Evaluation of Subtle Differences of 426 Selected Sets of Synonyms. A Total of 2307 Synonym Words
1.
Abolish, exterminate, extinguish, eradicate, obliterate. These verbs mean to get rid of.
2.
Abuse, misuse, mistreat, ill-treat, maltreat. These verbs mean to treat a person or thing
wrongfully, incorrectly, or harmfully.
3.
Acknowledge, admit, own, avow, confess, concede. These verbs mean to make a disclosure,
usually with reluctance or under pressure.
4.
Active, energetic, dynamic, vigorous, lively. These adjectives are compared as they mean
engaged in activity.
5.
Admonish, reprove, rebuke, reprimand, reproach. These verbs refer to adverse criticism
intended as a corrective or caution.
6.
Affect, influence, impress, touch, move, strike. These verbs are compared as they mean to
produce a mental or emotional effect.
7.
Agree, conform, harmonize accord, correspond, and coincide. These verbs all indicate a
compatible relationship between people or things.
8.
Alone, lonely, lonesome, solitary. These adjectives are compared as they describe lack of
companionship.
9.
Also, too, likewise, besides, moreover, furthermore. These adverbs indicate the presence of or
introduce something additional.
10.
Ambiguous, equivocal, obscure, recondite, abstruse, vague, cryptic, enigmatic. These adjectives
mean lacking clarity of meaning.
11.
Anger, rage, fury, ire, wrath, resentment, indignation. These nouns denote varying degrees of
marked displeasure.
12.
Annoy, irritate, bother, irk, vex, provoke, aggravate, peeve, rile. These verbs mean to disturb or
disquiet a person so as to evoke moderate anger.
13.
Answer, respond, reply, retort. These verbs relate to action taken in return to a stimulus.
14.
Anxiety, worry, care, concern, solicitude. These nouns are compared as they refer to troubled
states of mind.
15.
Appendage, appurtenance, adjunct, accessory, attachment. These nouns denote subordinate
elements that are added to another entity.
16.
Appreciate, value, prize, esteem, treasure, cherish. These verbs mean to have a favorable
opinion of someone or something.
17.
Apprehend, comprehend, understand, grasp. These verbs are compared as they denote
perception of the nature and significance of something.
18.
Approve, endorse, sanction, certify, accredit, ratify. These verbs mean to express a favorable
opinion or to signify satisfaction or acceptance.
19.
Area, region, belt, zone, district, locality. These nouns all denote extents of space, especially on
a surface, that can be differentiated from others by particular qualities or characteristics.
20.
view.
Argument, dispute, controversy. These nouns denote discussion involving conflicting points of
21.
Artifice, trick, ruse, wile, feint, stratagem, maneuver, dodge. These nouns are compared as they
denote means for achieving an end by indirection.
22.
Artificial, synthetic, ersatz, simulated. These adjectives are compared as they refer to what is
made by human beings rather than natural in origin.
23.
Ask, question, inquire, query, interrogate, examine, quiz. These verbs mean to seek information
from a person.
24.
Assent, agree, accede, acquiesce, consent, concur, subscribe. These verbs denote concurrence
with another's views, proposals, or actions.
25.
Assign, allot, apportion, allocate. These verbs mean to set aside or give out in portions or shares.
26.
Attack, bombard, assail, storm, assault, beset. These verbs mean to set upon, physically or
figuratively.
27.
Attribute, ascribe, impute, credit, assign, and refer. These verbs mean to consider as resulting
from, proper to, or belonging to a person or thing.
28.
Average, medium, mediocre, fair, middling, indifferent, tolerable. These adjectives indicate rank
or position around the middle of a scale of evaluation.
29.
Aware, cognizant, conscious, sensible, awake, alert, watchful, vigilant. These adjectives mean
mindful or heedful of something.
30.
Awkward, clumsy, maladroit, inept, gauche, ungainly. These adjectives mean lacking grace or
skill in movement, manner, or performance.
31.
Bad, evil, wicked. These adjectives are compared as they mean departing from moral or ethical
standards.
32.
Banish, exile, expatriate, deport, transport, extradite. These verbs mean to send away from a
country or state.
33.
Base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork. These nouns all pertain to what underlies and
supports.
34.
Bear, endure, stand, abide, suffer, tolerate. These verbs are compared in the sense of
withstanding or sustaining what is difficult or painful to undergo.
35.
Bearing, manner, demeanor, mien, presence. These nouns pertain to a person's behavior as it
reveals such distinctive personal qualities as his or her individuality or upbringing.
36.
Beautiful, lovely, pretty, handsome, comely, fair. All these adjectives apply to what excites
aesthetic admiration.
37.
Beg, crave, beseech, implore, entreat, importune. These verbs mean to make an earnest
request.
38.
Below, under, beneath, underneath. These adverbs denote the position, or status of people,
objects or places.
39.
Behavior, conduct, deportment. These nouns all pertain to a person's actions as they constitute
a means of evaluation by others.
40.
Beneficial, profitable, advantageous. These adjectives apply to what promotes benefit or gain.
41.
Blame, fault, guilt. These nouns are compared in the sense of responsibility for an offense.
42.
Blaze, flame, flare, flash, glare, incandescence, glow. These nouns denote bright light, especially
when it is a visible sign of combustion.
43.
Blemish, imperfection, fault, defect, flaw. All of these nouns denote loss or absence of
perfection.
44.
Boast, brag, crow, vaunt. These verbs all mean to speak with pride, often excessive pride, about
oneself or something, such as one's possessions, related to oneself.
45.
Body, corpse, carcass, cadaver. These nouns denote the physical organism of a person or an
animal.
46.
Boil, simmer, seethe, stew. These verbs refer to the state of liquid in cooking and to allegories of
people's state of mind.
47.
Bombast, rant, claptrap. All these nouns designate speech or writing marked by an extravagance
or affectation of style that the content does not warrant.
48.
Bonus, bounty, subsidy, premium, prize, reward, gratuity. Each of these nouns denotes a form of
extra payment.
49.
Border, margin, edge, verge, brink, rim, brim. All these nouns refer to the line or narrow area
that marks the outside limit of something such as a surface.
50.
Boring, monotonous, tedious, irksome, tiresome, humdrum. These adjectives refer to what is so
lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness.
51.
Boundary, border, frontier, limit. These nouns all denote a line or an area separating one piece
of territory from another.
52.
Breach, infraction, violation, transgression, trespass, infringement. These nouns denote an act
or instance of breaking a law or regulation or failing to fulfill a duty, obligation, or promise.
53.
Breach, infraction, violation, transgression, trespass, infringement. These nouns denote an act
or instance of breaking a law or regulation or failing to fulfill a duty, obligation, or promise.
54.
Break, crack, fracture, burst, split, splinter, shatter, smash. These verbs are compared as they
mean to separate or cause to separate into parts or pieces.
55.
Bright, brilliant, radiant, lustrous, luminous, incandescent. These adjectives refer to what emits
or reflects light.
56.
Brute, animal, brutish, brutal, beastly, bestial. These adjectives apply to what is more
characteristic of lower animals than of human beings.
57.
Bulwark, barricade, breastwork, earthwork, rampart, bastion, parapet. All of these nouns refer
literally to structures used as a defense against attack.
58.
Burdensome, onerous, oppressive, arduous, demanding, rigorous, exacting. These adjectives all
apply to what imposes a severe test of bodily or spiritual strength.
59.
Burn, scorch, singe, sear, char, parch. These verbs mean to injure or alter by means of intense
heat or flames
60.
Business, industry, commerce, trade, traffic. These nouns apply to forms of activity that have the
objective of supplying commodities.
61.
Calculate, compute, reckon, cipher, figure. These verbs refer to the determination of a result,
such as expense, through the use of mathematical methods.
62.
Calm, tranquil, placid, serene, peaceful. These adjectives denote absence of excitement or
disturbance.
63.
Caprice, whim, whimsy, vagary, freak. These nouns are compared as they denote an impulsive
or unexpected notion.
64.
Careless, heedless, thoughtless, inadvertent. These adjectives apply to what is marked by
insufficient care or attention.
65.
Caricature, burlesque, parody, travesty, satire, lampoon. These nouns denote artistic forms in
which someone or something is imitated in an amusing and generally critical manner.
66.
Cause, reason, occasion, antecedent. These nouns denote things or prior conditions that bring
about, or are associated with, certain effects.
67.
Chance, random, casual, haphazard, desultory. These adjectives apply to what is determined not
by deliberation or method but by accident.
68.
change, alter, vary, modify, transform, convert. These verbs mean to make or become different.
69.
chief, principal, main, leading, foremost, primary, prime. These adjectives refer to what is first in
rank or in importance.
70.
choose, select, elect, pick. These verbs mean to make a choice from a number of possibilities.
71.
circle, coterie, set, clique. These nouns denote a group of people sharing an interest or activity.
72.
clever, ingenious, shrewd. These adjectives are compared as they refer to mental adroitness or
to practical ingenuity and skill.
73.
coarse, gross, indelicate, vulgar, obscene, ribald. These adjectives apply to what is offensive to
accepted standards of decency, propriety, morality, or good taste.
74.
comfortable, cozy, snug, restful. These words mean affording ease of mind or body.
75.
command, order, bid, enjoin, direct, instruct, charge. These verbs mean to issue an instruction
that must be obeyed.
76.
commit, consign, entrust, confide, relegate. These verbs mean to give over to another for a
purpose such as care or safekeeping.
77.
common, ordinary, familiar, vulgar. These adjectives describe what is generally known or
frequently encountered.
78.
confidence, assurance, aplomb, self-confidence, self-possession. These nouns denote a feeling
of emotional security resulting from faith in oneself.
79.
confirm, corroborate, substantiate, authenticate, validate, verify. These verbs all mean to affirm
the truth, accuracy, or genuineness of something.
80.
conflict, contest, combat, fight. These nouns denote struggle between opposing forces for
victory or supremacy.
81.
conjecture, surmise, guess, speculate, infer. These verbs mean to reach a conclusion or
judgment on the basis of uncertain evidence.
82.
consider, deem, regard, account, reckon. These verbs refer to holding opinions or views that are
based on evaluation.
83.
conspiracy, plot, machination, collusion, intrigue, cabal. Each of these nouns denotes a secret
plan to achieve an evil or illegal end.
84.
contain, hold, accommodate. These verbs mean to have within or have the capacity for having
within.
85.
contemporary, contemporaneous, simultaneous, synchronous, concurrent, coincident,
concomitant. These adjectives mean existing or occurring at the same time.
86.
continual, continuous, constant, ceaseless, incessant, perpetual, eternal, perennial,
interminable. These adjectives are compared as they mean occurring over and over during a long period
of time.
87.
contract, condense, compress, constrict, shrink. These verbs mean to decrease in size or
content.
88.
contrary, balky, perverse, wayward, ornery. These adjectives mean given to acting in opposition
to others.
89.
convey, carry, bear, transport, transmit. These verbs are compared as they refer to the
movement of someone or something from one place to another.
90.
cool, composed, collected, unruffled, nonchalant, imperturbable, detached. These adjectives
apply to persons, their attitudes, their behavior, or their actions to indicate absence of excitement or
discomposure, especially in times of stress.
91.
correct, rectify, remedy, redress, reform, revise, amend. These verbs mean to make right what is
wrong
92.
couple, pair, brace, yoke. These nouns denote two individuals of the same kind together.
93.
criticize, blame, reprehend, censure, condemn, denounce. These verbs are compared as they
mean to express an unfavorable judgment.
94.
cruel, fierce, ferocious, barbarous, inhuman, savage, vicious. These adjectives mean showing a
disposition to inflict violence, pain, or hardship, or to find satisfaction in the suffering of others.
95.
cry, weep, wail, keen, whimper, sob, blubber. These verbs mean to make inarticulate sounds of
grief, unhappiness, or pain.
96.
culture, cultivation, breeding, refinement, taste. These nouns denote a personal quality resulting
from the development of intellect, manners, and aesthetic appreciation.
97.
curious, inquisitive, snoopy, nosy. These adjectives apply to persons who show a marked desire
for information or knowledge.
98.
danger, peril, hazard, risk. These nouns refer to exposure to harm or loss.
99.
dark, dim, murky, dusky, obscure, opaque, shady, shadowy. These adjectives indicate the
absence of light or clarity.
100.
dead, deceased, departed, extinct, lifeless, inanimate. These adjectives all mean without life.
101. decay, rot, putrefy, spoil, crumble, disintegrate, decompose. These verbs all refer to gradual
change resulting in destruction or dissolution.
102. deceive, betray, mislead, beguile, delude, dupe, hoodwink, bamboozle, double-cross. These
verbs mean to lead another into error, danger, or a disadvantageous position, for the most part by
underhand means.
103. decide, determine, settle, rule, conclude, resolve. These verbs are compared as they mean to
make or cause to make a decision.
104. decrease, lessen, reduce, dwindle, abate, diminish, subside. These verbs mean to become or
cause to become smaller or less.
105. decry, disparage, depreciate, derogate, belittle, minimize, downgrade. These verbs mean to
think, write, or speak of as being of little value or importance.
106. defeat, conquer, vanquish, beat, rout, subdue, subjugate, overcome. These verbs mean to get
the better of an adversary.
107. defend, protect, guard, preserve, shield, safeguard. These verbs mean to make or keep safe
from danger, attack, or harm.
108. degrade, abase, debase, demean, humble, humiliate. These verbs mean to deprive of selfesteem or self-worth.
109. delay, slow, retard, detain. These verbs mean to cause to be later or slower than expected or
desired.
110. deplete, drain, exhaust, impoverish, enervate. These verbs all mean to weaken severely by
removing something essential.
111. despair, hopelessness, desperation, despondency, discouragement. These nouns denote loss of
hope.
112. devote, dedicate, consecrate, pledge. These verbs are compared as they mean to give to a
particular end and especially to a higher purpose.
113.
dexterous, deft, adroit, handy, nimble. These adjectives refer to skill and ease in performance.
114. dialect, vernacular, jargon, lingo. These nouns denote forms of language that vary from the
standard.
115. dictatorial, authoritarian, dogmatic, imperious, overbearing. These adjectives mean asserting or
tending to assert one's authority or to impose one's will on other persons.
116. diction, wording, vocabulary, phraseology, phrasing. These nouns denote choice of words and
the way in which they are used.
117. difference, dissimilarity, unlikeness, divergence, variation, distinction, discrepancy. These nouns
refer to a lack of correspondence or agreement.
118. dirty, filthy, foul, nasty, squalid, grimy. These adjectives apply to what is unclean, impure, or
unkempt.
119. disaster, calamity, catastrophe, cataclysm. These nouns refer to an event having fatal or ruinous
results.
120. discord, strife, contention, dissension, conflict, clash, variance. These nouns are compared as
they mean a state of disagreement and disharmony.
121. discuss, argue, debate, dispute, contend. These verbs mean to talk with others in an effort to
reach agreement, to ascertain truth, or to convince.
122. disgrace, dishonor, shame, infamy, ignominy, disrepute, discredit. These nouns denote the
condition of being held in low regard.ace
123.
dishonest, lying, untruthful, deceitful. These adjectives mean lacking honesty or truthfulness.
124. disposition, temperament, character, personality, nature. These nouns refer to the combination
of qualities that identify a person.
125. distant, far, far-off, faraway, remote, removed. These adjectives mean apart from others in
space, time, or relationship.
126. distort, twist, deform, contort, warp. These verbs mean to change and spoil the form or
character of something
127. distribute, divide, dispense, dole, deal, ration. These verbs mean to give out in portions or
shares.
128. dominant, predominant, preponderant, paramount, preeminent. These adjectives mean
surpassing all others in power, influence, or position.
129.
eager, avid, keen, agog. These adjectives mean animated by or showing great interest or desire.
130. earthy, terrestrial, worldly, mundane, earthy. These adjectives all indicate relationship to the
earth, but are not always interchangeable.
131. easy, simple, facile, effortless, smooth, light. These adjectives mean requiring little effort or
posing little if any difficulty.
132.
eccentricity, idiosyncrasy, quirk. These nouns refer to peculiarity of behavior.
133. effect, consequence, result, outcome, upshot, sequel. These nouns denote something, such as
an occurrence, a situation, or a condition, that is brought about by a cause.
134. effort, exertion, endeavor, application, pains, trouble. These nouns refer to the expenditure of
physical or mental energy to accomplish something.
135.
eject, expel, evict, dismiss, oust. These verbs mean to put out by force.
136.
life.
elderly, old, aged, venerable. These adjectives are compared as they mean far along in years or
137. empty, vacant, blank, void, bare, barren. These adjectives describe what contains nothing and
inferentially lacks what it could or should have.
138. enmity, hostility, antagonism, animosity, rancor, antipathy. These nouns refer to the feeling or
expression of deep-seated ill will.
139. enormous, immense, huge, gigantic, colossal, mammoth, tremendous, stupendous, gargantuan,
vast. These adjectives describe what is extraordinarily large.
140. erase, expunge, efface, delete, cancel. These verbs mean to remove or invalidate something,
especially something recorded as by having been written down.
141. error, mistake, oversight. These nouns refer to what is not in accord with truth, accuracy, or
propriety.
142. escape, avoid, shun, eschew, evade, elude. These verbs mean to get or stay away from persons
or things.
143. estimate, appraise, assess, assay, evaluate, rate. These verbs mean to form a judgment of worth
or significance.
144.
etiquette, propriety, protocol, decorum. These nouns refer to codes governing correct behavior.
145. example, instance, case, illustration, sample, specimen. Each of these nouns refers to what is
representative of or serves to explain a larger group or class.
146. excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, immoderate, inordinate, extreme, unreasonable. These
adjectives mean exceeding a normal, usual, reasonable, or proper limit.
147. expect, anticipate, hope, await. These verbs are related in various ways to the idea of looking
ahead to something in the future.
148. explain, expound, explicate, interpret, construe. These verbs mean to make understandable the
nature or meaning of something.
149. extemporaneous, extemporary, extempore, impromptu, offhand, unrehearsed,
unpremeditated, ad-lib. These adjectives mean spoken, performed, done, or composed with little or no
preparation or forethought.
150. extrinsic, extraneous, foreign, alien. These adjectives mean not part of the essential nature of a
thing.
151. fair, just, equitable, impartial, unprejudiced, unbiased, objective, dispassionate. These adjectives
mean free from favoritism, self-interest, or bias in judgment.
152. faithful, loyal, true, constant, fast, steadfast, staunch. These adjectives mean adhering firmly
and devotedly to someone or something, such as a person, cause, or duty that elicits or demands one's
fidelity.
153. faithless, unfaithful, false, disloyal, traitorous, treacherous, perfidious. These adjectives mean
not true to duty or obligation.
154. familiar, close, intimate, confidential, chummy. These adjectives describe relationships marked
by intimacy
155. fanatic, zealot, enthusiast. These nouns denote persons who are ardently and usually
excessively devoted to a particular cause, subject, or activity.
156. fantastic, bizarre, grotesque, fanciful, exotic. These adjectives apply to what is very strange or
strikingly unusual.
157. fashion, style, mode, vogue. These nouns refer to a prevailing or preferred manner of dress,
adornment, behavior, or way of life at a given time.
158. fast, rapid, swift, fleet, speedy, quick, hasty, expeditious. These adjectives refer to something,
such as activity or movement, marked by great speed.
159. fat, obese, corpulent, fleshy, portly, stout, pudgy, rotund, plump, chubby. These adjectives
mean having an abundance and often an excess of flesh.
160.
fatal, deadly, mortal, lethal. These adjectives apply to what causes or is likely to cause death.
161.
fault, failing, weakness, vice. These nouns denote an imperfection or deficiency of character
162. favorable, propitious, auspicious, benign, conducive. These adjectives describe what is indicative
of a successful outcome.
163. fear, fright, dread, terror, horror, panic, alarm, dismay, consternation, trepidation. These nouns
all denote the agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger.
164. feeling, emotion, passion, sentiment. These nouns refer to complex and usually strong
subjective human response, such as love or hate.
165. feminine, female, womanly, womanish, effeminate, ladylike. These adjectives mean "of, relating
to, characteristic of, or appropriate to women."
166. flagrant, glaring, gross, egregious, rank. These adjectives refer to what is conspicuously bad or
offensive.
167. flash, gleam, glance, glint, sparkle, glitter, glisten, shimmer, glimmer, twinkle, scintillate. These
verbs mean to send forth light.
168.
follow, succeed, ensue, result. These verbs mean to come after something or someone.
169. foolish, silly, fatuous, absurd, preposterous, ridiculous, ludicrous. These adjectives are applied to
what is so devoid of wisdom or good sense as to be laughable.
170.
forgetful, unmindful, oblivious. These adjectives refer to inability or failure to remember.
171. form, figure, shape, configuration, contour, profile. These nouns refer to the external outline of
a thing.
172.
fragile, breakable, delicate, brittle. These adjectives mean easily broken or damaged.
173. frank, candid, outspoken, straightforward, open. These adjectives mean revealing or disposed to
reveal one's thoughts freely and honestly.
174. freedom, liberty, license. These nouns refer to the power to act, speak, or think without
externally imposed restraints.
175. gather, collect, assemble, congregate, accumulate, amass. These verbs mean to bring or come
together in a group or mass.
176. glum, gloomy, morose, dour. These adjectives mean having a broodingly cheerless aspect or
disposition.
177. grand, magnificent, imposing, stately, majestic, august, grandiose. These adjectives mean
strikingly large in size, scope, or extent.
178. grant, vouchsafe, concede, accord, award. These verbs mean to give as a favor, prerogative, or
privilege.
179. habit, practice, custom, usage, use, wont. These nouns denote patterns of behavior established
by continual repetition.
180. hard, difficult, arduous. These adjectives are compared as they mean requiring great physical or
mental effort to do, achieve, or master.
181. hateful, detestable, odious, obnoxious, offensive, repellent. These adjectives, which are often
interchangeable, describe what elicits or deserves strong dislike, distaste, or revulsion.
182. healthy, sound, wholesome, hale, robust, well, hardy, vigorous. These adjectives are compared
as they mean being in or indicative of good physical or mental health.
183. heavy, weighty, hefty, massive, ponderous, cumbersome. These adjectives mean having a
relatively great weight.
184. help, aid, assist. These verbs mean to contribute to the fulfillment of a need, the furtherance of
an effort, or the achievement of a purpose or end.
185.
hesitate, vacillate, waver, falter. These verbs mean to be uncertain, irresolute, or indecisive.
186. hide, conceal, secrete, cache, screen, bury, cloak. These verbs mean to keep from the sight or
knowledge of others.
187.
hole, hollow, cavity, pocket. These nouns refer to an unfilled or empty space.
188. honesty, honor, integrity. These nouns denote the quality of being upright in principle and
action.
189. honor, homage, reverence, veneration, deference. These nouns denote admiration, respect, or
esteem accorded to another as a right or as due
190. ideal, model, example, standard, pattern. These nouns refer to someone or something worthy
of imitation or duplication.
191. ignorant, uneducated, untaught, unlearned, untutored, unlettered, illiterate. These adjectives
mean lacking in knowledge or education.
192. imagination, fancy, fantasy. These nouns refer to the power of the mind to form images,
especially of what is not present to the senses.
193. imitate, copy, mimic, ape, parody, simulate. These verbs mean to follow something or someone
taken as a model.
194. immediately, instantly, forthwith, directly, promptly, presently. These adverbs mean with little
or no delay. They are arranged in approximate order of intensity.
195. importance, consequence, moment, significance, import, weight. These nouns refer to the state
or quality of being significant, influential, or worthy of note or esteem.
196. improve, better, help, ameliorate. These verbs mean to advance to a more desirable, valuable,
or excellent state.
197. inactive, idle, inert, passive, dormant. These adjectives mean not involved in or disposed to
activity.
198. include, comprise, comprehend, embrace, involve. These verbs mean to take in or contain as
part of something larger.
199. inconsistent, incongruous, incompatible, discordant, uncongenial, discrepant. These adjectives
mean being in marked disagreement.
200. increase, expand, enlarge, extend, augment, multiply. These verbs mean to make or become
greater or larger.
201. indifferent, unconcerned, incurious, detached, uninterested. These adjectives mean marked by
an absence of interest.
202. infinite, limitless, illimitable, boundless, measureless, eternal, innumerable, numberless,
countless. These adjectives are applicable to what does not have known limits or boundaries.
203. inflexible, inexorable, adamant. These adjectives mean not capable of being swayed or diverted
from a course.
204.
injure, harm, hurt, damage, impair, mar, spoil. These verbs mean to affect detrimentally.
205. injustice, injury, wrong, grievance. These nouns denote acts or conditions that cause people to
suffer hardship or loss undeservedly.
206. innate, inborn, inbred, congenital, hereditary. These adjectives mean existing in a person or
thing from birth or origin.
207. insanity, lunacy, madness, mania, dementia. These nouns denote conditions of serious mental
disability.
208. insubordinate, rebellious, mutinous, factious, seditious. These adjectives mean in opposition to
and usually in defiance of established authority.
209. intelligent, bright, brilliant, knowing, quick-witted, smart, intellectual. These adjectives mean
having or showing mental keenness.
210. intention, intent, purpose, goal, end, aim, object, objective. These nouns refer to what one
intends to do or achieve.
211. interfere, meddle, tamper. These verbs are compared as they mean to put oneself forward and
intervene in the affairs of others when unasked to do so and often in an impudent or indiscreet manner.
212. join, combine, unite, link, connect, relate, associate. These verbs mean to fasten or affix or
become fastened or affixed.
213. joke, jest, witticism, quip, sally, crack, wisecrack, gag. These nouns refer to something that is
said or done in order to evoke laughter or amusement.
214. jolly, jovial, merry, blithe. These adjectives mean feeling, showing, or marked by good humor
and high spirits
215. judge, arbitrator, arbiter, referee, umpire. These nouns denote persons who make decisions
that determine points at issue.
216. kind, kindly, kindhearted, benign, benevolent. These adjectives apply to persons and their
actions and mean having or showing a tender, considerate, and helping nature.
217. latent, dormant, quiescent. These adjectives mean present or in existence but not active or
manifest.
218. lawyer, attorney, counselor, counsel, barrister, solicitor. These nouns denote persons who
practice law.
219.
flesh.
lean, spare, skinny, scrawny, lank, lanky, rawboned, gaunt. These adjectives mean lacking excess
220.
like, love, enjoy, relish, fancy, dote. These verbs mean to be attracted to or to find agreeable.
221. level, flat, even, plane, smooth, flush. These adjectives are applicable to surfaces without
irregularities in the form of elevations or depressions.
222. lift, raise, rear, elevate, hoist, heave, boost. These verbs mean to move something from a lower
to a higher level or position.
223.
like, love, enjoy, relish, fancy, dote. These verbs mean to be attracted to or to find agreeable.
224. likeness, similarity, similitude, resemblance, analogy, affinity. These nouns denote agreement or
conformity, as in character, nature, or appearance between persons or things.
225. limit, restrict, confine, circumscribe. These verbs mean to establish or keep within specified
bounds.
226. livelihood, living, subsistence, sustenance, maintenance, support, keep. These nouns denote the
means needed to provide the necessities of life.
227.
living, alive, live, animate, animated, vital. These adjectives mean possessed of or exhibiting life.
228. love, affection, devotion, fondness, infatuation. These nouns denote feelings of warm personal
attachment or strong attraction to another person.
229. lure, entice, inveigle, decoy, tempt, seduce. These verbs mean to lead or attempt to lead into a
wrong or foolish course, as of action.
230. magic, black magic, sorcery, voodoo, witchcraft. Magic is the most inclusive of these related
nouns; it pertains to all supposedly supernatural powers that affects events, but is often used broadly in
the sense of that which seems to transcend rational explanation.
231. male, masculine, manlike, manly, virile, mannish. These adjectives mean of, relating to,
characteristic of, or appropriate to men.
232. malign, defame, vilify, slander, libel. These verbs mean to make evil, harmful, often untrue
statements about another.
233. meager, spare, sparse, skimpy, scanty, scant. These adjectives mean lacking in quantity, fullness,
or extent.
234. mean, low, base, abject, ignoble, sordid. These adjectives mean lacking in the elevation or
dignity or falling short of the standards befitting human beings.
235. mediation, conciliation, arbitration. Mediation denotes only intervention in a dispute with intent
to settle it equitably, but generally implies a favorable result.
236.
melt, fuse, liquefy, thaw. These verbs mean to change or cause to change into a liquid.
237. memory, remembrance, recollection, reminiscence. These nouns denote the act or an instance
of remembering, or something remembered.
238. mercy, leniency, clemency, charity. These nouns mean kind, forgiving, or sympathetic and
humane treatment of or disposition toward others.
239. method, system, routine, manner, mode, fashion, way. These nouns refer to the plans or
procedures followed to accomplish a task or attain a goal
240. misfortune, adversity, mishap, mischance. These nouns all refer to a state or an instance of ill
fortune or bad luck.
241. mind, intellect, intelligence, brain, wit, reason. These nouns denote the faculty of thinking,
reasoning, and acquiring and applying knowledge.
242. mix, blend, mingle, coalesce, merge, amalgamate, fuse. These verbs mean to put into or come
together in one mass so that constituent parts or elements are diffused or commingled.
243.
mood, humor, temper. These nouns refer to a temporary state of mind or feeling.
244.
moment, instant, minute, second, jiffy, flash. These nouns denote a brief interval of time.
245. moral, ethical, virtuous, righteous. These adjectives mean in accord with principles or rules of
right or good conduct.
246. moving, stirring, poignant, touching, pathetic, affecting. These adjectives mean arousing or
capable of arousing deep, usually somber emotion.
247.
multitude, host, legion, army. These nouns all denote a very great number of people or things.
248. musical comedy, revue, operetta, light opera, vaudeville. A musical comedy differs from a revue
principally in having a plot. comedy
249. naïve, simple, ingenuous, unsophisticated, natural, unaffected, guileless, artless. These
adjectives mean free from guile, cunning, or sham.
250. name, designation, denomination, title. These nouns all denote the word or words by which
someone or something is called and identified.
251. nation, state, commonwealth, country, land, people, race, folk. Nation primarily signifies a
political body rather than a physical territory ---the citizens united under one independent government,
without close regard for their origins; secondarily it denotes institutional ties, a community of economic
and cultural interests.
252. native, indigenous, endemic, aboriginal. These adjectives mean of, belonging to, or connected
with a specific place or country by virtue of birth or origin.
253. neat, tidy, trim, shipshape, spick-and-span, spruce. These adjectives mean marked by good
order and cleanliness.
254. necessary, essential, vital, indispensable, requisite, required, perquisite, necessitous, needy,
needful. These adjectives describe conditions in which something essential is required or wanted; they
also refer to that which is required or wanted.
255. need, necessity, requisite. These nouns denote a condition in which something essential is
required or wanted; they also refer to that which is required or wanted.
256. neutralize, negate, nullify, counteract. These verbs mean to make something ineffective by or as
if by applying an opposite or counterbalancing force.
257. new, fresh, novel, newfangled, original. These adjectives describe what has existed for only a
short time, has only lately come into use, or has only recently arrived at a state or position, as of
prominence.
258. nimble, agile, quick, brisk, facile, spry. These adjectives mean moving, performing, or done
quickly, lightly, and adroitly
259. noise, din, racket, uproar, pandemonium, hullabaloo, hubbub, clamor, babel. These nouns refer
to loud, confused, or disagreeable sound or sounds. .
260. normal, regular, natural, typical. These adjectives mean not deviating from what is common,
usual, or to be expected.
261. nullify, negate, abolish, annul, void, invalidate, abrogate, cancel, repeal, revoke, rescind. These
verbs mean to make ineffective, change or eliminate written rules or papers.
262. obedient, biddable, compliant, acquiescent, submissive, docile, amenable, tractable. These
adjectives mean carrying or willing to carry out the orders, requests, or wishes of another.
263. object, protest, kick, demur, remonstrate, expostulate. These verbs mean to express opposition
to something, most often by presenting arguments against it.
264. obligation, responsibility, duty. These nouns refer to a course of action that is demanded of a
person, as by law or conscience.
265. observe, keep, celebrate, commemorate, solemnize. These verbs are compared as they mean to
give proper heed to or show proper reverence for something, such as a rule, custom, or holiday.
266. obstinate, stubborn, headstrong, stiff-necked, bullheaded, pigheaded, mulish, dogged. These
adjectives are compared as they mean tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to
yield.
267. occurrence, happening, event, incident, episode, circumstance. These nouns all refer to
something that takes place or comes to pass.
268. offense, crime, sin, error. These nouns are related in denoting a violation or an infraction of a
moral, social, or legal code.
269. offer, proffer, tender, present. These verbs are compared as they mean to put before another
for acceptance or rejection.
270. old, ancient, archaic, obsolete, antique, antiquated. These adjectives describe what belongs to
or dates from an earlier time or period.
271. opinion, view, sentiment, feeling, belief, conviction, persuasion. These nouns signify something
a person believes or accepts as being sound or true.
272. opportunity, occasion, opening, chance, break. All these nouns refer to a favorable or
advantageous circumstance or combination of circumstances.
273. opposite, contrary, antithetical, contradictory. These adjectives mean marked by a natural or
innate and irreconcilable opposition.
274. orderly, methodical, systematic. These adjectives mean proceeding in or observant of a
prescribed pattern or arrangement.
275.
origin, inception, source, root. These nouns signify the point at which something originates.
276. ornate, florid, flamboyant, baroque, rococo. These adjectives mean elaborately, often
excessively ornamented.
277.
outlive, outlast, survive. These verbs mean to exist longer than another person or thing.
278. outrageous, flagrant, atrocious, monstrous. These adjectives mean grievously or conspicuously
bad or appalling; the terms are often used interchangeably.
279. Pacify, mollify, conciliate, appease, placate. These verbs all refer to allaying another's anger,
belligerence, discontent, or agitation.
280. Pamper, indulge, humor, spoil, coddle, mollycoddle, baby. These verbs all mean to cater
excessively to someone or to his or her desires or feelings.
281. Pathetic, pitiful, pitiable, piteous, lamentable. These adjectives describe one that inspires or
deserves pity.
282. Patience, long-suffering, resignation, forbearance. These nouns all denote the capacity to
endure hardship, difficulty, or inconvenience without complaint.
283. Perceptible, palpable, appreciable, noticeable, discernible. These adjectives apply to what is
capable of being apprehended with the mind or through the senses as being real.
284. Perform, execute, accomplish, achieve effect, fulfill, and discharge. These verbs signify to carry
through to completion.
285.
Period, epoch, era, age, term. These nouns refer to a portion or length of time.
286. Periodic, sporadic, intermittent, occasional, fitful. These adjectives all mean recurring or
reappearing now and then.
287. Perseverance, persistence, tenacity. Each of these nouns means steadfast singleness of purpose,
as in the pursuit of a goal, despite difficulties or obstacles.
288. Persuade, induce, prevail, convince. These verbs are compared as they mean to succeed in
causing a person to do or consent to something.
289. Phase, aspect, facet, angle, side. These nouns refer to a particular or possible way of viewing
something, such as an object, a situation, or a process.
290. Pity, compassion, commiseration, sympathy, condolence, empathy. These nouns signify
sympathetic, kindly concern aroused by the misfortune, affliction, or suffering of another.
291. Pleasure, enjoyment, delight, joy. These nouns denote a pleasant feeling, as of happiness or
personal satisfaction, evoked by something that is to one's liking
292. Ponder, meditate, deliberate, ruminate, mull, muse. These verbs mean to consider something
carefully and at length.
293. Possible, workable, practicable, feasible, viable. These nouns denote whether events are able or
likely to occur.
294.
praise, acclaim, commend, extol, laud. These verbs mean to express approval or admiration.
295. Predicament, plight, quandary, jam, fix, pickle. These nouns all refer to a situation from which it
is difficult to free oneself.
296.
fact.
Presume, presuppose, assume. These verbs signify to take something for granted or as being a
297. Pretend, assume, affect, simulate, feign, fake, counterfeit. These verbs all mean to take on a
false or misleading appearance.
298. Prevailing, prevalent, current, rife. These adjectives denote what exists or is encountered
generally at a particular time.
299. Prevent, preclude, avert, obviate, forestall. These verbs mean to stop or hinder something from
happening, especially by advance planning or action.
300. Price, charge, cost, expense. These nouns signify an amount given or asked for in payment for
goods or services.
301.
Prone, supine, prostrate, recumbent. These adjectives mean lying down, as on the ground.
302. Proportion, harmony, symmetry, balance. These nouns are compared as they mean aesthetic
arrangement, as in a design, marked by proper distribution of elements.
303. Proud, arrogant, haughty, disdainful, supercilious. These adjectives mean filled with or marked
by a high opinion of oneself and disdain for what one views as being unworthy.
304. Provoke, incite, excite, stimulate, arouse, rouse, stir. These verbs are compared in the sense of
moving a person to action or feeling or summoning something into being by moving a person in this
way.
305. Prudence, discretion, foresight, forethought, circumspection. These nouns are compared as they
refer to the exercise of good judgment and common sense, especially in the conduct of practical
matters.
306. Pulsate, pulse, beat, palpitate, throb. These verbs mean to exhibit recurrent rhythmical
movements of or like those involved in the periodic expansion and contraction of the heart.
307. Punish, correct, chastise, discipline, castigate, penalize. These verbs mean to subject a person to
a penalty, such as loss, pain, or confinement, for an offense, a sin, or a fault.
308. Puzzle, perplex, mystify, bewilder, confound. These verbs mean to cause bafflement or
confusion.
309. Quality, property, attribute, character, trait. These nouns all signify a feature that distinguishes
or identifies someone or something.
310. Qualm, scruple, compunction, misgiving. These nouns denote a feeling of uncertainty about the
fitness or correctness of an action.
311. Reach, achieve, attain, gain, compass. All of these verbs mean to succeed in arriving at a goal or
an objective
312. Real, actual, true, existent. These adjectives are compared as they mean not imaginary but
having verifiable existence.
313. Reason, intuition, understanding, judgment. These nouns refer to the intellectual faculty by
means of which human beings seek or attain knowledge or truth.
314. Reckless, rash, foolhardy, temerarious. These adjectives are compared as they mean given to or
marked by unthinking boldness.
315. Recoil, blench, shrink, flinch. These verbs all mean to draw back involuntarily, as through fright,
timidity, or abhorrence.
316. Recover, regain, recoup, retrieve. These verbs all mean to get back what has been lost or taken
away.
317. Refuse, decline, reject, spurn, rebuff. These verbs all mean to be unwilling to accept, consider,
or receive someone or something.
318. Regard, esteem, admiration, respect. These nouns refer to a feeling based on perception of and
a measure of approval for the worth of a person or thing
319. Regret, sorrow, grief, anguish, woe, heartache, heartbreak. All of these nouns denote mental
distress.
320. Relieve, allay, alleviate, assuage, lighten, mitigate. All of these verbs mean to make something
less severe or more bearable.
321. Religious, devout, pious, sanctimonious. These adjectives mean having or showing a belief in
and veneration for God or a divine power, especially as it is reflected in the practice of religion.
322. Relinquish, yield, resign, abandon, surrender, cede, waive, renounce. These verbs have in
common the sense of letting something go or giving something up.
323. Rely, trust, depend, reckon. These verbs share the meaning "to place or have faith or confidence
in someone or something".
324. remainder, rest, balance, residue, remnant, leavings, remains. These nouns are compared as
they denote what is left after a part has been used or subtracted.
325. reparation, redress, amends, restitution, indemnity. All of these nouns refer to something given
in compensation for loss, suffering, or damage.
326. replace, supplant, supersede. These verbs are compared as they mean to turn someone or
something out and place another in his, her, or its stead.
327. restrain, curb, check, bridle, inhibit. These verbs are compared as they mean to hold back or
keep under control.
328. return, revert, recur. These verbs refer to coming or going back, as to a place, position, or
condition.
329. reveal, expose, disclose, divulge, betray. These verbs signify to make known what has been or
ought to be kept from the knowledge of others.
330. reverse, invert, transpose. These verbs are compared as they mean to change to the opposite
position, direction, or course.
331. rhythm, meter, cadence. These nouns are compared as they denote the regular patterned ebb
and rise of accented and unaccented sounds, especially in music, speech, or verse.
332. right, privilege, prerogative, birthright. These nouns apply to something, such as a power or
possession, to which one has an established claim.
333. rise, ascend, climb, soar, tower, mount, surge. These verbs are compared as they mean to move
upward from a lower to a higher position.
334.
rival, compete, vie, emulate. These verbs mean to seek to equal or surpass another.
335. rob, burglarize, filch, pilfer, plunder, loot, ransack, steal, thieve. All these verbs mean to take
property from another or valuables from a place.
336. rough, harsh, jagged, rugged, uneven. These adjectives apply to what is not smooth but has a
coarse, irregular surface.
337. rural, rustic, pastoral. These adjectives all mean of or typical of the country as distinguished
from the city.
338. , melancholy, sorrowful, doleful, woebegone, desolate. These adjectives all mean affected with
or marked by unhappiness, as that caused by affliction.
339. sarcastic, ironic, caustic, satirical, sardonic. These adjectives mean having or marked by a feeling
of bitterness and a biting or cutting quality.
340. save, rescue, reclaim, redeem, deliver. These verbs are compared in the sense of freeing a
person or thing from danger, evil, confinement, or servitude.
341. saying, maxim, adage, saw, motto, epigram, proverb, aphorism. These nouns refer to concise
verbal expressions setting forth wisdom or a truth.
342. scatter, disperse, dissipate, dispel. These verbs are compared as they mean to cause a mass or
an aggregate to separate and go in different directions.
343.
scream, shriek, screech. These verbs mean to make or give voice to a loud, piercing sound.
344. secret, stealthy, clandestine, furtive, surreptitious, underhand. These adjectives apply to what is
purposely concealed from view or knowledge.
345. see, behold, note, notice, observe, contemplate, survey, view, perceive, discern, remark. These
verbs refer to being or becoming visually or mentally aware of something.
346. sensuous, sensual, luxurious, epicurean. These adjectives mean of, given to, or furnishing
satisfaction of the senses.
347. separate, divide, part, sever, sunder, divorce. These verbs are compared as they mean to
become or cause to become parted, disconnected, or disunited.
348. series, succession, progression, sequence, chain, train, string. These nouns denote a number of
things placed or occurring one after the other.
349. serious, sober, grave, solemn, earnest, sedate, staid. These adjectives are compared as they
refer to the manner, appearance, disposition, or acts of persons and mean absorbed or marked by
absorption in thought, pressing concerns, or significant work.
350. shameless, brazen, barefaced, brash, impudent, unblushing. These adjectives apply to people
and personal behavior that are in defiance of social or moral proprieties and are marked by a bold lack
of shame.
351. sharp, keen, acute. These adjectives all apply literally to fine edges, points, or tips: a sharp knife;
a keen blade; a leaf with an acute end. Figuratively they indicate mental alertness and clarity of
comprehension.
352.
shoal, reef, bar, bank. These nouns have reference to elevation of ground under water.
353. shelter, cover, retreat, refuge, asylum, sanctuary. These nouns refer to places affording
protection, as from danger, or to the state of being protected.
354.
show, display, expose, parade, exhibit, flaunt. These verbs mean to present something to view.
355. shrewd, sagacious, astute, perspicacious. These adjectives mean having or showing keen
awareness, sound judgment, and often resourcefulness, especially in practical matters.
356.
sick, ill, indisposed, unwell. These adjectives describe persons not in good health.
357. sign, badge, mark, token, symptom, note. These nouns are compared as they denote an
outward indication of the existence or presence of something not immediately evident.
358. silent, reticent, reserved, taciturn, secretive, uncommunicative, tightlipped. These adjectives
describe people who are sparing with speech.
359. sincere, unaffected, unfeigned, wholehearted, hearty, heartfelt. These adjectives mean genuine,
honest, and devoid of hypocrisy or pretense.
360. single, sole, unique, solitary, lone, separate. These adjectives are compared as they signify being
one in number.
361. sinister, baleful, malign. These adjectives apply to what is indicative of or threatens great harm,
disaster, or evil.
362. slide, slip, glide, coast, skid, slither. These verbs mean to move smoothly and continuously over
or as if over a slippery surface.
363. sloppy, slovenly, unkempt, slipshod. These adjectives apply to people, their appearance, their
way of thinking, or their work and mean marked by an absence of due or proper care or attention.
364. slow, dilatory, leisurely, laggard, deliberate. These adjectives mean taking more time than is
usual or necessary.
365. sly, cunning, tricky, crafty, wily, foxy, artful, guileful. These adjectives mean disposed to or
marked by indirection or deviousness in the gaining of an end.
366. smile, grin, simper, smirk. These nouns denote facial expressions, as those indicating
amusement, in which the mouth is curved upward slightly at the corners.
367.
solitude, isolation, seclusion, retirement. These nouns denote the state of being alone.
368. speed, hurry, hasten, quicken, accelerate, precipitate. These verbs mean to proceed or cause to
proceed rapidly or more rapidly.
369. spontaneous, impulsive, instinctive, involuntary, automatic. These adjectives mean acting,
reacting, or happening without apparent forethought, prompting, or planning.
370.
stammer, stutter. These verbs apply to hesitant, stumbling, or halting speech.
371. state, condition, situation, status. These nouns denote the mode of being or form of existence of
a person or thing.
372. stay, remain, wait, abide, tarry, linger, sojourn. These verbs mean to continue to be in a given
place.
373. Stiff, rigid, inflexible, inelastic, tense. These adjectives are compared as they describe what is
very firm and does not easily bend or give way.
374. Still, quiet, silent, noiseless, soundless. These adjectives mean marked by or making no sound,
noise, or movement.
375. Steady, even, equable, uniform, constant. These adjectives mean marked by lack of variation or
change.
376. Steal, purloin, filch, snitch, pilfer, cop, hook, swipe, lift, pinch. These verbs mean to take
another's property wrongfully, often surreptitiously.
377. sterile, infertile, barren, unfruitful, impotent. These adjectives in literal usage mean not
producing or unable to produce offspring; figuratively they suggest a lack of productiveness.
378. strange, peculiar, odd, queer, quaint, outlandish, singular, eccentric, curious. These adjectives
describe what deviates from the usual or customary.
379. Stingy, close, close-fisted, niggardly, penny-pinching, miserly, parsimonious, penurious, tight,
tightfisted. These adjectives mean reluctant or marked by reluctance to spend money or part with
possessions.
380. Strong, stout, sturdy, tough, stalwart, tenacious. These adjectives are compared as they mean
having or showing vigor, durability, or power of body or spirit.
381. Stupid, slow, dumb, dull, obtuse, dense. These adjectives mean lacking or marked by a lack of
intellectual acuity.
382. Subject, matter, topic, theme. These nouns denote the principal idea or point of a speech, a
piece of writing, or an artistic work
383. suggest, imply, hint, intimate, insinuate. These verbs mean to convey thoughts or ideas by
indirection.
384.
summit, peak, pinnacle, acme, apex, zenith, climax. These nouns all mean the highest point.
385.
superficial, shallow, cursory. These adjectives mean lacking in depth or thoroughness.
386. sure, certain, confident, positive. These adjectives are compared as they mean feeling or
showing no doubt.
387. surprise, astonish, amaze, astound, dumbfound, flabbergast. These verbs mean to affect a
person strongly as being unexpected or unusual.
388. surrender, submission, capitulation. These nouns denote the act of giving up one's person, one's
possessions, or people under one's command to the authority, power, or control of another.
389. swing, oscillate, sway, rock, vibrate, fluctuate, undulate, waver. These verbs mean to move in a
back-and-forth, up-and-down, or to-and-fro pattern.
390. tact, diplomacy, savoir-faire. These nouns denote the ability to deal with others with skill,
sensitivity, and finesse.
391. talkative, loquacious, garrulous, voluble, verbose, glib. These adjectives mean having or marked
by an inclination to talk.
392.
task, job, chore, stint, assignment. These nouns denote a piece of work that one must do.
393.
skill.
teach, instruct, educate, train, school, discipline, drill. These verbs mean to impart knowledge or
394.
tear, rip, rend, split, cleave. These verbs mean to separate or pull apart by force.
395. temerity, audacity, effrontery, nerve, cheek, gall. These nouns refer to striking, often aggressive
boldness.
396. tendency, trend, current, drift, tenor, inclination. These nouns are compared as they refer to the
direction or course of an action or a thought.
397. throw, cast, hurl, fling, pitch, toss, sling. These verbs mean to propel something through the air
with a motion of the hand or arm.
398. tire, weary, fatigue, exhaust, jade. These verbs mean to cause or undergo depletion of strength,
energy, spirit, interest, or patience.
399. tool, instrument, implement, utensil, appliance. These nouns refer to devices used in the
performance of work.
400. trace, vestige, track, trail. These nouns denote a visible sign or perceptible indication of the
passage or former presence of something.
401. trite, hackneyed, shopworn, stereotyped, threadbare, stale, banal. These adjectives describe
something, such as writing or speech that lacks appeal or power because it lacks freshness.
402. trivial, trifling, paltry, petty, picayune. These adjectives all apply to what is small and
unimportant.
403. trust, faith, confidence, reliance, dependence. These nouns denote a feeling of certainty that a
person or thing will not fail.
404.
truth, veracity, verity. These nouns refer to the quality of being in accord with fact or reality.
405. turn, rotate, revolve, gyrate, spin, whirl, circle, eddy, swirl. These verbs all mean to move or
cause to move in a circle.
406. type, kind, sort, nature, character, ilk. These nouns refer to groups of people or things regarded
as constituting a class because of their shared attributes or characteristics.
407. uncertainty, doubt, dubiety, skepticism, suspicion, mistrust. These nouns all refer to the
condition of being unsure about someone or something.
408. unity, union, solidarity. These nouns denote the condition of accord resulting from an identity or
coincidence of interests, purposes, or sympathies among the members of a group.
409. unruly, ungovernable, intractable, refractory, recalcitrant, willful, headstrong, wayward. These
adjectives all mean resistant or marked by resistance to control.
410.
urge, press, exhort, prod, prick. These verbs mean to constrain or impel to action.
411. use, employ, utilize. These verbs mean to avail oneself of someone or something in order to
make him, her, or it useful, functional, or beneficial.
412. valid, sound, cogent, convincing, telling. These adjectives describe assertions, arguments,
conclusions, reasons, or intellectual processes that are persuasive because they are well founded, as in
fact, logic, or rationality.
413.
vent, express, utter, voice, air. These verbs mean to give outlet to thoughts or emotions.
414. vertical, upright, perpendicular, plumb. These adjectives are compared as they mean being at or
approximately at right angles to the horizon or to level ground.
415. vindictive, vengeful, revengeful. These adjectives mean desiring or proceeding from a desire for
revenge.
416. vociferous, blatant, boisterous, strident, clamorous. These adjectives all mean conspicuously
and usually offensively loud.
417. voluntary, intentional, deliberate, willful, willing. These adjectives mean being or resulting from
one's own free will.
418. wander, ramble, roam, rove, range, meander, stray, gallivant, gad. These verbs mean to move
about at random or without destination or purpose.
419. warn, caution, forewarn. These verbs mean to give someone notice of and put the person on
guard against actual or possible danger or risk.
420. way, route, course, passage, pass, artery. These nouns refer to paths leading from one place or
point to another.
421. weak, feeble, frail, fragile, infirm, decrepit, debilitated. These adjectives mean lacking or
showing a lack of strength.
422.
wet, damp, moist, dank, humid. These adjectives mean covered with or saturated with liquid.
423. wit, humor, sarcasm, irony. These nouns are compared as they denote forms of expression that
elicit amusement or laughter.
424. work, labor, toil, drudgery, travail. These nouns refer to the exertion of physical or mental
faculties in order to accomplish something, contrasted with play or recreation.
425. yearn, long, pine, hanker, hunger, thirst. These verbs mean to have a strong desire for
something.
426. yield, relent, bow, defer, submit, capitulate. These verbs all mean to give in to what one can no
longer oppose or resist.