: A thesaurus is helpful when the word you want is "on the tip of your tongue." I look up whatever word I can think of that is closest in meaning to the word I want, and then from there,

@Berumen699

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A thesaurus is helpful when the word you want is "on the tip of your tongue." I look up whatever word I can think of that is closest in meaning to the word I want, and then from there, I "surf" the thesaurus, flipping from word to word, coming closer in approximation to the desired word. I find the exact word I had in mind probably 80% of the time.

A thesaurus isn't really a book of synonym lists, and you treat it as one at your peril. It lists words that might convey the shade of meaning you're looking to express. But they're just as likely not to -- more so on average. It's up to you, the writer, to hear through the static.

As Kate noted, one way to never use a thesaurus is for learning new words. The way to learn new words is to read, read, read.

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