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May: alternatives and connections

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26,102 words currently have published synonym-style alternatives
90,593 searchable synonym connections
350,924 published thesaurus relationships of every type
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May

An auxiliary verb qualifyng the meaning of another verb, by expressing: (a) Ability, competency, or possibility; -- now oftener expressed by can.

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45 useful connections shown 4 reviewed relationships and 41 broader connections.
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Reviewed alternatives and contrasts

These links were deliberately created. Use the interchangeability score and guidance to judge whether a word will work in your sentence.

Broader term 2

Haw 76% connected

A hedge; an inclosed garden or yard.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

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Hawthorn 76% connected

A thorny shrub or tree (the Crataegus oxyacantha), having deeply lobed, shining leaves, small, roselike, fragrant flowers, and a fruit called haw. It…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Definition Compare both words

Synonym 1

Whitethorn 92% connected

The hawthorn.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

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Softer synonym 1

Indicate 88% connected

To point out; to discover; to direct to a knowledge of; to show; to make known.

cautious academic claims 62% interchangeable stronger

Expresses possibility.

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Words found in the same groups

These words appear together in curated vocabulary groups. They may be alternatives, contrasts or neighbouring ideas, so check the definition before replacing your original word.

Appear verb · 81% connection

To come or be in sight; to be in view; to become visible.

Appears with this word in Cautious academic claims.
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Suggest verb · 81% connection

To introduce indirectly to the thoughts; to cause to be thought of, usually by the agency of other objects.

Appears with this word in Cautious academic claims.
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Consistent adjective · 80% connection

Possessing firmness or fixedness; firm; hard; solid.

Appears with this word in Cautious academic claims.
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Inconclusive adjective · 80% connection

Not conclusive; leading to no conclusion; not closing or settling a point in debate, or a doubtful question; as, evidence is inconclus…

Appears with this word in Cautious academic claims.
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Likely adjective · 80% connection

Worthy of belief; probable; credible; as, a likely story.

Appears with this word in Cautious academic claims.
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Tentative adjective · 80% connection

Of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental.

Appears with this word in Cautious academic claims.
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Words from the same subject

These terms belong to the same specialist field or topic. They help you explore the subject, but they are not automatically synonyms.

At times adverb · 78% connection

sporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of…

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
Definition Compare
Believably adverb · 78% connection

easy to believe on the basis of available evidence; "he talked plausibly before the committee"; "he will probably win the election"

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
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Broadly speaking adverb · 78% connection

without regard to specific details or exceptions; "he interprets the law broadly"

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
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By and large adverb · 78% connection

usually; as a rule; "by and large it doesn't rain much here"

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
Definition Compare
Caveat noun · 78% connection

(law) a formal notice filed with a court or officer to suspend a proceeding until filer is given a hearing; "a caveat filed against th…

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
Definition Compare
Close to adverb · 78% connection

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years…

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
Definition Compare
From time to time adverb · 78% connection

sporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of…

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
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In all likelihood adverb · 78% connection

with considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war"

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
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In all probability adverb · 78% connection

with considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war"

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
Definition Compare
In part adverb · 78% connection

to some extent; in some degree; not wholly; "I felt partly to blame"; "He was partially paralyzed"

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
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Just about adverb · 78% connection

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years…

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
Definition Compare
Limit noun · 78% connection

the greatest amount of something that is possible or allowed; "there are limits on the amount you can bet"; "it is growing rapidly wit…

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
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More often than not adverb · 78% connection

usually; as a rule; "by and large it doesn't rain much here"

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
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More or less adverb · 78% connection

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years…

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
Definition Compare
Now and again adverb · 78% connection

sporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of…

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
Definition Compare
Now and then adverb · 78% connection

sporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of…

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
Definition Compare
Obviously adverb · 78% connection

unmistakably (‘plain’ is often used informally for ‘plainly’); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great…

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
Definition Compare
On occasion adverb · 78% connection

sporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of…

Used in the same subject area: Academic vocabulary, Caution and hedging.
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Words connected by meaning

Their definitions overlap or refer to similar ideas. Use these to widen your search, then compare the exact meanings.

Active voice noun · 78% connection

the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is performing the action or causing the happening denoted by the v…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: auxiliary, verb, qualifyng, meaning, expressing.
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Auxiliary sing. · 78% connection

A verb which helps to form the voices, modes, and tenses of other verbs; -- called, also, an auxiliary verb; as, have, be, may, can, d…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: auxiliary, verb, qualifyng, meaning, expressing.
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Auxiliary verb noun · 78% connection

a verb that combines with another verb in a verb phrase to help form tense, mood, voice, or condition of the verb it combines with

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: auxiliary, verb, qualifyng, meaning, expressing.
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Capacity noun · 78% connection

Ability; power pertaining to, or resulting from, the possession of strength, wealth, or talent; possibility of being or of doing.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: auxiliary, verb, qualifyng, meaning, expressing.
Definition Compare
Compound noun · 78% connection

a word (as anthropology, kilocycle, builder) consisting of any of various combinations of words, combining forms, or affixes.; "Also c…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: auxiliary, verb, qualifyng, meaning, expressing.
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