Word Words Definition 1

exist in large numbers or amounts:"rumours of a

further scandal abound"
proliferate; superabound; thrive; flourish; be thick on
the ground; abundant; plentiful; superabundant;
considerable; copious; ample; lavish; luxuriant;
abound abound profuse; boundless; munificent; bountiful; prolific;
inexhaustible; generous; galore; plenteous; be
plentiful; be abundant; be numerous; Opposite:;
meagre; scanty; be scarce; (abound in/with)

without a clearly defined shape or form:"an

amorphous, characterless conurbation" · "amorphous
blue forms and straight black lines"
shapeless; formless; unformed; unshaped;
amorphous amorph·ous structureless; unstructured; indeterminate; indefinite;
vague; nebulous; Opposite:; shaped; definite

severe or strict in manner or attitude:"he was an

austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook"
severe; stern; strict; harsh; unfeeling; stony; steely;
flinty; dour; grim; cold; frosty; frigid; icy; chilly;
unemotional; unfriendly; formal; stiff; stuffy; reserved;
remote; distant; aloof; forbidding; mean-looking;
grave; solemn; serious; unsmiling; unsympathetic;
austere aus·tere unforgiving; uncharitable; hard; rigorous; stringent;
unyielding; unbending; unrelenting; inflexible; illiberal;
no-nonsense; Opposite:; genial
 (of an appearance) fail to give a true impression of
(something):"his lively, alert manner belied his years"
contradict; give the lie to; disprove; debunk; discredit;
explode; knock the bottom out of; drive a coach and
horses through; controvert; confute; negative; conceal;
cover; disguise; misrepresent; falsify; distort; warp;
belie belie colour; be at odds with; call into question; show/prove
to be false; put a spin on; give a false idea of; give a
false account of; Opposite:; reveal; testify to

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood

or behaviour:"it's terrible to feel our livelihood hinges
on a capricious boss"
fickle; inconstant; changeable; variable; unstable;
mercurial; volatile; erratic; vacillating; irregular;
inconsistent; fitful; arbitrary; impulsive;
temperamental; wild; ungovernable; whimsical;
fanciful; flighty; wayward; quirky; faddish; freakish;
capricious ca·pri·cious unpredictable; random; chance; haphazard; Opposite:;
stable; consistent

of the cerebrum of the brain:"a cerebral haemorrhage"

· "the cerebral cortex"
cerebral cere·bral serious; serious-minded; solemn; grave; sober;
Opposite:; frivolous; apathetic
 (of a person) pleasing or liked on account of having
qualities or interests that are similar to one's own:"his
need for some congenial company"
like-minded; compatible; kindred; companionable;
sociable; sympathetic; comradely; convivial;
neighbourly; hospitable; genial; personable; agreeable;
congenial con·gen·ial friendly; pleasant; likeable; kindly; pleasing; amiable;
nice; good-natured; sympathique; simpatico; well
suited; easy to get along with; Opposite:; disagreeable;
incompatible

clearly visible:"he was very thin, with a conspicuous

Adam's apple"
obvious; clear; plain; evident; apparent; manifest;
Opposite:; unobtrusive; inconspicuous

conspicuous con·spicu·ous

hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed:"a

cursory glance at the figures"
perfunctory; desultory; casual; superficial; token;
uninterested; half-hearted; inattentive; unthinking;
offhand; mechanical; automatic; routine; hasty; quick;
cursory curs·ory hurried; rapid; brief; passing; fleeting; summary;
sketchy; careless; slapdash; Opposite:; thorough;
painstaking
 seeming difficult to deal with in prospect;
intimidating:"a daunting task"
intimidating; formidable; disconcerting; unnerving;
unsettling; dismaying; discouraging; disheartening;
daunting daunt·ing dispiriting; demoralizing; forbidding; ominous;
awesome; frightening; fearsome; mean-looking;
challenging; taxing; exacting

worship or regard as a god:"she was deified by the

early Romans as a fertility goddess"
worship; revere; venerate; reverence; extol; exalt;
deify deify adore; immortalize; divinize; idolize; apotheosize;
lionize; hero-worship; idealize; glorify; aggrandize; hold
sacred; pay homage to; Opposite:; demonize

intended to teach, particularly in having moral

instruction as an ulterior motive:"a didactic novel that
set out to expose social injustice"
instructive; instructional; educational; educative
didactic di·dac·tic

spread (something, especially information)

widely:"health authorities should foster good practice
by disseminating information"
disseminate dis·sem·in·ate spread; circulate; distribute; disperse; diffuse; medicine

possible to do easily or conveniently:"it is not feasible

to put most finds from excavations on public display" ·
"the Dutch have demonstrated that it is perfectly
feasible feas·ible feasible to live below sea level"
practicable; practical; workable; achievable; attainable;
Opposite:; impractical
 openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention):"the
advertising code is being flouted"
defy; go against; scorn; disdain; fly in the face of;
thumb one's nose at; make a fool of; poke fun at;
disobey; break; violate; contravene; infringe; breach;
ignore; disregard; set one's face against; kick against;
flout flout infract; set at naught; refuse to obey; rebel against;
show contempt for; fail to comply with; fail to observe;
commit a breach of; transgress against; Opposite:;
observe

of the same kind; alike:"if all jobs and workers were

homogeneous"
similar; comparable; equivalent; like; analogous;
corresponding; correspondent; parallel; matching;
homogeneo kindred; related; correlative; congruent; cognate;
us homo·ge·neous Opposite:; different; dissimilar

lacking excitement or variety; boringly

monotonous:"humdrum routine work"
mundane; dull; dreary; boring; tedious; monotonous;
banal; ho-hum; tiresome; wearisome; prosaic;
unexciting; uninteresting; uneventful; unvarying;
unvaried; unremarkable; repetitive; repetitious;
humdrum hum·drum routine; ordinary; everyday; day-to-day; quotidian; run-
of-the-mill; commonplace; common; workaday; usual;
pedestrian; customary; regular; normal; garden variety;
banausic; Opposite:; remarkable; exciting

lacking flavour; weak or tasteless:"mugs of insipid

insipid in·sipid coffee"
tasteless; flavourless; unflavoured; savourless; bland
 tending to talk a great deal; talkative:"never
loquacious, Sarah was now totally lost for words"
talkative; garrulous; voluble; over-talkative; long-
winded; wordy; verbose; profuse; prolix; effusive;
gushing; rambling; communicative; chatty; gossipy;
loquacious lo·qua·cious gossiping; chattering; chattery; babbling; blathering;
gibbering; multiloquent; multiloquous; Opposite:;
reticent; taciturn

having or showing a dislike of other people;

unsociable:"a misanthropic drunken loner" · "with his
misanthropic outlook, he was an ugly character"
antisocial; unsociable; unfriendly; reclusive;
misanthropic mis·an·throp·ic uncongenial; unneighbourly; inhospitable; cynical;
suspicious; distrustful; sceptical; jaundiced; narrow-
minded; Opposite:; sociable

a wrong or inaccurate name or designation:"morning

sickness is a misnomer for many women, since the
misnomer mis·nomer nausea can occur any time during the day"

failing to take proper care over something:"the council

had been negligent in its supervision of the children in
care"
careless; remiss; neglectful; lax; irresponsible;
inattentive; heedless; thoughtless; unmindful;
negligent neg·li·gent forgetful; slack; sloppy; slapdash; slipshod; derelict;
barratrous; delinquent; Opposite:; careful; attentive;
conscientious

obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile

degree:"they were served by obsequious waiters"
servile; ingratiating; unctuous; sycophantic; fawning;
obsequious ob·se·qui·ous toadying; oily; oleaginous; greasy; grovelling; cringing;
toadyish; subservient; submissive; slavish; abject;
sycophantish; Uriah Heepish; Opposite:; domineering
 make (someone) less angry or hostile:"they attempted
to placate the students with promises"
appease; pacify; mollify; propitiate; assuage; soothe;
placate pla·cate humour; reconcile; disarm; calm down; win over; make
peace with; square someone off; Opposite:; provoke

a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an

inclination or predisposition towards a particular
thing:"a proclivity for hard work"
liking; inclination; tendency; leaning; disposition;
proclivity pro·cliv·ity propensity; bent; bias; penchant; predisposition;
predilection; partiality; preference; taste; fondness;
weakness; proneness; velleity

childishly silly and immature:"a puerile argument"

immature; babyish; infantile; juvenile; silly; inane;
puerile puer·ile fatuous; jejune; foolish; stupid; irresponsible; naive;
Opposite:; mature

extremely idealistic; unrealistic and impractical:"a vast

and perhaps quixotic project"
idealistic; unbusinesslike; romantic; extravagant; starry-
quixotic quix·ot·ic eyed; visionary; utopian; perfectionist; unrealistic;
unworldly; impracticable; unworkable; impossible; non-
viable; inoperable

a person who spends money in an extravagant,

irresponsible way:"Putt was a spendthrift and a heavy
gambler" · "a spendthrift uncle"
profligate; prodigal; squanderer; waster; wastrel;
spendthrift spend·thrift improvident; thriftless; wasteful; extravagant; free-
spending; squandering; irresponsible; Opposite:; miser;
skinflint; Scrooge; miserly; thrifty; frugal
 (of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech;
saying little:"after such gatherings she would be
taciturn and morose"
untalkative; uncommunicative; reticent;
unforthcoming; quiet; unresponsive; secretive; silent;
tight-lipped; close-mouthed; mute; dumb; inarticulate;
taciturn taci·turn reserved; withdrawn; introverted; retiring; media-shy;
antisocial; unsociable; distant; aloof; stand-offish; cold;
detached; dour; sullen; Opposite:; talkative; loquacious

feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or

problems:"dogs which have been mistreated often
remain very wary of strangers" · "a wary look"
cautious; careful; circumspect; chary; alert; on the qui
vive; prudent; attentive; heedful; watchful; vigilant;
wary wary hypervigilant; observant; suspicious; distrustful;
mistrustful; sceptical; doubtful; dubious; guarded; on
one's guard; on the alert; on the lookout; Opposite:;
unwary; inattentive; trustful

regard with disgust and hatred:"he abhorred sexism in

every form"
hate; loathe; despise; abominate; execrate; dislike;
abhor abhor disdain; disrelish; regard with disgust; feel disgust for;
feel repugnance towards; feel distaste for; shrink from;
recoil from

noisy, energetic, and cheerful:"a group of boisterous

lads"
lively; active; animated; exuberant; spirited; bouncy;
boisterous bois·ter·ous Opposite:; quiet; restrained
 courteous and gallant, especially towards women
(typically used of a man or his behaviour):"shall I be
chivalrous and offer you my coat?"
gallant; gentlemanly; honourable; respectful;
thoughtful; considerate; protective; attentive;
chivalrous chiv·al·rous courteous; polite; gracious; well mannered; urbane;
courtly; mannerly; gentle; Opposite:; rude; boorish;
unmannerly

rude in a mean-spirited and surly way:"it seems

churlish to complain"
rude; ill-mannered; discourteous; impolite; ungracious;
unmannerly; uncivil; ungentlemanly; ungallant;
unchivalrous; ill-bred; boorish; oafish; loutish; mean-
churlish churl·ish spirited; ill-tempered; unkind; inconsiderate;
uncharitable; ill-humoured; surly; sullen; Opposite:;
polite

kept secret or done secretively, especially because

illicit:"she deserved better than these clandestine
meetings"
secret; covert; furtive; surreptitious; stealthy; cloak-
and-dagger; hole-and-corner; closet; behind-the-
clandestine clan·des·tine scenes; backstairs; back-alley; under-the-table; hugger-
mugger; concealed; Opposite:; open; above board

showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or

one's achievements:"you can't afford to be complacent
about security"
smug; self-satisfied; self-approving; self-congratulatory;
self-admiring; self-regarding; gloating; triumphant;
complacent com·pla·cent proud; pleased; gratified; satisfied; content; contented;
careless; slack; lax; lazy; pleased with oneself; proud of
oneself; Opposite:; dissatisfied; humble
 large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use;
unwieldy:"cumbersome diving suits"
unwieldy; unmanageable; awkward; clumsy; ungainly;
cumbersome cum·ber·some Opposite:; manageable; convenient

(of a disease or condition) making someone very weak

debilitating de·bili·tat·ing and infirm:"debilitating back pain"

done consciously and intentionally:"a deliberate

attempt to provoke conflict"
deliberate adjective intentional; calculated; conscious; intended; planned;
Opposite:; accidental; unintentional

curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry

amusement:"his unique brand of droll self-mockery"
droll droll funny; humorous; amusing; comic; comical; Opposite:;
serious

(of a person or their behaviour) unconventional and

slightly strange:"he noted her eccentric appearance"
eccentric ec·cen·tric unconventional; uncommon; abnormal; irregular;
Opposite:; ordinary; conventional

(typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome:"they

fight and squabble like fractious children"
grumpy; grouchy; crotchety; cantankerous; bad-
tempered; ill-tempered; ill-natured; ill-humoured;
peevish; cross; disagreeable; pettish; irritable; irascible;
tetchy; testy; curmudgeonly; crabbed; crabby; waspish;
prickly; peppery; touchy; scratchy; crusty; splenetic;
fractious frac·tious shrewish; short-tempered; hot-tempered; quick-
tempered; dyspeptic; choleric; bilious; liverish; cross-
grained; as cross as two sticks; in a (bad) mood; having
got out of bed on the wrong side; Opposite:;
contented; affable
 (of a liquid) completely clear and transparent:"the
limpid waters of the Caribbean"
clear; transparent; glassy; glasslike; crystal clear;
Opposite:; opaque; muddy

limpid lim·pid

sentimental in an exaggerated or false way:"a mawkish

ode to parenthood"
mawkish mawk·ish sentimental; over-sentimental; overemotional; cloying;
Opposite:; cool; dry; archaic; dialect

deferential respect:"they paid obeisance to the Prince"

respect; homage; worship; adoration; reverence;
veneration; respectfulness; honour; submission;
obeisance obei·sance deference

characterized by pretentious or showy display;

designed to impress:"a simple design that is glamorous
without being ostentatious"
showy; pretentious; conspicuous; obtrusive;
flamboyant; gaudy; garish; tinsel; brash; vulgar; loud;
ostentatious os·ten·ta·tious extravagant; fancy; ornate; affected; theatrical; actorly;
overdone; over-elaborate; kitsch; tasteless; tinselly;
Opposite:; plain; unobtrusive; restrained; modest
 a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases:"the
panacea for all corporate ills" · "the time-honoured
panacea, cod liver oil"
cure-all; heal-all; nostrum; elixir; magic bullet;
catholicon; diacatholicon; panpharmacon; universal
panacea pana·cea cure; cure for all ills; universal remedy; sovereign
remedy; wonder drug; perfect solution; magic formula

(of an action) carried out without real interest, feeling,

or effort:"he gave a perfunctory nod"
cursory; desultory; quick; brief; hasty; hurried; rapid;
passing; fleeting; summary; token; casual; superficial;
uninterested; careless; half-hearted; unthinking;
perfunctory per·func·tory sketchy; mechanical; automatic; routine; offhand;
indifferent; inattentive; dismissive; Opposite:; careful;
thorough

full of danger or risk:"a perilous journey south"

dangerous; hazardous; risky; unsafe; treacherous;
precarious; vulnerable; uncertain; insecure; critical;
desperate; exposed; at risk; touch-and-go; problematic;
difficult; parlous; fraught with danger; in jeopardy; in
perilous per·il·ous danger; Opposite:; safe; secure

(especially of an unwelcome influence or physical

effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group
of people:"ageism is pervasive and entrenched in our
society"
prevalent; penetrating; pervading; permeating;
pervasive per·va·sive extensive; ubiquitous; omnipresent; rife; widespread;
general; common; universal; pandemic; epidemic;
endemic; inescapable

prevent from happening; make impossible:"the secret

nature of his work precluded official recognition"
preclude pre·clude prevent; rule out; put a stop to; stop; prohibit; debar;
(preclude someone from)
 a preference or special liking for something; a bias in
favour of something:"my predilection for Asian food"
liking; fondness; preference; partiality; taste; penchant;
weakness; fancy; inclination; leaning; bias; propensity;
predilection pre·di·lec·tion bent; proclivity; proneness; predisposition; tendency;
affinity; Opposite:; dislike; disinclination

aggressively greedy or grasping:"rapacious landlords"

grasping; greedy; avaricious; acquisitive; covetous;
mercenary; materialistic; insatiable; predatory;
rapacious ra·pa·cious voracious; usurious; extortionate; Opposite:; generous

great enjoyment:"she swigged a mouthful of wine with

relish"
relish rel·ish

containing or using satire:"a New York-based satirical

satirical sa·tir·ic·al magazine"

a thing that is not what it is purported to be:"our

current free health service is a sham"

sham sham

skirt skirt
 slow-moving or inactive:"a sluggish stream"
inactive; quiet; slow; slow-moving; slack; flat;
depressed; stagnant; static; Opposite:; busy; brisk

sluggish slug·gish

showing or characterized by austerity or a lack of

comfort or luxury:"the accommodation was fairly
spartan"
spartan spar·tan austere; harsh; hard; frugal; stringent; rigorous;
Opposite:; luxurious; opulent

eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively

defiant:"the truculent attitude of farmers to cheaper
imports"
defiant; aggressive; antagonistic; belligerent;
pugnacious; bellicose; combative; confrontational;
truculent trucu·lent hostile; obstreperous; argumentative; quarrelsome;
contentious; uncooperative; Opposite:; cooperative;
friendly; amiable

(of something bad) experienced or present to the

maximum degree:"his letter plunged her into abject
abject ab·ject misery" · "abject poverty"

characterized by friendliness and absence of

discord:"an amicable settlement of the dispute" · "the
meeting was relatively amicable"
friendly; good-natured; cordial; civil; courteous; polite;
easy; easy-going; neighbourly; brotherly; fraternal;
amicable am·ic·able harmonious; cooperative; civilized; non-hostile;
peaceable; peaceful; conflict-free; Opposite:;
unfriendly; hostile
 strong hostility:"he no longer felt any animosity
towards her"
antipathy; hostility; friction; antagonism; enmity;
animosity ani·mos·ity animus; opposition; aversion; acrimony; bitterness;
rancour; resentment; dislike; ill feeling; ill will; bad
blood; hatred; hate; Opposite:; goodwill; friendship

state or assert to be the case:"he averred that he was

innocent of the allegations" · "‘I don't have to do
aver aver anything—it's his problem,’ he averred"
proclaim; announce; state; communicate; reveal; law

a concentrated artillery bombardment over a wide

area:"his forces launched an artillery barrage on the
city"
barrage bar·rage bombardment; gunfire; cannonade; battery; blast

providing psychological relief through the open

expression of strong emotions; causing
catharsis:"crying is a cathartic release"
cathartic cath·ar·tic purgative; purging; purifying; cleansing; cleaning;
Opposite:; repressive

convert (a text written in code, or a coded signal) into

normal language:"authorized government agencies can
decipher encrypted telecommunications"
decode; decrypt; break; work out; solve; interpret;
translate; construe; explain; make sense of; make head
decipher de·cipher or tail of; get to the bottom of; unravel; throw light on;
find the key to; find the answer to; Opposite:; encode

a false belief or judgment about external reality, held

despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary,
occurring especially in mental conditions:"he began to
experience hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, and
delusion de·lu·sion agitation along with dizziness and nausea" · "the
delusion of being watched"
misapprehension; misconception; misunderstanding
 distribute or provide (a service or information) to a
number of people:"orderlies went round dispensing
drinks"
dispense dis·pense distribute; pass out; hand out; share out; allocate;
Opposite:; collect

fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing:"an eloquent

speech"
eloquent elo·quent persuasive; expressive; articulate; fluent; strong;
Opposite:; inarticulate

capture the fascinated attention of:"she had been so

enthralled by the adventure that she had hardly
noticed the cold"
enthrall en·thral captivate; charm; enchant; bewitch; fascinate;
Opposite:; bore; repel; boring; dull

destroy completely; put an end to:"this disease has

been eradicated from the world"
get rid of; eliminate; do away with; remove; suppress;
eradicate eradi·cate exterminate; destroy; annihilate; extirpate; obliterate;
kill; wipe out; liquidate; decimate; finish off; abolish;
stamp out

a person or organization that is immature,

inexperienced, or underdeveloped:"the country's
fledgling democracy"
emerging; emergent; arising; sunrise; dawning;
beginning; developing; in the making; budding; rising;
fledgling fledg·ling burgeoning; growing; embryonic; infant; nascent;
incipient; promising; potential; up-and-coming;
Opposite:; declining; mature

courage in pain or adversity:"she endured her illness

with great fortitude"
courage; bravery; strong-mindedness; resilience;
backbone; spine; mettle; spirit; nerve; pluck;
fortitude for·ti·tude pluckiness; doughtiness; fearlessness; valour;
intrepidity; stout-heartedness; Opposite:; faint-
heartedness
 happening by chance rather than intention:"the
similarity between the paintings may not be simply
fortuitous"
chance; unexpected; unanticipated; unpredictable;
unforeseen; unlooked-for; serendipitous; casual;
fortuitous for·tuit·ous incidental; coincidental; haphazard; random;
accidental; inadvertent; unintentional; unintended;
unplanned; unpremeditated; Opposite:; predictable

provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate an

action or reaction:"he was trying to goad her into a
goad goad fight"
provoke; spur; prick; sting; prod; hound; badger

about to happen:"they were in imminent danger of

being swept away"
impending; at hand; close; near; approaching; coming;
forthcoming; on the way; in store; in the offing; in the
pipeline; on the horizon; in the air; brewing; looming;
imminent im·mi·nent threatening; menacing; expected; anticipated; fast
approaching; about to happen; upon us; in the wind;
looming large; Opposite:; remote
 not able to be denied or disputed:"incontrovertible
proof"
indisputable; incontestable; undeniable; irrefutable;
unassailable; beyond dispute; unquestionable;
indubitable; beyond doubt; unarguable; inarguable;
undebatable; unanswerable; unequivocal;
unambiguous; unmistakable; certain; sure; definite;
definitive; proven; positive; decisive; conclusive; final;
ultimate; clear; clear-cut; straightforward; plain; as
plain as a pikestaff; transparent; obvious; manifest;
incontroverti evident; self-evident; patent; demonstrative;
ble in·con·tro·vert·ible
demonstrable; observable; palpable; uncontroversial;
accepted; acknowledged; marked; pronounced;
express; emphatic; categorical; compelling; convincing;
clinching; airtight; watertight; irrefragable; apodictic;
beyond question; not in doubt; beyond a shadow of a
doubt; staring one in the face; Opposite:; questionable

travelling from place to place:"itinerant traders"

itinerant it·in·er·ant travelling; peripatetic; wandering; wayfaring; roving;
Opposite:; sedentary; settled
generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less
powerful person:"she should be magnanimous in
victory"
generous; charitable; benevolent; beneficent; open-
handed; big-hearted; great-hearted; munificent;
magnanimou bountiful; liberal; handsome; princely; altruistic; kind;
s mag·nani·mous kindly; philanthropic; chivalrous; noble; unselfish;
selfless; self-sacrificing; ungrudging; unstinting;
forgiving; merciful; lenient; indulgent; clement;
bounteous; Opposite:; mean-spirited; selfish

deserving reward or praise:"a medal for meritorious

conduct"
praiseworthy; laudable; commendable; admirable;
meritorious meri·tori·ous Opposite:; worthless; discreditable; law; NORTH
AMERICAN
 an open rebellion against the proper authorities,
especially by soldiers or sailors against their officers:"a
mutiny by those manning the weapons could trigger a
mutiny mu·tiny global war" · "the crew were on the verge of mutiny"
insurrection; rebellion; revolt; riot; revolution

seemingly absurd or self-contradictory:"by glorifying

the acts of violence they achieve the paradoxical effect
of making them trivial"
contradictory; self-contradictory; inconsistent;
incongruous; anomalous; conflicting; improbable;
paradoxical para·dox·ical impossible; odd; illogical; confusing; absurd; puzzling;
baffling; bewildering; incomprehensible; inexplicable;
oxymoronic

persistence in doing something despite difficulty or

delay in achieving success:"his perseverance with the
technique illustrates his single-mindedness" ·
"medicine is a field which requires dedication and
perseverance"
perseveranc
e per·se·ver·ance persistence; tenacity; determination; resolve;
resolution; resoluteness; staying power;
purposefulness; patience; endurance; application;
diligence; sedulousness; dedication

provide or give (a service, help, etc.):"money serves as

a reward for services rendered" · "Mrs Evans would
render assistance to those she thought were in need"
give; provide; supply; furnish; contribute; offer
render ren·der

the whole body of items that are regularly

performed:"the mainstream concert repertoire"
repertoire rep·er·toire
 (of a person or animal) able to withstand or recover
quickly from difficult conditions:"babies are generally
far more resilient than new parents realize" · "the fish
resilient re·sili·ent are resilient to most infections"
strong; tough; hardy; buoyant; irrepressible; Opposite:;
vulnerable; sensitive

admirably purposeful, determined, and

unwavering:"she was resolute and unswerving"
determined; purposeful; purposive; resolved; decided;
adamant; single-minded; firm; unswerving;
unwavering; undaunted; fixed; set; intent; insistent;
steadfast; staunch; stalwart; earnest; manful;
deliberate; unfaltering; unhesitating; unflinching;
persevering; persistent; pertinacious; indefatigable;
tenacious; bulldog; strong-minded; strong-willed;
unshakeable; unshaken; steely; four-square; dedicated;
committed; constant; stubborn; dogged; obstinate;
resolute reso·lute obdurate; inflexible; relentless; intransigent;
implacable; unyielding; unbending; immovable;
unrelenting; spirited; brave; bold; courageous; plucky;
stout; stout-hearted; mettlesome; indomitable;
strenuous; vigorous; gritty; stiff; rock-ribbed;
perseverant; indurate; Opposite:; irresolute; half-
hearted

bending and moving easily and gracefully; flexible:"her

supple fingers" · "my mind is becoming more supple"
lithe; limber; nimble; lissom; flexible; loose-limbed;
agile; acrobatic; fit; deft; willowy; graceful; elegant;
pliant; pliable; soft; bendable; workable; malleable;
supple sup·ple stretchy; stretchable; elastic; springy; yielding; rubbery;
plastic; resilient; loose-jointed; Opposite:; stiff; unfit;
rigid; inflexible
 great courage in the face of danger, especially in
battle:"the medals are awarded for acts of valour"
bravery; courage; fearlessness; courageousness;
braveness; intrepidity; intrepidness; pluck; pluckiness;
nerve; backbone; spine; heroism; stout-heartedness;
valor val·our manliness; manfulness; audacity; boldness; gallantry;
daring; spirit; fortitude; mettle; dauntlessness;
doughtiness; hardihood; Opposite:; cowardice

repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal

agreement):"a proposal to abrogate temporarily the
right to strike"
repudiate; revoke; repeal; rescind; overturn; overrule;
override; do away with; annul; cancel; break off;
invalidate; nullify; void; negate; dissolve; countermand;
veto; discontinue; go back on; reverse; retract; remove;
abrogate ab·ro·gate withdraw; abolish; put an end to; get rid of; suspend;
end; stop; quash; scrap; disaffirm; avoid; vacate;
vitiate; deracinate; declare null and void; renege on;
backtrack on; Opposite:; institute; introduce

filled with horror or shock:"she winced, aghast at his

cruelty"
horrified; appalled; astounded; amazed; dismayed;
aghast aghast thunderstruck; stunned; shocked; shell-shocked;
flabbergasted; staggered; speechless; awestruck; open-
mouthed; wide-eyed

inform or tell (someone):"I thought it right to apprise

Chris of what had happened"
inform; notify; tell; advise; brief; intimate; update;
apprise ap·prise enlighten; let know; make aware of; send word to;
keep posted; keep up to date; keep up to speed
 charm or enchant (someone), often in a deceptive
way:"he beguiled the voters with his good looks"
charming; attractive; appealing; pleasing; pleasant;
lovely; delightful; enchanting; entrancing; charismatic;
captivating; bewitching; spellbinding; hypnotizing;
mesmerizing; magnetic; alluring; enticing; tempting;
inviting; seductive; irresistible; charm; attract; enchant;
entrance; woo; captivate; bewitch; spellbind; dazzle;
beguile be·guile blind; hypnotize; mesmerize; seduce; tempt; lead on;
lure; entice; ensnare; entrap; deceive; mislead; take in;
trick; inveigle; dupe; fool; double-cross; hoodwink; take
advantage of; win over; pull a swifty on; Opposite:;
unappealing; repel; be straight with

a thing that is helpful or beneficial:"the route will be a

boon to many travellers"
blessing; godsend; bonus; benefit; help; aid; advantage;
gain; asset; privilege; luxury; windfall; bonanza; stroke
boon boon of luck; perquisite; benison; good thing; piece of good
fortune; Opposite:; curse; disadvantage

showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard

for others:"his callous comments about the murder
made me shiver"
heartless; unfeeling; uncaring; cold; cold-hearted; hard;
as hard as nails; hard-hearted; stony-hearted;
insensitive; hard-bitten; cold-blooded; hardened; case-
hardened; harsh; cruel; ruthless; brutal;
callous cal·lous unsympathetic; uncharitable; indifferent; unconcerned;
unsusceptible; insensible; bloodless; soulless; indurate;
indurated; with a heart of stone; lacking compassion;
marble-hearted; Opposite:; kind; compassionate
 treat (someone) in an indulgent or overprotective
way:"I was coddled and cosseted"
pamper; cosset; mollycoddle; wait on someone hand
and foot; spoil; indulge; overindulge; humour; spoon-
feed; overparent; pet; baby; mother; nanny; feather-
coddle cod·dle bed; cocker; cater to someone's every whim; pander
to; wrap in cotton wool; Opposite:; neglect; treat
harshly; be strict with

the loudest point reached in a gradually increasing

sound:"the port engine's sound rose to a crescendo" ·
"the roar of the crowd reaches a crescendo"
crescendo cres·cendo

(of a factor or situation) serving to lessen the

seriousness of an offence:"library staff will waive fines
where there are genuine extenuating circumstances" ·
extenuating extenuating "hunger and poverty are not treated by the courts as
extenuating circumstances"
forgive; pardon; absolve; exonerate; acquit

fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled

way:"a frenetic pace of activity"
frantic; wild; frenzied; hectic; fraught; feverish;
frenetic fre·net·ic fevered; mad; manic; hyperactive; energetic; intense;
fast and furious; turbulent; tumultuous; confused;
confusing; exciting; excited; Opposite:; calm

the border or outer edges of an area or group:"the

southern fringes of the city" · "people on the fringe of
the crowd had trouble hearing him"
fringe fringe

(especially of a person) unfortunate:"the hapless

victims of the disaster"
unfortunate; unlucky; luckless; ill-starred; ill-fated;
hapless hap·less jinxed; cursed; doomed; unhappy; forlorn; wretched;
miserable; woebegone; star-crossed; out of luck;
Opposite:; lucky
 perfectly clean, neat, or tidy:"an immaculate white
suit"
clean; spotless; pristine; unsoiled; unstained;
Opposite:; dirty; grubby; bad; damaged
immaculate im·macu·late

make obscure, unclear, or unintelligible:"the spelling

changes will deform some familiar words and
obfuscate their etymological origins"
obfuscate ob·fus·cate obscure; confuse; blur; muddle; jumble; complicate;
garble; muddy; cloud; befog; muddy the waters; make
obscure/unclear; Opposite:; clarify

turn into bone or bony tissue:"these tracheal cartilages

ossify os·sify may ossify"
harden; solidify; stiffen; rigidify; petrify; fossilize
an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another
work, artist, or period:"the operetta is a pastiche of
18th century style" · "the songs amount to much more
pastiche pas·tiche than blatant pastiche"
imitation; parody; take-off; pasticcio

having a ready insight into and understanding of

things:"it offers quite a few facts to the perspicacious
reporter"
astute; sharp-witted; sharp; acute; intelligent; clever;
alert; canny; media-savvy; perceptive; observant;
perspicaciou discriminating; sagacious; sage; wise; far-seeing; far-
s per·spi·ca·cious sighted; cunning; artful; crafty; wily; calculating;
disingenuous; long-headed; sapient; argute; have all
one's wits about one; Opposite:; stupid; unwise;
ingenuous
 slow and clumsy because of great weight:"a swarthy,
ponderous giant of a man"
clumsy; slow; heavy; awkward; lumbering; slow-
moving; cumbersome; heavy-footed; ungainly;
graceless; maladroit; uncoordinated; blundering; like a
bull in a china shop; lubberly; cumbrous; Opposite:;
light; graceful; elegant
ponderous pon·der·ous

a person who lives a solitary life and tends to avoid

other people:"she has turned into a virtual recluse" ·
"he's a bit of a recluse"
hermit; ascetic; monk; nun; marabout; santon; eremite;
recluse re·cluse anchorite; anchoress; stylite; cenobite; loner; solitary;
lone wolf; introvert; misanthrope; solitudinarian;
solitaire; isolate; solitarian

make an attack in return for a similar attack:"the blow

stung and she retaliated immediately"
fight back; strike back; hit back; respond; react; reply;
reciprocate; counterattack; return fire; return the
compliment; put up a fight; rise to the bait; get; give as
good as one gets; get even; pay someone back (in their
own coin); take the bait; return like for like; get back at
someone; give tit for tat; let someone see how it feels;
give someone a dose/taste of their own medicine;
have/get/take one's revenge; take/exact/wreak
retaliate re·tali·ate revenge; be revenged; revenge oneself; avenge
oneself; take reprisals; even the score; settle a/the
score; settle accounts; pay someone out; repay
someone; exact retribution; take an eye for an eye
(and a tooth for a tooth); give someone a Roland for an
Oliver; Opposite:; turn the other cheek; archaic
 an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of
feeling:"rhapsodies of praise"
elation; euphoria; exultation; exaltation; joy;
happiness; delight; joyousness; jubilation; rapture;
ecstasy; bliss; excitement; intoxication; invigoration;
rhapsody rhap·sody ebullience; high spirits; glee; gleefulness; gaiety;
animation; revitalization; Opposite:; dejection;
depression; music

occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or

beneficial way:"a serendipitous encounter"
serendipitou chance; accidental; lucky; fortuitous; unexpected;
s ser·en·dip·it·ousunanticipated; unforeseen; unlooked-for; coincidental

avoid or neglect (a duty or responsibility):"I do not

shirk any responsibility in this matter" · "she is neither
shirking nor lying"
evade; dodge; avoid; get out of; sidestep; shuffle off;
shun; skip; miss; neglect; lose sight of; skulk; play
truant; malinger; run away from; shrink from; slide out
shirk shirk of; play truant from; not attend; let slide; not attend to;
pay little/no attention to; be remiss about; be lax
about; leave undone; skimp on; evade one's duty; be
remiss; be negligent; (shirk from)

a position requiring little or no work but giving the

holder status or financial benefit:"political sinecures for
sinecure sine·cure the supporters of ministers"
soft option; easy job

having many curves and turns:"the river follows a

sinuous trail through the dale"
winding; windy; serpentine; curving; twisting;
meandering; snaking; snaky; zigzag; zigzagging; turning;
sinuous sinu·ous bending; curling; coiling; undulating; tortuous; sinuate;
ogee; anfractuous; flexuous; serpentiform; meandrous;
Opposite:; straight
 involving immoral or dishonourable actions and
motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt:"the
story paints a sordid picture of bribes and scams"
sleazy; seedy; seamy; unsavoury; shoddy; vile; foul;
tawdry; louche; cheap; base; low; low-minded;
debased; degenerate; corrupt; dishonest;
sordid sor·did dishonourable; disreputable; despicable; discreditable;
contemptible; ignominious; ignoble; shameful;
wretched; abhorrent; abominable; disgusting;
Opposite:; high-minded; respectable

stanch stanch
an excessive amount of something:"a surfeit of food
and drink"
excess; surplus; abundance; oversupply;
superabundance; superfluity; overdose; glut;
surfeit sur·feit avalanche; deluge; too much; overindulgence;
overconsumption; satiety; satiation; more than
enough; Opposite:; lack; dearth; archaic

existing beyond what is obvious or admitted;

intentionally hidden:"could there be an ulterior motive
behind his request?"
secondary; underlying; undisclosed; unexpressed;
unapparent; unrevealed; concealed; hidden; covert;
ulterior ul·ter·ior secret; personal; private; selfish; undivulged; under
wraps; Opposite:; primary; overt; beyond what is
immediate or present; coming in the future.
 (of a person) talking fluently, readily, or incessantly:"a
voluble game-show host"
talkative; loquacious; garrulous; verbose; long-winded;
wordy; chatty; chattery; gossipy; chattering; babbling;
blathering; prattling; jabbering; effusive; gushing;
forthcoming; conversational; communicative;
expansive; open; unreserved; articulate; eloquent;
fluent; glib; silver-tongued; multiloquent; multiloquous;
voluble vol·uble Opposite:; taciturn; uncommunicative; mute

render (something) poorer in quality by adding another

substance:"the brewer is said to adulterate his beer"
degrade; debase; spoil; taint; defile; contaminate;
pollute; foul; sully; doctor; mix; lace; dilute; weaken;
adulterate verb bastardize; corrupt; vitiate; make impure; tamper with;
water down; thin out; Opposite:; refine

a person who publicly supports or recommends a

particular cause or policy:"he was an untiring advocate
of economic reform"
champion; upholder; supporter; backer; promoter;
proponent; exponent; protector; patron; missionary;
advocate noun reformer; pioneer; pleader; propagandist; apostle;
apologist; booster; spokesman for; spokeswoman for;
spokesperson for; speaker for; campaigner for; fighter
for; battler for; crusader for; Opposite:; critic
 increase the power, status, or wealth of:"an action
intended to aggrandize the Frankish dynasty"
exaggerated; magnified; aggrandized; unwarranted;
immoderate; overblown; overripe; overstated;
overplayed; pumped up; Opposite:; low; humble
aggrandize ag·grand·ize

brisk and cheerful readiness:"she accepted the

invitation with alacrity"
eagerness; willingness; readiness; enthusiasm; ardour;
alacrity alac·rity fervour; keenness; joyousness; liveliness; zeal;
promptness; haste; briskness; swiftness; dispatch;
speed; address; Opposite:; apathy

having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about

something or someone:"some loved her, some hated
her, few were ambivalent about her" · "an ambivalent
attitude to Europe"
equivocal; uncertain; unsure; doubtful; indecisive;
inconclusive; irresolute; undecided; unresolved; on the
horns of a dilemma; torn; hesitating; fluctuating;
ambivalent am·biva·lent wavering; vacillating; equivocating; mixed; opposing;
conflicting; contradictory; clashing; confused; muddled;
vague; hazy; unclear; in two minds; in a dilemma; in a
quandary; on the fence; Opposite:; unequivocal;
certain

make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better:"the

reform did much to ameliorate living standards"
better; upgrade; refine; enhance; boost; build on; help;
ameliorate ameli·or·ate raise; revamp; brush up; tweak; meliorate; make
better; polish up; perk up; Opposite:; worsen; impair
 open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or
controlled:"parents who have amenable children"
compliant; acquiescent; biddable; manageable;
controllable; governable; persuadable; tractable;
responsive; pliant; flexible; malleable; complaisant;
amenable amen·able accommodating; docile; submissive; obedient; tame;
meek; persuasible; easily handled; Opposite:;
uncooperative; (amenable to)

belonging to a period other than that being

portrayed:"'Titus' benefits from the effective use of
anachronisti anachronistic elements like cars and loudspeakers"
c ana·chron·is·tic

showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks:"a

series of audacious takeovers"
bold; daring; fearless; intrepid; brave; unafraid;
unflinching; courageous; valiant; valorous; heroic;
dashing; plucky; daredevil; devil-may-care; death-or-
audacious au·da·cious glory; reckless; wild; madcap; adventurous;
venturesome; enterprising; dynamic; spirited;
mettlesome; venturous; temerarious; Opposite:; timid

having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or

material gain:"avaricious corporate bosses looking to
maximize profits"
avaricious avar·icious grasping; acquisitive; covetous; greedy; rapacious;
mercenary; materialistic; miserly; mean; pleonectic;
Mammonish; Mammonistic; Opposite:; generous
 so lacking in originality as to be obvious and
boring:"songs with banal, repeated words"
trite; hackneyed; clichéd; platitudinous; vapid;
commonplace; ordinary; common; stock; conventional;
stereotyped; predictable; overused; overdone;
overworked; stale; worn out; time-worn; tired;
banal banal threadbare; hoary; hack; unimaginative; unoriginal;
derivative; uninspired; prosaic; dull; boring; pedestrian;
run-of-the-mill; routine; humdrum; truistic; bromidic;
Opposite:; original

gentle and kindly:"his benign but firm manner" · "her

face was calm and benign"
kindly; kind; warm-hearted; good-natured; friendly;
warm; affectionate; agreeable; amiable; good-
humoured; genial; congenial; cordial; approachable;
tender; tender-hearted; soft-hearted; gentle;
sympathetic; compassionate; caring; considerate;
benign be·nign thoughtful; helpful; well disposed; obliging;
accommodating; generous; big-hearted; unselfish;
benevolent; gracious; liberal; indulgent; benignant;
Opposite:; unfriendly; hostile

bold and without shame:"he went about his illegal

business with a brazen assurance" · "a brazen hussy"
bold; shameless; as bold as brass; brazen-faced;
forward; presumptuous; brash; immodest; unashamed;
unabashed; unembarrassed; unblushing; defiant;
brazen bra·zen impudent; insolent; impertinent; cheeky; pert;
barefaced; blatant; flagrant; undisguised; Opposite:;
timid; shy

the making of false and defamatory statements about

someone in order to damage their reputation;
slander:"a bitter struggle marked by calumny and
calumny cal·umny litigation"
slander; character assassination; calumniation; libel
 truthful and straightforward; frank:"his responses were
remarkably candid" · "a candid discussion"
candid can·did frank; outspoken; forthright; blunt; open; honest;
Opposite:; secretive; guarded; insincere

reprimand (someone) severely:"he was castigated for

not setting a good example"
reprimand; rebuke; admonish; chastise; chide; upbraid;
reprove; reproach; scold; berate; pull up; lambast; read
someone the Riot Act; give someone a piece of one's
mind; lecture; criticize; censure; punish; discipline;
castigate cas·ti·gate chasten; call down; rate; trim; reprehend; objurgate;
remonstrate with; take to task; haul over the coals;
give someone a rating; Opposite:; praise; commend

able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical

action:"a caustic cleaner"
caustic caus·tic corrosive; corroding; mordant; acid; alkaline; burning;
stinging; acrid; harsh; destructive

interpret (a word or action) in a particular way:"his

construe con·strue words could hardly be construed as an apology"
interpret; understand; read; see; take; parse
feeling or expressing remorse at the recognition that
one has done wrong:"a contrite tone"
remorseful; repentant; penitent; regretful; sorry;
apologetic; self-reproachful; rueful; sheepish; hangdog;
ashamed; chastened; shamefaced; conscience-stricken;
contrite con·trite guilt-ridden; compunctious; full of regret; in sackcloth
and ashes; Opposite:; unrepentant; defiant
 (especially of an argument, story, or sentence)
extremely complex and difficult to follow:"the film is let
down by a convoluted plot in which nothing really
happens"
complicated; complex; involved; intricate; elaborate;
convoluted con·vo·luted impenetrable; serpentine; labyrinthine; tortuous;
tangled; Byzantine; Daedalian; confused; confusing;
bewildering; baffling; puzzling; perplexing; involute;
Gordian; Opposite:; simple; straightforward

yearn to possess (something, especially something

belonging to another):"I covet one of their smart bags"
desire; crave; want; fancy; be consumed with desire
for; have one's heart set on; wish for; long for; yearn
for; dream of; aspire to; hanker for; hanker after;
covet covet hunger after/for; thirst for; ache for; burn for; pant for

contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly:"a craven

abdication of his moral duty"
faint-hearted; lily-livered; chicken-hearted; pigeon-
hearted; spiritless; spineless; timid; timorous; fearful;
trembling; quaking; shrinking; cowering; pusillanimous;
craven cra·ven weak; feeble; soft; poltroon; recreant; poor-spirited;
afraid of one's own shadow; Opposite:; brave;
courageous

behaviour in keeping with good taste and propriety:"he

had acted with the utmost decorum"
propriety; properness; seemliness; decency;
decorousness; correctness; appropriateness;
appropriacy; politeness; courtesy; good manners;
decorum de·corum refinement; breeding; deportment; dignity;
respectability; modesty; demureness; good taste;
Opposite:; impropriety
 neatly skilful and quick in one's movements:"a deft
piece of footwork"
agile; lithe; sprightly; acrobatic; light-footed; nimble-
footed; light; fleet-footed; spry; lively; active; quick;
quick-moving; graceful; supple; limber; lissom; flexible;
skilful; dexterous; adroit; fleet; lightsome; light on
deft deft one's feet; Opposite:; stiff; clumsy; lumbering

raise objections or show reluctance:"normally she

would have accepted the challenge, but she demurred"
object; protest; cavil; dissent; balk; hesitate; think
twice; hang back; refuse; raise objections; take
exception; take issue; lodge a protest; raise doubts;
express doubt; express reluctance; express
demur demur reservations; express misgivings; be unwilling; be
reluctant; drag one's heels; law; dated; put forward a
demurrer.

imitative of the work of another artist, writer, etc., and

usually disapproved of for that reason:"an artist who is
not in the slightest bit derivative"
derivative de·riva·tive imitative; unoriginal; uninventive; unimaginative;
Opposite:; original

remove the moisture from (something); cause to

become completely dry:"both the older growth and the
new vegetation were desiccated by months of
relentless sun" · "years of drought have desiccated the
desiccate des·ic·cate soil"
dried; dry; dehydrated; powdered; dried up; Opposite:;
moist
 a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or
something:"a diatribe against consumerism"
tirade; harangue; denunciation; broadside; fulmination;
condemnation; criticism; stricture; reproof; reproval;
reprimand; rebuke; admonishment; admonition;
diatribe dia·tribe invective; upbraiding; vituperation; abuse; castigation;
philippic; obloquy; verbal onslaught; verbal attack;
stream of abuse

(of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to

believe something:"an incredulous gasp"
disbelieving; unbelieving; doubtful; dubious;
unconvinced; distrustful; distrusting; mistrustful;
incredulous in·credu·lous mistrusting; suspicious; questioning; cynical; sceptical;
wary; chary; lacking trust; Opposite:; credulous

(of a person or action) innocent and unsuspecting:"he

eyed her with wide, ingenuous eyes" · "she's
staggeringly ingenuous, or possibly very cunning
indeed"
naive; innocent; simple; childlike; trusting; trustful;
unwary; unsuspicious; unguarded; uncritical;
unworldly; wide-eyed; inexperienced; green; open;
ingenuous in·genu·ous sincere; honest; frank; candid; direct; forthright;
artless; guileless; genuine; unaffected; unstudied;
unsophisticated; over-trusting; unsceptical;
undeceitful; Opposite:; disingenuous; artful

(typically of speech or discussion) angry and bitter:"an

acrimonious dispute about wages"
bitter; rancorous; caustic; acerbic; scathing; sarcastic;
acid; harsh; sharp; razor-edged; cutting; astringent;
trenchant; mordant; virulent; spiteful; vicious; crabbed;
vitriolic; savage; hostile; hate-filled; venomous;
acrimonious acri·mo·ni·ous poisonous; nasty; ill-natured; mean; malign; malicious;
malignant; waspish; pernicious; splenetic; irascible;
choleric; acidulous; mordacious; envenomed; squint-
eyed
 hostile and aggressive:"the mood at the meeting was
belligerent"
hostile; aggressive; threatening; antagonistic;
pugnacious; bellicose; truculent; confrontational;
argumentative; quarrelsome; disputatious;
belligerent bel·li·ger·ent contentious; militant; combative; quick-tempered; hot-
tempered; ill-tempered; bad-tempered; irascible;
captious; oppugnant; Opposite:; friendly; peaceable

(of a person) generous or doing good:"a beneficent

landowner"
benevolent; charitable; altruistic; humane;
humanitarian; neighbourly; public-spirited;
philanthropic; generous; magnanimous; munificent;
beneficent ben·efi·cent unselfish; ungrudging; unstinting; open-handed; free-
handed; free; liberal; lavish; bountiful; benign;
indulgent; kind; bounteous; benignant; Opposite:;
unkind; mean

having or showing shrewdness and good judgement,

especially in money or business matters:"canny
investors will switch banks if they think they are getting
a raw deal"
shrewd; astute; sharp; sharp-witted; discerning; acute;
penetrating; discriminating; perceptive; perspicacious;
clever; intelligent; wise; sagacious; sensible; judicious;
canny canny circumspect; careful; prudent; cautious; cunning;
crafty; wily; artful; calculating; long-headed; sapient;
argute; Opposite:; foolish; reckless

cavalier cava·lier
 suffering from extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain:"I was
distressed at the news of his death" · "the distressed
relatives of his victims"
anguished; devastated; broken-hearted; heavy-
hearted; suffering; grieving; grief-stricken; grieved;
inconsolable; crushed; shattered; desolate; despairing;
upset; miserable; sorrowful; sad; dejected; dispirited;
distressed dis·tressed disheartened; downcast; disconsolate; crestfallen;
disappointed; despondent; dolorous; heartsick; chap-
fallen; in low spirits; Opposite:; delighted; dated

diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength:"traffic

has dwindled to a trickle"
diminish; decrease; reduce; lessen; wane; contract;
shrink; fall off; tail off; drop; fall; go down; sink; slump;
plummet; fall off a cliff; disappear; vanish; decline;
degenerate; deteriorate; fail; ebb; slip; slide; go to rack
dwindling dwin·dle and ruin; decay; wither; fade; fade away; get smaller;
become smaller; grow smaller; become less; grow less;
taper off; die out; go downhill; Opposite:; increase;
flourish

an obscuring of the light from one celestial body by the

passage of another between it and the observer or
between it and its source of illumination:"an eclipse of
the sun"
blocking; covering; obscuring; hiding; concealing;
veiling; shrouding; darkening; occultation; blotting out
eclipse eclipse
 comprehensive in terms of information:"he has an
almost encyclopedic knowledge of food"
comprehensive; complete; thorough; thoroughgoing;
full; exhaustive; in-depth; wide-ranging; broad-ranging;
broad-based; cross-disciplinary; interdisciplinary;
encyclopedic en·cyclo·pe·dic multidisciplinary; all-inclusive; all-embracing; all-
encompassing; universal; vast; compendious; across
the board

make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling)

worse:"the exorbitant cost of land in urban areas only
exacerbated the problem" · "the strong pound has
exacerbated the situation by making it much harder for
UK companies to compete on price"
exacerbate ex·acer·bate aggravate; worsen; inflame; compound; intensify;
increase; heighten; magnify; add to; amplify; augment;
make worse; make matters worse; compound the
problem; Opposite:; calm; reduce

intensely irritated and frustrated:"an exasperated

expression" · "as the students exit, an exasperated
exasperated exasperated teacher tries in vain to get their attention"

(of goods contracted for without an individual

specimen being specified) replaceable by another
identical item; mutually interchangeable:"it is by no
fungible fun·gible means the world's only fungible commodity"

(of a phrase or idea) having been overused; unoriginal

and trite:"hackneyed old sayings"
overused; overworked; overdone; worn out; time-
worn; platitudinous; vapid; stale; tired; threadbare;
trite; banal; hack; clichéd; hoary; commonplace;
common; ordinary; stock; conventional; stereotyped;
hackneyed hack·neyed predictable; unimaginative; unoriginal; derivative;
uninspired; prosaic; dull; boring; pedestrian; run-of-
the-mill; routine; humdrum; truistic; bromidic;
Opposite:; original; fresh
 not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or
other aspects of something:"the duffel coat looked
incongruous with the black dress she wore
underneath"
out of place; inappropriate; unsuitable; unsuited;
discordant; dissonant; conflicting; clashing; jarring;
wrong; at odds; in opposition; contrary; contradictory;
irreconcilable; strange; odd; absurd; bizarre; off-key;
incongruous in·con·gru·ous extraneous; ill-matched; ill-assorted; mismatched;
unharmonious; inconsistent; incompatible; different;
dissimilar; contrasting; disparate; discrepant; out of
keeping; not in harmony; disconsonant; Opposite:;
appropriate; harmonious

(of two things) able to be interchanged:"eyepieces are

interchangeable and one can use any eyepiece with
any telescope" · "the V8 engines are all
interchangeable with each other"
exchangeable; transposable; replaceable; Opposite:;
interchangea
ble inter·change·ableincompatible

(of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few

words:"his laconic reply suggested a lack of interest in
the topic"
brief; concise; terse; succinct; short; economical;
laconic la·con·ic elliptical; crisp; pithy; to the point; incisive; short and
sweet; compendious; abrupt; blunt; curt; clipped;
monosyllabic
 producing a great deal of profit:"a lucrative career as a
stand-up comedian"
profitable; profit-making; gainful; remunerative;
moneymaking; paying; high-income; well paid; high-
paying; bankable; cost-effective; productive; fruitful;
lucrative lu·cra·tive rewarding; worthwhile; advantageous; thriving;
flourishing; successful; booming; going; Opposite:;
unprofitable

having or showing great authority:"a magisterial

pronouncement"
authoritative; masterful; lordly; judge-like

magisterial magis·ter·ial

(of a task or responsibility) involving a great deal of

effort, trouble, or difficulty:"he found his duties
increasingly onerous"
onerous oner·ous burdensome; heavy; inconvenient; troublesome;
Opposite:; easy; effortless; law

harsh criticism or censure:"the critical opprobrium

generated by his films"
vilification; abuse; vituperation; condemnation;
criticism; censure; castigation; denunciation;
defamation; denigration; disparagement; obloquy;
derogation; slander; revilement; reviling; calumny;
opprobrium op·pro·brium calumniation; execration; excoriation; lambasting;
upbraiding; character assassination; attack; invective;
libel; insults; aspersions; contumely; animadversion;
objurgation; bad press; Opposite:; praise
 very unwilling to spend money or use resources:"even
the parsimonious Joe paid for drinks all round"
miserly; niggardly; close-fisted; penny-pinching;
parsimoniou
s par·si·mo·ni·ouscheese-paring; ungenerous; penurious; illiberal; close;
grasping; Scrooge-like; stinting; sparing; frugal; mean;
near; Opposite:; generous; extravagant; lavish

relating to or situated on the edge or periphery of

something:"the peripheral areas of Europe"
outlying; outer; outermost; fringe; border

peripheral per·iph·eral

causing anger or another strong reaction, especially

deliberately:"a provocative article" · "provocative
remarks about foreign policy"
annoying; irritating; exasperating; infuriating;
provoking; maddening; goading; vexing; galling;
affronting; insulting; offensive; inflaming; rousing;
provocative pro·voca·tive arousing; agitational; inflammatory; incendiary;
controversial; instigative; agitative; Opposite:;
soothing; calming
 formally declare one's abandonment of (a claim, right,
or possession):"Isabella offered to renounce her son's
claim to the French Crown"
reject; repudiate; refuse to abide by; refuse to
recognize; Opposite:; accept; abide by; law

renounce re·nounce

characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting

emotion:"he had a reckless and tempestuous streak"
turbulent; stormy; tumultuous; violent; wild; lively;
heated; explosive; uncontrolled; unrestrained; feverish;
hysterical; frenetic; frenzied; frantic; emotional;
tempestuous tem·pes·tu·ous passionate; intense; impassioned; fiery;
temperamental; volatile; excitable; mercurial;
capricious; unpredictable; erratic; hot-tempered; quick-
tempered; Opposite:; peaceful; placid; calm
 able to be maintained or defended against attack or
objection:"such a simplistic approach is no longer
tenable"
defensible; justifiable; defendable; supportable;
sustainable; maintainable; arguable; reasonable;
tenable ten·able rational; sound; viable; workable; plausible; credible;
believable; conceivable; acceptable; imaginable; able
to hold water; Opposite:; indefensible; untenable

an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct;

an offence:"I'll be keeping an eye out for further
transgressions" · "few ministers now stand down
because of sexual transgressions" · "her transgression
of genteel etiquette"
offence; crime; sin; wrong; wrongdoing;
misdemeanour; felony; misdeed; lawbreaking; vice;
evil-doing; indiscretion; peccadillo; mischief;
transgressio mischievousness; wickedness; misbehaviour; error;
n trans·gres·sion
lapse; fault; trespass; infringement; breach;
contravention; violation; defiance; infraction;
disobedience; breaking; flouting; non-observance;
overstepping; exceeding; bad behaviour; Opposite:;
obedience

courteous and refined in manner (typically used of a

man):"the supposedly urbane, restrained English
gentleman" · "urbane wit was the mark of taste and
cultivation"
suave; sophisticated; debonair; worldly; elegant;
cultivated; cultured; civilized; well bred; worldly-wise;
glib; smooth; slick; polished; refined; poised; self-
urbane ur·bane possessed; dignified; courteous; polite; civil; well
mannered; gentlemanly; gallant; courtly; charming;
affable; tactful; diplomatic; media-savvy; mannerly;
Opposite:; uncouth; unsophisticated; boorish
 the appearance of being true or real:"the detail gives
the novel some verisimilitude"
accuracy; exactness; exactitude; precision; preciseness;
verisimilitud correctness; scrupulousness; strictness; closeness;
e veri·sim·ili·tude faithfulness; correspondence; literalness; conformity;
realism; veracity; authenticity; naturalism; Opposite:;
inaccuracy

spoil or impair the quality or efficiency

of:"development programmes have been vitiated by
the rise in population"
ruin; wreck; destroy; upset; undo; mess up; make a
mess of; dash; sabotage; scupper; scotch; torpedo;
blast; cast a shadow over; cloud; darken; take the shine
off; put a damper on; take the edge off; cook
vitiate viti·ate someone's goose; bring to naught; cast a pall over;
take the enjoyment/pleasure out of; upset someone's
apple cart; Opposite:; further; help; enhance

striking; eye-catching:"at 6 feet 6 inches he was an

arresting figure"
striking; eye-catching; conspicuous; noticeable;
dramatic; impressive; imposing; spectacular;
breathtaking; dazzling; amazing; astounding;
astonishing; surprising; staggering; stunning;
sensational; awesome; awe-inspiring; engaging;
arresting ar·rest·ing remarkable; notable; noteworthy; distinctive;
extraordinary; outstanding; incredible; phenomenal;
unusual; rare; uncommon; out of the ordinary;
Opposite:; inconspicuous; unexceptional
 rebuke or reprimand severely:"he chastised his
colleagues for their laziness"
scold; upbraid; berate; reprimand; reprove; rebuke;
admonish; chide; censure; castigate; lambast; lecture;
criticize; pull up; trim; rate; chasten; recompense; visit;
chastise chas·tise reprehend; objurgate; take to task; haul over the coals;
bring to book; give someone a rating; Opposite:; praise;
dated

large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use;

unwieldy:"cumbersome diving suits"
unwieldy; unmanageable; awkward; clumsy; ungainly;
cumbersome cum·ber·some inconvenient; incommodious; bulky; large; heavy;
hefty; weighty; burdensome; cumbrous; unhandy;
lumbersome; Opposite:; manageable; convenient

the state of a country or region in terms of the

production and consumption of goods and services and
the supply of money:"he favours tax cuts to stimulate
economy econ·omy the economy"
wealth; (financial) resources; financial system; financial
state; financial management

relating to the basic elements of a subject:"an

elementary astronomy course" · "the six stages take
students from elementary to advanced level"
elementary elem·en·tary basic; rudimentary; fundamental; basal; primary;
preparatory; introductory; initiatory; early; essential;
radical; underlying; rudimental; Opposite:; advanced

make (something) more attractive by the addition of

decorative details or features:"blue silk embellished
with golden embroidery"
decorate; adorn; ornament; dress; dress up; furnish;
beautify; enhance; enrich; grace; trim; garnish; gild;
embellish em·bel·lish varnish; deck; bedeck; festoon; emblazon; bespangle;
bejewel; bedizen; caparison; furbelow; brighten up;
ginger up; befrill
 characterized by or feeling intense excitement and
happiness:"a euphoric sense of freedom"
elated; happy; joyful; joyous; delighted; gleeful;
euphoric eu·phor·ic excited; exhilarated; animated; jubilant; exultant;
ecstatic; blissful; enraptured; rapturous; rhapsodic;
intoxicated; transported; Opposite:; miserable

(of an official body) absolve (someone) from blame for

a fault or wrongdoing:"an inquiry exonerated those
involved" · "they should exonerate these men from this
crime"
exonerate ex·on·er·ate absolve; clear; acquit; discharge; vindicate; exculpate;
declare innocent; find innocent; pronounce not guilty;
Opposite:; charge; convict

extend the application of (a method or conclusion) to

an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends
will continue or similar methods will be applicable:"the
results cannot be extrapolated to other patient groups"
extrapolate ex·trapo·late · "it is always dangerous to extrapolate from a sample"

lose strength or momentum:"the music faltered,

stopped, and started up again" · "her smile faltered
falter fal·ter and then faded"
hesitate; delay; drag one's feet; stall; think twice

having or displaying a passionate intensity:"a fervent

supporter of the revolution"
impassioned; passionate; intense; vehement; ardent;
fervid; sincere; feeling; profound; deep-seated;
heartfelt; emotional; animated; spirited; enthusiastic;
fervent fer·vent zealous; fanatical; wholehearted; avid; eager; earnest;
keen; committed; dedicated; devout; perfervid;
passional; deeply felt; Opposite:; apathetic
 instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment
or course of action):"they accused him of fomenting
political unrest"
instigate; incite; provoke; agitate; excite; stir up; whip
up; arouse; inspire; encourage; urge; actuate; initiate;
foment fo·ment generate; cause; prompt; start; bring about; kindle;
touch off; enkindle; effectuate; spark off; trigger off;
fan the flames of

an unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment

to its originator; a blunder:"in my first few months at
work I made some real gaffes" · "his comments are a
major diplomatic gaffe"
gaffe gaffe blunder; mistake; error; slip; indiscretion; impropriety;
miscalculation; gaucherie; solecism; faux pas; lapsus
linguae; lapsus calami; breach of etiquette

not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards

or beliefs:"heterodox views"
unorthodox; heretical; dissenting; dissident;
blasphemous; nonconformist; apostate; freethinking;
iconoclastic; schismatic; rebellious; renegade;
heterodox het·ero·dox separatist; sectarian; revisionist; sceptical; agnostic;
atheistical; non-theistic; non-believing; unbelieving;
idolatrous; pagan; heathen; impious; paynim; recreant;
recusant; nullifidian; Opposite:; orthodox

excessively theatrical or dramatic in character or

style:"a histrionic outburst"
melodramatic; theatrical; affected; dramatic;
histrionic his·tri·on·ic Opposite:; unaffected; formal
 suggested though not directly expressed:"comments
seen as implicit criticism of the policies"
implied; indirect; inferred; understood; hinted;
suggested; deducible; unspoken; unexpressed;
undeclared; unstated; unsaid; tacit; unacknowledged;
implicit im·pli·cit silent; assumed; inherent; latent; underlying; inbuilt;
incorporated; fundamental; taken for granted; taken as
read; Opposite:; explicit; direct

free or safe from injury or violation:"an international

memorial which must remain inviolate"
untouched; undamaged; unhurt; unharmed;
inviolate in·viol·ate unscathed; unmarred; unspoiled; unimpaired;
unflawed; unsullied; unstained; undefiled; unpolluted;
unprofaned; perfect; pristine

the state of being legally responsible for

something:"once you contact the card protection
scheme your liability for any loss ends"
accountability; responsibility; answerability;
liability li·abil·ity incrimination; blame; blameworthiness; culpability;
guilt; onus; fault; legal responsibility; Opposite:;
immunity; (liabilities)
 stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen
course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to
do so:"her obstinate determination to pursue a career
in radio"
stubborn; headstrong; wilful; unyielding; inflexible;
unbending; intransigent; intractable; obdurate; mulish;
pig-headed; bull-headed; self-willed; strong-minded;
strong-willed; contrary; perverse; recalcitrant;
refractory; uncooperative; unmanageable; cross-
grained; stiff-necked; stiff; rigid; steely; iron-willed;
uncompromising; implacable; relentless; unrelenting;
obstinate ob·stin·ate unpersuadable; immovable; unshakeable; inexorable;
persistent; persevering; tenacious; pertinacious;
dogged; single-minded; adamant; firm; steadfast;
determined; froward; contumacious; indurate;
stubborn as a mule; unmalleable; with one's toes/feet
dug in; contrarious; Opposite:; compliant; amenable;
tractable

done with or employing great care and

thoroughness:"painstaking attention to detail" · "he is a
gentle, painstaking man"
careful; meticulous; thorough; assiduous; sedulous;
attentive; diligent; industrious; laborious; hard-
working; conscientious; ultra-careful; punctilious;
painstaking pains·tak·ing scrupulous; demanding; exacting; searching; close;
elaborate; minute; accurate; correct; studious;
rigorous; particular; religious; strict; pedantic; fussy;
Opposite:; careless; negligent; slapdash
 (of a person) having an unemotional and stolidly calm
disposition:"the phlegmatic British character"
self-possessed; composed; collected; calm; as cool as a
cucumber; cool-headed; self-controlled; poised;
tranquil; serene; relaxed; easy-going; unexcitable;
even-tempered; placid; sedate; unperturbed;
phlegmatic phleg·mat·ic unflustered; untroubled; unbothered; unruffled;
undismayed; undisturbed; unmoved; nonchalant; at
ease; equanimous; cool, calm, and collected;
unagitated; Opposite:; edgy; excitable

remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or

degree:"the stove consumed a prodigious amount of
fuel" · "her memory was prodigious"
prodigious pro·di·gious enormous; huge; colossal; immense; vast; great;
Opposite:; small; unexceptional

an inclination or natural tendency to behave in a

particular way:"his propensity for violence" · "their
innate propensity to attack one another"
tendency; inclination; predisposition; proneness;
propensity pro·pen·sity proclivity; readiness; susceptibility; liability; disposition;
aptness; penchant; leaning; predilection; bent; habit;
weakness

an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear, especially

about one's own conduct; a misgiving:"military regimes
generally have no qualms about controlling the press"
misgiving; doubt; reservation; second thought; worry;
concern; anxiety; hesitation; hesitance; hesitancy;
demur; reluctance; disinclination; apprehension;
trepidation; disquiet; disquietude; unease; uneasiness;
qualm qualm scruple; compunction; remorse; pang of conscience;
twinge of conscience/remorse; Opposite:; confidence;
archaic; a momentary faint or sick feeling.
 go back on a promise, undertaking, or contract:"they
have reneged on their promises to us"
go back on; break; repudiate; retract; break one's
word; default on; fail to honour; back out of; pull out
of; withdraw from; retreat from; welsh on; backtrack
renege re·nege on; go back on one's word; break one's promise; do an
about-face; Opposite:; keep; honour; another term for
revoke.; archaic

supply a very ungenerous or inadequate amount of

(something):"stowage room hasn't been stinted"

stinting stint

a person's state of mind seen in terms of their being

angry or calm:"he rushed out in a very bad temper"
temperament; disposition; nature; character;
personality; make-up; constitution; mind; spirit; stamp;
mettle; mould; mood; frame of mind; attitude;
temper tem·per humour; grain; cast of mind; habit of mind

not certain or fixed; provisional:"a tentative

conclusion"
provisional; unconfirmed; unsettled; indefinite;
tentative ten·ta·tive preliminary; Opposite:; definite
 never done or known before:"the emphasis has been
on shaping bold solutions to save lives and livelihoods
in these unprecedented times" · "the company took
the unprecedented step of paying six-figure bonuses to
keep some of its most valuable talent from defecting" ·
"the scale of change is unprecedented"
unparalleled; unequalled; unmatched; unrivalled;
extraordinary; uncommon; out of the ordinary;
unprecedent unusual; outstanding; striking; exceptional; prodigious;
ed un·pre·ce·dent·ed
abnormal; singular; remarkable; unique; anomalous;
atypical; untypical; freakish; unknown; novel; original;
new; groundbreaking; revolutionary; pioneering;
unexampled; without parallel; without equal; unheard
of; Opposite:; normal; common

attractively lively and animated (typically used of a

woman):"her vivacious and elegant mother" · "she was
dark-haired and vivacious"
lively; animated; spirited; high-spirited; effervescent;
bubbling; bubbly; ebullient; buoyant; sparkling;
scintillating; light-hearted; carefree; happy-go-lucky;
jaunty; merry; happy; jolly; joyful; cheery; cheerful;
vivacious viv·acious perky; sunny; airy; breezy; bright; enthusiastic;
irrepressible; vibrant; vivid; vital; zestful; energetic;
dynamic; vigorous; lusty; gay; full of life; full of fun; full
of the joys of spring; full of vim and vigour; Opposite:;
dull; listless

difficult to understand; obscure:"an abstruse

philosophical inquiry"
obscure; arcane; esoteric; recherché; rarefied;
abstruse ab·struse recondite; difficult; hard; puzzling; perplexing;
enigmatic; inscrutable; cryptic; Delphic; complex;
complicated; involved; Opposite:; clear; obvious
 providing supplementary or additional help and
support:"auxiliary airport staff" · "the ship has an
auxiliary power source"
additional; supplementary; supplemental; extra;
reserve; backup; emergency; fallback; spare;
auxiliary aux·il·iary substitute; other; subsidiary; accessory; adjunct;
ancillary; assistant; support; supporting; helping;
assisting; aiding; (of troops) engaged in the service of a
nation at war but not part of the regular army.

a picture, description, or imitation of a person in which

certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order
to create a comic or grotesque effect:"a crude
caricature of the Prime Minister" · "there are elements
of caricature in the portrayal of the hero"
caricature cari·ca·ture cartoon; distortion; parody; satire; lampoon;
burlesque; mimicry; travesty; farce; skit; squib;
pasquinade; distorted/exaggerated drawing
 moral corruption; wickedness:"a tale of depravity hard
to credit" · "I wondered what depravities had occurred
in that place"
corruption; corruptness; vice; perversion; deviance;
degeneracy; degradation; immorality; shamelessness;
debauchery; dissipation; dissoluteness; turpitude;
loucheness; profligacy; licentiousness; lewdness;
lasciviousness; salaciousness; lechery; lecherousness;
prurience; obscenity; indecency; libertinism;
sordidness; wickedness; sinfulness; vileness; baseness;
iniquity; nefariousness; criminality; viciousness;
brutality; brutishness; vitiation; pervertedness;
Opposite:; morality; christian theology; the innate
corruption of human nature, due to original sin.;
depravity de·prav·ity Similar:; sin; sinfulness; ungodliness; unrighteousness;
profanity; impiety; impurity; immorality; vice; iniquity;
turpitude; degeneracy; perversion; debauchery;
dissolution; dissoluteness; decadence; profligacy;
wantonness; indecency; lasciviousness; lewdness;
lechery; wickedness; evil; baseness; vileness;
pervertedness; Opposite:; morality; purity

a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the

arts, without real commitment or knowledge:"a
wealthy literary dilettante"
dabbler; potterer; tinkerer; trifler; dallier; amateur;
dilettante dil·et·tante non-professional; non-specialist; layman; layperson;
Opposite:; professional; archaic; a person with an
amateur interest in the arts.

insolent or impertinent behaviour:"one juror had the

effrontery to challenge the coroner's decision"
impudence; impertinence; cheek; insolence;
effrontery ef·front·ery cheekiness; audacity; temerity; brazenness;
forwardness; front; presumption; nerve; gall; pertness;
boldness; shamelessness
 intrude on (a person's territory, rights, personal life,
etc.):"rather than encroach on his privacy she might
have kept to her room"
intrude; trespass; impinge; butt in; barge in; cut in;
obtrude; invade; infiltrate; interrupt; infringe; violate;
encroach en·croach disturb; disrupt; tread on someone's toes; impose
oneself; interfere with; step on someone's toes;
entrench on

provide with a quality, ability, or asset:"he was

endowed with tremendous physical strength" · "the
country is well endowed with mineral resources"
endow endow provide; supply; furnish; equip; invest; give; present;
favour; bless; grace; award; gift; confer; bestow;
enrich; arm; endue; informal; (be endowed)

ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do

something:"his friends entreated him not to go"
entreat en·treat implore; beseech; beg; supplicate; pray; ask

(of a person) fond of company; sociable:"he was a

popular and gregarious man"
sociable; social; companionable; convivial; clubbable;
outgoing; friendly; affable; amiable; genial; congenial;
cordial; hospitable; neighbourly; welcoming; warm;
gregarious gre·gari·ous pleasant; comradely; hail-fellow-well-met; couthy;
conversable; company-loving; Opposite:; unsociable;
reserved

a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime:"an

indictment for conspiracy"
indictment in·dict·ment charge; accusation; arraignment; citation; summons;
Opposite:; acquittal
 feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is
perceived as unfair treatment:"he was indignant at
being the object of suspicion"
aggrieved; resentful; affronted; disgruntled;
discontented; dissatisfied; angry; distressed; unhappy;
indignant in·dig·nant disturbed; hurt; pained; upset; offended; piqued; riled;
nettled; vexed; irked; irritated; annoyed; put out;
chagrined; in high dudgeon; Opposite:; content

unable to be resisted or avoided; inescapable:"the

ineluctable facts of history"
inescapable; inevitable; unpreventable; inexorable;
assured; certain; for sure; sure; fated; predestined;
ineluctable in·eluct·able predetermined; preordained; necessary; compulsory;
required; obligatory; mandatory; prescribed;
ineludible; bound/sure to happen; out of one's hands

having or showing an interest in learning things;

curious:"his poems reveal an intensely inquisitive
inquisitive in·quisi·tive mind"

the angular distance of a place north or south of the

earth's equator, or of the equator of a celestial object,
usually expressed in degrees and minutes:"at a latitude
latitude lati·tude of 51° N" · "lines of latitude"
parallel; grid line; Opposite:; longitude; meridian;
(latitudes)
 the treatment of a serious matter with humour or lack
of due respect:"as an attempt to introduce a note of
levity, the words were a disastrous flop"
light-heartedness; carefreeness; light-mindedness; high
spirits; vivacity; liveliness; conviviality; cheerfulness;
cheeriness; humour; gaiety; fun; jocularity; hilarity;
frivolity; frivolousness; amusement; mirth; laughter;
merriment; glee; comedy; funniness; wit; wittiness;
levity lev·ity jollity; joviality; joking; drollery; good cheer;
sportiveness; nonsense; irreverence; facetiousness;
flippancy; blitheness; triviality; silliness; foolishness;
childishness; giddiness; skittishness; Opposite:;
seriousness; gravity

having or showing a wish to do evil to others:"the glint

of dark, malevolent eyes"
malicious; spiteful; hostile; evil-minded; baleful; bitter;
poisonous; venomous; evil; malign; malignant;
rancorous; vicious; vindictive; revengeful; vengeful;
malevolent mal·evo·lent pernicious; cruel; fierce; nasty; unfriendly; unkind; ill-
natured; malefic; maleficent; evil-intentioned;
Opposite:; benevolent

intervene in a dispute in order to bring about an

agreement or reconciliation:"Wilson attempted to
mediate between the powers to end the war"
arbitrate; conciliate; moderate; umpire; referee; make
peace; liaise; intervene; step in; intercede; interpose;
mediate verb temporize; act as peacemaker; reconcile differences;
restore harmony; bring to terms; act as an
intermediary

stop, close up, or obstruct (an opening, orifice, or

passage):"thick make-up can occlude the pores"
occlude oc·clude stop up; choke; plug; obstruct; congest; jam; Opposite:;
unblock; open
 quell the anger, agitation, or excitement of:"he had to
pacify angry spectators"
placate; appease; calm; conciliate; propitiate; assuage;
pacify pacify mollify; soothe; tranquillize; content; still; silence;
relax; compose; quieten; quiet; calm down; Opposite:;
provoke; enrage; inflame

a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a

particular quality:"it would have taken a paragon of
virtue not to feel viciously jealous"
paragon para·gon perfection; epitome; ne plus ultra; beau idéal;
nonpareil

treat in a way that is apparently kind or helpful but that

betrays a feeling of superiority:"she was determined
not to be put down or patronized"
look down on; talk down to; put down; humiliate; look
down one's nose at; treat condescendingly; treat with
patronize pat·ron·ize condescension; condescend to; treat like a child; treat
as inferior; treat with disdain; treat
scornfully/contemptuously; be snobbish to

extremely poor; poverty-stricken:"a penurious old

tramp"
poor; as poor as a church mouse; poverty-stricken;
destitute; necessitous; impecunious; impoverished;
indigent; needy; badly off; hard up; on one's beam-
ends; underprivileged; penniless; moneyless; bankrupt;
bust; insolvent; pauperized; beggared; in penury; in
need/want; in reduced circumstances; in straitened
penurious pen·uri·ous circumstances; unable to make ends meet; without a
sou; on the breadline; without a penny (to one's
name); Opposite:; wealthy
 having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavour:"a
piquant tartare sauce"
spicy; tangy; spiced; peppery; hot; tasty; flavoursome;
flavourful; appetizing; savoury; pungent; sharp; tart;
zesty; strong; salty; sapid; flavorous; highly seasoned;
pleasantly stimulating or exciting to the mind.; Similar:;
piquant pi·quant intriguing; stimulating; interesting; fascinating;
colourful; exciting; arresting; lively; sparkling; spirited;
witty; spicy; provocative; racy; salty; Opposite:; bland;
insipid; dull

(especially of something unwelcome) flourishing or

spreading unchecked:"political violence was rampant" ·
"rampant inflation"
uncontrolled; unrestrained; unchecked; unbridled;
rampant ram·pant widespread; pandemic; epidemic; pervasive; out of
control; out of hand; rife; spreading like wildfire;
Opposite:; controlled; under control

(of a place) situated far from the main centres of

population; distant:"the area is remote from the usual
tourist routes" · "a remote Welsh valley"
faraway; distant; far; far off; isolated; out of the way;
outlying; off the beaten track; secluded; lonely; off the
map; godforsaken; obscure; inaccessible; cut-off;
unreachable; far-flung; lonesome; lone;
unapproachable; far removed; dim and distant; in the
remote re·mote depths of …; hard to find; in the back of beyond; in the
hinterlands; in the middle of nowhere; in the
backwoods; in the backveld; in the platteland; in the
backblocks; in the booay; Opposite:; close; near;
central

an unprincipled person:"he had to present himself as

more of a lovable reprobate than a spirit of corruption"
reprobate rep·ro·bate rogue; rascal; scoundrel; good-for-nothing; villain
 (of a liquid) cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended
matter:"the turbid estuary"
turbid tur·bid murky; muddy; thick; opaque; cloudy; clouded; riled;
roily; roiled; feculent; Opposite:; clear

swollen and distended or congested:"a turgid and fast-

turgid tur·gid moving river"
swollen; congested; in spate; in flood
having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence;
mindless:"a vacuous smile" · "vacuous slogans"
blank; vacant; expressionless; deadpan; inscrutable;
vacuous vacu·ous Opposite:; expressive; meaningful; thinking; intelligent

(of something unpleasant or severe) become less

intense or widespread:"the storm suddenly abated"
subside; lessen; ease (off); let up; decrease; diminish;
moderate; decline; fade; dwindle; slacken; recede; tail
off; wane; ebb; relent; desist; weaken; come to an end;
remit; die down/away/out; drop off/away; cool off;
abate abate peter out; taper off; become weaker; Opposite:;
intensify

solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim):"MPs

were urged to abjure their Jacobite allegiance"
renounce; relinquish; reject; forgo; forswear; disavow;
abandon; deny; gainsay; disclaim; repudiate; give up;
abjure ab·jure spurn; abnegate; wash one's hands of; drop; do away
with; eschew; disaffirm; forsake; dispense with; abstain
from; refrain from
 deviating from what is standard, normal, or
expected:"an anomalous situation" · "sentences which
are grammatically anomalous"
abnormal; atypical; non-typical; irregular; aberrant;
exceptional; freak; freakish; odd; bizarre; peculiar;
anomalous anom·al·ous unusual; out of the ordinary; inconsistent; incongruous;
deviant; deviating; divergent; eccentric; rare; singular;
Opposite:; normal; typical; regular

a deep-seated feeling of aversion:"his fundamental

antipathy to capitalism"
hostility; antagonism; animosity; aversion; animus;
opposition; enmity; dislike; distaste; ill will; ill feeling;
antipathy an·tip·athy hatred; hate; abhorrence; loathing; repugnance;
odium; grudge; disrelish; Opposite:; liking; affinity;
rapport

understood by few; mysterious or secret:"arcane

procedures for electing people"
mysterious; secret; hidden; concealed; covert;
clandestine; enigmatic; dark; esoteric; obscure;
arcane ar·cane abstruse; recondite; recherché; inscrutable;
impenetrable; opaque; incomprehensible; cryptic;
occult; little known; Opposite:; well known; open

involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and

tiring:"an arduous journey"
onerous; taxing; difficult; hard; heavy; laborious;
burdensome; strenuous; vigorous; back-breaking; stiff;
uphill; relentless; Herculean; demanding; trying; tough;
challenging; formidable; exacting; exhausting;
arduous ar·du·ous wearying; fatiguing; tiring; punishing; gruelling;
grinding; intolerable; unbearable; murderous;
harrowing; toilsome; exigent; Opposite:; easy;
effortless
 without guile or deception:"an artless, naive girl" ·
"artless sincerity"
candid; direct; forthright; plain; plain-spoken; straight;
straightforward; straight from the shoulder; explicit;
unequivocal; unambiguous; unvarnished; bald; to the
point; no-nonsense; matter-of-fact; open; honest;
artless art·less truthful; sincere; guileless; outspoken; bluff; blunt;
brutal; unsparing; round; free-spoken; not afraid to call
a spade a spade; Opposite:; secretive; dishonest

characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention

from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious
reasons:"an ascetic life of prayer, fasting, and manual
labour"
austere; self-denying; abstinent; abstemious; self-
disciplined; frugal; simple; rigorous; strict; severe; hair-
shirt; spartan; monastic; monkish; monklike; nunlike;
ascetic as·cet·ic reclusive; solitary; cloistered; eremitic; anchoritic;
hermitic; celibate; continent; chaste; puritanical; self-
abnegating; other-worldly; mortified; non-indulgent;
Opposite:; sybaritic

make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense:"the letter

assuaged the fears of most members"
relieve; ease; alleviate; soothe; mitigate; dampen;
allay; calm; palliate; abate; lull; temper; suppress;
smother; stifle; subdue; tranquillize; mollify; moderate;
assuage as·suage modify; tone down; attenuate; dilute; lessen; diminish;
decrease; reduce; lower; put an end to; put a stop to;
take the edge off; lenify; Opposite:; aggravate
 expose (one's country, a group, or a person) to danger
by treacherously giving information to an enemy:"a
double agent who betrayed some 400 British and
French agents to the Germans"
play someone false; fail; let down; double-cross;
deceive; cheat; give away; denounce; sell out; stab
someone in the back; bite the hand that feeds one;
betray be·tray turn traitor; sell the pass; delate; break one's promise
to; be disloyal to; be unfaithful to; break faith with;
inform on/against; be a Judas to; give someone a Judas
kiss; turn Queen's/King's evidence; Opposite:; be loyal
to

relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and

country life:"the church is lovely for its bucolic setting"
rustic; rural; pastoral; country; countryside;
bucolic bu·col·ic agricultural; agrarian; outdoor; idyllic; unspoiled;
Arcadian; sylvan; georgic; agrestic; Opposite:; urban

begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish:"the city's

suburbs have burgeoned, sprawling out from the
centre"
expand; shoot up; swell; explode; boom; mushroom;
proliferate; snowball; multiply; escalate; rocket;
burgeon bur·geon skyrocket; run riot; flourish; thrive; prosper; grow
rapidly; increase rapidly/exponentially; spring up;
become more numerous; put on a spurt; Opposite:;
shrink; archaic; literary; put forth young shoots; bud.

involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of

sounds:"the cacophonous sound of slot machines"
loud; noisy; ear-splitting; blaring; booming;
thunderous; deafening; raucous; discordant; dissonant;
inharmonious; unmelodious; unmusical; tuneless;
cacophonous cac·oph·on·ous harsh; strident; screeching; screechy; grating; jarring;
jangling; horrisonant; absonant; Opposite:;
harmonious; sweet
 (in the Roman Catholic Church) officially declare (a
dead person) to be a saint:"he was the last English
saint to be canonized prior to the Reformation"
canonize can·on·ize beatify; declare to be a saint

express severe disapproval of (someone or something),

especially in a formal statement:"the company was
heavily censured by inspectors from the Department of
Trade" · "shareholders censured the bank for its
extravagance"
condemn; criticize; castigate; chastise; lambast; pillory;
savage; attack; abuse; reprimand; berate; reprove;
rebuke; admonish; reproach; impugn; harangue;
censure cen·sure blame; revile; vilify; rate; slash; excoriate; objurgate;
reprehend; find fault with; fulminate against;
remonstrate with; take to task; haul over the coals;
give someone a bad press; Opposite:; praise; commend

the use of deception or subterfuge to achieve one's

purpose:"storylines packed with political chicanery"
trickery; deception; deceit; deceitfulness; duplicity;
dishonesty; unscrupulousness; underhandedness;
subterfuge; fraud; fraudulence; legerdemain; sophistry;
chicanery chi·can·ery sharp practice; skulduggery; swindling; cheating;
duping; hoodwinking; deviousness; guile; intrigue;
palace intrigue; craft; craftiness; artfulness; slyness;
wiles; management; knavery; misleading talk

come together to form one mass or whole:"the

puddles had coalesced into shallow streams"
unite; combine; merge; fuse; mingle; meld; blend;
coalesce co·alesce intermingle; amalgamate; consolidate; integrate;
affiliate; link up; homogenize; synthesize; converge;
commingle; commix; join together; knit (together)
 (of an argument or case) clear, logical, and
convincing:"they put forward cogent arguments for
British membership" · "the newspaper's lawyers must
prepare a cogent appeal"
convincing; compelling; strong; forceful; powerful;
potent; weighty; valid; sound; well founded; plausible;
effective; efficacious; telling; impressive; persuasive;
irresistible; eloquent; credible; influential; conclusive;
cogent co·gent unanswerable; authoritative; logical; reasoned;
rational; reasonable; lucid; coherent; well organized;
systematic; orderly; methodical; clear; articulate;
consistent; relevant; well reasoned; Opposite:; vague;
unconvincing; muddled

evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a

powerfully irresistible way:"his eyes were strangely
compelling" · "a compelling film"
enthralling; captivating; gripping; engrossing; riveting;
spellbinding; entrancing; transfixing; mesmerizing;
hypnotic; mesmeric; absorbing; fascinating; thrilling;
compelling com·pel·ling irresistible; addictive; Opposite:; boring

struggle to surmount (a difficulty):"she had to contend

with his uncertain temper"
face; take on; resist; withstand; cope with; grapple
with; deal with; pit oneself against; (contend for)

contend con·tend
 abundant in supply or quantity:"she took copious
notes"
abundant; superabundant; plentiful; ample; profuse;
full; extensive; considerable; substantial; generous;
bumper; lavish; fulsome; liberal; bountiful; overflowing;
copious copi·ous abounding; teeming; many; numerous; multiple;
multifarious; multitudinous; manifold; countless;
innumerable; bounteous; plenteous; myriad; in
abundance; Opposite:; sparse; archaic

including people from many different

countries:"immigration transformed the city into a
cosmopolitan metropolis"
cosmopolita
n cosmo·pol·itan international; multiracial; worldwide; global; universal

polite submission and respect:"he addressed her with

the deference due to age"
respect; respectfulness; regard; esteem; consideration;
attentiveness; attention; thoughtfulness;
courteousness; courtesy; politeness; civility;
dutifulness; reverence; veneration; awe; homage;
deference def·er·ence submissiveness; submission; obedience; yielding;
surrender; accession; capitulation; acquiescence;
complaisance; obeisance; Opposite:; disrespect

lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm:"a few people

were left, dancing in a desultory fashion"
casual; half-hearted; lukewarm; cursory; superficial;
token; perfunctory; passing; incidental; sketchy;
haphazard; random; aimless; rambling; erratic;
unmethodical; unsystematic; automatic; unthinking;
desultory des·ul·tory capricious; mechanical; offhand; chaotic; inconsistent;
irregular; intermittent; occasional; sporadic;
inconstant; fitful; Opposite:; keen; systematic; lasting
 modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence:"a
diffident youth"
shy; bashful; modest; self-effacing; unassuming;
unpresuming; humble; meek; unconfident; unassertive;
timid; timorous; shrinking; reserved; withdrawn;
introverted; inhibited; insecure; self-doubting;
doubtful; wary; unsure; apprehensive; uncertain;
diffident dif·fi·dent hesitant; nervous; reluctant; fearful; self-conscious; ill
at ease; ashamed; abashed; embarrassed; shamefaced;
sheepish; mim; Opposite:; confident; conceited

slow to act:"he had been dilatory in appointing a

solicitor"
slow; unhurried; tardy; unpunctual; lax; slack; sluggish;
sluggardly; snail-like; tortoise-like; lazy; idle; indolent;
dilatory dila·tory slothful; Opposite:; fast; prompt

use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or

avoid committing oneself:"the government have
equivocated too often in the past"
prevaricate; beat about the bush; hedge; hedge one's
bets; fence; vacillate; shilly-shally; cavil; waver; quibble;
equivocate equivo·cate temporize; hesitate; hum and haw; palter; tergiversate;
be evasive; be non-committal; be vague; be
ambiguous; evade/dodge the issue; fudge the issue;
parry questions; stall (for time); shuffle about

restrict the vibrations of (a transverse wave, especially

light) wholly or partially to one direction:"some of the
light is polarized so that it vibrates in only one plane" ·
polarize po·lar·ize "polarized laser light" · "a polarizing microscope"
 spending money or using resources freely and
recklessly; wastefully extravagant:"prodigal habits die
hard"
wasteful; extravagant; spendthrift; improvident;
imprudent; immoderate; profligate; thriftless;
prodigal prod·igal excessive; intemperate; irresponsible; self-indulgent;
reckless; wanton; Opposite:; thrifty; economical;
parsimonious

using or expressed in more words than are

needed:"much academic language is obscure and
verbose"
wordy; loquacious; garrulous; talkative; voluble;
verbose ver·bose orotund; expansive; babbling; blathering; prattling;
prating; jabbering; gushing; effusive; long-winded;
lengthy; protracted; Opposite:; succinct; laconic

a natural liking for and understanding of someone or

something:"he had a special affinity with horses"
empathy; rapport; sympathy; accord; harmony;
Opposite:; dislike; aversion; antipathy; blood
relationship

affinity af·fin·ity

showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the

well-being of others; unselfish:"it was an entirely
altruistic act" · "I question how altruistic his motives
were"
unselfish; selfless; self-sacrificing; self-denying;
considerate; compassionate; kind; decent; noble;
altruistic al·tru·is·tic public-spirited; generous; magnanimous; ungrudging;
unstinting; charitable; benevolent; beneficent; liberal;
open-handed; free-handed; philanthropic;
humanitarian; bounteous; Opposite:; selfish
 highly ornate and extravagant in style:"the candles
were positively baroque"
ornate; fancy; over-elaborate; curlicued; extravagant;
rococo; fussy; busy; ostentatious; showy; wedding-
cake; gingerbread; flowery; florid; flamboyant; high-
flown; high-sounding; magniloquent; grandiloquent;
orotund; rhetorical; oratorical; bombastic; laboured;
baroque bar·oque strained; overwrought; overblown; overripe; overdone;
convoluted; turgid; inflated; tumid; pleonastic;
euphuistic; aureate; Ossianic; fustian; hyperventilated;
very elaborate; Opposite:; plain

byzantine By·zan·tine
an agreement or settlement of a dispute that is
reached by each side making concessions:"eventually
they reached a compromise" · "the secret of a happy
marriage is compromise"
agreement; understanding; settlement; terms;
compromise com·prom·ise accommodation; deal; trade-off; bargain; halfway
house; middle ground; happy medium; balance; modus
vivendi; give and take; concession; cooperation; middle
course; Opposite:; intransigence

intended or likely to placate or pacify:"a conciliatory

approach"
propitiatory; placatory; appeasing; pacifying; pacific;
mollifying; peacemaking; peacebuilding; reconciliatory;
conciliatory con·cili·atory pacificatory; propitiative; placative; irenic; so as to pour
oil on troubled waters; Opposite:; antagonistic

a person's face or facial expression:"his impenetrable

eyes and inscrutable countenance give little away"
face; features; physiognomy; profile; expression; look;
countenance coun·ten·ance appearance; aspect; mien; boat race; visage;
lineaments; front; facial expression
 not openly acknowledged or displayed:"covert
operations against the dictatorship"
secret; furtive; clandestine; surreptitious; stealthy;
cloak-and-dagger; hole-and-corner; closet; behind-the-
scenes; backstairs; back-alley; under-the-table; hugger-
covert adjective mugger; concealed; hidden; private; sly; sneaky;
underhand; undercover; underground; black; hole-in-
the-corner; Opposite:; overt; above board

able to be believed; convincing:"few people found his

story credible" · "a credible witness"
credible cred·ible acceptable; trustworthy; reliable; dependable; sure;
Opposite:; untrustworthy

spread over a wide area or between a large number of

people:"technologies diffuse rapidly" · "these museums
seek to diffuse knowledge about the natural world and
natural processes"
diffuse verb spread; send out; scatter; disperse; disseminate;
Opposite:; concentrate; collect; physics

consisting of or based on official

documents:"documentary evidence of regular
documentar payments from the company"
y docu·men·tary recorded; documented; registered; written; chronicled

including or considering all elements or aspects; fully

comprehensive:"the guide outlines every bus route in
exhaustive detail"
comprehensive; all-inclusive; complete; full; full-scale;
all-embracing; all-encompassing; encyclopedic;
thorough; in-depth; thoroughgoing; extensive;
exhaustive ex·haust·ive intensive; all-out; profound; far-reaching; sweeping;
umbrella; definitive; detailed; minute; meticulous;
painstaking; careful; Opposite:; perfunctory;
incomplete
 making one feel very happy, animated, or elated;
exhilarating ex·hil·ar·at·ing thrilling:"an exhilarating two-hour rafting experience"

irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt

with:"one is obliged to wade through many pages of
extraneous material"
irrelevant; immaterial; beside the point; neither here
nor there; unrelated; unconnected; inapposite;
inappropriate; inapplicable; inconsequential;
extraneous ex·tra·ne·ous incidental; pointless; out of place; peripheral;
tangential; not to the point; nothing to do with it; not
pertinent; not germane; not to the purpose; off the
subject; wide of the mark; Opposite:; material

intense and passionate feeling:"he talked with all the

fervour of a new convert"
fervor fer·vour passion; ardour; intensity; zeal; vehemence; Opposite:;
apathy

incapable of producing any useful result; pointless:"a

futile attempt to keep fans from mounting the stage" ·
"it is futile to allocate blame for this"
fruitless; vain; pointless; useless; worthless; ineffectual;
ineffective; inefficacious; in vain; unavailing;
futile fu·tile unsuccessful; failed; thwarted; unproductive; barren;
unprofitable; abortive; Opposite:; useful; fruitful

based on illusion; not real:"she knew the safety of her

room was illusory"
delusory; delusional; delusive; illusionary; imagined;
imaginary; fancied; non-existent; unreal; hallucinatory;
sham; hollow; deceptive; deceiving; false; fallacious;
illusory il·lu·sory fake; bogus; mistaken; erroneous; misleading;
misguided; untrue; specious; fanciful; notional;
chimerical; illusive; Barmecide; Opposite:; real; genuine
 (of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur
resentment or anger in others:"she'd put herself in an
invidious position"
unpleasant; awkward; difficult; undesirable;
invidious in·vidi·ous unenviable; Opposite:; pleasant; desirable

affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic:"I felt tired

and a little lethargic"
sluggish; inert; inactive; slow; torpid; lifeless; dull;
lethargic leth·ar·gic languid; listless; lazy; idle; indolent; shiftless; slothful;
phlegmatic; apathetic; passive; weary; tired; fatigued;
Opposite:; vigorous; energetic; animated

characteristic of or relating to metaphor;

figurative:"many of our metaphorical expressions
develop from our perceptions of the body"
metaphorica
l meta·phor·ic·al figurative; allegorical; analogous; symbolic;
emblematic; imaginative; fanciful; extended; parabolic;
tropical; Opposite:; literal

imitate (someone or their actions or words), especially

in order to entertain or ridicule:"she mimicked Eileen's
pedantic voice"
imitate; copy; impersonate; take off; do; ape

mimic mimic

having a strong religious or spiritual quality; indicating

or suggesting the presence of a divinity:"the strange,
numinous beauty of this ancient landmark"
numinous nu·min·ous spiritual; religious; divine; holy; sacred; mysterious;
other-worldly; unearthly; awe-inspiring; transcendent
 not discovered or known about; uncertain:"his origins
and parentage are obscure"
unclear; uncertain; unknown; in doubt; doubtful;
dubious; mysterious; hazy; vague; indeterminate;
concealed; hidden
obscure ob·scure

done or shown openly; plainly apparent:"an overt act

of aggression" · "in untreated cases, overt psychosis
may occur"
undisguised; unconcealed; plain; clear; apparent;
overt overt conspicuous; unmistakable; obvious; noticeable;
observable; visible; manifest; patent; open; public;
above board; blatant

translucently clear:"mountains reflected in the pellucid

waters"
translucent; transparent; clear; crystal clear; crystalline

pellucid pel·lu·cid

make (something) continue indefinitely:"the confusion

was perpetuated through inadvertence" · "a
monument to perpetuate the memory of those killed in
the war"
keep going; preserve; conserve; sustain; maintain;
perpetuate per·petu·ate continue; extend; carry on; keep up; prolong;
immortalize; commemorate; memorialize; eternalize;
eternize; keep alive
 based on or in accordance with reason or logic:"I'm
sure there's a perfectly rational explanation"
logical; reasoned; sensible; reasonable; cogent;
coherent; intelligent; wise; judicious; sagacious; astute;
shrewd; perceptive; enlightened; clear-eyed; clear-
sighted; commonsensical; common-sense; well
advised; well grounded; sound; sober; prudent;
rational ra·tion·al circumspect; politic; down-to-earth; practical;
pragmatic; matter-of-fact; hard-headed; well reasoned;
with both one's feet on the ground; unidealistic;
Opposite:; irrational; illogical

witheringly scornful; severely critical:"he unleashed a

scathing attack on his former boss "
scathing scath·ing devastating; withering; blistering; coruscating; searing

(especially of a change or distinction) so delicate or

precise as to be difficult to analyse or describe:"his
language expresses rich and subtle meanings"
fine; fine-drawn; ultra-fine; nice; overnice; minute;
precise; narrow; tenuous; hair-splitting; indistinct;
indefinite; elusive; abstruse; Opposite:; crude
subtle sub·tle

existing or occurring at or on the surface:"the building

suffered only superficial damage"
superficial super·fi·cial surface; exterior; external; outer; outside; outermost;
peripheral; slight; Opposite:; deep; thorough

using or containing suggestion rather than explicit

mention:"allusive references to the body" · "a highly
allusive poet"
allusive al·lu·sive figurative; representative; illustrative; emblematic;
allegorical; parabolic; non-literal; denotative;
connotative; suggestive; mnemonic; Opposite:; literal
 having or showing an ability to accurately assess
situations or people and turn this to one's
advantage:"an astute businessman"
shrewd; sharp; sharp-witted; razor-sharp; acute; quick;
quick-witted; ingenious; clever; intelligent; bright;
brilliant; smart; canny; media-savvy; intuitive;
discerning; perceptive; perspicacious; penetrating;
astute as·tute insightful; incisive; piercing; discriminating; sagacious;
wise; judicious; cunning; artful; crafty; wily; calculating;
long-headed; argute; sapient; Opposite:; stupid

begin:"his design team commenced work" · "a public

inquiry is due to commence on the 16th"
begin; start; start off; get down to business; get the ball
commence com·mence rolling; get going; get off the ground; set about; go
about; enter on; launch into; lead off; get down to;
open; initiate; institute

(of a person) recovering from an illness or medical

treatment:"a convalescent child" · "you're still
convalescent and you need to rest"
convalescent con·va·les·cent recuperating; recovering; improving; getting better; on
the road to recovery; making progress

a check or restraint on something:"plans to introduce

curb curb tougher curbs on insider dealing"
restraint; restriction; check; brake; rein; control
publicly denounce:"they decried human rights abuses"
denounce; condemn; criticize; censure; damn; attack;
blame; run down; pillory; rap; lambast; deplore; vilify;
execrate; revile; disparage; deprecate; discredit;
derogate; excoriate; animadvert; asperse; fulminate
decry decry against; rail against; inveigh against; carp at; cavil at;
disapprove of; cast aspersions on; Opposite:; praise;
overrate
 threats, violence, constraints, or other action used to
coerce someone into doing something against their will
or better judgement:"confessions extracted under
duress"
coercion; compulsion; force; pressure; pressurization;
Opposite:; free will; law; constraint illegally exercised
to force someone to perform an act.; Similar:; coercion;
force; compulsion; constraint; oppression;
enforcement; insistence; demand; entreaty; goading;
pestering; provocation; harassment; nagging; harrying;
duress dur·ess badgering; intimidation; arm-twisting; pressurization;
persuasion; influence; archaic; forcible restraint or
imprisonment.; Similar:; imprisonment; internment;
confinement; detention; custody; captivity; restraint;
penal servitude; hard labour; durance; Opposite:;
freedom

bring or recall (a feeling, memory, or image) to the

conscious mind:"the sight evoked pleasant memories
of his childhood"
call up; summon; invoke; give rise to; bring forth; elicit;
induce; kindle; stimulate; stir up; awaken; arouse;
evoke evoke excite; raise; suggest; recall; echo; reproduce;
encapsulate; capture; express; educe; bring to mind;
call to mind; put one in mind of; conjure up; summon
up

a young deer in its first year:"a six-month-old roe fawn"

fawn fawn

be constantly or visibly anxious:"she fretted about the

cost of groceries"
worry; agonize; anguish; sorrow; sigh; pine
fret fret
 (of words or a speaker) fluent but insincere and
shallow:"the glib phrases soon roll off the tongue"
slick; pat; neat; plausible; silky; smooth-talking; fast-
talking; smooth; urbane; smooth-tongued; silver-
tongued; fluent; voluble; loquacious; disingenuous;
glib glib insincere; facile; shallow; superficial; simplistic;
oversimplified; easy; ready; flippant; smooth-spoken;
having kissed the Blarney Stone; Opposite:; sincere;
thoughtful; inarticulate

energetically wilful and determined:"the headstrong

impulsiveness of youth"
wilful; self-willed; strong-willed; contrary; perverse;
wayward; unruly; refractory; ungovernable; unyielding;
headstrong head·strong stubborn; obstinate; obdurate; reckless; heedless; rash;
capricious; impulsive; wild; Opposite:; tractable

occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or

steady:"intermittent rain"
sporadic; irregular; fitful; spasmodic; broken;
fragmentary; discontinuous; disconnected; isolated;
odd; random; patchy; scattered; on and off; in fits and
intermittent inter·mit·tent starts; occasional; periodic; cyclic; recurrent; recurring;
on again and off again; Opposite:; continuous; steady

anger:"the plans provoked the ire of conservationists"

anger; rage; fury; wrath; outrage; temper; crossness;
spleen; annoyance; exasperation; irritation; vexation;
ire ire displeasure; chagrin; pique; indignation; resentment;
choler; hot temper

(of a person, manner, or gesture) having or showing a

disinclination for physical exertion or effort:"his languid
demeanour irritated her"
languid lan·guid relaxed; unhurried; languorous; unenergetic; slow;
Opposite:; energetic; active
 calm or send to sleep, typically with soothing sounds or
movements:"the rhythm of the boat lulled her to
sleep"
soothe; quiet; hush; lullaby; rock to sleep; Opposite:;
waken; agitate
lull lull

(of a person or animal) full of spirit and courage;

lively:"their horses were beasts of burden, not
mettlesome chargers"
spirited; game; gritty; intrepid; fearless; courageous;
hardy; brave; plucky; gallant; valiant; valorous; bold;
mettlesome mettle·some daring; audacious; heroic; tenacious; steely;
determined; resolved; resolute; steadfast; indomitable

appease the anger or anxiety of (someone):"nature

reserves were set up around the power stations to
mollify local conservationists"
appease; placate; pacify; conciliate; humour; soothe;
mollify mol·lify Opposite:; enrage; rare
 make (something) ineffective by applying an opposite
force or effect:"impatience at his frailty began to
neutralize her fear"
counteract; offset; counterbalance; counterpoise;
countervail; make up for; nullify; negate; annul; undo;
invalidate; wipe out; equalize; square up; negative;
counterweigh; balance (out); compensate for; cancel
out; make/render ineffective; be an antidote to; even
neutralize neu·tral·ize up

so surprised and confused that one is unsure how to

nonplussed non·plussed react:"Henry looked completely nonplussed"
confused; bewildered; bemused; puzzled; perplexed
dangerously high or steep:"the track skirted a
precipitous drop"
steep; sheer; high; perpendicular; abrupt; sharp; dizzy;
vertiginous; vertical; bluff; acclivitous; declivitous
precipitous pre·cipi·tous

attempting to impress by affecting greater importance

or merit than is actually possessed:"pretentious art
films" · "the pretentious jargon of wine experts"
affected; ostentatious; chi-chi; showy; flashy;
conspicuous; flaunty; tasteless; kitschy; overambitious;
pretentious pre·ten·tious pompous; artificial; flatulent; inflated; overblown;
overripe; fustian; Opposite:; natural; unaffected
 (of a state, quality, or emotion) very great or
intense:"profound feelings of disquiet" · "the
implications of this discovery are profound"
heartfelt; intense; keen; great; extreme; sincere;
earnest; deep; deepest; wholehearted; acute;
overpowering; overwhelming; deep-seated; deep-
profound pro·found rooted; fervent; ardent; far-reaching; radical;
extensive; exhaustive; thoroughgoing; sweeping; life-
changing; very great; deeply felt; Opposite:; superficial;
mild

breed specimens of (a plant or animal) by natural

processes from the parent stock:"try propagating your
own houseplants from cuttings"
propagate propa·gate breed; grow; cultivate; generate; layer; pipe

a source of help in a difficult situation:"surgery may be

the only recourse"
option; possibility; alternative; resort; way out; hope;
(recourse to)

recourse re·course

prove (a statement or theory) to be wrong or false;

disprove:"these claims have not been convincingly
refuted"
disprove; rebut; confute; give the lie to; demolish;
explode; debunk; drive a coach and horses through;
refute re·fute discredit; invalidate; controvert; negative; prove
wrong/false; show/prove to be wrong/false; Opposite:;
confirm
 return to a former or less developed state:"they would
not regress to pre-technological tribalism"
revert; retrogress; relapse; lapse; backslide; Opposite:;
regress verb progress; improve

an unintended consequence of an event or action,

especially an unwelcome one:"the move would have
grave repercussions for the entire region"
repercussion re·per·cus·sion consequence; result; effect; outcome; by-product;
reverberation; backlash; ripple; shock wave; aftermath;
footprint; fallout

fill (something) up again:"he replenished Justin's glass

with mineral water"
refill; fill up; recharge; reload; top up; freshen; plenish;
replenish re·plen·ish Opposite:; empty

keeping careful watch for possible danger or

difficulties:"the burglar was spotted by vigilant
neighbours"
watchful; observant; sharp-eyed; keen-eyed; gimlet-
eyed; eagle-eyed; hawk-eyed; with one's eyes open;
attentive; alert; on one's toes; on the qui vive; awake;
wide awake; unsleeping; on guard; concentrating;
careful; cautious; wary; chary; circumspect; prudent;
vigilant vigi·lant heedful; mindful; prepared; ready; regardful; Argus-
eyed; on the lookout; with eyes like a hawk; keeping
one's eyes peeled/skinned; paying attention; on the
alert; on one's guard; Opposite:; negligent; inattentive
 (especially of a group or area) having a great deal of
money; wealthy:"the affluent societies of the western
world"
wealthy; rich; prosperous; opulent; well off; moneyed;
cash rich; well-to-do; comfortable; propertied;
affluent af·flu·ent substantial; in clover; plutocratic; silk-stocking; with
deep pockets; of means; of substance; Opposite:; poor;
impoverished

constituting or containing allegory:"an allegorical

painting"
symbolic; metaphorical; figurative; representative;
allegorical al·le·gor·ic·al emblematic; imagistic; mystical; parabolic; symbolizing;
tropical; Opposite:; literal

suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at:"she had a

way of alluding to Jean but never saying her name"
suggest; imply; mention; touch on; cite; refer to; hint
at; mention in passing; mention en passant; speak
briefly of; make an allusion to; advert to
allude al·lude

increase the volume of (sound), especially using an

amplifier:"the accompanying chords have been
amplified in our arrangement"
louden; turn up; increase; boost; step up; raise;
Opposite:; reduce; quieten

amplify amp·lify
 involving or causing sudden great damage or
suffering:"a catastrophic earthquake"
destructive; ruinous; disastrous; calamitous;
cataclysmic; pernicious; noxious; harmful; damaging;
injurious; hurtful; wounding; violent; detrimental;
catastrophic cata·stroph·ic deleterious; disadvantageous; ravaging; crippling;
savage; fierce; brutal; dangerous; fatal; deadly; lethal;
death-dealing

living or occurring at the same time:"the event was

recorded by a contemporary historian"
contemporar
y con·tem·por·ary

a confusing and difficult problem or question:"one of

the most difficult conundrums for the experts"
problem; difficulty; quandary; dilemma; puzzle; a
conundrum con·un·drum question asked for amusement, typically one with a
pun in its answer; a riddle.; Similar:; riddle; puzzle;
word game; anagram

damage the good reputation of (someone); slander or

libel:"he claimed that the article defamed his family"
libel; slander; malign; smear; traduce; run down; back-
bite; calumniate; vilify; besmirch; tarnish; stigmatize;
disparage; denigrate; discredit; decry; insult; slur;
asperse; derogate; cast aspersions on; blacken the
defame de·fame name/character of; give someone a bad name; defame
someone's character; sully someone's reputation;
speak ill/evil of; run a smear campaign against; lie
about; tell lies about; vilipend

diminish the worth or value of (a quality or

achievement):"these quibbles in no way detract from
her achievement"
detract de·tract belittle; take away from; diminish; reduce; lessen;
Opposite:; enhance
 tending to cause harm:"recent policies have been
detrimental to the interests of many old people" ·
"moving her could have a detrimental effect on her
health"
harmful; damaging; injurious; hurtful; inimical;
deleterious; dangerous; destructive; ruinous;
calamitous; disastrous; pernicious; environmentally
unfriendly; ill; bad; evil; baleful; malign; corrupting;
detrimental det·ri·men·tal malignant; adverse; undesirable; prejudicial;
unfavourable; unfortunate; counterproductive;
unhealthy; unwholesome; poisonous; cancerous;
noxious; deadly; lethal; fatal; malefic; maleficent;
prejudicious; Opposite:; benign; beneficial

showing a skilful use of underhand tactics to achieve

goals:"he's as devious as a politician needs to be" ·
"they have devious ways of making money"
underhand; underhanded; deceitful; dishonest;
dishonourable; disreputable; unethical; unprincipled;
immoral; unscrupulous; fraudulent; cheating; dubious;
dirty; unfair; treacherous; duplicitous; double-dealing;
Janus-faced; below the belt; two-timing; two-faced;
unsporting; unsportsmanlike; crafty; cunning;
calculating; artful; conniving; scheming; designing; sly;
devious de·vi·ous wily; guileful; tricky; sneaky; sneaking; furtive; secret;
secretive; clandestine; surreptitious; covert; veiled;
shrouded; cloak-and-dagger; hugger-mugger; hole-and-
corner; hidden; back-alley; backstairs; under the table;
conspiratorial; snide; snidey; Opposite:; above board
 (of an animal) having normal physical functions
suspended or slowed down for a period of time; in or
as if in a deep sleep:"dormant butterflies"
asleep; sleeping; slumbering; resting; reposing;
Opposite:; awake; active; (of a plant or bud) alive but
not actively growing.; Similar:; asleep; sleeping;
slumbering; resting; reposing; drowsing; comatose;
supine; inactive; passive; inert; latent; fallow;
quiescent; inoperative; stagnant; sluggish; lethargic;
torpid; motionless; immobile; aestivating; Opposite:;
dormant dor·mant awake; active; (of a volcano) temporarily inactive.;
Similar:; asleep; sleeping; slumbering; resting; reposing;
drowsing; comatose; supine; inactive; passive; inert;
latent; fallow; quiescent; inoperative; stagnant;
sluggish; lethargic; torpid; motionless; immobile;
aestivating; Opposite:; awake; active

(of laws or their application) excessively harsh and

severe:"the Nazis destroyed the independence of the
press by a series of draconian laws"
harsh; severe; strict; extreme; drastic; stringent; tough;
swingeing; cruel; brutal; oppressive; ruthless;
draconian dra·co·nian relentless; summary; punitive; authoritarian; despotic;
tyrannical; arbitrary; repressive; iron-fisted;
suppressive; Opposite:; mild

believing in or based on the principle that all people

are equal and deserve equal rights and
opportunities:"a fairer, more egalitarian society"
egalitarian egali·tar·ian fair; just; impartial; even-handed; fair-minded;
Opposite:; inequitable; unfair

difficult to find, catch, or achieve:"success will become

ever more elusive"
elusive elu·sive evasive; slippery; shifty; difficult to catch/find; difficult
to track down
 former:"the erstwhile president of the company"
former; old; past; one-time; sometime; as was; ex-;
erstwhile erst·while late; then; previous; prior; foregoing; quondam;
whilom; Opposite:; present; future

dwell on one's own success or another's misfortune

with smugness or malignant pleasure:"his enemies
gloat gloat gloated over his death"
relish; delight in; take great pleasure in; enjoy greatly

acutely distressing:"a harrowing film about racism and

harrowing har·row·ing violence" · "it was a harrowing experience"

lasting for an unknown or unstated length of

time:"they may face indefinite detention"
indefinite in·def·in·ite unknown; indeterminate; unspecified; unlimited;
Opposite:; fixed; limited

(of a person) clever, original, and inventive:"he was

ingenious enough to overcome the limited budget"
inventive; creative; imaginative; original; innovative;
resourceful; enterprising; insightful; inspired;
perceptive; intuitive; clever; intelligent; bright; smart;
ingenious in·geni·ous brilliant; masterly; talented; gifted; skilful; capable;
sharp; astute; sharp-witted; razor-sharp; quick; quick-
witted; shrewd; elaborate; sophisticated; trailblazing;
pioneering; Opposite:; unimaginative

having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm:"a keen

gardener" · "John was keen to help"
eager; anxious; impatient; determined; desirous;
longing; wishing; itching; dying; yearning; ambitious;
ready; enthusiastic; avid; ardent; passionate; fervent;
fervid; impassioned; wholehearted; zestful; zealous;
keen keen driven; willing; conscientious; committed; dedicated;
diligent; earnest; industrious; assiduous; intent; intent
on; Opposite:; reluctant; apathetic; half-hearted; (keen
on)
 having many sides:"the diamond's multifaceted
multifaceted multi·fa·cet·ed surface"

knowing everything:"a third-person omniscient

omniscient om·nis·ci·ent narrator"
all-knowing; all-wise; all-seeing
worthy of attention; striking:"a remarkable
coincidence"
extraordinary; exceptional; amazing; astonishing;
astounding; marvellous; wonderful; sensational;
stunning; incredible; unbelievable; miraculous;
phenomenal; prodigious; striking; outstanding;
momentous; impressive; singular; signal; pre-eminent;
memorable; unforgettable; unique; arresting; eye-
catching; conspicuous; noteworthy; notable; great;
remarkable re·mark·able considerable; distinctive; important; distinguished;
prominent; out of the ordinary; unusual; uncommon;
rare; surprising; curious; strange; odd; peculiar;
uncanny; unco; wondrous; never to be forgotten;
Opposite:; ordinary; commonplace; run-of-the-mill

sober sober
(of a person or their manner) quiet and rather
reflective or depressed:"I felt strangely subdued as I
drove home"
subdued sub·dued sombre; low-spirited; downcast; sad; dejected;
Opposite:; lively; cheerful; loud; noisy
 a thing serving as a visible or tangible representation of
a fact, quality, feeling, etc.:"I wanted to offer you a
small token of my appreciation" · "mistletoe was cut
from an oak tree as a token of good fortune"
symbol; sign; emblem; badge; representation;
indication; mark; index; manifestation; expression;
token token pledge; demonstration; recognition; evidence;
attestation; proof; memento; souvenir; keepsake;
reminder; record; trophy; relic; remembrance;
memorial; memorandum; archaic

(of twisted, knitted or woven threads) become

undone:"part of the crew neck had unravelled"
fall apart; come apart (at the seams); fail; collapse; go
unravel un·ravel wrong; Opposite:; succeed

remain undamaged or unaffected by; resist:"the

structure had been designed to withstand winds of
more than 100 mph"
resist; stand up to; fight; combat; oppose; face;
confront; defy; brave; weather; survive; live through;
ride out; endure; take; stand; tolerate; bear; put up
withstand with·stand with; hold out against; stand firm against; stand/hold
one's ground against; bear up against; hold the line
against; persevere in the face of; grapple with; cope
with; Opposite:; give in; surrender; yield

restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something:"the

terms stipulate that he must abstain from consumption
of alcohol and controlled substances"

abstain ab·stain
 approval or praise:"a term of approbation"
approval; acceptance; assent; endorsement;
encouragement; recognition; appreciation; support;
respect; admiration; commendation; congratulations;
approbation ap·pro·ba·tion praise; acclamation; adulation; regard; esteem;
veneration; kudos; applause; ovation; accolades;
salutes; plaudits; laudation; Opposite:; criticism

protect and care for (someone) lovingly:"he needed a

woman he could cherish"
adore; love; revere; esteem; admire; appreciate; think
the world of; look after; tend; protect; preserve;
shelter; support; nurture; cosset; indulge; hold dear;
cherish cher·ish care very much for; feel great affection for; dote on; be
devoted to; set great store by; hold in high esteem;
care for; keep safe

confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or

finding):"the witness had corroborated the boy's
account of the attack"
confirm; verify; endorse; ratify; authenticate; validate;
corroborate cor·rob·or·ate certify; support; back up; back; uphold; stand by; bear
out; bear witness to; substantiate; sustain; bolster;
reinforce; Opposite:; contradict

essentially different in kind; not able to be

compared:"they inhabit disparate worlds of thought"
contrasting; different; differing; dissimilar; unlike;
unalike; varying; various; diverse; diversified;
disparate dis·par·ate heterogeneous; unrelated; unconnected; distinct;
separate; divergent; divers; myriad; contrastive; poles
apart; Opposite:; homogeneous

match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically

by imitation:"most rulers wished to emulate Alexander
the Great"
emulate emu·late imitate; copy; reproduce; mimic; mirror; echo
 make (someone) feel drained of energy or vitality:"the
heat enervated us all"
exhaust; tire; fatigue; weary; wear out; devitalize;
drain; sap; weaken; enfeeble; debilitate; incapacitate;
enervate verb indispose; prostrate; immobilize; torpefy; make weak;
make feeble; lay low; put out of action; Opposite:;
invigorate

lasting for a very short time:"fashions are ephemeral:

new ones regularly drive out the old" · "works of more
than ephemeral interest"
transitory; transient; fleeting; passing; short-lived;
momentary; brief; short; cursory; temporary;
ephemeral ephem·eral impermanent; short-term; fading; evanescent; fugitive;
fly-by-night; fugacious; Opposite:; long-lived;
permanent

intensely enthusiastic or passionate, especially to an

excessive degree:"his fervid protestations of love"
fervid fer·vid impassioned; passionate; intense; vehement; ardent;
Opposite:; apathetic

excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters:"a

garrulous cab driver"
talkative; loquacious; voluble; verbose; long-winded;
chatty; chattery; chattering; gossipy; gossiping;
garrulous gar·rul·ous babbling; blathering; prattling; prating; jabbering;
gushing; effusive; Opposite:; taciturn; reticent; concise

(of a device or attack) designed to cause

fires:"incendiary bombs"
incendiary in·cen·di·ary combustible; flammable; inflammable; fire-raising; fire-
producing
 tending to obstruct or harm:"the policy was inimical to
Britain's real interests"
harmful; injurious; detrimental; deleterious;
pernicious; damaging; hurtful; dangerous; destructive;
ruinous; calamitous; antagonistic; contrary;
inimical in·imi·cal antipathetic; unfavourable; adverse; opposed; hostile;
at odds; prejudicial; malefic; maleficent; not conducive;
Opposite:; helpful; advantageous

closely acquainted; familiar:"intimate friends" · "they

are on intimate terms"
close; bosom; boon; dear; cherished; familiar;
confidential; faithful; constant; devoted; fast; firm;
favourite; special; Opposite:; distant
intimate in·tim·ate

give strength or energy to:"the shower had invigorated

her"
revitalize; energize; refresh; revive; vivify; brace;
rejuvenate; enliven; wake up; animate; galvanize;
electrify; stimulate; motivate; rouse; exhilarate; excite;
rally; hearten; uplift; encourage; fortify; strengthen;
revitalizing; energizing; refreshing; reviving; vivifying;
bracing; rejuvenating; enlivening; restorative;
invigorate in·vig·or·ate galvanizing; electrifying; stimulating; rousing;
exhilarating; exciting; rallying; heartening; uplifting;
encouraging; fortifying; strengthening; health-giving;
healthy; tonic; liven up; perk up; put new
strength/life/heart in; Opposite:; tire; tiring

make (something bad) less severe, serious, or

painful:"drainage schemes have helped to mitigate this
mitigate miti·gate problem"
 no longer produced or used; out of date:"the disposal
of old and obsolete machinery" · "the phrase was
obsolete after 1625"
out of date; outdated; outmoded; old-fashioned;
disused; superannuated; outworn; antiquated;
antediluvian; anachronistic; discarded; discontinued;
old; dated; antique; archaic; ancient; fossilized; extinct;
obsolete ob·so·lete defunct; dead; bygone; out of fashion; out; behind the
times; démodé; passé; vieux jeu; no longer in use;
fallen into disuse; Opposite:; contemporary; current;
modern; new; up to date

not able to be seen through; not transparent:"bottles

filled with a pale opaque liquid"
non-transparent; cloudy; filmy; blurred; smeared; hazy;
misty; dirty; dingy; muddy; muddied; grimy; smeary;
Opposite:; transparent; translucent; clear

opaque opaque

serving as a typical example of something:"his

biography is paradigmatic of the experiences of this
paradigmatic para·dig·mat·ic generation"

excessively concerned with minor details or rules;

overscrupulous:"his analyses are careful and even
painstaking, but never pedantic"
overscrupulous; scrupulous; precise; exact; over-
pedantic pe·dan·tic exacting; perfectionist; precisionist; punctilious;
meticulous; fussy; fastidious; finical; finicky; dogmatic;
purist; literalist
 not easily upset or excited:"a placid, contented man"
even-tempered; calm; equable; tranquil;
imperturbable; unexcitable; peaceable; peaceful;
serene; mild; gentle; quiet; cool; cool-headed;
collected; composed; self-possessed; poised; easy-
placid pla·cid going; temperate; level-headed; steady; unruffled;
unmoved; undisturbed; unperturbed; unemotional;
phlegmatic; stolid; bovine; equanimous; cool, calm, and
collected; Opposite:; excitable; temperamental

of or involving strongly critical or disputatious writing

or speech:"a polemical essay"
critical; hostile; bitter; polemic; virulent; vitriolic;
venomous; waspish; corrosive; biting; caustic;
trenchant; cutting; acerbic; sardonic; sarcastic;
polemical po·lem·ic·al scathing; acid; sharp; keen; tart; pungent; stinging;
astringent; incisive; devastating; piercing; acidulous;
mordacious

cause (an event or situation, typically one that is

undesirable) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or
prematurely:"the incident precipitated a political crisis"
bring about; bring on; cause; occasion; give rise to;
trigger; spark; touch off; provoke; hasten; accelerate;
precipitate verb expedite; speed up; advance; quicken; further;
instigate; induce; lead to; push forward

great depth of insight or knowledge:"the simplicity and

profundity of the message"
wisdom; intelligence; sagacity; acuity; depth;
profundity pro·fund·ity profoundness; perceptiveness; penetration;
perception; percipience; perspicuity; discernment;
thoughtfulness; sapience; (deep) insight
 accurately predicting what will happen in the
future:"his warnings proved prophetic"
predictive; visionary; psychic; clairvoyant; far-seeing;
far-sighted; prognostic; divinatory; oracular; sibylline;
apocalyptic; fateful; revelatory; insightful; intuitive;
prophetic pro·phet·ic perceptive; percipient; foreknowing; previsional; vatic;
mantic; vaticinal; vaticinatory; prognosticative; augural;
adumbrative; fatidic; haruspical; pythonic; with
foresight; fatidical

acting with or showing care and thought for the

future:"no prudent money manager would authorize a
loan without first knowing its purpose"
wise; well judged; judicious; sagacious; sage; shrewd;
advisable; well advised; politic; sensible;
commonsensical; cautious; careful; canny; chary; wary;
circumspect; far-sighted; forearmed; forehanded;
prudent pru·dent thrifty; provident; economical; sparing; frugal;
abstemious; scrimping; forethoughtful; Opposite:;
unwise; imprudent; incautious; extravagant

showing great attention to detail or correct

behaviour:"he was punctilious in providing every
amenity for his guests"
meticulous; conscientious; careful; diligent; attentive;
ultra-careful; scrupulous; painstaking; exact; precise;
accurate; correct; thorough; studious; rigorous;
mathematical; detailed; perfectionist; methodical;
punctilious punc·tili·ous particular; religious; strict; fussy; fastidious; hair-
splitting; finicky; finical; demanding; exacting; pedantic;
nice; overnice; laborious; Opposite:; careless; easy-
going; slapdash
 (of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse:"the
book is full of recondite information"
obscure; abstruse; arcane; esoteric; recherché;
abstract; deep; profound; cryptic; difficult; complex;
complicated; involved; incomprehensible;
recondite rec·on·dite unfathomable; impenetrable; opaque; dark;
mysterious; occult; cabbalistic; secret; hidden;
Alexandrian; little known; over/above one's head;
Opposite:; straightforward; simple; familiar

(of a person or process) careful, thorough, and

extremely attentive to details:"the research has been
carried out with scrupulous attention to detail"
careful; meticulous; painstaking; thorough; assiduous;
sedulous; attentive; diligent; conscientious; ultra-
scrupulous scru·pu·lous careful; punctilious; searching; close; elaborate;
minute; studious; rigorous; particular; religious; strict;
pedantic; fussy; Opposite:; careless; slapdash

free from disturbance; calm:"her tranquil gaze" · "the

sea was tranquil"
peaceful; restful; reposeful; calm; quiet; still; serene;
placid; relaxing; soothing; undisturbed; idyllic; halcyon;
mild; pleasant; composed; relaxed; at peace; cool; cool-
headed; even-tempered; self-possessed; controlled;
unexcitable; unflappable; unruffled; unperturbed;
tranquil tran·quil imperturbable; dispassionate; stoical; sober;
unemotional; untroubled; pacific; cool, calm, and
collected; unagitated; Opposite:; disturbed; busy;
excitable
 waver between different opinions or actions; be
indecisive:"I vacillated between teaching and
journalism"
dither; waver; teeter; temporize; hesitate; oscillate;
fluctuate; haver; hum and haw; swither; irresolute;
hesitant; tentative; dithering; wavering; teetering;
fluctuating; ambivalent; divided; doubtful; unsure;
vacillate vacil·late uncertain; undecided; indefinite; unresolved;
undetermined; be indecisive; be irresolute; be
undecided; be uncertain; be unsure; be doubtful; keep
changing one's mind; in two minds; Opposite:; resolute

accept something reluctantly but without protest:"Sara

acquiesced in his decision"
permit; allow; accept; respect; stand by; tolerate;
brook; bow to; suffer; consent to; agree to; assent to;
give one's consent to; concur with; give one's assent to;
acquiesce ac·qui·esce give one's blessing to; say yes to; give the nod to; give
one's approval to; comply with; conform to; abide by;
cooperate with; give in to; yield to; submit to;
Opposite:; forbid

clever or skilful:"he was adroit at tax avoidance"

skilful; adept; dexterous; deft; agile; nimble; nimble-
fingered; handy; able; capable; competent; skilled;
expert; masterly; masterful; master; practised;
polished; slick; proficient; accomplished; gifted;
talented; peerless; quick-witted; quick-thinking; quick;
adroit adroit clever; intelligent; brilliant; bright; smart; sharp;
cunning; artful; wily; resourceful; astute; shrewd;
canny; ingenious; inventive; compleat; rathe;
Opposite:; clumsy; incompetent
 make minor changes to (a text, piece of legislation,
etc.) in order to make it fairer or more accurate, or to
reflect changing circumstances:"the rule was amended
to apply only to non-members"
revise; alter; change; modify; qualify; adapt; adjust;
edit; copy-edit; rewrite; rescript; redraft; recast;
amend amend rephrase; reword; rework; reform; update; revamp;
correct; remedy; fix; repair; emend; improve;
ameliorate; better; enhance; clarify; set right; put right

hostility or ill feeling:"the author's animus towards her"

hostility; animosity; antagonism; friction; antipathy;
opposition; dissension; rivalry; feud; conflict; discord;
contention; acrimony; bitterness; rancour; resentment;
aversion; dislike; ill feeling; ill will; bad blood; hatred;
hate; loathing; detestation; abhorrence; odium; malice;
animus ani·mus spite; spitefulness; venom; malevolence; malignity;
grudges; grievances; bad feeling; Opposite:; friendship;
goodwill

a person who offers an argument in defence of

something controversial:"critics said he was an
apologist for colonialism"
defender; supporter; upholder; advocate; proponent;
exponent; propagandist; apostle; champion; backer;
apologist apolo·gist promoter; campaigner; spokesman; spokeswoman;
spokesperson; speaker; arguer; enthusiast; Opposite:;
critic

causing the contraction of skin cells and other body

tissues:"an astringent skin lotion"
astringent astrin·gent constricting; contracting; constrictive; constringent;
styptic
 work jointly on an activity or project:"he collaborated
with him on numerous hotel projects"
cooperate; join forces; get together; participate; unite;
combine; merge; link; ally; associate; amalgamate;
collaborate col·lab·or·ate integrate; join (up); team up; come together; band
together; work together; work jointly; form an alliance;
pool resources; club together

having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do

something successfully:"a highly competent surgeon" ·
"make sure the firm is competent to carry out the
work"
skilled; expert; proficient; seasoned; acquainted with;
familiar with; with a knowledge of; with an
understanding of; conversant with; au courant with; au
fait with; up on; up to date with; abreast of; at home
competent com·pe·tent with; no stranger to; experienced in; practised in; well
versed in; Opposite:; ill-informed

have a mutual relationship or connection, in which one

thing affects or depends on another:"the study found
that success in the educational system correlates highly
with class"
correspond; agree; tally; match up; tie in; harmonize;
coordinate; dovetail; suit; fit; match; parallel; quadrate;
correlate verb be consistent; be in agreement; be compatible; be
consonant; be congruous; be in tune; be in harmony;
equate to; relate to; conform to; Opposite:; contrast
 express contempt for; ridicule:"the decision was
derided by environmentalists"
ridicule; mock; make fun of; poke fun at; pillory;
disdain; disparage; denigrate; pooh-pooh; dismiss;
slight; scorn; taunt; insult; torment; vilify; lampoon;
deride de·ride satirize; contemn; jeer at; scoff at; jibe at; laugh at;
hold up to ridicule; detract from; sneer at; pour/heap
scorn on; treat with contempt; flout at; Opposite:;
respect; praise

state or order authoritatively:"the tsar's attempts to

dictate policy" · "that doesn't give you the right to
dictate to me"
bully; domineer; dominate; tyrannize; oppress; ride
roughshod over; control; pressurize; browbeat; lay
dictate verb down the law; call the shots; throw one's weight
around; give orders to; order about; order around;
boss (about); boss (around); impose one's will on; lord
it over; act the tin god; throw one's weight about

careful and prudent in one's speech or actions,

especially in order to keep something confidential or to
avoid embarrassment:"we made some discreet
inquiries"
careful; circumspect; cautious; wary; chary; guarded;
discreet dis·creet close-lipped; close-mouthed; tactful; diplomatic;
considerate; politic; prudent; judicious; strategic; wise;
sensible; delicate; kid-glove; Opposite:; indiscreet; rash

no longer married because the marriage has been

legally dissolved:"a divorced couple" · "my parents are
divorced divorced divorced"

relating to or supporting the view that a society or

system should be led by an elite:"older men with an
elitist attitude about music" · "the image of polo as an
elitist elit·ist elitist sport"
 making great demands on one's skill, attention, or
other resources:"the exacting standards laid down by
the organic food industry"
demanding; hard; tough; stringent; testing; challenging;
difficult; onerous; arduous; laborious; tiring; taxing;
exacting exact·ing gruelling; punishing; back-breaking; burdensome;
Herculean; toilsome; exigent; Opposite:; easy

bewildered or perplexed:"he became flummoxed and

flummoxed flum·moxed speechless"

(of a tree, plant, or land) producing much fruit;

fertile:"this seed will grow into a lovely fruitful tree"
fruit-bearing; fruiting; fertile; fecund; high-yielding;
lush; abundant; profuse; prolific; bounteous;
generative; progenitive; fructuous; fructiferous;
fruitful fruit·ful Opposite:; infertile

existing from birth:"an inborn defect in the formation

of collagen"
genetic; genetical; congenital; inherent; inherited;
inbred; innate; in the family; in the blood; in the genes

inborn in·born

a person of wide knowledge or learning:"a Renaissance

polymath"
highbrow; academic; bookworm; man of letters;
woman of letters; bluestocking; thinker; brain; scholar;
sage; genius; Einstein; expert; prodigy; mastermind;
polymath poly·math pandit; bookman; intelligent person; learned person;
bookish person; gifted child; Opposite:; dunce
 not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily:"she
was extremely reticent about her personal affairs"
reserved; withdrawn; introverted; restrained;
inhibited; diffident; shy; modest; unassuming;
shrinking; distant; undemonstrative; wouldn't say boo
to a goose; uncommunicative; unforthcoming;
reticent reti·cent unresponsive; tight-lipped; close-mouthed; close-
lipped; quiet; taciturn; silent; guarded; secretive;
private; media-shy; playing one's cards close to one's
chest; Opposite:; expansive; garrulous

(of regulations, requirements, or conditions) strict,

precise, and exacting:"stringent guidelines on air
pollution"
strict; firm; rigid; rigorous; severe; harsh; tough; tight;
stringent strin·gent exacting; demanding; inflexible; stiff; hard and fast;
uncompromising; draconian; extreme; Opposite:;
lenient; flexible

prepared to obey others unquestioningly:"she was

subservient to her parents"
submissive; deferential; acquiescent; compliant;
accommodating; obedient; dutiful; duteous; biddable;
yielding; meek; docile; ductile; pliant; passive;
unassertive; spiritless; subdued; humble; timid; mild;
subservient sub·ser·vi·ent lamblike; servile; slavish; grovelling; truckling; self-
effacing; self-abasing; downtrodden; snivelling;
cowering; cringing; resistless; longanimous; Opposite:;
domineering; independent

kept secret, especially because it would not be

approved of:"low wages were supplemented by
surreptitious payments from tradesmen"
secret; stealthy; clandestine; secretive; sneaky; sly;
surreptitious sur·rep·ti·tious furtive; concealed; hidden; undercover; covert; veiled;
under the table; cloak-and-dagger; backstair; indirect;
black; Opposite:; blatant; open; honest
 tormenting or teasing with the sight or promise of
something unobtainable:"a tantalizing glimpse of the
tantalizing tantalizing career he might have had"

equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as:"the

resignations were tantamount to an admission of guilt"
as good as; more or less; on a par with; along the lines
of; equivalent to; equal to; amounting to; synonymous
with; virtually the same as; much the same as;
tantamount tan·ta·mount comparable to; commensurate with; as serious as;
identical to

a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy:"they

veered between apathetic torpor and hysterical
fanaticism"
lethargy; torpidity; sluggishness; inertia; inertness;
inactivity; inaction; dormancy; slowness; lifelessness;
dullness; heaviness; listlessness; languor; languidness;
stagnation; laziness; idleness; indolence; shiftlessness;
torpor tor·por sloth; slothfulness; apathy; accidie; passivity;
weariness; tiredness; lassitude; fatigue; sleepiness;
drowsiness; enervation; somnolence; narcosis;
Opposite:; vigour; energy; animation

vigorous or incisive in expression or style:"the White

Paper makes trenchant criticisms of health authorities"
incisive; cutting; pointed; piercing; penetrating; sharp;
keen; acute; razor-sharp; razor-edged; rapier-like;
vigorous; forceful; strong; telling; emphatic; forthright;
blunt; biting; stinging; mordant; pungent; scathing;
caustic; acid; tart; acerbic; astringent; sarcastic;
trenchant tren·chant devastating; savage; fierce; searing; blistering;
withering; acerb; mordacious; acidulous; Opposite:;
woolly; vague
 offence or annoyance:"she took umbrage at his
remarks"
umbrage um·brage bridle; take something personally; take something
amiss

able to adapt or be adapted to many different

functions or activities:"a versatile sewing machine" ·
"he was versatile enough to play on either wing"
adaptable; flexible; all-round; multifaceted;
multitalented; multiskilled; many-sided; resourceful;
versatile ver·sa·tile protean; adjustable; variable; convertible; alterable;
modifiable; multipurpose; all-purpose; handy; flexile;
polytropic; Opposite:; inflexible; limited

difficult to control or predict because of wilful or

perverse behaviour:"a wayward adolescent" · "his
wayward emotions"
wilful; self-willed; headstrong; stubborn; obstinate;
wayward way·ward obdurate; perverse; contrary; rebellious; defiant;
uncooperative; refractory; recalcitrant; unruly; wild;
ungovernable

make a concerted or violent attack on:"the Scots army

assailed Edward's army from the rear"
attack; assault; weigh into; fly at; turn on; round on;
beset; belabour; fall on; accost; mug; charge; rush;
storm; besiege; make an assault on; launch an attack
assail as·sail on; pounce on; set upon; launch oneself at; let fly at;
lash out at; hit out at
 well meaning and kindly:"he was something of a
benevolent despot" · "a benevolent smile"
kind; kindly; kind-hearted; warm-hearted; tender-
hearted; big-hearted; good-natured; good; gracious;
tolerant; benign; compassionate; caring; sympathetic;
considerate; thoughtful; well meaning; obliging;
accommodating; helpful; decent; neighbourly; public-
spirited; charitable; altruistic; humane; humanitarian;
benevolent ben·evo·lent philanthropic; generous; magnanimous; munificent;
unselfish; ungrudging; unstinting; open-handed; free-
handed; free; liberal; lavish; bountiful; beneficent;
indulgent; bounteous; benignant; Opposite:; unkind;
tight-fisted

scold or criticize (someone) angrily:"she berated

herself for being fickle"
rebuke; reprimand; reproach; reprove; admonish;
chastise; chide; upbraid; pull up; castigate; lambast;
read someone the Riot Act; give someone a piece of
berate be·rate one's mind; go on at; criticize; censure; call down; rate;
trim; reprehend; objurgate; remonstrate with; take to
task; haul over the coals; give someone a rating;
Opposite:; praise

(of a liquid or gas) able to keep something

buoyant buoy·ant afloat:"buoyant water"

a structure of stone or brick built against a wall to

strengthen or support it:"the cathedral's massive
buttresses"
buttress but·tress prop; support; abutment; shore; pier; reinforcement;
stanchion; stay; strut; a projecting portion of a hill or
mountain.

accept (behaviour that is considered morally wrong or

offensive):"the college cannot condone any behaviour
that involves illicit drugs"
condone con·done disregard; accept; allow; make allowances for; overlook
 offend against the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty,
or code of conduct):"he contravened the Official
Secrets Act"
contravene contra·vene break; breach; violate; infringe; defy; disobey; flout;
Opposite:; uphold; comply with

publicly declare to be wrong or evil:"the Assembly

denounced the use of violence" · "he was widely
denounced as a traitor"
condemn; criticize; attack; censure; castigate; decry;
revile; vilify; besmirch; discredit; damn; reject;
proscribe; malign; pour scorn on; slur; rate; slash;
reprobate; vituperate; excoriate; arraign; objurgate;
denounce de·nounce asperse; anathematize; denunciate; find fault with; cast
aspersions on; rail against; inveigh against; fulminate
against; declaim against; give something a bad press;
run something down; animadvert on; Opposite:; praise

of or typical of a despot; tyrannical:"a despotic regime"

autocratic; dictatorial; totalitarian; authoritarian;
absolute; absolutist; arbitrary; unconstitutional;
undemocratic; anti-democratic; uncontrolled;
unaccountable; summary; one-party; single-party;
autarchic; monocratic; tyrannical; oppressive;
tyrannous; repressive; harsh; ruthless; merciless;
despotic des·pot·ic draconian; illiberal; domineering; imperious; arrogant;
high-handed; Opposite:; democratic; accountable

depart from an established course:"you must not

deviate from the agreed route"
diverge; digress; drift; stray; slew; veer; swerve; turn
away; differ; vary; change; depart; contravene;
deviate verb contradict; divagate; turn aside; get sidetracked;
branch off; be different; be at variance with; run
counter to; contrast with
 not influenced by considerations of personal
advantage:"a banker is under an obligation to give
disinterested advice"
unbiased; unprejudiced; impartial; neutral; non-
partisan; non-discriminatory; detached; uninvolved;
objective; dispassionate; impersonal; clinical; open-
disinteresteddis·in·ter·est·ed minded; fair; just; equitable; balanced; even-handed;
unselfish; selfless; without fear or favour; free from
discrimination; with no axe to grind; Opposite:; biased

increase rapidly:"the price of tickets escalated"

soar; rocket; shoot up; mount; surge; spiral; climb; go
up; increase rapidly; grow rapidly; rise rapidly;
Opposite:; plunge
escalate es·cal·ate

drive out or attempt to drive out (a supposed evil

spirit) from a person or place:"an attempt to exorcise
an unquiet spirit"
exorcise ex·or·cise

(of a person) fussy about their needs or

requirements:"a finicky eater"
fussy; fastidious; punctilious; over-particular;
overcritical; difficult; awkward; exacting; demanding;
perfectionist; pass-remarkable; nice; hard to please
finicky fin·icky
 prevent (something considered wrong or undesirable)
from succeeding:"a brave policewoman foiled the
armed robbery"
thwart; frustrate; counter; oppose; balk; disappoint;
impede; obstruct; hamper; hinder; snooker; cripple;
scotch; derail; smash; dash; stop; check; block; prevent;
foil foil defeat; traverse; nip in the bud; Opposite:; assist

twist or twine together:"a net made of cotton

intertwined with other natural fibres" · "the coils
intertwine with one another like strands of spaghetti"
intertwined inter·twine entwine; interweave; interlace; interwind; intertwist;
twist; coil; twirl; ravel; lace; braid; plait; knit; convolute;
interthread

overwhelm (someone) with things or people to be

dealt with:"we've been inundated with complaints
from listeners"
inundate in·un·date overwhelm; overpower; overburden; overrun;
overload; swamp; besiege; snow under; bury;
bombard; glut; bog down

impossible to contradict, weaken, or change:"an

ironclad adjective ironclad guarantee"

put (someone or something) into a situation in which

there is a danger of loss, harm, or failure:"a
devaluation of the dollar would jeopardize New York's
position as a financial centre"
threaten; endanger; imperil; menace; risk;
compromise; prejudice; damage; injure; harm; drive a
nail into the coffin of; peril; put at risk; expose to risk;
jeopardize jeop·ard·ize put in danger; expose to danger; put in jeopardy; put
on the line; leave vulnerable; leave unprotected; be
prejudicial to; be a danger to; pose a threat to; do
harm to; be detrimental to; Opposite:; safeguard
 subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or
mind:"his mercurial temperament"
volatile; capricious; temperamental; excitable; fickle;
changeable; unpredictable; variable; protean; mutable;
erratic; quicksilver; inconstant; inconsistent; unstable;
mercurial mer·cur·ial unsteady; fluctuating; ever-changing; kaleidoscopic;
fluid; wavering; vacillating; moody; flighty; wayward;
whimsical; giddy; impulsive; labile; Opposite:; stable;
steady; constant

not aware of or concerned about what is happening

around one:"she became absorbed, oblivious to the
passage of time"
unaware; unconscious; heedless; unmindful;
insensible; unheeding; ignorant; blind; deaf;
oblivious ob·livi·ous unsuspecting; unobservant; disregardful; unconcerned;
impervious; unaffected; insensitive; indifferent;
detached; removed; incognizant; Opposite:; aware;
conscious

carry out or commit (a harmful, illegal, or immoral

action):"a crime has been perpetrated against a
sovereign state"
perpetrate per·pet·rate commit; carry out; perform; execute; do; effect; bring
about; accomplish; inflict; wreak; effectuate; be guilty
of; be to blame for; be responsible for

sounding sad and mournful:"a plaintive cry"

mournful; sad; wistful; doleful; pathetic; pitiful;
piteous; melancholy; melancholic; sorrowful; unhappy;
wretched; woeful; grief-stricken; broken-hearted;
plaintive plain·tive heartbroken; desolate; heart-rending; forlorn;
woebegone; disconsolate; plangent; heartsick;
dolorous
 evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret:"a poignant
reminder of the passing of time"
touching; moving; sad; saddening; affecting; pitiful;
piteous; pitiable; pathetic; sorrowful; mournful; tearful;
poignant poign·ant wretched; miserable; bitter; painful; distressing;
disturbing; heart-rending; heartbreaking; tear-jerking;
plaintive; upsetting; tragic; archaic

in a state or period of inactivity or dormancy:"strikes

were headed by groups of workers who had previously
been quiescent"
inactive; inert; latent; fallow; passive; idle; at rest;
inoperative; deactivated; quiet; still; motionless;
quiescent qui·es·cent immobile; stagnant; dormant; asleep; slumbering;
sluggish; lethargic; torpid; in abeyance; Opposite:;
active

say something again or a number of times, typically for

emphasis or clarity:"she reiterated that the
government would remain steadfast in its support" · "‘I
just want to forget it all,’ he reiterated" · "he reiterated
the points made in his earlier speech"
reiterate re·iter·ate repeat; restate; retell; recapitulate; iterate; rehearse;
belabour; dwell on; ingeminate; say again; go over (and
over); harp on; hammer away at

become less intense, violent, or severe:"I'll wait a few

minutes until the storm subsides"
abate; let up; moderate; calm; lull; relent; recede;
lessen; soften; alleviate; attenuate; remit; diminish;
decline; dwindle; weaken; fade; wane; ebb; still; cease;
subside sub·side come to an end; terminate; slacken (off); ease (up); die
down; die out; peter out; taper off; come to a stop;
quieten down; quiet down; Opposite:; intensify;
worsen
 include or absorb (something) in something else:"most
of these phenomena can be subsumed under two
broad categories"
subsume sub·sume include; encompass; embrace; contain; comprise;
cover; incorporate; embody; comprehend; envelop;
digest; assimilate; admit; hold

overcome (a difficulty or obstacle):"all manner of

cultural differences were surmounted"
overcome; conquer; get over; get the better of; beat;
vanquish; master; clear; cross; pass over; resist;
endure; prevail over; triumph over; make one's way
surmount sur·mount round/past/over; make it round/past/over; be
unstoppable by; deal with; cope with; Opposite:; be
beaten by

relating to or along a tangent:"a tangential line"

tangential tan·gen·tial
(of a substance or material) capable of polishing or
cleaning a hard surface by rubbing or grinding:"the
wood should be rubbed down with fine abrasive
paper" · "don't use abrasive kitchen cleaners"
abrasive abra·sive grinding; rubbing; polishing; coarse; coarse-grained;
caustic; harsh; mordant; corrosive; corroding; erosive;
eroding

clever or skilful, especially in a crafty or cunning

way:"her artful wiles"
sly; crafty; cunning; wily; scheming; devious;
Machiavellian; sneaky; guileful; tricky; conniving;
designing; calculating; shrewd; astute; sharp-witted;
sharp; acute; intelligent; clever; alert; canny; deceitful;
artful art·ful deceptive; duplicitous; cheating; dishonest;
disingenuous; underhand; untrustworthy;
unscrupulous; double-dealing; vulpine; carny; subtle;
Opposite:; ingenuous; honest; dull

turn away (one's eyes or thoughts):"she averted her

avert avert eyes while we made stilted conversation"
turn away; turn aside; turn to one side
 having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for
something:"an avid reader of science fiction"
avid avid keen; eager; enthusiastic; ardent; passionate;
Opposite:; apathetic; half-hearted; (avid for)

concise and exact use of words in writing or

speech:"the staff will edit manuscripts with a view to
brevity and clarity" · "for brevity, it is worth using these
little symbols"
conciseness; concision; succinctness;
compendiousness; shortness; briefness; pithiness; pith;
brevity brev·ity incisiveness; crispness; compactness; compression;
laconicism; terseness; pointedness; curtness;
abruptness; brachylogy; economy of language;
Opposite:; long-windedness; verbosity

bromide brom·ide
pointing indirectly towards someone's guilt but not
conclusively proving it:"the prosecution will have to
rely on circumstantial evidence"
circumstanti
al cir·cum·stan·tialindirect; inferred; inferential; deduced; presumed;
conjectural; contingent; inconclusive; unprovable;
presumptive; implicative; Opposite:; provable

excessively sweet, rich, or sentimental, especially to a

disgusting or sickening degree:"a romantic, rather
cloying story"
sickly sweet; sugary; syrupy; saccharine; honeyed;
cloying cloying oversweet; sickening; nauseating; disgusting; mawkish;
maudlin; sentimental; over-sentimental; twee

made in exact imitation of something valuable with the

intention to deceive or defraud:"counterfeit £10 notes"
fake; faked; copied; forged; feigned; simulated;
counterfeit coun·ter·feit Opposite:; genuine
 criticize unfairly; disparage:"doom and gloom
merchants who denigrate their own country"
disparage; belittle; diminish; deprecate; decry; attack;
speak ill of; defame; slander; libel; calumniate;
besmirch; run down; abuse; insult; slight; revile;
malign; vilify; slur; asperse; derogate; vituperate; cast
denigrate deni·grate aspersions on; criticize unfairly; speak badly of; blacken
the character of; blacken the name of; give someone a
bad name; sully the reputation of; spread lies about;
vilipend; Opposite:; extol

a follower or pupil of a teacher, leader, or

philosopher:"a disciple of Rousseau"
follower; adherent; believer; admirer; devotee; acolyte;
disciple dis·ciple votary; pupil; student; protégé; learner; upholder;
supporter; advocate; proponent; apologist; chela;
bhakta; Opposite:; critic; opponent

praise enthusiastically:"he extolled the virtues of the

Russian peoples"
sing the praises of; eulogize; acclaim; laud; panegyrize;
praise enthusiastically; go into raptures about/over;
wax lyrical about; praise to the skies; heap praise on;
extol extol rhapsodize over; rave about; enthuse about/over; gush
about/over; throw bouquets at; express delight over;
cry someone/something up; Opposite:; criticize

(of a situation or occurrence) act as an advance

warning of (something bad):"this lull foreboded some
new assault upon him"
presage; augur; portend; prognosticate; foreshadow;
foreshow; foretell; forecast; predict; prophesy;
forebode fore·bode forewarn; herald; signify; mean; indicate; add up to;
point to; announce; promise; foretoken; betoken;
harbinger; prefigure; warn of; be a warning of; be an
omen of; be a harbinger of
 an adherent of an ideology, especially one who is
uncompromising and dogmatic:"he doesn't consider
himself a political ideologue, preferring to arrive at
ideologue ideo·logue conclusions pragmatically"

a hindrance or obstruction in doing something:"a

serious impediment to scientific progress"
hindrance; obstruction; obstacle; barrier; bar;
handicap; block; check; curb; brake; restraint;
restriction; limitation; encumbrance; deterrent;
impediment im·pedi·ment drawback; setback; difficulty; problem; issue; snag;
catch; hitch; stumbling block; cumber; Opposite:;
benefit

of vital importance; crucial:"immediate action was

imperative" · "it is imperative that standards are
maintained"
all-important; vital; crucial; critical; essential; of the
essence; a matter of life and death; necessary;
imperative im·pera·tive indispensable; exigent; pressing; urgent; required;
compulsory; mandatory; obligatory; vitally important;
of vital importance; of great consequence; Opposite:;
unimportant; optional

acting or done without forethought:"they'd married as

impulsive teenagers" · "he regretted his impulsive
offer"
impulsive im·pul·sive impetuous; spontaneous; hasty; passionate; Opposite:;
cautious; premeditated
 endless or apparently endless (often used
hyperbolically):"we got bogged down in interminable
discussions"
endless; never-ending; unending; without end; non-
stop; everlasting; ceaseless; unceasing; incessant;
constant; continual; uninterrupted; unbroken;
sustained; monotonous; tedious; wearisome; boring;
long-winded; long-drawn-out; overlong; rambling;
interminable in·ter·min·able meandering; laborious; ponderous; countless;
numerous; many; untold; manifold; multitudinous;
multifarious; innumerable; numberless; unmeasured;
unnumbered; incalculable; indeterminable; myriad;
legion; innumerous; seemingly endless; unnumberable

using or based on what one feels to be true even

without conscious reasoning; instinctive:"his intuitive
understanding of the readers' real needs"
instinctive; intuitional; instinctual; innate; inborn;
inherent; untaught; unlearned; natural; congenital;
intuitive in·tui·tive inbuilt; built-in; ingrown; automatic; unconscious;
subconscious; involuntary; spontaneous; impulsive;
unthinking; (chiefly of computer software) easy to use
and understand.

a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of

energy:"she was overcome by lassitude and retired to
bed"
lethargy; listlessness; weariness; languor; sluggishness;
lassitude las·si·tude enervation; tiredness; exhaustion; fatigue; sleepiness;
drowsiness; torpor; torpidity; ennui; lifelessness; sloth;
apathy
 leave out or exclude (someone or something), either
intentionally or forgetfully:"he was omitted from the
second Test"
leave out; exclude; except; shut out; leave off; take out;
miss out; miss; pass over; drop; delete; cut; erase;
omit omit eliminate; elide; expunge; rub out; strike out; overleap;
pretermit; fail to include; fail to mention; cross out;
dispense with; Opposite:; add; include

elaborately or highly decorated:"an ornate wrought-

iron railing"
elaborate; decorated; embellished; adorned;
ornamented; fancy; over-elaborate; fussy; busy;
ostentatious; showy; baroque; rococo; florid; wedding-
cake; gingerbread

ornate or·nate

(of an amount) very small or meagre:"she would earn a

paltry £33 more a month"
small; meagre; trifling; insignificant; negligible;
inadequate; insufficient; scant; scanty; derisory; pitiful;
pitiable; pathetic; miserable; sorry; wretched; puny;
paltry pal·try trivial; niggardly; beggarly; mean; ungenerous;
inappreciable; mere; exiguous; Opposite:;
considerable; substantial
 expressing contempt or disapproval:"permissiveness is
used almost universally as a pejorative term"
disparaging; derogatory; denigratory; deprecatory;
defamatory; slanderous; libellous; abusive; insulting;
pejorative pe·jora·tive slighting; vituperative; disapproving; contemptuous;
invective; contumelious; Opposite:; complimentary;
approbatory

be an early indication or version of (something):"the

Hussite movement prefigured the Reformation"
foreshadow; presage; herald; suggest; indicate; point
prefigure pre·fig·ure to; foretoken; be an early indication of; be a presage
of; be a harbinger of

be a sign or warning of (an imminent event, typically an

unwelcome one):"the heavy clouds above the
moorland presaged snow"
portend; augur; foreshadow; foretell; prophesy; herald;
indicate; signal; bode; announce; promise; threaten;
point to; mean; signify; spell; denote; add up to;
presage pres·age betoken; foretoken; forebode; harbinger; be an omen
of; be a sign of; be the harbinger of; be a warning of;
give a warning of; warn of; be an indication of; be a
presage of; amount to; archaic

(of a medical practitioner) advise and authorize the use

of (a medicine or treatment) for someone, especially in
writing:"her doctor prescribed sleeping tablets" · "he
prescribe pre·scribe was prescribed a course of antibiotics"
order; advise; authorize; direct

prove more powerful or superior:"it is hard for logic to

prevail over emotion"
prevail pre·vail win; triumph; carry the day; carry all before one
 win or regain the favour of (a god, spirit, or person) by
doing something that pleases them:"the pagans
thought it was important to propitiate the gods with
sacrifices"
appease; placate; mollify; pacify; conciliate; soothe;
propitiate pro·piti·ate calm; humour; satisfy; pour oil on troubled waters;
make peace with; make amends to; win over; square
someone off

summarize and state again the main points of:"he

began to recapitulate his argument with care"
summarize; sum up; restate; repeat; reiterate; go over;
recapitulate re·cap·itu·late run over; run through; review; enumerate; recount;
list; epitomize; state again; biology

not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant:"they

were courteous but faintly aloof" · "an aloof and
somewhat austere figure"
distant; detached; unresponsive; remote;
unapproachable; forbidding; stand-offish; formal;
impersonal; stiff; austere; stuffy; withdrawn; reserved;
aloof aloof unforthcoming; uncommunicative; indifferent;
unfriendly; unsympathetic; unsociable; antisocial; cool;
cold; chilly; frigid; frosty; haughty; supercilious;
disdainful; Opposite:; familiar; friendly

a continuous loud banging or ringing sound:"he went

deaf because of the clangour of the steam hammers"
clangor clang·our reverberation; ringing; ring; ding-dong; bong; peal;
chime; toll; clank; clash; crash
 based on or in accordance with what is generally done
or believed:"a conventional morality had dictated
behaviour"
normal; standard; regular; ordinary; usual; traditional;
typical; common; common or garden; garden variety;
run-of-the-mill; prosaic; pedestrian; commonplace;
unimaginative; uninspired; uninspiring; unadventurous;
unremarkable; unexceptional; unoriginal; derivative;
formulaic; predictable; stock; hackneyed; clichéd;
conventional con·ven·tion·al stereotypical; stereotyped; trite; platitudinous;
formalistic; Opposite:; original

expose the falseness or hollowness of (an idea or

belief):"she debunks all the usual rubbish about acting"
explode; deflate; puncture; quash; knock the bottom
out of; drive a coach and horses through; expose;
discredit; disprove; contradict; controvert; confute;
debunk de·bunk invalidate; negate; give the lie to; challenge; show in its
true light; prove to be false; call into question;
Opposite:; confirm

extremely or unusually small:"a diminutive figure

dressed in black"
tiny; small; little; petite; minute; miniature; mini;
minuscule; microscopic; nanoscopic; small-scale;
compact; pocket; toy; midget; undersized; short;
stubby; elfin; dwarfish; dwarf; pygmy; bantam;
diminutive di·minu·tive homuncular; Lilliputian; wee; Opposite:; enormous; (of
a word, name, or suffix) implying smallness, either
actual or imputed to convey affection, scorn, etc. (e.g.
teeny, -let, -kins).
 able to be discerned; perceptible:"the scandal had no
discernible effect on his career" · "the inscription was
barely discernible"
visible; detectable; noticeable; perceptible; observable;
perceivable; distinguishable; recognizable; identifiable;
discernible dis·cern·ible apparent; obvious; clear; manifest; conspicuous;
patent; plain; evident; distinct; appreciable; Opposite:;
imperceptible

difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious:"he

took the money with an enigmatic smile"
mysterious; puzzling; mystifying; inexplicable; baffling;
perplexing; bewildering; confusing; impenetrable;
inscrutable; incomprehensible; unexplainable;
unfathomable; indecipherable; Delphic; oracular;
ambiguous; equivocal; paradoxical; sibylline;
enigmatic en·ig·mat·ic unaccountable; insoluble; obscure; elliptical; oblique;
arcane; abstruse; recondite; secret; esoteric; occult;
cryptic; hard to understand; Opposite:; straightforward

(of a person) no longer close or affectionate to

someone; alienated:"Harriet felt more estranged from
estranged es·tranged her daughter than ever" · "her estranged father"
 lacking restraint in spending money or using
resources:"it was rather extravagant to buy both"
spendthrift; profligate; unthrifty; thriftless;
improvident; wasteful; free-spending; prodigal;
squandering; lavish; immoderate; excessive;
imprudent; reckless; irresponsible; Opposite:; thrifty

extravagant ex·trava·gant

over-imaginative and unrealistic:"ever more fanciful

proposals were raised"
impractical; impracticable; unworkable; unfeasible;
non-viable; unreasonable; irrational; illogical;
senseless; silly; improbable; impossible; foolish; wild;
absurd; delusory; quixotic; idealistic; utopian; far-
fetched; perfectionist; unworldly; romantic; starry-
fanciful fan·ci·ful eyed; visionary; Opposite:; realistic; pragmatic
 not having any serious purpose or value:"frivolous
ribbons and lacy frills" · "rules to stop frivolous
lawsuits"
flippant; glib; waggish; joking; jokey; light-hearted;
facetious; fatuous; inane; shallow; superficial;
senseless; thoughtless; ill-considered; non-serious;
frolicsome; sportive; jocose; impractical; frothy; flimsy;
frivolous friv·olous insubstantial; time-wasting; trivial; trifling; minor;
petty; lightweight; insignificant; unimportant;
worthless; valueless; pointless; paltry; niggling;
peripheral; Opposite:; serious; practical; important

diverse in character or content:"a large and

heterogeneous collection"
diverse; diversified; varied; varying; miscellaneous;
heterogeneo assorted; mixed; sundry; contrasting; disparate;
us het·ero·ge·neousdifferent; differing; divergent; unrelated; variegated;
wide-ranging; motley; divers; myriad; legion;
contrastive; Opposite:; homogeneous; chemistry

arrogant and domineering:"his imperious demands"

peremptory; high-handed; commanding; imperial;
overbearing; overweening; domineering; authoritarian;
imperious im·peri·ous dictatorial; authoritative; lordly; officious; assertive;
dominating; bullish; forceful; bossy; arrogant; pushful;
Opposite:; meek

not showing proper respect; rude:"an impertinent

question"
rude; insolent; impolite; unmannerly; ill-mannered;
bad-mannered; uncivil; discourteous; disrespectful;
impudent; cheeky; audacious; bold; brazen; brash;
impertinent im·per·tin·ent shameless; presumptuous; forward; pert; tactless;
undiplomatic; unsubtle; personal; malapert;
contumelious; mannerless; Opposite:; polite
 tending to spread very quickly and undesirably or
harmfully:"patients suffering from invasive cancer"
virulent; infectious; uncontrollable; dangerous;
invasive in·va·sive harmful; pernicious; deadly; fatal; life-threatening;
lethal; terminal; incurable

showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain:"she stood

irresolute outside his door"
indecisive; hesitant; tentative; nervous; weak;
vacillating; equivocating; dithering; wavering;
teetering; fluctuating; faltering; shilly-shallying;
irresolute ir·reso·lute ambivalent; divided; torn; doubtful; in doubt; unsure;
uncertain; undecided; uncommitted; unresolved;
undetermined; in two minds; in a dilemma; in a
quandary; full of doubt; Opposite:; decisive

(of an action, idea, or aim) deserving praise and

commendation:"laudable though the aim might be, the
results have been criticized"
praiseworthy; commendable; admirable; meritorious;
worthy; deserving; creditable; estimable; of note;
laudable laud·able noteworthy; exemplary; reputable; honourable;
excellent; sterling; applaudable; worthy of admiration;
Opposite:; blameworthy; shameful

not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful:"lax security

arrangements at the airport" · "he'd been a bit lax
about discipline in school lately"
slack; slipshod; negligent; neglectful; remiss; careless;
heedless; unmindful; inattentive; slapdash; offhand;
lax lax casual; easy-going; lenient; permissive; soft; liberal;
non-restrictive; indulgent; overindulgent; complaisant;
over-tolerant; irresponsible; Opposite:; stern; careful

treat (a person, group, or concept) as insignificant or

peripheral:"by removing religion from the public space,
marginalize mar·gin·al·ize we marginalize it"
 flamboyant confidence of style or manner:"he
entertained London society with great panache"
flamboyance; confidence; self-assurance; style;
stylishness; flair; elan; dash; flourish; verve; zest; spirit;
panache pa·nache brio; éclat; vivacity; vigour; gusto; animation; liveliness;
vitality; enthusiasm; energy; flamboyant confidence

slow-moving and unexciting:"a plodding comedy

drama"
dull; boring; uninteresting; unexciting; uneventful;
tedious; tiresome; wearisome; dry; as dry as dust;
monotonous; tame; dreary; lacklustre; Opposite:;
gripping; exciting; action-packed

plodding plod·ding

having or using the style or diction of prose as opposed

to poetry; lacking imaginativeness or
originality:"prosaic language can't convey the
experience"
unimaginative; uninspired; matter-of-fact; dull; dry;
humdrum; mundane; pedestrian; heavy; plodding;
lifeless; dead; spiritless; lacklustre; undistinguished;
prosaic pro·sa·ic stale; jejune; bland; insipid; vapid; vacuous; banal;
hackneyed; trite; literal; factual; unpoetic;
unemotional; unsentimental; clear; plain; unadorned;
unembellished; unvarnished; monotonous; deadpan;
flat; Opposite:; imaginative; inspired
 giving or intended as a remedy or cure:"remedial
surgery"
healing; curative; curing; medicinal; restorative;
remedial re·med·ial Opposite:; harmful; detrimental

(of a person) unable to remain still, silent, or

submissive, especially because of boredom or
dissatisfaction:"the crowd had been waiting for hours
and many were becoming restive" · "he reiterated his
determination to hold the restive republics together"
restless; fidgety; edgy; on edge; tense; uneasy; ill at
ease; nervous; agitated; anxious; on tenterhooks;
keyed up; apprehensive; unquiet; impatient; nervy;
unruly; disorderly; out of control; uncontrollable;
unmanageable; ungovernable; unbiddable;
restive rest·ive disobedient; defiant; up in arms; wilful; recalcitrant;
refractory; insubordinate; disaffected; dissentious;
riotous; rebellious; mutinous; seditious; insurgent;
insurrectionary; insurrectionist; revolutionary;
contumacious; worked up; Opposite:; calm; biddable;
peaceable

occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places;

scattered or isolated:"sporadic fighting broke out"
occasional; infrequent; irregular; periodical; periodic;
scattered; patchy; isolated; odd; uneven; intermittent;
sporadic spor·ad·ic spasmodic; on and off; random; fitful; desultory;
erratic; unpredictable; Opposite:; frequent; regular;
steady; continuous

describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great

disapproval:"the institution was stigmatized as a last
resort for the destitute"
discredit; dishonour; defame; disparage; reproach;
censure; blame; humiliate; mortify; embarrass;
stigmatize stig·ma·tize chasten; humble; demean; put someone in their place;
show up; cause to lose face; take down a peg or two;
cut down to size; Opposite:; honour
 erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation):"the
flow of water had undermined pillars supporting the
roof"
undermine under·mine erode; wear away; eat away at; chip away; undercut;
Opposite:; support; shore up

completely and without qualification; absolutely:"he

utterly ut·ter·ly looked utterly ridiculous"

feeling or showing extreme tiredness, especially as a

result of excessive exertion:"he gave a long, weary
sigh"
tired; worn out; exhausted; fatigued; overtired; sleepy;
drowsy; wearied; sapped; dog-tired; spent; drained;
jet-lagged; debilitated; prostrate; enervated; jaded;
low; tired out; played out; Opposite:; energetic; fresh
weary weary

having or showing zeal:"the council was extremely

zealous in the application of the regulations"
fervent; ardent; fervid; fiery; passionate; impassioned;
devout; devoted; committed; dedicated; enthusiastic;
eager; keen; avid; sincere; wholehearted; hearty;
zealous zeal·ous earnest; vigorous; energetic; zestful; purposeful;
forceful; intense; fierce; single-minded; perfervid;
Opposite:; apathetic; indifferent

make (someone) feel isolated or estranged:"an urban

environment which would alienate its inhabitants"
estrange; turn away; set apart; isolate; detach;
distance; set against; part; separate; cut off; sever;
alienate alien·ate divide; divorce; disunite; drive a wedge between; drive
apart; put at a distance; set at variance/odds; make
hostile to; sow dissension; Opposite:; unite
 lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern:"widespread
apathy among students"
indifference; unconcern; uninterestedness;
unresponsiveness; impassivity; passivity; passiveness;
detachment; dispassion; dispassionateness; phlegm;
coolness; listlessness; lethargy; languor; lassitude;
apathy ap·athy torpor; boredom; ennui; accidie; acedia; mopery; lack
of interest; lack of enthusiasm; lack of concern; lack of
involvement; Opposite:; enthusiasm; interest; passion

with reference to; concerning:"she remarked apropos

of the initiative, ‘It's not going to stop the abuse’"
with regard to; regarding; concerning; respecting; in
apropos apro·pos the matter of; in connection with; about; re; anent;
with reference to; with respect to; on the subject of;
touching on; dealing with; connected with

appropriate or suitable in the circumstances:"the

theme could not be more apt"
suitable; fitting; appropriate; befitting; relevant;
felicitous; congruous; fit; applicable; judicious;
apposite; apropos; to the purpose; to the point;
apt apt perfect; ideal; right; made to order; tailor-made;
convenient; expedient; useful; timely; just right;
Opposite:; inappropriate

a sleeveless outdoor overgarment that hangs loosely

from the shoulders:"he threw his cloak about him"
cape; mantle; robe
cloak cloak
 a general agreement:"there is a growing consensus
that the current regime has failed" · "a consensus view"
agreement; harmony; concord; like-mindedness;
concurrence; consent; accord; unison; unity;
unanimity; oneness; solidarity; concert; common
consensus con·sen·sus consent; general opinion/view; majority opinion/view;
common opinion/view; Opposite:; disagreement;
minority view

pull or twist out of shape:"a grimace distorted her

mouth"
twisted; warped; contorted; bent; buckled; deformed;
malformed; misshapen; disfigured; crooked; irregular;
awry; wry; out of shape; mangled; wrenched; gnarled;
distort dis·tort twist; warp; contort; bend; buckle; deform; misshape;
disfigure; mangle; wrench; wring; wrest; malform;
Opposite:; straight

tending to be different or develop in different

directions:"divergent interpretations" · "varieties of
English can remain astonishingly divergent from one
another"
differing; varying; different; dissimilar; unlike; unalike;
divergent di·ver·gent disparate; contrasting; contrastive; antithetical;
opposed; disagreeing; conflicting; clashing;
incompatible; contradictory; at odds; in opposition; at
variance; Opposite:; similar; psychology
 ecstatically happy:"after the concert, I felt elated" ·
"dozens of elated fans welcomed the champions
home"
thrilled; exhilarated; happy; delighted; overjoyed;
joyous; gleeful; excited; animated; jubilant; exultant;
ecstatic; euphoric; rapturous; enraptured; rapt; in
seventh heaven; transported; hysterical; frenzied;
corybantic; beside oneself with happiness; in raptures;
elated elated walking on air; on cloud nine/seven; jumping for joy; in
transports of delight; carried away; in a frenzy of
delight; delirious (with happiness); wild with
excitement; Opposite:; miserable

fill (someone) with great delight; charm:"Isabel was

enchanted with the idea" · "the scenery began to
enchant her"
captivate; charm; delight; dazzle; enrapture; entrance;
enthral; beguile; bewitch; spellbind; ensnare; fascinate;
enchant en·chant hypnotize; mesmerize; divert; absorb; engross; rivet;
grip; transfix; rapture; Opposite:; repel; bore

establish (an attitude, habit, or belief) so firmly that

change is very difficult or unlikely:"ageism is
entrenched in our society"
entrenched en·trench establish; settle; ensconce; lodge; set; root; install;
plant; embed; anchor; seat; station; Opposite:; dislodge
 originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign
country:"exotic birds" · "they loved to visit exotic
places"
foreign; non-native; tropical; alien; imported;
introduced; unnaturalized; faraway; far off; far-flung;
unfamiliar; distant; remote; Opposite:; native; familiar;
nearby
exotic exot·ic

making use of a situation or treating others unfairly in

order to gain an advantage or benefit:"an exploitative
form of labour"
unprincipled; unethical; immoral; amoral;
conscienceless; untrustworthy; shameless; reprobate;
corrupt; corrupted; dishonest; fraudulent; cheating;
dishonourable; deceitful; devious; underhand; guileful;
exploitative ex·ploit·ative cunning; furtive; sly; wrongdoing; unsavoury;
disreputable; improper; bad; evil; wicked; villainous;
roguish; sinful; ignoble; degenerate; venal; dastardly;
Opposite:; ethical; honest

able to be foreseen or predicted:"the situation is

unlikely to change in the foreseeable future"
unsurprising; expected; to be expected; predictable;
inevitable; reasonable; acceptable; logical; rational;
normal; natural; par for the course; explicable;
explainable; conceivable; imaginable; thinkable;
foreseeable fore·see·able plausible; tenable; justifiable; justified; admissible;
allowable; accountable; defensible; excusable;
pardonable; forgivable; Opposite:; surprising;
mysterious
 abandon or leave:"he would never forsake Tara"
abandon; desert; leave; quit; leave behind; turn one's
back on; cast aside; give up; reject; disown; jilt; strand;
throw over; betray; abandoned; deserted; jilted;
stranded; discarded; shunned; renounced; betrayed;
rejected; disowned; desolate; bleak; godforsaken;
remote; isolated; sequestered; lonely; solitary; derelict;
forsake for·sake dreary; forlorn; uninviting; cheerless; depressing; sad;
depart from; leave high and dry; break (up) with; leave
stranded; leave flat; leave in the lurch; cast aside/off;
Opposite:; stay with; return to

give (someone) pleasure or satisfaction:"she was

gratified to see the shock in Jim's eyes"
please; gladden; delight; satisfy; thrill; give pleasure to;
gratify grat·ify make happy; make content; make someone feel good;
warm the cockles of the heart; Opposite:; displease

pay attention to; take notice of:"he should have

heeded the warnings"
notice; note; mind; mark; consider; take into
consideration; follow; obey; keep; keep to; observe;
pay attention to; take notice of; take note of; pay heed
to; be heedful of; attend to; listen to; pay regard to;
heed heed bear in mind; be mindful of; take into account; be
guided by; adhere to; abide by; take to heart; give ear
to; be alert to; be cautious of; watch out for; Opposite:;
disregard
 having, showing, or done with good judgement or
sense:"the judicious use of public investment"
wise; sensible; prudent; politic; shrewd; astute; canny;
sagacious; common-sense; commonsensical; sound;
well advised; well judged; well thought out;
considered; thoughtful; perceptive; discerning; clear-
sighted; insightful; far-sighted; percipient;
discriminating; informed; intelligent; clever;
judicious ju·di·cious enlightened; logical; rational; discreet; careful;
cautious; circumspect; diplomatic; strategic; expedient;
practical; advisable; long-headed; argute; sapient; in
one's (best) interests; Opposite:; injudicious; foolish; ill-
advised

expressed clearly; easy to understand:"a lucid account"

· "write in a clear and lucid style"
intelligible; comprehensible; understandable; cogent;
coherent; communicative; articulate; eloquent; clear;
clear-cut; crystal clear; transparent; plain; simple;
lucid lucid direct; vivid; sharp; straightforward; perspicuous;
unambiguous; graphic; explicit; Opposite:; confusing;
unclear; ambiguous

relevant or applicable to a particular matter;

apposite:"she asked me a lot of very pertinent
questions" · "practitioners must consider all factors
pertinent to a situation"
relevant; to the point; apposite; appropriate; suitable;
pertinent per·tin·ent fitting; fit; apt; applicable; material; germane; to the
purpose; apropos; ad rem; appurtenant; Opposite:;
irrelevant; inappropriate
 conformity to conventionally accepted standards of
behaviour or morals:"he always behaved with the
utmost propriety"
decorum; respectability; decency; correctness;
appropriateness; good manners; courtesy; politeness;
rectitude; civility; modesty; demureness; sobriety;
refinement; decorousness; seemliness; becomingness;
discretion; gentility; etiquette; breeding;
conventionality; orthodoxy; formality; protocol;
probity; couth; standards; civilities; ceremony;
propriety pro·pri·ety formalities; good form; punctilio; convenance(s);
tenue; social conventions; social grace(s); social
niceties; one's Ps and Qs; rules of conduct; accepted
behaviour; conventionalities; the done thing; the thing
to do; attention to detail; Opposite:; impropriety;
indecorum; (proprieties)

sparkling or shining brightly:"the scintillating sun"

sparkling; shining; bright; brilliant; gleaming; glittering;
twinkling; coruscating; flashing; shimmering; shimmery;
scintillating scin·til·lat·ing scintillant; Opposite:; dull; matte

causing great public interest and excitement:"a

sensational murder trial"
amazing; startling; astonishing; staggering; shocking;
appalling; horrifying; scandalous; stirring; exciting;
thrilling; electrifying; fascinating; interesting; notable;
sensational sen·sa·tion·al noteworthy; important; significant; remarkable;
momentous; historic; newsworthy; Opposite:; run-of-
the-mill
 having, revealing, or involving a great deal of worldly
experience and knowledge of fashion and culture:"a
chic, sophisticated woman" · "a young man with
sophisticated tastes"
worldly; worldly-wise; experienced; enlightened;
sophisticate
d so·phis·ti·cated cosmopolitan; knowledgeable; suave; urbane; cultured;
cultivated; civilized; polished; smooth; refined; elegant;
stylish; media-savvy; Opposite:; naive; unsophisticated

angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues;

conflict:"strife within the community" · "decades of
civil strife"
conflict; friction; discord; disagreement; dissension;
variance; dispute; argument; quarrelling; wrangling;
bickering; controversy; contention; disharmony; ill
feeling; bad blood; hostility; animosity; bad feeling;
Opposite:; harmony; peace; cooperation; AUSTRALIAN;
NEW ZEALAND; trouble or difficulty of any kind.;
Similar:; disruption; disturbance; agitation; upset;
strife strife trouble; turmoil; tumult; disorder; chaos; anarchy;
turbulence; uproar; discord; dissension; dissent;
protest; sedition; rebellion; uprising; rioting;
dissatisfaction; discontent; discontentment;
disaffection; unease; anxiety; anguish; disquiet;
Opposite:; calm; peace

presented or expressed in a subtle and effective

way:"understated elegance"
low-key; muted; toned down; subdued; delicate; faint;
understated under·stated pale; soft; indistinct; indefinite; vague; washed out;
Opposite:; lurid; obvious
 having or showing no moral principles; not honest or
fair:"unscrupulous landlords might be tempted to
harass existing tenants"
unprincipled; unethical; immoral; amoral;
conscienceless; untrustworthy; shameless; reprobate;
exploitative; corrupt; corrupted; dishonest; fraudulent;
cheating; dishonourable; deceitful; devious;
unscrupulou
s un·scru·pu·lous underhand; guileful; cunning; furtive; sly; wrongdoing;
unsavoury; disreputable; improper; bad; evil; wicked;
villainous; roguish; sinful; ignoble; degenerate; venal;
dastardly; Opposite:; ethical; honest

conformity to facts; accuracy:"officials expressed

doubts concerning the veracity of the story"
truthfulness; truth; accuracy; correctness; exactness;
precision; preciseness; realism; authenticity;
faithfulness; fidelity; reputability; honesty; sincerity;
veracity ver·acity trustworthiness; reliability; dependability;
scrupulousness; ethics; morality; righteousness;
virtuousness; decency; goodness; probity;
accurateness; Opposite:; falsity

(of a disease or poison) extremely severe or harmful in

its effects:"a virulent strain of influenza" · "the poison
is so virulent that it kills a fish instantly"
poisonous; toxic; venomous; noxious; deadly; lethal;
fatal; mortal; terminal; death-dealing; life-threatening;
dangerous; harmful; injurious; pernicious; damaging;
destructive; unsafe; contaminating; polluting; deathly;
nocuous; mephitic; baneful; infectious; infective;
contagious; communicable; transmittable;
virulent viru·lent transmissible; spreading; malignant; uncontrollable;
pestilential; severe; extreme; violent; pestiferous;
highly infectious; highly infective; highly contagious;
rapidly spreading; Opposite:; non-toxic; harmless; safe;
non-contagious
 (of a substance) easily evaporated at normal
temperatures:"volatile solvents such as petroleum
ether, hexane, and benzene"
volatile vola·tile evaporative; vaporous; explosive; eruptive;
inflammable; unstable; labile; vaporescent

very skilled or proficient at something:"she is adept at

cutting through red tape" · "an adept negotiator"
adept adjective expert; proficient; accomplished; skilful; talented;
Opposite:; inept; mediocre

preventing success or development; harmful;

unfavourable:"taxes are having an adverse effect on
production" · "adverse weather conditions"
unfavourable; disadvantageous; inauspicious;
unpropitious; unfortunate; unlucky; untimely;
untoward; disagreeable; unpleasant; bad; poor;
terrible; dreadful; dire; wretched; nasty; hostile;
harmful; dangerous; injurious; detrimental; hurtful;
adverse ad·verse deleterious; destructive; pernicious; unhealthy;
antagonistic; unfriendly; ill-disposed; negative;
opposing; opposed; contrary; dissenting; inimical;
antipathetic; at odds; Opposite:; favourable; beneficial;
positive; friendly

suitable or proper in the circumstances:"this isn't the

appropriate time or place" · "a measure appropriate to
a wartime economy"
appropriate adjective suitable; proper; fitting; apt; relevant; connected;
Opposite:; inappropriate; irrelevant

a very typical example of a certain person or thing:"he

was the archetype of the old-style football club
chairman"
personification; embodiment; incarnation; paragon;
essence; quintessence; paradigm; typification; type;
archetype arche·type exemplar; prototype; representation; model; soul;
example; byword; acme; ultimate; zenith; height;
avatar; definitive example; classic example/case
 having or showing the ability to speak fluently and
coherently:"an articulate account of their experiences"
· "he was not very articulate"
eloquent; fluent; communicative; effective; persuasive;
coherent; lucid; vivid; expressive; silver-tongued; vocal;
articulate adjective cogent; illuminating; intelligible; comprehensible;
understandable; Opposite:; inarticulate; hesitant;
unintelligible

conducive to success; favourable:"it was not the most

auspicious moment to hold an election"
favourable; propitious; promising; bright; rosy; good;
optimistic; hopeful; encouraging; opportune; timely;
auspicious aus·pi·cious well timed; lucky; fortunate; providential; felicitous;
advantageous; beneficial; full of promise; Opposite:;
inauspicious

deprived of or lacking (something):"her room was stark

and bereft of colour"
wanting; in need of; lacking; without; free from; short
bereft be·reft of; deprived of; robbed of; stripped of; denuded of; cut
off from; parted from; devoid of; destitute of; bankrupt
of; low on; deficient in

tending to find fault or raise petty objections:"a

captious teacher"
critical; fault-finding; quibbling; niggling; cavilling;
carping; criticizing; disapproving; censorious;
captious cap·tious judgemental; overcritical; hypercritical; pedantic; hair-
splitting; pettifogging; pass-remarkable; Opposite:;
forgiving; easy-going
 (of evidence or argument) having or likely to have the
effect of proving a case; decisive:"conclusive evidence"
· "the findings were by no means conclusive"
incontrovertible; incontestable; irrefutable;
unquestionable; undeniable; indisputable;
unassailable; beyond dispute; beyond doubt; certain;
decisive; convincing; clinching; definitive; definite;
positive; final; ultimate; categorical; demonstrative;
conclusive con·clu·sive unequivocal; unarguable; unanswerable;
uncontroversial; airtight; watertight; beyond question;
beyond a shadow of a doubt; Opposite:; inconclusive;
unconvincing

make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or

harmful act:"they conspired against him" · "they deny
conspiring to defraud the Inland Revenue"
plot; scheme; plan; intrigue; collude; connive;
conspire con·spire collaborate; consort; machinate; manoeuvre; abet;
cabal; hatch a plot; form a conspiracy; lay plans;
be/work hand in glove; be an accessory

describe or portray (something) precisely:"the law

should delineate and prohibit behaviour which is
socially abhorrent"
delineate de·lin·eate describe; set forth; set out; present; outline; depict;
portray; represent; characterize; map out; chart;
define; detail; specify; identify; particularize; limn

free (something or someone) from something that they

are entangled with:"‘I must go,’ she said, disentangling
her fingers from Gabriel's" · "it was difficult to
disentangle fact from fiction"
disentangle dis·en·tan·gle extricate; extract; free; remove; disengage; untwine;
release; liberate; loosen; unloose; detach; unfasten;
unclasp; disconnect; disentwine
 strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do
something:"I exhorted her to be a good child" · "‘Come
on, you guys,’ exhorted Linda"
urge; encourage; call on; enjoin; adjure; charge; press;
pressure; pressurize; lean on; push; spur; incite; goad;
exhort ex·hort bid; entreat; implore; beseech; advise; counsel;
admonish; warn; try to persuade; put pressure on; use
pressure on; egg on; appeal to; Opposite:; discourage

the condition of being weak and delicate:"the

increasing frailty of old age"
infirmity; weakness; weakliness; feebleness;
enfeeblement; debility; incapacity; impairment;
indisposition; fragility; delicacy; slightness; puniness;
frailty frailty illness; sickness; sickliness; ill health; decrepitude;
dodderiness; shakiness; infirmness; Opposite:;
strength; healthiness

a real or imagined cause for complaint, especially

unfair treatment:"a website which enabled staff to air
their grievances"
injustice; wrong; injury; ill; offence; disservice;
unfairness; evil; outrage; atrocity; damage; affront;
insult; indignity; unjust act
grievance griev·ance
 a lengthy and aggressive speech:"they were subjected
to a ten-minute harangue by two border guards"
tirade; lecture; diatribe; homily; polemic; rant;
fulmination; broadside; invective; criticism; berating;
censure; admonition; reproval; admonishment;
harangue har·angue exhortation; declamation; oration; peroration; speech;
talk; address; philippic; obloquy; verbal attack; verbal
onslaught; Opposite:; panegyric

a cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to

one's own advantage:"this was widely interpreted as a
ploy to buy time in order to consolidate his position"
plan; scheme; tactic; manoeuvre; move; gambit;
device; wile; trick; ruse; plot; machination; subterfuge;
ploy ploy artifice; contrivance; expedient; dodge; deception;
deceit; shift; course/line of action

graceful and elegant bearing in a person:"poise and

good deportment can be cultivated"
poise poise balance; equilibrium; control; grace; gracefulness;
presence

the quality of being pompous; self-importance:"his

reputation for arrogance and pomposity"
self-importance; imperiousness; pompousness;
sententiousness; grandiosity; affectation; stiffness; airs;
pretentiousness; pretension; arrogance; vanity;
haughtiness; pride; conceit; egotism; superciliousness;
condescension; affectedness; bombast; loftiness;
pomposity pom·pos·ity turgidity; grandiloquence; magniloquence; ornateness;
portentousness; pedantry; boastfulness; boasting;
bragging; sonorousness; windiness; fustian; euphuism;
orotundity; Opposite:; modesty; humility
 the authority to represent someone else, especially in
voting:"Britons overseas may register to vote by proxy"
deputy; representative; substitute; delegate; agent;
surrogate; stand-in; attorney; ambassador; emissary;
go-between; envoy; frontman; factor; procurator; a
proxy proxy person authorized to act on behalf of another.; a
document authorizing a person to vote on another's
behalf.

abandon or mitigate a severe or harsh attitude,

especially by finally yielding to a request:"she was
going to refuse his request, but relented"
change one's mind; back-pedal; back down; give way;
give in; capitulate; yield; accede; come round;
acquiesce; soften; melt; weaken; unbend; do a U-turn;
become merciful; become lenient; have/show pity;
relent re·lent have/show mercy; give quarter; agree to something;
allow something; concede something; admit
something; do an about-turn; Opposite:; harden

the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing,

especially the exploitation of figures of speech and
other compositional techniques:"he is using a common
figure of rhetoric, hyperbole"
oratory; eloquence; expression; delivery; diction

rhetoric rhet·oric

rigor rigor
 thinly dispersed or scattered:"areas of sparse
population"
scanty; scant; scattered; scarce; infrequent; sporadic;
few and far between; meagre; paltry; skimpy; limited;
sparse sparse in short supply; at a premium; slight; thin; thinly
distributed; hard to come by; Opposite:; abundant;
plentiful; thick

resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering:"steadfast

loyalty"
loyal; faithful; committed; devoted; dedicated;
dependable; reliable; steady; true; constant; staunch;
trusty; firm; determined; resolute; stalwart; stout;
steadfast stead·fast relentless; implacable; single-minded; unchanging;
unwavering; unhesitating; unfaltering; unswerving;
unyielding; unflinching; inflexible; uncompromising;
Opposite:; disloyal; irresolute

have an idea or impression of the existence, presence,

or truth of (something) without certain proof:"if you
suspect a gas leak, do not turn on an electric light" ·
"she suspected that he might be bluffing"
feel; fancy; reckon; guess; surmise; conjecture; think;
suppose; conclude; expect; presume; consider; deduce;
infer; glean; sense; imagine; fear; opine; have a
suspect verb suspicion; have a feeling; be inclined to think; think it
probable/likely; have a sneaking feeling; have a hunch;
be of the opinion; be afraid; have a foreboding;
Opposite:; know
 too long, slow, or dull; tiresome or monotonous:"a
tedious journey"
boring; monotonous; dull; uninteresting; unexciting;
unvaried; unvarying; mind-numbing; mindless; soul-
destroying; soulless; humdrum; dreary; ho-hum;
mundane; wearisome; wearying; tiresome; soporific;
dry; as dry as dust; arid; lifeless; colourless;
monochrome; uninspired; uninspiring; flat; plodding;
tedious te·di·ous slow; banal; vapid; insipid; bland; lacklustre; prosaic;
run-of-the-mill; pedestrian; jejune; leaden; heavy; long-
drawn-out; overlong; long-winded; prolix; laborious;
ponderous; endless; interminable; mechanical; routine;
dreich; deadly dull; lacking variety; Opposite:; exciting;
interesting

the state of being strong and active; energy:"changes

that will give renewed vitality to our democracy"
liveliness; life; energy; animation; spirit; spiritedness;
high-spiritedness; vivacity; exuberance; buoyancy;
bounce; vibrancy; verve; vim; pep; brio; zest;
vitality vi·tal·ity zestfulness; sparkle; spark; effervescence; dynamism;
passion; fire; vigour; forcefulness; ardour; zeal; relish;
gusto; push; drive; punch; elan

playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing

and amusing way:"a whimsical sense of humour"
fanciful; playful; mischievous; waggish; quaint;
whimsical whim·si·cal fantastic; unusual; curious; droll; eccentric; quirky;
offbeat; idiosyncratic; unconventional; outlandish;
peculiar; queer; bizarre; weird; odd; freakish

produce or provide (a natural, agricultural, or industrial

product):"the land yields grapes and tobacco"
produce; bear; give; supply; provide; afford; return;
bring in; pull in; fetch; earn; net; realize; generate;
yield yield furnish; bestow; pay out; contribute; haul in; gather in
 self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a
demanding situation:"Diana passed the test with
aplomb"
poise; self-assurance; assurance; self-possession; self-
confidence; calmness; composure; collectedness;
aplomb aplomb presence of mind; level-headedness; sangfroid;
equilibrium; equanimity; nerve; nonchalance; savoir
faire; savoir vivre; Opposite:; gaucheness

apt in the circumstances or in relation to

something:"an apposite quotation" · "the observations
are apposite to the discussion"
appropriate; suitable; fitting; apt; befitting; relevant;
apposite ap·po·site pertinent; to the point; to the purpose; applicable;
germane; material; congruous; felicitous; ad rem;
appurtenant; Opposite:; inappropriate

owing thanks or having a duty to someone in return for

help or a service:"I don't like to be beholden to
anybody"
indebted; obligated; obliged; bound; duty-bound;
beholden be·holden honour-bound; grateful; thankful; appreciative; under
an obligation; owing a debt of gratitude; in someone's
debt; owing someone thanks

dismiss (someone or something) as unimportant:"she

belittled Amy's riding skills whenever she could"
disparage; denigrate; run down; deprecate; depreciate;
downgrade; play down; trivialize; minimize; make light
belittle be·lit·tle of; undervalue; underrate; underestimate; laugh off;
mock; ridicule; Opposite:; praise; magnify
 a group of similar things or people positioned or
occurring closely together:"clusters of creamy-white
flowers" · "they stood there in a frightened cluster"
bunch; clump; collection; mass; knot; group; astronomy

cluster clus·ter

(of an argument, theory, or policy) logical and

consistent:"they failed to develop a coherent economic
strategy"
logical; reasoned; reasonable; rational; sound; cogent;
consistent; well organized; systematic; orderly;
coherent co·her·ent methodical; clear; lucid; articulate; relevant;
intelligible; comprehensible; well reasoned; Opposite:;
incoherent; muddled

look thoughtfully for a long time at:"he contemplated

his image in the mirrors"
view; regard; examine; inspect; observe; survey; study;
scrutinize; scan; eye; behold; look at; stare at; gaze at;
take a good look at

contemplate con·tem·plate
 clever at achieving one's aims by indirect or deceitful
methods:"a crafty crook faked an injury to escape from
prison"
cunning; guileful; wily; artful; devious; sly; tricky;
duplicitous; dishonest; underhand; cheating; deceitful;
crafty crafty Janus-faced; sharp; scheming; calculating; designing;
evasive; shrewd; astute; canny; subtle; Opposite:;
honest; naive; BRITISH; informal

take (a machine or structure) to pieces:"the engines

were dismantled and the bits piled into a heap" · "the
old regime was dismantled"
take apart; pull apart; deconstruct; disassemble; break
up; knock down; pull down; tear down; demolish; fell;
dismantle dis·man·tle destroy; flatten; level; bulldoze; unbuild; take to pieces;
take to bits; pull to pieces; strip (down); raze (to the
ground); Opposite:; assemble; build

involving many carefully arranged parts or details;

detailed and complicated in design and
planning:"elaborate security precautions" · "elaborate
elaborate adjective wrought-iron gates"
complicated; detailed; intricate; complex; involved;
Opposite:; simple; plain

critical explanation or interpretation of a text,

especially of scripture:"the task of biblical exegesis"
exegesis exe·gesis interpretation; explanation; exposition; explication;
elucidation; clarification; gloss; annotation

go without (something desirable):"she wanted to forgo

the tea and leave while they could"
do without; go without; give up; waive; renounce;
surrender; disavow; relinquish; drop; sacrifice;
forswear; abjure; swear off; steer clear of; abandon;
forgo for·go cede; yield; eschew; cut out; decline; refuse; repudiate;
spurn; part with; abstain from; refrain from; Opposite:;
keep
 impossible to pass through or enter:"a dark,
impenetrable forest"
impassable; unpassable; inaccessible; unnavigable;
impenetrabl
e im·pene·trable Opposite:; accessible; sparse; physics; (of matter)
incapable of occupying the same space as other matter
at the same time.

not allowing fluid to pass through:"an impervious layer

of basaltic clay"
impermeable; impenetrable; impregnable; waterproof;
impervious im·per·vi·ous watertight; water-resistant; water-repellent; sealed;
hermetically sealed; imperviable; Opposite:; permeable

not subject to being taken away from or given away by

the possessor:"the shareholders have the inalienable
right to dismiss directors"
inalienable in·ali·en·able inviolable; absolute; sacrosanct; unchallengeable;
unassailable; untransferable; non-transferable; non-
negotiable; inherent; imprescriptible; indefeasible

having or showing no skill; clumsy:"the referee's inept

handling of the match"
incompetent; unskilful; unskilled; inexpert; amateurish;
crude; rough; clumsy; awkward; maladroit; unhandy;
heavy-handed; bungling; blundering; bumbling;
inept in·ept botched; unproductive; unsuccessful; ineffectual;
inadequate; inferior; substandard; wanting; lacking; all
thumbs; not up to scratch; all fingers and thumbs;
Opposite:; competent

a person who demands complete obedience; a strict

disciplinarian:"the woman in charge was a martinet
who treated all those beneath her like children" · "a
martinet of a staff officer"
martinet mar·tinet disciplinarian; slave driver; taskmaster; taskmistress;
authoritarian; tyrant; drill sergeant; stickler for
discipline

narcissism nar·cis·sism
objurgation objurgation
 just good enough to be acceptable; satisfactory:"he
spoke passable English"
adequate; all right; acceptable; sufficient; satisfactory;
average; tolerable; fair; decent; respectable;
presentable; admissible; allowable; mediocre;
middling; ordinary; run-of-the-mill; workaday;
passable pass·able indifferent; unremarkable; undistinguished;
unexceptional; fairly good; sufficiently good;
moderately good; not (too) bad; Opposite:;
unacceptable; excellent

able to make a way through or into something:"the

problem of penetrating damp"
pungent; pervasive; strong; powerful; suffocating;
stifling; sharp; acrid; acid; sour; biting; stinging;
burning; smarting; irritating; nauseating; nauseous;
sickly; offensive; astringent; bitter; fetid; cloying;
heady; aromatic; flowery; fragrant; mephitic;
Opposite:; mild

penetrating pene·trat·ing

(of a place or building) visually attractive, especially in a

quaint or charming way:"ruined abbeys and
picturesque villages"
picturesque pic·tur·esque attractive; pretty; beautiful; lovely; scenic; charming;
quaint; pleasing; delightful; romantic; Opposite:; ugly;
drab
 (of a surface or body) throw back (heat, light, or sound)
without absorbing it:"when the sun's rays hit the Earth
a lot of the heat is reflected back into space"
throw back; give back; return; mirror; send back; cast
back; bounce back; shine back; Opposite:; absorb

reflect re·flect

having the ability to find quick and clever ways to

overcome difficulties:"he maintained her reputation for
being a resourceful problem-solver" · "you will become
stronger and more resourceful in the face of adversity"
ingenious; imaginative; inventive; creative; quick-
resourceful re·source·ful witted; clever; bright; sharp; talented; gifted; able;
capable; spirited; enthusiastic; ambitious; energetic;
vigorous; Opposite:; unimaginative

(of an organization or individual) reduce costs or

spending in response to economic difficulty:"as a result
of the recession the company retrenched" · "if people
are forced to retrench their expenditure trade will
retrench re·trench suffer"
economize; cut back; budget; tighten one's belt; save;
AUSTRALIAN; SOUTH AFRICAN

characterized by doing or tending to do exactly what

one wants, especially when this involves pleasure or
idleness:"a self-indulgent extra hour of sleep"
pleasure-seeking; hedonistic; sybaritic; indulgent;
luxurious; lotus-eating; epicurean; unrestrained;
self-
indulgent self-indulgent intemperate; immoderate; overindulgent; excessive;
extravagant; fast-living; licentious; sensual; voluptuous;
dissipated; dissolute; decadent; Opposite:; abstemious;
restrained
 form a theory or conjecture about a subject without
firm evidence:"my colleagues speculate about my
private life" · "observers speculated that the
authorities wished to improve their image"
speculate specu·late conjecture; theorize; hypothesize; postulate; guess;
surmise; think; wonder; muse; form theories; make
suppositions; make guesses

sedate, respectable, and unadventurous:"staid law

firms"
sedate; respectable; quiet; serious; serious-minded;
steady; conventional; traditional; unadventurous;
unenterprising; grave; solemn; severe; sombre; sober;
staid staid proper; decorous; formal; stuffy; prim; demure; prissy;
stiff; set in one's ways; Opposite:; frivolous; daring;
informal

forcibly put an end to:"the rising was savagely

suppressed"
subdue; defeat; conquer; vanquish; repress; crush;
quell; quash; squash; stamp out; overpower;
extinguish; put down; put out; crack down on; cow;
end; put an end to; stop; discontinue; terminate; halt;
arrest; triumph over; clamp down on; drive
suppress sup·press underground; Opposite:; incite; encourage

forming a very small remnant of something that was

once greater or more noticeable:"he felt a vestigial
flicker of anger from last night"
vestigial ves·tigial remaining; surviving; residual; leftover; lingering;
persisting; abiding; lasting; enduring
 warn or reprimand someone firmly:"she admonished
me for appearing at breakfast unshaven"
reprimand; rebuke; scold; reprove; upbraid; chastise;
chide; censure; castigate; lambast; berate; reproach;
lecture; criticize; pull up; trim; rate; reprehend;
admonish ad·mon·ish objurgate; take to task; read the Riot Act to; give a
piece of one's mind to; haul over the coals; give
someone a rating; Opposite:; praise

concerned with beauty or the appreciation of

beauty:"the pictures give great aesthetic pleasure"

aesthetic aes·thet·ic

behaviour, speech, or writing that is pretentious and

designed to impress:"the affectation of a man who
measures every word for effect" · "she called the room
her boudoir, which he thought an affectation"
pretension; pretentiousness; affectedness; artificiality;
affectation af·fect·ation insincerity; posturing; posing; pretence; ostentation;
grandiosity; snobbery; superciliousness; airs; airs and
graces; pretensions; Opposite:; naturalness

make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less

severe:"he couldn't prevent her pain, only alleviate it" ·
"measures to alleviate unemployment"
reduce; ease; relieve; take the edge off; deaden; dull;
diminish; lessen; weaken; lighten; attenuate; allay;
assuage; palliate; damp; soothe; help; soften; temper;
alleviate al·le·vi·ate control; still; quell; tone down; blunt; dilute; moderate;
mitigate; modify; abate; lull; pacify; placate; mollify;
sweeten; quieten; quiet; extenuate; Opposite:;
aggravate
 comparable in certain respects, typically in a way which
makes clearer the nature of the things compared:"they
saw the relationship between a ruler and his subjects
as analogous to that of father and children"
comparable; parallel; similar; like; corresponding;
related; kindred; matching; cognate; equivalent;
symmetrical; homologous; Opposite:; dissimilar;
analogous analo·gous unrelated; biology; (of organs) performing a similar
function but having a different evolutionary origin,
such as the wings of insects and birds. Often contrasted
with homologous.

bolster bol·ster
displaying excessive or prejudiced support for one's
own cause or group, in particular showing male
prejudice against women:"she overcomes the surly
chauvinistic chau·vin·is·tic objections of her chauvinistic editor to uncover the
truth" · "it is a chauvinistic, male-dominated society"

an expert judge in matters of taste:"a connoisseur of

music"
pundit; savant; aesthete; gourmet; epicure;
connoisseur con·nois·seur gastronome; expert judge (of); authority (on); specialist
(in); arbiter of taste; one of the cognoscenti; Opposite:;
ignoramus

conceal or disguise one's true feelings or beliefs:"an

honest, sincere person with no need to dissemble"
dissimulate; pretend; deceive; feign; act; masquerade;
sham; fake; bluff; counterfeit; pose; posture; lie; cover
dissemble dis·sem·ble up; conceal; disguise; hide; mask; veil; shroud; hide
one's feelings; be dishonest; put on a false front
 having or showing tenacity and grim
persistence:"success required dogged determination"
tenacious; determined; resolute; resolved; purposeful;
persistent; persevering; pertinacious; relentless; intent;
dead set; single-minded; focused; dedicated;
committed; undeviating; unshakeable; unflagging;
indefatigable; untiring; tireless; unfailing; unfaltering;
dogged dog·ged unwavering; unyielding; unbending; immovable;
obdurate; strong-willed; firm; steadfast; steady;
staunch; stout-hearted; laborious; perseverant;
indurate; never-tiring; Opposite:; hesitant; half-hearted

deceive; trick:"the newspaper was duped into

publishing an untrue story"
deceive; trick; hoodwink; hoax; swindle; defraud;
dupe dupe cheat; double-cross; gull; mislead; take in; fool; delude;
misguide; lead on; inveigle; seduce; ensnare; entrap;
beguile; cozen; sharp; mulct

based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation

or experience rather than theory or pure logic:"they
provided considerable empirical evidence to support
their argument"
observed; seen; factual; actual; real; verifiable; first-
empirical em·pir·ic·al hand; experimental; experiential; practical; pragmatic;
hands-on; applied; heuristic; empiric; Opposite:;
theoretical

cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or

condition):"the issue engendered continuing
controversy"
cause; give rise to; bring about; produce; create;
generate; arouse; rouse; provoke; incite; kindle;
trigger; touch off; stir up; whip up; induce; inspire;
engender en·gen·der instigate; foment; effect; occasion; promote; foster;
beget; enkindle; effectuate; be the cause of; lead to;
result in; spark off; archaic; (of a father) beget
(offspring).
 believing oneself to be inherently deserving of
privileges or special treatment:"kids who feel so
entitled and think the world will revolve around them"
entitled en·titled · "his pompous, entitled attitude"

holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action:"he

worked with a pertinacious resistance to interruptions"
determined; tenacious; persistent; persevering;
assiduous; purposeful; resolute; dogged; indefatigable;
insistent; single-minded; unrelenting; relentless;
implacable; uncompromising; unyielding; tireless;
unshakeable; importunate; stubborn; mulish;
obstinate; obdurate; strong-willed; headstrong;
pertinacious per·tin·acious inflexible; unbending; intransigent; intractable; pig-
headed; bull-headed; stiff-necked; wilful; refractory;
contrary; perverse; indurate; stubborn as a mule; with
one's toes/feet dug in; Opposite:; irresolute; tentative

(of a person or their behaviour) failing to observe the

limits of what is permitted or appropriate:"I hope I
won't be considered presumptuous if I offer some
advice"
brazen; overconfident; arrogant; egotistical; overbold;
bold; audacious; pert; forward; familiar; impertinent;
presumptuo fresh; free; insolent; impudent; cocksure; cheeky; rude;
us pre·sump·tu·ousimpolite; uncivil; bumptious; overhasty; hasty;
premature; previous; precipitate; impetuous;
presumptive; assumptive; Opposite:; timid;
unassuming
 the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty
and decency:"financial probity"
integrity; honesty; uprightness; decency; morality;
rectitude; goodness; virtue; right-mindedness;
probity prob·ity trustworthiness; truthfulness; honour;
honourableness; justice; fairness; equity; principles;
ethics; Opposite:; untrustworthiness

increase rapidly in number; multiply:"the science

fiction magazines which proliferated in the 1920s"
multiply; mushroom; snowball; burgeon; escalate;
proliferate pro·lif·er·ate Opposite:; decrease; dwindle

superficially plausible, but actually wrong:"a specious

argument"

specious spe·cious

not being what it purports to be; false or

fake:"separating authentic and spurious claims"
bogus; fake; specious; false; factitious; counterfeit;
fraudulent; trumped-up; sham; mock; feigned;
pretended; contrived; fabricated; manufactured;
spurious spuri·ous fictitious; make-believe; invalid; fallacious;
meretricious; artificial; imitation; simulated; ersatz;
adulterine; not genuine; Opposite:; authentic; genuine;
real
 based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or
opinions: Contrasted with objective."his views are
highly subjective" · "there is always the danger of
making a subjective judgement"
personal; personalized; individual; internal; emotional;
instinctive; intuitive; impressionistic; biased;
subjective sub·ject·ive prejudiced; bigoted; idiosyncratic; irrational; Opposite:;
objective; impartial; dependent on the mind or on an
individual's perception for its existence.

undermine the power and authority of (an established

system or institution):"the case involved an attempt to
subvert the rule of law"
destabilize; unsettle; overthrow; overturn; bring down;
topple; depose; oust; supplant; unseat; dethrone;
disestablish; dissolve; disrupt; sabotage; ruin; upset;
destroy; annihilate; demolish; wreck; undo; undermine;
subvert sub·vert undercut; weaken; impair; damage; corrupt; pervert;
warp; deprave; defile; debase; distort; contaminate;
poison; embitter; vitiate; bring about the downfall of;
wreak havoc on

showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of

confidence:"a timorous voice"
fearful; apprehensive; faint-hearted; trembling;
quaking; cowering; weak-kneed; shy; diffident; bashful;
self-effacing; shrinking; unassuming; unassertive;
timorous tim·or·ous reserved; retiring; reticent; quiet; timid; nervous;
modest; demure; coy; meek; humble; poor-spirited;
recreant; easily frightened; lacking courage; Opposite:;
bold; forthcoming; brazen
 full of twists and turns:"the route is remote and
tortuous"
twisting; winding; curving; curvy; bending; sinuous;
undulating; coiling; looping; meandering; serpentine;
snaking; snaky; zigzag; convoluted; spiralling; twisty;
tortuous tor·tu·ous circuitous; rambling; wandering; indirect; deviating;
devious; labyrinthine; mazy; anfractuous; flexuous;
Opposite:; straight

(of a person) easy to control or influence:"she has

always been tractable and obedient, even as a child"
controllable; manageable; malleable; governable;
yielding; amenable; complaisant; compliant;
adjustable; docile; submissive; obedient; tame; meek;
biddable; persuadable; persuasible; accommodating;
tractable tract·able trusting; gullible; dutiful; willing; unassertive; passive;
deferential; humble; obsequious; servile; sycophantic;
easily handled; Opposite:; obstinate; defiant;
recalcitrant

lasting only for a short time; impermanent:"a transient

cold spell"
transitory; temporary; short-lived; short-term;
ephemeral; impermanent; brief; short; momentary;
fleeting; flying; evanescent; passing; fugitive; fading;
transient tran·si·ent mutable; unstable; volatile; fly-by-night; fugacious;
here today and gone tomorrow; Opposite:; permanent;
perpetual; constant

present, appearing, or found everywhere:"his

ubiquitous influence was felt by all the family" ·
"cowboy hats are ubiquitous among the male singers"
omnipresent; ever-present; everywhere; all-over; all
over the place; pervasive; all-pervasive; universal;
worldwide; global; rife; prevalent; predominant;
ubiquitous ubi·qui·tous popular; extensive; wide-ranging; far-reaching;
inescapable; present everywhere; very common;
Opposite:; rare; scarce
underscore noun
showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery;
corrupt:"local customs officers are notoriously venal" ·
"their generosity had been at least partly venal"
corrupt; corruptible; bribable; purchasable; buyable;
grafting; dishonest; fraudulent; dishonourable;
venal venal untrustworthy; unscrupulous; unprincipled; mercenary;
avaricious; grasping; rapacious; simoniacal; simoniac;
open to bribery; Opposite:; honourable; honest

regard with great respect; revere:"Philip of Beverley

was venerated as a saint"
venerate ven·er·ate revered; respected; esteemed; honoured; hallowed;
holy; sacred

precede in time; come before (something) in date:"a

civilization that antedated the Roman Empire"
precede; predate; anticipate; come/go before; be
antedate ante·date earlier than

send (someone) away from a country or place as an

official punishment:"a number of people were
banished to Siberia for political crimes"
exile; expel; deport; eject; expatriate; extradite;
banish ban·ish repatriate; transport; cast out; oust; evict; throw out;
exclude; shut out; ban; excommunicate; ostracize;
drive away; Opposite:; admit; readmit

the headgear used to control a horse, consisting of

buckled straps to which a bit and reins are
attached:"grooms came at once to take the bridles"
bridle bridle nautical; a mooring cable.; Similar:; rope; cord; line;
guy; wire; chain; hawser

act in accordance with a wish or command:"we are

unable to comply with your request"
comply com·ply observe; obey; follow; respect; fall in with; Opposite:;
ignore; disobey
 sad and disappointed:"he came back empty-handed
and crestfallen"
downhearted; downcast; despondent; disappointed;
disconsolate; disheartened; discouraged; dispirited;
dejected; depressed; desolate; heartbroken; broken-
hearted; heavy-hearted; low-spirited; sad; glum;
gloomy; dismal; doleful; miserable; unhappy;
crestfallen crest·fall·en woebegone; forlorn; long-faced; fed up; abashed;
dismayed; sheepish; hangdog; abject; defeated;
dolorous; chap-fallen; in the doldrums; taken aback;
Opposite:; cheerful

reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction

on:"civil liberties were further curtailed"
reduce; cut; cut down; cut back; decrease; lessen;
diminish; retrench; trim; dock; lop; shrink; shorten;
break off; truncate; restrict; limit; curb; slim down;
curtail cur·tail tighten up; pare down; cut short; put a restriction on;
put a limit on; put the brakes on; rein in; rein back;
Opposite:; increase; lengthen; archaic; (curtail
someone of)

make (something) clear; explain:"work such as theirs

will help to elucidate this matter" · "in what follows I
shall try to elucidate what I believe the problems to be"
explain; illuminate; clarify; interpret; explicate; gloss;
annotate; spell out; clear up; sort out; resolve; unravel;
elucidate elu·ci·date untangle; make clear; make plain; throw/shed light on;
comment on; expound on; straighten up/out;
Opposite:; confuse; obscure

lacking initiative or strength of character;

irresponsible:"her feckless younger brother"
useless; worthless; incompetent; inefficient; inept;
feckless feck·less good-for-nothing; ne'er-do-well; lazy; idle; slothful;
indolent; shiftless; spiritless; apathetic; aimless;
unambitious; unenterprising
 (of a wound or sore) become septic; suppurate:"I
developed a tropical sore that festered badly"
suppurate; discharge; run; weep; ooze; come to a
head; maturate; rankle; become septic; form pus;
secrete pus; be purulent; apostemate
fester fes·ter

criticizing or attacking cherished beliefs or

institutions:"an iconoclastic filmmaker who has pushed
the boundaries with every film he's made"
critical; sceptical; questioning; heretical; irreverent;
nonconformist; dissident; dissenting; dissentient;
iconoclastic icono·clas·tic malcontent; rebellious; subversive; renegade;
mutinous; maverick; original; innovative;
groundbreaking; Opposite:; conformist

enclose or confine (someone) against their will:"her

brother was immured in a lunatic asylum"
confine; intern; shut up; lock up; incarcerate; imprison;
jail; put away; close in; detain; keep; hold; trap; put
immure im·mure behind bars; put under lock and key; hold captive; hold
prisoner; coop up; mew up; fence in; wall in
 create and perform (music, drama, or verse)
spontaneously or without preparation:"he invited
actors to improvise dialogue" · "he was improvising to a
backing of guitar chords"
extemporize; ad lib; think on one's feet; impromptu;
improvisational; improvisatory; unrehearsed;
unprepared; unscripted; extempore; extemporized;
improvise im·pro·vise spontaneous; unstudied; unpremeditated; unarranged;
unplanned; on the spot; ad libitum; improvisatorial;
speak impromptu; make it up as one goes along; take it
as it comes; Opposite:; prepared; rehearsed

hinder, restrain, or prevent (an action or process):"cold

inhibits plant growth"
impede; hinder; hamper; hold back; discourage;
obstruct; slow; slow down; retard; curb; check;
suppress; repress; restrict; restrain; constrain; bridle;
shackle; fetter; cramp; balk; frustrate; arrest; stifle;
inhibit in·hibit smother; prevent; block; thwart; foil; quash; stop; halt;
interfere with; put a brake on; rein in; put an end/stop
to; nip in the bud; Opposite:; assist; encourage; allow

impossible to understand or interpret:"Guy looked

blankly inscrutable"
enigmatic; unreadable; impenetrable; mysterious;
cryptic; unexpressive; inexpressive; emotionless;
unemotional; expressionless; impassive; blank; vacant;
deadpan; dispassionate; inexplicable; unexplainable;
incomprehensible; unintelligible; unfathomable;
fathomless; opaque; puzzling; perplexing; baffling;
inscrutable in·scrut·able bewildering; confusing; abstruse; arcane; obscure;
sibylline; wildering; impossible to interpret; beyond
comprehension; beyond understanding; impossible to
understand; Opposite:; expressive; transparent
 give a lot of public attention and approval to
(someone); treat as a celebrity:"modern sportsmen are
lionized and feted"
celebrate; fete; glorify; honour; exalt; acclaim; admire;
commend; praise; extol; applaud; hail; make much of;
cry up; venerate; eulogize; reverence; hero-worship;
worship; idolize; adulate; aggrandize; laud; panegyrize;
lionize lion·ize bestow honour on; sing/sound the praises of; make a
fuss of/over; sing paeans to; pay homage to; pay
tribute to; put on a pedestal; Opposite:; vilify

dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and

interest:"the statistics that he quotes with monotonous
regularity"
tedious; boring; dull; uninteresting; unexciting;
wearisome; tiresome; repetitive; repetitious;
unvarying; unchanging; unvaried; humdrum; ho-hum;
routine; mechanical; mind-numbing; soul-destroying;
monotonous mon·ot·on·ous prosaic; run-of-the-mill; uneventful; unrelieved; dreary;
plodding; colourless; featureless; uniform;
monochrome; lacking variety; without variety; dry as
dust; Opposite:; varied; interesting; exciting
 different to what is normal or expected; strange:"he
gave her some very peculiar looks" · "Stella thought the
play peculiar"
strange; unusual; odd; funny; curious; bizarre; weird;
uncanny; queer; unexpected; unfamiliar; abnormal;
atypical; anomalous; untypical; different; out of the
ordinary; out of the way; exceptional; rare;
extraordinary; remarkable; puzzling; mystifying;
mysterious; perplexing; baffling; unaccountable;
peculiar pe·cu·liar incongruous; uncommon; irregular; singular; deviant;
aberrant; freak; freakish; suspicious; dubious;
questionable; eerie; unnatural; unco; outré; eccentric;
idiosyncratic; unconventional; outlandish; offbeat;
quirky; quaint; droll; zany; off-centre; Opposite:;
normal; ordinary; informal

think out or plan (an action, especially a crime)

beforehand:"apparently he did not premeditate her
premeditate pre·medi·tate murder"

recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of

resources:"profligate consumers of energy"
wasteful; extravagant; spendthrift; improvident;
profligate prof·li·gate prodigal; immoderate; excessive; thriftless; imprudent;
reckless; irresponsible; Opposite:; thrifty; frugal
 restore friendly relations between:"the king and the
archbishop were publicly reconciled" · "she wanted to
be reconciled with her father"
repair; make harmonious; restore harmony to; make
peaceful; patch up; smooth out

reconcile rec·on·cile

remove impurities or unwanted elements from (a

substance), typically as part of an industrial
process:"sugar was refined by boiling it in huge iron
vats"
purify; clarify; clear; cleanse; strain; sift; filter; rarefy;
refine re·fine distil; concentrate; process; treat; rectify; Opposite:;
adulterate

voluntarily cease to keep or claim; give up:"he

relinquished his managerial role to become chief
executive"
renounce; give up; give away; hand over; turn over; lay
down; waive; resign; abdicate; yield; cede; surrender;
sign away; leave; vacate; abandon; forsake;
discontinue; stop; cease; drop; avoid; steer clear of;
reject; eschew; forswear; forgo; part with; let go of;
relinquish re·lin·quish resign from; stand down from; bow out of; walk out of;
retire from; depart from; pull out of; desist from; give a
wide berth to; refrain from; abstain from; forbear
from; Opposite:; keep; retain; continue
 think deeply about something:"we sat ruminating on
ruminate ru·min·ate the nature of existence"
think about; contemplate; consider; dwell on
(of an animal, especially a horse) nervous or excitable;
easily scared:"a skittish chestnut mare" · "the birds are
skittish and will take flight when disturbed" · "skittish
investors withdrew their money from equity markets"
restive; excitable; nervous; skittery; jumpy; fidgety;
skittish skit·tish highly strung; easily frightened; Opposite:; calm

unnecessary, especially through being more than

enough:"the purchaser should avoid asking for
superfluous information"
surplus; redundant; unneeded; excess; extra; spare; to
spare; remaining; unused; left over; useless;
unproductive; undue; expendable; disposable;
dispensable; unwanted; waste; unnecessary; needless;
superfluous su·per·flu·ous inessential; pointless; unwarranted; unjustified;
gratuitous; not required; in excess; surplus to
requirements; uncalled for; Opposite:; necessary;
essential

of or forming a general summary or synopsis:"a

synoptic outline of the contents"
concise; short; brief; succinct; to the point; compact;
terse; curt; summary; outline; crisp; short and sweet;
quick; rapid; pithy; epigrammatic; laconic; pointed;
abridged; abbreviated; condensed; compendious;
summarized; contracted; curtailed; truncated; potted;
synoptic syn·op·tic Opposite:; extensive; prolix
 complete with regard to every detail; not superficial or
partial:"planners need a thorough understanding of the
subject"
rigorous; in-depth; exhaustive; thoroughgoing; minute;
detailed; close; meticulous; scrupulous; assiduous;
conscientious; painstaking; methodical; careful;
sedulous; complete; comprehensive; elaborate; full;
intensive; extensive; widespread; sweeping; searching;
all-embracing; all-inclusive; Opposite:; superficial;
cursory; partial
thorough thor·ough

thinking about or planning the future with imagination

or wisdom:"a visionary leader"
inspired; imaginative; creative; inventive; insightful;
ingenious; enterprising; innovative; perceptive;
intuitive; far-sighted; prescient; discerning;
penetrating; sharp; shrewd; wise; clever; talented;
gifted; resourceful; idealistic; idealized; utopian;
visionary vi·sion·ary romantic; quixotic; impractical; unrealistic;
unworkable; unfeasible; fairy-tale; fanciful; dreamy;
ivory-towered; theoretical; hypothetical; out of touch
with reality; archaic; (of a scheme or idea) not practical.
 expressing or characterized by vehement opinions;
loud and forceful:"he was a vociferous opponent of the
takeover"
vehement; outspoken; vocal; forthright; plain-spoken;
frank; candid; open; uninhibited; direct; earnest; eager;
vociferous vo·cif·er·ous enthusiastic; full-throated; vigorous; insistent;
emphatic; demanding; clamorous; strident; loud; loud-
mouthed; raucous; noisy; rowdy; Opposite:; silent;
quiet

anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will

happen:"he felt sick with apprehension" · "she had
some apprehensions about the filming"
anxiety; angst; alarm; worry; uneasiness; unease;
nervousness; misgiving; disquiet; concern; agitation;
apprehensio
n ap·pre·hen·sion restlessness; edginess; fidgetiness; nerves; tension;
trepidation; perturbation; consternation; panic;
fearfulness; dread; fear; shock; horror; terror;
foreboding; presentiment; Opposite:; confidence

very enthusiastic or passionate:"an ardent supporter of

the cause of education"
passionate; avid; impassioned; fervent; fervid; zealous;
wholehearted; eager; vehement; intense; fierce; fiery;
ardent ar·dent flaming; emotional; hot-blooded; earnest; sincere;
enthusiastic; keen; committed; dedicated; assiduous;
Opposite:; half-hearted

self-evident or unquestionable:"it is axiomatic that

dividends have to be financed"
self-evident; unquestionable; undeniable; accepted;
axiomatic axio·mat·ic understood; given; granted; apodictic; indemonstrable;
mathematics
 come or bring to an end:"the hostilities ceased and
normal life was resumed" · "on his retirement the job
will cease to exist" · "they were asked to cease all
military activity"
come to an end; end; halt; stop; conclude; terminate;
finish; wind up; be over; pause; break off; abate; fade
away; discontinue; leave off; quit; shut down; suspend;
cease cease come to a halt; come to a stop; draw to a close; come
to a standstill; peter out; fizzle out; die away; bring to
an end; bring to a halt; bring to a stop; desist from;
refrain from; cut short; Opposite:; start; continue

making a certain situation or outcome likely or

possible:"the harsh lights and cameras were hardly
conducive to a relaxed atmosphere"
favourable; beneficial; valuable; advantageous;
opportune; propitious; encouraging; promising;
convenient; make for; facilitate; favour; aid; assist;
conducive con·du·cive help; benefit; encourage; good for; helpful to;
instrumental in; calculated to produce; productive of;
useful for; contribute to; lead to; tend to promote;
Opposite:; unfavourable

relating to a person's body, especially as opposed to

their spirit:"he was frank about his corporeal
appetites"
corporeal cor·por·eal bodily; corporal; fleshly; in the flesh; somatic;
Opposite:; mental

seeking to impose a doctrine in all circumstances

without regard to practical considerations:"a
doctrinaire economic policy"
dogmatic; rigid; inflexible; uncompromising; unyielding;
adamant; insistent; pontifical; authoritarian;
doctrinaire doc·trin·aire domineering; opinionated; intolerant; biased;
prejudiced; fanatical; zealous; extreme; holding fixed
views; Opposite:; liberal; flexible
 deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse
range of sources:"universities offering an eclectic mix
of courses" · "her musical tastes are eclectic"
wide-ranging; wide; broad; broad-ranging; broad-
based; extensive; comprehensive; encyclopedic;
general; universal; varied; diverse; diversified; catholic;
liberal; cross-disciplinary; interdisciplinary;
multidisciplinary; all-embracing; non-exclusive;
eclectic eclec·tic inclusive; indiscriminate; many-sided; multifaceted;
multifarious; heterogeneous; miscellaneous; assorted;
selective; selecting; choosing; discriminating;
discerning; critical; picking and choosing; Opposite:;
narrow; dogmatic

calmness and composure, especially in a difficult

situation:"she accepted both the good and the bad
with equanimity"
composure; calmness; calm; level-headedness; self-
possession; self-control; coolness; cool-headedness;
presence of mind; serenity; placidity; tranquillity;
equanimity equa·nim·ity phlegm; impassivity; imperturbability; unexcitability;
equilibrium; poise; self-assurance; assurance; self-
confidence; aplomb; sangfroid; nerve; ataraxy; even-
temperedness; Opposite:; anxiety

(of a price or amount charged) unreasonably

high:"some hotels charge exorbitant rates for phone
calls"
extortionate; excessive; sky-high; prohibitive;
outrageous; unreasonable; preposterous; inordinate;
immoderate; inflated; monstrous; unwarranted;
exorbitant ex·or·bi·tant unconscionable; huge; enormous; disproportionate;
punitive; ruinous; expensive; extravagant; over the
odds; excessively high; extremely high; Opposite:;
reasonable; competitive
 changing frequently, especially as regards one's
loyalties or affections:"celebs trying to appeal to an
increasingly fickle public"
capricious; changeable; variable; volatile; mercurial;
vacillating; fitful; irregular; inconstant; disloyal;
fickle fickle undependable; unstable; unsteady; unfaithful;
faithless; irresolute; flighty; giddy; skittish; erratic;
impulsive; unpredictable; random; labile; mutable;
Opposite:; constant; stable

departing from a literal use of words; metaphorical:"a

figurative expression"
metaphorical; non-literal; symbolic; allegorical;
figurative fig·ura·tive representative; emblematic; imaginative; fanciful;
poetic; ornate; literary; flowery; florid; tropical;
parabolic; Opposite:; literal

agitated or confused:"a flustered commuter" · "I found

flustered flustered myself starting to feel hot and flustered"

easily persuaded to believe something; credulous:"an

attempt to persuade a gullible public to spend their
money"
credulous; trustful; exploitable; ripe for the picking;
dupable; deceivable; impressionable; unsuspecting;
unsuspicious; unwary; unguarded; ingenuous; naive;
innocent; simple; inexperienced; unworldly; green;
gullible gul·lible childlike; ignorant; foolish; silly; over-trusting; over-
trustful; easily deceived/led; easily taken in;
unsceptical; as green as grass; Opposite:; cynical;
suspicious
 relating to idiosyncrasy; peculiar or individual:"she
emerged as one of the great, idiosyncratic talents of
the nineties"
distinctive; individual; characteristic; distinct;
distinguishing; peculiar; individualistic; different;
typical; special; specific; representative; unique;
personal; private; essential; eccentric; unconventional;
idiosyncratic idio·syn·crat·ic uncommon; abnormal; irregular; aberrant; anomalous;
odd; off-centre; quirky; queer; strange; weird; bizarre;
outlandish; freakish; extraordinary; singular

happening as a minor accompaniment to something

else:"for the fieldworker who deals with real problems,
paperwork is incidental" · "incidental expenses"
secondary; subsidiary; subordinate; ancillary; auxiliary;
minor; peripheral; background; by-the-way; by-the-by;
non-essential; inessential; unimportant; insignificant;
inconsequential; unnecessary; trivial; trifling; negligible;
incidental in·ci·den·tal petty; tangential; extrinsic; extraneous; dispensable;
expendable; less important; of less importance;
Opposite:; crucial; essential

(of a habit, belief, or attitude) firmly fixed or

established; difficult to change:"his deeply ingrained
Catholic convictions"
entrenched; established; fixed; implanted; deep-
rooted; rooted; deep-seated; settled; firm;
ingrained in·grained unshakeable; ineradicable; inveterate; dyed-in-the-
wool; abiding; enduring; stubborn; unfading; inbred;
instinctive; intrinsic; gut; driven in; Opposite:; transient
 showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect:"she hated
the insolent tone of his voice"
impertinent; impudent; cheeky; ill-mannered; bad
mannered; unmannerly; rude; impolite; uncivil;
discourteous; disrespectful; insubordinate;
insolent in·so·lent contemptuous; presumptuous; audacious; bold;
brazen; brash; pert; forward; insulting; abusive;
offensive; contumelious; malapert; mannerless; lacking
civility; Opposite:; polite

publicly criticize (someone or something) by using

ridicule, irony, or sarcasm:"the actor was lampooned
by the press"
lampoon lam·poon satirize; mock; ridicule; make fun of; poke fun at;
caricature; burlesque; parody; take off; guy; make a
fool of; rag; tease; pasquinade

sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious:"a lavish

banquet"
sumptuous; luxurious; luxuriant; lush; gorgeous; costly;
lavish lav·ish opulent; grand; elaborate; splendid; rich; regal; ornate;
expensive; pretentious; showy; fancy; Opposite:;
meagre

looking or sounding sad and dismal:"his face looked

even more lugubrious than usual"
mournful; gloomy; sad; unhappy; doleful; Eeyorish;
glum; melancholy; melancholic; woeful; miserable;
woebegone; forlorn; despondent; dejected; depressed;
long-faced; sombre; solemn; serious; sorrowful;
lugubrious lu·gu·bri·ous morose; dour; mirthless; cheerless; joyless; wretched;
dismal; grim; saturnine; pessimistic; funereal;
sepulchral; dirge-like; elegiac; dolorous; Opposite:;
cheerful; joyful
 disturbing because concerned with or causing a fear of
death:"a macabre series of murders"
gruesome; grisly; grim; gory; morbid; ghastly;
unearthly; lurid; grotesque; hideous; horrific; horrible;
horrifying; horrid; horrendous; terrifying; frightening;
macabre ma·cabre frightful; fearsome; shocking; dreadful; appalling;
loathsome; repugnant; repulsive; sickening; black;
weird; unhealthy; sick

sullen and ill-tempered:"she was morose and silent

when she got home"
sullen; sulky; gloomy; bad-tempered; ill-tempered;
dour; surly; sour; glum; moody; unsmiling; humourless;
uncommunicative; taciturn; unresponsive; unsociable;
scowling; glowering; ill-humoured; sombre; sober;
saturnine; pessimistic; lugubrious; Eeyorish; mournful;
melancholy; melancholic; doleful; miserable; dismal;
depressed; dejected; despondent; downcast; unhappy;
morose mor·ose low-spirited; low; blue; down; fed up; grumpy; irritable;
churlish; cantankerous; crotchety; cross; crabbed;
crabby; grouchy; testy; snappish; peevish; crusty;
waspish; in a bad mood; in low spirits; with a long face;
Opposite:; cheerful; happy; communicative

assertive of authority in a domineering way, especially

with regard to trivial matters:"the security people were
very officious"
peremptory; high-handed; commanding; imperial;
overbearing; overweening; domineering; authoritarian;
officious of·fi·cious dictatorial; authoritative; lordly; assertive; dominating;
bullish; forceful; bossy; arrogant; pushful; Opposite:;
meek
 a complex or unwelcome consequence of an action or
event:"any change is bound to have legal ramifications"
consequence; result; aftermath; outcome; effect;
ramification ram·ifi·ca·tion upshot; issue; sequel; complication; development;
implication; product; by-product; outgrowth; spin-off

calm, peaceful, and untroubled; tranquil:"her eyes

were closed and she looked very serene" · "serene
certainty"
calm; composed; collected; as cool as a cucumber;
tranquil; peaceful; at peace; pacific; untroubled;
relaxed; at ease; poised; self-possessed; unperturbed;
imperturbable; undisturbed; unruffled; unworried;
serene se·rene unexcitable; placid; equable; even-tempered; centered;
quiet; still; restful; relaxing; soothing; cool, calm, and
collected; Opposite:; anxious; nervous; agitated;
turbulent; noisy

supersede and replace:"domestic production has been

supplanted by imports and jobs have been lost"
replace; displace; supersede; take the place of;
undermine; override; oust; usurp; overthrow; remove;
supplant sup·plant topple; unseat; depose; dethrone; eject; dispel;
succeed; come after; take over from; substitute for;
step into the shoes of

understood or implied without being stated:"your

silence may be taken to mean tacit agreement"
implicit; understood; implied; inferred; hinted;
suggested; insinuated; unspoken; unstated;
tacit tacit undeclared; unsaid; unexpressed; unmentioned;
unvoiced; silent; mute; wordless; not spelt out; taken
for granted; taken as read; Opposite:; explicit; stated
 be or go beyond the range or limits of (a field of activity
or conceptual sphere):"this was an issue transcending
the tech space and reaching other corners of society"
transcend tran·scend cut across; go beyond; rise above

a written work dealing formally and systematically with

a subject:"his treatise on Scottish political theory"
disquisition; essay; paper; work; exposition; discourse;
dissertation; thesis; monograph; study; critique; tract;
treatise trea·tise pamphlet; tractate; institutes; piece of writing

give or grant someone (power, status, or

recognition):"the powers accorded to the head of
state" · "the national assembly accorded the General
more power"
give; grant; tender; present; award; hand; vouchsafe;
accord ac·cord concede; yield; cede; confer on; bestow on; vest in; put
in someone's hands; invest with; endow with; entrust
with; favour with; Opposite:; withhold; remove

stick fast to (a surface or substance):"paint won't

adhere well to a greasy surface"
adhere ad·here stick; cling; hold fast; cohere; bond; attach; stick fast;
be stuck; be fixed; be pasted; be glued

including or covering everything or everyone;

comprehensive:"an all-encompassing package to
combat global warming"
comprehensive; all-inclusive; complete; full; full-scale;
all-embracing; encyclopedic; thorough; in-depth;
all- thoroughgoing; extensive; intensive; all-out; profound;
ecompassingall-encompass·ingfar-reaching; sweeping; umbrella; definitive; detailed;
minute; meticulous; painstaking; careful; Opposite:;
perfunctory; incomplete
 a pithy observation which contains a general truth:"the
old aphorism ‘the child is father to the man’" · "the
debate begins and ends at the level of aphorism, with
commentators saying that something must be done"
proverb; maxim; axiom; adage; saw; tag; motto;
precept; epigram; epigraph; dictum; gnome; pearl of
aphorism aph·or·ism wisdom; expression; phrase; formula; slogan;
catchphrase; platitude; cliché; commonplace; truism;
apophthegm

a standard or point of reference against which things

may be compared:"the pay settlement will set a
benchmark for other employers and workers"
standard; basis; gauge; criterion; specification; canon;
convention; guide; guideline; norm; touchstone;
benchmark bench·mark yardstick; test; litmus test; barometer; indicator;
measure; model; exemplar; pattern; paradigm;
archetype; prototype; ideal; point of reference; guiding
principle; classic example

have a severely detrimental effect on:"the scandal

blighted the careers of several leading politicians" ·
"the problems are most acutely felt in areas blighted by
poverty" · "some people complain that wind farms
blight the landscape"
ruin; wreck; spoil; disrupt; undo; mar; play havoc with;
blighted blight make a mess of; put an end to; end; put a stop to;
prevent; frustrate; crush; quell; quash; dash; destroy;
scotch; shatter; devastate; demolish; sabotage; bring to
naught; bring to an end

in a state of peaceful happiness:"he seemed more

content, less bitter"
contented; satisfied; pleased; gratified; fulfilled; happy;
cheerful; cheery; glad; delighted; tranquil; unworried;
content con·tent untroubled; at ease; at peace; comfortable; serene;
placid; complacent; Opposite:; discontented;
dissatisfied
 reduce (something) in quality or value; degrade:"the
love episodes debase the dignity of the drama"
degrade; devalue; demean; cheapen; prostitute;
discredit; drag down; tarnish; blacken; blemish;
disgrace; dishonour; shame; humble; humiliate;
damage; harm; undermine; corrupt; corrupted;
debase de·base bastardized; adulterated; diluted; polluted; tainted;
sullied; spoiled; spoilt; vitiated; lower the status of;
reduce the status of; drag through the mud; bring
shame to; Opposite:; enhance; original; pure

causing one to feel unsettled:"he had a disconcerting

habit of offering jobs to people he met at dinner
parties"
unsettling; unnerving; discomfiting; disturbing;
disconcertin perturbing; troubling; upsetting; worrying; concerning;
g dis·con·cert·ing alarming; embarrassing; awkward; bothersome;
distracting; confusing; bewildering; perplexing;
Opposite:; reassuring

still in existence; surviving:"an extant letter"

surviving; remaining; abiding; enduring; undestroyed;
present; existent; living; alive; still existing; in
extant ex·tant existence; Opposite:; non-existent; dead; no longer
existing

a place, amenity, or piece of equipment provided for a

particular purpose:"cooking facilities" · "facilities for car
parking" · "a manufacturing facility"
provision; space; means; solution; potential;
prerequisite; equipment; amenity; resource; service;
facility fa·cil·ity advantage; convenience; benefit; establishment;
centre; installation; place; depot; station; location;
premises; site; post; base; camp
 active or occurring spasmodically or intermittently; not
regular or steady:"a few hours' fitful sleep" · "business
was fitful"
intermittent; sporadic; spasmodic; broken; disturbed;
disrupted; patchy; irregular; variable; uneven;
fitful fit·ful unsettled; disconnected; unsteady; on and off; off and
on; restless; sleepless; wakeful; insomniac; tossing and
turning; Opposite:; constant

encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful

behaviour):"they conspired to incite riots"
stir up; whip up; work up; encourage; fuel; kindle;
ignite; inflame; stimulate; instigate; provoke; excite;
arouse; awaken; waken; inspire; trigger; ferment;
foment; cause; generate; bring about; enkindle; urge;
goad; drive on; push; prod; prompt; induce; impel;
incite in·cite motivate; make; influence; rouse; sting; prick; procure;
fan the flames of; stoke up; spark off; agitate
for/against; egg on; spur on; Opposite:; suppress;
dissuade; deter

succeed in persuading or leading (someone) to do

something:"the pickets induced many workers to stay
away"
persuade; convince; get; make; prompt; move; inspire;
instigate; influence; press; urge; incite; encourage;
induce in·duce impel; actuate; motivate; talk into; procure; prevail
upon; exert influence on; coax into; wheedle into;
cajole into; prod into; Opposite:; dissuade

a thing that is inappropriate, especially a remark or

expression:"she winced at their infelicities and at the
clumsy way they talked"
infelicity in·feli·city mistake; error; blunder; slip; lapse; solecism; misusage;
impropriety
 able to be understood; comprehensible:"use
vocabulary that is intelligible to your audience" · "a
barely intelligible reply"
comprehensible; understandable; accessible;
digestible; user-friendly; lucid; clear; crystal clear;
coherent; transparent; plain; simple; perspicuous;
explicit; precise; unambiguous; self-explanatory;
intelligible in·tel·li·gible penetrable; fathomable; graspable; easy to
understand; Opposite:; unintelligible; philosophy; able
to be understood only by the intellect, not by the
senses.

acting as an interim and temporary measure:"arranging

a row of chairs to form a makeshift bed"
temporary; make-do; provisional; stopgap; standby;
rough and ready; substitute; emergency; improvised;
ad hoc; impromptu; extemporary; extempore; jury-
makeshift make·shift rigged; jury; thrown together; cobbled together;
Opposite:; permanent

former:"a one-time actor"

onetime one-time former; ex-; old; previous; sometime; erstwhile; as was;
once; then; lapsed; quondam
exploiting immediate opportunities, especially
regardless of planning or principle:"an opportunistic
political lightweight"
egocentric; egotistic; egotistical; egomaniacal; self-
centred; self-regarding; self-absorbed; self-obsessed;
self-seeking; self-serving; inward-looking; introverted;
self-loving; inconsiderate; thoughtless; unthinking;
opportunisti uncaring; heedless; unmindful; regardless; insensitive;
c op·por·tun·is·tictactless; uncharitable; unkind; miserly; grasping;
greedy; mercenary; money-grubbing; acquisitive;
mean; wrapped up in oneself; out for what one can
get; Opposite:; unselfish; selfless; altruistic;
considerate; generous; ecology
 (of an argument or statement) seeming reasonable or
probable:"a plausible explanation" · "it seems plausible
that one of two things may happen"
credible; reasonable; believable; likely; feasible;
probable; tenable; possible; conceivable; imaginable;
convincing; persuasive; cogent; sound; rational; logical;
plausible plaus·ible acceptable; thinkable; smooth-talking; smooth-
tongued; smooth; glib; specious; verisimilar;
colourable; within the bounds of possibility; Opposite:;
unlikely; improbable

behaviour that is intended to impress or mislead:"a

posturing posturing masking of fear with macho posturing"

having great power, influence, or effect:"thrones were

potent symbols of authority" · "a potent drug"
powerful; strong; vigorous; mighty; formidable;
influential; commanding; dominant; forceful; dynamic;
redoubtable; overpowering; overwhelming; puissant;
convincing; cogent; compelling; persuasive; effective;
potent po·tent effectual; eloquent; impressive; telling; sound; well
founded; valid; weighty; authoritative; irresistible;
efficacious; intoxicating; heady; hard; stiff; spiritous;
Opposite:; weak; impotent

not or no longer needed or useful; superfluous:"many

of the old skills had become redundant" · "this
redundant brewery has been converted into a library"
unnecessary; inessential; unessential; needless;
redundant re·dun·dant Opposite:; essential; necessary; BRITISH
 (especially of a principle, place, or routine) regarded as
too important or valuable to be interfered with:"the
individual's right to work has been upheld as
sacrosanct"
sacred; hallowed; respected; inviolable; inviolate;
sacrosanct sacro·sanct unimpeachable; unchallengeable; invulnerable;
untouchable; inalienable; set apart; protected;
defended; secure; safe; unthreatened

having or showing sharp powers of judgement;

astute:"she was shrewd enough to guess the motive
behind his gesture" · "a shrewd career move"
astute; sharp-witted; sharp; acute; intelligent; clever;
alert; canny; media-savvy; perceptive; perspicacious;
observant; discriminating; sagacious; sage; wise; far-
shrewd shrewd seeing; far-sighted; cunning; artful; crafty; wily;
calculating; disingenuous; long-headed; sapient;
argute; have all one's wits about one; Opposite:;
stupid; unwise; ingenuous

not adorned; plain:"it was very simple, its walls

unadorned" · "the unadorned truth"
unembellished; unornamented; undecorated;
unvarnished; unfurnished; unpatterned; uncluttered;
unostentatious; unfussy; no-nonsense; plain; penny
unadorned un·adorned plain; simple; basic; modest; restrained;
straightforward; bare; bald; austere; stark; severe;
spartan; ascetic; clinical; clean; unelaborate; without
frills; Opposite:; ornate; fancy

serving as a farewell:"a valedictory wave"

valedictory val·edic·tory farewell; goodbye; leaving; parting; departing; going
away; last; final; Opposite:; welcome; salutatory
 justify or necessitate (a course of action):"the
employees feel that industrial action is warranted"
justify; vindicate; call for; sanction; validate; permit;
authorize; entitle; empower; uphold; condone;
endorse; deserve; excuse; account for; legitimize;
warranted war·rant support; license; merit; rate; be a justification/reason
for; be a defence of; explain away; offer grounds for;
consent to; approve of; qualify for; be worthy of; be
worth; be entitled to; be deserving of

having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful

longing:"a wistful smile"
regretful; nostalgic; yearning; longing; plaintive; rueful;
melancholy; sad; mournful; forlorn; disconsolate;
wistful wist·ful woebegone; doleful; pensive; reflective;
contemplative; meditative; dreamy; daydreaming; in a
reverie

pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their

demands:"amendments have been added to appease
local pressure groups"
conciliate; placate; pacify; propitiate; palliate; allay;
reconcile; mollify; soothe; subdue; soften; content; still;
appease ap·pease silence; tranquillize; humour; quieten; quiet; make
peace with; win over; calm (down); quieten down;
Opposite:; provoke; inflame

based on random choice or personal whim, rather than

any reason or system:"an arbitrary decision"
capricious; whimsical; random; chance; erratic;
unpredictable; inconsistent; wild; hit-or-miss;
haphazard; casual; unmotivated; motiveless;
arbitrary ar·bi·trary unreasoned; unreasonable; unsupported; irrational;
illogical; groundless; unjustifiable; unjustified; wanton;
discretionary; personal; subjective; discretional;
Opposite:; rational; reasoned
 very old or old-fashioned:"prisons are run on archaic
methods"
obsolete; obsolescent; out of date; anachronistic; old-
fashioned; outmoded; behind the times; bygone;
antiquated; antique; superannuated; antediluvian; olde
worlde; old-fangled; ancient; aged; prehistoric;
archaic ar·chaic primitive; of yore; extinct; defunct; discontinued;
discarded; fossilized; dead; passé; démodé; past its
prime; having seen better days; very old; Opposite:;
new; modern

making a loud and confused noise:"a jostling,

clamorous mob"
noisy; loud; vocal; vociferous; raucous; rowdy; rackety;
tumultuous; shouting; shrieking; screaming;
clamorous clam·or·ous importunate; demanding; insistent; vehement;
Opposite:; quiet

a scarcity or lack of something:"there is a dearth of

evidence"
lack; scarcity; scarceness; shortage; shortfall; want;
deficiency; insufficiency; inadequacy; paucity;
sparseness; meagreness; scantiness; rareness;
dearth dearth infrequency; uncommonness; destitution; privation;
famine; drought; poverty; absence; non-existence;
exiguity; exiguousness; Opposite:; abundance; surfeit;
archaic; a situation where food is in short supply.

able to be accounted for or understood:"differences in

schools were not explicable in terms of differences in
intake"
explicable ex·plic·able explainable; interpretable; definable; understandable;
comprehensible; accountable; intelligible; exponible;
Opposite:; inexplicable
 exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be
taken literally:"he vowed revenge with oaths and
hyperboles" · "you can't accuse us of hyperbole"
exaggeration; overstatement; magnification;
hyperbole hyper·bole amplification; embroidery; embellishment; overplaying;
excess; overkill; Opposite:; understatement

unchanging over time or unable to be changed:"an

immutable fact"
unchangeable; fixed; set; rigid; inflexible; unyielding;
unbending; permanent; entrenched; established; well
established; unshakeable; irremovable; indelible;
immutable im·mut·able ineradicable; unchanging; unchanged; changeless;
unvarying; unvaried; undeviating; static; constant;
lasting; abiding; enduring; persistent; perpetual;
Opposite:; variable

(of a person or their efforts) persisting tirelessly:"an

indefatigable defender of human rights"
tireless; untiring; unwearied; unwearying; unflagging;
energetic; dynamic; enthusiastic; unrelenting;
relentless; unremitting; unswerving; unfaltering;
indefatigable in·defat·ig·able unshakeable; indomitable; persistent; tenacious;
determined; dogged; single-minded; assiduous;
industrious; never-tiring; Opposite:; idle; feeble

wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy:"they were

indolent and addicted to a life of pleasure"
lazy; idle; slothful; loafing; work-shy; shiftless;
apathetic; lackadaisical; inactive; inert; lifeless;
sluggish; lethargic; listless; languid; torpid; slow; slow-
indolent in·do·lent moving; dull; plodding; slack; lax; remiss; negligent;
good-for-nothing; fainéant; otiose; Opposite:;
industrious; energetic
 ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or
peoples outside one's own experience:"a stubbornly
insular farming people"
narrow-minded; limited; blinkered; restricted; inward-
looking; conventional; parochial; provincial; small-
town; localist; small-minded; petty-minded; petty;
close-minded; short-sighted; myopic; hidebound; dyed-
in-the-wool; diehard; set; inflexible; dogmatic; rigid;
insular in·su·lar entrenched; illiberal; intolerant; prejudiced; bigoted;
biased; partisan; sectarian; xenophobic; discriminatory;
parish-pump; blimpish; borné; claustral; set in one's
ways; Opposite:; broad-minded; tolerant

unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree

about something:"her father had tried persuasion, but
she was intransigent"
uncompromising; inflexible; unbending; unyielding;
unshakeable; unwavering; resolute; unpersuadable;
unaccommodating; uncooperative; stubborn;
obstinate; obdurate; pig-headed; bull-headed; single-
intransigent in·transi·gent minded; iron-willed; hard-line; hard and fast; diehard;
immovable; unrelenting; inexorable; inveterate; rigid;
tough; firm; determined; adamant; tenacious; indurate;
unmalleable; Opposite:; compliant; flexible

fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or

humorous effect):"our intrepid reporter"
fearless; unafraid; undaunted; dauntless; undismayed;
unalarmed; unflinching; unshrinking; unabashed; bold;
daring; audacious; adventurous; dashing; heroic;
dynamic; spirited; mettlesome; confident; indomitable;
intrepid in·trepid brave; courageous; valiant; valorous; stout-hearted;
lionhearted; stalwart; plucky; doughty; venturous;
unblenching; Opposite:; fearful; cowardly
 showing a lack of respect for people or things that are
generally taken seriously:"he had an irreverent sense
of humour but could always be counted on for sage
advice"
disrespectful; disdainful; scornful; contemptuous;
irreverent ir·rev·er·ent derisive; disparaging; insolent; impudent; impertinent;
cheeky; flippant; flip; insubordinate; presumptuous;
forward; rude; Opposite:; reverent; respectful

feel intense dislike or disgust for:"she loathed him on

sight"
hate; detest; abhor; despise; abominate; execrate;
hatred; detestation; abhorrence; abomination;
execration; odium; antipathy; dislike; hostility;
animosity; ill will; ill feeling; malice; animus; enmity;
aversion; repugnance; disgust; revulsion; dislike
loathe loathe greatly; have a strong aversion to; feel repugnance
towards; not be able to bear; not be able to stand;
shrink from; recoil from; be repelled by; be unable to
stomach; find intolerable; bad feeling; Opposite:; love;
like

evil in nature or effect:"she had a strong and malign

influence"
harmful; evil; bad; baleful; hostile; inimical; destructive;
malevolent; malignant; injurious; spiteful; malicious;
malign ma·lign vicious; malefic; maleficent; evil-intentioned;
Opposite:; beneficial; archaic; (of a disease) malignant.
 (of a metal or other material) able to be hammered or
pressed into shape without breaking or cracking:"a
malleable metal can be beaten into a sheet"
pliable; ductile; plastic; pliant; soft; workable; shapable;
mouldable; tensile; tractile; Opposite:; hard
malleable mal·le·able

a person who is new to a subject or activity:"four-day

cooking classes are offered to neophytes and experts" ·
"a cast of neophyte actors"
beginner; learner; novice; newcomer; initiate; tyro;
neophyte neo·phyte fledgling; trainee; apprentice; probationer; new
member; new entrant; new recruit; raw recruit; new
boy/girl

a synthetic material made from a wide range of organic

polymers such as polyethylene, PVC, nylon, etc., that
can be moulded into shape while soft, and then set
into a rigid or slightly elastic form:"mains pipes should
plastic plas·tic be made of plastic or copper" · "bottles can be made
from a variety of plastics"

a remark or statement, especially one with a moral

content, that has been used too often to be interesting
or thoughtful:"he masks his disdain for her with
platitudes about how she should believe in herself
more"
platitude plati·tude cliché; truism; commonplace; banality; bromide;
inanity; tag; hackneyed/trite/banal/overworked saying;
old chestnut
 having or showing knowledge of events before they
take place:"a prescient warning"
prophetic; predictive; visionary; psychic; clairvoyant;
prescient pres·ci·ent far-seeing; far-sighted; prognostic; divinatory; oracular;
sibylline; apocalyptic; fateful; revelatory; insightful;
intuitive

in its original condition; unspoilt:"pristine copies of an

early magazine"

pristine pris·tine

express to (someone) one's disapproval of or

disappointment in their actions:"critics reproachedhim
for his failure to tackle the deficiency " · "‘You know
that isn't true,’ he reproached her"
dislike; take exception to; take a dim view of; detest;
deplore; despise; loathe; criticize; censure; blame;
condemn; denounce; decry; rebuke; reprove;
disparage; deprecate; animadvert; have/express a poor
reproach re·proach opinion of; be against; object to; find unacceptable;
think wrong; not believe in; not support; frown on;
look askance at; be dissatisfied with; be displeased
with; be hostile towards; remonstrate against;
Opposite:; approve; (reproach someone with)
 strong and healthy; vigorous:"the Caplan family are a
robust lot"
strong; vigorous; sturdy; tough; powerful; muscular;
sinewy; rugged; hardy; strapping; brawny; burly; husky;
healthy; fit; fighting fit; hale; hearty; lusty; in trim;
aerobicized; able-bodied; stalwart; thewy; stark;
robust ro·bust powerfully built; solidly built; as strong as a horse/ox;
as fit as a fiddle/flea; bursting with health; hale and
hearty; in fine fettle; in good health; in good shape; in
good trim; in rude health; Opposite:; weak; frail

health-giving; healthy:"odours of far less salubrious

origin"
healthy; health-giving; healthful; beneficial;
salubrious sa·lu·bri·ous wholesome; salutary; good for one's health; Opposite:;
unhealthy

a threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule:"a

range of sanctions aimed at deterring insider abuse"
penalty; punishment; deterrent; discipline;
penalization; correction; retribution; embargo; ban;
prohibition; boycott; barrier; restriction; tariff; punitive
sanction sanc·tion action; Opposite:; reward; (sanctions)

(of a person or action) showing dedication and

diligence:"he watched himself with the most sedulous
care"
diligent; careful; meticulous; thorough; assiduous;
attentive; industrious; laborious; hard-working;
sedulous sedu·lous conscientious; ultra-careful; punctilious; scrupulous;
painstaking; searching; close; elaborate; minute;
studious; rigorous; particular; religious; strict; pedantic;
fussy; Opposite:; nonchalant
 tending to induce drowsiness or sleep:"the motion of
the train had a somewhat soporific effect"

soporific sop·or·if·ic

(of a person or their manner) serious and unrelenting,

especially in the assertion of authority and exercise of
discipline:"a smile transformed his stern face" · "Mama
looked stern"
serious; unsmiling; frowning; poker-faced; severe;
forbidding; grim; unfriendly; sombre; grave; sober;
stern stern austere; dour; stony; flinty; steely; unrelenting;
unyielding; unforgiving; unbending; unsympathetic;
disapproving; Rhadamanthine; Opposite:; genial;
friendly

expressing or intending to promote a particular cause

or point of view, especially a controversial one:"a
tendentious reading of history"
contentious; disputed; contended; at issue; moot;
disputable; debatable; arguable; vexed; emotive;
tendentious ten·den·tious sensitive; delicate; difficult; awkward; problematic;
controvertible; open to discussion/question; under
discussion; Opposite:; uncontroversial; anodyne
 praise enthusiastically and publicly:"the conference
was acclaimed as a considerable success"
celebrated; admired; lionized; revered; honoured;
esteemed; exalted; lauded; vaunted; well thought of;
acknowledged; eminent; venerable; august; great;
renowned; distinguished; prestigious; illustrious; pre-
eminent; estimable; of note; noted; notable;
considerable; praise; applaud; cheer; commend;
approve; welcome; eulogize; compliment;
congratulate; celebrate; sing the praises of; make much
of; take one's hat off to; salute; lionize; exalt; admire;
hail; toast; flatter; adulate; vaunt; extol; glorify;
honour; hymn; clap; emblazon; laud; panegyrize;
proclaim; announce; declare; pronounce; highly rated;
acclaim ac·claim much touted; well received; of repute; of high
standing; express approval of; express admiration for;
pay tribute to; speak highly of; praise to the skies; rave
about; go into raptures about/over; heap praise on;
wax lyrical about; say nice things about; pat on the
back; throw bouquets at; cry someone/something up;
hail as; Opposite:; criticized; unsung; obscure; criticize

find (something) out for certain; make sure of:"an

attempt to ascertain the cause of the accident" ·
"management should ascertain whether adequate
funding can be provided"
find out; discover; work out; make out; learn; establish;
fix; determine; settle; decide; verify; confirm; deduce;
divine; intuit; diagnose; discern; perceive; see; realize;
ascertain as·cer·tain appreciate; identify; pin down; recognize; register;
understand; grasp; take in; comprehend; cognize;
get/come to know; fathom (out); become aware of;
ferret out; dig out/up; make certain of
 having or showing a confident and forceful
personality:"the job may call for assertive behaviour"
confident; forceful; self-confident; positive; bold;
decisive; assured; self-assured; self-possessed; self-
assertive; authoritative; strong-willed; insistent; firm;
assertive as·sert·ive determined; commanding; bullish; dominant;
domineering; assaultive; pushful; believing in oneself;
Opposite:; retiring

not genuine or true (used in a disapproving manner

when deception has been attempted):"a bogus
insurance claim"
fake; faked; spurious; false; fraudulent; sham;
deceptive; misleading; pretended; counterfeit; forged;
bogus bogus feigned; simulated; artificial; imitation; mock; make-
believe; fictitious; dummy; quasi-; pseudo; ersatz;
Opposite:; genuine; authentic

(of a natural event) large-scale and violent:"a

cataclysmic earthquake"
disastrous; catastrophic; calamitous; tragic;
cataclysmic cata·clys·mic devastating; ruinous; terrible; violent; awful; Opposite:;
fortunate; beneficial

restrict (something) within limits:"the minister's

powers are circumscribed both by tradition and the
organization of local government"
circumscribe cir·cum·scribe restrict; limit; delimit; curb; confine; bound; restrain;
regulate; control; set/impose limits on; keep within
bounds
 combining in such a way as to enhance or emphasize
the qualities of each other or another:"they had
different but complementary skills" · "the second TV
network was complementary to the BBC"
harmonizing; harmonious; complementing; supportive;
complement supporting; reciprocal; interdependent; interrelated;
ary com·ple·men·tary
compatible; corresponding; matching; twin;
completing; finishing; perfecting; complemental;
Opposite:; incompatible; contrasting; biochemistry

causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial:"a

contentious issue"
controversial; disputable; debatable; disputed;
contended; moot; vexed; ambivalent; equivocal;
unsure; uncertain; unresolved; undecided; unsettled;
borderline; controvertible; open to question/debate;
Opposite:; uncontroversial

contentious con·ten·tious
 not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one
knows less about something than one really does:"he
was being somewhat disingenuous as well as cynical"
dishonest; deceitful; underhand; underhanded;
duplicitous; double-dealing; two-faced; dissembling;
insincere; false; lying; untruthful; mendacious; artful;
cunning; crafty; wily; sly; sneaky; tricky; scheming;
calculating; designing; devious; unscrupulous; subtle;
disingenuous dis·in·genu·ous hollow-hearted; false-hearted; double-faced; truthless;
not candid; not frank; not entirely truthful; economical
with the truth; terminologically inexact; unveracious;
Opposite:; ingenuous; frank

make known (private or sensitive information):"I do

not want to divulge my plans at the moment"
disclose; reveal; tell; impart; communicate; pass on;
publish; broadcast; proclaim; promulgate; declare;
expose; uncover; give away; leak; confess; betray;
divulge di·vulge admit; come out with; discover; unbosom; make
known; make public; go public with; bring into the
open; let slip; let drop; blurt out; Opposite:; conceal

inclined to lay down principles as undeniably true:"she

was not tempted to be dogmatic about what she
believed"
opinionated; peremptory; assertive; imperative;
insistent; emphatic; adamant; doctrinaire;
authoritarian; authoritative; domineering; imperious;
high-handed; pontifical; arrogant; overbearing;
dogmatic dog·mat·ic dictatorial; uncompromising; unyielding; unbending;
inflexible; rigid; entrenched; unquestionable;
unchallengeable; intolerant; narrow-minded; small-
minded; Opposite:; low-key; tentative; open-minded
 based on a mistaken belief:"fallacious arguments"
erroneous; false; untrue; wrong; incorrect; faulty;
flawed; inaccurate; inexact; imprecise; mistaken;
misinformed; misguided; misleading; deceptive;
delusive; delusory; illusory; sophistic; specious;
fictitious; spurious; fabricated; distorted; made up;
fallacious fal·la·cious trumped up; baseless; groundless; unfounded;
unsubstantiated; unproven; unsupported;
uncorroborated; ill-founded; foundationless; without
basis; without foundation; Opposite:; true; correct

recklessly bold or rash:"it would be foolhardy to go into

the scheme without support"
reckless; rash; incautious; careless; heedless;
unheeding; thoughtless; unwise; imprudent;
irresponsible; injudicious; impulsive; hot-headed;
foolhardy fool·hardy impetuous; daredevil; devil-may-care; death-or-glory;
madcap; hare-brained; precipitate; precipitous;
desperate; hasty; overhasty; over-adventurous;
temerarious; over-venturesome; Opposite:; wise

make it difficult for (someone) to do something or for

(something) to happen:"language barriers hindered
communication between scientists"
hamper; obstruct; impede; inhibit; retard; balk; thwart;
foil; baffle; curb; delay; arrest; set back; slow down;
hold back; hold up; forestall; stop; halt; restrict;
restrain; constrain; block; check; curtail; frustrate;
hinder hin·der cramp; handicap; cripple; hamstring; shackle; fetter;
encumber; cumber; trammel; be a hindrance to;
interfere with; Opposite:; help; facilitate
 weaken or damage (something, especially a faculty or
function):"a noisy job could permanently impair their
hearing"
damage; harm; diminish; reduce; weaken; lessen;
impair im·pair decrease; blunt; impede; hinder; mar; spoil; disable;
undermine; compromise; threaten; vitiate; Opposite:;
improve; enhance

dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of (a statement

or motive); call into question:"the father does not
impugn her capacity as a good mother"
impugn im·pugn challenge; question; dispute; query; take issue with;
impeach; call into question; Opposite:; support

(of something regarded as unpleasant) continuing

without pause or interruption:"the incessant beat of
the music"
ceaseless; unceasing; constant; continual; unabating;
interminable; endless; unending; never-ending;
everlasting; eternal; perpetual; continuous; non-stop;
incessant in·ces·sant uninterrupted; unbroken; ongoing; unremitting;
persistent; relentless; unrelenting; unrelieved;
sustained; unflagging; unwearying; untiring; recurrent;
Opposite:; intermittent; occasional

leaning or turning away from the vertical or horizontal;

inclined inclined sloping:"an inclined ramp"

having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is

long-established and unlikely to change:"an inveterate
gambler"
ingrained; deep-seated; deep-rooted; deep-set;
entrenched; established; long-established; congenital;
ineradicable; incurable; irredeemable
inveterate in·vet·er·ate
 of or characteristic of a miser:"his miserly great-uncle
proved to be worth nearly £1 million"
niggardly; parsimonious; close-fisted; penny-pinching;
cheese-paring; grasping; greedy; avaricious; Scrooge-
miserly miser·ly like; ungenerous; illiberal; close; ascetic; puritanical;
masochistic; mean; near; Opposite:; spendthrift;
generous

a government authority or licence conferring a right or

title for a set period, especially the sole right to exclude
others from making, using, or selling an invention:"he
took out a patent for an improved steam hammer"
copyright; licence; right; permit; privilege; charter;
patent pa·tent franchise; legal protection; performing right; registered
trademark

(of a person or their manner) childishly sulky or bad-

tempered:"he was moody and petulant" · "a petulant
shake of the head"
complaining; pettish; touchy; testy; tetchy; waspish;
prickly; crusty; peppery; fractious; fretful; irritable;
cross; crabbed; crabby; crotchety; cantankerous;
curmudgeonly; disagreeable; miserable; morose; on
petulant petu·lant edge; edgy; impatient; bitter; moody; grumpy; huffy;
scratchy; out of sorts; out of temper; ill-tempered; bad-
tempered; ill-natured; ill-humoured; sullen; surly;
sulky; sour; churlish; bilious; liverish; dyspeptic;
splenetic; choleric; in a bad mood

pithy pithy
easily bent:"pliant willow stems"
pliant pli·ant
 making a show of being morally superior to other
people:"what happened to all the sanctimonious talk
about putting his family first?"
self-righteous; holier-than-thou; churchy; pious;
sanctimonio pietistic; moralizing; unctuous; smug; superior;
us sanc·ti·mo·ni·ous
priggish; mealy-mouthed; hypocritical; insincere;
religiose; Pharisaic; Pharisaical; for form's sake; to keep
up appearances; Tartuffian

vibrations that travel through the air or another

medium and can be heard when they reach a person's
or animal's ear:"light travels faster than sound"
sound sound

lose or cause to lose lustre, especially as a result of

exposure to air or moisture:"silver tarnishes too easily"
· "lemon juice would tarnish the gilded metal"
discolour; stain; rust; oxidize; corrode; deteriorate;
blacken; dull; dim; become discoloured; become dull;
tarnish tar·nish lose its shine; lose its lustre; become black; make dull;
make black; Opposite:; brighten; polish

(especially of a liquid) only slightly warm;

lukewarm:"she soaked a flannel in the tepid water"
tepid tepid lukewarm; warmish; chambré; slightly warm; at room
temperature; Opposite:; hot; cold

find fault with (someone); scold:"he was upbraided for

his slovenly appearance"
reprimand; rebuke; reproach; scold; admonish;
reprove; chastise; chide; berate; pull up; castigate;
lambast; read someone the Riot Act; give someone a
upbraid up·braid piece of one's mind; criticize; censure; call down; rate;
trim; reprehend; objurgate; remonstrate with; take to
task; haul over the coals; give someone a rating;
Opposite:; congratulate
 the state of being annoyed, frustrated, or
worried:"Jenna bit her lip in vexation"
annoyance; irritation; irritability; exasperation; anger;
rage; fury; temper; wrath; spleen; chagrin; pique;
crossness; indignation; displeasure; discontent;
dissatisfaction; disgruntlement; ill humour;
vexation vex·ation peevishness; petulance; testiness; tetchiness; gall;
resentment; umbrage; perturbation; discomposure;
worry; agitation; harassment; ire; choler; bad temper;
hot temper

cause (someone) to become hostile or angry:"he

antagonized fellow architects by criticizing traditional
values" · "she seemed reckless in the way she
deliberately tried to antagonize her interviewers"
antagonize an·tag·on·ize alienate; estrange; disaffect; anger; annoy; provoke;
vex; irritate; offend; arouse hostility in; set someone
against someone else; Opposite:; pacify; placate

(of land) too poor to produce much or any

vegetation:"the plains of Kyrenia were barren" · "the
barren, burnt-up countryside"
unproductive; infertile; unfruitful; sterile; arid; desert;
waste; desolate; impoverished; uncultivatable;
Opposite:; fertile; productive

barren bar·ren
 high-sounding but with little meaning;
inflated:"bombastic rhetoric" · "bombastic music that
drowned out what anyone was saying"
pompous; blustering; ranting; blathering; verbose;
wordy; turgid; periphrastic; euphuistic; orotund;
bombastic bom·bas·tic pleonastic; high-flown; high-sounding; highfalutin;
lofty; overwrought; convoluted; pretentious; affected;
ostentatious; grandiloquent; magniloquent; fustian;
Opposite:; straightforward

persuade (someone) to do something by sustained

coaxing or flattery:"he hoped to cajole her into selling
the house" · "she pleaded and cajoled as she tried to
win his support"
persuade; wheedle; coax; talk into; manoeuvre; get
cajole ca·jole round; beguile; blarney; flatter; seduce; lure; entice;
tempt; inveigle; woo; blandish; prevail on; Opposite:;
bully

cautiously or suspiciously reluctant to do

something:"she had been chary of telling the whole
truth"
wary; cautious; circumspect; heedful; careful; guarded;
mindful; watchful; distrustful; mistrustful; doubtful;
chary chary sceptical; suspicious; dubious; hesitant; reluctant;
disinclined; loath; averse; shy; nervous; apprehensive;
uneasy; afraid; on one's guard; Opposite:; heedless

curmudgeon cur·mudg·eon
a mournful song, piece of music, or sound:"singers
chanted dirges" · "the wind howled dirges around the
dirge dirge chimney"
 worthy of great respect:"she was shown into that
estimable woman's presence"
commendable; praiseworthy; laudable; meritorious;
creditable; exemplary; exceptional; notable;
honourable; worthy; deserving; respectable;
worthwhile; excellent; good; sterling; superb;
superlative; brilliant; outstanding; first-rate; first-class;
second to none; of the first order; of the first water;
estimable es·tim·able supreme; prime; great; fine; masterly; marvellous;
wonderful; magnificent; impressive; applaudable;
worthy of admiration; worthy of commendation; of the
highest order; Opposite:; deplorable; abominable

a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for

one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring
to something unpleasant or embarrassing: The
opposite of dysphemism."the jargon has given us
‘downsizing’ as a euphemism for cuts"
euphemism eu·phem·ism substitute; understatement; underplaying; softening;
politeness; genteelism; polite term; mild alternative;
indirect term; coy term; Opposite:; dysphemism; calling
a spade a spade

damage or remove part of the surface of (the skin):"the

discharge is acrid and excoriates the skin of the nose"
abrade; rub off; scrape; scratch; chafe; damage; skin;
excoriate ex·cori·ate decorticate; rub away; rub raw; strip away; peel away
 pressing; demanding:"the exigent demands of her
contemporaries' music took a toll on her voice"
serious; important; all-important; profound; significant;
momentous; weighty; vital; crucial; critical; acute;
urgent; pressing; pivotal; precarious; touch-and-go;
life-and-death; in the balance; dire; terrible; awful;
exigent exi·gent dreadful; alarming; drastic; sore; perilous; hazardous;
dangerous; threatening; menacing; risky; egregious; of
great consequence; Opposite:; trivial

arrogantly superior and disdainful:"a look of haughty

disdain" · "a haughty British aristocrat"
proud; vain; arrogant; conceited; snobbish; stuck-up;
pompous; self-important; superior; egotistical;
supercilious; condescending; lofty; patronizing; smug;
haughty haughty scornful; contemptuous; disdainful; overweening;
overbearing; imperious; lordly; cavalier; high-handed;
full of oneself; above oneself; vainglorious; Opposite:;
modest; humble

(of alcoholic drink) potent; intoxicating:"several bottles

of heady local wine"
potent; intoxicating; inebriating; strong; alcoholic;
heady heady spirituous; vinous; intoxicant; Opposite:; non-alcoholic

unable to be upset or excited; calm:"an imperturbable

tranquillity"
self-possessed; composed; collected; calm; as cool as a
cucumber; cool-headed; self-controlled; poised;
tranquil; serene; relaxed; easy-going; unexcitable;
imperturbab even-tempered; placid; sedate; phlegmatic;
le im·per·turb·ableunperturbed; unflustered; untroubled; unbothered;
unruffled; undismayed; undisturbed; unmoved;
nonchalant; at ease; equanimous; cool, calm, and
collected; unagitated; Opposite:; edgy; excitable
 unable to be appeased or placated:"he was an
implacable enemy of Ted's"
unappeasable; unforgiving; unsparing; inexorable;
intransigent; adamant; determined; unshakeable;
unswerving; unwavering; inflexible; unyielding;
implacable im·plac·able unbending; uncompromising; unrelenting; relentless;
ruthless; remorseless; merciless; pitiless; heartless;
cruel; hard; harsh; stern; steely; tough; unpacifiable;
unplacatable; unmollifiable; grudge-holding

criticize (someone or something) harshly:"they

lambasted the report as a gross distortion of the truth"
criticize; castigate; chastise; censure; condemn;
harangue; attack; revile; upbraid; scold; reprimand;
rebuke; chide; reprove; admonish; berate; reprehend;
lambaste lam·baste excoriate; objurgate; take to task; rail at; rant at;
fulminate against; haul/call over the coals

a person who has done something wrong or

unlawful:"the police are straining every nerve to bring
the miscreants to justice"
criminal; culprit; wrongdoer; malefactor; offender;
villain; black hat; lawbreaker; evil-doer; convict;
miscreant mis·cre·ant delinquent; sinner; transgressor; outlaw; trespasser;
scoundrel; wretch; reprobate; rogue; rascal;
malfeasant; misfeasor; archaic; a heretic.

a relatively minor fault or sin:"the sexual peccadilloes

of celebrities aren't necessarily news"
misdemeanour; delinquency; indiscretion; lapse;
peccadillo pecca·dillo misdeed; infraction; error; slip; minor offence; petty
offence

a person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the

arts:"I am a complete philistine when it comes to
paintings"
philistine phil·is·tine lowbrow; anti-intellectual; materialist; bourgeois; boor;
ignoramus; lout; oaf; barbarian; primitive; savage;
brute; yahoo; vulgarian
 assign an inferior rank or position to:"they aim to
prevent women from being relegated to a secondary
role"
downgrade; lower; put down; consign; banish; exile;
demote; degrade; declass; disrate; drum out; bust;
relegate rele·gate lower in rank/status; move down; strip someone of
their rank; reduce to the ranks; Opposite:; upgrade;
promote; BRITISH

extremely distasteful; unacceptable:"cannibalism

seems repugnant to us"
abhorrent; revolting; repulsive; repellent; disgusting;
offensive; objectionable; vile; foul; nasty; loathsome;
sickening; nauseating; nauseous; hateful; detestable;
execrable; abominable; monstrous; appalling;
reprehensible; deplorable; insufferable; intolerable;
unacceptable; despicable; contemptible; beyond the
pale; unspeakable; noxious; obscene; base; hideous;
repugnant re·pug·nant grisly; gruesome; horrendous; heinous; atrocious;
awful; terrible; dreadful; frightful; obnoxious;
unsavoury; unpalatable; unpleasant; disagreeable;
distasteful; dislikeable; off-putting; displeasing;
noisome; disgustful; scurvy; loathly; rebarbative;
Opposite:; attractive; agreeable; pleasant

of or prompted by feelings of tenderness, sadness, or

nostalgia:"she felt a sentimental attachment to the
place creep over her"
sentimental sen·ti·men·tal nostalgic; tender; emotional; dewy-eyed; misty-eyed
 waste (something, especially money or time) in a
reckless and foolish manner:"£100m of taxpayers'
money has been squandered on administering the tax"
waste; misspend; misuse; throw away; dissipate; run
through; lose; lavish; fritter away; spend recklessly;
squander squan·der spend unwisely; make poor use of; be prodigal with;
spend money like water; Opposite:; manage; save;
make good use of

use deception to deprive (someone) of money or

possessions:"a businessman swindled investors out of
swindle swin·dle millions of pounds"

perceptible by touch:"the atmosphere of neglect and

abandonment was almost tangible"
touchable; palpable; tactile; material; physical; real;
substantial; corporeal; solid; concrete; visible;
noticeable; Opposite:; intangible
tangible tan·gible

depraved or wicked behaviour or character:"acts of

moral turpitude"
wickedness; immorality; depravity; corruption;
turpitude tur·pi·tude corruptness; vice; degeneracy; evil; baseness; iniquity;
sinfulness; vileness; nefariousness; flagitiousness;
Opposite:; virtue; honour

(of metal) not alloyed; pure:"unalloyed copper"

pure; sterling; solid; refined; unadulterated; unmixed;
unblended; unpolluted; uncontaminated; flawless;
unalloyed un·alloyed perfect; one hundred per cent; Opposite:; plated;
alloyed
 offer goods or services at a lower price than (a
competitor):"these industries have been undercut by
more efficient foreign producers"
undercut verb undersell; underbid; charge less than; charge a lower
price than

use flattery or coaxing in order to persuade someone

to do something or give one something:"she wheedled
her way on to the guest list" · "she had wheedled us
into employing her brother" · "‘Please, for my sake,’ he
wheedled"
coax; cajole; inveigle; lure; induce; blarney; entice;
charm; tempt; beguile; flatter; persuade; influence;
wheedle whee·dle sway; prod; talk; convince; make; get; press; get round;
argue; reason; urge; pressure; pressurize; coerce; win
someone over; bring someone round; prevail on; bring
pressure to bear on

dislike of or prejudice against people from other

countries:"the resurgence of racism and xenophobia"
prejudice; intolerance; bigotry; insularity; parochialism;
xenophobic xeno·pho·bia isolationism; ethnocentrism; ethnocentricity; racism;
racialism; nationalism; jingoism

regard something as being caused by:"he attributed

the firm's success to the efforts of the managing
director" · "his resignation was attributed to stress"
ascribe; assign; accredit; credit; impute; allot; allocate;
put down to; set down to; chalk up to; lay at the door
attribute verb of; hold responsible for; pin something on; lay
something on; place something on; connect with;
associate with

involving calamity; catastrophic or disastrous:"such

calamitous events as fires, hurricanes, and floods"
disastrous; catastrophic; cataclysmic; devastating; dire;
calamitous ca·lam·itous tragic; fatal; ruinous; crippling; awful; dreadful; terrible;
woeful; grievous; direful; Opposite:; good;
advantageous
 an official who examines books, films, news, etc. that
are about to be published and suppresses any parts
that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable,
or a threat to security:"the report was approved by the
military censors" · "the movie has been given an adults-
only rating by film censors"
censor cen·sor expurgator; examiner; inspector; editor;
psychoanalysis; an aspect of the superego which is said
to prevent certain ideas and memories from emerging
into consciousness.

a person who has surpassed all rivals in a sporting

contest or other competition:"a champion hurdler"
winner; title-holder; gold medallist; prizewinner; victor;
champion cham·pion conqueror; victor ludorum; titlist; defending champion;
cup winner

a thing that is composed of two or more separate

elements; a mixture:"the air smelled like a compound
of diesel and petrol fumes"
compound noun amalgam; amalgamation; combination; composite;
blend; mixture; mix; admixture; meld; fusion;
synthesis; consolidation; alloy; hybrid

discourage (someone) from doing something by

instilling doubt or fear of the consequences:"only a
health problem would deter him from seeking re-
election"
put off; discourage; dissuade; scare off; warn; caution;
dishearten; demoralize; daunt; frighten; unnerve;
intimidate; make worried/nervous/anxious; Opposite:;
deter deter encourage
 showing or having skill, especially with the hands:"a
dexterous keyboard player"
deft; adept; adroit; agile; nimble; neat; nimble-
fingered; handy; able; capable; talented; skilful; skilled;
proficient; accomplished; expert; experienced;
practised; polished; efficient; effortless; slick;
professional; masterful; masterly; impressive; delicate;
habile; shrewd; ingenious; inventive; clever; intelligent;
bright; brilliant; smart; sharp; sharp-witted; razor-
dexterous dex·ter·ous sharp; acute; quick; quick-witted; astute; canny;
intuitive; discerning; perceptive; perspicacious;
insightful; incisive; sagacious; wise; judicious; cunning;
artful; crafty; wily; calculating; long-headed; argute;
sapient; finely judged; Opposite:; clumsy; stupid

a formal pronouncement from an authoritative

source:"the dicta of High Court Judges"
pronouncement; proclamation; direction; injunction;
assertion; statement; dictate; command;
commandment; mandate; order; decree; edict; fiat;
dictum dic·tum promulgation; precept; requirement; stipulation;
instruction; law; ordinance; rule; regulation; ukase;
pronunciamento; rescript; firman; decretal; irade

conscientiously or obediently fulfilling one's duty:"a

dutiful daughter"
conscientious; responsible; dedicated; devoted;
faithful; loyal; attentive; obedient; compliant; pliant;
docile; submissive; biddable; deferential; reverent;
dutiful duti·ful reverential; respectful; good; regardful; well
disciplined; well trained; Opposite:; remiss;
disrespectful

showing an ability to understand and share the feelings

of another:"she's compassionate and empathetic
towards her daughter" · "I have been touched by the
empathetic em·path·et·ic empathetic response to my bad luck"
 happen or occur afterwards or as a result:"the
difficulties which ensued from their commitment to
Cuba"
result; follow; develop; stem; spring; arise; derive;
evolve; proceed; emerge; emanate; issue; flow; occur;
happen; take place; surface; crop up; come about;
transpire; supervene; accompany; come after; come to
ensue en·sue pass; befall; betide; hap; eventuate; spring up; present
itself; come next; be caused by; be brought about by;
be produced by; originate in; be attended by; be
consequent on; supervene on

a unit of length equal to six feet (1.8 metres), chiefly

used in reference to the depth of water:"sonar says
fathom fathom that we're in eighteen fathoms"

open, honest, and direct in speech or writing,

especially when dealing with unpalatable matters:"a
long and frank discussion" · "to be perfectly frank, I
don't know"
candid; direct; forthright; plain; plain-spoken; straight;
straightforward; straight from the shoulder; explicit;
unequivocal; unambiguous; unvarnished; bald; to the
frank frank point; no-nonsense; matter-of-fact; open; honest;
truthful; sincere; guileless; artless; outspoken; bluff;
blunt; brutal; unsparing; round; free-spoken; not afraid
to call a spade a spade; Opposite:; secretive; dishonest

relevant to a subject under consideration:"that is not

germane to our theme"
relevant; pertinent; applicable; apposite; material;
apropos; to the point; to the purpose; admissible;
appropriate; apt; fitting; suitable; suited; proper;
germane ger·mane felicitous; connected; related; linked; akin; allied;
analogous; ad rem; appurtenant; Opposite:; irrelevant
 complain about something in a bad-tempered
way:"‘I'm getting old,’ she grumbled" · "the cashier
grumbled about changing Swiss money" · "his father
was grumbling that he hadn't heard from him"
grumble grum·ble complain; moan; groan; whine; mutter; grouse; bleat;
carp; cavil; protest; mither; twine; crib; natter; object
to; speak out against; find fault with; plain over

unwilling or unable to change because of tradition or

convention:"they are working to change hidebound
corporate cultures"
conservative; reactionary; conventional; orthodox;
fundamentalist; diehard; hard-line; dyed-in-the-wool;
ultra-conservative; narrow-minded; narrow; petty-
minded; small-minded; intolerant; intractable;
hidebound hide·bound uncompromising; rigid; prejudiced; bigoted; strait-
laced; blimpish; fixed in one's views; set in one's
opinions; set in one's ways; Opposite:; liberal; broad-
minded

a hypocritical person:"the story tells of respectable Ben

who turns out to be a cheat and a hypocrite"
pietist; whited sepulchre; plaster saint; humbug;
hypocrite hypo·crite pretender; deceiver; dissembler; impostor; Pharisee;
Tartuffe; canter; sanctimonious person; Pecksniff

failing to possess or display prudence; unwise:"it was

impolitic to pay the slightest tribute to the enemy"
imprudent; unwise; injudicious; incautious;
irresponsible; ill-judged; ill-advised; misguided; ill-
impolitic im·pol·it·ic considered; careless; rash; reckless; foolhardy; foolish;
short-sighted; undiplomatic; indiscreet; indelicate;
tactless; Opposite:; prudent; wise
 proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very
harmful effects:"sexual harassment is a serious and
insidious problem"
stealthy; subtle; surreptitious; sneaking; cunning;
insidious in·sidi·ous crafty; Machiavellian; artful; guileful; sly; wily; tricky;
slick; deceitful; deceptive; dishonest; underhand;
backhanded; indirect; Opposite:; straightforward

a person who acts as a link between people in order to

try and bring about an agreement; a
mediator:"negotiations took place through an
intermediary"
mediator; go-between; negotiator; intervenor;
intermediary inter·medi·ary interceder; intercessor; arbitrator; arbiter; conciliator;
peacemaker; middleman; broker; interdealer broker;
agent; liaison; linkman; negotiant; linkwoman;
linkperson

accepting or allowing what happens or what others do,

without active response or resistance:"the women
were portrayed as passive victims"
passive pas·sive submissive; acquiescent; unresisting; yielding;
Opposite:; active; assertive

good-humoured teasing:"she was greeted with raillery

from her fellow workers"
raillery rail·lery teasing; chaff; banter; ragging; badinage; japing;
persiflage; good-humoured mockery

walk for pleasure in the countryside:"I spent most of

my spare time rambling and climbing" · "as a boy I
rambled the fells around Dent"
walk; hike; tramp; backpack; trek; wander; stroll;
ramble ram·ble saunter; amble; drift; roam; range; rove; traipse; jaunt;
stravaig; vagabond; perambulate; peregrinate; take a
walk; go for a walk
 feel bitterness or indignation at (a circumstance,
action, or person):"she resented the fact that I had
children"
begrudge; grudge; dislike; take exception to; envy; take
something ill; feel aggrieved at/about; feel bitter
about; be annoyed at/about; be angry at/about; be
resentful of; be displeased at/about; object to; be
resent re·sent offended by; take amiss; take offence at; take umbrage
at; feel envious of; feel jealous of; bear/harbour a
grudge about; Opposite:; like; welcome; be pleased by

remaining after the greater part or quantity has

gone:"the withdrawal of residual occupying forces"
remaining; leftover; unused; unconsumed; surplus;
residual re·sidual extra; excess; superfluous; residuary; remanent;
lingering; lasting; enduring; abiding; persisting;
surviving; vestigial

settle or find a solution to (a problem or contentious

matter):"the firm aims to resolve problems within 30
days"
settle; sort out; solve; fix; work out; rectify; iron out;
reconcile; answer; explain; fathom; unravel;
disentangle; clarify; clear up; throw light on; find a
solution to; find an answer to; straighten out; deal
resolve re·solve with; put right; set right; put to rights; medicine

a substitute, especially a person deputizing for another

in a specific role or office:"she served as a surrogate for
the President on a trip to South America"
substitute; proxy; replacement; agent; deputy;
surrogate sur·ro·gate representative; factor; stand-in; standby; stopgap; fill-
in; relief; understudy
 speak or write about in an abusively disparaging
manner:"he has been vilified in the press"
disparage; denigrate; defame; run down; revile; berate;
belittle; abuse; insult; slight; attack; speak ill of; speak
evil of; pour scorn on; criticize; censure; condemn;
decry; denounce; pillory; lambast; malign; slander;
libel; discredit; stigmatize; traduce; calumniate;
impugn; slur; contemn; derogate; vituperate; asperse;
vilify vil·ify cast aspersions on; fulminate against; rail against;
inveigh against; conduct a smear campaign against;
spread lies about; blacken the name/reputation of;
sully the reputation of; give someone a bad name;
bring someone into disrepute; vilipend; Opposite:;
commend; lionize

lacking in a required or necessary quality:"they weren't

wanting in confidence" · "the English batting technique
has been found wanting"
deficient; inadequate; lacking; insufficient; imperfect;
disappointing; unsatisfying; unacceptable; flawed;
faulty; defective; impaired; unsound; substandard;
inferior; second-rate; poor; shabby; shoddy; patchy;
sketchy; limited; restricted; incomplete; unfinished;
wanting want·ing unpolished; unrefined; without; in need of; not up to
standard/par; not good enough; not acceptable; not up
to expectations; leaving much to be desired; devoid of;
bereft of; bankrupt of; destitute of; empty of; deprived
of; free from/of; deficient in; low on; short on;
Opposite:; sufficient; acceptable

(of a bad or harmful act) intentional; deliberate:"wilful

acts of damage"
deliberate; intentional; intended; premeditated;
willful wil·ful planned; calculated; purposeful; conscious; knowing;
voluntary; volitional; done on purpose; Opposite:;
accidental; unintentional
 make more noticeable or prominent:"his jacket
unfortunately accentuated his paunch"
point up; underline; underscore; accent; highlight;
spotlight; foreground; feature; play up; heighten;
accentuate ac·cen·tu·ate stress; emphasize; focus attention on; bring/call/draw
attention to; Opposite:; mask; divert attention from

based on or involving conjecture:"the evidence was

deemed too conjectural"
speculative; suppositional; theoretical; hypothetical;
putative; academic; notional; abstract; postulated;
inferred; suspected; presumed; assumed;
conjectural con·jec·tural presupposed; tentative; unproven; untested;
unfounded; groundless; unsubstantiated; ideational;
suppositious; postulational; based on guesswork;
suppositive; Opposite:; established

(of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and

enjoyable:"a convivial cocktail party"
friendly; affable; amicable; cordial; neighbourly;
hospitable; companionable; gregarious; clubbable;
warm; warm-hearted; good-natured; genial; lively;
communicative; responsive; forthcoming; open;
convivial con·viv·ial outgoing; extrovert; easy-going; easy; hail-fellow-well-
met; approachable; accessible; conversable; easy to get
on/along with; Opposite:; unsociable; unfriendly;
solitary

characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or

cultural decline:"a decaying, decadent Britain"
dissolute; dissipated; degenerate; corrupt; depraved;
louche; rakish; shameless; sinful; unprincipled;
immoral; licentious; wanton; abandoned; unrestrained;
decadent deca·dent profligate; intemperate; fast-living; sybaritic;
voluptuary; epicurean; hedonistic; pleasure-seeking;
indulgent; self-indulgent; Opposite:; moral
 outstandingly bad; shocking:"egregious abuses of
copyright"
shocking; horrific; horrifying; horrible; terrible; awful;
dreadful; ghastly; hideous; horrendous; frightful;
atrocious; abominable; abhorrent; outrageous; hateful;
loathsome; odious; gruesome; grisly; monstrous;
egregious egre·gious nightmarish; heinous; harrowing; dire; vile; shameful;
unspeakable; unforgivable; unpardonable; abject;
disgusting; revolting; repellent; repulsive; repugnant;
sickening; nauseating

soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence;

quickly fading or disappearing:"the evanescent Arctic
summer"
vanishing; fading; evaporating; disappearing;
diminishing; dwindling; shrinking; fugitive; fugacious;
evanescent evan·es·cent ephemeral; fleeting; short-lived; short-term; passing;
transitory; transient; momentary; temporary; brief;
melting away; here today and gone tomorrow;
Opposite:; unlimited; permanent

(of a person or their behaviour) tending to attract

attention because of their exuberance, confidence, and
stylishness:"the band's flamboyant lead singer"
ostentatious; exuberant; confident; lively; buoyant;
animated; energetic; vibrant; vivacious; extravagant;
flamboyant flam·boy·ant theatrical; showy; swashbuckling; dashing; rakish;
Opposite:; modest; restrained

prevent or obstruct (an anticipated event or action) by

taking advance action:"they will present their
resignations to forestall a vote of no confidence"
pre-empt; steal a march on; anticipate; second-guess;
thwart; frustrate; foil; stave off; ward off; fend off;
forestall fore·stall avert; preclude; obviate; prevent; intercept; check;
block; hinder; impede; obstruct; get in before; get
ahead of; nip in the bud
 deny or contradict (a fact or statement):"the impact of
the railways cannot be gainsaid"
deny; dispute; contradict; repudiate; challenge;
oppose; contest; counter; fly in the face of; disprove;
debunk; explode; discredit; refute; rebut; brush aside;
gainsay gain·say disaffirm; controvert; confute; disagree with; argue
with; dissent from; declare untrue; Opposite:; confirm

shock or excite (someone) into taking action:"the

urgency of his voice galvanized them into action" · "we
need a moral victory, something to galvanize public
opinion"
jolt; shock; startle; impel; stir; spur; prod; urge;
motivate; stimulate; electrify; excite; rouse; arouse;
galvanize gal·van·ize awaken; invigorate; fire; fuel; animate; vitalize;
energize; exhilarate; thrill; dynamize; inspire; get
someone going; inspirit; incentivize; Opposite:;
demotivate

done at random or without careful judgement:"the

indiscriminate use of antibiotics can cause problems"
non-selective; unselective; undiscriminating; uncritical;
aimless; hit-or-miss; haphazard; random; unsystematic;
unmethodical; wholesale; general; sweeping; blanket;
indiscriminat broad-based; wide; catholic; eclectic; varied;
e in·dis·crim·in·atemiscellaneous; heterogeneous; motley; confused;
chaotic; thoughtless; unthinking; unconsidered; casual;
careless; promiscuous; Opposite:; selective;
discriminating; systematic
 not harmful or offensive:"it was an innocuous
question"
harmless; safe; non-dangerous; non-poisonous; non-
toxic; non-injurious; innocent; edible; eatable;
wholesome; inoffensive; unobjectionable;
innocuous in·nocu·ous unexceptionable; unoffending; mild; peaceful; gentle;
tame; insipid; anodyne; bland; unremarkable;
commonplace; run-of-the-mill; non-irritant; innoxious;
Opposite:; harmful; obnoxious

lasting for a very short time; brief:"a momentary lapse

of concentration"
brief; short; short-lived; quick; fleeting; passing;
momentary mo·ment·ary transient; transitory; ephemeral; evanescent; fugitive;
temporary; impermanent; fugacious; Opposite:;
lengthy; lasting; permanent

lacking interest or excitement; dull:"his mundane,

humdrum existence"
humdrum; dull; boring; tedious; monotonous;
tiresome; wearisome; prosaic; unexciting;
uninteresting; uneventful; unvarying; unvaried;
unremarkable; repetitive; repetitious; routine;
ordinary; everyday; day-to-day; quotidian; run-of-the-
mundane mun·dane mill; commonplace; common; workaday; usual;
pedestrian; customary; regular; normal; unimaginative;
banal; hackneyed; trite; stale; platitudinous; banausic;
Opposite:; extraordinary; imaginative

causing annoyance or difficulty:"nettlesome regional

nettlesome nettle·some disputes"
 make legally null and void; invalidate:"it is at the
discretion of the court to nullify the decision"
annul; void; invalidate; repeal; reverse; rescind; revoke;
set aside; cancel; abolish; undo; abrogate;
countermand; veto; dissolve; cast aside; do away with;
nullify nul·lify terminate; quash; obliterate; vacate; recall; disannul;
declare null and void; render null and void; render
invalid; bring to an end; Opposite:; ratify; validate;
confirm

remove (a need or difficulty):"the presence of roller

blinds obviated the need for curtains"
preclude; prevent; remove; get rid of; do away with;
obviate ob·vi·ate get round; rule out; eliminate; take away; foreclose;
avoid; avert; counter; make unnecessary

widely or constantly encountered; widespread:"the

omnipresent threat of natural disasters"
ubiquitous; general; universal; worldwide; global; all-
pervasive; all-present; infinite; boundless; rife;
prevalent; predominant; common; extensive; wide-
ranging; far-reaching; present everywhere; (of God)
omnipresent omni·pres·ent present everywhere at the same time.; Similar:;
pervasive; pervading; permeating; ubiquitous;
suffusive; permeant; present everywhere; permeative;
Opposite:; transcendent

drive out or expel (someone) from a position or

place:"the reformists were ousted from power"
expel; force out; throw out; remove; eject; get rid of;
depose; topple; unseat; overthrow; bring down;
overturn; put out; drum out; turn out; purge; evict;
dispossess; dismiss; dislodge; displace; supplant;
disinherit; show someone the door; banish; deport;
oust oust exile; out; drive out; remove from office/power; thrust
out; push out; law; deprive of or exclude from
possession of something.; law; take away (a court's
jurisdiction) in a matter.
 (of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to seem
almost tangible:"a palpable sense of loss"
perceptible; perceivable; visible; noticeable;
appreciable; discernible; detectable; observable;
tangible; recognizable; notable; unmistakable;
transparent; indisputable; self-evident;
incontrovertible; incontestable; undeniable; obvious;
clear; plain; evident; apparent; manifest; patent;
marked; conspicuous; pronounced; striking; distinct; as
plain as a pikestaff; writ large; beyond doubt; as clear
as day; blinding; inescapable; overt; open; undisguised;
palpable palp·able unconcealed; glaring; blatant; flagrant; barefaced;
gross; stark; plain to see; as plain as the nose on one's
face; standing/sticking out like a sore thumb;
standing/sticking out a mile; right under one's nose;
staring one in the face; beyond question; written all
over someone; Opposite:; intangible; imperceptible

the state of being deceitful and untrustworthy:"it was

an example of his perfidy" · "Hapsburg perfidy"
treachery; duplicity; deceit; perfidiousness;
deceitfulness; disloyalty; infidelity; faithlessness;
unfaithfulness; betrayal; treason; falseness; falsity;
perfidy per·fidy double-dealing; dishonesty; two-facedness;
untrustworthiness; breach of trust; false-heartedness;
Punic faith; Opposite:; faithfulness; loyalty
 (especially of something offered or discharged) very
plentiful; abundant:"I offered my profuse apologies"
copious; prolific; abundant; ample; extravagant; lavish;
liberal; unstinting; fulsome; effusive; gushing;
immoderate; unrestrained; excessive; inordinate;
archaic
profuse pro·fuse

eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight:"his public

statements became increasingly pugnacious"
combative; aggressive; antagonistic; belligerent;
bellicose; warlike; quarrelsome; argumentative;
contentious; disputatious; defiant; hostile; threatening;
pugnacious pug·na·cious truculent; irascible; fiery; hot-tempered; ill-tempered;
bad-tempered; rough; Opposite:; peaceable; friendly

having or showing keen mental discernment and good

judgement; wise or shrewd:"they were sagacious
enough to avoid any outright confrontation"
wise; clever; intelligent; knowledgeable; sensible; sage;
discerning; judicious; canny; penetrating; perceptive;
acute; astute; shrewd; prudent; politic; thoughtful;
insightful; percipient; perspicacious; philosophical;
sagacious sa·ga·cious profound; deep; sapient; with/showing great
knowledge; full of insight; Opposite:; stupid; foolish
 optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad
or difficult situation:"he is sanguine about prospects for
the global economy" · "the committee takes a more
sanguine view"
optimistic; bullish; hopeful; buoyant; positive;
confident; cheerful; cheery; bright; assured; of good
cheer; disposed to look on the bright side; Opposite:;
pessimistic; gloomy; (in medieval science and
medicine) of or having the constitution associated with
the predominance of blood among the bodily humours,
supposedly marked by a ruddy complexion and an
optimistic disposition.; Similar:; ruddy; red; red-faced;
reddish; rosy; rosy-cheeked; pink; pinkish; roseate;
sanguine san·guine rubicund; healthy-looking; glowing; fresh; flushed;
blushing; high-coloured; blowsy; erubescent;
rubescent; Opposite:; pale; archaic; (of the complexion)
florid or ruddy.; Similar:; florid; ruddy; red; red-faced;
reddish; rosy; rosy-cheeked; pink; pinkish; roseate;
rubicund; healthy-looking; glowing; fresh; flushed;
blushing; high-coloured; blowsy; erubescent;
rubescent; Opposite:; pale

barely sufficient or adequate:"companies with scant

regard for the safety of future generations"
little; minimal; hardly any; limited; negligible; meagre;
scant scant insufficient; inadequate; deficient; exiguous; little or
no; barely sufficient; too little; not enough; Opposite:;
abundant; ample; sufficient

underhand, unscrupulous, or dishonest behaviour or

activities:"a firm that investigates commercial
skulduggery"
skullduggery skul·dug·gery trickery; swindling; fraudulence; double-dealing; sharp
practice; unscrupulousness; underhandedness;
chicanery; machinations
 of little value or importance:"huge fines were imposed
for trivial offences" · "trivial details"
unimportant; insignificant; inconsequential; minor;
incidental; inessential; non-essential; petty; trifling;
fiddling; pettifogging; footling; small; slight; little;
inconsiderable; negligible; paltry; nugatory;
meaningless; pointless; worthless; idle; flimsy;
insubstantial; of no/little account; of no/little
trivial triv·ial consequence; of no/little importance; not worth
bothering about; not worth mentioning; Opposite:;
important; significant; life-and-death; (of a person)
concerned only with petty things.; Similar:; frivolous;
superficial; shallow; unthinking; Opposite:; serious;
profound

designed to be useful or practical rather than

attractive:"a utilitarian building"
practical; functional; serviceable; useful; sensible;
effective; efficient; pragmatic; realistic; utility; working;
workaday; handy; neat; ordinary; down-to-earth; plain;
unadorned; unpretentious; unsentimental; soulless;
utilitarian utili·tar·ian hard-wearing; durable; lasting; long-lasting; tough;
strong; robust; wear-resistant; (suited) to the purpose;
undecorative; Opposite:; decorative

offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging;

bland:"tuneful but vapid musical comedies"
insipid; uninspired; colourless; uninteresting; feeble;
flat; dead; dull; boring; tedious; tired; unexciting;
uninspiring; unimaginative; lifeless; spiritless; sterile;
vapid vapid anaemic; tame; bloodless; jejune; vacuous; bland;
stale; trite; pallid; wishy-washy; watery; tasteless; milk-
and-water; flavourless; zestless; Opposite:; lively;
colourful; exciting
 encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong,
in particular to commit a crime:"he was not guilty of
murder but was guilty of aiding and abetting others"
assist; aid; help; lend a hand; support; back; encourage;
go along with; second; endorse; boost; favour;
champion; sanction; succour; promote; further;
expedite; push; cooperate with; collaborate with; work
abet abet with; connive with; collude with; be in collusion with;
be hand in glove with; side with; give a push to;
connive at; participate in; Opposite:; hinder

(of a place) able to be reached or entered:"the town is

accessible by bus" · "this room is not accessible to
elderly people"
reachable; attainable; approachable; within reach;
available; on hand; obtainable; nearby; ready;
accessible ac·cess·ible convenient; handy; Opposite:; inaccessible

excessively interested in acquiring money or material

things:"we live in a competitive and acquisitive society"
greedy; hoarding; covetous; avaricious; possessive;
grasping; grabbing; predatory; avid; rapacious;
acquisitive ac·quisi·tive mercenary; materialistic; money-oriented; quaestuary;
Mammonish; Mammonistic
 combine or unite to form one organization or
structure:"he amalgamated his company with another"
· "numerous small British railway companies
amalgamated"
combine; merge; unite; integrate; fuse; blend; mingle;
coalesce; consolidate; meld; intermingle; mix; intermix;
incorporate; affiliate; join forces; get together; link
amalgamate amal·gam·ate (up); unify; commingle; join (together); band
(together); club together; team up; go into partnership;
pool resources; Opposite:; separate; chemistry

reduce the force, effect, or value of:"this research

provides a glimmer of hope that coral reefs can
attenuate the effects of ocean acidification"
weakened; reduced; lessened; decreased; diminished;
attenuate verb impaired; enervated; Opposite:; strengthened

make (something) greater by adding to it; increase:"he

augmented his summer income by painting houses"
increase; add to; supplement; build up; enlarge;
expand; extend; raise; multiply; elevate; swell; inflate;
magnify; intensify; amplify; heighten; escalate; worsen;
exacerbate; aggravate; inflame; compound; reinforce;
improve; boost; ameliorate; enhance; upgrade; top up;
augment verb make larger; make bigger; make greater; make worse;
make better; Opposite:; decrease
 a strong dislike or disinclination:"they made plain their
aversion to the use of force"
disinclination; abhorrence; hatred; hate; loathing;
detestation; odium; antipathy; hostility; disgust;
revulsion; repugnance; horror; phobia; resistance;
aversion aver·sion unwillingness; reluctance; avoidance; evasion;
shunning; disrelish; dislike of; distaste for; Opposite:;
liking; inclination; desire

showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered

to be callous or improper:"a blithe disregard for the
rules of the road"
heedless; uncaring; careless; casual; indifferent;
thoughtless; unconcerned; unworried; untroubled;
blithe blithe nonchalant; cool; blasé; devil-may-care; irresponsible;
Opposite:; thoughtful; literary

the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or

beneath consideration:"Pam stared at the girl with
total contempt" · "he showed his contempt for his job
by doing it very badly"
scorn; disdain; disrespect; deprecation; disparagement;
contempt con·tempt denigration; opprobrium; odium; obloquy;
scornfulness; derision; mockery; ridicule; disgust;
loathing; detestation; abhorrence; hatred; contumely;
Opposite:; respect

waste time; be slow:"she mustn't dawdle—she had to

make the call now"
linger; dally; take one's time; drag one's feet; idle;
delay; procrastinate; stall; hang fire; mark time; tarry;
dawdle daw·dle be slow; waste time; kill time; fritter time away; potter
about/around/round; Opposite:; hurry
 cause (something) to change direction; turn aside from
a straight course:"the bullet was deflected harmlessly
into the ceiling" · "he attempted to deflect attention
deflect de·flect away from his private life"
divert; avert; sidetrack; distract; block; parry; stop;
fend off; stave off; turn aside/away; draw away

a deduction from the usual cost of something:"rail

commuters get a discount on season tickets" · "we
introduced a standard level of discount for everyone"
reduction; deduction; markdown; cut; cut price;
concession; rebate; price cut; lower price;
discount noun concessionary price; finance; a percentage deducted
from the face value of a bill of exchange or promissory
note when it changes hands before the due date.

a person who opposes official policy, especially that of

an authoritarian state:"a dissident who had been jailed
by a military regime"
dissenter; objector; protester; disputant; freethinker;
nonconformist; rebel; revolutionary; recusant;
dissident dis·si·dent renegade; subversive; agitator; insurgent;
insurrectionist; insurrectionary; disruptor; mutineer;
independent thinker; Opposite:; conformist

(of something inanimate or abstract) successful in

producing a desired or intended result; effective:"this
treatment was efficacious in some cases"
successful; effectual; productive; constructive; fruitful;
functional; potent; powerful; worthwhile; helpful;
efficacious ef·fi·ca·cious beneficial; advantageous; valuable; useful; of help; of
assistance; of use; Opposite:; ineffective; incompetent;
weak
 fair and impartial:"the equitable distribution of
resources"
fair; just; impartial; even-handed; fair-minded;
unbiased; unprejudiced; non-discriminatory; anti-
discrimination; egalitarian; without fear or favour;
honest; right; rightful; proper; decent; good;
honourable; upright; scrupulous; conscientious; above
equitable equit·able board; reasonable; sensible; disinterested; objective;
neutral; uncoloured; dispassionate; non-partisan;
balanced; open-minded; unbigoted; with no axe to
grind; Opposite:; inequitable; unfair

not even or regular in pattern or movement;

unpredictable:"her breathing was erratic"
unpredictable; inconsistent; changeable; variable;
inconstant; uncertain; irregular; unstable; turbulent;
unsteady; unsettled; unreliable; undependable;
changing; ever-changing; volatile; varying; shifting;
fluctuating; fluid; mutable; protean; fitful; wavering;
erratic er·rat·ic peaky; mercurial; capricious; whimsical; fickle; flighty;
giddy; impulsive; wayward; temperamental; highly
strung; excitable; moody; labile; fluctuant; changeful;
full of ups and downs; Opposite:; predictable;
consistent

diligent and hard-working:"an industrious people

striving to make their country prosperous"
hard-working; diligent; assiduous; sedulous;
conscientious; steady; painstaking; persistent;
persevering; pertinacious; unflagging; untiring; tireless;
indefatigable; studious; busy; active; bustling;
industrious in·dus·tri·ous energetic; on the go; vigorous; determined; dynamic;
driven; zealous; productive; laborious; busy as a bee;
with one's shoulder to the wheel; with one's nose to
the grindstone; Opposite:; indolent
 give (someone) facts or information; tell:"he wrote to
her, informing her of the situation" · "‘That's nothing
new,’ she informed him" · "they were informed that no
risk was involved"
tell; let someone know; notify; apprise; advise; brief;
inform in·form prime; enlighten; announce to; impart to;
communicate to; send word to; keep posted

irritating; annoying:"an irksome journey" · "petty

regulations were becoming very irksome"
irritating; annoying; vexing; vexatious; galling;
exasperating; displeasing; grating; disagreeable;
tiresome; wearisome; tedious; trying; troublesome;
irksome irk·some burdensome; bothersome; awkward; inconvenient;
difficult; boring; uninteresting; infuriating; maddening;
Opposite:; pleasant; agreeable

one of two metal bands joined by a chain, for fastening

a person's hands or ankles:"the practice of keeping
prisoners in manacles"
manacle man·acle handcuffs; shackles; chains; irons; fetters; restraints;
bonds; darbies; gyves

unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities or

achievements:"he was a very modest man, refusing to
take any credit for the enterprise"
self-effacing; self-deprecating; humble; unpretentious;
unassuming; unpresuming; unostentatious; low-key;
shy; bashful; self-conscious; diffident; timid; reserved;
retiring; media-shy; reticent; quiet; coy; embarrassed;
modest mod·est shamefaced; blushing; fearful; meek; docile; mild;
apologetic; mim; free from vanity; keeping one's light
under a bushel; Opposite:; boastful; conceited
 harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant:"they were
overcome by the noxious fumes"
poisonous; toxic; deadly; virulent; harmful; dangerous;
pernicious; damaging; destructive; environmentally
unfriendly; nasty; disgusting; awful; dreadful; horrible;
terrible; vile; revolting; foul; sickening; nauseating;
nauseous; appalling; offensive; foul-smelling; evil-
noxious nox·ious smelling; malodorous; fetid; putrid; rancid;
unwholesome; unhealthy; insalubrious; noisome;
mephitic; disgustful; miasmal; miasmic; nocuous; olid;
very unpleasant; Opposite:; innocuous; safe; pleasant

having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or

subtle way:"the pernicious influences of the mass
media"
harmful; damaging; destructive; injurious; hurtful;
detrimental; deleterious; dangerous; adverse; inimical;
unhealthy; unfavourable; bad; evil; baleful; wicked;
malign; malevolent; malignant; noxious; poisonous;
pernicious per·ni·cious cancerous; corrupting; ruinous; deadly; lethal; fatal;
malefic; maleficent; pestilent; pestilential; baneful;
pestiferous; Opposite:; beneficial; benign; favourable

a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation:"the

club's financial predicament"
mess; difficulty; issue; plight; quandary; trouble;
predicament pre·dica·ment muddle; mare's nest; crisis; difficult situation; awkward
situation; problematic situation
 competent or skilled in doing or using something:"I was
proficient at my job" · "she felt reasonably proficient in
Italian"
skilled; skilful; expert; accomplished; experienced;
practised; trained; seasoned; adept; adroit; deft;
dexterous; able; capable; competent; professional;
proficient pro·fi·cient effective; apt; handy; talented; gifted; masterly;
consummate; master; good; great; excellent; brilliant;
compleat; well versed; Opposite:; inept; inexpert;
incompetent

(of speech or writing) using or containing too many

words; tediously lengthy:"he found the narrative too
prolix and discursive"
lengthy; long-winded; long-drawn-out; overlong;
prolonged; protracted; interminable; laborious;
ponderous; endless; unending; verbose; wordy; verbal;
diffuse; discursive; digressive; rambling; wandering;
prolix pro·lix circuitous; meandering; maundering; periphrastic;
circumlocutory; pleonastic; circumlocutionary;
logorrhoeic; full of verbiage; ambagious

a feeling and expression of contempt or disdain for

someone or something:"I do not wish to become the
object of scorn"
contempt; derision; contemptuousness; disdain;
scorn scorn derisiveness; scornfulness; mockery; sneering; scoffing;
contumely; despite; Opposite:; admiration; respect;
archaic
 lower in rank or position:"his subordinate officers"
lower-ranking; junior; lower; lesser; inferior; lowly;
minor; supporting; second-fiddle; Opposite:; superior;
senior

subordinate adjective

(of behaviour or actions) not proper or appropriate:"an

unseemly squabble"
indecorous; improper; inappropriate; unbecoming;
unfitting; unbefitting; unsuitable; unworthy;
undignified; unrefined; indiscreet; indelicate;
unseemly un·seem·ly ungentlemanly; unladylike; impolite; ill-advised;
tasteless; disreputable; coarse; crass; shameful; out of
place/keeping; in poor/bad taste; Opposite:; seemly;
decorous

used for emphasis, often to qualify a metaphor:"the

early 1970s witnessed a veritable price explosion"
true; accurate; correct; errorless; unerring; exact;
precise; factual; literal; realistic; authentic; faithful;
close; strict; just; unelaborated; unvarnished; truthful;
honest; sincere; frank; candid; honourable; reputable;
veritable ver·it·able trustworthy; trusty; reliable; dependable; scrupulous;
upright; upstanding; ethical; moral; righteous; virtuous;
decent; good; Opposite:; untrue; dishonest

a state of temporary disuse or suspension:"matters

were held in abeyance pending further enquiries"
suspend; adjourn; interrupt; break off; postpone;
abeyance abey·ance delay; Opposite:; continue; resume; law; the position of
being without, or of waiting for, an owner or claimant.
 existing in thought or as an idea but not having a
physical or concrete existence:"abstract concepts such
as love or beauty"
theoretical; conceptual; notional; intellectual;
metaphysical; philosophical; academic; hypothetical;
speculative; conjectural; conjectured; suppositional;
putative; suppositious; ideational; suppositive;
Opposite:; actual; concrete

abstract adjective

an action or remark that causes outrage or offence:"he

took his son's desertion as a personal affront" · "the
sackings were an affront to justice"
insult; offence; indignity; slight; snub; slur; aspersion;
affront af·front provocation; injury; put down; humiliation; outrage;
atrocity; scandal; injustice; abuse; desecration;
violation; Opposite:; compliment

make (someone) troubled or nervous:"the thought of

questioning Toby agitated him extremely"
upset; perturb; fluster; ruffle; disconcert; unnerve;
disquiet; disturb; distress; unsettle; bother; concern;
agitate agi·tate trouble; alarm; work up; flurry; worry; inflame; incite;
provoke; stir up; cause anxiety to; make anxious;
Opposite:; calm

respected and impressive:"she was in august company"

august au·gust distinguished; respected; eminent; venerable
 polish (something, especially metal) by rubbing:"to
burnish copper, I would probably use a drill with a pad
attached to the end"
burnish bur·nish shine; brighten; smooth; glaze; furbish; polish (up); rub
up/down; buff (up); Opposite:; dull

making a pretence of shyness or modesty that is

intended to be alluring (typically used of a
woman):"she treated him to a coy smile of invitation"
arch; simpering; coquettish; flirtatious; kittenish;
coy coy skittish; shy; modest; bashful; reticent; diffident;
retiring; backward; self-effacing; shrinking; withdrawn;
timid; demure; Opposite:; brazen

express disapproval of:"what I deprecate is persistent

indulgence"
deplore; abhor; take a dim view of; take exception to;
Opposite:; praise; (be deprecated)
deprecate dep·re·cate

the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of

one's consideration or respect:"her upper lip curled in
disdain" · "an aristocratic disdain for manual labour"
contempt; scorn; scornfulness; contemptuousness;
derision; disrespect; disparagement; condescension;
disdain dis·dain superciliousness; hauteur; haughtiness; arrogance;
lordliness; snobbishness; aloofness; indifference;
dismissiveness; distaste; dislike; disgust; despite;
contumely; Opposite:; admiration; respect
 distribute or spread over a wide area:"storms can
disperse seeds via high altitudes" · "caravan sites could
be dispersed among trees so as to be out of sight"
scatter; disseminate; distribute; spread; broadcast;
diffuse; strew; sow; sprinkle; pepper; bestrew;
besprinkle; Opposite:; gather
disperse dis·perse

swell or cause to swell by pressure from inside:"the

abdomen distended rapidly" · "air is introduced into
the stomach to distend it"
swell; bloat; bulge; expand; dilate; inflate; enlarge;
tumefy; intumesce; swollen; bloated; tumescent;
dilated; engorged; enlarged; inflated; stretched; blown
up; expanded; extended; ballooning; puffy; puffed up;
distend dis·tend bulbous; bulging; protuberant; prominent; turgescent;
ventricose; tumid; puff out/up; blow up/out; pumped
up/out; sticking out; Opposite:; shrink; contract;
shrunken; deflated

(of a disease or condition) regularly found among

particular people or in a certain area:"complacency is
endemic in industry today"
widespread; prevailing; frequent; usual; common;
general; universal; pervasive; extensive; ubiquitous;
endemic en·dem·ic ordinary; rampant; rife; recognized; established;
accepted; current; popular; fashionable; in fashion; in
style; in vogue; Opposite:; uncommon; rare
 a state or feeling of active opposition or
hostility:"decades of enmity between the two
countries" · "family feuds and enmities"
hostility; animosity; antagonism; friction; antipathy;
animus; opposition; dissension; rivalry; feud; conflict;
discord; contention; acrimony; bitterness; rancour;
resentment; aversion; dislike; ill feeling; ill will; bad
enmity en·mity blood; hatred; hate; loathing; detestation; abhorrence;
odium; malice; spite; spitefulness; venom;
malevolence; malignity; grudges; grievances; bad
feeling; Opposite:; friendship; goodwill

unsophisticated and socially awkward:"a shy and

gauche teenager"
awkward; gawky; inelegant; graceless; ungraceful;
ungainly; bumbling; maladroit; inept; unpolished;
unsophisticated; uncultured; uncultivated; unrefined;
gauche gauche raw; inexperienced; uneducated; unworldly; socially
awkward; socially inept; lacking in social grace(s);
Opposite:; elegant; sophisticated

affected by or deriving from wildly uncontrolled

emotion:"Janet became hysterical and began
screaming" · "the band were mobbed by hysterical
fans"
hysterical hys·ter·ic·al overwrought; emotional; uncontrolled; uncontrollable;
Opposite:; calm; self-possessed; informal

not showing due respect for another person;

impertinent:"he could have strangled this impudent
upstart"
impertinent; insolent; cheeky; audacious; brazen;
shameless; immodest; pert; presumptuous; forward;
disrespectful; insubordinate; irreverent; flippant;
impudent im·pu·dent bumptious; brash; bold; rude; impolite; ill-mannered;
bad-mannered; unmannerly; discourteous; insulting; ill-
bred; malapert; contumelious; bold as brass; Opposite:;
polite; respectful
 just begun and so not fully formed or developed;
rudimentary:"a still inchoate democracy"
rudimentary; undeveloped; unformed; immature;
incomplete; incipient; fledgling; budding; beginning;
potential; nascent; emerging; developing; early;
primary; elementary; germinal; just beginning;
inchoate in·cho·ate Opposite:; mature; developed

a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to

do something:"he has a penchant for adopting stray
penchant pen·chant dogs"
flavour; savour; relish; tang; smack

a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a

difficult situation:"Kate was in a quandary"
dilemma; plight; predicament; trouble; muddle; mix-
up; mare's nest; mess; confusion; difficulty; impasse;
quandary quan·dary stalemate; state of uncertainty; state of perplexity;
unfortunate situation; difficult situation; awkward
situation; cleft stick

a state, period, or place of isolation in which people or

animals that may have been exposed to infectious
disease are placed:"horses entering the country must
stay in quarantine longer" · "a six-week quarantine" ·
"quarantine laws"
separation; isolation; insulation; exclusion; closeting;
quarantine quar·an·tine protection; shielding; partitioning; division;
detachment; disconnection; dissociation;
sequestration; partition; apartheid; setting apart;
keeping apart; sorting out; Opposite:; integration
 reject as invalid, especially by legal procedure:"his
conviction was quashed on appeal"
cancel; reverse; rescind; repeal; revoke; retract;
countermand; withdraw; take back; disallow; overturn;
override; overrule; veto; set aside; overthrow;
quash quash repudiate; annul; nullify; invalidate; negate; void;
abrogate; vacate; recall; rule against; declare null and
void; render invalid; Opposite:; validate

a slight objection or criticism about a trivial matter:"the

only quibble about this book is the price"
protest; query; argument; exception; moan; grumble;
grouse; cavil; twine; pettifogging; evasion; dodge;
quibble quib·ble avoidance; equivocation; prevarication; hedging;
fudging; minor criticism; trivial objection; trivial
complaint; adverse comment

cause severe and extensive damage to:"the hurricane

ravaged southern Florida"
devastate; ruin; destroy; level; raze; demolish; wipe
out; wreck; damage; pillage; plunder; harry; maraud;
ransack; sack; loot; despoil; rape; spoil; havoc;
ravage rav·age depredate; spoliate; devastated; ruined; wrecked;
desolate; war-torn; battle-scarred; lay waste; leave in
ruins; wreak havoc on; leave desolate

say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief,

especially one considered heretical:"heretics were
burned if they would not recant" · "Galileo was forced
to recant his assertion that the earth orbited the sun"
renounce; forswear; disavow; deny; repudiate; abjure;
recant re·cant relinquish; abandon; forsake; change one's mind;
defect; renege; apostatize; tergiversate; retract; take
back; withdraw; disclaim; disown; recall; unsay; renege
on; be apostate; Opposite:; reaffirm
 (of a person) formidable, especially as an opponent:"he
was a redoubtable debater" · "the redoubtable ladies"
formidable; awe-inspiring; fearsome; daunting;
alarming; impressive; commanding; tremendous;
redoubtable re·doubt·able indomitable; invincible; resolute; doughty; mighty;
strong; powerful

shy and fond of being on one's own:"a gentle, retiring

person who avoided conflict"
shy; diffident; bashful; self-effacing; shrinking;
unassuming; unassertive; reserved; reticent; quiet;
timid; timorous; nervous; modest; demure; coy; meek;
retiring re·tir·ing humble; private; secret; secretive; withdrawn;
reclusive; media-shy; unsociable; seclusive; eremitic;
eremitical; hermitic; anchoritic; Opposite:; bold;
outgoing

(of a voice or sound) high-pitched and piercing:"a shrill

laugh"
shrill shrill high-pitched; piercing; high; sharp; ear-piercing;
Opposite:; low; soft; dulcet; derogatory

the use of clever but false arguments, especially with

the intention of deceiving:"trying to argue that I had
benefited in any way from the disaster was pure
sophistry"
trickery; deviousness; deceit; deception; dishonesty;
cheating; duplicity; guile; cunning; artfulness; wiliness;
craft; craftiness; evasion; slyness; chicanery; intrigue;
subterfuge; strategy; bluff; pretence; fraud;
sophistry soph·is·try fraudulence; sharp practice; a fallacious argument.;
Similar:; sophism; casuistry; quibbling; equivocation;
fallaciousness; fallacy; quibble; paralogism; specious
reasoning; the use of fallacious arguments; fallacious
argument
 provide evidence to support or prove the truth of:"they
had found nothing to substantiate the allegations"
prove; support; uphold; back up; bear out; justify;
vindicate; validate; corroborate; verify; authenticate;
confirm; endorse; establish; demonstrate; stand by;
substantiate sub·stan·ti·ate bear witness to; give proof of; show to be true; give
substance to; give credence to; lend weight to; vouch
for; attest to; testify to; Opposite:; disprove; refute

skilled at gaining an advantage, especially

deceitfully:"his wily opponents"
shrewd; clever; sharp; sharp-witted; astute; canny;
smart; crafty; cunning; artful; sly; scheming; calculating;
guileful; disingenuous; devious; Machiavellian;
wily wily deceitful; deceptive; Janus-faced; dishonest; cheating;
double-dealing; subtle; vulpine; carny; Opposite:;
naive; guileless

complaining in a rather petulant or whining

manner:"she became querulous and demanding"
petulant; complaining; pettish; touchy; testy; tetchy;
waspish; prickly; crusty; peppery; fractious; fretful;
irritable; cross; crabbed; crabby; crotchety;
cantankerous; curmudgeonly; disagreeable; miserable;
morose; on edge; edgy; impatient; bitter; moody;
querulous queru·lous grumpy; huffy; scratchy; out of sorts; out of temper; ill-
tempered; bad-tempered; ill-natured; ill-humoured;
sullen; surly; sulky; sour; churlish; bilious; liverish;
dyspeptic; splenetic; choleric; in a bad mood

phony -phony
 examine (something) in order to determine its
accuracy, quality, or condition, or to detect the
presence of something:"customs officers have the right
to check all luggage" · "a simple blood test to check for
anaemia"
check check examine; inspect; look over; scrutinize; scan; survey;
study; investigate; research; probe; dissect; explore;
look into; go into; check out; test; monitor; review;
look at; inquire into; go over with a fine-tooth comb

rough and bad-mannered; coarse:"boorish behaviour"

coarse; uncouth; rude; discourteous; impolite;
ungentlemanly; unladylike; ill-bred; ill-mannered;
churlish; gruff; uncivilized; uncultured; uncultivated;
unsophisticated; unrefined; common; rough; thuggish;
loutish; crude; vulgar; crass; tasteless; unsavoury;
boorish boor·ish gross; lumpen; brutish; bearish; barbaric; barbarous;
Neanderthal; philistine; Opposite:; refined;
sophisticated

a small stream:"the Lake District boasts lovely lakes

and babbling brooks"
stream; streamlet; rivulet; rill; brooklet; runnel; runlet;
brook brook freshet; gill; beck; bourn; billabong; creek; small river

wary and unwilling to take risks:"the officials were very

circumspect in their statements"
cautious; wary; careful; chary; guarded; discreet;
circumspect cir·cum·spect watchful; alert; attentive; heedful; vigilant; observant;
prudent; judicious; canny; politic; on one's guard;
Opposite:; unguarded; incautious

comity com·ity
 corresponding in size or degree; in proportion:"salary
will be commensurate with age and experience" · "such
heavy responsibility must receive commensurate
reward"
equivalent; equal; corresponding; correspondent;
comparable; proportionate; proportional;
commensurable; in keeping with; in line with; in
commensura
te com·men·sur·ateaccordance with; relative to; appropriate to; consistent
with; corresponding to; according to; in proportion
with; proportionate to; dependent on; based on;
commensurable with/to; Opposite:; disproportionate

warm and friendly:"the atmosphere was cordial and

relaxed"
friendly; warm; genial; affable; amiable; pleasant; fond;
affectionate; warm-hearted; good-natured; gracious;
cordial cor·dial hospitable; welcoming; sincere; earnest; wholehearted;
heartfelt; hearty; enthusiastic; eager; Opposite:;
unfriendly

causing harm or damage:"divorce is assumed to have

deleterious effects on children"
harmful; damaging; detrimental; injurious; inimical;
hurtful; bad; adverse; disadvantageous; unfavourable;
deleterious dele·teri·ous unfortunate; undesirable; destructive; pernicious;
ruinous; Opposite:; beneficial; advantageous

a division or contrast between two things that are or

are represented as being opposed or entirely
different:"a rigid dichotomy between science and
mysticism"
division; separation; divorce; split; gulf; chasm;
dichotomy di·chot·omy difference; contrast; disjunction; polarity;
contradiction; antagonism; conflict; contrariety; lack of
consistency
 instruct or improve (someone) morally or
intellectually:"Rachel had edified their childhood with
frequent readings from Belloc"
edify edify educate; instruct; teach; school; tutor; coach; train;
guide; enlighten; inform; cultivate; develop; inculcate;
indoctrinate; improve; better; uplift; elevate

evoke or draw out (a reaction, answer, or fact) from

someone:"I tried to elicit a smile from Joanna" · "the
work elicited enormous public interest"
obtain; bring out; draw out; extract; evoke; bring
about; bring forth; induce; excite; give rise to; call
elicit elicit forth; prompt; generate; engender; trigger; kindle;
extort; exact; wrest; derive; provoke; wring; screw;
squeeze; spark off; archaic

having or showing great knowledge or learning:"Ken

could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion"
· "she was very erudite"
learned; scholarly; well educated; knowledgeable; well
read; well informed; lettered; cultured; cultivated;
civilized; intellectual; intelligent; clever; academic;
literary; bookish; highbrow; studious; sage; wise;
erudite eru·dite sagacious; discerning; donnish; cerebral; enlightened;
illuminated; sophisticated; pedantic; esoteric; obscure;
recondite; sapient; widely read; well versed; Opposite:;
ignorant; ill-educated

producing or capable of producing an abundance of

offspring or new growth; highly fertile:"a lush and
fecund garden"
fecund fec·und fruitful; productive; high-yielding; prolific; proliferating;
propagative; generative; rich; lush; fructuous;
Opposite:; infertile
 lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or
illness:"by now, he was too feeble to leave his room"
weak; weakly; weakened; puny; wasted; frail; infirm;
delicate; sickly; ailing; unwell; poorly; failing; helpless;
powerless; impotent; enfeebled; enervated;
debilitated; incapacitated; effete; decrepit; doddering;
doddery; tottering; tottery; shaky; trembling; trembly;
feeble fee·ble shilpit; etiolated; Opposite:; strong

well chosen or suited to the circumstances:"a felicitous

phrase"
apt; well chosen; choice; fitting; suitable; appropriate;
felicitous fe·lici·tous apposite; pertinent; germane; to the point; relevant;
congruous; apropos; well expressed; well put;
Opposite:; inappropriate

politely or patiently restrain an impulse to do

something; refrain:"he modestly forbears to include his
own work"
refrain; abstain; desist; keep; hold back; withhold; steer
clear of; fight shy of; eschew; avoid; shun; cease; give
forbear for·bear up; break off; belay; restrain oneself; stop oneself;
resist the temptation to; give a wide berth to; decline
to; Opposite:; persist in

lacking any obvious principle of organization:"the

music business works in a haphazard fashion"
random; unplanned; unsystematic; unmethodical;
disorganized; disorderly; irregular; indiscriminate;
haphazard hap·haz·ard chaotic; hit-and-miss; arbitrary; orderless; aimless;
undirected; careless; casual; slapdash; slipshod;
chance; accidental; Opposite:; methodical; systematic
 a confused mixture; a hotchpotch:"Rob's living room
was a hodgepodge of modern furniture and antiques"
mixture; mix; mixed bag; assortment; assemblage;
collection; selection; jumble; ragbag; hotchpotch;
hodgepodge hodge·podge miscellany; medley; patchwork; pot-pourri; melange;
mess; mishmash; confusion; clutter; farrago;
gallimaufry; olio; olla podrida; salmagundi

delay or prevent (someone or something) by

obstructing them; hinder:"the sap causes swelling
which can impede breathing"
hinder; obstruct; hamper; handicap; hold back; hold
up; delay; disrupt; retard; slow; slow down; brake;
impede im·pede restrain; fetter; shackle; hamstring; cramp; cripple;
block; check; bar; curb; stop; thwart; frustrate; balk;
foil; derail; stand in the way of; cumber; interfere with;
put a brake on; Opposite:; facilitate

acting or done quickly and without thought or

care:"she might live to rue this impetuous decision"
impulsive; rash; hasty; overhasty; reckless; heedless;
foolhardy; incautious; imprudent; injudicious; ill-
conceived; ill-considered; unplanned; unreasoned;
impetuous im·petu·ous unthinking; spontaneous; impromptu; spur-of-the-
moment; precipitate; precipitous; headlong; hurried;
rushed; unthought-out; Opposite:; cautious;
considered

having or showing a tendency to be easily angered:"an

irascible and difficult man"
irritable; quick-tempered; short-tempered; bad-
tempered; ill-tempered; hot-tempered; thin-skinned;
snappy; snappish; tetchy; testy; touchy; edgy; crabby;
irascible iras·cible waspish; dyspeptic; surly; cross; crusty; crabbed;
grouchy; crotchety; cantankerous; curmudgeonly; ill-
natured; ill-humoured; peevish; querulous; captious;
fractious; bilious; iracund; iracundulous
 primarily concerned with making money at the
expense of ethics:"she's nothing but a mercenary little
gold-digger"
mercenary mer·cen·ary money-oriented; grasping; greedy; acquisitive;
avaricious; covetous; rapacious; bribable; venal;
materialistic; Opposite:; altruistic; philanthropic

showing great attention to detail; very careful and

precise:"the designs are hand-glazed with meticulous
care" · "he had always been so meticulous about his
appearance"
careful; conscientious; diligent; ultra-careful;
scrupulous; punctilious; painstaking; demanding;
exacting; accurate; correct; thorough; studious;
meticulous me·ticu·lous rigorous; detailed; perfectionist; fastidious; methodical;
particular; strict; pedantic; fussy; white-glove; nice;
laborious; Opposite:; careless; sloppy; slapdash

(especially of humour) having or showing a sharp or

critical quality; biting:"a mordant sense of humour"
caustic; trenchant; biting; cutting; acerbic; sardonic;
sarcastic; scathing; acid; sharp; keen; tart; pungent;
stinging; astringent; incisive; devastating; piercing;
mordant mor·dant rapier-like; razor-edged; critical; bitter; polemic;
virulent; vitriolic; venomous; waspish; corrosive;
acidulous; mordacious; Opposite:; vague; uncritical

move faster than and overtake (someone else):"during

the morning warm-up, he once again outstripped the
field"
outrun; outdistance; outpace; leave behind; gain on;
overtake; pass; shake off; throw off; lose; go faster
outstrip out·strip than; get (further) ahead of; draw away from; put
distance between oneself and someone else; widen the
gap between oneself and someone else
 not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to
fall or collapse:"a precarious ladder"
dangerous; hazardous; perilous; unsafe; risky;
deceptive; unreliable; undependable; unstable; icy; ice-
covered; slippery; glassy; Opposite:; safe; reliable

precarious pre·car·ious

having or characterized by peculiar or unexpected

traits or aspects:"her sense of humour was decidedly
quirky"
eccentric; idiosyncratic; unconventional; unorthodox;
unusual; off-centre; strange; bizarre; weird; peculiar;
quirky quirky odd; freakish; outlandish; offbeat; out of the ordinary;
Bohemian; alternative; zany; outré; bizarro; Opposite:;
conventional

refuse to accept; reject:"she has repudiated policies

associated with previous party leaders"
reject; renounce; abandon; forswear; give up; turn
one's back on; wash one's hands of; abjure; disavow;
recant; desert; discard; disown; cast off; lay aside; cut
off; rebuff; forsake; have nothing more to do with;
repudiate re·pudi·ate have no more truck with; disprofess; Opposite:;
embrace; law
 skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with
difficult issues:"the inspector broke the news to me
with tact and consideration"
sensitivity; understanding; thoughtfulness;
consideration; delicacy; diplomacy; discretion;
discernment; judgement; prudence; judiciousness;
perception; subtlety; wisdom; tactfulness; etiquette;
tact tact courtesy; cordiality; politeness; decorum;
mannerliness; polish; respect; respectfulness; savoir
faire; politesse; Opposite:; indiscretion; rudeness;
tactlessness

unimportant or trivial:"a trifling sum"

trivial; unimportant; insignificant; inconsequential;
petty; minor; light; footling; fiddling; pettifogging;
incidental; frivolous; silly; idle; superficial; small; tiny;
inconsiderable; nominal; negligible; nugatory; minute;
minuscule; paltry; derisory; pitiful; pathetic; miserable;
trifling trif·ling exiguous; of little/no account; of little/no consequence;
not worth mentioning; not worth bothering about;
Opposite:; important; serious; considerable

characterized by conflict, disorder, or confusion; not

stable or calm:"the country's turbulent history" · "her
turbulent emotions"
tempestuous; stormy; unstable; unsettled; tumultuous;
explosive; roller-coaster; chaotic; violent; wild;
anarchic; lawless; in turmoil; full of upheavals; full of
conflict; full of ups and downs; full of confusion;
turbulent tur·bu·lent Opposite:; peaceful
 the practice of persuading someone to do something
by using force or threats:"our problem cannot be
solved by any form of coercion but only by agreement"
force; compulsion; constraint; duress; oppression;
enforcement; harassment; intimidation; threats;
coercion co·er·cion insistence; demand; arm-twisting; pressure;
pressurization; influence; Opposite:; persuasion

a flat disc or piece of metal with an official stamp, used

as money:"she opened her purse and took out a coin" ·
"gold and silver coins"
coin coin piece; bit; coins; coinage; small change; silver; copper;
coppers; gold; specie; coin of the realm; (loose) change

having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by

deceit or evasion:"a cunning look came into his eyes"
crafty; wily; artful; guileful; devious; sly; knowing;
scheming; designing; tricky; slippery; slick;
manipulative; Machiavellian; deceitful; deceptive;
duplicitous; Janus-faced; shrewd; astute; clever; canny;
cunning cun·ning sharp; sharp-witted; skilful; ingenious; resourceful;
inventive; imaginative; deft; adroit; dexterous; subtle;
vulpine; carny; Opposite:; honest; guileless; naive

make (someone) feel uneasy or embarrassed:"he was

not noticeably discomfited by her tone"
embarrass; abash; disconcert; nonplus; discompose;
discomfort; unsettle; unnerve; put someone off their
stroke; ruffle; confuse; fluster; agitate; disorientate;
discomfit dis·com·fit upset; disturb; perturb; distress; chagrin; mortify; make
uncomfortable; make uneasy; take aback; Opposite:;
reassure
 the holding or expression of opinions at variance with
those commonly or officially held:"there was no dissent
from this view"
disagreement; difference of opinion; argument;
dispute; demur; disapproval; objection; protest;
dissent dis·sent opposition; defiance; insubordination; conflict; friction;
strife; arguing; quarrelling; wrangling; bickering; lack of
agreement; Opposite:; agreement; acceptance

purify (a liquid) by heating it so that it vaporizes, then

cooling and condensing the vapour and collecting the
resulting liquid:"they managed to distil a small quantity
of water"
purify; refine; filter; treat; process; sublime; sublimate;
fractionate; vaporize/evaporate and condense
distill dis·til

hesitating or doubting:"I was rather dubious about the

whole idea"
doubtful; uncertain; unsure; in doubt; hesitant;
undecided; unsettled; unconfirmed; undetermined;
indefinite; unresolved; up in the air; wavering;
dubious du·bi·ous vacillating; irresolute; on the horns of a dilemma;
sceptical; suspicious; in a quandary; in a dilemma;
Opposite:; certain; definite

cheerful and full of energy:"she sounded ebullient and

happy"
exuberant; buoyant; cheerful; joyful; cheery; merry;
sunny; breezy; jaunty; light-hearted; high-spirited;
exhilarated; elated; euphoric; jubilant; animated;
ebullient ebul·li·ent sparkling; effervescent; vivacious; enthusiastic;
irrepressible; gladsome; blithe; blithesome; gay; as
merry as a grig; of good cheer; in high spirits;
Opposite:; depressed
 treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate
humour; flippant:"a facetious remark"
flippant; flip; glib; frivolous; tongue-in-cheek; waggish;
whimsical; joking; jokey; jesting; jocular; playful;
roguish; impish; teasing; arch; mischievous; puckish; in
facetious fa·cetious fun; witty; amusing; funny; droll; comic; comical;
chucklesome; light-hearted; high-spirited; bantering;
frolicsome; sportive; jocose; in jest; Opposite:; serious

capable of making mistakes or being wrong:"experts

can be fallible"
error-prone; erring; errant; imperfect; flawed; frail;
fallible fal·lible weak; liable to err; prone to err; open to error;
Opposite:; infallible

having a red or flushed complexion:"a stout man with a

florid face"
ruddy; red; red-faced; reddish; rosy; rosy-cheeked;
pink; pinkish; roseate; rubicund; healthy-looking;
florid florid glowing; fresh; flushed; blushing; high-coloured;
blowsy; sanguine; erubescent; rubescent; Opposite:;
pale

nervously awkward and ungainly:"a gawky teenager"

awkward; ungainly; inelegant; graceless; ungraceful;
gauche; maladroit; inept; bumbling; blundering;
lumbering; unpolished; unsophisticated; uncultured;
gawky gawky uncultivated; unworldly; nervous; shy; bashful; nervy;
socially awkward; socially unsure; Opposite:; graceful;
adroit

persuade (someone) to do something by means of

deception or flattery:"we cannot inveigle him into
putting pen to paper"
cajole; wheedle; coax; persuade; convince; talk; tempt;
inveigle in·vei·gle lure; allure; entice; ensnare; seduce; flatter; beguile;
dupe; fool; blandish; (inveigle oneselfone's way into)
 throw or drop (something) from an aircraft or ship:"six
aircraft jettisoned their loads in the sea"
remove; offload; discharge; drop; deliver; deposit; set
down; leave; put off; pour out; tip out; Opposite:; load

jettison jet·ti·son

untruthfulness; lying:"people publicly castigated for

past mendacity"
lying; untruthfulness; dishonesty; deceit; deceitfulness;
deception; dissembling; insincerity; disingenuousness;
hypocrisy; fraud; fraudulence; double-dealing; two-
mendacity men·da·city timing; duplicity; perjury; perfidy; untruth;
fictitiousness; falsity; falsehood; falseness;
fallaciousness; hollowness; terminological inexactitude;
economy with the truth; unveracity

characterized by or displaying great generosity:"a

munificent bequest" · "a munificent patron of the arts"
generous; bountiful; open-handed; magnanimous;
philanthropic; princely; handsome; lavish; unstinting;
free-handed; unstinted; liberal; free; charitable; big-
munificent mu·nifi·cent hearted; beneficent; ungrudging; bounteous;
Opposite:; niggardly; miserly
 (of a person or action) showing a lack of experience,
wisdom, or judgement:"the rather naive young man
had been totally misled" · "I was politically naive"

naive naive

belonging by rank, title, or birth to the aristocracy:"the

medieval palace was once owned by a noble Florentine
family" · "the Duchess of Kent and several other noble
ladies"
noble noble aristocratic; noble-born; titled; patrician; blue-blooded;
high-born; well born; gentle; of noble birth; of gentle
birth; Opposite:; humble

relating to a Church parish:"the parochial church

parochial pa·ro·chial council"

a person walking rather than travelling in a vehicle:"the

road is so dangerous pedestrians avoid it" · "a
pedestrian bridge"
pedestrian ped·es··trian walker; hiker; rambler; stroller; wayfarer; Opposite:;
driver
 speak or act in an evasive way:"he seemed to
prevaricate when journalists asked pointed questions"
beat about the bush; hedge; hedge one's bets; fence;
vacillate; shilly-shally; cavil; waver; quibble; temporize;
hesitate; hum and haw; palter; tergiversate; be
prevaricate pre·vari·cate evasive; be non-committal; be vague; be ambiguous;
evade/dodge the issue; fudge the issue; parry
questions; stall (for time); shuffle about

of first importance; main:"a nurse's prime concern is

the well-being of the patient"
main; chief; key; primary; central; principal; foremost;
first; paramount; major; dominant; supreme;
prime prime overriding; cardinal; pre-eminent; ultimate;
fundamental; basic; essential; elemental; vital; most
important; Opposite:; secondary; subordinate

(especially of change or action) relating to or affecting

the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or
thorough:"a radical overhaul of the existing regulatory
framework"
thoroughgoing; thorough; complete; total; entire;
absolute; utter; comprehensive; exhaustive; root-and-
branch; sweeping; far-reaching; wide-ranging;
radical rad·ical extensive; profound; drastic; severe; serious; major;
desperate; stringent; violent; forceful; rigorous;
draconian; Opposite:; superficial

the recurrence of an undesirable

condition:"recrudescence of the disease is a real
recrudescent recrudescent possibility" · "a recrudescence of age-old tensions"
 relating to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs;
secular:"the Church did not imitate the secular rulers
who thought only of temporal gain"
secular; non-spiritual; worldly; profane; material;
temporal tem·poral mundane; earthly; terrestrial; non-religious; lay; carnal;
fleshly; mortal; corporeal; sublunary; terrene;
Opposite:; spiritual

not permanent:"transitory periods of medieval

greatness"
temporary; transient; brief; short; short-lived; short-
term; impermanent; ephemeral; evanescent;
momentary; fleeting; flying; passing; fugitive; flitting;
transitory tran·si·tory fading; mutable; unstable; volatile; fly-by-night;
fugacious; here today and gone tomorrow; Opposite:;
permanent; perpetual; lasting

capable of working successfully; feasible:"the proposed

investment was economically viable"
workable; feasible; practicable; practical; applicable;
usable; manageable; operable; operational; possible;
within reach; likely; achievable; attainable;
accomplishable; realizable; reasonable; sensible;
realistic; logical; useful; serviceable; suitable;
viable vi·able expedient; effective; valid; tenable; sound; well
advised; well thought out; well grounded; judicious;
level-headed; wise; within the bounds/realms of
possibility; within reason; of use; Opposite:;
impracticable; botany

leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to escape from

custody or avoid arrest:"the barman absconded with a
week's takings" · "176 detainees absconded"
run away; escape; bolt; clear out; flee; make off; take
flight; take off; fly; decamp; take to one's heels; beat a
abscond ab·scond hasty retreat; show a clean pair of heels; make a run
for it; disappear; vanish; slip away; make a break for it;
make a quick getaway; run for it; steal away; sneak
away
 the highest point in the development of something; a
climax or culmination:"a film which was the apogee of
German expressionist cinema"
climax; pinnacle; peak; high point; height; high water
mark; top; summit; crest; zenith; apotheosis; apex;
apogee apo·gee vertex; finale; denouement; consummation;
completion; finish; conclusion; close; termination;
highest point; crowning moment; Opposite:; nadir

an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or

something:"I don't think anyone is casting aspersions
on you"
vilification; disparagement; denigration; defamation;
abuse; vituperation; condemnation; criticism; censure;
castigation; denunciation; flak; deprecation;
opprobrium; obloquy; derogation; slander; revilement;
reviling; calumny; calumniation; slurs; smears;
execration; excoriation; lambasting; upbraiding;
character assassination; attack; invective; libel; insults;
slights; curses; contumely; animadversion; objurgation;
vilify; disparage; denigrate; defame; run down; impugn;
revile; berate; belittle; insult; slight; speak ill of; speak
evil of; pour scorn on; criticize; condemn; decry;
aspersion as·per·sion denounce; pillory; lambast; malign; discredit;
stigmatize; traduce; calumniate; slur; contemn;
derogate; vituperate; asperse; defamation of
character; bad press; speak badly of; fulminate against;
rail against; inveigh against; conduct a smear campaign
against; spread lies about; blacken the
name/reputation of; sully the reputation of; give
someone a bad name; bring into disrepute; vilipend

bawdy bawdy
 annoyance or distress at having failed or been
humiliated:"to my chagrin, he was nowhere to be
seen"
annoyance; irritation; vexation; exasperation;
displeasure; pique; spleen; crossness; anger; rage; fury;
wrath; dissatisfaction; discontent; indignation;
resentment; umbrage; disgruntlement; rankling;
chagrin chag·rin smarting; distress; discomposure; discomfiture;
disquiet; fretfulness; frustration; embarrassment;
mortification; humiliation; shame; ire; Opposite:;
delight

cooperate in a secret or unlawful way in order to

deceive or gain an advantage over others:"he accused
his opponents of colluding with one another" · "certain
officials were colluding in the avoidance of drugs tests"
conspire; connive; intrigue; plot; collaborate; scheme;
collude col·lude machinate; cabal; complot; be hand in glove;
participate in a conspiracy

express or feel sympathy or pity; sympathize:"she went

over to commiserate with Rose on her unfortunate
circumstances"
comfort; console; solace; one's heart goes out to;
compassion; compassionate; offer sympathy to; be
sympathetic to; express sympathy for; send
commiserate com·mis·er·ate condolences to; offer condolences to; condole with;
sympathize with; empathize with; feel pity for; feel
sorry for; feel for; be moved by; mourn for; sorrow for;
grieve for; give solace to; archaic

an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or

property:"tinder-dry conditions sparked fears of a
conflagratio conflagration in many drought-devastated
n con·flag·ra·tion communities"
fire; blaze; flames; inferno; firestorm; holocaust
 a minor dispute or disagreement:"she had occasional
contretemps with her staff"
argument; quarrel; squabble; altercation; clash; fight;
contretemps contre·temps disagreement; difference of opinion; dispute;
dissension

a formal declaration by the verdict of a jury or the

decision of a judge in a court of law that someone is
guilty of a criminal offence:"she had a previous
conviction con·vic·tion conviction for a similar offence"
sentence; judgement; declaration/pronouncement of
guilt; Opposite:; acquittal

hum or sing in a soft, low voice, especially in a

sentimental manner:"she was crooning to the child" ·
"the female vocalist crooned smoky blues into the
croon croon microphone"
hum; lilt; carol; warble; trill; quaver; troll; sing softly

remove from office suddenly and forcefully:"he had

been deposed by a military coup"
overthrow; overturn; topple; bring down; remove;
unseat; dethrone; supplant; displace; dismiss;
depose de·pose discharge; oust; drum out; throw out; force out; expel;
eject; demote; cashier; remove from office; drive out;
strip of rank

the easing of hostility or strained relations, especially

between countries:"his policy of arms control and
detente with the Soviet Union"
agreement; compromise; understanding; peace; amity;
detente de·tente concord; rapprochement; restoration of friendly
relations; restoration of harmony; an end to hostilities;
Opposite:; feud
 (of a person or their clothes) unfashionable and
unstylish in appearance (typically used of a
woman):"she could achieve the kind of casual chic
which made every other woman around her look
dowdy"
dowdy dowdy unfashionable; frumpish; frumpy; drab; dull; old-
fashioned; outmoded; inelegant; ill-dressed; shabby;
scruffy; faded; untidy; dingy; frowzy; out of style; not
smart; badly dressed; Opposite:; fashionable

a level or rank in an organization, a profession, or

society:"the upper echelons of the business world"
echelon ech·elon level; rank; grade; step; rung; tier; stratum; plane;
position; order; division; sector

a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from

a lack of occupation or excitement:"he succumbed to
ennui and despair"
boredom; tedium; listlessness; lethargy; lassitude;
languor; restlessness; weariness; sluggishness;
ennui ennui enervation; malaise; dissatisfaction; unhappiness;
uneasiness; unease; melancholy; depression;
despondency; dejection; disquiet; Weltschmerz;
Opposite:; animation; contentment

speak or write in detail about:"she expatiated on

working-class novelists"
expound; dwell on; enlarge on; amplify; embellish;
dilate on; hold forth about; speak/write at length
expatiate ex·pati·ate about; pontificate about; discourse on; go into detail
about; go on about; expand on; elaborate on; perorate
on; dissertate on

(of a situation or course of action) filled with or likely to

result in (something undesirable):"marketing any new
product is fraught with danger"
fraught fraught full of; filled with; swarming with; rife with; thick with;
bristling with; charged with; loaded with; brimful of;
brimming with; attended by; accompanied by
 a thing that plays a central or essential role in an
activity, event, or situation:"research is the fulcrum of
fulcrum ful·crum the academic community"

an extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing

situation:"the abdication imbroglio of 1936"
imbroglio im·bro·glio complication; complexity; problem; difficulty;
predicament; archaic; a confused heap.

cheerful and light-hearted:"a jocund wedding party"

cheerful; happy; jolly; merry; bright; glad; sunny; joyful;
joyous; light-hearted; sparkling; bubbly; exuberant;
jocund joc·und ebullient; cock-a-hoop; elated; gleeful; breezy; airy;
cheery

(of a person, animal, or plant) lose or lack vitality; grow

weak:"plants may appear to be languishing simply
because they are dormant"
languish lan·guish weaken; deteriorate; decline; wither; droop; flag;
Opposite:; thrive; flourish

the lowest or most unsuccessful point in a

situation:"asking that question was the nadir of my
career"
nadir nadir low-water mark; rock-bottom; the depths; zero;
Opposite:; zenith; acme; climax

quick and light in movement or action; agile:"with a

deft motion of her nimble fingers"
agile; lithe; sprightly; acrobatic; light-footed; nimble-
footed; light; fleet-footed; spry; lively; active; quick;
quick-moving; graceful; supple; limber; lissom; flexible;
skilful; deft; dexterous; adroit; fleet; lightsome; light on
nimble nim·ble one's feet; Opposite:; stiff; clumsy; lumbering
 giving the worrying impression that something bad is
going to happen; threateningly inauspicious:"there
were ominous dark clouds gathering overhead"
threatening; menacing; baleful; forbidding; sinister;
doomy; inauspicious; unpropitious; portentous;
ominous om·in·ous unfavourable; dire; unpromising; black; dark; wintry;
gloomy; ugly; direful; minatory; minacious; sinistrous;
Opposite:; promising; auspicious; propitious

looking or sounding bizarre or unfamiliar:"outlandish,

brightly coloured clothes"
strange; peculiar; odd; funny; curious; offbeat;
eccentric; unconventional; unorthodox; queer;
unexpected; unfamiliar; abnormal; atypical; unusual;
out of the ordinary; out of the way; extraordinary;
fantastic; remarkable; puzzling; mystifying; mysterious;
outlandish out·land·ish perplexing; baffling; unaccountable; inexplicable;
incongruous; irregular; singular; ludicrous; comical;
ridiculous; droll; deviant; aberrant; grotesque; freak;
freakish; surreal; outré; Opposite:; ordinary; normal

giving or indicating a good chance of success;

favourable:"the timing for such a meeting seemed
propitious"
favourable; auspicious; promising; providential;
advantageous; fortunate; lucky; optimistic; bright;
propitious pro·pi·tious happy; rosy; heaven-sent; hopeful; beneficial;
opportune; suitable; apt; fitting; timely; well timed; full
of promise; Opposite:; inauspicious; unfortunate;
archaic

having or encouraging an excessive interest in sexual

matters, especially the sexual activity of others:"she'd
been the subject of much prurient curiosity"
salacious; licentious; voyeuristic; lascivious; lecherous;
prurient pruri·ent lustful; lewd; libidinous; lubricious; depraved;
debauched; degenerate; dissolute; dissipated;
concupiscent
 deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or
humiliation on others:"she took a sadistic pleasure in
tormenting him" · "a sadistic killer"
sadistic sad·is·tic callous; barbarous; bestial; perverted; vicious; brutal;
cruel; savage; fiendish; cold-blooded; inhuman;
ruthless; heartless; merciless; pitiless

the time at which something is most powerful or

successful:"in 1977, punk was at its zenith"
high point; height; top; acme; peak; pinnacle; apex;
apogee; vertex; tip; crown; crest; summit; climax;
zenith zen·ith culmination; maximum; optimum; prime; meridian;
flower; highest point; crowning point; Opposite:; nadir;
bottom

the ability to make good judgements and take quick

decisions:"she hides a shrewd business acumen"
astuteness; awareness; shrewdness; acuity; sharpness;
sharp-wittedness; cleverness; brightness; smartness;
judgement; understanding; sense; common sense;
canniness; discernment; wisdom; wit; sagacity;
perspicacity; ingenuity; insight; intuition; intuitiveness;
acumen acu·men perception; perspicuity; penetration; capability;
enterprise; initiative; resourcefulness; flair; vision;
brains; savoir faire; sapience; powers of reasoning;
arguteness; Opposite:; witlessness

a person or thing that is the direct opposite of

someone or something else:"love is the antithesis of
selfishness"
antithesis an·tith·esis converse; reverse; reversal; inverse; obverse; the other
side of the coin; (direct) opposite; the other extreme
 regard something as being due to (a cause):"he
ascribed Jane's short temper to her upset stomach"
attribute; assign; put down; set down; accredit; credit;
chalk up; impute; lay on; pin on; give the credit for;
blame on; lay at the door of; connect with; associate
ascribe ascribe with

unable to think clearly; confused or perplexed:"even in

my befuddled state I could see that they meant
trouble" · "he has an air of befuddled unworldliness"
confused; muddled; addled; bewildered; disoriented;
disorientated; mixed up; fazed; perplexed; stunned;
befuddled befuddled dazed; dizzy; stupefied; groggy; foggy; fuzzy; fuddled;
benumbed; numbed; numb; vague; all at sea;
Opposite:; clear

deliberately avoid using; abstain from:"he appealed to

the crowd to eschew violence"
give up; forgo; forswear; shun; renounce; swear off;
abjure; steer clear of; fight shy of; relinquish; reject;
disavow; abandon; deny; gainsay; disclaim; repudiate;
eschew es·chew spurn; abnegate; abdicate; wash one's hands of; drop;
disaffirm; forsake; abstain from; refrain from; have
nothing to do with; give a wide berth to; dispense with;
renege on; Opposite:; indulge in

intended for or likely to be understood by only a small

number of people with a specialized knowledge or
interest:"esoteric philosophical debates"
abstruse; obscure; arcane; recherché; rarefied;
recondite; abstract; difficult; hard; puzzling; perplexing;
enigmatic; inscrutable; cryptic; Delphic; complex;
complicated; involved; incomprehensible; opaque;
esoteric eso·ter·ic unfathomable; impenetrable; mysterious; occult;
hidden; secret; private; mystic; magical; cabbalistic;
involuted; over/above one's head; little known;
Opposite:; simple; familiar
 tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation,
especially by responding only indirectly:"she was
evasive about her phone number"
prevaricating; elusive; ambiguous; equivocal;
equivocating; indefinite; non-committal; vague;
indeterminate; imprecise; inexact; indistinct; inexplicit;
evasive eva·sive cryptic; enigmatic; obscure; unclear; puzzling;
perplexing; gnomic; Delphic; roundabout; indirect;
oblique; circumlocutory; circuitous; periphrastic;
Opposite:; frank

show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of

wrongdoing:"the article exculpated the mayor"
release; liberate; free; let out; acquit; clear; absolve;
exculpate ex·cul·pate pardon; exonerate; reprieve; deliver; spare; exempt;
emancipate; manumit; set free; let go; allow to leave;
set/let/turn loose; Opposite:; imprison

make (an action or process) happen sooner or be

accomplished more quickly:"he promised to expedite
economic reforms"
speed up; accelerate; hurry; hasten; step up; quicken;
precipitate; rush; advance; facilitate; ease; further;
promote; aid; push through; push; press; forward;
boost; stimulate; dispatch; make easier; give a push to;
expedite ex·ped·ite urge on; give a boost to; spur on; help along; oil the
wheels for; smooth the way for; clear a path for;
finish/accomplish/achieve quickly; Opposite:; delay;
hinder

very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and

detail:"she dressed with fastidious care"
scrupulous; punctilious; painstaking; meticulous;
assiduous; sedulous; perfectionist; fussy; finicky;
dainty; over-particular; critical; overcritical;
fastidious fas·tidi·ous hypercritical; pedantic; precise; exact; hair-splitting;
exacting; demanding; pass-remarkable; nice; overnice;
hard/difficult/impossible to please; Opposite:; easy-
going; sloppy
 pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or
injury):"she feigned nervousness"
simulate; fake; sham; affect; play at; pretend; bluff;
pose; posture; masquerade; make believe; act; play-
act; go through the motions; malinger; pretended;
simulated; assumed; affected; artificial; insincere; put-
on; faked; false; apparent; ostensible; seeming;
feign feign surface; avowed; professed; give the appearance of;
make a show of; make a pretence of; go through the
motions of; put it on; put on a false display; Opposite:;
sincere; archaic; invent (a story or excuse).

attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically

because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to
trouble; secretive:"they spent a furtive day together" ·
furtive fur·tive "he stole a furtive glance at her"
secretive; secret; surreptitious; sly; sneaky; wily;
Opposite:; open; above board

a basket with a carrying handle and a hinged lid, used

for food, cutlery, and plates on a picnic:"a picnic
hamper"
hamper ham·per basket; pannier; box; container; holder; wickerwork
basket; BRITISH

absolutely necessary:"he made himself indispensable

to the parish priest"
essential; crucial; necessary; key; vital; needed;
required; called for; requisite; important; all-important;
of the essence; critical; life-and-death; imperative;
mandatory; compulsory; obligatory; compelling;
indispensabl urgent; pressing; burning; acute; paramount; pre-
e in·dis·pens·able eminent; high-priority; significant; consequential;
vitally important; of the utmost importance; of great
consequence; Opposite:; dispensable; superfluous;
non-essential
 a passionate expression of grief or sorrow:"his
mother's night-long laments for his father" · "a song
full of lament and sorrow"
lament la·ment wail; wailing; lamentation; moan; moaning; groan;
weeping; crying; sob; sobbing; keening; howl;
complaint; jeremiad; ululation

short-sighted:"most myopic children can be fitted with

glasses to correct their vision"
short-sighted; nearsighted; purblind; Opposite:; long-
sighted
myopic my·opic

(of a person or manner) feeling or appearing casually

calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or
enthusiasm:"she gave a nonchalant shrug"
untroubled; unworried; unruffled; unconcerned;
indifferent; blasé; heedless; relaxed; calm; equable;
equanimous; serene; composed; casual; easy; easy-
nonchalant non·cha·lant going; airy; breezy; carefree; free and easy; happy-go-
lucky; light-hearted; frivolous; unserious; lacking
concern; free from care; free from worry; Opposite:;
anxious; concerned

existing only in part; incomplete:"a question to which

we have only partial answers"
incomplete; limited; qualified; restricted; imperfect;
partial par·tial fragmentary; unfinished; Opposite:; complete; total;
whole
 engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious
thought:"a pensive mood"
thoughtful; thinking; reflective; contemplative; musing;
meditative; introspective; prayerful; philosophical;
cogitative; ruminative; absorbed; engrossed; rapt;
pensive pen·sive preoccupied; in a brown study; broody; serious;
studious; solemn; dreamy; dreaming; wistful; brooding;
melancholy; sad; ruminant; deep/immersed/lost in
thought

be a sign or warning that (something, especially

something momentous or calamitous) is likely to
happen:"the eclipses portend some major events"
presage; augur; foreshadow; foretell; prophesy;
indicate; herald; signal; bode; announce; promise;
portend por·tend threaten; point to; mean; signify; spell; denote;
betoken; foretoken; forebode; harbinger; be a sign of;
be a warning of; warn of; be an omen of; be an
indication of; be a harbinger of

of or concerning a province of a country or

empire:"provincial elections"
non-metropolitan; small-town; non-urban; outlying;
provincial pro·vin·cial rural; country; rustic; backwoods; backwater;
Opposite:; national; metropolitan; cosmopolitan

involving or limited to basic principles:"he received a

rudimentary education"
basic; elementary; introductory; early; primary; initial;
first; fundamental; essential; rudimental; Opposite:;
rudimentary ru·di·men·tary advanced
 (especially with reference to something unwelcome or
unpleasant) producing good effects; beneficial:"it failed
to draw salutary lessons from Britain's loss of its
colonies"
beneficial; good; advantageous; profitable; productive;
salutary salu·tary helpful; useful; valuable; worthwhile; practical;
relevant; timely; good for one; of use; of service;
Opposite:; unwelcome; irrelevant; archaic

divide by cutting or slicing, especially suddenly and

forcibly:"the head was severed from the body"
cut off; hack off; cleave; split; break off; tear off; divide;
separate; part; detach; disconnect; amputate; dock;
sever sever rend; sunder; dissever; cut; rupture; pierce; rip; tear;
chop off; lop off; hew off; shear off; slice off; cut
through; Opposite:; join; attach

small in degree; inconsiderable:"a slight increase" · "a

slight ankle injury" · "the chance of success is very
slight"
small; modest; little; tiny; minute; inappreciable;
imperceptible; infinitesimal; negligible; inconsiderable;
slight slight insignificant; minimal; marginal; remote; scant; slim;
outside; faint; vague; subtle; gentle; exiguous; hardly
worth mentioning; Opposite:; big; considerable

causing or suggestive of drowsiness:"a somnolent

somnolent som·no·lent summer day"
abnormally drowsy.
stoic stoic
take the place of (a person or thing previously in
authority or use); supplant:"the older models of car
have now been superseded"
replace; supplant; take the place of; displace; oust;
supersede super·sede overthrow; remove; unseat; override; succeed; come
after; take over from; substitute for; step into the
shoes of
 attempt to sell (something), typically by a direct or
persistent approach:"Sanjay was touting his wares" ·
"shop managers would stand in the street touting for
business"
tout tout

wane wane
side by side and facing the same way:"the path was
wide enough for two people to walk abreast" · "they
were riding three abreast"
abreast abreast in a row; side by side; alongside; level; abeam; shoulder
to shoulder; cheek by jowl; on a level; beside each
other

cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by

not according with their expectations:"the inflation
figure confounded economic analysts"
amaze; astonish; dumbfound; stagger; surprise; startle;
stun; stupefy; daze; nonplus; throw; shake; unnerve;
disconcert; discompose; dismay; bewilder; baffle;
mystify; bemuse; perplex; puzzle; confuse; take
someone's breath away; shake up; wilder; gravel;
confound con·found maze; distract; pose; obfuscate; set someone thinking;
take by surprise; take aback; stop someone in their
tracks; strike dumb; leave open-mouthed; leave aghast;
catch off balance; cause to be at a stand
 a temporary departure from the main subject in
speech or writing:"let's return to the main topic after
that brief digression"
deviation; detour; diversion; departure; excursus;
aside; footnote; parenthesis; divergence; straying;
drifting; rambling; wandering; meandering;
maundering; obiter dictum; excursion; apostrophe;
digression di·gres·sion divagation; incidental remark; deviation from the
subject; straying from the topic; straying from the
point; going off at a tangent; getting sidetracked; losing
one's thread

an illogical or surprising lack of compatibility or

similarity between two or more facts:"there's a
discrepancy between your account and his"
inconsistency; difference; disparity; variance; variation;
deviation; divergence; disagreement; dissimilarity;
dissimilitude; mismatch; contrariety; contradictoriness;
discrepancy dis·crep·ancy disaccord; discordance; incongruity; incompatibility;
irreconcilability; conflict; opposition; lack of similarity;
lack of congruence; Opposite:; similarity;
correspondence

deceitful:"a duplicitous philanderer"

dishonest; untruthful; lying; mendacious; insincere;
false; deceiving; dissembling; disingenuous;
untrustworthy; unscrupulous; unprincipled; two-faced;
double-dealing; cheating; underhand; crafty; cunning;
sly; guileful; scheming; calculating; conniving;
duplicitous du·pli·ci·tous designing; hypocritical; perfidious; treacherous;
Machiavellian; Janus-faced; subtle; hollow-hearted;
false-hearted; double-faced; truthless; Punic;
Opposite:; honest
 (of an action) convenient and practical although
possibly improper or immoral:"either side could break
the agreement if it were expedient to do so"
convenient; advantageous; useful; beneficial;
profitable; gainful; effective; helpful; practical;
pragmatic; strategic; tactical; politic; prudent; wise;
judicious; sensible; desirable; suitable; advisable;
expedient ex·pe·di·ent appropriate; apt; fit; timely; opportune; propitious; in
one's own interests; to one's own advantage; of use; of
service; of benefit; Opposite:; inexpedient; ill-advised

invent (something) in order to deceive:"officers

fabricated evidence"
forge; falsify; fake; counterfeit; make up; invent;
fabricate fab·ri·cate concoct; contrive; think up; dream up; manufacture;
trump up

looking or feeling dejected; morose:"the princess

looked glum but later cheered up"
gloomy; downcast; downhearted; dejected;
disconsolate; dispirited; despondent; crestfallen; cast
down; depressed; disappointed; disheartened;
discouraged; demoralized; desolate; heavy-hearted;
low-spirited; sad; unhappy; doleful; melancholy;
glum glum miserable; woebegone; mournful; forlorn; long-faced;
fed up; wretched; lugubrious; morose; sepulchral;
saturnine; dour; mirthless; dolorous; chap-fallen;
adust; in low spirits; in the doldrums; Opposite:;
cheerful; merry

a person or thing that announces or signals the

approach of another:"witch hazels are the harbingers
of spring"
herald; sign; indicator; indication; signal; prelude;
harbinger har·bin·ger portent; omen; augury; forewarning; presage;
announcer; forerunner; precursor; messenger; usher;
avant-courier; foretoken
 belonging naturally; essential:"access to the arts is
intrinsic to a high quality of life"
inherent; innate; inborn; inbred; congenital; natural;
native; constitutional; built-in; ingrained; deep-rooted;
intrinsic in·trin·sic inseparable; permanent; indelible; ineradicable;
ineffaceable; integral; Opposite:; extrinsic; acquired

generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon

others:"presumably public money is not dispensed
with such largesse to anyone else"
generosity; liberality; munificence; bounty;
beneficence; benefaction; altruism; charity;
philanthropy; magnanimity; benevolence;
charitableness; open-handedness; kindness; great-
largesse lar·gesse heartedness; lavishness; free-handedness;
unselfishness; selflessness; self-sacrifice; self-denial;
almsgiving; bountifulness; big-heartedness; Opposite:;
meanness; miserliness

a person, especially a man, who freely indulges in

sensual pleasures without regard to moral
principles:"his image as an unbridled libertine is a total
myth"
philanderer; ladies' man; playboy; rake; roué; Don
Juan; Lothario; Casanova; Romeo; lecher; seducer;
libertine lib·er·tine womanizer; adulterer; debauchee; sensualist;
voluptuary; hedonist; profligate; wanton; reprobate;
degenerate; rip; blood; gay dog; fornicator; loose-liver;
Opposite:; puritan

malfeasance mal·fea·sance
clear or obvious to the eye or mind:"her manifest
manifest mani·fest charm and proven ability"
obvious; clear; plain; apparent; evident; patent
 a period of time equal to sixty seconds or a sixtieth of
an hour:"we waited for twenty minutes" · "I'll be there
in ten minutes' time" · "within five minutes the place
minute min·ute was virtually empty"

conforming to or following what is currently popular

and fashionable:"it seems sad that such a scholar
should feel compelled to use this modish jargon"
modish mod·ish fashionable; stylish; smart; chic; modern;
contemporary; designer; trendsetting; voguish; up to
the minute; à la mode; all the rage; in vogue

(especially of a process or organization) just coming

into existence and beginning to display signs of future
potential:"the nascent space industry"
emerging; beginning; arising; dawning; developing;
budding; burgeoning; embryonic; infant; fledgling;
nascent nas·cent incipient; rising; promising; potential; up-and-coming;
coming out; Opposite:; declining; mature; chemistry;
(chiefly of hydrogen) freshly generated in a reactive
form.

lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time;

enduring or continually recurring:"his perennial distrust
of the media" · "perennial manifestations of urban
crisis"
everlasting; perpetual; eternal; continuing; unending;
perennial per·en·nial never-ending; endless; undying; ceaseless; abiding;
enduring; lasting; persisting; permanent; constant;
continual; unfailing; unchanging; never-changing

devoutly religious:"a deeply pious woman"

religious; devout; devoted; dedicated; reverent; God-
fearing; churchgoing; spiritual; prayerful; holy; godly;
saintly; faithful; dutiful; righteous; Opposite:; impious;
irreligious
pious pious
 occurring at a favourable time; opportune:"his
appearance had seemed more than just providential"
opportune; advantageous; favourable; auspicious;
propitious; heaven-sent; welcome; golden; good; right;
providential provi·den·tial lucky; happy; fortunate; benign; felicitous; timely; well
timed; ripe; convenient; expedient; seasonable;
Opposite:; inopportune

skill or expertise in a particular activity or field:"his

prowess as a fisherman" · "her culinary prowess"
skill; skilfulness; expertise; effectiveness; mastery;
facility; ability; capability; capacity; talent; genius;
adroitness; adeptness; aptitude; dexterity; deftness;
prowess prow·ess competence; competency; professionalism; excellence;
accomplishment; experience; proficiency; expertness;
finesse; know-how; savoir faire; Opposite:; inability;
ineptitude

a split or division between strongly opposed sections or

parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief:"the
widening schism between Church leaders and
politicians" · "the persistence of this group could
produce schism within society"
division; split; rift; breach; rupture; break; separation;
severance; estrangement; alienation; detachment;
chasm; gulf; discord; disagreement; dissension;
disunion; scission; the formal separation of a Church
into two Churches or the secession of a group owing to
schism schism doctrinal and other differences. See also Great Schism.;
Similar:; withdrawal; break; breakaway; separation;
severance; apostasy; leaving; quitting; split; splitting;
disaffiliation; resignation; desertion; defection; pulling
out; dropping out; Opposite:; joining; unification
 the action or crime of making a false spoken statement
damaging to a person's reputation: Compare with
libel."he is suing the TV company for slander"

slander slan·der

loyal, reliable, and hard-working:"he remained a

stalwart supporter of the cause"
staunch; loyal; faithful; committed; devoted; dedicated;
dependable; reliable; steady; constant; trusty; hard-
working; vigorous; stable; firm; steadfast; redoubtable;
stalwart stal·wart resolute; unswerving; unwavering; unhesitating;
unfaltering; Opposite:; disloyal; unfaithful; unreliable;
dated

ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly:"the

plutocracy supplicated to be made peers"
entreat; beseech; beg; implore; petition; solicit; call on;
supplicate sup·pli·cate urge; enjoin; importune; pray; invoke; sue; ask;
request; plead with; appeal to

sparing in the use of words; abrupt:"a terse statement"

curt; brusque; abrupt; clipped; blunt; gruff; short; brief;
concise; succinct; to the point; compact; crisp; pithy;
incisive; short and sweet; economical; laconic;
terse terse epigrammatic; summary; condensed; Opposite:; long-
winded; verbose; rambling; polite
 a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation:"a tirade
of abuse"
diatribe; invective; polemic; denunciation; rant;
broadside; attack; harangue; reviling; railing; decrying;
condemnation; brickbats; flak; criticism; censure;
lecture; berating; admonishment; admonition;
reprimand; rebuke; reproof; reproval; upbraiding;
tirade tir·ade abuse; battering; stricture; tongue-lashing; vilification;
castigation; denouncement; vituperation; obloquy;
fulmination; philippic; verbal onslaught; stream of
abuse

relating to or done by all people or things in the world

or in a particular group; applicable to all
cases:"universal adult suffrage" · "the incidents caused
universal concern"
general; ubiquitous; comprehensive; common;
omnipresent; all-embracing; all-inclusive; all-round;
across the board; global; worldwide; international;
widespread; blanket; sweeping; rampant; catholic;
inescapable; pervading; pervasive; permeating;
Opposite:; particular; restricted; local; logic; denoting a
universal uni·ver·sal proposition in which something is asserted of all of a
class. Contrasted with particular.; linguistics; denoting
or relating to a grammatical rule, set of rules, or other
linguistic feature that is found in all languages.; (of a
tool or machine) adjustable to or appropriate for all
requirements.

defeat thoroughly:"he successfully vanquished his

rival"
conquer; trounce; annihilate; best; get the better of;
worst; bring someone to their knees; overcome;
overwhelm; subdue; subjugate; put down; quell;
vanquish van·quish quash; crush; repress; rout; defeat (utterly); beat
(hollow); triumph over; win a resounding victory over;
be victorious over
 characterized by, expressive of, or causing sorrow or
misery:"her face was woeful"
sad; unhappy; miserable; woebegone; doleful; forlorn;
crestfallen; glum; gloomy; dejected; downcast;
disconsolate; downhearted; despondent; depressed;
despairing; dismal; melancholy; broken-hearted;
heartbroken; inconsolable; grief-stricken; tragic;
woeful woe·ful saddening; sorrowful; cheerless; wretched; sorry;
pitiful; pathetic; pitiable; grievous; traumatic;
upsetting; depressing; distressing; heartbreaking;
heart-rending; tear-jerking; agonizing; harrowing;
distressful; Opposite:; happy; cheerful; uplifting

departing from an accepted standard:"this somewhat

aberrant behaviour requires an explanation"
deviant; deviating; divergent; abnormal; atypical;
Opposite:; normal; typical; biology

aberrant ab·er·rant

accept or act in accordance with (a rule, decision, or

recommendation):"I said I would abide by their
decision"
obey; observe; follow; keep to; hold to; stick to; stand
by; uphold; heed; accept; go along with; acknowledge;
abide abide respect; comply with; conform to; adhere to; act in
accordance with; pay attention to; agree to/with;
consent to; accede to; acquiesce in; defer to;
Opposite:; flout; reject
 a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to
impress or intimidate:"he possesses none of the classic
wheeler-dealer's casual bravado"
boldness; swagger; swaggering; bluster; swashbuckling;
machismo; boasting; boastfulness; bragging; bombast;
bravado bra·vado braggadocio; rodomontade; fanfaronade; gasconade;
bold manner; Opposite:; modesty

(of a young person) inexperienced and

immature:"earnest and callow undergraduates"
immature; inexperienced; naive; green; raw;
unseasoned; untrained; untried; juvenile; adolescent;
callow cal·low jejune; innocent; guileless; artless; unworldly;
unsophisticated; as green as grass; born yesterday;
Opposite:; mature; experienced; sophisticated

cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand;

yield:"the patriots had to capitulate to the enemy
forces"
surrender; give in; yield; submit; back down; climb
down; give way; cave in; succumb; crumble; relent;
acquiesce; accede; fall; lay down one's arms; admit
capitulate ca·pitu·late defeat; concede defeat; give up the struggle; bow to
someone/something; come to terms; be beaten; be
overcome; be overwhelmed; raise/show the white flag;
Opposite:; resist; hold out

think deeply about something; meditate or reflect:"he

stroked his beard and retired to cogitate"
think (about); contemplate; consider; dwell on; chew
over; weigh up; revolve; review; study; cerebrate; give
thought to; give consideration to; mull over; meditate
(on); muse (on); ponder (on/over); reflect (on);
cogitate cogi·tate deliberate (about/on); ruminate (about/on/over);
brood (on/over); agonize (over); worry (about); puzzle
(over); speculate about; turn over in one's mind; be in a
brown study; pore on
 the way a person stands and walks, particularly as an
element of etiquette:"poise is directly concerned with
good deportment"
gait; posture; carriage; comportment; bearing; stance;
attitude; demeanour; mien; air; appearance; aspect;
deportment de·port·ment style; manner; way of standing; way of holding oneself;
way of carrying oneself; way of bearing oneself

compose or perform something such as music or a

speech without preparation; improvise:"he
extemporized at the piano" · "she was extemporizing
touching melodies"
extemporize ex·tem·por·ize improvise; ad lib; think on one's feet; play it by ear;
throw/cobble something together; make it up as one
goes along; take it as it comes

relating or inclined to dissension:"a factious country"

divided; split; sectarian; schismatic; dissenting;
contentious; discordant; conflicting; argumentative;
disagreeing; disputatious; quarrelling; quarrelsome;
clashing; warring; at loggerheads; at odds;
factious fac·tious disharmonious; tumultuous; turbulent; dissident;
rebellious; insurrectionary; seditious; mutinous; at
variance; Opposite:; harmonious

(of farmland) ploughed and harrowed but left for a

period without being sown in order to restore its
fertility or to avoid surplus production:"incentives for
farmers to let land lie fallow"
uncultivated; unploughed; untilled; unplanted;
fallow fal·low unsown; unseeded; unused; undeveloped; dormant;
resting; empty; bare; virgin; neglected; untended;
unmaintained; unmanaged; Opposite:; cultivated
 a deceptive or pretended blow, thrust, or other
movement, especially in boxing or fencing:"a brief feint
at the opponent's face"
Similar:; bluff; blind; ruse; deception; subterfuge; hoax;
feint feint trick; ploy; device; wile; sham; pretence; artifice; cover;
smokescreen; distraction; expedient; contrivance;
machination

(of an action considered wrong or immoral)

conspicuously or obviously offensive:"a flagrant
violation of the law"
blatant; glaring; obvious; overt; evident; conspicuous;
naked; barefaced; shameless; brazen; audacious; brass-
necked; undisguised; unconcealed; patent;
transparent; manifest; palpable; out and out; utter;
flagrant fla·grant complete; outrageous; scandalous; shocking;
disgraceful; reprehensible; dreadful; terrible; gross;
enormous; heinous; atrocious; monstrous; wicked;
iniquitous; villainous; arrant; Opposite:; unobtrusive;
slight

done without good reason; uncalled for:"gratuitous

violence"
unjustified; unwarranted; unprovoked; undue;
indefensible; unjustifiable; needless; unnecessary;
superfluous; redundant; avoidable; inessential; non-
essential; unmerited; groundless; ungrounded;
causeless; senseless; careless; wanton; indiscriminate;
gratuitous gra·tuit·ous unreasoning; brutish; excessive; immoderate;
disproportionate; inordinate; unfounded; baseless;
inappropriate; de trop; without reason; uncalled for;
without cause; Opposite:; justifiable; necessary
 lie or crawl abjectly on the ground with one's face
downwards:"he grovelled at George's feet"
crawl; creep; cringe; crouch; kneel; prostrate oneself;
fall on one's knees; throw oneself at someone's feet

grovel grovel

not in keeping with good taste and propriety;

improper:"a pub crawl with sundry indecorous
adventures"
improper; unseemly; unbecoming; undignified;
immodest; indecent; indelicate; indiscreet; immoral;
shameless; loose; wanton; unvirtuous; inappropriate;
indecorous in·dec·or·ous incorrect; wrong; unsuitable; inapt; inapposite;
undesirable; unfitting; unacceptable; impolite;
discourteous; ill-bred; ill-mannered; beyond the pale;
out of keeping; in bad taste; Opposite:; decorous

arouse the curiosity or interest of; fascinate:"I was

intrigued by your question"
interesting; fascinating; absorbing; compelling;
gripping; riveting; captivating; engaging; enthralling;
diverting; titillating; tantalizing; stimulating; thought-
provoking; interest; fascinate; attract; draw; lure;
intrigue verb tempt; tantalize; rivet; absorb; engross; charm;
captivate; divert; titillate; be of interest to; be a source
of fascination to; arouse someone's curiosity; engage
someone's attention; Opposite:; bore

(of a role or status) existing in name only:"Thailand

retained nominal independence under Japanese
military occupation"
nominal nom·in·al titular; formal; official; ceremonial; theoretical;
purported; supposed; ostensible; self-styled; so-called;
would-be; in name/title only; Opposite:; real
 stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course
of action:"I argued this point with him, but he was
obdurate"
obstinate; mulish; headstrong; wilful; strong-willed;
self-willed; pig-headed; bull-headed; awkward;
difficult; contrary; perverse; recalcitrant; refractory;
firm; adamant; resolute; dogged; persistent;
obdurate ob·dur·ate pertinacious; inflexible; iron-willed; uncompromising;
uncooperative; unaccommodating; intractable;
unbending; unyielding; unadaptable; rock-ribbed;
contumacious; froward; stubborn as a mule;
unmalleable; Opposite:; compliant; docile

noisy and difficult to control:"the boy is cocky and

obstreperous"
disorderly; rowdy; wild; unmanageable; uncontrollable;
disobedient; disruptive; attention-seeking;
undisciplined; troublemaking; rebellious; mutinous;
anarchic; chaotic; lawless; insubordinate; defiant;
obstreperou wayward; wilful; headstrong; irrepressible;
s ob·strep·er·ous unrestrained; difficult; intractable; out of hand;
refractory; recalcitrant; boisterous; lively; loud; noisy;
rollicking; romping; rumbustious; reckless; heedless;
contumacious; Opposite:; disciplined; obedient
 extremely unpleasant; repulsive:"a pretty odious
character" · "odious hypocrisy"
revolting; repulsive; repellent; repugnant; disgusting;
offensive; objectionable; vile; foul; abhorrent;
loathsome; nauseating; nauseous; sickening; hateful;
detestable; execrable; abominable; monstrous;
appalling; reprehensible; deplorable; insufferable;
intolerable; unacceptable; despicable; contemptible;
beyond the pale; unspeakable; poisonous; noxious;
obscene; base; hideous; grisly; gruesome; horrendous;
odious odi·ous heinous; atrocious; awful; terrible; dreadful; frightful;
obnoxious; unsavoury; unpalatable; unpleasant;
disagreeable; nasty; distasteful; dislikeable; off-putting;
displeasing; noisome; disgustful; scurvy; loathly;
Opposite:; delightful; pleasant; agreeable; charming

having or showing determined courage in the face of

difficulties:"the plucky youngster has astounded
medical staff"
brave; courageous; bold; daring; fearless; intrepid;
spirited; game; valiant; valorous; lionhearted; heroic;
plucky plucky gallant; stout-hearted; stout; dauntless; resolute;
determined; gritty; stalwart; undaunted; indomitable;
unflinching; audacious; unafraid; doughty; mettlesome;
Opposite:; cowardly; timid; timorous

(of a child) having developed certain abilities or

inclinations at an earlier age than is usual or
expected:"a precocious, solitary boy"
advanced; forward; mature; ahead; gifted; talented;
precocious pre·co·cious clever; intelligent; quick; rathe-ripe; old beyond one's
years; ahead of one's peers; prematurely developed;
Opposite:; backward; slow
 money paid for work or a service:"they work in excess
of their contracted hours for no additional
remuneration"
remuneratio payment; pay; salary; wages; earnings; fee(s); stipend;
n re·mu·ner·ation emolument(s); honorarium; remittance; consideration;
reward; recompense; reimbursement; repayment

(especially of a person or their appearance) untidy and

dirty:"a fat, slovenly ex-rock star"
scruffy; untidy; messy; unkempt; slatternly; Opposite:;
tidy; neat
slovenly slov·en·ly

an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by

oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a
character in a play:"Edmund ends the scene as he had
begun it, with a soliloquy" · "he did most of his thinking
by soliloquy"
soliloquy so·lilo·quy monologue; speech; address; lecture; oration; sermon;
homily; stand-up; aside; dramatic monologue; interior
monologue; Opposite:; dialogue

reject with disdain or contempt:"he spoke gruffly, as if

afraid that his invitation would be spurned"
refuse; decline; reject; rebuff; scorn; turn down; turn
away; repudiate; disdain; look down one's nose at;
despise; snub; slight; disown; jilt; repulse; repel;
spurn spurn dismiss; brush off; turn one's back on; cold-shoulder;
ignore; say no to; treat with contempt; give someone
the cold shoulder; cut (dead); look right through;
archaic
 calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or
animation:"a stolid bourgeois gent"
impassive; phlegmatic; unemotional; calm; placid;
unexcitable; apathetic; uninterested; unimaginative;
stolid stolid indifferent; dull; bovine; lumpish; wooden; slow;
lethargic; torpid; stupid; Opposite:; emotional; lively;
imaginative

excessive confidence or boldness; audacity:"no one

had the temerity to question his conclusions"
audacity; boldness; audaciousness; nerve; effrontery;
impudence; impertinence; cheek; gall; presumption;
temerity tem·er·ity presumptuousness; brazenness; forwardness; front;
rashness; daring; assumption; barefaced cheek;
procacity; Opposite:; shyness; bashfulness

very weak or slight:"the tenuous link between interest

rates and investment"
slight; insubstantial; flimsy; negligible; weak; fragile;
shaky; sketchy; doubtful; dubious; questionable;
tenuous tenu·ous suspect; vague; nebulous; hazy; unspecific; indefinite;
indeterminate; Opposite:; convincing; substantial;
strong

vigour and spirit or enthusiasm:"Kollo sings with

supreme verve and flexibility"
enthusiasm; vigour; energy; pep; dynamism; go; elan;
vitality; vivacity; buoyancy; liveliness; animation;
sprightliness; zest; sparkle; effervescence; fizz; spirit;
spiritedness; ebullience; life; dash; brio; fervour; gusto;
verve verve eagerness; keenness; passion; zeal; relish; feeling;
ardour; fire; fieriness; drive; forcefulness; force;
strength; determination; motivation; push;
vehemence; fanaticism
 Definition 2
have in large numbers or amounts:"this area
abounds with caravan sites"
swarm with; be full of; overflow with; teem with;
be packed with; be crowded with; be thronged
with; be jammed with; be alive with; be overrun
with; bristle with; be bristling with; be infested
with; be thick with; pullulate with

lacking a clear structure or focus:"an amorphous

and leaderless legislature"
chemistry

(of living conditions or a way of life) having no

comforts or luxuries:"conditions in the prison
could hardly be more austere"
strict; self-denying; self-abnegating; moderate;
temperate; sober; simple; frugal; spartan;
restrained; self-restrained; self-disciplined;
ascetic; puritanical; self-sacrificing; hair-shirt;
abstemious; abstinent; celibate; chaste; continent;
moral; upright; non-indulgent; Opposite:;
immoderate
changing according to no discernible rules;
unpredictable:"a capricious climate"
unpredictable; changeable; variable; inconstant;
inconsistent; uncertain; erratic; irregular;
unstable; turbulent; unsteady; unsettled;
unreliable; undependable; changing; ever-
changing; varying; shifting; fluctuating; fluid;
mutable; protean; fitful; wavering; mercurial;
whimsical; fickle; flighty; giddy; impulsive;
wayward; temperamental; highly strung;
excitable; emotional; overemotional; fiery; moody;
choleric; stormy; tempestuous; volcanic; labile;
fluctuant; changeful; full of ups and downs;
Opposite:; stable; constant

intellectual rather than emotional or physical:"she

excelled in cerebral pursuits"
learned; erudite; academic; well read; Opposite:;
uneducated; illiterate; ignorant
(of a thing) pleasant or agreeable because suited
to one's taste or inclination:"he went back to a
climate more congenial to his cold stony soul"
pleasant; pleasing; to one's liking; agreeable;
Opposite:; unpleasant

attracting notice or attention:"he showed

conspicuous bravery"
clear; visible; noticeable; observable; discernible;
perceptible; perceivable; detectable; obvious;
manifest; evident; apparent; marked;
pronounced; prominent; outstanding; patent;
crystal clear; vivid; striking; dramatic; eye-
catching; flagrant; ostentatious; overt; blatant; as
plain as a pikestaff; writ large; distinct;
recognizable; distinguishable; unmistakable;
inescapable; easily seen; clearly visible; standing
out; as clear as crystal; staring one in the face; as
plain as day; Opposite:; inconspicuous
in the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to
appear patronizing:"his tone ranged from didactic
to backslapping"
learned; cerebral; bookish; pedagogic; donnish;
highbrow; ivory-tower; pretentious; pompous;
intellectual; academic; scholastic; scholarly;
literary

spread throughout an organ or the body:"there is

a subset of these low-grade tumours that can
disseminate and migrate"

likely; probable:"the most feasible explanation"

likely; odds-on; expected; to be expected;
anticipated; predictable; foreseeable; ten to one;
presumed; potential; credible; possible; most
likely; quite possible; Opposite:; improbable;
unlikely
consisting of parts all of the same kind:"a
homogeneous society"
uniform; identical; unvaried; unvarying;
consistent; similar; undistinguishable; alike; all the
same; all alike; of the same kind; much the same;
the same; all one; all of a piece; Opposite:;
heterogeneous; mathematics; containing terms all
of the same degree.

lacking vigour or interest:"many artists continued

to churn out insipid, shallow works"
uninteresting; boring; vapid; dull; spiritless
a wrong or inaccurate use of a name or term:"to
call this ‘neighbourhood policing’ would be a
misnomer"
(of weather or water) wild or stormy:"the
boisterous wind was lulled"
blustery; gusting; gusty; breezy; windy; stormy;
wild; squally; rough; choppy; turbulent;
tempestuous; howling; roaring; raging; furious;
Opposite:; calm; quiet
relating to the historical concept of chivalry:"the
concept of chivalrous combat"
knightly; noble; chivalric; brave; courageous; bold;
valiant; valorous; heroic; daring; intrepid;
honourable; high-minded; just; fair; loyal;
constant; true; virtuous; Opposite:; cowardly
slow or complicated and therefore
inefficient:"organizations with cumbersome
hierarchical structures"
complicated; complex; involved; inefficient;
wasteful; unwieldy; slow; slow-moving; badly
organized; Opposite:; straightforward; efficient

tending to weaken something:"the debilitating

effects of underinvestment"

(of a group or organization) difficult to control;

unruly:"King Malcolm struggled to unite his
fractious kingdom"
wayward; unruly; uncontrollable; unmanageable;
out of hand; obstreperous; difficult; headstrong;
refractory; recalcitrant; intractable; disobedient;
insubordinate; disruptive; disorderly;
undisciplined; troublemaking; rebellious;
mutinous; anarchic; defiant; stubborn; obstinate;
contrary; wilful; contumacious; Opposite:; dutiful
(of a person's eyes) unclouded; clear:"the limpid
grey eyes gazed trustfully at her"
clear; transparent; glassy; glasslike; crystal clear;
crystalline; see-through; translucent; pellucid;
unclouded; uncloudy; Opposite:; opaque; muddy

having a faint sickly flavour:"the mawkish smell of

warm beer"

a gesture expressing deferential respect, such as a

bow or curtsy:"she made a deep obeisance"
bow; curtsy; bob; genuflection; salaam; salutation;
namaskar; kowtow; reverence
exposed to imminent risk of disaster or ruin:"the
economy is in a perilous state"
dangerous; risky; hazardous; precarious; life-
threatening; high-risk; treacherous; insecure;
unsound; vulnerable; exposed; defenceless;
destructive; harmful; injurious; malignant; toxic;
threatening; menacing; Opposite:; safe; harmless;
secure

(of a situation or condition) prevent someone

from doing something:"his difficulties preclude
him from leading a normal life"
liking for or pleasurable anticipation of
something:"I was appointed to a post for which I
had little relish"
enjoyment; gusto; delight; pleasure; glee;
Opposite:; dislike

sarcastic, critical, and mocking another's

weaknesses:"his satirical sense of humour"
mocking; ironic; ironical; satiric; sarcastic
pretence:"George abhorred sham and affectation"
pretence; fake; act; fiction; simulation; Opposite:;
the real McCoy; the genuine article
lacking energy or alertness:"Alex woke late feeling
tired and sluggish"
lethargic; listless; unenergetic; lifeless; inert;
inactive; slow; torpid; dull; languid; apathetic;
passive; unresponsive; weary; tired; fatigued;
sleepy; drowsy; heavy-eyed; enervated;
somnolent; lazy; idle; indolent; slothful;
sluggardly; phlegmatic; bovine; asthenic;
neurasthenic; lymphatic; lacking in energy; half
asleep; Opposite:; vigorous; energetic; active

(of a situation or condition) extremely unpleasant

and degrading:"the abject condition of the
peasants"
wretched; miserable; hopeless; pathetic; pitiful
allege as a fact in support of a plea:"the defendant
does not aver any performance by himself"
allege; claim; assert; declare; maintain; affirm

an overwhelming number of questions, criticisms,

complaints, etc. delivered simultaneously or in
rapid succession:"a barrage of questions"
abundance; mass; superabundance; plethora

succeed in understanding, interpreting, or

identifying (something):"visual signals help us
decipher what is being communicated"
make out; discern; perceive; see; read; follow;
fathom; penetrate; make sense of; interpret;
understand; comprehend; apprehend; grasp;
untangle; disentangle; sort out; piece together

the action of deluding or the state of being

deluded:"the banality and delusion of this lifestyle
is illustrated with great wit" · "the lines between
reality and delusion are blurred"
deception; misleading; deluding; fooling; tricking;
trickery; duping
(of a machine or container) supply or release (a
product or cash):"the machines dispense a range
of drinks"
prepare; make up; mix; supply; provide; sell

clearly expressing or indicating something:"the

bus journey alone is eloquent of class inequality"
expressive; sensitive; meaningful; suggestive;
revealing; telling; significant; indicative
happening by a lucky chance; fortunate:"the ball
went into the goal by a fortuitous ricochet"
lucky; fortunate; providential; advantageous;
timely; opportune; serendipitous; expedient;
heaven-sent; auspicious; propitious; felicitous;
convenient; apt
(of an action or claim) likely to succeed on the
merits of the case:"the costs involved in civil
litigation may prevent a meritorious appeal"
submit or present for inspection or
consideration:"he would render income tax
returns at the end of the year"
send in; present; tender; submit

a stock of skills or types of behaviour that a

person habitually uses:"his repertoire of threats,
stares, and gestures"
not stiff or hard; easily manipulated:"this body oil
leaves your skin feeling deliciously supple"
trick (someone) into doing something:"they were
beguiled into signing a peace treaty"
deceive; delude; hoodwink; mislead; take in;
dupe; fool; double-cross; cheat; defraud; swindle;
outwit; outmanoeuvre; catch out; gull; hoax;
bamboozle; entrap; cozen; chicane; sell; illude
a gradually increasing sound:"a crescendo of
shrieks built until the entire auditorium was filled"
· "he faced a crescendo of boos every time he
touched the ball"

the unconventional, extreme, or marginal part of a

group or sphere of activity:"the lunatic fringe of
American political life" · "rap music is no longer
something on the fringe"
free from flaws or mistakes; perfect:"an
immaculate safety record"
unblemished; spotless; pure; impeccable;
unsullied; undefiled; untarnished; stainless;
innocent; virtuous; incorrupt; guiltless; sinless;
Opposite:; blameworthy; theology; (in the Roman
Catholic Church) free from sin.

bewilder (someone):"the new rule is more likely

to obfuscate people than enlighten them"
bewilder; mystify; puzzle; perplex; baffle;
confound; bemuse; befuddle; nonplus; wilder;
maze; gravel

an artistic work consisting of a medley of pieces

imitating various sources:"a pastiche of literary
models and sources"
mixture; blend; medley; melange; miscellany
(especially of speech or writing) dull or
laborious:"the show is loaded down with
ponderous one-liners"
laboured; laborious; dull; awkward; clumsy;
forced; stilted; unnatural; artificial; turgid; stodgy;
stolid; lifeless; plodding; pedestrian; boring;
uninteresting; solemn; serious; tedious;
monotonous; dry; dreary; pedantic; ornate;
elaborate; over-elaborate; intricate; convoluted;
verbose; long-winded; windy; prolix; Opposite:;
lively

repay (an injury or insult) in kind:"they used their

abilities to retaliate the injury"
a free instrumental composition in one extended
movement, typically one that is emotional in
character:"Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies"
elation; happiness; joy; joyousness; delight; glee;
excitement; exhilaration; animation; jubilation;
exultation; ecstasy; bliss; rapture; rhapsodies;
intoxication; transport(s); heaven; paradise; cloud
nine; seventh heaven; Opposite:; misery;
depression

be unwilling to do (something difficult):"we will

not shirk from closing a school if the evidence
should justify it"

lithe and supple:"the sinuous grace of a cat"

lithe; supple; agile; graceful; loose-limbed; limber;
lissom; willowy; lithesome; Opposite:; clumsy
an illness caused or regarded as being caused by
excessive eating or drinking:"he died of a surfeit"
(of speech) characterized by fluency and readiness
of utterance:"an excited and voluble discussion"
wordy; loquacious; garrulous; talkative; orotund;
expansive; babbling; blathering; prattling; prating;
jabbering; gushing; effusive; long-winded; lengthy;
protracted; prolix; periphrastic; circumlocutory;
circuitous; tautological; repetitious; redundant;
tortuous; indirect; convoluted; diffuse; discursive;
digressive; rambling; wandering; meandering;
logorrhoeic; pleonastic; multiloquent;
multiloquous; ambagious; Opposite:; succinct;
laconic
enhance the reputation of (someone) beyond
what is justified by the facts:"he hoped to
aggrandize himself by dying a hero's death"
enhance; improve; add to; augment; supplement;
complement; boost; upgrade; reinforce; raise; lift;
refine; polish; heighten; deepen; elevate;
intensify; exalt; make richer; Opposite:; spoil;
devalue
capable of being acted upon in a particular way;
susceptible:"cardiac failure not amenable to
medical treatment"
susceptible; receptive; responsive; reactive;
Opposite:; resistant

belonging or appropriate to an earlier period,

especially so as to seem conspicuously old-
fashioned:"she is rebelling against the
anachronistic morality of her parents"
(of a climate or environment) mild and
favourable:"the climate becomes more benign as
we move nearer to the Black Sea"
temperate; mild; gentle; clement; calm; balmy;
pleasant; agreeable; soft; soothing; refreshing;
healthy; health-giving; wholesome; salubrious;
favourable; advantageous; beneficial; helpful;
propitious; auspicious; lucky; opportune;
fortunate; providential; encouraging; benevolent;
conducive; right; good; Opposite:; harsh;
unhealthy; unfavourable
etiquette:"he had no idea of funeral decorum"
etiquette; protocol; good form; custom;
convention; conformity; conventionality; usage;
ritual; formalities; niceties; punctilios; politeness;
politesse; couth; customary behaviour; archaic;
(decorums); particular requirements of good taste
and propriety.; archaic; suitability to the
requirements of a person, rank, or occasion.
demonstrating skill and cleverness:"the script was
both deft and literate"
skilful; adept; adroit; dexterous; agile; nimble;
neat; nimble-fingered; handy; able; capable;
skilled; proficient; accomplished; expert;
experienced; practised; polished; efficient; slick;
professional; masterful; masterly; impressive;
delicate; clever; shrewd; astute; canny; sharp;
artful; habile; finely judged; Opposite:; clumsy;
awkward; inept

originating from, based on, or influenced

by:"Darwin's work is derivative of the moral
philosophers"
engaged in a war or conflict, as recognized by
international law:"after years of mass slaughter
and hardship, opposition to the war became
widespread in all the belligerent countries"
warring; combatant; fighting; battling; contending;
Opposite:; peaceful; neutral

resulting in good:"a beneficent democracy"

impoverished:"women in distressed
circumstances"
wretched; miserable; sordid; squalid; shabby;
shoddy; mean; base; vile; foul; despicable;
unpleasant; poor; poverty-stricken; impoverished;
beggared; needy; penniless; destitute; indigent;
impecunious; penurious; informal; US; (of
property) offered for sale cheaply due to
mortgage foreclosure or because it is part of an
insolvent estate.

a loss of significance or power in relation to

another person or thing:"personal problems
hastened the eclipse of his career"
decline; fall; failure; decay; deterioration;
degeneration; weakening; ebb; waning; withering;
descent; sinking; slide; tumble; regression; lapse;
collapse; comedown; crash; outshining;
overshadowing; surpassing; excelling; outclassing;
outstripping; outdistancing; outdoing;
transcending; dwarfing; upstaging; shaming;
Opposite:; rise
apparently identical; very similar:"anonymous DJs
and interchangeable disco divas"
identical; similar; alike; indistinguishable; uniform;
twin; undifferentiated; homogeneous; of a piece;
cut from the same cloth; corresponding;
correspondent; commensurate; equivalent;
matching; like; parallel; analogous; comparable;
cognate; equal; (exactly) the same; Opposite:;
different
domineering; dictatorial:"he dropped his
somewhat magisterial style of questioning"
domineering; dictatorial; autocratic; imperious;
bossy; overbearing; peremptory; pompous; lofty;
overweening; high-handed; arrogant; haughty;
confident; self-confident; overconfident;
supercilious; patronizing; Opposite:; hesitant;
tentative

involving heavy obligations:"an onerous lease"

gruelling; arduous; strenuous; punishing;
Opposite:; easy; effortless

public disgrace arising from shameful

conduct:"the opprobrium of being closely
associated with gangsters"
disgrace; shame; dishonour; discredit; stigma;
humiliation; loss of face; ignominy; odium;
obloquy; disfavour; disrepute; ill repute; infamy;
notoriety; scandal; stain; disesteem; Opposite:;
honour; archaic; an occasion or cause of reproach
or disgrace.
of secondary or minor importance; marginal:"she
will see their problems as peripheral to her own"
secondary; subsidiary; incidental; tangential;
marginal; minor; unimportant; lesser; inessential;
non-essential; immaterial; superficial; ancillary;
borderline; irrelevant; beside the point;
extraneous; of little account; Opposite:; central;
vital; anatomy

intended or intending to arouse sexual desire or

interest:"a provocative sidelong glance"
sexy; alluring; seductive; tempting; suggestive;
inviting; tantalizing; titillating; indecent;
pornographic; indelicate; immodest; shameless;
erotic; sensuous; slinky; passionate; sexual;
piquant; racy; juicy; risqué; raunchy; steamy;
coquettish; amorous; flirtatious; come-hither;
sexually arousing; sexually exciting; Opposite:;
modest; decorous
refuse or resign a right or position, especially one
as an heir or trustee:"there will be forms enabling
the allottee to renounce"
give up; relinquish; abandon; resign; abdicate;
surrender; sign away; waive; forgo; disclaim;
abnegate; demit; Opposite:; assert; reassert
destroy or impair the legal validity of:"the
insurance is vitiated because of foolish acts on the
part of the tenant"
put an end to; do away with; get rid of; scrap; end;
stop; terminate; eradicate; eliminate;
exterminate; destroy; annihilate; stamp out;
obliterate; wipe out; extinguish; quash; expunge;
extirpate; annul; cancel; invalidate; nullify; void;
dissolve; erase; delete; rescind; repeal; revoke;
overturn; discontinue; remove; withdraw; retract;
countermand; excise; drop; jettison; abrogate;
deracinate; Opposite:; retain; create
punish, especially by beating:"the General cruelly
chastised them with a whip"
punish; discipline; beat; thrash; flog; whip;
horsewhip; strap; belt; cane; lash; birch; scourge;
flay; flagellate

slow or complicated and therefore

inefficient:"organizations with cumbersome
hierarchical structures"
complicated; complex; involved; inefficient;
wasteful; unwieldy; slow; slow-moving; badly
organized; Opposite:; straightforward; efficient

a particular system or stage of an economy:"a

free-market economy"

of the most basic kind:"the elementary rights of

citizenship"
basic; rudimentary; fundamental; basal; primary;
preparatory; introductory; initiatory; early;
essential; radical; underlying; rudimental;
Opposite:; advanced

make (a statement or story) more interesting by

adding extra details that are often
untrue:"followers often embellish stories about
their heroes"
elaborate; embroider; colour; exaggerate; dress
up; touch up; gild; catastrophize; expand on;
Opposite:; simplify
estimate or conclude (something) by
extrapolating:"the figures were extrapolated from
past trends"
forecast; predict; estimate; calculate; gauge;
reckon; expect; mathematics

speak hesitantly:"‘A-Adam?’ he faltered"

stammer; stutter; stumble; hesitate; pause; halt
of or concerning actors or acting:"histrionic
talents"
denoting a personality disorder marked by shallow
volatile emotions and attention-seeking
behaviour.
a thing for which someone is responsible,
especially an amount of money owed:"valuing the
company's liabilities and assets"
debt; indebtedness; debit; debts; arrears; dues;
financial obligation; Opposite:; asset
(of an unwelcome situation) very difficult to
change or overcome:"the obstinate problem of
unemployment"
renounce or abandon:"there's one of them,
anyhow, that didn't renege him"

restrict (someone) in the amount of something,

especially money, given or permitted:"to avoid
having to stint yourself, budget in advance"

a tendency to become angry easily:"I know my

temper gets the better of me at times"
anger; fury; rage; annoyance; vexation; crossness;
irascibility; irritation; irritability; ill humour; ill
temper; dyspepsia; spleen; pique; petulance;
peevishness; pettishness; testiness; tetchiness;
snappishness; crabbiness; resentment; surliness;
churlishness; air rage; ire; choler; Opposite:; good
humour

done without confidence; hesitant:"he eventually

tried a few tentative steps round his hospital
room"
hesitant; uncertain; cautious; unconfident; timid;
Opposite:; confident
(of a sailing vessel) equipped with a
supplementary engine:"an auxiliary schooner"

a ludicrous or grotesque version of someone or

something:"he looked a caricature of his normal
self"
advance gradually beyond usual or acceptable
limits:"the sea has encroached all round the
coast"

have breasts or a penis of specified size:"I had two

brothers who were both better endowed than
me" · "even more objectionable are his mostly
gratuitous descriptions of generously endowed
women"

ask earnestly or anxiously for (something):"a

message had been sent, entreating aid for the
Navahos"

(of animals) living in flocks or loosely organized

communities:"gregarious species forage in flocks
from colonies or roosts"
social; organized; living in shoals/flocks/herds

the action of indicting or being indicted:"the

indictment of twelve people who had imported
cocaine"
unduly curious about the affairs of others;
prying:"I didn't like to seem inquisitive"
curious; intrigued; interested; agog; over-curious;
Opposite:; uninterested

regions, especially with reference to their

temperature and distance from the
equator:"temperate latitudes" · "northern
latitudes"
intervene in (a dispute) to bring about an
agreement:"set up a tribunal to arbitrate and
mediate disputes"
resolve; settle; umpire; reconcile; mend; clear up;
arbitrate in; patch up

shut in:"they were occluding the waterfront with a

wall of buildings"
bring peace to (a country or warring factions),
especially by the use or threat of military
force:"the general pacified northern Italy"

a person or thing viewed as a model of

excellence:"your cook is a paragon"
model; epitome; archetype; ideal; exemplar; a
perfect diamond of 100 carats or more.

characterized by poverty:"penurious years"

destitute; poverty-stricken; impoverished;
indigent; penniless; insolvent; impecunious;
ruined; pauperized; needy; hard up; hard-pressed;
deprived; disadvantaged; distressed; badly off;
beggarly; beggared; homeless; on the streets;
vagrant; unemployed; jobless; out of a job;
workless; idle; between jobs; redundant; without
a penny to one's name; without two
farthings/pennies to rub together; in need; in
want; on the breadline; in reduced/straitened
circumstances; without a roof over one's head; of
no fixed abode/address; living rough; laid off;
sleeping rough; Opposite:; wealthy; well heeled
unrestrained in action or performance:"rampant
sex"
vehement; strong; violent; forceful; raging; wild;
intense; fanatical; passionate; Opposite:; mild

distant in time:"a golden age in the remote past"

confused or obscure in meaning or effect:"a turbid
piece of cinéma vérité"

make (something) less intense:"nothing abated his

crusading zeal"
lessen; decrease; diminish; subside; moderate;
Opposite:; continue; law
without effort or pretentiousness; natural and
simple:"an artless literary masterpiece"
natural; naive; simple; innocent; childlike; pure;
ingenuous; guileless; candid; open; honest;
sincere; frank; straightforward; unaffected;
unpretentious; modest; unassuming; on the up
and up; Opposite:; scheming

satisfy (an appetite or desire):"an opportunity

occurred to assuage her desire for knowledge"
satisfy; fulfil; gratify; appease; indulge; relieve;
slake; sate; satiate; quench; quell; overcome;
check; dull; blunt; allay; take the edge off;
diminish; keep in check; Opposite:; intensify
treacherously reveal (information):"many of those
employed by diplomats betrayed secrets"
reveal; disclose; divulge; give away; leak; uncover;
unmask; expose; tell; let out; give the game away;
let the cat out of the bag; discover; lay bare; make
known; bring out into the open; let slip; let drop;
blurt out; Opposite:; conceal; hide
treat or regard as being above reproach or of
great significance:"he has been canonized by his
fans" · "we have canonized freedom of speech as
an absolute value overriding all others"
glorify; acclaim; deify; idolize; apotheosize;
enshrine; regard as sacred

combine (elements) in a mass or whole:"his idea

served to coalesce all that happened into one
connected whole"
not able to be refuted; inspiring conviction:"there
is compelling evidence that the recession is
ending" · "a compelling argument"
convincing; persuasive; cogent; irresistible;
forceful; powerful; potent; strong; weighty;
plausible; credible; effective; efficacious; sound;
valid; reasonable; reasoned; rational; well
founded; telling; conclusive; irrefutable;
unanswerable; authoritative; influential; well
reasoned; Opposite:; weak

compete with others in a struggle to achieve

(something):"factions within the government
were contending for the succession to the
presidency"
compete; challenge; vie; contest; strive; struggle;
tussle; grapple; wrestle; scuffle; squabble;
skirmish; battle; combat; fight; war; join battle;
cross swords; lock horns; oppose; clash; wage war;
go head to head
profuse in speech or ideas:"I had been a little too
copious in talking of my country"
prolific; abundant; ample; extravagant; lavish;
liberal; unstinting; fulsome; effusive; gushing;
immoderate; unrestrained; excessive; inordinate

familiar with and at ease in many different

countries and cultures:"his knowledge of French,
Italian, and Spanish made him genuinely
cosmopolitan"
worldly; worldly-wise; well travelled; knowing;
Opposite:; provincial; narrow; unsophisticated

(of conversation or speech) going from one

subject to another in a half-hearted way:"the
desultory conversation faded"
intended to cause delay:"they resorted to dilatory
tactics, forcing a postponement of peace talks"
delaying; stalling; temporizing; procrastinating;
postponing; deferring; tabling; shelving; time-
wasting; dallying; dilly-dallying; loitering; lingering;
dawdling; tarrying; Fabian; putting off
a similarity of characteristics suggesting a
relationship, especially a resemblance in structure
between animals, plants, or languages:"a semantic
affinity between two words"
similarity; resemblance; likeness; kinship;
correspondence; relationship; association; link;
analogy; similitude; agreement; compatibility;
congruity; parallelism; consonance; identity;
uniformity; equivalence; identicalness; Opposite:;
dissimilitude
an intermediate state between conflicting
alternatives reached by mutual concession:"a
compromise between the freedom of the
individual and the need to ensure orderly
government"
capable of persuading people that something will
happen or be successful:"a credible threat"
believable; plausible; reasonable; sound;
Opposite:; unbelievable

intermingle with another substance by movement,

typically in a specified direction or at specified
speed:"oxygen molecules diffuse across the
membrane" · "gas is diffused into the bladder"
Similar:; spread; send out; scatter; disperse;
disseminate; Opposite:; concentrate; collect
(of a comparison or distinction) unfairly
discriminating; unjust:"it seems invidious to make
special mention of one aspect of his work"
unfair; unjust; prejudicial; discriminatory;
iniquitous; weighted; one-sided; offensive;
objectionable; deleterious; detrimental;
unwarranted; Opposite:; fair

(of an animal or plant) resemble or imitate

(another animal or plant) to deter predators or for
camouflage:"wild potatoes mimic an aphid alarm
signal" · "tiger beetles are mimicked by
grasshoppers"
resemble; simulate; mirror; echo; look like;
have/take on the appearance of
not important or well known:"a relatively obscure
actor"
unknown; undistinguished; insignificant;
unimportant; inconsequential; inconspicuous;
unnoticed; nameless; anonymous; minor; humble;
lowly; unsung; unrecognized; unhonoured;
inglorious; forgotten; little known; unheard of;
unrenowned; Opposite:; famous; renowned

easily understood; lucid:"he writes, as always, in

pellucid prose"
comprehensible; understandable; intelligible;
articulate; coherent; lucid; clear; crystal clear;
crystalline; graspable; fathomable; digestible;
straightforward; direct; simple; plain; well
constructed; graphic; explicit; unambiguous; user-
friendly; easily understood; easily grasped
able to think sensibly or logically:"Ursula's upset—
she's not being very rational"
lucid; coherent; sane; in one's right mind; normal;
balanced; well balanced; clear-headed; compos
mentis; able to think/reason clearly; of sound
mind; in possession of all one's faculties;
Opposite:; insane

(of a mixture or effect) delicately complex and

understated:"subtle lighting"
understated; low-key; muted; toned down;
subdued; delicate; faint; pale; soft; indistinct;
indefinite; vague; washed out; Opposite:; lurid;
obvious

situated or occurring on the skin or immediately

beneath it:"the superficial muscle groups"
relating to convalescence:"a convalescent home"
elicit (a response):"the Green Paper evoked critical
reactions from various bodies"
call up; summon; invoke; give rise to; bring forth;
elicit; induce; kindle; stimulate; stir up; awaken;
arouse; excite; raise; suggest; recall; echo;
reproduce; encapsulate; capture; express; educe;
bring to mind; call to mind; put one in mind of;
conjure up; summon up

cause anxiety to:"his absence during her times

awake began to fret her"
trouble; bother; concern; perturb; disturb;
disquiet; disconcert; distress; upset; torment;
alarm; panic; agitate; pother; make anxious; cause
anxiety; cause to panic; Opposite:; comfort
(of a period of time) relaxed and peaceful:"the
terrace was perfect for languid days in the Italian
sun"
leisurely; peaceful; languorous; relaxed; restful;
lazy; Opposite:; energetic; action-packed
make (someone) feel deceptively secure or
confident:"the rarity of earthquakes there has
lulled people into a false sense of security"
assuage; allay; ease; alleviate; pacify; palliate;
mitigate; placate; mollify; soothe; silence; calm;
settle; hush; still; quell; quash; stifle; deaden;
repress; temper; reduce; check; diminish; quieten;
quiet; Opposite:; aggravate

reduce the severity of (something):"the women

hoped to mollify the harsh wilderness
environment"
allay; assuage; alleviate; mitigate; ease; lessen;
reduce; moderate; lull; temper; tone down;
cushion; quell; soften; blunt; Opposite:; inflame;
aggravate
make (an acidic or alkaline substance) chemically
neutral:"splashes on skin should be neutralized
immediately"

(of a change to a worse situation or condition)

sudden and dramatic:"a precipitous slide in the
government's popularity"
sudden; rapid; swift; abrupt; meteoric; headlong;
speedy; quick; fast; hurried; breakneck; violent;
precipitate; unexpected; unanticipated;
unforeseen; precipitant; without warning
(of a disease or disability) very severe:"a case of
profound liver failure"
acute; serious; grave; critical; dire; drastic;
grievous; extreme; dreadful; terrible; awful;
frightful; appalling; sore; alarming; worrying;
distressing; dangerous; perilous; life-threatening;
peracute; parlous; very bad; Opposite:; minor;
negligible

(of a plant or animal) reproduce by natural

processes:"the plant propagates freely from stem
cuttings"
reproduce; multiply; proliferate; breed; procreate;
increase; spawn; self-seed; self-sow

the use of (someone or something) as a source of

help in a difficult situation:"a means of solving
disputes without recourse to courts of law" · "all
three countries had recourse to the IMF for
standby loans"
make use of; use; utilize; employ; turn to; call on;
draw on; bring into play; fall back on; run to;
resort to; avail oneself of; bring into service; look
to; appeal to

prove that (someone) is wrong:"his voice

challenging his audience to rise and refute him"
return mentally to a former stage of life or a
supposed previous life, especially through
hypnosis:"she claims to be able to regress to the
Roman era" · "I regressed Sylvia to early
childhood"

restore (a stock or supply) to a former level or

condition:"all creatures need sleep to replenish
their energies"
restock; restore; fill up; make up; replace; renew;
stock up; Opposite:; exhaust; use up
mention without discussing at length:"we will
allude briefly to the main points"
mention; touch on; cite; name; go into; note;
point out; call attention to; bring up; raise; broach;
introduce; moot; make mention of; make
reference to; allude to; speak of/about; talk
of/about; write about; comment on; deal with;
treat (of); advert to

increase the amplitude of (an electrical signal or

other oscillation):"the manufacturers have
developed a system of amplifying the radio signal"
extremely unfortunate or
unsuccessful:"catastrophic mismanagement of the
economy"
disastrous; calamitous; cataclysmic; ruinous;
tragic; fatal; dire; awful; terrible; dreadful; black;
woeful; grievous; lamentable; miserable;
unfortunate; direful; Opposite:; fortunate;
beneficial

dating from the same time:"this series of paintings

is contemporary with other works in an early
style"
contemporaneous; concurrent; coeval;
synchronous

take away (a specified amount) from the worth or

value of a quality or achievement:"it is detracting
nothing from his ability to say that he owed the
championship to a superior car"
(of a disease) causing no symptoms but not cured
and liable to recur:"the disease may remain
dormant and undetected until transmitted to
other fish"
asleep; sleeping; slumbering; resting; reposing;
drowsing; comatose; supine; inactive; passive;
inert; latent; fallow; quiescent; inoperative;
stagnant; sluggish; lethargic; torpid; motionless;
immobile; aestivating; Opposite:; awake; active

difficult to remember:"the elusive thought he had

had moments before"
(of a machine or idea) cleverly and originally
devised and well suited to its purpose:"ingenious
devices" · "his theory, while ingenious, is most
assuredly incorrect"

interested in or attracted by (someone or

something):"Bob makes it obvious he's keen on
her"
enthusiastic about; interested in; passionate
about; fascinated by; attracted to; fond of; taken
with; smitten with; enamoured of; attached to;
devoted to; infatuated with; eager for; hungry for;
Opposite:; unenthusiastic; indifferent
a badge or favour worn to indicate allegiance to a
particular person or party:"Ruthven was murdered
and the assassin left his token"
ribbon; rosette; badge; keepsake; souvenir;
memento; remembrancer; token of affection;
token of esteem; archaic

(of an intricate process, system, or arrangement)

disintegrate or be destroyed:"his painstaking
diplomacy of the last eight months could quickly
unravel"

offer strong resistance or opposition

to:"Constantinople withstood the eastern
invaders"

refrain from drinking alcohol:"most pregnant

women abstain or drink very little" · "many more
of them reduced their drinking without
abstaining"
refrain; desist; hold back; forbear; keep;
Opposite:; drink; indulge in; SOUTH ASIAN
hold (something) dear:"I cherish the letters she
wrote"
treasure; prize; value highly; hold dear; Opposite:;
neglect

containing elements very different from one

another:"a culturally disparate country"

imitate:"hers is not a hairstyle I wish to emulate"

imitate; mimic; ape; follow; echo; mirror;
simulate; parrot; reproduce; plagiarize; poach;
steal; monkey; infringe the copyright of;
computing
(chiefly of plants) having a very short life
cycle:"chickweed is an ephemeral weed,
producing several generations in one season"
unfriendly; hostile:"an inimical alien power"
hostile; unfriendly; antagonistic; ill-disposed;
unkind; unsympathetic; malevolent; malign;
inhospitable; unwelcoming; cold; icy; frosty;
glacial; Opposite:; friendly; warm

(of a place or setting) having a cosy and private or

relaxed atmosphere:"an intimate little Italian
restaurant"
friendly; warm; welcoming; hospitable;
harmonious; relaxed; informal; easy; cosy;
comfortable; snug; tête-à-tête; Opposite:; formal;
cold

lessen the gravity of (an offence or

mistake):"there had been a provocation that
mitigated the offence to a degree"
(especially of language) hard or impossible to
understand:"technical jargon that was opaque to
her"
obscure; unclear; dense; uncertain;
indeterminate; mysterious; puzzling; perplexing;
baffling; mystifying; confusing; enigmatic;
inexplicable; unexplained; concealed; hidden;
unfathomable; incomprehensible; impenetrable;
vague; ambiguous; Delphic; indefinite; indistinct;
hazy; foggy; nebulous; equivocal; doubtful;
dubious; oblique; elliptical; oracular; cryptic; deep;
abstruse; recondite; arcane; esoteric; recherché;
Opposite:; limpid; clear
calm and peaceful, with little movement or
activity:"the placid waters of a small lake"
quiet; calm; tranquil; still; peaceful; motionless;
smooth; waveless; pacific; unruffled; undisturbed;
restful; sleepy; like a millpond; Opposite:; stormy;
rough

cause to move suddenly and with force:"suddenly

the ladder broke, precipitating them down into a
heap"
hurl; catapult; throw; plunge; launch; project;
fling; cast; heave; propel; (precipitate
someone/something into)

great depth or intensity of a state, quality, or

emotion:"the profundity of her misery"
intensity; depth; extremity; severity; keenness;
profoundness; strength
very concerned to avoid doing wrong:"she's too
scrupulous to have an affair with a married man"
honest; honourable; upright; upstanding; high-
minded; righteous; right-minded; moral; ethical;
good; virtuous; principled; proper; correct; just;
noble; incorruptible; anti-corruption;
conscientious; respectable; decent; Opposite:;
dishonest; unscrupulous
(of a person) efficient and capable:"an infinitely
competent mother of three"
capable; able; proficient; adept; adroit;
accomplished; skilful; skilled; gifted; talented;
masterly; virtuoso; expert; knowledgeable;
qualified; trained; efficient; good; excellent;
brilliant; compleat; habile; Opposite:; incompetent

establish a mutual relationship or connection

between:"we should correlate general trends in
public opinion with trends in the content of
television news"
connect; analogize; associate; relate; compare;
bring together; set side by side; show a
connection between; show a relationship
between; show an association between; show a
correspondence between; draw an analogy
between
control or decisively affect; determine:"choice is
often dictated by availability" · "a review process
can be changed as circumstances dictate"
prescribe; lay down; impose; set down; set out

intentionally unobtrusive:"a discreet cough"

unobtrusive; inconspicuous; subtle; low-key;
understated; subdued; muted; soft; restrained;
unostentatious; downbeat; low-profile; Opposite:;
obtrusive

demonstrating a superior attitude or behaviour

associated with an elite:"some that say he is a
spoiled, elitist snob"
producing good or helpful results;
productive:"memoirs can be a fruitful source of
information"
productive; constructive; useful; worthwhile;
helpful; beneficial; valuable; rewarding; profitable;
advantageous; gainful; successful; effective;
effectual; well spent; of use; of help; of assistance;
Opposite:; fruitless; futile

natural to a person or animal:"people think

doctors have inborn compassion"
innate; congenital; inherent; inherited; hereditary;
inbred; natural; native; constitutional; deep-
seated; deep-rooted; ingrained; in one's blood;
inbuilt; instinctive; instinctual; unlearned;
connate; connatural; existing from birth; in the
family; in one's genes; bred in the bone;
Opposite:; acquired; learned
less important; subordinate:"he expected her
career to become subservient to his"
subordinate; secondary; subsidiary; peripheral;
marginal; ancillary; auxiliary; supplementary;
inferior; immaterial; less important than; of lesser
importance than; lower than; Opposite:; superior
exciting one's senses or desires:"the tantalizing
fragrance of fried bacon"
(of an unpleasant feeling or physical sensation)
come upon (someone) suddenly and strongly:"she
was assailed by doubts and regrets"
trouble; disturb; worry; plague; beset; torture;
torment; rack; bedevil; nag; vex; harass; pester;
dog; be prey to; be the victim of
(of an organization) serving a charitable rather
than a profit-making purpose:"a benevolent fund"
charitable; non-profit-making; non-profit; not-for-
profit; almsgiving; eleemosynary

approve or sanction (something), especially with

reluctance:"those arrested were released and the
exhibition was officially condoned a few weeks
later"
approve; sanction; underwrite; justify; vindicate
conflict with (a right, principle, etc.), especially to
its detriment:"the Privy Council held that the
prosecution contravened the rights of the
individual"
conflict with; be in conflict with; be at odds with

inform against:"priests denounced him to the King

for heresy"
expose; betray; incriminate; implicate; cite; name;
accuse; inculpate; inform against; inform on

depart from usual or accepted standards:"those

who deviate from society's values"
make or become more intense or serious:"the
disturbance escalated into a full-scale riot" · "we
do not want to escalate the war"
grow; develop; mushroom; increase; build up;
heighten; strengthen; intensify; accelerate; be
increased; be stepped up; be extended; be
enlarged; be magnified; be amplified; Opposite:;
shrink

rid (a person or place) of a supposed evil

spirit:"infants were exorcised prior to baptism"
cast out; expel; rid; deliver; free; purify; cleanse;
purge; lustrate; drive out

showing or requiring great attention to detail:"his

finicky copperplate hand"
attentive; conscientious; painstaking; meticulous;
diligent; assiduous; sedulous; scrupulous;
punctilious; fastidious; methodical; orderly;
deliberate; judicious; perfectionist; thorough;
exhaustive; rigorous; accurate; precise; correct;
particular; fussy; nice; laborious; Opposite:;
inattentive
frustrate the efforts or plans of:"their rivals were
foiled by the weather"
thwart; frustrate; counter; oppose; balk;
disappoint; impede; obstruct; hamper; hinder;
snooker; cripple; scotch; derail; smash; dash; stop;
check; block; prevent; defeat; traverse; nip in the
bud; Opposite:; assist; hunting; (of a hunted
animal) run over or cross (ground or a scent or
track) in such a way as to confuse the hounds.

connect or link (two or more things) closely:"as

with most traditions, fact and fiction have become
inextricably intertwined"
sharp or pungent in taste or smell:"the poignant
scent of her powder"

lapse into silence or inactivity:"Fergus opened his

mouth to protest again, then subsided"
tending to rub or graze the skin:"the trees were
abrasive to the touch"
caustic; corroding; eroding; erosive; biting;
mordant; burning; stinging; acid; alkali;
destructive; damaging; harmful; harsh;
environmentally unfriendly; consumptive
having an eager desire for:"she was avid for
information about the murder inquiry"
desiring; covetous; envious; eager for; wishing for;
Opposite:; averse to

shortness of time:"the brevity of human life"

shortness; briefness; transience; transitoriness

pretended; sham:"a counterfeit image of reality"

have a presentiment of (something bad):"I
foreboded mischief the moment I heard"
fail or neglect to do:"he modestly omits to
mention that he was a pole-vault champion"
forget; neglect; fail; overlook; ignore; skip; leave
undone; Opposite:; remember

(of literary style) using unusual words and

complex constructions:"peculiarly ornate and
metaphorical language"
elaborate; over-elaborate; flowery; florid;
flamboyant; grandiose; pompous; pretentious;
affected; high-flown; high-sounding; orotund;
fulsome; magniloquent; grandiloquent; rhetorical;
oratorical; bombastic; laboured; strained;
overwrought; overblown; overripe; overdone;
convoluted; stilted; turgid; inflated; tumid;
pleonastic; euphuistic; aureate; Ossianic; fustian;
hyperventilated; Opposite:; plain; austere; simple;
(of musical composition or performance) using
many ornaments such as grace notes and trills.

petty; trivial:"naval glory struck him as paltry"

worthless; petty; trivial; unimportant;
insignificant; inconsequential; meaningless;
negligible; nugatory; minor; footling;
contemptible; of little account/consequence;
Opposite:; important; significant; valuable
(of a person) predict:"lands he could measure,
terms and tides presage"

recommend (a substance or action) as something

beneficial:"marriage is often prescribed as a
universal remedy"
advise; recommend; advocate; commend; urge;
suggest; endorse; support; back; champion;
promote; subscribe to; argue for

be widespread or current in a particular area or at

a particular time:"a friendly atmosphere prevailed
among the crowds"
exist; be the case; hold; obtain; occur
repeat (an evolutionary or other process) during
development and growth:"many features of
regeneration in the peripheral nervous system
recapitulate development"

conspicuously uninvolved:"he stayed aloof from

the bickering"
independent; self-sufficient; self-reliant;
introverted; undemonstrative; quiet; private;
insular; reserved; unemotional; uncommunicative;
reticent; secretive; standing on one's own two
feet; Opposite:; dependent; forthcoming;
outgoing
(of a person) greatly or overly concerned with
what is generally held to be socially
acceptable:"you're a bit too well-brought-up, a bit
too conventional"

reduce the inflated reputation of

(someone):"comedy takes delight in debunking
heroes"
(of a wife or husband) no longer living with their
spouse:"his estranged wife"
resulting from or showing a lack of restraint in
spending money or resources:"extravagant gifts
like computer games"
expensive; costly; dear; high-priced; high-cost; big-
budget; exorbitant; extortionate; overpriced;
immoderate; lavish; valuable; precious; priceless;
over the odds; worth its weight in gold; worth a
king's ransom; Opposite:; cheap

existing only in the imagination:"fanciful lunar

inhabitants"
imaginative; inventive; whimsical; impractical;
capricious; flighty; dreamy; daydreaming; quixotic;
chimerical; in a world of one's own; visionary;
fantastic; extravagant; far-fetched; romantic;
unbelievable; ridiculous; absurd; preposterous;
imaginary; fancied; unreal; illusory; made-up;
make-believe; mythical; fabulous; legendary; fairy
tale; head in the clouds; out of touch with reality;
Opposite:; down-to-earth; literal
(of a person) carefree and superficial:"the
frivolous, fun-loving flappers of the twenties"
giddy; silly; foolish; facetious; zany; light-hearted;
merry; superficial; shallow; non-serious; light-
minded; whimsical; skittish; flighty; irresponsible;
thoughtless; feather-brained; empty-headed; pea-
brained; birdbrained; vacuous; vapid; lacking
seriousness; lacking in sense; Opposite:; sensible;
serious

of or denoting a process involving substances in

different phases (solid, liquid, or
gaseous):"heterogeneous catalysis"
incommensurable through being of different
kinds, degrees, or dimensions.
tending to intrude on a person's thoughts or
privacy:"the sound of the piano was invasive"
intruding; obtrusive; interrupting; trespassing;
unwanted; unwelcome; meddlesome; meddling;
interfering; busybody; inquisitive; prying; curious
(of a person) thorough and hard-working but
lacking in imagination or intelligence:"plodding,
methodical Ralph Bellamy"
industrious; hard-working; assiduous;
conscientious; particular; punctilious; meticulous;
painstaking; rigorous; exacting; careful; thorough;
sedulous; attentive; heedful; intent; earnest;
studious; constant; persevering; persistent;
tenacious; pertinacious; zealous; dedicated;
committed; driven; active; busy; unflagging;
untiring; tireless; indefatigable; dogged; slogging;
laborious; Opposite:; lazy; casual

commonplace; unromantic:"the masses were too

preoccupied by prosaic day-to-day concerns"
ordinary; everyday; usual; common; conventional;
straightforward; routine; humdrum;
commonplace; run-of-the-mill; workaday;
businesslike; pedestrian; tame; mundane; dull;
dreary; tedious; boring; ho-hum; uninspiring;
monotonous; Opposite:; interesting
provided or intended for school students who
have not achieved the level of attainment
necessary for them to be able to study with their
contemporaries:"remedial education"

(of a horse) stubbornly standing still or moving

backwards or sideways; refusing to advance:"both
their horses became restive at once"
dig or excavate beneath (a building or
fortification) so as to make it collapse:"the
demolition engineers did eventually undermine
two of the tower's six sides"
excavate; sap; tunnel under; dig under; burrow
under

calling for a great amount of energy or endurance;

tiring and tedious:"the weary journey began
again"
tiring; exhausting; wearying; fatiguing; enervating;
draining; sapping; stressful; wearing; trying;
crushing; demanding; exacting; taxing;
challenging; burdensome; arduous; gruelling;
punishing; grinding; onerous; difficult; hard;
tough; heavy; laborious; back-breaking; crippling;
strenuous; rigorous; uphill; Opposite:; refreshing;
enjoyable

make (someone) become unsympathetic or

hostile:"the association does not wish to alienate
its members"
dissatisfied; disgruntled; discontented;
malcontent; Opposite:; contented; loyal
something serving to hide or disguise
something:"preparations had taken place under a
cloak of secrecy"
cover; screen; mask; blind; front; camouflage;
shield; veneer; veil; mantle; shroud; blanket;
pretext; smokescreen
become twisted out of shape:"the pipe will distort
as you bend it"

(of thought) using a variety of premises, especially

unfamiliar premises, as bases for inference, and
avoiding common limiting assumptions in making
deductions:"divergent thinking"
establish (someone) in a position of great strength
or security:"by 1947 de Gaulle's political
opponents were firmly entrenched in power"
attractive or striking because colourful or out of
the ordinary:"youths with exotic haircuts" · "there
was a touch of the exotic in her appearance"
striking; colourful; eye-catching; unusual;
unconventional; out of the ordinary; extravagant;
off-centre; remarkable; sensational; astonishing;
strange; outlandish; bizarre; fantastic; peculiar;
weird; outrageous; curious; different; unfamiliar;
Bohemian; alternative; avant-garde; foreign-
looking; attractive; glamorous; romantic;
fascinating; out of the common; Opposite:;
unremarkable; conventional
renounce or give up (something valued or
pleasant):"I won't forsake my vegetarian
principles"
renounce; give up; relinquish; forgo; forswear;
disclaim; disown; disavow; discard; set aside; wash
one's hands of; turn one's back on; repudiate;
withdraw; drop; do away with; jettison; betray;
dispense with; desist from; have done with;
renege on; Opposite:; keep

indulge or satisfy (a desire):"not all the sexual

impulses can be gratified"
satisfy; fulfil; indulge; relieve; humour; cater to;
quench; slake; satiate; pacify; appease; assuage;
feed; accommodate; comply with; pander to; give
in to; provide for; Opposite:; frustrate
showing or having the ability to think clearly,
especially in intervals between periods of
confusion or insanity:"he has a few lucid moments
every now and then"
rational; sane; in one's right mind; normal;
Opposite:; muddled; psychology; (of a dream)
experienced with the dreamer feeling awake,
aware of dreaming, and able to control events
consciously.
the details or rules of behaviour conventionally
considered to be correct:"she's a great one for the
proprieties"
conformity; scrupulousness; meticulousness;
conscientiousness; punctiliousness; exactitude;
precision; strictness; nicety; etiquette; protocol;
ceremony; conventions; formalities; customs;
procedure; ritual; proprieties; decorum; manners;
courtesies; civilities; good form; politesse; couth;
rules of conduct; code of behaviour; accepted
behaviour; one's Ps and Qs; conventionalities; the
done thing; the thing to do; Opposite:; informality

presenting information in a way that is intended

to provoke public interest and excitement, at the
expense of accuracy:"cheap sensational
periodicals"
overdramatized; dramatic; melodramatic;
Opposite:; dull; understated
appealing to or frequented by people who are
sophisticated:"a sophisticated restaurant"
habitual truthfulness:"voters should be concerned
about his veracity and character"

(of a pathogen, especially a virus) highly

infective:"Staphylococcus aureus is a common
organism whose virulent strains are causing
problems"
an original which has been imitated; a
prototype:"an instrument which was the
archetype of the early flute"
typification; type; prototype; representative;
stereotype; original; pattern; model; standard;
mould; embodiment; exemplar; essence;
quintessence; paradigm; ideal; idea; textbook
example
giving or being a sign of future success:"they said
it was an auspicious moon—it was rising"
(of a victory) achieved easily or by a large
margin:"a conclusive 5–O win"
emphatic; resounding; Opposite:; narrow

(of events or circumstances) seem to be working

together to bring about a particular negative
result:"everything conspires to exacerbate the
situation"
combine; join; unite; ally; join forces; cooperate;
act together; work together; coact

remove knots or tangles from (wool, rope, or

hair):"Allen was on his knees disentangling a coil
of rope"
untangle; unravel; unknot; unsnarl; untwist;
unwind; undo; untie; comb; card; remove the
knots from; straighten out; smooth out
weakness in character or morals:"all drama begins
with human frailty" · "you're too self-righteous to
see your own frailties"
weakness; susceptibility; impressionability;
vulnerability; fallibility; foible; weak point; flaw;
blemish; imperfection; defect; failing; fault;
shortcoming; deficiency; inadequacy; limitation;
Opposite:; strength

an official statement of a complaint over

something believed to be wrong or unfair:"three
pilots have filed grievances against the company"
an activity done for amusement:"the eternal
cross-stitch I was set to do before I could indulge
my own ploys"

composure and dignity of manner:"at least he had

a moment to think, to recover his poise"
composure; equanimity; self-possession; aplomb
become less severe or intense:"the rain relented"
ease off; slacken; let up; ease; relax; abate; drop;
fall off; lessen; decrease; diminish; moderate;
subside; weaken; tail off; ease up; die down;
Opposite:; strengthen; worsen

language designed to have a persuasive or

impressive effect, but which is often regarded as
lacking in sincerity or meaningful content:"all we
have from the Opposition is empty rhetoric"
bombast; loftiness; turgidity; grandiloquence;
magniloquence; ornateness; portentousness;
pomposity; boastfulness; boasting; bragging;
heroics; hyperbole; purple prose; pompousness;
sonorousness; windiness; wordiness; verbosity;
prolixity; tumidity; fustian; euphuism; orotundity;
extravagant language
scanty; in short supply:"information on earnings is
sparse"
scanty; scant; scattered; scarce; infrequent;
sporadic; few and far between; meagre; paltry;
skimpy; limited; in short supply; at a premium;
slight; thin; thinly distributed; hard to come by;
Opposite:; abundant; plentiful; thick

believe or feel that (someone) is guilty of an

illegal, dishonest, or unpleasant act, without
certain proof:"parents suspected of child abuse"
regard as guilty; think to be guilty; regard as a
wrongdoer
the power giving continuance of life, present in all
living things:"the vitality of seeds"

produce or generate (a result, gain, or financial

return):"this method yields the same results" ·
"such investments yield direct cash returns"
produce; bear; give; supply; provide; afford;
return; bring in; pull in; fetch; earn; net; realize;
generate; furnish; bestow; pay out; contribute;
haul in; gather in
a group of stars or galaxies forming a relatively
close association:"there are several clusters in
Cassiopeia"

(of a person) able to speak clearly and

logically:"she was lucid and coherent and did not
appear to be injured"

think about:"she couldn't even begin to

contemplate the future"
think about; consider; ponder; dwell on; chew
over; weigh up; envisage; foresee; imagine;
visualize; intend; propose; meditate on/over;
reflect on/about; mull over; muse on; deliberate
over; cogitate on/about; ruminate on/about;
brood on/about; puzzle over; turn over in one's
mind; give thought to; have in mind/view; aim at;
mean to; expect to
(of something pleasurable) consumed or done in
an unplanned, surreptitious way:"he sneaked off
to a toilet for a crafty fag"

(of an action) lengthy and exaggerated:"he made

an elaborate pretence of yawning"

refrain from:"we forgo any comparison between

the two men"
(of a sound) clearly heard through or above other
sounds:"her scream was sudden and penetrating"
shrill; strident; piercing; carrying; loud; strong;
high; high-pitched; piping; ear-piercing; ear-
splitting; screechy; intrusive; clearly audible;
Opposite:; mellow; soft

(of language) unusual and vivid:"the salad has no

regional or picturesque name"
vivid; graphic; colourful; impressive; striking;
Opposite:; dull
(of a mirror or shiny surface) show an image
of:"he could see himself reflected in Keith's
mirrored glasses"
throw back; give back; return; mirror; send back;
cast back; bounce back; shine back; Opposite:;
absorb

make (an employee) redundant:"if there are

excess staff they should be retrenched"

(of a creative work) lacking economy and

control:"boring, self-indulgent twenty-minute
solos" · "these are not the usual self-indulgent
actor's reminiscences"
prevent the development, action, or expression of
(a feeling, impulse, idea, etc.); restrain:"she could
not suppress a rising panic"
conceal; restrain; stifle; smother; bottle up
advise or urge (someone) earnestly:"she
admonished him to drink no more than one glass
of wine"
advise; recommend; urge; caution; warn;
Opposite:; discourage; archaic

giving or designed to give pleasure through

beauty:"the law applies to both functional and
aesthetic objects"
decorative; ornamental; graceful; elegant;
exquisite; beautiful; attractive; pleasing; lovely;
stylish; artistic; tasteful; in good taste

a studied display of real or pretended feeling:"an

affectation of calm"
facade; front; show; appearance; pretence;
simulation; posture; pose; sham; fake; act;
masquerade; charade; mask; cloak; veil; veneer;
guise; make-believe; play-acting; feigning;
shamming; false display
feeling or displaying aggressive or exaggerated
patriotism:"a chauvinistic attitude towards other
countries"

disguise or conceal (a feeling or intention):"she

smiled, dissembling her true emotion"
(of a cell, structure, or organism) reproduce
rapidly:"cultured cells often proliferate
indefinitely"
reproduce; multiply; breed; procreate; increase;
spawn; self-seed; self-sow

misleading in appearance, especially misleadingly

attractive:"the music trade gives Golden Oldies a
specious appearance of novelty"
misleading; deceptive; false; fallacious; unsound;
casuistic; sophistic; plausible but wrong; seemingly
correct

(of a line of reasoning) apparently but not actually

valid:"this spurious reasoning results in nonsense"
(of offspring) illegitimate.; Similar:; love; born on
the wrong side of the blanket; unfathered;
bastard; natural; misbegotten; baseborn;
nameless; adulterine; born out of wedlock; born
of unmarried parents; Opposite:; legitimate
excessively lengthy and complex:"a tortuous
argument"
convoluted; roundabout; circuitous; indirect;
involved; complicated; complex; confusing;
lengthy; overlong; verbose; unstraightforward;
difficult to follow; Opposite:; straightforward

(of a situation or problem) easy to deal

with:"trying to make the mathematics tractable"

staying or working in a place for a short time

only:"the transient nature of the labour force in
catering"
indicate or discover that (a document, event, or
word) should be assigned to an earlier date:"there
are no references to him that would antedate his
birth"

get rid of (something unwanted):"all thoughts of

romance were banished from her head"
dispel; dismiss; disperse; scatter; dissipate; rout;
oust; cast out; shut out; get rid of; quell; allay;
eliminate; dislodge; drive away; drive off; chase
away; Opposite:; engender

(of an article) meet specified standards:"all

second-hand furniture must comply with the new
regulations"
meet; fulfil; answer; suffice; perfect; comply with
deprive someone of (something):"I that am
curtailed of this fair proportion"
(of food or rubbish) become rotten and offensive
to the senses:"piles of mouldy grey paper festered
by the sink"
rot; moulder; decay; decompose; putrefy; go off;
perish; spoil; deteriorate; disintegrate; degrade;
break down; break up; mortify; necrotize; corrupt;
go bad
produce or make (something) from whatever is
available:"I improvised a costume for myself out
of an old blue dress"
contrive; devise; throw together; concoct; rig;
jury-rig; put together; makeshift; devised; rigged;
jury-rigged; rough and ready; make-do;
emergency; stopgap; temporary; short-term; pro
tem; ad hoc; ad interim; cobble together; thrown
together; cobbled together; pro tempore

prevent or prohibit (someone) from doing

something:"the earnings rule inhibited some
retired people from working"
biochemistry; (of a substance) slow down or
prevent (a process, reaction, or function) or
reduce the activity of (an enzyme or other agent).
(of a sound or utterance) lacking in variation in
tone or pitch:"her slurred monotonous speech"
toneless; flat; unvarying; uninflected; droning;
soporific
slightly and indefinably unwell:"I felt a little
peculiar for a while"
unwell; ill; poorly; bad; out of sorts; indisposed;
sick; queasy; nauseous; nauseated; peaky; liverish;
green around the gills; run down; washed out; off;
off colour; peaked; not oneself; peakish
settle (a quarrel):"advice on how to reconcile the
conflict"
reunite; pacify; appease; placate; propitiate;
mollify; conciliate; settle; resolve; sort out; iron
out; mend; remedy; heal; cure; rectify; bring
(back) together (again); restore friendly relations
between; restore harmony between; make peace
between; resolve differences between; bring to
terms; patch up; smooth over; put to rights;
Opposite:; estrange; alienate

make minor changes so as to improve or clarify (a

theory or method):"ease of access to computers
has refined analysis and presentation of data"
improve; perfect; hone; temper; fine-tune;
elaborate; touch up; revise; edit; copy-edit;
complete; finish; finish off; crown; consummate;
polish (up); put the final/finishing touches to;
Opposite:; lose
(of a person) playfully frivolous or
unpredictable:"Ripley had been travelling the
world ever since moving to New York as a skittish
newspaper reporter"
playful; lively; high-spirited; frisky; coltish;
flirtatious; kittenish; coquettish; frolicsome;
sportive; gamesome; frolic; wanton; Opposite:;
solemn; staid

taking or involving a comprehensive mental

view:"a synoptic model of higher education"
concise; succinct; terse; pithy; aphoristic;
compact; condensed; compressed; short; brief;
laconic; sparing; clipped; elliptical; tight; crisp;
incisive; pointed; to the point; short and sweet;
witty; clever; amusing; quick-witted; piquant;
ingenious; sharp; trenchant; lapidary;
compendious; gnomic; apophthegmatic; well
tuned; finely honed; in well-chosen words;
Opposite:; expansive; rambling
performed or written with great care and
completeness:"officers have made a thorough
examination of the wreckage"
meticulous; scrupulous; assiduous; conscientious;
painstaking; punctilious; methodical; careful;
attentive; diligent; industrious; persevering;
laborious; hard-working; Opposite:; careless
relating to or containing axioms:"1914 saw the
first axiomatic declaration of exactly what
constitutes a ring"
having a body:"a corporeal God"
bodily; fleshly; carnal; corporal; human; mortal;
earthly; physical; material; actual; real;
substantial; tangible; concrete; Opposite:;
incorporeal; law
occurring by chance in connection with something
else:"the incidental catch of dolphins in the
pursuit of tuna"
chance; accidental; by accident; random; casual;
fortuitous; serendipitous; adventitious;
coincidental; unlooked-for; fluky; aleatory; by
chance; Opposite:; deliberate
(of a person) very generous or extravagant:"he
was lavish with his hospitality"
generous; liberal; bountiful; open-handed;
unstinting; unsparing; ungrudging; free;
munificent; handsome; extravagant; prodigal;
fulsome; Opposite:; frugal
intrusively enthusiastic in offering help or advice;
interfering:"an officious bystander"
self-important; bumptious; self-assertive;
overbearing; overzealous; dictatorial; bossy;
domineering; interfering; intrusive; meddlesome;
meddling; importunate; forward; opinionated;
pragmatic; intermeddling; obtrusive; busy;
Opposite:; self-effacing
a subdivision of a complex structure or
process:"an extended family with its ramifications
of neighbouring in-laws"
technical
surpass (a person or achievement):"he doubts
that he will ever transcend Shakespeare"
surpass; excel; exceed; beat; trump; top; cap;
outdo; outstrip; leave behind; outrival; outvie;
outrank; outshine; eclipse; overstep; overshadow;
upstage; throw into the shade
a concise statement of a scientific principle,
typically by a classical author:"the opening
sentence of the first aphorism of Hippocrates"

a test designed to evaluate or compare the

performance of computer hardware or
software:"we thought we'd run some benchmarks
on the smartphone"

willing to accept a particular thing; satisfied:"he

had to be content with third place" · "not content
with being a hugely successful pop star, he now
intends to venture into movies" · "the duke was
content to act as Regent"
lower the moral character of (someone):"war
debases people"
immoral; debauched; dissolute; abandoned;
perverted; degenerate; profligate; degraded;
wicked; sinful; vile; base; iniquitous; corrupt;
corrupted; criminal; vicious; brutal; lewd;
licentious; lascivious; lecherous; prurient;
obscene; indecent; libertine; Opposite:;
honourable

a special feature of a service or machine, which

offers the opportunity to do or benefit from
something:"an overdraft facility"
possibility; opportunity; feature
urge or persuade (someone) to act in a violent or
unlawful way:"he incited loyal subjects to
rebellion"
persuade; convince; get; make; prompt; move;
inspire; instigate; influence; press; urge;
encourage; impel; actuate; motivate; talk into;
procure; prevail upon; exert influence on; coax
into; wheedle into; cajole into; prod into;
Opposite:; dissuade
(of a plant or animal) able to spread quickly in a
previously unexploited habitat:"opportunistic
populations colonizing new substrates"
(of a microorganism or an infection caused by it)
affecting patients only or chiefly when the
immune system is depressed.
(of a person) skilled at producing persuasive
arguments, especially ones intended to deceive:"a
plausible liar"
convincing; effective; cogent; compelling; potent;
forceful; eloquent; impressive; weighty;
influential; sound; valid; powerful; strong;
effectual; efficacious; winning; telling; credible;
silky; smooth-tongued; silver-tongued; slick; glib;
suasive; assuasive; suasory; not taking no for an
answer; Opposite:; unconvincing; weak

(of a person) no longer employed because there is

no more work available:"eight permanent staff
were made redundant"
sacked; dismissed; discharged; unemployed; idle;
jobless; out of work; out of a job; laid off;
disemployed; Opposite:; employed; in work
(of a word or a style of language) no longer in
everyday use but sometimes used to impart an
old-fashioned flavour:"a term with a rather
archaic ring to it"

expressing or characterized by vehement protests

or demands:"the clamorous radical wing of the
party"
noisy; loud; vocal; vociferous; raucous; rowdy;
rackety; tumultuous; shouting; shrieking;
screaming; importunate; demanding; insistent;
vehement; Opposite:; quiet
lacking contact with other people:"people living
restricted and sometimes insular existences"
isolated; inaccessible; cut off; closed; separate;
segregated; detached; solitary; lonely; insulated;
self-contained; self-sufficient; Opposite:;
accessible; cosmopolitan
easily influenced; pliable:"they are as malleable
and easily led as sheep"
suggestible; susceptible; impressionable;
amenable; cooperative; adaptable; compliant;
pliable; tractable; accommodating; biddable;
docile; obedient; complaisant; manageable;
manipulable; persuadable; governable;
influenceable; easily influenced; like putty in
someone's hands; Opposite:; intractable

credit cards or other types of plastic card that can

be used as money:"he pays with cash instead of
with plastic"
credit card; debit card; cash card; swipe card
clean and fresh as if new; spotless:"a pristine
white shirt"
immaculate; perfect; in mint condition; unspoiled;
spotless; flawless; clean; fresh; new; virgin; pure;
unused; unmarked; unblemished; untarnished;
untouched; unsullied; undefiled; in perfect
condition; as new; Opposite:; dirty; sullied

accuse someone of:"his wife reproached him with

cowardice"
rebuke; reprove; scold; chide; reprimand;
admonish; chastise; upbraid; berate; pull up;
castigate; lambast; read someone the Riot Act;
give someone a piece of one's mind; lecture;
criticize; censure; call down; rate; trim; reprehend;
objurgate; reprobate; remonstrate with; take to
task; haul over the coals; find fault with; express
disapproval of; give someone a rating; Opposite:;
praise; commend; archaic; censure or rebuke (an
offence).
(of an object) sturdy in construction:"a robust
metal cabinet"
durable; resilient; tough; hard-wearing; long-
lasting; well made; sturdy; strong; strongly made;
Opposite:; fragile

(of a place) pleasant; not run-down:"an over-

priced flat in a none too salubrious area"
pleasant; agreeable; nice; select; upmarket; high-
class; leafy; fashionable; expensive; luxurious;
grand; fancy; Opposite:; unpleasant; downmarket

measures taken by a state to coerce another to

conform to an international agreement or norms
of conduct, typically in the form of restrictions on
trade or official sporting participation:"the United
States had agreed to lift economic sanctions"
a consideration operating to enforce obedience to
any rule of conduct.
sleepy or drowsy:"some medicine made her
soporific"

(of an act or statement) strict and severe:"stern

measures to restrict vehicle growth"
strict; severe; stringent; harsh; drastic; hard;
Opposite:; lenient; lax
causing sudden and violent upheaval:"a novel
about a cataclysmic world war"
disastrous; catastrophic; devastating; dire; tragic;
fatal; ruinous; crippling; awful; dreadful; terrible;
woeful; grievous; direful; Opposite:; good;
advantageous; informal
(of gene sequences, nucleotides, etc.) related by
the rules of base pairing:"a pair of complementary
oligonucleotides were synthesized"

involving heated argument:"the socio-economic

plan had been the subject of contentious debate"
heated; vehement; fierce; violent; intense;
impassioned; committed; Opposite:; calm; (of a
person) given to provoking argument.; Similar:;
argumentative; quarrelsome; disputatious;
disputative; confrontational; captious; factious;
cavilling; pugnacious; combative; defiant; hostile;
antagonistic; bellicose; belligerent; militant;
warring; fighting; battling; threatening; litigious;
irascible; cantankerous; irritable; petulant;
truculent; fiery; quick-tempered; hot-tempered;
ill-tempered; bad-tempered; choleric; bickering;
wrangling; ready for a fight; Opposite:; peaceable;
law; relating to or involving differences between
contending parties.
(of a feeling or habit) long-established and unlikely
to change:"the inveterate hostility between the
two countries was not easily eradicated"
confirmed; hardened; chronic; hardcore;
incorrigible; habitual; addicted; compulsive;
obsessive; obsessional; staunch; steadfast;
committed; devoted; dedicated; deep-dyed; dyed-
in-the-wool; thorough; thoroughgoing; out and
out; diehard; long-standing
(of a quantity) pitiably small or inadequate:"the
prize for the winner will be a miserly £3,500"
meagre; inadequate; paltry; limited; insufficient;
deficient; negligible; insubstantial; skimpy;
miserable; lamentable; pitiful; puny; niggardly;
beggarly; exiguous; Opposite:; lavish; huge
a thing that can be heard:"she heard the sound of
voices in the hall" · "don't make a sound"
noise; note; din; racket; row; bang; report;
hubbub; resonance; reverberation; Opposite:;
silence

make or become less valuable or respected:"his

regime had not been tarnished by human rights
abuses"
sully; besmirch; blacken; smirch; stain; blemish;
blot; taint; soil; befoul; spoil; ruin; dirty; disgrace;
mar; damage; defame; calumniate; injure; harm;
hurt; undermine; debase; degrade; denigrate;
dishonour; stigmatize; vitiate; drag through the
mud; Opposite:; enhance
a cause of annoyance, frustration, or worry:"the
vexations of life under canvas"

(of a tree or plant) not producing fruit or

seed:"the barren fig tree"
a song or piece of music that is considered too
slow, miserable, or boring:"after his ten-minute
dirge, the audience booed"
having a strong or exhilarating effect:"a heady,
exotic perfume" · "the heady days of my youth"
exhilarating; exciting; thrilling; stimulating;
invigorating; galvanizing; electrifying; rousing;
arousing; Opposite:; boring
unable to be stopped; relentless:"the implacable
advance of the enemy"
transfer (a sports team) to a lower division of a
league:"United were relegated to division two"

having or arousing feelings of tenderness,

sadness, or nostalgia, typically in an exaggerated
and self-indulgent way:"a sentimental ballad" ·
"I'm a sentimental old fool"
mawkish; over-sentimental; overemotional;
cloying
allow (an opportunity) to pass or be lost:"the team
squandered several good scoring chances"

obtain (money) fraudulently:"he was said to have

swindled £62.5 million from the state-owned
cement industry"
defraud; cheat; trick; fleece; dupe; deceive

clear and definite; real:"the emphasis is now on

tangible results"
real; actual; solid; concrete; substantial; hard; well
defined; definite; clear; clear-cut; distinct;
manifest; evident; obvious; striking; indisputable;
undoubted; unmistakable; positive; perceptible;
verifiable; appreciable; measurable; discernible;
intelligible; well documented; Opposite:; abstract;
theoretical
ascribe a work or remark to (a particular author,
artist, or speaker):"the building was attributed to
Inigo Jones"
ascribe; assign; accredit; credit; impute; allot
a substance formed from two or more elements
chemically united in fixed proportions:"a
compound of hydrogen and oxygen" · "lead
compounds"

prevent the occurrence of:"strategists think not

only about how to deter war, but about how war
might occur"
prevent; stop; put a stop to; avert; fend off; stave
off; ward off; head off; shut out; block; intercept;
halt; arrest; check; stay; keep; hinder; impede;
hamper; obstruct; balk; foil; thwart; obviate;
frustrate; forestall; counteract; inhibit; hold back;
curb; restrain; preclude; pre-empt; save; help; let;
nip in the bud; turn aside; Opposite:; encourage
a short statement that expresses a general truth
or principle:"the old dictum ‘might is right’"
saying; maxim; axiom; proverb; adage; aphorism;
saw; precept; epigram; epigraph; motto; truism;
platitude; commonplace; expression; phrase;
formula; slogan; quotation; quote; apophthegm;
gnome; words of wisdom; pearls of wisdom; law;
short for obiter dictum.

motivated by duty rather than desire or

enthusiasm:"dutiful applause" · "a dutiful visit"
open, sincere, or undisguised:"Kate looked at Sam
with frank admiration"
open; undisguised; unconcealed; naked;
unmistakable; clear; obvious; transparent; patent;
manifest; evident; noticeable; visible; perceptible;
palpable; blatant; barefaced; flagrant; glaring;
bold; stark; Opposite:; hidden; medicine
(of a quantity) left after other items have been
subtracted:"residual income after tax and
mortgage payments"

cause (a symptom or condition) to heal or

subside:"endoscopic biliary drainage can rapidly
resolve jaundice"

short for surrogate mother."the guidelines clearly

mention the rights of surrogates and prospective
parents" · "their daughter was born via surrogate
on March 25th"
(in the US) a judge in charge of probate,
inheritance, and guardianship.
not existing; absent:"mandibles are wanting in
many of these insects"
absent; missing; lacking; non-existent; unavailable;
short; not there; not present; not to be found;
Opposite:; present; informal; deficient in
intelligence.
(of a person) cheerful and friendly; jovial:"she was
relaxed and convivial"
friendly; genial; affable; amiable; congenial;
agreeable; good-humoured; cordial; warm;
sociable; outgoing; gregarious; clubbable;
companionable; hail-fellow-well-met; cheerful;
jolly; jovial; merry; lively; enjoyable; festive;
couthy; clubby; buddy-buddy; conversable;
Opposite:; unfriendly; unsociable

luxuriously self-indulgent:"a decadent soak in a

scented bath"
dissolute; dissipated; degenerate; corrupt;
depraved; louche; rakish; shameless; sinful;
unprincipled; immoral; licentious; wanton;
abandoned; unrestrained; profligate; intemperate;
fast-living; sybaritic; voluptuary; epicurean;
hedonistic; pleasure-seeking; indulgent; self-
indulgent; Opposite:; moral
bright, colourful, and very noticeable:"a
flamboyant bow tie"
colourful; bright; rich; vibrant; vivid; exciting;
dazzling; eye-catching; bold; splendid;
resplendent; glamorous; showy; gaudy; garish;
lurid; loud; flashy; brash; ostentatious; gay;
brilliantly coloured; brightly coloured; Opposite:;
dull; restrained

act in advance of (someone) in order to prevent

them from doing something:"he would have
spoken but David forestalled him"
buy up (goods) in order to profit by an enhanced
price.
speak against or oppose (someone):"none could
gainsay her"
dislike; resist; stand up to; take on; fight;
Opposite:; support; defend; promote

(of a person) not using or exercising

discrimination:"she was indiscriminate with her
affections"
make of no use or value; cancel out:"insulin can
block the release of the hormone and thereby
nullify the effects of training"
neutralize; negate; negative; cancel out

avoid or prevent (something undesirable):"a

parachute can be used to obviate disaster"
plain to see or comprehend:"to talk of dawn raids
in the circumstances is palpable nonsense"
undisguised; plain; unadorned; unvarnished;
unveiled; unqualified; stark; bald; unexaggerated;
simple; overt; obvious; open; patent; evident;
apparent; manifest; unmistakable; blatant;
glaring; flagrant; barefaced; out-and-out;
unmitigated
(of a person) extravagant:"they are profuse in
hospitality"
enthusiastic; ample; extensive; generous; liberal;
lavish; glowing; gushing; gushy; excessive;
extravagant; overdone; immoderate; inordinate;
fawning; ingratiating; adulatory; laudatory;
eulogistic; rapturous; flattering; complimentary;
effusive; cloying; unctuous; saccharine; sugary;
honeyed; encomiastic; over-appreciative;
acclamatory
barely amounting to a specified number or
quantity:"she weighed a scant two pounds"
encourage or assist someone to commit (a
crime):"we are aiding and abetting this illegal
traffic"
support; stand by; stand up for; stick up for;
encourage; back; back up; uphold; defend;
champion; favour; give one's support to; take the
side of; side with; be on the side of; be supportive
of; give one's backing to; be loyal to; come to the
defence of; ally (oneself) with; associate oneself
with; aid and abet; Opposite:; turn against

able to be easily obtained or used:"making

learning opportunities more accessible to adults"
available; in circulation; on the market; on offer; in
season; at one's disposal; at hand; gettable;
procurable; securable; acquirable; realizable;
achievable; attainable; ready; to be had

relating to or involving acquisition:"acquisitive

crimes"
alloy (a metal) with mercury:"amalgamated zinc"

reduce the amplitude of (a signal, electric current,

or other oscillation):"the filter must severely
attenuate frequencies above 10 Hz"
weakened; reduced; lessened; decreased;
diminished; impaired; enervated; Opposite:;
strengthened
a person or thing that arouses strong feelings of
dislike:"my dog's pet aversion is visitors,
particularly males"

happy or carefree:"a blithe seaside comedy"

happy; cheerful; cheery; light-hearted; jolly;
merry; sunny; joyous; joyful; blissful; ecstatic;
euphoric; elated; beatific; gladsome; mirthful;
carefree; easy-going; buoyant; airy; breezy; jaunty;
animated; sprightly; vivacious; spirited; frisky;
blithesome; jocund; gay; in high spirits; without a
care in the world; Opposite:; sad

disregard for something that should be

considered:"this action displays an arrogant
contempt for the wishes of the majority"
disrespect; disregard; slighting; neglect;
contumacy; Opposite:; respect

move slowly and idly in a particular

direction:"Ruth dawdled back through the wood"
amble; stroll; potter; hold back; fall behind;
go/walk slowly; loiter (along); move at a snail's
pace; not keep pace; lag behind; trail behind;
Opposite:; speed
(of an object) change direction after hitting
something:"the ball deflected off Knight's body"
bounce; glance; ricochet; turn; diverge; deviate;
veer; swerve; slew; drift; bend; swing; twist; curve;
turn aside/away; alter course; change
course/direction
give incriminating information about someone to
the police or other authority:"he had been
recruited by the KGB to inform on his fellow
students"
denounce; give away; betray; incriminate;
inculpate; report; double-cross; sell out; delate;
tell the authorities/police about; stab in the back;
be a Judas to; give someone a Judas kiss; turn
Queen's/King's evidence
a person viewed with contempt or disdain:"a
scandal and a scorn to all who look on thee"
of less or secondary importance:"in adventure
stories, character must be subordinate to action"
secondary; lesser; minor; subsidiary; subservient;
ancillary; auxiliary; attendant; peripheral;
marginal; second-class; second-rate;
supplementary; accessory; additional; extra; of
little account/importance; second-fiddle;
Opposite:; central; major; chief
dealing with ideas rather than events:"the novel
was too abstract and esoteric to sustain much
attention"
abstruse; obscure; arcane; recherché; rarefied;
recondite; difficult; hard; puzzling; perplexing;
enigmatic; inscrutable; cryptic; Delphic; complex;
complicated; involved; incomprehensible; opaque;
unfathomable; impenetrable; mysterious; occult;
hidden; secret; private; mystic; magical;
cabbalistic; involuted; over/above one's head;
little known; Opposite:; simple; familiar
enhance or perfect (something such as a
reputation or a skill):"a man who took advantage
of any opportunity to burnish his image"

(chiefly of a software feature) be usable but

regarded as obsolete and best avoided, typically
because it has been superseded:"this feature is
deprecated and will be removed in later versions"
· "avoid the deprecated <blink> element that
causes text to flash on and off"
go or cause to go in different directions:"the
crowd dispersed" · "she disperses groups of
teenagers if they are being rowdy"
break up; split up; disband; separate; scatter;
leave; dispel; banish; get rid of; disunite; go their
separate ways; go in different directions; drive
away; drive off; chase away; put to flight;
Opposite:; assemble

(of an area) in which a particular disease is

regularly found:"the persistence of infection on
pastures in endemic areas"
extremely funny:"her attempts to teach them to
dance were hysterical"
hilarious; uproarious; very funny; comical; comic;
farcical; very amusing; Opposite:; serious
confused or incoherent:"inchoate proletarian
protest"
unclear; confused; muddled; unintelligible;
incomprehensible; disjointed; disconnected;
unconnected; disordered; mixed up; garbled;
jumbled; scrambled; rambling; wandering;
discursive; disorganized; uncoordinated; illogical;
inarticulate; mumbled; muttered; stuttered;
stammered; slurred; hard to follow; Opposite:;
coherent; lucid; intelligible

a difficult situation; a practical dilemma:"a legal

quandary"
put an end to; suppress:"a hospital executive
quashed rumours that nursing staff will lose jobs"
put an end to; stamp out; put a stop to; end;
finish; Opposite:; bring about; prompt
(especially of a complaint or demand) loud and
forceful:"a concession to their shrill demands"
verify or establish to one's satisfaction:"phone us
to check the availability of your chosen holiday" ·
"she glanced over her shoulder to check that the
door was shut"
make sure; confirm; verify; corroborate; validate;
substantiate; (check something against)
draw forth (something that is latent or potential)
into existence:"a corrupt heart elicits in an hour all
that is bad in us"
cause; induce; provoke; create; generate;
engender; foster; encourage; call forth; draw;
attract; incite; bring on; arouse; tempt; court;
allure; entice; lead to; make happen; bring on
oneself

producing many new ideas:"her fecund

imagination"
capable of bearing children.
(of a sound) faint:"her feeble cries of pain"
faint; dim; weak; pale; soft; subdued; muted;
indistinct; unclear; vague; Opposite:; strong

pleasing and fortunate:"the view was the room's

only felicitous feature"
fortunate; advantageous; good; favourable; lucky;
happy; pleasing; encouraging; Opposite:;
unfortunate

refrain from doing or using (something):"Rebecca

could not forbear a smile"
moving forcefully or rapidly:"an impetuous but
controlled flow of water"
torrential; powerful; forceful; vigorous; violent;
raging; rampant; relentless; unrestrained;
uncontrolled; unbridled; rapid; fast; fast-flowing;
rushing; Opposite:; sluggish; weak
exceed:"supply far outstripped demand"
surpass; exceed; better; beat; top; overshadow;
eclipse; be more than; go beyond; put to shame
dependent on chance; uncertain:"he made a
precarious living as a painter"
uncertain; insecure; unreliable; unsure;
unpredictable; undependable; risky; hazardous;
dangerous; unsafe; perilous; treacherous; on thin
ice; touch-and-go; built on sand; doubtful;
dubious; delicate; tricky; problematic; unsettled;
unstable; unsteady; shaky; rocky; wobbly; parlous;
hanging by a thread; hanging in the balance; on a
slippery slope; Opposite:; safe; secure

refuse to fulfil or discharge (an agreement,

obligation, or debt):"breach of a condition gives
the other party the right to repudiate a contract"
cancel; set aside; revoke; rescind; reverse; retract;
overrule; override; overturn; invalidate; nullify;
abrogate; disregard; ignore; disobey; dishonour;
go back on; disaffirm; avoid; vacate; declare null
and void; refuse to fulfil; renege on; backtrack on;
Opposite:; ratify; accept; abide by
(of air or water) moving unsteadily or
violently:"the turbulent sea"
rough; stormy; tempestuous; storm-tossed; heavy;
violent; wild; angry; raging; boiling; seething;
foaming; choppy; bumpy; agitated; squally;
blustery; roily; weltering; boisterous; Opposite:;
calm; quiet; glassy; technical; relating to or
denoting flow of a fluid in which the velocity at
any point fluctuates irregularly and there is
continual mixing rather than a steady or laminar
flow pattern.
money in the form of coins:"large amounts of coin
and precious metal"
coins; coinage; small change; silver; copper;
coppers; gold; specie; coin of the realm; (loose)
change; (coins); one of the suits in some tarot
packs, corresponding to pentacles in others.

ingenious:"plants have evolved cunning defences"

ingenious; clever; skilful; adroit; crafty; wily; artful;
devious; Opposite:; crude; artless
refusal to accept the doctrines of an established
or orthodox Church; nonconformity:"rural
communities with a long tradition of Dissent"

make (spirits or an essence) by distilling:"whisky is

distilled from a mash of grains"
brew; ferment; make
gain entrance to (a place) by using deception or
flattery:"Jones had inveigled himself into her
house"
abandon or discard (someone or something that is
no longer wanted):"the scheme was jettisoned"
dump; drop; ditch; discharge; eject; throw out;
pour out; unload; discard; throw away; get rid of;
reject; scrap; abandon; relinquish; shed; shrug off;
empty out; tip out; throw overboard; throw over
the side; dispose of; toss out; dispense with; cast
aside/off; have done with; slough off; throw on
the scrapheap; Opposite:; load; keep; retain
(of a person) natural and unaffected;
innocent:"Andy had a sweet, naive look when he
smiled"
innocent; unsophisticated; artless; ingenuous;
inexperienced; guileless; unworldly; childlike;
trusting; trustful; dewy-eyed; starry-eyed; wide-
eyed; fond; simple; natural; unaffected;
unpretentious; gullible; credulous; unsuspecting;
unsuspicious; deceivable; dupable; immature;
callow; raw; green; ignorant; easily taken in; easily
deceived; over-trusting; over-trustful; born
yesterday; as green as grass; Opposite:;
sophisticated; disingenuous; experienced; worldly;
of or denoting art produced in a style which
deliberately rejects sophisticated artistic
techniques and has a bold directness resembling a
child's work, typically in bright colours with little
or no perspective.
from which another thing may derive or
proceed:"Diogenes' conclusion that air is the
prime matter"

forming an inherent or fundamental part of the

nature of someone or something:"the assumption
of radical differences between the mental
attributes of literate and non-literate peoples"
fundamental; basic; essential; quintessential;
inherent; innate; structural; deep-seated; intrinsic;
organic; constitutive; root; Opposite:; minor; (of
surgery or medical treatment) thorough and
intended to be completely curative.
(of a seed or spore) able to germinate:"most
clones can produce thousands of viable seeds"

(of a person on bail) fail to surrender oneself for

custody at the appointed time:"charges of
absconding while on bail"
feel or express pity for (someone):"she did not
exult in her rival's fall, but, on the contrary,
commiserated her"
an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence:"the
hotel had to deal with more than one
contretemps before the end of the night"
mishap; misadventure; accident; mischance;
problem; difficulty; unfortunate occurrence;
awkward moment

say in a soft, low voice:"‘Goodbye, you lovely

darling,’ she crooned"
fail to make progress or be successful:"Kelso
languish near the bottom of the Scottish First
Division"

(of the mind) able to think and understand

quickly:"her mind was so nimble and she was so
quick to learn"
quick-thinking; quick-witted; quick; nimble-witted;
alert; alive; lively; wide awake; ready; observant;
astute; perceptive; perspicacious; penetrating;
discerning; shrewd; sharp; sharp-witted;
intelligent; bright; clever; gifted; able; brainy;
brilliant; quick off the mark; Opposite:; dull
favourably disposed towards someone:"there
were points on which they did not agree,
moments in which she did not seem propitious"
a contrast or opposition between two things:"the
antithesis between occult and rational
mentalities"
contrast; opposition
regard a text, quotation, or work of art as being
produced by or belonging to (a particular person
or period):"a quotation ascribed to Thomas
Cooper"
attribute; assign; put down; set down; accredit;
credit; chalk up; impute; lay on; pin on; give the
credit for; blame on; lay at the door of; connect
with; associate with
directed towards avoidance or escape:"they
decided to take evasive action"
avoiding; dodging; escaping; eluding;
sidestepping; Opposite:; direct

very concerned about matters of cleanliness:"the

child seemed fastidious about getting her fingers
dirty"
suggestive of guilty nervousness:"the look in his
eyes became furtive"

a basket or box containing food for a special

occasion:"a Christmas food hamper"
a song, piece of music, or poem expressing grief or
sorrow:"the piper played a lament"
dirge; requiem; elegy; dead march; keen; plaint;
knell; coronach; threnody; monody; epicedium;
funeral song/chant; burial hymn

lacking foresight or intellectual insight:"the

government still has a myopic attitude to public
spending"
unimaginative; uncreative; unadventurous;
narrow-minded; small-minded; short-term;
narrow; insular; parochial; provincial; lacking
foresight; Opposite:; farsighted
relating to an immature, undeveloped, or basic
form:"a rudimentary stage of evolution"
primitive; crude; simple; unsophisticated; rough;
rough and ready; makeshift; rude; vestigial;
undeveloped; incomplete; embryonic; immature;
non-functional; abortive; obsolete; Opposite:;
sophisticated; developed
health-giving:"the salutary Atlantic air"
healthy; health-giving; healthful; salubrious;
beneficial; wholesome; good for one's health;
Opposite:; unhealthy; unwholesome

put an end to (a connection or relationship); break

off:"the notice itself may be sufficient to sever the
joint tenancy"
break off; discontinue; suspend; end; put an end
to; Opposite:; maintain; establish; initiate

(especially of a creative work) not profound or

substantial; rather trivial or superficial:"a slight
romantic comedy"
minor; inconsequential; trivial; trifling;
unimportant; lightweight; superficial; shallow;
petty; paltry; of little account; Opposite:; major;
substantial
attempt to persuade people of the merits of:"she
was touted as a potential Prime Minister"
commend; endorse; praise; recommend; support;
urge; push; speak of; tip; talk of; BRITISH

prove (a theory or expectation) wrong:"the rise in

prices confounded expectations"
invalidate; negate; contradict; counter; go against;
discredit; give the lie to; drive a coach and horses
through; quash; explode; demolish; shoot down;
destroy; disprove; falsify; controvert; confute;
negative; prove wrong; prove false
(of an action) suitable or appropriate:"holding a
public enquiry into the scheme was not
expedient"

a forerunner of something:"these works were not

yet opera but they were the most important
harbinger of opera"
preliminary; prelude; curtain-raiser; introduction;
lead-in; precursor; forerunner; herald; start;
beginning
money or gifts given generously:"the distribution
of largesse to the local population"
gifts; presents; donations; handouts;
endowments; grants; aid; alms; offerings; favours;
contributions; patronage; sponsorship; backing;
help
apparently permanently engaged in a specified
role or way of life:"he's a perennial student"

making or constituting a hypocritical display of

virtue:"his pious platitudes"
sanctimonious; hypocritical; insincere; self-
righteous; holier-than-thou; pietistic; churchy;
religiose; Pharisaic; Pharisaical; for form's sake; to
keep up appearances; Opposite:; sincere; archaic;
dutiful or loyal, especially towards one's parents.
a false and malicious spoken statement:"I've had
just about all I can stomach of your slanders"
defamation; character assassination; calumny;
libel; scandalmongering; muckraking;
disparagement; denigration; derogation;
aspersions; vilification; traducement; obloquy;
backbiting; scurrility; lie; slur; smear; untruth;
insult; slight; contumely; defamation of character;
misrepresentation of character; malicious gossip;
smear campaigning; false accusation; false report;
Opposite:; acclamation; praise

strongly built and sturdy:"he was of stalwart

build"
strapping; well built; well made; muscular;
Opposite:; puny; frail
diverging from the normal type:"aberrant
chromosomes"
deviating; divergent; abnormal; atypical; untypical;
non-typical; anomalous; digressive; irregular; non-
standard; nonconformist; rogue; perverse;
transgressing; wayward; strange; odd; peculiar;
uncommon; unusual; freak; freakish; curious;
bizarre; eccentric; idiosyncratic; unorthodox;
exceptional; singular; unrepresentative; distorted;
twisted; warped; perverted; Opposite:; normal;
orthodox
(of a period of time) characterized by inaction;
unproductive:"long fallow periods when nothing
seems to happen"
inactive; dormant; quiet; slack; slow; slow-moving;
flat; idle; inert; static; stagnant; depressed; barren;
unproductive; unfruitful; Opposite:; busy
act in an obsequious way in order to obtain
someone's forgiveness or favour:"they criticized
leaders who grovelled to foreign patrons"
fawn; kowtow; bow and scrape; toady; truckle;
flatter; court; woo; dance attendance on; make up
to; play up to; blandish; behave obsequiously; be
obsequious; be servile; be sycophantic; abase
oneself; humble oneself; prostrate oneself; curry
favour with; ingratiate oneself with

relating to or consisting of names:"the streets

have names like Third Avenue, but the
resemblance to Manhattan is only nominal" · "a
nominal roll of the Grenadier Company shows a
total of 86 men"
(of behaviour or ability) having developed at an
earlier age than is usual or expected:"a precocious
talent for computing"
(especially of a person or action) careless;
excessively casual:"slovenly speech"
careless; slapdash; slipshod; disorganized;
unorganized; unsystematic; unmethodical;
haphazard; hit-or-miss; untidy; messy;
thoughtless; negligent; neglectful; lax;
lackadaisical; slack; Opposite:; careful; meticulous;
painstaking

a part of a play involving a soliloquy:"in the

opening soliloquy he declares his true intent"

strike, tread, or push away with the foot:"with one

touch of my feet, I spurn the solid Earth"
very slender or fine; insubstantial:"a tenuous
cloud"
fine; thin; slender; attenuated; delicate; gossamer;
fragile; Opposite:; thick
 Definition 3 Definition 4

(of a solid) not crystalline, or not

apparently crystalline:"an amorphous
polymer"

having a plain and unadorned

appearance:"the cathedral is
impressive in its austere simplicity"
plain; simple; basic; functional;
modest; unadorned; undecorated;
unornamented; unembellished;
unostentatious; unfurnished;
uncluttered; unfussy; subdued;
muted; restrained; stark; bleak; bare;
bald; clinical; sombre; severe;
spartan; ascetic; without frills;
Opposite:; ornate
(especially of writing or music) clear
and accessible or melodious:"the
limpid notes of a recorder"
lucid; clear; plain; understandable;
intelligible; comprehensible;
perceptible; coherent; explicit;
unambiguous; simple; vivid; sharp;
direct; clear-cut; crystal clear;
luminous; straightforward; distinct;
perspicuous; luculent; Opposite:;
unintelligible
a person who pretends to be
someone or something they are
not:"he was a sham, totally
unqualified for his job as a senior
doctor"
charlatan; fake; fraud; impostor;
pretender; masquerader; dissembler;
quack; mountebank; wolf in sheep's
clothing
slow to respond or make
progress:"the car had been sluggish
all morning"
(of a chemist) make up and give out
(medicine) according to a doctor's
prescription:"he was stopped from
dispensing prescriptions"
deliver (a verdict or judgement):"the give up; surrender:"he will
jury's finding amounted to the render up his immortal soul"
clearest verdict yet rendered upon give back; return; restore; pay
the scandal" back; repay; hand over; give
deliver; return; hand down; bring in; up; surrender; relinquish;
give; announce; pronounce; proclaim; deliver; turn over; yield; cede
literary
a secondary festival on the periphery
of the Edinburgh Festival:"she
became noted for her work on the
Fringe"
not harmful to the environment:"the
cycle as a benign form of transport" ·
"an ozone-benign refrigerant"
near the surface of the body, with
special reference to the circulation
and nervous system:"lymphocytes
from peripheral blood"
refuse to continue to recognize or reject or abandon (a cause,
abide by:"these agreements were bad habit, or way of life):"they
renounced after the fall of the Tsarist renounced the armed
regime" struggle" · "he renounced
reject; repudiate; refuse to abide by; alcohol completely"
refuse to recognize; Opposite:; repudiate; deny; discard;
accept; abide by reject; give up; forswear;
abandon; wash one's hands
of; turn one's back on; disown;
cast off; cast aside; disinherit;
cut off; throw off; spurn; shun;
forsake; go without; do
without; swear off; keep off;
eschew; have nothing more to
do with; have done with;
abstain from; desist from;
refrain from; cease to indulge
in; Opposite:; embrace; turn
to
extend (a graph, curve, or range of
values) by inferring unknown values
from trends in the known data:"the
low-temperature results can be
extrapolated to room temperature" ·
"a set of extrapolated values"

move unsteadily or hesitantly:"he

faltered and finally stopped in mid-
stride"
be very economical or mean about
spending or providing something:"he
doesn't stint on wining and dining"
limit; restrict; pinch pennies; skimp
on; scrimp on

an angry state of mind:"Drew had

walked out in a temper" · "I only said
it in a fit of temper"
rage; fury; tantrum; passion;
paroxysm; bad mood; mood; pet;
sulk; mard; miff; fit of rage; fit of
bad/ill temper; bad temper; fit of
pique; paddywhack
(of plants) growing in open clusters or
in pure associations:"in the wild, trees
are usually gregarious plants"
bring about (an agreement or
solution) by intervening in a
dispute:"efforts to mediate a peaceful
resolution of the conflict"
negotiate; bring about; effect;
effectuate; make happen

cover (an eye) to prevent its use:"it is

placed at eye level with one eye
occluded"
(of a plant) lush in growth;
luxuriant:"a rich soil soon becomes
home to rampant weeds"
luxuriant; exuberant; lush; rank; rich;
riotous; profuse; lavish; vigorous;
productive

having very little connection with or distantly related:"a remote

relationship to:"the theory seems cousin"
rather intellectual and remote from
everyday experience"
irrelevant to; unrelated to;
unconnected to; unconcerned with;
not pertinent to; inapposite to;
immaterial to; unassociated with;
inappropriate to; foreign to; alien to;
extrinsic to; Opposite:; relevant
reduce or remove (a nuisance):"this
action would not have been sufficient
to abate the odour nuisance"
decrease; lessen; diminish; reduce;
lower; moderate; ease; soothe;
relieve; dampen; calm; tone down;
alleviate; mitigate; mollify; allay;
assuage; palliate; temper; appease;
attenuate; Opposite:; increase
without skill or finesse:"her awkward,
artless prose"
be gravely disloyal to:"the men who
have betrayed British people's trust"
desert; double-cross; inform
on/against; be disloyal to; be
unfaithful to; break one's promise to;
break faith with; stab in the back
not able to be resisted;
overwhelming:"the temptation to
give up was compelling"
forceful; profound; uncontrollable;
irrepressible; irresistible; unbearable;
overpowering; oppressive;
unutterable; irrefutable; very strong
having an exciting and glamorous
character associated with travel and a
mixture of cultures:"their designs
became a byword for cosmopolitan
chic"

occurring randomly or
occasionally:"desultory passengers
were appearing"
relationship, especially by marriage as
opposed to blood ties:"the distinction
between kinship and affinity is not
always clear-cut"
(of a drug) replicate the physiological (of a disease) exhibit
effects of (another substance):"the symptoms that bear a
drug ephedrine mimics deceptive resemblance to
noradrenaline" those of (another
disease):"bacterial meningitis
can present with acute
disturbance of behaviour
which may closely mimic
substance abuse"
(of music or other sound) clear and
pure in tone:"his pellucid singing
tone"
clear; vibrant; high-pitched; high
endowed with the capacity to
reason:"man is a rational being"
intelligent; thinking; discriminating;
reasoning; cognitive; mental;
cerebral; logical; analytical;
conceptual; ratiocinative

capable of making fine distinctions:"a arranged in an ingenious and

subtle mind" elaborate way:"the German
astute; keen; quick; fine; acute; sharp; plan was simple yet subtle"
razor-like; razor-sharp; rapier-like;
canny; shrewd; aware; perceptive;
discerning; sensitive; discriminating;
penetrating; sagacious; wise; clever;
intelligent; skilful; artful; sapient;
percipient; perspicacious; politic;
Opposite:; slow-witted
(of noise or a storm) abate or fall
quiet:"conversation lulled for an
hour"
abate; subside; let up; moderate;
slacken; lessen; dwindle; decrease;
diminish; ebb; fade away; wane;
lower; die down; taper off; Opposite:;
increase
disarm (a bomb or similar (in military or espionage
weapon):"120 bombs were contexts) used euphemistically
neutralized" to refer to killing or
destruction:"counter-
intelligence programmes
designed to neutralize
individuals"
kill; assassinate; execute;
liquidate; eliminate; dispatch;
butcher; slaughter; massacre;
wipe out; mow down; slay;
put/do to death; cut to pieces
the legal right to demand
compensation or payment:"the bank
has recourse against the exporter for
losses incurred"

deny or contradict (a statement or

accusation):"a spokesman totally
refuted the allegation of bias"
deny; reject; repudiate; rebut;
contradict; gainsay; declare to be
untrue; Opposite:; accept
(of an artist or a work of art) recall (an
earlier work or style) in such a way as
to suggest a relationship with it:"the
photographs allude to Italian Baroque
painting"
call up; evoke; echo; bring to mind;
call to mind; put one in mind of;
summon up; conjure up; allude to

make (something) more marked or

intense:"urban policy initiatives
amplified social polarization"
escalate; step up; boost; increase;
raise; sharpen; strengthen; augment;
add to; concentrate; reinforce; pick
up; build up; heighten; deepen;
broaden; widen; extend; expand;
magnify; aggravate; exacerbate;
worsen; inflame; compound; gain
strength; make worse; Opposite:;
lessen; abate
involving a sudden and large-scale
alteration in state:"the body
undergoes catastrophic collapse
towards the state of a black hole"
disastrous; calamitous; tragic;
devastating; ruinous; terrible; violent;
awful; Opposite:; fortunate;
beneficial; relating to geological
catastrophism.
a word or object conferring authority
on or serving to authenticate the
speaker or holder:"you should have a
token that will stand you in good
stead if ever you should fall foul of
the prince's officers"

refrain from going to a place or

performing a duty:"those having fever
or a cold should abstain" · "the
protesting lawyers have decided to
abstain from work today"
keep away; withdraw; retire; take
one's leave; slip away; abscond; stay
away; be absent; remove oneself;
take oneself off; Opposite:; attend; be
present
keep (a hope or ambition) in one's
mind:"he had long cherished a secret
fantasy about his future"
harbour; have; possess; entertain;
retain; maintain; foster; nurture;
nurse; hold (on to); cling to; keep in
one's mind; Opposite:; abandon

reproduce the function or action of (a

different computer, software system,
etc.):"the adaptor is factory set to
emulate a Hercules graphics board"
involving very close connection:"their (of knowledge) detailed or
intimate involvement with their thorough:"an intimate
community" knowledge of the software"
detailed; thorough;
exhaustive; deep; in-depth;
profound; experienced;
personal; first-hand; direct;
immediate; Opposite:; scant
send someone or something suddenly
into a particular state or
condition:"they were precipitated
into a conflict for which they were
quite unprepared"

a statement or idea that shows great

knowledge or insight:"such well-
articulated profundities as ‘You're
some kinda woman.’"
acceptable and satisfactory, though (of a court or other body)
not outstanding:"she spoke quite accepted as having legal
competent French" authority to deal with a
adequate; acceptable; satisfactory; particular matter:"the London
reasonable; fair; decent; not bad; all Stock Exchange is the
right; average; tolerable; passable; competent authority under
moderate; middling; up to scratch; up the Financial Services Act"
to the mark; up to par; good enough; fit; fitted; equipped; suitable;
sufficiently good; Opposite:; suited; appropriate; qualified;
inadequate empowered; authorized;
Opposite:; unfit; biology;
medicine; capable of
performing the normal
function effectively.
(of a person) producing many
offspring:"and God said unto them,
Be fruitful and multiply" · "be happy,
be fruitful"
serving as a means to an end:"the
whole narration is subservient to the
moral plan of exemplifying twelve
virtues in twelve knights"
ancillary; subordinate; secondary;
supportive; instrumental;
contributory; conducive; helpful;
useful; advantageous; beneficial;
valuable
criticize strongly:"he assailed a group
of editors for their alleged excesses"
criticize; censure; attack; condemn;
castigate; chastise; berate; lambast;
lash; pillory; abuse; revile; rate; slash;
excoriate; objurgate; reprehend; find
fault with; give someone a bad press
completely remove (something
unpleasant) from one's mind or
memory:"she wanted to exorcise
some of the pain"
give way to (an overwhelming feeling,
especially laughter):"Anthony and
Mark subsided into mirth"
(of a work of art or literature) (of weapons or power) non-
following traditional forms and nuclear:"agreement on
genres:"conventional love poetry" reducing conventional forces
orthodox; traditional; established; in Europe"
accepted; received; mainstream;
prevailing; prevalent; accustomed;
customary; conservative;
traditionalist; conformist; bourgeois;
old-fashioned; formal; correct;
proper; decorous; staid; small-town;
suburban; parochial; narrow-minded;
bien pensant; comme il faut;
Biedermeier; of the old school;
Opposite:; unorthodox;
unconventional; radical; bohemian
exceeding what is reasonable or
appropriate; excessive or
elaborate:"extravagant claims about
the merchandise"
exorbitant; extortionate; excessive;
high; unreasonable; outrageous;
undue; extreme; inordinate;
unwarranted; unnecessary; needless;
disproportionate; too much;
immoderate; exaggerated; gushing;
gushy; unrestrained; unreserved;
effusive; fulsome; preposterous;
absurd; irrational; reckless; wild;
ornate; elaborate; decorated;
embellished; adorned; ornamented;
fancy; over-elaborate; fussy; busy;
ostentatious; overstated; showy;
baroque; rococo; florid; wedding-
cake; gingerbread; uncalled for;
Opposite:; reasonable; low;
moderate; plain
(of medical procedures) involving the
introduction of instruments or other
objects into the body or body
cavities:"minimally invasive surgery"
apply extra legal safeguards to (a right
guaranteed by legislation):"steady
progress was made in entrenching
the individual rights of noblemen"
(especially of metals or fuels) of a
kind not ordinarily encountered;
specially produced:"exotic chemicals
such as oil hydrocarbons"
the condition of being right,
appropriate, or fitting:"they
questioned the propriety of certain
investments made by the council"
correctness; rightness; fitness;
suitability; suitableness;
appropriateness; appropriacy;
aptness; morality; ethicality;
Opposite:; impropriety
characterized by success;
prosperous:"he was respectful to his
auspicious customers"
a feeling of resentment over
something believed to be wrong or
unfair:"he was nursing a grievance"
complaint; criticism; objection;
protestation; charge; protest;
grumble; moan; cavil; quibble;
problem; grudge; ill feeling;
resentment; bitterness; rancour;
pique; umbrage; plaint; hard feeling;
bad feeling; Opposite:;
commendation
a natural subgroup of a population, a group of cases of a disease,
used for statistical sampling or especially an infectious
analysis:"ten clusters from all the disease or type of cancer, that
primary health centres were occur close together in time or
selected" space:"clusters of the disease
have been reported, leading
to speculation about person-
to-person transmission"
a group of consonants
pronounced in immediate
succession, as str in strong.;
chemistry

think deeply and at length:"he sat have in view as a probable

morosely contemplating" intention:"he was
think (about); consider; dwell on; contemplating action for
chew over; weigh up; revolve; review; damages"
study; cerebrate; give thought to; give
consideration to; mull over; meditate
(on); muse (on); ponder (on/over);
reflect (on); deliberate (about/on);
ruminate (about/on/over); brood
(on/over); agonize (over); worry
(about); puzzle (over); speculate
about; turn over in one's mind; be in
a brown study; pore on
(of a person's eyes or expression) having or showing clear
reflecting an apparent ability to see insight:"the students asked
into another's mind; intense:"her some penetrating questions"
penetrating gaze" perceptive; insightful; keen;
observant; searching; intent; alert; sharp; sharp-witted; quick-
shrewd; perceptive; probing; piercing; witted; intelligent; clever;
sharp; keen smart; incisive; piercing; knife-
like; razor-edged; trenchant;
astute; shrewd; subtle; quick;
ready; clear; acute;
discriminating; percipient;
perspicacious; discerning;
sensitive; thoughtful;
penetrative; deep; profound;
inquiring; searching; probing;
inquisitive; analytic; in-depth;
Opposite:; dull
embody or represent (something) in a
faithful or appropriate way:"schools
should reflect cultural differences"
indicate; show; display; demonstrate;
register; reveal; betray; evince;
disclose; exhibit; manifest; express;
bespeak; communicate; bear out;
attest; prove; evidence; be evidence
of; result from

reduce (something) in extent or

quantity:"withering household
incomes have caused families to
retrench their spending"
reduce; cut; cut back; cut down; pare
prevent the dissemination of prevent or inhibit (a process
(information):"the report had been or reaction):"use of the drug
suppressed" suppressed the immune
censor; redact; conceal; hide; gag; response"
withhold; cover up; smother; stifle; psychoanalysis; consciously
muzzle; ban; mute; proscribe; outlaw; inhibit (an unpleasant idea or
keep secret; keep hidden; hush up; memory) to avoid considering
keep silent about; not disclose; not it.
breathe a word of; sweep under the
carpet; Opposite:; publicize; disclose
warn (someone) of something to be
avoided:"he admonished the people
against the evil of such practices"
cause (cells, tissue, structures, etc.) to
reproduce rapidly:"electromagnetic
radiation can only proliferate cancers
already present"
(of a negative feeling or a problem) (of a person) deteriorate
become worse or more intense, physically and mentally in
especially through long-term neglect isolated inactivity:"remand
or indifference:"below the surface, prisoners are left to fester in
the old antagonisms festered" our jails while they wait for
rankle; chafe; ferment; brew; trial"
smoulder; gnaw (at one's mind); eat
away at one's mind; cause bitterness;
cause resentment; cause vexation;
cause annoyance
make or show to be compatible:"the make someone accept (a
agreement had to be reconciled with disagreeable or unwelcome
the city's new international relations thing):"he was reconciled to
policy" leaving"
harmonize; square; synthesize; accept; come to terms with;
adjust; balance; attune; syncretize; make the best of; grin and
make compatible; make harmonious; bear it; come to accept; resign
make congruent; cause to be in oneself to; learn to live with;
agreement; cause to sit happily/easily get used to; submit to;
with; (reconcile someone to) accommodate oneself to;
adjust oneself to; become
accustomed to; acclimatize
oneself to
taking pains to do something carefully absolute (used to emphasize
and completely:"the British the degree of something,
authorities are very thorough" typically something
meticulous; scrupulous; assiduous; unwelcome or
conscientious; painstaking; unpleasant):"the child is being
punctilious; methodical; careful; a thorough nuisance"
attentive; diligent; industrious; utter; downright;
persevering; laborious; hard-working; thoroughgoing; absolute;
Opposite:; careless; BRITISH complete; total; out-and-out;
outright; real; perfect;
profound; proper;
consummate; all-out;
wholesale; surpassing; sheer;
rank; pure; unqualified;
unmitigated; full-bore; arrant;
right-down
consisting of material objects:"in
Scotland ‘goods’ includes all corporeal
movables except money"
spent or given in profusion:"lavish
praise"
abundant; copious; ample;
superabundant; plentiful; profuse;
liberal; prolific; generous; plenteous;
Opposite:; scant
the action of ramifying or the state of
being ramified:"a coronary angiogram
showed ramification of the right
coronary artery close to the ostium"
(of words or data) able to be omitted (of a component) not strictly
without loss of meaning or necessary to functioning but
function:"our peculiar affection for included in case of failure in
redundant phrases" · "most of the another component:"the
inflectional endings are redundant" modules are linked using a
redundant fibre-optic cable"
of an early period of art or culture,
especially the 7th–6th centuries bc in
Greece:"the archaic temple at
Corinth"
(of a system, organization, etc.) able uncompromising and
to withstand or overcome adverse forceful:"he took quite a
conditions:"the country's political robust view of my case"
system has continued to be robust in
spite of its economic problems"
tediously boring or monotonous:"a
libel trial is in large parts intensely
soporific"
sleep-inducing; somnolent; sedative;
calmative; tranquillizing; narcotic;
opiate; drowsy; sleepy; somniferous;
boring; dull; monotonous; hypnotic;
somnific; deadly dull; Opposite:;
invigorating

(of competition or opposition) putting

someone or something under
extreme pressure:"the past year has
been a stern test of the ability of
British industry"
used to emphasize the extent of
something bad or unwelcome:"the
concert was a cataclysmic failure"
the area or distance within which
something can be heard:"we were
always within sound of the train
whistles"
hearing; distance; earshot; range;
hearing distance
showing no results or achievements;
unproductive:"he scored yesterday to
end his barren spell"
unproductive; unfruitful;
unprofitable; unremunerative; arid;
hard; bad; difficult; tough;
impoverished; poverty-stricken;
moneyless; Opposite:; productive;
prosperous; archaic; (of a woman)
infertile.; Similar:; infertile; sterile;
childless; infecund; Opposite:; fertile;
(of a female animal) not pregnant or
unable to become so.
regard a quality or feature as
characteristic of or possessed
by:"ancient peoples attributed magic
properties to certain stones"
unmistakable; obvious:"frank
ulceration"
(of a physical state or property)
remaining after the removal of or
present in the absence of a causative
agent:"residual stenosis"
(of a soil or other deposit) formed in
situ by weathering.

(of a symptom or condition) heal or (with reference to a discord)

subside:"symptoms resolved after a pass or cause to pass into a
median of four weeks" concord during the course of
harmonic change:"dissonant
notes resolve conventionally
by rising or falling to form part
of a new chord" · "you would
not want to resolve a melodic
line on to the minor sixth
interval"
easily understood or appreciated:"an able to be reached, entered,
accessible account of his theories" or used by people who have a
understandable; comprehensible; disability:"features such as
intelligible; penetrable; fathomable; non-slip floors and accessible
graspable; approachable; easy to entrances"
understand; easy to appreciate;
Opposite:; incomprehensible
reduce the virulence of (a pathogenic
organism), especially when preparing
a vaccine:"the first live vaccine was
insufficiently attenuated and
produced a significant disease"
the offence of being disobedient to or
disrespectful of a court of law and its
officers:"when he was found to have
lied to the House this was a
contempt"
cause (someone) to deviate from an cause (something) to change
intended purpose:"she refused to be orientation:"the compass
deflected from anything she had set needle is deflected from
her mind on" magnetic north by metal in
the aircraft"
a statement or gesture indicating
contempt:"I met with scoffs, I met
with scorns"
insult; sneer; jibe; cut; shaft; affront;
slight
not based on a particular instance;
theoretical:"we have been discussing
the problem in a very abstract
manner"
theoretical; conceptual; notional;
intellectual; metaphysical;
philosophical; academic; hypothetical;
speculative; conjectural; conjectured;
suppositional; putative; suppositious;
ideational; suppositive; Opposite:;
actual; concrete; (of a noun) denoting
an idea, quality, or state rather than a
concrete object.
(with reference to gas, smoke, mist, divide (light) into constituents
or cloud) thin out or cause to thin out of different wavelengths:"the
and disappear:"the earlier mist had ability of a material to
dispersed" · "winds dispersed the disperse light by refraction"
radioactive cloud high in the
atmosphere"
dissipate; dissolve; fade away; vanish;
disappear; clear; lift; rise; be
dispelled; thin out; melt away; physics
verify the accuracy of something by inspect or examine
comparing it with (something thoroughly:"I checked through
else):"keep your receipt to check my notes"
against your statement" informal
lacking strength of character:"I know failing to convince or
it's feeble but I've never been one to impress:"a feeble excuse"
stand up for myself" ineffective; ineffectual;
cowardly; craven; faint-hearted; unsuccessful; inadequate;
spineless; spiritless; lily-livered; unconvincing; implausible;
chicken-livered; pigeon-hearted; unsatisfactory; poor; weak;
timid; timorous; fearful; unassertive; inept; tame; paltry; shallow;
soft; weak; ineffective; ineffectual; thin; flimsy; insubstantial;
inefficient; incompetent; inadequate; futile; useless; profitless;
indecisive; poor-spirited; Opposite:; fruitless; Opposite:; effective
brave; forceful
(in the past or in non-Christian
religions) disown or divorce (one's
wife):"Philip was excommunicated in
1095 because he had repudiated his
wife"
divorce; end one's marriage to;
Opposite:; marry
(in sport) the offence of expressing a statement by a judge giving
disagreement with the referee's reasons as to why he or she
decision:"he was sent off for dissent" disagrees with a decision
made by the other judges in a
court case:"he wasted no time
in cranking out nine majority
opinions, as well as three
dissents"

extract the essence of (something) by remove (a volatile constituent)

heating it with a solvent:"distil the of a mixture by heating:"coal
leaves of some agrimony" tar is made by distilling out
extract; squeeze out; express; draw the volatile products in coal"
out; take out; press out boil down; reduce;
concentrate; thicken;
compress; condense; purify;
refine; separate; rectify;
literary
(of a plant, animal, or cell) capable of (of a fetus or unborn child)
surviving or living successfully, able to live after birth:"what if
especially under particular the fetus were viable?"
environmental conditions:"the largest
and most viable population of this
endangered vetch" · "little of the
frozen semen has been viable when
thawed"
pine with love or grief:"she still assume a sentimentally tender
languished after Richard" or melancholy expression or
desire; want; carry a torch for; tone:"when a visitor comes in,
mourn; miss; archaic she smiles and languishes"
a rhetorical or literary device in which
an opposition or contrast of ideas is
expressed:"figures of speech such as
antithesis" · "his sermons were full of
startling antitheses"
regard a quality as belonging
to:"tough-mindedness is a quality
commonly ascribed to top bosses"
lay; pin; place; impose; fix; attribute
to; impute to; attach to; assign to;
allocate to; ascribe to
a large basket with a lid, used for
laundry:"a laundry hamper"
sell (a ticket) for an event at a price
higher than the official one:"he made
his fortune touting tickets"
peddle; sell; hawk; market; vend;
promote; talk up; push; flaunt;
advertise; publicize; puff; offer for
sale; give a puff to

defeat (a plan, aim, or hope):"we will overthrow (an enemy):"God

confound these tactics by the chose to use natural disorders
pressure groups" to confound Pharaoh and the
baffle; puzzle; perplex; bewilder; gods of Egypt"
mystify; bemuse; confuse; frustrate;
nonplus; throw; archaic
Definition 5
a group of atoms of the same
element, typically a metal, bonded
closely together in a
molecule:"noble-metal clusters
supported on an acidic carrier" · "a
cluster compound"
look at; take notice of:"check the
remix"
observe; survey; regard; inspect;
contemplate; look at; gaze at; take
note of
emanate as a vapour or in minute
drops:"she drew back from the
dank breath that distilled out of the
earth"
emanate; exude; drip; leak; trickle;
dribble; flow