Search for synonyms using the Visual Thesaurus

The Visual Thesaurus is an online thesaurus and dictionary of over 145,000 words that you explore and visualize using an interactive map.

Type in a word and the Visual Thesaurus will show you a map of synonyms, antonyms, and definitions.

Unlike Roget's Thesaurus, the Visual Thesaurus contains over 39,000 proper nouns and American and British spellings and pronunciations.

It's a tool for people who think visually. Look up your word now!

Word Routes

Exploring the pathways of our lexicon

"Downton Abbey": Tracking the Anachronisms

February 10, 2012
By Ben Zimmer
Are you hooked on "Downton Abbey"? The second season of the British period drama has been airing in the U.S. on PBS, and it's been an addictive treat for Anglophiles. But just how accurate is the language used on the show? Though it mostly remains true to its post-Edwardian setting, at times the talk is a bit anachronistic.  Continue reading...
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Word Count

Writers Talk About Writing

Houses of Straw: Flimsy Votes and Arguments

Premium content available only to Visual Thesaurus subscribers.February 9, 2012
By Merrill Perlman
We'd like to welcome Merrill Perlman, who writes the "Language Corner" column for Columbia Journalism Review, as our newest regular contributor! In this column, she's grabbing at "straws": straw polls, straw men, and straw bashers.  Continue reading...
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Dog Eared

Books we love

Surveying the Mind-Boggling Diversity of American English

February 8, 2012
By Mark Peters
Richard Bailey's Speaking American is one of those books I wish I could make every prescriptivist grouch in the world read. You know the type: the kind of misinformed peever who kvetches about "kids these days" and the language going to hell while yearning to preserve English, as if it were a precious vase a teenage texter might knock over while planking, shattering it forever and leaving us all mute.  Continue reading...
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VOCABGRABBER

Automatically create lists of vocabulary from any text using the Visual Thesaurus VocabGrabber.
Try it now!

SPELLING BEE

Think you are a good speller? Take the Visual Thesaurus Spelling Bee and find out!
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Blog Excerpts

Introducing "Lexicon Valley"

February 7, 2012
Mike Vuolo, a producer for the NPR show "On the Media," has started a new podcast about language called "Lexicon Valley." For his first installment, he chats with OTM host Bob Garfield about the history of the curious "rule" against ending a sentence in a preposition. Slate is hosting the podcast, which you can listen to here.
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Blog Excerpts

I DARE Say!

January 17, 2012
The Dictionary of American Regional English (a.k.a. DARE) is finally completed — and it only took fifty years to do it! In the Boston Globe, Visual Thesaurus editor Ben Zimmer looks back on this monument to American speech, and looks ahead to new ways of approaching dialectology. Read his column here.
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Word Count

Writers Talk About Writing

Data-Based: The Jargon of Big Data
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers February 6, 2012 - 4 Comments

Word Routes

Exploring the pathways of our lexicon

"Not to Put Too Fine a Point Upon It": How Dickens Helped Shape the Lexicon
February 3, 2012 - 12 Comments

Evasive Maneuvers

Euphemisms old and new

Massaging European Issues
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers February 2, 2012 - 8 Comments

Language Lounge

A Monthly Column for Word Lovers

A Rare But Potentially Life-Threatening Condition
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers February 1, 2012 - 23 Comments

Behind the Dictionary

Lexicographers Talk About Language

Get Your Creak On
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers January 31, 2012 - 1 Comment

Teachers at Work

A column about teaching

Ducking Under the Caution Tape: Approachable Poems
January 30, 2012 - 3 Comments

Word Count

Writers Talk About Writing

Word Tasting Notes: "Geoduck"
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers January 26, 2012 - 6 Comments

Word Count

Writers Talk About Writing

Intoxicating: How to Derive "Drunk" Responsibly
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers January 25, 2012 - 1 Comment

Word Count

Writers Talk About Writing

Type Casting
January 24, 2012 - 2 Comments

Word Count

Writers Talk About Writing

The Power of General Statements
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers January 23, 2012 - 15 Comments

Teachers at Work

A column about teaching

Nouns on the Loose
January 20, 2012 - 5 Comments

Candlepower

Ad and marketing creatives

The Ündeniable Ümlaut
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers January 19, 2012 - 9 Comments

Dept. of Word Lists

Les West Side Misérables
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers January 18, 2012 - 8 Comments

Teachers at Work

A column about teaching

The Art of the Interview
January 17, 2012 - 1 Comment

Dog Eared

Books we love

"Babel No More": Facts and Fables of Linguistic Superheroes
January 13, 2012 - 10 Comments

Word Count

Writers Talk About Writing

Flash Card: Who Did What to Whom?
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers January 12, 2012 - 5 Comments
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OVERHEARD

RECENT COMMENTS FROM OUR SUBSCRIBERS

"Downton Abbey": Tracking the Anachronisms
John H. said, ""Suspension of disbelief" : a way for people to enjoy the "folly" of people who maybe "slept through a few English classes". We could also try..." - Today, 6:46 AM
Jerie C. said, "Is it really so impossible for academics and journalists to grasp that this is a work of FICTION not a lesson in Edwardian linguistics. Fiction is..." - Today, 4:15 AM
Houses of Straw: Flimsy Votes and Arguments
Cachelot said, "I came across this interview with Rod Lurie, who is remaking 'Straw Dogs': RL: Straw dogs in ancient Chinese rituals were gods made out of straw, and..." - Yesterday, 11:19 PM
Mike P. said, "There's also a "house of straw," as in the Three Little Pigs, I suppose." - Yesterday, 8:39 PM
A Rare But Potentially Life-Threatening Condition
Mark R. said, "This technology is being applied to political advertisements & no side effects are ever mentioned. There is no substitute for consciousness during..." - Yesterday, 3:55 PM
"Downton Abbey": Tracking the Anachronisms
Mike said, "This article reminds me of the days I collected American coinage and received both digital and print newsletters concerning the hobby. The experts as..." - Yesterday, 1:01 PM
"Not to Put Too Fine a Point Upon It": How Dickens Helped Shape the Lexicon
Rushda R. said, "Lovely article." - Yesterday, 4:16 AM
The Pun Also Rises
Ahmad G. said, "Wow, got to read this book! It must include exciting information and a whole new world of connections!" - Thursday February 9th, 8:12 PM
Surveying the Mind-Boggling Diversity of American English
Tom W. said, "Fantastic review Mark. You've made me want to read it. Unfortunately my attention-span is likely shorter than yours, so I'll probably skim. I hope..." - Thursday February 9th, 6:32 PM
Houses of Straw: Flimsy Votes and Arguments
Ben Zimmer said, "Cachelot: As it happens, I wrote about the origin of straw dogs on Language Log a few years back... Peckinpah borrowed his cryptic title from a..." - Thursday February 9th, 2:33 PM

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Lesson Plans

Put the VT to work in your classroom

A Dickensian Take on Things

February 7, 2012
In celebration of Charles Dickens's 200th birthday, this lesson looks at how the legendary writer’s work inspired the creation of an adjective that is used today: "Dickensian."  Continue reading...
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Contest

The Visual Thesaurus Crossword Puzzle: January Edition

Premium content available only to Visual Thesaurus subscribers.January 27, 2012
This month, it's the return of the word-chain crossword puzzle! Follow the chain of synonyms and you could win a Visual Thesaurus T-shirt.  Continue reading...
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Announcements

Visual Thesaurus Expands to the iPad and iPhone

June 9, 2011
We've just released a new version of the Visual Thesaurus that works for the iPad and the iPhone, at no extra cost to subscribers. And whether you're using the VT in your Web browser, on your iPhone, or on your iPad, you'll enjoy lightning-fast load times.  Continue reading...
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Self Promotion

Now Wear This!

November 8, 2006
Give your favorite somebody your favorite word map! Now you can order a Visual Thesaurus word map on a t-shirt, mug, even a postage stamp. Simply search for a word, click on the "Share" button on top right hand of the Visual Thesaurus window, and follow the easy steps. We can't think of a better gift -- or a gift to yourself, for that matter! (Hey, we're biased!)
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Webmasters

Add the VT to your site or blog

Visual Thesaurus Everywhere

Incorporate the Visual Thesaurus into your blog or website, add it to your home page, or use it from Microsoft Word. Learn all the ways that we offer to make the Visual Thesaurus more convenient to use and easier to share with your friends, family, and colleagues: Continue reading...