This new addition to the American Heritage family offers an intelligent and sensible guide to synonym selection. Organized in an easy-to-use A-to-Z format, The American Heritage College Thesaurus provides a wide range of synonyms, ranging from mainstream vocabulary to the colorful alternatives that make English such a rich and versatile language. Thousands of slang, informal, and regional words broaden the coverage even further, always clearly labeled to ensure that the writer chooses the right word for the right context.

Each synonym list focuses on a clear definition that quickly orients the user to the relevant meaning. To increase the number of synonyms available to the reader, words with related meanings show cross-references to one another. As additional support, hundreds of Core Synonym Paragraphs explain the different nuances in meaning of some of the most basic and important synonyms in English. Each paragraph includes a carefully written example sentence for every synonym discussed or a pertinent quotation from a well-known author. No other thesaurus on the market offers as much help in distinguishing shades of meaning and illustrating appropriate usage.