How to Use Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus

Every thesaurus user should read these Explanatory Notes because a thorough understanding of the scope, content, and structure of the work is essential to its effective employment.

A thesaurus consists mostly of lists of words, and it is often difficult for the user to understand the meanings of all of the words that appear on these lists. This thesaurus has been designed with features -- such as shared-meaning elements and verbal illustrations -- that will indicate meaning; however, it is essential that the thesaurus be used in conjunction with an adequate dictionary.

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