Oxford Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms

Can you think of thirteen words that are similar in meaning to (and therefore synonyms for) the word ‘drawback’? And then can you think of another seven words that mean the opposite of (and are therefore antonyms for) drawback? Probably not, certainly not within the two minutes it would take you to look up ‘drawback’ in the Oxford Synonyms and Antonyms.

Once you get into the habit of using this dictionary you will find that it helps you express your ideas more clearly and creatively. You will also find it a huge help when you need to avoid repeating a word you have already used.

And then there are the appendices. You can start with the listings of commonly confused words – such as lama and llama, or principle and principal, or even wreath and wreathe.  

Next comes the Wordfinder, a listing of theme lists which help find exactly the right word: there are, for example, around 175 words for types of cake or biscuit, and nearly fifty for examples of footwear.