Collins GEM English Thesaurus. Collins Dictionaries
stop, frustrate, hamper, foil, inhibit, avert, thwart 2 = refrain from, bypass, dodge, eschew, escape, duck (out of) (informal), fight shy of, shirk from 3 = keep away from, dodge, shun, evade, steer clear of, bypassawait VERB 1 = wait for, expect, look for, look forward to, anticipate, stay for 2 = be in store for, wait for, be ready for, lie in wait for, be in readiness forawake VERB 1 = wake up, come to, wake, stir, awaken, rouse 2 = alert, stimulate, provoke, revive, arouse, stir up, kindle 3 = stimulate, provoke, alert, stir up, kindle ▸ ADJECTIVE = not sleeping, sleepless, wide-awake, aware, conscious, aroused, awakened, restless ◼ OPPOSITE: asleepaward VERB 1 = present with, give, grant, hand out, confer, endow, bestow 2 = grant, give, confer ▸ NOUN = prize, gift, trophy, decoration, grant, bonsela (S. African), koha (N.Z.)aware ADJECTIVE = informed, enlightened, knowledgeable, learned, expert, versed, up to date, in the picture ◼ OPPOSITE: ignorantawareness NOUN ● awareness of = knowledge of, understanding of, recognition of, perception of, consciousness of, realization of, familiarity withaway ADJECTIVE = absent, out, gone, elsewhere, abroad, not here, not present, on vacation ▸ ADVERB 1 = off, elsewhere, abroad, hence, from here 2 = aside, out of the way, to one side 3 = at a distance, far, apart, remote, isolated 4 = continuously, repeatedly, relentlessly, incessantly, interminably, unremittingly, uninterruptedlyawe NOUN = wonder, fear, respect, reverence, horror, terror, dread, admiration ◼ OPPOSITE: contempt ▸ VERB = impress, amaze, stun, frighten, terrify, astonish, horrify, intimidateawesome ADJECTIVE = awe-inspiring, amazing, stunning (informal), impressive, astonishing, formidable, intimidating, breathtakingawful ADJECTIVE 1 = disgusting, offensive, gross, foul, dreadful, revolting, sickening, frightful, festy (Austral. slang), yucko (Austral. slang) 2 = bad, poor, terrible (informal), appalling, foul, rubbish (slang), dreadful, horrendous ◼ OPPOSITE: wonderful 3 = shocking, dreadful 4 = unwell, poorly (informal), ill, terrible, sick, crook (Austral. & N.Z. informal), unhealthy, off-colour, under the weather (informal)awfully ADVERB 1 = very, extremely, terribly, exceptionally, greatly, immensely, exceedingly, dreadfully 2 = badly, woefully, dreadfully, disgracefully, wretchedly, unforgivably, reprehensiblyawkward ADJECTIVE 1 = embarrassing, difficult, sensitive, delicate, uncomfortable, humiliating, disconcerting, inconvenient, barro (Austral. slang) ◼ OPPOSITE: comfortable 2 = inconvenient, difficult, troublesome, cumbersome, unwieldy, unmanageable, clunky (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: convenient 3 = clumsy, lumbering, bumbling, unwieldy, ponderous, ungainly, gauche, gawky, unco (Austral. slang) ◼ OPPOSITE: gracefulaxe NOUN = hatchet, chopper, tomahawk, cleaver, adze ▸ VERB 1 = abandon, end, eliminate, cancel, scrap, cut back, terminate, dispense with 2 = dismiss, fire (informal), sack (informal), remove, get rid of, kennet (Austral. slang), jeff (Austral. slang) ● the axe = the sack (informal), dismissal, the boot (slang), termination, the chop (slang)axis NOUN = pivot, shaft, axle, spindle, centre line
Bb
baby NOUN = child, infant, babe, bairn (Scot. & Northern English), newborn child, babe in arms, ankle biter (Austral. slang), tacker (Austral. slang) ▸ ADJECTIVE = small, little, minute, tiny, mini, wee, miniature, petiteback NOUN 1 = spine, backbone, vertebrae, spinal column, vertebral column 2 = rear ◼ OPPOSITE: front 3 = reverse, rear, other side, wrong side, underside, flip side ▸ ADJECTIVE 1 = rear ◼ OPPOSITE: front 2 = rearmost, hind, hindmost 3 = previous, earlier, former, past, elapsed ◼ OPPOSITE: future 4 = tail, end, rear, posterior ▸ VERB 1 = support, help, aid, champion, defend, promote, assist, advocate ◼ OPPOSITE: oppose 2 = subsidize, help, support, sponsor, assistbackbone NOUN 1 = spinal column, spine, vertebrae, vertebral column 2 = strength of character, character, resolution, nerve, daring, courage, determination, pluckbacker NOUN 1 = supporter, second, angel (informal), patron, promoter, subscriber, helper, benefactor 2 = advocate, supporter, patron, sponsor, promoterbackfire VERB = fail, founder, flop (informal), rebound, boomerang, miscarry, misfirebackground NOUN 1 = upbringing, history, culture, environment, tradition, circumstances 2 = experience, grounding, education 3 = circumstances, history, conditions, situation, atmosphere, environment, framework, ambiencebacking NOUN 1 = support, encouragement, endorsement, moral support 2 = assistance, support, help, aid, sponsorship, patronagebacklash NOUN = reaction, response, resistance, retaliation, repercussion, counterblast, counteractionbackward ADJECTIVE = underdeveloped, undevelopedbackwards or backward ADVERB = towards the rear, behind you, in reverse, rearwardsbacteria PLURAL NOUN = microorganisms, viruses, bugs (slang), germs, microbes, pathogens, bacilli
| USAGE Bacteria is a plural noun. It is therefore incorrect to talk about a bacteria, even though this is quite commonly heard, especially in the media. The correct singular is a bacterium. |
bad ADJECTIVE 1 = harmful, damaging, dangerous, destructive, unhealthy, detrimental, hurtful, ruinous ◼ OPPOSITE: beneficial 2 = unfavourable, distressing, unfortunate, grim, unpleasant, gloomy, adverse 3 = inferior, poor, inadequate, faulty, unsatisfactory, defective, imperfect, substandard, bush-league (Austral. & N.Z. informal), half-pie (N.Z. informal), bodger or bodgie (Austral. slang) ◼ OPPOSITE: satisfactory 4 = incompetent, poor, useless (informal), incapable, unfit, inexpert 5 = grim, severe, hard, tough 6 = wicked, criminal, evil, corrupt, immoral, sinful, depraved ◼ OPPOSITE: virtuous 7 = naughty, defiant, wayward, mischievous, wicked, unruly, impish, undisciplined ◼ OPPOSITE: well-behaved 8 = rotten, off, rank, sour, rancid, mouldy, putrid, festy (Austral. slang)badge NOUN 1 = image, brand, stamp, identification, crest, emblem, insignia 2 = mark, sign, tokenbadger VERB = pester, harry, bother, bug (informal), bully, plague, hound, harassbadly ADVERB 1 = poorly, incorrectly, carelessly, inadequately, imperfectly, ineptly ◼ OPPOSITE: well 2 = severely, greatly, deeply, seriously, desperately, intensely, exceedingly 3 = unfavourably, unsuccessfullybaffle VERB = puzzle, confuse, stump, bewilder, confound, perplex, mystify, flummox ◼ OPPOSITE: explainbag NOUN = sack, container, sac, receptacle ▸ VERB 1 = get, land (informal), score (slang), capture, acquire, procure 2 = catch, kill, shoot, capture, acquire, trapbaggage NOUN = luggage, things, cases, bags, equipment, gear, suitcases, belongingsbaggy ADJECTIVE = loose, slack, bulging, sagging, sloppy, floppy, roomy, ill-fitting ◼ OPPOSITE: tightbail NOUN = security, bond, guarantee, pledge, warranty, surety ● bail out = escape, withdraw, get away, retreat, make your getaway, break free or out ● bail something or someone out = save, help, release, aid, deliver, recover, rescue, get outbait NOUN = lure, attraction,