English Synonyms and Antonyms

particulars. To exchange is often to transfer ownership; as, to exchange city for country property. Change is
often used in the sense of exchange; as, to change horses. To transmute is to change the qualities while the
substance remains the same; as, to transmute the baser metals into gold. To transform is to change form or
appearance, with or without deeper and more essential change; it is less absolute than transmute, tho
sometimes used for that word, and is often used in a spiritual sense as transmute could not be; "Be ye
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
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transformed by the renewing of your mind," Rom. xii, 2. Transfigure is, as in its Scriptural use, to change in
an exalted and glorious spiritual way; "Jesus ... was transfigured before them, and his face did shine as the
sun, and his raiment was white as the light," Matt. xvii, 1, 2. To metamorphose is to make some remarkable
change, ordinarily in external qualities, but often in structure, use, or chemical constitution, as of a caterpillar
into a butterfly, of the stamens of a plant into petals, or of the crystalline structure of rocks, hence called
"metamorphic rocks," as when a limestone is metamorphosed into a marble. To vary is to change from time to
time, often capriciously. To commute is to put something easier, lighter, milder, or in some way more
favorable in place of that which is commuted; as, to commute capital punishment to imprisonment for life; to
commute daily fares on a railway to a monthly payment. To convert (L. con, with, and verto, turn) is to
primarily turn about, and signifies to change in form, character, use, etc., through a wide range of relations;
iron is converted into steel, joy into grief, a sinner into a saint. To turn is a popular word for change in any
sense short of the meaning of exchange, being often equivalent to alter, convert, transform, transmute, etc.
We modify or qualify a statement which might seem too strong; we modify it by some limitation, qualify it by
some addition.
Antonyms:
abide, continue, hold, persist, retain, bide, endure, keep, remain, stay.
Prepositions:
To change a home toilet for a street dress; to change from a caterpillar to or into a butterfly; to change clothes
with a beggar.
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CHANGE, n.
Synonyms:
alteration, mutation, renewing, transmutation, conversion, novelty, revolution, variation, diversity,
regeneration, transformation, variety, innovation, renewal, transition, vicissitude.
A change is a passing from one state or form to another, any act or process by which a thing becomes unlike
what it was before, or the unlikeness so produced; we say a change was taking place, or the change that had
taken place was manifest. Mutation is a more formal word for change, often suggesting repeated or continual
change; as, the mutations of fortune. Novelty is a change to what is new, or the newness of that to which a
change is made; as, he was perpetually desirous of novelty. Revolution is specifically and most commonly a
change of government. Variation is a partial change in form, qualities, etc., but especially in position or
action; as, the variation of the magnetic needle or of the pulse. Variety is a succession of changes or an
intermixture of different things, and is always thought of as agreeable. Vicissitude is sharp, sudden, or violent
change, always thought of as surprising and often as disturbing or distressing; as, the vicissitudes of politics.
Transition is change by passing from one place or state to another, especially in a natural, regular, or orderly
way; as, the transition from spring to summer, or from youth to manhood. An innovation is a change that
breaks in upon an established order or custom; as, an innovation in religion or politics. For the distinctions
between the other words compare the synonyms for CHANGE, v. In the religious sense regeneration is the
vital renewing of the soul by the power of the divine Spirit; conversion is the conscious and manifest change
from evil to good, or from a lower to a higher spiritual state; as, in Luke xxii, 32, "when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren." In popular use conversion is the most common word to express the idea of
regeneration.
Antonyms:
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
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constancy, fixedness, invariability, steadiness, continuance, fixity, permanence, unchangeableness, firmness,
identity, persistence, uniformity.
Prepositions:
We have made a change for the better; the change from winter to spring; the change of a liquid to or into a
gas; a change in quality; a change by absorption or oxidation.
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CHARACTER.
Synonyms:
constitution, genius, personality, reputation, temper, disposition, nature, record, spirit, temperament.
Character is what one is; reputation, what he is thought to be; his record is the total of his known action or
inaction. As a rule, a man's record will substantially express his character; his reputation may be higher or
lower than his character or record will justify. Repute is a somewhat formal word, with the same general
sense as reputation. One's nature includes all his original endowments or propensities; character includes
both natural and acquired traits. We speak of one's physical constitution as strong or weak, etc., and
figuratively, always with the adjective, of his mental or moral constitution. Compare CHARACTERISTIC.
Prepositions:
The witness has a character for veracity; his character is above suspicion; the character of the applicant.
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CHARACTERISTIC.
Synonyms:
attribute, feature, peculiarity, sign, trace, character, indication, property, singularity, trait. distinction, mark,
quality,
A characteristic belongs to the nature or character of the person, thing, or class, and serves to identify an
object; as, a copper-colored skin, high cheek-bones, and straight, black hair are characteristics of the
American Indian. A sign is manifest to an observer; a mark or a characteristic may be more difficult to
discover; an insensible person may show signs of life, while sometimes only close examination will disclose
marks of violence. Pallor is ordinarily a mark of fear; but in some brave natures it is simply a characteristic of
intense earnestness. Mark is sometimes used in a good, but often in a bad sense; we speak of the
characteristic of a gentleman, the mark of a villain. Compare ATTRIBUTE; CHARACTER.
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CHARMING.
Synonyms:
bewitching, delightful, enrapturing, fascinating, captivating, enchanting, entrancing, winning.
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
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That is charming or bewitching which is adapted to win others as by a magic spell. Enchanting, enrapturing,
entrancing represent the influence as not only supernatural, but irresistible and delightful. That which is
fascinating may win without delighting, drawing by some unseen power, as a serpent its prey; we can speak of
horrible fascination. Charming applies only to what is external to oneself; delightful may apply to personal
experiences or emotions as well; we speak of a charming manner, a charming dress, but of delightful
anticipations. Compare AMIABLE; BEAUTIFUL.
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CHASTEN.
Synonyms:
afflict, chastise, discipline, punish, refine, subdue, castigate, correct, humble, purify, soften, try.
Castigate and chastise refer strictly to corporal punishment, tho both are somewhat archaic; correct and
punish are often used as euphemisms in preference to either. Punish is distinctly retributive in sense; chastise,