Collins English Thesaurus Essential. Collins Dictionaries
antagonize VERB = annoy, anger, insult, offend, irritate, alienate, hassle (informal), aggravate (informal), gall, repel, estrange, get under your skin (informal), get on your nerves (informal), nark (Brit. & Austral. & N.Z. slang), get up your nose (informal), be on your back (slang), rub (someone) up the wrong way (informal), disaffect, get in your hair (informal), get on your wick (Brit. slang), hack you off (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: pacifyantecedent ADJECTIVE They were allowed to take account of antecedent legislation. = preceding, earlier, former, previous, prior, preliminary, foregoing, anterior, precursory ◼ OPPOSITE: subsequentanterior ADJECTIVE 1 the left anterior descending artery = front, forward, fore, frontward 2 memories of our anterior existences = earlier, former, previous, prior, preceding, introductory, foregoing, antecedentanthem NOUN = song of praise, carol, chant, hymn, psalm, paean, chorale, canticleanthology NOUN = collection, choice, selection, treasury, digest, compilation, garland, compendium, miscellany, analectsanticipate VERB 1 We could not have anticipated the result of our campaigning. = expect, predict, forecast, prepare for, look for, hope for, envisage, foresee, bank on, apprehend, foretell, think likely, count upon 2 We are all eagerly anticipating the next match. = await, look forward to, count the hours untilanticipation NOUN = expectancy, hope, expectation, apprehension, foresight, premonition, preconception, foretaste, prescience, forethought, presentimentanticlimax NOUN = disappointment, letdown, comedown (informal), bathos ◼ OPPOSITE: climaxantics PLURAL NOUN = clowning, tricks, stunts, mischief, larks, capers, pranks, frolics, escapades, foolishness, silliness, playfulness, skylarking, horseplay, buffoonery, tomfoolery, monkey tricksantidote NOUN = remedy, cure, preventive, corrective, neutralizer, nostrum, countermeasure, antitoxin, antivenin, counteragentantipathy NOUN = hostility, opposition, disgust, dislike, hatred, loathing, distaste, animosity, aversion, antagonism, enmity, rancour, bad blood, incompatibility, ill will, animus, repulsion, abhorrence, repugnance, odium (formal), contrariety ◼ OPPOSITE: affinityantiquated ADJECTIVE = obsolete, old, aged, ancient, antique, old-fashioned, elderly, dated, past it (informal), out-of-date, archaic, outmoded, passé, old hat, hoary, superannuated, antediluvian, outworn, cobwebby, old as the hills ◼ OPPOSITE: up-to-dateantique NOUN a genuine antique = period piece, relic, bygone, heirloom, collector's item, museum piece, object of virtu ▸ ADJECTIVE 1 antique silver jewellery = vintage, classic, antiquarian, olden 2 Their aim is to break taboos and change antique laws. = old-fashioned, old, aged, ancient, remote, elderly, primitive, outdated, obsolete, archaic, bygone, primordial, primeval, immemorial, superannuatedantiquity NOUN 1 famous monuments of classical antiquity = distant past, ancient times, time immemorial, olden days 2 a town of great antiquity = old age, age, oldness, ancientness, elderlinessantiseptic ADJECTIVE These herbs have strong antiseptic qualities. = hygienic, clean, pure, sterile, sanitary, uncontaminated, unpolluted, germ-free, aseptic ◼ OPPOSITE: unhygienic ▸ NOUN She bathed the cut with antiseptic. = disinfectant, purifier, bactericide, germicideantisocial ADJECTIVE 1 a group of ill-treated citizens who will become aggressive and antisocial = unsociable, reserved, retiring, withdrawn, alienated, unfriendly, uncommunicative, misanthropic, asocial ◼ OPPOSITE: sociable 2 a neighbourhood blighted by vandalism and antisocial behaviour = disruptive, disorderly, hostile, menacing, rebellious, belligerent, antagonistic, uncooperativeantithesis NOUN 1 She is the antithesis of the typical artist. = opposite, contrast, reverse, contrary, converse, inverse, antipode 2 the antithesis between instinct and reason = contrast, opposition, contradiction, reversal, inversion, contrariety, contrapositionanxiety NOUN = uneasiness, concern, care, worry, doubt, tension, alarm, distress, suspicion, angst, unease, apprehension, misgiving, suspense, nervousness, disquiet, trepidation (formal), foreboding, restlessness, solicitude, perturbation, watchfulness, fretfulness, disquietude, apprehensiveness, dubiety ◼ OPPOSITE: confidenceanxious ADJECTIVE 1 I am anxious that there should be no delay. = eager, keen, intent, yearning, impatient, itching, ardent, avid, expectant, desirous ◼ OPPOSITE: reluctant 2 She admitted she was still anxious about the situation. = uneasy, concerned, worried, troubled, upset, careful, wired (slang), nervous, disturbed, distressed, uncomfortable, tense, fearful, unsettled, restless, agitated, taut, disquieted, apprehensive, edgy, watchful, jittery (informal), perturbed, on edge, ill at ease, twitchy (informal), solicitous, overwrought, fretful, on tenterhooks, in suspense, hot and bothered, unquiet (chiefly literary), like a fish out of water, antsy (informal), angsty, on pins and needles, discomposed ◼ OPPOSITE: confidentapace ADVERB = quickly, rapidly, swiftly, speedily, without delay, at full speed, expeditiously, posthaste, with dispatchapart ADVERB 1 He took the clock apart to see what was wrong with it. = to pieces, to bits, asunder (literary), into parts 2 They live 25 miles apart. = away from each other, distant from each other 3 He saw her standing some distance apart. = aside, away, alone, independently, separately, singly, excluded, isolated, cut off, to one side, to yourself, by itself, aloof, to itself, by yourself, out on a limb ● apart from The room was empty apart from one man seated beside the fire. = except for, excepting, other than, excluding, besides, not including, aside from, but, save, bar, not countingapartment NOUN 1 She has her own apartment and her own car. = flat, room, suite, compartment, penthouse, duplex (U.S. & Canad.), crib, bachelor apartment (Canad.) 2 the private apartments of the Prince of Wales at St James's Palace = rooms, quarters, chambers, accommodation, living quartersapathetic ADJECTIVE = uninterested, passive, indifferent, sluggish, unmoved, stoic, stoical, unconcerned, listless, cold, cool, impassive, unresponsive, phlegmatic, unfeeling, unemotional, torpid, emotionless, insensible ◼ OPPOSITE: interestedapathy NOUN = lack of interest, indifference, inertia, coolness, passivity, coldness, stoicism, nonchalance, torpor, phlegm, sluggishness, listlessness, unconcern, insensibility, unresponsiveness, impassivity, passiveness, impassibility, unfeelingness, emotionlessness, uninterestedness ◼ OPPOSITE: interestape VERB = imitate, copy, mirror, echo, mock, parrot, mimic, parody, caricature, affect, counterfeitaperture NOUN = opening, space, hole, crack, gap, rent, passage, breach, slot, vent, rift, slit, cleft, eye, chink, fissure, orifice, perforation, eyelet, intersticeapex NOUN 1 At the apex of the party was the central committee. = culmination, top, crown, height, climax, highest point, zenith, apogee, acme ◼ OPPOSITE: depths 2 She led me up a gloomy corridor to the apex of the pyramid. = highest point, point, top, tip, summit, peak, crest, pinnacle, vertex ◼ OPPOSITE: lowest pointaphorism NOUN = saying, maxim, gnome, adage, proverb, dictum, precept, axiom, apothegm, sawaphrodisiac NOUN Asparagus is reputed to be an aphrodisiac. = love potion, philtre ▸ ADJECTIVE plants with aphrodisiac qualities = erotic or erotical, exciting, stimulating, arousing, venerealapiece ADVERB = each, individually, separately, for each, to each, respectively, from each, severally ◼ OPPOSITE: all togetheraplenty ADJECTIVE There were problems aplenty, and it was an uncomfortable evening. = in plenty, to spare, galore, in abundance, in quantity, in profusion, à gogo (informal) ▸ ADVERB Wickets continued to fall aplenty. = plentifully, in abundance, abundantly, in quantity, in plenty, copiously, plenteouslyaplomb NOUN = self-possession, confidence, stability, self-confidence, composure, poise, coolness, calmness, equanimity, balance, self-assurance, sang-froid, level-headedness ◼ OPPOSITE: self-consciousnessapocalypse NOUN = destruction, holocaust, havoc, devastation, carnage, conflagration, cataclysmapocryphal ADJECTIVE = dubious, legendary, doubtful, questionable, mythical, spurious, fictitious, unsubstantiated, equivocal, unverified, unauthenticated, uncanonical ◼ OPPOSITE: factualapogee NOUN = highest point, top, tip, crown, summit, height, peak, climax, crest, pinnacle, culmination, zenith, apex, acme, vertexapologetic ADJECTIVE = regretful,