Synonyms are words you use when you can't spell the first one. Okay, that's just a joke or a quip or a wisecrack or a jest, jive, or jape. But I think you get my point. Synonyms allow us never to be at a loss for words.
If you know your synonyms, it will give you the odds when it comes to word games like crosswords and Scrabble. We writers get to embellish our work with different words with the same meaning because using a single word throughout sounds flat.
When it comes to vocabulary, we all hit a wall occasionally. Thanks to the web and online synonym dictionaries, we no longer need to pick up that hardbound heavy thesaurus. Fill in the little field, and these free thesauruses (synonym finders) spill out words by the dozen. Which are the better synonyms websites out there?
Here's a list of the best synonym websites online.
1. Thesaurus.com
This site is one of the best sites for synonyms. It offers one of the highest numbers of results for a word. The site is the other face of Dictionary.com. With the synonyms on display, you can explore the menu bar for meanings, games, word of the day, and handy guides to improve your learning and writing.
Scroll down on a word's page, and you'll learn more about a word, including how to use it, the antonyms, and discover related words.
2. Synonym.com
This site can help you find similar words online without a hassle. It also provides you with various definitions of the word in question, the history behind it, and antonyms.
However, the number of words listed is lesser than what you'll find on Thesaurus.com. The synonyms are arranged around the “meaning” they are meant to convey.
You can also discover trending searches on the website and word of the day.
3. Synonyms.com
This word site does a much better job of searching out synonyms and presenting a lot of related information around the results. The synonyms themselves are again hyperlinked. You can also learn how to pronounce words without an extra click.
Synonyms.com also includes word translations in different languages and a visual presentation. There's also a how-to section for using a searched word in a sentence and a citation aid. You can also find alternative searches for the word and its “nearby and related queries”.
The website also has a Chrome extension to help you find synonyms more easily.
4. Synonym Finder
Synonym Finder gives you hyperlinked words along with their definition, usage, and a visual presentation. Synonym Finder provides different synonyms grouped according to the context.
It isn't as robust as Thesaurus.com or Synonym.com, but offers a clean user interface that's easy to navigate. You can also use the top menu box to get to the antonyms of a word and definitions.
5. Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
Merriam-Webster is an online dictionary that also provides synonyms. You can use the website or download the dedicated app available on Android and iOS.
The website is a full-blown dictionary app that gives you definitions, synonyms, related words, near antonyms, and more. It also provides you with related phrases and citation aid.
6. Big Huge Thesaurus
The Big Huge Thesaurus (BHT) is based on Princeton University's WordNet database, the Carnegie Mellon Pronouncing Dictionary, and other sources.
The word tool returns quite a large hyperlinked list, which you can explore further. However, BHT doesn't provide word definitions, so it's worth paying closer attention to which synonym you pick.
Related: The Best Free Karaoke Apps
Like other websites, it does provide you with antonyms. You will also find words that “sound kind of like” and those that rhyme the word in question if you're trying to kick start that rap career.
7. The Free Thesaurus
The Free Thesaurus, by The Free Dictionary, can also be handy for finding synonyms. The Free Thesaurus allows you to explore a word in different domains, like law, finance, and medicine, on top of giving you synonyms. It includes a related word as well, and a visual presentation.
The “Starts with” and “Ends with” options help you get complete lists of words if the actual word slips past your memory.
Being part of The Free Dictionary, you can use the website to find acronyms, idioms, and meanings of words in one single place.
8. Collins Dictionary
Collins Dictionary is an online dictionary that does more than the average online dictionary. It also includes a thesaurus and translator.
You can also learn how to pronounce the different synonyms. Collins Dictionary also includes a video at the bottom of each word to teach you pronunciation.
9. Word Hippo
WordHippo is another handy website for hunting down synonyms. It has a pretty straightforward user interface that you'll feel at home the first time.
Type in a word and select Synonyms from the tab, and the website will present you with a variety of options. Besides throwing synonyms at you, it also specifies which part of speech the word is for some context. WordHippo goes a mile further by providing synonyms of your keyword in different contexts.
Additionally, WordHippo provides you with related words and phrases. And if that's not enough, the site is also a one-stop-shop for antonyms, rhymes, translations, and you can also learn how to pronounce. WordHippo is accessible via the web, but you can download its Android and iOS apps if you want.
10. Power Thesaurus
Power Thesaurus is yet another online synonym finder website. As one of the best synonym finders, Power Thesaurus provides you with dozens if not hundreds of synonyms. A dictionary is also available to check the definition of each synonym in an easily accessible drop-down menu.
The site also includes antonyms, examples in a sentence, phrases, and idioms. Power Thesaurus has an extension on Chrome and Microsoft Edge that allows you to check synonyms of words across the web in just a click. With the web extension, you don't have to visit the website anymore.
Related: Dictionary and Vocabulary Apps to Learn New Words
Find Dozens of Synonyms With Ease
The age of carrying around a voluminous thesaurus is behind us, with the internet making it possible to look up synonyms in a blink of an eye. Use any of the ten websites to find similar words online with ease. Try each of them and find what's convenient for you in the long run.
Using a dictionary extension is one of the best ways to find synonyms with ease. For instance, in Google Docs, you can install different Add Ons solely dedicated to finding synonyms.
