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| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | hateful communication |
| Synonyms: | abuse, affront, aspersion, black eye, blasphemy, cheap shot, contempt, contumely, derision, despite, discourtesy, disdainfulness, disgrace, disrespect, ignominy, impertinence, impudence, incivility, indignity, insolence, invective, libel, mockery, obloquy, offense, opprobrium, outrage, put-down, rudeness, scorn, scurrility, shame, slam, slander, slap, slap in the face, slight, snub, superciliousness, taunt, unpleasantry, vilification, vituperation |
| Antonyms: | compliment, flattery, praise |
| Main Entry: | abuse |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | attack with words |
| Synonyms: | backbite, bad-mouth, bash, belittle, berate, blow off, calumniate, cap, castigate, cuss out, cut down, cut to the quick, decry, defame, derogate, discount, do a number on, dump on, give a black eye, hurl brickbat, insult, knock*, minimize, nag, offend, oppress, persecute, pick on, put down*, rag on, reproach, revile, ride*, rip up, run down, scold, signify, slam*, slap, sling mud, smear, sound*, swear at, tear apart, trash*, upbraid, vilify, vituperate, zing |
| Notes: | abuse carries with it some sense of harm; misuse refers to an incorrect use that may not lead to harm to misuse is to use something wrongly, to abuse is to misuse something so badly that you damage it |
| Antonyms: | acclaim, adulate, approve, commend, compliment, praise |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | antagonize |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | cause problem; oppose |
| Synonyms: | alienate, anger, annoy, counteract, estrange, insult, irritate, neutralize, offend, repel, struggle, work against |
| Antonyms: | agree, aid, help |
| Main Entry: | appall/appal |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | horrify |
| Synonyms: | alarm, amaze, astound, awe, consternate, daunt, disconcert, dishearten, dismay, faze, frighten, get to, gross out, insult, intimidate, outrage, petrify, scare, shake, shock, terrify, throw, unnerve |
| Antonyms: | comfort, encourage, reassure, satisfy |
| Main Entry: | back talk |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | rude answer |
| Synonyms: | back answer, backchat, cheek, comeback, guff, insolence, insult, lip, mouth, nasty reply, rejoinder, retort, return, riposte, sass, sauce, short answer, uptake |
| Main Entry: | barb |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | pointed comment |
| Synonyms: | affront, criticism, cut, dig, gibe, insult, rebuff, sarcasm, scoff, sneer |
| Antonyms: | kindness, praise |
| Main Entry: | bother |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | harass, annoy; give trouble |
| Synonyms: | afflict, aggravate, agitate, alarm, badger, bedevil, bore, browbeat, carp at, concern, cross, discommode, disconcert, disgust, dismay, displease, disquiet, distress, disturb, eat, embarrass, exacerbate, exasperate, goad, grate on, grieve, harry, hinder, hurt, impede, inconvenience, insult, intrude upon, irk, irritate, molest, nag, needle, nudge, pain, perplex, perturb, pester, pick on, plague, provoke, pursue, put out, ride, scare, spite, tantalize, taunt, tease, torment, trouble, upset, vex, worry |
| Antonyms: | aid, help, please |
| Main Entry: | crack |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | joke |
| Synonyms: | dig, funny remark, gag, insult, jest, jibe, quip, remark, return, smart remark, wisecrack, witticism |
| Main Entry: | dare |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | challenge, defy someone |
| Synonyms: | beard, brave, bully, call one's bluff, confront, cope, denounce, disregard, face, face off, front, goad, insult, knock chip off shoulder, laugh at, make my day, meet, mock, muster courage, oppose, outdare, provoke, resist, run the gauntlet, scorn, spurn, square off, step over the line, take one on, taunt, threaten, throw down gauntlet |
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
