The Oxford Thesaurus - An A-Z Dictionary Of Synonyms

worried, anxious, disconcerted, apprehensive, uncomfortable, shaky, jumpy, unnerved, fearful: Harry is beginning to feel insecure about his job. 2 unsafe, dangerous, unprotected, vulnerable, unguarded, defenceless, undefended, exposed, open: The machine-gun position is insecure and will soon be taken. 3 unstable, shaky, wobbly, precarious, infirm, weak, flimsy,

frail, rickety, unsubstantial, rocky, unsound, unsteady, unreliable, uncertain: The structure collapsed because the footings were insecure.

insensible

adj. 1 insensate, unconscious, insentient, numb, benumbed, senseless, torpid, anaesthetized, Colloq out, out of it: She was totally insensible for an hour after the blow on the head. 2 Often, insensible to or of. insensitive, callous, indifferent, impervious, impassive, apathetic, cool, unsusceptible;

unaffected, unmoved, untouched; unaware, deaf, inconsiderate; hard-hearted, thick-skinned, unfeeling, emotionless, dispassionate, thoughtless, Colloq cloth-eared: He remained wholly insensible to her desires and needs.

insert v. 1 introduce, place or put or stick in, intercalate; interpolate, interject, interpose: Please do not insert comments of your own.

--n. 2 insertion, addition, addendum, supplement, advertisement, broadside, brochure, tip-in, handbill, circular, Colloq Brit advert, US ad, flier or flyer; outsert, wraparound or wrapround: The postage will be higher with this eight-page insert.

inside n. 1 interior, centre, core, middle, heart; contents; lining, backing: From the outside one could never guess what the inside looks like. Please paint the inside of the cabinet blue. 2

Usually, insides. bowels, entrails, viscera, gut(s), stomach, Colloq innards: He has had trouble with his insides for years. 3 inside out. everted, reversed; backwards: He is wearing his pullover inside out.

--adj. 4 favoured, advantageous, favourable, advantaged, privileged, preferred, preferential, propitious, exclusive; internal, private, secret, confidential, privy, clandestine: She has an inside track to the chairman. He claims to have

inside information about the successful bidder. 5 internal, interior; arranged, prearranged: The police think it was an inside job.

--adv. 6 fundamentally, basically, at bottom, by nature: Despite her gruff exterior, inside she is quite sentimental. 7 in prison, in jail or Brit also gaol, imprisoned, incarcerated, Slang Brit in quod, US up the river: He'll be inside for another five years.

--prep. 8 within, US inside of: Because of rain, the party was held inside the building.

insight n. perception, percipience, sensitivity, perspicacity, perceptiveness, perspicaciousness, discernment, acuteness, acuity, acumen, sharpness, understanding, judgement, comprehension, vision: Chambers has brought his considerable insight to bear on this complex problem.

insignificant

adj. paltry, trifling, petty, inconsiderable, inconsequential, trivial, unimportant, non-essential, minor, negligible, nugatory, unessential, niggling, puny, insubstantial, unsubstantial , Colloq piddling: These insignificant differences can be ignored. What you and I might do with our lives is, in the larger sense, insignificant.

insincere adj. hypocritical, dishonest, dissembling, deceptive, disingenuous, deceitful, untruthful, false, artificial, ungenuine, treacherous, perfidious, faithless, double-dealing, duplicitous, two-faced, Janus-faced, lying, mendacious, sly, Machiavellian, cunning, crafty, slick, foxy, vulpine, wily, artful, evasive, shifty, time-serving, unctuous, slimy,

slippery, tricky, underhanded, crooked, Colloq phoney or US also phony: From the first act I thought Iago insincere.

insinuate v. 1 impute, suggest, hint, intimate, imply, whisper, indicate; convey, signify: They insinuated that she married me for my money. 2 insert (oneself), inject (oneself), worm or work or inveigle or manoeuvre (oneself or one's way); infiltrate,

intrude: She insinuated herself into our group uninvited. 3 inject, infuse, instil, introduce: Wild imaginings began to insinuate themselves into my mind.

move, waken, awaken, arouse, rouse, instigate, prompt, rally, energize, enliven, vitalize, vivify, galvanize, inspirit,

excite, spark (off), quicken, kindle, fire, provoke: It was the inflammatory speeches that inspired the crowd to riot. His enthusiasm inspired her to take up writing as a profession. 2 encourage, strengthen, support, reinforce, buoy (up), uplift, boost, affirm, confirm, fortify, buttress: Your example has inspired many young people.

install v. 1 instal, invest, instate, initiate, establish, inaugurate, induct, institute; place, put, position, introduce, settle: The new bishop will be installed in office next week. 2 instal, fit, set up, connect, fix (in place): I installed our new air conditioner myself.

installation

n. 1 investiture, instatement, initiation, establishment, inauguration, induction, institution, placement, introduction, solemnization, swearing-in, consecration, Ecclesiastical ordination; crowning, coronation: Will you attend the installation of the new vice-chancellor? 2 fitting, placement, connection, positioning: The plumber will supervise the installation of the new heating system. 3 base, post, station, depot, camp, establishment: Military installations all over the country are being picketed.

instance n. 1 case (in point), example, exemplar, illustration, precedent, exemplification, occurrence, event: The damage to the bus shelter is yet one more instance of hooliganism. 2 for instance. for example, as an example, say, e.g.; in the event, as it happens or happened: Consider her, for instance: she managed to work and raise a family.

instant n. 1 moment, point, second, time: I was thinking of you at the very instant the phone rang. 2 moment, second, minute, flash, twinkling (of an eye), trice, Colloq jiffy: I'll be with you in

an instant, sir.

--adj. 3 instantaneous, immediate, on the spot, overnight: His novel was an instant best seller. 4 urgent, crying, pressing, earnest, imperative, critical, exigent; split-second, direct:

We have an instant need for a computer specialist. 5 ready-made, ready-mixed, prepared, ready-to-serve, precooked:

This is an instant soup - just add hot water to the powder.

instantaneously

adv. instantly, immediately, at once, (right) now, directly, forthwith, promptly, this minute or second or instant, without delay, tout de suite, instanter, Brit straight away or US right

away; Colloq pronto, US momentarily: The results will be beamed instantaneously to 176 million people around the world.

implant; insinuate, impart: From childhood a sense of justice was instilled in us.

instinct n. intuition, feel, feeling, empathy, sensitivity, tendency, propensity, leaning, bent, skill, talent, faculty, sixth sense, knack, predisposition, capacity, aptitude; subconscious: She has an uncanny instinct for finding the most interesting person in a crowd.

instinctive

adj. 1 instinctual, intuitive, natural, innate, native, inborn, inbred, congenital, constitutional, reflex, visceral, intestinal, intrinsic, intuitional, subconscious, Colloq gut: She has an instinctive flair for design. 2 immediate, involuntary, irrational, mechanical, automatic, spontaneous: Harvey took an instinctive dislike to Percy when they met.

institute n. 1 society, organization, association, league, alliance, guild: They tried to establish an institute for research on badgers. 2 See institution, 2.

--v. 3 establish, found, launch, organize: The principles of sportsmanship were instituted on the playing fields of England. 4 inaugurate, introduce, initiate, set up, start, begin,

originate, commence, pioneer: If you do not pay, we shall be obliged to institute proceedings against you.

institution

n. 1 establishing, establishment, forming, formation, origination, founding, foundation, installation, introduction, creation, organization: Who was responsible for the institution of cricket as a national pastime? 2 establishment, institute, academy, foundation, university, college, school: He attended an institution of higher learning after leaving the army. 3 hospital, medical centre, sanatorium or US also sanitarium, home, asylum: They spent their last days in an institution. 4 custom, tradition, habit, practice, routine, rule, order (of the day), code (of practice); doctrine, dogma: Throwing the coxswain into the river after the race has become an institution.

instruct v. 1 teach, train, tutor, drill, educate, coach, inform, guide, edify, prepare, indoctrinate, inculcate: My parents employed a tutor to instruct me in Latin. 2 direct, order, bid, require,

tell, enjoin, command, importune, charge: We were instructed to tell no one where we were going.

instruction

n. 1 Often, instructions. order, direction, brief, briefing, directive, guideline, advice, recommendation, rule; information; Colloq drill: The next instruction is to insert the plug into

the back of the receiver. Follow the instructions carefully. 2 teaching, education, schooling, training, drill, drilling, tuition, guidance, indoctrination, preparation, lessons, classes, coaching, tutelage; tutorial: Where did you receive instruction in first aid?

instructive

adj. informative, informational, informatory, educational, instructional, helpful, revealing, edifying, enlightening, illuminating: Studying the mistakes of others can be highly instructive.

instructor

n. teacher, trainer, tutor, coach, mentor, adviser, educator, pedagogue, scholastic, academe, academician, doctor, docent, lecturer, professor, Brit master, mistress, don, preceptor, US docent: Charlotte was not spending time with the tennis instructor just to improve her backhand.

instrument

n. 1 implement, tool, device, apparatus, utensil, appliance, contrivance, mechanism, gadget, Colloq contraption, thingumabob, thingumajig, thingummy, thingy, whatsit, what's-its-name, whatnot, what-d'you-call-it, Brit gubbins, US gismo or gizmo: Which instrument should I use to loosen this bolt? The doctor extracted the splinter with some sort of instrument. 2 agency, means, way, factor, mechanism, instrumentality, wherewithal, (prime) mover, catalyst, agent: Summers refused to be the instrument of bringing free people into slavery. 3 contract,

(legal) document, (written) agreement, pact, compact, paper: After the signing, copies of the instruments were exchanged.

instrumental

adj. helpful, useful, utilitarian, contributory, of service, supportive, supporting, advantageous, catalytic, conducive, beneficial, valuable, significant, important; accessory, ancillary: Your presence will be instrumental in effecting a favourable settlement.

insubordinate

adj. disobedient, rebellious, defiant, refractory, mutinous, insurgent, insurrectional, insurrectionist, revolutionary, seditious, incompliant or uncompliant, uncooperative, recalcitrant, contumacious, fractious, unruly, perverse, contrary, obstreperous, Colloq Brit stroppy: The insubordinate officers have been court-martialled.

insubstantial

adj. 1 unsubstantial, insignificant, meagre, diaphanous, small, flimsy, frail, weak, feeble, paltry, puny, slight, thin,

tenuous, fragile, light, gossamer, wispy, wisp-like, fine: Though the spider's thread appears insubstantial, for its weight it is enormously strong. 2 illusory, unreal, illusive,

imaginary, imagined, fanciful, fancied, visionary, immaterial, intangible, impalpable, incorporeal, airy, ethereal, spiritual, chimerical, phantom, phantasmal, phantasmagorical, hallucinatory, fantastic; false: Through the mist London seemed insubstantial, a dream city of vapours rising from the Thames.

insufferable

adj. unbearable, insupportable or unsupportable, intolerable, unendurable, impossible: The babysitter said she refused ever

again to look after such an insufferable brat.

insufficient

adj. inadequate, deficient, unsatisfactory, meagre, scanty, scant, scarce; too little, not enough: This light is insufficient for me to read by. We have insufficient skill to play the Brahms concerto.

insulate v. 1 detach, separate, isolate, segregate, shelter, preserve, set or keep apart, sequester, sequestrate, quarantine: The rock star's aides did their best to insulate her from her screaming fans. 2 lag, protect, shield, cushion, wrap, cover: Insulate

the pipes to prevent heat loss. Insulate the wire with this tape. Nitroglycerine must be insulated from shock.

insult v. 1 offend, affront, slight, outrage; abuse, dishonour, defame, injure; asperse, slander, libel: Don't be insulted if I arrive late and leave early. You insult her by suggesting that she has never heard of Keats.

--n. 2 offence, affront, indignity, slight, outrage, barb, dig, slur, dishonour, abuse, defamation, discourtesy; aspersion, slander, libel; Colloq slap (in the face), put-down: Refusing to bow at a Japanese funeral is taken as an insult.

insurance n. assurance, surety, indemnity, indemnification, guarantee or guaranty, warranty, bond, security, protection, cover: The cost

of insurance is higher owing to the increase in crime.

intact adj. whole, entire, perfect, complete, integral, sound, unbroken, solid, (all) in one piece, undivided, uncut, together, untouched, unreduced, undiminished, unimpaired, inviolate, unblemished, unscathed, uninjured, unharmed, undamaged, unsullied, undefiled, untainted: The ancient city has been preserved virtually intact.

intangible

adj. impalpable, unperceivable, imperceptible, incorporeal, unsubstantial, insubstantial, imponderable, immaterial, ethereal, vaporous, airy, evanescent, vague, obscure, dim, imprecise, indefinite, shadowy, fleeting, elusive: The architect must deal with intangible ideas of design, how people work and live, etc.

integral adj. 1 basic, elementary, elemental, fundamental, essential, intrinsic: The rhythm is an integral part of the music. 2 See intact.

integrate v. combine, unite, blend, bring or put together, assemble, merge, amalgamate, join, knit, mesh, consolidate, coalesce, fuse; US desegregate: We must integrate all the parts into a coherent whole. Several cultures have been well integrated into our community.

integrity n. 1 honesty, probity, veracity, uprightness, honour, rectitude, principle, morality, goodness, trustworthiness, decency, virtue, incorruptibility, righteousness: He is a person of unimpeachable integrity. 2 wholeness, entirety, unity, togetherness, soundness, completeness, coherence, oneness, totality: Care should be taken not to disturb the integrity of the protective film.

intellect n. 1 rationality, reason, reasonableness, (common) sense, understanding, judgement, cleverness, intelligence, mind, Colloq brains: You have the intellect, my boy, but it wants

developing. 2 See intellectual, 3.

intellectual

adj. 1 mental, cerebral: The greatest minds have brought their intellectual powers to bear on the problem. 2 thoughtful, thought-provoking, highbrow, academic, bookish, scholarly, Colloq brainy: The professor did not find the subject intellectual enough for a dissertation.

--n. 3 thinker, intellect, highbrow, mastermind, genius, Colloq brain, egghead: He enjoys associating with intellectuals at the university. 4 scholar, academician, professor, savant, sage, wise man, guru, polymath, pundit, authority: The editor of the journal is an intellectual who leaves the details of administration to her deputy.

intelligence

n. 1 intellect, understanding, aptitude, capacity, brainpower, cleverness, astuteness, quickness, alertness, keenness, brightness, shrewdness, wit, mother wit, (common) sense, insight, perspicacity, perception, discernment, discretion,