The Oxford Thesaurus - An A-Z Dictionary Of Synonyms

camp(y), US fruity, limp-wristed, Colloq queer, gay, Chiefly Brit bent, US faggy, Slang kinky: He used to bring his swish friends here, but not lately.

switch n. 1 twitch, lash, rod, whip, birch (rod), scourge: He picked up the switch as if to hit me with it. 2 change, alteration, exchange, shift, change-over, reversal, deflection, trade, swap or swop: A switch of costume was done swiftly backstage, yielding the expression 'quick-change artist'.

--v. 3 twitch, lash, whip, birch, beat, strike, thrash, scourge, flog: The headmaster switched the boys for the slightest misdemeanour. 4 change, shift, exchange, divert,

deviate: The colonel switched to another subject. They switched the two stones, leaving the fake emerald. 5 divert, turn, rechannel, redirect, direct: They switched the funds to another project.

swivel v. 1 pivot, turn, rotate, spin, revolve, pirouette, move freely: This joint allows the arm to swivel in all directions.

--n. 2 pivot, elbow-joint, gimbal, ball-and-socket joint: The stern-chaser is fitted with a swivel, allowing it to be fired at any angle.

swollen adj. enlarged, distended, inflated, bloated, bulging, puffed up or out, tumid, tumescent, expanded, turgid, puffy, oversized, outsized, Technical dropsical, hypertrophied, proud: My knee was swollen for three days after that knock.

swoop v. 1 descend, dive, sweep down, pounce, stoop: The eagle swooped down across the stream, catching a salmon in its talons.

--n. 2 descent, dive, sweep, pounce, stoop, stroke, blow, rush: The police raid caught several drug dealers in one fell swoop.

19.16 sybarite...

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sybarite n. epicure, epicurean, hedonist, voluptuary, sensualist, aesthete, gastronome, gourmet, bon vivant, bon viveur, pleasure-seeker, playboy, jet-setter: These sybarites spend all

their time and their parents' money in the fleshpots of the world.

symbol n. representation, figure, metaphor, allegory, insigne (singular; plural is insignia), token, sign, emblem, badge, image, logotype, mark, trade mark, colophon, brand, code, abbreviation, phonogram, initialism, cryptogram, acronym, monogram, password, shibboleth, watchword, code word; arms, bearing, armorial bearing, crest, escutcheon, coat of arms, banner, flag, pennant, standard, Colloq logo: This jewel is a mere symbol of my devotion and love for you.

symbolic adj. Often, symbolic of. symbolical (of), tokening, betokening, emblematic (of), figurative, allegoric(al), typical (of), representative (of), symptomatic (of), characteristic (of), metaphoric(al), allusive (of), denotative (of), connotative

(of), mnemonic (of): From ancient times the laurel, or bay, has been regarded as symbolic of praiseworthiness.

symbolize v. represent, stand for, denote, connote, suggest, express, imply, signify, mean, typify, exemplify, betoken, illustrate, embody, epitomize: Green symbolizes envy and jealousy, red anger, blue sadness, white purity, and so on.

symmetrical

adj. symmetric, (well-)balanced, proportionate, proportional, well-proportioned, orderly, (well-)ordered, in proportion, even, regular, congruous, congruent, uniform, harmonious; equal, mirror-image, mirror-like: The temple was exactly symmetrical, with a wing on each side. The two wings are symmetrical.

symmetry n. balance, proportion, evenness, order, orderliness, regularity, uniformity, congruity, congruousness,

correspondence, agreement, harmony, consistency, equality: With the crudest of tools, the pyramid builders achieved incredible symmetry.

sympathetic

adj. 1 Often, sympathetic to or toward(s). compassionate (to or toward(s)), commiserating (with), commiserative (with), understanding (of), supportive (of), caring (to or toward(s)), concerned (about or with), solicitous (of or to or (toward(s)), warm-hearted (to or toward(s)), kind-hearted (to or toward(s)),

responsive (to or toward(s)), well-meaning, well-intentioned, good-natured (to or toward(s)), considerate (of or to or toward(s)), empathetic or empathic (with or to or toward(s)); sympathizing, kindly, comforting, consoling: The social workers are sympathetic to the people's problems. One should be more sympathetic. Julie takes a sympathetic outlook. 2 Often, sympathetic to or toward(s). agreeable, pleasant, friendly, well-disposed, favourably disposed, encouraging, like-minded, responsive, congenial, en rapport, simpatico: You will find a sympathetic ear at the council. The people are not sympathetic

to a tax increase.

sympathize

v. 1 Often, sympathize with. suffer or grieve or mourn (with), feel (sorry) (for), have pity (for), empathize (with), condole (with), commiserate (with): I sympathized with you over the loss of your grandfather. Now that mine is gone, it is your turn to sympathize. 2 Often, sympathize with. harmonize (with), get along (with), relate (to), identify (with), go along (with), see eye to eye (with), agree (with), side (with), understand, be en rapport (with), be in sympathy (with), be simpatico (with), have

(a) rapport (with), Colloq be or vibrate on the same frequency or wavelength (with), Slang dig: I can sympathize with anyone who despises terrorism.

sympathizer

n. condoner, approver, conspirator, co-conspirator, collaborator, accomplice, accessory, supporter, fellow-traveller, ally: At one time, they tried to incarcerate all suspected of being Fascist sympathizers.

sympathy n. 1 compassion, commiseration, pity, concern, tenderness, empathy, understanding, solicitousness, warmth, tender-heartedness, warm-heartedness, Archaic ruth: We feel great sympathy for any child who loses a pet. 2 agreement, harmony, compatibility, rapport, concord, accord, fellow-feeling, congeniality, affinity, closeness, unity, communion, fellowship, camaraderie: It is amazing that there can be so much sympathy between two such different people.

symptom n. manifestation, evidence, syndrome, mark, token, indication, cue, clue, (warning) sign, characteristic, trait, feature,

earmark, marker: Esmeralda is extremely jealous - I recognize

the symptoms.

symptomatic

adj. Often, symptomatic of. indicative (of), representative (of), suggestive (of), characteristic (of), emblematic (of), symbolic (of), peculiar (to), specific (to), idiosyncratic (of); indicating, suggesting: A high fever is symptomatic of many illnesses.

syndicate n. 1 trust, monopoly, bloc, cartel, syndication: They were part of a syndicate that controlled the worldwide sale of nickel. 2 (crime) family, Cosa Nostra, mafia: Guido used to be an enforcer for the syndicate.

--v. 3 affiliate, ally, associate, amalgamate, consolidate, league, confederate, synthesize: Mrs Cartwright was successful in syndicating the milk producers in the entire county. 4 serialize, distribute: His business is syndicating old movies

to television stations.

synonymous

adj. Often, synonymous with or to. equal (to), equivalent (to), tantamount (to), identified (with), corresponding (to or with); transposable (with), exchangeable (with), identical (to or with), interchangeable (with), the same (as): A word is almost

never truly synonymous with another in all respects. Even terms like 'salt' and 'sodium chloride' are not synonymous.

synopsis n. summary, condensation, abridgement, epitomization, outline, abstract, digest, pr‚cis, epitome, compendium, conspectus,

aper‡u, r‚sum‚: He was assigned to write a ten-page synopsis of a 600-page book.

synthesis n. blend, compound, merge, union, amalgamation, coalescence, integration, unifying, unification, composite, composition,

mixture, combination; compounding, combining, blending, merging, union, amalgamation, coalescence, integrating, mixing, fusing, fusion, unifying, unification: This mixture is a synthesis of

many different ingredients. How do they effect the synthesis of coal, water, and air to make nylon?

synthetic adj. artificial, man-made, manufactured, ersatz; fake, false, counterfeit, sham, bogus, spurious, mock, imitation, pseudo,

up, propose: The bill will be tabled for action today. 5 shelve, postpone, defer, suspend, put off, stay, pigeon-hole,

mothball, Colloq put on ice: When the bill came up we tabled it for six months.

(spiral(-bound)) notebook, US scratch pad: I write all my dreams in a little tablet in case I forget to relate them to my psychiatrist. 2 slab, plaque, plate, panel, plaquette: The tablet on the base of the statue says it is of Disraeli. 3

stone, gravestone, headstone, tombstone, memorial: We each contributed to the tablet that marks Croombender's grave. 4 pill, capsule, troche, pellet, pastille, drop, lozenge, bolus: Take three tablets twice a day.

taboo adj. 1 tabu, anathema, forbidden, interdicted, off limits, out of bounds, verboten, proscribed, banned, prohibited, restricted,

unmentionable, unspeakable; censored, censorable, unacceptable, rude, impolite, indecorous, dirty, explicit; outlawed, illegal, illicit, unlawful: Our holiday in Benidorm is a taboo subject

in my house. Many people dislike hearing taboo language used on radio or television.

--n. 2 tabu, anathema, interdict, interdiction, proscription, ban, prohibition, restriction: There is still a strict taboo against mentioning bodily functions in public.

--v. 3 tabu, forbid, interdict, proscribe, ban, prohibit: The hotel taboos the sharing of a room by unmarried couples.

tabulate v. systematize, organize, order, group, list, arrange, classify, categorize, rate, grade, catalogue, codify, pigeon-hole, sort, assort, index, itemize; record, note: We shall report the results of the poll as soon as they have been tabulated.

tacit adj. unspoken, undeclared, unsaid, unstated, unvoiced, unuttered, silent, understood, unexpressed, implied, implicit: The sisters have a tacit agreement not to poach each other's

boyfriends. He gave me a look of tacit gratitude.

taciturn adj. silent, uncommunicative, mum, mute, reticent, reserved, uncommunicative, unforthcoming, tight-lipped, close-lipped, untalkative, quiet: Even when he was small, Chris was quite taciturn, saying little but evidently thinking much.

tackle n. 1 gear, rig, fittings, equipment, equipage, rigging, paraphernalia, outfit, tools, apparatus, trappings, accoutrements or US also accouterments, Colloq Brit clobber: The steeplejack brought along all his tackle and made ready for his climb. 2 block (and tackle), fall, hoisting gear, pulley, sheave: You'll need heavier tackle to lift this cargo.

--v. 3 come to grips with, grapple with, approach, take on, try to solve, (try to) deal or cope with, stand or face up to, face, confront, address oneself to, attend to, set about, pursue, Colloq take a crack at, have a go at: Perhaps you'd better tackle the parking problem yourself. I'll tackle the boss on the matter as soon as I see him. 4 attack, fall upon, devour, consume, demolish, destroy: You've seen nothing till you've

seen Graham tackle a roast turkey.

delicate, clever, prudent, careful, dexterous, discerning, adroit, skilful, acute, perceptive, considerate, understanding,

considerate, thoughtful, polite: Even the people working in the complaints department are tactful.

tactic n. 1 move, manoeuvre, ploy, caper, plan, strategy, stratagem, device, ruse, plot, scheme, design: Inviting her husband along was a tactic merely to avert suspicion. 2 tactics. manoeuvres, strategy, plans, campaign, generalship, military science, military operation(s), orchestration, engineering, masterminding: Entirely different tactics must be employed in jungle fighting.

tactical adj. artful, clever, cunning, shrewd, adroit, strategic, skilful, adept, politic, smart, tactful: The general was noted for his dazzling strategies and tactical genius.

tactician n. strategist, campaigner, mastermind, intriguer, plotter, planner, schemer, manipulator, manoeuvrer, orchestrator, Colloq operator: Montgomery was regarded by some as a master tactician.

tactless adj. coarse, boorish, uncivilized, unsophisticated, rough, rude, uncouth, discourteous, ungentlemanly, unladylike, crude, gruff, bluff, abrupt, blunt, brusque, impertinent,

tailor-made

adj. 1 fitted, custom-made, made-to-order, bespoke; made to