English Synonyms and Antonyms

barbaric splendor, a barbaric melody. Barbarous refers to the worst side of barbarian life, and to revolting
acts, especially of cruelty, such as a civilized man would not be expected to do; as, a barbarous deed. We
may, however, say barbarous nations, barbarous tribes, without implying anything more than want of
civilization and culture. Savage is more distinctly bloodthirsty than barbarous. In this sense we speak of a
savage beast and of barbarous usage.
Antonyms:
civilized, cultured, elegant, humane, polite, tender, courtly, delicate, graceful, nice, refined, urbane.
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BARRIER.
Synonyms:
bar, bulwark, obstruction, rampart, barricade, hindrance, parapet, restraint, breastwork, obstacle, prohibition,
restriction.
A bar is something that is or may be firmly fixed, ordinarily with intent to prevent entrance or egress; as, the
bars of a prison cell; the bars of a wood-lot. A barrier obstructs, but is not necessarily impassable. Barrier is
used of objects more extensive than those to which bar is ordinarily applied. A mountain range may be a
barrier to exploration; but a mass of sand across the entrance to a harbor is called a bar. Discovered falsehood
is a bar to confidence. Barricade has become practically a technical name for an improvised street
fortification, and, unless in some way modified, is usually so understood. A parapet is a low or breast-high
wall, as about the edge of a roof, terrace, etc., especially, in military use, such a wall for the protection of
troops; a rampart is the embankment surrounding a fort, on which the parapet is raised; the word rampart is
often used as including the parapet. Bulwark is a general word for any defensive wall or rampart; its only
technical use at present is in nautical language, where it signifies the raised side of a ship above the upper
deck, topped by the rail. Compare BOUNDARY; IMPEDIMENT.
Antonyms:
admittance, opening, road, transit, entrance, passage, thoroughfare, way.
Prepositions:
A barrier to progress, against invasion; a barrier between nations.
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BATTLE.
Synonyms:
action, combat, encounter, passage of arms, affair, conflict, engagement, skirmish, bout, contest, fight, strife.
Conflict is a general word which describes opponents, whether individuals or hosts, as dashed together. One
continuous conflict between entire armies is a battle. Another battle may be fought upon the same field after a
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
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considerable interval; or a new battle may follow immediately, the armies meeting upon a new field. An
action is brief and partial; a battle may last for days. Engagement is a somewhat formal expression for battle;
as, it was the commander's purpose to avoid a general engagement. A protracted war, including many battles,
may be a stubborn contest. Combat, originally a hostile encounter between individuals, is now used also for
extensive engagements. A skirmish is between small detachments or scattered troops. An encounter may be
either purposed or accidental, between individuals or armed forces. Fight is a word of less dignity than battle;
we should not ordinarily speak of Waterloo as a fight, unless where the word is used in the sense of fighting;
as, I was in the thick of the fight.
Antonyms:
armistice, concord, peace, suspension of hostilities, truce.
Prepositions:
A battle of giants; battle between armies; a battle for life, against invaders; a battle to the death; the battle of
(more rarely at) Marathon.
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BEAT.
Synonyms:
bastinado, chastise, overcome, spank, thrash, batter, conquer, pommel, strike, vanquish, belabor, cudgel,
pound, surpass, whip, bruise, defeat, scourge, switch, worst. castigate, flog, smite,