frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

mixture of clich‚s embedded in a tired plot.
blank adj. 1 empty, plain, bare: I stared at the blank paper, unable
to write even my name. 2 unornamented, unadorned, undecorated,
void: Whenever Irena sees a blank wall she feels compelled to
hang a painting on it. 3 vacant, empty: The actor's mind went
completely blank
--he had forgotten his lines. 4 passive, impassive,
expressionless, emotionless, vacuous, mindless, unexpressive:
He gave us a blank look when asked about the missing rare
stamps. 5 disconcerted, discomfited, nonplussed, confused,
helpless, resourceless, perplexed, dazed, bewildered: The two
old men looked at each other with blank and horror-stricken
faces. 6 unrelieved, stark, sheer, utter, pure, unmixed,
absolute, unqualified: Jack faced the blank prospect of
solitary confinement.
--n. 7 space; line, box: Please fill in the blanks on the
form. 8 nothing, zero, nil; void, emptiness: I asked her when
the baby was coming, but I drew a blank.
blare v. 1 blast, bellow, trumpet, ring, boom, thunder, roar, bray;
resound, echo, reverberate, resonate: Everyone in the
neighbourhood can hear your hi-fi blaring.
--n. 2 blast, bellow, ring, roar, boom, noise, sound, clamour:
The games began with a blare of trumpets.
blas‚ adj. 1 bored, jaded, weary, unimpressed, ennuy‚: Her blas‚
attitude does little to endear her at job interviews. 2
indifferent, cool, superior, supercilious, sophisticated,
unmoved, nonchalant, emotionless, phlegmatic, apathetic,
pococurante, carefree, light-hearted, insouciant: His blas‚
behaviour hides his basic feelings of insecurity.
blaspheme v. 1 curse, swear, imprecate, execrate, profane, damn: They
were denounced for blaspheming against God. 2 abuse, malign,
calumniate, defame, disparage, revile, put down, decry,
deprecate, depreciate, belittle: The ungrateful wretches
blaspheme the charitable soul who would help them.
blasphemous