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babble VERB

1 They all babbled simultaneously. = gabble, chatter, gush, spout, waffle (informal, chiefly Brit.), splutter, gaggle, burble, prattle, gibber, rabbit on (Brit. informal), jabber, prate, earbash (Austral. & N.Z. slang) 2 a brook babbling only yards from the door = gurgle, lap, bubble, splash, murmur, ripple, burble, plash ▸ NOUN 1 He couldn't make himself heard above the babble. = gabble, chatter, burble, prattle, blabber 2 lots of babble about strategies and tactics = gibberish, waffle (informal, chiefly Brit.), drivel, twaddlebabe NOUN = baby, child, innocent, infant, bairn (Scot. & Northern English), tacker (Austral. slang), suckling, newborn child, babe in arms, nurslingbaby NOUN We just had a baby. = child, infant, babe, wean (Scot.), little one, bairn (Scot. & Northern English), suckling, newborn child, babe in arms, sprog (slang), neonate, rug rat (U.S. & Canad. informal), ankle biter (Austral. slang), tacker (Austral. slang) ▸ ADJECTIVE Serve with baby new potatoes. = small, little, minute, tiny, mini, wee, miniature, dwarf, diminutive, petite, midget, teeny (informal), pocket-sized, undersized, teeny-weeny (informal), Lilliputian, teensy-weensy (informal), pygmy or pigmy ▸ VERB My parents never babied me, unless I was really ill. = spoil, pamper, cosset, coddle, pet, humour, indulge, spoon-feed, mollycoddle, overindulge, wrap up in cotton wool (informal)back NOUN 1 The treatment involved tiny injections in the back. = spine, backbone, vertebrae, spinal column, vertebral column 2 a room at the back of the shop = rear, other side, back end, rear side ◼ OPPOSITE: front 3 = end, tail end 4 She had written a poem on the back of a postcard. = reverse, rear, other side, wrong side, underside, flip side, verso ▸ ADJECTIVE 1 a path leading to the back garden = rear ◼ OPPOSITE: front 2 He loved sitting in the back seat on road trips. = rearmost, hind, hindmost 3 A handful of back copies will give an indication of property prices. = previous, earlier, former, past, elapsed ◼ OPPOSITE: future 4 They had transmitters taped to their back feathers. = tail, end, rear, posterior ▸ VERB 1 He is backed by the civic movement. = support, help, second, aid, champion, encourage, favour, defend, promote, sanction, sustain, assist, advocate, endorse, side with, stand up for, espouse, stand behind, countenance, abet, stick up for (informal), take up the cudgels for ◼ OPPOSITE: oppose 2 Murjani backed him to start the new company. = subsidize, help, support, finance, sponsor, assist, underwrite ● back down It's too late now to back down. = give in, collapse, withdraw, yield, concede, submit, surrender, comply, cave in (informal), capitulate, accede, admit defeat, back-pedal ● back out I've already promised I'll go – I can't back out now. = withdraw, retire, give up, pull out, retreat, drop out, renege, cop out (slang), chicken out (informal), detach yourself ● back someone up The woman made a statement, and the men backed her up. = support, second, aid, assist, stand by, bolster ● behind someone's back You enjoy her hospitality, and then criticize her behind her back. = secretly, covertly, surreptitiously, furtively, conspiratorially, sneakily, deceitfully ◼ RELATED WORD: adjective dorsalbackbone NOUN 1 He was so thin that his backbone was visible. = spinal column, spine, vertebrae, vertebral column 2 the economic backbone of the nation = foundation, support, base, basis, mainstay, bedrock 3 You might be taking drastic measures and you've got to have the backbone to do that. = strength of character, will, character, bottle (Brit. slang), resolution, resolve, nerve, daring, courage, determination, guts, pluck, stamina, grit, bravery, fortitude, toughness, tenacity, willpower, mettle, boldness, firmness, spunk (informal), fearlessness, steadfastness, moral fibre, hardihood, dauntlessnessbacker NOUN 1 I was looking for a backer to assist me in the attempted buy-out. = supporter, second, ally, angel (informal), patron, promoter, subscriber, underwriter, helper, benefactor 2 He became a backer of reform at the height of the crisis. = advocate, supporter, patron, sponsor, promoter, protagonistbackfire VERB = fail, founder, flop (informal), rebound, fall through, fall flat, boomerang, miscarry, misfire, go belly-up (slang), turn out badly, meet with disasterbackground NOUN 1 Moulded by his background, he could not escape traditional values. = upbringing, history, culture, environment, tradition, circumstances, breeding, milieu 2 His background was in engineering. = experience, grounding, education, preparation, qualifications, credentials 3 The meeting takes place against a background of political violence. = circumstances, history, conditions, situation, atmosphere, environment, framework, ambience, milieu, frame of referencebacking NOUN 1 He said the president had the full backing of his government. = support, seconding, championing, promotion, sanction, approval, blessing, encouragement, endorsement, patronage, accompaniment, advocacy, moral support, espousal 2 She brought her action with the financial backing of the BBC. = assistance, support, help, funds, aid, grant, subsidy, sponsorship, patronagebacklash NOUN = reaction, response, resistance, resentment, retaliation, repercussion, counterblast, counteraction, retroactionbacklog NOUN = build-up, stock, excess, accumulation, accretionbackside NOUN = buttocks, behind (informal), seat, bottom (informal), rear (informal), tail (informal), cheeks (informal), butt (informal), bum (Brit. slang), buns (slang), rump, rear end, posterior, haunches, hindquarters, derrière (euphemistic), tush, fundament, gluteus maximus (Anatomy), coit (Austral. slang), nates (Technical), jacksy (Brit. slang), keister or keester (slang, chiefly U.S.)backtrack VERB 1 (often with on) The finance minister backtracked on the decision. = retract, withdraw, retreat, draw back, recant 2 We had to backtrack to the corner and cross the street. = retrace your steps, go back, reverse, retreat, move back, back-pedalbackup NOUN 1 There's no emergency backup immediately available if something goes wrong. = support, backing, help, aid, reserves, assistance, reinforcement, auxiliaries 2 She was added to the squad as a backup. = substitute, reserve, relief, stand-in, replacement, stand-by, understudy, second string, locumbackward ADJECTIVE 1 She did a backward flip. = reverse, inverted, inverse, back to front, rearward ◼ OPPOSITE: forward 2 We need to accelerate the pace of change in our backward country. = underdeveloped, undevelopedbackwardness NOUN I was astonished at the backwardness of our country at the time. = lack of development, underdevelopmentbackwards or backward ADVERB = towards the rear, behind you, in reverse, rearwardsbackwoods PLURAL NOUN = sticks (informal), outback, back country (U.S.), back of beyond, backlands (U.S.)bacteria PLURAL NOUN = microorganisms, viruses, bugs (slang), germs, microbes, pathogens, bacilli

bad ADJECTIVE 1 Eating too much of any food can be bad for you. = harmful, damaging, dangerous, disastrous, destructive, unhealthy, detrimental, hurtful, ruinous, deleterious (formal), injurious, disadvantageous ◼ OPPOSITE: beneficial 2 The pain is often so bad she wants to scream. = severe, serious, terrible, acute, extreme, intense, painful, distressing, fierce, harsh 3 The closure of the project is bad news for her staff. = unfavourable, troubling, distressing, unfortunate, grim, discouraging, unpleasant, gloomy, adverse 4 Many elderly people are living in bad housing. = inferior, poor, inadequate, pathetic, faulty, duff (Brit. informal), unsatisfactory, mediocre, defective, second-class, deficient, imperfect, second-rate, shoddy, low-grade, erroneous, substandard, low-rent (informal), two-bit (slang), crappy (slang), end-of-the-pier (Brit. informal), poxy (slang), dime-a-dozen (informal), bush-league (Austral. & N.Z. informal), tinhorn (U.S. slang), half-pie (N.Z. informal), bodger or bodgie (Austral. slang), strictly for the birds (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: satisfactory 5 He was a bad driver. = incompetent, poor, useless (informal), incapable, unfit, inexpert 6 Being scared of heights doesn't seem as bad as being scared of the dark. = grim, severe, hard, tough 7 I felt that I was a selfish, ungrateful, and generally bad person. = wicked, criminal, evil, corrupt, worthless, base, vile, immoral, delinquent, sinful, depraved, debased, amoral, egregious, villainous, unprincipled, iniquitous, nefarious, dissolute, maleficent ◼ OPPOSITE: virtuous 8 It is bad that you repeated what I told you. = naughty, defiant, perverse, wayward, mischievous, wicked, unruly, impish, undisciplined, roguish, disobedient ◼ OPPOSITE: well-behaved 9 You don't have to feel bad about relaxing. = guilty, sorry, ashamed, apologetic, rueful, sheepish, contrite, remorseful, regretful, shamefaced, conscience-stricken 10 They bought so much beef that some went bad. = rotten, off, rank, sour, rancid, mouldy, fetid, putrid, festy (Austral. slang) ● not bad These are not bad for cheap shoes. = O.K. or okay, fine, middling, average, fair, all right, acceptable, moderate, adequate, respectable, satisfactory, so-so, tolerable (informal), passable, fair to middling (informal)baddie or baddy (informal) NOUN = villain, criminal, rogue, bad guy, scoundrel (old-fashioned), miscreant, antihero, evildoer, wrong 'un (slang) ◼ OPPOSITE: goodie or goodybadge NOUN 1 a badge depicting a party leader = image, brand, stamp, identification, crest, emblem, insignia 2 Urbanization became both a goal and a badge of progress. = mark, sign, tokenbadger VERB = pester, worry, harry, bother, bug (informal), bully, plague, hound, get at, harass, nag, hassle (informal), chivvy, importune (formal), bend someone's ear (informal), be on someone's back (slang)badly ADVERB 1 I was angry because I played so badly. = poorly, incorrectly, carelessly, inadequately, erroneously, imperfectly, ineptly, shoddily, defectively, faultily ◼ OPPOSITE: well 2 It was a gamble that went badly wrong. = severely, greatly, deeply, seriously, gravely, desperately, sorely, dangerously, intensely, painfully, acutely, exceedingly 3 All involved in the story came out badly. = unfavourably, unsuccessfullybadness NOUN = wickedness, wrong, evil, corruption, sin, impropriety, immorality, villainy, naughtiness, sinfulness, foulness, baseness, rottenness, vileness, shamefulness ◼ OPPOSITE: virtuebad-tempered ADJECTIVE = irritable, cross, angry, tense, crabbed, fiery, grumbling, snarling, prickly, exasperated, edgy, snappy, sullen, touchy, surly, petulant, sulky, ill-tempered, irascible, cantankerous, tetchy, ratty (Brit. & N.Z. informal), tooshie (Austral. slang), testy, chippy (informal), fretful, grouchy (informal), querulous, peevish, crabby, huffy, dyspeptic, choleric, splenetic, crotchety (informal), oversensitive, snappish, ill-humoured, liverish, narky (Brit. slang), out of humour ◼ OPPOSITE: good-temperedbaffle VERB = puzzle, beat (slang), amaze, confuse, stump, bewilder, astound, elude, confound, perplex, disconcert, mystify, flummox, boggle the mind of, dumbfound ◼ OPPOSITE: explainbaffling ADJECTIVE = puzzling, strange, confusing, weird, mysterious, unclear, bewildering, elusive, enigmatic, perplexing, incomprehensible, mystifying, inexplicable, unaccountable, unfathomable ◼ OPPOSITE: understandablebag NOUN She left the hotel carrying a shopping bag. = sack, container, poke (Scot.), sac, receptacle ▸ VERB 1 The smart ones will have already bagged their seats. = get, take, land (informal), score (slang), gain, pick up, capture, acquire, get hold of, come by, procure, make sure of, win possession of 2 Bag a rabbit for supper. = catch, get, kill, shoot, capture, acquire, trapbaggage NOUN = luggage, things, cases, bags, equipment, gear, trunks, suitcases, belongings, paraphernalia, accoutrements, impedimentabaggy ADJECTIVE = loose, hanging, slack, loosened, bulging, not fitting, sagging, sloppy, floppy, billowing, roomy, slackened, ill-fitting, droopy, oversize, not tight ◼ OPPOSITE: tightbail1 NOUN He was freed on bail pending an appeal. = security, bond, guarantee, pledge, warranty, surety, guaranty ● bail out The pilot bailed out safely. = escape, withdraw, get away, retreat, make your getaway, break free or out, make or effect your escape ● bail something or someone out They will discuss how to bail the economy out of its slump. = save, help, free, release, aid, deliver, recover, rescue, get out, relieve, liberate, salvage, set free, save the life of, extricate, save (someone's) bacon (Brit. informal)bail2 or bale2 VERB We kept the boat afloat for a couple of hours by bailing frantically. = scoop, empty, dip, ladle, drain offbait NOUN bait to attract audiences for advertisements = lure, attraction, incentive, carrot (informal), temptation, bribe, magnet, snare, inducement, decoy, carrot and stick, enticement, allurement ▸ VERB He delighted in baiting his friends. = tease, provoke, annoy, irritate, guy (informal), bother, needle (informal), plague (informal), mock, rag, rib (informal), wind up (Brit. slang), hound, torment, harass, ridicule, taunt, hassle (informal), aggravate (informal), badger, gall, persecute, pester, goad, irk, bedevil, take the mickey out of (informal), chaff, gibe, get on the nerves of (informal), nark (Brit. & Austral. & N.Z. slang), be on the back of (slang), get in the hair of (informal), get or take a rise out of, hack you off (informal)baked ADJECTIVE = dry, desert, seared, dried up, scorched, barren, sterile, arid, torrid, desiccated, sun-baked, waterless, moisturelessbakkie NOUN (S. African) = truck, pick-up, van, lorry, pick-up truckbalance VERB 1 He balanced a football on his head. = stabilize, level, steady ◼ OPPOSITE: overbalance 2 Balance spicy dishes with mild ones. = offset, match, square, make up for, compensate for, counteract, neutralize, counterbalance, even up, equalize, counterpoise 3 We have to balance the costs of the project against the benefits. = weigh, consider, compare, estimate, contrast, assess, evaluate, set against, juxtapose 4 He balanced his budget by rigid control over public expenditure. = calculate, rate, judge, total, determine, estimate, settle, count, square, reckon, work out, compute, gauge, tally ▸ NOUN 1 The medicines you are currently taking could be affecting your balance. = equilibrium, stability, steadiness, evenness, equipoise, counterpoise ◼ OPPOSITE: instability 2 the ecological balance of the forest = stability, equanimity, constancy, steadiness 3 her ability to maintain the political balance = parity, equity, fairness, impartiality, equality, correspondence, equivalence 4 They were due to pay the balance on delivery. = remainder, rest, difference, surplus, residue 5 a balance of mind = composure, stability, restraint, self-control, poise, self-discipline, coolness, calmness, equanimity, self-restraint, steadiness, self-possession, self-mastery, strength of mind or willbalance sheet NOUN = statement, report, account, budget, ledger, financial statement, credits and debits sheetbalcony NOUN 1 He appeared on a second floor balcony to appeal to the crowd to be calm. = terrace, veranda 2 We took our seats in the balcony. = upper circle, gods, gallerybald ADJECTIVE 1 The man's bald head was beaded with sweat. = hairless, bare, shorn, clean-shaven, tonsured, depilated, glabrous (Biology), baldheaded, baldpated 2 The bald truth is that he's just not happy. = plain, direct, simple, straight, frank, severe, bare, straightforward, blunt, rude, outright, downright, forthright, unadorned, unvarnished, straight from the shoulderbalding ADJECTIVE = losing your hair, receding, thin on top, becoming baldbaldness NOUN = hairlessness, alopecia (Pathology), baldheadedness, baldpatedness, glabrousness (Biology)bale see bailbaleful ADJECTIVE = menacing, threatening, dangerous, frightening, evil, deadly, forbidding, intimidating, harmful, sinister, ominous, malignant, hurtful, vindictive, pernicious (formal), malevolent, noxious, venomous, ruinous, intimidatory, minatory, maleficent, bodeful, louring or lowering, minacious ◼ OPPOSITE: friendlybalk or baulk VERB (usually with at) = recoil, resist, hesitate, dodge, falter, evade, shy away, flinch, quail, shirk, shrink, draw back, jib ◼ OPPOSITE: acceptball NOUN 1 a golf ball = sphere, drop, globe, pellet, orb, globule, spheroid 2 A cannon ball struck the ship. = projectile, shot, missile, bullet, ammunition, slug, pellet, grapeshotballast NOUN = counterbalance, balance, weight, stability, equilibrium, sandbag, counterweight, stabilizerballoon VERB = expand, rise, increase, extend, swell, blow up, enlarge, inflate, bulge, billow, dilate, be inflated, puff out, become larger, distend, bloat, grow rapidlyballot NOUN = vote, election, voting, poll, polling, referendum, show of handsbalm NOUN 1 The balm is very soothing. = ointment, cream, lotion, salve, emollient, balsam, liniment, embrocation, unguent 2 This place is a balm to the soul. = comfort, support, relief, cheer, consolation, solace, palliative, anodyne, succour, restorative, curativebalmy ADJECTIVE a balmy summer's evening = mild, warm, calm, moderate, pleasant, clement, tranquil, temperate, summery ◼ OPPOSITE: roughbamboozle VERB 1 He was bamboozled by conmen. = cheat, do (informal), kid (informal), skin (slang), trick, fool, take in (informal), con (informal), stiff, sting (informal), mislead, rip off (slang), thwart, deceive, fleece, hoax, defraud, dupe, beguile, gull (archaic), delude, swindle, stitch up (slang), victimize, hoodwink, double-cross (informal), diddle (informal), take for a ride (informal), do the dirty on (Brit. informal), bilk, pull a fast one on (informal), cozen 2 He bamboozled Mercer into defeat. = puzzle, confuse, stump, baffle, bewilder, confound, perplex, mystify, befuddle, flummox, nonplusban VERB 1 Last year arms sales were banned. = prohibit, black, bar, block, restrict, veto, forbid, boycott, suppress, outlaw, banish, disallow, proscribe, debar, blackball, interdict ◼ OPPOSITE: permit 2 He was banned from driving for three years. = bar, prohibit, exclude, forbid, disqualify, preclude, debar, declare ineligible ▸ NOUN The General also lifted a ban on political parties. = prohibition, block, restriction, veto, boycott, embargo, injunction, censorship, taboo, suppression, stoppage, disqualification, interdiction, interdict, proscription, disallowance, rahui (N.Z.), restraining order (U.S., Law) ◼ OPPOSITE: permissionbanal ADJECTIVE = unoriginal, stock, ordinary, boring, tired, routine, dull, everyday, stereotypical, pedestrian, commonplace, mundane, tedious, vanilla (slang), dreary, stale, tiresome, monotonous, humdrum, threadbare, trite, unimaginative, uneventful, uninteresting, clichéd, old hat, mind-numbing, hackneyed, ho-hum (informal), vapid, repetitious, wearisome, platitudinous, cliché-ridden, unvaried ◼ OPPOSITE: originalbanality NOUN 1 the banality of life = unoriginality, triviality, vapidity, triteness 2 His ability to utter banalities never ceased to amaze me. = cliché, commonplace, platitude, truism, bromide (informal), trite phraseband1 NOUN 1 Local bands provide music for dancing. = ensemble, group, orchestra, combo 2 bands of government soldiers = gang, company, group, set, party, team, lot, club, body, association, crowd, troop, pack, camp, squad, crew (informal), assembly, mob, horde, troupe, posse (informal), clique, coterie, bevy ● band together People living in a foreign city band together for company. = unite, group, join, league, ally, associate, gather, pool, merge, consolidate, affiliate, collaborate, join forces, cooperate, confederate, pull together, join together, federate, close ranks, club togetherband2 NOUN 1 She was wearing a trouser suit and a band around her forehead. = headband, tie, strip, ribbon, fillet 2 He placed a metal band around the injured kneecap. = bandage, tie, binding, strip, belt, strap, cord, swathe, fetterbandage NOUN His chest was swathed in bandages. = dressing, plaster, compress, gauze ▸ VERB Apply a dressing to the wound and bandage it. = dress, cover, bind, swathebandit NOUN = robber, gunman or woman, crook (informal), outlaw, pirate, raider, gangster, plunderer, mugger (informal), hijacker, looter, highwayman or woman, racketeer, desperado, marauder, brigand, freebooter, footpadbandy VERB = exchange, trade, pass, throw, truck, swap, toss, shuffle, commute, interchange, barter, reciprocatebane NOUN = plague (informal), bête noire, trial, disaster, evil, ruin, burden, destruction, despair, misery, curse, pest, torment, woe, nuisance, downfall, calamity, scourge, affliction ◼ OPPOSITE: blessingbang NOUN 1 I heard four or five loud bangs. = explosion, report, shot, pop, clash, crack, blast, burst, boom, slam, discharge, thump, clap, thud, clang, peal, detonation 2 a nasty bang on the head = blow, hit, box, knock, stroke, punch, belt (informal), rap, bump, bash (informal), sock (slang), smack, thump, buffet, clout (informal), cuff, clump (slang), whack, wallop (informal), slosh (Brit. slang), tonk (informal), clomp (slang) ▸ VERB 1 The engine spat and banged. = resound, beat, crash, burst, boom, echo, drum, explode, thunder, thump, throb, thud, clang 2 I didn't mean to bang into you. = bump, knock, elbow, jostle 3 (often with on) We could bang on the desks and shout until they let us out. = hit, pound, beat, strike, crash, knock, belt (informal), hammer, slam, rap, bump, bash (informal), thump, clatter, pummel, tonk (informal), beat or knock seven bells out of (informal) ▸ ADVERB bang in the middle of the track = exactly, just, straight, square, squarely, precisely, slap, smack (informal), plumb (informal)banish VERB 1 I was banished from the small bedroom upstairs. = exclude, bar, ban, dismiss, expel, throw out, oust, drive away, eject, evict, shut out, ostracize 2 He was banished from England. = expel, transport, exile, outlaw, deport, drive away, expatriate, excommunicate ◼ OPPOSITE: admit 3 a public investment programme intended to banish the recession = get rid of, remove, eliminate, eradicate, shake off, dislodge, see the back ofbanishment NOUN = expulsion, exile, dismissal, removal, discharge, transportation, exclusion, deportation, eviction, ejection, extrusion, proscription, expatriation, debarmentbanisters PLURAL NOUN = railing, rail, balustrade, handrail, balustersbank1 NOUN 1 I had money in the bank. = financial institution, repository, depository 2 one of the largest data banks in the world = store, fund, stock, source, supply, reserve, pool, reservoir, accumulation, stockpile, hoard, storehouse ▸ VERB Early bookings allow the operators to bank the customers' deposits. = deposit, keep, save ● bank on something She is clearly banking on her past to be the meal ticket for her future. = rely on, trust (in), depend on, look to, believe in, count on, be sure of, lean on, be confident of, have confidence in, swear by, reckon on, repose (formal), trust inbank2 NOUN 1 an old warehouse on the banks of the canal = side, edge, margin, shore, brink, lakeside, waterside 2 resting indolently upon a grassy bank = mound, banking, rise, hill, mass, pile, heap, ridge, dune, embankment, knoll, hillock, kopje or koppie (S. African) ▸ VERB A single-engine plane took off and banked above the highway. = tilt, tip, pitch, heel, slope, incline, slant, cant, camberbank3 NOUN an enormous bank of switches and lights in front of the screen = row, group, line, train, range, series, file, rank, arrangement, sequence, succession, array, tierbankrupt ADJECTIVE = insolvent, broke (informal), spent, ruined, wiped out (informal), impoverished, beggared, in the red, on the rocks, destitute, gone bust (informal), in receivership, gone to the wall, in the hands of the receivers, on your uppers, in queer street (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: solventbankruptcy NOUN = insolvency, failure, crash, disaster, ruin, liquidation, indebtednessbanner NOUN 1 = flag, standard, colours, jack, pennant, ensign, streamer, pennon 2 = placardbanquet NOUN = feast, spread (informal), dinner, meal, entertainment, revel, blowout (slang), repast, slap-up meal (Brit. informal), hakari (N.Z.)banter NOUN She heard them exchanging good-natured banter. = joking, kidding (informal), ribbing (informal), teasing, jeering, mockery, derision, jesting, chaff, pleasantry, repartee, wordplay, badinage, chaffing, raillery, persiflage ▸ VERB They went bowling together and bantered easily. = joke, kid (informal), rib (informal), tease, taunt, jeer, josh (slang), jest, take the mickey (informal), chaffbaptism NOUN 1 We are at a site of baptism, a place of worship. = christening, sprinkling, purification, immersion 2 The new members face a tough baptism against Leeds. = initiation, beginning, debut, introduction, admission, dedication, inauguration, induction, inception, rite of passage, commencement, investiture, baptism of fire, instatementbaptize VERB 1 I think your mother was baptized a Catholic. = christen, cleanse, immerse, purify, besprinkle 2 baptized into the Church of England = initiate, admit, introduce, invest, recruit, enrol, induct, indoctrinate, instatebar NOUN 1 the city's most popular country and western bar = public house, pub (informal, chiefly Brit.), counter, inn, local (Brit. informal), lounge, saloon, tavern, canteen, watering hole (facetious, slang), boozer (Brit. & Austral. & N.Z. informal), beer parlour (Canad.), roadhouse, hostelry (archaic, facetious), alehouse (archaic), taproom 2 a crowd throwing stones and iron bars = rod, staff, stick, stake, rail, pole, paling, shaft, baton, mace, batten, palisade, crosspiece 3 one of the fundamental bars to communication = obstacle, block, barrier, hurdle, hitch, barricade, snag, deterrent, obstruction, stumbling block, impediment, hindrance, interdict ◼ OPPOSITE: aid ▸ VERB 1 For added safety, bar the door to the kitchen. = lock, block, secure, chain, attach, anchor, bolt, blockade, barricade, fortify, fasten, latch, obstruct, make firm, make fast 2 He stepped in front of her, barring her way. = block, restrict, hold up, restrain, hamper, thwart, hinder, obstruct, impede, shut off 3 They have been barred from playing in several countries. = exclude, ban, forbid, prohibit, keep out of, disallow, shut out of, ostracize, debar, blackball, interdict, black ◼ OPPOSITE: admitbarb NOUN 1 Apply gentle pressure on the barb with the point of the pliers. = point, spur, spike, thorn, bristle, quill, prickle, tine, prong 2 The barb stung her exactly the way he hoped it would. = dig, abuse, slight, insult, put-down, snub, sneer, scoff, rebuff, affront, slap in the face (informal), gibe, aspersionbarbarian NOUN 1 Our maths teacher was a bully and a complete barbarian. = savage, monster, beast, brute, yahoo, swine, ogre, sadist 2 The visitors looked upon us all as barbarians. = lout, hooligan, illiterate, vandal, yahoo, bigot, philistine, ned (Scot. slang), hoon (Austral. & N.Z. informal), cougan (Austral. slang), scozza (Austral. slang), bogan (Austral. slang), ruffian, ignoramus, boor, lowbrow, vulgarian ▸ ADJECTIVE rude and barbarian people = uncivilized, wild, rough, savage, crude, primitive, vulgar, illiterate, barbaric, philistine, uneducated, unsophisticated, barbarous, boorish, uncouth, uncultivated, lowbrow, uncultured, unmannered ◼ OPPOSITE: civilizedbarbaric ADJECTIVE 1 a particularly barbaric act of violence = brutal, fierce, cruel, savage, crude, vicious, ruthless, coarse, vulgar, heartless, inhuman, merciless, bloodthirsty, remorseless, barbarous, pitiless, uncouth 2 a prehistoric and barbaric world = uncivilized, wild, savage, primitive, rude, barbarian, barbarous ◼ OPPOSITE: civilizedbarbarism NOUN = cruelty, outrage, atrocity, brutality, savagery, ruthlessness, wickedness, inhumanity, barbarity, viciousness, coarseness, crudity, monstrousness, heinousness, fiendishness, barbarousnessbarbarity NOUN 1 = viciousness, horror, cruelty, brutality, ferocity, savagery, ruthlessness, inhumanity 2 the barbarities committed by the invading army = atrocity, cruelty, horror, inhumanitybarbarous ADJECTIVE 1 He thought the poetry of Whitman barbarous. = uncivilized, wild, rough, gross, savage, primitive, rude, coarse, vulgar, barbarian, philistine, uneducated, brutish, unsophisticated, uncouth, uncultivated, unpolished, uncultured, unmannered 2 It was a barbarous attack on a purely civilian train. = brutal, cruel, savage, vicious, ruthless, ferocious, monstrous, barbaric, heartless, inhuman, merciless, remorseless, pitilessbarbed ADJECTIVE 1 barbed comments = cutting, pointed, biting, critical, acid, hostile, nasty, harsh, savage, brutal, searing, withering, scathing, unkind, hurtful, belittling, sarcastic, caustic, scornful, vitriolic, trenchant, acrid, catty (informal), mordant, mordacious 2 The factory was surrounded by barbed wire. = spiked, pointed, toothed, hooked, notched, prickly, jagged, thorny, pronged, spiny, snaggybard NOUN = poet, singer, rhymer, minstrel, lyricist, troubadourbare ADJECTIVE 1 He seemed unaware that he was bare. = naked, nude, stripped, exposed, uncovered, shorn, undressed, divested, denuded, in the raw (informal), disrobed, unclothed, buck naked (slang), unclad, scuddy (slang), without a stitch on (informal), in the bare scud (Scot. slang), naked as the day you were born (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: dressed 2 bare wooden floors = simple, basic, severe, spare, stark, austere, spartan, unadorned, unfussy, unvarnished, unembellished, unornamented, unpatterned, bare-bones ◼ OPPOSITE: adorned 3 a bare, draughty interviewing room = empty, wanting, mean, lacking, deserted, vacant, void, scarce, barren, uninhabited, unoccupied, scanty, unfurnished ◼ OPPOSITE: full 4 Reporters were given nothing but the bare facts. = plain, hard, simple, cold, basic, essential, obvious, sheer, patent, evident, stark, manifest, bald, literal, overt, unembellishedbarely ADVERB = only just, just, hardly, scarcely, at a push, almost not ◼ OPPOSITE: completelybargain NOUN 1 At this price these chocolates are a bargain. = good buy, discount purchase, good deal, good value, steal (informal), snip (informal), giveaway, cheap purchase 2 The treaty was based on a bargain between the governments. = agreement, deal (informal), understanding, promise, contract, negotiation, arrangement, settlement, treaty, pledge, convention, transaction, engagement, pact, compact, covenant, stipulation ▸ VERB 1 Shop in small local markets and don't be afraid to bargain. = haggle, deal, sell, trade, traffic, barter, drive a hard bargain 2 They prefer to bargain with individual clients, for cash. = negotiate, deal, contract, mediate, covenant, stipulate, arbitrate, transact, cut a deal ● bargain for or on something The effects of this policy were more than they had bargained for. = anticipate, expect, look for, imagine, predict, plan for, forecast, hope for, contemplate, be prepared for, foresee, foretell, count uponbarge NOUN He lives on a barge and only works when he has to. = canal boat, lighter, narrow boat, scow, flatboat ● barge in (on something or someone) Sorry to barge in like this, but I need your advice. = interrupt, break in (on), muscle in (on) (informal), intrude (on), infringe (on), burst in (on), butt in (on), impose yourself (on), force your way in (on), elbow your way in (on) ● barge into someone He would barge into them and kick them in the shins. = bump into, drive into, press, push against, shoulder, thrust, elbow into, shove into, collide with, jostle with, cannon intobark1 VERB 1 Don't let the dogs bark. = yap, bay, howl, snarl, growl, yelp, woof 2 I didn't mean to bark at you. = shout, snap, yell, snarl, growl, berate, bawl, bluster, raise your voice ▸ NOUN The Doberman let out a string of roaring barks. = yap, bay, howl, snarl, growl, yelp, woofbark2 NOUN The spice comes from the inner bark of the tree. = covering, casing, cover, skin, protection, layer, crust, housing, cortex (Anatomy, Botany), rind, husk ▸ VERB She barked her shin off the edge of the drawer. = scrape, skin, strip, rub, scratch, shave, graze, scuff, flay, abradebarmy or balmy (slang) ADJECTIVE This policy is absolutely barmy. = stupid, bizarre, foolish, silly, daft (informal), irresponsible, irrational, senseless, preposterous, impractical, idiotic, inane, fatuous, dumb-ass (slang)baroque ADJECTIVE = ornate, fancy, bizarre, elegant, decorated, elaborate, extravagant, flamboyant, grotesque, convoluted, flowery, rococo, florid, bedecked, overelaborate, overdecoratedbarrack VERB = heckle, abuse, mock, bait, criticize, boo, taunt, jeer, shout down, diss (slang)barracks PLURAL NOUN = camp, quarters, garrison, encampment, billet, cantonment, casernbarrage NOUN 1 a barrage of anti-aircraft fire = bombardment, attack, bombing, assault, shelling, battery, volley, blitz, salvo, strafe, fusillade, cannonade, curtain of fire 2 a barrage of angry questions from the floor = torrent, attack, mass, storm, assault, burst, stream, hail, outburst, rain, spate, onslaught, deluge, plethora, profusionbarren ADJECTIVE 1 the Tibetan landscape of the high barren mountains = desolate, empty, desert, waste 2 He also wants to use water to irrigate barren desert land. = unproductive, dry, useless, fruitless, arid, unprofitable, unfruitful ◼ OPPOSITE: fertile 3 My life has become barren. = dull, boring, commonplace, tedious, dreary, stale, lacklustre, monotonous, uninspiring, humdrum, uninteresting, vapid, unrewarding, as dry as dust ◼ OPPOSITE: interesting 4 a three-year-old barren mare = infertile, sterile, unproductive, nonproductive, infecund, unprolificbarricade NOUN Large areas of the city have been closed off by barricades. = barrier, wall, railing, fence, blockade, obstruction, rampart, fortification, bulwark, palisade, stockade ▸ VERB The doors had been barricaded. = bar, block, defend, secure, lock, bolt, blockade, fortify, fasten, latch, obstructbarrier NOUN = barricade, wall, bar, block, railing, fence, pale, boundary, obstacle, ditch, blockade, obstruction, rampart, bulwark, palisade, stockadebarter VERB = trade, sell, exchange, switch, traffic, bargain, swap, haggle, drive a hard bargainbase1 NOUN 1 Line the base and sides of a 20cm deep round cake tin with paper. = bottom, floor, lowest part, deepest part ◼ OPPOSITE: top 2 The mattress is best on a solid bed base. = support, stand, foot, rest, bed, bottom, foundation, pedestal, groundwork 3 The family base was crucial to my development. = foundation, institution, organization, establishment, starting point 4 Gunfire was heard at an army base close to the airport. = centre, post, station, camp, settlement, headquarters 5 For most of the spring and early summer her base was in Scotland. = home, house, territory, pad (slang, old-fashioned), residence, home ground, abode, stamping ground, dwelling place 6 Oils may be mixed with a base and massaged into the skin. = essence, source, basis, concentrate, root, core, extract ▸ VERB 1 He based his conclusions on the evidence given by the prisoners. = ground, found, build, rest, establish, depend, root, construct, derive, hinge 2 We will base ourselves in the town. = place, set, post, station, establish, fix, locate, install, garrisonbase2 ADJECTIVE Love has the power to overcome the baser emotions. = dishonourable, evil, corrupt, infamous, disgraceful, vulgar, shameful, vile, immoral, scandalous, wicked, sordid, abject, despicable, depraved, ignominious, disreputable, contemptible, villainous, ignoble, discreditable, scungy (Austral. & N.Z.) ◼ OPPOSITE: honourablebaseless ADJECTIVE = unfounded, false, fabricated, unconfirmed, spurious, unjustified, unproven, unsubstantiated, groundless, unsupported, trumped up, without foundation, unjustifiable, uncorroborated, ungrounded, without basis ◼ OPPOSITE: well-foundedbash VERB My mother bashed her shin with a suitcase. = hit, break, beat, strike, knock, smash, punch, belt (informal), crush, deck (slang), batter, slap, sock (slang), chin (slang), smack, thump, clout (informal), whack (informal), biff (slang), clobber (slang), wallop (informal), slosh (Brit. slang), tonk (informal), lay one on (slang), beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)bashful ADJECTIVE = shy, reserved, retiring, nervous, modest, shrinking, blushing, constrained, timid, self-conscious, coy, reticent, self-effacing, aw-shucks (slang, chiefly U.S.), diffident, sheepish, mousy, timorous (literary), abashed, shamefaced, easily embarrassed, overmodest ◼ OPPOSITE: forwardbasic ADJECTIVE 1 Access to justice is a basic right. = fundamental, main, key, essential, primary, vital, principal, constitutional, cardinal, inherent, elementary, indispensable, innate, intrinsic, elemental, immanent 2 shortages of even the most basic foodstuffs = vital, needed, important, key, necessary, essential, primary, crucial (informal), fundamental, elementary, indispensable, requisite 3 There are certain ethical principles that are basic to all the great religions. = essential, central, key, vital, fundamental, underlying, indispensable ◼ OPPOSITE: secondary 4 There are three basic types of tea. = main, key, essential, primary 5 the extremely basic hotel room = plain, simple, classic, severe, straightforward, Spartan, uncluttered, unadorned, unfussy, bog-standard (informal), unembellished, bare-bones, lo-fi ▸ PLURAL NOUN Let's get down to basics and stop horsing around. = essentials, facts, principles, fundamentals, practicalities, requisites, nuts and bolts (informal), hard facts, nitty-gritty (informal), rudiments, brass tacks (informal), necessariesbasically ADVERB = essentially, firstly, mainly, mostly, principally, fundamentally, primarily, at heart, inherently, intrinsically, at bottom, in substance, au fond (French)basis NOUN 1 We're going to be meeting there on a regular basis. = arrangement, way, system, footing, agreement 2 The UN plan is a possible basis for negotiation. = foundation, support, base, ground, footing, theory, bottom, principle, premise, groundwork, principal element, chief ingredientbask VERB Crocodiles bask on the small sandy beaches. = lie, relax, lounge, sprawl, loaf, lie about, swim in, sunbathe, recline, loll, laze, outspan (S. African), warm yourself, toast yourself ● bask in He smiled and basked in her approval. = enjoy, relish, delight in, savour, revel in, wallow in, rejoice in, luxuriate in, indulge yourself in, take joy in, take pleasure in or frombass ADJECTIVE = deep, low, resonant, sonorous, low-pitched, deep-tonedbastion NOUN = stronghold, support, defence, rock, prop, refuge, fortress, mainstay, citadel, bulwark, tower of strength, fastnessbatch NOUN = group, set, lot, crowd, pack, collection, quantity, bunch, accumulation, assortment, consignment, assemblage, aggregationbath NOUN Have a bath every morning. = wash, cleaning, washing, soaping, shower, soak, cleansing, scrub, scrubbing, bathe, shampoo, sponging, douse, douche, ablution ▸ VERB Don't feel you have to bath your child every day. = clean, wash, soap, shower, soak, cleanse, scrub, bathe, tub, sponge, rinse, douse, scrub down, lave (archaic)bathe VERB 1 small ponds for the birds to bathe in = swim 2 Back home, he plays with, feeds and bathes the baby. = wash, clean, bath, soap, shower, soak, cleanse, scrub, tub, sponge, rinse, scrub down, lave (archaic) 3 She paused long enough to bathe her blistered feet. = cleanse, clean, wash, soak, rinse 4 The arena was bathed in warm sunshine. = cover, flood, steep, engulf, immerse, overrun, suffuse, wash over ▸ NOUN an early-morning bathe = swim, dip, dook (Scot.)bathroom NOUN = lavatory, toilet, loo (Brit. informal), washroom, can (U.S. & Canad. slang), john (slang, chiefly U.S. & Canad.), head(s) (Nautical, slang), shower, convenience (chiefly Brit.), bog (slang), bogger (Austral. slang), brasco (Austral. slang), privy, cloakroom (Brit.), latrine, rest room, powder room, dunny (Austral. & N.Z. old-fashioned), water closet, khazi (slang), comfort station (U.S.), pissoir (French), Gents or Ladies, little boy's room or little girl's room (informal), (public) convenience, W.C.baton NOUN = stick, club, staff, stake, pole, rod, crook, cane, mace, wand, truncheon (Brit.), sceptre, mere (N.Z.), patu (N.Z.)battalion NOUN = company, army, force, team, host, division, troop, brigade, regiment, legion, contingent, squadron, military force, horde, multitude, throngbatten VERB (usually with down) The roof was never securely battened down. = fasten, unite, fix, secure, lock, bind, chain, connect, attach, seal, tighten, anchor, bolt, clamp down, affix, nail down, make firm, make fast, fasten downbatter VERB 1 He battered his opponent around the head. = beat, hit, strike, knock, assault, smash, punch, belt (informal), deck (slang), bang, bash (informal), lash, thrash, pound, lick (informal), buffet, flog, maul, pelt, clobber (slang), smite, wallop (informal), pummel, tonk (informal), cudgel, thwack, lambast(e), belabour, dash against, beat the living daylights out of, lay one on (slang), drub, beat or knock seven bells out of (informal) 2 a storm that's been battering the Northeast coastline = damage, destroy, hurt, injure, harm, ruin, crush, mar, wreck, total (slang), shatter, weaken, bruise, demolish, shiver (archaic, literary), trash (slang), maul, mutilate, mangle, mangulate (Austral. slang), disfigure, deface, play (merry) hell with (informal)battered ADJECTIVE 1 The assault left him battered and bruised. = beaten, injured, harmed, crushed, bruised, squashed, beat-up (informal), oppressed, manhandled, black-and-blue, ill-treated, maltreated 2 a battered leather suitcase = damaged, broken-down, wrecked, beat-up (informal), ramshackle, dilapidatedbattery NOUN 1 They stopped beside a battery of abandoned guns. = artillery, ordnance, gunnery, gun emplacement, cannonry 2 We give a battery of tests to each patient. = series, set, course, chain, string, sequence, suite, succession 3 He has served three years for assault and battery. = beating, attack, assault, aggression, onslaught, physical violencebattle NOUN 1 The battle lasted several years. = fight, war, attack, action, struggle, conflict, clash, set-to (informal), encounter, combat, scrap (informal), biffo (Austral. slang), engagement, warfare, fray, duel, skirmish, head-to-head, tussle, scuffle, fracas, scrimmage, sparring match, bagarre (French), melee or mêlée, boilover (Austral.) ◼ OPPOSITE: peace 2 a renewed political battle over public health care = conflict, campaign, struggle, debate, clash, dispute, contest, controversy, disagreement, crusade, strife, head-to-head, agitation 3 the battle against crime = campaign, drive, movement, push (informal), struggle ▸ VERB 1 Many people battled with police. = wrestle, war, fight, argue, dispute, contest, combat, contend, feud, grapple, agitate, clamour, scuffle, lock horns 2 Doctors battled throughout the night to save her life. = struggle, work, labour, strain, strive, go for it (informal), toil, make every effort, go all out (informal), bend over backwards (informal), go for broke (slang), bust a gut (informal), give it your best shot (informal), break your neck (informal), exert yourself, make an all-out effort (informal), work like a Trojan, knock yourself out (informal), do your damnedest (informal), give it your all (informal), rupture yourself (informal)battle cry NOUN 1 the ideological battle cry of Hong Kong = slogan, motto, watchword, catch phrase, tag-line, catchword, catchcry (Austral.) 2 He screamed out a battle cry and charged. = war cry, rallying cry, war whoopbattlefield NOUN = battleground, front, field, combat zone, field of battlebattleship NOUN = warship, gunboat, man-of-war, ship of the line, capital shipbatty ADJECTIVE He struck me as a game sort, if ever so slightly batty. = eccentric, odd, bats (slang), peculiar, barmy (slang), off-the-wall (slang), potty (Brit. informal), oddball (informal), bonkers (slang, chiefly Brit.), dotty (slang, chiefly Brit.), loopy (informal), outré, gonzo (slang), as daft as a brush (informal, chiefly Brit.)bauble NOUN = trinket, ornament, trifle, toy, plaything, bagatelle, gimcrack, gewgaw, knick-knack, bibelot, kickshawbawdy ADJECTIVE = rude, blue (old-fashioned), dirty, gross, crude, erotic, obscene, coarse, filthy, indecent, vulgar, improper, steamy (informal), pornographic, raunchy (informal), suggestive, racy, lewd, risqué, X-rated (informal), salacious (formal), prurient (formal), lascivious (formal), smutty, lustful, lecherous, ribald, libidinous (formal), licentious (formal), indelicate, near the knuckle (informal), indecorous (formal) ◼ OPPOSITE: cleanbawl VERB 1 They were shouting and bawling at each other. = shout, call, scream, roar, yell, howl, bellow, bay, clamour, holler (informal), raise your voice, halloo, hollo, vociferate 2 One of the toddlers was bawling, and another had a runny nose. = cry, weep, sob, wail, whine, whimper, whinge (informal), keen, greet (Scot. archaic), squall, blubber, snivel, shed tears, yowl, mewl, howl your eyes outbay1 NOUN a short ferry ride across the bay = inlet, sound, gulf, entrance, creek, cove, fjord, arm (of the sea), bight, ingress, natural harbour, sea loch (Scot.), firth or frith (Scot.)bay2 NOUN Hundreds of rolls of fabric were stacked in the loading bay. = recess, opening, corner, niche, compartment, nook, alcove, embrasurebay3 VERB A dog suddenly howled, baying at the moon. = howl, cry, roar (a hound), bark, lament, cry out, wail, growl, bellow, quest, bell, clamour, yelp ▸ NOUN She trembled at the bay of the dogs. = cry, bell, roar (a hound), quest, bark, lament, howl, wail, growl, bellow, clamour, yelp ● at bay Eating oranges keeps colds at bay. = away, off, at arm's lengthbayonet VERB = stab, cut, wound, knife, slash, pierce, run through, spear, transfix, impale, lacerate, stickbazaar NOUN 1 He was a vendor in Egypt's open-air bazaar. = market, exchange, fair, marketplace, mart 2 a church bazaar = fair, fête, gala, festival, garden party, bring-and-buy