English Synonyms and Antonyms

Acrid is nearly allied to bitter. Pungent suggests the effect of pepper or snuff on the organs of taste or smell;
as, a pungent odor. Caustic indicates the corroding effect of some strong chemical, as nitrate of silver. In a
figurative sense, as applied to language or character, these words are very closely allied. We say a sour face,
sharp words, bitter complaints, caustic wit, cutting irony, biting sarcasm, a stinging taunt, harsh judgment, a
tart reply. Harsh carries the idea of intentional and severe unkindness, bitter of a severity that arises from real
or supposed ill treatment. The bitter speech springs from the sore heart. Tart and sharp utterances may not
proceed from an intention to wound, but merely from a wit recklessly keen; cutting, stinging, and biting
speech indicates more or less of hostile intent, the latter being the more deeply malicious. The caustic
utterance is meant to burn, perhaps wholesomely, as in the satire of Juvenal or Cervantes. Compare
MOROSE.
Antonyms:
dulcet, honeyed, luscious, nectared, saccharine, sweet.
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BLEACH, v.
Synonyms:
blanch, make white, whiten, whitewash.
To whiten is to make white in general, but commonly it means to overspread with white coloring-matter.
Bleach and blanch both signify to whiten by depriving of color, the former permanently, as linen; the latter
either permanently (as, to blanch celery) or temporarily (as, to blanch the cheek with fear). To whitewash is to
whiten superficially, especially by false approval.
Antonyms:
blacken, color, darken, dye, soil, stain.
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
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BLEMISH.
Synonyms:
blot, defacement, disgrace, injury, spot, blur, defect, dishonor, reproach, stain, brand, deformity, fault, smirch,
stigma, crack, dent, flaw, soil, taint, daub, disfigurement, imperfection, speck, tarnish.
Whatever mars the beauty or completeness of an object is a blemish, whether original, as squinting eyes, or
the result of accident or disease, etc., as the pits of smallpox. A blemish is superficial; a flaw or taint is in
structure or substance. In the moral sense, we speak of a blot or stain upon reputation; a flaw or taint in
character. A defect is the want or lack of something; fault, primarily a failing, is something that fails of an
apparent intent or disappoints a natural expectation; thus a sudden dislocation or displacement of geological
strata is called a fault. Figuratively, a blemish comes from one's own ill-doing; a brand or stigma is inflicted
by others; as, the brand of infamy.
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BLOW.
Synonyms:
box, concussion, disaster, misfortune, stripe, buffet, cuff, knock, rap, stroke, calamity, cut, lash, shock, thump.
A blow is a sudden impact, as of a fist or a club; a stroke is a sweeping movement; as, the stroke of a sword,
of an oar, of the arm in swimming. A shock is the sudden encounter with some heavy body; as, colliding
railway-trains meet with a shock; the shock of battle. A slap is given with the open hand, a lash with a whip,
thong, or the like; we speak also of the cut of a whip. A buffet or cuff is given only with the hand; a blow
either with hand or weapon. A cuff is a somewhat sidelong blow, generally with the open hand; as, a cuff or
box on the ear. A stripe is the effect or mark of a stroke. In the metaphorical sense, blow is used for sudden,
stunning, staggering calamity or sorrow; stroke for sweeping disaster, and also for sweeping achievement and
success. We say a stroke of paralysis, or a stroke of genius. We speak of the buffets of adverse fortune. Shock
is used of that which is at once sudden, violent, and prostrating; we speak of a shock of electricity, the shock
of an amputation, a shock of surprise. Compare BEAT.
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BLUFF.
Synonyms:
abrupt, brusk, impolite, rough, blunt, coarse, inconsiderate, rude, blustering, discourteous, open, uncivil, bold,
frank, plain-spoken, unmannerly.