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

The Geeky, Cosmic, Philosophical History of "Multiverse"

May 23, 2018
By Mark Peters
Multiverse is a word with multiple meanings and origins, ranging from heady philosophy to spandex-clad superheroes, but the first examples of multiverse are a lot older than you would think and not where you would expect.  Continue reading...
Article Topics:
1 comment Suggest a topic / contribute
Click here to read more articles from Word Routes.

Candlepower

Ad and marketing creatives

To Boldly Go

Premium content available only to Visual Thesaurus subscribers.May 14, 2018
By Nancy Friedman
For a while, the trendy prefixes i- and e- may have been flashy signposts for this new era, but go communicates what they couldn't: urgency, energy, and, most of all, mobility.  Continue reading...
Article Topics:
5 comments Suggest a topic / contribute
Click here to read more articles from Candlepower.

Evasive Maneuvers

Euphemisms old and new

Heavy Episodic Malarkey and Other Formulated Fluff

Premium content available only to Visual Thesaurus subscribers.May 7, 2018
By Mark Peters
My euphemism mop wiped up the following terms from the drippy drivel of 2018. Enjoy and employ these terms, but keep a twaddle towel handy.  Continue reading...
Article Topics:
Post a comment Suggest a topic / contribute
Click here to read more articles from Evasive Maneuvers.

Language Lounge

A Monthly Column for Word Lovers

Words with Sharp Edges

Premium content available only to Visual Thesaurus subscribers.May 1, 2018
By Orin Hargraves
Let's look at the behavior of some words in English whose primary and original denotation involves physical contact, physical characteristics, violent impact, and damage.  Continue reading...
Article Topics:
8 comments Suggest a topic / contribute
Click here to read more articles from Language Lounge.

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!
Click here to start.

Blog Excerpts

Happy Thesaurus Day!

January 18, 2016
January 18th is celebrated as Thesaurus Day to honor the birthday of the author of the first thesaurus, Peter Mark Roget. Get into the spirit by reading our two-part interview with Roget biographer Joshua Kendall here and here. Also check out an ode to the thesaurus penned by Franklin P. Adams here and Johnny Carson's hilarious "Funeral for a Thesaurus Editor" sketch here.
Article Topics:
Click here to read more articles from Blog Excerpts.

Blog Excerpts

Celebrating Labor (and Labour) Day

September 4, 2015
On the first Monday in September, the United States observes Labor Day, while Canadians celebrate Labour Day. If you want to know why labour is the accepted spelling in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries like Canada, while Americans prefer labor (and color, favor, honor, humor, and neighbor), check out this classic Word Routes column by Ben Zimmer.
Article Topics:
Click here to read more articles from Blog Excerpts.

Word Routes

Exploring the pathways of our lexicon

Nerding Out on "Nerd"
April 24, 2018 - 2 Comments

Candlepower

Ad and marketing creatives

Naming the Name of the Year
April 11, 2018

Evasive Maneuvers

Euphemisms old and new

Size-inclusive Reinterpretations of Collective Cockamamie Coinages
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers April 6, 2018 - 5 Comments

Language Lounge

A Monthly Column for Word Lovers

Pride and Prejudice and Natural Language Processing
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers April 2, 2018 - 2 Comments

Word Count

Writers Talk About Writing

Why Writers Should Walk More
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers March 19, 2018 - 4 Comments

Candlepower

Ad and marketing creatives

The Story of -o
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers March 12, 2018 - 11 Comments

Evasive Maneuvers

Euphemisms old and new

Euphemizing Some Spicy Meatballs
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers March 7, 2018 - 2 Comments

Language Lounge

A Monthly Column for Word Lovers

Machine Translation Dreams
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers March 1, 2018 - 3 Comments

Word Routes

Exploring the pathways of our lexicon

For Whomst Does the Neologism Toll?
February 23, 2018 - 8 Comments

Word Count

Writers Talk About Writing

26 Fantastic No-cost Tools for Writers
February 19, 2018 - 5 Comments

Candlepower

Ad and marketing creatives

Take a Number
February 12, 2018 - 2 Comments

Evasive Maneuvers

Euphemisms old and new

Taking Some Problematic Executive Time
February 7, 2018 - 2 Comments

Language Lounge

A Monthly Column for Word Lovers

The Duties and Powers of His Office
February 1, 2018 - 3 Comments

Word Count

Writers Talk About Writing

Here's a Non-Resolution That Could Change Your Writing Life
January 18, 2018 - 4 Comments

Evasive Maneuvers

Euphemisms old and new

Come On, You Know the Euphemism of the Year
January 10, 2018 - 7 Comments

Behind the Dictionary

Lexicographers Talk About Language

"Fake News" Is the Real Word of the Year
January 7, 2018 - 2 Comments
Click here to browse all the articles in our archive by date.
premium content - Indicates content available exclusively to Visual Thesaurus subscribers.
Click here to subscribe today.
 
 
Featured Word Lists

More Top Rated Word Lists:

Click here to browse for more word lists...
create a new wordlist

OVERHEARD

RECENT COMMENTS FROM OUR SUBSCRIBERS

The Geeky, Cosmic, Philosophical History of "Multiverse"
Bosse B. said, "Are you guys allowed to use words that are not in VT? That's quite doozy, eh?" - Wednesday May 23rd, 11:20 AM
To Boldly Go
Juan Jose Hartlohner said, "- Shortest paragraph ever: "Go." - Should the NTSB called their scramble team "Go-Team"?" - Tuesday May 22nd, 7:42 AM
Susan D. said, "Nice article. As a language junkie, I very much enjoyed it. And thanks for being so thorough." - Monday May 21st, 2:24 PM
Nancy Friedman said, "Orin: Thanks for that addition to the list! It looks as though GO is functioning as a modifier here ("the team that *goes* to the scene of an..." - Monday May 21st, 9:12 AM
Orin Hargraves said, "And there's this, from the NTSB website: "Go Team" with no intervening comma. 'The NTSB "Go Team" At the core of NTSB investigations is the "Go Team."..." - Monday May 21st, 8:03 AM
Sam T. said, "How I enjoy your articles! Refreshingly creative and thought-provoking. Thank you for making the effort. Sam" - Sunday May 20th, 9:39 AM
Words with Sharp Edges
David C. said, "I recently wrote a book about sticks and stones versus words: LAUGHING AT POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. As Vincent alluded to above, the stoic Marcus..." - Sunday May 6th, 9:32 AM
Nerding Out on "Nerd"
catwalker said, "We in Canada like to think that 'nerd' is derived from 'Northern Electric Research and Development.' Northern Electric was the Canadian counterpart to..." - Friday May 4th, 11:45 AM
Words with Sharp Edges
ezriel K. said, "Words are the root of all evil." - Thursday May 3rd, 10:46 AM
Naomi B. said, "To Mr. Hargraves, this is the first time I have seen a written expression of "racking" one's brain. I had always visualized the phrase as "wracking,"..." - Tuesday May 1st, 8:59 PM

search the site

Lesson Plans

Put the VT to work in your classroom

Stage Directions: the Vocabulary of Theatrical Delivery

November 1, 2013
How can interpreting the language of stage directions enhance students' comprehension of drama?  Continue reading...
2 comments Suggest a topic / contribute
Click here to read more articles from Lesson Plans.