Childrens Illustrated Thesaurus

118

A B C D E G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

F

imperfect

imperfect

adjective having faults or

problems » We live in

an imperfect world.

broken, damaged,

defective, faulty, flawed,

deficient, impaired,

rudimentary

antonym: perfect

impersonal

adjective not concerned with

people and their feelings

» She found him strangely

distant and impersonal.

aloof, cold, detached,

formal, neutral, remote,

bureaucratic, businesslike,

dispassionate

implore

verb to beg someone to do

something » “Tell me what

to do!” Stefan implored Sara.

beg, beseech (literary),

plead with

important^1

adjective necessary or

significant » Her friends

are the most important

people in her life.

momentous, serious,

significant, weighty,

salient, seminal

antonym: unimportant

important^2

adjective having great influence

or power » The head teacher

is the most important person

in the school.

eminent, foremost,

influential, leading, notable,

powerful, pre-eminent,

prominent

impose^1

verb to force something on

someone » Fines were

imposed on the culprits.

dictate, enforce, inflict,

levy, ordain

impose^2 : impose on

verb to take advantage of

someone » I should stop

imposing on your hospitality.

abuse, take advantage of,

use

impossible

adjective unable to happen or

be believed » Finishing the

race seemed impossible.

absurd, hopeless,

inconceivable, ludicrous,

out of the question,

unthinkable, outrageous,

unattainable, unworkable

antonym: possible

impression^1

noun the way someone or

something seems to you

» Conor’s first impressions

of the hotel were good.

feeling, hunch, idea,

notion, sense

impression^2 : make

an impression

verb to have a strong effect on

people » He certainly made

a good impression on his

teachers, as he presented

his work perfectly.

cause a stir, influence,

make an impact

impressionable

adjective easy to influence

» Parents were worried about

the effect the film might have

on impressionable teenagers.

gullible, open, receptive,

sensitive, susceptible,

vulnerable, ingenuous,

suggestible

impressive

adjective tending to impress

» Winning so many medals^

was an impressive achievement.

awesome, exciting, grand,

powerful, stirring, striking,

dramatic, moving

imprison

verb to lock someone up

» He was imprisoned

for fraud.

confine, detain,

incarcerate, jail, lock up,

send to prison, constrain,

immure, intern

antonym: free

improbable

adjective unlikely or

unbelievable » Helen told

an improbable story about

the dog eating her homework.

doubtful, dubious,

far-fetched, implausible,

unbelievable, unlikely

antonym: probable

improve

verb to get or make better

» My grades have definitely

improved since the summer.

advance, better, enhance,

look up (informal), progress,

upgrade, ameliorate,

develop, reform

antonym: worsen

improvement

noun the fact or process of

getting better » There was

a dramatic improvement in

the food since he’d been

on the cookery course.

advance, development,

enhancement, progress,

upturn

impudence

noun disrespectful talk or

behaviour towards someone

» Have you ever heard such

impudence?

audacity, boldness,

cheek (informal),

chutzpah (informal),

gall, impertinence,

insolence, nerve

inability

noun a lack of ability to do

something » Ava’s inability

to run was due to her injured

left knee.

impotence, inadequacy,

incompetence, ineptitude

antonym: ability

inadequate^1

adjective not enough in

quantity » Our supplies

of popcorn were inadequate

for the long film.

insufficient, lacking, poor,

scarce, short

antonym: adequate

inadequate^2

adjective not good enough

» He had no idea what he was

supposed to be doing and felt

inadequate to the task.

deficient, incapable,

incompetent, inept,

pathetic, useless

inappropriate

adjective not suitable for

a purpose or occasion

» Running around is

inappropriate behaviour

for the classroom.

improper, incongruous,

unfit, unseemly, unsuitable,

untimely, wrong

antonym: appropriate

incentive

noun something that

encourages you to do

something » Luca had

an incentive to study now

the holiday was booked.

bait, encouragement,

inducement, motivation,

stimulus, lure,

motive, spur

Winning so many medals was

an impressive achievement.

He was imprisoned for fraud.

He had no idea what he was

supposed to be doing and felt

inadequate to the task.

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