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bias NOUN

1 There were fierce attacks on the BBC for alleged political bias. = prejudice, leaning, bent, tendency, inclination, penchant, intolerance, bigotry, propensity, favouritism, predisposition, nepotism, unfairness, predilection, proclivity (formal), partiality, narrow-mindedness, proneness, one-sidedness ◼ OPPOSITE: impartiality 2 The fabric, cut on the bias, hangs as light as a cobweb. = slant, cross, angle, diagonal line ▸ VERB We mustn't allow it to bias our teaching. = influence, colour, weight, prejudice, distort, sway, warp, slant, predisposebiased ADJECTIVE = prejudiced, weighted, one-sided, partial, distorted, swayed, warped, slanted, embittered, predisposed, jaundicedbicker VERB = quarrel, fight, argue, row (informal), clash, dispute, scrap (informal), disagree, fall out (informal), squabble, spar, wrangle, cross swords, fight like cat and dog, go at it hammer and tongs, altercate ◼ OPPOSITE: agreebid NOUN 1 a bid to silence its critics = attempt, try, effort, venture, undertaking, go (informal), shot (informal), stab (informal), crack (informal), endeavour 2 He made an agreed takeover bid of £351 million. = offer, price, attempt, amount, advance, proposal, sum, tender, proposition, submission ▸ VERB 1 She wanted to bid for it. = make an offer, offer, propose, submit, tender, proffer 2 I bade her goodnight. = wish, say, call, tell, greet 3 I dare say he did as he was bidden. = tell, call, ask, order, charge (formal), require, direct, desire (formal), invite, command, summon, instruct, solicit, enjoinbidding NOUN 1 the bidding of his backbenchers = order, call, charge, demand, request, command, instruction, invitation, canon, beck, injunction, summons, behest, beck and call 2 The bidding starts at £2 million. = offer, proposal, auction, tenderbig ADJECTIVE 1 Australia's a big country. = large, great, huge, giant, massive, vast, enormous, considerable, substantial, extensive, immense, spacious, gigantic, monumental (informal), mammoth, bulky, burly, colossal, stellar (informal), prodigious, hulking, ponderous, voluminous, elephantine, ginormous (informal), humongous or humungous (informal), sizable or sizeable, supersize ◼ OPPOSITE: small 2 Her problem was just too big for her to tackle on her own. = important, serious, significant, grave, urgent, paramount, big-time (informal), far-reaching, momentous, major league (informal), weighty ◼ OPPOSITE: unimportant 3 Their father was very big in the army. = powerful, important, prime, principal, prominent, dominant, influential, paramount, eminent, puissant, skookum (Canad.) 4 He's a big boy now. = grown-up, adult, grown, mature, elder, full-grown ◼ OPPOSITE: young 5 They describe him as an idealist with a big heart. = generous, good, princely, noble, heroic, gracious, benevolent, disinterested, altruistic, unselfish, magnanimous, big-heartedbighead NOUN = boaster, know-all (informal), swaggerer, self-seeker, egomaniac, egotist, braggart, braggadocio, narcissist, swell-head (informal), blowhard (informal), self-admirer, figjam (Austral. slang)bigheaded ADJECTIVE = boastful, arrogant, swaggering, bragging, cocky, vaunting, conceited, puffed-up, bumptious, immodest, crowing, overconfident, vainglorious, swollen-headed, egotistic, full of yourself, too big for your boots or breechesbigot NOUN = fanatic, racist, extremist, sectarian, maniac, fiend (informal), zealot, persecutor, dogmatistbigoted ADJECTIVE = intolerant, twisted, prejudiced, biased, warped, sectarian, dogmatic, opinionated, narrow-minded, obstinate, illiberal ◼ OPPOSITE: tolerantbigotry NOUN = intolerance, discrimination, racism, prejudice, bias, ignorance, injustice, sexism, unfairness, fanaticism, sectarianism, racialism, dogmatism, faith hate, provincialism, narrow-mindedness, mindlessness, pig-ignorance (slang) ◼ OPPOSITE: tolerancebigwig NOUN = important person, somebody, celebrity, heavyweight (informal), notable, big name, mogul, big gun (informal), dignitary, celeb (informal), big shot (informal), personage, nob (slang), big cheese (old-fashioned, slang), big noise (informal), big hitter (informal), heavy hitter (informal), panjandrum, notability, V.I.P. ◼ OPPOSITE: nonentitybile NOUN = bitterness, anger, hostility, resentment, animosity, venom, irritability, spleen, acrimony, pique, nastiness, rancour, virulence, asperity, ill humour, irascibility, peevishness, churlishnessbill1 NOUN 1 They couldn't afford to pay the bills. = charges, rate, costs, score, account, damage (informal), statement, reckoning, expense, tally, invoice, note of charge 2 The bill was opposed by a large majority. = act of parliament, measure, proposal, piece of legislation, projected law 3 He is topping the bill at a dusk-to-dawn party. = list, listing, programme, card, schedule, agenda, catalogue, inventory, roster, syllabus 4 A sign forbids the posting of bills. = advertisement, notice, poster, leaflet, bulletin, circular, handout, placard, handbill, playbill ▸ VERB 1 Are you going to bill me for this? = charge, debit, invoice, send a statement to, send an invoice to 2 They bill it as Britain's most exciting museum. = advertise, post, announce, push (informal), declare, promote, plug (informal), proclaim, tout, flaunt, publicize, crack up (informal), give advance notice ofbill2 NOUN Its legs and feet are grey, its bill brownish-yellow. = beak, nib, neb (archaic, dialect), mandiblebillet VERB The soldiers were billeted in private homes. = quarter, post, station, locate, install, accommodate, berth, garrison ▸ NOUN We hid the radio in Hut 10, which was our billet. = quarters, accommodation, lodging, barracksbillow VERB the billowing sails = surge, roll, expand, swell, balloon, belly, bulge, dilate, puff up, bloat ▸ NOUN billows of almost solid black smoke = surge, wave, flow, rush, flood, cloud, gush, deluge, upsurge, outpouring, uprushbind VERB 1 The treaty binds them to respect their neighbour's independence. = oblige, make, force, require, engage, compel, prescribe, constrain, necessitate, impel, obligate 2 Bind the ends of the card together with thread. = tie, unite, join, stick, secure, attach, wrap, rope, knot, strap, lash, glue, tie up, hitch, paste, fasten, truss, make fast ◼ OPPOSITE: untie 3 All are bound by the same strict etiquette. = restrict, limit, handicap, confine, detain, restrain, hamper, inhibit, hinder, impede, hem in, keep within bounds or limits 4 These compounds bind with genetic material in the liver. = fuse, join, stick, bond, cement, adhere 5 Her mother bound the wound with a rag soaked in iodine. = bandage, cover, dress, wrap, swathe, encase ▸ NOUN It is expensive to buy and a bind to carry home. = nuisance, inconvenience, hassle (informal), drag (informal), spot (informal), difficulty, bore, dilemma, pest, hot water (informal), uphill (S. African), predicament, annoyance, quandary, pain in the neck (informal), pain in the backside (informal), pain in the butt (informal)binding ADJECTIVE = compulsory, necessary, mandatory, imperative, obligatory, conclusive, irrevocable, unalterable, indissoluble ◼ OPPOSITE: optionalbinge NOUN (informal) = bout, session (informal), spell, fling, feast, stint, spree, orgy, bender (informal), jag (slang), beano (Brit. slang), blind (slang)biography NOUN = life story, life, record, account, profile, memoir, CV, life history, curriculum vitaebird NOUN = feathered friend, fowl, songbird ◼ RELATED WORDS: adjective avian; name of male cock; name of female hen; name of young chick, fledgeling or fledgling, nestling; noun flock, flight; name of home nestbird of prey NOUN ◼ RELATED WORD: adjective raptorialbirth NOUN 1 She weighed 5lb 7oz at birth. = childbirth, delivery, nativity, parturition ◼ OPPOSITE: death 2 the birth of popular democracy = beginning, start, rise, source, origin, emergence, outset, genesis, initiation, inauguration, inception, commencement, fountainhead 3 people of humble birth = ancestry, line, race, stock, blood, background, breeding, strain, descent, pedigree, extraction, lineage, forebears, parentage, genealogy, derivation ◼ RELATED WORD: adjective natalbisect VERB = cut in two, cross, separate, split, halve, cut across, intersect, cut in half, split down the middle, divide in two, bifurcatebit1 NOUN 1 a bit of cake = slice, segment, fragment, crumb, mouthful, small piece, morsel 2 crumpled bits of paper = piece, scrap, small piece 3 All it required was a bit of work. = jot, whit, tittle, iota 4 The best bit was the car chase. = part, moment, period 5 Let's wait a bit. = little while, time, second, minute, moment, spell, instant, tick (Brit. informal), jiffy (informal)bit2 NOUN The horse can be controlled by a snaffle bit and reins. = curb, check, brake, restraint, snafflebitchy ADJECTIVE = spiteful, mean, nasty, cruel, vicious, malicious, barbed, vindictive, malevolent, venomous, snide, rancorous, catty (informal), backbiting, shrewish, ill-natured, vixenish, snarky (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: nicebite VERB 1 Llamas won't bite or kick. = nip, cut, tear, wound, grip, snap, crush, rend (literary), pierce, champ, pinch, chew, crunch, clamp, nibble, gnaw, masticate 2 nylon biting into the flesh = eat, burn, smart, sting, erode, tingle, eat away, corrode, wear away ▸ NOUN 1 a bite to eat = snack, food, piece, taste, refreshment, mouthful, morsel, titbit, light meal 2 The boy had suffered a snake bite but he made a quick recovery. = wound, sting, pinch, nip, prick 3 The novel seems to lack bite and tension. = edge, interest, force, punch (informal), sting, zest, sharpness, keenness, pungency, incisiveness, acuteness 4 I'd have preferred a bit more bite and not so much sugar. = kick (informal), edge, punch (informal), spice, relish, zest, tang, sharpness, piquancy, pungency, spicinessbiting ADJECTIVE 1 a raw, biting northerly wind = piercing, cutting, cold, sharp, freezing, frozen, bitter, raw, chill, harsh, penetrating, arctic (informal), nipping, icy, blighting, chilly, wintry, gelid, cold as ice 2 This was the most biting criticism made against her. = sarcastic, cutting, sharp, severe, stinging, withering, scathing, acrimonious, incisive, virulent, caustic, vitriolic, trenchant, mordant, mordaciousbitter ADJECTIVE 1 the scene of bitter fighting = grievous, hard, severe, distressing, fierce, harsh, cruel, savage, ruthless, dire, relentless, poignant, ferocious, galling, unrelenting, merciless, remorseless, gut-wrenching, vexatious, hard-hearted ◼ OPPOSITE: pleasant 2 He is said to be very bitter about the way he was sacked. = resentful, hurt, wounded, angry, offended, sour, put out, sore, choked, crabbed, acrimonious, aggrieved, sullen, miffed (informal), embittered, begrudging, peeved (informal), piqued, rancorous ◼ OPPOSITE: happy 3 a night in the bitter cold = freezing, biting, severe, intense, raw, fierce, chill, stinging, penetrating, arctic (informal), icy, polar, Siberian, glacial, wintry ◼ OPPOSITE: mild 4 The leaves taste rather bitter. = sour, biting, sharp, acid, harsh, unpleasant, tart, astringent, acrid, unsweetened, vinegary, acidulated, acerb ◼ OPPOSITE: sweetbitterly ADVERB 1 They bitterly resented their loss of power. = resentfully, sourly, sorely, tartly, grudgingly, sullenly, testily, acrimoniously, caustically, mordantly, irascibly 2 It's been bitterly cold here in Moscow. = intensely, freezing, severely, fiercely, icy, bitinglybitterness NOUN 1 I still feel bitterness and anger. = resentment, hurt, anger, hostility, indignation, animosity, venom, acrimony, pique, rancour, ill feeling, bad blood, ill will, umbrage, vexation, asperity 2 the bitterness of the grapefruit = sourness, acidity, sharpness, tartness, acerbity, vinegarinessbizarre ADJECTIVE = strange, odd, unusual, extraordinary, fantastic, curious, weird, way-out (informal), peculiar, eccentric, abnormal, ludicrous, queer (old-fashioned), irregular, rum (Brit. slang), uncommon, singular, grotesque, perplexing, uncanny, mystifying, off-the-wall (slang), outlandish, comical, oddball (informal), off the rails, zany, unaccountable, off-beat, left-field (informal), freakish, wacky (informal), outré, cockamamie (slang, chiefly U.S.), daggy (Austral. & N.Z. informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: normalblack ADJECTIVE 1 He had thick black hair. = dark, raven, ebony, sable, jet, dusky, pitch-black, inky, swarthy, stygian, coal-black, pitchy, murky ◼ OPPOSITE: light 2 After the demise of her business, she fell into a black depression. = gloomy, sad, depressing, distressing, horrible, grim, bleak, hopeless, dismal, ominous, sombre, morbid, mournful, morose, lugubrious, joyless, funereal, doleful, cheerless ◼ OPPOSITE: happy 3 He had just undergone one of the blackest days of his political career. = terrible (informal), bad, devastating, tragic, fatal, unfortunate, dreadful, destructive, unlucky, harmful, adverse, dire, catastrophic, hapless, detrimental, untoward, ruinous, calamitous, cataclysmic, ill-starred, unpropitious, ill-fated, cataclysmal 4 the blackest laws in the country's history = wicked, bad, evil, corrupt, vicious, immoral, depraved, debased, amoral, villainous, unprincipled, nefarious, dissolute, iniquitous, irreligious, impious, unrighteous ◼ OPPOSITE: good 5 = cynical, weird, ironic, pessimistic, morbid, misanthropic, mordacious 6 a black look on your face = angry, cross, furious, hostile, sour, menacing, moody, resentful, glowering, sulky, baleful, louring or lowering ◼ OPPOSITE: happy 7 The whole front of him was black with dirt. = dirty, soiled, stained, filthy, muddy, blackened, grubby, dingy, grimy, sooty, mucky, scuzzy (slang, chiefly U.S.), begrimed, festy (Austral. slang), mud-encrusted, miry ◼ OPPOSITE: clean ● black out He felt so ill that he blacked out. = pass out, drop, collapse, faint, swoon, lose consciousness, keel over (informal), flake out (informal), become unconscious ● black something out The whole city is blacked out at night. = darken, cover, shade, conceal, obscure, eclipse, dim, blacken, obfuscate (formal), make dark, make darker, make dim ● in the black I can't justify travelling until I'm in the black. = in credit, solid, solvent, in funds, financially sound, without debt, unindebted

blacken VERB 1 He watched the blackening clouds move in. = darken, deepen, grow black 2 The smoke blackened the sky like the apocalypse. = make dark, shadow, shade, obscure, overshadow, make darker, make dim 3 They're trying to blacken our name. = discredit, stain, disgrace, smear, knock (informal), degrade, rubbish (informal), taint, tarnish, censure, slur, slag (off) (slang), malign, reproach, denigrate, disparage, decry, vilify, slander, sully, dishonour, defile, defame, bad-mouth (slang), traduce, bring into disrepute, smirch, calumniateblacklist VERB = exclude, bar, ban, reject, rule out, veto, boycott, embargo, expel, vote against, preclude, disallow, repudiate, proscribe, ostracize, debar, blackballblack magic NOUN = witchcraft, magic, witching, voodoo, the occult, wizardry, enchantment, sorcery, occultism, incantation, black art, witchery, necromancy, diabolism, sortilege, makutu (N.Z.)blackmail NOUN It looks like the pictures were being used for blackmail. = threat, intimidation, ransom, compulsion, protection (informal), coercion, extortion, pay-off (informal), shakedown, hush money (slang), exaction ▸ VERB I thought he was trying to blackmail me into saying whatever he wanted. = threaten, force, squeeze, compel, exact, intimidate, wring, coerce, milk, wrest, dragoon, extort, bleed (informal), press-gang, hold to ransomblackness NOUN = darkness, shade, gloom, dusk (poetic), obscurity, nightfall, murk, dimness, murkiness, duskiness, shadiness, melanism (technical), inkiness, nigrescence (rare) ◼ OPPOSITE: lightblackout NOUN 1 a media blackout = noncommunication, secrecy, censorship, suppression, radio silence 2 an electricity blackout = power cut, power failure 3 I suffered a blackout which lasted for several minutes. = unconsciousness, collapse, faint, oblivion, swoon (literary), loss of consciousness, syncope (Pathology)black sheep NOUN = disgrace, rebel, maverick, outcast, renegade, dropout, prodigal, individualist, nonconformist, ne'er-do-well, reprobate, wastrel, bad egg (old-fashioned, informal)blame VERB 1 They blamed the army for most of the atrocities. = hold responsible, accuse, denounce, indict, impeach, incriminate, impute, recriminate, point a or the finger at ◼ OPPOSITE: absolve 2 The police blamed the accident on black ice. = attribute to, credit to, assign to, put down to, impute to 3 (used in negative constructions) I do not blame them for trying to make some money. = criticize, charge, tax, blast, condemn, put down, disapprove of, censure, reproach, chide, admonish, tear into (informal), find fault with, reprove, upbraid, lambast(e), reprehend, express disapprobation of ◼ OPPOSITE: praise ▸ NOUN I could not let an innocent man take the blame for this. = responsibility, liability, rap (slang), accountability, onus, culpability, answerability ◼ OPPOSITE: praiseblameless ADJECTIVE = innocent, clear, clean, upright, stainless, honest, immaculate, impeccable, virtuous, faultless, squeaky-clean, unblemished, unsullied, uninvolved, unimpeachable, untarnished, above suspicion, irreproachable, guiltless, unspotted, unoffending ◼ OPPOSITE: guiltyblanch VERB = turn pale, fade, pale, drain, bleach, wan, whiten, go white, become pallid, become or grow whitebland ADJECTIVE 1 It's easy on the ear but bland and forgettable. = dull, boring, weak, plain, flat, commonplace, tedious, vanilla (informal), dreary, tiresome, monotonous, run-of-the-mill, uninspiring, humdrum, unimaginative, uninteresting, insipid, unexciting, ho-hum (informal), vapid, unstimulating, undistinctive ◼ OPPOSITE: exciting 2 It tasted bland and insipid, like warmed card. = tasteless, weak, watered-down, insipid, flavourless, thin, unstimulating, undistinctiveblank ADJECTIVE 1 He tore a blank page from his notebook. = unmarked, white, clear, clean, empty, plain, bare, void, spotless, unfilled, uncompleted ◼ OPPOSITE: marked 2 He gave him a blank look. = expressionless, empty, dull, vague, hollow, vacant, lifeless, deadpan, straight-faced, vacuous, impassive, inscrutable, inane, wooden, poker-faced (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: expressive 3 Abbot looked blank. 'I don't follow, sir.' = puzzled, lost, confused, stumped, doubtful, baffled, stuck (informal), at sea, bewildered, muddled, mixed up, confounded, perplexed, disconcerted, at a loss, mystified, clueless, dumbfounded, nonplussed, uncomprehending, flummoxed 4 a blank refusal to attend = absolute, complete, total, utter, outright, thorough, downright, consummate, unqualified, out and out, unmitigated, unmixed ▸ NOUN 1 Put a word in each blank to complete the sentence. = empty space, space, gap 2 Everything was a complete blank. = void, vacuum, vacancy, emptiness, nothingness, vacuity, tabula rasablanket NOUN 1 There was an old blanket in the trunk of my car. = cover, rug, coverlet, afghan 2 The mud disappeared under a blanket of snow. = covering, cover, bed, sheet, coating, coat, layer, film, carpet, cloak, mantle, thickness ▸ VERB More than a foot of snow blanketed parts of Michigan. = coat, cover, hide, surround, cloud, mask, conceal, obscure, eclipse, cloak ▸ ADJECTIVE the blanket coverage of the Olympics = comprehensive, full, complete, wide, sweeping, broad, extensive, wide-ranging, thorough, inclusive, exhaustive, all-inclusive, all-embracingblare VERB = blast, scream, boom, roar, thunder, trumpet, resound, hoot, toot, reverberate, sound out, honk, clang, pealblarney NOUN = flattery, coaxing, exaggeration, fawning, adulation, wheedling, spiel, sweet talk (informal), flannel (Brit. informal), soft soap (informal), sycophancy, servility, obsequiousness, cajolery, blandishment, fulsomeness, toadyism, overpraise, false praise, honeyed wordsblasé ADJECTIVE = nonchalant, cool, bored, distant, regardless, detached, weary, indifferent, careless, lukewarm, glutted, jaded, unmoved, unconcerned, impervious, uncaring, uninterested, apathetic, offhand, world-weary, heedless, satiated, unexcited, surfeited, cloyed ◼ OPPOSITE: interestedblasphemous ADJECTIVE = irreverent, cheeky (informal), contemptuous, profane, disrespectful, godless, ungodly, sacrilegious, irreligious, impious ◼ OPPOSITE: reverentblasphemy NOUN = irreverence, swearing, cursing, indignity (to God), desecration, sacrilege, profanity, impiety, profanation, execration, profaneness, impiousnessblast NOUN 1 a gas blast at a coal mine = explosion, crash, burst, discharge, blow-up, eruption, detonation 2 Blasts of cold air swept down from the mountains. = gust, rush, storm, breeze, puff, gale, flurry, tempest (literary), squall, strong breeze 3 The buzzer suddenly responded in a long blast of sound. = blare, blow, scream, trumpet, wail, resound, clamour, hoot, toot, honk, clang, peal ▸ VERB 1 The explosion blasted out the external supporting wall. = blow up, bomb, destroy, burst, ruin, break up, explode, shatter, demolish, rupture, dynamite, put paid to, blow sky-high 2 They have blasted the report. = criticize, attack, put down, censure, berate, castigate, tear into (informal), flay, rail at, lambast(e), chew out (U.S. & Canad. informal), throw shade (at) (slang)blasted ADJECTIVE = damned (slang), confounded, hateful, infernal (informal), detestableblastoff NOUN = launch, launching, take off, discharge, projection, lift-off, propelling, sendoffblatant ADJECTIVE = obvious, open, clear, plain, naked, sheer, patent, evident, pronounced, straightforward, outright, glaring, manifest, bald, transparent, noticeable, conspicuous, overt, unmistakable, flaunting, palpable, undeniable, brazen, flagrant, indisputable, ostentatious, unmitigated, cut-and-dried (informal), undisguised, obtrusive, unsubtle, unconcealed ◼ OPPOSITE: subtleblaze VERB 1 The log fire was blazing merrily. = burn, glow, flare, flicker, be on fire, go up in flames, be ablaze, fire, flash, flame 2 The gardens blazed with colour. = shine, flash, beam, glow, flare, glare, gleam, shimmer, radiate 3 His dark eyes were blazing with anger. = flare up, rage, boil, explode, fume, seethe, be livid, be incandescent ▸ NOUN 1 Two firefighters were hurt in the blaze. = inferno, fire, flames, bonfire, combustion, conflagration 2 I wanted the front garden to be a blaze of colour. = flash, glow, glitter, flare, glare, gleam, brilliance, radiancebleach VERB = lighten, wash out, blanch, peroxide, whiten, blench, etiolatebleak ADJECTIVE 1 The immediate outlook remains bleak. = dismal, black, dark, depressing, grim, discouraging, gloomy, hopeless, dreary, sombre, unpromising, disheartening, joyless, cheerless, comfortless ◼ OPPOSITE: cheerful 2 The island's pretty bleak. = exposed, open, empty, raw, bare, stark, barren, desolate, gaunt, windswept, weather-beaten, unsheltered ◼ OPPOSITE: sheltered 3 The weather can be quite bleak on the coast. = stormy, cold, severe, bitter, rough, harsh, chilly, windy, tempestuous, intemperatebleary ADJECTIVE = dim, blurred, fogged, murky, fuzzy, watery, misty, hazy, foggy, blurry, ill-defined, indistinct, rheumybleed VERB 1 The wound was bleeding profusely. = lose blood, flow, weep, trickle, gush, exude, spurt, shed blood 2 The two colours will bleed into each other. = blend, run, meet, unite, mix, combine, flow, fuse, mingle, converge, ooze, seep, amalgamate, meld, intermix 3 They mean to bleed the common people dry. = extort, milk, squeeze, drain, exhaust, fleeceblemish NOUN 1 the blemish on his face = mark, line, spot, scratch, bruise, scar, blur, defect, flaw, blot, smudge, imperfection, speck, blotch, disfigurement, pock, smirch ◼ OPPOSITE: perfection 2 the one blemish on an otherwise resounding success = defect, fault, weakness, stain, disgrace, deficiency, shortcoming, taint, inadequacy, dishonour, demerit ▸ VERB She wasn't about to blemish that pristine record. = dishonour, mark, damage, spot, injure, ruin, mar, spoil, stain, blur, disgrace, impair, taint, tarnish, blot, smudge, disfigure, sully, deface, blotch, besmirch, smirch ◼ OPPOSITE: enhanceblend VERB 1 Blend the ingredients until you have a smooth cream. = mix, join, combine, compound, incorporate, merge, put together, fuse, unite, mingle, alloy, synthesize, amalgamate, interweave, coalesce, intermingle, meld, intermix, commingle, commix 2 Make sure all the patches blend together = go well, match, fit, suit, go with, correspond, complement, coordinate, tone in, harmonize, cohere 3 a band that blended jazz, folk and classical music = combine, mix, link, integrate, merge, put together, fuse, unite, synthesize, marry, amalgamate ▸ NOUN He makes up his own blends of flour. = mixture, cross, mix, combination, compound, brew, composite, union, fusion, synthesis, alloy, medley, concoction, amalgam, amalgamation, meld, mélange (French), conglomeration, admixturebless VERB 1 Bless this couple and their loving commitment to one another. = sanctify, dedicate, ordain, exalt, anoint, consecrate, hallow, invoke happiness on ◼ OPPOSITE: curse 2 You have been blessed with many gifts. = endow, give to, provide for, grant, favour, grace, bestow to ◼ OPPOSITE: afflict 3 Let us bless God for so uniting our hearts. = praise, thank, worship, glorify, magnify, exalt, extol, pay homage to, give thanks toblessed ADJECTIVE 1 He's the son of a doctor, and well blessed with money. = endowed, supplied, granted, favoured, lucky, fortunate, furnished, bestowed, jammy (Brit. slang) 2 The birth of a healthy baby is a truly blessed event. = happy, contented, glad (archaic), merry, heartening, joyous, joyful, blissful 3 After the ceremony, they were declared 'blessed'. = holy, sacred, divine, adored, revered, hallowed, sanctified, beatifiedblessing NOUN 1 the blessings of prosperity = benefit, help, service, profit, gain, advantage, favour, gift, windfall, kindness, boon, good fortune, bounty, godsend, manna from heaven ◼ OPPOSITE: disadvantage 2 They gave their formal blessing to the idea. = approval, backing, support, agreement, regard, favour, sanction, go-ahead (informal), permission, leave, consent, mandate, endorsement, green light, ratification, assent, authorization, good wishes, acquiescence, approbation, concurrence, O.K. or okay (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: disapproval 3 He said the blessing after taking the bread. = benediction, grace, dedication, thanksgiving, invocation, commendation, consecration, benison ◼ OPPOSITE: curseblight NOUN 1 urban blight and unacceptable poverty = curse, suffering, evil, depression, corruption, distress, pollution, misery, plague (informal), hardship, woe, misfortune, contamination, adversity, scourge, affliction, bane, wretchedness ◼ OPPOSITE: blessing 2 the worst year of the potato blight = disease, plague, pest, fungus, contamination, mildew, contagion, infestation, pestilence, canker, cancer ▸ VERB families whose lives were blighted by unemployment = frustrate, destroy, ruin, crush, mar, dash, wreck, spoil, crool or cruel (Austral. slang), scar, undo, mess up, annihilate, nullify, put a damper onblind ADJECTIVE 1 How would you describe colour to a blind person? = sightless, unsighted, unseeing, visually impaired, visionless ◼ OPPOSITE: sighted 2 (usually followed by to) All the time I was blind to your suffering. = unaware of, unconscious of, deaf to, ignorant of, indifferent to, insensitive to, oblivious of, unconcerned about, inconsiderate of, neglectful of, heedless of, insensible of, unmindful of, disregardful of ◼ OPPOSITE: aware 3 her blind faith in the wisdom of her elders = unquestioning, prejudiced, wholesale, indiscriminate, uncritical, unreasoning, undiscriminating 4 a blind corner = hidden, concealed, obscured, dim, unseen, tucked away ◼ OPPOSITE: open 5 a dusty hotel room overlooking a blind alley = dead-end, closed, dark, obstructed, leading nowhere, without exit 6 I went into a blind panic. = unthinking, wild, violent, rash, reckless, irrational, hasty, senseless, mindless, uncontrollable, uncontrolled, unchecked, impetuous, intemperate, unconstrainedblinding ADJECTIVE 1 the blinding lights of the delivery room = bright, brilliant, intense, shining, glowing, blazing, dazzling, vivid, glaring, gleaming, beaming, effulgent, bedazzling 2 waiting for a blinding revelation that never came = amazing, striking, surprising, stunning (informal), impressive, astonishing, eye-popping (informal), staggering, sensational (informal), breathtaking, wondrous (archaic, literary), jaw-dropping, gee-whizz (slang)blindly ADVERB 1 Don't just blindly follow what the banker says. = thoughtlessly, carelessly, recklessly, indiscriminately, unreasonably, impulsively, senselessly, heedlessly, regardlessly 2 Panicking blindly they stumbled towards the exit. = wildly, aimlessly, madly, frantically, confusedlyblink VERB 1 She was blinking her eyes rapidly. = flutter, wink, bat 2 Green and yellow lights blinked on the surface of the harbour. = flash, flicker, sparkle, wink, shimmer, twinkle, glimmer, scintillate ● on the blink an old TV that's on the blink = not working (properly), faulty, defective, playing up, out of action, malfunctioning, out of order, on the fritz (U.S. slang)blinkered ADJECTIVE = narrow-minded, narrow, one-sided, prejudiced, biased, partial, discriminatory, parochial, constricted, insular, hidebound, one-eyed, lopsided ◼ OPPOSITE: broad-mindedbliss NOUN 1 It was a scene of such domestic bliss. = joy, ecstasy, euphoria, rapture, nirvana, felicity, gladness, blissfulness, delight, pleasure, heaven (informal), satisfaction, happiness, paradise ◼ OPPOSITE: misery 2 the bliss beyond the now = beatitude, ecstasy, exaltation, blessedness, felicity, holy joyblissful ADJECTIVE 1 There's nothing more blissful than lying by that pool. = delightful, pleasing, satisfying, heavenly (informal), enjoyable, gratifying, pleasurable 2 a blissful smile = happy, joyful, satisfied, ecstatic, joyous, euphoric, rapturousblister NOUN = sore, boil, swelling, cyst, pimple, wen, blain, carbuncle, pustule, bleb, furuncle (Pathology)blitz NOUN = attack, strike, assault, raid, offensive, onslaught, bombardment, bombing campaign, blitzkriegblizzard NOUN = snowstorm, storm, tempestbloated ADJECTIVE = too full, swollen upblob NOUN = drop, ball, mass, pearl, lump, bead, dab, droplet, globule, glob, dewdropbloc NOUN = group, union, league, ring, alliance, coalition, axis, combineblock NOUN 1 a block of ice = piece, bar, square, mass, cake, brick, lump, chunk, cube, hunk, nugget, ingot 2 a block to peace = obstruction, bar, barrier, obstacle, impediment, hindrance ▸ VERB 1 When the shrimp farm is built it will block the stream. = obstruct, close, stop, cut off, plug, choke, clog, shut off, stop up, bung up (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: clear 2 a row of spruce trees that blocked his view = obscure, bar, cut off, interrupt, obstruct, get in the way of, shut off 3 The police officer blocked his path. = shut off, stop, bar, cut off, head off, hamper, obstruct, get in the way ofblockade NOUN = stoppage, block, barrier, restriction, obstacle, barricade, obstruction, impediment, hindrance, encirclementblockage NOUN = obstruction, block, blocking, stoppage, impediment, occlusionblog NOUN = weblog, microblog, vlog, blook, website, forum, chatroom, column, newsletter, podcast, profile (on a social networking site), webcast, vodcastbloke NOUN = man, person, individual, customer (informal), character (informal), guy (informal), fellow (old-fashioned), punter (informal), chap, boy, bod (informal)blonde or blond ADJECTIVE 1 The baby had blonde curls. = fair, light, light-coloured, flaxen 2 She's blonde with brown eyes. = fair-haired, golden-haired, tow-headedblood NOUN 1 an inherited defect in the blood = lifeblood, gore, vital fluid 2 He was of noble blood, and an officer. = family, relations, birth, descent, extraction, ancestry, lineage, kinship, kindred ● bad blood There is, it seems, some bad blood between them. = hostility, anger, offence, resentment, bitterness, animosity, antagonism, enmity, bad feeling, rancour, hard feelings, ill will, animus, dudgeon (archaic), disgruntlement, chip on your shoulder ● in cold blood = without emotion, cruelly, ruthlessly, mercilessly, callously, indifferently, unmercifullybloodless ADJECTIVE = pale, white, wan, sickly, pasty, colourless, pallid, anaemic, ashen, chalky, sallow, ashy, like death warmed up (informal)bloodshed NOUN = killing, murder, massacre, slaughter, slaying, carnage, butchery, blood-letting, blood bathbloodthirsty ADJECTIVE = cruel, savage, brutal, vicious, ruthless, ferocious, murderous, heartless, inhuman, merciless, cut-throat, remorseless, warlike, barbarous, pitilessbloody ADJECTIVE 1 Forty-three demonstrators were badly injured in bloody chaos. = cruel, fierce, savage, brutal, vicious, ferocious, cut-throat, warlike, barbarous, sanguinary (formal) 2 His fingers were bloody and cracked. = bloodstained, raw, bleeding, blood-soaked, blood-spatteredbloody-minded ADJECTIVE = difficult, contrary, annoying, awkward, unreasonable, stubborn, perverse, exasperating, intractable, unhelpful, obstructive, cussed (informal), uncooperative, disobliging ◼ OPPOSITE: helpfulbloom NOUN 1 Harry carefully plucked the bloom. = flower, bud, blossom 2 in the full bloom of youth = prime, flower, beauty, height, peak, flourishing, maturity, perfection, best days, heyday, zenith, full flowering 3 The skin loses its youthful bloom. = glow, flush, blush, freshness, lustre, radiance, rosiness ◼ OPPOSITE: pallor ▸ VERB 1 This plant blooms between May and June. = flower, blossom, open, bud ◼ OPPOSITE: wither 2 Our relationship didn't bloom into a close friendship. = grow, develop, wax 3 Not many economies bloomed in 1990. = succeed, flourish, thrive, prosper, fare well ◼ OPPOSITE: failblossom NOUN the blossoms of plants, shrubs and trees = flower, bloom, bud, efflorescence, floret ▸ VERB 1 Why do some people take longer than others to blossom? = develop, bloom, grow, mature 2 His musical career blossomed. = succeed, progress, thrive, flourish, prosper 3 Rain begins to fall and peach trees blossom. = flower, bloom, budblot NOUN 1 a blot on the reputation of the architectural profession = disgrace, spot, fault, stain, scar, defect, flaw, taint, blemish, demerit, smirch, blot on your escutcheon 2 an ink blot = spot, mark, patch, smear, smudge, speck, blotch, splodge, stain ▸ VERB Blot any excess oils with a tissue. = soak up, take up, absorb, dry up ● blot something out 1 Dust clouds blotted out the sun. = obliterate, hide, shadow, disguise, obscure, blur, eclipse, block out, efface, obfuscate (formal) 2 He is blotting certain memories out. = erase, cancel, excise, obliterate, expunge (formal)blotch NOUN = mark, spot, patch, splash, stain, blot, smudge, blemish, splodge, smirch, smutchblow1 VERB 1 The wind blew her hair back from her forehead. = move, carry, drive, bear, sweep, fling, whisk, buffet, whirl, waft 2 Leaves were blowing around in the wind. = be carried, hover, flutter, flit, flitter 3 Take a deep breath and blow. = exhale, breathe, pant, puff, breathe out, expel air 4 South African football fans love to blow a horn called the vuvuzela. = play, sound, pipe, trumpet, blare, toot ● blow over Wait, and it'll blow over. = die down, end, pass, finish, cease, be forgotten, subside ● blow someone away 1 She just totally blew me away with her singing. = bowl over, amaze, stun, stagger, astound, electrify (informal), stupefy, flabbergast 2 He'd like to get hold of a gun and blow the criminals away. = open fire on, kill, blast (slang), bring down, zap (slang), pick off, pump full of lead (slang) ● blow something out I blew out the candle. = put out, extinguish, snuff out ● blow something up 1 He was jailed for forty-five years for trying to blow up their headquarters. = explode, bomb, blast, dynamite, detonate, blow sky-high 2 Other than blowing up a tyre I haven't done any car maintenance. = inflate, pump up, fill, expand, swell, enlarge, puff up, distend 3 Newspapers blew up the story. = exaggerate, heighten, enlarge on, inflate, embroider, magnify, amplify, overstate, embellish, blow out of (all) proportion, make a mountain out of a molehill, make a production out of, make a federal case of (U.S. informal), hyperbolize 4 The image is blown up on a large screen. = magnify, increase, extend, stretch, expand, widen, broaden, lengthen, amplify, elongate, dilate, make larger ● blow up 1 The bomb blew up over the countryside. = explode, burst, go off, shatter, erupt, detonate 2 (informal) I'm sorry I blew up at you. = lose your temper, rage, erupt, lose it (informal), crack up (informal), see red (informal), lose the plot (informal), become angry, go ballistic (slang), hit the roof (informal), blow a fuse (slang), fly off the handle (informal), become enraged, go off the deep end (informal), wig out (slang), go up the wall (slang), go crook (Austral. & N.Z. slang), flip your lid (slang), blow your top 3 The scandal blew up into a major political furore. = flare up, widen, heighten, enlarge, broaden, magnify ● blow your top I just asked him why he was late and he blew his top. = lose your temper, explode, blow up (informal), lose it (informal), see red (informal), lose the plot (informal), have a fit (informal), throw a tantrum, fly off the handle (informal), go spare (Brit. slang), fly into a temper, flip your lid (slang), do your nut (Brit. slang)blow2 NOUN 1 He went off to hospital after a blow to the face. = knock, stroke, punch, belt (informal), bang, rap, bash (informal), sock (slang), smack, thump, buffet, clout (informal), whack (informal), wallop (informal), slosh (Brit. slang), tonk (informal), clump (slang), clomp (slang) 2 The ruling comes as a blow to environmentalists. = setback, shock, upset, disaster, reverse, disappointment, catastrophe, misfortune, jolt, bombshell, calamity, affliction, whammy (informal), choker (informal), sucker punch, bummer (slang), bolt from the blue, comedown (informal)blowout NOUN 1 Once in a while we had a major blow-out. = binge (informal), party, feast, rave (Brit. slang), spree, beano (Brit. slang), rave-up (Brit. slang), carousal, carouse, hooley or hoolie (chiefly Irish & N.Z.) 2 A lorry travelling south had a blow-out and crashed. = puncture, burst, flat, flat tyre, flattie (N.Z.)bludge VERB = slack, skive (Brit. informal), idle, shirk, gold-brick (U.S. slang), bob off (Brit. slang), scrimshank (Brit., Military, slang)bludgeon VERB 1 He got into a fight and was badly bludgeoned. = club, batter, beat, strike, belt (informal), clobber (slang), pound, cosh (Brit.), cudgel, beat or knock seven bells out of (informal) 2 His relentless aggression bludgeons you into seeing his point. = bully, force, cow, intimidate, railroad (informal), hector, coerce, bulldoze (informal), dragoon, steamroller, browbeat, tyrannize ▸ NOUN They beat the poisonous creature with a bludgeon. = club, stick, baton, truncheon (Brit.), cosh (Brit.), cudgel, shillelagh, bastinado, mere (N.Z.), patu (N.Z.)blue ADJECTIVE 1 There's no earthly reason for me to feel so blue. = depressed, low, sad, unhappy, fed up, gloomy, dismal, melancholy, glum, dejected, despondent, downcast, down in the dumps (informal), down in the mouth, low-spirited, down-hearted ◼ OPPOSITE: happy 2 (old-fashioned) blue movies = smutty, dirty, naughty, obscene, indecent, vulgar, lewd, risqué, X-rated (informal), bawdy, near the knuckle (informal) ▸ PLURAL NOUN My friend has moved away and it's given me the blues. = depression, gloom, melancholy, unhappiness, despondency, the hump (Brit. informal), dejection, moodiness, low spirits, the dumps (informal), the doldrums, gloominess, glumnessblue-collar ADJECTIVE The plant employed more than a thousand blue-collar workers. = manual, industrial, physical, manufacturing, labouringblueprint NOUN 1 the blueprint of a new plan of economic reform = scheme, plan, design, system, idea, programme, proposal, strategy, pattern, suggestion, procedure, plot, draft, outline, sketch, proposition, prototype, layout, pilot scheme 2 The documents contain a blueprint for a nuclear device. = plan, scheme, project, pattern, draft, outline, sketch, layoutbluff1 NOUN The letter was a bluff. = deception, show, lie, fraud, fake, sham, pretence, deceit, bravado, bluster, humbug, subterfuge, feint, mere show ▸ VERB She tried to bluff her way through the test. = deceive, lie, trick, fool, pretend, cheat, con, fake, mislead, sham, dupe, feign, delude, humbug, bamboozle (informal), hoodwink, double-cross (informal), pull the wool over someone's eyesbluff2 NOUN a high bluff over the Congaree River = precipice, bank, peak, cliff, ridge, crag, escarpment, promontory, scarp ▸ ADJECTIVE a man with a bluff exterior = hearty, open, frank, blunt, sincere, outspoken, honest, downright, cordial, genial, affable, ebullient, jovial, plain-spoken, good-natured, unreserved, back-slapping ◼ OPPOSITE: tactfulblunder NOUN I think we have made a tactical blunder. = mistake, slip, fault, error, boob (Brit. slang), oversight, gaffe, slip-up (informal), indiscretion, impropriety, howler (informal), bloomer (Brit. informal), clanger (informal), faux pas, boo-boo (informal), gaucherie, barry or Barry Crocker (Austral. slang) ◼ OPPOSITE: correctness ▸ VERB 1 No doubt I had blundered again. = make a mistake, blow it (slang), err, slip up (informal), cock up (Brit. slang), miscalculate, foul up, drop a clanger (informal), put your foot in it (informal), drop a brick (Brit. informal), screw up (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: be correct 2 He had blundered into the table, upsetting the flowers. = stumble, fall, reel, stagger, flounder, lurch, lose your balanceblunt ADJECTIVE 1 She is blunt about her personal life. = frank, forthright, straightforward, explicit, rude, outspoken, bluff, downright, upfront (informal), trenchant, brusque, plain-spoken, tactless, impolite, discourteous, unpolished, uncivil, straight from the shoulder ◼ OPPOSITE: tactful 2 a blunt object = dull, rounded, dulled, edgeless, unsharpened ◼ OPPOSITE: sharp ▸ VERB Our appetite was blunted by the snacks. = dull, weaken, soften, numb, dampen, water down, deaden, take the edge off ◼ OPPOSITE: stimulateblur NOUN Her face is a blur. = haze, confusion, fog, obscurity, dimness, cloudiness, blear, blurredness, indistinctness ▸ VERB 1 If you move your eyes and your head, the picture will blur. = become indistinct, soften, become vague, become hazy, become fuzzy 2 Scientists are trying to blur the distinction between these questions. = obscure, make indistinct, mask, soften, muddy, obfuscate (formal), make vague, befog, make hazyblurred ADJECTIVE = indistinct, faint, vague, unclear, dim, fuzzy, misty, hazy, foggy, blurry, out of focus, ill-defined, lacking definitionblush VERB I blushed scarlet at my stupidity. = turn red, colour, burn, flame, glow, flush, crimson, redden, go red (as a beetroot), turn scarlet ◼ OPPOSITE: turn pale ▸ NOUN A blush spread over Brenda's cheeks. = reddening, colour, glow, flush, pink tinge, rosiness, ruddiness, rosy tintbluster VERB He was still blustering, but there was panic in his eyes. = boast, swagger, talk big (slang) ▸ NOUN the bluster of their campaign = hot air, boasting, bluff, swagger, swaggering (informal), swag (slang), bravado, bombastblustery ADJECTIVE = gusty, wild, violent, stormy, windy, tempestuous, inclement, squally, blusterousboard NOUN 1 The floor was draughty bare boards. = plank, panel, timber, slat, piece of timber 2 the US National Transportation Safety Board = council, directors, committee, congress, ministry, advisers, panel, assembly, chamber, trustees, governing body, synod, directorate, quango, advisory group, conclave 3 Free room and board are provided for all hotel staff. = meals, provisions, victuals, daily meals ▸ VERB I boarded the plane bound for England. = get on, enter, mount, embark, entrain, embus, enplane ◼ OPPOSITE: get offboast VERB 1 She boasted about her achievements. = brag, crow, vaunt, bluster, talk big (slang), blow your own trumpet, show off, be proud of, flaunt, congratulate yourself on, flatter yourself, pride yourself on, skite (Austral. & N.Z. informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: cover up 2 The houses boast the latest energy-saving technology. = possess, offer, present, exhibit ▸ NOUN He was asked about earlier boasts of a quick victory. = bragging, vaunting, rodomontade (literary), gasconade (rare) ◼ OPPOSITE: disclaimerboat NOUN One of the best ways to see the area is in a small boat. = vessel, ship, craft, barge (informal), barque (poetic) ● in the same boat The police and I were in the same boat. = in the same situation, alike, even, together, equal, on a par, on equal or even terms, on the same or equal footing ● miss the boat Big name companies have missed the boat. = miss your chance or opportunity, miss out, be too late, lose out, blow your chance (informal) ● rock the boat I said I didn't want to rock the boat in any way. = cause trouble, protest, object, dissent, make waves (informal), throw a spanner in the works, upset the apple cartbob VERB Balloons bobbed about in the sky. = bounce, duck, leap, hop, weave, skip, jerk, wobble, quiver, oscillate, waggle ● bob up They will bob up like corks as they cook. = spring up, rise, appear, emerge, surface, pop up, jump up, bounce upbode VERB = augur, portend, threaten, predict, signify, foreshadow, presage, betoken, be an omen, forebodebodily ADJECTIVE = physical, material, actual, substantial (formal), fleshly, tangible, corporal, carnal, corporealbody NOUN 1 The largest organ in the body is the liver. = physique, build, form, figure, shape, make-up, frame, constitution 2 Cross your upper leg over your body. = torso, trunk 3 The woodland creature's body lay in state. = corpse, dead body, remains, relics, carcass, cadaver, stiff (slang) 4 the police representative body = organization, company, group, society, league, association, band, congress, institution, corporation, federation, outfit (informal), syndicate, bloc, confederation 5 the preface, followed by the main body of the article = main part, matter, material, mass, substance, bulk, essence 6 It is probably the most polluted body of water in the world. = expanse, mass, sweep 7 The great body of people moved slowly forward. = mass, company, press, army, host, crowd, majority, assembly, mob, herd, swarm, horde, multitude, throng, bevy 8 a dry wine, with good body = consistency, substance, texture, density, richness, firmness, solidity, viscosity ◼ RELATED WORD: adjective corporal, physicalboffin NOUN = expert, authority, brain(s) (informal), intellectual, genius, guru, inventor, thinker, wizard, mastermind, intellect (informal), egghead, wonk (informal), brainbox, bluestocking (usually derogatory), maven (U.S.), fundi (S. African)bog NOUN We walked steadily across moor and bog. = marsh, moss (Scot. & Northern English dialect), swamp, slough, wetlands, fen, mire, quagmire, morass, marshland, peat bog, pakihi (N.Z.), muskeg (Canad.) ● bog something or someone down The talks have become bogged down with the issue of military reform. = hold up, stick, delay, halt, stall, slow down, impede, slow upbogey NOUN 1 Age is another bogey for those in the acting profession. = bugbear, bête noire, horror, nightmare, bugaboo 2 It was no bogey, no demon. = spirit, ghost, phantom, spectre, spook (informal), apparition, imp, sprite, goblin, bogeyman, hobgoblin, eidolon, atua (N.Z.), kehua (N.Z.)boggle VERB = confuse, surprise, shock, amaze, stun, stagger, bewilder, astound, daze, confound, stupefy, dumbfoundbogus ADJECTIVE = fake, false, artificial, forged, dummy, imitation, sham, fraudulent, pseudo (informal), counterfeit, spurious, ersatz, phoney or phony (informal), assumed ◼ OPPOSITE: genuinebohemian ADJECTIVE (sometimes cap.) bohemian pre-war poets = unconventional, alternative, artistic, exotic, way-out (informal), eccentric, avant-garde, off-the-wall (slang), unorthodox, arty (informal), oddball (informal), offbeat, left bank, nonconformist, outré ◼ OPPOSITE: conventional ▸ NOUN (sometimes cap.) I am a bohemian. I have no roots. = nonconformist, rebel, radical, eccentric, maverick, hippy, dropout, individualist, beatnik, iconoclastboil1 VERB 1 I stood in the kitchen, waiting for the water to boil. = simmer, bubble, foam, churn, seethe, fizz, froth, effervesce 2 She was boiling with anger. = be furious, storm, rage, rave, fume, be angry, crack up (informal), see red (informal), go ballistic (slang), be indignant, fulminate, foam at the mouth (informal), blow a fuse (slang), fly off the handle (informal), go off the deep end (informal), wig out (slang), go up the wall (slang) ● boil something down He boils down the sauce and uses what's left. = reduce, concentrate, precipitate (Chemistry), thicken, condense, decoctboil2 NOUN a boil on his nose = pustule, gathering (informal), swelling, blister, blain, carbuncle, furuncle (Pathology)boisterous ADJECTIVE 1 a boisterous but good-natured crowd = unruly, wild, disorderly, loud, noisy, wayward, rowdy, wilful, riotous, unrestrained, rollicking, impetuous, rumbustious, uproarious, obstreperous, clamorous ◼ OPPOSITE: self-controlled 2 The boisterous wind had been making the sea increasingly choppy. = stormy, rough, raging, turbulent, tumultuous, tempestuous, blustery, gusty, squally ◼ OPPOSITE: calmbold ADJECTIVE 1 She becomes a bold, daring rebel. = fearless, enterprising, brave, daring, heroic, adventurous, courageous, gritty, gallant, gutsy (slang), audacious, intrepid, valiant, plucky, undaunted, unafraid, unflinching, dauntless, lion-hearted, valorous ◼ OPPOSITE: timid 2 Some young people may seem bold and confident, but inside they are very fragile. = impudent, forward, fresh (informal), confident, rude, cheeky, brash, feisty (informal), saucy, pushy (informal), brazen, in-your-face (slang), shameless, sassy (informal), unabashed, pert, insolent, barefaced, spirited, forceful ◼ OPPOSITE: shy 3 bold, dramatic colours = bright, conspicuous, strong, striking, loud, prominent, lively, pronounced, colourful, vivid, flashy, eye-catching, salient, showy ◼ OPPOSITE: softbolster VERB = support, help, aid, maintain, boost, strengthen, assist, prop, reinforce, hold up, cushion, brace, shore up, augment, buttress, buoy up, give a leg up to (informal)bolt NOUN 1 details right down to the dimensions of nuts and bolts = pin, rod, peg, rivet 2 I heard him slide the bolt across the door. = bar, catch, lock, latch, fastener, sliding bar 3 He pulled the crossbow bolt from his head. = arrow, missile, shaft, dart, projectile 4 a bolt for freedom = dash, race, flight, spring, rush, rush, bound, sprint, dart, spurt ▸ VERB 1 He reminded her to lock and bolt the kitchen door behind her. = lock, close, bar, secure, fasten, latch 2 I made some excuse and bolted towards the exit. = dash, run, fly, spring, jump, rush, bound, leap, sprint, hurtle 3 Don't bolt your food. = gobble, stuff, wolf, cram, gorge, devour, gulp, guzzle, swallow whole