Related Words

The label Related Words introduces a list of related words. Related words are words that are almost but not quite antonymous with the entry word, and they appear within an entry next after the Synonyms list.

Entry Word: caustic
Function: adjective
1 marked by sharp and often witty incisiveness <a caustic critic>
Synonyms mordacious, mordant, salty, scathing, trenchant; SARCASTIC
Related Words biting, cutting, incisive; acrid, bitter, pungent, tart; acute, keen, sharp; ironic, sarcastic, satiric, stinging; harsh, rough, severe, stringent; crisp, pithy, succinct, terse

In this example, the Related Words list is composed of twenty-two terms separated into six subgroups that each share a common likeness or relation with the entry word and its synonyms. On the other hand, at the following secondary entry, three groups of eight terms were selected as being distinctively related to splendiferous rather than to the whole synonym group at main entry splendid 2, which is being cross-referred to by the word in small capitals.

Entry Word: splendiferous
Function: adjective
Synonyms SPLENDID 2, . . .
Related Words dazzling, marvelous; smashing, walloping; rattling, ripping, screaming, terrific

Related words appearing at a main entry are not ordinarily repeated at the secondary entries. The user should therefore check the main entry when seeking the most complete groupings of related words. Related words as such are not entered in boldface at their own alphabetical places. They may, of course, be synonyms in other lists or head their own main entries.

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