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frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

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pointed adj. 1 needle-shaped, sharp, acute, barbed, peaked, spiked,<br />

spiky, Technical acuminate, cuspidate, aciform, acicular,<br />

aciculiform, aculeous, apiculate, spiculate, serrate(d),<br />

acuminate, mucroniform, mucronulate, mucronate(d), muricate,<br />

hebetate: The child was poking holes in the sand with a pointed<br />

stick. 2 incisive, piercing, cutting, sharp, pungent, keen,<br />

penetrating, telling, trenchant, biting, unmistakable or<br />

unmistakeable: The critic made a few pointed remarks about the<br />

actors' reading of the lines.<br />

pointer n. 1 indicator, rod, stick; index, sign, arrow, Typography<br />

fist: The pointer is used to call attention to something<br />

important. 2 tip, advice, hint, suggestion, recommendation,<br />

piece of advice: McLeod gave me a few pointers on how to<br />

improve the restaurant service.<br />

pointless adj. purposeless, aimless, worthless, ineffective, meaningless,<br />

ineffectual, futile, unproductive, fruitless, bootless, useless,<br />

vain, senseless, absurd, silly, stupid, inane, asinine, fatuous,<br />

preposterous, nonsensical, ridiculous, empty, hollow: After her<br />

paper, someone rose and wasted half an hour making pointless<br />

remarks.<br />

point of view<br />

n. 1 viewpoint, perspective, approach, position, angle, slant,<br />

orientation, outlook, stance, standpoint, vantage point: From<br />

his point of view, I can see why Fred thinks the research is a<br />

waste of time. 2 opinion, view, belief, (way of) thinking,<br />

principle, doctrine: Shouldn't everyone be entitled to express<br />

a point of view?<br />

poise n. 1 balance, equilibrium, equipoise, equiponderance, parity,<br />

par: The chariots of the gods in even poise, obeying the rein,<br />

glide rapidly. 2 composure, control, self-possession, aplomb,<br />

assurance, dignity, equanimity, sang-froid, cool-headedness,<br />

imperturbability, presence of mind, coolness, staidness,<br />

reserve, sedateness, calmness, serenity, tranquillity, Colloq<br />

cool: Jane's poise is remarkable, despite the heckling by the<br />

audience.<br />

--v. 3 balance, be balanced, hover, hang, float; make or be or<br />

get ready, prepare: The boulder was poised on the edge of the

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