Search for synonyms using the Visual Thesaurus

The Visual Thesaurus is an online thesaurus and dictionary of over 145,000 words, synonyms and definitions that you explore and visualize using an interactive map.

Type in a word and the Visual Thesaurus will show you a map of synonyms, antonyms, and definitions with the word you entered in the center.

Unlike Roget's Thesaurus, the Visual Thesaurus contains over 39,000 proper nouns, American and British spellings and audio pronunciations.

It's a tool for people who think visually. Look up your word now!

Behind the Dictionary

Lexicographers Talk About Language

Usage Showdown: Who Are You Going to Listen to?

July 24, 2008
Yesterday we presented the first part in our usage showdown on "whom," from Baltimore Sun copy editor John E. McIntyre, a self-professed "moderate prescriptivist." Today we present the descriptivist side of the debate, from Arnold M. Zwicky, Professor of Linguistics at Stanford University, who frequently writes about matters of English usage on the group weblog Language Log. Let us know in the comments section which perspective you find more convincing, or sound off with your own opinion! Continue reading...
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Behind the Dictionary

Lexicographers Talk About Language

Usage Showdown: Who Cares About 'Whom'?

July 23, 2008
Part 1 of our debate on "whom," from Baltimore Sun copy editor John McIntyre. Continue reading...
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SPELLING BEE

Think you are a good speller? Take the Visual Thesaurus Spelling Bee and find out!
Click here to start.

Blog Excerpts

Getting Unstuck

July 24, 2008

Merlin Mann of the productivity blog "43 Folders" has five great tips for beating writer's block. Read them here.

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Dog Eared

Books we love

Memoir Writing

July 23, 2008

If you're thinking of putting your life story on the page, these books can help guide your autobiographical endeavors.

Old Friend from Far Away

Inventing the Truth

Writing the Memoir

Your Life as Story

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Blog Du Jour

Screenwriter Blogs

July 22, 2008

Tinkering with a screenplay? Commiserate with other scribes for the big and small screen.

The Screenwriters League

Screenwriting Manifesto

Complications Ensue

The Unknown Screenwriter

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Word Routes

Exploring the pathways of our lexicon

Mailbag Friday: "Pipe Dream"
July 18, 2008 - 1 Comment

Candlepower

Ad and marketing creatives

Vocab Lab: If Left to My Own Poetic Devices...
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers July 17, 2008 - 3 Comments

Word Routes

Exploring the pathways of our lexicon

Beyond "Boyfriend" and "Girlfriend"
July 15, 2008 - 28 Comments

Candlepower

Ad and marketing creatives

Bad Science
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers July 14, 2008 - 8 Comments

Backstory

Authors tell you what inspired their work

Heather and Rose MacDowell, Authors of "Turning Tables"
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers July 11, 2008 - 2 Comments

Word Routes

Exploring the pathways of our lexicon

From the Subprime to the Ridiculous
July 10, 2008 - 2 Comments

"Bad Language"

A column about writing in business

How to Make Money Writing for the Web
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers July 9, 2008 - 3 Comments

Word Routes

Exploring the pathways of our lexicon

Dictionaries Roll Out New Words
July 8, 2008 - 2 Comments

Teachers at Work

A column about teaching

Vocabulary Instruction: The Non-Amorphous Shape of Word Knowledge
July 7, 2008 - 7 Comments

Word Routes

Exploring the pathways of our lexicon

Mailbag Friday: "Hot Dog"
July 4, 2008 - 8 Comments

Candlepower

Ad and marketing creatives

Web Usability and Copywriting: Making Your Visitors Feel at Home
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers July 2, 2008 - 3 Comments

Language Lounge

A Monthly Column for Word Lovers

Found in Translation
premium content - available only to Visual Thesaurus subcribers July 1, 2008 - 7 Comments

Word Routes

Exploring the pathways of our lexicon

Skedaddle, Scadoodle, Skidoo, Skadoosh!
June 30, 2008 - 3 Comments

Word Routes

Exploring the pathways of our lexicon

A Contretemps over Newspaper Vocabulary
June 25, 2008 - 10 Comments

Teachers at Work

A column about teaching

Those Who Do Not Know History Are Doomed to Fail English, Part II
June 23, 2008 - 5 Comments

Word Routes

Exploring the pathways of our lexicon

Mailbag Friday: "Bamboozle"
June 20, 2008 - 3 Comments
Click here to browse all the articles in our archive by date.
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Lesson Plans

Put the VT to work in your classroom

When You Reeeaaallly Want to Say Something

July 3, 2008
How can the Visual Thesaurus help students replace trite words of emphasis with "words strong in themselves"? Continue reading...
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Where Math Meets Poetry
May 30, 2008 - 2 Comments
What's Your Genus? Scientific Classification and the VT
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Contest

The Visual Thesaurus Crossword Puzzle: June Edition

Premium content available only to Visual Thesaurus subscribers.June 27, 2008
There's an extra-fiendish twist to this month's crossword puzzle. Figure it out and you could win a Visual Thesaurus T-shirt! Continue reading...
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Announcements

Introducing... The VT Spelling Bee!

June 26, 2008
We're very pleased to announce a brand-new feature: the Visual Thesaurus Spelling Bee! Taking advantage of our high-quality audio pronunciations, we've created a quiz that will sharpen your spelling skills and expand your vocabulary. And as everyone here in the office can attest, the quiz is downright addictive. Continue reading...
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Recent Announcements:
A New Look, and a New Column on the Way
May 12, 2008
Our Audio Pronunciations... And the Voices Behind Them
May 5, 2008 - 6 Comments
Stylin', Profilin'
April 28, 2008
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Self Promotion

Now Wear This!

November 8, 2006
Give your favorite somebody your favorite word map! Now you can order a Visual Thesaurus word map on a t-shirt, mug, even a postage stamp. Simply search for a word, click on the "Share" button on top right hand of the Visual Thesaurus window, and follow the easy steps. We can't think of a better gift -- or a gift to yourself, for that matter! (Hey, we're biased!)
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Webmasters

Add the VT to your site or blog

Visual Thesaurus Everywhere

Incorporate the Visual Thesaurus into your blog or website, add it to your home page, or use it from Microsoft Word. Learn all the ways that we offer to make the Visual Thesaurus more convenient to use and easier to share with your friends, family, and colleagues: Continue reading...