Oxford Thesaurus - An A-Z Dictionary Of Synonyms

impulsive, Colloq uptight: I appreciate his enthusiasm, but I wish Henshawe were a bit less intense about his politics.

intensify v. concentrate, focus, sharpen, whet, strengthen, reinforce, heighten, escalate, deepen, quicken, emphasize, magnify, increase, augment, double, redouble, heat up, Colloq step up, Brit hot up: We must intensify our efforts to effect a settlement of the crisis. The war is intensifying.

intensity n. concentration, focus, strength, forcefulness, force, power; vigour, energy, vehemence, fervour, zeal, ardour, passion, sincerity: The storm is diminishing in intensity. Political partisanship is often attended by great intensity of emotion.

intensive adj. concentrated, focused, intensified, comprehensive, exhaustive, thorough(-going), all-out: The police have launched an intensive manhunt.

intent n. 1 intention, aim, goal, target, purpose, object, objective, end, design, plan, idea: Was it your intent that I should go with you? The charge is assault with intent to kill. 2 inclination, tendency, desire, intending: The mere intent to commit treason is often tantamount to treason. 3 to all intents and purposes. virtually, practically, for all practical

purposes, (almost) as good as, (almost) the same as, more or less, in effect: Telling you that the position was being discontinued is, to all intents and purposes, the same as firing you.

--adj. 4 concentrated, focused, fixed, steady, intense, determined, earnest, engrossed, absorbed, rapt, steadfast, resolute, attentive: Her intent stare unnerved many of her lecturers. 5 bent, set, resolute, committed, decided, firm, keen; resolved, eager, firm, determined, zealous, avid, enthusiastic,: If you're intent on going, we won't try to change your mind.

intention n. aim, purpose, intent, design, goal, end, object, objective, target, ambition: Was it your intention to stay till the fat

lady sings?

intentional

adj. deliberate, intended, premeditated, meant, wilful,

captivate, hold, fascinate, intrigue, excite, incite, provoke, arouse, affect, quicken, infect, animate, kindle, fire: At that time, our daughter was interested only in boys. There is something about astronomy that interests me. 8 influence, induce, persuade, move, tempt, involve, enrol, enlist, dispose, incline, prevail upon, talk into, concern: Could I interest you in investing in my company?

interested

adj. 1 Also, interested in. engaged, absorbed, engrossed, drawn (to), attracted (by), involved (in), curious (about), fascinated (by), keen (on), stimulated (by), responsive (to), concerned (about): We talked about investing in my plastics company, and he seemed interested. She has become interested in designing jewellery. 2 concerned, involved, non-objective, partial,

biased, prejudiced, prejudicial, partisan, predisposed: You cannot get an honest appraisal of the painting's value from an interested party.

interesting

adj. absorbing, engaging, gripping, riveting, engrossing, attractive, compelling, intriguing, provocative, stimulating, exciting, inviting, fascinating, enchanting, spellbinding, captivating: Nick has just told me the most interesting story about Tony.

interfere v. 1 meddle, intrude, butt in, intervene, intercede, interpose, interrupt, Colloq horn in, put or stick in one's oar or one's

oar in, poke one's nose in, US kibitz: Stop interfering in things that do not concern you. 2 hinder, impede, hamper, block, obstruct, encumber, slow, retard, handicap, set back, get in the way of, frustrate, conflict, inhibit, trammel, subvert, sabotage: Allow nothing to interfere with the course of true love.

interference

n. 1 meddling, intrusion, intruding, intervention, interceding, intercession: This interference in our personal affairs has gone far enough. 2 hindrance, impediment, block, obstruction, encumbrance, impedance, difficulty, snag, hitch, handicap, set-back; frustration, inhibition, conflict, opposition: The

lawsuit became an unwelcome interference in the smooth flow of our lives.

interior adj. 1 inside, internal, inner, inward: The interior surfaces are to be painted white. 2 internal, domestic, civil, national, local, home: We will not accept the interference of foreign governments in our interior affairs. 3 inner, private, intimate, personal, individual, secret, hidden, veiled: Some of Hamlet's great speeches are in the form of interior monologues, or soliloquies. 4 upland, inland, up-country, land-locked: The most beautiful scenery is in the interior part of the country, away from the marshy coast.

--n. 5 inside: The interior is coated with Teflon. 6 heart, centre, middle, core, depths: This is the story of a journey to the interior of the earth. 7 uplands, up-country, heartland, hinterland: The interior is covered with rocks and scrub pine.

interjection

n. exclamation, ejaculation, cry, interpolation, utterance: Grammarians regard expressions like 'Hello' and 'Goodbye' as interjections.

interlude n. interval, entr'acte, intermission, pause, stop, stoppage, respite, interruption, break, hiatus, lacuna, gap, halt, wait, breathing-space, recess, rest, spell, lull, Colloq let-up: There is a ten-minute interlude between the acts.

intermediary

n. go-between, middleman, agent, representative, broker, intermediate, third party, mediator, arbitrator, arbiter, referee, umpire, judge: Donaldson acted as intermediary and arranged the deal.

intermediate

adj. 1 middle, in-between, medial, midway, halfway, transitional, intervening, intermediary: Middle schools cater for the age-range intermediate between primary and secondary schooling. In sublimation a substance changes from a gas to a solid (or vice versa ) , skipping the intermediate liquid state.

2 See intermediary.

intermission

n. See interlude.

intermittent

adj. irregular, discontinuous, disconnected, sporadic, occasional, random, spasmodic, fitful, broken, periodic, alternating, cyclic(al), rhythmic(al), pulsating, seasonal,

on-and-off, on-again-off-again, stop-and-go, stop-go: Tomorrow, intermittent showers in the morning will yield to sunshine.

internal adj. See interior, 1, 2, 3.

international

adj. supranational, global, worldwide, universal, intercontinental, cosmopolitan, ecumenic(al) or oecumenic(al); foreign: An international conference is being held on disarmament. My father is engaged in international trade.

interpret v. 1 explain, explicate, clear up, clarify, elucidate, illuminate, throw or shed light on, simplify, decipher, decode, define, spell out, make sense (out) of, translate, paraphrase: Would you interpret this clause of the agreement for me? 2 understand, construe, take (to mean), read, figure or work out, sort out, unravel: I haven't any idea how to interpret this poem.

interpretation

n. 1 explanation, clarification, elucidation, simplification, decipherment, solution, working-out, unravelling, sorting out, decoding, definition, illustration, translation, paraphrasing: Sharon's detailed interpretation of the data is quite easy to understand. 2 analysis, diagnosis, examination, exegesis, explication, reading, construal, inference, understanding: These figures are subject to individual interpretation.

interrogation

n. questioning, examination, cross-examination, inquisition, investigation, Colloq third degree, grilling: Caught by the rebels, we were subjected to hours of interrogation.

interrupt v. 1 break in, cut in, intrude in, butt in, interfere in, punctuate, disturb, Colloq barge in, chime in, horn in: He keeps interrupting the discussion with his silly remarks. 2 discontinue, break off, cut off, cut short, interfere with, disrupt, suspend, hold up, halt, stop, end, terminate, cease: We interrupt this programme to bring you a news bulletin.

interruption

n. 1 break, intrusion, disturbance, interference, disruption: Please forgive this interruption, but you're wanted on the phone. 2 break, gap, interval, lacuna, hiatus, respite, rest, pause, pausing, intermission, stopping, stop, suspension, cessation, cease, ceasing, surcease, hesitation, Prosody caesura, Colloq let-up: She talked for an hour without interruption.

interval n. 1 intermission, interlude, entr'acte, break, pause; recess, rest (period), period, time, wait, spell, delay, lapse: The

play was so bad we left in the interval. After a brief interval, the lights came on again. 2 meanwhile, meantime, interim: He returned later but found that in the interval she had changed her mind. 3 gap, opening, space, hole, void, lacuna, distance, interstice, Architecture intercolumniation: The interval between the columns is exactly three metres.

intervene v. 1 interfere, intrude, break in, interrupt, intercede, meddle, interpose, butt in, Colloq poke one's nose in, horn in, put in one's oar, step in: If I had not intervened you might have been killed. She intervened on my behalf. 2 come or go

(between), pass, elapse: A week intervened before we saw each other again.

interview n. 1 meeting, (press) conference, discussion, conversation, talk, question period, audience: The reporter phoned to ask for an interview. 2 evaluation, appraisal, vetting, assessment: I have a job interview scheduled for tomorrow.

--v. 3 question, examine, interrogate, sound out, talk with or to: She interviewed the Prime Minister on television last night. 4 appraise, evaluate, check (out), vet: The headmaster himself interviews the teachers.

intimate° adj. 1 close, personal, warm, affectionate, loving, dear, bosom, cherished, familiar, intime: She had a party for intimate friends. 2 secret, confidential, private, personal, privy, hidden, intime; detailed, penetrating, deep, profound, thorough, exhaustive: In his autobiography he reveals intimate particulars of his marriage. 3 sexual; carnal: It is well

known that Millie was on intimate terms with her chauffeur. 4

cosy, informal, snug, friendly, warm, comfortable; intime, … deux, tˆte-…-tˆte, Colloq comfy: The two of us had an intimate dinner at home last night.

--n. 5 friend, associate, comrade, crony, familiar, confidant(e), (constant) companion, Achates, alter ego, colleague, confrŠre, Colloq sidekick, chum, pal, Brit and

Australian mate, US buddy, Slang Brit china (plate), mucker: He and a few of his intimates like to get together now and then for

a game of snooker.

intimateý v. hint, imply, suggest, insinuate, indicate, refer to, allude

to, communicate, make known, give (someone) to understand, warn, caution, Colloq tip (off): He intimates that my wife will be a widow if I tell the police.

intimidate

v. frighten, scare, alarm, cow, daunt, dismay, abash, appal, awe, overawe, browbeat, menace, threaten, terrify, petrify, terrorize, tyrannize; Slang have or get (someone) by the short and curlies: You can't intimidate me with your threats!

intolerance

n. bias, prejudice, bigotry, discrimination, partiality, illiberality, narrow-mindedness, dogmatism; racism, racialism, sexism, classism, ageism, xenophobia: The government has legislated against intolerance of minorities.

intolerant

adj. 1 unsympathetic, unforbearing, unindulgent, impatient, inconsiderate, inhospitable, uncharitable: The present system seems intolerant of the aged. 2 biased, prejudiced, bigoted, discriminatory, partial, illiberal, narrow-minded, parochial, provincial, jaundiced, warped, twisted, one-sided, opinionated, close-minded; racist, racialist, sexist, classist, ageist, xenophobic: How can some religions be so intolerant of other people's beliefs?

intonation

n. accent, accentuation, speech or sound pattern, delivery, modulation, articulation, pronunciation, vocalization, pitch, tone, inflection: You can tell the speaker's mood by his intonation.

intoxicate

v. 1 inebriate, make drunk, addle, stupefy, muddle, befuddle: He tried to intoxicate me with his home-made brew. 2 stimulate, excite, overwhelm, elate, exhilarate, animate, enliven, invigorate, inspirit, thrill, galvanize, electrify, make one's

head spin, take one's breath away, infatuate, entrance, enchant, enrapture, fascinate, bewitch, cast a spell on, ensorcel: She was intoxicated by the atmosphere of the place.

intoxicating

adj. 1 alcoholic, spirituous, inebriant: Do not drink intoxicating beverages if you plan to drive. 2 exhilarating, invigorating, thrilling, exciting, heady, stimulating, electrifying, entrancing, fascinating: Making a film of the life of Lola Montez is an intoxicating idea.

intrepid adj. fearless, brave, bold, daring, dauntless, undaunted, steadfast, resolute, courageous, unafraid, plucky, gallant, valiant, valorous, doughty, audacious, heroic, manly, manful, dashing, adventurous, venturesome, stout-hearted, lion-hearted,

game: Quatermain was known to the enemy as an intrepid soldier.

intricate adj. 1 involved, complicated, convoluted, entangled, tangled, knotty, complex, twisted, winding, tortuous, sinuous, anfractuous, labyrinthine, elaborate, Byzantine, fancy, ornate, rococo, Daedalian or Daedalean or Daedalic, Literary daedal or dedal: The plot was far too intricate and I became confused. 2 perplexing, puzzling, mystifying, enigmatic: The code was so intricate that even the computer needed hours to decipher the message.

intrigue v. 1 fascinate, beguile, captivate, attract, absorb, charm, pique, interest, titillate, arouse or excite the curiosity (of): It intrigues me to watch them put those ships into bottles. 2

conspire, plot, connive, scheme, manoeuvre: She was sure that everyone was intriguing against her.

--n. 3 conspiracy, plot, scheme, manoeuvre, collusion, stratagem, trickery, chicanery, double-dealing, guile, subterfuge, artifice, machination, deception: Many of those close to the government are engaged in intrigue of some kind. 4 affair, liaison, amour, romance, intimacy; adultery: We all

knew about the intrigue he was carrying on with the duke's wife.

intrinsic adj. inherent, basic, fundamental, essential, proper, elemental, organic, natural, native, inbred, congenital, inherited, hereditary, innate, inborn, immanent, indwelling, underlying, constitutional; real, true, actual, genuine: As no painting has intrinsic worth, its value is arbitrary.

introduce v. 1 acquaint, present, make known: Sandy introduced Gerald and Daphne to each other. 2 bring in or up, advance, present, broach, put or set forth, put forward, suggest, offer, propose, mention: It was she who introduced the issue of bacteria in canned goods. 3 announce, present: Please introduce the next speaker. 4 start, begin, originate, launch, establish, set up, pioneer, initiate, usher in, institute, bring out or in, set up, organize: When was paper money first introduced? 5 insert,

add, interpose, inject, put in, inject, interpolate: Why introduce irrelevant matters into the discussion?

introductory

adj. 1 opening, prefatory, preliminary, preparatory, beginning, inaugural, initial: His 'introductory' remarks lasted longer than the speeches! 2 primary, basic, fundamental, elementary, first, rudimentary: Take an introductory course before enrolling for more advanced study.

intrude v. interfere, break in, interrupt, intervene, push in, interpose, butt in, infringe, encroach, obtrude, Colloq horn in, barge in: They want to be alone and you are intruding. Forgive me for intruding into your conversation.

intruder n. 1 interloper, gatecrasher, uninvited guest, unwelcome visitor; trespasser, encroacher, invader, infiltrator, squatter; burglar, thief: The intruders were quickly expelled by the guards. 2 meddler, busybody, Colloq snoop(er), Nosy Parker, US kibitzer: You are an intruder into my private affairs.

intrusive adj. intruding, interfering, meddlesome, invasive, meddling, prying, inquisitive, obtrusive, importunate, officious, presumptuous, forward; unwelcome, uncalled-for, unwanted, unsought, Colloq nosy, pushy, snoopy: He said he apologized if he was being intrusive.

intuition n. instinct, insight, hunch, sixth sense, presentiment, premonition, foreboding; perception, perceptiveness, percipience, perspicacity, common sense, mother wit: Intuition told me I should find the answer here.

invalid° adj. 1 ailing, sick, sickly, ill, infirm, valetudinarian, disabled: His invalid sister is confined to a wheelchair.

--n. 2 patient, valetudinarian, victim, sufferer, incurable, cripple, Chiefly US and Canadian shut-in: Many invalids have claimed complete recovery after a visit to Lourdes.

invalidý adj. void, null (and void), nullified, annulled, repudiated, untrue, false, faulty, erroneous, wrong, spurious; incorrect, imperfect, impaired, unsound, untenable, ineffective: He was driving with an invalid licence. Your reasons for quitting school are invalid.

invaluable

adj. priceless, valuable, precious, of inestimable or incalculable value; irreplaceable, irredeemable; costly, expensive, high-priced, dear: The thieves made off with several invaluable paintings.

invariable

adj. 1 unchanging, changeless, unvarying, invariant, unwavering, constant, steady, stable, regular; fixed, fast, set, rigid, uniform, unfailing, unexceptional: She is invariable in her opinion of a woman's right to abortion. His invariable routine calls for a dawn swim, regardless of the weather. 2

immutable, unchangeable, unalterable, unmodifiable: The law of supply and demand is invariable. 3 permanent, fixed, enduring, abiding, eternal, unaltered, unvarying, unchanged, unvaried, unaltered, unmodified: The positions of the stars appear to be invariable.

invasion n. 1 incursion, raid, foray, intrusion, inroad, encroachment, trespass, infiltration; infringement, infraction, transgression, violation: The poachers were charged with invasion of private property. Unauthorized publication of that material is an invasion of your rights. 2 attack, assault, onslaught, aggression, offensive, drive, storming, blitzkrieg: The armoured divisions succeeded in stopping the invasion.