# Explanatory Thesaurus — words grouped by general ideas

> A thesaurus for distinguishing synonyms, with etymology and usage examples. (iPhone/iPad app by Thanh Nguyen.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explanatory-thesaurus/id1141622055 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Thanh Nguyen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1141425996)
- Category: Reference, Education
- Price: $2.99
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 11.0 · 106 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2016-09-05
- Data updated: 2026-08-19
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explanatory-thesaurus/id1141622055/reviews.md

## What is Explanatory Thesaurus?

The English language is peculiarly rich in synonyms. To write or speak to the best purpose, one should know in the first place all the words from which he may choose, and then the exact reason why in any case any particular word should be chosen.

This app will help you distinguish a word from its synonyms and analogous words and how to choose a correct word. Each entry contains explanation,  etymology and sample usage of a word and its synonym. Antonym and contrasted words are also included.

 THESAURUS
 
• Dictionary of discriminated synonyms
• 8000 entries with detailed explanation
• Spaced repetition flashcards
• 162 units

 GENERAL IDEAS
 
• 1034 ideas
• Words grouped by general ideas
• Spaced repetition flashcards
• 21 units

 ENGLISH SYNONYM ANTONYM
 
• 7500 synonyms with detailed explanation, 3700 antonyms
• Spaced repetition flashcards
• 13 units

 DISCRIMINATED SYNONYMS
 
• 568 entries with detailed explanation and uasges
• Spaced repetition flashcards
• 12 units

 BASIC FEATURES
 
• Bookmark
• Cross reference
• Translation
• Built-in dictionary
• Learn random entries
• Entries of the day

## Key features

- Dictionary of discriminated synonyms
- Words grouped by general ideas
- Spaced repetition flashcards
- Detailed explanations and etymology
- Sample usage and antonyms
- Bookmark and cross-reference functionality
- Built-in dictionary

## Recent user reviews (1 of 1)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explanatory-thesaurus/id1141622055/reviews.md

### 3/5 — Good start, some bugs though

*2017-02-04*

I've been looking for a Roget's concept thesaurus in the app store and this is the only one that comes close. I like the clean design. However, I noticed that "See also" word links don't work. Can you fix this please?

## Frequently asked questions about Explanatory Thesaurus

### What is the main purpose of Explanatory Thesaurus?

Explanatory Thesaurus helps users distinguish between synonyms, understand the exact reason for choosing a particular word, and improve their writing and speaking precision. It provides detailed explanations, etymology, and sample usage for each word and its synonyms.

### How many entries does Explanatory Thesaurus offer?

Explanatory Thesaurus features over 8000 entries with detailed explanations for discriminated synonyms, and includes 7500 synonyms with detailed explanations and 3700 antonyms. It also groups words by 1034 general ideas.

### Does Explanatory Thesaurus have ads?

No, Explanatory Thesaurus does not contain advertisements. It is a paid application with no ads, offering an uninterrupted user experience.

### What learning tools are included in Explanatory Thesaurus?

The app includes spaced repetition flashcards across various sections like discriminated synonyms, general ideas, and English synonym/antonym lists. It also offers a 'Learn random entries' feature and 'Entries of the day'.

### On which devices can I use Explanatory Thesaurus?

Explanatory Thesaurus is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed for Apple's iOS ecosystem.

### How often is Explanatory Thesaurus updated?

The latest version, 3.0, was released on April 29, 2023. While specific update frequency isn't detailed, the app has received updates since its initial release on September 5, 2016.

### What is the price of Explanatory Thesaurus?

Explanatory Thesaurus is a paid application priced at $2.99. There are no in-app purchases or subscription fees associated with its use.

### What age rating is Explanatory Thesaurus suitable for?

Explanatory Thesaurus has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users, including children and adults interested in language.

## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 3.0 — 2023-04-29

We have added more data in this version.

### 2 — 2019-12-08

Thank you for using our app. 
We improved the app's user interface in this version.

### 1.1 — 2016-08-23

Thank you for using our app! 
We fix some bug in this version.

### 1.0 — 2016-08-10

No release notes.

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## More apps by Thanh Nguyen

- [English Synonym Antonym](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/english-synonym-antonym/id1141425997)
- [English Synonym Discriminated](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/english-synonym-discriminated/id1153579213)
- [Word Origin Dictionary - a dictionary of etymology](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-origin-dictionary-a-dictionary-of-etymology/id1160627122)
- [Molecular Biology, Biomedicine](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/molecular-biology-biomedicine/id1161115257)
- [Oxford vocabulary 3000 - quiz, flashcard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oxford-vocabulary-3000-quiz-flashcard/id1163664895)

All apps by Thanh Nguyen: https://appshunter.io/developer/1141425996

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-19.*