English - Synonyms

Baffle means to perplex or confuse someone. When you're baffled, you're completely confused or unable to understand something. Perplex is the closest synonym meaning to confuse or bewilder.

Banter means playful or teasing conversation or remarks. It's light, good-humored joking between friends. Tease is the correct synonym as banter involves playful teasing rather than serious criticism.

Base can mean mean or low (adjective) when describing someone's character or behavior. Menial, referring to work that's low-skilled or undignified, captures this negative connotation of 'base' in the context of character or quality.

Befog means to confuse or obscure someone's understanding, like fog clouds vision. Confuse is the closest match among the options. Mist is related but befog is a verb (to confuse), while mist is a noun.

Behest typically means an authoritative request or command. Request captures this meaning well. You'll often see it in phrases like 'at his behest' meaning at his request.

Benign means gentle, kind, or harmless - the opposite of harmful or malignant. Gentle perfectly captures this mild, non-threatening quality. In medical contexts, it describes non-cancerous conditions.

Blandish means to coax or flatter someone to gain favor or get what you want. Coax captures this persuasive, sometimes manipulative intent. The other options are completely unrelated.

Blatant means completely open and unashamed, often describing something done openly without any attempt to hide it. Unashamed captures this quality of being flagrant and unconcealed. Foolish, unpleasant, or rude are related concepts but don't capture the core meaning.

Bother means to trouble, worry, or inconvenience someone. Trouble captures this meaning well. Buddy is unrelated, and while bother can involve attacking or preventing someone, those aren't the core meaning.

Bestial means beast-like, savage, or cruel in behavior. Cruel captures this inhumane quality. Excellent is unrelated, defame means to slander, and redundant means repetitive.

Baulk (or Balk) means to hesitate or stop short, especially when faced with something unpleasant or unexpected. Hesitate captures this momentary stopping or unwillingness to proceed. The other options are unrelated to this meaning.

Bizarre means strange, odd, or unusual in a striking way. Strange is the most direct synonym. Beautiful, hot, and cruel are completely unrelated to the core meaning.

Brief means short or concise, using few words. Concise captures this quality perfectly. Long is the opposite, and surplus/redundant are unrelated to brevity.

Brisk means quick, active, or energetic in movement or manner. Quick captures this sense of speed and energy. Slow is the opposite, uninterested is unrelated, and stride is a noun referring to a way of walking.

Banish means to send someone away, especially as punishment or exile. Dismiss is the closest match among the options, as it can mean to send someone away or remove them. Ban refers to prohibiting something, not sending a person away.

A brochure is a printed informational booklet or leaflet, often used for advertising or promotional purposes. A pamphlet serves the same function - a small, unbound publication that conveys information. The other options (branch, fabric, order) are unrelated to the concept of a brochure.

To brood means to think deeply about something that makes one unhappy, or to worry persistently. It can also mean to dwell on a subject moodily or anxiously. The other options (tolerate, brush, think over) don't capture the emotional weight and persistent worry that brooding implies.

Bounty can refer to generosity or liberality in giving, such as a generous gift or reward. It can also mean abundance or a reward. In this context, 'generosity' is the closest synonym as bounty often refers to something given generously. The other options (spoil, punishment, many) are not synonymous.

Brouhaha refers to a noisy and overexcited reaction or commotion, typically surrounding something public like a media event or controversy. 'Commotion' accurately captures this sense of noisy disturbance and confusion. The other options (laughter, mockery, smile) are too mild or specific - brouhaha implies chaotic noise and fuss.

Brash means self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way. It describes someone who is bold and pushy without regard for others. 'Impudent' correctly captures this sense of rudely bold or disrespectful behavior. The other options (polite, rubbish, intelligent) are opposite or unrelated to brash.

Brutal means savagely cruel, harsh, or severe - showing no mercy or pity. 'Merciless' is an accurate synonym as it describes exactly this quality of being without mercy or compassion. The other options (meek, sensitive, inimical) are opposite or only partially related - meek and sensitive are the opposite of brutal.

When someone says he is suffering from a "bout" of flu, this means he is suffering from an attack of the flu virus.

Earmarked means designated or set aside for a specific purpose or use. When money or resources are earmarked, they are reserved for a particular use. 'To set aside' perfectly captures this meaning. The other options (to mark, to pin the ear, special purpose) are either too literal, incorrect, or noun phrases rather than verb phrases.

Blend means to mix or combine different elements together so they become unified. 'Mingle' is a close synonym as it means to mix or combine, often used for people or social interactions. While 'stir' is related to mixing, it's more mechanical. 'Stain' and 'harm' are completely unrelated.

Boon means something that is helpful or beneficial, a blessing or advantage. It refers to something good that happens to someone. 'Blessing' is the perfect synonym as both words describe something beneficial and fortunate. The other options (harm, suffering, curse) are antonyms - the opposite of boon.