
inability | inability: n. incapacity, incapability, incompetence, unfitness, ineptness, ineptitude, unqualifiedness, impotence: The inability of many school-leavers to perform simple arithmetical tasks is deeply worrying.
inaccessible | inaccessible: adj. 1 unavailable, unobtainable, unattainable, unreachable, unapproachable: The minister has made himself inaccessible for interviews. 2 impenetrable, impassable, out-of-the-way: The tomb lies in a part of the jungle inaccessible except by air.
inaccurate | inaccurate: adj. wrong, incorrect, erroneous, mistaken, inexact, imprecise, faulty, flawed, imperfect, amiss, awry, false, fallacious, illogical, unsound, Colloq off the mark, off the beam, cold, Chiefly US all wet, US (way) off base Slang cock-eyed, full of hot air: Reports of my death were obviously inaccurate.
inactive | inactive: adj. 1 passive, placid, quiet, tranquil, quiescent, serene, peaceful, pacific, resting, unmoving, motionless, immobile, immobilized, still, inert, lifeless, inanimate, sluggish, listless, lethargic, lackadaisical, languid, indolent, lazy, torpid, somnolent, idle, slothful, supine: Although there was plenty to do round the house, he remained inactive all summer. 2 non-functioning, inoperative, dormant; unoccupied, idle, unemployed, jobless, out of work, out of a job: The volcano was inactive for a thousand years. These miners have been inactive for six months.
inactivity | inactivity: n. 1 passiveness or passivity, placidity or placidness, quiet, tranquillity, serenity, peace, peacefulness; motionlessness, immobility, stillness, inertia, inertness, lifelessness, sluggishness, listlessness, lethargy, languidness, indolence, laziness, torpor, somnolence, idleness, slothfulness, sloth: She alternates between periods of activity and inactivity. 2 inaction, quiescence; hibernation, aestivation: During repairs, the reactor will be in a state of inactivity. Some animals have a period of inactivity during certain times of the year.
inadequate | inadequate: adj. 1 insufficient, deficient, not enough, too little, scarce, meagre, scanty, skimpy, sparse, (in) short (supply); unsatisfactory, imperfect, incomplete, defective, unsuitable, disappointing, flawed, faulty: Funds are inadequate to meet her expenses. The terms of the agreement are inadequate. 2 inadequate to. unsuited to or for, unfit for, unqualified for, not up to, unequal to, unworthy of, inapt for, inept for, incapable of: He proved inadequate to the demands of the job.
inadmissible | inadmissible: adj. disallowed, unallowable, unallowed, forbidden, unacceptable, prohibited, unsuitable, unsuited, unqualified, inappropriate, inapplicable, improper, objectionable, exceptionable, incorrect, wrong: Such evidence is inadmissible in court.
inadvertent | inadvertent: adj. 1 unintentional, unintended, unpremeditated, accidental, unthinking, unwitting, chance; unconscious, unplanned, unstudied, undesigned, uncalculated: She was an inadvertent witness to the murder. I assure you that the error was entirely inadvertent. 2 careless, inattentive, negligent, heedless, unobservant: Inadvertent commentators failed to see the significance of her words.
inalienable | inalienable: adj. untransferable, intransferable, absolute, inherent, unconsignable, sacrosanct, inviolable, non-negotiable, unnegotiable, unchallengeable, Law imprescriptible, entailed, indefeasible: People have an inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
inane | inane: adj. silly, asinine, vapid, vacant, vacuous, absurd, fatuous, foolish, senseless, nonsensical, unreasonable, preposterous, ludicrous, ridiculous, laughable, risible, mad, lunatic, crazy, stupid, dumb, idiotic, moronic, imbecilic, Colloq nutty, nuts, daft, daffy, screwy, batty, dippy, wacky, cuckoo, loony, goofy, Brit bonkers, dotty: Students seem especially prone to inane behaviour.
inanimate | inanimate: adj. lifeless, motionless, immobile, unmoving, inactive, inert, still, spiritless, soulless, cold, dead, defunct: He just sits there, like an inanimate piece of furniture.
inapplicable | inapplicable: adj. inappropriate, unsuitable, unsuited, inapt, irrelevant, unrelated, unconnected, inapposite, beside the point or question, extraneous, off the mark, Colloq US off base: That law is inapplicable in your case.
inappropriate | inappropriate: adj. improper, unfitting, unfit, unsuitable, unsuited, unbefitting, incompatible, malapropos, ungermane, inapt, inapposite, out of keeping, incongruous, infelicitous, inopportune, untimely, irrelevant, inapplicable: Your facetiousness was quite inappropriate to such a solemn occasion.
inarticulate | inarticulate: adj. 1 disjointed, unconnected, incoherent, incomprehensible, jumbled, unintelligible, unclear, illogical, discursive, rambling, scrambled, wild, irrational, muddled, mixed-up, confused, digressive: She sat through an inarticulate lecture on Joyce''s use of the subjunctive. 2 mumbled, garbled, blurred, muffled, muttered, faltering, halting, indistinct, unclear, unintelligible: They communicate with each other in inarticulate grunts. 3 speechless, tongue-tied, (struck) dumb, mute, voiceless: Ed is inarticulate when it comes to describing Vera.
inattentive | inattentive: n. unobservant, heedless, careless, negligent, neglectful, indifferent, uncaring, apathetic, slack, remiss, unconcerned, detached, unmindful, distracted, distrait(e), absent-minded, abstracted, in a brown study, day-dreaming, oscitant, wool-gathering, musing, oblivious, (with one''s head) in the clouds, in a world of one''s own: It was late and the children were getting restless and inattentive.
inaudible | inaudible: adj. unheard, imperceptible, indistinct, low, faint, muted, quiet, soft, muffled, stifled: The film was good, although some of the dialogue was inaudible.
inaugurate | inaugurate: v. 1 initiate, begin, commence, enter upon, start, introduce, usher in, institute, launch, originate, set up, get under way, get going: A new programme of health services has been inaugurated. 2 install or instal, induct, invest, establish, instate: The President was inaugurated last week.
inauspicious | inauspicious: adj. unpromising, unlucky, unfortunate, unfavourable, unpropitious, untoward, ill-starred, ominous, ill-omened, ill-fated, portentous, menacing, doomed, sinister, dark, gloomy, cloudy, clouded, black: The middle of a recession is an inauspicious time to set up a business.
inborn | inborn: adj. innate, congenital, inherent, inherited, hereditary, inbred, natural, native, constitutional, deep-seated, deep-rooted, ingrained, instinctive or instinctual, Technical connate: A gift for music is inborn.
incandescent | incandescent: adj. glowing, red-hot, white-hot, alight, aflame, flaming, burning, fiery, candent, flaring: Light-bulbs contain an incandescent filament.
incapable | incapable: adj. 1 Often, incapable of. unable (to), powerless (to), incompetent (to), unfit (to), unqualified (to), impotent (to), unequal to, not up to: He seems incapable of completing his assignment. 2 incapable of. insusceptible to, resistant to, impervious to, ill-disposed to, disinclined to, not open to: He is incapable of dishonesty.
incapacitate | incapacitate: v. disable, cripple, paralyse, lame, wound, maim, impair, weaken, enfeeble, enervate, exhaust, devitalize; immobilize, inactivate, deactivate, put out of action, indispose: Severely incapacitated in the crash, John cannot walk without the aid of crutches. The power plant was incapacitated by one well-placed grenade.
incentive | incentive: n. incitement, impetus, encouragement, goad, prod, provocation, spur, impulse, enticement, lure, inducement, stimulus, motivation, Colloq carrot: The discount is offered as an incentive to buy a new car.
incidence | incidence: n. frequency, rate, degree, extent, occurrence, prevalence; quantity, amount, number: The incidence of heart disease is high in Britain.
incident | incident: n. 1 event, occasion, occurrence, proceeding, circumstance, fact, happening, experience, episode: A curious incident led to the discovery. 2 disturbance, scene, affair, upset, commotion, fracas, skirmish, set-to, Colloq to-do, do: The police were called because of an incident at the pub next door.
incidental | incidental: adj. 1 casual, chance, fortuitous, aleatory, random, haphazard, serendipitous, unpredictable, accidental, adventitious, unplanned, unlooked-for, Colloq fluky: Any good that came from the war was incidental. 2 subordinate, secondary, ancillary, minor, lesser, non-essential, unimportant, trivial, negligible, inconsequential, insignificant, petty, trifling, paltry: The incidental events were not covered by the press.
incidentally | incidentally: adv. 1 by the way, by the by, apropos (of), parenthetically: Incidentally, I won''t be able to go the party tonight. 2 casually, as luck would have it, accidentally, by chance, perchance: In addition to being held for murder, he was incidentally charged with possession of an illegal weapon.
incision | incision: n. cut, gash, slit, slash: The surgeon made an incision in the abdominal wall.
incisive | incisive: adj. 1 keen, sharp, acute, piercing, perspicacious, perceptive, percipient, penetrating, trenchant, canny, shrewd: Shirley offered some incisive observations on the matter. 2 sarcastic, biting, mordant, cutting, caustic, sardonic, ironic(al), sharp, acid, tart, acrid, acrimonious, bitter, acerbic, cynical, stinging, critical: Your incisive comments are not really appreciated, George.
incite | incite: v. stimulate, inspire, prompt, move, stir, stir or whip or work up, bestir, excite, fire, exhort, agitate, foment, inflame, provoke, rally, goad, spur, prick, prod, drive, push, egg on, encourage, urge, influence, wake, waken, awaken, rouse, arouse: Who was it that incited the crowd to violence?
incitement | incitement: n. 1 stimulation, instigating, spurring, urging, influencing, awakening, wakening, arousing, prodding, prompting, stirring, whipping, exciting, firing, exhorting, agitating, fomenting, inflaming, firing, provoking, rallying, goading, prodding, pricking, needling: Certain rabble-rousers have been accused of incitement of the crowds at the football stadiums. 2 stimulus, incentive, inducement, enticement, temptation, impulse, motivation, influence, instigation, provocation, inspiration, persuasion, exhortation, agitation, fomentation, inflammation, arousal, encouragement, excitement: Greed is a powerful incitement to dishonesty.
incivility | incivility: n. rudeness, boorishness, coarseness, discourtesy, uncourtliness, unmannerliness, indecorum, indecorousness, discourteousness, impoliteness, tactlessness, ungentlemanliness, bad breeding, ill breeding, bad manners, misbehaviour: The incivility with which the ambassador was treated is unforgivable.
inclement | inclement: adj. extreme, intemperate, severe, harsh, rigorous; stormy, violent, rainy, squally, blustery, raw, bad, tempestuous: We are expecting inclement weather for the weekend.
inclination | inclination: n. 1 bow, bowing, bend, bending, nod, nodding, tilt, tilting: His tacit sign of recognition was an inclination of his head. 2 slope, slant, angle, bend, incline, tilt: The inclination of the track is far too steep for such a vehicle. 3 disposition, predisposition, tendency, bent, bias, leaning, preference, turn, cast, proclivity, propensity, attitude, proneness, susceptibility, predilection, partiality, affection, taste, liking, desire, velleity: His inclination in favour of the offer is largely instinctive. 4 desire, longing, craving, appetite, taste, stomach, sympathy, predilection, penchant, fancy, eagerness, enthusiasm, zeal, fervour, ardour: I have no inclination to watch open-heart surgery.
incline | incline: v. 1 tend, lean, bend, bow, slant, tilt, angle, bank, slope, ascend, rise, descend: The road inclines to the horizontal after a curve. 2 dispose, influence, persuade, predispose, make, lead, prejudice, bias: Their accents might incline you to think of them as foreigners. 3 tend, lean, gravitate, show favour or preference, be attracted to, be biased or prejudiced, have a mind; be disposed or predisposed, lean, tend: I incline towards the other candidate. He inclines towards corpulence. --n. 4 slope, pitch, grade, gradient, slant, ramp, hill, dip, descent, declivity, rise, ascent, acclivity: The car picked up speed going down one incline and slowed going up the next.
inclined | inclined: adj. 1 tending, disposed, predisposed, prone, willing, keen, eager, Colloq of a mind: Though she is inclined to believe she has doubts. 2 likely, apt, liable, minded, prone: He is equally inclined to kiss you as kill you. 3 sloping, slanting, leaning, bending, tilting, gravitating, bearing, verging: This wall is slightly inclined towards the river.
include | include: v. 1 incorporate, embody, comprise, embrace, cover, encompass, take in, subsume, comprehend, contain: Staff changes are included in the plan for reorganization. 2 classify, categorize, group, file, list, catalogue, tabulate, register: Did you include psychology among the social sciences? 3 involve, count, number, allow for: Please don''t forget to include me in the invitation list.
inclusion | inclusion: n. incorporation, involvement, counting, numbering, grouping, classification: The inclusion of her name among the culprits was an error.
inclusive | inclusive: adj. 1 comprehensive, general, all-encompassing, wide, broad, extensive, full, umbrella, blanket, across the board, all-in-one, unified: We have an inclusive insurance policy that covers the entire family. 2 inclusive of. including, embracing, comprising, taking in, covering, incorporating, embodying: Is this bill inclusive of service?
incognito | incognito: adj. 1 unknown, disguised, concealed, unidentified, in disguise, unrecognizable, unrecognized: I did not tell them who I was; I wanted to remain incognito. --adv. 2 unrecognizably, in disguise, secretly, on the sly, under cover, clandestinely: Why travel incognito if no one knows or cares who you really are?
incoherent | incoherent: adj. confused, garbled, mixed up, disordered, jumbled, muddled, scrambled, rambling, illogical, irrational, wild, unstructured, disjoined, disconnected, disjointed, loose, unconnected, uncoordinated, unintelligible, inarticulate: He arrived late with an incoherent excuse involving measles, his car, and a policeman.
incombustible | incombustible: adj. non-flammable, non-inflammable, fireproof, non-combustible; flame-proof: She has to wear incombustible clothing at her job.
income | income: n. return, revenue(s), receipts, proceeds, profit(s), gain(s), takings: Most of his income is from investments.
incoming | incoming: adj. 1 arriving, entering: Incoming passengers must pass through customs. 2 new, entering: They are trying to predict the likely policies of the incoming government.
incomparable | incomparable: adj. beyond compare, unequalled, matchless, peerless, inimitable, unparalleled, unrivalled, nonpareil, transcendent, surpassing, supreme, superior, superlative, unsurpassed, unsurpassable: Her performance as Lady Macbeth was incomparable.
incompatible | incompatible: adj. mismatched, unsuited, discordant, clashing, jarring, inconsistent, contradictory, conflicting, uncongenial, irreconcilable, incongruous; antithetic, opposed, opposite, contrary, antipathetic, antagonistic, hostile: The colours in the carpet are incompatible with those in the curtains. My sister and I are totally incompatible and can never meet without arguing.
incompetence | incompetence: n. inability, incapacity, inadequacy, insufficiency, deficiency, ineptitude, inefficiency, uselessness, faultiness: The students'' failure to perform well is often attributable to the incompetence of their teachers.
incompetent | incompetent: adj. unqualified, unfit, unable, incapable, unskilled, unskilful, inept, maladroit, inexpert, awkward, floundering, clumsy, bungling, gauche, useless, inadequate, insufficient, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient: Incompetent managers need competent secretaries in order to survive.
incomplete | incomplete: adj. unfinished, undone, imperfect, undeveloped, deficient, defective, unaccomplished, partial, sketchy, crude, rough, fragmentary, fragmented, piecemeal: An incomplete manuscript of a new novel was found in his desk.
incomprehensible | incomprehensible: adj. unintelligible, unfathomable, impenetrable, deep, abstruse, arcane, recondite, indecipherable, undecipherable, inscrutable, cryptic, obscure, opaque, dark, occult, perplexing, mysterious, mystifying, enigmatic, puzzling, over (someone''s) head, baffling, unimaginable, inconceivable: They spoke in Swahili, an incomprehensible language to me.
inconceivable | inconceivable: adj. incredible, unbelievable, unthinkable, unimaginable, incomprehensible, unheard-of, undreamed of or undreamt of, unthought of, impossible, overwhelming, staggering, Colloq mind-boggling: Putting a man on Mars before 2000 is inconceivable.
inconclusive | inconclusive: adj. indecisive, unresolved, indefinite, unsettled, open, indeterminate, in limbo, Colloq up in the air: The test results are inconclusive, so we must continue our investigations.
incongruous | incongruous: adj. inconsistent, inharmonious, disharmonious, discordant, dissonant, disconsonant, incoherent, incompatible, incongruent, conflicting, unbecoming, unseemly, unsuited, unsuitable, unapt, inappropriate, misallied, unfitting, unfit, improper, malapropos, unmeet, absurd, discrepant, disparate, different, divergent, disagreeing, contrary, contradictory, paradoxical, out of step, out of keeping, out of line: That jacket looks incongruous with those trousers. It was incongruous to see two octogenarians dancing at the disco.
inconsequential | inconsequential: adj. unimportant, insignificant, trivial, trifling, nugatory, inconsiderable, inappreciable, negligible, minor, paltry, petty, immaterial, slight, lightweight, worthless, Colloq piddling: Why dwell on inconsequential details?
inconsiderate | inconsiderate: adj. thoughtless, unthoughtful, unthinking, unconcerned, uncaring, unmindful, heedless, unheeding, insensitive, unsympathetic, tactless, intolerant, rude, ungracious: How could you be so inconsiderate as to work late on my birthday?
inconsistent | inconsistent: adj. 1 See incongruous. 2 irregular, capricious, fickle, erratic, inconstant, uneven, unpredictable, unreliable, undependable, unstable, unsteady, changeable, variable: Their behaviour is so inconsistent that I can''t tell what they''ll do next.
inconsolable | inconsolable: adj. disconsolate, broken-hearted, heart-broken, desolate, forlorn, despairing, miserable, wretched, grief-stricken: They are inconsolable over the death of their dog.
inconspicuous | inconspicuous: adj. unnoticeable, unnoticed, unobtrusive, unostentatious, insignificant, indefinite, indistinguishable, undistinguished; modest, unassuming, discreet: Wearing a grey coat and hat, he was quite inconspicuous in the crowd. He played an inconspicuous role in the entire affair.
inconstancy | inconstancy: n. changeableness, fickleness, irregularity, mutability, variability, unsteadiness, unsteadfastness, capriciousness, volatility, mercurialness or mercuriality, inconsistency, unreliability; faithlessness, unfaithfulness: How do you deal with inconstancy in one you thought a friend?
inconstant | inconstant: adj. changeable, mutable, fickle, capricious, mercurial, volatile, vacillating, unsteady, unsteadfast, irresolute, unreliable, undependable, fluctuating, wavering, erratic, inconsistent, flighty, unstable, unsettled, fitful, vague, indefinite, variable, moody: His supporters proved inconstant, and he fell from power. The inconstant wind blew their craft hither and thither.
incontinent | incontinent: adj. 1 unrestrained, unconstrained, unrestricted, uncontrolled, uncontrollable, ungoverned, ungovernable, unbridled, uncurbed: She must learn to suppress her incontinent tongue. 2 lecherous, libidinous, lascivious, libertine, lustful, lewd, debauched, wanton, dissolute, loose, lubricious or lubricous, salacious, profligate, obscene, dirty, filthy: Members of the Hell-Fire Club were well known for their incontinent behaviour. 3 self-soiling, bedwetting, Medicine enuretic: Some old people lose control and become incontinent.
incontrovertible | incontrovertible: adj. irrefutable, indisputable, indubitable, undeniable, incontestable, unquestionable, sure, certain, definite, definitive, established, absolute, positive: The fingerprint was incontrovertible evidence that he had been there.
inconvenience | inconvenience: n. 1 disadvantage, discomfort, pain, trouble, bother, annoyance, nuisance, awkwardness, disturbance, disruption, burden, drawback, hindrance, impediment, difficulty, upset: How are you coping with the inconvenience of walking with crutches? 2 cumbersomeness, unwieldiness, burdensomeness, onerousness, troublesomeness, disadvantageousness, awkwardness, inappropriateness, untimeliness: The delay has led to considerable public inconvenience. --v. 3 discommode, trouble, incommode, disturb, disrupt, upset, put out, bother, annoy, irritate, irk: Would it inconvenience you to meet me at the station?
inconvenient | inconvenient: adj. cumbersome, unwieldy, burdensome, onerous, troublesome, bothersome, annoying, irritating, irksome, unsettling, disturbing, upsetting, disrupting, disadvantageous, awkward, inappropriate; inexpedient, inopportune, untimely, ill-timed: Those large boxes of laundry soap are inconvenient because they''re so heavy. It is inconvenient for me to go to the door now.
incorporate | incorporate: v. embody, include, combine, comprise, embrace, integrate, consolidate, unite, amalgamate, assimilate, coalesce, unify; merge, mix, blend: The university incorporates several independent colleges. Gently fold in the egg whites, incorporating them into the mixture.
incorrect | incorrect: adj. wrong, mistaken, inaccurate, untrue, imprecise, inexact, erroneous, fallacious, specious; improper, false, faulty: Your method is right but the answer is incorrect. That is the incorrect key for this lock.
incorrigible | incorrigible: adj. bad, naughty, villainous, wicked, sinful, hopeless; intractable, unchangeable, unalterable, habitual, inveterate, incurable, stubborn, hardened, obdurate, inflexible, uncontrollable: When a teenager, Giles was absolutely incorrigible. Among other things, he was an incorrigible liar.
incorrupt | incorrupt: adj. 1 moral, upright, righteous, pure, upstanding, honourable, good, virtuous, honest, straightforward, straight, unimpeachable, incorruptible, undefiled, impeccable, spotless, immaculate, faultless, flawless: Show me one nation run by a totally incorrupt government. 2 error-free, correct, uncorrupted: He possesses the only incorrupt manuscript of the play.
increase | increase: v. 1 grow, swell, enlarge, dilate, wax, expand, extend, distend, inflate, augment, snowball, enhance, heighten, raise, develop, multiply, burgeon or bourgeon, flourish, proliferate, spread, broaden, widen, lengthen: Since you left, my work has increased threefold. 2 prolong, advance, further, improve, better, strengthen: The more lottery tickets you buy, the more you increase your chances of winning. --n. 3 growth, enlargement, expansion, extension, augmentation, enhancement, development, multiplication, proliferation, spread: The increase in scientific knowledge has been phenomenal. 4 addition, increment, escalation, inflation, gain, rise, boost: Increases in costs are reflected in increases in prices. 5 on the increase. waxing, developing, growing, expanding, increasing, escalating, on the rise, proliferating, spreading: Trade with the Far East will be on the increase next year.
incredible | incredible: adj. 1 unbelievable, beyond belief, inconceivable, unimaginable, unthinkable, improbable, implausible, far-fetched, absurd, preposterous, ridiculous, unlikely, impossible, unrealistic, unreal, fictitious, mythic(al): Incredible as it may appear, continents move a few inches a year. 2 extraordinary, astounding, astonishing, amazing, wonderful, awe-inspiring, awesome, tremendous, marvellous, prodigious, Colloq far-out, US humongous: The incredible amounts spent on arms could be better spent on medical research.
incredulous | incredulous: adj. disbelieving, unbelieving, dubious, doubtful, sceptical, mistrustful, distrustful, suspicious: We were incredulous when we learnt who had won the award.
increment | increment: n. increase, addition, gain, accrual or chiefly Brit accrument, augmentation: The increment last year barely compensated for inflation.
incriminate | incriminate: v. accuse, charge, blame, implicate, inculpate, indict, impeach, involve, entangle, Colloq point the finger at, Chiefly US put the finger on, Slang US finger: The suspect confessed and incriminated two others.
incubate | incubate: v. hatch, brood; nurse, nurture, develop: How long have you been incubating this plan?
incumbent | incumbent: adj. 1 obligatory, necessary, required, mandatory, compulsory, binding, demanding, commanding, prescribed: As their father, you ought to feel it incumbent on you to talk to the children''s teachers. 2 office-holding: The incumbent chairman is not responsible for his predecessor''s mistakes. --n. 3 office-holder, official, occupant: As the incumbent, you have a better chance of being re-elected.
incur | incur: v. bring upon or on (oneself), draw, attract, arouse, provoke, invite, expose (oneself) to, lay (oneself) open to: For some reason he incurred the displeasure of his manager.
incurable | incurable: adj. 1 irremediable, terminal, inoperable, fatal, hopeless: The doctor told me yesterday that the condition is incurable. 2 hopeless, inveterate, habitual, incorrigible, dyed in the wool, unflagging, relentless, irredeemable; irreparable, unrectifiable: You are an incurable optimist if you think you will complete this book by the deadline.
indebted | indebted: adj. obligated, owing, obliged, beholden, bound, liable, responsible: I am indebted to the Salvation Army for their help.
indecent | indecent: adj. 1 indecorous, indelicate, immodest, improper, unbecoming, unsuitable, unfit, inappropriate; in bad taste: When he proposed marriage she accepted with indecent haste. 2 unseemly, shameless, shameful, offensive, outrageous, repellent, repulsive, distasteful, ill-mannered, rude, suggestive, coarse, risqu�, vulgar, blue, obscene, gross, rank, prurient, dirty, foul, filthy, pornographic, ithyphallic, scatological, salacious, lascivious, licentious, lewd, lubricious or lubricous, smutty, vile, degenerate, debauched: There are always a lot of complaints about indecent language on television.
indecision | indecision: n. hesitation, wavering, indecisiveness, vacillation, irresolution, uncertainty, ambivalence, shilly-shally or shilly-shallying, fluctuation, tergiversation: Her indecision stems from caution, not ignorance of the issues.
indecisive | indecisive: adj. 1 hesitating, hesitant, wavering, doubtful, vacillating, undecided, irresolute, uncertain, of two minds, ambivalent, shilly-shallying, wishy-washy, namby-pamby, fluctuating, tergiversating: Why are you so assertive at the office yet so indecisive at home? 2 indefinite, indeterminate, undecided, inconclusive, open, unsettled, moot, doubtful: The battle was indecisive, with both sides incurring heavy losses.
indeed | indeed: adv. 1 certainly, surely, to be sure, doubtless(ly), undoubtedly, undeniably, definitely, positively, absolutely, exactly, just so, actually, truly, truthfully, seriously, (all) joking aside, in (point of) fact, of course, really, in reality, to be realistic, naturally, upon my word, on my honour, on my oath, Brit rather, Colloq no kidding: Indeed, that is the news he has been expecting. 2 what is more, still, not to say, as a matter of fact, if the truth be known, to say the least: His had been a depressing, indeed miserable childhood. --interj. 3 Is that so!, You don''t say!, Really!, By George!, By Jove!, (Upon) my word!, My goodness!, Goodness!, Gracious!, Mercy!, Good Lord!, Good heavens!, My stars!, Fancy that!, Imagine (that)!, Well, I''ll be (damned)!, Colloq Brit Blimey!, Cor!, Crikey!: ''I''ve torn up the winning lottery ticket.'' ''Indeed!''
indefinite | indefinite: adj. 1 uncertain, undetermined, undefined, imprecise, inexact, inexplicit, unspecified, unsettled, unfixed, unspecific, non-specific, vague, general, indeterminate, undecided, sub judice: The time of the meeting was indefinite. 2 vague, unclear, obscure, confused, confusing, puzzling, baffling, cryptic, bewildering, mystifying, equivocal, ambiguous, unspecific, non-specific, inexplicit, inexact, imprecise: Your directions for getting here were too indefinite. 3 ill-defined, undefined, blurred, blurry, hazy, indistinct, obscure, dim, fuzzy, unrecognizable, indistinguishable: Indefinite shapes loomed in the fog. 4 unlimited, unknown, uncounted, uncountable, undefinable, indeterminate, indeterminable, unbounded, boundless, immeasurable, incalculable, limitless, endless, infinite: He pondered the indefinite capacities of the mind. 5 hesitant, vague, shilly-shallying, vacillating, indecisive, undecided, inconstant, wavering, unsure, uncertain, Colloq wishy-washy: She is still indefinite about going to the party.
indelible | indelible: adj. ineradicable or uneradicable or non-eradicable, inerasable or unerasable or non-erasable, ineffaceable, inexpungible, indestructible, uncancellable or non-cancellable, enduring, permanent, lasting, fixed, ingrained, inextirpable: The laundry marks are in indelible ink. Irena makes an indelible impression on everyone she meets.
indelicacy | indelicacy: n. coarseness, crudeness, roughness, vulgarity, boorishness, churlishness, offensiveness, rudeness, immodesty, indecency, shamelessness; incivility, indecorum, inelegance, uncourtliness, unmannerliness, impoliteness, unrefinement, unseemliness, tastelessness, bad or poor taste, grossness: She refuses to comment on the indelicacy of his proposal.
indemnity | indemnity: n. 1 compensation, repayment, reimbursement, remuneration, recompense, consideration, restitution, reparation(s), redress, indemnification, return, quid pro quo, restoration, award, reward, payment, disbursement, amends, requital, atonement, reckoning, quittance: The victors demanded indemnity for the losses they had suffered. 2 insurance, protection, security, safety, guarantee, assurance, underwriting, warrant, endorsement, certification; exemption, impunity, privilege: Am I covered for indemnity against third-party claims?
indentation | indentation: n. notch, dent, nick, cut, score, mark, depression, impression, hollow, dimple, pit; Typography indention: The chair legs had left small indentations in the parquet floor. The indentation of each paragraph should be five spaces.
independence | independence: n. 1 freedom, liberty, autonomy, sovereignty, self-rule, home rule, self-determination, self-government, self-direction, autonomy, autarchy: The colony gained independence from Portugal. 2 confidence, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-reliance, self-assurance: Edwina asserted her independence by taking over the company herself.
independent | independent: adj. 1 free, self-governing, autonomous, sovereign: In 1829 Greece was acknowledged as an independent state. 2 unrestrained, unrestricted, unfettered, untrammelled, unregulated, uncontrolled, separate(d), unconnected, disconnected, unrelated, distinct: Air is made up of independent particles. 3 self-reliant, self-sufficient, self-assured, (self-)confident, bold, individualistic, competent: For a six-year-old, he is very independent. 4 voluntary, non-partisan, spontaneous, unsolicited, unbidden, unprejudiced, unbiased, non-aligned, unaligned, disinterested, neutral: Four independent witnesses testified to seeing him at the scene of the crime. 5 unlimited, unrestricted, affluent, self-sufficient; unearned: She is a woman of independent means. 6 unallied, unaffiliated, uncommitted, individualistic, undecided: Independent candidates outnumber those of the two main parties in this election. 7 outside, external, unaffiliated, non-affiliated, unconnected, disinterested: An independent auditor was engaged to go over the company''s books. 8 independent of. irrespective of, disregarding, notwithstanding, ignoring, excluding; exclusive of, except for, barring, apart from, besides, beyond, US aside from: He insists on doing things his way, independent of others'' feelings. Independent of you and me, no one cares what he does. --n. 9 individual, nonconformist, maverick, Colloq loner: He is an independent, not affiliated to any political party.
indestructible | indestructible: adj. durable, long-lasting, everlasting, eternal, endless, perennial, permanent, fixed, unchanging, changeless, unchangeable, indelible, ineradicable, inextirpable, immutable, unalterable, constant, undying, non-perishable, imperishable; unbreakable, non-breakable, shatter-proof: The problem is that many plastics are virtually indestructible.
index | index: n. 1 guide, directory, list, listing, table of contents, catalogue, key, thesaurus: To find synonyms for a word in this book, look first in the index. 2 mark, sign, clue, token, hint, pointer, indicator, indication, guide: An index to his feelings can be seen in the way he treats people. 3 index finger, forefinger, first finger; pointer, marker, needle, Chiefly Brit typography hand, Chiefly US typography fist: Use an index to emphasize important paragraphs. 4 ratio, measure, formula, factor: The cephalic index is the ratio of the width of a skull to its length multiplied by 100.
indicate | indicate: v. 1 point out, point to, mark, specify, designate, indicate; call or direct attention to, show: The thermometer indicated that the temperature was 22�C. Sally indicated the place where the dam would be built. 2 imply, suggest, betoken, manifest, signify, bespeak, reveal, evince, evidence, denote: Measles is indicated by the presence of Koplik''s spots. 3 suggest, hint, imply, intimate; say, express, state, disclose, tell, make known, make clear, register, show, display, exhibit: His frown indicated his doubts. She indicated her displeasure in a few, well-chosen words. 4 call for, require, demand, need, recommend: The doctor advised that a surgical procedure is indicated in such cases.
indication | indication: n. 1 sign, signal, token, suggestion, hint, intimation, inkling, clue, implication, symptom: A bullet-riddled corpse, said the detective, is usually a good indication of foul play. 2 reading, measure, degree: The indication on the pressure gauge is reaching the danger point. 3 omen, portent, forewarning, warning, augury, foreshadowing, foretoken: Those black clouds are an indication that a storm is brewing. Can''t you give us any indication of what will become of us? 4 indications. evidence, data, clues, signs: Indications are that she left on the last train.
indicative of | indicative of: adj. signifying, indicating, indicatory of, suggesting, suggestive of, hinting (at), symptomatic of, denotative of, characteristic of, typical of, typifying: Repeated stalling is indicative of some fault in the fuel.
indicator | indicator: n. pointer, needle; gauge, meter, display: The indicator reads exactly 67�C.
indict | indict: v. Often, indict for. charge (with), accuse (with or of), arraign (for), incriminate (in or for), inculpate (in or for), cite (for or with), denounce (for), blame (for or with); summon, summons, subpoena: She has been indicted for murder in the first degree.
indifference | indifference: n. 1 unconcern, apathy, listlessness, disinterest, coolness, nonchalance, insouciance, aloofness, detachment, disregard, inattention, pococuranteism or pococurantism, coldness, phlegm, stolidity, callousness, insensibility, impassiveness or impassivity: I cannot believe the indifference she showed on learning about the tragedy. 2 unimportance, insignificance, irrelevance, unconcern, inconsequence, triviality: Whether I go or stay is a matter of indifference to me. 3 dispassion, disinterestedness, impartiality, neutrality, objectivity, fairness, equitableness, even-handedness: The judges demonstrated their indifference by awarding first prize to a novice.
indifferent | indifferent: adj. 1 unconcerned, apathetic, uncaring, listless, disinterested, uninterested, cool, nonchalant, lukewarm, lackadaisical, Laodicean, dispassionate, insouciant, aloof, detached, distant, removed, inattentive, pococurante, cold, phlegmatic, stolid, callous, unemotional, uncompassionate, insensitive, unfeeling, inconsiderate, unsympathetic, insensible, impassive: Joan remained totally indifferent to Charles''s attentions. 2 impartial, neutral, just, even-handed, objective, fair, equitable, unbiased, unprejudiced, non-partisan, non-discriminatory, dispassionate, disinterested: The problem is in reaching an indifferent judgement. 3 neutral, average, mediocre, fair, undistinguished, uninspired, lightweight, passable, middling, ordinary, commonplace, everyday, so so, not bad; poor, inferior, not very or particularly or especially good, Slang Brit naff: He is a writer of indifferent quality. I held indifferent cards but lost little money. 4 unimportant, insignificant, trivial, trifling, nugatory, immaterial, inconsequential, minor, inappreciable, slight, neither here nor there: It is indifferent to him where she spends her money.
indigenous | indigenous: adj. 1 native, local, autochthonous, endemic, natural, aboriginal, original: The indigenous inhabitants were displaced by marauding tribes. 2 innate, inborn, inbred, inherent: It is often difficult to distinguish between man''s indigenous and his acquired characteristics.
indigent | indigent: adj. needy, poor, destitute, poverty-stricken, in want, penniless, impoverished, penurious, impecunious, necessitous, Colloq (dead or flat) broke, stony-broke, hard up, short, on one''s uppers, Brit skint, US strapped: The two brothers made certain that their indigent parents were well looked after.
indigestion | indigestion: n. dyspepsia, upset stomach, stomach distress; stomach-ache, gastralgia: A bit of bicarbonate of soda cured my indigestion at once.
indignant | indignant: adj. provoked, exasperated, disgruntled, piqued, irked, irritated, annoyed, vexed, angry, furious, irate, angered, enraged, incensed, wrathful, in high dudgeon, in a temper, in a rage, in a pet, Literary wroth, Colloq peeved, riled, in a huff, huffy, miffed, mad, livid, sore, US teed off, Slang pissed off: Peter was quite indignant to learn that the publisher had lost his manuscript.
indignation | indignation: n. anger, fury, rage, wrath, exasperation, irritation, annoyance, vexation, resentment, Literary ire, choler: She was filled with righteous indignation at the treatment she received.
indignity | indignity: n. insult, affront, outrage, injury, offence, humiliation, disrespect, slight, dishonour, snub, obloquy, contumely, scorn, reproach, abuse, discourtesy, aspersion, Colloq slap (in the face): The duchess had to suffer the indignity of arrest for shoplifting.
indirect | indirect: adj. 1 roundabout, circuitous, circumambient, devious, tortuous, zigzag, winding, rambling, roving, wandering, erratic, meandering, ambagious, crooked, oblique, twisted, twisting; circumlocutory, periphrastic: In an indirect way she told me that I was fired. 2 secondary, incidental, ancillary, collateral, accidental, side, subordinate, subsidiary, accessory, additional, accidental, adscititious, adventitious: An indirect effect of winning the prize was an offer of more work.
indiscreet | indiscreet: adj. imprudent, tactless, incautious, impolitic, undiplomatic, improvident, injudicious, ill-advised, ill-judged, ill-considered, rash, reckless, audacious, bold, temerarious, impulsive, hasty, impetuous, thoughtless, insensitive, heedless, careless, unthinking, mindless, unwise, na�ve, foolish, foolhardy: Your reference to her plastic surgery was indiscreet to say the least.
indiscretion | indiscretion: n. 1 imprudence, tactlessness, improvidence, injudiciousness, rashness, recklessness, audacity, boldness, temerity, impulsiveness, hastiness, haste, impetuousness, impetuosity, thoughtlessness, insensitivity, heedlessness, carelessness, na�vety, foolishness, foolhardiness, folly: He was guilty of indiscretion in talking to the press about the confidential report. 2 blunder, error, mistake, slip, lapse, misstep, gaffe, faux pas, peccadillo, Colloq boner, Brit bloomer: He spent much of his adult life paying for the indiscretions of his youth.
indiscriminate | indiscriminate: adj. 1 undiscriminating, unselective, unparticular, uncritical, undiscerning, careless, promiscuous, random: Viola seems indiscriminate in her choice of companions. 2 confused, haphazard, unorganized, chaotic, disorganized, jumbled, disordered, disarranged, scrambled, mixed-up, casual, random, unsystematic, unsystematized, uncoordinated, unmethodical, wholesale, erratic, Colloq higgledy-piggledy: The Aztecs were victims of indiscriminate slaughter at the hands of the conquistadors.
indispensable | indispensable: adj. 1 crucial, vital, essential, urgent, imperative, necessary, needed, needful, required, requisite, demanded, in demand, called-for, of the essence, important, compelling: A good television manner is indispensable in a national leader these days. 2 key, unavoidable, inescapable, ineluctable, compulsory, mandatory, sine qua non, obligatory: Are a black bowler and tightly furled umbrella still indispensable to doing business in the City?
indisposed | indisposed: adj. 1 ill, ailing, unwell, sick, sickly, unsound, unhealthy, in bad health, valetudinarian, out of commission, Colloq on the sick-list, (doing) poorly, laid up, in a bad way, not up to snuff, off one''s feed or Brit also grub, under the weather: Madam is indisposed and cannot have tea with you. 2 averse, disinclined, loath, unwilling, reluctant, resistant, hesitant: The judge was indisposed to leniency in such a serious case.
indisputable | indisputable: adj. unquestionable, incontrovertible, incontestable, irrefutable, undeniable, indubitable, beyond doubt, sure, certain, positive, definite, definitive, absolute, fixed: It was indisputable that the outlook was grim. The show was an indisputable success.
indistinct | indistinct: adj. 1 faint, dim, obscure, vague, blurred, blurry, filmy, hazy, misty, bleary, shadowy, fuzzy, foggy, murky, muddy, unclear, indiscernible, illegible, muffled, unintelligible, indistinguishable, indeterminate, confused, indefinite: I could barely make out an indistinct figure in the dark. The writing on the matchbox was indistinct. 2 indistinguishable, ambiguous, not distinct, equivocal, inseparable, ill-defined, undefined, nebulous, vague, confused: The identity of the three brothers is indistinct in my mind.
indistinguishable | indistinguishable: adj. 1 Often, indistinguishable from. undifferentiated (from), identical (to), alike, like two peas in a pod, twin, inseparable: He is indistinguishable from his brother. Her fingerprints and those found on the dagger are indistinguishable. 2 indiscernible, imperceptible, indefinite, unclear, indistinct: His good qualities were indistinguishable to me.
individual | individual: adj. 1 single, sole, particular, separate, distinct, discrete, solitary, lone: Consider the entire utterance, not just the individual words. 2 singular, special, specific, idiosyncratic, own, characteristic, distinctive, individualistic, unique, peculiar, personal, proper; unitary: She has her individual style of dressing. --n. 3 person, human (being), (living) soul, mortal; one, party: In a democracy each individual is entitled to one vote.
individualist | individualist: n. independent, freethinker, nonconformist, maverick, loner, lone wolf: Nick is an individualist and seldom agrees with the majority.
individually | individually: adv. one at a time, singly, one by one, separately, severally, apart: We must study each of these specimens individually.
indoctrinate | indoctrinate: v. train, teach, instruct, school, discipline, drill, brainwash, propagandize; inculcate, imbue, instil, implant: The children were indoctrinated to believe that they were members of the master race. He indoctrinated them with the idea that they were capable of anything.
indolence | indolence: n. laziness, slothfulness, sloth, sluggishness, idleness, lethargy, shiftlessness, languor, languidness, lassitude, listlessness, torpor, torpidity, inertia, inaction, inactivity, faineance, dolce far niente, oscitancy: After winning the lottery, he spent his days in indolence.
indolent | indolent: adj. lazy, slothful, sluggish, idle, lethargic, shiftless, languorous, languid, torpid, inert, inactive, stagnant, fain�ant, listless: ''Peel me a grape'', she said in her most indolent manner.
indomitable | indomitable: adj. resolute, resolved, determined, steadfast, staunch, persistent, unstoppable, irrepressible, indefatigable, untiring, tireless, unflagging, unyielding, unswerving, unwavering, unflinching, undaunted, dauntless, fearless, unafraid, intrepid, brave, courageous, plucky, mettlesome; unconquerable, unbeatable, invincible: She survived the prison camp by dint of indomitable strength of character.
induce | induce: v. 1 lead, persuade, influence, prevail on or upon, sway, move, convince, get, talk into, prompt, incite, instigate, actuate, motivate, impel, encourage, inspire, stimulate, nudge, push, press, urge, prod, goad, spur, egg on, coax, cajole, lure, entice, inveigle, seduce: He was induced to sell the secret plans to the enemy for a large sum. 2 cause, bring about or on, produce, give rise to, engender, create, generate, lead to; effect, occasion, set in motion: Some drugs induce a state of euphoria.
inducement | inducement: n. attraction, lure, incentive, stimulus, enticement, bait, encouragement, incitement, provocation, spur, premium, consideration, reward, Colloq carrot, Chiefly US come-on: What inducement were you offered to take out that subscription?
induct | induct: v. 1 install or instal, inaugurate, invest, instate, establish, swear in: Crocker was inducted as president of the lodge last night. 2 call up, enlist, conscript, enrol, register, US draft: He was inducted into the army at 18.
indulge | indulge: v. 1 Often, indulge in. yield (to), succumb (to), favour, gratify, humour, oblige (with), comply (with), minister to, cater to, pander to, treat (to), pamper (with): When it comes to chocolates, I indulge myself to the fullest. We indulge in an occasional beer. She indulges his every whim. 2 coddle, baby, pamper, cosset, mollycoddle, spoil: He doesn''t believe in indulging children.
indulgence | indulgence: n. 1 tolerance, sufferance, understanding, patience, good will, allowance, forbearance; acceptance, overlooking: Genevieve''s behaviour is testing the limits of Tom''s indulgence. 2 self-indulgence, luxury, extravagance, profligacy, self-gratification, self-satisfaction: A notorious pleasure-seeker, his capacity for indulgence is legendary. 3 treat, luxury, extravagance: My sole indulgence is vintage port.
indulgent | indulgent: adj. tolerant, permissive, patient, understanding, forbearing, lenient, easygoing, relaxed, liberal, lax, kind, kindly, well-disposed, agreeable: Tony and Hazel are extremely indulgent parents.
industrious | industrious: adj. sedulous, assiduous, hard-working, diligent, intense, conscientious, energetic, dynamic, aggressive, vigorous, untiring, tireless, indefatigable, unflagging, persistent, pertinacious, dogged, tenacious, US hustling: The business was built up only because she was so industrious.
industry | industry: n. 1 production, manufacture, trade, commerce, business: Competition in the car industry helps keep prices lower. 2 diligence, assiduity, sedulousness, energy, exertion, effort, application, perseverance, persistence, work, labour, toil: We were complimented on our industry by the teacher. 3 industriousness, energy, activity, vigour, hustle, bustle, dynamism, enterprise, earnestness, determination: The sales office is a hive of industry.
ineffable | ineffable: adj. 1 unutterable, unspeakable, unmentionable, taboo: In certain religions, the name of the deity is ineffable. 2 inexpressible, indescribable, indefinable or undefinable, indescribable or undescribable, beyond description, beyond words: The Royal Hotel had an ineffable air of serene affluence.
ineffective | ineffective: adj. 1 unproductive, unfruitful, bootless, idle, vain, useless, ineffectual, inefficacious, inoperative, non-functioning, inadequate, insufficient, worthless: The anti-crime measures appear to have been ineffective. 2 inefficient, incompetent, incapable, unskilled, unskilful, inept, unfit, unproficient: The new office manager is totally ineffective.
ineffectual | ineffectual: adj. 1 unsuccessful, unavailing, futile, bootless, sterile, barren, fruitless, unproductive, ineffective, inefficacious, inoperative: Our efforts to deal with pollution have been largely ineffectual. 2 weak, feeble, effete, impotent, tame, lame, powerless, inefficient, incompetent, inadequate: We tried to read the inscription by the ineffectual light of a match.
inefficacious | inefficacious: adj. See ineffectual and ineffective.
inefficient | inefficient: adj. 1 ineffective, incompetent, incapable, unqualified, inexpert, unskilled, unskilful, unfit, inept, ineffectual, deficient: Poorly paid labour is inefficient labour. 2 uneconomic(al), wasteful, disorganized, slipshod: For our purposes, the layout of the factory is quite inefficient.
ineligible | ineligible: adj. unqualified, unacceptable, unfit, unsuited, unsuitable, inappropriate, improper: He is ineligible for benefit as he left his job voluntarily.
inept | inept: adj. 1 clumsy, awkward, bungling, maladroit, ungainly, bumbling, gauche, inexpert, unskilled, unskilful, incompetent, inefficient: If he is inept at sailing, he''d better become proficient. 2 inappropriate, inapt, unseemly, improper, unfitting, unfit, unsuitable, impolitic, undiplomatic, injudicious, imprudent, indiscreet, ill-considered, ill-judged, ill-advised, unadvised, unadvisable or inadvised, misguided, inexpedient, out of place, unwise: She made some inept comment and blushed furiously.
ineptitude | ineptitude: n. 1 ineptness, clumsiness, awkwardness, maladroitness, ungainliness, gaucherie, incompetence, inefficiency, unfitness, unsuitableness: He displays a remarkable ineptitude for the pronunciation of French. 2 inappropriateness, inaptness, absurdity, unsuitability, unseemliness: The ineptitude of her comments embarrasses everyone.
inequality | inequality: n. 1 disparity, difference, discrepancy, unevenness, nonconformity, incongruence, incongruity, inconsistency, dissimilarity, imbalance: The inequality between their incomes made him resentful. 2 bias, prejudice, partiality, unfairness, injustice, inequity: Why should they have to tolerate any inequality of treatment?
inert | inert: adj. 1 inactive, unreactive, unresponsive, neutral: Argon, xenon, and neon are inert gases. 2 motionless, immobile, inanimate, lifeless, still, quiet, quiescent, stationary, static: He was mute and inert: it was like talking to a zombie. 3 sluggish, slow, torpid, dull, inactive, idle, indolent, lazy, slothful, leaden, slack, passive, supine, dormant, otiose, listless, languid or languorous: I contemplated the inert bodies sunbathing around the swimming-pool.
inertia | inertia: n. inertness, inactivity, sloth, sluggishness, torpor, dullness, idleness, indolence, laziness, slothfulness, passivity, apathy, lassitude, dormancy, listlessness, languor, immobility, motionlessness: Adele finds it difficult to overcome her feeling of inertia in the morning.
inestimable | inestimable: adj. 1 incalculable, immeasurable, measureless, untold, incomputable; priceless, invaluable, precious: You have been of inestimable help in completing the project on time. 2 countless, innumerable, vast, immense, prodigious, boundless, unfathomable, infinite, incalculable, immeasurable, measureless, untold, incomputable: An inestimable number of organisms have inhabited the earth.
inevitable | inevitable: adj. unavoidable, inescapable, ineluctable, unpreventable, certain, sure, destined, fated, assured, inexorable, irrevocable, unchangeable, absolute, ordained, decreed, authoritative, incontestable: The inevitable outcome of war is misery for all participants.
inexact | inexact: adj. imprecise, inaccurate, erroneous, incorrect, wrong, false, faulty, indefinite, fallacious, fuzzy, muddled: This gauge is giving an inexact reading.
inexcusable | inexcusable: adj. unjustifiable, unjustified, indefensible, unpardonable, unforgivable, intolerable, inexpiable: Insulting your hostess was inexcusable.
inexhaustible | inexhaustible: adj. 1 limitless, boundless, unlimited, unbounded, unrestricted, endless, measureless, indeterminate, infinite, incalculable: The supply of tasteless television programmes seems virtually inexhaustible. 2 untiring, tireless, indefatigable, unflagging, unfailing, unfaltering, unwearying, unwearied: Bartell is an inexhaustible practical joker.
inexpensive | inexpensive: adj. cheap, economical, low-priced, low-cost, reasonable, budget-priced: What might seem inexpensive to you is very costly for me.
inexperience | inexperience: n. immaturity, innocence, na�vety, greenness, callowness, unsophistication: I attribute his mistakes to inexperience.
inexperienced | inexperienced: adj. immature, innocent, na�ve, green, callow, unsophisticated, unworldly, unfledged, raw, uninitiated, untrained, unschooled, uninformed, unseasoned, Colloq (still) wet behind the ears, born yesterday: Isn''t she too inexperienced to take on such a great responsibility?
inexplicable | inexplicable: adj. unexplainable, unaccountable, unintelligible, inscrutable, puzzling, enigmatic, mystifying, perplexing, confounding, baffling, bewildering, incomprehensible: I find inexplicable their refusal to allow freedom of religion.
inexpressible | inexpressible: adj. unutterable, ineffable, unspeakable, indescribable, indefinable: I felt inexpressible joy at seeing my children again.
inextinguishable | inextinguishable: adj. unquenchable, irrepressible, unsuppressible; enduring, undying, imperishable, eternal, everlasting: The teacher had to cope with inextinguishable giggling. Our hopes for freedom were inextinguishable.
inextricably | inextricably: adv. inescapably, ineluctably, unavoidably, irretrievably, completely, inseparably, indissolubly, totally, complicatedly, intricately: I found myself inextricably caught up in her emotional problems.
infallible | infallible: adj. 1 unerring, faultless, flawless, perfect, oracular, unmistaken: The infallible logic of computers sometimes defeats their users. 2 unfailing, dependable, sure, secure, certain, reliable, foolproof: The vaccination provides infallible protection against the virus.
infamous | infamous: adj. 1 notorious, disreputable, ill-famed, stigmatized, scandalous, discreditable, dishonourable, ignominious: So this is the infamous house where the murders took place! 2 bad, awful, wicked, evil, iniquitous, villainous, heinous, vile, abominable, outrageous, execrable, abhorrent, opprobrious, despicable, loathsome, detestable, odious, foul, scurvy, rotten, atrocious, flagitious, revolting, monstrous, egregious, base, low, shameful, disgraceful: A number of infamous criminals are portrayed in the Chamber of Horrors.
infamy | infamy: n. 1 notoriety, ill repute, ill fame, disrepute, shame, ignominy, obloquy, disgrace, dishonour, stigma, discredit: She has to suffer the infamy of her husband''s treachery. 2 wickedness, evil, iniquity, villainy, heinousness, vileness, abomination, outrage, abhorrence, opprobrium, loathsomeness, detestation, hatred, odium, atrocity, revulsion, monstrosity, egregiousness, shame, shamefulness, disgrace, disgracefulness: The infamy of his profligate behaviour is widely known.
infancy | infancy: n. 1 babyhood, early childhood: His limp was the result of polio, which he had contracted in infancy. 2 beginning(s), inception, early or initial, stage(s), commencement, start, emergence, dawn, rise: When psychiatry was in its infancy it was marked by a notable lack of success.
infantile | infantile: adj. childish, immature, puerile, babyish, juvenile: Ben behaves in the most infantile way whenever there are girls about.
infatuated | infatuated: adj. fascinated, beguiled, enchanted, bewitched, spellbound, charmed, ensorcelled, enraptured, possessed, hypnotized, mesmerized, captivated, besotted, taken with, obsessed, smitten, enamoured, fond: Francis is completely infatuated with the girl who moved in next door.
infectious | infectious: adj. contagious, catching, communicable, transmissible: There is also a highly infectious variety of the disease.
infer | infer: v. deduce, derive, draw, conclude, understand, gather, surmise, guess, assume: From the evidence, I infer that you were not at home last night.
inference | inference: n. deduction, conclusion, understanding, surmise, assumption, presumption: If this man''s father is my father''s son, the inference is that this man is my nephew.
inferior | inferior: adj. 1 lower, nether: We descended into the inferior regions of the cavern. The numeral in H2O is called an inferior character. 2 lesser, lower, subordinate, secondary, junior, minor, unimportant, insignificant, lowly, subservient, humble, servile: He occupies an inferior position in the company. 3 poor, bad, low-quality, mediocre, indifferent, imperfect, defective, second-rate, second-class, substandard, low-grade, shoddy, gimcrack, Colloq grotty, junky, crummy or crumby, lousy, Slang crappy, Brit naff: They tried to market an inferior product, but it was rejected by consumers. --n. 4 subordinate, underling, junior, menial, lackey, flunkey, dogsbody, cat''s-paw, doormat, stooge, yes-man, lickspittle, bootlicker: She is tired of being treated as an inferior.
inferiority | inferiority: n. 1 unimportance, insignificance, lowliness: The inferiority of his position rankled with him. 2 inadequacy, deficiency, insignificance, unimportance, worthlessness: Do not confuse modesty with a sense of inferiority. 3 shoddiness, imperfection, mediocrity: Consumers are not fooled by the inferiority of a product for long.
infernal | infernal: adj. 1 hellish, underworld, nether, Hadean: Virgil was Dante''s guide in the infernal regions. 2 devilish, diabolic(al), demonic(al), demoniac(al), fiendish, satanic, Mephistophelian; damnable, damned, execrable, malicious, malevolent, maleficent, wicked, evil, iniquitous, flagitious, villainous, heinous, dire, sinister, dreadful: She tells everyone that there is an infernal plot against her.
infertile | infertile: adj. sterile, barren, infecund, unproductive, unfruitful, non-productive: The stony, infertile earth yielded only cactus and scrub grass.
infest | infest: v. invade, plague, beset, overrun, overspread, flood, swarm over, inundate, pervade, permeate, penetrate, infiltrate: Mosquitoes infested this area before the swamp was drained.
infidel | infidel: n. unbeliever, heathen, disbeliever, heretic, pagan, agnostic, atheist, nullifidian, freethinker: Thousands of the fanatics swarmed over the infidels, slaughtering them mercilessly.
infidelity | infidelity: n. 1 unfaithfulness, faithlessness, treachery, traitorousness, disloyalty, perfidy, falseness, apostasy, heresy: The infidelity of his supporters brought about his downfall. 2 adultery, cuckoldry; affair, liaison, amour, Colloq cheating: Infidelity is a common cause of marriage break-up. She forgave him his many infidelities.
infinite | infinite: adj. 1 boundless, vast, limitless, unlimited, illimitable, endless, interminable, indeterminable, indeterminate, inestimable, astronomical, numberless, multitudinous, uncountable, uncounted, innumerable, incalculable, inexhaustible, immense, enormous, immeasurable, measureless, bottomless, unfathomable: They hurtled through infinite space at the speed of light. We do what we can, but our resources are not infinite. In his infinite wisdom, God made the garden slug. 2 eternal, everlasting, perpetual, endless, unending, inexhaustible, undying, never-ending: It is difficult to conceive of time as being anything but infinite, without beginning or end. With infinite patience she reassembled the pieces of the vase.
infirm | infirm: adj. 1 ill, indisposed, debilitated, frail, fragile, weak, feeble, weakened, ailing, decrepit, enfeebled, failing, wasted, on the decline, sick, sickly, unwell, lame, crippled: Campbell is infirm and unable to travel. 2 shaky, flimsy, wobbly, wobbling, doddering, unstable, faltering, vacillating, wavering, unsteady, unsteadfast, inconstant, changeable, irresolute: We must find stalwart recruits, recruits who are not infirm of purpose.
infirmary | infirmary: n. clinic, hospital, sickbay, first-aid station; dispensary, Brit nursing home, surgery: The infirmary is able to deal only with emergencies, not with long-term care.
infirmity | infirmity: n. 1 weakness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, debility, decrepitude, sickliness: At 100, she finally succumbed to infirmity, and ceased going out altogether. 2 sickness, ailment, disease, malady, affliction, disorder, defect, complaint: What infirmity struck him down?
inflame | inflame: v. 1 arouse, incite, touch off, ignite, enkindle, provoke, rouse, excite, impassion, foment, incense, agitate, stir (up), fire (up), heat, anger, enrage, madden, infuriate, whip or lash up, work up, rile, exasperate, stimulate, animate, move, motivate, urge, prod, goad, spur (on), rally, drive: The speakers inflamed the crowd to riot against the police. 2 aggravate, intensify, deepen, heighten, fan, exacerbate, increase, augment, fuel: She inflamed his dislike of his brother into hatred.
inflamed | inflamed: adj. irritated, sore, angry, chafing, chafed, red, swollen, heated, hot, fevered, feverish, infected, septic: The wound became inflamed and we had no medicine to reduce the infection.
inflammable | inflammable: adj. burnable, combustible, flammable: The plastic foam formerly used to stuff furniture is highly inflammable.
inflammation | inflammation: n. irritation, redness, swelling, sore, infection: The inflammation subsided as the injection took effect.
inflammatory | inflammatory: adj. incendiary, fiery, inflaming, explosive, rousing, provocative, rabid, rabble-rousing, passionate, fervent, fervid, frantic, frenzied, fomenting, demagogic, insurgent, riotous, mutinous, seditious, rebellious, revolutionary, traitorous, treacherous: His inflammatory speeches at the university created tension between the students and the administration.
inflate | inflate: v. 1 blow up, balloon, expand, dilate, enlarge, swell, pump up, puff up or out, distend: We inflated two plastic bags to use as floats. 2 boost, increase: The price of the company''s shares was inflated by rumours of a take-over bid. 3 exaggerate, amplify, magnify, blow up: He tends to inflate to huge proportions the small contribution he made to the project.
inflated | inflated: adj. 1 exaggerated, conceited, overblown, grandiose, puffed up, overstated, magnified, amplified, overdrawn, smug, egotistic, immodest, cocky, vain, self-important, Colloq Brit swelled-headed, US swell-headed: He has an inflated idea of the importance of his work. 2 grandiloquent, bombastic, orotund, high-flown, pompous, pretentious, extravagant, magniloquent: She always talks about her husband in such inflated terms.
inflexible | inflexible: adj. unbending, stiff, rigid, firm, rigorous, unyielding, adamant, severe, Rhadamanthine, inelastic, hard (and fast), determined, fixed, obdurate, immovable, intractable, unvaried, unvarying, invariable, unchangeable, immutable, obstinate, stubborn, obstinate, pigheaded, mulish, dyed in the wool, headstrong, refractory, steely, stony, resolute, resolved, unadaptable, unaccommodating, uncompliant, uncompromising, unshakeable or unshakable: The committee remain inflexible about changing the rules of the club to admit women.
inflict | inflict: v. impose, apply, visit, administer, levy, force on or upon; trouble, afflict: The new government is seeking ways of inflicting more taxes on us. You ought not to inflict punishment on such small children.
influence | influence: n. 1 power, pressure, weight, sway, impact, force, effect, leverage, potency; hold, control, mastery, ascendancy, Colloq pull, clout: Would you use your influence to see if you can get me a job? The boy is under the influence of his tutor. 2 connections, favour, favouritism, Colloq pull: He got his position through influence, not merit. --v. 3 affect, move, change, modify, alter, bias, sway, persuade, induce, work on, impress (upon), play or act upon or on, incline; bring pressure to bear on or upon, move, motivate, manipulate, Brit pressurize, US pressure, Colloq pull strings or US also wires: She was able to influence the minister to drop the scheme.
influential | influential: adj. powerful, weighty, strong, forceful, effective, effectual, efficacious, instrumental, telling, significant, persuasive, dominant, leading, guiding, authoritative, predominant, important, substantial, prestigious, significant, controlling: He comes from an influential family. What factors were influential in reaching your decision?
inform | inform: v. 1 tell, apprise, advise, communicate, enlighten, notify, acquaint, brief; impart, disclose, divulge, reveal, report, Colloq tip (off): I have informed everyone about the storm warning. 2 Usually, inform against or on. betray, incriminate, implicate, identify, Colloq tell (on), blab (on), rat (on), US blow the whistle (on); Slang peach (on), snitch (on), squeal (on), put the finger on, sing, name names, Brit nark (on), grass (on), split on, US finger: He informed on his accomplices in return for a lighter sentence.
informal | informal: adj. 1 unceremonious, casual, natural, unstilted, familiar, ordinary, everyday, unaffected, unassuming, unpretentious, simple, relaxed, free, free and easy, Brit common or garden, US garden-variety: We had an informal dinner in the kitchen. 2 unofficial, unconventional, unconstrained, casual, everyday, simple: On duty he wore informal clothes - blue jeans and a denim jacket. 3 vernacular, colloquial, simple, unaffected, ordinary, unpretentious, everyday: He uses informal language devoid of scientific jargon.
information | information: n. knowledge, data, facts, intelligence, message, word, advice, news, tidings, report, communication, Colloq info, low-down, Slang dirt, dope, Brit gen, bumf, US poop: I have little information regarding her divorce.
informative | informative: adj. communicative, instructive, educational, edifying, revealing, illuminating: We found his report about the missiles very informative.
informed | informed: adj. 1 intelligent, knowledgeable, enlightened, educated, learned, cultured, cultivated: An informed public is democracy''s greatest asset. 2 alert (to), aware (of), advised, in touch, au fait, briefed, conversant (with), (well-)versed, up (on), up to date, Colloq in the know, wise: Keep me informed as to your whereabouts.
informer | informer: n. traitor, betrayer, tattle-tale, taleteller, informant, Slang stool-pigeon, snitch, squealer, weasel, Brit grass, Chiefly US rat, US stoolie, canary, shoo-fly: According to the informer, the secret meeting is scheduled for tonight.
infrequently | infrequently: adv. rarely, seldom, sporadically, occasionally, now and then, irregularly, exceptionally: They were only infrequently seen in public in later years.
infringe | infringe: v. 1 violate, contravene, break, disobey, transgress, overstep: Publication of this article has infringed her right to a fair trial. 2 infringe on or upon. intrude on, impinge on, trespass on, encroach on, invade: Never let pleasure infringe on the domain of duty.
infringement | infringement: n. violation, breach, contravention, infraction, disobedience, infraction, non-compliance, breaking, transgression: Publication without permission constitutes infringement of copyright. The inventor sued the company for patent infringement.
infuriate | infuriate: v. enrage, anger, madden, incense, make (someone''s) blood boil, provoke, inflame, work or stir or fire up, rile, arouse, vex, pique, gall, annoy, irritate, bother, chafe, agitate, irk, nettle, exasperate, raise (someone''s) hackles, make (someone''s) hackles rise, Brit have or get (someone''s) blood up, Colloq miff, bug, peeve, get under (someone''s) skin, get or Brit also put (someone''s) back up, make (someone) see red, Chiefly US get (someone''s) Irish or dander up, US burn up, Slang piss (someone) off, brown (someone) off, Brit cheese (someone) off: It really infuriated him to see injustice done to anyone.
ingenious | ingenious: adj. clever, skilful, skilled, shrewd, cunning, crafty, canny, dexterous, adroit, acute, sharp, keen, resourceful, adept, apt, smart, gifted, bright, brilliant, talented, deft, handy, inventive, Daedalian, creative, imaginative, original, Colloq neat, keen, US crackerjack, Slang on the ball: My friend here has come up with an ingenious solution to our problem.
ingenuity | ingenuity: n. ingeniousness, genius, brilliance, cleverness, skill, shrewdness, cunning, craft, art, knack, flair, dexterity, dexterousness, adroitness, acuteness, sharpness, keenness, resourcefulness, adeptness, aptness, smartness, canniness, gift, talent, ability, capability, faculty, deftness, handiness, inventiveness, creativity, creativeness, imagination, imaginativeness, originality: She displayed extraordinary ingenuity in preparing the case against the plaintiff.
ingenuous | ingenuous: adj. 1 na�ve, simple, innocent, unsophisticated, childlike, suggestible, artless, sincere, genuine, trusting, guileless, natural, straight, uncomplicated, (fair and) square, honest, fair, just, open, undeceitful, unaffected, undeceptive, undissembling, unfeigning, (open and) above-board, Colloq on the level: What ideas have you been implanting into the mind of this ingenuous young girl? 2 frank, candid, open, trustworthy, honourable, forthright, direct, straightforward, four-square, honest, outspoken, blunt, bluff, bold, unreserved, free, uninhibited, unabashed: I shall be ingenuous enough to confess that what you heard about me is true.
ingrained | ingrained: adj. engrained, deep-rooted, fixed, inveterate, deep-seated, fundamental, basic, essential, inherent, inborn, innate, inbred, inherited, hereditary, organic, intrinsic, native, natural: He has an ingrained fear of heights.
ingratiating | ingratiating: adj. fawning, grovelling, sycophantic, toadying, toad-eating, servile, obsequious, flattering, time-serving, wheedling, cajoling, unctuous, oily, buttery, sweet-talking, sugary, saccharine, US blandiloquent, Colloq boot-licking, slimy, Brit smarmy, US apple-polishing, Slang US brown-nosing: It is Crawley''s ingratiating manner that none of us can abide.
ingratitude | ingratitude: n. unthankfulness, ungratefulness, thanklessness, unappreciativeness, non-recognition: Despite the favours they had received, they showed their ingratitude by refusing to contribute to the fund drive.
ingredient | ingredient: n. constituent, element, part, component, factor; (pl.) makings: Humour is a necessary ingredient in any working relationship.
inhabit | inhabit: v. dwell in, reside in, live in, abide in, occupy, settle; locate in, populate, people; colonize: This bird inhabits northern Africa. North America was inhabited by emigrants from Europe.
inhabitant | inhabitant: n. resident, dweller, denizen, citizen, tenant, occupant, occupier: The inhabitants of the village refused to pay taxes.
inhale | inhale: v. breathe in, inspire, draw or suck in: I stepped outside and inhaled the fresh spring air.
inherent | inherent: adj. intrinsic, indwelling, essential, basic, innate, connate, ingrained or engrained, native, congenital, inherited, hereditary, inborn, inbred, indigenous, immanent, built-in: It is difficult to tell which characteristics are derived and which are inherent.
inherit | inherit: v. come into, fall or be or become heir to, be bequeathed, succeed to, be left, receive, acquire, Colloq come by: She inherited the property when her father died.
inheritance | inheritance: n. patrimony, heritage, legacy, bequest, birthright; property: He came into his inheritance when he was 21.
inhibit | inhibit: v. discourage, repress, frustrate, hold back, bridle, curb, control, govern, hinder, restrain, impede, obstruct, interfere with, check, prevent, bar, stop: Her sad look inhibited my expression of delight at seeing her again.
inhibited | inhibited: adj. reticent, restrained, repressed, reserved, self-conscious, shy, abashed, embarrassed, Colloq uptight: He is much too inhibited to appear on television.
inhibition | inhibition: n. self-consciousness, restraint, constraint, impediment, hindrance, bar, barrier, defence, defence mechanism, blockage, interference, check, curb, stricture: Geoff overcame his inhibitions and went over to talk with Anne. She had no inhibitions about singing in public.
inhospitable | inhospitable: adj. 1 unwelcoming, unreceptive, uninviting, unsociable, unsocial, aloof, cold, cool, standoffish, unfriendly, inimical, antisocial, hostile, xenophobic: They were most inhospitable and refused to let me in. 2 unfavourable, forbidding, hostile, barren, desert, uninviting, uninhabitable: They were marooned on an inhospitable reef in the middle of the Pacific.
inhuman | inhuman: adj. 1 inhumane, merciless, cruel, pitiless, ruthless, heartless, severe, unsympathetic, unfeeling, unkind, unkindly, uncompassionate, cold-blooded, vicious, stony-hearted, hard-hearted, callous, insensitive, barbaric, barbarous, savage: Many refugees have suffered torture and other inhuman treatment. 2 animal, bestial, brutal, brutish, fiendish, diabolical, demonic: The spectre, assuming an inhuman form, loomed over them.
initial | initial: adj. 1 original, primary, first; prime, beginning, incipient, inaugural, opening, introductory, commencing: His initial plan, to take the children, was vetoed by his wife. It is best to tread cautiously during the initial stages of the programme. --v. 2 sign, approve, endorse: Please initial the clauses of the contract that we have changed. --n. 3 monogram: The initial ''M'' is on all their towels.
initiate | initiate: v. 1 begin, commence, enter upon or on, originate, introduce, set in motion, start, give rise to, get under way, launch, get or set going, trigger, set off, actuate, activate, instigate, institute, inaugurate: The programme was initiated last spring with much fanfare. 2 admit, accept, introduce: The new members were initiated last night, with due ceremony. 3 teach, instruct, train, tutor, drill, coach: His responsibility is to initiate recruits in the rudiments of jungle warfare. --n. 4 novice, beginner, new boy or girl, greenhorn, rookie, neophyte, tiro or tyro, newcomer, tenderfoot, fledgling, apprentice, (raw) recruit, abecedarian, noviciate or novitiate, catechumen, Brit fresher or US only freshman, Australian new chum: In the first weeks, initiates are drilled in the basics.
initiation | initiation: n. 1 beginning, commencement, inauguration, origination, debut, introduction, inception, establishment: April the first is the date for initiation of the new system. 2 admittance, admission, entrance, induction, enrolment, instatement, investiture, ordination, installation; ceremony, rite, ritual: The initiation of new members is scheduled for tomorrow at midnight.
initiative | initiative: n. 1 first move or step, lead, opening move: Hogan took the initiative by winning the first set. 2 enterprise, aggressiveness, drive, ambition, ambitiousness, resourcefulness, leadership, dynamism, energy, vigour, hustle, �lan, Colloq get-up-and-go, pep, snap, zip, zing: At least she had the initiative to get the company back on a profitable basis.
inject | inject: v. 1 introduce, insert, drive or force (in), shoot (in), intromit; inoculate: The serum is injected into the upper arm. The doctor injected me with antibiotics. 2 introduce, insert, imbue, instil, bring in, interject, throw in: Can''t you inject a little more enthusiasm into your work?
injunction | injunction: n. 1 prohibition, interdict, interdiction, restriction, restraint, US law restraining order: There is an injunction against picketing. 2 order, mandate, directive, command, direction, instruction, ruling, dictate, exhortation; warning, admonition: Mother''s parting injunction was always to dress warmly.
injure | injure: v. 1 harm, wound, hurt, damage, impair: He''s sure to injure himself if he''s allowed to play with a knife. 2 wrong, offend, abuse, hurt, wound, outrage, slight, insult, affront, mistreat, misuse, ill-treat, maltreat: She starts the arguments yet she invariably takes the role of the injured party.
injurious | injurious: adj. 1 damaging, harmful, hurtful, bad, deleterious, unfavourable, detrimental, unhealthy, insalubrious, pernicious, destructive; adverse, ruinous: Smoking is said to be injurious to health. 2 abusive, insulting, scornful, slanderous, libellous, defamatory, scandalous, scurrilous, harsh, calumnious, disparaging, derogatory, deprecatory, contemptuous, denigrating, offensive: She speaks of her ex-husband in the most injurious terms.
injury | injury: n. damage, hurt, harm, wound, impairment; wrong, abuse, maltreatment, mistreatment, mischief, offence, outrage; mayhem: The injury was less painful to his foot than to his self-esteem.
injustice | injustice: n. 1 unfairness, favouritism, discrimination, bias, inequality, partiality, partisanship, prejudice, bigotry, one-sidedness, unjustness, inequity: Class privilege has always condoned injustice. 2 wrong, injury: You do me an injustice if you think me capable of dishonesty.
inkling | inkling: n. hint, suggestion, glimmering, suspicion, whisper, intimation, indication, soup�on, clue, notion, (faintest or foggiest) idea, tip, tip-off: Can you give me an inkling of what you are getting at?
inmate | inmate: n. prisoner, convict, captive, jailbird or Brit also gaolbird, Slang Brit lag; patient, case; inhabitant, occupant, resident: The inmates were fed on bread and water in those days. Inmates at the sanatorium are well treated.
innocent | innocent: adj. 1 not guilty, guiltless, blameless, honest, (in the) clear, unimpeachable, above suspicion, above reproach, faultless: We all believe her innocent of extortion. 2 pure, sinless, virtuous, chaste, virgin(al), undefiled, untainted, unstained, unsullied, pristine, incorrupt, uncorrupted, immaculate, spotless, unblemished, unpolluted: She is still a sweet child, innocent as the day she was born. 3 harmless, well-intentioned, safe, innocuous, inoffensive, unobjectionable: What began as an innocent stroll became a dangerous expedition. 4 na�ve, unsuspecting, unsuspicious, unsuspecting, ingenuous, unsophisticated, trusting, trustful, gullible, credulous, green, inexperienced, childlike, unworldly, guileless, artless, simple, open, unartificial, sincere: Youngsters would arrive in London directly from the farm, entirely innocent and unaware of the perils of city life. --n. 5 infant, babe (in arms or in the wood(s)), child; ing�nue, novice, beginner, newcomer, Colloq greenhorn: She''s certainly no innocent when it comes to men.
innovation | innovation: n. 1 novelty; invention: The flush toilet was a 19th-century innovation. 2 modernization, alteration: Consumer product development is marked by a spirit of tireless innovation.
innuendo | innuendo: n. insinuation, imputation, suggestion, hint, intimation, implication, allusion, overtone; reference, animadversion: I resent your innuendo that I know more about the affair than I am letting on.
inoffensive | inoffensive: adj. harmless, unobjectionable, innocuous, unoffending, neutral, retiring, mild, tame: Bligh is so inoffensive, how could he possibly have upset you?
inopportune | inopportune: adj. inappropriate, malapropos, ill-timed, untimely, inconvenient, unsuited, unsuitable, out of place, unpropitious, unfavourable, inauspicious, ill-chosen, unseasonable, unseemly, untoward, unfortunate: Your call came at a most inopportune moment, as we were just sitting down to dinner.
inordinate | inordinate: adj. 1 immoderate, unrestrained, intemperate, excessive, disproportionate, extravagant, overdone, extreme, exorbitant, outrageous, preposterous, unconscionable, unreasonable, undue, uncalled-for, unwarranted: Her inordinate appetite for scandal has made her a successful gossip columnist. 2 irregular, disorderly, disordered, uncontrolled, unlimited, unregulated, unsystematic, erratic, haphazard: Laws have been passed to limit the inordinate hunting of deer.
inquire | inquire: v. 1 Usually, inquire into. search, investigate, probe, examine, research, look into, inspect, study, explore, survey, scrutinize: Scientists are inquiring into the causes of the greenhouse effect. 2 See enquire.
inquiry | inquiry: n. 1 enquiry, investigation, probe, examination, research, search, inspection, study, exploration, survey, scrutiny, inquest; questioning, querying, interrogation, inquest, cross-examination, inquisition: The police have asked me to help them with their inquiry. They are conducting an inquiry into the cause of the accident. 2 enquiry, question, query, interrogation: Would you please repeat the inquiry?
inquisitive | inquisitive: adj. 1 inquiring, curious, probing, questioning, interested, investigative, searching, exploring, analytical: Children have a naturally inquisitive nature. 2 prying, intrusive, Colloq snooping, snoopy, nosy or nosey: Don''t be so inquisitive about things that don''t concern you!
inroad | inroad: n. 1 incursion, raid, attack, invasion, penetration, foray, encroachment, forced entry, intrusion: Our armoured units have made an inroad into enemy territory. 2 Often, inroads. advance(s), progress, breakthrough: Have researchers made significant inroads into the problem of AIDS?
insane | insane: adj. 1 mad, demented, psychotic, schizophrenic, schizoid, non compos mentis, manic, maniacal, lunatic, deranged, unbalanced, psychoneurotic, neurotic, eccentric, crazy, of unsound mind, crazed, unhinged, out of one''s mind or head, mad as a hatter or a March hare, quirky, Colloq round the bend or twist, off one''s rocker or chump, loopy, loony, certifiable, mental, screwy, dotty, cuckoo, not all there, not have all one''s marbles, off-the-wall, out of it, Brit potty, Slang daft, nutty (as a fruit cake), nuts, spaced out, spacy, batty, have bats in one''s belfry, not right upstairs, barmy (in the crumpet), crackers, have a screw loose, schizo, Brit bonkers, US bugs, bughouse, loco, crazy as a bedbug, (gone) off the deep end, kooky, kinky, out to lunch: Witney was certified insane and institutionalized. You''re insane if you think I am going out on that ledge. 2 stupid, dumb, dull, silly, asinine, ridiculous, idiotic, irrational, absurd, fatuous, ludicrous, foolish, nonsensical, irresponsible, reckless, wild, imbecilic, moronic, feeble-minded, hare-brained, addle-pated, addle-brained, scatterbrained, thimble-witted, attocerebral, Brit gormless, Colloq nutty, screwy, crazy: People in love sometimes do insane things.
insanity | insanity: n. 1 madness, lunacy, mental illness or disorder, dementia (praecox), psychosis, schizophrenia, (mental) derangement, mania; psychoneurosis, neurosis: Because of the plea of temporary insanity he never stood trial for the murders. 2 folly, foolishness, stupidity, idiocy, imbecility, lunacy, absurdity, fatuity, fatuousness, nonsense, senselessness, irresponsibility, irrationality, inanity: What insanity it was to think I could win the lottery!
insecure | insecure: adj. 1 uncertain, afraid, unsure, unconfident, nervous, worried, anxious, disconcerted, apprehensive, uncomfortable, shaky, jumpy, unnerved, fearful: Harry is beginning to feel insecure about his job. 2 unsafe, dangerous, unprotected, vulnerable, unguarded, defenceless, undefended, exposed, open: The machine-gun position is insecure and will soon be taken. 3 unstable, shaky, wobbly, precarious, infirm, weak, flimsy, frail, rickety, unsubstantial, rocky, unsound, unsteady, unreliable, uncertain: The structure collapsed because the footings were insecure.
insensible | insensible: adj. 1 insensate, unconscious, insentient, numb, benumbed, senseless, torpid, anaesthetized, Colloq out, out of it: She was totally insensible for an hour after the blow on the head. 2 Often, insensible to or of. insensitive, callous, indifferent, impervious, impassive, apathetic, cool, unsusceptible; unaffected, unmoved, untouched; unaware, deaf, inconsiderate; hard-hearted, thick-skinned, unfeeling, emotionless, dispassionate, thoughtless, Colloq cloth-eared: He remained wholly insensible to her desires and needs.
insert | insert: v. 1 introduce, place or put or stick in, intercalate; interpolate, interject, interpose: Please do not insert comments of your own. --n. 2 insertion, addition, addendum, supplement, advertisement, broadside, brochure, tip-in, handbill, circular, Colloq Brit advert, US ad, flier or flyer; outsert, wraparound or wrapround: The postage will be higher with this eight-page insert.
inside | inside: n. 1 interior, centre, core, middle, heart; contents; lining, backing: From the outside one could never guess what the inside looks like. Please paint the inside of the cabinet blue. 2 Usually, insides. bowels, entrails, viscera, gut(s), stomach, Colloq innards: He has had trouble with his insides for years. 3 inside out. everted, reversed; backwards: He is wearing his pullover inside out. --adj. 4 favoured, advantageous, favourable, advantaged, privileged, preferred, preferential, propitious, exclusive; internal, private, secret, confidential, privy, clandestine: She has an inside track to the chairman. He claims to have inside information about the successful bidder. 5 internal, interior; arranged, prearranged: The police think it was an inside job. --adv. 6 fundamentally, basically, at bottom, by nature: Despite her gruff exterior, inside she is quite sentimental. 7 in prison, in jail or Brit also gaol, imprisoned, incarcerated, Slang Brit in quod, US up the river: He''ll be inside for another five years. --prep. 8 within, US inside of: Because of rain, the party was held inside the building.
insight | insight: n. perception, percipience, sensitivity, perspicacity, perceptiveness, perspicaciousness, discernment, acuteness, acuity, acumen, sharpness, understanding, judgement, comprehension, vision: Chambers has brought his considerable insight to bear on this complex problem.
insignificant | insignificant: adj. paltry, trifling, petty, inconsiderable, inconsequential, trivial, unimportant, non-essential, minor, negligible, nugatory, unessential, niggling, puny, insubstantial, unsubstantial , Colloq piddling: These insignificant differences can be ignored. What you and I might do with our lives is, in the larger sense, insignificant.
insincere | insincere: adj. hypocritical, dishonest, dissembling, deceptive, disingenuous, deceitful, untruthful, false, artificial, ungenuine, treacherous, perfidious, faithless, double-dealing, duplicitous, two-faced, Janus-faced, lying, mendacious, sly, Machiavellian, cunning, crafty, slick, foxy, vulpine, wily, artful, evasive, shifty, time-serving, unctuous, slimy, slippery, tricky, underhanded, crooked, Colloq phoney or US also phony: From the first act I thought Iago insincere.
insinuate | insinuate: v. 1 impute, suggest, hint, intimate, imply, whisper, indicate; convey, signify: They insinuated that she married me for my money. 2 insert (oneself), inject (oneself), worm or work or inveigle or manoeuvre (oneself or one''s way); infiltrate, intrude: She insinuated herself into our group uninvited. 3 inject, infuse, instil, introduce: Wild imaginings began to insinuate themselves into my mind.
insist | insist: v. 1 demand, require, call for, command, importune, urge, exhort, argue, remonstrate, expostulate: The chairman insisted that proper parliamentary procedure be followed. 2 assert, state, declare, emphasize, stress, maintain, persist, hold, dwell on, vow, avow, aver, asseverate: He insisted that he wanted to see the last act but she insisted on leaving.
insistent | insistent: adj. firm, dogged, emphatic, persistent, tenacious, resolute, determined, assertive, uncompromising, unfaltering, unwavering, persevering, perseverant, unrelenting, inexorable, stubborn, obstinate, unyielding, compelling, urgent, importunate: The judges were insistent that we should follow the rules to the letter.
insolent | insolent: adj. impertinent, impudent, pert, saucy, bold, presumptuous, brazen, brash, disrespectful, insulting, contemptuous, offensive, rude, crude, uncivil, insubordinate, Colloq fresh, brassy, cheeky, Slang Brit smart-arsed or US smart-ass(ed), US wise: That insolent boor had the gall to call her ''Queenie''!
insolvent | insolvent: adj. bankrupt, ruined, in receivership, penniless, impoverished, destitute, US in Chapter Eleven, Colloq broke, wiped out, in the red, on the rocks, (gone) bust, gone to the wall, Brit in Queer Street, skint: A business is insolvent if its liabilities exceed its assets.
inspect | inspect: v. examine, scrutinize, study, scan, survey, vet, check (up (on) or out), investigate, pore over; peruse: The customs man inspected every last inch of our luggage.
inspiration | inspiration: n. 1 awakening, arousal, stimulus, revelation, impulse, feeling, afflatus, enlightenment, insight, spur, incitement, incentive; spirit, energy, �lan, passion, ardour, zeal, enthusiasm, vigour, gusto, ebullience, sparkle: Her extraordinary eyes gave me the inspiration I needed and I finished writing the song in an hour. 2 influence, stimulus, stimulation, encouragement, provocation, suggestion, guide, education: Kitchener''s life was an inspiration to many a career soldier.
inspire | inspire: v. 1 animate, activate, actuate, stimulate, invigorate, stir, move, waken, awaken, arouse, rouse, instigate, prompt, rally, energize, enliven, vitalize, vivify, galvanize, inspirit, excite, spark (off), quicken, kindle, fire, provoke: It was the inflammatory speeches that inspired the crowd to riot. His enthusiasm inspired her to take up writing as a profession. 2 encourage, strengthen, support, reinforce, buoy (up), uplift, boost, affirm, confirm, fortify, buttress: Your example has inspired many young people.
install | install: v. 1 instal, invest, instate, initiate, establish, inaugurate, induct, institute; place, put, position, introduce, settle: The new bishop will be installed in office next week. 2 instal, fit, set up, connect, fix (in place): I installed our new air conditioner myself.
installation | installation: n. 1 investiture, instatement, initiation, establishment, inauguration, induction, institution, placement, introduction, solemnization, swearing-in, consecration, Ecclesiastical ordination; crowning, coronation: Will you attend the installation of the new vice-chancellor? 2 fitting, placement, connection, positioning: The plumber will supervise the installation of the new heating system. 3 base, post, station, depot, camp, establishment: Military installations all over the country are being picketed.
instance | instance: n. 1 case (in point), example, exemplar, illustration, precedent, exemplification, occurrence, event: The damage to the bus shelter is yet one more instance of hooliganism. 2 for instance. for example, as an example, say, e.g.; in the event, as it happens or happened: Consider her, for instance: she managed to work and raise a family.
instant | instant: n. 1 moment, point, second, time: I was thinking of you at the very instant the phone rang. 2 moment, second, minute, flash, twinkling (of an eye), trice, Colloq jiffy: I''ll be with you in an instant, sir. --adj. 3 instantaneous, immediate, on the spot, overnight: His novel was an instant best seller. 4 urgent, crying, pressing, earnest, imperative, critical, exigent; split-second, direct: We have an instant need for a computer specialist. 5 ready-made, ready-mixed, prepared, ready-to-serve, precooked: This is an instant soup - just add hot water to the powder.
instantaneously | instantaneously: adv. instantly, immediately, at once, (right) now, directly, forthwith, promptly, this minute or second or instant, without delay, tout de suite, instanter, Brit straight away or US right away; Colloq pronto, US momentarily: The results will be beamed instantaneously to 176 million people around the world.
instead | instead: adv. 1 as an alternative or a substitute: She wanted me to go but I stayed instead. 2 instead of. alternatively, preferably, in preference to, in place of, in lieu of, rather than, as a substitute for; as contrasted with, as opposed to: Instead of going to the cinema we went to the theatre.
instil | instil: v. instill, imbue, inculcate, infuse, ingrain or engrain, implant; insinuate, impart: From childhood a sense of justice was instilled in us.
instinct | instinct: n. intuition, feel, feeling, empathy, sensitivity, tendency, propensity, leaning, bent, skill, talent, faculty, sixth sense, knack, predisposition, capacity, aptitude; subconscious: She has an uncanny instinct for finding the most interesting person in a crowd.
instinctive | instinctive: adj. 1 instinctual, intuitive, natural, innate, native, inborn, inbred, congenital, constitutional, reflex, visceral, intestinal, intrinsic, intuitional, subconscious, Colloq gut: She has an instinctive flair for design. 2 immediate, involuntary, irrational, mechanical, automatic, spontaneous: Harvey took an instinctive dislike to Percy when they met.
institute | institute: n. 1 society, organization, association, league, alliance, guild: They tried to establish an institute for research on badgers. 2 See institution, 2. --v. 3 establish, found, launch, organize: The principles of sportsmanship were instituted on the playing fields of England. 4 inaugurate, introduce, initiate, set up, start, begin, originate, commence, pioneer: If you do not pay, we shall be obliged to institute proceedings against you.
institution | institution: n. 1 establishing, establishment, forming, formation, origination, founding, foundation, installation, introduction, creation, organization: Who was responsible for the institution of cricket as a national pastime? 2 establishment, institute, academy, foundation, university, college, school: He attended an institution of higher learning after leaving the army. 3 hospital, medical centre, sanatorium or US also sanitarium, home, asylum: They spent their last days in an institution. 4 custom, tradition, habit, practice, routine, rule, order (of the day), code (of practice); doctrine, dogma: Throwing the coxswain into the river after the race has become an institution.
instruct | instruct: v. 1 teach, train, tutor, drill, educate, coach, inform, guide, edify, prepare, indoctrinate, inculcate: My parents employed a tutor to instruct me in Latin. 2 direct, order, bid, require, tell, enjoin, command, importune, charge: We were instructed to tell no one where we were going.
instruction | instruction: n. 1 Often, instructions. order, direction, brief, briefing, directive, guideline, advice, recommendation, rule; information; Colloq drill: The next instruction is to insert the plug into the back of the receiver. Follow the instructions carefully. 2 teaching, education, schooling, training, drill, drilling, tuition, guidance, indoctrination, preparation, lessons, classes, coaching, tutelage; tutorial: Where did you receive instruction in first aid?
instructive | instructive: adj. informative, informational, informatory, educational, instructional, helpful, revealing, edifying, enlightening, illuminating: Studying the mistakes of others can be highly instructive.
instructor | instructor: n. teacher, trainer, tutor, coach, mentor, adviser, educator, pedagogue, scholastic, academe, academician, doctor, docent, lecturer, professor, Brit master, mistress, don, preceptor, US docent: Charlotte was not spending time with the tennis instructor just to improve her backhand.
instrument | instrument: n. 1 implement, tool, device, apparatus, utensil, appliance, contrivance, mechanism, gadget, Colloq contraption, thingumabob, thingumajig, thingummy, thingy, whatsit, what''s-its-name, whatnot, what-d''you-call-it, Brit gubbins, US gismo or gizmo: Which instrument should I use to loosen this bolt? The doctor extracted the splinter with some sort of instrument. 2 agency, means, way, factor, mechanism, instrumentality, wherewithal, (prime) mover, catalyst, agent: Summers refused to be the instrument of bringing free people into slavery. 3 contract, (legal) document, (written) agreement, pact, compact, paper: After the signing, copies of the instruments were exchanged.
instrumental | instrumental: adj. helpful, useful, utilitarian, contributory, of service, supportive, supporting, advantageous, catalytic, conducive, beneficial, valuable, significant, important; accessory, ancillary: Your presence will be instrumental in effecting a favourable settlement.
insubordinate | insubordinate: adj. disobedient, rebellious, defiant, refractory, mutinous, insurgent, insurrectional, insurrectionist, revolutionary, seditious, incompliant or uncompliant, uncooperative, recalcitrant, contumacious, fractious, unruly, perverse, contrary, obstreperous, Colloq Brit stroppy: The insubordinate officers have been court-martialled.
insubstantial | insubstantial: adj. 1 unsubstantial, insignificant, meagre, diaphanous, small, flimsy, frail, weak, feeble, paltry, puny, slight, thin, tenuous, fragile, light, gossamer, wispy, wisp-like, fine: Though the spider''s thread appears insubstantial, for its weight it is enormously strong. 2 illusory, unreal, illusive, imaginary, imagined, fanciful, fancied, visionary, immaterial, intangible, impalpable, incorporeal, airy, ethereal, spiritual, chimerical, phantom, phantasmal, phantasmagorical, hallucinatory, fantastic; false: Through the mist London seemed insubstantial, a dream city of vapours rising from the Thames.
insufferable | insufferable: adj. unbearable, insupportable or unsupportable, intolerable, unendurable, impossible: The babysitter said she refused ever again to look after such an insufferable brat.
insufficient | insufficient: adj. inadequate, deficient, unsatisfactory, meagre, scanty, scant, scarce; too little, not enough: This light is insufficient for me to read by. We have insufficient skill to play the Brahms concerto.
insulate | insulate: v. 1 detach, separate, isolate, segregate, shelter, preserve, set or keep apart, sequester, sequestrate, quarantine: The rock star''s aides did their best to insulate her from her screaming fans. 2 lag, protect, shield, cushion, wrap, cover: Insulate the pipes to prevent heat loss. Insulate the wire with this tape. Nitroglycerine must be insulated from shock.
insult | insult: v. 1 offend, affront, slight, outrage; abuse, dishonour, defame, injure; asperse, slander, libel: Don''t be insulted if I arrive late and leave early. You insult her by suggesting that she has never heard of Keats. --n. 2 offence, affront, indignity, slight, outrage, barb, dig, slur, dishonour, abuse, defamation, discourtesy; aspersion, slander, libel; Colloq slap (in the face), put-down: Refusing to bow at a Japanese funeral is taken as an insult.
insurance | insurance: n. assurance, surety, indemnity, indemnification, guarantee or guaranty, warranty, bond, security, protection, cover: The cost of insurance is higher owing to the increase in crime.
intact | intact: adj. whole, entire, perfect, complete, integral, sound, unbroken, solid, (all) in one piece, undivided, uncut, together, untouched, unreduced, undiminished, unimpaired, inviolate, unblemished, unscathed, uninjured, unharmed, undamaged, unsullied, undefiled, untainted: The ancient city has been preserved virtually intact.
intangible | intangible: adj. impalpable, unperceivable, imperceptible, incorporeal, unsubstantial, insubstantial, imponderable, immaterial, ethereal, vaporous, airy, evanescent, vague, obscure, dim, imprecise, indefinite, shadowy, fleeting, elusive: The architect must deal with intangible ideas of design, how people work and live, etc.
integral | integral: adj. 1 basic, elementary, elemental, fundamental, essential, intrinsic: The rhythm is an integral part of the music. 2 See intact.
integrate | integrate: v. combine, unite, blend, bring or put together, assemble, merge, amalgamate, join, knit, mesh, consolidate, coalesce, fuse; US desegregate: We must integrate all the parts into a coherent whole. Several cultures have been well integrated into our community.
integrity | integrity: n. 1 honesty, probity, veracity, uprightness, honour, rectitude, principle, morality, goodness, trustworthiness, decency, virtue, incorruptibility, righteousness: He is a person of unimpeachable integrity. 2 wholeness, entirety, unity, togetherness, soundness, completeness, coherence, oneness, totality: Care should be taken not to disturb the integrity of the protective film.
intellect | intellect: n. 1 rationality, reason, reasonableness, (common) sense, understanding, judgement, cleverness, intelligence, mind, Colloq brains: You have the intellect, my boy, but it wants developing. 2 See intellectual, 3.
intellectual | intellectual: adj. 1 mental, cerebral: The greatest minds have brought their intellectual powers to bear on the problem. 2 thoughtful, thought-provoking, highbrow, academic, bookish, scholarly, Colloq brainy: The professor did not find the subject intellectual enough for a dissertation. --n. 3 thinker, intellect, highbrow, mastermind, genius, Colloq brain, egghead: He enjoys associating with intellectuals at the university. 4 scholar, academician, professor, savant, sage, wise man, guru, polymath, pundit, authority: The editor of the journal is an intellectual who leaves the details of administration to her deputy.
intelligence | intelligence: n. 1 intellect, understanding, aptitude, capacity, brainpower, cleverness, astuteness, quickness, alertness, keenness, brightness, shrewdness, wit, mother wit, (common) sense, insight, perspicacity, perception, discernment, discretion, percipience, perspicaciousness, wisdom, sagacity, Colloq brains, savvy, grey matter, Slang Brit nous: He may not know anything about computer programming but he has the intelligence to learn how to do it. 2 information, knowledge, word, data, facts, advice, news, tidings, findings, Colloq dope, low-down, info, Brit gen, US inside, poop: Our agents are trying to gather intelligence on the Bulgarian situation.
intelligent | intelligent: adj. bright, smart, clever, discerning, perspicacious, perceptive, percipient, understanding, rational, apt, astute, quick, quick-witted, keen, sharp, alert, shrewd, canny, insightful, gifted, sensible, wise, sage, sagacious, enlightened, knowing, aware, knowledgeable, erudite, au fait, Colloq brainy, Chiefly US savvy: She is certainly intelligent enough to be first in her class, if only she would study harder.
intelligentsia | intelligentsia: n.pl. intellectuals, literati, savants, illuminati, masterminds, highbrows, Colloq brains, eggheads, brains trust: The government stifled free speech and persecuted the intelligentsia.
intelligible | intelligible: adj. understandable, comprehensible, fathomable, decipherable, legible, clear, plain, lucid, unambiguous: Crowther''s notes are barely intelligible.
intend | intend: v. mean, have in mind or in view, propose, contemplate, design, plan, aim, purpose, resolve, determine: I intend to give him a piece of my mind. She is intending to go, but I don''t know if she will be able to.
intense | intense: adj. 1 extreme, excessive, severe, strong, great, fierce, harsh, acute, powerful, profound, deep: The intense heat kept the firemen at bay. 2 eager, enthusiastic, keen, earnest, sincere, heartfelt, deep, passionate, impassioned, ardent, zealous, animated, burning, consuming, fervent, fervid, perfervid, vehement, frantic, fanatical, frenzied: I had an intense desire to see the culprit brought to justice. 3 highly-strung or chiefly US high-strung, emotional, temperamental, tense, touchy, testy, volatile, hysterical, hotheaded, feverish, nervous, (high-)spirited, impetuous, impulsive, Colloq uptight: I appreciate his enthusiasm, but I wish Henshawe were a bit less intense about his politics.
intensify | intensify: v. concentrate, focus, sharpen, whet, strengthen, reinforce, heighten, escalate, deepen, quicken, emphasize, magnify, increase, augment, double, redouble, heat up, Colloq step up, Brit hot up: We must intensify our efforts to effect a settlement of the crisis. The war is intensifying.
intensity | intensity: n. concentration, focus, strength, forcefulness, force, power; vigour, energy, vehemence, fervour, zeal, ardour, passion, sincerity: The storm is diminishing in intensity. Political partisanship is often attended by great intensity of emotion.
intensive | intensive: adj. concentrated, focused, intensified, comprehensive, exhaustive, thorough(-going), all-out: The police have launched an intensive manhunt.
intent | intent: n. 1 intention, aim, goal, target, purpose, object, objective, end, design, plan, idea: Was it your intent that I should go with you? The charge is assault with intent to kill. 2 inclination, tendency, desire, intending: The mere intent to commit treason is often tantamount to treason. 3 to all intents and purposes. virtually, practically, for all practical purposes, (almost) as good as, (almost) the same as, more or less, in effect: Telling you that the position was being discontinued is, to all intents and purposes, the same as firing you. --adj. 4 concentrated, focused, fixed, steady, intense, determined, earnest, engrossed, absorbed, rapt, steadfast, resolute, attentive: Her intent stare unnerved many of her lecturers. 5 bent, set, resolute, committed, decided, firm, keen; resolved, eager, firm, determined, zealous, avid, enthusiastic,: If you''re intent on going, we won''t try to change your mind.
intention | intention: n. aim, purpose, intent, design, goal, end, object, objective, target, ambition: Was it your intention to stay till the fat lady sings?
intentional | intentional: adj. deliberate, intended, premeditated, meant, wilful, designed, planned, preconceived, studied, considered, contrived; purposeful, on purpose: That slur was intentional and not just a slip of the tongue.
intently | intently: adv. closely, attentively, concentratedly, earnestly, fixedly, unflinchingly, determinedly, searchingly, steadily, steadfastly, continuously, assiduously, doggedly, unremittingly, eagerly, keenly, studiously: They regarded one another intently across the table.
intercept | intercept: v. interrupt, deflect, stop, arrest, check, interfere (with), head off, block, impede, cut off, seize, grab, catch, trap: He was intercepted as he was about to board a plane with the documents. Keeler intercepted the ball, preventing a goal.
intercourse | intercourse: n. 1 commerce, traffic, trade, dealings, exchange, communication, contact, interaction: In normal business intercourse our paths often cross. 2 sexual intercourse, coitus, coition, sexual congress or union, mating, copulation, sexual relations, carnal knowledge, making love, lovemaking, intimacy, sexual connection, Colloq sex: The plaintiff admits engaging in intercourse with the defendant.
interest | interest: n. 1 attention, attentiveness, concern, regard, curiosity, scrutiny, notice, engagement: The way the puzzle fitted together drew my interest. She examined the books with interest. She shows interest in taking a writing course. 2 concern, significance, importance, weight, moment, note, consequence: Of what interest is a newly found painting by Tiepolo? 3 Often, interests. profit, advantage, benefit, good, avail, worth, value, consideration, behalf, behoof: Is it in our interest to sell the business? 4 share, portion, stake, investment, piece, cut, percentage, participation, involvement: I have a small interest in an emerald mine. 5 Often, interests. business, concern, affair, property; hobby, pastime, diversion, avocation, amusement, entertainment, pursuit, relaxation, occupation: She travels abroad to look after her interests. Caroline has many interests besides business. 6 (lending) fee or charge, percentage, rate, Slang US vigorish: How much interest would the bank charge on a �40,000 mortgage? --v. 7 engage, absorb, engross, attract, draw, catch, capture, captivate, hold, fascinate, intrigue, excite, incite, provoke, arouse, affect, quicken, infect, animate, kindle, fire: At that time, our daughter was interested only in boys. There is something about astronomy that interests me. 8 influence, induce, persuade, move, tempt, involve, enrol, enlist, dispose, incline, prevail upon, talk into, concern: Could I interest you in investing in my company?
interested | interested: adj. 1 Also, interested in. engaged, absorbed, engrossed, drawn (to), attracted (by), involved (in), curious (about), fascinated (by), keen (on), stimulated (by), responsive (to), concerned (about): We talked about investing in my plastics company, and he seemed interested. She has become interested in designing jewellery. 2 concerned, involved, non-objective, partial, biased, prejudiced, prejudicial, partisan, predisposed: You cannot get an honest appraisal of the painting''s value from an interested party.
interesting | interesting: adj. absorbing, engaging, gripping, riveting, engrossing, attractive, compelling, intriguing, provocative, stimulating, exciting, inviting, fascinating, enchanting, spellbinding, captivating: Nick has just told me the most interesting story about Tony.
interfere | interfere: v. 1 meddle, intrude, butt in, intervene, intercede, interpose, interrupt, Colloq horn in, put or stick in one''s oar or one''s oar in, poke one''s nose in, US kibitz: Stop interfering in things that do not concern you. 2 hinder, impede, hamper, block, obstruct, encumber, slow, retard, handicap, set back, get in the way of, frustrate, conflict, inhibit, trammel, subvert, sabotage: Allow nothing to interfere with the course of true love.
interference | interference: n. 1 meddling, intrusion, intruding, intervention, interceding, intercession: This interference in our personal affairs has gone far enough. 2 hindrance, impediment, block, obstruction, encumbrance, impedance, difficulty, snag, hitch, handicap, set-back; frustration, inhibition, conflict, opposition: The lawsuit became an unwelcome interference in the smooth flow of our lives.
interior | interior: adj. 1 inside, internal, inner, inward: The interior surfaces are to be painted white. 2 internal, domestic, civil, national, local, home: We will not accept the interference of foreign governments in our interior affairs. 3 inner, private, intimate, personal, individual, secret, hidden, veiled: Some of Hamlet''s great speeches are in the form of interior monologues, or soliloquies. 4 upland, inland, up-country, land-locked: The most beautiful scenery is in the interior part of the country, away from the marshy coast. --n. 5 inside: The interior is coated with Teflon. 6 heart, centre, middle, core, depths: This is the story of a journey to the interior of the earth. 7 uplands, up-country, heartland, hinterland: The interior is covered with rocks and scrub pine.
interjection | interjection: n. exclamation, ejaculation, cry, interpolation, utterance: Grammarians regard expressions like ''Hello'' and ''Goodbye'' as interjections.
interlude | interlude: n. interval, entr''acte, intermission, pause, stop, stoppage, respite, interruption, break, hiatus, lacuna, gap, halt, wait, breathing-space, recess, rest, spell, lull, Colloq let-up: There is a ten-minute interlude between the acts.
intermediary | intermediary: n. go-between, middleman, agent, representative, broker, intermediate, third party, mediator, arbitrator, arbiter, referee, umpire, judge: Donaldson acted as intermediary and arranged the deal.
intermediate | intermediate: adj. 1 middle, in-between, medial, midway, halfway, transitional, intervening, intermediary: Middle schools cater for the age-range intermediate between primary and secondary schooling. In sublimation a substance changes from a gas to a solid (or vice versa ) , skipping the intermediate liquid state. 2 See intermediary.
intermission | intermission: n. See interlude.
intermittent | intermittent: adj. irregular, discontinuous, disconnected, sporadic, occasional, random, spasmodic, fitful, broken, periodic, alternating, cyclic(al), rhythmic(al), pulsating, seasonal, on-and-off, on-again-off-again, stop-and-go, stop-go: Tomorrow, intermittent showers in the morning will yield to sunshine.
internal | internal: adj. See interior, 1, 2, 3.
international | international: adj. supranational, global, worldwide, universal, intercontinental, cosmopolitan, ecumenic(al) or oecumenic(al); foreign: An international conference is being held on disarmament. My father is engaged in international trade.
interpret | interpret: v. 1 explain, explicate, clear up, clarify, elucidate, illuminate, throw or shed light on, simplify, decipher, decode, define, spell out, make sense (out) of, translate, paraphrase: Would you interpret this clause of the agreement for me? 2 understand, construe, take (to mean), read, figure or work out, sort out, unravel: I haven''t any idea how to interpret this poem.
interpretation | interpretation: n. 1 explanation, clarification, elucidation, simplification, decipherment, solution, working-out, unravelling, sorting out, decoding, definition, illustration, translation, paraphrasing: Sharon''s detailed interpretation of the data is quite easy to understand. 2 analysis, diagnosis, examination, exegesis, explication, reading, construal, inference, understanding: These figures are subject to individual interpretation.
interrogation | interrogation: n. questioning, examination, cross-examination, inquisition, investigation, Colloq third degree, grilling: Caught by the rebels, we were subjected to hours of interrogation.
interrupt | interrupt: v. 1 break in, cut in, intrude in, butt in, interfere in, punctuate, disturb, Colloq barge in, chime in, horn in: He keeps interrupting the discussion with his silly remarks. 2 discontinue, break off, cut off, cut short, interfere with, disrupt, suspend, hold up, halt, stop, end, terminate, cease: We interrupt this programme to bring you a news bulletin.
interruption | interruption: n. 1 break, intrusion, disturbance, interference, disruption: Please forgive this interruption, but you''re wanted on the phone. 2 break, gap, interval, lacuna, hiatus, respite, rest, pause, pausing, intermission, stopping, stop, suspension, cessation, cease, ceasing, surcease, hesitation, Prosody caesura, Colloq let-up: She talked for an hour without interruption.
interval | interval: n. 1 intermission, interlude, entr''acte, break, pause; recess, rest (period), period, time, wait, spell, delay, lapse: The play was so bad we left in the interval. After a brief interval, the lights came on again. 2 meanwhile, meantime, interim: He returned later but found that in the interval she had changed her mind. 3 gap, opening, space, hole, void, lacuna, distance, interstice, Architecture intercolumniation: The interval between the columns is exactly three metres.
intervene | intervene: v. 1 interfere, intrude, break in, interrupt, intercede, meddle, interpose, butt in, Colloq poke one''s nose in, horn in, put in one''s oar, step in: If I had not intervened you might have been killed. She intervened on my behalf. 2 come or go (between), pass, elapse: A week intervened before we saw each other again.
interview | interview: n. 1 meeting, (press) conference, discussion, conversation, talk, question period, audience: The reporter phoned to ask for an interview. 2 evaluation, appraisal, vetting, assessment: I have a job interview scheduled for tomorrow. --v. 3 question, examine, interrogate, sound out, talk with or to: She interviewed the Prime Minister on television last night. 4 appraise, evaluate, check (out), vet: The headmaster himself interviews the teachers.
intimate� | intimate�: adj. 1 close, personal, warm, affectionate, loving, dear, bosom, cherished, familiar, intime: She had a party for intimate friends. 2 secret, confidential, private, personal, privy, hidden, intime; detailed, penetrating, deep, profound, thorough, exhaustive: In his autobiography he reveals intimate particulars of his marriage. 3 sexual; carnal: It is well known that Millie was on intimate terms with her chauffeur. 4 cosy, informal, snug, friendly, warm, comfortable; intime, � deux, t�te-�-t�te, Colloq comfy: The two of us had an intimate dinner at home last night. --n. 5 friend, associate, comrade, crony, familiar, confidant(e), (constant) companion, Achates, alter ego, colleague, confr�re, Colloq sidekick, chum, pal, Brit and Australian mate, US buddy, Slang Brit china (plate), mucker: He and a few of his intimates like to get together now and then for a game of snooker.
intimate� | intimate�: v. hint, imply, suggest, insinuate, indicate, refer to, allude to, communicate, make known, give (someone) to understand, warn, caution, Colloq tip (off): He intimates that my wife will be a widow if I tell the police.
intimidate | intimidate: v. frighten, scare, alarm, cow, daunt, dismay, abash, appal, awe, overawe, browbeat, menace, threaten, terrify, petrify, terrorize, tyrannize; Slang have or get (someone) by the short and curlies: You can''t intimidate me with your threats!
intolerance | intolerance: n. bias, prejudice, bigotry, discrimination, partiality, illiberality, narrow-mindedness, dogmatism; racism, racialism, sexism, classism, ageism, xenophobia: The government has legislated against intolerance of minorities.
intolerant | intolerant: adj. 1 unsympathetic, unforbearing, unindulgent, impatient, inconsiderate, inhospitable, uncharitable: The present system seems intolerant of the aged. 2 biased, prejudiced, bigoted, discriminatory, partial, illiberal, narrow-minded, parochial, provincial, jaundiced, warped, twisted, one-sided, opinionated, close-minded; racist, racialist, sexist, classist, ageist, xenophobic: How can some religions be so intolerant of other people''s beliefs?
intonation | intonation: n. accent, accentuation, speech or sound pattern, delivery, modulation, articulation, pronunciation, vocalization, pitch, tone, inflection: You can tell the speaker''s mood by his intonation.
intoxicate | intoxicate: v. 1 inebriate, make drunk, addle, stupefy, muddle, befuddle: He tried to intoxicate me with his home-made brew. 2 stimulate, excite, overwhelm, elate, exhilarate, animate, enliven, invigorate, inspirit, thrill, galvanize, electrify, make one''s head spin, take one''s breath away, infatuate, entrance, enchant, enrapture, fascinate, bewitch, cast a spell on, ensorcel: She was intoxicated by the atmosphere of the place.
intoxicating | intoxicating: adj. 1 alcoholic, spirituous, inebriant: Do not drink intoxicating beverages if you plan to drive. 2 exhilarating, invigorating, thrilling, exciting, heady, stimulating, electrifying, entrancing, fascinating: Making a film of the life of Lola Montez is an intoxicating idea.
intrepid | intrepid: adj. fearless, brave, bold, daring, dauntless, undaunted, steadfast, resolute, courageous, unafraid, plucky, gallant, valiant, valorous, doughty, audacious, heroic, manly, manful, dashing, adventurous, venturesome, stout-hearted, lion-hearted, game: Quatermain was known to the enemy as an intrepid soldier.
intricate | intricate: adj. 1 involved, complicated, convoluted, entangled, tangled, knotty, complex, twisted, winding, tortuous, sinuous, anfractuous, labyrinthine, elaborate, Byzantine, fancy, ornate, rococo, Daedalian or Daedalean or Daedalic, Literary daedal or dedal: The plot was far too intricate and I became confused. 2 perplexing, puzzling, mystifying, enigmatic: The code was so intricate that even the computer needed hours to decipher the message.
intrigue | intrigue: v. 1 fascinate, beguile, captivate, attract, absorb, charm, pique, interest, titillate, arouse or excite the curiosity (of): It intrigues me to watch them put those ships into bottles. 2 conspire, plot, connive, scheme, manoeuvre: She was sure that everyone was intriguing against her. --n. 3 conspiracy, plot, scheme, manoeuvre, collusion, stratagem, trickery, chicanery, double-dealing, guile, subterfuge, artifice, machination, deception: Many of those close to the government are engaged in intrigue of some kind. 4 affair, liaison, amour, romance, intimacy; adultery: We all knew about the intrigue he was carrying on with the duke''s wife.
intrinsic | intrinsic: adj. inherent, basic, fundamental, essential, proper, elemental, organic, natural, native, inbred, congenital, inherited, hereditary, innate, inborn, immanent, indwelling, underlying, constitutional; real, true, actual, genuine: As no painting has intrinsic worth, its value is arbitrary.
introduce | introduce: v. 1 acquaint, present, make known: Sandy introduced Gerald and Daphne to each other. 2 bring in or up, advance, present, broach, put or set forth, put forward, suggest, offer, propose, mention: It was she who introduced the issue of bacteria in canned goods. 3 announce, present: Please introduce the next speaker. 4 start, begin, originate, launch, establish, set up, pioneer, initiate, usher in, institute, bring out or in, set up, organize: When was paper money first introduced? 5 insert, add, interpose, inject, put in, inject, interpolate: Why introduce irrelevant matters into the discussion?
introductory | introductory: adj. 1 opening, prefatory, preliminary, preparatory, beginning, inaugural, initial: His ''introductory'' remarks lasted longer than the speeches! 2 primary, basic, fundamental, elementary, first, rudimentary: Take an introductory course before enrolling for more advanced study.
intrude | intrude: v. interfere, break in, interrupt, intervene, push in, interpose, butt in, infringe, encroach, obtrude, Colloq horn in, barge in: They want to be alone and you are intruding. Forgive me for intruding into your conversation.
intruder | intruder: n. 1 interloper, gatecrasher, uninvited guest, unwelcome visitor; trespasser, encroacher, invader, infiltrator, squatter; burglar, thief: The intruders were quickly expelled by the guards. 2 meddler, busybody, Colloq snoop(er), Nosy Parker, US kibitzer: You are an intruder into my private affairs.
intrusive | intrusive: adj. intruding, interfering, meddlesome, invasive, meddling, prying, inquisitive, obtrusive, importunate, officious, presumptuous, forward; unwelcome, uncalled-for, unwanted, unsought, Colloq nosy, pushy, snoopy: He said he apologized if he was being intrusive.
intuition | intuition: n. instinct, insight, hunch, sixth sense, presentiment, premonition, foreboding; perception, perceptiveness, percipience, perspicacity, common sense, mother wit: Intuition told me I should find the answer here.
invalid� | invalid�: adj. 1 ailing, sick, sickly, ill, infirm, valetudinarian, disabled: His invalid sister is confined to a wheelchair. --n. 2 patient, valetudinarian, victim, sufferer, incurable, cripple, Chiefly US and Canadian shut-in: Many invalids have claimed complete recovery after a visit to Lourdes.
invalid� | invalid�: adj. void, null (and void), nullified, annulled, repudiated, untrue, false, faulty, erroneous, wrong, spurious; incorrect, imperfect, impaired, unsound, untenable, ineffective: He was driving with an invalid licence. Your reasons for quitting school are invalid.
invaluable | invaluable: adj. priceless, valuable, precious, of inestimable or incalculable value; irreplaceable, irredeemable; costly, expensive, high-priced, dear: The thieves made off with several invaluable paintings.
invariable | invariable: adj. 1 unchanging, changeless, unvarying, invariant, unwavering, constant, steady, stable, regular; fixed, fast, set, rigid, uniform, unfailing, unexceptional: She is invariable in her opinion of a woman''s right to abortion. His invariable routine calls for a dawn swim, regardless of the weather. 2 immutable, unchangeable, unalterable, unmodifiable: The law of supply and demand is invariable. 3 permanent, fixed, enduring, abiding, eternal, unaltered, unvarying, unchanged, unvaried, unaltered, unmodified: The positions of the stars appear to be invariable.
invasion | invasion: n. 1 incursion, raid, foray, intrusion, inroad, encroachment, trespass, infiltration; infringement, infraction, transgression, violation: The poachers were charged with invasion of private property. Unauthorized publication of that material is an invasion of your rights. 2 attack, assault, onslaught, aggression, offensive, drive, storming, blitzkrieg: The armoured divisions succeeded in stopping the invasion.
invent | invent: v. 1 create, devise, contrive, originate, think up, dream up, conceive, concoct, make up, imagine, formulate, improvise, design, hit upon; coin: He claims to have invented the toothpaste tube. 2 fabricate, make up, concoct, Colloq cook up: She invented that story about having been a lion-tamer.
invention | invention: n. 1 creation, origination, contriving, devising, conception, contrivance, introduction, development: The invention of the screwdriver has spared many a broken fingernail. 2 creation, contrivance, device, gadget, Colloq contraption, US gismo or gizmo: Thomas Edison held patents on a huge number of inventions. 3 fiction, figment, story, fantasy, fabrication, tale, fable, yarn, fib, tall story or tale, falsification, fake, sham, falsehood, lie, prevarication: Her claim that the accident was my fault is a flagrant invention.
invest | invest: v. 1 venture, lay out, put in, sink: She was persuaded to invest her life savings in unit trusts. 2 devote, allot, spend, contribute, supply, provide: We have invested a lot of time in cleaning up local government. 3 install or instal, inaugurate, induct, initiate, instate, establish, ordain, swear in, seat: He will be invested with the Order of Merit on Tuesday.
investigate | investigate: v. enquire or inquire into, examine, study, consider, explore, probe, look into, research, scrutinize, analyse, sift (through), winnow: The laboratory is investigating the nature of the strange phenomenon.
investigation | investigation: n. enquiry or inquiry, examination, study, review, exploration, quest, search, probe, research, discovery procedure, scrutiny, analysis, inquest, inquisition, interrogation, questioning: Has the investigation turned up any evidence of collusion?
invigorating | invigorating: adj. stimulating, bracing, rejuvenating, tonic, vitalizing, restorative, energizing, vivifying, enlivening, exhilarating; fresh, healthful, healthy, salubrious, salutary: Each morning I go for an invigorating walk. The doctor recommended the invigorating mountain air.
invincible | invincible: adj. 1 unconquerable, unbeatable, indomitable, insuperable, undefeated, unstoppable: United look invincible, and are likely to retain the cup for a fourth successive season. 2 impregnable, invulnerable, impenetrable, indestructible, unassailable: The Romans believed the fortress to be invincible.
invisible | invisible: adj. 1 unseeable, imperceptible, undetectable, imperceivable; unseen: The air we breathe is invisible. 2 concealed, hidden, disguised, camouflaged, masked, covered, unperceived, veiled, indiscernible: Once the part has been painted, the damage will be invisible.
invitation | invitation: n. 1 summons, request, call, bidding, Colloq invite: I am still waiting for my invitation to their wedding. 2 attraction, inducement, allure, allurement, enticement, temptation, magnetism, bait, lure, draw, pull: The possibility of going where no man had gone before was too great an invitation to ignore.
inviting | inviting: adj. alluring, tempting, enticing, attractive, beckoning, appealing, captivating, engaging, intriguing, irresistible, winsome, beguiling, bewitching, entrancing, fascinating, tantalizing, seductive: She gave him an inviting smile but he still approached cautiously.
involuntary | involuntary: adj. unconscious, unintentional, unthinking, impulsive, spontaneous, unpremeditated, instinctive, instinctual, unwitting; automatic, reflex, mechanical, conditioned, uncontrolled, uncontrollable: When I was struck, my involuntary reaction was to strike back at once. At the mention of his name she gave an involuntary start.
involve | involve: v. 1 include, contain, comprise, cover, embrace, incorporate, encompass, take in, subsume, embody, comprehend, number among, count in: The survey involved many people from all walks of life. 2 imply, entail, suggest, mean, betoken, require, necessitate, presuppose: Enrolling for a course involves doing homework as well as attending classes. 3 Often, involve in or with. implicate, concern, affect, touch, entangle, draw in; incriminate, inculpate; associate with, connect with, catch (up) in: I didn''t know that Annette was involved. Are you involved in that murder investigation?
involved | involved: adj. 1 implicated, concerned, affected, interested, active: The public enquiry was attended by all involved members of the community. 2 tangled, complicated, complex, twisted, snarled, convoluted, confused, confusing, intricate, tortuous, elaborate, knotty, Byzantine, labyrinthine: The plot is too involved to be followed easily. The involved problems of adolescence cannot be treated in a one-day conference. 3 involved with. associated with, entangled with, embroiled with, enmeshed with, Colloq mixed up with: Dennis is still very much involved with that singer from the Green Dragon.
