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Using the thesaurus, you can look up synonyms (different words with the same meaning) and antonyms (words with the opposite meaning).

Tip: In the desktop versions of Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook, you can get a quick list of synonyms by right-clicking a word and choosing Synonyms. The Office Online apps don't include a synonym finder.

Word

  1. Click the word in your document that you want to look up.

  2. On the Review tab, click Thesaurus.

    Thesaurus command on Review tab

  3. To use one of the words in the list of results or to search for more words, do one of the following:

    • To replace your selected word with one of the words from the list, point to it, click the down arrow, then click Insert.

    • To copy and paste a word from the list, point to it, click the down arrow, then click Copy. You can then paste the word anywhere that you like.

    • To look up additional related words, click a word in the list of results.

Tip: You can also look up words in the thesaurus of another language. If, for example, your document is in French and you want synonyms, on the Review tab, click Thesaurus. At the bottom of the Thesaurus task pane, select a language from the drop-down list.

 

  1. Click the word in your workbook that you want to look up.

  2. On the Review tab, click Thesaurus.

    Excel Ribbon Review Tab Thesaurus

  3. To use one of the words in the list of results or to search for more words, do one of the following:

    • To replace your selected word with one of the words from the list, point to it, click the down arrow, then click Insert.

    • To copy and paste a word from the list, point to it, click the down arrow, then click Copy. You can then paste the word anywhere that you like.

    • To look up additional related words, click a word in the list of results.

Tip: You can also look up words in the thesaurus of another language. If, for example, your workbook is in French and you want synonyms, on the Review tab, click Thesaurus. At the bottom of the Thesaurus task pane, select a language from the drop-down list.

See Also

Editor - your writing assistant

Check spelling and grammar in Office

What happened to English Assistance?

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