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The Oxford Thesaurus - An A-Z Dictionary Of Synonyms

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contemptuous

adj. scornful, disdainful, sneering, derisive, insulting, contumelious, insolent: The maestro was contemptuous of my piano-playing.

content° n. 1 capacity, volume, size, measure: The content of the barrel is exactly 55 gallons. 2 Usually, contents. ingredients, components, constituents; load: The bottle broke and its contents spilt on the floor. 3 substance, subject-matter; significance, purport, import, essence, text, theme, topic, thesis: The book is amusing but its content is quite trivial.

contentý n. 1 pleasure, satisfaction, gratification, happiness, contentment, contentedness, felicity, delight: He kept on singing to his heart's content. 2 ease, comfort, tranquillity, serenity, peace, peacefulness, contentedness: I have a feeling of such content merely being with you.

--adj. 3 pleased, satisfied, happy, delighted, contented, gratified, glad, cheerful; comfortable, fulfilled: I was quite content to be home once more.

--v. 4 satisfy, please, gratify, soothe, cheer, gladden, delight: It contented him to be near her.

contest n. 1 competition, match, tournament, championship, tourney, meet, game, rivalry, trial: The contest was won by a woman from Shropshire. 2 strife, controversy, dispute, contention, debate, altercation, argument, velitation; conflict, struggle, fight,

battle, combat, war: The contest is between those for and those against capital punishment.

--v. 3 contend, argue, dispute, debate; challenge, (call into) question, oppose, counter, confute, object to, refute: David has decided to contest his father's will.

contestant

n. contender, competitor, opponent, rival, adversary, entrant, player, participant: The winner is the contestant from Chearsley.

context n. structure, framework, environment, situation,

circumstance(s); ambience or ambiance, surround, surroundings, frame (of reference), setting, background: It is often hard to understand something taken out of its context.

continual adj. constant, incessant, perpetual, non-stop, persistent, uninterrupted, regular, steady, unbroken, unceasing, ceaseless, constant, eternal, unremitting, interminable, endless, unending; Loosely continuous: She has this continual ringing in her ears.

continue v. 1 carry on, proceed (with), keep up or on or at, go on (with), pursue, persist (in), persevere (in): Please continue whatever it was you were doing. 2 endure, last, go on, persist, be prolonged, remain: How long will the curfew continue? 3 maintain, keep (on), prolong, perpetuate, carry on (with), persist in or with, sustain, extend: My mother continued her career throughout my childhood. 4 resume, pick up, take up, carry on (with): Allow me to continue my story and don't interrupt again. 5 proceed, go (on), extend: The road continues for about a mile, ending at the sea.

continuous

adj. 1 connected, unbroken, uninterrupted: The wall is continuous except for one gate. 2 incessant, persistent, perpetual, non-stop, unceasing, ceaseless, constant,

unremitting, interminable, endless, unending; Loosely continual: A continuous stream of refugees passed through the camp.

contract n. 1 agreement, understanding, deal, bargain, arrangement, pact, commitment, obligation, compact: We have just signed a contract to supply office equipment to a new electronics company.

--v. 2 engage, agree, promise, covenant, undertake: Our company contracted to maintain the roads in this area. 3 catch, acquire, get, come down with, develop, become infected with, Brit go down with: Eunice contracted diphtheria. 4 diminish, shrink, draw together, roll (oneself), narrow, squeeze, constrict, compress, condense, decrease, reduce: When disturbed, the animal contracts itself into a ball. 5 wrinkle, knit, crease, corrugate, pucker: His brow contracted into a frown.

contradict

v. 1 deny, gainsay, dispute, controvert, argue against; oppose: He is very opinionated, and doesn't like to be contradicted. 2 contravene, belie, refute, disallow, forbid, disaffirm, counter, abrogate, nullify, annul, reverse, counteract: The evidence yields nothing that contradicts my argument.

contradictory

adj. inconsistent, paradoxical, incongruous, conflicting, incompatible, discrepant; ambiguous, ambivalent: The witnesses' descriptions of the robbers are contradictory.

contraption

n. contrivance, device, gadget, mechanism, apparatus, Colloq widget, thingumabob or thingamabob, thingumajig or thingamajig, thingummy, whatsit, doodah, thingy, US gizmo or gismo, Rube Goldberg (invention), whatchamacallit, Colloq Brit gubbins: People began to build all sorts of contraptions that they hoped might fly.

contrary adj. 1 opposite, opposing, opposed, different, contradictory, conflicting, antagonistic: Set aside enough time to hear the contrary side of the argument. 2 antagonistic, perverse, contrarious, hostile, unfriendly, inimical, cross-grained, refractory, contumacious, self-willed, argumentative, unaccommodating, antipathetic, Literary froward: He can disagree, but why must he be so contrary? 3 adverse, unfavourable, inauspicious, unlucky, unfortunate, unpropitious, untoward, inopportune, bad, foul: We ran into contrary winds and were delayed.

--n. 4 opposite, reverse: Her present position is the direct contrary of the one she took yesterday.

--adv. 5 perversely, oppositely, contrariwise, contrarily, in opposition to: The rat in the maze acted contrary to the expected pattern.

contrast v. 1 juxtapose, oppose, compare, distinguish, differentiate, discriminate, set or place against; set off: Contrast life in

the 18th century with life today. 2 conflict, differ or diverge or deviate (from): The two styles contrast sharply. Australian speech contrasts with that of Canada in many respects.

--n. 3 comparison; difference, distinction, disparity, dissimilarity: The author emphasizes the contrasts between the two economic policies.

contribute

v. 1 give, furnish, donate, bestow, grant, present, provide, supply: He contributed three paintings by Longchamp to the museum. They contributed generously to the restoration fund. 2 contribute to. add to, promote, advance, help, aid, support, forward, have a hand in, play a part or role in: They believe that poor parental supervision contributes to juvenile delinquency.

control v. 1 command, dominate, direct, steer, pilot, hold sway over, rule, exercise power or authority over, govern, manage, lead, conduct, be in control (of), call the tune, guide, oversee, supervise: Does she really control the future of the company? 2 check, hold back or in check, curb, repress, contain: Try to control yourself. 3 suppress, put down, master, subdue, restrain, curb, manage: They were totally unable to control the unruly teenagers.

--n. 4 command, direction, power, authority, leadership, management, guidance, supervision, oversight, charge; sway, rule, jurisdiction: Turn control of the mission over to Mrs Beale. The court is under the control of the State. 5 restraint,

check, curb, mastery, command, dominance, domination: You must get better control over your emotions. 6 knob, button, dial,

handle, lever, switch; device, mechanism: This control opens the door to the safe.

controversial

adj. 1 debatable, disputable, questionable, moot, doubtful, unsettled: Who will run the department is a controversial matter. 2 polemical, dialectic, litigious, factious: She has studied the controversial writings of the 19th-century feminists. 3 disputatious, argumentative, contentious;

provocative: Race relations have remained a controversial issue for centuries.

controversy

n. 1 dispute, debate, contention, argument, argumentation, disputation, wrangling, confrontation, questioning,

disagreement: The inquest went ahead without controversy. 2 argument, dispute, disagreement, quarrel; squabble, tiff, Colloq spat: Controversy still rages over the theory of natural selection.

convalesce

v. recover, improve, get better, recuperate: The doctor said I needed only a week to convalesce after the operation.

convenient

n. 1 suitable, commodious, useful, helpful, handy, serviceable, expedient, opportune, advantageous: The bus is quite convenient for getting to and from the airport. 2 handy, nearby, within (easy) reach, at one's fingertips, close at hand, available, accessible; (at the) ready: There's a convenient post office

round the corner.

convention

n. 1 assembly, meeting, gathering, congregation, congress, conference, symposium, council, conclave, diet, synod, seminar: The annual convention of cat fanciers will take place in June.

2 rule, practice, custom, tradition, usage, formality, conventionalism: According to convention, this year's vice-president becomes president next year.

conventional

adj. customary, habitual, usual, normal, regular, standard, orthodox, traditional, established, ordinary, everyday, common, commonplace, accustomed, received, agreed; reactionary, old-fashioned, stodgy, stuffy, old hat: Conventional methods of teaching mathematics are being criticized.

converge v. come or go together, meet, join, unite, merge, coincide; blend: The roads converge in the valley.

conversation

n. discussion, talk, chat, dialogue, colloquy, parley; chit-chat, gossip, discourse, palaver, Colloq chiefly Brit chin-wag: The conversation about the situation in the Middle East ended abruptly. I want action, not conversation.

conversationalist

n. deipnosophist: It was a pleasure to have dinner with an

intelligent conversationalist for a change.

converse v. discuss, talk, speak, chat, parley, discourse, gossip, chatter: The men were conversing about her over dinner.

convert v. 1 change, modify, alter, transform, transmute, mutate, transfigure, transmogrify, remodel, remake, metamorphose: We converted our rowing-boat into a sailing dinghy. 2 proselytize, switch, change (over): To avoid the horrors of the Inquisition, many Spanish Jews converted to Catholicism.

--n. 3 proselyte; neophyte, catechumen, disciple: Converts are often the most passionate believers.

convict v. 1 find or prove guilty: She was convicted of theft.

--n. 2 prisoner, captive, Slang con, jailbird orBrit also gaolbird, Brit lag: The rioting convicts burnt down two prison buildings.

conviction

n. 1 proof of guilt: After his conviction, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. 2 belief, opinion, view, persuasion, position: It is her conviction that the painting is by Titian.

3 certainty, sureness, positiveness, confidence, assurance, certitude: He doesn't have the courage to back up his convictions.

convince v. win over, talk into, persuade, bring (a)round, sway: I have at last convinced them of the need for more resources.

cool

adj. 1 chilly, chill, chilling, cooling, unheated; chilled,

 

cold, refreshing, fresh: It's rather cool outside today. I'd

 

prefer some cool lemonade. 2 calm, serene, collected,

 

level-headed, quiet, unexcited, unemotional, undisturbed,

 

unexcitable, unruffled, unflappable, cool-headed, relaxed,

 

controlled, under control, self-possessed, self-controlled,

 

unperturbed, phlegmatic, composed, imperturbable: He remains

 

cool even in a crisis. 3 dispassionate, cold, cold-blooded,

 

emotionless, deliberate, cold-hearted, calculated, wilful,

 

premeditated, purposeful, purposive: It was clearly the cool

 

act of a professional criminal. 4 uninvolved, distant, remote,

 

aloof, detached, removed, uninterested, unconcerned,

unsympathetic, apathetic, cold, cold-hearted, cold-blooded: How can you be so cool where human lives are concerned? 5 lukewarm, distant, uncordial, unfriendly, unsociable, unapproachable, standoffish, forbidding, unwelcoming, cold, frigid: After the affair, she was distinctly cool towards him. 6 bold, audacious, brazen, overconfident, presumptuous, shameless, unabashed, impertinent, impudent, insolent: I cannot account for the cool

way he insulted his host.

--n. 7 coolness, chill, chilliness, Colloq coolth: I shall

have a sherry to ward off the cool of the evening. 8 aplomb, poise, sedateness, control, self-control, composure, sang-froid: He really lost his cool when she told him he was a lousy driver.

--v. 9 chill, refrigerate, ice: Cool the pudding before serving. 10 diminish, reduce, lessen, abate, moderate: Her interest quickly cooled when she discovered he was married.

cooperate v. 1 collaborate, work together, join, unite, interact, team up, join forces, act jointly or in concert: If we cooperate,

the work will be done in half the time. 2 participate, contribute, lend a hand, help, assist: You must learn to cooperate and not just sit there.

cooperation

n. 1 collaboration, teamwork, interaction, synergism or synergy: Only through cooperation will we be able to achieve success. 2 support, help, aid, assistance, patronage, backing, advocacy, favour, helping hand, friendship, blessing, sponsorship, auspices, backup: We needed the cooperation of people like you to mount the exhibition.

coordinate

v. 1 organize, classify, order, arrange, systemize, systematize, codify, categorize, group, match (up), dispose, rate, rank, grade: Coordinate the information before preparing the report. 2 harmonize, correlate, unify, mesh, synchronize,

integrate, Colloq pull together: We must coordinate our efforts for the best results.

--adj. 3 equivalent, parallel, correspondent, complementary, correlative, equal, reciprocal, coordinating, coordinative, Technical paratactic: The two systems are coordinate and

 

operate in parallel.

cope

v. 1 manage, get along or by, make do, survive, subsist, come

 

through: Even with seven children to care for, she copes very

 

well. 2 cope with. be a match for, withstand, contend with or

 

against, handle, deal with, dispose of: I cannot cope with all

 

the work I have been given to do.

copy

n. 1 reproduction, replica, facsimile, likeness, imitation,

double, twin, duplication, duplicate, transcript, replication, carbon (copy), photocopy, print: She found a copy of the lost manuscript. 2 example, sample, specimen: How many copies of the book have been sold? 3 text, writing: The copy is ready;

we are waiting for the illustrations.

--v. 4 reproduce, duplicate, replicate, transcribe: Don't copy others' work - they might be wrong. 5 imitate, mimic, impersonate, emulate, ape, parrot, echo: Ted copies the rock stars in every possible detail of their dress and behaviour.

cord

n. string, line, twine; rope: Tie the cord around the parcel

twice.

cordial

adj. friendly, warm, affable, amiable, kindly, genial,

 

gracious, welcoming, pleasant, good-natured, nice; courteous,

 

polite: After a cordial greeting at the door, the guests were

 

served champagne.

core

n. 1 centre, heart, middle, nucleus, inside(s): Remove the

 

core of the apple first. 2 essence, marrow, heart, pith, gist,

 

quintessence, sum and substance: The core of the problem is her

 

refusal to consider any alternative.

--v. 3 pit, seed: The pie might have tasted better if you'd cored the apples first.

corps n. body of men or women, troop, cadre, unit, detachment, cohort, division, battalion, brigade, platoon, squad, column, squadron: We delivered supplies to the medical corps.

corpse n. body, remains, cadaver, Slang stiff; (of an animal) carcass: The corpses were buried in a mass grave.

correct v. 1 right, set or put right, amend, redress, rectify, remedy, repair, fix; cure: A good mechanic will be able to correct the faults in the engine. 2 scold, admonish, rebuke, reprimand, berate, chide, reprove; censure, blame: You mustn't correct people for their bad manners. 3 punish, chastise, chasten, discipline, castigate: The boys were corrected for swearing at the teacher. 4 reverse, offset, counteract, counterbalance, neutralize, nullify, make up for, annul, cancel; adjust, change, modify: Adding this fertilizer should correct the acid content of the soil. 5 mark, grade: The exam papers haven't yet been corrected.

--adj. 6 proper, decorous, decent, appropriate, suitable, fit, right, meet, fitting, befitting, apt, de rigueur, comme il faut, Old-fashioned Brit tickety-boo: I have found her behaviour correct at all times. 7 conventional, established, set, standard, normal, orthodox, approved, in order, de rigueur, comme il faut, usual, natural, customary, traditional, done, right, Old-fashioned Brit tickety-boo: Sending flowers to the funeral parlour would be the correct thing to do. 8 accurate, right, precise, exact, factual, valid, true, proper, fitting,

apt, suitable, appropriate; faultless, perfect, unimpeachable: Joanna gave the correct answer.

correction

n. 1 improvement, emendation, rectification, redress, remedy, reparation, amendment; corrigendum: With these corrections, the work will be vastly better. 2 punishment, castigation, chastisement: He resented her continual correction of him for trivial things.

correspond

v. 1 agree, conform, tally, comply, accord, harmonize, be congruous, match, coincide: The results of the surveys correspond. 2 write, communicate, be in touch or contact: We have been corresponding for years.

correspondent

n. newspaperman, newspaperwoman, pressman, presswoman, journalist, reporter, stringer, newsman, newsperson: Here is a report from our correspondent in Sydney.

corridor n. hall, hallway, passage, passageway: We met in the corridor

outside my room.

corrupt adj. 1 dishonest, untrustworthy, dishonourable, underhand(ed), venal, Colloq crooked: He got off by bribing a corrupt judge.

2 debased, depraved, perverted, subverted, evil, wicked, degenerate, degraded: The inhabitants practised a corrupt form of Christianity.

--v. 3 debase, pervert, subvert, degrade, deprave, warp: A funds manager could easily be corrupted by all that money. 4 adulterate, contaminate, pollute, taint, defile, infect, spoil, poison: Drainage from the site has corrupted the purity of the water. 5 bribe, suborn, buy (off): He thought he knew a juror who might be corrupted.

cost

n. 1 price, outlay, payment, charge, expense, expenditure,

 

rate, tariff: The gold strap will double the cost of the watch.

 

If the cost increases, the selling price must go up.

--v. 2 sell for, get, fetch, bring in, Colloq set (someone) back: This would cost twice as much in London.

costume n. dress, clothing, attire, clothes, garb, apparel, raiment, garments, outfit, vestment, livery, uniform, kit, Colloq gear,

 

togs, get-up; Slang rags, US threads: What kind of costume is

 

Celia wearing to the fancy-dress ball?

cosy

adj. 1 comfortable, snug, warm, restful, secure, relaxing,

easy, US cozy, Colloq comfy: They bought a cosy little rose-covered cottage in the Cotswolds. 2 convenient, expedient, self-serving, underhand(ed): He has a cosy arrangement with the planning board.

cot

n. bed, crib; cradle, bunk: The baby is asleep in his cot.

cottage

n. hut, shack, cabin, bungalow, shanty, Literary cot; US and

Canadian lodge, chalet: She's going to stay at our cottage for

a week.

couch

n. 1 sofa, settee, settle, divan, love-seat, chaise (longue);

day-bed; tˆte-…-tˆte, vis-…-vis, siamoise; US Davenport: Come and sit by me on the couch.

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