Collins Dictionaries - Collins GEM English Thesaurus

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

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, incentive, carrot (informal), temptation, snare, inducement, decoy ▸ VERB = tease, annoy, irritate, bother, mock, wind up (Brit. slang), hound, tormentbaked ADJECTIVE = dry, desert, seared, scorched, barren, sterile, arid, torridbakkie NOUN (S. African) = truck, pick-up, van, lorry, pick-up truckbalance VERB 1= stabilize, level, steady ◼ OPPOSITE: overbalance 2= weigh, consider, compare, estimate, contrast, assess, evaluate, set against 3= calculate, total, determine, estimate, settle, count, square, reckon ▸ NOUN 1= equilibrium, stability, steadiness, evenness ◼ OPPOSITE: instability 2= stability, equanimity, steadiness 3= parity, equity, fairness, impartiality, equality, correspondence, equivalence 4= remainder, rest, difference, surplus, residue 5= composure, stability, restraint, self-control, poise, self-discipline, equanimity, self-restraintbalcony NOUN 1= terrace, veranda 2= upper circle, gods, gallerybald ADJECTIVE 1= hairless, depilated, baldheaded 2= plain, direct, frank, straightforward, blunt, rude, forthright, unadornedball NOUN = sphere, drop, globe, pellet, orb, globule, spheroidballoon VERB = expand, rise, increase, swell, blow up, inflate, bulge, billowballot NOUN = vote, election, voting, poll, polling, referendum, show of handsban VERB 1= prohibit, bar, block, veto, forbid, boycott, outlaw, banish ◼ OPPOSITE: permit 2= bar, prohibit, exclude, forbid, disqualify, preclude, debar, declare ineligible ▸ NOUN = prohibition, restriction, veto, boycott, embargo, injunction, taboo, disqualification, rahui (N.Z.), restraining order (U.S., Law) ◼ OPPOSITE: permissionband1 NOUN 1= ensemble, group, orchestra, combo 2= gang, company, group, party, team, body, crowd, packband2 NOUN = headband, strip, ribbonbandage NOUN = dressing, plaster, compress, gauze ▸ VERB = dress, cover, bind, swathebandit NOUN = robber, outlaw, raider, plunderer, mugger (informal), looter, highwayman or woman, desperadobang NOUN 1= explosion, pop, clash, crack, blast, slam, discharge, thump 2= blow, knock, stroke, punch, bump, sock (slang), smack, thump ▸ VERB 1= resound, boom, explode, thunder, thump, clang 2= bump, knock, elbow, jostle 3(often with on) = hit, strike, knock, belt (informal), slam, thump, clatter, beat or knock seven bells out of (informal) ▸ ADVERB = exactly, straight, square, squarely, precisely, slap, smack (informal), plumb (informal)banish VERB 1= exclude, ban, dismiss, expel, throw out, eject, evict 2= expel, exile, outlaw, deport ◼ OPPOSITE: admit 3= get rid of, removebank1 NOUN 1= financial institution, repository, depository 2= store, fund, stock, source, supply, reserve, pool, reservoir ▸ VERB = deposit, keep, savebank2 NOUN 1= side, edge, margin, shore, brink 2= mound, banking, rise, hill, mass, pile, heap, ridge, kopje or koppie (S. African) ▸ VERB = tilt, tip, pitch, heel, slope, incline, slant, cantbank3 NOUN = row, group, line, range, series, file, rank, sequencebankrupt ADJECTIVE = insolvent, broke (informal), ruined, wiped out (informal), impoverished, in the red, destitute, gone bust (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: solventbankruptcy NOUN = insolvency, failure, disaster, ruin, liquidationbanner NOUN 1= flag, standard, colours, pennant, ensign, streamer 2= placardbanquet NOUN = feast, spread (informal), dinner, meal, revel, repast, hakari (N.Z.)bar NOUN 1= public house, pub (informal, chiefly Brit.), counter, inn, saloon, tavern, canteen, watering hole (facetious, slang), beer parlour (Canad.) 2= rod, staff, stick, stake, rail, pole, paling, shaft 3= obstacle, block, barrier, hurdle, hitch, barricade, snag, deterrent ◼ OPPOSITE: aid ▸ VERB 1= lock, block, secure, attach, bolt, blockade, barricade, fortify 2= block, restrict, restrain, hamper, thwart, hinder, obstruct, impede 3= exclude, ban, forbid, prohibit, keep out of, disallow, shut out of, blackball ◼ OPPOSITE: admitbarbarian NOUN 1= savage, monster, beast, brute, yahoo, swine, sadist 2= lout, yahoo, bigot, philistine, hoon (Austral. & N.Z. informal), cougan (Austral. slang), scozza (Austral. slang), bogan (Austral. slang), boor, vulgarianbare ADJECTIVE 1= naked, nude, stripped, uncovered, undressed, unclothed, unclad, without a stitch on (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: dressed 2= simple, spare, stark, austere, spartan, unadorned, unembellished, unornamented, bare-bones ◼ OPPOSITE: adorned 3= plain, simple, basic, obvious, sheer, patent, evident, starkbarely ADVERB = only just, just, hardly, scarcely, at a push ◼ OPPOSITE: completelybargain NOUN 1= good buy, discount purchase, good deal, steal (informal), snip (informal), giveaway, cheap purchase 2= agreement, deal (informal), promise, contract, arrangement, settlement, pledge, pact ▸ VERB = negotiate, deal, contract, mediate, covenant, stipulate, transact, cut a dealbarge NOUN = canal boat, lighter, narrow boat, flatboatbark1 VERB = yap, bay, howl, snarl, growl, yelp, woof ▸ NOUN = yap, bay, howl, snarl, growl, yelp, woofbark2 NOUN = covering, casing, cover, skin, layer, crust, cortex (Anatomy, Botany), rindbarracks PLURAL NOUN = camp, quarters, garrison, encampment, billetbarrage NOUN 1= bombardment, attack, bombing, assault, shelling, battery, volley, blitz 2= torrent, mass, burst, stream, hail, spate, onslaught, delugebarren ADJECTIVE 1= desolate, empty, desert, waste 2= infertile, sterile, unproductivebarricade NOUN = barrier, wall, fence, blockade, obstruction, rampart, bulwark, palisade ▸ VERB = bar, block, defend, secure, lock, bolt, blockade, fortifybarrier NOUN = barricade, wall, bar, fence, boundary, obstacle, blockade, obstructionbase1 NOUN 1= bottom, floor, lowest part ◼ OPPOSITE: top 2= support, stand, foot, rest, bed, bottom, foundation, pedestal 3= foundation, institution, organization, establishment, starting point 4= centre, post, station, camp, settlement, headquarters 5= home, house, pad (slang, old-fashioned), residence 6= essence, source, basis, root, core ▸ VERB 1= ground, found, build, establish, depend, construct, derive, hinge 2= place, set, post, station, establish, locate, installbase2 ADJECTIVE = dishonourable, evil, disgraceful, shameful, immoral, wicked, sordid, despicable, scungy (Austral. & N.Z.) ◼ OPPOSITE: honourablebash VERB = hit, beat, strike, knock, smash, belt (informal), slap, sock (slang)basic ADJECTIVE 1= fundamental, main, essential, primary, vital, principal, cardinal, elementary 2= vital, needed, important, key, necessary, essential, primary, crucial (informal) 3= essential, key, vital, fundamental ◼ OPPOSITE: secondary 4= main, key, essential, primary 5= plain, simple, classic, unfussy, unembellished, bare-bones, lo-fi ▸ PLURAL NOUN = essentials, principles, fundamentals, nuts and bolts (informal), nitty-gritty (informal), rudiments, brass tacks (informal)basically ADVERB = essentially, mainly, mostly, principally, fundamentally, primarily, at heart, inherentlybasis NOUN 1= arrangement, way, system, footing, agreement 2= foundation, support, base, ground, footing, bottom, groundworkbask VERB = lie, relax, lounge, sprawl, loaf, lie about, swim in, sunbathe, outspan (S. African)bass ADJECTIVE = deep, low, resonant, sonorous, low-pitched, deep-tonedbat