English Synonyms and Antonyms

participated in by two or more persons or things; as, sorrow is common to the race. General may signify
pertaining equally to all of a class, race, etc., but very commonly signifies pertaining to the greater number,
but not necessarily to all. Universal applies to all without exception; general applies to all with possible or
comparatively slight exceptions; common applies to very many without deciding whether they are even a
majority. A common remark is one we often hear; a general experience is one that comes to the majority of
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people; a universal experience is one from which no human being is exempt. It is dangerous for a debater to
affirm a universal proposition, since that can be negatived by a single exception, while a general statement is
not invalidated even by adducing many exceptions. We say a common opinion, common experience, a general
rule, general truth, a universal law. Compare synonyms for NORMAL; USUAL.
Antonyms:
exceptional, infrequent, rare, singular, uncommon, unknown, unusual.
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GENEROUS.
Synonyms:
bountiful, free, liberal, noble, chivalrous, free-handed, magnanimous, open-handed, disinterested,
free-hearted, munificent, open-hearted.
Generous (L. genus, a race) primarily signifies having the qualities worthy of noble or honorable birth; hence,
free and abundant in giving, giving freely, heartily, and self-sacrificingly. As regards giving, generous refers
rather to the self-sacrificing heartiness of the giver, liberal to the amount of the gift; a child may show himself
generous in the gift of an apple, a millionaire makes a liberal donation; a generous gift, however, is
commonly thought of as both ample and hearty. A munificent gift is vast in amount, whatever the motive of its
bestowal. One may be free with another's money; he can be generous only with his own. Disinterested
suggests rather the thought of one's own self-denial; generous, of one's hearty interest in another's welfare or
happiness. One is magnanimous by a greatness of soul (L. magnus, great, and animus, soul) that rises above
all that is poor, mean, or weak, especially above every petty or ignoble motive or feeling pertaining to one's
self, and thus above resentment of injury or insult; one is generous by a kindness of heart that would rejoice in
the welfare rather than in the punishment of the offender.
Antonyms:
avaricious, greedy, mean, niggardly, penurious, rapacious, close, ignoble, miserly, parsimonious, petty, stingy.
covetous, illiberal,
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GENIUS.
Synonyms:
talent, talents.
Genius is exalted intellectual power capable of operating independently of tuition and training, and marked by
an extraordinary faculty for original creation, invention, discovery, expression, etc. Talent is marked mental
ability, and in a special sense, a particular and uncommon aptitude for some special mental work or
attainment. Genius is higher than talent, more spontaneous, less dependent upon instruction, less amenable to
training; talent is largely the capacity to learn, acquire, appropriate, adapt oneself to demand. Yet the genius
that has won the largest and most enduring success has been joined with tireless industry and painstaking.
Compare synonyms for MIND; POWER.
Antonyms:
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dulness, folly, imbecility, obtuseness, senselessness, stupidity.
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GET.
Synonyms:
achieve, attain, gain, procure, secure, acquire, earn, obtain, receive, win.