Collins English Thesaurus Essential. Collins Dictionaries
= stick, join, bond, attach, seal, glue, plaster, gum, weld, soldercemetery NOUN = graveyard, churchyard, burial ground, necropolis, God's acrecensor VERB = expurgate, cut, blue-pencil, bowdlerizecensorship NOUN = expurgation, blue pencil, purgation, bowdlerization or bowdlerisation, sanitization or sanitisationcensure VERB I would not presume to censure him for his views. = criticize, blame, abuse, condemn, carpet (informal), denounce, put down, slate (informal), rebuke, reprimand, reproach, scold, berate, castigate, chide, tear into (informal), diss (slang), blast, read the riot act, reprove, upbraid, slap on the wrist, damn, lambast(e), bawl out (informal), excoriate, rap over the knuckles, chew out (U.S. & Canad. informal), tear (someone) off a strip (Brit. informal), give (someone) a rocket (Brit. & N.Z. informal), reprehend ◼ OPPOSITE: applaud ▸ NOUN It is a controversial policy which has attracted international censure. = disapproval, criticism, blame, condemnation, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, dressing down (informal), stick (slang), stricture, reproof, castigation, obloquy, remonstrance ◼ OPPOSITE: approvalcentral ADJECTIVE 1 She had a house in central London. = inner, middle, mid, interior ◼ OPPOSITE: outer 2 a central part of government policy = main, central, chief, key, essential, primary, principal, fundamental, focal ◼ OPPOSITE: minorcentralize VERB = unify, concentrate, incorporate, compact, streamline, converge, condense, amalgamate, rationalizecentre NOUN A large wooden table dominates the centre of the room. = middle, heart, focus, core, nucleus, hub, pivot, kernel, crux, bull's-eye, midpoint ◼ OPPOSITE: edge ● centre on something or someone Our efforts centre on helping patients to overcome illness · All his thoughts are centred on himself. = focus, concentrate, cluster, revolve, convergecentrepiece NOUN = focus, highlight, hub, starceremonial ADJECTIVE He represented the nation on ceremonial occasions. = formal, public, official, ritual, stately, solemn, liturgical, courtly, ritualistic ◼ OPPOSITE: informal ▸ NOUN It is difficult to imagine a more impressive ceremonial. = ritual, ceremony, rite, formality, solemnityceremony NOUN 1 The flag was blessed in a ceremony in the local cathedral. = ritual, service, rite, observance, commemoration, solemnities 2 He was crowned with great ceremony. = formality, ceremonial, propriety, decorum, formal courtesycertain ADJECTIVE 1 She's absolutely certain she's going to make it as a singer. = sure, convinced, positive, confident, satisfied, assured, free from doubt ◼ OPPOSITE: unsure 2 They say he's certain to get a nomination for best supporting actor. = bound, sure, fated, destined ◼ OPPOSITE: unlikely 3 They intervened to save him from certain death. = inevitable, unavoidable, inescapable, inexorable, ineluctable 4 One thing is certain – they have the utmost respect for each other. = known, true, positive, plain, ascertained, unmistakable, conclusive, undoubted, unequivocal, undeniable, irrefutable, unquestionable, incontrovertible, indubitable, nailed-on (slang) ◼ OPPOSITE: doubtful 5 He has to pay a certain sum in child support every month. = fixed, decided, established, settled, definite ◼ OPPOSITE: indefinite 6 A certain person has been looking for you. = particular, special, individual, specificcertainly ADVERB = definitely, surely, truly, absolutely, undoubtedly, positively, decidedly, without doubt, unquestionably, undeniably, without question, unequivocally, indisputably, assuredly, indubitably, doubtlessly, come hell or high water, irrefutablycertainty NOUN 1 I have said with absolute certainty that there will be no change of policy. = confidence, trust, faith, conviction, assurance, certitude, sureness, positiveness ◼ OPPOSITE: doubt 2 There is too little certainty about the outcome yet. = inevitability ◼ OPPOSITE: uncertainty 3 A general election became a certainty three weeks ago. = fact, truth, reality, sure thing (informal), surety, bankercertificate NOUN = document, licence, warrant, voucher, diploma, testimonial, authorization, credential(s)certify VERB = confirm, show, declare, guarantee, witness, assure, endorse, testify, notify, verify, ascertain, validate, attest, corroborate, avow, authenticate, vouch for, avercessation NOUN = ceasing, ending, break, halt, halting, pause, suspension, interruption, respite, standstill, stoppage, termination, let-up (informal), remission, abeyance, discontinuance, staychafe VERB 1 The shorts were chafing my thighs. = rub, scratch, scrape, rasp, abrade 2 He chafed at having to take orders from someone else. = be annoyed, rage, fume, be angry, fret, be offended, be irritated, be incensed, be impatient, be exasperated, be inflamed, be ruffled, be vexed, be narked (Brit. & Austral. & N.Z. slang)chaff NOUN = husks, remains, refuse, waste, hulls, rubbish, trash (chiefly U.S. & Canad.), dregschagrin NOUN Much to his chagrin, she didn't remember him at all. = annoyance, embarrassment, humiliation, dissatisfaction, disquiet, displeasure, mortification, discomfiture, vexation, discomposure ▸ VERB He was chagrined at missing such an easy goal. = annoy, embarrass, humiliate, disquiet, vex, displease, mortify, discomfit, dissatisfy, discomposechain NOUN 1 The dogs were growling and pulling at their chains. = tether, coupling, link, bond, shackle, fetter, manacle 2 a horrific chain of events = series, set, train, string, sequence, succession, progression, concatenation ▸ VERB We were kept in a cell, chained to the wall. = bind, confine, restrain, handcuff, shackle, tether, fetter, manaclechairman or chairwoman or chairperson NOUN 1 I had done business with the company's chairwoman. = director, president, chief, executive, chairperson, chair 2 The chairman declared the meeting open. = master or mistress of ceremonies, spokesperson, chair, speaker, MC
| USAGE The general trend of nonsexist language is to find a term which can apply to both sexes equally, as in the use of actor to refer to both men and women. Chairman can seem inappropriate when applied to a woman, while chairwoman specifies gender, therefore the terms chair and chairperson are often preferred as alternatives. |
chalk up VERB 1 The team chalked up one win after another. = score, win, gain, achieve, accumulate, attain 2 I just chalked his odd behaviour up to midlife crisis. = record, mark, enter, credit, register, log, tallychallenge NOUN 1 I like a challenge, and they don't come much bigger than this. = dare, provocation, summons to contest, wero (N.Z.) 2 In December, she saw off the first challenge to her leadership. = test, trial, opposition, confrontation, defiance, ultimatum, face-off (slang) ▸ VERB 1 The move was immediately challenged by the opposition. = dispute, question, tackle, confront, defy, object to, disagree with, take issue with, impugn (formal), throw down (U.S. slang) 2 He left a note at the crime scene, challenging detectives to catch him. = dare, invite, provoke, defy, summon, call out, throw down the gauntlet 3 a task that would challenge his courage = test, try, tax 4 The men opened fire after they were challenged by the guard. = question, interrogate, accostchamber NOUN 1 We are going to be in the council chamber when he speaks. = hall, room 2 the main political chamber of the Slovenian parliament = council, assembly, legislature, legislative body 3 We shall dine together in my chamber. = room, bedroom, enclosure, cubicle 4 The incinerator works by focusing the sun's rays onto a cylindrical glass chamber. = compartment, hollow, cavitychampion NOUN 1 Kasparov became a world chess champion. = winner, hero, victor, conqueror, title holder, warrior 2 He received acclaim as a champion of the oppressed. = defender, guardian, patron, backer, protector, upholder, vindicator ▸ VERB He passionately championed the poor. = support, back, defend, promote, advocate, fight for, uphold, espouse, stick up for (informal)chance NOUN 1 This partnership has a good chance of success. = probability, odds, possibility, prospect, liability, likelihood ◼ OPPOSITE: certainty 2 All eligible people will get a chance to vote. = opportunity,