definition but not the word
I’ve been trying to find the word for a person who thinks they’re always sick when they’re perfectly healthy (often used as a way to get attention). However there aren’t many resources to find a word based on the definition. If I hear or read a word, I can look it up in the dictionary and if I know a word but want a similar one, I can turn to the thesaurus. But if I know there’s a word with a specialized definition, that’s unlikely to have synonyms, I don’t know how to find it. A Google search didn’t show any immediate results so I’ve been brainstorming of ways to find a word by its definition, but nothing seems to come to mind. Categorizing words might be a good way to allow them to be browsed, but that could also be time consuming.
I finally found the word (hypochondriac) by reading it somewhere and recognizing it as the word I was looking for, but there must be an easier way.
I had the exact same problem two days ago with finding the word for someone who is afraid of ghosts. I was pretty certain that it would have the ‘phobia’ suffix but the first part of the word could have been anything. I finally broke it down by doing google searches for the following keyword combinations – phobia of ghosts, irrational fear of ghosts/apparitions. I finally reduced it to the words ‘spectrophobia’ and ‘phasmophobia’. By the way, if you’re suffering from these afflictions, this site can cure you. Excellent…
So Dan, are you a hypochondriac or do you just know one? Shoot, I think everyone knows at least one!
Neither, I just couldn’t remember the word.
if neone knows plz email me cause im goin through a rough time and i belive this word will describe me good.. but i only have the definition but no word if neone would b so kind as 2 help me. the def is: a person whos entire life is a sad story.. email me plz i would greatly appriciate it.
Dan, Have you found the answer to your problem yet? Everyone who answered you was of no help. I’m constantly searching for a word that fits the definition/context of something I’m writing. I once read of a resource software that was like Oxford or something like that but hadn’t seen it. If not, keep trying I guess.
Scott: I found a book called Random House Webster’s Word Menu which categorizes words so if you know the definition, you could probably find the word. I haven’t bought it yet so I don’t know for sure, but it looks like there’s hope.
OneLook is a meta-dictionary site which offers a “reverse-lookup” facility
http://www.onelook.com/reverse-dictionary.shtml
It’s new and certainly isn’t perfect but it’s a good starting point.
Thanks, that’s the best resource I’ve seen yet. I wasn’t able to find hypochondriac with it, but I was able to find a few other words.
Guys, I have a similar problem, I need to find a word for someone who is always freezing or who is always cold. unfortunately I couldn’t find it at OneLook. any possible ideas?
I looked around on the reverse dictionary and on Google but didn’t find anything.
Hi, I’m looking for the word which means ” someone who works for their family”. Thanks, mellem
Are you looking for ‘nepotism’? It means giving undue preference to members of your family.
lol, thanx for the reverse Dan, i was looking for a complex word, and i foundit!
I need the word for:
to join as a partner
I need the word for:
bright
Michelle: Here’s the onelook dictionary results for join as partner, and if you’re just looking for a synonym you should try looking up bright in the thesaurus.
Hi, I’m looking for two words. I know that a person who can’t see is blind and that a person who can’t hear is def. What are the words for 1)people who have lost the ability to distinguish smells; i.e. can’t smell and 2) a person who has lost te ability to distingiush tastes; i.e. can’t taste
The loss of your sense of smell is anosmia and hyposmia.
The loss of your sense of taste is ageusia.
I’m looking for a word that means some who is a vegetarian but eats dairy products, eggs, and seafood
I’m not sure exactly what word you’re looking for, but the wikipedia entry for vegetarianism probably has what you’re looking for.
I am looking for a word that means a settlement or a settlement around a village or a town.
I’d suggest looking at synonyms of suburb, and a search on the reverse dictionary for settlement around a village.
I came up with a few: environs, hamlet, hinterland, outpost, outskirts.
looks like ur inundated with ppl wanting to know meanings of words. and feelling a bit guilty for asking but i have been trying for a fair while to find the word for the following meaning: 1- some one who uses large words inapropriatly / uses to many of them when they speak or 2- just the inapropriate use of long/complicated words.
cheers keep up the good work!
The best word I found was word monger.
word monger – user of pretentious words: somebody who uses words pretentiously or merely for effect. a writer who uses language carelessly or pretentiously with little regard for meaning
Anyone know of a word for persons displaced from home by natural disaster? The media keeps calling the “Katrina” New Orleans victims “refugees”.
People that are displaced should not be referred to as “refugees” but as evacuees
I KNOW THE DEFINITION BUT NOT THE WORD!!
I am looking for a word that defines: CHRONIC LOSS OF APPETITE
It begins with an A but I can’t think of it to save my life!
Thanks for your help!
I am attempting to find the word for a person who pretends to be an intellectual, but who really knows nothing.
I am writing a paper about opinions. What is the word for someone who believes his religion or way of life is the only opinion…the bet? I am befuddled :-)
Donsie: quack or sciolist.
Jeri: I didn’t come up with anything.
I am looking for a word to for decribing that a book (or whatever) has a purposful but concealed meaning.
“”””””
I’m looking for a word that means some who is a vegetarian but eats dairy products, eggs, and seafood
“”””””
that is what a basic vegetarian is
if you don’t eat those things
you’re a /vegan/
“1- some one who uses large words inapropriatly / uses to many of them when they speak or 2- just the inapropriate use of long/complicated words.”
try sesquipedalian or pleonasm
I’m looking for a word that describes something is constantly changing or something that is never the same. I can only come up with flutuate. Do you have something better? Need ASAP Thank you.
Here are a few: volatile, variable, dynamic, phantasmagoria, capricious, fickle, flexible, unstable, vacillating, waffling, wavering.
I need a word for a common area of an apartment complex, what the building surround, etc. Doesn’t necessarily have to be apartments, just a open area in the building.
A search on the reverse dictionary resulted in: court, yard, cloister, atrium, patio, courtyard, quadrangle, plaza and pavilion (among others). Do any of those work?
What is the word for someone you preaches about not doing it and then turns around and does it?
A hypocrite.
Thanks I was think it was that but I wasn’t sure.
Hi
I am looking for an adjective that describes someone who only takes the amount of time and attention due to them. It’s not undemanding- so far no good in Oneword
Thanks
Humble?
Thomas, the word you are looking for is “emo”.
I am looking for the word that is described in Socrates Ethics. It describes the phenomenon when someone knows something has bad consequences, but they choose to do it because it induces immediate pleasure. The word starts with an a. Does anyone have a clue? I tried reverse look up, no luck.
Angela: Are you 100% positive that the word starts with “a”?. Aristotle said incontinence is bad behavior motivated by passion for immediate pleasure. That comes as close to your definition than anything I’ve found. Other possibilities include hedonist, bon vivant, debauchee, epicurean, glutton, gourmand, lecher, libertine, pleasure seeker, pleasuremonger, profligate, rake, sensualist, sybarite, thrill-seeker, voluptuary.
Hi Dan,
I’m fairly sure, since I remember writing it down in my ancient philosophy class. I might just have to pull out my old notebooks….
Thank you for investigating this! And that’s hilarious that incontinence has dual meaning:)Urination does have a certain pleasure factor about it.
~Angela~
Hi,
Does anyone know the term for a person who faints at the sight of blood?
Also, in either Greek or Roman mythology, what is the term for a person who has seen the future, tries to warn others but others just ignore the person? It was based off a woman who was told not to view something. She did it anyway and as punishment she was doomed to always know the future, but no one would ever believe her when she tried to warn them.
Thanks so much!!
does anyone know the word for to gather a crop?
Harvest
Hi,
I’d like to find the word means : person doing things in a brief and fast way.
Efficient.
Does anyone know if there is a word that describes a woman who ‘keeps’ a man or a woman who pays a man to have sex with her?
Thanks!
JT
The wording is a bit confusing. Who’s paying who?
if your job is to turn something on what would your title be?
ex: turn on the stars
hi, i need to know the word that describes snappy names on t shirts for example: saucy sally. does anybody know this or a website that can help you make them up?
rach: It depends what the person is turning on. I don’t know of any word for “one who turns something on”.
caitlin: I’m not aware of a word that describes that, nor of a website that will help you make them up.
Hey, I’m Kim…I came across this website when I was trying to find a word…I am looking for the word that describes – when you know the definition of a word..just not the actual word you are trying to describe. lol If anyone understands what I am on about and even knows the word then please tell me…cos its driving me insane lol thanks Kim x
That’s an interesting question, but I can’t think of any words that describe that situation.
I’m trying to think of a word that means someone who loves to be looked at, someone who thrives on attention from others. I think it’s an adjective that ends with istic such as nebulistic. It’s driving me crazy. Please help.
Suzanne: Narcissist?
I’m trying to find the word that means “someone who can recognize the faults in others but not their own”
I haven’t come up with anything. The only words I’m able to find describe someone who finds fault with others, but I haven’t found one that includes ignoring ones own faults.
I need the word for this definition: A system of government where the powers are divided between the states and the central government
Scott: I looked through this list of different forms of government but didn’t see any matching that definition.
Hey, does anyone know the word for someone who is great, but not because they want the fame and they are not trying to famous. In a way it could be humble, but thats not exactly the word im looking for. please help!
Here are a few possibilities: unpretentious, unaffected, modest, unassuming.
what is the word to this defintion:to show land features?
I am having the same problem today for my homework
Thanks for telling tht website ferdinagus
need to find algebraic term for relationships that are always true of real numbers
I always have that problem it should be a book like a dictionary but backwards are you gettin me my names icess if u gettin me hit me back i will be waitin for ya post.
@Icess I get you bro :)