Random House Webster's College Thesaurus (Hardcover)

~ Random House (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you find yourself in perpetual pursuit of the perfect word, Random House Webster's College Thesaurus may earn a place as favorite bedside reading. From "alacrity" to "zeal," "altitude" to "zenith," this reference offers myriad options in the way of scintillating synonyms (as well as apt antonyms). Organized in a simple A-to-Z format, each word is also used in a sentence--with different sentences for distinct meanings of the word--to help eschew malapropisms. If you're still getting your sea legs in the ocean of current vocabulary, the feature on how to avoid offensive or insensitive language (a crash course in political correctness) should help prevent any embarrassing gaffs. And, for those who choose to teeter at the cutting edge of the lexicon, there's a section explaining new hipster words, such as "def," "dis," "phat," and "bloviate" (look it up!). With more than 12,000 main entry terms, 400,000-plus synonyms and antonyms, and the handy "Thumb Index," this revised and updated thesaurus is a reference no wordsmith should be without. --Brangien Davis

Product Description

It's Comprehensive:

You'll find synonyms for terms like wannabe, soi-distant, laid-back, kvetch, yo-yo, zaftig, and x-rated.

You'll gain insights into words like agita, ASAP, attrite, bloviate, bodice, ripper, dis, and hot-button, all discussed in a brand-new essay on the burgeoning vocabulary of the Nineties and beyond.

You'll explore the more than 12,000 main entries, with their synonym and antonym lists offering over 400,000 word choices.


It's the Easiest Thesaurus to Use:

All the main entries are in simple A- Z listing.

Thousands of example sentences show you an appropriate context for each meaning of each main entry term.

The Thumb Index helps you find your way quickly to the word you're looking for.


It's Authoritative:

Synonym and antonym lists cover all levels of vocabulary, from formal to slang.

This reliable reference is recommended for students, writers, public speakers, and business people.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 800 pages
• Publisher: Random House Reference; Rev&Updtd edition (August 12, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375400664
• ISBN-13: 978-0375400667
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.4 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,498,826 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource, April 6, 2000

By	Chuck (Goshen, NH USA) - See all my reviews

The Random House Webster's College Thesaurus, although somewhat thin, is an excellent resource, ranking among the highest. Most words in the English language have multiple meanings, converse forms, similar sounds and spellings in relation to other words, and outlandish synonyms ranging from before the Twelfth century through the Ninties. This thesaurus is not limited to only older words, terms, and phrases: but also contains slang and many new words and terms. It supplies a brief but adequate sentence for each listed word, phrase, and term, as well as for their different forms (i.e. adverbs, nouns, verbs, etc.) to sufficiently define their uses. I also enjoy the fact that this thesaurus lists antonyms, for sometimes I can think of a word, but I can't think of the word that I need, which is the exact opposite. In todays fast-paced world, everyone wants things simple and fast. Another exceptional advantage to owning this thesaurus is that it allows the reader to find what they need without searching for hours, using countless dictionaries and thesaurus's, laid out on their table. Although this thesaurus doesn't meet the criteria to qualify as the best thesaurus, it certainly exceeds the standards set by persons such as myself. I highly recommend adding this book to your personal library.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The thesaurus I liked best, August 15, 2005

By	R. Wood "word lover" (Portland, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I compared all the thesauruses in three bookstores and ended up selecting this one. First, it lists words alphabetically (not all thesauruses do). Second, it lists more synonyms than most other thesauruses. With some thesauruses you are given a few synonyms and then referred to a related word to look up and find more synonyms. This related word will then likewise give a short list of synonyms and refer the reader to yet another word. This is an interesting way to explore related words, but it's time consuming. I just perfer a long list of synonyms with each word. Third, the Random House gives one or two easy to understand sentences for each sub-meaning, or sense, of a word, followed by a list of the synonyms related to that sense. Other thesauruses will often give a *definition* of the sub-meaning, but I liked seeing the word usage in a complete sentence.
Picking out a dictionary was much more difficult, as each has it's pros and cons, but this was a clear winner, to my thinking, among the thesaureses that I looked at.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and easy to use., July 29, 2004

By	Integrity Trainer "news-info-from-sbc2" (Northbrook, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Random House Webster's College Thesaurus (Paperback)

This is one of the best reference books I bought. It is easy to use and is laid out so I quickly find the perfect word for my needs.