E.H. Mikhail - DICTIONARY OF APPROPRIATE ADJECTIVES: New Updated and Expanded Edition

CONTENTS

Preface

Dictionary of Appropriate Adjectives

Appendix A: Good Personal Qualities

Appendix B: Bad Personal Qualities

Appendix C: Similes with Adjectives

PREFACE

While there are dozens of thesauruses and dictionaries of synonyms available, this is the first dictionary specifically designed to help users of English find an adjective equal to the occasion. By consulting this dictionary (followed, if need be, by a conventional dictionary), you will be able to avoid the use of hackneyed, tired adjectives over and over again, and to find a useful range of adjectives to describe particular nouns instead of using inexact or ambiguous references.

In this dictionary you will find, for example:

the adjective specifically used to describe a noun : postprandial appetite; perfunctory apology

the technical terms applied to a rifle, such as rapid-fire, high velocity and single-shot; to rhyme, such as internal , terminal and double; to a camera, such as auto-focus, fixed-focus and submersible; or to a system, such as olfactory, visual and auditory

a suitable range of adjectives to describe a phenomenon like a storm: howling, fiendish, squally and unabated

appropriate classical epithets, such as Ciceronian eloquence, Pyrrhic victory, Cartesian precision, Sisyphean distraction, Stygian gloom and Faustian bargain

the appropriate adjective that applies to a certain animal, for example, babbling monkey, grunting pig, cooing pigeon and hissing snake

the specific adjectives that describe types of monarchy : constitutional, representative , parliamentary ; maps: geological, topographical, topological ; medicine: sedative, allopathic, analgesic ; evidence: corroborative, circumstantial, prima facie ; year: astronomical, calendar, canicular ; arrest: preventive, pre-emptive, wrongful ; duties: administrative, regulatory, fiduciary ; or exercise; isometric, aerobic, anaerobic

the specific adjective that describes a certain shade of colour such as blue: navy, royal, azure, cerulean ; red: carmine , scarlet , cherry , ruby ; or green: emerald, chartreuse, mint , celadon

the exact adjective that describes the degree or kind of such words as pain: piercing , burning , shooting ; or heroism: stoic, quotidian

the hard-to-find or hard-to-remember adjective that describes such words as pension: defined-benefit , defined-contribution , inflation-protected , non-contributory ; diet: therapeutic , ketogenic, macrobiotic ; or arm: prosthetic, myoelectric, robotic

The dictionary also features three comprehensive Appendixes, including an exhaustive one of endurable Similes.

With its comprehensive listing of some 4000 entries (arranged in alphabetical order) and their appropriate adjectives, the dictionary is a useful and welcome reference tool for the library, home, school or office.

A

abandon

all-out, total, extravagant, frenzied, ecstatic, hectic, rapturous, joyful, carefree, zealous, berserk, crazy, careless, reckless, ruthless, wild, wanton, hedonistic, lewd, lusty, lubricious, orgiastic, alarming, devil-may-care, enviable, youthful, athletic

abandonment

total, utter, complete, absolute, permanent, calm, tacit, slow, sudden, spasmodic, joyous, wild, overpowering, devastating, magnanimous, reckless, careless, undeserved, inevitable, unavoidable, emotional

abdomen, abdomens See belly

abduction, abductions

brazen, bold, audacious, brash, barefaced, shameless

abhorrence, abhorrences See hate

ability, abilities

outstanding, amazing, striking, astounding, astonishing, incredible, remarkable, exceptional, unique, singular, rare, sublime, uncanny, extraordinary, unworldly, legendary, phenomenal, unrivalled, unparalleled, unmatched, unequalled, undeniable, unquestionable, incontestable, undoubted, all-important, impressive, magnificent, superb, enduring, lofty, prodigious, deft, consummate, tireless, enormous, marked, noticeable, conspicuous, distinctive, distinguished, (un)limited, soaring, monumental, awesome, formidable, flawless, informed, disconcerting, short-term, medium-term, long-term, mediocre, fair, moderate, reduced, marginal, negligible, defective, untutored, unused, untapped, unrecognised, acquired, new-found, proven, primal, native, natural, intrinsic, innate, intuitive, inborn, latent, cognitive, spatial (spacial), visual, verbal, putative, detective, fictive, creative, histrionic, musical, athletic, academic, scholastic, linguistic, descriptive, analytical, communicative, administrative, executive, imagistic, physical, mental, sensory, erectile, technical, decision-making, navigational, Protean

abnormality, abnormalities

(un)common, rare, queer, peculiar, bizarre, grotesque, gross, serious, distinctive, characteristic, insidious, fatal, biochemical, physical, physiological, metabolic, chromosomal, genetic, fetal, anatomical, mental, cardiovascular, mammographic

abode, abodes See home

abolition, abolitions

(un)justifiable, (in)excusable, (il)legal, peaceful, total, partial, immediate, sudden, quick, gradual, (un)expected, (un)warranted, unprecedented

abortion, abortions

(un)obtainable, (in)accessible, (un)available, (un)safe, (un)easy, difficult, casual, sleazy, risky, painful, dangerous, spontaneous, back-alley, back-street, commonplace, (il)legal, (il)licit, punishable, forced, forcible, compulsory, (sex-) selective, self-selective, self-induced, late-term, therapeutic, surgical

abscess, abscesses

apical, swollen, painful, painless, acute, chronic, superficial, internal

absence

striking, stunning, surprising, unexpected, obvious, noticeable, notable, (in)conspicuous, (un)intentional, (un)accountable, (in)evitable, (un)avoidable, (in)excusable, (in)significant, (in)frequent, gross, sore, dismal, brief, lengthy, long, total, complete, temporary, momentary, virtual, emotional

abstinence

advisable, ascetic, austere, strict, stringent, inflexible, resolute, rigid, rigorous, unbending, unyielding, unrelenting, uncompromising, conscientious, scrupulous, total, complete, thorough, sexual

absurdity, absurdities See stupidity

abundance

mind-boggling, staggering, unending, bounteous, endless, bounteous, infinite, excessive, extravagant, inexhaustible, lush, lavish, sumptuous, fantastic, singular, astonishing, incredible, unbelievable, manifest, random, riotous, chaotic, dismal, blessed, heavenly

abuse, abuses

permissible, (un)justifiable, (in)explicable, (un)warranted, uncalled-for, unacceptable, inadvertent, apparent, angry, incredible, unbelievable, shocking, outlandish, egregious, horrible, sharp, grave, gross, sore, flagrant, blatant, torrential, rampant, widespread, constant, (in)frequent, chronic, repeated, systematic, considerable, mindless, heartless, remorseless, ruthless, relentless, unrelenting, uncivilised, horrendous, disgusting, bitter, terrible, shameful, disgraceful, vile, sordid, evil, vicious, ghastly, vehement, wanton, virulent, malicious, vindictive, wilful, opprobrious, scurrilous, venomous, irresponsible, alleged, systematic, unchecked, unreported, ritual, physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, psychological, sexual, verbal, criminal, political, administrative, financial, economic, parental, spousal, incestuous, racist

abyss

unbridgeable

academic, academics

erudite, liberal, open-minded, (un)orthodox, (un)conventional, ever-toiling, (in)competent, (un)conscientious, earnest, dedicated, meticulous, systematic, thorough, accomplished, distinguished, eminent, well-known, celebrated, renowned, notable, noted, established, estimable, venerable, reclusive, absent-minded, heavy-handed, stuffy, queer, eccentric, sedentary, myopic

accent, accents

genuine, pukka, proper, perfect, impeccable, flawless, (un)refined, fine, fluent, fluid, flowing, brisk, mellifluous, musical, pleasing, pleasant, charming, crisp, rich, plummy , deep, firm, haughty, classy, punctilious, feeble, soft, high, upper-crust, succinct, slight, low, ordinary, prevailing, dominant, widespread, impetuous, singsong, (in)consistent, (un)detectable, (un)discernible, (in)distinct, distinctive, understandable, recognisable, marked, unique, decided, pronounced, definite, mixed, understandable, purring, lilting, throaty, sharp, strong, vigorous, grave, heavy, thick, broad, dense, rough(-sounding), gravelly, husky, nutty, flat, clipped, quick, uneven, (un)common, unusual, strange, curious, odd, bizarre, funny, made-up, slurred, inexplicable, unintelligible, impenetrable, incomprehensible, terrible, dreadful, poor, phon(e)y, fake, bogus, unconvincing, pseudo-English, harsh, vulgar, lingering, languid, undulatory, rustic, primary, secondary, acute, tonic, dialectal, regional, local, foreign, diphthong, mandarin