Customer Reviews

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I teach at a language school in Fort Lauderdale. Dozxens of students each month ask me, "How can I improve my English?" I tell them, "Get a dictionary with synonyms and opposites." The Webster S and A is the best I've found -- and portable, too.

It is vital for language learners to have something interesting to pull them forward. We tend to learn by what we are interested in and in what the opposite is. "That movie was ________" (interesting, great, fantastic...not boring, not slow, not hard to understand.) We tend to think in similars and opposites, so why not use a book that is designed to give you shades of meaning as well as the opposites? I highly recommend this book and I encourage students to pick it up. What is very good in this book? There is an example sentence to show the meaning, such as:

weak, feeble frail weak is broad, like a weak muscle, a week excuse, foundation. feeble usually shows ineffectiveness or smoethign we should pity: a feeble old man, feeble joke. frail suggests an inherited weakness, that something is weak in the structure: her frail body, a frail conscience.

You see what a valuable tool this is? I urge you to recommend this book to your learners of English, even if they are native speakers.

The quote that makes, forms, shapes, fashions, fabricates, manufactures, forges my title comes from the back of the book:~)

"The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms" is the hands down best reference book I've ever bought.

It groups synonyms together and then explains the subtle differences between them (e.g., "infer, deduce, conclude, judge, gather" are followed by definitions of each word explaining the subtle differences in their meanings -- and example of their usage in a sentence) If ever you spent five bucks on a writing reference book, this is the book to have.

My only critique is that very few nouns are ever given (most synonyms given in this book are either verbs or adjectives). And it would be helpful to see all the subtle differences between nouns like "automobile, car, sedan." I hope this helps.

Stacey Cochran
Author of CLAWS available for 80 cents

This book is very nice,but may be not the best for your particular desire. If you want more detailed information and usage examples, I recommend the M-W's Dictionary of Synonyms, if you would like a convenient guide of using words, I would say M-W's Pocket Guide of Synonyms is better for you!

This is a good rendition on classic synonyms and antonyms. It would be very helpful in augmenting vocabulary for standardized tests in high school or college.

Classic word definitions are provided. i.e.
- abate means to reduce -lustrous means bright
- boorish means rude -nonchalant means cool
- caustic means "a biting wit" -pensive means thoughtful
- chide means to criticize -preponderant means dominant
- consonant means agreement -scabrous means rough
- decorum refers to proper conduct
- eccentricity refers to singularlity of behavior
- estrange means to alienate
- fawn means to seek favor
- forestall means to prevent
- gauche means awkward
- implore means to beg
- inconstant lacks firmness
- melodorous means unpleasant
- munificent means generous
- slatternly means rundown
- sojourn means to reside
- suave means well-mannered
-temerity means boldness
-vociferous means to load

This rendition would be very helpful for a wide constituency of
students , editors and school administrators.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms is an interesting research - and I dare to say: entertaining - resource. Because, contrary to what some might think, this is not a thesaurus, but a book which groups words of similar meanings into a topic and explains in a very didactic way and with examples what distinguishes in nuance one from each other so you can use the most appropriate words depending on the situation.

For being small, you will certainly not find about everything you want and when you need, but however, this has a reasonable scope of words that is worth the purchase. In the worst case, you can perfectly take this as a regular book that you could read in your spare time since is pleasantly organized and well written. Trust me, it is not as boring as reading purposeless a regular dictionary.

I just ordered this book yesterday and received it today. I am very happy with the content of synonyms and antonyms and definitions that this book has.
Perhaps this is my own fault, but I was under the impression that the used books offered were of the newest edition depicted. I received the older version. I love vintage things, so all is not lost.

I have a friend from Mexico that is now living in the USA and trying to learn better English. She loves it and uses it often. And her English has been improving each day. That is good enough for me

This is a good little book to have handy when you can't think of the exact word you are looking for. I recommend this be part of every aspiring writer's reference bookshelf.

It is everything that I expected it to be. I would recommend it to anyone. The dictionary that you can rely on for any 'word' project.

It is an excelent book, I bought it to improve my english knowledge and it's being usefull for me nowdays...