Childrens Illustrated Thesaurus

9

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absolute^2

adjective having total power

» Louis XIV of France was

an absolute monarch and

had complete authority

on all state matters.

dictatorial, supreme,

tyrannical

absorb

verb to soak up or take

in something » A sponge

can absorb a lot of water.

digest, soak up, take in

abstain

verb to choose not to do

something » Vegetarians

abstain from eating meat.

avoid, deny yourself, forgo,

give up, refrain, desist,

forbear, renounce

absurd

adjective ridiculous

or nonsensical » The

film’s plot was absurd,

I couldn't make sense of it.

crazy (informal), illogical,

ludicrous, nonsensical,

ridiculous, incongruous,

preposterous

abundance

noun a great amount

of something

» There is an abundance

of wildlife in the rainforest.

affluence, bounty, plenty,

cornucopia, plethora

antonym: shortage

abundant

adjective present in large

quantities » There was

an abundant supply of

cakes at the party.

ample, copious,

full, plentiful

antonym: scarce

abuse^1

noun cruel treatment

of someone » Animal

abuse is rightly illegal.

exploitation, harm, hurt,

ill-treatment, oppression

abuse^2

noun unkind remarks directed

towards someone » The

cyclist shouted abuse at

the man driving dangerously.

censure, derision,

insults, invective

abuse^3

verb to speak insultingly to

someone » The fans verbally

abused the rival football team.

curse, insult, scold,

slate (Britain; informal)

abusive

adjective rude and unkind

» Don’t use abusive language

when speaking to people, it will

offend them.

disparaging, insulting,

offensive, rude, scathing,

censorious, vituperative

abyss

noun a very deep hole

» He peered over the edge

of the abyss.

chasm, fissure, gorge,

pit, void

accelerate

verb to go faster » The car

accelerated to reach the

higher speed limit.

hurry, quicken, speed up

antonym: decelerate

accept

verb to receive or agree

to something » Lucas

accepted the party invitation.

acknowledge,

agree to, concur with,

consent to, take

antonym: refuse

acceptable

adjective good enough

to be accepted

» His messy handwriting

was not acceptable.

adequate, all right, fair,

good enough, passable,

satisfactory, tolerable

accidental

adjective happening by chance

» The fire was accidental.

casual, chance,

inadvertent, random

antonym: deliberate

accommodate

verb to provide someone with

a place to stay » A hotel was

built to accommodate guests

for weddings.

house, put up, shelter

accommodating

adjective willing to help » The

waiter was very accommodating

and found us a new table.

considerate, helpful,

hospitable, kind, obliging

accommodation

noun a house or room

for living in

▼ SEE BELOW

accompany^1

verb to go somewhere with

someone » Children must

be accompanied by an adult.

conduct (formal), escort,

go with, usher

accompany

There was an abundant supply

of cakes at the party.

He peered over the edge

of the abyss.

housing

This housing

is perfect

for families.

maisonette

A maisonette is a flat

with its own front door

to the street.

mansion

The mansion has

seven bedrooms.

flats

How many flats are

in the block?

lodgings

The student lodgings

needed decorating.

studio

He lives in a

one-room studio.

apartment

My apartment has

a concierge service.

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