantasm of her father on the anniversary of his death> — see GHOST 1

phantasmal adjective
not real and existing only in the imagination <phantasmal fears that have prevented her from living a normal life> — see IMAGINARY

phantasmic adjective
not real and existing only in the imagination <had spent a restless night during which he was visited by a series of phantasmic figures> — see IMAGINARY

phantom adjective
not real and existing only in the imagination <the company claimed that the only hazards involving its product were the phantom dangers created by consumer groups> — see IMAGINARY

phantom noun
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <Halloween is supposed to be a time when phantoms return to walk among us> — see GHOST 1

pharaoh noun
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way <like some pharaoh of a third-world country, more interested in building monuments to himself than in creating a future for his people> — see DESPOT

pharaonic adjective
unusually large <the building of the Hoover Dam was a construction project of pharaonic proportions> — see HUGE

pharmaceutical noun
a substance or preparation used to treat disease <some pharmaceuticals can be quite risky unless taken correctly> — see MEDICINE

pharmacist noun
a person who prepares drugs according to a doctor's prescription <the pharmacist caught an error in the prescription's dosage> — see DRUGGIST

pharmacy noun
a retail store where medicines and miscellaneous articles are sold <stopped at the pharmacy for tissues and cold medicine> — see DRUGSTORE

phase noun
1 a certain way in which something appears or may be regarded <the moral phase of the problem has yet to be considered> — see ASPECT 1
2 an individual part of a process, series, or ranking <in the final phase of production> — see DEGREE 1

phased adjective
proceeding or changing by steps or degrees <a phased construction of the tunnel through the heart of the city> — see GRADUAL

phase down verb
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <tourism along the coast phases down after Labor Day> — see DECREASE 2

phat adjective, slang
of the very best kind <fans agree that the rapper's latest CD is totally phat> — see EXCELLENT

phenomenal adjective
1 being out of the ordinary <the phenomenal growth that the suburb has experienced over the last decade> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1
2 being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature <the phenomenal ability to remember the names of thousands of people> — see SUPERNATURAL 2

phenomenon noun
something extraordinary or surprising <our jaws dropped when we saw this basketball phenomenon play for the first time> — see WONDER 1

phew interjection
used to express disgust <phew, what a stink!> — see YUCK

philander verb
to be sexually unfaithful <he can't seem to stop philandering, even now that he's on his fifth marriage> — see CHEAT 2

philanderer noun
a man given to seducing women <an incorrigible philanderer who was often in lust and never in love> — see DON JUAN

philanthropic also philanthropical adjective
having or showing a concern for the welfare of others <a philanthropic society that has been doing good for over a century> — see CHARITABLE 1

philanthropy noun
1 a gift of money or its equivalent to a charity, humanitarian cause, or public institution <among the industrialist's philanthropies was a college scholarship fund for deserving students from the inner city> — see CONTRIBUTION
2 the giving of necessities and especially money to the needy <much dedicated to philanthropy, the industrialist maintains a surprisingly modest lifestyle> — see CHARITY 1
3 the quality or state of being generous <a society dowager renowned for her philanthropy> — see LIBERALITY

philharmonic noun
a usually large group of musicians playing together <served as a conductor for the philharmonic> — see 2BAND 1

philippic noun
a long angry speech or scolding <the head coach was briefly suspended after launching into a foul-mouthed philippic during a press conference> — see TIRADE

philistine noun
a person who is chiefly interested in material comfort and is hostile or indifferent to art and culture <the town's philistines who think that spending on the arts is a waste of taxpayers' money>

Synonyms
lowbrow, materialist

Related Words
Babbitt; capitalist, plutocrat; bastard, boob, boor, bounder, cad, chuff, churl, clown, creep, cretin, crud [slang], crumb [slang], cur, dirtbag [slang], fink, heel, jerk, joker, louse, lout, rat, rat fink, rotter, scum, scumbag [slang]

Near Antonyms
highbrow; middlebrow; egghead, intellectual, sage, thinker; brain, genius

philosophy noun
the basic beliefs or guiding principles of a person or group <our philosophy is to do no harm to anyone> — see CREED 1

phlegm noun
a lack of emotion or emotional expressiveness <a man of remarkable phlegm, never showing enthusiasm nor displeasure> — see APATHY 1

phlegmatic adjective
not feeling or showing emotion <a strangely phlegmatic response to what should have been happy news> — see IMPASSIVE 1

phone verb
to make a telephone call to <she phoned her friend to invite her over for dinner> — see CALL 2

phony also phoney adjective
1 being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud <a phony watch with a designer logo> — see COUNTERFEIT 1
2 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <she always has this phony smile just before she betrays you> — see ARTIFICIAL 1
3 not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <her concern for our welfare is as phony as all get-out—she just wants to know our business> — see INSINCERE

phony also phoney noun
1 an imitation that is passed off as genuine <the fancy “emerald” ring turned out to be a phony> — see FAKE 1
2 one who makes false claims of identity or expertise <the person who performed the liposuction operation was later discovered to be a phony> — see IMPOSTOR

phony verb
to imitate or copy especially in order to deceive <the terrorists were able to move around the country using phonied driver's licenses> — see FAKE 1

phony–baloney or phoney–baloney adjective
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <if you believe the company's phony-baloney press releases, it's in business solely for the benefit of mankind> — see INSINCERE

phooey interjection
used to express disgust <phooey, I can't believe we did so poorly in the rankings of the best places to live> — see YUCK

photo noun
a picture created from an image recorded on a light-sensitive surface by a camera <an album of wedding photos> — see PHOTOGRAPH

photo verb
to take a photograph of <photoed the historic mansion for a decorating magazine> — see PHOTOGRAPH

photog noun
one who takes photographs <my friend's a photog for that supermarket tabloid> — see PHOTOGRAPHER

photograph noun
a picture created from an image recorded on a light-sensitive surface by a camera <the old photograph was faded but still clear enough to make out>

Synonyms
photo, pic, print, shot, snap, snapshot

Related Words
blowup, close-up, enlargement, still; telephoto; daguerreotype, ferrotype, monochrome, sepia, tintype

photograph verb
to take a photograph of <we've been photographing the baby virtually nonstop>

Synonyms
mug, photo, shoot, snap

Related Words
image, picture, rephotograph, retake; film, videotape

photographer noun
one who takes photographs <we'll need to choose a photographer for the wedding>

Synonyms
lensman, photog, shooter, shutterbug

Related Words
cinematographer; paparazzo

photo–realistic adjective
closely resembling the object imitated <photo-realistic portraits of birds that caused some gallerygoers to forget that they were looking at paintings> — see NATURAL 2

phrase noun
a sequence of words having a specific meaning <kids drawing literal representations of the phrase “to rain cats and dogs”>

Synonyms
expression, idiom

Related Words
cliché (also cliche); locution, term; epithet, expletive, name; byword, cry, motto, shibboleth, slogan, watchword; archaism, colloquialism, euphemism, modernism, neologism, provincialism, vulgarism

Phrases
figure of speech

phrase verb
to convey in appropriate or telling terms <he had trouble thinking of how to phrase his question for the visiting dignitary>

Synonyms
articulate, clothe, couch, express, formulate, put, say, state, word

Related Words
craft, frame; hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, suggest; paraphrase, rephrase, restate, reword, summarize, translate; communicate, disclose, speak, talk, tell, utter, verbalize, vocalize; describe, render, write up

phraseology noun
1 a distinctive way of putting ideas into words <I recognized the writer's distinctive phraseology even before I saw the name> — see STYLE 1
2 the way in which something is put into words <the unique phraseology of the suspect's answer stuck in my mind> — see WORDING 1

phrasing noun
1 an act, process, or means of putting something into words <research has shown that the phrasing of the question on certain hot-button issues greatly influences the response> — see EXPRESSION 1
2 the way in which something is put into words <a particularly delicate and careful phrasing of the statement regarding the nature of the couple's relationship> — see WORDING 1

phylactery noun
something worn or kept to bring good luck or keep away evil <he wore a small phylactery on a cord around his neck> — see CHARM 1

physic noun
a substance or preparation used to treat disease <the museum has an exhibit on some of the strange physics that were once used to cure disease> — see MEDICINE

physical adjective
1 of or relating to the human body <physical sensations such as heat and pain>

Synonyms
animal, bodily, carnal, corporal, corporeal, fleshly, material, somatic

Related Words
anatomic (or anatomical), physiological (or physiologic); sensual, sensuous; hand-to-hand

Near Antonyms
cerebral, inner, intellectual, mental, psychological (also psychologic); bodiless, immaterial, incorporeal, insubstantial, spiritual; ethereal, metaphysical, psychic (also psychical)

Antonyms
nonmaterial, nonphysical

2 relating to or composed of matter <couldn't tell the difference between a physical object and a shadow in the dim light> — see MATERIAL 1

physician noun
a person specially trained in healing human medical disorders <you should always consult a physician if you develop a high fever> — see DOCTOR

physique noun
the type of body that a person has <she had a well-toned physique>

Synonyms
build, constitution, figure, form, frame, habit, shape

Related Words
anatomy, structure

piazza noun, dialect
a covered structure adjoining an entrance to a building <let's enjoy our mint juleps out on the piazza> — see PORCH

pic noun
a picture created from an image recorded on a light-sensitive surface by a camera <a coworker handed around some vacation pics> — see PHOTOGRAPH

picayune adjective
1 not broad or open in views or opinions <the picayune ponderings of a commentator who steadfastly believes other cultures are inferior to our own> — see NARROW 2
2 so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <irritatingly picayune complaints> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

picayune noun
something of little importance <our lives don't amount to a picayune in the great scheme of things> — see TRIFLE

pick noun
1 a person or thing that is chosen <that team is my pick to win the Super Bowl> — see CHOICE 2
2 individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <the pick of the contestants will go on to the next competition> — see ELITE 1
3 the power, right, or opportunity to choose <you have first pick of your office mates for the softball team> — see CHOICE 1
4 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <in the days when corporal punishment was permissible, it was not uncommon for an inattentive student to get a sharp pick in the head with a blackboard pointer> — see 1BLOW

pick verb
1 to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use <pick peas and beans from the garden for dinner> — see HARVEST
2 to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities <I pick you as my partner> — see CHOOSE 1
3 to bring (something volatile or intense) into being <he seems to be trying to pick a fight> — see INCITE 1
4 to eat reluctantly and in small bites <still suffering from the shock of his wife's death, he could do no more than pick halfheartedly at his food> — see NIBBLE 1
5 to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <continued to pick the block of ice until she was able to extract the shrimp> — see IMPALE

pick–and–shovel adjective
requiring considerable physical or mental effort <she loves coming up with the “big idea” but hates the actual pick-and-shovel work of starting a new business> — see HARD 2

picked adjective
singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking <a picked group of people for the project> — see SELECT 1

picked up adjective
being clean and in good order <if your room is all picked up, you can go to the party> — see NEAT 1

picker noun
someone with the right or responsibility for making a selection <a book reviewer who is one of the pickers of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction> — see SELECTOR

picket noun
a person or group that watches over someone or something <set out a picket to watch the camp> — see GUARD 1

picking noun
the act or process of selecting <the picking of new recruits went on for three days> — see SELECTION 1

pickle noun
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <well, this is a bit of a pickle we've gotten ourselves into> — see PREDICAMENT

pickled adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <I must have been rather pickled when I agreed to your stupid scheme> — see DRUNK

pick off verb
to stop, seize, or interrupt while in progress or on course <picked off more passes than any other player in the division> — see INTERCEPT

pick up verb
1 to acquire complete knowledge, understanding, or skill in <he has a knack for picking up a language in a few weeks> — see LEARN 1
2 to bring together in one body or place <pick up all of your things because we have to be off this beach before dark> — see GATHER 1
3 to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for <could you pick up some milk at the store?> — see BUY 1
4 to gradually increase in <the boat was just picking up speed when it was rammed by another boat> — see GAIN 1
5 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <pick up your feet while I vacuum in front of the sofa> — see RAISE 1
6 to take or keep under one's control by authority of law <police picked up the fugitive when she went out to buy food> — see ARREST 1
7 to make a place neat and orderly by removing extraneous stuff <I thought you said you had picked up, so why are these things still lying around the rec room?> — see CLEAN UP 1
8 to begin again or return to after an interruption <after the protestors were removed from the auditorium, the speaker picked up his lecture right where he had left off> — see RESUME
9 to make neat <the boy's bedroom looked like it hadn't been picked up in quite a while> — see NEATEN

picky adjective
1 hard to please <a picky cat who would only eat one particular kind of food, and only if it was served in his special dish> — see FINICKY
2 tending to select carefully <she's picky, but she always finds the best quality in fresh meat and fish> — see SELECTIVE

picnic noun
1 a situation or state of carefree comfort <babysitting her sister's three brats for the weekend was no picnic> — see BEER AND SKITTLES
2 something that is easy to do <this class is no picnic, but I've really been learning a lot> — see CINCH 1

pictorial adjective
1 consisting of or relating to pictures <that photojournalist is planning to do a primarily pictorial report on the famine in Africa>

Synonyms
graphic (also graphical), imaginal, visual

Related Words
photographic, video; drawn, painted, represented; illustrational, illustrative; hieroglyphic (also hieroglyphical), iconographic (or iconographical), ideogramic (or ideogrammic), ideogrammatic, ideographic, pictographic

2 producing a mental picture through clear and impressive description <she writes a very pictorial kind of poetry, using words the way a painter applies strokes of color> — see GRAPHIC 1

pictorialize verb
to supplement with pictorial matter for the purpose of explanation or decoration <N.C. Wyeth is remembered for vividly pictorializing a number of classic works of literature> — see ILLUSTRATE 2

picture noun
1 a two-dimensional design intended to look like a person or thing <using only watercolors, she produced a strikingly lifelike picture of her mother>

Synonyms
icon (also ikon), illustration, image, likeness

Related Words
delineation, depiction, representation, resemblance, view; portrait; daub, drawing, finger painting; etching, silhouette, sketch, watercolor; caricature, cartoon, doodle; collage, montage, photograph; hieroglyph, hieroglyphic, ideogram, ideograph; pictograph; diagram

2 a story told by means of a series of continuously projected pictures and a sound track <the actor's latest picture is another thriller> — see MOVIE 1
3 a vivid representation in words of someone or something <the newspaper report gives a detailed picture of the current situation in that troubled country> — see DESCRIPTION 1
4 position with regard to conditions and circumstances <when personal opinion becomes part of the picture, the journalist isn't just reporting the news> — see SITUATION 1
5 something or someone that strongly resembles another <the young teen is the very picture of her mother> — see IMAGE 1
6 something imagined or pictured in the mind <I think I get the picture: you want me to leave> — see IDEA 1
7 pictures plural the art or business of making a movie <hoping for a career in pictures> — see MOVIE 2

picture verb
1 to present a picture of <the famous painting that pictures the Founding Fathers signing the Declaration of Independence>

Synonyms
depict, image, portray, represent

Related Words
delineate, describe, document, render; outline, silhouette, sketch; illustrate, show; diagram; caricature

2 to form a mental picture of <could easily picture the mining town from the vivid description of it in the author's memoirs> — see IMAGINE 1
3 to give a representation or account of in words <pictured the sailing ship in vivid language> — see DESCRIBE 1
4 to make a representation of by producing lines on a surface <the next assignment is to picture your own face using colored pencils> — see DRAW 1

picture–book adjective
being entirely without fault or flaw <the players gave a picture-book performance that will go down in the annals of football as one of the all-time great games> — see PERFECT 1

picture–perfect adjective
being entirely without fault or flaw <it was a picture-perfect day for a picnic—the sun was shining and a light breeze stirred the air> — see PERFECT 1

picturesque adjective
producing a mental picture through clear and impressive description <wrote a picturesque tale of their journey across the country> — see GRAPHIC 1

piddling adjective
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <raised one final, piddling objection to the plan> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

piddly adjective
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <there's only a piddly difference in price between the two paintings, so take whichever you prefer> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

piebald adjective
1 consisting of many things of different sorts <a model who owes his striking good looks to his markedly piebald ethnic background> — see MISCELLANEOUS
2 having blotches of two or more colors <a piebald horse that looked like it had been splashed with black and white paint> — see PIED

piece noun
1 a broken or irregular part of something that often remains incomplete <a piece of stone fell from the crumbling wall> — see FRAGMENT
2 a literary, musical, or artistic production <presented a new interpretation of the piece by Mozart> — see COMPOSITION 1
3 a portable weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder <carrying a piece under his coat> — see GUN 1
4 something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group <believes his piece of the profits should be higher> — see SHARE 1

piece verb
to form by putting together parts or materials <you might want to piece together a quilt from those odd patches of cloth> — see BUILD

piece by piece adverb
by small steps or amounts <worked out the solution piece by piece> — see GRADUALLY

piecemeal adjective
proceeding or changing by steps or degrees <a piecemeal attempt to remedy the traffic congestion> — see GRADUAL

piecemeal adverb
1 by small steps or amounts <remodeled their house piecemeal because of budgetary constraints> — see GRADUALLY
2 into parts or pieces <one well-aimed blow ripped the piñata piecemeal> — see APART

pied adjective
having blotches of two or more colors <although the mother's was pure black, the foal's coat was pied>

Synonyms
blotched, blotchy, dappled (also dapple), marbled, mottled, piebald, pinto, splotched, spotted

Related Words
shaded; checkered, motley, multicolored, polychromatic, polychrome, varicolored, variegated; blotted, brindled (or brindle), calico, specked, speckled, streaked; colored, colorful, pigmented; dotted, peppered, sprinkled; stippled; discolored, dyed, marked, stained; flecked, streaked; bespattered, spattered

Near Antonyms
monochromatic, monochrome, monochromic, solid

pie–eyed adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <if you go out and get pie-eyed tonight, don't bother coming back> — see DRUNK

piehole noun, slang
the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal <“Shut your piehole or I'll shut it for you,” the bully threatened> — see MOUTH 1

pier noun
1 a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers <tied the boat up at the pier> — see DOCK
2 an upright shaft that supports an overhead structure <a bridge pier> — see PILLAR 1

pierce verb
1 to go or come in or into <thoughts of revenge relentlessly pierced her mind> — see ENTER 1
2 to make a hole or series of holes in <pierced his ears with a needle> — see PERFORATE
3 to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <the saber pierced his chest, releasing a spurt of blood> — see IMPALE

piercing adjective
1 causing intense discomfort to one's skin <that light sweater will be no match for the piercing wind outside> — see CUTTING 1
2 marked by a high volume of sound <the frightened child emitted a piercing shriek that could be heard all over the house> — see LOUD 1

piety noun
1 belief and trust in and loyalty to God <her piety is quiet but profound> — see FAITH 1
2 the quality or state of being spiritually pure or virtuous <among fellow clerics he is respected and admired for his piety> — see HOLINESS
3 adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <familial piety keeps me from refusing to help my brother in this financial crisis> — see FIDELITY

piffle noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <the belief that soda is made out of acid is just piffle> — see NONSENSE 1

piffling adjective
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <from his perspective as a billionaire, what the governor got paid was a piffling amount> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

pig noun
one who eats greedily or too much <all-you-can-eat buffets seem to encourage some people to become shameless pigs> — see GLUTTON

pigeon noun
one who is easily deceived or cheated <a confidence man in search of another pigeon> — see 1DUPE

piggish adjective
having a huge appetite <a piggish dog who ate anything left within reach> — see VORACIOUS 1

pigheaded adjective
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <the kind of pigheaded person who seems to believe that facts only confuse an issue> — see OBSTINATE

pigheadedness noun
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <thanks to your pigheadedness we missed our only chance to buy the house at a reasonable price> — see OBSTINACY

pigment noun
a substance used to color other materials <I'm running out of the black pigment>

Synonyms
color, colorant, coloring, dye, dyestuff, stain

Related Words
tint, toner; cast, hue, shade, tinge

pigment verb
to give color or a different color to <pigmented varnishes> — see COLOR 1

pig out verb
to eat greedily or to excess <one holiday when you're expected to pig out on junk food> — see GORGE 2

pigpen noun
a dirty or messy place <your room is a pigpen—so clean it up!>

Synonyms
dump, hellhole, hole, pigsty, shambles, sty

Related Words
chaos, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, disorder, disorganization, mess, muddle, muss; havoc, hell, mare's nest, snake pit; clutter, jumble, litter, mishmash, welter

pigsty noun
a dirty or messy place <the frat house was a pigsty the morning after the bacchanal> — see PIGPEN

1pike noun
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <you can take the pike all the way to the city> — see WAY 1

2pike noun
a weapon with a long straight handle and sharp head or blade <a foot soldier armed with a pike> — see SPEAR

3pike noun
the last and usually sharp or tapering part of something long and narrow <the spear's metal pike was designed to cause a gaping wound when it was pulled out of the victim> — see POINT 2

pike (out or off) verb
to leave a place often for another <early next morning the aloof guest just piked out without saying a word> — see GO 2

piker noun
a mean grasping person who is usually stingy with money <don't be such a piker—live it up a little while you're on vacation!> — see MISER

pikestaff noun
a weapon with a long straight handle and sharp head or blade <pikestaffs were in use from the Middle Ages to the 18th century> — see SPEAR

pilaster noun
an upright shaft that supports an overhead structure <the rectangular pilasters spaced along the building's facade lend an air of classical grandeur> — see PILLAR 1

1pile noun
1 a quantity of things thrown or stacked on one another <a large pile of newspapers that needed to be disposed of>

Synonyms
cock, heap, hill, mound, mountain, stack

Related Words
bank, bar, drift, embankment; bed, layer; mow, pyramid, rick; barrow, cairn, pyre; accumulation, aggregate, array, assemblage, collection, conglomeration, gathering, grouping, hoard, huddle, jumble, knot, pileup

2 a considerable amount <a job that paid piles of money> — see LOT 2
3 a very large amount of money <she made a pile in the stock market just before it headed south> — see FORTUNE 2

2pile noun
1 a soft airy substance or covering <the lush pile of the carpeting> — see 1FUZZ
2 the hairy covering of a mammal especially when fine, soft, and thick <a dog with such a dense pile that he never minded the cold> — see FUR 1

pile verb
1 to lay or throw on top of one another <piled all the clothes on the chair before putting them away>

Synonyms
heap, mound, stack

Related Words
bank; layer, pyramid; accumulate, amass, assemble, collect, concentrate, garner, gather, group, mass; bunch, clump, lump

Antonyms
unpile

2 to gather into a closely packed group <the kids piled into the car> — see 2PRESS 3

pile (up) verb
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass <snow piling up in the driveway at a rapid pace> — see COLLECT 2

pileup noun
a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered over a period of time <a pileup of e-mail messages that needed to be dealt with> — see ACCUMULATION 1

pilfer verb
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <what sort of person would pilfer lunches from the office refrigerator?> — see STEAL 1

pilgrimage verb
to take a trip especially of some distance <tourists pilgrimaging to all of the traditional destinations across Europe> — see TRAVEL 1

pill noun
1 a small mass containing medicine to be taken orally <you'll have to take one of these pills every six hours for your flu>

Synonyms
cap, capsule, lozenge, tablet

Related Words
cure, drug, medication, medicinal, pharmaceutical, physic, remedy, specific; miracle drug, wonder drug; potion, preparation; dosage, dose; drop, gelcap; bolus, pilule

2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <she can be such a pill when things don't go her way> — see JERK 1

pillage noun
valuables stolen or taken by force <the pirate ship was laden with the pillage of merchant ships from across the Spanish Main> — see LOOT 1

pillage verb
to search through with the intent of committing robbery <soldiers pillaging the countryside for anything of value> — see RANSACK 1

pillar noun
1 an upright shaft that supports an overhead structure <the ancient Greek temple boasted graceful marble pillars with richly ornamented tops>

Synonyms
column, pier, pilaster, post, stanchion

Related Words
caryatid, pedestal; buttress, flying buttress; needle, obelisk; pile, piling

2 something or someone to which one looks for support <my father has been my pillar throughout this crisis> — see DEPENDENCE 2

pilot adjective
made or done as an experiment <a new pilot program to train inner-city residents for jobs in the tech sector> — see EXPERIMENTAL 1

pilot noun
one who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft <the airline is seeking experienced pilots to fly the new airplane>

Synonyms
airman, aviator, birdman, flier (also flyer)

Related Words
ace, barnstormer, bush pilot, copilot, flyboy, test pilot; captain, skipper

pilot verb
1 to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed <piloted the figure skater through the national championships> — see GUIDE 1
2 to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front <the lead rider piloted the rest of the team> — see LEAD 1
3 to operate or control the course of <managed to pilot the plane to safety despite the failure of the left engine> — see NAVIGATE 1

pimp noun
a man who solicits clients for a woman who is willing to engage in sexual activities for money <the sting operation nabbed 15 prostitutes and two pimps>

Synonyms
cadet [slang], fancy man, pander, procurer

Related Words
mack daddy [slang]; white slaver

pimp verb
to take unfair advantage of <a movie actress who pimped everybody she ever met as she clawed her way to the top> — see EXPLOIT 1

pimping adjective
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <got paid only a pimping amount of money as a reporter for a small newspaper> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

pimple noun
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin <a painful pimple on his back> — see POCK

pin noun
a lower limb of an animal <a cat that was still a little unsteady on its pins after anesthesia> — see LEG 1

pinch noun
1 an instance of theft <the pinch of my favorite sweater really bugged me!> — see THEFT 2
2 the act of taking into one's control by authority of law <an innocent person caught up in a city-wide pinch of drug dealers> — see ARREST 1
3 a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <this labor pinch means that there'll be long lines at the checkouts> — see DEFICIENCY

pinch verb
1 to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points <the zipper on those jeans always pinches me>

Synonyms
nip

Related Words
crimp, tweak; clasp, clutch, grasp, grip, hold, take

Near Antonyms
drop, free, loose, loosen, release, spring

2 to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <pinched the earrings while the boutique owner was distracted by another customer> — see STEAL 1
3 to take or keep under one's control by authority of law <pinched the purse snatcher just two blocks from where he had robbed the old lady> — see ARREST 1
4 to avoid unnecessary waste or expense <if we pinch hard for the upcoming year, we can probably afford the vacation at that fancy resort> — see ECONOMIZE

pincher noun
one who steals <the pincher of the stolen electronics was caught by the police trying to sell them> — see THIEF

pinch–hit verb
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only <assigned to pinch-hit as a math teacher for the remainder of the semester> — see COVER 1

pinch hitter noun
a person or thing that takes the place of another <the business owners brought in a pinch hitter until a permanent manager could be hired> — see SUBSTITUTE

pinching adjective
giving or sharing as little as possible <neighborhood kids who were trick-or-treating knew better than to bother to knock on that pinching couple's door> — see STINGY 1

pinching noun
the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money <this constant pinching is getting ridiculous—we can afford to turn on one or two lights!> — see PARSIMONY 1

pinchpenny adjective
giving or sharing as little as possible <her pinchpenny parents aren't likely to loan her the money she needs for the down payment> — see STINGY 1

pine (for) verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <pining for a house in the mountains> — see DESIRE 1

pinhead noun
a stupid person <what pinhead put this together backwards?> — see IDIOT

pinheaded adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <pinheaded leadership that got us into this mess> — see STUPID 1

pinhole noun
a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument <pinholes in a bedsheet will look like stars if you shine a light from behind it> — see PRICK 1

pining noun
a strong wish for something <a sudden pining to have steak for dinner> — see DESIRE 1

pinion verb
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains <Joan of Arc was pinioned to a stake and burned as a heretic> — see BIND 1

pink noun
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <the pink of society will be at the gala for the city's opera company> — see ELITE 1

pink verb
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <accidentally pinked my shoulder with his fencing sword> — see IMPALE

pink–slip verb
to let go from office, service, or employment <the company pink-slipped 300 workers in an effort to avoid bankruptcy> — see DISMISS 1

pin money noun
a very small sum of money <the summer intern made only pin money but gained valuable work experience> — see MITE 1

pinnacle noun
the highest part or point <a singer who has reached the pinnacle of success> — see HEIGHT 1

pinpoint adjective
meeting the highest standard of accuracy <the pinpoint measurement of brain tumors is critically important> — see PRECISE 1

pinpoint verb
1 to find out or establish the identity of <pinpointed the culprit by tracking calls from his cell phone> — see IDENTIFY 1
2 to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal <publishers like to be able to pinpoint publicity efforts where they will have the most effect> — see AIM 1

pinprick noun
a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument <the nurse kindly put a decorated bandage over the pinprick from the injection> — see PRICK 1

pinto adjective
having blotches of two or more colors <somehow, the pure white mare had a pinto foal> — see PIED

pint–size or pint–sized adjective
of a size that is less than average <a pint-size wrestler who could defeat opponents twice his size> — see SMALL 1

pinwheel verb
to move in circles around an axis or center <the kayaker had got sucked into the whirlpool, and his kayak was pinwheeling helplessly> — see SPIN 1

pioneer adjective
coming before all others in time or order <the nation's pioneer institution for the education of African-Americans> — see FIRST 1

pioneer noun
a person who settles in a new region <the hardships that the pioneers endured while taming the wilderness> — see FRONTIERSMAN

pioneer verb
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of <he single-handedly pioneered the university's institute for medical research> — see FOUND

pious adjective
1 firm in one's allegiance to someone or something <a pious supporter of his school's athletic teams, during winning and losing seasons alike> — see FAITHFUL 1
2 showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue <a pious woman who decided to become a nun> — see HOLY 1

piousness noun
1 the pretending of having virtues, principles, or beliefs that one in fact does not have <an outward piousness that was just a ploy to get him the support of religious-minded voters> — see HYPOCRISY
2 the quality or state of being spiritually pure or virtuous <the piousness with which he lived every aspect of his life was an inspiration to the other monks at the abbey> — see HOLINESS

1pip noun
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part <a black horse with white pips> — see SPOT 1

2pip noun
something very good of its kind <that new sports car is a real pip> — see JIM-DANDY

3pip noun, chiefly British
the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts <listening to all that chat show blather gives me the pip> — see ANNOYANCE 2

pip verb
to make a short sharp sound like a small bird <baby birds pipping loudly in their nest> — see CHIRP

pipe noun
1 a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) <the plumber came and fixed the water pipe that was leaking>

Synonyms
channel, conduit, duct, leader, line, penstock, trough, tube

Related Words
drain, drainpipe, funnel, hydrant, main, smokestack, spout, standpipe, stovepipe, tile, waste pipe, waterspout; pipage (or pipeage), pipeline, piping

2 an enclosed wooden vessel for holding beverages <a full pipe of wine> — see CASK

pipe verb
1 to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway <piped water into every house> — see CHANNEL
2 to make a short sharp sound like a small bird <the baby piped shrilly in his bed> — see CHIRP

pipe down verb
1 to become still and orderly <if you don't pipe down, we're turning this car around and going straight home!> — see QUIET 1
2 to stop talking <“Pipe down or I'll cancel recess!” the teacher commanded> — see SHUT UP 1

pipe dream noun
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality <opening our own restaurant has long been a pipe dream> — see FANTASY 1

pipeline noun
a direct way of passing along information or supplies <an equipment hauler serves as the columnist's pipeline for gossip about the rock band> <the battle was ultimately lost because the enemy had destroyed our pipeline for resupply>

Synonyms
channel

Related Words
avenue, conduit, route; grapevine, outlet; fountainhead, origin, source, wellspring; supplier; connection, contact

pipe up verb
to voice one's opinions freely with force <don't worry, he'll pipe up if he feels he's being overlooked> — see SPEAK UP

piping adjective
having a high musical pitch or range <the piping sound of the teakettle caught my attention> — see SHRILL

piping hot adjective
having a notably high temperature <the appeal of piping hot cocoa after an afternoon of shoveling snow> — see HOT 1

pippin noun
something very good of its kind <gave a pippin of a commencement speech that earned a standing ovation> — see JIM-DANDY

pip–squeak noun
a person of no importance or influence <I'm not changing my job based on the advice of some pip-squeak who cornered me at a party> — see NOBODY

piquancy noun
the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses <a talk show host known for the quickness and piquancy of his wit> <I appreciated the piquancy of the peppers in the sauce>

Synonyms
nip, pungency, spice, tang, zest, zing

Related Words
raciness, spiciness; fieriness, hotness; acuteness, keenness, sharpness; provocativeness; excitement, invigoration, stimulant, stimulation, stimulus, thrill; bitterness, mordance, trenchancy; flavor, redolence, savor (also savour), savoriness, tastiness

Near Antonyms
flatness, tastelessness; dullness (also dulness), insipidity, monotonousness, monotony, platitude, predictability, sameness, tediousness; blandness, thinness, weakness

Antonyms
insipidity

piquant adjective
sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses <a piquant tidbit of information about the new neighbors> <the piquant cuisine of India boasts some highly spiced dishes>

Synonyms
pert, poignant, pungent, salty, savory (also savoury), zesty, zingy

Related Words
racy, spicy; fiery, gingery, hot, peppery, vinegary; acute, keen; biting, bitter, cutting, mordant, trenchant; animating, energizing, enlightening, exciting, galvanizing, invigorating, piquing, provocative, provoking; ambrosial, appetizing, delectable, delicious, luscious, palatable, scrumptious, toothsome; flavorful, savorous, tasty; absorbing, arresting, engaging, engrossing, enthralling, fascinating, gripping, interesting, intriguing, riveting

Near Antonyms
flat, flavorless, savorless, tasteless; arid, banal, barren, boring, colorless, drab, dreary, dry, dull, flat, humdrum, leaden, monotonous, numbing, pedestrian, ponderous, predictable, stale, stodgy, tedious, tiring, uninteresting, wearisome, wearying; bland, dilute, thin, watery, weak

Antonyms
insipid, zestless

pique noun
the feeling of being offended or resentful after a slight or indignity <in a fit of pique she posted embarrassing photos of her ex-boyfriend on the Internet>

Synonyms
dudgeon, huff, miff, offense (or offence), peeve, resentment, umbrage

Related Words
aggravation, anger, annoyance, bother, botheration, discomfort, exasperation, frustration, grief, irritation, vexation; agitation, angriness, displeasure, distress, disturbance, indignation, irateness, ire, outrage, perturbation, upset; dander, temper; fit, pet, pouts, sulk(s), tantrum, tizzy; affront, barb, brickbat, dig, indignity, insult, put-down, slap, slight, slur

Near Antonyms
satisfaction; appeasement, mollification, pacification; contentment, delight, gratification, happiness, pleasure

pique verb
1 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <her seat companion piqued her by repeatedly poking her in the ribs> — see IRRITATE 1
2 to rouse to strong feeling or action <their sarcastic comments piqued him to respond in kind> — see PROVOKE 1
3 to think highly of (oneself) <she piques herself on her considerable musical abilities> — see PRIDE

piquing adjective
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction <piquing remarks that were said mainly to get a rise out of the other guests at the party> — see PROVOCATIVE

piracy noun
the act or pursuit of robbing ships at sea <many countries have harsh penalties for piracy now>

Synonyms
pirating

Related Words
depredation, despoilment, despoliation, looting, marauding, pillaging, plunder, plundering, raiding, robbery, sacking; privateering

pirate noun
someone who engages in robbery of ships at sea <Sir Francis Drake was a British pirate who preyed on Spanish ships with the connivance of Elizabeth I>

Synonyms
buccaneer, corsair, freebooter, rover

Related Words
despoiler, looter, marauder, pillager, plunderer, raider, robber; privateer

pirate verb
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right <using pirated software that was subject to copyright> — see APPROPRIATE 1

pirating noun
the act or pursuit of robbing ships at sea <officially sanctioned pirating used to be common among warring nations> — see PIRACY

pirouette noun
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point <the ballerina's perfectly executed pirouette> — see SPIN 1

pirouette verb
to move in circles around an axis or center <the ballerina pirouetted across the stage> — see SPIN 1

pistol noun
a very energetic person <a real pistol, she dances rings around the other performers>

Synonyms
dynamo, fireball, live wire

Related Words
bootstrapper, go-ahead, go-getter, highflier (or highflyer), hummer, hustler, powerhouse, rustler, self-starter; achiever, comer, dasher; doer, enterpriser

Near Antonyms
dawdler, idler, loafer, lounger, trifler; clock-watcher, goldbrick, shirker, slacker; couch potato, deadbeat, do-nothing, drone, layabout, lazybones, slouch, slug, slugabed, sluggard; dallier, laggard, lingerer, loiterer, slowpoke, stick-in-the-mud

pit noun
a sunken area forming a separate space <removal of the tree stump left a gaping pit in the yard> — see HOLE 2

pit–a–pat verb
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner <her heart pit-a-patted with surprise> — see PULSATE

pit bull noun
an aggressive and fiercely determined person <a pit bull who won't let anyone stand in her way to the top of the corporate ladder>

Synonyms
barracuda, fire-breather, fire-eater, tiger

Related Words
attack dog, hatchet man; aggressor, bully, shark; go-getter, hustler, live wire, self-starter; battler, fighter, scrapper; diehard, militant

Near Antonyms
pushover, pussycat, reed, softy (or softie), weakling, wimp

Antonyms
milquetoast

pitch noun
1 an act or instance of diving <the daring pitch of the escaped prisoner into the swirling ocean waters at the base of the cliff> — see DIVE 1
2 the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon <the steep pitch of the roof makes it too dangerous to walk on> — see SLANT

pitch verb
1 to fix in an upright position <needed help pitching a tent> — see ERECT 1
2 to cast oneself head first into deep water <when a wave hit the float, I lost my balance and pitched into the lake> — see DIVE 1
3 to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions <the ship pitched in the choppy sea> — see ROCK 1
4 to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <pitched the baseball almost 50 feet> — see THROW 1
5 to get rid of as useless or unwanted <we decided to pitch that whole system and start over again> — see DISCARD
6 to provide publicity for <the cutting-edge ad agency was hired to pitch our products to a younger generation of consumers> — see PUBLICIZE 1
7 to set or cause to be at an angle <the roof should be pitched steeply enough to prevent an excessive accumulation of snow> — see LEAN 1

pitch (upon) verb
to come upon unexpectedly or by chance <at a garage sale you just might pitch upon a table exactly the size you need> — see HAPPEN ON OR UPON

pitch–black adjective
1 being without light or without much light <finding anything in a pitch-black room is almost impossible> — see DARK 1
2 having the color of soot or coal <a pitch-black cat with green eyes> — see BLACK 1

pitch–dark adjective
1 being without light or without much light <with its only light burned out, the closet was pitch-dark> — see DARK 1
2 having the color of soot or coal <on a whim she bleached her pitch-dark hair blond> — see BLACK 1

pitched adjective
1 inclined or twisted to one side <pitched and badly weathered, the fence looked ready to fall down at any moment> — see AWRY
2 running in a slanting direction <a sharply pitched rooftop> — see DIAGONAL

pitcher noun
a handled container for holding and pouring liquids that usually has a lip or a spout <please bring me the pitcher of lemonade from the table>

Synonyms
ewer, flagon, jug

Related Words
carafe, decanter; bucket, pail, pot; bottle, canteen, cup, fiasco, flask, jorum, mug, stein, stoup, tankard; kettle, teakettle; watering can, watering pot; beaker, cruse, vessel

pitch in verb
to make a donation as part of a group effort <everyone at the office pitched in to buy a gift for the soon-to-be-wed couple> — see CONTRIBUTE 1

pitchy adjective
1 being without light or without much light <we stood staring into the pitchy dark forest, trying to determine what had made the strange cry> — see DARK 1
2 having the color of soot or coal <the trigger-happy soldiers couldn't see a thing in the pitchy darkness> — see BLACK 1

piteous adjective
deserving of one's pity <a piteous beggar huddled in the doorway of an abandoned building> — see PATHETIC 1

pitfall noun
1 a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized <buying a house can be full of pitfalls for the unwary>

Synonyms
booby trap, catch, catch-22, gimmick, gotcha, hitch, joker, land mine, snag

Related Words
snare, trap, trip wire, web; hazard, peril, risk; bomb, bombshell, kicker, surprise (also surprize); bait, decoy, lure

2 something that may cause injury or harm <one of the pitfalls of ignorance is that people will also assume you're stupid> — see DANGER 2

pith noun
the central part or aspect of something under consideration <finally got to the pith of the discussion> — see CRUX

pithily adverb
in a few words <the observation that “War is hell” is how General Sherman pithily summed up his experiences in combat> — see SHORTLY 1

pithiness noun
the quality or state of being marked by or using only few words to convey much meaning <the memorable pithiness of Calvin Coolidge's campaign announcement: “I do not choose to run for President in 1928”> — see SUCCINCTNESS

pithy adjective
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <a fairly pithy criticism about a notably lengthy novel> — see CONCISE

pitiable adjective
1 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <the sales presentation was a pitiable display of ineptitude and disorganization> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1
2 deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy) <a pitiable attempt at singing that generated snickers> — see PITIFUL 1
3 deserving of one's pity <a pitiable, starving old dog> — see PATHETIC 1

pitiful adjective
1 deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy) <that piece of junk is a pitiful excuse for a car>

Synonyms
contemptible, despicable, miserable, pathetic, pitiable, sad, sorry, wretched

Related Words
deplorable, discreditable, disgraceful, disreputable, ignominious, infamous, misbegotten, notorious, shameful; abhorrent, abominable, beastly, detestable, hateful, lousy, odious, stinking; bad, inferior, lame, poor; disgusting, dishonorable, shameful; meritless, unworthy, worthless; scandalous, shocking, sordid, unsavory

Near Antonyms
admirable, commendable, creditable, laudable, meritorious, praiseworthy, redoubtable; notable, noteworthy, noticeable, outstanding, reputable, worthy; excellent; flawless, perfect; honorable, noble; honest, straight

Antonyms
decent, presentable, respectable

2 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <a pitiful coward> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1
3 deserving of one's pity <pitiful orphans who had lost everything in the war> — see PATHETIC 1

pitiless adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <gave the beggar in the street a pitiless look and kept on walking> — see HARD 1

pittance noun
a very small sum of money <the internship offers only a pittance for a salary, but it is a great opportunity to gain experience> — see MITE 1

pitter–patter verb
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner <his heart pitter-pattered with excitement as he waited for the right moment to propose> — see PULSATE

pity noun
1 a regrettable or blameworthy act <it's a pity the woodchuck ate all the flowers after you put so much effort into the garden> — see CRIME 2
2 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <a woman of boundless pity who tried to care for every abandoned animal she found> — see HEART 1

pity verb
to have sympathy for <I always pity the people who have to work in this freezing weather>

Synonyms
ache (for), bleed (for), commiserate (with), compassionate, condole (with), feel (for), sympathize (with), yearn (over)

Related Words
care (for); grieve (for), sorrow (for); love; empathize (with), identify (with); tolerate, understand

Near Antonyms
disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook; dislike, hate, scorn

pivot noun
the central part or aspect of something under consideration <an issue that is the real pivot of the controversy> — see CRUX

pivot verb
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis <the telescope is mounted on a tripod so you can easily pivot it for viewing in any direction> — see TURN 1

pivotal adjective
of the greatest possible importance <the report was missing a pivotal piece of information> — see CRUCIAL

pixie also pixy adjective
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <resorted to some pixie high jinks to liven up the office party> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

pixie also pixy noun
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <leave a dish of milk and some bread out for the pixies> — see FAIRY

pixieish adjective
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <the actress had a pixieish quality that served her well in screwball comedies> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

pixilated also pixillated adjective
suffering from mental confusion <a pixilated waitress who couldn't seem to get anything straight> — see DIZZY 2

pizzazz or pizazz noun
the power of irresistible attraction <he doesn't have the pizzazz to be a leading man in the movies> — see CHARM 2

pizzazzy or pizazzy adjective
1 attractively eye-catching in style <the couple's coordinated prom outfits are witty and pizzazzy but still tasteful> — see JAZZY 1
2 having much high-spirited energy and movement <the dance company put on a well-choreographed and pizzazzy performance> — see LIVELY 1

placard noun
a sheet bearing an announcement for posting in a public place <a placard announcing a campaign rally at the downtown plaza> — see POSTER

placard verb
1 to affix (as a notice) to or on a suitable place <placarded the poster about the upcoming play to the bulletin board> — see 1POST 1
2 to make known openly or publicly <placarded the news about the planned construction project all over the neighborhood> — see ANNOUNCE

placate verb
to lessen the anger or agitation of <attempted to placate the screaming child by offering him a cookie> — see PACIFY 1

placating adjective
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility <a placating comment that seemed to calm everyone down a bit> — see PACIFIC 1

placatory adjective
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility <a placatory effort to improve relations with the townspeople, who were upset about the wild campus parties> — see PACIFIC 1

place noun
1 the area or space occupied by or intended for something <the place chosen for the picnic> <there's the place where I left my umbrella>

Synonyms
emplacement, locale, locality, location, locus, point, position, site, spot, venue, where

Related Words
scene; precinct, region, section, sector; here, there

2 a building, room, or suite of rooms occupied by a service business <we're going to our favorite place to eat>

Synonyms
establishment, joint, parlor, salon

Related Words
spot, station; facility, installation; club, house; den, dive, hole

3 an assignment at which one regularly works for pay <a friend got her a place in a department store's clothing department> — see JOB 1
4 an extent or area available for or used up by some activity or thing <let's make a place around our campfire for the newest member of our group> — see ROOM 1
5 the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists <knew his place in the organization> — see ROLE
6 the place where one lives <they have a nice little place in the country> — see HOME 1
7 the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement <came in fourth place in the marathon> — see RANK 1
8 a situation or activity for which a person or thing is best suited <with skills largely limited to those honed from endless hours of video games, he was having a hard time finding a place in the business world> — see NICHE 2
9 an individual part of a process, series, or ranking <well, in the first place, you shouldn't even be here> — see DEGREE 1

place verb
1 to arrange something in a certain spot or position <he carefully placed the flowers in a vase>

Synonyms
depose, deposit, dispose, emplace, fix, lay, position, put, set, set up, situate, stick

Related Words
move, rearrange, reorder, shift; orient; establish, locate, plant, settle; clap, flop, plank, plop, plump, plunk (or plonk), plunk down, slap; ensconce, niche; assemble, collect; carry; berth, park; affix, anchor, lock, lodge, wedge; array, lay out, line up, queue, rank; set down

Near Antonyms
relocate, remove, take; banish; dislodge, displace, replace, supersede, supplant

2 to arrange or assign according to type <I'd place those cyclists in the advanced group for the training ride> — see CLASSIFY 1
3 to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement <I'd place that as roughly the third largest house in the neighborhood> — see ESTIMATE 2
4 to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes <placed second in the competition> — see RANK 1
5 to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty <placed the recent college grad in the company's research and development division> — see APPOINT 2
6 to present or bring forward for discussion <once again the issue of recurrent vandalism at the high school was placed before the town council> — see INTRODUCE 2
7 to provide with a paying job <most of the trainees at the TV station are placed in clerical positions> — see EMPLOY 1

placid adjective
1 free from emotional or mental agitation <an exceptionally placid mother who was rarely upset by her six children> — see CALM 2
2 free from storms or physical disturbance <a placid lake> — see CALM 1
3 free from disturbing noise or uproar <a vacation in the placid lake community> — see QUIET 1

placidity noun
1 a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <the placidity of the area makes it a perfect vacation spot for people who just want to relax> — see CALM 1
2 evenness of emotions or temper <his evident lack of placidity makes him poorly suited for such a stressful job> — see EQUANIMITY
3 freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions <her apparent placidity belied an inner turmoil as she faced a life-altering decision> — see PEACE 2

plague noun
a widespread disease resulting in a high rate of death <the Black Death was a plague that killed about one third of Europe's population in the Middle Ages>

Synonyms
pest, pestilence

Related Words
murrain; epidemic, pandemic; affection, affliction, ailment, contagion, illness, infection, infirmity, malady, sickness; blight, curse, scourge

plague verb
to cause persistent suffering to <plagued by a cough for all of last week> — see AFFLICT

plaguey also plaguy adjective
causing annoyance <I've had this plaguey cough for weeks now> — see ANNOYING

plain adjective
1 free from all additions or embellishment <I like my hamburgers plain, with no ketchup or relish> <just give us the plain facts and none of your snide comments>

Synonyms
bald, bare, naked, plain-vanilla, simple, unadorned, undecorated, unembellished, unornamented, unvarnished

Related Words
denuded, divested, stripped; au naturel, earthy, elemental, homely, natural, unsophisticated; forthright, honest, modest, unpretentious; clean; antiseptic, austere, bleak, severe, spartan, stark; minimalist; inconspicuous, muted, restrained, sober, subdued, toned (down), unobtrusive; conservative, quiet, understated

Near Antonyms
flamboyant, flashy, garish, gaudy, glittery, glitzy, loud, ostentatious, showy, splashy, swank (or swanky), tawdry; bedizened, florid, lurid, ornate; exaggerated, overdecorated, overdone, overwrought; baroque, elaborate, extravagant, ornate, rococo; appareled (or apparelled), arrayed, bedecked, decked-out, dressed, embroidered, garnished, trimmed

Antonyms
adorned, decorated, embellished, fancy, ornamented

2 free from added matter <I'd prefer my pasta plain, not flavored with tomato or spinach or anything else> — see PURE 1
3 free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <their piano teacher is honest and plain, if not always tactful> — see FRANK
4 going straight to the point clearly and firmly <a plain report on the current situation> — see STRAIGHTFORWARD 1
5 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <let me make my meaning plain> — see CLEAR 2

plain adverb
in an honest and direct manner <told her plain that he loved her> — see STRAIGHTFORWARD

plain noun
1 a broad area of level or rolling treeless country <the first settlers in that area lived on the vast plains in lonely log cabins>

Synonyms
campo, champaign, down(s), grassland, heath, lea (or ley), llano, moor, pampa, prairie, savanna (also savannah), steppe, tundra, veld (or veldt)

Related Words
field, meadow; floodplain; bottom, bottomland, flat, lowland; plateau, table, tableland, upland

2 a wide space or area <the vast plains of snow-covered earth that seemed to stretch endlessly> — see EXPANSE

plainly adverb
1 in an honest and direct manner <you'll have to tell your relatives very plainly that you don't like perfume, or they'll keep giving it to you> — see STRAIGHTFORWARD
2 without any question <your wife is plainly upset that you didn't invite her to the game with us> — see INDEED 1

plainness noun
1 the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <his unabashed plainness in telling people exactly what he thought of them was often offensive> — see CANDOR 1
2 the quality or state of having a form or structure of few parts or elements <the plainness and clean lines of that coffeemaker make it a piece of modern sculpture as well as a kitchen appliance> — see SIMPLICITY 1

plainspoken adjective
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <a plainspoken woman who never hesitated to speak the unvarnished truth> — see FRANK

plainspokenness noun
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <a movie reviewer known for his plainspokenness when assessing the latest offerings from Tinseltown> — see CANDOR 1

plaint noun
1 a crying out in grief <the day after the massacre the plaints of bereaved mothers and wives could be heard throughout the village> — see LAMENT 1
2 an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <that taxes are too high is perhaps the most perennial of plaints> — see COMPLAINT 1

plaintiff noun
the person in a legal proceeding who makes a charge of wrongdoing against another <the judge ruled that the plaintiff's lawsuit was groundless, and he dismissed it> — see COMPLAINANT

plaintive adjective
expressing or suggesting mourning <the puppy's plaintive expression after we put the toy away was rather amusing> — see MOURNFUL 1

plaintively adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <the man sighed plaintively as it became clear that he was getting nowhere with the officious bureacrat> — see HARD 2

plain–vanilla adjective
free from all additions or embellishment <we decided to buy the plain-vanilla model because we don't have a lot of money to spend on extras> — see PLAIN 1

plait noun
a length of something formed of three or more strands woven together <she wore a plait down her back that reached her waist> — see BRAID

plait verb
to form into a braid <plaited the doll's hair so it wouldn't tangle> — see BRAID

plan noun
1 a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective <there is a contingency plan in the office for handling almost any emergency>

Synonyms
arrangement, blueprint, design, game, game plan, ground plan, master plan, program, project, road map, scheme, strategy, system

Related Words
collusion, conspiracy, plot; contrivance, device, gambit, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, subterfuge, trick; counterplan, counterstrategy; means, tactic, technique, way; procedure, protocol; conception, idea, projet, proposal, specific(s), specification(s); aim, intent, intention, purpose; diagram, formula, layout, map, pattern, platform, policy, recipe, setup

2 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <our plan is to finish up by next Friday> — see GOAL

plan verb
1 to work out the details of (something) in advance <we planned the school dance down to the smallest detail>

Synonyms
arrange, blueprint, budget, calculate, chart, choreograph, design, frame, lay out, map (out), organize, prepare, project, scheme (out), shape, strategize (about)

Related Words
conspire, contrive, devise, intrigue, machinate, plot, put up; concert, get up; draft, outline, sketch; aim, figure, have on, intend, mean; contemplate, meditate, premeditate

2 to have in mind as a purpose or goal <I plan to have a party for my birthday, even if I have to throw it myself> — see INTEND 1

plane adjective
having a surface without bends, breaks, or irregularities <you can do these tracings on any plane surface> — see LEVEL 1

plane noun
a vehicle for traveling through the air that has fixed wings for lift <a plane flew overhead> — see AIRPLANE

1plane verb
to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps <planed the wood for the picnic table perfectly smooth so that no one would get splinters> — see EVEN 1

2plane verb
to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings <an eagle planed effortlessly overhead, gliding on an air current> — see FLY 1

planet noun
the celestial body on which we live <our collective responsibility to conserve the planet and its natural resources for future generations> — see EARTH 1

planetary adjective
unusually large <a positively planetary new shopping development> — see HUGE

plangent adjective
1 expressing or suggesting mourning <a plangent, haunting song about a long-ago love> — see MOURNFUL 1
2 marked by a high volume of sound <plangent organ music filled the church> — see LOUD 1
3 marked by conspicuously full and rich sounds or tones <the strong, plangent tones of a Louis Armstrong trumpet solo> — see RESONANT

plank verb
to throw or set down clumsily or casually <planked the carton down on the counter and left> — see FLOP 1

plant noun
a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods <a furniture plant that employs hundreds of people> — see FACTORY

plant verb
1 to put or set into the ground to grow <I'll plant the marigold seeds in the spring>

Synonyms
drill, put in, seed, sow

Related Words
bed; replant, transplant; broadcast, scatter; pot; overseed, reseed

Near Antonyms
gather, harvest, reap

2 to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of <soon the sect had planted churches across the breadth of the colony> — see FOUND
3 to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set <a profound respect for Mother Nature that had been planted by long experience with hurricanes> — see IMPLANT 1

plantation noun
a settlement in a new country or region <the struggling plantation almost failed during the first winter> — see COLONY 1

planter noun
a person who cultivates the land and grows crops on it <the planters are too busy around harvest time to pay the tourists much mind> — see FARMER

plash verb
1 to flow in a broken irregular stream <water plashed down the drain> — see GURGLE
2 to move with a splashing motion <a child happily plashing in the tub> — see SLOSH 1
3 to wet or soil by striking with something liquid or mushy <passing cars plashed us with roadside slush> — see SPLASH 2

plaster noun
a medicated covering used to heal an injury <put a plaster on the burn and don't touch it> — see DRESSING 1

plastered adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <I don't believe it: you're totally plastered at your own dinner party> — see DRUNK

plastering noun
failure to win a contest <our team's most recent plastering is just plain sad> — see DEFEAT 1

plastic adjective
1 capable of being easily molded or modeled <Silly Putty is famous for being very plastic>

Synonyms
malleable, moldable, shapable (or shapeable), waxy

Related Words
adaptable; bendable, bendy [chiefly British], ductile, pliable, pliant, supple, waxen, willowy; elastic, flexible, flexile, limber, resilient, workable; bending, giving, kneadable, tractable, yielding

Near Antonyms
inflexible, intractable, rigid, stiff

2 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <there's usually a plastic cordiality at these corporate events> — see ARTIFICIAL 1

plasticity noun
the quality or state of being easily molded <we chose that type of clay for its greater plasticity>

Synonyms
malleability

Related Words
adaptability; ductility, pliability, pliableness, pliancy, pliantness, suppleness; elasticity, flexibility, limberness, resilience, workability, workableness

Near Antonyms
inflexibility, rigidity, stiffness

1plat noun
a length of something formed of three or more strands woven together <a plat of lace> — see BRAID

2plat noun
1 a small area of usually open land <each settler was granted a plat to farm> — see FIELD 1
2 a small piece of land that is developed or available for development <plans to build a shopping center on the last undeveloped plat in town> — see LOT 1

plat verb
to form into a braid <plat yarn into a cord> — see BRAID

plate noun
1 a small thin piece of material that resembles an animal scale <the tiny silver plates on the brooch are arranged to look like fish scales> — see 2SCALE
2 something that visually explains or decorates a text <the book's color plate illustrates the internal organs of the human body> — see ILLUSTRATION 1

plateau noun
a broad flat area of elevated land <Native Americans have inhabited the plateau for centuries>

Synonyms
altiplano, mesa, table, tableland

Related Words
butte, dome, height, highland, upland; karoo (or karroo), puna

plateful noun
a considerable amount <a degree in that field would give you a plateful of possibilities for a career> — see LOT 2

platform noun
1 a level usually raised surface <you'll have to stand up there on the platform for your speech>

Synonyms
dais, podium, rostrum, stage, stand, tribune

Related Words
altar, bimah (also bima), footpace, pulpit; riser, scaffold; balcony, gallery

2 a place or opportunity for communicating ideas and information <for years the publisher has used his newspaper as a platform for his extreme political conservatism> — see VENUE 1

platitude noun
an idea or expression that has been used by many people <“blondes have more fun” is a silly platitude> — see COMMONPLACE

platoon noun
a group of people working together on a task <will need a platoon of assistants to mount the display at the spring flower show> — see GANG 1

plaudit noun, usually plaudits plural
enthusiastic and usually public expression of approval <the proud parents bragged that their daughter had received many plaudits for her academic achievements> — see APPLAUSE 1

plausible adjective
worthy of being accepted as true or reasonable <it's a plausible explanation for the demise of that prehistoric species> — see BELIEVABLE

play noun
1 activity engaged in to amuse oneself <it's such a delight to watch the children in their play>

Synonyms
dalliance, frolic, frolicking, fun, fun and games, recreation, relaxation, rollicking, sport

Related Words
gamboling (or gambolling), romping; amusement, diversion, entertainment; hobby, hobbyhorse, pastime; delight, enjoyment, pleasance, pleasure; friskiness, playfulness, sportiveness, wantonness; devilment, devilry (or deviltry), hanky-panky, hob, impishness, jinks, knavery, mischief, mischievousness, rascality, roguishness, waggery; binge, fling, kick, lark, revel, rollick, spree; hilarity, merriment, merrymaking, revelry, whoopee; buffoonery, high jinks (also hijinks), horseplay, tomfoolery

Near Antonyms
drudgery, labor, work; duty, obligation, responsibility

2 a written work in which the story is told through speech and action that is intended to be acted out on stage <we'll be putting on a school play using that stage>

Synonyms
drama, dramatization

Related Words
interlude, playlet; comedy, comedy drama, docudrama, dramedy, melodrama, monodrama, musical, musical comedy, psychodrama, tragedy, tragicomedy; magnum opus, opus, work; adaptation

3 an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously <I didn't mean to insult anyone, for it was all just play> — see FUN 2
4 the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose <the host's sense of humor was obviously in play during the awards ceremony> — see USE 1
5 a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <the guy at the bar made an unusually creative play to get her phone number> — see TRICK 1

play verb
1 to engage in activity for amusement <told her son that he needed some time to run and play in the yard after his hard work>

Synonyms
dally, disport, frolic, recreate, rollick, skylark, sport, toy

Related Words
cavort, frisk, gambol, romp; dabble, trifle; amuse, divert, entertain; delight, please; dabble, fiddle (around), mess around, putter (around); bum (around), dawdle, goldbrick, hang, hang about [British], idle, loaf, lounge (around or about), relax, rest, screw around, slack (off); jest, joke, tease

Near Antonyms
drudge, labor, plod, plug (away), slave, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, work

2 to present a portrayal or performance of <played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic> — see ACT 1
3 to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior <stop playing the innocent, because I know that you were behind that prank> — see IMPERSONATE 1
4 to spend time in aimless activity <just played around while we waited for the bus to arrive> — see FIDDLE AROUND
5 to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <this is how we're going to play the situation> — see HANDLE 1
6 to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event <figuring that she had little to lose, she played her last few bucks on the state lottery> — see BET

play (on or upon) verb
to take unfair advantage of <the candidate played on the voters' prejudices> — see EXPLOIT 1

play (upon) verb
to control or take advantage of by artful, unfair, or insidious means <played upon the customer's vanity to convince her to buy the expensive makeup kit> — see MANIPULATE 1

play (with) verb
to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously <please don't play with the telephone> — see TAMPER WITH

playacting noun
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive <it was clear to her friends that her reaction to the news was pure playacting> — see MASQUERADE

play–by–play noun
a series of explanations or observations on something (as an event) <on Monday mornings she usually gives her coworkers a detailed play-by-play on how her weekend date went> — see COMMENTARY 1

play down verb
1 to express scornfully one's low opinion of <out of sheer envy, she would always play down her sister's accomplishments> — see DECRY 1
2 to reduce in apparent importance <if you play down your part in the project, you won't get the credit you deserve> — see SOFT-PEDAL

played out adjective
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <I'm just played out after the week I've had> — see WEARY 1

player noun
1 a person who plays a musical instrument <a horn player> — see MUSICIAN 1
2 one who acts professionally (as in a play, movie, or television show) <a troupe of players used to give performances on the town green> — see ACTOR 1
3 one who takes part in something <a significant player in the negotiations> — see PARTICIPANT

playful adjective
given to good-natured joking or teasing <the little girl was lighthearted and playful>

Synonyms
antic, coltish, elfish, fay, frisky, frolicsome, larky, rollicking, sportful, sportive

Related Words
coy, kittenish; gay, happy, lighthearted, whimsical; energetic, frolic, jocund, lively, merry, spirited, sprightly, spunky, vivacious; devilish, impish, knavish, mischievous, pixie (also pixy), rascally, roguish; amusing, diverting, enjoyable, entertaining, fun, pleasurable; dabbling, frivolous, goofy, silly, trifling; delightful, pleasant, pleasing; jesting, jocose, jocular, joking, prankish, teasing

Near Antonyms
dutiful, responsible; grave, grim, serious, solemn, somber (or sombre), stern, stolid; no-nonsense, priggish, starchy, stuffy; decorous, formal, proper, sedate, staid; guarded, inhibited, restrained

Antonyms
earnest, serious-minded, sober, sobersided

playfulness noun
a natural disposition for playful behavior <the playfulness of the kitten can be quite amusing>

Synonyms
coltishness, espièglerie, friskiness, impishness, larkiness, mischief, mischievousness, prankishness, sportfulness, sportiveness, tricksiness

Related Words
coyness, kittenishness; archness, devilment, devilry (or deviltry), hob, rascality, roguishness, waggery; devilishness, diabolicalness, knavery; frivolousness; energy, liveliness, spiritedness, sprightliness, spunkiness, vivaciousness, vivacity; gaiety (also gayety), jocularity, jocundity, lightheartedness, mirthfulness, whimsicality

Near Antonyms
graveness, grimness, serious-mindedness, seriousness, solemnity, solemnness, sternness; priggishness, starchiness, stuffiness; constraint, restraint, self-control

Antonyms
earnestness, soberness, sobersidedness

playhouse noun
a building or part of a building where movies are shown <they're renovating the old playhouse and adding extra screens> — see THEATER 1

play out verb
to make complete use of <we've finally played out the leftovers from that huge holiday meal> — see DEPLETE 1

play up verb
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on <that TV news program plays up sensational stories just to get higher ratings> — see EMPHASIZE 1

plea noun
1 an earnest request <the captive made an impassioned plea for his life to be spared>

Synonyms
adjuration, appeal, conjuration, cry, desire, entreaty, petition, pleading, prayer, solicitation, suit, suppliance, supplication

Related Words
application, requisition; call, claim, demand, insistence

2 an explanation that frees one from fault or blame <my only plea is that I've been overworked lately> — see EXCUSE

plead verb
to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration <can I plead temporary insanity for having made that foolish decision?> — see ARGUE 1

plead (for) verb
to make a request for <the children pleaded for a kitten for Christmas> — see ASK FOR 1

plead (to) verb
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner <weary of charities that are always pleading to people of modest means to contribute even more than they already have> — see BEG

pleader noun
one who asks earnestly for a favor or gift <the parents finally granted the persistent pleader his wish: a puppy> — see SUPPLICANT

pleading adjective
asking humbly <a pleading husband seeking forgiveness once again from his long-suffering wife> — see SUPPLIANT

pleading noun
an earnest request <coldhearted tourists pointedly ignoring the pleadings of the city's many street urchins> — see PLEA 1

pleasant adjective
1 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <the massage was extremely pleasant and relaxing>

Synonyms
agreeable, blessed (also blest), congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, good, grateful, gratifying, heavenly, jolly, luscious, nice, palatable, pleasing, pleasurable, pretty, satisfying, savory (also savoury), sweet, tasty, welcome

Related Words
alluring, attractive, desirable, enviable, inviting, relishable, tempting; charming, enchanting, fascinating; calming, comforting, soothing; amusing, diverting, entertaining, recreative; affable, amiable, cheerful, cheery, comfortable, gemütlich, genial, goodly, good-natured, gracious, hospitable, kindly, personable; blissful, felicific, glad, happy, joyous; elating, exhilarating, intoxicating; ecstatic, euphoric, nirvanic, rapturous

Near Antonyms
abominable, ghastly, god-awful, hellish, horrid, miserable, wretched; bilious, disgusting, distasteful, obnoxious, offensive, repellent (also repellant), repugnant, repulsive, revulsive, unsavory, vile, yucky (also yukky); abhorrent, detestable, hateful, odious; boring, commonplace, dull, flat, insipid, irksome, stale, tedious; displeasing, dissatisfying; depressing, disheartening, dismal, dreary, gloomy, heartbreaking, heartrending, joyless, lachrymose, sad, unhappy; deplorable, doleful, dolorous, lamentable, lugubrious, mournful, regrettable, sorrowful, tragic (also tragical); aggravating, annoying, exasperating, irritating, peeving, perturbing, vexing; forbidding; hostile, intimidating; angering, enraging, incensing, inflaming (also enflaming), infuriating, maddening, outraging, rankling, riling; distressing, disturbing, upsetting

Antonyms
disagreeable, pleasureless, unpalatable, unpleasant, unwelcome

2 having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations <she has a reputation among the employees for being a demanding boss, but she's unexpectedly pleasant outside of work> — see AMIABLE

pleasantly adverb
in a pleasing way <we were pleasantly surprised by their offer to put us up for the night> — see WELL 5

pleasantness noun
the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others <his habitual pleasantness makes him everyone's first choice for a party guest> — see AMIABILITY 1

pleasantry noun
1 an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners <“how are you” is merely a social pleasantry> — see CIVILITY 1
2 something said or done to cause laughter <his after-dinner speeches usually include the sort of gentle pleasantry that raises a chuckle> — see JOKE 1

please verb
1 to give satisfaction to <fresh flowers please me greatly>

Synonyms
agree (with), content, delight, feast, gas [slang], glad [archaic], gladden, gratify, pleasure, rejoice, satisfy, suit, warm

Related Words
appease, mollify, pacify, placate, soothe; assuage, quench, sate, satiate; excite, tickle, titillate; amuse, divert, entertain, treat; captivate, charm; galvanize, thrill; calm, comfort; cater (to), humor, indulge; coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

Near Antonyms
aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, cross, exasperate, gall, get, grate, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, perturb, pique, put out, ruffle, vex; anger, enrage, incense, inflame (also enflame), infuriate, madden, outrage, rankle, rile, roil, steam up; provoke, rouse; agitate, distress, disturb, fret, upset; harass, harry, pester; affront, insult, offend

Antonyms
displease

2 to see fit <clearly, you are going to do as you please no matter what I advise> — see CHOOSE 2

pleased adjective
1 experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight <she looked pleased with the gift> — see GLAD 1
2 feeling that one's needs or desires have been met <a sleepy, pleased cat> — see CONTENT

pleasing adjective
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <pleasing music in the background> — see PLEASANT 1

pleasingly adverb
in a pleasing way <the dining room at the inn has a pleasingly old-fashioned look to it> — see WELL 5

pleasurable adjective
1 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <a pleasurable hot bath after a tiring day> — see PLEASANT 1
2 providing amusement or enjoyment <a number of pleasurable additions to the state fair this year> — see FUN

pleasurably adverb
in a pleasing way <we spent a pleasurably hectic day shopping for Christmas presents> — see WELL 5

pleasure noun
1 the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met <nothing gives me more pleasure than a hot meal after a long day>

Synonyms
content, contentedness, contentment, delectation, delight, enjoyment, gladness, gratification, happiness, relish, satisfaction

Related Words
afterglow; bliss, felicity, glee, gleefulness, joy, pleasance; amusement, diversion, entertainment; elatedness, elation, exhilaration, exultation, intoxication; ecstasy, euphoria, heaven, rapture; cheer, cheerfulness, exuberance, gaiety (also gayety), jollity, joyfulness, jubilation; joie de vivre; comfort, ease, restfulness

Near Antonyms
misery, sadness, unhappiness, wretchedness; anguish, desolation, joylessness, sorrow, woe; dejection, depression, despondency, dispiritedness, gloom, melancholy; aggravation, annoyance, exasperation, irritation, pique, vexation; anger, fury, rage; agitation, distress, disturbance, upset; discomfort, restlessness, uneasiness

Antonyms
discontent, discontentedness, discontentment, displeasure, dissatisfaction, unhappiness

2 a source of great satisfaction <the new car is a real pleasure to drive> — see DELIGHT 1
3 someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment <a good-humored girl who's a pleasure to be around> — see FUN 1

pleasure verb
to give satisfaction to <a wine that is sure to pleasure even the most discriminating palate> — see PLEASE 1

pleat verb
to form into a braid <pleat ribbons> — see BRAID

plebeian adjective
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <wondered what the people at the country club would think of his plebeian origins> — see IGNOBLE 1

plebeians plural noun
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite <the current administration evidently believes that we plebeians cannot withstand a dose of harsh reality> — see MASS 1

plebs plural noun
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite <the tabloids know that there's more money to be made from the antics of celebs than from the problems of the plebs> — see MASS 1

pledge noun
1 something given or held to assure that the giver will keep a promise <I was required to leave my keys as a pledge that I would bring the car back>

Synonyms
gage, guarantee, guaranty, pawn, security

Related Words
bail, bond; deposit, down payment, earnest, handsel; surety, warranty; assurance, oath, promise, troth, word; commitment, compact, contract, covenant; recognizance

2 a person's solemn declaration that he or she will do or not do something <made a pledge to quit smoking> — see PROMISE

pledge verb
1 to obligate by prior agreement <I would love to go to dinner with you, but I've pledged myself to a play with my parents that night>

Synonyms
commit, engage, mortgage, troth

Related Words
affiance, betroth, plight, promise, swear, vow; contract, enlist, enroll (also enrol), sign on, sign up; overcommit

Near Antonyms
renege

2 to leave as a guarantee of repayment of a loan <pledged their house against the loan> — see PAWN
3 to make a solemn declaration of intent <I pledge that I will abide by all of the rules of this organization> — see PROMISE 1

plenary adjective
not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it <the delegation to the international convention was given plenary authority to negotiate a treaty in the nation's best interest> — see COMPLETE 1

plenitude noun
1 a considerable amount <there's a plenitude of natural beauty in the state> — see LOT 2
2 an amount or supply more than sufficient to meet one's needs <a plenitude of food for the dinner party> — see PLENTY 1

plenteous adjective
being more than enough without being excessive <a plenteous supply of napkins for the backyard barbecue> — see PLENTIFUL

plentiful adjective
being more than enough without being excessive <a plentiful amount of strawberries that will be more than enough for a couple of pies>

Synonyms
abundant, ample, aplenty, bounteous, bountiful, comfortable, cornucopian, galore, generous, liberal, plenteous, plenty

Related Words
extra, supernumerary, surplus; abounding, blooming, overflowing, plump, replete, rich, rife, teeming, wealthy; adequate, enough, sufficient; fat, fecund, fertile, fruitful, luxuriant, prodigal, prolific; copious, fulsome, lavish, profuse

Phrases
all kinds of, thick on the ground

Near Antonyms
deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, wanting; meager (or meagre), niggardly, stingy; skimpy; least, minimum; light, slight, small; barren, infertile, sterile, unfruitful, unproductive

Antonyms
bare, minimal, scant, spare

plentitude noun
1 a considerable amount <that new baby is in for a plentitude of love> — see LOT 2
2 an amount or supply more than sufficient to meet one's needs <a plentitude of lumber for the current housing market> — see PLENTY 1

plenty adjective
being more than enough without being excessive <we've picked plenty blueberries, so there'll be some left over after we make the pie> — see PLENTIFUL

plenty noun
1 an amount or supply more than sufficient to meet one's needs <you'll have plenty of time to make your connecting flight>

Synonyms
abundance, cornucopia, feast, plenitude, plentitude, plethora, superabundance, wealth

Related Words
adequacy, competence, competency, sufficiency; ampleness, amplitude, liberality; excess, overdose, overflow, overkill, oversupply, redundancy, superfluity, superfluousness, surfeit, surplus; copiousness, fecundity, fertility, fruitfulness, opulence, richness; lavishness, luxuriance

Phrases
embarrassment of riches

Near Antonyms
paucity, poverty, scarcity; barrenness, infertility, sterility

Antonyms
deficiency, inadequacy, insufficiency, undersupply

2 a considerable amount <plenty of people showed up> — see LOT 2

pleonastic adjective
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea <a writer whose penchant for pleonastic phrasings would suggest that he is in dire need of a hard-nosed editor> — see WORDY 1

plethora noun
1 an amount or supply more than sufficient to meet one's needs <a biology textbook that is helpfully illustrated with a plethora of excellent illustrations> — see PLENTY 1
2 the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <the author offers a plethora of detail that tends to overwhelm the reader> — see EXCESS 1

plethoric adjective
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <the plethoric opulence of the mansions built by the robber barons> — see EXCESSIVE

pliable adjective
1 able to bend easily without breaking <the wooden strips become more pliable if they are first soaked in water> — see WILLOWY
2 capable of being readily changed <with such iffy weather, we had to keep our vacation schedule fairly pliable> — see FLEXIBLE 1

pliant adjective
able to bend easily without breaking <a pliant branch bent low with the weight of ripe fruit> — see WILLOWY

plod verb
1 to devote serious and sustained effort <plodded night and day to get the assignment done> — see LABOR
2 to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually <oxen plodding through deep mud> — see FLOUNDER 1
3 to move slowly <plodded reluctantly off to work> — see CRAWL 2
4 to move heavily or clumsily <wayfarers plodding across the sandy wastes> — see LUMBER 1

plodder noun
someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others <the guide halted the tour group so that the plodders who had fallen behind could catch up> — see SLOWPOKE

plop verb
to throw or set down clumsily or casually <plopped his backpack down on a chair> — see FLOP 1

plot noun
1 a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends <the Secret Service uncovered just in time a plot to assassinate the President>

Synonyms
conspiracy, design, intrigue, machination, scheme

Related Words
counterconspiracy, counterplot; frame-up; manipulation, subterfuge, trickery; artifice, contrivance, cover-up, dodge, draft, maneuver, stratagem, trick; cabal, confederacy, ring; game, gimmick, racket; ground plan, program, strategy, system; collusion, complicity, connivance, conniving, conspiration

2 a small area of usually open land <grew vegetables in a little plot> — see FIELD 1
3 a small piece of land that is developed or available for development <subdivided the old farm into plots for tract houses> — see LOT 1
4 the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work <wrote novels in which the plot was always subordinate to the characterizations> — see ACTION 2

plot verb
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends <mobsters were caught plotting to take over the company>

Synonyms
collude, compass, connive, conspire, contrive, intrigue, machinate, put up, scheme

Related Words
counterplot; brew, concoct, cook (up), devise, hatch; engineer, jockey, maneuver, manipulate; design, frame, lay out, map, plan, shape

plow verb
1 to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement <we'll have to get out there and plow and plant both fields before it rains>

Synonyms
break, furrow

Related Words
cultivate, till; fallow; harrow, hoe, list, rake, rototill

2 to devote serious and sustained effort <plowed determinedly through the weighty tome> — see LABOR

ploy noun
1 a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <asking me to take her shopping turned out to be a ploy to get me to the surprise party> — see TRICK 1
2 a time or instance of carefree fun <wanted one grand ploy through Europe before settling down and raising a family> — see FLING 1

pluck noun
1 the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force <a quick pluck pulled the hair right out> — see PULL 1
2 the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship <it takes pluck to survive a crippling car accident and still go on to become successful> — see FORTITUDE

pluck verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <the Internet opened up a whole new medium for con artists to pluck the gullible> — see FLEECE

plug verb
1 to close up so that no empty spaces remain <plugged the hole in the wall with putty> — see FILL 2
2 to devote serious and sustained effort <plugged away at solving the math problem> — see LABOR
3 to provide publicity for <the actress is giving lots of interviews to plug her latest movie> — see PUBLICIZE 1
4 to strike with a missile from a gun <the drug lord plugged the stool pigeon as a lesson for any others who were tempted to talk> — see SHOOT 3

plug (up) verb
to prevent passage through by filling with something <hair plugged up the drain> — see CLOG 1

plugger noun
a person who does very hard or dull work <the quiet pluggers are the ones who really keep this company going> — see SLAVE 2

plug–ugly noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <sent over a couple of hulking plug-uglies to rough up the store owner> — see HOODLUM

plum noun
someone or something unusually desirable <that job is considered a real plum in the broadcasting business> — see PRIZE 1

plumb adjective
1 having no exceptions or restrictions <a horror movie that's plumb trash and further evidence of the deterioration of popular culture> — see ABSOLUTE 2
2 rising straight up <the wall was not plumb, so everything else in the room was out of kilter> — see ERECT

plumb adverb
1 in a direct line or course <I can't believe he walked plumb into the tree, without even seeing it!> — see DIRECTLY 1
2 chiefly dialect to a full extent or degree <I'm plumb tuckered out> — see FULLY 1
3 without delay <we had no sooner resolved that crisis than we plumb rushed into another one> — see IMMEDIATELY

plumb verb
to measure the depth of (as a body of water) typically with a weighted line <plumbed the bay to make sure it was deep enough for the ship> — see 2SOUND 1

plume noun
something given in recognition of achievement <the Nobel Prize for Literature is the plume that all authors covet> — see AWARD 1

plume verb
to think highly of (oneself) <that jerk plumes himself on his supposed athletic skills> — see PRIDE

plummet verb
to go to a lower level especially abruptly <a week in which stock prices plummeted> — see DROP 2

plump adjective
having an excess of body fat <she's been plump all her life, and her sister has always been skinny> — see FAT 1

plump adverb
in a direct line or course <there was a squirrel on the sidewalk plump in front of us> — see DIRECTLY 1

plump noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <angrily gave a plump of his fist against the door> — see 1BLOW

plump verb
to throw or set down clumsily or casually <plumped herself down on the couch and turned on the TV> — see FLOP 1

plump (for) verb
to promote the interests or cause of <will plump for any candidate who supports stem cell research> — see SUPPORT 1

plumpness noun
1 the condition of having an excess of body fat <a woman of considerable plumpness sat down next to me and proceeded to take up most of the bench> — see CORPULENCE
2 the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <the astonishing plumpness that is so often found in the speech of the very young or the very old> — see CANDOR 1

plunder noun
1 valuables stolen or taken by force <the thieves were promptly arrested when they tried to sell their plunder> — see LOOT 1
2 chiefly dialect transportable items that one owns <with all of our plunder in the pickup, we headed for the state that bills itself as the Last Frontier> — see POSSESSION 2

plunder verb
to search through with the intent of committing robbery <the escaped convict plundered the house in search of valuables> — see RANSACK 1

plunge noun
1 an act or instance of diving <a plunge off a diving board> — see DIVE 1
2 the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude <an overnight plunge in temperature sent the thermometer to below the freezing mark> — see DESCENT 1

plunge verb
1 to cast oneself head first into deep water <she took a deep breath and plunged from the side of the pool> — see DIVE 1
2 to go to a lower level especially abruptly <prices for those televisions have really plunged since they were first introduced> — see DROP 2
3 to lead or extend downward <a stairway plunging into darkness> — see DESCEND 1

plunk or plonk verb
to throw or set down clumsily or casually <plunked a battered hat on his head> — see FLOP 1

plunk (for) or plonk (for) verb
to promote the interests or cause of <I'm willing to plunk for any program that will reduce carbon emissions> — see SUPPORT 1

plus noun
1 something added (as by growth) <a recalculation of the year's income that resulted in a plus in the company's profits> — see INCREASE 1
2 the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <the supply of cranberries is greatly in plus of the demand for them in the market> — see EXCESS 1

plush adjective
1 having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) <a particularly plush and buttery chardonnay> — see FULL-BODIED
2 showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort <a plush estate filled with priceless art and antiques> — see LUXURIOUS 1

plushly adverb
in a luxurious manner <the plushly furnished cabin alone is worth the price we've paid for this Caribbean cruise> — see HIGH

plushy adjective
showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort <a plushy Parisian hotel where a night's stay commands a king's ransom> — see LUXURIOUS 1

plus or minus adverb
close to but not exactly <I have plus or minus five dollars in change> — see APPROXIMATELY

plutocrat noun
a wealthy person <the 19th-century plutocrats who built their enormous summer “cottages” in Newport> — see CAPITALIST

plutonian adjective
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the rows of abandoned, boarded-up tenement houses made for a rather plutonian landscape> — see GLOOMY 1

ply noun
an attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting especially without considering any other possibilities <since taking a ply to French burgundies, he's hardly even looked at anything else in the wine store> — see BIAS 1

1ply verb
to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively <she plied all of her charm and intelligence to convince everyone to volunteer as tutors> — see EXERT

2ply verb
to cause to twine about one another <two single yarns were plied together to get the fabric that smooth, firm feel> — see INTERTWINE 1

pneumatic adjective
having a well-proportioned feminine figure <a movie star who is remembered mainly as a pneumatic sex symbol of the 1950s> — see CURVACEOUS

poach verb
to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam <poaching fish in a stock flavored with white wine> — see BOIL 2

po'boy also poor boy noun
a large sandwich on a long split roll <ordered a fried catfish po'boy> — see SUBMARINE

pock noun
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin <noticed strange pocks on his torso>

Synonyms
boil, fester, hickey, papule, pimple, pustule, whelk, zit [slang]

Related Words
blackhead, blister, milium, whitehead; bump, lump, protuberance; sore, wart, weal, welt

pocket adjective
1 of a size that is less than average <a pocket dictionary> — see SMALL 1
2 of or relating to money, banking, or investments <his pocket involvement in the company was minimal> — see FINANCIAL

pocket noun
available money <the engagement ring I wanted to buy for her was beyond my pocket> — see FUND 2

pocket verb
1 to refrain from openly showing or uttering <pocketed my anger and just let the insult pass> — see SUPPRESS 2
2 to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <she casually pocketed the note from his desk to read later> — see STEAL 1
3 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <meekly pocketed his wife's verbal abuse> — see BEAR 2

pocketbook noun
a container for carrying money and small personal items <she pulled some lip balm out of her pocketbook> — see PURSE

pocket–size also pocket–sized adjective
of a size that is less than average <a pocket-size country in the Pyrenees> — see SMALL 1

pockmark noun
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing <the explosion left little pockmarks all over the face of the adjacent building> — see BLEMISH

pococurante adjective
having or showing a lack of interest or concern <she has put up a strangely pococurante front throughout this whole ordeal> — see INDIFFERENT 1

pod noun
something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <a fuel pod> — see 1CASE 1

podgy adjective, chiefly British
having an excess of body fat <a podgy little bookseller with a shop in Notting Hill> — see FAT 1

podium noun
a level usually raised surface <the conductor on the podium tonight is one of the leading figures of classical music> — see PLATFORM 1

poem noun
a composition using rhythm and often rhyme to create a lyrical effect <your assignment is to write two poems about springtime>

Synonyms
lyric, rune, song, verse

Related Words
rhyme (also rime); ballad, lay; anacreontic, clerihew, dithyramb, eclogue, elegy, English sonnet, epic, epigram, epode, epopee, epos, georgic, idyll (also idyl), jingle, lament, limerick, madrigal, ode, pastoral, pastorale, psalm, rondeau, rondel (or rondelle), rondelet, sonnet, triolet, villanelle; haiku, senryu, tanka; blank verse, free verse, minstrelsy, poesy, poetry, versification, vers libre

poesy noun
writing that uses rhythm, vivid language, and often rhyme to provoke an emotional response <in olden days young gentlemen were expected to be proficient in the art of poesy> — see POETRY 1

poet noun
a person who writes poetry <Emily Dickinson is famous as the poet who rarely left the house but often journeyed to the depths of the human heart>

Synonyms
bard, minstrel, muse, poetaster, rhymester (also rimester), versifier

Related Words
poetess; poet laureate; scop, troubadour; epigrammatist, epigrammatizer, lyricist, rhymer, sonneteer; rhapsode, rhapsodist

poetaster noun
a person who writes poetry <she's a poetaster whose verse never rises above what is found on greeting cards> — see POET

poetic adjective
having qualities suggestive of poetry <your description of the sun setting over the Grand Canyon was a particularly poetic piece of writing>

Synonyms
bardic, lyric, lyrical, poetical, poeticized

Related Words
metrical (or metric), rhyming (also riming), rhythmic (or rhythmical); rhapsodic (also rhapsodical); florid, flowery, grandiloquent, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-flown, ornate, purple; glamorized (also glamourized), idealized, romanticized; figurative, metaphoric (or metaphorical), symbolic (also symbolical)

Near Antonyms
factual, literal, matter-of-fact; antipoetic

Antonyms
prosaic, prose, unlyrical, unpoetic

poetical adjective
having qualities suggestive of poetry <love letters that were filled with poetical phrases> — see POETIC

poeticized adjective
having qualities suggestive of poetry <a poeticized depiction of Native American life before the arrival of Europeans> — see POETIC

poetry noun
1 writing that uses rhythm, vivid language, and often rhyme to provoke an emotional response <not all poetry has to rhyme>

Synonyms
minstrelsy, poesy, song, verse

Related Words
rhyme (also rime); blank verse, free verse, vers libre

Antonyms
prose

2 the art or power of speaking or writing in a forceful and convincing way <the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King were filled with the kind of poetry that touches people of all races> — see ELOQUENCE

po–faced adjective, British
not joking or playful in mood or manner <we rarely invite her to our parties because she's always so po-faced> — see SERIOUS 1

poignance noun
a harsh or sharp quality <there's a mean-spirited poignance to the novel's satiric portrait of Hollywood> — see EDGE 1

poignancy noun
a harsh or sharp quality <there was a poignancy to his wit that often left his targets smarting> — see EDGE 1

poignant adjective
1 having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies <a poignant story of a love affair that ends in tragedy> — see MOVING
2 sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses <a poignant truthfulness to the author's observations on marriage> — see PIQUANT

point noun
1 a particular and often important moment in time <it was at that point that I had to stop and check on the experiment>

Synonyms
juncture

Related Words
beat, crack, flash, heartbeat, instant, jiffy, minute, moment, nanosecond, second, shake, split second, tick, trice, twinkle, wink; bit, spell, stretch, while; brink, cusp, nick, threshold, verge; crisis, crunch time, wire

Phrases
moment of truth

2 the last and usually sharp or tapering part of something long and narrow <be careful with the point on that umbrella, or you could hurt someone>

Synonyms
apex, cusp, end, nib, nose, pike, tip

Related Words
pinpoint; prong, tine; barb, jag, prickle, snag, spike, sticker

3 an interval of time just before the onset of something <was at the point of accepting the new job when he realized he didn't want to leave his old one>

Synonyms
brink, cusp, edge, threshold, verge

Related Words
nick

4 a separate part in a list, account, or series <went down the list point by point> — see ITEM 1
5 a single piece of information <two points that are important to remember> — see FACT 3
6 a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part <the little points of gold in the blue ceiling are supposed to represent stars> — see SPOT 1
7 an area of high ground jutting out into a body of water beyond the line of the coast <the racing yacht rounded the point far ahead of its closest rival> — see HEADLAND 1
8 an area of land that juts out into a body of water <Point Reyes, California> — see 2CAPE
9 an individual part of a process, series, or ranking <at this point in your life, you should already be saving for retirement> — see DEGREE 1
10 something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <impeccable politeness has always been her strong point> — see CHARACTERISTIC
11 the area or space occupied by or intended for something <runners began lining up by the starting point> — see PLACE 1
12 the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect <her jokes are often long, rambling stories that have no point whatsoever> — see 1PUNCH 1
13 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <what we're doing does have a point—doesn't it?> — see GOAL
14 the central part or aspect of something under consideration <that clueless reviewer seems to have missed the whole point of the book> — see CRUX

point (to) verb
to serve as a sign or symptom of <the reduced production points to declining efficiency within the plant> — see INDICATE 1

point (toward) verb
to stand or sit with the face or front toward <the town's monument to its lost fishermen points toward the sea, the source of its wealth as well as its sorrow> — see FACE 1

point (up) verb
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on <pointed up his warning by furiously wagging his finger at them> — see EMPHASIZE 1

pointed adjective
1 tapering to a thin tip <the sansevieria's long pointed leaves make it an easily recognized houseplant>

Synonyms
peaked, pointy, sharp, spired, tipped

Related Words
needlelike, spiny; barbed, jagged, pronged, spiked, spikelike, spiky (also spikey); bladelike, knifelike

Near Antonyms
dull, rounded

Antonyms
blunt

2 having to do with the matter at hand <he made a number of pointed remarks on the crisis abroad> — see PERTINENT

pointer noun
1 an arrow-shaped piece on a dial or scale for registering information <the pointer on my bathroom scale must be stuck—I know I lost weight>

Synonyms
hand, index, indicator, needle

Related Words
dial, face, gauge (also gage)

2 a piece of advice or useful information especially from an expert <the instructor gave me a few pointers but otherwise let me do the cooking by myself> — see 1TIP 1

pointless adjective
having no meaning <a pointless remark that left everyone scratching their heads in confusion> — see MEANINGLESS

point man noun
a person who speaks for another or for a group <the point man for the automaker announced a recall of several models with defective parts> — see SPOKESPERSON

point person noun
a person who speaks for another or for a group <she's become known as the point person for the state department's Middle East policy> — see SPOKESPERSON

pointy adjective
tapering to a thin tip <wears high heels with very pointy toes even though they kill her feet> — see POINTED 1

poise noun
1 a condition in which opposing forces are equal to one another <there must be a poise between the rights of the individual and the rights of society> — see BALANCE 1
2 a general way of holding the body <the woman's poise suggested that she was accustomed to having her wishes carried out promptly and without question> — see POSTURE 1

poise verb
1 to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally <the disgraced business executive poised herself for the difficult press conference> — see FORTIFY 1
2 to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air <the falcon poised in the air for an instant before diving to attack its prey> — see FLOAT 1

poison adjective
containing or contaminated with a substance capable of injuring or killing a living thing <the witch gave Snow White a poison apple> — see POISONOUS

poison noun
a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing <the only way to get rid of rats is to leave out poison>

Synonyms
bane, toxic, toxin, venom

Related Words
cancer, contagion, disease, virus; fungicide, germicide, herbicide, insecticide, microbicide, pesticide, toxicant

Near Antonyms
antidote, antivenin, antivenom, mithridate; cure; cure-all, elixir, panacea

poison verb
1 to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable <poisoning the minds of impressionable children with ethnic hatred> — see TAINT 1
2 to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable <exhaust fumes poisoning the air> — see CONTAMINATE
3 to lower in character, dignity, or quality <this party partisanship poisons the national debate we should be having about this urgent problem> — see DEBASE 1
4 to cause to have often negative opinions formed without sufficient knowledge <malicious rumors had poisoned many church members against the new pastor> — see PREJUDICE

poisoned adjective
containing or contaminated with a substance capable of injuring or killing a living thing <leaving poisoned food to try to kill the roaches> — see POISONOUS

poisonous adjective
containing or contaminated with a substance capable of injuring or killing a living thing <some evil person was leaving out poisonous meat for neighborhood dogs to eat>

Synonyms
envenomed, poison, poisoned, toxic, venomous

Related Words
contagious, infectious, infective, pathogenic, pestilent, pestilential; baneful, deleterious, harmful, hurtful, injurious, malignant, nocuous, noxious, virulent; unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome; calamitous, deadly, fatal, fell, lethal, murderous

Near Antonyms
beneficial, curative, healthful, healthy, helpful, palliative, remedial, salubrious, salutary, wholesome; benign, harmless, innocuous, inoffensive; nonfatal, nonlethal

Antonyms
nonpoisonous, nontoxic, nonvenomous

1poke noun
1 a quick thrust <please stop giving the cat pokes while it's trying to sleep>

Synonyms
dab, dig, jab, lunge

Related Words
punch; stab, stick; push, shove; jam, jerk, jog, nudge

2 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <you'd better shut up if you don't want a poke on the nose> — see 1BLOW
3 an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <the constantly bickering husband and wife seem unable to let five minutes pass without an exchange of gratuitous pokes> — see INSULT

2poke noun, chiefly Southern & Midland
a container made of a flexible material (as paper or plastic) <the old warning against buying a pig in a poke> — see BAG 1

poke verb
1 to extend outward beyond a usual point <saw his head poking through the window> — see BULGE 1
2 to interest oneself in what is not one's concern <told him to stop poking into other people's business> — see INTERFERE
3 to move or act slowly <just poked around all morning and didn't accomplish much> — see DELAY 1
4 to move slowly <they were just poking along home> — see CRAWL 2

pokey noun, slang
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <joked about the time he passed out on the street and woke up in the pokey> — see JAIL

pokily adverb
at a pace that is less than usual, desirable, or expected <we wandered pokily around the mall while the pharmacist filled the prescription> — see SLOW

poking adjective
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <the poking pace of the repair work has put everything way behind schedule> — see SLOW 1

poky or pokey adjective
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <frustrated with the poky traffic during rush hour> — see SLOW 1

polar adjective
1 being as different as possible <they're friends despite their polar positions on a number of issues> — see OPPOSITE
2 having a low or subnormal temperature <a polar air mass seemed to have settled over our area in January> — see COLD 1

polarity noun
the quality or state of being as different as possible <the polarity of the candidates' views on the issue means that the voters have a clear choice to make> — see CONTRARIETY

polarize verb
to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control <we will need to polarize all of the fractious environmental groups into a united front if we hope to win on this issue> — see CENTRALIZE

polemical also polemic adjective
1 given to arguing <during the Middle Ages even theologians could be surprisingly polemical in their writings> — see ARGUMENTATIVE 1
2 relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions <an unnecessarily polemical look at the supposed incompatibility between science and religion> — see CONTROVERSIAL 1

polestar noun
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle <under the polestar of progress, urban renewal programs gutted the historic districts of many cities> — see COMPASS 1

police noun
1 the department of government that keeps order, fights crime, and enforces statutes <the appearance of a ransom note meant that the teenager's disappearance was now a matter for the police>

Synonyms
law

Related Words
judiciary, jurisprudence, justice

2 a body of officers of the law <the National Guard will serve as backup for the metropolitan police in the event of violent protests>

Synonyms
constabulary, finest, force, fuzz, heat [slang], man, police force

Related Words
bluecoat, bobby [British], bull [slang], constable, cop, copper, gendarme, officer, peeler [British], policeman, police officer, policewoman, shamus [slang], trooper

police force noun
a body of officers of the law <mobilized practically the entire police force to track down the escaped criminal> — see POLICE 2

policeman noun
a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level <reported the crime to the nearest policeman> — see OFFICER 1

police officer noun
a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level <there were police officers directing traffic around the scene of the accident> — see OFFICER 1

policy noun
1 a way of acting or proceeding <it's always been my policy not to spread rumors> — see COURSE 1
2 the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters <you should have exercised greater policy in your online relationships and not divulged so much personal information> — see COMMON SENSE

polish noun
1 a high level of taste and enlightenment as a result of extensive intellectual training and exposure to the arts <acquired a great deal of polish during his year abroad> — see CULTURE 1
2 brightness created by light reflected from a surface <buffed the silver plate to a high polish> — see SHINE 1

polish verb
1 to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure <you'll need to polish your shoes with a clean rag before the performance>

Synonyms
buff, burnish, dress, furbish, gloss, grind, rub, shine, smooth, smoothen

Related Words
sleek, slick; coat, glaze, japan, lacquer, varnish; face, finish, veneer; brighten; file, rasp, sand, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scrub; bob, bone, lap

Near Antonyms
rough (up), roughen, ruffle, scuff (up)

2 to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done <once you polish the article a bit, it'll be ready to submit> — see FINISH 1

polished adjective
1 having a shiny surface or finish <she could see her face reflected in the polished hood of the car> — see GLOSSY
2 having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living <showing the polished manners of a cosmopolitan woman> — see CULTIVATED

polite adjective
1 showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners <it's only polite to hold the door for the person behind you>

Synonyms
civil, courteous, genteel, gracious, mannerly, well-bred

Related Words
attentive, careful, considerate, nice, solicitous, thoughtful; chivalrous, civilized, courtly, gallant, gentlemanlike, gentlemanly, ladylike; ceremonial, ceremonious, red-carpet; couth, formal, smooth, suave, unctuous, urbane; elegant, refined; deferential, dutiful, respectful, submissive, yielding; acceptable, appropriate, becoming, befitting, comme il faut, correct, decent, decorous, fit, fitting, good, meet, proper, respectable, right, seemly, suitable; affable, cordial, friendly, genial, hospitable, pleasant, sociable; felicitous, graceful; demure, humble, meek, modest, unassertive

Near Antonyms
heedless, inconsiderate, thoughtless; audacious, bold, bold-faced, brash, brassy, disrespectful, impertinent, impudent, insolent, lippy, saucy, shameless; boorish, churlish, clodhopping, clownish, loutish, uncouth, vulgar; casual, informal, unceremonious; improper, inappropriate, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, uncalled-for, unrespectable, unseemly; arrogant, conceited, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious

Antonyms
discourteous, ill-bred, ill-mannered, impolite, inconsiderate, mannerless, rude, thoughtless, uncivil, ungenteel, ungracious, unmannered, unmannerly

2 following the established traditions of refined society and good taste <such matters are never mentioned in polite conversation> — see PROPER 1

politeness noun
1 speech or behavior that is a sign of good breeding <the little girl's politeness greatly impressed her teacher>

Synonyms
civility, courteousness, courtesy, genteelness, gentility, graciousness, mannerliness

Related Words
attentiveness, consideration, thoughtfulness; ceremonialness, ceremoniousness, ceremony, formality; chivalrousness, chivalry, courtliness, gallantry, gentlemanliness, knighthood, knightliness; breeding, manners; suaveness, unctuousness, urbanity; elegance, refinement; deference, respect; decency, decorousness, decorum, gentilesse, polish, politesse, propriety, respectability, seemliness; affability, cordiality, friendliness, geniality, hospitality, sociability; felicitousness, gracefulness; humility, meekness, modesty, shyness

Near Antonyms
audaciousness, audacity, boldness, brashness, brassiness, disrespect, impertinence, impudence, insolence, sauciness, shamelessness; boorishness, churlishness, clownishness, loutishness, vulgarity; casualness, informality; delinquency, improperness, impropriety, inappropriateness, incorrectness, indecency; inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness; arrogance, conceit, presumption, pretentiousness

Antonyms
discourteousness, discourtesy, impoliteness, incivility, rudeness, surliness, ungraciousness

2 an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners <inquiring after his wife was a simple politeness> — see CIVILITY 1

politic adjective
1 having or showing tact <the actor is politic in discussing the aborted film project, being content to say that there were “creative differences”> — see TACTFUL
2 suitable for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <it probably would not be politic to tell your boss that his latest idea is the worst thing you've ever heard> — see EXPEDIENT

poll noun
the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth <a jaunty cap was perched on his poll> — see HEAD 1

poll verb
1 to go around and approach (people) with a request for opinions or information <assigned to poll residents on their views about a program for recycling> — see CANVASS 1
2 to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument <time to poll the sheep's wool> — see CLIP 1

poller noun
a person who goes around and approaches people with a request for opinions or information <data gathered by nationwide pollers showed the Republicans in the lead> — see CANVASSER

pollster noun
a person who goes around and approaches people with a request for opinions or information <he wouldn't tell the exit pollster whom he'd voted for> — see CANVASSER

pollutant noun
something that is or that makes impure <filtered the pollutants out of the water> — see IMPURITY 1

pollute verb
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable <outmoded factories polluting the air> — see CONTAMINATE

polluted adjective
containing foreign or lower-grade substances <called in to clean up the polluted stream> — see IMPURE 1

poltergeist noun
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <we thought a poltergeist was knocking dishes off the shelves, but it turned out to just be vibrations from passing trains> — see GHOST 1

poltroon adjective
having or showing a shameful lack of courage <a military commander who was so poltroon that he surrendered without having fired so much as a single shot> — see COWARDLY

poltroon noun
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <those poltroons in the state legislature who have caved in to bigotry on this important issue of basic civil rights> — see COWARD

poltroonery noun
a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <decried the poltroonery of those politicians who caved into pressure from the special interests> — see COWARDICE

polychromatic adjective
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <a polychromatic tropical bird> — see COLORFUL

polychrome adjective
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <polychrome pottery featuring designs from the American Southwest> — see COLORFUL

polygraph noun
an instrument for detecting physical signs of the tension that goes with lying <intelligence agents were trained to fool the polygraph> — see LIE DETECTOR

pommel verb
to strike repeatedly <the elderly woman pommeled the would-be thief with her handbag until he begged for mercy> — see BEAT 1

pomposity noun
1 an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <restaurant reviews that are written with a pomposity that will leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth> — see ARROGANCE
2 an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <his over-the-top trophy mansion should give you some idea of his pomposity> — see COMPLACENCE 1

pompous adjective
1 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <the pompous waiter served us in the manner of a person doing some poor soul a great favor> — see ARROGANT
2 having too high an opinion of oneself <a pompous piano teacher who thought that the music world was lucky to have her> — see CONCEITED
3 self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance <a pompous gambling casino decorated to look like a palace in ancient Rome> — see PRETENTIOUS 1

pompousness noun
1 an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <offended by the pompousness of the minor official> — see ARROGANCE
2 an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <the pompousness of the self-made billionaire was evident in the gaudy mansion he built for himself> — see COMPLACENCE 1

ponder verb
to give serious and careful thought to <I'm pondering whether or not I should join another committee>

Synonyms
chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, debate, deliberate, entertain, eye, kick around, meditate, mull (over), perpend, pore (over), question, revolve, ruminate, study, think (about or over), turn, weigh, wrestle (with)

Related Words
muse (upon), reflect (on or upon), reminisce; analyze, explore, review; conclude, reason; second-guess, speculate (about); brood (about or over), dwell (on or upon), fixate (on or upon), fret (about or over), obsess (about or over); believe, conceive, opine; absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in)

Phrases
beat one's brains out (about), chew on, cudgel one's brains (about), look at

Near Antonyms
disregard, ignore, overlook, slight; dismiss, pooh-pooh (also pooh), reject

ponderous adjective
1 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <fell asleep during the ponderous speech> — see BORING
2 having great weight <those ponderous pachyderms more commonly known as elephants> — see HEAVY 1
3 difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design <lugged a ponderous movie camera all over China> — see CUMBERSOME

ponderousness noun
the state or quality of being heavy <the sheer ponderousness of each stone of the huge pyramid makes its construction all the more remarkable> — see WEIGHTINESS 1

pontifical adjective
given to or marked by the forceful expression of strongly held opinions <a theater critic known for his pontifical pronouncements on what is or is not worth seeing> — see DOGMATIC

pony up verb
to give what is owed for <despite having good credit, the couple still had to pony up a large down payment for the house> — see PAY 2

pooch noun
a domestic mammal that is related to the wolves and foxes <walking down the street with several pooches on leashes> — see DOG 1

pooch verb, chiefly dialect
to extend outward beyond a usual point <his lower lip pooched out in disappointment> — see BULGE 1

pooh–bah also poo–bah noun
one of high position or importance within a group <an annual clambake that attracts political pooh-bahs from around the state> — see BIG SHOT

1pool noun
a small often deep body of water <a secluded pool that has long been a locally favored spot for skinny-dipping>

Synonyms
billabong [Australian], mere [chiefly British], puddle, stank [British dialect], well

Related Words
basin, hole, sinkhole; swimming pool; lake, pond, water hole

2pool noun
1 a body of persons at work or available for work <a large pool of applicants for the summer internship> — see FORCE 1
2 the number of individuals or amount of something available at any given time <a pool of ideas ready to use whenever the cartoonist needs to meet a deadline> — see SUPPLY
3 a sum of money set aside for a particular purpose <office workers setting up a pool for the collective purchase of lottery tickets> — see FUND 1
4 the total of the bets at stake at one time <two coworkers split last week's football pool> — see POT 1

pooled adjective
used or done by a number of people as a group <pooled coverage of the congressional hearings by the major broadcast networks> — see COLLECTIVE

1poop noun
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal <the mother cat carefully cleaned poop off her newborn kitten's bottom> — see DROPPING 1

2poop noun, slang
information not generally available to the public <the poop was that the ship would be headed to the war zone within a matter of weeks> — see DOPE 1

pooped adjective, slang
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <“I'm really pooped after that hike,” she sighed> — see WEARY 1

poor adjective
1 lacking money or material possessions <every year, we make up a basket of food at Thanksgiving for a poor family in the neighborhood>

Synonyms
beggared, beggarly, broke, destitute, dirt-poor, down-and-out, famished, hard up, impecunious, impoverished, indigent, necessitous, needful, needy, pauperized, penniless, penurious, poverty-stricken, skint [chiefly British], threadbare

Related Words
deprived, disadvantaged, dispossessed, unaffluent, underprivileged; bankrupt, bankrupted, bust (or busted), insolvent; possessionless, ruined; depressed, distressed, hand-to-mouth, hardscrabble, pinched, poorish, reduced, straitened; cash-strapped, low, short, tapped out

Phrases
down on one's luck, out at elbows (or out at the elbows), out of pocket

Near Antonyms
comfortable, prosperous

Antonyms
affluent, deep-pocketed, fat, fat-cat, flush, moneyed (also monied), opulent, rich, silk-stocking, wealthy, well-heeled, well-off, well-to-do

2 producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation <land that is too poor for farming> — see BARREN 1
3 less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <a poor crop because of the drought this year> — see MEAGER
4 falling short of a standard <a pretty poor musician, even for a garage band> — see BAD 1
5 of low quality <the poor workmanship of the goods from that country> — see CHEAP 2
6 deserving of one's pity <aw, the poor kitten hurt its paw> — see PATHETIC 1

poorly adjective
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body <she stayed home because she was feeling poorly> — see SICK 1

poorly adverb
in an unsatisfactory way <he tends to perform poorly on standardized tests> — see BADLY 1

poor–mouth verb
to express scornfully one's low opinion of <regardless of whatever is nominated, there'll be those who will poor-mouth the Oscar nominees> — see DECRY 1

poorness noun
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <each country has its own standard of poorness, and one nation's needy inhabitant can be another's fairly well-off citizen> — see POVERTY 1

pop adjective
enjoying widespread favor or approval <uninterested in the pop fiction that most of the other publishing houses happily churned out> — see POPULAR 1

1pop noun
a loud explosive sound <the soda can opened with a sharp pop> — see CLAP 1

2pop noun
a male human parent <ask your pop if he knows where the keys to the shed are> — see FATHER 1

pop verb
1 to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure <a balloon popped suddenly and startled us all> — see EXPLODE 1
2 to break suddenly with an explosive sound <the last strand popped, causing the chandelier to drop to the floor with a great crash> — see CRACK 1
3 to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive <popping popcorn over a campfire> — see BLAST 1
4 to strike with a missile from a gun <went into the woods hoping to pop the rabbit that was eating our vegetables> — see SHOOT 3

pop (in) verb
to make a brief visit <I just popped in to say hello> — see CALL 3

pop off verb
to stop living <just a matter of time before the geezer pops off, and his gold digger of a wife gets the money> — see DIE 1

poppet noun, Midland
a small figure often of a human being used especially as a child's plaything <a scruffy old poppet that had once belonged to my great grandmother> — see DOLL 1

poppycock noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <starting with the cherry tree, much of what was written by Washington's early biographers was pure poppycock> — see NONSENSE 1

populace noun
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite <high officials awkwardly mingling with the general populace> — see MASS 1

popular adjective
1 enjoying widespread favor or approval <an actor who was popular in the 1970s>

Synonyms
big, crowd-pleasing, du jour, faddish, faddy, fashionable, favorite, happening, hot, in, large, modish, pop, popularized, red-hot, vogue, voguish

Related Words
semipopular; favorite, preferred, selected; desirable, liked, wanted; celebrated, famed, famous, noted, notorious, prominent, renowned, well-known; fabled, fabulous, legendary; leading, notable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable; important, significant

Near Antonyms
washed-up; despised, detested, disliked, hated, rejected; insignificant, unimportant; indistinguished, unexceptional; anonymous, nameless, obscure, unknown; inconspicuous

Antonyms
out, unfashionable, unpopular

2 accepted, used, or practiced by most people <the popular custom of exchanging greeting cards during the holiday season> — see CURRENT 1
3 held by or applicable to a majority of the people <popular opinion on that issue has changed dramatically over the years> — see GENERAL 3
4 of, relating to, or favoring political democracy <a truly popular revolution, not one that replaced one dictatorship with another> — see DEMOCRATIC
5 being within the financial means of most people <from their inception, DVDs were designed to be sold directly to consumers at popular prices> — see ACCESSIBLE 1
6 costing little <we also have the popular models, for those who prefer not to invest too much in a new TV> — see CHEAP 1

popularity noun
the state of enjoying widespread approval <the sudden popularity of low-cut blouses horrified my mother>

Synonyms
fashionability, fashionableness, favor, hotness, modishness, vogue, voguishness

Related Words
craze, fad, mode, rage, style, trend; bandwagon, boom; fame, notoriety, prominence, renown; enthusiasm, fervor, passion

Near Antonyms
oblivion, obscurity

Antonyms
disfavor, unpopularity

popularized adjective
enjoying widespread favor or approval <a recently popularized hobby among kids> — see POPULAR 1

populate verb
to supply with inhabitants <a small island populated only by woodland creatures> — see SETTLE 2

porch noun
a covered structure adjoining an entrance to a building <vacationers relaxing on the inn's spacious front porch>

Synonyms
gallery [Southern & Midland], lanai, piazza [dialect], stoop, veranda (or verandah)

Related Words
galilee, portico; sleeping porch, solarium, sunporch, sunroom (also sun parlor); porte cochere

pore (over) verb
1 to give serious and careful thought to <the committee will probably pore over the results of the study for a long time before making their decision> — see PONDER
2 to go over and mentally take in the content of <he pored over the textbook for hours in preparation for the test> — see READ 1

pornographic adjective
1 dealing in or with explicitly sexual material <opposition to a pornographic bookstore opening in the neighborhood> — see ADULT 2
2 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <the store kept all of its pornographic DVDs locked up, thus ensuring that they would be accessible only to adults> — see OBSCENE 1

porny adjective
1 dealing in or with explicitly sexual material <a collection of porny postcards of the type that American servicemen once brought back from Europe> — see ADULT 2
2 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <found porny pinups on the walls of the serial rapist's apartment> — see OBSCENE 1

porous adjective
capable of being passed into or through <a cleaner that should not be used on porous surfaces> — see PENETRABLE

port noun
a part of a body of water protected and deep enough to be a place of safety for ships <the cruise ship stops at each port for one night only> — see HARBOR 1

portable adjective
capable of being moved especially with ease <a portable stereo system> — see MOVABLE

portal noun
a barrier by which an entry is closed and opened <the main portal to the estate is an elaborate wrought iron gate on the side facing the road> — see DOOR 1

portent noun
1 something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event <a red sky in the morning can be a portent of a coming storm> — see OMEN
2 something extraordinary or surprising <a scout was sent to have a look at this teenage pitcher who was supposed to be the latest portent of the baseball world> — see WONDER 1

portentous adjective
1 being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come <an eerie and portentous stillness hung over the camp the night before the battle> — see OMINOUS
2 causing wonder or astonishment <in 1969 people regarded the first landing on the moon as a truly portentous event> — see MARVELOUS 1

porter noun, chiefly British
a person who tends a door <he generously tipped the porter for hailing a taxi> — see DOORKEEPER

portion noun
1 a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand <he had always just assumed that lifelong bachelorhood would be his portion> — see FATE 1
2 one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled <equal portions of the students' day are devoted to study, recreation, and sleep> — see PART 1
3 something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group <each camper gets an equal portion of the food> — see SHARE 1

portion verb
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals <portioned out the medical supplies equally> — see ADMINISTER 1

portliness noun
the condition of having an excess of body fat <the whole family was known for its portliness> — see CORPULENCE

portly adjective
1 having an excess of body fat <a portly gentleman who clearly didn't get enough exercise> — see FAT 1
2 having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner <walked with the portly grace of the grande dame that she was> — see DIGNIFIED

portmanteau noun
a bag carried by hand and designed to hold a traveler's clothing and personal articles <carried her possessions with her in an old portmanteau> — see TRAVELING BAG

portrait noun
a vivid representation in words of someone or something <his account created in the jurors' heads a detailed portrait of a lonely old man> — see DESCRIPTION 1

portraiture noun
a vivid representation in words of someone or something <the author's meticulous portraiture of a small Midwestern town at the turn of the century> — see DESCRIPTION 1

portray verb
1 to give a representation or account of in words <the author portrays her characters with lifelike vividness> — see DESCRIBE 1
2 to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group <traditionally, European authors portrayed the natives as wise and noble> — see CHARACTERIZE 1
3 to present a picture of <a landscape that portrays the scenery near the town where the painter grew up> — see PICTURE 1
4 to present a portrayal or performance of <gained fame portraying Susan B. Anthony in a one-woman show> — see ACT 1

portrayal noun
a vivid representation in words of someone or something <his novel presents a moving portrayal of a woman searching for personal fulfillment and happiness> — see DESCRIPTION 1

pose noun
a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive <my cheerfulness was just a pose, for I was feeling miserable> — see MASQUERADE

1pose verb
to set before the mind for consideration <posed an interesting question for the visiting astronomer> — see PROPOSE 1

2pose verb
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <utterly posed by the barrage of questions> — see CONFUSE 1

pose (as) verb
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior <posing as a soldier, the spy sneaked onto the base with surprising ease> — see IMPERSONATE 1

position noun
1 an assignment at which one regularly works for pay <he holds the position of manager at the store> — see JOB 1
2 the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists <man's position in the universe> — see ROLE
3 the area or space occupied by or intended for something <I knew that someone had been in the room because the chair was out of its usual position> — see PLACE 1
4 the place where someone is assigned to stand or remain <the soldiers were commanded to hold their position on the hill at all costs> — see STATION 1
5 the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement <holds the lead position in the standings> — see RANK 1

position verb
to arrange something in a certain spot or position <positioned the chairs around the room> — see PLACE 1

positive adjective
1 expressing approval <hoped for a positive reaction from the audience> — see FAVORABLE 1
2 having or showing a mind free from doubt <I'm positive that this is the right direction> — see CERTAIN 2
3 not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <seeks positive proof that UFO's exist> — see IRREFUTABLE

positively adverb
in an approving manner <for the most part audiences have responded positively to his avant-garde music> — see ADMIRINGLY

positiveness noun
a state of mind in which one is free from doubt <I can't state with any positiveness that I know what really happened> — see CONFIDENCE 2

posse noun
a body of employees or servants who accompany and wait on a person <a drug lord and his ever-present posse of sycophants> — see CORTEGE 1

possess verb
to keep, control, or experience as one's own <she possesses a keen insight into people> — see HAVE 1

possessed adjective
free from emotional or mental agitation <remarkably poised and possessed in the midst of all the turmoil> — see CALM 2

possession noun
1 the fact or state of having (something) at one's disposal <a student who was found to have several overdue library books in his possession>

Synonyms
control, enjoyment, hands, keeping

Related Words
ownership, proprietorship; authority, command, dominion, mastery, power; repossession, retention; claiming, collaring, commandeering, confiscation, procurement

Near Antonyms
dispossession, relinquishment, surrendering, transferal

Antonyms
nonpossession

2 possessions plural transportable items that one owns <we packed up all of our possessions and excitedly moved into a new house>

Synonyms
belongings, chattels, duds, effects, gear, goods, holdings, movables (or moveables), paraphernalia, personal effects, personal property, personalty, plunder [chiefly dialect], stuff, things

Related Words
treasures, valuables; appointments, fixtures, furnishings; estate, property, tangibles; collateral

Near Antonyms
immovables, real estate

3 the act or fact of residing in a place <squatters had established possession in the abandoned warehouse> — see OCCUPANCY

possessive adjective
intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness <he was very possessive of his girlfriend's attention, and it was really starting to annoy her> — see JEALOUS 1

possessor noun
one who has a legal or rightful claim to ownership <she was the possessor of several acres of land in the country> — see PROPRIETOR

possibility noun
1 something that can develop or become actual <there's a possibility for violence in the situation> — see POTENTIAL
2 something that might happen <winning the championship is a real possibility for us> — see EVENT 2

possible adjective
1 capable of being done or carried out <I think that building the entire set in two days is possible, albeit difficult>

Synonyms
achievable, attainable, doable, feasible, practicable, realizable, viable, workable

Related Words
practical, reasonable, sensible; contingent, likely, probable; acceptable, believable, conceivable, creditable, plausible, thinkable; actionable, available, usable (also useable)

Near Antonyms
impractical, unrealistic; doubtful, dubious, far-fetched, improbable, unlikely; implausible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable; futile, useless, vain; absurd, fantastic (also fantastical), outlandish, preposterous, ridiculous; unthinkable

Antonyms
hopeless, impossible, impracticable, infeasible, nonviable, unattainable, undoable, unfeasible, unrealizable, unviable, unworkable

2 existing only as a possibility and not in fact <only one of several possible outcomes> — see POTENTIAL

possibly adverb
it is possible <he may possibly recover after such a serious mistake, but it doesn't seem likely> — see PERHAPS

1post noun, chiefly British
communications or parcels sent or carried through the postal system <the post always comes at tea time> — see MAIL

2post noun
1 a specific task with which a person or group is charged <selling lemonade was my post at the church fair> — see MISSION
2 the place where someone is assigned to stand or remain <he wisely stayed at his post during the emergency> — see STATION 1
3 an assignment at which one regularly works for pay <she's held a number of teaching posts at local colleges> — see JOB 1

3post noun
an upright shaft that supports an overhead structure <hung the hammock between a tree and a post in the fence> — see PILLAR 1

1post verb
1 to affix (as a notice) to or on a suitable place <the student organizations generally post their announcements on the campus bulletin board>

Synonyms
placard

Related Words
nail, plaster, tack (up); advertise, announce, bill, blaze, broadcast, call, declare, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish

Near Antonyms
remove, take down

2 to make known openly or publicly <posted the students' grades> — see ANNOUNCE

2post verb
to assign to a place or position <the police are planning to post an officer outside the hospital room of the witness>

Synonyms
detail, station

Related Words
set; appoint; place, position

3post verb
to send through the postal system <be sure to post the letter this afternoon> — see MAIL

postdate verb
to come after in time <the inscription at the base actually postdates the statue itself by a number of years> — see FOLLOW 1

poster noun
a sheet bearing an announcement for posting in a public place <we put up a hundred posters announcing the concert>

Synonyms
bill, placard

Related Words
billboard, sign, signboard; broadside, flyer (also flier), handbill, handout, playbill, show bill; ad, advertisement, announcement, bulletin, dispatch, release

posterior adjective
1 being at or in the part of something opposite the front part <the chapel's posterior location in the church serves to make it a quiet retreat> — see BACK
2 being, occurring, or carried out at a time after something else <artifacts dating from a posterior historical period> — see SUBSEQUENT

posterior noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <the baseball players were always slapping one another on the posterior> — see BUTTOCKS

posterity noun
the descendants of a person, animal, or plant <an association for people who have claims for being the posterity of Thomas Jefferson> — see OFFSPRING

posthaste adverb
with great speed <ran posthaste for the doctor> — see FAST 1

posthumous adjective
occurring after one's death <the soldier was awarded a posthumous medal for valor>

Synonyms
postmortem

Related Words
belated, delayed, late

Antonyms
antemortem

postie noun, British
a person who delivers mail <the sort of small Cornish village in which the local postie knows everyone's business> — see POSTMAN

posting noun
a published statement informing the public of a matter of general interest <a posting in the local newspaper of the public auction of a house on which a bank had foreclosed> — see ANNOUNCEMENT

postman noun
a person who delivers mail <the postman comes at around nine every morning>

Synonyms
letter carrier, mail carrier, mailman, postie [British]

Related Words
courier, messenger; postmaster, postmistress

postmortem adjective
occurring after one's death <postmortem tests on the brain tissue of people who had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease> — see POSTHUMOUS

postmortem noun
examination of a dead body especially to find out the cause of death <the postmortem revealed that the cause of death had been an undetected heart defect> — see AUTOPSY

postmortem examination noun
examination of a dead body especially to find out the cause of death <a coroner performed the postmortem examination with painstaking thoroughness> — see AUTOPSY

postpone verb
to assign to a later time <we'll have to postpone a decision until we have all the information>

Synonyms
defer, delay, hold off (on), hold over, hold up, lay over, put off, put over, remit, shelve

Related Words
suspend; hesitate, pause, stay; detain, retard, slow; extend, lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch (out); wait

Near Antonyms
act, deal (with), decide (upon), do, work (on)

postulate noun
something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning <one of the postulates that the true agnostic rejects is the assumption that it is even possible for us to know whether God exists> — see ASSUMPTION 1

postulate verb
to take as true or as a fact without actual proof <postulates that all people are born with certain rights that can never be taken away from them> — see ASSUME 2

posture noun
1 a general way of holding the body <a good upright posture will prevent backaches>

Synonyms
attitude, carriage, poise, stance, station

Related Words
attention; body language; pose, seat; bearing, behavior, conduct, demeanor, deportment; air, poise, presence; aspect, look, mien

2 position with regard to conditions and circumstances <claims that the country's defense posture is weak> — see SITUATION 1

posy noun
a bunch of flowers <gathered a posy of wildflowers to present to his girlfriend> — see BOUQUET 1

pot noun
1 the total of the bets at stake at one time <everyone got a bit nervous when the pot grew to more than a hundred dollars>

Synonyms
jack, jackpot, pool

Related Words
fund, kitty; bet, stake, wager

2 a considerable amount <made a pot of money in the real estate market> — see LOT 2
3 an enlarged or bulging abdomen <vowed that he would never get a pot, that telltale sign of middle age> — see POTBELLY

potable adjective
suitable for drinking <around here, the only potable water comes from wells>

Synonyms
drinkable

Related Words
clean, fresh, pure, uncontaminated, unpolluted; nonpoisonous

Near Antonyms
contaminated, dirty, foul, polluted; poison, poisonous, toxic; unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome

Antonyms
undrinkable

potable noun
1 a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <hid the potables in the back hall closet> — see ALCOHOL
2 a liquid suitable for drinking <keeps the wet bar stocked with an array of top-shelf liquors, mixers, and other fine potables> — see DRINK 1

potbellied adjective
having a large protruding abdomen <an old, potbellied cat that now needs a ramp just to get on the sofa> — see PAUNCHY

potbelly noun
an enlarged or bulging abdomen <he began exercising to get rid of his growing potbelly and to improve his health>

Synonyms
bay window, beer belly, belly, corporation, gut, paunch, pot

Related Words
breadbasket [slang], stomach, tummy; chubbiness, corpulence, fat, fatness, fleshiness, obesity, overweight, paunchiness, plumpness, portliness, pudginess; chunkiness, heaviness, stoutness

potence noun
the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task <claimed that an alliance would have a collective potence far greater than that of any individual nation> — see POWER 2

potency noun
the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task <vitamins of high potency that should be taken only in the proper dosage> — see POWER 2

potent adjective
1 having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) <a potent tea that is the perfect morning pick-me-up> — see FULL-BODIED
2 having great power or influence <a potent argument for expanding our program of space exploration> — see IMPORTANT 2
3 producing or capable of producing a desired result <potent medicine that can be obtained through a doctor's prescription> — see EFFECTIVE 1

potentate noun
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority <Charles inherited the position of potentate of the Holy Roman Empire from his grandfather, as well that of king of Spain from his father> — see MONARCH 1

potential adjective
existing only as a possibility and not in fact <I can see a few potential problems with co-owning a beach house with another couple>

Synonyms
implicit, possible

Related Words
conceivable, generable, imaginable, plausible, thinkable; likely, probable; conjectural, hypothetical, suppositional, theoretical (also theoretic); alleged, assumed, purported, reputed, supposed; achievable, attainable, doable, feasible, practicable, viable, workable

Near Antonyms
authenticated, confirmed, demonstrated, established, proven, substantiated; authentic, bona fide, genuine, true

Antonyms
actual, existent, factual, real

potential noun
something that can develop or become actual <a time when cloning was merely a potential and the stuff of science fiction>

Synonyms
capability, eventuality, possibility, potentiality, prospect

Related Words
likelihood, probability; latency, potency

Near Antonyms
actuality, reality; certainty

potentiality noun
something that can develop or become actual <would like to see a colony on the moon as an actuality and not merely a potentiality> — see POTENTIAL

potful noun
a considerable amount <visitors to the theme park will have a potful of fun> — see LOT 2

pother noun
1 a state of nervous or irritated concern <always in a pother over the state of her garden> — see FRET
2 a state of noisy, confused activity <the pother of city traffic that commuters face every day> — see COMMOTION

potpourri noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <a potpourri of hit songs from the last 10 years> — see MISCELLANY 1

potshot verb
to criticize harshly and usually publicly <ended the show with an extended rant in which he potshot an array of personages on the right> — see ATTACK 2

potted adjective, slang
being under the influence of alcohol <work was so awful that I'm just going to go out and get potted tonight> — see DRUNK

potter (around) verb
to spend time in aimless activity <pottering around indoors on a rainy day> — see FIDDLE AROUND

potterer noun
a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession <a camera designed for people who don't pretend to be anything more than potterers at photography> — see AMATEUR 1

potter's field noun
a piece of land used for burying the dead <criminals and unidentified people are sometimes buried in a potter's field> — see CEMETERY

pottery noun
articles made of baked clay <we picked up some ceramic vases in a pottery store> — see CROCKERY

potty adjective
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior <a ridiculous woman with pretentious airs and potty pronunciations for everyday words> — see SNOBBISH

potty noun
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <the little girl announced loudly that she needed to go to the potty> — see TOILET

pouch noun
a container made of a flexible material (as paper or plastic) <we sealed the catnip in a cloth pouch and tossed it to the cat> — see BAG 1

pouch verb
to extend outward beyond a usual point <as he grew older, the skin on his neck pouched> — see BULGE 1

poultice noun
a medicated covering used to heal an injury <placed a poultice over the infected cut> — see DRESSING 1

pounce (on or upon) verb
to take sudden, violent action against <the muggers pounced on the unsuspecting tourists as soon as they rounded the corner> — see ATTACK 1

1pound noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <give the nail a final pound with the hammer> — see 1BLOW

2pound noun
an enclosure with an open framework for keeping animals <stray dogs wearing tags are kept in that pound until their owners can be notified> — see CAGE

pound verb
1 to move heavily or clumsily <pounding down the road as fast as he could run> — see LUMBER 1
2 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <pounding nails into boards all day long> — see HIT 1
3 to strike repeatedly <during the storm the waves furiously pounded the beach> — see BEAT 1
4 to shape with a hammer <pounding out a depression in the metal> — see HAMMER 1
5 to reduce to fine particles <the tablet may be pounded and mixed in with the animal's food> — see POWDER

pound (down) verb
to swallow in liquid form <Friday nights were usually spent wolfing down pizza and pounding down beers> — see DRINK 1

pour verb
1 to cause to flow in a stream <she lifted the teakettle and poured some hot water from the spout>

Synonyms
stream

Related Words
ladle, spoon; cascade, trickle; deluge, flood, inundate, overflow

2 to move in a stream <water gently pouring down the canal toward the dam> — see FLOW 1
3 to flow out in great quantities or with force <tears pouring down his cheeks> — see GUSH 1
4 to fall as water in a continuous stream of drops from the clouds <it's pouring outside, so you'd better take an umbrella> — see RAIN 1
5 to give readily and in large quantities <repeatedly poured money into the revitalization of the downtown area> — see RAIN 2

pouring adjective
marked by or abounding with rain <a pouring, miserable day> — see RAINY

pout noun
1 a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval <that storekeeper's face seems to be in a permanent pout> — see GRIMACE
2 pouts plural a state of resentful silence or irritability <she stayed in the pouts all day> — see SULK

pout verb
1 to extend outward beyond a usual point <her lips pouted as she glared at him silently> — see BULGE 1
2 to silently go about in a bad mood <pouted and didn't say a word to anyone all morning> — see SULK

pouting adjective
given to or displaying a resentful silence and often irritability <stayed in a pouting mood until her boyfriend apologized, though he didn't have the vaguest idea what he was apologizing for> — see SULKY

pouty adjective
given to or displaying a resentful silence and often irritability <we could tell from the way she turned pouty that she'd lost the tennis match> — see SULKY

poverty noun
1 the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <he dreamed of finding a good job and working his way out of poverty and debt>

Synonyms
beggary, destituteness, destitution, impecuniosity, impecuniousness, impoverishment, indigence, necessity, need, neediness, pauperism, penuriousness, penury, poorness, want

Related Words
gutter, misery, woe, wretchedness; exigency; emergency, rainy day; austerity, deprivation, privation; bankruptcy, insolvency; belt-tightening, pinching, straitening

Near Antonyms
luxury, prosperity

Antonyms
affluence, opulence, richness, wealth, wealthiness

2 a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <a poverty of information about the new policies> — see DEFICIENCY

poverty–stricken adjective
lacking money or material possessions <poverty-stricken immigrants struggling to make ends meet> — see POOR 1

powder verb
to reduce to fine particles <you have to powder the antibiotic tablet and mix it with food>

Synonyms
atomize, beat, bray, comminute, crush, disintegrate, grind, mill, mull, pound, pulverize

Related Words
grate, kibble; crumble, crunch; break, bust, dash, fracture, fragment; shatter, smash, splinter; micronize

powder keg noun
a potentially explosive place or situation <the immigration bill has become a political powder keg for legislators on both sides of the aisle> — see TINDERBOX 1

powdery adjective
consisting of very small particles <the kind of powdery snow that is perfect for skiing> — see FINE 1

power noun
1 the right or means to command or control others <the emir has nearly complete power over the emirate>

Synonyms
arm, authority, clutch, command, control, death grip, dominion, grip, hold, mastery, reign, rein(s), sway

Related Words
clout, influence, leverage, pull, voice, weight; jurisdiction; direction, management; dominance, imperium, predominance, sovereignty (also sovranty), supremacy; prerogative, privilege, right; eminence, importance, moment

Near Antonyms
helplessness, weakness

Antonyms
impotence, impotency, powerlessness

2 the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task <the corporation has the power to accomplish almost anything> <you'll need to build a bit more power in order to be a star pitcher>

Synonyms
energy, firepower, force, horsepower, might, muscle, potence, potency, puissance, sinew, strength, vigor

Related Words
aptitude, capability, capacity, competence, competency; adequacy, effectiveness, effectualness, usefulness

Near Antonyms
disability, inability, inaptitude, incapability, incapableness, incapacity, incompetence, incompetency; ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficaciousness, inefficacy, uselessness; helplessness, paralysis

Antonyms
impotence, impotency, powerlessness, weakness

3 a natural ability of the mind or body <dogs have a very highly developed power of smell>

Synonyms
faculty

Related Words
function; capability, capacity; aptitude, endowment, flair, genius, gift, instinct, knack, talent

Near Antonyms
inability, incapability, incapacity; inaptitude, inaptness, ineptness

4 something with a usable capacity for doing work <nuclear power> — see FUEL

powerboat noun
a boat equipped with a motor <his friend had a powerboat and took them out waterskiing> — see MOTORBOAT

powerful adjective
having great power or influence <a powerful producer in the music business who is considered responsible for the careers of several superstars> — see IMPORTANT 2

powerfully adverb
in a vigorous and forceful manner <began to row powerfully toward the shore> — see HARD 3

powerhouse noun
an ambitious person who eagerly goes after what is desired <from the very start of her singing career, she had a reputation for being a very determined powerhouse> — see GO-GETTER

powerless adjective
unable to act or achieve one's purpose <I wish I could help you, but I am powerless in this situation>

Synonyms
hamstrung, handcuffed, helpless, high and dry, hog-tied, impotent, impuissant, paralyzed, weak

Related Words
incapable, incompetent, ineffective, ineffectual, inept, unfit, useless; feeble, frail, infirm, passive, spineless, supine, unaggressive

Near Antonyms
able, capable, competent, effective, efficient; authoritarian, autocratic (also autocratical), despotic, dictatorial, magisterial, tyrannical (also tyrannic); dominant, dynamic, energetic, forceful, robust, sturdy, tough, vigorous; important, major, significant; high-level, senior, top

Antonyms
mighty, potent, powerful, puissant, strong

powerlessness noun
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means <cursed his powerlessness to affect the outcome of his friend's life-threatening illness> — see INABILITY

powwow noun
1 a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose <all the departments met for a brief powwow after lunch> — see MEETING 1
2 a meeting featuring a group discussion <the mayor's powwow with local business leaders to discuss downtown development> — see FORUM 1
3 a social gathering <our neighbors kept us up most of the night with a raucous powwow> — see PARTY 1

powwow verb
to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem <civic leaders powwowed for hours trying to resolve the issue> — see CONFER 2

practicable adjective
1 capable of being done or carried out <a solution that is not practicable in the time available to us> — see POSSIBLE 1
2 capable of being put to use or account <a practicable knowledge of carpentry that came in handy when he volunteered to build houses for underprivileged families> — see PRACTICAL 1
3 capable of or suitable for being used for a particular purpose <that flimsy little saw is not a very practicable tool for cutting heavy tree branches> — see USABLE 1

practical adjective
1 capable of being put to use or account <a practical and simple solution for the town's waste disposal> <she has some practical information on sightseeing in San Francisco>

Synonyms
actionable, applicable, applicative, applied, functional, practicable, serviceable, ultrapractical, usable (also useable), useful, workable, working

Related Words
down-to-earth, pragmatic (also pragmatical), utilitarian; banausic, mundane; accessible, available, obtainable, reachable; all-around (also all-round), handy; active, alive, busy, employed, functioning, operating, operative

Near Antonyms
abstract, academic (also academical), armchair, theoretical (also theoretic); inaccessible, unattainable, unavailable, unobtainable, unreachable; unsuitable

Antonyms
impracticable, impractical, inapplicable, nonpractical, unusable, unworkable, useless

2 willing to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly <a practical caseworker who doesn't spend a lot of time philosophizing while doing social work in the inner city> — see REALISTIC 1

practical joke noun
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <friends had left the risqué message on his voice mail as a practical joke> — see PRANK

practically adverb
very close to but not completely <practically everyone agreed to help> — see ALMOST

practice also practise noun
1 a private performance or session in preparation for a public appearance <we held one last practice before the big concert> — see REHEARSAL
2 a usual manner of behaving or doing <the store's practice has always been to honor all major credit cards> — see HABIT 1
3 something done over and over in order to develop skill <practice makes perfect> — see EXERCISE 2

practice also practise verb
to do over and over so as to become skilled <in order to play the guitar well, you need to practice fingering every single day>

Synonyms
exercise, rehearse, run over

Related Words
groove, perfect, refine; point (for), prepare (for), train (with); drill, repeat; work (at or on); review, study

practiced also practised adjective
1 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <a simple dish that any practiced chef should be able to produce even blindfolded> — see PROFICIENT
2 accomplished with trained ability <a highly practiced performance of a classic ballet> — see SKILLFUL

practicum noun
a period of undergoing practical instruction in one's job or career <she got some coaching experience through a 40-hour practicum with the parks department> — see APPRENTICESHIP

practitioner noun
one who brings an art or science to full realization <a French doctor who was once the most famous practitioner of natural childbirth> — see EXPONENT 2

pragmatic also pragmatical adjective
willing to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly <a pragmatic man, not given to grand, visionary schemes> — see REALISTIC 1

prairie noun
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country <you can see for miles in every direction on the prairie> — see PLAIN 1

praise verb
1 to proclaim the glory of <hymns that praise God>

Synonyms
bless, carol, celebrate, emblazon, exalt, extol (also extoll), glorify, hymn, laud, magnify, resound

Related Words
adore, belaud, deify, idolize, worship; acclaim, applaud, commend, compliment, hail, renown, salute; chant, cheer, eulogize, rhapsodize; cite; flatter; crack up, recommend, tout

Near Antonyms
blame, censure, reprehend, reprobate; criticize, reprove; admonish, chide, keelhaul, rebuke, reprimand, reproach; castigate, lambaste (or lambast)

2 to declare enthusiastic approval of <the school volunteers were praised for their excellent work in the reading program> — see ACCLAIM

praiseworthy adjective
deserving of high regard or great approval <a praiseworthy effort to introduce inner-city youths to the visual arts> — see ADMIRABLE

pram noun, chiefly British
a small four-wheeled vehicle designed for pushing a baby around in <like other trendy Notting Hill couples, they bought a fancy pram for the first baby> — see BABY CARRIAGE

prance verb
to walk with exaggerated arm and leg movements <pranced across the room dressed in an outrageous costume> — see STRUT 1

prank noun
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <as a prank, several students managed to change all the classroom clocks to different times>

Synonyms
antic, caper, capriccio, dido, escapade, frolic, gag, jest, knavery, monkeyshine(s), practical joke, rag [chiefly British], roguery, shavie [Scottish], shine(s), trick, waggery

Related Words
skylarking; adventure, experience, game, lark, time; high jinks (also hijinks), horseplay, play, roughhousing, rowdyism; shenanigan(s), tomfoolery; joking, kidding, teasing; gambit, hoax, maneuver, ploy; deed, feat, mission, performance, stunt; caprice, conceit, fancy, vagary, whim, whimsy (also whimsey); deceit, deception, delusion, fooling, fraud, hanky-panky, hoodwinking, ruse, sham, stratagem, subterfuge, trickery, wile

prankish adjective
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <told the prankish lad that someone would eventually get hurt if he kept it up> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

prankishness noun
a natural disposition for playful behavior <her irrepressible prankishness sometimes got her into trouble when she was growing up> — see PLAYFULNESS

prat noun, British
a stupid person <I need competent people for this job, and all they send me are prats> — see IDIOT

prate verb
to engage in casual or rambling conversation <the young executive gratingly prated on about his weekend hobnobbing with the rich> — see CHAT 1

prattle noun
unintelligible or meaningless talk <parents often claim to understand the prattle of their infant offspring> — see GIBBERISH 1

prattle verb
1 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <spent an hour on the phone prattling on about nothing in particular> — see CHAT 1
2 to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly <stop prattling and calmly tell us the news> — see BABBLE 1

prattler noun
a person who talks constantly <stuck next to a prattler in the doctor's waiting room, she found the wait interminable> — see CHATTERBOX

pray verb
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner <I pray you: tell me where they went> — see BEG

prayer noun
1 an address to God or a deity <he always directed a bedside prayer to God before going to sleep>

Synonyms
orison

Related Words
collect, grace, invocation, litany, requiescat, thanksgiving; evensong, matins, vespers; appeal, begging, beseeching, entreaty, imploring, petition, pleading, request, soliciting, suit, supplication

2 an earnest request <we hope that the governor will hear our prayer and do something about this pressing problem> — see PLEA 1

prayerful adjective
asking humbly <impressed by such prayerful petitioners, the governor promised that he'd see what he could do> — see SUPPLIANT

preach verb
to deliver a sermon <a minister who loves to preach>

Synonyms
sermonize

Related Words
evangelize; lecture, platitudinize, preachify

preacher noun
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church <the marriage will be performed by our usual preacher> — see CLERGYPERSON

preachy adjective
marked by or given to preaching moral values <the students rolled their eyes as their principal launched into another preachy lecture about behavior at the prom> — see SERMONIC

preamble noun
1 a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event <the round of hors d'oeuvres was merely the preamble to an evening of lavish feasting> — see PRELUDE 1
2 a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part <an insightful analysis of the preamble to the Constitution of the United States> — see INTRODUCTION

precariousness noun
the quality or state of not being firmly fixed in position <she quickly moved the china teapot after noticing its precariousness on the shelf> — see INSTABILITY

precaution noun
a measure taken to preclude loss or injury <as parents of young children, they have taken the usual precaution of locking up their household cleansers>

Synonyms
caution, fail-safe, palladium, preventive, safeguard

Related Words
armor, cover, guard, protection, screen, shield, wall, ward

precautionary adjective
concerned with or serving to keep something from happening <prior to the game, we moved the furniture out of the way as a precautionary measure> — see PREVENTIVE

precede verb
to go or come before in time <there are two speeches which will precede yours>

Synonyms
antecede, antedate, forego, predate, preexist

Antonyms
follow, postdate, succeed

precedence noun
the right to one's attention before other things considered less important <his merchandise order takes precedence because we received it first> — see PRIORITY

precedent adjective
going before another in time or order <behavior that may be explained by a precedent event in her troubled life> — see PREVIOUS

preceding adjective
going before another in time or order <had not eaten since the preceding day> — see PREVIOUS

preceptor noun
a person whose occupation is to give formal instruction in a school <a preceptor at a small English boarding school> — see TEACHER

precinct noun
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <a sexist attitude that was pretty common in the precincts of the automobile business> — see FIELD 2

precious adjective
1 commanding a large price <diamonds and other precious stones> — see COSTLY
2 granted special treatment or attention <parents who refuse to hear the slightest criticism of their precious children> — see DARLING 1
3 having qualities that tend to make one loved <a precious friend for whom I would do anything> — see LOVABLE

precipice noun
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice <scaled the steep precipice with the ease of an experienced climber> — see CLIFF

precipitate adjective
acting or done with excessive or careless speed <the army's precipitate withdrawal from the field of battle> — see HASTY 1

precipitate noun
1 a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <the exodus from the cities was an unexpected precipitate of the automobile, which effectively shrank distances> — see EFFECT 1
2 matter that settles to the bottom of a body of liquid <the chemist filtered out the precipitate from the solution> — see DEPOSIT 1

precipitate verb
to fall as water in a continuous stream of drops from the clouds <the air mass was dry, as much of the moisture had precipitated out on the other side of the mountains> — see RAIN 1

precipitately adverb
with excessive or careless speed <tended to act precipitately when faced with an unexpected turn of events> — see HASTILY 1

precipitating adjective
marked by or abounding with rain <thick, precipitating clouds that just stayed in our region for days> — see RAINY

precipitation noun
excited and often showy or disorderly speed <I fear that I may have acted with some precipitation on this matter, so I would like to reconsider> — see HURRY 1

precipitous adjective
1 acting or done with excessive or careless speed <soon regretted our precipitous actions in international affairs> — see HASTY 1
2 having an incline approaching the perpendicular <a precipitous ski slope that fully merits its triple diamond designation> — see STEEP 1

precipitously adverb
with excessive or careless speed <the sight of swimmers exiting the water precipitously when some joker shouted “Shark!”> — see HASTILY 1

precipitousness noun
excited and often showy or disorderly speed <the precipitousness with which he acted would soon be a cause for regret> — see HURRY 1

précis noun
a short statement of the main points <a précis of the bill that the legislature is currently considering> — see SUMMARY

precise adjective
1 meeting the highest standard of accuracy <a machine which takes very precise measurements of brain tumors>

Synonyms
accurate, close, delicate, exact, fine, hairline, mathematical, pinpoint, refined, rigorous, spot-on

Related Words
correct, right, strict, true; definite, definitive; nice, subtle; careful, fastidious, finical, finicky, meticulous

Near Antonyms
approximate, round; false, incorrect, untrue, wrong; careless, loose; indefinite, unclear, vague; doubtful, dubious, questionable, unreliable, untrustworthy

Antonyms
coarse, imprecise, inaccurate, inexact, rough

2 being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard <gave very precise answers to the members of the investigative committee> — see CORRECT 1
3 being neither more nor less than a certain amount, number, or extent <gave him the precise amount that he owed him> — see EVEN 1
4 following an original exactly <a precise translation of the original Greek> — see FAITHFUL 2
5 of a particular or exact sort <at that precise moment the lights went out> — see EXPRESS 1

precisely adverb
1 as stated or indicated without the slightest difference <arrived precisely at noon> — see EXACTLY 1
2 in the same manner <I feel precisely the same way as you do> — see JUST 1
3 without any relaxation of standards or precision <measured the length of the board precisely> — see STRICTLY

preciseness noun
the quality or state of being very accurate <the final result will be determined by the preciseness of the measurements> — see PRECISION

precision noun
the quality or state of being very accurate <the company that measures TV ratings prides itself on the precision of its calculations>

Synonyms
accuracy, accurateness, closeness, delicacy, exactitude, exactness, fineness, nicety, perfection, preciseness, rigor, rigorousness, ultraprecision, veracity

Related Words
correctness, fidelity, rightness, strictness, truth; definiteness, definitiveness, definitude, determinacy; nicety, subtlety; care, carefulness, fastidiousness, meticulousness, persnicketiness

Near Antonyms
approximation, roundness; falseness, falsity, incorrectness, wrongness; carelessness, guesswork, looseness; indefiniteness, vagueness

Antonyms
coarseness, impreciseness, imprecision, inaccuracy, inexactitude, inexactness, roughness

preclude verb
to keep from happening by taking action in advance <issued a strict schedule for doing household chores so as to preclude any arguments> — see PREVENT

precluding noun
the act or practice of keeping something from happening <the precluding of any misunderstanding seemed to be her top priority> — see PREVENTION

precocious adjective
occurring before the usual or expected time <a precocious baldness makes him look older than he really is> — see EARLY 2

precociously adverb
before the usual or expected time <precociously turning gray at the age of 30, she decided to color her hair> — see EARLY

preconception noun
an attitude, belief, or impression formed in advance of actual experience of something <tried to go into the training sessions without any preconceptions> — see PREPOSSESSION 1

precursor noun
1 one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another <18th-century lyric poets like Robert Burns were precursors of the Romantics> — see FORERUNNER 1
2 something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed <a precursor of the modern eggplant> — see ANCESTOR 2

precursory adjective
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows <instantly recognized that chilled feeling as one of the precursory symptoms of a cold> — see PRELIMINARY

predaceous or predacious adjective
living by killing and eating other animals <the predaceous animals of the jungle, with the tiger at the top of the food chain> — see PREDATORY

predate verb
to go or come before in time <gunpowder predated the invention of the gun by several centuries> — see PRECEDE

predator noun
a person who habitually preys upon others <measures taken to protect minors against sexual predators>

Synonyms
bloodsucker, buzzard, harpy, kite, shark, vampire, vulture, wolf

Related Words
exploiter, user; leech, sponge, sponger; destroyer, devourer

Antonyms
prey

predatory adjective
living by killing and eating other animals <hawks are predatory and pose a danger to rabbits and other pets>

Synonyms
predaceous (or predacious), rapacious, raptorial

Related Words
carnivorous; aggressive, deadly, ferocious, fierce, savage, violent; untamed, wild

Near Antonyms
herbivorous, vegetarian; gentle, submissive, tame

predecessor noun
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed <the once-ubiquitous typewriter was the predecessor of today's electronic keyboard> — see ANCESTOR 2

predestine verb
to determine the fate of in advance <our victory in the tournament was seemingly predestined> — see DESTINE

predetermine verb
to determine the fate of in advance <religious sects that believe that an individual's salvation has been predetermined by God> — see DESTINE

predicament noun
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <if you had told the truth in the first place, we wouldn't be in this predicament>

Synonyms
bind, box, catch-22, corner, dilemma, fix, hole, impasse, jackpot [chiefly West], jam, mire, pickle, quagmire, rabbit hole, rattrap, spot, sticky wicket, swamp

Related Words
difficulty, node; hot water, soup; pinch, plight, quandary, scrape, trouble; deadlock, halt, logjam, stalemate, standstill; clutch, crisis, crossroad, emergency, exigency, juncture, strait

Phrases
kettle of fish

predicate verb
to find a basis <she has predicated her theory on recent findings by other astronomers> — see BASE

predict verb
to tell of or describe beforehand <I can't even begin to predict what housing prices will be like 30 years from now> — see FORETELL

predicting noun
a declaration that something will happen in the future <those annual predictings by self-styled psychics that grace the front pages of the tabloids> — see PREDICTION

prediction noun
a declaration that something will happen in the future <we were all amazed when the fortune-teller's predictions turned out to be true>

Synonyms
auguring, augury, bodement, cast, forecast, forecasting, foretelling, predicting, presaging, prognosis, prognostic, prognosticating, prognostication, prophecy (also prophesy), soothsaying, vaticination

Related Words
foreboding, harbinger, omen, portent, prevision, prospectus, sign; anticipation, foreknowledge; foresight; conjecture, guess, surmise

predictive adjective
being a sign of a later course of events <unfortunately, the stock market crash of 1929 turned out to be a predictive event, for the next decade was consumed by the Great Depression> — see PROPHETIC

predilection noun
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <a young lad with a predilection for telling tall tales> — see INCLINATION 1

predisposition noun
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <the young woman's predisposition to date men who are very much like her father> — see INCLINATION 1

predominance noun
controlling power or influence over others <the predominance of the Dutch in international trade during the 17th century> — see SUPREMACY 1

predominancy noun
controlling power or influence over others <Asia's long rise to predominancy in high-tech manufacturing> — see SUPREMACY 1

predominant adjective
coming before all others in importance <parental involvement has been found to be the predominant factor in a child's success in school> — see FOREMOST 1

predominantly adverb
for the most part <a predominantly middle-class neighborhood> — see CHIEFLY

preeminence noun
1 exceptionally high quality <the restaurant is known for the preeminence of its seafood dishes> — see EXCELLENCE 1
2 controlling power or influence over others <some historians contended that no nation had attained such undisputed preeminence since the glory days of the Roman Empire> — see SUPREMACY 1
3 the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance <his preeminence in the field of obstetrics> — see EMINENCE 1

preeminent adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <the preeminent reason for the booming economy> — see FOREMOST 1
2 highest in rank or authority <the preeminent golfer of his generation> — see HEAD
3 standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <a meeting of preeminent scientists from around the world> — see EMINENT

preempt verb
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right <the thoughtless teenagers had preempted front-row seats that were reserved for the guests of honor> — see APPROPRIATE 1

preemption noun
the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority <longtime residents resented the preemption of their urban neighborhood by this influx of affluent yuppies> — see APPROPRIATION 2

preexist verb
to go or come before in time <an advanced Mesoamerican civilization whose apex and collapse preexisted the arrival of Europeans by hundreds of years> — see PRECEDE

preface noun
a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part <a noted critic has written a short preface to her story to explain some of the historical background> — see INTRODUCTION

prefatory adjective
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows <in prefatory remarks he offered his own definition of “civilization”, a word subject to a variety of interpretations> — see PRELIMINARY

prefer verb
1 to show partiality toward <I generally prefer chocolate ice cream over vanilla>

Synonyms
care (for), favor, lean (toward or towards), like

Related Words
adore, cotton (to), delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), relish, revel (in); choose, cull, handpick, name, pick, select, single (out), take; covet, crave, desire, hanker (for or after), want, wish (for); bias, prejudice; incline (toward), tend (to); admire, appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value

Phrases
be partial to, go in for

Near Antonyms
disfavor, dislike, mislike; abhor, abominate, detest, hate, loathe; decline, refuse, reject, turn down; discard, jettison, throw away, throw out

2 to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities <most buyers of that vehicle have preferred the model with four-wheel drive> — see CHOOSE 1

preferably adverb
by choice or preference <I like football, but preferably watching from the stands rather than being down on the field> — see RATHER 1

preference noun
1 a person or thing that is preferred over others <my preference is soul music> — see FAVORITE
2 positive regard for something <a preference for cool weather> — see LIKING
3 the power, right, or opportunity to choose <he was promised his preference when the time came to repaint his bedroom> — see CHOICE 1
4 a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position <a long-sought preference to the position of naval commander> — see ADVANCEMENT 1

preferment noun
a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position <anticipated her preferment to a better-paying position within the company> — see ADVANCEMENT 1

preferred adjective
singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking <my preferred means of communication is e-mail> — see SELECT 1

prefigure verb
to give a slight indication of beforehand <the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring> — see FORESHADOW

prefiguring noun
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event <the preaching of John the Baptist is generally regarded by Christians as a prefiguring of the ministry of Jesus> — see OMEN

pregnancy noun
the state of containing unborn young within the body <an elephant's pregnancy can last almost a year>

Synonyms
family way, gestation, gravidity

Related Words
conception; begetting, breeding, generation, procreation, siring, spawning

Near Antonyms
barrenness, infertility

pregnant adjective
1 containing unborn young within the body <we only realized that our cat had been pregnant when she unexpectedly delivered three kittens>

Synonyms
big, caught, enceinte, expectant, expecting, gone, gravid, heavy, quick [archaic]

Related Words
parturient, prenatal; childbearing, gestational; brooding; conceiving, impregnated

Phrases
with child, with young

Near Antonyms
barren, infertile; aborting, miscarrying; delivered

Antonyms
nonpregnant

2 clearly conveying a special meaning (as one's mood) <a pregnant silence followed the ill-advised attempt at humor> — see EXPRESSIVE

prehistoric also prehistorical adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <prehistoric notions about mental illness that have no place in today's world> — see OBSOLETE

prejudgment noun
an attitude, belief, or impression formed in advance of actual experience of something <the general public's prejudgment of the accused before the trial had even started> — see PREPOSSESSION 1

prejudice noun
1 an attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting especially without considering any other possibilities <her lifelong prejudice against doing “dirty” jobs> — see BIAS 1
2 hatred of or discrimination against a person or persons based on their race <fought racial prejudice through the use of the court system> — see RACISM 2

prejudice verb
to cause to have often negative opinions formed without sufficient knowledge <all the bad stories I had heard about the incoming CEO prejudiced me against him even before the first meeting>

Synonyms
bias, poison, turn

Related Words
dispose, incline, predispose; influence, prepossess; convince, persuade, suggest

prejudiced adjective
1 inclined to favor one side over another <an employer who is known to be prejudiced toward graduates from Ivy League schools> — see PARTIAL 1
2 unwilling to grant other people social rights or to accept other viewpoints <racially prejudiced people have existed throughout recorded history> — see INTOLERANT 2

prejudicial adjective
1 causing or capable of causing harm <pretrial publicity that may be extremely prejudicial to a defendant's right to a fair trial> — see HARMFUL
2 opposed to one's interests <the defense will try to counterbalance the mass of prejudicial evidence presented by the prosecution> — see ADVERSE 1

pre–K noun
a school for children who are generally less than five years old <attends pre-K> — see NURSERY SCHOOL

prekindergarten noun
a school for children who are generally less than five years old <a single father with two children in prekindergarten> — see NURSERY SCHOOL

prelim adjective
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows <a medical assistant had done all of the prelim work before the physician even walked into the examining room> — see PRELIMINARY

preliminarily adverb
so as to precede something in order of time <the sick children were examined preliminarily by the nurse to determine if they had a rash> — see AHEAD 1

preliminary adjective
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows <we need to do some preliminary research in order to properly focus the experiment>

Synonyms
beginning, introductory, precursory, prefatory, prelim, prelusive, preparative, preparatory, primary

Related Words
introducing, prefacing, preparing, readying; premonitory, warning; basic, elementary, fundamental; ahead, early, former, preceding, previous, prior

Near Antonyms
after, behind, following, subsequent

preliminary noun
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event <a meeting to discuss seating arrangements that was merely a preliminary to the formal negotiating sessions> — see PRELUDE 1

prelude noun
1 a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event <an eruption of sectarian violence that proved to be the prelude to all-out civil war>

Synonyms
curtain-raiser, overture, preamble, preliminary, prologue (also prolog), warm-up

Related Words
countdown, run-up [chiefly British]; lead-in; kickoff, start

2 a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part <the musical had a brief prelude to get the audience in the proper mood> — see INTRODUCTION

prelusive adjective
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows <after a prelusive dimming of the house lights intended to induce quiet, the stage curtain rose> — see PRELIMINARY

premature adjective
occurring before the usual or expected time <his premature arrival at his own surprise party almost ruined everything> — see EARLY 2

prematurely adverb
before the usual or expected time <a baby born three weeks prematurely> — see EARLY

premier adjective
1 coming before all others in time or order <a space shuttle on its premier voyage> — see FIRST 1
2 highest in rank or authority <the premier authority on butterflies> — see HEAD
3 coming before all others in importance <the premier social occasion of the summer season> — see FOREMOST 1

premise also premiss noun
1 something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning <your conclusion is all wrong because you started out with a false premise> — see ASSUMPTION 1
2 premises plural the area around and belonging to a building <detectives painstakingly searched the premises for clues to the disappearance> — see GROUND 1

premise verb
to take as true or as a fact without actual proof <let us premise certain things, such as every person's need for love, before beginning our line of reasoning> — see ASSUME 2

premium adjective
commanding a large price <lavish feasts at which premium wines flowed freely> — see COSTLY

premium noun
something given in recognition of achievement <encouraging Girl Scouts to sell more cookies by offering premiums> — see AWARD 1

premonition noun
a feeling that something bad will happen <she had a premonition that her cat would somehow get hurt that day>

Synonyms
foreboding, presage, presentiment, prognostication

Related Words
anticipation, foreknowledge; feel, insight, intuition; augury, omen, portent, sign; impression, suspicion; agitation, alarm (also alarum), anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, care, concern, disquiet, doubt, dread, fear, misgiving, nervousness, perturbation, unease, uneasiness, worry; foresight, prescience

premonitory adjective
serving as or offering a warning <a moderate tremor that some seismologists have interpreted as a premonitory sign of the catastrophic quake that is inevitable> — see CAUTIONARY

prename noun
a name that is placed before one's family name <his prename is “Christopher,” but he prefers to be called by his last name> — see FORENAME

preoccupation noun
something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned <the future entomologist's preoccupation with insects from a very early age> — see FIXATION

preoccupied adjective
lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions <too preoccupied with her worries to enjoy the meal> — see ABSENTMINDED 1

preordain verb
to determine the fate of in advance <my wife and I are such soulmates, I'm convinced that our marriage was preordained> — see DESTINE

prep verb
to make ready in advance <the cooking time is considerably shortened if you've prepped the chicken the night before> — see PREPARE 1

preparative adjective
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows <preparative warning that the injection was going to cause a modest amount of pain> — see PRELIMINARY

preparatory adjective
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows <a preparatory investigation to see if there is enough evidence to warrant bringing charges> — see PRELIMINARY

prepare verb
1 to make ready in advance <I think I have prepared myself well for this challenge> <we prepared the classroom for the important visitors by getting rid of some unsightly clutter>

Synonyms
fit, fix, groom, lay, prep, ready

Related Words
brace, fortify, gird, steel; batten, gather, gear up, mount; educate, indoctrinate, instruct, school, train, tutor; boot (up), prime; arrange, set, spread; arm, equip, forearm, furnish, outfit, provide, supply; incline, predispose; draft, draw up, frame; warm (up)

2 to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function <basic training is intended to prepare raw recruits for active duty in the military> — see QUALIFY 2
3 to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form <the CEO asked his assistant to prepare a statement for the press> — see COMPOSE 1
4 to work out the details of (something) in advance <preparing an escape route in case of a fire> — see PLAN 1

prepared adjective
being in a state of fitness for some experience or action <a marathoner completely prepared for the grueling race> — see READY 1

preponderance noun
1 the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance <not since Rome in its glory days had a nation enjoyed such overwhelming military preponderance> — see EMINENCE 1
2 the largest part or quantity of something <a preponderance of the evidence points to the guilt of the defendant> — see MAJORITY 1

preponderancy noun
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance <the preponderancy of the Democratic Party in the state's political affairs has long been accepted as a fact of life> — see EMINENCE 1

prepossession noun
1 an attitude, belief, or impression formed in advance of actual experience of something <the foreign tourists' prepossessions about life in the U.S. had been formed by many hours of American TV shows>

Synonyms
preconception, prejudgment

Related Words
bias, favor, partiality, prejudice; assumption, conjecture, hypothesis, imagining, predetermination, presumption, presupposition, speculation, supposition, theory, thesis; concept, conception, image, notion, picture, thought

Near Antonyms
detachment, impartiality, neutrality, objectivity, open-mindedness, unbiasedness

2 something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned <tried to cure him of his prepossession with money> — see FIXATION

preposterous adjective
1 conceived or made without regard for reason or reality <the idea that extraterrestrials built the pyramids is preposterous> — see FANTASTIC 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a preposterous suggestion to go swimming in this freezing weather> — see FOOLISH 1
3 so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter <the movie thriller had such a preposterous plot that we were on the edge of our seats snickering> — see RIDICULOUS 1

preposterousness noun
lack of good sense or judgment <laughed at the sheer preposterousness of the idea> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

prepotency noun
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance <the magazine's prepotency in the world of fashion is accepted without question> — see EMINENCE 1

prerogative noun
something to which one has a just claim <it's your prerogative to refuse to attend religious services> — see RIGHT 1

presage noun
1 a feeling that something bad will happen <I had a nagging presage that the results of my medical tests would not be good> — see PREMONITION
2 something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event <the sight of the first robin is always a welcome presage of spring> — see OMEN

presage verb
to tell of or describe beforehand <people used to believe that a comet presaged a major event, such as the death of a king> — see FORETELL

presaging noun
a declaration that something will happen in the future <the far-fetched presagings of self-styled seers about current celebrities> — see PREDICTION

preschool noun
a school for children who are generally less than five years old <children excited about starting preschool> — see NURSERY SCHOOL

prescience noun
1 the special ability to see or know about events before they actually occur <most believers would probably agree that complete prescience is one of God's attributes> — see FORESIGHT 1
2 concern or preparation for the future <parents who had the prescience to make everything in their house childproof before the arrival of their first baby> — see FORESIGHT 2

prescient adjective
having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future <prescient environmentalists and politicians who long ago made sure that these beautiful areas would forever be spared from development> — see FORESIGHTED

prescribe verb
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly <in chess, you can move the various pieces only in certain prescribed ways>

Synonyms
define, lay down, specify

Related Words
decree, dictate, ordain; assign, direct, fix, set, settle; arrange, order; choose, select; adjure, bid, charge, command, enjoin, instruct, tell; conduct, control, govern, lead, manage; coerce, compel, constrain, force; obligate, oblige, require

prescription noun
an inherited or established way of thinking, feeling, or doing <the time-honored prescription among hostelers that you do not mess with another person's stuff> — see TRADITION 1

prescriptive adjective
based on customs usually handed down from a previous generation <even in this age of e-mail the prescriptive response to a wedding gift is a handwritten thank-you note> — see TRADITIONAL 1

presence noun
1 a position within view <men should watch their language when in the presence of ladies>

Synonyms
company, sight

Related Words
closeness, contiguity, immediacy, nearness, proximity

2 the outward form of someone or something especially as indicative of a quality <the orchestra's musical director has a very stately presence> — see APPEARANCE 1

present adjective
1 existing or in progress right now <I am very busy at the present moment>

Synonyms
current, extant, immediate, instant, ongoing, present-day

Related Words
contemporary, mod, modern, modernistic, new, newfangled, new-fashioned, recent, red-hot, space-age, supermodern, ultramodern, up-to-date; being, breathing, existent, existing, living

Near Antonyms
coming, future, unborn; completed, concluded, done, ended, finished, over, terminated, through, up; ancient, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, archaic, dated, fusty, musty, noncontemporary, obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, outworn, passé; ago, bygone, erstwhile, former, past

2 being within the confines of a specified place <all of you are required to be present for every meeting>

Synonyms
attending, in

Related Words
accompanying, observing, participating; available; abounding; latent; breathing, existent, existing, extant, live

Phrases
at hand, in attendance, on hand

Near Antonyms
departed, gone, retired; nonexistent; AWOL, truant; dead, deceased, defunct, demised; lost, vanished; belated, delayed, delinquent, late, overdue, tardy

Antonyms
absent, away, missing, out

1present noun
the time currently existing or in progress <I cannot talk to you at present, but perhaps in a few minutes>

Synonyms
here and now, moment, now, today

Related Words
phase, stage, state

Near Antonyms
history, past, yesterday, yesteryear, yore; by-and-by, future, futurity, hereafter, offing, tomorrow

2present noun
something given to someone without expectation of a return <an impressive array of presents for the bride and groom> — see GIFT 1

present verb
1 to bring before the public in performance or exhibition <we will present a performance of Our Town tomorrow evening>

Synonyms
carry, give, mount, offer, stage

Related Words
display, exhibit, expose, parade, show, show off, unveil; preview; act, impersonate, perform, play, portray; depict, dramatize, enact, render, represent; extend, proffer, tender

Phrases
come out with

2 to make (one person) known (to another) socially <may I present my niece Sarah?> — see INTRODUCE 1
3 to make a present of <the company presented a gold watch to him on the occasion of his retirement> — see GIVE 1

presentation noun
something given to someone without expectation of a return <a presentation of much-needed money to the children's charity> — see GIFT 1

present–day adjective
1 being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <present-day technology has rendered yesterday's marvels obsolete> — see MODERN
2 existing or in progress right now <the present-day administration in Washington> — see PRESENT 1

presentiment noun
a feeling that something bad will happen <a nagging presentiment of danger> — see PREMONITION

presently adverb
1 at or within a short time <I cannot attend to the matter this instant, but I will presently> — see SHORTLY 2
2 at the present time <we are presently waiting in line for our turn> — see NOW 1
3 without delay <the performance is starting presently> — see IMMEDIATELY

preservation noun
1 the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition <each curator is responsible for the preservation of the works of art within his or her department> — see MAINTENANCE
2 the careful maintaining and protection of something valuable especially in its natural or original state <the preservation of the tropical rainforests is a global responsibility> — see CONSERVATION 1

preserve verb
to keep in good condition <vigilantly preserving the ancient statue for future generations to enjoy> — see MAINTAIN 1

preserving noun
the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition <the preserving of our rights and civil liberties> — see MAINTENANCE

preside (over) verb
1 to exercise authority or power over <from 1923 to 1948 Palestine was presided over by Great Britain under a mandate granted by the League of Nations> — see GOVERN 1
2 to look after and make decisions about <he presides over a vast communications empire> — see CONDUCT 1

presidency noun
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <responsibility for the presidency of a major television network> — see CONDUCT 1

president noun
a person in charge of a meeting <the president of the international conference on genocide> — see CHAIR 1

presider noun
a person in charge of a meeting <I was unaccustomed to being the presider of anything larger than a departmental meeting> — see CHAIR 1

presiding adjective
highest in rank or authority <a senator who is the presiding member of the armed services committee> — see HEAD

press noun
1 a built-in space for storage behind a door <put the towels in the linen press> — see CLOSET 1
2 a great number of persons or creatures massed together <he pushed his way through the press of people outside the courthouse> — see CROWD 1
3 a storage case typically having doors and shelves <originally designed as a press for clothes, it now serves to hide the bedroom TV> — see CABINET

1press verb
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right <the fleeing bank robber pressed a nearby taxi into service as a getaway car> — see APPROPRIATE 1

2press verb
1 to push steadily against with some force <an old doorbell that requires you to press the button hard>

Synonyms
bear (down on), depress, shove, weigh (on or upon)

Related Words
compress, mash, punch, squash, squeeze, squish, squoosh; compel, force, pressure; lean (on or against), muscle; drive, propel, thrust; compact, condense, constrict, contract, crush, scrunch, wring; cram, jam, jam-pack, pack, stuff, wedge

2 to apply external pressure on so as to force out the juice or contents of <my family will only drink juice from freshly pressed oranges>

Synonyms
crush, express, mash, squeeze

Related Words
ream; pulp, puree (or purée); extract, extrude

3 to gather into a closely packed group <everyone pressed around me to see the pictures>

Synonyms
bunch, cluster, crowd, huddle, pile

Related Words
assemble, collect, concenter, concentrate, conglomerate, congregate, convene, converge, flock, forgather (or foregather), herd, swarm, throng; encircle, mob, surround; embrace, hug

Near Antonyms
break up, disband, disperse, split (up)

4 to force one's way <we continued to press deeper and deeper into the tangled rain forest>

Synonyms
bore, bull, bulldoze, crash, elbow, jam, jostle, muscle, push, shoulder, squeeze

Related Words
ram, shove, thrust

5 to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <a manager pressed by a business crisis to return from his vacation ahead of schedule> — see FORCE 1
6 to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action <pressed us to go with them to the school board meeting> — see URGE
7 to indicate the importance of by centering attention on <an office e-mail that presses the need for greater vigilance concerning building security> — see EMPHASIZE 1

press (for) verb
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority <workers pressing for higher wages and better working conditions> — see DEMAND 1

pressing adjective
needing immediate attention <she had pressing business on the other side of town> — see ACUTE 2

pressman noun, British
a person employed by a newspaper, magazine, or radio or television station to gather, write, or report news <the only pressman who was invited to Downing Street for an interview with the Prime Minister> — see REPORTER

pressure noun
1 the burden on one's emotional or mental well-being created by demands on one's time <a business executive who works well under pressure> — see STRESS 1
2 the use of power to impose one's will on another <pressure from their peers can often cause teens to do things that they normally wouldn't consider> — see FORCE 2

pressure verb
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <his father pressured him to go out for the swim team> — see FORCE 1

pressure group noun
a group of people with a common identifying interest that they seek to protect and promote <observed that if publishers gave in to every pressure group, nothing would ever get published> — see INTEREST GROUP

prestidigitation noun
the art or skill of performing tricks or illusions for entertainment <Houdini's powers of prestidigitation remain legendary to this very day> — see MAGIC 2

prestidigitator noun
one who practices tricks and illusions for entertainment <a skilled prestidigitator can make entire buildings seem to disappear> — see MAGICIAN 2

prestigious adjective
1 having a good reputation especially in a field of knowledge <a nutritional study that has been published by a prestigious medical journal> — see RESPECTABLE 1
2 standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <the most prestigious social club in town> — see EMINENT

prestigiousness noun
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance <the prestigiousness of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris pretty much assures its graduates a meal ticket in chefdom> — see EMINENCE 1

presto adverb
with great speed <the hungry men dived into the food and, presto, it was gone> — see FAST 1

presumably adverb
1 to all outward appearances <presumably he's going on the trip for business reasons, but we have our doubts> — see APPARENTLY
2 by reasonable assumption <presumably he'll come later> — see PROBABLY

presume verb
1 to form an opinion from little or no evidence <I presume you'll fly if you do go> — see GUESS 1
2 to take as true or as a fact without actual proof <we should presume that a person is innocent until proven guilty> — see ASSUME 2

presumed adjective
appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed <the presumed culprit> — see APPARENT 1

presuming adjective
1 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <it's rather presuming of you to expect to be our first choice for the award> — see ARROGANT
2 showing a lack of proper social reserve or modesty <I thought it presuming of him to think that we would invite him along> — see PRESUMPTUOUS 1
3 thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <some presuming waiter thought that it was his business to tell the expectant mother that she shouldn't be having even one glass of wine> — see INTRUSIVE

presumption noun
1 shameless boldness <shocked by his presumption in insisting that we buy his raffle tickets> — see EFFRONTERY
2 something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning <the presumption of innocence> — see ASSUMPTION 1

presumptive adjective
worthy of being accepted as true or reasonable <in that climate of fear, an accusation alone was presumptive evidence of guilt> — see BELIEVABLE

presumptuous adjective
1 showing a lack of proper social reserve or modesty <it's a little presumptuous of you to assume that I'm your new best friend just because I invited you along>

Synonyms
bold, familiar, forward, free, immodest, overfamiliar, presuming

Related Words
arrogant, bumptious, complacent, conceited, egoistic (also egoistical), egomaniacal, egotistic (or egotistical), highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-hat, hoity-toity, important, overweening, pompous, prideful, proud, self-asserting, self-assertive, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-important, self-satisfied, smug, uppity, vain, vainglorious; cavalier, disdainful, haughty, lordly, pretentious, snobbish, stuck-up, supercilious, superior; audacious, bold-faced, brash, brassbound, brassy, brazen, cheeky, cocky, fresh, impertinent, impudent, insolent, overbold, pert, sassy, saucy; confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure; boastful, braggart, bragging; domineering, high-handed, imperious; self-absorbed, self-centered, self-concerned, self-engrossed, self-infatuated, self-interested, self-involved, selfish, self-obsessed, self-seeking

Near Antonyms
demure, down-to-earth, humble, lowly, meek, unassertive, unpretentious; bashful, mousy (or mousey), retiring, shy, timid, timorous; diffident, self-doubting

Antonyms
modest, unassuming

2 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <the presumptuous doctor didn't even bother to explain to me the treatment that I would be receiving> — see ARROGANT
3 thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <the presumptuous salesclerk started picking out some very expensive accessories for the outfit I had just chosen> — see INTRUSIVE

presumptuousness noun
1 an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <only a person of unparalleled presumptuousness would assert that she knows all there is to know about words> — see ARROGANCE
2 shameless boldness <he found that a certain amount of presumptuousness could get you in trouble, but it could also get you into places where you normally weren't allowed> — see EFFRONTERY

presuppose verb
to take as true or as a fact without actual proof <the book presupposes its readers will already know something about the subject> — see ASSUME 2

presupposition noun
something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning <the cynic's presupposition that everyone acts out of purely selfish motives> — see ASSUMPTION 1

pretend adjective
1 being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <if you were to see the movie's pretend jewels in real life, you wouldn't be fooled for a minute> — see IMITATION
2 not real and existing only in the imagination <it's just a pretend gun, so please pretend that I got you and play dead> — see IMAGINARY

pretend verb
1 to take on a false or deceptive appearance <I pretended that I didn't care that my ex had a new man in her life>

Synonyms
dissemble, dissimulate, let on, make out

Related Words
act, impersonate, masquerade, play, playact, pose; affect, assume, counterfeit, fake, feign, profess, put on, sham, simulate; camouflage, conceal, disguise, mask; bluff, feint

Phrases
make a pretense, make a show, make believe, put on an act, put up a front

2 to present a false appearance of <as if I would ever pretend illness just to take off a day from work> — see FEIGN

pretended adjective
1 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <he shows a pretended affection for his girlfriend's cat> — see ARTIFICIAL 1
2 not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <hoped that his pretended interest in classical music would impress the boss> — see INSINCERE

pretender noun
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise <it turns out that the guy who claimed to work for a modeling agency was just a pretender> — see IMPOSTOR

pretense or pretence noun
1 the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case <she seemed to be a very down-to-earth woman who was completely free of pretense>

Synonyms
affectation, affectedness, grandiosity, inflation, pretension, pretentiousness

Related Words
arrogance, bumptiousness, complacency, conceit, egotism, hauteur, imperiousness, pompousness, presumptuousness, pride, self-aggrandizement, self-assertion, self-assumption, self-conceit, self-consequence, self-glorification, self-importance, self-satisfaction, smugness, vaingloriousness, vainglory, vainness, vanity; disdain, haughtiness, lordliness, snobbery, snobbishness, superciliousness, superiority; confidence, presumption, self-assurance, self-confidence, sureness; boastfulness, braggadocio; aggressiveness, assertiveness, audaciousness, boldness, brassiness, cheekiness, cockiness, forwardness, impudence, insolence, rudeness; grandiloquence; flamboyance, flashiness, garishness, gaudiness, glitz, mummery, ostentation, ostentatiousness, show, showiness

Near Antonyms
demureness, down-to-earthness, humbleness, humility, lowliness, meekness, modesty; bashfulness, diffidence, shyness, timidity; naturalness, sincerity

2 a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive <her display of bravado was just a pretense> — see MASQUERADE
3 an entitlement to something <this book on gardening makes no pretense at completeness> — see CLAIM 1
4 an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <the pretense of that woman in thinking that the other hotel guests should be inconvenienced just for her> — see ARROGANCE

pretension noun
1 an entitlement to something <a pretension of long standing to the throne of Hungary> — see CLAIM 1
2 an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <a woman full of pretension and pompousness> — see ARROGANCE
3 the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case <the pretension of that French restaurant is more than I can bear> — see PRETENSE 1
4 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <has serious pretensions of becoming a writer> — see GOAL

pretentious adjective
1 self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance <that pretentious couple always serves caviar at their parties, even though they themselves dislike it>

Synonyms
affected, grandiose, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-minded, la-di-da (also la-de-da or lah-de-dah or lah-dee-dah or lah-di-dah), ostentatious, pompous, snippy

Related Words
airy, grandiloquent, high-flown, high-sounding, high-toned, sententious; arrogant, bumptious, complacent, conceited, egoistic (also egoistical), egotistic (or egotistical), high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, hoity-toity, imperious, important, overweening, presumptuous, prideful, proud, self-asserting, self-assertive, self-centered, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-important, self-obsessed, self-pleased, self-satisfied, smug, uppity, vain, vainglorious; self-aggrandizing, self-dramatizing, self-glorifying, self-promoting; cavalier, disdainful, haughty, lordly, snobbish, snobby, stuck-up, supercilious, superior; confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure; boastful, braggart, bragging; aggressive, assertive, audacious, bold, brassy, cheeky, cocky, forward, impudent, insolent, rude; flamboyant, flashy, flaunting, garish, gaudy, glitzy, showy, splashy

Near Antonyms
demure, down-to-earth, homely, humble, lowly, meek, retiring, unassertive, unassuming; bashful, diffident, mousy (or mousey), overmodest, passive, quiet, reserved, shy, timid

Antonyms
modest, unpretentious

2 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <a pretentious author whose books only appeal to equally pretentious readers> — see ARROGANT

pretentiousness noun
1 an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <everyone took her ingrained pretentiousness into account when considering her statements> — see ARROGANCE
2 excessive or unnecessary display <the sheer pretentiousness of the debutante's wedding> — see OSTENTATION
3 the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case <the utter pretentiousness of the movie is matched only by the incomprehensibility of its story> — see PRETENSE 1

preternatural adjective
1 being out of the ordinary <an editor with a preternatural sense of what will interest the book-buying public> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1
2 of, relating to, or being part of a reality beyond the observable physical universe <an investigator of preternatural phenomena> — see SUPERNATURAL 1
3 being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature <a preternatural ability to predict how the stock market will perform> — see SUPERNATURAL 2

prettily adverb
in a pleasing way <a white wine that balances its prettily fruity flavors with refreshing acidity> — see WELL 5

prettiness noun
the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses <the sugary prettiness of the knickknacks is sure to appeal to a certain type of collector> — see BEAUTY 1

pretty adjective
1 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <she was not a pretty sight after she fell off her horse and into the mud> — see PLEASANT 1
2 meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <their misalliance is as pretty an example of an ill-conceived marriage as you're likely to find> — see FIT 1
3 very pleasing to look at <a pretty young girl> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

pretty adverb
to some degree or extent <we've had some pretty cold weather lately> — see FAIRLY 1

pretty (up) verb
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <you could pretty up the room rather inexpensively simply by painting it> — see DECORATE

pretty boy noun
1 a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance <a downtown dance club with lots of pretty boys in attendance> — see DANDY 1
2 a physically attractive man <as a musical performer, he has yet to prove that he's more than just another pretty boy> — see HUNK 1

prevail verb
1 to achieve victory (as in a contest) <we shall prevail despite the overwhelming odds> — see WIN 1
2 to continue to operate or to meet one's needs <a custom that still prevails in many areas of Africa> — see HOLD OUT

prevail (on or upon) verb
to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests <we prevailed on him to sing in front of all his friends> — see PERSUADE

prevail (over) verb
to achieve a victory over <prevailed over their traditional rivals for the first time in years> — see BEAT 2

prevailing adjective
1 accepted, used, or practiced by most people <the principal disagrees with the prevailing attitude toward corporal punishment> — see CURRENT 1
2 held by or applicable to a majority of the people <the prevailing custom here is to leave one's doors unlocked> — see GENERAL 3

prevalence noun
the fact or state of happening often <the prevalence of rumors when hard information is withheld from the public> — see FREQUENCY

prevalent adjective
accepted, used, or practiced by most people <the kinds of accidents seen in places where snowmobiles are prevalent> — see CURRENT 1

prevaricate verb
to make a statement one knows to be untrue <during the hearings the witness was willing to prevaricate in order to protect his friend> — see 1LIE

prevarication noun
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive <she knew that his account was a pure prevarication> — see LIE

prevaricator noun
a person who tells lies <she was clearly one of the more practiced prevaricators ever to come before the congressional committee> — see LIAR

prevent verb
to keep from happening by taking action in advance <a lot of problems would have been prevented if we'd just prepared better>

Synonyms
avert, forestall, head off, help, obviate, preclude, stave off

Related Words
anticipate, provide; negate, neutralize, nullify; save; baffle, balk, checkmate, deter, foil, frustrate, thwart; bar, block, hamper, hinder, impede, interfere (with), retard, stall; deflect, fend (off), stop, ward (off); avoid, circumvent, dodge, duck, elude, escape, eschew, evade, shake, shirk, shun; forbid, inhibit, prohibit; arrest, check, halt, stop; compensate (for), counteract, counterbalance, make up (for), offset

Near Antonyms
abet, aid, assist; ease, facilitate, smooth, unclog; advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nurture, promote; allow, leave, let, permit

preventative adjective
concerned with or serving to keep something from happening <the department in charge of taking preventative measures against international terrorism> — see PREVENTIVE

prevention noun
the act or practice of keeping something from happening <good crowd control is crucial to the prevention of riots>

Synonyms
averting, forestallment, precluding

Related Words
avoidance, circumvention; negation, neutralization, nullification; baffling, balking, checkmate, crossing, debarment, determent, deterrence, foiling, frustration, thwarting; barring, enjoining, forbidding, interdicting, interdiction, outlawing, prohibiting, prohibition, proscribing, proscription

Near Antonyms
aid, assistance, backing, support; facilitation; advancement, cultivation, encouragement, nurture, promotion

preventive adjective
concerned with or serving to keep something from happening <if you start taking this preventive medicine now, you may not get sick after all>

Synonyms
precautionary, preventative, prophylactic

Related Words
deterrent, deterring; negating, neutralizing, nullifying; baffling, balking, foiling, frustrating, thwarting; blocking, hampering, hindering, impeding, retardant, stalling

Near Antonyms
abetting, aiding, assisting; easing, facilitating, smoothing; encouraging, forwarding, fostering, furthering, nurturing, promoting

preventive noun
a measure taken to preclude loss or injury <if people took the simple preventive of frequently washing their hands, the spread of germs could be greatly reduced> — see PRECAUTION

previous adjective
going before another in time or order <the new instructor should consult with the previous teacher about the lesson plans> <the previous math problem also included a reference to store discounts>

Synonyms
antecedent, anterior, foregoing, former, precedent, preceding, prior

Related Words
advance, early, premature; earliest, first, inaugural, initial, maiden, original, pioneer; preexisting; introductory, preliminary; erstwhile, whilom

Near Antonyms
advanced, late; closing, concluding, final, last, latest, latter, terminal, ultimate

Antonyms
after, ensuing, following, later, posterior, subsequent, succeeding

previously adverb
so as to precede something in order of time <he had prepared the meat stocks previously so as to make things easier on the day of the big dinner> — see AHEAD 1

previous to preposition
earlier than <his passport arrived just previous to his trip> — see BEFORE 1

prevision verb
to realize or know about beforehand <he claimed to have previsioned the crash of the stock market> — see FORESEE

prey noun
1 an animal that is hunted or killed <rabbits are common prey for owls and hawks>

Synonyms
chase, quarry

Related Words
game; kill, victim; beast, brute, creature, critter; target

Near Antonyms
carnivore; chaser, hunter, pursuer; killer, murderer

Antonyms
predator

2 a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed <he fell prey to nagging—but groundless—doubts about his wife's fidelity> — see CASUALTY 1
3 a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule <that woman has a sharp tongue, and her favored prey is her long-suffering husband> — see TARGET 1

prey (on or upon) verb
to seize and eat (something) as prey <a fox has been preying on the chickens>

Synonyms
feed (on, upon, or off)

Related Words
chase, hunt, pursue, stalk; destroy, dispatch, do in, fell, kill, slay

price noun
1 the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something <I really wanted to buy that shirt, but the price was more money than I had>

Synonyms
ante, charge, cost, damage, fee, figure, freight, price tag

Related Words
fair market value, market value, valuation, value; asking price, list price, sticker price; price point, rate, tariff, unit price; carrying charge, overcharge, service charge (also service fee), surcharge; deduction, discount, markdown, reduction, sale; deposit; down payment; account, bill, check, invoice, tab

2 the loss or penalty involved in achieving a goal <I finished the project, but the price was losing a night's sleep>

Synonyms
cost

Related Words
expense, toll; damages, forfeit, forfeiture, mulct, sacrifice; ante, risk

3 something offered or given in return for a service performed <there was a price on the criminal's head> — see REWARD

priceless adjective
1 having a value beyond any ability to appraise or adequately appreciate <good advice is priceless>

Synonyms
inestimable, invaluable

Related Words
immeasurable, incalculable; costly, dear, expensive, high, precious, premium, pricey (also pricy), superexpensive, valuable

Near Antonyms
good-for-nothing, no-good, nothing, valueless, worthless

2 commanding a large price <a dealer of priceless antiques> — see COSTLY

price tag noun
the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something <a weeklong cruise on the luxury liner sounded great, but the price tag was enough to make me choke> — see PRICE 1

pricey also pricy adjective
commanding a large price <a small boutique selling pricey women's clothing> — see COSTLY

prick noun
1 a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument <the immunization shot left a prick on my arm that turned into a bruise>

Synonyms
perforation, pinhole, pinprick, punch, puncture, stab

Related Words
gouge, groove, hollow; break, cut, gash, incision, laceration, notch, rent, rip, rupture, slash, slit, tear

2 a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body <she felt a sharp prick when the nurse gave her the shot> — see PAIN 1

prickly adjective
1 causing an unpleasant tingling sensation <she tried to ignore the feel of the prickly grass against her skin> — see SCRATCHY 2
2 easily irritated or annoyed <she dreaded having to deal with her prickly boss> — see IRRITABLE
3 having leaves or branches which are likely to cause a scratch <waded carefully through the prickly bushes> — see SCRATCHY 1
4 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <a prickly issue that will outrage at least one special interest if not handled delicately> — see TRICKY 1

pride noun
1 a reasonable or justifiable sense of one's worth or importance <finishing that survival course gave me a real sense of pride and confidence in my abilities>

Synonyms
ego, pridefulness, self-esteem, self-regard, self-respect

Related Words
aplomb, assurance, confidence, self-assurance, self-assuredness, self-confidence, self-pride, self-trust, self-worth; dignity, face, honor, prestige

Near Antonyms
discredit, disesteem, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, humiliation, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, shame; demureness, down-to-earthness, humbleness, humility, modesty; diffidence, meekness, shyness, timidity, timidness

2 an asset that brings praise or renown <an architectural and acoustical masterpiece, the concert hall is the pride of the whole city> — see GLORY 2
3 an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <so full of pride that they were ripe for a big comedown> — see COMPLACENCE 1
4 individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <crackerjack test pilots who are the pride of the navy's air arm> — see ELITE 1

pride verb
to think highly of (oneself) <he prides himself on the quality of his writing>

Synonyms
flatter, pique, plume

Related Words
boast, brag, crow, gasconade, swagger, swank, swash, vapor, vaunt; congratulate, felicitate

prideful adjective
1 having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself <prideful intellectuals long considered rock music unworthy of serious study> — see PROUD 1
2 having too high an opinion of oneself <at the wedding the prideful snobs ignored their poor relations> — see CONCEITED
3 having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph <flashed a prideful smile as she received her college diploma> — see EXULTANT

pridefulness noun
1 a reasonable or justifiable sense of one's worth or importance <beaming with understandable pridefulness, the physically challenged graduate accepted his college diploma> — see PRIDE 1
2 an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <an inordinate amount of pridefulness for someone who has much to be modest about> — see COMPLACENCE 1

priest noun
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church <searched for a priest who could perform an exorcism> — see CLERGYPERSON

priesthood noun
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <a gathering of Mafia dons that was in effect a convocation of the nation's priesthood of organized crime> — see ELITE 1

priestly adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy <majestically robed in priestly garments> — see CLERICAL

prim adjective
1 being clean and in good order <behind the bed-and-breakfast is a prim little garden where guests are served afternoon tea> — see NEAT 1
2 given to or marked by very conservative standards regarding personal behavior or morals <a very prim and proper matron was in charge of the girls' dorm> — see STRAITLACED

primacy noun
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance <the primacy of calcium for building strong bones> — see EMINENCE 1

prima facie adjective
1 appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed <a prima facie case of tax fraud> — see APPARENT 1
2 not needing proof in order to be accepted <challenged the assertion that the dearth of women on the staff constituted a prima facie case of sexual discrimination> — see AXIOMATIC

primal adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <the primal theme of the essay is toleration of religious diversity> — see FOREMOST 1
2 relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period <there was a period of primal idealism after the founding of the republic and before the rise of partisan politics> — see EARLY 1

primarily adverb
1 in the beginning <the university was primarily an agricultural college when it was founded over two centuries ago> — see ORIGINALLY
2 for the most part <ketchup is primarily made from tomatoes> — see CHIEFLY

primary adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <the primary concern for many house hunters is the asking price> — see FOREMOST 1
2 done or working without something else coming in between <a crop failure that was the primary cause of the famine> — see DIRECT 1
3 highest in rank or authority <the movie's primary screenwriter> — see HEAD
4 coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows <a few minutes of primary instruction in the use of our diving gear before we actually got into the water> — see PRELIMINARY

prime adjective
1 highest in rank or authority <the prime strategist in the senator's presidential campaign> — see HEAD
2 of the very best kind <owns a thousand acres of prime farmland> — see EXCELLENT

prime noun
1 a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement <in the prime of her life> — see BLOOM 1
2 individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <chose the prime of the litter of pups> — see ELITE 1

primeness noun
exceptionally high quality <made no claims regarding the primeness of that piece of farmland> — see EXCELLENCE 1

primer noun
a book used for instruction in a subject <a primer of human anatomy> — see TEXTBOOK

primeval adjective
relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period <primeval forests slowly disappearing as the climate changed> — see EARLY 1

primitive adjective
1 belonging to or characteristic of an early level of skill or development <primitive wooden tools were used before the Iron Age>

Synonyms
crude, low, rude, rudimentary

Related Words
basic, simple, uncomplicated; homely, homespun, unsophisticated; early, embryonic, primeval, primordial; backward, underdeveloped, undeveloped; aged, ancient, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, dated, fusty, hoary, musty, obsolete, old, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, outworn, passé, past, quaint, unmodernized

Near Antonyms
complex, complicated, intricate, involved, sophisticated; full-blown, grown, mature, matured, perfected, ripe, ripened; civilized, cultivated, enlightened, refined; contemporary, current, latest, mod, modern, modernistic, new, newfangled, new-fashioned, novel, now, present-day, space-age, state-of-the-art, supermodern, ultramodern, up-to-date

Antonyms
advanced, developed, evolved, high, higher, late

2 relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period <a primitive period in church history when members still lived in communes> — see EARLY 1
3 lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <her taste in art was still primitive, but she knew schlock when she saw it> — see NAIVE 1

primo adjective, slang
of the very best kind <thanked the volunteers for a really primo job on the parish fund-raiser> — see EXCELLENT

primogenitor noun
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent <the family held a huge reunion to mark the 200th anniviersary of their primogenitors' arrival in America> — see ANCESTOR 1

primordial adjective
relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period <all life on Earth supposedly came from a primordial ooze in existence many millions of years ago> — see EARLY 1

prince noun
a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field <a neighborhood in which the city's merchant princes built palaces that shamelessly celebrated their wealth> — see MAGNATE

princely adjective
fit for or worthy of a royal ruler <set a princely meal before their guests> — see MONARCHICAL

princess noun
a usually glamorous woman who is preeminent in her field of activity <as the reigning princess of pop music, she exerts an enormous influence over teens> — see DIVA

principal adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <our principal reason for coming here today> — see FOREMOST 1
2 highest in rank or authority <the principal researcher in the company's chemical division> — see HEAD

principal noun
the person who has the most important role in a play, movie, or TV show <my cousin is one of the principals in a new sitcom this fall> — see STAR 2

principally adverb
for the most part <the tourists were principally concerned with the quantity of the food, and only secondarily with the quality> — see CHIEFLY

principled adjective
1 following the accepted rules of moral conduct <a high-principled art expert who always told clients what he honestly thought their items were worth> — see HONORABLE 1
2 guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong <a politician widely respected for her principled behavior in every office she ever held> — see CONSCIENTIOUS 1

principles plural noun
1 general or basic truths on which other truths or theories can be based <if you don't learn the principles of algebra now, you won't understand much later on>

Synonyms
ABC(s), alphabet, basics, elements, essentials, fundamentals, grammar, rudiments

Related Words
basis, bedrock, cornerstone, foundation, groundwork, keystone, underpinning; nitty-gritty; belief, canon, doctrine, dogma, faith, philosophy; axiom, law, precept, tenet; rule, standard; theorem

Near Antonyms
details, trivia

2 the code of good conduct for an individual or group <stuck to his principles even in the face of extreme pressure> — see ETHICS

print noun
1 a perceptible trace left by pressure <one telltale sign that I had been napping was the print left by the chenille bedspread on my cheek>

Synonyms
impress, impression, imprint, stamp

Related Words
dent, hollow, indent, indentation, indenture; mark, sign

2 a picture created from an image recorded on a light-sensitive surface by a camera <we now get our prints developed online> — see PHOTOGRAPH

print verb
to produce and release for distribution in printed form <the newspaper's motto remains “All the News That's Fit to Print”> — see PUBLISH 1

prior adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <this assignment will be prior to any other work you may have> — see FOREMOST 1
2 going before another in time or order <we've made prior arrangements> — see PREVIOUS

priority noun
the right to one's attention before other things considered less important <the committee has decided to give your request priority, so you'll have a meeting early tomorrow morning>

Synonyms
precedence, right-of-way

Related Words
preference; urgency; ascendancy (also ascendency), preeminence, primacy, supremacy; transcendence, transcendency; order, progression, sequence, succession; front burner

Near Antonyms
back burner

prior to preposition
earlier than <make sure all revisions are approved by the author prior to publication> — see BEFORE 1

priory noun
a residence for men under religious vows <you can hear the bells from the priory from the other side of the village> — see MONASTERY

prismatic adjective
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <with its prismatic plumage, the ruby-throated hummingbird is one of our garden's most prized visitors> — see COLORFUL

prison noun
1 a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <the ongoing debate whether drug users should go to prison> — see JAIL
2 the act of confining or the state of being confined <the view that prison does nothing to cure the criminal—if anything, it makes him worse> — see INTERNMENT

prisoner noun
one that has been taken and held in confinement <the prisoners were fed only bread and water twice a day> — see CAPTIVE

pristine adjective
1 being in an original and unused or unspoiled state <a pristine forest that has never been subjected to logging or development> — see FRESH 1
2 free from dirt or stain <one doesn't dare spill anything on his car's pristine upholstery> — see CLEAN 1

privacy noun
the state of being alone or kept apart from others <I enjoy privacy for a time, but eventually I miss the company of others> — see ISOLATION

private adjective
1 not known or meant to be known by the general populace <that he is planning to retire is private information until he makes a public announcement>

Synonyms
behind-the-scenes, confidential, esoteric, hushed, hush-hush, inside, intimate, nonpublic, privy, secret

Related Words
classified, restricted, top secret; silent, unadvertised, unannounced, undisclosed, unmentioned, unsaid, untold; clandestine, closet, collusive, conspiratorial, covert; furtive, hugger-mugger, occult, sneak, sneaking, sneaky, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underground, underhand, underhanded; personal; closeted, concealed, hidden; repressed, silenced, stifled, suppressed; backstage, offscreen, offstage

Near Antonyms
well-known; advertised, aired, announced, blazed, broadcast, declared, disclosed, divulged, enunciated, heralded, proclaimed, professed, promulgated, publicized, published, reported, spotlighted; general, popular, prevailing, vulgar; current, prevalent, rife, widespread; communal, shared

Antonyms
common, open, public

2 undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <a private investigation of the organization's activities> — see SECRET 1
3 of, relating to, or belonging to a single person <club lockers in which private property may be stored> — see INDIVIDUAL 1

private detective noun
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons <when the police insisted that it was an accident and not murder, she hired a private detective> — see DETECTIVE

private eye noun
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons <unable to get the interest of the police, they hired a private eye to find their missing daughter> — see DETECTIVE

private investigator noun
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons <the retired policeman decided to become a private investigator> — see DETECTIVE

privately adverb
in a manner intended to prevent knowledge or awareness by others <she confided to me privately that she was considering divorce>

Synonyms
backstage, confidentially, in camera, intimately, secretly

Related Words
à deux, tête-à-tête; inwardly, sotto voce; offscreen, offstage; clandestinely, collusively, conspiratorially, covertly; furtively, secretively, sneakily, stealthily, surreptitiously, undercover, underground, underhand, underhanded, underhandedly

Phrases
in private

Antonyms
openly, publicly

privation noun
the state of being robbed of something normally enjoyed <the constant privation of sleep was starting to affect my work>

Synonyms
deprivation, loss

Related Words
absence, dearth, lack, need, want; dispossession; denial, forfeit, forfeiture, penalty, sacrifice; bereavement; deficiency, inadequacy, insufficiency, paucity, poverty, scarcity, shortage

Near Antonyms
control, ownership, possession; accumulation, acquiring, gain

privilege noun
something granted as a special favor <the town's oldest resident will have the privilege of leading the parade kicking off the Heritage Celebration>

Synonyms
appanage (also apanage), boon, concession, honor

Related Words
courtesy; claim, entitlement, right; birthright; perquisite, prerogative; charter, grant, patent; exemption, immunity, waiver

Near Antonyms
burden, duty, obligation, responsibility

privilege verb
to give a right to <only professionals who meet the education and experience requirements set by law are privileged to use the title “interior designer” in Oklahoma> — see ENTITLE 1

privy adjective
1 not known or meant to be known by the general populace <privy information on the current state of the peace negotiations> — see PRIVATE 1
2 undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <privy meetings between high-level representatives from both sides for the purpose of bringing about an armistice> — see SECRET 1
3 of, relating to, or belonging to a single person <a privy seal that can be used only by the British monarch> — see INDIVIDUAL 1

prize adjective
of the very best kind <delighted to be guests at one of her prize dinner parties> — see EXCELLENT

prize noun
1 someone or something unusually desirable <in the view of most of her friends, her current boyfriend is certainly no prize>

Synonyms
catch, gem, jewel, pearl, plum, treasure

Related Words
blessing, find, godsend, goody (or goodie), valuable, windfall; booty, loot, plunder, spoil, swag; brass ring; glory, pride; gold, jackpot, prize money, treasure trove

Near Antonyms
lemon, loser

2 something given in recognition of achievement <the Pritzker Architecture Prize is the world's most prestigious honor in the field of architecture> — see AWARD 1

1prize verb
1 to draw out by force or with effort <prizing the stubborn nails out of the board> — see EXTRACT
2 to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever <trying to prize apart the jammed gears> — see 1PRY 1

2prize verb
to hold dear <veterinarians know that pets are highly prized by their owners> — see LOVE 1

prizefighter noun
one that engages in the sport of fighting with the fists <a prizefighter who is generally acknowledged to be one of the ring's most dangerous men> — see BOXER

prizewinning adjective
of the very best kind <care to try a glass of my prizewinning homemade wine?> — see EXCELLENT

proactive adjective
having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future <proactive decision by the city fathers to plan for the eventual withering away of the region's manufacturing base> — see FORESIGHTED

probability noun
1 the quality or state of being likely to occur <the plot of the movie thriller was exciting and surprising but woefully lacking in probability>

Synonyms
liability, likelihood

Related Words
credibility, plausibility, plausibleness; feasibility, feasibleness, possibility, potentiality, reasonability, reasonableness, viability

Near Antonyms
doubtfulness, dubiousness; impracticability, impracticality; implausibility, incredibility, incredibleness

Antonyms
improbability, unlikelihood, unlikeliness

2 a measure of how often an event will occur instead of another <the probability of flipping a coin and getting heads 50 times in a row is not good>

Synonyms
chance, odds, percentage

Related Words
outlook, prospect; contingency, possibility, potential, potentiality; conditional probability

probable adjective
1 worthy of being accepted as true or reasonable <the counselor could find no probable reason for the girl's bizarre actions> — see BELIEVABLE
2 having a high chance of occurring <a probable outcome of the price increase will be lower consumption> — see LIKELY 1

probably adverb
by reasonable assumption <we would probably win that bet>

Synonyms
assumably, doubtless, likely, presumably

Related Words
maybe, mayhap, perchance, perhaps, possibly; conceivably, imaginably, plausibly, practically, reasonably; potentially; assuredly, certainly, clearly, conclusively, decisively, definitely, definitively, indisputably, indubitably, positively, really, surely, truly, undeniably, undoubtedly, unquestionably; presumedly, supposably, supposedly

Phrases
as like as not (or like as not)

Near Antonyms
implausibly, inconceivably, incredibly, unbelievably, unthinkably

Antonyms
improbably

probation noun
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something <a candidate for the priesthood must be able to withstand an intense probation of his personal character> — see INQUIRY 1

probative adjective
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something <no dearth of probative evidence for the theory of evolution> — see CORROBORATIVE

probatory adjective
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something <an abundance of probatory data linking smoking to cancer> — see CORROBORATIVE

probe noun
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something <a congressional probe into the accusations> — see INQUIRY 1

probe verb
1 to search through or into <tabloid reporters who seem determined to probe every detail of the singer's private life> — see EXPLORE 1
2 to go into or range over for purposes of discovery <probing the depths of the undersea trench> — see EXPLORE 2

probing noun
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something <questionings and probings by several committees into the affair> — see INQUIRY 1

probity noun
1 conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong <a person of indisputable probity must head the disciplinary panel> — see MORALITY 1
2 devotion to telling the truth <the defense attorney questioned the probity of the witness> — see HONESTY 1
3 faithfulness to high moral standards <ideals of fairness and probity in journalism> — see HONOR 1

problem noun
1 something that requires thought and skill for resolution <the problem of world hunger>

Synonyms
case, challenge, knot, matter, nut, trouble

Related Words
issue, question; corner, fix, hole, hot water, jam, mire, pickle, predicament, quagmire, spot; crux, Gordian knot, sticky wicket, toughie (also toughy); catch-22, dilemma, quandary; catch, glitch, hitch, pitfall, snag; conundrum, enigma, mystery, puzzle, puzzlement, riddle; brainteaser, perplexer, poser, stumper

Near Antonyms
magic bullet, silver bullet; cure-all, panacea

Antonyms
answer, solution

2 an interrogative expression often used to test knowledge <there were only 10 problems on the exam, but they were all challenging> — see QUESTION 1

problematic also problematical adjective
1 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <the problematic situation of somehow having two dates for the same party> — see TRICKY 1
2 giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <whether we should even bother finishing the project at this point is problematic> — see DOUBTFUL 2

proboscis noun
the part of the face bearing the nostrils and nasal cavity <if there were a direct relation between mendacity and the length of one's proboscis, hers would be a mile long> — see NOSE 1

procedure noun
1 a usually fixed or ordered series of actions or events leading to a result <followed the procedure for replacing the broken part exactly as the owner's manual instructed> — see PROCESS 1
2 a way of acting or proceeding <followed standard procedure for dealing with a consumer complaint> — see COURSE 1

proceed verb
to move forward along a course <you may proceed with your plan> — see GO 1

proceed (along) verb
to make one's way through, across, or over <the hikers proceeded along the ridge for several hundred feet> — see TRAVERSE

proceed (with) verb
to begin again or return to after an interruption <we can proceed with the meeting as soon as everyone has returned from lunch> — see RESUME

proceeding adjective
being in progress or development <currently proceeding projects include construction of a new school gym> — see ONGOING 1

proceeding noun
1 a court case for enforcing a right or claim <a divorce proceeding> — see LAWSUIT
2 a usually fixed or ordered series of actions or events leading to a result <this is not the haphazard proceeding that it may seem to the casual observer> — see PROCESS 1

proceeds plural noun
1 an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property <estimated that the annual proceeds from an increase in the state sales tax would be enormous> — see INCOME 1
2 the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received <all proceeds from the special promotion will go to charity> — see PROFIT 1

process noun
1 a usually fixed or ordered series of actions or events leading to a result <the process by which the elastic fibers spun by silkworms is turned into soft, lustrous cloth>

Synonyms
course, operation, procedure, proceeding

Related Words
drill, routine; fashion, form, manner, method, mode, style, system, technique, way; approach, arrangement, blueprint, design, formula, game plan, ground plan, layout, plan, plot, program, project, recipe, scheme, strategy; accomplishment, achievement, attainment, enterprise, performance, undertaking, work; activity, functioning, movement

2 forward movement in time or place <in the process of doing this project we all learned a lot> — see ADVANCE 1
3 a written notice ordering a person to appear in court <the prosecutor arranged for a process for her appearance to be issued> — see SUMMONS

procession noun
1 a body of individuals moving along in an orderly and often ceremonial way <a procession of mourners leaving the cemetery> — see CORTEGE 2
2 forward movement in time or place <watched the constant procession of cars headed out of the city at the start of the weekend> — see ADVANCE 1

proclaim verb
to make known openly or publicly <loudly proclaimed her innocence, to widespread disbelief> — see ANNOUNCE

proclivity noun
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <showed artistic proclivities at an early age> — see INCLINATION 1

procreate verb
to bring forth offspring <the common perception that our Puritan forebears procreated more out of a sense of duty than from desire>

Synonyms
breed, multiply, propagate, reproduce

Related Words
bear, beget, engender, gender, generate, get, have, mother, parent, produce, sire; hatch, spawn

procurable adjective
possible to get <the necessary ingredients should be procurable at almost any grocery store> — see AVAILABLE 1

procurator noun
a person who acts or does business for another <he was appointed procurator of the church and was responsible for all of the financial arrangements> — see AGENT 2

procure verb
to receive as return for effort <a reputation for integrity and incorruptibility that has procured for him the universal respect and admiration of his colleagues> — see EARN 1

procurer noun
a man who solicits clients for a woman who is willing to engage in sexual activities for money <had carved out a career as a procurer of high-priced call girls for wealthy, powerful men> — see PIMP

prod verb
1 to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object <kept prodding the sheep with a staff to move along faster>

Synonyms
dig, goad, spur

Related Words
chuck, jab, jog, knock, nudge, poke; bore, drill, perforate, pierce, prick, punch, puncture, stab, stick; drive, hale, propel

2 to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action <a public outcry eventually prodded the politicians into action> — see URGE

prodigal adjective
given to spending money freely or foolishly <the prodigal child always spent her allowance the minute she got it>

Synonyms
extravagant, high-rolling, profligate, spendthrift, squandering, thriftless, unthrifty, wasteful

Related Words
improvident, myopic, shortsighted; bighearted, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, freehearted, generous, lavish, liberal, munificent, openhanded, openhearted, philanthropic (also philanthropical), unselfish, unsparing, unstinting; careless, heedless, imprudent, incautious, injudicious, unwise; indulgent, reckless, self-indulgent, splurging, wanton

Near Antonyms
cheap, close, closefisted, mean, miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious, pinching, spare, sparing, stingy, stinting, tight, tightfisted; careful, judicious, prudent, sensible, wise; farsighted, forehanded, foreseeing, foresighted, forethoughtful, provident

Antonyms
conserving, economical, economizing, frugal, penny-pinching, scrimping, skimping, thrifty

prodigal noun
someone who spends money freely or foolishly <the million-dollar lottery winner was such a prodigal that his windfall was exhausted after only a few years>

Synonyms
fritterer, high roller, profligate, spender, spendthrift, squanderer, waster, wastrel

Related Words
dissipate

Near Antonyms
cheapskate, miser, niggard, piker, scrooge, skinflint, tightwad; conserver, saver

Antonyms
economizer, penny-pincher

prodigality noun
1 an instance of spending money or resources without care or restraint <his purchase of a new yacht was only one of a series of reckless prodigalities> — see WASTE 1
2 the quality or fact of being free or wasteful in the expenditure of money <his prodigality eventually turned him into a pauper> — see EXTRAVAGANCE 1

prodigious adjective
1 causing wonder or astonishment <stage magicians performing prodigious feats for rapt audiences> — see MARVELOUS 1
2 unusually large <a prodigious supply of canned food kept in the basement for emergencies> — see HUGE

prodigiousness noun
the quality or state of being very large <the proverbial prodigiousness of everything within the state of Texas> — see IMMENSITY

prodigy noun
something extraordinary or surprising <a new drug that is being hailed as the latest prodigy of the medical world> — see WONDER 1

produce noun
something produced by physical or intellectual effort <a book that was the produce of a lifetime of study on the subject> — see PRODUCT 1

produce verb
1 to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <hopefully, the new approach to fighting substance abuse will produce better results> — see EFFECT
2 to bring forth from the womb <rabbits can potentially produce many offspring at once> — see BEAR 1
3 to bring into being by combining, shaping, or transforming materials <a factory producing steel> — see MAKE 1
4 to present so as to invite notice or attention <he produced his brand-new driver's license at every possible opportunity> — see SHOW 1

product noun
1 something produced by physical or intellectual effort <that biography is the product of years of work> <a rebuilt car which is the product of several people's labor>

Synonyms
affair, fruit, handiwork, labor, output, produce, production, thing, work, yield

Related Words
article, commodity, entry, object; goods, line, merchandise, wares; handcraft, handicraft; aftereffect, aftermath, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, effect, issue, outcome, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot; by-product, derivative, offshoot, offspring, outgrowth, residual, side effect (also side reaction), spin-off

2 a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <her relentless ambition is a product of her home environment> — see EFFECT 1

production noun
something produced by physical or intellectual effort <the total production of one week's intensive labor> — see PRODUCT 1

productive adjective
1 having a role in deciding something's final form <contributed several productive ideas to the project> — see FORMATIVE
2 producing abundantly <overfishing has depleted the stock of fish in these waters, which were once so productive> — see FERTILE
3 producing or capable of producing a desired result <panicking during a crisis is not productive behavior> — see EFFECTIVE 1

productiveness noun
the power to produce a desired result <the prodigious productiveness of the nation's shipyards during World War II> — see EFFICACY

proem noun
a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part <the proem promises what the book does not deliver: a totally new interpretation of the French Revolution> — see INTRODUCTION

profanation noun
an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things <the First Book of the Maccabees tells of the profanation of the temple of Jerusalem by Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 167 B.C.> — see BLASPHEMY

profane adjective
1 not involving religion or religious matters <it was hard to juggle the requirements of church and our more profane duties>

Synonyms
nonreligious, secular, temporal

Related Words
atheistic, godless, irreligious, pagan, paganish, religionless; laical (or laic), lay, nonclerical; nondenominational, nonsectarian; earthly, mundane, terrene, terrestrial, worldly; material, physical, substantial; bodily, carnal, corporal, fleshly; blasphemous, impious, irreverent, sacrilegious; unconsecrated, unhallowed

Near Antonyms
divine, spiritual; consecrated, hallowed, holy, sacrosanct, sanctified; churchly, devout, godly, pious, prayerful, reverent, worshipful; ethereal, insubstantial, metaphysical, unsubstantial; bodiless, immaterial, incorporeal, nonphysical

Antonyms
religious, sacred

2 not showing proper reverence for the holy or sacred <offended by the profane language that her coworkers used so casually> — see IRREVERENT
3 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <his idea of dinner table conversation is the telling of profane stories about his alleged sexual exploits> — see OBSCENE 1

profane verb
1 to lower in character, dignity, or quality <the once-lovely landscape had been profaned by ugly factories> — see DEBASE 1
2 to put to a bad or improper use <profaned his considerable acting talents by appearing in some wretched movies> — see MISAPPLY
3 to treat (a sacred place or object) shamefully or with great disrespect <invading troops profaned the altar by playing poker on it> — see DESECRATE

profanity noun
1 a disrespectful or indecent word or expression <a rap song that is filled with profanities> — see SWEARWORD
2 the quality or state of being obscene <once notorious for its profanity, that 1950s best seller will strike today's readers as lamentably tame> — see OBSCENITY 1

profess verb
1 to present a false appearance of <professed friendship while secretly plotting revenge> — see FEIGN
2 to state clearly and strongly <the lonely woman professed her love in a series of letters to the soldier> — see ASSERT 1
3 to state as a fact usually forcefully <he professed his innocence to anyone who would listen> — see CLAIM 1

professed adjective
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <a professed analyst of American presidential politics> — see PROFICIENT

profession noun
1 a solemn and often public declaration of the truth or existence of something <the weekly profession of faith by the members of the congregation> — see PROTESTATION
2 the activity by which one regularly makes a living <a gifted communicator, he was very good at his chosen profession: teaching> — see OCCUPATION 1

proffer noun
something which is presented for consideration <a generous proffer of his baronial estate for the charity gala> — see PROPOSAL

proffer verb
1 to put before another for acceptance or consideration <proffered his assistance in helping the two sides reach a compromise> — see OFFER 1
2 to set before the mind for consideration <proffered a novel solution for getting themselves out of debt> — see PROPOSE 1

proficiency noun
1 a highly developed skill in or knowledge of something <surprised by his proficiency at the game after only the briefest explanation of the rules> — see COMMAND 2
2 knowledge gained by actually doing or living through something <acquired proficiency at golf through long hours of practice> — see EXPERIENCE 1

proficient adjective
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <she is quite proficient at computer repair> <a proficient rendition of a difficult piano piece>

Synonyms
accomplished, ace, adept, compleat, complete, consummate, crack, crackerjack, educated, experienced, expert, good, great, master, masterful, masterly, practiced (also practised), professed, skilled, skillful, versed, veteran, virtuoso

Related Words
adroit, clever, deft, dexterous (also dextrous), handy, slick, sure-handed; gifted, talented; polished, refined; effective, effectual, efficient, workmanlike; able, capable, competent, employable, fit, fitted, habile, qualified; educated, knowledgeable, schooled, taught, trained, tutored; all-around (also all-round), well-rounded; long-term, old; multiskilled, multitalented

Near Antonyms
incapable, incompetent, inept, unable, unfit, unfitted, unqualified, weak; artless, crude, rude; ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient; talentless, ungifted, untalented; ignorant, unschooled, untaught, untrained, untutored; beginning, green, inexperienced, new, raw, unseasoned, untested, untried, would-be; primitive, rough, unpolished; awkward, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, heavy-handed

Antonyms
amateur, amateurish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, unprofessional, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful

proficient noun
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <an urgent call by the state department for proficients in Arabic> — see EXPERT

proficiently adverb
in a skillful or expert manner <an administrator who can deal with the problems quickly and proficiently> — see WELL 3

profit noun
1 the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received <after we deducted the cost of sugar, lemons, and paper cups, the profit from a day of lemonade sales was about $20>

Synonyms
earnings, gain, lucre, net, payoff, proceeds, return

Related Words
cleanup, killing, windfall; bottom line; gross, sales; compensation, emolument, income, pay, payment, remittal, requital, salary, wages; interest, return, revenue, yield

Near Antonyms
charge, cost, disbursement, expenditure, expense, loss, outgo, outlay

2 an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property <found that there was a profit in training dogs for rich people> — see INCOME 1

profit verb
to provide with something useful or desirable <an agreement that profited us all> — see BENEFIT

profitable adjective
1 yielding a profit <selling real estate on the side turned out to be a profitable venture for the stay-at-home mom>

Synonyms
economic, fat, gainful, juicy, lucrative, moneymaking, money-spinning [chiefly British], paying, remunerative

Related Words
advantageous, beneficial, favorable, rewarding, useful, worthwhile; bankable

Near Antonyms
disadvantageous, unfavorable

Antonyms
unprofitable

2 promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being <I have always found honesty to be a profitable course of action> — see BENEFICIAL

profitless adjective
producing no results <trying to reason with her is always a profitless enterprise> — see FUTILE 1

profligacy noun
immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society <a religious leader who railed against the profligacy of the nation's decadent aristocrats> — see VICE 1

profligate adjective
given to spending money freely or foolishly <profligate movie producers hoping to create the next blockbuster> — see PRODIGAL

profligate noun
1 someone who spends money freely or foolishly <a profligate who could not really afford the grand style he maintained at Monticello, Jefferson died deeply in debt> — see PRODIGAL
2 a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard <a drunken profligate, he was given to wretched excess in every aspect of his life> — see DEGENERATE

profound adjective
1 difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand <a profound observation about good and evil that few listeners fully grasped>

Synonyms
abstruse, arcane, deep, esoteric, hermetic (also hermetical), recondite

Related Words
erudite, learned, scholarly; academic (also academical), pedantic; complex, complicated, hard; darkling, enigmatic (also enigmatical), inscrutable, mysterious, mystic, mystical, orphic, uncanny; impenetrable, incomprehensible, unfathomable, unintelligible; ambiguous, cryptic; unanswerable, unknowable; baffling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, disorienting, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling

Near Antonyms
easy, facile, simple, straightforward; comprehensible, fathomable, intelligible, understandable; apparent, clear, clear-cut, distinct, evident, lucid, manifest, obvious, perspicuous, plain, transparent

Antonyms
shallow, superficial

2 extreme in degree, power, or effect <a profound silence fell over the audience after the last note had sounded> — see INTENSE 1
3 having no exceptions or restrictions <a profound dislike of frauds and phonies> — see ABSOLUTE 2
4 extending far downward <with eyes wide with disbelief, the explorers made their way through a canyon more profound than any they had ever imagined> — see DEEP 1

profoundness noun
the quality of being great in extent (as of insight) <we were struck by the profoundness of his observations on the ultimate meaning of life> — see DEPTH 2

profundity noun
the quality of being great in extent (as of insight) <a philosopher who is widely respected for the profundity of her thinking> — see DEPTH 2

profuse adjective
pouring forth in great amounts <we received profuse thanks for our efforts> <a profuse rush of water from the collapsing dike>

Synonyms
copious, galore, gushing, lavish, riotous

Related Words
abounding, abundant, ample, bounteous, bountiful, liberal, plenteous, plentiful; extravagant, luxuriant; fat, fecund, fertile; free, munificent, openhanded, unsparing, unstinting; excessive, immoderate, redundant; adequate, complete, enough, sufficient

Near Antonyms
meager (or meagre), niggardly, poor, scant, scanty, spare, sparse, stingy; deficient, inadequate, incomplete, insufficient, lacking, scarce, unsatisfactory, wanting; bare, mere, minimal

Antonyms
dribbling, trickling

profusion noun
1 a considerable amount <apples grow in profusion in this valley> — see LOT 2
2 the quality or fact of being free or wasteful in the expenditure of money <in giving gifts to his girlfriend, he was generous to the point of profusion> — see EXTRAVAGANCE 1

progenitor noun
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent <the progenitors of today's Maya once ruled a mighty empire that stretched across much of Central America> — see ANCESTOR 1

progeny noun
the descendants of a person, animal, or plant <the rancher carefully examined the progeny of the new breed of cattle> — see OFFSPRING

prognosis noun
a declaration that something will happen in the future <the securities analyst's prognosis for the stock market in the new year> — see PREDICTION

prognostic noun
a declaration that something will happen in the future <a prognostic of a global pandemic that turned out to be distressingly accurate> — see PREDICTION

prognosticate verb
to tell of or describe beforehand <using current trends to prognosticate what the workplace of the future will be like> — see FORETELL

prognosticating noun
a declaration that something will happen in the future <because there are always unforeseen breakthroughs in every field, in the past most prognosticatings have fallen short> — see PREDICTION

prognostication noun
1 a declaration that something will happen in the future <the complete fulfillment of his prognostication surprised even him> — see PREDICTION
2 a feeling that something bad will happen <at the sight of the brooding mansion, her prognostications of ill fortune grew stronger> — see PREMONITION

prognosticator noun
one who predicts future events or developments <one of the best prognosticators in the weather business> — see PROPHET 1

program noun
1 a listing of things to be presented or considered (as at a concert or play) <the program will tell us the scheduled order of musical numbers>

Synonyms
agenda, calendar, docket, schedule, timetable

Related Words
card, dance card, exercises, plate; arrangement, order, ordering, organization, sequence, setup

Phrases
bill of fare

2 a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective <we need to come up with a program to deal with kids skipping school> — see PLAN 1
3 a way of acting or proceeding <recommends a program of regular dental checkups> — see COURSE 1

progress noun
1 forward movement in time or place <we're making slow progress against this stiff headwind> — see ADVANCE 1
2 the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced <the rapid progress of medical science in the last century> — see DEVELOPMENT 1

progress verb
1 to become mature <generally a species progresses from simple forms to more specialized forms> — see MATURE
2 to move forward along a course <our wedding plans are progressing nicely> — see GO 1

progression noun
1 a series of things linked together <a progression of events that ended in utter disaster for the arctic explorers> — see CHAIN 1
2 forward movement in time or place <our progression was slow but steady> — see ADVANCE 1
3 the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced <that civilization's gradual progression from simple bartering to a complex economy and monetary system> — see DEVELOPMENT 1

progressive adjective
1 being far along in development <progressive forms of animal life> — see ADVANCED 1
2 not bound by traditional ways or beliefs <a socially progressive community, it was the first to provide for the public education of girls> — see LIBERAL 1
3 being or employing the latest concepts, styles, or techniques <one of the founders of progressive dance, Isadora Duncan became an inspiration to an array of free-spirited artists> — see AVANT

prohibit verb
to order not to do or use or to be done or used <the city prohibits swimming in the lake after dark> — see FORBID

prohibited adjective
that may not be permitted <there will be no toleration for smoking and other prohibited activities> — see IMPERMISSIBLE

prohibiting noun
the act of ordering that something not be done or used <not surprisingly, the prohibiting of the use of cell phones proved to be unpopular with patients visiting the doctor> — see PROHIBITION 1

prohibition noun
1 the act of ordering that something not be done or used <the principal's prohibition against the use of cell phones in the school building met with unanimous approval by the teachers>

Synonyms
banning, barring, enjoining, forbidding, interdicting, interdiction, outlawing, prohibiting, proscribing, proscription

Related Words
bidding, charging, decreeing, dictation, direction, instruction; deterrence, discouragement, dissuading; repression, suppression; coercion, compulsion, constraint, force

Near Antonyms
allowance, permission, sufferance, toleration; approval, endorsement (also indorsement); authorization, clearance, license (or licence), sanction; encouragement, promotion, support; compliance, obedience, submission

2 an order that something not be done or used <the school issued a prohibition against wearing clothing with obscene and provocative slogans>

Synonyms
ban, embargo, interdict, interdiction, proscription, veto

Related Words
no-no, taboo (also tabu); constraint, inhibition, limitation, restraint, restriction; deterrent, discouragement; repression, suppression; prevention; denial, disallowance, negation, refusal, rejection; objection, protest; caveat, warning; no-no; commandment, decree, dictate, edict, injunction, mandate

Near Antonyms
sufferance, tolerance, toleration; allowance, allowing, authorization, clearance, consent, granting, leave, letting, license (or licence), licensing (also licencing), permission, permitting, sanction, sanctioning; approbation, approval, blessing, endorsement (also indorsement), imprimatur, OK (or okay); enabling, encouragement, facilitation, promotion, support; compliance, obedience, submission; accession, acquiescence, agreement, assent

Antonyms
prescription

project noun
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective <an ambitious project to develop the city's waterfront> — see PLAN 1

project verb
1 to extend outward beyond a usual point <some boulders projected dangerously out above the trail> — see BULGE 1
2 to work out the details of (something) in advance <we must project next year's budget now> — see PLAN 1

projection noun
a part that sticks out from the general mass of something <filed down all the projections until the surface was smooth> — see BULGE 1

prole adjective
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <the writer's prole origins are evident in his gritty novels about life in the inner city> — see IGNOBLE 1

proletarian adjective
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <a self-made Internet magnate who is not at all ashamed of his proletarian background> — see IGNOBLE 1

proletariat noun
people looked down upon as ignorant and of the lowest class <the Bolsheviks believed that Russia's discontented proletariat made that nation ripe for revolution> — see RABBLE

proliferate verb
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <rumors about the incident proliferated on the Internet> — see INCREASE 2

proliferation noun
1 something added (as by growth) <a large proliferation in the number of electrical appliances was placing enormous demands upon the region's power supply> — see INCREASE 1
2 the act or process of becoming greater in number <the proliferation of mistakes as both actors and crew became more and more tired> — see MULTIPLICATION

prolific adjective
producing abundantly <a famously prolific author who could produce several works of fiction and nonfiction a year> — see FERTILE

prolix adjective
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea <a person known for habitually transforming brief anecdotes into prolix sagas that exhaust their listeners> — see WORDY 1

prolixity noun
the use of too many words to express an idea <prolixity is one of the worst offenses that a writer of any age can commit> — see VERBIAGE 1

prolocutor noun
a person in charge of a meeting <was chosen as prolocutor of the international colloquium> — see CHAIR 1

prologue also prolog noun
1 a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event <unfortunately, the burglary, which he committed while still a teen, was but a prologue to a wasted life of crime> — see PRELUDE 1
2 a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part <a brief prologue sets the scene for the story that follows> — see INTRODUCTION

prolong verb
to make longer <would like to prolong our vacation by any means possible> — see EXTEND 1

prolongation noun
the act of making longer <the indefinite prolongation of the cease-fire> — see EXTENSION 1

prolonging noun
the act of making longer <his habitual prolonging of any task so that it fills up an entire afternoon> — see EXTENSION 1

prolusion noun
a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part <in her prolusion she sketches the religious, cultural and political milieu in which gnosticism developed> — see INTRODUCTION

prom noun
a social gathering for dancing <he resolved to ask her to the school prom at the first opportunity> — see DANCE

promenade noun
a public place for strolling <a beautifully landscaped park with a wide promenade along the riverside>

Synonyms
boardwalk, mall, walk

Related Words
walkway; alameda, allée; arcade, colonnade, galleria, gallery; plaza

Promethean adjective
having the skill and imagination to create new things <it is only through the efforts of a Promethean pioneer that an art form advances> — see CREATIVE 1

prominence noun
an area of high ground <a rocky prominence that commands a stunning view of the surrounding area> — see HEIGHT 4

prominent adjective
1 likely to attract attention <an attorney who occupies a prominent position in the town's social hierarchy> — see NOTICEABLE
2 widely known <prominent figures in the history of sports> — see FAMOUS 1

promiscuous adjective
consisting of many things of different sorts <since I just collect stamps that I happen to like, my collection is pretty promiscuous> — see MISCELLANEOUS

promise noun
a person's solemn declaration that he or she will do or not do something <he made a promise to arrive on time, come hell or high water>

Synonyms
oath, pledge, troth, vow, word

Related Words
appointment, arrangement, commitment, engagement, obligation; agreement, compact, contract, covenant; assurance, guarantee, guaranty, undertaking; bail, bond, deposit, gage, pawn, security, token, warranty

promise verb
1 to make a solemn declaration of intent <they promised to keep in touch with us after they moved away>

Synonyms
covenant, pledge, swear, vow

Related Words
affiance, betroth, plight, troth; accede, agree, assent, consent; contract, engage, ensure, guarantee, undertake; affirm, assert, aver, avouch, avow, declare, insist, warrant

Phrases
give one's word

2 to show signs of a favorable or successful outcome <given the cast, the new sitcom promises to be an excellent show> — see BODE

promised adjective, chiefly dialect
pledged in marriage <I cannot entertain your marriage proposal, for I am already promised to another> — see ENGAGED 1

promised land noun
an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <finally realized that the promised land doesn't exist> — see PARADISE 1

promising adjective
1 having qualities which inspire hope <a promising writer who just may write the great American novel someday> — see HOPEFUL 1
2 pointing toward a happy outcome <all the signs for the new business are promising> — see FAVORABLE 2

promontory noun
1 an area of high ground jutting out into a body of water beyond the line of the coast <stood on the windswept promontory overlooking the bay> — see HEADLAND 1
2 an area of land that juts out into a body of water <Cape May is Delaware Bay's largest promontory> — see 2CAPE

promote verb
1 to move higher in rank or position <the navy promoted her to captain for her record of outstanding performance>

Synonyms
advance, elevate, raise, upgrade

Related Words
forward, further; aggrandize, boost, heighten, improve, lift, uplift; commission, ennoble, knight; acclaim, applaud, celebrate, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate; eulogize, exalt, extol (also extoll), glorify, hail, honor, laud, praise, salute

Phrases
kick upstairs

Near Antonyms
depose, dethrone, dismiss, expel, impeach, oust, overthrow, remove, unmake, unseat; demean, disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, mortify, shame, take down; censure, condemn, damn, denounce, reprobate

Antonyms
abase, degrade, demote, downgrade, lower, reduce

2 to help the growth or development of <a campaign promoting good dental hygiene> — see FOSTER 1
3 to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care <spends all her time now promoting her new business> — see GROW 1
4 to provide publicity for <promoting a new line of toys based on the popular movie> — see PUBLICIZE 1

promoter noun
a person who actively supports or favors a cause <a promoter of greater understanding and cooperation among churches> — see EXPONENT 1

promotion noun
a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position <after 10 years at the company he was rewarded with a promotion to vice president> — see ADVANCEMENT 1

prompt adjective
1 done, carried out, or given without delay <prompt treatment of snakebites is always advisable>

Synonyms
immediate, punctual, speedy, timely

Related Words
apt, quick, ready, swift, willing; opportune, seasonable; early

Near Antonyms
delinquent, latish, overdue; behind, behindhand, delayed, detained; dilatory, laggard, slow

Antonyms
belated, late, tardy

2 having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation <our waiter was prompt and courteous despite the fact that the restaurant was understaffed> — see QUICK 1

prompt verb
1 to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <a misguided pride prompted the family to refuse all offers of help> — see EFFECT
2 to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action <prompted the reluctant performer onto the stage with loud cheers and whistles> — see URGE

promptitude noun
the quality or habit of arriving or being ready on time <his chronic tardiness has put him in poor standing with his boss, who values hustle and promptitude>

Synonyms
promptness, punctuality, timeliness

Related Words
alacrity, aptness, quickness, readiness, willingness; earliness, prematurity

Near Antonyms
belatedness, lateness; slowness

Antonyms
tardiness, unpunctuality

promptly adverb
without delay <shipped the package promptly so that it would arrive on time> — see IMMEDIATELY

promptness noun
the quality or habit of arriving or being ready on time <the promptness of the local bus line has always been reassuring> — see PROMPTITUDE

promulgate verb
to make known openly or publicly <the encyclical that promulgated the church's position on artificial birth control> — see ANNOUNCE

prone adjective
1 having a tendency to be or act in a certain way <he was prone to emotional outbursts under stress>

Synonyms
apt, given, inclined, tending

Related Words
choosing, preferring; disposed, liable, likely, minded, predisposed, willing

Near Antonyms
averse, disinclined, indisposed, loath (also loth or loathe), unwilling

2 lying with the face downwards <quickly subdue the suspect and get him into a prone position>

Synonyms
prostrate

Related Words
flat, recumbent; reclining, reposing; horizontal

Near Antonyms
erect, raised, standing, upright, upstanding, vertical

Antonyms
supine

proneness noun
an established pattern of behavior <the quarterback's proneness to injury has prompted team owners to offer him less lucrative terms on his new contract> — see TENDENCY 1

pronounced adjective
1 likely to attract attention <a pronounced tendency to slurp her soup> — see NOTICEABLE
2 very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad <walking with a pronounced limp> — see EGREGIOUS

pronto adverb
1 with great speed <if they don't arrive pronto, we'll have to go to the movie without them> — see FAST 1
2 without delay <the kind of boss who wants everything pronto> — see IMMEDIATELY

proof noun
something presented in support of the truth or accuracy of a claim <she presented proof that she had not cheated>

Synonyms
attestation, confirmation, corroboration, documentation, evidence, substantiation, testament, testimonial, testimony, validation, voucher, witness

Related Words
(the) goods; certificate, document, exhibit; demonstration, illustration; authentication, identification, manifestation, verification

Near Antonyms
rebuttal, refutation; accusation, allegation, charge; assumption, conjecture, guess, presumption, surmise, suspicion

Antonyms
disproof

prop noun
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else <a prop kept the porch of the dilapidated house from collapsing> — see SUPPORT 1

prop (up) verb
1 to hold up or serve as a foundation for <these beams are propping up the entire roof> — see SUPPORT 3
2 to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end <invariably his strong religious faith props him up in times of crisis> — see HELP 1

propagate verb
1 to bring forth offspring <the dams along the river are interfering with the salmon's ability to propagate> — see PROCREATE
2 to cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people <the various ways in which churches can propagate the faith> — see SPREAD 1

propel verb
1 to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one <playfully he propelled his rambunctious friend into the swimming pool to cool off> — see PUSH 1
2 to set or keep in motion <the aircraft is propelled by a pair of turboprop engines> — see MOVE 2

propensity noun
1 an established pattern of behavior <the criminal propensities of the family extended over several generations> — see TENDENCY 1
2 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <a neighbor who has an unfortunate propensity for snooping> — see INCLINATION 1

proper adjective
1 following the established traditions of refined society and good taste <the formal ball called for proper attire—tuxedos and full-length gowns only>

Synonyms
befitting, correct, decent, decorous, de rigueur, genteel, nice, polite, respectable, seemly

Related Words
acceptable, adequate, satisfactory, tolerable; dress, dressy, formal; dignified, elegant, gracious; priggish, prim, stiff, stuffy; apt, material, relevant; compatible, congenial, harmonious; allowed, authorized, kosher, permitted

Near Antonyms
intolerable, unacceptable, unsatisfactory; casual, grungy, informal; seedy, shabby, tacky; banned, barred, disallowed; forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed; awkward, gauche, ungraceful

Antonyms
improper, inappropriate, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, indelicate, unbecoming, ungenteel, unseemly

2 being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard <there is really more than one proper way to pronounce that word in English> — see CORRECT 1
3 marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details <we had nodded and said hello to one another but had never had a proper introduction> — see CEREMONIOUS 1
4 meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <you'll need to have a proper diet if you want to lose weight> — see FIT 1
5 serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group <malaria and other diseases that are proper to the tropics> — see CHARACTERISTIC 1

properly adverb
in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose <the scouts were properly dressed for a week of camping>

Synonyms
appositely, appropriately, congruously, correctly, duly, fittingly, happily, meetly, right, rightly, suitably

Related Words
well; acceptably, adequately, passably, satisfactorily, tolerably; decently, decorously

Near Antonyms
unacceptably, unsatisfactorily; inopportunely, unfortunately, unseasonably; inappositely, inaptly, irrelevantly; awkwardly, ungracefully

Antonyms
improperly, inappropriately, incongruously, incorrectly, unseemly, unsuitably, wrongly

properness noun
the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting <questioned the properness of having any curfew at all for people of college age> — see APPROPRIATENESS

property noun
1 a small piece of land that is developed or available for development <bought a secluded property in the mountains> — see LOT 1
2 something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <the ability to be magnetized is a common property of metals> — see CHARACTERISTIC

prophecy also prophesy noun
a declaration that something will happen in the future <the report on climate change included alarming prophecies of rising sea levels and increased storm activity> — see PREDICTION

prophesier noun
one who predicts future events or developments <a prophesier of good things for the team in the coming season> — see PROPHET 1

prophesy verb
to tell of or describe beforehand <holy men were prophesying the coming of a new messiah> — see FORETELL

prophet noun
1 one who predicts future events or developments <an economist who is regarded by many as a reliable prophet of future developments in the global economy>

Synonyms
augur, diviner, forecaster, foreseer, foreteller, fortune-teller, futurist, prognosticator, prophesier, seer, soothsayer, visionary

Related Words
prophetess, sibyl, wisewoman; mystic, oracle; astrologer, crystal gazer, palmist, rhabdomancer; Cassandra, doomsayer, doomsdayer, Jeremiah

2 a person who speaks for another or for a group <in the 1960s Timothy Leary gained fame as the gonzo prophet of the psychedelic movement> — see SPOKESPERSON

prophetic also prophetical adjective
being a sign of a later course of events <in retrospect, those lower-than-expected sales numbers were a prophetic indicator of the financial trouble the company would soon be in>

Synonyms
predictive

Related Words
apocalyptic (also apocalyptical), millenarian; baleful, dire, foreboding, menacing, portentous, sinister, threatening; inauspicious, unpromising; oracular; revelatory, telling

Near Antonyms
auspicious, promising, propitious, rosy

prophylactic adjective
concerned with or serving to keep something from happening <the many prophylactic measures that city officials could have taken to reduce the scope of the disaster> — see PREVENTIVE

propinquity noun
the state or condition of being near <local housing prices, thanks to the propinquity of an especially picturesque beach, are out of the reach of many would-be buyers> — see PROXIMITY

propitiate verb
to lessen the anger or agitation of <the temple was once the site of sacrifices—both to honor the gods in times of plenty and to propitiate them in times of trouble> — see PACIFY 1

propitiatory adjective
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility <sent his girlfriend flowers as a propitiatory gesture for a date gone sour> — see PACIFIC 1

propitious adjective
1 having qualities which inspire hope <the success of the first big movie in May was a propitious start for the summer season of blockbusters> — see HOPEFUL 1
2 pointing toward a happy outcome <a propitious time for starting a business> — see FAVORABLE 2

proponent noun
a person who actively supports or favors a cause <a vocal proponent of the use of electric-powered cars> — see EXPONENT 1

proportion noun
1 a balanced, pleasing, or suitable arrangement of parts <the head was drawn too large, being way out of proportion with the body> — see HARMONY 1
2 something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group <the players argue that they aren't getting the proportion of the league's profits that are due to them> — see SHARE 1
3 the relationship in quantity, amount, or size between two or more things <the proportion of length to width for those screens was usually three to two> — see RATIO
4 the total amount of measurable space or surface occupied by something <the exact proportions of the room were critical> — see 1SIZE

proportional adjective
corresponding in size, amount, extent, or degree <the Web site's popularity increased exponentially, resulting in a proportional increase in advertising revenue>

Synonyms
commensurable, commensurate, proportionate

Related Words
balanced, symmetrical (or symmetric); correlative, reciprocal; contingent, dependent, relative; akin, comparable, similar

Phrases
in proportion

Near Antonyms
asymmetrical (or asymmetric), distorted, irregular, lopsided, nonsymmetrical, twisted, unsymmetrical; unbalanced

Antonyms
disproportionate

proportionate adjective
corresponding in size, amount, extent, or degree <expect financial returns proportionate to your efforts> — see PROPORTIONAL

proposal noun
something which is presented for consideration <the city council is accepting proposals for ways to use that land>

Synonyms
offer, proffer, proposition, suggestion

Related Words
counteroffer, counterproposal, countersuggestion; feeler, overture; motion; advancement, nomination, recommendation; bid, presentation, submission, submittal, tender; arrangement, game, ground plan, layout, line, plan, plot, project, strategy, system; conception, idea, notion, theory, thought

propose verb
1 to set before the mind for consideration <he proposed that we go for a walk this afternoon>

Synonyms
advance, bounce, offer, pose, proffer, propound, suggest, vote

Related Words
move; nominate, recommend; present, submit, tender, trot out; file, lay, lodge; arrange, calculate, chart, contrive, cover, frame, map, plan, plot, shape

Phrases
put forth, put forward

2 to have in mind as a purpose or goal <we propose to buy a new house within the next year> — see INTEND 1

proposition noun
1 an idea that is the starting point for making a case or conducting an investigation <started the discussion with the simple proposition that no one ever does anything out of pure altruism> — see THEORY
2 something which is presented for consideration <a neighbor with a business proposition to tell us about> — see PROPOSAL

propound verb
to set before the mind for consideration <let us propound the question whether mercy killing should ever be an option> — see PROPOSE 1

proprietor noun
one who has a legal or rightful claim to ownership <the proprietor of a used-car dealership>

Synonyms
holder, owner, possessor

Related Words
co-owner, coproprietor; landlord, landowner

Near Antonyms
squatter; lessee, renter, tenant

propriety noun
1 socially acceptable behavior <some people miss the straitlaced propriety that was largely abandoned in the 1960s> — see DECENCY 1
2 proprieties plural personal conduct or behavior as evaluated by an accepted standard of appropriateness for a social or professional setting <an etiquette columnist who insists that traditional proprieties are necessary in order to maintain a civil society> — see MANNER 1
3 the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting <I'm not sure about the propriety of serving champagne in these glasses> — see APPROPRIATENESS

props plural noun, slang
public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <never got the props he deserved for being one of the pioneers of rap> — see GLORY 1

prorate verb
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals <shares in the company's profits were prorated according to the workers' length of service> — see ADMINISTER 1

prorogate verb
to bring to a formal close for a period of time <the conference was prorogated until the following morning> — see ADJOURN

prorogue verb
to bring to a formal close for a period of time <the legislative session was prorogued for the summer> — see ADJOURN

prosaic adjective
1 being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <an author with a knack for finding something of interest in the most prosaic details of suburban life> — see ORDINARY 1
2 having to do with the practical details of regular life <my job at the TV station dealt with the much more prosaic business of cleaning the floors> — see MUNDANE 1

proscribe verb
to order not to do or use or to be done or used <regulations proscribe the use of electronic devices on board a plane while it is landing> — see FORBID

proscribed adjective
that may not be permitted <the organization lost its nonprofit status after it was determined to have engaged in several proscribed fund-raising activities> — see IMPERMISSIBLE

proscribing noun
the act of ordering that something not be done or used <the proscribing of the use of alcohol was to be expected> — see PROHIBITION 1

proscription noun
1 the act of ordering that something not be done or used <the proscription against bicycles and skateboards is intended to make the plaza a more pedestrian-friendly place> — see PROHIBITION 1
2 an order that something not be done or used <a strongly worded proscription against smoking indoors> — see PROHIBITION 2

prosecute verb
to carry through (as a process) to completion <the neurologists plan to prosecute their research for as long as funding remains available> — see PERFORM 1

prosecution noun
the doing of an action <oversaw the prosecution of the president's foreign policy> — see COMMISSION 2

proselyte noun
a person who has recently been persuaded to join a religious sect <an adult proselyte who had only recently been baptized> — see CONVERT 1

proselyte verb
to persuade to change to one's religious faith <she's been trying to proselyte everyone in the office ever since she joined that church> — see CONVERT 1

proselytize verb
to persuade to change to one's religious faith <the efforts of early missionaries to proselytize the Native Americans of Minnesota were largely unproductive> — see CONVERT 1

prospect noun
1 all that can be seen from a certain point <gazing at the wide prospect spread out before me> — see VIEW 1
2 one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award <a good prospect for the position of auditor> — see CANDIDATE
3 something that can develop or become actual <one highly desirable prospect for the city is a major-league franchise> — see POTENTIAL
4 the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence <the prospect of a quiet, restful Sunday ended when our basement flooded> — see EXPECTATION

prospect verb
to go into or range over for purposes of discovery <soon all manner of people had arrived in the valley to prospect it for gold> — see EXPLORE 2

prosper verb
1 to grow vigorously <the plants seem to be prospering on the new fertilizers> — see THRIVE 1
2 to reach a desired level of accomplishment <began to prosper after years of crushing setbacks> — see SUCCEED 2

prospering adjective
marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically <selling a whole range of luxury products to the prospering middle class> — see PROSPEROUS 1

prosperous adjective
1 marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically <a prosperous business that will soon be expanding>

Synonyms
booming, boomy, flourishing, golden, halcyon, healthy, lush, palmy, prospering, roaring, successful, thriving

Related Words
affluent, moneyed (also monied), opulent, rich, substantial, wealthy, well-heeled, well-off, well-to-do; comfortable

Near Antonyms
declining, dying, failing, floundering, languishing, struggling; bankrupt, bankrupted, insolvent

Antonyms
depressed, unprosperous, unsuccessful

2 having attained a desired end or state of good fortune <one of the most prosperous families in the community> — see SUCCESSFUL 1
3 growing thickly and vigorously <our neighbor has a real green thumb and a yard full of healthy, prosperous plants> — see RANK 1

prostitute noun
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money <the town was horrified to discover that she had once been a prostitute>

Synonyms
bawd, call girl, cocotte, courtesan, drab, harlot, hooker, hustler, sex worker, streetwalker, strumpet, tart, whore

Related Words
madam, madame; white slave; bimbo [slang], chippie (also chippy), doxy (also doxie), floozy (or floozie), tramp; bitch, hussy, jade, minx; coquette, flirt, libertine, siren, tempter, temptress, vamp, wench

Phrases
woman of the street

prostitute verb
1 to lower in character, dignity, or quality <a serious writer prostituting himself by writing pulp novels for money> — see DEBASE 1
2 to put to a bad or improper use <urged not to prostitute her musical talents by writing jingles for TV commercials> — see MISAPPLY

prostitution noun
the practice of engaging in sexual activities for money <prostitution is illegal in most states>

Synonyms
harlotry, vice, whoredom

Related Words
demimonde; white slavery

prostrate adjective
1 depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <prostrate marathoners typically spend the day after the race recovering> — see WEARY 1
2 lacking bodily strength <prostrate with fear as the bombs began dropping> — see WEAK 1
3 lying with the face downwards <the suspects lay prostrate on the floor while the police searched the room> — see PRONE 2

prostrate verb
1 to diminish the physical strength of <an athlete prostrated for weeks by a bout of pneumonia> — see WEAKEN 1
2 to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move <the huge increase in gas prices really prostrated the nation's economic engine> — see PARALYZE 1
3 to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress <a widow prostrated by crushing grief> — see OVERWHELM 1
4 to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall <the boxer bragged that he could prostrate any opponenent with a single blow> — see FELL 1

prostrated adjective
lacking bodily strength <patients should expect to feel very prostrated after the surgery> — see WEAK 1

prostration noun
a complete depletion of energy or strength <an outpatient suffering from fever, prostration, and nausea> — see FATIGUE 1

protagonist noun
a person who actively supports or favors a cause <Milton Friedman is usually cited as the leading American protagonist of monetarism> — see EXPONENT 1

protean adjective
able to do many different kinds of things <a protean actor who is equally comfortable with light comedy and serious drama> — see VERSATILE

protect verb
to drive danger or attack away from <the mother bear was just trying to protect her cubs> — see DEFEND 1

protection noun
1 means or method of defending <this small umbrella is adequate protection in a sudden shower> — see DEFENSE 1
2 someone that protects <the bodyguard was her protection from overzealous fans> — see PROTECTOR
3 the state of not being exposed to danger <the open boat offered no protection from the weather> — see SAFETY 1

protective adjective
intended to resist or prevent attack or aggression <the cat drew back its ears and sank into a protective posture as the dog approached it> — see DEFENSIVE

protector noun
someone that protects <aid workers in the war zone found it necessary sometimes to hire local gunmen as protectors and guides>

Synonyms
custodian, defender, guard, guardian, guardian angel, protection

Related Words
bodyguard, champion; lookout, sentinel, sentry, warden, warder, watch, watchdog, watchman; conserver, harborer, keeper, preserver, saver

protest noun
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent <submitted an official protest about her treatment> — see OBJECTION

protest verb
1 to state as a fact usually forcefully <he protested that he usually was very good at baseball, and all the strikeouts were just bad luck> — see CLAIM 1
2 to present an opposing opinion or argument <plans to protest against the judge's ruling regarding admissible evidence> — see OBJECT

protestation noun
a solemn and often public declaration of the truth or existence of something <the governor went on television to make a passionate protestation of his innocence in the bribery scandal>

Synonyms
affirmation, assertion, asseveration, avouchment, avowal, claim, declaration, insistence, profession

Related Words
allegation; announcement, proclamation, pronouncement; argument, justification, rationalization, reason; confirmation, reaffirmation, reconfirmation, vindication

Near Antonyms
disclaimer; challenge, dispute, question; confutation, disproof, rebuttal, refutation; contradiction, denial, negation

Antonyms
disavowal

prototype noun
1 one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like <a literary character who is universally regarded as the ultimate prototype of the spoiled, willful Southern belle> — see EXAMPLE
2 something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed <the Greek epic that is the prototype of the hero myth> — see ANCESTOR 2
3 something from which copies are made <the manufacturer exhaustively tested the prototype of the vehicle before approving production> — see ORIGINAL 1

protract verb
to make longer <the highway project was protracted by years of litigation> — see EXTEND 1

protrude verb
to extend outward beyond a usual point <we spotted the kitten's tail protruding from beneath the dresser> — see BULGE 1

protrusion noun
a part that sticks out from the general mass of something <the bizarrely shaped protrusions of a coral reef> — see BULGE 1

protrusive adjective
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <his protrusive way of helping his coworkers usually provokes resentment, not gratitude> — see INTRUSIVE

protuberance noun
a part that sticks out from the general mass of something <the tree trunk had several mossy protuberances where branches had once grown> — see BULGE 1

proud adjective
1 having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself <the unemployed woman was too proud to take a job as a maid>

Synonyms
disdainful, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), lofty, lordly, prideful, superior

Related Words
complacent, conceited, egoistic, egotistic (also egotistical), important, self-assertive, self-conceited, self-contented, self-important, self-satisfied, smug, uppity, vain, vainglorious; arrogant, pretentious, sniffy, snobbish, stuck-up, supercilious; cavalier, overbearing, overweening, peremptory, swaggering; high-sounding, pompous; condescending, patronizing; cocky, overconfident, presuming, presumptuous; bloated, boastful, bombastic, self-glorifying; audacious, bold, brash, brassy, cheeky, cocksure, forward, impertinent, impudent, saucy; confident, presuming, self-assured, self-confident, sure; bossy, domineering, high-handed, imperious; egocentric, self-centered, selfish; dominating, magisterial, masterful

Near Antonyms
demure, homely, meek, unassuming, unpretending, unpretentious; bashful, retiring, shy, timid; diffident, self-doubting; acquiescent, compliant, deferential, ingratiating, resigned, submissive, unassertive, yielding; apologetic, cowering, cringing, shrinking; passive, quiet, reserved, subdued, unobtrusive

Antonyms
humble, lowly, modest

2 having too high an opinion of oneself <a proud cheerleader who thought she should be treated like royalty> — see CONCEITED
3 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <the old neighborhood was known for its stately trees and proud Victorian houses> — see GRAND 1
4 having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph <in his acceptance letter he assured his soon-to-be boss that he was proud to be joining such a fine company> — see EXULTANT

provable adjective
capable of being proven as true or real <the police have more than enough evidence to build a provable case against the accused> — see VERIFIABLE

prove verb
1 to show the existence or truth of by evidence <the prosecutor used DNA evidence to prove the defendant's guilt>

Synonyms
demonstrate, document, establish, substantiate, validate

Related Words
back (up), buttress, circumstantiate, corroborate; evidence, evince, record, support, uphold, witness; adduce, attest, authenticate, certify, identify; confirm, sustain, verify, vouch; clinch, nail, settle; confess, depose, testify

Near Antonyms
challenge, dispute, object; allege, assume, conjecture, guess, presume, surmise, suspect

Antonyms
disprove, rebut, refute

2 to come to be <the new automobile engine design proved impractical> — see COME OUT 1
3 to gain full recognition or acceptance of <proved herself a great actress on the Broadway stage> — see ESTABLISH 1

provender noun
substances intended to be eaten <a chef who prides himself on creating all of his dishes from local provender> — see FOOD 1

proverb noun
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience <her grandfather has a proverb for every occasion> — see SAYING

provide verb
to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption <this luxury hotel provides all the comforts of home to well-heeled vacationers> — see FURNISH 2

provide (for) verb
1 to give consideration to (as unexpected circumstances or contingencies) <the rules provide for emergency situations, spelling out certain exceptions> — see ALLOW FOR
2 to pay the living expenses of <sufficient income to provide for his ever growing family> — see SUPPORT 2

providence noun
1 careful management of material resources <practicing its customary providence, the snowbound family was able to make the meager stores last until help arrived> — see ECONOMY
2 concern or preparation for the future <had the providence to lay in supplies before the storm hit> — see FORESIGHT 2
3 cap the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <she trusted in Providence to see her through the crisis> — see DEITY 2

provident adjective
1 careful in the management of money or resources <it is possible to be provident without being miserly> — see FRUGAL
2 having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future <her provident measures kept us safe while we waited out the hurricane> — see FORESIGHTED

providential adjective
coming or happening by good luck especially unexpectedly <winning the lottery could not have come at a more providential time for the recently laid-off worker> — see FORTUNATE 1

province noun
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <a legal question outside the doctor's province> — see FIELD 2

provincial adjective
not broad or open in views or opinions <some people regard a fear of new things as an unmistakable sign of a provincial attitude> — see NARROW 2

provincial noun
an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country <the confidence man figured that fleecing these provincials would be easy> — see HICK

provision noun
1 something upon which the carrying out of an agreement or offer depends <loaned them the car with the provision that they refill the gas tank before returning it> — see CONDITION 2
2 provisions plural substances intended to be eaten <gave them ample provisions so they would not get hungry on the trip> — see FOOD 1

provision verb
1 to provide (someone) with what is needed for a task or activity <the climbers were sufficiently provisioned to withstand just about any mountaineering emergency> — see FURNISH 1
2 to provide food or meals for <it was the quartermaster's job to properly equip and provision the troops> — see FEED 1

provisional adjective
1 intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time <will form a provisional government until a new leader can be elected> — see TEMPORARY 1
2 serving in a position for the time being <he was appointed provisional executor of the industrialist's vast estate> — see ACTING

provisionary adjective
1 intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time <provisionary decrees that were issued by the junta following the coup> — see TEMPORARY 1
2 serving in a position for the time being <the provisionary ambassador to the United Nations> — see ACTING

proviso noun
something upon which the carrying out of an agreement or offer depends <released the drunken revelers with the proviso that they behave for the remainder of the Mardi Gras> — see CONDITION 2

provisory adjective
1 intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time <a provisory permit to block off the street while movie scenes were being shot> — see TEMPORARY 1
2 serving in a position for the time being <a provisory legal adviser who will be replaced by a court-appointed public defender> — see ACTING

provocateur noun
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent <a calculating, right-wing provocateur, she has made a career out of controversy for its own sake> — see AGITATOR

provocation noun
1 something that arouses a strong response from another <a patient man who gets angry only from the greatest of provocations>

Synonyms
excitement, incitation, incitement, instigation

Related Words
encouragement, galvanization, goad, incentive, inducement, jog, prod, spur, stimulant, stimulation, stimulus; enticement, lure; induction, inspiration, motivation; aggravation, annoyance, bother, exasperation, frustration, hassle, headache, irritant, nuisance, peeve, pest

Near Antonyms
subduing

2 something that arouses action or activity <ready to retaliate at the slightest provocation> — see IMPULSE 1

provocative adjective
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction <a provocative editorial that sparked a heated discussion>

Synonyms
charged, edgy, exciting, inciting, instigating, instigative, piquing, provoking, stimulating

Related Words
explosive, fiery, incendiary, inflammatory, triggering; inducing, inspirational, inspiring, motivating, motivational, motivative; jeering, taunting, teasing; activating, energizing, galvanizing, quickening, vitalizing; angering, enraging, maddening, upsetting; aggravating, annoying, bothersome, exasperating, galling, irksome, irritating, pesky, vexatious, vexing

Near Antonyms
subduing

Antonyms
noninflammatory

provoke verb
1 to rouse to strong feeling or action <his teasing finally provoked her to anger> <bees generally will not sting unless they are provoked>

Synonyms
arouse, encourage, excite, fire (up), impassion, incite, instigate, move, pique, rev (up), spark, stimulate, stir

Related Words
fan, ignite, inflame (also enflame), kindle, trigger; activate, animate, drive, energize, galvanize, induce, inspire, key (up), motivate, motive, pump up, quicken, set off, vitalize; abet, ferment, foment, raise, whip (up); anger, enrage, madden, upset; jeer, taunt, tease; aggravate, annoy, bother, exasperate, gall, get, irritate, vex

Phrases
build a fire under

Near Antonyms
calm, soothe, subdue, tranquilize (also tranquillize); appease, mollify, pacify, placate

2 to bring (something volatile or intense) into being <rankings that are sure to provoke an argument among film buffs> — see INCITE 1

provoking adjective
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction <the host's provoking opinions are the reason why people tune in to his radio talk show in the first place> — see PROVOCATIVE

prowess noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <an extraordinary display of prowess on the battlefield> — see COURAGE

proximate adjective
1 being soon to appear or take place <the proximate publication of his first novel> — see FORTHCOMING 1
2 not being distant in time, space, or significance <the husband feels that their house is a little too proximate to his in-laws' condo for his peace and comfort> — see CLOSE 2

proximity noun
the state or condition of being near <the proximity of the curtains to the fireplace was a cause of concern for the safety inspector>

Synonyms
adjacency, closeness, contiguity, immediacy, nearness, propinquity, vicinity

Related Words
abutment, juxtaposition

Antonyms
distance, remoteness

proxy noun
a person who acts or does business for another <sent a proxy to the meeting to cast his vote for him> — see AGENT 2

prude noun
a person who is greatly concerned with seemly behavior and morality especially regarding sexual matters <the racy sitcom frequently satirizes exactly the sort of prude who would like to see the show taken off the air>

Synonyms
bluenose, moralist, Mrs. Grundy, nice nelly, puritan, wowser [chiefly Australian]

Related Words
moralizer; goody-goody, Goody Two-shoes; fuddy-duddy, old maid, prig, spoilsport, stuffed shirt

Near Antonyms
libertarian, libertine; misbehaver

Antonyms
immoralist

prudence noun
1 a close attentiveness to avoiding danger <advised to use some old-fashioned prudence when agreeing to meet face-to-face with an online acquaintance> — see CAUTION 1
2 suitability for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <prudence would call for a little more caution in such a delicate situation> — see EXPEDIENCY
3 the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters <in the long run, prudence will pay off more often than taking wild risks> — see COMMON SENSE

prudent adjective
1 having or showing good judgment and restraint especially in conduct or speech <her calm response was very prudent under the circumstances> — see DISCREET 1
2 suitable for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <it wouldn't be prudent to ask for a raise while the company is having financial troubles> — see EXPEDIENT
3 having or showing deep understanding and intelligent application of knowledge <her many years of experience as a social worker have made her a prudent judge of character> — see WISE 1

prudery noun
a tendency to care a great deal about seemly behavior and morals especially in sexual matters <such prudery regarding artistic depictions of the nude has no place on a college campus>

Synonyms
moralism, nice-nellyism, prudishness, puritanism

Related Words
Comstockery; old-maidishness, priggery, priggishness, primness; morality, virtue

Near Antonyms
lechery, prurience, pruriency; libertinage, libertinism; libertarianism

prudish adjective
given to or marked by very conservative standards regarding personal behavior or morals <by the prudish standards of the 19th century, any depiction of the nude was scandalous> — see STRAITLACED

prudishness noun
a tendency to care a great deal about seemly behavior and morals especially in sexual matters <the prudishness of the people of the Victorian era was a hindrance to the dissemination of some basic information on human health and hygiene> — see PRUDERY

prune verb
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument <pruned the dead branches from the old apple tree> — see CLIP 1

1pry verb
1 to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever <it took some effort to pry up the trap door>

Synonyms
jimmy, lever, prize

Related Words
elevate, hoist, lift, uplift; break, break up, detach, disengage, disjoin, divide, part, pull, separate; shift

Near Antonyms
connect, join

2 to draw out by force or with effort <a vain attempt to pry the cork out of a wine bottle> — see EXTRACT

2pry verb
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern <don't go prying into other people's business> — see INTERFERE

prying adjective
1 interested in what is not one's own business <as we moved into our new home, we could sense that there were prying eyes watching us> — see CURIOUS 1
2 thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business> — see INTRUSIVE

psalm noun
a religious song <after the sermon we sang a brief psalm> — see HYMN 1

psalmody noun
a book of hymns <a psalmody containing many beloved hymns> — see HYMNAL

pseudo adjective
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <the pseudo friendliness of a salesperson trying to sell you something> — see ARTIFICIAL 1

pseudonym noun
a fictitious or assumed name <the most notorious serial killer of the 19th century remains known only by the pseudonym of Jack the Ripper>

Synonyms
alias, nom de guerre

Related Words
nom de plume, pen name; appellation, designation; misnomer; epithet, nickname, sobriquet (also soubriquet)

pshaw interjection
how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable <pshaw! anyone else could have done that job in half the time that it took her> — see NO

psych (up) verb
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally <I have to psych myself up before every swimming competition> — see FORTIFY 1

psyche noun
1 an immaterial force within a human being thought to give the body life, energy, and power <disturbing, enigmatic paintings that seem to embody the psyche of this brilliant but troubled artist> — see SOUL 1
2 the part of a person that feels, thinks, perceives, wills, and especially reasons <a novel that explores the psyche of a depressed teen> — see MIND 1

psychic noun
a person who claims to speak with or for the spirits of the dead <a TV psychic who managed to convince at least some people that their deceased loved ones were using him to relay messages> — see CHANNELER

psycho adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <only someone who is totally psycho could have committed such a heinous crime> — see INSANE 1

psycho noun
a person judged to be legally or medically insane <a story based on a real-life psycho who had serious mother-son issues> — see LUNATIC 1

psychological also psychologic adjective
of or relating to the mind <suffered from psychological disorders all of his life> — see MENTAL 1

psychopath noun
a person judged to be legally or medically insane <declared that he was a dangerous psychopath who needed to be locked up> — see LUNATIC 1

psychotic adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <the identity of the psychotic murderer known as the Zodiac Killer remains an intriguing puzzle> — see INSANE 1

pub noun
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises <coworkers enjoying the convivial atmosphere of the Irish pub> — see BARROOM

public adjective
1 not known by only a select few <the mayor's indiscretions have been public knowledge for some time>

Synonyms
open

Related Words
general, popular; nonclassified, unclassified, well-known; advertised, aired, announced, broadcast, declared, disclosed, divulged, heralded, posted, proclaimed, promulgated, publicized, published, spotlighted; current, prevalent, rife, widespread; communal, shared; reported, reputed, rumored

Phrases
on record

Near Antonyms
classified; unadvertised, unannounced, undisclosed; clandestine, collusive, conspiratorial, covert; surreptitious, undercover, underhand, underhanded; intimate, personal; concealed, repressed, reserved, silenced, stifled, suppressed, withheld; recanted, retracted, revoked

Antonyms
confidential, private, privy, secret

2 freely available for use or participation by all <a public swimming pool> — see OPEN 2
3 of or relating to a nation <a trade agreement in the public interest> — see NATIONAL
4 held by or applicable to a majority of the people <public sentiment was against the war> — see GENERAL 3
5 used or done by a number of people as a group <public transportation> — see COLLECTIVE

public noun
1 human beings in general <a lecture open to the public> — see PEOPLE 1
2 the body of the community as contrasted with the elite <the highbrows have always disdained his horror novels, but the public just eats them up> — see MASS 1

public house noun
1 a place that provides rooms and usually a public dining room for overnight guests <took lodging at a cheap public house in a seedy part of town> — see HOTEL
2 chiefly British a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises <visited a public house in London that has been welcoming customers since the time of Charles Dickens> — see BARROOM

publicity noun
information released to the media that is designed to gain public attention or support for a person, business, or cause <an endless flow of publicity for our charity event resulted in a great turnout>

Synonyms
ballyhoo, hype, puffery

Related Words
ad, advertisement, commercial, message, plug, promotion, spot, word; banner, bill, billboard, placard, poster, sign; advertising, marketing, propaganda; pronouncement, publication, release; broadcast, bulletin, dispatch, newscast, report, story; ink [slang], testimonial, write-up

publicize verb
1 to provide publicity for <the movie studios widely publicized their summer blockbusters>

Synonyms
ballyhoo, hype, pitch, plug, promote, talk up, tout

Related Words
advertise, bark, merchandise (also merchandize), sell; push; acclaim, hail, laud, praise; endorse (also indorse), plump (for), plunk (for) or plonk (for); recommend, review; announce, broadcast, publish

Phrases
beat the drum (for)

2 to make known openly or publicly <the city hasn't done a good job of publicizing the new regulations for its recycling operation> — see ANNOUNCE

public servant noun
1 a person who holds a public office <the new governor vowed that he would always remember why he was called a public servant and not the people's master> — see OFFICIAL
2 a worker in a government agency <concerned that the new federal agency would just add another slew of public servants to the government payroll> — see BUREAUCRAT

public speaking noun
the art of speaking in public eloquently and effectively <she is very experienced in public speaking and should do well in her campaign appearances before large crowds> — see ORATORY 1

publish verb
1 to produce and release for distribution in printed form <our local animal shelter publishes a newsletter>

Synonyms
get out, issue, print, put out

Related Words
copublish; reissue, reprint, republish; serialize; contribute, edit, syndicate; manufacture, produce; distribute, market

Phrases
come out with

Near Antonyms
censor, suppress

2 to make known openly or publicly <will publish the exam scores as soon as they are available> — see ANNOUNCE

puck noun
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <dreamed that her garden was the secret meeting place of pucks and sprites> — see FAIRY

puckish adjective
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <he takes a puckish delight in teasing her about her love life, or lack thereof> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

puddle noun
a small often deep body of water <splashing in the puddles on the way home from the bus stop> — see 1POOL

pudginess noun
the condition of having an excess of body fat <started to notice a little pudginess around his middle> — see CORPULENCE

pudgy adjective
having an excess of body fat <at this point the pudgy toddler is still cute, but she will have health problems if she continues to be overweight> — see FAT 1

puerile adjective
1 having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children <told the teenagers that such puerile behavior would not be tolerated during the ceremony> — see CHILDISH
2 lacking in adult experience or maturity <allowed the company to be taken over by a bunch of puerile whippersnappers fresh out of business school> — see CALLOW
3 lacking in seriousness or maturity <the kind of puerile jokes that teenage moviegoers apparently love> — see GIDDY 1

puff noun
a slight or gentle movement of air <felt a puff of wind on his face> — see BREEZE 1

puff verb
1 to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty <he came running up the stairs puffing and wheezing> — see GASP
2 to praise too much <a talk show host who can be counted on to puff up the celebrities who readily consent to be interviewed> — see FLATTER 1

puffed adjective
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure <her eyelid was so puffed she couldn't see with that eye> — see BLOATED 2

puffery noun
information released to the media that is designed to gain public attention or support for a person, business, or cause <the newspaper's local stories are often thinly disguised puffery for area businesses> — see PUBLICITY

pug noun
one that engages in the sport of fighting with the fists <a retired pug with battered ears and swollen knuckles> — see BOXER

pugilist noun
one that engages in the sport of fighting with the fists <a pugilist with the trademark of the boxing ring: a nose that showed signs of having been broken on more than one occasion> — see BOXER

pugnacious adjective
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <a movie reviewer who is spirited, even pugnacious, when defending her opinions> — see BELLIGERENT

pugnacity noun
an inclination to fight or quarrel <the players need to temper their pugnacity with a little self-restraint—their aggressive style of play too often results in penalties> — see BELLIGERENCE

puissance noun
the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task <the president pledged to put the full puissance of the nation into the war effort> — see POWER 2

puissant adjective
having great power or influence <one of the nation's most respected and puissant advocates for the rights of minorities> — see IMPORTANT 2

puke verb
to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth <the drunken reveler staggered out the door and promptly puked in the bushes> — see VOMIT

pukka also pucka adjective
being exactly as appears or as claimed <wondering whether the old-looking ivory box was pukka—or just something recently manufactured in China> — see AUTHENTIC 1

pule verb
to utter feeble plaintive cries <a distressed baby puling in its crib> — see WHIMPER 1

pull noun
1 the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force <I gave the door such a pull that when it suddenly opened, I nearly fell backwards>

Synonyms
draw, haul, jerk, pluck, tug, wrench, yank

Related Words
drag, tow; hitch, twitch; grab, snatch

Near Antonyms
heave, shove, thrust

Antonyms
push

2 the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly <their lawyer supposedly has a lot of pull with the administration in Washington> — see INFLUENCE 1
3 the more favorable condition or position in a competition <a political candidate with all of the pull that comes with a vast fortune and famous surname> — see ADVANTAGE 1

pull verb
1 to cause to follow by applying steady force on <a team of horses pulling a heavy wagon>

Synonyms
drag, draw, hale, haul, lug, tow, tug

Related Words
attract; heave, jerk, yank; carry, convey, ferry, move, transport

Near Antonyms
shove, thrust

Antonyms
drive, propel, push

2 to draw out by force or with effort <the dentist had to struggle to pull the tooth> — see EXTRACT
3 to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure <lift the crate carefully, or you'll pull a muscle> — see STRAIN 1

pullback noun
an act of moving away especially from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable <the pullback was necessary so that the commanders could reorganize their units and reassess the situation> — see RETREAT 1

pull down verb
1 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <a powerful storm pulled down the old fishing shack, which had been immortalized in countless paintings> — see DESTROY 1
2 to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces <an ugly billboard that was eventually pulled down> — see DEMOLISH 1
3 to receive as return for effort <he's pulling down six figures at that job> — see EARN 1

pull in verb
1 to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <a company that cannot manage to pull in costs will not be in business for very long> — see CONTROL 1
2 to take or keep under one's control by authority of law <he was pulled in after a random traffic stop turned up drugs in his car> — see ARREST 1

pull off verb
to carry through (as a process) to completion <the rebel forces pulled off a surprisingly successful offensive against the better equipped government troops> — see PERFORM 1

pullout noun
an act of moving away especially from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable <the civil unrest has led the company to initiate a pullout of its operations in the region> — see RETREAT 1

pull out verb
1 to leave a place often for another <the party's been fun, but it's time to pull out> — see GO 2
2 to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) <the aid workers have been advised to pull out of those regions to which the conflict has spread> — see RETREAT 1

pull round verb, chiefly British
to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness <after a week without any relapses, it became clear that she would pull round eventually> — see CONVALESCE

pullulate verb
to be copiously supplied <a tough city neighborhood that has a reputation for pullulating with prostitutes and petty criminals> — see ABOUND

pull up verb
to bring (something) to a standstill <the jockey tried to pull up the apparently injured horse> — see 1HALT 1

pulp verb
to cause to become a pulpy mass <pulped three oranges to get their juice> — see CRUSH 1

pulpiness noun
the quality or state of being full of juice <select ripe peaches of sufficient pulpiness to readily yield the amount of juice required by the recipe> — see SUCCULENCE

pulpy adjective
1 full of juice <good, ripe peaches will be pulpy and not mealy> — see JUICY 1
2 giving easily to the touch <the pulpy flesh of ripe fruit> — see SOFT 3

pulsate verb
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner <the heart muscle pulsates regularly to pump blood>

Synonyms
beat, palpitate, pit-a-pat, pitter-patter, pulse, throb

Related Words
fluctuate, oscillate, vibrate; quiver, tremble

pulsation noun
a rhythmic expanding and contracting <you should press against the artery in your wrist and count the pulsations to calculate your heart rate>

Synonyms
beat, beating, palpitation, pulse, throb

Related Words
fluctuation, oscillation, vibration; quiver, tremble, tremor

pulse noun
a rhythmic expanding and contracting <his resting pulse rate is much lower than that of most men his age> — see PULSATION

pulse verb
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner <blood vessels pulsing in time with the heartbeat> — see PULSATE

pulverize verb
1 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <buildings pulverized by a killer tornado> — see DESTROY 1
2 to reduce to fine particles <pulverize the cement into dust for reuse> — see POWDER

puma noun
a large tawny cat of the wild <adult pumas can sometimes weigh over 200 pounds> — see COUGAR

pummel verb
to strike repeatedly <pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived> — see BEAT 1

pump verb
1 to make short up-and-down movements <the thighs of the bicyclists were pumping furiously as they neared the finish line> — see NOD
2 to put a series of questions to <prying neighbors pumped the guileless child for information about the family's new pool> — see EXAMINE 1
3 to remove (liquid) gradually or completely <pumped water from the well> — see DRAIN 1

pumped adjective
showing urgent desire or interest <the whole city's so pumped for this championship that it's unbelievable> — see EAGER

pump up verb
1 to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings of <the crowd was pumped up by the band's rocking performance> — see THRILL
2 to make greater in size, amount, or number <that pop diva is trying to pump up album sales with an extended publicity tour> — see INCREASE 1

1punch noun
1 the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect <the real punch of the speech came in its closing lines>

Synonyms
cogency, effectiveness, force, forcefulness, impact, point

Related Words
payoff; importance, significance; appeal, attraction, charm, fascination

2 active strength of body or mind <we're going to need a candidate with real punch if voters are ever going to get excited about this election> — see VIGOR 1
3 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <the poor palooka wasn't able to land a single punch on his opponent> — see 1BLOW

2punch noun
a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument <old computers used to get information by reading the punches on a series of cards> — see PRICK 1

punch verb
1 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <after the man had punched the bartender for eighty-sixing him, bouncers stepped in and restrained him until the police could arrive> — see HIT 1
2 to make a hole or series of holes in <punch a ticket> — see PERFORATE
3 to urge, push, or force onward <cowboys punching cattle> — see DRIVE 1

punch–drunk adjective
suffering from mental confusion <punch-drunk from having stayed up all night, she struggled through the exam> — see DIZZY 2

puncheon noun
an enclosed wooden vessel for holding beverages <stored the puncheons of rum in the cellar> — see CASK

punch out verb
to strike repeatedly <you should take a course in anger management—you can't go around punching out people> — see BEAT 1

punchy adjective
suffering from mental confusion <feeling a little punchy after being up half the night with a crying baby> — see DIZZY 2

punctilious adjective
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details <old-money aristocrats with a punctilious sense of propriety> — see CEREMONIOUS 1

punctual adjective
done, carried out, or given without delay <the punctual delivery of the daily mail> — see PROMPT 1

punctuality noun
the quality or habit of arriving or being ready on time <our boss is a real stickler for punctuality—he expects everyone to be at their desk by nine o'clock> — see PROMPTITUDE

punctuate verb
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on <punctuated each and every word of his denial with a pound of his fist on the table> — see EMPHASIZE 1

puncture noun
a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument <a leak caused by several small punctures in the rubber gasket> — see PRICK 1

puncture verb
1 to make a hole or series of holes in <a nail punctured the tire> — see PERFORATE
2 to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <I could never puncture my own skin with a hypodermic needle> — see IMPALE

pundit noun
1 a person of deep wisdom or learning <a moral question that has puzzled the pundits throughout the ages> — see SAGE
2 a person who makes or expresses a judgment on the quality of offerings in some field of endeavor <the new mini laptop has gotten a thumbs-up from industry pundits> — see CRITIC 2

pungency noun
1 a harsh or sharp quality <the pungency of the vinegar gives the salad dressing the kick that it needs> — see EDGE 1
2 the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses <theatergoers have long delighted in the pungency and wit of the play's dialogue> — see PIQUANCY

pungent adjective
1 having a powerfully stimulating odor or flavor <a pungent chili that is not for those with timid taste buds> — see SHARP 2
2 marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <a pungent put-down that she will not soon forget> — see SARCASTIC
3 sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses <a newspaper columnist known for his pungent observations on everyday life> — see PIQUANT

puniness noun
the quality or state of being little in size <a nagging dissatisfaction with his physical puniness drove him to become a body builder> — see SMALLNESS 1

punish verb
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime <the child was punished for breaking dishes on purpose> <if caught, the thief will be severely punished>

Synonyms
castigate, chasten, chastise, correct, discipline, penalize

Related Words
assess, charge, dock, fine, impose, levy, mulct; convict, sentence; condemn, damn, denounce; criticize, keelhaul, rebuke, reprimand, reprove; wreak

Near Antonyms
forfeit; get off, ransom, release; commute, reprieve; absolve, acquit, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate

Antonyms
excuse, pardon, spare

punisher noun
one who inflicts punishment in return for an injury or offense <a father who regrets the fact that he always ends up being the household's disciplinarian and resident punisher> — see NEMESIS 1

punishment noun
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense <he is serving five years in prison as punishment for aggravated assault>

Synonyms
castigation, chastisement, comeuppance, correction, desert(s), discipline, nemesis, penalty, wrath

Related Words
reprisal, retaliation, retribution, revenge, vengeance; assessment, charge, fine, mulct; example, sentence; confinement, imprisonment, incarceration; condemnation, damnation, denouncement; censure, criticism, rebuke, reprimand, reproof

Near Antonyms
amnesty, indemnity, pardon, parole; acquittal, exculpation, exoneration, vindication; exemption, immunity, impunity; release; commutation, reprieve; absolution, forgiveness, remission, remitment; condonation, disregard, overlooking

punitive adjective
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment <any misbehavior was immediately met with a punitive response> <the company had to pay a million dollars in punitive damages>

Synonyms
castigating, chastening, chastising, correcting, correctional, corrective, disciplinary, disciplining, penal, penalizing

Related Words
retaliative, retaliatory, retributive, retributory, revengeful; vengeful, wrathful

Near Antonyms
compensatory; acquitting, exculpating, exculpatory, exonerating, vindicating; absolving, condoning, pardoning, remitting; commuting, reprieving

Antonyms
nonpunitive

punk adjective
1 falling short of a standard <she plays a punk game of tennis, so you won't have any trouble beating her> — see BAD 1
2 extremely unsatisfactory <the acting in the movie ranged all the way from poor to punk> — see WRETCHED 1
3 temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body <I've been feeling punk today> — see SICK 1

punk noun
1 a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <an impertinent punk who was trying to tell senior colleagues how to do their jobs> — see BEGINNER
2 a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <the vigilante was hailed by some as a hero for standing up to the punks who had repeatedly threatened his family> — see HOODLUM
3 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <claims made by cosmetic companies about their antiaging creams that turned out to be a lot of punk> — see NONSENSE 1

punter noun, chiefly British
1 a person who buys a product or uses a service from a business <an East End prostitute who claimed that many of her punters were from the upper echelons of London society> — see CUSTOMER 1
2 one that bets (as on the outcome of a contest or sports event) <the huge amount of money that punters in Britain put on football matches> — see BETTOR

puny adjective
of a size that is less than average <a puny, wrinkled apple> — see SMALL 1

pupil noun
1 one who attends a school <generally there are 20 pupils in each class> — see STUDENT
2 one who follows the opinions or teachings of another <to pupils of the philosopher Henry David Thoreau, the shores of Walden Pond are hallowed ground> — see FOLLOWER 1

puppet noun
1 a small figure often of a human being used especially as a child's plaything <gave her a puppet with strings for a gift> — see DOLL 1
2 one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another <accused the newspaper editor of being a puppet for the moneyed people of the town> — see 1PAWN

purchasable adjective
open to improper influence and especially bribery <purchasable members of the state legislature whose votes could be bought, and at surprisingly cheap prices> — see VENAL

purchase verb
to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for <I need to purchase a new heavy coat> — see BUY 1

pure adjective
1 free from added matter <I'm allergic to any jewelry that isn't pure silver> <the solution must be kept pure for the experiment to work>

Synonyms
absolute, fine, neat, plain, purified, refined, straight, unadulterated, unalloyed, undiluted, unmixed

Related Words
clarified, filtered; clean, fresh, taintless, uncontaminated, uncorrupted, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted; rendered, tried; concentrated, full-bodied, strong; uncombined

Near Antonyms
befouled, besmirched, contaminated, corrupted, debased, defiled, fouled, polluted, soiled, spoiled, sullied, tainted; unclarified; amalgamated, blended, coalesced, combined, commingled, compounded, incorporated, intermingled, intermixed, merged, mingled; conjoined, fused, joined, linked, united; cheapened, doctored, watered-down

Antonyms
adulterated, alloyed, diluted, impure, mixed

2 free from any trace of the coarse or indecent <the humor in the movie is as pure and wholesome as any parent could wish> — see CHASTE 1
3 free from sin <in one beatitude those who are pure in heart are promised the sight of God> — see INNOCENT 1
4 having no exceptions or restrictions <that story is pure nonsense> — see ABSOLUTE 2

pure–blooded or pure–blood adjective
of unmixed ancestry <both dogs are pure-blooded Chesapeake Bay retrievers> — see PUREBRED

purebred adjective
of unmixed ancestry <that horse is a purebred Arabian>

Synonyms
blooded, full-blood, full-blooded, pedigreed (or pedigree), pure-blooded (or pure-blood), thoroughbred

Related Words
well-bred; inbred

Near Antonyms
crossbred, crossed, half-blood (or half-blooded), half-bred, hybridized, interbred, outcrossed

Antonyms
hybrid, mixed, mongrel

purely adverb
1 with purity of thought and deed <the devout girl vowed to live her life purely and in the service of God>

Synonyms
chastely, innocently, modestly, morally, righteously, virtuously

Related Words
decently, decorously, properly; priggishly, primly, prudishly

Near Antonyms
indecently, obscenely, vulgarly; lasciviously, lewdly, lustfully

Antonyms
evilly, immorally, impurely, sinfully, wickedly

2 for nothing other than <I fish purely for the fun of it—I don't care if I end up with no fish to fry> — see SOLELY 1
3 nothing more than <her pleasantries were purely for show and masked her true feelings> — see JUST 3

purge verb
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially <a day on which the faithful are expected to purge themselves of their sins through prayer and fasting> — see PURIFY 1

purification noun
the act or fact of freeing from sin or moral guilt <some people must undergo a ritual purification after certain activities>

Synonyms
cleansing, sanctification

Related Words
rebirth, regeneration, restoration; grace, redemption, salvation; absolution, forgiveness, remission; acquittal, clearance, clearing, exoneration, vindication; atonement, expiation

Near Antonyms
blasphemy, defilement, desecration, profanation, violation; corruption, debasement, perversion; contamination, pollution, sullying, tarnishing

purified adjective
free from added matter <purified water that was now safe to drink> — see PURE 1

purify verb
1 to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially <Catholics go to confession to be purified>

Synonyms
cleanse, purge, sanctify

Related Words
amend, improve, refine; heal, regenerate, restore; elevate, ennoble, uplift; absolve, acquit, clear, exonerate, vindicate

Near Antonyms
corrupt, debase, debauch, defile, degrade, demean, deprave, pervert, stain, warp; poison, profane, prostitute; sully, tarnish

2 to remove usually visible impurities from <purify the water by distillation> — see CLARIFY 1

puritan noun
a person who is greatly concerned with seemly behavior and morality especially regarding sexual matters <some of the town's puritans still maintain that sex education has no place in the schools> — see PRUDE

puritanical adjective
given to or marked by very conservative standards regarding personal behavior or morals <some of the state laws concerning sexual behavior are vestiges of a more puritanical time and are rarely, if ever, enforced> — see STRAITLACED

puritanism noun
a tendency to care a great deal about seemly behavior and morals especially in sexual matters <the Victorian era was often characterized by a hypocritical puritanism> — see PRUDERY

purity noun
the quality or state of being morally pure <struggling to live a life of purity while surrounded by wickedness> — see CHASTITY 1

purlieu noun
1 a place for spending time or for socializing <the restaurant, the preferred purlieu of the theatergoing crowd, is always packed an hour or two before showtime> — see HANGOUT
2 purlieus plural an adjoining region or space <we stopped at one of the several pubs in the purlieus of the stadium> — see ENVIRONS 2
3 purlieus plural the districts adjacent to a city <such gated communities are common among the purlieus of these Midwestern cities> — see ENVIRONS 1

purloin verb
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <the studio stepped up security, fearing that someone might attempt to purloin a copy of the script for the show's season finale> — see STEAL 1

purloiner noun
one who steals <she demanded that the pusillanimous purloiner of her chocolates step forward> — see THIEF

purple adjective
full of fine words and fancy expressions <an overwritten novel with far too many purple patches> — see FLOWERY 1

purport noun
the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action <was able to give the purport of the governor's speech in a few words> — see MEANING 1

purport verb
1 to have in mind as a purpose or goal <do you purport to spend the rest of your life on that couch, or do you think you might get a job someday?> — see INTEND 1
2 to state as a fact usually forcefully <he purports to be an expert in criminalistics> — see CLAIM 1

purpose noun
1 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <the purpose of the research is to discover how the virus is transmitted> — see GOAL
2 the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists <still trying to discover her purpose in life> — see ROLE

purpose verb
to have in mind as a purpose or goal <I've been purposing to fix that thing for some time now> — see INTEND 1

purposeful adjective
1 fully committed to achieving a goal <a soft-spoken but purposeful criminal investigator> — see DETERMINED 1
2 made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing <there's a difference between a purposeful lie and an accidental untruth> — see INTENTIONAL

purposefully adverb
1 with full awareness of what one is doing <he purposefully chose the more difficult route to the mountain summit> — see INTENTIONALLY
2 with great effort or determination <strode purposefully into the boss's office, determined to ask for a raise> — see HARD 1

purposefulness noun
firm or unwavering adherence to one's purpose <approached the challenge with grim purposefulness> — see DETERMINATION 1

purposely adverb
with full awareness of what one is doing <the real estate agent purposely withheld information that would have discouraged us from buying the property> — see INTENTIONALLY

purposive adjective
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing <facial tics and other unconscious movements that one would not normally call purposive actions> — see INTENTIONAL

purposively adverb
with full awareness of what one is doing <the Federal Reserve purposively controls the supply of money in order to keep a lid on inflation> — see INTENTIONALLY

purr noun
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion <listened to the reassuring purr of the car engine> — see HUM

purse noun
a container for carrying money and small personal items <I left my purse at home, so I can't buy anything after all>

Synonyms
bag, handbag, pocketbook

Related Words
clutch, clutch bag, minaudière; billfold, wallet; compact, vanity; poke, pouch, sack; shoulder bag

pursiness noun
the condition of having an excess of body fat <doctors and nutritionists have warned that a pandemic of pursiness poses a major threat to the health of the American public> — see CORPULENCE

pursuance noun
the doing of an action <until recently he has been fully engaged in pursuance of his duties as governor> — see COMMISSION 2

pursue verb
1 to go after or on the track of <the policeman doggedly pursued the pickpocket through the crowded subway station> — see FOLLOW 2
2 to go in search of <urged the graduates to pursue personal fulfillment instead of financial success> — see SEEK 1

pursuing noun
the act of going after or in the tracks of another <the controversy concerning the pursuing of criminals in speeding vehicles along busy highways> — see PURSUIT 1

pursuit noun
1 the act of going after or in the tracks of another <the cat ran down the street with a pair of dogs in pursuit>

Synonyms
chase, chasing, dogging, following, hounding, pursuing, shadowing, tagging, tailing, tracing, tracking, trailing

Related Words
hot pursuit; tagging along; path, track, trail; search, seeking

2 an activity outside of one's regular occupation that is engaged in primarily for pleasure <a workaholic with few pursuits outside of the office> — see AVOCATION

push noun
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal <an unprecedented push to pass stronger gun control measures> — see CAMPAIGN

push verb
1 to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one <I had to push my damaged bike all the way home>

Synonyms
drive, propel, shove, thrust

Related Words
impel, move; bear (down), compress, depress, jam, pressure, squash, squeeze, weigh (upon); bulldoze, compel, force, lean (on or against), muscle, ram

2 to force one's way <we had to push our way through a crowd that was mostly headed in the opposite direction> — see 2PRESS 4

push–bike also push bicycle noun, British
a two-wheeled vehicle that is propelled by the use of pedals and steered through the use of handlebars <the vicar riding his sturdy push-bike used to be a common sight around the village> — see BICYCLE

pushchair noun, chiefly British
a small four-wheeled vehicle designed for pushing a baby around in <a fun festival that appeals to adults as well as tots in pushchairs> — see BABY CARRIAGE

pushing adjective
1 having a strong desire for personal advancement <among the young associates at the law firm, he was unmistakably the most pushing> — see AMBITIOUS 1
2 thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <the sort of sycophantic, pushing man on the make that everyone loves to hate> — see INTRUSIVE

push off verb
to leave a place often for another <let's push off while it's still early enough to beat the evening rush> — see GO 2

push on verb
to leave a place often for another <the party was getting deadly dull, so it was time was push on> — see GO 2

pushover noun
1 a person without strength of character <pushovers who are afraid to discipline their little spoiled brat> — see WEAKLING 2
2 one who is easily deceived or cheated <scam artists mistakenly thinking that these farm families would be pushovers> — see 1DUPE
3 something that is easy to do <though the mountain is not especially high, the climb is very arduous and is definitely not a pushover> — see CINCH 1

pushy adjective
1 having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal <he's usually very pushy about insinuating his own ideas into other people's projects> — see AGGRESSIVE 1
2 thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <the pushy cocktail waiter kept asking me if I wanted another drink, even though I hadn't finished the first one> — see INTRUSIVE

pusillanimity noun
a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <the pusillanimity shown by the press on this issue after the administration began applying pressure> — see COWARDICE

pusillanimous adjective
having or showing a shameful lack of courage <pusillanimous politicians who vote according to whichever way the political wind is blowing> — see COWARDLY

1puss noun, slang
the front part of the head <the snowball smacked him right in the puss> — see FACE 1

2puss noun
a small domestic animal known for catching mice <I don't want a purebred cat, just some playful puss in need of a good home> — see CAT 1

pussy noun
a small domestic animal known for catching mice <fed his pussy only the finest fish for her supper> — see CAT 1

pussycat noun
a small domestic animal known for catching mice <oh, look at the cute little pussycat, kids> — see CAT 1

pussyfoot verb
1 to avoid giving a definite answer or position <politicians who try to pussyfoot around hot-button issues> — see EQUIVOCATE
2 to move about in a sly or secret manner <pussyfooting through the hallways in the middle of the night> — see SNEAK 1

pustule noun
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin <smallpox's characteristic pustules typically resulted in permanent scarring for survivors of the dreaded disease> — see POCK

put verb
1 to arrange something in a certain spot or position <you can put this box next to the bookshelf> — see PLACE 1
2 to convey in appropriate or telling terms <tried to think of a good way of putting the news> — see PHRASE
3 to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement <put the time of the photograph at about noon> — see ESTIMATE 2
4 to establish or apply as a charge or penalty <a proposal to put a special tax on luxuries> — see IMPOSE
5 to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation <put the words of his patriotic poem to the tune of a well-known drinking song> — see ADAPT
6 to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event <deciding to go for broke, he put $1000 on a horse that had 20 to 1 odds> — see BET

putative adjective
appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed <the putative reason for her dismissal was poor job performance> — see APPARENT 1

putatively adverb
to all outward appearances <the lake's putatively pristine water is actually crawling with microorganisms that can wreak havoc with your gastrointestinal system> — see APPARENTLY

put away verb
1 to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea <the naval authorities put away the body yesterday> — see BURY 1
2 to put to death deliberately <after a hit man had put away her husband, she'd be free to marry her lover> — see MURDER 1
3 to take in as food <can easily put away an entire bowl of popcorn at a single sitting> — see EAT 1

put by verb
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place <have money put by for an emergency> — see HOARD

put–down noun
1 an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <new hires always have to deal with put-downs and practical jokes from the older employees> — see INSULT
2 the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant <your never-ending put-down of my musical talents is really starting to annoy me> — see DEPRECIATION

put down verb
1 to express scornfully one's low opinion of <he has the annoying habit of putting down others under the guise of offering constructive criticism> — see DECRY 1
2 to make a written note of <we had the whole agreement put down on paper> — see RECORD 1
3 to put (someone or something) on a list <put her down as one of the chaperones for the field trip> — see 1LIST 2
4 to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <a tyrant who ruthlessly put down uprisings> — see QUELL 1
5 to explain (something) as being the result of something else <a fender bender that probably can be put down to the young driver's inexperience> — see CREDIT 1
6 to take in as food <the husky youngster seemed to put down her own weight in food at one sitting> — see EAT 1

put in verb
to put or set into the ground to grow <put in a crop of winter wheat> — see PLANT 1

put in (for) verb
to give a request or demand for <several employees have already put in for vacation time during the last week of December> — see ORDER 2

put off verb
1 to assign to a later time <never put off until tomorrow what you can do today> — see POSTPONE
2 to rid oneself of (a garment) <put off your coat and stay awhile> — see REMOVE 1
3 to cause to feel disgust <she was put off by his blatantly sexist attitude> — see DISGUST

put–on adjective
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <a put-on goofy voice> — see ARTIFICIAL 1

put–on noun
1 a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive <my bravery was all a put-on—I was scared out of my wits> — see MASQUERADE
2 a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect <for a moment, I couldn't tell if the commercial was serious or a deadpan put-on of ads by other insurance companies> — see PARODY 1

put on verb
1 to place on one's person <I put on a coat and shoes to go outside>

Synonyms
don, slip (on or into), throw (on)

Related Words
apparel, array, attire, bedeck, bedizen, bundle up, caparison, clothe, doll up, dress, garb, rig, robe, suit, trick, uniform; overdress

Near Antonyms
disrobe, strip, undress

Antonyms
doff, remove, take off

2 to describe or express in too strong terms <some critics are putting it on when they say it's the best comedy ever made> — see OVERSTATE
3 to present a false appearance of <put on a show of anger just for fun> — see FEIGN

put out adjective
subjected to and reacting with irritation <he gets put out if anyone disturbs his dinner> — see ANNOYED

put out verb
1 to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively <despite putting out her best effort, she was unable to beat her longtime tennis rival> — see EXERT
2 to cause to cease burning <put out the campfire before leaving> — see EXTINGUISH 1
3 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <my father was put out by all the street noise outside our house> — see IRRITATE 1
4 to cause discomfort to or trouble for <if it wouldn't put you out too much, would you mind giving me a ride to the airport?> — see INCONVENIENCE
5 to produce and release for distribution in printed form <though most of their sales are now transacted through the Internet, the company still puts out a mail-order catalog> — see PUBLISH 1

put over verb
to assign to a later time <as a result of a medical emergency, our dream vacation had to be put over to the following year> — see POSTPONE

putrefaction noun
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances <clearing the refrigerator of what the previous tenant had left behind was like taking a course in the advanced putrefaction of leftovers> — see CORRUPTION 1

putrefied adjective
having undergone organic breakdown <we had to throw out the putrefied tomatoes that had been sitting on the counter all week> — see ROTTEN 1

putrefy verb
to go through decomposition <we traced the bad smell to a dead skunk putrefying under the house> — see DECAY 1

putrescence noun
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances <in the far corner of the walk-in refrigerator was a crate of cucumbers in an advanced stage of putrescence> — see CORRUPTION 1

putrid adjective
having undergone organic breakdown <the putrid remains of a dead raccoon on the side of the highway> — see ROTTEN 1

putter (around) verb
to spend time in aimless activity <I spent all weekend at home just puttering around> — see FIDDLE AROUND

putterer noun
a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession <her husband is an inveterate putterer, and their garage is full of half-finished projects he has worked on over the years> — see AMATEUR 1

put through verb
to carry through (as a process) to completion <the incoming university president is vowing to put through the sort of sweeping changes that will propel the school into the top tier academically> — see PERFORM 1

put up verb
1 to fix in an upright position <the builders put up the walls before starting on the roof> — see ERECT 1
2 to form by putting together parts or materials <plans to put up a pavilion in the public gardens> — see BUILD
3 to offer for sale to the public <put their possessions up for auction> — see MARKET
4 to provide with living quarters or shelter <the university puts up students in a variety of buildings> — see HOUSE 1
5 to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends <put up an elaborate scheme to defraud insurance companies> — see PLOT
6 to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability <I need to clear out a space in the garage to put up my motorcycle for the winter> — see STORE 1

puzzle noun
something hard to understand or explain <the final fate of the colonists at Roanoke remains a puzzle to this very day> — see MYSTERY

puzzle verb
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors> — see CONFUSE 1

puzzle (out) verb
to find an answer for through reasoning <I was able to puzzle out the riddle in a fairly short time> — see SOLVE

puzzlement noun
1 a state of mental uncertainty <her explanation did little to relieve his puzzlement> — see CONFUSION 1
2 something hard to understand or explain <the whole situation remains a puzzlement to everyone who was there> — see MYSTERY

pygmy adjective
of a size that is less than average <a pygmy elephant> — see SMALL 1

pygmy also pigmy noun
1 a living thing much smaller than others of its kind <hummingbirds may be the pygmies of the avian world, but what they lack in size they make up for in beauty> — see DWARF 1
2 a person of no importance or influence <regrettably, most of the candidates for the party's nomination that year were political pygmies> — see NOBODY

pyrotechnics plural noun
a spectacular display or performance of artistic or technical skill <the film's dazzling pyrotechnics, including dynamic editing and fluid cinematography, make it a favorite of cinephiles> — see ACROBATICS

Q

quack noun
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise <don't bother to see that guy, as I've heard he's a quack with no actual training> — see IMPOSTOR

quacksalver noun
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise <the medical impostors on the information superhighway are no more scrupulous than earlier quacksalvers who traveled along the streets of towns and villages> — see IMPOSTOR

quad noun
an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls) <the quad was the college's time-honored site for protests and celebrations> — see COURT 2

quadrangle noun
an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls) <since the weather was sunny, the convocation was held outside in the college's quadrangle> — see COURT 2

quadrate adjective
having four equal sides and four right angles <the four museum buildings surround a quadrate courtyard that is formally landscaped> — see SQUARE 1

quaff noun
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time <she was so thirsty that she drank her iced tea in one long quaff> — see DRINK 2

quaff verb
to swallow in liquid form <after digging our car out of the snowdrift, we were ready to quaff some hot chocolate> — see DRINK 1

quagmire noun
1 a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <the party was once again facing its quadrennial quagmire: the candidate sufficiently liberal to win the nomination would be too liberal for the general election> — see PREDICAMENT
2 something that catches and holds <a protracted custody dispute that became a judicial quagmire> — see WEB 1

quai noun
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers <the tour boat pulled up to the quai on the left bank of the Seine> — see DOCK

quail verb
1 to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust <we quailed when the waiter unexpectedly presented us with a hindquarter of frog's legs> — see FLINCH
2 to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission <brave resisters who did not quail before the tyrant's iron hand> — see COWER

quaint adjective
1 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <the sudden appearance of a man dressed in quaint clothes immediately drew the notice of passersby> — see ODD 2
2 pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time <a quaint general store on one of the back roads of Vermont> — see OLD-FASHIONED 1

quake noun
a shaking of the earth <the quake registered 6.5 on the Richter scale, causing widespread damage> — see EARTHQUAKE 1

quake verb
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <the horror film was so scary it left us quaking with fear for hours afterwards> — see SHAKE 1

quaking adjective
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <found the quaking stray dog wandering outside in the rain> — see SHAKY 1

qualification noun
1 a skill, an ability, or knowledge that makes a person able to do a particular job <the fashion firm was looking for an applicant who could list superior sewing skills among his or her qualifications>

Synonyms
capability, credentials, goods, stuff

Related Words
command, expertise, know-how, mastership, mastery, proficiency; ability, capacity, competence, competency, facility, faculty; aptitude, endowment, flair, genius, gift, knack, talent; forte, long suit, métier (also metier), specialism, speciality, specialty, strong suit; fitness, suitability, suitableness; makings, potentiality

2 something upon which the carrying out of an agreement or offer depends <will give us his permission to go to the conference with the qualification that we make up the time later> — see CONDITION 2

qualified adjective
having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance <the candidate has demonstrated that he is amply qualified for the position> — see COMPETENT 1

qualify verb
1 to limit the meaning of (as a noun) <qualifying the noun “adventure” in the title of your story with a descriptive adjective would make it more attention-grabbing>

Synonyms
modify

Related Words
alter, color, distort, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, twist, warp; narrow

Near Antonyms
broaden, expand, widen

2 to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function <raising five children has qualified her to be an advice columnist on parenting>

Synonyms
equip, fit, prepare, ready, season, train

Related Words
accustom, adapt, adjust, condition, groom, habituate, shape, tailor; authorize, entitle; empower, enable; educate, indoctrinate, instruct, school, teach, tutor

3 to give a right to <this coupon qualifies the bearer for an extra 15% off the discounted price> — see ENTITLE 1
4 to give official or legal power to <passing the state bar exam will qualify you to practice law> — see AUTHORIZE 1

quality adjective
of the very best kind <an antiques dealer who handles nothing but quality pieces> — see EXCELLENT

quality noun
1 degree of excellence <we expect a high quality of service in such a fancy restaurant>

Synonyms
caliber (or calibre), class, grade, rate

Related Words
hallmark; mark; footing, place, position, rank, standing, stature, status; benchmark, criterion, measure, par, standard, touchstone, yardstick

2 high position within society <a glamorous invitation-only party for all the people of quality in the summer resort> — see RANK 2
3 something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <unfailing kindness is one of her many fine qualities> — see CHARACTERISTIC
4 the highest class in a society <the quality were inordinately proud of their bloodlines> — see ARISTOCRACY 1

qualm noun
an uneasy feeling about the rightness of what one is doing or going to do <she has no qualms about downloading pirated music files from the Internet>

Synonyms
compunction, misgiving, scruple

Related Words
conscience; distrust, doubt, dubiety, incertitude, misdoubt, mistrust, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainness, uncertainty; qualmishness, unease, uneasiness; reluctance, unwillingness; demur, fuss, objection, protest, question, remonstrance; aversion, disinclination, indisposition, reluctance, unwillingness; guilt, regret, remorse, self-reproach, shame; contrition, penitence, repentance

Near Antonyms
aplomb, assurance, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, self-assurance, self-confidence, sureness

qualmish adjective
affected with nausea <some passengers felt a little qualmish after the bumpy landing on the airstrip> — see NAUSEOUS 1

qualmishness noun
1 a disturbed condition of the stomach in which one feels like vomiting <her qualmishness subsided after she had sipped a little ginger ale> — see NAUSEA 1
2 the tendency to be or state of being squeamish <I can't explain my qualmishness about spiders, but for some reason they really bother me> — see DELICACY 3

quandary noun
a situation in which one has to choose between two or more equally unsatisfactory choices <I'm in a quandary about whether I should try to repair my stereo or buy a new one, even though I don't have the money to do either> — see DILEMMA 1

quantity noun
1 a considerable amount <I wish you quantities of happiness in the New Year> — see LOT 2
2 a given or particular mass or aggregate of matter <they prepared a huge quantity of mashed potatoes for the feast> — see AMOUNT

quantum noun
a given or particular mass or aggregate of matter <the sum of human knowledge is now so immense that even a highly educated person can hope to absorb only a tiny quantum of it> — see AMOUNT

quarrel noun
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <a loud quarrel erupted at the next table over> — see ARGUMENT 1

quarrel verb
to express different opinions about something often angrily <the coach and the referee quarreled about whether the ball was in bounds> — see ARGUE 2

quarreler or quarreller noun
a person who takes part in a dispute <known as the quarreler in the family, she never dropped an argument, no matter how pointless> — see DISPUTANT

quarrelsome adjective
1 feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <a quarrelsome student who was always being sent to the principal's office for starting fights in the halls> — see BELLIGERENT
2 given to arguing <you're so quarrelsome: you can never do anything without a fuss> — see ARGUMENTATIVE 1

quarrelsomeness noun
an inclination to fight or quarrel <a theater critic who was more notable for his quarrelsomeness than for his astuteness> — see BELLIGERENCE

quarry noun
an animal that is hunted or killed <a hunter relentlessly tracking his quarry> — see PREY 1

quarter noun
1 an area (as of a city) set apart for some purpose or having some special feature <lived on the edge of the central business quarter> — see DISTRICT
2 kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it <the coach told the team to show their opponents no quarter during the championship game> — see MERCY 1
3 the place where someone is assigned to stand or remain <call the crew to their quarters on deck to await further instruction> — see STATION 1
4 quarters plural the place where one lives <maintained a level of cleanliness and neatness that was unusual for a bachelor's quarters> — see HOME 1

quarter verb
to provide with living quarters or shelter <the militia is being quartered just outside the city> — see HOUSE 1

quarterback verb
to be in charge of <she was tapped to quarterback the upcoming gubernatorial campaign> — see BOSS 1

1quash verb
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <the dictator commanded the army to quash the uprising without mercy> — see QUELL 1

2quash verb
to put an end to by formal action <attorneys asked the court to quash the indictment> — see ABOLISH 1

quashing noun
the doing away with something by formal action <the defense's latest call for the quashing of the indictment failed, just as the previous ones had> — see ABOLITION

quaver verb
to sing with the alternation of two musical tones <know-it-alls snickered as the opera singer quavered on the high note> — see WARBLE

quavery adjective
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <a quavery foal trying to stand for the first time> — see SHAKY 1

quay noun
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers <docked the ferry at the quay to let the passengers off> — see DOCK

quean noun
a boldly flirtatious or sexually promiscuous woman <in pirate tales there's always the raucous tavern and its cadre of buxom queans> — see FLOOZY

queasiness noun
1 a disturbed condition of the stomach in which one feels like vomiting <he still battled queasiness, even on large cruise ships> — see NAUSEA 1
2 the tendency to be or state of being squeamish <a girl who has no queasiness about bugs at all> — see DELICACY 3

queasy also queazy adjective
1 affected with nausea <the youngster felt a little queasy after eating too much Easter candy> — see NAUSEOUS 1
2 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <since I don't know much about mechanical things, I'm always queasy when dealing with auto mechanics> — see NERVOUS 1

queen noun
1 a usually glamorous woman who is preeminent in her field of activity <during the years that she was queen of the figure skating world, the endorsement offers poured in> — see DIVA
2 a lovely woman <most men might not look at her twice, but in her lover's eyes she's a queen> — see BEAUTY 2

queenly adjective
fit for or worthy of a royal ruler <a richly appointed, queenly bedroom, complete with a massive four-poster bed> — see MONARCHICAL

queer adjective
1 affected with nausea <eating all of that deep-fried food would make most people feel a little queer> — see NAUSEOUS 1
2 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <one competitor had a queer way of running that attracted a lot of attention from the spectators> — see ODD 2
3 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <a lot of queer things started happening almost from the day that we moved into the house> — see UNUSUAL 1
4 having extreme or relentless concern <he's a little queer on the subject of astronomy; if you get him going, he'll talk for hours> — see HUNG UP 1
5 being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud <queer money that was the work of a master forger> — see COUNTERFEIT 1
6 giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <queer business practices that bear some looking into> — see DOUBTFUL 2

queerish adjective
1 affected with nausea <if you don't take that antibiotic with food, you might feel a little queerish at first> — see NAUSEOUS 1
2 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <the guy at the bar bought me a drink that left a queerish taste in my mouth> — see ODD 2

queerness noun
a disturbed condition of the stomach in which one feels like vomiting <after the roller coaster ride, I had to rest to overcome the dizziness and queerness that I was feeling> — see NAUSEA 1

quell verb
1 to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <the National Guard was called in to help quell the late-night disturbances downtown>

Synonyms
clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, put down, quash, repress, silence, slap down, snuff (out), squash, squelch, subdue, suppress

Related Words
douse (also dowse), extinguish, put out, quench; smother, stifle, strangle, throttle; annihilate, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, nuke, rub out, ruin, smash, waste, wreck; exterminate, obliterate, wipe out; conquer, dominate, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, subdue, subjugate, vanquish

Phrases
sit on

Near Antonyms
abet, aid, assist, back, help, prop up, support; foment, incite, instigate, provoke, stir, whip (up); advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote

2 to stop the noise or speech of <the principal held up her hand to quell the students so they could hear the urgent announcement> — see SILENCE 1

quench verb
1 to cause to cease burning <we thoroughly quenched the campfire before we headed to bed> — see EXTINGUISH 1
2 to put a complete end to (a physical need or desire) <this lemonade really quenches my thirst> — see SATISFY 1

quencher noun
a liquid suitable for drinking <marathon runners often find that plain water is the best quencher of all> — see DRINK 1

quenchless adjective
incapable of being satisfied <the public's quenchless need to be entertained throughout the day> — see INSATIABLE

querulous adjective
given to complaining a lot <car trips that were frequently spoiled by a couple of querulous passengers in the back> — see FUSSY 1

query noun
1 a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something <readers will likely have a query or two about some of the more remarkable episodes in the memoir> — see DOUBT
2 an act or instance of asking for information <please respond to my query at your earliest convenience> — see QUESTION 2

query verb
1 to demand proof of the truth or rightness of <it seems odd that someone would want two stoves, so you'd better query that order> — see CHALLENGE 1
2 to put a question or questions to <queried the professor about the assignment> — see ASK 1
3 to put a series of questions to <once the statement was given, the press secretary allowed reporters to query the President> — see EXAMINE 1

quest noun
an act or process of looking carefully or thoroughly for someone or something <the Holy Grail was the object of a mystical quest by the knights of the Round Table> — see SEARCH

quest verb
1 to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority <I respectfully quest your assistance in this matter> — see DEMAND 1
2 to go in search of <many daydreamers trekked to California questing riches during the great gold rush of 1849> — see SEEK 1
3 to make a request for <please wait until the lecturer specifically quests comments from the audience before chiming in> — see ASK FOR 1

question noun
1 an interrogative expression often used to test knowledge <because I have missed so many classes, I had a hard time answering every question on today's surprise quiz>

Synonyms
interrogative, problem

Related Words
brainteaser, conundrum, poser, puzzle, quiz, riddle, stickler, stumper, toughie (also toughy)

Near Antonyms
answer, response, solution

2 an act or instance of asking for information <after reading the brief statement to the reporters, the lawyer ended the press conference by saying, “No more questions, please”> <the dozens of questions researched by the reference librarians>

Synonyms
call, inquiry, query, request

Related Words
interrogatory; poll, questionnaire, survey; inquisition, interrogating, interrogation, questioning; examination, exploration, inquest, investigation, probe, probing, research, study

Near Antonyms
answer, reply, response

3 a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent <that these measurements are accurate is beyond question> — see OBJECTION
4 a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) <it's a question of personal responsibility> — see MATTER 1

question verb
1 to demand proof of the truth or rightness of <the teenager openly questioned the authority of the town's police force to impose a curfew on residents under the age of 18> — see CHALLENGE 1
2 to give serious and careful thought to <question your motives before you file the lawsuit: do you really care about the trees, or are you just trying to harass the neighbors?> — see PONDER
3 to have no trust or confidence in <it was apparent that voters were questioning the President's ability to manage the economy> — see DISTRUST
4 to put a question or questions to <the press should be allowed to question public officials about any matter of general interest> — see ASK 1
5 to put a series of questions to <the police questioned the suspect before deciding that there was insufficient evidence to hold him> — see EXAMINE 1

questionable adjective
1 giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <the runner's unexpected first-place finish is questionable, so a drug test has been ordered> — see DOUBTFUL 2
2 not likely to be true or to occur <it's questionable that he will show up tonight considering all the bad weather we're having> — see IMPROBABLE
3 open to question or dispute <whether it will rain today or not is questionable> — see DEBATABLE 1

questioner noun
a person who is always ready to doubt or question the truth or existence of something <Father Henry is always happy to debate any questioner of the faith> — see SKEPTIC

questioning adjective
inclined to doubt or question claims <a naturally questioning person, she demands rock-solid proof before she believes anything> — see SKEPTICAL 1

queue noun
a series of persons or things arranged one behind another <join the queue to my left if you need to return merchandise> — see LINE 1

quibble verb
1 to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant <he spent the entire evening quibbling about the historical inaccuracies in the television series on World War II>

Synonyms
carp, cavil, fuss, niggle, nitpick

Related Words
criticize, fault; beef, bellyache, bitch, complain, crab, croak, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, kick, kvetch, moan, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, yammer, yawp (or yaup), yowl; murmur, mutter

Phrases
split hairs

Near Antonyms
applaud, commend, compliment, praise, recommend; approve, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), support

2 to express different opinions about something often angrily <don't quibble over who gets to sit in front> — see ARGUE 2

quick adjective
1 having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation <she's a quick wit, always ready with a pun or joke when the moment calls for one>

Synonyms
alacritous, alert, expeditious, prompt, ready, willing

Related Words
receptive, responsive; immediate, instant, instantaneous, summary; breakneck, breathless, brisk, fast, fleet, fleet-footed, hit-and-run, lightning, rapid, rapid-fire, rattling, snappy, speedy, swift, whirlwind; eager, keen, sharp; apt, clever, quick, quick-witted, ready-witted, sharp-witted, smart

Near Antonyms
unresponsive; crawling, creeping, dallying, dawdling, dilatory, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, lagging, lazy, lazyish, leisurely, logy (also loggy), poking, poky (or pokey), slothful, slow, slowish, sluggish, tardy, unhurried; dormant, idle, inactive, inert

2 having or showing quickness of mind <a quick lad, he immediately caught on to how the machinery operated> — see INTELLIGENT 1
3 moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <a quick run through the car wash, and your vehicle will look as good as new> — see FAST 1
4 having or showing life <after the battle, there was a hurried accounting of the quick and the dead> — see ALIVE 1
5 able to sense slight impressions or differences <parlayed her quick eye for beauty into ownership of a top modeling agency> — see ACUTE 1
6 archaic containing unborn young within the body <a woman quick with child> — see PREGNANT 1

quick adverb
with great speed <watch out, as the cars pass by here pretty quick> — see FAST 1

quick noun
the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions <that nasty comment cut me to the quick> — see CORE 1

quicken verb
1 to cause to move or proceed fast or faster <she eventually quickened her pace so she could keep up with the others> — see HURRY 1
2 to give life, vigor, or spirit to <the news that we'd head to Florida for Christmas quickened the children, who instantly began jumping for joy> — see ANIMATE

quickly adverb
with great speed <quickly moved to block the goal> — see FAST 1

quickness noun
a high rate of movement or performance <his agility and overall quickness made him the football coach's top choice for receiver> — see SPEED 1

quicksand noun
something that catches and holds <mired in the quicksand of credit card debt> — see WEB 1

quick–tempered adjective
easily irritated or annoyed <a quick-tempered man who invariably utters threats at any kids who wander into his yard> — see IRRITABLE

quick–witted adjective
having or showing quickness of mind <the quick-witted child easily figured out the trick to making the toy work> — see INTELLIGENT 1

quiddity noun
1 an odd or peculiar habit <for all of her quiddities, she is a very wise and generous lady> — see IDIOSYNCRASY
2 the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is <Rembrandt's genius was his unparalleled ability to render a person's quiddity in a single portrait> — see ESSENCE 1

quidnunc noun
a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others <with the arrival of our other friend, we at last had a quorum of quidnuncs and enough material to while away a long lunch hour> — see GOSSIP 1

quid pro quo noun
a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another <in politics nobody does something for nothing: there's always a quid pro quo involved> — see EXCHANGE 1

quiescence noun
1 a state of temporary inactivity <the resort community's social scene is lively during the summer but undergoes a deep quiescence during the long winter> — see ABEYANCE
2 lack of action or activity <was struck by the elk's quiescence as it just stood there in the clearing> — see INACTION

quiescent adjective
slow to move or act <a group of quiescent loungers recovering from the Thanksgiving feast> — see INACTIVE 1

quiet adjective
1 free from disturbing noise or uproar <left the din of the rock concert and went to a quiet restaurant where we could hear one another talk>

Synonyms
arcadian, calm, hushed, peaceful, placid, restful, serene, still, stilly, tranquil

Related Words
noiseless, silent, soundless; mute, speechless, wordless; dead, motionless, quiescent; muffled, muted, quieted; dull, gentle, low, soft; ultraquiet

Near Antonyms
crazy, tempestuous, wild; blaring, blasting, booming, earsplitting, piercing, roaring, thundering, thunderous

Antonyms
boisterous, clamorous, clattery, deafening, loud, noisy, raucous, rip-roaring, roistering, romping, rowdy, tumultuous, unquiet, uproarious, woolly (also wooly)

2 not excessively showy <she decided that it would be best to wear a quiet business suit to the job interview>

Synonyms
conservative, low-key (also low-keyed), muted, repressed, restrained, sober, subdued, toned-down, understated, unflashy, unpretentious

Related Words
appropriate, becoming, fit, fitting, proper, suitable; modest, plain, simple, unadorned, undecorated; inconspicuous, unnoticeable, unobtrusive; graceful, handsome, refined, tasteful; drab, mousy (or mousey); practical, sensible

Near Antonyms
meretricious; graceless, inelegant, tacky, tasteless, tawdry, trashy, vulgar; baroque, fancy, frilly, gilded (or gilt), ornate, rococo; overdecorated, overdone, overwrought

Antonyms
flamboyant, flaring, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, loud, noisy, ostentatious, razzle-dazzle, splashy, swank (or swanky)

3 free from storms or physical disturbance <a quiet interlude as the eye of the storm passed over us> — see CALM 1
4 screened or sequestered from view <a quiet little house set far back from the street> — see SECLUDED
5 mostly or entirely without sound <a diver who loves to retreat to the quiet world beneath the surface of the sea> — see SILENT 3
6 not loud in pitch or volume <quiet music is generally more relaxing> — see SOFT 1

quiet adverb
without motion <lie quiet and no one will guess you're hiding under the bed> — see STILL 1

quiet noun
1 a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <sailors enjoying the quiet of a clear evening at sea> — see CALM 1
2 the near or complete absence of sound <new parents appreciating the blessed quiet that comes when their baby finally falls asleep> — see SILENCE 2

quiet verb
1 to become still and orderly <the museum docent told the rowdy youngsters to quiet down for the tour>

Synonyms
calm (down), chill out [slang], cool, hush, pipe down, settle (down)

Related Words
dry up; relax, tranquilize (also tranquillize), unwind, zone out

Phrases
cool it

Near Antonyms
clown (around), fool around, horse around, monkey (around), show off, skylark

Antonyms
act up, carry on, cut up

2 to free from distress or disturbance <quiet a crying toddler with candy> — see CALM 1
3 to stop the noise or speech of <the nanny could quiet unruly children with just a look> — see SILENCE 1

quiet (down) verb
to stop talking <the kids quieted down when they realized I was about to ask them if they wanted ice cream> — see SHUT UP 1

quieted adjective
mostly or entirely without sound <one could hear a pin drop in the quieted concert hall as conductor raised his baton> — see SILENT 3

quieten verb, chiefly British
1 to free from distress or disturbance <the nanny tried to quieten the children with assurances that help was on its way> — see CALM 1
2 to stop the noise or speech of <one young chap was trying to quieten down the group> — see SILENCE 1

quieting adjective
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress <a nice quieting cup of tea after a hard day at work> — see SOOTHING 1

quietly adverb
without motion <she stood quietly behind the curtains, hoping to scare her sister when she came into the room> — see STILL 1

quietness noun
1 a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <preferred the relaxing quietness of the mall in the early morning, before the frenzy of shopping began later in the day> — see CALM 1
2 the near or complete absence of sound <the tense quietness of the crowd as it anxiously awaited the announcement of the winner> — see SILENCE 2

quietude noun
1 a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <after his tantrum, the toddler lapsed into an exhausted quietude and fell asleep> — see CALM 1
2 the near or complete absence of sound <the quietude of the early morning was broken only by the occasional chirping of birds> — see SILENCE 2

quietus noun
1 a freeing from an obligation or responsibility <was granted a quietus on the remainder of the debt in the old man's will> — see RELEASE 1
2 the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <her unshakable belief in a blissful afterlife allowed her to meet her quietus without the slightest tinge of fear or regret> — see DEATH 1

quintessence noun
1 the most perfect type or example <the Parthenon in Greece was considered the quintessence of the perfectly proportioned building>

Synonyms
acme, apotheosis, beau ideal, byword, classic, epitome, exemplar, ideal, perfection

Related Words
archetype, model, prototype; paradigm, standard; nonpareil, paragon; abstract, avatar, embodier, embodiment, incarnation, incorporation, manifestation, personification; height, last word, meridian, ultimate, zenith; benchmark, criterion, touchstone, yardstick

2 the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is <a selfless desire to help others is the quintessence of the virtue of charity> — see ESSENCE 1

quintessential adjective
constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated <Helen of Troy was supposedly the quintessential beauty of the ancient world> — see MODEL

quip noun
1 an odd or peculiar habit <has his share of the quips that seem to come with a title of nobility> — see IDIOSYNCRASY
2 something said or done to cause laughter <the crowd laughed aloud at the author's clever quip> — see JOKE 1

quip verb
to make jokes <she rolled her eyes at her brother's bragging and quipped, “You're a legend in your own mind, all right”> — see JOKE 1

quirk noun
an odd or peculiar habit <wearing red shoes every day is just one of her quirks> — see IDIOSYNCRASY

quirky adjective
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <the waitress styles her hair in a quirky way that always gets her remembered by customers> — see ODD 2

quisling noun
one who betrays a trust or an allegiance <warned that all quislings would be punished without mercy> — see TRAITOR

quit adjective
no longer burdened with something unpleasant or painful <I am finally quit of that terrible task> — see FREE 2

quit verb
1 to give up (a job or office) <he decided to quit his job at the fast-food restaurant>

Synonyms
bag, chuck, leave, resign (from), retire (from), step aside (from), step down (from)

Related Words
abandon, vacate; drop out (of), throw up

Phrases
give notice

Near Antonyms
hire (out or on)

Antonyms
stay (at)

2 to stop doing (something) permanently <her doctor told her it was high time she quit smoking>

Synonyms
abandon, discontinue, drop, give up, knock off, lay off (of), pack (up or in)

Related Words
break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, end, expire, finish, halt, leave off, shut off; pause, taper off; throw up; round (off or out), terminate, wind up, wrap up

Phrases
hang it up, have done (with)

Near Antonyms
go, run on; hang in, hang on, hold on, persevere, persist; follow through (with); renew, reopen, restart, resume; preserve, stay; begin, commence, start

Antonyms
carry on, continue, keep, keep up, maintain

3 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <quit pestering your coworkers with pointless questions> — see STOP 1
4 to cause to remain behind <he quit the house sometime around nine this morning and hasn't been seen since> — see LEAVE 1
5 to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) <tried to persuade his daughter to remain at home, but eventually he just quit and let her go out on her own> — see YIELD 3
6 to come to an end <will this teasing ever quit?> — see CEASE 1
7 to give what is owed for <eager to quit all debts before starting married life> — see PAY 2
8 to leave a place often for another <we plan to quit the amusement park around seven tonight and then head to the diner for some food> — see GO 2
9 to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way <I thought the kids quitted themselves quite well at the concert tonight> — see BEHAVE

quitclaim noun
a document containing a declaration of an intentional giving up of a right, claim, or privilege <the city signed a quitclaim to the property, and now the company can go forward with its plans for expansion> — see WAIVER

quite adverb
1 to a full extent or degree <are you quite sure you have permission to go?> — see FULLY 1
2 to some degree or extent <we camped quite near Mount Rushmore> — see FAIRLY 1

quittance noun
1 a freeing from an obligation or responsibility <the indentured servant obtained a quittance from his master stating he was free to leave and was no longer required to work> — see RELEASE 1
2 payment to another for a loss or injury <the court awarded the plaintiff a substantial quittance for bodily injury and emotional distress> — see COMPENSATION 1

quitting noun
the act of leaving a place <we simply didn't know what to make of the couple's sudden quitting of the party> — see DEPARTURE 1

quiver noun
an instance of shaking involuntarily with fear or cold <a quiver ran through the audience when the monster cornered the movie's hero> — see SHIVER 1

quiver verb
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <aspen leaves quivering in the breeze> — see SHAKE 1

quivering adjective
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <our quivering dog tried to hide under the bed during the thunderstorm> — see SHAKY 1

quivering noun
a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side <the kids were fascinated by the quivering of the jellyfish and kept poking it to see it wiggle> — see VIBRATION 1

qui vive noun
the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of opportunity, activity, or danger <an army on the qui vive for enemy attack> — see VIGILANCE

quixotic adjective
having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality <in this age of giant chain stores, any attempt at operating an independent bookstore must be regarded as quixotic> — see IDEALISTIC

quixotical adjective
having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality <a quixotical attempt to bring live theater to a generation hooked on video games> — see IDEALISTIC

quiz noun
1 a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another <always eager to put everything down, my boyfriend had to be a quiz and make fun of the actors and costumes in our local theater troupe's latest production> — see TORMENTOR
2 a set of questions or problems designed to assess knowledge, skills, or intelligence <according to the magazine's marriage quiz, the chances that we'll have a 10th wedding anniversary are just about nil> — see EXAMINATION 1
3 a person of odd or whimsical habits <even by House of Lords standards, the cross-dressing earl was considered quite a quiz> — see ECCENTRIC

quiz verb
1 to put a question or questions to <quickly quizzed her about the assignment before heading off to class> — see ASK 1
2 to put a series of questions to <hated the way those relatives would quiz me about my partner and our living arrangements> — see EXAMINE 1

quizzer noun
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another <some quizzer in the front row was getting more laughs than the comedian on stage> — see TORMENTOR

quizzical adjective
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing <my puns are usually greeted with loud quizzical groans by my so-called friends>

Synonyms
bantering, chaffing, fooling, funning, jesting, joking, joshing, kidding, rallying, razzing, ribbing

Related Words
bandying, quipping; baiting, deriding, derisive, derisory, hassling, heckling, jeering, mocking, needling, ridiculing, taunting; contemptuous, disdainful, sarcastic, scornful

quod noun, British slang
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <the robbers who made off with nearly a half million pounds will likely spend a good long time in quod> — see JAIL

quondam adjective
having been such at some previous time <a quondam oil baron now living comfortably in retirement> — see FORMER 1

quota noun
something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group <you need to meet your sales quota, or you'll be put on probation> — see SHARE 1

quotation noun
a passage referred to, repeated, or offered as an example <the beautiful autumn day brought to mind this quotation from Thoreau: “So live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each”>

Synonyms
citation, quote

Related Words
allusion, reference; excerpt, extract; line, part, section; snippet

quote noun
a passage referred to, repeated, or offered as an example <he got a book of quotes from his favorite author for his birthday> — see QUOTATION

quote verb
1 to give as an example <I could quote to you a hundred instances in the past when you've lied to me>

Synonyms
adduce, cite, instance, mention

Related Words
exemplify, represent; advert (to), illustrate, instance, name, refer (to), specify, touch (on or upon); bear out, corroborate, document, substantiate, validate; reference, source

2 to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically <quoted Thomas Jefferson's views on liberty in her paper on the American Revolution> — see MENTION 1
3 to say after another <don't quote this to anyone, but I think we're going to Veracruz for winter vacation> — see REPEAT 3

quotidian adjective
1 often observed or encountered <not content with the quotidian quarrels that other couples had, they had rows that shook the entire neighborhood> — see COMMON 1
2 occurring, done, produced, or appearing every day <plagued by a quotidian coughing fit, the result of years of smoking> — see DAILY

R

rabbit hole noun
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <shoreline residents are finding themselves helplessly falling down a rabbit hole in their Sisyphean efforts to halt beach erosion> — see PREDICAMENT

rabbit warren noun
a confusing and complicated arrangement of passages <the organization's headquarters is a rabbit warren of small, cramped offices> — see MAZE 1

rabble noun
people looked down upon as ignorant and of the lowest class <the crown prince was reminded that even the rabble of the realm deserved his attention and compassion>

Synonyms
proletariat, rabblement, ragtag and bobtail, riffraff, rout, scum, tag, rag, and bobtail (or tagrag and bobtail), trash, unwashed

Related Words
dregs; commoners, commons, herd, hoi polloi, masses, millions, mob, multitude, people, plebeians, populace, public, rank and file; bourgeoisie, middle class, working class

Near Antonyms
elect, establishment; gentlefolk (also gentlefolks), nobility, peerage

Antonyms
A-list, aristocracy, elite, gentry, quality, society, upper class, upper crust

rabblement noun
people looked down upon as ignorant and of the lowest class <haughty nobles who ignored the rabblement at their own peril> — see RABBLE

rabble–rouser noun
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent <rabble-rousers inciting hungry people in breadlines to demand social justice> — see AGITATOR

rabid adjective
1 being very far from the center of public opinion <soccer fans whose rabid enthusiasm makes them go berserk when their team wins> — see EXTREME 2
2 feeling or showing anger <he became rabid when the bank manager told him he would lose the family farm if he didn't pay the mortgage> — see ANGRY
3 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <a rabid nationalism that leads people to attack immigrants and anyone else they perceive as being different> — see VIOLENT 1
4 marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity <the rabid witch hunts that occurred in Salem in 1692, when 150 people were accused of witchcraft and imprisoned> — see FURIOUS 1

race noun
1 a group of persons who come from the same ancestor <a man, born of noble race, who was now living in impoverished circumstances> — see FAMILY 1
2 a people having a common language, culture, and body of traditions <Winston Churchill's famous hope and prediction that World War II would be remembered by future generations as the finest hour of the Britannic race> — see NATIONALITY

race verb
1 to engage in a contest <just how many candidates are racing for the senatorial seat this year?> — see COMPETE
2 to proceed or move quickly <was racing around trying to get everything done before her big trip to India> — see HURRY 2

racecourse noun
an open man-made passageway for water <fell into the racecourse for an abandoned water mill> — see CHANNEL 1

raceway noun
an open man-made passageway for water <the child who fell through the ice was helplessly swept along the raceway, still trapped under the ice, by the current> — see CHANNEL 1

racial adjective
of, relating to, or reflecting the traits exhibited by a group of people with a common ancestry and culture <humanitarian aid workers are often given special training to help them understand the racial differences between them and the people they will be serving>

Synonyms
ethnic, ethnical, tribal

Related Words
familial; folk; kin, kindred; cultural, multiculti, multicultural, national

Antonyms
nonracial

racialism noun
1 the belief that certain races of people are by birth and nature superior to others <the racialism of some of the nation's founders seems to contradict their professed belief that “all men are created equal”> — see RACISM 1
2 hatred of or discrimination against a person or persons based on their race <ugly incidents of racialism at the school have decreased since the introduction of multiracial rap sessions> — see RACISM 2

racialist noun
a person who believes that one race should control all others <unfortunately, there are still racialists who adhere to the belief that there is one superior race> — see SUPREMACIST

racism noun
1 the belief that certain races of people are by birth and nature superior to others <Hitler's declaration of his belief in a “master race” was an indication of the inherent racism of the Nazi movement>

Synonyms
racialism

Related Words
apartheid, segregation, separatism; eugenics

Near Antonyms
desegregation, integration

2 hatred of or discrimination against a person or persons based on their race <the 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, was one of the most notorious incidents of racism that occurred during the civil rights movement of the 1960s>

Synonyms
prejudice, racialism

Related Words
race-baiting; apartheid, jim crow, segregation, separatism; bigotry, intolerance, narrow-mindedness, narrowness

Near Antonyms
antidiscrimination, antiracism, antisegregation; assimilationism

racist noun
a person who believes that one race should control all others <after the passage of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, racists still used violence and intimidation to prevent African-Americans from enjoying their new constitutional rights> — see SUPREMACIST

rack noun
1 a place set aside for sleeping <the clock struck midnight, signaling that it was time to hit the rack> — see BED 1
2 a state of great suffering of body or mind <after experiencing the rack of a divorce, he was reluctant to commit to another relationship> — see DISTRESS 1

rack verb
1 to cause persistent suffering to <the young man was racked with guilt over the lie he had told to his parents> — see AFFLICT
2 to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure <she racked her brain trying to remember where she'd put the money> — see STRAIN 1

racket noun
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <if all the racket on the stairs is any indication, someone must be moving into apartment 3B> — see NOISE 1

racketeer noun
a person who gets money from another by using force or threats <the racketeer threatened to have his thugs vandalize the shop if the shopkeeper didn't pay him a monthly bribe>

Synonyms
blackmailer, extortioner, extortionist

Related Words
blackhander, button man, gangster, hoodlum, mafioso, mobster; bully, ruffian, thug; cheat, cheater, chiseler (or chiseller), cozener, defrauder, dodger, double-dealer, gouger, gyp, hustler, profiteer, shark, sharper, sharpie (or sharpy), swindler

rackety adjective
1 making loud, confused, and usually unharmonious sounds <anyone operating that rackety machine had better wear earplugs> — see NOISY 1
2 full of or characterized by the presence of noise <the once-familiar sight of a rackety newspaper office with reporters pounding away at typewriters> — see NOISY 2

racking adjective
intensely or unbearably painful <a racking cough kept him awake all night> — see EXCRUCIATING 1

rack up verb
1 to gain (as points or runs in a game) as credit towards one's total number of points <having racked up a huge number of points in the short program, the figure skater would have to have a disastrous long program in order to miss out on a medal> — see SCORE 2
2 to obtain (as a goal) through effort <racked up their second consecutive Super Bowl victory> — see ACHIEVE 1

racy adjective
1 having much high-spirited energy and movement <vivid writing and a racy plot that keeps readers turning the pages> — see LIVELY 1
2 hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent <a raunchy comedy with language that was a little too racy for an eight-year-old child> — see SUGGESTIVE 1

raddled adjective
suffering from mental confusion <trying to explain a mix-up in my mail order to a clearly raddled clerk in customer service> — see DIZZY 2

radiance noun
1 the quality or state of having or giving off light <the radiance of the midday sun created a harsh glare for the skiers> — see BRILLIANCE 1
2 the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible <had a dream in which she was steadily moving down a dark tunnel toward a radiance at the far end> — see LIGHT 1

radiant adjective
1 having or being an outward sign of good feelings (as of love, confidence, or happiness) <she left the interview with a radiant smile on her face, confident she had gotten the job> <a radiant bride>

Synonyms
aglow, beaming, bright, glowing, sunny

Related Words
brilliant, dazzling, effulgent, gleaming, luminous, refulgent, shining, starry; blithe, blithesome, bright, cheerful, cheery, chipper, gay, gladsome, lightsome, merry, mirthful, optimistic, upbeat; jocund, jovial, laughing, smiling; blooming, rosy; blissful, chuffed [British], delighted, gratified, happy, joyful, joyous, pleased, satisfied, thankful, tickled

Near Antonyms
blank, flat, listless, stoic (or stoical), unemotional; black, dark, darkening, depressing, dismal, gloomy, glum, gray (also grey), melancholy, sullen; frowning, glaring, glowering, lowering (also louring), scowling

2 giving off or reflecting much light <from the plane we could see the statehouse's radiant gold dome> — see BRIGHT 1

radiantly adverb
in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light <under a radiantly clear sky, we raised our anchor and set off on a carefree cruise> — see BRIGHTLY 1

radiate verb
1 to extend outwards from or as if from a central point <the heat radiating from the fire> <the spokes of a bicycle wheel radiate from the hub towards the rim>

Synonyms
branch, fan (out), ray

Related Words
diffuse, dispel, disperse, dissipate; fork, stem; diverge, divide, part, ramify, separate, split, uncouple, unlink, unyoke; scatter, splay, spread; arise, derive, emanate, flow, issue, proceed, spring

Near Antonyms
approach, close in (on), near; center (on), centralize; connect, couple, join, link, unite

Antonyms
concentrate, converge, focus, funnel, meet

2 to emit rays of light <fireflies give off their light by means of a chemical reaction that causes their abdomens to radiate> — see SHINE 1
3 to throw or give off <the sun radiates tiny amounts of energy in the form of microwaves> — see EMIT 1

radical adjective
1 being very far from the center of public opinion <the baggy trousers that Amelia Bloomer introduced in the 1850s were considered a radical form of dress for women at the time> — see EXTREME 2
2 not bound by traditional ways or beliefs <radical proponents of spelling reform would have every word spelled “just the way it sounds”> — see LIBERAL 1
3 slang of the very best kind <surfing conditions at virtually all of the beaches along the coast were truly radical> — see EXCELLENT

radical noun
a person who favors rapid and sweeping changes especially in laws and methods of government <radicals staged large, violent protests in the hopes of toppling the government>

Synonyms
crazy, extremist, revolutionary, revolutionist

Related Words
young Turk; leftist, lefty, red; progressive, reformer, reformist; anarch, anarchist, subversive; agitator, insurgent, insurrectionist, rebel; secessionist, separationist, separatist

Near Antonyms
conservative, fuddy-duddy, reactionary, rightist, standpatter, Tory, traditionalist

Antonyms
middle-of-the-roader, moderate

raffish adjective
lacking in refinement or good taste <the dowager cringed at the thought of raffish tourists in rough boots tromping all over her Persian rugs> — see COARSE 2

raffishness noun
the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste <the raffishness of the crowd in the pub offended the courtly gentleman, and so he elected instead to dine at the hotel> — see VULGARITY 1

raffle noun
discarded or useless material <the front lawn was littered with the raffle that the roofers had left behind> — see GARBAGE 1

raft noun
a considerable amount <the babysitter had to listen to a whole raft of rules before she was allowed to even pick up the baby> — see LOT 2

1rag noun
1 a publication that appears at regular intervals <the local rag publishes more gossip than news> — see JOURNAL 1
2 rags plural covering for the human body <the girls showed up at the prom wearing their most elegant rags> — see CLOTHING

2rag noun, chiefly British
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <a collegiate rag that nearly got him sent down from Oxford> — see PRANK

rag verb
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <several readers called in to rag the editor for his paper's repeated grammatical lapses> — see SCOLD

ragbag noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <gave away a ragbag of souvenirs and trinkets she had accumulated over the years> — see MISCELLANY 1

rage noun
1 a state of wildly excited activity or emotion <found her at home in a rage of scrubbing and cleaning in preparation for the rabbi's visit> — see FRENZY
2 an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <boiling with rage at the bank teller's insult, he demanded to see the manager> — see ANGER
3 a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <there was time when playing with Frisbees was all the rage> — see FAD
4 archaic a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life <the king's last years were spent in a lonely rage> — see INSANITY 1

rage verb
1 to express one's anger usually violently <the bad call prompted the coach to rage about the refereeing, even throwing his clipboard at one referee>

Synonyms
bristle, fume, storm

Related Words
blow up, flare (up), flip (out) [slang]; bluster, carry on, fulminate, rampage, rant, rave, take on; burn, foam, seethe, smolder (or smoulder), steam; chafe, fret, stew

Phrases
make a scene, run amok (or run amuck)

Near Antonyms
allay, appease, pacify, soothe; check, choke (back), collect, compose, contain, curb, pocket, rein, repress, restrain, smother, stifle, strangle, subdue, suppress, swallow; moderate, temper, tone (down); ease, let up, relax; calm, cool, hush, quell, quiet, settle, still

2 to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger <still raging about his assistant's burnt pies, the pastry cook forgot to add the egg whites to his cake batter> — see BOIL 1

ragged adjective
1 having an uneven edge or outline <the Rocky Mountains cut an angular, ragged profile against the sky, in contrast to the rounded silhouette of the rolling, green Adirondack Mountains>

Synonyms
broken, craggy, jagged, scraggly, scraggy

Related Words
saw-toothed, serrate, serrated; harsh, rough, roughened, rugged; bumpy, coarse, irregular, nonuniform

Near Antonyms
regular, uniform; flat, flush, level, plane

Antonyms
clean, even, smooth, soft, unbroken

2 worn or torn into or as if into rags <finally convinced her to throw away her favorite pair of jeans, ragged from decades of yard work>

Synonyms
frayed, raggedy, ratty, seedy, shabby, tattered, threadbare, worn-out

Related Words
dowdy, scruffy, tatterdemalion; dingy, faded; lacerate (or lacerated), shredded; holey, patchy; broken-down, decrepit, dilapidated, dog-eared, grungy, mangy, moth-eaten, run-down, scuzzy [slang], tacky

Near Antonyms
brand-new, new, spick-and-span (or spic-and-span), unused

3 not having a level or smooth surface <she cut herself on the ragged edge of the tin can's lid> — see UNEVEN 1
4 wearing torn or worn out clothes <ragged and hungry refugees emerging from the jungle where they had been in hiding for weeks> — see TATTERED 1

raggedy adjective
1 wearing torn or worn out clothes <raggedy urchins playing in the village streets> — see TATTERED 1
2 worn or torn into or as if into rags <wears raggedy old T-shirts and jeans around the house> — see RAGGED 2

raggle–taggle adjective
consisting of many things of different sorts <a raggle-taggle assemblage of collectibles that he hopes to sell on eBay> — see MISCELLANEOUS

raging adjective
intensely or unbearably painful <I've had a raging headache> — see EXCRUCIATING 1

ragout noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the movie is an uncertain ragout of fantasy, science fiction, and old-fashioned romance> — see MISCELLANY 1

ragtag adjective
1 consisting of many things of different sorts <the team was a ragtag bunch who had only one thing in common: a lack of skill> — see MISCELLANEOUS
2 wearing torn or worn out clothes <a ragtag and weary regiment arrived back at headquarters with the latest news from the front> — see TATTERED 1

ragtag and bobtail noun
people looked down upon as ignorant and of the lowest class <locals complained that rental housing would attract the ragtag and bobtail to their well-groomed suburb> — see RABBLE

raid noun
1 a sudden attack on and entrance into hostile territory <repeated Viking raids wore down the defenses of the seaside village>

Synonyms
descent, foray, incursion, inroad, invasion, irruption

Related Words
pillage, plunder; aggression, assault, coup de main, offense (or offence), offensive, onset, onslaught, rush, siege, storm, strike; charge, sally, sortie; ambuscade, ambush, surprise (also surprize), trap; air raid, blitz, blitzkrieg, bombardment; counteraggression, counterassault, counterattack, counteroffensive, counterstrike

2 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <an early morning raid by Federal agents took the smugglers in their hideout by surprise> — see ATTACK 1

raid verb
1 to enter for conquest or plunder <a fox has been raiding the chicken coop, and now we're down to eight hens> — see INVADE
2 to take sudden, violent action against <the enemy tribe raided the village just before dawn, taking everyone by surprise> — see ATTACK 1

raider noun
one that starts armed conflict against another especially without reasonable cause <villagers lived in constant fear of the raiders, who captured their women and children and sold them into slavery> — see AGGRESSOR

rail noun
1 a protective barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and its supports <the stairs are icy, so hold onto the rail> — see RAILING
2 a roadway overlaid with parallel steel rails over which trains travel <an abandoned stretch of rail that was overgrown with brush> — see RAILROAD

rail (at or against) verb
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <we could hear the cook in the kitchen railing against his assistant and wondered if we'd ever get our food> — see SCOLD

railing noun
a protective barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and its supports <they had to put a childproof railing on the balcony when the baby started walking>

Synonyms
balustrade, banister (also bannister), guardrail, rail

Related Words
handrail; taffrail; fender

raillery noun
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks <Luke had to put up with a lot of raillery from his sister the first time he asked a girl for a date> — see BANTER

railroad noun
a roadway overlaid with parallel steel rails over which trains travel <that railroad hasn't been used for passenger trains for decades>

Synonyms
rail, railway, road

Related Words
el, elevated, elevated railroad; monorail

railway noun
a roadway overlaid with parallel steel rails over which trains travel <a system of railways that crisscrosses the whole nation> — see RAILROAD

raiment noun
covering for the human body <the prince exchanged his silken raiment for the pauper's humble homespun> — see CLOTHING

rain noun
1 a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity <the rain continued for most of the day>

Synonyms
cloudburst, deluge, downfall, downpour, rainfall, rainstorm, storm, wet

Related Words
precipitation, shower; thundershower, thunderstorm, weather

Near Antonyms
drizzle, mist, mizzle, scud, spit, sprinkle

2 a heavy fall of objects <the Norman invaders fled when the castle's defenders threw a rain of stones down upon them>

Synonyms
hail, shower, storm

Related Words
barrage, bombardment, broadside, cannonade, fusillade, salvo, volley; flood, gush, rush, spate, torrent; eruption, outbreak, outburst

rain verb
1 to fall as water in a continuous stream of drops from the clouds <it started raining early this morning and hasn't let up since>

Synonyms
pour, precipitate, storm

Related Words
shower; spit; hail, rainsquall, squall; deluge, drown, engulf, flood, inundate, swamp

Phrases
rain cats and dogs

Near Antonyms
drizzle, mist, mizzle, spit, sprinkle

2 to give readily and in large quantities <she rained praise upon her graduating students> <the squadron rained bombs on the enemy's fortifications>

Synonyms
heap, lavish, pour, shower

Related Words
gush, stream; flood, inundate, overflow, overwhelm, swamp; bombard, hail

Near Antonyms
hold back, keep, reserve, retain, withhold

rainbow adjective
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <the rainbow costumes worn by mummers at Mardi Gras> — see COLORFUL

raincoat noun
a coat made of water-resistant material <I grabbed my umbrella and raincoat before going out in the thunderstorm>

Synonyms
mac (or mack) [British], mackintosh (also macintosh) [chiefly British], oilskin, slicker, waterproof [chiefly British]

Related Words
rain gear, rainwear; poncho, sou'wester, trench, trench coat

rainfall noun
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity <a torrential rainfall washed away most of the little sprouts in our vegetable garden> — see RAIN 1

rainspout noun
a pipe or channel for carrying off water from a roof <heavy rains had left a large puddle at the base of the rainspout> — see GUTTER 1

rainstorm noun
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity <we ran into a big rainstorm on Highway 6, and the visibility was so poor we had to pull over> — see RAIN 1

rainy adjective
marked by or abounding with rain <found that the cold, rainy weather made his joints swell and ache>

Synonyms
pouring, precipitating, stormy, wet

Related Words
drippy, drizzling, drizzly, misty, mizzly, spitting, sprinkling

Near Antonyms
dry

raise noun
something added (as by growth) <the school board approved a raise in the maximum family income for students qualifying for reduced-price lunches> — see INCREASE 1

raise verb
1 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <he asked members of the audience to raise their hands if they knew anyone who suffered from alcoholism>

Synonyms
boost, crane, elevate, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack (up), lift, perk (up), pick up, take up, up, uphold, uplift, upraise

Related Words
ascend, mount, rise; rear, upend

Near Antonyms
descend, dip, fall, pitch, plunge, slip; bear, depress, press, push; sink, submerge

Antonyms
drop, lower

2 to bring to maturity through care and education <since she was only two when her mother died, the girl was raised mainly by her aunt> — see BRING UP 1
3 to bring (something volatile or intense) into being <a proposal to cover the library's red brick with vinyl siding raised a mighty ruckus with those favoring historical preservation> — see INCITE 1
4 to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved) <the lawsuit raised old hatreds that had never been completely extinguished> — see EDUCE
5 to fix in an upright position <the mattress will fit into the moving truck only if we raise it on its side> — see ERECT 1
6 to form by putting together parts or materials <raised a memorial on the site of the accident in memory of those who had been killed> — see BUILD
7 to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care <raises ducks, geese, and other exotic fowl ultimately destined for the dinner table> — see GROW 1
8 to make greater in size, amount, or number <the multiplex raised the minimum age for paid admissions from four to six> — see INCREASE 1
9 to move higher in rank or position <he was recently raised to lieutenant in the fire department> — see PROMOTE 1
10 to present or bring forward for discussion <one member of the tour raised the subject of appropriate attire for visits to sacred sites in the Holy Land> — see INTRODUCE 2
11 to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) <too afraid to raise an objection> — see EXPRESS 1

raised adjective
1 being at a higher level than average <due to raised levels of mercury in the water, there is a warning against eating the local shrimp> — see HIGH 2
2 being positioned above a surface <directed the filming of the movie's battle scene from a raised platform> — see ELEVATED 1
3 rising straight up <the 63 Braille characters are made up of one to six raised dots arranged in a matrix> — see ERECT

1rake noun
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard <a memoir that purported to be a rake's progress through the world of drug addiction> — see DEGENERATE

2rake noun
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon <the floor of the auditorium doesn't have much of a rake, so sightlines for spectators in the rear are not good> — see SLANT 1

rake verb
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something <the pathetic sight of hungry children raking the garbage for food> — see SEARCH 1

raked adjective
running in a slanting direction <the raked seating in the auditorium affords theatergoers an unobstructed view of the stage> — see DIAGONAL

rakehell noun
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard <a resort popular with wealthy rakehells and the women who love their money> — see DEGENERATE

rakehell or rakehelly adjective
having or showing lowered moral character or standards <a rakehell rock band that was notorious for trashing virtually every hotel suite they ever stayed in> — see CORRUPT

rakish adjective
having or showing lowered moral character or standards <within a few short years their rakish son had squandered the family fortune on hard liquor, fast cars, and loose women> — see CORRUPT

rakishness noun
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <the legendary rakishness of the oil baron's overprivileged and underbred son> — see CORRUPTION 2

1rally verb
1 to assemble and make ready for action <rallied the Red Cross workers to deal with the devastating earthquake> — see MOBILIZE
2 to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness <despite the best care that medicine could provide, the elderly woman never really rallied from her fractured hip> — see CONVALESCE
3 to regain a former or normal state <after wavering a moment on the balance beam, she quickly rallied and finished with a fine dismount> — see RECOVER 2

2rally verb
to make fun of in a good-natured way <his friends rallied him for missing an easy putt> — see TEASE 1

rally noun
1 an act of gathering forces together to renew or attempt an effort <in a last-minute rally the Confederates at Bull Run were able to turn a near defeat into an upset victory>

Synonyms
marshaling (also marshalling), mobilization, rallying

Related Words
call, call-up, summons; convening, convocation, muster, mustering

Phrases
call to arms

2 a mass meeting for the purpose of displaying or arousing support for a cause or person <a huge rally for the candidate on the eve of the election>

Synonyms
demo [British], demonstration

Related Words
assembly, conference, congress, convention, convocation, council, gathering; march; protest, sit-down, sit-in, strike; counterdemonstration, counterprotest, counterrally

3 the process or period of gradually regaining one's health and strength <the doctors were amazed at the sick child's unexpected rally, which was apparently due to the new drug> — see CONVALESCENCE

rallying adjective
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing <he took his friends' rallying remarks about his girlfriend good-naturedly> — see QUIZZICAL

rallying noun
an act of gathering forces together to renew or attempt an effort <the rallying of students to support our petition for better bus service was made a lot easier by this morning's subzero temperatures> — see RALLY 1

ram verb
1 to come into usually forceful contact with something <the truck suddenly swerved and rammed into the side of a building> — see HIT 2
2 to fit (people or things) into a tight space <rammed as many candies into his mouth as he could fit> — see CROWD 1
3 to proceed or move quickly <I threw myself out of the way as a car rammed through the crosswalk> — see HURRY 2

ramble noun
1 a short trip for pleasure <the couple's weekend rambles up and down the valley in search of interesting antiques> — see EXCURSION 1
2 a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure <our usual practice is to take a ramble around the neighborhood after dinner> — see WALK 1

ramble verb
1 to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point <the teenagers sat around the pizza parlor, rambling on about dating, homework, movies, and the local football team>

Synonyms
blather (on), go on, maunder, rattle, run on

Related Words
deviate, digress, stray, wander; sidetrack; blab, blabber, blither, bumble, burble, chat, chatter, drivel, drool, gab, gabble, gibber, jabber, patter, prate, prattle, waffle

Phrases
run one's mouth

2 to move about from place to place aimlessly <by tirelessly rambling around San Francisco for a week we probably saw more of it than many residents ever have> — see WANDER 1
3 to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure <we're planning to ramble all over the highland moors when we're in Dartmoor> — see HIKE 1

rambler noun
1 a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination <a rambler her whole life, my aunt is likely to send me a postcard from just about any corner of the world> — see NOMAD
2 a person who travels by foot for exercise or pleasure <a secluded sylvan spot just waiting to be discovered by the adventurous rambler> — see HIKER

rambling adjective
1 passing from one topic to another <I listened patiently to Mrs. Parsifal's rambling reminiscences, though I had no idea who “Dorothy” and “the stepson” were> — see DISCURSIVE
2 using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea <the new minister gives rambling sermons that, if they have a point, are lost on the congregation, which invariably falls asleep> — see WORDY 1

rambunctious adjective
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way <that beach is often taken over by packs of rambunctious young people, so don't go there expecting peace and quiet> — see BOISTEROUS

ramify verb
to set or force apart <the rise of cable television ramified the audience, creating ever smaller segments for an ever growing array of programming choices> — see SEPARATE 1

rampage noun
a state of wildly excited activity or emotion <some crazy guy went on a rampage in the public library and started grabbing books off the shelves and tossing them around> — see FRENZY

rampant adjective
1 showing no signs of being under control <the mayor promised to put a stop to the rampant crime that plagued the city>

Synonyms
abandoned, intemperate, raw, runaway, unbounded, unbridled, unchecked, uncontrolled, unhampered, unhindered, unrestrained

Related Words
uncontrollable, ungovernable; barbaric, hog wild, riotous, uninhibited, wild

Near Antonyms
moderate, tempered

Antonyms
bridled, checked, constrained, controlled, curbed, governed, hampered, hindered, restrained, temperate

2 growing thickly and vigorously <try to avoid the patch of rampant poison ivy near the resting spot on the trail> — see RANK 1

ramrod adjective
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint <a ramrod camp director who's been known to send kids home for a minor infraction of the rules> — see SEVERE 1

ranch noun
a piece of land and its buildings used to grow crops or raise livestock <lives on a cattle ranch in Texas that's as big as the whole state of Rhode Island> — see FARM

rancid adjective
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <an unscrupulous food vendor who's as rancid as the meat that he serves> — see OFFENSIVE 1

rancor noun
a deep-seated ill will <controversy over use of pesticides has caused a lot of rancor in this agricultural community> — see ENMITY

rancorous adjective
having or showing deep-seated resentment <a rancorous autobiography in which the author heaps blame on just about everyone who had the misfortune of knowing him> — see BITTER 1

random adjective
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern <since we were new in town, our choice of a vet for our dog was entirely random>

Synonyms
aimless, arbitrary, catch-as-catch-can, desultory, erratic, haphazard, helter-skelter, hit-or-miss, scattered, slapdash, stray

Related Words
accidental, casual, chance, chancy, contingent, fluky (also flukey), fortuitous, inadvertent, incidental, lucky, unconsidered, unintended, unintentional, unplanned, unpremeditated; scattershot, shotgun; irregular, odd, sporadic, spot; directionless, objectless, purposeless; indiscriminate, unsystematic; undirected; disorderly, disorganized; undiscriminating, unselective

Near Antonyms
established, fixed, regular, set, stable, steady; constant, continuous, even; arranged, managed, orchestrated, ordered, planned; aware, conscious, deliberate, purposeful, thoughtful, willful (or wilful)

Antonyms
methodical (also methodic), nonrandom, orderly, organized, regular, systematic, systematized

randomly adverb
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method <the winner will be randomly chosen from among all of the entries> — see HIT OR MISS

randy adjective
having a strong sexual desire <a booze-fueled off-campus party that was rife with randy frat boys hoping to score> — see LUSTFUL

range noun
1 open land over which livestock may roam and feed <knew exactly how many head of cattle were turned out on the range that morning to graze>

Synonyms
lea (or ley), pasturage, pasture

Related Words
ranch, station; feedlot, stockyard, yard; grassland, pampas, prairie, savanna (also savannah), steppe

2 an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends <didn't know she had such a wide range of knowledge until I talked to her>

Synonyms
ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, confines, dimension(s), extent, reach, realm, scope, sweep, width

Related Words
gamut, spectrum, spread; bailiwick, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, field, province, region, specialty, sphere, terrain; frontier; horizon, panorama

3 the distance or extent between possible extremes <an actor who can go through the full range of emotion, from joy to sorrow, in mere minutes>

Synonyms
diapason, gamut, scale, spectrum, spread, stretch

Related Words
measure, pitch, scale; ambit, amplitude, compass, dimension(s), extent, reach, realm, scope, sweep, width

4 a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure <they were stopped by security personnel while taking an innocent range through the palace grounds> — see WALK 1
5 a series of persons or things arranged one behind another <from the air, the mountain range stretched as far as we could see in both directions> — see LINE 1
6 an appliance that prepares food for consumption by heating it <the high-end appliances include a professional-quality gas range> — see COOKER 1
7 the place where a plant or animal is usually or naturally found <the American robin's winter range has steadily extended farther and farther north> — see HOME 2

range verb
1 to arrange or assign according to type <the campers were ranged in patrols, each patrol consisting of girls in a certain age group> — see CLASSIFY 1
2 to move about from place to place aimlessly <she let her dog off the leash and whistled for him every now and then to make sure he didn't range out of hearing> — see WANDER 1
3 to occur within a continuous range of variation <the color of Florida grapefruit can range anywhere from pale pink to ruby red> — see RUN 4
4 to put into a particular arrangement <chairs were ranged round the perimeter of the room> — see ORDER 1

ranging adjective
traveling from place to place <a ranging bear has been spotted at bird feeders in different parts of town> — see ITINERANT

rangy adjective
1 being tall, thin and usually loose-jointed <we could use a rangy girl like you on our basketball team> — see LANKY
2 having considerable extent <a speech that took a rangy look at the problems facing the university> — see EXTENSIVE

rank adjective
1 growing thickly and vigorously <covered with trumpet vines so rank you couldn't see the trellis beneath them>

Synonyms
lush, luxuriant, prosperous, rampant, weedy

Related Words
lavish, profuse; overgrown, overrun, verdant; close, dense, tangled, thick

Near Antonyms
dormant; blighted, stunted

Antonyms
sparse

2 having an unpleasant smell <smokes rank cigars that usually send me running for fresh air> — see MALODOROUS
3 very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad <the article about fairy tales was full of rank errors, such as a reference to “Cinderella biting into the poisoned apple”> — see EGREGIOUS
4 having no exceptions or restrictions <a sidewalk sale of art works by rank amateurs> — see ABSOLUTE 2

rank noun
1 the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement <attained the highest rank in the Freemasons>

Synonyms
degree, echelon, footing, level, place, position, ranking, reach(es), rung, situation, standing, station, status, stratum

Related Words
condition, estate, order, walk; capacity, function; rating

2 high position within society <remembered as a woman of rank who socialized only with other members of the elite>

Synonyms
class, dignity, fashion, quality, standing, state

Related Words
gentility, gentleness, nobility, nobleness; grandness, highness, loftiness; distinction, dominance, precedence, preeminence, primacy, superiority; caste, station, status; preferment

Near Antonyms
debasement, degradation; subordinateness, subordination; baseness, commonness, inferiority, lowliness, lowness

3 a series of people or things arranged side by side <rank upon rank of cavalry came thundering down the hill> — see 1ROW 1
4 usually ranks plural one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <this book will someday join the ranks of the world's great novels> — see CLASS 2

rank verb
1 to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes <my favorite pitcher ranks first in the league for number of consecutive outs>

Synonyms
be, grade, place, rate, stand

Related Words
seed; count; categorize, class, classify, codify, compartmentalize, group, separate, set, sort; install, instate

2 to arrange or assign according to type <most critics would rank him among our best actors> — see CLASSIFY 1

rank and file noun
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite <the chosen few might have the opportunity for a trip in the space shuttle, but it will be a while before the rank and file are taking space trips> — see MASS 1

ranking noun
1 a scheme of rank or order <in one ranking of the best places to live, San Francisco surpassed all the other cities in the U.S.> — see 3SCALE 1
2 the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement <the President's ranking in the polls is at its highest level since he took office> — see RANK 1

rankle verb
1 to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger <that kind of rude treatment from a young person makes me rankle> — see BOIL 1
2 to make angry <it rankles me when some schools can't even afford paper and pencils for the students> — see ANGER

rankled adjective
feeling or showing anger <our supervisor was rankled by all the unexpected delays and problems we ran into> — see ANGRY

rankling adjective
causing annoyance <for some air travelers, the most rankling aspect of the new security measures seems to be the restrictions regarding carry-on baggage> — see ANNOYING

ransack verb
1 to search through with the intent of committing robbery <it was clear that the thieves who had ransacked the museum were professionals—they bypassed most of the exhibits and went straight for the vaults>

Synonyms
despoil, loot, maraud, pillage, plunder, sack

Related Words
break in, burglarize, rip off, steal (from); comb, hunt, rake, rifle, rummage; harry, raid; ravish

2 to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something <I've ransacked the whole house for that bracelet you lent me and it's nowhere to be found> — see SEARCH 1

ransom verb
to free from captivity or punishment by paying a price <the prince emptied the treasury to ransom his son from the kidnappers>

Synonyms
redeem

Related Words
bail; deliver, rescue, save; emancipate, liberate; get back, recover, regain, retrieve; release; buy; salvage

rant noun
1 a long angry speech or scolding <after complaining about the hotel's lousy service, the woman went off on another rant about the condition of her room> — see TIRADE
2 boastful speech or writing <instead of addressing the current crisis, the mayor's speech was a lot of rant emphasizing his accomplishments> — see BOMBAST 1

rant verb
to talk loudly and wildly <when the salesclerk gave him incorrect change, he began ranting about the sorry state of math education today>

Synonyms
bluster, fulminate, huff, rave, spout

Related Words
sound off, speak out, speak up; blare, blurt out, bolt; bloviate, blow, declaim, harangue, mouth (off), orate, pontificate; carry on, rage, storm, take on

Near Antonyms
grunt, murmur, mutter, slur; breathe, whisper

rant (at) verb
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <Grandmother ranted at us for skipping the family holiday gathering in favor of a ski trip> — see SCOLD

1rap noun
1 a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person <the headlines in the paper today are all about the mayor facing an embezzlement rap> — see CHARGE 1
2 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <the doctor used a little hammer to give me a rap on the knee to test my reflexes> — see 1BLOW
3 responsibility for wrongdoing or failure <would sooner take the rap for the missing money than tell on his friend> — see BLAME 1

2rap noun
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <after our pickup softball game, I had a friendly rap with a couple of the guys in the park> — see CHAT 1

3rap noun
the smallest amount or part imaginable <I don't care a rap about losing that old jacket> — see JOT

1rap verb
1 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <a childhood memory of the time he got his knuckles rapped for trying to steal candy from the corner store> — see HIT 1
2 to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically <the impatient man was rapping his pipe on the door, hoping to wake up the sleeping attendant> — see 1TAP

2rap verb
to engage in casual or rambling conversation <the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball> — see CHAT 1

3rap verb
1 to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight) <concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio> — see ENTRANCE
2 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <suddenly the hawk swooped down and rapped the unwary rodent> — see CATCH 1

rapacious adjective
1 having a huge appetite <nothing livens things up like a whole team of rapacious basketball players descending upon the pizza parlor> — see VORACIOUS 1
2 living by killing and eating other animals <rapacious mammals, such as coyotes, foxes, and bobcats> — see PREDATORY
3 having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions <rapacious plunderers who despoiled the tombs in the ancient pyramids> — see GREEDY 1

rapaciousness noun
an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions <the land developer's rapaciousness knew no bounds, and if what she wanted wasn't for sale, she would force the owner into selling it> — see GREED

rapacity noun
an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions <the rapacity of the Spanish conquistadors was such that they were undeterred by the very preposterousness of the legend of El Dorado> — see GREED

rape noun
1 the act of forcing a person to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse <the brutal rape of a young woman> <a conviction for rape>

Synonyms
assault, ravishment, sexual assault, violation

Related Words
acquaintance rape, date rape, statutory rape; gang rape; indecent assault, molestation; defilement, deflowering

2 the unlawful or forcible carrying away of a person or animal <the legendary rape of the Sabine women by the ancient Romans was frequently depicted in classical art> — see ABDUCTION

rape verb
to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent <a woman was raped in that alley last night>

Synonyms
assault, force, outrage, ravish, violate

Related Words
date rape; gang rape; molest; paw; defile, deflower

rapid adjective
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <the rapid descent of the roller coaster made me feel very queasy> — see FAST 1

rapid–fire adjective
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <the witness stayed unruffled all through the prosecutor's rapid-fire questioning> — see FAST 1

rapidity noun
a high rate of movement or performance <the rapidity with which she can do mental math calculations is amazing> — see SPEED 1

rapidly adverb
with great speed <summer vacation has gone by way too rapidly> — see FAST 1

rapidness noun
a high rate of movement or performance <the rapidness of the response to a call for assistance is critical in saving the victim of a heart attack> — see SPEED 1

rapport noun
a friendly relationship marked by ready communication and mutual understanding <his good rapport with his students was one of the reasons why the school board named him Teacher of the Year>

Synonyms
communion, fellowship, rapprochement

Related Words
accord, agreement, concord, harmony; oneness, solidarity, togetherness, unity; affinity, empathy, sympathy, understanding; amity, chumminess, companionship, friendliness, friendship; reciprocity, symbiosis

Near Antonyms
alienation, disaffection, disgruntlement, estrangement; coldness, cold shoulder, distance, iciness; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, enmity, hostility, jaundice, rancor, spite

rapprochement noun
a friendly relationship marked by ready communication and mutual understanding <an era of rapprochement between Mexico and the U.S. that was highlighted by a new trade agreement> — see RAPPORT

rapscallion noun
1 a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <the city's run-down waterfront was occupied mostly by disreputable places frequented by drunkards and rapscallions> — see VILLAIN
2 an appealingly mischievous person <that little rapscallion kept hiding my shoes and making me go look for them> — see SCAMP 1

rapt adjective
1 experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <a rock band that still attracts rapt crowds of aging baby boomers> — see ECSTATIC
2 having the mind fixed on something <with a mixture of delight and awe, the rapt children stared at the chick in the incubator breaking out of its shell> — see ATTENTIVE 1

raptorial adjective
living by killing and eating other animals <the place of raptorial birds in the park's ecosystem> — see PREDATORY

rapture noun
a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <in The Nutcracker Clara gazes in rapture as the Christmas tree grows before her very eyes> — see ECSTASY

rapture verb
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight) <nature lovers will be raptured by the documentary's breathtaking cinematography> — see ENTRANCE

rapturous adjective
experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <heard the whoops of the rapturous fan whose quest for an autograph had met with success> — see ECSTATIC

rare adjective
1 being out of the ordinary <even among the prize-winning roses, this one is a rare beauty> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1
2 having qualities that appeal to a refined taste <rare specialty wools, such as cashmere, prized for their fineness, lightness and exceptional warmth> — see CHOICE 1
3 not often occurring or repeated <the French pronunciation of the family's name is rare, except in Louisiana> — see INFREQUENT
4 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <“Such good manners are rare these days,” remarked Mrs. Denby, as the young man let her go ahead of him in line> — see UNUSUAL 1

raree–show noun
an elaborate, visually exciting show or event <no longer the mechanisms by which nominees are actually chosen, party conventions are mostly raree-shows for rallying the faithful> — see EXTRAVAGANZA

rarely adverb
not often <summer thunderstorms occur only rarely along the Oregon coast> — see SELDOM

raring adjective
showing urgent desire or interest <we'd gotten up so early that by the time eight o'clock rolled around, we were raring to get started on the hike> — see EAGER

rarity noun
1 something strange or unusual that is an object of interest <an American visitor in that remote Chinese village is a rarity> — see CURIOSITY 2
2 something that is different from what is ordinary or expected <a meal accompanied by wine is a rarity in this house> — see ANOMALY 1

rascal noun
1 a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <some cold-blooded rascal had set the barn afire, killing all of the horses> — see VILLAIN
2 an appealingly mischievous person <you little rascal, I saw you snitching some hors d'oeuvres even though our guests haven't even arrived yet> — see SCAMP 1

rascality noun
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <switching the entrance and exits signs in the school parking lot may seem like harmless rascality, if you're not the one involved in an accident> — see MISCHIEF 1

rascally adjective
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <those rascally boys had let all of the lab mice out of their cages> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

rash adjective
acting or done with excessive or careless speed <that was too rash a move, for now I've lost my bishop and probably the whole chess game> — see HASTY 1

rashly adverb
with excessive or careless speed <I rashly agreed to babysit for the Franklin family, completely forgetting that the last time had been torture> — see HASTILY 1

rasp noun
a harsh grating sound <the rusted lock opened with a rasp>

Synonyms
creak, grind, jar, scrape, scratch

Related Words
clang, clangor, clank, clash, jangle; scuff; croak, gargle; blast, bleat, bray, screech

rasp verb
1 to make smooth by friction <after sawing the board in half, rasp the ends to remove any splinters> — see GRIND 1
2 to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface <the sound of fingernails rasping on the blackboard makes me cringe> — see SCRAPE 1
3 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <the two siblings seemed intent on rasping each other for the entire car trip> — see IRRITATE 1
4 to damage or diminish by continued friction <during the last ice age, glaciers rasped the surface, leaving the deeply scarred rock> — see ABRADE 1

raspberry noun
a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval <there were raspberries from the audience when the hapless actress kept forgetting her lines> — see CATCALL

rasping adjective
harsh and dry in sound <a patient beset by a rasping cough from years of smoking> — see HOARSE

raspy adjective
1 easily irritated or annoyed <overwork tends to make him raspy> — see IRRITABLE
2 harsh and dry in sound <the dying man spoke in a barely audible, raspy voice> — see HOARSE

rassle verb
to seize and attempt to unbalance one another for the purpose of achieving physical mastery <the boys would rassle and roughhouse for hours on end> — see WRESTLE

rat noun
1 a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <the drug mule refused to turn rat without a guarantee of immunity> — see INFORMER
2 someone who regularly spends time in a particular place <on Friday night the mall rats were out in full force> — see DENIZEN 1
3 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <no one can understand what she finds appealing in a rat like him> — see JERK 1

rat (on) verb
1 to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities <how much—or how little—did the fuzz have to pay you to rat on us?> — see SQUEAL 1
2 to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another <many party operatives ratted on the senator's candidacy once her poll numbers started to slip> — see DEFECT FROM

ratbag noun, chiefly Australian
a stupid person <some ratbag who couldn't survive a day in the outback> — see IDIOT

ratchet (down) also rachet (down) verb
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <news stories about the kidnapping will ratchet down as the weeks go by> — see DECREASE 2

1rate verb
1 to be or make worthy of (as a reward or punishment) <how does a summer intern rate a new computer when I've been told to make do with this clunker?> — see EARN 2
2 to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding <nowadays most motorists would probably rate their cell phone as an “essential” piece of electronic equipment> — see ESTIMATE 1
3 to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes <a restaurant that consistently rates high in all the standard categories> — see RANK 1
4 to think of in a particular way <I would rate her my best friend; after all, she's always been there when I needed her> — see CONSIDER 1

2rate verb
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <a tyrannical father who usually spent most of dinnertime rating his children on their alleged multitude of failings> — see SCOLD

rate noun
1 degree of excellence <not being of the first rate, these apples are usually sold as food for livestock> — see QUALITY 1
2 the relationship in quantity, amount, or size between two or more things <the exchange rate was 10 pesos to the dollar when we visited Mexico> — see RATIO

rat fink noun
1 a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <who's the sorry rat fink that went squealing to the cops?> — see INFORMER
2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <regrets ever doing business with that rat fink, who cheated him out of gobs of money> — see JERK 1

rather adverb
1 by choice or preference <I would rather go to the movies than stay at home>

Synonyms
fain, first, preferably, readily, soon, willingly

Related Words
alternately, alternatively, either, instead; electively, optionally; desirably, gladly, wishfully; obligingly, voluntarily

Near Antonyms
reluctantly; forcibly, willy-nilly

Antonyms
involuntarily, unwillingly

2 as a substitute <don't think of the placement test as torture but rather as a chance to show off how much you know> — see INSTEAD
3 to some degree or extent <I say, don't you think that's rather expensive for a hamburger?> — see FAIRLY 1

ratify verb
to give official acceptance of as satisfactory <Lincoln's home state of Illinois was the first to ratify the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provided for the abolition of slavery> — see APPROVE

ratio noun
the relationship in quantity, amount, or size between two or more things <the ratio of students to teachers in the school is nine to one>

Synonyms
proportion, rate

Related Words
average; frequency; correspondence; percentage

Near Antonyms
disproportion

ratiocination noun
the thought processes that have been established as leading to valid solutions to problems <as an expert in ratiocination, the detective Sherlock Holmes has few rivals> — see LOGIC

ration verb
to give as a share or portion <the region has had to ration water during times of drought> — see ALLOT

rational adjective
1 having the ability to reason <human beings are rational creatures>

Synonyms
intelligent, reasonable, reasoning, thinking

Related Words
analytic (or analytical), logical; brainy, cerebral, highbrow, highbrowed, intellectual; cognitional, cognitive, mental; levelheaded, practical, sane, sensible, sober

Near Antonyms
brainless, dense, doltish, dopey (also dopy), dorky [slang], dull, dumb, fatuous, half-witted, mindless, obtuse, senseless, slow, stupid, thickheaded; fallacious, groundless, illogical, invalid, nonsensical

Antonyms
irrational, nonrational, nonthinking, unintelligent, unreasonable, unreasoning, unthinking

2 according to the rules of logic <insisted there was a rational explanation for the strange creaking noises and that there were no such things as ghosts> — see LOGICAL 1
3 based on sound reasoning or information <betting all of your savings on the lottery is not a rational move> — see GOOD 1

rationale noun
a statement given to explain a belief or act <the rationale for starting the school day an hour later is that kids will supposedly get an extra hour of sleep> — see REASON 1

rationalize verb
to give the reason for or cause of <rationalized his decision to buy the new car by noting that it was more fuel efficient than his old vehicle> — see EXPLAIN 2

rats interjection
used to express disgust <rats, I can't believe anyone would say such a hateful thing> — see YUCK

rattle noun
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <I'd go nuts if I had to endure the rattle of that bottling plant every day> — see NOISE 1

rattle verb
1 to make a series of short sharp noises <the children tromped through the kitchen, making the plates on the shelf rattle>

Synonyms
clack, clatter

Related Words
chink, chirp, clank, click, clink; clang, clash, crash; spatter, sputter; racket; clip-clop, clop, clop-clop

2 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <busily rattling away about our vacation plans, we didn't listen to the announcements and missed our flight> — see CHAT 1
3 to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point <she rattled on and on about all her European shopping trips, but I wasn't really listening> — see RAMBLE 1
4 to throw into a state of self-conscious distress <don't let a little mistake rattle you while you're playing during the piano recital> — see EMBARRASS 1

rattlebrain noun
a silly flighty person <in a medical situation of this seriousness we don't need some rattlebrain running around in a panic> — see FLIBBERTIGIBBET

rattling adjective
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <we drove off at a rattling pace> — see FAST 1

rattling adverb
to a great degree <a rattling good storyteller> — see VERY 1

rattrap noun
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <although the military invasion had been a breeze, the nation soon found itself caught in a rattrap with no clear escape route> — see PREDICAMENT

ratty adjective
1 showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <some ratty old magazines were the only reading material in the mountaintop cabin> — see SHABBY 1
2 worn or torn into or as if into rags <can I use this ratty old T-shirt to wipe up some paint?> — see RAGGED 2
3 easily irritated or annoyed <I get pretty ratty after hours of dealing with demanding customers> — see IRRITABLE
4 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <that's a ratty way to treat an old friend who's fallen on hard times> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1

raucous adjective
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way <the partying neighbors kept up their raucous laughter half the night> — see BOISTEROUS

raunch noun
the quality or state of being obscene <the sheer raunch of the movie earned it a NC-17 rating> — see OBSCENITY 1

raunchiness noun
the quality or state of being obscene <audience members were offended by the raunchiness of the jokes> — see OBSCENITY 1

raunchy adjective
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <inappropriately used office e-mail for an exchange of raunchy jokes> — see OBSCENE 1

ravage verb
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action <Hurricane Andrew ravaged Louisiana and Florida in 1992, causing $19 billion in damage>

Synonyms
destroy, devastate, ruin, scourge

Related Words
despoil, foray, harry, loot, maraud, pillage, plunder, sack, strip; annihilate, desolate, eradicate, expunge, extinguish, extirpate, nuke, obliterate, rub out, shatter, smash, total, vaporize, waste, wipe out, wrack, wreck; decimate, mow; demolish, raze; crush, overpower, overrun, overthrow, overwhelm

Near Antonyms
recondition, recover, redeem, rehabilitate, restore; fix, mend, patch, repair, revamp

rave verb
1 to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm <to break the awkward silence after my parents' argument, our guest raved about the canned beans and franks we'd set before him> — see GUSH 2
2 to talk loudly and wildly <a man stood outside city hall raving like a lunatic about his tax bill> — see RANT

rave noun, often raves plural
enthusiastic and usually public expression of approval <the books have received even more raves from parents than from the kids they were written for> — see APPLAUSE 1

ravel (out) verb
to separate the various strands of <since the sweater is too small, you could ravel the yarn out and make something else with it> — see UNRAVEL 1

raven adjective
having the color of soot or coal <a black satin dress that matches her silky, raven hair> — see BLACK 1

raven verb
to swallow or eat greedily <the rat ravened the poisoned bait just as we had hoped> — see GOBBLE

ravenous adjective
having a huge appetite <we were ravenous after our canoe paddling, and the chili bubbling over the campfire smelled heavenly> — see VORACIOUS 1

ravine noun
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <he urged his horse down into the ravine where there was a thin stream of water flowing> — see CANYON

ravish verb
1 to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent <tales of Caribbean pirates who abducted fair maidens and ravished them without mercy> — see RAPE
2 to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight) <travelers have long been ravished with wonder and awe by the immensity of the Great Pyramid at Giza> — see ENTRANCE

ravishing adjective
very pleasing to look at <with her red curls falling around her shoulders, she looked ravishing in her green dress> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

ravishment noun
the act of forcing a person to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse <the eventual ravishment of the heroine is one of the distinguishing features of the bodice ripper> — see RAPE 1

raw adjective
1 not cooked <you should wash your hands after handling raw chicken>

Synonyms
uncooked

Related Words
unheated; rare; half-baked, underdone

Near Antonyms
well-done; overdone; baked, boiled, braised, broiled, fried, grilled, heated, roasted, sautéed (also sauteed); burned (or burnt), charred, scorched

Antonyms
cooked

2 being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining <raw sugar is honey-colored because the crystals retain cane juices, minerals, and other impurities that haven't been refined out> — see CRUDE 1
3 lacking in adult experience or maturity <recruiters like to say the military turns raw youths into responsible men and women> — see CALLOW
4 marked by wet and windy conditions <the day of the funeral was one of those bleak, blustery, raw winter days that was as gloomy as our spirits> — see FOUL 1
5 uncomfortably cool <evenings in those mountains, even during the summer, tend to be a little raw> — see CHILLY 1
6 causing intense discomfort to one's skin <bundle up if you're going sailing, as there's a raw wind out there in the bay> — see CUTTING 1
7 showing no signs of being under control <a frightening display of raw anger> — see RAMPANT 1
8 lacking or shed of clothing <a private men's health club where it was common for men to swim raw> — see NAKED 1

raw noun
the state of having no clothes on one's body <a secluded swimming hole where we could swim in the raw> — see NUDITY

raw deal noun
unfair or inadequate treatment of someone or something or an instance of this <these mice are really getting a raw deal: after we're through using them for our science experiment, they get fed to our snake> — see DISSERVICE

rawhide verb
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <a strict disciplinarian, the rancher would rawhide his disobedient sons until they were black and blue> — see WHIP 1

raw material noun
the basic elements from which something can be developed <Canada now converts most of its raw materials into manufactured goods such as automobiles and auto parts> — see MAKING

rawness noun
1 an uncomfortable degree of coolness <lit a fire in the hearth to combat the rawness of that blustery March morning> — see CHILL
2 the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste <to many teens the music's rawness is part of its appeal> — see VULGARITY 1

ray noun
1 a narrow sharply defined line of light radiating from an object <two red eyes reflected in the ray of light from the flashlight> — see SHAFT 1
2 a very small amount <the tapping sound ceased, extinguishing the last ray of hope that the trapped miners were still alive> — see PARTICLE 1

ray verb
1 to emit rays of light <klieg lights were raying against the nighttime sky at the Hollywood premiere> — see SHINE 1
2 to extend outwards from or as if from a central point <laugh wrinkles rayed out from the corners of the old man's eyes> — see RADIATE 1

rayless adjective
being without light or without much light <the strange creatures that lurk in the rayless depths of the sea> — see DARK 1

raze verb
1 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <an entire city block razed by a terrible fire> — see DESTROY 1
2 to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces <the developer razed the old school building and built a high-rise condominium complex> — see DEMOLISH 1

razz noun
a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval <notoriously difficult to please, opera buffs are as quick with a razz as with a rave> — see CATCALL

razz verb
to make fun of in a good-natured way <got razzed all day for wearing mismatched sneakers> — see TEASE 1

razzing adjective
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing <his little sister made razzing kissing noises whenever he was on the phone with his girlfriend> — see QUIZZICAL

razzle–dazzle adjective
excessively showy <the razzle-dazzle floor show is simply further evidence that Las Vegas doesn't go in for understatement> — see GAUDY

reach noun
1 a wide space or area <a wide reach of woods> — see EXPANSE
2 an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends <she's got a good memory, but critical thinking seems to be beyond her reach> — see RANGE 2
3 usually reaches plural the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement <there are still only a few women in the upper reaches of the profession> — see RANK 1

reach verb
1 to shift possession of (something) from one person to another <would you reach me the potatoes, please?> — see PASS 1
2 to transmit information or requests to <you can reach me by phone after 3:00 p.m. most days> — see CONTACT
3 to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response <the movie adaptation just didn't reach me the way the novel did> — see 1AFFECT 1

reachable adjective
situated within easy reach <placed the book at a reachable distance from the bed> — see CONVENIENT

reacquire verb
to get again in one's possession <the hockey team is hoping to reacquire the Stanley Cup this year> — see RECOVER 1

react verb
to act or behave in response (as to a stimulus or influence) <it was my first touchdown, and I didn't know how to react to the cheers of the crowd>

Synonyms
reply, respond

Related Words
answer, return; retaliate; construe, interpret, read, take, understand; contend (with), cope (with), grapple (with), handle, manage, negotiate

Near Antonyms
act, behave; affect, cause, draw, effect

reaction noun
action or behavior that is done in return to other action or behavior <we were startled by her extreme reaction to being jilted by her boyfriend>

Synonyms
answer, reply, response, take

Related Words
backlash, kickback; rebound; recoil, reflex; revulsion, rise; counterreaction, counterresponse

Near Antonyms
action, behavior; cause, effect

reactionary adjective
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <reactionary guardians of proper English usage invariably regard every new coinage that comes along as a nonword> — see CONSERVATIVE

reactionary noun
1 a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are <reactionaries tried to stop the passage of the legislation extending civil rights> — see CONSERVATIVE 1
2 a person with old-fashioned ideas <a reactionary in the nation's ongoing culture war, she seems to believe that watching any TV at all will rot your brain> — see FOGY

reactionaryism noun
attitudes or opinions tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <the region's entrenched reactionaryism made it one of the major battlegrounds for the civil rights movement in the 1960s> — see CONSERVATISM

read verb
1 to go over and mentally take in the content of <he always reads the newspaper in the morning as he eats breakfast>

Synonyms
peruse, pore (over)

Related Words
browse, dip (into), leaf (through), scan, skim, speed-read, thumb (through), turn over; devour, gobble (up); slog (through), wade (through); reread; proofread; decipher; review, study; apprehend, comprehend, get, grasp, make, make out, perceive, see, tumble (to), understand

2 to tell of or describe beforehand <the psychic claimed to be able to read his future> — see FORETELL

readdress verb
to consider again especially with the possibility of change or reversal <the Senate will readdress pending gun control legislation in their next session> — see RECONSIDER

reader noun
a collection of writings <I picked up a book entitled “An Emerson Reader” because it contained one or two of his essays I hadn't read before> — see ANTHOLOGY

readily adverb
1 by choice or preference <she would readily give up piano lessons for a season ticket at her local ski area> — see RATHER 1
2 without difficulty <always gives directions that are readily understood> — see EASILY 1

reading noun
1 a presentation of an artistic work (as a piece of music) from a particular point of view <a very bizarre reading of one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies by an alternative theater company> — see ACCOUNT 2
2 something assigned to be read or studied <make sure you do the assigned reading for tonight> — see LESSON

ready adjective
1 being in a state of fitness for some experience or action <after studying for months, she felt ready for the bar exam>

Synonyms
fit, go, prepared, set

Related Words
conditioned, primed, ripe; armed, braced, fortified, steeled; qualified, trained

Near Antonyms
unqualified, untrained

Antonyms
flat-footed, half-baked, half-cocked, underprepared, unprepared, unready

2 having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action) <I'm ready to help, if I can> — see WILLING 1
3 having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation <had a ready response to every one of her objections regarding the feasibility of the plan> — see QUICK 1
4 involving minimal difficulty or effort <we're hoping you have a ready solution to our networking problem> — see EASY 1

ready verb
1 to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function <this advanced course should ready him for college> — see QUALIFY 2
2 to make ready in advance <we can ready the desserts for the party a day in advance> — see PREPARE 1
3 to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally <the basketball players sat quietly in the locker room, readying themselves for the final game of the season> — see FORTIFY 1

ready–made adjective
made beforehand in large numbers <the store carries mostly inexpensive ready-made clothing>

Synonyms
bought, mass-produced, off-the-peg [chiefly British], off-the-rack, off-the-shelf, store, store-bought

Related Words
ready-to-wear; commercial; prefab, prefabricated; hand-me-down

Near Antonyms
handcrafted, handmade, homemade

Antonyms
bespoke (also bespoken), custom, customized, custom-made, tailored, tailor-made

real adjective
1 being exactly as appears or as claimed <this shirt is real silk, not polyester> — see AUTHENTIC 1
2 existing in fact and not merely as a possibility <asked her parents if the Tooth Fairy was real> — see ACTUAL
3 free from any intent to deceive or impress others <real folk who don't put on airs> — see GUILELESS

real adverb
to a great degree <this fish tastes real good> — see VERY 1

real estate noun
the largest number or amount that something can hold <the enormous difference in real estate between a high-definition disk and one in standard definition> — see CAPACITY 1

realism noun
realistic depiction in art and literature <using ordinary people as models, even when depicting the greatest of saints, Caravaggio brought an unforgiving realism to painting that was unprecedented> — see VERISIMILITUDE

realistic adjective
1 willing to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly <high schoolers who need to be more realistic in their career choices, as so few people end up as rock stars>

Synonyms
down-to-earth, earthy, hardheaded, matter-of-fact, practical, pragmatic (also pragmatical)

Related Words
idealless, philistine, utilitarian; commonsensical, grounded, levelheaded, logical, no-nonsense, rational, reasonable, sane, sensible, sober, sobersided, sound; bottom-line, hard, hard-boiled, hard-edged, tough-minded, unromantic, unsentimental; cynical, disillusioned, misanthropic, pessimistic; distrustful, mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious

Near Antonyms
fanciful, fantastic (also fantastical), imaginative; romantic, sentimental; cheerful, optimistic, rose-colored; trustful, trusting, unsuspicious; half-baked, illogical, insane, irrational, unreasonable; theoretical (also theoretic)

Antonyms
blue-sky, idealistic, impractical, unrealistic, utopian, visionary

2 closely resembling the object imitated <those special effects look really realistic—I'd never guess they were all computer-generated> — see NATURAL 2

reality noun
1 something that actually exists <the ambition to make his dreams a reality> — see FACT 2
2 the fact of being or of being real <no one denies the reality of electricity, though few people understand it fully> — see EXISTENCE
3 the quality of being actual <the reality of the situation finally dawned on her and she sat down in stunned silence> — see FACT 1
4 one that has a real and independent existence <you'll need to cope with a whole new set of realities once you've become a parent> — see ENTITY

realizable adjective
capable of being done or carried out <waited until their goal was realizable and then acted> — see POSSIBLE 1

realization noun
the state of being actual or complete <this research paper is the realization of an entire year's work> — see FRUITION

realize verb
1 to come to an awareness of <I just realized that I can't go out to dinner tonight because I'm supposed to babysit for our neighbor> — see DISCOVER 1
2 to receive as return for effort <if you deposit your paycheck in a savings account, you'll realize a little interest on it> — see EARN 1

really adverb
1 in actual fact <I'm really sorry I upset you> — see VERY 2
2 to tell the truth <well, really, I'd rather go to the movies than go to dinner> — see ACTUALLY 1
3 without any question <that was really a sweet gesture on your part> — see INDEED 1
4 to a great degree <really tired after staying up all night> — see VERY 1

realm noun
1 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <medieval history is really Professor Clinton's realm, so I'll let her answer your question> — see FIELD 2
2 an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends <a medical breakthrough that is within the realm of possibility> — see RANGE 2

ream verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <reamed a whole new generation of suckers with a variation of the Ponzi scheme> — see FLEECE

ream (out) verb
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <you are so going to get reamed out when the boss learns that you wrecked the company car> — see SCOLD

reams plural noun
a considerable amount <I have reams of paperwork to do before I can leave today> — see LOT 2

reanalyze verb
to consider again especially with the possibility of change or reversal <you need to reanalyze the data, because the numbers don't tally> — see RECONSIDER

reanimate verb
to bring back to life, practice, or activity <the new multiplex has begun to reanimate the shabby neighborhood> — see REVIVE 1

reanimated adjective
made or become fresh in spirits or vigor <the hikers were reanimated and ready to go after their brief rest along the side of the trail> — see NEW 4

reanimation noun
the act or an instance of bringing something back to life, public attention, or vigorous activity <a call for the reanimation of curfew ordinances that were discarded decades ago> — see REVIVAL

reap verb
1 to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use <my great-grandfather had to reap the wheat on his family farm with a hand scythe> — see HARVEST
2 to receive as return for effort <if you continue to work hard at musicianship, you will reap the rewards of being a concert pianist> — see EARN 1

reappraisal noun
a usually critical look at a past event <teachers are undertaking a reappraisal of the current grading system, as the consensus is that A's have been given out too easily of late> — see REVIEW 1

rear adjective
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part <go to the back of the building and look out the rear window and you'll see the eagle> — see BACK

rear noun
1 a behind part or surface <the rear of the car was sleekly designed>

Synonyms
back, reverse, tail

Antonyms
face, forehead, forepart, front

2 the part of the body upon which someone sits <fell off her skates onto her rear> — see BUTTOCKS

rear verb
1 to bring to maturity through care and education <watched a documentary on how wolves rear their young> — see BRING UP 1
2 to fix in an upright position <it took all the men in the village to rear the frame for the barn, pulling hard at the ropes until all the sides were standing> — see ERECT 1
3 to form by putting together parts or materials <the city has plans for rearing a new convention center over the next two years> — see BUILD
4 to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care <an amateur who rears rare orchids in a professional-grade greenhouse> — see GROW 1

rear end noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <the mother swatted her toddler lightly on his diapered rear end to get his attention> — see BUTTOCKS

rearmost adjective
following all others of the same kind in order or time <the rearmost people in the cafeteria line often get the dregs that nobody wanted and for good reason> — see LAST 1

rearward adjective
1 being at or in the part of something opposite the front part <got rearward quarters aboard the ship> — see BACK
2 directed, turned, or done toward the back <the tearful girl gave a rearward glance to her younger brother as she was being led down the street for her first day at school> — see BACKWARD 1

rearward also rearwards adverb
toward the rear <turned rearward for a moment, just for one final look at the haunting scene> — see BACKWARD 1

reason noun
1 a statement given to explain a belief or act <she gave a good reason for her seemingly suspicious behavior>

Synonyms
account, accounting, argument, case, explanation, rationale

Related Words
alibi, apologia, apology, defense, excuse, justification, vindication; appeal, plea; guise, pretense (or pretence), pretext, rationalization

2 something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing <a firm belief that we are here on earth to help others is the reason for her tireless volunteer work>

Synonyms
account, authority, grounds, motive, subject, wherefore, why

Related Words
antecedent, cause, consideration, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, occasion, stimulus

3 an explanation that frees one from fault or blame <what reason do you have for being in such a bad mood?> — see EXCUSE
4 someone or something responsible for a result <what's the meteorological reason for tornadoes?> — see CAUSE 1
5 the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems <you'll need to use all of your reason to get out of this tight spot> — see INTELLIGENCE 1
6 the normal or healthy condition of the mental abilities <was afraid that with all the stress he was under, he'd lose all reason> — see MIND 2
7 the thought processes that have been established as leading to valid solutions to problems <in a time of national crisis we need to listen to the voice of reason> — see LOGIC

reason verb
1 to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information <she reasoned that since all of the cakes were on sale for the same price, she might as well pick the biggest one> — see INFER 1
2 to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration <he tried to reason that no one in their right mind would buy his brother's old video games, but they were put on the online auction anyway> — see ARGUE 1

reasonable adjective
1 according to the rules of logic <his answer is perfectly reasonable> — see LOGICAL 1
2 based on sound reasoning or information <those playing rules sound reasonable to me> — see GOOD 1
3 costing little <desperately trying to find reasonable hotel rates for the holiday weekend> — see CHEAP 1
4 having the ability to reason <some people once believed that women were not by nature reasonable beings, but generations of female scholars have proved those people wrong> — see RATIONAL 1

reasonably adverb
with good reason or courtesy <I expect to be treated reasonably by the clerks when I shop at a store> — see WELL 4

reasoned adjective
1 based on sound reasoning or information <a candidate with a reasoned stance on this important issue> — see GOOD 1
2 being or provable by reasoning in which the conclusion follows necessarily from given information <given the information you have, that is the only reasoned solution to the problem> — see DEDUCTIVE
3 decided on as a result of careful thought <refusing to be swayed by the passions of the moment, the president consulted with his advisers before making a reasoned response to this unprovoked act of aggression> — see DELIBERATE 1

reasoning adjective
having the ability to reason <judged by the courts not to be a reasoning being who could be held accountable for his crimes> — see RATIONAL 1

reasoning noun
the thought processes that have been established as leading to valid solutions to problems <your reasoning here is faulty, for although all wives are spouses, not all spouses are wives> — see LOGIC

reassurance noun
the giving of hope and strength in times of grief, distress, or suffering <the governor's reassurance of the flood victims was seen as opportunistic> — see CONSOLATION 1

reassure verb
to ease the grief or distress of <tried to reassure her that the dog would come back home by nightfall> — see COMFORT

reata noun
a rope or long leather thong with a noose used especially for catching livestock <the gauchos tied their reatas and rode out onto the pampas to rope calves> — see LASSO

rebarbative adjective
causing annoyance <there are aspects of that writer's personality that any reasonable person would regard as rebarbative, but we're just reading his novels—not marrying him> — see ANNOYING

rebel adjective
given to resisting authority or another's control <today's rebel chefs feel free to ignore the dictates of classic French cuisine> — see DISOBEDIENT

rebel noun
a person who rises up against authority <the rebel would not submit peacefully, even after he was captured>

Synonyms
insurgent, insurrectionary, insurrectionist, mutineer, red, revolter, revolutionary, revolutionist

Related Words
challenger, defier, insubordinate, oppositionist, recusant, refuser, resistant, resister; anarch, anarchist; discontent, extremist, malcontent, radical

Near Antonyms
loyalist, patriot, supporter; counterinsurgent, counterrevolutionary, counterrevolutionist

rebel verb
to rise up against established authority <the colonists rebelled in the wake of an onslaught of abuses>

Synonyms
mutiny, revolt

Related Words
defy, disobey, mock; revolutionize; buck, combat, contest, fight, oppose, resist, withstand

Phrases
kick over the traces

Near Antonyms
comply (with), follow, mind, obey, submit; attend, serve

rebel (against) verb
to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of <experts tell parents that if their once-compliant children rebel against them, then they should take it as a sign the kids are growing up and becoming their own persons> — see DISOBEY

rebellion noun
1 open fighting against authority (as one's own government) <the rebellion would have failed if not for the aid sent by other countries>

Synonyms
insurgence, insurgency, insurrection, mutiny, outbreak, revolt, revolution, rising, uprising

Related Words
coup, coup d'état (or coup d'etat), overthrow; misprision, sedition, treachery, treason; sabotage, subversion

Near Antonyms
counterinsurgency, counterrevolution

2 refusal to obey <the period of rebellion that teenagers typically go through> — see DISOBEDIENCE

rebellious adjective
1 taking part in a rebellion <the rebellious troops fought a pitched battle with divisions still loyal to the government>

Synonyms
insurgent, insurrectionary, mutinous, revolutionary

Related Words
seditious, traitorous, treacherous, treasonous; agitating, demagogic, rabble-rousing; defiant, disobedient, insubordinate, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, restive, ungovernable, unruly

Near Antonyms
constant, devoted, loyal, staunch (also stanch), steadfast, true, true-blue; compliant, obedient, submissive, tractable

2 given to resisting authority or another's control <expected her son to grow a little more rebellious as he got older, but she knew he understood when to kick and when to obey> — see DISOBEDIENT

rebelliousness noun
refusal to obey <her habitual rebelliousness eventually landed her in the principal's office> — see DISOBEDIENCE

rebirth noun
the act or an instance of bringing something back to life, public attention, or vigorous activity <a renewed interest in long-playing records led to the rebirth of the turntable among audiophiles> — see REVIVAL

reborn adjective
made or become fresh in spirits or vigor <she felt reborn after the Swedish massage> — see NEW 4

rebound verb
1 to regain a former or normal state <the economy will rebound from this latest slump> — see RECOVER 2
2 to strike and fly off at an angle <the ball rebounded off the rim> — see GLANCE 1

rebuff noun
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly <took her rebuff in stride, and still greeted her cousin with a friendly smile the next time they met> — see COLD SHOULDER

rebuke noun
an often public or formal expression of disapproval <delivered a stinging rebuke to the Congress, calling for an end to backstabbing and arguing> — see CENSURE

rebuke verb
1 to criticize (someone) so as to correct a fault <the father was forced to rebuke his son for the spendthrift ways he had adopted since arriving at college>

Synonyms
admonish, chide, reprimand, reproach, reprove, tick off

Related Words
berate, castigate, chew out, dress down, flay, harangue, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lecture, rail (at or against), rate, scold, score, upbraid; abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (also diss) [slang], excoriate, fault, knock, lash, pan, reprehend, slam; belittle, deprecate, disparage, minimize, mock, put down; deride, ridicule, scoff, scorn

Phrases
burn one's ears, get after, get on

Near Antonyms
approve, endorse (also indorse), OK (or okay), sanction; applaud, extol (also extoll), hail, laud, praise, salute, tout

2 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <strongly rebuked the girl for playing with matches> — see SCOLD
3 to express public or formal disapproval of <in a rare move, the state's supreme court rebuked the governor for trying to circumvent one of its recent rulings> — see CENSURE 1

rebut verb
1 to drive back <Stalingrad's defenders were finally able to rebut the besiegers, but only after a horrendous loss of life> — see REPEL 1
2 to prove to be false <Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe effectively rebutted any lingering notions that the earth is flat> — see DISPROVE

rebuttal noun
something (as an argument) that serves to disprove <an effective rebuttal to her claim of having the gift of clairvoyance> — see CONFUTATION

recalcitrance noun
refusal to obey <punished her recalcitrance by taking away her driving privileges> — see DISOBEDIENCE

recalcitrant adjective
1 given to resisting authority or another's control <the manager worried that the recalcitrant employee would try to undermine his authority> — see DISOBEDIENT
2 given to resisting control or discipline by others <a heart-to-heart talk with the recalcitrant youth revealed that he had a troubled life at home> — see UNCONTROLLABLE

recall noun
1 a particular act or instance of recalling or the thing remembered <his recall of the events of that turbulent time is significantly different from the accounts of other eyewitnesses> — see MEMORY 2
2 the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to <we can't get a refund on the plane tickets, so the trip is beyond recall> — see CANCELLATION 1

recall verb
1 to bring back to mind <I don't recall meeting you before> — see REMEMBER
2 to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) <I'll recall my purchase order if the company refuses to guarantee that it'll arrive before Christmas> — see CANCEL 1

recant verb
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) <the Inquisition forced Galileo to recant his support of the Copernican observation that the earth revolves around the sun> — see ABJURE 1

recap noun
a short statement of the main points <after a recap of this morning's meeting, we can discuss the issues that were raised> — see SUMMARY

recap verb
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) <please recap the highlights of the game for me> — see SUMMARIZE

recapitulate verb
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) <the professor told the students that their papers should not recapitulate the whole plot but should rather discuss in detail one particular incident they thought was interesting> — see SUMMARIZE

recapitulation noun
a short statement of the main points <will begin his presentation with a recapitulation of the research done on the disease up to this point> — see SUMMARY

recapture noun
the act or process of getting something back <the recapture of the territory may take longer than expected> — see RECOVER 1

recapture verb
to get again in one's possession <our team managed to recapture the ball after the fumble> — see RECOVER 1

recast verb
to make different in some way <once he recast the question in different terms, I understood what he was asking> — see CHANGE 1

recede verb
1 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <the sound of sirens receded as the fire engines roared off into the distance> — see DECREASE 2
2 to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) <after the rain stops, the floodwaters should gradually recede> — see RETREAT 1

receive verb
to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to <a top law-school grad who was received by the firm with open arms> — see ADMIT 2

received adjective
held by or applicable to a majority of the people <traditionally the received opinion was that, in the event of a divorce, the mother should get custody of the children> — see GENERAL 3

recently adverb
not long ago <I recently purchased a car> <have you seen her recently?> — see NEWLY

receptacle noun
something into which a liquid or smaller objects can be put for storage or transportation <place all wrappers in the trash receptacles at the entrances of the theater> — see CONTAINER

reception noun
a social gathering <a wedding reception> — see PARTY 1

receptive adjective
willing to consider new or different ideas <needed a partner who was receptive to new ways of managing the business> — see OPEN-MINDED 1

recess noun
1 a hollowed-out space in a wall <the curator placed the large vase in one of the recesses of the gallery wall> — see NICHE 1
2 a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended <the couple goes to Florida every January for a month-long recess from the rigors of winter> — see VACATION
3 a momentary halt in an activity <the judge called for a brief recess so that the witness could regain her composure> — see PAUSE 1
4 a sunken area forming a separate space <decided to camp in a sandy recess where the beach met the forest> — see HOLE 2

recess verb
to bring to a formal close for a period of time <the judge recessed the court for lunch> — see ADJOURN

recessed adjective
curved inward <displayed the decorative plate on a recessed shelf in the wall> — see HOLLOW

recession noun
1 a period of decreased economic activity <the country is just coming out of a recession, so expect to see fewer layoffs and more new jobs in the coming year> — see DEPRESSION 1
2 an act of moving away especially from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable <a retiring CEO making a gradual recession from the daily rigors of running a major corporation> — see RETREAT 1

recessive adjective
not comfortable around people <a recessive genius who was most comfortable working alone in his chemistry lab> — see SHY 2

recharge verb
1 to bring back to a former condition or vigor <that extended vacation completely recharged my interest in my job> — see RENEW 1
2 to bring back to life, practice, or activity <the collision has recharged efforts to make the warning mechanisms at railroad crossings idiotproof> — see REVIVE 1

recherché adjective
having qualities that appeal to a refined taste <a high-end restaurant with a particularly recherché selection of wines> — see CHOICE 1

recipe noun
the means or procedure for doing something <her recipe for attaining financial security is to save money, invest wisely, and live well within her means> — see METHOD

reciprocal adjective
related to each other in such a way that one completes the other <the two nations agreed to give reciprocal work rights to each other's citizens, thus facilitating the daily border crossings of workers from both countries> — see COMPLEMENTARY

reciprocate verb
to make a return for <reciprocated the favor by driving their neighbor to the airport>

Synonyms
recompense, repay, requite

Related Words
exchange; compensate, indemnify, pay, recoup, remunerate, satisfy; give back, refund, reimburse, restitute; avenge, get back (at), retaliate, revenge

Near Antonyms
owe

recision noun
the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to <the national emergency forced the immediate recision of all military leave> — see CANCELLATION 1

recite verb
1 to give an oral or written account of in some detail <recited the funny story of how he and his girlfriend met> — see TELL 1
2 to give from memory <after all these years, she's still able to recite the poems she learned as a child> — see REPEAT 2
3 to specify one after another <the Declaration of Independence recites a long list of grievances against King George III> — see ENUMERATE 1

reckless adjective
1 having or showing a lack of concern for the consequences of one's actions <the reckless skiers were making everyone nervous by schussing down the mountainside at lightning speed>

Synonyms
daredevil, devil-may-care, foolhardy, harum-scarum, hell-for-leather, irresponsible, kamikaze

Related Words
adventurous, audacious, bold, daring, venturesome; hasty, headlong, hotheaded, impetuous, precipitate, rash, wild; blithe, carefree, happy-go-lucky, madcap, slaphappy; nonchalant, unconcerned, unworried; careless, freewheeling, heedless, inattentive, incautious, mindless, regardless, unheeding, unmindful; feckless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, unthinking

Near Antonyms
careful, cautious, circumspect, heedful; overcareful, overcautious, timid

Antonyms
responsible

2 foolishly adventurous or bold <the calamitous accident was caused by a reckless driver who cut off the semitrailer> — see FOOLHARDY 1

reckon verb
1 to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement <tried to reckon the size of the crowd at the stadium> — see ESTIMATE 2
2 chiefly dialect to have as an opinion <I reckon you must be new to these parts> — see BELIEVE 2
3 to determine (a value) by doing the necessary mathematical operations <reckoned the runner's pace by dividing her finishing time by the race distance> — see CALCULATE 1
4 to place reliance or trust <don't reckon on being provided with low-cost housing if you take a summer job there> — see DEPEND 2
5 to think of in a particular way <he was reckoned among the great heroes of his time> — see CONSIDER 1

reckoning noun
1 the act of placing a value on the nature, character, or quality of something <that old chest isn't worth much by my reckoning, but an antiques dealer might think otherwise> — see ESTIMATE 1
2 the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value <you forgot about the decimal point, so your reckoning was way off> — see CALCULATION

reclaim verb
1 to get again in one's possession <she reclaimed the championship title after losing it last year> — see RECOVER 1
2 to make better in behavior or character <a program to reclaim juvenile offenders by requiring them to do community service> — see REFORM 1
3 to obtain (a raw material) by separating it from a by-product or waste product <after reclaiming the glycerin from used vegetable oil, you can use the oil to create a fuel that burns cleaner than regular gasoline> — see RECYCLE

reclamation noun
the act or process of getting something back <pumped water out of the field as part of the land reclamation program designed to provide farmers with more farmland> — see RECOVERY 1

réclame noun
1 enthusiastic and usually public expression of approval <one of those rare films that are the recipient of both critical and popular réclame> — see APPLAUSE 1
2 public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <the great réclame that the novelist enjoyed in his lifetime soon faded after his death> — see GLORY 1

recluse noun
a person who lives away from others <he was sick of cities and crowds, so he decided to go live by himself in the woods as a recluse>

Synonyms
anchorite, eremite, hermit, isolate, solitary

Related Words
homebody, shut-in

Near Antonyms
socialite; socializer

recognize verb
1 to have a clear idea of <finally recognized that we were hopelessly lost> — see COMPREHEND 1
2 to show appreciation, respect, or affection for (someone) with a public celebration <an awards banquet to recognize local heroes> — see HONOR

recognized adjective
having a good reputation especially in a field of knowledge <recognized experts on stem cell research> — see RESPECTABLE 1

recoil verb
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust <the social worker tried not to recoil from the sight of the cockroach in the bathtub> — see FLINCH

recollect verb
to bring back to mind <I can't recollect if I turned the stove off or not before leaving the house> — see REMEMBER

re–collect verb
1 to gain emotional or mental control of <she had to calm down and re-collect herself after being told she had won the lottery> — see COLLECT 1
2 to get again in one's possession <I struggled to re-collect the papers the wind had torn from my hands> — see RECOVER 1

recollected adjective
free from emotional or mental agitation <are you recollected enough to talk about your close call?> — see CALM 2

recollection noun
1 a particular act or instance of recalling or the thing remembered <I have no recollection of ever saying that> — see MEMORY 2
2 the power or process of recalling what has been previously learned or experienced <the gradual recollection of that long-ago romance brought back both happy and painful feelings> — see MEMORY 1

recommend verb
1 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <serious gastronomes should recommend their stomachs to the restaurant's chef, giving full rein to his culinary prowess and imagination> — see GIVE 2
2 to put forward (something) as one's choice for a wise or proper course of action <I would recommend you look into that option a little more closely because I don't think it will work nearly as well as you think> — see ADVISE 2

recompense noun
1 payment to another for a loss or injury <the jury awarded an additional $5,000 in recompense for physical pain and suffering> — see COMPENSATION 1
2 something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services <the volunteer expects nothing more than sincere thanks as recompense for his efforts> — see PAYMENT 2

recompense verb
1 to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received <the cash-strapped museum can recompense lecturers with only token honorariums> — see PAY 1
2 to give what is owed for <that company still needs to recompense the work that the contractor finished last month> — see PAY 2
3 to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury <the government has yet to adequately recompense the property owners for the land taken for the new highway> — see COMPENSATE 1
4 to make a return for <the wealthy gentleman told the poor little girl she could recompense his generosity simply by enjoying her new toys> — see RECIPROCATE

reconceive verb
to consider again especially with the possibility of change or reversal <will have to reconceive my earlier opinion about him in light of his recent behavior> — see RECONSIDER

reconcile verb
to bring to a state free of conflicts, inconsistencies, or differences <historians have never been able to reconcile the two eyewitness accounts of the battle> — see HARMONIZE 2

recondite adjective
difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand <geochemistry is a recondite subject> — see PROFOUND 1

recondition verb
to put into good shape or working order again <asked my neighbor to help me recondition the old tractor for use on the family farm> — see MEND 1

reconsider verb
to consider again especially with the possibility of change or reversal <the new intelligence forced the general to reconsider his plan of attack>

Synonyms
readdress, reanalyze, reconceive, redefine, reevaluate, reexamine, reexplore, rethink, review, revisit, reweigh

Related Words
rehear; reconceptualize, reenvision, reimagine; reappraise, reassess, reinvestigate, restudy; amend, correct, emend, rectify, reform, remedy, revise

Phrases
change one's mind (about), go over, think better of

Near Antonyms
assert, defend, maintain, uphold

reconsideration noun
a usually critical look at a past event <the discovery of new evidence calls for a reconsideration of the case> — see REVIEW 1

record noun
1 a relating of events usually in the order in which they happened <the town paper published a record of the debate, as well as a synopsis of each candidate's stance on the major questions> — see ACCOUNT 1
2 an account of important events in the order in which they happened <historical records on the rise of the Roman Empire are plentiful> — see HISTORY 1

record verb
1 to make a written note of <the reporter recorded the events of the evening in her notebook for later reference>

Synonyms
jot (down), log, mark, note, put down, register, report, set down, take down, write down

Related Words
chronicle, minute, transcribe; enregister, enter, inscribe; chalk (up), notch, score

2 to put (someone or something) on a list <he was recorded as having been a passenger on that ill-fated ship, but his body was never recovered> — see 1LIST 2

recount verb
to give an oral or written account of in some detail <a novel that recounted an American soldier's adventures among the samurai warriors of 19th-century Japan> — see TELL 1

recoup verb
1 to get again in one's possession <tried to recoup the $1,000 he had when he walked into the casino by risking his last dollar on a slot machine> — see RECOVER 1
2 to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury <you will have to submit the proper paperwork before the insurance company will recoup you for the damage to your vehicle> — see COMPENSATE 1
3 to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness <he's recouping at home after a bout of the flu> — see CONVALESCE

recoupment noun
1 payment to another for a loss or injury <the jury's award included a recoupment for emotional distress> — see COMPENSATION 1
2 the act or process of getting something back <almost immediately after the new contract was signed, the company began the recoupment of revenue lost during the strike> — see RECOVERY 1

recourse noun
something that one uses to accomplish an end especially when the usual means is not available <a toddler quickly learns that a tantrum is a surefire recourse when a polite request for something is met with parental indifference> — see RESOURCE 1

recover verb
1 to get again in one's possession <after fishing around in the garbage for 10 minutes, I was able to recover my lost keys>

Synonyms
get back, reacquire, recapture, reclaim, re-collect, recoup, regain, repossess, retake, retrieve

Related Words
recruit, replenish; redeem, repurchase; rescue

Near Antonyms
lose, mislay, misplace

2 to regain a former or normal state <after a disastrous first half, the team was able to recover and pull off a victory>

Synonyms
bounce (back), come back, rally, rebound, snap back

Related Words
reanimate, revitalize, revive

Phrases
make (or stage) a comeback

Near Antonyms
decline, fail, worsen

3 to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness <I see you're recovering well from the accident> — see CONVALESCE
4 to obtain (a raw material) by separating it from a by-product or waste product <the process of recovering aluminum from old cans> — see RECYCLE

recovery noun
1 the act or process of getting something back <the recovery of the sunken boat took over a week>

Synonyms
recapture, reclamation, recoupment, repossession, retrieval

Related Words
recruitment, replenishment; redemption, rescue

Near Antonyms
loss, misplacement

2 the process or period of gradually regaining one's health and strength <his recovery from the flu was remarkably quick> — see CONVALESCENCE

recreant adjective
1 having or showing a shameful lack of courage <the victors had only contempt for the recreant enemy soldiers who surrendered without firing a shot> — see COWARDLY
2 not true in one's allegiance to someone or something <recreant campaign workers who walked out as soon as their candidate began dropping in the polls> — see FAITHLESS

recreant noun
1 a person who abandons a cause or organization usually without right <traditionally armies have dealt harshly with recreants, with execution being a common punishment for desertion during wartime> — see RENEGADE
2 a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <the historian reserved his greatest contempt for those recreants who opposed the witch hunt but lacked the courage to speak out against it> — see COWARD
3 one who betrays a trust or an allegiance <a spy and recreant to his country> — see TRAITOR

recreate verb
1 to bring back to a former condition or vigor <supporters of preservation hope to recreate the architectural splendor that the old movie theater had when it first opened> — see RENEW 1
2 to engage in activity for amusement <an old summer resort where families have been recreating for over a century> — see PLAY 1

recreated adjective
made or become fresh in spirits or vigor <the club finally got some new, enthusiastic members, and the recreated organization actually began contributing to the community> — see NEW 4

recreation noun
1 activity engaged in to amuse oneself <decided to take a bike tour of the island for recreation and relaxation> — see PLAY 1
2 someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment <bowling is great recreation on a rainy afternoon> — see FUN 1
3 the act or activity of providing pleasure or amusement especially for the public <water parks have become a significant part of the recreation business> — see ENTERTAINMENT 1
4 an activity outside of one's regular occupation that is engaged in primarily for pleasure <as with other men of his class and income, his principal recreations were polo and yachting> — see AVOCATION

recreational vehicle noun
a motor vehicle that is specially equipped for living while traveling <sales of recreational vehicles typically go down when gas prices go up> — see CAMPER

recruit noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <the skydiving instructor and other experienced jumpers tried to encourage the new recruits on their first jump> — see BEGINNER

recruit verb
to provide with a paying job <thousands of recent immigrants were recruited to build the nation's rail system> — see EMPLOY 1

rectifier noun
something that corrects or counteracts something undesirable <a tropical vacation is a surefire rectifier of the midwinter blues> — see CURE 1

rectify verb
to remove errors, defects, deficiencies, or deviations from <let me get the store manager, and he'll rectify the invoice for your order> — see CORRECT 1

rectifying adjective
serving to raise or adjust something to some standard or proper condition <the company is taking rectifying measures to address the lack of handicapped access to the building> — see CORRECTIVE 1

rectitude noun
1 conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong <encouraged the graduates to go on to live lives of unimpeachable rectitude and integrity> — see MORALITY 1
2 faithfulness to high moral standards <has a finely honed sense of rectitude that keeps him from cheating on exams> — see HONOR 1

recuperate verb
to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness <half the office was out today, many employees being sick or recuperating from the flu> — see CONVALESCE

recuperation noun
the process or period of gradually regaining one's health and strength <the older you get, the longer recuperation takes> — see CONVALESCENCE

recurrent adjective
occurring or appearing at intervals <had recurrent problems with the computer for months and finally junked it> — see INTERMITTENT 1

recurring adjective
occurring or appearing at intervals <death and spirituality are recurring themes throughout the whole of this author's work> — see INTERMITTENT 1

recusant adjective
given to resisting authority or another's control <several recusant senators refused to vote as commanded by the party leadership> — see DISOBEDIENT

recycle verb
to obtain (a raw material) by separating it from a by-product or waste product <recycling the aluminum from soda pop cans is environmentally sound>

Synonyms
reclaim, recover

Related Words
reuse; process, reprocess

red adjective
1 having a healthy reddish skin tone <the merry, red, smiling face of Santa Claus> — see RUDDY
2 having a notably high temperature <the streams of red lava were especially spectacular at night> — see HOT 1

red noun
1 a person who rises up against authority <the reds demanded a violent overthrow of the government> — see REBEL
2 cap an adherent or advocate of an economic system in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state <the story of John Reed, the only American Red buried within the Kremlin> — see COMMUNIST

red alert noun
the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of opportunity, activity, or danger <the paparazzi were on red alert for sightings of the hot new Hollywood couple> — see VIGILANCE

red–blooded adjective
having active strength of body or mind <a red-blooded rugby player who always plays to win> — see VIGOROUS 1

redd (up or out) verb, chiefly dialect
to make neat <it's time to redd up the garage and get rid of a lot of the junk we've accumulated> — see NEATEN

redden verb
to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment) <his face reddened when she flashed him a dazzling smile> — see BLUSH

redeem verb
1 to do what is required by the terms of <the Little League coach redeemed his promise to take the players out for ice cream if they improved their fielding over the season> — see FULFILL 1
2 to free from captivity or punishment by paying a price <the government has consistently refused to redeem hostages captured by terrorists> — see RANSOM
3 to free from the penalties or consequences of sin <the belief that sinners are redeemed by their faith in God> — see SAVE 1
4 to make better in behavior or character <the unfaithful husband made a determined effort to redeem himself in the eyes of his wife and children> — see REFORM 1
5 to make up for (an offense) <quickly redeemed the offending remark with a sincere and unconditional apology> — see EXPIATE

redeemable adjective
capable of being corrected <you made several mistakes in your report, but they're all redeemable> — see REMEDIABLE

redeemer noun
one that saves from danger or destruction <the rescued hostages profusely thanked their camouflage-clad redeemers> — see SAVIOR

redefine verb
to consider again especially with the possibility of change or reversal <learning that he had been adopted forced him to completely redefine his identity> — see RECONSIDER

red flag noun
something that tells of approaching danger or risk <the résumé she accidentally left on the office printer was a red flag that she was planning to quit> — see WARNING 2

red–hot adjective
1 being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <this red-hot sports car uses the latest technology for its engine design> — see MODERN
2 having a notably high temperature <don't touch the stove—it's red-hot> — see HOT 1
3 having or expressing great depth of feeling <red-hot calls to action from both supporters and opponents of the war> — see FERVENT 1
4 enjoying widespread favor or approval <a show that is this year's red-hot sitcom> — see POPULAR 1

red hot noun
one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause <the inflammatory language favored by the red hots is simply polarizing voters and stifling all dialogue> — see ZEALOT

redirect verb
to change the course or direction of (something) <upon hearing the noise, he redirected his gaze to the window> — see TURN 2

red light noun
something that tells of approaching danger or risk <the reporter took her glower as a red light and stopped asking questions> — see WARNING 2

redo noun
the act of saying or doing over again <as a way of celebrating our silver wedding anniversary, we're planning a redo of the trip we took on our honeymoon> — see REPEAT

redo verb
1 to make different in some way <desperately wanted to redo the red living room in soothing shades of green> — see CHANGE 1
2 to make or do again <the conductor kept asking the violinist to redo that passage until he was completely satisfied> — see REPEAT 4

redoing noun
the act, process, or result of making different <some residents objected to the redoing of the historic school building> — see CHANGE 1

redolence noun
1 a sweet or pleasant smell <breathed in the redolence of the apple orchard> — see FRAGRANCE
2 the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose <the redolence of fir trees always reminds me of Christmas> — see SMELL 1

redolent adjective
having a pleasant smell <my grandmother's house always seemed to be redolent with the aroma of baking bread> — see FRAGRANT

redouble verb
1 to make markedly greater in measure or degree <rescuers redoubled their efforts to reach the people buried in the rubble after unexpectedly hearing someone call for help> — see INTENSIFY
2 to make twice as great or as many <if we redouble the recipe, we'll have enough cookies for everyone> — see DOUBLE 1

redoubt noun
a structure or place from which one can resist attack <a massive stone redoubt at the entrance of the bay guarded the city> — see FORT

redoubtable adjective
1 causing fear <his next opponent, the reigning champion, would be by far the most redoubtable adversary the young boxer had ever faced> — see FEARFUL 1
2 standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <a surprising discovery by one of the most redoubtable figures in Egyptian archaeology> — see EMINENT

red–pencil verb
1 to remove errors, defects, deficiencies, or deviations from <the magazine claims that every article is red-penciled by a team of fact checkers before it ever sees the light of print> — see CORRECT 1
2 to remove objectionable parts from <a television script that had been heavily red-penciled in abject surrender to political correctness> — see CENSOR

redraft verb
to prepare for publication by correcting, rewriting, or updating <if you redraft that paper and include more recent data, I think we could publish it> — see EDIT 1

redress noun
payment to another for a loss or injury <the new skis were certainly an adequate redress for the lost snowboard> — see COMPENSATION 1

redress verb
to punish in kind the wrongdoer responsible for <the belief that redressing a murder with another murder, even if carried out by the state, is not morally justified> — see AVENGE

reduce verb
1 to bring to a lower grade or rank <was reduced from team captain to team member as punishment for his misbehavior on the court> — see DEMOTE
2 to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent <you'll have to reduce the amount of money you spend on unnecessary purchases if you want to have any money left for retirement> — see DECREASE 1
3 to diminish the price or value of <a mortgage crisis that reduced homes to their lowest level in a decade> — see DEPRECIATE 1

reduction noun
1 something that is or may be subtracted <there was a sizable reduction in her weekly pay when she decided to buy health insurance> — see DEDUCTION 1
2 the amount by which something is lessened <saw an 11% reduction in the number of students applying to the school> — see DECREASE
3 the act or an instance of bringing to a lower grade or rank <the captain was punished with a reduction to lieutenant> — see BUMP 2

redundancy noun
1 the use of too many words to express an idea <even though the phrase “free gift” is a redundancy, many retailers still use it to assure customers that an item is really free> — see VERBIAGE 1
2 the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <there's a redundancy of high-priced restaurants in the area> — see EXCESS 1
3 chiefly British the termination of the employment of an employee or a work force often temporarily <several dozen employees at the London office were lost to redundancy> — see LAYOFF 1

redundant adjective
being over what is needed <this area is already chockablock with shopping malls; another one would be redundant> — see SPARE 1

reduplicate verb
1 to make an exact likeness of <reduplicate a recording of the concert for my friend> — see COPY 1
2 to make or do again <found out halfway through the project that I was reduplicating another team member's efforts, so we had to figure out who was going to do what> — see REPEAT 4

reduplication noun
1 something that is made to look exactly like something else <that old-looking colonial mansion is actually a 20th-century reduplication of the original, which was destroyed many years ago> — see COPY
2 the act of saying or doing over again <ever since I was forced to do a reduplication of a day's work, I've been more conscientious about hitting my computer's “save” button> — see REPEAT

reecho verb
1 to continue or be repeated in a series of reflected sound waves <thunder reechoing through the canyon> — see REVERBERATE
2 to say after another <she reechoed an earlier speaker's points, only with a slightly different emphasis> — see REPEAT 3

reed noun
a person without strength of character <the congresswoman is but a reed who bends whichever way the political winds are blowing> — see WEAKLING 2

reek noun
1 a strong unpleasant smell <a terrible reek coming from the garbage can> — see STINK 1
2 an atmospheric condition in which suspended particles in the air rob it of its transparency <couldn't see through the reek of smog and smoke surrounding the steel plant> — see HAZE 1

reek verb
to give off an extremely unpleasant smell <those old sneakers reek something awful> — see STINK 1

reeking adjective
having an unpleasant smell <I would rather not be the one to wash your reeking gym clothes> — see MALODOROUS

reeky adjective
having an unpleasant smell <a reeky riverbank that at low tide smells of rotting fish> — see MALODOROUS

reel noun
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point <she slipped and, after an out-of-control reel, fell on her backside> — see SPIN 1

reel verb
1 to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around <his mind reeled upon hearing the news that his employer had been indicted for fraud> — see SPIN 2
2 to move forward while swaying from side to side <got off the amusement park ride reeling and barely able to stand> — see STAGGER 1

reeling adjective
having a feeling of being whirled about and in danger of falling down <the blood donor experienced a reeling sensation after standing up too quickly> — see DIZZY 1

reel off verb
1 to give from memory <he's able to reel off the names of all the U.S. presidents, in historical order and without pausing> — see REPEAT 2
2 to specify one after another <her friend proceeded to reel off the roster of losers that she had dated over the years> — see ENUMERATE 1

reenergized adjective
made or become fresh in spirits or vigor <was reenergized after a short nap> — see NEW 4

reevaluate verb
to consider again especially with the possibility of change or reversal <the senator is arguing that the government needs to reevaluate its budget in light of the committee's findings> — see RECONSIDER

reexamination noun
a usually critical look at a past event <the safety board's reexamination of the accident to see if it could have been prevented> — see REVIEW 1

reexamine verb
to consider again especially with the possibility of change or reversal <in light of your broken leg, we should reexamine our decision to go on a hiking vacation this summer> — see RECONSIDER

reexplore verb
to consider again especially with the possibility of change or reversal <the article reexplores the role of women during the American Revolution> — see RECONSIDER

refashion verb
to make different in some way <refashioned my old pair of jeans into a cover for my scrapbook> — see CHANGE 1

refashioning noun
the act, process, or result of making different <the refashioning of the theater will make it more up-to-date and expand the seating capacity> — see CHANGE 1

refection noun
food eaten or prepared for eating at one time <refections at the monastery are as spartan as the surroundings> — see MEAL

refer verb
to have a relation or connection <I don't think that rule of play refers to this particular situation> — see APPLY 1

refer (to) verb
1 to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically <try not to refer to the recent death of her aunt> — see MENTION 1
2 to use or seek out as a source of aid, relief, or advantage <she studied so she wouldn't have to refer to the book during the exam> — see RESORT TO 1

referee noun
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy <served as the unofficial referee in disputes over the family business> — see JUDGE 1

referee verb
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) <their father usually ends up refereeing any disputes concerning use of the big TV> — see JUDGE 1

reference noun
1 something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information <the author's argument is interesting, but the lack of references makes me wonder if it can be proven>

Synonyms
authority, source

Related Words
citation, excerpt, extract, quotation; caption, cross-reference, footnote, note

2 relation to or concern with something specified <this reply is in reference to your last question> — see RESPECT 1

refine verb
to make better <worked on refining her backhand before the big tennis match> — see IMPROVE

refined adjective
1 being far along in development <a refined analysis of the factors that produce economic wealth in the new global economy> — see ADVANCED 1
2 free from added matter <refined gold> — see PURE 1
3 having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living <a refined couple who have hosted many elegant benefits for organizations promoting the arts> — see CULTIVATED
4 having or showing elegance <a refined woman with gracious manners> — see ELEGANT 1
5 made or done with extreme care and accuracy <the dressmaker took a set of quite refined measurements before actually starting work> — see FINE 2
6 satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness <the chef's refined cuisine is one that true gourmets will appreciate> — see DELICATE 1
7 meeting the highest standard of accuracy <this is not a refined calculation of the total number of calories in the dish—just a rough estimate> — see PRECISE 1

refinement noun
1 an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill <the recent refinements in this area of medical technology> — see ADVANCE 2
2 a high level of taste and enlightenment as a result of extensive intellectual training and exposure to the arts <had a sense of refinement that her small hometown couldn't satisfy, so she moved to New York City to be closer to great museums and concert halls> — see CULTURE 1
3 dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style <although she can afford all the jewelry that money can buy, she dresses with the gentle refinement that only taste can bestow> — see ELEGANCE

reflect verb
1 to reproduce or show (an exact likeness) as a mirror would <her face was reflected in the waters of the still pond>

Synonyms
image, mirror

Related Words
clone, copy, duplicate, imitate, reduplicate, repeat, replicate, reproduce

2 to make a statement of one's opinion <reflected on the huge influence that the electronic media have on our national elections> — see REMARK 1

reflection noun
1 a briefly expressed opinion <does anyone want to share their reflections on the passage we just read?> — see REMARK
2 a cause of shame <your constant lying is a serious reflection on your character> — see DISGRACE 2
3 a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something <after reflection, they decided to refuse the offer on the house> — see CONSIDERATION 1

reflective adjective
1 given to or marked by long, quiet thinking <one of the twins was outgoing and talkative while the other was withdrawn and reflective> — see CONTEMPLATIVE
2 indicating something <this new policy is reflective of the company's desire to improve customer relations> — see INDICATIVE

reform verb
1 to make better in behavior or character <volunteers at a camp that tries to reform troubled youths>

Synonyms
habilitate, reclaim, redeem, regenerate, rehabilitate

Related Words
reeducate; amend, improve, refine; cleanse, purify, restore

Near Antonyms
abase, canker, corrupt, debauch, degrade, demean, demoralize, deprave, lower, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, warp

2 to change one's behavior or character for the better <an alcoholic who's been trying to reform ever since he was arrested for drunk driving>

Synonyms
amend, mend, shape up, straighten (up or out)

Related Words
behave, regenerate; better, improve

Phrases
clean up one's act

Near Antonyms
backslide, regress

3 to remove errors, defects, deficiencies, or deviations from <he had better reform his ways if he wants any of us to trust him> — see CORRECT 1

reformative adjective
serving to raise or adjust something to some standard or proper condition <took reformative measures to curb abuses in the state's welfare system> — see CORRECTIVE 1

reformatory adjective
serving to raise or adjust something to some standard or proper condition <the belief that manual labor was a reformatory experience for convicted felons, who would learn the value of hard work> — see CORRECTIVE 1

refractoriness noun
refusal to obey <I wish that teenager would grow up—she still displays the refractoriness of a two-year-old> — see DISOBEDIENCE

refractory adjective
1 given to resisting authority or another's control <refractory players will be ejected from the game> — see DISOBEDIENT
2 given to resisting control or discipline by others <believing that rules are only for other people, he's been refractory virtually his entire life> — see UNCONTROLLABLE

refrain noun
a part of a song or hymn that is repeated every so often <I didn't know the verses of the song, so I only sang on the refrain> — see CHORUS 2

refrain (from) verb
to resist the temptation of <couldn't refrain from ruffling her nephew's neatly combed hair whenever she saw him> — see FORBEAR

refrainment noun
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others <students in the class should show some generosity and refrainment when critiquing the work of their fellow photographers> — see CONSTRAINT 1

refresh verb
1 to bring back to a former condition or vigor <brought out some iced tea to refresh the spirits of the folks working out in the sun> — see RENEW 1
2 to take a meal <we were looking for a family-friendly restaurant where we could sit down and refresh before continuing> — see DINE 1

refreshed adjective
made or become fresh in spirits or vigor <woke the next morning refreshed and ready for the day> — see NEW 4

refreshen verb
to bring back to a former condition or vigor <refreshened the wilting flowers by cutting the stems again and putting them in a vase with water> — see RENEW 1

refreshing adjective
having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind <the cool wind off the ocean is refreshing on such a hot day> — see TONIC 1

refrigerate verb
to cause to lose heat <refrigerate the cake after you frost it so that the frosting doesn't melt> — see COOL 1

refuge noun
something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger <hunting is strictly forbidden in the wildlife refuge> — see SHELTER

refuge verb
to be or provide a shelter for <a nation with a long, honorable history of refuging political asylum seekers> — see SHELTER 1

refugee noun
a person forced to emigrate for political reasons <refugees began returning to their homeland after years of political unrest and war> — see ÉMIGRÉ 1

refulgence noun
the quality or state of having or giving off light <the refulgence of a full moon on a clear autumn night> — see BRILLIANCE 1

refulgent adjective
giving off or reflecting much light <refulgent sunlight broke through the clouds, creating huge swaths of light in the valley below us> — see BRIGHT 1

refund verb
to make a return payment to <will refund you your money> — see REPAY 1

refusal noun
an unwillingness to grant something asked for <his flat refusal of our reasonable request was rather startling> — see DENIAL 1

refuse noun
discarded or useless material <refuse had littered the playground until our volunteer group cleaned it up> — see GARBAGE 1

refuse verb
1 to be unwilling to grant <the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews> — see DENY 2
2 to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <she refused the award, citing the hard work of others who deserved the recognition more than she did> — see DECLINE 1

refutation noun
something (as an argument) that serves to disprove <these are hard scientific facts against which there can be no reasonable refutation> — see CONFUTATION

refute verb
1 to declare not to be true <while he was publicly refuting rumors of a merger, behind the scenes the CEO was working to effect that very outcome> — see DENY 1
2 to prove to be false <the victories of African-American athlete Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympics effectively refuted the racial views of the Nazis> — see DISPROVE

reg noun
a statement spelling out the proper procedure or conduct for an activity <according to army regs, dress uniforms must be starched and boots polished at all times> — see REGULATION 1

regain verb
to get again in one's possession <our team regained the ball with just two minutes left on the clock> — see RECOVER 1

regal adjective
1 fit for or worthy of a royal ruler <the actress's regal bearing makes her a perfect choice to play royalty on the screen> — see MONARCHICAL
2 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <envisioned a regal wedding with hundreds of guests, a full choir, and a reception at the fanciest hotel in town> — see GRAND 1

regale noun
a large fancy meal often accompanied by ceremony or entertainment <a regale to honor the retiring Supreme Court justice> — see FEAST 1

regale verb
1 to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied <regaled his grandchildren with stories of his time in Morocco> — see AMUSE
2 to entertain with a fancy meal <an inn that nightly regales its guests with five-course meals prepared by a master chef> — see FEAST 1

regalia noun
dressy clothing <was impressed with the regalia of the women at the ball> — see FINERY

regard noun
1 a feeling of great approval and liking <I have a deep regard for humanitarian aid workers who risk everything to help the poor> — see ADMIRATION 1
2 an instance of looking especially briefly <flashed the young man an imperial regard that clearly indicated such behavior was out of line> — see LOOK 2
3 relation to or concern with something specified <with regard to your request for time off, go ahead and take the whole week for vacation> — see RESPECT 1
4 regards plural best wishes <give your parents my regards> — see COMPLIMENT 2
5 a fixed intent look <fixed the same magisterial regard on all the miscreants who appeared before her in court> — see GAZE
6 archaic the outward form of someone or something especially as indicative of a quality <Lord Warwick's noble regard and gallant demeanor set the innocent maid's heart aflutter> — see APPEARANCE 1

regard verb
1 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <she regarded him with astonishment when he announced he had gotten engaged> — see SEE 1
2 to take notice of and be guided by <as a traveler, you should regard the laws and customs of whatever country you are visiting> — see HEED 1
3 to think of in a particular way <I wouldn't regard that offhand comment as a serious threat to your personal safety> — see CONSIDER 1
4 to think very highly or favorably of <an astronomer who is highly regarded by his peers> — see ADMIRE
5 to give consideration to (as unexpected circumstances or contingencies) <the judges regard the amount of effort and energy you put into the project in evaluating it> — see ALLOW FOR

regardful adjective
marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status <his regardful willingness to let his elderly father carve the turkey this year> — see RESPECTFUL

regarding preposition
having to do with <wanted to talk to the company's vice president regarding a new product line> — see ABOUT 1

regardless adverb
in spite of everything <the weather looked bad, but they were resolved to go on with their picnic regardless>

Synonyms
anyhow, anyway, anyways [chiefly dialect], whatever

Related Words
after all, however, nevertheless; always

Phrases
at all events, at any rate, in any case, in any event, no matter, whether or no (or whether or not)

regardless of preposition
without being prevented by <regardless of what was previously agreed to, we now refuse to sign the contract> — see DESPITE

regenerate verb
1 to bring back to a former condition or vigor <the neighborhood was regenerated thanks to a government grant for restoring all the old buildings and creating studio spaces for artists> — see RENEW 1
2 to bring back to life, practice, or activity <dairy farming in the area was regenerated when new arrivals bought the old creamery> — see REVIVE 1
3 to make better in behavior or character <the ex-convict credits his newfound faith with regenerating him beyond anything that he could have imagined> — see REFORM 1

regenerated adjective
made or become fresh in spirits or vigor <after a cool dip in the river, the regenerated hikers continued on their way> — see NEW 4

regeneration noun
the act or an instance of bringing something back to life, public attention, or vigorous activity <the regeneration of knitting and crocheting is in full bloom, with Hollywood stars admitting they knit and crochet on movie sets> — see REVIVAL

regime also régime noun
lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) <the regime of the dictator collapsed with surprising abruptness> — see RULE 2

regimen noun
lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) <with the start of the new year, a new party will have regimen over the nation and, hopefully, bring some much-needed change> — see RULE 2

region noun
1 a part or portion having no fixed boundaries <if you look in the upper left region of the sky, you can see the constellation Orion>

Synonyms
area, demesne, field, zone

Related Words
corner, section; locale, locality, location, locus, place, point, position, site, space, spot

2 a broad geographical area <corn is mostly grown in the central regions of the country>

Synonyms
belt, corridor, land, neck, part(s), tract, zone

Related Words
district, domain, latitude(s), range, realm, terrain, territory; neighborhood, vicinity

regisseur or régisseur noun
a person who supervises the production of a stage show <the ballet company's new regisseur plans to put a more modern spin on The Nutcracker>

Synonyms
director, stage director

Related Words
auteur; impresario, producer, stage manager; directress

1register noun
an official whose job is to keep records <ask the county register for a copy of your birth certificate> — see CLERK 1

2register noun
a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system <check the voter register to see if it has my current party affiliation> — see 1LIST

register verb
1 to add (a person) to a list or roll as a participant or member <please register me for the yoga class> — see ENROLL 1
2 to make a written note of <the management registered her complaint in their log and promised to get back to her in a week> — see RECORD 1
3 to put (someone or something) on a list <I have to register my new car when I renew my driver's license> — see 1LIST 2
4 to have a clear idea of <I'm not registering what you're saying> — see COMPREHEND 1

registrar noun
an official whose job is to keep records <got a copy of his transcript from the school's registrar> — see CLERK 1

registration noun
the number of individuals registered <there was a large registration for the popular swim classes at the community center>

Synonyms
enrollment (also enrolment), registry

Related Words
class, roster; count, membership

registry noun
1 a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system <got a copy of the couple's bridal registry from the store's computer and scanned it for items we could afford> — see 1LIST
2 the number of individuals registered <has the registry for the professional development seminar reached its limit yet?> — see REGISTRATION

regress verb
1 to go back to a previous and usually lower state or level <in extreme circumstances, people sometimes regress to the behavior they exhibited in childhood>

Synonyms
retrogress, return, revert

Related Words
backslide, lapse, relapse; throw back; ebb; decline, degenerate, drop, fall, retrograde, worsen

Near Antonyms
grow, mature, ripen

Antonyms
advance, develop, evolve, progress

2 to become worse or of less value <the annual celebration has regressed to the point where it's nothing more than an excuse to get drunk> — see DETERIORATE 1

regression noun
the act or an instance of going back to an earlier and lower level especially of intelligence or behavior <the regression to really childish behavior that boys often undergo when put in large groups>

Synonyms
retrogression, reversion

Related Words
backslide, lapse, relapse; atavism, return; nondevelopment; decline, degeneration

Near Antonyms
gestation, growth, maturation, ripening

Antonyms
advancement, development, evolution, progression

regret noun
a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <she was consumed with regret for belittling him in public and felt much better once she had apologized> — see GUILT 1

regret verb
to feel sorry or dissatisfied about <we regret any inconvenience that we may have caused you>

Synonyms
bemoan, deplore, lament, repent, rue

Related Words
ache (for), bewail, grieve (for), mourn, sorrow (for)

Near Antonyms
delight (in), enjoy, relish, revel (in), savor (also savour)

regretful adjective
1 expressing or suggesting mourning <gave me a regretful look when I told him we had to move my mother to a nursing home> — see MOURNFUL 1
2 feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done <was truly regretful that she had yelled at him> — see CONTRITE

regretfully adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <I must regretfully inform you that you are not among those who have been accepted for our internship program> — see HARD 2

regrettable adjective
of a kind to cause great distress <the explorers forged ahead despite the regrettable loss of some of their companions>

Synonyms
deplorable, distressful, distressing, grievous, heartbreaking, heartrending, lamentable, tragic (also tragical), unfortunate, unlucky, woeful

Related Words
troublesome, vexatious; affecting, doleful, moving, piteous, poignant, ruthful, touching; awful, dire, dreadful, fearful, severe, terrible; alarming, disturbing, perturbing, traumatic, unsettling; crushing, excruciating, harrowing, horrible, horrifying, intolerable, overwhelming, shocking, sickening, unbearable; miserable, pitiful, sad, wretched; calamitous, disastrous; painful, raging, sharp

Near Antonyms
gratifying, pleasing, rewarding, satisfying; comforting, encouraging, heartening; cheering, heartwarming, inspiring; fortunate, happy, lucky

regular adjective
1 appearing or occurring repeatedly from time to time <what with one or another of our pets having problems, we've been regular visitors at the animal hospital>

Synonyms
constant, frequent, habitual, periodic, periodical, repeated, steady

Related Words
continual, intermittent, recurrent, recurring; cyclic (or cyclical); around-the-clock, hourly, round-the-clock, 24-7 (or 24/7); chronic, confirmed, inveterate; expected, usual

Near Antonyms
episodic (also episodical), occasional; unexpected, unusual

Antonyms
inconstant, infrequent, irregular

2 following a set method, arrangement, or pattern <he's followed a regular schedule for almost 20 years: up by 5, in bed by 10> — see METHODICAL
3 following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules <thought about having a nontraditional wedding but in the end went with a regular ceremony instead> — see FORMAL 1
4 having no exceptions or restrictions <your room is a regular sty, and you need to clean it before you can go to the movies> — see ABSOLUTE 2
5 having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind <tantrums aren't his regular behavior> <was just a regular guy who preferred hanging out with friends> — see TYPICAL 1

regular noun
1 a person engaged in military service <throughout the war, the regulars were supplemented by corps of volunteers and militiamen> — see SOLDIER
2 someone who regularly spends time in a particular place <the coffeehouse regulars were put out by the interlopers occupying their usual table> — see DENIZEN 1

regularize verb
to make agree with a single established standard or model <the garment industry agreed to regularize women's clothing sizes so one company's size six wasn't another company's size ten> — see STANDARDIZE

regulate verb
1 to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <you would be well advised to regulate your enthusiasm for the venture and pause to consider the risk involved> — see CONTROL 1
2 to look after and make decisions about <the government agency that regulates the nuclear power industry in this country> — see CONDUCT 1

regulation noun
1 a statement spelling out the proper procedure or conduct for an activity <it's against community regulations to leave your trash on the curb for more than two days> — see RULE 1
2 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <the owner seldom visited the plant and did not take an active part in the regulation of the company> — see CONDUCT 1
3 the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control <the regulation of the soccer team was left entirely to the head coach and her assistants> — see SUPERVISION 1

regulator noun
a mechanism for adjusting the operation of a device, machine, or system <the voltage regulator will make sure your car's alternator gets the right amount of electricity> — see CONTROL 1

rehab noun
the process or period of gradually regaining one's health and strength <the accident victim had to undergo months of rehab before she could walk again> — see CONVALESCENCE

rehab verb
to restore to a healthy condition <rehabbing the torture victim's battered body will be easier than restoring his emotional well-being> — see HEAL 1

rehabilitate verb
1 to make better in behavior or character <an organization that rehabilitates criminals so they can reenter society> — see REFORM 1
2 to restore to a healthy condition <underwent physical therapy to help rehabilitate her broken elbow> — see HEAL 1

rehabilitation noun
the process or period of gradually regaining one's health and strength <his rehabilitation from the flu was brief, and he was up and working again within a few days> — see CONVALESCENCE

rehearsal noun
a private performance or session in preparation for a public appearance <we made a few mistakes in rehearsal, but we were pretty sure that we'd be OK on opening night>

Synonyms
dry run, practice (also practise), trial

Related Words
dress rehearsal; preview; run-through, walk-through; drill, exercise

rehearse verb
1 to do over and over so as to become skilled <the orchestra rehearsed the symphony until they finally got it to the conductor's satisfaction> — see PRACTICE
2 to give an oral or written account of in some detail <wrote a letter to the management rehearsing in lurid detail our terrible stay at their hotel> — see TELL 1
3 to say or state again <rehearsed her story about why she was late as she walked into the meeting> — see REPEAT 1
4 to specify one after another <rehearsed the list of things he wanted for his birthday so that there would be no doubt in my mind> — see ENUMERATE 1

reign noun
1 controlling power or influence over others <a start-up threatening the company's reign over the computer chip market> — see SUPREMACY 1
2 the right or means to command or control others <a democratic nation that is governed by the reign of law and not by the whim of its chief executive> — see POWER 1

reimburse verb
to make a return payment to <make sure you keep your receipts so we can reimburse you for your expenses> — see REPAY 1

rein noun
1 usually reins plural the place of leadership or command <after the president resigned, the vice president stepped in and took the reins of the company> — see HEAD 2
2 the act or practice of keeping something (as an activity) within certain boundaries <the oversight committee called on the state to keep a much tighter rein on the activities of its contractors> — see RESTRICTION 2
3 usually reins plural the right or means to command or control others <a peaceful transfer of the reins of government has always been a hallmark of our nation> — see POWER 1

rein (in) verb
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <try to rein in your spending, so you have some money left for saving> — see CONTROL 1

reinforce also reenforce verb
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) <letters of recommendation that reinforced the committee's opinion of the candidate> — see SUPPORT 4

reinforcement noun
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else <the consulting architect suggested using additional steel reinforcements to counteract the bridge's design flaw> — see SUPPORT 1

reinvigorated adjective
made or become fresh in spirits or vigor <a reinvigorated political campaign that eventually made it all the way to the statehouse> — see NEW 4

reiterate verb
1 to make or do again <the pianist's valedictory concert will reiterate the program he played on the national tour> — see REPEAT 4
2 to say or state again <I want to reiterate that under no circumstances are you to leave the house> — see REPEAT 1

reiteration noun
the act of saying or doing over again <there's no need for the reiteration of the rules, as I know them already> — see REPEAT

reiterative adjective
marked by repetition <the novelist's reiterative style really bores some readers> — see REPETITIVE

reject noun
1 one who is cast out or rejected by society <was the school reject as a child and has low self-esteem even today> — see OUTCAST
2 something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others <that apple has a mushy spot on it, so it's a reject> — see CULL

reject verb
1 to be unwilling to grant <rejected his request for time off> — see DENY 2
2 to declare not to be true <I reject the claim that I have ever lied about that> — see DENY 1
3 to get rid of as useless or unwanted <sorted through the nuts and rejected any that had cracked shells or were shattered> — see DISCARD
4 to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <rejected his marriage proposal> — see DECLINE 1

rejected adjective
left unoccupied or unused <picked up the rejected toy to see what was wrong with it> — see ABANDONED 1

rejection noun
1 a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement <made a flat rejection of the charges against him> — see DENIAL 2
2 an unwillingness to grant something asked for <the judge's swift rejection of the lawyer's request for a recess> — see DENIAL 1
3 something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others <that pile is for rejections, and this one is for applications we'll be accepting> — see CULL

rejective adjective
given to making or expressing unfavorable judgments about things <found that his new boss was very rejective of new ideas or suggestions> — see CRITICAL 1

rejoice verb
1 to feel or express joy or triumph <rejoiced over our unexpected victory on the soccer field> — see EXULT
2 to give satisfaction to <news of the enemy's surrender rejoiced a nation weary of war> — see PLEASE 1

rejoice (in) verb
to take pleasure in <at least we can rejoice in the fact that the worst of the housing slump is over> — see ENJOY 1

rejoicing adjective
having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph <the rejoicing parents of the bride> — see EXULTANT

rejoicing noun
joyful or festive activity <there was great rejoicing at the launch party for the book> — see MERRYMAKING

rejoin verb
to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction <when I asked my daughter if she wouldn't mind picking up dinner on her way home from soccer practice, she rejoined, “Only if you wouldn't mind me taking out the pickup later tonight!”> — see ANSWER 1

rejoinder noun
something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question <he always has a smart-aleck rejoinder to everything> — see ANSWER 1

rejuvenate verb
1 to bring back to a former condition or vigor <the shower rejuvenated me after a long day of cleaning out the garage> — see RENEW 1
2 to bring back to life, practice, or activity <that rock star has rejuvenated '80s fashion for a whole new generation> — see REVIVE 1

rejuvenating adjective
having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind <after a rejuvenating vacation, I was once again ready to slay dragons, or whatever else might spring up at the office> — see TONIC 1

rejuvenation noun
the act or an instance of bringing something back to life, public attention, or vigorous activity <Hollywood was seeing the rejuvenation of kung fu movies> — see REVIVAL

rejuvenescence noun
the act or an instance of bringing something back to life, public attention, or vigorous activity <the newly discovered oil deposits have led to a rejuvenescence of the nation's economy> — see REVIVAL

rekindle verb
to bring back to life, practice, or activity <the trip to Ireland rekindled her interest in learning Gaelic> — see REVIVE 1

relate verb
1 to form a close personal relationship <she and I relate so well it's almost like we're siblings> — see COMMUNE
2 to give an oral or written account of in some detail <we asked our uncle to relate the story of his visit to communist Russia many years ago> — see TELL 1
3 to have a relation or connection <how does your comment relate to what the rest of us have been talking about for the last hour?> — see APPLY 1
4 to think of (something) in combination <most Americans probably relate tea to the United Kingdom and coffee to the U.S.> — see ASSOCIATE 2

related adjective
having a close connection like that between family members <the related fields of anthropology and archaeology>

Synonyms
affiliated, akin, allied, kindred

Related Words
associated, connected, interconnected, interrelated, joined; alike, analogous, cognate, comparable, connate, correspondent, corresponding, ditto, like, matching, parallel, resemblant, resembling, similar, such, suchlike; identical, same; apposite, apropos, cogent, germane, material, pertinent, relevant

Near Antonyms
diacritical (also diacritic), different, disparate, dissimilar, distinct, distinctive, diverse, nonidentical, other, unalike, unlike; differentiable, discriminable, distinguishable

Antonyms
unrelated

relation noun
1 relations plural doings between individuals or groups <relations between the rival newspapers remained friendly despite their competition for the same stories>

Synonyms
commerce, dealings, interaction, intercourse

Related Words
interrelationship; cross-fertilization, cross-pollination; companionship, company

Antonyms
nonintercourse

2 a person connected with another by blood or marriage <he and I are relations on my mother's side> — see RELATIVE
3 the fact or state of having something in common <there's no relation between you losing your favorite baseball hat and your team losing the game> — see CONNECTION 1
4 the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <our intramural baseball team had a relation with the other baseball teams in the area> — see ASSOCIATION 1
5 relations plural sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <a law that prohibits relations between close relatives> — see SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

relationship noun
1 the fact or state of having something in common <studied the relationship between the phases of the moon and ocean tides> — see CONNECTION 1
2 the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <the street's shopkeepers have a good business relationship> — see ASSOCIATION 1

relative adjective
1 being such only when compared to something else <after being crammed into a one-bedroom apartment, they lived in relative comfort in a two-bedroom house> — see COMPARATIVE
2 having to do with the matter at hand <I don't need the whole story, just the details that are relative to the case> — see PERTINENT

relative noun
a person connected with another by blood or marriage <it's always fun to see all your relatives at a big family gathering>

Synonyms
cousin, kin, kinsman, relation

Related Words
in-law; kissing cousin; kinswoman; blood, clan, family, folk, house, kindred, kinfolk (or kinfolks), kinsfolk, line, lineage, people, race, stock, tribe

Antonyms
nonrelative

relatively adverb
to some degree or extent <these newly acquired in-laws felt relatively comfortable at our family reunion> — see FAIRLY 1

relax verb
1 to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety <she took deep breaths to relax before going on stage>

Synonyms
chill, chill out [slang], decompress, de-stress, loosen up, mellow (out), unwind, wind down

Related Words
unbend; bask, kick back, loll, lounge, repose, rest; bum, dally, dawdle, dillydally, drone, footle, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, vegetate, veg out, zone out; alleviate, comfort, ease, relieve; calm, compose, cool, quiet, settle

Phrases
hang loose

Antonyms
tense (up)

2 to make less taut <relax the rope a bit so I can pick up the slack and tie this knot> — see SLACKEN 1
3 to refrain from labor or exertion <I just want to kick back and relax after mowing that huge lawn> — see REST 1

relaxation noun
1 activity engaged in to amuse oneself <what do people in this jerkwater town do for relaxation?> — see PLAY 1
2 freedom from activity or labor <meditating in a state of total relaxation> — see 1REST 1

relaxed adjective
1 enjoying physical comfort <the frazzled executive was totally relaxed after the warm bath> — see COMFORTABLE 2
2 not bound by rigid standards <we're having a very relaxed staff meeting, and then everyone can get an early start on the long holiday weekend> — see EASYGOING 2
3 not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched <the fishing line was relaxed and looped lazily into the pond> — see LOOSE 1

relaxing adjective
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress <a relaxing cup of chamomile tea> — see SOOTHING 1

release noun
1 a freeing from an obligation or responsibility <because they had legally declared bankruptcy, they received release from their debt>

Synonyms
delivery, discharge, quietus, quittance

Related Words
dispensation, exemption, immunity, waiver

2 a document containing a declaration of an intentional giving up of a right, claim, or privilege <we had to sign a liability release before they'd let us go rock climbing on their property> — see WAIVER
3 a published statement informing the public of a matter of general interest <a press release announcing that the governor would not run for a second term> — see ANNOUNCEMENT
4 reduction of or freedom from pain <only sleep offered any release from the agony of the migraine> — see EASE 1

release verb
1 to set free (from a state of being held in check) <the losing player released his anger with a great yell of frustration>

Synonyms
loose, loosen, uncork, unleash, unlock, unloose, unloosen

Related Words
discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, free, liberate, manumit, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter, unmoor, unshackle; air, express, take out, vent

Phrases
let go

Near Antonyms
handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel; bind, confine, enchain, fetter; halter, hamper

Antonyms
bridle, check, constrain, contain, control, curb, govern, hold, inhibit, regulate, rein (in), restrain, smother, tame

2 to find emotional release for <tried to find other ways of releasing tension than by chewing her fingernails> — see TAKE OUT 1
3 to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <release the prisoners immediately> — see FREE 1
4 to set free from entanglement or difficulty <the new governor finally managed to release himself from his rash campaign promise> — see EXTRICATE
5 to throw or give off <an air freshener that releases a pleasing scent into the room> — see EMIT 1
6 to make known openly or publicly <the panel of nutritionists released their findings on the safety and effectiveness of various diets> — see ANNOUNCE
7 to let go from office, service, or employment <they released the workers who couldn't handle the new technology> — see DISMISS 1

relegate verb
1 to force to leave a country <courtiers and generals who incurred the emperor's disfavor were soon relegated to the farther reaches of the empire> — see BANISH 1
2 to arrange or assign according to type <some psychologists argue that the syndrome should be relegated to a different class of autism> — see CLASSIFY 1

relegation noun
the forced removal from a homeland <the relegation of Japanese-Americans to internment camps during World War II> — see EXILE 1

relent verb
1 to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) <the supervisor finally relented in the face of the petition, and allowed employees to take longer lunch breaks> — see YIELD 3
2 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <the fury of the storm relented, and the next day the sun finally broke through the clouds> — see DECREASE 2

relentless adjective
showing no signs of slackening or yielding in one's purpose <the team's offense was relentless in trying to score a touchdown> — see UNYIELDING 1

relevance noun
the fact or state of being pertinent <I appreciate that you did the dishes tonight, but that has no relevance to my enforcement of the punishment you got earlier this week> — see PERTINENCE

relevancy noun
the fact or state of being pertinent <this new information has no relevancy to the case> — see PERTINENCE

relevant adjective
having to do with the matter at hand <make sure your comments during the interview are short and relevant> — see PERTINENT

reliability noun
worthiness as the recipient of another's trust or confidence <we never had reason to question the reliability of the park rangers in the event of an emergency>

Synonyms
dependability, dependableness, reliableness, responsibility, solidity, solidness, sureness, trustability, trustworthiness

Related Words
inerrancy, infallibility; credibility, creditability, creditableness

Near Antonyms
doubtfulness, dubiousness, questionableness, shakiness, uncertainness

Antonyms
dodginess [chiefly British], unreliability

reliable adjective
worthy of one's trust <I need a reliable car that's not going to break down constantly> — see DEPENDABLE

reliableness noun
worthiness as the recipient of another's trust or confidence <the proven reliableness of that brand of household appliances> — see RELIABILITY

reliance noun
1 something or someone to which one looks for support <he's been the family's foremost reliance in times of trouble many times> — see DEPENDENCE 2
2 the quality or state of needing something or someone <a baby's reliance on her parents> <his reliance on his next-door neighbor for all the local gossip> — see DEPENDENCE 1

relic noun
1 a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished <a crude stone ax and other relics of the Neanderthals> — see VESTIGE 1
2 something belonging to or surviving from an earlier period <in my grandparents' attic are many “groovy” relics from the 1960s> — see ANTIQUE
3 one that has passed the peak of effectiveness or popularity <his courtly manners marked him as a relic of a more refined and formal era> — see HAS-BEEN
4 relics plural a dead body <though it is believed that missionary died in New Guinea, his relics have never been found> — see CORPSE

relief noun
1 a feeling of ease from grief or trouble <my coworkers' kind words gave me some relief from the grief that I was feeling upon the death of my partner> — see COMFORT 1
2 a person or thing that takes the place of another <I can't go home from my nursing shift until my relief shows up to take over> — see SUBSTITUTE
3 reduction of or freedom from pain <the aspirin gave him some relief from the headache> — see EASE 1

relieve verb
1 to make more bearable or less severe <an ice pack will relieve the swelling> — see HELP 2
2 to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers <the bellhop relieved him of his luggage and led him to the elevator> — see RID
3 to take the place of <at daybreak a soldier arrived to relieve the one who had spent the night on guard duty> — see REPLACE 1

religion noun
1 a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities <the Jewish religion has followers in many parts of the globe>

Synonyms
credo, creed, cult, faith, persuasion

Related Words
church, communion, denomination, sect; doctrine, dogma, theology; deism, heathenism, monotheism, paganism, pantheism, polytheism, theism

Near Antonyms
agnosticism, know-nothingism; atheism, godlessness, nonbelief, secularism, unbelief

2 belief and trust in and loyalty to God <without his religion, he would not have been able to survive all the difficulties he has faced over the years> — see FAITH 1

religionist noun
one who professes a religious faith <makes the case that one need not be a religionist to have basic moral values> — see BELIEVER

religionless noun
lacking religious emotions, principles, or practices <some people of faith had misgivings about electing a religionless politician> — see IRRELIGIOUS

religious adjective
1 of, relating to, or used in the practice or worship services of a religion <Johann Sebastian Bach wrote some of the most beautiful religious music in the world>

Synonyms
devotional, sacred, spiritual

Related Words
blessed (also blest), consecrated, hallowed, holy, sacrosanct, sanctified; solemn; liturgical, ritual, sacramental; semireligious, semisacred

Near Antonyms
earthly, mundane, terrene, terrestrial, worldly

Antonyms
nonreligious, profane, secular

2 showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue <a deeply religious woman who eventually decided to quit her job and to become a nun> — see HOLY 1
3 having or expressing great depth of feeling <a woman known for embracing various causes with a religious enthusiasm> — see FERVENT 1

relinquish verb
1 to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress <the boy reluctantly relinquished the illegal fireworks to the police officer> — see SURRENDER 1
2 to give up (as a position of authority) formally <the retiring CEO relinquished his position to the company's vice president with very mixed feelings> — see ABDICATE

relinquishment noun
the usually forced yielding of one's person or possessions to the control of another <miraculously, the relinquishment of the hostages was accomplished without bloodshed> — see SURRENDER

relish noun
1 positive regard for something <she has great relish for early morning walks, which she takes nearly every day> — see LIKING
2 the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met <ate the bowl of ice cream with relish> — see PLEASURE 1

relish verb
to take pleasure in <visit again real soon, for I relish your company> — see ENJOY 1

relocate verb
to change the place or position of <those volumes have been relocated to the second floor of the library> — see MOVE 1

reluctance noun
a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something <the mice showed an odd reluctance to eat the cheese we had put out for them>

Synonyms
disinclination, hesitance, hesitancy, reticence, unwillingness

Related Words
faltering, fence-sitting, hesitation, indecision, irresolution, shilly-shallying, staggering, vacillation, wavering, wobbling (also wabbling); distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrust, mistrustfulness, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainness, uncertainty

Near Antonyms
assurance, assuredness, certainty, certitude, conviction, positiveness, sureness, surety

Antonyms
inclination, willingness

reluctant adjective
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty <I'm reluctant to let you borrow my vintage CDs since you never give back anything I lend you> — see HESITANT

rely verb
to place reliance or trust <rigorously tested the rope before starting out, for the rock climbers would be relying on it with their very lives> — see DEPEND 2

remain verb
1 to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time <one of the three bridges known as “the London Bridge,” it was moved in the late 1960s to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where it remains today> — see 1STAY 1
2 to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state <the fact remains: it's still impossible to be in two places at once> — see CONTINUE 1

remainder noun
1 a remaining group or portion <the remainder of the pills were saved in case they were needed later>

Synonyms
balance, leavings, leftovers, odds and ends, remains, remnant, residue, residuum, rest

Related Words
fragment, scrap, vestige; butt, oddment, scraping(s), stub, stump; excess, fat, overabundance, overage, overflow, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus

Near Antonyms
body, bulk, main, mass, most, weight

2 an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value <the remainder of the dough can be used to make a tartlet> — see 1SCRAP 1

remains plural noun
1 the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed <the remains of the house ripped apart by the tornado littered the block for weeks afterward>

Synonyms
ashes, debris, detritus, flotsam, residue, rubble, ruins, wreck, wreckage

Related Words
jetsam, leavings, remnant; chaff, deadwood, dross, dust, garbage, junk, litter, refuse, riffraff, rubbish, scrap, trash, waste

2 a dead body <archaeologists discovered the remains of an Incan woman and carefully excavated her burial site, which promised to yield important clues about her status> — see CORPSE
3 a remaining group or portion <gathered up the remains of the buffet and delivered them to a local homeless shelter> — see REMAINDER 1

remake verb
1 to make different in some way <one of those people who left the security and conformity of a small town to remake their lives in the big city> — see CHANGE 1
2 to make or do again <yesterday's soup was so good that we decided to remake it for today's lunch> — see REPEAT 4

remaking noun
the act, process, or result of making different <thought that the room looked no better for all the remaking and rearranging we did> — see CHANGE 1

remark noun
a briefly expressed opinion <the director made some short remarks about the new museum before officially opening the doors to visitors>

Synonyms
comment, note, observation, reflection

Related Words
analysis, commentary, exposition; aside, obiter dictum; annotation; belief, conviction, eye, feeling, judgment (or judgement), mind, notion, persuasion, sentiment, verdict, view; advice, input

remark verb
1 to make a statement of one's opinion <her date awkwardly remarked on the attractiveness of the background music in the restaurant>

Synonyms
allow, comment, editorialize, note, observe, opine, reflect, weigh in

Related Words
commentate; articulate, express, say, speak, state, talk, tell, utter, verbalize, vocalize; conjecture, daresay, guess, speculate, suppose, surmise

2 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <I remarked the change in her hair color but didn't think it would be polite to say anything other than she was looking good> — see SEE 1

remarkable adjective
1 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <one participant in the race had a remarkable walk that was half-run, half-skip> — see ODD 2
2 likely to attract attention <there's a remarkable fixation with vanity of earthly pleasures in this author's poetry> — see NOTICEABLE
3 worth remembering or mentioning <just your average suburban ranch house, with nothing remarkable about it> — see NOTEWORTHY 1

remediable adjective
capable of being corrected <the problems with the local transportation system were severe but still remediable>

Synonyms
correctable, corrigible, fixable, redeemable, repairable, reparable

Related Words
amendable, emendable, improvable, resolvable; reversible, undoable; reconstructible, reformable, regenerable; corrected, fixed, remedied, repaired

Near Antonyms
irretrievable, unrecoverable; irreplaceable, irreversible, irrevocable

Antonyms
incorrigible, irrecoverable, irredeemable, irremediable, irreparable, unredeemable

remedial adjective
1 serving to raise or adjust something to some standard or proper condition <took a remedial math course over the summer so he'd be ready for algebra the following school year> — see CORRECTIVE 1
2 tending to cure disease or restore health <unfortunately, with a cold virus, there are few remedial measures besides fluids and rest> — see MEDICINAL 1

remedy noun
1 a substance or preparation used to treat disease <preferred to treat colds with a homemade remedy made from garlic> — see MEDICINE
2 something that corrects or counteracts something undesirable <the mayor was desperately searching for a remedy to the recent surge in crime the city had been experiencing> — see CURE 1

remedy verb
1 to bring about recovery from <a little extra studying should remedy your poor performance in history thus far this year> — see CURE 1
2 to remove errors, defects, deficiencies, or deviations from <needed to wear glasses to remedy her bad vision> — see CORRECT 1

remedying adjective
serving to raise or adjust something to some standard or proper condition <I've given the engine a remedying tune-up that should put an end to that knocking> — see CORRECTIVE 1

remember verb
to bring back to mind <I remember very clearly the fun we had that long-ago summer, but I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday>

Synonyms
flash back (to), hark back (to), harken back (to), hearken back (to), mind [chiefly dialect], recall, recollect, reminisce (about), reproduce, think (of)

Related Words
recapture, recur; educe, elicit, evoke, extract, raise, remind; relive; represent

Near Antonyms
misremember; disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook; lose, miss; blank (out)

Antonyms
disremember, forget, unlearn

remembrance noun
1 a particular act or instance of recalling or the thing remembered <a happy couple with many fond remembrances of when they were dating in college> — see MEMORY 2
2 something that serves to keep alive the memory of a person or event <she gave her boyfriend on the eve of his military service one of her lockets as a remembrance of their abiding affection> — see MEMORIAL
3 the power or process of recalling what has been previously learned or experienced <remembrance will wane with age> — see MEMORY 1

reminder noun
something that serves to keep alive the memory of a person or event <the peach tree in our front yard is a living reminder of my late grandfather, who owned an orchard> — see MEMORIAL

reminisce (about) verb
to bring back to mind <two friends reminiscing about those proverbial good old days> — see REMEMBER

reminiscence noun
1 a particular act or instance of recalling or the thing remembered <his reminiscences about the war were painful to hear> — see MEMORY 2
2 the power or process of recalling what has been previously learned or experienced <we wondered whether she could trust her reminiscence of events that happened so long ago> — see MEMORY 1

reminiscent adjective
provoking a memory or mental association <a sparkling winter day that was oddly reminiscent of summer in its cheering sunniness> — see SUGGESTIVE 2

remiss adjective
failing to give proper care and attention <I would be remiss if I didn't tell you how much I appreciated the lovely gift> — see NEGLIGENT

remissible adjective
worthy of forgiveness <only guilty of remissible sins> — see VENIAL

remission noun
release from the guilt or penalty of an offense <the remission of sins> — see PARDON

remissness noun
failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes <it took an incredible amount of reckless remissness on your part to leave the house with the front door wide open> — see NEGLIGENCE 1

remit verb
1 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <waited until the rain remitted a little and ran to the car> — see DECREASE 2
2 to dismiss as of little importance <the judge refused to remit the young man's cavalier disregard for his pile of unpaid speeding tickets and summarily revoked his driver's license> — see EXCUSE 1
3 to assign to a later time <the legislature has remitted the matter to the next session, where it will most likely die in committee> — see POSTPONE

remitment noun
the act of offering money in exchange for goods or services <the charge account will be closed upon the remitment of the outstanding balance> — see PAYMENT 1

remittable adjective
worthy of forgiveness <forgetting a doctor's appointment that was made months in advance is a remittable offense> — see VENIAL

remittal noun
release from the guilt or penalty of an offense <a king who was once obliged to do public penance for the remittal of his sins> — see PARDON

remittance noun
1 something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services <she always mails in her remittance on time so she won't ever be charged a late fee on her electric bill> — see PAYMENT 2
2 the act of offering money in exchange for goods or services <the remittance of your outstanding balance is required before you can make more purchases> — see PAYMENT 1

remnant noun
1 a remaining group or portion <sailed home with just a remnant of the colony's original population aboard> — see REMAINDER 1
2 an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value <gathered together her fabric remnants to see if she had enough of them to sew a doll blanket for her niece> — see 1SCRAP 1

remodel verb
to make different in some way <we completely remodeled the house right after we moved in> — see CHANGE 1

remodeling noun
the act, process, or result of making different <moved out of the apartment and into a motel during the remodeling> — see CHANGE 1

remonstrance noun
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent <over the vociferous remonstrances of my parents I decided to drop my music lessons> — see OBJECTION

remonstrate (with) verb
to present an opposing opinion or argument <discouraged her from remonstrating with her father, whose mind was obviously made up> — see OBJECT

remorse noun
a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <he felt a deep remorse for having neglected his family over the years> — see GUILT 1

remorseful adjective
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done <was remorseful about all the trouble that he had caused in the family> — see CONTRITE

remorsefulness noun
a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <he was gnawed by an unrelenting remorsefulness for the pain that he had caused people> — see GUILT 1

remorseless adjective
1 not sorry for having done wrong <the remorseless killer was sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole>

Synonyms
impenitent, shameless, unashamed, unrepentant

Related Words
compassionless, cruel, merciless, pitiless, ruthless, unmerciful; evil, immoral, iniquitous, nefarious, reprobate, unregenerate, unrighteous, vicious, vile, villainous, wicked; callous, cold-blooded, hard-hearted, heartless, inhuman, inhumane, obdurate, soulless, unfeeling

Near Antonyms
hangdog, shamefaced; charitable, compassionate, humane, merciful, sensitive, softhearted, sympathetic, tender, tenderhearted, warm, warmhearted

Antonyms
apologetic, ashamed, compunctious, contrite, guilty, penitent, regretful, remorseful, repentant, rueful, shamed, sorry

2 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <a remorseless and implacable hit man wordlessly pursuing his victim> — see HARD 1

remote adjective
1 small in degree <there's a remote chance that it'll rain today, so I brought an umbrella>

Synonyms
fragile, frail, negligible, off, outside, slight, slim, small

Related Words
marginal, minimal, minor; little, tiny

Near Antonyms
great, large; distinct, significant; considerable, goodly, healthy, largish, respectable, significant, sizable (or sizeable), substantial, tidy

Antonyms
good

2 having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <his grandfather had been a somewhat remote figure, at least until they got to spend a summer together> — see COOL 1
3 screened or sequestered from view <a remote cottage on the far side of the mountain> — see SECLUDED
4 not close in time or space <a permanent base on Mars is likely to happen only in the remote future> — see DISTANT 1

remotest adjective
most distant from a center <news of the emperor's death had spread even to the remotest corners of the empire> — see EXTREME 1

removal noun
the getting rid of whatever is unwanted or useless <a product for the removal of warts> — see DISPOSAL 1

remove noun
the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects <their farm is just a remove of two miles from the town center> — see DISTANCE 1

remove verb
1 to rid oneself of (a garment) <I removed my coat as soon as I got inside>

Synonyms
doff, douse, peel (off), put off, shrug off, take off

Related Words
husk, shed; kick (off); disrobe, strip, undress

Near Antonyms
wear; apparel, array, attire, bedeck, clothe, dress, garb, rig, robe, suit

Antonyms
don, put on, slip (into), throw (on)

2 to take away from a place or position <he carefully removed the old manuscript from the shelf>

Synonyms
clear, draw, take out, withdraw

Related Words
demount, dislodge; abstract, cut, draw off, draw out, extract, pull; budge, dislocate, displace, disturb, move, shift, transfer, transpose

Near Antonyms
mount; anchor, clamp, fix, hitch, moor, secure, set; embed (also imbed), entrench (also intrench), implant, ingrain (also engrain), lodge, root; set up, site, situate, stick

Antonyms
place, position, put

3 to change the place or position of <please remove that chair to the other room> — see MOVE 1
4 to let go from office, service, or employment <voters removed the racist selectman from office the first chance they got> — see DISMISS 1

removed adjective
not close in time or space <an island far removed from the mainland> — see DISTANT 1

remunerate verb
1 to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received <promptly remunerated the repair company for fixing the dryer> — see PAY 1
2 to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury <the negligent landlord must remunerate those made homeless by the fire by finding new housing for them at his own expense> — see COMPENSATE 1

remuneration noun
1 the act of offering money in exchange for goods or services <customers who are tardy in their remuneration will be subject to extra charges> — see PAYMENT 1
2 payment to another for a loss or injury <the vandals were ordered to pay the property owners thousands of dollars in remuneration> — see COMPENSATION 1
3 something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services <we can't accept your remuneration for services provided until we officially bill you> — see PAYMENT 2

remunerative adjective
yielding a profit <made a highly remunerative investment that will end up paying my college tuition> — see PROFITABLE 1

renaissance noun
a period of high artistic or cultural development <the 19th-century literary renaissance that prompted people to refer to Boston as the Athens of America> — see BELLE EPOQUE

rend verb
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it <the prophecy that the disaster would cause people to rend their garments in mourning> — see TEAR 1

render verb
1 to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress <a gentleman bandit who graciously asked his victims to render their wallets to his safe possession> — see SURRENDER 1
2 to make an exact likeness of <rendered Thomas Jefferson's signature for use on an array of gift items> — see COPY 1
3 to give a representation or account of in words <the witness convincingly rendered her version of events in just a few words> — see DESCRIBE 1

rendering noun
a vivid representation in words of someone or something <a poet's rendering of the euphoria experienced by lovers in the first blush of romance> — see DESCRIPTION 1

rendezvous noun
1 a place for spending time or for socializing <the arcade was the rendezvous of choice for most of the teenagers in town> — see HANGOUT
2 an agreement to be present at a specified time and place <I have a rendezvous with him at lunchtime> — see ENGAGEMENT 2

rendezvous verb
to come together into one body or place <we'll rendezvous at the entrance to the park at 6:00 p.m.> — see ASSEMBLE 1

rendition noun
1 a presentation of an artistic work (as a piece of music) from a particular point of view <jazzy renditions of some familiar pop standards> — see ACCOUNT 2
2 the usually forced yielding of one's person or possessions to the control of another <the rendition of the prisoner to the country where the crime was committed> — see SURRENDER

renegade noun
a person who abandons a cause or organization usually without right <a band of renegades who had deserted their infantry units and were making their way to Mexico>

Synonyms
apostate, defector, deserter, recreant

Related Words
betrayer, double-crosser, quisling, traitor, traitress (or traitoress), turnabout, turncoat; abandoner, come-outer, dropout, leaver; defier, insurgent, insurrectionary, insurrectionist, mutineer, rebel, red, revolter, revolutionary, revolutionist, revolutionizer; discontent, malcontent; recusant, refusenik (also refusnik), refuser

Near Antonyms
adherent, disciple, follower, supporter; fanatic, militant, partisan (also partizan), zealot

Antonyms
loyalist

renege verb
1 to break a promise or agreement <my so-called best friend promised to help me move, only to renege come Saturday morning>

Synonyms
back down, back off, back out, cop out, fink out

Related Words
chicken (out), wimp out; backpedal, backtrack; abjure, abnegate, disavow, forswear (also foreswear), recall, recant, repudiate, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw; beg off, cry off [chiefly British]

Phrases
go back on

Near Antonyms
adhere (to), follow through (with); comply (with), fulfill (or fulfil), honor, keep, satisfy

2 to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) <refused to renege the principles by which she had always lived her life, even if it resulted in losing her business> — see ABJURE 1

renew verb
1 to bring back to a former condition or vigor <the trip to New York renewed our enthusiasm for travel>

Synonyms
freshen, recharge, recreate, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, rejuvenate, repair, restore, resuscitate, revitalize, revive, revivify

Related Words
make over, overhaul, reclaim, recondition, reconstitute, redesign, redevelop, redo, reengineer, refurbish, rehab, rehabilitate, remake, remodel, renovate; refill, replenish, resupply; modernize, update

2 to begin again or return to after an interruption <with daybreak, the rescue team will renew its efforts to reach the stranded mountain climbers> — see RESUME
3 to bring back to life, practice, or activity <the spate of recent movies based on classic comic book characters has renewed interest in the comics themselves> — see REVIVE 1
4 to make or do again <I can only renew my offer to help—it's up to them to accept it> — see REPEAT 4

renewal noun
1 the act of saying or doing over again <a campaign season that witnessed the endless renewal of the same stupid charges and countercharges> — see REPEAT
2 the act or an instance of bringing something back to life, public attention, or vigorous activity <roller-skating experienced a major renewal after the introduction of in-line skates> — see REVIVAL

renewed adjective
made or become fresh in spirits or vigor <I was a renewed reader after that short nap> — see NEW 4

renounce verb
1 to give up (as a position of authority) formally <in wake of the corruption scandal, the congressman was forced to renounce his seat in the House> — see ABDICATE
2 to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) <after another failed romance he vowed that he was renouncing the world and becoming a monk> — see ABJURE 1

renouncement noun
the act or practice of giving up or rejecting something once enjoyed or desired <her renouncement of chocolate had a lot to do with the fact that it was causing her skin to break out> — see RENUNCIATION

renovate verb
to put into good shape or working order again <will have to renovate the house extensively before we can move in> — see MEND 1

renown noun
the fact or state of being known to the public <a basketball icon whose renown is truly international> — see FAME 1

renowned adjective
widely known <the renowned painter, sculptor, architect, and engineer, Leonardo da Vinci> — see FAMOUS 1

rent noun
1 a long deep cut <getting her skirt caught on a nail resulted in a four-inch rent that she couldn't possibly repair> — see GASH
2 an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) <peered through the rent in the old garden wall for a glimpse of her mysterious new neighbor> — see GAP 1

rent verb
1 to give the possession and use of (something) in return for periodic payment <we rented the apartment to a college student for $500 a month>

Synonyms
lease, let [chiefly British]

Related Words
charter, engage, hire; lodge; sublease, sublet; rack-rent

2 to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum <will need to rent a car while we're in Europe> — see HIRE 1

renter noun
1 one who rents a room or apartment in another's house <one of the renters called to tell us the hot water heater was broken> — see TENANT 1
2 the owner of land or housing that is rented to another <left our apartment keys at the renter's office just before leaving in the moving truck> — see LANDLORD 1

renunciation noun
the act or practice of giving up or rejecting something once enjoyed or desired <his sudden renunciation of his smoking habit pleased his whole family>

Synonyms
abnegation, renouncement, repudiation, self-denial

Related Words
denial, refusal; relinquishment, resignation, surrender; self-abnegation, self-renunciation

Near Antonyms
acceptance; adoption, embrace, embracement, espousal

Antonyms
indulgence, self-indulgence

reopen verb
to begin again or return to after an interruption <court will reopen after a brief recess> — see RESUME

1rep noun
a person who acts or does business for another <the company dispatched three reps to the annual marketing fair> — see AGENT 2

2rep noun, slang
overall quality as seen or judged by people in general <I have a rep as a player to maintain, you know> — see REPUTATION

repair noun
a state of being or fitness <the dining table is in good repair, so you won't need to refinish it> — see CONDITION 1

repair verb
1 to bring back to a former condition or vigor <it will take some time to repair your energy after a bout with the flu> — see RENEW 1
2 to put into good shape or working order again <having trouble finding someone who repairs audio components> — see MEND 1

repairable adjective
capable of being corrected <the damage to her career from this scandal may not be repairable> — see REMEDIABLE

reparable adjective
capable of being corrected <whether the harm your lying has done to our friendship is reparable or irreparable depends a lot on you> — see REMEDIABLE

reparation noun
payment to another for a loss or injury <the government instituted a program of reparations to the descendants of Native Americans who were driven from their land> — see COMPENSATION 1

repartee noun
1 a quick witty response <that repartee to the reporter's question drew laughs from the bystanders> — see RETORT 1
2 good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks <I wish we weren't many miles apart, as repartee is harder to do with text messaging> — see BANTER

repast noun
food eaten or prepared for eating at one time <monks taking their evening repast in silence> — see MEAL

repay verb
1 to make a return payment to <I repaid my friend the $20 he had lent me>

Synonyms
refund, reimburse

Related Words
give back, reciprocate, render (to); compensate, recompense, remunerate; liquidate, pay down, pay off, pay up, quit, satisfy, settle

Phrases
pay back

2 to make a return for <how can we ever repay your kindness?> — see RECIPROCATE

repeal noun
1 the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to <the long overdue repeal of laws prohibiting interracial marriage> — see CANCELLATION 1
2 the doing away with something by formal action <the repeal of Prohibition during Franklin D. Roosevelt's first term> — see ABOLITION

repeal verb
1 to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) <the company called the furniture store to repeal the order for six new desks> — see CANCEL 1
2 to put an end to by formal action <in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again> — see ABOLISH 1
3 to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) <if I find that you have been lying about this, I'll instantly repeal every promise I made to you> — see ABJURE 1

repeat noun
the act of saying or doing over again <if we don't want a repeat of last year's disastrous celebration, we had better do some more planning>

Synonyms
duplication, iteration, redo, reduplication, reiteration, renewal, repetition, replay, replication, reprise

Related Words
rebroadcast, rerun; recitation, rehearsal

repeat verb
1 to say or state again <I repeated the address over and over until I had it memorized>

Synonyms
chime, din, iterate, rehearse, reiterate

Related Words
paraphrase, reword; echo, reecho; mouth, parrot; abstract, encapsulate, epitomize, outline, recap, recapitulate, summarize, sum up

Phrases
come again

2 to give from memory <repeated correctly all the verses she had memorized>

Synonyms
recite, reel off, say

Related Words
con, learn, memorize, study; declaim, mouth, orate, speak

Near Antonyms
read

3 to say after another <now repeat the oath after me>

Synonyms
ditto, echo, parrot, quote, reecho

Related Words
mouth; ape, copy, copycat, emulate, imitate, mime, mimic

4 to make or do again <try not to repeat your mistakes>

Synonyms
duplicate, redo, reduplicate, reiterate, remake, renew, replicate, reprise

Related Words
recreate, reenact, reinvent

repeated adjective
appearing or occurring repeatedly from time to time <made repeated attempts to get in touch with her> — see REGULAR 1

repeatedly adverb
many times <I've told him repeatedly not to do that> — see OFTEN

repel verb
1 to drive back <the defenders repelled the attacking army after several hours of fierce fighting>

Synonyms
beat off, fend (off), rebut, repulse, stave off, turn away, turn back

Related Words
defy, fight, hold off, oppose, resist, stand off, withstand; deflect, ward (off); rebuff, snub, spurn

Near Antonyms
embrace, hail, welcome

2 to cause to feel disgust <the idea of chocolate-covered grasshoppers repels me> — see DISGUST
3 to refuse to give in to <repelled the temptation to stay out late and call in sick the next day> — see RESIST

repelled adjective
filled with disgust <repelled reviewers couldn't believe how violent the movie was> — see SICK 2

repellent also repellant adjective
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <your snobbish behavior towards my friends is so repellent I can't stand to be around you anymore> — see OFFENSIVE 1

repent verb
to feel sorry or dissatisfied about <after hearing what a great time you guys had at the party, I am repenting my decision to stay home> — see REGRET

repentance noun
a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <preached that repentance was the first step on the path of redemption> — see GUILT 1

repentant adjective
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done <repentant sinners> — see CONTRITE

repercussion noun
the power to bring about a result on another <your decision not to go to college will have repercussions you'll feel for years to come> — see EFFECT 2

repertoire noun
the number of individuals or amount of something available at any given time <the chef's repertoire of specialties seems to be limited, with several of the dishes appearing over and over again in slightly varied guises> — see SUPPLY

repetition noun
the act of saying or doing over again <the repetition of the honor society's oath at the initiation ceremonies got old really quickly> — see REPEAT

repetitious adjective
marked by repetition <at a real trial, repetitious questioning by the attorneys makes the whole affair less than thrilling> — see REPETITIVE

repetitive adjective
marked by repetition <the repetitive lyrics of so many rock songs>

Synonyms
duplicative, reiterative, repetitious

Related Words
redundant

rephrase verb
to express something (as a text or statement) in different words <I don't understand what you're asking—could you rephrase your question?> — see PARAPHRASE

rephrasing noun
an instance of expressing something in different words <a more polite rephrasing of your request might get better results> — see PARAPHRASE

repine verb
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <there is no use repining over a love that's been long lost> — see COMPLAIN

repine (for) verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <during the deep cold of winter, I repine for warm tropical beaches> — see DESIRE 1

replace verb
1 to take the place of <the old street lights were replaced by more energy-efficient models>

Synonyms
cut out, displace, displant, relieve, substitute, supersede, supplant

Related Words
preempt, usurp

2 to bring, send, or put back to a former or proper place <took the fragile vase down to look at it and then gently replaced it on the shelf> — see RETURN 1

replacement noun
a person or thing that takes the place of another <seeing that the starting quarterback was unable to play, the coach immediately called in his replacement> — see SUBSTITUTE

replay noun
the act of saying or doing over again <this conversation feels like a replay of the last time we hashed over the subject> — see REPEAT

replete adjective
1 having an excess of body fat <the merchant was a richly replete gentleman, clearly enjoying the fruits of his success> — see FAT 1
2 possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified <a gym that is replete with the very latest in home exercise equipment> — see RIFE
3 having one's appetite completely satisfied <everyone settled back and relaxed, completely replete after the huge meal> — see FULL 3

replica noun
1 something or someone that strongly resembles another <filled with the usual chain stores, the new mall is a too-familiar replica of hundreds of other malls> — see IMAGE 1
2 something that is made to look exactly like something else <assembled a small-scale replica of the Queen Mary ocean liner> — see COPY

replicate verb
1 to make an exact likeness of <replicated the famous painting in our art class> — see COPY 1
2 to make or do again <I can't replicate your results when I do the experiment myself> — see REPEAT 4

replication noun
1 something that is made to look exactly like something else <bought a smaller and cheaper replication of the marble statue for his garden> — see COPY
2 the act of saying or doing over again <we'll need to do a replication of that experiment so we can collect more data> — see REPEAT
3 something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question <his carefully worded replications suggested that he was well aware of the punishment for perjury> — see ANSWER 1

reply noun
1 action or behavior that is done in return to other action or behavior <decided the best reply to a wrongful discharge from employment was a lawsuit claiming discrimination> — see REACTION
2 something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question <I look forward to your reply to my request> — see ANSWER 1

reply verb
1 to act or behave in response (as to a stimulus or influence) <replied to the news that she had won the scholarship by jumping around the room and cheering> — see REACT
2 to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction <please reply to my question at your earliest convenience> — see ANSWER 1

report noun
1 a loud explosive sound <startled by the report of a gun> — see CLAP 1
2 a relating of events usually in the order in which they happened <gave a full report of their trip to London> — see ACCOUNT 1
3 overall quality as seen or judged by people in general <he's a player of good report in golfing circles> — see REPUTATION
4 information or opinion that is widely disseminated without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <the report is that she was caught embezzling, but no one has any evidence> — see RUMOR

report verb
1 to give an oral or written account of in some detail <will report the progress of the war effort before a congressional committee on Monday> — see TELL 1
2 to make a written note of <reported the lawyer's closing statement> — see RECORD 1

reporter noun
a person employed by a newspaper, magazine, or radio or television station to gather, write, or report news <the reporter was careful to ask as many questions as possible without annoying anyone>

Synonyms
correspondent, intelligencer, journalist, newshound, newsman, newsperson, pressman [British]

Related Words
announcer, broadcaster, newscaster, newspaperman, newspaperwoman, newswoman; anchor, anchorman, anchorperson, anchorwoman; byliner, columnist, commentator; copyreader, editor; muckraker, photojournalist, police reporter, sportswriter, staffer, stringer

repose noun
1 a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself <typically the wealthy socialite spends most of the morning in repose, is served lunch, and then embarks on an exhaustive afternoon of shopping> — see SLEEP 1
2 a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <enjoyed the repose of a serene summer evening> — see CALM 1
3 freedom from activity or labor <the doctor ordered a period of repose for the patient recovering from pneumonia> — see 1REST 1
4 evenness of emotions or temper <her repose in the face of the screaming demonstrators was impressive> — see EQUANIMITY

1repose verb
1 to remain out of sight <a little-explored region beneath which vast mineral reserves are said to repose> — see 1HIDE 3
2 to refrain from labor or exertion <reposed in the Caribbean sun, enjoying her break from the world of work> — see REST 1

2repose verb
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <the Constitution reposes the power to declare war to Congress, and to that body alone> — see GIVE 2

reposit verb
to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability <the radioactive waste will be stored on-site until it can be reposited elsewhere> — see STORE 1

reposition verb
to change the place or position of <she repositioned the wood before taking another swing with the ax> — see MOVE 1

repository noun
a building for storing goods <nurses going back and forth to the medication repository> — see STOREHOUSE

repossess verb
to get again in one's possession <if you don't pay off the loan, the bank will come and repossess your car> — see RECOVER 1

repossession noun
the act or process of getting something back <an account of France's loss of the Louisiana Territory to Spain and its brief repossession of the area before selling it to the U.S. in 1803> — see RECOVERY 1

reprehend verb
1 to declare to be morally wrong or evil <that denomination reprehends murder in any form, contending that the taking of life is never justified> — see CONDEMN 1
2 to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of <without exception, book reviewers reprehended the novel's tired plot> — see CRITICIZE

reprehensible adjective
1 deserving reproach or blame <a reprehensible tyrant, who oppressed his country for decades, has finally been brought to justice> — see BLAMEWORTHY
2 provoking or likely to provoke protest <your behavior towards the other team was truly reprehensible, so you're being suspended from the next three games> — see OBJECTIONABLE

represent verb
1 to point out the chief quality or qualities of an individual or group <the writer of the magazine article represented the students at the academy as a bunch of spoiled brats> — see CHARACTERIZE 1
2 to present a picture of <a painting representing the ocean at sunrise> — see PICTURE 1
3 to serve as a material counterpart of <this orange represents the sun and this pea represents the Earth> — see SYMBOLIZE

representational adjective
having the function or meaning of an object or figure that stands for something else <a computer program with representational icons for different functions> — see SYMBOLIC

representationalism noun
realistic depiction in art and literature <the artist eventually abandoned the representationalism of his earlier work> — see VERISIMILITUDE

representative adjective
1 having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind <a representative example of what that talented chef can do with even simple ingredients> — see TYPICAL 1
2 having the function or meaning of an object or figure that stands for something else <a red cross on this map is representative of a hospital or other medical facility> — see SYMBOLIC

representative noun
1 a person who acts or does business for another <a representative from the car dealership called to ask how we were enjoying the new car> — see AGENT 2
2 a person sent on a mission to represent another <I speak on this matter as a representative of the people of the U.S.> — see AMBASSADOR
3 one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like <this song is a fairly good representative of the other songs on the album> — see EXAMPLE

repress verb
1 to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <quickly repressed the rebellion in the provincial city and restored order> — see QUELL 1
2 to refrain from openly showing or uttering <you can't repress your feelings forever, so tell her how you feel about her> — see SUPPRESS 2

repressed adjective
not excessively showy <a 19th-century church in the repressed style favored by the strict religious sect> — see QUIET 2

repression noun
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others <psychologists talking about the repression of anger and how it affects one's health> — see CONSTRAINT 1

reprimand noun
an often public or formal expression of disapproval <while reviewing the troops, the officer delivered a curt reprimand to one of the soldiers> — see CENSURE

reprimand verb
1 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <reprimanded the summer intern for her constant tardiness> — see SCOLD
2 to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault <reprimanded the student for using the lax grammar and punctuation of text messaging in a term paper> — see REBUKE 1
3 to express public or formal disapproval of <the president was forced to reprimand the general for publicly voicing his disagreements with the nation's foreign policy> — see CENSURE 1

reprisal noun
1 usually reprisals plural payment to another for a loss or injury <a peace agreement that was rejected because it contained no provisions for reprisals> — see COMPENSATION 1
2 the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury <after defeating them last year in the finals, our team nervously awaited the expected reprisal by our archrivals in this year's tournament> — see REVENGE

reprise noun
the act of saying or doing over again <his second marriage turned out to be a reprise of the first one: equally disastrous, simply shorter> — see REPEAT

reprise verb
1 to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) <the prosecutor's closing statement effectively reprised the case against the defendant> — see SUMMARIZE
2 to make or do again <let us not reprise the stupid mistakes we made last time> — see REPEAT 4

reproach noun
1 a cause of shame <your public display of boorish behavior is a reproach to this entire school> — see DISGRACE 2
2 an often public or formal expression of disapproval <a letter of reproach was added to her dossier> — see CENSURE
3 the state of having lost the esteem of others <nothing the traitor did in later life lessened the reproach in which he was universally held> — see DISGRACE 1

reproach verb
1 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <our neighbor loudly reproached us for tromping through his yard> — see SCOLD
2 to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault <she cleared her throat as a way of reproaching us for having our elbows on the table> — see REBUKE 1
3 to express public or formal disapproval of <the governor reproached the legislature for failing to pass the budget on time and once again throwing the state into fiscal chaos> — see CENSURE 1

reproachable adjective
deserving reproach or blame <there are only a few reproachable lapses in a generally well-researched book> — see BLAMEWORTHY

reprobate adjective
having or showing lowered moral character or standards <a reprobate judge who could be bribed, and often with astonishing ease> — see CORRUPT

reprobate noun
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <a program for rehabilitating hard-core reprobates and turning them into hard-working, law-abiding citizens> — see VILLAIN

reprobate verb
1 to be unwilling to grant <the board will most likely reprobate the request for parole> — see DENY 2
2 to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <without hesitation she reprobated such an indecent idea> — see DECLINE 1
3 to declare to be morally wrong or evil <spent much of her talk reprobating the callous indifference of a materialistic society to the suffering of people in the third world> — see CONDEMN 1

reproduce verb
1 to bring forth offspring <mice reproduce at a much faster rate than humans do> — see PROCREATE
2 to make an exact likeness of <you'll have to reproduce that design on every tile in the bathroom> — see COPY 1
3 to bring back to mind <I can almost reproduce the information in my head, but not quite> — see REMEMBER

reproduction noun
something that is made to look exactly like something else <walked through a reproduction of the interior of the Parthenon as it must have looked when it was first built> — see COPY

reproof noun
an often public or formal expression of disapproval <even in church we were not free from Mother's familiar reproof of our ingrained tendency to fidget in our seats> — see CENSURE

reprove verb
1 to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault <my piano teacher often reproves me for slouching while playing, observing that good posture helps one play better> — see REBUKE 1
2 to express public or formal disapproval of <the principal reproved the hockey team for their display of poor sportsmanship on the ice and ordered that a letter of apology be sent to the other school> — see CENSURE 1
3 to hold an unfavorable opinion of <the older generation has always reproved the younger generation's taste in music> — see DISAPPROVE OF

reptile noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <the actor plays a total reptile who's somehow still a hit with the ladies> — see JERK 1

republic noun
government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation <when asked by a passerby what sort of government the constitutional convention had formulated for the new nation, Benjamin Franklin memorably replied, “A republic, if you can keep it”> — see DEMOCRACY

republican adjective
of, relating to, or favoring political democracy <a small but well-organized republican movement working quietly to overthrow the military dictatorship> — see DEMOCRATIC

repudiate verb
1 to declare not to be true <vigorously repudiated the charge that she had lied on her résumé> — see DENY 1
2 to refuse to acknowledge as one's own or as one's responsibility <the angry mother bitterly repudiated her teenaged daughter, telling her that she never wanted to see or hear from her again> — see DISCLAIM 1
3 to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <we didn't like the terms, so we repudiated the contract> — see DECLINE 1
4 to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) <the producers of the hit TV show threatened to take the disgruntled actor to court if he attempted to repudiate his contract> — see ABJURE 1

repudiation noun
1 a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement <voters seemed satisfied by the candidate's public repudiation of the beliefs of an organization to which he had briefly belonged as a youth> — see DENIAL 2
2 the act or practice of giving up or rejecting something once enjoyed or desired <New Year's resolutions typically include the repudiation of chocolate and other indulgences and the promise to resume working out at the gym> — see RENUNCIATION

repugnance noun
a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness <could barely contain her repugnance of frogs and nearly threw up when she found out we'd have to dissect one in science class> — see DISGUST

repugnant adjective
1 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <graffiti that featured absolutely repugnant racial slurs> — see OFFENSIVE 1
2 not being in agreement or harmony <technically speaking, it may not be a violation, but it is certainly repugnant to the spirit of the law> — see INCONSISTENT 1

repulse noun
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly <the waiter's incredibly rude repulse of our polite request for a better table—one that wasn't right next to the kitchen—prompted us to walk out> — see COLD SHOULDER

repulse verb
1 to cause to feel disgust <the smell of that town's paper mill totally repulses me> — see DISGUST
2 to drive back <the defense repeatedly repulsed all of the offense's attempts to move the ball forward, keeping them firmly planted on the 20-yard line> — see REPEL 1

repulsed adjective
filled with disgust <I am repulsed that you think it's OK to cheat on your taxes> — see SICK 2

repulsion noun
a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness <we giggled at my father, who was overcome with repulsion when he realized he was eating octopus> — see DISGUST

repulsive adjective
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <a repulsive display of shameless flattery that made the embarrassed actor wrinkle his nose in disgust> — see OFFENSIVE 1

repulsiveness noun
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay <horror films that seem to be trying to outdo one another in the repulsiveness of their monsters> — see HORROR 1

reputable adjective
having a good reputation especially in a field of knowledge <make sure you buy your used car from a reputable dealer> — see RESPECTABLE 1

reputation noun
overall quality as seen or judged by people in general <the college's athletic department has a good reputation, but the school's science facilities are a bit lacking>

Synonyms
character, fame, mark, name, note, odor, rep [slang], report, repute

Related Words
credit, honor; celebrity, notoriety, renown; image, persona; admiration, regard, reverence

Near Antonyms
discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, reproach, shame

repute noun
overall quality as seen or judged by people in general <that's a repair shop of good repute> — see REPUTATION

reputed adjective
1 appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed <this treatment is a reputed cure for colon cancer, but studies haven't confirmed that claim> — see APPARENT 1
2 having a good reputation especially in a field of knowledge <a reputed oceanographer whose excellent work is known internationally> — see RESPECTABLE 1

request noun
1 an act or instance of asking for information <the medical columnist is unable to answer individual requests for specific information on various disorders> — see QUESTION 2
2 the state of being sought after especially for purchase <reliable babysitters are much in request, especially on weekends> — see DEMAND 2

request verb
1 to give a request or demand for <a notice requesting that I report for jury duty on Monday morning> — see ORDER 2
2 to make a request for <request extra ketchup for my fries> — see ASK FOR 1
3 to make a request of <a letter from the First Lady graciously requesting the chorus to perform at the White House> — see ASK 2

requiem noun
a composition expressing one's grief over a loss <the choir will sing Mozart's Requiem> — see LAMENT 2

require verb
to have as a requirement <the toy requires four batteries, which are not included> — see NEED 1

required adjective
1 forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law <formal instruction in driving is required in this state before you can get your driver's license> — see MANDATORY
2 impossible to do without <with these frigid winds, hats, scarves, and good mittens are required equipment for heading outside> — see ESSENTIAL 1

requirement noun
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable <this science course is a requirement for graduation> — see ESSENTIAL 1

requisite adjective
impossible to do without <this new CD is the requisite album of the year for classical music lovers> — see ESSENTIAL 1

requisite noun
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable <Art 101 is a requisite for Art 201> — see ESSENTIAL 1

requisition noun
something that someone insists upon having <a brand-new, top-notch computer was the new science teacher's first requisition> — see DEMAND 1

requisition verb
to give a request or demand for <the invading soldiers requisitioned food and gasoline from the townspeople> — see ORDER 2

requital noun
1 payment to another for a loss or injury <the judge ordered the landlord to pay his former tenants $100,000 each as requital for goods lost or damaged in the apartment fire> — see COMPENSATION 1
2 something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services <the electrician's requital for the used car was in the form of work on the dealer's house> — see PAYMENT 2
3 the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury <“an eye for an eye” is a form of requital that is still legal in some countries> — see REVENGE

requite verb
1 to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury <the company requited the employee who had fallen on the ice while leaving work by promptly paying all his medical bills, hoping that would stave off a lawsuit> — see COMPENSATE 1
2 to punish in kind the wrongdoer responsible for <the future writer would later requite the abuse he suffered at the hands of his classmates by creating scathing portraits of them in his novels> — see AVENGE
3 to make a return for <I fear my love for her will never be requited> — see RECIPROCATE

rescind verb
1 to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) <the library refused to rescind its decision to include the controversial book in its collection> — see CANCEL 1
2 to put an end to by formal action <the new mayor vowed not to seek to rescind existing laws prohibiting smoking in the city's public places> — see ABOLISH 1

rescindment noun
the doing away with something by formal action <the university's controversial rescindment of an invitation to speak at commencement> — see ABOLITION

rescission noun
the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to <the judge ruled that the town's rescission of the contract was justified due the contractor's repeated failures to meet its obligations> — see CANCELLATION 1

rescript noun
an order publicly issued by an authority <even though there was never an official rescript ordering mass genocide, that was indeed the intent and effect of the government's policy> — see EDICT 1

rescue noun
the saving from danger or evil <stranded people hoping for rescue from the rising floodwaters> — see SALVATION

rescue verb
to remove from danger or harm <an all-out effort to rescue a beached whale> — see SAVE 2

rescuer noun
one that saves from danger or destruction <rescuers went out immediately in search of the lost child> — see SAVIOR

research noun
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something <I'll have to do some research for this project> — see INQUIRY 1

research verb
to search through or into <researched the public record for more information about her great-grandparents> — see EXPLORE 1

researcher noun
one who observes or studies by close examination and systematic inquiry <medical researchers reported some eye-opening findings on the effectiveness of statins in the reduction of LDL in the bloodstream> — see INVESTIGATOR 1

resemblance noun
1 a point which two or more things share in common <I see a family resemblance between you and your brother> — see SIMILARITY 2
2 the quality or state of having many qualities in common <the look of the director's latest film bears a strong resemblance to the look of his last film> — see SIMILARITY 1

resemblant adjective
having qualities in common <hay fever and the common cold are such resemblant conditions that it can be difficult to tell which one you have> — see ALIKE

resembling adjective
having qualities in common <resembling Impressionist landscapes were hung side by side so that visitors could compare how fellow artists treated the same subject matter> — see ALIKE

resent verb
to have a resentful awareness of and desire for (another's possessions or advantages) or to feel resentment toward (someone) over possessions or advantages <a public prosecutor who resents the nice clothes, fancy car, and big house that his old law school classmate has> <always resented her baby brother, whom her parents doted on> — see ENVY

resentful adjective
1 having or showing deep-seated resentment <he is still resentful about being passed over for a promotion> — see BITTER 1
2 having or showing mean resentment of another's possessions or advantages <resentful of her cousin's wealth> — see ENVIOUS

resentfully adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <she apologized later, but it was clear she did so resentfully> — see HARD 2

resentment noun
1 a lingering ill will towards a person for a real or imagined wrong <if you continue to harbor resentment toward your father, you'll never be able to move on with your life> — see GRUDGE 1
2 a painful awareness of another's possessions or advantages and a desire to have them too <I don't have any resentment over my friend's luxurious house> — see ENVY
3 the feeling of being offended or resentful after a slight or indignity <my resentment at being spoken to like I'm stupid> — see PIQUE

reservation noun
1 a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something <despite my reservations, we hired the young teen as a babysitter> — see DOUBT
2 something upon which the carrying out of an agreement or offer depends <gave us his approval without any reservations> — see CONDITION 2

reserve noun
1 the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others <the salesclerk showed great reserve in dealing with the unreasonable demands of the angry customer> — see CONSTRAINT 1
2 a collection of things kept available for future use or need <our fuel reserves are low> — see STORE
3 a person or thing that takes the place of another <when the first brigade fell back in retreat, the commander sent out the reserves to try to hold the line of battle> — see SUBSTITUTE
4 an interchangeable part or piece of equipment that is kept on hand for replacement of an original <don't throw that extra bike chain away, as I want to keep it as a reserve in case the current one breaks> — see SPARE

reserve verb
1 to arrange to have something (as a hotel room) held for one's future use <we made sure to reserve a kennel for our dog several months before the start of the family vacation>

Synonyms
bespeak, book

Related Words
earmark; contract, engage, hire, retain

2 to continue to have in one's possession or power <I'm reserving the right to work by myself if you don't do your share of the project> — see KEEP 2
3 to keep or intend for a special purpose <we must reserve this cup for ceremonial use only> — see DEVOTE 1

reserved adjective
tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination) <a reserved and shy person who was wrongly thought to be stuck-up until someone finally got into a conversation with her> — see SILENT 2

reservoir noun
the number of individuals or amount of something available at any given time <the area boasts a large reservoir of college-educated people for companies to draw on> — see SUPPLY

reside verb
to have a home <he's a freelance writer who resides in the Midwest> — see LIVE 1

residence noun
the place where one lives <police stopped by his residence to question him> — see HOME 1

residency noun
the act or fact of residing in a place <as much as I've enjoyed my residency in this state, it may be time to move on> — see OCCUPANCY

resident noun
one who lives permanently in a place <a resident of Atlanta> — see INHABITANT

resider noun
one who lives permanently in a place <was born in the U.S. but is now a resider of Dresden, Germany> — see INHABITANT

residue noun
1 the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed <the detective noticed an ashy residue in the sink and deduced that a piece of paper had been burned there> — see REMAINS 1
2 a remaining group or portion <the residue of our Thanksgiving feast consisted of a denuded turkey carcass and a couple rolls> — see REMAINDER 1

residuum noun
a remaining group or portion <even highly decaffeinated coffee contains a tiny residuum of caffeine> — see REMAINDER 1

resign verb
to give up (as a position of authority) formally <following the election, the incumbent cabinet members resigned their positions so the president could feel free to pick a new administration> — see ABDICATE

resign (from) verb
to give up (a job or office) <resigned from the company after the news broke that he had been falsifying financial statements for years> — see QUIT 1

resigned adjective
receiving or enduring without offering resistance <I am resigned to the fact that I'll never make the list of the 400 richest Americans> — see PASSIVE

resilient adjective
able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted <after being dipped in liquid nitrogen, the rubber ball's normally resilient surface is as brittle as ceramic> — see ELASTIC 1

resist verb
to refuse to give in to <it is important to resist the temptation to run away from your problems>

Synonyms
buck, defy, fight, oppose, repel, withstand

Related Words
battle, combat, contend (with); challenge, contest, contradict, dispute; baffle, balk, foil, frustrate, thwart; check, counter, hinder, obstruct, stem

Antonyms
bow (to), capitulate (to), give in (to), knuckle under (to), stoop (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to)

resistance noun
1 the inclination to resist <after some initial resistance, the city council warmed up to the proposed development plan>

Synonyms
defiance, opposition

Related Words
demur, objection, protest, remonstrance; compunction, misgiving, reservation; disobedience, noncompliance, recalcitrance

Near Antonyms
compliance, obedience; acceptance, approval

Antonyms
acquiescence

2 a secret organization in a conquered country fighting against enemy forces <soldiers from the resistance were captured after a skirmish outside the foreign ministry>

Synonyms
underground

Related Words
cabal, conspiracy

resolute adjective
fully committed to achieving a goal <despite the risks involved, she was resolute in her decision to undergo the experimental operation> — see DETERMINED 1

resolutely adverb
with great effort or determination <resolutely championed the unpopular causes for most of his political career> — see HARD 1

resoluteness noun
firm or unwavering adherence to one's purpose <with a resoluteness that was admirable, the losing team continued to play hard until the bitter end> — see DETERMINATION 1

resolution noun
1 a position arrived at after consideration <her resolution to become a vegetarian is based on what she recently learned about modern farming practices> — see DECISION 1
2 firm or unwavering adherence to one's purpose <that athlete's resolution to win is amazing> — see DETERMINATION 1

resolvable adjective
capable of having the reason for or cause of determined <I have no doubt that this mystery will turn out to be resolvable> — see SOLVABLE

resolve noun
firm or unwavering adherence to one's purpose <a naval pilot who has been unwavering in his resolve to become an astronaut> — see DETERMINATION 1

resolve verb
1 to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration <I resolved to eat more healthily and to exercise regularly> — see DECIDE 1
2 to find an answer for through reasoning <resolve the apparent contradictions in the collected data> — see SOLVE
3 to set or force apart <a prism will resolve a beam of light into an array of colors> — see SEPARATE 1

resolved adjective
fully committed to achieving a goal <only the most resolved of explorers had any chance of finding the source of the Nile> — see DETERMINED 1

resonant adjective
marked by conspicuously full and rich sounds or tones <the orator's resonant voice filled the hall>

Synonyms
golden, orotund, plangent, resounding, reverberant, reverberating, reverberative, ringing, rotund, round, sonorous, vibrant

Related Words
deep, full, mellifluent, mellifluous, mellow, plummy, rich; loud, powerful, stentorian, thundering, thunderous

Near Antonyms
cavernous, hollow; faint, low, murmurous, muted, smothered, soft, weak; thin, tinny

resonate verb
to continue or be repeated in a series of reflected sound waves <the deep sounds of the bassoon resonated through the concert hall> — see REVERBERATE

resort noun
1 a place for spending time or for socializing <the island port was once the resort of smugglers, pirates, and other unsavory characters> — see HANGOUT
2 something that one uses to accomplish an end especially when the usual means is not available <use this money only as a last resort> — see RESOURCE 1

resort (to) verb
1 to use or seek out as a source of aid, relief, or advantage <unable to achieve their ends politically, some of the opposition groups have begun to resort to violence>

Synonyms
consult, go (to), refer (to), turn (to)

Related Words
employ, use, utilize; depend (on), rely (on)

Phrases
fall back on

2 to go to or spend time in often <resorted to the library whenever he felt the need for a little peace and quiet> — see FREQUENT

resound verb
1 to proclaim the glory of <folk songs that resound the noble deeds of the nation's heroes of yore> — see PRAISE 1
2 to continue or be repeated in a series of reflected sound waves <thunder resounded across the plain> — see REVERBERATE

resounding adjective
1 full of or characterized by the presence of noise <the resounding hubbub of the streets of New York City> — see NOISY 2
2 marked by a high volume of sound <the emcee announced the winner in a resounding voice that could be heard all the way to the back of the hall> — see LOUD 1
3 marked by conspicuously full and rich sounds or tones <a resounding chord> — see RESONANT
4 marked by or uttered with forcefulness <a resounding defeat for the opposition party> — see EMPHATIC 1

resource noun
1 something that one uses to accomplish an end especially when the usual means is not available <we used every possible resource to raise the funds needed to save our town's oldest house>

Synonyms
expedient, recourse, resort

Related Words
hope, opportunity, possibility, relief; makeshift, replacement, stopgap, substitute

2 resources plural available money <do you have the resources to buy a new car or even a used car?> — see FUND 2

respect noun
1 relation to or concern with something specified <with respect to your application>

Synonyms
reference, regard

2 a feeling of great approval and liking <I have a lot of respect for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s steadfast courage> — see ADMIRATION 1
3 respects plural best wishes <give your mother my respects> — see COMPLIMENT 2

respect verb
to think very highly or favorably of <an upstanding senator who is respected by political allies and foes alike> — see ADMIRE

respectable adjective
1 having a good reputation especially in a field of knowledge <no respectable dietician would advise people to eat just one kind of food>

Synonyms
esteemed, estimable, name, prestigious, recognized, reputable, reputed, respected

Related Words
honorable, venerable, worthy; creditable, good, praiseworthy; celebrated, distinguished, famed, famous, honored, illustrious, notable, prominent, redoubtable, renowned, well-known

Near Antonyms
seedy, shadowy, shady; no-name, obscure, undistinguished, unknown

Antonyms
disreputable

2 following the accepted rules of moral conduct <cheating is not a respectable thing to do under any circumstances> — see HONORABLE 1
3 following the established traditions of refined society and good taste <has the respectable manners of someone who was well brought up> — see PROPER 1
4 of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards <the artwork that we commissioned from the muralist turned out to be respectable but was not quite what we had hoped for> — see ADEQUATE
5 sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention <got paid a respectable sum for speaking at our graduation> — see CONSIDERABLE 1

respectably adverb
in a satisfactory way <the stock performed respectably, giving us a decent return on our investment> — see WELL 1

respected adjective
having a good reputation especially in a field of knowledge <a respected oncologist whose reputation brought her patients from all over the world> — see RESPECTABLE 1

respectful adjective
marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status <the children were remarkably respectful while in the president's office>

Synonyms
deferent, deferential, dutiful, regardful

Related Words
reverent, reverential, venerating, worshipful; fawning, genuflecting, groveling (or grovelling), hagiographic (or hagiographical), kowtowing, obsequious, servile, subservient, sycophantic, toadying; civil, courteous, gracious, polite; kid-glove, kid-gloved

Near Antonyms
abusive, insulting, offensive; belittling, demeaning, depreciative, depreciatory, derogatory, disparaging; contemptuous, impudent, irreverent, scornful; discourteous, insolent, rude, uncivil

Antonyms
disrespectful, undutiful

respecting preposition
having to do with <respecting your earlier question, I'd like to make an additional comment> — see ABOUT 1

respective adjective
not the same or shared <it was late when the concert let out, so we all went our respective ways> — see SEPARATE 1

respire verb
to inhale and exhale air <though unconscious, the patient is still respiring> — see BREATHE 1

resplendence noun
impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <the fabled resplendence of the Taj Mahal> — see MAGNIFICENCE

resplendency noun
impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <the hills of Vermont were awash in the resplendency of the state's celebrated autumnal foliage> — see MAGNIFICENCE

respond verb
1 to act or behave in response (as to a stimulus or influence) <doctors studying how the brain responds to pain> — see REACT
2 to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction <the students energetically participated in the discussion, responding to the teacher's questions and comments with alacrity and enthusiasm> — see ANSWER 1

response noun
1 action or behavior that is done in return to other action or behavior <my response to my first boxing defeat was to train even harder> — see REACTION
2 something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question <the real estate office's unhelpful response to my question about what houses in the area are renting for> — see ANSWER 1

responsibility noun
1 the state of being held as the cause of something that needs to be set right <responsibility for the accident lies with the driver who was speeding>

Synonyms
blame, fault, liability

Related Words
accountability, answerability

2 something one must do because of prior agreement <I had the responsibility of closing up the shop at night> — see OBLIGATION 1
3 worthiness as the recipient of another's trust or confidence <the newspaper publisher should hire kids of greater responsibility to deliver its papers> — see RELIABILITY

responsible adjective
1 being the one who must meet an obligation or suffer the consequences for failing to do so <the state laws hold pet owners responsible for any damage or injury done by improperly restrained animals>

Synonyms
accountable, amenable, answerable, liable

Related Words
beholden, indebted, obligated, obliged

Near Antonyms
exempt, immune

Antonyms
irresponsible, nonaccountable, unaccountable

2 worthy of one's trust <our regular babysitter is very responsible> — see DEPENDABLE

1rest noun
1 freedom from activity or labor <the coming weekend will provide some much needed rest>

Synonyms
decompression, ease, leisure, relaxation, repose

Related Words
catnapping, dozing, lazing, napping, resting, sleep, slumber, slumbering, snoozing; quiet, silence, stillness; calm, peace, peacefulness, placidity, respite, restfulness, sereneness, serenity, tranquillity (or tranquility), tranquilness; dolce far niente, idleness

Near Antonyms
pressure, strain, stress, tenseness, tension

Antonyms
exertion, labor, toil, work

2 a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself <after a long day, I lay down on the couch for a little rest before dinner> — see SLEEP 1

2rest noun
a remaining group or portion <can you hand me the rest of those papers?> — see REMAINDER 1

rest verb
1 to refrain from labor or exertion <a beach resort that caters to gung ho exercisers and athletes as well as vacationers who just want to rest>

Synonyms
bask, kick back, loll, lounge, relax, repose

Related Words
bum, goldbrick, hang, hang about [British], hang around, idle, loaf, slack (off), veg out

Near Antonyms
drudge, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, work; exercise, work out

2 to be in a state of sleep <the patient is currently resting, but as soon as he awakes, I'll tell him you called> — see SLEEP 1
3 to find a basis <you're resting your argument on a faulty premise> — see BASE

restart verb
to begin again or return to after an interruption <after being shut down for three years, the power plant will restart operations this week> — see RESUME

restate verb
to express something (as a text or statement) in different words <though I couldn't remember the exact words he used, I restated his message as accurately as I could> — see PARAPHRASE

restatement noun
an instance of expressing something in different words <the press release provides no new details—it is merely a restatement of information we already have> — see PARAPHRASE

restating noun
an instance of expressing something in different words <I think the intent of the passage comes through better in the editor's restating> — see PARAPHRASE

restaurant noun
a public establishment where meals are served to paying customers for consumption on the premises <when we get sick of cooking dinner at home, we like to go out to eat at a nice restaurant>

Synonyms
beanery, café (also cafe), caff [British], diner, eatery, grill

Related Words
cafeteria, lunch counter, luncheonette, lunchroom, snack bar; greasy spoon, hash house; chophouse, steak house; pizzeria; coffeehouse, coffee shop, estaminet, teahouse, tearoom, tea shop [chiefly British]; bar, barroom, inn, tavern

restful adjective
free from disturbing noise or uproar <I hope you had a relaxing and restful weekend> — see QUIET 1

restfulness noun
a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <enjoyed the bucolic restfulness of the retreat center> — see CALM 1

resting adjective
being in a state of suspended consciousness <the resting cat was curled up in my favorite chair> — see ASLEEP 1

resting noun
a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself <the hyena is ready to scavenge again after its brief resting> — see SLEEP 1

restitution noun
payment to another for a loss or injury <sought restitution from the other driver's insurance company for lost wages> — see COMPENSATION 1

restive adjective
1 given to resisting authority or another's control <the restive horse threw its head and refused to move when the rider urged it forward> — see DISOBEDIENT
2 lacking or denying rest <spent a restive night worrying about the next day's exam> — see RESTLESS 1

restiveness noun
1 a disturbed or uneasy state <the nighttime tornado warnings were the likely source of the restiveness that could be felt all over town> — see UNREST
2 a state of nervousness marked by sudden jerky movements <I sensed that his restiveness at breakfast probably had something to do with the big presentation he would be making at the sales conference> — see JUMPINESS

restless adjective
1 lacking or denying rest <the worried mother spent a restless night, tossing and turning in bed for hours>

Synonyms
restive, uneasy, unquiet, unrestful

Related Words
agitated, distressed, disturbed, perturbed, troubled, unsettled; aflutter, anxious, dithery, edgy, fidgety, het up, hung up, jittery, jumpy, nervous, nervy, tense, upset, uptight, worried

Near Antonyms
calm, easy, peaceful, quiet, relaxing, tranquil

Antonyms
restful

2 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <the figure skater was visibly restless as she waited for her scores to be posted> — see NERVOUS 2

restlessness noun
1 a disturbed or uneasy state <the restlessness of the crowd was apparent as it waited to learn whether the football player was seriously injured> — see UNREST
2 the state of being bored <she began to pick at the grass near her hammock out of sheer restlessness> — see BOREDOM

restorative adjective
1 beneficial to the health of body or mind <took a restorative vitamin mix to improve his immune system> — see HEALTHFUL
2 having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind <I am in need of a long, restorative vacation> — see TONIC 1
3 tending to cure disease or restore health <relocation to a milder climate proved to be just the restorative measure that was needed for the sickly child> — see MEDICINAL 1

restore verb
1 to bring back to a former condition or vigor <restore an old car> — see RENEW 1
2 to bring, send, or put back to a former or proper place <restored the trophy to its proper place at the center of the shelf> — see RETURN 1

restrain verb
1 to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <the victim's family members were unable to restrain their emotions upon hearing the verdict> — see CONTROL 1
2 to take or keep under one's control by authority of law <the suspect was restrained and taken to an undisclosed location> — see ARREST 1

restrained adjective
not excessively showy <a restrained but elegant black purse> — see QUIET 2

restraint noun
1 the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others <it will take a great deal of restraint to keep from telling her how ugly that dress is> — see CONSTRAINT 1
2 something that limits one's freedom of action or choice <civil libertarians contend that the new laws place too many restraints on our constitutionally guaranteed rights> — see RESTRICTION 1
3 the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions <he shows very little restraint or tact when expressing his opinions about others> — see WILL 1

restrict verb
to set bounds or an upper limit for <will restrict access to the laboratory> — see LIMIT 1

restricted adjective
having distinct or certain limits <the public is allowed some restricted access to the government-owned land> — see LIMITED 1

restriction noun
1 something that limits one's freedom of action or choice <the logging company decided to relocate to another state where there would be fewer restrictions on its operations>

Synonyms
check, circumscription, condition, constraint, curb, fetter, limitation, restraint, stricture

Related Words
exception, proviso, qualification, reservation, stipulation, strings; ban, prohibition, proscription

Near Antonyms
freedom, latitude

2 the act or practice of keeping something (as an activity) within certain boundaries <the restriction of surfing to the southern end of the beach rankled some surfers>

Synonyms
circumscription, confinement, limitation, rein, stint

Related Words
constraint, restraint; containment, isolation, segregation

restroom noun
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <I wasn't feeling well and had to make a number of trips to the restroom> — see TOILET

result noun
1 a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <the frequent computer crashes are an unexpected result of the new security software we installed> — see EFFECT 1
2 something attained by mental effort and especially by computation <a nonpartisan panel of experts did the math on the proposed tax cuts and spending programs and the result was an $800 billion federal deficit> — see ANSWER 2

result (in) verb
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <the mix of icy conditions and rush-hour traffic resulted in a number of accidents on the interstate> — see EFFECT

resultant adjective
coming as a result <frequent trips to the ice cream parlor and the resultant weight gain were starting to affect my tennis game>

Synonyms
attendant, consequent, consequential, due (to)

Related Words
accompanying, coincident, concomitant

Near Antonyms
causal

resultant noun
a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <a person's decision to purchase a certain automobile is often the resultant of an array of factors, ranging from the actual performance of the vehicle to the buyer's self-image> — see EFFECT 1

resume verb
to begin again or return to after an interruption <we resumed the game as soon as the rain had passed>

Synonyms
continue, pick up, proceed (with), renew, reopen, restart

Related Words
resuscitate, revive; recrudesce

Near Antonyms
complete, conclude, consummate, end, finalize, finish; belay, break, can [slang], cease, check, cut, desist, discontinue, drop, halt, knock off, leave off, quit, scuttle, shut off, stay, stop, terminate

résumé or resume also resumé noun
a short statement of the main points <a book on the assassination that is in effect a résumé of all of the evidence that points to a conspiracy> — see SUMMARY

resurgence noun
the act or an instance of bringing something back to life, public attention, or vigorous activity <the downtown has experienced a resurgence since the commercial revitalization project was completed> — see REVIVAL

resurrect verb
to bring back to life, practice, or activity <attempts are being made to resurrect the stalled arms negotiations> — see REVIVE 1

resurrection noun
the act or an instance of bringing something back to life, public attention, or vigorous activity <a general resurrection of patriotism after the war began> — see REVIVAL

resuscitate verb
1 to bring back to a former condition or vigor <she hopes to resuscitate the currently defunct charity organization> — see RENEW 1
2 to bring back to life, practice, or activity <people trying to resuscitate some old theories that the assassination was really an act of conspiracy> — see REVIVE 1

resuscitated adjective
made or become fresh in spirits or vigor <after the gloom of winter, I felt resuscitated by the unexpected gift of a bouquet of tulips> — see NEW 4

resuscitation noun
the act or an instance of bringing something back to life, public attention, or vigorous activity <the actor's appearance in a hit movie has led to the resuscitation of a career that had been on life support> — see REVIVAL

retail verb
to offer for sale to the public <the textile manufacturer doesn't retail its fabrics to consumers, offering them only to wholesalers and garment makers> — see MARKET

retain verb
1 to continue to have in one's possession or power <I plan to retain the family heirlooms until my own children are mature enough to appreciate them, and then I will lovingly pass them on> — see KEEP 2
2 to keep, control, or experience as one's own <that author retains the right to veto any changes in his books suggested by his publisher's notoriously intrusive editor> — see HAVE 1
3 to provide with a paying job <her neighbor retained her as a nanny for the summer, thus giving her something to do until school started again> — see EMPLOY 1

retainer noun
1 a person hired to perform household or personal services <knights being dressed for battle by their retainers> — see SERVANT
2 one who works for another for wages or a salary <lifelong civil service retainers> — see EMPLOYEE

retake verb
to get again in one's possession <after some fierce fighting, government forces have retaken the capital> — see RECOVER 1

retaliate verb
to punish in kind the wrongdoer responsible for <retaliated his neighbor's malicious destruction of his flower garden by cutting down the man's prize apple tree> — see AVENGE

retaliation noun
the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury <police believe that the murder was in retaliation for an earlier gangland execution> — see REVENGE

retard verb
to cause to move or proceed at a less rapid pace <an herbicide to retard the growth of weeds> — see SLOW 1

retardation noun
a usually gradual decrease in the pace or level of activity of something <scientists discovered that they could achieve the retardation of light if they shined it through a variety of substances> — see SLOWDOWN

retch verb
to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth <the smell of rotten cabbage makes me retch> — see VOMIT

rethink verb
to consider again especially with the possibility of change or reversal <since my efforts to solve this problem aren't working, I need to rethink my approach> — see RECONSIDER

reticence noun
a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something <the publisher's reticence to make content available online for free> — see RELUCTANCE

reticent adjective
1 given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge <the panel decided to investigate the fraud charges against the company, which has always been reticent about its internal operations> — see SECRETIVE
2 tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination) <her husband is by nature a reticent person, and she resigned herself to that fact long ago> — see SILENT 2
3 slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty <understandably, she's reticent about becoming involved with another evangelical religious sect> — see HESITANT

retinue noun
a body of employees or servants who accompany and wait on a person <a campaign bus carrying the candidate, her retinue, and a gaggle of reporters and bloggers> — see CORTEGE 1

retire verb
1 to go to one's bed in order to sleep <I'm exhausted, so I think I'll retire for the evening> — see BED 1
2 to let go from office, service, or employment <as a part of its restructuring, the company has begun to retire its older employees> — see DISMISS 1
3 to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) <the insurgents have retired to the outskirts of the city, but appear to be readying themselves for another offensive> — see RETREAT 1

retire (from) verb
to give up (a job or office) <at the age of 72, she finally retired from the job she had held at the shoe factory for over 50 years> — see QUIT 1

retired adjective
screened or sequestered from view <hiked out to a retired beach and fished in the surf> — see SECLUDED

retirement noun
an act of moving away especially from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable <military historians have blamed the defeat on that battalion's retirement from the front lines> — see RETREAT 1

retiring adjective
not comfortable around people <one retiring young girl was sitting alone quietly in a corner during the party> — see SHY 2

retort noun
1 a quick witty response <she responded to the heckler with a scathing but hilarious retort that instantly won over the audience>

Synonyms
comeback, repartee, riposte

Related Words
squelch; back talk; crack, quip, sally, wisecrack, witticism, zinger; cut, insult, put-down

2 something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question <the salesclerk responded to my query about the price with a brusque retort> — see ANSWER 1

retort verb
to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction <when told she couldn't have it, she retorted, “Fine, I didn't want it anyway!”> — see ANSWER 1

retract verb
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) <the newspaper was forced to retract the story, which turned out to be based on fabricated reporting> — see ABJURE 1

retreat noun
1 an act of moving away especially from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable <we made a strategic retreat when we realized that we were outnumbered>

Synonyms
pullback, pullout, recession, retirement, withdrawal

Related Words
rout; flinch, recoil, revulsion, shrinking; disengagement, disentanglement

Antonyms
advance, advancement

2 something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger <her bedroom served as a retreat from the frequent arguing between her parents> <the abandoned cabin was a welcome retreat from the storm> — see SHELTER

retreat verb
1 to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) <we retreated to the safety of the cellar at the first sign of the tornado>

Synonyms
back away, drop back, fall back, pull out, recede, retire, withdraw

Related Words
flee, fly; flinch, recoil, shrink; chicken (out); bow out; back down, backpedal, backtrack, climb down; detach, disengage, disentangle, pull away; abandon, depart, evacuate, go, leave, quit, vacate

Phrases
give ground, give way, lose ground

Near Antonyms
beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, defy, face, outbrave

Antonyms
advance

2 to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening <the untried soldiers retreated in humiliating disarray almost as soon as the enemy's onslaught began> — see RUN 2

retribution noun
the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury <the neighborhood is being torn apart by an endless cycle of gang violence and retribution> — see REVENGE

retrieval noun
the act or process of getting something back <a law firm that has been involved in the retrieval of artworks that were plundered during the war> — see RECOVERY 1

retrieve verb
to get again in one's possession <needed to retrieve the book from my friend so I could return it to the library> — see RECOVER 1

retro adjective
pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time <retro fashions that seek to capture the lost glamour of Hollywood in the 1930s> — see OLD-FASHIONED

retrograde adjective
1 directed, turned, or done toward the back <retrograde pedaling will engage the brakes on that bike> — see BACKWARD 1
2 pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time <the loft's retrograde decor seeks to capture the look and feel of the swinging '60s> — see OLD-FASHIONED

retrograde verb
to become worse or of less value <the Dark Ages, the period following the fall of the Roman Empire when Western civilization seriously retrograded> — see DETERIORATE 1

retrogress verb
to go back to a previous and usually lower state or level <the quality of research at the university lab has begun to retrogress since the massive budget cuts went into effect> — see REGRESS 1

retrogression noun
the act or an instance of going back to an earlier and lower level especially of intelligence or behavior <social instability that has led to a retrogression of moral values and standards of decent behavior> — see REGRESSION

retrospect noun
a usually critical look at a past event <in retrospect, we should have saved more money for college> — see REVIEW 1

retrospection noun
a usually critical look at a past event <the president is confident that future retrospections will cast his actions in a more favorable light> — see REVIEW 1

return noun
1 something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question <I was moved by my grandfather's lengthy return to my casual question about his experiences in the Vietnam War> — see ANSWER 1
2 an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property <if we buy better equipment, we'll be able to make the product faster, thus getting a better return on our investment> — see INCOME 1
3 the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received <the return on each unit sold has increased since we streamlined the production process> — see PROFIT 1

return verb
1 to bring, send, or put back to a former or proper place <when I'm done reading a book, I always return it to the very shelf I got it from>

Synonyms
replace, restore

Related Words
reconvey

Near Antonyms
remove, take

2 to produce as revenue <this technology stock is expected to return a healthy profit> — see YIELD 2
3 to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction <when I asked him to sit down to dinner, he returned that he would come when he was good and ready> — see ANSWER 1
4 to go back to a previous and usually lower state or level <vowed to do anything to keep the recovering alcoholic from returning to his dissolute ways> — see REGRESS 1

rev (up) verb
to rouse to strong feeling or action <the team was revved up by the coach's do-or-die locker room speech> — see PROVOKE 1

revamp verb
1 to make different in some way <the automaker is revamping a number of its cars in an effort to make them more appealing to younger consumers> — see CHANGE 1
2 to prepare for publication by correcting, rewriting, or updating <revamped the short story so that it would fit better with the magazine's other offerings> — see EDIT 1
3 to put into good shape or working order again <it will be cheaper to replace the old machinery than it would be to revamp it> — see MEND 1

revamping noun
the act, process, or result of making different <despite the extensive revamping, much of the factory's equipment is still obsolete> — see CHANGE 1

reveal verb
1 to make known (as information previously kept secret) <at the end of the book, the detective reveals the identity of the mysterious stranger>

Synonyms
bare, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, let on (about), spill, tell, unbosom, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil

Related Words
confide, share; debunk, show up; unclothe, undrape; advertise, announce, blaze, bring out, broadcast, declare, placard, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish, sound; betray, blab, give away, leak; inform, squeal, talk; communicate, impart, relate; acknowledge, admit, avow, concede, confess, own; disinter, rake up, smoke out, unearth

Phrases
bring to light, go public (with), let the cat out of the bag (about), spill the beans (about)

Near Antonyms
camouflage, disguise; gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash; becloud, bedim, befog, cloud, darken, eclipse, obscure, overcast, overshadow, shade

Antonyms
cloak, conceal, cover (up), enshroud, hide, mask, shroud, veil

2 to make known (something abstract) through outward signs <a habitual smirk that reveals his contempt for other people> — see SHOW 2

revealing adjective
clearly conveying a special meaning (as one's mood) <the pundit's comments were particularly revealing and exposed some of his more distasteful prejudices> — see EXPRESSIVE

revel noun
a time or instance of carefree fun <in Finland, Midsummer Day ushers in a nationwide revel as the Finns celebrate the endless hours of sunlight with bonfires and parties> — see FLING 1

revel verb
to take part in drunken revelry <reveling all night is not conducive to a productive next day at work> — see CAROUSE

revel (in) verb
to take pleasure in <winter-weary residents reveling in the warm spring weather> — see ENJOY 1

revelation noun
the act or an instance of making known something previously unknown or concealed <the revelation of the movie star's secret marriage by the tabloids> <a new biography of the former president that contains several shocking revelations>

Synonyms
disclosure, divulgence, exposure

Related Words
bombshell, kick, kicker, surprise (also surprize); acknowledgment (or acknowledgement), admission, avowal, concession, confession

Near Antonyms
concealment, cover-up

revelatory adjective
clearly conveying a special meaning (as one's mood) <ended his tall tale with a revelatory wink that indicated that it had all been an elaborate put-on> — see EXPRESSIVE

reveler or reveller noun
one who engages in merrymaking especially in honor of a special occasion <wedding revelers whooping it up until dawn> — see CELEBRANT

reveling or revelling noun
joyful or festive activity <the reveling was too much for her, so she went to bed early even though the party was still going strong> — see MERRYMAKING

revelry noun
joyful or festive activity <the lottery winner was exhausted after a long night of revelry> — see MERRYMAKING

revenge noun
the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury <both sides were determined to get revenge for perceived wrongs and showed little interest in ending the feud>

Synonyms
payback, reprisal, requital, retaliation, retribution, vengeance

Related Words
counter, counterattack, counteroffensive; castigation, chastisement, correction; desert(s), discipline, nemesis, penalty, punishment, wrath; amends, compensation, indemnification, indemnity, quittance, recompense, recoupment, redress, remuneration, reparation(s), restitution

Near Antonyms
clemency, grace, leniency, lenity, mercy; forgiveness, pardon, remission

revenge verb
to punish in kind the wrongdoer responsible for <a man who took matters into his own hands and revenged the death of his brother> — see AVENGE

revengeful adjective
likely to seek revenge <the minister urged his congregation to be less revengeful and more forgiving in spirit> — see VINDICTIVE

revenue noun
an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property <the struggling business didn't create much revenue during its first year of operation> — see INCOME 1

reverberant adjective
marked by conspicuously full and rich sounds or tones <the pastor's reverberant voice could be heard all over the cemetery as he read the final prayers for the deceased> — see RESONANT

reverberate verb
to continue or be repeated in a series of reflected sound waves <the sound of thunder reverberated from one end of the mountain pass to the other>

Synonyms
echo, reecho, resonate, resound, sound

Related Words
ring, roll

Near Antonyms
damp, dampen, deaden, dull, quiet

reverberating adjective
marked by conspicuously full and rich sounds or tones <the temple was filled with the reverberating sound of the gong> — see RESONANT

reverberative adjective
marked by conspicuously full and rich sounds or tones <the reverberative sounds of the pipe organ filled every corner of the majestic Gothic cathedral> — see RESONANT

revere verb
to offer honor or respect to (someone) as a divine power <in some cultures people revere their ancestors, even leaving food offerings for them> — see WORSHIP 1

revered adjective
deserving honor and respect especially by reason of age <a professor who is highly revered at the college where she has taught for the last four decades> — see VENERABLE 1

reverence verb
to offer honor or respect to (someone) as a divine power <devotees coming to reverence their god> — see WORSHIP 1

reverend adjective
deserving honor and respect especially by reason of age <our reverend elders should be accorded a special place of honor at the ceremonies> — see VENERABLE 1

reverend noun
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church <called their reverend and asked if he could marry them next June> — see CLERGYPERSON

reverie also revery noun
the state of being lost in thought <I was lost in reverie and didn't realize my flight was boarding until it was almost too late>

Synonyms
daydreaming, study, trance, woolgathering

Related Words
contemplation, meditation, musing; absentmindedness, absorption, abstraction, preoccupation; chimera, conceit, daydream, delusion, dream, fancy, fantasy (also phantasy), figment, hallucination, illusion, phantasm (also fantasm), pipe dream, unreality, vision

reversal noun
1 a change in status for the worse usually temporarily <the company's long-term strategy is sound, and they should be able to weather this latest reversal> — see REVERSE 1
2 a changing from one policy or point of view to virtually its exact opposite <parents need to be consistent in their discipline policy, as reversals will only undermine the whole process> — see ABOUT-FACE

reverse noun
1 a change in status for the worse usually temporarily <the party has suffered some major reverses as a result of the corruption scandal>

Synonyms
knock, lapse, reversal, setback

Related Words
disappointment, frustration, letdown; comedown, decline, descent, down, downfall, fall; turnabout, turnaround; recession, regression, retrogression, reversion; relapse; breakdown, collapse, crash, meltdown, ruin, undoing

Near Antonyms
status quo

2 something that is as different as possible from something else <how could you think I don't like pizza, when it's just the reverse: I love pizza> — see OPPOSITE
3 a behind part or surface <on the reverse of the ticket you'll find the notice that it's nontransferable> — see REAR 1

reverse verb
1 to change (as an opinion) to the contrary <the appeals court reversed the district court's decision>

Synonyms
switch

Related Words
abrogate, annul, overturn, repeal, rescind, revoke, strike down; about-face, backtrack, countermand, revert

Near Antonyms
maintain, support, uphold

2 to change the position of (an object) so that the opposite side or end is showing <when one side of the cleaning cloth gets dirty, just reverse it> <you can reverse the jacket for a whole new look>

Synonyms
flip, invert, turn over

Related Words
transpose; exchange, interchange, shift, switch; overturn, upset

reversion noun
the act or an instance of going back to an earlier and lower level especially of intelligence or behavior <after the birth of his baby brother, the toddler temporarily underwent a kind of reversion, acting like a baby himself> — see REGRESSION

revert verb
to go back to a previous and usually lower state or level <after the national emergency had passed, the political parties abandoned their shotgun unity and reverted to their partisan squabbling> — see REGRESS 1

review noun
1 a usually critical look at a past event <a review of yesterday's football game gave us a lot of good ideas on how to improve for the next one>

Synonyms
reappraisal, reconsideration, reexamination, retrospect, retrospection

Related Words
recap, recapitulation, rehash

Near Antonyms
preview

2 a close look at or over someone or something in order to judge condition <took the car to her mechanic for a complete mechanical review before she decided to sell it> — see INSPECTION
3 a publication that appears at regular intervals <had his poetry published in a literary review> — see JOURNAL 1
4 an essay evaluating or analyzing something <a harsh movie review of an expected summer blockbuster> — see CRITICISM
5 the act, process, or result of making different <the company decided that the 100-year-old office building could use a review> — see CHANGE 1

review verb
1 to consider again especially with the possibility of change or reversal <since we can't follow that plan, we'll have to review our options and decide on something else> — see RECONSIDER
2 to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) <a consultant was brought in to review our security procedures> — see INSPECT

reviewer noun
a person who makes or expresses a judgment on the quality of offerings in some field of endeavor <many reviewers were unhappy with the movie's cryptic ending> — see CRITIC 2

revise noun
the act, process, or result of making different <that paper needs one more revise, and then I think it's ready to turn in> — see CHANGE 1

revise verb
1 to make different in some way <with the snow, we'll need to revise our travel plans> — see CHANGE 1
2 to prepare for publication by correcting, rewriting, or updating <revise the article and add more up-to-date information so we can reprint it> — see EDIT 1

revision noun
the act, process, or result of making different <a finicky author who makes countless revisions before submitting a work for publication> — see CHANGE 1

revisit verb
to consider again especially with the possibility of change or reversal <this idea isn't practical now, but we probably should revisit it at a later time> — see RECONSIDER

revitalization noun
the act or an instance of bringing something back to life, public attention, or vigorous activity <the mayor was present at the ceremony marking the revitalization of the old industrial neighborhood as a new center for art galleries and lofts> — see REVIVAL

revitalize verb
1 to bring back to a former condition or vigor <a new cream that claims to revitalize sun-damaged skin> — see RENEW 1
2 to bring back to life, practice, or activity <the bowling alley, eager to revitalize interest in the sport for a younger crowd, started offering “disco bowling” every Friday night with disco music and free soda> — see REVIVE 1

revival noun
the act or an instance of bringing something back to life, public attention, or vigorous activity <there was a revival of interest in the author's classic horror stories after a film version of his best-known tale was released>

Synonyms
reanimation, rebirth, regeneration, rejuvenation, rejuvenescence, renewal, resurgence, resurrection, resuscitation, revitalization, revivification

Related Words
renaissance, renascence; reinvention; reactivation; rally, recovery, recuperation; restoral, restoration

Near Antonyms
death, expiration, extinction

revive verb
1 to bring back to life, practice, or activity <an effort to revive the once-common custom of celebrating May 1 as a springtime festival of games and dances>

Synonyms
reanimate, recharge, regenerate, rejuvenate, rekindle, renew, resurrect, resuscitate, revitalize, revivify, rewake, rewaken

Related Words
jump-start, kick-start; reactivate, restart; reinvent; refresh, refreshen

Near Antonyms
extinguish, kill, quench, suppress

2 to bring back to a former condition or vigor <around mid-morning, I usually need to revive myself with a cup of strong coffee> — see RENEW 1
3 to gain consciousness again <the patient eventually revived and was able to give us her name and address> — see COME TO

revived adjective
made or become fresh in spirits or vigor <the farmers felt revived as they headed back to the fields after a hearty lunch> — see NEW 4

revivification noun
the act or an instance of bringing something back to life, public attention, or vigorous activity <the runaway success of the handheld PDA led to a stunning revivification of the computer company's fortunes> — see REVIVAL

revivify verb
1 to bring back to a former condition or vigor <a new director hoping to revivify the region's oldest repertory company> — see RENEW 1
2 to bring back to life, practice, or activity <the new director hopes to revivify interest in the sports programs offered at the youth center> — see REVIVE 1

reviving adjective
having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind <took a reviving vacation in the Caribbean> — see TONIC 1

revocation noun
the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to <threatened the revocation of his son's driving privileges> — see CANCELLATION 1

revoke verb
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) <the judge revoked the jail sentence when the defendant promised to do community service instead> — see CANCEL 1

revolt noun
open fighting against authority (as one's own government) <soon the revolt had spread to every corner of the country> — see REBELLION 1

revolt verb
1 to cause to feel disgust <the jury appeared to be revolted by the grisly details of the murder> — see DISGUST
2 to rise up against established authority <the students practically revolted when the school cancelled the championship football game> — see REBEL

revolted adjective
filled with disgust <we were revolted when we learned about the prevalence of child labor in the Third World> — see SICK 2

revolter noun
a person who rises up against authority <Spartacus, who led a slave revolt in ancient Rome, has served as an inspiration for a number of other revolters over the centuries> — see REBEL

revolting adjective
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <the revolting sight of animals being slaughtered for no good reason> — see OFFENSIVE 1

revolution noun
1 a rapid turning about on an axis or central point <revved the engine to 3000 revolutions per minute> — see SPIN 1
2 open fighting against authority (as one's own government) <the revolution by which the American colonies gained their independence from Great Britain necessitated going up against the world's most powerful army> — see REBELLION 1

revolutionary adjective
1 being very far from the center of public opinion <a candidate with a lot of crazy, revolutionary ideas that no one seems to be going for> — see EXTREME 2
2 taking part in a rebellion <revolutionary forces that were soundly defeated before reaching the capital> — see REBELLIOUS 1

revolutionary noun
1 a person who favors rapid and sweeping changes especially in laws and methods of government <after the collapse of the Russian monarchy, the moderate socialists briefly governed until being overthrown by the Bolshevik revolutionaries> — see RADICAL
2 a person who rises up against authority <at first the government was not worried about this small band of unarmed revolutionaries> — see REBEL

revolutionist adjective
being very far from the center of public opinion <his revolutionist ideas won't get him elected> — see EXTREME 2

revolutionist noun
1 a person who favors rapid and sweeping changes especially in laws and methods of government <after a long series of weak leaders, the people were ready for a revolutionist who promised to bring sweeping change to the nation> — see RADICAL
2 a person who rises up against authority <historically, revolutionists have generally been young men willing to risk everything, even their lives, in the pursuit of their cause> — see REBEL

revolve verb
1 to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis <the salesclerk revolved the glass display case so I could see the watchbands on the reverse side> — see TURN 1
2 to move in circles around an axis or center <the sidereal day measures the time it takes the Earth to revolve completely about its axis with respect to the fixed stars> — see SPIN 1
3 to give serious and careful thought to <for the next several hours he kept revolving the cryptic message in his mind, trying to make sense of it> — see PONDER

revulsion noun
a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness <the publication of the autopsy photos prompted expressions of outrage and revulsion> — see DISGUST

rewake verb
to bring back to life, practice, or activity <the media coverage of the dramatic escape has rewaked concerns about security at the prison> — see REVIVE 1

rewaken verb
to bring back to life, practice, or activity <soaring gas prices have rewakened a demand for more fuel-efficient cars> — see REVIVE 1

reward noun
something offered or given in return for a service performed <there was a reward of $50 for the return of the missing cat>

Synonyms
bounty, price

Related Words
bonus, lagniappe, premium; bonanza, jackpot, treasure trove; award, decoration, distinction, honor, plume, prize, trophy; gratuity, tip; desert(s), wages

reward verb
to give something as a token of gratitude or admiration for a service or achievement <the firefighters were rewarded by the city for their heroic actions>

Synonyms
award

Related Words
cite, decorate, honor, remember; compensate, pay, recompense, requite; reimburse, repay; acclaim, applaud, commend, compliment, hail, praise, salute

rewarding adjective
making one feel good inside <pursued a rewarding career providing medical care to poor children in rural areas> — see HEARTWARMING

reweigh verb
to consider again especially with the possibility of change or reversal <the new study is leading doctors and nutritionists to reweigh the benefits of some dietary supplements> — see RECONSIDER

reword verb
to express something (as a text or statement) in different words <I'll reword the question for you so you can better understand it> — see PARAPHRASE

rewording noun
an instance of expressing something in different words <I like your rewording of that paragraph better than the original> — see PARAPHRASE

rework verb
1 to make different in some way <the sculptor reworked the clay into another shape> — see CHANGE 1
2 to prepare for publication by correcting, rewriting, or updating <the magazine will publish your poem if you rework it so that it's a little shorter> — see EDIT 1

reworking noun
the act, process, or result of making different <the contract will need some reworking before it is acceptable to both parties> — see CHANGE 1

rhapsodic also rhapsodical adjective
experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <the jingle used in the commercial is a humorously rhapsodic celebration of fast food> — see ECSTATIC

rhapsodically adverb
in an enthusiastic manner <rhapsodically described the glittering party at the billionaire's mansion> — see SKY-HIGH

rhapsodize verb
to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm <rhapsodized about the food so as not to hurt their host's feelings> — see GUSH 2

rhapsody noun
a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <listening to Mozart always left him in a rhapsody that lingered for the remainder of the evening> — see ECSTASY

rhetoric noun
1 language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere <the mayor's promise to fight drugs was just rhetoric, since there was no money in the city budget for a drug program>

Synonyms
bombast, fustian, gas, grandiloquence, hot air, oratory, verbiage, wind

Related Words
claptrap, drivel, gibberish, hogwash, humbug, jabberwocky, jazz, moonshine, nonsense; affectedness, floweriness, grandiosity, loftiness, pomposity, pretension, pretentiousness; garrulity, garrulousness, verboseness, verbosity, windiness, wordiness

2 the art or power of speaking or writing in a forceful and convincing way <great leaders have often been masters of rhetoric, which they have used for both good and ill> — see ELOQUENCE

rhetorical also rhetoric adjective
1 marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases <you can skip over the rhetorical passages and still get the gist of the essay>

Synonyms
bombastic, flatulent, fustian, gaseous, gassy, grandiloquent, oratorical, orotund, windy

Related Words
bloated, elevated, florid, flowery, grandiose, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-flown, high-sounding, inflated, lofty, ornate, pompous, pontifical, pretentious, stilted, tumid, turgid; overdone, verbose, wordy

Near Antonyms
eloquent, well-spoken; bald, direct, matter-of-fact, plain, plainspoken, simple, stark, straightforward, unadorned, unaffected, unpretentious

Antonyms
unrhetorical

2 full of fine words and fancy expressions <the new governor delivered a long rhetorical speech about our state's bright future but laid out no specific programs for ensuring it> — see FLOWERY 1
3 of or relating to words or language <the next war that those two nations fight won't be rhetorical—it will be with bombs and bullets> — see VERBAL 1

rhubarb noun
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <a basketball coach whose ranting rhubarbs with officials are the stuff of legend> — see ARGUMENT 1

rhyme also rime verb
to be in agreement on every point <the new results don't rhyme with what we found out before> — see CHECK 1

rhymester also rimester noun
a person who writes poetry <reading doggerel by some rhymester> — see POET

rhythm noun
the recurrent pattern formed by a series of sounds having a regular rise and fall in intensity <the steady rhythm of the rain falling on the roof>

Synonyms
beat, cadence, measure, meter

Related Words
accent, accentuation, emphasis, stress; backbeat; drum, throb; lilt, movement, sway, swing; hexameter, pentameter, tetrameter, trimeter

rhythmic or rhythmical adjective
marked by or occurring with a noticeable regularity in the rise and fall of sound <lulled to sleep by the rhythmic sound of her mother's voice reading the Bible>

Synonyms
cadenced, cadent, measured, metrical (or metric)

Related Words
even, metronomic (also metronomical), regular, steady, uniform; lilting, musical, swaying

Antonyms
arrhythmic, nonmetrical, unmeasured, unrhythmic

riata noun
a rope or long leather thong with a noose used especially for catching livestock <the cowboy neatly tossed a riata over the head of the escaping cow> — see LASSO

rib noun
1 a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect <the movie is a rib of the “dramatic love story” that was so popular in the 1950s> — see PARODY 1
2 something said or done to cause laughter <began to lose his sense of humor after being the butt of his friends' ribs once too often> — see JOKE 1

rib verb
to make fun of in a good-natured way <ribbed him a bit about fumbling such an easy play> — see TEASE 1

ribald adjective
1 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <some of the movie's most ribald, and thus funniest, scenes were cut for showing on broadcast television> — see OBSCENE 1
2 hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent <a ribald tale rife with double entendres and racy innuendo> — see SUGGESTIVE 1

ribaldry noun
the quality or state of being obscene <there's a ribaldry in the works of Chaucer that generations of students of English literature have heartily enjoyed> — see OBSCENITY 1

ribbing adjective
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing <the lightly ribbing tone tipped me off that this wasn't a serious reprimand> — see QUIZZICAL

ribbon noun
a long narrow piece of material <tied a silk ribbon in her hair> — see STRIP 1

ribbon verb
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it <over the years the historic flag had become badly ribboned by the wind> — see TEAR 1

rich adjective
1 having goods, property, or money in abundance <you would have to be quite rich to be able to afford a home in that neighborhood>

Synonyms
affluent, deep-pocketed, fat, fat-cat, flush, loaded, moneyed (also monied), opulent, silk-stocking, wealthy, well-endowed, well-fixed, well-heeled, well-off, well-to-do

Related Words
better-off, comfortable, propertied, prosperous, substantial, successful; flourishing, prospering, thriving; advantaged, blessed (also blest), privileged

Phrases
in the chips

Near Antonyms
unaffluent; deprived, disadvantaged, hand-to-mouth, underprivileged; bankrupt, bankrupted, beggared, broke, indebted, insolvent, pauperized, ruined, skint [chiefly British]; depressed, pinched, reduced, straitened; low, short

Antonyms
destitute, impecunious, impoverished, indigent, needy, penniless, penurious, poor, poverty-stricken

2 containing much seasoning, fat, or sugar <stay away from rich foods before you sing tonight>

Synonyms
heavy

Related Words
buttery, fat, fatty, greasy, oily; caloric, calorific, fattening; cloying, oversweet; filling, overfilling, satiating, sating; spicy, sugary, sweet; creamy, sauced

Near Antonyms
natural, plain, simple; unseasoned; diet, nonfattening, slimming; nonfat

Antonyms
light, lite

3 having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) <rich wines complemented the meal> — see FULL-BODIED
4 producing abundantly <rich farmland> — see FERTILE

riches plural noun
the total of one's money and property <industrialists who had amassed riches of a magnitude that few had dreamed possible> — see WEALTH 1

richly adverb
in a luxurious manner <a richly decorated penthouse that showed off the owner's art collection to its best advantage> — see HIGH

richness noun
the amusing quality or element in something <the richness of the irony—I had just contributed to the political campaign of a multimillionaire—was too much for me to ignore> — see HUMOR 1

ricochet verb
to strike and fly off at an angle <the ball ricocheted off the fielder's glove and went over the fence for a home run> — see GLANCE 1

rid verb
to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers <worked two jobs to rid himself of debt>

Synonyms
clear, disburden, disencumber, divest, free, relieve, unburden

Related Words
discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter; bail (out), deliver, redeem, rescue; disengage, disentangle, extricate

Near Antonyms
bog (down), fetter, hamper, restrain, shackle, subject, weigh down, weight (down)

Antonyms
burden, encumber, saddle

riddance noun
the getting rid of whatever is unwanted or useless <the riddance of all the fleas from the house was a relief to everyone concerned> — see DISPOSAL 1

riddle noun
something hard to understand or explain <his motives for starting an argument with the coach were a complete riddle> — see MYSTERY

riddle verb
1 to make a hole or series of holes in <several signs along the highway were riddled by buckshot> — see PERFORATE
2 to spread throughout <the newspaper exposé revealed a gaming commission that is riddled with corruption> — see PERMEATE

riddle (out) verb
to find an answer for through reasoning <with the discovery of the Rosetta stone, archaeologists at long last were able to riddle out the mystery of Egyptian hieroglyphics> — see SOLVE

ride noun
a means of getting to a destination in a vehicle driven by another <an organization that provides rides for senior citizens>

Synonyms
lift, transportation

Related Words
drive, spin, turn; joyride; conveyance, passage, transit, transport

ride verb
1 to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults <that supervisor is always riding everyone for every little thing> — see TEASE 2
2 to make fun of in a good-natured way <his wife couldn't resist riding him for forgetting his own birthday> — see TEASE 1
3 to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air <a condor riding high in the sky> — see FLOAT 1
4 to be determined by, based on, or subject (to) <our plan for the party rides on whether he can come> — see DEPEND 1

ride (out) verb
to come safely through <just as we always have in the past, we'll ride out this latest crisis> — see SURVIVE 1

ridge noun
the line formed when two sloping surfaces come together along their topmost edge <pigeons roosting along the ridge of the roof>

Synonyms
crest

Related Words
divide; backbone, ridgepole, spine; eminence, peak, prominence, promontory, rise

ridicule noun
the making of unkind jokes as a way of showing one's scorn for someone or something <the early efforts by the suffragists to obtain voting rights for women were met with ridicule>

Synonyms
derision, mockery, sport

Related Words
contempt, disdain, scorn; belittlement, deprecation, disparagement; catcall, insult, put-down; laughter, snickering; burlesque, caricature, mimicry, pasquinade, satire

Near Antonyms
applause, approval, commendation, praise

ridicule verb
to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter <the term “big bang theory” was originally coined to ridicule the belief that the universe was created by a giant explosion>

Synonyms
deride, gibe (or jibe), jeer, laugh (at), mock, scout, shoot down, skewer

Related Words
scoff (at), scorn, sneer (at); bad-mouth, belittle, decry, disparage, pooh-pooh (also pooh), put down; chaff, jive, josh, kid, quiz, rally, razz, rib, ride, tease, tweak, twit; bait, barrack [chiefly British], bug, catcall, harass, harry, hassle, heckle, needle, pester, rag, target, taunt, torment; ape, burlesque, caricature, imitate, lampoon, mimic, parody, parrot, pillory, satirize, take off (on), travesty

Phrases
cock a snook (at) also cock snooks (at), make fun of, make sport of, poke fun at, rag on

Near Antonyms
applaud, approve, commend, endorse (also indorse), sanction

ridiculer noun
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another <any person of great vision has his or her ridiculers, who inevitably fail to appreciate genius and originality> — see TORMENTOR

ridiculous adjective
1 so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter <a movie thriller with such a ridiculous plot that it gets only guffaws from audiences>

Synonyms
absurd, cockamamy (or cockamamie), comical, derisive, derisory, farcical, laughable, ludicrous, pathetic, preposterous, risible, silly

Related Words
asinine, brainless, dumb, fatuous, foolish, half-baked, half-witted, harebrained, idiotic (also idiotical), imbecile (or imbecilic), inane, jerky, moronic, nonsensical, simpleminded, stupid, unwise, weak-minded, witless; balmy, cockeyed, crazy, cuckoo, daffy, daft, dotty, insane, kooky (also kookie), loony (also looney), lunatic, mad, nutty, screwball, senseless, wacky (also whacky); fantastic (also fantastical), far-fetched, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unreal, unrealistic, unreasonable; illogical, irrational

Phrases
for the birds

Near Antonyms
earnest, serious, solemn; believable, conceivable, credible, logical, rational, realistic, reasonable, sensible

2 causing or intended to cause laughter <a movie comedian who has perfected the ridiculous pratfall> — see FUNNY 1

rife adjective
possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified <a city government that is rife with malfeasance and corruption>

Synonyms
abounding, abundant, awash, flush, fraught, lousy, replete, swarming, teeming, thick, thronging

Related Words
brimming, bulging, bursting, chock-full (or chockful), crammed, crowded, fat, filled, full, jammed, jam-packed, loaded, packed, saturated, stuffed; clogged, congested, overcrowded, overfilled, overflowing, overfull, overladen, overloaded, overstuffed, surfeited; alive, animated, astir, bustling, busy, buzzing, humming, lively

Near Antonyms
bare, barren, blank, devoid, empty, stark, vacant, void; depleted, drained, exhausted; deficient, incomplete, insufficient, short

riff noun
a distinct treatment of something (as a story or a play) <a mock news program with humorous riffs on current events>

Synonyms
interpretation, take, variation

Related Words
version; adaptation, translation

riffle verb
to turn over pages in an idle or cursory manner <Web research is convenient but doesn't offer the tactile pleasures of riffling through heavy old books> — see SKIM 1

riffraff noun
1 discarded or useless material <the sight of piles and piles of riffraff at the town dump was a sobering reminder that we are indeed a society of consumers> — see GARBAGE 1
2 people looked down upon as ignorant and of the lowest class <local ordinances that are intended to keep the riffraff out of the town> — see RABBLE

rifle verb
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something <rifled the desk drawer in search of the insurance policy> — see SEARCH 1

rift noun
1 an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure <a small rift opened in the earth's crust> — see CRACK 1
2 an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) <it was possible to peek through the rift in the fence and see the ball game> — see GAP 1

rig noun
1 a horse-drawn wheeled vehicle for carrying passengers <romantic couples enjoy being driven in the old-fashioned rig through the park> — see CARRIAGE 1
2 covering for the human body <most of the celebrants of the town's bicentennial will be in festive rig—so don't show up in jeans> — see CLOTHING

rig verb
to provide (someone) with what is needed for a task or activity <carefully rigged each diver with the required equipment before starting out> — see FURNISH 1

rig (out) verb
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <everyone was rigged out for the country club's spring cotillion> — see CLOTHE 1

rigging noun
covering for the human body <even at the Ivies they dress in the standard rigging of the college student: T-shirt and jeans> — see CLOTHING

right adjective
1 following an original exactly <a modern replica of an 18th-century British warship that is right in all of its details> — see FAITHFUL 2
2 being exactly as appears or as claimed <despite the name, New York's East River is a strait and not a right river> — see AUTHENTIC 1
3 being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard <the obvious answer is not always the right one> — see CORRECT 1
4 being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong <trying to do what is right> — see JUST 1
5 conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <a right woman who did not hang around waterfront bars> — see GOOD 2
6 free from irregularities or digressions in course <the first city in America laid out with broad, right avenues> — see STRAIGHT 1
7 having full use of one's mind and control over one's actions <he hasn't been right since he suffered serious brain injury in the accident> — see SANE
8 meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <the right tool for the job> — see FIT 1

right adverb
1 as stated or indicated without the slightest difference <stay right where you are> — see EXACTLY 1
2 in a direct line or course <walk right over here now> — see DIRECTLY 1
3 to a great degree <a right beautiful day we're having!> — see VERY 1
4 without delay <we'll leave right after dinner> — see IMMEDIATELY
5 in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose <you're not dressed right for an interview with a big-time law firm> — see PROPERLY

right noun
1 something to which one has a just claim <everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness>

Synonyms
appanage (also apanage), birthright, prerogative

Related Words
call, dibs, due, entitlement, perquisite, pretense (or pretence), pretension, privilege

2 an entitlement to something <what right do you have to tell us what to do?> — see CLAIM 1
3 the practice of giving to others what is their due <activists who have fought all their lives for right> — see JUSTICE 1

right away adverb
without delay <you need to have this fixed right away> — see IMMEDIATELY

righteous adjective
1 conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <a righteous man can be trusted to act honorably regardless of the circumstances> — see GOOD 2
2 following the accepted rules of moral conduct <righteous behavior is its own reward> — see HONORABLE 1
3 slang of the very best kind <a nightspot that's a dependable venue for righteous jazz> — see EXCELLENT

righteously adverb
with purity of thought and deed <if you have acted righteously, you have nothing to fear> — see PURELY 1

righteousness noun
1 conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong <the laws do not always dictate righteousness, for what is legal is not always moral> — see MORALITY 1
2 faithfulness to high moral standards <a life lived with righteousness guarantees that you will always respect yourself> — see HONOR 1

rightful adjective
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong <in light of her admission of having lied, the only rightful course of action for the governor would be to resign> — see JUST 1

rightist noun
a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are <rightists opposed the new social programs> — see CONSERVATIVE

rightly adverb
in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose <marveling at the awesome sight, we had to agree that the Grand Canyon was rightly named> — see PROPERLY

right–minded adjective
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <a group of right-minded people working for social change> — see GOOD 2

rightness noun
1 conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong <she seems to confuse rightness with self-righteousness> — see MORALITY 1
2 the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting <the irrefutable rightness of the criticism didn't make it any more pleasant to hear> — see APPROPRIATENESS

right now adverb
1 at the present time <right now we are in the middle of a major home renovation> — see NOW 1
2 without delay <answer my question right now> — see IMMEDIATELY

right off adverb
without delay <he had just gotten married when he was shipped right off to war> — see IMMEDIATELY

right–of–way noun
the right to one's attention before other things considered less important <the bill for emergency aid was immediately granted right-of-way> — see PRIORITY

right–winger noun
a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are <a staunch right-winger who opposes, on principle, government social programs> — see CONSERVATIVE

rigid adjective
1 not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards <rigid enforcement of drug laws>

Synonyms
brassbound, cast-iron, exacting, hard-line, inflexible, rigorous, strict, stringent, uncompromising

Related Words
close, conscientious, exact, fussy, meticulous, painstaking, punctilious, scrupulous, undeviating; adamant, adamantine, determined, dogged, firm, relentless, resolved, single-minded, steadfast, stubborn, tenacious, unbending, unflinching; immovable, implacable, unappeasable, unrelenting, unsparing, unyielding; austere, demanding, flinty, grim, hard, hardened, hard-hearted, harsh, ironbound, severe, stern, tough

Near Antonyms
acquiescent, compliant, compromising, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding; easy, easygoing, gentle, indulgent, kindly, lenient, merciful, mild, pampering, soft, spoiling, tolerant; neglectful, negligent, remiss, slipshod, sloppy, slovenly, unfussy

Antonyms
flexible, lax, loose, relaxed, slack

2 given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint <a rigid man who cannot seem to relax> — see SEVERE 1
3 having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure <rigid steel bars that should be able to hold the weight> — see FIRM 2
4 incapable of or highly resistant to bending <corsets, those rigid undergarments for women, must have been murder to wear> — see STIFF 1
5 stretched with little or no give <make sure that the clothesline is rigid so that the longer garments don't drag on the ground> — see TAUT

rigidity noun
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) <sometimes the rigidity of the headmaster's discipline was deemed excessive by even much of the faculty> — see SEVERITY

rigidly adverb
without any relaxation of standards or precision <the judge stuck rigidly to the letter of the law> — see STRICTLY

rigidness noun
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) <no one even asked anymore, as their father's rigidness regarding bedtime was legendary> — see SEVERITY

rigmarole also rigamarole noun
language marked by abstractions, jargon, euphemisms, and circumlocutions <the security guard gave me some kind of rigmarole about passes and authorizations> — see GIBBERISH 2

rigor noun
1 something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal <hard-bitten folk who survived many rigors on the way to the promised land> — see DIFFICULTY 1
2 the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) <after being coddled by his former coach, the swimmer was shocked by the rigor of the new training program> — see SEVERITY
3 the quality or state of being very accurate <said that she had heard that excuse a million times, but then she was never known for the rigor of her calculations> — see PRECISION

rigorous adjective
1 given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint <a rigorous football coach who pushes his players to their physical and mental limits> — see SEVERE 1
2 meeting the highest standard of accuracy <a rigorous analysis of the data> — see PRECISE 1
3 not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards <a rigorous diet and exercise regimen> — see RIGID 1
4 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <studied for umpteen months for the rigorous exam> — see HARD 2

rigorously adverb
without any relaxation of standards or precision <a rigorously accurate accounting of the war casualties> — see STRICTLY

rigorousness noun
1 the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) <the rigorousness of the training paid off when the dance students performed brilliantly at the recital> — see SEVERITY
2 the quality or state of being very accurate <these days the rigorousness of electronic timing is necessary to measure the minute differences in the performances of Olympic athletes> — see PRECISION

rile verb
1 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <one sure way to rile me is to keep yelling for me> — see IRRITATE 1
2 to make angry <her husband isn't easily riled, but once he is, he stays that way for days> — see ANGER

riled adjective
feeling or showing anger <the woman was obviously riled, as she kept throwing things> — see ANGRY

riley adjective
1 feeling or showing anger <some visibly riley people were lined up in the customer service department> — see ANGRY
2 having visible particles in liquid suspension <take care not to stir up the bottom of the stream when you fill the dipper, or your water will be riley> — see CLOUDY 1

riling adjective
causing annoyance <a riling habit that drives his wife crazy> — see ANNOYING

rill noun
a natural body of running water smaller than a river <there are a few tiny fish in the rill> — see CREEK 1

rim noun
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <the rim of a glass> — see BORDER 1

rim verb
to serve as a border for <long lashes rimmed his eyes> — see BORDER

rime noun
a covering of tiny ice crystals on a cold surface <rime on the bedroom window after a bitterly cold night> — see FROST 1

rime verb
to cover with a hardened layer <frost riming the doorknob> — see ENCRUST

1ring noun
1 a group involved in secret or criminal activities <a ring of counterfeiters passing phony $20 bills>

Synonyms
cabal, conspiracy, crew, gang, Mafia, mob, syndicate

Related Words
bunch, circle, clan, clique, coterie, coven, crowd, galère, lot, network, pack, set; junta, oligarchy

2 a circular strip <a metal ring encircled the barrel>

Synonyms
band, circle, eye, hoop, loop, round

Related Words
belt, cincture, collar, girdle; wreath; annulet, becket, coil, curl, furl, hank, spiral, spire, twirl, whorl

3 a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <a gaming ring that meets once a week to play> — see GANG 2
4 something with a perfectly round circumference <the coffee cup left a ring on the table> — see CIRCLE 1

2ring noun
a communication by telephone <give me a ring when you're ready to go> — see CALL 3

1ring verb
1 to form a circle around <tall cypress trees ringing the park> — see SURROUND
2 to travel completely around <the line of season ticket buyers ringed the block> — see ENCIRCLE 1

2ring verb
to make the clear sound heard when metal vibrates <I didn't hear the doorbell ring>

Synonyms
bong, chime, knell, peal, toll

Related Words
chink, clang, clank, clash, clink, ding, ding-dong, gong, jangle, jingle, ping, plink, plunk (or plonk), tang, tingle, tinkle; echo, resonate, resound, reverberate

ring (up) verb, chiefly British
to make a telephone call to <our friend rang us up to see if we wanted to go to a cricket match> — see CALL 2

ringer noun
1 one who makes false claims of identity or expertise <no one was more surprised than the defendant when his lawyer turned out to be a ringer> — see IMPOSTOR
2 something or someone that strongly resembles another <he's a dead ringer for his grandfather> — see IMAGE 1

ringing adjective
1 marked by a high volume of sound <an angry, ringing denial of the charges> — see LOUD 1
2 marked by conspicuously full and rich sounds or tones <sings in a ringing baritone that can be heard throughout the hall> — see RESONANT
3 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <whereas other candidates hedged on that hot-button issue, he delivered a ringing endorsement of the pro-choice position> — see CLEAR 2

ringlet noun
a length of hair that forms a loop or series of loops <a little girl with perfect, golden ringlets> — see CURL

ring up verb
to obtain (as a goal) through effort <touted the many diplomatic triumphs that the president supposedly rang up in his first term> — see ACHIEVE 1

rinse verb
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse <rinse that shirt immediately, or the paint will set> — see FLUSH 1

riot noun
someone or something that is very funny <she's such a riot at parties> — see SCREAM

riot act noun
an often public or formal expression of disapproval <at a specially called meeting, he read the riot act to his staff for their poor handling of the crisis> — see CENSURE

riotous adjective
1 causing or intended to cause laughter <his riotous mugging always has everyone in hysterics> — see FUNNY 1
2 pouring forth in great amounts <a painting by that artist is usually a riotous display of color> — see PROFUSE

1rip noun
a long deep cut <the hoe left rips in the lawn> — see GASH

2rip noun
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard <something of a rip in his youth, he eventually settled down> — see DEGENERATE

rip verb
1 to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it <the dog ripped the sleeve of my shirt by grabbing it with his teeth> — see TEAR 1
2 to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife) <you can see where someone ripped the painting with a penknife> — see CUT 1
3 to proceed or move quickly <the car went ripping down the road> — see HURRY 2
4 to separate or remove by forceful pulling <rip a sheet off the pad of paper> — see TEAR 2

ripe adjective
1 fully grown or developed <a ripe tomato> — see MATURE 1
2 having an unpleasant smell <the clothes of the field hands were sweaty and ripe after a hard day's work> — see MALODOROUS

ripen verb
to become mature <pears ripening on the tree> — see MATURE

ripened adjective
fully grown or developed <a fully ripened musical talent> — see MATURE 1

ripening noun
the process of becoming mature <the ripening of a pumpkin can take a whole season> — see MATURATION

rip–off noun
an instance of theft <a daring burglary of the art museum that resulted in one of the greatest rip-offs in history> — see THEFT 2

rip off verb
1 to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully <the teens ripped off the store where they had been working for the summer> — see ROB
2 to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <the thief ripped off some jewelry as soon as no one was looking> — see STEAL 1
3 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <an investigation revealed that a whole slew of suppliers had been ripping off the defense department> — see FLEECE

riposte noun
a quick witty response <he's known for having a brilliant riposte to nearly any insult> — see RETORT 1

riposte verb
to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction <at cocktail parties she could riposte with lightning speed to even the most unexpected quip> — see ANSWER 1

ripped adjective, slang
1 being under the influence of a recreational drug <when I got to his house, he was already pretty ripped> — see STONED 1
2 being under the influence of alcohol <college kids who need to learn that you don't need to get ripped in order to have a good time> — see DRUNK

ripper noun
something very good of its kind <the comedian's last routine was a real ripper, leaving the audience in those proverbial stitches> — see JIM-DANDY

ripple verb
to flow in a broken irregular stream <water rippling gently over the tiers of the fountain> — see GURGLE

rip–roaring adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <a rip-roaring tale of the Old West> — see EXCITING 1

ripsnorter noun
something very good of its kind <had high hopes that the football game would be a ripsnorter, but it turned out to be a real snoozer> — see JIM-DANDY

rise noun
1 a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position <his rapid rise to president of the company> — see ADVANCEMENT 1
2 an area of high ground <if we can get to the top of that rise, we'll be able to see for miles> — see HEIGHT 4
3 an upward slope <the rise of the hill was relatively gentle> — see ASCENT 2
4 something added (as by growth) <an unexpected rise in prices> — see INCREASE 1
5 the act or an instance of rising or climbing up <unfortunately, the descent of the balloon was just as swift as its rise> — see ASCENT 1

rise verb
1 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <the snow accumulation is rising at an alarming rate> — see INCREASE 2
2 to leave one's bed <I generally rise around six and leave for work by seven> — see ARISE 1
3 to move or extend upward <mountains majestically rising towards the sky> — see ASCEND

risible adjective
1 causing or intended to cause laughter <a risible comment that made the whole class laugh> — see FUNNY 1
2 so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter <the idea that people are meant to have wings is risible> — see RIDICULOUS 1

rising noun
1 open fighting against authority (as one's own government) <a great rising of the people was all it took to bring down a regime that imagined that it would endure for a thousand years> — see REBELLION 1
2 the act or an instance of rising or climbing up <the rising of the sun> — see ASCENT 1

risk noun
1 something that may cause injury or harm <mountain climbing is a risk, but the thrill and challenge are worth it> — see DANGER 2
2 the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil <children living in poverty are considered at risk for a number of medical and developmental problems> — see DANGER 1

risk verb
1 to take a chance on <Colette didn't want to risk running out of food for her party, so she bought twice what she thought she would actually need>

Synonyms
adventure, chance, gamble (on), hazard, tempt, venture

Related Words
beard, brave, brazen, breast, challenge, confront, dare, defy, face, outbrave; compromise, endanger, imperil, jeopardize, menace; expose, subject; bet (on), wager

Phrases
run the risk of

2 to place in danger <we refuse to risk our life savings on this investment scheme> — see ENDANGER

risky adjective
involving potential loss or injury <a risky new adventure> — see DANGEROUS 1

risqué adjective
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent <the bridal shower was filled with risqué banter and laughter> — see SUGGESTIVE 1

rite noun
an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules <the annual summer rite of loading up the car for the big family vacation>

Synonyms
ceremonial, ceremony, form, formality, observance, ritual, solemnity

Related Words
amenities, civility, decorum, etiquette, graces, proprieties; protocol; convention, custom, habit, manners, mores, practice (also practise), standard, tradition, way; celebration, service

ritual noun
1 a usual manner of behaving or doing <her morning ritual is to enjoy a bracing cup of coffee while reading the newspaper> — see HABIT 1
2 an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules <a ritual that the ancient peoples of that country believed would bring rain> — see RITE

ritzy adjective
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior <I don't appreciate your ritzy advice about whom I “should” associate with> — see SNOBBISH

rival noun
1 one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value <a design that is a rival to any produced by a professional graphic artist> — see EQUAL
2 one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict <the boxer's toughest rival thus far> — see OPPONENT 1
3 one who strives for the same thing as another <the four cities that are the top rivals for the site of the next Olympic Games> — see COMPETITOR

rival verb
to engage in a contest <two longtime friends who have rivaled for the same things at every stage of their lives> — see COMPETE

rivalry noun
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <a healthy rivalry in sports between the two schools> — see CONTEST 1

rive verb
1 to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly <road pavement that had been riven by the annual freeze-and-thaw cycle> — see BREAK 1
2 to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it <the bitter disappointment threatened to rive my heart in two> — see TEAR 1

rivet verb
to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective <everyone riveted their eyes on the trick that the magician was performing on stage> — see CONCENTRATE 2

riveting adjective
holding the attention or provoking interest <a riveting explanation of light waves that fascinated the class> — see INTERESTING

rivulet noun
a natural body of running water smaller than a river <small rivulets trickled down the side of the cliff> — see CREEK 1

road noun
1 a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <I think we should take one of the less congested roads> — see WAY 1
2 a roadway overlaid with parallel steel rails over which trains travel <the railway companies are continually repairing their roads> — see RAILROAD

roadhouse noun
a bar or restaurant offering special nighttime entertainment (as music, dancing, or comedy acts) <stopped at a roadhouse for some drinks and a little line dancing> — see NIGHTCLUB

road map noun
1 a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective <a road map for peace in the troubled region> — see PLAN 1
2 a statement that makes something clear <an article that is a good road map for any consumer attempting to negotiate his way through the maze of offerings in digital photography> — see EXPLANATION 1

roadway noun
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <a cow wandered into the roadway> — see WAY 1

roam verb
to move about from place to place aimlessly <he took a year off and roamed over Europe before going on to college> — see WANDER 1

roamer noun
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination <the couple retired, sold their house, and became carefree roamers in an RV> — see NOMAD

roaming adjective
traveling from place to place <a roaming circus that plays small towns across the country> — see ITINERANT

roar noun
1 a violent shouting <a roar went up from the crowd when the verdict was read> — see CLAMOR 1
2 loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound <the roar of the machinery in the factory> — see NOISE 1

roar verb
1 to make a long loud deep noise or cry <the car's engine roared as it sped away>

Synonyms
bellow, boom, growl, thunder

Related Words
grumble, roll, rumble; bang, blare, blast, peal, scream, screech, shriek, squall; bawl, call, cry, holler, hoot, shout, whoop, yell; bell, caterwaul, howl, wail, yowl

Near Antonyms
grunt, mouth, mumble, murmur, mutter, whisper; mewl, pule, squeak, whimper

2 to speak so as to be heard at a distance <when we arrived at the house we could hear our friend roaring at someone inside, so we discreetly left> — see CALL 1
3 to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound <a madcap comedy that had movie audiences roaring all summer long> — see LAUGH 1

roaring adjective
1 marked by a high volume of sound <a roaring party that annoyed the neighbors mightily> — see LOUD 1
2 marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically <the roaring mining town attracted job seekers eager to share in the boom> — see PROSPEROUS 1

roaring adverb
to a great degree <we had a roaring good time at the party> — see VERY 1

roaringly adverb
to a great degree <a roaringly successful Broadway play> — see VERY 1

roast verb
to make fun of in a good-natured way <playfully roasting their mother for her choice of hat> — see TEASE 1

roasting adjective
having a notably high temperature <turn on the air conditioner—the house is roasting today!> — see HOT 1

rob verb
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully <in jail for robbing a bank>

Synonyms
burglarize, burgle, knock off, knock over, rip off, steal (from), take off [slang]

Related Words
ransack, rifle; despoil, loot, pillage, plunder, ravish, sack, spoil, strip; bleed, break in, cheat, chisel, cozen, defraud, exploit, fleece, gyp, hustle, mulct, pluck, rook, shortchange, skin, squeeze, stick, sting, swindle; hold up, mug, roll, stick up

robber noun
one who steals <the robber wore a ski mask while holding up the bank> — see THIEF

robbery noun
the unlawful taking and carrying away of property without the consent of its owner <the first sign that there had been a robbery was the broken door lock> — see THEFT 1

robe noun
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <with the coming of spring the hills will once again don their robes of green> — see CLOAK 1

robe verb
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <robed the queen in her ceremonial garments> — see CLOTHE 1

robotic adjective
1 designed to replace or decrease human labor and especially physical labor <the dishwasher is one of the greatest robotic devices ever invented> — see LABORSAVING
2 done instantly and without conscious thought or decision <with a single robotic motion, she reached for a cigarette and a lighter the instant she sat down> — see AUTOMATIC 1

robotization noun
the process of putting an apparatus, operation, or system under the control or regulation of mechanical or electronic devices <on account of robotization, no human need come into direct contact with the hazardous material> — see AUTOMATION

robust adjective
1 enjoying health and vigor <a robust and sturdy toddler> — see HEALTHY 1
2 having active strength of body or mind <a robust older man who still bicycles 10 miles a day> — see VIGOROUS 1
3 having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) <beef and other red meats should be accompanied by robust wines> — see FULL-BODIED
4 not showing weakness or uncertainty <a robust slap on the back welcoming me to the company> — see FIRM 1

robustious adjective
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way <his buddies sent him off to the navy with many robustious and hearty toasts> — see BOISTEROUS

robustness noun
1 the condition of being sound in body <she has the robustness of a woman half her age> — see HEALTH 1
2 the quality or state of having abundant or intense activity <the relentless robustness of the city has always inspired writers and artists> — see VITALITY 1

rock noun, slang
a usually valuable stone cut and polished for ornament <a trophy wife with enough rocks to open her own jewelry store> — see GEM 1

rock verb
1 to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions <the boat was rocking so much that several passengers felt seasick>

Synonyms
careen, lurch, pitch, roll, seesaw, sway, toss, wobble (also wabble)

Related Words
blunder, buck, dodder, falter, flounder, halt, hitch, hobble, jerk, jolt, reel, shake, stagger, stumble, teeter, toddle, totter, tumble, vacillate, vibrate, waddle, waver, weave; oscillate, undulate, wag, waggle

2 to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side <the drunk rocked on his heels for a moment and then fell flat on his back> — see TEETER 1
3 to make senseless or dizzy by a blow <she rocked the mugger with a single punch and then ran> — see STUN 1
4 to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected <the news of the mayor's sudden death rocked the city> — see SURPRISE 1

rock–bottom adjective
of, relating to, or located at the bottom <rock-bottom prices on home electronics> — see BOTTOM

rock bottom noun
1 the lowest part, place, or point <when the stock market was at its rock bottom was the time to buy in> — see BOTTOM 3
2 the lowest point or level <our finances must be at rock bottom if we can't even afford a fast-food joint> — see NADIR 1

rocket verb
1 to proceed or move quickly <the startled cat rocketed out of the room> — see HURRY 2
2 to rise abruptly and rapidly <the child actor rocketed to stardom at the age of eight> — see SKYROCKET

rod noun
1 a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <arrested for using a rod on his dogs in violation of the state's animal cruelty laws> — see CLUB 1
2 a straight piece (as of wood or metal) that is longer than it is wide <a curtain rod> — see BAR 1

rodomontade also rhodomontade noun
boastful speech or writing <for all of its jingoistic rodomontade, the government had no thought-out plan for the war and its aftermath> — see BOMBAST 1

rogue adjective
given to or marked by cheating and deception <a rogue administrator who took bribes to falsify paperwork> — see DISHONEST 2

rogue noun
1 a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <a rogue who had nothing but contempt for people who made their living honestly> — see VILLAIN
2 an appealingly mischievous person <the little rogue always seems to end up being forgiven for his pranks> — see SCAMP 1

roguery noun
1 a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <those adolescent rogueries that seemed funny at the time—but only stupid when considered in hindsight> — see PRANK
2 playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <the old fraternity brothers fondly recounted how their roguery used to rile the dean> — see MISCHIEF 1

roguish adjective
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <a roguish grin was the only sign that she had something up her sleeve for the office party> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

roguishness noun
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <a bit of childish roguishness that ended up with a window being broken> — see MISCHIEF 1

roil verb
1 to be in a state of violent rolling motion <the waters of the gulf tossed and roiled as the hurricane surged toward the shore> — see SEETHE 1
2 to make angry <the clerk's brusque refusal of her request roiled her enough to prompt a complaint to his supervisor> — see ANGER

roiled adjective
1 feeling or showing anger <he waited until he wasn't so obviously roiled before voicing a complaint to the manager> — see ANGRY
2 having visible particles in liquid suspension <the roiled water made more difficult the work of the divers searching the river for the missing canoeists> — see CLOUDY 1

roister verb
to take part in drunken revelry <the earl's wastrel son had spent the best part of his youth roistering and gambling> — see CAROUSE

roisterer noun
one who engages in merrymaking especially in honor of a special occasion <the rowdy roisterers who fill the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras> — see CELEBRANT

roisterous adjective
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way <students were told that it was possible to have a roisterous victory celebration without resorting to violence> — see BOISTEROUS

role also rôle noun
the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists <studying the role of sunlight in the body's production of vitamin D>

Synonyms
business, capacity, function, job, part, place, position, purpose, task, work

Related Words
affair, concern, hand, involvement, participation; niche, office, post, situation; calling, occupation, pursuit, vocation; activity, assignment, charge, commission, duty, employ, mission, responsibility, service, use

1roll noun
a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system <called the roll of people supposed to be in the class> — see 1LIST

2roll noun
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point <the squirrel did a quick roll and vanished up a tree> — see SPIN 1

roll verb
1 to form into a round compact mass <rolled up the wrapper from the straw and threw it> — see WAD
2 to make a low heavy rolling sound <thunder rolling in the distance> — see RUMBLE
3 to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions <the car suddenly was rolling as high winds swept across the bridge> — see ROCK 1
4 to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis <in order to knock your opponent off balance, you have to roll the log when he least expects it> — see TURN 1
5 to move in a stream <just lying on the beach, watching the clouds roll by> — see FLOW 1
6 to move in circles around an axis or center <rolled her head around her shoulders to loosen herself up> — see SPIN 1
7 to move or proceed smoothly and readily <once we started rolling, everything went perfectly> — see FLOW 2

roll back verb
to put an end to by formal action <lobbyists for the industry pressured the legislators to roll back the new automotive safety standards> — see ABOLISH 1

roll call noun
a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system <the roll call of the fallen was read aloud at the memorial service> — see 1LIST

rollick noun
a time or instance of carefree fun <enjoying a summer rollick before knuckling down in medical school> — see FLING 1

rollick verb
1 to engage in activity for amusement <an educator who realized that children need to rollick as well as to study and learn> — see PLAY 1
2 to play and run about happily <children rollicking during recess> — see FROLIC 1

rollicking adjective
1 being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way <reunions with his friends from college were usually rollicking affairs> — see BOISTEROUS
2 given to good-natured joking or teasing <a rollicking boy who quickly charms everyone he meets> — see PLAYFUL

rollicking noun
activity engaged in to amuse oneself <likes to indulge in mindless rollicking after a day at work in order to relax> — see PLAY 1

roll out verb
to leave one's bed <you'll have to roll out by at least 8:00 a.m. in order to get there on time> — see ARISE 1

roll up verb
to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number <ticket sales are expected to roll up as the date of the concert nears> — see INCREASE 2

roly–poly adjective
having an excess of body fat <a roly-poly baby who grew into a slender child> — see FAT 1

romance noun
a brief romantic relationship <an office romance that ended with hurt feelings on both sides> — see AFFAIR 1

romantic adjective
1 excitingly or mysteriously unusual <she dreamed of meeting a tall, romantic stranger who would introduce her to a life of adventure> — see EXOTIC
2 having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality <a workshop intended to disabuse would-be innkeepers of the romantic notion that running a bed-and-breakfast is easy> — see IDEALISTIC

romantic noun
one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world <she's a hopeless romantic who believes that her one true love is somewhere waiting to be found> — see IDEALIST

romanticist noun
one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world <those romanticists who seem to be perpetually surprised by mean or criminal behavior> — see IDEALIST

romanticize verb
to represent or think of as better than reality would warrant <he romanticized what life in a small town would be like, only to be later disappointed when reality intruded> — see IDEALIZE

romp noun
a time or instance of carefree fun <one last romp before starting their new life as parents> — see FLING 1

romp verb
to play and run about happily <the kids romped on the lawn until dinner was ready> — see FROLIC 1

roof noun
1 a raised covering over something for decoration or protection <the roof of the pavilion leaks when it rains> — see CANOPY
2 the place where one lives <as long as you're living under my roof, you'll obey my rules> — see HOME 1

roof verb
to provide with living quarters or shelter <fed and roofed the emergency volunteers for a week> — see HOUSE 1

rook noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <every year the coaches have to deal with rooks who don't know the rules yet> — see BEGINNER

rook verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <once you learn to recognize these swindler's tricks, no one will be able to use them to rook you> — see FLEECE

rookie noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <although a star in his old sport of basketball, he was still just a rookie as far as baseball was concerned> — see BEGINNER

room noun
1 an extent or area available for or used up by some activity or thing <I need more room to do a cartwheel> <they made room for him on the bench>

Synonyms
elbow room, place, space, way

Related Words
capacity, compass, range, scope; berth, clearance, freedom, latitude, leeway, play

2 an area within a building that has been set apart from surrounding space by a wall <finally had a room to himself when his older brother went off to college>

Synonyms
apartment, cell, chamber, closet

Related Words
accommodation, bay, berth, booth, cabin, compartment, cubicle; alcove, niche, nook, recess; snuggery [chiefly British]

3 a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place <there's still room for improvement> — see OPPORTUNITY

room verb
to provide with living quarters or shelter <we can room up to four visitors in our two guest bedrooms> — see HOUSE 1

roomer noun
one who rents a room or apartment in another's house <the new owners took in roomers to help pay for the house> — see TENANT 1

roomy adjective
more than adequate or average in capacity <a small car that's surprisingly roomy inside> — see SPACIOUS

roost verb
1 to come to rest after descending from the air <pigeons flying home to roost on the roof> — see ALIGHT 1
2 to establish or place comfortably or snugly <a gang of friends had roosted themselves around the ski lodge's massive fireplace> — see ENSCONCE 1

root noun
1 a point or place at which something is invented or provided <he insists that insecurity is the root of all jealousy> — see SOURCE 1
2 the source from which something grows or develops <one would need to go back at least several hundred years to find the root of the entrenched hostility between the neighboring nations> — see SEED 1
3 an immaterial thing upon which something else rests <an implicit trust in the wisdom of the people is the root of democracy> — see BASE 1
4 the central part or aspect of something under consideration <at root, it's a question of the proper limits, if any, of free speech> — see CRUX

root verb
to set solidly in or as if in surrounding matter <rooted the post securely in the dirt> — see ENTRENCH

root (out) verb
1 to destroy all traces of <a concerted effort to root out prejudice of any kind in the armed services> — see ANNIHILATE 1
2 to draw out by force or with effort <a dog rooting out a buried toy> — see EXTRACT
3 to come upon after searching, study, or effort <a journalist seeking to root out and expose corruption in the gaming industry> — see FIND 1

rooted adjective
firmly established over time <a popular, rooted misconception that has proved very resistant to correction> — see INVETERATE 1

rope noun
1 a length of braided, flexible material that is used for tying or connecting things <used a rope to tie the boat to the dock> — see CORD 1
2 ropes plural the characteristic peculiarities and technicalities of something <needs a mentor who will show her the ropes of running a catering business> — see INS AND OUTS
3 ropes plural the specific practical details of something <still learning the ropes of her new job> — see NITTY-GRITTY

ropy also ropey adjective
being of a consistency that resists flow <because the paint was so old, it was ropy and couldn't be smoothly applied to the wood> — see THICK 2

roseate adjective
having qualities which inspire hope <one analyst who envisions a qualifiedly roseate future for the nation's automotive industry> — see HOPEFUL 1

rose–colored adjective
having qualities which inspire hope <an incurable optimist sees the world through a rose-colored perspective> — see HOPEFUL 1

roses plural noun
something easily done or dealt with <the job isn't all roses, but it is pretty interesting> — see CINCH 1

roster noun
a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system <the roster of subscribers to the journal> — see 1LIST

rostrum noun
a level usually raised surface <stood on a rostrum to address the huge crowd> — see PLATFORM 1

rosy adjective
1 having a healthy reddish skin tone <rosy and cheerful after a day outside in the snow> — see RUDDY
2 having qualities which inspire hope <that's a particularly rosy view of the economic situation, and one that may not be justified> — see HOPEFUL 1

rot noun
1 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <I won't stand here and listen to such rot> — see NONSENSE 1
2 the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances <the rot begins shortly after the fish are killed> — see CORRUPTION 1

rot verb
1 to become worse or of less value <the house slowly fell into disrepair and rotted> — see DETERIORATE 1
2 to go through decomposition <rotting vegetation on the bank of the river> — see DECAY 1

rotate verb
1 to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis <rotate the mirror 180 degrees> — see TURN 1
2 to move in circles around an axis or center <with mirrors on three sides, she rotated all around to see how the dress looked on her> — see SPIN 1

rotation noun
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point <the Earth completes a single rotation around its axis in approximately 24 hours> — see SPIN 1

rote noun
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity <learned the rote for the exercise warm-up but not the reasoning behind it> — see ROUTINE 1

rotten adjective
1 having undergone organic breakdown <rotten, smelly meat that should have been thrown out>

Synonyms
addled, bad, corrupted, decayed, decomposed, putrefied, putrid, spoiled

Related Words
curdled, fermented, off, rancid, rank, sour, soured, sourish, turned; contaminated, defiled, fouled, impure, polluted, tainted; corroded, crumbled, degenerated, deteriorated, disintegrated; decaying, decomposing, disintegrating, mildewy, moldering, moldy, putrefying, putrescent, rotting; gangrenous

Near Antonyms
fresh, good, sweet; preserved, pristine, uncontaminated, undefiled, unpolluted, unspoiled, untainted, untouched

Antonyms
undecomposed

2 not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <played a rotten trick and then lied about it> — see BAD 2
3 not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <had a rotten time while on vacation> — see UNPLEASANT
4 extremely unsatisfactory <rotten housing conditions that no one should be forced to tolerate> — see WRETCHED 1
5 of low quality <I can't do anything with these rotten tools> — see CHEAP 2

rotter noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <the dirty rotter dumped his wife to marry his secretary> — see JERK 1

rotund adjective
1 having an excess of body fat <a rotund little man who, predictably, was asked to play Santa every year> — see FAT 1
2 marked by conspicuously full and rich sounds or tones <the actor's distinct baritone and his clear and rotund elocution are especially effective in dramatic readings> — see RESONANT

rotundity noun
the condition of having an excess of body fat <finally a diet that really worked, allowing her to leave behind a lifetime of rotundity and ridicule> — see CORPULENCE

rough adjective
1 covered with or as if with hair <a face rough with a couple days' worth of beard> — see HAIRY 1
2 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <rough waters that made sailing our sloop a little risky> — see VIOLENT 1
3 marked by wet and windy conditions <at least wear a raincoat if you're going out into that rough weather> — see FOUL 1
4 not having a level or smooth surface <a rough board can give you splinters> — see UNEVEN 1
5 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <a forensics expert who willingly takes on rough assignments> — see HARD 2
6 difficult to endure <I've had a rough time of it since I lost my job> — see HARSH 1
7 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <the rough faces of hardened criminals who had spent most of their lives behind bars> — see GRIM 1
8 hastily or roughly constructed <made a rough camp as darkness fell over the forest> — see RUDE 1
9 lacking in refinement or good taste <he learned polite words to replace the rough language he had known in the slums> — see COARSE 2
10 made of or resembling hair <a rough-coated dog who was always shedding his fur> — see HAIRY 2
11 marked by a series of sharp quick motions <a rough flight that left some passengers nauseated> — see JERKY 1
12 marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements <after a rough week on the high seas, we were happy to sail through the gulf's more tranquil waters> — see WILD 2

rough (up) verb
1 to strike repeatedly <she was badly roughed up by a mugger in the park> — see BEAT 1
2 to abuse physically <the photographer claimed that he had been roughed up by the actor's bodyguards outside the club> — see MANHANDLE 1

rough–and–ready adjective
hastily or roughly constructed <a rough-and-ready shack that the explorers threw together as winter approached> — see RUDE 1

rough–and–tumble adjective
hastily or roughly constructed <the announcement of his candidacy was made from a rough-and-tumble stage put together just that morning> — see RUDE 1

rough–and–tumble noun
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people <a rough-and-tumble broke out among the fans in the stands> — see BRAWL 1

roughened adjective
not having a level or smooth surface <roughened hands from hard work> — see UNEVEN 1

rough–hewn adjective
1 hastily or roughly constructed <a survivalist living in a rough-hewn shelter in the wilderness> — see RUDE 1
2 lacking in refinement or good taste <a rough-hewn girl who had to learn how to behave properly in polite company> — see COARSE 2
3 lacking social grace and assurance <rough-hewn military cadets feeling a little self-conscious at their first formal dance> — see AWKWARD 1

roughhouse noun
wildly playful or mischievous behavior <their parents simply wouldn't tolerate any roughhouse in the living room> — see HORSEPLAY

roughhousing noun
wildly playful or mischievous behavior <roughhousing was simply part of growing up in a family with four boys> — see HORSEPLAY

roughly adverb
1 close to but not exactly <roughly 80% of the country's population is of that faith> — see APPROXIMATELY
2 in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering <if you treat the camcorder roughly, it will of course break> — see HARDLY 1

roughneck adjective
lacking in refinement or good taste <their roughneck antics were amusing only if you were as drunk as they were> — see COARSE 2

roughneck noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <a group of roughnecks like to hang out at the roadhouse and harass people> — see HOODLUM

roughness noun
1 a harsh or sharp quality <a roughness to the wine that should decrease with age> — see EDGE 1
2 the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste <the roughness of pioneer life is not glossed over in the documentary> — see VULGARITY 1

round adjective
1 having every part of the surface the same distance from the center <round golf balls> <the earth is not perfectly round>

Synonyms
global, globular, spherical

Related Words
annular, circular, disciform, discoid, discoidal, disklike, hooplike, ringlike; curved, looped, spiral; balled, bulbous, rotund, rounded, roundish; cylindrical (also cylindric), elliptical (or elliptic), oblong, oval, ovate, ovoid (also ovoidal)

Antonyms
nonspherical

2 having an excess of body fat <a round little grandmother who was a natural to play Mrs. Claus> — see FAT 1
3 marked by conspicuously full and rich sounds or tones <an organ with a beautifully round sound> — see RESONANT
4 being neither more nor less than a certain amount, number, or extent <a round dozen eggs> — see EVEN 1

round adverb
1 from beginning to end <people working there all year round> — see THROUGH 1
2 on all sides or in every direction <gather round and listen to my story> — see AROUND 1
3 toward the opposite direction <turned round to see who was calling out> — see AROUND 2

round noun
1 a circular strip <a round of steel to reinforce the wooden beam> — see 1RING 2
2 a series of events or actions that repeat themselves regularly and in the same order <a busy round of parties during the holiday season> — see CYCLE 1
3 something with a perfectly round circumference <use a cookie cutter to make the rounds of dough> — see CIRCLE 1

round preposition
in random positions within the boundaries of <talked to voters round the city> — see AROUND 2

round verb
1 to form into a round compact mass <carefully rounded the dough and placed it on a cookie tray> — see WAD
2 to travel completely around <a monorail for visitors that rounds the park> — see ENCIRCLE 1
3 to turn away from a straight line or course <rounded on the track and headed for the finish line> — see CURVE 1

round (off or out) verb
1 to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point <I'll round off the meeting here and let everyone get an early start on the weekend> — see CLOSE 3
2 to serve as a completing element to <coffee and dessert rounded out the meal> — see COMPLEMENT

roundabout adjective
not straightforward or direct <took a roundabout route to the beach> — see INDIRECT

roundel noun
something with a perfectly round circumference <the windows in the colonial-era statehouse are roundels> — see CIRCLE 1

roundly adverb
1 in a vigorous and forceful manner <roundly attacked the proposal to raise the state's gas tax> — see HARD 3
2 with attention to all aspects or details <few sitcoms were as roundly disliked as that one> — see THOROUGHLY 1

round–robin noun
a meeting featuring a group discussion <a round-robin to discuss the epidemic of performance-enhancing drugs plaguing professional sports> — see FORUM 1

roundtable noun
a meeting featuring a group discussion <an international roundtable of medical experts on the disease> — see FORUM 1

roundup noun
a short statement of the main points <I can't read 500 pages by tomorrow, so just give me the roundup> — see SUMMARY

round up verb
to bring together in one body or place <rounded everyone up for one final training session> — see GATHER 1

rouse verb
1 to cause to stop sleeping <the honking horns roused her from a deep sleep> — see WAKE 1
2 to cease to be asleep <I finally roused around noon, after going to bed very late> — see WAKE 2

rousing adjective
1 causing great emotional or mental stimulation <a rousing rendition of our national anthem> — see EXCITING 1
2 marked by much life, movement, or activity <during the heat wave stores were doing a rousing business in air conditioners> — see ALIVE 2

roustabout noun
one who loads and unloads ships at a port <sought work as a roustabout on the city's seedy waterfront> — see DOCKWORKER

rouster noun
one who loads and unloads ships at a port <a hard-muscled man who certainly looked like he had worked all his life as a rouster> — see DOCKWORKER

1rout noun
1 a great number of persons or creatures massed together <a great rout of rubberneckers had gathered around the scene of the accident> — see CROWD 1
2 people looked down upon as ignorant and of the lowest class <at first the protests were dismissed as nothing more than the idle doings of the restless rout> — see RABBLE

2rout noun
1 failure to win a contest <the championship game was a humiliating rout for the team that had been favored to win> — see DEFEAT 1
2 the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement <in the mad rout from the school shooter, it was every person for himself> — see ESCAPE 1

rout verb
1 to defeat by a large margin <as expected, the professional team had no trouble routing the amateurs> — see WHIP 2
2 to drive or force out <the nation's ground and air forces quickly routed the would-be invaders> — see EJECT 1

rout (out) verb
to come upon after searching, study, or effort <if you give me some time, I can probably rout out more supplies> — see FIND 1

route noun
1 a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <take Route 190 for six miles, then get off> — see WAY 1
2 an established course for traveling from one place to another <we're going to get stuck in traffic if we take the usual route> — see PASSAGE 1
3 the direction along which something or someone moves <hurricanes generally take a northerly route up the Atlantic seaboard> — see PATH 1

route verb
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front <the guide routed us smoothly through the jungle> — see LEAD 1

routeway noun, chiefly British
the direction along which something or someone moves <the courier's preferred routeway between the two offices takes him right past Trafalgar Square> — see PATH 1

routine adjective
1 being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <this is just a routine inspection> — see ORDINARY 1
2 following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules <the routine procedure for filing a complaint with the board> — see FORMAL 1
3 often observed or encountered <the movie is a routine thriller that has little to recommend it> — see COMMON 1

routine noun
1 an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity <part of my morning routine is drinking a cup of coffee while reading the newspaper>

Synonyms
drill, grind, groove, lockstep, pattern, rote, rut, treadmill

Related Words
daily dozen, regimen; housekeeping; custom, fashion, habit, practice (also practise), trick, wont; approach, manner, method, procedure, strategy, style, tack, technique, way; design, plan, program, scheme; convention, policy, tradition

2 something done over and over in order to develop skill <a weapons training routine> — see EXERCISE 2
3 a performance regularly presented by an individual or group <did a tired routine that's been around since the days of vaudeville> — see ACT 1

rove verb
to move about from place to place aimlessly <buffalo roving over the vast plains> — see WANDER 1

rover noun
1 a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination <ever since he developed a strong case of wanderlust in college, he's been a rover> — see NOMAD
2 someone who engages in robbery of ships at sea <a story of the days when sea rovers plied the Caribbean> — see PIRATE

roving adjective
traveling from place to place <a roving substitute teacher who works in a different district every day> — see ITINERANT

1row noun
1 a series of people or things arranged side by side <stood in a row to have their picture taken> <three rows of eight jelly beans equals 24 jelly beans>

Synonyms
bank, rank

Related Words
chain, column, cue, file, line, procession, queue, range, string, train; echelon, tier; array, concatenation, sequence

2 a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <drive up Market Row and turn left> — see WAY 1

2row noun
1 a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people <a county fair that had a long history of bloody rows> — see BRAWL 1
2 a state of noisy, confused activity <the combination of drums and shouting contributed to the awful row> — see COMMOTION
3 an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <he had a row with his girlfriend yesterday, and now they aren't speaking> — see ARGUMENT 1

1row verb
to move a boat by means of oars <rowed around the lake>

Synonyms
oar, paddle, scull

Related Words
canoe, kayak; pole, punt; feather, pull

2row verb
to express different opinions about something often angrily <the couple rows all the time, and yet they seem happy together> — see ARGUE 2

rowdy adjective
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way <a rowdy but good-natured group of teenagers> — see BOISTEROUS

rowdy noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <rowdies had overtaken the neighborhood and were threatening people on the street> — see HOODLUM

rower noun
a person who drives a boat forward by means of oars <the racing shell carries four rowers and a coxswain> — see OARSMAN

royal adjective
1 fit for or worthy of a royal ruler <the school superintendent received a royal welcome> — see MONARCHICAL
2 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <had a royal argument over family finances> — see GRAND 1
3 involving minimal difficulty or effort <unfortunately, there is no royal way for a person to achieve maturity> — see EASY 1

royalty noun
1 a dignified bearing or appearance befitting someone of royal status <she has an air of royalty that belies her humble origins> — see MAJESTY 1
2 individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <a political fund-raiser attended by the royalty of the Hollywood scene> — see ELITE 1

rub noun
something that is a source of irritation <even what seems to be a dream job usually turns out to have its fair share of rubs> — see ANNOYANCE 3

rub verb
1 to damage or diminish by continued friction <the brake pads were rubbed away as a result of years of use> — see ABRADE 1
2 to make smooth by friction <the furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper> — see GRIND 1
3 to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure <the butler rubbed the silver tea set until it gleamed> — see POLISH 1

rubbed adjective
having a shiny surface or finish <the rubbed brass of the wall sconce showed my reflection> — see GLOSSY

rubberlike adjective
able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted <a rubberlike material that is used for household products> — see ELASTIC 1

rubberneck noun
a person who travels for pleasure <every year raucous rubbernecks by the busload descend upon the city for its famed Mardi Gras> — see TOURIST

rubberneck verb
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise <thoughtless drivers pausing on the highway to rubberneck at the accident> — see GAPE

rubbernecker noun
a person who travels for pleasure <a shop selling the kind of tacky souvenirs that rubberneckers can't seem to get enough of> — see TOURIST

rubber stamp noun
a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way <an author who was ultimately just another rubber stamp of Hemingway> — see COPYCAT

rubbery adjective
able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted <mozzarella is a rubbery cheese known to every pizza lover> — see ELASTIC 1

rubbish noun
1 discarded or useless material <it's illegal to throw rubbish out of your car on the highway> — see GARBAGE 1
2 that which is of low quality or worth <regarded most romance novels as the lowest form of literary rubbish> — see JUNK 1
3 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <you're obviously no economist because what you're saying is absolute rubbish> — see NONSENSE 1

rubbishy adjective
of low quality <rubbishy merchandise that is mainly bought by tourists> — see CHEAP 2

rubble noun
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed <clearing the rubble after the earthquake> — see REMAINS 1

rube noun
an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country <rural voters were tired of being treated as rubes by state officials, who showed interest in them only at election time> — see HICK

rubicund adjective
having a healthy reddish skin tone <the rubicund face of a man who clearly got a lot of fresh air and exercise> — see RUDDY

rubout noun
the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life <the mafia boss ordered a rubout as casually as you might order a pizza> — see HOMICIDE 1

rub out verb
1 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <aerial bombs rubbed out the oil refinery> — see DESTROY 1
2 to put to death deliberately <an elaborate setup to rub out rival mobsters> — see MURDER 1
3 to destroy all traces of <a promise to rub out the city's drug trade> — see ANNIHILATE 1

rubric noun
1 a word or series of words often in larger letters placed at the beginning of a passage or at the top of a page in order to introduce or categorize <the rubrics at the beginning of the chapters are intended to be humorous> — see HEADING
2 an inherited or established way of thinking, feeling, or doing <the rubric, popular among jewelers anyway, that a man should spend a month's salary on his fiancée's engagement ring> — see TRADITION 1
3 one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <all of these books with their conspiracy theories fall under the rubric of speculative fiction> — see CLASS 2

rucksack noun
a soft-sided case designed for carrying belongings especially on the back <hikers carrying their food and water in rucksacks> — see PACK 1

ruckus noun
1 a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people <the ruckus left one person with a sprained wrist> — see BRAWL 1
2 a state of noisy, confused activity <quit creating such a ruckus—I'm trying to sleep!> — see COMMOTION

ruction noun
1 a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people <the ruction ended with everyone involved getting arrested> — see BRAWL 1
2 a state of noisy, confused activity <the ruction outside the door prompted me to investigate what was going on> — see COMMOTION

ruddy adjective
having a healthy reddish skin tone <ruddy complexions run in the family>

Synonyms
blooming, florid, flush, full-blooded, glowing, red, rosy, rubicund, sanguine

Related Words
bronzed, brown, suntanned, tanned; bloomy, blowsy (also blowzy), blushing, flushed, pink, pinkish, warm; cherubic

Near Antonyms
waxen, waxy; blanched, white, whitened; anemic, sick, sickly; bloodless, cadaverous; whey-faced, white-faced

Antonyms
ashen, ashy, doughy, livid, lurid, mealy, pale, paled, palish, pallid, pasty, peaked, peaky, sallow, sallowish, wan

rude adjective
1 hastily or roughly constructed <a rude shelter built from unfinished logs by some forgotten pioneer>

Synonyms
artless, clumsy, crude, jerry-built, jerry-rigged, jury-rigged, rough, rough-and-ready, rough-and-tumble, rough-hewn, unrefined

Related Words
defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect; imprecise, inexact; inartistic, undressed, unfinished, unpolished, unworked; amateur, amateurish, inexpert, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful; primitive, rudimentary; unshaped, unshapen

Near Antonyms
faultless, finished, flawless, meticulous, perfect, perfected, polished, well-done; adept, adroit, dexterous (also dextrous), expert, masterful, masterly, neat, practiced (also practised), skillful, workmanlike; artful, artistic, sophisticated; exact, precise

Antonyms
refined

2 belonging to or characteristic of an early level of skill or development <rude stone tools> — see PRIMITIVE 1
3 lacking in refinement or good taste <a comedian who uses a lot of rude language in his nightclub act> — see COARSE 2
4 not civilized <missionaries who believed that it was their duty to convert the rude peoples of the world> — see SAVAGE 1
5 showing a lack of manners or consideration for others <it's rude to call someone “ugly”> — see IMPOLITE
6 lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <rude hillbillies they might have been, but they produced music with real poignancy> — see IGNORANT 1
7 being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining <rude pelts that were sent to Europe to be fashioned into elegant hats and coats> — see CRUDE 1

rudeness noun
1 rude behavior <such rudeness will not be tolerated in this office> — see DISCOURTESY
2 the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste <the rudeness of frontier life gradually diminished with time> — see VULGARITY 1

rudimental adjective
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject <learned the rudimental concepts of math at an early age> — see ELEMENTARY

rudimentary adjective
1 belonging to or characteristic of an early level of skill or development <rudimentary shelters built by prehistoric peoples> — see PRIMITIVE 1
2 of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject <had only a rudimentary knowledge of science> — see ELEMENTARY

rudiments plural noun
general or basic truths on which other truths or theories can be based <learned the rudiments of mathematics> — see PRINCIPLES 1

rue noun
a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <a soul filled with pain and rue> — see GUILT 1

rue verb
to feel sorry or dissatisfied about <I rue the day I agreed to this stupid plan> — see REGRET

rueful adjective
1 expressing or suggesting mourning <the rueful faces of friends and family who had gathered to pay their last respects> — see MOURNFUL 1
2 feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done <a rueful youth who had come to ask for forgiveness for online bullying> — see CONTRITE
3 deserving of one's pity <the rueful, desperate poverty of people in parts of the Third World> — see PATHETIC 1

ruefully adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <ruefully accepted the fact that the drunk driver would never adequately pay for his crime> — see HARD 2

ruffian noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <a gang of ruffians preying upon people who ventured into that section of town> — see HOODLUM

ruffle noun
1 a strip of fabric gathered or pleated on one edge and used as trimming <likes lace curtains without ruffles and chintz curtains with ruffles>

Synonyms
flounce, frill, furbelow

Related Words
border, edging, fringe, trim; plait, pleat, ruff; bunting, skirting

2 something that is a source of irritation <a spouse's snoring is one ruffle that many couples must eventually come to terms with> — see ANNOYANCE 3

ruffle verb
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <the stream of minor complaints finally ruffled him into snapping, “If you don't like the way I'm doing it, do it yourself!”> — see IRRITATE 1

rug noun, slang
a headpiece made of natural or synthetic hair usually worn to cover a bald area <get a load of that bald guy's rug—who does he think he's fooling?> — see HAIRPIECE

rugged adjective
1 able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure <a rugged construction that survived for hundreds of years> — see HARDY 1
2 difficult to endure <the incredibly rugged conditions that the polar explorers faced> — see HARSH 1
3 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <the warrior's rugged features frightened the child> — see GRIM 1
4 having muscles capable of exerting great physical force <a rugged athlete who's competing in weight lifting in the Olympics> — see STRONG 1
5 not having a level or smooth surface <rugged terrain that made for slow going> — see UNEVEN 1
6 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <even more rugged than most ultramarathons, this one crosses a desert> — see HARD 2
7 marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements <New Hampshire's Mount Washington has some of the ruggedest weather in all of North America> — see WILD 3
8 lacking in refinement or good taste <the kind of rugged humor that men have traditionally enjoyed at stag parties> — see COARSE 2

ruin noun
1 the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <a vicious bombardment that left the building in ruins> — see DESTRUCTION 1
2 ruins plural the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed <the ruins of an abandoned abbey> — see REMAINS 1
3 the inability to pay one's debts <the family faces ruin if the chief breadwinner doesn't find another job very soon> — see INSOLVENCY
4 something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life <the politician's eventual ruin would be a sexual indiscretion> — see DOWNFALL 1

ruin verb
1 to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts <after he was ruined by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the industrialist was forced to sell his mansion and start all over again>

Synonyms
bankrupt, break, bust

Related Words
beggar, impoverish, pauperize; reduce, straiten; clean (out), wipe out

Near Antonyms
enrich, richen

2 to bring destruction to (something) through violent action <tornadoes ruined a wide swath of the county> — see RAVAGE
3 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <a huge fire that ruined an entire city block> — see DESTROY 1

ruination noun
1 something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life <neglect and indifference have proved to be the ruination of more than one marriage> — see DOWNFALL 1
2 the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <although this is a setback, it isn't complete ruination for the company> — see DESTRUCTION 1

ruined adjective
facing certain defeat, disaster, or death <your chances for a promotion were ruined the instance you started mouthing off to the boss> — see DONE FOR

ruinous adjective
1 bringing about ruin or misfortune <a ruinous miscalculation of the financial markets left them bankrupt> — see FATAL 1
2 causing or tending to cause destruction <a ruinous windstorm destroyed the crops> — see DESTRUCTIVE 1

rule noun
1 a statement spelling out the proper procedure or conduct for an activity <read the rules that are posted before you use the pool>

Synonyms
bylaw, ground rule, reg, regulation

Related Words
code, constitution, decalogue, directory; act, law, ordinance, statute; behest, charge, command, commandment, decree, dictate, direction, directive, edict, fiat, instruction, order; axiom, fundamental, maxim, precept; moral, principle, value; ban, interdiction, prohibition, proscription, restriction; convention, custom, habit, manners, mores, practice (also practise), tradition, way; blueprint, canon, formula, guide, guideline, standard

2 lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) <the years during which Russia was under Communist rule>

Synonyms
administration, authority, governance, government, jurisdiction, regime (also régime), regimen

Related Words
reign; dominion, power, sovereignty (also sovranty), supremacy, sway; command, leadership; direction, management, regulation, superintendence, supervision; autocracy, dictatorship, domination, hegemony, mastery, oppression, subjugation, tyranny

3 an inherited or established way of thinking, feeling, or doing <one of the sacred rules of that ancient society was respect for the elderly> — see TRADITION 1

rule verb
1 to exercise authority or power over <a sea captain who ruled his ship sternly but justly> — see GOVERN
2 to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <a monarch who is known for ruling her emotions with an iron hand> — see CONTROL 1

rule (on) verb
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) <the coach ruled on the question of whether an off-campus bar fight ought to disqualify someone from the team> — see JUDGE 1

rule out verb
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of <another loss would rule them out of the tournament> — see EXCLUDE

ruler noun
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority <the aging ruler agonized over the choice of an heir> — see MONARCH 1

ruling adjective
held by or applicable to a majority of the people <the ruling opinion on premarital sex> — see GENERAL 3

ruling noun
1 a decision made by a court or tribunal regarding a case it has heard <the controversial ruling by the state's supreme court caused an uproar> — see SENTENCE
2 an order publicly issued by an authority <the FCC's ruling regarding the broadcasting of obscenities> — see EDICT 1

rum adjective, chiefly British
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <she wears staid business suits, but prefers some quite rum knickers underneath> — see ODD 2

rum noun
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <a fiery sermon on the evils of demon rum> — see ALCOHOL

rumble verb
to make a low heavy rolling sound <when thunder rumbled in the distant sky, we wisely began packing up our picnic>

Synonyms
growl, grumble, lumber, roll

Related Words
boom, drum, thunder; bellow

rumbustious adjective, chiefly British
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way <while American university debates tend to be sedate affairs, their counterparts in Oxford are wholeheartedly rumbustious> — see BOISTEROUS

ruminant adjective
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking <I wandered around campus all day in a ruminant mood> — see CONTEMPLATIVE

ruminate verb
to give serious and careful thought to <the minister hoped that the congregation would spend the remainder of the week ruminating the message of his sermon> — see PONDER

ruminative adjective
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking <a ruminative man, who contributed to discussions only after he had completely thought things through> — see CONTEMPLATIVE

rummage noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <a rummage of textbooks, notebooks, and old school papers all over the desk> — see MISCELLANY 1

rummage verb
1 to come upon after searching, study, or effort <at the last minute she rummaged a costume from the attic> — see FIND 1
2 to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something <he rummaged the desk drawer trying to find the spare keys> — see SEARCH 1

rummy noun
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <most mornings a dazed old rummy sits on the steps with a bottle in a paper bag> — see DRUNK 1

rumor noun
information or opinion that is widely disseminated without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <rumor has it that she's planning to shut down the company>

Synonyms
buzz, dish, gossip, hearsay, noise, report, scuttlebutt, talk, tattle, word

Related Words
tale, whisper, whispering; hint, intimation, rumbling; disinformation, propaganda; urban legend (also urban myth); dirt, scandal

rumor verb
to make (as a piece of information) the subject of common talk without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <for years people have been rumoring the CEO's imminent retirement>

Synonyms
bruit (about), circulate, noise (about or out), whisper

Related Words
bandy (about), blab, dish, gossip, tattle; bare, disclose, divulge, expose, let on (about), report, reveal, spill, tell; hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, suggest; blaze, broadcast, proclaim, promulgate, propagate, publicize, spread

rump noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <she plopped down on her rump to listen to the campfire story> — see BUTTOCKS

rumple verb
1 to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in <the guest rumpled the antique bedspread by lying down on it> — see CRUMPLE 1
2 to develop creases or folds <the linen skirt rumpled as soon as she started wearing it> — see WRINKLE 1
3 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <the aunt would invariably rumple the little boy's hair whenever she came to visit> — see DISORDER

rumpled adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <a rumpled room that suited its teenage occupant just fine> — see MESSY

rumpus noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <the kids made such a rumpus that they woke up everyone else in the house> — see COMMOTION

run noun
1 a prevailing or general movement or inclination <the company's stock has remained consistent with the overall run of the market> — see TREND 1
2 chiefly Midland a natural body of running water smaller than a river <a run full of catfish> — see CREEK 1
3 the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress <the actor has been assigned the part for the run of the show> — see DURATION 1
4 the right to act or move freely <gave the dogs the run of the place> — see FREEDOM 2
5 runs plural abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools <with weekend guests in the house, it was no time to get the runs> — see DIARRHEA

run verb
1 to go at a pace faster than a walk <we ran all the way to the bus stop, but still missed the bus>

Synonyms
dash, gallop, jog, scamper, sprint, trip, trot

Related Words
bound, canter, leap, lope, shag, skip, spring; barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb [slang], bowl, breeze, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, course, foot (it), hare, hasten, hie, hoof (it), hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurry, hurtle, hustle, jet, leg (it), pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, rush, rustle, shoot, speed, tear, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom; nip, patter, scoot, scurry, scuttle, step (along)

Near Antonyms
amble, saunter, shamble, shuffle, stroll; crawl, creep, dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry; lumber, plod, trudge; hobble, limp

2 to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening <rather than run from a black bear, it's better to hold your ground and make lots of noise>

Synonyms
bolt, break, bug out, flee, fly, hightail (it), retreat, run away, run off, skedaddle

Related Words
abscond, clear out, decamp, elope, escape, get (away), get out, lam, light out, make off, mizzle [chiefly British], scarper [British], scat, scram, skip (out), skirr

Phrases
beat a retreat, beat it, make tracks, turn tail

Near Antonyms
beard, brave, confront, dare, defy, face; abide, dwell, hang around, linger, remain, stay, stick around, tarry

3 to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction <the road runs along the river for a while>

Synonyms
bear, extend, go, head, lead, lie

Related Words
cross, cut, pass; course, follow, span, traverse

4 to occur within a continuous range of variation <the electric bill runs between 30 and 50 dollars a month>

Synonyms
go, range, vary

Related Words
alternate, fluctuate, move, shift; change, mutate; extend, reach, stretch, sweep

5 to move in a stream <water running down the window> — see FLOW 1
6 to proceed or move quickly <run and get the nurse> — see HURRY 2
7 to show a liking or proneness (for something) <unfortunately, members of his family run to fatness> — see LEAN 2
8 to urge, push, or force onward <they ran the horses hard in order to get to the ranch quickly> — see DRIVE 1
9 to control the mechanical operation of <I know how to run that machine> — see OPERATE 1
10 to eventually have as a state or quality <the poor woman ran herself ragged trying to care for all those children> — see BECOME
11 to go from a solid to a liquid state <her makeup started to run when she got in the pool> — see LIQUEFY
12 to look after and make decisions about <learning to run the family business> — see CONDUCT 1
13 to cause to function <in olden days mills were run by flowing water> — see ACTIVATE
14 to have a price of <that sort of computer runs at least several hundred dollars> — see COST
15 to come or be together as friends <he's been running with a bad crowd lately> — see ASSOCIATE 1
16 to go after or on the track of <if that dog continues to run cars, he's going to get seriously hurt> — see FOLLOW 2

run (over) verb
to make a brief visit <I could run over right now if that's good for you> — see CALL 3

run along verb
to leave a place often for another <I'd love to stay longer, but I must be running along> — see GO 2

runaway adjective
showing no signs of being under control <a region plagued by runaway suburban sprawl> — see RAMPANT 1

run away verb
1 to get free from a dangerous or confining situation <ran away from an unhappy marriage> — see ESCAPE 1
2 to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening <the child runs away from large dogs> — see RUN 2

rundlet or runlet noun
an enclosed wooden vessel for holding beverages <the wine was transferred to rundlets for further aging in the cellar> — see CASK

rundown noun
a short statement of the main points <a rundown of the suspect's lengthy police record> — see SUMMARY

run–down adjective
1 showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <a run-down old house that really should be torn down> — see SHABBY 1
2 temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body <I'm afraid I'll be staying home today as I'm feeling run-down> — see SICK 1

run down verb
1 to come upon after searching, study, or effort <finally ran down the answer after hours of research> — see FIND 1
2 to express scornfully one's low opinion of <constantly running down the city's cultural life won't do anything to improve it> — see DECRY 1

rune noun
a composition using rhythm and often rhyme to create a lyrical effect <wrote many mournful runes after her lover's untimely death> — see POEM

rung noun
1 the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement <the greasy spoon restaurant was several rungs below the kind of establishment in which we usually dined> — see RANK 1
2 Scottish a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <the watchman usually carried a stout oak rung> — see CLUB 1

run–in noun
a brief clash between enemies or rivals <the rival gangs had a bit of a run-in last night> — see ENCOUNTER

run in verb
1 to make a brief visit <I just thought I'd run in and pick up my package> — see CALL 3
2 to take or keep under one's control by authority of law <if we catch you shoplifting again, we're going to run you in> — see ARREST 1

runlet noun
a natural body of running water smaller than a river <weather forecasters warned that the heavy rains might cause the area's runlets to overflow> — see CREEK 1

runnel noun
a natural body of running water smaller than a river <the fugitive made use of local runnels to throw the bloodhounds off his scent> — see CREEK 1

runner noun
1 a person who imports or exports goods secretly and illegally <a drug runner> — see SMUGGLER
2 one that carries a message or does an errand <sent a runner to tell them that all was ready for the feast> — see MESSENGER

running adjective
1 being in effective operation <the car has been running for almost an entire day> — see ACTIVE 1
2 going on and on without any interruptions <a running struggle just to make ends meet> — see CONTINUOUS

running adverb
in succession without others coming in between <he won the championship five times running> — see CONSECUTIVELY

running noun
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <left the running of the corporation to his subordinates> — see CONDUCT 1

running mate noun
a person frequently seen in the company of another <inseparable running mates who first met when they were in elementary school> — see ASSOCIATE 1

runny adjective
having an overly soft liquid consistency <runny scrambled eggs>

Synonyms
soupy, watery

Related Words
flowing, fluent, fluid, liquefied; dilute, diluted, thin, thinned, watered-down, weak, weakened; sloshy, slushy, soggy, waterlogged, wet

Near Antonyms
ropy (also ropey), syrupy, viscid, viscous; creamy, heavy, thick, thickened, thickish; gelatinous, gluey, glutinous, gooey, gummy, sticky

run off verb
1 to drive or force out <the dog often ran off cats and other animals that had intruded upon his owner's property> — see EJECT 1
2 to get free from a dangerous or confining situation <their rebellious daughter's run off because she was disciplined again> — see ESCAPE 1
3 to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening <the mouse ran off as soon as it saw us> — see RUN 2

run–of–the–mill adjective
1 being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <just another run-of-the-mill suburb with its shopping malls and fast-food restaurants> — see ORDINARY 1
2 of average to below average quality <his latest offering is rather run-of-the-mill for this usually excellent novelist> — see MEDIOCRE 1

run–of–the–mine or run–of–mine adjective
of average to below average quality <so far, the job posting has attracted only run-of-the-mine applicants> — see MEDIOCRE 1

run on verb
1 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <we were just running on about how neither of us has aged a bit after all these years> — see CHAT 1
2 to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state <allow the savings account to run on for now> — see CONTINUE 1
3 to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point <she's very sweet, but she does tend to run on> — see RAMBLE 1

run over verb
to do over and over so as to become skilled <let's run over this dance number one more time> — see PRACTICE

runt noun
a living thing much smaller than others of its kind <one kitten was definitely the runt, weighing only six ounces at birth> — see DWARF 1

run–through noun
a short statement of the main points <could you give me a quick run-through of what the referendum question is all about?> — see SUMMARY

run through verb
1 to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <before I knew what was happening, the thug had run through me with a knife> — see IMPALE
2 to use up carelessly <how did you manage to run through $300 in one day?> — see WASTE 1

rural adjective
of, relating to, associated with, or typical of open areas with few buildings or people <grew up in a rural community where more than half the people were farmers> <a painter noted for his rural landscapes>

Synonyms
bucolic, country, pastoral, rustic (also rustical)

Related Words
backwoods, backwoodsy, countrified (also countryfied), provincial; agrarian, agricultural; nonurban, semirural

Near Antonyms
citified, urbanized; metro, metropolitan, municipal; nonagricultural, nonfarm

Antonyms
urban

rush noun
1 excited and often showy or disorderly speed <what's the reason for all this rush?> — see HURRY 1
2 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <the regiment recaptured the hill with a single rush> — see ATTACK 1
3 a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings <riding my motorcycle over these winding roads is always an adrenaline-pumping rush> — see THRILL

rush verb
1 to cause to move or proceed fast or faster <I wouldn't make so many mistakes if you'd stop rushing me> — see HURRY 1
2 to flow out in great quantities or with force <in the spring the stream's rushing waters make crossing treacherous> — see GUSH 1
3 to proceed or move quickly <rushing is a good way to slip and fall> — see HURRY 2
4 to take sudden, violent action against <one goat suddenly rushed the other and knocked it down> — see ATTACK 1

rushed adjective
acting or done with excessive or careless speed <a rushed job with a number of errors> — see HASTY 1

rustic noun
an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country <a rustic who was awed by the prices that city dwellers had to pay> — see HICK

rustic also rustical adjective
1 lacking social grace and assurance <rustic yokels whose first impulse was to smirk gawkily at anyone not of their own kind> — see AWKWARD 1
2 of, relating to, associated with, or typical of open areas with few buildings or people <a rustic area that has a refreshing lack of billboards and shopping malls> — see RURAL

rustle verb
1 to feed on grass or herbs <just take the steer out to pasture and let it rustle for itself> — see 1GRAZE
2 to proceed or move quickly <rustled around enthusiastically on the morning of the big trip> — see HURRY 2
3 to make small sounds usually by rubbing or moving <my pet peeve is candy wrappers rustling during a movie> — see CRINKLE 1

rustler noun
an ambitious person who eagerly goes after what is desired <the job requires a rustler who doesn't always need to be told what to do> — see GO-GETTER

rusty adjective
1 having passed its time of use or usefulness <rusty laws still on the books because no one bothered to repeal them> — see OBSOLETE
2 harsh and dry in sound <in a rusty voice the old man ordered us off his land> — see HOARSE

rut noun
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity <I've fallen into a rut, watching television and then going to bed every night> — see ROUTINE 1

ruth noun
the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <listening to your flippant comments about the homeless, I wonder if you have any ruth> — see HEART 1

ruthless adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <an office supervisor with a ruthless disregard for others' feelings> — see HARD 1

RV noun
a motor vehicle that is specially equipped for living while traveling <the RV parked in the driveway is a sure sign that their relatives from Florida have arrived> — see CAMPER

S

sable adjective
having the color of soot or coal <a beautiful sable cat> — see BLACK 1

saccharine adjective
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <the movie was funny, but it had a saccharine ending in which everyone lives happily ever after> — see CORNY 1

saccharinity noun
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) <the film veers into saccharinity as soon as the cute child star appears on screen> — see SENTIMENTALITY

sacerdotal adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy <sacerdotal garments such as a cassock and miter> — see CLERICAL

sack noun
1 a container made of a flexible material (as paper or plastic) <asked the bagger to put all the loaves of bread in the same sack> — see BAG 1
2 a place set aside for sleeping <I think I'm ready to hit the sack> — see BED 1

1sack verb
to let go from office, service, or employment <he was sacked for showing up late once too often> — see DISMISS 1

2sack verb
to search through with the intent of committing robbery <thieves sacked the house in search of the diamond necklace> — see RANSACK 1

sacral adjective
set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God <sacral laws that have been passed down for generations> — see HOLY 2

sacralize verb
to make holy through prayers or ritual <sacralizing the cohabitation of a man and a woman by means of the marriage ceremony> — see BLESS 1

sacred adjective
1 not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with <the sacred trust that exists between elected officials and the electorate>

Synonyms
hallowed, holy, inviolable, sacrosanct, unassailable, untouchable

Related Words
inviolate, pure; privileged, protected, secure, shielded; exempt, immune

Near Antonyms
blasphemous, irreverent, profane, sacrilegious

2 of, relating to, or being God <a sacred name that must not be uttered in vain> — see HOLY 3
3 of, relating to, or used in the practice or worship services of a religion <a sacred chalice> — see RELIGIOUS 1
4 set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God <the sacred bones of a saint> — see HOLY 2
5 deserving honor and respect especially by reason of age <the alumni procession at graduation is one of the college's most sacred traditions, dating back over a hundred years> — see VENERABLE 1

sacrifice noun
something offered to a god <the herders selected their best lamb as a sacrifice in order to receive blessings from their god>

Synonyms
immolation, offering, victim

Related Words
libation, oblation, propitiation; holocaust; contribution, donation

sacrifice verb
to give up as an offering to a god <according to the Old Testament, Abraham was willing to sacrifice even his son to God>

Synonyms
immolate, offer

Related Words
consecrate, dedicate, devote; give, hand over, surrender, yield

sacrilege noun
an act of great disrespect shown to God or to sacred ideas, people, or things <spitting on the temple floor would be a great sacrilege> — see BLASPHEMY

sacrilegious adjective
not showing proper reverence for the holy or sacred <a sacrilegious, obscene joke—and told in church at that!> — see IRREVERENT

sacristy noun
a room in a church building for sacred furnishings (as vestments) <our choir robes were stored in the sacristy>

Synonyms
vestry

Related Words
cloakroom

sacrosanct adjective
1 not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with <the teacher's book of grades is sacrosanct, and someone could be expelled for changing anything in it> — see SACRED 1
2 set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God <believers eventually built a chapel on the sacrosanct spot where the miracle was thought to have taken place> — see HOLY 2

sad adjective
1 feeling unhappiness <movies in which the hero dies always make us feel sad>

Synonyms
bad, blue, brokenhearted, cast down, crestfallen, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, doleful, down, downcast, downhearted, down in the mouth, droopy, forlorn, gloomy, glum, hangdog, heartbroken, heartsick, heartsore, heavyhearted, inconsolable, joyless, low, low-spirited, melancholic, melancholy, miserable, mournful, saddened, sorrowful, sorry, unhappy, woebegone, woeful, wretched

Related Words
aggrieved, distressed, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, worried; despairing, hopeless, sunk; disappointed, discouraged, disheartened, dispirited; suicidal; dolorous, lachrymose, lugubrious, plaintive, tearful; regretful, rueful; agonized, anguished, grieving, wailing, weeping; black, bleak, cheerless, comfortless, dark, darkening, depressing, desolate, dismal, drear, dreary, elegiac (also elegiacal), funereal, gray (also grey), morbid, morose, murky, saturnine, somber (or sombre), sullen

Near Antonyms
ecstatic, elated, enraptured, entranced, euphoric, exhilarated, exuberant, exultant, overjoyed, rapturous, rhapsodic (also rhapsodical); blithe, blithesome, jocose, jocular, jocund, jolly, jovial, lightsome, merry, mirthful; excited, thrilled; hopeful, optimistic, rosy, sanguine; encouraged, heartened; animated, bouncing, energetic, frisky, jaunty, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy; content, gratified, pleased, satisfied; beaming, grinning, laughing, smiling; boon, carefree, careless, cavalier, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, insouciant, lighthearted, unconcerned

Antonyms
blissful, buoyant, buoyed, cheerful, cheery, chipper, delighted, glad, gladdened, gladsome, gleeful, happy, joyful, joyous, jubilant, sunny, upbeat

2 causing unhappiness <the sad news about our uncle's death made my father cry>

Synonyms
depressing, dismal, drear, dreary, heartbreaking, heartrending, melancholy, mournful, pathetic, saddening, sorry, tearful, teary

Related Words
deplorable, distressful, grievous, lamentable, unfortunate, woeful; discomforting, discomposing, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing; affecting, moving, poignant, touching; discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting

Near Antonyms
heartening, heartwarming, inspiring, stimulating, stirring, uplifting; agreeable, delightful, enjoyable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome; exhilarating, thrilling

Antonyms
cheering, cheery, glad, happy

3 deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy) <no one expected the supermodel to be a great actress, but her acting is sad beyond belief> — see PITIFUL 1

sadden verb
to make sad <the arrival of winter always saddens me> — see DEPRESS 1

saddened adjective
feeling unhappiness <we were all saddened when our minister retired> — see SAD 1

saddening adjective
causing unhappiness <the saddening discovery that something is threatening the birds in the area> — see SAD 2

saddle verb
to place a weight or burden on <to the social worker it seemed as though her supervisor had once again saddled her with a truly hopeless case> — see LOAD 1

saddle noun
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage <the next day's hike was a stiff climb out of the saddle where they had camped for the night> — see CANYON

sadism noun
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <a troubled youth with a streak of sadism in him> — see CRUELTY

sadistic adjective
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <the troubled youth is being treated by a psychotherapist for his sadistic urges to hurt animals> — see CRUEL 1

sadly adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <sadly she told us how her dog died> — see HARD 2

sadness noun
a state or spell of low spirits <she was filled with sadness at the thought of having to leave her family>

Synonyms
blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, despond, despondence, despondency, disconsolateness, dispiritedness, doldrums, dolefulness, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, forlornness, gloom, gloominess, glumness, heartsickness, joylessness, melancholy, miserableness, mopes, mournfulness, oppression, sorrowfulness, unhappiness

Related Words
melancholia, self-pity; anguish, dolor, grief, mourning, somberness, sorrow, woefulness; agony, distress, pain; misery, woe, wretchedness; discouragement, disheartenment; moodiness; despair, desperation, hopelessness, self-despair; boredom, ennui, tedium; dismalness, drear, morbidness, moroseness, morosity; regret, rue

Near Antonyms
gaiety (also gayety), gayness, glee, gleefulness, humor, jollity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, mirth, mirthfulness; cheer, cheerfulness, cheeriness, hopefulness, optimism, sunniness; content, contentedness, contentment, satisfaction; delight, gratification

Antonyms
bliss, blissfulness, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, felicity, gladness, gladsomeness, happiness, heaven, intoxication, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, rapture, rapturousness

safe adjective
1 not exposed to the threat of loss or injury <the minute the rain started, we looked for a place where we would be safe from a drenching downpour>

Synonyms
all right, alright, secure

Related Words
hale, healthy, intact, sound, well, whole; scatheless, unharmed, unhurt, uninjured, unscathed

Phrases
home free

Near Antonyms
damaged, harmed, hurt, injured, scathed, wounded

Antonyms
endangered, exposed, imperiled (or imperilled), insecure, liable, open, subject (to), susceptible, threatened, unsafe, violable, vulnerable

2 providing safety <we tried to find a safe place to hide our valuables while we went swimming>

Synonyms
secure, snug

Related Words
guarding, protecting, safeguarding, sheltering, shielding; defended, guarded, protected, sheltered, shielded; impregnable, inviolable, invulnerable, unassailable, unconquerable

Near Antonyms
menacing, minatory, parlous, perilous, threatening; undefended, unguarded, unprotected, vulnerable; precarious, treacherous, uncertain

Antonyms
dangerous, hazardous, insecure, risky, unsafe

3 unlikely to provoke controversy or offense <when chatting with strangers, she prefers to stick to safe topics such as the weather>

Synonyms
noncontroversial, uncontroversial

Related Words
politically correct; hands-down, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, undeniable, unquestionable; irrefutable; certain, definite, positive, sure; uncontested, undisputed

Near Antonyms
arguable, contestable, controvertible, debatable, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, moot, questionable; debated, disputed

Antonyms
controversial, hot-button

4 having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble <rewarded safe drivers with lower insurance rates> — see CAREFUL 1
5 not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt <that pain reliever is safe for most people to take> — see HARMLESS
6 worthy of one's trust <she always offers safe advice> — see DEPENDABLE

safe noun
a specially reinforced container to keep valuables safe <the hotel recommended that we keep all our valuables in its safe during our stay>

Synonyms
coffer, safe-deposit box, strongbox

Related Words
lockbox; vault; locker, storeroom, treasury; box, caddy, case, casket, chest, footlocker, locker, trunk

safe–deposit box noun
a specially reinforced container to keep valuables safe <kept the deed to the house in a safe-deposit box at the bank> — see SAFE

safeguard noun
1 means or method of defending <with these safeguards in place, no one should be able to break into our computers> — see DEFENSE 1
2 a measure taken to preclude loss or injury <safeguards that were intended to assure our security, but not at the expense of our liberty> — see PRECAUTION

safeguard verb
to drive danger or attack away from <sheepdogs safeguard the flock from attacks by wolves> — see DEFEND 1

safekeeping noun
responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something <while she was away on business, the single mom entrusted her daughter into her in-laws' safekeeping> — see CUSTODY

safeness noun
the state of not being exposed to danger <the safeness of her children was something that she worried about constantly> — see SAFETY 1

safety noun
1 the state of not being exposed to danger <we were lucky to make it to safety just as the lions broke loose from their cage at the zoo>

Synonyms
protection, safeness, security

Related Words
aegis (also egis), cover, defense, guardianship, ward; guard, safeguard, screen, shield; asylum, harbor, haven, refuge, retreat, shelter; impregnability, impregnableness, invincibility, invincibleness, inviolability, inviolableness, invulnerability, invulnerableness

Near Antonyms
hazard, risk, threat; instability, precariousness; harm's way; exposure, liability, openness, violability, vulnerability, vulnerableness; susceptibility, susceptibleness

Antonyms
danger, distress, endangerment, imperilment, jeopardy, peril, trouble

2 a protective device (as on a weapon) to prevent accidental operation <the gun couldn't be fired as long as the safety was on>

Synonyms
guard

Related Words
fail-safe; lock; defense, protection, safeguard, shield

sag verb
1 to be limp from lack of water or vigor <the plant's leaves were sagging feebly in the intense heat> — see DROOP 1
2 to decline gradually from a standard level <sales figures have sagged slightly over the past six months> — see SLIP 1
3 to lose bodily strength or vigor <after a whole day of working in the hot sun, he began to sag> — see WEAKEN 2

sag noun
the extent to which something hangs or dips below a straight line <if there's too much sag in the rod, the curtains will drag on the floor>

Synonyms
droop, hang, slack, slackness

Related Words
floppiness, laxity, laxness, limpness, looseness

Near Antonyms
rigidity, rigidness, tautness, tenseness, tension, tightness

sagacious adjective
having or showing deep understanding and intelligent application of knowledge <a sagacious critique of the current social climate in our nation> — see WISE 1

sagaciousness noun
the ability to understand inner qualities or relationships <a woman of such down-to-earth sagaciousness that she ought to be writing an advice column for the newspaper> — see WISDOM 1

sagacity noun
the ability to understand inner qualities or relationships <a novelist of surprising sagacity considering his youthfulness> — see WISDOM 1

sage adjective
having or showing deep understanding and intelligent application of knowledge <a sage suggestion that she think long and hard before deciding to marry at such a young age> — see WISE 1

sage noun
a person of deep wisdom or learning <the young prince made a pilgrimage to the sage, hoping to learn the meaning of life>

Synonyms
pundit, savant, scholar

Related Words
seer, wise man; polyhistor, polymath, Renaissance man; brain, egghead, genius, highbrow, intellect, intellectual, thinker, whiz, wizard; guru, mahatma, pandit, swami, yogi (also yogin); rabbi; master, mentor, teacher

Near Antonyms
blockhead, dodo, dolt, donkey, dope, dumbbell, dummy, dunce, fathead, fool, goon, half-wit, idiot, ignoramus, imbecile, jackass, know-nothing, moron, nincompoop, ninny, nitwit, numskull (or numbskull), pinhead, simpleton, stock, turkey

sageness noun
the ability to understand inner qualities or relationships <her father has always shown an unpretentious sageness about the practicalities of life> — see WISDOM 1

sagging adjective
bending downward or forward <sagging branches that were weighted down with snow> — see NODDING

said adjective
mentioned previously <with said guidebook in hand, we set off to explore the city> — see AFORESAID

sail noun
a journey over water in a vessel <we went for a brief sail on the bay to relax>

Synonyms
crossing, cruise, passage, voyage

sail verb
1 to travel on water in a vessel <I can't sail when there's any breeze at all because I get seasick easily>

Synonyms
boat, cruise, ferry, navigate, ship (out), voyage

Related Words
canoe, kayak, yacht; coast

Phrases
make sail, take ship

2 to move or proceed smoothly and readily <sailed through the latest assignment> — see FLOW 2
3 to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air <a leaf sailed by, carried by the breeze> — see FLOAT 1

sailboat noun
a boat equipped with one or more sails <we were stuck in the sailboat for an hour until the wind came up and we could move again>

Synonyms
bark, dinghy, windjammer

Related Words
bugeye, brigantine, caïque, caravel, catamaran, catboat, cat rig, clipper, corvette, cutter, frigate, galleon, galley, junk, keelboat, ketch, knockabout, lugger, outrigger, pinnace, piragua, sailer, schooner, shallop, sharpie (or sharpy), ship, sloop, square-rigger, xebec, yacht, yawl; bottom, craft, vessel

sailor noun
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel <the sailors were glad to be arriving in port after their long voyage>

Synonyms
gob, hearty, jack, jack-tar, mariner, navigator, salt, sea dog, seafarer, seaman, shipman, swab, swabbie (also swabby) [slang], tar

Related Words
coxswain, crewman, deckhand, shipmate; able-bodied seaman, able seaman, lubber; powerboater, sailboater; lime-juicer [slang], limey [slang]

sainted adjective
showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue <renowned as theologian as well as for his work as medical missionary in Africa, Dr. Albert Schweitzer was widely regarded as one of the most sainted individuals of his time> — see HOLY 1

sainthood noun
the quality or state of being spiritually pure or virtuous <while you're a perfectly nice person, you're not exactly an example of sainthood> — see HOLINESS

saintliness noun
the quality or state of being spiritually pure or virtuous <true saintliness requires utter selflessness and devotion to others> — see HOLINESS

saintly adjective
showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue <a saintly man who devoted his life to caring for the dying> — see HOLY 1

saintship noun
the quality or state of being spiritually pure or virtuous <a man who always maintained that his mother's saintship was beyond question> — see HOLINESS

salable or saleable adjective
1 fit or likely to be sold especially on a large scale <an item that would be too expensive to produce, and attractive to too few people, to ever be considered a salable commodity> — see COMMERCIAL
2 fit to be offered for sale <the car has to be put in better condition before it will be at all salable> — see MARKETABLE 1

salacious adjective
having a strong sexual desire <the salacious Greek god Pan is generally portrayed as having the legs, horns, and ears of a goat> — see LUSTFUL

salaciousness noun
sexual appetite <a rapist whose salaciousness was of a particularly sadistic stripe> — see DESIRE 2

salad noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the state senate must contend with a veritable salad of legislative measures before it can adjourn for the session> — see MISCELLANY 1

salad days plural noun
a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement <he worked for NASA in its salad days> — see BLOOM 1

salary noun
the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services <signed a contract for a new job with a salary of $40,000 per year> — see WAGE

sale noun
the transfer of ownership of something from one person to another for a price <my neighbor tried to make a sale, but no one was interested in buying his old car>

Synonyms
deal, trade, transaction

Related Words
auction, silent auction; haggle, horse-trading, negotiation; bargain, buy, steal; purchase; clearance, closeout, fire sale; fair; garage sale, jumble sale [British], rummage sale, tag sale, yard sale

salesclerk noun
a person employed to sell goods or services especially in a store <the salesclerk told us where to find the jewelry department> — see SALESPERSON

salesman noun
a person employed to sell goods or services especially in a store <a furniture salesman followed us around the whole time we looked for a new couch> — see SALESPERSON

salesperson noun
a person employed to sell goods or services especially in a store <we asked the salesperson to see if there were any shoes in our size in the stockroom>

Synonyms
clerk, salesclerk, salesman

Related Words
salespeople; salesgirl, saleslady, saleswoman, shopgirl; pitchman, pitchwoman; floorwalker

saline adjective
of, relating to, or containing salt <tears are saline> — see SALTY 1

salinity noun
the quality or state of being salty <distilling will eliminate the salinity of seawater> — see SALTINESS

saliva noun
the fluid that is secreted into the mouth by certain glands <our mouths filled with saliva when we smelled the delicious dinner>

Synonyms
drool, slaver, slobber, spit, spittle

Related Words
foam, froth; expectoration, salivation, sputum

salivate verb
to let saliva or some other substance flow from the mouth <the dog salivated at the sight of the raw meat> — see DROOL 1

salivate (for) verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <I've been salivating for a high-definition TV for some time> — see DESIRE 1

sallow adjective
lacking the warm skin color indicative of or associated with good health <he was still a bit sallow after a week spent in bed with the flu> — see SICKLY 2

sally noun
1 a short trip for pleasure <a morning sally out to see the historic monuments around the city> — see EXCURSION 1
2 something said or done to cause laughter <the final sally made her laugh, and that ended the argument> — see JOKE 1

sally (forth) verb
to leave a place often for another <he eagerly sallied forth from his small town to seek a new life in the bustling city> — see GO 2

salmagundi noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the downtown area has a salmagundi of one-of-a-kind shops, where you can find almost anything you might need—and many things you don't> — see MISCELLANY 1

salon noun
1 a building or part of a building in which objects of interest are displayed <at its headquarters the company maintains a fashionable salon filled with works of modern art> — see MUSEUM
2 a building, room, or suite of rooms occupied by a service business <a hair salon> — see PLACE 2

saloon noun
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises <cowboys drinking in the saloon after their work was done for the day> — see BARROOM

salt adjective
of, relating to, or containing salt <the oceans are salt water> — see SALTY 1

salt noun
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel <an old salt who taught me everything I know about sailing and the sea> — see SAILOR

salt verb
to scatter or set here and there among other things <the old sailor salted his tale of the voyage with crude anecdotes and rough language> — see THREAD 1

salt away verb
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place <salted away some jewels in a safe-deposit box for the lean times> — see HOARD

saltiness noun
the quality or state of being salty <the saltiness of the pretzels went well with the soda pop we were drinking>

Synonyms
brininess, salinity, saltness

Near Antonyms
freshness, purity; sweetness

saltness noun
the quality or state of being salty <the excessive saltness of the soup made it inedible> — see SALTINESS

salty adjective
1 of, relating to, or containing salt <salty sea water is safe to swim in, but you really shouldn't swallow it>

Synonyms
brackish, briny, saline, salt

Related Words
hard

Near Antonyms
sweet; clear, pure; freshwater

Antonyms
nonsaline

2 hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent <salty language that earned the movie an R rating> — see SUGGESTIVE 1
3 sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses <a salty, insightful analysis of male-female relationships> — see PIQUANT

salubrious adjective
beneficial to the health of body or mind <fresh air and exercise are always salubrious> — see HEALTHFUL

salutary adjective
1 promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being <the low interest rates should have a salutary effect on business> — see BENEFICIAL
2 good for the health <increasing scientific evidence that a glass of wine a day is quite salutary> — see HEALTHFUL

salutation noun
1 a formal expression of praise <the speaker introduced the evening's honored guest with a lavish salutation> — see ENCOMIUM
2 an expression of goodwill upon meeting <began the discussion with a gracious salutation to the distinguished assembly> — see HELLO

salute noun
an expression of goodwill upon meeting <offered a cheery salute as they passed the soldiers on the street> — see HELLO

salute verb
to declare enthusiastic approval of <I salute the idea of healthier lunch options for our students> — see ACCLAIM

salutiferous adjective
beneficial to the health of body or mind <the thirsty wayfarer eagerly took a drink of the spring's salutiferous water> — see HEALTHFUL

salvation noun
the saving from danger or evil <we spent the night in the cellar praying for salvation from the tornadoes>

Synonyms
deliverance, rescue

Related Words
ransom, recovery, redemption; extrication; defense, guard, protection, safeguard, safeguarding, security; conservation, guardianship, preservation, safekeeping

salve verb
to free from distress or disturbance <attempting to salve her conscience, she anonymously sent the store a sum of cash sufficient to cover the merchandise she had shoplifted> — see CALM 1

salvo noun
a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <attacked the manager with a salvo of complaints before she even managed to say “hello”> — see BARRAGE

same adjective
1 resembling another in every respect <I bought the same shirt at the mall for five dollars less>

Synonyms
coequal, duplicate, equal, even, identical, indistinguishable

Related Words
akin, alike, analogous, comparable, coordinate, correspondent, corresponding, equivalent, like, look-alike, matching, parallel, similar, such, suchlike, synonymous, tantamount

Phrases
much of a muchness

Near Antonyms
differentiable, discriminable; divers, miscellaneous, sundry, varied, various

Antonyms
different, disparate, dissimilar, distant, distinct, distinctive, distinguishable, diverse, nonidentical, other, unalike, unlike

2 being one and not another <that's the same guy I saw down at the beach yesterday>

Synonyms
identical, selfsame, very

Near Antonyms
differentiable, discriminable, disparate, dissimilar, distinct, distinctive, distinguishable, diverse, unalike, unlike, varied, various

Antonyms
another, different, other

sameness noun
1 a tedious lack of variety <the endless sameness of what we keep having for dinner is starting to bore me> — see MONOTONY
2 the state of being exactly alike <the sameness of the two essays made the teacher immediately suspect plagiarism> — see IDENTITY 1
3 the state or fact of being exactly the same in number, amount, status, or quality <the striking sameness of the results for both experiments suggests that this is a real discovery> — see EQUIVALENCE

sample verb
to put (something) to a test <sampled the soup to see if it tasted good> — see TRY OUT

sample noun
1 a number of things selected from a group to stand for the whole <based on a sample of the menu items, we decided that this was the best restaurant in town>

Synonyms
cross section, sampler, sampling, selection, slice

Related Words
case, example, exemplar, exemplification, illustration, instance, representative, specimen; archetype, classic, locus classicus, paradigm, prototype; microcosm

2 one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like <this vase is a sample of the high-quality glassware that the glassblowers can produce> — see EXAMPLE

sampler noun
a number of things selected from a group to stand for the whole <she put together a sampler of works in the police procedural genre> — see SAMPLE 1

sampling noun
a number of things selected from a group to stand for the whole <a sampling of shoppers said they preferred fresh orange juice over frozen> — see SAMPLE 1

sanative adjective
beneficial to the health of body or mind <there's nothing like the sanative value of a good night's sleep> — see HEALTHFUL

sanctification noun
1 the act of making something holy through religious ritual <the sacred site required another sanctification after it had been defiled by the invaders> — see CONSECRATION
2 the act or fact of freeing from sin or moral guilt <the Christian belief that the suffering and death of Jesus was responsible for the sanctification of all humankind> — see PURIFICATION

sanctified adjective
set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God <a sanctified site where the faithful believe that a young girl had visions of the Virgin Mary> — see HOLY 2

sanctify verb
1 to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially <received the sacrament of penance, whereby they were sanctified and restored to divine grace> — see PURIFY 1
2 to make holy through prayers or ritual <sanctify the bread for Communion> — see BLESS 1

sanction noun
the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something <you cannot make a student video without your faculty advisor's sanction of its subject matter prior to shooting> — see PERMISSION

sanction verb
to give official acceptance of as satisfactory <the administration will sanction almost any field trip with educational value> — see APPROVE

sanctioned adjective
ordered or allowed by those in authority <I cannot believe that this religious cult is a sanctioned student organization> — see OFFICIAL

sanctity noun
the quality or state of being spiritually pure or virtuous <the sanctity of the elderly nun shone through in her every word and gesture> — see HOLINESS

sanctuary noun
1 a place that is considered sacred (as within a religion) <by law, anyone who sought refuge in a religious sanctuary was safe from arrest by the civil authorities> — see SHRINE
2 something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger <the marshland has been set aside as a sanctuary for shorebirds along that section of the coast> — see SHELTER

sanctum noun
1 a place that is considered sacred (as within a religion) <the city of Jerusalem is an important sanctum for Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike> — see SHRINE
2 something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger <used the cabin in the woods as a sanctum from the commotion and interference of his family> — see SHELTER

sand verb
to make smooth by friction <painstakingly sanded down the wooden floors of the old house> — see GRIND 1

sand noun, often sands plural
the usually sandy or gravelly land bordering a body of water <we went for a moonlight walk on the sands> — see BEACH

sandbag verb
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure <always manages to sandbag her sister into joining her in these foolish schemes> — see FORCE 1

sandwich verb
to fit (people or things) into a tight space <sandwiched six kids into the backseat somehow> — see CROWD 1

sandwich (in or between) verb
to put among or between others <could we sandwich in one more speaker during the morning session of the conference?> — see INSERT

sandy adjective
of a pale yellow or yellowish brown color <the child with sandy hair really stood out among the brunettes> — see BLOND

sane adjective
having full use of one's mind and control over one's actions <the court ruled that the woman was indeed sane when she made out her will>

Synonyms
balanced, clearheaded, compos mentis, lucid, normal, right, stable

Related Words
analytic (or analytical), clear, coherent, logical, rational, reasonable; even-keeled, judicious, levelheaded, sensible, wise; healthy, sound, unneurotic; well-adjusted, well-balanced

Near Antonyms
balmy, bananas, batty, bughouse [slang], certifiable, crackbrained, cracked, crackpot, cranky [dialect], cuckoo, daffy, daft, dotty, fruity [slang], gaga, loco [slang], loony (also looney), loopy, meshuga (or meshugge also meshugah or meshuggah), moonstruck, nuts, nutty, scatty [chiefly British], screwy, wacko (also whacko), wacky (also whacky); aberrant, delirious, disordered; delusional, delusionary, disturbed, neurotic, obsessive-compulsive, paranoiac (also paranoic), paranoid (also paranoidal), psycho, psychotic, schizo, schizoid, schizophrenic, schizy (or schizzy); eccentric, odd, oddball, off, pixilated (also pixillated), potty [chiefly British], queer, strange; foolish, senseless, witless; irrational, mixed-up, unreasonable; depressed, despondent; distracted, distraught, frantic, frenzied, haywire, hysterical (also hysteric), raving, wigged-out; amok (or amuck), ape, ballistic, berserk, nuclear; fixated, monomaniac, monomaniacal, obsessed

Antonyms
brainsick, crazed, crazy, demented, deranged, insane, lunatic, mad, maniacal (also maniac), mental, unbalanced, unsound

saneness noun
the normal or healthy condition of the mental abilities <a woman of remarkable saneness, considering the fact that she had just spent a rainy week in a cabin with four kids> — see MIND 2

sangfroid noun
evenness of emotions or temper <the professional gambler seemed to take both his wins and his losses with remarkable sangfroid> — see EQUANIMITY

sanguinary adjective
eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing <a movie so sanguinary that I covered my eyes during at least half of it> — see BLOODTHIRSTY

sanguine adjective
1 eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing <the Civil War remains America's most sanguine conflict> — see BLOODTHIRSTY
2 having a healthy reddish skin tone <a baby with a sanguine complexion is more likely to leave the hospital early than a sickly-looking one> — see RUDDY
3 having or showing a mind free from doubt <I'm reasonably sanguine about the adoption of the latest proposal> — see CERTAIN 2

sanguineous adjective
eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing <in the sanguineous culture of ancient Sparta, military glory was prized above all else> — see BLOODTHIRSTY

sanguinity noun
an inclination to believe in the most favorable outcome <Pollyanna had so great a tendency to look for the good in everyone and everything that her name has become a synonym for someone of irrepressible sanguinity> — see OPTIMISM

sanitary adjective
free from filth, infection, or dangers to health <the nurse made sure that everything in the room was sanitary so that the baby wouldn't get sick>

Synonyms
aseptic, germfree, hygienic, sterile

Related Words
germproof; antibacterial, antibiotic, antiseptic, germicidal, microbicidal; clean, immaculate, pristine, spick-and-span (or spic-and-span), spotless, squeaky-clean, stainless, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied; beneficial, healthful, healthy, restorative, salubrious, salutary, salutiferous, wholesome; pure, taintless, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted; abluted, bleached, cleansed, purified, scrubbed, washed, whitened

Near Antonyms
infectious, miasmic, pathogenetic, pathogenic, poisonous, sickening, toxic; bedraggled, besmirched, dingy, dirty, draggled, dusty, filthy, foul, grimy, grubby, grungy, mucky, muddy, nasty, smirched, soiled, sordid, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleanly, unwashed; insalubrious, noxious, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome; defiled, polluted, tainted, unsterilized

Antonyms
germy, insanitary, unhygienic, unsanitary, unsterile

sanitary landfill noun
a place where discarded materials (as trash) are dumped <even after many years in sanitary landfills, disposable diapers have proven to be resistant to decomposition> — see DUMP 1

sanity noun
the normal or healthy condition of the mental abilities <these working conditions are threatening my sanity!> — see MIND 2

sans preposition
not having <anyone sans shirt will not be allowed in the restaurant> — see WITHOUT 1

sap noun
1 active strength of body or mind <a child full of sap and vivacity> — see VIGOR 1
2 one who is easily deceived or cheated <some poor sap would probably fall for that telephone scam> — see 1DUPE
3 a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <the sadistic prison guards freely used their saps to enforce discipline> — see CLUB 1
4 the condition of being sound in body <I may no longer have the sap of youth, but I do have the sapience that comes only with advanced years> — see HEALTH 1

sap verb
to diminish the physical strength of <weeks of hard work had sapped her and left her exhausted> — see WEAKEN 1

saphead noun
a stupid person <an important diplomatic post that is no place for a saphead> — see IDIOT

sapience noun
the ability to understand inner qualities or relationships <the kind of sapience that comes from a lifetime of experience as an educator> — see WISDOM 1

sapient adjective
having or showing deep understanding and intelligent application of knowledge <an uncle who is always good for valuable insights and some sapient advice> — see WISE 1

sapped adjective
lacking bodily strength <I was completely sapped after the first day of hauling logs> — see WEAK 1

sappiness noun
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) <the over-the-top sappiness of the verse on the Valentine's Day card> — see SENTIMENTALITY

sappy adjective
1 appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <a sappy letter filled with silly romantic clichés> — see CORNY 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a sappy plan to try to get her divorced parents back together again> — see FOOLISH 1

sarcasm noun
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <I know you're not happy, but there's no need to resort to petty sarcasms to make your point> — see INSULT

sarcastic adjective
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <her sarcastic comments that my singing reminded her of the time her dog was sick>

Synonyms
acerb, acerbic, acid, acidic, acidulous, acrid, barbed, biting, caustic, corrosive, cutting, mordant, pungent, sardonic, satiric (or satirical), scalding, scathing, sharp, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, smart-mouthed, snarky, tart

Related Words
brisk, cross, sharp-tongued, sour, sourish, spiky (also spikey), tartish; incisive, keen, poignant, trenchant; cynical, dry, ironic (also ironical), wry; facetious, flippant, tongue-in-cheek; acrimonious, bitter, resentful, vitriolic; harsh, rough, severe, stringent; abrupt, blunt, brusque (also brusk), concise, crisp, curt, gruff, pithy, snippety, snippy, succinct, terse; backhanded, insincere

Near Antonyms
amusing, droll, merry, playful, sportive, waggish; gentle, mild; bland; good-humored, good-natured; diplomatic, polite, smooth, suave, urbane; affable, cordial, genial, gracious, hospitable, sociable

sarcophagus noun
a boxlike container for holding a dead body <the crypt under the abbey church contains the sarcophagus of the monastery's founding abbot> — see COFFIN

sardonic adjective
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <a sardonic little jab that made her visitor quiet and subdued for the rest of the night> — see SARCASTIC

sash noun
a strip of flexible material (as leather) worn around the waist <a dress with a flowered silk sash> — see 2BELT 1

sashay noun
a short trip for pleasure <just a little weekend sashay we took to get away from it all> — see EXCURSION 1

sashay verb
to walk with exaggerated arm and leg movements <the svelte young models sashayed down the catwalk with practiced insouciance> — see STRUT 1

sass noun
disrespectful or argumentative talk given in response to a command or request <an old-fashioned diner where getting sass from the waitstaff is part of the experience> — see BACK TALK

sassy adjective
displaying or marked by rude boldness <sassy kids shouting, “Out of our way, you old geezer!”> — see NERVY 1

Satan noun
the supreme personification of evil often represented as the ruler of hell <some people believe that Satan can successfully tempt almost anyone with lies and flattery> — see DEVIL 1

satanic adjective
of, relating to, or worthy of an evil spirit <the cat's eyes reflected a satanic red in the dark> — see FIENDISH 1

sate verb
1 to fill with food to capacity <I sated myself with an array of diet-busting offerings from the dessert table> — see GORGE 1
2 to put a complete end to (a physical need or desire) <a huge meal that should have sated everyone's hunger> — see SATISFY 1

sated adjective
having one's appetite completely satisfied <the sated baby fell instantly to sleep> — see FULL 3

satiate adjective
having one's appetite completely satisfied <a couple of satiate dinner guests had ensconced themselves on the living room sofa> — see FULL 3

satiate verb
to put a complete end to (a physical need or desire) <a long drink of water at last satiated my thirst> — see SATISFY 1

satiated adjective
having one's appetite completely satisfied <he was too satiated even to consider the proffered cookie> — see FULL 3

satin adjective
1 having a shiny surface or finish <satin paint> — see GLOSSY
2 smooth or delicate in appearance or feel <the satin petals of a rose> — see SOFT 2

satiny adjective
1 having a shiny surface or finish <the satiny short coat of an Arabian horse> — see GLOSSY
2 smooth or delicate in appearance or feel <a lovely satiny fabric that feels so good next to the skin> — see SOFT 2

satire noun
a creative work that uses sharp humor to point up the foolishness of a person, institution, or human nature in general <a satire about the music industry in which a handsome but untalented youth is turned into a rock star>

Synonyms
lampoon, pasquinade

Related Words
burlesque, caricature, parody, spoof, takeoff; comedy, farce, sketch, skit, slapstick, squib; derision, ridicule; cartoon, mockery, travesty

satiric or satirical adjective
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <a satiric story about the movie business> — see SARCASTIC

satisfaction noun
1 the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met <readers will close the covers of this mystery novel with complete satisfaction> — see PLEASURE 1
2 payment to another for a loss or injury <he's demanding satisfaction from his neighbor for running over his prize tulips> — see COMPENSATION 1
3 a state of mind in which one is free from doubt <he proved to my satisfaction that he could not have done it> — see CONFIDENCE 2

satisfactorily adverb
1 in a satisfactory way <the matter has been resolved satisfactorily> — see WELL 1
2 in or to a degree or quantity that meets one's requirements or satisfaction <supplied us satisfactorily, if not lavishly, with meals during our stay> — see ENOUGH 1

satisfactoriness noun
the quality or state of meeting one's needs adequately <the overall satisfactoriness of the service led us to leave a reasonable tip> — see SUFFICIENCY

satisfactory adjective
1 being to one's liking <we found the meal most satisfactory>

Synonyms
agreeable, all right, alright, copacetic (also copasetic or copesetic), ducky, fine, good, hunky-dory, jake [slang], OK (or okay), palatable

Related Words
delectable, delicious, delightful, dreamy, felicitous, gratifying, nice, pleasant, pleasing, scrumptious, welcome; acceptable, adequate, decent, passable, tolerable

Near Antonyms
bad, deficient, inferior, lousy, poor, punk, substandard, unacceptable, wanting, wretched; mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate

Antonyms
disagreeable, unsatisfactory

2 of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards <the newlyweds' first attempt at cooking dinner was actually quite satisfactory> — see ADEQUATE

satisfied adjective
1 experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight <satisfied customers tend to come back over and over> — see GLAD 1
2 feeling that one's needs or desires have been met <a satisfied vacationer is one who has spent the time doing exactly what he or she wanted> — see CONTENT

satisfy verb
1 to put a complete end to (a physical need or desire) <the players satisfied their hunger after the game with a big pasta dinner>

Synonyms
assuage, quench, sate, satiate, slake

Related Words
cater (to), gratify, humor, indulge; alleviate, lighten, relieve; cloy, saturate, surfeit

Near Antonyms
arouse, excite, pique, stimulate; tantalize, tease

2 to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests <it took me a while to satisfy my attorney that I had good grounds for a lawsuit> — see PERSUADE
3 to do what is required by the terms of <the contractor had clearly failed to satisfy the terms of the agreement> — see FULFILL 1
4 to give satisfaction to <a hot dinner and a relaxing massage never fails to satisfy her husband> — see PLEASE 1
5 to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury <the owners of the restaurant were generously satisfied for any business lost during the filming> — see COMPENSATE 1

satisfying adjective
1 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <a satisfying and relaxing bubble bath after a long day> — see PLEASANT 1
2 having the power to persuade <“I don't feel like it” is not a satisfying reason for skipping your chores> — see COGENT
3 making one feel good inside <received many satisfying compliments on her gardening efforts> — see HEARTWARMING

satisfyingly adverb
in a pleasing way <capped the story with a satisfyingly happy ending> — see WELL 5

saturate verb
to wet thoroughly with liquid <saturate your hair with water before applying the dye> — see SOAK 1

saturate adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <the test will only work if the sample cloth is saturate with solution> — see WET 1

saturated adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <the carpet should be damp but not entirely saturated> — see WET 1

saturnine adjective
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the men awaiting interrogation by the police shared a saturnine silence> — see GLOOMY 1

satyr noun
a man given to seducing women <the legendary conquests of a suburban satyr> — see DON JUAN

satyric adjective
having a strong sexual desire <satyric frat boys letting loose in the annual bacchanalia known as spring break> — see LUSTFUL

sauce noun
1 a savory fluid food used as a topping or accompaniment to a main dish <the chef poured sauce over the meat just before he served it>

Synonyms
dressing, gravy

Related Words
condiment, relish, seasoning; fixing(s), garnish, topping; dip, marinade

2 disrespectful or argumentative talk given in response to a command or request <if you put up with any sauce from them, they'll only get worse> — see BACK TALK
3 shameless boldness <the woman was shocked by the sauce of the child who ran right up to her and asked for money> — see EFFRONTERY
4 slang a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <as soon as she returned home from the graveyard shift, she'd be hitting the sauce> — see ALCOHOL

sauciness noun
shameless boldness <it takes an incredible amount of sauciness to ask a total stranger what her age is> — see EFFRONTERY

saucy adjective
displaying or marked by rude boldness <irritated his fellow travelers with saucy questions and comments> — see NERVY 1

saunter noun
a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure <tourists on a morning saunter around the old section of the city> — see WALK 1

saunter verb
to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure <he lazily saunters about the French countryside, mostly photographing birds and flowers> — see HIKE 1

sausage noun
a rod-shaped portion of seasoned ground meat in a casing <a couple of sausages and eggs make a good breakfast>

Synonyms
banger [British], link, wurst

Related Words
bologna, frank, frankfurter, hot dog, kielbasa, knockwurst (also knackwurst), liver sausage (also liver pudding), liverwurst, pepperoni, salami, Vienna sausage, weenie, wiener (also weiner), wienerwurst; blood sausage (also blood pudding)

savage noun
1 a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <what kind of savage would hurt a baby?> — see VILLAIN
2 an uncivilized person <inhabitants of exotic lands were invariably portrayed by early travel writers as savages> — see HEATHEN 2

savage adjective
1 not civilized <Tarzan is usually portrayed as a noble but savage warrior of the jungle>

Synonyms
barbarian, barbaric, barbarous, heathen, heathenish, natural, Neanderthal (or Neandertal), rude, uncivil, uncivilized, uncultivated, wild

Related Words
coarse, crude, primitive, rough; uncouth, uncultured

Near Antonyms
cultured, enlightened, humane, sophisticated; genteel, polished, polite, refined, urbane, well-bred; semicivilized

Antonyms
civilized

2 having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <a savage attack on a helpless person> — see CRUEL 1
3 living outdoors without taming or domestication by humans <savage beasts that seemed threatening to the tourists> — see WILD 1
4 violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition <early explorers avoided those areas that were rumored to be inhabited by savage natives> — see FIERCE 1

savage verb
to criticize harshly and usually publicly <book reviewers mercilessly savaged his latest novel> — see ATTACK 2

savageness noun
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <the unthinkable savageness that must be required to torture a prisoner> — see CRUELTY

savagery noun
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <a study of the savagery shown by soldiers in wartime> — see CRUELTY

savanna also savannah noun
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country <lions roaming the savanna> — see PLAIN 1

savant noun
a person of deep wisdom or learning <a savant in the field of medical ethics> — see SAGE

save preposition
not including <everyone save me is going to the party> — see EXCEPT

save verb
1 to free from the penalties or consequences of sin <the Christian belief that Jesus lived and died to save humanity>

Synonyms
deliver, redeem

Related Words
reclaim, reform; forgive, pardon, remit, shrive; bless, hallow; consecrate, purify, sanctify

2 to remove from danger or harm <the firefighters managed to save the family just as the burning building was collapsing>

Synonyms
bail out, bring off, deliver, rescue

Related Words
salvage; emancipate, free, liberate, manumit, release; disentangle, extricate; recover

Antonyms
adventure, compromise, endanger, gamble (with), hazard, imperil, jeopardize, peril, risk, venture

3 to avoid unnecessary waste or expense <we'll have to scrimp and save to be able to afford college> — see ECONOMIZE
4 to keep in good condition <lovingly saved the classic car and even upgraded its engine> — see MAINTAIN 1
5 to keep or intend for a special purpose <I'm saving this dress for a formal occasion> — see DEVOTE 1

saver noun
one that saves from danger or destruction <of all the savers of Jews during the Holocaust, none was more heroic than the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg> — see SAVIOR

saving conjunction
if it were not for the fact that <I would be ready, saving the fact that I can't find my missing shoe> — see EXCEPT

saving preposition
not including <saving three members, the club is now fully committed to the fund-raising project> — see EXCEPT

savior or saviour noun
one that saves from danger or destruction <the policeman proved to be our savior, arriving on the scene just as we were about to be mugged>

Synonyms
deliverer, redeemer, rescuer, saver

Related Words
custodian, defender, guard, guardian, keeper, lookout, protector, sentinel, sentry, warden, warder, watch, watcher, watchman; ransomer; salvager, salvor

savor also savour noun
1 the property of a substance that can be identified by the sense of taste <a gourmet who can identify the ingredients in any dish solely by their savor> — see TASTE 1
2 the quality of being delicious <the wonderful savor of Mom's apple pie> — see DELICIOUSNESS

savor also savour verb
1 to make more pleasant to the taste by adding something intensely flavored <cuisine that has been generously savored with southern India's rich array of spices> — see SEASON 1
2 to take pleasure in <as a terminal cancer patient, she's vowed to savor every moment of the time she has left> — see ENJOY 1

savoriness noun
the quality of being delicious <the savoriness of freshly baked bread simply cannot be overrated> — see DELICIOUSNESS

savorless adjective
lacking in taste or flavor <the white rice was filling, but rather savorless> — see INSIPID 1

savory also savoury adjective
1 having a pleasant smell <cedar is one of the most savory of all woods> — see FRAGRANT
2 very pleasing to the sense of taste <a savory beef stew that really hit the spot> — see DELICIOUS 1
3 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <having to fire someone was not a task that the manager found at all savory> — see PLEASANT 1
4 sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses <a savory new book on a subject that seemingly had been done to death> — see PIQUANT

savvy noun
knowledge gained by actually doing or living through something <she's an excellent scholar of political science, but lacks the kind of savvy needed to run for public office> — see EXPERIENCE 1

savvy adjective
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment <a particularly savvy investor, he was among the first to see the potential in tech stocks> — see SHREWD 1

savvy verb
to have a clear idea of <the man growled, “Don't ever date my daughter again—you savvy?”> — see COMPREHEND 1

saw noun
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience <it's an old saw that a red sunset presages fair skies the next day> — see SAYING

sawbones noun, slang
a person specially trained in healing human medical disorders <a real old-timer who remembers when you could expect a sawbones to make a house call> — see DOCTOR

sawed–off adjective
having relatively little height <he was an unpleasant, sawed-off man who seemed to believe that aggressiveness could make up for his perceived deficiency> — see SHORT 1

saw–toothed adjective
notched or toothed along the edge <a saw-toothed barrette> — see SERRATED

say adverb
close to but not exactly <a person consumes, say, 2000 calories a day> — see APPROXIMATELY

say noun
the right to express a wish, choice, or opinion <even if they decide otherwise, at least I had my say> — see VOICE 1

say verb
1 to express (a thought or emotion) in words <why don't you just say what's on your mind?>

Synonyms
articulate, bring out, enunciate, pass, speak, state, talk, tell, utter, verbalize, vocalize

Related Words
air, discuss, give, look, share, sound, vent, ventilate, voice; blabber, bolt, blurt, get off, shoot; advertise, announce, blaze, broadcast, declare, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish; affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow; breathe, chirp, drawl, gasp, lip, mouth, murmur, purr, shout, splutter, spout, whisper; clothe, couch, formulate, formulize, phrase, put, word; comment, pipe up (with), remark; rip (out), snarl

Phrases
put into words

Near Antonyms
stifle, suppress

2 to convey in appropriate or telling terms <I'm not quite sure how to say this, but that's the worst essay I've ever read> — see PHRASE
3 to give from memory <say your prayers> — see REPEAT 2
4 to take as true or as a fact without actual proof <let's say, for the sake of argument, that this is true> — see ASSUME 2

saying noun
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience <there's an old saying that you should let sleeping dogs lie>

Synonyms
adage, aphorism, apothegm, byword, epigram, maxim, proverb, saw, sententia, word

Related Words
bromide, cliché (also cliche), commonplace, platitude, wheeze; expression, felicity; axiom, motto, precept, truism, truth; formula; comment, note, reflection, remark

say–so noun
the right to express a wish, choice, or opinion <some of the members complained they didn't have any say-so in how the organization spent its funds> — see VOICE 1

scabby adjective
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <that's a scabby trick to play on someone trying to help> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1

scads plural noun
a considerable amount <scads of people showed up for the party> — see LOT 2

scalawag or scallywag noun
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <a scalawag who had taken to begging on street corners while posing as a blind person> — see VILLAIN

scalding adjective
1 having a notably high temperature <the scalding water of a geyser> — see HOT 1
2 marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <scalding reviews for the overproduced horror movie> — see SARCASTIC

1scale noun
a device for measuring weight <I hate getting on the bathroom scale>

Synonyms
balance

Related Words
gravimeter

2scale noun
a small thin piece of material that resembles an animal scale <scales of mica were embedded in the granite>

Synonyms
lamella, lamina, plate

Related Words
chip, flake, sliver, splint, splinter; leaf, sheet, slice

3scale noun
1 a scheme of rank or order <a student who scored very highly on a standard intelligence scale>

Synonyms
graduation, hierarchy, ladder, ordering, ranking

Related Words
food chain, pecking order (also peck order); arrangement, array, disposal, disposition, distribution, sequence, series, setup; degree, echelon, footing, level, place, position, reaches, rung, situation, spot, standing, station, status

2 the distance or extent between possible extremes <with the scale going from one to ten, what did you think of the movie?> — see RANGE 3

scale verb
to find out the size, extent, or amount of <scaled the logs to get a rough idea of the amount of usable lumber they were likely to yield> — see MEASURE 1

scaled adjective
composed of or covered with scales <the fossilized form of a scaled reptile from the Triassic period> — see SCALY

scaly adjective
composed of or covered with scales <the snake's scaly skin was dry to the touch>

Synonyms
scaled, squamous

Related Words
scalelike

Near Antonyms
smooth

Antonyms
scaleless

scam noun
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <that's just a scam to bilk insurance companies for staged accidents> — see FRAUD 1

scammer noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <Internet scammers who never seem to run out of swindles> — see TRICKSTER 1

scamp noun
1 an appealingly mischievous person <those little scamps are always getting into trouble, but no one has the heart to punish them>

Synonyms
devil, hellion, imp, mischief, monkey, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, urchin

Related Words
cutup, larker, madcap, skylarker; ragamuffin; brat, disrupter, misbehaver, nuisance; juvenile delinquent; gamin, gamine

Near Antonyms
beast, boor, cad, churl, clown, creep, cretin, cur, heel, joker, louse, lout, skunk, snake, stinkard, stinker; knave, miscreant, reprobate, scalawag (or scallywag), scapegrace, scoundrel, varlet, villain

2 a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <an insincere and ruthlessly ambitious scamp who was willing to do anything to win the reality show's grand prize> — see VILLAIN

scamper verb
to go at a pace faster than a walk <the child scampered off to play> — see RUN 1

scampish adjective
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <warned the scampish youth that those frat-boy pranks could get him into real trouble someday> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

scamster noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <an ever-growing swarm of scamsters of which the Internet user should be wary> — see TRICKSTER 1

scan noun
a close look at or over someone or something in order to judge condition <gave the car a good scan to see if it was worth buying> — see INSPECTION

scan verb
to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) <scanned the manuscript carefully for any overlooked errors> — see INSPECT

scandal noun
a cause of shame <a scandal that for many years haunted the family of the banker convicted of embezzlement> — see DISGRACE 2

scandalous adjective
1 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <the scandalous news that police officers had been taking bribes> — see OFFENSIVE 1
2 causing or intended to cause unjust injury to a person's good name <spread a scandalous rumor about a coworker that almost cost him his job> — see LIBELOUS

scant adjective
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <jobs for teenagers were scant that summer> — see MEAGER

scant verb
to use or give out in stingy amounts <don't scant the peanut butter on those sandwiches!> — see SPARE 1

scantiness noun
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <the scantiness of grass meant that we had to feed the cows extra hay> — see DEFICIENCY

scanty adjective
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <the camera's scanty instructions left me somewhat confused> — see MEAGER

scape verb
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery <the queen has vowed that none of the traitors shall scape the gallows, be their station ever so high> — see ESCAPE 2

scapegoat noun
a person or thing taking the blame for others <companies often use the economy as a scapegoat to avoid taking responsibility for dropping sales>

Synonyms
fall guy, goat, whipping boy

Related Words
victim; butt, dupe, fool, laughingstock, mark, mockery, monkey; excuse

scapegrace noun
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <a whoring, drunken scapegrace who was blackening the family's name> — see VILLAIN

1scar noun
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing <the scars left by carelessly scratching the car door with one's keys> — see BLEMISH

2scar noun
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice <at the next bend in the river, a scar of red sandstone steeply rises to over 100 feet> — see CLIFF

scarce adjective
1 less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <food was a bit scarce last winter> — see MEAGER
2 not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need <help is always scarce in the resort town during the busy summer season> — see SHORT 3

scarcely adverb
1 by a very small margin <was scarcely able to walk after the near-fatal accident> — see JUST 2
2 certainly not <I scarcely think that one person being sick is an “epidemic”> — see HARDLY 2

scarceness noun
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <the continuing scarceness of supplies means that we will have to ration ourselves> — see DEFICIENCY

scarcity noun
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <the scarcity of good restaurants around here is surprising> — see DEFICIENCY

scare verb
to strike with fear <thunderstorms have always scared her> — see FRIGHTEN

scare noun
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger <fired over their heads in order to throw a scare into them> — see FEAR 1

scared adjective
filled with fear or dread <at the sight of the grizzly bear he froze, being too scared to even run away> — see AFRAID

scare up verb
to come upon after searching, study, or effort <I can probably scare up my old textbooks if you need them> — see FIND 1

scarf verb
to swallow or eat greedily <the college students scarfed the entire contents of the care package in one sitting> — see GOBBLE

scarify verb
to strike with fear <that foolish woman would be scarified by a mouse> — see FRIGHTEN

scarp noun
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice <years of violent ocean storms had heavily eroded the beach, creating a scarp along one end of it> — see CLIFF

scarper verb, British
to leave a place often for another <I went looking for Sally at the pub, but she'd scarpered> — see GO 2

scary adjective
1 causing fear <a scary movie that gave the child nightmares for weeks afterwards> — see FEARFUL 1
2 easily frightened <a scary horse who spooked and kicked at its own shadow> — see SHY 1
3 filled with fear or dread <I got a little scary when I heard the noise in the basement> — see AFRAID

scat noun
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal <a tracker who could identify any animal from its scat alone> — see DROPPING 1

scathe verb
to criticize harshly and usually publicly <newspaper cartoonists scathed the lecherous governor with a series of cruel caricatures> — see ATTACK 2

scathing adjective
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <a scathing rebuttal of the latest theory concerning the assassination> — see SARCASTIC

scatter noun
a small number <played before only a scatter of spectators in that huge stadium> — see FEW

scatter verb
1 to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart <the noise of the backfiring car scattered the pigeons>

Synonyms
clear out, disband, dispel, disperse, dissipate, squander

Related Words
break up, isolate, part, segregate, separate, split (up); diffuse, disseminate, diverge, spread

Near Antonyms
agglutinate, conglomerate; unify, unite

Antonyms
assemble, cluster, collect, concentrate, congregate, gather, ingather

2 to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on <the hillside was scattered with boulders deposited by the last ice age>

Synonyms
bestrew, dot, pepper, sow, spot, spray, sprinkle, strew

Related Words
blanket, drizzle, dust; stud; dapple, fleck, speckle, stipple; bespatter, spatter

3 to go off in different directions and cease to exist as a body or unified whole <these drunken revelers will quickly scatter when the police arrive> — see DISPERSE 1

scatterbrain noun
a silly flighty person <don't be such a scatterbrain—it's only a wedding, not the invasion of Normandy> — see FLIBBERTIGIBBET

scatterbrained adjective
lacking in seriousness or maturity <a scatterbrained child who couldn't seem to pay attention or stop fooling around> — see GIDDY 1

scattered adjective
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern <a hodgepodge of scattered ideas that didn't add up to a clear hypothesis> — see RANDOM

scattering noun
1 an act or process in which something scatters or is scattered <the scattering of the protesters suddenly turned violent and chaotic>

Synonyms
disbandment, dispersal, dispersion, dissipation

Related Words
diffusion, dissemination; breakup, dissolution, disunion, separation, split

Near Antonyms
assembly, collection, concentration, gathering

2 a small number <a scattering of people in the mostly empty theater> — see FEW

scatty adjective, chiefly British
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <any number of individuals have been fingered as the scatty serial killer known to history as Jack the Ripper> — see INSANE 1

scenario noun
the written form of a story prepared for film production <submitted a scenario to the producers> — see SCREENPLAY

scene noun
1 the place and time in which the action for a portion of a dramatic work (as a movie) is set <the first scene was the kitchen of a fancy restaurant during dinner>

Synonyms
background, locale, setting

Related Words
backdrop, scenery, set; mise-en-scène, tableau

2 an outburst or display of excited anger <please don't make a scene while we're at the restaurant> — see TANTRUM
3 position with regard to conditions and circumstances <one of the leading figures in the current political scene> — see SITUATION 1
4 the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production <helped build and paint scenes for the school play> — see SCENERY

scenery noun
the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production <the musical was worth seeing just for the elaborate scenery>

Synonyms
decor (or décor), mise-en-scène, scene, set

Related Words
backdrop, drop; background; set piece; prop, property

scent noun
1 a sweet or pleasant smell <the delightful scent of her perfume> — see FRAGRANCE
2 the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose <dogs are able to detect scents that are far below the threshold detectable by the human nose> — see SMELL 1

scent verb
1 to fill or infuse with a pleasant odor or odor-releasing substance <fancy bars of soap scented with lavender>

Synonyms
incense, odorize, perfume

Near Antonyms
deodorize

Antonyms
stink up

2 to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose <the dog scented a rabbit and suddenly took off> — see SMELL 1
3 to have a vague awareness of <he scented danger> — see FEEL 1

scented adjective
having a pleasant smell <a bowl of scented petals used to perfume a room> — see FRAGRANT

schedule noun
1 a listing of things to be presented or considered (as at a concert or play) <the schedule of events for the conference> — see PROGRAM 1
2 a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system <a schedule of arrivals and departures> — see 1LIST

schedule verb
to put (someone or something) on a list <I've scheduled you for an appointment tomorrow> — see 1LIST 2

scheduled adjective
being in accordance with the prescribed, normal, or logical course of events <a scheduled stop for the train> — see DUE 2

scheme noun
1 a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <an e-mail scheme to trick unwary Internet users into disclosing passwords and financial information> — see TRICK 1
2 a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends <a scheme to kidnap the president's daughter> — see PLOT 1
3 a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective <a scheme to upgrade the city's mass transit system> — see PLAN 1

scheme verb
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends <the town inspector had schemed to overlook the contractor's code violations in exchange for a substantial bribe> — see PLOT

scheme (out) verb
to work out the details of (something) in advance <the campaign operatives schemed out a plan for dealing with bombshells about the candidate's past indiscretions> — see PLAN 1

scheming adjective
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <the novel is about an elderly man and his scheming son who is impatient to inherit the family fortune> — see ARTFUL 1

schism noun
1 a lack of agreement or harmony <schism within the charitable organization was preventing it from achieving its goals> — see DISCORD
2 the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces <the schism of the Christian church into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches> — see SEPARATION 1

schlock or schlocky also shlock or shlocky adjective
of low quality <a tourist trap selling schlock souvenirs> — see CHEAP 2

schlub also shlub noun, slang
a stupid person <you're a complete schlub—you should do great around here> — see IDIOT

schmaltz also schmalz noun
something (as a work of literature or music) that is too sentimental <the love song was a typical example of overproduced schmaltz> — see CORN

schmaltzy adjective
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <a schmaltzy television commercial featuring a photogenic, perfect family> — see CORNY 1

schmooze noun
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <had to master the art of the schmooze if she wanted to get ahead in the business> — see CHAT 1

schmooze or shmooze verb
to engage in casual or rambling conversation <spent every spare minute of the conference schmoozing with the industry's power players> — see CHAT 1

schmuck noun, slang
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <don't be a schmuck and create an embarrassing scene in public> — see JERK 1

schnook noun, slang
a stupid person <don't be a schnook and just stand there while your mother needs help> — see IDIOT

schnoz or schnozz noun, slang
the part of the face bearing the nostrils and nasal cavity <another smart remark like that and you'll get a bop on the schnoz> — see NOSE 1

schnozzle noun, slang
the part of the face bearing the nostrils and nasal cavity <endowed with a schnozzle as big as his talent, the comedian Jimmy Durante was affectionately dubbed “the Schnozzola”> — see NOSE 1

scholar noun
1 a person of deep wisdom or learning <scholars have long debated whether there is ever such a thing as a truly selfless act> — see SAGE
2 a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <a scholar who is a specialist in the history of ancient Greece> — see EXPERT
3 one who attends a school <a competition for promising young scholars from across the country> — see STUDENT

scholarly adjective
1 having or displaying advanced knowledge or education <a scholarly analysis of the historical document> — see EDUCATED 1
2 of or relating to schooling or learning especially at an advanced level <a scholarly essay making comparisons between 18th-century French authors and their Germanic counterparts> — see ACADEMIC 1

scholarship noun
the understanding and information gained from being educated <the historian's new book displays a remarkable level of scholarship> — see EDUCATION 2

scholastic adjective
of or relating to schooling or learning especially at an advanced level <a college that gives a higher priority to scholastic endeavors than to athletic pursuits> — see ACADEMIC 1

school verb
to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field <schooled their children in proper etiquette for formal occasions> — see TEACH

school noun
a place or establishment for teaching and learning <one of the first schools in the country to admit girls as students>

Synonyms
academe, academy, seminary

Related Words
boarding school, prep, preparatory school, prep school; common school, elementary school, grammar school, high school, junior high school, kindergarten, middle school, primary school, public school, secondary school, senior high school, trade school, training school; charter school, magnet school, minischool; madrassa (or madrasa also madrassah or madrasah), Sunday school, yeshiva (also yeshivah)

schooling noun
the act or process of imparting knowledge or skills to another <the extended schooling needed for a horse to be able to make those precision movements> — see EDUCATION 1

schoolteacher noun
a person whose occupation is to give formal instruction in a school <schoolteachers don't always get the summers off, for some teach during that period as well> — see TEACHER

science noun
a body of facts learned by study or experience <the science of medicine grew tremendously in the course of the 19th century> — see KNOWLEDGE 1

scilicet adverb
that is to say <the journal cites the spot, scilicet present-day Provincetown, as the location of the Pilgrims' first landfall> — see NAMELY

scintilla noun
a very small amount <there is not a scintilla of evidence for your outrageous claims> — see PARTICLE 1

scintillate verb
1 to give off sparks <we watched contentedly as our campfire scintillated in the darkness> — see SPARK 1
2 to shoot forth bursts of light <the diamond ring scintillated in the sunlight> — see FLASH 1

scission noun
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces <fears that the scission of the labor union will compromise the workers' bargaining power> — see SEPARATION 1

scoff verb
to swallow or eat greedily <scoffed dinner before running off to the basketball game> — see GOBBLE

scold verb
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <he scolded the kids for not cleaning up the mess they had made in the kitchen>

Synonyms
baste, bawl out, berate, call down, castigate, chastise, chew out, dress down, flay, hammer, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rant (at), rate, ream (out), rebuke, reprimand, reproach, score, tongue-lash, upbraid

Related Words
admonish, chide, remonstrate (with), reprove; abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (also diss) [slang], excoriate, fault, harangue, knock, lace (into), lash, pan, reprehend, revile, scourge, slam, vituperate; belittle, disparage, mock, put down; ridicule, scoff, scorn

Phrases
lay into, read the riot act (to), take to task

Near Antonyms
approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; extol (also extoll), laud, praise

scoop noun
1 a utensil with a bowl and a handle that is used especially in cooking and serving food <an ice cream scoop> — see SPOON
2 information not generally available to the public <come on, I know you've got the scoop on their breakup> — see DOPE 1

scoop verb
to lift out with something that holds liquid <scooped broth out of the pan with a spoon> — see DIP 2

scoot verb
to proceed or move quickly <now we've got to scoot, or we'll be late> — see HURRY 2

scope noun
an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends <the company's scope of operations now spans two continents> — see RANGE 2

scorch verb
1 to burn on the surface <the picnickers kept scorching their marshmallows, deliberately sticking their skewers into the licking flames of the campfire>

Synonyms
char, sear, singe

Related Words
fire, ignite, inflame (also enflame), kindle, light; bake, cremate, incinerate; scald, scathe

2 to make dry <weeks of drought had badly scorched the soil> — see DRY 1

scorching adjective
having a notably high temperature <we keep indoors as much as possible during the day so as to avoid the scorching summer heat> — see HOT 1

score noun
1 a lingering ill will towards a person for a real or imagined wrong <a whistle-blower who was more interested in settling a score with his employers than in exposing an injustice> — see GRUDGE 1
2 something (as money) which is owed <we'll pay the full score next week> — see DEBT 1

score verb
1 to mark with or as if with a line or groove <the glassblower scored the glass rod first so that it would break cleanly>

Synonyms
groove, scribe, seam

Related Words
abrade, file, graze, mill, rasp, scarify, scratch; bevel, chamfer, flute

2 to gain (as points or runs in a game) as credit towards one's total number of points <he scored the winning goal in the final minute of play>

Synonyms
rack up, tally

Related Words
triumph, win; best, defeat

Near Antonyms
lose

3 to obtain (as a goal) through effort <finally scored a good job after years of hard work> — see ACHIEVE 1
4 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <scored her for failing to report the security breach immediately> — see SCOLD

scorn noun
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect <has nothing but scorn for newfangled ideas of any kind> — see CONTEMPT

scorn verb
1 to show contempt for <scorned the religious traditions of their ancestors>

Synonyms
contemn, dis (also diss) [slang], disdain, disrespect, high-hat, look down (on or upon), slight, sniff (at), snoot, snub

Related Words
scout; abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe; belittle, deplore, deprecate, disparage; disapprove (of), discountenance, disfavor, frown (on or upon)

Phrases
look down one's nose (at), sneeze at, thumb one's nose (at), walk over

Near Antonyms
cherish, prize, treasure, value; admire, esteem, lionize; hallow, revere, venerate, worship; accept, appreciate, approve (of), care (for), countenance, favor, OK (or okay), subscribe (to)

Antonyms
honor, respect

2 to ignore in a disrespectful manner <she scorned the advice of her ophthalmologist and had the laser eye surgery anyway>

Synonyms
despise, disregard, flout

Related Words
dismiss, forget, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slur (over); belittle, deprecate, disparage, slight

Near Antonyms
accept, approve; use

scornful adjective
1 feeling or showing open dislike for someone or something regarded as undeserving of respect or concern <the actress gave the paparazzi a scornful glare before breezing on by them> — see CONTEMPTUOUS 1
2 intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <the tenant's complaints were met with the scornful observation that he expected too much for the rent he was paying> — see DEROGATORY

scoundrel noun
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <some scoundrel stole my wallet> — see VILLAIN

scour verb
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something <the police scoured the city for the Typhoid Mary of this latest epidemic> — see SEARCH 1

scourge noun
1 a long thin or flexible tool for striking <the museum display included a scourge, thumbscrews, and other notorious instruments of torture> — see WHIP
2 one who inflicts punishment in return for an injury or offense <the attorney general, who just happens to be a candidate for governor, is a self-proclaimed scourge of organized crime> — see NEMESIS 1
3 a source of harm or misfortune <the sheer ubiquity of food is proving to be the scourge of humanity, as evidenced by the obesity epidemic> — see BANE 1

scourge verb
1 to bring destruction to (something) through violent action <barbarians scourged the countryside, leaving village after village burned to the ground> — see RAVAGE
2 to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <scourge the tree with a whip to loosen the bark> — see WHIP 1

scout noun
a member of the human race <you're a good scout> — see HUMAN

scout verb
to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter <the actor's attempt to rationalize his racist comments were roundly scouted by the media> — see RIDICULE

scout (up) verb
to come upon after searching, study, or effort <I think I've scouted up a way for us to manage this> — see FIND 1

scowl noun
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval <the man across the street never seems to wear anything but a scowl> — see GRIMACE

scowl verb
to look with anger or disapproval <scowled down at the misbehaving child> — see FROWN

scrabble noun
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective <it'll be a long scrabble to pull ourselves out of poverty> — see STRUGGLE 1

scrabble verb
1 to move (as up or over something) often with the help of the hands in holding or pulling <we scrabbled up a sand dune to get a better view of the sea> — see CLIMB 1
2 to search for something blindly or uncertainly <he frantically scrabbled through the storage chest looking for the needed documents> — see GROPE

scraggly adjective
having an uneven edge or outline <a scraggly little tree> — see RAGGED 1

scraggy adjective
1 having an uneven edge or outline <a scraggy beard> — see RAGGED 1
2 not having a level or smooth surface <climbers badly scraped their limbs on the scraggy cliffs> — see UNEVEN 1

scramble noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <a scramble of pens and pencils in the desk drawer> — see MISCELLANY 1

scramble verb
1 to move (as up or over something) often with the help of the hands in holding or pulling <the toddler scrambled up the stairs> — see CLIMB 1
2 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <scrambled the letters of the word> — see DISORDER

1scrap noun
1 an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value <only a scrap of silk was left on the sewing table after they had finished the project>

Synonyms
end, fag end, leftover, oddment, remainder, remnant, stub

Related Words
leavings, odds and ends, pickings, refuse, remains, residual, residue, scraping(s), stump, vestige; balance, rest; chip, flake, fragment, piece, sliver, splinter; ribbon(s), shred, tatter

Near Antonyms
whole

2 a broken or irregular part of something that often remains incomplete <a scrap of paper fluttered to the floor> — see FRAGMENT
3 a very small piece <brushed away a scrap of lint> — see BIT 1
4 discarded or useless material <the rest of this stuff is just scrap, so sweep it up and throw it away> — see GARBAGE 1

2scrap noun
1 an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <the state legislature's annual scrap over the budget> — see ARGUMENT 1
2 a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <several drunken revelers were involved in a scrap outside of the nightclub> — see FIGHT 1

1scrap verb
to express different opinions about something often angrily <the young couple often scrapped about money and their very disparate spending habits> — see ARGUE 2

2scrap verb
1 to get rid of as useless or unwanted <we've decided to scrap the second car> — see DISCARD
2 to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) <we scrapped our plans to go to Paris, and set out the next day for Prague> — see CANCEL 1

scrape noun
1 a brief clash between enemies or rivals <he's had his share of scrapes with the law in the past> — see ENCOUNTER
2 a harsh grating sound <the scrape of a shovel on concrete> — see RASP
3 an area of skin roughened or worn away by harsh rubbing against another surface <scrapes that were caused by a too-tight harness> — see ABRASION

scrape verb
1 to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface <the rusty old gate scrapes against the pavement whenever anyone opens it>

Synonyms
grate, grind, rasp, scratch

Related Words
rub; groan, whine

Near Antonyms
glide, skate, slide

2 to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface <she scraped her knee when she fell down>

Synonyms
abrade, graze, scratch, scuff

Related Words
bark, skin; chafe, fret, gall; claw, cut, lacerate; bruise, contuse

Near Antonyms
polish, smooth, soften, wax

3 to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound <she scraped her fingernails across the chalkboard to get everyone's attention> — see GRIND 2

scrape (up or together) verb
to get with great difficulty <we're barely scraping together a living on the farm> — see EKE OUT

scrapper noun
a person who takes part in a dispute <both movie critics are real scrappers, so their on-air discussions of the latest releases are often heated> — see DISPUTANT

scrappiness noun
an inclination to fight or quarrel <his natural scrappiness serves him well as an aggressive defense attorney> — see BELLIGERENCE

scrapping noun
the getting rid of whatever is unwanted or useless <the scrapping of the park's last horse-drawn carriage marks the end of an era> — see DISPOSAL 1

scrappy adjective
1 feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <she was a scrappy girl despite—or, perhaps, because of—her small size> — see BELLIGERENT
2 given to arguing <a pair of scrappy movie critics who can never agree on anything> — see ARGUMENTATIVE 1

scratch noun
1 a harsh grating sound <the scratch of metal on metal is not a good sound for a car to make> — see RASP
2 slang something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <she treated her buddies to a drink whenever she had the scratch for it> — see MONEY 1

scratch verb
1 to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface <scratched his arm on a branch> — see SCRAPE 2
2 to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface <the branches of the willow tree scratch against the windowpane whenever the wind blows> — see SCRAPE 1
3 to write or draw hastily or carelessly <scratched a quick doodle in the margins> — see SCRIBBLE 1

scratch (out) verb
1 to compose and set down on paper the words of <scratched out a poem for his beloved wife on the home front> — see WRITE 1
2 to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it <scratched out the old phone number and wrote in the new one> — see X OUT

scratchy adjective
1 having leaves or branches which are likely to cause a scratch <scratchy shrubbery that's intended to keep kids and pets off the old man's property>

Synonyms
brambly, prickly, thistly, thorny

Related Words
burred; bristly, coarse, jagged, rough

2 causing an unpleasant tingling sensation <the wool pants are so scratchy that I can't stand to wear them>

Synonyms
irritating, itchy, prickly

Related Words
coarse, harsh, rough

Near Antonyms
silken, silky, soft, soothing

3 harsh and dry in sound <her voice was scratchy from a cold> — see HOARSE

scrawl verb
to write or draw hastily or carelessly <scrawled a quick note, stuck it in their mailbox, and hurried off> — see SCRIBBLE 1

scream noun
someone or something that is very funny <that new comedy is a scream>

Synonyms
hoot, knee-slapper, laugh, riot

Related Words
boner, howler; crack, gag, jest, joke, pleasantry, quip, sally, waggery, wisecrack, witticism; caution, sight

Near Antonyms
bummer, downer

scream verb
1 to cry out loudly and emotionally <we screamed when the roller coaster began its 30-foot plunge>

Synonyms
howl, screech, shriek, shrill, squall, squeal, yelp, yell

Related Words
bay, caterwaul, keen, squawk, wail, yawp (or yaup), yowl; bawl, call, cry, holler, shout, thunder, vociferate

Near Antonyms
murmur, mutter, whisper

2 to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound <you'll scream when you see the outfit that she's wearing> — see LAUGH 1
3 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <angry residents screamed that their neighborhood still hadn't been plowed a week after the snowstorm> — see COMPLAIN

screaming adjective
1 arousing a strong and usually superficial interest or emotional reaction <screaming headlines about the latest showbiz scandal> — see SENSATIONAL 1
2 causing or intended to cause laughter <a screaming picture of everyone making silly faces> — see FUNNY 1

screaming meemies plural noun
a sense of panic or extreme nervousness <had the screaming meemies on his wedding day> — see JITTERS

screech verb
to cry out loudly and emotionally <the toddler screeched in anger when her stuffed rabbit was taken away> — see SCREAM 1

screeching adjective
having a high musical pitch or range <the screeching blast of the factory whistle hurt my ears> — see SHRILL

screen noun
1 the art or business of making a movie <he was a star of both stage and screen> — see MOVIE 2
2 means or method of defending <the target will be difficult to reach as it is behind a screen of anti-aircraft batteries> — see DEFENSE 1

screen verb
1 to drive danger or attack away from <attack helicopters were called in to help screen the troops from further attacks> — see DEFEND 1
2 to keep secret or shut off from view <bushes screened the swimming pool from passersby on the street> — see 1HIDE 2
3 to pass through a filter <you should screen the cooking oil to remove impurities> — see STRAIN 2
4 to place a protective layer over <screened his eyes with his hand to block the sun> — see COVER 3

screenplay noun
the written form of a story prepared for film production <each actor will be given a copy of the screenplay to study>

Synonyms
scenario, script

Related Words
shooting script; story, text

screw verb
1 to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition <screwed up his face at the taste of the medicine> — see CONTORT
2 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <managed to screw his siblings out of their share of the inheritance> — see FLEECE

screw around verb
to be sexually unfaithful <he hired a private detective because he thought his wife was screwing around> — see CHEAT 2

screwball adjective
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <she's always off on some screwball plan> — see FOOLISH 1

screwball noun
a person of odd or whimsical habits <a screwball who liked to save lint and bits of string> — see ECCENTRIC

screwing noun
the twisting of something out of its natural or normal shape or condition <you'll regret the constant screwing of your face—someday it's going to freeze in that position!> — see CONTORTION

screwlike adjective
turning around an axis like the thread of a screw <performed a screwlike dive into the pool> — see SPIRAL

screwup noun
1 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <clearly, there's been some sort of screwup about what time we were supposed to meet> — see ERROR 1
2 someone who bungles an effort <don't ask the office screwup to arrange the holiday party> — see BUTCHER

screw up verb
1 to make a mistake <we all screw up from time to time, so don't sweat it> — see ERR 1
2 to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way <you've totally screwed up the spreadsheet> — see BOTCH

screwy adjective
1 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <the counterfeit bills are poorly done and would look screwy to even the untrained eye> — see ODD 2
2 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <I was accosted on the downtown street by a woman who seemed to be a bit screwy in the head> — see INSANE 1

scribble verb
1 to write or draw hastily or carelessly <she scribbled a quick note on the pad by the door before leaving>

Synonyms
scratch, scrawl, squiggle

Related Words
doodle; jot (down); ink, inscribe, letter, pen, pencil, print, write

2 to compose and set down on paper the words of <he scribbled a quick note to his wife and taped it to the front door> — see WRITE 1

scribe noun
1 one who writes from dictation or copies manuscripts <variations between the different manuscripts attest to the fallibility of the scribes who transmitted them>

Synonyms
amanuensis, calligrapher, copyist, penman, scrivener

2 an official whose job is to keep records <the scribe keeps the minutes of the club's meetings> — see CLERK 1
3 a person who creates a written work <a book of dusty poems by some now-forgotten scribe> — see AUTHOR 1

scribe verb
to mark with or as if with a line or groove <carefully scribed two lines into the wood> — see SCORE 1

scrimmage noun
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <the two players got into a scrimmage off the court and got suspended> — see FIGHT 1

scrimmage (with) verb
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict <growing up in the inner city he had often scrimmaged with neighborhood toughs> — see FIGHT 1

scrimp verb
to avoid unnecessary waste or expense <had to scrimp and save for years in order to be able to afford a house> — see ECONOMIZE

scrimping adjective
careful in the management of money or resources <a scrimping homemaker> — see FRUGAL

scrimping noun
careful management of material resources <she had grown tired of scrimping and was glad to finally have a job with a decent paycheck> — see ECONOMY

script noun
1 the form or style of a particular person's writing <has a neat, careful script with delicate loops> — see HANDWRITING 1
2 the written form of a story prepared for film production <sold two scripts to the movie studio> — see SCREENPLAY
3 writing done by hand <sending a thank-you note in script—and not just an e-mail—is the only proper way to express one's gratitude> — see HANDWRITING 2

Scripture noun
a book made up of the writings accepted by Christians as coming from God <one of the greatest commandments from Scripture is “Love thy neighbor”> — see BIBLE

scrivener noun
1 a person who creates a written work <the roomful of unsung scriveners that it takes to churn out a weekly sitcom> — see AUTHOR 1
2 one who writes from dictation or copies manuscripts <the details of the contract were worked out by a lawyer, I being involved with it merely as a scrivener> — see SCRIBE 1

scrooge noun
a mean grasping person who is usually stingy with money <her father is a real scrooge and refuses to pay her way through college, even though he can easily afford it> — see MISER

scrounge verb
to get with great difficulty <scrounged up the money to pay his dental bills> — see EKE OUT

scrub noun
a living thing much smaller than others of its kind <that scrub of a mutt turned out to be the smartest dog we ever had> — see DWARF 1

scrub verb
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) <the outdoor art project was scrubbed when the organizers found out they needed permission from city hall> — see CANCEL 1

scrubby adjective
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <changed into an old flannel shirt and a scrubby pair of jeans to clean out the garage> — see SHABBY 1

scruffy adjective
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <dressed in scruffy old clothes to clean out the garage> — see SHABBY 1

scrum noun
1 a great number of persons or creatures massed together <I had to fight my way through the scrum of holiday shoppers at the mall> — see CROWD 1
2 a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <when the server spilled a drink on a customer, they got into a bit of a scrum before being separated> — see FIGHT 1
3 British a place of uproar and confusion <London's tube is quite a scrum during rush hour> — see MADHOUSE 2

scrumptious adjective
very pleasing to the sense of taste <baked a scrumptious chocolate cake> — see DELICIOUS 1

scrunch verb
1 to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in <scrunched up the shirt and tossed it in the laundry> — see CRUMPLE 1
2 to lie low with the limbs close to the body <the climbers scrunched down on the leeward side of a large boulder and waited for the storm to pass> — see CROUCH
3 to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound <scrunched loose gravel with every footstep> — see GRIND 2

1scruple noun
1 a very small amount <went about her business without even a scruple of suspicion> — see PARTICLE 1
2 a very small piece <left just a scruple of asparagus on the plate> — see BIT 1

2scruple noun
an uneasy feeling about the rightness of what one is doing or going to do <the survey showed that many students had few scruples about cheating on papers or exams> — see QUALM

scruple verb
to show uncertainty about the right course of action <a tabloid journalist who has never scrupled to reveal the most intimate details about the lives of celebrities> — see HESITATE

scrupulous adjective
1 guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong <an exemplar of morality who was scrupulous in all of his dealings> — see CONSCIENTIOUS 1
2 taking, showing, or involving great care and effort <a scrupulous attention to detail is evident in all of his reporting> — see PAINSTAKING

scrupulousness noun
strict attentiveness to what one is doing <the admirable scrupulousness with which they performed every step of the experiment> — see CARE 1

scrutable adjective
capable of being understood <she thinks that she's a sly and subtle schemer, but her machinations and motives are all too scrutable to those of us who know her> — see INTELLIGIBLE

scrutinize verb
to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) <the project's time constraints make it impossible for the programmers to scrutinize every line of code, so some bugs should be expected> — see INSPECT

scrutiny noun
1 a close look at or over someone or something in order to judge condition <his performance on the football field is seemingly unaffected by the media's intense scrutiny of his tumultuous personal life> — see INSPECTION
2 a fixed intent look <began to squirm under the penetrating scrutiny of the judge> — see GAZE

scud noun
a sudden brief rush of wind <a cold scud sent leaves skittering down from the trees> — see GUST 1

scuff verb
1 to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface <scuffed up her shoes by rubbing her feet under the rung of the chair> — see SCRAPE 2
2 to move heavily or clumsily <the miners scuffed past in heavy boots> — see LUMBER 1

scuffle noun
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <several chairs were knocked over in the scuffle> — see FIGHT 1

scuffle verb
1 to move heavily or clumsily <she scuffled along in shoes that were much too large for her> — see LUMBER 1
2 to seize and attempt to unbalance one another for the purpose of achieving physical mastery <the burglar and the homeowner briefly scuffled together in the dark> — see WRESTLE

scull verb
to move a boat by means of oars <a couple sculled past in a racing shell> — see 1ROW

sculler noun
a person who drives a boat forward by means of oars <scullers tend to have well-developed arm muscles> — see OARSMAN

sculpt verb
to create a three-dimensional representation of (something) using solid material <the colossal statue was sculpted from a single block of marble>

Synonyms
carve, sculpture

Related Words
chisel, engrave, etch, grave, incise, inscribe; knap; cast, form, model, mold, shape

sculpture verb
to create a three-dimensional representation of (something) using solid material <the artist used a hammer and chisel to sculpture the horse out of ice> — see SCULPT

scum noun
1 people looked down upon as ignorant and of the lowest class <claimed that only scum lived in that part of town> — see RABBLE
2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <ignore the heckler—he's complete scum> — see JERK 1

scumbag noun, slang
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <don't romanticize that con artist, as she's nothing more than a scumbag who cheats the most vulnerable> — see JERK 1

scummy adjective
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <the jury was disgusted by the defense attorney's scummy attempt to portray the victim as deserving of what she got> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1

scunnered adjective, chiefly Scottish
subjected to and reacting with irritation <my mates are fair scunnered with me> — see ANNOYED

scurrile or scurril adjective
marked by harsh insulting language <performs a scurrile comedy routine that is guaranteed to rile people on the right> — see ABUSIVE

scurrility noun
harsh insulting language <a discussion on some hot-button social issues in which any pretense to civility quickly gave way to intransigence and scurrility> — see ABUSE 1

scurrilous adjective
marked by harsh insulting language <a scurrilous satire on the scandal that enveloped Washington> — see ABUSIVE

scurry verb
to proceed or move quickly <everyone scurried back to work as soon as they saw the boss's car pull into the parking lot> — see HURRY 2

scurvy adjective
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <after winning the lottery, she was beset by a whole scurvy swarm of con artists, ne'er-do-wells, and hangers-on> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1

scuttle verb
to proceed or move quickly <mice scuttling across the barn floor to escape the cats> — see HURRY 2

scuttlebutt noun
information or opinion that is widely disseminated without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <according to scuttlebutt in the financial markets, the company will be downsizing soon> — see RUMOR

scuzzball noun, slang
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <as you might expect, the owner of that sweatshop is a total scuzzball> — see JERK 1

sea noun
the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three-fourths of the earth <millions of plants and animals live in the sea> — see OCEAN 1

sea devil noun
any of several extremely large rays <a sea devil glided along the ocean floor> — see DEVILFISH

sea dog noun
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel <the tale of a grizzled old sea dog who sets out for one last voyage> — see SAILOR

seafarer noun
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel <ships and the intrepid seafarers who man them remain a vital part of the world economy> — see SAILOR

seam verb
to mark with or as if with a line or groove <in fencing circles it is a mark of honor to have one's face seamed with saber cuts> — see SCORE 1

seaman noun
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel <a weathered old seaman who now captains a tour boat> — see SAILOR

seamless adjective
being entirely without fault or flaw <the conductor's seamless interpretation of Mozart's Jupiter symphony was greeted with a standing ovation> — see PERFECT 1

seamster noun
a person who sews <a talented seamster who dreams of launching his own clothing line> — see SEWER

sear verb
1 to burn on the surface <lightly sear the steaks, but don't cook them all the way through> — see SCORCH 1
2 to make dry <the clear desert air is seared by the summer sun> — see DRY 1

search noun
an act or process of looking carefully or thoroughly for someone or something <the search for the missing hikers lasted several days>

Synonyms
hunt, quest

Related Words
shakedown; sweep; chase, pursuit; recon, reconnaissance, scout; canvass (also canvas), survey; exploration, probe; forage

search verb
1 to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something <archaeologists have begun to search the southern end of the valley, where they believe the underground tombs are located>

Synonyms
comb, dig (through), dredge, hunt (through), rake, ransack, rifle, rummage, scour, sort (through), troll

Related Words
frisk, pat down, shake down; audit, check (out), examine, inspect, investigate, review, scan, scrutinize, survey; ascertain, descry, detect, determine, discover, ferret (out), find, find out, get, hit (on or upon), learn, locate, run down, scare up, track (down); grub (about), poke (around); explore, probe, prospect, skirmish, snoop; browse, glance (over), look over; peruse, study

Near Antonyms
hide; abandon, lose; ignore, neglect

2 to go into or range over for purposes of discovery <the Spanish conquistadors searched vast areas of the Southwest in their quest for the fabled cities of gold> — see EXPLORE 2

search (for or out) verb
to go in search of <every year major league scouts crisscross the country to search for young players with promising talent> — see SEEK 1

searing adjective
1 having a notably high temperature <in our air-conditioned office, we were oblivious to the searing heat outside> — see HOT 1
2 difficult to endure <the undersecretary looked chastened as he listened to the congressman's searing rebuke> — see HARSH 1

season verb
1 to make more pleasant to the taste by adding something intensely flavored <the chef seasoned the vegetables as soon as they came out of the oven>

Synonyms
flavor, lace, savor (also savour), spice

Related Words
enhance, enrich, sauce; pepper, salt; aromatize, perfume

2 to bring to a proper or desired state of fitness <carefully seasoned the cast iron pan with vegetable oil before using it for the first time> — see CONDITION 1
3 to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure <troops that had been seasoned by months of heavy fighting> — see HARDEN 2
4 to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function <her campaign manager has been seasoned by several hotly contested gubernatorial campaigns> — see QUALIFY 2

seasonable adjective
especially suitable for a certain time <seasonable advice is more likely to be listened to> — see TIMELY 1

seasoning noun
1 something (as a spice or herb) that adds an agreeable or interesting taste to food <the stew was too bland before they added the seasoning>

Synonyms
flavor, flavoring, spice

Related Words
sauce

2 something used to enhance the flavor of cooked or prepared food <she thinks salt is the ideal seasoning for all batter-fried foods> — see CONDIMENT

seat noun
1 a place from which authority is exercised <all applications had to be submitted at the county seat for proper processing>

Synonyms
command, headquarters

Related Words
high command; center, home; capital

2 the part of the body upon which someone sits <fell down on his well-padded seat> — see BUTTOCKS
3 a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest <a capital that is the seat of culture for the whole nation> — see CENTER 1

seat verb
1 to cause to sit down <the usher seated them in the third row>

Synonyms
set down, sit

Related Words
ensconce, settle; lay, lie, rest; place, put; recline, repose

2 to put into an office or welcome into an organization with special ceremonies <one of the first appointments that he made after being seated as president of the state senate> — see INSTALL 1

secern verb
to understand or point out the difference in <those philistines who seemingly cannot secern artistic depiction of the nude from blatant pornography> — see DISTINGUISH 1

seclude verb
to set or keep apart from others <the patients will be secluded until they are no longer contagious> — see ISOLATE

secluded adjective
screened or sequestered from view <we stayed in a secluded resort, far away from the regular tourist crowds>

Synonyms
cloistered, covert, hidden, isolated, quiet, remote, retired, secret, sheltered

Related Words
lone, lonely, lonesome, reclusive, solitary; private

Near Antonyms
obvious, visible; exposed

secludedness noun
the state of being alone or kept apart from others <the inn's greatest appeal for guests was its woodland secludedness> — see ISOLATION

seclusion noun
the state of being alone or kept apart from others <she went into seclusion in order to focus entirely on writing her book> — see ISOLATION

1second noun
a very small space of time <I'll be ready in a second> — see INSTANT

2second noun
something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others <the slightly flawed linens were sold as seconds> — see CULL

secondary adjective
1 taken or created from something original or basic <history textbooks are secondary sources for historical information and do not represent original research>

Synonyms
derivative, secondhand

Related Words
unoriginal; consequent, resultant

Near Antonyms
fundamental, nonderivative; first, primary

Antonyms
basic, original

2 of little or less value or merit <we need to focus on getting the groceries bought and the rent paid—everything else is secondary> — see INFERIOR 2

second childhood noun
the state or period of mental decline that typically accompanies old age <whenever she makes a mistake, Grandmother just reminds everyone she's in her second childhood and children shouldn't be held accountable> — see DOTAGE

second–class adjective
1 of little or less value or merit <a playwright who produced only second-class work when he turned his hand to poetry> — see INFERIOR 2
2 of average to below average quality <it's only a second-class restaurant and not worth the high prices> — see MEDIOCRE 1

secondhand adjective
taken or created from something original or basic <memoirs filled with secondhand stories about show-business celebrities> — see SECONDARY 1

second nature noun
a usual manner of behaving or doing <speaking and thinking in Japanese simply became second nature to her during the years she spent in Kyoto> — see HABIT 1

second–rate adjective
1 of average to below average quality <a second-rate song from a songwriter who has done much better> — see MEDIOCRE 1
2 of little or less value or merit <a second-rate company that was never considered among the top manufacturers of televisions> — see INFERIOR 2
3 of low quality <second-rate goods specifically manufactured for the low end of the market> — see CHEAP 2

second sight noun
the power of seeing or knowing about things that are not present to the senses <the fairy world was believed to be visible to people blessed with second sight> — see CLAIRVOYANCE

secrecy noun
the practice or habit of keeping secrets or keeping one's affairs secret <this administration's steadfast adherence to secrecy is beginning to cost it the trust of the voters>

Synonyms
closeness, secretiveness

Related Words
confidentiality, privacy; discreetness, discretion, prudence; circumspection, wariness; reserve, reticence, silence, taciturnity; furtiveness, shiftiness, slyness, sneakiness, underhandedness; concealment, covertness, stealth, subterfuge

Near Antonyms
candor, frankness, honesty, openness; imprudence, indiscretion

secret adjective
1 undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <a secret operation to rescue captive soldiers behind enemy lines>

Synonyms
backstairs, behind-the-scenes, clandestine, covert, furtive, hole-and-corner, hugger-mugger, hush-hush, private, privy, sneak, sneaking, sneaky, stealth, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underground, underhand, underhanded

Related Words
back-channel, closed-door, off-the-books, off-the-record; classified, confidential, restricted, top secret, undisclosed; concealed, hidden, secreted, subterranean, unadvertised, unexposed

Near Antonyms
acknowledged, avowed; aboveboard, straightforward, unconcealed, undisguised; unclassified, unrestricted; clear, evident, manifest, obvious, patent, plain

Antonyms
open, overt, public

2 working on missions in which one's objectives, activities, or true identity are not publicly revealed <secret agents whose wartime exploits were known only by top government officials>

Synonyms
undercover

Related Words
covert, private, secretive, subterranean

Near Antonyms
overt

3 screened or sequestered from view <a secret cave that is screened by trees> — see SECLUDED
4 not known or meant to be known by the general populace <proprietary information that the company does its best to keep secret> — see PRIVATE 1

secret noun
1 information shared only with another or with a select few <you didn't really expect him to keep a secret from his wife, did you?>

Synonyms
confidence

Related Words
dope, lowdown

Near Antonyms
open secret

2 something hard to understand or explain <the secrets of the Egyptian pyramids include the construction methods used to lift the huge blocks of stone in place> — see MYSTERY
3 something that allows someone to achieve a desired goal <the secret to advancement in this company is to appear dedicated> — see PASSPORT 1

secretary noun
an official whose job is to keep records <file your intent to run for office with the city secretary> — see CLERK 1

secrete verb
to put into a hiding place <the police found the weapon secreted under the driver's seat of the getaway car> — see 1HIDE 1

secretion noun
the placing of something out of sight <the secretion of their money in the backyard turned out to be a huge mistake> — see CONCEALMENT 1

secretive adjective
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge <the intelligence agency remained secretive despite the media's demands for more openness in government>

Synonyms
close, closemouthed, dark, reticent, tight-mouthed, uncommunicative

Related Words
quiet, reserved, silent, taciturn, tight-lipped; discreet, prudent; clandestine, covert, furtive, hugger-mugger, secret, sneak, sneaky, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underhand, underhanded

Near Antonyms
candid, frank, honest, out-front, up-front; blunt, outspoken, tactless

Antonyms
communicative, open

secretiveness noun
the practice or habit of keeping secrets or keeping one's affairs secret <his secretiveness about his past always made some people suspicious of what he might be hiding> — see SECRECY

secretly adverb
in a manner intended to prevent knowledge or awareness by others <the girl secretly told her best friend about the pregnancy but kept everyone else in the dark> — see PRIVATELY

sect noun
a group of people acting together within a larger group <one sect of medical researchers holds the minority view that the disease is not caused by that virus> — see FACTION

sectarian adjective
not broad or open in views or opinions <there are people on both the left and the right who have staked out unyielding sectarian positions in this debate> — see NARROW 2

sectarian noun
one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices <charged that the work of Congress has been stymied by sectarians who are indifferent to reason and intolerant of compromise> — see BIGOT

sectarianism noun
stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices <an ideological sectarianism that prevented the political party from ever being anything more than a fringe group> — see BIGOTRY

section noun
1 an area (as of a city) set apart for some purpose or having some special feature <several abandoned warehouses in the city's industrial section are being converted into art galleries and artists' lofts> — see DISTRICT
2 one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled <had trouble fitting the sections of the bookcase together> — see PART 1

secular adjective
not involving religion or religious matters <that's an issue for the secular authorities, not the church> — see PROFANE 1

secure adjective
1 having or showing great faith in oneself or one's abilities <he's so secure about winning the marathon that he's practically spent the prize money> — see CONFIDENT 1
2 not exposed to the threat of loss or injury <the fortress was thought to be secure against attack> — see SAFE 1
3 providing safety <escaped to a secure location> — see SAFE 2
4 worthy of one's trust <a fund that should provide them with a secure income in their retirement> — see DEPENDABLE

secure verb
1 to drive danger or attack away from <sent troops to secure the city> — see DEFEND 1
2 to make sure, certain, or safe <a retirement account that will help to secure our future> — see ENSURE
3 to put securely in place or in a desired position <candidates for admission are asked to secure a recent photo to their application forms> — see FASTEN 2
4 to receive as return for effort <finally secured a job after sending out dozens of applications> — see EARN 1

security noun
1 means or method of defending <measures taken to beef up our national security> — see DEFENSE 1
2 something given or held to assure that the giver will keep a promise <their house will serve as security for the loan> — see PLEDGE 1
3 the state of not being exposed to danger <after the burglaries, police presence in the neighborhood was enhanced to give residents a stronger sense of security> — see SAFETY 1

sedate adjective
1 not joking or playful in mood or manner <while not exactly cold, the doctor does maintain a sedate and purely professional demeanor with his patients> — see SERIOUS 1
2 free from emotional or mental agitation <her expression remained sedate as I told her the bad news> — see CALM 2

sedative adjective
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress <some people find a glass of wine to be a civilized and sedative addition to an evening meal> — see SOOTHING 1

sediment verb
to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid) <the water flowing into the reservoir is sedimenting silt faster than was originally expected> — see SETTLE 1

sediment noun
matter that settles to the bottom of a body of liquid <the sediment at the bottom of the river needs to be routinely dredged so that it doesn't interfere with barge traffic> — see DEPOSIT 1

seditious adjective
tending to excite political disorder or insurrection <several dissidents were jailed for leading protests that the government branded as seditious> — see INFLAMMATORY

seduce verb
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage <I wasn't going to buy the car, but was seduced by the low-interest payment plan> — see LURE

seducer noun
one that tries to get a person to give in to a desire <fabled as a land of endless opportunity, California continues to be a seducer of dreamers and doers> — see TEMPTER

seduction noun
the act or pressure of giving in to a desire especially when ill-advised <the swift seduction of the college freshman into a life of drinking and partying> — see TEMPTATION 1

seductive adjective
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract <people always remarked on the cult leader's seductive personality> — see FASCINATING 1

seductiveness noun
the power of irresistible attraction <she exuded a seductiveness that enabled her to attract a succession of six husbands> — see CHARM 2

seductress noun
a woman whom men find irresistibly attractive <in the movie she played Cleopatra, one of history's most famous seductresses> — see SIREN

sedulity noun
attentive and persistent effort <her sedulity was rewarded when the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the case> — see DILIGENCE

sedulous adjective
involved in often constant activity <an impressively sedulous suitor, he was constantly sending her flowers and other tokens of his affection> — see BUSY 1

sedulously adverb
with great effort or determination <sedulously devoted herself to completing the project on time> — see HARD 1

sedulousness noun
attentive and persistent effort <many of the volunteers at the dig discovered that they lacked the sedulousness that archaeology demands> — see DILIGENCE

see verb
1 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <out of the corner of my eye I saw the deer run into the woods>

Synonyms
behold, catch, descry, discern, distinguish, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, perceive, regard, remark, sight, spot, spy, view, witness

Related Words
identify, make out, pick out, pick up; attend (to), consider, heed, mark, mind; study, watch; examine, inspect, scan, scrutinize, survey; glance (at), glimpse, peer (at)

Phrases
get a load of [slang], lay eyes on, set eyes on

Near Antonyms
disregard, ignore, neglect, overpass, pass over; miss, overlook

2 to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it <a writer who saw World War II through the eyes of a common soldier> — see EXPERIENCE
3 to come to an awareness of <I bought the best seller just to see what all the fuss was about> — see DISCOVER 1
4 to have a vague awareness of <I see a certain sadness in his letters to his relatives back home> — see FEEL 1
5 to make a social call upon <you should go and see Father at the hospital this afternoon> — see VISIT 1
6 to have a clear idea of <I see your point> — see COMPREHEND 1
7 to go along with in order to provide assistance, protection, or companionship <thanks for coming, and I'll see you to the door> — see ACCOMPANY 1
8 to form a mental picture of <I can't see that spoiled brat as a soldier at all> — see IMAGINE 1

seeable adjective
capable of being seen <a seeable flaw in the windowpane> — see VISIBLE 1

seed noun
1 the source from which something grows or develops <ancient Greece provided the seed for much of Western civilization's political and philosophical thought>

Synonyms
fountainhead, germ, origin, root, seedbed

Related Words
font, fountain, spring, well, wellhead, wellspring; beginning, birth, commencement, dawn, genesis, inception, incipiency, launch, morning, onset, outset, start, threshold; creation, inauguration, origination

2 the descendants of a person, animal, or plant <the famous stallion's seed can be found on racetracks all over the world> — see OFFSPRING

seed verb
to put or set into the ground to grow <seeded grass in the backyard> — see PLANT 1

seedbed noun
1 a place or environment that favors the development of something <a social and political environment that would later become a seedbed of the abolition movement> — see BREEDING GROUND
2 the source from which something grows or develops <that think tank has served as a seedbed for American conservatism since the Cold War era> — see SEED 1
3 a point or place at which something is invented or provided <the historic role of the Middle East as a seedbed for new religions> — see SOURCE 1

seediness noun
the state of being unattended to or not cared for <the general seediness of the neighborhood suggested that its residents had no pride in the place they called home> — see NEGLECT 1

seedy adjective
1 showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <a seedy but historic neighborhood that's just waiting for some new homeowners to come in and rehabilitate it> — see SHABBY 1
2 worn or torn into or as if into rags <chose old, seedy clothes to wear while painting the bathroom> — see RAGGED 2

seeing conjunction
for the reason that <seeing as we're already running late, there's no reason to waste any more time> — see SINCE

seek verb
1 to go in search of <Henry Hudson was set adrift by mutinous crewmen while seeking the Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean>

Synonyms
cast about (for), cast around (for), chase (down), forage (for), hunt, look up, pursue, quest, search (for or out), shop (for)

Related Words
ferret (out), root (out)

Phrases
look for

Near Antonyms
hide, lose; ignore, neglect

2 to make a request for <came seeking financial advice> — see ASK FOR 1
3 to make an effort to do <seek to find the best solution> — see ATTEMPT

seeker noun
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award <predicted a tough year for summer job seekers> — see CANDIDATE

seem verb
to give the impression of being <I tried to cheer them up because they seemed depressed>

Synonyms
act, appear, come across (as), come off (as), feel, look, make, sound

Related Words
dissemble, pretend; recall, resemble, suggest; hint, imply, insinuate

seeming adjective
appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed <a seeming contradiction that disappeared upon closer analysis of the text> — see APPARENT 1

seeming noun
outward and often deceptive indication <her altruism is all seeming—she cares only about herself> — see APPEARANCE 2

seemingly adverb
to all outward appearances <a seemingly contented baby who was fast asleep in his crib> — see APPARENTLY

seemliness noun
the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting <the seemliness of that outfit for church is debatable> — see APPROPRIATENESS

seemly adjective
1 following the established traditions of refined society and good taste <it would not be seemly to use the memorial service as a forum for your political views> — see PROPER 1
2 very pleasing to look at <a young man of seemly appearance, robust health, and keen intelligence> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

seep verb
to flow forth slowly through small openings <water seeping through the basement walls> — see EXUDE

seer noun
one who predicts future events or developments <several leading Wall Street seers have cautioned investors to prepare for a downturn in the economy> — see PROPHET 1

seesaw verb
1 to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions <as their boat seesawed in the rough water, the rescue team tried to get the passengers off the sinking ship> — see ROCK 1
2 to make short up-and-down movements <the price of the stock has been seesawing all week> — see NOD

seethe verb
1 to be in a state of violent rolling motion <the water seethed with schools of feeding piranha>

Synonyms
boil, churn, moil, roil

Related Words
reel, spin, swirl, whirl; agitate, stir

Near Antonyms
abate, calm, subside

2 to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger <she seethed at the very thought of the staff's staggering incompetence> — see BOIL 1

see–through adjective
1 easily seen through <consumers pretty much expect see-through packaging for bacon> — see CLEAR 1
2 very thin and easy to see through <a designer whose see-through clothes scandalized the fashion world back in the 1960s> — see SHEER 1

segment noun
one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled <I think I lost one segment of this model kit> — see PART 1

segregate verb
to set or keep apart from others <the sick cows were segregated from the remainder of the herd> — see ISOLATE

segregation noun
the state of being alone or kept apart from others <the forced segregation of racial minorities was once widely accepted as a fact of life> — see ISOLATION

seize verb
1 to have a clear idea of <a critic with a sharp intellect that is able to seize the most subtle nuances of a work of art> — see COMPREHEND 1
2 to take or keep under one's control by authority of law <seized the leaders of one of the city's major drug rings> — see ARREST 1
3 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <seized the escaping balloon just before it got out of reach> — see CATCH 1
4 to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right <Richard III seized the English throne from his brother Edward in 1483> — see APPROPRIATE 1

seizure noun
1 a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder <an epileptic seizure> — see ATTACK 2
2 the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority <secret intrigues with the czar's ministers that culminated in the czarina's seizure of the throne> — see APPROPRIATION 2

seldom adverb
not often <we seldom go to the theater downtown because its prices are so high>

Synonyms
infrequently, little, rarely

Related Words
ne'er, never; episodically, irregularly, now and then, occasionally, sometimes, sporadically

Phrases
once in a blue moon

Near Antonyms
customarily, generally, habitually, ordinarily, routinely, usually; always, constantly, continually, continuously, endlessly, eternally, ever, everlastingly, evermore, forever, invariably, perennially, perpetually, unceasingly; chronically, recurrently, repeatedly

Antonyms
frequently, oft, often, oftentimes (or ofttimes)

select verb
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities <selected only two people out of 300 applicants for the summer internship> — see CHOOSE 1

select adjective
1 singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking <the company claims to use only select beans to make its coffee>

Synonyms
cherry-picked, choice, chosen, elect, favored, favorite, first-line, handpicked, picked, preferred, selected

Related Words
fashionable; exclusive; culled, picked over, screened, weeded (out), winnowed (out)

Phrases
of choice

Near Antonyms
average, common, commonplace, ordinary, run-of-the-mill

2 having qualities that appeal to a refined taste <select fabrics that the shop makes into expensive suits for its well-heeled clientele> — see CHOICE 1

selected adjective
singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking <a selected brand of ice cream with an exceptionally high butterfat content> — see SELECT 1

selectee noun
1 a person forced or required to enroll in military service <had the dubious distinction of being the last selectee to serve in the Vietnam War> — see CONSCRIPT
2 one who has been chosen by some authority for a specific position or duty <NASA's roster of selectees for its astronaut training program> — see APPOINTEE

selecting noun
the act or process of selecting <the selecting of the party's nominee took three days and half a dozen votes> — see SELECTION 1

selection noun
1 the act or process of selecting <his selection of a running mate was a long, tedious affair>

Synonyms
choice, choosing, election, picking, selecting

Related Words
option; appointment, assignment, designation, naming, nomination; decision

2 a person or thing that is chosen <our selection was the third entrant in the dog show> — see CHOICE 2
3 the power, right, or opportunity to choose <the inn's table d'hôte is excellent, but there's very limited selection> — see CHOICE 1
4 a number of things selected from a group to stand for the whole <a selection of the company's latest line of products for display at the trade show> — see SAMPLE 1

selective adjective
tending to select carefully <we were highly selective about the music we listened to while trying out loudspeakers>

Synonyms
choosy (or choosey), particular, picky

Related Words
nice; fastidious, finical, finicking, finicky, fussy; discerning, discriminating, judicious

Near Antonyms
indiscriminate, indiscriminating

Antonyms
nonselective, unselective

selector noun
someone with the right or responsibility for making a selection <the librarians who are the selectors of the annual award for best children's book>

Synonyms
chooser, namer, picker

Related Words
elector, voter; nominator; decider

self adjective
having or consisting of a single color <a self-red rose of a shade that hasn't been seen before> — see MONOCHROMATIC 1

self noun
the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others <some believe that it's only in times of great stress that a person's true self is revealed> — see NATURE 1

self–abnegating adjective
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites <obviously not for the self-abnegating vacationer, this luxury resort is for those whose budgets and appetites know no limit> — see ABSTEMIOUS

self–abnegation noun
voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites <even after acquiring great wealth, he continued to practice a kind of puritanical self-abnegation> — see ABSTINENCE 1

self–absorbed adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <a self-absorbed man who seems utterly oblivious to the social problems of his own urban neighborhood> — see EGOCENTRIC

self–absorption noun
excessive interest in oneself <the novel's major characters all suffer from self-absorption, and they are every bit as insufferable as such people are in real life> — see EGOISM

self–acting adjective
designed to replace or decrease human labor and especially physical labor <self-acting machines that were ushered in with the industrial revolution> — see LABORSAVING

self–admiration noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <his overweening self-admiration blinded him to constructive criticism of any kind> — see COMPLACENCE 1

self–asserting adjective
1 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <a bunch of self-asserting upstarts who thought that they could buy their way into high society> — see ARROGANT
2 having or showing great faith in oneself or one's abilities <it takes a rather self-asserting young man to start a business at such a tender age> — see CONFIDENT 1
3 having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal <just the kind of cocky, self-asserting person that you'd expect a sports agent to be> — see AGGRESSIVE 1

self–assertive adjective
1 having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal <we need to hire self-assertive salespeople who don't require constant supervision> — see AGGRESSIVE 1
2 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <we chose a less self-assertive and more self-effacing applicant> — see ARROGANT

self–assumption noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <the self-assumption of the young Internet entrepreneur was positively stunning> — see COMPLACENCE 1

self–assurance noun
great faith in oneself or one's abilities <her self-assurance led her to quit her dead-end job and start her own company> — see CONFIDENCE 1

self–assured adjective
having or showing great faith in oneself or one's abilities <he's a self-assured yachtsman who's not at all intimidated by the competition> — see CONFIDENT 1

self–assuredness noun
great faith in oneself or one's abilities <with the self-assuredness of an old pro, the young gymnast executed the difficult feat> — see CONFIDENCE 1

self–belt noun
a strip of flexible material (as leather) worn around the waist <the self-belt is covered with the same faux suede as the dress> — see 2BELT 1

self–centered adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <a group of self-centered residents with no interest or involvement in their community> — see EGOCENTRIC

self–centeredness noun
excessive interest in oneself <in her extreme self-centeredness she hadn't even noticed that her friend was depressed> — see EGOISM

self–colored adjective
having or consisting of a single color <although a self-colored cat is most frequently black, it may also be brown, cream, lilac, blue, or red> — see MONOCHROMATIC 1

self–command noun
1 the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others <the discredited belief that young men and women lacked the self-command to serve alongside one another in the military> — see CONSTRAINT 1
2 the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions <an aloof man of great self-command but little charm> — see WILL 1

self–composed adjective
free from emotional or mental agitation <appeared remarkably self-composed for someone who had just been sentenced to life imprisonment> — see CALM 2

self–composedness noun
evenness of emotions or temper <with the self-composedness of a brain surgeon, the contestant gave his answer for the million-dollar question> — see EQUANIMITY

self–conceit noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <the movie star became a victim of her own self-conceit, having deluded herself into believing that she was as great as her press agent said she was> — see COMPLACENCE 1

self–conceited adjective
having too high an opinion of oneself <a self-conceited medical researcher who never acknowledges her colleagues' contributions> — see CONCEITED

self–concern noun
excessive interest in oneself <the expectation was that her self-concern would diminish once she had a baby to take care of> — see EGOISM

self–concerned adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <doubted that her self-concerned coworkers wanted to hear about her marital problems> — see EGOCENTRIC

self–confession noun
an open declaration of something (as a fault or the commission of an offense) about oneself <by his own self-confession, he cravenly betrayed his wife> — see CONFESSION

self–confidence noun
great faith in oneself or one's abilities <for so young a pianist, he has remarkable composure and self-confidence on stage> — see CONFIDENCE 1

self–confident adjective
having or showing great faith in oneself or one's abilities <only a self-confident person can win the trust of the people and serve as an effective leader> — see CONFIDENT 1

self–congratulation noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <the air of self-congratulation that pervades the songwriter's memoirs> — see COMPLACENCE 1

self–consequence noun
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <had the self-consequence of someone who was born wealthy and never had to work a day in his life> — see ARROGANCE

self–containment noun
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions <a man of extraordinary self-containment, he refused to lose his temper even in the most trying of circumstances> — see WILL 1

self–contemplation noun
examination of one's own thoughts and feelings <she doesn't seem to see the difference between a reasonable amount of self-contemplation and total self-absorption> — see INTROSPECTION

self–control noun
1 the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions <toddlers have very little self-control> — see WILL 1
2 the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others <she could be passionate and intense, but generally exercised steely self-control in the company of strangers> — see CONSTRAINT 1

self–denial noun
1 the act or practice of giving up or rejecting something once enjoyed or desired <dieting is an endless exercise in self-denial> — see RENUNCIATION
2 voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites <self-indulgent even when she was poor, she wasn't about to practice self-denial after getting rich> — see ABSTINENCE 1

self–denying adjective
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites <found the self-denying life of the monks at the monastery unexpectedly appealing> — see ABSTEMIOUS

self–dependence noun
the ability to care for one's self <encouraged her children to develop self-dependence at a relatively early age> — see SELF-SUFFICIENCY

self–dependent adjective
able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help <a program to help teenage parents become self-dependent> — see SELF-SUFFICIENT

self–destruction noun
the act of deliberately killing oneself <the controversy over self-destruction accomplished with the assistance of a physician or other person> — see SUICIDE

self–determination noun
1 the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions <the United States officially recognizes 18 as the age at which someone is entitled to self-determination> — see FREE WILL
2 the state of being free from the control or power of another <rebels fighting for the territory's self-determination> — see FREEDOM 1

self–discipline noun
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions <it takes self-discipline not to yell out when someone makes you angry> — see WILL 1

self–educated adjective
having skills or knowledge acquired through one's own efforts without formal training <a self-educated computer programmer who launched a successful business online> — see SELF-TAUGHT

self–effacing adjective
not comfortable around people <he's dating a sweet, self-effacing girl> — see SHY 2

self–esteem noun
1 a reasonable or justifiable sense of one's worth or importance <friends and family have tried to help the shy child develop some self-esteem> — see PRIDE 1
2 an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <his towering self-esteem made praise from other people entirely unnecessary> — see COMPLACENCE 1
3 great faith in oneself or one's abilities <the kind of self-esteem that a struggling actor needs to keep going in the face of constant discouragement and rejection> — see CONFIDENCE 1

self–evident adjective
not needing proof in order to be accepted <the self-evident truth that all people have the right of self-determination> — see AXIOMATIC

self–examination noun
examination of one's own thoughts and feelings <many people use the dawning of a new year as an occasion for some quiet self-examination> — see INTROSPECTION

self–glory noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <the movie star's memoirs come across as being one unending exercise in self-glory> — see COMPLACENCE 1

self–governance noun
the state of being free from the control or power of another <despite pessimistic predictions, self-governance has worked out well for the former colony> — see FREEDOM 1

self–governed adjective
not being under the rule or control of another <far beyond the reach of civil or military authorities, the settlers on the frontier were essentially self-governed> — see FREE 1

self–governing adjective
1 not being under the rule or control of another <she left home and became entirely self-governing and financially independent at the age of 18> — see FREE 1
2 of, relating to, or favoring political democracy <a self-governing nation that could be a role model for other countries in the region> — see DEMOCRATIC

self–government noun
1 government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation <self-government implies faith in the wisdom and essential goodness of the people> — see DEMOCRACY
2 the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions <steely self-government was all that kept her from lashing out at the rude customer> — see WILL 1
3 the state of being free from the control or power of another <championed self-government for the nation's indigenous peoples> — see FREEDOM 1

selfhood noun
the set of qualities that make a person different from other people <he spent a year in a monastery determining the core of his selfhood> — see INDIVIDUALITY 1

self–identity noun
the set of qualities that make a person different from other people <twins making an effort to establish their separate self-identities> — see INDIVIDUALITY 1

self–importance noun
1 an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <the boxer's flamboyant self-importance often made for a colorful prefight press conference> — see ARROGANCE
2 an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <her overbearing self-importance has given her a sense of entitlement> — see COMPLACENCE 1

self–important adjective
having too high an opinion of oneself <a self-important businessman who believed his schedule mattered more than anyone else's> — see CONCEITED

self–imposed adjective
done, made, or given with one's own free will <if the candidates all follow self-imposed campaign-spending limits, government oversight is unnecessary> — see VOLUNTARY 1

self–indulgent adjective
given to or marked by excessive gratification of one's desires <a reality show about self-indulgent twentysomethings whose sole concerns seem to be getting down and getting drunk> — see HEDONISTIC

self–infatuated adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <a physician who specializes in cosmetic surgery mainly for self-infatuated socialites> — see EGOCENTRIC

self–instructed adjective
having skills or knowledge acquired through one's own efforts without formal training <a self-instructed carpenter who does quality work> — see SELF-TAUGHT

self–interest noun
excessive interest in oneself <her degree of self-interest is perhaps best reflected in her favorite topic of conversation—herself> — see EGOISM

self–interested adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <a staggeringly self-interested careerist who is eminently indifferent to anything that does not affect his personal well-being> — see EGOCENTRIC

self–involved adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <most of the local teenagers seem too self-involved to care much about the world that lies beyond their affluent suburb> — see EGOCENTRIC

self–involvement noun
excessive interest in oneself <in their self-involvement, they never noticed that one of their coworkers was on the verge of an emotional breakdown> — see EGOISM

selfish adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <a selfish desire to succeed at the expense of others> — see EGOCENTRIC

selfishness noun
excessive interest in oneself <the only reason for constantly ignoring everyone else's problems is selfishness> — see EGOISM

self–love noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <nurtured a self-love that was far greater than any affection she ever felt for another person> — see COMPLACENCE 1

self–loving adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <she's too self-loving an individual to ever have feelings of real love for another person> — see EGOCENTRIC

self–mastery noun
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions <she had remarkable self-mastery for one so young> — see WILL 1

self–murder noun
the act of deliberately killing oneself <how to deter terrorists who are willing to commit self-murder as well as the mass murder of innocent people> — see SUICIDE

selfness noun
excessive interest in oneself <there's a relentless selfness about her poetry that is wearisome to readers who do not find her endlessly fascinating> — see EGOISM

self–observation noun
examination of one's own thoughts and feelings <some self-observation might give you some insights into how others perceive you> — see INTROSPECTION

self–obsessed adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <a self-obsessed television journalist, she has a penchant for making herself the focus of every story> — see EGOCENTRIC

self–operating adjective
designed to replace or decrease human labor and especially physical labor <vehicular access to the building complex is controlled by a self-operating gate opener> — see LABORSAVING

self–opinion noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <an editor of sufficient self-opinion to include some of her own work in an anthology of the best American short stories> — see COMPLACENCE 1

self–opinionated adjective
1 given to or marked by the forceful expression of strongly held opinions <a self-opinionated jerk who can't wait to tell you what he thinks about everything> — see DOGMATIC
2 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <he's too self-opinionated to even consider the possibility that he could be wrong> — see OBSTINATE
3 having too high an opinion of oneself <that self-opinionated book reviewer deludes himself in thinking that his reviews really matter> — see CONCEITED

self–opinionatedness noun
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <self-opinionatedness is what callers to that call-in show seem to have in spades> — see OBSTINACY

self–oriented adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <trying to sell the virtues of carpooling and public transportation to traditionally self-oriented commuters> — see EGOCENTRIC

self–possessed adjective
free from emotional or mental agitation <a supremely self-possessed teacher who could handle any crisis> — see CALM 2

self–possession noun
1 evenness of emotions or temper <that neurosurgeon's self-possession in the operating room is legendary> — see EQUANIMITY
2 the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions <the little girl's self-possession very occasionally gave way to crying fits> — see WILL 1

self–preoccupation noun
excessive interest in oneself <the smug self-preoccupation of a generation that had grown up experiencing nothing but affluence> — see EGOISM

self–preoccupied adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <one self-preoccupied subject in the psychological study was found to use “I” in 80% of his sentences> — see EGOCENTRIC

self–protective adjective
intended to resist or prevent attack or aggression <a self-protective gesture to ward off the blow> — see DEFENSIVE

self–questioning noun
examination of one's own thoughts and feelings <so consumed with self-questioning that he was virtually paralyzed by self-doubt> — see INTROSPECTION

self–reflection noun
examination of one's own thoughts and feelings <after some self-reflection I realized that I hadn't been honest with my partner> — see INTROSPECTION

self–regard noun
1 excessive interest in oneself <her self-regard meant that she assumed everyone wanted to hear about every tiny detail of her life> — see EGOISM
2 a reasonable or justifiable sense of one's worth or importance <people with enough self-regard to keep their modest home in spotless condition> — see PRIDE 1

self–regarding adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <many residents of that community seem to be into psychoanalysis, a luxury that few but the self-regarding wealthy can afford> — see EGOCENTRIC

self–regulating adjective
designed to replace or decrease human labor and especially physical labor <a self-regulating thermostat runs the home's heating and cooling system> — see LABORSAVING

self–reliance noun
the ability to care for one's self <some people don't achieve self-reliance until they're over 30 years old> — see SELF-SUFFICIENCY

self–reliant adjective
able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help <a surprisingly calm and self-reliant child> — see SELF-SUFFICIENT

self–reproach noun
a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <he was filled with self-reproach for causing the accident> — see GUILT 1

self–respect noun
a reasonable or justifiable sense of one's worth or importance <getting a job and moving out of his parents' house did a lot to increase his self-respect> — see PRIDE 1

self–restraint noun
1 the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions <she demonstrated an almost unnatural self-restraint during the fight> — see WILL 1
2 the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others <we must practice self-restraint even with people who are deliberately rude> — see CONSTRAINT 1

self–rule noun
government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation <the newly created United States opted for self-rule rather than monarchy> — see DEMOCRACY

self–ruling adjective
1 of, relating to, or favoring political democracy <having rid itself of the yoke of colonialism, the new nation chose to be a self-ruling state> — see DEMOCRATIC
2 not being under the rule or control of another <was granted special status as a self-ruling province> — see FREE 1

selfsame adjective
being one and not another <that's the selfsame man who once helped me> — see SAME 2

self–satisfaction noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <so many of the Web site's self-portraits give the impression of clueless self-satisfaction> — see COMPLACENCE 1

self–satisfied adjective
having too high an opinion of oneself <a self-satisfied woman who thought that if she could balance two careers, everyone else should too> — see CONCEITED

self–scrutiny noun
examination of one's own thoughts and feelings <not one for self-scrutiny, the president was known for never looking back or second-guessing himself> — see INTROSPECTION

self–searching noun
examination of one's own thoughts and feelings <the author seems to use poetry as a medium for her restless self-searching> — see INTROSPECTION

self–seeker noun
one who does things only for his own benefit and with little regard for right and wrong <he's a self-seeker who is nice only to people who can do him favors>

Synonyms
bottom-feeder, chancer [British], opportunist, temporizer

Related Words
egocentric, egoist, egotist; conniver, machinator, plotter, schemer; barracuda, shark; hanger-on, leech

Near Antonyms
altruist

self–seeking adjective
1 having a strong desire for personal advancement <a self-seeking schemer who claimed others' ideas and achievements as his own> — see AMBITIOUS 1
2 overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <a self-seeking woman who could be counted on to sidetrack all conversation into a discussion of her problems> — see EGOCENTRIC

self–serving adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <she's just another self-serving politician who puts her own ambitions above the public good> — see EGOCENTRIC

self–slaughter noun
the act of deliberately killing oneself <members of the cult decided to hasten the end of their time in this world—and the start of their life in the next—with an orgy of self-slaughter> — see SUICIDE

self–starter noun
an ambitious person who eagerly goes after what is desired <hired a self-starter who instantly saw what needed to be done, and did it> — see GO-GETTER

self–subsistence noun
the ability to care for one's self <the goal of the program is to help these people achieve self-subsistence and to end their dependence on government aid> — see SELF-SUFFICIENCY

self–subsistent adjective
able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help <that country was agronomically self-subsistent before industrialization> — see SELF-SUFFICIENT

self–subsisting adjective
able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help <proud that their nonprofit theater was self-subsisting and didn't rely on government funding> — see SELF-SUFFICIENT

self–sufficiency noun
the ability to care for one's self <self-sufficiency is a goal that all teenagers should work towards>

Synonyms
independence, self-dependence, self-reliance, self-subsistence, self-support

Related Words
autonomy, freedom, self-determination; potency, power, resilience, strength

Near Antonyms
helplessness, impotence, impotency, inadequacy, weakness

Antonyms
dependence (also dependance), reliance

self–sufficient adjective
able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help <the college student worked nights so that he would be self-sufficient>

Synonyms
independent, self-dependent, self-reliant, self-subsistent, self-subsisting, self-supported, self-supporting, self-sustained, self-sustaining

Related Words
autonomous, free, self-determining; potent, powerful, resilient, strong

Near Antonyms
helpless, inadequate, incompetent, insufficient; impotent, weak

Antonyms
dependent, reliant

self–support noun
the ability to care for one's self <hopes to achieve full self-support within a year of graduating from college> — see SELF-SUFFICIENCY

self–supported adjective
able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help <only self-supported performing arts organizations will survive the huge cut in government subsidies> — see SELF-SUFFICIENT

self–supporting adjective
able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help <she had to take a higher-paying job in order to be self-supporting> — see SELF-SUFFICIENT

self–sustained adjective
able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help <each new colony was expected to develop a self-sustained economy> — see SELF-SUFFICIENT

self–sustaining adjective
able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help <with its own farm, the estate was largely self-sustaining> — see SELF-SUFFICIENT

self–taught adjective
having skills or knowledge acquired through one's own efforts without formal training <the cellist's success is all the more remarkable because she is self-taught>

Synonyms
autodidactic, self-educated, self-instructed

Related Words
naïf (or naif), naive (or naïve), primitive; natural, unschooled, untutored; amateur

Near Antonyms
educated, lettered, schooled, taught, trained

self–trust noun
great faith in oneself or one's abilities <he had the self-trust to quit his secure job and start his own business> — see CONFIDENCE 1

self–will noun
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <a schoolboy with a streak of self-will and rebellion> — see OBSTINACY

self–willed adjective
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <a self-willed toddler who refused to take her shoes off in the examining room> — see OBSTINATE

sell verb
to offer for sale to the public <used to sell groceries in a small neighborhood market> — see MARKET

sell (for) verb
to have a price of <the house is selling for $200,000> — see COST

sell (out) verb
to be unfaithful or disloyal to <the band sold out its faithful followers, abandoning its edgy style for a more commercial sound> — see BETRAY 1

sellable adjective
fit to be offered for sale <the abandoned house is not sellable in its current condition> — see MARKETABLE

seller noun
the person in a business deal who hands over an item in exchange for money <the seller ceremoniously gave me the title to the car when I handed him my check> — see VENDOR

sellout noun
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another <the sellout makes it much harder for me to trust you ever again> — see BETRAYAL

semblance noun
1 a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive <tried to project some semblance of confidence even though public speaking terrified her> — see MASQUERADE
2 outward and often deceptive indication <a used-car dealer with only a semblance of honesty> — see APPEARANCE 2

semidarkness noun
a time or place of little or no light <fumbling around in the semidarkness> — see DARK 1

seminar noun
a meeting featuring a group discussion <a seminar bringing together the world's leading epidemiologists> — see FORUM 1

seminary noun
1 a place or establishment for teaching and learning <a seminary exclusively for women> — see SCHOOL
2 a place or environment that favors the development of something <some claimed that orphanages were seminaries of sin and petty crime, turning out juvenile delinquents by the score> — see BREEDING GROUND

send verb
to cause to go or be taken from one place to another <they promised to send the package in the morning>

Synonyms
consign, dispatch, pack (off), ship, shoot, transfer, transmit, transport

Related Words
convey, deliver, hand over, pass, render; advance, drop, launch; address, forward; export, import; bestow, contribute, donate, give, present; resend, return

Near Antonyms
acquire, draw, earn, gain, garner, get, obtain, procure, secure

Antonyms
accept, receive

send (out) verb
to throw or give off <strangely, the air conditioner is sending out warm air> — see EMIT 1

send–up noun
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect <a singer-comedian who specializes in send-ups of pop hits> — see PARODY 1

send up verb
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of <the sitcom sends up the “trials and tribulations” of the rich and famous> — see MIMIC 1

senescent adjective
being of advanced years and especially past middle age <symptoms most often seen in senescent people> — see ELDERLY

senility noun
the state or period of mental decline that typically accompanies old age <with his increasing senility, Granddad is beginning to have more and more senior moments> — see DOTAGE

senior adjective
being of advanced years and especially past middle age <bought special food intended for senior dogs> — see ELDERLY

senior noun
1 one who is older than another <since the man next door is my senior by a number of years, I always address him as “Mr. Barton”>

Synonyms
elder

Related Words
ancestor, forerunner, predecessor

Near Antonyms
contemporary, peer; descendant (also descendent), successor

Antonyms
junior

2 one who is above another in rank, station, or office <the young attorney benefited from the mentorship of one of his seniors at the firm> — see SUPERIOR
3 the senior member of a group <when he retires, she will be the senior on the faculty> — see DEAN
4 a person of advanced years <weekday movie matinees are often popular with seniors> — see SENIOR CITIZEN

senior citizen noun
a person of advanced years <more and more senior citizens are living active, rewarding lives>

Synonyms
ancient, elder, geriatric, golden-ager, oldster, old-timer, senior

Related Words
gaffer, graybeard, patriarch, whitebeard; beldam (or beldame), dowager, grandam (or grandame); adult, grown-up; dotard

Near Antonyms
adolescent, minor; child, cub, juvenile, kid, kiddie (also kiddy)

Antonyms
youngster, youth

sensation noun
1 an indefinite physical response to a stimulus <we felt just the smallest sensation of warmth when we leaned against the radiator>

Synonyms
feel, feeling, sense

Related Words
impression, perception; hint, suggestion, touch

2 a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <the satirical video was a short-lived online sensation> — see FAD
3 something extraordinary or surprising <the first clone was considered a sensation> — see WONDER 1

sensational adjective
1 arousing a strong and usually superficial interest or emotional reaction <the sensational news story caused a stir, but after a few days everyone forgot about it>

Synonyms
catchpenny, gee-whiz, lurid, screaming, sensationalist, sensationalistic

Related Words
catchy; colorful, juicy, racy, suggestive; dramatic, histrionic, melodramatic, theatrical (also theatric); coarse, vulgar; gory, shocking

Near Antonyms
innocuous, inoffensive, tame; dignified, formal, proper, restrained

Antonyms
nonsensational

2 of or relating to physical sensation or the senses <sensational hallucinations> — see SENSORY
3 of the very best kind <this ice cream is sensational> — see EXCELLENT

sensationalist adjective
arousing a strong and usually superficial interest or emotional reaction <a sensationalist daytime talk show featuring an endless parade of freaks> — see SENSATIONAL 1

sensationalistic adjective
arousing a strong and usually superficial interest or emotional reaction <letters to the editor criticizing the newspaper's sensationalistic reporting> — see SENSATIONAL 1

sense noun
1 an indefinite physical response to a stimulus <a strange sense of discomfort brought on by the room's strong colors> — see SENSATION 1
2 the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems <although he has little formal education, he is a man of considerable practical sense> — see INTELLIGENCE 1
3 the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters <you have the sense to handle anything that comes up> — see COMMON SENSE
4 the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action <got the general sense of the poem> — see MEANING 1
5 the thought processes that have been established as leading to valid solutions to problems <your argument simply shows no sense> — see LOGIC

sense verb
1 to have a vague awareness of <the deer seemed to sense danger> — see FEEL 1
2 to have a clear idea of <I did not sense the full meaning of his cryptic warning until much later> — see COMPREHEND 1

senseless adjective
1 having lost consciousness <she collapsed, senseless, after hitting her head> — see UNCONSCIOUS 1
2 having no meaning <a pretty but senseless phrase> — see MEANINGLESS
3 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <he may be a little absentminded, but he's really not as senseless as he seems> — see STUPID 1
4 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a senseless decision to risk his life on a practical joke> — see FOOLISH 1
5 lacking animate awareness or sensation <even the senseless sea seemed determined to swamp the storm-tossed ship> — see INSENSATE 1

senselessness noun
1 lack of good sense or judgment <who had the senselessness to mix these dangerous chemicals together?> — see FOOLISHNESS 1
2 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <babbled some senselessness about being eaten by horses> — see NONSENSE 1
3 the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <the senselessness of his decision to drive after drinking so much> — see STUPIDITY 1

sensibilities plural noun
general emotional condition <the violent movie upset their sensibilities> — see FEELING 2

sensible adjective
1 able to be perceived by a sense or by the mind <a sensible change in temperature> — see PERCEPTIBLE
2 according to the rules of logic <this is the only sensible conclusion> — see LOGICAL 1
3 based on sound reasoning or information <a sensible decision to delay marriage until they knew one another better> — see GOOD 1
4 having specified facts or feelings actively impressed on the mind <sensible of the shift in attitude by the general public on the issue> — see CONSCIOUS 1

sensibleness noun
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters <proud of their teenage daughter's unfailing sensibleness and maturity> — see COMMON SENSE

sensitive adjective
1 able to sense slight impressions or differences <a scale that is sensitive to the smallest change in weight> — see ACUTE 1
2 being in a situation where one is likely to meet with harm <she's very sensitive to the sun and will burn if she's outside for any amount of time> — see LIABLE 1
3 easily injured without careful handling <the sensitive skin of a newborn mouse> — see TENDER 1
4 of or relating to physical sensation or the senses <sensitive data> — see SENSORY
5 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <pointing out to the boss that she's wrong is always a sensitive task> — see TRICKY 1

sensitiveness noun
the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences <the extreme sensitiveness of the detection mechanism means that the alarm is always going accidentally> — see ACUITY

sensitivity noun
the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences <the sensitivity needed for a microphone that will be used in a recording studio> — see ACUITY

sensor noun
a device that detects some physical quantity and responds usually with a transmitted signal <the thief accidentally triggered the motion sensor, which set off the alarm>

Synonyms
detector

Related Words
eye; electric eye, photoelectric cell; alarm (also alarum), trigger

sensorial adjective
of or relating to physical sensation or the senses <the art installation combines light and sound effects to create a unique sensorial experience> — see SENSORY

sensory adjective
of or relating to physical sensation or the senses <trying to listen to music while watching the TV and eating dinner caused a sort of sensory overload>

Synonyms
sensational, sensitive, sensorial, sensuous

Related Words
afferent, receptive; sensate, sensual

Near Antonyms
extrasensory, intuitional

sensual adjective
pleasing to the physical senses <the sensual feel of a velvet shirt against the skin>

Synonyms
carnal, fleshly, luscious, lush, sensuous, voluptuous

Related Words
bodily, corporeal; agreeable, delectable, delicious, delightful, dreamy, gratifying, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, scrumptious; epicurean, luxurious, self-indulgent

Near Antonyms
harsh, painful, uncomfortable; disgusting, foul, hideous, icky

sensualist noun
a person whose life is devoted to luxury and sensual pleasures <a sumptuous resort that will satisfy even the most demanding sensualists> — see VOLUPTUARY

sensuality noun
excessive pursuit of fleshly pleasures <some readers objected to the novel's graphic depiction of sensuality>

Synonyms
carnality, debauchery, hedonism, sybaritism, voluptuousness

Related Words
venery, wantonness; greed, rapaciousness, rapacity, ravenousness; dissipation, gluttony, immoderation, intemperance, self-indulgence

Antonyms
abstinence, asceticism, sobriety, temperance

sensuous adjective
1 of or relating to physical sensation or the senses <the sensuous pleasure of a massage> — see SENSORY
2 pleasing to the physical senses <a gentle, sensuous breeze> — see SENSUAL

sentence noun
a decision made by a court or tribunal regarding a case it has heard <the court-martial pronounced a sentence of not guilty on all counts of cowardice>

Synonyms
doom, finding, holding, judgment (or judgement), ruling

Related Words
inquest, verdict; authority; decree, edict, injunction, order; arbitrament, award, declaration, deliverance, dictum, pronouncement; conclusion, decision, determination, opinion, resolution; discipline, penalty, punishment

sentence verb
to impose a judicial punishment on <the judge sentenced him to a fine of $50 and time served>

Synonyms
condemn, damn, doom

Related Words
adjudge, judge; castigate, censure, chasten, chastise, correct, discipline, penalize, punish; conclude, decide, decree, determine, find, opine, resolve, rule

Near Antonyms
pardon, reprieve

sententia noun
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience <a handbook of sententiae and advice for those about to enter the state of matrimony> — see SAYING

sententious adjective
1 marked by or given to preaching moral values <a sententious crank who has written countless letters to the editor about the decline in family values> — see SERMONIC
2 marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <memoirs that are filled with sententious observations on love, marriage, and happiness> — see CONCISE

sententiousness noun
the quality or state of being marked by or using only few words to convey much meaning <the sententiousness of the state's motto, “Live Free or Die,” has not rendered it any less controversial> — see SUCCINCTNESS

sentient adjective
having specified facts or feelings actively impressed on the mind <sentient of the danger posed by the approaching hurricane> — see CONSCIOUS 1

sentiment noun
1 a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation <a sentiment of happiness and goodwill> — see FEELING 1
2 an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge <antiwar sentiments> — see OPINION 1

sentimental adjective
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <a sentimental story about unrequited love> — see CORNY 1

sentimentalism noun
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) <the novel's sentimentalism bored me> — see SENTIMENTALITY

sentimentality noun
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) <the sentimentality of the story of star-crossed lovers only made it even more popular with moviegoers>

Synonyms
bathos, gooeyness, lovey-doveyness, mawkishness, mush, mushiness, saccharinity, sappiness, sentimentalism, sloppiness, soppiness, syrup (also sirup)

Related Words
emotion; sentiment; corn, corniness, hokeyness (or hokiness), schmaltz (also schmalz)

Near Antonyms
cynicism, hardheadedness, hard-heartedness

sentinel noun
a person or group that watches over someone or something <a lone sentinel kept watch over the fort> — see GUARD 1

sentry noun
a person or group that watches over someone or something <a sentry posted to watch for intruders> — see GUARD 1

separable adjective
capable of being split into two or more parts or pieces <the outdated belief that the atom is the smallest particle of matter and is not separable>

Synonyms
divisible

Related Words
detachable, dissociable

Near Antonyms
combinable, joinable

Antonyms
indivisible, inseparable

separate adjective
1 not the same or shared <we stayed in separate apartments on our vacation>

Synonyms
different, individual, respective

Related Words
disparate, dissimilar, distinct, distinctive, distinguishable, divergent, diverse, unalike, varied, various

Near Antonyms
identical, selfsame, very

Antonyms
same

2 not physically attached to another unit <the housing development has 200 separate homes, each with its own enclosed yard>

Synonyms
detached, disconnected, discrete, free, freestanding, single, unattached, unconnected

Related Words
independent, self-contained; individual, private

Near Antonyms
adjoining

Antonyms
attached, connected, joined, linked

3 not being under the rule or control of another <the former Soviet republic is now a separate country> — see FREE 1
4 of, relating to, or belonging to a single person <the husband and wife each have separate interests> — see INDIVIDUAL 1

separate verb
1 to set or force apart <we tried to separate the gluey pages, but they were stuck tight>

Synonyms
break up, decouple, disassociate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, part, ramify, resolve, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke

Related Words
break down, decompose, disassemble, disintegrate, dissolve; bifurcate, bisect, cleave, dichotomize, dissect, fractionalize, fractionate, halve, partition, quarter, segment, subdivide, trisect; fragment, fragmentate, fragmentize; break, fracture, pull, rend, rift, rip, rive, rupture, tear; cut off, insulate, isolate, seclude, segregate, sequester; detach, disengage, disentangle, unravel, untie

Near Antonyms
assemble, associate, blend, combine, mingle, mix; connect, couple; accumulate, agglutinate, attach, bind, cement, close, fasten, fuse, knit, stick, weld

Antonyms
join, link, unify, unite

2 to go or move in different directions from a central point <the searchers separated in order to cover more ground>

Synonyms
branch (out), diverge, divide, fork, part, spread

Related Words
bestrew, break up, broadcast, clear out, disband, dispel, disperse, dissipate, distribute, scatter, sow; distance, recede, retreat

Near Antonyms
assemble, gather, meet

Antonyms
converge, join

3 to arrange or assign according to type <separate the students by reading ability> — see CLASSIFY 1
4 to set or keep apart from others <separated the injured calf from the herd> — see ISOLATE
5 to understand or point out the difference in <trying to separate science from religion on one specific point> — see DISTINGUISH 1

separateness noun
the state of being alone or kept apart from others <the separateness of the island community has given it a distinct culture> — see ISOLATION

separation noun
1 the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces <the separation of Norway and Sweden into two independent nations in 1905>

Synonyms
bifurcation, breakup, cleavage, dissolution, disunion, division, fractionalization, fractionation, partition, schism, scission, split, sundering

Related Words
breach, rupture; divorce, severance; decomposition, disassembly, dismemberment, segmentation, subdivision; atomization, dichotomization, polarization; diffusion, dispersal, dispersion, scattering; administration, apportionment, distribution; isolation, seclusion, segregation, sequestration

Near Antonyms
assemblage, association; attachment, conjunction, connection, link, linkage, linkup; aggregation, combination, consolidation, fusion

Antonyms
unification, union

2 the state of being kept distinct <the separation of church and state is an important concept in the United States>

Synonyms
demarcation, discreteness, discrimination, distinction

Related Words
differentiation; isolation, segregation

Near Antonyms
blurring, confusion

3 a movement in different directions away from a common point <a sudden separation of the herd of deer when they were startled> — see DIVERGENCE 1
4 an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) <the narrow separation between posts in the fence> — see GAP 1
5 the act or process of two or more persons going off in different directions <friends who dreaded the inevitable separation after graduation> — see PARTING 1
6 something that divides, separates, or marks off <a filing cabinet with lots of adjustable separations> — see DIVISION 1

separator noun
something that divides, separates, or marks off <the toddler insisted on a dinner plate with separators so that different foods would never touch one another> — see DIVISION 1

sepulchral adjective
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the decrepit mansion had a sepulchral tone that gave everyone a chill> — see GLOOMY 1

sepulchre or sepulcher noun
a final resting place for a dead person <a poem describing the forgotten sepulcher of a valiant knight of the Middle Ages> — see GRAVE 1

sepulture noun
1 a final resting place for a dead person <opened the sepulture and examined the mummy> — see GRAVE 1
2 the act or ceremony of putting a dead body in its final resting place <the final sepulture of the body had to wait until the ground thawed> — see BURIAL 1

sequel noun
a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <higher prices are a logical sequel to higher costs for manufacturers> — see EFFECT 1

sequence noun
1 a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <the attempt to help was a natural sequence to her charitable nature> — see EFFECT 1
2 a series of things linked together <a sequence of events that no one predicted> — see CHAIN 1
3 the way objects in space or events in time are arranged or follow one another <police are trying to reconstruct the sequence of events> — see ORDER 1

sequent adjective
following one after another without others coming in between <answered three sequent questions from one reporter before turning to the others> — see CONSECUTIVE

sequential adjective
following one after another without others coming in between <explained that if the two required algebra semesters weren't sequential, the students would likely forget the material> — see CONSECUTIVE

sequentially adverb
in succession without others coming in between <number the art prints in the limited edition sequentially so that collectors will know which one they have> — see CONSECUTIVELY

sequester verb
1 to set or keep apart from others <sequestered the woman until she was no longer contagious> — see ISOLATE
2 to take ownership or control of (something) by right of one's authority <police found and sequestered several illegal weapons> — see CONFISCATE

sequestration noun
the state of being alone or kept apart from others <what would you bring for sequestration on a desert island?> — see ISOLATION

sequitur noun
an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning <a reasonable sequitur from that announcement is that you'll be leaving the company> — see CONCLUSION 1

sere also sear adjective
marked by little or no precipitation or humidity <a sere region that can't support agriculture> — see DRY 1

serene adjective
1 free from disturbing noise or uproar <a serene vacation spot> — see QUIET 1
2 free from emotional or mental agitation <a serene woman who was everyone's source of support> — see CALM 2
3 free from storms or physical disturbance <a serene lake> — see CALM 1

sereneness noun
1 a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <the inviting sereneness of the secluded monastery> — see CALM 1
2 freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions <with the sereneness of someone who has not the slightest fear of rejection, he asked her to marry him> — see PEACE 2

serenity noun
1 a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <the serenity in the aftermath of the tornado was remarkable> — see CALM 1
2 evenness of emotions or temper <his serenity calmed those around him> — see EQUANIMITY
3 freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions <the momentary serenity experienced during his lunchtime rambles gets him through the rest of the workday> — see PEACE 2

serial adjective
appearing in parts or numbers that follow regularly <“Uncle Tom's Cabin” first appeared as a serial novel from 1851 to 1852>

Synonyms
episodic (also episodical), periodical, serialized

Related Words
sequential; successive; periodic, recurrent, recurring, regular

serial noun
a publication that appears at regular intervals <the university library has a vast collection of serials> — see JOURNAL 1

serialized adjective
appearing in parts or numbers that follow regularly <a serialized made-for-TV movie> — see SERIAL

seriatim adverb
in succession without others coming in between <objections will be dealt with seriatim> — see CONSECUTIVELY

serious adjective
1 not joking or playful in mood or manner <I'm serious when I say that no one should be walking in that neighborhood at night>

Synonyms
earnest, grave, humorless, no-nonsense, po-faced [British], sedate, severe, sober, sobersided, solemn, staid, uncomic, unsmiling, weighty

Related Words
harsh, stern, strict; businesslike, professional; dignified, distinguished, elevated, serious-minded; gloomy, grim

Near Antonyms
antic, comic, comical, droll, farcical, funny, hilarious, hysterical (also hysteric), laughable, light, light-headed, ludicrous, ridiculous, riotous, risible, screaming, sidesplitting, uproarious; featherbrained, flighty, frivolous, goofy, harebrained, lighthearted, puerile, scatterbrained; absurd, asinine, balmy, brainless, cockeyed, crazy, cuckoo, daffy, daft, dotty, fatuous, foolish, half-witted, insane, jerky, kooky (also kookie), loony (also looney), lunatic, mad, nonsensical, nutty, preposterous, sappy, screwball, senseless, silly, unwise, wacky (also whacky), weak-minded, witless, zany

Antonyms
facetious, flip, flippant, humorous, jesting, jocular, joking, kittenish, ludic, playful

2 having a matter of importance as its topic <a very serious film that dealt with the aftermath of the Gulf War>

Synonyms
grave, heavy, weighty

Related Words
big, consequential, eventful, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, portentous, significant, solid, substantial

Near Antonyms
frivolous, insignificant, lite, little, Mickey Mouse, minor, silly, slight, small, trivial, unimportant

Antonyms
light, unserious

3 involving potential loss or injury <a serious accident> — see DANGEROUS 1

seriously adverb
to a great degree <that's some seriously good pie> — see VERY 1

serious–mindedness noun
a mental state free of jesting or trifling <she approached the task with her usual serious-mindedness> — see EARNESTNESS

seriousness noun
a mental state free of jesting or trifling <we knew from the doctor's seriousness that she didn't have good news> — see EARNESTNESS

sermon noun
a public speech usually by a member of the clergy for the purpose of giving moral guidance or uplift <a sermon whose message was that we should love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves>

Synonyms
homily

Related Words
sermonette; address, lecture, speech, talk; exhortation, preachment; lesson

sermonic adjective
marked by or given to preaching moral values <the sermonic quality of many 19th-century novels written for young women>

Synonyms
didactic, homiletic (or homiletical), moralistic, moralizing, preachy, sententious

Related Words
dogmatic (also dogmatical), prescriptive; admonishing, admonitory, cautionary; advisory, enlightening, instructive; holier-than-thou, self-righteous

sermonize verb
to deliver a sermon <did not believe that it was the president's place to sermonize, especially to other world leaders> — see PREACH

serpent noun
1 a limbless reptile with a long body <an Aztec carving of a feathered serpent representing the god Quetzalcoatl> — see SNAKE 1
2 the supreme personification of evil often represented as the ruler of hell <beware the temptations of the serpent> — see DEVIL 1
3 one who betrays a trust or an allegiance <a serpent in their midst had betrayed the revolutionaries to the authorities> — see TRAITOR

serpentine adjective
marked by a long series of irregular curves <the country inn lies at the end of a rather serpentine road, but it's worth the trip> — see CROOKED 1

serrate adjective
notched or toothed along the edge <a serrate saw> — see SERRATED

serrated adjective
notched or toothed along the edge <you should use a serrated knife when cutting bread, so you don't squash the loaf>

Synonyms
saw-toothed, serrate

Related Words
serried; jagged, ragged; wavy

Near Antonyms
flat, smooth

serried adjective
having little space between items or parts <a sterile subdivision with serried rows of cookie-cutter houses> — see CLOSE 1

servant noun
a person hired to perform household or personal services <the wealthy family had servants to clean and cook for them>

Synonyms
daily [British], domestic, flunky (also flunkey or flunkie), lackey, menial, retainer, slavey, steward

Related Words
butler, footman, groom, houseboy, houseman, majordomo, man, manservant, servitor, valet; handmaiden (also handmaid), housekeeper, housemaid, lady-in-waiting, maid, maidservant, wench, woman; assistant, attendant, companion, factotum, follower; dogsbody [chiefly British], drudge, gofer (or gopher)

Near Antonyms
boss, captain, chief, foreman, head, headman, helmsman, kingpin, leader, taskmaster

Antonyms
master, mistress

serve verb
1 to be a servant for <he served his master faithfully for 20 years>

Synonyms
slave (for), work (for)

Related Words
attend, minister (to), tend (to)

Phrases
dance attendance (upon), wait on (also wait upon)

2 to be enough <they made the pasta serve for eight guests>

Synonyms
do, suffice

Related Words
answer, suit; assuage, content, quench, sate, satiate, satisfy

3 to be fitting or proper <those old riding boots will serve for now, but you'll need newer ones for the horse show> — see DO 1
4 to behave toward in a stated way <my parents served me well in preparing me for life> — see TREAT 1
5 to have a certain purpose <the harsh punishment served to teach everyone a lesson> — see FUNCTION
6 to provide with something useful or desirable <an excellent college that served her with the skills necessary to make it in today's job market> — see BENEFIT

server noun
a person who serves food or drink <we had barely finished ordering when the server brought our salads>

Synonyms
garçon, waiter, waitperson

Related Words
waitress; barkeep (also barkeeper), barman [chiefly British], bartender; sommelier; steward, stewardess; headwaiter, maître d' (or maitre d'), maître d'hôtel

service adjective
of or relating to the armed services <spent his time in the army as a correspondent for service newspapers> — see MILITARY 1

service noun
1 an act of kind assistance <performed many services for the charitable organization> — see FAVOR 1
2 the capacity for being useful for some purpose <that broom is worn out beyond all service> — see USE 2
3 the combined army, air force, and navy of a nation <at the time the country had about a million men and women in the service> — see ARMED FORCES
4 a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization <the OSS, the nation's wartime intelligence service> — see DIVISION 2

serviceability noun
the capacity for being useful for some purpose <I have doubts about the serviceability of some of the junk we've accumulated> — see USE 2

serviceable adjective
1 capable of being put to use or account <be sure to wear serviceable shoes if you're going to be walking on the rocks along the shore> — see PRACTICAL 1
2 capable of or suitable for being used for a particular purpose <a perfectly serviceable, if old, set of screwdrivers worked fine for repairing the door> — see USABLE 1
3 of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards <the acting was serviceable, although not particularly inspired> — see ADEQUATE

serviceableness noun
the capacity for being useful for some purpose <the serviceableness of most of the junk that my grandfather had been hoarding was very doubtful> — see USE 2

serviceably adverb
in a satisfactory way <although this sleeping bag works serviceably for summer camping, it won't do for wintertime outings> — see WELL 1

serviceman noun
a person engaged in military service <wishing our servicemen overseas the best of luck> — see SOLDIER

servile adjective
showing, expressing, or offered in a spirit of humility or unseemly submissiveness <had always maintained a servile attitude around people with money> — see ABJECT

servility noun
the state of being a slave <the joy that emancipation must have brought to people who had known only servility since birth> — see SLAVERY 1

servitude noun
the state of being a slave <the Fugitive Slave Act had the effect of returning slaves who had made it to freedom in the North to a brutal life of servitude in the South> — see SLAVERY 1

set adjective
1 being in a state of fitness for some experience or action <we're all set to go> — see READY 1
2 firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge <that rock is really set in the hillside> — see TIGHT 2
3 fully committed to achieving a goal <set on being the first in her family to graduate from college> — see DETERMINED 1
4 having been established and usually not subject to change <the library is only open during set hours> — see FIXED 1
5 of a particular or exact sort <international law has set rules for the treatment of prisoners of war> — see EXPRESS 1
6 made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing <it was not my set purpose to cause trouble for anyone> — see INTENTIONAL

set noun
1 a group of people acting together within a larger group <the younger set is less likely to volunteer for the church's annual rummage sale> — see FACTION
2 a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially <they rarely associate with anyone outside their social set> — see GANG 2
3 a number of things considered as a unit <a set of tools> — see GROUP 1
4 one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <the next set of job applicants had far more education and practical experience> — see CLASS 2
5 the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production <built sets for the play> — see SCENERY

set verb
1 to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop <the hen set for days>

Synonyms
brood, hatch, incubate, sit

Related Words
lay, spawn

2 to decide upon (the time or date for an event) usually from a position of authority <set a date for the wedding> — see APPOINT 1
3 to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding <fire losses were set at a million dollars> — see ESTIMATE 1
4 chiefly dialect to rest on the buttocks or haunches <come over and set for a spell> — see SIT 1
5 to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal <determined to see the West, she set her car towards the sun and drove off> — see AIM 1
6 to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of <finally set some plans for the luncheon> — see ARRANGE 1
7 to put securely in place or in a desired position <had the jeweler set the diamond again> — see FASTEN 2
8 to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly <the gelatin is just starting to set now> — see COAGULATE
9 to arrange something in a certain spot or position <set a book on the table> — see PLACE 1
10 to become physically firm or solid <the concrete must set completely before anyone can walk on it> — see HARDEN 1

setback noun
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily <the colonists persevered despite suffering setbacks that would have discouraged lesser souls> — see REVERSE 1

set by verb
to keep or intend for a special purpose <I have set by the earnings from my weekend job to use as vacation money> — see DEVOTE 1

set down verb
1 to cause to sit down <set the toddler down in her seat> — see SEAT 1
2 to make a written note of <set down the names of those in attendance> — see RECORD 1
3 to think of in a particular way <early in the campaign, voters set the senator down as an opportunist, and the perception stuck> — see CONSIDER 1

set in verb
to come into existence <a cold spell set in sometime last week> — see BEGIN 2

setoff noun
something that decorates or beautifies <the architect used stone carvings as setoffs for the building's marble facing> — see DECORATION 1

set off verb
to cause to function <set off a bomb> — see ACTIVATE

set on verb
to take sudden, violent action against <without warning, bandits would set on unwary merchants as they traveled along the Silk Road> — see ATTACK 1

setout noun
the way in which something is sized, arranged, or organized <the setout of the stations at the polling place was a little confusing> — see FORMAT 1

set out verb
to give a representation or account of in words <in his inaugural address, the president set out his vision for the nation over the next four years> — see DESCRIBE 1

settee noun
a long upholstered piece of furniture designed for several sitters <the young couple snuggled on the settee> — see COUCH

setting noun
1 the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded <the novice camper felt lost outside of his familiar urban setting> — see ENVIRONMENT
2 the place and time in which the action for a portion of a dramatic work (as a movie) is set <the setting for the novel is Victorian England> — see SCENE 1

settle verb
1 to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid) <the light rain will settle the dust in the air> <careful handling will settle the lees in the bottom of the wine bottle>

Synonyms
lay, sediment

Related Words
filter, screen, sieve, sift, strain; clarify, clear; resettle

Near Antonyms
agitate, disturb, mix, stir

Antonyms
raise

2 to supply with inhabitants <the region was originally settled by farmers>

Synonyms
colonize, people, populate

Related Words
inhabit; move (to), relocate (to)

Antonyms
depopulate, unpeople

3 to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) <settled the lawsuit in favor of the defendant> — see JUDGE 1
4 to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of <settled their wedding plans without any major disagreements> — see ARRANGE 1
5 to come to rest after descending from the air <birds settling on the branches of the maple tree> — see ALIGHT 1
6 to establish or place comfortably or snugly <settled the sleeping baby into her crib> — see ENSCONCE 1
7 to free from distress or disturbance <a hot meal settled the children down> — see CALM 1
8 to gain emotional or mental control of <settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst> — see COLLECT 1
9 to give what is owed for <settle a debt> — see PAY 2
10 to make final, definite, or beyond dispute <this information should settle the question of who is right> — see CLINCH
11 to stop the noise or speech of <settled the class with a firm “quiet!”> — see SILENCE 1

settle (down) verb
to become still and orderly <settle down and get to work, please> — see QUIET 1

settle (on or upon) verb
to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration <the car buyer settled on that brand only after a lot of research> — see DECIDE 1

settled adjective
1 firmly established over time <a remote village with a settled distrust of outsiders> — see INVETERATE 1
2 having been established and usually not subject to change <settled rules that cannot be disregarded when it is convenient to do so> — see FIXED 1

settlement noun
an arrangement about action to be taken <eventually reached a peace settlement> — see AGREEMENT 2

settler noun
1 a person who settles in a new region <settlers learning to live in peace with the natives> — see FRONTIERSMAN
2 one that leaves one place to settle in another <in 1889 Jane Addams, in an effort to provide Chicago's latest wave of settlers with much-needed services, founded the city's first settlement house> — see EMIGRANT

settlings plural noun
matter that settles to the bottom of a body of liquid <a wine of that advanced age is likely to have a fair amount of settlings> — see DEPOSIT 1

set–to noun
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <they had a brief set-to about money, but they seem to have resolved it> — see ARGUMENT 1

setup noun
1 the way in which something is sized, arranged, or organized <the textbook's setup calls for a list of questions at the end of each chapter> — see FORMAT 1
2 the way objects in space or events in time are arranged or follow one another <changed the setup of the living room furniture several times before being satisfied> — see ORDER 1

set up verb
1 to arrange something in a certain spot or position <set up tables in the living room for the party> — see PLACE 1
2 to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of <set up a scholarship fund for deserving students from the inner city> — see FOUND
3 to fix in an upright position <set up a post from which to hang the sign> — see ERECT 1
4 to form by putting together parts or materials <set up the prefabricated shed by following the instructions> — see BUILD
5 to restore to a healthy condition <don't worry, the doctor will set you up in no time> — see HEAL 1

seven seas plural noun
the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three-fourths of the earth <sailing the seven seas in search of adventure> — see OCEAN 1

seventh heaven noun
a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <she was in seventh heaven when she received the acceptance letter to medical school> — see ECSTASY

sever verb
to set or force apart <disapproving parents who were willing to do anything to sever the young lovers> — see SEPARATE 1

severe adjective
1 given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint <a severe, uncompromising teacher who locked the classroom door precisely when the bell rang and let no one in afterward>

Synonyms
austere, authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid, rigorous, stern, strict, tough

Related Words
demanding, exacting; uncharitable, unforgiving; adamant, adamantine, callous, hardened, hard-hearted, hard-line, immovable, implacable, inflexible, merciless, ossified, pitiless, relentless, rock-ribbed, stiff, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unsparing, unyielding; dour, gruff; ascetic (also ascetical), monastic, monkish; browbeating, bullying; determined, firm, resolved, single-minded, steadfast, unflinching; dogged, intractable, obstinate, relentless

Near Antonyms
easy, easygoing, laid-back, undemanding; charitable, kind, merciful, mild, patient, soft, softhearted; accepting, compromising, yielding; responsive, willing; acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, flexible, pliable, pliant

Antonyms
clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant

2 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <clergymen who dressed in severe clothing> — see GRIM 1
3 not joking or playful in mood or manner <the judge maintained a severe expression throughout the trial> — see SERIOUS 1
4 difficult to endure <a severe winter that was among the coldest on record> — see HARSH 1
5 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <a severe test of courage> — see HARD 2

severely adverb
1 in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering <the building was severely damaged by the explosion> — see HARDLY 1
2 to a great degree <the rescued mountain climbers were severely dehydrated> — see VERY 1

severity noun
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) <even though no one expected the film to be a hit with the critics, the director was taken aback by the severity of the criticism>

Synonyms
exactingness, hardness, harshness, inflexibility, rigidity, rigidness, rigor, rigorousness, sternness, strictness, stringency

Related Words
callousness, hard-heartedness, implacability, obduracy, obdurateness, pitilessness; dourness, gruffness; asceticism, austereness, austerity, monasticism; determination, firmness, resolve, steadfastness; obstinacy, stubbornness

Near Antonyms
forbearance, indulgence, kindness, lenience, patience, softness, tenderness, tolerance; responsiveness, willingness; compliance, pliability, pliancy

Antonyms
flexibility, gentleness, laxness, mildness

sew verb
to close up with a series of interlacing stitches <luckily, I was able to sew the tear so skillfully that my pants looked as good as new>

Synonyms
darn, stitch, suture

Related Words
mend, patch, repair; baste, ease, fell, finish, overcast; cross-stitch, embroider; crochet, knit, quilt

Near Antonyms
unsew

sewer noun
a person who sews <a good sewer who designs her own clothing>

Synonyms
seamster, stitcher

Related Words
needlewoman, seamstress; tailor; embroiderer, needleworker; knitter, weaver

sew up verb
to have complete control over <sewed up the available openings so that no one else had a chance to play golf> — see MONOPOLIZE

sex noun
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <the students learned about the mechanics of sex and reproduction in health class> — see SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

sex act noun
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <the infection can be communicated through the sex act> — see SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

sexual assault noun
the act of forcing a person to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse <convicted of sexual assault of a minor> — see RAPE 1

sexual intercourse noun
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <many people believe that it's best to wait to experience sexual intercourse until you're mature enough to handle it>

Synonyms
coition, coitus, commerce, congress, copulating, copulation, coupling, intercourse, lovemaking, mating, relations, sex, sex act, sexual relations

Related Words
fornication; safe sex; carnality, sexuality; breeding, insemination; dalliance, hanky-panky, whoopee

Phrases
getting it on, making love

sexual relations plural noun
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <adultery is defined as a married person engaging in sexual relations with someone other than their spouse> — see SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

sex worker noun
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money <a group that serves as an advocate for the health and welfare of sex workers> — see PROSTITUTE

sexy adjective
1 sexually attractive <even after 30 years of marriage, he still finds his wife sexy>

Synonyms
bodacious, desirable, dishy, hot, luscious, toothsome

Related Words
foxy, nubile; hunky, studly [slang]; alluring, seductive, sultry, vampish, vampy

2 of, relating to, exciting, or expressing sexual attraction or desire <he found her new dress very sexy while still being tasteful> — see EROTIC

shabby adjective
1 showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <shabby wallpaper that was peeling from the walls>

Synonyms
beat-up, bombed-out, dilapidated, dog-eared, down-at-the-heels (or down-at-heel also down-at-the-heel or down-at-heels), dumpy, grungy, mangy, mean, miserable, moth-eaten, neglected, ratty, run-down, scrubby, scruffy, seedy, sleazy, tacky, tatterdemalion, tatty, threadbare, timeworn, tumbledown

Related Words
abandoned, uncared-for, unkept; desolate, forlorn, godforsaken; broken-down, decrepit, tired, worn-out; bedraggled, dingy, ragged, tattered; decaying, deteriorated, deteriorating, rackety, ramshackle, rattletrap, rickety, tumbledown; broken, damaged, destroyed, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, ruined, wrecked

Phrases
gone to seed

Near Antonyms
brand-new, fresh, new; cared-for, kept-up, maintained; mended, patched, rebuilt, reconstructed; smart, spiffy, spruce

2 worn or torn into or as if into rags <shabby, stained clothes that are barely better than rags> — see RAGGED 2

shack noun
a small, simply constructed, and often temporary dwelling <a farmer's shack out in the fields that's used for lambing and as a shelter from storms>

Synonyms
cabin, camp, hooch (or hootch) [slang], hovel, hut, hutch, hutment, shanty

Related Words
lean-to, shed; cot, cottage, lodge; cabana; bungalow, chalet; hogan, wickiup, wigwam; tent

shackle noun
1 something that physically prevents free movement <placed shackles on the legs of the prisoners> — see BOND 1
2 shackles plural something that makes movement or progress difficult <the shackles of illiteracy can be just as confining as leg irons> — see ENCUMBRANCE

shackle verb
1 to confine or restrain with or as if with chains <unwilling to shackle the dogs to the wall of the house> — see BIND 1
2 to create difficulty for the work or activity of <shackled by poverty and ignorance> — see HAMPER

shade noun
1 partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays <it was hard to see in the shade after being in the brilliant sunlight> <the trees cast shade>

Synonyms
dusk, penumbra, shadiness, shadow, umbra

Related Words
blackness, dimness, duskiness, gloom, gloominess, murkiness, obscurity, semidarkness, somberness; cloudiness

Near Antonyms
brightness, brilliance, effulgence, illumination, incandescence, light, lightness, lucidity, lucidness, luminance, luminosity, luminousness, radiance, radiancy

2 a time or place of little or no light <enjoying the cool shade of the evening> — see DARK 1
3 a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished <a lovely shade of blue> — see COLOR 1
4 a very small amount <just a shade taller than his dance partner> — see PARTICLE 1
5 the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <spirits and shades haunting the night> — see GHOST 1

shade verb
to shelter (something) from light and heat <the trees shaded us quite nicely from the noonday sun>

Synonyms
shadow

Related Words
cloud, darken, dim, dull, overcast, overshadow; canopy, cover, protect, screen

Near Antonyms
illuminate, light, lighten; expose

shaded adjective
protected from the sun's rays <walking along the park's shaded pathway> — see SHADY 1

shadiness noun
partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays <the inviting shadiness of a woodland grove> — see SHADE 1

shadow noun
1 partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays <the valley was in shadow> — see SHADE 1
2 shadows plural a time or place of little or no light <lurking in the shadows> — see DARK 1
3 a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished <a run-down mansion that is only a shadow of its former glory> — see VESTIGE 1
4 a very small amount <not even a shadow of a doubt about the defendant's guilt> — see PARTICLE 1
5 the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <rumors of a shadow haunting the castle> — see GHOST 1
6 an overspreading element that produces an atmosphere of gloom <the husband's adulterous affair had cast over their marriage a shadow from which there was no escape> — see CLOUD

shadow verb
1 to go after or on the track of <shadowing the suspect to see what he was up to> — see FOLLOW 2
2 to make dark, dim, or indistinct <thickening clouds shadowed the countryside> — see CLOUD 1
3 to shelter (something) from light and heat <a pathway shadowed by a canopy of arching branches> — see SHADE

shadowed adjective
protected from the sun's rays <sat in a shadowed corner of the garden> — see SHADY 1

shadowing noun
the act of going after or in the tracks of another <the submarine's relentless shadowing of the destroyer> — see PURSUIT 1

shadowy adjective
1 not seen or understood clearly <the shadowy area between tough interrogation and torture> — see FAINT 1
2 protected from the sun's rays <a shadowy lane that is a mosaic of colors during the autumn foliage season> — see SHADY 1

shady adjective
1 protected from the sun's rays <a lovely shady spot in the park that was pleasantly cool>

Synonyms
shaded, shadowed, shadowy, umbrageous

Related Words
canopied, covered, sheltered; cloudy; dark, darkened, darkish, darkling, darksome, dim, dimmed, dusky, gloomy, inky, moonless, murky, obscure, obscured, penumbral, pitch-black, pitch-dark, somber (or sombre), sunless

Near Antonyms
bedazzling, bright, brightened, brilliant, dazzling, effulgent, illuminated, illumined, incandescent, light, lit (or lighted), lucent, lucid, luminary, luminous; beaming, lambent, radiant, shining; lustrous

Antonyms
exposed, shadeless, sunny

2 given to or marked by cheating and deception <a shady business deal> — see DISHONEST 2
3 giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <cited some shady statistics to back up his argument> — see DOUBTFUL 2
4 given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions <shady characters hanging out in the park after nightfall> — see SNEAKY 1
5 not respectable <a courtesan who lived on the shady fringe of society> — see DISREPUTABLE

shaft noun
1 a narrow sharply defined line of light radiating from an object <shafts of late-afternoon sunlight pierced the blinds and streaked the floor>

Synonyms
beam, ray

Related Words
moonbeam, sunbeam, sunburst; laser, spotlight

2 a weapon with a long straight handle and sharp head or blade <the footmen set their shafts so as to form a bank of steel against the enemy's charging cavalry> — see SPEAR
3 unfair or inadequate treatment of someone or something or an instance of this <the homeowners who were bought out are convinced they got the shaft in that deal> — see DISSERVICE

shaggy adjective
1 covered with or as if with hair <a big, shaggy dog kept trying to lick my face> — see HAIRY 1
2 made of or resembling hair <a shaggy carpet that was a relic of the 1970s> — see HAIRY 2

shaitan noun
an evil spirit <her fate was sealed once she let the shaitan out of the bottle> — see DEMON 1

shake noun
1 a very small space of time <I'll be there in two shakes> — see INSTANT
2 shakes plural a sense of panic or extreme nervousness <I get the shakes every time I hear her voice> — see JITTERS
3 a shaking of the earth <the shake was a modest 3.1 on the Richter scale> — see EARTHQUAKE 1

shake verb
1 to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <the bus rattled and shook as it barreled down a rutted road>

Synonyms
agitate, bucket, convulse, jerk, jiggle, joggle, jolt, jounce, judder [chiefly British], quake, quiver, shudder, vibrate, wobble (also wabble)

Related Words
rock, sway, swing; chatter, quaver, shiver, thrill, tremble; twitch; dodder, waver; flicker, fluctuate, flutter, oscillate, undulate, wave; beat, palpitate, pit-a-pat, pitter-patter, pulsate, pulse, throb

2 to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery <we shook our pursuers by cutting through the abandoned lot> — see ESCAPE 2

shake down verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <the rumor is that he started his career shaking people down as an enforcer for the mob> — see FLEECE

shake out verb
to come to be <after hearing about all the elaborate planning, I can't wait to see how that wedding shakes out> — see COME OUT 1

shake up verb
to cause an unpleasant surprise for <the news that we had failed the auto inspection shook us up> — see SHOCK 1

shakiness noun
the quality or state of not being firmly fixed in position <we added a couple more ropes to help reduce the shakiness of the footbridge> — see INSTABILITY

shaking adjective
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <suffered a shaking chill during his bout with the flu> — see SHAKY 1

shaking noun
1 a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side <gave the bottle of salad dressing a good shaking> — see VIBRATION 1
2 the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable <condemned the government's shaking of its overseas responsibilities> — see ESCAPE 2

shaky adjective
1 marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <the old man's hands were so shaky that I was afraid he'd drop the glass>

Synonyms
aquiver, atremble, quaking, quavery, quivering, shaking, shuddering, shuddery, tottering, tottery, trembling, trembly, tremulous, wobbling (also wabbling), wobbly (also wabbly)

Related Words
convulsive; shivering, shivery; rocky, staggery, unstable, unsteady, wavering, wavery; palpitating, pulsating, throbbing

Near Antonyms
controlled, firm, settled, stable, steady

2 giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <results that were arrived at using some shaky experimental procedures> — see DOUBTFUL 2

shall verb
to be under necessity or obligation to <you shall do as I say> — see NEED 2

shallow noun, usually shallows plural
a place where a body of water (as a sea or river) is shallow <we waded through the shallows looking for tadpoles> — see SHOAL

shallow adjective
1 lacking significant physical depth <the dog quickly dug a shallow hole that was barely deep enough to accommodate his bone>

Synonyms
depthless, shoal

Related Words
skin-deep, superficial, surface; fathomable, measurable; finite, limited, measured, restricted; even, flat, flush, horizontal, level, plane, smooth; two-dimensional

Near Antonyms
abysmal, abyssal, bottomless, boundless, endless, immeasurable, inestimable, infinite, limitless, measureless, profound, unfathomable, unlimited, vast; navigable

Antonyms
deep

2 having or showing a lack of depth of understanding or character <how shallow of the driver to be worrying about his car while the pedestrian was in need of medical attention> — see SUPERFICIAL 2

sham adjective
1 being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <a sofa upholstered in sham leather> — see IMITATION
2 being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud <street vendors selling sham designer handbags to gullible tourists> — see COUNTERFEIT 1
3 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <the sham friendliness of a salesman trying to sell you something> — see ARTIFICIAL 1

sham noun
1 a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something <condemned the rigged election as a total sham> — see MOCKERY 1
2 an imitation that is passed off as genuine <the bank robber's “gun” turned out to be a sham> — see FAKE 1
3 one who makes false claims of identity or expertise <that supposed French movie star was a sham> — see IMPOSTOR

sham verb
to present a false appearance of <shammed a most unconvincing limp just to get sympathy> — see FEIGN

shamble verb
to move heavily or clumsily <disconsolate and exhausted after losing the match, the wrestler shambled toward the locker room> — see LUMBER 1

shambles plural noun
1 a dirty or messy place <this room is a shambles—clean it up right now!> — see PIGPEN
2 a state in which everything is out of order <the earthquake left the whole town in a shambles> — see CHAOS

shame noun
1 a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <racked with shame over her actions of the previous week> — see GUILT 1
2 a regrettable or blameworthy act <it's a shame you won't be able to come to the party> — see CRIME 2
3 the state of having lost the esteem of others <left the room in shame after his angry outburst> — see DISGRACE 1

shame verb
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <shamed the family name with his conviction for embezzlement> — see HUMBLE

shamed adjective
suffering from or expressive of a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <the shamed look of someone who knows that he is being given credit he doesn't deserve> — see GUILTY

shamefaced adjective
suffering from or expressive of a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing <the newspaper offered a shamefaced apology for having published photographs that were later exposed as fakes> — see GUILTY

shameful adjective
not respectable <shameful behavior by a bunch of drunken boors> — see DISREPUTABLE

shameless adjective
1 not embarrassed or ashamed <she's truly shameless in the seemingly endless self-promotion of herself> — see UNABASHED
2 not sorry for having done wrong <a shameless exploiter of impoverished workers in overseas sweatshops> — see REMORSELESS 1

shamus noun, slang
1 a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level <a hard-bitten L.A. shamus who, when he's not battling crooks, is bedding chicks> — see OFFICER 1
2 a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons <he's a sleazy shamus who mostly finds evidence to use in divorce cases> — see DETECTIVE

Shangri–la noun
an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <a dreamer who spent much of his life roaming the world in search of his personal Shangri-la> — see PARADISE 1

shank noun, slang
an instrument with a metal length that has a sharp edge for cutting <slashed at the prison guard with a shank he had secretly made from a scrap of metal> — see KNIFE

shanty noun
a small, simply constructed, and often temporary dwelling <lived just off the beach in a crude shanty> — see SHACK

shapable or shapeable adjective
capable of being easily molded or modeled <add just enough water to the flour so that it becomes a shapable mass> — see PLASTIC 1

shape noun
1 a state of being or fitness <she was in good shape after having worked outdoors all summer long> — see CONDITION 1
2 the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance <that part of the state is known as the panhandle because of its shape> — see FORM 1
3 the type of body that a person has <most fashion models have the kind of shape that shows elegant clothes to their best advantage> — see PHYSIQUE

shape verb
1 to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation <a dress shaped to the customer's particular figure> — see ADAPT
2 to work out the details of (something) in advance <over the winter the committee shaped the company's new marketing strategy> — see PLAN 1

shape (up) verb
to take on a definite form <this group of summer interns is shaping up to be one of the best we've ever hired> — see FORM 1

shapeless adjective
1 badly or imperfectly formed <a shapeless old hat> — see MALFORMED
2 having no definite or recognizable form <right now this clay is just a shapeless lump, but wait until I'm done sculpting it> — see FORMLESS 1

shapely adjective
having a well-proportioned feminine figure <a shapely blonde who served as eye candy in numerous Hollywood movies> — see CURVACEOUS

shape up verb
to change one's behavior or character for the better <angrily told his son that if he didn't shape up, he'd be grounded for a month> — see REFORM 2

share verb
to take a share or part <everyone in the enterprise will share in the profits> — see PARTAKE 1

share noun
1 something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group <my share of the lottery winnings is over a million dollars> <her share of the bill comes to $13.44>

Synonyms
allotment, allowance, cut, end, part, piece, portion, proportion, quota, slice, take

Related Words
lot, ration; commission, percentage; member, partition, section, segment

Phrases
piece of the action

Near Antonyms
aggregate, composite, compound, pool, sum, total, totality; whole

2 a legal right to participation in the advantages, profits, and responsibility of something <she sold her share in the business to her partner> — see INTEREST 1

shared adjective
used or done by a number of people as a group <shared resources> — see COLLECTIVE

sharer noun
one who takes part in something <all pilots are sharers of the same air space> — see PARTICIPANT

shark noun
1 a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <a card shark> — see TRICKSTER 1
2 a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <a shark at calculus> — see EXPERT
3 a person who habitually preys upon others <being a new arrival in Hollywood, she was easy prey for the sharks in the movie business> — see PREDATOR

sharp adverb
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference <be there at four o'clock sharp> — see EXACTLY 1

sharp adjective
1 having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something <be careful, as that knife is sharp enough to slice off a finger>

Synonyms
cutting, edged, edgy, ground, honed, keen, sharpened, stropped, trenchant, whetted

Related Words
clawlike, daggerlike, knifelike; jabbing, jagged, lacerating, piercing, scratching, stabbing; pointed, pointy, spiky (also spikey)

Near Antonyms
rounded, smooth; soft; even, flat, level, slick

Antonyms
blunt, blunted, dull, dulled, obtuse

2 having a powerfully stimulating odor or flavor <that cheese is so sharp that its rank aroma can practically clear a room>

Synonyms
nippy, pungent, strong, tangy

Related Words
acid, acidic; acrid, bitter, harsh; gingery, hot, peppery, piquant, spicy, tart, zesty, zingy; putrid, rancid, rank, skunky; acute, keen; animating, energizing, exciting, galvanizing, invigorating, provocative; appetizing, delectable, delicious, palatable, toothsome; flavorful, savory (also savoury), tasty; aromatic, redolent

Near Antonyms
aged, mellow, ripe; gentle, soft; flat, flavorless, insipid; savorless, tasteless, zestless; dilute, thin, watery, weak

Antonyms
bland, mild, smooth

3 tapering to a thin tip <tipped with a sharp arrowhead> — see POINTED 1
4 being in the latest or current fashion <wore a sharp suit to his first big job interview> — see STYLISH
5 being strikingly neat and trim in style or appearance <a television personality who's known as a sharp dresser> — see SMART 1
6 causing intense discomfort to one's skin <I got chapped lips from sailing all day in that sharp wind> — see CUTTING 1
7 given to or marked by cheating and deception <sharp business practices that are being investigated by the state's consumer protection agency> — see DISHONEST 2
8 having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment <a sharp customer who wasn't about to be taken in by that smooth-tongued salesman> — see SHREWD 1
9 having or showing quickness of mind <any sharp student would have noticed the error immediately> — see INTELLIGENT 1
10 marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <an unnecessarily sharp retort to a perfectly civil question> — see SARCASTIC
11 able to sense slight impressions or differences <you have sharp eyes> — see ACUTE 1
12 uncomfortably cool <a spell of unusually sharp weather for this time of year> — see CHILLY 1

sharp noun
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <the computer sharp that the rest of the staff turns to whenever their PCs act up> — see EXPERT

sharpen verb
to make sharp or sharper <you need to sharpen your penknife's blade frequently in order to be able to whittle properly>

Synonyms
edge, grind, hone, stone, strop, whet

Related Words
file

Near Antonyms
buff, burnish, gloss, polish, round, smooth

Antonyms
blunt, dull

sharpened adjective
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something <the sharpened blade of a lawn mower> — see SHARP 1

sharper noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <carnival sharpers eager to relieve the yokels of their money> — see TRICKSTER 1

sharp–eyed adjective
having unusually keen vision <a very sharp-eyed child found the last Easter egg, which was hidden in the flower arrangement>

Synonyms
clear-sighted, eagle-eyed, hawkeyed, lynx-eyed, sharp-sighted

Related Words
sighted; alert, attentive, aware, observant, observing, vigilant, watchful

Near Antonyms
blind, eyeless, sightless, stone-blind, visionless; astigmatic, myopic, nearsighted, shortsighted; purblind

sharpie or sharpy noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <those poolroom sharpies cleaned them out> — see TRICKSTER 1

sharply adverb
in a strikingly neat and trim manner <sharply dressed groomsmen at a formal wedding> — see SMARTLY

sharpness noun
1 a harsh or sharp quality <he found that the bland crackers helped cut the sharpness of the cheese> — see EDGE 1
2 an uncomfortable degree of coolness <dress warmly; there's a bit of sharpness in the air today> — see CHILL
3 exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters <possesses a political sharpness that most campaign managers would envy> — see ACUMEN
4 the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences <possesses the proverbial sharpness of an eagle's eye> — see ACUITY

sharpshooter noun
a person skilled in shooting at a target <the police stationed sharpshooters on rooftops all along the route of the presidential motorcade> — see MARKSMAN

sharp–sighted adjective
having unusually keen vision <the sharp-sighted hunter spotted the deer and motioned to his companions> — see SHARP-EYED

sharp–witted adjective
1 having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment <her sharp-witted questions always cut right to the core of the issue> — see SHREWD 1
2 having or showing quickness of mind <a TV game show that allows sharp-witted contestants to show their stuff> — see INTELLIGENT 1

shatter verb
1 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <tried to restore their shattered hopes> — see DESTROY 1
2 to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive <shattered the sealed clay pot to find out what was inside> — see BLAST 1
3 to cause to break with violence and much noise <shattered the priceless vase in one clumsy fall> — see SMASH 1

shattered adjective
forcibly separated into many pieces <the glass mirror lay shattered on the floor> — see BROKEN 1

shave verb
1 to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument <he always shaves most of his hair off when the weather starts getting warmer> — see CLIP 1
2 to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing <just shaved the concrete post as the car turned the corner> — see 2BRUSH

shaveling noun
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood <ever since he was a shaveling, he's wanted to be an airline pilot, just like his dad> — see BOY 1

shaver noun
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood <back in the old days when my dad was just a little shaver> — see BOY 1

shavie noun, Scottish
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <some shavie he is alleged to have been involved in while a student at Saint Andrews> — see PRANK

sheaf noun
a considerable amount <contends that casino gambling would generate a sheaf of social problems for the state> — see LOT 2

shear verb
1 to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument <it took almost a week to shear all the wool off the flock of sheep> — see CLIP 1
2 to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife) <the shark's razor-sharp teeth sheared the swimmer's flesh right down to the bone> — see CUT 1

sheath noun
something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <he removed his knife from its sheath and started to whittle> — see 1CASE 1

sheathe also sheath verb
to cover with something that protects <sometimes shipbuilders sheathe a ship's bottom with copper for extra protection from barnacles and other threats>

Synonyms
clad, face

Related Words
apparel, array, clothe, dress, garb, robe; side, skin; embosom, embower, embrace, encase, enclose (also inclose), encompass, enshroud, envelop, enwrap, invest, lap, mantle, shroud, surround, swathe, veil, wrap; blanket, overlay, overspread

Near Antonyms
bare, denude, expose, strip; unswathe

shed verb
1 to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside <a snake's skin doesn't grow as the snake does, so every so often the snake will shed its old skin>

Synonyms
exfoliate, molt, slip, slough (also sluff)

Related Words
flake, peel, scale; chuck, discard, ditch, fling (off or away), jettison, junk, scrap, shuck (off), throw away, throw out, unload

2 to get rid of as useless or unwanted <you need to shed your old notions of propriety and have some fun for a change> — see DISCARD

sheen noun
brightness created by light reflected from a surface <polished the metal until it had an even sheen> — see SHINE 1

sheeny adjective
giving off or reflecting much light <wore a dress of some sheeny material that looked spectacular under the stage lights> — see BRIGHT 1

sheep noun
an innocent or gentle person <he came to see that the members of the cult were sheep who naively went along with whatever their leader dictated> — see LAMB

sheepish adjective
not comfortable around people <a sheepish scholar who is most comfortable when surrounded by books> — see SHY 2

sheepishly adverb
in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion <the younger boy, who idolized the older one, would sheepishly follow him around and be at his beck and call> — see LOWLY

sheer verb
1 to change one's course or direction <the cruise ship sheered to the northwest, putting it safely out of the path of the hurricane> — see TURN 3
2 to depart abruptly from a straight line or course <the car sheered to avoid hitting the dog> — see SWERVE 1

sheer adjective
1 very thin and easy to see through <we had to get window shades because passersby could see right through our sheer curtains>

Synonyms
cobwebby, diaphanous, filmy, gauzelike, gauzy, gossamer, gossamery, see-through, transparent

Related Words
peekaboo; clear, crystal, crystalline, limpid, liquid, lucent, pellucid; lucid, translucent; dainty, delicate, flimsy, fragile, frail, insubstantial, unsubstantial; colorless, uncolored

Near Antonyms
opaque; cloudy, foggy, hazy, misty, murky, nebulous, smoky (also smokey); drab, dull, lackluster, lusterless

2 having no exceptions or restrictions <survivors of the earthquake told of experiencing sheer terror> — see ABSOLUTE 2
3 having an incline approaching the perpendicular <the sheer slopes of the ravine> — see STEEP 1

sheet verb
to form a layer over <dust sheeted the floors of the old, abandoned house> — see COVER 2

sheet noun
a wide space or area <from the bow of our ship all we could see was an impenetrable sheet of fog> — see EXPANSE

sheila noun, Australia & New Zealand
a female person who has not yet reached adulthood <two blonde sheilas were splashing in the water at Bondi Beach while their mother looked on> — see GIRL 2

shekels also sheqels or shekelim or shekalim or sheqalim plural noun
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <if I had the shekels, I'd be first in line to buy one of the new vehicles> — see MONEY 1

shell noun
1 something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <eating oysters straight out of their shells> — see 1CASE 1
2 the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form <workers at the shipyard have thus far erected the shell of the ship> — see FRAME 1
3 an outer part or layer <the shell of the building is all glass, making it conspicuous on a street with mostly limestone facades> — see EXTERIOR

shell verb
1 to remove the natural covering of <shelling peanuts> — see PEEL
2 to use bombs or artillery against <the enemy shelled the city for days without letup> — see BOMBARD 1

shellac verb
to defeat by a large margin <the local soccer team was shellacked 35–0 in their final outing for the season> — see WHIP 2

shellacking noun
failure to win a contest <suffered a shellacking at the hands of a vastly superior opposition> — see DEFEAT 1

shell game noun
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <it's amazing how intelligent people fall for that investment-fund shell game> — see FRAUD 1

shell out verb
to hand over or use up in payment <we shelled out an obscene amount of money for those concert tickets> — see SPEND 1

shell–shocked adjective
1 suffering from high levels of physical and especially psychological stress <even after the long furlough, the returning soldiers still felt a little shell-shocked> — see STRESSED-OUT
2 suffering from mental confusion <shell-shocked survivors who were in dire need of every kind of help> — see DIZZY 2

shelter noun
something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger <the sudden fierce storm forced us to run to the nearest shelter>

Synonyms
asylum, bolt-hole [chiefly British], harbor, harborage, haven, refuge, retreat, sanctuary, sanctum

Related Words
oasis; anchorage, mooring, port; cover, screen; abode, diggings, domicile, dwelling, habitation, house, housing, lodging, lodgment (or lodgement), pad, place, quarters, residence, rest, roof; cloister, closet, covert, den, hermitage, hideaway, hideout, lair; castle, fastness, fort, fortress, palisade, redoubt, stronghold; lean-to, lee, shed, windbreak

shelter verb
1 to be or provide a shelter for <the abandoned barn shelters a colony of stray cats>

Synonyms
harbor, refuge

Related Words
cover, defend, protect, safeguard, screen, secure, shield, ward; domicile, house, place, quarter; shade, shadow

Near Antonyms
expose

2 to provide with living quarters or shelter <sheltered the troops in tents until permanent barracks could be built> — see HOUSE 1

sheltered adjective
screened or sequestered from view <moored the sailboat in a sheltered cove> — see SECLUDED

shelve verb
to assign to a later time <let's shelve the project for now> — see POSTPONE

shenanigan noun
1 usually shenanigans plural playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <students engaging in youthful shenanigans on the last day of school> — see MISCHIEF 1
2 usually shenanigans plural wildly playful or mischievous behavior <an act of vandalism that went way beyond the usual shenanigans at summer camp> — see HORSEPLAY
3 a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <the street-corner huckster of pirated DVDs had all sorts of shenanigans to keep the cops off of his tail> — see TRICK 1

shepherd verb
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed <shepherding her through the procedure of taking out a loan> — see GUIDE 1

sherlock noun
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons <one of literature's most eccentric sherlocks, Nero Wolfe manages to solve mysteries without so much as leaving the confines of his own home> — see DETECTIVE

sheugh noun, chiefly Scottish
a long narrow channel dug in the earth <fell into a sheugh while rambling over the Scottish moors> — see DITCH

shibboleth noun
1 an attention-getting word or phrase used to publicize something (as a campaign or product) <we knew that their claim of giving “the best deal in town” was just a shibboleth> — see SLOGAN
2 an idea or expression that has been used by many people <there's a lot of truth in the shibboleth that if you give some people an inch, they'll take a mile> — see COMMONPLACE

shield noun
means or method of defending <the slightly built boy used his sharp wit as a shield against the school's bullies> — see DEFENSE 1

shield verb
1 to drive danger or attack away from <celebrities who are shielded by a cluster of bodyguards whenever they appear in public> — see DEFEND 1
2 to place a protective layer over <she shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand> — see COVER 3

shift noun
1 an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result <desperate shifts to stave off financial disaster> — see MEASURE 1
2 the act or an instance of changing position <made a small shift to the left to make more room on the bench> — see MOVEMENT 1

shift verb
1 to change the place or position of <he shifted the vase closer to the wall so that it wouldn't get knocked over> — see MOVE 1
2 to change one's position <she shifted uncomfortably in her seat throughout the interview> — see MOVE 3
3 to pass from one form, state, or level to another <she watched the aurora in fascination as its colors shifted from green to blue> — see CHANGE 2
4 to give up (something) and take something else in return <my brother and I shifted seats just before takeoff so that he could sit by the window> — see CHANGE 3
5 to meet one's day-to-day needs <left the others to shift for themselves> — see GET ALONG 1

shifting noun
the act or an instance of changing position <the shifting of the toys to the front of the display was a direct result of their sudden popularity> — see MOVEMENT 1

shiftless adjective
not easily aroused to action or work <shiftless spongers who never thought to do anything for themselves> — see LAZY 1

shiftlessness noun
an inclination not to do work or engage in activities <with the start of the warm weather, combating the students' shiftlessness was a constant ordeal> — see LAZINESS

shifty adjective
1 given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions <shifty politicians making deals to channel federal funds into their districts> — see SNEAKY 1
2 given to or marked by cheating and deception <shifty practices such as turning back the odometers on used cars> — see DISHONEST 2

shillelagh also shillalah noun
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <the bartender in the Irish pub keeps a shillelagh behind the bar just in case there's trouble> — see CLUB 1

shilly–shally verb
1 to show uncertainty about the right course of action <I didn't shilly-shally but instead raced to the hospital as soon as I heard the news> — see HESITATE
2 to move or act slowly <with dinner guests due in two hours, there was no time to shilly-shally in front of the TV set> — see DELAY 1

shilly–shally noun
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action <the construction project was once again delayed by the bureacratic shilly-shally of regulatory agencies> — see HESITATION

shilly–shallying noun
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action <fortunately, during the crisis there was no shilly-shallying on the part of the president> — see HESITATION

shimmer verb
to shoot forth bursts of light <a sequined dress shimmering under the studio lights> — see FLASH 1

shindig noun
a social gathering <we're hosting a little shindig this weekend for some friends> — see PARTY 1

shindy noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <the prime minister created a brief shindy with his unexpected appearance> — see COMMOTION

shine noun
1 brightness created by light reflected from a surface <the troop inspector insisted on nothing less than a dazzling shine from every pair of shoes in the line of review>

Synonyms
burnish, gloss, luminance, luster (or lustre), polish, sheen

Related Words
glare, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glow, shimmer; blink, flicker, sparkle, twinkle; illumination, irradiation; iridescence, luminescence; brilliance, luminosity, radiance, radiancy, refulgence; finish, glaze

Near Antonyms
dimness, dinginess, dirtiness, drabness, dullness (also dulness), flatness; grayness, paleness; cloudiness, gloom, murkiness, obscureness, obscurity, somberness

2 the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible <by the shine of the full moon we could see the rabbit helping himself to our garden vegetables> — see LIGHT 1
3 positive regard for something <took quite a shine to the new neighbors> — see LIKING
4 usually shines plural a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <the shines they pulled at summer camp have become embellished with each retelling> — see PRANK

shine verb
1 to emit rays of light <the sun appears to shine particularly brightly in summer because that is when it's closest to the Earth>

Synonyms
beam, radiate, ray

Related Words
blaze, burn, fire, flame, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, glow, luminesce, sheen, shimmer; blink, coruscate, flare, flash, flicker, luster (or lustre), scintillate, spangle, sparkle, twinkle, wink, winkle; beat (down), glare; brighten, illuminate, illumine, irradiate, light, lighten; bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle

Near Antonyms
blacken, darken; lower (also lour)

2 to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure <the salesman shined his shoes every morning before leaving the house> — see POLISH 1

shining adjective
giving off or reflecting much light <the shining moon formed a nice backdrop for our outdoor concert> — see BRIGHT 1

shiny adjective
giving off or reflecting much light <we could see our reflections in the shiny surface of the marble walls> — see BRIGHT 1

ship noun
a large craft for travel by water <a cruise ship plying the warm waters of the Caribbean>

Synonyms
boat, keel, vessel

Related Words
aircraft carrier, argosy, barge, coaster, collier, containership, corvette, cruiser, cutter, destroyer, ferryboat, flagship, freighter, icebreaker, ironclad, lightship, liner, man-of-war (also man-o'-war), merchantman, merchant ship, motor ship, packet, steamer, steamship, superliner, supertanker, tanker, trader, tramp, transport, warship, watercraft; bark (or barque), brig, brigantine, caravel, clipper, junk, ketch, sailboat, schooner, square-rigger, tall ship, windjammer, xebec, yacht

ship verb
to cause to go or be taken from one place to another <we shipped those books out yesterday> — see SEND

ship (out) verb
to travel on water in a vessel <after college he decide to ship out on a tramp steamer and see the world> — see SAIL 1

shipload noun
a considerable amount <it must have taken a shipload of money to build that mansion> — see LOT 2

shipman noun
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel <in the middle of the vasty deep the shipman enjoys a splendid isolation that the landsman will never know> — see SAILOR

shippable adjective
capable of being taken from one place to another by public carrier <only boxes of five pounds and under are shippable by the postal service>

Synonyms
transferable (also transferrable), transmittable, transportable

Related Words
addressable; mailable

Antonyms
nontransferable, receivable

shipshape adjective
being clean and in good order <made everything shipshape for the inspection> — see NEAT 1

shipwreck noun
1 the destruction or loss of a ship <the shipwreck of much of the Spanish Armada ended Spain's plans for invading England>

Synonyms
shipwrecking, wreck, wreckage, wrecking

Related Words
beaching, grounding, stranding; foundering, sinking; scuttling

Near Antonyms
recovery, salvage, salvaging

2 something that has failed <finally admitted that their marriage was a shipwreck and that the time had come to bail out> — see FAILURE 3

shipwreck verb
to cause irreparable damage to (a ship) by running aground or sinking <the yachtsman fell asleep at the wheel and shipwrecked his ketch on the rocks>

Synonyms
strand, wreck

Related Words
beach; founder; scuttle

Near Antonyms
recover, salvage

shipwrecking noun
the destruction or loss of a ship <the shipwrecking of the Titanic by an iceberg ranks as one of the greatest disasters in the annals of the sea> — see SHIPWRECK 1

shirk verb
1 to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery <you always try to shirk paying your fair share of the bill by claiming you “forgot” your wallet> — see ESCAPE 2
2 to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness <a deadbeat who has been shirking his duty to his family for years> — see NEGLECT 2
3 to move about in a sly or secret manner <given the multitude of auditoriums at the multiplex, it's not too difficult for underaged kids to shirk into R-rated movies> — see SNEAK 1

shirker noun
one who deliberately avoids work or duty <even before we weighed anchor, the captain forcefully served notice that there would be no shirkers on his ship> — see SLACKER 1

shirty adjective, chiefly British
feeling or showing anger <the visiting businessman was beginning to feel as though he had encountered every shirty bloke in London> — see ANGRY

shiv noun, slang
an instrument with a metal length that has a sharp edge for cutting <watch yourself in Cell Block 8, or you'll end up with a shiv in your back> — see KNIFE

shiver noun
1 an instance of shaking involuntarily with fear or cold <the prisoner experienced a sudden shiver when confronted with the sight of the dark basement>

Synonyms
quiver, shudder, tremble

Related Words
agitation, convulsing, jolt, quake, shake, tremor, vibration, wobble (also wabble); fluctuation, flutter, oscillation, wave; beat, palpitation, pulsation, pulse, throb

2 shivers plural a sense of panic or extreme nervousness <looking down from the window ledge sent shivers up my spine> — see JITTERS

shivering noun
a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side <the shivering of the crystal chandeliers while there was construction work next door> — see VIBRATION 1

shivery adjective
having a low or subnormal temperature <those shivery days of January> — see COLD 1

shoal adjective
lacking significant physical depth <shoal waters of the bay meant that our ship had to be moored a considerable distance from shore> — see SHALLOW 1

shoal noun
a place where a body of water (as a sea or river) is shallow <the shoals off Nantucket Island are famous as the final resting places of many ill-fated ships>

Synonyms
ford, shallow(s)

Related Words
bank, bar, sandbank, sandbar, towhead

Near Antonyms
trench; abyss, deep, depth, gulf

shock noun
1 a forceful coming together of two things <the whole railway platform shook from the shock of the two trains colliding> — see IMPACT 1
2 the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual <were in shock after they heard the news of the death of the president> — see SURPRISE 2

shock verb
1 to cause an unpleasant surprise for <Mom was shocked by the terrible news that her cousin had died in an accident> <I was shocked to find out that I was the victim of identity theft>

Synonyms
appall (also appal), floor, jolt, shake up

Related Words
astonish, bowl over, dumbfound (also dumfound), flabbergast, freak (out), stun, stupefy; affright, alarm (also alarum), dismay, fright, frighten, horrify, panic, scare, scarify, spook, startle, terrify, terrorize; disgust, nauseate, repel, revolt, sicken, turn off; displease, offend, outrage, scandalize; amaze, astound, awe; chill, daunt, demoralize, dispirit, emasculate, undo, unman, unnerve, unstring; discomfort, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, shake, unsettle, upset, weird out; crush, overpower, overwhelm

Phrases
knock for a loop

Near Antonyms
buffer, cushion; delight, gratify, please, rejoice, tickle; charm, entice, tempt; assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe; reassure

2 to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected <were shocked by the way the law against public intoxication was constantly being broken> — see SURPRISE 1
3 to strike with fear <the sudden appearance of the ghost shocked us to the core> — see FRIGHTEN

shocked adjective
1 affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise <the escaping bridegroom bid farewell to the shocked wedding guests as he ran out the door> — see THUNDERSTRUCK
2 filled with disgust <we were shocked at the appalling conditions in the prison> — see SICK 2
3 filled with fear or dread <the hikers were so shocked at the sight of a bear that they didn't dare move> — see AFRAID

shocking adjective
1 causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness <we all clustered around to hear the shocking news of our colleague's sudden death> — see SURPRISING 1
2 causing fear <the shocking appearance of a shark just a few yards off shore> — see FEARFUL 1
3 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <the shocking behavior of some rowdies at the dance> — see OFFENSIVE 1
4 extremely disturbing or repellent <a soldier who had witnessed the shocking sight of his best friend being killed> — see HORRIBLE 1

shoddy adjective
1 of low quality <shoddy merchandise that soon fell to pieces> — see CHEAP 2
2 not respectable <a waterfront area filled with shoddy saloons, tattoo parlors, and houses of prostitution> — see DISREPUTABLE

shoehorn verb
to fit (people or things) into a tight space <the organizers of the county fair shoehorned the craft booths between the midway and the farm exhibits> — see CROWD 1

shoes plural noun
a way of looking at or thinking about something <what would you do if you were in your friend's shoes?> — see PERSPECTIVE 1

shoestring noun
a very small sum of money <trying to start a business on a shoestring> — see MITE 1

shoo–in noun
one that is certain to succeed <a shoo-in for the position of secretary of state> — see SURE THING

shoot noun
1 a branch of a main stem especially of a plant <collected the most tender shoots for the vegetable dish he was making> — see OFFSHOOT 1
2 a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body <there'd be a shoot of pain from that molar whenever I bit down> — see PAIN 1

shoot verb
1 to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force <BB guns shoot small round metal pellets>

Synonyms
blast, discharge, fire, loose, squeeze off

Related Words
launch, project; blaze (at), snipe (at); cast, catapult, fling, heave, hurl, hurtle, lob, pelt, pitch, sling, throw, toss

2 to cause a weapon to release a missile with great force <soldiers train extensively to learn to shoot accurately and quickly>

Synonyms
blast, discharge, fire

Related Words
blaze, pepper; plink, potshot, snipe

3 to strike with a missile from a gun <hunters can shoot deer only during the legally specified open season>

Synonyms
drill, gun, plug, pop

Related Words
blow away, bring down, drop, pick off, shoot down; blaze, pepper, potshot, snipe (at); blast (at), fire (at); pistol, shotgun; machine-gun, tommy-gun; croak [slang], destroy, dispatch, do in, fell, ice [slang], kill, slay; annihilate, blot out, butcher, decimate, massacre, slaughter, wipe out

4 to proceed or move quickly <some show-off shot past all the other skiers on the slope> — see HURRY 2
5 to take a photograph of <shooting the lakeside scene while the light lasted> — see PHOTOGRAPH
6 to throw or give off <suddenly the old, broken-down toaster began shooting out sparks> — see EMIT 1
7 to voice one's opinions freely with force <you've been wanting to say something since this meeting started, so shoot> — see SPEAK UP
8 to mark with small spots especially unevenly <hazel eyes that were brown shot with green> — see SPOT 1
9 to cause to go or be taken from one place to another <shot a congratulatory e-mail to his friend as soon as he heard the good news> — see SEND

shoot (up) verb
to rise abruptly and rapidly <gas prices shot up seemingly overnight> — see SKYROCKET

shoot down verb
1 to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter <nowadays the aging activist is routinely shot down in most quarters of the media and dismissed as an irrelevant crank> — see RIDICULE
2 to reject by or as if by a vote <every one of my fund-raising ideas was shot down by the other club members> — see NEGATIVE 1
3 to prove to be false <the results of several studies shoot down the hypothesis that coffee causes heart attacks> — see DISPROVE

shooter noun
1 a person skilled in shooting at a target <there were eight shooters taking turns at the same target in the final competition> — see MARKSMAN
2 one who takes photographs <he's one of the best shooters of wildlife in all of professional photography> — see PHOTOGRAPHER

shop noun
1 also shoppe an establishment where goods are sold to consumers <the only shop that has that video game in stock is halfway across the state>

Synonyms
bazaar, emporium, store

Related Words
market, marketplace, outlet, showroom; boutique, chain store, department store, dime store, exchange, five-and-ten (also five-and-dime), mart, mini-mart, thrift shop, variety store; big box, supercenter, superstore

2 a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods <a machine shop> — see FACTORY
3 the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field <the patient impressed her cardiologist with her ability to talk shop> — see TERMINOLOGY

shop (for) verb
to go in search of <engineers are still shopping around for solutions to several critical flaws in the aircraft's design> — see SEEK 1

shoptalk noun
the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field <eventually, he got bored with the shoptalk of the nuclear engineers, which he barely understood> — see TERMINOLOGY

shopworn adjective
used or heard so often as to be dull <the shopworn suggestion to job applicants to “just be yourself”> — see STALE 1

shore noun
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else <the carpenter placed a shore underneath the sagging roof of the porch> — see SUPPORT 1

shore (up) verb
1 to hold up or serve as a foundation for <a highway tunnel shored up by massive columns of concrete> — see SUPPORT 3
2 to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) <used an avalanche of statistics to shore up his claim that the state's economy is in fine shape> — see SUPPORT 4

shoreside adjective
of, relating to, or situated in the waters near the shore <shoreside recreation contributes mightily to the region's economy> — see INSHORE

short adjective
1 having relatively little height <a lot of boys are shorter than the girls in middle school, but they quickly catch up by high school>

Synonyms
little, low, low-lying, low-slung, sawed-off

Related Words
dwarf, dwarfish; compact, petite, slight; diminutive, half-pint, pint-size (or pint-sized), pocket, pocket-size (also pocket-sized), pygmy, small, smallish; bantam, bitty, dinky, mini, miniature, minimized, minute, puny, teeny, teeny-weeny, tiny, undersized (also undersize), wee; dumpy, flat, scrubby, squat, squatty, stubby, stumpy, stunted

Near Antonyms
elevated, lifted, raised, uplifted, upswept; high-rise, statuesque; gangling, gangly, lanky, rangy; big, bulky, hefty, hulking, large, largish, outsize (also outsized), oversize (or oversized), sizable (or sizeable), voluminous

Antonyms
altitudinous, high, lofty, tall, towering

2 not lasting for a considerable time <fortunately for those of us in the hot sun, the graduation speech was short and to the point>

Synonyms
brief, fast, little

Related Words
shortish; abbreviated, abridged, curtailed, cut-back, shortened, syncopated; compact, condensed; abrupt, sudden; ephemeral, fleeting, momentary, short-lived, transient, transitory; impermanent; compendious, concise, crisp, epigrammatic, laconic, pithy, succinct, summary, terse; short-range, short-term

Near Antonyms
endless, everlasting, interminable, persistent, unending; longish, overlong, prolonged, protracted; permanent; enlarged, expanded, supplemented; long-range, long-term

Antonyms
extended, far, great, lengthy, long, long-drawn-out (or long-drawn), long-lived

3 not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need <regrettably, the art supplies are short this year, so you'll have to share>

Synonyms
deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, low, scarce, shy, wanting

Related Words
substandard, unacceptable, unsatisfactory; hand-to-mouth, lean, light, meager (or meagre), niggardly, poor, scant, scanty, skimp, skimpy, slender, slim, spare, sparse, stingy; bare, mere, minimum; slight, small

Near Antonyms
abundant, ample, bounteous, bountiful, copious, generous, liberal, plenteous, plentiful, plentitudinous; enlarged, expanded, supplemented; abounding, overflowing, teeming; satisfactory, tolerable; lavish, luxuriant, rich; big, considerable, hefty, jumbo, king-size (or king-sized), large, largish, oversize (or oversized), sizable (or sizeable), substantial, super

Antonyms
adequate, enough, sufficient

4 having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure <short pastry> — see CRISP 1
5 being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner <I didn't mean to be so short with you by responding to your request with a snippy “I'm busy!”> — see BLUNT 1

short adverb
with great suddenness <the bicyclist ahead of me unexpectedly pulled up short and I unavoidably plowed into him>

Synonyms
abruptly, suddenly

Related Words
surprisingly, unexpectedly; directly, immediately, incontinently, instantaneously, instantly, promptly, pronto, right, right away, right off, straightaway; fast, full-tilt, posthaste, quick, quickly, rapidly, readily, snappily, speedily, swift, swiftly; hastily, impetuously, impulsively, rashly, recklessly

Phrases
all of a sudden (also on a sudden)

Near Antonyms
gradually, slowly; hesitantly

short verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <charged that the used-car dealer had been shorting customers for years> — see FLEECE

shortage noun
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <there was a troubling shortage of supplies for the troops overseas this year> — see DEFICIENCY

shortchange verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <was shortchanged out of a promotion> — see FLEECE

short–circuit verb
to create difficulty for the work or activity of <for decades the maverick filmmaker was short-circuited by a chronic lack of funds> — see HAMPER

shortcoming noun
a defect in character <a wife who never tires of listing her husband's perceived shortcomings> — see FAULT 1

shortcut verb
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness <are you sure there's no way to shortcut the entrance requirements?> — see CIRCUMVENT 1

shorten verb
to make less in extent or duration <we decided to shorten the distance we had to walk home by cutting across the neighbor's lawn> <if Grandma has to go shopping today, you'll need to shorten your visit>

Synonyms
abbreviate, abridge, curtail, cut back, dock, elide, syncopate, truncate

Related Words
abstract, digest, encapsulate, epitomize, recapitulate, summarize, sum up; abate, compress, constrict, contract, cut, cut down, pare, prune, trim; decrease, de-escalate, deflate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, moderate, modify, reduce, retrench, shrink, slash, subtract (from), taper

Near Antonyms
enlarge, expand, supplement; add, aggrandize, amplify, augment, balloon, boost, dilate, escalate, heighten, increase, maximize, pump up, raise; blow up, distend, inflate, swell

Antonyms
elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract

short–lived adjective
lasting only for a short time <the skier's triumph turned out to be short-lived, as the next competitor bested her time> — see MOMENTARY

shortly adverb
1 in a few words <the sudden closing of the restaurant was announced only with a shortly worded sign: “Out of Business”>

Synonyms
briefly, compactly, concisely, crisply, curtly, elliptically, laconically, pithily, succinctly, summarily, tersely

Related Words
aphoristically, sententiously; exactly, precisely; abruptly, bluffly, bluntly, brusquely; monosyllabically

Phrases
in a nutshell, in a word, in brief, in short, in sum

Near Antonyms
redundantly, repetitiously

Antonyms
diffusely, long-windedly, verbosely, wordily

2 at or within a short time <the meeting will begin shortly, so don't go too far away to find a bathroom>

Synonyms
anon, before long, by and by, directly, momentarily, presently, soon

Related Words
forthwith, immediately, incontinently, instantaneously, instantly, now, promptly, pronto, right away, right now, right off, straightaway, straightway

shortness noun
the condition of being short <the shortness of the commencement speech was much appreciated by the impatient graduates> — see BREVITY 1

shortsighted adjective
1 able to see near things more clearly than distant ones <because she's so shortsighted, she's forced to wear her glasses every waking moment> — see NEARSIGHTED
2 not thinking about and providing for the future <shortsighted investors who failed to see that the boom couldn't last> — see IMPROVIDENT

short–spoken adjective
being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner <don't expect much information or friendly chitchat from the short-spoken villagers> — see BLUNT 1

short story noun
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel <her very first short story was accepted for publication in a local journal> — see STORY 1

short–tempered adjective
easily irritated or annoyed <shop customers learned not to bother the short-tempered dog on their way out> — see IRRITABLE

short–term adjective
intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time <this is only a short-term solution to a long-term problem> — see TEMPORARY 1

shot noun
1 a directed propelling of a missile by a firearm or artillery piece <cannon operators often had to use several shots to figure out the range of their targets>

Synonyms
blasting, discharge, firing

Related Words
potshot; barrage, blitz, blitzkrieg, bombardment, broadside, burst, cannonade, drumfire, fusillade, hail, salvo, shower, storm, volley

2 an effort to do or accomplish something <let's take another shot at the puzzle> — see ATTEMPT 1
3 a picture created from an image recorded on a light-sensitive surface by a camera <took a shot of his family for the scrapbook> — see PHOTOGRAPH
4 a person skilled in shooting at a target <a soldier who's an excellent shot with a rifle> — see MARKSMAN
5 the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time <drank a shot of whisky> — see DRINK 2
6 an opinion or judgment based on little or no evidence <I have no idea what's different about you, but I'll take a shot: you cut your hair?> — see CONJECTURE
7 a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place <we have a real shot at getting into the championship if we win this next match> — see OPPORTUNITY

should verb
to be under necessity or obligation to <you should stop smoking> — see NEED 2

shoulder verb
1 to take to or upon oneself <agreed to shoulder the burden of caring for their elderly father> — see ASSUME 1
2 to force one's way <shouldered through the crowd at the bar and ordered a drink> — see 2PRESS 4

shout verb
to speak so as to be heard at a distance <well-wishers shouted to departing passengers from the dock> — see CALL 1

shout noun
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion <I gave a sudden shout of surprise when the shower abruptly turned ice-cold>

Synonyms
cry, holler, hoot, howl, whoop, yell, yowl

Related Words
ejaculation, interjection; scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squall, squeak, squeal, yelp; bawl, bellow, clamor, outcry, roar; caterwaul, plaint, wail

Near Antonyms
mumble, murmur, mutter; gasp, whimper, whisper

shouting distance noun
a very small distance or degree <he's within shouting distance of being the winningest coach in college basketball history> — see HAIR 1

shove verb
1 to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one <I had to keep shoving my heavy suitcase as I slowly made my way to the head of the line> — see PUSH 1
2 to push steadily against with some force <quit shoving your hand in my face> — see 2PRESS 1

shove (off) verb
to leave a place often for another <time to shove off for home> — see GO 2

shovel verb
to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth <the troops quickly shoveled a trench> — see DIG 1

show noun
1 an outward and often exaggerated indication of something abstract (as a feeling) for effect <the children made a show of disgust when confronted with asparagus>

Synonyms
demonstration, display, exhibition, flaunting

Related Words
act, charade, facade (also façade), front, guise, pretense (or pretence), put-on, semblance, simulation; affectation, pose, sham; betrayal, disclosure

2 a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive <her “concern” for the less fortunate is all just a big show> — see MASQUERADE
3 outward and often deceptive indication <a false show of strength that fooled the enemy> — see APPEARANCE 2
4 a public showing of objects of interest <a boat show at the convention center> — see EXHIBITION 1

show verb
1 to present so as to invite notice or attention <fishing for compliments, the neighbors showed their new SUV to everyone on the block>

Synonyms
display, disport, exhibit, expose, flash, flaunt, lay out, parade, produce, show off, sport, strut, unveil

Related Words
brandish, flourish, wave; advertise, air, announce, blaze, broadcast, herald, placard, post, proclaim, publicize, sound, trumpet; divulge, talk (about), tell (of); bare, discover, reveal, uncloak, uncover, unmask

Near Antonyms
camouflage, disguise, mask; conceal, cover, curtain, enshroud, hide, obscure, occlude, occult, shroud, veil

2 to make known (something abstract) through outward signs <the actor's expressive face shows his every thought and emotion clearly>

Synonyms
bespeak, betray, communicate, declare, demonstrate, display, evince, expose, give away, manifest, reveal

Related Words
bare, disclose, unbosom, uncloak, uncover; advertise, air, announce, blaze, broadcast, placard, proclaim, publicize, sound, trumpet; project

Near Antonyms
belie, misrepresent; distort, falsify, garble, twist; camouflage, disguise; gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash; conceal, counterfeit, cover, hide, mask, obscure, occlude, veil

3 to gain full recognition or acceptance of <that shows we're right> — see ESTABLISH 1
4 to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed <showed me how to play the guitar> — see GUIDE 1
5 to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front <showed them the way to get home> — see LEAD 1
6 to come into view <another car showed just as we were thinking we'd have the whole place to ourselves> — see APPEAR 1

showboat verb
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior <the gymnast was showboating for the cameras when she lost her balance and fell> — see CUT UP

shower noun
1 a heavy fall of objects <a shower of books fell from the collapsing shelves> — see RAIN 2
2 a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <a shower of insults and curses rained down on the criminal as he was led through the crowd> — see BARRAGE

shower verb
to give readily and in large quantities <showered gifts on the guests of honor> — see RAIN 2

showiness noun
excessive or unnecessary display <we were somewhat put off by the saber-rattling showiness of the military parade> — see OSTENTATION

show–me adjective
inclined to doubt or question claims <the financial scandals may lead investors to take a more show-me attitude toward reported corporate earnings> — see SKEPTICAL

show off verb
1 to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior <the athletes warmed up, happily showing off for the crowd before the match officially started> — see CUT UP
2 to present so as to invite notice or attention <she just wants to show off her new jewelry> — see SHOW 1

showstopper noun
a physically attractive person <at the modeling agency everyone was a showstopper> — see DOLL 2

show up verb
1 to come into view <normally, one doesn't see them, but the actress's wrinkles show up in the close-ups> — see APPEAR 1
2 to get to a destination <the band showed up an hour late> — see COME 2
3 to reveal the true nature of <were shown up for what they really are> — see EXPOSE 1

showy adjective
likely to attract attention <orchid plants are known for their huge showy flowers> — see NOTICEABLE

shred noun
a very small amount <the vandals showed not a shred of decency> — see PARTICLE 1

shred verb
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it <shredded some cooked chicken for the soup> — see TEAR 1

shrew noun
a bad-tempered scolding woman <Rip Van Winkle went off into the mountains to escape his wife, a shrew who made his life miserable>

Synonyms
battle-ax (or battle-axe), dragon lady, fury, harpy, harridan, termagant, virago, vixen

Related Words
fishwife, gorgon; carper, castigator, caviler (or caviller), censurer, critic, faultfinder, nitpicker, railer, scold; belittler, derider, detractor; pettifogger, quibbler

shrewd adjective
1 having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment <a shrewd used car dealer who knew how to make the best possible deal> <shrewd investments that paid off big>

Synonyms
astute, canny, clear-eyed, clear-sighted, hard-boiled, hardheaded, heady, knowing, savvy, sharp, sharp-witted, smart

Related Words
artful, cagey (also cagy), crafty, cunning, devious, dodgy [chiefly British], foxy, guileful, pawky [chiefly British], slick, sly, subtle, tricky, wily; discerning, insightful, perceptive, percipient, perspicacious, sagacious, sage, sapient, wise; experienced, veteran; discriminating, discriminative; agile, alert, brainy, bright, brilliant, clever, intelligent, keen, nimble, quick, quick-witted, sharp-eyed, sharp-sighted; apt, ingenious, resourceful; calculating, scheming

Near Antonyms
artless, guileless, ingenuous, innocent, naive (or naïve); exploitable, gullible (also gullable); unperceptive, unwise; dense, dull, obtuse; airheaded, birdbrained, brain-dead, brainless, dim-witted, dopey (also dopy), dumb, empty-headed, feebleminded, gormless [chiefly British], half-witted, knuckleheaded, lamebrain (or lamebrained), lunkheaded, simple, slow, slow-witted, softheaded, stupid, thickheaded, thick-witted, unintelligent, weak-minded; foolish, idiotic (also idiotical), imbecile (or imbecilic), moronic, silly, thoughtless, witless; ignorant, uninformed

Antonyms
unknowing

2 causing intense discomfort to one's skin <she pulled her coat tighter against the shrewd breeze whipping down the alley> — see CUTTING 1
3 clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <a shrewd operator in the real estate game, she made every buyer think they were getting the deal of the century> — see ARTFUL 1

shrewdness noun
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters <a woman with the thick-skinned shrewdness to survive in a tough business> — see ACUMEN

shriek verb
to cry out loudly and emotionally <the children shrieked with excitement> — see SCREAM 1

shrieking adjective
having a high musical pitch or range <shrieking horns of impatient drivers stuck in a traffic jam> — see SHRILL

shrill verb
to cry out loudly and emotionally <the mud-splattered bystanders were shrilling with outrage at the inconsiderate motorist> — see SCREAM 1

shrill adjective
having a high musical pitch or range <the shrill sound of a policeman's whistle>

Synonyms
high-pitched, piping, screeching, shrieking, squeaking, squeaky, treble, whistling

Related Words
peeping, thin, tinny; earsplitting, nasal, penetrating, piercing, sharp, strident; squealing, whining, whiny (also whiney), yapping, yelping

Near Antonyms
gruff, hoarse, husky, rough, smoky (also smokey)

Antonyms
bass, deep, grave, low, throaty

shrimp noun
1 a living thing much smaller than others of its kind <the boy was just a shrimp until his teens, when he had a growth spurt> — see DWARF 1
2 a person of no importance or influence <you have no business telling me what to do, you little shrimp!> — see NOBODY

shrimpy adjective
of a size that is less than average <a couple of shrimpy bushes in the front are the house's only landscaping> — see SMALL 1

shrine noun
a place that is considered sacred (as within a religion) <for centuries pilgrims have traveled to the shrine of Saint Thomas à Becket in Canterbury, England>

Synonyms
sanctuary, sanctum

Related Words
reliquary; martyry

shrink verb
1 to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter <the sweater will shrink a little when washed> — see CONTRACT 2
2 to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust <shrinking back from the approaching flames> — see FLINCH
3 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <his crush on her is likely to shrink after they start their new lives on different college campuses> — see DECREASE 2

shrinkage noun
the amount by which something is lessened <she knew that her diet was working by the striking shrinkage of her waist> — see DECREASE

shrinking violet noun
a shy or reserved person <a reality show that wants shameless exhibitionists, not shrinking violets> — see INTROVERT

shroud noun
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <the truth of the affair will always be hidden under a shroud of secrecy> — see CLOAK 1

shroud verb
1 to keep secret or shut off from view <shrouded the fact that the child had been adopted> — see 1HIDE 2
2 to make dark, dim, or indistinct <the smog shrouded our aerial view of the city> — see CLOUD 1
3 to surround or cover closely <during rainy season the summit of the mountain is shrouded in mist> — see ENFOLD 1

shrug off verb
1 to dismiss as of little importance <an administration that was willing to shrug off the problem> — see EXCUSE 1
2 to rid oneself of (a garment) <she shrugged off her coat and hung it up neatly> — see REMOVE 1

shtick also schtick or shtik noun
a performance regularly presented by an individual or group <his shtick as a falling-down drunk isn't funny to people battling alcoholism> — see ACT 1

shuck noun, usually shucks plural
something of little importance <it doesn't matter shucks to her what anyone else earns> — see TRIFLE

shuck verb
to remove the natural covering of <shucking peas> — see PEEL

shuck (off) verb
to get rid of as useless or unwanted <bad habits are hard to shuck off> — see DISCARD

shudder noun
an instance of shaking involuntarily with fear or cold <a shudder ran through him as he stepped outside into the snow> — see SHIVER 1

shudder verb
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <huddled in the basement, we shuddered with fear as we heard the approaching tornado> — see SHAKE 1

shuddering adjective
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <with a shuddering extension of his hand, the poor beggar asked for a little charity> — see SHAKY 1

shuddering noun
a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side <tried to control the shuddering of his hand> — see VIBRATION 1

shuddery adjective
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <with a few shuddery strokes of a pen, she signed her last will and testament> — see SHAKY 1

shuffle noun
1 an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the paper got lost in the shuffle on his desk> — see MISCELLANY 1
2 deliberate evasion in speech <no matter how directly we asked the question, all we got was shuffle in return> — see CIRCUMLOCUTION 1

shuffle verb
1 to move heavily or clumsily <the old man shuffled across the floor in his slippers> — see LUMBER 1
2 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <shuffle the cards and deal five to each player> — see DISORDER

shuffle (out of) verb
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery <I don't know how the CEO managed to shuffle out of being held responsible for his company's weak performance> — see ESCAPE 2

shun verb
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery <just a ruse to shun the debt collectors> — see ESCAPE 2

shunning noun
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable <this shunning of your financial responsibilities cannot continue indefinitely> — see ESCAPE 2

shush verb
to stop the noise or speech of <shushed the crying baby> — see SILENCE 1

shut verb
1 to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening <please shut the door when you leave> — see CLOSE 1
2 to stop the operations of <shut both stores for a week> — see CLOSE 2

shut (of) adjective
no longer burdened with something unpleasant or painful <I cannot wait to be shut of this social obligation> — see FREE 2

shutdown noun
the stopping of a process or activity <the factory resumed operation after a brief shutdown for repairs> — see END 1

shut–eye noun
a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself <I can usually get some extra shut-eye on the weekends> — see SLEEP 1

shutoff noun
the stopping of a process or activity <the utility company threatened them with the shutoff of electricity if the bills weren't paid> — see END 1

shut off verb
1 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <threatened to shut off peace talks if the other side kept making unreasonable demands> — see STOP 1
2 to cause to stop functioning <shut off the computer to save electricity> — see DEACTIVATE

shut out verb
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of <local residents feel that they have been shut out of the debate for expanding the airport> — see EXCLUDE

shutterbug noun
one who takes photographs <an avid shutterbug who takes her camera with her everywhere> — see PHOTOGRAPHER

shut up verb
1 to stop talking <you have no right to tell the rest of us to shut up>

Synonyms
belt up [British], clam up, dry up, dummy up, hush, pipe down, quiet (down)

Related Words
calm (down), cool (down), settle (down); haw, hem

Phrases
hold one's tongue (or hold one's peace)

Near Antonyms
pipe up, sound off, speak out, speak up, spout (off), talk up

Antonyms
speak, talk

2 to stop the noise or speech of <nothing I said would shut them up> — see SILENCE 1

shy adjective
1 easily frightened <a shy cat who hid under the bed every time she heard any loud noise>

Synonyms
fainthearted, fearful, fearsome, mousy (or mousey), scary, skittish, timid, timorous, tremulous

Related Words
chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, cowardly, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], poltroon, pusillanimous, spineless, unheroic, yellow; jittery, jumpy, spooky; anxious, apprehensive, nervous; afraid, alarmed, horrified, panicked, panicky, panic-stricken, scared, shocked, spooked, startled, terrified, terrorized, unnerved

Near Antonyms
brave, courageous, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, undaunted, valiant, valorous; assured, confident, self-assured, self-confident; determined, firm, game, plucky, resolute, undeterred, unflinching, unswerving; mettlesome, spirited, spunky

Antonyms
adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, bold, daring, dashing, gutsy, hardy, venturesome, venturous

2 not comfortable around people <a shy person who finds talking to anyone but a close friend to be an awkward and unpleasant experience>

Synonyms
backward, bashful, coy, demure, diffident, introverted, modest, recessive, retiring, self-effacing, sheepish, withdrawn

Related Words
antisocial, lone, lone-wolf, unsociable, unsocial; awkward, embarrassed, self-conscious, unadventurous, unassertive, unenterprising; inhibited, reserved, uneasy, uptight

Near Antonyms
boon, clubbable (also clubable), companionable, convivial, gregarious, sociable, social; bold, dashing, forceful; brash, forward, overbold, uninhibited, unreserved

Antonyms
extroverted (also extraverted), immodest, outgoing

3 not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need <the team is shy a couple of players because of illness> — see SHORT 3
4 not respectable <she was nervous about being left alone in a shy bar in a bad section of town> — see DISREPUTABLE

sic also sick verb
to take sudden, violent action against <commanded the pit bull to “sic 'em”> — see ATTACK 1

sick adjective
1 temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body <those coworkers who always seem to get sick immediately before or after long holiday weekends>

Synonyms
ailing, bad, down, ill, indisposed, peaked, peaky, poorly, punk, run-down, sickened, unhealthy, unsound, unwell

Related Words
symptomatic; cruddy, lousy, seedy, sickish; nauseated, nauseous, qualmish, queasy (also queazy), squeamish; airsick, carsick, seasick; dizzy, light-headed, shaky, woozy; achy, feverish; diseased, disordered; decrepit, feeble, fragile, frail, infirm, invalid, sickly, weak, weakly; afflicted, troubled; challenged, debilitated, disabled, halt, incapacitated, lame; hypochondriac, hypochondriacal

Phrases
out of sorts, under the weather

Near Antonyms
able-bodied, conditioned, fit, well-conditioned; cured; better, convalescing, improved, mending, recovering, recuperating, rehabilitated; hardy, hearty, lusty, robust, rugged, stalwart, strong, tough; blooming, bouncing, chipper, flourishing, flush, thriving

Antonyms
hale, healthful, healthy, sound, well, whole, wholesome

2 filled with disgust <it makes me sick to think of someone hurting a helpless animal>

Synonyms
disgusted, nauseated, repelled, repulsed, revolted, shocked, sickened

Related Words
fed up, weary; angered, angry, apoplectic, cheesed off [chiefly British], displeased, enraged, fuming, furious, horn-mad, incensed, indignant, infuriated, irate, livid, mad, outraged, rankled, riled, roiled, shirty [chiefly British], sore, steaming, teed off, ticked, upset, worked up, wrought (up)

Near Antonyms
delighted, gratified, pleased, satisfied, thankful, thrilled, tickled; beguiled, bewitched, captivated, charmed, enchanted, enthralled, entranced, fascinated, mesmerized, spellbound

3 affected with nausea <the bumpy ride made her sick to her stomach> — see NAUSEOUS 1
4 having one's patience, interest, or pleasure exhausted <I'm sick of listening to this radio station> — see WEARY 2
5 having or showing lowered moral character or standards <some people insisted that only a sick soul could write such perverted books> — see CORRUPT

sick and tired adjective
having one's patience, interest, or pleasure exhausted <was sick and tired of wasting her time at long, pointless meetings> — see WEARY 2

sicken verb
to cause to feel disgust <sickened by the awful sight of abused animals> — see DISGUST

sicken (with) verb
to become affected with (a disease or disorder) <a number of the passengers on the cruise ship had sickened with food poisoning> — see CONTRACT 1

sickened adjective
1 temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body <the sickened passengers were rushed to the emergency room for treatment> — see SICK 1
2 filled with disgust <many audience members, sickened by the movie's graphic violence, stormed out of the theater> — see SICK 2

sickening adjective
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <a sickening display of emotion> — see OFFENSIVE 1

sickie noun
a person judged to be legally or medically insane <the police suspect it is some sickie with an obsession for the actress> — see LUNATIC 1

sickish adjective
affected with nausea <the fumes from the freshly applied paint made her feel sickish> — see NAUSEOUS 1

sickly adjective
1 chronically or repeatedly suffering from poor health <a sickly foal that seemed to catch everything that the other horses had>

Synonyms
ailing, invalid, weakly

Related Words
bedfast, bedridden; delicate, fragile, frail; dying, fading, incurable, moribund; challenged, debilitated, incapacitated, lame; decrepit, enfeebled, feeble, infirm, weak, weakened, worn-out; ill, indisposed, peaked, poorly, run-down, sick, unhealthy, unsound, unwell

Near Antonyms
able-bodied, fit, hale, hearty, sound, well-conditioned, whole, wholesome

Antonyms
healthy, well

2 bad for the well-being of the body <lungs scarred by years of exposure to the sickly air of the coal mines> — see UNHEALTHY 1

sickness noun
1 the condition of not being in good health <she was plagued by sickness most of her adult life>

Synonyms
illness, indisposition, unhealthiness, unsoundness

Related Words
malaise, sickishness; affliction, ailment, condition, disease, disorder, dysfunction (also disfunction), malady, trouble, upset; debility, decrepitude, feebleness, frailness, infirmity, invalidism, invalidity, lameness, sickliness, weakliness, weakness; hypochondria

Near Antonyms
comeback, convalescence, healing, mending, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehab, rehabilitation, snapback; fettle, fitness, shape; hardiness, heartiness, lustiness, robustness, ruggedness, stamina, strength, toughness, vigor, vigorousness, vitality; bloom, flush, flushness; weal, welfare, well-being

Antonyms
health, healthiness, soundness, wellness, wholeness, wholesomeness

2 an abnormal state that disrupts a plant or animal's normal bodily functioning <a sickness that resulted in the death of millions of the nation's elm trees> — see DISEASE
3 a disturbed condition of the stomach in which one feels like vomiting <the sickness that women typically feel upon rising during the early months of a pregnancy> — see NAUSEA 1

sicko noun
a person judged to be legally or medically insane <some sicko kidnapped and murdered as many as a dozen young women> — see LUNATIC 1

side adjective
of, relating to, or located on one side <please bring all deliveries to the side door>

Synonyms
lateral

Related Words
left, right; one-sided

side noun
1 a place, space, or direction away from or beyond a central point or line <will everyone who wants to sign up for volleyball please stand off to this side of the gym?>

Synonyms
flank, hand

Related Words
outside; face, top; bottom, foot, underbelly, underbody, underpart, underside, undersurface; lee, leeward, windward; left, right

Near Antonyms
center, inside, interior, middle, midway

2 a certain way in which something appears or may be regarded <examined the problem from all sides> — see ASPECT 1
3 a group of people acting together within a larger group <our side won, and the club will have a holiday party after all> — see FACTION

sideboard noun
a storage case typically having doors and shelves <all of the silverware was kept in the sideboard> — see CABINET

sidekick noun
a person who helps a more skilled person <movie heroes invariably have a trusty sidekick, who often provides comic relief> — see HELPER

sidesplitting adjective
causing or intended to cause laughter <his sidesplitting jokes usually have audiences helpless with laughter> — see FUNNY 1

sidestep verb
1 to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness <the eager enlistee sidestepped the regulations by lying about his age> — see CIRCUMVENT 1
2 to move suddenly aside or to and fro <the startled spectator sidestepped away from the oncoming ball> — see DODGE 1

sideways adverb
1 with one side faced forward <I had to walk sideways to get between the two towering piles of boxes>

Synonyms
broadside, crabwise, edgeways [chiefly British], edgewise, sidewise

Related Words
aslant, indirectly, obliquely; laterally, sideward (or sidewards)

Near Antonyms
dead, direct, right, straight

2 with distrust <she glanced at us sideways when she heard us claim we weren't there that night> — see ASKANCE

sidewise adverb
with one side faced forward <standing sidewise in the doorway> — see SIDEWAYS 1

siege noun
1 a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder <a devastating siege of typhoid fever hit the city> — see ATTACK 2
2 the cutting off of an area by military means to stop the flow of people or supplies <after a siege of six weeks, the city of Vicksburg surrendered to General Grant and his Union forces> — see BLOCKADE

siesta noun
a short sleep <he typically takes a siesta after lunch, waiting for it to become a little cooler until resuming work> — see 1NAP

sigh verb
to take in and let out a deep audible breath or to make a similar sound <Mom always used to sigh loudly whenever she found a mess on the floor—which was often> <a breeze sighed through the leaves>

Synonyms
sough

Related Words
gasp, huff, pant, puff, wheeze; breathe, respire; exhale, expire, inhale, inspire; sniff, snort, snuffle; yawn

sigh (for) verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <people have always been sighing for the “good old days”> — see DESIRE 1

sight noun
1 a position within view <get out of my sight!> — see PRESENCE 1
2 an instance of looking especially briefly <he always fainted at the merest sight of blood> — see LOOK 2
3 something unpleasant to look at <the frat house was a sight the morning after the party> — see EYESORE
4 the ability to see <lost his sight in an accident when he was young> — see EYESIGHT
5 a considerable amount <this place sure is a good sight better than that last motel> — see LOT 2

sight verb
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <the crew felt a rush of excitement upon hearing that the lookout had sighted land> — see SEE 1

sightless adjective
lacking the power of sight <bats are often thought to be completely sightless, but this is not really true> — see BLIND 1

sightliness noun
the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses <never known for their sightliness, prisons and landfills are unwelcomed in most communities> — see BEAUTY 1

sightly adjective
very pleasing to look at <the calligrapher's sightly handwriting would be desirable on the diplomas> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

sightseer noun
a person who travels for pleasure <we shared the bus with a group of sightseers from out of town> — see TOURIST

sign noun
1 a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling <made a sign for the audience to be quiet> — see GESTURE 1
2 a written or printed mark that is meant to convey information to the reader <an “and” sign> — see CHARACTER 1

sign verb
to write one's name on (as a document) <you'll have to sign the contract for it to be legal>

Synonyms
autograph, ink, subscribe

Related Words
sign up; cosign, countersign, endorse (also indorse), register, sign on; inscribe; author, pen, pencil (in), scratch (out), scrawl, scribble; notarize

sign (up or on) verb
to provide with a paying job <the sports shoe company recently signed up the nation's top female college basketball player to plug its products> — see EMPLOY 1

signal adjective
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <the Louisiana Purchase is cited by many historians as one of the most signal events in American history> — see EMINENT

signal verb
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture <signaled the oncoming traffic to stop while the wrecked car was being towed away> — see MOTION

signal noun
1 an object intended to give public notice or warning <stop signs are signals for vehicles to come to a full stop—not suggestions for slowing down, as some drivers seem to think>

Synonyms
flag, tocsin

Related Words
red light; knell

2 a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling <quietly waiting for the signal to advance> — see GESTURE 1

signature noun
a person's name written in their own handwriting often given to indicate awareness or consent <I'll just need your signature on the application, and then we're all set>

Synonyms
autograph, hand, John Hancock

Related Words
frank, mark; countersign; endorsement (also indorsement)

significance noun
1 the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action <the significance of that word is much debated by biblical scholars> — see MEANING 1
2 the quality or state of being important <the political significance of the special commission's report> — see IMPORTANCE

significant adjective
1 clearly conveying a special meaning (as one's mood) <after remarking that tardiness was on the rise, our boss cast a significant glance my way> — see EXPRESSIVE
2 indicating something <the town's generous library budget is significant of the value its residents place on learning> — see INDICATIVE
3 having great meaning or lasting effect <made a significant change in the procedure for applying for citizenship> — see IMPORTANT 1
4 having great power or influence <a producer who is playing a significant role in the creation of the new film> — see IMPORTANT 2
5 sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention <paid a significant amount of money for the movie rights to the book> — see CONSIDERABLE 1

significant other noun
the person to whom another is married <she has threatened to divorce her significant other if he doesn't stop gambling> — see SPOUSE

signification noun
the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action <we should assume that the author is using the word in its ordinary signification> — see MEANING 1

signify verb
1 to be of importance <never mind, as the color of the room doesn't signify in the least> — see MATTER
2 to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind <the symbol failed to signify anything to me—until I realized that it was upside down> — see MEAN 1
3 to serve as a sign or symptom of <the opening of the new mall signifies the city's overdue emergence from economic depression> — see INDICATE 1

signifying adjective
indicating something <his tendency to use weasel words is seen as a signifying character trait> — see INDICATIVE

sign on (for) verb
to become a member of <I signed on for the crew team simply as a lark> — see ENTER 2

sign up (for) verb
to become a member of <they both signed up for a Spanish class> — see ENTER 2

silence noun
1 incapacity for or restraint from speaking <the violinist expects complete silence from the audience during his concerts>

Synonyms
dumbness, muteness, speechlessness, stillness

Related Words
inarticulacy, inarticulateness, voicelessness; reserve, reticence, reticency, taciturnity

Near Antonyms
communication, speaking, talking; eloquence, fluency, volubility; chattiness, garrulousness, loquaciousness, loquacity, talkativeness, talkiness; verboseness, verbosity, windiness, wordiness

2 the near or complete absence of sound <the silence of the garden was refreshing after the din of the party inside>

Synonyms
hush, quiet, quietness, quietude, still, stillness

Related Words
calm, lull, peace, peacefulness, tranquillity (or tranquility)

Near Antonyms
babel, blare, bluster, cacophony, chatter, clamor, clangor, din, hubbub, racket, rattle, roar, tumult, uproar

Antonyms
noise, sound, unquietness

3 the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown <the book eventually vanished into the silence that awaits best sellers whose time has past> — see OBSCURITY 2

silence verb
1 to stop the noise or speech of <the instructor quickly silenced anyone who tried to interrupt> <we need to have a repairman come and silence that door alarm>

Synonyms
dumb, extinguish, hush, mute, quell, quiet, quieten [chiefly British], settle, shush, shut up, squelch, still

Near Antonyms
agitate, stir

2 to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <brutally silenced all political dissent in the country> — see QUELL 1

silent adjective
1 deliberately refraining from speech <the suddenly silent child had to be prompted to say hello>

Synonyms
dumb, mum, mute, muted, speechless, uncommunicative, wordless

Related Words
inarticulate, tongue-tied; nonvocal, voiceless; dumbstruck; sulking, sulky, sullen

Near Antonyms
articulate, eloquent, fluent, voluble, well-spoken; gabby, garrulous, loquacious, talkative, talky; outspoken, unreserved, vocal; facile, glib, silver-tongued, smooth-tongued

Antonyms
communicative, speaking, talking

2 tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination) <a naturally silent boy, he was often overshadowed by his louder siblings>

Synonyms
closemouthed, dumb, laconic, reserved, reticent, taciturn, tight-lipped, uncommunicative

Related Words
aloof, indrawn, inhibited, introverted, reserved, restrained; sedate, self-contained, sober, staid; backward, bashful, coy, demure, diffident, modest, retiring, self-effacing, sheepish

Near Antonyms
free-spoken, outspoken, vocal; gossipy, talebearing; diffuse, long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy, wordy; extroverted (also extraverted), gregarious, outgoing, sociable

Antonyms
blabby, chatty, communicative, conversational, gabby, garrulous, loquacious, motormouthed, mouthy, talkative, talky, unreserved

3 mostly or entirely without sound <the room was so silent that you could have heard the proverbial pin drop>

Synonyms
hushed, muted, noiseless, quiet, quieted, soundless, still, stilly

Related Words
calm, peaceable, peaceful, serene, tranquil

Near Antonyms
boisterous, clamorous, clangorous, clattering, clattery, raucous, rip-roaring, roaring, roistering, tumultuous

Antonyms
noisy, rackety, unquiet, uproarious

silent treatment noun
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly <ever since our run-in at the party she's been giving me the silent treatment> — see COLD SHOULDER

silhouette noun
a line that traces the outer limits of an object or surface <cartoonists often try to give their characters recognizable silhouettes> — see OUTLINE 1

silhouette verb
to draw or make apparent the outline of <in the photograph the majestic mountain is strikingly silhouetted against the setting sun> — see OUTLINE 1

silken adjective
1 smooth or delicate in appearance or feel <the silken texture of the synthetic fabric> — see SOFT 2
2 showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort <she was unaccustomed to living in such silken surroundings> — see LUXURIOUS 1

silklike adjective
smooth or delicate in appearance or feel <the lemon mousse's silklike texture> — see SOFT 2

silk–stocking adjective
1 having goods, property, or money in abundance <the luxurious resort caters exclusively to a silk-stocking clientele> — see RICH 1
2 of high birth, rank, or station <detectives assigned to investigate crimes among the silk-stocking types found on the city's gold coast> — see NOBLE 1

silk stocking noun
a wealthy person <made her reputation as an interior designer for the silk stockings of Nob Hill> — see CAPITALIST

silky adjective
1 smooth or delicate in appearance or feel <the plant's fibers feel silky to the touch> — see SOFT 2
2 covered with or as if with hair <the tops of the leaves are a dark glossy green, but the undersides are light and silky> — see HAIRY 1

silliness noun
1 lack of good sense or judgment <she was both amused and irritated by the silliness of his comments regarding the movie they has just seen> — see FOOLISHNESS 1
2 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <stop this silliness at once!> — see NONSENSE 1
3 a lack of seriousness often at an improper time <this inability to refrain from silliness is a distressing sign of professional immaturity> — see FRIVOLITY

silly adjective
1 lacking in seriousness or maturity <the matinee show was filled with a bunch of silly children making noise> — see GIDDY 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <those silly movie producers who thought that audiences would fall for that gimmick all over again> — see FOOLISH 1
3 so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter <had the silly notion that her latest marriage might last longer than her three previous ones> — see RIDICULOUS 1
4 suffering from mental confusion <stunning news that knocked me silly> — see DIZZY 2

silver adjective
of the color gray <a distinguished-looking gentleman with silver hair> — see GRAY 1

silver noun
eating and serving utensils <laid out the silver for the dinner guests> — see TABLEWARE 1

silver screen noun
the art or business of making a movie <a list of the top 100 stars of the silver screen> — see MOVIE 2

silver–tongued adjective
able to express oneself clearly and well <famed as a silver-tongued orator, Daniel Webster used his oratorical gifts in vigorous support of the Union> — see ARTICULATE

silverware noun
eating and serving utensils <we keep the silverware in a separate drawer> — see TABLEWARE 1

silvery adjective
of the color gray <a silvery metal of some kind> — see GRAY 1

similar adjective
having qualities in common <the two actresses accidentally wore similar outfits to the same gala> — see ALIKE

similarity noun
1 the quality or state of having many qualities in common <the similarity between the two essays is too great to be coincidental—one author virtually copied the other>

Synonyms
alikeness, community, comparability, correspondence, likeness, parallelism, resemblance, similitude

Related Words
semblance; affinity, analogousness; equation, equivalence, equivalency, par, parity; identicalness, identity, sameness; correlation, relationship; exchangeability, interchangeability; accordance, agreement, compatibility, conformity, congruity

Near Antonyms
inequality; conflict, polarity; incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness, nonconformity; differentiability, discriminability, distinguishability; anomalousness, dichotomy; disproportion, imbalance, inequality, nonequivalence

Antonyms
difference, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, distinctiveness, distinctness, unlikeness

2 a point which two or more things share in common <the only similarity between this project and the last one is that both will involve some lab work>

Synonyms
commonality, common denominator, congruity, correspondence, parallel, resemblance, similitude

Related Words
counterpart, equal, equivalent; analogy; homology

Near Antonyms
difference, discrepancy; deviance, divergence, incongruence, incongruity; change, modification, variation

Antonyms
dissimilarity

similarly adverb
in like manner <all the other men were removing their ties, so I did similarly> — see ALSO 1

similitude noun
1 the quality or state of having many qualities in common <the striking similitude between that modern city and the Rome of ancient times> — see SIMILARITY 1
2 a point which two or more things share in common <the two robberies, committed on opposite ends of the country, show some curious similitudes> — see SIMILARITY 2

simmer verb
to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam <I gently simmered the chili for an hour> — see BOIL 2

simp noun
a person who lacks good sense or judgment <a popular movie about a sweet simp from Alabama> — see FOOL 1

simple adjective
1 free from all additions or embellishment <a simple design, and one that never goes out of fashion> — see PLAIN 1
2 free from any intent to deceive or impress others <growing up in simple innocence> — see GUILELESS
3 having no exceptions or restrictions <that's the simple truth> — see ABSOLUTE 2
4 involving minimal difficulty or effort <I got all of the answers right because it was such a simple test> — see EASY 1
5 lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <developers mistakenly thought that the local residents were simple people who would sell their land for practically nothing> — see NAIVE 1
6 lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <the fact that he didn't go to college doesn't mean he's simple> — see IGNORANT 1
7 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <don't be so quick to characterize people who have trouble with computers as simple> — see STUPID 1

simpleminded adjective
1 lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <a simpleminded view of a complex problem> — see NAIVE 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <scornful of their simpleminded belief that their parents would always be there to take care of them> — see FOOLISH 1

simplemindedness noun
the quality or state of being simple and sincere <the simplemindedness of the villagers was at times winning and at others worrisome> — see NAïVETÉ 1

simpleness noun
1 the quality or state of being simple and sincere <the simpleness of the villagers was so disarming that she temporarily abandoned her natural cynicism> — see NAïVETÉ 1
2 the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <we must always remember that the often frustrating simpleness of the mentally challenged does not alter the fact that they deserve respect> — see STUPIDITY 1
3 readiness to believe the claims of others without sufficient evidence <there's a good-hearted simpleness about her that makes her easy prey for scams> — see CREDULITY

simpleton noun
1 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <his silly antics at office parties have earned him a reputation as a simpleton> — see FOOL 1
2 a stupid person <she felt like such a simpleton for needing help to install her home theater> — see IDIOT

simplicity noun
1 the quality or state of having a form or structure of few parts or elements <the simplicity of this machine should ensure ease of use by almost anyone>

Synonyms
plainness, unsophistication

Related Words
homogeneity, homogeneousness, uniformity, unity

Antonyms
complexity, complexness, complicacy, complicatedness, complication, elaborateness, intricacy, intricateness, sophistication

2 clearness of expression <the simplicity of this poem is beautiful>

Synonyms
clarity, explicitness, lucidity, lucidness, perspicuity, perspicuousness

Related Words
incision, incisiveness; directness, forthrightness, openness, straightforwardness; readability, readableness; comprehensibility, intelligibility, legibility

Near Antonyms
ambiguity, ambiguousness, equivocalness, equivocation, inscrutability, inscrutableness, obliqueness, obliquity, opacity, opaqueness; impenetrability, incomprehensibility, incomprehensibleness, unintelligibility, unintelligibleness; circuitousness, deviousness, indirectness, indistinctness; dimness, disjointedness, incoherence; faintness, fuzziness, muddiness, nebulousness, vagueness

Antonyms
obscureness, obscurity, unclarity

3 lack of good sense or judgment <the stupefying simplicity of the generals who thought that war would be over in a month!> — see FOOLISHNESS 1
4 the quality or state of being simple and sincere <answered the judge's questions with childlike simplicity> — see NAïVETÉ 1

simplify verb
1 to make less complex <you need to simplify this process somewhat or you'll never finish it today>

Synonyms
streamline

Related Words
dumb down, oversimplify; prune, strip (down), trim; purify, refine

Near Antonyms
elaborate

Antonyms
complex, complexify, complicate, perplex, sophisticate

2 to make plain or understandable <the book simplifies for the layman some concepts of economics> — see EXPLAIN 1

simply adverb
1 for nothing other than <uninterested in food, she eats simply to keep alive> — see SOLELY 1
2 nothing more than <it's simply smart to shop around before buying an item> — see JUST 3

simulate verb
to present a false appearance of <cosmetics that simulate a suntan> — see FEIGN

simulated adjective
1 being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <a simulated leopard skin rug> — see IMITATION
2 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <the simulated friendliness in public of two politicians who can't stand each other in private> — see ARTIFICIAL 1

simultaneous adjective
existing or occurring at the same period of time <a simultaneous release of the movie and its soundtrack on CD> — see CONTEMPORARY 1

simultaneously adverb
at one and the same time <fires broke out simultaneously in several parts of town> — see TOGETHER 1

sin noun
1 a breaking of a moral or legal code <a child old enough to know that lying is a sin> — see OFFENSE 1
2 that which is morally unacceptable <a minister who worries that modern society has abandoned the concept of sin> — see EVIL
3 immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society <a sordid section of the city that is mainly known for sin and degradation> — see VICE 1
4 a regrettable or blameworthy act <it's a sin to waste food when people are starving> — see CRIME 2
5 a defect in character <my besetting sin is impatience—I hate to wait for anything> — see FAULT 1

sin verb
to commit an offense <bless me, Father, for I have sinned> — see OFFEND 1

since adverb
earlier than the present time <an ancient marking whose meaning is long since forgotten> — see AGO

since conjunction
for the reason that <since you are already here, we might as well get the meeting started>

Synonyms
as, as long as, because, being (as or as how or that) [chiefly dialect], 'cause, considering, for, inasmuch as, now, seeing, whereas

sincere adjective
1 genuine in feeling <she offered a sincere apology for her angry outburst>

Synonyms
heartfelt, unfeigned

Related Words
unaffected, unforced; artless, honest, ingenuous, translucent, transparent, true; authentic, genuine; hearty, wholehearted, whole-souled

Near Antonyms
backhanded, double-dealing, hypocritical, left-handed, mealy, mealymouthed, two-faced, unctuous

Antonyms
affected, artificial, false, feigned, insincere

2 free from any intent to deceive or impress others <done out of a sincere desire to help others> — see GUILELESS

sincerely adverb
without any attempt to impress by deception or exaggeration <thanked them sincerely for their help> — see NATURALLY 3

sine qua non noun
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable <an extensive grounding in mathematics is a sine qua non for a career in architecture> — see ESSENTIAL 1

sinew noun
the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task <the justices displayed great intellectual depth and sinew in writing their opinion on this case> — see POWER 2

sinewy adjective
1 having muscles capable of exerting great physical force <the lithe, sinewy body of the ballet company's leading male dancer> — see STRONG 1
2 marked by a well-developed musculature <the sinewy arms of the weight lifter> — see MUSCULAR 1

sinful adjective
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <chastised by his minister for his sinful behavior> — see BAD 2

sinfulness noun
the state or quality of being utterly evil <private diaries reveal that the torturers came to realize the unspeakable sinfulness of their actions and were ever afterwards haunted by nightmares> — see ENORMITY 1

sing verb
1 to produce musical sounds with the voice <it's relatively rare to find actors who can also sing well>

Synonyms
carol, chant, descant, vocalize

Related Words
belt, croon, harmonize, hum, lilt, quaver, scat, sharp, slur, trill, troll, warble, yodel; serenade

2 to utter in musical or drawn out tones <the cantor sang the prayers before the entire congregation> — see CHANT 1
3 to utter one's distinctive animal sound <I can hear a bird singing in the distance> — see CRY 2
4 to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities <once he saw the kind of jail time he was facing, the suspect was singing loud and clear to the police> — see SQUEAL 1

singe verb
to burn on the surface <the marshmallows got a bit singed over the campfire, but we like them that way> — see SCORCH 1

singer noun
one who sings <a famous opera singer will be performing at the gala opening of the arts center>

Synonyms
caroler (or caroller), songster, vocalist, vocalizer, voice

Related Words
belter; crooner, harmonizer, hummer, warbler, yodeler; serenader; cantor, chanter, chorister; chansonnier; chanteuse, songstress; bard, troubador

single adjective
1 not married <there was such a shortage of single men in the neighborhood that he had his pick of girlfriends>

Synonyms
unattached, unmarried, unwed

Related Words
fancy-free, footloose; marriageable, unpaired; divorced, separated

Near Antonyms
mated, paired; affianced, betrothed, committed, engaged, pledged, promised; remarried

Antonyms
attached, espoused, hitched, married, wedded (also wed)

2 belonging only to the one person, unit, or group named <any view expressed on the newspaper's editorial pages is the single opinion of the writer of the column> — see SOLE 1
3 not physically attached to another unit <the average price of single homes in the area> — see SEPARATE 2
4 not being in the company of others <a restaurant where the single diner is made to feel welcome and given the same level of service as couples or groups> — see ALONE 1

single (out) verb
1 to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities <she quickly singled out the most qualified candidate from the pool of the applicants> — see CHOOSE 1
2 to find out or establish the identity of <through careful reasoning and the process of elimination, neighbors singled her out as the writer of the anonymous letter> — see IDENTIFY 1

single–handed adverb
without aid or support <she was adamant that if she was expected to do the project single-handed, she should not have to share the credit afterward> — see ALONE 1

single–handedly adverb
without aid or support <the team's star slugger hit three home runs, effectively winning the game single-handedly> — see ALONE 1

single–minded adjective
fully committed to achieving a goal <every successful reform movement has been spearheaded by a single-minded activist who refused to accept defeat> — see DETERMINED 1

singly adverb
without aid or support <either singly or with the cooperation of other nations, we must do something about this pressing environmental issue> — see ALONE 1

singular adjective
1 being out of the ordinary <the novelist's singular command of the language makes her a compelling voice in contemporary fiction> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1
2 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <appearing on the game show has been the most singular experience of my life> — see UNUSUAL 1
3 of, relating to, or belonging to a single person <preserving our national heritage is not a singular responsibility but our collective duty> — see INDIVIDUAL 1
4 being the one or ones of a class with no other members <this crime was a singular case, and using it as a reason for revising the criminal code would be ill-advised> — see ONLY 2

singularity noun
an odd or peculiar habit <a college professor with singularities of dress and speech that have long endeared him to his students> — see IDIOSYNCRASY

sinister adjective
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come <the movie relies too much on sinister background music to create the suspense that the plot sorely lacks> — see OMINOUS

sink verb
1 to become worse or of less value <his fortunes have steadily sunk since the breakup of his marriage> — see DETERIORATE 1
2 to go to a lower level especially abruptly <I had just bought a bundle of shares of the stock when its price sank like a rock> — see DROP 2
3 to refrain from openly showing or uttering <sinks his pride and makes the first step towards a reconciliation> — see SUPPRESS 2
4 to cease to be visible <that evening we sat on the beach, dreamily watching the sun sink beneath the horizon> — see DISAPPEAR
5 to diminish the price or value of <the slightest nick will sink the price of a piece of Tiffany glass> — see DEPRECIATE 1
6 to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <the revelation that he has been embezzling for years definitely sinks him in my opinion> — see HUMBLE
7 to lead or extend downward <the road sinks abruptly after that curve> — see DESCEND 1
8 to lose bodily strength or vigor <the old woman only sunk further after she was moved to the nursing home> — see WEAKEN 2

sink noun
a place of great vice and corruption <was able to rise above the inner-city sink that was his birthplace> — see AUGEAN STABLE

sinless adjective
free from sin <the belief that limbo is the place where sinless but unbaptized souls abide until Judgment Day> — see INNOCENT 1

sinner noun
a person who commits moral wrongs <even the worst sinner can be redeemed> — see EVILDOER 1

sinuous adjective
marked by a long series of irregular curves <the river flowed in a sinuous path through the lush valley> — see CROOKED 1

sip verb
to swallow in liquid form <slowly sipping the hot soup> — see DRINK 1

sip noun
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time <there are a few sips left in the glass> — see DRINK 2

siphon also syphon verb
1 to remove (liquid) gradually or completely <I let the stranded motorist siphon some of my gas so he could be on his way> — see DRAIN 1
2 to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway <investigators discovered that the so-called charitable organization was siphoning funds to a terrorist group> — see CHANNEL

sire verb
to become the father of <the champion racehorse went on to sire a long line of winners> — see FATHER

sire noun
1 a male human parent <his sire had been a renowned Wall Street lawyer> — see FATHER 1
2 a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor <the revered sire of the impressionist movement in art> — see FATHER 2

siren noun
a woman whom men find irresistibly attractive <one of history's most famous sirens, Cleopatra charmed both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony>

Synonyms
enchantress, femme fatale, seductress, temptress

Related Words
beguiler, charmer, seducer, vamp; sexpot, sex symbol

siren song noun
something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain <the opportunity for fame and fortune is the siren song that has long lured the ambitious to the big city> — see LURE 1

sissified adjective
of or relating to a man who has or displays qualities considered more suitable for women <what kind of sissified jocks play a sport like that?> — see EFFEMINATE

sissy adjective
of or relating to a man who has or displays qualities more suitable for women <thought it was sissy for a boy to like flowers> — see EFFEMINATE

sissy noun
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <the candidate touts his wartime service as evidence that he is not a sissy> — see COWARD

sit verb
1 to rest on the buttocks or haunches <everybody needs to sit down, or no one will be able to see the movie>

Synonyms
set [chiefly dialect]

Related Words
perch; lounge, slouch, sprawl, squat, straddle

Near Antonyms
arise, get up, rise, stand

2 to cause to sit down <the host had to sit some of the guests on the porch> — see SEAT 1
3 to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop <we didn't want to disturb the hens, as they were sitting> — see SET 1
4 to occupy a place or location <the large monument that sits at the entrance to the battlefield> — see STAND 1

site noun
the area or space occupied by or intended for something <this field is the intended site for a new shopping mall> — see PLACE 1

sitter noun
a girl or woman employed to care for a young child or children <we'll be going to the movie if we can get a sitter for the kids> — see NURSE

sitting duck noun
a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule <those stupid comments just made him a sitting duck for comedians> — see TARGET 1

situate verb
to arrange something in a certain spot or position <the new industrial complex is situated near the highway> — see PLACE 1

situation noun
1 position with regard to conditions and circumstances <the school's situation is improving with additional financial help>

Synonyms
ball game, deal, footing, picture, posture, scene, status, story

Related Words
rank, standing; place, spot, state; score, status quo

2 an assignment at which one regularly works for pay <there were the usual “situation wanted” postings in the local newspaper> — see JOB 1
3 the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement <in earlier times people were unable to alter their situation in life, so if you were born a servant, you stayed a servant> — see RANK 1

sixth sense noun
the power of seeing or knowing about things that are not present to the senses <a filmmaker with a sixth sense for knowing which stories the general public will find irresistible> — see CLAIRVOYANCE

sizable or sizeable adjective
1 of a size greater than average of its kind <a sizable sum of money> — see LARGE 1
2 sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention <a sizable increase in attendance since the team began its winning streak> — see CONSIDERABLE 1

sizably adverb
to a large extent or degree <we need to sizably increase production if we want to finish this project on time> — see GREATLY 2

1size noun
the total amount of measurable space or surface occupied by something <we worried that the immense size of the sofa would make getting it through the doorway impossible>

Synonyms
bulk, dimension, extent, magnitude, measure, measurement, proportion

Related Words
area; capaciousness, commodiousness, roominess, spaciousness; ampleness, amplitude, bigness, bulkiness, enormousness, grandness, greatness, grossness, heftiness, hugeness, immenseness, immensity, largeness, mass, massiveness, monstrousness, stupendousness, tremendousness, vastness, volume, voluminousness

2size noun
a substance used to stick things together <coated the fabric with size before applying it to the wall> — see GLUE

sizzle noun
a sound similar to the speech sound \s\ stretched out <there was a brief sizzle as the moth flew into the flame> — see HISS 1

sizzle verb
1 to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\ <from my bed I could hear the bacon sizzling in the frying pan> — see HISS
2 to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger <she was really sizzling about being passed over for the promotion, and nearly quit> — see BOIL 1

skank noun, slang
a person of low moral character <while her clueless husband was at work, the shank was doing every guy in the trailer park> — see SLEAZE 1

skanky adjective, slang
having loose sexual morals <a pop star who cultivates an image that is more skanky than sexy> — see SLEAZY 1

skedaddle verb
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening <we skedaddled as soon as we saw the snake entering our campsite> — see RUN 2

skeletal adjective
suffering extreme weight loss as a result of hunger or disease <the stray kitten's skeletal body was pitiful to look at> — see EMACIATED

skeleton noun
the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form <Native Americans covered the skeletons of their wigwams with bark, rush mats, or hides> — see FRAME 1

skeptic noun
a person who is always ready to doubt or question the truth or existence of something <the demand by skeptics that believers in Bigfoot produce some hard evidence of that hairy humanoid>

Synonyms
disbeliever, doubter, doubting Thomas, questioner, unbeliever

Related Words
agnostic; cynic, misanthrope, pessimist; derider, ridiculer, scoffer

Near Antonyms
chump, dupe, gull, pigeon, sucker

skeptical adjective
1 inclined to doubt or question claims <it's good to be skeptical about what you see on TV>

Synonyms
disbelieving, distrustful, doubting, incredulous, mistrustful, negativistic, questioning, show-me, suspecting, suspicious, unbelieving

Related Words
paranoid (also paranoidal); critical, puzzled, quizzical; careful, cautious, guarded, gun-shy, leery (also leary), wary, watchful; cynical, experienced, knowing, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise; curious, inquiring, inquisitive, nosy (or nosey), snoopy; uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, undetermined, unsettled, unsure; hesitant

Near Antonyms
green, ingenuous, innocent, naive (or naïve), simple, simpleminded, unknowing, unsophisticated, unworldly, wide-eyed; certain, confident, positive, sure; callow, inexperienced, raw; childlike, idealistic, impractical; beguiled, deceived, duped, gulled, tricked; careless, heedless, unsuspecting, unsuspicious, unwary

Antonyms
credulous, gullible (also gullable), trustful, trusting, uncritical, unquestioning

2 not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something <I'm a little skeptical of this low bid, since it's way below what the other contractors said that they would charge> — see DOUBTFUL 1

skeptically adverb
with distrust <the researchers' findings should be received skeptically until they can be replicated by other scientists> — see ASKANCE

skepticism noun
a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something <our alibi was met with skepticism at first, but we gradually convinced them of the truth> — see DOUBT

sketch noun
1 a picture using lines to represent the chief features of an object or scene <made a quick sketch from which she would create a more detailed painting later> — see DRAWING
2 a vivid representation in words of someone or something <gave her boss quick sketches of the personalities of the clients he was about to meet> — see DESCRIPTION 1

sketch verb
1 to draw or make apparent the outline of <sketched the garden pavilion on a pad of paper so the homeowners would have a rough idea of how it was going to look> — see OUTLINE 1
2 to give a representation or account of in words <briefly sketched the intent of the reorganization plan> — see DESCRIBE 1

skewed adjective
inclined or twisted to one side <he could see that the ropes had gotten all skewed in the collision> — see AWRY

skewer verb
1 to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <let's skewer our marshmallows on these sticks and start toasting> — see IMPALE
2 to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter <the satirical comic strip gleefully skewers many of society's sacred cows> — see RIDICULE

skid verb
to go to a lower level especially abruptly <the local economy skidded when the last manufacturing plant moved away> — see DROP 2

skill noun
1 subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something <with unbelievable skill, the expert in origami transformed a few sheets of paper into a menagerie of exotic animals>

Synonyms
adeptness, adroitness, art, artfulness, artifice, artistry, cleverness, craft, cunning, deftness, masterfulness, skillfulness

Related Words
dexterity, ease, finesse, handiness; experience, expertise, expertness, know-how, proficiency; creativity, ingenuity, inventiveness, knowledge, learning; aptitude, bent, flair, gift, knack, talent

Near Antonyms
amateurishness, awkwardness, clumsiness, crudeness, klutziness, rudeness; inability, inadequacy, inadequateness, incapability, incapacity, incompetence, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficacy, inefficiency

Antonyms
artlessness, ineptitude, ineptness, maladroitness

2 skills plural knowledge gained by actually doing or living through something <he had acquired valuable skills during his life at sea> — see EXPERIENCE 1

skilled adjective
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <a delicate brain operation requiring the services of a highly skilled surgeon> — see PROFICIENT

skillful adjective
1 accomplished with trained ability <the ice skater performed a skillful and graceful series of jumps>

Synonyms
adroit, artful, bravura, deft, delicate, dexterous (also dextrous), expert, masterful, masterly, practiced (also practised), virtuoso, workmanlike

Related Words
facile, smooth; artistic, creative, fancy, ingenious, neat; adept, clever, cunning; able, adequate, capable, competent

Near Antonyms
awkward, clumsy, crude, klutzy; ineffective, ineffectual; incompetent, inept

Antonyms
amateur, amateurish, artless, rude, unprofessional, unskillful

2 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <performance testing of automobiles that should be done only by skillful drivers on a closed course> — see PROFICIENT

skillfully adverb
in a skillful or expert manner <skillfully guided the powerboat around the obstacles> — see WELL 3

skillfulness noun
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something <the skillfulness with which she handled that touchy situation is indeed admirable> — see SKILL 1

skim verb
1 to turn over pages in an idle or cursory manner <I'll just skim through a few styling magazines and see if something interesting catches my eye>

Synonyms
flip, leaf, riffle, thumb

Related Words
browse, dip; glance (at), look over, scan

Near Antonyms
pore (over); study

2 to move or proceed smoothly and readily <a lone hang glider skimming along just above the treetops> — see FLOW 2
3 to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing <her hand just barely skimmed the wall as she ran down the hallway> — see 2BRUSH
4 to strike and fly off at an angle <the rock just skimmed the surface of the water> — see GLANCE 1
5 to take a quick or hasty look <he impatiently skimmed through the book, looking for the specific passage he remembered seeing> — see GLANCE 2

skimp adjective
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <a dieter complaining about skimp meals that were served at the fat farm> — see MEAGER

skimp verb
to avoid unnecessary waste or expense <we must skimp and save if we are going to afford a vacation this summer> — see ECONOMIZE

skimp (on) verb
to use or give out in stingy amounts <I'd like a baked potato, and don't skimp on the sour cream> — see SPARE 1

skimping noun
careful management of material resources <after years of skimping and saving, he was finally able to afford the sports car he had always wanted> — see ECONOMY

skimpy adjective
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <the information in the user's manual for the microwave is skimpy and not particularly helpful> — see MEAGER

skin noun
1 an outer part or layer <space-age materials used on the skin of the aircraft> — see EXTERIOR
2 the outer covering of an animal removed for its commercial value <hats made from beaver skins were once fashionable> — see HIDE 1
3 the hairless natural covering of an animal prepared for use <calfskin gloves> — see LEATHER 1

skin verb
1 to remove the natural covering of <I prefer not to skin potatoes before mashing them> — see PEEL
2 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <got his revenge on the dirty swindler who had skinned him> — see FLEECE
3 to defeat by a large margin <we simply got skinned in the interoffice softball tournament> — see WHIP 2

skin–deep adjective
1 lying on or affecting only the outer layer of something <fortunately, the cut was only skin-deep> — see SUPERFICIAL 1
2 having or showing a lack of depth of understanding or character <the book provides some interesting anecdotes but only offers a skin-deep analysis of the events it chronicles> — see SUPERFICIAL 2

skinflint noun
a mean grasping person who is usually stingy with money <the team's owner is a skinflint whose penny-pinching ways keeps the team from acquiring any real talent> — see MISER

skinner noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <he's proven himself to be a skinner of guys who are a lot smarter than you, so be wary of any deals you make with him> — see TRICKSTER 1

skinny adjective
1 being of less than usual width <the tree swing was supported only by a couple of skinny branches> — see NARROW 1
2 having a noticeably small amount of body fat <her grandmother was always insisting that she was too skinny and never tired of trying to force more food on her> — see THIN 1

skinny noun, slang
information not generally available to the public <a TV show that offers all the skinny on Tinseltown and the stars that light it up> — see DOPE 1

skint adjective, chiefly British
lacking money or material possessions <an area of London where skint punk rockers would hang out> — see POOR 1

skip noun
a person in overall command of a ship <the skip's barking orders again> — see CAPTAIN 1

skip verb
1 to move with a light springing step <children skipping along the woodland path>

Synonyms
bounce, bound, hop, lollop, lope, trip

Related Words
caper, frisk, gambol, romp; skim, skitter; jump, leap, vault

Near Antonyms
lumber, plod, trudge

2 to fail to attend <the day was so nice that we decided to skip class and go to the beach> — see CUT 2
3 to strike and fly off at an angle <the soap slipped out of my hand and went skipping across the bathroom floor> — see GLANCE 1

skipper noun
a person in overall command of a ship <we asked the skipper how long it would be before we reached port> — see CAPTAIN 1

skirmish noun
1 a brief clash between enemies or rivals <the candidates' first debate was only a skirmish in a very long campaign> — see ENCOUNTER
2 a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <throughout the week of the convention, riot police engaged in skirmishes with the demonstrators> — see FIGHT

skirmish (with) verb
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict <for years the Apache leader had been skirmishing with the Mexicans, who were responsible for his nickname, Geronimo> — see FIGHT 1

skirr verb
to go into or range over for purposes of discovery <the film company will soon skirr the area looking for locations> — see EXPLORE 2

skirt noun
1 the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <an old shack on the skirts of the town> — see BORDER 1
2 slang an adult female human being <a pathetic old lecher who was still chasing skirts> — see WOMAN 1

skirt verb
1 to avoid by going around <skirted the construction zone> — see DETOUR 1
2 to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness <the new bill would make it harder for companies to skirt environmental regulations> — see CIRCUMVENT 1
3 to be adjacent to <the commercial district skirts the river's edge> — see ADJOIN 1
4 to serve as a border for <the wooden fence that skirts the construction site> — see BORDER

skirting adjective
having a border in common <the house hunters loved the property, but they were a bit leery of the skirting swamp> — see ADJACENT

skirting noun
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <the skirting on the saddle was a slightly darker shade of leather> — see BORDER 1

skittery adjective
easily excited by nature <chickadees are skittery creatures, so don't expect them to linger at the bird feeder> — see EXCITABLE

skittish adjective
1 easily excited by nature <the skittish colt leapt up when we approached> — see EXCITABLE
2 easily frightened <the cat is skittish around people she doesn't know> — see SHY 1
3 likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <a skittish housing market had both buyers and sellers on edge> — see FICKLE 1

skittishness noun
a state of nervousness marked by sudden jerky movements <because of the horse's skittishness and temperamental nature, only experienced riders should ride him> — see JUMPINESS

skivvy noun, British
a female domestic servant <the pop star's image as a working-class hero strains credulity now that he owns a large estate with an army of cooks, butlers, and skivvies to attend to his every want> — see MAID 1

skosh noun
a very small amount <add just a skosh more blue to the paint mixture> — see PARTICLE 1

skulduggery or skullduggery noun
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end <the company's apparently healthy bottom line was merely an illusion, the result of years of accounting skulduggery> — see TRICKERY

skulk verb
1 to move about in a sly or secret manner <I thought I saw someone skulking about in the shadows> — see SNEAK 1
2 to remain out of sight <the officers caught the hapless robber skulking behind some trash cans> — see 1HIDE 3

skulk noun
someone who acts in a sly and secret manner <around campus he was seen as a solitary skulk who seemed to be a little too interested in news reports of school shootings> — see SNEAK

skulker noun
someone who acts in a sly and secret manner <she surprised the skulker eavesdropping beneath her window> — see SNEAK

skull noun
the case of bone that encloses the brain and supports the jaws of vertebrates <paleoanthropologists recently found the skull of a prehistoric man in a remote area of the desert>

Synonyms
cranium

Related Words
braincase; death's-head; head, noddle, noggin, pate, poll; crown, scalp

skunk noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <he's nothing but a dirty, rotten skunk> — see JERK 1

skunk verb
1 to defeat by a large margin <we ended up skunking them, as our goalie was able to prevent the other team from scoring a single goal> — see WHIP 2
2 to achieve a victory over <our football team consistently skunks our traditional rivals Thanksgiving after Thanksgiving> — see BEAT 2
3 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <unwilling to let suppliers skunk him, the restaurant owner inspected every shipment before signing off on it> — see FLEECE

sky noun
1 the expanse of air surrounding the earth <the sky usually looks deep blue on a bright clear day>

Synonyms
blue, firmament, heaven(s), high, welkin

Related Words
midair; horizon, skyline

2 a dwelling place of perfect happiness for the soul after death <a belief that warriors felled in battle will be raised to the sky> — see HEAVEN 1

sky–high adverb
in an enthusiastic manner <some reviewers had praised the movie sky-high, but we thought that it was just a so-so comedy>

Synonyms
enthusiastically, exuberantly, madly, rhapsodically

Related Words
avidly, eagerly, excitedly, impatiently, keenly; fanatically, rabidly, warmly, zealously

Near Antonyms
aloofly, disinterestedly, impassively, incuriously; hesitantly, reluctantly, unwillingly

Antonyms
apathetically, indifferently, lukewarmly, perfunctorily

skylark verb
1 to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior <couldn't resist the temptation to skylark as commencement ceremonies came to a close> — see CUT UP
2 to engage in activity for amusement <he spends his time joking and skylarking, but his brother is serious and industrious> — see PLAY 1

skylarking noun
wildly playful or mischievous behavior <the players often engaged in a bit of roughhousing and skylarking before big games> — see HORSEPLAY

skyrocket verb
to rise abruptly and rapidly <the crisis has caused oil prices to skyrocket>

Synonyms
rocket, shoot (up), soar, zoom

Related Words
accumulate, appreciate, balloon, build up, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, snowball, swell, wax; crest, peak, surge; heighten, intensify

Near Antonyms
collapse, fall; contract, decrease, diminish, drop, lessen, wane

Antonyms
nose-dive, plummet, plunge, slump, tumble

slack adjective
1 failing to give proper care and attention <a building contractor known mainly for his firm's slack workmanship and slipshod construction> — see NEGLIGENT
2 not bound by rigid standards <slack supervision on the project> — see EASYGOING 2
3 not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched <left the ropes slack> — see LOOSE 1

slack noun
1 an allowable margin of freedom or variation <our boss doesn't cut us any slack when it comes to being back from lunch on time>

Synonyms
latitude, leeway, space, wiggle room

Related Words
license (or licence), rein, swing

2 the extent to which something hangs or dips below a straight line <take up the slack of a rope> — see SAG
3 slacks plural an outer garment covering each leg separately from waist to ankle <she prefers wearing slacks instead of a dress> — see PANTS

slack verb
to make less taut <the skipper ordered the crew to slack off the sheets on the mainsail> — see SLACKEN 1

slacken verb
1 to make less taut <you'll need to slacken the rope a bit to get it free of that post>

Synonyms
ease, loosen, relax, slack

Related Words
detach, free, unbind, undo, unfasten, untie

Near Antonyms
attach, bind, fasten, tie; constrain, restrain

Antonyms
strain, stretch, tense, tension, tighten

2 to cause to move or proceed at a less rapid pace <drivers need to slacken their speed as they approach the sharp curve> — see SLOW

slackened adjective
not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched <slackened lines> — see LOOSE 1

slacker noun
1 one who deliberately avoids work or duty <there will be no slackers tolerated in this group—anyone who doesn't do their share will get booted out>

Synonyms
goldbrick, shirker

Related Words
malingerer; dropout, quitter; drone, idler, lazybones, loafer, slouch, slug, slugabed, sluggard; dallier, lingerer, loiterer, lounger, saunterer; dawdler, laggard, putterer, slowpoke

Near Antonyms
live wire, pistol, powerhouse; doer, go-getter, hummer, hustler, rustler, self-starter

2 an idle worthless person <views the under-30 generation as a bunch of slackers> — see NE'ER-DO-WELL

slackness noun
1 failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes <considering the chemical company's slackness when it comes to safety, it's a wonder there hasn't been a catastrophe> — see NEGLIGENCE 1
2 the extent to which something hangs or dips below a straight line <there's simply too much slackness in this clothesline> — see SAG

slag verb, chiefly British
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of <London reviewers slagged off the new play for being another kitchen-sink drama> — see CRITICIZE

slake verb
to put a complete end to (a physical need or desire) <a harrowing experience while mountain climbing has largely slaked my desire for high adventure> — see SATISFY 1

slalom verb
to move suddenly aside or to and fro <slalomed through the crowd with the ease of an Olympic skier> — see DODGE 1

slam noun
1 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <gave the stubborn nail one last slam with the hammer> — see BLOW 1
2 a loud explosive sound <shut the door with a loud slam> — see CLAP 1
3 a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <sported a gang tattoo on his arm that had gotten him plenty of respect in the slam> — see JAIL
4 a forceful coming together of two things <the sudden slam of my head against the trunk of the car> — see IMPACT 1

slam verb
1 to shove into a closed position with force and noise <please don't slam the door every time you step out>

Synonyms
bang

Related Words
close, shut, stop; bar, batten (down), bolt, chain, fasten, latch, lock, seal, secure

Near Antonyms
open; unbar, unbolt, unfasten, unlatch, unlock, unseal

2 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <she slammed the ball deep into center field> — see HIT 1
3 to come into usually forceful contact with something <the car slammed into the wall with a fearful crunch> — see HIT 2
4 to criticize harshly and usually publicly <slammed the cast members for forgetting their lines on opening night> — see ATTACK 2

slam–bang adjective
marked by a high volume of sound <heard a slam-bang crash from the garage> — see LOUD 1

slam dunk noun
one that is certain to succeed <since he was trying his first case, the assistant district attorney was assigned a burglary case that was a slam dunk> — see SURE THING

slammer noun
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <the Mafia capo ultimately landed in the slammer on a conviction of income tax evasion> — see JAIL

slander noun
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation <instead of resorting to slander, the candidates should be outlining their plans for getting us out of this mess>

Synonyms
aspersing, blackening, calumniation, calumny, character assassination, defamation, defaming, libel, libeling (or libelling), maligning, smearing, traducing, vilification, vilifying

Related Words
aspersion, innuendo, muck, mud, smear; backbiting, detraction; abuse, invective, vituperation; attack, censure, criticism, denunciation, hatchet job; contempt, disdain, scorn; belittlement, denigration, disparagement; cattiness, despite, hatefulness, malevolence, malice, maliciousness, malignancy, malignity, meanness, nastiness, spite, spitefulness, spleen, venom, viciousness

Near Antonyms
acclaim, accolade, applause, commendation, praise; esteem, honor, respect; adulation, flattery; adoration, reverence, veneration, worship

slander verb
to make untrue and harmful statements about <for some reason, that newspaper seems determined to slander one particular celebrity>

Synonyms
asperse, blacken, calumniate, defame, libel, malign, smear, traduce, vilify

Related Words
belittle, denigrate, detract, disparage; discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame; abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate; disdain, scorn

Near Antonyms
exalt, glorify, honor; acclaim, applaud, commend, praise; esteem, respect; admire, regard; adore, revere, venerate, worship

slanderous adjective
causing or intended to cause unjust injury to a person's good name <made slanderous comments about his opponent's military record> — see LIBELOUS

slang noun
the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field <tends to use too much hacker's slang when talking to coworkers about their computer problems> — see TERMINOLOGY

slant adjective
running in a slanting direction <as they poked through the blinds, the slant rays of the setting sun created interesting patterns on the room's far wall> — see DIAGONAL

slant noun
1 the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon <the road has just enough of a slant to make bicycling up it a little strenuous>

Synonyms
cant, diagonal, grade, gradient, inclination, incline, lean, pitch, rake, slope, tilt, upgrade

Related Words
ascent, bank, climb, rise

Near Antonyms
declension, declination, decline, declivity, descent, dip, downgrade, fall, hang, hanging, receding

2 a way of looking at or thinking about something <an interesting slant on the problem of underage drinking> — see PERSPECTIVE 1

slant verb
1 to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of <reporters who slant the truth in order to push a political agenda> — see GARBLE 1
2 to set or cause to be at an angle <a ramp slanted at a 20 degree angle> — see LEAN 1

slanted adjective
1 inclined or twisted to one side <a slanted fence post> — see AWRY
2 running in a slanting direction <slanted stripes> — see DIAGONAL

slanting adjective
inclined or twisted to one side <an old, torn flag hanging from a slanting flagpole> — see AWRY

slantways adverb
so as to slant <the temporary supports were placed slantways against the side of the sagging wall> — see SLANTWISE

slantwise adjective
1 inclined or twisted to one side <a hodgepodge of slantwise postcards tacked to the wall of his cubicle> — see AWRY
2 running in a slanting direction <the slantwise cables that run between the roadway and the towers give the bridge a cathedral-like appearance> — see DIAGONAL

slantwise adverb
so as to slant <be careful not to lay the first boards slantwise, or the whole bookcase won't be straight>

Synonyms
slantways

Related Words
down, downward (or downwards), up, upward (or upwards)

slap noun
1 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <doctors used to give newborns a light slap to get them to start breathing> — see 1BLOW
2 an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <that comment is a slap to anyone who has ever served in the military> — see INSULT

slap verb
1 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <she was so mad that she slapped him right across the face> — see HIT 1
2 to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in <tired of jokes that slap people of faith> — see INSULT

slapdash adjective
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern <the investigation of the charges against the mayor was slapdash and not very thorough> — see RANDOM

slap down verb
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <public protests against the government were always promptly slapped down> — see QUELL 1

slaphappy adjective
1 having or showing freedom from worries or troubles <plays the role of a slaphappy guy with a hot dog cart who dispenses wisecracks and wit along with his wieners> — see CAREFREE
2 suffering from mental confusion <we were slaphappy with exhaustion after the nightlong train ride> — see DIZZY 2

slapjack noun
a flat cake made from thin batter and cooked on both sides (as on a griddle) <had a big plate of slapjacks with syrup for breakfast> — see PANCAKE

slapstick noun
1 humorous entertainment <an actor whose roles range from slapstick to serious drama> — see COMEDY 1
2 wildly playful or mischievous behavior <a lowbrow comedy that relies heavily on slapstick for its laughs> — see HORSEPLAY

slash noun
a long deep cut <made a slash in the fabric with a knife> — see GASH

slash verb
1 to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife) <the tire appears to have been deliberately slashed> — see CUT 1
2 to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <wildly slashing the ground with his club and never once hitting the golf ball he was aiming at> — see WHIP 1

slash–and–burn adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <under his slash-and-burn management ethic, even longtime employees were summarily downsized for the sake of corporate competitiveness> — see HARD 1

slate adjective
of the color gray <the slate sky was a sure sign of rain> — see GRAY 1

1slate verb
to put (someone or something) on a list <you've been slated for a three o'clock interview> — see 1LIST 2

2slate verb
to strike repeatedly <ready to slate anyone who disagreed> — see BEAT 1

slated adjective
being in accordance with the prescribed, normal, or logical course of events <slated to arrive at five o'clock> — see DUE 2

slatternly adjective
having loose sexual morals <the biography portrays the poet as a debauched scoundrel whose companions were slatternly women and not the chaste maids he celebrated in his lyrics> — see SLEAZY 1

slaty also slatey adjective
of the color gray <slaty stones in the riverbed> — see GRAY 1

slaughter noun
the killing of a large number of people <all civilized nations should protest this senseless slaughter> — see MASSACRE

slaughter verb
to kill on a large scale <modern poultry farms slaughter a vast number of chickens every day> — see MASSACRE

slave noun
1 a person who is considered the property of another person <many American slaves reached freedom in the North through the network known as the Underground Railroad>

Synonyms
bondman (also bondsman), chattel, thrall

Related Words
bondwoman (also bondswoman), odalisque; helot, serf; bond servant, indentured servant; attendant, domestic, drudge, handmaiden (also handmaid), lackey, menial, servant, slavey

Near Antonyms
freedman, freedwoman; enslaver, slave driver, slaveholder, slaver; master, taskmaster

Antonyms
freeman

2 a person who does very hard or dull work <unappreciated office slaves who perform the necessary but tedious task of filing paperwork>

Synonyms
dogsbody [chiefly British], drone, drudge, drudger, fag, foot soldier, grub, grubber, grunt, laborer, peon, plugger, slavey, slogger, toiler, worker

Related Words
workhorse; coolie, serf

Near Antonyms
goldbrick, shirker; drone, idler, lazybones, loafer, slouch, slug, sluggard

slave verb
to devote serious and sustained effort <slaving over a hot stove> — see LABOR

slave (for) verb
to be a servant for <why would you waste your time slaving for a boss you can't stand?> — see SERVE 1

slave driver noun
a boss who assigns much work <the director is a real slave driver, but actors still clamor for the opportunity to work with him> — see TASKMASTER 1

slaver verb
to let saliva or some other substance flow from the mouth <a dog slavering over a bone> — see DROOL 1

slaver noun
the fluid that is secreted into the mouth by certain glands <slaver dripped from the snarling dog's jaws> — see SALIVA

slavery noun
1 the state of being a slave <a child born into slavery was considered simply another addition to the master's wealth and property>

Synonyms
bondage, enslavement, servility, servitude, thrall, thralldom (or thraldom), yoke

Related Words
peonage, serfdom; dependence (also dependance), subjection, subjugation; captivity, enchainment, imprisonment, incarceration

Near Antonyms
emancipation, enfranchisement, liberation, manumission; autonomy, independence, self-government, sovereignty (also sovranty)

Antonyms
freedom, liberty

2 very hard or unpleasant work <endured the slavery of working in the coal mines every day of his adult life> — see 1TOIL

slavey noun
1 a person hired to perform household or personal services <I'm not your slavey, so pick up after yourself> — see SERVANT
2 a person who does very hard or dull work <on the day of the feast the cook and the kitchen slaveys were bustling about well before dawn> — see SLAVE 2

slavish adjective
1 using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model <slavish imitations of the great masters will never make you a painter in your own right> — see IMITATIVE 1
2 showing, expressing, or offered in a spirit of humility or unseemly submissiveness <the wife's slavish agreement with her husband's every thought> — see ABJECT

slavishly adverb
with great effort or determination <detectives slavishly devoted themselves to the case, pursuing every lead and tracking down every suspect> — see HARD 1

slay verb
1 to deprive of life <millions have been slain worldwide by this dreadful disease> — see KILL 1
2 to put to death deliberately <vowed to slay without mercy whoever was responsible for murdering his family> — see MURDER 1

slaying noun
the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life <a man wanted for the slaying of seven people during an armed robbery> — see HOMICIDE 1

sleaze noun
1 a person of low moral character <some sleaze will try to make a buck off of this tragic murder>

Synonyms
skank [slang], sleazebag [slang], sleazeball [slang], slime, slimeball [slang]

Related Words
slattern, slut, tramp; degenerate, libertine, perv, pervert, reprobate; creep, scumbag [slang], scuzzball [slang]; pettifogger, shyster

2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <at least her newest boyfriend isn't the kind of sleaze she usually dates> — see JERK 1
3 that which is of low quality or worth <the TV networks wouldn't be airing such sleaze if the public wasn't watching it> — see JUNK 1

sleazebag noun, slang
1 a person of low moral character <the sleazebags who run the porn studios wouldn't hesitate to use their own mothers> — see SLEAZE 1
2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <a Mardi Gras celebration that was spoiled by a bunch of drunken sleazebags> — see JERK 1

sleazeball noun, slang
1 a person of low moral character <don't post your private info and revealing pics online—there are some real sleazeballs out there> — see SLEAZE 1
2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <despite the constant rebuffs, the sleazeball at the bar kept hitting on all the single women> — see JERK 1

sleazy adjective
1 having loose sexual morals <a sleazy lothario who is always on the make>

Synonyms
skanky [slang], slatternly, sluttish, slutty, trampy

Related Words
whorish; indecent, lascivious, lewd, wanton; indecorous, unbecoming; corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, libertine, perverted, reprobate

Near Antonyms
priggish, prim, prudish, puritanical, straitlaced (or straightlaced); decent, decorous, genteel, polite, proper, seemly; celibate, chaste, modest, moral, pure, virtuous

2 of low quality <a sleazy yellow coat that was marked down to practically nothing and not worth even that> — see CHEAP 2
3 being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance <these cheap, sleazy curtains would do a poor job of blocking those wintertime blasts of cold air> — see FLIMSY 1
4 showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <several letters in the sleazy motel's neon “vacancy” sign had burned out> — see SHABBY 1

sleek adjective
having a shiny surface or finish <a striking beauty with sleek raven hair> — see GLOSSY

sleep noun
1 a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself <neither of them has been getting much sleep since the baby was born>

Synonyms
bed, catnapping, dozing, napping, repose, rest, resting, shut-eye, slumber, slumbering, snoozing, z's (or zs)

Related Words
catnap, doze, drowse, forty winks, nap, siesta, snooze, wink; oversleeping; dreaming, rapid eye movement

Near Antonyms
insomnia, sleeplessness

Antonyms
consciousness, wake, wakefulness

2 the state of being dead <a grieving widower longing to join his beloved wife in her eternal sleep> — see DEATH 2
3 the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities <regretfully put their terminally ill dog to sleep> — see DEATH 1

sleep verb
1 to be in a state of sleep <the baby slept for the entire length of the car trip>

Synonyms
catnap, doze, nap, rest, slumber, snooze

Related Words
drop off, drowse (off), nod off; oversleep, sleep in; dream, hibernate

Near Antonyms
arise, arouse, awake, rise, wake

2 to engage in sexual intercourse <if I don't read the tabloids, how will I know who is sleeping with whom this week?> — see COPULATE

sleeper noun
one who sleeps <she's a light sleeper and usually wakes up when I get in late>

Synonyms
dozer, slumberer

Related Words
nodder

Near Antonyms
insomniac; riser, waker

sleepiness noun
the quality or state of desiring or needing sleep <the truck driver keeps a thermos of coffee with him to stave off sleepiness>

Synonyms
doziness, drowsiness, somnolence

Related Words
fatigue, tiredness, weariness; lassitude, lethargy, sluggishness, torpidity, torpor; dozing, resting, sleeping, slumbering; oversleeping

Near Antonyms
awareness, consciousness

Antonyms
insomnia, sleeplessness, wakefulness

sleeping adjective
being in a state of suspended consciousness <a roomful of sleeping preschoolers at a daycare center> — see ASLEEP 1

sleepless adjective
not sleeping or able to sleep <lay sleepless with worry> — see WAKEFUL

sleeplessness noun
the inability to obtain adequate sleep <the prolonged bouts of sleeplessness were starting to affect his work> — see INSOMNIA

sleepy adjective
1 desiring or needing sleep <the sleepy children were carried up to bed>

Synonyms
dozy, drowsy, slumberous (or slumbrous), somnolent

Related Words
asleep, dormant, dozing, resting, sleeping, slumbering; nodding, yawning

Near Antonyms
restive, restless, sleepless; insomniac

Antonyms
alert, awake, conscious, wakeful, wide-awake

2 slow to move or act <a sleepy little town on the coast> — see INACTIVE 1
3 tending to cause sleep <the sleepy drone of his voice made staying awake a challenge> — see HYPNOTIC
4 lacking in gaiety, movement, or animation <a sleepy party that was mostly attended by the same boring people I work with> — see DEAD 2

sleight noun
1 a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <must have employed some sophisticated sleight to con that wary couple out of their money> — see TRICK 1
2 mental skill or quickness <a brilliant new theory that pays tribute to his remarkable sleight of mind> — see DEXTERITY 1
3 ease and grace in physical activity <a muscle-bound weight lifter known more for his might than his sleight> — see DEXTERITY 2

slender adjective
1 being of less than usual width <graceful, slender table legs> — see NARROW 1
2 having a noticeably small amount of body fat <unsurprisingly, the aerobics instructor is slender and athletic> — see THIN 1
3 less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <people of slender means simply can't afford those prices> — see MEAGER

sleuth noun
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons <the popular TV sleuth lives a much more action-packed life than do his real-world counterparts> — see DETECTIVE

sleuthhound noun
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons <the fictional sleuthhound Miss Marple is notable for her age as well as for her understanding of human nature, both of them being rather advanced> — see DETECTIVE

slew noun
a considerable amount <we still have a slew of work to do on this project> — see LOT 2

slice verb
1 to cut into long slender pieces <slice the carrot into tiny strips> — see SLIVER
2 to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife) <the shard of glass sliced my hand, and I started bleeding profusely> — see CUT 1

slice noun
1 a number of things selected from a group to stand for the whole <the novel's multitudinous array of characters constitute a veritable slice of humanity> — see SAMPLE 1
2 a piece that has been separated from the whole by cutting <took a slice from the cake before passing it down the table> — see CUT 1
3 something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group <there's a pile of money to be made on this land deal, and everybody's trying to get their slice> — see SHARE 1

slick verb
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction <slicking the bottom of their skis with wax> — see LUBRICATE

slick adjective
1 having or being a surface so smooth as to greatly reduce traction <roads are often slick during the first hour of a rainstorm>

Synonyms
greased, greasy, lubricated, oiled, slicked, slippery, slippy, slithery

Related Words
brushed, buffed, burnished, glossed, ground, polished, rubbed, shined; coated, glazed, waxed; soapy, waxy; rasped, sandblasted, sanded, sandpapered, scoured, scraped, scrubbed

Near Antonyms
coarsened, rough, roughened, scuffed, uneven

2 clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <a slick ad campaign that made smoking look cool and sexy> — see ARTFUL 1
3 of the very best kind <that's a slick new suit you have on> — see EXCELLENT

slicked adjective
having or being a surface so smooth as to greatly reduce traction <area roadways, slicked with ice, were absolutely treacherous for driving> — see SLICK 1

slicker noun
1 a coat made of water-resistant material <he put on his slicker and boots and headed out into the rain> — see RAINCOAT
2 a person with the outlook, experience, and manners thought to be typical of big city dwellers <dressed in their designer duds, the out-of-state slickers stood out amongst the locals at the harvest supper> — see COSMOPOLITAN

slickness noun
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <we were both impressed and outraged by the expert slickness with which the swindler fooled us> — see CUNNING 1

slide verb
1 to move about in a sly or secret manner <slid gently into his seat without anyone else in church noticing> — see SNEAK 1
2 to move or proceed smoothly and readily <at this point the river slides along its banks with barely a ripple> — see FLOW 2
3 to move slowly with the body close to the ground <the convict escaped by sliding through the prison's ductwork> — see CRAWL 1

slight adjective
1 lacking bodily strength <a small lad with a slight build> — see WEAK 1
2 lacking importance <a slight comedy that did nothing to further her career> — see UNIMPORTANT
3 of a size that is less than average <the slight youth packed a surprisingly solid punch> — see SMALL 1
4 so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <apart from a slight fishy taste, the dish was fine> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1
5 small in degree <only a slight chance of success> — see REMOTE 1

slight noun
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <refused to respond to their petty slights> — see INSULT

slight verb
1 to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in <the dancers felt slighted by the harsh comments of the judges> — see INSULT
2 to deliberately ignore or treat rudely <as a temp worker, she often feels slighted by the people she has to work with> — see SNUB 1
3 to show contempt for <music critics who slight any style of music that doesn't fit their personal taste> — see SCORN 1
4 to fail to give proper attention to <slighted several major authors in her survey of 20th-century fiction> — see NEGLECT 1

slightest adjective
being the least in amount, number, or size possible <there's not the slightest chance that your plan will work> — see MINIMAL

slighting adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <slighting remarks about the general lack of musical talent among the contestants> — see DEROGATORY

slightly adverb
1 by a very small margin <I thought the first one was slightly better> — see JUST 2
2 in a very small quantity or degree <he was slightly curious about the identity of the wine, but not enough to bother asking> — see LITTLE 1

slightness noun
1 the quality or state of being little in size <the old photograph shows a man whose slightness of build seems at variance with his reputation as a robust outdoorsman> — see SMALLNESS 1
2 the state or quality of having little weight <his slightness will serve him well if he ever decides to become a jockey> — see 1LIGHTNESS 1
3 the quality or state of being unimportant <most moviegoers were not in the least bothered by the slightness of the plot—they were there for the special effects in any event> — see INSIGNIFICANCE

slim adjective
1 being of less than usual width <a slim volume of poetry> — see NARROW 1
2 having a noticeably small amount of body fat <the pressure on ballet dancers to remain gracefully slim> — see THIN 1
3 less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <slim pickings at the garage sale> — see MEAGER
4 small in degree <a slim chance is still better than none> — see REMOTE 1

slime noun
1 soft wet earth <she picked her steps carefully so as not to get any slime on her new shoes> — see MUD
2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <that guy's a real slime, so avoid him at all costs> — see JERK 1
3 a person of low moral character <he's the kind of slime that TV reality shows love to cast as a villain> — see SLEAZE 1

slimeball noun, slang
1 a person of low moral character <a real slimeball, that shyster has happily defended, for a healthy fee, drug dealers and child molesters> — see SLEAZE 1
2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <slimeballs love the anonymity of the Internet, which allows them to post incredibly vile messages without having to identify themselves> — see JERK 1

slim–jim adjective
being of less than usual width <an author whose published works are limited to one slim-jim volume of poetry> — see NARROW 1

slimy adjective
full of or covered with soft wet earth <please remove your slimy boots before coming into the house> — see MUDDY 1

1sling verb
to place on an elevated point without support from below <sling a hammock between the trees> — see HANG 1

2sling verb
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <slinging stones at the fence post> — see THROW 1

slink verb
to move about in a sly or secret manner <like a thief slinking about in the middle of the night> — see SNEAK 1

1slip noun
a long narrow piece of material <baskets woven from slips of wicker> — see STRIP 1

2slip noun
1 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <a careless slip of the tongue> — see ERROR 1
2 the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily <had a nasty slip on the ice> — see FALL 1
3 the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement <gave her pursuers the slip> — see ESCAPE 1
4 a wrong judgment <that's not the sort of slip that a prudent person would have made> — see MISTAKE 1

slip verb
1 to decline gradually from a standard level <the store's quality of service began to slip after the new owners took over>

Synonyms
sag

Related Words
drop, fall, slump; flag, sink, slacken, slow (down), weaken; abate, contract, decrease, de-escalate, die (down), diminish, dwindle, ebb, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, recede, relent, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, wane

Near Antonyms
rocket, shoot (up), soar; balloon, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, snowball, swell, wax; crest, peak, surge

2 to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily <be careful not to slip on the spilled oil> — see FALL 1
3 to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way <casually slipped it into the conversation> — see INSINUATE
4 to move about in a sly or secret manner <slipped behind the cover of the trees> — see SNEAK 1
5 to move or proceed smoothly and readily <jumped into the car and slipped behind the wheel> — see FLOW 2
6 to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside <periodically crabs slip their shells and grow new ones> — see SHED 1

slip (on or into) verb
to place on one's person <wait here while I slip into something more comfortable> — see PUT ON 1

slippery adjective
1 given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions <a bar where a lot of slippery characters were known to hang out> — see SNEAKY 1
2 hard to find, capture, or isolate <a slippery concept that we had trouble understanding> — see ELUSIVE
3 having or being a surface so smooth as to greatly reduce traction <had trouble keeping upright on the slippery ice> — see SLICK 1

slippy adjective
having or being a surface so smooth as to greatly reduce traction <bathtubs are a little too slippy for the elderly residents, so grab rails are standard fixtures> — see SLICK 1

slipup noun
1 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <the marketing director made sure there were no slipups for the important presentation> — see ERROR 1
2 a wrong judgment <ran a flawless campaign—not a single slipup> — see MISTAKE 1

slip up verb
to make a mistake <if you slip up in copying the data, the final result will of course be wrong> — see ERR 1

slit noun
a long deep cut <made a slit in the fabric about nine inches long> — see GASH

slit verb
to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife) <I slit my finger open while cleaning up the broken glass> — see CUT 1

slither verb
to move slowly with the body close to the ground <a snake slithering through the garden> — see CRAWL 1

slithery adjective
having or being a surface so smooth as to greatly reduce traction <low tide exposes a stretch of beach strewn with seaweed and slithery rocks> — see SLICK 1

sliver noun
a small flat piece separated from a whole <I got a sliver of wood stuck in my finger> — see CHIP 1

sliver verb
to cut into long slender pieces <carefully slivered the rattan stems into strips for basketry>

Synonyms
slice, splinter

Related Words
chip, chop, dice, hash, julienne, mince; saw, scissor; cleave, rive, split; gash, incise, rip, slash, slit

slob noun
1 a dirty or sloppy person <a slob of a professor whose office was littered with a decade's worth of notes and student papers>

Synonyms
sloven

Related Words
slattern, slut [chiefly British]

Antonyms
neatnik, old maid

2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <he's easy enough to get along with when he's not being a loudmouthed slob> — see JERK 1
3 a member of the human race <you just know some poor slob is going to get blamed for this mix-up> — see HUMAN
4 an average or ordinary man <I don't know much about trust funds, as I'm just some poor slob who has to work hard for a living> — see JOE BLOW

slobber noun
1 the fluid that is secreted into the mouth by certain glands <the dog got slobber all over our tennis ball> — see SALIVA
2 unintelligible or meaningless talk <I couldn't make out any of the panhandler's slobber, but I gave the poor soul a buck anyway> — see GIBBERISH 1

slobber verb
1 to let saliva or some other substance flow from the mouth <our dog always starts to slobber whenever we open a can of food> — see DROOL 1
2 to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm <right on cue, his entourage of sycophants began to slobber over every inane thing he said> — see GUSH 2

slobbish adjective
lacking neatness in dress or person <the memoir portrays her father as a slobbish lout who was a constant embarrassment to her fastidious mother> — see SLOPPY 1

slobby adjective
lacking neatness in dress or person <an unlikely romance between a slobby, bighearted galoot and an uptight career woman> — see SLOPPY 1

slog verb
1 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <the two boxers were so exhausted they just slogged each other indiscriminately> — see HIT 1
2 to devote serious and sustained effort <slogging their way through a pile of paperwork> — see LABOR
3 to strike repeatedly <the feisty woman was still slogging her would-be attacker when the police arrived> — see BEAT 1
4 to move heavily or clumsily <Gramps never tired of telling how he had to slog through the snow in order to get to school> — see LUMBER 1

slogan noun
an attention-getting word or phrase used to publicize something (as a campaign or product) <within days, virtually everyone was familiar with the newest advertising slogan for that brand of soda>

Synonyms
banner, catchphrase, cry, shibboleth, tagline, watchword

Related Words
expression, idiom; catchword, cliché (also cliche); maxim, motto; battle cry, war cry

slogger noun
a person who does very hard or dull work <nothing but respect for the sloggers who work in the basement archives> — see SLAVE 2

slop noun
1 soft wet earth <slipped and fell in the slop behind the shed> — see MUD
2 slops plural solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal <cleaned the slops out of the cow barn> — see DROPPING 1
3 that which is of low quality or worth <that songwriter turns out nothing but slop, and record buyers eat it up> — see JUNK 1
4 a thick semiliquid substance (as food) that is unattractive <some slop that the cafeteria staff claims is edible> — see GLOP

slop verb
1 to cause (something liquid or mushy) to move along in sheets <she slopped water everywhere when she picked up the full pan> — see SPLASH 1
2 to swallow or eat greedily <watched the game while slopping prodigious quantities of beer> — see GOBBLE

slope noun
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon <the next stretch of the trail had a gentle slope which made it easier to climb> — see SLANT

slope verb
to set or cause to be at an angle <they sloped our new driveway too steeply and now my car scrapes bottom whenever I back out onto the street> — see LEAN 1

sloped adjective
running in a slanting direction <the sloped arrangement of the pictures along the staircase wall should follow the line of the banister> — see DIAGONAL

sloping adjective
running in a slanting direction <a sloping ray of light that illuminates the painting's central figure is symbolic of heavenly inspiration> — see DIAGONAL

sloppily adverb
in a careless or unfashionable manner <when she arrived at work this morning she was sloppily dressed, and her hair was unkempt>

Synonyms
dowdily, slovenly

Related Words
slatternly; chaotically, messily, untidily; shabbily, sleazily; dingily, dirtily, filthily, foully, grubbily, nastily

Near Antonyms
neatly, orderly, tidily; fashionably, modishly; carefully, fastidiously, fussily, meticulously; cleanly, immaculately, spotlessly

Antonyms
nattily, sharply, smart, smartly, sprucely

sloppiness noun
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) <the tearful sloppiness that you find in so many country-and-western songs> — see SENTIMENTALITY

sloppy adjective
1 lacking neatness in dress or person <a sloppy child who always seems to have spilled something on his clothes>

Synonyms
blowsy (also blowzy), dowdy, frowsy (or frowzy), slobbish, slobby, sloven, slovenly, unkempt, untidy

Related Words
slatternly; chaotic, cluttered, confused, disarranged, disheveled (or dishevelled), disordered, messed, messy, muddled, mussed, mussy, rumpled, shaggy, uncombed, wrinkled; shabby, sleazy; besmirched, blackened, dingy, dirty, filthy, foul, grimy, grubby, grungy, mucky, nasty, scroungy, scuzzy [slang], soiled, spotted, squalid, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleanly

Near Antonyms
chic, fashionable, modish, stylish; combed, groomed; neat, ordered, orderly, tidy; careful, fastidious, fussy, meticulous; clean, cleaned, cleanly, immaculate, sparkling, spotless, stainless, unsoiled, unsullied

Antonyms
dapper, dashing, dolled up, sharp, smart, spruce

2 lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <dumped the papers in a sloppy pile on the desk> — see MESSY
3 appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <a cinematic romance with a sloppy musical score that will have audiences reaching for their handkerchiefs> — see CORNY 1

slosh verb
1 to move with a splashing motion <the baby gurgled contentedly as the water sloshed gently around him in the bathtub>

Synonyms
lap, plash, splash, swash

Related Words
babble, bubble, gurgle, ripple

2 to cause (something liquid or mushy) to move along in sheets <while painting the Windsor chair, he carelessly sloshed paint all over the adjacent wall> — see SPLASH 1

sloshed adjective, slang
being under the influence of alcohol <her idiot husband makes even less sense when he's sloshed> — see DRUNK

slot noun
a situation or activity for which a person or thing is best suited <called an old friend to see if he could find a slot for his college-age son in the construction business that summer> — see NICHE 2

sloth noun
an inclination not to do work or engage in activities <a youth inclined more toward sloth than athletics> — see LAZINESS

slothful adjective
not easily aroused to action or work <his overly lax managerial style has resulted in a department that is slothful and unproductive> — see LAZY 1

slouch noun
a lazy person <is no slouch when it comes to cooking> — see LAZYBONES

slouch verb
to move slowly <slouched towards the church as if going to his own funeral> — see CRAWL 2

slough also slew or slue noun
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water <the land for miles around the lake is strewn with ponds, sloughs, and mudflats> — see SWAMP 1

1slough verb
to move heavily or clumsily <the unpleasant task of sloughing through the muck to retrieve the ball> — see LUMBER 1

2slough also sluff verb
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside <the snake is sloughing its old skin> — see SHED 1

slough (off) also sluff (off) verb
to get rid of as useless or unwanted <finally sloughed off the depression that had been weighing him down for months> — see DISCARD

sloven noun
a dirty or sloppy person <she's a sloven and he's a neat freak—it's a wonder they are able to live together> — see SLOB 1

sloven adjective
lacking neatness in dress or person <the lawyer's sloven appearance led me to question his professionalism> — see SLOPPY 1

slovenly adjective
lacking neatness in dress or person <for the sake of their image, the band members transformed themselves from clean-cut lads to slovenly rockers> — see SLOPPY 1

slovenly adverb
in a careless or unfashionable manner <an employee who went overboard on dress-down day and was reprimanded for dressing slovenly on the job> — see SLOPPILY

slow adjective
1 moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <because of the holiday, traffic to the beach was particularly slow> <slow readers>

Synonyms
crawling, creeping, dallying, dawdling, dilatory, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, lagging, languid, leisurely, poking, poky (or pokey), sluggish, snaillike, snail-paced, tardy, unhurried

Related Words
deliberate, measured; inactive, inert, lethargic, loafing, lounging; lingering, loitering, tarrying; ambling, heavy-footed, inching, plodding, shuffling, slow-footed; strolling; decelerating, slowing; filibustering, procrastinating, stalling

Near Antonyms
expeditious, prompt, ready; accelerated, hastened, quickened; hurried, rushed

Antonyms
barreling, bolting, breakneck, breathless, brisk, careering, dizzy, fast, fleet, flying, hasty, hurrying, lightning, meteoric, quick, racing, rapid, rocketing, running, rushing, scooting, scudding, scurrying, snappy, speeding, speedy, swift, warp-speed, whirling, whirlwind, whisking, zipping

2 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <the slower students worked together in a separate group> — see STUPID 1
3 lacking in gaiety, movement, or animation <a slow day on Wall Street> — see DEAD 2
4 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <the first half of the movie is slow, but then it gets exciting> — see BORING

slow adverb
at a pace that is less than usual, desirable, or expected <you need to go slow with this experiment, or you'll make mistakes>

Synonyms
laggardly, leisurely, pokily, slowly, sluggishly, tardily

Related Words
carefully, cautiously, deliberately, purposefully; heavily, ploddingly

Near Antonyms
immediately, posthaste, presto, promptly, pronto, readily, soon; impetuously, impulsively, rashly, recklessly; abruptly, suddenly

Antonyms
apace, briskly, fast, fleetly, full tilt, hastily, meteorically, quick, quickly, rapidly, snappily, speedily, swift, swiftly

slow verb
to cause to move or proceed at a less rapid pace <if you don't slow your delivery down a bit, your speech will be over too soon>

Synonyms
brake, decelerate, retard, slacken

Related Words
halt, stop; encumber, hamper, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, obstruct, set back, tie up; bottleneck; arrest, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain; baffle, foil, frustrate, sabotage, thwart

Near Antonyms
drive, encourage, goad, propel, push, spur, stir, urge; advance, aid, dispatch, ease, expedite, facilitate, forward, further, help

Antonyms
accelerate, hasten, hurry, quicken, rush, speed (up), step up

slowdown noun
a usually gradual decrease in the pace or level of activity of something <disease experts are encouraged by the recent slowdown in the spread of the virus>

Synonyms
braking, deceleration, downshift, letup, retardation

Related Words
decline, drop, slump; ebb, remission, retreat, wane; flagging, weakening; arrest, check, halt, stoppage; collapse, crash, fall, plunge

Antonyms
acceleration, hastening, quickening

slowly adverb
at a pace that is less than usual, desirable, or expected <walked slowly toward the ringing phone> — see SLOW

slowness noun
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <her natural shyness was sometimes mistaken for slowness by people who did not know her well> — see STUPIDITY 1

slowpoke noun
someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others <quit being such a slowpoke this morning, or you'll be late>

Synonyms
crawler, dallier, dawdler, dragger, laggard, lagger, lingerer, loiterer, plodder, snail, straggler

Related Words
latecomer; idler, lazybones, loafer, lounger, slouch, slug, sluggard; delayer, procrastinator

Near Antonyms
go-getter, hustler, scrambler; hurrier, rusher, speeder

Antonyms
speedster

slow–witted adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <all but the most slow-witted readers will have solved the mystery long before they reach the book's final chapter> — see STUPID 1

sludge noun
1 soft wet earth <after a day of heavy rain, the fairgrounds had turned into pure sludge> — see MUD
2 something (as a work of literature or music) that is too sentimental <I can't bring myself to read that sludge> — see CORN

sludgy adjective
full of or covered with soft wet earth <a sludgy riverbed> — see MUDDY 1

1slug noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <one well aimed slug on the head knocked him out> — see 1BLOW

2slug noun
1 a lazy person <he's always a slug in the morning, which is why he prefers to sleep late> — see LAZYBONES
2 the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time <knocked back another slug of whiskey> — see DRINK 2

slug verb
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <she got so angry that she slugged the back of the chair and knocked it over> — see HIT 1

slug (down) verb
to swallow in liquid form <slugging down endless bottles of water in the intense heat> — see DRINK 1

slugabed noun
a lazy person <he's always so busy that he would make anyone look like a slugabed by comparison> — see LAZYBONES

sluggard noun
a lazy person <tried to wake up the sluggards who were still sleeping at that late hour> — see LAZYBONES

sluggish adjective
1 moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <the sluggish pace of the project is worrisome> — see SLOW 1
2 slow to move or act <reptiles are naturally sluggish at low temperatures> — see INACTIVE 1

sluggishly adverb
at a pace that is less than usual, desirable, or expected <the car responds sluggishly until it warms up> — see SLOW

sluice verb
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse <he sluiced the gutters with lots of water in order to make sure they were clear> — see FLUSH 1

slumber noun
a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself <a toddler looking so innocent and peaceful in slumber> — see SLEEP 1

slumber verb
1 to be in a state of sleep <she slumbered for hours while the train rolled on> — see SLEEP 1
2 to sleep lightly or briefly <slumbering restlessly in the tropical heat> — see NAP 1

slumberer noun
one who sleeps <Rip Van Winkle is one of literature's most famous slumberers> — see SLEEPER

slumbering adjective
being in a state of suspended consciousness <made a comparison between the inattentive nation and a slumbering giant> — see ASLEEP 1

slumbering noun
a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself <my peaceful slumbering was interrupted by a ring of the doorbell> — see SLEEP 1

slumberous or slumbrous adjective
1 desiring or needing sleep <parents putting their slumberous children to bed> — see SLEEPY 1
2 tending to cause sleep <the slumberous murmer of the wind in the trees> — see HYPNOTIC

slump noun
a period of decreased economic activity <the stock market is in a bit of a slump, but analysts expect things to pick up in the next fiscal quarter> — see DEPRESSION 1

slur noun
1 an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings <she brushed off the sexist slurs and proceeded to go about her business> — see INSULT
2 a mark of guilt or disgrace <your drunken behavior at the wedding has cast a slur on this family> — see STAIN 1

slur (over) verb
to fail to give proper attention to <a documentary that slurs over certain important facts as it offers a very biased case for a conspiracy theory> — see NEGLECT 1

slurp verb
to swallow in liquid form <his dinner date slurped her soup directly from the bowl> — see DRINK 1

slush noun
1 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <how can you stand to read that slush in the tabloids?> — see NONSENSE 1
2 soft wet earth <he paused in front of the doorway to wipe the slush off of his boots> — see MUD
3 something (as a work of literature or music) that is too sentimental <a musical that has been reviled as pure slush by the New York critics> — see CORN
4 that which is of low quality or worth <discovered that slush is what publishers want, so that's exactly what she'll write> — see JUNK 1

slushy adjective
1 full of or covered with soft wet earth <the slushy racetrack resulted in a significantly slower time for the winning horse> — see MUDDY 1
2 appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <slushy music underscores the movie's emotional scenes> — see CORNY 1

slut noun
a boldly flirtatious or sexually promiscuous woman <had a reputation around town for being something of a slut> — see FLOOZY

sluttish adjective
having loose sexual morals <the stand-up comic developed her sluttish persona as a way to satirize sexual double standards> — see SLEAZY 1

slutty adjective
having loose sexual morals <you might be taken more seriously if you didn't wear that slutty outfit> <a TV reality show that appears to be nothing more than an endless celebration of a household of slutty alcoholics> — see SLEAZY 1

sly adjective
1 clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <the movie pairs a sly, dissembling ex-con with an upstanding, straight-arrow cop> — see ARTFUL 1
2 given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions <why, you sly fellow! I had no idea you were planning my birthday party> — see SNEAKY 1
3 tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <a sly sense of humor> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

slyboots plural noun
someone who acts in a sly and secret manner <the whole family adored the impish little slyboots, despite his endless pranks> — see SNEAK

slyness noun
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <the slyness with which the FBI agent infiltrated the subversive organization was indeed impressive> — see CUNNING 1

1smack noun
a very small amount <add just a smack of vanilla to the whipped cream> — see PARTICLE 1

2smack noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <the cook gave him a smack on the wrist when he tried to sneak an early taste of the sauce> — see 1BLOW

smack verb
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <he smacked the punching bag one final time before heading to the showers> — see HIT 1

smack–dab adverb
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference <a restaurant that's smack-dab in the center of town> — see EXACTLY 1

smacker noun, slang
a U.S. currency bill representing 100 cents <one lousy smacker was all she left for a tip> — see DOLLAR

small adjective
1 of a size that is less than average <a small cat who never weighed more than five pounds>

Synonyms
bantam, diminutive, dinky, dwarfish, fine, half-pint, Lilliputian, little, pint-size (or pint-sized), pocket, pocket-size (also pocket-sized), puny, pygmy, shrimpy, slight, smallish, subnormal, toylike, undersized (also undersize)

Related Words
dwarf, toy; runtish, runty, scrubby, stunted; bitty, inappreciable, infinitesimal, little bitty, micro, microscopic (also microscopical), mini, miniature, miniaturized, minikin, minim, minuscule, minute, pinpoint, teensy, teensy-weensy, teeny, teeny-weeny, tiny, wee, weeny (also weensy); meager (or meagre), niggardly, poor, scant, scanty, scarce, skimp, skimpy, slender, slim, spare, sparse, stingy; deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, wanting; bite-size (also bite-sized), capsule

Near Antonyms
bulky, hefty, hulking, massive, voluminous; boxcar, Brobdingnagian, Bunyanesque, cavernous, colossal, cyclopean, elephantine, enormous, galactic, gargantuan, giant, gigantic, gross, Himalayan, herculean, heroic (also heroical), huge, humongous (also humungous), immense, jumbo, leviathan, mammoth, monolithic, monstrous, monumental, mountainous, pharaonic, prodigious, staggering, stupendous, titanic, tremendous, vast; abundant, ample, appreciable, bountiful, copious, generous, healthy, liberal, plenteous, plentiful; fat, thick; broad, wide; boundless, cosmic (also cosmical), immeasurable, incalculable, infinite; adequate, enough, sufficient

Antonyms
big, biggish, considerable, goodly, grand, great, handsome, husky, king-size (or king-sized), large, largish, outsize (also outsized), overscale (or overscaled), oversize (or oversized), sizable (or sizeable), substantial, tidy, whacking, whopping

2 small in degree <your chances of winning the lottery are so small that it's best not to count on it> — see REMOTE 1
3 lacking importance <reluctant to bring such a small matter to the boss's attention> — see UNIMPORTANT
4 not broad or open in views or opinions <townspeople who were helpful to one another but who also could be small and intolerant> — see NARROW 2

small arm noun
a portable weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder <the soldiers keep their small arms securely in their holsters when not on patrol> — see GUN 1

small beer noun
something of little importance <the money we spend on cable is small beer compared to the mortgage payment we have to come up with every month> — see TRIFLE

small change noun
something of little importance <he rightfully dismissed his woes as small change compared to the life-threatening problems faced by others> — see TRIFLE

smaller adjective
having not so great importance or rank as another <a smaller task but one that needs to be done nevertheless> — see LESSER

smallest adjective
being the least in amount, number, or size possible <severely reprimanded employees even for the smallest mistakes> — see MINIMAL

small–fry adjective
lacking importance <some small-fry official in the state government with a big-time ego> — see UNIMPORTANT

smallish adjective
of a size that is less than average <a smallish row of bushes lining the yard> — see SMALL 1

small–minded adjective
1 unwilling to grant other people social rights or to accept other viewpoints <a small-minded man only concerned with his own well-being> — see INTOLERANT 2
2 not broad or open in views or opinions <resented the small-minded people who automatically opposed every new idea> — see NARROW 2

small–mindedness noun
stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices <the small-mindedness of her parents would never allow them to accept a son-in-law of a different religion> — see BIGOTRY

smallness noun
1 the quality or state of being little in size <my grandmother was surprised by the smallness of the latest electronic devices>

Synonyms
diminutiveness, fineness, littleness, puniness, slightness

Related Words
petiteness; minuteness, tininess; meagerness, poorness, scantiness, scantness, scarceness, scarcity, skimpiness, slenderness, slimness, spareness, sparseness, sparsity, stinginess; deficiency, inadequacy, inadequateness

Near Antonyms
enormity, enormousness, grossness, hugeness, immenseness, immensity, magnitude, mountainousness, prodigiousness, stupendousness; extensiveness, vastness; excessiveness, extravagance, extremeness, immoderacy; abundance, ampleness, bountifulness, copiousness, generosity, healthiness, liberality; adequacy, sufficiency; heaviness, heftiness, weightiness; bulkiness, massiveness, voluminousness

Antonyms
bigness, grandness, greatness, largeness, magnitude

2 the quality or state of being unimportant <regardless of its smallness, each act of kindness is ultimately rewarded> — see INSIGNIFICANCE

small talk noun
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <at the corporate get-together we made the obligatory small talk with some people from the home office> — see CHAT 1

smart noun
1 a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body <the toddler was whining over the smart from the cut> — see PAIN 1
2 smarts plural the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems <she had the smarts to start college at age 16, but perhaps not the emotional maturity> — see INTELLIGENCE 1

smart verb
to feel or cause physical pain <the injection only smarted for a moment> — see HURT 1

smart adjective
1 being strikingly neat and trim in style or appearance <dressed in their smart new uniforms, the cadets proudly paraded around the grounds of the military school>

Synonyms
dapper, natty, sharp, snappy, spruce

Related Words
dolled up, dressy, elegant, formal, spiffed-up; orderly, tidy; à la mode (also a la mode), chic, fashionable, in, modish, stylish; careful, fastidious, fussy, meticulous; combed, groomed; clean, immaculate, pristine, spotless, squeaky-clean

Near Antonyms
messy, mussed, rumpled, uncombed, untidy, wrinkled; shabby, sleazy; dingy, dirty, filthy, foul, grimy, grubby, nasty, scroungy, scrubby, scruffy, scuzzy [slang], smirched, soiled, spotted, stained, sullied, unclean; dowdy, inelegant, unfashionable, unstylish

Antonyms
disheveled (or dishevelled), frowsy (or frowzy), sloppy, slovenly, unkempt

2 being in the latest or current fashion <boutiques specializing in smart clothes for cosmopolitan women> — see STYLISH
3 given to or marked by mature intelligent humor <something one sees so rarely on TV: a smart sitcom> — see WITTY
4 making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred <just joked and made smart comments during the ceremony> — see FLIPPANT
5 having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment <a smart investment that has really paid off> — see SHREWD 1
6 having or showing quickness of mind <a smart child who will do well in school> — see INTELLIGENT 1
7 having a wide and refined knowledge of the world especially from personal experience <a novelist who got much of the material for his works by hanging out with the smart set> — see WORLDLY-WISE

smart–aleck adjective
1 making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred <a talk show host who's known for his quick quips and smart-aleck observations on current events> — see FLIPPANT
2 marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <a smart-aleck reply that was met with a slap in the face> — see SARCASTIC

smart aleck also smart alec noun
a person who likes to show off in a clever but annoying way <some smart aleck in the audience kept shouting clever insults at the nervous speaker>

Synonyms
smarty (or smartie), smarty-pants, wiseacre, wiseass, wise guy, wisenheimer (also weisenheimer)

Related Words
know-all [chiefly British], know-it-all; wisecracker; hotshot, show-off

smart–alecky adjective
1 making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred <you wouldn't be so smart-alecky if you were the one having the surgery> — see FLIPPANT
2 marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <smart-alecky comments from a coworker about her new clothes> — see SARCASTIC

smart–ass adjective
making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred <it's easy to make smart-ass jokes about death when you're not the one who's dying> — see FLIPPANT

smart–assed adjective
making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred <smart-assed collegians making jokes at the expense of devout churchgoers> — see FLIPPANT

smarting adjective
causing intense discomfort to one's skin <we had to press on, despite the smarting sleet that was blowing in our faces> — see CUTTING 1

smartly adverb
in a strikingly neat and trim manner <the smartly dressed scouts marched at the head of the Memorial Day parade>

Synonyms
dashingly, nattily, sharply, snappily, sprucely

Related Words
neatly, orderly, tidily, trimly; elegantly, fashionably, modishly, stylishly, swankily; carefully, fastidiously, fussily, meticulously; cleanly, immaculately, pristinely, spotlessly

Near Antonyms
dowdily, inelegantly; slatternly; messily, mussily, untidily; scruffily, shabbily, sleazily; dingily, dirtily, filthily, foully, grubbily, nastily

Antonyms
sloppily, slovenly

smart–mouthed adjective
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <your smart-mouthed remarks aren't at all helping the situation> — see SARCASTIC

smarty or smartie noun
a person who likes to show off in a clever but annoying way <think so, smarty? Well, you're wrong, and I can prove it!> — see SMART ALECK

smarty–pants adjective
making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred <your smarty-pants comments aren't helping matters any> — see FLIPPANT

smarty–pants plural noun
a person who likes to show off in a clever but annoying way <I don't need to hear from some smarty-pants second-guesser that the theme for the party is all wrong> — see SMART ALECK

smash noun
1 a forceful coming together of two things <the awful smash when his dreams got hit by reality> — see IMPACT 1
2 the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact <the sound of the smash made all of the bystanders immediately whip their heads around> — see CRASH 1
3 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <she gave the tennis ball a smash and sent it flying over the other side of the net> — see 1BLOW
4 a loud explosive sound <the bikes collided with a huge smash> — see CLAP 1
5 a person or thing that is successful <the new Broadway musical is a smash> — see HIT 1

smash verb
1 to cause to break with violence and much noise <the drunken guest deliberately smashed a glass against the brick fireplace>

Synonyms
break down, crash, shatter

Related Words
bust, fracture, fragment; annihilate, bash, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, nuke, pulverize, ruin, tear down, total, vaporize, waste, wrack, wreck; shiver, splinter, split; crack, crunch, crush, snap

2 to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive <the firecracker smashed the clay pot> — see BLAST 1
3 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <the invading troops smashed the resistance and went on to conquer the country> — see DESTROY 1
4 to come into usually forceful contact with something <we nearly smashed into each other on the skating rink> — see HIT 2

smashed adjective
1 forcibly separated into many pieces <the smashed figurine left bits of china all over the rug> — see BROKEN 1
2 slang being under the influence of alcohol <on his 21st birthday, he went out and got smashed—before wrapping his car around a tree> — see DRUNK

smashup noun
the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact <three cars were involved in a smashup on my street last night> — see CRASH 1

smatter noun
a small number <we received only a smatter of complaints about the book> — see FEW

smattering noun
a small number <a smattering of guests at the art exhibit> — see FEW

smear verb
1 to rub an oily or sticky substance over <the toddler gleefully smeared her hair and face with maple syrup>

Synonyms
anoint, bedaub, besmear, daub

Related Words
coat, paint, plaster; grease, oil; gum, lard, pitch, tar; befoul, begrime, bemire, besmirch, blacken, dirty, foul, gaum [dialect], grime, mire, muck, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully

2 to make untrue and harmful statements about <he is willing to smear his opponent if doing so would win the election> — see SLANDER

smearing noun
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation <this smearing has got to stop, or the voters will conclude that there's absolutely no one worth voting for> — see SLANDER

smell noun
1 the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose <the smell of vanilla is supposed to be very soothing>

Synonyms
aroma, odor, redolence, scent, sniff

Related Words
whiff; attar (also otto), bouquet, fragrance, fragrancy, perfume; ambrosia, lusciousness, savor (also savour), savoriness, spice, tang; acridness, fetidness, fetor, foulness, funk, gaminess, malodor, noisomeness, rancidity, rankness, reek, stench, stink; aromaticity, odoriferousness, odorousness; incense, musk

2 a very small amount <the pie has barely a smell of ginger, but lots of cinnamon> — see PARTICLE 1
3 a special quality or impression associated with something <a law firm with a mahogany-lined boardroom that has the discernible smell of money and power> — see AURA 1

smell verb
1 to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose <we smelled the aroma of freshly baked cookies as soon as we walked in the house>

Synonyms
nose, scent, sniff, snuff, whiff

Related Words
breathe, drink (in), inhale, respire; snort, snuffle; savor (also savour)

2 to have a vague awareness of <I smell something fishy about this situation> — see FEEL 1
3 to be objectionable or unsatisfactory <that movie smells—I wouldn't waste my money on it if I were you> — see STINK 2

smeller noun
the part of the face bearing the nostrils and nasal cavity <a sensitive smeller is just as important as a fine palate when evaluating wine> — see NOSE 1

smelly adjective
having an unpleasant smell <your smelly sneakers are enough to raise the dead> — see MALODOROUS

smidgen also smidgeon or smidgin or smidge noun
a very small amount <the maid cleaned the house until there wasn't even a smidgen of dust left> — see PARTICLE 1

smile verb
1 to express an emotion (as amusement) by curving the lips upward <the soldier smiled in pleasure when he saw the giant sign welcoming him home>

Synonyms
beam, grin

Related Words
laugh, simper; smirk, sneer

Near Antonyms
grimace; frown, glare, gloom, glower, lower (also lour), scowl; pout, sulk

2 to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions <smiled at their ridiculous antics and walked away in disgust> — see SNEER

smilingly adverb
in a cheerful or happy manner <puts up with the old woman's complaints smilingly> — see GAILY 1

smirch noun
a mark of guilt or disgrace <corruption charges that were a smirch on her reputation> — see STAIN 1

smirch verb
1 to make dirty <their clothes were smirched by dust from the trail> — see DIRTY
2 to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <this scandal will forever smirch the name of a once-great family> — see HUMBLE

smite verb
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <he shall smite his enemies with a mighty fist> — see HIT 1

smog noun
an atmospheric condition in which suspended particles in the air rob it of its transparency <the city's smog was once so bad that darkness often prevailed, even at noon> — see HAZE 1

smoggy adjective
filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension <it was hard to see through the smoggy afternoon sky> — see HAZY 1

smoke verb, slang
to defeat by a large margin <man, they totally smoked us today!> — see WHIP 2

smooch verb
to touch one another with the lips as a sign of love <a couple smooching in a dark corner> — see KISS 1

smooth adjective
1 having or showing very polished and worldly manners <a smooth salesman of expensive jewelry> — see SUAVE
2 involving minimal difficulty or effort <it should be smooth going from this point on> — see EASY 1
3 having a surface without bends, breaks, or irregularities <a smooth skating rink> — see LEVEL 1
4 free from emotional or mental agitation <his smooth disposition and leadership qualities lend themselves well to the position> — see CALM 2

smooth verb
1 to free from obstruction or difficulty <a willingness to compromise will smooth the way to an early agreement> — see EASE 1
2 to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps <the workers smoothed the surface of the concrete before letting it dry> — see EVEN 1
3 to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure <used fine sandpaper to smooth the face of the wood> — see POLISH 1

smoothen verb
1 to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps <smoothen the wood for the table thoroughly, or the legs will be uneven> — see EVEN 1
2 to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure <smoothen the edges of the two parts before trying to join them together> — see POLISH 1

smoothly adverb
without difficulty <we proceeded smoothly to the next stage of the project> — see EASILY 1

smorgasbord noun
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <every day the director has to first deal with a smorgasbord of problems before he can begin filming> — see MISCELLANY 1

smother verb
1 to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air <children should never play inside discarded appliances because they could become trapped and smother>

Synonyms
choke, stifle, strangle, suffocate

Related Words
garrote (or garotte), throttle; asphyxiate; drown; croak [slang], destroy, dispatch, do in, fell, slay

Near Antonyms
breathe, exhale, expire, inhale, inspire; resuscitate, revive

2 to refrain from openly showing or uttering <he quickly smothered his inappropriate laughter at the funeral ceremony> — see SUPPRESS 2
3 to defeat by a large margin <the soccer team smothered their first few opponents in the championships, but lost narrowly in the final round> — see WHIP 2

smudge verb
to make dirty <she accidentally smudged her collar with the lipstick> — see DIRTY

smudge noun
a mark of guilt or disgrace <the president's spouse must not have the slightest smudge of scandal> — see STAIN 1

smudged adjective
not clean <every copy of the book that the store had was smudged> — see DIRTY 1

smug adjective
1 having too high an opinion of oneself <a winner who was so smug that he lost the goodwill of the crowd> — see CONCEITED
2 being clean and in good order <the suburb's smug lawns and tree-lined streets bespeak a comfortable affluence> — see NEAT 1

smuggler noun
a person who imports or exports goods secretly and illegally <during Prohibition, smugglers of alcohol did a brisk business>

Synonyms
bootlegger, contrabandist, courier, runner

Related Words
coyote, gunrunner, mule [slang]

smugness noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <the sense of smugness that can come with too many easy victories> — see COMPLACENCE 1

smut noun
1 foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something <once a year they cleaned all of the smut out of the chimney> — see FILTH 1
2 the quality or state of being obscene <the talk-show host is famous for shows filled with smut and scandal> — see OBSCENITY 1

smuttiness noun
1 the quality or state of being obscene <we were offended by the smuttiness of the jokes that the comedian was telling> — see OBSCENITY 1
2 the state or quality of being dirty <appalled by the unspeakable smuttiness of the rental apartments that they were shown> — see DIRTINESS 1

smutty adjective
1 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <the movie was rated R because of some nude scenes and smutty dialogue> — see OBSCENE 1
2 not clean <a street urchin with a smutty face> — see DIRTY 1

snag noun
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized <we ran into a slight snag the night before the show> — see PITFALL 1

snag verb
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <often late for work, I generally snag a bagel as I run out the door in the morning> — see CATCH 1

snail noun
someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others <go and tell the snails in the back to hurry up> — see SLOWPOKE

snail verb
to move slowly <the highway construction work created a bottleneck that had cars snailing for the next five miles> — see CRAWL 2

snaillike adjective
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <the application process for an overseas adoption has been moving at a snaillike pace> — see SLOW 1

snail mail noun
communications or parcels sent or carried through the postal system <even though she has an e-mail account, she still prefers to send snail mail> — see MAIL

snail–paced adjective
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <my snail-paced dial-up connection is essentially worthless for video downloads> — see SLOW 1

snake verb
1 to move about in a sly or secret manner <snaking softly through the brush> — see SNEAK 1
2 to move slowly with the body close to the ground <commandos snaking through the grass toward the house> — see CRAWL 1

snake noun
1 a limbless reptile with a long body <snakes are cold-blooded, so they regulate their body temperature by alternately basking in sunlight and seeking shade>

Synonyms
serpent, viper

Related Words
adder, anaconda, asp, black racer, blacksnake, blue racer, boa, bull snake, bushmaster, chicken snake, cobra, constrictor, copperhead, coral snake, cottonmouth moccasin, diamondback rattlesnake, fer-de-lance, garter snake, gopher snake, green snake, hognose snake, horned viper, indigo snake, king cobra, king snake, krait, mamba, milk snake, moccasin, pine snake, pit viper, puff adder, python, racer, rat snake, rattlesnake, sea serpent, sea snake, sidewinder, taipan, water moccasin, water snake, worm snake

2 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <why, that dirty, rotten snake!> — see JERK 1
3 one who betrays a trust or an allegiance <what a snake she was—having an affair with my husband while I was in the hospital!> — see TRAITOR

snakebit or snakebitten adjective
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck <in retrospect, our assault on the mountain's summit seems to have been snakebit from the get-go> — see UNLUCKY 1

snake pit noun
a state in which everything is out of order <finally managed to crawl out of the snake pit of her drug addiction> — see CHAOS

snap adjective
1 involving minimal difficulty or effort <a snap course that even an idiot could pass> — see EASY 1
2 made or done without previous thought or preparation <made a snap decision> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

snap noun
1 a loud explosive sound <the plastic coat hook broke off with a loud snap when he tried to hang the heavy bag on it> — see CLAP 1
2 a picture created from an image recorded on a light-sensitive surface by a camera <took several snaps of his family for the scrapbook> — see PHOTOGRAPH
3 active strength of body or mind <the team is showing a lot of snap tonight> — see VIGOR 1
4 a weather condition marked by low temperatures <a prolonged cold snap> — see COLD
5 a very small amount <I don't care a snap about gossip> — see PARTICLE 1
6 something that is easy to do <this test will be a snap> — see CINCH 1

snap verb
1 to speak sharply or irritably <the shopkeeper finally snapped at one customer who couldn't seem to make up his mind>

Synonyms
bark, snarl

Related Words
growl, grumble; roar, scream, shout, shriek, yell; fulminate, rage, rant, rave, sputter, storm, tee off, vent, vituperate; blow up, explode, flare (up), flip (out) [slang]

Near Antonyms
calm (down), simmer down

2 to break suddenly with an explosive sound <the fragile twig snapped in her hands> — see CRACK 1
3 to take a photograph of <be sure to snap everything you see on your vacation, and then you can show us> — see PHOTOGRAPH
4 to pass from one form, state, or level to another <she abruptly snapped alert> — see CHANGE 2

snap (up) verb
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <I snapped up the last remaining cupcake before anyone else could get their mitts on it> — see CATCH 1

snapback noun
the process or period of gradually regaining one's health and strength <the doctor predicted a quick snapback for the rugged young soldier> — see CONVALESCENCE

snap back verb
1 to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness <teenagers will often snap back remarkably quickly> — see CONVALESCE
2 to regain a former or normal state <analysts hoped that the economy would snap back over the next few months> — see RECOVER 2

snappily adverb
1 with great speed <she snappily completed the job application and handed it to the receptionist> — see FAST 1
2 in a strikingly neat and trim manner <the snappily attired male dancers wore top hats and tails> — see SMARTLY
3 in a quick and spirited manner <sang out the square dance calls snappily> — see GAILY 2

snappish adjective
easily irritated or annoyed <I always start feeling snappish whenever I get really hungry> — see IRRITABLE

snappy adjective
1 being in the latest or current fashion <that snappy outfit really should impress your date> — see STYLISH
2 easily irritated or annoyed <we tried to avoid her when she was acting snappy, which was all too often> — see IRRITABLE
3 having a low or subnormal temperature <typically snappy weather for March> — see COLD 1
4 having much high-spirited energy and movement <much snappy repartee at the party celebrating the new art gallery's opening> — see LIVELY 1
5 moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <bring us some more french fries, and make it snappy!> — see FAST 1
6 being strikingly neat and trim in style or appearance <the snappy outfits worn by the young, attractive staff at the hotel> — see SMART 1

snapshot noun
a picture created from an image recorded on a light-sensitive surface by a camera <fans excitedly took snapshots of the rock star as he dashed into the hotel> — see PHOTOGRAPH

snare noun
1 a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise <you fell for my clever snare, you fool!> — see TRAP 1
2 something that catches and holds <someday you'll find that your lies are a snare from which you can't escape> — see WEB 1

snare verb
1 to catch or hold as if in a net <easily distracted by any bright object that snared his eye> — see ENTANGLE 2
2 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <campers trying to snare brook trout for supper> — see CATCH 1

snarky adjective
1 easily irritated or annoyed <working all day with such snarky jerks is exhausting> — see IRRITABLE
2 marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <with champagne as a lubricant, she unleashed an unending series of snarky comments for the duration of the wedding reception> — see SARCASTIC

1snarl verb
to speak sharply or irritably <she snarled at me after I kept badgering her with questions> — see SNAP 1

2snarl verb
to twist together into a usually confused mass <you'll be awfully sorry if you snarl your fishing line> — see ENTANGLE 1

snarl noun
a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement <to no avail, the city promotes carpooling to help ease the traffic snarls that always accompany rush hour> — see JAM 1

snatch verb
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <the brazen seagull snatched the french fry right from my hand> — see CATCH 1

snatch noun, slang
the unlawful or forcible carrying away of a person or animal <to the police chief, it didn't look like a snatch, but another case of a bride-to-be getting cold feet> — see ABDUCTION

snatching noun
an instance of theft <an industry in which the snatching of trade secrets is greatly feared> — see THEFT 2

snazzy adjective
attractively eye-catching in style <fond of tooling around town in a snazzy car> — see JAZZY 1

sneak adjective
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <a sneak attack on the nation's capitol> — see SECRET 1

sneak noun
someone who acts in a sly and secret manner <“Why, you little sneak,” the mother exclaimed, “you made my birthday present right under my nose!”>

Synonyms
lurker, skulk, skulker, slyboots, sneaker

Related Words
skunk, snake, weasel; sharper, sharpie (or sharpy), slicker, swindler; snoop, snooper, spy; stalker

sneak verb
1 to move about in a sly or secret manner <the little kids sneak around upstairs when they're supposed to be in bed>

Synonyms
lurk, mooch, mouse, pussyfoot, shirk, skulk, slide, slink, slip, snake, steal

Related Words
crawl, creep, edge, inch, worm; ghost, pad, tiptoe

2 to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way <sneak the topic into the conversation any way you can> — see INSINUATE

sneaker noun
someone who acts in a sly and secret manner <she's such a sneaker I wouldn't trust her any farther than I could throw her> — see SNEAK

sneakiness noun
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <she was impressed by the sneakiness with which they had planned the surprise party> — see CUNNING 1

sneaking adjective
1 given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions <never let one of those sneaking salespeople into your house> — see SNEAKY 1
2 undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <harbored a sneaking admiration for his chief business rival> — see SECRET 1
3 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <a sneaking two-timer who has completely lost his wife's trust> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1

sneaky adjective
1 given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions <his opponent's sneaky campaign manager was clearly up to something>

Synonyms
furtive, shady, shifty, slippery, sly, sneaking, stealthy

Related Words
artful, crafty, cunning, devious, foxy, guileful, slick, wily; close, closemouthed, reticent, secretive; clandestine, covert, dark; deceitful, deceiving, deceptive, devious, duplicitous, trickish, tricky, underhand, underhanded; cheating, crooked, defrauding, dishonest, dissembling, double-dealing, knavish, two-faced; lying, mendacious, untrustworthy, untruthful; insidious, perfidious, serpentine, treacherous

Near Antonyms
aboveboard, forthright, plainspoken, straightforward; candid, direct, foursquare, frank, open, plain; honest, trustworthy, truthful

2 undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <a sneaky plan to replace the priceless painting with a copy> — see SECRET 1

sneer verb
to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions <in high school the in crowd would invariably sneer every time they passed the hapless nerds>

Synonyms
laugh, smile, snicker, snigger

Related Words
sniff, snort; catcall, deride, gibe (or jibe), hoot, insult, jeer, mock, ridicule; decry, despise, disdain; scoff (at), scorn; bad-mouth, belittle, disparage, pooh-pooh (also pooh), put down; heckle, jive, razz, rib, ride, taunt, tease, torment

snicker noun
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <a snicker of derision when we heard their offer on the house> — see LAUGH 1

snicker verb
1 to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions <he snickered at the puzzled look on her face> — see SNEER
2 to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound <only hard-core fans of teen sex comedies will snicker at this lame attempt> — see LAUGH 1

snide adjective
1 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <a snide trick to get the old woman to sell her antiques for practically nothing> — see IGNOBLE 2
2 being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud <some small-time crook who was selling snide gems to gullible tourists> — see COUNTERFEIT 1

sniff noun
the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose <we took a good sniff of the sauce, trying to guess its ingredients> — see SMELL 1

sniff verb
to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose <a curious cat sniffing the flowers in the garden> — see SMELL 1

sniff (at) verb
to show contempt for <her carpentry skills are nothing to sniff at> — see SCORN 1

sniffy adjective
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <she was sniffy about anyone who didn't live up to her standards for “good manners”> — see ARROGANT

snigger noun
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <a love scene that unintentionally drew sniggers from the audience> — see LAUGH 1

snigger verb
to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions <we sniggered as the actor kept forgetting his lines> — see SNEER

snip verb
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument <snipped the loose ends> — see CLIP 1

snip noun
1 a very small piece <cleared out the snips of paper that had been clogging the machine> — see BIT 1
2 British something bought or offered for sale at a desirable price <that antique urn that we bought at London's Portobello Road Market was a real snip> — see BARGAIN 1

snippersnapper noun
a person of no importance or influence <an old hand who regards these kids right out of business school as a bunch of snippersnappers who don't know beans> — see NOBODY

snippet noun
a very small piece <read them a snippet of his latest poem> — see BIT 1

snippety adjective
easily irritated or annoyed <we complained to the manager about the snippety, uncooperative waitress> — see IRRITABLE

snippy adjective
1 being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner <snippy remarks about the quality of the food at the church picnic> — see BLUNT 1
2 easily irritated or annoyed <feeling snippy after a long day of work> — see IRRITABLE
3 self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance <I get tired of his snippy insistence that emulating the rich and famous is the only way to appear successful> — see PRETENTIOUS 1

snit noun
a state of resentful silence or irritability <don't bother him; he's still in a snit after this morning's reprimand> — see POUT

1snitch verb
to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities <the prison gang had its own ways of dealing with those inmates who snitched> — see SQUEAL 1

2snitch verb
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <snitched some paper from the office supply room for use with her printer at home> — see STEAL 1

snitch noun
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <several men were sentenced to prison based on the now-questionable testimony of a jailhouse snitch> — see INFORMER

snitcher noun
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <the prison inmate swore that he'd get revenge if he ever found out who the snitcher was> — see INFORMER

sniveler noun
a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things <the worst supermarket snivelers were the ones who tried to redeem coupons for items they hadn't even bought> — see CRYBABY

snob noun
a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior <the snobs at the museum fund-raiser turned their little noses up at us because we weren't wearing designer outfits>

Synonyms
snoot, snot

Related Words
elitist, name-dropper, social climber

snobbish adjective
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior <he gave us one snobbish glance and then disregarded us>

Synonyms
aristocratic, elitist, high-hat, persnickety, potty, ritzy, snobby, snooty, snotty, toffee-nosed [chiefly British]

Related Words
aloof, arrogant, bumptious, haughty, high-and-mighty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-handed, hoity-toity, huffish, huffy, imperious, lordly, overweening, peremptory, pompous, presumptuous, pretentious, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also topliftical), uppity; biggety (or biggity) [Southern & Midland], bigheaded, egoistic (also egoistical), egotistic (or egotistical), prideful, self-conceited, self-important, self-satisfied, smug, stuck-up, swelled-headed, swellheaded

Near Antonyms
democratic, egalitarian; egoless, humble, modest, unpretentious; antielitist, antisnob

snobby adjective
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior <the snobby waiter gave me a withering look when I ordered the cheapest wine on the list> — see SNOBBISH

snooker verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <I can't believe you managed to snooker me with that story about being an orphan> — see DECEIVE

snoop verb
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern <a private investigator snooping around the abandoned warehouse> — see INTERFERE

snoopy adjective
1 interested in what is not one's own business <she feels that being snoopy is a desirable, even essential, trait in a reporter> — see CURIOUS 1
2 thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <put a fence around the yard to keep out snoopy neighbors> — see INTRUSIVE

snoot noun
1 a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior <our neighbor is a tiresome old snoot who keeps talking about how the neighborhood is going downhill> — see SNOB
2 the part of the face bearing the nostrils and nasal cavity <an overbearing snob who walks around with her snoot up in the air> — see NOSE 1
3 a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval <a snoot that suggested that she thought that she was better than the rest of us> — see GRIMACE

snoot verb
to show contempt for <after some modest success, the singer began to snoot the very people who had helped her get her career off the ground> — see SCORN 1

snooty adjective
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior <the actress plays a genteel yet faintly snooty older woman> — see SNOBBISH

snooze noun
1 a short sleep <took a snooze after lunch to refresh himself> — see 1NAP
2 someone or something boring <man, that novel is a snooze—there's not one interesting character in it> — see DRAG 1

snooze verb
1 to be in a state of sleep <snoozed through those long winter nights under a thick down comforter> — see SLEEP 1
2 to sleep lightly or briefly <she was just snoozing when she heard the knock at the door> — see NAP 1

snoozer noun
someone or something boring <the supposed farce turned out to be a numbingly slow snoozer> — see DRAG 1

snoozing noun
a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself <all that snoozing should have you well rested and ready for some hard work> — see SLEEP 1

snoozle verb, chiefly dialect
to lie close <a trio of kittens were snoozling comfortably in the basket> — see NUZZLE

snort noun
1 a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval <made a snort of derision at the lame suggestion> — see CATCALL
2 the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time <the old cowpoke asked for a snort of whiskey> — see DRINK 2

snorter noun
something very good of its kind <a real snorter of an action movie that lives up to all the hype> — see JIM-DANDY

snot noun
a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior <that patronizing little snot at the vintage record store openly smirks when someone asks for something from the Top 40> — see SNOB

snotty adjective
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior <a snotty contempt for those brash parvenus who moved into the cookie-cutter mansion next door> — see SNOBBISH

snout noun
the part of the face bearing the nostrils and nasal cavity <dogs and their owners must grow to resemble one another, as that man and his basset hound have remarkably similar snouts> — see NOSE 1

snow verb
1 to cause to believe what is untrue <easily snowed by her glib talk> — see DECEIVE
2 to make white or whiter by removing color <the years had snowed his hair to a silvery white, making it difficult at first to recognize her old high school crush> — see WHITEN

snowball verb
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <the little problems we ignored began to snowball into huge headaches> — see INCREASE 2

snow under verb
1 to defeat by a large margin <the challenger snowed the incumbent under in a big upset> — see WHIP 2
2 to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress <snowed under by the huge pile of paperwork> — see OVERWHELM 1

snub noun
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly <he tolerated the snubs from his in-laws because the holidays come but once a year, thankfully> — see COLD SHOULDER

snub verb
1 to deliberately ignore or treat rudely <the snob in town always snubbed anyone she thought was beneath her>

Synonyms
cold-shoulder, cut, high-hat, slight, stiff, stiff-arm

Related Words
isolate, ostracize; brush (aside or off), disdain, rebuff, reject, repel, repulse, scorn, spurn; disregard, forget, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, shrug off

2 to show contempt for <a social set that snubs anyone below their income bracket> — see SCORN 1

snuff verb
1 to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose <the dog began barking as soon as she snuffed the scent of squirrel> — see SMELL 1
2 to put to death deliberately <the proprietor of the boarding house had apparently snuffed almost 50 old men before she was caught> — see MURDER 1

snuff (out) verb
1 to cause to cease burning <snuff out the candle> — see EXTINGUISH 1
2 to destroy all traces of <the forest fire snuffed out all of the animal life in the immediate area> — see ANNIHILATE 1
3 to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <brutally snuffed out the movement for democratic rule> — see QUELL 1

snug adjective
1 being clean and in good order <a snug military cadet in dress uniform> — see NEAT 1
2 providing physical comfort <a snug cottage that's the perfect retreat for a rustic vacation> — see COMFORTABLE 1
3 enjoying physical comfort <while snug in our warm beds, we listened to the winter storm raging outside> — see COMFORTABLE 2
4 firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge <make sure that all screws and nuts in the shelving unit are snug> — see TIGHT 2
5 providing safety <yachtsmen looking for a snug harbor in which to anchor for the night> — see SAFE 2

snug verb
to sit or recline comfortably or cozily <the farmhand snugged down in the hay and proceeded to go to sleep> — see SNUGGLE 1

snuggle verb
1 to sit or recline comfortably or cozily <it's particularly nice to snuggle next to the fire on a snowy day>

Synonyms
curl up, nestle, snug

Related Words
burrow; couch, crouch, huddle, hunch, hunker (down), scrunch, squat, squinch

2 to lie close <snuggle up to a friendly cat> — see NUZZLE

so adjective
being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard <I'm afraid that some of what you've said just isn't so> — see CORRECT 1

so adverb
1 for this or that reason <it was raining, so we stayed inside> — see THEREFORE
2 in like manner <the boss works very hard, and so does everyone else> — see ALSO 1
3 to a great degree <it's so cold outside> — see VERY 1
4 without any question <you are so in trouble if I catch you sneaking out of the house again> — see INDEED 1

soak noun
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <felt sorry for the town soak, who couldn't hold a job> — see DRUNK 1

soak verb
1 to wet thoroughly with liquid <we ran for home as soon as the rain started, but our clothes still ended up soaked>

Synonyms
drench, drown, impregnate, macerate, saturate, sodden, sop, souse, steep

Related Words
waterlog, water-soak; marinate, seethe; presoak; dip, immerse, inundate, submerge, swamp; bathe, douse (also dowse), hydrate, swill, wash, water; infiltrate, penetrate, permeate; damp, dampen, humidify, moisten

Near Antonyms
dehydrate, desiccate, dry, parch, sear; drain, empty, void; dehumidify

Antonyms
wring (out)

2 to charge (someone) too much for goods or services <a merchant who soaks the tourists every summer> — see OVERCHARGE 1
3 to make wet <that downpour soaked my hair, and now I look like a sight> — see WET
4 to partake excessively of alcoholic beverages <depressed about his love life, he repaired to a bar to soak> — see DRINK 2

soak (up) verb
to take in (something liquid) through small openings <this sponge should soak up the spilled juice very nicely> — see ABSORB 1

soaked adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <a miserable, soaked cat who looked like a drowned rat> — see WET 1

soaker noun
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <that soaker couldn't pass a Breathalyzer test if his life depended on it> — see DRUNK 1

soaking adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <the fisherman couldn't wait to take off his soaking socks> — see WET 1

so–and–so noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <I'm never talking to that nasty so-and-so again after what he said to me last time!> — see JERK 1

soap noun
a substance used for cleaning <a little soap and water should clean this in no time> — see CLEANER

soapbox noun
a place or opportunity for communicating ideas and information <some readers don't appreciate that she sometimes uses her book blog as a soapbox for her political views> — see VENUE 1

soap opera noun
something (as a work of literature or music) that is too sentimental <the movie started out well, but quickly devolved into improbable soap opera> — see CORN

soapy adjective
overly or insincerely flattering <a typically soapy introduction for the guest speaker at the organization's annual banquet> — see FULSOME 1

soar noun
the act or an instance of rising or climbing up <the soar of the space shuttle never fails to inspire> — see ASCENT 1

soar verb
1 to move or extend upward <the Eiffel Tower soaring into the skies above Paris> — see ASCEND
2 to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings <bats soaring and swooping through the night air> — see FLY 1
3 to rise abruptly and rapidly <gas prices soared overnight because of the shortage> — see SKYROCKET

sob verb
to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress <the child sobbed when she found the dead frog> — see CRY 1

sober adjective
1 not having one's mind affected by alcohol <it's important to stay sober if you're going to be driving a car>

Synonyms
clearheaded, straight

Related Words
abstemious, abstinent, dry, teetotal, temperate; cool, level, steady

Near Antonyms
alcoholic, bibulous, crapulous, dipsomaniacal; maudlin, tiddly [chiefly British]; befuddled, besotted, dopey (also dopy); debauched, dissipated, dissolute

Antonyms
blasted [slang], blind, blitzed [slang], blotto [slang], bombed, boozy, canned [slang], cockeyed, crocked, drunk, drunken, fried, gassed, hammered [slang], high, inebriate, inebriated, intoxicated, juiced [slang], lit, lit up, loaded [slang], looped, oiled [slang], pickled, pie-eyed, plastered, potted [slang], ripped [slang], sloshed [slang], smashed [slang], sottish, soused, sozzled, squiffed (or squiffy), stewed, stiff, stinking [slang], stoned, tanked [slang], tight, tipsy, wasted [slang], wiped out [slang]

2 based on sound reasoning or information <a sober assessment of the situation> — see GOOD 1
3 not joking or playful in mood or manner <a sober reply to what was only a teasing comment> — see SERIOUS 1
4 not excessively showy <if you don't have anything in black, at least wear a sober outfit to the funeral> — see QUIET 2
5 given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites <cruise passengers of sober dispositions will be put off by the focus on nonstop dining> — see ABSTEMIOUS

soberness noun
a mental state free of jesting or trifling <the unexpected soberness of the class clown at the memorial service was startling> — see EARNESTNESS

sobersided adjective
not joking or playful in mood or manner <a surprisingly sobersided biography of a great comedian> — see SERIOUS 1

sobriety noun
1 a mental state free of jesting or trifling <an abrupt sobriety fell over the group when they heard the news> — see EARNESTNESS
2 voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites <although she can afford to wear anything, she practices a sartorial sobriety that bespeaks class and taste> — see ABSTINENCE 1

sobriquet also soubriquet noun
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual <tagged her with the sobriquet “peanut” because of her diminutive size> — see NICKNAME

sociability noun
the quality or state of being social <her sociability was called into question when she said she hated parties>

Synonyms
conviviality, gregariousness

Related Words
amiability, cordiality, folksiness, friendliness, neighborliness; camaraderie, companionship, fellowship; boldness, brashness, extroversion (or extraversion), forwardness, immodesty

Near Antonyms
bashfulness, coyness, diffidence, shyness, timidity, timidness; introversion, reclusion; modesty, retiringness

Antonyms
unsociability, unsociableness

sociable adjective
1 likely to seek or enjoy the company of others <he's an intensely sociable child, even prone to fits of depression when he's left alone> — see CONVIVIAL
2 showing a natural kindness and courtesy especially in social situations <a pleasant and sociable hostess who puts everyone instantly at ease> — see GRACIOUS 1
3 tending to group with others of the same kind <the sociable weaverbird breeds in large umbrella-shaped nests> — see COLONIAL

social adjective
1 likely to seek or enjoy the company of others <not exactly the social sort, our boss generally stays in his office and keeps to himself> — see CONVIVIAL
2 tending to group with others of the same kind <dogs are social animals, preferring by nature to be part of a pack> — see COLONIAL

socialist noun
an adherent or advocate of an economic system in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state <a lifelong socialist who never lost faith in his cause> — see COMMUNIST

socialize verb
to take part in social activities <he likes to socialize with his coworkers after work ends>

Synonyms
associate, fraternize, go out, hobnob, mingle, mix, step out

Related Words
carouse, party, revel; circulate

Phrases
rub elbows (or rub shoulders)

Near Antonyms
avoid, eschew, shun; slight, snub

society noun
1 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <a debate society> — see ASSOCIATION 2
2 the feeling of closeness and friendship that exists between companions <an evening marked by a lovely dinner and the society of our closest friends> — see COMPANIONSHIP
3 the way people live at a particular time and place <a pre-automobile society in which ordinary people rarely strayed far from home> — see CIVILIZATION 1

1sock noun
a close-fitting covering for the foot and leg <black socks to go with black pants and shoes> — see STOCKING

2sock noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <a wiseacre who deserves a good sock in the face> — see 1BLOW

sock verb
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <kept socking the punching bag until he was exhausted> — see HIT 1

sockdolager or sockdologer noun
something very good of its kind <the professor called it one sockdolager of a short story, but he seemed to be the only one in the room amused by this description> — see JIM-DANDY

1sod noun
the land of one's birth, residence, or citizenship <a sentimental journey back to the old sod> — see COUNTRY 1

2sod noun, chiefly British
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <he's a nasty old sod who never has a nice thing to say about anybody> — see JERK 1

sodality noun
1 a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest <a 19th-century observer of American society noted that Americans had a fondness for forming sodalities> — see ASSOCIATION 2
2 the body of people in a profession or field of activity <a tragic loss of life that was felt throughout the sodality of firefighters> — see CORPS

sodden adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <eyes peering out between strands of sodden hair> — see WET 1

sodden verb
1 to make wet <soldiers' boots that were soddened by endless hours in muddy trenches> — see WET
2 to wet thoroughly with liquid <cornflakes that had been soddened in milk to the point of mush> — see SOAK 1

sofa noun
a long upholstered piece of furniture designed for several sitters <I curled up on the sofa with a book> — see COUCH

so far as conjunction
to the degree that <the idea works so far as you've thought it out, but there may be angles you haven't considered> — see INASMUCH AS 1

soft adjective
1 not loud in pitch or volume <soft music played in the background while we ate>

Synonyms
dull, gentle, low, quiet

Related Words
dead, silent, still; calm, dreamy, hushed, peaceful, restful, serene, soothing, stilly, tranquil; muffled, muted, softened, toned (down)

Near Antonyms
brazen, crashing, dinning, discordant, noisy, obstreperous, raucous, rip-roaring, vociferous; grating, harsh, shrill, squealing, strident; clarion, clear, trumpetlike

Antonyms
blaring, blasting, booming, clamorous, clangorous, deafening, earsplitting, loud, overloud, piercing, plangent, resounding, ringing, roaring, sonorous, stentorian, thundering, thunderous

2 smooth or delicate in appearance or feel <I like this sweater the best because it is so soft and comfortable>

Synonyms
cottony, downy, satin, satiny, silken, silklike, silky, velvetlike, velvety

Related Words
creamy; chiffon, delicate, fine, slick; ultrasoft

Near Antonyms
bumpy, irregular, jagged, lumpy, pebbly; broken, jagged, ragged, roughened, rugged, scraggy; grainy, granular, gritty

Antonyms
coarse, harsh, rough, scratchy

3 giving easily to the touch <soft mattresses make it very easy to fall asleep, but they have a tendency to get lumpy>

Synonyms
flabby, mushy, pulpy, spongy, squashy, squishy, squooshy

Related Words
doughy, fleshy; droopy, flaccid, floppy, lank, limp, slack, yielding; bendable, compressible, crushable, elastic, flexible, kneadable, malleable, pliable, pliant, resilient, supple, willowy, workable; airy, light

Near Antonyms
inelastic, inflexible, rigid, stiff, tense, unbending, unyielding; resistant, sound, strong, sturdy, tough; case-hardened, crush-proof, hardened, indurated, stiffened, tempered; compacted, compressed, condensed; adamantine, rock, rocklike; sturdy, substantial

Antonyms
firm, hard, solid

4 involving minimal difficulty or effort <looking for a soft job in local government> — see EASY 1
5 lacking bodily strength <soft recruits who will get toughened up in the army> — see WEAK 1
6 lacking strength of will or character <a soft person who tends to yield to stronger personalities> — see WEAK 2
7 not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect <a soft breeze coming off the lake> — see GENTLE 1
8 providing physical comfort <a warm, soft bed to rest my weary bones> — see COMFORTABLE 1
9 tolerant and kind in the judgment of and expectations for others <felt that his wife had been a little too soft on their son, and that more discipline was in order> — see INDULGENT 1
10 marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low <it was a lovely soft spring evening> — see CLEMENT 1
11 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <sometimes I wonder if you've gone soft in the head> — see STUPID 1

soften verb
1 to diminish the physical strength of <three weeks of being sick in bed had noticeably softened her> — see WEAKEN 1
2 to lessen the shock of <had tried to soften the blow of her rejection to his marriage proposal> — see CUSHION

softened adjective
lacking bodily strength <the athlete, softened by the long period of convalescence, had to begin his training program almost from scratch> — see WEAK 1

softhead noun
a silly flighty person <gave his son-in-law a position in the company where the softhead could do little harm> — see FLIBBERTIGIBBET

softheaded adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <serious scientists who regard UFO followers as softheaded and gullible> — see STUPID 1

softhearted adjective
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others <a softhearted person who never hesitates to help anyone in trouble> — see HUMANE 1

softheartedness noun
1 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <the kind of softheartedness that makes him an easy target for anyone with a tale of woe> — see HEART 1
2 sympathetic concern for the well-being of others <the widow's naive softheartedness makes it hard for her to say "no" to charitable appeals> — see BENIGNANCY

softness noun
the quality or state of lacking strength of will or character <softness is the one quality that the public will not tolerate in a leader> — see WEAKNESS 2

soft–pedal verb
to reduce in apparent importance <she politely tries to soft-pedal her accomplishments when talking to less fortunate people>

Synonyms
de-emphasize, downplay, play down

Related Words
underplay, understate; bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, dismiss, disparage, kiss off, minimize, poor-mouth, put down, run down, talk down, trash, trash-talk

Near Antonyms
exaggerate, overdo, overdraw, overstate; elaborate, embellish, embroider, magnify, pad, stretch; fudge, hedge; melodramatize, overemphasize, overplay, sensationalize

soft–soap verb
1 to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery <she cunningly soft-soaped her parents into letting her go on the trip> — see COAX
2 to praise too much <shrewd voters who know when a politician is trying to soft-soap them> — see FLATTER 1

soft soap noun
excessive praise <a salesman who knows the value of soft soap in making a sale> — see FLATTERY

soft spot noun
a vulnerable point <a huge trade imbalance continued to be the soft spot in the nation's economy> — see ACHILLES' HEEL

soft touch noun
one who is easily deceived or cheated <the kindly old woman was a soft touch for any con man with a hard-luck story> — see 1DUPE

softy or softie noun
a person lacking in physical strength <a softy who usually needs someone else's strong hands to open bottles and jars> — see WEAKLING 1

soggy adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <spread the soggy papers out to dry> — see WET 1

1soil noun
1 foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something <got some sort of soil on my white pants> — see FILTH 1
2 solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal <the horse lifted its tail and deposited its soil on the grass> — see DROPPING 1

2soil noun
1 the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow <bought rich soil to plant flowers in> — see DIRT 1
2 the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air <happy to have soil under my feet after that long sea voyage> — see EARTH 2

soil verb
to make dirty <oil and grease soiled the mechanic's shirt> — see DIRTY

soilage noun
the state or quality of being dirty <the fee for cleaning the carpet will depend upon the extent of the soilage> — see DIRTINESS 1

soiled adjective
not clean <a soiled carpet in need of a good shampooing> — see DIRTY 1

sojourn noun
a temporary residing as another's guest <spent a relaxing sojourn in her friend's summer home> — see VISIT 1

sojourn verb
to reside as a temporary guest <began their retirement by leisurely sojourning with friends and relatives scattered across the country> — see VISIT 2

solace noun
1 a feeling of ease from grief or trouble <the kind words brought a little solace to the grieving widow> — see COMFORT 1
2 the giving of hope and strength in times of grief, distress, or suffering <the selfless solace of the sick by the workers at the hospice> — see CONSOLATION 1

solace verb
1 to ease the grief or distress of <counselors did their best to solace the bereaved children> — see COMFORT
2 to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied <I solaced myself with a book while I waited for the bus> — see AMUSE

solacing noun
the giving of hope and strength in times of grief, distress, or suffering <I will be forever grateful for my friend's solacing of me when my mother died> — see CONSOLATION 1

solar plexus noun
the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis <a punch in the solar plexus knocked the air out of him> — see STOMACH 1

soldier noun
a person engaged in military service <one of the goals of war is to keep as many soldiers as possible from being killed>

Synonyms
dogface, fighter, legionary, legionnaire, man-at-arms, regular, serviceman, trooper, warrior

Related Words
servicewoman; carabineer (or carabinier), cavalier, cavalryman, cuirassier, dragoon; doughboy, footman, foot soldier, grunt, infantryman; commando, raider; jarhead [slang], marine, ranger; artilleryman, cannoneer, gunner, mortarman, musketeer, rifleman; archer, crossbowman; lancer, pikeman, spearman; Confederate, Continental, Federal, GI, guardsman, militiaman, minuteman; counterguerrilla (also counterguerilla), guerrilla (or guerilla), irregular, paramilitary, partisan (also partizan); combatant, noncombatant; lifer, veteran, warhorse; conscript, draftee, enrollee, recruit; reservist; champion, knight; digger [chiefly Australian & New Zealand], gallowglass, gendarme

Antonyms
civilian

soldierly adjective
of, relating to, or suitable for war or a warrior <Noah Webster's brief contribution to the Revolutionary cause suggests that his soldierly skills were few> — see MARTIAL 1

sole adjective
1 belonging only to the one person, unit, or group named <the landowner has sole rights to the property, so he can do whatever he wants to with it>

Synonyms
exclusive, single, unshared

Related Words
proprietary; personal, private

Near Antonyms
common, communal, conjoint, cooperative, joint, multiple, mutual, pooled, public, shared, united

Antonyms
nonexclusive

2 being the one or ones of a class with no other members <the eldest son became the family's sole support> — see ONLY 2

solecism noun
a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark <the solecism of asking one's hosts how much something in their house cost them> — see IMPROPRIETY 2

solely adverb
1 for nothing other than <I fight solely for my country, not for money!>

Synonyms
alone, exclusively, just, only, purely, simply

Related Words
basically, by and large, chiefly, generally, largely, mainly, mostly, predominantly, primarily, principally, substantially

Near Antonyms
additionally, also, besides, likewise

2 without aid or support <you undertook that project solely on your own, and you will finish it likewise> — see ALONE 1

solemn adjective
1 having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner <the director of the funeral home has a fittingly solemn demeanor> — see DIGNIFIED
2 not joking or playful in mood or manner <solemn as a judge> — see SERIOUS 1
3 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the Capitol's rotunda was draped in solemn decorations of a state funeral> — see GLOOMY 1

solemnity noun
1 a mental state free of jesting or trifling <the coronation ceremony requires absolute solemnity> — see EARNESTNESS
2 an oft-repeated action or series of actions performed in accordance with tradition or a set of rules <the solemnities of the Easter vigil service> — see RITE

solemnness noun
a mental state free of jesting or trifling <laid the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with all the solemnness that the occasion requires> — see EARNESTNESS

solicit verb
1 to go around and approach (people) with a request for opinions or information <solicited several opinions about which job he should accept> — see CANVASS 1
2 to make a request for <always ready to solicit donations for a charity> — see ASK FOR 1
3 to make a request of <solicited him to join the team> — see ASK 2
4 to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner <solicit the President for relief funds> — see BEG
5 to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage <how many men have been solicited into purchasing bogus aids for “male enhancement” by shameless appeals to their vanity?> — see LURE

solicitation noun
an earnest request <the mail is always full of solicitations from worthy causes> — see PLEA 1

soliciting adjective
asking humbly <a soliciting tone is better when asking for lenient treatment you don't deserve> — see SUPPLIANT

solicitor noun
1 one that tries to get a person to give in to a desire <money, that great solicitor that has often succeeded in persuading people to sell their very souls> — see TEMPTER
2 one who asks earnestly for a favor or gift <even a billionaire doesn't have the wherewithal to grant the wish of every deserving solicitor who comes his way> — see SUPPLICANT

solicitous adjective
1 given to or made with heedful anticipation of the needs and happiness of others <a most solicitous husband, he had already cleaned the house and cooked dinner by the time his wife returned home from work> — see THOUGHTFUL 1
2 showing urgent desire or interest <a family that is solicitous to put this whole unfortunate affair behind them and to move on with their lives> — see EAGER

solicitousness noun
attention accompanied by protectiveness and responsibility <the touching solicitousness with which he watched over his younger brother> — see CARE 2

solicitude noun
1 an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <a growing solicitude over the possible results of the criminal investigation> — see ANXIETY 1
2 attention accompanied by protectiveness and responsibility <she shows much more solicitude toward her aging parents than any of her siblings do> — see CARE 2

solid adjective
1 based on sound reasoning or information <the only solid conclusion that the jury could have reached> — see GOOD 1
2 having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure <the ice cream is too solid to scoop right now> — see FIRM 2
3 having or consisting of a single color <both kittens are black, but one has a solid coat and the other has a few white patches> — see MONOCHROMATIC 1
4 not showing weakness or uncertainty <some people see a solid handshake as a sign of strong character> — see FIRM 1
5 worthy of one's trust <a solid source of information to reporters> — see DEPENDABLE

solidify verb
1 to become physically firm or solid <water solidifying into ice> — see HARDEN 1
2 to take on a definite form <my ideas on this topic are just starting to solidify> — see FORM 1

solidity noun
worthiness as the recipient of another's trust or confidence <the solidity of his word is such that I don't need a written contract—or anything else> — see RELIABILITY

solidness noun
worthiness as the recipient of another's trust or confidence <her proven solidness as a friend is something that I can't even begin to describe> — see RELIABILITY

solipsistic adjective
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests <regards today's young people as solipsistic slackers who have no knowledge of or interest in the world at large> — see EGOCENTRIC

solitariness noun
the state of being alone or kept apart from others <it was the overwhelming solitariness of his existence that caused the marooned sailor to go mad> — see ISOLATION

solitary adjective
1 being the one or ones of a class with no other members <a solitary example of truth-stretching is hardly grounds for branding the man a congenital liar> — see ONLY 2
2 not being in the company of others <a solitary sailboat was the only object on the horizon> — see ALONE 1

solitary noun
a person who lives away from others <weary of European civilization, the painter Paul Gauguin famously abandoned France to become a solitary in the South Seas> — see RECLUSE

solitude noun
the state of being alone or kept apart from others <sought the kind of solitude where his thoughts would be his only companions> — see ISOLATION

solo adjective
not being in the company of others <a solo flight in a hot-air balloon> — see ALONE 1

solon noun
a member of an organized body of persons having the authority to make laws <one of the most politically adept solons in the state legislature> — see LEGISLATOR

so long as conjunction
at or during the time that <so long as you're staying with us, you may not smoke indoors> — see WHEN 1

soluble adjective
capable of having the reason for or cause of determined <one murder case that proved to be soluble after all> — see SOLVABLE

solution noun
something attained by mental effort and especially by computation <the solution to a math problem> — see ANSWER 2

solvable adjective
capable of having the reason for or cause of determined <I'm sure that the mystery of what happened to the missing pizza is solvable>

Synonyms
answerable, explainable, explicable, resolvable, soluble

Related Words
analyzable, decipherable; feasible, workable

Near Antonyms
difficult, inextricable, knotty; impossible, insuperable; absurd, fantastic (also fantastical), outlandish, preposterous, ridiculous

Antonyms
hopeless, inexplicable, insoluble, insolvable, unexplainable, unresolvable, unsolvable

solve verb
to find an answer for through reasoning <it took me half an hour to solve the logic puzzle>

Synonyms
answer, break, crack, dope (out), figure out, puzzle (out), resolve, riddle (out), unravel, unriddle, work, work out

Related Words
conclude, decide, deduce, gather, infer, judge, reason; clear (up), iron out, straighten (out), unscramble, untangle, untie; assume, conjecture, divine, guess, presume, speculate; decipher, decode

somatic adjective
of or relating to the human body <a somatic disorder that was once thought to be “all in the patient's head”> — see PHYSICAL 1

somber or sombre adjective
1 being without light or without much light <the prison's somber interrogation room has the desired effect of striking fear and despair into the prisoner> — see DARK 1
2 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <the somber occasion of a dear friend's funeral> — see GLOOMY 1

some adjective
known but not named <some people won't be able to come> — see CERTAIN 1

some adverb
close to but not exactly <some 300 people showed up for the giveaway> — see APPROXIMATELY

somebody noun
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <a small-town girl who hopes to become a somebody someday> — see CELEBRITY 1

someday adverb
at a later time <the dream that we'll get to the other planets someday> — see YET 1

something adverb
to some degree or extent <a person of something less than total honesty> — see FAIRLY 1

something noun
one that has a real and independent existence <I heard something fall off the counter> — see ENTITY

sometime adjective
having been such at some previous time <a sometime athlete who's gotten awfully fat> — see FORMER 1

sometime adverb
at a later time <we'll get around to it sometime> — see YET 1

sometimes adverb
on some occasions <sometimes I like to go skiing, and sometimes I prefer to stay inside where it's warm>

Synonyms
here and there, now, now and then, occasionally

Related Words
intermittently, off and on, periodically, recurrently; infrequently, little, rarely, seldom; irregularly, sporadically, variously

Phrases
at times, ever and anon, every now and then (or every now and again or every so often), from time to time, once in a while, on occasion

Near Antonyms
frequently, hourly, much, oft, often, oftentimes (or ofttimes); commonly, ordinarily, regularly, routinely, usually; always, consistently, constantly, invariably; continually, continuingly, continuously, incessantly, perpetually, unceasingly, uninterruptedly; endlessly, ever, interminably

somewhat adverb
to some degree or extent <wear a jacket as it's somewhat chilly today> — see FAIRLY 1

somewhere adverb
very close to but not completely <somewhere around 15,000 people live in town> — see ALMOST

somniferous adjective
tending to cause sleep <a somniferous enumeration of details that I could have done without> — see HYPNOTIC

somnolence noun
the quality or state of desiring or needing sleep <somnolence is likely to be the most typical and telling reaction to this novel> — see SLEEPINESS

somnolent adjective
1 desiring or needing sleep <trying to teach somnolent students on a very hot day> — see SLEEPY 1
2 tending to cause sleep <the somnolent hum of insects in the grass> — see HYPNOTIC

song noun
1 a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment <she sang a little-known song for the talent show>

Synonyms
ballad, ditty, jingle, lay, lyric, vocal

Related Words
anthem, cantata, canticle, carol, chorale, hymn, noel, psalm, spiritual; dirge, lament, requiem, threnody; hallelujah, paean; aria, art song, barcarole (or barcarolle), blues, chanson, chant, chantey (or chanty or shanty), chorus, croon, descant (also discant), folk song, glee, lullaby, madrigal, motet, part-song, pop, rocker, round, roundelay, serenade, standard; drinking song, fight song; torch song; cover, medley, remix

2 a composition using rhythm and often rhyme to create a lyrical effect <the songs of Shakespeare> — see POEM
3 a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect <whistle a song as accompaniment to your work> — see MELODY
4 a very small sum of money <developers bought the land for a song> — see MITE 1
5 writing that uses rhythm, vivid language, and often rhyme to provoke an emotional response <a hero honored in song and story> — see POETRY 1

song and dance noun
language marked by abstractions, jargon, euphemisms, and circumlocutions <instead of simply denying our request, the mayor's representative gave us a song and dance about legal issues and municipal liability> — see GIBBERISH 2

songsmith noun
a person who writes popular musical compositions for the human voice <among American songsmiths Irving Berlin has assumed legendary status> — see SONGWRITER

songster noun
one who sings <one of the most popular songsters during the World War II era> — see SINGER

songwriter noun
a person who writes popular musical compositions for the human voice <he's both a singer and a songwriter>

Synonyms
songsmith, tunesmith

Related Words
cocomposer, composer, melodist, musician; symphonist; arranger, orchestrator (also orchestrater), scorer; librettist, lyricist, lyrist

sonny noun
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood <come over here, sonny, and help me clean up> — see BOY 1

sonorous adjective
1 marked by a high volume of sound <a sonorous waterfall that can be heard from a considerable distance> — see LOUD 1
2 marked by conspicuously full and rich sounds or tones <a baritone with a particularly sonorous voice> — see RESONANT

soon adverb
1 at or within a short time <we'll be done soon> — see SHORTLY 2
2 by choice or preference <I'd sooner have a cavity filled than suffer through that opera again> — see RATHER 1
3 with great speed <as soon as possible> — see FAST 1

sooner or later adverb
at a later time <sooner or later, the police are going to track down the burglar> — see YET 1

sooth noun
agreement with fact or reality <I doubt not the sooth of what you say, but there may be other facts of which we are unaware> — see TRUTH

soothe verb
1 to ease the grief or distress of <there seemed to be no words sufficient to soothe the bereaved parents> — see COMFORT
2 to free from distress or disturbance <soothed the baby with a bottle> — see CALM 1
3 to make more bearable or less severe <hot tea with honey will soothe a sore throat> — see HELP 2

soothing adjective
1 tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress <the soothing music eventually put the entire yoga class in the proper mood>

Synonyms
calming, comforting, dreamy, lulling, narcotic, pacifying, quieting, relaxing, sedative, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing)

Related Words
hypnotic, opiate; analgesic, anesthetic, anodyne, deadening, depressant, numbing; antianxiety, antidepressant, antidepression, antistress

Near Antonyms
painful, stressful, tiresome, troubling, trying, unsettling, worrisome; energizing, invigorating, stimulant, stimulating; aggravating, annoying, bothersome, disturbing, exasperating, frustrating, galling, grating, harassing, irksome, irritating, maddening, nettlesome, troublesome, vexatious, vexing

2 not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect <spoke to the boy in a soothing voice> — see GENTLE 1

soothsayer noun
one who predicts future events or developments <a soothsayer predicted that I would meet the man of my dreams online, assuming of course that I became a subscriber to the Web site's dating service> — see PROPHET 1

soothsaying noun
a declaration that something will happen in the future <took the soothsayings published in the tabloids with a grain of salt> — see PREDICTION

sop noun
something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision <as a sop to the teachers' union for supporting his reelection campaign, the mayor promised to push for the abolition of the residency requirement> — see BRIBE

sop verb
1 to wet thoroughly with liquid <sopped the sponge with the detergent and began scrubbing the floor vigorously> — see SOAK 1
2 to make wet <my book fell in the swimming pool and was thoroughly sopped before I could fish it out> — see WET
3 to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid <hesitant to sop his bread in gravy, no matter how delicious, at such a formal banquet> — see DIP 1

sophisticate noun
a person with the outlook, experience, and manners thought to be typical of big city dwellers <sophisticates laughing at people they thought of as hicks> — see COSMOPOLITAN

sophisticate verb
1 to make complex or difficult <there's no need to sophisticate something that is beautiful in its simplicity> — see COMPLICATE 1
2 to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances <vanilla extract that has been sophisticated with corn syrup> — see ADULTERATE

sophisticated adjective
1 having a wide and refined knowledge of the world especially from personal experience <a surprisingly sophisticated and widely traveled child> — see WORLDLY-WISE
2 having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <a very sophisticated machine that is a marvel of modern design> — see COMPLEX 1
3 having or showing very polished and worldly manners <a sophisticated gentleman, he is a welcomed guest at dinner parties all over town> — see SUAVE
4 made or done with great care or with much detail <a sophisticated plan for totally redesigning the city's complicated traffic patterns> — see ELABORATE 1

sophistication noun
the state or quality of having many interrelated parts or aspects <the engine's sophistication requires that all repairs be done by an experienced mechanic> — see COMPLEXITY 1

soporific adjective
tending to cause sleep <this medication is soporific, so do not drive after taking it> — see HYPNOTIC

soppiness noun
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) <sees Valentine's Day as just an excuse for unbridled displays of soppiness> — see SENTIMENTALITY

sopping adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <my hair and clothes were absolutely sopping after the unexpected downpour> — see WET 1

soppy adjective
1 containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <trudging over soppy ground at the county fair> — see WET 1
2 appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <scanned the racks looking for the soppiest valentine the store had> — see CORNY 1

sorcerer noun
a person skilled in using supernatural forces <a sorcerer who used his power for evil ends> — see MAGICIAN 1

sorceress noun
a woman believed to have often harmful supernatural powers <asked the sorceress to cast an evil spell over the village> — see WITCH 1

sorcery noun
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <in olden times people suspected of sorcery were often put to death> — see MAGIC 1

sordid adjective
1 not clean <he managed to rise above the sordid streets upon which he grew up> — see DIRTY 1
2 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <a sordid affair involving bribery and corruption in high places> — see IGNOBLE 2

sordidness noun
the state or quality of being dirty <the sordidness of the neighborhood betrayed a general lack of self-respect> — see DIRTINESS 1

sore adjective
1 causing or feeling bodily pain <my legs are sore after that long walk yesterday> — see PAINFUL 1
2 feeling or showing anger <promise not to get sore if I tell you what I really think of your new hairstyle?> — see ANGRY
3 having or showing deep-seated resentment <he's been sore ever since she insulted him> — see BITTER 1

sore adverb
to a great degree <I was sore afraid we'd never make it home> — see VERY 1

sorely adverb
1 with feelings of bitterness or grief <our company president, who is retiring at the end of the year, will be sorely missed> — see HARD 2
2 to a great degree <completed some sorely needed repairs to the boat> — see VERY 1

sorghum noun
something (as a work of literature or music) that is too sentimental <a once-popular children's book that today's tots would likely regard as tiresome sorghum> — see CORN

sorriness noun
deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved <the sorriness she felt upon the untimely death of her father can scarcely be described or even imagined> — see SORROW

sorrow verb
to feel deep sadness or mental pain <the soldier's widow continued to sorrow long after her husband's last letter had turned yellow with age> — see GRIEVE

sorrow noun
deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved <he felt great sorrow at the loss of his beloved dog>

Synonyms
affliction, anguish, dolefulness, dolor, grief, heartache, heartbreak, sorriness, woe

Related Words
agony, distress, pain, suffering, torment; blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolateness, desolation, despair, despondence, despondency, disconsolateness, dispiritedness, distress, doldrums, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, forlornness, gloom, gloominess, glumness, heartsickness, joylessness, melancholy, miserableness, misery, mopes, oppression, sorrowfulness, unhappiness, woefulness, wretchedness; contrition, guilt, regret, remorse, rue, self-reproach, shame; melancholia, self-pity

Near Antonyms
gaiety (also gayety), gayness, humor, jollity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, merrymaking, mirth, mirthfulness; hopefulness, optimism, sunniness; enjoyment; content, contentedness, contentment

Antonyms
blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, cheer, cheerfulness, cheeriness, delight, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, felicity, gladness, gladsomeness, glee, gleefulness, happiness, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, pleasure, rapture, rapturousness

sorrowful adjective
1 expressing or suggesting mourning <adopted a sorrowful tone of voice to read the news story about the former governor's death> — see MOURNFUL 1
2 feeling unhappiness <the cult seemed to be a sorrowful assemblage of emotionally scarred people seeking love and redemption> — see SAD 1

sorrowfully adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <in a sorrowfully worded statement she announced that she was dropping out of the race for governor> — see HARD 2

sorrowfulness noun
a state or spell of low spirits <with a sorrowfulness that can only be described as heart-wrenching, she read the elegy> — see SADNESS

sorry adjective
1 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <one more sorry stunt like that and you'll be fired> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1
2 causing unhappiness <we have sorry news to report tonight> — see SAD 2
3 deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy) <the ragtag circus was a sorry spectacle indeed> — see PITIFUL 1
4 feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done <she's genuinely sorry for hurting his feelings> — see CONTRITE
5 feeling unhappiness <was sorry to see the family farm being sold> — see SAD 1
6 expressing or suggesting mourning <those sorry rituals that we go through when somebody dies are not for the dead but for the living> — see MOURNFUL 1
7 deserving of one's pity <some sorry wretch had the task of putting all of those files back in order> — see PATHETIC 1

sort noun
1 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <I prefer jackets with zippers to the sort that close with buttons>

Synonyms
breed, class, description, feather, genre, ilk, kidney, kind, like, manner, nature, order, species, strain, stripe, type, variety

Related Words
model; sample, specimen; bracket, bunch, category, division, family, grade, group, grouping, lot, persuasion, rank(s), set, suite

2 a member of the human race <he's a decent sort> — see HUMAN

sort verb
1 to come or be together as friends <you should be careful about whom you sort with> — see ASSOCIATE 1
2 to be in agreement on every point <that doesn't sort with what you said the last time> — see CHECK 1
3 to arrange or assign according to type <sorted the mail into bills to be paid and junk to be thrown out> — see CLASSIFY 1

sort (through) verb
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something <I sorted through the pile of magazines until I found the article I was looking for> — see SEARCH 1

sortie noun
a short trip for pleasure <an occasional sortie to the city to rummage through some of its numerous used-book stores> — see EXCURSION 1

sort of adverb
to some degree or extent <you've been acting sort of funny all week> — see FAIRLY 1

so–so adjective
of average to below average quality <a so-so production of a great play> — see MEDIOCRE 1

so–so adverb
in a satisfactory way <I think I did so-so on the test> — see WELL 1

sot noun
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <a sot who was arrested after a bar fight> — see DRUNK 1

sottish adjective
1 being under the influence of alcohol <you could smell the whiskey on her sottish aunt's breath from a block away!> — see DRUNK
2 given to excessive use of alcoholic beverages <a comic actor who frequently played the sottish curmudgeon> — see CRAPULOUS

sough verb
to take in and let out a deep audible breath or to make a similar sound <all night long the patient was soughing in her sleep> — see SIGH

soul noun
1 an immaterial force within a human being thought to give the body life, energy, and power <many religions teach that the soul is immortal>

Synonyms
psyche, spirit

Related Words
life, vitality; being, essence, quintessence

Near Antonyms
body, flesh

2 a member of the human race <I promise I won't tell another soul> — see HUMAN
3 the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is <a kind act that was the very soul of charity> — see ESSENCE 1
4 the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions <knew in her soul that it was true> — see CORE 1

soulless adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <the public's soulless response to the news about the latest famine overseas> — see HARD 1

soul–searching noun
examination of one's own thoughts and feelings <after much soul-searching, they both realized that their marriage was essentially over> — see INTROSPECTION

1sound verb
1 to continue or be repeated in a series of reflected sound waves <the stranded hiker's cries for help sounded throughout the canyon> — see REVERBERATE
2 to give the impression of being <the idea at least sounds plausible> — see SEEM
3 to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) <a person who certainly isn't shy about sounding her opinions> — see EXPRESS 1
4 to make known openly or publicly <the grand opening of the region's newest and largest mall has been loudly sounded for months> — see ANNOUNCE

2sound verb
1 to measure the depth of (as a body of water) typically with a weighted line <the pilot sounded the river to make sure we weren't in any danger of running aground>

Synonyms
fathom, plumb

Related Words
gauge (also gage), scale, span; remeasure, replumb

2 to cast oneself head first into deep water <a whale suddenly surfaced and then, just as suddenly, sounded> — see DIVE 1

1sound noun
range of hearing <wandered off, out of her parents' sight and sound> — see EARSHOT

2sound noun
a narrow body of water between two land masses <Long Island Sound is between Long Island, New York, and Connecticut> — see CHANNEL 2

sound adjective
1 according to the rules of logic <sound reasoning alone should tell you that the result is invalid> — see LOGICAL 1
2 enjoying health and vigor <the horse is getting along in years, but still perfectly sound> — see HEALTHY 1
3 marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion <the shed looks flimsy, but it's actually surprisingly sound> — see STABLE 1

soundless adjective
mostly or entirely without sound <crept in on soundless little feet> — see SILENT 3

soundly adverb
to a full extent or degree <we'll keep working at it until you're soundly satisfied with the result> — see FULLY 1

soundness noun
1 the ability to withstand force or stress without being distorted, dislodged, or damaged <the car manufacturer tested the soundness of the new model in various types of collisions> — see STABILITY 1
2 the condition of being sound in body <his athletic soundness is open to question since he's been away from the sport for so long> — see HEALTH 1

sound off verb
1 to voice one's opinions freely with force <she never missed a chance to sound off about the latest “stupid” political decisions> — see SPEAK UP
2 to speak so as to be heard at a distance <the guard captain commanded each sentry to sound off> — see CALL 1

soup noun
an atmospheric condition in which suspended particles in the air rob it of its transparency <in soup like this, amateur pilots can easily become disoriented> — see HAZE 1

soupçon noun
a very small amount <the book is filled with cynicism and sarcasm, along with a soupçon of existentialist angst> — see PARTICLE 1

soupy adjective
1 filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension <the soupy skies over the island make a nighttime landing a very risky business> — see HAZY 1
2 having an overly soft liquid consistency <soupy ice cream that had been left out on the counter> — see RUNNY
3 appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <once starred as the virginal ingenue in a string of soupy operettas> — see CORNY 1

sour verb
to cause to change from friendly or loving to unfriendly or uncaring <a misunderstanding that soured their relationship for a long time> — see ESTRANGE

sour adjective
1 causing or characterized by the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids <the sour candy made our mouths all wrinkly inside>

Synonyms
acid, acidic, acidulous, sourish, tart, tartish, vinegary

Related Words
dry, soured, unsweetened; pungent, sharp, tangy, zestful, zesty, zingy; astringent, puckery hyperacid

Near Antonyms
sweet; bland, smooth; flat, flavorless, insipid, savorless, tasteless, zestless; dilute, thin, watery, weak

2 not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <you'll have to face up to the sour truth of the matter> — see UNPLEASANT
3 falling short of a standard <things started off well, but now it's all gone sour> — see BAD 1

source noun
1 a point or place at which something is invented or provided <we were uncertain as to the source of the rumors> <a source of inspiration>

Synonyms
cradle, font, fountain, fountainhead, origin, root, seedbed, spring, well, wellspring

Related Words
beginning, commencement, dawn, day one, genesis, get-go (also git-go), inception, incipience, incipiency, kickoff, launch, morning, nascence, nascency, onset, outset, start, threshold; baseline, first base, ground zero, square one

2 the beginning part of a stream <19th-century explorers who sought the source of the Nile> — see HEADWATER
3 something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information <the professor asked the students to have at least five different sources for their papers> — see REFERENCE 1

souring noun
the loss of friendship or affection <the souring of the business partnership led to an ugly legal battle> — see ESTRANGEMENT

sourish adjective
causing or characterized by the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids <real French Chablis is going to taste sourish to someone who's had only the jug wine marketed under that name> — see SOUR 1

sourpuss noun
an irritable and complaining person <that old sourpuss must spend all his time making sure no one traipses across his lawn> — see GROUCH 1

souse noun
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <an old souse who lumbered home with a full bottle of gin in him every night> — see DRUNK 1

souse verb
1 to make wet <a passing car barreled through the puddle and soused us good> — see WET
2 to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid <repeatedly soused the tools in the tub to get the dirt off> — see DIP 1
3 to wet thoroughly with liquid <firefighters soused the neighboring houses so that they wouldn't catch fire as well> — see SOAK 1

soused adjective
1 being under the influence of alcohol <he stumbled off to bed, completely soused as usual> — see DRUNK
2 containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <peeled off his soused socks and instantly felt much more comfortable> — see WET 1

souvenir noun
something that serves to keep alive the memory of a person or event <kept their love letters as souvenirs of their courtship> — see MEMORIAL

sovereign also sovran adjective
1 coming before all others in importance <the sovereign issue for voters is the inadequate performance of the local schools> — see FOREMOST 1
2 not being under the rule or control of another <a sovereign state whose domestic policies are its own business> — see FREE 1

sovereign also sovran noun
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority <after the current sovereign dies, the monarchy may be abolished> — see MONARCH 1

sovereignty also sovranty noun
1 the state of being free from the control or power of another <upon leaving home she felt that she had achieved sovereignty for the first time in her life> — see FREEDOM 1
2 a body of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government <as parts of the same sovereignty, the states should not enact laws intended to harm one another economically> — see NATION 1
3 controlling power or influence over others <the gradual sovereignty of English as the language of international communcation> — see SUPREMACY 1

sow verb
1 to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on <sow the fields with maize in early spring, and the crop should be ready by late summer> — see SCATTER 2
2 to put or set into the ground to grow <first sow the seeds in potting soil> — see PLANT 1
3 to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set <a malicious neighbor who sowed within him nagging suspicions about his wife> — see IMPLANT 1

sozzled adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <reportedly, the legendary actor John Barrymore was sozzled when he gave his most memorable performances> — see DRUNK

spa noun
a building or room used for sports activities and exercising <a six-month membership in a health spa with the specific purpose of losing weight> — see GYM

space noun
1 an extent or area available for or used up by some activity or thing <how much space will you need for the art project?> — see ROOM 1
2 an indefinite but usually short period of time <in the space of a few minutes the room had filled up> — see WHILE 1
3 an incomplete or deficient area <the cancellation created a huge space in the dentist's schedule for that day> — see GAP 3
4 an allowable margin of freedom or variation <the children should be given some space to express themselves in their schoolwork> — see SLACK 1

space–age adjective
being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <space-age technology that totally transformed the news-gathering business> — see MODERN

spaced–out adjective
1 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <that was a seriously spaced-out movie about an alternate reality> — see ODD 2
2 or spaced suffering from mental confusion <a spaced-out representative from customer service who knew less than we did> — see DIZZY 2
3 or spaced being under the influence of a recreational drug <the mindless ramblings of a spaced-out, over-the-hill hippie> — see STONED 1

spacey also spacy adjective
suffering from mental confusion <feeling a little spacey in the moments following the freak accident> — see DIZZY 2

spacing noun
the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects <the spacing of the houses was a little tight> — see DISTANCE 1

spacious adjective
more than adequate or average in capacity <almost all of the guests were able to fit into the spacious living room>

Synonyms
ample, capacious, commodious, roomy

Related Words
cavernous, voluminous; broad, wide; big, biggish, bulky, considerable, generous, goodly, grand, great, handsome, hefty, hulking, large, largish, outsize (also outsized), overscale (or overscaled), oversize (or oversized), sizable (or sizeable), substantial, tidy; Brobdingnagian, Bunyanesque, colossal, elephantine, enormous, gargantuan, gigantic, herculean, heroic (also heroical), Himalayan, huge, humongous (also humungous), immense, jumbo, king-size (or king-sized), leviathan, mammoth, massive, monolithic, monstrous, monumental, mountainous, pharaonic, prodigious, staggering, stupendous, super, titanic, tremendous; expansive, extended, extensive, vast; boundless, limitless, unbounded

Near Antonyms
confined, cramped, incommodious, limited, narrow, restricted; small, snug, tight, tiny

spall noun
a small flat piece separated from a whole <found a variety of uses for the spalls left over from their stonecutting operations> — see CHIP 1

span verb
to find out the size, extent, or amount of <tried to span the distance between the two trees by eye alone> — see MEASURE 1

spangle verb
to shoot forth bursts of light <in typical Las Vegas fashion, the showgirls' sequined costumes spangled gloriously> — see FLASH 1

spank noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <delivered a quick spank to the child's bottom for disobedience> — see 1BLOW

spanking adjective
having much high-spirited energy and movement <a spanking and speedy little horse> — see LIVELY 1

spanking adverb
to a great degree <the bathroom tiles were spanking white when she finished cleaning them> — see VERY 1

span–new adjective
being in an original and unused or unspoiled state <I love the smell of a span-new book> — see FRESH 1

spare adjective
1 being over what is needed <I had some spare time to kill, so I cleaned up my cubicle a bit>

Synonyms
excess, extra, redundant, supererogatory, superfluous, supernumerary, surplus

Related Words
accessory, additional, supplemental, supplementary; de trop, dispensable, extraneous, gratuitous, needless, nonessential, uncalled-for, unessential, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted; abundant, ample, bountiful, copious, plenteous, plentiful

Near Antonyms
deficient, inadequate, insufficient, meager (or meagre), niggardly, poor, scant, scanty, scarce, short, shortish, skimpy, sparse

2 giving or sharing as little as possible <a man who is kind and gentle but definitely spare of speech> — see STINGY 1
3 having a noticeably small amount of body fat <a tall, spare man> — see THIN 1
4 less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <spare vegetation that made foraging very difficult> — see MEAGER

spare noun
an interchangeable part or piece of equipment that is kept on hand for replacement of an original <we promptly replaced the burnt-out lightbulb with a spare>

Synonyms
extra, reserve

Related Words
backup, substitute; stock; carbon copy, clone, copy, double, dummy, dupe, duplicate, replacement, replica, replication, reproduction

Near Antonyms
archetype, original, prototype

spare verb
1 to use or give out in stingy amounts <I'll have a banana split—and don't spare the whipped cream>

Synonyms
nurse, scant, skimp (on), stint (on)

Related Words
dole out, mete (out), portion (out), ration (out); pinch, shortchange; conserve, preserve

Near Antonyms
heap, lavish, pour, rain, shower

2 to avoid unnecessary waste or expense <she had grown up during the Great Depression, so she was no stranger to sparing> — see ECONOMIZE

sparing adjective
1 careful in the management of money or resources <a sparing couple who are trying to save up enough for a house> — see FRUGAL
2 giving or sharing as little as possible <a government agency that has always been sparing of public information> — see STINGY 1
3 less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <unfortunately, the explanation of the health insurance plan was somewhat sparing on details> — see MEAGER

spark noun
a very small amount <not a spark of interest in the actress's memoirs> — see PARTICLE 1

spark verb
1 to give off sparks <the broken radio sparked and smoked the instant it was plugged in>

Synonyms
scintillate, sparkle

Related Words
flash, shine, twinkle; blaze, burn, combust, flame, flare (up), glow, light (up), radiate, scintillate

2 to cause to function <interesting questions that are designed to spark the reader's brain> — see ACTIVATE
3 to rouse to strong feeling or action <President Kennedy's inspirational speeches sparked a generation of young idealists to enter the public arena> — see PROVOKE 1

sparkily adverb
in a quick and spirited manner <the dancers tripped sparkily across the stage> — see GAILY 2

sparkle verb
1 to give off sparks <while fireworks that sparkle may be entertaining to look at, they can be highly dangerous when used indoors> — see SPARK 1
2 to shoot forth bursts of light <the crystal sparkled in the sunlight> — see FLASH 1

sparky adjective
having much high-spirited energy and movement <that sparky little kid tires me out just looking at him> — see LIVELY 1

sparse adjective
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <open land is sparse around here> — see MEAGER

spartan adjective
providing only the essentials and nothing fancy or luxurious <accommodations on the windjammer are spartan but clean and comfortable nevertheless> — see NO-FRILLS

spasm noun
1 a painful sudden tightening of a muscle <he suffers terribly from back spasms> — see 1CRAMP
2 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <a spasm of love that he had never experienced before> — see OUTBURST 1

spasmodic adjective
1 lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <spasmodic problems that we will have to deal with as they crop up> — see FITFUL
2 easily excited by nature <a talk show host who was famed for his edgy, spasmodic manner> — see EXCITABLE

spastic adjective
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <even after the formal surrender, spastic violence erupted in scattered quarters of the city> — see FITFUL

spat noun
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <like any couple, they have their spats> — see ARGUMENT 1

spat verb
to express different opinions about something often angrily <we tend to spat over money more than anything else> — see ARGUE 2

spate noun
1 a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms <a spate of words has been published on this controversial topic> — see FLOOD
2 a considerable amount <an off-color remark that drew a spate of complaints from TV viewers> — see LOT 2

spatter verb
1 to cause (something liquid or mushy) to move along in sheets <a passing car spattered mud on her clothes> — see SPLASH 1
2 to wet or soil by striking with something liquid or mushy <the dog vigorously shook himself, spattering the carpet and walls with water> — see SPLASH 2

spatter noun
a very small amount <a spatter of praise for her work was mixed in with quite a lot of criticism> — see PARTICLE 1

spawn noun
the descendants of a person, animal, or plant <sometimes I think those little brats are the spawn of Satan himself> — see OFFSPRING

spawn verb
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <these artists spawned a whole new movement in painting> — see EFFECT

spaz noun, slang
a clumsy, awkward person <I haven't played tennis in years, so don't be surprised if I am a total spaz on the court> — see KLUTZ

speak verb
1 to express (a thought or emotion) in words <finally spoke her fears> — see SAY 1
2 to give a formal often extended talk on a subject <the Mayanists have been invited to speak about their latest archaeological discoveries> — see TALK 1

speak (for) verb
to make a request for <she has already spoken for the position, so it should go to her> — see ASK FOR 1

speak (to or with) verb
to communicate with by means of spoken words <we spoke to the mall's leasing agent about opening a shop> — see TALK 1

speaker noun
1 a person in charge of a meeting <the speaker announced that it was time for the club to move on to another matter> — see CHAIR 1
2 a person who speaks for another or for a group <unofficially chose a speaker to broach the subject with the supervisor of the department> — see SPOKESPERSON
3 a person who makes usually formal public speeches <the after-dinner speaker was a career diplomat who regaled us with humorous anecdotes from his travels abroad> — see ORATOR

speak out verb
to voice one's opinions freely with force <it's a free country, so anyone can speak out> — see SPEAK UP

speak up verb
to voice one's opinions freely with force <she's never been afraid to speak up at town meetings>

Synonyms
pipe up, shoot, sound off, speak out, spout (off), talk up

Related Words
bawl, bay, bellow, call, cry, holler, roar, shout, sing (out), thunder, vociferate, yell; articulate, enounce, enunciate

Phrases
speak one's mind

Near Antonyms
belt up [British], clam up, dummy up, hush, shut up, suppress; quiet

spear verb
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <she speared a pea with her fork and angrily flung it> — see IMPALE

spear noun
a weapon with a long straight handle and sharp head or blade <the Roman gladiator thrust his spear triumphantly into the lion's side>

Synonyms
javelin, lance, pike, pikestaff, shaft

Related Words
dart, spike; gaff, halberd (also halbert), harpoon, leister, trident

spearhead verb
to serve as leader of <unofficially at least, Martin Luther King spearheaded the civil rights movement> — see LEAD 2

special adjective
1 being the one or ones of a class with no other members <the President claimed that international terrorism was a special threat that required a special way of dealing with it> — see ONLY 2
2 granted special treatment or attention <one student who was treated as special by the teacher> — see DARLING 1
3 of a particular or exact sort <you'll need special permission from the fire department to do that> — see EXPRESS 1

special interest noun
a group of people with a common identifying interest that they seek to protect and promote <promised that as governor he would never be beholden to special interests> — see INTEREST GROUP

speciality noun
something for which a person shows a special talent <my speciality is linguistics> — see FORTE

specialized adjective
used by or intended for experts in a particular field of knowledge <highly specialized terms that have very specific meanings in legal documents> — see TECHNICAL

specially adverb
1 in regard to something mentioned explicitly or in detail <the supplementary material was specially intended to address earlier accusations of cultural bias> — see SPECIFICALLY 1
2 to a great degree <a specially gifted pianist> — see VERY 1

specialty noun
1 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <a doctor with a specialty in internal medicine> — see FIELD 2
2 something for which a person shows a special talent <singing operatic works is my specialty> — see FORTE

species noun
1 one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <a music that is now generally regarded as a distinct species of rap> — see CLASS 2
2 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <in the late 1960s there emerged a new species of actor: edgy and not conventionally handsome> — see SORT 1
3 human beings in general <the future of the species may well depend on our willingness to limit the impact of an ever-increasing population> — see PEOPLE 1

specific adjective
1 of a particular or exact sort <we need a specific type of pen to sign the diplomas> — see EXPRESS 1
2 so clearly expressed as to leave no doubt about the meaning <specific instructions regarding the interrogation of prisoners> — see EXPLICIT

specific noun
1 a substance or preparation used to treat disease <quinine is a specific for malaria> — see MEDICINE
2 a single piece of information <although the speech was long on rhetoric and platitudinous generalities, it lacked specifics> — see FACT 3
3 something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <the two submissions differ only in certain specifics> — see CHARACTERISTIC

specifically adverb
1 in regard to something mentioned explicitly or in detail <specifically, I object to the second point>

Synonyms
especially, notably, particularly, specially

Related Words
concretely, expressly

Phrases
in particular

Near Antonyms
altogether, basically, by and large, chiefly, largely, mainly, mostly, overall, predominantly, primarily, principally, substantially

Antonyms
generally

2 in the specific case of one person or thing as distinguished from others <the medical study is focused on women, and specifically older women> — see ESPECIALLY 1

specificity noun
careful thoroughness of detail <the specificity of your description of your medical condition was a bit more than I needed> — see PARTICULARITY 1

specify verb
1 to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly <the document specifies precisely how you may use the information it contains> — see PRESCRIBE
2 to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically <police reports didn't specify the model of car the robbers were driving> — see MENTION 1

specimen noun
1 a member of the human race <he's a particularly handsome specimen> — see HUMAN
2 one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like <chose one frog as a good specimen of the breed> — see EXAMPLE

specious adjective
tending or having power to deceive <a specious argument that really does not stand up under close examination> — see DECEPTIVE 1

speck noun
1 a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part <a lizard with specks of white against a green body> — see SPOT 1
2 a very small amount <not a speck of explanation to accompany the book's pictures> — see PARTICLE 1
3 a very small piece <a speck of dust was preventing the laser from reading the disc> — see BIT 1

speck verb
to mark with small spots especially unevenly <dirt that had specked the windows of the factory for ages> — see SPOT 1

specked adjective
marked with spots <a specked hound> — see SPOTTED 1

speckle noun
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part <the cat has a speckle of orange right at her whiskers> — see SPOT 1

speckle verb
to mark with small spots especially unevenly <speckled the cookies with colored sugar> — see SPOT 1

speckled adjective
marked with spots <a speckled dog> — see SPOTTED 1

specs plural noun
a pair of lenses set in a frame that is held in place with ear supports and which are usually worn to correct vision <I wear specs to read> — see GLASS 1

spectacle noun
1 an elaborate, visually exciting show or event <the multimedia spectacles that have become established parts of the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympic Games> — see EXTRAVAGANZA
2 spectacles plural a pair of lenses set in a frame that is held in place with ear supports and which are usually worn to correct vision <bought a pair of spectacles with nonprescription lenses simply to look more intelligent> — see GLASS 1

spectacular noun
an elaborate, visually exciting show or event <the larger-than-life spectaculars that make Las Vegas attractive to people with little interest in gambling> — see EXTRAVAGANZA

spectator noun
someone who sees or watches something <a building demolition that drew a crowd of spectators even at 3:00 a.m.>

Synonyms
bystander, observer, onlooker, viewer, watcher

Related Words
eyewitness, witness; peeper, spy, voyeur

specter or spectre noun
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <feeling so terrified that every shadow became a specter> — see GHOST 1

spectrum noun
the distance or extent between possible extremes <the complete spectrum of opinions on this hotly debated subject> — see RANGE 3

speculate verb
to form an opinion from little or no evidence <I speculate that someone has been using this cabin as a trysting place> — see GUESS 1

speculation noun
a risky undertaking <the couple lost all their money in real estate speculations> — see GAMBLE

speculative adjective
existing only as an assumption or speculation <a speculative explanation of why this ancient pottery was found hundreds of miles from where it was made> — see THEORETICAL 1

speech noun
1 a usually formal discourse delivered to an audience <the guest of honor gave a short speech in appreciation of the award>

Synonyms
address, declamation, harangue, oration, peroration, talk

Related Words
diatribe, rant, tirade; eulogy, panegyric, tribute; keynote address (or keynote speech), lecture, salutatory; homily, sermon; monologue (also monolog), soliloquy; pitch, presentation, spiel

2 the stock of words, pronunciation, and grammar used by a people as their basic means of communication <wanting to develop a writing system for his people, Sequoya created a system of 86 symbols representing all the syllables of Cherokee speech> — see LANGUAGE 1

speechless adjective
1 deliberately refraining from speech <he remained speechless, even in the face of outrageous accusations> — see SILENT 1
2 unable to speak <if only this poor, speechless animal could tell us what's wrong with it> — see MUTE 1

speechlessness noun
incapacity for or restraint from speaking <the speechlessness of our cat never seemed so frustrating as the time that it was seriously sick> — see SILENCE 1

speed noun
1 a high rate of movement or performance <we dashed off the remaining paperwork with as much speed as possible so we could leave for the long weekend>

Synonyms
celerity, fastness, fleetness, haste, hurry, quickness, rapidity, rapidness, speediness, swiftness, velocity

Related Words
clip, gait, pace, rate, tempo; drive, hustle; acceleration, hastiness, precipitation, precipitousness, rush; alacrity, dispatch, expedition, expeditiousness, promptitude, promptness; warp speed

Near Antonyms
languidness, languor, leisureliness, lethargy, torpidity, torpor; reluctance; deliberateness, deliberation; dilatoriness, lateness, pokiness, procrastination

Antonyms
slowness, sluggishness

2 a person or thing that is preferred over others <that kind of old-fashioned horror movie is just my speed> — see FAVORITE

speed verb
to proceed or move quickly <a bullet train speeding across the lush countryside> — see HURRY 2

speed (up) verb
to cause to move or proceed fast or faster <we have to speed up production if we are ever going to make the deadline> — see HURRY 1

speedboat noun
a boat equipped with a motor <speedboats leaving wakes that cause damage to docked vessels and the shoreline> — see MOTORBOAT

speedily adverb
with great speed <he speedily finished the yard work and left to play ball> — see FAST 1

speediness noun
a high rate of movement or performance <the speediness with which she types is simply amazing> — see SPEED 1

speedy adjective
1 moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <a speedy worker but not a very careful one, unfortunately> — see FAST 1
2 done, carried out, or given without delay <I was surprised by and pleased with the company's speedy response to my complaints> — see PROMPT 1

spell verb
1 to cast a spell on <it was as if he had spelled the public into believing his ridiculous claims> — see BEWITCH 1
2 to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind <that summertime combination of hot temperatures and equally hot tempers can spell trouble> — see MEAN 1

spell noun
1 a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power <the witch cast a spell that turned the prince into a toad>

Synonyms
abracadabra, bewitchment, charm, conjuration, enchantment, glamour (also glamor), hex, incantation, invocation, whammy

Related Words
cantrip [chiefly Scottish], curse, jinx; bewitchery, conjuring, magic, mojo, necromancy, sorcery, voodoo, voodooism, witchcraft, witchery, wizardry; amulet, charm, fetish (also fetich), phylactery, talisman

2 a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder <a dizzy spell that caused me to fall> — see ATTACK 2
3 an indefinite but usually short period of time <come rest a spell> — see WHILE 1

spellbind verb
to hold the attention of as if by a spell <the tale about pirates and their buried treasure had completely spellbound the children> — see ENTHRALL 1

spellbound adjective
being or appearing to be under a magic spell <spellbound audiences never tire of this annual Christmas favorite> — see ENCHANTED

spell out verb
to make plain or understandable <the dating applicant spelled out exactly what she wanted in a man> — see EXPLAIN 1

spend verb
1 to hand over or use up in payment <I always end up spending too much money at the mall>

Synonyms
disburse, drop, expend, fork (over, out, or up), give, lay out, outlay, pay, shell out

Related Words
lavish, rain; blow, dissipate, fritter (away), run through, squander, throw away, waste

Near Antonyms
cache, hoard, lay up, save; acquire, earn, gain, garner, make, procure, realize, secure, win

2 to make complete use of <the town has already spent its budget for snow removal, and it's only January> — see DEPLETE 1
3 to use up carelessly <spent all his energy on impractical schemes> — see WASTE 1

spender noun
someone who spends money freely or foolishly <he's a spender and she's a tightwad, so naturally they quarrel about money a lot> — see PRODIGAL

spendthrift adjective
given to spending money freely or foolishly <spendthrift consumers had amassed a mountain of debt on their credit cards> — see PRODIGAL

spendthrift noun
someone who carelessly spends money <the spendthrift managed to blow all of his inheritance in a single year> — see PRODIGAL

spendy adjective, chiefly Northwest
commanding a large price <Seattle is generally credited with transforming coffee from a workaday drink to a trendy and spendy beverage> — see COSTLY

spent adjective
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <he plopped down in his chair, completely spent, and then fell asleep> — see WEARY 1

spew verb
1 to flow out in great quantities or with force <water spewing violently from the broken pipe> — see GUSH 1
2 to violently throw out or off (something from within) <a volcano spewing out lava> — see ERUPT 1
3 to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth <“I'm going to spew right here in the car if you don't pull over!” she wailed to her friend> — see VOMIT

sphere noun
1 a more or less round body or mass <this sphere that we live on is just a tiny speck in the universe> — see 1BALL 1
2 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <higher mathematics is a little outside my sphere> — see FIELD 2
3 a ball-shaped gaseous celestial body that shines by its own light <perhaps there is indeed life on planets circling spheres in galaxies far, far away> — see STAR 1

spherical adjective
having every part of the surface the same distance from the center <the planet Earth is not, in fact, perfectly spherical> — see ROUND 1

spice noun
1 a sweet or pleasant smell <a cologne for men that captures all of the spice of the sea> — see FRAGRANCE
2 something (as a spice or herb) that adds an agreeable or interesting taste to food <Europe in Columbus's time imported rare and valuable spices from the Indies> — see SEASONING 1
3 the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses <a new hobby will add spice to your life> — see PIQUANCY

spice verb
to make more pleasant to the taste by adding something intensely flavored <spice the stew with more pepper> — see SEASON 1

spick–and–span or spic–and–span adjective
1 free from dirt or stain <let's make the house spick-and-span for our visitors> — see CLEAN 1
2 recently made and never used before <a spick-and-span waffle iron that our host was obviously using for the first time> — see NEW 3

spicy adjective
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent <a spicy suggestion that earned him a slap in the face> — see SUGGESTIVE 1

spigot noun
a fixture for controlling the flow of a liquid <the plumber has installed a new spigot over the kitchen sink> — see FAUCET

spike verb
1 to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <scorpions use their stinger-equipped tails to spike their prey> — see IMPALE
2 to give life, vigor, or spirit to <he spiked what otherwise would have been a dry economic lecture with some jokes and anecdotes> — see ANIMATE

spill noun
the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily <she tripped over the toy and had a nasty spill on the stairs> — see FALL 1

spill verb
to make known (as information previously kept secret) <the actor's butler spilled the secret to a tabloid for $40,000> — see REVEAL 1

spilth noun
discarded or useless material <factories heedlessly spewing spilth into our waterways> — see GARBAGE 1

spin noun
1 a rapid turning about on an axis or central point <the ice skater moved into a tight spin at the end of her routine>

Synonyms
gyration, pirouette, reel, revolution, roll, rotation, twirl, wheel, whirl

Related Words
circuit, circulation, ring, round; coil, curl, curve, spiral, twist, whorl; circle, orbit; eddy, swirl

2 a state of mental confusion <the news left me all in a spin> — see HAZE 2
3 a short trip for pleasure <a family out for a spin on a beautiful Sunday afternoon> — see EXCURSION 1

spin verb
1 to move in circles around an axis or center <spinning on its axis, the Earth makes one complete rotation every 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds>

Synonyms
gyrate, pinwheel, pirouette, revolve, roll, rotate, turn, twirl, wheel, whirl

Related Words
coil, curl, curve, round, spiral, swirl, twine, twist, wind; circle, circulate, encircle, orbit, ring; pivot, swivel

2 to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around <my head spun as I contemplated all the possible problems this restructuring could cause>

Synonyms
reel, swim, turn, whirl

Related Words
swirl

Near Antonyms
calm, collect; settle, steady

3 to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis <spun the child around until he was hopelessly dizzy> — see TURN 1

spinal column noun
a column of bones supporting the trunk of a vertebrate animal <a diagram of the spinal column> — see SPINE

spindling adjective
being tall, thin and usually loose-jointed <a sickly, spindling child who spent most of his time indoors> — see LANKY

spindly adjective
being tall, thin and usually loose-jointed <spindly, underfed dogs roamed the poverty-stricken village> — see LANKY

spine noun
a column of bones supporting the trunk of a vertebrate animal <he hurt his spine in the accident, but the doctor says he'll be walking again in no time>

Synonyms
backbone, chine, spinal column, vertebral column

Related Words
back, spinal cord, vertebra

spine–chilling adjective
causing fear <the soldiers let out a spine-chilling yell just before charging the enemy> — see FEARFUL 1

spineless adjective
1 lacking strength of will or character <a spineless man who let his wife make all the decisions> — see WEAK 2
2 having or showing a shameful lack of courage <spineless seamen who trembled at the first roar of the cannon> — see COWARDLY

spinelessness noun
1 the quality or state of lacking strength of will or character <the spinelessness that the grown woman has shown in dealing with her overbearing mother> — see WEAKNESS 2
2 a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger <charged the midshipman with sickening spinelessness under fire> — see COWARDICE

spin–off noun
something that naturally develops or is developed from something else <a spin-off of the popular television series> — see DERIVATIVE

spiny adjective
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <this promises to be a spiny problem to negotiate> — see TRICKY 1

spiral verb
to follow a circular or spiral course <a narrow road spiraling up the mountain to the summit> — see WIND 1

spiral adjective
turning around an axis like the thread of a screw <a spiral staircase takes visitors up into the Statue of Liberty>

Synonyms
coiling, corkscrew, helical, involute, screwlike, winding

Related Words
circular; curling, curving, swirly, twisting

Near Antonyms
lineal, linear, right, straight

spired adjective
tapering to a thin tip <the spired mountain peaks known as the Teton Range> — see POINTED 1

spirit noun
1 an immaterial force within a human being thought to give the body life, energy, and power <the theological and philosophical belief that the spirit is superior to the body> — see SOUL 1
2 a state of mind dominated by a particular emotion <had been in a combative spirit all week> — see MOOD 1
3 the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <Hamlet's late father appears to him in the form of a spirit and with the revelation that he was in fact murdered> — see GHOST 1
4 spirits plural a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <a hotel bar that's well stocked with spirits> — see ALCOHOL

spirited adjective
1 marked by a lively display of strong feeling <the town meeting featured a spirited debate about the proposed ban on skateboarding in the plaza downtown>

Synonyms
fiery, gingery, high-spirited, mettlesome, peppery, spunky

Related Words
aggressive, ambitious, assertive, high-pressure, in-your-face, militant, pushy; animate, animated, bouncing, bouncy, brisk, energetic, feisty, frisky, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, peppy, perky, pert, racy, scrappy, snappy, spanking, sparky, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy; ardent, fervent, impassioned, passionate; emphatic, obtrusive

Near Antonyms
bloodless, boring, dull, lifeless; dead, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, limp, listless; inert, lethargic, sleepy, sluggish, tired, torpid; low-pressure, nonassertive, unaggressive, unambitious, unassertive, unenterprising

Antonyms
halfhearted, leaden, spiritless

2 having much high-spirited energy and movement <a team known for its spirited and in-your-face basketball> — see LIVELY 1

spiritedly adverb
in a quick and spirited manner <the two spaniels ran spiritedly into the surf> — see GAILY 2

spiritist noun
a person who claims to speak with or for the spirits of the dead <a 19th-century spiritist whose claims of communicating with spirits through rapping sounds were eventually debunked> — see CHANNELER

spiritless adjective
lacking bodily energy or motivation <he was spiritless and depressed for weeks after being fired> — see LISTLESS

spiritual adjective
1 not composed of matter <a staunch skeptic and realist, he scoffs at the very notion of ghosts and other spiritual entities> — see IMMATERIAL 1
2 of, relating to, or used in the practice or worship services of a religion <spiritual songs that have been sung by generations of worshippers> — see RELIGIOUS 1

spiritual noun
a religious song <sang a spiritual at the funeral> — see HYMN 1

spiritualist noun
a person who claims to speak with or for the spirits of the dead <the spiritualist claims merely to be the agency through which the spirit—or “control”—conveys its messages to the living> — see CHANNELER

spirituality noun
the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church <the archbishop was opposed to the marriage, and the king needed the support of the spirituality if his rule was to be considered legitimate> — see CLERGY

spiritualty noun
the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church <a long history of conflict between that nation's spiritualty and its temporal leaders> — see CLERGY

1spit noun
an area of land that juts out into a body of water <at the northeast end of the island is a long spit whose terminal is crowned by a towering lighthouse> — see 2CAPE

2spit noun
1 something or someone that strongly resembles another <the spit and image of his father> — see IMAGE 1
2 the fluid that is secreted into the mouth by certain glands <so dry that he felt as if he had no spit left in his mouth> — see SALIVA

spit verb
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <according to the propaganda put out by the war ministry, enemy soldiers were spitting innocent babies on bayonets> — see IMPALE

spite noun
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <spread cruel lies out of pure spite> — see MALICE

spite verb
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <sometimes, I swear, she keeps doing that just to spite me> — see IRRITATE 1

spiteful adjective
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it <the gossip would utter the most vicious things with a spiteful smile> — see HATEFUL

spitefully adverb
in a mean or spiteful manner <spitefully told the orphans that they'd never amount to anything> — see NASTILY

spitefulness noun
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <cut down their neighbors' tree out of sheer spitefulness> — see MALICE

spitting image noun
something or someone that strongly resembles another <with the help of either movie magic or makeup, the actress appeared to be the spitting image of the queen> — see IMAGE 1

spittle noun
the fluid that is secreted into the mouth by certain glands <unaware that spittle was leaking out of his mouth while he slept> — see SALIVA

spit up verb
to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth <the baby finished nursing and promptly spit up> — see VOMIT

splash noun
a very small amount <at least you have a splash of common sense—which is more than we can say for your mother> — see PARTICLE 1

splash verb
1 to cause (something liquid or mushy) to move along in sheets <rowdy teenagers splashing water at each other in the community pool>

Synonyms
dash, slop, slosh, spatter, swash

Related Words
dabble, lap, plash, wash; spray, sprinkle, spritz; squirt

2 to wet or soil by striking with something liquid or mushy <the bus splashed us as it barrelled through the puddles>

Synonyms
bespatter, dash, plash, spatter, splatter

Related Words
drench, drown, impregnate, saturate, soak, sop, souse, steep; bathe, douse (also dowse), wash, water; slop, slush, spray, sprinkle, squirt

3 to flow along or against <water constantly splashing the wooden pilings eventually weakened them> — see WASH 1
4 to flow in a broken irregular stream <the spilled juice splashed over the counter and onto the floor> — see GURGLE
5 to move with a splashing motion <a baby splashing about in the tub> — see SLOSH 1

splashy adjective
1 likely to attract attention <a splashy new restaurant that's currently the in place to go> — see NOTICEABLE
2 attractively eye-catching in style <a splashy ad for the new brand of blue jeans> — see JAZZY 1
3 excessively showy <a splashy outfit that was definitely out of place in church> — see GAUDY

splatter verb
to wet or soil by striking with something liquid or mushy <the house painters accidentally splattered my car with paint> — see SPLASH 2

spleen noun
1 an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <vented her spleen and felt much better for having done so> — see ANGER
2 the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <the bill's failure to pass in the legislature was due to nothing more than partisan spleen> — see MALICE

splendid adjective
1 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <a splendid mansion in the Georgian style> — see GRAND 1
2 of the very best kind <the restaurant's chef can always be relied upon to prepare a splendid dinner> — see EXCELLENT
3 giving off or reflecting much light <a splendid diamond that must have been worth a king's ransom> — see BRIGHT 1

splendidly adverb
1 in a pleasing way <the graduation party went splendidly> — see WELL 5
2 in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light <the windjammer's splendidly white sails billowed against a deep blue sky> — see BRIGHTLY 1

splendidness noun
impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <the splendidness of the view from Mount Holyoke's summit inspired a number of 19th-century landscape painters to make the ascent> — see MAGNIFICENCE

splendiferousness noun
impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <the jaw-dropping splendiferousness of the cathedral has attracted pilgrims since the 13th century> — see MAGNIFICENCE

splendor noun
1 impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <the splendor of the ancient monument awed us into silence> — see MAGNIFICENCE
2 the quality or state of having or giving off light <the splendor of the huge diamond can scarcely be described> — see BRILLIANCE 1
3 something extraordinary or surprising <some of the many splendors of the reign of Tutankhamen are on display in this new travelling exhibition> — see WONDER 1

splenetic adjective
having or showing a habitually bad temper <the newspaper publisher's splenetic editorials often struck fear into local politicians> — see ILL-TEMPERED

splint noun
a small flat piece separated from a whole <a splint off the board> — see CHIP 1

splinter noun
a small flat piece separated from a whole <she got a splinter from the unfinished wall> — see CHIP 1

splinter verb
to cut into long slender pieces <splintered the carrots into little sticks> — see SLIVER

split adjective
disagreeing with each other <opinions are split on the subject> — see DIVIDED

split noun
1 an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure <an earthquake left a split in the ground> — see CRACK 1
2 the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces <the split of the group into two factions marked the beginning of the end of the organization> — see SEPARATION 1

split verb
to set or force apart <split logs for the winter's supply of wood> — see SEPARATE 1

split (on) verb, British
to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities <promise you won't split on us, and we'll tell you what happened> — see SQUEAL 1

split–second adjective
done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time <a day trader who is used to making split-second decisions> — see INSTANTANEOUS

split second noun
a very small space of time <a devastating accident can cause everything in your life to change in a split second> — see INSTANT

splitting adjective
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <the horse took off at a splitting gallop> — see FAST 1

splore noun, Scottish
a state of noisy, confused activity <the splore that annually accompanies the Edinburgh Festival> — see COMMOTION

splotch noun
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part <the bleach left a small white splotch on my shirt> — see SPOT 1

splotch verb
to mark with small spots especially unevenly <ink from a leaking pen had badly splotched his shirt pocket> — see SPOT 1

splotched adjective
having blotches of two or more colors <a splotched tan and white puppy> — see PIED

splotchy adjective
marked with spots <a country road splotchy with patches of snow> — see SPOTTED 1

spoil noun
valuables stolen or taken by force <the bandits escaped with their lives but not with the spoils> — see LOOT 1

spoil verb
1 to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable <too much coddling will spoil the child> — see TAINT 1
2 to go through decomposition <the meat has spoiled> — see DECAY 1
3 to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <know when to stop, for an unnecessary brushstroke can spoil a painted portrait> — see DAMAGE 1
4 to treat with great or excessive care <when they were newlyweds, the wife tended to spoil her husband, but she soon got over that> — see BABY

spoilage noun
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances <in the days before refrigeration, spoilage was a constant problem> — see CORRUPTION 1

spoiled adjective
having undergone organic breakdown <spoiled milk> — see ROTTEN 1

spoilsport noun
a person who spoils the pleasure of others <if you don't want to play, at least don't be a spoilsport> — see KILLJOY

spoken adjective
1 made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing <a spoken agreement is too easily broken> — see VERBAL 2
2 expressed or communicated by voice <a politician who knows the power of the spoken word> — see VOCAL

spokesman noun
a person who speaks for another or for a group <a spokesman for the cattle industry> — see SPOKESPERSON

spokesperson noun
a person who speaks for another or for a group <the spokesperson for the protesting students presented their demands to the administration>

Synonyms
mouth, mouthpiece, point man, point person, prophet, speaker, spokesman

Related Words
spokesmodel, spokeswoman; front, promoter, shill; communicator, sayer, talker; agent, ambassador, delegate, emissary, envoy, representative

sponge noun
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return <finally told the sponge to move out of their house and to get a job> — see LEECH

sponge verb
1 to take in (something liquid) through small openings <the ground quickly sponged up the much-needed rain> — see ABSORB 1
2 to live by relying on someone else's generosity or hospitality without sharing in the cost or responsibility <she's been sponging off of her friends while she tries to land an entry-level job on Wall Street> — see FREELOAD

sponger noun
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return <a spoiled sponger who, after college, moved back in with her parents and seems to be in no hurry to get a job> — see LEECH

spongy adjective
1 giving easily to the touch <spongy moss covered the ground> — see SOFT 3
2 able to soak up liquids especially readily <generously pour the brandy over the cake, which is so spongy that it will absorb most of the liquid> — see ABSORBENT

sponsor noun
a person who takes the responsibility for some other person or thing <you'll need a sponsor to recommend you in order to get into the exclusive country club>

Synonyms
backer, guarantor, patron, surety

Related Words
chaperone (or chaperon); advocate, champion, supporter; angel, benefactor, underwriter; coach, mentor, teacher; cosponsor; cosignatory, cosigner

sponsorship noun
the financial support and general guidance for an undertaking <a youth softball league under the sponsorship of local businesses> — see AUSPICE 1

spontaneity noun
carefree freedom from constraint <the couple sacrificed some of the spontaneity in their lives when they had a baby> — see ABANDON

spontaneous adjective
done instantly and without conscious thought or decision <hugging a crying child is simply a spontaneous reaction> — see AUTOMATIC 1

spontaneousness noun
carefree freedom from constraint <her friends loved her for her natural spontaneousness> — see ABANDON

spoof noun
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect <many viewers thought that the spoof of a television newscast was the real thing> — see PARODY 1

spoof verb
1 to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of <spoofed overly competitive parents in a mockumentary about tryouts for a national T-ball team> — see MIMIC 1
2 to cause to believe what is untrue <the newspaper was spoofed by a supposedly plausible claim of a UFO encounter> — see DECEIVE

spook noun
1 a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country <Russia recalled its spooks after the collapse of the Soviet Union> — see SPY
2 the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <Halloween is the night when spooks and goblins are said to roam abroad> — see GHOST 1

spook verb
to strike with fear <the sudden noise spooked her out of her skin> — see FRIGHTEN

spooked adjective
filled with fear or dread <Ichabod Crane was so spooked that he left Sleepy Hollow for good> — see AFRAID

spookish adjective
fearfully and mysteriously strange or fantastic <the spookish interior of a Victorian mansion that had seen better days> — see EERIE

spooky adjective
1 easily excited by nature <a spooky horse shying at shadows> — see EXCITABLE
2 fearfully and mysteriously strange or fantastic <a spooky tale of strange hauntings and mysterious reincarnations> — see EERIE

spoon verb
to lift out with something that holds liquid <lovingly spooned the homemade stew out of the pot> — see DIP 2

spoon noun
a utensil with a bowl and a handle that is used especially in cooking and serving food <an assortment of metal and wooden spoons should be part of every cook's culinary arsenal>

Synonyms
dipper, ladle, scoop

Related Words
skimmer; dessertspoon, soupspoon, tablespoon, teaspoon

spoony or spooney adjective
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <the spoony verses of a lovesick soldier to his girl back home> — see CORNY 1

sporadic adjective
1 lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <sporadic loud noises kept startling everyone> — see FITFUL
2 not often occurring or repeated <so long as the complaints remain sporadic, we're doing fine> — see INFREQUENT

sport noun
1 activity engaged in to amuse oneself <I don't care terribly whether I actually catch any fish, as I'm just doing this for sport> — see PLAY 1
2 an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously <teasing that began in sport ended with some hateful words being exchanged> — see FUN 2
3 the making of unkind jokes as a way of showing one's scorn for someone or something <several of the kids routinely made sport of their classmate's speech impediment> — see RIDICULE
4 a person or thing that is made fun of <in a society where unmarried women had no status, a spinster was often the long-suffering sport of the village> — see LAUGHINGSTOCK

sport verb
1 to engage in activity for amusement <from sailing to snorkeling, each day we sported at a different activity offered by the beach resort> — see PLAY 1
2 to play and run about happily <the millionaire's grandchildren sporting on the estate's spacious grounds> — see FROLIC 1
3 to present so as to invite notice or attention <sported his flashy new car by driving it all over town> — see SHOW 1

sportful adjective
given to good-natured joking or teasing <a sportful brother who loved teasing his little sister> — see PLAYFUL

sportfulness noun
a natural disposition for playful behavior <I find my business partner's sportfulness charming, but I worry that it might lead clients to view him as unprofessional> — see PLAYFULNESS

sporting house noun
a building in which prostitutes are available <had a long career as a madam in a New Orleans sporting house> — see BORDELLO

sportive adjective
given to good-natured joking or teasing <a sportive pastor who began every sermon with a joke> — see PLAYFUL

sportiveness noun
a natural disposition for playful behavior <her high-spirited sportiveness can sometimes distract her and others from serious work> — see PLAYFULNESS

sportsmanlike adjective
following or according to the rules <admired by the fans for his sportsmanlike conduct on the ice> — see FAIR 3

sportsmanly adjective
following or according to the rules <in wrestling, biting is not sportsmanly, and will result in a forfeit> — see FAIR 3

spot noun
1 a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part <in summer the white coat of the snow leopard is studded with brownish black spots>

Synonyms
blotch, dapple, dot, eyespot, fleck, mottle, patch, pip, point, speck, speckle, splotch

Related Words
birthmark, freckle, mole; blob, blot, mark, smear, smudge, smutch, stain; spatter, splash; polka dot

2 a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <we're in a bit of a spot right now with our mortgage payments> — see PREDICAMENT
3 a mark of guilt or disgrace <scandalous conduct that will forever be a spot upon the family name> — see STAIN 1
4 a very small amount <had only a spot of stew for dinner, as he wasn't very hungry> — see PARTICLE 1
5 the area or space occupied by or intended for something <the cat grabbed my spot on the couch the minute I stood up> — see PLACE 1

spot verb
1 to mark with small spots especially unevenly <to give the effect of sunlight on water, the artist spotted the lake in his painting with flecks of gold paint>

Synonyms
blotch, dapple, dot, fleck, freckle, marble, mottle, pepper, shoot, speck, speckle, splotch, sprinkle, stipple

Related Words
blot, dye, stain; band, bar, streak, stripe; intersperse, set, stud; bespatter, spatter

2 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <I spotted both of them as they tried to sneak out the back door> — see SEE 1
3 to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on <the TV networks had spotted reporters all over the state for the election> — see SCATTER 2

spotless adjective
free from dirt or stain <a spotless white dress> — see CLEAN 1

spotlight noun
the center of public attention <reality show contestants who become addicted to the spotlight> — see CENTER STAGE

spot–on adjective
1 being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard <for an inside mount for window blinds, your measurements had better be spot-on> — see CORRECT 1
2 meeting the highest standard of accuracy <a spot-on prediction of the movie's gross on its opening weekend> — see PRECISE 1

spotted adjective
1 marked with spots <the spotted tablecloth clashed with the stripes on the wallpaper>

Synonyms
dappled (also dapple), dotted, flecked, freckled, mottled, specked, speckled, splotchy, spotty, stippled, variegated

Related Words
spangled; marbled, moiré (or moire), veined; chromatic, colored, colorful, motley, multicolored, multihued, polychromatic, polychrome, prismatic, rainbow, varicolored, variegated; blotched, blotchy, piebald, pinto, roan

Near Antonyms
solid

Antonyms
unspotted

2 having blotches of two or more colors <not surprisingly, the white cow and black bull had a spotted calf> — see PIED

spotting noun
the act or process of sighting or learning the existence of something for the first time <the spotting of a new bird is always a thrill for an avid bird-watcher> — see DISCOVERY 1

spotty adjective
1 lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <only spotty business failures marred the economic boom> — see FITFUL
2 marked with spots <Dalmatians are spotty dogs> — see SPOTTED 1

spouse noun
the person to whom another is married <employees and their spouses are covered by the health plan>

Synonyms
better half, consort, mate, partner, significant other

Related Words
soul mate; domestic partner; bridegroom, groom, hubby, husband, man, mister, old man; bride, helpmate, helpmeet, lady, wife

Near Antonyms
ex; single; bachelor; bachelorette, maid, maiden, spinster

spout noun
1 a pipe or channel for carrying off water from a roof <during the winter, runoff from the spout tends to freeze over and form a dangerous patch of ice on the walkway> — see GUTTER 1
2 a usually forceful stream of fluid discharged from a narrow opening <kids cooling off under the spout of water from an opened fire hydrant> — see JET

spout verb
1 to flow out in great quantities or with force <water spouting from the hose> — see GUSH 1
2 to talk loudly and wildly <a self-important loudmouth who is always spouting about the mess that politicians have made of everything> — see RANT
3 to violently throw out or off (something from within) <the drain suddenly spouted water and debris> — see ERUPT 1

spout (off) verb
to voice one's opinions freely with force <got in trouble for spouting off in class in a disrespectful way> — see SPEAK UP

sprat noun
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <planning to spend their vacation at a couples-only resort where they would not be bothered by snotty-nosed sprats> — see CHILD 1

spray verb
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on <sprayed the lawn with pesticides> — see SCATTER 2

spread noun
1 a decorative cloth used as a top covering for a bed <bought a brightly colored spread for summer> — see COUNTERPANE
2 a large fancy meal often accompanied by ceremony or entertainment <they really know how to put out a good spread> — see FEAST 1
3 a wide space or area <a vast spread of land just waiting to be settled> — see EXPANSE
4 the distance or extent between possible extremes <the spread of grades was from 15 to 79 on that quiz> — see RANGE 3
5 the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects <a spread of nearly 100 miles between farms> — see DISTANCE 1

spread verb
1 to cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people <spread the news!>

Synonyms
broadcast, circulate, disseminate, propagate

Related Words
radiate, sprawl; diffuse, dispense, disperse, dissipate, scatter, sow; communicate, convey, impart, pass (on), transmit

Near Antonyms
cloak, conceal, enshroud, hide, hold (in), mask, obscure, secrete, shroud, veil; contain, limit, restrict

2 to put a layer of on a surface <we spread the fertilizer over the lawn evenly until it was fully covered>

Synonyms
apply, lay, lay on

Related Words
anoint, bedaub, besmear, dab, daub, plaster, slather, smear; blanket, carpet, coat, cover, layer, mantle, overlay, overlie, overspread, sheet, surface

Near Antonyms
bare, expose, peel, strip, uncover

3 to become known <once news of the war's end had spread, spontaneous celebrations broke out everywhere> — see GET OUT 1
4 to cause (something) to pass from one to another <living conditions that help to spread chicken pox> — see COMMUNICATE 1
5 to go or move in different directions from a central point <the walls of the old barn spread under the weight of the snow on the roof> — see SEPARATE 2
6 to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number <dissatisfaction with the new administration is spreading rapidly> — see INCREASE 2

spread (out) verb
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area <let's spread the puzzle out on the floor and see what we've got> — see OPEN 3

spreading adjective
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others <spreading enthusiasm that got our club rolling again> — see CONTAGIOUS 2

spree noun
1 a time or instance of carefree fun <went on a spending spree> — see FLING 1
2 a bout of prolonged or excessive drinking <after a lifetime of self-destructive sprees, the poet Dylan Thomas died at last of an alcoholic overdose> — see CAROUSE

sprightliness noun
the quality or state of having abundant or intense activity <the sprightliness of the young girl made us tired just watching her> — see VITALITY 1

sprightly adjective
having much high-spirited energy and movement <a sprightly child who often claims to be too tired to move when it's time to do chores> — see LIVELY 1

sprightly adverb
in a quick and spirited manner <every morning the elderly couple sprightly sets out on a walk> — see GAILY 2

spring noun
1 an act of leaping into the air <the deer gave a sudden spring and disappeared into the woods> — see JUMP 1
2 a point or place at which something is invented or provided <the springs of this time-honored tradition run too deep to allow for easy explanation> — see SOURCE 1

spring verb
1 to come into existence <when it comes to love and romance, hope springs eternally> — see BEGIN 2
2 to propel oneself upward or forward into the air <the cat sprang and pounced on the mouse> — see JUMP 1
3 to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <had to spend a night in jail until their lawyer could come to spring them> — see FREE 1

spring (for) verb
to give what is owed for <offered to spring for dinner for the whole gang> — see PAY 2

spring (up) verb
to come to one's attention especially gradually or unexpectedly <a new issue sprang up at yesterday's meeting of the school board> — see ARISE 2

springtime noun
1 a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement <a springtime of entrepreneurship in the old Soviet bloc after the fall of the Iron Curtain> — see BLOOM 1
2 the state or time of being a child <a man in the winter of his life reminiscing about his springtime and wondering where all the years went> — see CHILDHOOD

springy adjective
1 able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted <pillows made with springy foam that bounces right back> — see ELASTIC 1
2 having much high-spirited energy and movement <walks with a springy step> — see LIVELY 1

sprinkle noun
1 a light or fine rain <decided it was not worth carrying an umbrella for just a sprinkle> — see DRIZZLE
2 a small number <received only a sprinkle of suggestions for the name of the school mascot> — see FEW

sprinkle verb
1 to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on <sprinkle the newly seeded lawn with water> — see SCATTER 2
2 to mark with small spots especially unevenly <sprinkled the cake with bits of coconut> — see SPOT 1

sprinkling noun
1 a small number <a sprinkling of fans showed up at the airport> — see FEW
2 a very small amount <just a sprinkling of experience with the computer program> — see PARTICLE 1

sprint verb
to go at a pace faster than a walk <he sprinted off to class so as to avoid being late> — see RUN 1

sprite noun
1 an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <the child insisted that he'd seen a sprite hiding in the garden> — see FAIRY
2 the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <told hair-raising stories of sprites and spectral ships> — see GHOST 1

sprout noun
1 a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <he earned the admiration of the neighborhood sprouts when he showed them how to make a slingshot> — see CHILD 1
2 a branch of a main stem especially of a plant <the raspberry bushes began sending out sprouts in early spring> — see OFFSHOOT 1

spruce adjective
being strikingly neat and trim in style or appearance <a slim, spruce man in a tailor-made business suit> — see SMART 1

spruce (up) verb
to make neat <hurriedly sprucing up the hotel dining room before the breakfast crowd began showing up> — see NEATEN

sprucely adverb
in a strikingly neat and trim manner <sprucely dressed, I set out for my first job interview> — see SMARTLY

spry adjective
moving easily <an older woman who's still surprisingly spry> — see GRACEFUL 1

spryness noun
ease and grace in physical activity <has the spryness and flexibility of a professional athlete> — see DEXTERITY 2

spume noun
a light mass of fine bubbles formed in or on a liquid <spume floating on the ocean> — see FOAM

spunk noun
the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship <had the spunk to overcome a severe physical disability> — see FORTITUDE

spunky adjective
marked by a lively display of strong feeling <a spunky determination to make the best of a bad situation> — see SPIRITED 1

spur noun
1 something that arouses action or activity <the threat of losing its only sports franchise was the spur the city council needed to finally do something about the rising crime rate> — see IMPULSE 1
2 a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else <a weak wall that might need a spur> — see SUPPORT 1

spur verb
to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object <gently spurred the horse with his heels> — see PROD 1

spurious adjective
1 being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud <a spurious Picasso painting that wouldn't have fooled an art expert for a second> — see COUNTERFEIT 1
2 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <claimed that the governor's election-year enthusiasm for conservation was spurious, since he had cut funding for state parks> — see ARTIFICIAL 1
3 born to a father and mother who are not married <the spurious son of Charles II, the Duke of Monmouth would later mount a rebellion in a disastrous attempt to claim the throne> — see ILLEGITIMATE 1

spuriousness noun
the state or fact of being born out of wedlock <the spuriousness of her birth had always bothered her> — see ILLEGITIMACY

spurn verb
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <fiercely independent, the elderly couple spurned all offers of financial help> — see DECLINE 1

spur–of–the–moment adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <a spur-of-the-moment trip to the zoo> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

spurt noun
1 a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity <a spurt of economic growth for the first quarter of the year> — see OUTBREAK 1
2 a usually forceful stream of fluid discharged from a narrow opening <a sudden spurt of blood rushed out from the opened wound> — see JET

spurt verb
1 to flow out in great quantities or with force <water spurted from the garden hose just as I was checking the nozzle> — see GUSH 1
2 to throw out or off (something from within) often violently <the pipe suddenly cracked and began spurting water> — see ERUPT 1

sputter verb
to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly <she was so shocked that, for a moment, all she could do was sputter> — see BABBLE 1

spy verb
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <I spy a motel off in the distance, so let's spend the night there> — see SEE 1

spy noun
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country <the government spy risked his life every day in the fight against global terrorism>

Synonyms
agent, asset, emissary, intelligencer, mole, operative, spook, undercover

Related Words
courier; counterspy, double agent, sleeper; infiltrator, informer, stool pigeon; spymaster, superspy

Phrases
secret agent, undercover agent

spying noun
the secret gathering of information on others <traditionally, anyone caught engaging in spying during wartime was shot or hanged> — see ESPIONAGE

squab noun
a long upholstered piece of furniture designed for several sitters <at one point Robinson Crusoe tells of making a rough-hewn squab with the skins of animals he had killed> — see COUCH

squabble noun
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <frightened by noise of the squabble, the cat hid under the couch> — see ARGUMENT 1

squabble verb
to express different opinions about something often angrily <the children squabbled loudly over who got to play with the toy first> — see ARGUE 2

squabbler noun
a person who takes part in a dispute <the neighbors can be squabblers sometimes, but they're really no worse than most couples> — see DISPUTANT

squad noun
a group of people working together on a task <the cleaning squad usually arrives after regular business hours> — see GANG 1

squalidness noun
the state or quality of being dirty <the squalidness of the laborers' shack made my stomach turn> — see DIRTINESS 1

squall noun
1 a disturbance of the atmosphere accompanied by wind and often by precipitation (as rain or snow) <a snow squall is expected tonight> — see STORM 1
2 a state of noisy, confused activity <the annual squall created when the store holds its biggest sale of the year> — see COMMOTION

squall verb
to cry out loudly and emotionally <the baby squalled in pain> — see SCREAM 1

squally adjective
1 marked by wet and windy conditions <be careful driving in this squally weather> — see FOUL 1
2 marked by strong wind or more wind than usual <this coastal region often experiences wet, squally weather> — see 1WINDY 1

squamous adjective
composed of or covered with scales <a squamous plant bulb> — see SCALY

squander verb
1 to use up carelessly <squandered all her money gambling in casinos> — see WASTE 1
2 to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart <a single blast of the shotgun squandered the herd of deer> — see SCATTER 1

squanderer noun
someone who spends money freely or foolishly <the elderly woman refused to leave any money to the family's most notorious squanderer> — see PRODIGAL

squandering adjective
given to spending money freely or foolishly <the nightclub's ridiculous prices seem geared to squandering revelers with more money than sense> — see PRODIGAL

square adjective
1 having four equal sides and four right angles <a square room>

Synonyms
foursquare, quadrate

Related Words
blockish, blocky, boxlike, boxy, cubic, cubical, cuboid; squarish; rectangular

2 marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias <received a square hearing from the disciplinary panel> — see FAIR 2

square verb
1 to be in agreement on every point <that explanation squares entirely with the evidence that we've seen> — see CHECK 1
2 to influence someone with a bribe <tried to square the police officer into ignoring the illegal operation> — see BRIBE

squarely adverb
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference <a line that is squarely in the middle> — see EXACTLY 1

squash verb
1 to cause to become a pulpy mass <the sort of person who couldn't even squash a bug> — see CRUSH 1
2 to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <squashed any effort to reform the country's power structure> — see QUELL 1

squashy adjective
giving easily to the touch <a bed covered in big squashy pillows> — see SOFT 3

squat adjective
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature <a short, squat woman> — see STOCKY

squat verb
to lie low with the limbs close to the body <a detective squatting to examine something on the ground> — see CROUCH

squat noun, slang
the smallest amount or part imaginable <he doesn't do squat all day long and is by far the laziest worker in the company> — see JOT

squatty adjective
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature <a squatty little wrestler> — see STOCKY

squawk noun
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <if we don't receive any squawks, we can assume the change was acceptable> — see COMPLAINT 1

squawk verb
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <she squawked on for hours about how salespeople were always rude to her> — see COMPLAIN

squawking adjective
engaging in or marked by loud and insistent cries especially of protest <the PTA meeting was filled with squawking parents, voicing their dislike of the new vice-principal> — see VOCIFEROUS

squeak verb
to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities <one of the robbers eventually squeaked about the others> — see SQUEAL 1

squeaking adjective
having a high musical pitch or range <a baby bird making little squeaking cries> — see SHRILL

squeaky adjective
having a high musical pitch or range <a child with a squeaky voice> — see SHRILL

squeaky–clean adjective
free from dirt or stain <feeling squeaky-clean and smelling nice after her bath> — see CLEAN 1

squeal verb
1 to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities <that stool pigeon squealed to the police about the whole smuggling operation>

Synonyms
fink, grass (on) [British slang], inform, rat (on), sing, snitch, split (on) [British], squeak, talk, tell (on)

Related Words
betray, give away, turn in; backstab, cross, double-cross, sell (out), two-time; blab, tattle; tip (off)

Phrases
drop a dime (on)

2 to cry out loudly and emotionally <the child squealed with frustration> — see SCREAM 1
3 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <hoped that a DVD player in the backseat would keep the kids from squealing about long car rides> — see COMPLAIN

squealer noun
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <after finding out who told on them, the hoodlums proceeded to give the squealer the beating of his life> — see INFORMER

squeamish adjective
affected with nausea <the rolling of the ship made her squeamish> — see NAUSEOUS 1

squeamishness noun
1 a disturbed condition of the stomach in which one feels like vomiting <an ever-rising squeamishness suddenly overwhelmed her, and she ran for the bathroom> — see NAUSEA 1
2 the tendency to be or state of being squeamish <his general squeamishness makes him a terrible choice as a lab partner for a dissection> — see DELICACY 3

squeeze verb
1 to apply external pressure on so as to force out the juice or contents of <kept squeezing the bottle until the ketchup squirted all over the table> — see 2PRESS 2
2 to fit (people or things) into a tight space <I think we can squeeze a bit more into the washing machine> — see CROWD 1
3 to get with great difficulty <managed to squeeze a living by cleaning houses> — see EKE OUT
4 to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together <squeezed the blanket until it fit into the box> — see COMPRESS 1
5 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <the mob squeezes all the local merchants by threatening violence> — see FLEECE
6 to force one's way <I was able to squeeze through the people clustered around the luggage carousel> — see 2PRESS 4

squeeze noun
1 the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing <he gave the plastic bag a squeeze and then folded it up for storage> — see COMPRESSION
2 slang a person with whom one is in love <she and her main squeeze are spending Valentine's Day at a romantic country inn> — see SWEETHEART 1

squeeze off verb
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force <the hunter waited for the deer to start feeding, then squeezed off several rounds> — see SHOOT 1

squeezing noun
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing <the tight squeezing of his hands on hers made her face turn red> — see COMPRESSION

squelch verb
1 to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <immediately squelched any signs of rebellion> — see QUELL 1
2 to stop the noise or speech of <his irritated glare squelched any other potential objectors> — see SILENCE 1

squiffed or squiffy adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <the Scotsman was squiffed when he passed out by the roadside> — see DRUNK

squiggle verb
1 to make jerky or restless movements <a pediatrician's waiting room full of squiggling toddlers> — see FIDGET
2 to write or draw hastily or carelessly <there are some illegible notes squiggled in the margins of the old book> — see SCRIBBLE 1

squinch verb
1 to lie low with the limbs close to the body <squinched down to fit under the table> — see CROUCH
2 to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition <squinched up her eyes in disgust> — see CONTORT
3 to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust <didn't squinch a bit when the intruder pulled a knife on him> — see FLINCH

squinching noun
the twisting of something out of its natural or normal shape or condition <warned him that the constant squinching of his face would someday leave him with a permanently deformed look> — see CONTORTION

squire verb
to go along with in order to provide assistance, protection, or companionship <her father squired her to the dance to make sure she got there all right> — see ACCOMPANY 1

squirm verb
to make jerky or restless movements <the toddler squirmed the whole time we were in the waiting room> — see FIDGET

squirmy adjective
making jerky or restless movements <a squirmy baby> — see FIDGETY

squirrel (away) verb
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place <squirreled the information away for future reference> — see HOARD

squirt verb
to flow out in great quantities or with force <water squirting out of the faucet> — see GUSH 1

squirt noun
1 a usually forceful stream of fluid discharged from a narrow opening <added a squirt of lemon juice to the baked haddock> — see JET
2 a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <I am fond of the little squirt, I'll admit> — see CHILD 1

squishy adjective
1 giving easily to the touch <a squishy beanbag chair> — see SOFT 3
2 not precisely correct <those are awfully squishy estimates for the final cost of a new football stadium> — see INEXACT 1

squooshy adjective
giving easily to the touch <a toddler clutching a squooshy teddy bear> — see SOFT 3

stab noun
1 a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument <the injection left a small stab on her upper arm> — see PRICK 1
2 an effort to do or accomplish something <everybody will get a stab at solving the problem> — see ATTEMPT 1

stab verb
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <stabbed the pesky leaf with the tines of the rake> — see IMPALE

stability noun
1 the ability to withstand force or stress without being distorted, dislodged, or damaged <the bridge was designed with such great stability that it supposedly will not collapse even under the harshest weather conditions>

Synonyms
firmness, soundness, strength, sturdiness

Related Words
dependability, durability, reliability; solidity, solidness; cohesion, toughness

Near Antonyms
insubstantiality, unsoundness, unsubstantiality; weakness

Antonyms
insecurity, instability, precariousness, shakiness, unstableness, unsteadiness

2 the state of continuing without change <the stability of the regime is in jeopardy> — see CONSTANCY 1

stable adjective
1 marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion <the observation tower is stable enough to withstand the strongest winds without collapsing>

Synonyms
bombproof, fast, firm, sound, stalwart, strong, sturdy

Related Words
dependable, durable, reliable; infrangible, irrefragable, unbreakable; beefy, solid; cohesive, tough

Near Antonyms
infirm, insecure, weak; shaky, tottering, tottery, unbalanced, wobbly (also wabbly); unsubstantial

Antonyms
rickety, unsound, unstable, unsteady

2 having been established and usually not subject to change <a troubled nation badly in need of a stable government> — see FIXED 1
3 having full use of one's mind and control over one's actions <she made some strange decisions back when she wasn't entirely stable> — see SANE
4 not undergoing a change in condition <a stable economic climate is best for business> — see CONSTANT 1

stack noun
1 a considerable amount <earned a stack of money for writing the screenplay> — see LOT 2
2 a quantity of things thrown or stacked on one another <a stack of playing cards> — see 1PILE 1

stack verb
to lay or throw on top of one another <stacked the split logs by the house> — see PILE 1

stack (up) verb
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass <those newspapers have been stacking up in the basement since we moved here> — see COLLECT 2

stack up (against or with) verb
to come near or nearer to in character or quality <how does the new car stack up against your old one?> — see APPROXIMATE

stadium noun
a large usually roofless building for sporting events with tiers of seats for spectators <the football game will be held at the new stadium, which seats 100,000 people>

Synonyms
bowl, circus, coliseum, colosseum

Related Words
ballpark, park; gym, gymnasium, spa; arena, dome, hippodrome

staff noun
1 a body of persons at work or available for work <we're working with a short staff at the office today> — see FORCE 1
2 a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <carried a staff for self-defense when walking alone at night> — see CLUB 1

stag adjective
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <a stash of stag flicks that were hidden in the basement> — see OBSCENE 1

stage noun
1 a level usually raised surface <spoke to the audience from a small stage in front> — see PLATFORM 1
2 a portion of a trip <this is only the first stage of the journey> — see LEG 2
3 an individual part of a process, series, or ranking <in the last stage of the project> — see DEGREE 1
4 the public performance of plays <drawn to the stage as a career> — see DRAMA 1

stage verb
to bring before the public in performance or exhibition <staged the full body of Shakespeare's plays in the course of a year> — see PRESENT 1

stage director noun
a person who supervises the production of a stage show <the stage director spent most of the rehearsal working with the actors to block out the scene> — see REGISSEUR

stager noun
a person with long experience in a specified area <an old stager who resented the young upstarts in the brokerage firm> — see VETERAN

stagger verb
1 to move forward while swaying from side to side <I was so tired last night that I just staggered upstairs to bed without eating dinner>

Synonyms
careen, dodder, lurch, reel, teeter, totter, waddle

Related Words
rock, roll, seesaw, swag, sway, waver, weave, wobble (also wabble); barge, blunder, clomp, clump, flounder, galumph, lumber, lump, pound, scuff, scuffle, shamble, shuffle, stamp, stomp, stumble, tramp, tromp

2 to show uncertainty about the right course of action <a daunting problem that would make even the most decisive person stagger just a bit> — see HESITATE

staggering adjective
causing wonder or astonishment <the staggering scope of the new construction on campus> — see MARVELOUS 1

staggeringly adverb
to a large extent or degree <a staggeringly inappropriate comment to make at a funeral> — see GREATLY 2

stagy or stagey adjective
1 given to or marked by attention-getting behavior suggestive of stage acting <a motivational speaker whose stagy presentations motivate some listeners to head for the nearest exit> — see THEATRICAL 1
2 having the general quality or effect of a stage performance <the president's and the prime minister's public display of mutual admiration was a little too stagy to be convincing> — see DRAMATIC 1

staid adjective
1 not joking or playful in mood or manner <everyone was surprised by the racy joke from the usually staid professor> — see SERIOUS 1
2 having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner <staid colors that would be good for business attire> — see DIGNIFIED

staidness noun
a mental state free of jesting or trifling <the staidness of the Quaker meeting was surprising to those accustomed to more exuberant services> — see EARNESTNESS

stain verb
1 to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable <her poor choice of companions stained her reputation somewhat> — see TAINT 1
2 to give color or a different color to <stained the table to look like cherry> — see COLOR 1
3 to make dirty <oil stained his work pants> — see DIRTY

stain noun
1 a mark of guilt or disgrace <the stain of this cowardly act would haunt him for the rest of his career>

Synonyms
blot, brand, onus, slur, smirch, smudge, spot, stigma, taint

Related Words
black eye, discredit, disesteem, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, guilt, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, reproach, shame; corruption, debauchery, depravity, immorality, iniquity, licentiousness, sin, unscrupulousness, vice

Near Antonyms
award, credit, honor; chasteness, chastity, modesty, purity, stainlessness; good, right; honesty, integrity, legitimacy, probity, rectitude, scrupulousness, uprightness; goodness, righteousness, virtuousness; fame, glory, renown, repute

2 a substance used to color other materials <applied several coats of stain to the wood> — see PIGMENT

stained adjective
not clean <always seen wearing stained clothes, which he apparently hoped would mark him as an antibourgeois bohemian> — see DIRTY 1

stainless adjective
free from dirt or stain <nothing less than a perfectly stainless sheet of parchment would do for a diploma> — see CLEAN 1

stake noun
1 a legal right to participation in the advantages, profits, and responsibility of something <if I invest in your business, I expect a stake in it in return> — see INTEREST 1
2 the money or thing risked on the outcome of an uncertain event <lost his entire stake with a single roll of the dice> — see BET 1

stake verb
1 to provide money for <the actor staked the entire production of the film with his own money> — see FINANCE 1
2 to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event <I'd stake a year's salary that she'll win the general election> — see BET

stale adjective
1 used or heard so often as to be dull <viewers were bored by the stale story lines of the new crop of sitcoms>

Synonyms
banal, cliché (also cliche), clichéd, cobwebby, commonplace, hack, hackney, hackneyed, moth-eaten, musty, obligatory, shopworn, stereotyped, threadbare, timeworn, tired, trite, well-worn

Related Words
twice-told; bromidic, platitudinal, platitudinous; canned, cardboard, conventional, cookie-cutter, derivative, imitative, ready-made, tried-and-true, unimaginative, uninspired, unoriginal; normal, ordinary, rote, routine, standard, stock, typical, usual; arid, barren, boring, colorless, drab, dreary, drudging, dry, dull, dusty, flat, heavy, ho-hum, humdrum, jading, jejune, leaden, mind-numbing, monotonous, numbing, old, pedantic, pedestrian, ponderous, prosaic, stodgy, stuffy, tame, tedious, tiresome, tiring, undramatic, uninteresting, vapid, wearisome, weary, wearying; old-fashioned, old hat

Near Antonyms
animating, energizing, enlivening, exciting, galvanizing, invigorating, stimulating; absorbing, engaging, engrossing, gripping, interesting, intriguing, involving, riveting; atypical, extraordinary, strange, unaccustomed, uncommon, unfamiliar, unheard-of, unknown, unprecedented, unusual; pathbreaking, pioneering, trailblazing

Antonyms
fresh, new, novel, original, unclichéd, unhackneyed

2 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <the sequel is basically a stale remake of the first movie> — see BORING

stalemate noun
1 a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in <a new negotiator finally got both sides past the stalemate> — see IMPASSE 1
2 a situation in which neither participant in a contest, competition, or struggle comes out ahead of the other <after playing chess for 16 hours, we ended the game in a stalemate> — see TIE 1

stalk verb
1 to seek out (game) for food or sport <lions stalking gazelles on the plains> — see HUNT 1
2 to walk with exaggerated arm and leg movements <the irate customer stalked off in a huff> — see STRUT 1

stall verb
1 to bring (something) to a standstill <endless complaints stalled the process of selecting the winning design for the memorial> — see 1HALT 1
2 to stop functioning <the engine stalls sometimes when it's very cold outside> — see FAIL 1

stalwart adjective
1 feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <the stalwart soldiers in the army of Alexander the Great, who willingly followed him to the ends of the known world> — see BRAVE 1
2 having muscles capable of exerting great physical force <a stalwart yet lithe athlete> — see STRONG 1
3 marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion <the stalwart walls of the castle> — see STABLE 1

stalwartly adverb
in a fearless manner <Rachel Carson stalwartly championed the cause of environmentalism long before it was popular> — see BRAVELY 1

stamp noun
1 a perceptible trace left by pressure <a stamp left in the mud by some prehistoric beast> — see PRINT 1
2 something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <virtually without exception Van Gogh's portraits bear the stamp of genius> — see CHARACTERISTIC

stamp verb
1 to move heavily or clumsily <stamping around in oversized boots> — see LUMBER 1
2 to tread on heavily so as to crush or injure <stamped the grass down in a circle> — see TRAMPLE

stamp (out) verb
to destroy all traces of <working to stamp out racism in this country> — see ANNIHILATE 1

stamping ground noun
a place for spending time or for socializing <if she isn't at home, you can usually find her at the local library, her favorite stamping ground> — see HANGOUT

stance noun
a general way of holding the body <a slightly aggressive stance> — see POSTURE 1

stanchion noun
an upright shaft that supports an overhead structure <the stanchion of an arch> — see PILLAR 1

stand noun
a level usually raised surface <marchers passed by the reviewing stand> — see PLATFORM 1

stand verb
1 to occupy a place or location <the monument stands in the middle of the town plaza>

Synonyms
be, bear, lie, sit

Related Words
command, overlook; hang around, remain, rest, stay, stick around, tarry; await, wait; post, station; dwell, reside

2 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <I don't know how you can stand that job> — see BEAR 2
3 to give what is owed for <I'll stand lunch, and you can pay me back later> — see PAY 2
4 to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes <if the city's baseball team wins today, they will stand first in the league> — see RANK 1

standard adjective
1 being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <a standard bandage is all that that wound needs> — see ORDINARY 1
2 having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind <he's pretty much your standard high-school jock> — see TYPICAL 1
3 accepted, used, or practiced by most people <standard procedure> — see CURRENT 1

standard noun
1 something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared <the animation in that movie set the standard against which all later animated cartoons were judged>

Synonyms
bar, barometer, benchmark, criterion, gold standard, grade, mark, measure, metric, par, touchstone, yardstick

Related Words
case, example, instance; average, norm, rule; acme, apex, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith

Near Antonyms
aberration, abnormality, deviation

2 a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling <a ship flying the queen's standard> — see FLAG 1
3 what is typical of a group, class, or series <somewhat shorter than the standard for boys that age> — see AVERAGE
4 standards plural the code of good conduct for an individual or group <a life guided by high standards> — see ETHICS

standard–issue adjective
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <another standard-issue thriller with a man on the run desperately trying to find the baddie who framed him for murder> — see ORDINARY 1

standardize verb
to make agree with a single established standard or model <the plan is to standardize the test for reading comprehension so that we can see how students across the state compare>

Synonyms
formalize, homogenize, normalize, regularize

Related Words
codify, marshal (also marshall), methodize, order, organize, systematize, systemize; average, equalize, even; square; accredit, certify; control, govern, regulate, rule; conciliate, conform, coordinate, harmonize, integrate, reconcile, synthesize

Near Antonyms
customize, individualize, tailor

standby noun
something or someone to which one looks for support <our old standby in times of trouble> — see DEPENDENCE 2

stand by verb
to give steadfast support to <no matter how much people object, I will stand by my decision> — see ADHERE TO 1

stand–in noun
a person or thing that takes the place of another <hired him at the last minute as a stand-in for the person who quit> — see SUBSTITUTE

stand in verb
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only <she will be standing in for the regular teacher for a week> — see COVER 1

standing adjective
1 fixed in a place or position <bought the house and all standing appliances and fixtures> — see STATIONARY 1
2 rising straight up <all standing timbers are in sound condition> — see ERECT

standing noun
1 high position within society <a man of standing in his community> — see RANK 2
2 the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress <a tradition of long standing> — see DURATION 1
3 the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement <my standing in the class at the time of graduation> — see RANK 1

standoff noun
1 a situation in which neither participant in a contest, competition, or struggle comes out ahead of the other <after two hours they had played to a 5–5 standoff> — see TIE 1
2 a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in <the standoff continued for three days before the fugitive gave himself up to the authorities> — see IMPASSE 1

standoff adjective
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <the client's standoff attitude suggested that this was going to be a strictly business relationship> — see COOL 1

standoffish adjective
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <she proved to be simply shy, not standoffish> — see COOL 1

standout noun
1 a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <several standouts from showbiz were at the gala> — see CELEBRITY 1
2 something very good of its kind <his debut novel was a standout in an otherwise lackluster year> — see JIM-DANDY

stand out verb
to extend outward beyond a usual point <the relief figures stand out from the wall quite strikingly> — see BULGE 1

standpat adjective
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <the standpat chefs were having none of this low-calorie stuff that the food police were pushing> — see CONSERVATIVE 1

standpoint noun
a way of looking at or thinking about something <I never thought about it from that standpoint before> — see PERSPECTIVE 1

standstill noun
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in <battled each other to a standstill> — see IMPASSE 1

stand–up adjective
1 following the accepted rules of moral conduct <a real stand-up guy, he's willing to raise the child—by himself if necessary> — see HONORABLE 1
2 rising straight up <a puppy with stand-up ears> — see ERECT

stand up verb
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval <a hypothesis that won't stand up to close analysis> — see WASH 2

stank noun, British dialect
a small often deep body of water <the Scottish innkeeper advised swimming in the nearby stank only if the prospect of hypothermia seemed appealing> — see 1POOL

staple noun
the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts <reading is the very staple of a person's education> — see BODY 1

star adjective
1 of or relating to the stars <star observations> — see STELLAR 1
2 standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <the teacher's star pupil> — see EMINENT
3 widely known <looking for star actors to play the leads> — see FAMOUS 1

star noun
1 a ball-shaped gaseous celestial body that shines by its own light <it's difficult to see the stars at night in the middle of the city because of all the streetlights>

Synonyms
luminary, sphere, sun

Related Words
cluster, constellation, galaxy; binary star, brown dwarf, dwarf, fixed star, gasser, giant star, lodestar (also loadstar), neutron star, nova, pulsar, quasar, red dwarf, red giant, red star, subdwarf, supercluster, supergiant, supernova, variable, variable star, white dwarf

2 the person who has the most important role in a play, movie, or TV show <when the star of the school play came down with the flu on opening night, her understudy got to go on>

Synonyms
headliner, lead, principal

Related Words
leading lady, leading man; superstar; ingenue (or ingénue), starlet; star turn [chiefly British]; coprincipal, costar

Near Antonyms
extra, supernumerary

3 a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <the public's endless fascination with stars> — see CELEBRITY 1

starch noun
active strength of body or mind <a middle-aged woman who has retained the starch of youth> — see VIGOR 1

starchy adjective
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details <a starchy and demanding teacher> — see CEREMONIOUS 1

star–crossed adjective
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck <Romeo and Juliet are among literature's most famous star-crossed lovers> — see UNLUCKY 1

stare verb
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise <her friends stared in disbelief upon seeing her walking arm in arm with her ex-husband> — see GAPE

stare noun
a fixed intent look <caught the child's wide-eyed stare on film> — see GAZE

stark adjective
1 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <stark and forbidding mountains that the settlers knew that they would have to cross> — see GRIM 1
2 having no exceptions or restrictions <the school's stark prohibition against obscene slogans on clothing> — see ABSOLUTE 2
3 lacking contents that could or should be present <house buyers trying to imagine what those stark rooms would look like when filled with furniture> — see EMPTY 1
4 producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation <a once-lush landscape rendered depressingly stark by strip-mining and deforestation> — see BARREN 1
5 providing only the essentials and nothing fancy or luxurious <monks who have committed themselves to living in stark cells and working and praying in silence> — see NO-FRILLS

starkers adjective, chiefly British
lacking or shed of clothing <room service in one London hotel informs its employees to get used to the idea of walking in on guests who are starkers> — see NAKED 1

starry adjective
1 of or relating to the stars <the starry light of the firmament on a clear night> — see STELLAR 1
2 having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality <had the starry idea the Western military forces would waltz in there and put an end to rivalries that have been raging for hundreds of years> — see IDEALISTIC

starry–eyed adjective
having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality <the starry-eyed notion that international sports competitions actually help foster global harmony> — see IDEALISTIC

start noun
the point at which something begins <knew from the start of the game that he would win easily> — see BEGINNING

start verb
1 to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) <I started from my chair when I heard the sudden scream>

Synonyms
bolt, jump, startle

Related Words
jerk, jolt, twitch; blench, cringe, flinch, quail, recoil, shrink, spook, squinch, wince; bound, leap, spring; react, respond

2 to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of <started the impressionist movement in art> — see FOUND
3 to cause to function <trying to start the car on a frigid morning> — see ACTIVATE
4 to come into existence <the fight started when one child tripped the other> — see BEGIN 2
5 to extend outward beyond a usual point <frightened horses with starting eyes> — see BULGE 1
6 to take the first step in (a process or course of action) <we'll be ready to start the concert in a moment> — see BEGIN 1

startle verb
1 to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected <the lightning startled the children and sent them scurrying for cover> — see SURPRISE 1
2 to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) <the cat startled when the door slammed shut with a bang> — see START 1
3 to strike with fear <loud noises always startle her> — see FRIGHTEN

startlement noun
the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual <the look of startlement in her eyes when she found herself at the wedding seated next to her ex-boyfriend> — see SURPRISE 2

startling adjective
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness <the startling news that my sister will be having a baby> — see SURPRISING 1

starved adjective
feeling a desire or need for food <after that long soccer practice, the children were really starved> — see HUNGRY 1

starving adjective
feeling a desire or need for food <I missed lunch, and now I'm starving> — see HUNGRY 1

stash noun
a supply stored up and often hidden away <keeps a stash of tissues in her desk in case anyone needs one> — see HOARD 1

stash verb
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place <stashed the extra antifreeze in the trunk of the car> — see HOARD

stashing noun
the placing of something out of sight <the stashing of the title to the house in a strongbox that wasn't fireproof was foolish> — see CONCEALMENT 1

stasis noun
a condition in which opposing forces are equal to one another <for the time being, the populations of the national park's predators and prey remain in stasis> — see BALANCE 1

state noun
1 a body of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government <the British monarch is the head of state, while the prime minister is the head of the government> — see NATION 1
2 high position within society <Sir Thomas More was accorded an execution befitting his state: a beheading and not the hanging that common criminals received> — see RANK 2

state verb
1 to convey in appropriate or telling terms <please state the vehicle's mechanical problem as clearly and briefly as possible> — see PHRASE
2 to express (a thought or emotion) in words <“I believe this theory is wrong,” she stated> — see SAY 1
3 to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) <everyone has a right to state his or her opinion, no matter how unpopular it may be> — see EXPRESS 1

statehouse noun
the building in which a state legislature meets <a field trip to the statehouse to see the legislature in session> — see CAPITOL

stateliness noun
1 a dignified bearing or appearance befitting someone of royal status <the princess has a stateliness that will serve her well when she becomes queen> — see MAJESTY 1
2 dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style <the refined stateliness of the mansion that has served as the official home of the state's governors since the 18th century> — see ELEGANCE
3 impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <the stateliness of this mountain range is best appreciated from one of its summits> — see MAGNIFICENCE

stately adjective
1 having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner <the governor watched with stately aloofness as his wife charmed the party guests> — see DIGNIFIED
2 having or showing elegance <a stately dowager in an evening gown> — see ELEGANT 1
3 large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception <stately plantation homes that are now open to the public as museums> — see GRAND 1
4 very dignified in form, tone, or style <a stately composition that has served as the musical accompaniment for countless graduations and other ceremonial occasions> — see ELEVATED 2

statement noun
1 a record of goods sold or services performed together with the costs due <received a statement from the plumber in the mail> — see 1BILL 1
2 an act, process, or means of putting something into words <a careful statement of the legal case before the court> — see EXPRESSION 1
3 something that is said <her statement was met with considerable skepticism> — see WORD 2

state–of–the–art adjective
1 being or employing the latest concepts, styles, or techniques <a medical center that prides itself on being a leader in state-of-the-art microsurgery> — see AVANT
2 being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <he spent a boatload of money on a state-of-the-art home theater> — see MODERN

static adjective
fixed in a place or position <the static installation of the statue in that niche means that no one will ever see its back, which is also of interest> — see STATIONARY 1

station verb
to assign to a place or position <stationed guards around the perimeter of the encampment> — see 2POST

station noun
1 the place where someone is assigned to stand or remain <the soldiers remained at their station even though a huge enemy force was approaching>

Synonyms
position, post, quarter

Related Words
assignment, brief, business, charge, detail, job, operation

2 a regular stopping place <the historic house was once a station on the Underground Railroad, the network that helped slaves reach freedom in the North>

Synonyms
stop, way station

Related Words
depot, terminal; layover, stopover; outstation

3 the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement <in colonial America, women occupied the lowest station in society and were not allowed to take part in public life> — see RANK 1
4 a general way of holding the body <the palace guards are required to maintain a rigid station> — see POSTURE 1

stationary adjective
1 fixed in a place or position <a stationary bicycle is good for exercise, but you won't enjoy the scenery very much>

Synonyms
immobile, nonmoving, standing, static

Related Words
immotile, immovable, irremovable, nonmotile, unmovable; frozen, motionless, moveless, stagnant, still; stuck, unbudging, wedged; fast, rooted, steadfast

Phrases
in place

Near Antonyms
motile; adjustable, flexible, modular; displaceable, portable, removable (also removeable), transferable (also transferrable), transportable; unbalanced, unstable, unsteady

Antonyms
mobile, movable (or moveable), moving, nonstationary

2 not undergoing a change in condition <auction prices for that artist's works have been stationary for some time> — see CONSTANT 1

statuette noun
a small statue <won a gold-plated statuette as the prize> — see FIGURINE

stature noun
the distance of something or someone from bottom to top <a man of surprisingly great stature> — see HEIGHT 3

status noun
1 position with regard to conditions and circumstances <let me know if your status changes and you're available to work> — see SITUATION 1
2 the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement <resented her lowly status in the organization> — see RANK 1

status quo noun
the state or fact of being the way things usually are <civic leaders who are afraid to do anything that might change the town's status quo> — see NORMALITY

statute noun
a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature <a new antilittering statute> — see LAW 1

staunch also stanch adjective
firm in one's allegiance to someone or something <a staunch believer in the democratic system> — see FAITHFUL 1

stave off verb
1 to drive back <managed to stave off the invaders> — see REPEL 1
2 to keep from happening by taking action in advance <the quartermaster staved off a shortage by requisitioning more than enough supplies> — see PREVENT

1stay noun
1 a temporary residing as another's guest <my mother-in-law is coming for a brief stay next week> — see VISIT 1
2 the stopping of a process or activity <we must work without stay if we are ever to reach our goal of equal rights for everyone> — see END 1

2stay noun
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else <a free press is one of the principal stays of a democratic society> — see SUPPORT 1

1stay verb
1 to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time <let's stay inside this pavilion until it stops raining>

Synonyms
abide, dwell, hang around, remain, stick around, tarry

Related Words
await, hang on, hold on, wait; dally, dawdle, linger, loiter; outstay, overstay

Near Antonyms
abscond, book [slang], decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, run away, scat, scram, skip; abandon, desert, forsake, vacate

Antonyms
bail, bail out, bug out, buzz (off), clear off [chiefly British], clear out, cut out, depart, exit, get off, go, go off, leave, move, pack (up or off), peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, quit, shove (off), take off, vamoose, walk out

2 to bring (something) to a standstill <stay the trial until this new evidence has been processed> — see 1HALT 1
3 to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something <we'll stay for a while longer and see if anyone shows up> — see WAIT
4 to reside as a temporary guest <let's stay at a quaint inn rather than at some generic motel> — see VISIT 2

2stay verb
to hold up or serve as a foundation for <beams being used to stay the bridge while it is undergoing repairs> — see SUPPORT 3

stead noun
the more favorable condition or position in a competition <a summer internship will stand you in good stead when applying to college> — see ADVANTAGE 1

steadfast adjective
firm in one's allegiance to someone or something <a steadfast supporter of women's rights> — see FAITHFUL 1

steadfastness noun
adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <his refusal to be swayed on this issue is more the result of stubbornness than principled steadfastness> — see FIDELITY

steadiness noun
the state of continuing without change <the steadiness of the weather is something that every New Englander knows not to trust> — see CONSTANCY 1

steady adjective
1 firm in one's allegiance to someone or something <even as wild accusations were circulating, she remained steady in her support for the candidate> — see FAITHFUL 1
2 appearing or occurring repeatedly from time to time <a popular author who produces a steady output of best sellers year after year> — see REGULAR 1
3 not undergoing a change in condition <a steady breeze from the west> — see CONSTANT 1
4 not varying <support for her presidential bid has been steady> — see UNIFORM
5 worthy of one's trust <a quiet but steady man who is one of the pillars of the community> — see DEPENDABLE

steal noun
something bought or offered for sale at a desirable price <at 50% off, that shirt is a real steal> — see BARGAIN 1

steal verb
1 to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <the guy who tried to steal my car was sentenced to a year in jail>

Synonyms
appropriate, boost [slang], filch, heist, hook, lift, misappropriate, nick [British slang], nip, pilfer, pinch, pocket, purloin, rip off, snitch, swipe, thieve

Related Words
burglarize, knock over, rob; loot, pillage, plunder, sack; carjack, hijack (also highjack); pick, rifle; poach, rustle, shoplift; collar, grab, grasp, nail, seize, snatch, take; mooch, sponge; abduct, kidnap, shanghai, spirit

Phrases
make away with, make off with, run off with, walk off with

Near Antonyms
buy, purchase; bestow, contribute, donate, give, hand over, present

2 to move about in a sly or secret manner <the teenagers were able to steal past a security guard and enter the fairgrounds without paying admission> — see SNEAK 1

steal (from) verb
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully <little wonder that the store went out of business, as its employees had been stealing from it for years> — see ROB

stealer noun
one who steals <the Internet has simply provided stealers and scammers with a new venue for their crimes> — see THIEF

stealing noun
the unlawful taking and carrying away of property without the consent of its owner <in those days the stealing of a horse was a very serious crime> — see THEFT 1

stealth adjective
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <the SWAT team carried out a stealth raid on the house, which was believed to be harboring a terrorist cell> — see SECRET 1

stealthy adjective
1 given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions <cats are among the stealthiest of stalkers> — see SNEAKY 1
2 undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <constantly harassed the enemy with stealthy raids> — see SECRET 1

steam verb
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger <the newspaper's blatantly biased coverage made a lot of readers steam> — see BOIL 1

steamed up adjective
feeling or showing anger <I'm really steamed up over his latest outrageous behavior> — see ANGRY

steaming adjective
feeling or showing anger <she was steaming after hearing that she was being slandered by someone who had once been her best friend> — see ANGRY

steam up verb
to make angry <finding yet another mistaken charge on his hospital bill really steamed him up> — see ANGER

steamy adjective
of, relating to, exciting, or expressing sexual attraction or desire <a steamy scene that earned the movie an R rating> — see EROTIC

steed noun
a large hoofed domestic animal that is used for carrying or drawing loads and for riding <the knight mounted his trusty steed> — see HORSE

steek verb, chiefly Scottish
to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening <Macleod threatened to steek the door in my face if I ever said a word against the Scots again> — see CLOSE 1

steel noun
a hand weapon with a length of metal sharpened on one or both sides and usually tapered to a sharp point <drew steel on the bandits, who immediately fled for their lives> — see SWORD

steel verb
1 to fill with courage or strength of purpose <hoped that his inspirational talk would steel the youths in the pursuit of their dreams> — see ENCOURAGE 1
2 to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure <years of running a farm had steeled the hard-bitten woman> — see HARDEN 2
3 to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally <he had spent the previous night steeling himself for the moment when he would demand a raise> — see FORTIFY 1

steely adjective
1 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <pinned them with a steely gaze and demanded to know what they were doing> — see GRIM 1
2 of the color gray <steely eyes that are the color of a stormy sky> — see GRAY 1

steep adjective
1 having an incline approaching the perpendicular <a very steep rock face that is nearly impossible to climb>

Synonyms
abrupt, bold, precipitous, sheer

Related Words
perpendicular, plumb, straight, vertical; craggy, hillocky, hilly, mountainous, scarped; angled, canted, cocked, heeled, inclined, listed, slanted, sloped, tilted, tipped

Near Antonyms
gentle, gradual, moderate, soft; even, flat, flush, horizontal, level, plane, smooth, unruffled, unwrinkled

Antonyms
easy

2 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <we would like to hire him, but his salary demands are just too steep> — see EXCESSIVE

steep verb
1 to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle <grew up steeped in the ways of his ancestors> <a town steeped in history> — see INFUSE
2 to wet thoroughly with liquid <chew fresh ginger that has been steeped in hot water to aid digestion> — see SOAK 1

steer verb
1 to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front <the man in the train station was able to steer us in the right direction> — see LEAD 1
2 to operate or control the course of <first needed to learn how to steer her personal watercraft before going out on the crowded lake> — see NAVIGATE 1

stellar adjective
1 of or relating to the stars <humankind's dream of stellar navigation is hampered by the vast distances between the stars, even in our own galaxy>

Synonyms
astral, star, starry

Related Words
celestial, empyrean, heavenly; intergalactic, interstellar; astronomical (also astronomic), astrophysical; astronautic (or astronautical); starlike, star-spangled

2 of the very best kind <this miniature palm tree is a stellar example of the art of bonsai> — see EXCELLENT

stench noun
a strong unpleasant smell <we finally discovered the dead rat that was causing the stench in the basement> — see STINK 1

stenchy adjective
having an unpleasant smell <the soft, stenchy cheese is considered by turophiles to be quite delectable> — see MALODOROUS

stentorian adjective
marked by a high volume of sound <the professor's stentorian voice was enough to keep even the drowsiest student awake> — see LOUD 1

step noun
1 an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result <took steps to ensure that there would be no more incidences of food poisoning> — see MEASURE 1
2 an individual part of a process, series, or ranking <the manual enumerates every step in the procedure for shutting down the assembly line> — see DEGREE 1
3 the mark or impression made by a foot <steps in the sand leading into the water and back out again> — see FOOTPRINT
4 steps plural the direction along which something or someone moves <their steps led them through a long corridor> — see PATH 1
5 a very small distance or degree <he lives just a step away from his elderly mother, so he's there if she needs him for any reason> — see HAIR 1

step verb
1 to go on foot <I stepped across the street for a quick lunch at the new diner> — see WALK 1
2 to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music <she was in her element, happily stepping around the dance floor> — see DANCE 1
3 to proceed or move quickly <many people wanted to linger before the president's bier, but guards kept the line of mourners stepping forward> — see HURRY 2

step (along) verb
to leave a place often for another <now that my ride's here, I'll be stepping along> — see GO 2

step aside (from) verb
1 to give up (a job or office) <a newscaster who knew when it was time to step aside from the anchor desk and let a younger person take over> — see QUIT 1
2 to give up (as a position of authority) formally <the prime minister was compelled to step aside from his office when it was demonstrated that he had violated the public trust> — see ABDICATE

step–by–step adjective
proceeding or changing by steps or degrees <the incessant step-by-step advance of the enemy's troops could no longer be resisted> — see GRADUAL

step–down noun
the amount by which something is lessened <took a huge step-down in income when she switched from a law career to one in social work> — see DECREASE

step down (from) verb
1 to give up (a job or office) <with the advent of his 90th birthday, he could no longer resist calls for him to step down from chairmanship of the board> — see QUIT 1
2 to give up (as a position of authority) formally <even in the face of a palace revolt, Queen Elizabeth I refused to step down from the throne> — see ABDICATE

step in verb
1 to make a brief visit <I just stepped in to say hi on my way to class> — see CALL 3
2 to serve as a replacement usually for a time only <couldn't find anyone to step in for me so that I could take a break from my caregiving duties> — see COVER 1

step out verb
1 to be sexually unfaithful <if she catches him stepping out on her, she'll divorce him without a moment's hesitation> — see CHEAT 2
2 to stop living <my greedy relatives are only being nice to me because they expect me to step out any time now> — see DIE 1
3 to take part in social activities <waited until a year after her husband's death before stepping out again> — see SOCIALIZE

steppe noun
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country <nomads have long grazed yaks on the steppes of Mongolia> — see PLAIN 1

step–up noun
something added (as by growth) <there's been a step-up in productivity since regular breaks were offered> — see INCREASE 1

step up verb
to make markedly greater in measure or degree <candidates stepping up their campaigns as election day draws near> <stepped up the pace to catch up with the others> — see INTENSIFY

stereotype noun
an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation <the noble savage was a stereotype that appealed to 18th-century intellectuals, who viewed European civilization as decadent and corrupt> — see GENERALIZATION

stereotype verb
to use so much as to make less appealing <movies have stereotyped the hooker with a heart of gold ad nauseam> — see HACKNEY

stereotyped adjective
used or heard so often as to be dull <the wacky neighbor and other stereotyped characters seen on TV sitcoms> — see STALE 1

sterile adjective
1 not able to produce fruit or offspring <sterile couples sometimes choose to adopt needy children> <the apple tree turned out to be sterile, never yielding a crop of apples>

Synonyms
barren, fruitless, impotent, infertile, unfruitful

Related Words
altered, desexed, neutered, sterilized; castrated, emasculated, gelded; spayed; unproductive

Near Antonyms
fecund, luxuriant, productive, prolific; enriched, fertilized, rich; impregnated, pregnant; potent; bearing, producing, yielding; blooming, bursting, flourishing, swarming, teeming

Antonyms
fat, fertile, fruitful

2 free from filth, infection, or dangers to health <the hospitals in the war-torn city often lack necessary drugs and sterile surgical supplies> — see SANITARY

sterling adjective
of the very best kind <credited the win to the pitcher's sterling performance on the mound> — see EXCELLENT

stern adjective
1 given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint <the army post's stern commander always had the utmost respect of those who served under him> — see SEVERE 1
2 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <a stern receptionist took our names without even looking up> — see GRIM 1

sternly adverb
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering <sternly reprimanded the prosecuting attorney for making comments that never should have been heard by the jury> — see HARDLY 1

sternness noun
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) <the company's new president has a reputation for granitelike sternness and monkish austerity> — see SEVERITY

sternward or sternwards adverb
near, toward, or in the stern of a ship or the tail of an aircraft <a flight attendant hurried sternward to attend to the disturbance> — see AFT

stevedore noun
one who loads and unloads ships at a port <on the wharves, stevedores were unloading cargo from the far corners of the world> — see DOCKWORKER

stew noun
1 a state of nervous or irritated concern <many in town are in a stew about the proposed plan to close at least one of the elementary schools> — see FRET
2 a state of noisy, confused activity <the audience went into a stew when the evacuation order was announced> — see COMMOTION
3 an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <the documentary looks at the stew of conspiracy theories inspired by the assassination> — see MISCELLANY 1
4 a building in which prostitutes are available <a red-light district full of down and dirty stews> — see BORDELLO

stew verb
1 to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam <stew the chicken till tender, and then remove the meat from the bones> — see BOIL 2
2 to experience concern or anxiety <stop stewing over that game and just try to do better next time> — see WORRY 1

steward noun
a person hired to perform household or personal services <the earl couldn't imagine how he'd manage without his steward> — see SERVANT

steward verb
to look after and make decisions about <will steward the city's library programs> — see CONDUCT 1

stewardship noun
1 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <generally the dean left the day-to-day stewardship of the college to the assistant dean> — see CONDUCT 1
2 the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control <she believes that stewardship of the environment is everyone's responsibility> — see SUPERVISION 1

stewed adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <it was clear from the caller's voice that she was fairly stewed> — see DRUNK

stick verb
1 to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion <those magnets are strong enough to stick to the refrigerator without any problems>

Synonyms
adhere, cleave, cling, hew

Related Words
bind, cohere, fasten, fuse, glue, unite

Near Antonyms
loosen; drop, fall

2 to arrange something in a certain spot or position <you can stick that box in the corner until I figure out where to put everything> — see PLACE 1
3 to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <could hardly feel the needle when the nurse stuck my arm with it> — see IMPALE
4 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <she got stuck by an unscrupulous seller while using the online auction site> — see FLEECE

stick (to or with) verb
to give steadfast support to <thanks for sticking with me after all my other so-called friends turned their backs> <the governor has sworn to stick to his campaign promises> — see ADHERE TO 1

stick around verb
to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time <we stuck around afterwards to help clean up> — see 1STAY 1

stick–in–the–mud noun
a person with old-fashioned ideas <the committee is dominated by old stick-in-the-muds who have little interest in bringing new ideas to the table> — see FOGY

stick out verb
1 to extend outward beyond a usual point <no feet sticking out in the aisles, please> — see BULGE 1
2 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <managed to stick out the whole race despite her bad knee> — see BEAR 2

sticks plural noun
the open rural area outside of big towns and cities <grew up in the sticks and is used to traveling miles just to get a loaf of bread> — see COUNTRY 2

stick–to–itiveness noun
firm or unwavering adherence to one's purpose <I wonder if he really has the stick-to-itiveness to finish law school> — see DETERMINATION 1

sticky adjective
1 tending to adhere to objects upon contact <both sides of the tape are sticky, making it a little tricky to work with>

Synonyms
adherent, adhesive, clingy, gluey, glutinous, gummy, tacky, tenacious, viscid

Related Words
gelatinous, gooey, ropy (also ropey), syrupy, viscous; pitchy, tarry

Near Antonyms
nonviscous

Antonyms
nonadhesive

2 containing or characterized by an uncomfortable amount of moisture <a warm sticky day when all we wanted to do was sit somewhere with air-conditioning> — see HUMID
3 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <an especially sticky conversation about money matters> — see TRICKY 1
4 appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <sticky love scenes that will bore unreconstructed cynics to death> — see CORNY 1

sticky wicket noun
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <with both sets of in-laws insisting that we spend Thanksgiving with them, we were on a sticky wicket indeed> — see PREDICAMENT

stiff adjective
1 incapable of or highly resistant to bending <use a stiff piece of paper for the project>

Synonyms
inflexible, rigid, stiffened, unyielding

Related Words
inelastic; firm, hard, solid, sound, strong; brittle, crisp; compact, dense, substantial; arthritic, rheumatic; nonelastic, nonmalleable

Near Antonyms
elastic, resilient, springy, stretchy, workable; malleable, plastic; semiflexible; droopy, flabby, flaccid, mushy, semisoft, soft, squashy, squishy; lank, limber, limp, lissome (also lissom), lithe, lithesome, willowy

Antonyms
flexible, floppy, pliable, pliant, supple, yielding

2 difficult to endure <stiff winds> — see HARSH 1
3 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <don't you think that's a pretty stiff fine for such a minor infraction?> — see EXCESSIVE
4 having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure <stir two cups of flour with the remaining ingredients to make a stiff dough> — see FIRM 2
5 lacking social grace and assurance <felt stiff and ill-at-ease whenever she was introduced to her father's friends> — see AWKWARD 1
6 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <we'll have a stiff climb to actually reach the summit> — see HARD 2
7 marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details <the stiff politeness with which I was greeted suggested that they weren't truly happy to see me> — see CEREMONIOUS 1
8 being under the influence of alcohol <seeing that the customer was more than a little stiff, the bartender offered to call a cab for him> — see DRUNK

stiff noun
1 a dead body <to the mortician, a stiff was a stiff and they were all pretty much alike> — see CORPSE
2 a member of the human race <one lucky stiff will get the biggest jackpot in the lottery's history> — see HUMAN

stiff verb
1 to deliberately ignore or treat rudely <the actress has a reputation for stiffing the press at red-carpet events> — see SNUB 1
2 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <customers who were too embarrassed to admit that they had been stiffed by an Internet company selling sexual aids> — see FLEECE

stiff–arm verb
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely <in his sad and lonely old age, he stiff-armed even once-beloved friends> — see SNUB 1

stiffen verb
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe <plans to further stiffen the already onerous requirements for admission to the elite military unit> — see HARSHEN

stiffened adjective
incapable of or highly resistant to bending <stiffened corpses> <an old-fashioned dress with a stiffened lace collar> — see STIFF 1

stiffly adverb
1 in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering <stiffly criticized for making such indiscreet comments in public> — see HARDLY 1
2 in a vigorous and forceful manner <a stiffly fought battle> — see HARD 3

stiff–necked adjective
1 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <he was too stiff-necked to admit that “underlings” might have useful ideas> — see ARROGANT
2 marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details <her dinner parties are typically stiff-necked affairs, more to be endured than enjoyed> — see CEREMONIOUS 1
3 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <obviously uninterested in hearing any excuses, the stiff-necked officer handed me my speeding ticket with a flourish> — see OBSTINATE

stifle verb
1 to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air <unfortunately, the robbers were stifled when they got trapped in the airless bank vault> — see SMOTHER 1
2 to refrain from openly showing or uttering <stifled a yawn> — see SUPPRESS 2
3 to deaden the sound of <he stifled a cough with his hand> — see MUFFLE 1

stifling adjective
lacking fresh air <the lecture hall was stifling until we opened several windows> — see STUFFY 1

stigma noun
a mark of guilt or disgrace <the stigma of slavery remained long after it had been abolished> — see STAIN 1

still adjective
1 free from disturbing noise or uproar <the town's streets are usually still and peopleless in the early morning hours> — see QUIET 1
2 free from storms or physical disturbance <the air was ominously still as dark clouds gathered in the distance> — see CALM 1
3 mostly or entirely without sound <in his paintings Paul Gauguin depicts a still tropical paradise inhabited by mute and motionless natives> — see SILENT 3

still noun
1 a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <in the still of the forest he could relax and forget his worries> — see CALM 1
2 the near or complete absence of sound <a loud noise shattered the still of the night> — see SILENCE 2

still verb
1 to bring (something) to a standstill <it seemed as though nothing could still the fighting> — see 1HALT 1
2 to free from distress or disturbance <reading a book helps me to relax and still my mind before going to bed> — see CALM 1
3 to stop the noise or speech of <the conversation was abruptly stilled by a loud crash from the next room> — see SILENCE 1

still adverb
1 without motion <the cat sat absolutely still, watching as the mouse began to make its way across the floor>

Synonyms
motionlessly, quiet, quietly

Related Words
immovably; inactively

Near Antonyms
movably

2 in spite of that <their star player was injured in yesterday's game; still, it looks like he will be able to play today> — see HOWEVER

still and all adverb
in spite of that <she's none too enthusiastic about the project; still and all, she seems willing to cooperate> — see HOWEVER

still less conjunction
to say nothing of <I never suggested that he was incompetent, still less that he was dishonest> — see LET ALONE

stillness noun
1 a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <dozing in the warm stillness of a summer afternoon> — see CALM 1
2 incapacity for or restraint from speaking <from the couple's tense stillness I sensed that they had been quarreling just before I arrived> — see SILENCE 1
3 the near or complete absence of sound <the only thing that broke the stillness of the garden was the droning of a bee> — see SILENCE 2

stilly adjective
1 free from disturbing noise or uproar <bats taking flight in the stilly summer evening> — see QUIET 1
2 free from storms or physical disturbance <dipping my paddle into the stilly water, I began canoeing across the pond> — see CALM 1
3 mostly or entirely without sound <the blissful peace of a star-filled, stilly night> — see SILENT 3

stilted adjective
1 lacking social grace and assurance <the conversation was somewhat stilted as we didn't seem to share any interests> — see AWKWARD 1
2 marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details <a stilted letter of apology that was written and accepted with equal measures of insincerity> — see CEREMONIOUS 1

stimulant noun
1 something that arouses action or activity <the relaxed zoning regulations should serve as a stimulant for development in the area> — see IMPULSE 1
2 a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <I always take a bottle of stimulant along on trips, for emergencies like plane crashes or earthquakes> — see ALCOHOL

stimulate verb
1 to give life, vigor, or spirit to <research into alternative energy sources has been stimulated by this funding increase> — see ANIMATE
2 to rouse to strong feeling or action <the government crackdown has only stimulated the citizenry to more acts of violence> — see PROVOKE 1

stimulating adjective
1 causing great emotional or mental stimulation <enjoys the good food and stimulating conversation at his best friend's house> — see EXCITING 1
2 having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind <a brisk, stimulating walk on a bright, clear wintry day> — see TONIC 1
3 serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction <an article containing a stimulating argument for raising, not lowering, the tax on gasoline> — see PROVOCATIVE

stimulative adjective
having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind <the supposed stimulative power of herbal teas> — see TONIC 1

stimulus noun
something that arouses action or activity <seeing a Broadway play for the first time was the stimulus for her career in the theater> — see IMPULSE 1

sting verb
1 to charge (someone) too much for goods or services <a nightclub that's been stinging patrons for years> — see OVERCHARGE 1
2 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <swindlers who sting unwary tourists by posing as officials demanding money> — see FLEECE

sting noun
1 an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <the pawn shop operation turned out to be a sting by undercover police officers to catch the ring of burglars> — see FRAUD 1
2 a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body <the sting of cold air against my face> — see PAIN 1

stinger noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <in the eighth round he delivered a stinger that knocked his opponent flat> — see 1BLOW

stinginess noun
the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money <refusing to tip poorly paid restaurant servers is a particularly petty form of stinginess> — see PARSIMONY 1

stinging adjective
causing intense discomfort to one's skin <these cold, stinging winds are not just a discomfort—they can be dangerous to exposed flesh> — see CUTTING 1

stingy adjective
1 giving or sharing as little as possible <until his redemption, Ebenezer Scrooge is the classic example of a very stingy, heartless miser>

Synonyms
cheap, chintzy, close, closefisted, mean, mingy, miserly, niggard, niggardly, parsimonious, penny-pinching, penurious, pinching, pinchpenny, spare, sparing, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, ungenerous

Related Words
careful, chary, conserving, economical, economizing, frugal, saving, scrimping, skimping, thrifty; acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, desirous, grasping, greedy, hoggish, itchy, mercenary, rapacious, selfish, shabby, small, sordid; begrudging, envious, grudging, resentful; inhospitable

Near Antonyms
altruistic, selfless, unselfish; extravagant, free, handsome, lavish, overgenerous, profuse; beneficent, benevolent, hospitable, humanitarian, philanthropic (also philanthropical); compassionate, good-hearted, greathearted, kindly, magnanimous, openhearted; thriftless, unthrifty; dissipating, frittering, prodigal, profligate, spendthrift, splurging, squandering, wasteful, wasting

Antonyms
bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, liberal, munificent, openhanded, unsparing, unstinting

2 less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable <a stingy serving of mashed potatoes> — see MEAGER

stink noun
1 a strong unpleasant smell <the stink of burned plastic lingered in the kitchen for days after we accidentally melted a spatula on the stove>

Synonyms
funk, reek, stench

Related Words
acridness, fetidness, foulness, fustiness, malodorousness, mustiness, odoriferousness, odorousness, rancidity, rankness, staleness; badness, vileness; dirt, dirtiness, filth, filthiness, nastiness; effluvium (also effluvia), emission; odor, redolence, scent, sniff

Near Antonyms
floweriness, lusciousness, savoriness, spiciness, sweetness; bouquet; ambrosia

Antonyms
aroma, fragrance, perfume

2 a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent <many town residents raised an unholy stink about the proposal to increase taxes yet again> — see OBJECTION

stink verb
1 to give off an extremely unpleasant smell <the dog stinks because she tangled with a skunk again>

Synonyms
reek

Related Words
exhale, savor (also savour), smell; decay, decompose, rot, spoil; disgust, offend, repulse, revolt

2 to be objectionable or unsatisfactory <their team really stinks this year>

Synonyms
bite [slang], smell, suck [slang]

Antonyms
rock [slang], rule [slang]

stinkard noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <that stinkard asked his wife for a divorce while she was dying from cancer> — see JERK 1

stinker noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <some stinker nearly crashed his SUV into me because he was yakking on his cell phone> — see JERK 1

stinking adjective
1 having an unpleasant smell <came home from their trip to find stinking garbage that had been left in the kitchen> — see MALODOROUS
2 slang being under the influence of alcohol <warned her husband not to come home stinking—or he'd be sleeping on the couch> — see DRUNK

stinking adverb
to a great degree <a huge, showy house that screams, “We're stinking rich!”> — see VERY 1

stinkpot noun, slang
a boat equipped with a motor <if I ever get filthy rich, I'm going to buy myself a stinkpot and take up fishing> — see MOTORBOAT

stinky adjective
having an unpleasant smell <a stinky plant that attracts certain insects and then devours them> — see MALODOROUS

stint noun
1 a fixed period of time during which a person holds a job or position <signed up for a three-year stint in the army> — see TERM 1
2 the act or practice of keeping something (as an activity) within certain boundaries <his parents have always supported him without stint, no matter what interests he has chosen to pursue> — see RESTRICTION 2

stint (on) verb
to use or give out in stingy amounts <the entrées would be worth these prices if the restaurant didn't stint on the side dishes so much> — see SPARE 1

stinting adjective
giving or sharing as little as possible <a stinting boss who doesn't give paid sick leave no matter how long you've worked for him> — see STINGY 1

stipend noun
the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services <the stipend you'll receive as an intern will just barely cover your housing costs> — see WAGE

stipple verb
to mark with small spots especially unevenly <the sunlight falling through the lace curtain stippled her face> — see SPOT 1

stippled adjective
marked with spots <create a stippled effect by dabbing a contrasting color of paint over an undercoat with a rag or sponge> — see SPOTTED 1

stipulate (for) verb
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority <the contract stipulates for a renegotiation of the terms after two years> — see DEMAND 1

stipulation noun
something upon which the carrying out of an agreement or offer depends <their proposal for a baseball franchise includes several stipulations that are unacceptable> — see CONDITION 2

1stir noun
1 a state of noisy, confused activity <the plane's first jolt caused a stir among the passengers, and by the third one they were in a panic> — see COMMOTION
2 the act or an instance of changing position <we were warned that the slightest stir would scare the mother bird so we hardly dared to breathe> — see MOVEMENT 1

2stir noun, slang
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <the mule had just got out of stir and was being followed by the feds, who had their sights set on the kingpin of the operation> — see JAIL

stir verb
1 to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly <the recipe says to stir the mixture carefully until it's properly blended>

Synonyms
agitate, churn, swirl, wash, whirl

Related Words
beat, paddle, whip, whisk; reel, shake, wheel

2 to change one's position <the cat stirred, then opened its eyes and slowly got to its feet> — see MOVE 3
3 to rouse to strong feeling or action <news coverage of the fire stirred many to send donations to a fund for the families who had lost their homes> — see PROVOKE 1

stir (up) verb
to bring something (volatile or intense) into being <couldn't stir up any interest in a Saturday morning outing to the art museum> — see INCITE 1

stirring adjective
1 causing great emotional or mental stimulation <the message of brotherhood in Martin Luther King's stirring “I Have a Dream” speech still resonates today> — see EXCITING 1
2 having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies <a stirring rendition of the national anthem> — see MOVING
3 marked by much life, movement, or activity <spring has arrived, and the meadow is stirring with life> — see ALIVE 2

stirring noun
the act or an instance of changing position <I thought I detected a slight stirring of the leaves, and yet there wasn't a breath of wind> — see MOVEMENT 1

stitch noun
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body <had to drop out of the race when the stitch in his side became too painful> — see PAIN 1

stitch verb
to close up with a series of interlacing stitches <the doctor stitched the wound so adroitly that the scar was barely visible after the stitches were removed> — see SEW

stitcher noun
a person who sews <worked as an apparel stitcher for years> — see SEWER

stock adjective
accepted, used, or practiced by most people <the conversation became interesting once we got beyond the stock niceties and observations about the weather> — see CURRENT 1

stock noun
1 a group of persons who come from the same ancestor <the bride comes from good stock> — see FAMILY 1
2 a stupid person <just sat there like a stock, staring at me blankly whenever I asked him a question> — see IDIOT
3 firm belief in the integrity, ability, effectiveness, or genuineness of someone or something <don't put any stock in her promises—she'll just tell you what she thinks you want to hear> — see TRUST 1
4 the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <his family is of mixed northern European stock> — see ANCESTRY
5 the number of individuals or amount of something available at any given time <the new study adds to the general stock of knowledge about genetic disorders> — see SUPPLY

stockade noun
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <prisoners of war confined in a stockade> — see JAIL

stocking noun
a close-fitting covering for the foot and leg <thick wool stockings designed to be worn with hiking boots>

Synonyms
hose, sock

Related Words
hosiery; support hose; anklet, bobby socks, bootee, kneesock

stockpile noun
a supply stored up and often hidden away <an emergency stockpile of potable water and canned goods in the cellar> — see HOARD 1

stockpile verb
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place <we should be able to stockpile enough vaccine for the upcoming flu season> — see HOARD

stocky adjective
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature <the stocky boxer's strength and speed more than make up for his opponent's longer reach>

Synonyms
chunky, dumpy, heavyset, squat, squatty, stout, stubby, stumpy, thickset

Related Words
beefy, brawny, bulky, burly, husky, sturdy, thick, thickish, weighty; chubby, corpulent, fat, fleshy, full, gross, heavy, obese, overweight, plump, portly, pudgy, roly-poly, rotund, round, tubby; paunchy, potbellied; flabby, soft

Near Antonyms
delicate, fragile, frail, puny; lean, skinny, slender, slim, spare, thin; angular, bony (also boney), gaunt, lank, lanky, rawboned, sinewy; scraggy, scrawny, slight; anorexic, cadaverous, emaciated, haggard, skeletal, wasted; spindly, twiggy, waspish, weedy, willowy, wiry

stodgy adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <the sitcom was offbeat and interesting in its first season, but has since become predictable and stodgy> — see BORING

stoic or stoical adjective
1 accepting pains or hardships calmly or without complaint <after waiting six years for permission to immigrate to the U.S., the family is stoic about a six-month postponement> — see PATIENT 1
2 not feeling or showing emotion <at her husband's funeral she remained stoic, and only a few imagined the depth of her grief> — see IMPASSIVE 1

stoke verb
to make greater in size, amount, or number <hopefully, offering stock options will stoke workers' commitment to the company> — see INCREASE 1

stoked adjective, slang
showing urgent desire or interest <we're pretty stoked about the upcoming benefit concert featuring a galaxy of rock stars> — see EAGER

stolid adjective
1 not expressing any emotion <the butler responded to the duchess's constant demands with stolid indifference> — see BLANK 1
2 not feeling or showing emotion <the actor's turn as a stolid, impersonal bureaucrat was an interesting departure from his more impassioned roles> — see IMPASSIVE 1

stomach verb
to put up with (something painful or difficult) <I could no longer stomach working for such a petty tyrant> — see BEAR 2

stomach noun
1 the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis <please don't lean on my stomach—I just had a big meal>

Synonyms
abdomen, belly, breadbasket [slang], gut, solar plexus, tummy

Related Words
middle, midriff, waist; paunch, potbelly; thorax

2 a need or desire for food <the cake looks delicious, but I'm afraid that I have no stomach for sweets right now> — see HUNGER 1

stomachache noun
abdominal pain especially when focused in the digestive organs <all that fried food gave me a stomachache>

Synonyms
bellyache, collywobbles

Related Words
colic, cramps, gripes

stomp verb
1 to move heavily or clumsily <came stomping up the stairs and tossed her backpack on the bed> — see LUMBER 1
2 to tread on heavily so as to crush or injure <stomping the burning leaves in a vain attempt to put out the fire> — see TRAMPLE

stomping ground noun
a place for spending time or for socializing <a major part of the fun of alumni weekend is visiting the old stomping grounds> — see HANGOUT

stone adjective
having no exceptions or restrictions <the stone stupidity of the senator's statements embarrassed even her staffers> — see ABSOLUTE 2

stone noun
a shaped stone laid over or erected near a grave and usually bearing an inscription to identify and preserve the memory of the deceased <an engraved stone identified the grave as that of a man who had died in the Influenza Epidemic of 1918–19> — see TOMBSTONE

stone verb
to make sharp or sharper <the diorama showed a villager stoning a scythe> — see SHARPEN

Stone Age adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <Stone Age attitudes about the raising of children> — see OBSOLETE

stone–blind adjective
lacking the power of sight <he's so oblivious to everything around him that you'd think he was stone-blind> — see BLIND 1

stoned adjective
1 being under the influence of a recreational drug <the young actor, in his first comic role, plays a stoned slacker>

Synonyms
blasted [slang], blitzed [slang], bombed, high, hopped-up, loaded [slang], ripped [slang], spaced-out (or spaced), strung out, wasted [slang], wiped out [slang], zonked, zonked-out

Related Words
addicted, hooked

Near Antonyms
abstemious, abstinent, clean, temperate; clearheaded, cool, level, steady

Antonyms
sober, straight

2 being under the influence of alcohol <his alcohol tolerance was low enough that one glass of champagne could get him stoned> — see DRUNK

stoner noun
a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally <a comedy about aging stoners who are still trying to get their act together> — see DOPER

stone's throw noun
a very small distance or degree <the cottage is a stone's throw from the beach> — see HAIR 1

stoneware noun
articles made of baked clay <collects 19th-century English stoneware, especially soup tureens> — see CROCKERY

stony also stoney adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <the judge's stony demeanor didn't raise the defendant's hopes for a more lenient sentence> — see HARD 1

stonyhearted adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <a less stonyhearted person would not have been so indifferent to the dying man's pleas for forgiveness> — see HARD 1

stoolie noun
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <told the mule that if he ever turned stoolie, he'd end up spilling his guts in more ways than one> — see INFORMER

stool pigeon noun
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <the FBI finally got a break when one of the mob boss's top henchmen turned stool pigeon> — see INFORMER

stoop verb
to descend to a level that is beneath one's dignity <the debate would be more enlightening if both sides didn't stoop to name-calling> — see CONDESCEND 1

stoop noun
a covered structure adjoining an entrance to a building <the stoop at the front entrance is just big enough to shield a resident from the elements as he fumbles for his keys> — see PORCH

stooping adjective
bending downward or forward <rested under the stooping branches of the willow tree> — see NODDING

stop noun
1 a brief halt in a journey <our guide called for a stop at the trail hut so we could eat and rest a bit>

Synonyms
layover, stopover

Related Words
break, pause, rest

2 a regular stopping place <had lunch on a picnic table at a shady rest stop along the highway> — see STATION 2
3 something that makes movement or progress difficult <pulled out all the stops and presented the most spectacular show ever> — see ENCUMBRANCE
4 the stopping of a process or activity <put a stop to this nonsense> — see END 1

stop verb
1 to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end <the manufacturer will stop selling the toy and will immediately recall all the units that have already been sold>

Synonyms
break, break off, break up, can [slang], cease, cut off, cut out, desist (from), discontinue, drop, end, give over, halt, knock off, lay off, leave off, pack (up or in), quit, shut off

Related Words
complete, conclude, finish; close (down); deactivate; block, blockade, dam, delay, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, kibosh, obstruct, stem; call, suspend; arrest, brake, check, clamp down, rein (in), squash, squelch, stamp, stanch (or staunch), stunt, suppress, turn back; pause, stay, suspend; abolish, abort, annul, demolish, destroy, dissolve, kill, ruin, scuttle, snuff

Phrases
have done with, put the kibosh on

Near Antonyms
carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep up, run on; advance, proceed, progress; actuate, drive, impel, propel, stir

2 to bring (something) to a standstill <traffic was stopped for over an hour by the overturned truck> — see 1HALT 1
3 to close up so that no empty spaces remain <I stopped the mouse hole with plaster> — see FILL 2
4 to come to an end <the music stopped but we kept on dancing> — see CEASE 1
5 to achieve a victory over <they were eventually stopped by the best team in the league> — see BEAT 2

stop (by or in) verb
to make a brief visit <stop by on your way to the game so we can go there together> — see CALL 3

stop (up) verb
to prevent passage through by filling with something <clear the leaves out of the rain gutters so they don't stop up the downspouts again> — see CLOG 1

stopcock noun
a fixture for controlling the flow of a liquid <a mechanical engineer who designs industrial valves and stopcocks> — see FAUCET

stopgap noun
a temporary replacement <the coach we have now was only hired as a stopgap until someone with more experience is found> — see MAKESHIFT

stopover noun
a brief halt in a journey <I've been to Belgium—if you count a stopover in Brussels on my way to Istanbul> — see STOP 1

stoppage noun
the stopping of a process or activity <yet another stoppage in play for some unexplained reason> — see END 1

storage noun
a building for storing goods <in colonial times the granary was one of the community's most important storages> — see STOREHOUSE

store adjective
made beforehand in large numbers <preferred homemade bread to store brands> — see READY-MADE

store noun
1 a collection of things kept available for future use or need <her husband has a store of old magazines that he has been collecting for years>

Synonyms
cache, deposit, hoard, reserve

Related Words
budget, fund, nest egg; armory, arsenal, bank, pool, reservoir, stock, stockpile, supply; accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering

2 a supply stored up and often hidden away <keeps a store of quarters in the glove compartment for the parking meters> — see HOARD 1
3 an establishment where goods are sold to consumers <go to the grocery store for orange juice and eggs> — see SHOP 1
4 a considerable amount <we laid by a store of food for the party> — see LOT 2

store verb
1 to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability <we decided to store the lawn mower in the shed instead of the garage>

Synonyms
keep, put up, reposit, stow

Related Words
cellar, garage, hangar, house, warehouse; file, pack, shelve

2 to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place <squirrels commonly store nuts in the hollows of trees and other places to prepare for the winter> — see HOARD

store–bought adjective
made beforehand in large numbers <he served store-bought biscuits and airily pretended he had baked them himself> — see READY-MADE

storehouse noun
a building for storing goods <the company has a large storehouse filled with lumber for manufacturing its line of furniture>

Synonyms
depository, depot, magazine, repository, storage, warehouse

Related Words
cache, stockroom, storeroom; bank, bin, container, locker, safe-deposit box, strongbox; arsenal, dump; stowage

storm verb
1 to express one's anger usually violently <the chef spent the morning storming at his staff about the ruined sauces> — see RAGE 1
2 to fall as water in a continuous stream of drops from the clouds <it storms so frequently up in the mountains that the peaks are rarely visible from the valley below> — see RAIN 1
3 to take sudden, violent action against <the pirates stormed the ship, easily taking the whole crew as their prisoners> — see ATTACK 1
4 to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger <by the time we arrived, our hostess was storming because dinner was ruined> — see BOIL 1

storm noun
1 a disturbance of the atmosphere accompanied by wind and often by precipitation (as rain or snow) <a winter storm bringing about six inches of snow>

Synonyms
squall, tempest

Related Words
blizzard, ice storm, snowstorm; cloudburst, hailstorm, rainsquall, rainstorm, thundershower, thunderstorm, weather, windstorm; northeaster (or nor'easter), norther, southeaster, southwester; cyclone, hurricane, typhoon; sandstorm

2 a heavy fall of objects <police had to endure a storm of rocks and bricks hurled by the rioters> — see RAIN 2
3 a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <the army's spokesperson faced a storm of questions from reporters> — see BARRAGE
4 a state of noisy, confused activity <a few minutes of calm before the storm, when the store would open its doors on the busiest day of the year> — see COMMOTION
5 a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity <the storm caused major damage to our barn> — see RAIN 1
6 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling <a storm of indignation and demands for his resignation arose when the mayor's dishonesty was exposed> — see OUTBURST 1
7 a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) <civil wars and other storms of unrest swept through the African continent> — see CONVULSION

stormy adjective
1 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <a small nation, but one with a long and stormy history> — see VIOLENT 1
2 marked by or abounding with rain <stormy weather was forecast for the next three days, so we cancelled our camping trip> — see RAINY
3 marked by sudden or violent disturbance <that couple has had a long but stormy relationship> — see CONVULSIVE 1
4 marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements <Neptune has the stormiest atmosphere of any planet, with winds of up to 900 miles per hour> — see WILD 3
5 marked by wet and windy conditions <stormy seas forced the schooner far off its intended course> — see FOUL 1

story noun
1 a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel <he's a talented writer, but his quirky stories will never find a wide readership>

Synonyms
narrative, novelette, novella, short story, tale, yarn

Related Words
bedtime story; exemplum, fable, parable; anecdote, joke; fairy tale, folktale, legend, myth, romance; account, annals, chronicle, history, record, report

2 a brief account of something interesting that happened especially to one personally <Grandpa is always telling stories about what it was like growing up on a farm>

Synonyms
anecdote, tale, yarn

Related Words
episode, event, happening, incident, occurrence; recital, recitation

3 a report of recent events or facts not previously known <a story in the morning paper about plans for a new library> — see NEWS
4 a relating of events usually in the order in which they happened <gave us the whole story of the accident> — see ACCOUNT 1
5 a rumor or report of a personal or sensational nature <stories going around that the old man had died with thousands of dollars hidden under his mattress> — see TALE 1
6 a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive <she tells stories just to get attention, so don't believe that stuff about her father being somebody important> — see LIE
7 the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work <the story proceeds at a pace that many readers will find a bit too leisurely> — see ACTION 2
8 position with regard to conditions and circumstances <management is trying to figure out what the story is with the accident down in the warehouse> — see SITUATION 1

story line noun
the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work <the story line is clumsily interrupted several times to provide some much-needed background information> — see ACTION 2

storyteller noun
a person who tells lies <he's something of a storyteller, so I wouldn't put too much stock in anything he says> — see LIAR

stout adjective
1 able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure <erected a stout wooden fence to keep the wild animals out> — see HARDY 1
2 being compact and broad in build and often short in stature <the wrestler is stout in build, so he is frequently underestimated by his opponents> — see STOCKY
3 feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <stout souls who boldly ventured forward, not knowing what kinds of danger they faced> — see BRAVE 1
4 having muscles capable of exerting great physical force <covered wagons drawn by stout oxen> — see STRONG 1
5 not showing weakness or uncertainty <a stout defender of women's rights in the third world> — see FIRM 1

stouthearted adjective
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <stouthearted men and women who served in the army medical corps> — see BRAVE 1

stoutheartedly adverb
in a fearless manner <those early settlers who stoutheartedly faced the rigors of a Rocky Mountain winter> — see BRAVELY 1

stoutly adverb
in a vigorous and forceful manner <a settler stoutly defending his right to be on the land> — see HARD 3

stoutness noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <even in the face of insurmountable odds, the troops displayed a stoutness of heart that was inspiring> — see COURAGE

stow verb
1 to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability <stow the extra life jackets in the chest> — see STORE 1
2 to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place <stowed candy bars, which were forbidden at the summer camp, under a board in the cabin's floor> — see HOARD

straggler noun
someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others <by three o'clock, only a few stragglers were still making their painful way to the marathon's finish> — see SLOWPOKE

straight adverb
1 in a direct line or course <when we got to the airport, we went straight to the baggage claim area> — see DIRECTLY 1
2 in an honest and direct manner <we gave it to him straight: his performance would have to improve—or he was out> — see STRAIGHTFORWARD

straight adjective
1 free from irregularities or digressions in course <in the wide, open spaces of the West some rural roads are incredibly straight>

Synonyms
direct, linear, right, straightaway, straightforward

Related Words
unbent, uncurled, untwisted; undeviating, unswerving

Near Antonyms
bowed, rounded; entwined, kinked, swirled, turned, turning, twined, twining, twisted, twisting, veering, warped; bending, coiled, coiling, corkscrew, curled, curling, curved, curving, looped, looping, spiral, spiraling (or spiralling), wavy, winding; meandering, weaving; devious, serpentine, sinuous; crooked, zigzag, zigzagging

2 conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <a store owner known and trusted for his straight dealings> — see GOOD 2
3 free from added matter <would you like that whiskey straight or with soda?> — see PURE 1
4 free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <you should be straight with your boss and tell him that you're not happy with the current situation> — see FRANK
5 going straight to the point clearly and firmly <a politician who can never give a straight answer to questions about his positions> — see STRAIGHTFORWARD 1
6 not having one's mind affected by alcohol <I'll drive the car, since I seem to be the only one of us who is straight at the moment> — see SOBER 1
7 following one after another without others coming in between <I was awake for two straight days> — see CONSECUTIVE

straightaway adjective
1 done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time <her first novel was a straightaway success> — see INSTANTANEOUS
2 free from irregularities or digressions in course <the doomed ship was headed on a straightaway course in the path of the iceberg> — see STRAIGHT 1

straightaway adverb
without delay <he got to the hospital, and straightaway he was admitted and given intravenous fluids> — see IMMEDIATELY

straighten verb
to cause to follow a line that is without bends or curls <straighten that extension cord—it should be just long enough to reach the wall outlet>

Synonyms
unbend, uncurl, unkink

Related Words
uncoil, unroll, unwind; disentangle, untangle, untwine, untwist

Near Antonyms
arc, bend, bow, hook, round; entwine, kink, swirl, turn, twine, twist; coil, loop, spiral, wind

Antonyms
bend, crook, curl, curve

straighten (up or out) verb
1 to change one's behavior or character for the better <I hope that rehab will help her straighten up for good> — see REFORM 2
2 to make neat <a directive for everyone to straighten up their cubicle in preparation for a visit from some corporate VIPs> — see NEATEN

straightforward adjective
1 going straight to the point clearly and firmly <a straightforward account of the football game with no digressions or personal comments>

Synonyms
direct, forthright, foursquare, plain, straight

Related Words
aboveboard, candid, frank, free-spoken, honest, open, openhearted, outspoken, plainspoken, unguarded, unreserved; artless, earnest, sincere; uninhibited, unrestrained; abrupt, bluff, blunt, brusque (also brusk), curt, gruff, point-blank, sharp; impolite, inconsiderate, rude, tactless, undiplomatic; true, truthful, veracious

Near Antonyms
circumlocutory, long-winded, prolix, verbose, wordy; inhibited, reserved, restrained; civil, courteous, polite, tactful; deceitful, lying, mendacious, untruthful; erroneous, fallacious, false; ambiguous, equivocal, evasive, misleading; double-dealing, hypocritical, two-faced

Antonyms
circuitous, indirect, roundabout

2 free from irregularities or digressions in course <the missile continued on its straightforward path toward the enemy's command post> — see STRAIGHT 1
3 free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <I want you to be straightforward with me and tell me if this dress looks awful> — see FRANK
4 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <the distinction between the two types of offenses is pretty straightforward> — see CLEAR 2

straightforward also straightforwards adverb
in an honest and direct manner <she finally told him straightforward that she wasn't interested in a date>

Synonyms
directly, forthrightly, foursquare, plain, plainly, straight, straightforwardly

Related Words
baldly, bluffly, candidly, frankly, honestly, openheartedly, openly, unguardedly, unreservedly; artlessly, earnestly, simply, sincerely; abruptly, bluntly, brusquely, curtly, gruffly, point-blank, sharply; impolitely, inconsiderately, rudely, tactlessly; truthfully, veraciously

Near Antonyms
long-windedly, verbosely, wordily; civilly, courteously, diplomatically, politely, tactfully; deceitfully, mendaciously, untruthfully; erroneously, fallaciously, falsely, hypocritically, insincerely; ambiguously, circuitously, equivocally, evasively, indirectly

straightforwardly adverb
in an honest and direct manner <straightforwardly yet compassionately, the doctor tells his cancer patients what their odds for survival are> — see STRAIGHTFORWARD

straightforwardness noun
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <not all of her voice students appreciate the straightforwardness with which she tells them that they're not going to make it as professional singers> — see CANDOR 1

straight off adverb
without delay <I told her straight off that I was not going to do that> — see IMMEDIATELY

straight–out adjective
having no exceptions or restrictions <the straight-out enmity between the two tennis players was unmistakable> — see ABSOLUTE 2

straightway adverb
1 without delay <straightway, the decorator told us that the old couch had to go> — see IMMEDIATELY
2 in a direct line or course <disgusted by his coworker's offensive e-mail, he marched straightway to the boss's office to lodge a complaint> — see DIRECTLY 1

1strain noun
1 the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended <descended from a strain of Irish seafarers> — see ANCESTRY
2 a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect <the strain of an old Irish ballad rose up from the revelers downstairs> — see MELODY
3 a very small amount <detected a strain of panic in her voice when she asked if the substance was poisonous> — see PARTICLE 1
4 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <writes mystery novels of a more sophisticated strain> — see SORT 1

2strain noun
the burden on one's emotional or mental well-being created by demands on one's time <the family's constant moving is putting a real strain on the children> — see STRESS 1

strain verb
1 to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure <in order to lift something heavy, squat down and lift with your legs, or you'll strain your back>

Synonyms
pull, rack, stretch, wrench

Related Words
fray, tax, weaken; damage, harm, hurt, impair, wound; batter, bruise, tear; cripple, lame, mangle, mutilate

2 to pass through a filter <better strain that coffee thoroughly to get all the grounds out>

Synonyms
filter, screen

Related Words
leach, percolate

3 to devote serious and sustained effort <the whole department is straining to complete the project before the deadline> — see LABOR
4 to flow forth slowly through small openings <put the cooked fruit in a cheesecloth bag and let the juice strain into a pan> — see EXUDE
5 to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress <strained her memory but the name just wouldn't come to her> — see TRY 1
6 to draw tight <the dog strained its leash trying to get to the cat> — see TIGHTEN
7 to put one's arms around and press tightly <the woman tenderly strained to her breast the child that she had long ago given up for dead> — see EMBRACE 1

strained adjective
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <I took the complaint manager's strained smile to mean I wasn't a welcome sight> — see ARTIFICIAL 1

strait noun
1 a narrow body of water between two land masses <as the ship headed east through the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain was on our left and Africa on our right> — see CHANNEL 2
2 often straits plural a state of great suffering of body or mind <in great straits over the loss of her mother's cherished necklace> — see DISTRESS 1

straitlaced or straightlaced adjective
given to or marked by very conservative standards regarding personal behavior or morals <a very straitlaced old lady who believed that cleavage was something that should be shown by rock crystals, not respectable women>

Synonyms
bluenosed, nice-nelly, prim, prudish, puritanical, Victorian

Related Words
priggish, staid, stuffy; genteel, proper, refined; decent, honest, moral, right, righteous, upright, virtuous

Near Antonyms
liberated, permissive; bad, immoral, improper, indecent, lax, lecherous, lickerish, loose, prurient, wicked; skanky [slang], slatternly, sleazy, sluttish, slutty, trampy; debauched, degenerate, degraded, depraved, perverted

strand noun
the usually sandy or gravelly land bordering a body of water <the wishful dream of living an indolent, idyllic existence on some far-off strand> — see BEACH

strand verb
1 to cause irreparable damage to (a ship) by running aground or sinking <the ghostly remains of ships that had been stranded by the reef> — see SHIPWRECK
2 to cause to remain behind <he just drove off, stranding her in some dinky town with just a few bucks and the clothes she was wearing> — see LEAVE 1

stranded adjective
resting on the shore or bottom of a body of water <stranded whales often die because their bodies overheat on the hot sand> — see AGROUND

strange adjective
1 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <the strange smell we'd noticed turned out, unhappily, to be from the dinner our host was making> — see ODD 2
2 excitingly or mysteriously unusual <strange fruits from faraway lands> — see EXOTIC
3 not known or experienced before <using public transportation was all very strange to a rural girl like her> — see NEW 2
4 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <a rather strange story about a garden filled with poisonous plants> — see UNUSUAL 1

stranger noun
a person who is not native to or known to a community <the people of the island are quick to make strangers feel at home>

Synonyms
foreigner, nonnative, outlander, outsider

Related Words
alien, nonresident; outcast, pariah; drifter, transient, wanderer

Near Antonyms
buddy, chum, comrade, confidant, crony, familiar, friend, intimate, pal; acquaintance, associate, cohort, colleague, companion, fellow, hearty, hobnobber, mate, partner, peer; citizen, habitant, inhabitant, resident

Antonyms
native

strangle verb
1 to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air <the gull got tangled in a piece of fishing line on the beach and was strangled> — see SMOTHER 1
2 to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe <the boy complained that he was being strangled by his tie> — see CHOKE 1
3 to refrain from openly showing or uttering <strangled a gasp of surprise upon hearing the news> — see SUPPRESS 2

stratagem noun
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <tried various stratagems to get the cat into the carrier, but the feisty feline was wise to them all> — see TRICK 1

strategize (about) verb
to work out the details of (something) in advance <strategized about how they would arrange seating if the event had to be moved inside> — see PLAN 1

strategy noun
1 a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective <a statewide strategy to raise students' achievement test scores over the next three years> — see PLAN 1
2 the means or procedure for doing something <you'll need a better strategy than just knocking on doors if you want to sell that many magazines> — see METHOD

stratum noun
1 one of the segments of society into which people are grouped <the lower strata of society have been hit especially hard by this economic downturn> — see CLASS 1
2 the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement <the level of writing in that pop novel is several strata beneath that of serious fiction> — see RANK 1

straw adjective
of a pale yellow or yellowish brown color <the cheese maker told us that the best Parmesan cheeses are straw, not white, in color> — see BLOND

stray adjective
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern <stray sightings of UFO's, none of which have been rigorously analyzed by scientists> — see RANDOM

stray verb
to commit an offense <our straying son swears he's returned to the straight and narrow> — see OFFEND 1

streak noun
1 a line or long narrow section differing in color from the background <the flower has white petals with red streaks> — see 1STRIPE 1
2 a very small amount <there's just a streak of stubbornness in that child> — see PARTICLE 1

streak verb
to make stripes on <light from the setting sun streaked the clouds in brilliant bands of pink and orange> — see STRIPE

streaked adjective
having stripes <hair streaked with gray> — see STRIPED

stream verb
1 to cause to flow in a stream <his eyes were streaming tears> — see POUR 1
2 to move in a stream <blood streaming out of a wound> — see FLOW 1
3 to move or proceed smoothly and readily <cars streaming along the freeway> — see FLOW 2

streamer noun
a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling <streamers in the team's colors hung from the top of the stadium> — see FLAG 1

streamlet noun
a natural body of running water smaller than a river <the raging brook of last spring is a mere streamlet now that it's July> — see CREEK 1

streamline verb
1 to make less complex <streamline the work of mailing out flyers by using computer-generated labels> — see SIMPLIFY 1
2 to adapt to modern needs, taste, or usage <in an effort to compete against online vendors, many traditional retailers have had to streamline their brick-and-mortar stores> — see MODERNIZE

street noun
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <going the wrong way on a one-way street> — see WAY 1

streetwalker noun
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money <the streetwalkers and adult movie theaters that once populated the tenderloin have been replaced by upscale shoppers and expensive restaurants and boutiques> — see PROSTITUTE

strength noun
1 the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task <the murdered man's wife didn't have the emotional strength to face reporters> — see POWER 2
2 the ability to withstand force or stress without being distorted, dislodged, or damaged <this cheap shelving unit doesn't have the strength to hold all those books> — see STABILITY 1

strengthen verb
1 to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force <lifting weights every day will eventually strengthen your muscles> <the army makes new recruits run for miles in order to strengthen them>

Synonyms
beef (up), fortify, harden, toughen

Related Words
anneal, temper; firm (up), tone (up); energize, invigorate, vitalize; restrengthen

Near Antonyms
cripple, incapacitate, paralyze; damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure; break down, wear out; sap, undercut, undermine

Antonyms
debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, weaken

2 to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure <required weeks of physical therapy to strengthen his arm enough to pitch for the team again> — see HARDEN 2
3 to make markedly greater in measure or degree <encouraged the boarding school students to strengthen their ties with the community by doing public service> — see INTENSIFY
4 to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally <strengthened herself for the moment she'd have to tell her friend that she had lost the borrowed necklace> — see FORTIFY 1
5 to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe <a bill was introduced to strengthen punishments for hate crimes> — see HARSHEN

strenuous adjective
1 marked by or uttered with forcefulness <parents who voiced strenuous objections to the new textbooks> — see EMPHATIC 1
2 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <a strenuous workout on the obstacle course> — see HARD 2

strenuously adverb
1 in a vigorous and forceful manner <argued strenuously in favor of easing the academic requirements for participation in school sports> — see HARD 3
2 with great effort or determination <the IT staff worked strenuously to get the network back online> — see HARD 1

stress noun
1 the burden on one's emotional or mental well-being created by demands on one's time <with a full-time job and her college courses, the young woman is under a lot of stress right now>

Synonyms
pressure, strain, tension

Related Words
load, weight; anxiety, concern, uneasiness, worry; aggravation, anger, annoyance, exasperation, irritation, persecution, trouble

Near Antonyms
comfort, consolation

2 a special notice or importance given to something <the company's orientation program places considerable stress on workplace safety> — see EMPHASIS 1

stress verb
1 to experience concern or anxiety <the restaurant manager has a tendency to stress about every little thing that goes wrong> — see WORRY 1
2 to make more apparent <his bad performance only stressed what I'd been saying all along> — see EMPHASIZE 2
3 to indicate the importance of by centering attention on <the doctor stressed the importance of exercise> — see EMPHASIZE 1

stressed adjective
suffering from high levels of physical and especially psychological stress <you seem really stressed right now, so maybe you should try to do something more relaxing> — see STRESSED-OUT

stressed–out adjective
suffering from high levels of physical and especially psychological stress <the demands of this job are enough to make anyone stressed-out>

Synonyms
shell-shocked, stressed

Related Words
burned-out (or burnt-out), exhausted, knackered [British], tired, worn-out; undone, unmanned, unnerved, unstrung; edgy, nervous, tense, uneasy; agitated, disturbed, perturbed, troubled, upset; aggravated, angry, annoyed, exasperated, irritated

Phrases
on the rack

Near Antonyms
laid-back, relaxed, rested; carefree, devil-may-care, happy-go-lucky, lighthearted, unconcerned

stretch adjective
able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted <stretch fabrics that don't wrinkle or sag> — see ELASTIC 1

stretch noun
1 a wide space or area <a narrow stretch of beach below the cliffs> — see EXPANSE
2 an indefinite but usually short period of time <there was a cardinal at our bird feeder for a short stretch last spring> — see WHILE 1
3 the distance or extent between possible extremes <the stories were written over a considerable stretch of time> — see RANGE 3
4 the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects <the longest stretch of the drive without any place to get gas> — see DISTANCE 1

stretch verb
1 to add to the interest of by including made-up details <it was stretching the truth to say she'd been in the movies: she was once an extra whose scene was cut in the final version> — see EMBROIDER
2 to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure <I stretched a back muscle, and the pain is killing me> — see STRAIN 1
3 to make longer <the time it would take to fix the car got stretched from three hours to two days when the part we needed had to be ordered> — see EXTEND 1
4 to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress <your whining is stretching my patience to the limit> — see TRY 1
5 to draw tight <if the canvas isn't properly stretched over the frame, there will be sagging over time> — see TIGHTEN

stretch (out) verb
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area <you can't stretch out your legs to the point where you're blocking the aisle> — see OPEN 3

stretchable adjective
able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted <stretchable gloves> <stretchable bandages> — see ELASTIC 1

stretching noun
1 the act of making longer <excessive stretching can cause the fabric to tear or lose its elasticity> — see EXTENSION 1
2 the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts <your constant stretching of the truth is going to get you in trouble someday> — see EXAGGERATION

stretchy adjective
able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted <a stretchy hair band> — see ELASTIC 1

strew verb
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on <sidewalks strewed with trash left by the parade watchers> — see SCATTER 2

strict adjective
1 following an original exactly <not a strict translation, because a lot of the humor is in the wordplay> — see FAITHFUL 2
2 given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint <that piano teacher is notoriously strict, but students make great strides under her tutelage> — see SEVERE 1
3 not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards <on a strict diet> <strict adherence to the letter of the law> — see RIGID 1

strictly adverb
without any relaxation of standards or precision <strictly speaking, Columbus did not discover America—the people living there had long known about it> <the rules must be strictly obeyed>

Synonyms
exactly, precisely, rigidly, rigorously

Related Words
carefully, conscientiously, meticulously, scrupulously

Antonyms
imprecisely, inexactly, loosely

strictness noun
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) <his stoic temperament suited him well to the demands and strictness of military life> — see SEVERITY

stricture noun
1 an often public or formal expression of disapproval <the church's strictures on the morals and mores of contemporary society> — see CENSURE
2 something that limits one's freedom of action or choice <the new zoning strictures effectively make further development along the riverfront commercially unviable> — see RESTRICTION 1

stride verb
to move along with a steady regular step especially in a group <a gang of armed men strode into the bank and approached the teller> — see MARCH 1

strife noun
1 a lack of agreement or harmony <in order to avoid family strife, the children spend equal time during the holidays with both of their grandmothers> — see DISCORD
2 an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <bitter strife between the two political factions> — see CONTEST 1

strike noun
1 a work stoppage by a body of workers intended to force an employer to meet their demands <the nurses will go on strike tomorrow unless they're finally given a pay raise>

Synonyms
walkout

Related Words
sympathetic strike, sympathy strike; go-slow [British], job action, sick-out, sit-down, sit-in, slowdown; lockout

2 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence <the first strike was directed at a munitions warehouse> — see ATTACK 1
3 a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success <kids born into poverty already have a strike against them> — see DISADVANTAGE 1
4 a forceful coming together of two things <the strike of a hammer against a nail always has a satisfying sound when you're building something yourself> — see IMPACT 1
5 an unexpected benefit or advantage resulting from the uncertain course of events <she's made one strike after another since she began speculating in real estate> — see FLUKE

strike verb
1 to refuse to work in order to force an employer to meet demands <the union is calling for its members to strike until the mining company agrees to meet safety standards>

Synonyms
walk, walk out

Related Words
sit in; lock out

2 to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response <we were struck by the willingness of total strangers to go out of their way to help us> — see 1AFFECT 1
3 to enter the mind of <it struck her later that no one at the bank had asked for identification> — see OCCUR TO
4 to come into usually forceful contact with something <the thump of hailstones striking the cars in the parking lot> — see HIT 2
5 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <the driver of the car behind me applied his brakes too late and struck my car from the rear> — see HIT 1
6 to take apart <the stagehands struck the sets the morning after the play closed> — see DISASSEMBLE 1
7 to take sudden, violent action against <a rattlesnake strikes its prey with lightning speed> — see ATTACK 1
8 to cast a spell on <the only way that she's going to get a man is if she strikes one> — see BEWITCH 1

strike (into) verb
to take the first step in (a process or course of action) <before you actually strike into your speech, you should introduce yourself> — see BEGIN 1

strike (out) verb
to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it <struck out all references to indecent matters> — see X OUT

strike down verb
to put an end to by formal action <a law that was later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court as unconstitutional> — see ABOLISH 1

strike out verb
to be unsuccessful <their joint venture in Las Vegas struck out, and they hurriedly dissolved the partnership> — see FAIL 2

striking adjective
1 likely to attract attention <you'd be amazed what a striking difference new wallpaper can make in a room> — see NOTICEABLE
2 very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad <several striking contradictions in her argument> — see EGREGIOUS

string noun
1 a length of braided, flexible material that is used for tying or connecting things <a piece of string won't hold that gate shut if a big wind comes along> — see CORD 1
2 a series of persons or things arranged one behind another <a string of cars stretching as far as we could see> — see LINE 1
3 a series of things linked together <recounted the string of events that led to the murder> — see CHAIN 1

string verb
to put together into a series by means of or as if by means of a thread <the prosecuting attorney strung the evidence together so that the accused man really did look guilty> — see THREAD 2

string along verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <the student succeeded in stringing even his teachers along with his tales of family hardships> — see DECEIVE

stringency noun
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) <some people objected to the stringency of the new regulations regarding the alteration of building exteriors in the historic district> — see SEVERITY

stringent adjective
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards <stringent rules against unauthorized persons being in the building> — see RIGID 1

stringy adjective
resembling or having the texture of a mass of strings <stringy hair that clearly needs a good washing>

Synonyms
fibrous

Related Words
knotty, ropy (also ropey), thready; sinewy, wiry

strip verb
1 to remove clothing from <the nurse told the nervous mother to strip her screaming baby down to his diaper for the exam> — see UNDRESS 1
2 to take something away from <an indiscretion that resulted in her being stripped of her authority> — see DEPRIVE 1

strip noun
1 a long narrow piece of material <now tear the paper into strips and fold them up carefully>

Synonyms
list, ribbon, slip

Related Words
slat; band, bandage, belt, binding, girth, strap, swatch, swath (or swathe), tape

2 a series of drawings that tell a story or part of a story <a cartoonist who uses his daily strip to make his political points> — see COMIC STRIP

1stripe noun
1 a line or long narrow section differing in color from the background <the United States flag has seven red stripes>

Synonyms
band, bar, streak

Related Words
blaze, crossbar, pinstripe

2 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <singers of every stripe will perform at the benefit concert> — see SORT 1

2stripe noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <the prisoner was sentenced to receive 20 stripes with a bamboo pole> — see 1BLOW

stripe verb
to make stripes on <the children carefully striped the paper with red and blue paint>

Synonyms
band, bar, streak

Related Words
blaze

striped adjective
having stripes <the zebra is a black-and-white striped animal>

Synonyms
banded, barred, streaked

Related Words
corded, tabby

stripling noun
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood <the young boxer looked like a mere stripling next to his larger, more seasoned opponent> — see BOY 1

stripped adjective
1 lacking a usual or natural covering <bought matching end tables of stripped pine> — see NAKED 2
2 lacking or shed of clothing <highway construction workers, stripped to the waist, toiled away in the sweltering heat> — see NAKED 1

strive verb
1 to devote serious and sustained effort <not only must we strive for peace in time of war, we must strive mightily to maintain that peace> — see LABOR
2 to make an effort to do <let us strive to make the most of this opportunity> — see ATTEMPT

stroke noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <all it took was one hard stroke to knock the ball out of the tree> — see 1BLOW

stroke verb
1 to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner <the young mother gently stroked the sleeping child's brow and then leaned over and kissed him> — see FONDLE
2 to praise too much <a politician with a special gift for stroking fat-cat donors> — see FLATTER 1

stroke (out) verb
to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it <if you make a mistake on the form, just stroke it out> — see X OUT

stroll noun
a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure <we arrived early and took a stroll through the park before dinner> — see WALK 1

stroll verb
to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure <people who like to stroll along the beach would seem to be well-represented among the clientele for dating services> — see HIKE 1

stroller noun
1 a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination <back in olden days when strollers and vagabonds wandered the Scottish countryside> — see NOMAD
2 a small four-wheeled vehicle designed for pushing a baby around in <a collapsible stroller> — see BABY CARRIAGE

strong adjective
1 having muscles capable of exerting great physical force <I need some strong people to help me move furniture>

Synonyms
brawny, muscular, rugged, sinewy, stalwart, stout

Related Words
forceful, forcible, mighty, potent, powerful, puissant; able-bodied, athletic, fit, trim; beefy, burly, husky, strapping; masculine, virile; hard, inured, strengthened, sturdy, tough, toughened; energetic, energized, invigorated, lusty, red-blooded, robust, vigorous, vitalized; hale, healthy, hearty, sound

Near Antonyms
challenged, disabled, incapacitated, paralyzed; impotent, powerless; puny, slight, small, unathletic, unfit, unhealthy

Antonyms
delicate, feeble, frail, weak, weakling, wimpy

2 able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure <the doctor soon declared her strong enough to go home from the hospital> — see HARDY 1
3 having a powerfully stimulating odor or flavor <the garlic in the sauce is almost too strong> <that's mighty strong perfume you're wearing> — see SHARP 2
4 having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) <strong coffee> — see FULL-BODIED
5 having an unpleasant smell <the dog's strong breath nearly bowled me over> — see MALODOROUS
6 having great power or influence <a time when the country needs a strong leader> — see IMPORTANT 2
7 having the power to persuade <made a strong argument for starting school an hour later each day> — see COGENT
8 marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion <buildings strong enough to withstand an earthquake> — see STABLE 1
9 not showing weakness or uncertainty <a strong belief in the value of hard work> — see FIRM 1

strong–arm verb
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats <developers trying to strong-arm homeowners into selling their houses at below-market prices> — see INTIMIDATE

strongbox noun
a specially reinforced container to keep valuables safe <keeps her jewelry in a strongbox> — see SAFE

strong drink noun
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <he's been known to partake of strong drink now and then> — see ALCOHOL

stronghold noun
a structure or place from which one can resist attack <the island was the pirates' last stronghold in the West Indies> — see FORT

strongly adverb
in a vigorous and forceful manner <in the past, the senator has always strongly opposed any suggested increase in taxes> — see HARD 3

strongman noun
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way <a Latin-American strongman who basically treated his nation's coffers as his personal bank account> — see DESPOT

strong suit noun
something for which a person shows a special talent <languages are definitely the diplomat's strong suit> — see FORTE

strop verb
to make sharp or sharper <at the museum they showed us how men used to strop razors with leather bands before the days of disposable blades> — see SHARPEN

stropped adjective
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something <I was surprised at how sharp the stropped razor was> — see SHARP 1

structure noun
1 something built as a dwelling, shelter, or place for human activity <the only structure on the island is an old Spanish fort—or what's left of it> — see BUILDING
2 something put together by arranging or connecting an array of parts <the Egyptian pyramids are among the most remarkable structures ever built> — see CONSTRUCTION 1
3 the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form <the basic structure of all those tract houses is the same: basically, a box> — see FRAME 1

struggle noun
1 a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective <a physically challenged child's determined struggle to make straight A's in school>

Synonyms
battle, fight, fray, scrabble, throes

Related Words
effort, exertion, labor, pains, trouble, work; drudgery, grind, sweat, toil, travail; combat, conflict, contest, strife, tussle, war, warfare; attempt, endeavor, essay, try

2 a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <there was a struggle between the armed robber and the shopkeeper, and the gun went off> — see FIGHT 1
3 an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <her staunchest supporters in her struggle for the office> — see CONTEST 1

struggle verb
1 to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually <each week I would struggle through my piano lesson, keenly aware that I wasn't getting any better> — see FLOUNDER 1
2 to devote serious and sustained effort <the financially strapped couple struggled to make ends meet> — see LABOR

strumpet noun
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money <the portrait painter's muse for the goddess of love was apparently a common strumpet> — see PROSTITUTE

strung out adjective
being under the influence of a recreational drug <she seems to have been strung out for most of the 1960s> — see STONED 1

strut verb
1 to walk with exaggerated arm and leg movements <the cat strutted proudly onto the porch with a bird in its mouth>

Synonyms
prance, sashay, stalk, swagger

Related Words
flounce, mince, traipse; pussyfoot, tiptoe; sweep; parade, promenade; pad, step, tread; pace, stride; lumber, lurch, pound, shamble, shuffle, stagger

2 to present so as to invite notice or attention <strutting his blue ribbon for all to see> — see SHOW 1

stub noun
an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value <an ashtray full of cigarette stubs> <ticket stubs> — see 1SCRAP 1

stubborn adjective
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <he's just being stubborn, refusing even to try the new toothpaste> — see OBSTINATE

stubbornness noun
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <between my brother's stubbornness and my own, it's amazing when we come to an agreement about anything> — see OBSTINACY

stubby adjective
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature <seven stubby little fellows carried the sleeping Snow White back to their home in a cave> — see STOCKY

stuck adjective
firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge <the car was hopelessly stuck in the mud> — see TIGHT 2

stuck–up adjective
having too high an opinion of oneself <thought that the kids at his new school were snobbish and stuck-up> — see CONCEITED

stud noun
a physically attractive man <she promised her friend that the blind date would be a real stud> — see HUNK 1

student noun
one who attends a school <a straight-A student at the local high school>

Synonyms
pupil, scholar

Related Words
reader, studier; day student, preppy (or preppie), schoolboy, schoolchild, schoolgirl; schoolfellow, schoolmate; coed, collegian, postgraduate, undergraduate; high schooler, kindergartner (also kindergartener), middler, middle schooler; freshman, junior, senior, sophomore; underclassman, undergrad, upperclassman; exchange student

Antonyms
nonstudent

studied adjective
decided on as a result of careful thought <a studied move by the company that was designed to put the competition out of business> — see DELIBERATE 1

study noun
1 a systematic search for the truth or facts about something <conducted a study to determine the sleep needs of adolescents> — see INQUIRY 1
2 the state of being lost in thought <found her staring at the fire in a deep study> — see REVERIE
3 a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something <the idea is under study by the city council> — see CONSIDERATION 1

study verb
1 to use the mind to acquire knowledge <you'll have to study hard and learn all about the Revolutionary War in order to pass the history test>

Synonyms
bone (up)

Related Words
cram; grind, swot [British]; analyze, deduce, find out; con, learn, memorize, read; research, restudy; apprehend, comprehend, grasp, know, understand; absorb, digest

Phrases
go over, go through

2 to commit to memory <having carefully studied the document, he could repeat what it said exactly> — see MEMORIZE
3 to give serious and careful thought to <scientists who study the origin of the universe> — see PONDER

stuff noun
1 a skill, an ability, or knowledge that makes a person able to do a particular job <a guy who has the stuff it takes to be head of a major corporation> — see QUALIFICATION 1
2 the basic elements from which something can be developed <reading, writing, and arithmetic—the stuff of an education> — see MAKING
3 the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is <the real stuff of nobility of character isn't riches or a title, but honor and integrity> — see ESSENCE 1
4 transportable items that one owns <gather up your stuff so that we can get going> — see POSSESSION 2
5 items needed for the performance of a task or activity <missed a great photo opportunity because all of my camera stuff was at home> — see EQUIPMENT

stuff verb
1 to close up so that no empty spaces remain <stuffed the box with tissue paper so the contents wouldn't rattle around> — see FILL 2
2 to fill with food to capacity <kids who stuff themselves with junk food after school and then don't have any room for supper> — see GORGE 1
3 to fit (people or things) into a tight space <stuffed all the kids into the back of the car> — see CROWD 1
4 to prevent passage through by filling with something <I can't smell anything, as my nose is all stuffed> — see CLOG 1
5 to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained <stuffed a whole suitcase with gifts for her relatives in Mexico> — see FILL 1

stuffed adjective
1 containing or seeming to contain the greatest quantity or number possible <had never seen shelves so stuffed with books> — see FULL 1
2 having one's appetite completely satisfied <we were still stuffed from our huge breakfast and didn't want lunch> — see FULL 3

stuffed shirt noun
a person with old-fashioned ideas <the stuffed shirts in this organization don't seem to realize that without new blood our extinction is inevitable> — see FOGY

stuffer noun
one who eats greedily or too much <the different kinds of hot dog eaters: the stuffer who downs it in two bites; the nibbler; the mustard loader> — see GLUTTON

stuffing noun
soft material that is used to fill the hollow parts of something <never heard of using goose down as stuffing for comforters until she moved to a cold climate> — see FILLING

stuffy adjective
1 lacking fresh air <the house was very stuffy after being closed up for a month>

Synonyms
breathless, close, stifling, suffocating

Related Words
airless, unventilated; fuggy; heavy, oppressive, thick

Near Antonyms
bracing, brisk, invigorating, refreshed, refreshing, restorative, reviving, sweet; ventilated

Antonyms
airy, breezy, unstuffy

2 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <nothing stuffy about this science museum—it's all interactive and fun> — see BORING
3 easily irritated or annoyed <those nursing home residents with a reputation for being chronically stuffy were usually the last to receive attention> — see IRRITABLE

stumble noun
1 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <was his hurtful remark a regrettable stumble, or was it made with artful intention?> — see ERROR 1
2 the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily <has bones so brittle that a minor stumble could result in a serious break> — see FALL 1

stumble verb
1 to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily <the bride stumbled on the altar steps and landed smack in the arms of the minister> — see FALL 1
2 to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually <stumbled twice while she was reciting the “Gettysburg Address”> — see FLOUNDER 1
3 to move heavily or clumsily <the tipsy revelers left the path and wearily stumbled through the tangled undergrowth> — see LUMBER 1
4 to make a mistake <that network announcer rarely stumbles when he's on the air> — see ERR 1

stumble (on or onto) verb
to come upon unexpectedly or by chance <stumbled on some old family photos when she was cleaning out a drawer> — see HAPPEN ON OR UPON

stumble (upon) verb
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face <stumbled upon an old acquaintance at the airport> — see MEET 1

stumbling block noun
something that makes movement or progress difficult <the only stumbling block to our move across the country was finding someone to adopt our cats> — see ENCUMBRANCE

stump verb
1 to move heavily or clumsily <the seemingly endless parade finally ended, and the drummers and tuba players stumped wearily to their buses> — see LUMBER 1
2 to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat <when my grandfather was a kid, he and his friends would stump one another to dive into the local swimming hole> — see CHALLENGE 2

stumpy adjective
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature <stumpy penguins become agile swimmers the moment they hit the water> — see STOCKY

stun verb
1 to make senseless or dizzy by a blow <a powerful uppercut to the jaw stunned the boxer and sent him crashing to the canvas>

Synonyms
daze, rock

Related Words
deaden, knock out, paralyze; benumb, numb, stupefy; bowl over, knock down; bang, bash, belt, bludgeon, bonk, bop, clobber, clock, clout, hammer, hit, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale; batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, mangle, maul, pelt, pummel

Phrases
knock for a loop, knock silly

2 to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected <the news of President Kennedy's assassination stunned the nation> — see SURPRISE 1

stunned adjective
1 affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise <realizing that they had been left out of the will, the billionaire's relatives just sat there, stunned> — see THUNDERSTRUCK
2 suffering from mental confusion <the loud blast left her momentarily stunned> — see DIZZY 2

stunner noun
1 a lovely woman <not only is she smart, she's a real stunner> — see BEAUTY 2
2 something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected <as expected, the box-office champ was another superhero actioner, but the real stunner was the second-place finish for the low-budget comedy> — see SURPRISE 1

stunning adjective
1 causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness <we suffered a stunning defeat at the hands of the bottom-ranked team in the division> — see SURPRISING 1
2 causing wonder or astonishment <the stunning beauty of the star-filled sky on a cloudless night> — see MARVELOUS 1
3 very pleasing to look at <how stunning the performers look in their costumes> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

stunt noun
an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness <performs mental stunts, such as pronouncing words backwards as soon as you say them> — see FEAT 1

stunt verb
to hold back the normal growth of <unfortunately, an unusually dry summer seems to have permanently stunted the tree>

Synonyms
dwarf, suppress

Related Words
arrest, catch, check, halt, hold up, stall, stay, still, stop; balk, block, hold back, impede, obstruct, stem; diminish, downsize, shrink

Near Antonyms
advance, boost, encourage, forward, foster, nourish, nurture, promote

stupe noun
a stupid person <with stupes like that, no wonder city hall is a mess> — see IDIOT

stupefaction noun
the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual <upon hearing the diagnosis of cancer, she just sat there in total stupefaction> — see SURPRISE 2

stupefied adjective
1 affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise <gazed, stupefied, as humanoids with large heads emerged from the crashed UFO> — see THUNDERSTRUCK
2 suffering from mental confusion <when the plane began to nose-dive, the stupefied passengers were unsure how to act> — see DIZZY 2

stupefy verb
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected <stupefied by the ruling that he could not compete because his missed the qualifying age by two days> — see SURPRISE 1

stupefying adjective
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness <the stupefying figures for poverty and starvation in some parts of the third world> — see SURPRISING 1

stupendous adjective
causing wonder or astonishment <the stupendous engineering feats achieved by the ancient Romans> — see MARVELOUS 1

stupendously adverb
to a large extent or degree <a stupendously successful Broadway debut> — see GREATLY 2

stupendousness noun
impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <for stunning stupendousness the world had never seen anything the equal of the Palace of Versailles> — see MAGNIFICENCE

stupid adjective
1 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <the child, who was once thought to be just stupid, was discovered to be suffering from dyslexia> <don't ask stupid questions>

Synonyms
airheaded, birdbrained, bonehead, boneheaded, brain-dead, brainless, bubbleheaded, chuckleheaded, dense, dim, dim-witted, doltish, dopey (also dopy), dorky [slang], dull, dumb, dunderheaded, empty-headed, fatuous, gormless [chiefly British], half-witted, knuckleheaded, lamebrain (or lamebrained), lunkheaded, mindless, oafish, obtuse, opaque, pinheaded, senseless, simple, slow, slow-witted, soft, softheaded, thick, thickheaded, thick-witted, unintelligent, unsmart, vacuous, weak-minded, witless

Related Words
cretinous, feebleminded, simpleminded; boobish, foolish, idiotic (also idiotical), imbecile (or imbecilic), moronic; ignorant, illiterate, lowbrow, uneducated, uninformed, unintellectual, untaught, unthinking; absurd, asinine, balmy, cockeyed, crackpot, crazy, cuckoo, daffy, daft, dippy, dotty, featherheaded, fool, half-baked, harebrained, insane, kooky (also kookie), loony (also looney), lunatic, mad, nonsensical, nutty, preposterous, sappy, screwball, silly, tomfool, unwise, wacky (also whacky), zany; fallacious, illogical, invalid, irrational, unreasonable

Near Antonyms
ingenious, resourceful; acute, astute, discerning, insightful, keen, knowing, perceptive, percipient, perspicacious, sagacious, sage, sapient, savvy, wise; cerebral, erudite, highbrow, intellectual, knowledgeable, learned, literate, scholarly, thinking, well-read; educated, informed, schooled, skilled, trained; crafty, cunning, foxy, shrewd, wily; judicious, prudent, sane, sensible, sound; logical, rational, reasonable, valid

Antonyms
apt, brainy, bright, brilliant, clever, fast, hyperintelligent, intelligent, keen, nimble, quick, quick-witted, sharp, sharp-witted, smart, supersmart, ultrasmart

2 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <I can't believe we sat through the whole stupid movie> — see BORING
3 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <not liking the captain is a stupid reason to quit the team> — see FOOLISH 1

stupid noun
a stupid person <a genius at math, but a total stupid when it came to his love life> — see IDIOT

stupidity noun
1 the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <the stupidity of the dialogue between the two romantic leads had movie audiences giggling uncontrollably>

Synonyms
boneheadedness, brainlessness, denseness, density, dim-wittedness, doltishness, dopiness, dorkiness, dullness (also dulness), dumbness, fatuity, foolishness, gormlessness [chiefly British], mindlessness, oafishness, obtuseness, senselessness, simpleness, slowness, stupidness, thickness, vacuity, weak-mindedness, witlessness

Related Words
feeblemindedness, simplemindedness; absurdity, asininity, balminess, craziness, daftness, dippiness, dottiness, fatuousness, folly, idiocy, inaneness, inanity, insanity, lunacy, madness, nincompoopery, nonsensicalness, nuttiness, preposterousness, silliness, simplicity, wackiness, zaniness; fallacy, irrationality, unreasonableness; mental deficiency, mental retardation

Near Antonyms
acumen, alertness, astuteness, discernment, insight, judgment (or judgement), perception, percipience, perspicacity; sagacity, sageness, sapience, wisdom, wit; logicality, logicalness, rationality, rationalness, reasonableness, soundness, validity

Antonyms
braininess, brightness, brilliance, cleverness, intelligence, keenness, quickness, quick-wittedness, sharpness, smartness

2 a foolish act or idea <the succession of stupidities by the company's owners was bound to result in bankruptcy> — see FOLLY 1
3 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <leaving her bags unguarded inside the airport terminal was nothing but stupidity on her part> — see NONSENSE 1

stupidness noun
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <I'm not sure if he leaves his front door unlocked from carelessness or just plain stupidness> — see STUPIDITY 1

stupor noun
physical or mental inertness <shocked by news of impending layoffs, the workers shuffled through their shift in a quiet stupor> — see LETHARGY

sturdily adverb
in a vigorous and forceful manner <no longer so sturdily maintained his innocence when his alibi proved to be a fabrication> — see HARD 3

sturdiness noun
the ability to withstand force or stress without being distorted, dislodged, or damaged <demonstrated the suitcase's sturdiness by dropping it from a third-floor window> — see STABILITY 1

sturdy adjective
1 able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure <it took a sturdy person to endure the life of a pioneer> — see HARDY 1
2 marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion <wear sturdy boots because we will be going over sharp rocks and uneven terrain> — see STABLE 1
3 not showing weakness or uncertainty <you'll need a sturdy grasp of the concepts of algebra before you can take calculus> — see FIRM 1

Sturm und Drang noun
a disturbed or uneasy state <in a year filled with corporate Sturm und Drang, the company was headed by no fewer than three different CEOs> — see UNREST

sty noun
a dirty or messy place <“That house is such a sty that I'm never setting foot in there again,” she said with a shudder> — see PIGPEN

stygian adjective
being without light or without much light <lost in the stygian reaches of the deep forest> — see DARK 1

style verb
to give a name to <although nowadays he's often styled a biologist, he's probably better thought of as a classic 19th-century naturalist> — see NAME 1

style noun
1 a distinctive way of putting ideas into words <I correctly identified the quotation because I recognized Mark Twain's inimitable style>

Synonyms
fashion, locution, manner, mode, phraseology, tone, vein

Related Words
address, delivery, elocution; archaism, colloquialism, regionalism; acceptation, connotation, denotation, expression, idiom

2 the means or procedure for doing something <unfortunately, the club president's usual style is to make decisions without asking anyone's advice or approval> — see METHOD
3 a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <parents who were very relieved when the style for having one's nose pierced faded> — see FAD

styleless adjective
marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste <forced to wear a styleless uniform for her restaurant job, she loves to dress up on weekends> — see 1TACKY 1

stylish adjective
being in the latest or current fashion <a pretty, stylish dress>

Synonyms
à la mode (also a la mode), au courant, chic, cool [slang], exclusive, fashionable, fresh [slang], happening, hip, in, modish, sharp, smart, snappy, supercool, swell, swish, trendy, voguish

Related Words
downtown, edgy, funky; dapper, dashing, dressy, kicky, natty, rakish, sassy, saucy, spiffy, spruce; chichi, classy, flossy, haute (also haut), nobby, posh, ritzy, soigné (or soignée), swank (or swanky); elegant, graceful, handsome, majestic, refined, sophisticated, stately, tasteful, understated; doggish, doggy, flashy, gallant; dandyish, dudish, foppish; ultrachic, ultracool, ultrahip, ultraposh, ultrasmart, ultrasophisticated

Near Antonyms
cheesy, tacky, unattractive, unbecoming; graceless, inelegant, tasteless, trashy, unhandsome; frowsy (or frowzy), sloppy, slovenly, unkempt, untidy; disheveled (or dishevelled), messy, mussy, rumpled, wrinkled; shabby, sleazy

Antonyms
dowdy, out, outmoded, styleless, unchic, uncool, unfashionable, unmodish, unstylish

stylishness noun
the quality or state of being fashionable <the stylishness of the new coat was questionable> — see COOL 2

stylist noun
a person who cuts and arranges hair <although she usually dresses her own hair, the bride-to-be decided to go to a professional stylist before the big day> — see HAIRDRESSER

stymie verb
to create difficulty for the work or activity of <the raging blizzard stymied the rescuers' attempts to find the stranded mountain climbers> — see HAMPER

suasion noun
the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action <a defense lawyer uses not only legal arguments but also moral suasion to appeal to a jury's sense of right and wrong> — see PERSUASION 1

suasiveness noun
the capacity to persuade <there's a certain suasiveness in her imposing looks and demeanor that gives her an advantage as a trial lawyer> — see COGENCY 1

suave adjective
having or showing very polished and worldly manners <the suave gentleman was a great favorite of the elegant ladies who attended parties at the embassy>

Synonyms
debonair, smooth, sophisticated, svelte, urbane

Related Words
cavalier, glib, slick, unctuous; civilized, couth, cultivated, cultured, genteel, graceful, gracious, poised, polished, refined, well-bred; cosmopolitan, metro, metropolitan, smart, worldly-wise; experienced, knowing, practiced (also practised), schooled, seasoned; amiable, appealing, attractive; assured, calm, collected, composed, confident, cool, placid, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed

Near Antonyms
awkward, clumsy, gauche, graceless, stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungraceful, wooden; callow, green, inexperienced, puerile, raw; hick, parochial, provincial, rough-hewn, rustic (also rustical); inelegant, philistine, uncivilized, uncultured, unrefined; unsophisticated, unworldly; gawky, lubberly, stodgy, ungainly; diffident, insecure

Antonyms
boorish, churlish, classless, clownish, loutish, uncouth

1sub noun
a large sandwich on a long split roll <we shared a tuna sub at lunch> — see SUBMARINE

2sub noun
a person or thing that takes the place of another <we had a sub in English today, so we didn't get our test results back> — see SUBSTITUTE

sub verb
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only <the weekend anchor is subbing for the TV station's main anchor all this week> — see COVER 1

subdue verb
1 to achieve a victory over <subdued her fear of the dark by joining a club for spelunkers> — see BEAT 2
2 to bring under one's control by force of arms <subdued the rebels and sent their leaders to the gallows> — see CONQUER 1
3 to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <labored through the night to subdue the river's rising waters by building a wall of sandbags around their property> — see QUELL 1

subdued adjective
not excessively showy <the wedding was a subdued affair, with only close family and friends attending> — see QUIET 2

subduer noun
one that defeats an enemy or opponent <time and again Native Americans made treaties with the whites, only to see their subduers break those treaties> — see VICTOR 1

subduing noun
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control <the subduing of the nomadic tribes was accomplished, not by force of arms, but by a drought that eventually destroyed their grazing lands> — see CONQUEST

subhuman adjective
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal <years of grinding poverty that had reduced them to a subhuman existence> — see BESTIAL

subject noun
1 a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) <the subject of our discussion switched from who would be the next president to who was the greatest president in the nation's history> — see MATTER 1
2 a person who owes allegiance to a government and is protected by it <because of the tense situation in that country, British subjects were advised to return home as soon as possible> — see CITIZEN 1
3 something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing <he has no subject to protest this time, but that's never stopped him before> — see REASON 2

subject verb
to bring under one's control by force of arms <Attila the Hun subjected most of Europe to his barbaric pillage> — see CONQUER 1

subject (to) adjective
1 determined by something else <your extra piano lesson on Tuesdays is subject to the availability of the music room> — see DEPENDENT 2
2 being in a situation where one is likely to meet with harm <this type of wound is highly subject to infection> — see LIABLE 1

subjecting noun
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control <a time when the subjecting of Asian and African peoples to European rule was regarded as acceptable> — see CONQUEST

subjection noun
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control <a holy man for whom the subjection of earthly desires is the path to spiritual perfection> — see CONQUEST

subjective adjective
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person <even seemingly unbiased judges are influenced by their own subjective assumptions and interpretations of the law> — see INDIVIDUAL 1

subjoin verb
to join (something) to a mass, quantity, or number so as to bring about an overall increase <subjoined an epilogue that informs the reader of the current doings and whereabouts of the participants in this real-life mystery> — see ADD 1

subjugate verb
to bring under one's control by force of arms <explorers who subjugated the natives in the name of religion> — see CONQUER 1

subjugating noun
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control <a military occupation that was seen by the people of that country as just another subjugating by an outside power> — see CONQUEST

subjugation noun
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control <the subjugation of much of Europe by Napoléon> — see CONQUEST

sublime adjective
1 causing wonder or astonishment <the sublime beauty of the firmament> — see MARVELOUS 1
2 having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature <the sublime virtue of having given all one's worldly goods to the poor> — see NOBLE 2

sublimeness noun
impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <the awe-inspiring sublimeness of Yosemite Valley> — see MAGNIFICENCE

sublunary adjective
having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven <like all sublunary things, this misery will one day end> — see EARTHLY

submarine adjective
living, lying, or occurring below the surface of the water <the submarine fossils that are to be found in coral reefs> — see UNDERWATER

submarine noun
a large sandwich on a long split roll <always orders a roast beef submarine with the works>

Synonyms
Cuban sandwich, grinder, hero, hoagie (also hoagy), Italian sandwich, po'boy (also poor boy), sub, torpedo

submerge verb
1 to cover with a flood <submerged by requests to babysit after she received a favorable write-up in the local newspaper> — see FLOOD
2 to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid <submerge the tomatoes in boiling hot water for a few seconds and they will be easier to peel> — see DIP 1
3 to refrain from openly showing or uttering <learned to submerge her ego and became a better teammate for doing so> — see SUPPRESS 2

submerged adjective
living, lying, or occurring below the surface of the water <submerged local roadways made for hazardous driving> — see UNDERWATER

submerse verb
1 to cover with a flood <a week of nonstop rain that submersed the cornfields and delayed planting for days> — see FLOOD
2 to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid <those hardy souls who daily submerse themselves in icy cold water for its invigorating effect> — see DIP 1

submission noun
1 a bending to the authority or control of another <not given to unquestioning submission, he often came in conflict with his superiors> — see OBEDIENCE 1
2 the usually forced yielding of one's person or possessions to the control of another <the judge ordered the submission of all of the company's records to the prosecutors> — see SURRENDER

submissive adjective
readily giving in to the command or authority of another <it's not in her nature to be submissive> — see OBEDIENT

submissively adverb
in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion <all of the extended family was expected to be submissively amenable to the matriarch's wishes> — see LOWLY

submissiveness noun
a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others <his uncharacteristic submissiveness to the doctor's advice must mean he's really sick> — see COMPLIANCE 1

submit verb
1 to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) <in the end he submitted and agreed to take that awful-tasting medicine> — see YIELD 3
2 to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit) <refusing to submit to sleep, she stayed by her son's hospital bed the whole night> — see YIELD 1
3 to yield to the control or power of enemy forces <the fort's commander received orders not to submit under any circumstances, as reinforcements were on the way> — see FALL 2

submitting noun
the usually forced yielding of one's person or possessions to the control of another <his submitting of his own desires to the will of God> — see SURRENDER

subnormal adjective
of a size that is less than average <because of the summer drought, harvests have definitely been subnormal this year> — see SMALL 1

suboptimal adjective
falling short of a standard <yes, living on junk food generally means that you have a suboptimal diet> — see BAD 1

subordinate adjective
having not so great importance or rank as another <his contention is that environment plays a subordinate role to heredity in determining what we become> — see LESSER

subordinate noun
one who is of lower rank and typically under the authority of another <subordinates do most of the actual creation of the famous designer's clothing designs> — see UNDERLING

subordinate verb
to bring under one's control by force of arms <it is one of the lessons of history that more powerful civilizations often subordinate weaker ones> — see CONQUER 1

subordination noun
a bending to the authority or control of another <an oligarchy requires subordination by the masses to the will of a tiny elite> — see OBEDIENCE 1

subpar adjective
falling short of a standard <the service at the restaurant was subpar, to say the least> — see BAD 1

subpoena noun
a written notice ordering a person to appear in court <received a subpoena to appear as a witness for the prosecution> — see SUMMONS

subscribe verb
1 to give or express one's approval (as to a proposal) <promised that as president he would never subscribe to the use of torture as an interrogation method, regardless of the circumstances> — see ACCEDE
2 to write one's name on (as a document) <they dutifully subscribed several dozen forms at the mortgage closing> — see SIGN

subscribe (to) verb
to have a favorable opinion of <I don't subscribe to the belief that some people are predestined to eternal happiness and others to eternal punishment> — see APPROVE OF

subsequent adjective
being, occurring, or carried out at a time after something else <I'll do the first problem as an example, but all subsequent efforts must be done on your own>

Synonyms
after, ensuing, later, posterior

Related Words
behind, belated, delayed, late, slow; closing, concluding, eventual, final, last, latest, latter, terminal, ultimate; following

Near Antonyms
advance, advanced, early, premature

Antonyms
antecedent, anterior, fore, foregoing, former, precedent, preceding, previous, prior

subsequently adverb
following in time or place <subsequently found the missing glove> — see AFTER

subside verb
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <as the noise of the siren subsided, I was able to fall back to sleep> — see DECREASE 2

subsidize verb
1 to furnish (as an institution) with a regular source of income <the museum is annually subsidized by funds from several major corporations> — see ENDOW 2
2 to provide money for <housing for the elderly that was subsidized by the federal government> — see FINANCE 1

subsidy noun
a sum of money allotted for a specific use by official or formal action <government subsidies for farmers in case of crop failure> — see APPROPRIATION 1

subsist verb
to have life <a love that was as great as any that ever did subsist> — see BE 1

subsistence noun
1 the fact of being or of being real <believes in the subsistence of a soul as a separate entity from the body> — see EXISTENCE
2 uninterrupted or lasting existence <the subsistence of the patient's infection, even after the use of antibiotics, had the doctors puzzled> — see CONTINUATION

substance noun
1 the basic elements from which something can be developed <many thought that the mayor's speech lacked substance because specific proposals for solving the city's problems were few> — see MAKING
2 the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is <tireless caring and nurturing that was the very substance of maternal love> — see ESSENCE 1
3 the total of one's money and property <measure the worth of a person not by his earthly substance but by his good deeds> — see WEALTH 1
4 one that has a real and independent existence <the question of whether the soul is a substance entirely independent of the body> — see ENTITY

substance abuser noun
a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally <arranges for former substance abusers to give talks to school groups> — see DOPER

substandard adjective
falling short of a standard <a teacher who rejects substandard work without hesitation> — see BAD 1

substantial adjective
1 having great meaning or lasting effect <substantial changes to the school dress code that made a lot of people unhappy> — see IMPORTANT 1
2 of a size greater than average of its kind <the amount he inherited was quite substantial, so he quit his job and set out to see the world> — see LARGE 1
3 relating to or composed of matter <the Land of Oz turned out to be a world of dreams, even less substantial than a rainbow> — see MATERIAL 1
4 sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention <there's been a substantial increase in attendance at girls' volleyball games ever since the start of their winning streak> — see CONSIDERABLE 1

substantiality noun
the quality or state of being large in size <their donation may not be impressive in its substantiality, but it did come from the heart, and that is what is really important> — see LARGENESS

substantially adverb
for the most part <the Little House books are substantially based on the memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder> — see CHIEFLY

substantiate verb
1 to gain full recognition or acceptance of <substantiated his claim to local mountaineering fame with a photo of himself on the summit of Mount McKinley> — see ESTABLISH 1
2 to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of <Mr. MacGregor couldn't substantiate that it was Peter, and not some other rabbit, in the cabbage patch> — see CONFIRM 1
3 to represent in visible form <the artist's intense feelings are substantiated by his paintings' bold colors and broad brush strokes> — see EMBODY 2
4 to show the existence or truth of by evidence <substantiate the need for a tuition increase with some concrete figures> — see PROVE 1
5 to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) <Darwin spent the rest of his life gathering evidence to substantiate his theory of the origin of species> — see SUPPORT 4

substantiating adjective
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something <without some substantiating evidence, such as a stub from a bus ticket, who's going to believe your alibi?> — see CORROBORATIVE

substantiation noun
something presented in support of the truth or accuracy of a claim <the signature of a witness provides substantiation that a person's will is genuine> — see PROOF

substantive adjective
sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention <they've made substantive changes in the nightly newscast> — see CONSIDERABLE 1

substitutable adjective
capable of being substituted in place of one another <for our purposes, the quart and the liter are close enough to be substitutable for one another> — see INTERCHANGEABLE

substitute adjective
1 being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <substitute wools that supposedly have the look and feel of cashmere> — see IMITATION
2 taking the place of one that came before <had to find substitute transportation during the bus strike> — see NEW 1

substitute verb
1 to give up (something) and take something else in return <can I substitute coleslaw for potato salad if I order the chicken plate?> — see CHANGE 3
2 to serve as a replacement usually for a time only <substituting for the talk show host while she is on vacation> — see COVER 1
3 to take the place of <“John Doe,” “Jane Doe,” and “Baby Doe” substituted the real names of the parties involved to preserve their privacy> — see REPLACE 1

substitute noun
a person or thing that takes the place of another <you'll be getting a substitute until your regular teacher is feeling better> <if you like, you can use nuts as a substitute for coconut in that recipe>

Synonyms
backup, cover, designated hitter, fill-in, locum tenens, pinch hitter, relief, replacement, reserve, stand-in, sub

Related Words
alternate, understudy; apology, makeshift, stopgap; agent, assignee, attorney, commissary, delegate, deputy, envoy, factor, procurator, proxy, rep, representative, surrogate; assistant, reliever, second; successor, superseder

substitutive adjective
taking the place of one that came before <his recent religious fanaticism is only the latest substitutive addiction of a person with an addictive personality> — see NEW 1

subsume verb
to have as part of a whole <games and team sports are subsumed under the classification of “recreation”> — see INCLUDE 1

subsurface adjective
being, situated, or operating beneath the surface of the earth <a sandy wasteland that gave little hint of its subsurface wealth> — see BELOWGROUND

subterfuge noun
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end <propagandists who use a kind of photographic subterfuge, superimposing one image on another to create a false “reality”> — see TRICKERY

subterranean adjective
being, situated, or operating beneath the surface of the earth <a subterranean bunker that supposedly could withstand even an atomic blast> — see BELOWGROUND

subtle adjective
1 clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <used subtle methods of persuasion> — see ARTFUL 1
2 made or done with extreme care and accuracy <the subtle strokes of the painter's brush> — see FINE 2
3 satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness <a subtle suggestion of the Near East in the soup's flavoring> — see DELICATE 1

subtleness noun
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <the subtleness with which the boutique owner convinces you that you have to have that outrageously priced article of clothing> — see CUNNING 1

subtlety noun
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <we appreciated the subtlety with which our host indicated that it was time to leave: he volunteered to pack us a little lunch for the road> — see CUNNING 1

subtract verb
to take away (an amount or number) from a total <if you subtract 10 from 23, you get 13> <you can subtract the time you spent daydreaming from your total homework time>

Synonyms
abate, deduct, knock off, take off

Related Words
decrease, diminish, discount, downsize, dwindle, knock down, lessen, lower, reduce; abbreviate, abridge, clip, crop, curtail, cut, cut back, cut down, dock, pare, prune, retrench, shorten, slash, trim, truncate, whittle

Near Antonyms
adjoin, annex, append; complement, supplement; enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify; aggrandize, amplify, augment, beef (up), boost, compound, enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, multiply, raise

Antonyms
add, tack (on)

subtraction noun
the act or an instance of taking away from a total <the restaurant may not have raised the price, but there's definitely been a subtraction in the number of fries in a side order>

Synonyms
deduction

Related Words
discount, giveback, kickback, rebate; abatement, decline, decrement, detraction, diminishment, diminution, drop, fall, loss, reduction, shrinkage; curtailment, cut, cutback

Near Antonyms
boost, enlargement, gain, increase, increment, raise, rise; accretion, accrual, accumulation, addendum, appendix, augmentation, supplement, supplementation

Antonyms
accession, addition

suburbia noun
the districts adjacent to a city <the migration of families to suburbia and the resulting disintegration of inner-city neighborhoods> — see ENVIRONS 1

subvention noun
a sum of money allotted for a specific use by official or formal action <the committee receives an annual subvention from the foundation to run the museum> — see APPROPRIATION 1

subvert verb
to lower in character, dignity, or quality <by insisting that she pay me for helping her, she subverted my noble desire to do a good deed without reward> — see DEBASE 1

succeed verb
1 to turn out as planned or desired <the advertising campaign that finally succeeded used humor to sell the product>

Synonyms
click, come off, deliver, go, go over, pan out, work out

Related Words
catch on; flourish, prosper, thrive; cook, percolate

Phrases
bear fruit, catch fire, deliver the goods, do the trick, go like clockwork

Near Antonyms
languish; flounder, struggle; decline, sink, skid, slip, slump, wane; crash, crater, crumble, flame out; choke, crack up, miscarry, misfire; fall down, go under; implode, self-destruct

Antonyms
bomb, collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, founder, miss, strike out, wash out

2 to reach a desired level of accomplishment <if you want to succeed in show business, you have to feel comfortable in front of an audience>

Synonyms
arrive, flourish, prosper, thrive

Related Words
prevail, triumph, win; excel

Phrases
come into one's own, cut it, cut the mustard, get ahead, get somewhere, get there, hack it, hit it big, make good, make it, make one's mark, make the grade

Near Antonyms
flounder, struggle

Antonyms
fail

3 to come after in time <only the results on election day will tell who will succeed the current president> — see FOLLOW 1

succeeding adjective
1 being the one that comes immediately after another <the couple purchased some land, and in the course of the succeeding year built a house on it> — see NEXT
2 following one after another without others coming in between <that land remained in the family for five succeeding generations> — see CONSECUTIVE

success noun
1 a person or thing that is successful <their homemade jellies have been such a success that they are now distributed nationwide> — see HIT 1
2 a successful result brought about by hard work <a long list of successes that the retiring president of the college can point to with pride> — see ACCOMPLISHMENT 1

successful adjective
1 having attained a desired end or state of good fortune <the play had a successful run on Broadway>

Synonyms
flourishing, going, palmy, prosperous, thriving, triumphant

Related Words
coming, promising; booming, growing, roaring, robust; boffo, gangbusters (also gangbuster), runaway, socko

Phrases
in clover (also in the clover)

Near Antonyms
futureless, hopeless, inauspicious, no-good, unpromising; collapsing, failing, flopping, flunking, folding, washing-out; declining, slipping, slumping, waning; bankrupt, kaput (also kaputt), kerflooey; destroyed, ruined, wrecked

Antonyms
failed, unsuccessful

2 marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically <sold their successful dry-cleaning business and retired to Hawaii> — see PROSPEROUS 1

successional adjective
following one after another without others coming in between <the successional stages that an area goes through following a devastating forest fire> — see CONSECUTIVE

successionally adverb
in succession without others coming in between <the bumptious reporter asked three questions successionally before anyone else could get a word in> — see CONSECUTIVELY

successive adjective
following one after another without others coming in between <made the honor roll for three successive school terms> — see CONSECUTIVE

successively adverb
in succession without others coming in between <as he moved up the corporate ladder, he ensconced his family in successively larger homes> — see CONSECUTIVELY

succinct adjective
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <a pocket guide that provides succinct explanations for rules of grammar and punctuation> — see CONCISE

succinctly adverb
in a few words <found it difficult to explain succinctly to the technician the nature of the problems she was having with her computer> — see SHORTLY 1

succinctness noun
the quality or state of being marked by or using only few words to convey much meaning <Caesar's observation, “I came, I saw, I conquered,” is famous for its succinctness>

Synonyms
brevity, briefness, compactness, conciseness, concision, crispness, pithiness, sententiousness, terseness

Related Words
abruptness, bluntness, brusqueness, curtness, shortness

Near Antonyms
periphrasis, pleonasm, redundancy, repetitiousness, repetitiveness, tautology

Antonyms
diffuseness, long-windedness, prolixity, verbosity, wordiness

succulence noun
the quality or state of being full of juice <the succulence of the apple was such that the first bite sent juice running down my chin>

Synonyms
fleshiness, juiciness, pulpiness

Related Words
sap, sappiness

Near Antonyms
dryness, waterlessness

succulent adjective
1 full of juice <vines weighted down with plump, succulent grapes> — see JUICY 1
2 very pleasing to the sense of taste <a buffet table set with an array of succulent roasts> — see DELICIOUS 1

succumb verb
1 to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) <he finally succumbed and let his wife get rid of his dilapidated easy chair> — see YIELD 3
2 to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit) <refused to succumb to her fears and defiantly walked through the dark cemetery> — see YIELD 1
3 to stop living <the patient lay so still and pale that everyone thought he had succumbed, and then he opened his eyes> — see DIE 1
4 to yield to the control or power of enemy forces <the doctor worked tirelessly until finally he, too, succumbed to the fever> — see FALL 2

such adjective
having qualities in common <all such questions should be saved until the end of the class> — see ALIKE

such adverb
to a great degree <she wears such stylish clothes> — see VERY 1

suchlike adjective
having qualities in common <kept asking me how long I'd lived here, and how I liked it, and suchlike questions> — see ALIKE

suck verb, slang
to be objectionable or unsatisfactory <it's amazing that a song that sucks so bad can be so popular> — see STINK 2

suck (up) verb
1 to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior <a young lieutenant constantly sucking up to the commanding officer> — see FAWN
2 to take in (something liquid) through small openings <these lilacs sucked up all the water I added to the vase yesterday> — see ABSORB 1

sucker noun
1 one who is easily deceived or cheated <I was a sucker and believed them when they said the only tickets they could get were double the price> — see 1DUPE
2 a person with a strong and habitual liking for something <I'm a sucker for cheesy horror movies> — see FAN

sucker verb
1 to cause to believe what is untrue <a notorious imposter who at one time suckered a lot of people into believing that she was the Grand Duchess Anastasia> — see DECEIVE
2 to rob by the use of trickery or threats <suckered millions of desperate dieters with their grossly inflated claims of successful weight loss> — see FLEECE

suck in verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <she was sucked in by a scam that was run by a shady outfit selling time-shares> — see DECEIVE

suckle verb
to give milk to from the breast <the image of a mother suckling her babe is a standard artistic symbol of maternal love and nurturing> — see NURSE 2

suck–up noun
a person who flatters another in order to get ahead <I'd like to give my boss a birthday present, but I don't want to look like a shameless suck-up> — see SYCOPHANT

sucky adjective, slang
extremely unsatisfactory <I'm tired of driving around in a sucky car that is always breaking down> — see WRETCHED 1

sudden adjective
not expected <the sudden snowstorm resulted in thousands of evening commuters abandoning their cars on impassable highways> — see UNEXPECTED

suddenly adverb
1 with great suddenness <the bus stopped suddenly, and somebody's lunch landed in the aisle> — see SHORT
2 without warning <suddenly, something fell out of the sky and landed in the field a few feet away> — see UNAWARES

suds plural noun
a light mass of fine bubbles formed in or on a liquid <I can't seem to get any suds to form with this cheap dish detergent> — see FOAM

sudsy adjective
covered with, consisting of, or resembling foam <came out of the bathroom with her hair all sudsy because someone had turned off the water> — see FOAMY

sue (for) verb
to make a request for <after another devastating attack, the nation sued for peace> — see ASK FOR 1

suer noun
the person in a legal proceeding who makes a charge of wrongdoing against another <the landlord was suing his suers in return, with each side alleging wrongdoing on the other's part> — see COMPLAINANT

suffer verb
1 to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it <willingly suffered hardships so that their children would have a better life> — see EXPERIENCE
2 to feel deep sadness or mental pain <the husband suffered deeply at the mere suggestion that he had been unfaithful> — see GRIEVE
3 to give permission for or to approve of <contends that the death penalty is something that no civilized society should suffer> — see ALLOW 1
4 to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference <I will not suffer you to insult me so!> — see ALLOW 3

sufferable adjective
capable of being endured <the only thing that makes visiting my in-laws sufferable is their gigantic TV> — see BEARABLE

sufferance noun
1 the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something <was pointedly reminded that he was at the private beach on sufferance and could be kicked out at any time> — see PERMISSION
2 the capacity to endure what is difficult or disagreeable without complaining <spending a whole day with my airheaded sister-in-law is beyond sufferance> — see PATIENCE

suffice verb
to be enough <I was told I have to wear shoes—will thong sandals suffice?> — see SERVE 2

sufficiency noun
the quality or state of meeting one's needs adequately <the sufficiency of the portions is such that you will leave the restaurant with a full stomach but without doggie bags>

Synonyms
acceptability, adequacy, satisfactoriness

Related Words
appropriateness, correctness, fitness, goodness, properness, rightness, seemliness, suitability, suitableness, tolerability; bountifulness, copiousness; excess, overabundance, oversupply, surfeit, surplus; abundance, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenteousness, plentifulness, plentitude, plenty

Near Antonyms
lack, want; crunch, dearth, deficit, famine, lack, shortage; meagerness, paucity, poorness, poverty, rareness, rarity, scantiness, scantness, scarceness, scarcity, skimpiness; necessity, need, privation

Antonyms
inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, unsatisfactoriness

sufficiently adverb
1 in or to a degree or quantity that meets one's requirements or satisfaction <after eight tutoring sessions, I felt sufficiently prepared for the entrance exam> — see ENOUGH 1
2 in a satisfactory way <it's not great literature, but this whodunit is sufficiently suspenseful> — see WELL 1

suffocate verb
1 to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air <the law requires the owner of a discarded refrigerator to remove its door so that a child won't get trapped inside and suffocate> — see SMOTHER 1
2 to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe <temporarily suffocated by the seat belt> — see CHOKE 1
3 to experience complete or partial blockage of the windpipe <suffocating in the thick, black smoke of the burning building> — see CHOKE 2

suffocating adjective
lacking fresh air <inside the bunker it was suffocating, and some of the men had already passed out> — see STUFFY 1

suffrage noun
the right to formally express one's position or will in an election <even as the world entered the 21st century, some nations still did not permit women's suffrage> — see VOTE 1

suffuse verb
1 to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle <she was suffused with an overwhelming feeling of liberation as her horse broke into a gallop> — see INFUSE
2 to spread throughout <a living room suffused with warm sunlight> — see PERMEATE

sugarcoated adjective
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <those sugarcoated versions of family life that old TV sitcoms portrayed> — see CORNY 1

sugar daddy noun
one that helps another with gifts or money <the only reason the town has any Independence Day fireworks in the first place is because the Internet tycoon has willingly become the event's de facto sugar daddy> — see BENEFACTOR

sugary adjective
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <writes sugary lyrics for singers of country music> — see CORNY 1

suggest verb
1 to convey an idea indirectly <this letter suggests that there's more going on than she's telling us> — see HINT
2 to put (something) forward as one's choice for a wise or proper course of action <I suggested that they talk to a therapist about their marital problems> — see ADVISE 2
3 to set before the mind for consideration <might I suggest, for an appetizer, our jumbo shrimp cocktail?> — see PROPOSE 1

suggestion noun
1 a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation) <if you don't want to give the suggestion that you're evading the truth, you must look your questioner in the eye> — see HINT 1
2 something which is presented for consideration <no one had any better suggestions, so as usual we spent the afternoon at the basketball court> — see PROPOSAL
3 an almost imperceptible sign of something <we took care to avoid so much as even a suggestion of impropriety> — see HINT 2

suggestive adjective
1 hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent <making unwelcome suggestive remarks to a subordinate will be regarded as sexual harassment>

Synonyms
bawdy, blue, gamy (or gamey), lewd, off, off-color (or off-colored), racy, ribald, risqué, salty, spicy

Related Words
leering; barnyard, coarse, coarse-grained, crude, earthy, foul, gross, vulgar; dirty, filthy, gutter, indecent, lascivious, locker-room, nasty, obscene, pornographic, porny, prurient, raunchy, smutty, stag, unprintable, unpublishable, warm, X-rated; immodest, indecorous, indelicate, naughty

Near Antonyms
clean, decent, G-rated, nonobscene; innocuous, inoffensive; priggish, prim, prudish, puritanical, staid, straitlaced (or straightlaced), Victorian; correct, decorous, genteel, nice, polite, proper, respectable, seemly

2 provoking a memory or mental association <a haunting and suggestive song about a long-lost love>

Synonyms
evocative, reminiscent

Related Words
eloquent, expressive, meaningful, pregnant, revealing, significant; affecting, emotional, impressive, moving, poignant, stirring, touching; exciting, provocative, provoking, rousing, stimulating

Antonyms
unreminiscent

3 clearly conveying a special meaning (as one's mood) <the dog's aggressive behavior is suggestive of some past mistreatment> — see EXPRESSIVE

suicide noun
the act of deliberately killing oneself <teenagers are more prone to suicide because they mistakenly believe their troubles are insurmountable>

Synonyms
self-destruction, self-murder, self-slaughter

Related Words
hara-kiri (also hari-kiri); martyrdom; blood, foul play, homicide, murder, rubout, slaying; chance-medley, dispatch, killing, manslaughter; assassination, execution; euthanasia, mercy killing

sui generis adjective
being the one or ones of a class with no other members <among history's greats Leonardo da Vinci is often considered sui generis—a man of such stupendous genius that the world may never see his like again> — see ONLY 2

suit noun
1 a court case for enforcing a right or claim <filed a suit against the company that had manufactured the faulty heater, claiming they were responsible for the fire> — see LAWSUIT
2 an earnest request <O Lord of Heaven, hear our humble suit> — see PLEA 1
3 the series of social engagements shared by a couple looking to get married <a rather old-fashioned fellow, he first sought the consent of the girl's father for the suit> — see COURTSHIP

suit verb
1 to be fitting or proper <no, a second-floor room won't suit if there's no elevator, since one of us has a disability> — see DO 1
2 to give satisfaction to <the location of our hotel suited us just fine> — see PLEASE 1
3 to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <went to the party suited in a strange getup that he'd picked out himself> — see CLOTHE 1
4 to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation <a bohemian by nature, she would have to suit her behavior to the corporate culture> — see ADAPT

suitability noun
the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting <the suitability of the accommodations will ultimately depend on whether they're accessible for someone in a wheelchair> — see APPROPRIATENESS

suitable adjective
1 having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance <with only one suitable candidate it's not difficult to decide for whom to vote> — see COMPETENT 1
2 meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation <I don't have anything suitable to wear to a bar mitzvah> — see FIT 1

suitableness noun
the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting <questioned the suitableness of bringing a dog to a wedding> — see APPROPRIATENESS

suitably adverb
1 in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose <tried to appear suitably amused by his well-intentioned anecdote> — see PROPERLY
2 in or to a degree or quantity that meets one's requirements or satisfaction <I need someone who's suitably versed in computers to help me decide what to buy> — see ENOUGH 1

suitcase noun
a bag carried by hand and designed to hold a traveler's clothing and personal articles <it'll be much easier to carry a backpack than to lug that suitcase all over the place> — see TRAVELING BAG

suite noun
1 a body of employees or servants who accompany and wait on a person <an athlete accompanied everywhere by a suite of attendants, including his personal trainer, a dietician, and a massage therapist> — see CORTEGE 1
2 a number of things considered as a unit <replaced the mismatched bed and chests of drawers with a handsome new bedroom suite> — see GROUP 1
3 a room or set of rooms in a private house or a block used as a separate dwelling place <whenever he visits the city, he stays in his uncle's 10th-floor suite> — see APARTMENT 1

suitor noun
1 a man who courts a woman usually with the goal of marrying her <my sister finally married her suitor of six years on Sunday>

Synonyms
gallant, swain, wooer

Related Words
beau, boyfriend, fellow, man, old man, significant other, squeeze [slang]; admirer, crush, steady; beloved, darling, dear, favorite, flame, honey, love, lover, spark, sweet, sweetheart, sweetie, sweetie pie, valentine; date, escort; fiancé, intended

2 one who asks earnestly for a favor or gift <the inventor had several suitors for his patent, but he wasn't interested in dealing with a big company> — see SUPPLICANT

sulk noun
a state of resentful silence or irritability <a child sitting in a sulk over a minor disagreement>

Synonyms
grouch, hump [British], pet, pouts, snit, sulkiness, sullenness

Related Words
blues, dumps, mopes; surliness; biliousness, choler, crankiness, crossness, crotchetiness, fantods, grouchiness, grumpiness, huffiness, irascibility, irascibleness, irritability, irritableness, peevishness, perverseness, perversity, pettishness, petulance, surliness, testiness, waspishness; cantankerousness, disagreeableness, dyspepsia, fretfulness, orneriness; fussiness, querulousness; oversensitiveness, sensitivity

Near Antonyms
cheerfulness, gaiety (also gayety), gladsomeness, high-spiritedness, lightheartedness, perkiness; affability, agreeableness, amenity, amicability, cordiality, friendliness, geniality, graciousness, pleasantness, sociability, sociality; amiability, amiableness, good-humoredness, good-naturedness, good-temperedness

sulk verb
to silently go about in a bad mood <the toddler would sulk for hours whenever he didn't get his way>

Synonyms
grump, mope, pout

Related Words
brood, dwell (on), mull (over), muse (over), ponder; frown, glower, lower (also lour), scowl; carry on, take on; pet

sulkiness noun
a state of resentful silence or irritability <turned into a very pleasant adult when she finally outgrew her adolescent sulkiness> — see SULK

sulky adjective
given to or displaying a resentful silence and often irritability <our teenage daughter turns sulky if we refuse to let her borrow the car>

Synonyms
glum, mopey, pouting, pouty, sullen, surly

Related Words
dour, gloomy, morose; choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, crotchety, grouchy, grumpy, irascible, irritable, peevish, perverse, pettish, petulant, prickly, quick-tempered, raspy, ratty, short-tempered, snappish, snappy, snarky, snippety, snippy, testy, waspish; brooding, moping; bearish, bilious, cantankerous, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, ornery; huffy, sensitive, temperamental, tetchy, thin-skinned, touchy

Phrases
down in the mouth

Near Antonyms
sociable; cheerful, cheery, gladsome, good-humored, good-natured, good-tempered, perky, sunny; carefree, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, relaxed

sullen adjective
1 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <sullen skies that matched our mood on the day of the funeral> — see GLOOMY 1
2 given to or displaying a resentful silence and often irritability <sullen and bored at his in-laws' house, he couldn't wait for the holidays to end> — see SULKY

sullenness noun
a state of resentful silence or irritability <her mother-in-law managed to dispel her sullenness with a gals-only shopping spree> — see SULK

sullied adjective
not clean <lying in sullied bed linens that had not seen the inside of a washing machine for some time> — see DIRTY 1

sully verb
to make dirty <people that sully our state parks with their trash> <a once-gleaming marble interior sullied by decades of exposure to cigarette smoke> — see DIRTY

sultry adjective
1 containing or characterized by an uncomfortable amount of moisture <on really sultry days we go to the mall to hang out and cool off> — see HUMID
2 having a notably high temperature <the incredibly dry, sultry desert air> — see HOT 1

sum noun
1 a complete amount of something <the sum of human knowledge on that subject> — see WHOLE
2 a short statement of the main points <the district attorney delivered a sum of the evidence against the accused that was simply staggering> — see SUMMARY
3 the highest part or point <he declared that he had reached the sum of joy when his newborn daughter was laid in his arms> — see HEIGHT 1
4 the central part or aspect of something under consideration <the sum of the issue is: who will pay for this?> — see CRUX

sum verb
to combine (numbers) into a single sum <can sum figures in his head faster than I can punch them into a calculator> — see ADD 2

sum (to or into) verb
to have a total of <a lifetime of charitable contributions that sum into the millions> — see AMOUNT TO 1

summa noun
a short statement of the main points <the director's book is basically a summa of his views on the nature of the theatrical experience> — see SUMMARY

summarily adverb
in a few words <summarily informed us that our help was not welcome> — see SHORTLY 1

summarization noun
a short statement of the main points <what you wrote goes way beyond a summarization of the speech> — see SUMMARY

summarize verb
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) <the closing minute of the newscast summarizes the main story of the day>

Synonyms
abstract, boil down, brief, digest, encapsulate, epitomize, outline, recap, recapitulate, reprise, sum up, synopsize, wrap up

Related Words
abridge, condense, curtail, cut back, shorten; downsize, shrink; concentrate, consolidate; decoct, essentialize; simplify, streamline

Near Antonyms
elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract; amplify, elaborate (on or upon), enlarge (on or upon), expand, supplement

summary adjective
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <obviously a one-volume encyclopedia can offer only a very summary account of the American Civil War> — see CONCISE

summary noun
a short statement of the main points <many book reports choose to begin with a summary of the book>

Synonyms
abstract, breviary, brief, capsule, conspectus, digest, encapsulation, epitome, inventory, outline, précis, recap, recapitulation, résumé (or resume also resumé), roundup, rundown, run-through, sum, summa, summarization, summing-up, sum-up, synopsis, wrap-up

Related Words
abbreviation, abridgment (or abridgement), compend, compendium, condensation, curtailment, shortening; simplification, streamlining; rehash, reprise; conclusion, epilogue (also epilog)

Near Antonyms
amplification, enlargement, expansion; addendum, supplement

summate verb
to combine (numbers) into a single sum <summate all of the expenses that you incurred on your last business trip> — see ADD 2

summation noun
a complete amount of something <the summation of climatic conditions that affect plant growth> — see WHOLE

summerhouse noun
a freestanding airy structure in a scenic setting (as a park) typically offering commanding views <the sudden shower had wedding guests scurrying to the safety of the garden's summerhouse> — see BELVEDERE

summing–up noun
a short statement of the main points <there's no time to get into all the details, so could you give me a quick summing-up?> — see SUMMARY

summit noun
the highest part or point <a new movie that some enthusiastic reviewers are already calling the summit of cinematic achievement> — see HEIGHT 1

summon verb
1 to demand or request the presence or service of <without explanation, the managing editor summoned me to his office>

Synonyms
call, hail

Related Words
cite, subpoena; assemble, call out, call up, convene, convoke, muster; ask, bid, invite; command, order, request, requisition; beckon, demand, invoke; buzz, knell, page, ring, whistle

Phrases
send for

Near Antonyms
dismiss, send (away), turn away; banish, boot (out), cast out, drum (out), eject, expel, kick out, oust, out, rout, run off, throw out, turf (out) [chiefly British]

2 to call into being through the use of one's inner resources or powers <managed to summon a bright smile despite the gloomy day>

Synonyms
conjure (up), gather, get up

Related Words
educe, elicit, evoke, raise

3 to bring together in assembly by or as if by command <summoned a special session of parliament> — see CONVOKE

summons noun
a written notice ordering a person to appear in court <if you ignore a court summons, you will be fined>

Synonyms
process, subpoena

Related Words
capias, warrant, writ; ticket

sumptuous adjective
showing obvious signs of wealth and comfort <the cruise ship claims to offer sumptuous furnishings, exquisitely prepared cuisine, and stellar entertainment> — see LUXURIOUS 1

sumptuously adverb
in a luxurious manner <a history book sumptuously illustrated with maps, drawings, and photographs> — see HIGH

sum total noun
a complete amount of something <in this case the sum total of physical evidence that a crime has been committed wouldn't fill a thimble> — see WHOLE

sum–up noun
a short statement of the main points <a sum-up of the main themes of the Romantic movement> — see SUMMARY

sum up verb
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) <in summing up the evidence against the defendant, the district attorney presented fact after damning fact> — see SUMMARIZE

sun noun
1 the light given off by the star around which the planet Earth revolves <be sure to wear sunscreen if you plan to spend more than a few minutes in the sun>

Synonyms
sunlight, sunshine

Related Words
sunburst; daylight; glare, shine

Near Antonyms
cloudiness; penumbra, shade, shadiness, shadow, umbra

2 a ball-shaped gaseous celestial body that shines by its own light <the incomprehensible vastness of a universe filled with billions of suns> — see STAR 1
3 the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance <I'm afraid that for this long trip we shall have to leave with the sun> — see DAWN 1
4 public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement <Olympians basking in the sun of athletic achievement while the public still remembers them> — see GLORY 1

Sunday adjective
being such only for recreation <a charity auction of works by some of the town's more socially prominent Sunday painters> — see AVOCATIONAL

sundeck noun
a flat roofless structure attached to a building <the girls spent the afternoon reading and tanning on the sundeck>

Synonyms
balcony, deck, terrace

Related Words
gallery; lanai, porch, stoop, veranda (or verandah)

sunder verb
to set or force apart <during the cold war East and West Berlin were sundered by an impenetrable wall> — see SEPARATE 1

sundering noun
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces <the sundering of the nation by bloody civil war> — see SEPARATION 1

sundown noun
the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness <we were told that the best time to see elk is at sundown> — see DUSK 1

sundowner noun, Australian
a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living <sundowners showing up at a sheep station looking for work> — see TRAMP 1

sundries plural noun
small useful items <the only things she needed for her overnight stay were her carryall and a small bag for sundries> — see NOTION 1

sunk adjective
facing certain defeat, disaster, or death <all our savings went for lottery tickets, and now we're sunk> — see DONE FOR

sunken adjective
1 curved inward <our convalescing guest's sunken cheeks soon filled out on a diet of my mother's cooking> — see HOLLOW
2 living, lying, or occurring below the surface of the water <diving for sunken treasure> — see UNDERWATER

sunless adjective
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <mental patients who were once condemned to spend their lives in the sunless confines of a state asylum> — see GLOOMY 1

sunlight noun
the light given off by the star around which the planet Earth revolves <let's raise the shades and let in some sunlight> — see SUN 1

sunny adjective
1 having or being an outward sign of good feelings (as of love, confidence, or happiness) <her sunny laughter filled the house with joy> — see RADIANT 1
2 having or showing a good mood or disposition <momentarily forgot their worries at the sight of the baby's sunny smile> — see CHEERFUL 1
3 indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor <the good-natured waitresses enhance the restaurant's sunny and cheery atmosphere> — see MERRY
4 not stormy or cloudy <we are hoping for a sunny weekend so we can spend time at the beach> — see FAIR 1

sunrise noun
the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance <a job that requires him to get up before sunrise> — see DAWN 1

sunset noun
the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness <the glow of the western sky at sunset> — see DUSK 1

sunshine noun
the light given off by the star around which the planet Earth revolves <spent a week at the shore soaking up the sunshine and salt air> — see SUN 1

sunshiny adjective
not stormy or cloudy <we're due for a sunshiny weekend after all the rain we've had> — see FAIR 1

sunup noun
the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance <have you ever actually heard a rooster crow at sunup?> — see DAWN 1

sup noun
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time <the old mariner took a sup of grog and began his tale> — see DRINK 2

sup verb
to swallow in liquid form <supped the broth slowly> — see DRINK 1

super adjective
unusually large <drinks come in three sizes: medium, large, or super> — see HUGE

super adverb
to a great degree <my computer is super slow this morning> — see VERY 1

superabundance noun
1 an amount or supply more than sufficient to meet one's needs <a superabundance of donations flowed in after the family's plight was seen on national TV> — see PLENTY 1
2 the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <a superabundance of applicants for a limited number of jobs> — see EXCESS 1

superannuated adjective
having passed its time of use or usefulness <a periodical that insists on using largely superannuated terms like “editress” and “aviatrix”> — see OBSOLETE

superb adjective
of the very best kind <the restaurant's baker makes a superb chocolate cake> — see EXCELLENT

superbness noun
1 exceptionally high quality <the superbness of the orchestra's performance was such that the music critics were straining for superlatives> — see EXCELLENCE 1
2 impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <climbers rave about the superbness of the view from the mountain's summit> — see MAGNIFICENCE

supercilious adjective
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <the supercilious art dealer rolled her eyes when we asked if she had anything for under $1,000> — see ARROGANT

superciliousness noun
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <can't bear the superciliousness of her cousin, who lives in New York City and thinks everybody in Tennessee is a hick> — see ARROGANCE

supercool adjective
being in the latest or current fashion <the teen picked out some supercool, superexpensive sneakers> — see STYLISH

super–duper adjective
unusually large <their super-duper ice cream sundaes are true diet busters> — see HUGE

supereminent adjective
highest in rank or authority <the supereminent authority in the field of Shakespearean scholarship> — see HEAD

supererogatory adjective
being over what is needed <now that the dress code has been e-mailed to everyone and posted on our intranet site, a paper memo about it seems supererogatory> — see SPARE 1

superficial adjective
1 lying on or affecting only the outer layer of something <a superficial scratch that barely even broke the skin>

Synonyms
skin-deep, surface

Related Words
depthless, shallow, shoal; two-dimensional; external

Near Antonyms
deep, deep-seated

2 having or showing a lack of depth of understanding or character <a superficial analysis of how the violence in video games affects young people>

Synonyms
facile, one-dimensional, shallow, skin-deep

Related Words
cursory, hasty, oversimple, passing, sketchy; aimless, desultory, haphazard, hit-or-miss, random; limited, narrow, restricted

Near Antonyms
discerning, penetrant, penetrating; definitive, hard; broad, complete, comprehensive, exhaustive, extensive, far-reaching, wide; general, global, inclusive; detailed, in-depth; critical

Antonyms
deep, profound

superfluity noun
1 something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary <spends most of her money on designer clothes and other superfluities> — see LUXURY 1
2 the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <a superfluity of wire coat hangers from all of those trips to the dry cleaner> — see EXCESS 1

superfluous adjective
being over what is needed <cleared off all the superfluous stuff on his desk to make room for the new computer> — see SPARE 1

superheated adjective
1 having a notably high temperature <certain superheated liquids change to gas with almost explosive violence> — see HOT 1
2 having or expressing great depth of feeling <a superheated, rancorous argument on how the child should be raised> — see FERVENT 1

superhuman adjective
being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature <in his dreams the boy can always perform superhuman feats> — see SUPERNATURAL 2

superintend verb
1 to be in charge of <superintends the construction of all scenery at the summer theater> — see BOSS 1
2 to look after and make decisions about <homeschooling parents who superintend their children's education> — see CONDUCT 1
3 to take charge of especially on behalf of another <whoever's superintending the warehouse will know what's been delivered today> — see 2TEND 1

superintendence noun
1 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <under her lax superintendence the company eventually went bankrupt> — see CONDUCT 1
2 the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control <the superintendence of the local music festival is handled jointly by the city and the county> — see SUPERVISION 1

superintendency noun
1 the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control <superintendency of the polling places is largely carried out by retired citizens> — see SUPERVISION 1
2 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <currently a faculty member is needed for superintendency of the program> — see CONDUCT 1

superintendent noun
a person who manages or directs something <the office of the superintendent of parks issues camping permits> — see EXECUTIVE

superior adjective
1 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <that superior sportscaster lets it be known that he thinks all foreign baseball teams are second-rate> — see ARROGANT
2 having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself <the superior attitude of the store owner's son drove the other employees crazy> — see PROUD 1
3 of the very best kind <a five-star restaurant known for its superior wine list> — see EXCELLENT
4 standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement <a university known for attracting superior scientists and mathematicians> — see EMINENT

superior noun
one who is above another in rank, station, or office <if a customer is rude to you, report it to your superior and she'll handle it>

Synonyms
better, elder, senior

Related Words
boss, chief, head, leader, master

Near Antonyms
assistant, deputy

Antonyms
inferior, subordinate, underling

superiority noun
1 an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <the superiority of some of the customers at the exclusive beauty salon is enough to curl your hair> — see ARROGANCE
2 exceptionally high quality <the superiority of tree-ripened mangoes might make you want to spend the rest of your life in a tropical climate> — see EXCELLENCE 1
3 the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance <the superiority of the nation in military might> — see EMINENCE 1

superlative adjective
of the very best kind <the New England town meeting is a superlative example of grassroots democracy> — see EXCELLENT

supernal adjective
1 of the very best kind <an absolutely supernal performance of the concerto by a 16-year old prodigy> — see EXCELLENT
2 of, relating to, or suggesting heaven <a couple enjoying the supernal joys of parenthood for the first time> — see CELESTIAL

supernatural adjective
1 of, relating to, or being part of a reality beyond the observable physical universe <believes in ghosts, guardian angels, and other supernatural beings>

Synonyms
metaphysical, otherworldly, paranormal, preternatural, transcendent, transcendental, unearthly

Related Words
mystic, mystical, occult, psychic (also psychical), spiritistic, spiritualistic; extrasensory, supersensible, supersensory; celestial, divine, ethereal, heavenly, numinous, spiritual, unworldly

Near Antonyms
earthly, mundane

Antonyms
natural

2 being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature <he seems to read books with supernatural speed>

Synonyms
magical, miraculous, phenomenal, preternatural, superhuman, supernormal, transcendent, transcendental, uncanny, unearthly

Related Words
bizarre, curious, eerie (also eery), far-out, funny, grotesque, kinky, outlandish, out-of-the-way, outrageous, outré, peculiar, quaint, queer, queerish, quirky, remarkable, screwy, strange, wacky (also whacky), way-out, weird, wild; baffling, bewildering, confounding, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling, shocking; aberrant, atypical, fantastic (also fantastical), flaky, freak, freakish, idiosyncratic, marvelous (or marvellous), prodigious, rare, singular, uncommon, unique, unnatural, unusual, unwonted; unconventional, uncustomary, unorthodox; conspicuous, notable, noticeable, outstanding, prominent, salient, striking

Near Antonyms
average, commonplace, everyday, garden, ordinary, prosaic, routine, run-of-the-mill, typical, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual, workaday; expected, familiar, predictable; common, customary, frequent, habitual, regular, wonted

3 of, relating to, or being God <believed he had a supernatural calling to join the ministry> — see HOLY 3

supernormal adjective
being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature <the little boy pretended to be a comic book hero with supernormal powers> — see SUPERNATURAL 2

supernova noun
a person or thing that is successful <tragically, a shoulder injury cut short the pitching career of one of baseball's brightest supernovas> — see HIT 1

supernumerary adjective
being over what is needed <a third, supernumerary witness to the signing of the will> — see SPARE 1

superpatriot noun
one who shows excessive favoritism towards his or her country <too much of a superpatriot to acknowledge the achievements of athletes from other nations> — see NATIONALIST

superpatriotic adjective
having or showing excessive favoritism towards one's own country <such superpatriotic displays of triumphalism should be discouraged at international sporting events> — see NATIONALIST 1

superpatriotism noun
excessive favoritism towards one's own country <her superpatriotism causes her to assume that countries desperately long to be just like her own> — see CHAUVINISM

supersede verb
to take the place of <that edition of the dictionary that you have has been superseded by a more recent one> — see REPLACE 1

supersize adjective
unusually large <a supersize truck with an impressive towing capacity> — see HUGE

supersize verb
to make greater in size, amount, or number <we'll have to supersize our contributions to our retirement fund> — see INCREASE 1

supersized adjective
unusually large <a ship too supersized to fit through the Panama Canal> — see HUGE

supersmart adjective
having or showing quickness of mind <a supersmart guy in college, he later founded a dot-com that's now worth gazillions> — see INTELLIGENT 1

superstar noun
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <a basketball superstar> — see CELEBRITY 1

superstud noun
a physically attractive man <wanting to be taken seriously as an actor, he's unhappy with his image as a superstud> — see HUNK 1

supervene verb
to come after in time <it was not the slow-spreading cancer that caused his death but a supervening heart attack> — see FOLLOW 1

supervenient adjective
not being a vital part of or belonging to something <he painted his landscapes for self-fulfillment, regarding financial rewards as supervenient to his reason for doing them> — see EXTRINSIC

supervise verb
1 to be in charge of <for each sailboat an experienced hand is assigned to supervise a novice seaman> — see BOSS 1
2 to look after and make decisions about <supervises all the affairs of the athletic club, including hiring someone to run the summer tennis camp> — see CONDUCT 1
3 to take charge of especially on behalf of another <we need someone to supervise the construction project while the foreman is in the hospital> — see 2TEND 1

supervision noun
1 the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control <one of your responsibilities will be the supervision of all fund-raising activities for the club>

Synonyms
care, charge, guidance, headship, oversight, regulation, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, surveillance

Related Words
monitoring, observance, observation, observing, policing; administration, control, direction, generalship, hand(s), management, running; leadership, piloting, shepherding, steering; government, reign, rule; aegis (also egis), auspices, guardianship, protection, trusteeship, tutelage

2 the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something <one of the senior editors took over supervision of the project while the editor-in-chief was on maternity leave> — see CONDUCT 1

supervisor noun
a person who manages or directs something <the salesclerk said she would have to ask her supervisor if I could return the defective CD without a receipt> — see EXECUTIVE

supervisory adjective
suited for or relating to the directing of things <was promoted to a supervisory position with several assistants working under him> — see EXECUTIVE

supper club noun
a bar or restaurant offering special nighttime entertainment (as music, dancing, or comedy acts) <a posh suburban supper club that caters to a generally well-heeled clientele> — see NIGHTCLUB

supplant verb
to take the place of <old traditions that were fading away and being supplanted by modern ways> — see REPLACE 1

supple adjective
1 able to bend easily without breaking <a dome tent outfitted with supple fiberglass tent poles> — see WILLOWY
2 able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted <shoes made from supple leather> — see ELASTIC 1

supplement noun
1 something added (as by growth) <this new rule restricting e-mail to job-related activity is only a supplement to the preexisting policy regarding personal use of company resources> — see INCREASE 1
2 something that serves to complete or make up for a deficiency in something else <recommends taking a vitamin C supplement to prevent colds> — see COMPLEMENT 1
3 a part added at the end of a book or periodical <a supplement containing biographical articles on women who had died since the publication of the original three-volume encyclopedia> — see ADDENDUM 1

supplemental adjective
1 available to supply something extra when needed <the new program will provide supplemental health insurance to thousands of workers> — see AUXILIARY
2 related to each other in such a way that one completes the other <an astronomer who regards science and religion not as antithetical but as supplemental belief systems> — see COMPLEMENTARY

supplementary adjective
1 available to supply something extra when needed <the teacher's edition of the textbook comes with a lot of supplementary material> — see AUXILIARY
2 related to each other in such a way that one completes the other <regards theology and philosophy as supplementary fields of study> — see COMPLEMENTARY

suppliance noun
an earnest request <with arms raised in humble suppliance, the priest asked for blessings from above> — see PLEA 1

suppliant noun
one who asks earnestly for a favor or gift <didn't like being in the position of a suppliant, having to ask her parents to help her pay the rent on her apartment> — see SUPPLICANT

suppliant adjective
asking humbly <the suppliant thief pleaded for a second chance>

Synonyms
beseeching, entreating, imploring, pleading, prayerful, soliciting, supplicant, supplicating, supplicatory

Related Words
begging, importunate, insistent, persistent

supplicant adjective
asking humbly <hated having to go before his boss like a supplicant beggar whenever he needed some time off to attend to personal matters> — see SUPPLIANT

supplicant noun
one who asks earnestly for a favor or gift <the new governor soon had to deal with a long line of supplicants asking for jobs and other political favors>

Synonyms
petitioner, pleader, solicitor, suitor, suppliant

Related Words
beggar, mendicant, panhandler; cadger, moocher, schnorrer; asker, requester, suer

supplicate verb
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner <the minister reminded his flock that God is a being to be obeyed and worshipped always and not just someone to be supplicated in times of trouble> — see BEG

supplicating adjective
asking humbly <in a supplicating gesture, he got down on his knees and asked, “Will you marry me?”> — see SUPPLIANT

supplication noun
an earnest request <the Red Cross made an urgent supplication for donations of food and blankets for the earthquake victims> — see PLEA 1

supplicatory adjective
asking humbly <knelt in supplicatory prayer> — see SUPPLIANT

supply verb
1 to provide (someone) with what is needed for a task or activity <be sure to pack your own towels in case the hostel doesn't supply them> — see FURNISH 1
2 to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption <the stable will supply safety helmets, but we need to bring our own riding boots> — see FURNISH 2

supply noun
the number of individuals or amount of something available at any given time <the supply of parents willing to coach youth soccer seems to be shrinking>

Synonyms
budget, force, fund, inventory, pool, repertoire, reservoir, stock

Related Words
reserve, resource; cache, hoard, stockpile; refill, renewal, replacement; kitty, nest egg, pot, purse; fountain, mine, source, spring, well, wellspring

support noun
1 a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else <if you don't add a couple more supports to that tower of blocks, it's going to fall down>

Synonyms
brace, buttress, mount, mounting, prop, reinforcement, shore, spur, stay, underpinning

Related Words
shoring; column, pedestal, pilaster, pillar; arch, bolster, bracket, cantilever, girder; bearing; crutch, peg, post, stake, stanchion, stand, stilt, strut, truss; base, foundation, frame

2 an act or instance of helping <the team's victory owes a lot to Joe's strong support in left field> — see HELP 1

support verb
1 to promote the interests or cause of <though childless themselves, they support the local schools both by volunteering and by fiercely opposing funding cuts>

Synonyms
advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize, plump (for), plunk (for) or plonk (for)

Related Words
adopt, embrace, espouse; abet, aid, assist, help, prop (up), second, side (with); backstop, bolster, boost, buttress, reinforce (also reenforce); advance, forward, further; plug, preach, talk up; bail out, deliver, rescue, save

Phrases
go in for, go to bat for, hold a brief for, stand up for, stick up for

Near Antonyms
baffle, foil, frustrate, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart; desert, disappoint, fail, let down

2 to pay the living expenses of <a young widow supporting a sick mother as well as two small children on a teacher's salary>

Synonyms
keep, maintain, provide (for)

Related Words
finance, fund, patronize, set up, sponsor, stake, underwrite

Phrases
foot the bill (for), take care of

3 to hold up or serve as a foundation for <pillars supporting the bridge>

Synonyms
bear, bolster, brace, buttress, carry, prop (up), shore (up), stay, sustain, undergird, underpin, uphold

Related Words
steady, truss, underlie

4 to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) <studies that support the claim that red wine drinkers have a reduced risk of coronary disease and cancer>

Synonyms
back, bolster, buttress, corroborate, reinforce (also reenforce), shore (up), substantiate

Related Words
confirm, establish, prove, verify; affirm, avouch, validate

Near Antonyms
undercut, undermine, weaken

5 to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections <we support the students' right to speak out on local issues that affect them> — see MAINTAIN 2
6 to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of <new evidence supports the original researchers' unexpected conclusions> — see CONFIRM 1
7 to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end <sent reinforcements to support the troops deployed overseas> — see HELP 1
8 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <he simply cannot support the thought of having to go on living without his beloved wife at his side> — see BEAR 2

supportable adjective
1 capable of being defended with good reasoning against verbal attack <are there ever circumstances where laws that restrict a person's freedom of speech are supportable?> — see TENABLE 2
2 capable of being endured <her beloved cat had been rescued from the burning house, making her other losses at least supportable> — see BEARABLE
3 capable of being proven as true or real <the news editor simply assumed the facts of the story were supportable and did not assign it to a fact checker> — see VERIFIABLE

supporter noun
1 a person who actively supports or favors a cause <President Lyndon B. Johnson was a strong supporter of civil rights> — see EXPONENT 1
2 someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support <even the President's supporters acknowledge that some of the criticism is justified> — see ALLY

supporting adjective
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something <scientists looking for direct supporting evidence of microscopic black holes, the existence of which is theoretical> — see CORROBORATIVE

supportive adjective
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something <the jimmied window latch is supportive of the theory that there was forced entry into the house> — see CORROBORATIVE

suppose verb
1 to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement <if we suppose a minimum profit of $10,000 from the charity auction, we should be able to pay for the family's medical expenses> — see ESTIMATE 2
2 to form an opinion from little or no evidence <what do you suppose he's going to do with the prize money he won?> — see GUESS 1
3 to have as an opinion <voters wrongly supposed that the new mayor would be opposed to letting hazardous waste be transported through the city> — see BELIEVE 2
4 to take as true or as a fact without actual proof <had always supposed that her father would bequeath the family farm to her> — see ASSUME 2

supposed adjective
appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed <this new computer program is a supposed improvement over the old one> — see APPARENT 1

supposedly adverb
to all outward appearances <she's supposedly too sick to come—or so she says> — see APPARENTLY

supposition noun
1 an idea that is the starting point for making a case or conducting an investigation <my supposition is that this grape variety, which flourishes in southern France, should do equally well here, given the similar climate> — see THEORY
2 an opinion or judgment based on little or no evidence <it's pure supposition on your part that there's something illegal going on next door> — see CONJECTURE
3 something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning <worthless genetic research that was based on the erroneous supposition that acquired characteristics can be passed on to offspring> — see ASSUMPTION 1

suppositional adjective
existing only as an assumption or speculation <concepts regarding the origin and structure of the universe must perforce be suppositional> — see THEORETICAL 1

supposititious adjective
born to a father and mother who are not married <entered the world as the supposititious son of a housemaid> — see ILLEGITIMATE 1

suppress verb
1 to keep from being publicly known <the government tried to suppress the truth about that incident>

Synonyms
burke, cover (up), hush (up)

Related Words
black out, censor, gag, muzzle, silence; quash, repress, smother, spike, squash, squelch, stifle, strangle, throttle

Near Antonyms
debunk, expose, reveal, show up, uncloak, uncover, unmask; blab, disclose, divulge, spill, tell, unveil; broadcast, circulate, publish, spread; describe, narrate, recite, recount, rehearse, relate, report

2 to refrain from openly showing or uttering <he managed to suppress a scream at the sight of the dead body> <suppressed her anger>

Synonyms
choke (back), hold back, pocket, repress, sink, smother, stifle, strangle, submerge, swallow

Related Words
control, govern, manage; bridle, check, curb, quash, quell; bottle up, contain; muffle, squelch

Near Antonyms
express, loose, release, take out, unleash, vent

3 to hold back the normal growth of <pruning helps suppress buds at the ends of developed branches and encourages new growth elsewhere> — see STUNT
4 to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <nothing could suppress the rising tide of protest against the dictator's latest injustices> — see QUELL 1
5 to keep secret or shut off from view <the defense attorney is openly accusing the prosecutor of attempting to suppress vital evidence> — see 1HIDE 2

suppression noun
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others <learned that suppression of her angry feelings didn't necessarily make them go away> — see CONSTRAINT 1

supremacist noun
a person who believes that one race should control all others <white supremacists were arrested for painting racial slurs on a church>

Synonyms
racialist, racist

Related Words
segregationist; bigot, sectarian

Antonyms
antiracist

supremacy noun
1 controlling power or influence over others <the Roman empire had supremacy over the entire Mediterranean world>

Synonyms
ascendance (also ascendence), ascendancy (also ascendency), dominance, domination, dominion, hegemony, imperium, predominance, predominancy, preeminence, reign, sovereignty (also sovranty)

Related Words
primacy, superiority; lordship, scepter; arm, authority, choke hold, clutch, command, control, grip, hold, mastery, sway; takeover; direction, jurisdiction, management; clout, might, pull, weight; eminence, importance, moment; prerogative, privilege, right

Near Antonyms
helplessness, weakness; impotence, impotency, powerlessness

2 exceptionally high quality <the supremacy of cashmere among wools accounts for its high price> — see EXCELLENCE 1
3 the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance <England's maritime supremacy in the 18th century> — see EMINENCE 1

supreme adjective
1 highest in rank or authority <the supreme commander of the multinational force> — see HEAD
2 coming before all others in importance <in our house, watching baseball reigns supreme as the activity of choice on summer evenings> — see FOREMOST 1
3 of the greatest or highest degree or quantity <considers a letter of gratitude from a former student the supreme reward for his years of teaching> — see ULTIMATE 1

Supreme Being noun
the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <anthropologists have found that most cultures around the world believe in a Supreme Being> — see DEITY 2

supremely adverb
to a great degree <climbing Mount Everest is supremely difficult> — see VERY 1

surcease noun
the stopping of a process or activity <hoping the new medicine would bring surcease to his pain> — see END 1

surcharge verb
to charge (someone) too much for goods or services <contends that with the present tax structure, the state's lower-income residents are being surcharged and the wealthiest residents are getting off too lightly> — see OVERCHARGE 1

surcoat noun
a warm outdoor coat <a knight in a fur-lined and hooded surcoat over a long tunic stood in the forest clearing> — see OVERCOAT

sure adjective
1 having or showing a mind free from doubt <are you absolutely sure that she said she was coming today?> — see CERTAIN 2
2 impossible to avoid or evade <the joke's a sure dud if you don't pause in the right places> — see INEVITABLE
3 not likely to fail <a sure cure for the winter blues—a week in the Bahamas> — see INFALLIBLE 2
4 worthy of one's trust <a sister is a sure friend for life> — see DEPENDABLE
5 not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <no sure evidence that life exists on other planets> — see IRREFUTABLE

sure adverb
without any question <we sure could use your help here> — see INDEED 1

sure–enough adjective
1 being exactly as appears or as claimed <a sure-enough ghost town that is a relic of the gold rush days> — see AUTHENTIC 1
2 existing in fact and not merely as a possibility <the inventor showed that he did have a sure-enough death ray> — see ACTUAL

surefire adjective
not likely to fail <pizza seems like a surefire choice for a food that everyone at the party will be happy with> — see INFALLIBLE 2

surely adverb
without any question <surely there's something I can do to help> — see INDEED 1

sureness noun
1 a state of mind in which one is free from doubt <unfortunately, he lacked the sureness of his opponent in the tennis match> — see CONFIDENCE 2
2 worthiness as the recipient of another's trust or confidence <investors in those risky foreign enterprises were gambling on the sureness of their instincts> — see RELIABILITY

sure thing noun
one that is certain to succeed <he's a sure thing for the promotion: he's the most qualified candidate by far>

Synonyms
cinch, lock, shoo-in, slam dunk

Related Words
certainty, inevitability; eventuality; foregone conclusion

Phrases
lead-pipe cinch

Near Antonyms
dark horse, long shot

surety noun
1 a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation <gave his surety that he would pay back the loan if his sister was unable to for any reason> — see GUARANTEE 1
2 a person who takes the responsibility for some other person or thing <a mutual friend agreed to act as surety if I lent my cousin some money, since I wasn't certain that she'd be able to pay it back> — see SPONSOR
3 a state of mind in which one is free from doubt <I can't tell you the year in which that event happened with any great surety> — see CONFIDENCE 2

surf noun
a light mass of fine bubbles formed in or on a liquid <beachgoers romping in the swirling surf> — see FOAM

surface adjective
lying on or affecting only the outer layer of something <a surface stain on the wood that can easily be removed with a mild detergent> — see SUPERFICIAL 1

surface noun
an outer part or layer <the surface of just about everything in the kitchen was covered with soot after we put the grease fire out> — see EXTERIOR

surface verb
1 to come to one's attention especially gradually or unexpectedly <no information regarding the stolen car has surfaced since the police found it abandoned on a country road> — see ARISE 2
2 to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below <a submarine surfaced on the starboard side of the aircraft carrier> — see BROACH 1

surfeit noun
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <ended up with a surfeit of volunteers who simply got in each other's way> — see EXCESS 1

surfeit verb
to fill with food to capacity <having surfeited ourselves on raw oysters, we had to decline the rest of the restaurant's offerings> — see GORGE 1

surfeited adjective
having one's appetite completely satisfied <surfeited by the Thanksgiving repast, the grown-ups dozed off in front of the TV while the children raised Cain around the house> — see FULL 3

surge noun
a moving ridge on the surface of water <a huge surge nearly capsized the boat and drenched the hapless fishermen> — see WAVE

surly adjective
1 given to or displaying a resentful silence and often irritability <went about his chores in a surly huff, totally annoyed that he was stuck at home on this beautiful Saturday> — see SULKY
2 having or showing a habitually bad temper <the surly receptionist told us we'd have to wait outside in the rain> — see ILL-TEMPERED

surmise noun
an opinion or judgment based on little or no evidence <my surmise is that the couple's “good news” is the announcement that they are going to have a baby> — see CONJECTURE

surmise verb
to form an opinion from little or no evidence <we surmised that she had purchased the apple pie since there was a bakery box on the kitchen counter> — see GUESS 1

surmount verb
to achieve a victory over <an Olympic swimmer who surmounted endless obstacles to achieve her goals> — see BEAT 2

surname noun
1 a name shared by members of a family <judging from your surname, I'd guess that your family is Italian>

Synonyms
family name, last name

Related Words
maiden name, married name; cognomen, epithet, sobriquet (also soubriquet)

2 a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual <“da Vinci” was Leonardo's surname but not his family name, Vinci being the town near Florence where the great artist was born> — see NICKNAME

surpass verb
1 to be greater, better, or stronger than <she always tried to surpass her older brother at anything he did>

Synonyms
beat, better, eclipse, exceed, excel, outclass, outdistance, outdo, outgun, outmatch, outshine, outstrip, overtop, top, tower (over), transcend

Related Words
one-up, outpace, outrace, outrun, overpass; best, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, lick, master, outcompete, outperform, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), rout, shame, skunk, subdue, surmount, thrash, trim, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, win (against), worst; outbalance, outweigh, overbear, overshadow, trump

Phrases
go one better, run circles around (or run rings around)

Near Antonyms
lose (to)

2 to go beyond the limit of <the sales of the band's newest CD have surpassed the combined sales of its last two albums> — see EXCEED 1

surpassingly adverb
to a great degree <a surpassingly beautiful view from the summit> — see VERY 1

surplus adjective
being over what is needed <surplus stock gets shipped to the warehouse and is eventually sold at auction> — see SPARE 1

surplus noun
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <we have a surplus of plastic knives, but we're short on forks and spoons for the picnic> — see EXCESS 1

surplusage noun
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed <a mall with a surplusage of stores all selling the same lines of clothing> — see EXCESS 1

surprise also surprize noun
1 something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected <the anniversary party was such a complete surprise that the couple was speechless for a moment>

Synonyms
bombshell, jar, jaw-dropper, jolt, stunner

Related Words
shock, thunderclap; eye-opener, revelation, shocker; amazement, marvel, wonder; fillip, kick, kicker, twist, wrinkle

Phrases
bolt from the blue (also bolt out of the blue)

2 the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual <stared in utter surprise at the deer in his cabin>

Synonyms
amazement, astonishment, shock, startlement, stupefaction

Related Words
awe, wonder, wonderment; startle; bewilderment, confusion, consternation, discomfiture, dismay

3 a setup in which hidden attackers lie in wait <waited under cover of darkness and took the enemy encampment by surprise at dawn> — see AMBUSH 1

surprise also surprize verb
1 to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected <I was very surprised when my parents offered to pay the down payment on our house>

Synonyms
amaze, astonish, astound, bowl over, dumbfound (also dumfound), flabbergast, floor, rock, shock, startle, stun, stupefy, thunderstrike

Related Words
befuddle, bewilder, blindside, blow away, confound, confuse, daze, discomfit, disconcert, dismay, jar, muddle, nonplus, perplex, shake up

Phrases
knock for a loop, take aback, take by surprise

2 to lie in wait for and attack by surprise <FBI agents surprised the counterfeiters in their own base of operations> — see AMBUSH

surprising adjective
1 causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness <the surprising news that they were going to have a baby had them rushing to buy nursery furniture>

Synonyms
amazing, astonishing, astounding, blindsiding, dumbfounding (also dumfounding), eye-opening, flabbergasting, jarring, jaw-dropping, jolting, shocking, startling, stunning, stupefying

Related Words
unannounced, unanticipated, unexpected, unforeseen; awesome, awful, breathtaking, fabulous, heart-stopping, marvelous (or marvellous), miraculous, portentous, prodigious, staggering, stupendous, sublime, wonderful, wondrous; extraordinary, phenomenal, rare, sensational, spectacular; befuddling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, discomfiting, disconcerting, dismaying, flustering, muddling, nonplussing (also nonplusing), perplexing, upsetting; incomprehensible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unlikely, unthinkable; singular, uncommon, unique, unusual, unwonted; conspicuous, notable, noticeable, outstanding, remarkable; impressive, striking

Near Antonyms
common, customary, mundane, normal, ordinary, typical, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual

Antonyms
unsurprising

2 causing wonder or astonishment <it's surprising how much knowledge of physics the architects of those immense medieval cathedrals must have had> — see MARVELOUS 1

surrender noun
the usually forced yielding of one's person or possessions to the control of another <the police demanded the surrender of all hostages as a condition for allowing the hijackers safe passage out of the country>

Synonyms
capitulating, capitulation, cession, handover, relinquishment, rendition, submission, submitting

Related Words
acceptance, acquiescence, concession; compromise; appeasement, conciliation, reconcilement, reconciliation; capture, fall

Near Antonyms
resistance

surrender verb
1 to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress <the toddler surrendered the doll to her mother after a brief struggle> <the commander surrendered the garrison without having fired a single shot>

Synonyms
cede, cough up, deliver, give up, hand over, lay down, relinquish, render, turn in, turn over, yield

Related Words
commit, consign, entrust (also intrust), transfer; forfeit, release, waive; abnegate, renounce, resign; abandon, desert, discard, forsake, part (with), shed

Near Antonyms
keep, retain, withhold

2 to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) <the father refused to surrender to his son's constant begging for a BB gun> — see YIELD 3
3 to give up (as a position of authority) formally <the aging queen refused to surrender the throne to her increasingly impatient heir> — see ABDICATE
4 to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit) <determined to give up smoking, she so far has not surrendered to her incessant desire to have a cigarette> — see YIELD 1
5 to yield to the control or power of enemy forces <General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, thus ending the Civil War> — see FALL 2
6 to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly <laid-off workers who surrender themselves to despair will almost certainly never regain their footing> — see ABANDON 1

surreptitious adjective
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <a private investigator adept at taking surreptitious pictures of adulterous couples> — see SECRET 1

surround noun
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded <the vast, featureless surround of the desert was strangely appealing to him> — see ENVIRONMENT

surround verb
to form a circle around <she was surrounded by cheering fans within moments of scoring the winning goal>

Synonyms
circle, compass, embrace, encircle, enclose (also inclose), encompass, environ, gird, girdle, ring, wreathe

Related Words
circumscribe, close in, cordon (off), fence (in), hem (in), wall; beset, besiege, entrench (also intrench), invest, swarm

surroundings plural noun
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded <we relaxed and forgot our worries for a while in the plush surroundings of the hotel> — see ENVIRONMENT

surveillance noun
1 the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control <a neutral country charged with the surveillance of the post-war rebuilding effort> — see SUPERVISION 1
2 an act or period of watching for signs of activity, danger, or opportunity <government surveillance of suspected terrorists> — see VIGIL

survey noun
a close look at or over someone or something in order to judge condition <a survey of the premises revealed that four of the exit doors were locked> — see INSPECTION

survey verb
1 to go around and approach (people) with a request for opinions or information <surveyed the medical residents and found out that 60% of them don't think they get enough sleep> — see CANVASS 1
2 to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) <surveyed the books at the estate sale, fondly hoping to find a rare first edition> — see INSPECT

survive verb
1 to come safely through <the cat miraculously survived a two-story fall>

Synonyms
ride (out), weather

Related Words
outlast, outlive, wear out; pull through; abide, continue, endure, hang on, hold on, hold out, hold up, last, lead, persist, stand, stick out, withstand; be, breathe, exist, live, subsist; flourish, prosper, thrive

Phrases
make it (through)

Near Antonyms
croak [slang], decease, depart, die, expire, pass (on), pass away, perish, succumb; disappear, evaporate, fade, vanish; cease, end, stop

2 to continue to operate or to meet one's needs <some old-world customs still survive in modern-day America> — see HOLD OUT

susceptibility noun
the quality or state of having little resistance to some outside agent <his aunt's unfortunate susceptibility to viruses meant she was nearly always sick> <a country parson who had a well-known susceptibility to anyone with a hard-luck story>

Synonyms
defenselessness, vulnerability, weakness

Related Words
helplessness, powerlessness; passiveness, passivity; feebleness, frailness, frailty, infirmity; exposure, liability, openness, predisposition, proneness, sensitivity; receptiveness, receptivity; easiness, gullibility, naïveté (also naivete or naiveté); credulity, credulousness

Near Antonyms
immunity; impenetrability, indomitability, indomitableness, invincibility

Antonyms
invulnerability

susceptible adjective
1 being in a situation where one is likely to meet with harm <some people are more susceptible to depression during the winter because of reduced exposure to sunlight> — see LIABLE 1
2 lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack <completely susceptible and totally defenseless against the imploring eyes of the puppy in the pet store> — see HELPLESS 1
3 readily taken advantage of <having recently lost his job, he was more susceptible to the illusory promises of get-rich-quick schemes> — see EASY 2

suspect adjective
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <since she was carrying no cash or credit cards, her claim to the store's detectives that she had intended to pay for the items was suspect> — see DOUBTFUL 2

suspect verb
1 to form an opinion from little or no evidence <we suspected that the runaway was a little younger than the 16 she claimed to be—more like 13> — see GUESS 1
2 to have no trust or confidence in <I suspected him from the moment he said he was an old friend of my sister's, since I probably would have heard about him> — see DISTRUST

suspecting adjective
inclined to doubt or question claims <suspecting dieters probably wouldn't fall for a weight-loss plan that claims you can eat as much as you want> — see SKEPTICAL 1

suspend verb
1 to bring to a formal close for a period of time <the judge suspended the hearing to give the district attorney more time to process evidence> — see ADJOURN
2 to place on an elevated point without support from below <suspended a banner proclaiming the town's “Heritage Days” from the archway> — see HANG 1

suspended adjective
extending freely from a support from above <a tree decorated with an array of suspended ornaments> — see DEPENDENT 1

suspended animation noun
a state of temporary inactivity <the husband's feeling that their love life was in suspended animation while his wife lavished all her attention on the new baby> — see ABEYANCE

suspense noun
a state of temporary inactivity <the lawsuit is in suspense until the court makes a decision concerning a related lawsuit> — see ABEYANCE

suspenser noun
something (as a close contest) that induces much suspense as to its outcome <Alfred Hitchcock was the acknowledged master of the cinematic suspenser that craftily manipulates its audience> — see NAIL-BITER

suspension noun
a state of temporary inactivity <trading with that nation is in suspension until it improves its record on human rights> — see ABEYANCE

suspicion noun
1 a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something <all his promises were received with well-deserved suspicion> — see DOUBT
2 a very small amount <new parents who were alarmed by just a suspicion of a rash on their baby's chest> — see PARTICLE 1

suspicion verb, chiefly dialect
to form an opinion from little or no evidence <no one will ever suspicion that I'm the one who pulled the prank> — see GUESS 1

suspicious adjective
1 giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged <suspicious claims of being the rightful owner of the property> — see DOUBTFUL 2
2 inclined to doubt or question claims <suspicious of any menu dish having a name she can't pronounce> — see SKEPTICAL 1
3 not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something <you should be very suspicious of those telephone calls from people telling you that you're the winner of a contest you never entered> — see DOUBTFUL 1

suspiciously adverb
with distrust <eyed me suspiciously when I snapped my book shut and hurriedly stuffed it into my bag> — see ASKANCE

sustain verb
1 to supply with nourishment <a granola bar should sustain you long enough to last until lunch>

Synonyms
nourish, nurture

Related Words
sate, satiate, satisfy; nurse, suckle; cloy, fill, surfeit; fortify, replenish, strengthen; feed; board, cater, provision, victual

2 to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it <sustained serious injuries in the car crash> — see EXPERIENCE
3 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <I won't sustain such insolence!> — see BEAR 2
4 to hold up or serve as a foundation for <that old chair won't sustain your weight> — see SUPPORT 3

sustainable adjective
1 capable of being defended with good reasoning against verbal attack <a line of argument that is probably not sustainable in a public forum against skilled debaters> — see TENABLE 2
2 capable of being proven as true or real <has no sustainable claim to the property without a deed or some other document> — see VERIFIABLE
3 capable of being endured <the general didn't think that such heavy casualties could be sustainable for much longer> — see BEARABLE

sustenance noun
something that maintains or stimulates the intellect <my only sustenance on the long flight was a trashy novel I'd bought in the airport>

Synonyms
aliment, food, nourishment, pabulum

Related Words
refection

Near Antonyms
candy, fluff, pablum, pap, trash

sustentation noun
1 the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition <argues that a new toll is needed to pay for the long-term sustentation of the city's bridges> — see MAINTENANCE
2 the careful maintaining and protection of something valuable especially in its natural or original state <the all-important sustentation of Mount Vernon, Monticello, and other national treasures> — see CONSERVATION 1

suture verb
to close up with a series of interlacing stitches <the doctor cleaned, sutured, and bandaged the wound> — see SEW

svelte adjective
1 having a noticeably small amount of body fat <the svelte dancer seemed to float across the stage> — see THIN 1
2 having or showing very polished and worldly manners <the interior designer spoke in a low, svelte voice> — see SUAVE

swab noun
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel <old swabs swapping sea stories as they spend their last days in the veterans' home> — see SAILOR

swabbie also swabby noun, slang
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel <the pirate captain cried, “Ahoy, me swabbies, 'tis time to hoist the Jolly Roger!”> — see SAILOR

swag noun
valuables stolen or taken by force <robbed a bank and hid the swag under the floorboards> — see LOOT 1

swag verb
to be limp from lack of water or vigor <the days of endless worrying had taken their toll, and the old woman's face swagged with exhaustion> — see DROOP 1

swagger verb
1 to praise or express pride in one's own possessions, qualities, or accomplishments often to excess <I, too, would swagger if I'd won first place in the bowling tournament> — see BOAST 1
2 to walk with exaggerated arm and leg movements <hoping to impress the women at the bar, the young man confidently swaggered across the room> — see STRUT 1

swaggerer noun
someone who boasts <despite his reputation for being a swellheaded swaggerer, he's actually quite insecure> — see BRAGGART

swaggie noun, chiefly Australian
a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living <some swaggies were known to take occasional odd jobs at bush stations> — see TRAMP 1

swagman noun, chiefly Australian
a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living <the swagman who roams through the outback is a mythic figure in Australia> — see TRAMP 1

swain noun
1 a male romantic companion <a romanticized portrait of a bygone era of beauteous Southern belles and their gallant swains> — see BOYFRIEND
2 a man who courts a woman usually with the goal of marrying her <Grandma claims that she had several swains pursuing her, but it was only Grandpa who won her heart> — see SUITOR 1

swallow noun
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time <drank the cool refreshing water in two swallows and held out her cup for more> — see DRINK 2

swallow verb
1 to take into the stomach through the mouth and throat <try not to swallow the toothpaste>

Synonyms
down, get down, ingest

Related Words
drink, guzzle, imbibe, knock back, sip; bolt, devour, gobble (up or down), gulp, ingurgitate; consume, eat, mouth (down), put away, sup; gorge, scarf, scoff, wolf; chew, gnaw (at or on), lap, lick, munch, nibble (on), peck (at), ruminate; dispatch, finish, polish off

2 to refrain from openly showing or uttering <swallowed his pride and asked for help> — see SUPPRESS 2
3 to regard as right or true <my little niece swallows everything I tell her> — see BELIEVE 1

swamp verb
1 to cover with a flood <the boat was swamped by the huge wave> <has been swamped with paperwork since she returned from vacation> — see FLOOD
2 to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress <parents feeling swamped by work and family obligations> — see OVERWHELM 1

swamp noun
1 spongy land saturated or partially covered with water <be careful in the swamp, because alligators sometimes lurk there>

Synonyms
bog, fen, marsh, marshland, mire, moor, morass, muskeg, slough (also slew or slue), swampland, wash, wetland

Related Words
swale; quagmire; guck (or gook), muck, mud, ooze, slime, slop, sludge, slush

2 a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape <with her credit cards maxed out, and the making of minimum payments a challenge, debt seemed to be an ever-deepening swamp> — see PREDICAMENT

swampland noun
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water <much of the county's swampland was drained for agriculture> — see SWAMP 1

swank noun
excessive or unnecessary display <service that is the essence of swank: the waiters pull out your chair for you and even place your napkin on your lap> — see OSTENTATION

swank or swanky adjective
excessively showy <drove up in a red sports car, the swank interior of which was decorated in silver and black> — see GAUDY

swap noun
a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another <we made a swap: I'll do the dishes tonight and she'll do them for me tomorrow> — see EXCHANGE 1

swap verb
to give up (something) and take something else in return <we swapped our other lawn mower for our neighbors' old snowblower> — see CHANGE 3

swarm noun
a great number of persons or creatures massed together <a swarm of tourists descends upon the island every summer> — see CROWD 1

1swarm verb
1 to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers <meeting little resistance, the pirates swarmed the decks of the merchant ship> — see CROWD 2
2 to be copiously supplied <at this time of year that Mexican resort swarms with college students on spring break> — see ABOUND

2swarm verb
to move (as up or over something) often with the help of the hands in holding or pulling <one of the physical challenges had competitors swarming over a pile of logs> — see CLIMB 1

swarming adjective
possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified <the museum was swarming with schoolchildren on a field trip> — see RIFE

swart adjective
not having a pale complexion <in bodice rippers the hero is often a swart man of passion and mystery> — see DARK 2

swarthy adjective
not having a light complexion <a dark-eyed, swarthy young man with killer looks> — see DARK 2

swash verb
1 to move with a splashing motion <waves gently swashing against the shore> — see SLOSH 1
2 to cause (something liquid or mushy) to move along in sheets <every bump in the road swashed a little more of my soda on the car's upholstery> — see SPLASH 1

swat noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <the impatient toddler got a swat on his wrist for stepping into the street by himself> — see 1BLOW

swat verb
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <didn't sleep a wink all night because she was too busy swatting mosquitoes> — see HIT 1

swathe verb
1 to surround or cover closely <handed me an odd-shaped package swathed in bright pink tissue paper> — see ENFOLD 1
2 to cover with a bandage <tenderly swathed the soldier's wounds> — see BANDAGE

sway noun
1 the power to bring about a result on another <under the sway of euphoria, she offered to take us all out to dinner in celebration of her new job> — see EFFECT 2
2 the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly <outdated attitudes that still hold sway in some communities> — see INFLUENCE 1
3 the right or means to command or control others <a time when Rome held sway over a vast empire that stretched from Britain to the Near East> — see POWER 1

sway verb
1 to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response <how can you not be swayed by that precious kitten, meowing as if to say, “Please take me home with you?”> — see 1AFFECT 1
2 to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions <the way the ski lift was swaying in the wind made me nervous> — see ROCK 1
3 archaic to exercise authority or power over <an epic novel set in the days when Rome swayed the Western world> — see GOVERN 1

swear noun
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression <can't you express your frustration without using swears?> — see SWEARWORD

swear verb
1 to use offensive or indecent language <no one is allowed to swear in this house>

Synonyms
blaspheme, curse, cuss

Related Words
anathematize, confound, damn, execrate, imprecate; fulminate, rail, rant, revile

2 to make a solemn declaration of intent <swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth> — see PROMISE 1
3 to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact <the sworn statement of the witness was presented as evidence> — see TESTIFY

swearword noun
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression <this is a list of swearwords that are not permitted on this radio program>

Synonyms
curse, cuss, cussword, dirty word, expletive, four-letter word, obscenity, profanity, swear, vulgarism

Related Words
bawdry, language, scurrility; execration, imprecation, malediction; epithet, name; oath

sweat noun
1 the active use of energy in producing a result <save your sweat: no one will appreciate your efforts anyway> — see EFFORT
2 very hard or unpleasant work <it took years of sweat to bring the farm to the point where it is now> — see 1TOIL
3 an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <my boss told me not to get in a sweat about the accident—she'd make sure I wasn't blamed for it> — see ANXIETY 1
4 a state of nervous or irritated concern <he always ends up in a sweat during tax season> — see FRET

sweat verb
1 to devote serious and sustained effort <spent the afternoon sweating over her tax returns> — see LABOR
2 to experience concern or anxiety <don't sweat over getting the application in a day late, as it probably doesn't matter> — see WORRY 1
3 to work hard and long <after sweating so hard to build the business out of nothing, we lost everything> — see TOIL
4 to flow forth slowly through small openings <the oil coat may sweat through this varnish> — see EXUDE
5 slang to put a series of questions to <the narcotics squad tried sweating the mule, but he was genuinely clueless about the inner workings of the drug operation> — see EXAMINE 1

sweat out verb
to put up with (something painful or difficult) <I can sweat out one more year of this job—before I totally flip out> — see BEAR 2

sweaty adjective
requiring considerable physical or mental effort <exhausted after a day of sweaty yard work> — see HARD 2

sweep noun
an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends <Mrs. Griswold has been a teacher for so long that the sweep of her influence extends across three generations of the townspeople> — see RANGE 2

sweep verb
1 to move or proceed smoothly and readily <the wind swept across the plain without respite> — see FLOW 2
2 to turn away from a straight line or course <from this point the mountain range sweeps to the northeast and extends into the next state> — see CURVE 1

sweep (away) verb
to destroy all traces of <some priceless works of literature were swept away when the library at Alexandria burned> — see ANNIHILATE 1

sweeping adjective
having considerable extent <calls for sweeping changes in the way the nation manages security in its major ports> — see EXTENSIVE

sweepingly adverb
with attention to all aspects or details <in a bold move, the secretary of the treasury sweepingly transformed the nation's banking system> — see THOROUGHLY 1

sweepstakes also sweep–stake plural noun
1 an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <in last week's box office sweepstakes a quirky little comedy handily bested Hollywood's latest special effects extravaganza> — see CONTEST 1
2 a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize <regards the music awards as nothing more than a popularity sweepstakes> — see GAME 1

sweet adjective
1 granted special treatment or attention <promised his dying mother that he would always take care of his sweet sister> — see DARLING 1
2 having a pleasant smell <breathed in the sweet air of the azalea garden> — see FRAGRANT
3 having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations <a very sweet man directed us to the lost and found> — see AMIABLE
4 having qualities that tend to make one loved <a sweet little kitten> — see LOVABLE
5 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <the glowing reviews of his novel were the sweetest things the writer had ever read> — see PLEASANT 1

sweet noun
1 a food having a high sugar content <remember to brush your teeth after eating sweets>

Synonyms
confection, sweetmeat

Related Words
confectionary, confectionery, sweeties [British]; afters [British], candy, dessert, entremets, pastry

2 a person with whom one is in love <my darling, my sweet, won't you be mine?> — see SWEETHEART 1

sweeten verb
to make more desirable <we really want you to work for our company—what can we do to sweeten the job offer?>

Synonyms
candy, dress up, enhance

Related Words
ameliorate, enrich, improve, meliorate; embellish, soup up, trick; cosmeticize, doll up, spruce

sweetheart noun
1 a person with whom one is in love <I married my high-school sweetheart as soon as we both finished college>

Synonyms
beloved, darling, dear, flame, hon, honey, love, squeeze [slang], sweet, sweetie, sweetie pie, truelove

Related Words
beau, boy, boyfriend, fellow, man, swain; gal, girl, girlfriend, inamorata, ladylove, lass, mistress, tootsie; amour, lover, paramour; doll, duck(s) [chiefly British], pet; date, escort, steady; admirer, gallant, suitor, wooer; groom, husband; bride, wife; significant other; fiancé, intended; crush, heartthrob

2 something very good of its kind <a charming waterfront cottage that's a real sweetheart> — see JIM-DANDY

sweetie noun
a person with whom one is in love <brought flowers home to his sweetie> — see SWEETHEART 1

sweetie pie noun
a person with whom one is in love <do you want to tell them how we met, sweetie pie, or should I?> — see SWEETHEART 1

sweetly adverb
in a pleasing way <a sweetly silly summer movie> — see WELL 5

sweetmeat noun
a food having a high sugar content <16th-century Naples carried on a vast export trade in silks and sweetmeats> — see SWEET 1

sweetness noun
the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others <one sister's sweetness was offset by the other's crotchetiness> — see AMIABILITY 1

sweet–talk verb
to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery <she can sweet-talk her besotted boyfriend into just about anything> — see COAX

sweet talk noun
excessive praise <enough of this sweet talk—just give me your honest opinion of my performance> — see FLATTERY

swell adjective
1 of the very best kind <what a swell time we had at the country club dance> — see EXCELLENT
2 being in the latest or current fashion <in its heyday as a summer resort, the town was known for its swanky hotels and swell restaurants> — see STYLISH

swell verb
1 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <the club membership has really swelled in recent months> — see INCREASE 2
2 to make greater in size, amount, or number <more layoffs will swell the ranks of the unemployed to unprecedented levels> — see INCREASE 1
3 to extend outward beyond a usual point <at that point the Congo River swells and forms Malebo Pool> — see BULGE 1

swell noun
1 a part that sticks out from the general mass of something <the graceful swell of the bottle was meant to be evocative of the female figure> — see BULGE 1
2 a moving ridge on the surface of water <huge swells overwhelmed the tiny craft> — see WAVE

swelled head noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <coming in first in a couple of tennis tournaments was enough to give him a swelled head> — see COMPLACENCE 1

swellheaded adjective
having too high an opinion of oneself <the child has become swellheaded from his parents' constant praise> — see CONCEITED

swellheadedness noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <the staggering degree of swellheadedness that must be necessary to nominate oneself for person of the year> — see COMPLACENCE 1

swelling noun
a small rounded mass of swollen tissue <was worried that the swelling on her neck was cancerous> — see BUMP 1

swelter noun
a state of nervous or irritated concern <the set designer spent the entire week before opening night in a swelter> — see FRET

sweltering adjective
having a notably high temperature <the air conditioning was broken, and it was sweltering in the office> — see HOT 1

swerve verb
1 to depart abruptly from a straight line or course <the car swerved sharply to avoid the squirrel in the road>

Synonyms
break, cut, sheer, veer, yaw, zag, zig

Related Words
skew, slew (also slue); arc, arch, bend, bow, crook, curve, hook, round, sweep, wheel; about-face, pivot; circle, coil, curl, loop, spiral; turn, twist, wind; weave, zigzag; deviate, stray, wander, waver

Antonyms
straighten

2 to turn away from a straight line or course <the bike path gently swerves to the right> — see CURVE 1
3 to cause to turn away from a straight line <a dog dashed out in front of me and made me swerve my bike into the path of an oncoming car> — see BEND 1
4 to change one's course or direction <the hurricane had been following the coastline before it swerved and headed inland> — see TURN 3

swift adjective
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <the sleekest, swiftest boat ever to have sailed in the regatta> — see FAST 1

swift adverb
with great speed <tried to cross the swift-flowing river> — see FAST 1

swiftly adverb
with great speed <swiftly established himself as a star in Hollywood> — see FAST 1

swiftness noun
a high rate of movement or performance <with amazing swiftness, the airline agent got our ticket changed, and we boarded the plane just as it was about to leave> — see SPEED 1

swig noun
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time <can I have just a swig of your lemonade to wash down these french fries?> — see DRINK 2

swig verb
to swallow in liquid form <the only way he can stay awake at his night job is by constantly swigging drinks containing caffeine> — see DRINK 1

swill noun
1 the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time <took his daily swill of the foul-tasting medicine> — see DRINK 2
2 a thick semiliquid substance (as food) that is unattractive <I don't know what's in this swill, but I know that I'm not eating it> — see GLOP

swill verb
1 to eat greedily or to excess <they can spend hours at the pub, drinking, chatting, and swilling> — see GORGE 2
2 to swallow in liquid form <considering the way she swills carbonated drinks, she ought to own stock in a soda company> — see DRINK 1

swiller noun
one who eats greedily or too much <after the swinish swiller had finally had his fill, he belched loudly> — see GLUTTON

swim verb
1 to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around <once they were in the elevator, the scent of the woman's perfume was so overpowering that it made his head swim> — see SPIN 2
2 to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air <there appeared to be an oily film swimming on the water> — see FLOAT 1

swim noun
a temporary state of unconsciousness <the merest glimpse of blood sends him into a swim> — see FAINT

swimmingly adverb
in a pleasing way <the rehearsals were going swimmingly until half the cast came down with the flu> — see WELL 5

swimmy adjective
having a feeling of being whirled about and in danger of falling down <the planetarium's dazzling light show left my head swimmy with delight> — see DIZZY 1

swindle noun
1 a scheme in which the victim is cheated out of his money after first gaining his trust <a swindle that involved selling a lot of land that really didn't exist>
2 an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value <identity theft has become one of the most frequent and feared swindles of our time> — see FRAUD 1

swindle verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <hundreds of people were swindled out of their savings, and all they had to show for it were fake land deeds> — see FLEECE

swindler noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <the swindlers, representing themselves as land developers, produced a glossy brochure showing beaches, palm trees, and golf links> — see TRICKSTER 1

swine noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <you really are a swine—you have no sense of decency at all!> — see JERK 1

swing verb
1 to change one's course or direction <thinking that we were being followed, we abruptly swung to the left at the next intersection> — see TURN 3
2 to change the course or direction of (something) <at the sound of gunfire, the cavalry officer swung his horse around and galloped rapidly back to the fort> — see TURN 2
3 to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <a man who's able to swing two full-time jobs> — see HANDLE 1
4 to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis <swung the bat and missed the ball> <don't let the wind swing that gate shut> — see TURN 1
5 to place on an elevated point without support from below <beach towels swung up to dry on the lifeguard's high chair> — see HANG 1
6 to have enough money for <I don't think that we can swing that hefty a mortgage> — see AFFORD

swinish adjective
1 having a huge appetite <the more swinish diners attacked the all-you-can-eat buffet with gusto> — see VORACIOUS 1
2 having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal <swinish frat boys for whom a night on the town invariably included binge drinking and strip club hopping> — see BESTIAL

swinishness noun
the manifestation of the traits or the gratification of the appetites of a lower animal <a fraternity party that may well have reached a new low for alcohol-fueled swinishness> — see BESTIALITY

swipe noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <one swipe of a grizzly's paw can do a person in> — see 1BLOW

swipe verb
1 to come into usually forceful contact with something <a blindfolded partygoer swiping at the piñata with a stick> — see HIT 2
2 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <that car just swiped the fender of our car> — see HIT 1
3 to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <somebody swiped the stop sign that used to be on the corner> — see STEAL 1

swiping noun
an instance of theft <when the cheese swipings abruptly stopped, we wondered if the mouse had met his end elsewhere> — see THEFT 2

swirl verb
1 to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly <kept swirling her lemonade until I thought the sound of clinking ice would drive me insane> — see STIR 1
2 to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis <swirled her skirts as she danced the tango> — see TURN 1

swish noun
1 a sound similar to the speech sound \s\ stretched out <the steady swish of the windshield wipers> — see HISS 1
2 a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down <the mare brushed away the flies with a sweeping swish of her tail> — see 1WAG

swish verb
1 to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\ <with their satin costumes swishing, the little ballerinas pirouetted onto the stage> — see HISS
2 to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions <the horse's tail swishes after every jump> — see WAG 1

swish adjective
being in the latest or current fashion <a trendy boutique filled with swish accessories for the urban fashionista> — see STYLISH

switch noun
1 a long thin or flexible tool for striking <struck the horse's hide with a leather switch, and it took off at a gallop> — see WHIP
2 a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down <that telltale switch of the cat's tail meant there was a mouse under the piano> — see 1WAG
3 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <in frustration, he gave the mule a sharp switch on the rump, but it still wouldn't budge> — see 1BLOW

switch verb
1 to give up (something) and take something else in return <switched the real grapes for fake ones> <switched the day of his flight from Thursday to Friday> — see CHANGE 3
2 to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions <cows lazily switching their tails and chewing their cud> — see WAG 1
3 to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <a stern schoolmaster who would switch any boy who misbehaved> — see WHIP 1
4 to change (as an opinion) to the contrary <a politician who has switched his position on a number of issues> — see REVERSE 1
5 to strike repeatedly <a prank for which the youngsters were soundly switched> — see BEAT 1

switchable adjective
capable of being substituted in place of one another <baking powder and baking soda are definitely not switchable ingredients> — see INTERCHANGEABLE

swivel verb
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis <the cat swiveled one ear to listen to a sound outside> — see TURN 1

swivet noun
a state of nervous or irritated concern <she's all in a swivet over the wedding planning> — see FRET

swollen adjective
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure <a swollen ankle from a sprain> — see BLOATED 2

swoon verb
to lose consciousness <whenever the young woman swooned, she always seemed to manage falling into the arms of a good-looking man> — see FAINT

swoon noun
1 a state of mental confusion <she wandered about in a swoon for several days after receiving the tragic news> — see HAZE 2
2 a temporary state of unconsciousness <fell into a swoon at the sight of the handsome movie star> — see FAINT
3 a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <her boyfriend's proposal sent her into a joyous swoon> — see ECSTASY

swoosh verb
to flow out in great quantities or with force <water swooshed powerfully from the fire hose> — see GUSH 1

sword noun
a hand weapon with a length of metal sharpened on one or both sides and usually tapered to a sharp point <once upon a time dueling with swords was the gentlemanly way to settle a point of honor>

Synonyms
blade, brand, steel

Related Words
broadsword, cutlass, rapier, saber (or sabre), scimitar, smallsword

swot noun, British
a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits <every time he begged off a night at the pub—saying he had to study—his mates teased him for being a swot> — see NERD 1

sybarite noun
a person whose life is devoted to luxury and sensual pleasures <the prince was remembered as a self-indulgent sybarite, not as a statesman or warrior> — see VOLUPTUARY

sybaritic adjective
given to or marked by excessive gratification of one's desires <after putting in long hours for months on end, she was ready for a sybaritic sojourn at some ridiculously expensive spa> — see HEDONISTIC

sybaritism noun
excessive pursuit of fleshly pleasures <the billionaire's extravagant parties were marked by a degree of sybaritism not seen since the days of decadent Rome> — see SENSUALITY

sycophant noun
a person who flatters another in order to get ahead <when her career was riding high, the self-deluded actress often mistook sycophants for true friends>

Synonyms
apple-polisher, bootlicker, brownnoser, fawner, flunky (also flunkey or flunkie), lickspittle, suck-up, toady

Related Words
yes-man; apparatchik, company man; hanger-on, leech, parasite, sponge, sponger; henchman, lackey, lapdog, minion, running dog, satellite, slave, stooge; admirer, cultist, devotee, enthusiast, fan, groveler, idolater (or idolator), worshipper (or worshiper), zealot; adherent, camp follower, convert, disciple, follower, me-tooer, partisan (also partizan), pupil, votary

syllable noun
the smallest amount or part imaginable <you're not making a syllable of sense> — see JOT

symbol noun
1 a device, design, or figure used as an identifying mark <the traditional physician's symbol of a staff entwined with a snake> — see EMBLEM
2 a written or printed mark that is meant to convey information to the reader <the symbol ¶ indicates where a new paragraph should begin> — see CHARACTER 1

symbolic also symbolical adjective
having the function or meaning of an object or figure that stands for something else <the butterfly in the poem is symbolic of the impermanence of youth>

Synonyms
emblematic (also emblematical), representational, representative

Related Words
figural, figurative, metaphoric (or metaphorical), tropological; allegorical

Near Antonyms
actual, literal

Antonyms
nonsymbolic

symbolize verb
to serve as a material counterpart of <the flag symbolizes our country>

Synonyms
emblematize, represent

Related Words
body, embody, epitomize, incarnate, manifest, materialize, objectify, personalize, personify; exemplify, illustrate

Phrases
stand for

symmetry noun
a balanced, pleasing, or suitable arrangement of parts <planted azalea bushes on both sides of the front steps for symmetry> — see HARMONY 1

sympathetic adjective
1 having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another <a sympathetic smile> <needed a sympathetic listener who would understand her marital woes>

Synonyms
commiserative, compassionate, empathetic, empathic, humane, understanding

Related Words
feeling, perceptive, sensitive; considerate, gentle, softhearted, tender, tenderhearted, warm, warmhearted; benevolent, benignant, bighearted, charitable, kind, kindhearted, kindly, largehearted, magnanimous; clement, lenient, merciful, tolerant; pitying, ruthful; congenial, cordial, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, well-disposed; affectionate, loving

Near Antonyms
inconsiderate, insensitive, thoughtless, unthinking; aloof, cool, indifferent, uncaring, uninterested; unaffectionate, unfriendly, unloving; merciless, pitiless, ruthless; bigoted, blinkered, narrow-minded, small-minded; brutal, grim, hard-bitten, hard-boiled, harsh, oppressive, rough, severe, stern, tough, ungentle, unrelenting; abusive, acrimonious, disagreeable, hateful, hostile, ill-natured, ill-tempered, malevolent, malicious, mean, rancorous, spiteful, surly, unkind, virulent

Antonyms
callous, cold-blooded, coldhearted, hard, hard-hearted, heartless, inhuman, inhumane, insensate, obdurate, unfeeling, unsympathetic

2 having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others <a sympathetic store manager who let us use the telephone> <sympathetic letters from supporters after the disappointing verdict> — see HUMANE 1

sympathize (with) verb
to have sympathy for <don't expect me to sympathize with you—each month you should have paid off your credit card in full> — see PITY

sympathizer noun
someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support <doesn't have many sympathizers since everyone knows he brought his troubles on himself> — see ALLY

sympathy noun
1 sorrow or the capacity to feel sorrow for another's suffering or misfortune <since losing her own brother to lung disease, the nurse has had greater sympathy for families going through the same agony>

Synonyms
commiseration, compassion, feeling

Related Words
condolence, regret; humaneness, humanity, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, mercy, pity, ruth, softheartedness, warmheartedness; affinity, empathy, rapport, sensitivity, understanding; altruism, benevolence, benignity, bigheartedness, charity, generosity, goodwill, humanitarianism, largeheartedness, largesse (also largess), magnanimity, philanthropy

Near Antonyms
indifference, insensitivity, unconcern; cruelty, harshness, inhumanity; animosity, antipathy, dislike, hatred, hostility

Antonyms
callousness, coldheartedness, hard-heartedness, heartlessness

2 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <the least you could do is have some sympathy for me if I have to stay home> — see HEART 1

symphonic adjective
having a pleasing mixture of notes <the symphonic chorus of frogs in the spring> — see HARMONIOUS 1

symphonious adjective
having a pleasing mixture of notes <the composer is known for his symphonious orchestrations of instruments from diverse musical traditions> — see HARMONIOUS 1

symphony noun
1 a balanced, pleasing, or suitable arrangement of parts <the satisfying symphony of color in Renoir's canvases> — see HARMONY 1
2 a usually large group of musicians playing together <a performance of a Bach concerto by the San Antonio Symphony> — see 2BAND 1

symphony orchestra noun
a usually large group of musicians playing together <plays oboe in the local symphony orchestra> — see 2BAND 1

symposium noun
a meeting featuring a group discussion <recently attended a daylong symposium on new methods of chromatography> — see FORUM 1

symptomatic adjective
serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group <a fever's refusal to respond to antibiotics is symptomatic of a viral infection> — see CHARACTERISTIC 1

synchronic adjective
existing or occurring at the same period of time <to musical accompaniment, the swimmers' synchronic movements form a kaleidoscope of artistic patterns> — see CONTEMPORARY 1

synchronize verb
to occur or exist at the same time <the subtitles must synchronize with the movie's spoken dialogue> — see COINCIDE 1

synchronous adjective
existing or occurring at the same period of time <the synchronous arrival of a baby sister and loss of a beloved grandmother strongly affected the child> — see CONTEMPORARY 1

syncopate verb
to make less in extent or duration <she tried to syncopate her gasp of shock> — see SHORTEN

syncope noun
a temporary state of unconsciousness <syncope has been reported in a small percentage of patients taking the drug> — see FAINT

syndicate noun
1 a group involved in secret or criminal activities <a syndicate of counterfeiters> — see 1RING 1
2 a number of businesses or enterprises united for commercial advantage <a powerful banking syndicate that controls loans in the small country> — see CARTEL

syne adverb, chiefly Scottish
earlier than the present time <a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson that begins with “From the bonny bells of heather / They brewed a drink long syne”> — see AGO

synopsis noun
a short statement of the main points <I don't need to know every little plot twist; just give me a synopsis of the movie> — see SUMMARY

synopsize verb
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) <before I agree to read the novel, could you at least synopsize its plot?> — see SUMMARIZE

synthesis noun
a distinct entity formed by the combining of two or more different things <a philosophy that is a kind of synthesis of several schools of Western and Eastern thought> — see BLEND

synthetic adjective
1 produced by humans rather than natural processes <that organic farm doesn't use any pesticides or synthetic fertilizers>

Synonyms
artificial, man-made, nonnatural

Related Words
fabricated, manufactured; cultivated, processed, refined; industrial, mechanical; ersatz, faux, imitation

Near Antonyms
crude, raw

Antonyms
natural

2 being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials <synthetic fur collars> <boots of waterproof synthetic leather> — see IMITATION

syringe noun
a slender hollow instrument by which material is put into or taken from the body through the skin <the syringe the nurse was leveling at my arm looked to me to be at least 10 inches long> — see NEEDLE 1

syrup also sirup noun
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion) <a television show for toddlers that is nothing more than pure syrup> — see SENTIMENTALITY

syrupy adjective
being of a consistency that resists flow <instead of neat squares of fudge we had syrupy goo> — see THICK 2

system noun
1 something made up of many interdependent or related parts <the national highway system allows travel from one end of the country to the other> <the democratic system of checks and balances in government>

Synonyms
complex, network

Related Words
interlacement, mesh, meshwork, net, plexus, web; aggregate, conglomerate, totality, whole; sequence, series; supersystem

2 a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective <if you're going to wrap all these presents in one afternoon, you'll need a system> — see PLAN 1
3 the means or procedure for doing something <not the best system perhaps, but it gets the job done> — see METHOD

systematic adjective
following a set method, arrangement, or pattern <the first systematic effort to find witnesses to the crime> <systematic elimination and reintroduction of certain foods to determine what he's allergic to> — see METHODICAL

systematically adverb
with attention to all aspects or details <the program's safety procedures were systematically analyzed for flaws> — see THOROUGHLY 1

systematize verb
to put into a particular arrangement <Carl Linnaeus was the first to systematize the plant and animal kingdoms by creating a uniform system for naming genera and species of organisms> — see ORDER 1

systematized adjective
following a set method, arrangement, or pattern <a systematized arrangement of books> — see METHODICAL

T

tab noun
1 a record of goods sold or services performed together with the costs due <I don't have any cash on me, so can you put this on my tab?> — see 1BILL 1
2 the amount owed at a bar or restaurant or the slip of paper stating the amount <asked the server to put our dinners on separate tabs so we could each pay for our own meal> — see CHECK 1

tabernacle noun
a building for public worship and especially Christian worship <worshippers gathering at the Baptist tabernacle on a bright Sunday morning> — see CHURCH 1

table noun
1 a leg-mounted piece of furniture with a broad flat top designed for the serving of food <we sat at the kitchen table, playing cards for hours on end>

Synonyms
board

Related Words
coffee table, refectory table, tea table; bar, counter; buffet, sideboard, side table; bed table, card table

2 food eaten or prepared for eating at one time <always offers a well-prepared table for his guests> — see MEAL
3 a broad flat area of elevated land <the area between the two canyons forms one broad table> — see PLATEAU
4 a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system <the periodic table of chemical elements> — see 1LIST
5 substances intended to be eaten <the table that the innkeeper set out each morning made for a bountiful breakfast indeed> — see FOOD 1

tableland noun
a broad flat area of elevated land <to the east of the valley lies a vast, fertile tableland> — see PLATEAU

tablet noun
1 a number of sheets of writing paper glued together at one edge <you'll need to use your writing tablet to record all the information that the real estate agent is likely to reel off> — see PAD 1
2 a small mass containing medicine to be taken orally <take two tablets of the medication every eight hours> — see PILL 1

table talk noun
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <he thought he weathered the table talk over dinner with his future in-laws rather well> — see CHAT 1

tableware noun
1 eating and serving utensils <during the party we ran short of tableware, so I went next door and borrowed some forks and knives>

Synonyms
flatware, silver, silverware

Related Words
place setting, setting, setup; silver plate; cutlery; chopstick, fork, knife, spoon, tablespoon, teaspoon

2 dishes used for eating or serving food or drink <the couple would take out their good tableware only on special occasions>

Synonyms
dinnerware

Related Words
place setting, setting, setup; china, chinaware, crockery, earthenware, porcelain, pottery, stoneware, ware; crystal, glassware; plate, saucer; cup, demitasse, glass, goblet, mug, teacup; bowl, casserole, charger, platter, tureen

taboo also tabu adjective
that may not be permitted <asking a guest how much money he or she makes is strictly taboo because it's a rude question to ask a stranger> — see IMPERMISSIBLE

tacit adjective
understood although not put into words <we have a tacit agreement that if I wash the dishes, she dries them and puts them away> — see IMPLICIT 1

taciturn adjective
tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination) <a taciturn man, he almost never initiates a conversation> — see SILENT 2

tack noun
the means or procedure for doing something <this clearly isn't working, so let's take a different tack in trying to solve the problem> — see METHOD

tack (on) verb
to join (something) to a mass, quantity, or number so as to bring about an overall increase <the ticket agency tacked on a hefty surcharge to what was already a hefty price for the theater tickets> — see ADD 1

tackle noun
items needed for the performance of a task or activity <grabbed my fishing tackle and headed out early one morning> — see EQUIPMENT

tackle verb
to start work on energetically <once I clean the kitchen, I think I'll tackle the bathroom> — see ATTACK 3

1tacky adjective
1 marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste <it was tacky to wear sneakers to the wedding> <tacky plastic flowers>

Synonyms
cheesy, dowdy, inelegant, styleless, tasteless, ticky-tacky (also ticky-tack), trashy, unfashionable, unstylish

Related Words
graceless, inappropriate, incorrect, unbecoming, unseemly, unsuitable, wrong; outmoded, out-of-date, passé; coarse, crude, unrefined, vulgar; cheap, common, inferior, junky, lousy, low-grade, second-rate, shoddy, sleazy, tawdry; flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, grotesque, kitsch, kitschy, loud, ostentatious, overdone, showy, splashy

Near Antonyms
appropriate, becoming, correct, fitting, proper, right, seemly, suitable; conservative, genteel, handsome, neat, quiet, refined, restrained, simple, understated; contemporary, modern, up-to-date; à la mode (also a la mode), happening, in, modish, swank (or swanky)

Antonyms
chic, classic, classy, elegant, exquisite, fashionable, fine, posh, ritzy, smart, sophisticated, stylish, tasteful

2 showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <a tacky old couch that needed new upholstery> — see SHABBY 1

2tacky adjective
tending to adhere to objects upon contact <don't touch the walls while the fresh paint is still tacky> — see STICKY 1

tact noun
the ability to deal with others in touchy situations without offending them <with supreme tact, Isabel suggested to her neighbor that her flower garden was probably not the best place for his dog to use as a bathroom>

Synonyms
diplomacy, tactfulness

Related Words
considerateness, consideration, courteousness, courtesy, delicacy, graciousness, sensitivity, thoughtfulness; civility, etiquette, mannerliness, manners, politeness; charm, gallantry, gentility, grace, gracefulness, poise, savoir faire, suaveness, suavity; adroitness, deftness, dexterity, finesse; deference, regard, respect

Near Antonyms
discourteousness, discourtesy, impoliteness, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, indelicacy, thoughtlessness, ungraciousness; impoliteness, incivility; boorishness, brashness, brassiness, loutishness; awkwardness, gaucheness, gracelessness, maladroitness; disregard, disrespect, disrespectfulness, impertinence, impudence, insolence, rudeness

Antonyms
clumsiness, insensitivity, tactlessness

tactful adjective
having or showing tact <tried to be tactful when asked if the dress made her friend look fat>

Synonyms
diplomatic, politic

Related Words
considerate, courteous, delicate, graceful, gracious, thoughtful; civil, mannerly, polite; charming, gallant, genteel, suave; deferential, dutiful, regardful, respectful; affable, cordial, friendly, genial, hospitable, kind, kindhearted

Near Antonyms
discourteous, inconsiderate, indelicate, thoughtless, ungracious; ill-bred, ill-mannered, impolite, uncalled-for, uncivil, unhandsome, unmannered, unmannerly; boorish, brash, brassy, caddish, churlish, clodhopping, clownish, loutish, uncouth; disregardful, disrespectful, impertinent, impudent, insolent, rude

Antonyms
gauche, impolitic, tactless, undiplomatic, untactful

tactfulness noun
the ability to deal with others in touchy situations without offending them <the tactfulness with which the secretary of state has handled that diplomatic crisis is commendable> — see TACT

tactical adjective
suitable for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <made the tactical move of becoming friendly with the journalism teacher, hoping that this would get him appointed editor of the school newspaper> — see EXPEDIENT

tactics plural noun
the means or procedure for doing something <used dishonest tactics to win election to the town council> — see METHOD

tactless adjective
showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations <made a tactless remark about how the woman's dress had that “homemade” look> — see INDISCREET

tad noun
1 a very small amount <there's more than just a tad of hyperbole in the critics' praise for the promising young pianist> — see PARTICLE 1
2 a male person who has not yet reached adulthood <grandfather never tires of telling us about the days when he was just a tad> — see BOY 1

taffy noun
excessive praise <the magazine's profiles of showbiz celebrities tend to be pure taffy> — see FLATTERY

tag noun
a slip (as of paper or cloth) that is attached to something to identify or describe it <read the tag on the shirt to find out if I could wash it or if it had to be dry-cleaned> — see LABEL

1tag verb
1 to attach an identifying slip to <tagged all the dresses with sale stickers before putting them on the rack> — see LABEL 1
2 to go after or on the track of <wildlife experts surreptitiously tagged the timber wolf, carefully keeping a safe distance so the wolf wouldn't catch their scent and run> — see FOLLOW 2

2tag verb
1 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <he tagged me with a right hook and blackened my eye> — see HIT 1
2 to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities <she tagged her most experienced operative for the special mission> — see CHOOSE 1

tagging noun
the act of going after or in the tracks of another <after a weeklong tagging of the suspect, the detective had the all the evidence he needed that there was a smuggling operation going on> — see PURSUIT 1

tagline noun
an attention-getting word or phrase used to publicize something (as a campaign or product) <the tagline from the drug campany's ad campaign backfired and quickly became fodder for late-night comedians> — see SLOGAN

tag, rag, and bobtail or tagrag and bobtail noun
people looked down upon as ignorant and of the lowest class <in an apparent effort to keep out the city's tag, rag, and bobtail, the restaurant charges royally high prices for mediocre food> — see RABBLE

tag sale noun
a sale of used household and personal items <on weekends the bargain-minded couple likes to drive around looking for tag sales> — see YARD SALE

tail noun
1 a body of employees or servants who accompany and wait on a person <the tail that accompanies the prince wherever he goes> — see CORTEGE 1
2 the part of the body upon which someone sits <get your tail in here> — see BUTTOCKS
3 a behind part or surface <the tail of the ship> — see REAR 1

tail verb
to go after or on the track of <tailed my brother-in-law to see where he was going at that time of the evening> — see FOLLOW 2

tailback noun, British
a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement <stuck in a five-mile tailback on the southbound carriageway> — see JAM 1

tail end noun
the part of the body upon which someone sits <all I saw was his tail end vanishing around the door> — see BUTTOCKS

tailing noun
the act of going after or in the tracks of another <my attempt at secretly tailing the girls was ruined by my loud and uncontrollable hiccups> — see PURSUIT 1

tailor verb
to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation <the stand-up comic refused to tailor his often raunchy routine for network television> — see ADAPT

tailored adjective
made or fitted to the needs or preferences of a specific customer <pants bought off the rack never fit me so I have to buy tailored ones instead> — see CUSTOM-MADE

tailor–made adjective
made or fitted to the needs or preferences of a specific customer <took my measurements for the tailor-made bridal gown> — see CUSTOM-MADE

tailspin noun
a mental or nervous collapse <the simultaneous death of his wife and loss of his job caused him to go into a tailspin> — see BREAKDOWN 1

taint noun
a mark of guilt or disgrace <that rare political campaign that wasn't marred by the taint of false accusations> — see STAIN 1

taint verb
1 to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable <criticism of her sister's singing that was tainted by envy> <a tendency toward conceitedness taints that athlete's status as a role model>

Synonyms
blemish, darken, mar, poison, spoil, stain, tarnish, touch, vitiate

Related Words
begrime, besmear, besmirch, blacken, blur, cloud, dirty, discolor, pollute, smear, smirch, smudge, smut, soil, sully, tar; abase, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, lower, shame, sink; bastardize, corrupt, debauch, demoralize, deprave, pervert, subvert; color, distort, twist

Near Antonyms
cleanse, purify; dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, glorify, hallow, magnify, uplift

2 to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable <smog has long tainted the air of that city, making it difficult to breathe> — see CONTAMINATE

tainted adjective
containing foreign or lower-grade substances <tainted groundwater that is unfit to drink> — see IMPURE 1

take noun
1 action or behavior that is done in return to other action or behavior <what's your take on the announcement that the senior vice president is taking an early retirement?> — see REACTION
2 the total amount collected or obtained especially at one time <who will win the poker tournament and collect the whole take?> — see HAUL 1
3 something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group <because there were so many winners of the jackpot, each person's take will be smaller than expected> — see SHARE 1
4 a distinct treatment of something (as a story or a play) <despite its contemporary setting, this take on King Lear isn't particularly novel or insightful> — see RIFF

take verb
1 to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms <take my hand, or we'll get separated in this crowd>

Synonyms
clasp, grasp, grip, hold

Related Words
clench, cling (to), clutch, hold on (to); catch, nab, seize, snatch

Phrases
hang on to, lay hold of

Near Antonyms
discharge, drop, free, liberate, release; deliver, entrust (also intrust), give, hand, hand over, pass, relinquish, transfer, transmit, turn over, unhand

2 to agree to receive whether willingly or reluctantly <will you take that call?> <took a cut in pay>

Synonyms
accept, have

Related Words
accede (to), assent (to), concede (to), confirm, consent (to), OK (or okay), ratify, sanction, warrant; acquiesce (to), bow (to), capitulate (to), give in (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to); abide, bear, brook, countenance, endure, shoulder, stand, stick out, stomach, support, sustain, swallow, sweat out, tolerate; adopt, embrace, welcome

Near Antonyms
dissent (to), object (to), oppose, protest; hold off, resist, withstand; combat, contest, fight

Antonyms
decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, refuse, reject, spurn, turn down, veto

3 to become affected with (a disease or disorder) <if you don't cover your head in this weather, you'll take cold and be stuck inside all weekend> — see CONTRACT 1
4 to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities <you can take the white side this time, since I got to be white for our last chess game> — see CHOOSE 1
5 to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for <I'll take two cheeseburgers to go, please> — see BUY 1
6 to have as a requirement <it will take a lot of courage to stand up for what is right> — see NEED 1
7 to make or have room for <I think we can take two more in this elevator> — see ACCOMMODATE 1
8 to produce a desired effect <it will be a few hours before this medication takes> — see ACT 2
9 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <I can't take anymore of your whining about your former boyfriend> — see BEAR 2
10 to regard as right or true <I think we can take his word for it> — see BELIEVE 1
11 to achieve a victory over <I know we can take that team> — see BEAT 2
12 to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <let's take each problem separately> — see HANDLE 1
13 to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to <the school takes only a small percentage of the thousands of applicants> — see ADMIT 2
14 to deprive of life <I never thought heart disease would take such an athletic and health-conscious person> — see KILL 1

take back verb
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) <I take back what I said about her: she's not the fool I thought she was> — see ABJURE 1

take down verb
1 to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes <there's no need to take us down by making fun of our clothes> — see HUMBLE
2 to take apart <electricians will take down all the lights for the set after the play has finished its run> — see DISASSEMBLE 1
3 to make a written note of <took down the customer's contact information> — see RECORD 1

take in verb
1 to cause to believe what is untrue <a fellow passenger on the cruise completely took me in when he claimed to be the owner of a major software company> — see DECEIVE
2 to have as part of a whole <this report takes in all the latest information on the subject> — see INCLUDE 1
3 to provide with living quarters or shelter <took in the stray dog> — see HOUSE 1

take–no–prisoners adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <a theater critic with a take-no-prisoners approach to reviewing Broadway's latest offerings> — see HARD 1

takeoff noun
1 a rising from a surface at the start of a flight (as of a rocket) <make sure your tray table is safely put away during takeoff> — see LIFTOFF
2 a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect <a sitcom that's a takeoff of an old TV show from the 1960s> — see PARODY 1

take off verb
1 to leave a place often for another <I can only stay for a few minutes, and then I'll need to take off again> — see GO 2
2 to rid oneself of (a garment) <take off your coat and stay awhile> — see REMOVE 1
3 to take away (an amount or number) from a total <the store will take an additional 20% off if you bring in this coupon> — see SUBTRACT
4 slang to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully <a gangbanger who decided to take off some fast-food joint> — see ROB

take on verb
1 to enter into contest or conflict with <will take on his chief opponent in the next political debate> — see ENGAGE 2
2 to provide with a paying job <decided to take her on as store manager> — see EMPLOY 1
3 to take for one's own use (something originated by another) <recently arrived immigrants who are eager to take on the language and culture of their adopted homeland> — see ADOPT

take out verb
1 to find emotional release for <he took out his frustrations by splitting a cord of firewood>

Synonyms
loose, release, unleash, vent

Related Words
act out; air, express, state, ventilate, voice

Phrases
give way (to)

Near Antonyms
control, govern, handle, manage; bridle, check, constrain, contain, curb, hold back, pull in, quell, rein (in), restrain, smother, tame; allay, lull, quiet, soothe, still; choke, inhibit, muffle, pocket, repress, stifle, strangle, swallow

Antonyms
bottle (up), repress, suppress

2 to go on a social engagement with <she'd like to take the new boy out to the movies sometime> — see DATE 1
3 to take away from a place or position <the airline passenger took his laptop computer out of its carrying case> — see REMOVE 2
4 to put to death deliberately <the rumor is that the CIA is planning to take him out before he can seize control of the country> — see MURDER 1

takeover noun
the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority <the new government's high-handed takeover of private industries> — see APPROPRIATION 2

take over verb
1 to serve as a replacement usually for a time only <I'll take over for her until she gets back from her morning break> — see COVER 1
2 to take to or upon oneself <took over the responsibility of caring for the animals> — see ASSUME 1
3 to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right <students protesting the war took over the college's radio station> — see APPROPRIATE 1

take up verb
1 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <please take up the blanket so I can look underneath it> — see RAISE 1
2 to take in (something liquid) through small openings <the soil was so dry that the plant seemed to take up the much-needed water instantly> — see ABSORB 1
3 to take for one's own use (something originated by another) <one cluster of fans started chanting the team name of the champions, and the crowd quickly took up the cry> — see ADOPT

taking adjective
very pleasing to look at <had never seen such a taking city as Venice> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

tale noun
1 a rumor or report of a personal or sensational nature <don't believe the tales you hear about our neighbor's kid>

Synonyms
canard, story, whisper

Related Words
dirt, gossip, scuttlebutt, talebearing, talk, tattle; dirty laundry, dirty linen; defamation, libel, slander; hearsay; fable, fabrication, fairy tale, falsehood, falsity, fib, lie, mendacity, prevarication, untruth, whopper

2 a brief account of something interesting that happened especially to one personally <asked Dad to tell once again the tale of how, as a kid, he broke his arm jumping out of a tree> — see STORY 2
3 a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive <told tall tales in an attempt to impress me with her supposedly upper-crust background> — see LIE
4 a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel <the oft-told tale of Sleeping Beauty> — see STORY 1
5 a total number obtained or recorded by noting each thing as it was being added <when the tale of the dead from the disaster is announced, the city will be in shock> — see COUNT 1

talebearer noun
1 a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others <statehouse talebearers had long spread stories about the governor's extramarital affairs> — see GOSSIP 1
2 a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <the teacher told him not to be such a talebearer, as she was quite capable of detecting student misbehavior on her own> — see INFORMER

talent noun
a special and usually inborn ability <Liza's musical talent was already apparent by the time she was five> <a talent for coming up with really funny answers to stupid questions>

Synonyms
aptitude, bent, endowment, faculty, flair, genius, gift, head, knack

Related Words
affinity, bias, disposition, habitude, impulse, inclination, leaning, partiality, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, propensity, tendency, turn; ear, eye, mind, nose; feel, hang, instinct, touch, way; capability, competence, facility, proficiency, skill; capacity, potential, power; forte, specialism, speciality, specialty

Near Antonyms
disability, handicap, inability, incapacity; shortcoming, weakness

tale–teller noun
a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others <the reasons for the couple's divorce aren't terribly juicy, but they will be by the time the tale-tellers are through> — see GOSSIP 1

talisman noun
something worn or kept to bring good luck or keep away evil <a pendant of white nephrite jade is often worn by Indians as a talisman to ward off heart disease> — see CHARM 1

talk noun
1 a usually formal discourse delivered to an audience <the noted author's talk on the state of the modern novel> — see SPEECH 1
2 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue <what good will all this talk do when we need to take action now?> — see DISCUSSION 1
3 friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <sat down by the fire and had a nice little talk about what was new in the village> — see CHAT 1
4 information or opinion that is widely disseminated without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <her wild behavior is exciting some lurid talk> — see RUMOR

talk verb
1 to give a formal often extended talk on a subject <the fire chief often talks at school assemblies about fire safety>

Synonyms
declaim, descant, discourse, expatiate, harangue, lecture, orate, speak

Related Words
recite, soliloquize; dissert, expound, pontificate, sermonize; mouth, spout; filibuster

Phrases
hold forth, take the floor

2 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <talked with our neighbor as we unloaded the groceries from the car> — see CHAT 1
3 to express (a thought or emotion) in words <you're talking nonsense: take a minute and think about what you are trying to say, and then start speaking> — see SAY 1
4 to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities <after being threatened, the eyewitness started talking at length about what he had seen in the alley> — see SQUEAL 1
5 to relate sometimes questionable or secret information of a personal nature <you're a fine one to talk about your sister's marital problems when you have had plenty of your own> — see GOSSIP

talk (into) verb
to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest request <the salesman talked us into buying a new vacuum> — see PERSUADE

talk (to) verb
to communicate with by means of spoken words <I had never talked to a real live cowboy before>

Synonyms
chat (with), converse (with), speak (to or with)

Related Words
accost, address, board, collar, greet, hail, herald; inform, notify, tell

Phrases
engage in conversation

talkative adjective
fond of talking or conversation <a talkative outgoing tour guide showed our school group around the city>

Synonyms
blabby, chatty, conversational, gabby, garrulous, loquacious, motormouthed, mouthy, talky

Related Words
communicative, expansive; demonstrative, effusive, gushing; free-spoken, outspoken, unreserved, vocal; articulate, fluent, glib, voluble, well-spoken; gossipy, talebearing, tale-telling; long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy, wordy; extroverted (also extraverted), gregarious, outgoing, sociable

Near Antonyms
quiet, shy; mum, mute, silent, speechless, tongue-tied, wordless; evasive, nonvocal, secretive, self-contained; aloof, indrawn, inhibited, introverted, retiring, unsociable, withdrawn

Antonyms
closemouthed, laconic, reserved, reticent, taciturn, tight-lipped, uncommunicative

talk down verb
to express scornfully one's low opinion of <a company that prefers to talk up its own products rather than talk down those of its competitors> — see DECRY 1

talk down (to) verb
to assume or treat with an air of superiority <just because I don't have extensive experience in the field is no reason to talk down to me as if I were a child> — see CONDESCEND 2

talker noun
a person who talks constantly <your brother is quite a talker—he wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise> — see CHATTERBOX

talk over verb
to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion <your father and I will have to talk it over before agreeing to let you go on the class trip> — see DISCUSS

talk up verb
1 to provide publicity for <the director and actors are making the obligatory rounds of the late-night shows to talk up their new movie> — see PUBLICIZE 1
2 to voice one's opinions freely with force <feel free to talk up if you have any objections> — see SPEAK UP

talky adjective
fond of talking or conversation <a talky coworker who will corner you at your desk for hours with stories about his vacation> — see TALKATIVE

tall adjective
1 extending to a great distance upward <tall skyscrapers that cast long shadows over the park> — see HIGH 1
2 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <that's a pretty tall order> — see HARD 2

tally noun
a total number obtained or recorded by noting each thing as it was being added <the final tally for worshippers at Sunday services was 126> — see COUNT 1

tally verb
1 to be in agreement on every point <our lists for best movies of the year tally perfectly> — see CHECK 1
2 to gain (as points or runs in a game) as credit towards one's total number of points <our team tallied four touchdowns and gained a total of 435 yards last game> — see SCORE 2

tame adjective
1 changed from the wild state so as to become useful and obedient to humans <every evening, a wild Canada goose is at the food trough with our tame geese>

Synonyms
domestic, domesticated, tamed

Related Words
broken, halterbroken, housebroken, trained; docile, familiar, gentle, semidomesticated; subdued, submissive

Near Antonyms
unbroken, untrained; wildish

Antonyms
feral, nondomesticated, savage, undomesticated, untamed, wild

2 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <that action movie was so tame I fell asleep about 20 minutes into it> — see BORING

tame verb
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <try to tame your language when you're in front of the kids> — see CONTROL 1

tamed adjective
changed from the wild state so as to become useful and obedient to humans <circus trainers work with tamed tigers and elephants> — see TAME 1

tamper (with) verb
to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously <someone has tampered with my computer files>

Synonyms
diddle (with), fiddle (with), fool (with), mess (with), monkey (with), play (with), tinker (with), toy (with), twiddle (with)

Related Words
abuse, alter, doctor, manhandle, manipulate, mistreat, misuse; butt in, interfere, intrude, meddle, muck (about or around)

tan verb
1 to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <Grandpa told us that when he was a kid, if he misbehaved at all, his father would tan his backside with a belt> — see WHIP 1
2 to strike repeatedly <a time when children were routinely tanned for misbehavior> — see BEAT 1

tang noun
1 an almost imperceptible sign of something <the young author's novel is surprisingly earnest, tackling its subject without the slightest tang of irony> — see HINT 2
2 the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses <there's a real tang to her poetry—it's not all sweetness and light> — see PIQUANCY

tangent noun
a departure from the subject under consideration <in the middle of her description of her dog's symptoms, she went off on a tangent about its cute behavior>

Synonyms
aside, digression, divagation, excursion

Related Words
excursus, parenthesis; rambling; circuitousness, circularity, circumlocution, diffuseness, prolixity, verbosity, windiness, wordiness

tangible adjective
capable of being perceived by the sense of touch <a firm belief in the existence of the soul, even though it is not at all tangible>

Synonyms
palpable, touchable

Related Words
tactile; corporeal, physical; actual, concrete, embodied, existent, material, real, substantial; appreciable, detectable, discernible (also discernable), noticeable, observable, perceptible, seeable, sensible, visible

Near Antonyms
bodiless, formless, immaterial, incorporeal, insubstantial, nonmaterial, nonphysical, unbodied, unsubstantial; abstract, ethereal, spiritual, unreal, virtual; imperceptible, insensible

Antonyms
impalpable, intangible

tangle noun
a state of mental uncertainty <my mind's been in a tangle ever since I learned some disturbing information about an online acquaintance> — see CONFUSION 1

tangle verb
1 to catch or hold as if in a net <was at last tangled in the web of lies that he had told to everyone> — see ENTANGLE 2
2 to twist together into a usually confused mass <that darn cat tangled the yarn I was trying to knit with> — see ENTANGLE 1

tangled adjective
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated <it helps to have a lawyer to sort out the tangled contracts that home buyers typically have to contend with> — see COMPLEX 1

tanglement noun
something that catches and holds <legal tanglements stemming from the museum's refusal to return the looted carvings> — see WEB 1

tangy adjective
having a powerfully stimulating odor or flavor <a tangy sauce with a strong aftertaste> — see SHARP 2

tank verb
to be unsuccessful <her intended comeback movie tanked at the box office, and once again she was relegated to TV guest spots> — see FAIL 2

tanked adjective, slang
being under the influence of alcohol <we can count on those jerks getting tanked tonight after the game> — see DRUNK

tantrum noun
an outburst or display of excited anger <had a tantrum when he found his little sister using his model paints>

Synonyms
blowup, explosion, fireworks, fit, hissy [chiefly Southern & southern Midland], hissy fit, huff, scene

Related Words
eruption, flare-up, outburst, storm, uproar; agitation, delirium, distraction, frenzy, furor, furore, fury, hysteria, rage, rampage; convulsion(s), paroxysm, seizure, spasm, upheaval; angriness, choler, indignation, irateness, ire, lividity, lividness, spleen, wrath, wrathfulness; reaction, rise; dander, temper; grouch, hump [British], pet, pouts, snit, sulk(s), sulkiness, sullenness

1tap verb
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically <tapped her foot in time to the music> <kept tapping the desk with his pencil>

Synonyms
beat, drum, rap

Related Words
bang, bash, bat, bonk, bop, hammer, hit, knock, paste, pound, slam, smack, sock, strike, swat, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, whack; chink, clatter, clink, ping; pat, pit-a-pat, pitter-patter; chuck, clap, click, flick, tip

2tap verb
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely <the oil company tapped that first well completely dry> — see DRAIN 1

tap noun
a fixture for controlling the flow of a liquid <turn the tap to the right for cold water and to the left for hot water> — see FAUCET

tape noun
a recording (as of a movie) on magnetic tape for playback on a TV <the rival campaign leaked a tape of the senator angrily reprimanding a little boy for stepping on his foot> — see VIDEO

taper verb
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <you'll find the symptoms begin tapering gradually about 24 hours after you take the medicine> — see DECREASE 2

tape recording noun
a recording (as of a movie) on magnetic tape for playback on a TV <the documentary included a tape recording of one of the actor's earliest performances> — see VIDEO

taper off verb
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <at this time of the year, light begins to taper off a little earlier each day> — see DECREASE 2

tapped out adjective
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <the prosecutor was mentally and physically tapped out after the long trial> — see WEARY 1

taproom noun
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises <the local taproom is required by law to serve food as well> — see BARROOM

tar noun
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel <a book about the adventurous lives of tars, skippers, and pirates of the 18th century> — see SAILOR

taradiddle or tarradiddle noun
1 a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive <his tales of adventure are peppered with tongue-in-cheek taradiddles and obvious fabrications> — see LIE
2 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <regards literary deconstruction as so much tenure-track taradiddle> — see NONSENSE 1

tardily adverb
1 after the due, usual, or proper time <she submitted her scholarship application tardily, so she was not considered> — see LATE 1
2 at a pace that is less than usual, desirable, or expected <the money that I had lent him for the CDs came tardily and only after I told him that if he didn't repay me, I was taking the CDs back> — see SLOW

tardiness noun
the quality or state of being late <habitual tardiness will be recorded in your personnel file> — see LATENESS

tardy adjective
1 moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <thus far progress on the project has been tardy> — see SLOW 1
2 not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time <explained that I was tardy because my car had broken down on the way to work> — see LATE 1

target noun
1 a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule <the hapless vice president quickly became the favorite target of late-night comedians>

Synonyms
butt, mark, prey, sitting duck, victim

Related Words
laughingstock, mockery, pilgarlic; lightning rod; fall guy, goat, scapegoat, whipping boy

Near Antonyms
gossip, gossiper, talebearer, tattler, tattletale, troublemaker; defamer, libeler, libelist, traducer; baiter, heckler, needler, ribber, taunter, tease, teaser, tormentor (also tormenter), torturer; derider, insulter, mocker, ridiculer, scoffer, scorner; caricaturist, lampooner, parodist, satirist

2 a person or thing that is made fun of <after my botched haircut, I became the target of lots of jokes at school> — see LAUGHINGSTOCK
3 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <our target is to raise $100,000 for a new playground by August> — see GOAL

tarnish verb
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable <an arrest for shoplifting tarnished her reputation for many years afterwards> — see TAINT 1

tarry noun
a temporary residing as another's guest <a fable about the tarry of two Americans in a Scottish village that every century magically comes into existence for a day> — see VISIT 1

tarry verb
1 to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time <upon seeing the sun beginning to sink in the sky, we realized we had tarried too long on the summit of the mountain> — see 1STAY 1
2 to move or act slowly <the dean tarried in making his decision, still not sure if he should suspend the student or not> — see DELAY 1
3 to reside as a temporary guest <he tarried with us all summer, sleeping on the screened-in porch most nights> — see VISIT 2

tart adjective
1 causing or characterized by the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids <I didn't add enough sugar to the lemonade, and now it's way too tart> — see SOUR 1
2 marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings <stood ready with a tart comeback in case the lout asked her if she wanted to dance> — see SARCASTIC

tart noun
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money <the sort of skimpy outfit that could cause a girl to be mistaken for a tart> — see PROSTITUTE

tartish adjective
causing or characterized by the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids <for this pie, use firm, tartish apples and not one of those mushy, insipid varieties> — see SOUR 1

tartness noun
1 a harsh or sharp quality <there's a tartness to this movie critic's reviews that's a little tiresome> — see EDGE 1
2 biting sharpness of feeling or expression <there's a telltale tartness between these two teams that nobody could miss> — see ACRIMONY 1

task noun
1 a piece of work that needs to be done regularly <one of my tasks in the morning is to make lunches for everyone in the family> — see CHORE 1
2 the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists <the forklift's task is to stack pallets of goods in the warehouse> — see ROLE

task verb
to give a task, duty, or responsibility to <I have been tasked by the host with bringing the pies for Thanksgiving this year> — see ENTRUST 1

taskmaster noun
1 a boss who assigns much work <pitiless taskmaster that he was, Ebenezer Scrooge only reluctantly let his ill-paid clerk have Christmas Day off>

Synonyms
slave driver

Related Words
enslaver; authoritarian, disciplinarian, discipliner, martinet, stickler; despot, dictator, oppressor, tyrant; dominator, overlord; taskmistress; micromanager

2 the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do <known as a tough but fair taskmaster> — see BOSS

taste noun
1 the property of a substance that can be identified by the sense of taste <I can't stand the taste of cherry-flavored cough syrup>

Synonyms
flavor, savor (also savour)

Related Words
relish, smack, tang; savoriness, tastiness; aftertaste

Near Antonyms
tastelessness

2 a small piece or quantity of food <I'll just have a taste of your dessert> — see MORSEL 1
3 positive regard for something <trying to develop a taste for classical music> — see LIKING

taste verb
1 to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it <an adventurer who has tasted danger and lived to tell the tale> — see EXPERIENCE
2 to have a vague awareness of <by your language I can taste that something is wrong> — see FEEL 1

tasteful adjective
1 having or showing elegance <a tasteful arrangement of white flowers and dark greenery> — see ELEGANT 1
2 very pleasing to the sense of taste <a line of microwavable frozen entrées that are surprisingly tasteful> — see DELICIOUS 1

tasteless adjective
1 lacking in refinement or good taste <a completely tasteless comment about her slight amount of facial hair> — see COARSE 2
2 lacking in taste or flavor <breakfast was usually plain, tasteless oatmeal> — see INSIPID 1
3 marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste <a tasteless suit that he wore to the party as a joke> — see 1TACKY 1

tastelessness noun
the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste <the tastelessness of his comments about some of the women in the office was appalling> — see VULGARITY 1

tastiness noun
the quality of being delicious <the tastiness of homemade bread> — see DELICIOUSNESS

tasty adjective
1 giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <the tasty prospect of getting his revenge after all those years> — see PLEASANT 1
2 very pleasing to the sense of taste <a selection of tasty doughnuts from the corner bakery> — see DELICIOUS 1

tatter verb
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it <the kids will tatter that doll beyond repair if they don't quit yanking on it> — see TEAR 1

tatterdemalion adjective
1 showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <one of those tatterdemalion towns of the rust belt where the factories closed down decades ago> — see SHABBY 1
2 wearing torn or worn out clothes <an ill-equipped, tatterdemalion army> — see TATTERED 1

tattered adjective
1 wearing torn or worn out clothes <arrived at the refugee camp tattered and exhausted>

Synonyms
ragged, raggedy, ragtag, tatterdemalion

Related Words
bedraggled, scroungy, scruffy, shabby, threadbare; down-at-the-heels (or down-at-heel also down-at-the-heel or down-at-heels)

Phrases
out at elbows (or out at the elbows)

Near Antonyms
decked (out), dolled up, dressed up; spiffy

2 worn or torn into or as if into rags <a hobo in tattered old clothes and worn-out shoes> — see RAGGED 2

tattle noun
information or opinion that is widely disseminated without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <she claims to have picked up some juicy tattle about the candidate> — see RUMOR

tattle verb
to relate sometimes questionable or secret information of a personal nature <those neighborhood busybodies, constantly tattling and whispering over their backyard fences> — see GOSSIP

tattler noun
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <as the office's resident tattler, she can be counted on to report any unauthorized use of the photocopiers> — see INFORMER

tattletale noun
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <don't be such a tattletale and tell me about every little thing your sister does> — see INFORMER

tatty adjective
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <the owner has let the restaurant become increasingly tatty over the years> — see SHABBY 1

taunt verb
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults <taunted the newly arrived immigrants about their broken English> — see TEASE 2

taunter noun
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another <tired of always being the butt of their jokes, he decided to get back at his taunters> — see TORMENTOR

taut adjective
stretched with little or no give <a taut clothesline>

Synonyms
rigid, tense, tight

Related Words
firm, inflexible, stiff, tightened, unrelaxed, unyielding

Near Antonyms
drooping, droopy, flaccid, floppy, hanging, lank, limp, loosened, relaxed, sagging, slackened, yielding; elastic, flexible, pliant, resilient, springy, stretchy, supple

Antonyms
lax, loose, slack

tauten verb
to draw tight <he tautened the rope and then tied it off> — see TIGHTEN

tavern noun
1 a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises <a seedy section of the city's waterfront that was rife with cheap taverns, tattoo parlors, and run-down flophouses> — see BARROOM
2 a place that provides rooms and usually a public dining room for overnight guests <a colonial-era tavern that has been serving weary travelers for two and a half centuries> — see HOTEL

taverner noun
the owner or manager of an inn <in Longfellow's Tales of a Wayside Inn a taverner tells a series of tales in verse to a group of travelers> — see INNKEEPER

tawny adjective
of a pale yellow or yellowish brown color <the tawny coat of a lion> — see BLOND

tax noun
a charge usually of money collected by the government from people or businesses for public use <the state sales tax boosted the final cost of my new computer>

Synonyms
assessment, duty, imposition, impost, levy

Related Words
direct tax, personal tax; capitation, custom(s), excise, hidden tax, income tax, poll tax, property tax, sales tax, single tax, sin tax, tariff, toll, tribute, value-added tax, withholding tax; supertax, surcharge, surtax; death tax, estate tax, inheritance tax; flat tax, proportional tax

tax verb
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress <your constant arguing is starting to tax my patience> — see TRY 1

taxi noun
an automobile that carries passengers for a fare usually determined by the distance traveled <couldn't hail a taxi so I had to run in the rain to make my appointment> — see TAXICAB

taxicab noun
an automobile that carries passengers for a fare usually determined by the distance traveled <took a taxicab to the airport>

Synonyms
cab, hack, taxi

Related Words
hackney; limousine; gharry, rickshaw (also ricksha), water taxi; gypsy cab, jitney

taxing adjective
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention <a very taxing workload that is taking a lot of time to finish> — see DEMANDING 1

tchotchke noun
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest <a bedroom with polka-dot curtains, flowery wallpaper, and shelves cluttered with tchotchkes from a lifetime of vacations> — see KNICKKNACK

teach verb
to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field <taught us about the basics of organic gardening>

Synonyms
educate, indoctrinate, instruct, lesson, school, train, tutor

Related Words
coach, mentor; drill, fit, ground, habilitate, prepare, prime, qualify; direct, guide, lead, rear; catechize, lecture, moralize, preach; implant, inculcate, instill (also instil); homeschool; edify, enlighten; brief, familiarize, impart (to), inform, verse; initiate, introduce, show; reeducate, reschool, reteach, retrain

teacher noun
a person whose occupation is to give formal instruction in a school <a young man who ardently wants to become a teacher and teach first grade>

Synonyms
educationist [chiefly British], educator, instructor, pedagogue (also pedagog), preceptor, schoolteacher

Related Words
headmaster, master, rector, schoolmaster; headmistress, instructress, mistress [chiefly British], schoolmarm (or schoolma'am), schoolmistress; coach, guide, guru, preparer, trainer; mentor, tutor, tutoress; drillmaster, inculcator; dean, docent, doctor, don, prof, professor, regius professor; academe, academic, academician, didact, pedant; governess, homeschooler; intern (also interne), practice teacher, reader, student teacher; catechist, lecturer, moralizer, preacher

teaching noun
the act or process of imparting knowledge or skills to another <a chemist who has devoted his career to teaching, even though he could have made a lot more money in an industrial job> — see EDUCATION 1

team noun
a group of people working together on a task <asked the Boy Scouts to split into teams and begin pitching their tents> — see GANG 1

team (up) verb
to participate or assist in a joint effort to accomplish an end <the television broadcast networks will be teaming up for joint coverage of the event> — see COOPERATE 1

teamwork noun
the work and activity of a number of persons who individually contribute toward the efficiency of the whole <it takes teamwork to pull off a successful fund-raiser>

Synonyms
collaboration, cooperation, coordination

Related Words
collegiality, fellowship, partnership; community, mutualism, reciprocity, symbiosis; synergism, synergy; communion, cooperativeness, kinship, oneness, solidarity, togetherness, unity

Antonyms
noncooperation

tear noun
a long deep cut <repaired a tear in the theater curtain just before the start of the show> — see GASH

tear verb
1 to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it <angrily tore the letter to shreds>

Synonyms
rend, ribbon, rip, rive, shred, tatter

Related Words
break, cleave, rupture, split; cut, gash, incise, lacerate, slash; butcher, dismember, dissect, hack, mangle

2 to separate or remove by forceful pulling <tore the book from his hand>

Synonyms
rip, wrench, wrest, yank

Related Words
grab, nab, seize, snap (up), snatch; lop (off), nip; amputate, cut (off), dissever, sever; extract, force, jerk, prize, pry, pull, root (out), uproot

Near Antonyms
reattach

3 to proceed or move quickly <she tore out of the room as soon as the phone started to ring> — see HURRY 2

tear (out) verb
to draw out by force or with effort <you'll never tear that secret out of me> — see EXTRACT

tear down verb
1 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <vandals tore down the wooden fence blocking the entrance to the beach> — see DESTROY 1
2 to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces <the new owners apparently bought the house just to tear it down and build a lavish mansion in its place> — see DEMOLISH 1

tearful adjective
1 given to expressing strong emotion (as sorrow) by readily shedding tears <a tearful woman who can be counted on to cry at every wedding, anniversary, and funeral>

Synonyms
lachrymose, teary, weepy

Related Words
demonstrative, effusive, emotional; maudlin, mawkish, sentimental; bawling, blubbering, crying, keening, sniffling, sniveling, sobbing, wailing, weeping, whimpering; misty, misty-eyed, moist; bemoaning, bewailing; doleful, dolorous, grieving, mournful, plaintive; funereal, gloomy, lugubrious; brokenhearted, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, downcast, downhearted, heartbroken, heartsick, heavyhearted, inconsolable, miserable, sad, sorrowful, woebegone, woeful, wretched

Near Antonyms
beaming, chuckling, giggling, grinning, laughing, smiling; blithe, blithesome, cheerful, cheery, gay, happy, jocose, jovial, lighthearted, lightsome, merry, mirthful, sunny

2 causing unhappiness <the tearful end to what had once been a close friendship> — see SAD 2

teary adjective
1 causing unhappiness <a teary ending to what had been up to that point a lighthearted movie> — see SAD 2
2 given to expressing strong emotion (as sorrow) by readily shedding tears <he's one of those teary drunks who sees fit to bore the other bar patrons with his sad stories> — see TEARFUL 1

tease noun
1 a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another <she can be a very cruel tease when she happens upon an unpopular girl who is easily hurt> — see TORMENTOR
2 one who is obnoxiously annoying <my youngest brother is a complete tease, following me around everywhere and aping my every move> — see NUISANCE 1

tease verb
1 to make fun of in a good-natured way <likes to tease her twin brother about his seemingly endless string of girlfriends>

Synonyms
chaff, jive, joke, josh, kid, rally, razz, rib, ride, roast

Related Words
banter; fool, fun, string along; jest, quip, wisecrack; gag, jape, jolly, yuk (or yuck) [slang]

Phrases
goof on [slang], take the mickey out of [British]

2 to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults <grew up being teased because his parents were hog farmers>

Synonyms
bait, hassle, haze, heckle, needle, ride, taunt

Related Words
deride, gibe (or jibe), jeer, mock, ridicule; annoy, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, fret, frost, gall, get, gnaw (at), grate, gripe, hack (off), hagride, irk, irritate, itch, nag, nark [British], nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, trouble, vex; aggravate, exasperate, goad, test, try; aggrieve, agitate, bedevil, beleaguer, discomfort, disturb, perturb; badger, dog, hound; browbeat, bully, hector; harass, harry, persecute, plague, terrorize, torment, torture

Phrases
make game of, pick on

teaser noun
1 a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another <the teasers were never satisfied until they had caused their victim to burst into tears> — see TORMENTOR
2 one who is obnoxiously annoying <he was by nature a teaser, someone who kept testing people to see if they could calmly bear his put-downs> — see NUISANCE 1

teasing noun
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another <stop that teasing before you make the baby cry> — see ANNOYANCE 1

technical adjective
used by or intended for experts in a particular field of knowledge <although the owner's manual for the receiver was supposedly written for the average consumer, it's filled with technical language>

Synonyms
specialized

Related Words
esoteric, especial, exclusive, limited, narrow, peculiar, restricted, special, specific, unique; authoritative, expert, professional, specialist (or specialistic); technicalized

Near Antonyms
common, generalized, generic, nonexclusive, nonspecific, ordinary, overall, universal; inexpert, lay, nonprofessional, unprofessional; self-evident, self-explanatory, straightforward

Antonyms
general, nontechnical, untechnical

technique noun
the means or procedure for doing something <showed me a different knitting technique> — see METHOD

tectonic adjective
having great meaning or lasting effect <a tectonic shift in societal trends occurred in the 1960s> — see IMPORTANT 1

tedious adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <a long and tedious staff meeting> — see BORING

tedium noun
the state of being bored <the tedium of spending a hot afternoon trapped inside the house> — see BOREDOM

teed off adjective
1 feeling or showing anger <the boss is really teed off about the loss of one of our most important clients, so don't go near him> — see ANGRY
2 subjected to and reacting with irritation <she gets really teed off if you touch anything on her desk> — see ANNOYED

teem verb
to be copiously supplied <the area teems with entrepreneurs hoping to hit upon the next big thing> — see ABOUND

teeming adjective
possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified <oceans teeming with life> — see RIFE

teensy adjective
very small in size <for years we lived in a teensy apartment that was the size of the proverbial broom closet> — see TINY

teensy–weensy adjective
very small in size <she wore a teensy-weensy bikini that was appropriately likened to dental floss> — see TINY

teeny adjective
very small in size <had to look closely to see the teeny splinter in her foot> — see TINY

teeny–weeny adjective
very small in size <kept losing the teeny-weeny coffee mugs for the kitchen in her dollhouse> — see TINY

teeter verb
1 to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side <he drunkenly teetered at the edge of the pool>

Synonyms
falter, rock, totter, waver, wobble (also wabble)

Related Words
flounder, lurch, stumble, toddle; quake, quaver, quiver, shake, shudder, tremble, vibrate; careen, reel, stagger, weave

2 to move forward while swaying from side to side <the toddler teetered down the stairs on her mother's high heels> — see STAGGER 1
3 to show uncertainty about the right course of action <was teetering on the brink of making a decision about college> — see HESITATE

teetotaler or teetotaller noun
a person who abstains from alcoholic beverages <in a quandary about what to serve for the wedding toast since his future in-laws are teetotalers> — see NONDRINKER

teetotalist noun
a person who abstains from alcoholic beverages <not exactly looking forward to spending the holidays, including New Year's, with relatives who are strict teetotalists> — see NONDRINKER

telegraphic adjective
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <when dealing with her staff, she communicated mostly in telegraphic sentences and meaningful looks> — see CONCISE

telephone verb
to make a telephone call to <I'll try to telephone the office and make an appointment today> — see CALL 2

telescope verb
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together <for dramatic purposes, the film telescopes the years over which the events occurred into a few short months> — see COMPRESS 1

telescoping noun
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing <the telescoping of the season for movie awards into a couple of months> — see COMPRESSION

television noun
an electronic device with a screen and speakers that reproduces images and sound <people who turn on the television the minute they walk in the door>

Synonyms
boob tube, box, idiot box, telly [chiefly British], tube, TV

Related Words
LCD, plasma; home theater, home video

tell verb
1 to give an oral or written account of in some detail <they told the story of how they had met>

Synonyms
chart, chronicle, describe, narrate, recite, recount, rehearse, relate, report

Related Words
deliver, give, reel off, state, utter, voice; detail, enumerate, itemize, particularize; bare, disclose, divulge, expose, let on (about), reveal; delineate, depict, express, render, sketch

Phrases
set forth

2 to express (a thought or emotion) in words <just tell us what is in your heart> — see SAY 1
3 to find the sum of (a collection of things) by noting each one as it is being added <who can tell the number of grains of sand in the world?> — see COUNT 1
4 to give information to <tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?> — see ENLIGHTEN 1
5 to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority <told us to sit still and wait> — see COMMAND 1
6 to make known (as information previously kept secret) <I won't tell your secret to anyone> — see REVEAL 1

tell (of) verb
to serve as a sign or symptom of <his shoddy performance in the debate tells of too little preparation> — see INDICATE 1

tell (on) verb
1 to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response <the pressure of final exams is beginning to tell on the students in the dorm> — see 1AFFECT 1
2 to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities <in that neighborhood, you wouldn't even think about telling on the drug dealers> — see SQUEAL 1

telling adjective
having the power to persuade <presented us with telling evidence that convinced us he was right> — see COGENT

telltale adjective
indicating something <I know you've been eating chocolate because of the telltale smudges on your face> — see INDICATIVE

telltale noun
1 a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others <the media's professional telltales have basically decided that today's celebrities have no right to privacy> — see GOSSIP 1
2 a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <the department telltale told the boss that his coworkers were taking extra long breaks> — see INFORMER

telly noun, chiefly British
an electronic device with a screen and speakers that reproduces images and sound <has had the same telly since the Thatcher administration> — see TELEVISION

temblor noun
a shaking of the earth <a temblor knocked down many of the buildings in the village> — see EARTHQUAKE 1

temerarious adjective
foolishly adventurous or bold <temerarious people rush in without forethought> — see FOOLHARDY 1

temerity noun
shameless boldness <she had the temerity to ask my boyfriend if she could go out with him should he and I ever break up> — see EFFRONTERY

temper noun
1 a special quality or impression associated with something <there's a temper of tranquillity about the retreat that visitors find very inviting> — see AURA 1
2 a state of mind dominated by a particular emotion <was in quite a bad temper after spilling his juice all over his new shirt> — see MOOD 1
3 one's characteristic attitude or mood <she has an even temper and a calm manner that sets everyone all at ease> — see DISPOSITION 1

temperament noun
one's characteristic attitude or mood <looking for a dog with a sweet temperament> — see DISPOSITION 1

temperamental adjective
1 frequently influenced by moods and especially bad moods <one of those temperamental actresses who can make life difficult for everyone around her> — see MOODY
2 likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <stock prices have been pretty temperamental lately, often fluctuating wildly> — see FICKLE 1

temperance noun
1 an avoidance of extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits <my father attributes his ripe old age to temperance in all things, especially eating and drinking>

Synonyms
moderateness, moderation, temperateness

Related Words
constraint, control, discipline, restraint, self-control, self-discipline; middle-of-the-roadism; asceticism, austerity, frugality, mortification, sacrifice, self-command, self-containment, self-denial, self-mastery; abnegation, abstention, avoidance, eschewal, forbearance; rationality, rationalness, reasonability, reasonableness, sensibility, sensibleness; abstinence, soberness, sobriety, teetotalism

Near Antonyms
excess, superfluity; extremeness, extremity; unconstraint, unrestraint; extremism, radicalness; irrationality, unreasonableness; insobriety

Antonyms
excessiveness, immoderacy, immoderateness, immoderation, intemperance, intemperateness

2 voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites <practices a blue-blooded temperance that his parvenu neighbors will never understand> — see ABSTINENCE 1

temperate adjective
1 avoiding extremes in behavior or expression <rather temperate in his appraisal of the movie, calling it good but not great> — see MODERATE 1
2 marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low <escaped a cold Midwestern winter by vacationing in a more temperate climate down south> — see CLEMENT 1
3 given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites <a soft-spoken, serious-minded person of temperate habits> — see ABSTEMIOUS

temperateness noun
an avoidance of extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits <there was a steadfast temperateness about every aspect of his life> — see TEMPERANCE 1

tempest noun
1 a disturbance of the atmosphere accompanied by wind and often by precipitation (as rain or snow) <the sudden summertime tempest drove us off the golf course and into the clubhouse> — see STORM 1
2 a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) <the town council handled the tempest over cuts to the school budget as well as could be expected> — see CONVULSION

tempestuous adjective
1 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <order was restored to the court after the judge put a stop to the defendant's tempestuous outburst> — see VIOLENT 1
2 marked by sudden or violent disturbance <in terms of social change, the 1960s are generally considered the most tempestuous decade in recent American history> — see CONVULSIVE 1
3 marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements <we spent a tempestuous night stranded on the summit of the mountain> — see WILD 3
4 marked by wet and windy conditions <stay indoors this weekend as the weather promises to be tempestuous> — see FOUL 1

temple noun
a building for public worship and especially Christian worship <the largest temple in the Gothic style in the country> — see CHURCH 1

temporal adjective
1 having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven <do not worry about temporal concerns, but instead focus on spiritual matters> — see EARTHLY
2 not involving religion or religious matters <administrators on campus are in place to deal with students' temporal needs, and spiritual advisors are available to help students with their nontemporal needs> — see PROFANE 1

temporariness noun
the state or quality of lasting only for a short time <the temporariness of the job is probably the reason why so few people are applying for it> — see IMPERMANENCE

temporary adjective
1 intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time <summer workers looking for temporary accommodations in private homes>

Synonyms
ad interim, impermanent, interim, provisional, provisionary, provisory, short-term

Related Words
acting; alternate, proxy, substitute; expedient, improvised, makeshift; intermediary, intermediate, transitional; ephemeral, fleeting, fugitive, short-lived, transitory; conditional, contingent, limited, qualified, short-range, tentative; replaceable, terminable, terminate

Near Antonyms
final, fixed, set, settled; unconditional, unlimited, unqualified; extended, lasting, long-range, standing; dateless, deathless, endless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, perpetual, timeless, undying, unending

Antonyms
long-term, permanent

2 lasting only for a short time <a temporary lapse of memory> — see MOMENTARY
3 serving in a position for the time being <the temporary head of the sales division> — see ACTING

temporizer noun
1 a person who dexterously and expediently changes or adopts opinions <the kind of temporizer who determines his position on a political issue by taking a look at the polls> — see ACROBAT 2
2 one who does things only for his own benefit and with little regard for right and wrong <a lifelong temporizer, he was for the war as long as it was popular and against it the minute the tide of public opinion went the other way> — see SELF-SEEKER

tempt verb
1 to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage <that chocolate dessert sure tempts me, but I should stick with my diet> — see LURE
2 to take a chance on <refusing to lay in enough food for the long winter tempts the dangers of starvation> — see RISK 1

temptation noun
1 the pressure to give in to a desire for easy or immediate pleasure <he felt the temptation to go sailing, but did his chores instead>

Synonyms
allurement, enticement, lure, seduction

Related Words
siren song; allure, appeal, attraction, attractiveness, charm, enchantment, glamour (also glamor); beckoning, invitation; bait, inducement, influence, persuasion, power, sway

2 something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain <money, power, and other overwhelming temptations can seduce a person to a life of crime> — see LURE 1

tempter noun
one that tries to get a person to give in to a desire <there is no greater tempter to put off studying than my dog when he wants to play>

Synonyms
baiter, seducer, solicitor

Related Words
beguiler, enchantress, siren, temptress; tantalizer; briber, inducer, inveigler, persuader; corrupter (also corruptor), debaser, debaucher, degrader, depraver, perverter, undoer

temptress noun
a woman whom men find irresistibly attractive <Greta Garbo, one of the most famous temptresses ever to appear on screen, died in 1990> — see SIREN

ten noun
a physically attractive person <promised me that she would fix me up with a ten> — see DOLL 2

tenable adjective
1 capable of being defended against physical attack <the soldiers' encampment on the open plain was not tenable, so they retreated to higher ground>

Synonyms
defendable, defensible

Related Words
defended, guarded, protected, safeguarded, secure, secured, shielded; bulletproof, impregnable, indomitable, invincible, inviolable, invulnerable, unassailable, unbeatable, unconquerable, untouchable

Near Antonyms
vincible, vulnerable; assailable, exposed, imperiled (or imperilled), insecure, liable, open, susceptible, undefended, unguarded, unprotected, unsecured; defenseless, helpless, powerless, weak

Antonyms
indefensible, untenable

2 capable of being defended with good reasoning against verbal attack <the tenable theory that a giant meteor strike set off a chain of events resulting in the demise of the dinosaurs>

Synonyms
defendable, defensible, justifiable, maintainable, supportable, sustainable

Related Words
rational, reasonable, sensible, well-grounded; acceptable, admissible, allowable, exceptionable, legitimate, passable, unobjectionable, viable, warrantable; confirmable, provable, verifiable; explainable, explicable

Near Antonyms
absurd, illogical, irrational, ridiculous, unsound; extreme, outrageous, unreasonable; groundless, objectionable, unacceptable, unfounded; inexplicable, unexplainable

Antonyms
indefensible, insupportable, unjustifiable, unsustainable, untenable

tenacious adjective
1 continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement <a tenacious trainer, she adheres to her grueling swimming schedule no matter what> — see PERSISTENT
2 tending to adhere to objects upon contact <you'll have a devil of a time getting those tenacious burrs off of your wool sweater> — see STICKY 1

tenant noun
1 one who rents a room or apartment in another's house <the laundry in the basement is for tenants only>

Synonyms
boarder, lessee, lodger, renter, roomer

Related Words
cotenant, subtenant; flatmate [chiefly British], roommate (also roomie); guest, visitor; occupant, occupier, resident, resider

Near Antonyms
laird [chiefly Scottish], landholder, landowner, proprietor; landlady; slumlord; host, innkeeper, proprietor

Antonyms
landlord, lessor, letter

2 one who lives permanently in a place <the abandoned warehouse's only tenants are a band of squatters> — see INHABITANT

1tend verb
to show a liking or proneness (for something) <her wardrobe tends toward dark colors and heavy fabrics> — see LEAN 2

2tend verb
1 to take charge of especially on behalf of another <tend the store while I run an errand>

Synonyms
attend, care (for), mind, oversee, superintend, supervise, watch

Related Words
administrate, conduct, control, direct, govern, guide, manage, operate, preside (over), regulate, run, steward; guard, patrol, protect, safeguard, shield; baby, babysit, chaperone (or chaperon), mother, shepherd

Phrases
look after, see after, see to, take care of

Near Antonyms
abandon, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, pass over

2 to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care <lately I haven't been doing a good job of tending my garden> — see GROW 1
3 to work by plowing, sowing, and raising crops on <plots that during the war were tended by city dwellers as vegetable gardens> — see FARM
4 to look after and make decisions about <the dying patriarch wondered who would tend the family business after he was gone> — see CONDUCT 1

tendency noun
1 an established pattern of behavior <a tendency to drop things> <a tendency to make snap judgments>

Synonyms
aptness, proneness, propensity, way

Related Words
affinity, aptitude, bent, disposition, inclination, leaning, mind-set, partiality, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, turn; custom, habit, pattern, practice (also practise), routine, wont; eccentricity, idiosyncrasy, oddity, peculiarity, quirk, singularity, trick

Near Antonyms
averseness, disinclination, dislike, indisposition

2 a prevailing or general movement or inclination <we'll be seeing a tendency for skirt lengths to get shorter this coming season> — see TREND 1
3 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <a youth with a natural tendency toward arts and crafts instead of sports> — see INCLINATION 1

tendentiousness noun
an attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting especially without considering any other possibilities <the palpable and unrelenting tendentiousness that pervades her every political pronouncement> — see BIAS 1

tender adjective
1 easily injured without careful handling <a tender wound> <tender plants that cannot take the cold> <tender pride that got bruised when his girlfriend dumped him>

Synonyms
delicate, fragile, frail, sensitive

Related Words
breakable, brittle, crushable, eggshell, frangible, friable; feeble, flimsy, puny, slight, soft, tenuous, weak; nonhardy, perishable, resistless, susceptible, unresistant, vulnerable, yielding

Near Antonyms
durable, firm, flinty, hard, hardy, resistant, robust, rugged, solid, sound, stiff, stout, strong, sturdy, substantial; infrangible, nonbreakable, unbreakable; hardened, inured, strengthened, tempered, toughened

Antonyms
tough

2 feeling or showing love <a tender embrace between father and daughter> — see LOVING 1
3 having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others <an especially tender teacher who loves having kids with special educational needs in her class> — see HUMANE 1
4 lacking bodily strength <a very tender child who always seems to be sick> — see WEAK 1
5 not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect <his tender comments on how to improve her writing style were gratefully received> — see GENTLE 1

tender noun
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <money from that board game is not legal tender and can't be exchanged for goods or services> — see MONEY 1

tender verb
to put before another for acceptance or consideration <the coach tendered his resignation and started a new career as a physical therapist> — see OFFER 1

tenderfoot noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <skateboarders who are tenderfeet will inevitably fall as they learn their first moves> — see BEGINNER

tenderhearted adjective
1 feeling or showing love <a tenderhearted new mother> — see LOVING 1
2 having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others <a tenderhearted offer of help for the victims of the earthquake> — see HUMANE 1

tenderheartedness noun
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others <a hard-nosed businessman, better known for his tough-mindedness than for his tenderheartedness> — see BENIGNANCY

tenderness noun
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others <a self-made business powerhouse, she didn't make her fortune by womanly displays of tenderness> — see BENIGNANCY

tending adjective
having a tendency to be or act in a certain way <men tending toward daily exercise will significantly reduce their risk of cardiac arrest> — see PRONE 1

tenebrific adjective
1 being without light or without much light <a man unexpectedly emerged from the tenebrific shadows of the cave> — see DARK 1
2 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <soldiers who had lived for months in the tenebrific trenches that stretched along the western front> — see GLOOMY 1

tenebrous adjective
1 being without light or without much light <a tenebrous night with no moon> — see DARK 1
2 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <in the midst of those tenebrous days Thomas Paine penned the immortal words “These are the times that try men's souls”> — see GLOOMY 1

tenement noun
a room or set of rooms in a private house or a block used as a separate dwelling place <an exhibit of pictures showing the tenements of the New York City neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen during the 1920s> — see APARTMENT 1

tense adjective
1 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <was tense about the upcoming bar exam> — see NERVOUS 1
2 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <a tense relationship existed between the two teachers> — see NERVOUS 2
3 stretched with little or no give <a tense rope> — see TAUT

tense verb
to draw tight <he tensed his muscles and attempted to lift the heavy appliance onto the truck> — see TIGHTEN

tension noun
the burden on one's emotional or mental well-being created by demands on one's time <under a lot of tension right now about her decision not to go to college> — see STRESS 1

tent noun
a raised covering over something for decoration or protection <a huge tent was erected for the outdoor wedding reception> — see CANOPY

tentative adjective
determined by something else <our plans are only tentative at this point and will depend on whether you can come> — see DEPENDENT 2

tenty also tentie adjective, Scottish
paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity <I warn ye now, ye best be tenty> — see ALERT 1

tenure noun
a fixed period of time during which a person holds a job or position <during his tenure as president the college experienced steady growth> — see TERM 1

tepid adjective
1 showing little or no interest or enthusiasm <the proposed table tennis club met with only a tepid response>

Synonyms
halfhearted, lukewarm, uneager, unenthusiastic

Related Words
apathetic, disinterested, dispassionate, emotionless, impassive, indifferent, neutral, uncaring, uninterested; lackadaisical, languid, listless, perfunctory, undemonstrative, unemotional, unresponsive; unfeeling, unsympathetic; chill, chilly, cold, cool, frigid, frosty, glacial, icy, unfriendly, wintry (also wintery)

Near Antonyms
agog, ardent, avid, exuberant, fervid, feverish, fiery, gung ho, hot-blooded, impassioned, intense, raring, red-hot, vehement; engaged, engrossed, interested; ready, willing; cordial, friendly, genial, warmhearted

Antonyms
eager, enthusiastic, hearty, keen, passionate, warm, wholehearted

2 having or giving off heat to a moderate degree <make sure the water for the footbath is just tepid or you'll burn yourself> — see WARM 1

tepidity noun
the quality or state of being moderate in temperature <bathers enjoying the soothing tepidity of the waters at the health spa> — see WARMTH 1

tepidness noun
the quality or state of being moderate in temperature <the tepidness of the soup suggested it had been sitting on the counter for a while> — see WARMTH 1

tergiversate verb
to avoid giving a definite answer or position <shamelessly tergiversating, the witness replied, “Well, it depends upon what your definition of ‘truth’ is”> — see EQUIVOCATE

tergiversation noun
deliberate evasion in speech <like most politicians, he has the gift for tergiversation> — see CIRCUMLOCUTION 1

term noun
1 a fixed period of time during which a person holds a job or position <elected for a two-year term as mayor>

Synonyms
hitch, stint, tenure, tour

Related Words
shift, watch; go, turn; duration, standing, time; cycle, span, spell, stretch; life, life span, lifetime, run

2 a pronounceable series of letters having a distinct meaning especially in a particular field <what's the term for the odd feeling that you've experienced an event before?> — see WORD 1

term verb
to give a name to <the armed forces began a rescue mission termed Operation In and Out> — see NAME 1

termagant noun
a bad-tempered scolding woman <living with that termagant was almost as bad as living with a rabid dog> — see SHREW

terminal adjective
1 following all others of the same kind in order or time <took me to the terminal point of that bus route> — see LAST 1
2 likely to cause or capable of causing death <a form of cancer that is usually terminal> — see DEADLY 1

terminate verb
1 to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point <we need to terminate the discussion for this evening, but we'll resume tomorrow morning> — see CLOSE 3
2 to come to an end <this class will terminate with the arrival of Memorial Day> — see CEASE 1
3 to mark the limits of <terminated the area set aside for the runners to change their clothes with a series of folding screens> — see LIMIT 2
4 to put to death deliberately <the operative's covert mission was to terminate the leader of the opposition> — see MURDER 1
5 to let go from office, service, or employment <he was terminated for constantly coming in to work late> — see DISMISS 1

terminated adjective
brought or having come to an end <peace talks have now been terminated> — see COMPLETE 2

terminating adjective
following all others of the same kind in order or time <the terminating speech of the political convention turned out to be the most inspiring> — see LAST 1

termination noun
1 a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go <I've reached the termination of my patience with you bratty kids> — see LIMIT 1
2 the act of ceasing to exist <feels that the voluntary termination of one's life should be left entirely up to the patient> — see DEATH 3
3 the stopping of a process or activity <at the termination of the movie, please throw away any empty food containers in the appropriate bins> — see END 1

terminology noun
the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field <the terminology favored by sportscasters> <medical terminology that can be hard for the patient to understand>

Synonyms
argot, cant, dialect, jargon, jive, language, lingo, patois, patter, shop, shoptalk, slang, vocabulary

Related Words
colloquial, colloquialism, idiom, localism, parlance, pidgin, provincialism, regionalism, speech, vernacular, vernacularism; slanguage; bureaucratese, computerese, cyberspeak, educationese, governmentese, journalese, technobabble

terrace noun
a flat roofless structure attached to a building <from their terraces residents of the high-rise have panoramic views of the city> — see SUNDECK

terra firma noun
the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air <after that nightmarish storm, the sailors were grateful to reach terra firma> — see EARTH 2

terrain noun
1 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <we're moving into unfamiliar terrain if we bring pre-Columbian art into our discussion> — see FIELD 2
2 the physical features of a region as a whole <an analysis of the terrain revealed that an invasion force of paratroopers would have their work cut out for them> — see GEOGRAPHY
3 the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded <a new senator getting lost in the foggy terrain of double-dealing and deception> — see ENVIRONMENT

terrene adjective
having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven <in the expenditure of his psychic energies, he strives to strike a balance between the celestial and the terrene> — see EARTHLY

terrestrial adjective
1 having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven <scientists haven't even found all the terrestrial life on our planet> — see EARTHLY
2 having to do with the practical details of regular life <let's focus on terrestrial issues—such as how to pay the bills> — see MUNDANE 1

terrible adjective
1 causing fear <a terrible nightmare that woke me up> — see FEARFUL 1
2 extreme in degree, power, or effect <I have a terrible headache> — see INTENSE 1
3 extremely disturbing or repellent <that is a terrible movie to let your six-year-old watch> — see HORRIBLE 1
4 extremely unsatisfactory <this nonfat ice cream is terrible> — see WRETCHED 1
5 of low quality <manufactures terrible clothes that often tear after a single wash> — see CHEAP 2

terribly adverb
to a great degree <I'm terribly sorry to bother you> — see VERY 1

terrific adjective
1 of the very best kind <you've done a terrific job on this report> — see EXCELLENT
2 extremely disturbing or repellent <a terrific murder that sickened even hard-bitten police officers> — see HORRIBLE 1

terrified adjective
filled with fear or dread <terrified dogs hiding under the couch> — see AFRAID

terrify verb
to strike with fear <the prospect of speaking in front of a huge crowd of people absolutely terrifies me> — see FRIGHTEN

terrifying adjective
causing fear <heard a terrifying noise coming from the next room> — see FEARFUL 1

territory noun
the place where a plant or animal is usually or naturally found <that plant's territory extends from Georgia all the way north to Maine> — see HOME 2

terror noun
1 a source of persistent emotional distress <after the death of her father, fear of developing cancer became one of the terrors of her life> — see DEMON 2
2 the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger <the reports of a serial killer on the loose struck terror into our hearts> — see FEAR 1

terrorize verb
to strike with fear <thunderstorms terrorize our cats, who all scamper downstairs when lightning flashes> — see FRIGHTEN

terrorized adjective
filled with fear or dread <the terrorized victims didn't know where to run during the bombing raid> — see AFRAID

terse adjective
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <could tell from his terse replies to my questions that he was in no mood to talk> — see CONCISE

tersely adverb
in a few words <she stated her dissatisfaction rather tersely with a simple “I don't approve”> — see SHORTLY 1

terseness noun
the quality or state of being marked by or using only few words to convey much meaning <the terseness of my replies simply meant that I was too busy to talk at that time> — see SUCCINCTNESS

test noun
1 a procedure or operation carried out to resolve an uncertainty <will need to run some tests on the blood sample to rule out blood poisoning> — see EXPERIMENT
2 a set of questions or problems designed to assess knowledge, skills, or intelligence <applicants for the cashier's position must first take a simple math test> — see EXAMINATION 1

test verb
1 to put (something) to a test <please test this sample for the presence of lead> — see TRY OUT
2 to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress <all of these unnecessary questions are testing my patience> — see TRY 1

testament noun
1 something presented in support of the truth or accuracy of a claim <the “before” and “after” pictures are a testament to the effectiveness of the weight loss program> — see PROOF
2 the basic beliefs or guiding principles of a person or group <Jefferson's collected writings constitute his political testament> — see CREED 1

testify verb
to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact <several witnesses testified that they had seen the accused in the vicinity of the crime scene>

Synonyms
attest, depose, swear, witness

Related Words
verify; vouch; promise, vow

Phrases
bear witness

testify (to) verb
to declare (something) to be true or genuine <that auction house will always testify to a painting's authenticity> — see CERTIFY 1

testimonial noun
something presented in support of the truth or accuracy of a claim <her performance in this tournament has been a testimonial to the dedication and talent she brings to the tennis court> — see PROOF

testimony noun
something presented in support of the truth or accuracy of a claim <the plaintiff's case rests largely on the testimony of several scientists with no known expertise in that field> — see PROOF

testiness noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <attributed his unusual testiness this morning to being hungry> — see PETULANCE

testing adjective
requiring considerable physical or mental effort <beginning rock climbers should choose a less testing route to the summit> — see HARD 2

testy adjective
easily irritated or annoyed <that coworker would be easier to get along with if she weren't so testy all the time> — see IRRITABLE

tetchy adjective
easily offended <a morose and tetchy resident of a nursing home> — see TOUCHY 1

tête–à–tête adverb
in person and usually privately <met tête-à-tête with the student's parents to discuss his disciplinary problems in class>

Synonyms
face-to-face, personally

Related Words
familiarly, intimately; confidentially, secretly; directly, immediately

Phrases
in private, in secret

Near Antonyms
distantly, indirectly; openly, publicly

tête–à–tête noun
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this <had a quick tête-à-tête with my neighbor before heading off to work> — see CHAT 1

text noun
a book used for instruction in a subject <the school's science curriculum suffers from a serious lack of up-to-date texts> — see TEXTBOOK

textbook adjective
constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated <a textbook example of a film that captures the feel of the novel on which it is based> — see MODEL

textbook noun
a book used for instruction in a subject <one shelf in my bookcase is crammed full of my old college textbooks>

Synonyms
handbook, manual, primer, text

Related Words
schoolbook; grammar, reader, speller; tract, treatise; dictionary, lexicon, vocabulary, wordbook; casebook, encyclopedia, reference; bible, guide, guidebook

textile noun
a woven or knitted material (as of cotton or nylon) <brought back a whole suitcase of beautiful textiles from India> — see CLOTH 1

thankful adjective
1 experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight <we were thankful that someone else was footing the bill for the lavish wedding banquet> — see GLAD 1
2 feeling or expressing gratitude <I am thankful for all your help> — see GRATEFUL 1

thankfulness noun
acknowledgment of having received something good from another <expressed her thankfulness for helping her move by taking us all out for dinner> — see THANKS

thankless adjective
1 not showing gratitude <a thankless boss who seems oblivious to the extra effort his subordinates have made>

Synonyms
unappreciative, ungrateful

Related Words
rude, thoughtless, ungracious

Near Antonyms
beholden, indebted; gratified, pleased; courteous, gracious, thoughtful

Antonyms
appreciative, grateful, obliged, thankful

2 not likely to be appreciated by those who benefit <the thankless job of cleaning up after a party>

Synonyms
unappreciated, ungrateful

Related Words
uncredited, underappreciated, underrated, undervalued, unnoticed, unrecognized, unrewarded, unsung, unvalued

Near Antonyms
credited, esteemed, honored, prized, recognized, regarded, rewarded, valued; creditable, meritorious, praiseworthy

Antonyms
appreciated

thanklessness noun
failure or refusal to acknowledge receipt of something good from another <the mayor has become used to the unthinking thanklessness of the people he's trying to serve> — see INGRATITUDE

thanks plural noun
acknowledgment of having received something good from another <to express our thanks, we'd like to present you with this plaque>

Synonyms
appreciation, appreciativeness, gratefulness, gratitude, thankfulness

Related Words
thanksgiving; gratification, indebtedness, satisfaction; acknowledgment (or acknowledgement), recognition, tribute

Antonyms
ingratitude, thanklessness, unappreciation, ungratefulness

that adverb
to a great degree <the hotel isn't that far from the beach> — see VERY 1

thaumaturgy noun
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <a macabre tale about a woman who uses thaumaturgy to bring her dead lover back to life> — see MAGIC 1

thaw verb
to go from a solid to a liquid state <will have to let the apple juice concentrate thaw before you can mix it with water> — see LIQUEFY

thawed adjective
freed from a frozen state by exposure to warmth <recommends cooking thawed fish within 24 hours>

Synonyms
defrosted, unfrozen

Related Words
liquefied, melted, molten; deiced; heated, warmed

Near Antonyms
chilled, iced, refrigerated; quick-frozen, refrozen, supercooled; congealed, glaciated, semisolid; frostbitten, frosty, icy

Antonyms
frozen

theater or theatre noun
1 a building or part of a building where movies are shown <there's still one theater in town that shows independent films>

Synonyms
cinema, playhouse

Related Words
nickelodeon; megaplex, multiplex, plex (or 'plex); art house, art theater, cinematheque; fleapit [British], grind house; drive-in

2 the public performance of plays <have been fascinated by the theater ever since I was a child> — see DRAMA 1
3 a large room or building for enclosed public gatherings <the lecturer waited until the theater was full before beginning> — see HALL 3

theatrical also theatric adjective
1 given to or marked by attention-getting behavior suggestive of stage acting <after stepping out of their hired limousine, the prom couple made a theatrical entrance in their evening clothes>

Synonyms
dramatic, hammy, histrionic, melodramatic, stagy (or stagey)

Related Words
actorish, actorly, actressy; overacted, overdone, sensational, staged; conspicuous, elaborate, flamboyant, grandiose, ostentatious, showy; affected, artificial, exaggerated, mannered, pretentious, self-conscious, studied, unnatural

Near Antonyms
nondramatic, nontheatrical, unaffected, underplayed, unpretentious; muted, restrained, subdued, toned (down); conservative, discreet, inconspicuous; modest, plain, quiet, simple

Antonyms
undramatic

2 having the general quality or effect of a stage performance <in a very theatrical voice the actress announced to the gathering that she did not sign autographs> — see DRAMATIC 1

theatricals plural noun
the public performance of plays <has been involved in amateur theatricals for most of his adult life> — see DRAMA 1

theatrics plural noun
the public performance of plays <before her first film role, her acting experience had been limited to amateur theatrics> — see DRAMA 1

theft noun
1 the unlawful taking and carrying away of property without the consent of its owner <while violent crime in the city has decreased dramatically, rates of theft and vandalism have risen slightly>

Synonyms
larceny, robbery, stealing, thievery

Related Words
burglary, housebreaking; embezzlement, embezzling, graft, misapplication, misappropriation, peculation; petit larceny, petty larceny; filching, pilferage, pilfering, purloining, shoplifting; abduction, carjacking, hijacking (also highjacking), kidnapping (also kidnaping), shanghaiing; despoilment, despoliation, looting, pillage, plundering, rapine, spoliation; poaching, rustling; black marketeering, smuggling; banditry, piracy

2 an instance of theft <the police found the stolen car an hour after the theft was reported>

Synonyms
grab, heist, pinch, rip-off, snatching, swiping

Related Words
break-in, burglary, holdup, mugging, stickup

theme noun
1 a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) <this dance piece deals with the timeless themes of birth and death> — see MATTER 1
2 a short piece of writing done as a school exercise <please write a one page theme on the main character of this book> — see COMPOSITION 2
3 a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view <the magazine will award a scholarship to the student who writes the best theme on the concept of personal freedom> — see ESSAY 1

then adverb
in addition to what has been said <there's the cost of the car itself, and then there's the cost of insurance and maintenance> — see MORE 1

theoretical also theoretic adjective
1 existing only as an assumption or speculation <the merits of the new testing procedures are purely theoretical, since no one has ever used them before>

Synonyms
academic (also academical), conjectural, hypothetical, speculative, suppositional

Related Words
alleged, assumed, presumed, presupposed, proposed, supposed, unproved, unproven, untested; debatable, moot; abstract, conceptual, intellectual, metaphysical; nonclinical, nonpractical; nonempirical

Near Antonyms
clinical, practical; concrete, defined, definite, distinct; attested, authenticated, confirmed, demonstrated, established, proven, substantiated, tested, time-tested, validated, verified; empirical (also empiric), nonspeculative, nontheoretical, observational

Antonyms
actual, factual, real

2 dealing with or expressing a quality or idea <the theoretical musings in his new book are less engaging than the anecdote-driven arguments of his previous works> — see ABSTRACT 1

theory noun
an idea that is the starting point for making a case or conducting an investigation <set out to prove her theory that people can't really taste any difference between colas, so they buy according to the product's image>

Synonyms
hypothesis, proposition, supposition, thesis

Related Words
assumption, concession, premise (also premiss), presumption, presupposition, theorem; conjecture, generalization, guess, guesswork, inference, speculation, surmise; proffer, proposal, suggestion; feeling, hunch, impression, inkling, notion, suspicion; abstraction, concept, conception, construct

Near Antonyms
assurance, certainty, fact, knowledge

therapeutic adjective
tending to cure disease or restore health <gentle exercise can be therapeutic for hospital patients> — see MEDICINAL 1

therapeutic noun
something that corrects or counteracts something undesirable <some charitable work might be the best therapeutic for that guy's total self-absorption> — see CURE 1

therapy noun
something that corrects or counteracts something undesirable <talking over my problem with you has been good therapy> — see CURE 1

thereafter adverb
following in time or place <gave his farewell speech and left the room shortly thereafter> — see AFTER

therefore adverb
for this or that reason <it's snowing hard; therefore I think we should stay home>

Synonyms
accordingly, consequently, ergo, hence, so, thereupon, thus, wherefore

Phrases
in consequence

theretofore adverb
up to this or that time <theretofore the couple hadn't given much thought to marriage, but the unplanned pregnancy changed everything> — see HITHERTO

thereupon adverb
for this or that reason <she didn't get into the college of her choice and thereupon decided to study for a year before retaking the college entrance exams> — see THEREFORE

theriac noun
something that cures all ills or problems <the wizard's attempts to concoct a theriac for the king came to naught> — see CURE-ALL

thesis noun
1 an idea or opinion that is put forth in a discussion or debate <put forth the thesis that the electronic media's coverage of politics trivializes the workings of our democracy> — see CONTENTION 1
2 an idea that is the starting point for making a case or conducting an investigation <it is not clear how the arguments you make actually support your thesis> — see THEORY

thesp noun
one who acts professionally (as in a play, movie, or television show) <a brawling actor who is in danger of becoming better known as a thug than as a thesp> — see ACTOR 1

thespian noun
one who acts professionally (as in a play, movie, or television show) <although she's “acted” in a couple of horror movies, I'd hardly call her one of our more promising thespians> — see ACTOR 1

thew noun
muscular strength <a prizefighter of unparalleled thew in the boxing world> — see MUSCLE 1

thick adjective
1 having or being of relatively great depth or extent from one surface to its opposite <a thick board was laid across the pit>

Synonyms
chunky, fat

Related Words
blockish, blocky, bulky, dense, hefty, thickish; broad, deep, wide

Near Antonyms
narrow, shallow

Antonyms
skinny, slender, slim, thin

2 being of a consistency that resists flow <thick maple syrup for pancakes>

Synonyms
ropy (also ropey), syrupy, viscid, viscous

Related Words
creamy, heavy, slushy, thickened, thickish, turbid, undiluted; semifluid, semiliquid; gluey, glutinous, sticky; gelatinous, gooey, gummy, jellylike; concentrated, condensed

Near Antonyms
flowing, fluid; dilute, diluted, liquid, watered-down, weak

Antonyms
runny, soupy, thin, watery

3 closely acquainted <those two have been thick since grade school> — see FAMILIAR 1
4 having a greater than usual measure across <cross your name off the list with a really thick line so I can see it> — see WIDE 1
5 having little space between items or parts <a hedge thick with gorse bushes> — see CLOSE 1
6 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <couldn't believe that his guests were so thick that they were missing his hints that it was time to leave> — see STUPID 1
7 possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified <a meadow thick with wildflowers> — see RIFE

thick noun
the most intense or characteristic phase of something <in the thick of winter many Northerners are dreaming of tropical islands>

Synonyms
deep, depth, height, middle, midst

Related Words
center, heart

thicket noun
a thick patch of shrubbery, small trees, or underbrush <flushed a pheasant from a thicket of willows>

Synonyms
boscage (also boskage), bosk (or bosque), bosquet, brake, brushwood, chaparral, coppice, copse, covert

Related Words
canebrake; brush, bush, scrub, scrubland; bramble, jungle, tangle; grove, hedge, stand, woodlot; forest, greenwood, wildwood, wood, woodland

thickhead noun
a stupid person <a real thickhead when confronted with anything mechanical> — see IDIOT

thickheaded adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <don't suppose that he's thickheaded just because he doesn't understand English very well> — see STUPID 1

thickness noun
1 the degree to which a fluid can resist flowing <beat the eggs and sugar until the mixture has the thickness of heavy cream> — see CONSISTENCY
2 the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <he's an incredibly bright engineer, but he displays all the thickness of a turkey when it comes to personal relationships> — see STUPIDITY 1

thickset adjective
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature <a short, thickset bulldog> — see STOCKY

thick–skinned adjective
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <was so thick-skinned that she was clueless about the fact that the joke had hurt her friend's feelings> — see HARD 1

thick–witted adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <one of the most time-honored clichés of teen comedies: the thick-witted high school jock> — see STUPID 1

thief noun
one who steals <a thief has been stealing wallets and valuables from the lockers at the gym>

Synonyms
larcenist, pincher, purloiner, robber, stealer

Related Words
burglar, cat burglar, cracksman, housebreaker, picklock, safecracker; embezzler, grafter; klepto, kleptomaniac; sneak thief; cutpurse, dip [slang], pickpocket, pilferer, shoplifter; abductor, carjacker, hijacker, kidnapper (also kidnaper), skyjacker; despoiler, looter, pillager, plunderer, ransacker, ravisher; poacher, rustler, smuggler; bandit, footpad, highwayman, pirate; mugger

thieve verb
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep <someone's been thieving my cookies!> — see STEAL 1

thievery noun
the unlawful taking and carrying away of property without the consent of its owner <a man who has a history of petty thievery and narcotics peddling> — see THEFT 1

thimblerig verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <had the feeling that I had just been thimblerigged by the sweetest-looking old lady> — see FLEECE

thin adjective
1 having a noticeably small amount of body fat <after her bout with pneumonia, she looked thinner>

Synonyms
bony (also boney), fatless, lean, lithe, skinny, slender, slim, spare, svelte

Related Words
clean-limbed, trim; sylphlike, willowy; angular, rawboned, scraggy, scrawny, sinewy, wiry; lank, lanky, rangy, reedy, spindling, spindly, stringy, twiggy, waspish, weedy; anorectic (also anoretic), anorexic, cadaverous, emaciated, gaunt, haggard, pinched, skeletal, wasted, wizened; meager (or meagre), puny, slight

Near Antonyms
beefy, bulky, chunky, fleshy, heavy, heavyset, stocky, stout, thick, thickset, weighty; brawny, burly, husky; dumpy, pudgy, roly-poly, squat, stubby; paunchy, potbellied; flabby, soft; buxom, zaftig (also zoftig); fleshed-out, full, hippy, round

Antonyms
chubby, corpulent, fat, gross, obese, overweight, plump, portly, rotund, tubby

2 being of less than usual width <the thin threads of a cobweb> — see NARROW 1
3 not containing very much of some important element <the evidence for that oddball theory is pretty thin> — see WEAK 3

thin verb
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances <thinned the cream with milk but didn't tell anyone> — see ADULTERATE

thing noun
1 a member of the human race <you poor thing, you must be exhausted> — see HUMAN
2 one that has a real and independent existence <the thing to which the subject of the sentence refers> — see ENTITY
3 something done by someone <one of the things you can do is to help me clean up> — see ACTION 1
4 something material that can be perceived by the senses <can you hand me that thing over there?> — see OBJECT 1
5 something produced by physical or intellectual effort <just the latest thing from her fertile imagination> — see PRODUCT 1
6 something that happens <the burglary was just one of those things that can happen anywhere> — see EVENT 1
7 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <the important thing is that we get the project back on schedule> — see GOAL
8 something to be dealt with <I have lots of things to do this afternoon> — see MATTER 2
9 things plural transportable items that one owns <gather your things and get out> — see POSSESSION 2
10 something for which a person shows a special talent <math just isn't my thing> — see FORTE

thingamabob noun
a small article the actual name of which one either does not know or cannot remember <a drawer for all the thingamabobs that have fallen or broken off various items around the house> — see DOODAD 1

thingamajig or thingumajig noun
a small article the actual name of which one either does not know or cannot remember <reattach that thingamajig and the machine should work> — see DOODAD 1

thingness noun
the fact of being or of being real <conceptual artists have taken the thingness out of art, asserting that the artistic vision is embodied in the concept and not in any particular object> — see EXISTENCE

thingummy noun
a small article the actual name of which one either does not know or cannot remember <an antiques store filled with thingummies from the horse-and-buggy days> — see DOODAD 1

think verb
to have as an opinion <I think we should wait for someone to come help us out> — see BELIEVE 2

think (about or over) verb
to give serious and careful thought to <I'll have to think over everything you've said before deciding what to do> — see PONDER

think (of) verb
to bring back to mind <that postcard from Florida makes me think of all the fun we used to have there as kids> — see REMEMBER

think (up) verb
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination <the marketing department is trying to think up better ways to pitch our product to younger consumers> — see INVENT

thinker noun
1 a very smart person <she's a very nice person, but she's no great thinker> — see GENIUS 1
2 the part of a person that feels, thinks, perceives, wills, and especially reasons <loves crossword puzzles, bridge, and other pastimes that makes her use the old thinker> — see MIND 1

thinking adjective
having the ability to reason <it's surprising to find thinking people who believe such nonsense> — see RATIONAL 1

thinned adjective
1 containing foreign or lower-grade substances <genuine maple syrup thinned with corn syrup> — see IMPURE 1
2 not containing very much of some important element <the thinned iced tea that the restaurant serves is barely distinguishable from water> — see WEAK 3

thin–skinned adjective
easily offended <she only laughed at the teasing, but a more thin-skinned person would have gotten angry> — see TOUCHY 1

thirst noun
1 a strong wish for something <his thirst for knowledge is evident in his book-filled house> — see DESIRE 1
2 urgent desire or interest <an unquenchable thirst for travel that has led her to the far corners of the globe> — see EAGERNESS

thirst (for) verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <his wife has always thirsted for a more affluent lifestyle than their salaries would allow> — see DESIRE 1

thirstiness noun
a strong wish for something <the only way to satisfy that thirstiness for a new job is to start looking> — see DESIRE 1

thirsty adjective
1 marked by little or no precipitation or humidity <struggling to survive in that hot and thirsty climate> — see DRY 1
2 showing urgent desire or interest <young athletes thirsty for a chance to prove themselves> — see EAGER
3 able to soak up liquids especially readily <guest bathrooms are furnished with luxuriously thick, thirsty towels> — see ABSORBENT

this adjective
being the less far of two <some of the best restaurants are on this side of town> — see NEAR 1

thistly adjective
having leaves or branches which are likely to cause a scratch <caught her sleeve on a thistly bush> — see SCRATCHY 1

thorn noun
something that is a source of irritation <your constant questions are a thorn in my side> — see ANNOYANCE 3

thorny adjective
1 having leaves or branches which are likely to cause a scratch <stay out of the thorny brambles unless you want a ton of scratches> — see SCRATCHY 1
2 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <the candidate tried to avoid discussing his views on the thorny issue of abortion> — see TRICKY 1

thorough adjective
1 having no exceptions or restrictions <had thorough access to the files for her research> — see ABSOLUTE 2
2 including many small descriptive features <thorough analysis of the current crisis in Asia> — see DETAILED 1
3 trying all possibilities <a thorough search of the building that turned up no evidence of a bomb> — see EXHAUSTIVE 1
4 covering everything or all important points <a very thorough textbook on respiratory disorders> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC

thoroughbred adjective
of unmixed ancestry <a thoroughbred dog> — see PUREBRED

thoroughfare noun
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <one of the city's main thoroughfares> — see WAY 1

thoroughgoing adjective
1 having no exceptions or restrictions <civil rights advocates are hoping for a thoroughgoing rejection of the proposed bill> — see ABSOLUTE 2
2 trying all possibilities <a thoroughgoing attempt to solve the puzzle and still no luck> — see EXHAUSTIVE 1

thoroughly adverb
1 with attention to all aspects or details <they searched the grounds thoroughly for any sign of the intruder>

Synonyms
completely, comprehensively, detailedly, exhaustively, fully, inside out, minutely, roundly, sweepingly, systematically, through and through, totally

Related Words
meticulously, microscopically; all-out, full blast, intensively; broadly, encyclopedically, extensively, generally, globally, widely; conclusively, consummately, definitely, perfectly

Phrases
at length, from stem to stern, from the ground up, in detail

Near Antonyms
aimlessly, desultorily, haphazardly, hit-or-miss, randomly; cursorily, imperfectly, inadequately, narrowly, shallowly, sketchily, summarily, superficially; indeterminately, nebulously, vaguely

2 to a full extent or degree <I am thoroughly satisfied with her explanation of the events of that evening> — see FULLY 1

though adverb
in spite of that <I know we didn't win, but I was happy with how we played, though> — see HOWEVER

though conjunction
in spite of the fact that <though it has no well-known actors in it, the movie has become the sleeper hit of the summer> — see ALTHOUGH

thought noun
1 a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something <I'll give your request some thought and then let you know what my decision is> — see CONSIDERATION 1
2 something imagined or pictured in the mind <I just had a thought: what if we both pitched in and bought him one big present instead of two smaller presents for his birthday?> — see IDEA 1

thoughtful adjective
1 given to or made with heedful anticipation of the needs and happiness of others <a thoughtful offer to watch the neighbors' children on moving day> <a thoughtful manager who understands that people's families should be more important than their jobs>

Synonyms
attentive, considerate, kind, solicitous

Related Words
brotherly, good, good-hearted, helpful, hospitable, kindhearted, kindly, neighborly, nice; caring, compassionate, sympathetic, tender; chivalrous, courteous, courtly, gallant, gracious, polite; diplomatic, tactful; deferential, dutiful, obliging, regardful, respectful; altruistic, beneficent, benevolent, benignant, humane, selfless, unselfish; charitable, generous, magnanimous

Near Antonyms
inattentive, uncaring, unheeding; inhospitable, unkind, unkindly; ill-bred, ill-mannered, impolite, rude, uncivil, unmannerly; unhelpful; malevolent, malicious, mean, spiteful

Antonyms
heedless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, unthinking

2 decided on as a result of careful thought <a thoughtful argument for military action> — see DELIBERATE 1
3 given to or marked by long, quiet thinking <was a quiet and thoughtful child who rarely spoke but when he did, he almost always had something worthwhile to say> — see CONTEMPLATIVE

thoughtfully adverb
with good reason or courtesy <a restaurant that thoughtfully provides the diners with a basket of bread while they await their meals> — see WELL 4

thoughtless adjective
showing a lack of manners or consideration for others <always making thoughtless comments that hurt other people's feelings> — see IMPOLITE

thought–out adjective
decided on as a result of careful thought <following an obviously well thought-out plan, the terrorists simultaneously exploded eight bombs around the city> — see DELIBERATE 1

thrall noun
1 a person who is considered the property of another person <I'm not your thrall, so you'll have to pick up after yourself> — see SLAVE 1
2 the state of being a slave <a people who still bear the scars of having been in thrall for so many years> — see SLAVERY 1

thralldom or thraldom noun
the state of being a slave <having known only thralldom, the newly emancipated had little idea how to live as freedmen> — see SLAVERY 1

thrash verb
1 to defeat by a large margin <the incumbent has been thrashing his opponents for so long that there's never any real contest for the Senate seat> — see WHIP 2
2 to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <thrashed the poor horse with a riding crop> — see WHIP 1
3 to strike repeatedly <the tree branches thrashed the sides of the house as the storm continued to rage> — see BEAT 1
4 to make jerky or restless movements <in obvious pain, the wounded soldier thrashed about his cot> — see FIDGET

thrash (out) verb
to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort <after hours of brainstorming, the writers finally thrashed out an extended story arc for the sitcom> — see HAMMER OUT

thread noun
1 a thin, flexible structure that resembles a hair <the unwary bug was snared in the sticky threads of the spider's web> — see HAIR 2
2 threads plural covering for the human body <a number of people at the prom complimented me on my “nice threads”> — see CLOTHING

thread verb
1 to scatter or set here and there among other things <this history book threads excerpts from the diaries of pioneer women into its account of the settlement of the West>

Synonyms
interlace, intersperse, interweave, lace, salt, weave, wreathe

Related Words
insert, intermingle, mingle, mix; alternate, juxtapose; amalgamate, assimilate, blend, combine, commingle, embody, fuse, incorporate, integrate, merge

2 to put together into a series by means of or as if by means of a thread <the reporter threaded his newspaper articles about the basketball team into a book that was essentially a chronicle of their championship season>

Synonyms
concatenate, string

Related Words
chain, connect, join, link, unite; interlace, intersperse, intertwine, interweave, lace, weave, wreathe

threadbare adjective
1 showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <bought a threadbare couch at a garage sale> — see SHABBY 1
2 used or heard so often as to be dull <a novel filled with nothing but threadbare clichés> — see STALE 1
3 worn or torn into or as if into rags <I loved that threadbare shirt, but after 10 years of wear, it was time to throw it away> — see RAGGED 2
4 lacking money or material possessions <never knew that she had so many threadbare relatives until she won the lottery> — see POOR 1

threat noun
something that may cause injury or harm <terrorism is a threat to the safety of people everywhere> — see DANGER 2

threaten verb
to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on <the powerful hurricane continues to threaten the southern coastline>

Synonyms
hang (over), hover (over), impend (over), menace, overhang

Related Words
endanger, hazard, imperil, jeopardize, peril

threatening adjective
1 giving signs of immediate occurrence <economists warning of a threatening recession> — see IMMINENT 1
2 being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come <a threatening silence followed the loud thump in the adjoining motel room> — see OMINOUS
3 involving potential loss or injury <threatening rocks lined that narrow stretch of the river through which we would be rafting> — see DANGEROUS 1

three–dimensional adjective
closely resembling the object imitated <an actress who has been acclaimed for her three-dimensional portrayal of the celebrated monarch> — see NATURAL 2

threefold adjective
having three units or parts <a threefold approach to solving the problem> — see TRIPLE

three–ring circus noun
a place of uproar and confusion <the house has been a three-ring circus ever since the kids got back from summer camp> — see MADHOUSE 2

threesome noun
a group of three <the threesome has been playing music together since all three were in high school> <you don't see many threesomes at honeymoon resorts, but one bride had brought along her mother>

Synonyms
triad, trifecta, trinity, trio, triple, triplet, triumvirate

Related Words
trilogy, triptych; triple crown; triplicate; triplex

threnody noun
a composition expressing one's grief over a loss <the composer's cello concerto was composed as a moving threnody for his late wife> — see LAMENT 2

thresh verb
1 to make jerky or restless movements <the poor dog threshed against his chain> — see FIDGET
2 to strike repeatedly <he threshed the whimpering dog with his cane> — see BEAT 1

threshold noun
1 an interval of time just before the onset of something <on the threshold of a new age of green technology> — see POINT 3
2 the point at which something begins <at the threshold of the new year, it's time to look back and make resolutions for the future> — see BEGINNING

thrift noun
careful management of material resources <through hard work and thrift our father was able to raise the money to put all four of us through college> — see ECONOMY

thriftless adjective
given to spending money freely or foolishly <a thriftless girl who didn't keep track of her finances and overspent constantly> — see PRODIGAL

thrifty adjective
careful in the management of money or resources <if you are thrifty, you can find ways to decorate your room stylishly yet inexpensively> — see FRUGAL

thrill noun
a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings <everyone gets a real thrill out of the Independence Day fireworks>

Synonyms
bang, boot, charge, exhilaration, frisson, jollies, kick, rush, titillation, wallop

Related Words
arousal, buzz, electrification, high, intoxication; jolt, shock, surprise (also surprize); delectation, delight, enjoyment, joy, lift, pleasure; amusement, diversion, entertainment, fun, treat

thrill verb
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings of <I was thrilled to hear that you got the promotion that you'd been so desperately wanting>

Synonyms
charge, electrify, excite, exhilarate, galvanize, intoxicate, pump up, titillate, turn on

Related Words
arouse, incite, inspire, provoke, stimulate; bewitch, captivate, charm, delight, enchant, enthrall (or enthral), hypnotize, mesmerize, rivet, spellbind; interest, intrigue, tantalize

Near Antonyms
bore, jade, pall, tire, weary; deject, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

thriller noun
something (as a close contest) that induces much suspense as to its outcome <those televison awards are hardly thrillers since the same people win year after year> — see NAIL-BITER

thrilling adjective
causing great emotional or mental stimulation <a thrilling adventure movie> — see EXCITING 1

thrive verb
1 to grow vigorously <these plants thrive with relatively little sunlight>

Synonyms
burgeon (also bourgeon), flourish, prosper

Related Words
luxuriate, overgrow, proliferate, shoot up; germinate, root, sprout; bloom, flower, fruit, produce, propagate, regenerate, seed

2 to reach a desired level of accomplishment <going to a school for gifted students will help him thrive as a musical prodigy> — see SUCCEED 2

thriving adjective
1 having attained a desired end or state of good fortune <our new landscaping business is thriving> — see SUCCESSFUL 1
2 marked by much life, movement, or activity <the once thriving downtown has fallen into steep decline since the new mall was built> — see ALIVE 2
3 marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically <a thriving manufacturing community that is experiencing a tremendous growth in new jobs> — see PROSPEROUS 1

throaty adjective
1 harsh and dry in sound <had a bad cold and a throaty cough to go with it> — see HOARSE
2 having a low musical pitch or range <a throaty alto> — see DEEP 2

throb noun
a rhythmic expanding and contracting <I seemed to feel anew the pain of her death with each throb of my heart> — see PULSATION

throb verb
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner <the car's stereo speakers throbbing with the song's bass line> — see PULSATE

throe noun
1 a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body <collapsed in the throes of agony> — see PAIN 1
2 throes plural a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective <that third-world country is caught up in the throes of a democratic revolution> — see STRUGGLE 1

throng noun
a great number of persons or creatures massed together <grabbed a megaphone and addressed the vast throng> — see CROWD 1

throng verb
to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers <fans thronged the field to celebrate the win> — see CROWD 2

thronging adjective
possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified <the theme park is thronging with tourists during the summer> — see RIFE

throttle verb
to keep (someone) from breathing by exerting pressure on the windpipe <I was so angry at what he was saying that I could have throttled him!> — see CHOKE 1

through adjective
brought or having come to an end <a standing ovation for the cast when the play was through> — see COMPLETE 2

through adverb
1 from beginning to end <read the letter through twice> <never once missed class the whole year through>

Synonyms
around, over, round, throughout

2 from one side to the other of an intervening space <the bullet struck the door and went right through> — see OVER 1

through preposition
1 in or into the middle of <lost control of the car and drove through the crowd> — see AMONG
2 in random positions within the boundaries of <the numerous small towns scattered through these hills> — see AROUND 2
3 in the course of <thoughtless people talking through the whole movie> — see DURING
4 to the opposite side of <walked through the room> — see ACROSS 1
5 along the way of <the quickest way out of the building is through that hall there> — see BY 1
6 as the result of <won the tournament through practice and hard work> — see BECAUSE OF
7 using the means or agency of <apparently got his money through theft and deception> — see BY 2

through and through adverb
1 to a full extent or degree <I know him through and through, and he would never do such a cowardly thing> — see FULLY 1
2 with attention to all aspects or details <those UFO claims were examined through and through and were found to be completely bogus> — see THOROUGHLY 1

throughout adverb
1 from beginning to end <while some fans deserted the singer during her troubled years, others remained loyal throughout> — see THROUGH 1
2 in every place or in all places <a cake studded throughout with raisins> — see EVERYWHERE

throughout preposition
1 in random positions within the boundaries of <saw red-tailed hawks throughout the game preserve> — see AROUND 2
2 in the course of <the actress revealed that she has struggled with depression throughout her adult life> — see DURING

throw noun
a risky undertaking <a desperate throw, that could jump-start his presidential campaign or end it right there> — see GAMBLE

throw verb
1 to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <threw a life preserver to the drowning man>

Synonyms
cast, catapult, chuck, dash, fire, fling, heave, hurl, hurtle, launch, lob, loft, peg, pelt, pitch, sling, toss

Related Words
bowl, dart, flip, gun, hook, pass, roll, shoot; buck, eject, impel, precipitate, project, propel, rifle, thrust

Phrases
let fly

2 to cause to fall intentionally or unintentionally <the attacker threw his victim to the ground> — see DROP 1

throw (on) verb
to place on one's person <threw on a sweater and headed outside> — see PUT ON 1

throw away verb
1 to get rid of as useless or unwanted <I should throw away that torn shirt> — see DISCARD
2 to use up carelessly <if you buy a high-end computer, you'll just be throwing away money on a bunch of features you'll never use> — see WASTE 1

throw down verb
to cause to fall intentionally or unintentionally <throw down the gun, and put your hands up> — see DROP 1

throw–in noun
something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed <anyone who buys a book today will get a bookmark as a throw-in> — see BONUS

throwing away noun
the getting rid of whatever is unwanted or useless <the throwing away of her old stuffed animals marked the beginning of her mental preparation for an independent life as a college student> — see DISPOSAL 1

throw off verb
to draw the attention or mind to something else <the sudden noise just threw me off completely, and I missed my shot> — see DISTRACT 1

throw out verb
1 to drive or force out <the player was thrown out of the game after assaulting the ref> — see EJECT 1
2 to get rid of as useless or unwanted <would you mind if I threw out that leftover pizza that's been in the fridge for two weeks?> — see DISCARD
3 to throw or give off <the charcoal grill is throwing out big billows of black smoke> — see EMIT 1
4 to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <he'll throw out any acting offers that don't meet his standards> — see DECLINE 1

throw over verb
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <if the U.S. Senate throws over the treaty, the President's prestige will be in shambles> — see DECLINE 1

throw up verb
1 to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth <she must have eaten something that didn't agree with her because she threw up right after dinner> — see VOMIT
2 to make or assemble roughly or hastily <when the townspeople realized that the President's motorcade would be coming through on its way to the conference, they threw up a hasty “Welcome” sign> — see COBBLE TOGETHER OR UP

thrum noun
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion <the steady thrum of the turbines in the power plant> — see HUM

thrust verb
1 to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one <the cat thrust her paw under the couch, trying to reach her toy mouse> — see PUSH 1
2 to move or extend upward <the butte thrusts up 300 feet from the floor of the valley> — see ASCEND

thruway noun
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <we took back roads on the way out, and the thruway on the way back> — see WAY 1

thud noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <the thud of his head against the cabinet door brought tears to his eyes> — see 1BLOW

thud verb
to come into usually forceful contact with something <the snowball thudded against the side of my car> — see HIT 2

thug noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <the Mob boss regularly sent his thugs after people who were slow to pay their debts> — see HOODLUM

thumb verb
1 to travel by securing free rides <thought I'd thumb into town instead of paying for a cab> — see HITCHHIKE
2 to turn over pages in an idle or cursory manner <I thumbed through the book during the flight but was too distracted to really read it> — see SKIM 1

thumbnail adjective
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <a thumbnail outline of the plot of the novel> — see CONCISE

thump noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <gave her boyfriend a thump against the side of his head whenever he said something obnoxious> — see 1BLOW

thump verb
1 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <thumped the desk with his hand as he delivered his speech> — see HIT 1
2 to strike repeatedly <playfully knocked his younger brother down and began to thump him with a foam bat> — see BEAT 1

thumping adverb
to a great degree <wrote several thumping big books on World War II> — see VERY 1

thunder verb
1 to make a long loud deep noise or cry <as we got closer, the waterfall thundered louder and louder> — see ROAR 1
2 to speak so as to be heard at a distance <a hotheaded man who was always thundering about the crooks and idiots running the government> — see CALL 1

thunderclap noun
a loud explosive sound <awakened by the thunderclap of a large branch falling on the roof> — see CLAP 1

thundering adjective
marked by a high volume of sound <the preacher delivered a thundering speech on the decline of morality in modern society> — see LOUD 1

thunderous adjective
marked by a high volume of sound <the last thunderous chord of the symphony rang throughout the hall> — see LOUD 1

thunderstrike verb
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected <everyone was thunderstruck when she quit her job without warning> — see SURPRISE 1

thunderstruck adjective
affected with sudden and great wonder or surprise <the teen was thunderstruck when his parents told him he had been adopted>

Synonyms
amazed, astonished, astounded, awestruck (also awestricken), bowled over, dumbfounded (also dumfounded), dumbstruck, flabbergasted, shocked, stunned, stupefied

Related Words
blindsided, startled, surprised (also surprized); aghast, appalled, dismayed, horrified; bewildered, confused, dazed, overwhelmed; agape, awed, awesome, openmouthed, wide-eyed, widemouthed

Near Antonyms
blasé (also blase), casual, nonchalant, unruffled

thus adverb
for this or that reason <we didn't have room for all seven of us in my car and thus took two cars to go to the movies> — see THEREFORE

thwack noun
1 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <he gave the ball a hard thwack with the bat and sent it deep into the outfield> — see 1BLOW
2 a loud explosive sound <even from the top of the bleachers we could hear the loud thwack of the ball being hit> — see CLAP 1

thwack verb
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <thwacked the growling dog on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper> — see HIT 1

thwart verb
to prevent from achieving a goal <a coalition of grassroots organizations thwarted the company's efforts to get approval for a new power plant> — see FRUSTRATE 1

tic noun
an odd or peculiar habit <constantly playing with her hair is one of her more annoying tics> — see IDIOSYNCRASY

tick (off) verb
to specify one after another <ticked off everything she would need to buy while her daughter wrote the items down on a list> — see ENUMERATE 1

ticked adjective
feeling or showing anger <the boss is really ticked about this latest snafu, so now might not be a good time to ask for a raise> — see ANGRY

ticket noun
1 a small sheet of plastic, paper, or paperboard showing that the bearer has a claim to something (as admittance) <only people with tickets will be allowed past the front gates>

Synonyms
check, coupon, pass, pasteboard

Related Words
certificate, note, token, voucher

2 a slip (as of paper or cloth) that is attached to something to identify or describe it <the price on the ticket is $20 more than the advertised price> — see LABEL
3 the means or right of entering or participating in <people to whom a green card represents a ticket to a better life> — see ENTRANCE 1
4 something that allows someone to achieve a desired goal <that entry-level job could be her ticket to a career in big-time advertising> — see PASSPORT 1

ticket verb
to attach an identifying slip to <the attendant quickly ticketed my coat and handed the claim stub back to me> — see LABEL 1

tickled adjective
experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight <I'm tickled that you like the present so much> — see GLAD 1

ticklish adjective
1 easily offended <he's ticklish about his looks, so it's wisest to avoid the subject altogether> — see TOUCHY 1
2 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <trying to tell him that his zipper is down without embarrassing him will be a ticklish task> — see TRICKY 1

tick off verb
1 to criticize (someone) so as to correct a fault <she royally ticked the babysitter off for letting the child play outside unsupervised> — see REBUKE 1
2 to make angry <it really ticks me off when someone says something like that> — see ANGER

ticky–tacky also ticky–tack adjective
marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste <her house is full of ticky-tacky figurines> — see 1TACKY 1

tidbit also titbit noun
1 something that is pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury <gave her an expensive box of chocolate tidbits> — see DELICACY 1
2 a small piece or quantity of food <I'll just have a tidbit of the dessert, nothing too big> — see MORSEL 1

tiddly adjective, chiefly British
being under the influence of alcohol <after sampling the single malts at several Scottish distilleries, by day's end we were definitely a little tiddly> — see DRUNK

tide noun
a prevailing or general movement or inclination <the tide of the battle turned suddenly, and the would-be invaders were forced to retreat> — see TREND 1

tidied adjective
being clean and in good order <that rare teenager who keeps a nicely-tidied room> — see NEAT 1

tidings plural noun
a report of recent events or facts not previously known <any tidings from the front, soldier?> — see NEWS

tidy adjective
1 being clean and in good order <could easily find everything on her tidy desk> — see NEAT 1
2 of a size greater than average of its kind <paid a tidy sum for a painting that may not even be a genuine Titian> — see LARGE 1
3 sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention <signed a three-year contract for a tidy amount> — see CONSIDERABLE 1

tidy (up) verb
1 to make a place neat and orderly by removing extraneous stuff <just give me a minute to tidy up before you bring company over> — see CLEAN UP 1
2 to make neat <we'll work more efficiently if we tidy up our work area after completing the first phase of our experiement> — see NEATEN

tie noun
1 a situation in which neither participant in a contest, competition, or struggle comes out ahead of the other <the competition for first place in the dessert division ended in a tie between the chocolate pecan pie and the walnut fudge tart>

Synonyms
dead heat, draw, stalemate, standoff

Related Words
deadlock, impasse; seesaw; photo finish; horse race, toss-up

2 a uniting or binding force or influence <their marriage will serve to form a very strong tie between our families> — see BOND 2

tie verb
1 to gather into a tight mass by means of a line or cord <tied the newspapers into a bundle>

Synonyms
band, bind, truss

Related Words
cinch, cord, rope, strap, thread, wire; gird, girt; lash, leash, tether; interlace, intertwine, interweave, lace; entangle, knot, snarl, tangle, twist; coil, wind

Near Antonyms
undo, unfasten, unlace, unlash, unloose, unloosen, unstrap, unstring, unthread; unleash, untether; disentangle, unravel, unsnarl, untangle, untwine, untwist; uncoil, unspool, unwind

Antonyms
unbind, untie

2 to produce something equal to (as in quality or value) <at the class reunion we learned that he had won the Nobel Prize in medicine—how could the rest of us tie that?> — see EQUAL 1

tied–up adjective
involved in often constant activity <we'll be tied-up with work for the next several days> — see BUSY 1

tier noun
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <the bottom tier of entrants> — see CLASS 2

tie–up noun
1 a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement <a tie-up at the junction of Main and Central has slowed traffic to a crawl> — see JAM 1
2 the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <in a tie-up with the film studio, the toy company is producing a whole line of figures featuring characters from the animated movie> — see ASSOCIATION 1

tie up verb
to create difficulty for the work or activity of <an accident is tying up traffic at 5th and Broadway> — see HAMPER

tiff noun
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <got into a little tiff about what color sheets to buy for their bed> — see ARGUMENT 1

tiff verb
to express different opinions about something often angrily <like any couple, they occasionally tiff, but it's never anything serious> — see ARGUE 2

tiger noun
an aggressive and fiercely determined person <even the best defense can't keep that tiger from scoring> — see PIT BULL

tight adjective
1 not allowing penetration (as by gas, liquid, or light) <the lid forms a tight seal with the canister that will keep the spices fresh>

Synonyms
impenetrable, impermeable, impervious

Related Words
close, compact, dense, snug, thick; airtight, hermetic (also hermetical), leakproof, watertight; lightproof, soundproof, waterproof

Near Antonyms
absorbent, leaky, porous, unsealed

Antonyms
penetrable, permeable, pervious

2 firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge <a tight screw that won't come loose> <a jar with a tight lid>

Synonyms
fast, firm, frozen, jammed, lodged, set, snug, stuck, wedged

Related Words
bonded, cemented, glued; anchored, clamped; embedded (also imbedded), entrenched (also intrenched), impacted, implanted; attached, bound, fastened, secured; immovable, unyielding

Near Antonyms
detached, dislodged, freed, loosened, unattached, unbound, undone, unfastened, unsecured; movable (or moveable), yielding

Antonyms
insecure, loose

3 giving or sharing as little as possible <is fairly tight with his money> — see STINGY 1
4 having little space between items or parts <the traffic on the freeway was so tight we couldn't get over to the exit we wanted> — see CLOSE 1
5 showing little difference in the standing of the competitors <a tight race for governor> — see CLOSE 3
6 stretched with little or no give <the rope was pulled tight> — see TAUT
7 closely acquainted <supposedly he and the rock star have been totally tight since they went to high school together> — see FAMILIAR 1
8 being under the influence of alcohol <having spent several hours getting nice and tight, the campus Romeo was having performance problems> — see DRUNK

tighten verb
to draw tight <tighten the straps on the backpack so that the load doesn't shift while hiking>

Synonyms
strain, stretch, tauten, tense

Related Words
elongate, extend, lengthen; cinch, constrict

Near Antonyms
ease, relax

Antonyms
loosen, slack, slacken

tightfisted adjective
giving or sharing as little as possible <the company is pretty tightfisted when it comes to bonuses> — see STINGY 1

tightfistedness noun
the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money <longing for the occasional luxury, they bitterly complained about their father's tightfistedness> — see PARSIMONY 1

tight–lipped adjective
tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination) <the cabinet official is usually tight-lipped about her private life> — see SILENT 2

tight–mouthed adjective
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge <the studio has been tight-mouthed about how the show's cliff-hanger season finale will be resolved> — see SECRETIVE

tightness noun
the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money <a man of legendary tightness, he has plenty of money in his savings account> — see PARSIMONY 1

tightwad noun
a mean grasping person who is usually stingy with money <you're always such a tightwad when charity comes calling> — see MISER

till verb
to work by plowing, sowing, and raising crops on <farmers tilling the soil from sunup to sunset> — see FARM

tiller noun
a person who cultivates the land and grows crops on it <in his paintings farmers are invariably depicted as brawny yet noble tillers of the land> — see FARMER

tilt noun
the act of positioning or an instance of being positioned at an angle <indicated her approval with a slight tilt of her head>

Synonyms
angling, bend, cock, inclination, list, tip

Related Words
turn, twist, veer; bow, dip, nod

tilt verb
to set or cause to be at an angle <the robin tilts its head as it hunts for worms in the grass> — see LEAN 1

tilted adjective
1 inclined or twisted to one side <stared at me with a tilted head and a quizzical look> — see AWRY
2 running in a slanting direction <the floors of the old house were tilted slightly> — see DIAGONAL

tilting adjective
running in a slanting direction <a rickety, tilting staircase that did not look safe> — see DIAGONAL

timber noun
1 a dense growth of trees and shrubs covering a large area <upon our approach the deer disappeared back into the timber from whence it had come> — see FOREST
2 tree logs as prepared for human use <needed a new load of timber to finish building the house> — see WOOD 1
3 the basic elements from which something can be developed <a novel with the timber to become a best seller, if marketed correctly> — see MAKING

timberland noun
a dense growth of trees and shrubs covering a large area <the wildfire burned through a large swath of timberland> — see FOREST

time noun
1 a particular point at which an event takes place <remember that one time you tried to wash the dog in the sink> — see OCCASION 1
2 an exciting or noteworthy event that one experiences firsthand <enjoys telling us about the times he had while he was in the army> — see ADVENTURE 1
3 an extent of time associated with a particular person or thing <back in my parents' time, families usually had only one car> — see AGE 1
4 the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress <how much time will the project take?> — see DURATION 1

time bomb noun
a potentially explosive place or situation <the region's political instability has turned it into a ticking time bomb> — see TINDERBOX 1

timekeeper noun
a device to measure time <the museum includes some ancient water clocks and sundials in its collection of historical timekeepers> — see TIMEPIECE

timeless adjective
having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish <views the church's message and mission as timeless and not subject to the whim of the people> — see ABIDING

timeliness noun
the quality or habit of arriving or being ready on time <your timeliness will make a good impression on the person interviewing you for the job> — see PROMPTITUDE

timely adjective
1 especially suitable for a certain time <a timely invitation to lunch that came just as I was starting to feel hungry>

Synonyms
opportune, seasonable, well-timed

Related Words
appropriate, apt, fit, fitting, meet, pat, proper, suitable; pertinent, relative, relevant; fortunate, lucky, propitious; anticipated, expected; prompt, punctual

Near Antonyms
improper, inappropriate, irrelative, irrelevant, unfit, unseemly, unsuitable; unfortunate, unlucky; behind, behindhand, belated, delayed, delinquent, late, latish, overdue, postponed, slow, tardy; anticipatory, early, precocious, premature; abrupt, sudden, unanticipated, unexpected

Antonyms
inopportune, unseasonable, untimely

2 done, carried out, or given without delay <when I order a pizza, I expect it to be delivered in a timely manner> — see PROMPT 1

time–out noun
a period of often involuntary inactivity or idleness <we need to take a time-out from our relationship to think things over> — see DOWNTIME

timepiece noun
a device to measure time <the only timepiece she used at the cabin was a garden sundial>

Synonyms
chronometer, clock, timekeeper, timer

Related Words
alarm clock, atomic clock, cuckoo clock, grandfather clock, time clock; clepsydra, hourglass, sandglass, sundial, water clock; chronograph, stopwatch, watch

timer noun
a device to measure time <set the kitchen timer to 30 minutes> — see TIMEPIECE

timeserver noun
a person who dexterously and expediently changes or adopts opinions <a classic timeserver, she switched her position on the war the instant it began losing public support> — see ACROBAT 2

timetable noun
a listing of things to be presented or considered (as at a concert or play) <checked the timetable of events to see if I'd be able to get something to eat beforehand> — see PROGRAM 1

timeworn adjective
1 showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <the wooden steps to the timeworn cottage had rotted and several shutters were missing> — see SHABBY 1
2 used or heard so often as to be dull <I'm sick of the timeworn “How you've grown!” every time she sees me> — see STALE 1

timid adjective
easily frightened <a timid rabbit hopped cautiously out of the hedge> — see SHY 1

timidity noun
lack of willingness to assert oneself and take risks <none of the scouts showed the least timidity about rappeling down the cliff>

Synonyms
faintheartedness, timidness, timorousness

Related Words
bashfulness, constraint, embarrassment, inhibition, restraint, shyness, skittishness; hesitation, indecision, indecisiveness, irresoluteness, irresolution; alarm (also alarum), anxiety, apprehension, concern, discomposure, dismay, fear, panic, upset, worry; cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, spinelessness

Near Antonyms
assurance, confidence, self-assertiveness, self-assurance, self-confidence; composure, coolness, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern; backbone, decisiveness, determination, fiber, firmness, fortitude, gameness, grit, gumption, mettle, resoluteness, resolution, spunk; bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gutsiness, intrepidity, intrepidness, valor; brazenness, cheek, effrontery, gall, temerity

Antonyms
audaciousness, audacity, boldness, cojones [slang], guts, nerve

timidness noun
lack of willingness to assert oneself and take risks <such timidness is surprising in a man as physically imposing as he is> — see TIMIDITY

timorous adjective
easily frightened <sensational news stories that seem designed to needlessly alarm an already timorous public> — see SHY 1

timorousness noun
lack of willingness to assert oneself and take risks <the timorousness with which so many politicians approach hot-button issues> — see TIMIDITY

tin noun
a metal container in the shape of a cylinder <row upon row of tins containing food for an emergency that never happened> — see CAN 1

tincture noun
a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished <a ragged shirt that seemed to be stained with the tincture of blood> — see COLOR 1

tincture verb
to give color or a different color to <clouds tinctured by the rays of the setting sun> — see COLOR 1

tinderbox noun
1 a potentially explosive place or situation <the city has been a tinderbox ever since racial profiling became an issue>

Synonyms
flash point, powder keg, time bomb, volcano

Related Words
hot button, third rail

2 a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <while the country's prime minister was meeting with the U.S president, a political tinderbox was igniting at home> — see EMERGENCY

tinge noun
a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished <there's a bluish tinge to your lips—you must be freezing!> — see COLOR 1

tinge verb
to give color or a different color to <just slightly tinge the frosting with yellow food coloring to give it a lemony look> — see COLOR 1

tingle noun
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body <can't stand those funny tingles I get when my foot falls asleep> — see PAIN 1

tingle verb
to make a repeated sharp light ringing sound <awoke to the steady pitter-patter of raindrops tingling on the rooftop> — see JINGLE

tiniest adjective
being the least in amount, number, or size possible <at one time atoms were thought to be the tiniest particles of matter> — see MINIMAL

tinker (with) verb
to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously <the camera hasn't worked properly ever since our son tinkered with it> — see TAMPER WITH

tinkerer noun
a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession <he's been tinkering with cars since he was a kid, and now he's a tinkerer who knows nearly as much as a mechanic> — see AMATEUR 1

tinkle noun
a series of short high ringing sounds <the soothing tinkle of the wind chime on the back porch>

Synonyms
chime(s), jingle, tintinnabulation

Related Words
clatter, jangle, rattle; chink, clang, clank, clink, ding-dong, ping, ring; chirr, ripple, trill, warble

tinkle verb
to make a repeated sharp light ringing sound <the bell around the cat's neck tinkled as he ran across the yard> — see JINGLE

tinsel noun
something attractive but lacking in substance <a book that examines popular fame and finds it to be very disposable tinsel> — see COTTON CANDY

tint noun
a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished <her eyes have a greenish tint> — see COLOR 1

tint verb
to give color or a different color to <if you tint that blue paint with this yellow paint, you should get a nice shade of green> — see COLOR 1

tintinnabulation noun
a series of short high ringing sounds <the merry tintinnabulation of church bells> — see TINKLE

tintless adjective, archaic
lacking an addition of color <the tintless light of the midwinter sun> — see COLORLESS 1

tiny adjective
very small in size <the forest ranger showed us how every square foot of forest is alive with tiny creatures>

Synonyms
atomic, bitsy, bitty, infinitesimal, itty-bitty (or itsy-bitsy), little bitty, microminiature, microscopic (also microscopical), miniature, minuscule, minute, teensy, teensy-weensy, teeny, teeny-weeny, wee, weeny (also weensy)

Related Words
baby, diminutive, dwarf, elfin, half-pint, Lilliputian, little, micro, mini, minikin, model, petite, pocket, pocket-size (also pocket-sized), pygmy, small, smallish; dinky, dwarfish, insignificant, pint-size (or pint-sized), puny, scrubby, undersized (also undersize)

Near Antonyms
big, bulky, bumper, considerable, extensive, good, goodly, grand, great, gross, handsome, hefty, hulking, jumbo, king-size (or king-sized), large, largish, major, outsize (also outsized), overgrown, overscale (or overscaled), oversize (or oversized), sizable (or sizeable), substantial, super, whacking, whopping; formidable, grandiose, imposing, lofty, majestic, monolithic, staggering, stupendous, towering; boundless, cavernous, immeasurable, infinite, vast, vasty, voluminous

Antonyms
astronomical (also astronomic), colossal, cosmic (also cosmical), elephantine, enormous, giant, gigantic, herculean, heroic (also heroical), huge, immense, mammoth, massive, monster, monstrous, monumental, mountainous, planetary, prodigious, titanic, tremendous

1tip noun
1 a piece of advice or useful information especially from an expert <got some tips from a horticulturist on how to get my violets to bloom>

Synonyms
hint, lead, pointer

Related Words
advice, advisement, assistance, counsel, guidance, recommendation, suggestion; caution, cautioning, sign, signal, telltale, tip-off, warning; brief, direction, feedback, instruction, observation; prompt, reminder, urging; answer, clue, solution

2 information not generally available to the public <investigators are trying to determine whether the investor illegally received a tip that the company's stock was about to plunge> — see DOPE 1

2tip noun
1 a small sum of money given for a service over and above what is due <gave our waiter an extra large tip for such fantastic service>

Synonyms
gratuity, perquisite

Related Words
donation, gift, lagniappe, largesse (also largess), present; bonus, favor, reward; contribution, offering

2 something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed <a customer who always gives his paper carrier a very generous tip at Christmastime> — see BONUS

3tip noun
1 the act of positioning or an instance of being positioned at an angle <she didn't say anything but just acknowledged our presence with a tip of her head> — see TILT
2 chiefly British a place where discarded materials (as trash) are dumped <you simply cannot dispose of leftover petrol at the tip> — see DUMP 1

4tip noun
the last and usually sharp or tapering part of something long and narrow <the tip of a knitting needle> — see POINT 2

tip verb
to set or cause to be at an angle <be careful because if you tip your cup any more, you'll spill your tea> — see LEAN 1

tip–off noun
something that tells of approaching danger or risk <the retreat of the island's wildlife to higher ground was a tip-off that a tsunami was about to strike> — see WARNING 2

tipped adjective
tapering to a thin tip <a round-tipped needle> — see POINTED 1

tipping adjective
inclined or twisted to one side <a boat tipping under the weight of a lopsided load> — see AWRY

tipple noun
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk <they had a nanny who was rather too fond of tipple> — see ALCOHOL

tipple verb
to partake excessively of alcoholic beverages <I do tipple now and then> — see DRINK 2

tippler noun
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <her husband was a closet tippler who had hidden small stashes of liquor all over the house> — see DRUNK 1

tipsy adjective
being under the influence of alcohol <our uncle had too much to drink and was a little tipsy> — see DRUNK

tip–top adjective
of the very best kind <the doctor told me I was in tip-top shape> — see EXCELLENT

tip–top noun
the highest part or point <this trail will take you to the fire tower at the tip-top of that hill> — see HEIGHT 1

tirade noun
a long angry speech or scolding <after the inspection by the health department, we had to listen to the manager's tirade about keeping the restaurant's kitchen cleaner>

Synonyms
diatribe, harangue, jeremiad, philippic, rant

Related Words
assault, attack, broadside, invective, lambasting, lashing, tongue-lashing, vituperation; berating, chewing out, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reproof; abuse, castigation, censure, condemnation, criticism, denunciation; belittlement, deprecation, depreciation, disparagement, dissing; excoriation, execration, revilement; admonishment, admonition, lecture, sermon

Near Antonyms
encomium, eulogy, panegyric, rhapsody, tribute; acclaim, acclamation, accolade, citation, homage, honor, praise; approval, blessing, commendation, endorsement (also indorsement), sanction; ovation, plaudit, rave

tire verb
1 to diminish the physical strength of <I don't want our walk to tire you too much> — see WEAKEN 1
2 to make weary and restless by being dull or monotonous <this long dry lecture will tire the audience if you don't insert some jokes into it> — see 2BORE
3 to use up all the physical energy of <this pentathlon will tire all but the hardiest athletes> — see EXHAUST 1

tired adjective
1 depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <I'm usually tired after a long day of working in the yard> — see WEARY 1
2 having one's patience, interest, or pleasure exhausted <I'm sick and tired of your antics> — see WEARY 2
3 used or heard so often as to be dull <such tired phrases won't hold your reader's interest> — see STALE 1

tiredness noun
a complete depletion of energy or strength <your tiredness will go away after a good rest> — see FATIGUE 1

tireless adjective
showing no signs of weariness even after long hard effort <a tireless advocate for human rights>

Synonyms
indefatigable, inexhaustible, unflagging, untiring, weariless

Related Words
assiduous, conscientious, diligent, meticulous, painstaking, sedulous; determined, dogged, patient, persevering, persistent, pertinacious, plodding, relentless, steadfast, steady, stubborn, tenacious, unabating, unfailing, unfaltering, unflinching, unrelenting, unremitting, unwavering; active, busy, dynamic, energetic, feverish, spirited, vigorous; hard, industrious, intense, laborious, slavish, strenuous

Near Antonyms
indolent, lackadaisical, laggard, lazy, listless, shiftless, slothful, sluggish; apathetic, casual, desultory, languid, spiritless; beat, broken, burned-out (or burnt-out), done in, drained, enervated, jaded, overtaxed, overworked, played out, sapped, spent, tuckered (out), wearied, worn-out

tiresome adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <what a tiresome church service that turned out to be> — see BORING

tiring adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <the seminar was tiring and not particularly helpful or informative> — see BORING

titan noun
something that is unusually large and powerful <this newest ocean liner is a true titan of the sea> — see GIANT

titanic adjective
unusually large <the titanic new skyscraper dwarfs every other building around it> — see HUGE

titillate verb
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings <tabloids titillate their readers with racy details about the private lives of media-created celebrities> — see THRILL

titillation noun
a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings <a cultural critic who argues that people have become too dependent upon the instant gratification and titillation that television and the Internet provide> — see THRILL

title noun
1 a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known <about the only thing the book and the movie have in common are their titles> — see NAME 1
2 a word or series of words often in larger letters placed at the beginning of a passage or at the top of a page in order to introduce or categorize <a humorous illustration appears above the title of every chapter in the book> — see HEADING
3 the position occupied by the one who comes in first in a competition <won the singles title three years in a row> — see CROWN 2

title verb
to give a name to <what do you plan on titling your latest album?> — see NAME 1

titleholder noun
the person who comes in first in a competition <became the youngest titleholder in the sport's history> — see CHAMPION 1

titlist noun
the person who comes in first in a competition <the boxing titlist with the most knockouts to his credit> — see CHAMPION 1

titter noun
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <a titter swept through the crowd at his verbal slip> — see LAUGH 1

titter verb
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound <even as students in the sex ed class continued to titter, the lecturer plowed ahead> — see LAUGH 1

tittle noun
1 a very small piece <we have examined every last tittle of evidence available and can find nothing to support his claims> — see BIT 1
2 the smallest amount or part imaginable <there's not a tittle of sense in that book> — see JOT

titular adjective
being something in name or form only <he's the titular head of the department, though it's the assistant managers who largely run things around here> — see NOMINAL 1

tizzy noun
a state of nervous or irritated concern <all in a tizzy because she can't find her car keys> — see FRET

to preposition
earlier than <right now it's 25 minutes to 10:00> — see BEFORE 1

toad noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <that miserable toad is lucky to have even a single friend> — see JERK 1

toady noun
a person who flatters another in order to get ahead <no one liked the office toady, who spent most of her time complimenting the boss on what a great job he was doing> — see SYCOPHANT

toady verb
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior <a satirical novel about an amoral go-getter who toadies his way to the top of the corporate ladder> — see FAWN

toast verb
to cause to have or give off heat to a moderate degree <come over and toast your toes by the fire> — see WARM 1

toasty adjective
having or giving off heat to a moderate degree <I'm nice and toasty in front of the fire> — see WARM 1

tocsin noun
1 an object intended to give public notice or warning <the tocsin rang out, warning us of the approaching tornado> — see SIGNAL 1
2 something that tells of approaching danger or risk <noted that a sudden drop in a student's grades may be a tocsin of a serious personal problem> — see WARNING 2

today adverb
at the present time <even today, arranged marriages remain a common practice in some parts of the world> — see NOW 1

today noun
the time currently existing or in progress <live for today and let tomorrow worry about itself> — see 1PRESENT

to–do noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <there was such a to-do when the mice got loose from the science room that I thought the principal was going to close the school> — see COMMOTION

toe–to–toe adverb
in direct confrontation or competition <mom-and-pop grocery stores are usually wildly outmatched when they go toe-to-toe with large chain stores> — see HEAD-TO-HEAD

toff noun, chiefly British
a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance <the toffs were everywhere to be seen on opening day at Ascot> — see DANDY 1

toffee–nosed adjective, chiefly British
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior <having come from the middle class, he suffered at the hands of the toffee-nosed twits at Eton> — see SNOBBISH

tog (up or out) verb
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <togged out in obviously brand-new hiking garb, she was quite a sight> — see CLOTHE 1

together adjective
free from emotional or mental agitation <she's one of the most together people I know> — see CALM 2

together adverb
1 at one and the same time <the two packages, although sent on different days, arrived together>

Synonyms
coincidentally, coincidently, concurrently, contemporaneously, simultaneously

Related Words
close, immediately, narrowly, near

Phrases
at once, in unison

Near Antonyms
apart, independently, individually, singly; consecutively, successively

Antonyms
separately

2 in or by combined action or effort <working together, we can get this project done on time>

Synonyms
concertedly, conjointly, hand in glove (or hand and glove), jointly

Related Words
collectively, mutually, reciprocally, unanimously, unitedly; cooperatively, symbiotically

Phrases
in concert

Antonyms
apart, independently, individually, separately, severally, single-handed, single-handedly, singly, solely, unaided, unassisted, unilaterally

3 with everyone or everything taken into account at the same time <together, the properties are worth more than five million> — see ALL AROUND
4 in succession without others coming in between <for three days together the stubborn child refused to eat> — see CONSECUTIVELY

toggery noun
covering for the human body <inmates wearing regulation prison toggery> — see CLOTHING

togs plural noun
1 clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation <put on your party togs and come over to our place for an all-night dance party> — see OUTFIT 1
2 covering for the human body <hey, those are some snazzy togs you're wearing> — see CLOTHING

1toil noun
very hard or unpleasant work <after years of toil in a sweatshop, Kim was finally able to start her own dressmaking business>

Synonyms
donkeywork, drudge, drudgery, fatigue, grind, labor, moil, slavery, sweat, travail

Related Words
spadework; effort, exertion, pains, struggle, trouble; chore, duty, job, obligation, responsibility; routine, tedium, treadmill

Near Antonyms
decompression, ease, leisure, relaxation, repose, rest; amusement, dalliance, diversion, entertainment, recreation, sport; dormancy, idleness, inactivity, inertia, inertness; dallying, goldbricking, loafing, lolling, lounging

Antonyms
fun, play

2toil noun, usually toils plural
something that catches and holds <a married woman hopelessly caught in the toils of an extramarital affair> — see WEB 1

toil verb
to devote serious and sustained effort <toiled for many years on the mammoth outdoor sculpture> — see LABOR

toiler noun
a person who does very hard or dull work <on Labor Day we should give a thought to those toilers who work long hours at low-paying jobs> — see SLAVE 2

toilet noun
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <we were directed to the toilets in the church basement>

Synonyms
bath, bathroom, bog [British], can, cloakroom [British], comfort station, convenience [chiefly British], head, john, latrine, lavatory, loo [chiefly British], potty, restroom, washroom, water closet

Related Words
commode, pan [British], pot; garderobe, jakes, outhouse, privy; half bath, powder room; ladies [chiefly British], ladies' room, men's room

toilet verb
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <the princess required at least a dozen maids to toilet her for formal occasions> — see CLOTHE 1

toilsome adjective
1 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <faced with the toilsome task of cleaning out her deceased father's homestead> — see HARD 2
2 requiring much time, effort, or careful attention <this is the most toilsome part of the construction, so we'll go slowly to make sure we're doing it right> — see DEMANDING 1

token noun
something that serves to keep alive the memory of a person or event <please accept this parting gift as a token of our lasting affection> — see MEMORIAL

tolbooth noun, Scottish
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <Deacon Brodie, thought to be the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, was publicly hung at the site of the old tolbooth of Edinburgh> — see JAIL

tolerable adjective
1 capable of being endured <stubbing your toe is at least a more tolerable pain than breaking your foot> — see BEARABLE
2 of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards <the accommodations are tolerable though not exactly luxurious> — see ADEQUATE

tolerably adverb
in a satisfactory way <I'm doing tolerably, thanks for asking> — see WELL 1

tolerance noun
the capacity to endure what is difficult or disagreeable without complaining <showed great tolerance in dealing with the child's tantrums> — see PATIENCE

tolerant adjective
1 accepting pains or hardships calmly or without complaint <this job requires a tolerant person who is used to dealing with complaints and angry customers> — see PATIENT 1
2 receiving or enduring without offering resistance <a tolerant acceptance of the terrible way that his wife has always treated him> — see PASSIVE

tolerate verb
1 to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference <my boss simply doesn't tolerate tardiness> — see ALLOW 3
2 to put up with (something painful or difficult) <suffering a terrible headache, the poor woman couldn't tolerate all the noise the neighbors were making> — see BEAR 2

tolerating adjective
receiving or enduring without offering resistance <old pictures of a graciously tolerating father letting his young children climb all over him> — see PASSIVE

toll verb
to make the clear sound heard when metal vibrates <let the church bells joyously toll on this most happy occasion> — see 2RING

tomb noun
a final resting place for a dead person <explored the historic graveyard and saw tombs that dated back two centuries> — see GRAVE 1

tomb verb
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea <Forest Lawn is where many of Tinseltown's immortals are tombed for all eternity> — see BURY 1

tomboyish adjective
having qualities or traits that are traditionally considered inappropriate for a girl or woman <her father thought that ice hockey was a little too tomboyish for her, but her mother and older brother encouraged her to take it up> — see UNFEMININE

tombstone noun
a shaped stone laid over or erected near a grave and usually bearing an inscription to identify and preserve the memory of the deceased <the historic cemetery's many tombstones marking the graves of children are telling reminders of the harshness of pioneer life>

Synonyms
gravestone, headstone, monument, stone

Related Words
cross, marker, plaque, table, tablet; monolith, obelisk, pillar; memorial, shrine; burial, sepulchre (or sepulcher), sepulture, tomb

tome noun
a set of printed sheets of paper bound together between covers and forming a work of fiction or nonfiction <picked up a thick tome on the Roman Empire at a used book store> — see BOOK 1

tomfool adjective
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <what kind of tomfool idea is this?> — see FOOLISH 1

tomfoolery noun
wildly playful or mischievous behavior <the open bar may have had something to do with the tomfoolery at the wedding reception> — see HORSEPLAY

tommyrot noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <no genuinely intelligent and educated person would believe such tommyrot> — see NONSENSE 1

tomorrow noun
time that is to come <today's college graduates are the leaders of tomorrow> — see FUTURE 1

Tom Thumb noun
a living thing much smaller than others of its kind <a tiny Tom Thumb of a hamster> — see DWARF 1

1ton noun
a considerable amount <I received a ton of advice on the problem—all of it unsolicited> — see LOT 2

2ton noun
a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <granite countertops became all the ton in kitchen decor> — see FAD

tone noun
1 a distinctive way of putting ideas into words <the angry tone of his letter makes it clear he doesn't want to speak to me ever again> — see STYLE 1
2 a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished <fall fashions in deep jewel tones> — see COLOR 1
3 the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others <all that showbiz glitz is out of keeping with the tone of the college> — see NATURE 1

toned–down adjective
not excessively showy <after such a heated argument, it was a relief to hear someone use toned-down language to state their position> — see QUIET 2

tongue noun
the stock of words, pronunciation, and grammar used by a people as their basic means of communication <he spoke in a tongue that I didn't understand> — see LANGUAGE 1

tongue–lash verb
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <the drill sergeant tongue-lashed the recruits with a colorful litany of foulmouthed invectives> — see SCOLD

tonic adjective
1 having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind <breathe in clear tonic mountain air> <never underestimate the tonic power of humor on a sick person>

Synonyms
bracing, cordial, invigorating, refreshing, rejuvenating, restorative, reviving, stimulating, stimulative, vital, vitalizing

Related Words
life-giving; conditioning, strengthening; animating, exhilarating, exhilarative, quickening, sharp; corrective, curative, curing, medicinal, rectifying, recuperative, reformative, reformatory, rehabilitative, remedial, remedying, reparative, therapeutic; beneficial, healthful, healthy, helpful, salubrious, salutary, wholesome

Near Antonyms
deadening, debilitating, draining, enervating, enfeebling, exhausting, numbing, sapping, weakening, wearying; deleterious, injurious, pernicious; insalubrious, noxious, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome

2 beneficial to the health of body or mind <the tonic air of the mountains is just what you need after being cooped up in the city for so long> — see HEALTHFUL

too adverb
1 beyond a normal or acceptable limit <ticket prices for the rock concert are simply too high>

Synonyms
devilishly, excessively, exorbitantly, inordinately, intolerably, monstrously, overly, overmuch, unacceptably, unduly

Related Words
extravagantly, immoderately, intemperately; extortionately, inexcusably, obscenely, unbearably, unconscionably, unreasonably; improperly, inappropriately; abnormally, extraordinarily, freakishly, singularly, uncommonly, uncustomarily, unusually; astronomically, considerably, deadly, eminently, especially, exceedingly (also exceeding), exceptionally, extensively, extra, extremely, greatly, highly, hugely, incredibly, mightily, remarkably, significantly, substantially, super, terribly, very, whacking

Phrases
to a fault, to death, with a vengeance

Near Antonyms
acceptably, moderately, modestly, reasonably, temperately; barely, hardly, just, marginally, meagerly, minimally, scantily, scarcely, slightly

Antonyms
deficiently, inadequately, insufficiently

2 in addition to what has been said <I want to buy this sweater—and that sweater too!> — see MORE 1
3 to a great degree <the audience didn't seem too interested in what the speaker had to say> — see VERY 1

tool noun
1 an article intended for use in work <needed a special tool to open the case of the CD player> — see IMPLEMENT
2 one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another <a ruthless leader using his trusting followers as tools in his quest for power> — see 1PAWN
3 one who is easily deceived or cheated <you're just a pathetic tool of the advertising industry if you believe everything you see in TV commercials> — see 1DUPE

tool verb
to travel by a motorized vehicle <I spent some time tooling around town today> — see DRIVE 2

toom adjective, chiefly Scottish
lacking contents that could or should be present <the little shop in Edinburgh now stood toom> — see EMPTY 1

toot noun
a bout of prolonged or excessive drinking <about every six months he disappears for a week and goes on a toot> — see CAROUSE

tooth and nail adverb
with all power or resources being used <I'll fight tooth and nail to win the finals> — see FULL BLAST

toothsome adjective
1 very pleasing to the sense of taste <a toothsome chocolate dessert> — see DELICIOUS 1
2 sexually attractive <the movie star and his supermodel girlfriend are considered the most toothsome couple in Hollywood> — see SEXY 1

toothsomeness noun
the quality of being delicious <people once delighted in feasting on peacock, a bird not known for its toothsomeness> — see DELICIOUSNESS

toothy adjective
very pleasing to the sense of taste <a selection of gourmet cookies and other toothy delights> — see DELICIOUS 1

top adjective
1 being at a point or level higher than all others <an office in the top story of the building> <the top student in our graduating class>

Synonyms
highest, loftiest, topmost, upmost, uppermost

Related Words
higher, loftier, upper; consummate, maximal, maximized, maximum, peaked, supreme, utmost, uttermost; chief, dominant, first, foremost, head, leading, predominant, preeminent, premier, principal; dominant, dominating, eminent, prominent, towering; elevated, escalated, heightened, jacked (up), lifted, raised, uplifted, upraised

Near Antonyms
below, lower, nether, under, underneath; low, lowered, low-lying, sunken

Antonyms
bottommost, lowermost, lowest, nethermost, rock-bottom, undermost

2 of the greatest or highest degree or quantity <your safety is our top priority> — see ULTIMATE 1
3 of the highest degree <going at top speed> — see FULL 2
4 of the very best kind <he's one of the tennis club's top players> — see EXCELLENT
5 highest in rank or authority <nearly all of the top officials in the state's department of corrections resigned after the scandal> — see HEAD

top noun
1 a piece placed over an open container to hold in, protect, or conceal its contents <make sure the top is on the juice blender before you turn it on> — see COVER 1
2 the highest part or point <a hawk's nest at the very top of the tree> — see HEIGHT 1

top verb
to be greater, better, or stronger than <the next contender's javelin throw topped the reigning champion's and set a new world record> — see SURPASS 1

top billing noun
the center of public attention <despite being of epic proportions, the African famine rarely received top billing in the American press> — see CENTER STAGE

topcoat noun
a warm outdoor coat <threw on a wool topcoat and headed out into the snow> — see OVERCOAT

toper noun
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <most evenings her husband could be found at the local tavern with all of the town's other topers> — see DRUNK 1

topflight adjective
of the very best kind <he insists on buying a topflight computer system, money being no object> — see EXCELLENT

Tophet noun
the place of punishment for the wicked after death <a vision in which the souls of the damned plunged into Tophet like rocks falling down a mountainside> — see HELL 1

topic noun
a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) <the topic of his poem is the bitter conflict in Northern Ireland> — see MATTER 1

toploftiness noun
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <a drama critic who delivers his judgments with the toploftiness of an infallible deity> — see ARROGANCE

toplofty also toploftical adjective
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <those toplofty history professors who sneeringly use the term “popularizer” to describe any historian whose works are read with pleasure> — see ARROGANT

topmost adjective
1 being at a point or level higher than all others <his kite got tangled in the topmost branches of the tree> — see TOP 1
2 of the highest degree <our topmost goal is to help students learn foreign languages in an easy and natural way> — see FULL 2

top–notch adjective
of the very best kind <a top-notch violinist who had no trouble getting a position with the symphony> — see EXCELLENT

top–of–the–line adjective
of the very best kind <gourmet chefs who insist on top-of-the-line cookware and are willing to pay for it> — see EXCELLENT

topography noun
the physical features of a region as a whole <a map of the topography of the coastline shows a significant loss of wetlands> — see GEOGRAPHY

topper noun
something (as a fact or argument) that is decisive or overwhelming <there are lots of good reasons we can't go to the concert, but the fact that the tickets are all sold out is the topper> — see CLINCHER

topping adjective, chiefly British
of the very best kind <I know a topping new pub in Southwark where we won't run into any toffs> — see EXCELLENT

topple verb
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily <the tower of blocks toppled even though I bumped into it ever so slightly> — see FALL 1

top–shelf adjective
of the very best kind <hoping to impress the new neighbors, she brought a top-shelf wine as a housewarming gift> — see EXCELLENT

topsy–turvy adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <the office is still topsy-turvy even though we moved in months ago> — see MESSY

torch noun
a person who deliberately and unlawfully sets fire to a building or other property <in an insurance scam, the slumlord hired a torch to burn the tenement down> — see ARSONIST

torch verb
to set (something) on fire <police suspect that the owner torched the house for the insurance money> — see BURN 2

torment noun
1 a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness <the released soldiers gave interviews trying to explain to civilians the torment that prisoners of war experience> — see HELL 2
2 a state of great suffering of body or mind <was in torment for weeks after he broke up with his girlfriend> — see DISTRESS 1
3 a source of persistent emotional distress <insomnia that was caused by a host of nighttime torments> — see DEMON 2

torment verb
to cause persistent suffering to <he was tormented by nightmares about the accident> — see AFFLICT

tormenting adjective
1 hard to accept or bear especially emotionally <it was a tormenting moment as they helplessly watched the other team score in the final seconds of the game> — see BITTER 2
2 intensely or unbearably painful <a tormenting injury> — see EXCRUCIATING 1

tormentor also tormenter noun
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another <shocked by the news that his chief tormentor from elementary school had committed suicide at the age of 30>

Synonyms
baiter, harasser, heckler, mocker, needler, persecutor, quiz, quizzer, ridiculer, taunter, tease, teaser, torturer

Related Words
belittler, derider, detractor, giber (or jiber), insulter, jeerer, scoffer, scorner; trash-talker; smart aleck (also smart alec), smarty (or smartie), smarty-pants, wiseacre, wiseguy; kidder, lampooner, satirist; accuser, blamer, troublemaker; assailant, attacker, molester, victimizer; bother, disturber, pest

Near Antonyms
defender, deliverer, guard, protector, rescuer, savior (or saviour); comforter, consoler, solace, soother, succorer; bodyguard, champion

torpedo noun
a large sandwich on a long split roll <that deli's torpedoes are big enough to serve two people> — see SUBMARINE

torpid adjective
1 slow to move or act <a torpid sloth that refused to budge off its tree branch> — see INACTIVE 1
2 lacking in sensation or feeling <my tongue and throat remained torpid for a time following the endoscopy> — see NUMB 1

torpor noun
1 lack of interest or concern <after a lifetime of setbacks, defeats, and failures, he could only greet the latest bad news with a resigned fatalism and dull torpor> — see INDIFFERENCE
2 physical or mental inertness <following a gut-busting Thanksgiving dinner, we spent the rest of the day lounging about in a contented torpor> — see LETHARGY

torrent noun
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms <the dam broke, unleashing a torrent down the dry riverbed> — see FLOOD

torrid adjective
1 having a notably high temperature <the dry, torrid summers in southern Arizona> — see HOT 1
2 having or expressing great depth of feeling <a torrid love affair> — see FERVENT 1

tortuous adjective
marked by a long series of irregular curves <a tortuous mountain road marked by numerous hairpin turns> — see CROOKED 1

torture noun
1 a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness <it's torture for me to see you so unhappy> — see HELL 2
2 a state of great suffering of body or mind <spent an afternoon in torture waiting to hear whether her brother had made it home safely> — see DISTRESS 1

torture verb
1 to cause persistent suffering to <the neighbor's dog constantly tortures our cat, barking at him and chasing him down the street> — see AFFLICT
2 to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition <tortured her naturally straight hair into curls> — see CONTORT

torturer noun
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another <a sadistic torturer of men he regarded as weak, the drillmaster really had it in for one recruit> — see TORMENTOR

torturing adjective
intensely or unbearably painful <watched the final torturing moments of the game as the lead constantly shifted between the two teams> — see EXCRUCIATING 1

torturing noun
the twisting of something out of a natural or normal shape or condition <fans of the natural look frown on the torturing of garden trees and shrubs into fantastic shapes> — see CONTORTION

torturous adjective
1 hard to accept or bear especially emotionally <relatives had to make the torturous decision to disconnect the patient's life-support system> — see BITTER 2
2 intensely or unbearably painful <the post-infection treatment for rabies was as notoriously torturous as the disease itself> — see EXCRUCIATING 1

Tory noun
a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are <a small-town Tory who saw that society was changing, much to his regret> — see CONSERVATIVE

tosh noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <people who believe such tosh have the analytical skills of a toddler> — see NONSENSE 1

toss verb
1 to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions <the boat tossed to and fro in the heavy seas> — see ROCK 1
2 to make jerky or restless movements <tossed and turned in bed all night, unable to sleep in the heat> — see FIDGET
3 to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm <toss that football over here> — see THROW 1
4 to get rid of as useless or unwanted <we need to go through the basement and toss whatever we don't use> — see DISCARD

toss (down or off) verb
to swallow in liquid form <tossed off the last of the medicine> — see DRINK 1

tosspot noun
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk <a bar filled with the same old tosspots night after night> — see DRUNK 1

tot (up) verb
to combine (numbers) into a single sum <tot up the prices of the individual pieces and see if buying the whole set makes more sense> — see ADD 2

total adjective
1 having no exceptions or restrictions <had total power over the people of that country> — see ABSOLUTE 2
2 not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it <gave us a total rundown of the events> — see COMPLETE 1
3 trying all possibilities <this was total war as far as the military was concerned, and no weapons system was off-limits> — see EXHAUSTIVE 1

total noun
a complete amount of something <that's the total for our wheat harvest this year> — see WHOLE

total verb
1 to have a total of <two and two total four> — see AMOUNT TO 1
2 to combine (numbers) into a single sum <total all the receipts and tell me how much I owe you> — see ADD 2
3 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <a powerful hurricane totaled the house some years ago> — see DESTROY 1

totalism noun
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power <warned that forfeiture of civil liberties for the sake of security would only result in the terror of totalism> — see DESPOTISM

totalitarianism noun
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power <in times of crisis, when a nation's people are frightened, there are often calls for totalitarianism> — see DESPOTISM

totality noun
a complete amount of something <the totality of the stars in the universe can only be loosely guessed at> — see WHOLE

totalize verb
to combine (numbers) into a single sum <when we totalized our restaurant receipts for a month, the result was a little startling> — see ADD 2

totally adverb
1 to a full extent or degree <I am totally upset you can't make it to the celebration> — see FULLY 1
2 with attention to all aspects or details <he made totally sure the door was locked when he left the house> — see THOROUGHLY 1

tote verb
to support and take from one place to another <toted his dog from the muddy backyard to the bathtub for a thorough washing> — see CARRY 1

tote (up) verb
to combine (numbers) into a single sum <he toted up each person's costs to see what we had spent as a group> — see ADD 2

totem noun
a device, design, or figure used as an identifying mark <the bald eagle, that universally recognized totem of our country> — see EMBLEM

totter verb
1 to move forward while swaying from side to side <tottered around the house as she practiced walking in high heels> — see STAGGER 1
2 to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side <the figurine tottered precariously for a moment before falling off the shelf> — see TEETER 1

tottering adjective
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <after the accident, she was only able to take a few tottering steps at a time> — see SHAKY 1

tottery adjective
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <with a tottery gait the frail, elderly woman slowly climbed the steps of the church> — see SHAKY 1

touch noun
1 the state or fact of being able to exchange information regarding one's current situation <everyone promised to keep in touch over the summer>

Synonyms
communication, contact, hold

Related Words
commerce, communion, intercommunication, intercourse

2 a very small amount <added just a touch of parsley to the dish> — see PARTICLE 1
3 something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <each designer has his or her own personal touches> — see CHARACTERISTIC
4 an almost imperceptible sign of something <a touch of irritation tinged his voice as the candidate fielded yet another question about his personal finances> — see HINT 2

touch verb
1 to come into bodily contact with (something) so as to perceive a slight pressure on the skin <be careful not to touch this pan—it's still hot>

Synonyms
feel

Related Words
caress, embrace, finger, fondle, hug, kiss, lip, nose, nudge, nuzzle, paw, rub, stroke; palp, palpate; brush, graze, shave, skim; clasp, clench, cling (to), clutch, grasp, grip, handle, hold, palm; chuck, clap, dab, flick, pat, tag, tap, tip; hit, knock, pound, rap, whack

2 to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response <your speech on the true meaning of patriotism touched me deeply> — see 1AFFECT 1
3 to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable <unfortunately, his insufferable arrogance tends to touch even the good deeds that he does> — see TAINT 1
4 to be adjacent to <our property touches theirs right where that big elm tree is> — see ADJOIN 1
5 to be the business or affair of <I don't think this decision touches you, so butt out> — see CONCERN 2

touch (on) verb
to come very close to being <that behavior touches on insanity> — see BORDER ON 1

touch (on or upon) verb
to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically <I do want to briefly touch upon the medieval view of the world before talking about Gothic architecture> — see MENTION 1

touchable adjective
capable of being perceived by the sense of touch <not very comfortable with abstractions, I usually relate better to touchable things> — see TANGIBLE

touch down verb
to come to rest after descending from the air <the plane will touch down in about 30 minutes> — see ALIGHT 1

touching adjective
1 having a border in common <touching lots in the housing development will eventually be separated by hedges for privacy> — see ADJACENT
2 having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies <a touching movie about two lost animals who try to find their way home> — see MOVING

touching preposition
having to do with <there has been an objection touching the last of the proposed new bylaws> — see ABOUT 1

touch off verb
to cause to function <his obscene comment touched off a heated debate about the need for censorship on live broadcasts> — see ACTIVATE

touchstone noun
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared <his book has long been a touchstone for travel writing that aspires to be literature> — see STANDARD 1

touchy adjective
1 easily offended <watch what you say around him, as he's very touchy about every little thing>

Synonyms
huffy, tetchy, thin-skinned, ticklish

Related Words
hypersensitive, oversensitive, sensitive, supersensitive, tender; choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, cross-grained, crotchety, grouchy, grumpy, irascible, irritable, peevish, perverse, pettish, petulant, prickly, quick-tempered, raspy, ratty, short-tempered, snappish, snappy, snarky, snippety, snippy, stroppy [British], stuffy, testy, waspish; bearish, bilious, cantankerous, curmudgeonly, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, ornery, querulous, surly

Near Antonyms
agreeable, amiable, good-natured, good-tempered, well-disposed; carefree, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, relaxed, unconcerned; forbearing, long-suffering, obliging, understanding

Antonyms
thick-skinned

2 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <money is a touchy subject for many people and shouldn't be discussed casually> — see TRICKY 1
3 capable of catching or being set on fire <the experiment involves the use of some touchy chemicals, so caution is required> — see COMBUSTIBLE

touchy–feely adjective
showing feeling freely <she is too touchy-feely and he is too stiff-upper-lip for their relationship to ever work out> — see DEMONSTRATIVE 1

tough adjective
1 not easily chewed <her steak was so tough that she suggested the waiter use it as a hockey puck>

Synonyms
chewy, leathery

Related Words
fibrous, gristly, sinewy, stringy; brittle, crunchy, hard; cardboardy

Near Antonyms
mushy, soft

Antonyms
tender

2 able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure <this is a tough plant that easily withstands harsh winters> — see HARDY 1
3 difficult to endure <tough weather conditions on the top of the mountain all year long> — see HARSH 1
4 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <even if you study for it, it's still a tough exam> — see HARD 2
5 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <handled a tough situation with the aplomb and tact of a true diplomat> — see TRICKY 1
6 given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint <a tough supervisor who docked the pay of anyone who punched in late, no matter what the reason> — see SEVERE 1

tough noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <didn't want her son hanging out with the neighborhood toughs> — see HOODLUM

toughen verb
1 to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force <weight lifting will help toughen those flabby muscles of yours> — see STRENGTHEN 1
2 to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure <hiking every morning through snow and ice toughened him considerably> — see HARDEN 2
3 to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe <attempts to toughen conditions under which waivers from military service would be permitted> — see HARSHEN

toughened adjective
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure <a group of toughened mountain bikers barreling up the hill> — see HARDY 1

toughie also toughy noun
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <after numerous suspensions, the school toughies were finally expelled for gang activities on campus> — see HOODLUM

toupee noun
a headpiece made of natural or synthetic hair usually worn to cover a bald area <the weatherman calmly adjusted his toupee after the wind nearly blew it off> — see HAIRPIECE

tour noun
a fixed period of time during which a person holds a job or position <asked the soldiers to consider signing up for a second tour of duty> — see TERM 1

tour verb
to take a trip especially of some distance <thought it would be lots of fun to tour all over Europe this summer> — see TRAVEL 1

tour de force noun
an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness <her performance as a woman impaired by a stroke was a theatrical tour de force> — see FEAT 1

tourist noun
a person who travels for pleasure <tourists from all over like to take pictures of the alligators in the bayou>

Synonyms
excursionist, rubberneck, rubbernecker, sightseer, traveler (or traveller), tripper [chiefly British]

Related Words
holidayer, holidaymaker [chiefly British], vacationer, vacationist; guest, hosteler (or hosteller), visitor; transient; journeyer, pilgrim, wayfarer; snowbird, sunseeker

tournament noun
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize <a golf tournament in which professionals compete against amateurs> — see GAME 1

tourney noun
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize <progressed to the final round of the tennis tourney> — see GAME 1

tousle verb
to undo the proper order or arrangement of <his grandfather would always tousle the boy's neatly combed hair> — see DISORDER

tousled adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <a tousled pile of yarn and material scraps at the bottom of her craft box> — see MESSY

tout verb
1 to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively <a new cleaning agent touted as the only product a homeowner needs for all his or her cleaning chores>

Synonyms
ballyhoo, blow up, crack up, cry up, glorify, trumpet, tub-thump

Related Words
acclaim, applaud, extol (also extoll), laud, magnify; commend, compliment, eulogize; advance, advertise, announce, blare, blaze, blazon, boost, herald, offer, plug, promote, publicize; assert, aver, claim, declare, lay down, make out, proclaim, pronounce

2 to declare enthusiastic approval of <statements from several former patients touting the doctor's alleged cancer cure> — see ACCLAIM
3 to provide publicity for <an avalanche of ads touting the new movie> — see PUBLICIZE 1

tow verb
to cause to follow by applying steady force on <towed the car into the shop for repair> — see PULL 1

toward or towards preposition
having to do with <didn't know what his attitude toward women in the military was> — see ABOUT 1

tower noun
a large, magnificent, or massive building <a hill from which one can gaze upon the towers of that great and historic city> — see EDIFICE 1

tower (over) verb
to be greater, better, or stronger than <that actor's performance towered over all others in the film> — see SURPASS 1

towering adjective
1 extending to a great distance upward <the towering mountain peaks of the Rockies> — see HIGH 1
2 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <doting parents who tend to give their children towering praise for very minor accomplishments> — see EXCESSIVE
3 very dignified in form, tone, or style <an article that in towering language decries the evils of modern society> — see ELEVATED 2

to wit adverb
that is to say <if we keep spending money like it's water, we're sure to end up in the same place as it often does, to wit, down the drain> — see NAMELY

town noun
a thickly settled, highly populated area <after driving for miles with nothing but corn and wheat fields to look at, we were relieved to roll into a small town and have a bite to eat at the local diner> — see CITY

townie or towny noun
1 a usually longtime resident of a locality <the townies are dismayed that all the venerable manses around the village green are being bought as vacation homes by rich interlopers> — see NATIVE 1
2 a person who lives in a town on a permanent basis <the university board met with an association representing the townies to figure out a solution to the problems created by off-campus parties> — see BURGHER

townlet noun
a small residential settlement <we passed through several sleepy townlets on the long drive to the ski lodge> — see VILLAGE

townsman noun
a person who lives in a town on a permanent basis <thousands of townsmen turned out to vote on the school budget> — see BURGHER

toxic adjective
containing or contaminated with a substance capable of injuring or killing a living thing <certain plants are toxic if eaten> — see POISONOUS

toxic noun
a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing <tested for toxics in the water supply> — see POISON

toxin noun
a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing <read a pamphlet on the toxin responsible for botulism, a food poisoning that can cause paralysis and even death in some cases> — see POISON

toy verb
1 to engage in activity for amusement <the cat toyed with the mouse it had caught, batting it about> — see PLAY 1
2 to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun <likes to toy with men whom she has no intention of actually dating> — see FLIRT 1

toy (with) verb
to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously <that microscope is a delicate instrument, not something to be toyed with> — see TAMPER WITH

toylike adjective
of a size that is less than average <the emergency kit comes with a toylike wrench, which supposedly is better than nothing> — see SMALL 1

trace noun
1 a mark or series of marks left on a surface by something that has passed along it <the wolf came and went without leaving a trace on the hard, dry ground> — see TRACK 1
2 a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <an old trace that dates back to the days of the covered wagon> — see WAY 1
3 a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps <stay on the trace, or you'll get lost in these thick woods> — see TRAIL 1
4 a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished <a ship that appears to have vanished without a trace on the high seas> — see VESTIGE 1
5 a very small amount <doctors detected only a trace of bacteria in the blood sample but put the patient on antibiotics just in case> — see PARTICLE 1
6 an almost imperceptible sign of something <there didn't seem to be so much as a trace of the truth to anything he said> — see HINT 2
7 the mark or impression made by a foot <followed the traces of the deer into the deep woods> — see FOOTPRINT

trace verb
1 to draw or make apparent the outline of <trace your hand onto this piece of paper> — see OUTLINE 1
2 to go after or on the track of <police traced the burglar back to his apartment, where they discovered a ton of stolen loot> — see FOLLOW 2

tracing noun
the act of going after or in the tracks of another <the tracing of this mountain lion is going to be difficult if the rain washes away all of the tracks> — see PURSUIT 1

track noun
1 a mark or series of marks left on a surface by something that has passed along it <a muddy track across the kitchen floor>

Synonyms
imprint, trace, trail

Related Words
footmark, footprint, footstep, hoofprint, path, print, pug, rut, step, tread; artifact, evidence, leavings, relic, remain(s), remainder, reminder, remnant, residual, residue, sign, spoor, telltale, token, vestige; clue, cue, hint, indication, inkling, intimation, lead, suggestion; scent, shadow, whiff

2 a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps <there was still a faint track through the underbrush that indicated where the path used to be> — see TRAIL 1
3 the direction along which something or someone moves <I followed the track of the thief's eyes as he watched the woman put the money into her purse and walk away> — see PATH 1

track verb
1 to go after or on the track of <predators stealthily tracking their prey> — see FOLLOW 2
2 to make one's way through, across, or over <once upon a time, millions of buffalo tracked the wide open plains> — see TRAVERSE

track (down) verb
to come upon after searching, study, or effort <I'll try to track down his last known address> — see FIND 1

tracking noun
the act of going after or in the tracks of another <took a class in the tracking of game that the hunters' association offers> — see PURSUIT 1

trackless adjective
not having been traveled over or through <the trackless desert is no place for unequipped, unprepared travelers> — see PATHLESS

tract noun
1 a broad geographical area <a vast and fertile tract of farmland> — see REGION 2
2 a small area of usually open land <the town had planned on turning that tract of meadow into a park> — see FIELD 1
3 a small piece of land that is developed or available for development <had a number of small tracts for sale, but we couldn't afford to buy land and then build a house> — see LOT 1

tractable adjective
readily giving in to the command or authority of another <put the dog in obedience classes, with the hopes of making her a little more tractable> — see OBEDIENT

trade noun
1 a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another <when the other team unexpectedly offered to hand over its top pitcher for our star shortstop, our coach agreed to the trade> — see EXCHANGE 1
2 an occupation requiring skillful use of the hands <a youth eager to learn the trade of cabinetmaking> — see CRAFT 1
3 the activity by which one regularly makes a living <writing is my trade> — see OCCUPATION 1
4 the buying and selling of goods especially on a large scale and between different places <a bill regulating trade with that country> — see COMMERCE 1
5 the transfer of ownership of something from one person to another for a price <the trade of all of her holdings in the company just before the stock plunged in value immediately aroused suspicions> — see SALE

trade verb
1 to carry on the business of buying and selling goods or other property <the U.S. agreed to trade with China>

Synonyms
deal, traffic

Related Words
bargain, barter, horse-trade, negotiate, transact; auction, exchange, merchandise (also merchandize), rebuy, resell, swap; buy, pick up, purchase, take; distribute, fair-trade, market, peddle, retail, sell, supply, vend, wholesale; black-market, bootleg, fence, smuggle; corner, engross, monopolize, undersell; day-trade, invest, speculate

Near Antonyms
black [chiefly British], blackball, boycott

2 to give up (something) and take something else in return <I'll trade my chocolate chip cookie for your bag of chips> — see CHANGE 3

trademark noun
1 a device (as a word) identifying the maker of a piece of merchandise and legally reserved for the exclusive use of that person or company <“Kleenex” is a trademark for a cleansing tissue>

Synonyms
brand

Related Words
brand name, trade name; collective mark, emblem, hallmark, imprint, label, logo, mark, service mark, stamp; copyright, patent

2 a device, design, or figure used as an identifying mark <the golden arches are a trademark of McDonald's> — see EMBLEM

trade–off noun
a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another <a trade-off in which a company got a celebrity spokesperson and a fading star got some much-needed cash> — see EXCHANGE 1

trader noun
a buyer and seller of goods for profit <a coffee trader> — see MERCHANT

tradesman noun
1 a buyer and seller of goods for profit <an antique dealer who's known as a good tradesman, buying his items cheaply and selling them for a hefty profit> — see MERCHANT
2 a person whose occupation requires skill with the hands <carpenters joining the tradesmen's union> — see ARTISAN

tradition noun
1 an inherited or established way of thinking, feeling, or doing <the town tradition of having the oldest resident ride at the head of the parade>

Synonyms
convention, custom, heritage, prescription, rubric, rule

Related Words
ethic, form, mode, mores, norm, principles, standards, values; birthright, inheritance, legacy; folklore, lore, superstition; culture, lifestyle

2 the body of customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings associated with a people, thing, or place <according to tradition, this field was the site of a skirmish between the first settlers and the Native Americans living in the area> — see FOLKLORE

traditional adjective
1 based on customs usually handed down from a previous generation <a traditional Passover meal at his grandparents' house>

Synonyms
classical, conventional, customary, prescriptive

Related Words
authentic, established, fixed, historical; common, habitual, orthodox, usual; ancestral, historic, old-time, old-world; aged, age-old, ancient, antediluvian, hoary, old, venerable; ageless, dateless, immemorial, timeless

Near Antonyms
contemporary, current, modern, modernized, new, new-age, present-day, updated, up-to-date; futuristic, high-tech (also hi-tech), hot, latest, mod, modernistic, newfangled, new-fashioned, red-hot, space-age, state-of-the-art, supermodern, ultramodern; nonconformist, nonorthodox, original, progressive, revolutionary, unorthodox, unprecedented, unusual

Antonyms
nontraditional, unconventional, uncustomary, untraditional

2 tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <a family that is very traditional when it comes to institutions like marriage> — see CONSERVATIVE 1

traditionalism noun
attitudes or opinions tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <a staunch supporter of grammatical traditionalism, my English teacher didn't care what the experts in linguistics said> — see CONSERVATISM

traditionalist noun
a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are <a traditionalist who doesn't believe in expanding government> — see CONSERVATIVE

traditionalistic adjective
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <traditionalistic bartenders tend to cringe at the sweet concoctions that nowadays pass for cocktails> — see CONSERVATIVE 1

traduce verb
1 to fail to keep <a law that traduces one of our most cherished rights: the right to privacy> — see VIOLATE 1
2 to make untrue and harmful statements about <my opponent in this campaign may villainously traduce me, but I will not stoop to his level> — see SLANDER

traducing noun
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation <this endless traducing of candidates has got to stop, or the public will lose all faith in the electoral process> — see SLANDER

traffic noun
the buying and selling of goods especially on a large scale and between different places <the United Nations released a report on countries that still condone the traffic of women and children> — see COMMERCE 1

traffic verb
to carry on the business of buying and selling goods or other property <arrested him for trafficking in drugs> — see TRADE 1

trafficker noun
a buyer and seller of goods for profit <a trafficker who sold pirated DVDs from the back of his car> — see MERCHANT

tragedy noun
1 a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction <the earthquake was only the latest in a series of tragedies for the city> — see DISASTER 1
2 bad luck or an example of this <it's the tragedy of many great artists not to be recognized for their genius until after they're dead> — see MISFORTUNE

tragic also tragical adjective
of a kind to cause great distress <in a tragic turn of events the area's sole remaining steel mill suddenly closed> — see REGRETTABLE

trail noun
1 a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps <took a trail through the woods to get to the main road>

Synonyms
footpath, path, pathway, trace, track

Related Words
bridle path; towpath; alley, alleyway, bypath, byroad, bystreet, byway, passageway, walkway; cutoff, shortcut; lane, pass, passage, road, roadway, route, row, run, runway, street, thoroughfare

2 a mark or series of marks left on a surface by something that has passed along it <the slugs left a slimy trail on the sidewalk> — see TRACK 1

trail verb
to go after or on the track of <we trailed our friend into the woods, inadvertently spoiling his plans for a solitary hike> — see FOLLOW 2

trailer noun
a motor vehicle that is specially equipped for living while traveling <the band packed their equipment back into their trailer and headed off to their next gig> — see CAMPER

trailing noun
the act of going after or in the tracks of another <did you think I didn't know about your constant trailing of me?> — see PURSUIT 1

train noun
1 a body of employees or servants who accompany and wait on a person <a movie star who never goes anywhere without a train of personal assistants to cater to his every whim and need> — see CORTEGE 1
2 a group of vehicles traveling together or under one management <a train of supply trucks making its way to the army encampment> — see FLEET
3 a series of persons or things arranged one behind another <already a long train of ticket buyers waiting outside the stadium> — see LINE 1
4 a series of things linked together <you've broken my train of thought—now what were we talking about?> — see CHAIN 1

train verb
1 to bring to a proper or desired state of fitness <has been training track-and-field athletes at the school for years> — see CONDITION 1
2 to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field <will train the students in good study habits> — see TEACH
3 to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective <train all your thoughts on imagining how you'd score the winning goal in the game> — see CONCENTRATE 2
4 to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal <trained his eyes on the distant bull's-eye> — see AIM 1
5 to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function <he's so experienced that they usually use him to train new recruits> — see QUALIFY 2

trainer noun
a person who trains performers or athletes <hired a personal trainer to help her get in shape> — see COACH

training noun
1 something done over and over in order to develop skill <a boxer who's been doing a lot of training with his footwork> — see EXERCISE 2
2 the act or process of imparting knowledge or skills to another <entered a convent for religious training> — see EDUCATION 1
3 a period of undergoing practical instruction in one's job or career <on-the-job training> <teacher training> — see APPRENTICESHIP

traipse verb
1 to go on foot <traipsed down the hall to get her printout from the computer room> — see WALK 1
2 to move about from place to place aimlessly <a group of friends traipsing around the country the summer after graduation> — see WANDER 1

trait noun
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind <honesty is one of her defining traits> — see CHARACTERISTIC

traitor noun
one who betrays a trust or an allegiance <accused by her family of being a traitor when she sold their traditionally animal-friendly business to a competitor known to use animals for testing its products>

Synonyms
apostate, backstabber, betrayer, double-crosser, double-dealer, Judas, quisling, recreant, serpent, snake, turncoat

Related Words
accommodationist, collaborationist, collaborator, sellout, subversive, subverter; coconspirator, conspirator, intriguer, plotter, schemer; defector, deserter, renegade; blabbermouth, gossip, gossiper, gossipmonger, informant, informer, rat, rumormonger, snitch, snitcher, squealer, stool pigeon, talebearer, talker, tattler, tattletale, telltale

traitorous adjective
not true in one's allegiance to someone or something <when our coach took a job at a rival college, a few traitorous players went right along with him> — see FAITHLESS

trammel noun
something that makes movement or progress difficult <students and parents who want to throw off the trammels of outdated school policies> — see ENCUMBRANCE

trammel verb
1 to confine or restrain with or as if with chains <years after his death, she was still trammeled by inconsolable grief for her deceased husband> — see BIND 1
2 to create difficulty for the work or activity of <the new paperwork requirements will only trammel us and lower our productivity> — see HAMPER

tramp noun
1 a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living <the police encouraged the tramps who were sleeping in the park to spend the bitterly cold night in the homeless shelter>

Synonyms
bindle stiff, bum, bummer, hobo, sundowner [Australian], swaggie [chiefly Australian], swagman [chiefly Australian], vagabond, vagrant

Related Words
drifter, roamer, transient; beggar, derelict, mendicant, panhandler, stiff; dodger, malingerer, shirker, slacker; gamine, ragamuffin, urchin, waif

2 a boldly flirtatious or sexually promiscuous woman <no daughter of hers was going to go to the dance dressed like a tramp> — see FLOOZY

tramp verb
1 to move heavily or clumsily <tramped wearily up the stairs after a long day at work> — see LUMBER 1
2 to tread on heavily so as to crush or injure <didn't mean to tramp your toes as I was running past you> — see TRAMPLE
3 to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure <we would have happily tramped through the forest for the rest of the day if it hadn't started to rain> — see HIKE 1

tramper noun
a person who travels by foot for exercise or pleasure <though inaccessible to most vehicles, the boggy backcountry is popular with intrepid trampers> — see HIKER

trample verb
to tread on heavily so as to crush or injure <Isabel looked out her window and beheld the neighbor's Labrador retriever trampling her begonias>

Synonyms
champ, stamp, stomp, tramp, tromp

Related Words
override, run down, run over, step (on); mash, pulp, smash, squash, squelch; boot, hoof, kick

trampy adjective
having loose sexual morals <an author who mostly wrote hard-boiled fiction about macho men and trampy women> — see SLEAZY 1

trance noun
the state of being lost in thought <lulled by the sound of the train, she stared out the window in a trance, oblivious to the fact that the conductor was taking tickets> — see REVERIE

tranquil adjective
1 free from disturbing noise or uproar <the house was once again tranquil after the kids moved outside to play> — see QUIET 1
2 free from emotional or mental agitation <though she should have been upset, she felt oddly tranquil upon learning that she would not be receiving the scholarship> — see CALM 2
3 free from storms or physical disturbance <drifting dreamily through tranquil seas> — see CALM 1

tranquilize also tranquillize verb
to free from distress or disturbance <at long last the crying baby was tranquilized by the steady rocking of her cradle> — see CALM 1

tranquilizing also tranquillizing adjective
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress <a woman who put a lot of faith in the tranquilizing effects of a cup of tea> — see SOOTHING 1

tranquillity or tranquility noun
1 a state of freedom from storm or disturbance <enjoyed the tranquillity of the snow-covered field at dusk> — see CALM 1
2 evenness of emotions or temper <a psychotherapist valued for her tranquillity and ability to listen> — see EQUANIMITY
3 freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions <a mountain climber who finds inner tranquillity as he looks out from the edge of some lofty precipice> — see PEACE 2

tranquilness noun
evenness of emotions or temper <he maintained his gentle tranquilness despite the provocations> — see EQUANIMITY

transaction noun
the transfer of ownership of something from one person to another for a price <if you want to return any merchandise, make sure you keep the receipt for the initial sales transaction> — see SALE

transcend verb
1 to be greater, better, or stronger than <a man whose practical knowledge of botany transcends that of his more educated colleagues> — see SURPASS 1
2 to go beyond the limit of <a person who believes that any true understanding of God transcends human intelligence> — see EXCEED 1

transcendence noun
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance <makes a case for the transcendence of Louis Armstrong's contributions to the field of jazz> — see EMINENCE 1

transcendent adjective
1 of, relating to, or being part of a reality beyond the observable physical universe <a firm belief in angels, demons, and other transcendent beings> — see SUPERNATURAL 1
2 being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature <the star player's transcendent performance helped the team to a surprise victory> — see SUPERNATURAL 2

transcendental adjective
1 of, relating to, or being part of a reality beyond the observable physical universe <the concept of the soul as a transcendental entity that exists entirely apart from the body> — see SUPERNATURAL 1
2 being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature <in his speeches he manifests a transcendental ability to inspire people from all points on the political spectrum> — see SUPERNATURAL 2

transfer verb
1 to give over the legal possession or ownership of <Claire's grandfather agreed to transfer certain stocks to her when she turned 18>

Synonyms
alien, alienate, assign, cede, convey, deed, make over

Related Words
bequeath, hand down, leave, pass (down), will; bestow, commend, commit, confer, contribute, deliver, donate, grant, hand over, move, pass, present, release, relinquish, surrender, transmit, turn in, turn over, vest, yield; consign, entrust (also intrust), trust; lease, lend, let [chiefly British], loan, rent

Phrases
dispose of

Near Antonyms
expropriate

2 to cause (something) to pass from one to another <they used Morse Code to transfer the message from one ship to another> — see COMMUNICATE 1
3 to cause to go or be taken from one place to another <will have to transfer you from our San Francisco office to our New York headquarters> — see SEND
4 to change the place or position of <transferred the car keys from my pocket to my purse> — see MOVE 1
5 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <before she left the country, she transferred all her record books and important papers to her mother> — see GIVE 2
6 to shift possession of (something) from one person to another <transferred the ball to the running back> — see PASS 1

transferable also transferrable adjective
capable of being taken from one place to another by public carrier <supplemental charges for oversized transferable goods like pianos> — see SHIPPABLE

transfiguration noun
a change in form, appearance, or use <after his transfiguration into a Buddhist monk, all his family and friends were amazed by his newly found patience and tranquillity> — see CONVERSION 1

transfigure verb
to change in form, appearance, or use <married life has seemingly transfigured his formerly aimless existence> — see CONVERT 2

transfix verb
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <transfixed the inanimate butterfly specimens to the collection board> — see IMPALE

transform verb
to change in form, appearance, or use <by clicking a few buttons, this toy car can be transformed into a robot> — see CONVERT 2

transformation noun
a change in form, appearance, or use <a raven-haired starlet who underwent an attention-getting transformation and showed up at the awards ceremony as a blonde> — see CONVERSION 1

transfuse verb
1 to cause (something) to pass from one to another <a teacher who is able to transfuse his enthusiasm and passion for history to his students> — see COMMUNICATE 1
2 to spread throughout <light transfused the room as the sun rose> — see PERMEATE

transgress verb
1 to commit an offense <I didn't realize I was transgressing when I told your sister she looked like she had lost weight> — see OFFEND 1
2 to fail to keep <don't even think about transgressing the drug laws of that Asian country, for punishments are severe and there's nothing that our government can do to intervene> — see VIOLATE 1

transgression noun
1 a breaking of a moral or legal code <acts that are transgressions against the laws of civilized societies everywhere> — see OFFENSE 1
2 a failure to uphold the requirements of law, duty, or obligation <a dying woman asking for divine forgiveness for a lifetime of transgressions> — see BREACH 1

transience noun
the state or quality of lasting only for a short time <wary of the transience of popular enthusiasms, the writers of the U.S. Constitution made changing the document a long and difficult process> — see IMPERMANENCE

transiency noun
the state or quality of lasting only for a short time <because of the transiency of their residency, college students often display little interest in the welfare of the towns where they go to school> — see IMPERMANENCE

transient adjective
lasting only for a short time <had transient thoughts of suicide but never acted upon them> — see MOMENTARY

transit verb
to make one's way through, across, or over <once you transit that stretch of dense woods, the hiking should be much easier> — see TRAVERSE

transitoriness noun
the state or quality of lasting only for a short time <given the transitoriness of most teen romances, the parents probably have little to worry about> — see IMPERMANENCE

transitory adjective
lasting only for a short time <a transitory panic struck me when I realized that we had left the baby in the car> — see MOMENTARY

translate verb
to express something (as a text or statement) in different words <would you mind translating this German article for me?> — see PARAPHRASE

translate (into) verb
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <it remains to be seen whether the policy changes will translate into true progress> — see EFFECT

translating noun
an instance of expressing something in different words <his insightful translating of that passage really captured the tone of the original> — see PARAPHRASE

translation noun
an instance of expressing something in different words <had to read Dante's Divine Comedy in translation since I don't know Italian> — see PARAPHRASE

translucence noun
the state or quality of being easily seen through <the exceptional translucence of the sapphire adds to its value> — see CLARITY 1

translucency noun
the state or quality of being easily seen through <the translucency of a wine can only be appreciated if it is served in uncolored glasses, preferably of fine crystal> — see CLARITY 1

transmissible adjective
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another <don't worry, the genetic disorder isn't transmissible from one generation to the next> — see CONTAGIOUS 1

transmit verb
1 to cause (something) to pass from one to another <sneezing and coughing can transmit disease> — see COMMUNICATE 1
2 to cause to go or be taken from one place to another <I'll transmit this information over the airwaves> — see SEND
3 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <transmitted the deed of his house to his lawyer> — see GIVE 2

transmittable adjective
1 capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another <that disease is only transmittable through direct contact with an infected person, not through contact with something the infected person has touched> — see CONTAGIOUS 1
2 capable of being taken from one place to another by public carrier <I doubt that animals are legally transmittable through the mail> — see SHIPPABLE

transmute verb
to change in form, appearance, or use <in his elegy on his deceased wife, the poet has transmuted inconsolable grief into high art> — see CONVERT 2

transnational adjective
relating to or involving two or more nations <global warming is a transnational problem that requires a transnational solution> — see INTERNATIONAL

transparency noun
the state or quality of being easily seen through <because of the transparency of the Caribbean waters, we could see sharks and tropical fish swimming 20 or 30 feet below the surface> — see CLARITY 1

transparent adjective
1 easily seen through <bottles of blue transparent glass> — see CLEAR 1
2 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <his meaning in leaving the conversation is transparent: he doesn't want to talk about his combat experiences> — see CLEAR 2
3 very thin and easy to see through <told her she had to wear a slip under that nearly transparent skirt> — see SHEER 1

transpierce verb
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object <got a thrill out of transpiercing butterflies with hat pins> — see IMPALE

transpire verb
to take place <please tell me what transpired on the night of October 1> — see HAPPEN

transport noun
1 a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion <was in transports of joy after winning the championship> — see ECSTASY
2 something used to carry goods or passengers <rising gas prices will impel more people to use public transport> — see CONVEYANCE

transport verb
1 to cause to go or be taken from one place to another <I'll have to transport the car to our new home overseas by public carrier> — see SEND
2 to fill with great joy <was absolutely transported when she heard that her brother was getting married> — see ELATE
3 to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight) <was transported with wonder when she saw the Matterhorn for the first time> — see ENTRANCE
4 to force to leave a country <the offending journalist was transported out of the country and ordered to never return> — see BANISH 1
5 to support and take from one place to another <will you transport this heavy casserole dish to the dining room for me?> — see CARRY 1

transportable adjective
capable of being taken from one place to another by public carrier <you'll need to see if that food is transportable overseas before you send boxes of it to your relatives in the military> — see SHIPPABLE

transportation noun
1 a means of getting to a destination in a vehicle driven by another <I'm without transportation tonight, so I can't meet you at the movies> — see RIDE
2 something used to carry goods or passengers <right now my bike is my only transportation> — see CONVEYANCE

transpose verb
1 to change in form, appearance, or use <contends that popular culture has transposed Christmas from a religious feast into a celebration of consumerism> — see CONVERT 2
2 to change the place or position of <after the ex-governor's scandals belatedly came to light, his portrait was transposed to a quiet corner of the statehouse> — see MOVE 1

transubstantiate verb
to change in form, appearance, or use <the novelist transubstantiated the joys and sorrows of his early years into a charming fable about childhood> — see CONVERT 2

transude verb
to flow forth slowly through small openings <sweat was transuding from the pores of his face despite his best efforts to look cool and collected during the interview> — see EXUDE

transversely adverb
in a line or direction running from corner to corner <the coat of arms had a line of white horses running transversely from one corner to another on a blue background> — see CROSSWISE

trap noun
1 a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise <undercover agents devised a trap to catch the counterfeiters> <a bear trap>

Synonyms
ambush, net, snare, web

Related Words
enmeshment, entanglement, entrapment, envelopment; booby trap, catch, hazard, land mine, pitfall, snag; artifice, cheat, cheating, deception, double-dealing, duplicity, ploy, ruse, subterfuge, trick

2 a setup in which hidden attackers lie in wait <an overland route to the Far East that was once notorious for the many robbers who laid traps for unsuspecting wayfarers> — see AMBUSH 1
3 something that catches and holds <the promotion is really just a trap to keep her from taking a new job elsewhere> — see WEB 1
4 slang the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal <shut your trap before someone belts you one!> — see MOUTH 1

trap verb
1 to catch or hold as if in a net <an ambitious young man who was now trapped in a series of shady business deals> — see ENTANGLE 2
2 to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly <finally trapped the annoying fly in the palm of his hand> — see CATCH 1

trash noun
1 discarded or useless material <the neighbor's dog was rooting around in our trash this morning> — see GARBAGE 1
2 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <don't talk trash to me!> — see NONSENSE 1
3 people looked down upon as ignorant and of the lowest class <snooty people who thought that we were trash because we were in the cleaning business> — see RABBLE
4 that which is of low quality or worth <the souvenirs in the gift shop are nothing but trash> — see JUNK 1

trash verb
1 to criticize harshly and usually publicly <a stand-up comedian who humorously trashes the motley crew of people who bug her> — see ATTACK 2
2 to deliberately cause the damage or destruction of another's property <someone had broken into the gym and trashed the decorations for the dance> — see VANDALIZE
3 to express scornfully one's low opinion of <a club member who trashes every idea that isn't hers> — see DECRY 1
4 to take sudden, violent action against <gangs of young punks would trash the encampment of homeless men just for sport> — see ATTACK 1

trashing noun
deliberate damaging or destroying of another's property <the trashing of his apartment was the work of his ex-girlfriend, who apparently did not take the breakup very well> — see VANDALISM

trash–talk verb
to express scornfully one's low opinion of <began to trash-talk the opposing players the minute they got on the field> — see DECRY 1

trashy adjective
1 marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste <I know that sequined shirt cost a lot of money, but I still think it looks kind of trashy> — see 1TACKY 1
2 of low quality <trashy furniture that fell apart after a few weeks> — see CHEAP 2
3 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <a trashy skin magazine with no pretense to subtlety> — see OBSCENE 1

travail noun
1 a state of great suffering of body or mind <no greater travail than that of parents who have suffered the death of a child> — see DISTRESS 1
2 very hard or unpleasant work <these villagers now have decent housing, so our travail has not been in vain> — see 1TOIL
3 the act or process of giving birth to children <a midwife assisted her throughout her long travail> — see CHILDBIRTH

travail verb
to devote serious and sustained effort <Labor Day is the day on which we recognize those men and women who daily travail with little appreciation or compensation> — see LABOR

travel noun, often travels plural
a going from one place to another usually of some distance <in all his travels he never met pleasanter people than he had in that village> — see JOURNEY

travel verb
1 to take a trip especially of some distance <the couple loves to travel and has been to 34 countries>

Synonyms
journey, peregrinate, pilgrimage, tour, trek, trip, voyage

Related Words
gallivant (also galavant), hop, jaunt, knock (about), perambulate, ramble, roam, rove, traipse, wander; migrate, road-trip; bus, cab, coach, cruise, drive, fly, gig, jet, motor, navigate, ride, roll, sail, trundle; barnstorm

2 to make one's way through, across, or over <will travel the river for a while and then continue on land> — see TRAVERSE
3 to proceed or move quickly <that racehorse can definitely travel> — see HURRY 2
4 to come or be together as friends <he traveled with a fast crowd when he was in college> — see ASSOCIATE 1

traveler or traveller noun
a person who travels for pleasure <a company that offers guidebooks and maps for travelers> — see TOURIST

traveling bag noun
a bag carried by hand and designed to hold a traveler's clothing and personal articles <traveling bags made of lightweight but tough fabrics>

Synonyms
carryall, carry-on, grip, handbag, holdall [chiefly British], portmanteau, suitcase, wallet

Related Words
overnight bag (also overnight case), weekend bag (also weekend case), weekender; cosmetic case, traveling case; carpetbag, duffel bag, kit, kit bag; backpack, haversack, knapsack, packsack, rucksack; attaché, attaché case, briefcase, valise; baggage, bags, luggage

traverse verb
to make one's way through, across, or over <the spider traversed the wall from end to end>

Synonyms
course, cover, cross, cut (across), follow, go, navigate, pass (over), perambulate, peregrinate, proceed (along), track, transit, travel

Related Words
hike, traipse, tramp, tread, walk; ride, run; crisscross

travesty noun
1 a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something <rigged from the start, his trial was a travesty of justice> — see MOCKERY 1
2 a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect <the big-screen version of the classic sitcom is actually a good-natured travesty of the TV series> — see PARODY 1

travesty verb
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of <this comedy sketch mindlessly travesties the hard work of relief workers around the world> — see MIMIC 1

treacherous adjective
not true in one's allegiance to someone or something <a treacherous “friend,” she's been known to turn against people in the blink of an eye> — see FAITHLESS

treachery noun
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another <was furious that she revealed his secret and never forgave her for the treachery> — see BETRAYAL

tread verb
to go on foot <to protect the fragile environment of the beach dunes, we must tread cautiously and lightly> — see WALK 1

treadmill noun
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity <the treadmill of the morning commute to work> — see ROUTINE 1

treason noun
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another <reading a friend's diary without permission would have to be regarded as the ultimate act of personal treason> — see BETRAYAL

treasure noun
1 an asset that brings praise or renown <ancient archaeological treasures that today would never be allowed out of the country of origin> — see GLORY 2
2 someone or something unusually desirable <in thanking them for their contributions, the mayor referred to the volunteers at the homeless shelter as the city's greatest treasures> — see PRIZE 1

treasure verb
1 to hold dear <I'll always treasure the time my friend and I spent together this past summer> — see LOVE 1
2 to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place <a trove of fine wines that he had lovingly treasured over the years> — see HOARD

treasure trove noun
an abundant source <the ancient city, having been almost perfectly preserved under volcanic ash for nearly 2,000 years, is proving to be a treasure trove of archaeological information> — see MINE 1

treat noun
1 a source of great satisfaction <spending a long weekend at a ski resort is a real treat> — see DELIGHT 1
2 something that is pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury <for us sushi is a real treat since no restaurant around here makes it> — see DELICACY 1

treat verb
1 to behave toward in a stated way <she tries to treat all of her students fairly and equally, regardless of her personal feelings toward them>

Synonyms
act (toward), be (to), deal (with), handle, serve, use

Related Words
consider, esteem, rate, reckon, regard, view; engage (with), react (to), respond (to)

Phrases
do by

2 to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently <school officials treated the vandalism of the students' artwork as a very serious matter> — see HANDLE 1
3 to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem <I will treat with my lawyer and let you know what we decide> — see CONFER 2
4 to give medical treatment to <a nurse treating a patient> — see DOCTOR 1

treat (of) verb
to have (something) as a subject matter <his paper treats of the ethical dilemmas that doctors face every day in the emergency rooms of urban hospitals> — see CONCERN 1

treaty noun
a formal agreement between two or more nations or peoples <in accordance with a treaty between the United States and the tribes of the Pacific Northwest, commercial fishing of certain kinds of salmon is limited to Native Americans>

Synonyms
accord, alliance, compact, convention, covenant, pact

Related Words
entente, entente cordiale; bargain, bond, charter, concord, contract, deal, settlement, understanding; projet

treble adjective
1 having a high musical pitch or range <the treble shrieks of children at play> — see SHRILL
2 having three units or parts <a treble painting, with each panel telling a different part of the Nativity story> — see TRIPLE

trek noun
a going from one place to another usually of some distance <started on our trek up the mountain before the sun rose> — see JOURNEY

trek verb
to take a trip especially of some distance <adventurers trekking across the desert in search of a fabled city of gold> — see TRAVEL 1

tremble noun
an instance of shaking involuntarily with fear or cold <with a tremble, she ventured out into the snow> — see SHIVER 1

trembling adjective
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <trembling from the cold> — see SHAKY 1

trembling noun
a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side <at the first sign of the room's trembling, I ducked for cover, for I was certain that it was the start of the big quake> — see VIBRATION 1

trembly adjective
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <the inexperienced lecturer tried to control her trembly hands as she walked onstage> — see SHAKY 1

tremendous adjective
unusually large <that's a tremendous amount of work for one person> — see HUGE

tremendously adverb
to a large extent or degree <I'm tremendously upset I didn't get into that university> — see GREATLY 2

tremor noun
a shaking of the earth <smaller tremors continued for days after the major earthquake> — see EARTHQUAKE 1

tremulous adjective
1 easily frightened <a tremulous girl somehow mustered up the courage to ask a question of the governor> — see SHY 1
2 marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <the frail woman extended a tremulous hand in welcome> — see SHAKY 1

trench noun
a long narrow channel dug in the earth <dug a trench and filled it with water in an attempt to keep the forest fire off her property> — see DITCH

trench (on) verb
to come very close to being <that response trenches on outright rudeness> — see BORDER ON 1

trenchant adjective
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something <even the most trenchant sword could not sever the bonds of loyalty between them> — see SHARP 1

trend noun
1 a prevailing or general movement or inclination <according to the survey, there's a growing trend for companies to run their own day-care centers for the benefit of employees>

Synonyms
current, direction, drift, leaning, run, tendency, tide, wind

Related Words
curve, downside, shift, swing, turn, turnabout, upside; custom, habit, propensity, tenor, way; countercurrent, countertrend; undercurrent, undertow

2 a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <still had a coat from the last trend for fake fur, when the material lined everything from boots to coats to bracelets> — see FAD

trend verb
1 to show a liking or proneness (for something) <during the winter our school system trends toward canceling school at the drop of a hat—or at least a snowflake> — see LEAN 2
2 to turn away from a straight line or course <the river trends east, then west again, forming an oxbow> — see CURVE 1

trendiness noun
the quality or state of being fashionable <trendiness is something that I don't think about when choosing clothes> — see COOL 2

trendsetter noun
one that takes the lead or sets an example <a closely watched trendsetter in women's fashions> — see BELLWETHER

trendy adjective
1 being in the latest or current fashion <if what's in the stores is any indication, shorter skirts are trendy again this year> — see STYLISH
2 keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment <trendy foodies always looking for the hottest chefs and the coolest restaurants> — see AU COURANT 1

trepidation noun
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger <shaking with trepidation, I stepped into the old abandoned house> — see FEAR 1

trespass noun
1 a breaking of a moral or legal code <forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us> — see OFFENSE 1
2 a failure to uphold the requirements of law, duty, or obligation <plagiarism is a serious trespass of academic integrity> — see BREACH 1

trespass verb
to commit an offense <I consider him to be trespassing against all of us when he trespasses against any one of us> — see OFFEND 1

triad noun
a group of three <a triad of candlesticks on the mantle> — see THREESOME

triadic adjective
having three units or parts <the application to this music school is triadic in structure: there's the written application, then the audition, and finally an interview with the admissions board> — see TRIPLE

trial adjective
made or done as an experiment <a trial medical procedure that should be considered only after all other options have been exhausted> — see EXPERIMENTAL 1

trial noun
1 a test of faith, patience, or strength <living with her insufferable relatives was a real trial>

Synonyms
cross, crucible, fire, gauntlet (also gantlet), ordeal

Related Words
baptism, initiation; adversity, affliction, asperity, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap, privation, tragedy, tribulation, trouble, vicissitude, woe; acid test, litmus test; challenge, complication, difficulty, grief, grievance, hardship, rigor; annoyance, discomfort, inconvenience, nuisance

Phrases
baptism of fire

2 a private performance or session in preparation for a public appearance <ran another trial of the aerial performance before opening night> — see REHEARSAL
3 a procedure or operation carried out to resolve an uncertainty <trials by medical researchers haven't determined whether the medication is safe or not> — see EXPERIMENT
4 an effort to do or accomplish something <will rest and make another trial at climbing the mountain> — see ATTEMPT 1
5 something that is a source of irritation <trying to have a coherent phone conversation with his senile father was always a trial> — see ANNOYANCE 3

tribal adjective
of, relating to, or reflecting the traits exhibited by a group of people with a common ancestry and culture <a tribal solidarity that transcends all other loyalties or bonds> — see RACIAL

tribe noun
a group of persons who come from the same ancestor <the wedding joined the two tribes together> — see FAMILY 1

tribulation noun
a state of great suffering of body or mind <a documentary chronicling the lasting tribulation of Holocaust survivors> — see DISTRESS 1

tribunal noun
an assembly of persons for the administration of justice <was tried before a military tribunal and found not guilty of the charges> — see COURT 3

tribune noun
a level usually raised surface <addressed the vast crowd from the tribune> — see PLATFORM 1

tributary noun
a stream that flows into a larger body of water <the Amazon and its more than 1,000 known tributaries form the world's largest drainage basin>

Synonyms
affluent, bayou, branch, confluent, feeder, influent

Related Words
backwater; brook, brooklet, creek, rill, rivulet, run [chiefly Midland], streamlet; fountainhead, head, headstream, headwater, source

Antonyms
distributary, effluent

tribute noun
a formal expression of praise <tributes were received from all over the world at the opera singer's farewell concert> — see ENCOMIUM

trice noun
a very small space of time <it's just a scrape on the knee—we'll have you fixed up in a trice> — see INSTANT

trick noun
1 a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <her husband used every trick in the book to get out of appearing in his parish's fashion show>

Synonyms
artifice, device, dodge, fetch, flimflam, gambit, gimmick, jig, juggle, knack, play, ploy, scheme, shenanigan, sleight, stratagem, wile

Related Words
bluff, end run, feint; cheating, chicanery, cozenage, craft, crookery, cunning, deception, dupery, duplicity, fakery, jugglery, legerdemain, skulduggery (or skullduggery), subterfuge, swindling, trickery; fraud, gaff, hoax, sham, swindle; blind, front, smoke screen

Phrases
sleight of hand

2 a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <thought that gluing the silver dollar to the floor and watching him struggle to pick it up would be a good trick> — see PRANK
3 a usual manner of behaving or doing <that deadbeat is up to his usual tricks: once again he's claiming the check is in the mail> — see HABIT 1
4 an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness <it'd be quite a trick to hit that target from here> — see FEAT 1
5 an odd or peculiar habit <a dog with the trick of eating cabbage> — see IDIOSYNCRASY

trick verb
to cause to believe what is untrue <you tricked me into thinking my ex wasn't coming to the party tonight> — see DECEIVE

tricker noun
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <they're equal-opportunity con artists: trickers of plutocrats and pensioners alike> — see TRICKSTER 1

trickery noun
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end <Delia resorted to trickery—even loading up the fishing equipment—to induce her dog into the car for his vet appointment>

Synonyms
artifice, chicane, chicanery, gamesmanship, hanky-panky, jiggery-pokery, jugglery, legerdemain, skulduggery (or skullduggery), subterfuge, wile

Related Words
artfulness, caginess (also cageyness), craftiness, cunning, deviousness, foxiness, oiliness, shadiness, sharpness, shiftiness, shrewdness, slickness, slipperiness, slyness, sneakiness, treachery, underhandedness, wiliness; crookedness, crookery, cunning, deceit, deceitfulness, deception, deceptiveness, dishonesty, dissimulation, double-dealing, dupery, duplicity, guile, guilefulness, hypocrisy, insincerity; fakery, humbuggery, imposture, quackery; dirty pool, dirty tricks; design, plotting, scheming, secrecy, stealth

Near Antonyms
artlessness, forthrightness, guilelessness, ingenuousness, sincerity; candidness, candor, directness, openness, plainness, plainspokenness

trickle verb
1 to fall or let fall in or as if in drops <trickled a little honey into her tea> — see DRIP
2 to flow in a broken irregular stream <the brook trickled along the glade> — see GURGLE

tricksiness noun
a natural disposition for playful behavior <the novelist has a known weakness for literary tricksiness, so the reader should be skeptical of the narrator's trustworthiness> — see PLAYFULNESS

trickster noun
1 a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value <a heartless trickster swindled the elderly woman out of her life savings>

Synonyms
bilk, bilker, cheat, cheater, chiseler (or chiseller), confidence man, cozener, defrauder, dodger, fakir, finagler, fraudster [chiefly British], hoaxer, scammer, scamster, shark, sharper, sharpie (or sharpy), skinner, swindler, tricker

Related Words
double-crosser, double-dealer; bluffer, charlatan, fake, faker, humbug, impostor (or imposter), mountebank, phony (also phoney), pretender, quack, quacksalver, ringer, sham; adventurer, fox, gamesman, knave, prankster, rascal, rogue; fast-talker, slick, slicker, slickster, slyboots, smoothy (or smoothie), wheeler-dealer; plotter, schemer, sneak, sneaker; blackleg, cardsharp (or cardsharper)

2 one who practices tricks and illusions for entertainment <a very adept trickster who used mirrors to make huge items—even buildings—seem to disappear> — see MAGICIAN 2

tricksy adjective
1 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <it's a bit tricksy to have a candid conversation with the company president without appearing to be either presumptuous or obsequious> — see TRICKY 1
2 tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <a tricksy provocateur who will make the most outrageous statements just to get a reaction> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

tricky adjective
1 requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling <a tricky musical passage for the woodwind section>

Synonyms
catchy, delicate, difficult, dodgy [chiefly British], hairy, knotty, nasty, prickly, problematic (also problematical), sensitive, spiny, sticky, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough, tricksy

Related Words
abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, hard, intricate, involved, recondite, serious; problem, scabrous, stubborn, troublesome, troublous, vexatious, vexing, worrisome; burdensome, demanding, discommoding, exacting, exhausting, importunate, inconvenient, onerous, oppressive, painful, stressful

Near Antonyms
easy, effortless, manageable, painless, simple, straightforward, uncomplicated, undemanding, unproblematic

2 clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <he's a tricky one, so be careful when dealing with him> — see ARTFUL 1

tried adjective
worthy of one's trust <a tried method for catching sport fish> — see DEPENDABLE

tried–and–true adjective
worthy of one's trust <a tried-and-true friend who has always been there for me> — see DEPENDABLE

trifecta noun
a group of three <that summertime trifecta for meteorologically induced misery: hazy, hot, and humid> — see THREESOME

trifle noun
something of little importance <let us not speak of trifles when our nation may be going to war>

Synonyms
bagatelle, child's play, frippery, nonproblem, nothing, picayune, shuck(s), small beer, small change, triviality

Related Words
naught (also nought), nothingness, smoke, zero; peanuts, pittance, song, straw, two bits; bunk, claptrap, drivel, folly, fribble, fudge, hogwash, humbug, humbuggery, nonsense, piffle, rot, trash, trivia; bit, crumb, dab, dram, lick, mite, ounce, particle, pinhead, scintilla, shred, smidgen (also smidgeon or smidgin or smidge), soupçon, speck, spot, tad, touch, trace

trifle verb
1 to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun <do not trifle with me unless you mean to ask me to marry you> — see FLIRT 1
2 to spend time in aimless activity <spent a lazy afternoon trifling on the front porch> — see FIDDLE AROUND

trifle (away) verb
to use up carelessly <trifled away his hard-earned professional respect with a single act of plagiarism> — see WASTE 1

trifler noun
a person who lacks experience and competence in an art or science <he was never taken seriously as a comic book artist, with most illustrators regarding him as a mere trifler> — see AMATEUR 2

trifling adjective
1 lacking importance <deciding what you want to do for a living is no trifling matter> — see UNIMPORTANT
2 so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <trifling differences between the theatrical and DVD versions of the movie> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

trig adjective
being clean and in good order <to the office she wears trig two-piece suits that are fashionable but still businesslike> — see NEAT 1

trigger verb
to cause to function <mold triggers my allergies> — see ACTIVATE

trill verb
to sing with the alternation of two musical tones <a bluebird trilled outside our window> — see WARBLE

trim adjective
being clean and in good order <kept his journal entries trim, never crossing out words or scribbling, but printing exactly and nicely> — see NEAT 1

trim noun
1 a state of being or fitness <the doctor declared her to be in good trim for the race> — see CONDITION 1
2 something that decorates or beautifies <added a little trim to her cocktail dress to make it a little fancier> — see DECORATION 1

trim verb
1 to achieve a victory over <a speed skater who consistently trimmed all his competition> — see BEAT 2
2 to defeat by a large margin <they trimmed our team by 40 points> — see WHIP 2
3 to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument <trimmed her bangs> — see CLIP 1
4 to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming <trim a tree for Christmas> — see DECORATE
5 to make neat <trimmed the shrubbery in order to enhance the house's curb appeal> — see NEATEN

trimmer noun
1 a person who dexterously and expediently changes or adopts opinions <gradually fading in the primaries, the former front-runner watched helplessly as the trimmers rushed to embrace the party's newest rising star> — see ACROBAT 2
2 one that defeats an enemy or opponent <last year's winner of the tournament unexpectedly got trimmed in the first round, and the trimmer was a young player that no one had ever heard of> — see VICTOR 1

trimming noun
failure to win a contest <our football team suffered a pretty severe trimming> — see DEFEAT 1

trinity noun
a group of three <read novels and poetry produced by that sisterly trinity of English literature: Charlotte, Anne, and Emily Brontë> — see THREESOME

trinket noun
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest <the top of his desk was littered with trinkets that were collected as souvenirs from various vacations> — see KNICKKNACK

trio noun
a group of three <the band was just a trio of musicians on piano, drums, and saxophone> — see THREESOME

trip noun
1 a going from one place to another usually of some distance <I'd like to book a trip to Greece with your travel agency> — see JOURNEY
2 an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy <even a small trip in the bomb-making calculations could lead to disaster> — see ERROR 1

trip verb
1 to go at a pace faster than a walk <went tripping up the steps of city hall in their eagerness to get married> — see RUN 1
2 to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily <tripped over a chair and landed on her face> — see FALL 1
3 to move with a light springing step <dancers tripping lightly across the stage> — see SKIP 1
4 to take a trip especially of some distance <while he was growing up, the family tripped to New England every summer> — see TRAVEL 1
5 to make a mistake <the press has had it in for the new governor, and they are just waiting for her to trip> — see ERR 1

tripartite adjective
having three units or parts <negotiated a tripartite agreement with its trading partner, with the first and second parts coming into effect immediately and the last part five years later> — see TRIPLE

tripe noun
that which is of low quality or worth <it's shocking that an esteemed newspaper like this one would publish such tripe> — see JUNK 1

triple adjective
having three units or parts <a triple scoop of chocolate ice cream>

Synonyms
threefold, treble, triadic, tripartite, triplex

Related Words
triplicate

triple noun
a group of three <that triple of terrors for the wintertime driver: snow, ice, and sleet> — see THREESOME

triplet noun
a group of three <the theater piece is actually a triplet of comedy sketches, all of them having romantic love as their theme> — see THREESOME

triplex adjective
having three units or parts <a triplex house that features a separate apartment on each floor> — see TRIPLE

tripper noun, chiefly British
a person who travels for pleasure <day trippers who come to spend a few hours on the island> — see TOURIST

trippingly adverb
in a quick and spirited manner <loves words that roll trippingly off the tongue> — see GAILY 2

trite adjective
used or heard so often as to be dull <by the time the receiving line had ended, the bride and groom's thanks sounded trite and tired> — see STALE 1

triumph noun
1 a successful result brought about by hard work <getting into Harvard is quite a triumph> — see ACCOMPLISHMENT 1
2 an instance of defeating an enemy or opponent <our stunning triumph on the field won us the title of regional champs> — see VICTORY

triumph verb
1 to achieve victory (as in a contest) <despite an accident early on, the runner persevered and ultimately triumphed> — see WIN 1
2 to feel or express joy or triumph <in that part of the world it's customary for people to triumph by firing guns into the air> — see EXULT

triumph (over) verb
to achieve a victory over <with teamwork, we can triumph over anything> — see BEAT 2

triumphant adjective
1 having attained a desired end or state of good fortune <the triumphant bidder on the house> — see SUCCESSFUL 1
2 having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph <he was positively triumphant when the school troublemaker finally got expelled> — see EXULTANT

triumvirate noun
a group of three <among the city's cultural institutions, the art museum, the symphony orchestra, and the opera company reign as the supreme triumvirate> — see THREESOME

trivial adjective
1 lacking importance <why spend so much time on trivial decisions, like whether the soda should be regular or diet?> — see UNIMPORTANT
2 so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention <figured that restaurant customers wouldn't notice such a trivial surcharge on their bill> — see NEGLIGIBLE 1

triviality noun
1 something of little importance <overlooked such trivialities as haphazardly folded napkins when rating the quality of restaurants> — see TRIFLE
2 the quality or state of being unimportant <the only thing the complaints have in common is their undeniable triviality> — see INSIGNIFICANCE

troglodyte noun
a man with crude manners and habits and outmoded attitudes <the troglodytes who believed that women had no place in the military, except perhaps as nurses> — see CAVEMAN

troll noun
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers <“The Three Billy Goats Gruff,” is the story of three goats trying to cross a bridge guarded by a nasty troll living beneath it> — see FAIRY

troll verb
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something <the owner of the bed-and-breakfast often trolls antique stores for furniture and knickknacks> — see SEARCH 1

trollop noun
a boldly flirtatious or sexually promiscuous woman <in some countries a woman traveling alone was traditionally regarded as a trollop> — see FLOOZY

tromp verb
1 to move heavily or clumsily <sleepily tromped into the kitchen to answer the ringing phone, tripping over an array of clothes and books along the way> — see LUMBER 1
2 to tread on heavily so as to crush or injure <the kids tromped my flowers to smithereens> — see TRAMPLE
3 to defeat by a large margin <sure, I lost the election, but I didn't get tromped, so I'll see you again in four years> — see WHIP 2
4 to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure <the scouts tromped through the dell, mostly just following the course of the creek> — see HIKE 1
5 to strike repeatedly <tromped the bully, giving him a taste of his own medicine> — see BEAT 1

troop noun
1 an organized group of stage performers <a celebrated acting troop will be coming to town next month to perform one of Shakespeare's plays> — see COMPANY 1
2 troops plural the combined army, air force, and navy of a nation <the troops overseas are grateful for the support of so many at home> — see ARMED FORCES

trooper noun
a person engaged in military service <a moving Memorial Day service honoring our fallen troopers> — see SOLDIER

trope noun
an idea or expression that has been used by many people <a screenplay that reads like a catalog of mystery-thriller tropes> — see COMMONPLACE

trophy noun
an asset that brings praise or renown <the mogul's latest trophies include an oversized mansion and a 20-years-younger wife> — see GLORY 2

tropical adjective
1 being near the equator <wanted to escape winter and visit some tropical location where freezing to death would not be a possibility> — see LOW 1
2 expressing one thing in terms normally used for another <an author given to high-flown tropical phrasings and convoluted symbology> — see FIGURATIVE

tropological adjective
expressing one thing in terms normally used for another <a tropological construct that no reader of the Bible should take literally> — see FIGURATIVE

trot noun
1 a mean or ugly old woman <a gossipy old trot who never had a good word to say about anyone> — see CRONE
2 trots plural abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools <pick a caterer who is very conscientious about the preparation and refrigeration of food if you'd rather not give your guests the trots as a parting gift> — see DIARRHEA

trot verb
1 to go at a pace faster than a walk <had to trot to keep up with the tour guide's quick pace> — see RUN 1
2 to proceed or move quickly <now trot along and get washed up for supper> — see HURRY 2

troth noun
1 a person's solemn declaration that he or she will do or not do something <by my troth, I will not trespass on your precious property> — see PROMISE
2 the act or state of being engaged to be married <solemnly announced their troth before the church's congregation> — see ENGAGEMENT 1
3 adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty <the knight pledged his eternal troth to the defense of the kingdom> — see FIDELITY

troth verb
to obligate by prior agreement <I troth myself eternally to your service> — see PLEDGE 1

trot out verb
to put before another for acceptance or consideration <after no one bought the first explanation, they trotted out another> — see OFFER 1

trouble noun
1 an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning <hoping that the doctor will be able to accurately diagnose my trouble> — see DISEASE
2 something that may cause injury or harm <that wild dog is trouble, so stay away> — see DANGER 2
3 something that requires thought and skill for resolution <the police officers first broke up the fight and then asked what the trouble was> — see PROBLEM 1
4 the active use of energy in producing a result <please, don't go to all that trouble just for me> — see EFFORT
5 the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil <if you think your brother might be in trouble, then let's go check up on him> — see DANGER 1

trouble verb
1 to experience concern or anxiety <don't trouble about me—I'll be fine> — see WORRY 1
2 to cause discomfort to or trouble for <I hate to trouble you, but would you mind moving for a minute so I can sweep under your chair?> — see INCONVENIENCE

troubled adjective
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <the troubled looks on their faces showed that they were still waiting for news about the accident> — see NERVOUS 1

troublesome adjective
causing worry or anxiety <the troublesome news that there will be more cuts in the school budget>

Synonyms
discomforting, discomposing, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, nagging, nasty, perturbing, troubling, troublous, unsettling, upsetting, worrisome

Related Words
daunting, demoralizing, discomfiting, disconcerting, discouraging, disheartening, dismaying, dispiriting; chilling, frightening, scary; harassing, persecutive, persecutory; alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, frightful, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, scary, shocking, terrible, terrifying

Near Antonyms
calming, quieting, settling, soothing; comforting, consoling, dreamy, inviting, lulling, narcotic, pacifying, relaxing, sedative, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing)

Antonyms
reassuring

troubling adjective
causing worry or anxiety <the most troubling sign of all is that he's stopped returning my phone calls> — see TROUBLESOME

troublous adjective
causing worry or anxiety <a troublous teen whose antisocial antics had us all on edge> — see TROUBLESOME

trough noun
1 a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) <all of the wiring for the converted residential loft is concealed in a vertical trough> — see PIPE 1
2 a long narrow channel dug in the earth <I slid and fell into the trough by the side of the road, scraping my leg> — see DITCH
3 a pipe or channel for carrying off water from a roof <the troughs on the eaves of the house were clogged with leaves> — see GUTTER 1

trounce verb
to defeat by a large margin <our candidate trounced her opponent in the election, winning with 76% of the vote> — see WHIP 2

trouncing noun
failure to win a contest <took a serious trouncing during the last three minutes of the game> — see DEFEAT 1

troupe noun
an organized group of stage performers <I desperately want to join our regional theater's acting troupe and perhaps get a lead role> — see COMPANY 1

trouper noun
one who acts professionally (as in a play, movie, or television show) <had been a well-known Broadway trouper before making his screen debut> — see ACTOR 1

trousers plural noun
an outer garment covering each leg separately from waist to ankle <picked up his trousers from the dry cleaners> — see PANTS

truce noun
a temporary stopping of fighting <both sides agreed to a 24-hour truce beginning at midnight on Christmas Eve>

Synonyms
armistice, cease-fire

Related Words
accord, reconcilement, reconciliation; détente (or detente); peace, peacetime

Near Antonyms
conflict, hostilities, hot war, war

truck noun
1 a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another <for centuries African slaves were sold in the West Indies in truck for molasses, which was then shipped to New England to be made into rum> — see EXCHANGE 1
2 discarded or useless material <filled a dozen large garbage bags with all the truck we collected when we cleaned the place out> — see GARBAGE 1

truckle verb
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior <the kind of guy who truckles to anyone who has even a suspicion of money> — see FAWN

truckload noun
a considerable amount <the guy who marries her is in for a truckload of misery> — see LOT 2

truculence noun
1 an inclination to fight or quarrel <a congenital truculence that resulted in his spending most of his adolescence in juvenile detention homes> — see BELLIGERENCE
2 disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <beneath his suave, polished exterior lay the truculence of a common street thug> — see CRUELTY

truculent adjective
1 feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <die-hard fans who became truculent and violent after their team's loss> — see BELLIGERENT
2 marked by harsh insulting language <a theater critic who was notorious for his titanically truculent reviews> — see ABUSIVE
3 having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <truculent warlords who spared not even the children> — see CRUEL 1

trudge verb
1 to move heavily or clumsily <flooded residents who were forced to trudge through waist-deep water> — see LUMBER 1
2 to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually <no expert on taxes, I spent the whole weekend trudging through Form 1040> — see FLOUNDER 1

true adjective
1 being exactly as appears or as claimed <his claim that he's the heir to the throne of Greece can't be true> — see AUTHENTIC 1
2 being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard <if that is true, then we can't get in without a key> — see CORRECT 1
3 existing in fact and not merely as a possibility <the true scope of this environmental problem is far greater than anyone imagined> — see ACTUAL
4 firm in one's allegiance to someone or something <he will be true to his word> — see FAITHFUL 1
5 following an original exactly <it's not a true reproduction of the painting because the original is much larger> — see FAITHFUL 2
6 free from any intent to deceive or impress others <may our love for one another always be true> — see GUILELESS
7 restricted to or based on fact <that news story is completely true, for the station released a list of its sources to back it up> — see FACTUAL 1
8 worthy of one's trust <a true friend when you need one> — see DEPENDABLE
9 having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind <paleontologists are still debating whether the fossil is that of a true dinosaur or a precursor> — see TYPICAL 1
10 conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <a person of great integrity, he was the truest person I've ever met> — see GOOD 2

true believer noun
1 one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause <it's impossible to argue with those true believers, as they think any counterevidence is proof of an evil conspiracy> — see ZEALOT
2 a person who actively supports or favors a cause <true believers who fought the good fight even when it was out of fashion> — see EXPONENT 1

true–blue adjective
firm in one's allegiance to someone or something <a true-blue patriot even during the revolution's darkest hours> — see FAITHFUL 1

truelove noun
a person with whom one is in love <has been married to his truelove for 50 years> — see SWEETHEART 1

trueness noun
agreement with fact or reality <the trueness or falseness of that statement can be easily determined> — see TRUTH

truism noun
an idea or expression that has been used by many people <ended his letter with the overused truism, “You can't win them all!”> — see COMMONPLACE

truly adverb
1 not merely this but also <he is a kind, truly generous man> — see EVEN 1
2 to tell the truth <truly, I had no idea you were throwing me a party> — see ACTUALLY 1
3 without any question <I very much appreciate your gift—truly, I can't thank you enough!> — see INDEED 1
4 in actual fact <this is truly the nicest thing anyone has done for me> — see VERY 2

trumpery adjective
of low quality <trumpery knickknacks from some souvenir shop> — see CHEAP 2

trumpery noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <claims for weight-loss products that are based much more on Madison-Avenue trumpery than on bariatric science> — see NONSENSE 1

trumpet verb
1 to make known openly or publicly <the losing party lost no time in trumpeting allegations of election fraud> — see ANNOUNCE
2 to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively <critics trumpeted the band's latest album as the best of the decade> — see TOUT 1

trump up verb
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination <a wife who was always trumping up little projects for her husband to do around the house> — see INVENT

truncate verb
to make less in extent or duration <a truncated version of the 11 o'clock newscast followed the awards show, which ran over its time slot—as it always does> — see SHORTEN

truncheon noun
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <police officers were forced to use their truncheons on the rioters> — see CLUB 1

trunk noun
a covered rectangular container for storing or transporting things <threw the rest of her books and tapes in the trunk and closed the lid> — see CHEST

truss verb
to gather into a tight mass by means of a line or cord <after stuffing the turkey, the chef quickly trussed it so the forcemeat wouldn't fall out during roasting> — see TIE 1

trust noun
1 firm belief in the integrity, ability, effectiveness, or genuineness of someone or something <a relationship of mutual trust between lawyer and client>

Synonyms
confidence, credence, faith, stock

Related Words
acceptance, assurance, assuredness, certainty, certitude, conviction, positiveness, sureness, surety; credit, dependence (also dependance), hope, reliance

Near Antonyms
disbelief, incredulity, unbelief; distrustfulness, doubt, dubiety, dubiousness, incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrustfulness, nonconfidence, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainness, uncertainty; disenchantment, disillusion, disillusionment

Antonyms
distrust, mistrust

2 a number of businesses or enterprises united for commercial advantage <government lawyers argued against allowing the telephone companies to merge, asserting that such a merger would result in a trust that would stifle competition> — see CARTEL
3 responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something <left her cat in the trust of her neighbors while she was on vacation> — see CUSTODY
4 the right to take possession of goods before paying for them <as his inner-city customers are chronically short on money, the neighborhood grocer frequently has to sell on trust> — see CREDIT 1

trust verb
1 to give a task, duty, or responsibility to <trusted the eldest child with walking the dog every morning> — see ENTRUST 1
2 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <I wouldn't trust my wallet with a complete stranger if I were you> — see GIVE 2
3 to regard as right or true <don't trust everything you read in the newspaper> — see BELIEVE 1

trustability noun
worthiness as the recipient of another's trust or confidence <the ethical journalist should not publish if there is any uncertainty regarding the trustability of his anonymous source> — see RELIABILITY

trustable adjective
worthy of one's trust <a Web site that is a trustable source of biographical information> — see DEPENDABLE

trustful adjective
having or showing trust in another <a trustful child quietly sleeping, sure in the knowledge that his parents would be there when he woke> — see TRUSTING 1

trusting adjective
1 having or showing trust in another <Delia couldn't look into her dog's trusting eyes as she drove him to the vet>

Synonyms
confiding, trustful

Related Words
artless, childlike, credulous, guileless, gullible (also gullable), innocent, naive (or naïve), simple, unsophisticated; dependent, hopeful, reliant; accepting, believing, certain, confident, convinced, overconfident, secure, sure, unquestioning, unsuspecting, unsuspicious, unwary

Near Antonyms
disbelieving, incredulous, unbelieving, unconvinced, undecided, unpersuaded; dubious, hesitant, leery (also leary), oversuspicious, skeptical, suspicious, uncertain, unsure, wary

Antonyms
distrustful, doubtful, doubting, mistrustful, trustless, untrusting

2 readily taken advantage of <a corrupt stockbroker who preyed upon trusting customers> — see EASY 2

trustless adjective
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something <with time the missionary doctor won the trust of even the most trustless villagers> — see DOUBTFUL 1

trustworthiness noun
worthiness as the recipient of another's trust or confidence <you have to prove your trustworthiness before I will tell you my secrets> — see RELIABILITY

trustworthy adjective
worthy of one's trust <a trustworthy bodyguard who would never blab to the tabloids> — see DEPENDABLE

trusty adjective
worthy of one's trust <movie cowboys always get on their trusty horses and ride off into the sunset> — see DEPENDABLE

truth noun
agreement with fact or reality <there is no truth to the rumor that the couple is getting a divorce>

Synonyms
facticity, factuality, sooth, trueness, verity

Related Words
accuracy, accurateness, actuality, authenticity, correctness; credibility, honesty, trustability, trustiness, trustworthiness, truthfulness, veracity; dependability, reliability

Near Antonyms
erroneousness, fallaciousness, fallacy; falsehood, fiction, half-truth, lie; impreciseness, imprecision, inaccuracy, incorrectness, inexactitude, inexactness; deceit, dishonesty, equivocation, lying, mendaciousness, mendacity, prevarication, untruthfulness

Antonyms
falseness, falsity, untruth

truthful adjective
being in the habit of telling the truth <a truthful youngster who wouldn't just make up a story like that>

Synonyms
honest, veracious

Related Words
candid, direct, forthcoming, forthright, foursquare, frank, freehearted, free-spoken, open, openhearted, out-front, outspoken, plain, plainspoken; believable, credible, true, veritable; artless, earnest, genuine, guileless, unaffected, unpretending, unpretentious; conscientious, moral, principled, scrupulous; aboveboard, dependable, reliable, trustable, trustworthy, trusty

Near Antonyms
fallacious, false, untrue; unbelievable, undependable, unreliable, unscrupulous, untrustworthy; bluffing, dissembling, dissimulating, duplicitous, equivocating, hypocritical, insincere, posing, pretending; artful, deceitful, deceptive, devious, evasive, slick, slippery, sly, sneaky, treacherous, tricky, underhanded, wily

Antonyms
dishonest, fibbing, lying, mendacious, prevaricating, untruthful

truthfully adverb
to tell the truth <truthfully, I'd rather go to the amusement park than to the museum, but I'll go along with the rest of the group> — see ACTUALLY 1

truthfulness noun
devotion to telling the truth <given the fact that used-car dealers are not renowned for their truthfulness, I had an independent mechanic check out the vehicle> — see HONESTY 1

try noun
an effort to do or accomplish something <was granted another try at the field goal> — see ATTEMPT 1

try verb
1 to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress <you're trying my patience>

Synonyms
strain, stretch, tax, test

Related Words
demand, exact, importune, press, pressure, push; aggravate, agitate, annoy, bother, exasperate, gall, get (to), gnaw (at), grate, harass, harry, hassle, irk, irritate, nettle, pain, peeve, pester, rile, spite, vex

2 to make an effort to do <try to unlock the door> <will try to call later tonight> — see ATTEMPT

try (out) verb
to put (something) to a test <want to try out my new skateboard?> <tried out his skill at archery>

Synonyms
sample, test

Related Words
check (out), examine, experiment (with), explore, feel (out), investigate, research, study; resample, retest

trying adjective
difficult to endure <a harrowing account of the trying conditions experienced by the hostages prior to their release> — see HARSH 1

tryst noun
an agreement to be present at a specified time and place <both lovers had to hurry to keep their noontime tryst in the park> — see ENGAGEMENT 2

tsk–tsk verb
to hold an unfavorable opinion of <some guests tsk-tsked the fact that the bride was visibly pregnant for the wedding> — see DISAPPROVE OF

tubby adjective
having an excess of body fat <in America, Santa Claus is portrayed as a jolly but tubby older gentleman> — see FAT 1

tube noun
1 a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) <watched the liquid move through the tube between the flasks and recorded the movement in his chemistry notebook> — see PIPE 1
2 an electronic device with a screen and speakers that reproduces images and sound <we plan to relax and spend some time in front of the tube tonight> — see TELEVISION

tub–thump verb
to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively <the studio is going all out to tub-thump its latest summer blockbuster> — see TOUT 1

tub–thumper noun
a person who actively supports or favors a cause <advances in civil rights that came about only because of the relentless clamor of the tub-thumpers> — see EXPONENT 1

tuck (away or in) verb
to take in as food <after tucking away that huge meal, I was feeling a little sleepy> — see EAT 1

tucker noun, chiefly Australian
substances intended to be eaten <you can get some downright peculiar tucker deep in the outback> — see FOOD 1

tucker (out) verb
to use up all the physical energy of <we're hoping that the mountain bike ride will tucker the kids out so they'll sleep well tonight> — see EXHAUST 1

tuckered (out) adjective
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <tuckered out after a long day of playing tennis> — see WEARY 1

tug noun
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force <gave the man in front a tug on his shirtsleeve as a sign that he was supposed to step aside> — see PULL 1

tug verb
1 to cause to follow by applying steady force on <tugged on the door until it opened> — see PULL 1
2 to devote serious and sustained effort <she's tugged all her life to get to where she is now in the business world> — see LABOR

tug–of–war noun
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <the effort to get their teenage son to keep his room clean is a constant tug-of-war> — see CONTEST 1

tuition noun
the act or process of imparting knowledge or skills to another <they hired a private tutor to handle the tuition of their children in French> — see EDUCATION 1

tumble noun
1 an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <cleaned a crazy tumble of buttons, hair bands, loose change, and old candy wrappers out from the couch cushions> — see MISCELLANY 1
2 the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily <took a little tumble on the ice> — see FALL 1
3 a state in which everything is out of order <her office is a tumble of books and papers, but somehow she can find everything> — see CHAOS

tumble verb
1 to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily <the infant stood for a moment and then tumbled on the carpet> — see FALL 1
2 to go to a lower level especially abruptly <prices for those stocks have really tumbled> — see DROP 2
3 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <tumbled all the clothes in her closet as she furiously searched for her favorite pair of jeans> — see DISORDER
4 to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure <all we need is one strong wind, and that old barn is going to tumble> — see COLLAPSE 1

tumble (to) verb
to have a clear idea of <I finally tumbled to the fact that I had been duped into getting involved in a phony investment scheme> — see COMPREHEND 1

tumble (upon) verb
to come upon unexpectedly or by chance <while we were out on a drive in the country, we tumbled upon a farm stand selling the best peaches I've ever tasted> — see HAPPEN ON OR UPON

tumbled adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <a tumbled entryway filled with the usual jumble of sports equipment, backpacks, papers, and shoes> — see MESSY

tumbledown adjective
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect <lived alone on a tumbledown farm that had seen better days> — see SHABBY 1

tumescent adjective
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure <our pregnant kitty's tumescent middle> — see BLOATED 2

tumid adjective
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure <he'd just been in a fight, and was nursing his tumid lip> — see BLOATED 2

tummy noun
the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis <tickled the toddler's tummy> — see STOMACH 1

tumor noun
an abnormal mass of tissue <the scan showed a small tumor in her abdomen> — see GROWTH 1

tumult noun
1 a state of noisy, confused activity <in the tumult of the evacuation from the coast, we accidentally left on the television, which was of course tuned to the local newscast breathlessly reporting on the hurricane we were fleeing> — see COMMOTION
2 a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) <the political tumult that swept the American colonies in the late 1700s> — see CONVULSION
3 a violent shouting <went to the window to see what the great tumult was and discovered a crowd of demonstrators marching down the street> — see CLAMOR 1

tumultuous adjective
1 marked by sudden or violent disturbance <one of the most tumultuous periods in the history of the region> — see CONVULSIVE 1
2 marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements <watched the tumultuous weather from the dry safety of our house> — see WILD 3
3 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <after a tumultuous day of trading, the stock market was down 500 points> — see VIOLENT 1

tun noun
an enclosed wooden vessel for holding beverages <in olden days an English ship's capacity was measured by the number of tuns of wine it could hold> — see CASK

tundra noun
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country <a report on the arctic tundra of Alaska and the polar bears that inhabit that vast, frozen plain> — see PLAIN 1

tune noun
1 a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect <hummed a little tune while I sorted the laundry> — see MELODY
2 a state of consistency <your negative assessment of the restaurant seems to be in tune with the opinions of the critics> — see CONFORMITY 1
3 an approximate amount, extent, or degree <retail rents on the fashionable street can run to the tune of $100,000 a year> — see NEIGHBORHOOD 1

tuneful adjective
having a pleasing mixture of notes <some especially tuneful songs have been written for this new animated film> — see HARMONIOUS 1

tunesmith noun
a person who writes popular musical compositions for the human voice <a British tunesmith whose songs were equally popular in America> — see SONGWRITER

turbid adjective
having visible particles in liquid suspension <the pond water became turbid from our swimming and splashing> — see CLOUDY 1

turbulent adjective
1 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <the turbulent struggle for civil rights that shook up American society in the 1960s> — see VIOLENT 1
2 marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements <the turbulent rapids of the river were certainly daunting to those of us who were new to river rafting> — see WILD 3
3 marked by wet and windy conditions <expect turbulent weather as the cold front brings rain and sleet> — see FOUL 1
4 marked by sudden or violent disturbance <these are turbulent, dangerous times in a region known for being a powder keg> — see CONVULSIVE 1

turf (out) verb, chiefly British
to drive or force out <the pub keeper doesn't hesitate to turf out anyone who gets too drunk> — see EJECT 1

turgid adjective
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure <turgid leeches having had their fill of blood> — see BLOATED 2

turista noun
abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools <the entire family came down with the dreaded turista three days into their long-awaited vacation> — see DIARRHEA

turkey noun
1 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <only a turkey would think it's a good idea to go for a jog when the weather drops below zero> — see FOOL 1
2 a stupid person <you turkey, that wasn't my boyfriend—it was my brother!> — see IDIOT
3 something that has failed <his business venture ended up being a turkey, and he lost quite a bit of money on it> — see FAILURE 3

turmoil noun
1 a disturbed or uneasy state <was in turmoil most of the night, trying to convince himself he had made the right decision> — see UNREST
2 a state of noisy, confused activity <avoided the turmoil of the mall during the holiday season> — see COMMOTION

turn noun
1 a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure <would you care to take a turn around the garden?> — see WALK 1
2 an act of kind assistance <one good turn deserves another> — see FAVOR 1
3 a habitual attraction to some activity or thing <an adventurous turn of mind that led him toward more physical activities like biking and skateboarding> — see INCLINATION 1
4 something that curves or is curved <right after this turn in the road you'll find the antiques shop on the right> — see BEND 1
5 a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder <a sudden turn of dizziness that may have been brought on by a change in her medication> — see ATTACK 2
6 a performance regularly presented by an individual or group <between the show's two major musical acts, there was a short turn by a juggling troupe> — see ACT 1

turn verb
1 to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis <turned the doorknob as quietly as possible>

Synonyms
pivot, revolve, roll, rotate, spin, swing, swirl, swivel, twirl, twist, wheel, whirl

Related Words
screw, unscrew; twiddle; coil, crank, reel, wind; circulate

2 to change the course or direction of (something) <the dog turned the stampeding flock of sheep around> <he turned his cart uphill>

Synonyms
deflect, divert, redirect, swing, veer, wheel, whip

Related Words
avert, deviate, move, rechannel, shift, shunt, sidetrack, swerve, switch, transfer; swivel, twist, whirl, zigzag; bend, curve, sway; reverse, turn back

3 to change one's course or direction <we turned left at the light> <the storm unexpectedly turned south and missed our area>

Synonyms
detour, deviate, diverge, sheer, swerve, swing, turn off, veer, wheel

Related Words
tack, zigzag; double (back), turn back

4 to eventually have as a state or quality <will turn 12 in six months> — see BECOME
5 to move in circles around an axis or center <the wheels turned, but the car was hopelessly stuck and wasn't moving> — see SPIN 1
6 to give serious and careful thought to <turned the question every which way but could find no answer> — see PONDER
7 to be determined by, based on, or subject (to) <what we do next turns on your answer to the following question> — see DEPEND 1
8 to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around <all the new information made his head turn> — see SPIN 2
9 to cause to have often negative opinions formed without sufficient knowledge <he did his best to turn his new friends against his ex-wife> — see PREJUDICE

turn (on) verb
to take sudden, violent action against <it is dangerous to keep tigers as house pets, as they often turn on their masters without warning> — see ATTACK 1

turn (to) verb
to use or seek out as a source of aid, relief, or advantage <no need to turn to violence when we can talk things out peacefully> — see RESORT TO 1

turnabout noun
a changing from one policy or point of view to virtually its exact opposite <employees regarded the latest turnabout as a sure sign that management hadn't a clue as to what it was doing> — see ABOUT-FACE

turnaround noun
a changing from one policy or point of view to virtually its exact opposite <we were at a loss to explain this turnaround in our daughter's attitude toward her studies> — see ABOUT-FACE

turn away verb
to drive back <using tree branches, the campers were able to turn away the charging fox, which was apparently rabid> — see REPEL 1

turn back verb
to drive back <a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire> — see REPEL 1

turncoat noun
one who betrays a trust or an allegiance <the plot of the story revolved around the gangster's relentless determination to learn the identity of the turncoat> — see TRAITOR

turndown noun
an unwillingness to grant something asked for <the request to use the restroom was just a formality—I really didn't expect a turndown> — see DENIAL 1

turn down verb
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <I'm afraid that I will have to turn down your invitation> — see DECLINE 1

turned–on adjective
keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment <a film genre that today's turned-on moviegoers seem little interested in> — see AU COURANT 1

turner noun
one who performs feats of physical strength, balance, and agility on special apparatus <in the days before physical fitness became part of the mainstream, turners in athletic clubs were often regarded as social oddities> — see ACROBAT 1

turn in verb
1 to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress <turned in the banned assault rifle to the police> — see SURRENDER 1
2 to go to one's bed in order to sleep <it's almost midnight, so it's time to turn in> — see BED 1

turning point noun
a point in a chain of events at which an important change (as in one's fortunes) occurs <the turning point came when Victor finally admitted he was a werewolf>

Synonyms
climacteric, climax, corner, landmark, milepost, milestone, watershed

Related Words
break, capper, clincher, crusher, highlight, topper; conversion, metamorphosis, transfiguration, transformation, turnabout, turnaround; boiling point, breaking point, clutch, conjuncture, crisis, crossroad(s), crunch, crunch time, Dunkirk, emergency, exigency, extremity, flash point, head, juncture, zero hour

turn off verb
1 to cause to feel disgust <that memorably bad meal turned me off about restaurant food for a while> — see DISGUST
2 to change one's course or direction <turn off at the third exit and follow the ramp to your left> — see TURN 3
3 to let go from office, service, or employment <eventually, the supervisor turned off the insubordinate employee> — see DISMISS 1
4 to cause to stop functioning <please turn off the fan when you're done> — see DEACTIVATE

turn–on noun
something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain <knew the offer of free pizza would be a major turn-on to the pair of teenagers she had just asked to help her move> — see LURE 1

turn on verb
1 to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings <unsurprisingly, the fanboys were turned on by the movie's amazing special effects and slam-bang plot> — see THRILL
2 to cause to function <would you turn on the TV?> — see ACTIVATE

turn out verb
1 to leave one's bed <we turn out early on workdays> — see ARISE 1
2 to remove the dirt from <it's our practice to turn out the room after guests stay over> — see CLEAN 1
3 to drive or force out <angrily turned their adult son out of their home for using drugs> — see EJECT 1
4 to come to be <everything will turn out fine in the end> — see COME OUT 1

turn over verb
1 to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress <reluctantly turned the ship over to the first mate while he went below to try to stop the leak> — see SURRENDER 1
2 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <turned the evidence over to the police> — see GIVE 2
3 to turn on one's side or upside down <don't try to tell me the bucket turned over all by itself> — see CAPSIZE
4 to change the position of (an object) so that the opposite side or end is showing <would you mind turning the picture over so I can see if the backing needs to be replaced> — see REVERSE 2

turnpike noun
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <the turnpike was jammed with people heading south for the long weekend> — see WAY 1

turn up verb
1 to come into view <my missing car keys turned up just in time> — see APPEAR 1
2 to get to a destination <when do you think our guests will turn up?> — see COME 2
3 to come upon after searching, study, or effort <it took days to turn up the original documents> — see FIND 1

turpitude noun
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior <pictorial advertisements for chic clothing and fragrances in which drug addiction and other forms of moral turpitude are depicted as alternative fashion statements> — see CORRUPTION 2

tush noun, slang
the part of the body upon which someone sits <exercises that are guaranteed to give you a great tush> — see BUTTOCKS

tussle noun
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups <a small tussle on the basketball court was quickly broken up> — see FIGHT 1

tussle verb
to seize and attempt to unbalance one another for the purpose of achieving physical mastery <puppies tussling with one another, rolling over and over on the carpet> — see WRESTLE

tut (over or about) verb
to hold an unfavorable opinion of <Aunt Marge tuts over almost everything the younger generation does> — see DISAPPROVE OF

tutelage noun
the act or process of imparting knowledge or skills to another <a governess overseeing the tutelage of the family's children> — see EDUCATION 1

tutor verb
1 to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field <tutored me in Spanish> — see TEACH
2 to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed <bought a video series designed to tutor a person in the fine art of decorating cakes> — see GUIDE 1

tutoring noun
the act or process of imparting knowledge or skills to another <found his calling in the tutoring of children with special educational needs> — see EDUCATION 1

tut–tut (over or about) verb
to hold an unfavorable opinion of <ever since the invention of talkies, someone or other has been tut-tutting about the bad language heard in movies> — see DISAPPROVE OF

TV noun
an electronic device with a screen and speakers that reproduces images and sound <turn off the TV and go outside for a change> — see TELEVISION

twaddle noun
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense <the novel's elaborate theory detailing a supposed 2,000-year-old conspiracy is mostly tiresome twaddle> — see NONSENSE 1

twain noun
two things of the same or similar kind that match or are considered together <I like rap and my parents like country music, and never the twain shall meet in our house> — see PAIR

tweet verb
to make a short sharp sound like a small bird <the computer tweeted again, signaling another error> — see CHIRP

twerp noun
a person of no importance or influence <in high school he was just a little twerp, and now he's a big Internet entrepreneur> — see NOBODY

twice adverb
to two times the amount or degree <having been turned down before, he is twice shy about making any more marriage proposals> — see DOUBLY

twiddle (with) verb
to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously <don't allow the kids to twiddle with the air conditioner> — see TAMPER WITH

twig verb
to have a clear idea of <it took me a while to twig the true nature of the relationship between the two women> — see COMPREHEND 1

twilight noun
1 a time or place of little or no light <stumbled around the twilight of the shuttered room, unable to see where she was going> — see DARK 1
2 the time from when the sun begins to set to the onset of total darkness <watched as twilight descended and the woods fell silent> — see DUSK 1

twin adjective
consisting of two members or parts that are usually joined <a twin-cylinder engine> — see DOUBLE 1

twin noun
1 either of a pair matched in one or more qualities <I've found one sock but can't find its twin> — see MATE 1
2 something or someone that strongly resembles another <some of these people who think that they're a given movie star's twin are kidding themselves> — see IMAGE 1

twine verb
to follow a circular or spiral course <the snake silently twined around the tree trunk> — see WIND 1

twinge noun
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body <felt a twinge in her knee on that cold, rainy morning> — see PAIN 1

twinkle noun
a very small space of time <in just a twinkle, the shooting star was gone> — see INSTANT

twinkle verb
1 to shine with light at regular intervals <holiday decorations twinkled in the shop windows> — see BLINK 1
2 to shoot forth bursts of light <stars twinkling on a crisp September night> — see FLASH 1

twinkling noun
a very small space of time <in a twinkling, the rabbit had disappeared> — see INSTANT

twirl noun
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point <the twirl of the dancer's skirt mesmerized me> — see SPIN 1

twirl verb
1 to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis <absentmindedly twirled a lock of her hair around her finger> — see TURN 1
2 to move in circles around an axis or center <an ice-skater twirling in place> — see SPIN 1

twist noun
1 a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something <with a forceful twist she loosened the bolt> — see WRENCH 1
2 an odd or peculiar habit <my roommate has his little twists, and I have mine, so things should balance out> — see IDIOSYNCRASY

twist verb
1 to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of <my enemies will twist my words, but you'll only hear the truth out of me> — see GARBLE 1
2 to follow a circular or spiral course <the path gently twisted down the hill> — see WIND 1
3 to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis <twisted my wrist around to stretch it> — see TURN 1
4 to move by or as if by a forceful rotation <kept twisting the cap until it came free> — see WRENCH 1
5 to make jerky or restless movements <the dental patient twisted nervously in the chair> — see FIDGET
6 to cause to twine about one another <has the habit of idly twisting the strands of her hair while daydreaming> — see INTERTWINE 1

twisted adjective
marked by a long series of irregular curves <a twisted walking stick made from a blackthorn sapling> — see CROOKED 1

twisting adjective
marked by a long series of irregular curves <a twisting mountain road that requires extra careful driving> — see CROOKED 1

twisting noun
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something <it took some twisting, but I finally got the top off the jar> — see WRENCH 1

twitch verb
1 to make jerky or restless movements <the dog twitched in her sleep> — see FIDGET
2 to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion <the rabbit twitched its nose> — see JERK 1

twitching noun
a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side <the twitching of my cat's ears was a signal that I should stop petting her before she got any angrier> — see VIBRATION 1

twitchy adjective
making jerky or restless movements <examining the twitchy little poodle was a challenge for the vet> — see FIDGETY

twitter noun
1 a state of nervous or irritated concern <our grandmother gets all in a twitter if she doesn't get her weekly phone call right on time> — see FRET
2 an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement <the sort of lame double entendres that invariably provoke twitters among the immature> — see LAUGH 1

twitter verb
1 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <a local diner where the town gossips like to twitter> — see CHAT 1
2 to make a short sharp sound like a small bird <his two-way radio twittered as he answered it> — see CHIRP
3 to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound <has this grating habit of twittering helplessly whenever she's nervous> — see LAUGH 1

two cents plural noun
a very small sum of money <a passionate environmentalist who would work for two cents if her job did something to reduce global warming> — see MITE 1

two–faced adjective
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <a two-faced friend who was just using me to advance her career> — see INSINCERE

twofold adjective
1 being twice as great or as many <my reasons for buying the condo are twofold: first, it will serve as my vacation home, and second, it should turn out to be a good investment> — see DOUBLE 2
2 consisting of two members or parts that are usually joined <the mission of the campaign is twofold: to reduce underage drinking and to reduce alcohol-related traffic accidents> — see DOUBLE 1

twofold adverb
to two times the amount or degree <with the start of the recession, home foreclosures began increasing twofold> — see DOUBLY

twosome noun
two things of the same or similar kind that match or are considered together <those sisters are a constant twosome, going everywhere together> — see PAIR

two–time verb
to be unfaithful or disloyal to <an entrepreneur who's supposedly two-timed every business partner she's ever had> — see BETRAY 1

two–timing adjective
relating to or being a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse <her husband's compulsive two-timing behavior is the reason she left> — see ADULTEROUS

two–timing noun
1 a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse <he found out about the two-timing when he found a love letter stuffed in the dresser> — see ADULTERY
2 the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another <this repudiation of her campaign pledges is an unconscionable two-timing of the electorate> — see BETRAYAL

two–wheeler noun
a two-wheeled vehicle that is propelled by the use of pedals and steered through the use of handlebars <a committed environmentalist, he doggedly rides his two-wheeler to work> — see BICYCLE

tycoon noun
a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field <an oil tycoon who's widely considered the most powerful man in the county> — see MAGNATE

tyke also tike noun
a domestic mammal that is related to the wolves and foxes <adopted a lovable tyke from the local animal shelter> — see DOG 1

type noun
1 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <what type of people do you generally hang out with?> — see SORT 1
2 one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <a music store that has a good selection of all types of music, not just pop, rock, and rap> — see CLASS 2

type verb
to arrange or assign according to type <type the birds by geographical range> — see CLASSIFY 1

typical adjective
1 having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind <typical behavior for a two-year-old>

Synonyms
archetypal (also archetypical), average, characteristic, normal, regular, representative, standard, true

Related Words
common, commonplace, conventional, customary, everyday, ordinary, usual, wonted, workaday; classic, textbook, vintage; expected, familiar, habitual, predictable, routine, unexceptional, unremarkable; predominant, preponderant

Near Antonyms
uncommon, unconventional, uncustomary, unusual, unwonted; distinctive, especial, exceptional, extraordinary, infrequent, noteworthy, rare, remarkable, singular, special, unexpected, unfamiliar, unique, unpredictable; eccentric, idiosyncratic, nonconformist, peculiar, unknown, unorthodox; curious, erratic, funky, funny, odd, oddball, offbeat, outlandish, quirky, screwy, strange, wacky (also whacky), way-out; bizarre, fantastic (also fantastical), far-out, freak, freakish, kooky (also kookie), out-of-the-way, outrageous, outré, rare, singular, unnatural, weird, wild

Antonyms
aberrant, abnormal, anomalous, atypical, deviant, irregular, nonrepresentative, nontypical, untypical

2 serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group <when I asked what he had learned in school that day, he gave me the typical answer of teenagers: “I don't know”> — see CHARACTERISTIC 1

typically adverb
according to the usual course of things <prairie dogs typically live in open spaces> — see NATURALLY 2

tyrannical also tyrannic adjective
1 exercising power or authority without interference by others <a tyrannical ruler whose terrible reign was marked by unceasing violence> — see ABSOLUTE 1
2 fond of ordering people around <even when he was still a toddler, he tended to be a tyrannical playmate> — see BOSSY

tyrannized adjective
suffering grave abuse or injustice at the hands of one in authority <when the tyrannized masses could take no more, a violent and bloody revolution became inevitable> — see DOWNTRODDEN

tyrannizer noun
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way <a petty tyrannizer, the alcoholic father made his family suffer the cost of his many personal failures> — see DESPOT

tyrannous adjective
1 exercising power or authority without interference by others <studied the tyrannous rule of Stalin, communist dictator of the Soviet Union> — see ABSOLUTE 1
2 fond of ordering people around <my older sister is a tyrannous bore who isn't happy unless she's in charge> — see BOSSY

tyranny noun
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power <a popular uprising replaced that nation's tyranny with freedom and democracy> — see DESPOTISM

tyrant noun
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way <the people universally feared the tyrant, who was notorious for his frequent use of torture> — see DESPOT

tyro noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <he's a good musician, but at 14, he's still a tyro and has a lot to learn> — see BEGINNER

U

ubiquitous adjective
1 often observed or encountered <by that time cell phones had become ubiquitous, and people had long ceased to be impressed by the sight of one> — see COMMON 1
2 present in all places and at all times <was weary of the ubiquitous noise of the big city and longed for the quiet of the country> — see OMNIPRESENT

ugh interjection
used to express disgust <ugh, this oven desperately needs to be cleaned> — see YUCK

ugly adjective
1 unpleasant to look at <her first attempt at painting was pretty ugly—a portrait of her sister that was not at all flattering>

Synonyms
grotesque, hideous, homely, ill-favored, monstrous, unappealing, unattractive, unbeautiful, uncomely, unhandsome, unlovely, unpleasing, unpretty, unsightly, vile

Related Words
abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful, gross, horrible, horrid, loathsome, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, repellent (also repellant), repugnant, repulsive, revolting, sickening; frumpish, frumpy, plain, unaesthetic, unbecoming, unshapely

Near Antonyms
shapely; imposing, impressive, prepossessing

Antonyms
aesthetic (also esthetic or aesthetical or esthetical), attractive, beauteous, beautiful, bonny (also bonnie) [chiefly British], comely, cute, drop-dead, fair, fetching, good-looking, goodly, gorgeous, handsome, knockout, lovely, pretty, ravishing, seemly, sightly, stunning, taking, well-favored

2 causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment <an ugly suggestion for controlling the overpopulation of deer in the area> — see OFFENSIVE 1

ukase noun
an order publicly issued by an authority <she brazenly ignored the company's ukase about entering by the back door> — see EDICT 1

ultimate adjective
1 of the greatest or highest degree or quantity <the ultimate speed yet attained by a land-based vehicle>

Synonyms
consummate, last, max, maximum, most, nth, outside, paramount, supreme, top, utmost, uttermost

Related Words
unequaled (or unequalled), unmatched, unparalleled, unrivaled (or unrivalled), unsurpassed; biggest, hugest, largest; topmost, upmost, uppermost

Near Antonyms
littlest, minutest, smallest, tiniest; lowest; fewest

Antonyms
least, minimal, minimum, slightest

2 following all others of the same kind in order or time <the ultimate speaker at today's meeting> — see LAST 1
3 most distant from a center <the ultimate edges of the universe> — see EXTREME 1

ultimately adverb
at a later time <we'll ultimately renovate this section of the house, but for now it will stay as it is> — see YET 1

ultimatum noun
something that someone insists upon having <issued the ultimatum that the project be finished by the following week, or it would be terminated> — see DEMAND 1

ultra adjective
being very far from the center of public opinion <espouses a kind of ultra conservatism that even some members of his own party cannot support> — see EXTREME 2

ultraconservatism noun
attitudes or opinions tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <a radio talk show host who has become for many listeners the national voice of ultraconservatism> — see CONSERVATISM

ultraconservative adjective
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <under the leadership of its ultraconservative musical director, the symphony orchestra almost never played modern pieces> — see CONSERVATIVE 1

ultraexpensive adjective
commanding a large price <ultraexpensive medical equipment that only the largest hospitals can afford> — see COSTLY

ultrahot adjective
having a notably high temperature <ultrahot by any standard, a bolt of lightning can attain a temperature of 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit> — see HOT 1

ultramodern adjective
being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <an ultramodern design for the company's new line of automobiles> — see MODERN

ultramodernist noun
a person with very modern ideas <an ultramodernist in interior decoration, she freely uses materials that are recognizably man-made to achieve a look that enthusiastically embraces the 21st century> — see MODERN

ultrapractical adjective
capable of being put to use or account <modular furniture was once touted as the ultrapractical solution to any and all interior layout problems> — see PRACTICAL 1

ultraprecision noun
the quality or state of being very accurate <an instrument that can measure changes in the size of tumors with an ultraprecision that is astonishing> — see PRECISION

ultrasmart adjective
having or showing quickness of mind <those ultrasmart investors who got out of the stock market before it collapsed> — see INTELLIGENT 1

ultrathin adjective
being of less than usual width <a new generation of flat-panel TVs that were ultrathin> — see THIN 1

ululate verb
to make a long loud mournful sound <Arab women ululating with grief> — see HOWL 1

umbra noun
1 a time or place of little or no light <strange noises were coming from the wooded umbra beyond our campfire> — see DARK 1
2 partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays <during a solar eclipse observers located within the umbra experience a complete blocking of the sun by the moon> — see SHADE 1

umbrage noun
the feeling of being offended or resentful after a slight or indignity <took umbrage at the slightest suggestion of disrespect> — see PIQUE

umbrageous adjective
protected from the sun's rays <the estate's grounds include a delightfully umbrageous grove> — see SHADY 1

umpire noun
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy <usually acts as umpire in the all-too-frequent squabbles between the two other roommates> — see JUDGE 1

umpire verb
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) <in our family disputes regarding the use of our home entertainment system are umpired by Dad> — see JUDGE 1

unabashed adjective
not embarrassed or ashamed <unabashed by their booing and hissing, he continued with his musical performance>

Synonyms
shameless, unashamed, unblushing, unembarrassed

Related Words
prideful, proud; bold, brassy, brazen, cheeky, impudent, insolent, saucy; unapologetic, undaunted, undeterred, undismayed; unblinking, unflinching; impenitent, remorseless, unrepentant

Near Antonyms
confounded, confused, discomfited, disconcerted, discountenanced, fazed, flustered, mortified, nonplussed (also nonplused), rattled; apologetic, contrite, penitent, remorseful, repentant, sorry

Antonyms
abashed, ashamed, embarrassed, hangdog, shamed, shamefaced, sheepish

unable adjective
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job <a celebrated author of serious plays, he turned out to be a particularly unable writer of comedies> — see INCOMPETENT

unacceptable adjective
falling short of a standard <this work is entirely unacceptable> — see BAD 1

unacceptably adverb
1 beyond a normal or acceptable limit <the ski lodge was unacceptably cold> — see TOO 1
2 in an unsatisfactory way <she does her chores quickly but usually unacceptably> — see BADLY 1

unacclimated adjective
not having acquired a habit or tolerance <unacclimated to the intense heat of the tropics> — see UNUSED 1

unaccompanied adjective
not being in the company of others <an unaccompanied child on the airplane flight> — see ALONE 1

unaccountable adjective
impossible to explain <the decorator's client has an unaccountable dislike for that color> — see INEXPLICABLE

unaccustomed adjective
1 not having acquired a habit or tolerance <pampered youngsters who were unaccustomed to such hard work> — see UNUSED 1
2 not known or experienced before <the unaccustomed friendliness of my relatives after I won the lottery> — see NEW 2
3 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <unaccustomed styles of cooking that the tourists had to be persuaded to try> — see UNUSUAL 1

unacquainted adjective
not informed about or aware of something <unacquainted with the latest developments in the field of astronomy> — see IGNORANT 2

unadapted adjective
not having acquired a habit or tolerance <the animals that were unadapted to extreme cold quickly died out during the Ice Age> — see UNUSED 1

unadjusted adjective
not having acquired a habit or tolerance <still unadjusted to the lifestyle of an air force cadet> — see UNUSED 1

unadorned adjective
free from all additions or embellishment <the completely unadorned clothing favored by members of that religious sect> — see PLAIN 1

unadulterated adjective
1 free from added matter <an unadulterated solution is required for the experiment> — see PURE 1
2 having no exceptions or restrictions <the unadulterated nonsense that you sometimes hear from political pundits on TV> — see ABSOLUTE 2

unaesthetic adjective
disagreeable to one's aesthetic or artistic sense <believes that even industrial buildings need not have unaesthetic designs> — see HARSH 2

unaffected adjective
free from any intent to deceive or impress others <a relaxed and unaffected style of public speaking> — see GUILELESS

unaffectedly adverb
without any attempt to impress by deception or exaggeration <writes unaffectedly simple love poems> — see NATURALLY 3

unaided adverb
without aid or support <took pictures of the first time that the baby was able to walk unaided> — see ALONE 1

unalike adjective
being not of the same kind <our opinions of the movie couldn't have been more unalike> — see DIFFERENT 1

unalloyed adjective
1 free from added matter <unalloyed chemicals> — see PURE 1
2 having no exceptions or restrictions <the unalloyed happiness that marriage has brought them> — see ABSOLUTE 2

unalterable adjective
not capable of changing or being changed <the rules of the game are unalterable, regardless of who is playing> — see INFLEXIBLE 1

unambiguous adjective
1 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <looked at his neighbor's new car with unambiguous envy> — see CLEAR 2
2 so clearly expressed as to leave no doubt about the meaning <an unambiguous declaration of his love for her> — see EXPLICIT

unambivalent adjective
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <that comment is an unambivalent insult> — see CLEAR 2

unanimity noun
the state of being of one opinion about something <in a rare moment of unanimity the club members decided to throw a party for themselves> — see AGREEMENT 1

unanimous adjective
having or marked by agreement in feeling or action <a unanimous vote to upgrade the school's computer facilities> — see HARMONIOUS 3

unanswerable adjective
not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <the unanswerable assertion that she didn't know much about art but she knew what she liked> — see IRREFUTABLE

unanticipated adjective
not expected <ran into some unanticipated difficulties with the computer program> — see UNEXPECTED

unanticipatedly adverb
without warning <the unanticipatedly high fuel prices had many people wondering how they were going to keep warm that winter> — see UNAWARES

unappealing adjective
unpleasant to look at <an unappealing mess of dirt and trash in the corner of the room> — see UGLY 1

unappeasable adjective
1 incapable of being satisfied <it turned out that the public's appetite for sadistic horror movies was not unappeasable after all> — see INSATIABLE
2 showing no signs of slackening or yielding in one's purpose <warned that the nation was dealing with an unappeasable enemy> — see UNYIELDING 1

unappetizing adjective
disagreeable or disgusting to the sense of taste <the array of unappetizing foods that we encountered at that cheap roadside restaurant> — see DISTASTEFUL 1

unappreciated adjective
not likely to be appreciated by those who benefit <a number of unappreciated little favors that we had done for the neighbors> — see THANKLESS 2

unappreciative adjective
not showing gratitude <vowed that his unappreciative niece would never receive another birthday present from him> — see THANKLESS 1

unapproachable adjective
hard or impossible to get to or get at <a nearly unapproachable fortress in the mountains> — see INACCESSIBLE

unapt adjective
1 not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <has a knack for saying the most unapt things at the worst possible moments> — see INAPPROPRIATE
2 not likely to be true or to occur <at this point an admission of guilt from him would be most unapt> — see IMPROBABLE

unarguable adjective
not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <I will not challenge your unarguable expertise in the field of lepidopterology> — see IRREFUTABLE

unarguably adverb
without any question <he is unarguably a better tennis player than his wife> — see INDEED 1

unashamed adjective
1 not embarrassed or ashamed <unashamed of her religious beliefs and values> — see UNABASHED
2 not sorry for having done wrong <even after being convicted of housing violations, the slumlord remained as unashamed as ever> — see REMORSELESS 1

unasked adjective
not searched or asked for <received a lot of unasked advice on the project> — see UNSOUGHT

unassailable adjective
not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with <one of the unassailable beliefs of that political party> — see SACRED 1

unassisted adverb
without aid or support <managed to do the group project unassisted after his partners got sick> — see ALONE 1

unassuming adjective
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness <a talented but surprisingly unassuming musician> — see HUMBLE 1

unattached adjective
1 not married <everyone was surprised when the unattached woman finally fell in love> — see SINGLE 1
2 not physically attached to another unit <preferred an unattached house to a townhome> — see SEPARATE 2

unattainable adjective
1 hard or impossible to get to or get at <an eagle's nest in an unattainable location> — see INACCESSIBLE
2 incapable of being solved or accomplished <unfortunately, world peace is probably an unattainable ideal> — see IMPOSSIBLE

unattractive adjective
unpleasant to look at <an unattractive, awkward baby bird> — see UGLY 1

unauthentic adjective
being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud <trying to sell unauthentic autographs of American presidents> — see COUNTERFEIT 1

unavailable adjective
hard or impossible to get to or get at <the commander is unavailable right now> — see INACCESSIBLE

unavailing adjective
producing no results <an unavailing effort to avert a war> — see FUTILE 1

unavoidable adjective
impossible to avoid or evade <unfortunately, kitchen duty will be unavoidable tonight> — see INEVITABLE

unavoidably adverb
because of necessity <we'll be unavoidably late this evening> — see NEEDS

unaware adjective
not informed about or aware of something <she was unaware of the change in travel plans> — see IGNORANT 2

unaware adverb
without warning <the predawn attack took the airmen completely unaware> — see UNAWARES

unawareness noun
the state of being unaware or uninformed <the college-educated couple's smug unawareness of current events was both surprising and sad> — see IGNORANCE 1

unawares adverb
without warning <the thunderstorm caught us unawares, and we scrambled to get off the ridge as lightning started to flash>

Synonyms
aback, suddenly, unanticipatedly, unaware, unexpectedly

Related Words
abruptly, short; amazingly, astoundingly, surprisingly

Phrases
all of a sudden, off base

Near Antonyms
laggardly, leisurely, pokily, slowly, sluggishly, tardily; obviously

unbalance verb
to cause to go insane or as if insane <the shock of the loss of his wife and children completely unbalanced him> — see CRAZE

unbalanced adjective
1 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <horrific crimes that obviously were committed by a very unbalanced person> — see INSANE 1
2 not being in or able to maintain a state of balance <in such an unbalanced political situation, the probability of war increases> — see UNSTABLE 1

unbaptized adjective
not named or identified by a name <thus far the novel I've been working on remains unbaptized> — see NAMELESS 1

unbearable adjective
more than can be put up with <this heat is unbearable—when are we going to get air-conditioning?>

Synonyms
insufferable, insupportable, intolerable, unendurable, unsupportable

Related Words
unacceptable; crushing, overwhelming; comfortless, hard, harsh, painful, uncomfortable; appalling, dreadful, excruciating, gruesome (also grewsome), harrowing, horrendous, horrible, horrid, horrifying, nightmarish, shocking, terrible, tormenting, torturous, vile, wretched; acute, extreme, intense, piercing; disgusting, distasteful, loathsome, nauseating, obnoxious, offensive, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, sickening; heinous, noxious, odious, unspeakable

Near Antonyms
livable (also liveable); acceptable; adequate, admissible, allowable, reasonable, satisfactory

Antonyms
endurable, sufferable, supportable, sustainable, tolerable

unbeatable adjective
incapable of being defeated, overcome, or subdued <a seemingly unbeatable baseball team> — see INVINCIBLE

unbeautiful adjective
unpleasant to look at <a makeshift shelter that was unbeautiful perhaps, but it kept us out of the rain> — see UGLY 1

unbecoming adjective
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <boorish behavior that is unbecoming to an officer> — see INAPPROPRIATE

unbecomingness noun
the quality or state of not being socially proper <the unbecomingness of such behavior at a White House dinner should be painfully obvious> — see IMPROPRIETY 1

unbeknownst also unbeknown adjective
happening or existing without one's knowledge <unbeknownst to me, my mother was planning a party> — see UNKNOWN 1

unbelief noun
refusal to accept something as true <a natural-born skeptic, she typically greets the latest conspiracy theory with head-shaking unbelief> — see DISBELIEF

unbelievable adjective
too extraordinary or improbable to believe <a completely unbelievable story about why there was lipstick on his collar> — see INCREDIBLE

unbeliever noun
a person who is always ready to doubt or question the truth or existence of something <a hardheaded unbeliever who demanded to see concrete evidence of any alleged UFO activity> — see SKEPTIC

unbelieving adjective
inclined to doubt or question claims <unbelieving scientists who demand that all phenomena be subjected to rigorous scientific scrutiny> — see SKEPTICAL

unbend verb
to cause to follow a line that is without bends or curls <the new highway will largely unbend that twisting path that the old road used to follow> — see STRAIGHTEN

unbending adjective
1 having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <the commanding officer's unbending reserve when dealing with subordinates> — see COOL 1
2 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <the school's new headmaster is reputed to be an unbending disciplinarian> — see OBSTINATE

unbiased adjective
marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias <offered an unbiased judgment of the dancer's performance> — see FAIR 2

unbidden also unbid adjective
not searched or asked for <she arrived, unbidden, to help out at the Red Cross center> — see UNSOUGHT

unbind verb
1 to disengage the knotted parts of <unbind a rope> — see UNTIE
2 to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <a newly elected democratic government whose first act was to unbind the nation's vast horde of political prisoners> — see FREE 1

unblemished adjective
being entirely without fault or flaw <a modeling agency looking for people with unblemished complexions> — see PERFECT 1

unblock verb
to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way <unblock the road so that the convoy can proceed> — see CLEAR 1

unblushing adjective
not embarrassed or ashamed <an unblushing patriotism that is manifested in the family's public display of the flag> — see UNABASHED

unbodied adjective
not composed of matter <ghosts are often depicted as unbodied, yet somehow visible, beings> — see IMMATERIAL 1

unbookish adjective
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing <a refreshingly unbookish talk on how dictionaries get made> — see COLLOQUIAL 1

unborn adjective
of a time after the present <a home entertainment system that can be adapted for products as yet unborn> — see FUTURE

unbosom verb
to make known (as information previously kept secret) <unbosomed his fear of dying only to his closest friends> — see REVEAL 1

unbound adjective
not bound, confined, or detained by force <a dog left unbound in the yard> — see FREE 3

unbounded adjective
1 being or seeming to be without limits <the unbounded enthusiasm shown by the new club members> — see INFINITE
2 showing no signs of being under control <unbounded terror that was caused by the simultaneous detonation of seven car bombs around the city> — see RAMPANT 1

unbraid verb
to separate the various strands of <unbraided the line> — see UNRAVEL 1

unbridled adjective
showing no signs of being under control <a case that was solved only because of one detective's unbridled determination to bring the killer to justice> — see RAMPANT 1

unbroken adjective
1 going on and on without any interruptions <just mile after mile of unbroken woodland> — see CONTINUOUS
2 living outdoors without taming or domestication by humans <a young, unbroken horse> — see WILD 1

unbudging adjective
incapable of moving or being moved <the massive old bed was simply unbudging, despite our best efforts> — see IMMOVABLE 1

unbuild verb
to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces <beavers were busily building dams, and local landowners were just as diligently unbuilding them> — see DEMOLISH 1

unburden verb
1 to empty or rid of cargo <the crew was frantically unburdening the ship in an attempt to save it> — see UNLOAD 1
2 to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers <a generous friend unburdened her of that particular financial worry> — see RID

unburdened adjective
no longer burdened with something unpleasant or painful <now unburdened of his painful secret, he felt free for the first time in years> — see FREE 2

uncage verb
to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <uncaged the bird and let it fly away> — see FREE 1

uncalled–for adjective
1 not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end <uncalled-for restrictions on freedom of the press during the national emergency> — see UNNECESSARY
2 showing a lack of manners or consideration for others <hurtful remarks about a person's looks that are simply uncalled-for> — see IMPOLITE

uncanniness noun
the quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or explain <a sly smile only added to the uncanniness of her cryptic response to my innocent question> — see INSCRUTABILITY 1

uncanny adjective
1 being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain <a number of uncanny parallels in the lives of the twins who had been separated at birth> — see MYSTERIOUS 1
2 being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature <an uncanny gift for knowing when someone, no matter how distant, needed help> — see SUPERNATURAL 2
3 fearfully and mysteriously strange or fantastic <uncanny and unexpected shadows along the mountainsides> — see EERIE

uncataloged adjective
not appearing on a list <hundreds of uncataloged runners ran in the marathon> — see UNLISTED

unceasing adjective
going on and on without any interruptions <this unceasing rain will turn me into a mushroom!> — see CONTINUOUS

uncelebrated adjective
not widely known <a gifted but uncelebrated poet> — see OBSCURE 2

unceremonious adjective
1 being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner <my polite request was met with an unceremonious refusal> — see BLUNT 1
2 not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules <her unceremonious approach to her hosting duties puts party guests immediately at ease> — see INFORMAL 1

uncertain adjective
1 likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <the stifling heat would occasionally be relieved by an uncertain breeze> — see FICKLE 1
2 not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something <never uncertain of her political beliefs or judgment, she was a decisive and fearless leader> — see DOUBTFUL 1

uncertainty noun
a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something <uncertainty about her job prospects has her worried> — see DOUBT

unchain verb
to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <activists for animal rights who would like to unchain zoo animals and return them to the wild> — see FREE 1

unchallengeable adjective
not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <the contention that there are certain unchallengeable rules governing proper grammar> — see IRREFUTABLE

unchangeable adjective
not capable of changing or being changed <I'm afraid that my opinion on this matter is unchangeable> — see INFLEXIBLE 1

unchangeableness noun
the state of continuing without change <the endless days of sunshine were certainly pleasant, but the unchangeableness of the weather got to be boring after a while> — see CONSTANCY 1

unchanging adjective
1 not undergoing a change in condition <took comfort in unchanging family traditions> — see CONSTANT 1
2 not varying <wore an unchanging expression of boredom throughout the entire lecture> — see UNIFORM

uncharitable adjective
1 giving or sharing as little as possible <an uncharitable couple who wouldn't even donate food to needy families at Thanksgiving> — see STINGY 1
2 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <an uncharitable attitude towards people who give in to alcohol or other temptations> — see HARD 1

unchecked adjective
showing no signs of being under control <unchecked corruption in the state's prison system> — see RAMPANT 1

unchristened adjective
not named or identified by a name <some unchristened dog that we just adopted from the local pound> — see NAMELESS 1

uncivil adjective
1 not civilized <the uncivil and wild land that the pioneers tamed and settled> — see SAVAGE 1
2 showing a lack of manners or consideration for others <such uncivil behavior will not be tolerated> — see IMPOLITE

uncivilized adjective
not civilized <unfairly branded as uncivilized by European explorers, they had created a culture that was actually quite advanced> — see SAVAGE 1

unclad adjective
lacking or shed of clothing <drawings and sculptures of the unclad human figure> — see NAKED 1

unclean adjective
1 having or showing lowered moral character or standards <there's something unclean about this whole business> — see CORRUPT
2 not clean <a lackadaisical waiter who tried to set our table with smudged glasses and unclean silverware> — see DIRTY 1

uncleanliness noun
the state or quality of being dirty <the uncleanliness of the restaurant's windows wasn't very appetizing either> — see DIRTINESS 1

uncleanly adjective
not clean <the uncleanly uniforms of the restaurant's staff> — see DIRTY 1

uncleanness noun
the state or quality of being dirty <the general uncleanness of the doctor's office turned my stomach> — see DIRTINESS 1

unclear adjective
1 not expressed in precise terms <their suggestion for correcting the problem is a bit unclear> — see VAGUE 1
2 not seen or understood clearly <obtained at best an unclear glimpse of the rarely seen bird from across the road> — see FAINT 1

uncloak verb
1 to make known (as information previously kept secret) <uncloaked the latest plan for improvements to the state capitol> — see REVEAL 1
2 to reveal the true nature of <investigative reporters uncloaked the real estate tycoon, revealing him to be nothing more than a slumlord> — see EXPOSE 1

unclog verb
1 to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions <unclog a bathroom drain with a cleaner> — see OPEN 2
2 to free from obstruction or difficulty <unclog the way for more people to take advantage of the government program> — see EASE 1

unclogged adjective
allowing passage without obstruction <an unclogged pipe works much more efficiently> — see OPEN 1

unclose verb
to change from a closed to an open position <one nurse closed the window in my room, and a minute later another nurse unclosed it> — see OPEN 1

unclosed adjective
allowing passage without obstruction <escaped through the one remaining unclosed passageway> — see OPEN 1

unclothe verb
to remove clothing from <partially unclothed the patient for treatment> — see UNDRESS 1

unclothed adjective
lacking or shed of clothing <an artist's drawings of clothed and unclothed figures> — see NAKED 1

unclouded adjective
not stormy or cloudy <campers awaking to the sight of a completely unclouded blue sky> — see FAIR 1

unclubbable adjective
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <for such a decidedly unclubbable man, politics was an odd career choice> — see COOL 1

uncluttered adjective
being clean and in good order <I work better with an uncluttered desk> — see NEAT 1

unco adverb
to a great degree <has written an unco fine novel about the war> — see VERY 1

uncoerced adjective
done, made, or given with one's own free will <the therapist noted that uncoerced behavioral changes can sometimes strengthen relationships> — see VOLUNTARY 1

uncolored adjective
lacking an addition of color <the walls will be left uncolored, so you can choose your own color scheme> — see COLORLESS 1

uncomely adjective
unpleasant to look at <behind his somewhat uncomely face lay a sweet and charming personality> — see UGLY 1

uncomfortable adjective
1 causing discomfort <unfortunately, dressing up for the dance meant wearing an uncomfortable shirt>

Synonyms
comfortless, discomforting, harsh

Related Words
aching, hurting, miserable, nasty, painful, sore; agonizing, excruciating, torturous; distressing, disturbing, upsetting; awkward, cumbersome, inconvenient, ungainly; uneasy; chafing, cramping, itching, pinching, pricking, prickling, smarting, stinging

Near Antonyms
easy, soothing; cozy, cushy, snug, soft; easeful, relaxing, reposeful, restful

Antonyms
comfortable, comfy

2 causing embarrassment <the uncomfortable situation of running into an ex-friend at a social gathering> — see AWKWARD 3
3 lacking social grace and assurance <a person who is uncomfortable at parties with lots of strangers> — see AWKWARD 1

uncomic adjective
not joking or playful in mood or manner <the movie takes a very uncomic approach to underage drinking, finding nothing funny about drunken teens> — see SERIOUS 1

uncommon adjective
1 being out of the ordinary <a landscape of uncommon beauty> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1
2 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <backyard swimming pools are not an uncommon sight in that neighborhood> — see UNUSUAL 1

uncommonly adverb
to a great degree <he's uncommonly well-read for a boy his age> — see VERY 1

uncommunicable adjective
beyond the power to describe <the book attempts to communicate the uncommunicable horrors of war> — see INDESCRIBABLE

uncommunicative adjective
1 deliberately refraining from speech <the child was uncommunicative and unhelpful to school investigators> — see SILENT 1
2 given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge <intelligence agencies must be uncommunicative about their operations if they are to be at all effective> — see SECRETIVE
3 tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination) <resigned to the fact that her husband was always going to be an uncommunicative partner> — see SILENT 2

uncompelling adjective
too extraordinary or improbable to believe <a diet supplement that makes some rather uncompelling health claims> — see INCREDIBLE

uncomplaining adjective
accepting pains or hardships calmly or without complaint <an uncomplaining hardworking single mother of five> — see PATIENT 1

uncomplimentary adjective
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value <an uncomplimentary description of the town in which the writer grew up> — see DEROGATORY

uncompromising adjective
1 not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards <an uncompromising adherence to the rules that would do a schoolmarm proud> — see RIGID 1
2 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <the professor is generally an uncompromising stickler for deadlines, but he will make exceptions for genuine need> — see OBSTINATE

unconceivable adjective
too extraordinary or improbable to believe <it's unconceivable that a once-promising actor could end up this way> — see INCREDIBLE

unconcern noun
lack of interest or concern <wore an expression of general unconcern throughout the trial> — see INDIFFERENCE

unconcerned adjective
1 having or showing freedom from worries or troubles <playful and unconcerned despite his medical emergency> — see CAREFREE
2 having or showing a lack of interest or concern <a featherbrain completely unconcerned about the important issues of the day> — see INDIFFERENT 1

unconditional adjective
having no exceptions or restrictions <demanded an unconditional surrender> — see ABSOLUTE 2

unconfined adjective
not bound, confined, or detained by force <residents of the camp for drug rehabilitation are completely unconfined—no one is there unless they want to be> — see FREE 3

uncongenial adjective
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <a dank and uncongenial castle that makes one question just how merry old England really was> — see UNPLEASANT

unconnected adjective
1 not clearly or logically connected <a delirious inmate whose unconnected ramblings frustrated the staff> — see INCOHERENT 1
2 not physically attached to another unit <the unconnected houses in the private development have common areas and share certain facilities> — see SEPARATE 2

unconquerable adjective
incapable of being defeated, overcome, or subdued <an unconquerable spirit that got the family through some hard times> — see INVINCIBLE

unconscionable adjective
1 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <an unconscionable number of errors for an important government report> — see EXCESSIVE
2 not guided by or showing a concern for what is right <a politician with an unconscionable disregard for the truth> — see UNPRINCIPLED

unconscious adjective
1 having lost consciousness <the guard was knocked unconscious by a blow to the head>

Synonyms
cold, insensible, senseless

Related Words
semiconscious; anesthetized; collapsed

Near Antonyms
alert, awake, aware, up; resuscitated, revived

Antonyms
conscious

2 not informed about or aware of something <unconscious of the somber expression she wore> — see IGNORANT 2

unconsidered adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <regretted some unconsidered comments that she made during a live TV interview> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

unconsolidated adjective
consisting of particles that do not stick together <unconsolidated soil> — see LOOSE 2

unconstraint noun
carefree freedom from constraint <the actor plays the role of the comic drunkard with the kind of crowd-pleasing unconstraint that has made him a stage legend> — see ABANDON

uncontrollable adjective
given to resisting control or discipline by others <the uncontrollable child kept throwing tantrums in public and creating scenes>

Synonyms
froward, headstrong, incontrollable, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful (or wilful)

Related Words
bullheaded, contrary, difficult, hardheaded, incorrigible, intransigent, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, perverse, pigheaded, self-willed, stiff, stiff-necked, stubborn; undisciplined, unpunished; uncontrolled, wild; boisterous, irrepressible, rambunctious, rowdy; disobedient, indocile, insubordinate, rebellious; misbehaving, naughty

Phrases
out of hand

Near Antonyms
docile, obedient, well-behaved; compliant, placable, pliable, submissive, yielding; accepting, persuadable, receptive, responsive, willing; reasonable, temperate, trainable

Antonyms
controllable, governable, manageable, tractable

uncontrolled adjective
showing no signs of being under control <a tirade filled with uncontrolled anger about what the government was doing> — see RAMPANT 1

uncontroversial adjective
unlikely to provoke controversy or offense <uncontroversial legislation, such as designating the cranberry the official state fruit> — see SAFE 3

unconventional adjective
1 deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices <the Shakers acquired their name because of their unconventional practice of dancing with shaking movements during worship> — see HERETICAL
2 not bound by traditional ways or beliefs <had unconventional opinions on the raising of children> — see LIBERAL 1
3 not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules <young, creative people who lead unconventional but fulfilling lifestyles> — see INFORMAL 1

unconvinced adjective
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something <unconvinced that the prosecution had proven guilt beyond a reasonable doubt> — see DOUBTFUL 1

unconvincing adjective
too extraordinary or improbable to believe <the excuse for her tardiness was too unconvincing to be accepted> — see INCREDIBLE

uncooked adjective
not cooked <crunching on uncooked carrots> — see RAW 1

uncoordinated adjective
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner <my swimming instructor had never seen anyone so uncoordinated—in or out of the water> — see CLUMSY 2

uncordial adjective
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <extended a correct but decidedly uncordial welcome to the other nation's diplomats at the peace negotiations> — see COLD 2

uncork verb
to set free (from a state of being held in check) <uncorked her emotions once she was alone in her room> — see RELEASE 1

uncos plural noun, chiefly Scottish
a report of recent events or facts not previously known <uncos of recent sightings of the Loch Ness Monster always seem to increase with the start of the tourist season> — see NEWS

uncountable adjective
too many to be counted <an uncountable number of mosquitoes in the yard> — see COUNTLESS

uncounted adjective
too many to be counted <gazed in wonder at the uncounted stars of the sky> — see COUNTLESS

uncouple verb
to set or force apart <uncoupled the two railroad cars> — see SEPARATE 1

uncouth adjective
1 having or showing crudely insensitive or impolite manners <will not tolerate any uncouth behavior, such as eating with one's mouth open> — see CLOWNISH
2 lacking in refinement or good taste <the movie's uncouth humor seemed to be purposely offensive> — see COARSE 2

uncover verb
1 to make known (as information previously kept secret) <uncovered the location of the secret documents> — see REVEAL 1
2 to reveal the true nature of <a magazine article that purports to uncover the inner operations of what many regard as a religious cult> — see EXPOSE 1

uncovered adjective
lacking a usual or natural covering <the famed snows of Mount Kilimanjaro are receding, leaving behind much uncovered ground> — see NAKED 2

uncritical adjective
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <had an uncritical trust in the nation's leaders> — see NAIVE 1

uncrown verb
to remove from a position of prominence or power (as a throne) <Edward VIII effectively uncrowned himself when he insisted upon marrying an American divorcée> — see DEPOSE 1

unctuous adjective
1 not being or expressing what one appears to be or express <an unctuous effort to appear religious to the voters> — see INSINCERE
2 overly or insincerely flattering <an unctuous appraisal of the musical talent shown by the boss's daughter> — see FULSOME 1

uncultivated adjective
1 existing without human habitation or cultivation <miles of uncultivated land that had never been touched by a plow or an ax> — see WILD 2
2 lacking in refinement or good taste <an uncultivated and ignorant philistine who cared only about money> — see COARSE 2
3 not civilized <an uncultivated age when people lived just to meet their day-to-day needs> — see SAVAGE 1

uncultured adjective
lacking in refinement or good taste <an unlettered and uncultured society that still had the manners of the frontier> — see COARSE 2

uncurious adjective
having or showing a lack of interest or concern <how can you be so uncurious about the world around you?> — see INDIFFERENT 1

uncurl verb
to cause to follow a line that is without bends or curls <uncurled the ribbon and flattened it out> — see STRAIGHTEN

uncustomary adjective
1 being out of the ordinary <has uncustomary grace and poise for a girl of her age> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1
2 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <anger that was very uncustomary for such an even-tempered man> — see UNUSUAL 1

undauntable adjective
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <the undauntable adventurers who crossed the trackless wilderness in search of El Dorado> — see BRAVE 1

undaunted adjective
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <undaunted despite their repeated failures at starting a business> — see BRAVE 1

undeceive verb
to free from mistaken beliefs or foolish hopes <promptly undeceived the young woman about the sincerity of the man's intentions> — see DISILLUSION

undecided adjective
1 not yet settled or decided <a number of undecided matters still before the committee> — see PENDING 1
2 not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something <voters still seem to be undecided about that candidate's fitness for the office of president> — see DOUBTFUL 1

undecipherable adjective
incapable of being read or deciphered <undecipherable stone inscriptions that have inspired a wide assortment of theories> — see ILLEGIBLE

undecorated adjective
free from all additions or embellishment <left the room simple and undecorated so that she'd be able to concentrate when she studied there> — see PLAIN 1

undefended adjective
lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack <the cowardly soldiers fled, leaving the palace undefended> — see HELPLESS 1

undefined adjective
not seen or understood clearly <plagued by undefined worries that kept her awake at night> — see FAINT 1

undemonstrative adjective
not feeling or showing emotion <an undemonstrative person by nature, he nevertheless loved his wife very much> — see IMPASSIVE 1

undeniable adjective
not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <undeniable evidence of guilt> — see IRREFUTABLE

undeniably adverb
without any question <undeniably handsome, he's never been conceited about his looks> — see INDEED 1

under adverb
in or to a lower place <crouch down under where they won't see you> — see BELOW 1

under preposition
in a lower position than <the cat is hiding under the bed> — see BELOW 1

underbelly noun
1 a social sphere that exists outside of the mainstream <unable to get work in mainstream films, the actor ended up in Hollywood's underbelly—the porn industry> — see NETHERWORLD
2 the side or part facing downward from something <the underbelly of the old submarine is in bad shape> — see BOTTOM 1
3 a vulnerable point <the vast, thinly guarded southern border was obviously the underbelly of the nation's line of defense> — see ACHILLES' HEEL

underbody noun
the side or part facing downward from something <the underbody of the car was starting to rust> — see BOTTOM 1

underclothes plural noun
clothing intended to be worn underneath other clothing <keeps her underclothes in a separate drawer> — see UNDERWEAR

underclothing noun
clothing intended to be worn underneath other clothing <he changes his underclothing every day> — see UNDERWEAR

undercover adjective
1 undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <an undercover operation to infiltrate the terrorist organization> — see SECRET 1
2 working on missions in which one's objectives, activities, or true identity are not publicly revealed <for months she's been an undercover agent pretending to be a drug dealer> — see SECRET 2

undercover noun
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country <within the city was a well-organized fifth column, and these undercovers would make themselves known as soon as the invading forces breached the city limits> — see SPY

underestimate verb
to place too low a value on <we had underestimated her ability to raise the start-up money for her own design firm>

Synonyms
underrate, undervalue

Related Words
de-emphasize, minimize, play down, soft-pedal; belittle, decry, depreciate, disparage; despise, disdain, scorn

Phrases
sell short

Near Antonyms
appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value; admire, esteem, regard, respect; adore, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate, worship

Antonyms
overestimate, overrate, overvalue

undergarments plural noun
clothing intended to be worn underneath other clothing <pack plenty of warm undergarments for the ski vacation> — see UNDERWEAR

undergird verb
to hold up or serve as a foundation for <the theory of evolution undergirds virtually all of modern biology> — see SUPPORT 3

undergo verb
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it <some people undergo a complete transformation while away at college> — see EXPERIENCE

underground adjective
1 undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <an underground operation to smuggle ancient artifacts out of the country> — see SECRET 1
2 being, situated, or operating beneath the surface of the earth <an underground shopping mall that is part of the city's subway system> — see BELOWGROUND

underground noun
a secret organization in a conquered country fighting against enemy forces <joined the underground while still a teenager> — see RESISTANCE 2

underhand adjective
1 given to or marked by cheating and deception <willing to stoop to underhand methods in order to win> — see DISHONEST 2
2 undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <the congressman's underhand attempt to slip several pork barrel items into the bill> — see SECRET 1

underhanded adjective
1 given to or marked by cheating and deception <the commercial is a part of an underhanded PR campaign to whitewash the company's environmental record> — see DISHONEST 2
2 undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <an underhanded attempt at infiltrating the other party's headquarters> — see SECRET 1

underline verb
to indicate the importance of by giving prominent display <a report that underlines the contributions of fathers to successful, happy families> — see EMPHASIZE

underling noun
one who is of lower rank and typically under the authority of another <the real estate tycoon has a whole army of underlings to attend to the details>

Synonyms
inferior, junior, subordinate

Related Words
attendant, follower, retainer; domestic, menial, steward; flunky (also flunkey or flunkie), henchman, lackey, minion; adjutant, aid, aide, assistant, coadjutor, deputy, second, second fiddle; helpmate, helpmeet, mate, sidekick

Near Antonyms
boss, captain, chief, foreman, head, headman, helmsman, kingpin, leader, master, taskmaster

Antonyms
senior, superior

underlying adjective
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject <the underlying differences between democracy and dictatorship> — see ELEMENTARY

undermining noun
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction <the view that the constant mudslinging and negative campaigning contributes to the undermining of the public's faith in politics and government> — see CORROSION

undermost adjective
of, relating to, or located at the bottom <the undermost layer of the mattress filling should provide firm back support> — see BOTTOM

underneath adverb
in or to a lower place <the ball rolled under the porch, so you'll have to crawl underneath to get it> — see BELOW 1

underpart noun
the side or part facing downward from something <the bird's underparts were white> — see BOTTOM 1

underpin verb
to hold up or serve as a foundation for <the central beliefs that underpin a free society> — see SUPPORT 3

underpinning noun
1 an immaterial thing upon which something else rests <the underpinnings of the theory have recently been called into question> — see BASE 1
2 a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else <the underpinnings of the bridge were seriously damaged in the collision> — see SUPPORT 1

underprivileged adjective
kept from having the necessities of life or a healthful environment <underprivileged children often don't do as well on standardized tests as more privileged students> — see DEPRIVED

underrate verb
to place too low a value on <it's perhaps the most underrated film of the last decade> — see UNDERESTIMATE

underscore verb
to indicate the importance of by giving prominent display <a history of the Old West that underscores the role that pioneer women had in bringing order and stability to the wild frontier> — see EMPHASIZE 2

underscoring noun
a special notice or importance given to something <the underscoring we've given the play's local setting will hopefully increase ticket sales> — see EMPHASIS 1

underside noun
the side or part facing downward from something <the underside of the cat's coat is pure white> — see BOTTOM 1

undersized also undersize adjective
of a size that is less than average <though a football all-star in high school, he was just a mediocre, undersized player at the college level> — see SMALL 1

understand verb
1 to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information <as I understand it, this is the best plan that we have> — see INFER 1
2 to have a practical understanding of <I think I understand how an engine works now> — see KNOW 1
3 to have a clear idea of <after a few weeks in Russia I began to understand the language a little bit> — see COMPREHEND 1

understandable adjective
capable of being understood <with understandable pain and anger, the victim's family lashed out at the convicted murderer> — see INTELLIGIBLE

understanding adjective
having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another <a kind and understanding teacher who often helps troubled students> — see SYMPATHETIC 1

understanding noun
1 an arrangement about action to be taken <the landlord came to an understanding with the tenants about his obligations for maintaining the property> — see AGREEMENT 2
2 the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something <a social observer with a deep understanding of the problems that the nation's cities face in the 21st century> — see COMPREHENSION

understated adjective
not excessively showy <the actor's understated interpretation of the lead role is surprisingly compelling> — see QUIET 2

undersupply noun
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <an undersupply of nutritious foods at the party> — see DEFICIENCY

undersurface noun
the side or part facing downward from something <painted the undersurface of the plane blue> — see BOTTOM 1

undertake verb
to take to or upon oneself <undertook the responsibility of raising the orphaned children as their own> — see ASSUME 1

undertaker noun
a person who manages funerals and prepares the dead for burial or cremation <the undertaker wore black clothes and a solemn expression> — see FUNERAL DIRECTOR

undervalue verb
to place too low a value on <you shouldn't undervalue your talent—you are a very gifted singer> — see UNDERESTIMATE

underwater adjective
living, lying, or occurring below the surface of the water <underwater plants don't require as much light to grow as surface plants> <a vessel designed for underwater exploration>

Synonyms
aquatic, submarine, submerged, sunken

Related Words
oceanic; undersea; abysmal, abyssal, deep, deep-sea, deepwater

under way adverb
in progress <construction of the new shopping mall is under way>

Synonyms
afoot, under weigh

Near Antonyms
deferred, delayed, postponed; suspended

underwear noun
clothing intended to be worn underneath other clothing <underwear has got to be the most boring thing that one could ever receive as a birthday present!>

Synonyms
underclothes, underclothing, undergarments, undies, unmentionables

Related Words
lingerie; panties, scanties; slip, underskirt; boxers, boxer shorts, briefs, drawers, long johns, pants, shorts, underdrawers, underpants, undershirt, undershorts, union suit; nightdress, nightgown, nightshirt, pajamas, pj's

Near Antonyms
outerwear

under weigh adverb
in progress <registration for the summer session is under weigh> — see UNDER WAY

underweight adjective
having little weight <the long illness left him frail and underweight> — see 1LIGHT 1

underworld noun
a social sphere that exists outside of the mainstream <a magazine article taking an insightful look at the underworld inhabited by street people> — see NETHERWORLD

underwrite verb
to provide money for <a university willing to underwrite an archaeological expedition> — see FINANCE 1

undetermined adjective
1 not seen or understood clearly <an undetermined form seen only from a distance> — see FAINT 1
2 not yet settled or decided <the fate of the prisoners is still undetermined> — see PENDING 1

undeviating adjective
not varying <an undeviating dedication to duty> — see UNIFORM

undies plural noun
clothing intended to be worn underneath other clothing <likes to wear silk undies> — see UNDERWEAR

undiluted adjective
free from added matter <undiluted cranberry juice would be too strong for anyone to drink> — see PURE 1

undiplomatic adjective
showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations <the reporter's undiplomatic references to the state's overweight governor> — see INDISCREET

undisturbed adjective
free from emotional or mental agitation <didn't tell him the sad news until after the test, so he would remain undisturbed> — see CALM 2

undivided adjective
not divided or scattered among several areas of interest or concern <a teacher who insists on the undivided attention of her students> — see WHOLE 1

undo verb
1 to deprive of courage or confidence <the sudden shriek undid the campers> — see UNNERVE 1
2 to disengage the knotted parts of <undo a tangled shoelace> — see UNTIE
3 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <the mere mention of the home invasion still had the power to undo her> — see DISTURB 1

undoable adjective
incapable of being solved or accomplished <a combat mission of that type is not only undoable, it's foolish> — see IMPOSSIBLE

undoing noun
something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life <an intractable drug habit proved to be her sad undoing> — see DOWNFALL 1

undomesticated adjective
living outdoors without taming or domestication by humans <domesticated rats are more tolerable companions than are their undomesticated cousins> — see WILD 1

undoubtedly adverb
without any question <we will undoubtedly have to do some editing of our home video> — see INDEED 1

undress verb
1 to remove clothing from <I quickly undressed myself and pulled on a set of dry clothes>

Synonyms
disrobe, strip, unclothe

Related Words
bare, denude, divest, expose, uncover, undrape, unveil; bark, flay, peel, skin

Near Antonyms
apparel, array, attire, caparison, clothe, costume, cover, deck, dress, feather, garb, garment, invest, rig (out), vest; cloak, mantle; drape, swaddle, swathe; accoutre (or accouter), equip, furnish, outfit

Antonyms
dress, gown, robe

2 to reveal the true nature of <a self-styled financial investor who was eventually undressed as a con artist running a pyramid scheme> — see EXPOSE 1

undressed adjective
1 being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining <undressed animal hides> — see CRUDE 1
2 lacking or shed of clothing <an undressed patient waiting to be examined by the doctor> — see NAKED 1

undue adjective
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <try to avoid undue delay responding to e-mails> — see EXCESSIVE

unduly adverb
beyond a normal or acceptable limit <unduly upset by the slight delay of our departure> — see TOO 1

undyed adjective
lacking an addition of color <pieces of undyed leather> — see COLORLESS 1

undying adjective
1 having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish <his undying devotion to his terminally ill wife is truly inspiring> — see ABIDING
2 lasting forever <a duet in which the singers swear undying love for one another> — see EVERLASTING 1

uneager adjective
showing little or no interest or enthusiasm <received the usual uneager response when she asked for volunteers to help clean up> — see TEPID 1

unearth verb
to remove from place of burial <unearthed a hoard of treasures from the Egyptian tomb> — see EXHUME

unearthing noun
the act or process of sighting or learning the existence of something for the first time <the unearthing of a prehistoric man who had been preserved in an Alpine glacier proved to be a great boon to science> — see DISCOVERY 1

unearthly adjective
1 being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature <an unearthly knack for picking winning lottery numbers> — see SUPERNATURAL 2
2 fearfully and mysteriously strange or fantastic <an unearthly wail came from out of the darkness> — see EERIE
3 of, relating to, or being part of a reality beyond the observable physical universe <unearthly messages that she believed were coming from her deceased father> — see SUPERNATURAL 1

unease noun
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <although we'd been assured that everything would be fine, we couldn't shake our feeling of unease> — see ANXIETY 1

uneasiness noun
1 a disturbed or uneasy state <a general uneasiness has descended over the city in the wake of the murders> — see UNREST
2 an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <his uneasiness lasted until his son's plane had returned safely to the ground> — see ANXIETY 1

uneasy adjective
1 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <I'm a bit uneasy about taking a baby on such a long trip> — see NERVOUS 1
2 lacking or denying rest <spent an uneasy night sleeping in his car> — see RESTLESS 1
3 lacking social grace and assurance <a shy lad, he's always a bit uneasy at parties> — see AWKWARD 1
4 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <an uneasy calm descended over the city as inhabitants waited for the attack that was sure to come> — see NERVOUS 2

uneducated adjective
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <a literary reference that could not be grasped by an uneducated person> — see IGNORANT 1

unembarrassed adjective
not embarrassed or ashamed <he seemed thoroughly unembarrassed by his sycophantic behavior at the company party> — see UNABASHED

unembellished adjective
free from all additions or embellishment <an unembellished vase is best because it won't take attention away from the flowers> — see PLAIN 1

unemotional adjective
not feeling or showing emotion <a surprisingly unemotional expression for someone who was just informed that his wife was missing> — see IMPASSIVE 1

unemployed adjective
having no job <the plant closings left a significant portion of the town's population unemployed>

Synonyms
jobless

Related Words
subemployed, underemployed

Phrases
out of work

Near Antonyms
self-employed

Antonyms
employed, working

unending adjective
lasting forever <the writer's latest memoir is a seemingly unending exercise in narcissistic rambling> — see EVERLASTING 1

unendurable adjective
more than can be put up with <people used to travel along this stretch of the highway by night so as to avoid the unendurable heat of the day> — see UNBEARABLE

unenjoyable adjective
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <an unenjoyable evening spent plowing through a backlog of office paperwork> — see UNPLEASANT

unenthusiastic adjective
showing little or no interest or enthusiasm <my suggestion that we go to see the new action flick was greeted with an unenthusiastic shrug> — see TEPID 1

unequal adjective
not staying constant <unequal pulsations of the heart that might be a sign of trouble> — see UNEVEN 2

unequaled or unequalled adjective
having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability <a horse of unequaled beauty> — see ONLY 1

unequivocal adjective
1 not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <few of the candidates have yet staked out unequivocal positions on the hot-button issues> — see CLEAR 2
2 so clearly expressed as to leave no doubt about the meaning <the directions on the vial state in clear and unequivocal language that the drug should not be taken by pregnant women> — see EXPLICIT

unerring adjective
not being or likely to be wrong <an unerring taste in interior decoration> — see INFALLIBLE 1

unescapable adjective
impossible to avoid or evade <you will make some mistakes—that is just one of the unescapable realities of this job> — see INEVITABLE

unessential adjective
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end <don't pack any unessential items until we're sure we have room for everything we'll actually need> — see UNNECESSARY

unethical adjective
1 not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <unethical treatment of prisoners of war that was a clear violation of international law> — see BAD 2
2 not guided by or showing a concern for what is right <an unethical attorney, he had no qualms about getting off clients who he knew were guilty> — see UNPRINCIPLED

uneven adjective
1 not having a level or smooth surface <the driveway is uneven and collects water in several large puddles whenever it rains>

Synonyms
broken, bumpy, coarse, irregular, jagged, lumpy, pebbly, ragged, rough, roughened, rugged, scraggy

Related Words
lopsided, unbalanced; inexact, unaligned; rutted, rutty, undulating, undulatory, wavy; pitted, pocked; knobbly, knobby, knurled, knurly, nubbly, nubby; burred, harsh, sandpapery, scraggly, scratchy; nonuniform

Near Antonyms
exact, uniform; aligned (also alined), regular, true; horizontal, tabular; plumb, straight, vertical; flush

Antonyms
even, flat, level, plane, smooth

2 not staying constant <the level of attendance at the ballpark has been very uneven this season>

Synonyms
changing, erratic, fluctuating, irregular, unequal, unstable, unsteady, varying

Related Words
capricious, changeable, changeful, choppy, fickle, fluid, inconsistent, inconstant, mercurial, mutable, uncertain, unsettled, variable, volatile

Near Antonyms
regular

Antonyms
changeless, constant, stable, steady, unchanging, unvarying

3 inclined or twisted to one side <a goofy guy with an uneven grin> — see AWRY

unexampled adjective
having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability <her performance in the Olympics was an unexampled display of athletic prowess> — see ONLY 1

unexceptional adjective
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <the physicist, now regarded as one of the brightest minds in science, was an unexceptional student as a child> — see ORDINARY 1

unexpected adjective
not expected <the failure of the backup generator was unexpected and a contingency for which we weren't prepared>

Synonyms
abrupt, sudden, unanticipated, unforeseen, unlooked-for

Related Words
unintended, unplanned; improbable, unlikely; startling, surprising

Near Antonyms
predicted, prophesied; unsurprising

Antonyms
anticipated, expected, foreseen

unexpectedly adverb
without warning <the snow started unexpectedly> — see UNAWARES

unexplainable adjective
impossible to explain <a series of unexplainable weather events> — see INEXPLICABLE

unexpressed adjective
understood although not put into words <they shared an unexpressed but nevertheless deep affection> — see IMPLICIT 1

unfailing adjective
1 not being or likely to be wrong <an unfailing judge of personal character> — see INFALLIBLE 1
2 not likely to fail <the writer's unfailing sense of humor is again evident in his newest book> — see INFALLIBLE 2

unfailingly adverb
on every relevant occasion <she has been unfailingly optimistic throughout this ordeal> — see ALWAYS 1

unfair adjective
not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport <a team that is notorious throughout the league for its record of unfair play> — see FOUL 2

unfairness noun
1 the state of being unfair or unjust <the transparent unfairness of the referee's decision made her furious> — see INJUSTICE 1
2 unfair or inadequate treatment of someone or something or an instance of this <it would be no unfairness to the article's second author to characterize his contributions as minimal> — see DISSERVICE

unfaithful adjective
not true in one's allegiance to someone or something <colonists who later proved to be unfaithful to the cause of independence> — see FAITHLESS

unfaithfulness noun
1 lack of faithfulness especially to one's husband or wife <he eventually forgave his wife's unfaithfulness> — see INFIDELITY 1
2 the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another <the jaw-dropping unfaithfulness of the person she had considered her best friend was deeply hurtful> — see BETRAYAL
3 a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse <there were charges of unfaithfulness on both sides> — see ADULTERY

unfamiliar adjective
not known or experienced before <ordered an unfamiliar wine and was surprised to find that it was much drier than what they were used to> — see NEW 2

unfamiliarity noun
the state of being unaware or uninformed <some intense studying rapidly remedied my unfamiliarity with the subject> — see IGNORANCE 1

unfamous adjective
not widely known <the influenza epidemic of 1918 was eminently egalitarian: it struck down the famous and the unfamous with equal fervor> — see OBSCURE 2

unfashionable adjective
marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste <an old and unfashionable jacket that someone had donated to charity> — see 1TACKY 1

unfasten verb
to disengage the knotted parts of <gently unfastened the strings of the baby's hood> — see UNTIE

unfathered adjective
born to a father and mother who are not married <grew up in the straitened circumstances that are typical for unfathered children> — see ILLEGITIMATE 1

unfathomable adjective
1 being or seeming to be without limits <the unfathomable reaches of space> — see INFINITE
2 impossible to understand <for some unfathomable reason the family decided to venture out into the blizzard> — see INCOMPREHENSIBLE

unfavorable adjective
opposed to one's interests <the company chose to accept the unfavorable settlement rather than spend more money on legal fees> — see ADVERSE 1

unfeeling adjective
1 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <gave the homeless people on the street only an unfeeling glance> — see HARD 1
2 lacking in sensation or feeling <her heart was as cold and hard as the unfeeling marble statue in her garden> — see NUMB 1
3 lacking animate awareness or sensation <worked as an embalmer, usually with an unfeeling corpse as his only companion> — see INSENSATE 1

unfeigned adjective
genuine in feeling <the young soprano retains an unfeigned humility that is surprising, given the critical acclaim she has received> — see SINCERE 1

unfeignedly adverb
without any attempt to impress by deception or exaggeration <parents who are unfeignedly enthusiastic about the man their daughter has chosen to marry> — see NATURALLY 3

unfeminine adjective
having qualities or traits that are traditionally considered inappropriate for a girl or woman <in bygone days pants were considered unfeminine, and even women bicycling were expected to wear skirts>

Synonyms
hoydenish, manlike, mannish, tomboyish, unladylike, unwomanly

Related Words
gentlemanly, male, manly, masculine

Near Antonyms
effeminate, girlish, sissified, sissy, unmanly, unmasculine, womanish, womanlike; distaff, petticoat

Antonyms
female, feminine, ladylike, womanly

unfertile adjective
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation <struggling to make a living with the region's unfertile fields> — see BARREN 1

unfetter verb
to set free (as from slavery or confinement) <authorities eventually unfettered the menagerie of wild animals that had been kept illegally as pets> — see FREE 1

unfit adjective
1 lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job <just because I don't have actual work experience doesn't mean I'm unfit for the job> — see INCOMPETENT
2 not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <those flimsy shoes are unfit for the hike we're about to take> — see INAPPROPRIATE

unfitness noun
1 the quality or state of being unsuitable or unfitting <her unfitness for a managerial position is apparent in the abusive way she treats her subordinates> — see INAPPROPRIATENESS 1
2 the quality or state of not being socially proper <the manifest unfitness of such a coarse gesture at an elegant party> — see IMPROPRIETY 1

unfitted adjective
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job <a restless free spirit, he was temperamentally unfitted for a desk job> — see INCOMPETENT

unflagging adjective
showing no signs of weariness even after long hard effort <being rewarded for the unflagging zeal with which she led the fund-raising campaign> — see TIRELESS

unflappable adjective
not easily panicked or upset <the unflappable teacher never even blinked when the wall map came crashing down>

Synonyms
imperturbable, nerveless, unshakable

Related Words
calm, collected, composed, cool, coolheaded, icy, nonchalant, placid, self-collected, self-composed, self-possessed, serene, steely, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, unruffled, unshaken, untroubled, unworried

Near Antonyms
panicky; aflutter, anxious, dithery, edgy, het up, hung up, jittery, jumpy, nervous, nervy, perturbed, shaky, tense, troubled, uneasy, upset, uptight, worried

Antonyms
perturbable, shakable (or shakeable)

unflashy adjective
not excessively showy <a family man who drives a serviceable, decidedly unflashy car> — see QUIET 2

unfledged adjective
lacking in adult experience or maturity <the kind of mistake in judgment that an unfledged youth could be expected to make> — see CALLOW

unflinching adjective
showing no signs of slackening or yielding in one's purpose <he was unflinching in his determination to see that justice was done> — see UNYIELDING 1

unfold verb
1 to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area <carefully unfold that antique map so that it doesn't tear> — see OPEN 3
2 to gradually become clearer or more detailed <as the situation unfolded, it became clear that more help would be needed> — see DEVELOP 1
3 to produce flowers <the rosebud unfolded literally overnight> — see BLOOM
4 to come into view <the majestic landscape unfolded before us> — see APPEAR 1

unforced adjective
done, made, or given with one's own free will <the participation of the people on the project must be unforced, or it really isn't a volunteer effort> — see VOLUNTARY 1

unforeseen adjective
not expected <there are almost always unforeseen consequences for any major endeavor> — see UNEXPECTED

unforgettable adjective
not easily forgotten <an unforgettable evening of dining and dancing>

Synonyms
indelible, memorable

Related Words
notable, noteworthy, remarkable

Near Antonyms
unremarkable

Antonyms
forgettable

unforgivable adjective
too bad to be excused or justified <an unforgivable crime that society must seek just punishment for> — see INEXCUSABLE

unformed adjective
1 having no definite or recognizable form <what was once an unformed lump of clay is now an attractive, useful bowl> — see FORMLESS 1
2 lacking in adult experience or maturity <under his care and tutelage, young men, unformed in mind and body, became battle-worthy soldiers> — see CALLOW

unfortunate adjective
1 bringing about ruin or misfortune <an unfortunate chain of events destroyed the business> — see FATAL 1
2 having, prone to, or marked by bad luck <up to that point in her life she had been unfortunate in love> — see UNLUCKY 1
3 of a kind to cause great distress <an unfortunate choice of words that would later prove to be embarrassing for the talk show host> — see REGRETTABLE

unfounded adjective
having no basis in reason or fact <the accusation proved to be unfounded> — see GROUNDLESS

unfriendly adjective
1 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <the unfriendly looks quickly warmed when we were recognized as long-unseen relatives> — see COLD 2
2 marked by opposition or ill will <an unfriendly nation> — see HOSTILE 1
3 opposed to one's interests <the claim that the state's numerous regulations create a climate unfriendly to small businesses> — see ADVERSE 1

unfrozen adjective
freed from a frozen state by exposure to warmth <there should be a couple of unfrozen chicken breasts in the refrigerator> — see THAWED

unfruitful adjective
not able to produce fruit or offspring <disappointed to discover that the mare was unfruitful> — see STERILE 1

unfurl verb
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area <after the protestors had unfurled their banner, it stretched from one side of the visitors' gallery to the other> — see OPEN 3

ungainly adjective
1 difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design <getting the ungainly couch up the stairs was a real chore> — see CUMBERSOME
2 having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner <the tree cutter was crushing any unlucky petunias that lay in the path of his ungainly tread> — see CLUMSY 2

ungenerous adjective
giving or sharing as little as possible <it is ungenerous for someone of his ample means not to provide more for the care of his aging parents> — see STINGY 1

ungentle adjective
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <a demanding and ungentle land that was not for the fainthearted> — see GRIM 1

ungovernable adjective
1 given to resisting authority or another's control <a handful of ungovernable students are disrupting the learning environment for everyone else> — see DISOBEDIENT
2 given to resisting control or discipline by others <resigned to the fact that my cat is basically is an ungovernable beast with a will of his own> — see UNCONTROLLABLE

ungraceful adjective
lacking social grace and assurance <an ungraceful but well-meaning hostess> — see AWKWARD 1

ungracious adjective
showing a lack of manners or consideration for others <we were taken aback by our aunt's ungracious reply to the invitation we had sent her> — see IMPOLITE

ungraciousness noun
rude behavior <the former champion's unbecoming ungraciousness in defeat: he refused to shake the new champion's hand> — see DISCOURTESY

ungrammatical adjective
violating approved patterns of speaking and writing <the résumé and its ungrammatical cover letter were summarily thrown in the trash> — see ILLITERATE 1

ungraspable adjective
impossible to understand <advanced scientific theories of ungraspable complexity for the layperson> — see INCOMPREHENSIBLE

ungrateful adjective
1 not likely to be appreciated by those who benefit <the park's custodial staff has the ungrateful job of cleaning up after the Independence Day party is over> — see THANKLESS 2
2 not showing gratitude <although the food was being provided for free, the ungrateful recipients could not refrain from complaining that it was not to their liking> — see THANKLESS 1

ungratefulness noun
failure or refusal to acknowledge receipt of something good from another <we'll keep your ungratefulness in mind the next time you ask for our assistance> — see INGRATITUDE

unguarded adjective
1 free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <the swimming coach quickly regretted his unguarded comments about the young swimmer's limitations> — see FRANK
2 lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack <an unguarded gate that would later prove to be the fatal weakness in the city's defenses> — see HELPLESS 1
3 not paying or showing close attention especially for the purpose of avoiding trouble <in an unguarded moment I let my mind wander and smashed my car into a tree> — see CARELESS 1

unguardedness noun
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <chastised by the other royals for her unguardedness when talking to the press> — see CANDOR 1

unhampered adjective
showing no signs of being under control <the freeway system needs to be expanded to meet the demands of the city's unhampered growth> — see RAMPANT 1

unhandsome adjective
1 unpleasant to look at <a character actor with a distinctively craggy, unhandsome face> — see UGLY 1
2 showing a lack of manners or consideration for others <in an interview the free-spoken actor made some unhandsome remarks about his costars> — see IMPOLITE

unhandy adjective
1 difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design <the new SUV is particularly unhandy and difficult to maneuver in parking lots and narrow streets> — see CUMBERSOME
2 lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands <an unhandy person should be kept away from knives and other sharp objects> — see CLUMSY 1

unhappily adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <an unhappily married couple being counseled by a professional> — see HARD 2

unhappiness noun
a state or spell of low spirits <with time the young woman got over the unhappiness caused by the breakup> — see SADNESS

unhappy adjective
1 feeling unhappiness <he's been unhappy ever since his family's move, which took him away from all his friends> — see SAD 1
2 having, prone to, or marked by bad luck <she's trying to forget that whole unhappy attempt to start a business> — see UNLUCKY 1
3 not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <a guest unintentionally made unhappy reference to what is a painful situation for the family> — see INAPPROPRIATE

unhealthful adjective
bad for the well-being of the body <the unhealthful level of smog in the city> — see UNHEALTHY 1

unhealthiness noun
the condition of not being in good health <remedied his general unhealthiness with a long-overdue change to a healthy diet and exercise> — see SICKNESS 1

unhealthy adjective
1 bad for the well-being of the body <we knew that the junk food at the carnival was unhealthy, but it tasted so good!>

Synonyms
insalubrious, noisome, noxious, sickly, unhealthful, unwholesome

Related Words
germy, insanitary, unhygienic, unsanitary; nonnutritious; poisonous, toxic; fatal, lethal, mortal

Near Antonyms
hygienic, sanitary; nutritious

Antonyms
healthful, healthy

2 involving potential loss or injury <criticism of the military dictatorship has proved to be unhealthy for several of that nation's journalists> — see DANGEROUS 1
3 temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body <she's been unhealthy for almost a week now> — see SICK 1

unheard–of adjective
not known or experienced before <houses selling at unheard-of prices> — see NEW 2

unheroic adjective
having or showing a shameful lack of courage <the new biography casts the romanticized outlaw in a much more vicious and unheroic light> — see COWARDLY

unhindered adjective
showing no signs of being under control <in the absence of appropriate oversight, the unhindered deforestation of the region continues> — see RAMPANT 1

unhinge verb
1 to cause to go insane or as if insane <the endless harassment by the guards completely unhinged the prisoners of war> — see CRAZE
2 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <I was momentarily unhinged by the unexpected question> — see DISTURB 1

unhinged adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <destined to become one of the nation's most notorious serial killers, he apparently became unhinged as a result of being abandoned as a young teen> — see INSANE 1

unhurried adjective
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed <we cycled at an unhurried pace and saved our strength for the hills up ahead> — see SLOW 1

unidentified adjective
1 known but not named <an unidentified worker reported the security breach> — see CERTAIN 1
2 not named or identified by a name <some unidentified person helped them and then left quietly> — see NAMELESS 1

unification noun
the act or an instance of joining two or more things into one <the political unification of several Central European states into a German empire dominated by Prussia> — see UNION 1

uniform adjective
not varying <with flat-screen TVs, picture sharpness is uniform over the entire screen, even in the corners>

Synonyms
even, invariant, steady, unchanging, undeviating, unvarying, unwavering

Related Words
fixed, immutable, invariable, set, unalterable, unchangeable

Antonyms
changing, deviating, nonuniform, unsteady, varying

uniform noun
the distinctive clothing worn by members of a particular group <the band uniform was brown with red and white stripes>

Synonyms
livery, outfit

Related Words
fatigues, full dress, regimentals; costume, finery, regalia

unify verb
1 to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control <will unify the several departments into a single operation> — see CENTRALIZE
2 to come together to form a single unit <the two labor unions unified in order to strengthen their bargaining position with the manufacturers> — see UNITE 1

unimaginable adjective
too extraordinary or improbable to believe <a nearly unimaginable string of coincidences> — see INCREDIBLE

unimportant adjective
lacking importance <we figured that the details were unimportant as long as we got the basic design correct>

Synonyms
fiddling, foolish, frivolous, incidental, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, Mickey Mouse, minor, minute, negligible, nugatory, slight, small, small-fry, trifling, trivial

Related Words
jerkwater, one-horse; nickel-and-dime, paltry, petty, small-time, worthless; anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unknown

Phrases
neither here nor there

Near Antonyms
decisive, fatal, fateful; chief, dominant, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, principal; distinctive, exceptional, impressive, outstanding, prominent, remarkable; valuable, worthwhile, worthy; distinguished, eminent, great, illustrious, preeminent, prestigious; famous, notorious, renowned; all-important, basic, essential, fundamental, key

Antonyms
big, consequential, eventful, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, unfrivolous, weighty

uninflammable adjective
incapable of being burned <an uninflammable stage curtain> — see INCOMBUSTIBLE

uninformed adjective
not informed about or aware of something <the mayor is clearly uninformed when it comes to the state of the city's schools> — see IGNORANT 2

uninhibited adjective
showing feeling freely <an uninhibited child who laughed and cried with equal abandon> — see DEMONSTRATIVE 1

uninhibitedness noun
carefree freedom from constraint <reserved by nature, she simply lacks the kind of uninhibitedness that producers of reality shows are looking for> — see ABANDON

uninstructed adjective
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <gathered the village's children, who were uninstructed for the most part, and formed a school> — see IGNORANT 1

unintelligent adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <you're not unintelligent, so you must just be stubbornly resisting all attempts to teach you something> — see STUPID 1

unintelligible adjective
impossible to understand <uttered only a string of unintelligible murmurs> — see INCOMPREHENSIBLE

unintended adjective
1 happening by chance <backyard digging that resulted in unintended damage to buried phone wires> — see ACCIDENTAL 1
2 not made or done willingly or by choice <a response that yielded an unintended insight into her personal character> — see INVOLUNTARY 1

unintentional adjective
1 happening by chance <an unintentional encounter with an old classmate at the mall> — see ACCIDENTAL 1
2 not made or done willingly or by choice <an unintentional insult that nevertheless was very hurtful> — see INVOLUNTARY 1

uninterested adjective
having or showing a lack of interest or concern <the teacher decided to make a career change after having to teach yet another class of uninterested teens> — see INDIFFERENT 1

uninteresting adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <the tour guide's spiel was uninteresting and not particularly informative> — see BORING

uninterrupted adjective
going on and on without any interruptions <a movie comedy that is 90 minutes of uninterrupted hilarity> — see CONTINUOUS

uninvited adjective
not searched or asked for <I always ignore uninvited advice> — see UNSOUGHT

union noun
1 the act or an instance of joining two or more things into one <the union of East Germany and West Germany that became possible after the fall of communism>

Synonyms
combination, combining, connecting, connection, consolidation, coupling, junction, linking, merger, merging, unification

Related Words
agglomeration, amalgamation, blend, coalescence, commingling, compounding, fusion, intermingling, intermixture, mingling, mix, mixture, synthesis; reunification, reunion

Near Antonyms
detachment, divorcement, separation, severance

Antonyms
breakup, disconnection, dissolution, disunion, division, parting, partition, schism, scission, split

2 an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection <in 1949 the U.S. and Canada joined their European allies in a transatlantic union to defend Western Europe from aggression by the Soviet Union> — see CONFEDERACY
3 the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <the movie studio is producing the blockbuster in union with another studio because of the tremendous cost involved> — see ASSOCIATION 1

unique adjective
1 of, relating to, or belonging to a single person <a comedian who brings a unique and twisted perspective to contemporary social issues> — see INDIVIDUAL 1
2 being out of the ordinary <the restaurant, specializing in fusion cuisine, provides a truly unique dining experience for those who can afford it> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1
3 being the one or ones of a class with no other members <the Mapparium, a huge glass globe that visitors can walk through, is unique—there's not another one like it anywhere> — see ONLY 2
4 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <a unique ability to add large sums in his head> — see UNUSUAL 1

unisex adjective
suitable to or for either sex <the new unisex fragrances that appeal to today's metrosexuals> <unisex restrooms> — see GENDERLESS

unisexual adjective
suitable to or for either sex <bought unisexual toys for the couple's new baby> — see GENDERLESS

unison noun
the state of being of one opinion about something <the members of the committee are in unison on this point> — see AGREEMENT 1

unite verb
1 to come together to form a single unit <using the microscope, we watched the water droplets unite into a single pool>

Synonyms
associate, coalesce, combine, conjoin, conjugate, connect, couple, fuse, interfuse, join, link (up), marry, unify

Related Words
mate, yoke; ally, confederate, league; chain, compound, hitch, hook, splice; assemble, cluster, congregate, constellate, convene, gather, meet; recombine, reconnect, rejoin, reunify, reunite

Near Antonyms
detach, disaffiliate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, fractionate, isolate, resolve, uncouple, unyoke; disband, disperse, scatter

Antonyms
break up, dissever, part, section, separate, sever, split, sunder, unlink

2 to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control <united several teams under the reorganization plan> — see CENTRALIZE
3 to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members <parents united to reform the school's curriculum> — see ALLY
4 to participate or assist in a joint effort to accomplish an end <only if private investors and public officials unite for the common good, will this city experience an economic revival> — see COOPERATE 1

united adjective
1 having or marked by agreement in feeling or action <the party must present a united front if it hopes to win the election> — see HARMONIOUS 3
2 used or done by a number of people as a group <when a campaign to raise funds is this successful, it's only because of the united effort of all concerned> — see COLLECTIVE

unity noun
a balanced, pleasing, or suitable arrangement of parts <there's an aesthetic unity to the sculpture garden that makes it an ideal spot for quiet relaxing> — see HARMONY 1

universal adjective
1 able to do many different kinds of things <a universal wrench> — see VERSATILE
2 belonging or relating to the whole <mankind's universal need for affection> — see GENERAL 1
3 covering everything or all important points <the genius of Leonardo da Vinci was universal: he was an artist, an architect, an engineer, and a scientist, among other things> — see ENCYCLOPEDIC
4 present in all places and at all times <after the home team won the national championship, throughout the city a sense of pride was as universal as the air> — see OMNIPRESENT

universe noun
the whole body of things observed or assumed <the theory that the universe is constantly expanding>

Synonyms
cosmos, creation, macrocosm, nature, world

Related Words
existence, reality

Near Antonyms
nothingness, void

univocal adjective
so clearly expressed as to leave no doubt about the meaning <those who believe that the language of the Bible is univocal: it is never metaphorical but intended to be taken literally> — see EXPLICIT

unjustifiable adjective
too bad to be excused or justified <an unjustifiable attack that must be avenged> — see INEXCUSABLE

unjustness noun
1 the state of being unfair or unjust <the sheer unjustness of the accusation infuriated her beyond words> — see INJUSTICE 1
2 unfair or inadequate treatment of someone or something or an instance of this <life seemed to treat him with an unjustness that was immensely frustrating> — see DISSERVICE

unkempt adjective
1 lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <an unkempt and cluttered room> — see MESSY
2 lacking neatness in dress or person <the stereotype of the unkempt but brilliant scientist> — see SLOPPY 1

unkink verb
to cause to follow a line that is without bends or curls <you should unkink the garden hose before you turn on the water> — see STRAIGHTEN

unknowing adjective
1 lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <those unknowing people who think that the world is a kindly place are in for a rude awakening> — see NAIVE 1
2 not informed about or aware of something <the poor woman has been the unknowing target of some pretty vicious gossip> — see IGNORANT 2

unknown adjective
1 happening or existing without one's knowledge <unknown to me was the fact that while I was out, my family was hurriedly preparing a surprise birthday party>

Synonyms
unbeknownst (also unbeknown)

Related Words
unperceived, unrecognized, unsuspected; unaware, unconscious, unmindful; unknowing, unsuspecting, unwitting; ignorant, unacquainted, unfamiliar

2 not known or experienced before <becoming a father brought unknown joy to his life> — see NEW 2
3 not widely known <looking for a relatively unknown singer to record the song> — see OBSCURE 2

unlade verb
to empty or rid of cargo <permission will not be given to unlade the ship until it can be thoroughly inspected> — see UNLOAD 1

unladylike adjective
having qualities or traits that are traditionally considered inappropriate for a girl or woman <the female boxers were pummeling one another in decidedly unladylike fashion> — see UNFEMININE

unlash verb
to disengage the knotted parts of <unlashed the ropes which secured the crate in the bed of the truck> — see UNTIE

unlawful adjective
1 contrary to or forbidden by law <it is unlawful to set off fireworks within the city limits> — see ILLEGAL 1
2 not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <a sympathetic look at the unlawful love between a married physician and an adoring colleague> — see BAD 2

unlay verb
to separate the various strands of <our tour guide at the maritime museum showed us how sailors used to unlay rope> — see UNRAVEL 1

unlearn verb
to be unable to recall or think of <let's hope that over the summer I don't unlearn everything I learned over the course of this past year> — see FORGET 1

unlearned adjective
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <although the people of the farming community were largely an unlearned lot, they wanted an advanced education for their children> — see IGNORANT 1

unleash verb
1 to set free (from a state of being held in check) <unleashed all of his unspoken love for her in a long letter that he hoped he would have the courage to mail> — see RELEASE 1
2 to find emotional release for <lifting weights is a way for me to unleash all the frustrations of the workday> — see TAKE OUT 1

unlettered adjective
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <unlettered moviegoers could scarcely imagine how little resemblance the film bore to the novel on which it was supposedly based> — see IGNORANT 1

unlike adjective
being not of the same kind <you're trying to compare very unlike things—like those proverbial apples and oranges> — see DIFFERENT 1

unlikely adjective
not likely to be true or to occur <in the unlikely event that the file is deleted or corrupted, you will want to have backup copies available> — see IMPROBABLE

unlikeness noun
the quality or state of being different <because of the general unlikeness of their features, most new acquaintances are surprised to learn that they are brothers> — see DIFFERENCE 1

unlimited adjective
1 being or seeming to be without limits <no ruler should ever be given unlimited power> — see INFINITE
2 not limited or specialized in application or purpose <an insurance policy that offers unlimited coverage in case of loss> — see GENERAL 4

unlink verb
to set or force apart <unlinked the railroad cars> — see SEPARATE 1

unlisted adjective
not appearing on a list <she kept her phone number unlisted so as to reduce the number of unwanted calls>

Synonyms
uncataloged, unrecorded, unregistered

Related Words
unwritten; unidentified, unspecified; undisclosed, unknown, unrevealed

Antonyms
cataloged (or catalogued), listed, recorded, registered

unlit adjective
being without light or without much light <she stumbled over something in the unlit hallway> — see DARK 1

unliterary adjective
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing <poems written in a natural, unliterary voice> — see COLLOQUIAL 1

unload verb
1 to empty or rid of cargo <the dockworkers unloaded the ship>

Synonyms
disburden, discharge, disencumber, off-load, unburden, unlade, unpack

Related Words
free, lighten, relieve; clear, empty, evacuate, vacate, void

Near Antonyms
charge, cram, fill, heap, jam, jam-pack, stuff

Antonyms
load, pack

2 to get rid of as useless or unwanted <I can't seem to unload this old car—even the charities won't take it!> — see DISCARD

unlock verb
to set free (from a state of being held in check) <that last insult unlocked her tongue, and she finally said what she really thought> — see RELEASE 1

unlooked–for adjective
not expected <the interesting stuff found in the attic was an unlooked-for bonus for the new homeowners> — see UNEXPECTED

unloose verb
to set free (from a state of being held in check) <the familiar scent unloosed a flood of pleasant memories from her childhood> — see RELEASE 1

unloosen verb
to set free (from a state of being held in check) <a relaxing bath unloosened all the mental and physical tension that had been building throughout the day> — see RELEASE 1

unlovely adjective
1 not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <Sunday night is often spoiled by the unlovely thought of having to go back to school or work the next morning> — see UNPLEASANT
2 unpleasant to look at <an unlovely but efficient little machine> — see UGLY 1

unlucky adjective
1 having, prone to, or marked by bad luck <the unlucky campers had rain all week> <I'm so unlucky I don't bother to play the lottery> <an unlucky throw of the dice>

Synonyms
hapless, hard-luck, ill-fated, ill-starred, jinxed, luckless, snakebit (or snakebitten), star-crossed, unfortunate, unhappy

Related Words
adverse, ill, inauspicious, unfavorable, unpromising, untoward; calamitous, catastrophic, disastrous; accursed (or accurst), damned, doomed, tragic (also tragical)

Near Antonyms
blessed (also blest), favored, gifted, privileged; auspicious, fair, favorable, golden, promising, propitious

Antonyms
fortunate, happy, lucky

2 of a kind to cause great distress <the settlers made the unlucky decision to cross the dangerous mountain pass in the middle of winter> — see REGRETTABLE

unmake verb
to remove from a position of prominence or power (as a throne) <a movie studio chief who likes to boast that he can unmake any star in Hollywood if he wishes> — see DEPOSE 1

unman verb
1 to deprive of courage or confidence <the near crash of the airliner was a completely unmanning experience for the passengers> — see UNNERVE 1
2 to lessen the courage or confidence of <players who wouldn't let themselves be unmanned by the loss of a single game> — see DISCOURAGE 1

unmanageable adjective
given to resisting control or discipline by others <an unmanageable dog who had to be returned to the pound> — see UNCONTROLLABLE

unmanly adjective
of or relating to a man who has or displays qualities considered more suitable for women <there is nothing unmanly about letting your emotions show> — see EFFEMINATE

unmannered adjective
showing a lack of manners or consideration for others <we will never again invite such unmannered guests> — see IMPOLITE

unmannerly adjective
showing a lack of manners or consideration for others <in an unmannerly disregard for anyone else's comfort, she turned up the heat without saying a word> — see IMPOLITE

unmarried adjective
not married <a girl who swore she'd remain unmarried for her whole life> — see SINGLE 1

unmask verb
1 to make known (as information previously kept secret) <the killer's identity won't be unmasked until the season's final episode> — see REVEAL 1
2 to reveal the true nature of <unmasked the motives of the people advocating the sale of the publicly owned land> — see EXPOSE 1

unmatched adjective
1 being one of a pair or set without a corresponding mate <a drawer full of unmatched socks> — see ODD 1
2 having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability <the house cat is a mouse-hunting machine of unmatched efficiency> — see ONLY 1

unmediated adjective
done or working without something else coming in between <photoshopped images have made people aware that a digital photograph is not necessarily an unmediated depiction of reality> — see DIRECT 1

unmelodious adjective
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds <I awoke to the unmelodious clatter of jackhammers at the construction site next door> — see DISSONANT

unmentionables plural noun
clothing intended to be worn underneath other clothing <he was standing there in the cold, clad only in his unmentionables> — see UNDERWEAR

unmerciful adjective
1 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <she went into an unmerciful level of detail about her latest health problems> — see EXCESSIVE
2 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <the critics were unmerciful in their assessments of the young actress's performance> — see HARD 1

unmindful adjective
not informed about or aware of something <unmindful of the consequences of such a rash decision> — see IGNORANT 2

unmistakable adjective
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation <a glint in his eye that was an unmistakable expression of greed> — see CLEAR 2

unmitigated adjective
having no exceptions or restrictions <it looks like another one of your get-rich-quick schemes has ended in unmitigated failure> — see ABSOLUTE 2

unmixed adjective
free from added matter <chocolate has a great taste, but I prefer my milk unmixed> — see PURE 1

unmovable adjective
incapable of moving or being moved <the tree was unmovable, so we designed the garden pond around it> — see IMMOVABLE 1

unmusical adjective
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds <a very unmusical chorus of squawks from the angry ravens> — see DISSONANT

unnamed adjective
1 known but not named <used some unnamed procedure for testing the accuracy of the device> — see CERTAIN 1
2 not named or identified by a name <the newspaper article quoted several unnamed sources> — see NAMELESS 1

unnatural adjective
1 departing from some accepted standard of what is normal <the documentary evinces an unnatural obsession with the gruesome details of the disaster> — see DEVIANT
2 lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <just before the debate, the candidates flashed unnatural smiles for the cameras> — see ARTIFICIAL 1

unnecessary adjective
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end <that large suitcase is unnecessary—we are only going to be away for a couple of days>

Synonyms
dispensable, gratuitous, inessential, needless, nonessential, uncalled-for, unessential, unwarranted

Related Words
discretionary, elective, optional; extra, extraneous, irrelative, irrelevant, redundant, superfluous

Near Antonyms
all-important, crucial, important, vital; imperative, pressing, urgent

Antonyms
essential, indispensable, necessary, needed, needful, required

unnerve verb
1 to deprive of courage or confidence <the riding accident so unnerved me that for a while I was afraid to get back on a horse>

Synonyms
demoralize, emasculate, paralyze, undo, unman, unstring

Related Words
debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, neuter, weaken; prostrate, sap, soften, tire, waste; frighten, intimidate, psych (out), scare, terrify, terrorize; daunt, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit; craze, derange, madden, unbalance, unhinge; discompose, disquiet, disturb, faze, perturb, unsettle, upset, weird out

Near Antonyms
fortify, strengthen; embolden, encourage, hearten

Antonyms
nerve

2 to lessen the courage or confidence of <a figure skater can't afford to be unnerved by an occasional slipup> — see DISCOURAGE 1

unnerving adjective
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <the unnerving news of yet another murder> — see NERVOUS 2

unnoticeable adjective
not readily seen or noticed <a nearly unnoticeable change in the color> — see UNOBTRUSIVE

unnumbered adjective
too many to be counted <the unnumbered stars wheeled overhead> — see COUNTLESS

unobstructed adjective
allowing passage without obstruction <only one road remained unobstructed after the storm> — see OPEN 1

unobtainable adjective
hard or impossible to get to or get at <that information is unobtainable as long as my computer is down> — see INACCESSIBLE

unobtrusive adjective
not readily seen or noticed <the notice that an 18% tip would be automatically added was so unobtrusive we almost didn't see it at the bottom of the menu>

Synonyms
discreet, inconspicuous, invisible, unnoticeable

Related Words
unnoticed, unremarked, unseen; impalpable, imperceptible, inappreciable, indistinguishable, insensible; faint, indistinct, obscure; concealed, hidden

Near Antonyms
arresting, eye-catching, showy, striking; flashy, loud, noisy; apparent, clear, discernible (also discernable), distinct, evident, manifest, obvious, patent, plain, prominent, unmistakable; blatant, flagrant, glaring, gross, screaming

Antonyms
conspicuous, noticeable, visible

unoriginal adjective
using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model <critics faulted the novel for having a painfully unoriginal plot> — see IMITATIVE 1

unornamented adjective
free from all additions or embellishment <the unornamented interior of an old New England church> — see PLAIN 1

unorthodox adjective
1 deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices <a time when people with unorthodox religious views were banished from the colony> — see HERETICAL
2 not bound by traditional ways or beliefs <raised by an aunt, whose unorthodox parenting practices made for a strange but fun childhood> — see LIBERAL 1
3 not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules <an unorthodox but effective procedure for opening a wine bottle without a corkscrew> — see INFORMAL 1

unpack verb
to empty or rid of cargo <unpacked the car the minute they got back from vacation> — see UNLOAD 1

unpaid adjective
not yet paid <my goal is to have no unpaid balances on my credit cards> — see OUTSTANDING 1

unpainted adjective
lacking an addition of color <the wooden shingles on the island's houses are usually left unpainted, and over time the salt air turns them a soft gray> — see COLORLESS 1

unpaired adjective
being one of a pair or set without a corresponding mate <found an unpaired shoe in the back of the closet> — see ODD 1

unpalatable adjective
1 disagreeable or disgusting to the sense of taste <pasta and honey is an unpalatable combination> — see DISTASTEFUL 1
2 not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <hesitated before sharing some of the more unpalatable details of his captivity> — see UNPLEASANT

unparalleled adjective
having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability <an antique vase of unparalleled beauty> — see ONLY 1

unpardonable adjective
too bad to be excused or justified <regards cruelty to animals as an unpardonable sin> — see INEXCUSABLE

unperceptive adjective
not having or showing a deep understanding of something <unperceptive readers failed to see that the “news story” was an elaborate put-on> — see IMPERCEPTIVE

unperturbed adjective
free from emotional or mental agitation <remained unperturbed despite the latest problems in the construction of their new house> — see CALM 2

unplanned adjective
1 happening by chance <an unplanned change in our itinerary—we got lost!> — see ACCIDENTAL 1
2 made or done without previous thought or preparation <stumbled through a completely unplanned acceptance speech> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

unpleasant adjective
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <the burnt pot roast had a very unpleasant odor>

Synonyms
bad, bitter, disagreeable, displeasing, distasteful, harsh, icky, nasty, rotten, sour, uncongenial, unlovely, unpalatable, unpleasing, unsavory, unwelcome, wicked, yucky (also yukky)

Related Words
abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, beastly, bilious, disgusting, dreadful, foul, ghastly, gnarly [slang], god-awful, gross, hateful, hellish, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, invidious, loathsome, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, obnoxious, obscene, odious, offensive, repellent (also repellant), repugnant, repulsive, revolting, revulsive, scandalous, seamy, shocking, sick, sickening, ugly, unholy, vile, villainous; aggravating, annoying, galling, irritating, vexing; crappy [slang], cruddy, crummy (also crumby), lousy, miserable, sucky [slang], wretched

Near Antonyms
delectable, delicious, delightful, dreamy, felicitous; amiable, charming, cheery, friendly, jolly, kindly, sweet

Antonyms
agreeable, congenial, good, grateful, gratifying, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome

unpleasing adjective
1 not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <an unpleasing combination of flavors in the dish> — see UNPLEASANT
2 unpleasant to look at <an unpleasing combination of fuchsia and orange> — see UGLY 1

unplug verb
to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions <the chimney should work just fine once it is unplugged and cleaned out> — see OPEN 2

unpolished adjective
lacking in refinement or good taste <an unpolished but well-meaning young man> — see COARSE 2

unprecedented adjective
not known or experienced before <this is an unprecedented request for the reference desk> — see NEW 2

unpredictable adjective
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <unpredictable spring weather that makes it really hard to know what to wear> — see FICKLE 1

unprejudiced adjective
marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias <an unprejudiced judicial opinion> — see FAIR 2

unpremeditated adjective
1 happening by chance <an unpremeditated encounter with an old boyfriend> — see ACCIDENTAL 1
2 made or done without previous thought or preparation <an unpremeditated verbal attack that was prompted by an unexpected question at the press conference> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

unprepared adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <an obviously unprepared acceptance speech by the surprise winner> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

unpretending adjective
free from any intent to deceive or impress others <an unpretending manner that makes her quite a winning performer> — see GUILELESS

unpretentious adjective
1 free from any intent to deceive or impress others <a simple and unpretentious account about growing up in the rural South> — see GUILELESS
2 not excessively showy <lives in a rather unpretentious house for someone so wealthy> — see QUIET 2
3 not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness <the unpretentious disposition of an award-winning scientist who has nothing to prove to anyone> — see HUMBLE 1

unpretentiously adverb
without any attempt to impress by deception or exaggeration <that rare restaurant reviewer who writes engagingly but unpretentiously about food> — see NATURALLY 3

unpretty adjective
unpleasant to look at <an unpretty accumulation of trash right next to the entrance to the restaurant> — see UGLY 1

unprincipled adjective
not guided by or showing a concern for what is right <an unprincipled businessman who made a lot of money—and didn't care how he did it>

Synonyms
cutthroat, immoral, Machiavellian, unconscionable, unethical, unscrupulous

Related Words
merciless, pitiless, remorseless, ruthless; crooked, deceitful, dishonest, jackleg, knavish; corrupt, debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, libertine, licentious, profligate; cheapjack, dog-eat-dog, opportunistic; calculating, scheming, sharp

Near Antonyms
conscientious, good, honorable, just, noble, righteous, virtuous

Antonyms
ethical, moral, principled, scrupulous

unprintable adjective
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <uttered an unprintable oath when he saw stocks take their worst slide ever> — see OBSCENE 1

unprocessed adjective
being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining <unprocessed foods that still have much of their original flavor> — see CRUDE 1

unproductive adjective
1 producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation <crop rotation had prevented the farmland from becoming unproductive> — see BARREN 1
2 producing no results <her attempts to write a novel have been unproductive> — see FUTILE 1

unprofessional adjective
lacking or showing a lack of expert skill <an unprofessional carelessness about the accuracy of the news story> — see AMATEURISH

unprofitable adjective
producing no results <an unprofitable effort to find the information> — see FUTILE 1

unprogressive adjective
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions <a candidate with unprogressive ideas about public education> — see CONSERVATIVE 1

unprotected adjective
lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack <I was uncomfortable about leaving my house unprotected, so I bought a dog> — see HELPLESS 1

unqualified adjective
1 having no exceptions or restrictions <the new play is an unqualified success> — see ABSOLUTE 2
2 lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job <if we hire an unqualified candidate, we'll just be wasting our time> — see INCOMPETENT
3 not limited or specialized in application or purpose <an unqualified denial of the charges> — see GENERAL 4

unquenchable adjective
incapable of being satisfied <from a very early age she displayed an unquenchable curiosity about the natural world> — see INSATIABLE

unquestionable adjective
not capable of being challenged or proved wrong <a person of unquestionable integrity> — see IRREFUTABLE

unquestionably adverb
without any question <given his experience, he is unquestionably the right person for this job> — see INDEED 1

unquiet adjective
1 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <plagued with an unquiet mind the whole time her son was stationed overseas> — see NERVOUS 1
2 lacking or denying rest <an unquiet curiosity that impelled him to study the world about him relentlessly> — see RESTLESS 1

unquietness noun
a disturbed or uneasy state <on the night before his wedding, the groom paced the floor with an unquietness befitting a man awaiting his own execution> — see UNREST

unravel verb
1 to separate the various strands of <it took us forever to unravel the jumbled mass of Christmas tree lights>

Synonyms
disentangle, ravel (out), unbraid, unlay, unsnarl, untangle, untwine, untwist, unweave

Related Words
fray, fret; smooth, straighten (out); uncoil, undo, unknot, unlace, unroll, unstring, unthread, untie, unwind

Near Antonyms
braid, knot, lace, plait, ply, splice, tie, wind

Antonyms
entangle, snarl, tangle

2 to find an answer for through reasoning <unraveled the mystery> — see SOLVE

unreachable adjective
hard or impossible to get to or get at <bothered by an unreachable itch on her back> — see INACCESSIBLE

unread adjective
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <an officer who seemed to be completely unread in military theory> — see IGNORANT 1

unreadable adjective
incapable of being read or deciphered <those unreadable scribbles that one encounters so frequently with medical prescriptions> — see ILLEGIBLE

unreal adjective
1 conceived or made without regard for reason or reality <an unreal claim that is distant from the slightest hint of truth> — see FANTASTIC 1
2 not real and existing only in the imagination <the unreal world of TV sitcoms> — see IMAGINARY

unreality noun
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality <a sci-fi author who seems to have preferred the unrealities of his own fiction to the realities of the world about him> — see FANTASY 1

unrealizable adjective
incapable of being solved or accomplished <an unrealizable dream for a severely impoverished nation> — see IMPOSSIBLE

unreasonable adjective
1 having no basis in reason or fact <an unreasonable assumption> — see GROUNDLESS
2 not using or following good reasoning <an unreasonable respect for a man who did not deserve it> — see ILLOGICAL

unreasoning adjective
not using or following good reasoning <an unreasoning argument based on some false assumptions> — see ILLOGICAL

unrecognized adjective
not widely known <a still mostly unrecognized but nevertheless significant pioneer in the field of science fiction> — see OBSCURE 2

unrecorded adjective
not appearing on a list <an unrecorded contribution to the scholarship fund> — see UNLISTED

unrecoverable adjective
1 not capable of being cured or reformed <believed that there was no such thing as an unrecoverable criminal> — see HOPELESS 1
2 not capable of being repaired, regained, or undone <the flood caused unrecoverable damage to our home> — see IRREPARABLE

unredeemable adjective
1 not capable of being cured or reformed <unredeemable sinners> — see HOPELESS 1
2 not capable of being repaired, regained, or undone <assured the senior citizens that there was no such thing as an unredeemable error when operating a computer> — see IRREPARABLE

unrefined adjective
1 being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining <unrefined sugar> — see CRUDE 1
2 hastily or roughly constructed <an unrefined mountaineer's hut> — see RUDE 1
3 lacking in refinement or good taste <guilty of such unrefined behavior as eating with their mouths open> — see COARSE 2

unregistered adjective
not appearing on a list <an unregistered car> — see UNLISTED

unrehearsed adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <an unrehearsed speech of thanks> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

unrelenting adjective
1 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <that professor tends to be unrelenting about deadlines> — see OBSTINATE
2 showing no signs of slackening or yielding in one's purpose <unrelenting in the pursuit of equality for all races> — see UNYIELDING 1

unremarkable adjective
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <a quiet and unremarkable child> — see ORDINARY 1

unremitting adjective
going on and on without any interruptions <unremitting rain that lasted for six days> — see CONTINUOUS

unrepentant adjective
not sorry for having done wrong <she was unrepentant about selling her ex-boyfriend's prized guitar> — see REMORSELESS 1

unreserve noun
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <with an unreserve perhaps never before witnessed in the halls of Congress, the general gave his unvarnished assessment of the war effort> — see CANDOR 1

unreserved adjective
1 free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <the politician was criticized for being too unreserved in his pronouncements on touchy subjects> — see FRANK
2 showing feeling freely <people in that part of the world tend to be unreserved mourners, and funerals are marked by loud wailing> — see DEMONSTRATIVE 1

unreservedness noun
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions <the withering unreservedness of his critique of my musical talent caught me off guard> — see CANDOR 1

unresistant adjective
1 lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack <a weakened immune system that rendered him unresistant to pneumonia> — see HELPLESS 1
2 receiving or enduring without offering resistance <the kitten was surprisingly unresistant when the vet examined her> — see PASSIVE

unresolved adjective
not yet settled or decided <we have to deal with several unresolved issues> — see PENDING 1

unrespectable adjective
not respectable <in the minds of her straitlaced parents, acting was still an unrespectable profession> — see DISREPUTABLE

unrest noun
a disturbed or uneasy state <unrest gripped the city as the people nervously awaited the expected bombardment> <his stomach unrest was just a sign of stage fright>

Synonyms
disquiet, ferment, fermentation, restiveness, restlessness, Sturm und Drang, turmoil, uneasiness, unquietness

Related Words
fidgets; agitation, commotion, confusion, excitement, hubbub, moil, stir, storm, trouble, tumult, tumultuousness, turbulence, upheaval, uproar, unsettlement; disruption, perturbation; agitation, anxiety, disquietude, inquietude, queasiness, tension, unease; anarchy, chaos, disorder, welter

Near Antonyms
order, orderliness

Antonyms
calm, ease, peace, peacefulness, quiet, tranquillity (or tranquility)

unrestful adjective
lacking or denying rest <spent an unrestful night worrying about her children> — see RESTLESS 1

unrestrained adjective
1 not bound by rigid standards <he homeschooled his children because he believed that they would do best in an unrestrained learning environment> — see EASYGOING 2
2 not bound, confined, or detained by force <unrestrained dogs> — see FREE 3
3 showing feeling freely <very reserved when she's around strangers, but quite unrestrained in the company of friends> — see DEMONSTRATIVE 1
4 showing no signs of being under control <unrestrained laughter that had been fueled by a liberal dose of alcohol> — see RAMPANT 1

unrestraint noun
carefree freedom from constraint <the cheerful unrestraint of children> — see ABANDON

unrestricted adjective
1 freely available for use or participation by all <it's an unrestricted marathon—anyone can run in it> — see OPEN 2
2 not bound by rigid standards <the author of the book has an unrestricted view of what qualifies as “art”> — see EASYGOING 2
3 not limited or specialized in application or purpose <an unrestricted license to operate a motor vehicle> — see GENERAL 4

unriddle verb
1 to find an answer for through reasoning <I managed to unriddle the novel's central mystery before the main character did> — see SOLVE
2 to make plain or understandable <the all-encompassing genius of Leonardo da Vinci is something that no biographer could ever hope to unriddle> — see EXPLAIN 1

unrighteous adjective
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <an unrighteous act that cannot go unpunished by the congregation> — see BAD 2

unripe adjective
lacking in adult experience or maturity <unripe and unprepared recruits who were sent into battle as cannon fodder> — see CALLOW

unripened adjective
lacking in adult experience or maturity <the unripened thoughts of a young writer with limited life experiences> — see CALLOW

unrivaled or unrivalled adjective
having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability <a violinist who is hailed for his unrivaled musicianship> — see ONLY 1

unruffled adjective
free from emotional or mental agitation <remained unruffled by the news that stocks were in a free fall> — see CALM 2

unruliness noun
refusal to obey <frustrated by the boys' unruliness, the lifeguard asked them to leave the pool> — see DISOBEDIENCE

unruly adjective
1 given to resisting authority or another's control <unruly pupils were given detention as a matter of course> — see DISOBEDIENT
2 given to resisting control or discipline by others <a camp that was known as a place where unruly youths were given their last chance to shape up> — see UNCONTROLLABLE
3 not restrained by or under the control of legal authority <unruly mobs roamed the streets of the capital after the government leaders had fled> — see LAWLESS 1

unsafe adjective
1 involving potential loss or injury <workers are forbidden from engaging in unsafe activities on company time> — see DANGEROUS 1
2 not paying or showing close attention especially for the purpose of avoiding trouble <people who have a record of being unsafe drivers usually have to pay higher insurance premiums> — see CARELESS 1

unsatisfactorily adverb
in an unsatisfactory way <unsatisfactorily prepared entrées should be immediately returned to the kitchen and replaced with something more acceptable> — see BADLY 1

unsatisfactory adjective
falling short of a standard <an unsatisfactory first attempt at building a birdhouse> — see BAD 1

unsavory adjective
1 disagreeable or disgusting to the sense of taste <an unsavory blend of spices that simply overwhelmed the fish's delicate flavor> — see DISTASTEFUL 1
2 not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <unsavory doings that ruined the couple's good name in the community> — see BAD 2
3 not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <hated the whole unsavory business of firing people> — see UNPLEASANT
4 lacking in taste or flavor <the unsavory food dished up at the rest area's restaurant should be consumed only by the truly desperate> — see INSIPID 1

unsay verb
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) <the witness tried to unsay the very testimony that he had given a few days earlier> — see ABJURE 1

unschooled adjective
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <an unschooled but nevertheless intelligent woman who desperately wanted to learn how to read> — see IGNORANT 1

unscrupulous adjective
not guided by or showing a concern for what is right <an unscrupulous businessman manipulated them into selling their land for practically nothing> — see UNPRINCIPLED

unseasonable adjective
occurring before the usual or expected time <an unseasonable snowstorm in early November> — see EARLY 2

unseasonably adverb
before the usual or expected time <it's been unseasonably hot this spring> — see EARLY

unseat verb
to remove from a position of prominence or power (as a throne) <a governor who was unseated by the first successful recall in the state's history> — see DEPOSE 1

unsecured adjective
not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched <an unsecured luggage rack on top of the car that was a hazard to other vehicles on the road> — see LOOSE 1

unseemliness noun
the quality or state of not being socially proper <I should not have to explain the unseemliness of wearing a red miniskirt to a funeral> — see IMPROPRIETY 1

unseemly adjective
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <an unseemly interest in their host's income and expenses> — see INAPPROPRIATE

unselfish adjective
giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <an unselfish man who spends much of his time helping his community> — see GENEROUS 1

unselfishness noun
the quality or state of being generous <her natural unselfishness sometimes attracts those who would take advantage> — see LIBERALITY

unserviceable adjective
not capable of being put to use or account <the dairy farm comes with a lot of equipment, but most of it is antiquated or unserviceable> — see IMPRACTICAL

unsettle verb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <the news that the local grocery store had sold contaminated produce unsettled many shoppers> — see DISTURB 1

unsettled adjective
1 likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <we've been having a lot of unsettled weather lately> — see FICKLE 1
2 not yet paid <I keep unsettled bills next to the checkbook> — see OUTSTANDING 1
3 not yet settled or decided <we can't move on as long as this important question remains unsettled> — see PENDING 1
4 not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something <I'm still unsettled about whether I should take that job> — see DOUBTFUL 1

unsettling adjective
1 causing worry or anxiety <unsettling new developments in the effort to bring peace and stability to that region> — see TROUBLESOME
2 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <had the unsettling task of picking out a coffin and making the other funeral arrangements for his father> — see NERVOUS 2

unshakable adjective
not easily panicked or upset <we need the kind of leader who will be unshakable in a national crisis> — see UNFLAPPABLE

unshaken adjective
free from emotional or mental agitation <the hostage remained unshaken throughout the ordeal> — see CALM 2

unshaped adjective
having no definite or recognizable form <an unshaped mass of clay that was just in need of some inspiration from the modeler> — see FORMLESS 1

unshared adjective
belonging only to the one person, unit, or group named <with her older sister off to college, she was thrilled to have an unshared bedroom for the first time in her life> — see SOLE 1

unshorn adjective
covered with or as if with hair <the sight of their unshorn heads is something that these male recruits will not see during their basic training> — see HAIRY 1

unsightly adjective
unpleasant to look at <strip-mining leaves an unsightly gash in the landscape> — see UGLY 1

unskilled adjective
1 lacking or showing a lack of expert skill <an unskilled handling of the facial features in the portrait explains why it is attributed to “school of Velázquez” and not to the master himself> — see AMATEURISH
2 lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job <hired unskilled workers because they would work for lower wages> — see INCOMPETENT

unskillful adjective
1 lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job <an unskillful editor can be worse than none at all> — see INCOMPETENT
2 lacking or showing a lack of expert skill <some painfully unskillful playing by the band's guitarist> — see AMATEURISH

unslakable adjective
incapable of being satisfied <an unslakable yearning to explore the far-off corners of the globe> — see INSATIABLE

unsmart adjective
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <she's not a complete idiot, just kind of unsmart> — see STUPID 1

unsmiling adjective
not joking or playful in mood or manner <delivered the reprimand with a harsh and unsmiling face> — see SERIOUS 1

unsnarl verb
to separate the various strands of <unsnarled the fishing lines> — see UNRAVEL 1

unsociable adjective
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others <an unsociable but not an overtly rude child> — see COOL 1

unsoiled adjective
free from dirt or stain <never managed to make it through a day at the packing plant with unsoiled shoes> — see CLEAN 1

unsolicited adjective
not searched or asked for <tired of the unsolicited advice from friends and family regarding her love life> — see UNSOUGHT

unsolvable adjective
incapable of being solved or accomplished <an apparently unsolvable problem> — see IMPOSSIBLE

unsophisticated adjective
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <mistakenly believed that the tribe was unsophisticated and would sell their land for a fraction of its worth> — see NAIVE 1

unsophistication noun
1 the quality or state of being simple and sincere <the unsophistication of the plea touched his heart> — see NAïVETÉ 1
2 the quality or state of having a form or structure of few parts or elements <the unsophistication of the coffeemaker's design is part of its appeal> — see SIMPLICITY 1

unsought adjective
not searched or asked for <the meddling neighbor insisted on giving us unsought advice>

Synonyms
unasked, unbidden (also unbid), uninvited, unsolicited

Related Words
undesired, unwanted, unwelcome; objectionable, offensive, unacceptable, undesirable; uncalled-for, unnecessary

Near Antonyms
necessary, needed, required; desired, wanted, welcome

Antonyms
requested, solicited

unsound adjective
1 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <disgruntled relatives tried to prove that the woman was of unsound mind when she made her will> — see INSANE 1
2 not being in agreement with what is true <an unsound and pernicious stereotype> — see FALSE 1
3 not using or following good reasoning <it is clearly unsound to argue that just because a scientific explanation for that phenomenon does not currently exist, no such explanation is possible> — see ILLOGICAL
4 temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body <an unsound horse that will have to be disqualified from the race> — see SICK 1

unsoundness noun
the condition of not being in good health <the overall unsoundness of her health in her last years greatly limited what she could do> — see SICKNESS 1

unsparing adjective
1 giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <neighbors were unsparing in their charity when a local family was rendered homeless by a fire> — see GENEROUS 1
2 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <unsparing in his criticism of the welfare state> — see HARD 1

unspeakable adjective
beyond the power to describe <continually encountered unspeakable beauty in their travels through the Alps> — see INDESCRIBABLE

unspecialized adjective
not limited or specialized in application or purpose <preferred to have one unspecialized tool rather than buy 16 specialized ones> — see GENERAL 4

unspecified adjective
known but not named <some unspecified person is expected to replace him temporarily as director of operations until a permanent director can be found> — see CERTAIN 1

unspoken adjective
understood although not put into words <an unspoken promise to remain faithful to one another> — see IMPLICIT 1

unsportsmanlike adjective
not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport <was suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct> — see FOUL 2

unstable adjective
1 not being in or able to maintain a state of balance <the minute we put the books down on the unstable desk, the whole stack went crashing to the floor>

Synonyms
unbalanced, unsteady

Related Words
rocky, shaky, tippy, tipsy, wavery, wobbly (also wabbly), wonky [British]; infirm, insecure, precarious, unsound; doddering, doddery, jiggling, jiggly, rickety, staggery, teetering, tottering, tottery; askew, awry, cockeyed, lopsided, off-kilter, uneven

Near Antonyms
even, level, straight; sound, sturdy, substantial

Antonyms
balanced, equilibrated, stabilized, stable, steady

2 likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <financial investors don't like an unstable economy> — see FICKLE 1
3 not staying constant <unstable temperatures are not ideal storage conditions for wine> — see UNEVEN 2

unstableness noun
the quality or state of not being firmly fixed in position <if the tunnel had been properly inspected, the unstableness of the overhead concrete panels would have been discovered in time> — see INSTABILITY

unstained adjective
1 free from dirt or stain <you should be wearing a tie, preferably an unstained one> — see CLEAN 1
2 lacking an addition of color <bought an unstained picnic table that they planned to finish themselves> — see COLORLESS 1

unsteadiness noun
the quality or state of not being firmly fixed in position <blamed the poor quality of the video on the tripod's unsteadiness> — see INSTABILITY

unsteady adjective
1 lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <a year of unsteady economic growth> — see FITFUL
2 likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <in the days of sailing ships, mariners were constantly at the mercy of unsteady winds> — see FICKLE 1
3 not being in or able to maintain a state of balance <cautiously climbed up the unsteady ladder> — see UNSTABLE 1
4 not staying constant <unsteady business conditions that rattled investors> — see UNEVEN 2

unstinting adjective
giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation <a group of school volunteers who are unstinting with their time> — see GENEROUS 1

unstintingly adverb
in a generous manner <parishoners gave unstintingly to the overseas disaster relief fund> — see WELL 2

unstop verb
to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions <the plumber unstopped the drain> — see OPEN 2

unstoppable adjective
incapable of being defeated, overcome, or subdued <at this point she's so far ahead in the polls that she's unstoppable> — see INVINCIBLE

unstopped adjective
allowing passage without obstruction <an unstopped hole was the cause of the leakage> — see OPEN 1

unstring verb
1 to cause to go insane or as if insane <the kind of fierce combat that can unstring even hardened soldiers> — see CRAZE
2 to deprive of courage or confidence <a little unstrung by the fact that he was on his first job interview> — see UNNERVE 1

unstructured adjective
having no definite or recognizable form <writes unstructured compositions that some people might not even regard as poems> — see FORMLESS 1

unstudied adjective
made or done without previous thought or preparation <has an unstudied effervescence that is rare in show business> — see EXTEMPORANEOUS

unstylish adjective
marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste <chose a bizarrely unstylish hairstyle for the Halloween party> — see 1TACKY 1

unsubstantial adjective
1 not composed of matter <as thin and unsubstantial as the wind> — see IMMATERIAL 1
2 being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance <unsubstantial wisps of lace> — see FLIMSY 1
3 lacking bodily strength <an unsubstantial child who was unfit to play sports of any kind> — see WEAK 1

unsubstantiated adjective
having no basis in reason or fact <an unsubstantiated claim that was thrown out of court> — see GROUNDLESS

unsuccessful adjective
producing no results <an unsuccessful attempt to fix the faucet ourselves> — see FUTILE 1

unsuitable adjective
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <all the movies playing now are violent or otherwise unsuitable for a child's birthday party> — see INAPPROPRIATE

unsuitably adverb
in a mistaken or inappropriate way <dressed unsuitably for the unexpectedly cold weather> — see WRONGLY

unsullied adjective
free from dirt or stain <only unsullied vestments are ever appropriate for church services> — see CLEAN 1

unsung adjective
not widely known <an unsung hero of the Holocaust> — see OBSCURE 2

unsupportable adjective
more than can be put up with <these high taxes are just unsupportable> — see UNBEARABLE

unsupported adjective
having no basis in reason or fact <an unsupported claim that the structure was built by Vikings> — see GROUNDLESS

unsure adjective
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something <unsure of her ability to handle the pressure of competing in the Olympic Games> — see DOUBTFUL 1

unsurpassable adjective
having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability <the unsurpassable splendor of the palace> — see ONLY 1

unsurpassed adjective
1 having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability <an artist who is unsurpassed at painting portraits that reveal the subject's inner life> — see ONLY 1
2 of the very best kind <a French restaurant known for its unsurpassed cuisine> — see EXCELLENT

unsuspecting adjective
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <sidewalk vendors selling bogus gems to unsuspecting tourists> — see NAIVE 1

unsuspicious adjective
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <a happy-go-lucky, unsuspicious fellow who was easy prey for confidence men> — see NAIVE 1

unsympathetic adjective
1 having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings <gave them an unsympathetic look and pointed out that they'd brought the problem on themselves> — see HARD 1
2 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <an aloof and unsympathetic man who does not engage in small talk> — see COLD 2
3 marked by opposition or ill will <a bohemian artist who found the unsympathetic environment of the small town too much to bear> — see HOSTILE 1
4 opposed to one's interests <an unsympathetic reaction to her proposal to ban trans fats from the company cafeteria> — see ADVERSE 1

untamed adjective
1 existing without human habitation or cultivation <a dangerous and untamed land> — see WILD 2
2 living outdoors without taming or domestication by humans <tried to capture the untamed horse> — see WILD 1

untangle verb
1 to separate the various strands of <gently untangled the baby's hair> — see UNRAVEL 1
2 to set free from entanglement or difficulty <I was finally able to untangle myself from my credit problems> — see EXTRICATE

untaught adjective
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <an untaught artist whose primitive paintings are now prized by collectors> — see IGNORANT 1

unthinkable adjective
too extraordinary or improbable to believe <to most people it seemed unthinkable that such a gentle man could be guilty of such awful crimes> — see INCREDIBLE

unthrifty adjective
given to spending money freely or foolishly <the unthrifty couple ended up having to declare bankruptcy> — see PRODIGAL

unthrone verb
to remove from a position of prominence or power (as a throne) <the board of directors unthroned the CEO when it became clear that he was not going to reverse the company's sagging fortunes anytime soon> — see DEPOSE 1

untidy adjective
1 lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <I can never find anything in this untidy office> — see MESSY
2 lacking neatness in dress or person <neighbors gossiped about the woman's rumpled and untidy children> — see SLOPPY 1

untie verb
to disengage the knotted parts of <she always makes sure to untie her shoelaces before removing her shoes>

Synonyms
unbind, undo, unfasten, unlash

Related Words
unbraid, unlace; disentangle, ravel, unravel, unsnarl, untangle, unwind; loose, loosen

Near Antonyms
braid, interlace, interweave, lace, wind; entangle, snarl, tangle

Antonyms
bind, fasten, knot, lash, tie

untimely adjective
occurring before the usual or expected time <the untimely arrival of our guests caught us by surprise> — see EARLY 2

untiring adjective
showing no signs of weariness even after long hard effort <the camel's reputation as an untiring beast of burden> <the detective's untiring investigation of the crime finally led to several arrests> — see TIRELESS

untitled adjective
not named or identified by a name <the band is working on a new album which is still untitled> — see NAMELESS 1

untold adjective
too many to be counted <untold generations have lived and died in this ancient land> — see COUNTLESS

untouchable adjective
1 hard or impossible to get to or get at <untouchable oil lying deep within the earth> — see INACCESSIBLE
2 not to be violated, criticized, or tampered with <an untouchable target for criticism as far as the local newspaper was concerned> — see SACRED 1

untoward adjective
1 given to resisting authority or another's control <tried to reason with the untoward child> — see DISOBEDIENT
2 given to resisting control or discipline by others <a program for untoward teenagers that is designed to give them the kind of discipline that their parents were unable or unwilling to administer> — see UNCONTROLLABLE
3 opposed to one's interests <achieved great success as an artist despite growing up in a very untoward milieu> — see ADVERSE 1
4 not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <unfortunately, one of the symptoms of dementia can be a tendency to make untoward and often shocking remarks> — see INAPPROPRIATE

untowardness noun
the quality or state of not being socially proper <the untowardness of the politically biased speech raised some eyebrows at the charity fund-raiser> — see IMPROPRIETY 1

untraveled adjective
not having been traveled over or through <to some it seemed plausible that in the relatively untraveled vastnesses of the Pacific Northwest a creature such as Sasquatch could lurk> — see PATHLESS

untraversed adjective
not having been traveled over or through <the documentary captures the mountainous wilderness in all of its untamed and untraversed glory> — see PATHLESS

untreated adjective
being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining <untreated wool> — see CRUDE 1

untrodden also untrod adjective
not having been traveled over or through <the fields in the valley are newly carpeted in an expanse of untrodden snow> — see PATHLESS

untroubled adjective
1 free from emotional or mental agitation <she remains untroubled despite the chaos around her> — see CALM 2
2 free from storms or physical disturbance <quietly canoeing on the untroubled waters of the lake> — see CALM 1

untrue adjective
1 not being in agreement with what is true <“the sky is purple” is an untrue statement> — see FALSE 1
2 not true in one's allegiance to someone or something <untrue to his country in its time of need> — see FAITHLESS

untruth noun
1 a false idea or belief <their argument rests on a fundamental untruth which has long been discredited> — see FALLACY 1
2 a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive <the Web site is rife with untruths and misleading information> — see LIE
3 the quality or state of being false <there is an element of untruth in all forms of art: works of art provide only a semblance of reality> — see FALLACY 2

untruthful adjective
1 not being in agreement with what is true <an unintentionally untruthful statement that the candidate later corrected> — see FALSE 1
2 telling or containing lies <the political action committee was slammed for spreading untruthful smears about the candidate and his wife> — see DISHONEST 1

untruthfulness noun
the tendency to tell lies <consistent untruthfulness on your part will result in consistent distrustfulness on other people's part> — see DISHONESTY 1

untutored adjective
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books <to the untutored observer these works of art must seem strange indeed> — see IGNORANT 1

untwine verb
to separate the various strands of <untwined his shoelaces> — see UNRAVEL 1

untwist verb
to separate the various strands of <untwisted the ball of thread> — see UNRAVEL 1

untypical adjective
departing from some accepted standard of what is normal <the plant displays some untypical characteristics> — see DEVIANT

unusable adjective
not capable of being put to use or account <a completely unusable gadget that's just taking up space in the drawer> — see IMPRACTICAL

unused adjective
1 not having acquired a habit or tolerance <the runner's performance suffered because he was unused to running at such high elevations>

Synonyms
unacclimated, unaccustomed, unadapted, unadjusted

Related Words
unseasoned

Near Antonyms
unaffected, uninfluenced

Antonyms
acclimated, accustomed, adapted, adjusted, habituated, used

2 recently made and never used before <preferred to start with unused pencils> — see NEW 3
3 not being in a state of use, activity, or employment <is there an unused cubicle that the temp could work out of?> — see INACTIVE 2

unusual adjective
1 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <we found some unusual shells by the high-tide mark while combing the beach>

Synonyms
curious, extraordinary, funny, odd, offbeat, out-of-the-way, peculiar, queer, rare, singular, strange, unaccustomed, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, weird

Related Words
bizarre, eccentric, far-out, kooky (also kookie), oddball, outlandish, outré, way-out; aberrant, abnormal, atypical, exceptional, irregular; newsworthy, notable, noteworthy, noticeable, particular, remarkable, special

Near Antonyms
unexceptional; expected, predictable; familiar, normal, regular, typical

Antonyms
common, ordinary, plain, usual

2 being out of the ordinary <the famously arrogant actor accepted his award with unusual grace and humility> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1

unutterable adjective
beyond the power to describe <unutterable joy that a baby can bring to a household> <the unutterable suffering brought on by the war> — see INDESCRIBABLE

unvarnished adjective
free from all additions or embellishment <I'm telling the unvarnished truth> — see PLAIN 1

unvarying adjective
1 not undergoing a change in condition <an unvarying dedication to the welfare of her community> — see CONSTANT 1
2 not varying <unvarying temperatures and humidity are best for the preservation of ancient artifacts> — see UNIFORM

unveil verb
1 to make known (as information previously kept secret) <unveiled the techniques that the self-styled clairvoyant used to trick her clients> — see REVEAL 1
2 to present so as to invite notice or attention <unveiled the new sculpture before a gathering of dignitaries> — see SHOW 1

unvocal adjective
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds <the nursery full of crying toddlers made a most unvocal din> — see DISSONANT

unvoiced adjective
understood although not put into words <an unvoiced promise to be waiting for him when he returned from the war> — see IMPLICIT 1

unwarrantable adjective
too bad to be excused or justified <the unwarrantable arrogance of that man> — see INEXCUSABLE

unwarranted adjective
1 not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end <the committee concluded that any further revisions to the regulations were currently unwarranted> — see UNNECESSARY
2 having no basis in reason or fact <don't leap to unwarranted conclusions> — see GROUNDLESS

unwary adjective
1 lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <e-mail scams that take advantage of unwary computer users> — see NAIVE 1
2 not paying or showing close attention especially for the purpose of avoiding trouble <a dangerous stretch of desert that has claimed many unwary travelers> — see CARELESS 1
3 readily taken advantage of <unwary consumers who unquestioningly swallow the dubious claims of TV pitchmen> — see EASY 2

unwashed adjective
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <a TV producer who knew what the unwashed masses wanted—and unhestitatingly gave it to them> — see IGNOBLE 1

unwashed noun
people looked down upon as ignorant and of the lowest class <Aunt Edna was fond of snootily reminding us that we need not take our manners from the great unwashed> — see RABBLE

unwavering adjective
not varying <an unwavering commitment to social justice> — see UNIFORM

unweave verb
to separate the various strands of <if you want the scarf to be perfect, you're going to have to unweave the last three inches and fix the mistake> — see UNRAVEL 1

unwed adjective
not married <called for new social programs to aid unwed teenage mothers> — see SINGLE 1

unwelcome adjective
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <the unwelcome news ruined what had been a fine day> — see UNPLEASANT

unwell adjective
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body <she missed work because she was unwell> — see SICK 1

unwholesome adjective
1 bad for the well-being of the body <health inspectors shut down several food stands that were using tainted and unwholesome meat> — see UNHEALTHY 1
2 having or showing lowered moral character or standards <despite having been raised in such unwholesome environments as a brothel and a traveling circus, singer Edith Piaf rose to international stardom> — see CORRUPT

unwieldy adjective
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design <an unwieldy machine that requires two people to operate it> — see CUMBERSOME

unwilling adjective
not made or done willingly or by choice <unwilling contributions from city employees who felt pressured to do so> — see INVOLUNTARY 1

unwillingness noun
a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something <your unwillingness to help with the cooking means that you won't be sharing in the eating> — see RELUCTANCE

unwind verb
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety <soft music and a good book help me unwind> — see RELAX 1

unwisdom noun
lack of good sense or judgment <you find both wisdom and unwisdom in his writings, and it's your job to discover which is which> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

unwise adjective
1 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <made the unwise decision to invest in a brand-new company> — see FOOLISH 1
2 showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations <an unwise urge to confide in total strangers> — see INDISCREET
3 not having or showing a deep understanding of something <a stunningly unwise observer of the political scene> — see IMPERCEPTIVE

unwitting adjective
1 happening by chance <an unwitting mistake made in copying the material> — see ACCIDENTAL 1
2 not informed about or aware of something <an unwitting accomplice to the crime> — see IGNORANT 2

unwomanly adjective
having qualities or traits that are traditionally considered inappropriate for a girl or woman <aggression and assertiveness were once considered unwomanly> — see UNFEMININE

unwonted adjective
being out of the ordinary <honored for the unwonted courage he showed in battle> — see EXCEPTIONAL 1

unworkable adjective
not capable of being put to use or account <the company decided that the proposed reorganization of its operations was unworkable due to high costs> — see IMPRACTICAL

unworldliness noun
the quality or state of being simple and sincere <there's a sweet unworldliness about her that makes men want to be her protector> — see NAïVETÉ 1

unworldly adjective
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <the guy's unworldly enough to think that any stranger who would approach him on a city street is simply trying to help him> — see NAIVE 1

unworried adjective
free from emotional or mental agitation <remained unworried despite the panic all around her> — see CALM 2

unwritten adjective
made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing <an unwritten contract may not be enforceable> — see VERBAL 2

unyielding adjective
1 showing no signs of slackening or yielding in one's purpose <the pioneers faced the challenge of settling the frontier with unyielding courage>

Synonyms
determined, dogged, grim, implacable, relentless, unappeasable, unflinching, unrelenting

Related Words
persevering, persistent, tenacious; hard, hardheaded, headstrong, intractable, mulish, obdurate, opinionated, peevish, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, self-willed, stubborn, uncooperative, willful (or wilful); merciless, ruthless, unforgiving

Near Antonyms
slackening, softening, yielding; impotent, invertebrate, slack, spineless, weak; complaisant, obliging, pliable, pliant

2 having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure <knead the dough until it feels reasonably unyielding> — see FIRM 2
3 incapable of or highly resistant to bending <an unyielding steel bar> — see STIFF 1
4 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <despite studies showing that limits on development would hurt the local economy, the town council remained unyielding in their support for these limits> — see OBSTINATE

unyoke verb
to set or force apart <unyoke these two boats and tie them to the dock separately> — see SEPARATE 1

unyoung adjective
being of advanced years and especially past middle age <the park has walking trails that are suitable for both the young and the unyoung> — see ELDERLY

up adjective
1 being at a higher level than average <the level of the lake is up this spring> — see HIGH 2
2 brought or having come to an end <okay, time is up> — see COMPLETE 2
3 having information especially as a result of study or experience <she's always up on the latest developments in fashion> — see FAMILIAR 2

up verb
1 to make greater in size, amount, or number <climbing fuel prices have forced the delivery company to up its prices> — see INCREASE 1
2 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <upped the catboat's sail> — see RAISE 1
3 to move or extend upward <the road constantly ups and downs as it makes its way over the hills> — see ASCEND

upbeat adjective
1 having or showing a good mood or disposition <an upbeat attitude about life> — see CHEERFUL 1
2 having qualities which inspire hope <several upbeat signs that the economy is improving> — see HOPEFUL 1

upbraid verb
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <his wife upbraided him for his irresponsible handling of the family finances> — see SCOLD

upchuck verb
to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth <a speaker so nervous that he had upchucked backstage> — see VOMIT

upcoming adjective
being soon to appear or take place <an upcoming election> — see FORTHCOMING 1

up–country noun
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country <built a cabin in the up-country> — see FRONTIER 2

update verb
to adapt to modern needs, taste, or usage <the movie is basically a retelling of the tried-and-true Cinderella story, updated for today's hipper audiences> — see MODERNIZE

upend verb
1 to achieve a victory over <the team won the division play-offs, but was upended in the final championship game> — see BEAT 2
2 to fix in an upright position <we had to upend the sofa in order to fit it into the elevator> — see ERECT 1

up–front adjective
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions <some hurt feelings could have been spared if he'd been more up-front about whom he was inviting to the party> — see FRANK

upgrade noun
1 an upward slope <had to walk our bicycle on the upgrades on our ride through the hills> — see ASCENT 2
2 a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position <received an upgrade to lieutenant> — see ADVANCEMENT 1
3 the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon <there's a steep upgrade to some of the hills on that route> — see SLANT

upgrade verb
1 to move higher in rank or position <upgraded them to first class> — see PROMOTE 1
2 to make better <that restaurant had better upgrade its service—and fast—if it wants to stay in business> — see IMPROVE

upgrading noun
a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position <she was surprised by the unannounced upgrading to the position of supervisor> — see ADVANCEMENT 1

upheaval noun
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) <the government can no longer control the social upheaval brought about by the collapse of the country's economy> — see CONVULSION

upheave verb
to lift with effort <exactly how the builders of the pyramids at Giza upheaved such massive blocks of stone remains a mystery> — see HEAVE 1

uphill adjective
requiring considerable physical or mental effort <an uphill battle to eradicate poverty in an area of the state that has never known anything else> — see HARD 2

uphill noun
an upward slope <no matter where you go bicycle touring, the uphills always seem to outnumber the downhills> — see ASCENT 2

uphold verb
1 to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections <determined to uphold her views in the face of all challenges> — see MAINTAIN 2
2 to hold up or serve as a foundation for <an entablature upheld by a series of gracefully slender columns> — see SUPPORT 3
3 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <worshippers upheld their joined hands and sang the praises of the Lord> — see RAISE 1

upkeep noun
the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition <the upkeep of the old place was costing a fortune> — see MAINTENANCE

upland noun
an area of high ground <the animals huddled on the upland as the floodwater rose> — see HEIGHT 4

uplift verb
to move from a lower to a higher place or position <a mountain range that was uplifted millions of years ago by the collision of continental plates> — see RAISE 1

uplifted adjective
being positioned above a surface <an uplifted area of ground> — see ELEVATED 1

upmarket adjective
appealing to affluent consumers <an upmarket restaurant that is quite pricey but also quite good> — see UPSCALE

upmost adjective
being at a point or level higher than all others <the upmost floor of the building> — see TOP 1

upon preposition
in or into contact with <leaned upon the desk> — see AGAINST 1

upper–class adjective
of high birth, rank, or station <upper-class boys who had an entrenched sense of entitlement> — see NOBLE 1

upper class noun
the highest class in a society <a school founded to educate the children of the upper class> — see ARISTOCRACY 1

upper–crust adjective
of high birth, rank, or station <an interior designer who has intimate knowledge of the tastes of her upper-crust clientele> — see NOBLE 1

upper crust noun
1 individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <the conference was a gathering of the upper crust of the computer programming industry> — see ELITE 1
2 the highest class in a society <a specialty clothing store for the upper crust> — see ARISTOCRACY 1

upper hand noun
the more favorable condition or position in a competition <finally gained the upper hand in the argument> — see ADVANTAGE 1

uppermost adjective
being at a point or level higher than all others <the uppermost floor of the house gets very hot in the summer> — see TOP 1

uppish adjective
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <the new employee's uppish airs aren't winning him many friends among his colleagues> — see ARROGANT

uppity adjective
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <uppity social climbers who were the biggest snobs in town> — see ARROGANT

upraise verb
1 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <the runner's arms were upraised in a sign of victory as he crossed the finish line> — see RAISE 1
2 to fix in an upright position <archaeologists are still not sure how the mysterious statues on Easter Island were upraised> — see ERECT 1

upraised adjective
being positioned above a surface <these upraised earthworks are believed to have been built by Native Americans hundreds of years ago and used for enclosure, burial, religious rites, or defense> — see ELEVATED 1

uprear verb
to move or extend upward <trees uprearing towards the sky> — see ASCEND

upright adjective
1 conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <an honest and upright people> — see GOOD 2
2 following the accepted rules of moral conduct <informing the clerk that he had just given me back too much in change was the only upright thing to do> — see HONORABLE 1
3 rising straight up <only one pillar of the ruined temple remained upright> — see ERECT

uprightness noun
1 conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong <the uprightness of our cause is not what is being called into question here> — see MORALITY 1
2 faithfulness to high moral standards <the members of this special investigative committee must be personages of unquestionable uprightness> — see HONOR 1

uprise noun
an upward slope <the sharp uprise leading up to the fortress would make an assault extremely difficult> — see ASCENT 2

uprise verb
1 to leave one's bed <uprise! we have lots of work to do today!> — see ARISE 1
2 to move or extend upward <as we went from the coast into the state's interior, the land gradually began uprising and eventually we were on mountainous terrain> — see ASCEND

uprising noun
open fighting against authority (as one's own government) <the uprising was quickly and brutally suppressed> — see REBELLION 1

uproar noun
1 a state of noisy, confused activity <the house is always in a jubilant uproar during the holidays> — see COMMOTION
2 a state of wildly excited activity or emotion <the ref's controversial call sent the crowd into an uproar> — see FRENZY
3 a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) <the uproar following the corrupt election nearly toppled the government> — see CONVULSION
4 a violent shouting <an uproar arose from the crowd when it was announced that the concert was cancelled and refunds might not be available> — see CLAMOR 1

uproarious adjective
1 causing or intended to cause laughter <the movie follows the comic duo through a series of outrageous and uproarious escapades> — see FUNNY 1
2 full of or characterized by the presence of noise <visited the site where the action movie was being filmed only to find a chaotic, uproarious set> — see NOISY 2

uproariousness noun
the amusing quality or element in something <the supposed uproariousness of the situation was lost on the people who fell for the scam> — see HUMOR 1

uproot verb
to draw out by force or with effort <uprooted the old bridge's pilings upon the completion of its replacement> — see EXTRACT

upscale adjective
appealing to affluent consumers <a new upscale shopping center is under construction on the west end of town>

Synonyms
exclusive, high-end, upmarket

Related Words
elegant, fashionable, posh; extravagant, ostentatious, showy; deluxe, lavish, luxuriant, luxurious, opulent, plush, sumptuous; costly, expensive

Near Antonyms
cheap, inexpensive

Antonyms
dime-store, discount, down-market, downscale, low-end

upset adjective
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <she was upset by the unexplained change in plans> — see NERVOUS 1

upset noun
an act or instance of the order of things being disturbed <the move to a new town is just the latest in a series of upsets for my family over the last year>

Synonyms
derangement, dislocation, disruption, disturbance

Related Words
convulsion, revolution, unsettledness, unsettlement, upheaval

upset verb
1 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <the smallest things can upset us if we're already stressed> — see DISTURB 1
2 to turn on one's side or upside down <the narrow boat upsets easily and should be handled with care> — see CAPSIZE
3 to undo the proper order or arrangement of <the change in the bus schedule upset our daily routine> — see DISORDER

upsetting adjective
causing worry or anxiety <the constant arguing is upsetting to a sensitive person like your grandmother> — see TROUBLESOME

upshot noun
a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause <the upshot of the court's ruling is that a number of communities will now have to change their gun laws> — see EFFECT 1

upside–down adjective
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness <the frantic search left the room upside-down> — see MESSY

upstanding adjective
1 following the accepted rules of moral conduct <a fine, upstanding woman who deserves to be nominated to the state's highest court> — see HONORABLE 1
2 rising straight up <not a single wall remained upstanding after the tornado had passed> — see ERECT

upstart noun
one who has recently acquired wealth and social position <having made their money in oil decades ago, they consider these billionaire dot-commers mere upstarts> — see NOUVEAU RICHE

upthrust verb
to move or extend upward <an upthrusting seamount> — see ASCEND

uptick noun
something added (as by growth) <an uptick in sales over the last fiscal year> — see INCREASE 1

uptight adjective
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <he has a tendency to fret and get uptight whenever his usual routine is disrupted> — see NERVOUS 1

up–to–date adjective
1 being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <demanded the most up-to-date computer system available> — see MODERN
2 having information especially as a result of study or experience <I'm afraid that I'm not up-to-date on that issue> — see FAMILIAR 2

up–to–the–minute adjective
being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles <the company insists on having up-to-the-minute firewall and antivirus software> — see MODERN

upturn verb
to move or extend upward <at this point the road upturns steeply, the trees become scarcer, and the valley unfolds before you> — see ASCEND

urbane adjective
having or showing very polished and worldly manners <a gentlemanly and urbane host of elegant dinner parties> — see SUAVE

urbanize verb
to accustom to the ways of the city <every September the city of Boston urbanizes a new crop of college students from small towns across the country> — see CITIFY

urchin noun
an appealingly mischievous person <we could never resist the little urchin's pleas for candy> — see SCAMP 1

urge noun
a strong wish for something <I'm trying to resist the urge to eat another piece of cake> — see DESIRE 1

urge verb
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action <the public service announcement urges pet owners to spay or neuter their pets>

Synonyms
egg (on), encourage, exhort, goad, nudge, press, prod, prompt

Related Words
drive, propel, spur, stimulate; hurry, hustle, push, rush; adjure, beseech, implore, importune; blandish, cajole, coax, soft-soap, wheedle; high-pressure, nag, needle, pressure; foment, incite, instigate, provoke, stir (up)

Near Antonyms
deter, discourage, dissuade; brake, check, constrain, curb, hold back, inhibit, restrain

urgent adjective
needing immediate attention <I will need to put off everything but the most urgent issues> — see ACUTE 2

usable also useable adjective
1 capable of or suitable for being used for a particular purpose <although the spade is usable as a snow shovel, it doesn't do a very good job>

Synonyms
available, employable, exploitable, fit, functional, operable, practicable, serviceable, useful

Related Words
applicable, relevant; doable, feasible, viable, workable; reusable

Antonyms
impracticable, inoperable, nonfunctional, unavailable, unemployable, unusable

2 capable of being put to use or account <there's not a scrap of usable information in that article on finding the right pet for one's family> — see PRACTICAL 1

usage noun
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose <the machine's warranty does not cover malfunctions that result from improper usage> — see USE 1

use noun
1 the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose <the use of boom boxes is strictly prohibited in the park>

Synonyms
application, employment, exercise, operation, play, usage

Related Words
exertion; reuse

Near Antonyms
disuse, nonuse

2 the capacity for being useful for some purpose <the broken grill isn't going to be of much use in cooking the hamburgers>

Synonyms
account, avail, mileage, service, serviceability, serviceableness, usefulness, utility

Related Words
advantage, benefit, gain; aid, assistance, help; applicability, appropriateness, fitness, relevance; profit, value, worth

Near Antonyms
inapplicability, inappropriateness

Antonyms
uselessness, worthlessness

3 positive regard for something <I have no use for slackers> — see LIKING

use verb
1 to put into action or service <I will need to use the large hammer for this project>

Synonyms
apply, employ, exercise, exploit, harness, operate, utilize

Related Words
handle, manipulate, wield; direct, run, work; cannibalize, recycle, reuse

Phrases
bring to bear, draw on (or upon), make use of

Near Antonyms
ignore, neglect; misapply, misuse

2 to behave toward in a stated way <the factory workers were underpaid and poorly used by their employers> — see TREAT 1
3 to take unfair advantage of <I was paying for everything on our little outing, and I was starting to feel like I was being used> — see EXPLOIT 1

used adjective
being in the habit or custom <my grandmother has spent her whole life on the farm and is used to working hard> — see ACCUSTOMED

useful adjective
1 capable of being put to use or account <useful suggestions for limiting the amount of food we eat> — see PRACTICAL 1
2 capable of or suitable for being used for a particular purpose <I've found this tool really useful for making sure all my pictures are hung straight> — see USABLE 1
3 providing service or assistance <hopefully, the consultant's financial advice will prove useful in planning for our retirement> — see HELPFUL 1

usefulness noun
the capacity for being useful for some purpose <the well-known usefulness of thick phone books as seat boosters for short diners> — see USE 2

useless adjective
1 not capable of being put to use or account <a garage full of useless junk> — see IMPRACTICAL
2 producing no results <a useless attempt to reach an agreement> — see FUTILE 1

user noun
a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally <a person who started out as a user and is now a drug dealer as well> — see DOPER

use up verb
to make complete use of <we used up the last of the flour when we made the waffles> — see DEPLETE 1

usher verb
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front <ushered the job applicant into the room and then left> — see LEAD 1

usual adjective
1 accepted, used, or practiced by most people <that's not the usual method, but it works> — see CURRENT 1
2 being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <the characters in this novel are drawn with greater depth than is usual for a work of science fiction> — see ORDINARY 1
3 often observed or encountered <the usual reaction to the sight of the falls is one of absolute awe> — see COMMON 1

usually adverb
according to the usual course of things <we usually go out to eat on Fridays> — see NATURALLY 2

usurp verb
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right <the mayor usurped the school board's authority when he fired the principal> — see APPROPRIATE 1

usurpation noun
the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority <the government's usurpation of the tribe's hunting grounds left them without a source of food> — see APPROPRIATION 2

utensil noun
an article intended for use in work <participants in the class must supply their own writing utensils> — see IMPLEMENT

utility noun
the capacity for being useful for some purpose <the store specializes in gee-whiz gadgetry of dubious utility> — see USE 2

utilize verb
to put into action or service <we must utilize all the tools at our disposal> — see USE 1

utmost adjective
1 most distant from a center <supreme power that extended to the utmost points of the empire> — see EXTREME 1
2 of the greatest or highest degree or quantity <inhabitants of the war-ravaged region are experiencing the utmost misery imaginable> — see ULTIMATE 1
3 of the highest degree <an intelligence operation that must be conducted with the utmost secrecy> — see FULL 2

utopia noun
an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <dreamed of one day retiring to a tropical utopia> — see PARADISE 1

utopian adjective
having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality <a plan to revitalize the city's decaying downtown that proved to be overly ambitious and utopian> — see IDEALISTIC

utopian noun
one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world <in the 19th century utopians founded a number of short-lived socialist communities> — see IDEALIST

utter adjective
1 having no exceptions or restrictions <our attempt to reform the school system was an utter failure> — see ABSOLUTE 2
2 of the highest degree <spoke with utter certainty> — see FULL 2

utter verb
1 to send forth using the vocal chords <she tried not to utter a sound as the doctor gave her a flu shot>

Synonyms
emit

Related Words
deliver; blurt (out), ejaculate, exclaim; gasp, groan, heave, hoot, moan, pant, quaver, snarl, sob, sputter, squawk, squeak, squeal, stammer, stutter, whimper, yowl; lip, mouth, whisper

2 to express (a thought or emotion) in words <never uttered a single comment at the meeting> — see SAY 1

utterance noun
1 an act, process, or means of putting something into words <many writers have used poetry as a means to give utterance to their deepest thoughts> — see EXPRESSION 1
2 something that is said <celebrities whose every utterance is treated as though it were newsworthy> — see WORD 2

uttered adjective
expressed or communicated by voice <her first uttered cry for help since the start of the ordeal> — see VOCAL

utterly adverb
1 to a full extent or degree <we are in fact utterly out of food> — see FULLY 1
2 to a large extent or degree <was utterly overwhelmed by the demands on her time> — see GREATLY 2

uttermost adjective
of the greatest or highest degree or quantity <I have the uttermost faith in your abilities> — see ULTIMATE 1

U–turn noun
a changing from one policy or point of view to virtually its exact opposite <did an abrupt U-turn when she learned that her would-be suitor was a dot-commer worth millions> — see ABOUT-FACE

V

vacancy noun
1 empty space <the vast vacancy that exists between our solar system and the nearest star having its own orbiting planets>

Synonyms
black hole, blank, blankness, emptiness, vacuity, void

Related Words
nothingness; inane, vacuum; air, open, waste; bareness, barrenness, bleakness, desolateness, hollowness; cavity, gap, hole, hollow

Near Antonyms
fullness (also fulness), repleteness

2 the quality or state of being empty <the vacancy of the cavernous gymnasium was eerily apparent to me as I shot baskets alone>

Synonyms
bareness, emptiness, vacantness, vacuity

Related Words
hollowness; blankness, vacuum, void; nothingness; barrenness, bleakness, desolateness; availability, clearness, openness; depletion, dryness, exhaustion

Near Antonyms
completeness; abundance, fatness, repleteness

Antonyms
fullness (also fulness)

vacant adjective
1 lacking contents that could or should be present <a vacant room that could be converted into a classroom> — see EMPTY 1
2 not being in a state of use, activity, or employment <looking for vacant land on which to build a house> — see INACTIVE 2
3 not expressing any emotion <the prisoner's vacant and distracted expression> — see BLANK 1
4 left unoccupied or unused <police discovered that vagrants had been sleeping in the vacant warehouse> — see ABANDONED 1

vacantness noun
the quality or state of being empty <there's a melancholy air of vacantness that seems to hang over a beach town during the long lull of winter> — see VACANCY 2

vacate verb
1 to put an end to by formal action <the contract was vacated by the court on the grounds that the signer was underage> — see ABOLISH 1
2 to remove the contents of <vacated the house> — see EMPTY

vacated adjective
left unoccupied or unused <vacated cottages that are easy targets for burglars during the winter> — see ABANDONED 1

vacation noun
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended <area schools are on vacation that week in February so local ski resorts do a booming business>

Synonyms
break, holiday [chiefly British], hols [British], leave, recess

Related Words
sabbatical; furlough, liberty; breather, relaxation, respite, rest; interim, intermission, interval; feast, holy day, legal holiday; idling, loafing, lounging, slacking

vacation verb
to take or spend a vacation <hoping to vacation in Spain this summer>

Synonyms
holiday

Related Words
escape, get (away), get off; break, recess; ease (up), let up; relax, repose, rest; bum, goldbrick, idle, laze, loaf, lounge, slack (off)

Near Antonyms
drudge, endeavor, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, work

vacillate verb
to show uncertainty about the right course of action <vacillated for so long that someone else stepped in and made the decision> — see HESITATE

vacillation noun
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action <the president was soundly criticized for his vacillation before responding to the crisis> — see HESITATION

vacuity noun
1 empty space <the seemingly endless vacuity between settlements in the desert> — see VACANCY 1
2 the quality or state of being empty <the vacuity of the house after everyone had moved out was both striking and depressing> — see VACANCY 2
3 the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <the monumental vacuity of the starlet's comments on the important issues of the day> — see STUPIDITY 1

vacuous adjective
1 lacking contents that could or should be present <a great vacuous space that should have been filled with an audience> — see EMPTY 1
2 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <a movie that was enthusiastically derided for its vacuous dialogue> — see STUPID 1

vagabond adjective
traveling from place to place <a vagabond group of entertainers that performed in rough-and-tumble mining towns> — see ITINERANT

vagabond noun
1 a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living <be wary of the vagabonds in that corner of the city> — see TRAMP 1
2 a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination <after they retired, the couple bought an RV and became footloose vagabonds> — see NOMAD

vagary noun
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action <the vagaries of a rather eccentric, elderly lady> — see WHIM

vagrancy noun
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action <a frequent victim to the vagrancies of the heart, she had a succession of passionate but short-lived romances> — see WHIM

vagrant adjective
traveling from place to place <bands of vagrant children in the streets of the impoverished city> — see ITINERANT

vagrant noun
1 a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living <vagrants sleeping in cardboard boxes on the sidewalk> — see TRAMP 1
2 an idle worthless person <the vagrants who are a familiar sight at the city's bus terminal> — see NE'ER-DO-WELL

vague adjective
1 not expressed in precise terms <gave as vague a reply as he could, hoping not to give away the surprise>

Synonyms
fuzzy, indefinite, inexplicit, muzzy, unclear

Related Words
ambiguous, cryptic, dark, enigmatic (also enigmatical), equivocal, murky, nebulous, obscure, unintelligible; bleary, blurry, dim, faint, foggy, gauzy, hazy, misty, woozy; indeterminate, indistinct, indistinguishable, uncertain, undefinable, undefined, undetermined; inexplicable, inscrutable, mysterious; baffling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, mystifying, obfuscatory, perplexing, puzzling, unfathomable

Near Antonyms
candid, direct, forthright, foursquare, frank, honest, open, openhearted, outspoken, plainspoken, straight, straightforward, unguarded; obvious, plain, unambiguous, understandable, unequivocal; comprehensible, fathomable, intelligible; defined, distinct, well-defined; blatant, patent, unmistakable

Antonyms
clear, definite, explicit, specific

2 not seen or understood clearly <I have only a vague idea of what you're talking about> — see FAINT 1

vain adjective
1 having too high an opinion of oneself <a man so vain that he spent hours admiring himself in the mirror> — see CONCEITED
2 producing no results <all their efforts to escape proved vain> — see FUTILE 1
3 having no usefulness <having tired of the vain pleasures of life in the fast lane, he returned to the small town he had grown up in> — see WORTHLESS

vainglorious adjective
having too high an opinion of oneself <a vainglorious woman who always insists on being the center of attention> — see CONCEITED

vaingloriousness noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <a tiresome vaingloriousness that manifested itself in the old general's incessant boasting about his battlefield victories> — see COMPLACENCE 1

vainglory noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <the vainglory that nations have historically shown after they have achieved military supremacy> — see COMPLACENCE 1

vainness noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <the vexing vainness that seemed to fill every page of his memoirs> — see COMPLACENCE 1

vale noun
an area of lowland between hills or mountains <settled in a lush vale in the shadow of the mountains> — see VALLEY

valedictory adjective
given, taken, or performed at parting <a valedictory address given by the college president upon his retirement> — see PARTING

valiant adjective
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <valiant soldiers marching off to war> — see BRAVE 1

valiantly adverb
in a fearless manner <valiantly they plowed forward through the dense jungle> — see BRAVELY 1

valid adjective
1 according to the rules of logic <your argument isn't valid because you're taking what should be the conclusion and using it as a premise> — see LOGICAL 1
2 based on sound reasoning or information <only further investigation will show whether your theory is valid> — see GOOD 1

validate verb
1 to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of <a witness independently validated the policeman's version of events> — see CONFIRM 1
2 to show the existence or truth of by evidence <the booming economy in and of itself validated the soundness of the government's economic policies> — see PROVE 1

validation noun
something presented in support of the truth or accuracy of a claim <I'm afraid we cannot act on your claim without validation> — see PROOF

valley noun
an area of lowland between hills or mountains <the valley will be the first to flood if the river rises>

Synonyms
dale, dene [British], hollow, vale

Related Words
canyon (also cañon), combe (also coombe or coomb) [British], dell, depression, dingle, glen, gorge, gulch, gully (also gulley), kloof [South African], ravine, rift valley; basin, bowl

Near Antonyms
alp, mount, mountain, peak; height, mountaintop, pinnacle, summit; plateau, tableland

valor noun
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <the absence of indecision even in the face of death is the true mark of valor> — see COURAGE

valorous adjective
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament <valorous deeds that will be long remembered> — see BRAVE 1

valorously adverb
in a fearless manner <they fought valorously for a cause that most people were too timid to support> — see BRAVELY 1

valuable adjective
commanding a large price <an extremely valuable diamond necklace> — see COSTLY

valuate verb
to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding <the house is valuated at six million dollars, pending an official assessment> — see ESTIMATE 1

valuation noun
1 the act of placing a value on the nature, character, or quality of something <my valuation of your musical talent has nothing to do with our friendship> — see ESTIMATE 1
2 the amount of money for which something will find a buyer <the final auction bid was still less than the minimum valuation that we had specified as acceptable, so the painting was withdrawn> — see VALUE 1
3 the relative usefulness or importance of something as judged by specific qualities <the low valuation that society places on knowledge for the sake of knowledge> — see WORTH 1

value noun
1 the amount of money for which something will find a buyer <the real value of that house is close to a million dollars>

Synonyms
valuation, worth

Related Words
charge, cost, fee, figure, price, rate; appraisal, assessment, estimate, estimation, evaluation; face value, list price, unit price

2 a quality that gives something special worth <defending the democratic system's intrinsic values> — see EXCELLENCE 2
3 the relative usefulness or importance of something as judged by specific qualities <the value of a good education cannot be overstated> — see WORTH 1

value verb
1 to hold dear <a nation that values individualism and self-reliance> — see LOVE 1
2 to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding <values his stocks at $150,000 or thereabouts> — see ESTIMATE 1

value judgment noun
an opinion on the nature, character, or quality of something <lexicographers do not make value judgments about words when deciding whether they should be entered in the dictionary> — see ESTIMATION 1

valueless adjective
having no usefulness <a fish that was once regarded as valueless and routinely thrown away by fishermen> — see WORTHLESS

valve noun
a fixture for controlling the flow of a liquid <a hot water valve> — see FAUCET

vamoose verb
to leave a place often for another <it's getting late, so we had better vamoose> — see GO 2

vamp (up) verb
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination <political spin doctors who can vamp up a justification for just about anything> — see INVENT

vampire noun
a person who habitually preys upon others <regarded debt collectors as vampires who made a living from the misery of others> — see PREDATOR

van noun
1 the innovators of new concepts, styles, and techniques especially in the arts <an artist who was in the van of abstract expressionism> — see AVANT-GARDE
2 the leading or most important part of a movement <a company that is considered by some to be in the van of the latest technology for renewable energy> — see FOREFRONT

vandal noun
a person who damages or destroys property on purpose <a group of vandals broke into the school and painted graffiti on the walls>

Synonyms
defacer

Related Words
graffitist, tagger; demolisher, desecrater (or desecrator), despoiler, destroyer, ravager, ruiner, saboteur, waster, wrecker; depredator, looter, marauder, pillager, plunderer, ransacker, sacker, spoiler, spoliator

Near Antonyms
conserver, preserver, protector, saver; conservator, preservationist

vandalism noun
deliberate damaging or destroying of another's property <anyone guilty of vandalism to university property will be expelled>

Synonyms
defacement, defacing, trashing, vandalization

Related Words
demolishing, demolishment, desecrating, desecration, destruction, ravage, ravaging, ruin, ruination, wrecking; sabotage; depredation, despoiling, despoilment, looting, marauding, pillage, pillaging, plunder, plundering, predation, ransacking, sacking, spoliation

Near Antonyms
conservation, preservation, protection, salvage, saving

vandalization noun
deliberate damaging or destroying of another's property <colorizing that classic black-and-white film would be an unforgivable act of cinematic vandalization> — see VANDALISM

vandalize verb
to deliberately cause the damage or destruction of another's property <he decided to vandalize the store because the owner had kicked him out>

Synonyms
deface, trash

Related Words
desecrate, violate; graffiti, tag; bang up, break, damage, harm, hurt, impair, mar, shatter, spoil; annihilate, demolish, destroy, devastate, ravage, raven, raze, ruin, scourge, smash, tear down, total, waste, wipe out, wrack, wreck; sabotage; depredate, despoil, loot, maraud, pillage, plunder, ransack, sack, spoliate

Near Antonyms
conserve, preserve, protect, save; salvage; build, rebuild

vanguard noun
1 the innovators of new concepts, styles, and techniques especially in the arts <a style of jazz that the vanguard quickly recognized as new and exciting> — see AVANT-GARDE
2 the leading or most important part of a movement <talk radio is often regarded as being in the vanguard of the conservative movement> — see FOREFRONT

vanilla adjective
lacking in distinctive features or qualities <a plain vanilla version of a song that's been recorded more times than necessary> — see NONDESCRIPT

vanish verb
to cease to be visible <the house vanished into the fog as we drove away> — see DISAPPEAR

vanished adjective
no longer existing <the vanished tradition of the maypole as the center for May Day festivities> — see EXTINCT

vanity noun
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements <an all-consuming vanity that made him hunger for constant praise from others> — see COMPLACENCE 1

vanquish verb
to bring under one's control by force of arms <vanquished nation after nation in his relentless conquest of Europe> — see CONQUER 1

vanquisher noun
one that defeats an enemy or opponent <a parade for the triumphal return of the empire's most celebrated vanquisher> — see VICTOR 1

vanquishing noun
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control <a movie about the vanquishing of Egypt by Rome> — see CONQUEST

vantage noun
the more favorable condition or position in a competition <the vantage had all been ours for the first half of the contest> — see ADVANTAGE 1

vantage point noun
a way of looking at or thinking about something <who started the argument apparently depends on your vantage point> — see PERSPECTIVE 1

vapor verb
to praise or express pride in one's own possessions, qualities, or accomplishments often to excess <a faded Southern belle tiresomely vaporing about all the handsome beaux she had in her long-ago youth> — see BOAST 1

vaporize verb
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <a lightning strike vaporized the tree> — see DESTROY 1

variable adjective
1 capable of being readily changed <a variable expense that we could reduce if we needed to> — see FLEXIBLE 1
2 likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <highly variable income from his job as a real estate agent> — see FICKLE 1

variance noun
a lack of agreement or harmony <persistent variance within the rock band eventually caused it to break up> — see DISCORD

variation noun
1 a distinct treatment of something (as a story or a play) <the movie begins with a somewhat irreverent variation on the Nativity story> — see RIFF
2 the act, process, or result of making different <the latest in a long line of variations in her hair color> — see CHANGE 1

varicolored adjective
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <a brilliantly varicolored tapestry> — see COLORFUL

varicose also varicosed adjective
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure <varicose blood vessels> — see BLOATED 2

varied adjective
1 consisting of many things of different sorts <the museum's highly varied collection of works of art> — see MISCELLANEOUS
2 marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <an annual springtime event during which birders get to observe these migratory birds in their varied breeding plumage> — see COLORFUL

variegated adjective
1 marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <the variegated costumes of the dancers in the nightclub> — see COLORFUL
2 marked with spots <a variety of variegated tulip that is highly prized by gardeners> — see SPOTTED 1

variety noun
1 the quality or state of being composed of many different elements or types <the sheer variety of the city's ethnic restaurants was dazzling>

Synonyms
assortment, diverseness, diversity, heterogeneity, heterogeneousness, manifoldness, miscellaneousness, multifariousness, multiplicity, variousness

Related Words
disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, otherness, unlikeness

Near Antonyms
homogeneity, homogeneousness, likeness, sameness, similarity; fewness, paucity

2 an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <every kitchen has a drawer crammed with a variety of things for which there just doesn't seem to be any other place> — see MISCELLANY 1
3 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <I prefer movies of the horror variety> — see SORT 1

various adjective
marked by a variety of usually vivid colors <for their various and bizarrely shaped plumage, males of the bird of paradise species have few rivals> — see COLORFUL

variousness noun
the quality or state of being composed of many different elements or types <the outfits that he wears are always interesting for their variousness and unpredictability> — see VARIETY 1

varlet noun
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <challenged the dastardly varlet to a duel> — see VILLAIN

varmint noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <a seedy saloon that attracts the most low-down, dirty varmints in town> — see JERK 1

vary verb
1 to be unlike; to not be the same <opinions by experts on the subject vary> — see DIFFER 1
2 to make different in some way <varied the method occasionally for the sake of experimentation> — see CHANGE 1
3 to occur within a continuous range of variation <the appliance store is offering discounts that vary from 10 to 40 percent, depending upon the brand> — see RUN 4
4 to pass from one form, state, or level to another <terrain that constantly varied as we traveled from the coast to the interior> — see CHANGE 2

varying adjective
not staying constant <a varying commitment to the cause that meant that one could never be sure if the volunteers would show up> — see UNEVEN 2

vast adjective
unusually large <a vast expanse of land just waiting to be settled> — see HUGE

vastitude noun
the quality or state of being very large <the vastitude of the ocean, especially when contemplated from the deck of a small boat> — see IMMENSITY

vastly adverb
1 to a great degree <the team has vastly improved in the course of the season> — see VERY 1
2 to a large extent or degree <vastly underestimated the cost of advertising the new product> — see GREATLY 2

vastness noun
the quality or state of being very large <awed by the vastness of the prairie> — see IMMENSITY

vasty adjective
unusually large <the days when intrepid explorers sailed the vasty deep in small vessels> — see HUGE

vaticinate verb
to tell of or describe beforehand <if he could really vaticinate the course of the stock market, he'd be rich enough to own Manhattan> — see FORETELL

vaticination noun
a declaration that something will happen in the future <the myopic prewar vaticinations that the conflict would be brief and relatively painless> — see PREDICTION

1vault noun
an underground burial chamber <archaeologists were thrilled to discover an ancient vault that hadn't been looted by grave robbers> — see CRYPT

2vault noun
an act of leaping into the air <a vault over the car's hood by the frightened deer> — see JUMP 1

vault verb
to propel oneself upward or forward into the air <vaulted over the obstacle with ease> — see JUMP 1

vaunt verb
to praise or express pride in one's own possessions, qualities, or accomplishments often to excess <even the noblest of fellows have been known to vaunt a bit> — see BOAST 1

vaunter noun
someone who boasts <like so many vaunters of the nation's military might, he never personally felt the need to serve in the armed forces> — see BRAGGART

veer verb
1 to change one's course or direction <at this point the river veers to the southwest before finally emptying into the Atlantic Ocean> — see TURN 3
2 to change the course or direction of (something) <veered the ship abruptly to the right to avoid a collision> — see TURN 2
3 to depart abruptly from a straight line or course <without warning the car veered to the left and into an oncoming truck> — see SWERVE 1

vegetation noun
green leaves or plants <the local vegetation is flourishing as a result of the recent rains> — see GREENERY

veg out verb
to spend time doing nothing <after an exhausting week at work, I just want to spend the weekend vegging out> — see IDLE

vehemence noun
1 the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression) <the vehemence in her voice when she insisted that she never gossiped surprised me>

Synonyms
aggressiveness, assertiveness, emphasis, fierceness, forcefulness, intenseness, intensity, vigorousness, violence

Related Words
potency, power, strength; eloquence; ardency, ardor, fervency, fervidness, fervor, insistence, passion, warmth; stridency, vociferousness; absoluteness, clearness, directness, incision, incisiveness, plainness, straightforwardness, vividness

Near Antonyms
ambiguity, equivocation; delicacy, lightness, subtlety

Antonyms
feebleness, mildness, weakness

2 depth of feeling <every cause that she pursues is pursued with great vehemence> — see ARDOR 1

vehement adjective
1 marked by or uttered with forcefulness <vehement complaints about the restaurant's poor service> — see EMPHATIC 1
2 extreme in degree, power, or effect <despite the vehement opposition of the club's treasurer, the motion was passed> — see INTENSE 1
3 having or expressing great depth of feeling <a vehement defender of the rights of minorities> — see FERVENT 1

vehicle noun
1 something used to achieve an end <used organized protests as a vehicle for change> — see AGENT 1
2 something used to carry goods or passengers <bought a larger vehicle after they had a third baby> — see CONVEYANCE

veil noun
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <under the veil of descending darkness the thieves began their operation> — see CLOAK 1

veil verb
1 to keep secret or shut off from view <a thicket of bushes veils the private beach from the road> — see 1HIDE 2
2 to surround or cover closely <morning fog veiled the fields> — see ENFOLD 1

vein noun
a distinctive way of putting ideas into words <the author goes on in that sarcastic vein for pages> — see STYLE 1

veld or veldt noun
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country <lions prowling the African veld> — see PLAIN 1

velocipede noun, archaic
a two-wheeled vehicle that is propelled by the use of pedals and steered through the use of handlebars <a museum with an interesting collection of 19th-century velocipedes> — see BICYCLE

velocity noun
a high rate of movement or performance <the velocity of light is about 186,000 miles per second> — see SPEED 1

velvetlike adjective
smooth or delicate in appearance or feel <the growing antlers of a young deer are covered with a velvetlike skin> — see SOFT 2

velvety adjective
smooth or delicate in appearance or feel <a dog's velvety ears> — see SOFT 2

venal adjective
open to improper influence and especially bribery <that judge is known for being venal and easily bought>

Synonyms
bribable, corruptible, dirty, purchasable

Related Words
temptable; hack, mercenary; crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, Machiavellian, unethical, unmoral, unprincipled, unscrupulous; corrupt, corrupted, debased, debauched, defiled, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, perverse, perverted, reprobate, sleazy, vitiated, warped; bad, evil, immoral, iniquitous, nefarious, sinful, vicious, wicked

Near Antonyms
ethical, honest, principled, scrupulous; good, moral, righteous, upright, virtuous

Antonyms
incorruptible

vend verb
to offer for sale to the public <vends snack foods and novelties at fairs> — see MARKET

vendor also vender noun
the person in a business deal who hands over an item in exchange for money <we're thinking of making a deal with that other software vendor>

Synonyms
broker, dealer, merchandiser, seller

Related Words
merchant, trader, tradesman; auctioneer, concessionaire; black marketer (or black marketeer), bootlegger, fence, fencer, hustler, scalper, smuggler, trafficker; discounter, distributor, e-tailer, exporter, jobber, reseller, retailer, wholesaler; chapman [British], hawker, huckster, peddler (also pedlar); salesclerk, salesman, salesperson, saleswoman, shopgirl; bargainer, haggler, horse trader, palterer

Near Antonyms
consumer, end user, user

Antonyms
buyer, purchaser

veneer noun
1 a deceptively attractive external appearance <the veneer of civility that the neighbors had maintained over the years disappeared with the filing of the first lawsuit> — see GLOSS 1
2 an outer part or layer <the top and sides of the desk are overlaid with cherry veneers, while the interior wood is white pine> — see EXTERIOR

venerable adjective
1 deserving honor and respect especially by reason of age <the venerable old man was a cherished source of advice and wisdom for the villagers>

Synonyms
hallowed, revered, reverend, sacred, venerated

Related Words
honorable, reputable, respectable; considered, esteemed, honored, respected, reverenced; admirable, distinguished, estimable, redoubtable, worthy; good, moral, noble, righteous

Near Antonyms
bad, discreditable, disgraceful, dishonorable, disreputable, ignominious, infamous, loose, notorious, shameful; immoral, seamy, shadowy, shady, sordid, unsavory, vile, wicked; base, contemptible, despicable, detestable, dirty, low, mean, wretched

2 dating or surviving from the distant past <a venerable tradition that colleges have been maintaining for centuries> — see ANCIENT 1

venerate verb
to offer honor or respect to (someone) as a divine power <a proper setting in which to venerate God> — see WORSHIP 1

venerated adjective
deserving honor and respect especially by reason of age <a beloved and venerated professor who has been a fixture on campus for decades> — see VENERABLE 1

venge verb, archaic
to punish in kind the wrongdoer responsible for <a romance novel featuring a hotheaded hero who is ever ready to venge every affront to the family's honor> — see AVENGE

vengeance noun
the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury <sought vengeance after his sister was murdered> — see REVENGE

vengeful adjective
likely to seek revenge <a vengeful person never lets go of a grudge> — see VINDICTIVE

venial adjective
worthy of forgiveness <taking the restaurant's menu as a souvenir seems like a venial offense>

Synonyms
condonable, excusable, forgivable, pardonable, remissible, remittable

Related Words
justifiable, redeemable; allowable, permissible; insignificant, minor, petty, trifling, trivial, unimportant; harmless, ignorable, tolerable

Near Antonyms
abominable, criminal, damning, evil, heinous; sinful, vile, wicked

Antonyms
indefensible, inexcusable, mortal, unforgivable, unjustifiable, unpardonable

venom noun
1 a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing <an antidote to snake venom> — see POISON
2 the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <a neighborhood gossip of such venom that she was feared by all and genuinely liked by no one> — see MALICE

venomous adjective
containing or contaminated with a substance capable of injuring or killing a living thing <a venomous arrow> — see POISONOUS

vent verb
1 to find emotional release for <vented her anger and then quickly calmed down> — see TAKE OUT 1
2 to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) <vented his opinions freely and loudly at town meetings> — see EXPRESS 1
3 to throw or give off <a clothes dryer venting steam> — see EMIT 1

ventilate verb
to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) <a person who tends to ventilate opinions without first thinking them through> — see EXPRESS 1

ventilated adjective
open to the free circulation of air <if the barn isn't kept ventilated, the hay can ignite> — see AIRY 2

venture noun
a risky undertaking <their latest business venture failed big-time> — see GAMBLE

venture verb
1 to place in danger <don't venture more money than you can afford to lose> — see ENDANGER
2 to take a chance on <ventured to speak plainly at the meeting> — see RISK 1

venturesome adjective
1 inclined or willing to take risks <a venturesome child tried to climb the huge tree> — see BOLD 1
2 involving potential loss or injury <the first solo pilot to undertake the venturesome crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by air> — see DANGEROUS 1

venturous adjective
inclined or willing to take risks <at the time, any woman venturous enough to want to be an astronaut faced ridicule> — see BOLD 1

venue noun
1 a place or opportunity for communicating ideas and information <a cable show might the perfect venue for your opinions about local politics>

Synonyms
forum, medium, outlet, platform, soapbox

Related Words
channel, conduit, pipeline; showcase, stage

2 the area or space occupied by or intended for something <the historic library is a perfect venue for the series of poetry readings> — see PLACE 1

veracious adjective
1 being in the habit of telling the truth <he has a reputation for being veracious, so people generally take his word for things> — see TRUTHFUL
2 following an original exactly <most readers have accepted the book as a veracious account of Samuel Johnson's table talk> — see FAITHFUL 2
3 being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard <a novel that presents a fairly veracious and unvarnished picture of the lives of affluent suburbanites> — see CORRECT 1

veracity noun
1 devotion to telling the truth <her innate veracity is beyond question> — see HONESTY 1
2 the quality or state of being very accurate <I challenge the veracity of many of the quotations in his memoirs, for he recreates conversations that occurred decades ago> — see PRECISION

veranda or verandah noun
a covered structure adjoining an entrance to a building <whiling away the afternoon from the inn's wide veranda> — see PORCH

verbal adjective
1 of or relating to words or language <the child didn't yet have the verbal skills needed to tell the doctor about the pain he was experiencing>

Synonyms
lexical, linguistic (also linguistical), rhetorical (also rhetoric), vocabular, wordy

Related Words
communicative, conversational

Antonyms
nonlexical, nonlinguistic, nonverbal

2 made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing <a verbal agreement carries less force than a written contract>

Synonyms
nuncupative, oral, spoken, unwritten, viva voce, word-of-mouth

Related Words
consensual, implicit, informal; articulated, verbalized; given, pronounced, said, sounded, stated, told, voiced

Near Antonyms
explicit, formal

Antonyms
paper, written

verbalism noun
1 an act, process, or means of putting something into words <the meticulous verbalism of the senator's prepared statement suggests that she knew that it would spark controversy> — see EXPRESSION 1
2 the use of too many words to express an idea <prose that is lean, uncluttered, and utterly devoid of any trace of verbalism> — see VERBIAGE 1

verbalize verb
to express (a thought or emotion) in words <couldn't quite verbalize the cause of his mental distress> — see SAY 1

verbatim adverb
in the same words <you can't just copy the encyclopedia article verbatim for your report—that's plagiarism>

Synonyms
ad verbum, directly, exactly, word for word

Related Words
accurately, precisely; identically; literally

Near Antonyms
basically, essentially, virtually; carelessly, freely, imprecisely, inaccurately, loosely

Antonyms
inexactly

verbiage noun
1 the use of too many words to express an idea <teachers loathe the verbiage that students resort to in order to pad a paper>

Synonyms
circumlocution, diffuseness, diffusion, garrulity, garrulousness, logorrhea, long-windedness, periphrasis, prolixity, redundancy, verbalism, verboseness, verbosity, windiness, wordage, wordiness

Related Words
circuitousness, circularity, digressiveness; pleonasm, tautology; reiteration, repetition, repetitiousness, repetitiveness; embellishment, embroidering, exaggeration, hyperbole, overstatement

Near Antonyms
brevity, briefness, compactness, conciseness, concision, crispness, pithiness, succinctness, terseness

2 language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere <the pretentious verbiage that one finds in the reviews of self-important art critics> — see RHETORIC 1
3 the way in which something is put into words <as per the standard verbiage of military reports, the assault was launched at “0700 hours”> — see WORDING 1

verbose adjective
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea <had to wade through a verbose letter of complaint> — see WORDY 1

verboseness noun
the use of too many words to express an idea <the verboseness of the essay is obviously the result of being forced to meet a minimum-page requirement> — see VERBIAGE 1

verbosity noun
the use of too many words to express an idea <your ideas are good, but your penchant for verbosity is unfortunate> — see VERBIAGE 1

verboten adjective
that may not be permitted <a college campus on which any form of hate speech was strictly verboten> — see IMPERMISSIBLE

verdant adjective
covered with a thick, healthy natural growth <a beautiful, verdant field> — see LUSH 1

verdict noun
1 a position arrived at after consideration <the marketing consultant's verdict was that we were doing just fine> — see DECISION 1
2 an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge <was anxious to hear her best friend's verdict on her new boyfriend> — see OPINION 1

verdure noun
1 green leaves or plants <a good time to tour the wine country is when it is clothed with the verdure of midsummer> — see GREENERY
2 the condition of being sound in body <a portrait of a fresh-faced teenage girl in all of her youthful verdure and irrepressible joie de vivre> — see HEALTH 1

verge noun
1 an interval of time just before the onset of something <the suspect was on the verge of confessing when the officers realized that he hadn't been read his rights> — see POINT 3
2 the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something <the southern verge of the national park> — see BORDER 1

verge (on) verb
1 to be adjacent to <our land verges on a wildlife refuge> — see ADJOIN 1
2 to come very close to being <a comment that verged on an insult> — see BORDER ON 1

verging adjective
having a border in common <the two brothers bought verging properties> — see ADJACENT

verifiable adjective
capable of being proven as true or real <we're not sure whether that's a verifiable hypothesis> <you need a verifiable letter from your doctor to file a claim for short-term disability>

Synonyms
checkable, confirmable, demonstrable, empirical (also empiric), provable, supportable, sustainable

Related Words
certifiable, documentable, well-founded; defensible, excusable, justifiable, vindicable, warrantable; alleged, assumed, conjectured, guessed, presumed, surmised, suspected

Near Antonyms
debatable, disprovable, disputable, refutable

Antonyms
indemonstrable, insupportable, unprovable, unsupportable, unsustainable, unverifiable

verify verb
to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of <the dispatcher was able to verify the caller's location> — see CONFIRM 1

verifying adjective
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something <failed to produce any verifying evidence> — see CORROBORATIVE

verily adverb
1 to tell the truth <verily, I don't remember a single thing about that course> — see ACTUALLY 1
2 not merely this but also <I shall pay back your loan and verily do so with considerable interest> — see EVEN 1

verisimilitude noun
realistic depiction in art and literature <the novel's degree of verisimilitude is compromised by 18th-century characters who speak in very 21st-century English>

Synonyms
literalism, naturalism, realism, representationalism, verismo

Related Words
photo-realism; authenticity, grittiness

verismo noun
realistic depiction in art and literature <the author of this crime novel uses profuse profanity in the name of verismo, but its effectiveness palls after a couple of chapters> — see VERISIMILITUDE

veritably adverb
in actual fact <the view from the summit of the mountain is veritably breathtaking> — see VERY 2

verity noun
1 agreement with fact or reality <the local tourist bureau is less concerned with the verity of the legend than the fact that it attracts visitors to the area> — see TRUTH
2 devotion to telling the truth <no one is questioning your verity—just your memory of events that happened long ago> — see HONESTY 1

vermin noun
a person whose behavior is offensive to others <the vermin who looted abandoned houses after the hurricane> — see JERK 1

vernacular adjective
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing <writes essays in a very easy-to-read, vernacular style> — see COLLOQUIAL 1

versatile adjective
able to do many different kinds of things <a versatile baseball player can play any position> <this tool is versatile enough to serve as a wrench or pliers>

Synonyms
adaptable, all-around (also all-round), protean, universal

Related Words
general-purpose, mixed-use, multipurpose; well-rounded; able, ace, adept, experienced, expert, masterful, proficient, skilled, skillful; adjustable, alterable, changeable, elastic, flexible, fluid, malleable, modifiable, plastic, pliable, pliant, supple, variable

Near Antonyms
limited; amateur, inexperienced

verse noun
1 a composition using rhythm and often rhyme to create a lyrical effect <composed a short verse for his mother's birthday> — see POEM
2 writing that uses rhythm, vivid language, and often rhyme to provoke an emotional response <skilled at verse> — see POETRY 1

verse verb
to give information to <while in prison, he versed himself in the rights of the incarcerated> — see ENLIGHTEN 1

versed adjective
1 having information especially as a result of study or experience <versed in the latest developments in aeronautics> — see FAMILIAR 2
2 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <well versed in the techniques of laser surgery> — see PROFICIENT

versifier noun
a person who writes poetry <I may not be a great poet, but I'm as good as those versifiers hired by the greeting card companies> — see POET

version noun
a presentation of an artistic work (as a piece of music) from a particular point of view <a very Freudian version of the ballet “The Nutcracker”> — see ACCOUNT 2

vertebral column noun
a column of bones supporting the trunk of a vertebrate animal <carefully reconstructed the vertebral column of the dinosaur> — see SPINE

vertical adjective
rising straight up <a vertical cliff face> — see ERECT

vertiginous adjective
having a feeling of being whirled about and in danger of falling down <a 3-D effect that is likely to leave some audience members feeling vertiginous> — see DIZZY 1

verve adjective
active strength of body or mind <the actor plays the part of the superhero with tremendous verve and obvious enjoyment> — see VIGOR 1

very adjective
1 being one and not another <we stayed in the very hotel my parents stayed in for their honeymoon> — see SAME 2
2 being this and no more <the very thought of having to go through that again is scary> — see MERE
3 existing in fact and not merely as a possibility <tourism is the very lifeblood of this community—the town would surely die without it> — see ACTUAL
4 having no exceptions or restrictions <the very nerve of that woman—telling me how to raise my own children> — see ABSOLUTE 2

very adverb
1 to a great degree <that was a very brave thing to do>

Synonyms
achingly, almighty, archly, awful, awfully, badly, beastly, blisteringly, bone, colossally, corking, cracking, damn, damned, dang, deadly, desperately, eminently, enormously, especially, ever, exceedingly (also exceeding), extra, extremely, fabulously, fantastically, far, fiercely, filthy, frightfully, full, greatly, heavily, highly, hugely, immensely, incredibly, intensely, jolly, majorly, mightily, mighty, monstrous [chiefly dialect], mortally, most, much, particularly, passing, rattling, real, really, right, roaring, roaringly, seriously, severely, so, sore, sorely, spanking, specially, stinking, such, super, supremely, surpassingly, terribly, that, thumping, too, unco, uncommonly, vastly, vitally, way, whacking, wicked, wildly

Related Words
absolutely, altogether, completely, downright, entirely, flat-out, fully, positively, purely, radically, thoroughly, totally, utterly, wholly; deeply, profoundly; exceptionally, notably, remarkably; considerably, extensively, significantly, substantially; appreciably, discernibly, markedly, noticeably, obviously, palpably, plainly, visibly; abundantly, plentifully; astronomically, grandly, monstrously, monumentally; excessively, obscenely, overmuch; amazingly, astonishingly, staggeringly

Phrases
a lot, as all get-out, good and

Near Antonyms
meagerly, scantily; barely, hardly, just, marginally, minimally, scarcely

Antonyms
little, negligibly, nominally, slightly, somewhat

2 in actual fact <the very same thing happened to me>

Synonyms
actually, authentically, certifiably, genuinely, really, truly, veritably

Related Words
accurately, exactly, just, precisely, right, sharp, smack-dab, squarely; almost, nearly, practically, virtually; literally, positively, simply

Phrases
in actuality, in reality, in truth

Near Antonyms
apparently, ostensibly, outwardly, plausibly, seemingly

Antonyms
professedly, supposedly

vessel noun
1 a large craft for travel by water <a new ocean liner that claims to be the largest commercial vessel afloat> — see SHIP
2 a small buoyant structure for travel on water <any vessel that is buoyant and steerable can be entered in the annual race down the river> — see BOAT 1
3 a usually circular utensil for holding something (as food) <uses a large copper vessel for beating egg whites> — see DISH 1
4 something into which a liquid or smaller objects can be put for storage or transportation <any watertight vessel can be used for mixing the paints> — see CONTAINER

vest verb
1 to give official or legal power to <“By the power vested in me by the state,” intoned the minister, “I now pronounce that you are married”> — see AUTHORIZE 1
2 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <vested the power to access their retirement accounts with their attorney> — see GIVE 2
3 to give the ownership or benefit of (something) formally or publicly <the U.S. Constitution vests the power to declare war with Congress> — see CONFER 1

vestal adjective
free from any trace of the coarse or indecent <a schoolteacher who dresses with almost vestal modesty while on the job> — see CHASTE 1

vestiary noun
covering for the human body <in Gainsborough's paintings women are almost always portrayed in a varicolored vestiary of satin and silk> — see CLOTHING

vestibule noun
the entrance room of a building <please leave your wet boots in the vestibule> — see HALL 1

vestige noun
1 a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished <a few strange words carved on a tree were the only vestige of the lost colony of Roanoke>

Synonyms
echo, ghost, relic, shadow, trace

Related Words
memento, remembrance, reminder; artifact; afterimage, aftertaste; balance, corpse, hangover, leftover, oddment, remainder, remnant, scrap; dreg(s), leavings, remain(s), residual, residue, rest

2 the mark or impression made by a foot <the fossilized vestige of a dinosaur that traversed that muddy landscape millions of years ago> — see FOOTPRINT

vestments plural noun
covering for the human body <nowadays at adult Halloween parties a lot of women like to wear vestments that reveal their inner vixen> — see CLOTHING

vestry noun
a room in a church building for sacred furnishings (as vestments) <the priest returned the chalice to the vestry> — see SACRISTY

vesture noun
covering for the human body <the man's sober vesture contrasted sharply with his companion's festive finery> — see CLOTHING

vesture verb
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes <vestured like a queen for her grand birthday party> — see CLOTHE 1

vet noun
a person with long experience in a specified area <he's a hardened vet of many political campaigns> — see VETERAN

veteran adjective
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <a veteran teacher who mentors new teachers> — see PROFICIENT

veteran noun
a person with long experience in a specified area <as a veteran of overseas travel, she gave us solid advice about planning our trip>

Synonyms
doyen, old hand, old-timer, stager, vet, warhorse

Related Words
doyenne; adept, dab hand [chiefly British], expert, guru, hand, master, maven (also mavin), past master, pro, professional

Near Antonyms
apprentice, cub; boot, novitiate; amateur, dilettante; learner, student, trainee; candidate, entrant, probationer

Antonyms
beginner, colt, fledgling, freshman, greenhorn, neophyte, newbie, newcomer, novice, recruit, rookie, tenderfoot, tyro

veto noun
an order that something not be done or used <management's veto of our suggestion about allowing casual dress on Fridays> — see PROHIBITION 2

veto verb
to reject by or as if by a vote <my husband quickly vetoed my suggestion that we adopt the stray dog> — see NEGATIVE 1

vex verb
1 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <my coworkers' loud, endless conversations vexed me> — see IRRITATE 1
2 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty <a mystery novel that is sure to vex even the canniest readers> — see CONFUSE 1

vexation noun
1 the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another <the repeated vexations guaranteed that she wouldn't get any work done> — see ANNOYANCE 1
2 the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts <he suppressed his rising vexation and answered as politely as he could> — see ANNOYANCE 2
3 something that is a source of irritation <add cell phones to the list of vexations that theatergoers have to contend with> — see ANNOYANCE 3

vexatious adjective
causing annoyance <those vexatious phone calls from telemarketers during the dinner hour> — see ANNOYING

vexed adjective
subjected to and reacting with irritation <my dog was clearly vexed with me for having been gone all week, and hardly greeted me when I came home> — see ANNOYED

vexing adjective
causing annoyance <the constantly changing schedule was somewhat vexing, but I coped> — see ANNOYING

via preposition
1 along the way of <we're going to their house via the back roads> — see BY 1
2 using the means or agency of <contacted her via telephone> — see BY 2

viable adjective
capable of being done or carried out <more research will be required to see if this is a viable solution> — see POSSIBLE 1

viand noun
1 something that is pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury <a shop selling caviar, foie gras, designer chocolates, and other pricey viands> — see DELICACY 1
2 viands plural substances intended to be eaten <the inn serves its choice viands on delicate china and its selection of vintage wines in the finest crystal available> — see FOOD 1

vibe noun, usually vibes plural
a spiritual force that is held to emanate from or give animation to living beings <a book by a professor of physiological science about her experiments with human energy fields and the vibes they emanate> — see ENERGY 1

vibrance noun
the quality or state of having abundant or intense activity <new legislation to help small businesses and restore the vibrance of the local economy> — see VITALITY 1

vibrancy noun
the quality or state of having abundant or intense activity <the addition of several new stores enhances the vibrancy of the town> — see VITALITY 1

vibrant adjective
1 marked by much life, movement, or activity <was rather overwhelmed by the vibrant environment of the big city> — see ALIVE 2
2 marked by conspicuously full and rich sounds or tones <a throaty, vibrant singing voice> — see RESONANT

vibrate verb
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <the glasses and knickknacks on the shelves vibrated during the slight earthquake> — see SHAKE 1

vibration noun
1 a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side <the vibration of the floor caused by thundering feet in the hallway>

Synonyms
jiggling, oscillation, quivering, shaking, shivering, shuddering, trembling, twitching

Related Words
juddering [chiefly British], quaking, rocking; jiggle, palpitation, quiver, shake, shiver, shudder, tremble, tremor, twitch

2 often vibrations plural a spiritual force that is held to emanate from or give animation to living beings <the Eastern holisitc philosophy that unhappy thoughts disrupt the vibrations from one's energy field, causing illness> — see ENERGY 1
3 usually vibrations plural a special quality or impression associated with something <although the murders happened long ago, visitors to the house claim that it still gives off unsettling vibrations> — see AURA 1

vice noun
1 immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society <that section of the city is legendary for crime and vice>

Synonyms
corruption, debauchery, depravity, immorality, iniquitousness, iniquity, libertinage, libertinism, licentiousness, profligacy, sin

Related Words
bad, badness, blackness, evil, evildoing, ill, turpitude, villainy, wickedness, wrong; atrociousness, evilness, heinousness, sinfulness, unscrupulousness, viciousness, vileness, villainousness; devilry (or deviltry), fiendishness; corruptness, debasement, degeneracy, degeneration, depravedness, dissoluteness, dissolution; indecency, lasciviousness, lechery, lewdness, looseness, perversion, pervertedness, wantonness; abomination, anathema, taboo (also tabu); criminality, reprehensibleness; baseness, despicableness, dirtiness, lowness, meanness; lousiness, miserableness, wretchedness

Near Antonyms
good, right; honesty, honor, integrity, legitimacy, probity, rectitude, scrupulosity, scrupulousness, uprightness; goodness, righteousness, virtuousness; blamelessness; chastity, innocence, perfection, pureness, purity, spotlessness; cleanness, correctness, decency, decorousness, propriety, rightness, seemliness

Antonyms
morality, virtue

2 a defect in character <curiosity in children is not a vice, but something to be encouraged> — see FAULT 1
3 the practice of engaging in sexual activities for money <a seedy section of the city where vice is rampant and very much out in the open> — see PROSTITUTION

vicinage noun
an adjoining region or space <potential jurors were to be drawn from the vicinage in which the crime occurred> — see ENVIRONS 2

vicinity noun
1 an adjoining region or space <there are no hotels in the vicinity of the hospital> — see ENVIRONS 2
2 the state or condition of being near <the vicinity of the town's only elementary school was one reason why the young couple bought the house> — see PROXIMITY
3 an approximate amount, extent, or degree <starting salaries in that field are in the vicinity of $50,000 a year> — see NEIGHBORHOOD 1

vicious adjective
1 extreme in degree, power, or effect <a vicious winter storm ripped through the region> — see INTENSE 1
2 having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <she made a vicious effort to destroy the lives of the people who had wronged her> — see CRUEL 1
3 not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <the truly vicious philosophy of that racist organization> — see BAD 2
4 violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition <a vicious dog that has already bitten several people> — see FIERCE 1
5 having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it <he spread vicious rumors about his ex-wife after their bitter divorce> — see HATEFUL

viciously adverb
in a mean or spiteful manner <the administrator viciously denied me the time off that I needed to attend my dear aunt's funeral> — see NASTILY

viciousness noun
1 the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm <simple viciousness can be the only reason for spreading such vile, unfounded rumors> — see MALICE
2 disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <the unspeakable viciousness of the medical experiments carried out at the concentration camps> — see CRUELTY

victim noun
1 a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed <helped the victims of the fire> — see CASUALTY 1
2 a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule <the victim of schoolyard teasing> — see TARGET 1
3 something offered to a god <the Aztecs are believed to have sacrificed thousands of victims annually to the sun> — see SACRIFICE

victimize verb
to rob by the use of trickery or threats <victimized by a confidence man with a slick story> — see FLEECE

victor noun
1 one that defeats an enemy or opponent <the computer is usually the victor in a chess match against a human opponent>

Synonyms
beater, conqueror, master, subduer, trimmer, vanquisher, whipper, winner

Related Words
champ, champion, finalist, placer; dominator, overdog, ruler, subjugator, top dog

Near Antonyms
punching bag, pushover, quitter; failure, flop, washout; underdog

Antonyms
loser

2 the person who comes in first in a competition <the victor in the science fair had constructed a functioning telescope> — see CHAMPION 1

Victorian adjective
given to or marked by very conservative standards regarding personal behavior or morals <a conservative Christian sect with a code of sexual morality that is often seen as quaintly Victorian by outsiders> — see STRAITLACED

victory noun
an instance of defeating an enemy or opponent <with great effort, our team managed an upset victory in the final moments>

Synonyms
palm, triumph, win

Related Words
capture, conquest, mastery, subjugation, vanquishing; blowout, landslide, laugher, romp, runaway, shutout, sweep, walkaway, walkover; squeaker; success; takeover

Near Antonyms
upset; collapse, debacle (also débâcle), disaster, failure, fizzle, flop, nonsuccess, washout; decline, slip, slump, wane; lurch, setback

Antonyms
beating, defeat, drubbing, licking, loss, overthrow, rout, shellacking, trimming, whipping

victual verb
1 to provide food or meals for <the navy was usually equipped, clothed and victualled by the Crown> — see FEED 1
2 to take a meal <that evening the travelers victualed sumptuously on partridge and venison> — see DINE 1

victuals plural noun
substances intended to be eaten <sat down with a plate of hearty victuals and a mug of ale> — see FOOD 1

vid noun
a recording (as of a movie) on magnetic tape for playback on a TV <a vid of the pop star performing her latest hit single> — see VIDEO

videlicet adverb
that is to say <the meaning of the Constitution is determined by one—and only one—body, videlicet, the U.S. Supreme Court> — see NAMELY

video noun
a recording (as of a movie) on magnetic tape for playback on a TV <every Thanksgiving, our family watches videos of past holiday gatherings>

Synonyms
tape, tape recording, vid, videotape

Related Words
DVD, laser disc; videocassette, videodisc (or videodisk)

videotape noun
a recording (as of a movie) on magnetic tape for playback on a TV <watched a videotape of her daughter's first ballet recital> — see VIDEO

vie verb
to engage in a contest <vied with his colleagues for the coveted promotion> — see COMPETE

view noun
1 all that can be seen from a certain point <the view of the mountains from the inn's porch is spectacular>

Synonyms
command, lookout, outlook, panorama, perspective, prospect, vista

Related Words
landscape, scene, scenery; ken, sight; visual field

2 an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge <that's one view, but I happen to disagree> — see OPINION 1
3 an instance of looking especially briefly <took a quick view of the Web page and decided that it didn't have what he was looking for> — see LOOK 2
4 a close look at or over someone or something in order to judge condition <upon closer view the painting was an obvious forgery> — see INSPECTION

view verb
1 to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) <I'll have to view all of the evidence before making a decision> — see INSPECT
2 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <viewed the latest changes and approved them> — see SEE 1
3 to think of in a particular way <I view housework as a necessary evil> — see CONSIDER 1

viewer noun
someone who sees or watches something <viewers of the police videotape are divided in their opinions as to what it actually shows> — see SPECTATOR

viewpoint noun
a way of looking at or thinking about something <from my viewpoint the rule against slogans on T-shirts infringes on my right to free speech> — see PERSPECTIVE 1

vigil noun
an act or period of watching for signs of activity, danger, or opportunity <kept vigil at their ailing son's bedside the entire time he was in the hospital>

Synonyms
lookout, surveillance, watch

Related Words
observance, observation, supervision; inspection, scrutiny

vigilance noun
the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of opportunity, activity, or danger <eternal vigilance is the price of freedom>

Synonyms
alert, alertness, attentiveness, qui vive, red alert, watch, watchfulness

Related Words
aliveness, awareness, consciousness, mindfulness, receptiveness, receptivity, sensitivity; care, carefulness, cautiousness, chariness, heedfulness, wariness; preparation, readiness

Near Antonyms
absentmindedness, abstraction, daydreaming, daze, distraction; absorption, engrossment, obliviousness, preoccupation; unawareness, unconsciousness; carelessness, heedlessness, inattention, inattentiveness, inobservance; unwariness

vigilant adjective
paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity <the night watchman, who was usually vigilant, apparently dozed off and didn't notice the vandals sneaking in> — see ALERT 1

vigilante noun
one who inflicts punishment in return for an injury or offense <the danger of these self-appointed vigilantes is that they sometimes go after innocent people> — see NEMESIS 1

vignette noun
a vivid representation in words of someone or something <the general's memoirs are filled with revealing vignettes of some of the war's most compelling personalities> — see DESCRIPTION 1

vigor noun
1 active strength of body or mind <she was picked to lead the volunteer group because of her vigor and enthusiasm>

Synonyms
beans, bounce, brio, dash, drive, dynamism, energy, esprit, gas, get-up-and-go, ginger, go, gusto, hardihood, juice, life, moxie, oomph, pep, punch, sap, snap, starch, verve, vim, vinegar, vitality, zing, zip

Related Words
animal spirits, animation, briskness, jauntiness, liveliness, snappiness, spirit, spiritedness, sprightliness, spunk, spunkiness, vibrance, vibrancy, vivaciousness, vivacity; ardor, élan, fervor, fire, passion, zeal; main, metal, mettle, might, muscle, potency, power, puissance, stamina, strength; brawniness, fitness, hardiness, huskiness, sturdiness, virility; health, healthiness, soundness, verdure, wellness

Near Antonyms
indolence, laziness; debilitation, debility, delicacy, disablement, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, impotence, impotency, infirmity, powerlessness, puniness, slightness, softness, tenderness, weakness; enervation, exhaustion, inanition, prostration

Antonyms
lethargy, listlessness, sluggishness, torpidity

2 the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task <a drug for lowering cholesterol that acts with proven vigor> — see POWER 2

vigorous adjective
1 having active strength of body or mind <he remains healthy and vigorous despite being over 80 years old>

Synonyms
dynamic, energetic, flush, gingery, lusty, peppy, red-blooded, robust, vital

Related Words
animated, brisk, dashing, kinetic, lively, punchy, spirited, sprightly, vivacious; energized, enlivened, invigorated, vitalized; firm, fortified, mettlesome, mighty, powerful, puissant, strong; refreshed, rejuvenated, revitalized; able-bodied, athletic, beefy, brawny, burly, fit, hardy, husky, muscular, robustious, rugged, stalwart, stout, strapping, sturdy, tough, virile; hale, healthy, hearty, sound; capable, competent

Near Antonyms
delicate, effete, enervated, faint, feeble, frail, infirm, wan, weak, weakened; impotent, powerless, prostrate, prostrated, sapped, tired; indolent, lackadaisical, languid, lazy; invertebrate, nerveless, soft, spineless, wimpy; ill, unhealthy, unsound, unwell; broken-down, debilitated, decrepit, disabled, wasted, worn-out

Antonyms
dull, lethargic, listless, sluggish, torpid

2 able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure <vigorous and sturdy little sheep bred to live in mountainous regions> — see HARDY 1
3 marked by or uttered with forcefulness <offered a vigorous dissent to the proposal> — see EMPHATIC 1
4 not showing weakness or uncertainty <gave the bottle of sauce a vigorous shaking> — see FIRM 1

vigorously adverb
in a vigorous and forceful manner <vigorously shook my hand and told me how happy he was to be there> — see HARD 3

vigorousness noun
1 the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression) <the vigorousness of the ideas in the essay was surpassed only by the vibrancy of its language> — see VEHEMENCE 1
2 the quality or state of having abundant or intense activity <the record-breaking holiday sales reflect the vigorousness of the economy> — see VITALITY 1

vile adjective
1 not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <a vile plot to murder their political enemies> — see BAD 2
2 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <a vile trick to play on someone> — see IGNOBLE 2
3 unpleasant to look at <an outfit with a truly vile combination of colors> — see UGLY 1

vileness noun
the state or quality of being utterly evil <no one can question the sheer vileness of this act of terrorism> — see ENORMITY 1

vilification noun
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation <warned that the constant vilification of candidates for public office was undermining the people's faith in the political system> — see SLANDER

vilify verb
to make untrue and harmful statements about <claimed that she had been vilified by the press because of her conservative views> — see SLANDER

vilifying noun
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation <the nonstop vilifying had the effect of making some people sympathetic to the victim> — see SLANDER

vilipend verb
to express scornfully one's low opinion of <one of those elitists who regularly vilipends popular culture> — see DECRY 1

vill noun
a small residential settlement <an ancient vill nestled midst the verdant hills> — see VILLAGE

villa noun
a large impressive residence <a millionaire with a luxurious villa in Mexico> — see MANSION

village noun
a small residential settlement <we stayed in a charming bed-and-breakfast in a lakeside village>

Synonyms
bourg, hamlet, townlet, vill, whistle-stop

Related Words
cow town, Podunk; outpost

villager noun
a person who lives in a town on a permanent basis <the villagers have a reputation for being polite and helpful to the tourists> — see BURGHER

villain noun
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <only a heartless villain would kidnap a baby for ransom>

Synonyms
baddie (or baddy), beast, brute, caitiff, devil, evildoer, fiend, heavy, hound, knave, meanie (also meany), miscreant, monster, nazi, no-good, rapscallion, rascal, reprobate, rogue, savage, scalawag (or scallywag), scamp, scapegrace, scoundrel, varlet, wretch

Related Words
villainess; blackguard; criminal, crook, culprit, felon, lawbreaker, malefactor, offender, perp, perpetrator, transgressor; sinner, trespasser, wrongdoer; cad, heel, serpent, snake, viper; bandit, bravo, desperado, outlaw; con, convict, jailbird; assassin, cutthroat, gangster, goon, gunman, hoodlum, hooligan, racketeer, ruffian, thug; rough, rowdy, tough; loser, lowlife, ne'er-do-well, stinker, trash

Near Antonyms
angel, innocent, saint; hero

villainous adjective
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <villainous behavior that made him one of the most notorious figures in history and gave rise to the legend of Dracula> — see BAD 2

villainously adverb
in a mean or spiteful manner <the robber villainously snatched the necklace from the old woman's throat> — see NASTILY

villainy noun
that which is morally unacceptable <psychologists and sociologists have tried to discover the roots of such unspeakable villainy> — see EVIL

vim noun
active strength of body or mind <some food and a little rest should give me back some of my vim> — see VIGOR 1

vindicate verb
1 to free from a charge of wrongdoing <vowed that the evidence would completely vindicate him> — see EXCULPATE
2 to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of <recent discoveries have generally vindicated the physicist's theories> — see CONFIRM 1

vindicating adjective
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something <vindicating documents have turned up only recently> — see CORROBORATIVE

vindication noun
a setting free from a charge of wrongdoing <recanted testimony that resulted in a long-overdue vindication> — see ACQUITTAL

vindictive adjective
likely to seek revenge <be careful not to annoy the vindictive old woman who lives down the street>

Synonyms
revengeful, vengeful

Related Words
avenging, retaliatory; resentful, uncharitable, unforgiving; catty, cruel, despiteful, hateful, malevolent, malicious, malign, malignant, mean, nasty, sadistic, spiteful, venomous, vicious, viperish, virulent; narrow-minded, petty, small-minded; grim, implacable, merciless, pitiless, relentless, unrelenting; baleful, baneful, evil; harsh, hostile, inimical, wrathful

Near Antonyms
charitable, forgiving, merciful, relenting; benevolent, benign, benignant, loving; brotherly, compassionate, good, good-hearted, kind, kindhearted, kindly, sympathetic, warm, warmhearted; altruistic, humane, humanitarian, philanthropic (also philanthropical); sweet, tender, tenderhearted; high-minded, magnanimous, noble

vinegar noun
active strength of body or mind <glad to see his old friend was still full of vinegar after so many years> — see VIGOR 1

vinegary adjective
causing or characterized by the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids <vinegary potato salad> — see SOUR 1

vintage adjective
pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time <the designer's bracelets and necklaces have the vintage look of jewelry from the 1920s> — see OLD-FASHIONED 1

violate verb
1 to fail to keep <you've violated the company's new rule against smoking within 30 feet of the building>

Synonyms
breach, break, contravene, fracture, infringe, offend, traduce, transgress

Related Words
disobey, rebel; blow off, brush (off), disregard, flout, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, tune out, wink (at); dismiss, pooh-pooh (also pooh), scorn, shrug off; defy, resist, withstand

Near Antonyms
defer (to), serve, submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to); attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, watch

Antonyms
comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey, observe

2 to treat (a sacred place or object) shamefully or with great disrespect <the invaders violated the temple by using it to stable their horses> — see DESECRATE
3 to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent <the youthful offender had been in prison barely a week when he was violated in the shower room> — see RAPE

violation noun
1 a breaking of a moral or legal code <in colonial times blasphemy was considered a serious civil violation that merited harsh punishment> — see OFFENSE 1
2 a failure to uphold the requirements of law, duty, or obligation <a military action that must be regarded as a violation of the treaty> — see BREACH 1
3 the act of forcing a person to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse <the time-honored brutalities of war include the violation of the enemy's womenfolk> — see RAPE 1

violence noun
1 the use of brute strength to cause harm to a person or property <the police believe that the woman died of natural causes rather than as a result of violence>

Synonyms
force, foul play

Related Words
coercion, compulsion, constraint, duress, pressure; barbarity, brutality, savagery; damage, detriment, harm, hurt, impairment, injury; crippling, maiming, mayhem, mutilation; assault, attack, bashing, battering, battery, batting, beating, belting, bludgeoning, buffeting, clubbing, cudgeling (or cudgelling), drubbing, flogging, hammering, lacing, licking, mauling, paddling, pelting, pommeling (or pommelling), pounding, pummeling (also pummelling), smashing, socking, thrashing, thumping, tromping, walloping, whaling, whipping; frenzy, fury, onslaught, outbreak, outrage, paroxysm, rage, rampage, revolt, riot, rupture, shock, storm, terror, threat, tumult, turbulence, upheaval, uproar; browbeating, bulldozing, bullying, hectoring, strong-arming

Near Antonyms
pacificism, pacifism

Antonyms
nonviolence

2 the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression) <taken aback by the violence of her denial of any wrongdoing> — see VEHEMENCE 1
3 depth of feeling <some people were taken aback by the violence with which the magazine's art critic attacked the exhibition> — see ARDOR 1

violent adjective
1 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <a violent fight that left several people badly hurt>

Synonyms
bang-bang, blood-and-guts, convulsive, cyclonic, explosive, ferocious, fierce, furious, hammer-and-tongs, hot, knock-down, drag-out (or knock-down-and-drag-out), paroxysmal, rabid, rough, stormy, tempestuous, tumultuous, turbulent, volcanic

Related Words
barbarous, brutal, savage, vicious; antagonistic, hostile; aggressive, assertive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, gladiatorial, pugnacious, quarrelsome, truculent; combustible, volatile; agitated, frantic, frenzied, mad; cataclysmal (or cataclysmic), destructive, ruinous

Near Antonyms
calm, halcyon, pacific, serene, tranquil; nonbelligerent, unaggressive

Antonyms
nonviolent, peaceable, peaceful

2 extreme in degree, power, or effect <a violent thunderstorm> — see INTENSE 1
3 marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity <our guest's imminent arrival provoked a violent effort to get the place cleaned up> — see FURIOUS 1
4 marked by or uttered with forcefulness <prone to violent denunciation of anyone who disagrees with her> — see EMPHATIC 1

VIP noun
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about <the VIPs insisted on being seated in the restaurant's private dining room> — see CELEBRITY 1

viper noun
a limbless reptile with a long body <a viper sliding silently through the field> — see SNAKE 1

virago noun
a bad-tempered scolding woman <fairy tales that typically portray stepmothers as viragoes> — see SHREW

virgin adjective
1 never having had sexual relations <virgin boys are sometimes unfairly teased>

Synonyms
maiden, virginal

Related Words
chaste, modest, pure, vestal; innocent, untouched; abstinent, celibate, continent; unmarried, unwed

Antonyms
deflowered

2 being in an original and unused or unspoiled state <the state's only remaining virgin forest> — see FRESH 1
3 free from any trace of the coarse or indecent <his photographs of nudes have such a virgin purity about them that only a prude would find them objectionable> — see CHASTE 1
4 existing without human habitation or cultivation <a vast expanse of virgin territory> — see WILD 2
5 coming before all others in time or order <the political analyst's virgin effort at a cloak-and-dagger thriller> — see FIRST 1

virgin noun
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity <a virgin in the world of comedy clubs, he's still learning to deal with hecklers> — see BEGINNER

virginal adjective
1 being in an original and unused or unspoiled state <one of the state's few remaining tracts of virginal prairie> — see FRESH 1
2 never having had sexual relations <a virginal girl who would not permit any liberties to be taken with her body> — see VIRGIN 1
3 free from any trace of the coarse or indecent <the romance between the young boy and girl is portrayed with virginal innocence that is touching in this day and age> — see CHASTE 1

viridity noun
the quality or state of being simple and sincere <a heroine beset by the vacuous viridity that is so typical of romance novels> — see NAïVETÉ 1

virile adjective
of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with men <men were once expected to be interested only in such virile activities as hunting> — see MASCULINE

virility noun
the set of qualities considered appropriate for or characteristic of men <many cultures value virility as a sign of power>

Synonyms
machismo, macho, manhood, manliness, masculinity

Related Words
maleness; boyishness, mannishness, tomboyishness

Near Antonyms
girlishness; femaleness; girlhood, maidenhood; effeminacy, effeteness; emasculation

Antonyms
femininity, muliebrity, womanhood, womanliness

virtually adverb
very close to but not completely <fell in love with a man who was virtually penniless> — see ALMOST

virtue noun
1 a quality that gives something special worth <the virtue of wool as a clothing material is that it can provide insulation from the cold even when wet> — see EXCELLENCE 2
2 conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong <a lady of honor and virtue> — see MORALITY 1
3 strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <a military hero whose virtue inspired a nation> — see COURAGE

virtuoso adjective
1 accomplished with trained ability <a virtuoso performance of a piano concerto> — see SKILLFUL
2 having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor <a virtuoso director, he is known for using every resource and technique known to film to tell a story> — see PROFICIENT

virtuoso noun
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <a violin virtuoso> — see EXPERT

virtuous adjective
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue <virtuous behavior is its own reward> — see GOOD 2

virtuously adverb
with purity of thought and deed <lived simply and virtuously> — see PURELY 1

virtuousness noun
conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong <once a cleric's virtuousness is seriously called into doubt, he loses his authority as a moral leader> — see MORALITY 1

virulence noun
biting sharpness of feeling or expression <I was surprised by the virulence of the criticism> — see ACRIMONY 1

virulency noun
biting sharpness of feeling or expression <the virulency of his critical judgments became the stuff of Broadway legend> — see ACRIMONY 1

virulent adjective
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it <the virulent look on her face warned me that she was about to say something unkind> — see HATEFUL

virulently adverb
in a mean or spiteful manner <an organization that is even more virulently bigoted than others of its kind> — see NASTILY

visage noun
1 facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling <an old man with a noticeably happy visage> — see LOOK 1
2 the front part of the head <visitors to the mountain range had long noted that the natural rock formation bore a striking resemblance to the visage of a man> — see FACE 1

viscera plural noun
the internal organs of the body <the researchers examined the viscera of the infected rat> — see GUT 1

viscid adjective
1 being of a consistency that resists flow <honey that turned even more viscid in the cold> — see THICK 2
2 tending to adhere to objects upon contact <viscid tree resin> — see STICKY 1

viscidity noun
the degree to which a fluid can resist flowing <a method for determining the viscidity of the substance> — see CONSISTENCY

viscosity noun
the degree to which a fluid can resist flowing <conducted an experiment to determine the viscosity of motor oil> — see CONSISTENCY

viscous adjective
being of a consistency that resists flow <viscous syrup that takes forever to pour from a narrow-neck bottle> — see THICK 2

visible adjective
1 capable of being seen <the visible light spectrum runs from red to violet>

Synonyms
apparent, observable, seeable, visual

Related Words
viewable; detectable, discernible (also discernable), noticeable, perceptible; clear, conspicuous, evident, eye-catching, manifest, obvious, overt, patent, perceivable, plain, prominent, striking; exposed, external, outer, outward, superficial

Near Antonyms
disappeared, dissolved, evanesced, evaporated, melted, vanished, vaporized; imperceptible, indiscernible, indistinct, unnoticeable, unobservable; faint, inconspicuous, insignificant, slight, unobtrusive, vague; buried, concealed, covert, disguised, hidden, latent, obscure, shrouded

Antonyms
invisible, sightless, viewless

2 widely known <although he had been kicking around Hollywood for years, he only became a highly visible actor after his starring role in that year's biggest movie> — see FAMOUS 1

vision noun
1 a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality <a vision of the future that no other film director had ever created> — see FANTASY 1
2 the ability to see <the bright light temporarily robbed me of vision> — see EYESIGHT
3 the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <believed he'd seen a vision of his mother> — see GHOST 1
4 concern or preparation for the future <a company president with the long-range vision that his firm needs to survive in the global economy> — see FORESIGHT 2

vision verb
to form a mental picture of <visioned her idea of the perfect meal> — see IMAGINE 1

visionary adjective
1 having or marked by a tendency to be guided more by ideals than by reality <a visionary plan for a manned flight to Mars even though there are pressing problems right here on earth> — see IDEALISTIC
2 not real and existing only in the imagination <one of several Christian saints who claimed to have had visionary experiences of hell> — see IMAGINARY
3 having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future <in a visionary move, the developer bought large tracts of the waterfront just before property values skyrocketed> — see FORESIGHTED

visionary noun
1 one who predicts future events or developments <according to Greek myth, Cassandra was a visionary who was endowed with the gift of inerrant prophecy but fated to never be believed> — see PROPHET 1
2 one whose conduct is guided more by the image of perfection than by the real world <19th-century visionaries who founded short-lived communities in which everyone was supposed to live in perfect peace and harmony> — see IDEALIST

visionless adjective
lacking the power of sight <her assailant may have known about her visionless right eye because he approached from that direction> — see BLIND 1

visit noun
1 a temporary residing as another's guest <my aunt always looks forward to her weeklong annual visit with her mother>

Synonyms
sojourn, stay, tarry

Related Words
field trip, homestay, sleepover; layover, stop, stopover

2 a coming to see another briefly for social or business reasons <came by for a quick visit> — see CALL 2

visit verb
1 to make a social call upon <the club ladies make a point of visiting everyone who moves into the neighborhood>

Synonyms
call (on or upon), drop in (on), see

Related Words
look up, seek (out); drop by

Near Antonyms
brush (aside or off), cold-shoulder, ignore, snub

2 to reside as a temporary guest <an old friend who comes to visit for a month every summer>

Synonyms
crash [slang], sojourn, stay, tarry

Related Words
come by, come over, drop by, drop in, run in, step in, stop (by); frequent, hang (around or out), haunt; inhabit, occupy

Near Antonyms
abide, dwell, live, reside

3 to engage in casual or rambling conversation <tries to visit with her best friend on the phone at least once a week> — see CHAT 1
4 to go to or spend time in often <visit Ireland for a few weeks every year> — see FREQUENT
5 to make a brief visit <stopped to visit with my father on the way out of town> — see CALL 3

visitant noun
1 a person who visits another <the groundless theory that these ancient monuments were built by extraterrestrial visitants> — see GUEST 1
2 the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <a nocturnal visitant that must have been the shade of his late brother, crying out for vengeance against his murderers> — see GHOST 1

visitation noun
a coming to see another briefly for social or business reasons <the pastor and curate could hardly express how honored they were to receive this visitation from the bishop> — see CALL 2

visitor noun
a person who visits another <put nicer clothes on because they had visitors coming> — see GUEST 1

visor also vizor noun
the projecting front part of a hat or cap <the visor on your baseball cap should provide adequate shade for your eyes>

Synonyms
bill, brim, peak

Related Words
shade

vista noun
all that can be seen from a certain point <a gorgeous vista of the mountains from the front window> — see VIEW 1

visual adjective
1 of, relating to, or used in vision <the eyes are the primary visual organs in humans>

Synonyms
ocular, optic, optical

Related Words
seeing, sighted; focusing (also focussing)

Antonyms
nonvisual

2 capable of being seen <that funny expression was a visual hint that she was getting bored> — see VISIBLE 1
3 consisting of or relating to pictures <visual evidence that could be presented in court> — see PICTORIAL 1
4 producing a mental picture through clear and impressive description <accounts of Civil War battles that are so grippingly visual that the reader recoils from the sight of so much blood> — see GRAPHIC 1

visual noun
something that visually explains or decorates a text <the strong visuals in the beginning biology book compensate somewhat for the weak text> — see ILLUSTRATION 1

visualize verb
to form a mental picture of <visualized herself executing a perfect dive> — see IMAGINE 1

vital adjective
1 having active strength of body or mind <a man who remained vital well into his 90s> — see VIGOROUS 1
2 having much high-spirited energy and movement <the child is vital and active again after being sick> — see LIVELY 1
3 impossible to do without <I forgot one vital ingredient, and now the biscuits taste strange> — see ESSENTIAL 1
4 likely to cause or capable of causing death <received a vital wound in the abdomen> — see DEADLY 1
5 of the greatest possible importance <a matter that is vital to our national security> — see CRUCIAL
6 having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind <after the long, dreary winter, we welcomed the vital rays of the summer sun> — see TONIC 1

vitality noun
1 the quality or state of having abundant or intense activity <a city known for the vitality of its music scene>

Synonyms
animation, briskness, exuberance, jazziness, liveliness, lustiness, peppiness, robustness, sprightliness, vibrance, vibrancy, vigorousness

Related Words
buoyancy, jauntiness, springiness; brightness, cheer, cheerfulness, chirpiness, effervescence, friskiness, pizzazz (or pizazz), sparkle, spirit, verve, vivaciousness, vivacity; eagerness, ebullience, ebulliency, enthusiasm, keenness, spiritedness; friskiness, impishness, pertness, playfulness

Near Antonyms
indolence, laziness; anemia, bloodlessness; languidness, languor, lethargy, limpness, listlessness, sleepiness, sluggishness, spiritlessness, torpidity, torpor, weariness; apathy, impassivity; dullness (also dulness), pallidness, tediousness, tedium, vapidity, vapidness

Antonyms
inactivity, lifelessness

2 active strength of body or mind <her vitality seemed to spread to everyone around her> — see VIGOR 1

vitalize verb
to give life, vigor, or spirit to <a hearty lunch and a long nap afterwards vitalized him again> — see ANIMATE

vitalizing adjective
having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind <a vitalizing steam bath> — see TONIC 1

vitally adverb
to a great degree <it's vitally important that you deliver this message to the general> — see VERY 1

vitals plural noun
the internal organs of the body <remember to wear a full vest to protect your vitals while sparring> — see GUT 1

vitiate verb
1 to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable <believed that luxury vitiates even the most principled person> — see TAINT 1
2 to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of <numerous grammatical errors vitiate the effectiveness of your writing> — see DAMAGE 1
3 to lower in character, dignity, or quality <a penchant for coarse language vitiates what is otherwise a refined literary style> — see DEBASE 1

vitriol noun
1 biting sharpness of feeling or expression <a film critic noted for the vitriol and sometimes outright cruelty of his pronouncements> — see ACRIMONY 1
2 harsh insulting language <the review was more than just unfavorable—it was loaded with vitriol> — see ABUSE 1

vitriolic adjective
marked by harsh insulting language <braced himself for another vitriolic dressing-down by his perennially displeased father> — see ABUSIVE

vittles plural noun
substances intended to be eaten <claimed that the chitlins were just about the tastiest vittles he ever ate> — see FOOD 1

vituperate verb
to criticize harshly and usually publicly <every week the minister would ascend the pulpit and vituperate the parishioners for a litany of vices> — see ATTACK 2

vituperation noun
harsh insulting language <sick of the vituperation coming from ungrateful visitors, the put-upon webmaster took down the site's free webcam, which had afforded views of the town's picturesque harbor> — see ABUSE 1

vituperative adjective
marked by harsh insulting language <the type of provocative magazine article that is guaranteed to engender vituperative threats of subscription cancellations> — see ABUSIVE

vituperatory adjective
marked by harsh insulting language <the kind of vituperatory speeches that are designed to rouse the rank-and-file at political conventions> — see ABUSIVE

vivacious adjective
1 having much high-spirited energy and movement <an outgoing, vivacious girl who became a successful sales rep> — see LIVELY 1
2 joyously unrestrained <the poem is a vivacious expression of his love for her> — see EXUBERANT

vivaciously adverb
in a quick and spirited manner <a night of drinking songs that were sung lustily and vivaciously> — see GAILY 2

viva voce adjective
made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing <the students are required to write two papers and take a viva voce examination> — see VERBAL 2

vivid adjective
producing a mental picture through clear and impressive description <vivid language that made the scene come alive in my mind> — see GRAPHIC 1

vivify verb
to give life, vigor, or spirit to <this re-creation of a town in the Old West really vivifies the history that visitors learned in school> — see ANIMATE

vixen noun
a bad-tempered scolding woman <why anyone puts up with that vixen's sharp tongue is beyond me> — see SHREW

vizard noun
a cover or partial cover for the face used to disguise oneself <in those days it was not uncommon for street prostitutes to wear vizards> — see MASK 1

vocabular adjective
of or relating to words or language <the school banned the book for vocabular reasons, as some parents objected to the author's use of profanity> — see VERBAL 1

vocabulary noun
1 the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field <scientific vocabulary> — see TERMINOLOGY
2 the stock of words, pronunciation, and grammar used by a people as their basic means of communication <children learn enough of the common vocabulary to make themselves understood by around the age of two> — see LANGUAGE 1

vocal adjective
expressed or communicated by voice <our cat is given to making strange vocal noises in the dead of night>

Synonyms
oral, spoken, uttered, voiced

Related Words
articulated, enunciated, pronounced, sonant; breathed, chirped, drawled, gasped, intoned, mouthed, mumbled, murmured, muttered, purred, shouted, spluttered, sputtered, squeaked, whispered

Near Antonyms
inarticulate; mute, quiet, silent; unexpressed, unsaid, unspoken, unuttered, unvoiced; surd, voiceless

Antonyms
nonvocal

vocal noun
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment <a recording artist who arranges his own vocals> — see SONG 1

vocalist noun
one who sings <hired a vocalist for their jazz band> — see SINGER

vocalize verb
1 to express (a thought or emotion) in words <she's not one to vocalize her worries> — see SAY 1
2 to produce musical sounds with the voice <spent some time vocalizing before the concert> — see SING 1

vocalizer noun
one who sings <a critic who disdains many of today's pop singers as mere vocalizers with little artistry> — see SINGER

vocation noun
1 the activity by which one regularly makes a living <finally made sculpting her vocation instead of just a hobby> — see OCCUPATION 1
2 the body of people in a profession or field of activity <she says that although she respects certain journalists, she despises the vocation> <politics has its honest and its dishonest practitioners, just like any other vocation> — see CORPS

vociferant adjective
engaging in or marked by loud and insistent cries especially of protest <a lawyer known for his vociferant theatrics in the courtroom> — see VOCIFEROUS

vociferate verb
to speak so as to be heard at a distance <he can never seem to voice his opinions at a decent decibel level; he has to vociferate> — see CALL 1

vociferating adjective
engaging in or marked by loud and insistent cries especially of protest <vociferating union members angrily marched outside corporate headquarters> — see VOCIFEROUS

vociferation noun
a violent shouting <a sudden vociferation in the back of the room drew everyone's attention to the dispute> — see CLAMOR 1

vociferous adjective
engaging in or marked by loud and insistent cries especially of protest <vociferous opponents of the bill protested angrily outside the chambers of the legislature>

Synonyms
blatant, caterwauling, clamant, clamorous, obstreperous, squawking, vociferant, vociferating, yawping (or yauping), yowling

Related Words
clangorous, dinning, discordant, noisy; loudmouthed, outspoken, vocal; boisterous, rackety, raucous, robustious, rowdy, uproarious; cacophonous, dissonant, earsplitting, grating, shrill, strident; blaring, blustering, booming, brassy, brazen

Near Antonyms
noiseless, quiet, silent, soundless, still; calm, hushed, subdued

vogue adjective
enjoying widespread favor or approval <always tries to use the vogue words of the moment so as to appear cool> — see POPULAR 1

vogue noun
1 a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time <it was then the vogue to curl one's hair and wear dark lipstick> — see FAD
2 the state of enjoying widespread approval <she's the sort of person who does whatever is in vogue> — see POPULARITY

voguish adjective
1 being in the latest or current fashion <that boutique always has the most voguish shoes> — see STYLISH
2 enjoying widespread favor or approval <an art critic with an unfortunate penchant for throwing around a lot of voguish words> — see POPULAR 1

voguishness noun
1 the quality or state of being fashionable <the in-your-face voguishness of his new hairstyle certainly got our attention> — see COOL 2
2 the state of enjoying widespread approval <the short-lived voguishness of so much of what that artist produced> — see POPULARITY

voice noun
1 the right to express a wish, choice, or opinion <everyone will have a voice in the decision of where to go for our vacationp>

Synonyms
say, say-so, vote

Related Words
part, role (also rôle), share; ballot, enfranchisement, franchise, suffrage; belief, conviction, judgment (or judgement), opinion, sentiment, view

2 an act, process, or means of putting something into words <a publisher who used his newspaper as a voice for his extreme conservatism> — see EXPRESSION 1
3 one who sings <one of the great voices of her generation> — see SINGER

voice verb
to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) <voiced a suggestion about where to go> — see EXPRESS 1

voiced adjective
expressed or communicated by voice <a loudly voiced expression of pain> — see VOCAL

voiceless adjective
unable to speak <believes that animals deserve basic rights even though they are voiceless> — see MUTE 1

void adjective
1 having no legal or binding force <an agreement is void if obtained by force> — see NULL 1
2 lacking contents that could or should be present <a nuclear explosion that would leave the landscape as void and lifeless as one could imagine> — see EMPTY 1
3 utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected <entirely void of common sense> — see DEVOID 1
4 left unoccupied or unused <the cornfields lay void under a blanket of snow> — see ABANDONED 1

void noun
1 an incomplete or deficient area <a repressed memory that left a huge void in her recollection of her adolescent years> — see GAP 3
2 empty space <those ancient travelers who traversed those vast watery voids between the islands of Oceania> — see VACANCY 1
3 an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) <the client wanted an old-fashioned stone wall and did not want the voids filled in with mortar> — see GAP 1

void verb
1 to put an end to by formal action <the court's decision voided the will> — see ABOLISH 1
2 to remove the contents of <the seller has promised to void the house of all furniture> — see EMPTY

voiding noun
the doing away with something by formal action <the judge's voiding of the decision by the jury sparked public outcry> — see ABOLITION

volatile adjective
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <a boss of volatile moods is frustrating to work for> — see FICKLE 1

volcanic adjective
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <a man with a volcanic temper that could go off at any moment> — see VIOLENT 1

volcano noun
a potentially explosive place or situation <beset by prolonged heat and lingering racial tension, the city was like a seething volcano> — see TINDERBOX 1

volition noun
1 the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions <Tourette's syndrome is a neurological disorder marked by recurrent tics and vocalizations that are beyond the sufferer's volition or control> — see FREE WILL
2 the power, right, or opportunity to choose <left the church of her own volition, not because she was excommunicated> — see CHOICE 1

volitional adjective
done, made, or given with one's own free will <believes in destiny and doubts that most decisions are truly volitional> — see VOLUNTARY 1

volley noun
a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once <surprised by the volley of complaints about cable service in the area> — see BARRAGE

volte–face noun
a changing from one policy or point of view to virtually its exact opposite <the novelist's unexpected volte-face from experimentalism to traditional narrative form> — see ABOUT-FACE

volume noun
1 a considerable amount <we can only make money if we sell our goods in volume> — see LOT 2
2 a given or particular mass or aggregate of matter <produces great volumes of work each day> — see AMOUNT
3 a set of printed sheets of paper bound together between covers and forming a work of fiction or nonfiction <reissued the trilogy in a single volume> — see BOOK 1
4 the largest number or amount that something can hold <state the barrel's volume in terms of gallons> — see CAPACITY 1

voluminous adjective
of a size greater than average of its kind <decorating tips to help make voluminous rooms feel cozy> — see LARGE 1

voluminousness noun
the quality or state of being large in size <the awesome voluminousness of the garment made it look more like a tent than a dress> — see LARGENESS

voluntarily adverb
of one's own free will <you took part in this voluntarily, so you have no cause to complain>

Synonyms
freely, willingly

Related Words
consciously, deliberately, intentionally, knowingly, wittingly; acquiescently, consentingly; electively, optionally

Phrases
of one's own accord

Near Antonyms
unconsciously, unintentionally, unknowingly, unwittingly; reluctantly

Antonyms
involuntarily, unwillingly

voluntary adjective
1 done, made, or given with one's own free will <a voluntary contribution to the school's fund-raising drive>

Synonyms
freewill, self-imposed, uncoerced, unforced, volitional, volunteer, willing

Related Words
discretionary, elective, optional; impulsive, instinctive, spontaneous, unpremeditated; conscious, deliberate, intentional, knowing, willful (or wilful)

Near Antonyms
compulsory, enforced, mandatory, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, ordered, required

Antonyms
coerced, compelled, forced, involuntary, nonvoluntary, unwilled, will-less

2 subject to one's freedom of choice <participation in the resort's recreational activities is strictly voluntary> — see OPTIONAL
3 made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing <the legal distinctions between voluntary and involuntary manslaughter> — see INTENTIONAL

volunteer adjective
done, made, or given with one's own free will <volunteer work at the hospital> — see VOLUNTARY 1

volunteer verb
to make a present of <trained tax consultants who volunteer their services at tax time> — see GIVE 1

voluptuary noun
a person whose life is devoted to luxury and sensual pleasures <a fin de siècle novel about dandies and voluptuaries>

Synonyms
debauchee, decadent, hedonist, sensualist, sybarite

Related Words
Cyrenaic, Epicurean; bon vivant, epicure, glutton, gourmand; libertine, playboy, rake, roué; playgirl

Near Antonyms
killjoy, spoilsport, wet blanket; fuddy-duddy, prude, straight arrow

Antonyms
ascetic

voluptuous adjective
pleasing to the physical senses <the voluptuous richness of the music> — see SENSUAL

voluptuousness noun
excessive pursuit of fleshly pleasures <a painting by the 19th-century artist Ingres that vividly portrays the languorous voluptuousness of a sultan's seraglio> — see SENSUALITY

vomit verb
to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth <the children with the flu vomited every time they tried to eat something>

Synonyms
barf, gag, heave, hurl, puke, retch, spew, spit up, throw up, upchuck

Related Words
disgorge, regurgitate; eject, expel; nauseate

Phrases
lose one's lunch [slang], toss one's cookies

voodoo noun
a person skilled in using supernatural forces <found a voodoo who was willing to put a hex on the man who had jilted her> — see MAGICIAN 1

voodooism noun
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <voodooism is condemned by several religions> — see MAGIC 1

voodooist noun
a person skilled in using supernatural forces <a voodooist whose remarkable feats seemingly defy rational explanation> — see MAGICIAN 1

voracious adjective
1 having a huge appetite <it seemed like the voracious kitten was eating her weight in food every day>

Synonyms
edacious, esurient, gluttonous, greedy, hoggish, piggish, rapacious, ravenous, swinish

Related Words
hearty, wolfish; devouring, gobbling, gorging, gormandizing, gulping; insatiable, unquenchable, unslakable; empty, famished, hungry, peckish [chiefly British], starved, starving; malnourished, underfed, undernourished

Near Antonyms
content, full, glutted, sated, satiated, satisfied, stuffed

2 showing urgent desire or interest <a voracious reader> — see EAGER

vortex noun
water moving rapidly in a circle with a hollow in the center <a boat sucked down into the vortex> — see WHIRLPOOL

votarist noun
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another <votarists of the literary critic seemed to have penetrated the English department of every university in the country> — see FOLLOWER 1

votary noun
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another <a votary of the religious leader> — see FOLLOWER 1

vote noun
1 the right to formally express one's position or will in an election <in the United States, women were granted the vote by the 19th Amendment in 1920>

Synonyms
ballot, enfranchisement, franchise, suffrage

Related Words
say, say-so, voice

Antonyms
disenfranchisement

2 a piece of paper indicating a person's preferences in an election <dropped her vote into the ballot box> — see BALLOT 1
3 the right to express a wish, choice, or opinion <he argued for a vote in the matter, since he was going to be affected by the final decision> — see VOICE 1

vote verb
to set before the mind for consideration <I vote we quit working and go out for lunch> — see PROPOSE 1

vouch (for) verb
to declare (something) to be true or genuine <a scientist who can vouch for the accuracy of the results> — see CERTIFY 1

voucher noun
something presented in support of the truth or accuracy of a claim <a rock band's overpriced T-shirt has become the universally recognized voucher for one's attendance at a sold-out concert> — see PROOF

vow noun
a person's solemn declaration that he or she will do or not do something <we need your vow that you won't damage anything while we're gone> — see PROMISE

vow verb
to make a solemn declaration of intent <she vowed to love him forever> — see PROMISE 1

voyage noun
a journey over water in a vessel <the long, perilous voyage down the Atlantic seaboard, around Cape Horn, and up South America's Pacific coast> — see SAIL

voyage verb
1 to take a trip especially of some distance <voyaged to the ends of the earth in search of adventure> — see TRAVEL 1
2 to travel on water in a vessel <voyaging on a cruise ship for the first time> — see SAIL 1

vulgar adjective
1 belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <paintings that appeal to vulgar tastes> — see IGNOBLE 1
2 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <a warning about the movie's vulgar language> — see OBSCENE 1
3 held by or applicable to a majority of the people <the vulgar opinion is that the nation is in decline> — see GENERAL 3
4 lacking in refinement or good taste <vulgar behavior shown by someone who's made a lot of money and wants everyone to know it> — see COARSE 2
5 used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing <Latin was once the language of scholars, and English the vulgar language used by the common people> — see COLLOQUIAL 1

vulgarism noun
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression <used vulgarisms that embarrassed his family> — see SWEARWORD

vulgarity noun
1 the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste <our cousins' general vulgarity and poor manners irritate my mother>

Synonyms
coarseness, commonness, crassness, crudeness, crudity, grossness, indelicacy, indelicateness, lowness, raffishness, rawness, roughness, rudeness, tastelessness

Related Words
boorishness, brutishness, churlishness, clownishness, loutishness, rowdiness, rusticity, uncouthness; artlessness, gracelessness, inelegance, unsophistication; insensitiveness, insensitivity, thoughtlessness; kitsch, tackiness

Near Antonyms
courtliness, urbanity; elegance, grace, graciousness; consideration, sensitivity, thoughtfulness

Antonyms
cultivation, genteelness, gentility, polish, refinement, tastefulness

2 the quality or state of being obscene <the pointless vulgarity of the joke disgusted her> — see OBSCENITY 1

vulgarize verb
to use so much as to make less appealing <the composer's masterpiece has been hopelessly vulgarized by its use in countless TV commercials> — see HACKNEY

vulnerability noun
1 the quality or state of having little resistance to some outside agent <vulnerability to infection> — see SUSCEPTIBILITY
2 the state of being left without shelter or protection against something harmful <the vulnerability of the car to vandalism when it's parked on the street> — see EXPOSURE 1

vulnerable adjective
1 being in a situation where one is likely to meet with harm <I'm vulnerable to sunburn whenever I go out in the sun> — see LIABLE 1
2 lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack <vulnerable baby chicks> — see HELPLESS 1

vulture noun
a person who habitually preys upon others <noted that the paparazzi are vultures who could not exist without the connivance of the tabloid-buying public> — see PREDATOR

W

wack adjective, slang
falling short of a standard <that movie was wack, even by the standards of popcorn flicks> — see BAD 1

wackiness noun
lack of good sense or judgment <what world-class wackiness made you think this was a good idea?> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

wacko also whacko adjective
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <the governor's staff spread rumors that his opponent's wife was wacko, as she had once undergone shock therapy for depression> — see INSANE 1

wacko also whacko noun
a person judged to be legally or medically insane <some wacko has been sending the actress increasingly disturbing letters> — see LUNATIC 1

wacky also whacky adjective
1 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <raised by an uncle with a rather wacky philosophy of parenting> — see ODD 2
2 having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <a series of bizarre letters that the killer sent to the police, detailing his wacky, disturbed view of the world> — see INSANE 1
3 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <one club member whose wacky ideas for fund-raisers usually produced groans> — see FOOLISH 1

wad noun
1 a considerable amount <a starlet who usually gets a big wad of publicity for her nonstop antics> — see LOT 2
2 a small uneven mass <a wad of gum stuck to the desk> — see LUMP 1
3 a very large amount of money <amassed—and lost—a wad playing the stock market> — see FORTUNE 2

wad verb
to form into a round compact mass <disgusted, she wadded up the paper and threw it in the wastebasket>

Synonyms
agglomerate, ball, roll, round

Related Words
bunch, clump, lump; bead, pearl, pellet, pelletize; sphere

Near Antonyms
flatten, open, smooth, spread, unfold

Antonyms
unroll

wadding noun
soft material that is used to fill the hollow parts of something <the last step is to fill the pillow with wadding and stitch it closed> — see FILLING

waddle verb
to move forward while swaying from side to side <the duck waddled back into the water> — see STAGGER 1

1waddy noun, Australian
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment <an aborigine armed with a waddy was a formidable foe> — see CLUB 1

2waddy or waddie noun, West
a hired hand who tends cattle or horses at a ranch or on the range <the waddies were preparing to start branding> — see COWBOY

wade (in or into) verb
to start work on energetically <waded deep into the repair project and didn't come out of it until four hours later> — see ATTACK 3

waffle verb
to avoid giving a definite answer or position <she waffled when asked what she thought of her sister's new boyfriend> — see EQUIVOCATE

waft noun
a slight or gentle movement of air <wafts carrying the scent of spring flowers> — see BREEZE 1

waft verb
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air <a feather wafted past us and settled on the grass> — see FLOAT 1

1wag noun
a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down <the dog gave its tail a single wag before it flopped back down>

Synonyms
swish, switch, waggle, whisk

Related Words
oscillation, rock, sway, swing, waver; flap, flutter, wave, whip; flick, jerk, jolt, snap, twitch; jiggle, shake, wiggle; bob, nod

2wag noun
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor <some wag wrote a droll satire on the scandal for the newspaper> — see HUMORIST

wag verb
1 to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions <the cat's tail wagged back and forth in annoyance>

Synonyms
swish, switch, waggle

Related Words
oscillate, rock, sway, swing, waver; beat, flail, flap, flop, lash, whip; flick, flicker, flutter, wave; jerk, jolt; jig, jiggle, joggle, shake, twitch, wiggle; bob, jog, nod

2 to relate sometimes questionable or secret information of a personal nature <tongues will wag as soon as word of the house's selling price gets around> — see GOSSIP
3 to make short up-and-down movements <the bird's head wagged jerkily as it looked for worms> — see NOD

wage noun, often wages plural
the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services <the wage you earn is more than enough to support us comfortably>

Synonyms
emolument, hire, packet [British], pay, paycheck, pay envelope, payment, salary, stipend

Related Words
living wage, minimum wage, nominal wages, take-home pay; double time, overtime, time and a half; compensation, recompense, remittance, remuneration, requital, return; recoupment, redress, reparation, restitution; reimbursement, repayment; earnings, profit, takings, yield

wager noun
the money or thing risked on the outcome of an uncertain event <lost her wager when the horse dropped out of the race> — see BET 1

wager verb
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event <wagered 20 dollars that his favorite team would win> — see BET

wagerer noun
one that bets (as on the outcome of a contest or sports event) <as a wagerer of very small amounts, my uncle regards a visit to the racetrack as simply a pleasant way to spend the afternoon> — see BETTOR

waggery noun
1 playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <tossing lighted firecrackers around is not the kind of harmless waggery that it might seem> — see MISCHIEF 1
2 something said or done to cause laughter <Will Rogers' homespun waggeries struck a chord with audiences during the Great Depression> — see JOKE 1
3 a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke <her innocent little waggeries included sending slightly risqué e-mails to coworkers> — see PRANK

waggish adjective
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <a waggish disposition that often got him into trouble as a child> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1

waggishness noun
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <he exhibits the waggishness of a teenage boy, which is rather sad, since he's now in his 50s> — see MISCHIEF 1

waggle noun
a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down <a quick waggle of her head to indicate “no”> — see 1WAG

waggle verb
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions <the rabbit waggled its ears and hopped away> — see WAG 1

wagon noun
a wheeled usually horse-drawn vehicle used for hauling <harness the horses up to the wagon so I can bring in the hay> — see CART

wahoo interjection, chiefly West
how delightful <the rodeo rider shrieked, “Wahoo!” as he collected his prize money> — see HOORAY

wail noun
1 a crying out in grief <a prolonged wail arose from every corner of the city as the victims of the earthquake were unearthed from the rubble> — see LAMENT 1
2 a long low sound indicating pain or grief <rescuers heard a faint wail coming from the pile of rubble, a sure sign that one of the victims was still alive> — see MOAN 1
3 an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <a transit fare increase that is sure to bring wails from the straphangers> — see COMPLAINT 1

wail verb
1 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <the state's residents are always wailing about their high taxes> — see COMPLAIN
2 to make a long loud mournful sound <the women stood beside the coffins, wailing for their fallen sons and daughters> — see HOWL 1
3 to utter a moan <the patient lay in her bed, occasionally softly wailing in pain> — see MOAN 1

wail (for) verb
to feel or express sorrow for <her grandfather asked her not to wail for him, saying that he had had a good life and was at peace> — see LAMENT 1

wailfully adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <the lost child wailfully kept asking for his mother> — see HARD 2

wailing adjective
expressing or suggesting mourning <a wailing quality in her voice that makes her a natural for country music> — see MOURNFUL 1

wain noun
a wheeled usually horse-drawn vehicle used for hauling <an antique wain that was once used for delivering milk> — see CART

waist noun
the middle region of the human torso <bent at the waist to catch his breath> — see MIDRIFF

waistline noun
the middle region of the human torso <used a belt to define her waistline> — see MIDRIFF

wait noun
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business <there was a long wait for the manager to come and help us> — see DELAY

wait verb
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something <please wait here, and we'll seat you shortly>

Synonyms
await, bide, hold on, stay

Related Words
hang around, linger, remain, stick around, tarry; stand by; anticipate, expect, watch (for)

Phrases
bide one's time, cool one's heels, hold one's breath, sit tight

waiter noun
a person who serves food or drink <waiters at that elegant restaurant must go through an extended training program before being allowed to serve customers> — see SERVER

waitperson noun
a person who serves food or drink <asked the waitperson what she would recommend on the menu> — see SERVER

waiver noun
a document containing a declaration of an intentional giving up of a right, claim, or privilege <before the hospital will treat you, you have to sign a waiver in which you give up your right to sue>

Synonyms
disclaimer, quitclaim, release

Related Words
dispensation, exemption, indemnity; abdication, relinquishment, renouncement; handover, renunciation, surrender

wake verb
1 to cause to stop sleeping <my banging around in the kitchen woke my wife>

Synonyms
arouse, awake, awaken, knock up [British], rouse, waken

Related Words
roust, rout; raise, revive; reawaken, rewake; agitate, bestir, disturb, excite, provoke, stimulate, stir

Near Antonyms
hypnotize, mesmerize

Antonyms
lull

2 to cease to be asleep <I woke with a start when the door slammed>

Synonyms
arouse, awake, awaken, rouse, waken

Related Words
arise, get up, rise, roll out, turn out, uprise; watch; revive; reawaken, rewake; shift, stir

Near Antonyms
catnap, conk (off or out), doze, drop off, nap, nod, rest, sleep, slumber, snooze; bed (down), couch, doss (down) [chiefly British], flop, kip (down) [British], retire, sack out, turn in; lie up, sleep in; oversleep

3 to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or risk <a public service announcement designed to wake people to the dangers of aggressive driving> — see WARN

wakeful adjective
not sleeping or able to sleep <the mother remained wakeful until her child returned home>

Synonyms
awake, insomniac, sleepless, wide-awake

Related Words
aroused, awakened, roused, rousted, wakened; about, astir, up; aware, conscious; revived; reawakened

Near Antonyms
dozy, drowsy, nodding, sleepy, slumberous (or slumbrous), somnolent; dreaming; hypnotized, mesmerized

Antonyms
asleep, dormant, dozing, napping, resting, sleeping, slumbering, unawakened

wakefulness noun
the inability to obtain adequate sleep <a nagging wakefulness that seemed resistent to all of the standard home remedies> — see INSOMNIA

waken verb
1 to cause to stop sleeping <a sudden loud noise wakened us> — see WAKE 1
2 to cease to be asleep <she usually wakens when sunlight begins to stream through the windows> — see WAKE 2

wake–up call noun
something that tells of approaching danger or risk <his high blood pressure was a wake-up call that he needed to do something about his health> — see WARNING 2

walk noun
1 a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure <we went for a long walk outside because it was such a nice night>

Synonyms
amble, constitutional, perambulation, ramble, range, saunter, stroll, turn, wander

Related Words
parade, paseo, promenade; expedition, hike, march, peregrination, traipse, tramp, travel, traversal, traverse, trek, trip, walkabout; excursion, jaunt, junket, outing, sally, sashay, spin, tour; pilgrimage, progress, safari

2 a region of activity, knowledge, or influence <a nondenominational church that attracts worshippers from every walk of life> — see FIELD 2
3 a public place for strolling <San Antonio's famous River Walk ranks among the city's foremost attractions> — see PROMENADE

walk verb
1 to go on foot <I walked slowly to school>

Synonyms
ambulate, foot (it), hoof (it), leg (it), pad, step, traipse, tread

Related Words
parade, promenade; march, pace, step out, stride, troop; power walk; hike, peregrinate, trek; amble, mosey, perambulate, ramble, saunter, stroll, wander; clump, stomp, stump, tramp, trample, tromp; footslog, plod, trudge; gimp, hobble, limp; mince, prance, pussyfoot, tiptoe; bounce, sashay, stalk, strut, swagger; falter, lumber, lurch, pound, scuff, shamble, shuffle, stagger, stumble, toddle, waddle; nip, tap, trip, trot

2 to refuse to work in order to force an employer to meet demands <workers threatened to walk unless management agreed to shoulder more of the cost of health insurance> — see STRIKE 1

walker noun
a person who travels by foot for exercise or pleasure <I began to lose weight after I gave up my sedentary lifestyle and became a daily walker> — see HIKER

walking out noun
the act of leaving a place <your unexplained walking out like that was rude> — see DEPARTURE 1

walkout noun
a work stoppage by a body of workers intended to force an employer to meet their demands <after four weeks of the walkout, management gave in> — see STRIKE 1

walk out verb
1 to leave a place often for another <we simply walked out after waiting half an hour for someone to come and serve us> — see GO 2
2 to refuse to work in order to force an employer to meet demands <the salesclerks walked out upon learning of the second pay cut in six months> — see STRIKE 1

wall noun
1 a physical object that blocks the way <an ancient wall that was built to block the invading barbarians> — see BARRIER
2 means or method of defending <investigators faced a wall of silence from the members of the police department> — see DEFENSE 1

wall (in) verb
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers <a lake almost entirely walled in by mountains> — see ENCLOSE 1

wall (off) verb
to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point <big orange barrels walled off the highway exit> — see CLOSE OFF

wallet noun
a bag carried by hand and designed to hold a traveler's clothing and personal articles <with their humble belongings tucked into wallets of simple cloth, the pilgrims began their journey to one of Christendom's holiest shrines> — see TRAVELING BAG

wallflower noun
a shy or reserved person <there were too many wallflowers at the party, so things never really got lively> — see INTROVERT

wallop noun
1 a forceful coming together of two things <felt the wallop of a car crashing into their front porch> — see IMPACT 1
2 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <gave the ball a good wallop with the bat> — see 1BLOW
3 a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings <she really got a wallop out of finding a rare first edition by her favorite author> — see THRILL

wallop verb
1 to strike repeatedly <walloped the branches of the pear tree with a stick in an effort to knock down some fruit> — see BEAT 1
2 to defeat by a large margin <walloped their traditional rivals 20 to nothing> — see WHIP 2
3 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <arrested for walloping a police officer> — see HIT 1

walloping adjective
unusually large <he needed help to mount such a walloping horse> — see HUGE

wall–to–wall adjective
present in all places and at all times <television programming feels as if there are wall-to-wall sitcoms these days> — see OMNIPRESENT

wampum noun
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment <made some real wampum on that last business deal> — see MONEY 1

wan adjective
lacking a healthy skin color <she looks a little wan after all that tiring work> — see PALE 2

wander noun
a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure <a wander through the woods> — see WALK 1

wander verb
1 to move about from place to place aimlessly <we just went outside and wandered around until it was time to go>

Synonyms
bat, cruise, drift, float, gad (about), gallivant (also galavant), kick around, knock (about), maunder, meander, mooch, ramble, range, roam, rove, traipse

Related Words
amble, saunter, stroll; dawdle, mope; gypsy, hobo, tramp, vagabond; mill (about or around); straggle, stray

2 to commit an offense <we have all wandered from the path of righteousness at least once in our lives> — see OFFEND 1

wanderer noun
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination <a wanderer who reasoned that he could never be lost, as he didn't care where he was going> — see NOMAD

wandering adjective
1 passing from one topic to another <your decidedly wandering essay loses its punch—stick to one theme> — see DISCURSIVE
2 traveling from place to place <a wandering carnival that visited small towns all over the South> — see ITINERANT

wane verb
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <in the course of the evening the storm steadily waned> — see DECREASE 2

wangle verb
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care <wangled a way to get free tickets to the show> — see ENGINEER

wannabe also wannabee noun
a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way <an entrepreneur who seems to have made his fortune mainly by giving how-to-get-rich lectures to entrepreneurial wannabes> — see COPYCAT

want noun
1 the fact or state of being absent <the proverb that begins, “for want of a nail, the shoe was lost”> — see LACK 1
2 a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number <there's a notable want of teachers in that rural school district> — see DEFICIENCY
3 a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful <those children are in want of some good discipline> — see NEED 1
4 the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions <grew up in extreme want> — see POVERTY 1
5 a defect in character <she's well-meaning and kind, but her besetting want is a complete lack of tact> — see FAULT 1

want verb
1 to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <I want a new car so badly!> — see DESIRE 1
2 to have as a requirement <that stray cat wants food and a clean place to sleep> — see NEED 1
3 to see fit <do what you want> — see CHOOSE 2
4 to wish to have <I want some ice cream for dessert, please> — see LIKE 1

wanting adjective
1 falling short of a standard <we tried her cooking and found it to be very wanting> — see BAD 1
2 not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need <at this time of year food for many wild animals is wanting> — see SHORT 3
3 not present or in evidence <grass is almost entirely wanting in that arid wasteland> — see ABSENT 2

wanting preposition
not having <a mitten wanting its mate> — see WITHOUT 1

wanton adjective
1 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <that novel was once regarded as a wanton tale of forbidden love> — see OBSCENE 1
2 having a strong sexual desire <in earlier times, novelists usually portrayed wanton women as coming to a bad end> — see LUSTFUL
3 having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others <a wanton attack on unarmed civilians> — see CRUEL 1

wanton noun
a person who playfully shows another amorous attention <at the office party, count on her to get drunk and play the wanton> — see FLIRT

wantonness noun
1 disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others <the barbaric wantonness with which the guards treated the prisoners of war> — see CRUELTY
2 the quality or state of being obscene <novels characterized chiefly by their sheer wantonness> — see OBSCENITY 1

war noun
1 a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups <the war was the result of ethnic tensions that had been building in the region for decades>

Synonyms
conflagration, conflict, hostilities, hot war

Related Words
civil war, cold war, holy war, limited war, police action, world war; action, battle, engagement, skirmish; combat, fighting, warfare

Near Antonyms
demilitarization, demobilization, disarmament; pacification; cease-fire, truce; calm, peacefulness, tranquillity (or tranquility)

Antonyms
peace

2 a lack of agreement or harmony <the siblings always seemed to be at war with one another> — see DISCORD
3 an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <only the latest round in the never-ending class war> — see CONTEST 1

war (against) verb
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict <continually warring against their neighbors in an effort to expand their territory> — see FIGHT 1

warble noun
a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect <whistled a cheerful warble as he strolled down the street> — see MELODY

warble verb
to sing with the alternation of two musical tones <the skylark warbled prettily outside our window>

Synonyms
quaver, trill

Related Words
slur; yodel; belt, carol, chant, chorus, croon, descant, harmonize, troll, vocalize; lilt, scat

ward noun
1 means or method of defending <frequent hand washing is an oft-recommended ward against the spread of common germs> — see DEFENSE 1
2 responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something <gained the ward of his cousin upon the death of her parents> — see CUSTODY

ward verb
to drive danger or attack away from <vowed that he would take whatever measures were necessary to ward the nation's people> — see DEFEND 1

warden noun
1 a person or group that watches over someone or something <in his role as warden of the school, a principal must provide a safe environment for the students> — see GUARD 1
2 a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner <served as warden for the country estate> — see CUSTODIAN 1

warder noun
a person or group that watches over someone or something <as warder of the velvet rope, he decides who gets into the fashionable nightclub and who doesn't> — see GUARD 1

ware adjective
having specified facts or feelings actively impressed on the mind <he's ware of the dangers that await him in the Antarctic> — see CONSCIOUS 1

ware verb
to be cautious of or on guard against <a hunter yelling to his dog, “Ware the porcupine!”> — see BEWARE OF

warehouse noun
a building for storing goods <when the warehouse burned down, we lost most of our merchandise> — see STOREHOUSE

wares plural noun
products that are bought and sold in business <a merchant proudly displaying his wares> — see MERCHANDISE

warfare noun
1 a lack of agreement or harmony <that troubled household seems to be almost constantly in a state of warfare> — see DISCORD
2 an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another <companies engaged in constant warfare for dominance in the market for home computers> — see CONTEST 1

war hawk noun
one who urges or attempts to cause a war <war hawks in the cabinet who urged the President to respond to the threat with armed force> — see WARMONGER

warhorse noun
a person with long experience in a specified area <a warhorse who's survived far nastier campaigns in his long political career> — see VETERAN

wariness noun
a close attentiveness to avoiding danger <only his unceasing wariness saved the party of skiers from an avalanche> — see CAUTION 1

warlike adjective
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight <a seafarer's legend that the remote island was inhabited by a warlike and uncivilized tribe> — see BELLIGERENT

warm adjective
1 having or giving off heat to a moderate degree <the pan was still warm, but no longer too hot to touch>

Synonyms
heated, hottish, lukewarm, tepid, toasty, warmed, warmish

Related Words
thawed; boiling, broiling, burning, fiery, hot, piping hot, red-hot, roasting, scalding, scorching, searing, steamy, sultry, sweltering, torrid, white-hot; overheated, roasted, superheated, sweltering; blazing, glowing, molten, sizzling; reheated, rewarmed, warmed-over

Near Antonyms
arctic, bitter, bleak, chill, chilly, cold, freezing, frigid, frosty, gelid, glacial, ice-cold, iced, icy, nippy, polar, raw, sharp, snappy, snowy, subfreezing, subzero, ultracold, winterly, wintry (also wintery); frosted; benumbed, nipped, numb

Antonyms
chilled, coldish, cool, cooled, coolish, refrigerated, unheated

2 having or expressing great depth of feeling <a warm hug of welcome from our grandmother> — see FERVENT 1
3 having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <a warm inquiry after his parents' health> — see FRIENDLY 1

warm verb
1 to cause to have or give off heat to a moderate degree <you'll need to warm the food in the microwave>

Synonyms
heat, hot (up) [chiefly Southern, southern Midland, & British], toast

Related Words
overheat, superheat; reheat, rewarm; thaw; bake, cook, roast; burn, char, fire, parch, scald, scorch, sear

Near Antonyms
freeze, frost, ice, supercool

Antonyms
chill, cool, refrigerate

2 to give satisfaction to <my dance instructor's generous praise warmed my heart> — see PLEASE 1

warm–blooded adjective
having or expressing great depth of feeling <a warm-blooded defense of everyone's right to free speech> — see FERVENT 1

warmed adjective
having or giving off heat to a moderate degree <the warmed towels that the attendant handed us were a nice touch> — see WARM 1

warm fuzzies plural noun
a feeling or state of well-being and contentment <the warm fuzzies that one typically gets from having done a good deed> — see HAPPINESS 1

warmhearted adjective
1 having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others <a warmhearted, understanding pastor from whom many sought guidance> — see HUMANE 1
2 having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest <a warmhearted welcome from the staff on my first day at work> — see FRIENDLY 1

warmheartedness noun
1 sympathetic concern for the well-being of others <warmheartedness has never been one of the CEO's strong points> — see BENIGNANCY
2 the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune <after our disastrous fire we were overwhelmed by the warmheartedness of the neighbors> — see HEART 1

warmish adjective
having or giving off heat to a moderate degree <having been on the kitchen counter for some time, the glass of juice had become rather warmish> — see WARM 1

warmness noun
the quality or state of being moderate in temperature <the cozy warmness of a house can be so nice after an hour spent shoveling snow> — see WARMTH 1

warmonger noun
one who urges or attempts to cause a war <fortunately, the warmongers met with overwhelming opposition>

Synonyms
hawk, jingo, jingoist, militarist, war hawk

Related Words
agitator, firebrand, fomenter, instigator, rabble-rouser; belligerent, combatant, militant; chauvinist

Near Antonyms
peacemaker; peacekeeper

Antonyms
dove, pacifist, peacenik

warmth noun
1 the quality or state of being moderate in temperature <the cozy warmth of the inn's parlor was a welcome relief from the wintry weather outside>

Synonyms
lukewarmness, tepidity, tepidness, warmness

Related Words
balminess, mildness, temperateness; glow, radiance, radiancy; heat, hotness, stuffiness, sultriness, torridity, torridness

Near Antonyms
bitterness, bleakness, cold, coldness, frigidity, frigidness, frostiness, iciness, rawness, sharpness; frost

Antonyms
chill, chilliness, coolness

2 depth of feeling <I was surprised by the warmth of the greeting> — see ARDOR 1

warm–up noun
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event <the couple's initial exchange of insults proved to be only a warm-up for their booze-fueled fight later that night> — see PRELUDE 1

warn verb
to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or risk <the lifeguard warned the boys that if they continued playing so rough, someone was sure to get hurt>

Synonyms
advise, alert, caution, forewarn, wake

Related Words
augur, forecast, foretell, harbinger, predict, presage, prognosticate, prophesy; apprise, inform, notify, tip (off); admonish; bode, forebode (also forbode), foreshadow, foretoken, portend

Near Antonyms
imperil, risk

warning adjective
serving as or offering a warning <usually gave her trademark warning look when the children were getting out of hand> — see CAUTIONARY

warning noun
1 the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk <she delivered a strict warning that anyone who was caught stealing would be fired>

Synonyms
admonishment, admonition, alarm (also alarum), alert, caution, forewarning, heads-up, notice

Related Words
auguring, augury, forecasting, foretelling, predicting, prediction, premonition, presaging, prognosticating, prophecy (also prophesy), prophesying; apprising, informing, notification, notifying, tip-off; advice, counsel, guidance, recommendation, suggestion, tip; announcement, declaration

2 something that tells of approaching danger or risk <the ominously darkening sky was a warning that a tornado was approaching>

Synonyms
caution, red flag, red light, tip-off, tocsin, wake-up call

Related Words
omen, portent, premonition, presage; notice, notification; buoy, indicator, knell, sign, signal; foretaste, foretoken; announcement, declaration

Phrases
handwriting on the wall

Near Antonyms
all clear

warp noun
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests <an unshakable belief in the essential goodness of humankind is the warp of his philosophy> — see BASE 1

warp verb
1 to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of <the faulty English translation really warps the meaning of the original Russian text> — see GARBLE 1
2 to lower in character, dignity, or quality <claims that violent movies warp the values of our young people> — see DEBASE 1
3 to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition <freezing warped the plastic, and now the cover won't fit> — see CONTORT

war paint noun
preparations intended to beautify the face <when I was young, I loved to watch Mom put on her war paint before a fancy evening out> — see MAKEUP 1

warp and woof noun
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests <regards individual freedom and democracy as the warp and woof of any civilized society> — see BASE 1

warped adjective
having or showing lowered moral character or standards <tired of his sick jokes and warped sense of humor> — see CORRUPT

warping noun
the twisting of something out of its natural or normal shape or condition <the warping of the door frame over the years means there's always a draft now> — see CONTORTION

warrant noun
the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something <some employees suspected that the supervisor had no warrant from the CEO for instituting the draconian work rules> — see PERMISSION

warrant verb
1 to assume responsibility for the satisfactory quality or performance of <the computer company unconditionally warrants all of its products for one full year>

Synonyms
guarantee, guaranty

Related Words
attest, authenticate, avouch, certify, testify (to), vouch (for), witness; assure, bond, contract, covenant; pledge, plight, stipulate, swear, undertake, vow; adhere, assert, aver, avow, declare, insist; insure

2 to give official acceptance of as satisfactory <the state constitution warrants these measures> — see APPROVE
3 to have as a requirement <the situation warrants your immediate attention> — see NEED 1
4 to state as a fact usually forcefully <we'll all be dead before that happens, I warrant> — see CLAIM 1
5 to give official or legal power to <bailiffs are warranted to enforce the subpoena> — see AUTHORIZE 1

warranted adjective
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong <a warranted use of force by the police> — see JUST 1

warranty noun
a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation <a one-year warranty for the refrigerator> — see GUARANTEE 1

warren noun
a confusing and complicated arrangement of passages <got lost in the warren of interconnected side streets> — see MAZE 1

warrior noun
a person engaged in military service <a program of tough training and discipline that turns untried civilians into warriors> — see SOLDIER

wary adjective
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble <kept a wary eye out for signs of the enemy> — see CAREFUL 1

wash noun
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water <an invasive species threatening the plants native to the region's washes> — see SWAMP 1

wash verb
1 to flow along or against <crystal-clear waters gently wash the island's unspoiled beaches>

Synonyms
bathe, lap, lave, lip, splash

Related Words
bubble, gurgle, plash, ripple, slosh

2 to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval <the employee's story about missing the bus didn't wash with her manager>

Synonyms
fly, hold up, pass, stand up

Related Words
get through, go down, go over, go through, play, take, work

Phrases
hold water, pass muster

3 to flow in a broken irregular stream <soapy water washing down the drain> — see GURGLE
4 to make wet <rain washed the countryside for days on end> — see WET
5 to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse <washed the baby's hair> — see FLUSH 1
6 to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly <she absentmindedly washed her tea by tipping her cup, until the honey was at last mixed in> — see STIR 1

washed adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <washed city streets glistened with the light of the lampposts> — see WET 1

washed–out adjective
1 lacking intensity of color <washed-out blond hair> — see PALE 1
2 depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <feeling washed-out after the endless primary season, the party's nominee needs a vacation more than anything> — see WEARY 1

washed–up adjective
having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit <he felt rather washed-up after this latest business failure> — see EFFETE 1

washout noun
something that has failed <the fashion designer's last showing was a complete washout> — see FAILURE 3

wash out verb
1 to be unsuccessful <most of the participants in the tough training program washed out> — see FAIL 2
2 to make white or whiter by removing color <the bright lights of the TV studio washed out her facial features, making her look as white as a ghost> — see WHITEN
3 to use up all the physical energy of <that last illness washed the child out completely> — see EXHAUST 1
4 to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse <wash out your bathing suit in the sink> — see FLUSH 1

washroom noun
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <could you tell me where the washroom is?> — see TOILET

washy adjective
1 lacking intensity of color <the supposedly rich rose she had chosen for the house unexpectedly came out a washy pinkish shade> — see WASHY 1
2 not containing very much of some important element <the economy needs some strong medicine right now, and our leaders are offering only washy gruel> — see WEAK 3

waspish adjective
easily irritated or annoyed <extremely waspish, she uses her wit viciously when irritated> — see IRRITABLE

waspishness noun
readiness to show annoyance or impatience <his perpetual waspishness only served to make those around him cranky as well> — see PETULANCE

wassail noun
a bout of prolonged or excessive drinking <woke up with a terrible headache from a wild wassail the night before> — see CAROUSE

wassail verb
to take part in drunken revelry <the knights feasted and wassailed for three days after the battlefield victory> — see CAROUSE

wastage noun
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <the slash-and-burn wastage of the surrounding countryside as the army made its way to the sea> — see DESTRUCTION 1

waste adjective
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation <waste acreage that was not fit for anything> — see BARREN 1

waste noun
1 an instance of spending money or resources without care or restraint <it seems like a waste to spend my entire paycheck on a bigger TV>

Synonyms
extravagance, prodigality

Related Words
indulgence, luxury, splurge; loss, wastage; dissipation, profligacy, profusion, squandering, wastefulness; overindulgence, self-indulgence; excess, immoderacy, overkill

Near Antonyms
necessity; belt-tightening, conservation, economizing, economy, frugality, parsimony, penny-pinching, saving, scrimping, skimping, thrift; austerity, moderation, restraint, temperance, temperateness

2 discarded or useless material <gathered up the waste when he was finished sewing> — see GARBAGE 1
3 land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops <an area that was a barren waste after the strip-mining had ended> — see WASTELAND
4 solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal <a local ordinance requiring dog owners to properly dispose of their pet's waste> — see DROPPING 1
5 a wide space or area <a legendary mariner doomed to sail the watery wastes of the world until Judgment Day> — see EXPANSE
6 a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction <the slow waste of the once broad beach by the relentless tide> — see CORROSION

waste verb
1 to use up carelessly <he wasted his lottery winnings on booze-soaked nights with gold diggers>

Synonyms
blow, dissipate, fiddle away, fritter (away), lavish, lose, misspend, run through, spend, squander, throw away, trifle (away)

Related Words
splurge; consume, deplete, exhaust, impoverish, overspend, shoot; indulge, overindulge; disburse, expend, lay out

Phrases
play ducks and drakes with (or make ducks and drakes of)

Near Antonyms
economize, scrimp, skimp; preserve, protect, save; hoard, lay up

Antonyms
conserve

2 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <one country attempting to waste another> — see DESTROY 1
3 to diminish the physical strength of <endless months of inactivity wasted him> — see WEAKEN 1

waste (away) verb
to lose bodily strength or vigor <the tuberculosis resulted in her simply wasting away> — see WEAKEN 2

wasted adjective
1 lacking bodily strength <a wasted frame—a shadow of the man he once was> — see WEAK 1
2 suffering extreme weight loss as a result of hunger or disease <a frail and wasted famine victim> — see EMACIATED
3 slang being under the influence of a recreational drug <the documentary portrays the comedian as someone who was often too wasted to function socially> — see STONED 1
4 slang being under the influence of alcohol <unfortunately, his college years were largely spent getting wasted> — see DRUNK

wasteful adjective
given to spending money freely or foolishly <my one wasteful child always seemed to run out of money by midweek> — see PRODIGAL

wastefulness noun
the quality or fact of being free or wasteful in the expenditure of money <considering he has a family, his wastefulness is downright irresponsible> — see EXTRAVAGANCE 1

wasteland noun
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops <with proper irrigation and fertilizer, they turned the desert wasteland into a fertile plain>

Synonyms
barren, desert, desolation, heath, no-man's-land, waste

Related Words
badland; brush, bush; dust bowl; open, open air, outdoors, out-of-doors; nature, wild, wilderness

waster noun
someone who spends money freely or foolishly <we want you to get a job so that you'll be a waster of your own money and not ours> — see PRODIGAL

wastrel noun
someone who spends money freely or foolishly <the black sheep of the family, he ended up being a wastrel and a drunkard> — see PRODIGAL

watch noun
1 a person or group that watches over someone or something <the neighborhood crime watch> — see GUARD 1
2 the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of activity, opportunity, or danger <kept a watch over the sick baby> — see VIGILANCE
3 an act or period of watching for signs of activity, danger, or opportunity <the little boy kept watch at the window for signs of Santa and his sleigh> — see VIGIL

watch verb
1 to keep one's eyes on <I turned my head to continue watching the bird as it flew away>

Synonyms
eye, follow, observe

Related Words
behold, look, perceive, regard, see, view; gape, gawk, gaze, glare, goggle, look on, peer, rubberneck, stare; guard, wake, ward; bird-dog, monitor, study; spy; espy, glance, glimpse, peek, peep

Phrases
have one's eye on

Near Antonyms
blink, wink

2 to take notice of and be guided by <watch what I do when I run into that kind of problem> — see HEED 1
3 to pay continued close attention to (something) for a particular purpose <watched the situation to see if it improved> — see MONITOR
4 to have an interest or concern for <you should watch what you eat if you want a long, healthy life> — see CARE
5 to take charge of especially on behalf of another <hired a high school girl to watch their daughter until they got home from work> — see TEND 1

watch (for) verb
to believe in the future occurrence of (something) <watch for all the latest news on this Web site> — see EXPECT

watcher noun
1 a person or group that watches over someone or something <the inexperienced babysitter turned out to be a well-meaning but hopelessly incompetent watcher of young children> — see GUARD 1
2 someone who sees or watches something <a safari that affords wildlife watchers plenty of opportunities to see Africa's grandest creatures in their natural habitat> — see SPECTATOR

watchful adjective
paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity <the toddler played under the watchful eye of her parents> — see ALERT 1

watchfulness noun
the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of opportunity, activity, or danger <it was only her motherly watchfulness that saved the boy from an accident> — see VIGILANCE

watchman noun
1 a person or group that watches over someone or something <hired a watchman to patrol the factory at night> — see GUARD 1
2 a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner <a watchman lives next door to scare off prowlers> — see CUSTODIAN 1

watch out (for) verb
to be cautious of or on guard against <watch out for hazards in the road> — see BEWARE OF

watchword noun
1 a word or phrase that must be spoken by a person in order to pass a guard <the watchword is changed every day> — see PASSWORD
2 an attention-getting word or phrase used to publicize something (as a campaign or product) <their latest watchword turns up in every ad from that company> — see SLOGAN

water verb
to make wet <watered the plants> — see WET

water closet noun
a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste <the first house in town to have an indoor water closet> — see TOILET

watercourse noun
an open man-made passageway for water <the Erie Canal was the first watercourse to connect the Hudson River with the Great Lakes> — see CHANNEL 1

watercraft noun
a small buoyant structure for travel on water <just about any kind of watercraft can be seen on the lake during the summer> — see BOAT 1

water down verb
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances <watered down the cocktails while jacking up their prices> — see ADULTERATE

watered adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <a heavily watered lawn> — see WET 1

waterfall noun
a fall of water usually from a great height <I used to like to throw sticks in the stream and watch them go over the waterfall>

Synonyms
cascade, cataract, fall(s)

Related Words
flume; chute (also shute), rapid(s), shoot, white water

watering hole noun
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises <supposedly, that Broadway hangout was the favorite watering hole for 1940s celebrities> — see BARROOM

watering place noun
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises <die-hard fans gathered at the local watering place to watch the Super Bowl> — see BARROOM

waterless adjective
marked by little or no precipitation or humidity <cacti prefer a nearly waterless environment> — see DRY 1

waterlog verb
to make wet <the wood was too waterlogged by the downpour to be used for a fire> — see WET

waterlogged adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <waterlogged soil that caused the roots of the potted plant to rot> — see WET 1

waterproof adjective
made of or treated with material that does not allow water to penetrate <luckily, my backpack is waterproof, so my clothes didn't get wet>

Synonyms
leakproof, waterproofed

Related Words
rainproof; water-repellent, water-resistant; staunch (also stanch), watertight; nonabsorbent, nonporous; weatherproof

Near Antonyms
absorbent, porous; leaky

waterproof noun, chiefly British
a coat made of water-resistant material <remember your waterproof if you're walking around London in the winter> — see RAINCOAT

waterproofed adjective
made of or treated with material that does not allow water to penetrate <a waterproofed fabric that is used for outerwear> — see WATERPROOF

watershed noun
a point in a chain of events at which an important change (as in one's fortunes) occurs <a watershed moment in her life came when she inherited a reasonable sum of money and was able to start her own coffee shop> — see TURNING POINT

water–soak verb
to make wet <the fire is out, but the firefighters water-soaked most of the house in the process> — see WET

water–soaked adjective
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <make sure that the bandages don't get water-soaked when you take a shower> — see WET 1

waterspout noun
a pipe or channel for carrying off water from a roof <the waterspout became clogged, and then the roof leaked> — see GUTTER 1

waterway noun
an open man-made passageway for water <the Erie Canal was superseded by a much larger waterway, the New York State Barge Canal> — see CHANNEL 1

watery adjective
1 containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <the soft, watery earth of the marshland> — see WET 1
2 having an overly soft liquid consistency <watery oatmeal> — see RUNNY
3 not containing very much of some important element <a watery lemonade> — see WEAK 3
4 lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character <political correctness has resulted in a lot of history books being written in very watery prose> — see WISHY-WASHY 1

wave noun
a moving ridge on the surface of water <the toddler was almost knocked down by the waves created by the speedboat>

Synonyms
billow, surge, swell

Related Words
sea(s); surf; breaker, whitecap; comber, curl; riffle, ripple, wavelet; ground swell, roller; tidal wave, tsunami

wave verb
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture <waved them over to the side of the road> — see MOTION

waver verb
1 to show uncertainty about the right course of action <he's still wavering about whether to take the job> — see HESITATE
2 to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side <the steel tower wavered for a moment before falling over> — see TEETER 1

wavering noun
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action <after a moment's wavering, she accepted his proposal> — see HESITATION

1wax verb
1 to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction <waxing a surfboard> — see LUBRICATE
2 slang to defeat by a large margin <I can't believe I bet on a football team that ended up getting waxed 45–0> — see WHIP 2

2wax verb
1 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <the commitment of the young volunteers to the cause seems to wax and wane> — see INCREASE 2
2 to eventually have as a state or quality <waxed poetic whenever he wrote to his girlfriend> — see BECOME

waxy adjective
capable of being easily molded or modeled <the children made little animals with the colorful, waxy modeling clay> — see PLASTIC 1

way adverb
to a great degree <“Oh, I'm just way thrilled to be here!” the pageant contestant gushed> — see VERY 1

way noun
1 a passage cleared for public vehicular travel <the town honored the local sports hero by naming after him a short way connecting two shopping centers>

Synonyms
arterial, artery, avenue, boulevard, carriageway [British], drag, drive, expressway, freeway, high road, highway, pass, pike, road, roadway, route, row, street, thoroughfare, thruway, trace, turnpike

Related Words
causeway; autobahn, autoroute, autostrada, dual carriageway [chiefly British], interstate, motorway [chiefly British], superhighway; beltway, bypass, parkway, ring road [chiefly British]; corniche, switchback; through street; high street [British], Main Street; backstreet, branch, bystreet, byway, crossroad, secondary road, shunpike, side road, side street; alley, alleyway; circle, lane, laneway [British], mews [chiefly British], place; close [chiefly British], cul-de-sac, dead end; corridor; track, trail

2 a usual manner of behaving or doing <she's set in her ways and is not about to change> — see HABIT 1
3 an established course for traveling from one place to another <took the regular way to work> — see PASSAGE 1
4 an established pattern of behavior <that's just his way, so pay him no mind> — see TENDENCY 1
5 an extent or area available for or used up by some activity or thing <made way for them to pass> — see ROOM 1
6 the direction along which something or someone moves <go the same way that the school bus does> — see PATH 1
7 the means or procedure for doing something <figured out the best way to accomplish the task> — see METHOD
8 the opening through which one can enter or leave a structure <we came in the back way> — see DOOR 2
9 the power, right, or opportunity to choose <have it your way> — see CHOICE 1
10 the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects <it's just a little way down the road> — see DISTANCE 1

wayfarer noun
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination <one of the great wayfarers of American folklore, Johnny Appleseed wandered across the country, always planting apple seeds> — see NOMAD

wayfaring adjective
traveling from place to place <a wayfaring folksinger> — see ITINERANT

waylay verb
to lie in wait for and attack by surprise <a lonely stretch of highway along which unsuspecting tourists are often waylaid by gangs> — see AMBUSH

way–out adjective
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <some new and way-out suggestions for naming the baby> — see ODD 2

way station noun
a regular stopping place <a way station for truck drivers> — see STATION 2

wayward adjective
1 given to resisting authority or another's control <had always been the most wayward of their three children> — see DISOBEDIENT
2 given to resisting control or discipline by others <an institution to which wayward teens were often sent> — see UNCONTROLLABLE

waywardness noun
refusal to obey <the unremitting waywardness of the child frustrated her parents at times> — see DISOBEDIENCE

weak adjective
1 lacking bodily strength <the little boy was simply too weak to lift the box>

Synonyms
asthenic, debilitated, delicate, down-and-out, effete, enervated, enfeebled, faint, feeble, frail, infirm, languid, low, prostrate, prostrated, sapped, slight, soft, softened, tender, unsubstantial, wasted, weakened, wimpish, wimpy

Related Words
challenged, disabled, incapacitated, invalid; paralyzed; broken-down, decrepit; impotent, powerless; breakable, flimsy, fragile; dizzy, groggy, rocky, unsteady, woozy; drained, exhausted, flagging, tired, weary, worn-out; damaged, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, lame, unsound; resistless, susceptible, unresistant, vulnerable, yielding

Near Antonyms
able-bodied, athletic, beefy, brawny, fit, husky, muscular, sinewy, strapping, virile; hard, hardy, lusty, red-blooded, robust, sturdy, tough; fortified, hardened, inured, strengthened, toughened; energetic, energized, invigorated, vigorous, vitalized; hale, healthy, sound; capable, competent; convalescing, recovering, recuperating

Antonyms
mighty, powerful, rugged, stalwart, stout, strong

2 lacking strength of will or character <the opinion that overweight people are just weak individuals who easily give in to temptation>

Synonyms
characterless, effete, frail, invertebrate, limp-wristed, milk-and-water, namby-pamby, nerveless, soft, spineless, weakened, weak-kneed, weakling, wet [British], wimpish, wimpy, wishy-washy

Related Words
flabby, flaccid, forceless, ineffective, ineffectual; impotent, impuissant, powerless; emasculated, unnerved; lamblike, meek, pliable, submissive; corrupt, dastardly, unprincipled, unscrupulous, villainous; cowardly, craven, fainthearted, lily-livered, nebbishy, poltroon, pusillanimous, sissy, timid; infirm, irresolute, vacillating

Near Antonyms
ethical, good, moral, principled, right, righteous, upright, virtuous; determined, mettlesome, resolute, unrelenting; courageous, stalwart, stouthearted

Antonyms
backboned, firm, hard, strong, tough

3 not containing very much of some important element <the coffee came out too weak because I didn't use enough ground beans>

Synonyms
dilute, diluted, thin, thinned, washy, watery, weakened

Related Words
adulterated, watered-down

Near Antonyms
enriched, fortified; concentrated, condensed, evaporated

Antonyms
full-bodied, rich, strong

4 not using or following good reasoning <your argument is weak> — see ILLOGICAL
5 unable to act or achieve one's purpose <the vice president is a relatively weak official> — see POWERLESS

weaken verb
1 to diminish the physical strength of <weeks of hardship in the desert had greatly weakened them>

Synonyms
debilitate, devitalize, enervate, enfeeble, etiolate, prostrate, sap, soften, tire, waste

Related Words
cripple, disable, hamstring, incapacitate; deplete, depress, exhaust, impoverish, unman, wash out; damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure, invalid, lay up; break down, grind (down), wear down, wear out; paralyze

Near Antonyms
energize, invigorate, recruit, rejuvenate, vitalize; harden, season, toughen

Antonyms
beef (up), fortify, strengthen

2 to lose bodily strength or vigor <the bodybuilder weakened once she eased off on her workouts>

Synonyms
decay, droop, emaciate, fade, fail, flag, go, lag, languish, sag, sink, waste (away), wilt, wither

Related Words
break down, wear out; yield; degenerate, deteriorate, rot, run down

Near Antonyms
convalesce, rally, rebound, recover, recuperate; gain

3 to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances <weakened the juice with too much water> — see ADULTERATE

weakened adjective
1 containing foreign or lower-grade substances <the pharmacist, motivated by pure greed, would pass off the weakened drugs to unsuspecting customers, some of whom had life-threatening illnesses> — see IMPURE 1
2 lacking bodily strength <left weakened by a prolonged illness> — see WEAK 1
3 lacking strength of will or character <the nation's people, weakened by years of tyranny, tended to automatically obey anyone with an authoritative manner> — see WEAK 2
4 not containing very much of some important element <some experts recommend that runners drink a weakened mixture of juice and water> — see WEAK 3

weakening noun
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body <the all-too-apparent weakening of our grandfather was hard on our mother> — see DECLINE 1

weak–kneed adjective
lacking strength of will or character <management is too weak-kneed to effectively enforce even a minimal dress code> — see WEAK 2

weakling adjective
lacking strength of will or character <argues that in a time of war, the country can't afford to have a weakling president> — see WEAK 2

weakling noun
1 a person lacking in physical strength <he had been a weakling until high school, when he started working out to put on muscle>

Synonyms
softy (or softie), wimp, wuss (also wussy)

Related Words
pushover; milksop, mollycoddle, sissy

Antonyms
powerhouse

2 a person without strength of character <only a weakling would be willing to lie to save himself from punishment>

Synonyms
doormat, jellyfish, namby-pamby, pushover, reed, wimp

Related Words
coward, milquetoast, mouse, nebbish, nervous Nellie (or nervous Nelly), pussy [slang], wuss (also wussy); sheep

Near Antonyms
mensch

Antonyms
stalwart

weakly adjective
chronically or repeatedly suffering from poor health <a weakly baby who required repeated hospitalizations> — see SICKLY 1

weak–minded adjective
1 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <was written off as weak-minded until it was discovered that he had a learning disability> — see STUPID 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a weak-minded decision to use all of their savings to buy lottery tickets in the hopes of hitting the jackpot> — see FOOLISH 1

weak–mindedness noun
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <doctors mistook the boy's inability to follow instructions for weak-mindedness, until they realized he was deaf> — see STUPIDITY 1

weakness noun
1 the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <the flu left me with such overwhelming weakness that I could hardly stand>

Synonyms
asthenia, debilitation, debility, delicacy, enervation, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, fragility, frailness, frailty, infirmity, languidness, languor, listlessness, lowness, wimpiness

Related Words
decay, decrepitude; breakdown, collapse, prostration; exhaustion, fatigue, lassitude, weariness; defenselessness, helplessness, impotence, impuissance, powerlessness; effeteness, softness, tenderness; disablement, incapacitation, invalidism; damage, harm, hurt, impairment, injury

Near Antonyms
energy, vitality; brawniness, fitness, heftiness, huskiness, lustiness, muscularity, virility; hardness, ruggedness, stoutness, sturdiness, toughness; health, healthiness, soundness, wellness

Antonyms
hardihood, hardiness, robustness, strength, vigor

2 the quality or state of lacking strength of will or character <in a moment of weakness he shoplifted the comic book>

Synonyms
frailness, frailty, softness, spinelessness, wimpiness, wimpishness, wishy-washiness

Related Words
collapse; failing, flaw, foible, peccadillo; evil, immorality, wickedness; corruption, corruptness

Near Antonyms
discipline, self-discipline; goodness, integrity, morality, rectitude, righteousness, rightness, uprightness, virtuousness

Antonyms
backbone, chutzpah (also chutzpa or hutzpah or hutzpa), firmness, fortitude, hardihood, mettle, moxie, nerve, resoluteness, strength, toughness

3 a defect in character <his one weakness is his cockeyed optimism about everything> — see FAULT 1
4 the quality or state of having little resistance to some outside agent <the devastating weakness of the immune system that is experienced by people with AIDS> — see SUSCEPTIBILITY

weal noun
the state of doing well especially in relation to one's happiness or success <the belief that somehow it is the nation's president who is responsible for the weal or woe of the people> — see WELFARE

wealth noun
1 the total of one's money and property <her wealth increased to the point where she could afford several luxurious homes>

Synonyms
assets, capital, fortune, means, opulence, riches, substance, wherewithal, worth

Related Words
belongings, chattels, effects, holdings, paraphernalia, possessions, things; bankroll, deep pockets, finances, funds, money, wallet; abundance, affluence, prosperity, success; treasure, valuables; accession, acquisition, personal property, personalty, property; nest egg, reserve, resources, savings, treasury

Near Antonyms
debts, liabilities; indebtedness

2 a considerable amount <a wealth of advice from all quarters on how they should spend their lottery winnings> — see LOT 2
3 an amount or supply more than sufficient to meet one's needs <a wealth of documentation to support her thesis> — see PLENTY 1

wealthy adjective
having goods, property, or money in abundance <a wealthy man who likes to collect antique cars> — see RICH 1

wear noun
1 the result of long and hard use <after several years, the carpet was finally showing wear>

Synonyms
wear and tear

Related Words
abrasion, corrosion, erosion; decomposition, deterioration, disintegration; fatigue

Near Antonyms
fixing, mending, patching, rebuilding, reconditioning, reconstruction, renovation, repair, revamping

2 covering for the human body <the latest in fashionable wear> — see CLOTHING

wear verb
1 to use up all the physical energy of <the job of running their own business wears them sometimes> — see EXHAUST 1
2 to damage or diminish by continued friction <all that walking every day wore the soles of my shoes very quickly> — see ABRADE 1
3 British to put up with (something painful or difficult) <her marriage is so bad—I don't know how she wears it> — see BEAR 2

wearables plural noun
covering for the human body <models showing off vintage wearables from the swinging '60s> — see CLOTHING

wear and tear noun
the result of long and hard use <my favorite jeans finally succumbed to wear and tear and had to be replaced> — see WEAR 1

wearied adjective
1 depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <fell into bed wearied and desperate for sleep> — see WEARY 1
2 having one's patience, interest, or pleasure exhausted <wearied by her son's endless excuses for not having cleaned his room> — see WEARY 2

weariless adjective
showing no signs of weariness even after long hard effort <the weariless efforts to bring peace to that troubled region> — see TIRELESS

weariness noun
1 a complete depletion of energy or strength <the kind of satisfying weariness that comes from a good day's labor> — see FATIGUE 1
2 the state of being bored <faces showing weariness and irritation at the long graduation speech> — see BOREDOM

wearisome adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <a wearisome lecture on civic responsibility> — see BORING

wear out verb
to use up all the physical energy of <keeping up with twin toddlers wears me out> — see EXHAUST 1

weary adjective
1 depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <I am just too weary to do any more work tonight>

Synonyms
all in, aweary [archaic], beat, beaten, bleary, burned-out (or burnt-out), bushed, dead, done, done in, drained, exhausted, fatigued, jaded, knackered [British], limp, logy (also loggy), played out, pooped [slang], prostrate, spent, tapped out, tired, tuckered (out), washed-out, wearied, wiped out, worn, worn-out

Related Words
overfatigued, overtaxed, overworked; broken-down, run-down; debilitated, enervate, enervated, enfeebled, sapped, weakened; drowsy, heavy, sleepy; lethargic, sluggish

Phrases
worn to a frazzle

Near Antonyms
fresh, refreshed, rejuvenated, relaxed, rested, revitalized; active, energetic, invigorated, peppy, strengthened, strong, tireless, vitalized, weariless

Antonyms
unwearied

2 having one's patience, interest, or pleasure exhausted <I am totally weary of this constant bickering>

Synonyms
bored, fed up, jaded, sick, sick and tired, tired, wearied

Related Words
apathetic, disinterested, uninterested; glutted, sated, satiated, surfeited; dejected, demoralized, discouraged, disheartened, dispirited; beat, burned-out (or burnt-out), bushed, done in, drained, enervated, exhausted, fatigued, limp, played out, tuckered (out), worn-out; annoyed, exasperated, frustrated, irritated; disgusted, nauseated, repulsed; blasé (also blase), world-weary

Near Antonyms
animated, energized, enlivened, excited, galvanized, invigorated, stimulated, vitalized; amused, entertained; beguiled, bewitched, captivated, charmed, enchanted, enthralled, fascinated, hypnotized, mesmerized; delighted, pleased, thrilled

Antonyms
absorbed, engaged, engrossed, interested, intrigued, rapt

3 causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <a weary march through a lot of boring facts and figures> — see BORING

weary verb
1 to make weary and restless by being dull or monotonous <these constant complaints are really wearying me> — see 2BORE
2 to use up all the physical energy of <a whole day of hard physical labor had thoroughly wearied her> — see EXHAUST 1

wearying adjective
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest <a wearying effort to sort through years of records> — see BORING

weasel verb
to avoid giving a definite answer or position <the polite guest chose to weasel rather than admit that he didn't like the meal> — see EQUIVOCATE

weasel (out of) verb
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery <you won't be able to weasel out of your share of the work by feigning illness> — see ESCAPE 2

weather verb
to come safely through <we've weathered worse crises, and so we'll survive this one> — see SURVIVE 1

weathercock noun
a person who dexterously and expediently changes or adopts opinions <when the winds suddenly shifted on social values, the weathercocks wasted no time in proclaiming their newfound passion for conservatism> — see ACROBAT 2

weave verb
1 to cause to twine about one another <as they have for the past two centuries, crafters continue to weave osiers into the distinctive baskets that are the island's trademark> — see INTERTWINE 1
2 to scatter or set here and there among other things <a political commentator who slyly weaves lies into the truth> — see THREAD 1
3 to move suddenly aside or to and fro <a van weaving through traffic with reckless speed> — see DODGE 1

web noun
1 something that catches and holds <he was caught in the web of branches> <she was trapped by her own web of lies>

Synonyms
entanglement, mesh(es), morass, net, noose, quagmire, quicksand, snare, tanglement, toil(s), trap

Related Words
knot, snarl, tangle; cat's cradle, labyrinth, maze; cobweb, spiderweb

2 a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise <an ingenious web that was spun by undercover agents going after drug dealers> — see TRAP 1

wed verb
1 to give in marriage <the king wished to wed his favorite daughter to the bravest knight in the realm> — see MARRY 2
2 to perform the ceremony of marriage for <the priest usually weds six to eight couples a month> — see MARRY 1
3 to take a spouse <she swore that she would never wed> — see MARRY 4
4 to take as a spouse <a true romantic, he intends to wed her on Valentine's Day> — see MARRY 3

wedded adjective
of or relating to marriage <living in wedded bliss> — see MARITAL

wedding noun
a ceremony in which two people are united in matrimony <the couple chose to have a garden wedding>

Synonyms
bridal, espousal, marriage, nuptial(s)

Related Words
match, matrimony, wedlock; union

wedge verb
to fit (people or things) into a tight space <managed to wedge one last book onto the bookshelf> — see CROWD 1

wedged adjective
firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge <the pebble in the heel of his shoe was pretty well wedged> — see TIGHT 2

wedlock noun
a union representing a special kind of social and legal partnership between two people <joined the happy couple in holy wedlock> — see MARRIAGE 1

wee adjective
very small in size <a wee baby> — see TINY

weeds plural noun
covering for the human body <a poor, miserable beggar clad in tattered weeds> — see CLOTHING

weedy adjective
growing thickly and vigorously <weedy vegetation in the abandoned lot> — see RANK 1

weenie noun
a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits <an inner-directed individual who could have cared less if others stuck the dreaded “weenie” label on him> — see NERD 1

weeny also weensy adjective
very small in size <stumbled upon a weeny frog in the front yard> — see TINY

weep verb
1 to flow forth slowly through small openings <water weeping through the basement wall> — see EXUDE
2 to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress <the child was weeping over the death of his dog> — see CRY 1

weeping adjective
1 bending downward or forward <with its long, weeping fronds, this plant makes a nice ornamental> — see NODDING
2 expressing or suggesting mourning <a weeping song about a long-lost love> — see MOURNFUL 1

weepy adjective
given to expressing strong emotion (as sorrow) by readily shedding tears <I'm weepy enough that I even cry at happy endings to movies and books> — see TEARFUL 1

weigh verb
1 to be of importance <evidence that will weigh heavily against the defendant> — see MATTER
2 to give serious and careful thought to <weighed the options for weeks before making a decision> — see PONDER

weigh (on or upon) verb
to push steadily against with some force <the bulky backpack weighed upon my back uncomfortably> — see 2PRESS 1

weigh down verb
to make sad <all these tragedies occurring simultaneously are weighing me down> — see DEPRESS 1

weighed adjective
decided on as a result of careful thought <a carefully weighed decision to take the company in a new direction> — see DELIBERATE 1

weigh in verb
to make a statement of one's opinion <self-appointed pundits immediately weighed in on the latest political scandal> — see REMARK 1

weight noun
1 the amount that something weighs <because of a back condition, I'm not allowed to lift anything with a weight of over 10 pounds>

Synonyms
avoirdupois, heaviness, heft

Related Words
bulk, mass; poundage, tonnage; deadweight; heftiness, massiveness, ponderousness, weightiness; solidity, solidness, substantiality, substantialness

2 the quality or state of being important <a matter of little weight that is a preoccupation solely of the news media> — see IMPORTANCE
3 a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported <those books are a heavy weight to have to carry around all day> — see LOAD 1
4 a special notice or importance given to something <put extra weight on the matter by putting it at the top of the agenda> — see EMPHASIS 1
5 the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts <the weight of the evidence supports my conclusion> — see BODY 1
6 the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly <as a critic he has great weight in the theater world> — see INFLUENCE 1
7 the condition of having an excess of body fat <finally decided to do something about his weight and began a rigorous program of diet and exercise> — see CORPULENCE

weight verb
to place a weight or burden on <weighted the car with a ton of furniture and then headed off for college> — see LOAD 1

weightiness noun
1 the state or quality of being heavy <the weightiness of the bookcase made it difficult to move>

Synonyms
avoirdupois, heaviness, heftiness, massiveness, ponderousness

Related Words
overweight; solidity, solidness, substantiality, substantialness; bulk, bulkiness, hugeness; cumbersomeness

Near Antonyms
airiness, delicacy, ethereality, etherealness; flimsiness, fluffiness, insubstantiality, slightness

Antonyms
lightness, weightlessness

2 the quality or state of being important <first judged the weightiness of a case before deciding to hear it> — see IMPORTANCE

weightless adjective
having little weight <the kitten seemed nearly weightless when I picked her up> — see 1LIGHT 1

weightlessness noun
the state or quality of having little weight <the relative weightlessness of the suitcase surprised me> — see 1LIGHTNESS 1

weighty adjective
1 having a matter of importance as its topic <interrupted a weighty discussion with a silly question> — see SERIOUS 2
2 having great meaning or lasting effect <choosing a college is a weighty decision> — see IMPORTANT 1
3 having great weight <lifted the weighty sack and wondered what was in it> — see HEAVY 1
4 not joking or playful in mood or manner <the police office looked at me with a rather weighty expression> — see SERIOUS 1
5 having power over the minds or behavior of others <one of the weightiest figures in the field of pediatric medicine> — see INFLUENTIAL 1

weird adjective
1 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <always has a somewhat weird opinion of what's happening in the news> — see ODD 2
2 fearfully and mysteriously strange or fantastic <weird sounds from the woods just beyond our campsite> — see EERIE
3 having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers <a self-styled, contemporary witch, she sells herbal mixtures that she claims are weird potions> — see MYSTIC 1
4 noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced <a weird little plant that we found growing in the garden> — see UNUSUAL 1

weirdo adjective
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <he saw some weirdo lights in the sky and immediately concluded that it had to be a UFO> — see ODD 2

weirdo noun
a person of odd or whimsical habits <one of those weirdos that the rest of the town always seemed to be talking about> — see ECCENTRIC

weird out verb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <as a curious observer, he was weirded out by the fact that members of the sect seemed to have no life outside of it> — see DISTURB 1

welcome adjective
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses <a welcome chance to rest after a long journey> — see PLEASANT 1

welcome noun
an expression of goodwill upon meeting <offered a warm welcome to the stranger> — see HELLO

welcome verb
to receive or accept gladly or readily <the eager recruits welcomed every new project with which they were presented>

Synonyms
drink (in), eat (up), embrace, lap (up)

Related Words
adopt, espouse, take up; greet, hail; enjoy, like, prefer; cherry-pick, choose, cull, decide (on), elect, handpick, name, opt (for), pick, select, single (out), take

Near Antonyms
balk (at), decline, pass up, refuse, reject, spurn, throw over, turn down; demur (to), object (to)

welcomely adverb
in a pleasing way <the commencement speaker's welcomely brief speech> — see WELL 5

welfare noun
the state of doing well especially in relation to one's happiness or success <the social worker was pleased at the improvement in the child's welfare>

Synonyms
good, interest, weal, well-being

Related Words
fortune, prosperity, prosperousness, success, successfulness; fitness, health, healthiness, robustness, soundness, wellness, wholeness, wholesomeness; bliss, felicity, happiness, joy; advantage, benefit, gain, sake; content, contentedness, gratification, satisfaction

Near Antonyms
unhealthiness, unsoundness; misery, sadness, suffering, unhappiness, wretchedness

Antonyms
ill-being

welkin noun
the expanse of air surrounding the earth <the movie has been so overhyped that one half expects its opening to be accompanied by the proverbial ringing of the welkin> — see SKY 1

well adjective
enjoying health and vigor <my mother is quite well, thank you> — see HEALTHY 1

well adverb
1 in a satisfactory way <our current system for dividing household chores works well, so let's keep it>

Synonyms
acceptably, adequately, all right, alright, creditably, decently, fine, good, middlingly, nicely, OK (or okay), passably, respectably, satisfactorily, serviceably, so-so, sufficiently, tolerably

Related Words
appropriately, aptly, congruously, correctly, decorously, felicitously, fittingly, happily, meetly, rightly, seemly, suitably; gratifyingly, satisfyingly; effectively, effectually, efficiently, neatly, tidily

Near Antonyms
unbearably; inappropriately, incorrectly, indecently, unsuitably; awfully, deplorably, disastrously, dreadfully, horrendously, horribly, horridly, miserably, terribly

Antonyms
bad, badly, deficiently, ill, inadequately, insufficiently, intolerably, poorly, unacceptably, unsatisfactorily

2 in a generous manner <a warm and gracious host who always treats guests well>

Synonyms
amply, bounteously, bountifully, freehandedly, freeheartedly, generously, handsomely, lavishly, liberally, munificently, openhandedly, unstintingly

Related Words
considerately, courteously, hospitably, kindly, nicely, reasonably, sweetly, thoughtfully; affably, amiably, cheerfully, cheerily, congenially, cordially, friendlily, genially, good-heartedly, good-naturedly, graciously; selflessly, ungrudgingly, unselfishly; altruistically, beneficently, benevolently, bigheartedly, charitably, humanely, kindheartedly, magnanimously, philanthropically

Near Antonyms
contemptuously, disdainfully, rudely, scornfully; obnoxiously, provocatively; coldly, coolly (also cooly), frigidly, hostilely; angrily, belligerently; begrudgingly, grudgingly

Antonyms
parsimoniously, stingily, ungenerously

3 in a skillful or expert manner <she plays the piano very well>

Synonyms
ably, adeptly, adroitly, artfully, capably, competently, consummately, deftly, expertly, masterfully, masterly, proficiently, skillfully

Related Words
aptly, fluently; cleanly, cleverly, dexterously, neatly, nimbly; easily, facilely, handily

Near Antonyms
inaptly; awkwardly, clumsily, crudely

Antonyms
amateurishly, artlessly, incapably, incompetently, inefficiently, ineptly, inexpertly, poorly, unskillfully

4 with good reason or courtesy <we cannot well get out of going to your cousin's wedding>

Synonyms
considerately, courteously, graciously, kindly, nicely, reasonably, thoughtfully

Related Words
pleasantly; excusably, fairly, justifiably, validly; discreetly, judiciously, prudently, sensibly, wisely; chivalrously, decorously, deferentially, gallantly, politely, respectfully, solicitously; compassionately, humanely, kindheartedly, sweetly, sympathetically

Near Antonyms
contemptuously, disdainfully, disrespectfully, impolitely, rudely, scornfully, snootily; cruelly, heartlessly, nastily, viciously; shabbily, unfairly

Antonyms
discourteously, inconsiderately, thoughtlessly

5 in a pleasing way <the day went well, despite the rough beginning>

Synonyms
agreeably, charmingly, delectably, deliciously, delightfully, dreamily, enchantingly, enjoyably, favorably, felicitously, fetchingly, gloriously, gratifyingly, great, nicely, palatably, pleasantly, pleasingly, pleasurably, prettily, satisfyingly, splendidly, sweetly, swimmingly, welcomely, winningly

Related Words
finely, grandly, magnificently; advantageously, helpfully; blessedly, fortunately, happily, luckily; excellently, superbly; marvelously, sensationally, wonderfully; attractively, beautifully, handsomely; appealingly, appetizingly, enticingly, invitingly, temptingly

Near Antonyms
abominably, appallingly, awfully, dreadfully, horrendously, horribly, horridly, shockingly, sickeningly, terribly, vilely; annoyingly, disgustingly, distressingly, irritatingly, vexingly

Antonyms
badly, disagreeably, ill, unpleasantly

6 to a full extent or degree <we are well aware that this home renovation is going to be costly> — see FULLY 1
7 without difficulty <he can well afford to spare the time> — see EASILY 1

well interjection
how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable <well, that is odd!> — see NO

well noun
1 a point or place at which something is invented or provided <his quirkily dysfunctional family proved to be a bottomless well of inspiration for the novelist> — see SOURCE 1
2 a small often deep body of water <the spot where the spring bubbles up to the surface and forms a deep well> — see 1POOL

well–being noun
the state of doing well especially in relation to one's happiness or success <we're only doing this for your own well-being> — see WELFARE

well–bred adjective
showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners <a well-bred young woman who is unfailingly polite to everyone> — see POLITE 1

wellborn adjective
of high birth, rank, or station <the wellborn men among the colonists had no experience with physical labor> — see NOBLE 1

well–conditioned adjective
enjoying health and vigor <frequent trips to the gym keep her well-conditioned> — see HEALTHY 1

well–disposed adjective
having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations <a bachelor who has a reputation for being well-disposed, especially towards the ladies> — see AMIABLE

well–endowed adjective
having goods, property, or money in abundance <that independent company is not so well-endowed that it could afford to fight a protracted lawsuit> — see RICH 1

well–favored adjective
very pleasing to look at <a well-favored young man who would make a great catch> — see BEAUTIFUL 1

well–fixed adjective
having goods, property, or money in abundance <she was always hitting up her well-fixed relatives for “loans”> — see RICH 1

well–founded adjective
1 according to the rules of logic <even a well-founded argument can lead to an erroneous conclusion if one of the premises is incorrect> — see LOGICAL 1
2 based on sound reasoning or information <a well-founded complaint about the business's treatment of its customers> — see GOOD 1

well–groomed adjective
being clean and in good order <the famously well-groomed farms of the Amish> — see NEAT 1

well–grounded adjective
according to the rules of logic <counsel for the defense presented a well-grounded case for acquittal> — see LOGICAL 1

well–heeled adjective
having goods, property, or money in abundance <the resort caters to a well-heeled clientele that demands the best and has the money to pay for it> — see RICH 1

well–informed adjective
having information especially as a result of study or experience <patients considering LASIK surgery should be well-informed about the risks and possible complications> — see FAMILIAR 2

well–known adjective
widely known <an anchorwoman so well-known that she passes for a local celebrity> — see FAMOUS 1

wellness noun
the condition of being sound in body <discounted gym memberships are part of the company's employee wellness program> — see HEALTH 1

well–nigh adverb
very close to but not completely <it was well-nigh dark, but I could still see a little> — see ALMOST

well–off adjective
having goods, property, or money in abundance <a well-off couple adopted the baby> — see RICH 1

well–read adjective
having or displaying advanced knowledge or education <any well-read person would recognize the quotation> — see EDUCATED 1

well–spoken adjective
able to express oneself clearly and well <a well-spoken advocate for the legal rights of the underprivileged> — see ARTICULATE

wellspring noun
1 a point or place at which something is invented or provided <the nation's colleges and universities were a wellspring for political activism and unrest> — see SOURCE 1
2 an abundant source <a gossip who is a wellspring of juicy information about the latest goings-on around town> — see MINE 1

well–timed adjective
especially suitable for a certain time <the release of the novel was well-timed: a week later the author was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature> — see TIMELY 1

well–to–do adjective
having goods, property, or money in abundance <a doctor who is now quite well-to-do as a result of his successful medical practice> — see RICH 1

well–worn adjective
used or heard so often as to be dull <people at the funeral offered the grieving family well-worn platitudes and expressions of sympathy> — see STALE 1

welt noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <I'll hand ye a few welts with me stick and then we'll see how ye feel!> — see 1BLOW

welter noun
1 a state of noisy, confused activity <there was a welter of pushing and shoving as people rushed to grab the best seats for the outdoor concert> — see COMMOTION
2 an unorganized collection or mixture of various things <a welter of junk in the closet, most of which needed to be thrown out> — see MISCELLANY 1
3 a state in which everything is out of order <the claim that a troop withdrawal would plunge the country into a welter of anarchy and endless civil war> — see CHAOS

wench noun
1 a boldly flirtatious or sexually promiscuous woman <a “sexy French maid” costume for the woman who wants to get in touch with her inner wench—at least on Halloween> — see FLOOZY
2 a female domestic servant <a fairytale about the transformation of a lowly kitchen wench into an elegant lady> — see MAID 1

wet adjective
1 containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water <I left the car windows open while it rained, and the seats got all wet>

Synonyms
awash, bathed, bedraggled, doused (also dowsed), drenched, dripping, logged, saturate, saturated, soaked, soaking, sodden, soggy, sopping, soppy, soused, washed, watered, waterlogged, water-soaked, watery

Related Words
deluged, drowned, flooded, inundated, overflowed; submerged, swamped; hydrated; dipped, dunked, splashed; aqueous; steeped; flushed, irrigated, laved, rinsed, sluiced; clammy, damp, dampish, dank, humid, moist, semimoist, wettish; boggy, miry, seepy, sloppy, squashy

Near Antonyms
bone-dry, hyperarid, ultradry; waterproof, water-repellent, water-resistant, watertight; baked, dehydrated, freeze-dried; droughty, parched, sere (also sear), sunbaked, thirsty; wrung

Antonyms
arid, dry, unwatered, waterless

2 marked by or abounding with rain <a wet and dreary day> — see RAINY
3 being under the influence of alcohol <she says a party's no fun unless she ends up wet> — see DRUNK
4 appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way <things get more than a little wet during the opera's big death scene> — see CORNY 1
5 British lacking strength of will or character <employees of the company despised their boss as a wet and ineffectual bloke> — see WEAK 2

wet noun
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity <winced as he walked out into the wet without any protection> — see RAIN 1

wet verb
to make wet <you need to wet your hair thoroughly first>

Synonyms
bathe, bedraggle, douse (also dowse), drench, drown, soak, sodden, sop, souse, wash, water, waterlog, water-soak, wet down

Related Words
asperse, bedew, damp, dampen, drizzle, humidify, hydrate, mist, moisten, moisturize, shower, sprinkle; deluge, flood, hose (down), inundate, overflow; submerge, swamp; splash; impregnate, saturate, steep; flush, irrigate, lave, rinse, slosh, sluice; dip, duck, dunk; rehydrate, rewash, rewet

Near Antonyms
dewater, evaporate, freeze-dry; drip-dry, wring; dehumidify

Antonyms
dehydrate, desiccate, dry, parch, scorch, sear

wet blanket noun
a person who spoils the pleasure of others <I'd love to go to the party, but with my cold, I'm afraid I'd just be a wet blanket> — see KILLJOY

wet down verb
to make wet <it will be easier to clean up if you wet down the surfaces first> <the stylist began by wetting down my hair> — see WET

wetland noun
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water <the conservation board has not always been rigorous in protecting the wetlands from development> — see SWAMP 1

wet–nurse verb
1 to give milk to from the breast <wet-nursed the woman's baby until she was well enough to do it herself> — see NURSE 2
2 to treat with great or excessive care <recent college grads quickly learn that employers won't wet-nurse them the way that their teachers did> — see BABY

wettish adjective
slightly or moderately wet <the ground is still rather wettish after last night's downpour> — see MOIST

whack noun
1 an effort to do or accomplish something <took a whack at solving the math problem> — see ATTEMPT 1
2 a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <gave the wasp's nest a good whack with the bat> — see 1BLOW
3 a loud explosive sound <the whack echoed around the field> — see CLAP 1

whack verb
1 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <whacked the vending machine to get the candy bar to fall> — see HIT 1
2 slang to put to death deliberately <without a second thought the mob boss had them whacked> — see MURDER 1

whacking adjective
unusually large <harvested a whacking number of zucchini from the garden> — see HUGE

whacking adverb
to a great degree <the clown wore a whacking big pair of shoes> — see VERY 1

whale noun
something that is unusually large and powerful <a whale of a pickup truck> — see GIANT

whale verb
1 to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <whaled the ball so hard that it sailed over the fence and into the neighbor's yard> — see HIT 1
2 to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <whaled the rug with a broom to knock the dirt out of it> — see WHIP 1
3 to strike repeatedly <mercilessly whaled the pickpocket for stealing from her purse> — see BEAT 1

wham noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <gave the TV a good wham with her fist, and suddenly the picture came back on> — see 1BLOW

whammy noun
1 a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power <if you tell anyone about this, I swear I'll put the whammy on you> — see SPELL 1
2 something that brings bad luck <put the whammy on herself by publicly predicting that she would win the tennis tournament> — see JINX

whang noun
the loud sound made when metal strikes metal <the incessant whang of a wrench on the exhaust pipe as she fixed the car> — see CLANG

wharf noun
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers <tied the rowboat up at the wharf> — see DOCK

what interjection
how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable <what! I can't believe we won!> — see NO

what all pronoun
any of various other things that might also be mentioned <the book was about family, social differences, and I don't know what all else> — see WHATNOT

whatchamacallit noun
a small article the actual name of which one either does not know or cannot remember <I need one of those whatchamacallits to connect the two patch cords> — see DOODAD 1

whatever adverb
in spite of everything <whatever the reviews say, I still think it was a great play> — see REGARDLESS

whatever pronoun
any of various other things that might also be mentioned <looking for a job as writer or editor—or whatever—with a TV network newscast> — see WHATNOT

whatnot noun
a small article the actual name of which one either does not know or cannot remember <the store sells an array of whatnots for the do-it-yourself plumber> — see DOODAD 1

whatnot pronoun
any of various other things that might also be mentioned <the drawer is full of spare pens, paper clips, stray elastics and whatnot>

Synonyms
what all, whatever

Related Words
anything; whichever

Phrases
what have you

whatsit also whatsis or what–is–it noun
a small article the actual name of which one either does not know or cannot remember <there's always one random whatsit left over every time I put a bookcase together> — see DOODAD 1

whee interjection
how delightful <whee! that was a fun ride> — see HOORAY

wheedle verb
to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery <wheedled him into doing their work for them> — see COAX

wheel noun
1 a rapid turning about on an axis or central point <the wheel of the tape reel> — see SPIN 1
2 one of high position or importance within a group <she's a major wheel in that state's Democratic Party> — see BIG SHOT
3 a series of events or actions that repeat themselves regularly and in the same order <the wheel of time turns: the children are now the parents, and their children have taken their place at the school desks> — see CYCLE 1
4 wheels plural slang a self-propelled passenger vehicle on four wheels <now that I've got wheels, I can go to the outlet mall> — see CAR

wheel verb
1 to change the course or direction of (something) <wheeled the bike around sharply to see what had fallen off> — see TURN 2
2 to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis <wheeled the bicycle's tires around to see if they were balanced> — see TURN 1
3 to move in circles around an axis or center <she wheeled around and around until finally she got dizzy and fell down> — see SPIN 1
4 to turn away from a straight line or course <the highway wheels to the west as it forms an arc that bypasses the city> — see CURVE 1
5 to change one's course or direction <upon hearing the construction workers' suggestive remarks, she wheeled around to glare at them> — see TURN 3

wheelman noun
a person who travels by automobile <we'll need someone to be our wheelman for the heist> — see MOTORIST

wheeze verb
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty <he was wheezing rapidly after a hard run> — see GASP

whelk noun
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin <unsightly whelks covered the beggar's face> — see POCK

whelm verb
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress <the news so whelmed them that they were stunned into silence> — see OVERWHELM 1

whelp noun
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <playtime's over, it's time to gather up the whelps and head home> — see CHILD 1

when conjunction
1 at or during the time that <she complained that no one was paying attention to her when she gave her speech>

Synonyms
as, so long as, while, whilst [chiefly British]

Near Antonyms
after

2 just at the moment that <you should say hello when you answer the phone>

Synonyms
as soon as, immediately [chiefly British], instantly, once

Near Antonyms
after, directly [chiefly British], since

3 in spite of the fact that <she quit writing when she could have been a fine author> — see ALTHOUGH

where adverb
1 at, in, or to what place <where will you be tonight?>

Synonyms
whereabouts (also whereabout), whither

Related Words
wherever

Near Antonyms
whence

2 in what manner or way <I cannot see where the explanation is mistaken>

Synonyms
how, wherein

Related Words
thus, thusly; accordingly, consequently, ergo, hence, so, thereupon, wherefore

where noun
the area or space occupied by or intended for something <we've decided on the when, but we still haven't resolved the where for the party> — see PLACE 1

whereabouts also whereabout adverb
at, in, or to what place <whereabouts do you expect to be on your journey tonight?> — see WHERE 1

whereas conjunction
1 for the reason that <whereas you chose to participate in this stupid prank, you will be held responsible as well> — see SINCE
2 in spite of the fact that <whereas there are many good reasons to switch to Plan B, we must stick with Plan A as long as it is feasible> — see ALTHOUGH

wherefore adverb
for this or that reason <it was getting late, and wherefore we decided to move on> — see THEREFORE

wherefore noun
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing <demanded to know the whys and wherefores for the decision> — see REASON 2

wherein adverb
in what manner or way <wherein this document can be demonstrated to be out of compliance with current standards, that section will be considered null and void> — see WHERE 2

wherewithal noun
1 available money <had the wherewithal to pay cash for the car> — see FUND 2
2 the total of one's money and property <people with the wherewithal to be able to afford such a lavish lifestyle> — see WEALTH 1

whet verb
to make sharp or sharper <whetted the knife with the grindstone> — see SHARPEN

whetted adjective
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something <I'll need a well-whetted axe to split the wood> — see SHARP 1

whicker verb
to make the cry typical of a horse <whickering as they waited at the starting gate, the horses seemed to sense the excitement of the crowd> — see NEIGH

whiff noun
an almost imperceptible sign of something <even a whiff of appreciation for everything I've done for her would have been nice> — see HINT 2

whiff verb
to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose <whiffed the pot of chili on the stove and announced that he was staying for dinner> — see SMELL 1

while conjunction
1 at or during the time that <pay attention while I'm explaining how the new phone system works> — see WHEN 1
2 in spite of the fact that <while this term paper is very well done, it's still late> — see ALTHOUGH

while noun
1 an indefinite but usually short period of time <we stayed at the fair for a while longer>

Synonyms
bit, space, spell, stretch

Related Words
lapse; season, span; day, epoch, era; beat, eyeblink, flash, heartbeat, instant, jiff, jiffy, minute, moment, nanosecond, New York minute, second, shake, split second, spurt, trice, twinkle, twinkling, wink; aeon (or eon), age, eternity, infinity, perpetuity; interim, interlude, intermission, interval

2 the active use of energy in producing a result <it's not worth my while to fix it, so we'll get a new one> — see EFFORT

whilom adjective
having been such at some previous time <pointedly ignored the whilom friends who had turned on her> — see FORMER 1

whilst conjunction, chiefly British
1 at or during the time that <I like to get my knitting done whilst watching the telly> — see WHEN 1
2 in spite of the fact that <whilst a good worker, he's not a very good manager> — see ALTHOUGH

whim noun
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action <on a whim, we stopped at the roadside stand to get ice cream>

Synonyms
bee, caprice, crank, fancy, freak, humor, kink, maggot, megrim, notion, vagary, vagrancy, whimsy (also whimsey)

Related Words
capriciousness, fancifulness, fantasy (also phantasy), freakishness, impetuosity, whimsicality; conceit; concept, conception, image, impression, mind's eye, picture, thought; brainstorm, inspiration

Phrases
bee in one's bonnet

whimper noun
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <patiently posed for dozens of photographs without so much as a whimper> — see COMPLAINT 1

whimper verb
1 to utter feeble plaintive cries <the dog whimpered to be let in>

Synonyms
bleat, mewl, pule

Related Words
fuss, sniffle, snivel, snuffle, whine; bawl, blub [chiefly British], blubber, cry, sob, weep; peep, squeak; yelp; mumble, murmur, mutter; groan, moan, sigh

Near Antonyms
scream, screech, shriek, squeal; howl, squall, wail, yowl; call, caterwaul, squawk; bellow, roar

2 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <a good-hearted person, but given to whimpering about trifles> — see COMPLAIN

whimsical adjective
prone to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions <it's hard to make plans with such a whimsical best friend>

Synonyms
capricious, freakish, impulsive

Related Words
impetuous, mercurial, moody, temperamental, volatile; crankish, eccentric, flaky, quirky; arbitrary, erratic, fickle, inconstant, irregular, shaky, willful (or wilful); impractical, quixotic, quixotical, romantic, unrealistic, utopian, visionary

Near Antonyms
equable; down-to-earth, earthy, hard-boiled, hardheaded, levelheaded, matter-of-fact, practical, pragmatic (also pragmatical), reasonable, sensible, tough-minded; commonsensical, grounded, logical, no-nonsense, rational, sane, sober, sobersided, sound; fast, fixed, hard-and-fast, immutable, inflexible, invariable, unalterable, unbending, unchangeable uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding; changeless, constant, established, set, settled, stable, steadfast, steady, unchanging, unvarying

whimsicality noun
an inclination to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions <her whimsicality made her an unpredictable companion>

Synonyms
caprice, capriciousness, freakishness, impulsiveness, whimsicalness

Related Words
mercurialness, moodiness, unpredictability, willfulness; eccentricity, flakiness; arbitrariness, fickleness, inconstancy, irregularity, volatileness, volatility; changeability, flexibility, mutability, variability, variableness

Near Antonyms
levelheadedness, practicality, reasonability, reasonableness; fastness, firmness, fixedness, immovability, immovableness, immutability, inflexibility, invariability; changelessness, constancy, stability, steadfastness, steadiness

whimsicalness noun
an inclination to sudden illogical changes of mind, ideas, or actions <at times she displays a certain whimsicalness that is charming> — see WHIMSICALITY

whimsy also whimsey noun
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action <the pop singer's latest whimsy is that she has acting talent> — see WHIM

whim–whams plural noun
a sense of panic or extreme nervousness <just the sight of a roller coaster gives him the whim-whams> — see JITTERS

whine noun
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <the perennial whine that movies aren't as good as they used to be> — see COMPLAINT 1

whine verb
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <for the whole of our vacation, the kids whined on and on about the weather> — see COMPLAIN

whiner noun
1 a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things <don't be a whiner—the hike's not that difficult> — see CRYBABY
2 an irritable and complaining person <among the hospital staff the patient in 504 had acquired a reputation for being a whiner> — see GROUCH 1

whinge noun, British
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <that bloke always has some whinge about how women don't understand him> — see COMPLAINT 1

whinge verb, British
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <dutifully cares for his elderly mum, despite her tendency to whinge about everything> — see COMPLAIN

whinny verb
to make the cry typical of a horse <the father whinnied and reared as his young daughter pretended to ride him> — see NEIGH

whip noun
a long thin or flexible tool for striking <please do not use your belt as a whip>

Synonyms
flogger, lash, scourge, switch

Related Words
birch, blacksnake, bullwhip, cat-o'-nine-tails, cowhide, crop, hickory, knout, quirt, rattan, rawhide, strap; bastinado (or bastinade), bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, cane, club, cudgel, flail, nightstick, staff

whip verb
1 to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible <whipped the animal when it did not move fast enough to please him>

Synonyms
birch, cowhide, flagellate, flail, flog, hide, horsewhip, lash, leather, rawhide, scourge, slash, switch, tan, thrash, whale

Related Words
knout, quirt, strap; cut; flick, touch up; blackjack, cane, club, cudgel, fustigate; pistol-whip; bang, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clout, crack, cuff, hit, knock, lam, paste, punch, slap, slug, smack, smite, sock, spank, swat, swipe, thwack, wallop, whack; bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, bludgeon, buffet, bung, drub, fib [British], hammer, lace, lambaste (or lambast), lather, lick, mangle, maul, paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, rough, slate, slog, thresh, thump, tromp, whop (or whap), whup, work over

2 to defeat by a large margin <we whipped them 13-0 in the last game>

Synonyms
annihilate, blow away, bomb, bury, clobber, cream, drub, dust, flatten, paste, rout, shellac, skin, skunk, smoke [slang], smother, snow under, thrash, trim, tromp, trounce, wallop, wax [slang], whomp, whop (or whap), whup

Related Words
sweep, upset; beat, best, conquer, dispatch, hurdle, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), subdue, surmount, take, throw, triumph (over), win (against), worst; crush, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, overwhelm, subjugate, upend, vanquish; ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend; edge (out), nose out, pip [British]; cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed; break, destroy, do in, finish, sink, slaughter

Phrases
beat the pants off, eat alive, run circles around (or run rings around), wipe the floor with (or wipe the ground with)

3 to change the course or direction of (something) <any more complaints and I'm whipping this car around and heading back home> — see TURN 2
4 to move or cause to move with a striking motion <her hair whipped in the wind> — see FLAP
5 to strike repeatedly <threatened to whip them if they didn't behave> — see BEAT 1

whip (up) verb
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being <whipped up protests against the proposed amendment to the state's constitution> — see INCITE 1

whip hand noun
the more favorable condition or position in a competition <unquestionably the company has the whip hand in negotiations with the labor union> — see ADVANTAGE 1

whipper noun
one that defeats an enemy or opponent <as the whippers of teams from much larger schools, our players have much to be proud of> — see VICTOR 1

whippersnapper noun
a person of no importance or influence <some young whippersnapper piped up with a pointless comment> — see NOBODY

whipping noun
failure to win a contest <suffered a whipping that took them out of competition> — see DEFEAT 1

whipping boy noun
a person or thing taking the blame for others <used the government's economic policies as the whipping boy for every bad decision the company made> — see SCAPEGOAT

whippy adjective
able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted <the whippy branches of a weeping willow> — see ELASTIC 1

whir also whirr noun
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion <a whir coming from the refrigerator> — see HUM

whir also whirr verb
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound <the hummingbird whirred as it hovered over a flower> <our tires whirred as we traveled over the rough road>

Synonyms
bumble, burr, buzz, drone, hum, whish, whiz (or whizz), zip, zoom

Related Words
chirr, churr; thrum; fizz, hiss, murmur, purr, rustle, sigh, sizzle, swish, whisper; coo, curr; wheeze, whistle, whoosh

whirl noun
1 a rapid turning about on an axis or central point <the whirl of the mechanical ride made him dizzy> — see SPIN 1
2 a state of mental uncertainty <so many changes at once had her all in a whirl> — see CONFUSION 1
3 a state of noisy, confused activity <lost an earring in the whirl of the party> — see COMMOTION
4 an effort to do or accomplish something <I'm pretty good at fixing things, so how about if I give it a whirl?> — see ATTEMPT 1

whirl verb
1 to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly <whirled the chocolate syrup into the milk with a spoon> — see STIR 1
2 to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis <the figure skater whirled his partner with effortless grace> — see TURN 1
3 to move in circles around an axis or center <the gambler held his breath as the roulette wheel whirled> — see SPIN 1
4 to proceed or move quickly <cars whirling by on the highway> — see HURRY 2
5 to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around <my mind whirled from all of the excitement> — see SPIN 2

whirling adjective
having a feeling of being whirled about and in danger of falling down <still whirling from the amusement park ride, I needed to sit down> — see DIZZY 1

whirlpool noun
water moving rapidly in a circle with a hollow in the center <in The Odyssey, Ulysses is trapped between the six-headed monster Scylla and Charybdis, a deadly whirlpool that threatens to suck in his ship>

Synonyms
gulf, maelstrom, vortex

Related Words
tourbillion (or tourbillon); eddy, swirl, whirl

whirlwind adjective
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <after a whirlwind romance of only a few weeks, the couple decided to get married> — see FAST 1

whirlybird noun
a vehicle for traveling through the air that obtains its lift from rotors which spin horizontally <from the sky a police whirlybird was able to track the fleeing carjacker> — see HELICOPTER

whish noun
a sound similar to the speech sound \s\ stretched out <the whish of tires on wet pavement> — see HISS 1

whish verb
1 to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound <seemingly out of nowhere, a baseball whished past my head> — see WHIRR
2 to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\ <the match whished as it burst into flame> — see HISS

whisk noun
a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down <with a whisk of the broom, the dirt was gone> — see 1WAG

whisk verb
1 to cause to move or proceed fast or faster <the museum guide kept whisking us along, telling us there was much more we had to see> — see HURRY 1
2 to move or proceed smoothly and readily <now that the highway has been widened, traffic just whisks along> — see FLOW 2
3 to proceed or move quickly <whisked through the crowd and delivered the urgent message> — see HURRY 2

whisper noun
a rumor or report of a personal or sensational nature <there were whispers that the starlet was secretly married> — see TALE 1

whisper verb
to make (as a piece of information) the subject of common talk without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <assistants whispered that the two singers were having a secret relationship> — see RUMOR

whistle–blower noun
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing <there are laws to protect whistle-blowers who reveal corporate malfeasance> — see INFORMER

whistle–stop noun
a small residential settlement <for that all-important primary election, candidates are willing to go to every whistle-stop in the state> — see VILLAGE

whistling adjective
having a high musical pitch or range <the whistling sound of missiles as they sped toward their targets> — see SHRILL

whit noun
the smallest amount or part imaginable <I care not a whit about what other people think> — see JOT

white adjective
1 lacking an addition of color <dazzlingly white paint on the walls of the new house> — see COLORLESS 1
2 not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt <told a little white lie to spare her feelings> — see HARMLESS
3 free from sin <the tendency to see everything and everyone as morally black or white> — see INNOCENT 1

white–haired adjective
granted special treatment or attention <the company's top salesman was certainly the white-haired boy of the office> — see DARLING 1

white heat noun
depth of feeling <claims that the novel was written at white heat in a tremendous, unbroken burst of creativity> — see ARDOR 1

white–hot adjective
having a notably high temperature <the molten mass was still white-hot when the glassblower began to work his magic> — see HOT 1

white knight noun
a person who actively supports or favors a cause <a deserving cause in need of a charismatic white knight who will galvanize public support> — see EXPONENT 1

white lightning noun
illegally produced liquor <college students secretly mixing up a batch of white lightning in the school lab> — see MOONSHINE 1

whiten verb
to make white or whiter by removing color <years of sunlight had almost completely whitened the flag>

Synonyms
blanch, bleach, blench, decolorize, dull, fade, pale, snow, wash out

Related Words
brighten, lighten; dim, mat (also matte or matt); etiolate; whitewash; frost, silver

Near Antonyms
blacken; blotch, checker, dapple, daub, discolor, fleck, marble, mottle, pattern, polychrome, shade, speck, speckle, splotch, spot, streak, striate, stripe, tarnish, variegate; color, dye, paint, pigment, stain, tincture, tinge, tint; burnish, polish, shine

Antonyms
darken, deepen, embrown

whitewash verb
1 to dismiss as of little importance <refused to whitewash the governor's chronic disregard for the truth> — see EXCUSE 1
2 to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses <don't try to whitewash your rudeness by claiming that you were having a bad day> — see PALLIATE 1

whither adverb
at, in, or to what place <whither are you going, my lady?> — see WHERE 1

1whiz or whizz noun
1 a sound similar to the speech sound \s\ stretched out <the whiz of an arrow flying by at an uncomfortably close range> — see HISS 1
2 a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion <the irritating whiz of a bee in the room> — see HUM

2whiz noun
1 a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <the computer whiz to whom we all go when we're having problems, which is fairly often> — see EXPERT
2 a very smart person <one of those whizzes who does very well in every subject> — see GENIUS 1

whiz or whizz verb
1 to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\ <just hearing the bullets whiz as they fly by their heads must be terrifying for soldiers> — see HISS
2 to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound <many vehicles were whizzing past us at breakneck speeds> — see WHIRR

whole adjective
1 not divided or scattered among several areas of interest or concern <you'll need to put your whole effort into this project>

Synonyms
all, concentrated, entire, exclusive, focused (also focussed), undivided

Related Words
absolute, complete, full, lump, teetotal, thorough, total, unadulterated, unalloyed, unqualified, utter; comprehensive, intact, integral, perfect, unbroken

Near Antonyms
deficient, fragmental, fragmentary, halfway, incomplete, partial

Antonyms
diffuse, divided, scattered

2 enjoying health and vigor <whole and happy again after months of recuperation> — see HEALTHY 1
3 not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it <the puzzle isn't quite whole, but close enough> — see COMPLETE 1

whole noun
a complete amount of something <the landlord eventually refunded the whole of our deposit>

Synonyms
aggregate, full, sum, summation, sum total, total, totality

Related Words
gross; completeness, comprehensiveness, cumulativeness, entirety; bulk, lion's share, mass; enchilada, schmear

Phrases
grand total, the whole bit, the whole kit and caboodle, the whole nine yards, the whole shebang

Near Antonyms
net

wholehearted adjective
characterized by unqualified enthusiasm <wholehearted praise for the novel by the leading critics> — see HEARTY 1

wholeness noun
1 the condition of being sound in body <young people who don't appreciate their wholeness and youthfulness while they have it> — see HEALTH 1
2 the quality or state of being without restriction, exception, or qualification <the wholeness of my faith in our new governor is not lessened by these early missteps> — see ENTIRENESS

whole number noun
a character used to represent a mathematical value <since percentages have been rounded off to whole numbers, the total will not be exactly equal to 100%> — see NUMBER 1

wholesome adjective
1 enjoying health and vigor <a wholesome young woman in the prime of her life> — see HEALTHY 1
2 beneficial to the health of body or mind <trying to eat a more wholesome diet> — see HEALTHFUL

wholesomeness noun
the condition of being sound in body <after the physical exam the doctor declared that I appeared to be enjoying the wholesomeness of a man half my age> — see HEALTH 1

whole–souled adjective
characterized by unqualified enthusiasm <expressed their whole-souled commitment to the cause of peace> — see HEARTY 1

wholly adverb
to a full extent or degree <not wholly convinced by the evidence that the prosecutor presented> — see FULLY 1

whomp noun
a loud explosive sound <the dish fell off the table and hit the hardwood floor with a whomp> — see CLAP 1

whomp verb
to defeat by a large margin <the basketball team was whomped in the last game of the regular season and missed out on the playoffs> — see WHIP 2

whoop noun
1 a loud vocal expression of strong emotion <let out a whoop of joy> — see SHOUT
2 the smallest amount or part imaginable <he acts so rudely that I doubt he gives a whoop about other people's feelings> — see JOT

whoopee interjection
how delightful <another sitcom featuring wisecracking kids? whoopee> — see HOORAY

whoopee noun
joyful or festive activity <for New Year's Eve I'm planning to make whoopee at several clubs> — see MERRYMAKING

whop also whap noun
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument <the doctor gave my knee a little whop with his mallet to test my reflexes> — see 1BLOW

whop or whap verb
1 to defeat by a large margin <despite high hopes, the hometown favorites got whopped again> <maybe if that television station replaced its obnoxious news anchor, it wouldn't get consistently whopped in the ratings> — see WHIP 2
2 to strike repeatedly <he called me a name and I whopped him good> — see BEAT 1

whopper noun
1 a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive <told a whopper to get out of jury duty> — see LIE
2 something that is unusually large and powerful <a whopper of a fish that won first prize in the derby> — see GIANT

whopping adjective
unusually large <delivered a whopping 10-pound baby> — see HUGE

whore noun
1 a woman who engages in sexual activities for money <a historic district of the seaport that was once notorious for the whores who gathered there> — see PROSTITUTE
2 a boldly flirtatious or sexually promiscuous woman <a society in which men commonly regard women as either Madonnas or whores> — see FLOOZY

whoredom noun
the practice of engaging in sexual activities for money <Nell Gwyn is remembered as one of the most infamous courtesans in the annals of whoredom> — see PROSTITUTION

whorehouse noun
a building in which prostitutes are available <he visited a whorehouse for the first time at age 19> — see BORDELLO

whoreson noun
an illegitimate child <a notorious 17th-century libertine who supposedly left a brood of whoresons across the breadth of England> — see BASTARD 1

whump noun
a loud explosive sound <the crate of oranges landed on the floor with a whump> — see CLAP 1

whup verb
1 to defeat by a large margin <in the summer box office sweepstakes, most of the Hollywood blockbusters got whupped by a small indie movie with no stars> — see WHIP 2
2 to strike repeatedly <we'll be whupped for this stupid prank> — see BEAT 1

why interjection
how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable <why, what a strange thing to say!> — see NO

why noun
1 something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing <asked the whys behind the surprising decision> — see REASON 2
2 something hard to understand or explain <how one decides that a certain he or she is “the one” is one of the great whys of life> — see MYSTERY

wicked adjective
1 not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <a wicked urge to steal just for the sake of stealing> — see BAD 2
2 tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness <a wicked grin on his face when he said that> — see MISCHIEVOUS 1
3 not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <rotting eggs create a truly wicked stench> — see UNPLEASANT
4 causing or capable of causing harm <the contention that prostitution is not a victimless crime but a wicked assault on family values> — see HARMFUL

wicked adverb
to a great degree <we were wicked excited when our team finally won the pennant after so many years> — see VERY 1

wickedly adverb
in a mean or spiteful manner <she wickedly whispered amusing but snide comments about the other performers in the talent show> — see NASTILY

wickedness noun
1 playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <a couple of live wires who got into all kinds of wickedness during their vacation in Las Vegas> — see MISCHIEF 1
2 the state or quality of being utterly evil <the movie featured a villain of unadulterated wickedness> — see ENORMITY 1

wide adjective
1 having a greater than usual measure across <the river is so wide that building a bridge across it would be impractical>

Synonyms
broad, fat, thick

Related Words
expansive, extensive, sweeping; commodious, roomy, spacious; outsize (also outsized), oversize (or oversized), sizable (or sizeable), substantial, tidy, voluminous

Near Antonyms
fine, hairlike, reedlike; elongate (or elongated), needlelike; bottleneck, close, compressed, condensed, constricted, contracted, squeezed, tight, tightened; attenuate, attenuated; small, smallish, undersized (also undersize)

Antonyms
hairline, narrow, paper-thin, skinny, slender, slim, slim-jim, thin

2 having considerable extent <a wide and detailed knowledge of the issue> — see EXTENSIVE

wide adverb
to a full extent or degree <the door was wide open> — see FULLY 1

wide–awake adjective
1 not sleeping or able to sleep <was wide-awake with worry for most of the night> — see WAKEFUL
2 paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity <investors who were wide-awake bought the stock as soon as it was offered> — see ALERT 1

wide–eyed adjective
1 lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment <a wide-eyed and trusting child> — see NAIVE 1
2 readily taken advantage of <the sort of phony UFO “artifacts” that wide-eyed tourists fall for> — see EASY 2

wide–ranging adjective
having considerable extent <his wide-ranging business interests and real estate holdings make him one of the most powerful men in the state> — see EXTENSIVE

widespread adjective
having considerable extent <a widespread area of drought> — see EXTENSIVE

widget noun
an interesting and often novel device with a practical use <manufacturers of all kinds of widgets for the do-it-yourselfer> — see GADGET

width noun
an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends <surprised by the width of his power and influence in the oil business> — see RANGE 2

wield verb
to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively <wields considerable influence in the field of women's sports> — see EXERT

wife noun
the female partner in a marriage <a husband and wife who treat each other as equals in their marriage>

Synonyms
helpmate, helpmeet, lady, little woman, madam, missus (or missis), Mrs., old lady, wifey, woman [chiefly dialect]

Related Words
bride; better half, companion, consort, mate, partner, significant other, soul mate, spouse; dowager, matron; hausfrau, homemaker, housekeeper, housewife, stay-at-home; widow

wifey noun
the female partner in a marriage <she sternly informed her husband that she did not appreciate being introduced as “the wifey” at gatherings> — see WIFE

wig noun
a headpiece made of natural or synthetic hair usually worn to cover a bald area <the cancer patient started wearing a wig after losing all of her hair from chemotherapy> — see HAIRPIECE

wig (out) verb, slang
to yield to mental or emotional stress <with her claustrophobia, it wouldn't take a day for her to wig out on a submarine> — see CRACK 2

wiggle verb
to make jerky or restless movements <the baby wiggled in her sleep> — see FIDGET

wiggle room noun
an allowable margin of freedom or variation <the language of the contract is vague and leaves too much wiggle room> — see SLACK 1

wiggly adjective
making jerky or restless movements <a can of wiggly worms> — see FIDGETY

wight noun
a member of the human race <what unfortunate wight would be out and about in such foul weather?> — see HUMAN

wild adjective
1 living outdoors without taming or domestication by humans <wild animals can be shy or aggressive when confronted by humans>

Synonyms
feral, savage, unbroken, undomesticated, untamed, wilding

Related Words
uncontrolled, undocile, unsubdued, untrained; bestial, brutal, brute; barbarous, uncivilized

Near Antonyms
controlled, docile, familiar, semidomesticated, subdued, submissive; halterbroken, housebroken, trained; civilized, semicivilized, socialized

Antonyms
broken, busted, domestic, domesticated, gentled, tame, tamed

2 existing without human habitation or cultivation <that land has been completely wild since the owners abandoned it>

Synonyms
natural, uncultivated, untamed, virgin

Related Words
native; uninhabited, unpeopled, unsettled; overgrown, spontaneous, untended; waste; undeveloped; desolate, forlorn, howling

Near Antonyms
inhabited; developed; seminatural

Antonyms
cultivated, tamed

3 marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements <a wild night, full of wind and rain>

Synonyms
rough, rugged, stormy, tempestuous, tumultuous, turbulent

Related Words
blustering, blustery, raging, violent; brutal, harsh, severe; roily, unquiet, unsettled; bleak, inclement, nasty, raw, squally

Near Antonyms
calm, halcyon, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, tranquil; bright, clear, clement, cloudless, fair, sunny, sunshiny, unclouded

4 conceived or made without regard for reason or reality <some wild claim that he was abducted by aliens> — see FANTASTIC 1
5 different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion <public speakers in the park typically spout some wild ideas> — see ODD 2
6 marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity <the holidays were especially wild around here this year> — see FURIOUS 1
7 not civilized <ancient traces of a wild people who lived in mountain caves> — see SAVAGE 1
8 showing urgent desire or interest <they're just wild to go on the ecotour through the Amazon rain forest> — see EAGER

wild adverb
in a confused and reckless manner <as soon as the doors opened, early-morning bargain hunters ran wild through the store> — see HELTER-SKELTER 1

wild noun
that part of the physical world that is removed from human habitation <some animals aren't meant to live outside of the wild> — see NATURE 2

wilderness noun
that part of the physical world that is removed from human habitation <released the wolf back into the wilderness> — see NATURE 2

wilding adjective
living outdoors without taming or domestication by humans <a herd of wilding mustangs> — see WILD 1

wildly adverb
1 in a confused and reckless manner <upon being dismissed, the students dashed wildly off in all directions> — see HELTER-SKELTER 1
2 to a great degree <trespassers make the recluse wildly angry> — see VERY 1

wile noun
1 a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end <had to use all of her wiles to convince her guests to stay for dinner> — see TRICK 1
2 the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end <it took both wile and cajolery to talk him into it> — see TRICKERY

wile verb
to attract or delight as if by magic <her stories of the Old South could wile anyone> — see CHARM 1

wiliness noun
1 skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means <admired the politician's wiliness, but questioned his ethics> — see CUNNING 1
2 the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery <her reputation for Machiavellian wiliness made people disinclined to trust her> — see DECEIT 1

will noun
1 the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions <she kept her face still by sheer force of will>

Synonyms
continence, restraint, self-command, self-containment, self-control, self-discipline, self-government, self-mastery, self-possession, self-restraint, willpower

Related Words
self-abnegation, self-denial, self-deprivation; moderateness, moderation, temperance, temperateness; determination, nerve; command, control, discipline, mastery; abnegation, abstention, avoidance, eschewal, forbearance; abstinence, soberness, sobriety; aplomb, assurance, composure, confidence, coolness, equanimity, poise, self-confidence; discretion

Near Antonyms
gratification, indulgence, self-indulgence; excessiveness, immoderacy, intemperance, intemperateness, overindulgence; demerit, failing, fault, feebleness, foible, frailty, shortcoming, vice, weakness; indiscipline, unconstraint, unreserve, unreservedness, unrestraint

2 the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions <you cannot force me to do anything against my own will> — see FREE WILL

will verb
1 to give by means of a will <willed their house to their adult children> — see LEAVE 2
2 to see fit <do as you will—I wash my hands of the whole affair> — see CHOOSE 2

willed adjective
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing <a hard-nosed industrialist with a willed indifference to public opinion> — see INTENTIONAL

willful or wilful adjective
1 given to resisting authority or another's control <a particularly willful horse that took weeks to break to saddle> — see DISOBEDIENT
2 given to resisting control or discipline by others <finally the parents sought professional counseling for the willful child> — see UNCONTROLLABLE
3 having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity <a willful disregard for the rights of others> — see ARBITRARY 1
4 made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing <a willful attempt to cheat her siblings out of their rightful inheritance> — see INTENTIONAL
5 sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <the kind of willful person who can never bring himself to admit that he made a mistake> — see OBSTINATE

willfully adverb
with full awareness of what one is doing <willfully chose to risk pneumonia by jumping into a freezing lake on a dare> — see INTENTIONALLY

willfulness noun
1 a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion <her unceasing willfulness eventually wore down her critics and opponents> — see OBSTINACY
2 refusal to obey <willfulness was dealt with harshly at the orphanage> — see DISOBEDIENCE

willies plural noun
a sense of panic or extreme nervousness <spiders give me the willies for some reason> — see JITTERS

willing adjective
1 having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action) <I'm a little confused, but perfectly willing to do as you ask>

Synonyms
amenable, disposed, fain, game, glad, inclined, minded, ready

Related Words
predisposed, prone; accommodating, agreeable, compliant, cooperative, obedient, obliging, submissive; favorable, receptive; prepared, prompt, quick, responsive, swift; desirous, eager, enthused, enthusiastic, excited

Near Antonyms
averse, loath (also loth or loathe), reluctant, reticent

Antonyms
disinclined, unamenable, unwilling

2 having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation <she's always lent a willing hand whenever a neighbor needed help or a friend a favor> — see QUICK 1
3 done, made, or given with one's own free will <a willing sacrifice of her limited free time for a good cause> — see VOLUNTARY 1

willingly adverb
1 by choice or preference <I would not willingly eat liver, but sometimes I have no choice> — see RATHER 1
2 of one's own free will <I willingly made the campaign contribution; no one pressured me into doing so> — see VOLUNTARILY

willingness noun
cheerful readiness to do something <his unhesitating willingness to take on the tough assignments has earned him the status of the president's right-hand man> — see ALACRITY

williwaw noun
1 a state of noisy, confused activity <the surprise verdict of the jury created a wild williwaw as reporters rushed to file their stories> — see COMMOTION
2 a sudden brief rush of wind <a williwaw rose up seemingly out of nowhere and wreaked havoc with our campsite> — see GUST 1

will–less adjective
not made or done willingly or by choice <the wife's involvement in the physical abuse of the children was not will-less—she could have called the police at any time> — see INVOLUNTARY 1

willowy adjective
able to bend easily without breaking <the rattan's stems are split into willowy staves that are woven together to produce exquisite baskets>

Synonyms
bendy [chiefly British], flexible, limber, lissome (also lissom), lithe, lithesome, pliable, pliant, supple

Related Words
adaptable, ductile, elastic, fluid, kneadable, malleable, modifiable, plastic, variable, yielding; droopy, flaccid, floppy, limp; semiflexible

Near Antonyms
inelastic, nonmalleable, unyielding; breakable, brittle, fragile

Antonyms
inflexible, rigid, stiff, stiffened

willpower noun
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions <trying to summon the willpower to resist eating a huge piece of cake> — see WILL 1

willy–nilly adverb
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method <they were in a hurry, so they just tossed everything into the room willy-nilly, leaving it to be all sorted out later> — see HIT-OR-MISS

wilt verb
1 to be limp from lack of water or vigor <the plants wilted after I forgot to water them for three whole days> — see DROOP 1
2 to lose bodily strength or vigor <she had wilted a bit after walking around the hot and humid city> — see WEAKEN 2
3 to lose liveliness, force, or freshness <after six solid hours of painting, his energy was starting to wilt> — see WITHER 1

wily adjective
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means <a wily judge of character, she takes advantage of car buyers' insecurities to sell them a bigger machine than they really need> — see ARTFUL 1

wimp noun
1 a person lacking in physical strength <just because you can't lift 300 pounds doesn't mean you're a wimp> — see WEAKLING 1
2 a person without strength of character <what kind of wimp would just give in to peer pressure?> — see WEAKLING 2

wimpiness noun
1 the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <in the annals of boxing, a sport where participants are not exactly known for their wimpiness, he is remembered as a particularly powerful slugger> — see WEAKNESS 1
2 the quality or state of lacking strength of will or character <her desire to do the right thing was countered by a moral wimpiness> — see WEAKNESS 2

wimpish adjective
1 lacking bodily strength <not impressed by his wimpish physique> — see WEAK 1
2 lacking strength of will or character <it's wimpish to blame someone else for your mistakes> — see WEAK 2

wimpishness noun
the quality or state of lacking strength of will or character <the galling wimpishness of the legislator who votes “present” whenever there's a vote on a hot-button issue> — see WEAKNESS 2

wimpy adjective
1 lacking bodily strength <a wimpy person is not the best choice for a job with a moving company> — see WEAK 1
2 lacking strength of will or character <a wimpy effort to change the law that was doomed to failure> — see WEAK 2

win noun
an instance of defeating an enemy or opponent <a team with 12 wins and two losses> — see VICTORY

win verb
1 to achieve victory (as in a contest) <the kind of person who always has to win—even if the game is just for fun>

Synonyms
conquer, prevail, triumph

Related Words
overcome, sweep; squeak, squeeze; contend, vie; succeed; breeze, romp

Phrases
carry the day; kick butt

Near Antonyms
collapse, fail, flop, fold, wash out; flounder, struggle; decline, slip, slump, wane

Antonyms
lose

2 to receive as return for effort <win a gold medal in swimming> — see EARN 1
3 to obtain (as a goal) through effort <won a substantial victory in the struggle for civil rights for all> — see ACHIEVE 1

win (against) verb
to achieve a victory over <a child prodigy who has already won against a number of more experienced chess players> — see BEAT 2

win (over) verb
to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests <a combination of solid reasoning and outright begging won my parents over, and I became an exchange student for a year> — see PERSUADE

wince verb
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust <winced at the movie's graphic depiction of combat injuries> — see FLINCH

1wind noun
1 noticeable movement of air in a particular direction <there's a wind coming from underneath the front door>

Synonyms
current, draft

Related Words
blast, blow, flurry, gale, gust, headwind, squall, tailwind, tempest, tornado, windstorm; breath, breeze, puff, waft, zephyr

2 a prevailing or general movement or inclination <the winds of public opinion are changing on this issue> — see TREND 1
3 language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere <the speech contained nothing of substance and was just a lot of wind> — see RHETORIC 1

2wind noun
something that curves or is curved <there's one last easterly wind to the river before it empties into the sea> — see BEND 1

wind verb
1 to follow a circular or spiral course <flowering vines wind around the porch's graceful columns>

Synonyms
coil, corkscrew, curl, entwine, spiral, twine, twist

Related Words
arc, arch, bend, crook, curve, hook, sweep, swerve, turn, veer, wheel; swirl, whirl; circle, encircle, loop; enlace, interlace, intertwine, lace; bow, bulge; meander, weave, zigzag

Near Antonyms
straighten

2 to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way <self-interest winds itself into everything that he does—even his alleged favors for other people> — see INSINUATE 1

windbag noun
a person who talks constantly <with a windbag like that, who needs a wind farm to meet our energy needs?> — see CHATTERBOX

windblast noun
a sudden brief rush of wind <a windblast from the hovering helicopter made it difficult to even stand up> — see GUST 1

wind down verb
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety <not being one for alcoholic beverages, I prefer to wind down with a cup of tea every night> — see RELAX 1

windfall noun
something that provides happiness or does good for a person or thing <hitting the lottery jackpot was an incredible windfall for the recently laid-off worker> — see BLESSING 2

windiness noun
the use of too many words to express an idea <he's a brilliant thinker, but his windiness tends to overwhelm his ideas> — see VERBIAGE 1

winding adjective
1 marked by a long series of irregular curves <a long and winding path through the woods> — see CROOKED 1
2 turning around an axis like the thread of a screw <a winding staircase leads to the top of the lighthouse> — see SPIRAL

windjammer noun
a boat equipped with one or more sails <with no set course to follow, a windjammer sails wherever the wind and the captain's whim takes it> — see SAILBOAT

window dressing noun
a deceptively attractive external appearance <the crime-does-not-pay moralizing is just window dressing for nasty hard-boiled stories> — see GLOSS 1

windup noun
the last part of a process or action <wait until the windup of your sales pitch before giving up any information about the product's price point> — see FINALE

wind up verb
1 to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point <try to wind up the performance, as we're almost out of time> — see CLOSE 3
2 to come to an end <her speeches usually wind up with one last joke> — see CEASE 1

1windy adjective
1 marked by strong wind or more wind than usual <one particularly windy day should shake the last of the autumn leaves from the trees>

Synonyms
blowy, blustery, breezy, gusty, squally

Related Words
drafty; stormy, tempestuous

Near Antonyms
breathless, calm, motionless, still

2 marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases <gave his usual windy speech about working for the common people> — see RHETORICAL 1
3 using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea <a windy saleswoman who told us a lot more than we wanted to know about vacuum cleaners> — see WORDY 1

2windy adjective
marked by a long series of irregular curves <a windy little creek> — see CROOKED 1

wing noun
a group of people acting together within a larger group <the conservative wing of the party> — see FACTION

wing verb
to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings <watched the flocks of birds as they winged southward for the winter> — see FLY 1

wink noun
1 a short sleep <I wasn't able to catch a wink during the entire flight> — see 1NAP
2 a very small space of time <I turned to look away, and in a wink he was gone> — see INSTANT

wink verb
1 to rapidly open and close one's eyes <she winked several times to get the dust and grit out of her eyes>

Synonyms
blink

Related Words
bat, flutter; squint

2 to shine with light at regular intervals <a lighthouse was winking in the distance> — see BLINK 1
3 to shoot forth bursts of light <fireflies winking in the darkness beyond our campfire> — see FLASH 1
4 to secretly sympathize with or pretend ignorance of something improper or unlawful <the whole sporting world seems to wink as untold sums are bet on the outcome of the Super Bowl> — see CONNIVE 1

wink (at) verb
to dismiss as of little importance <for too long the school just winked at the young athletes' hooliganism, dismissing it as a case of “boys being boys”> — see EXCUSE 1

wink (out) verb
to come to an end <she mused that it was as if her affection for him had just winked out one day> — see CEASE 1

winkle verb
to shoot forth bursts of light <under a canopy of winkling stars, the campers bedded down for the night> — see FLASH 1

winner noun
1 a person or thing that is successful <the movie was panned by the critics but has been a winner at the box office> — see HIT 1
2 one that defeats an enemy or opponent <the winner of any given war is usually the one who gets to write the history of that war> — see VICTOR 1
3 the person who comes in first in a competition <the other finalists graciously congratulated the winner> — see CHAMPION 1

winning adjective
1 having qualities that tend to make one loved <a particularly pretty and winning child> — see LOVABLE
2 likely or intended to win one's affection <flashed a winning smile that soon had us at her beck and call> — see INGRATIATING

winningly adverb
in a pleasing way <won the debate with incisive yet winningly witty responses> — see WELL 5

winsome adjective
1 having or showing a good mood or disposition <she was a bright, winsome gamine who could draw a smile out of anyone> — see CHEERFUL 1
2 likely or intended to win one's affection <in her new role, the actress again displays the winsome charm that has made her an audience favorite> — see INGRATIATING
3 having qualities that tend to make one loved <an actress who specialized in playing winsome ingenues in romantic comedies> — see LOVABLE

winter noun
a period of often involuntary inactivity or idleness <during the long winter when the party was out of power, it had plenty of time to reconsider its political priorities> — see DOWNTIME

wintry also wintery adjective
1 having a low or subnormal temperature <a wintry and snowy day> — see COLD 1
2 lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling <the doorman gave the uninvited visitors a wintry smile and escorted them out> — see COLD 2

winze noun, Scottish
a prayer that harm will come to someone <uttered a bitter winze upon the laird who had cast them off the land> — see CURSE 1

wiped out adjective
1 depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <felt wiped out for several weeks after getting the flu> — see WEARY 1
2 slang being under the influence of alcohol <thought that it'd be nice to attend a fraternity party in which everyone wasn't wiped out> — see DRUNK
3 slang being under the influence of a recreational drug <most of the club patrons were too wiped out to know or care what was happening> — see STONED 1

wipe out verb
to destroy all traces of <he didn't get his gambling under control until he had already wiped out his entire life savings> — see ANNIHILATE 1

wire noun
a length of braided, flexible material that is used for tying or connecting things <a telephone wire> — see CORD 1

wirra interjection, Irish
used to express sorrow or distress <wirra, wirra, me sweet colleen, lying in her cold grave!> — see ALAS

wisdom noun
1 the ability to understand inner qualities or relationships <with age and experience comes wisdom—hopefully> <neither book learning nor simple intelligence should be confused with wisdom>

Synonyms
discernment, insight, perception, perceptiveness, perceptivity, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sapience

Related Words
acuity, acumen, astuteness, clear-sightedness, keenness, penetration, percipience, perspicacity, sensitivity, understanding; appreciation, apprehension, comprehension, grasp; brain(s), braininess, brightness, brilliance, canniness, cleverness, gray matter, intellect, intelligence, judgment (or judgement), mentality, power, reason, sense, smartness, wit; discrimination, foresight, foresightedness, judiciousness, prudence, sanity; logic, rationality

Near Antonyms
density, dullness (also dulness), obtuseness; brainlessness, folly, foolishness, idiocy, imbecility, mindlessness, silliness, simplemindedness, simpleness, stupidity, witlessness; illogic, irrationality, unreasonableness, unsoundness; craziness, insanity, lunacy, madness; preposterousness, senselessness, silliness, zaniness

2 a body of facts learned by study or experience <the orientation meetings will provide the company's old hands with an opportunity to pass on their wisdom to the new employees> — see KNOWLEDGE 1
3 the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters <had overstayed her welcome and lacked the wisdom to know it> — see COMMON SENSE
4 suitability for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <wondered about the wisdom of hiring such an inexperienced girl to care for the children> — see EXPEDIENCY

wise adjective
1 having or showing deep understanding and intelligent application of knowledge <a respected and wise old judge famous for her sensible rulings>

Synonyms
discerning, insightful, perceptive, prudent, sagacious, sage, sapient

Related Words
acute, penetrating, percipient, perspicacious; experienced; discriminating, discriminative; brainy, bright, brilliant, clever, intelligent, keen, nimble, quick, quick-witted, smart; cerebral, erudite, knowledgeable, learned, literate, scholarly; astute, clearheaded, piercing, sharp, shrewd; contemplative, reflective, thoughtful

Near Antonyms
dense, dull, obtuse, purblind, woodenheaded; brainless, dumb, feebleminded, foolish, idiotic (also idiotical), imbecile (or imbecilic), knuckleheaded, moronic, silly, simple, slow, slow-witted, stupid, thoughtless, unintelligent, witless; undiscriminating

Antonyms
unperceptive, unwise

2 having inside information <they fooled everyone else, but I'd heard them talking and was wise to their true intentions>

Synonyms
hip, knowing

Related Words
alerted, aware, clued (in), forewarned, informed, prepared, ready, warned; observant, observing, sharp, sharp-eyed; alert, attentive, open-eyed, vigilant, watchful; plugged-in, with-it

Phrases
in the know

Near Antonyms
oblivious, unaware, unconscious, uninformed, unwitting; heedless, unmindful; unprepared, unready, unwary

Antonyms
unknowing

3 suitable for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <selling the stock just before it plunged in value was a wise move on your part> — see EXPEDIENT
4 making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred <you wouldn't be so wise if you were the one suffering from hemorrhoids> — see FLIPPANT
5 displaying or marked by rude boldness <she is competent, but she's always getting wise with the boss> — see NERVY 1

wise (up) verb
1 to give information to <wised him up to some of the more effective tricks of salesmanship> — see ENLIGHTEN 1
2 to come to an awareness of <she eventually wised up to the fact that he was taking advantage of her> — see DISCOVER 1

wiseacre noun
a person who likes to show off in a clever but annoying way <a loudmouthed wiseacre who thinks he is more amusing than he really is> — see SMART ALECK

wiseass adjective
making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred <the comedian's wiseass monologue about terrorism was greeted with stony silence> — see FLIPPANT

wiseass noun
a person who likes to show off in a clever but annoying way <fine, you're right, but there was no reason to be such a wiseass while pointing out the error> — see SMART ALECK

wisecrack noun
something said or done to cause laughter <a whispered wisecrack doubled them over in laughter> — see JOKE 1

wisecrack verb
to make jokes <wisecracked to hide his nervousness during the auditions> — see JOKE 1

wise guy noun
a person who likes to show off in a clever but annoying way <if you weren't such a wise guy all the time, people might be more interested in hearing what you have to say> — see SMART ALECK

wisenheimer also weisenheimer noun
a person who likes to show off in a clever but annoying way <it seems like every time we go to the movies, sitting behind us is some wisenheimer making snide cracks> — see SMART ALECK

wish verb
1 to offer (something fake, useless, or inferior) as genuine, useful, or valuable <despite my protestations, the dreaded position of club secretary was wished on me> — see FOIST
2 to see fit <you're free to sit wherever you wish> — see CHOOSE 2

wish (for) verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <having her own home was something she had wished for since she was a child> — see DESIRE 1

wishy–washiness noun
the quality or state of lacking strength of will or character <this is no time for wishy-washiness: our country needs a leader who's not afraid to act decisively> — see WEAKNESS 2

wishy–washy adjective
1 lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character <this story is too wishy-washy; you need to add some verve to it>

Synonyms
banal, flat, insipid, milk-and-water, namby-pamby, watery

Related Words
unexciting, uninspiring, unrewarding; bland, boring, drab, dreary, dry, dull, heavy, humdrum, jading, leaden, lifeless, monotonous, pedestrian, ponderous, tedious, tiresome, tiring, uninteresting, vapid, wearisome, weary, wearying; inane; innocuous, inoffensive; mild, soft, subdued, tame, weak; common, commonplace, ordinary, stale, unexceptional

Near Antonyms
piquant, poignant, pungent, racy, spicy; meaty, substantial; entertaining, exciting, galvanizing, inspiring, invigorating, thrilling

2 lacking strength of will or character <in a time of crisis the nation can ill afford wishy-washy leaders> — see WEAK 2

wit noun
1 a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor <the pundits and political wits will get a lot of mileage out of the senator's latest gaffe> — see HUMORIST
2 the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters <he doesn't even have the wit to know when to come in out of the rain> — see COMMON SENSE
3 usually wits plural the normal or healthy condition of the mental abilities <scared out of her wits> — see MIND 2
4 exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters <lacked the wit to see that the war was unwinnable> — see ACUMEN

witch noun
1 a woman believed to have often harmful supernatural powers <the 17th-century house had once belonged to a woman who was hanged as a witch>

Synonyms
enchantress, hag, hex, sorceress

Related Words
charmer, conjurer (or conjuror), enchanter, necromancer, voodoo, voodooist; magician, sorcerer, warlock, wizard

2 a mean or ugly old woman <a foul-tempered old witch who is constantly at odds with her neighbors> — see CRONE
3 a person skilled in using supernatural forces <freakish storms that were once thought to be the work of witches> — see MAGICIAN 1

witch verb, archaic
to attract or delight as if by magic <the woman did witch me with her gentle smile> — see CHARM 1

witchcraft noun
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <taught all of her daughters witchcraft> — see MAGIC 1

witchery noun
1 the power of irresistible attraction <the movie star's violet eyes are frequently cited as the source of her cinematic witchery> — see CHARM 2
2 the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <a tale of horror replete with eerie hauntings and evil witchery> — see MAGIC 1

with preposition
1 as the result of <the young man was overcome with grief> — see BECAUSE OF
2 using the means or agency of <was able to finish the project with her help> — see BY 2
3 without being prevented by <with all his tough talk, he is still a very gentle person> — see DESPITE

withal adverb
1 in addition to what has been said <a successful businessman and withal a major contributor to local charities> — see MORE 1
2 in spite of that <a homely face that was withal rather compelling> — see HOWEVER

withdraw verb
1 to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) <the army was forced to withdraw from the line of battle> — see RETREAT 1
2 to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) <withdrew the offer of surrender upon hearing the terms> — see ABJURE 1
3 to take away from a place or position <withdrew her hand from the table> — see REMOVE 2

withdrawal noun
an act of moving away especially from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable <the army's orderly withdrawal from the city turned into a rout as the enemy's shock troops surged forward> — see RETREAT 1

withdrawn adjective
not comfortable around people <a therapist who is especially good with withdrawn, emotionally troubled children> — see SHY 2

wither verb
1 to lose liveliness, force, or freshness <shortly after the moon landing, interest in the space program withered> <the old man seemed to wither suddenly upon turning 80>

Synonyms
dry, wilt

Related Words
mummify, shrivel, wizen; decline, fade, wane; decrease, diminish, lessen

Near Antonyms
freshen, revive; bloom, flourish, prosper, thrive; develop, grow, increase, wax; crest, peak, surge

2 to lose bodily strength or vigor <if he's left on his own, he'll just wither and die> — see WEAKEN 2

withhold verb
1 to be unwilling to grant <must withhold official approval until all the proper forms have been submitted> — see DENY 2
2 to continue to have in one's possession or power <withhold some money for your own expenses> — see KEEP 2

withhold (from) verb
to resist the temptation of <please see if you can withhold from criticizing every little thing she says> — see FORBEAR

within noun
an interior or internal part <structural decay had started from within> — see INSIDE 1

with–it adjective
keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment <a brand of humor that the comedy club's with-it clientele very much appreciates> — see AU COURANT 1

without preposition
1 not having <spent two days without food>

Synonyms
absent, minus, sans, wanting

2 out of the reach or sphere of <a goal without our grasp> — see BEYOND 2

withstand verb
to refuse to give in to <trying to withstand the temptation to use the beautiful weather as an excuse to take a mental health day> — see RESIST

witless adjective
1 not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily <a dog so witless that it is barely trainable> — see STUPID 1
2 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a witless decision to relocate to the other side of the country without even the prospect of a job> — see FOOLISH 1

witlessness noun
1 lack of good sense or judgment <his astounding feats of witlessness are the stuff of family legend> — see FOOLISHNESS 1
2 the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind <for sheer witlessness the movie's dialogue deserves some sort of award> — see STUPIDITY 1

witness noun
something presented in support of the truth or accuracy of a claim <the ruins are a compelling witness of the ancient civilization's cultural and aesthetic achievements> — see PROOF

witness verb
1 to declare (something) to be true or genuine <a notary public witnessing wills and other important documents> — see CERTIFY 1
2 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <witnessed the crime> — see SEE 1
3 to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact <I witnessed to the fact that I had seen them together that night> — see TESTIFY
4 to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it <war changes anyone who has ever witnessed it first hand> — see EXPERIENCE

witticism noun
something said or done to cause laughter <a drama critic who is best remembered for his biting witticisms> — see JOKE 1

witting adjective
1 having specified facts or feelings actively impressed on the mind <she was a witting partner; he had told her about the risk involved> — see CONSCIOUS 1
2 made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing <your witting assistance in helping the robber escape makes you an accessory after the fact> — see INTENTIONAL

wittingly adverb
with full awareness of what one is doing <whether he hurt her feelings wittingly or unwittingly isn't important; he should still apologize> — see INTENTIONALLY

witty adjective
given to or marked by mature intelligent humor <a witty and sardonic blogger who never fails to amuse his legion of readers> <he's well-known for his witty retorts>

Synonyms
clever, facetious, humorous, jocular, smart

Related Words
cerebral, highbrow, highbrowed, intellectual; bantering, frivolous, jesting, joking, joshing, teasing; antic, comic, comical, droll, farcical, funny, hysterical, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, riotous, risible, rollicking, screaming, sidesplitting, uproarious; amusing, diverting, entertaining; mischievous, playful, prankish; jocose, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, merry, mirthful, sunny; scintillating, sparkling; flip, flippant, pert, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, waggish; whimsical

Near Antonyms
brainless, lowbrow, stupid, witless; corny, hackney, hackneyed, lame; humorless, unamusing, uncomic, unfunny; earnest, grave, serious, serious-minded, sober, solemn, somber (or sombre); doleful, dolorous, lachrymose, plaintive, sorry, tearful, woeful

wiz noun
a very smart person <he must be some kind of wiz to have graduated college at age 19> — see GENIUS 1

wizard adjective, chiefly British
of the very best kind <a young Brit who's a wizard tennis player, although not ready for Wimbledon just yet> — see EXCELLENT

wizard noun
1 a person skilled in using supernatural forces <the old wizard who introduces the young naïf to a life of adventure is one of the most overworked tropes in fantasy literature> — see MAGICIAN 1
2 a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field <a wizard at fixing cars> — see EXPERT
3 a very smart person <a wizard who never studied for tests> — see GENIUS 1

wizardry noun
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means <a movie about wizardry and bizarre creatures> — see MAGIC 1

wobble also wabble verb
1 to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <the patient's hand wobbles so much that he can scarcely hold a glass of water> — see SHAKE 1
2 to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions <the table wobbled whenever I leaned on it> — see ROCK 1
3 to show uncertainty about the right course of action <we cannot afford to have the governor wobble at this critical time> — see HESITATE
4 to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side <the drunk stood up, wobbled for a moment, and fell forward> — see TEETER 1

wobbling also wabbling adjective
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <her wobbling gait is due to Parkinson's disease> — see SHAKY 1

wobbling also wabbling noun
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action <the mayor's apparent wobbling on the issue of increased property taxes> — see HESITATION

wobbly also wabbly adjective
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements <all wobbly from the chills associated with the flu> — see SHAKY 1

woe interjection
used to express sorrow or distress <ah, woe, with the death of the last of my siblings I am alone in this world!> — see ALAS

woe noun
1 a state of great suffering of body or mind <a tale of misery and woe> — see DISTRESS 1
2 deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved <the incessant woe that has haunted her since the death of her husband> — see SORROW

woebegone adjective
feeling unhappiness <the most woebegone people that I had ever seen in my life> — see SAD 1

woeful adjective
1 expressing or suggesting mourning <the woeful expressions of the players after the humiliating loss> — see MOURNFUL 1
2 feeling unhappiness <never saw a more woeful-looking bunch than those campers sitting there in the drenching rain> — see SAD 1
3 of a kind to cause great distress <the restaurant patron made the woeful discovery that he had left his wallet at home> — see REGRETTABLE

woefully adverb
with feelings of bitterness or grief <woefully recounted the many injustices that the family had endured at the hands of the dictator> — see HARD 2

wolf noun
1 a man given to seducing women <she threatened to geld the wolf if he didn't stop making passes at her> — see DON JUAN
2 a person who habitually preys upon others <no sooner had the lottery winner's name been made public than the wolves with their investment schemes showed up on her doorstep> — see PREDATOR

wolf verb
to swallow or eat greedily <the way you wolf your food it's no wonder you have intestinal distress> — see GOBBLE

woman noun
1 an adult female human being <the first woman to become governor of the state>

Synonyms
female, lady, skirt [slang]

Related Words
dame, gentlewoman; madam, madame, senora (or señora); babe [slang], beauty, belle, chick [slang], damsel, doll, gal, girl, ingenue (or ingénue), lass, lassie, mademoiselle, maid, maiden, miss, senorita (or señorita)

2 a female other than his wife with whom a married man has a continuing sexual relationship <eventually she found out that her husband had a woman in the city and that she was the real reason for all of those “late nights at the office”> — see MISTRESS
3 a female romantic companion <wanted to give his woman all the finer things in life> — see GIRLFRIEND
4 chiefly dialect the female partner in a marriage <along the American frontier it was not uncommon to encounter a mountain man traveling with his Native American woman in tow> — see WIFE

womanhood noun
the set of qualities considered appropriate for or characteristic of women <she was the ideal of traditional Southern womanhood> — see FEMININITY

womanish adjective
1 of or relating to a man who has or displays qualities considered more suitable for women <such displays of emotion were once considered womanish and unseemly for a man> — see EFFEMINATE
2 of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with women <she had a womanish gentleness, especially when dealing with children, that he loved> — see FEMININE

womanishness noun
the set of qualities considered appropriate for or characteristic of women <what constitutes womanishness varies by culture and era> — see FEMININITY

womanizer noun
a man given to seducing women <the candidate's reputation as a womanizer really cost him with female voters> — see DON JUAN

womanlike adjective
of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with women <the photograph shows the silhouette of a full, womanlike figure framed against the backlight from an open farmhouse door> — see FEMININE

womanliness noun
the set of qualities considered appropriate for or characteristic of women <some cultures consider demureness and submissiveness essential elements of womanliness> — see FEMININITY

womanly adjective
of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with women <the novelist displays a womanly sensitivity to the characters' feelings> — see FEMININE

wonder noun
1 something extraordinary or surprising <the cunningly crafted miniature of our house is a wonder, perfect in every detail>

Synonyms
caution, flash, marvel, miracle, phenomenon, portent, prodigy, sensation, splendor

Related Words
curiosity, sight, spectacle; beauty, corker, crackerjack (also crackajack), dandy, jim-dandy, knockout; apparition, appearance

2 the rapt attention and deep emotion caused by the sight of something extraordinary <when we first saw the pyramids of Egypt, we gazed with openmouthed wonder>

Synonyms
admiration, amazement, astonishment, awe, wonderment

Related Words
dread; fear; respect, reverence, veneration; curiosity, interest; shock, surprise; disbelief, incomprehension, incredulity; beguilement, bewitchment, captivation, enchantment, fascination; animation, enlightenment, enlivenment, excitement, invigoration, stimulation; absorption, engagement, engrossment, enthrallment, immersion, involvement

Near Antonyms
apathy, disinterest, incuriosity, indifference, unconcern; boredom, doldrums, ennui, listlessness, restlessness, tedium, tiredness, weariness, weltschmerz; cheerlessness, dispiritedness, joylessness, melancholy

wonderful adjective
1 causing wonder or astonishment <the mountaintop city of Machu Picchu is unquestionably a wonderful sight to behold> — see MARVELOUS 1
2 of the very best kind <that bakery makes wonderful cannoli> — see EXCELLENT

wondering adjective
filled with amazement or wonder <with wondering expressions on our faces, we watched the acrobats perform their daring feats> — see OPENMOUTHED

wonderment noun
the rapt attention and deep emotion caused by the sight of something extraordinary <gazed in wonderment at the holiday decorations> — see WONDER 2

wondrous adjective
causing wonder or astonishment <what a wondrous discovery fire must have been> — see MARVELOUS 1

wonk noun
a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits <the candidate has an army of policy wonks ready to write for him a position paper on virtually any issue> — see NERD 1

wont adjective
being in the habit or custom <she paced about the room, as she is wont to do whenever she is agitated> — see ACCUSTOMED

wont noun
a usual manner of behaving or doing <he got up early, as is his wont> — see HABIT 1

woo verb
to act so as to make (something) more likely <his attempts to woo approval from working-class voters has not met with much success> — see COURT 1

wood noun
1 tree logs as prepared for human use <a huge load of wood outside the furniture maker's factory>

Synonyms
lumber, timber

Related Words
beam, brace, pile, post, ridgepole, sill, splint, stake, stave, stick; bar, billet, block; cordwood, firewood

2 often woods plural a dense growth of trees and shrubs covering a large area <deer and mountain lions live in those woods> — see FOREST

wooden adjective
lacking social grace and assurance <an eminent scientist who was wooden in front of television cameras> — see AWKWARD 1

woodenhead noun
a stupid person <you're not a woodenhead, so there's no reason why you can't learn this> — see IDIOT

woodland noun
a dense growth of trees and shrubs covering a large area <the house is perched atop a hill amid a stretch of dense woodland> — see FOREST

wood nymph noun
a mythical goddess represented as a young girl and said to live outdoors <wood nymphs were usually conceived as being both beautiful and amorous> — see NYMPH 1

wooer noun
a man who courts a woman usually with the goal of marrying her <of all her wooers, he was the only one who met with her father's approval> — see SUITOR 1

wool noun
the hairy covering of a mammal especially when fine, soft, and thick <the wool from cashmere goats is considered by many to be the finest available> — see FUR 1

woolgathering noun
the state of being lost in thought <my woolgathering was abruptly interrupted by a question from the flight attendant> — see REVERIE

woolly also wooly adjective
1 made of or resembling hair <the dog's woolly coat will require a lot of grooming> — see HAIRY 2
2 covered with or as if with hair <still had a water bed and a woolly coverlet on top of it> — see HAIRY 1

woozy adjective
having a feeling of being whirled about and in danger of falling down <the blood donor started to feel a little woozy after rising too quickly from the cot> — see DIZZY 1

word noun
1 a pronounceable series of letters having a distinct meaning especially in a particular field <my doctor used all of these medical words that I didn't understand>

Synonyms
expression, term

Related Words
linguistic form, monosyllable, morpheme, speech form; polysyllable; collocation, idiom, locution, phrase; archaism, coinage, colloquialism, euphemism, loanword, modernism, neologism, vernacularism

2 something that is said <people who believe that the Bible is the literal word of God>

Synonyms
statement, utterance

Related Words
communication, message; announcement, declamation, declaration, manifesto, proclamation, pronouncement; verbalization, vocalization

3 a report of recent events or facts not previously known <what's the latest word on the airplane crash?> — see NEWS
4 a person's solemn declaration that he or she will do or not do something <I give you my word that I won't try to escape> — see PROMISE
5 a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned <the troops waited for their commanding officer to give the word> — see COMMAND 1
6 information or opinion that is widely disseminated without any authority or confirmation of accuracy <don't tell anyone I told you about the shake-up, but that's the word right now> — see RUMOR
7 a word or phrase that must be spoken by a person in order to pass a guard <“What's the word?” demanded the sentry> — see PASSWORD
8 an often stated observation regarding something from common experience <are there truer words than “never look a gift horse in the mouth”?> — see SAYING

word verb
to convey in appropriate or telling terms <tried to word the declaration exactly right> — see PHRASE

wordage noun
the use of too many words to express an idea <somewhere, lost within all that wordage, is a modestly worthwhile idea> — see VERBIAGE 1

wordbook noun
a reference book giving information about the meanings, pronunciations, uses, and origins of words listed in alphabetical order <a wordbook of nautical slang> — see DICTIONARY

word for word adverb
in the same words <you don't have to record the professor's comments word for word in your notes> — see VERBATIM

wordiness noun
the use of too many words to express an idea <wordiness will only detract from what you are trying to say> — see VERBIAGE 1

wording noun
1 the way in which something is put into words <it's important to get the wording of this law precisely correct>

Synonyms
diction, language, phraseology, phrasing, verbiage

Related Words
expression, formulation, locution; enunciation, phrase, speech, style, utterance, voice

2 an act, process, or means of putting something into words <the wording of the pollster's questions seemed to reflect a built-in bias> — see EXPRESSION 1

wordless adjective
1 deliberately refraining from speech <he stood wordless before his accusers> — see SILENT 1
2 understood although not put into words <a wordless fondness for each other> — see IMPLICIT 1

word–of–mouth adjective
made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing <not having the money to run ads, the restaurant relies on word-of-mouth publicity> — see VERBAL 2

wordy adjective
1 using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea <her writing style is far too wordy for my tastes>

Synonyms
circuitous, circumlocutory, diffuse, garrulous, logorrheic, long-winded, pleonastic, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy

Related Words
chatty, communicative, conversational, gabby, loquacious, talkative, talky, voluble; periphrastic; redundant, repetitious, tautological, tautologous; embellished, embroidered, exaggerated; bombastic, gaseous, gassy, grandiloquent, highfalutin (also hifalutin)

Near Antonyms
brief, short; aphoristic, epigrammatic, sententious; compendious, summary; abbreviated, abridged, condensed, shortened; abrupt, blunt, brusque (also brusk), curt, laconic, snippy

Antonyms
compact, concise, crisp, pithy, succinct, terse

2 of or relating to words or language <the neighborhood dispute escalated into a wordy war conducted through angry letters to the editor in the local paper> — see VERBAL 1

work noun
1 a literary, musical, or artistic production <unfortunately, many of her works are now out of print> — see COMPOSITION 1
2 something produced by physical or intellectual effort <the new Web application is the work of a pair of young but highly gifted programmers> — see PRODUCT 1
3 the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists <the work of a movie director is to tell a story through a series of striking images> — see ROLE
4 the active use of energy in producing a result <put a lot of work into the project> — see EFFORT
5 the activity by which one regularly makes a living <what line of work are you in?> — see OCCUPATION 1
6 works plural a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods <a glass works where high quality glassware is made> — see FACTORY

work verb
1 to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <this new drug can really work wonders> — see EFFECT
2 to find an answer for through reasoning <finally figured out how to work the math problem> — see SOLVE
3 to have a certain purpose <the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood> — see FUNCTION
4 to produce a desired effect <this headache remedy takes half an hour to work> — see ACT 2
5 to set or keep in motion <this pump is worked by hand> — see MOVE 2
6 to control the mechanical operation of <show me how to work the machine> — see OPERATE 1
7 to devote serious and sustained effort <the organization has worked for years to raise people's awareness of human rights issues> — see LABOR
8 to take unfair advantage of <a woman not afraid to work her sex appeal in order to get ahead> — see EXPLOIT 1

work (for) verb
to be a servant for <worked for a rich and powerful family> — see SERVE 1

workable adjective
1 capable of being done or carried out <a workable plan for attracting a minor league team to the city> — see POSSIBLE 1
2 capable of being put to use or account <a workable solution to the state's growing financial woes> — see PRACTICAL 1

workaday adjective
1 being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events <just a workaday guy living a workaday life> — see ORDINARY 1
2 having to do with the practical details of regular life <wished that she could afford servants so as not to be bothered with such workaday matters as cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping> — see MUNDANE 1
3 not designed to be worn only on special occasions <a workaday outfit that I could afford to get dirty> — see CASUAL 1

worker noun
1 a person who does very hard or dull work <a champion of the rights of the farm workers who pick the nation's fruits and vegetables> — see SLAVE 2
2 one who works for another for wages or a salary <a factory owner who is known for his fair and generous treatment of his workers> — see EMPLOYEE

workforce noun
a body of persons at work or available for work <the office's entire workforce is devoted to a single project right now> — see FORCE 1

work in verb
1 to put among or between others <I think that we can work in one more interview in the afternoon lineup> — see INSERT
2 to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way <managed to work in several references to baseball in his paper on the merits of teamwork> — see INSINUATE

working adjective
1 being in effective operation <the only working coal mine in the area> — see ACTIVE 1
2 capable of being put to use or account <as a would-be independent filmmaker, you'll need a working knowledge of motion picture photography and editing> — see PRACTICAL 1
3 involved in often constant activity <a boss who is of the opinion that a working employee is a needed employee, as idleness is a sign of dispensability> — see BUSY 1

workings plural noun
the characteristic peculiarities and technicalities of something <the byzantine workings of the auction business for high-end art> — see INS AND OUTS

workmanlike adjective
accomplished with trained ability <the pitcher gave a workmanlike performance, allowing the other team to score only a single run> — see SKILLFUL 1

workout noun
something done over and over in order to develop skill <a workout with dumbbells for building the muscles of the hands> — see EXERCISE 2

work out verb
1 to find an answer for through reasoning <by putting our heads together, we were able to work out the problem> — see SOLVE
2 to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort <worked out a compromise between the warring factions> — see HAMMER OUT
3 to turn out as planned or desired <our plans for a ski vacation just didn't work out> — see SUCCEED 1
4 to determine (a value) by doing the necessary mathematical operations <after working out the cost of a college education, we've decided that it's never too early to start saving> — see CALCULATE 1

work over verb
to strike repeatedly <those thugs really worked him over> — see BEAT 1

workshop noun
a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods <a workshop for making high-end furniture> — see FACTORY

work up verb
to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort <spent years working up a period novel that was historically accurate in every detail> — see HAMMER OUT

world noun
1 human beings in general <the whole world is waiting to see how this crisis will play out> — see PEOPLE 1
2 the celestial body on which we live <worried about the effects of pollution on the world> — see EARTH 1
3 the whole body of things observed or assumed <theories about the origin of the world> — see UNIVERSE
4 a huge physical or conceptual distance <liberal attitudes that are a world away from his neighbors' backward mentality> — see GALAXY

worldly adjective
1 having a wide and refined knowledge of the world especially from personal experience <she returned from her year as an exchange student a much more worldly person> — see WORLDLY-WISE
2 having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven <preoccupied with worldly concerns> — see EARTHLY

worldly–wise adjective
having a wide and refined knowledge of the world especially from personal experience <her long career as a globe-trotting journalist has made her very worldly-wise and even a little jaded>

Synonyms
cosmopolitan, smart, sophisticated, worldly

Related Words
suave, urbane; civilized, cultivated, cultured, polished, refined; experienced, knowing, practiced, schooled, seasoned; bored, cynical, jaded, skeptical; down-to-earth, pragmatic (also pragmatical), realistic, sober

Near Antonyms
callow, green, inexperienced, raw; parochial, provincial, rustic (also rustical); philistine, uncivilized, uncultured, unrefined; childlike, simple, simpleminded; idealistic, impractical; uncritical, unknowing

Antonyms
guileless, ingenuous, innocent, naive (or naïve), unsophisticated, untutored, unworldly, wide-eyed

worm verb
1 to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits <settlements worming into lands reserved for the natives> — see ENCROACH
2 to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way <over a period of several years, the undercover agent was able to worm his way into the drug kingpin's confidence> — see INSINUATE
3 to move slowly with the body close to the ground <the cat silently wormed along the ground as it snuck up on the bird> — see CRAWL 1

worn adjective
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <she was feeling very worn after a long day at work> — see WEARY 1

worn–out adjective
1 depleted in strength, energy, or freshness <worn-out tourists heading back to their hotel after a hard day of sightseeing> — see WEARY 1
2 worn or torn into or as if into rags <used a worn-out T-shirt for dusting the furniture> — see RAGGED 2

worried adjective
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty <the soldier's father had a worried expression as he listened to the news> — see NERVOUS 1

worrier noun
a person who is inclined to worry <she's a mother—being a worrier is part of the job description> — see NERVOUS NELLIE

worrisome adjective
1 causing worry or anxiety <the patient's erratic behavior has become increasingly worrisome> — see TROUBLESOME
2 marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings <worrisome looks passed between the two coworkers as the personnel manager began to enumerate the company's financial woes> — see NERVOUS 2

worry noun
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble <she can only concentrate on something when she is free of worry> — see ANXIETY 1

worry verb
1 to experience concern or anxiety <they worried for days about whether the loan would be approved>

Synonyms
bother, fear, fret, fuss, stew, stress, sweat, trouble

Related Words
agonize; long, pine, yearn; chafe; despair

Phrases
give a hang (or care a hang), sweat blood

Near Antonyms
accept; abide, bear, endure, stick out, stomach, sustain, take, tolerate

2 to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy <those strange noises outside the house worry me> — see DISTURB 1

worrywart noun
a person who is inclined to worry <tends to dismiss people concerned about global warming as a bunch of worrywarts> — see NERVOUS NELLIE

worsen verb
1 to become worse or of less value <the condition of the house worsened with every year of neglect> — see DETERIORATE 1
2 to make more severe <the harsh winter only worsened the fuel shortage> — see EXACERBATE

worship noun
excessive admiration of or devotion to a person <the worship of professional athletes who often turn out to be all too fallible>

Synonyms
adulation, deification, hero worship, idolatry, idolization, worshipping (also worshiping)

Related Words
adoration, deference, glorification, reverence, veneration; idealization, romanticization; affection, fancy, favor, fondness, like, liking, love; appreciation, esteem, regard, respect; approval

Near Antonyms
condemnation, disapproval, disfavor, dislike, dismissal, disregard, hatred, loathing, scorn

worship verb
1 to offer honor or respect to (someone) as a divine power <the ancient Greeks worshipped many different gods>

Synonyms
adore, deify, glorify, revere, reverence, venerate

Related Words
admire, honor, love, regard, respect; apotheosize, canonize, dignify, exalt, lionize, magnify; extol (also extoll), laud, praise; delight, gratify, please, satisfy

Near Antonyms
blaspheme, desecrate, profane, violate; affront, dishonor, disrespect, insult, offend, outrage, pique, ridicule, scorn, slight; displease; defame, disparage, libel, malign, slander, slur, smear

2 to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for <the single father worships his young daughter, and would do anything for her> — see LOVE 2
3 to love or admire too much <thought that some of her fellow senior citizens worshipped the old days too much, observing that they weren't all good> — see IDOLIZE

worshipful adjective
reflecting great admiration or devotion <a movie fan's worshipful stare upon finally meeting her idol> <a teacher surrounded by worshipful little children>

Synonyms
adoring, adulatory, deifying, idolizing, worshipping (also worshiping)

Related Words
glorifying, reverent, reverential, venerating; hagiographic (also hagiographical); affectionate, fond, loving; appreciative, deferential, respectful; approving

Near Antonyms
condemning, contemptuous, disapproving, hateful, loathing, scornful

worshipping also worshiping adjective
reflecting great admiration or devotion <impressionable young men with a worshipping regard for professional athletes> — see WORSHIPFUL

worshipping also worshiping noun
excessive admiration of or devotion to a person <feels that there is just too much worshipping of rock stars> — see WORSHIP

worst verb
to achieve a victory over <how humiliating for a tennis champ to be worsted by a player no one had ever heard of> — see BEAT 2

worth noun
1 the relative usefulness or importance of something as judged by specific qualities <money alone cannot determine the true worth of some things>

Synonyms
account, merit, valuation, value

Related Words
assessment, estimation, evaluation; excellence, greatness, perfection; consequence, importance, significance, weight; desirability

Near Antonyms
emptiness, valuelessness, worthlessness; baseness, cheapness, crumminess, inferiority, lousiness, meanness, paltriness, pettiness, poorness; deficiency, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, unacceptability

2 the amount of money for which something will find a buyer <one surefire way to determine the actual worth of a painting is to sell it at auction> — see VALUE 1
3 the total of one's money and property <the entrepreneur's worth is well over 100 million dollars> — see WEALTH 1

worthless adjective
having no usefulness <that expensive toy is worthless now that it's broken>

Synonyms
chaffy, empty, junky, no-good, null, vain, valueless

Related Words
base, cheap, cheapjack, duff [British], inferior, lousy, low-grade, second-rate; bad, defective, dud, flawed, imperfect, substandard, unsatisfactory; deficient, inadequate, insufficient, unacceptable

Near Antonyms
invaluable, precious, priceless; cherished, esteemed, prized, treasured; choice, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special

Antonyms
useful, valuable, worthy

worthy adjective
having sufficient worth or merit to receive one's honor, esteem, or reward <made charitable contributions to the American Red Cross and other worthy causes> <a worthy opponent in a tennis match>

Synonyms
deserving, good, meritorious

Related Words
admirable, commendable, creditable, laudable, praiseworthy; invaluable, priceless; cherished, prized, treasured; choice, excellent, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, primary, prime, special

Near Antonyms
base, cheap, inferior, second-rate, substandard; bad, defective, flawed, imperfect; deficient, inadequate, insufficient, unacceptable, unsatisfactory

Antonyms
no-good, undeserving, valueless, worthless

wound verb
1 to cause bodily damage to <an arrow had wounded the animal, but the vet was able to save it> — see INJURE 1
2 to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in <that callous comment really wounded me> — see INSULT

wowser noun, chiefly Australian
a person who is greatly concerned with seemly behavior and morality especially regarding sexual matters <wowsers would be well-advised to avoid Sydney's annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras> — see PRUDE

wrack verb
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <it's amazing how a raging sea can wrack a seemingly sturdy beachfront home> — see DESTROY 1

wraith noun
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people <the people who once lived here believed that their world was populated by wraiths and witches> — see GHOST 1

wrangle noun
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions <there was a bit of a wrangle over how much money to give the high school for its sports programs> — see ARGUMENT 1

wrangle verb
to express different opinions about something often angrily <a town meeting at which local residents wrangled for hours about property taxes> — see ARGUE 2

wrangler noun
1 a hired hand who tends cattle or horses at a ranch or on the range <a rough-hewn wrangler who never says much> — see COWBOY
2 a person who takes part in a dispute <known as a petty, unrelenting wrangler who likes argument for the sake of argument> — see DISPUTANT

wrap verb
1 to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt <wrapped her waist with a colorful silk sash> — see GIRD 1
2 to surround or cover closely <a sinister darkness seemed to wrap the lonely cabin> — see ENFOLD 1

wraps plural noun
something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth <kept the whole plan under wraps until they were ready to make a public announcement> — see CLOAK 1

wrap–up noun
1 a short statement of the main points <a postelection wrap-up of the campaign's high points and many low points> — see SUMMARY
2 the last part of a process or action <the opening of the museum's modern art wing marks the wrap-up of its decade-long expansion plan> — see FINALE

wrap up verb
1 to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point <a grand parade will wrap up the weeklong celebration> — see CLOSE 3
2 to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) <a reporter wrapped up the mayor's speech in a few sentences> — see SUMMARIZE

wrath noun
1 an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <waited until my initial wrath had eased before voicing my complaint> — see ANGER
2 suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense <the evangelist warned the gathering that unrepentant sinners would suffer the wrath of God> — see PUNISHMENT

wrathful adjective
feeling or showing anger <in a wrathful voice she demanded to know what had happened> — see ANGRY

wrathfulness noun
an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something <the wrathfulness with which he voiced his complaint was shocking> — see ANGER

wreathe verb
1 to cause to twine about one another <decided to wreathe the grapevines into a beribboned swag to give the room the “country look”> — see INTERTWINE 1
2 to scatter or set here and there among other things <wreathed small flowers into the design for the wallpaper> — see THREAD 1
3 to form a circle around <pretty ribbons wreathed the flower girl's braided bun> — see SURROUND

wreck noun
1 the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed <found the wreck of the ship lying on the floor of the ocean> — see REMAINS 1
2 the destruction or loss of a ship <the wreck cost the insurance company millions of dollars> — see SHIPWRECK 1
3 the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact <a dangerous stretch of roadway that has been the scene of numerous car wrecks> — see CRASH 1

wreck verb
1 to cause irreparable damage to (a ship) by running aground or sinking <many an unwary captain has wrecked his ship on the shoals that surround the island> — see SHIPWRECK
2 to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of <most of the furniture on the ground floor was wrecked by the floodwaters> — see DESTROY 1

wreckage noun
1 the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless <the wreckage of those ancient statues represents a great loss to the art world> — see DESTRUCTION 1
2 the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed <the wreckage of the cathedral was kept as a memorial and as a reminder of war's terrible cost> — see REMAINS 1
3 the destruction or loss of a ship <debris floated ashore for weeks after the wreckage> — see SHIPWRECK 1

wrecking noun
the destruction or loss of a ship <the wrecking of the freighter was one of the worst disasters ever on the Great Lakes> — see SHIPWRECK 1

wrench noun
1 a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something <with a sharp wrench of the hammer I pulled the nail from the board>

Synonyms
twist, twisting, wrenching, wresting, wringing

Related Words
draft, draw, extraction, pull, tug, yank; dislocation, displacement

2 the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force <with one final hard wrench I was able to pull the cork from the bottle> — see PULL 1

wrench verb
1 to move by or as if by a forceful rotation <with one last sharp yank, he wrenched the lid off the bottle of ketchup>

Synonyms
twist, wrest, wring

Related Words
draw, dredge (up), extract, jerk, lug, pluck, pull, tug, tweak, yank; jimmy, lever, pry; budge, dislocate, displace, disturb, remove; shift, transfer, transpose

2 to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure <wrenched her shoulder by all of that heavy lifting> — see STRAIN 1
3 to separate or remove by forceful pulling <wrenched the post out of the ground> — see TEAR 2

wrenching adjective
intensely or unbearably painful <forced to make the emotionally wrenching decision to place her mother in a nursing home> — see EXCRUCIATING 1

wrenching noun
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something <after a lot of wrenching and tugging, the plumber managed to pull the stubborn pipe free> — see WRENCH 1

wrest verb
1 to draw out by force or with effort <the boy wrested the book out of his sister's hands> — see EXTRACT
2 to get (as money) by the use of force or threats <vowed that the bully had wrested his lunch money from him for the last time> — see EXTORT
3 to get with great difficulty <farmers who were used to wresting a living from the harsh land> — see EKE OUT
4 to move by or as if by a forceful rotation <I need a strong arm to wrest the lid off this pickle jar> — see WRENCH 1
5 to separate or remove by forceful pulling <wrested open the stuck door of the cabinet> — see TEAR 2

wresting noun
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something <no amount of wresting could loosen the rusted bolt> — see WRENCH 1

wrestle verb
to seize and attempt to unbalance one another for the purpose of achieving physical mastery <the sisters wrestled on the floor over the last cookie>

Synonyms
grapple, rassle, scuffle, tussle

Related Words
battle, clash (with), combat, contend, duel, fight, war (against); bash, batter, beat, buffet, hit, punch, slug, strike; box, spar; brawl, skirmish

wrestle (with) verb
to give serious and careful thought to <I've been wrestling with the idea of switching careers for quite some time> — see PONDER

wretch noun
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person <the clerk was an ungrateful wretch who stole money from his employer's cash register> — see VILLAIN

wretched adjective
1 extremely unsatisfactory <this report is simply wretched—you'll have to rewrite it>

Synonyms
atrocious, awful, dismal, execrable, horrible, lousy, punk, rotten, sucky [slang], terrible

Related Words
bad, deficient, inferior, off, poor, substandard, wanting; contemptible, miserable, shameful; defective, faulty, flawed; low-grade, mediocre, reprehensible, second-rate; bum, useless, valueless, worthless; inadequate, insufficient, lacking; abominable, damnable, fiendish, odious, vile

Near Antonyms
choice, excellent, exceptional, first-class, first-rate, premium, prime, superior; adequate, sufficient; acceptable, satisfactory

Antonyms
bitchin' [slang], great, marvelous (or marvellous), wonderful

2 arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust <a wretched lie> — see CONTEMPTIBLE 1
3 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <lived alone in a wretched room in a run-down hotel> — see GLOOMY 1
4 falling short of a standard <a wretched attempt at writing an original song> — see BAD 1
5 feeling unhappiness <she was wretched for weeks after breaking up with her boyfriend> — see SAD 1
6 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <his wretched treatment of women earned him a bad reputation> — see IGNOBLE 2
7 of low quality <wretched goods that aren't even worth half of what the store is charging for them> — see CHEAP 2
8 deserving of one's pity <those wretched souls who cannot even afford a decent roof over their heads> — see PATHETIC 1
9 deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy) <the pampered socialite complained that the only room available was in a wretched little motel by the highway> — see PITIFUL 1

wretchedly adverb
1 in an unsatisfactory way <the whole hockey team played wretchedly that night> — see BADLY 1
2 with feelings of bitterness or grief <we're wretchedly disappointed in you for behaving so irresponsibly> — see HARD 2

wriggle verb
1 to make jerky or restless movements <a toddler wriggling in his seat all throughout the church service> — see FIDGET
2 to move slowly with the body close to the ground <a worm slowly wriggled across the sidewalk> — see CRAWL 1
3 to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way <within a month of his arrival, this social upstart had wriggled himself into the family's good graces> — see INSINUATE 1

wriggly adjective
making jerky or restless movements <after a while, the little girl got wriggly and had to be taken outside to the church vestibule> — see FIDGETY

wring verb
1 to get (as money) by the use of force or threats <that bill collector is willing to do anything to wring money out of deadbeats> — see EXTORT
2 to get with great difficulty <after years of trying to wring a decent profit out of the business, he is finally giving up> — see EKE OUT
3 to move by or as if by a forceful rotation <I'm so mad I could wring your neck> — see WRENCH 1
4 to draw out by force or with effort <willing to use torture if necessary in order to wring the information out of the terrorist> — see EXTRACT

wringing noun
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something <a firm wringing of the shoe got it off> — see WRENCH 1

wrinkle noun
1 a small fold in a soft and otherwise smooth surface <the old woman's face creased into wrinkles as she smiled> <the curtains cascaded onto the floor in ripples and wrinkles>

Synonyms
crease, crimp, crinkle, furrow

Related Words
corrugation, layer, loop, plait, pleat, ply, pucker, seam, tuck; crow's-foot

2 something (as a device) created for the first time through the use of the imagination <the latest wrinkle in digital photography> — see INVENTION 1

wrinkle verb
1 to develop creases or folds <if you don't fold clothes promptly after drying, they'll wrinkle>

Synonyms
crease, crinkle, furrow, rumple

Related Words
collapse, crumple, double, fold

2 to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in <sitting down on the bedspread wrinkled it> — see CRUMPLE 1

write verb
1 to compose and set down on paper the words of <a staunch supporter of the old school, he prefers to write all of his letters by hand>

Synonyms
author, pen, scratch (out), scribble

Related Words
cast, compose, craft, draft, draw up, formulate, frame, prepare; recast, redraft, revise, rewrite; letter, print, type, typewrite; record, take down, transcribe; autograph, pencil (in), register, sign; couch, express, phrase, put, word

2 to engage in an exchange of written messages <promise you'll write while you're away> — see CORRESPOND 1

write down verb
1 to diminish the price or value of <a company forced to write down its assets> — see DEPRECIATE 1
2 to make a written note of <write down what you remember about that day> — see RECORD 1

write off verb
1 to express scornfully one's low opinion of <most critics have already written off that director as a hack incapable of turning out anything but schlock> — see DECRY 1
2 to diminish the price or value of <that one blunder will write off to nothing all the goodwill we've been building up> — see DEPRECIATE 1

writer noun
a person who creates a written work <a writer who is still trying to get published> — see AUTHOR 1

writhe verb
1 to cause to twine about one another <tends to writhe his fingers together when he's nervous or upset> — see INTERTWINE 1
2 to make jerky or restless movements <writhing in pain from his injuries> — see FIDGET

wrong adjective
1 falling short of a standard <there is something wrong with this cake—it has a funny taste> — see BAD 1
2 having an opinion that does not agree with truth or the facts <I'm sorry, but the latest research proves you wrong> — see INCORRECT 1
3 not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation <has a knack for saying just the wrong thing> — see INAPPROPRIATE
4 not being in agreement with what is true <her answer that Thomas Jefferson was the second president of the United States is wrong—it was John Adams, of course> — see FALSE 1
5 not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable <was caught doing something wrong> — see BAD 2

wrong adverb
off the desired or intended path or course <all of our carefully laid plans have gone wrong>

Synonyms
afield, amiss, astray, awry

Related Words
badly; faultily, improperly, inappropriately, incorrectly, mistakenly, wrongly; inadequately, insufficiently, unpromisingly

Near Antonyms
perfectly; auspiciously, favorably, promisingly; correctly, properly, rightly; appropriately, fittingly, suitably

Antonyms
aright, right, well

wrong noun
1 that which is morally unacceptable <any reasonable person should be expected to know the difference between right and wrong> — see EVIL
2 unfair or inadequate treatment of someone or something or an instance of this <trying to right all the wrongs in the world> — see DISSERVICE

wrongdoer noun
a person who commits moral wrongs <anticorruption crusaders are going after wrongdoers at every level of the nation's government> — see EVILDOER 1

wrongdoing noun
1 a breaking of a moral or legal code <a local newspaper exposed the contractor's elaborate attempts to cover up his wrongdoings> — see OFFENSE 1
2 improper or illegal behavior <the police officer was found to be completely innocent of any wrongdoing> — see MISCONDUCT 1

wrongful adjective
contrary to or forbidden by law <charged with wrongful possession of narcotics> — see ILLEGAL 1

wrongly adverb
in a mistaken or inappropriate way <you have wrongly interpreted this passage in the Bible>

Synonyms
amiss, erroneously, faultily, improperly, inaccurately, inappropriately, inaptly, incorrectly, mistakenly, unsuitably

Related Words
misguidedly; fallibly, imperfectly; extraneously, irrelevantly, meaninglessly, pointlessly, senselessly; inadequately, insufficiently; undesirably, unsatisfactorily; foolishly, unwisely

Near Antonyms
infallibly, perfectly; germanely, meaningfully, pertinently, relevantly, sensibly; acceptably, adequately, satisfactorily, sufficiently; prudently, sagely, wisely

Antonyms
appropriately, aptly, correctly, fittingly, properly, right, rightly, suitably, well

wrongness noun
the quality or state of being unsuitable or unfitting <arguments about the rightness or wrongness of the satirical skit drowned out any discussion of the points it attempted to raise> — see INAPPROPRIATENESS 1

wroth adjective
feeling or showing anger <I've been waxing wroth all afternoon!> — see ANGRY

wud adjective, chiefly Scottish
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind <an old miser whose obsession with money had driven him wud> — see INSANE 1

wurst noun
a rod-shaped portion of seasoned ground meat in a casing <spicy wurst mixed with chopped potatoes is delicious> — see SAUSAGE

wuss also wussy noun
a person lacking in physical strength <teased him for being a wuss when he failed the push-up test in gym class> — see WEAKLING 1

X

x (out) verb
to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it <x out the names of the people who have already left>

Synonyms
blue-pencil, cancel, cross (out), dele, delete, edit (out), elide, kill, scratch (out), strike (out), stroke (out)

Related Words
blot out, efface, eradicate, erase, expunge, obliterate, root (out), rub out, wipe out; bleep, blip, clip, cut, excise, remove; bowdlerize, censor, clean (up), expurgate, launder, redact, red-pencil; abbreviate, crop, shorten; black out, repress, silence, suppress

Near Antonyms
stet

X–rated adjective
1 dealing in or with explicitly sexual material <for his comedy-club performances the stand-up comic's routines are definitely X-rated> — see ADULT 2
2 depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society <the jerk should have known better than to tell an X-rated joke at a company function> — see OBSCENE 1

Y

yahoo interjection
how delightful <you mean we were accepted for the reality show? yahoo!> — see HOORAY

yahoo noun
a stupid person <those yahoos who go skiing despite avalanche warnings deserve what they get> — see IDIOT

Yahweh also Jahveh or Yahveh noun
the being worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe <a count of the number of times Yahweh is mentioned in the Old Testament> — see DEITY 2

yammer noun
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment <a soccer coach having to endure the endless yammers from parents that their kids weren't getting enough time on the field> — see COMPLAINT 1

yammer verb
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <customers yammered on for what seemed like days about the billing mistake> — see COMPLAIN

yank noun
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force <had to give the shoe a good yank to get it off> — see PULL 1

yank verb
1 to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion <she stupidly yanked the wheel while I was driving> — see JERK 1
2 to draw out by force or with effort <yanked out a tooth with a pair of pliers> — see EXTRACT
3 to separate or remove by forceful pulling <grab the other one, and let's see if we can't yank these two grocery carriages apart> — see TEAR 2

yap noun, slang
the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal <a dope with a talent for opening his yap at exactly the wrong moment> — see MOUTH 1

1yard noun
1 an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls) <inmates are allowed an hour of exercise in the prison's inner yard> — see COURT 2
2 the area around and belonging to a building <we're looking for a house with a big yard> — see GROUND 1

2yard noun
a considerable amount <a composer who produced yards of gorgeous music over the course of a long career> — see LOT 2

yard sale noun
a sale of used household and personal items <there are signs up all over town advertising yard sales>

Synonyms
garage sale, tag sale

Related Words
jumble sale [British], rummage sale

yardstick noun
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared <this essay will be the yardstick by which I grade the others> — see STANDARD 1

yarn noun
1 a brief account of something interesting that happened especially to one personally <Grandpa likes to tell yarns about when he was young> — see STORY 2
2 a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel <a ripping yarn about space travel and alien monsters> — see STORY 1

yaw verb
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course <the ship yawed hard to the right when the rogue wave hit it broadside> — see SWERVE 1

yawn noun
someone or something boring <as neither candidate was willing to make an unequivocal statement about anything, the debate proved to be a complete yawn> — see DRAG 1

yawner noun
someone or something boring <even die-hard opera fans are finding this production to be a real yawner> — see DRAG 1

yawp or yaup verb
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <stop yawping about your problems and try doing something to fix them> — see COMPLAIN

yawping or yauping adjective
engaging in or marked by loud and insistent cries especially of protest <the ticket agent spent hours dealing with yawping customers, furious that their flights had been canceled> — see VOCIFEROUS

yea adverb
1 not merely this but also <we will go to the new land, and, yea, we will pursue our dreams!> — see EVEN 1
2 used to express agreement <I vote yea on the proposed increase in the school budget> — see YES

yea noun
a vote or decision for something <the measure passed with 50 yeas and 17 nays> — see YES

yeah adverb
used to express agreement <yeah, we'll be there> — see YES

yearn (for) verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <yearned for a little house in the country> — see DESIRE 1

yearn (over) verb
to have sympathy for <who wouldn't yearn over the poor little girl who just became an orphan?> — see PITY

yearning noun
a strong wish for something <had a sudden yearning for something sweet> — see DESIRE 1

year–rounder noun
a usually longtime resident of a locality <year-rounders love the off-season, when the tourists are a bittersweet memory and once again they have the island all to themselves> — see NATIVE 1

yeast noun
something that arouses action or activity <taxation without representation proved to be the yeast of rebellion> — see IMPULSE 1

yeasty adjective
lacking in seriousness or maturity <the yeasty chatter at a cocktail party on New Year's Eve> — see GIDDY 1

yech also yecch interjection
used to express disgust <yech, I hate those bugs!> — see YUCK

yell noun
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion <the crowd gave a yell of approval> — see SHOUT

yell verb
1 to cry out loudly and emotionally <yelled with fear when the speeding car veered onto the crowded sidewalk> — see SCREAM 1
2 to speak so as to be heard at a distance <I yelled to the kids in the backyard that it was time to go home> — see CALL 1

yellow adjective
having or showing a shameful lack of courage <you'll come with us into the cave, unless you're yellow> — see COWARDLY

yelp verb
to cry out loudly and emotionally <yelped with surprise when everything fell off the closet shelf and onto his head> — see SCREAM 1

yen noun
a strong wish for something <I have a strange yen to take the day off from work> — see DESIRE 1

yen (for) verb
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy <what car lover doesn't yen for a new car at the start of every model year> — see DESIRE 1

yenta noun
a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others <the couple's loud quarrel had the building's yentas yapping for a week> — see GOSSIP 1

yep adverb
used to express agreement <“That's really what she said?” “Yep”> — see YES

yes adverb
used to express agreement <yes, I'll be ready for the test tomorrow>

Synonyms
all right, alright, aye (also ay), exactly, OK (or okay), okeydoke (or okeydokey), yea, yeah, yep, yo

Related Words
absolutely, assuredly, certainly, indeed, indisputably, positively, undoubtedly, unquestionably

Antonyms
nay, no, no way, scarcely

yes noun
a vote or decision for something <the bill passed with 50 “yeses” and 12 “noes.”>

Synonyms
affirmative, yea

Related Words
pro; acceptance, accession, acquiescence, agreement, approval, assent, concurrence, consent, permission, sanction

Near Antonyms
con; blackball, veto; declination, denial, disallowance, negation, refusal, rejection, turndown

Antonyms
nay, negative, no, non placet

yesterday noun
the events or experience of former times <my grandparents are always reminiscing about yesterday> — see PAST

yesteryear noun
the events or experience of former times <the simple games of yesteryear that kept children entertained for hours> — see PAST

yet adverb
1 at a later time <we may yet figure it out>

Synonyms
eventually, finally, someday, sometime, sooner or later, ultimately

Related Words
anon, before long, by and by, directly, imminently, momentarily, presently, shortly, soon; forthwith, immediately, promptly, pronto, right away, right now, right off, straightaway, straightway

Phrases
at last (or at long last), at length, in the end, in the fullness of time, in time

Near Antonyms
ne'er, never, nevermore

2 in addition to what has been said <offered yet another option for our planned tour of Europe> — see MORE 1
3 in spite of that <the hikers were scared, and yet they continued to go deeper into the cave> — see HOWEVER
4 up to this or that time <we have yet to win a single game> <she had yet to accomplish a single thing> — see HITHERTO

yet conjunction
if it were not for the fact that <it feels like summer, yet according to the calendar we're still in early spring> — see EXCEPT

yield noun
1 an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property <the stock's yield has increased over the years> — see INCOME 1
2 something produced by physical or intellectual effort <wheat farmers were able to increase the yield per acre substantially> — see PRODUCT 1
3 the total amount collected or obtained especially at one time <the yield from the police department's buyback program for firearms was staggering> — see HAUL 1

yield verb
1 to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit) <I finally yielded to temptation and had a bowl of ice cream>

Synonyms
bow, cave (in), give in, submit, succumb, surrender

Related Words
cater (to), gratify, indulge, wallow; acquiesce (to), concede (to); buckle (under), knuckle under; give over (to)

Near Antonyms
battle, breast, combat, confront, counter, defy, face, fight, meet, object, oppose, repel; thwart, withstand; reject; bridle, check, constrain, curb, inhibit, restrain, stifle

Antonyms
hold off, resist

2 to produce as revenue <I expect that stock to yield at least 14% profit this year>

Synonyms
bear, give, pay, return

Related Words
bring in, net; afford, furnish, provide, supply; pay off

3 to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) <after initially balking at the order, the soldier yielded when the commanding officer threatened a formal charge of insubordination>

Synonyms
blink, bow, budge, capitulate, concede, give in, knuckle under, quit, relent, submit, succumb, surrender

Related Words
acquiesce; defer

Phrases
say uncle, throw in the towel (also throw in the sponge)

Near Antonyms
contend, fight, hold off; battle, breast, combat, confront, counter, defy, face, meet, object, oppose, repel; thwart, withstand

Antonyms
resist

4 to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <the sort of embarrassing question that seldom yields an honest answer> — see EFFECT
5 to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure <the door soon yielded to the battering ram> — see COLLAPSE 1
6 to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress <refusing to yield the city to enemy troops> — see SURRENDER 1
7 to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly <weak-willed by nature, she yielded herself to every dietary temptation and then whined about it afterwards> — see ABANDON 1

yielding adjective
1 receiving or enduring without offering resistance <a person too yielding to even stand up for his own rights> — see PASSIVE
2 not stiff in structure <after sitting on a hard bench for hours, I was happy to sink into the sofa's yielding cushions> — see LIMP 1

yippee interjection
how delightful <she took one look at the new car in the driveway and exclaimed, “Yippee!”> — see HOORAY

yo adverb
used to express agreement <“So, are you coming with me?” “Yo”> — see YES

yob noun, British
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <the complaint that English football has been taken over by the yobs, who make the stadiums unfit for families> — see HOODLUM

yobbo noun, British
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang <some yobbo has been threatening shopkeepers in the East End> — see HOODLUM

yoke noun
the state of being a slave <a people able at last to throw off the yoke and to embrace freedom> — see SLAVERY 1

yoke verb
to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole <yoked several ideas together to come up with a new theory> — see CONNECT 1

yokel noun
an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country <a lame comedy about the misadventures of yokels in the big city> — see HICK

yon adverb
at or to a greater distance or more advanced point <the belief that it is the destiny of the human race to explore our solar system and yon> — see FARTHER

yonder adverb
at or to a greater distance or more advanced point <look yonder and you'll see the skyline of the city> — see FARTHER

yore noun
the events or experience of former times <my favorite stories are about gallant knights and fair maidens in the days of yore> — see PAST

young adjective
being in the early stage of life, growth, or development <a young cat requires more food than an older one> <a young tree that will eventually reach 50 feet tall>

Synonyms
adolescent, immature, juvenile, youngish, youthful

Related Words
ephebic, minor, preteen, subadult, teenage (or teenaged), underage; embryonic, emergent; callow, green, inexperienced, puerile, raw; babyish, childish, childlike, infantile, infantine, kiddish; undeveloped, unfinished, unfledged, unformed, unripe, unripened; blooming, blossoming, burgeoning, flourishing, flowering

Near Antonyms
aged, aging (or ageing), ancient, elderly, geriatric, long-lived, old, older, oldish, senescent, senior; full-blown, full-fledged; golden, mellow, ripe, ripened; middle-aged; anile, decrepit, doddering, over-the-hill, senile, spavined, tottery

Antonyms
adult, grown-up, mature, matured

youngish adjective
being in the early stage of life, growth, or development <a youngish but surprisingly mature audience showed up to watch the serious film> — see YOUNG

youngling noun
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <she quit babysitting when she got tired of wrangling younglings who weren't even her own> — see CHILD 1

youngster noun
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <a herd of youngsters following their nature guide like ducklings after a mother duck> — see CHILD 1

youth noun
1 a male person who has not yet reached adulthood <a big, strapping youth who, even at his relatively young age, knew the meaning of hard work> — see BOY 1
2 a young person who is between infancy and adulthood <rounded up the neighborhood youths and organized them into a softball team> — see CHILD 1
3 the state or time of being a child <told the young people to enjoy their youth while they could> — see CHILDHOOD

youthful adjective
being in the early stage of life, growth, or development <it's still a youthful nation with a lot of promise and potential> — see YOUNG

yowl noun
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion <the cat gave a yowl of anger> — see SHOUT

yowl verb
1 to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely <a bitterly cold winter that had people yowling about their heating bills> — see COMPLAIN
2 to make a long loud mournful sound <coyotes yowling at the moon> — see HOWL 1

yowling adjective
engaging in or marked by loud and insistent cries especially of protest <town meeting is always full of yowling residents who never seem to be happy with anything the town does> — see VOCIFEROUS

yo–yo noun
1 a person who lacks good sense or judgment <some yo-yo cut the electricity off while I still had unsaved data> — see FOOL 1
2 a stupid person <those yo-yos who insist upon using their cell phones while speeding down the highway> — see IDIOT

yuck also yuk interjection
used to express disgust <yuck, I really hate brussels sprouts>

Synonyms
faugh, fie, phew, phooey, rats, ugh, yech (or yecch)

Related Words
ah, bah, boo, humph, pish, pooh, pshaw, sheesh, tush, tut, tut-tut; alack, alas, woe

Near Antonyms
yum-yum

yucky also yukky adjective
1 disagreeable or disgusting to the sense of taste <a child at that age where every unfamiliar and untried food is preemptively dismissed as “yucky”> — see DISTASTEFUL 1
2 not giving pleasure to the mind or senses <the weather is supposed to be yucky, so bring your jacket and umbrella> — see UNPLEASANT

yuk or yuck also yak or yock noun, slang
something said or done to cause laughter <the yuks on this new sitcom are so pathetic that the souped-up laugh track merely adds insult to injury> — see JOKE 1

yuk or yuck verb, slang
to make jokes <pay no mind to those clowns—they are just yukking it up and don't mean any harm> — see JOKE 1

yuletide noun
the season celebrating Christmas <these days, as far as the stores are concerned, yuletide starts in September>

Synonyms
Christmastide, Christmastime, Noel

Related Words
Advent; Christmas, nativity, Xmas, yule

yummy adjective
very pleasing to the sense of taste <a yummy meal that is also nutritious> — see DELICIOUS 1

Z

zag verb
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course <the crowd roared as the clown on the bicycle zagged while the other clowns, in hot pursuit, zigged> — see SWERVE 1

zaniness noun
lack of good sense or judgment <what zaniness possessed you to take a mental health day when you knew that the head honcho would be visiting?> — see FOOLISHNESS 1

zany adjective
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <a zany plan to drive cross-country on a motorized scooter> — see FOOLISH 1

zany noun
1 a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior <hired a zany to entertain the children at the birthday party> — see CLOWN 1
2 a person of odd or whimsical habits <one of the challenges of hosting a radio call-in program is preventing the zanies from completely taking over the discussion> — see ECCENTRIC

zap verb
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner <zapped the annoying bug with a swatter> — see HIT 1

zealot noun
one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause <zealots on both sides of the issue resorted to name-calling and scare tactics>

Synonyms
crusader, fanatic, ideologue (also idealogue), militant, partisan (also partizan), red hot, true believer

Related Words
activist; dreamer, idealist, visionary; cultist, disciple, follower, hanger-on, idolizer, votary; addict, aficionado (also afficionado), buff, bug, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fancier, fiend, fool, freak, habitué (also habitue), head, hound, junkie (also junky), lover, maniac, maven (also mavin), nut, sucker; advocate, apostle, backer, champion, evangelist, patron, promoter, stalwart, supporter; booster, rooter, well-wisher; faddist

Near Antonyms
dabbler, dilettante

Antonyms
nonmilitant

zenith noun
the highest part or point <at the zenith of her career as a dancer> — see HEIGHT 1

zephyr noun
a slight or gentle movement of air <a summer zephyr gently stirred her hair> — see BREEZE 1

zero noun
1 the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it <anything multiplied by zero comes out to zero>

Synonyms
aught, cipher, goose egg, naught (also nought), nil, nothing, o, oh, zilch, zip

Related Words
blank, void

2 a person of no importance or influence <those snobs on the cruise ship tried to make me feel like a complete zero> — see NOBODY
3 the lowest point or level <after several dating disasters, my confidence with the opposite sex is at zero> — see NADIR 1

zero hour noun
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action <we're at the zero hour, so someone has to make a decision> — see EMERGENCY

zest noun
the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses <dumped in more spices to add some zest to the marinade> — see PIQUANCY

zesty adjective
sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses <bland pasta that needs a zesty sauce> — see PIQUANT

zig verb
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course <the fox zigged to the right, and the hounds followed> — see SWERVE 1

zigzag verb
to move suddenly aside or to and fro <the fleeing car zigzagged down the highway at breakneck speed> — see DODGE 1

zilch noun
1 a person of no importance or influence <a passive and retiring little zilch of a person> — see NOBODY
2 the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it <the amount of money that we have coming in right now is zilch> — see ZERO 1

zine noun
a publication that appears at regular intervals <a small cadre of students have taken to producing their own underground zine in order to satirize many of the university's most sacred cows> — see JOURNAL 1

zing noun
1 active strength of body or mind <has the youthful, adventurous zing to go out and conquer mountains> — see VIGOR 1
2 the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses <the razor-sharp repartee puts some zing into the movie> <an addition of ginger to give the marmalade a little extra zing> — see PIQUANCY

zingy adjective
sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses <recipes for a zingy meal that is sure to wow your guests> — see PIQUANT

Zion also Sion noun
1 a dwelling place of perfect happiness for the soul after death <found the path to Zion by doing penance for the wayward ways of her youth> — see HEAVEN 1
2 an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness <Robert Owen's New Harmony, Indiana, was but one of many attempts to establish an American Zion> — see PARADISE 1

1zip noun
active strength of body or mind <he has surprising zip for a man his age> — see VIGOR 1

2zip noun
the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it <I've got zip as far as new ideas go> — see ZERO 1

zip verb
1 to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound <a dragonfly zipped by my ear> — see WHIRR
2 to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements <the fly zipped around the room, trying to find a way to the outside> — see FLIT
3 to proceed or move quickly <knowing that she was already late, she went zipping off to meet her next client> — see HURRY 2

zip (up) verb
to give life, vigor, or spirit to <the newscaster asked the writer if there was a way to zip up the story a little> — see ANIMATE

zippy adjective
1 having much high-spirited energy and movement <a crowd of zippy children who'd been cooped up all day> — see LIVELY 1
2 moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed <she just bought a zippy new computer that should enable her to work more efficiently> — see FAST 1

zit noun, slang
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin <“Look at all these zits—I'm hideous!” wailed the high schooler> — see POCK

zodiac noun
a series of events or actions that repeat themselves regularly and in the same order <a political candidate dealing with the never-ending zodiac of rubber-chicken dinners and meet and greets> — see CYCLE 1

zone noun
1 a broad geographical area <a tropical zone> — see REGION 2
2 a part or portion having no fixed boundaries <at that point we were out of the danger zone for avalanches> — see REGION 1

zonked adjective
1 being under the influence of a recreational drug <later claimed that she was zonked for the entire recording session> — see STONED 1
2 suffering from mental confusion <her only living relative is a permanently zonked sister who can't even care for herself> — see DIZZY 2

zonked–out adjective
1 being under the influence of a recreational drug <the perpetually zonked-out writer Hunter S. Thompson created the genre now known as gonzo journalism> — see STONED 1
2 suffering from mental confusion <overmedicated, zonked-out residents of a nursing home> — see DIZZY 2

zoo noun
a state of noisy, confused activity <the post office is always a zoo the day that tax returns are due> — see COMMOTION

zoom noun
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion <the zoom of a motorboat off in the distance> — see HUM

zoom verb
1 to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound <a squadron of fighter planes zooming over our heads prompted thoughts of a terrorist attack> — see WHIRR
2 to proceed or move quickly <race cars zooming around a track at breakneck speeds> — see HURRY 2
3 to rise abruptly and rapidly <zoomed to a supervisory position after only a few short months> — see SKYROCKET

z's or zs plural noun
a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself <I'm going to try and catch a few z's before we go out tonight> — see SLEEP 1