Recommended for MFA students.
By far, the best Thesaurus for writers I've run into. It includes handy word lists with many of the listings.

---

Product Description

This brand new thesaurus from Oxford, the most trusted name in reference, is the first to be developed by writers, for writers.
In addition to the more than 300,000 synonyms and 10,000 antonyms found in the thesaurus, each of our distinguished editorial board members (including David Auburn, Michael Dirda, David Lehman, Stephin Merritt, Francine Prose, Zadie Smith, Jean Strouse, David Foster Wallace, and Simon Winchester) has contributed frank, funny, thoughtful, and, most of all, word-wise mini-essays on words that they particularly love, hate, admire, or are just plain puzzled by.
Even more helpful for writers in search of the perfect word, this new thesaurus contains nearly two hundred word banks, collections of nouns to add exact detail to your writing. (Was it just bread, or was it chapatti, rye, dal, or pita?) Brand-new word spectrums show where your word falls in a line between two polar opposites (passable is three-quarters of the way from beautiful to ugly).
Other features include quick guides to easily confused words; helpful, real-world usage guidance to tricky sticking points of grammar and word choice; and careful, expert distinctions among awkward synonyms.
All Oxford American dictionaries use an easy-to-use respelling system to show how entries are pronounced. It uses simple, familiar markings to represent common American English sounds.
The Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus will unlock the power of language and is certain to be the thesaurus that stays on the desk--and stays open.

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17900 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-21
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1128 pages

From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 8 Up–This very readable reference will help writers find the most precise word for their needs. Word entries include synonyms and antonyms, sample sentences, parts of speech, phrases, and cross-references–all labeled and easily distinguishable by bold, capitalized, or italicized font. A variety of editors have contributed "word notes," for meaning and usage, such as distinguishing between "ethical" and "moral" and "virtuous" and "honorable," or when to use "who" and "whom." These mini-essays are conversational in tone and provide nuances that writers will appreciate when struggling to put a word into the proper context. "Word spectrums" is a unique feature that starts with a word such as "frank," then offers a list of terms leading by progression to its polar opposite, in this case, "evasive." A number of inset boxes list specific words for types of dances, coffees, leathers, fish, and more. The back of the thesaurus contains a lengthy "Language Guide," consisting of grammar and punctuation rules, lists of commonly misspelled words, clichés to avoid, and redundant expressions. A dozen "Writing Prompts" include questions with universal appeal, such as "What's the best breakfast you've ever had?" and "Who was the first person you ever hated? loved?" Current, thoughtful, and attractively formatted, this is an indispensable tool for writers.–Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Any thesaurus inherently celebrates words' subtleties and shades of meaning. This new thesaurus does the same, offering more than 30,000 synonyms and 10,000 antonyms, but it also celebrates good writing. It sets that tone with Richard Goodman's spirited introductory essay, "In Search of the Exact Word," a meditation on the anguish of a writer's quest for the one word that has an effect no other can have and on the exhilaration of finding and using that word. Those themes replay in delightful variety in the "Word Notes" scattered throughout the volume and addressing 240 words including adumbrate, clothes horse, effete, lurid, and pulvinate. These brief notes, often amusing, have been written by people whose living depends upon their ability to find the right word, among them Zadie Smith, David Foster Wallace, and Simon Winchester. "Word Banks" for categories such as bears, beers, dances, fabrics, insects, and teas list specifics within each type. Another special feature, "Word Spectrums" are "chains of near-synonyms intended to show the shades of meaning available from a word to its opposite." Under fat, for example, one travels the spectrum of meanings from fat and obese through shapely and well-proportioned on to cadaverous and thin.

Each word note, bank, and spectrum is a lagniappe beyond the utilitarian thesaurus proper. The volume's expected purpose is carried out through the typical usage notes, notes differentiating easily confused words, illustrations of words through use in sample sentences, notation of parts of speech, and differentiation among senses of a word. It sets itself apart from competitors by offering more synonyms than the Cambridge Thesaurus of American English (1994) and by offering more context for meanings than the Oxford American Thesaurus of Current English (1999).

Those who seek the right word in a thesaurus will do well to start here. Even if they don't find that elusive mot juste, they will be able to enjoy the vignettes by writers who seem to find words effortlessly. James Rettig
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"...the best new array of synonyms around."--William Safire, The New York Times Magazine
"To help today's writers in the "grail-quest" for the true word, the folks at Oxford have come up with a title that breathes fresh life into a genre very much in need of CPR. This work breaks away from the traditional format of simple lists of synonyms and antonyms by offering a number of ingenious and helpful features set within boxes in the text.... Bottom Line Although loaded with special features, this thesaurus doesn't undermine its more traditional duties. Under a generous 25,000 headwords, it lists 300,000 synonyms and 10,000 antonyms in usefully laid-out entries. Highly recommended."--Library Journal STARRED REVIEW!
"Anyone who writes for a living knows how valuable a good thesaurus can be in finding the exact words to express a variety of thoughts - and this book has more than 300,000 synonyms and 10,000 antonyms from which to choose. Arranged alphabetically, it includes example sentences and distinctions from the most commonly used words....The only drawback to this book is that a person looking up a word may continue reading for another 15 minutes or so just out of interest.
This is probably the best thesaurus yet."--Deseret News
"In the jargon of sportscasters The Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus is a triple threat: It's a freshly conceived guide to finding just the right word, it's published by the greatest name in English reference books, and it offers thoughtful, amusing and provocative mini-essays on 240 favorite words by nine distinguished contemporary writers.--Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize winning critic and longtime journalist for The Washington Post
"Oxford also scores high for its new The Oxford Writer's Thesaurus ($40), which employed the skills of several contributing editors. This guide is a tribute to the precisions of the English language, listing more than 300,000 synonyms and 10,000 antonyms. Of special interest are the interspersed notes of the editors, who expound on nuances and crotchetsThe only problem in consulting this book could be that the original purpose soon is lost while the reader becomes immersed in one fascinating passage after another." --Richmond Times Dispatch

---

Customer Reviews

Must Have Tool for Serious Writers
The Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus is an invaluable authority for writers! I have just completed my first book, and I would not be as proud of the finished work were it not for the help I received from this volume.Not only does it help in selecting the "perfect" word for a particular phrase or sentence,it provides tips and other valuable information on the word so that you will remember it if you need it again,but since there are so many words to express your creative ideas as a writer,it is unlikely that you will have to use the same word repeatedly.
I love this volume!I would not think of writing anything of substance without referring to it, now that I have found it.

Great
Super cool. Super useful. I just wish I had enough room left in my suitcase to take it back to the USA with me. I guess i'll have to buy another.

worth the buy
This thesaurus contains a plethora of useful synonyms.However it is not a replacement for a good unabridged dictionary.Inclusion of spelling aid would upgrade it to five stars category.