Helpful Links for Better Word Choice

Over the past few years, I’ve been putting together a collection of websites that help me out with writing.

The websites range from ways to describe characters, to finding the word on the tip of my tongue, to choosing the best weather for a scene. They’re mostly lists and collections that other bloggers have put together, but some are more complex and have really saved my writing in the past.

This time around, I’m sharing the collection of websites I’ve found that help out with word choice and/or finding the word you’re looking for. I’ll make more of these lists in the future for easy reference.

If you know of any great websites I missed that have to do with word choice or finding the right word, let me know! I’ll definitely check them out and see about adding them to the list!

I will be updating this post as I find more websites, by the way.

Websites that Help You With Word Choice

• Tip of My Tongue: I like to call this beautiful site “Saving Grace.” You know how you’ll be writing, and you’ll suddenly stop because there’s this perfect word you want to use, but you just can’t think of it? This site is the answer to your troubles! Just type in the meaning of the word, the letters in it, whatever you know about it, and it’ll give you words that match your search. Hopefully, one of the words will be the one you’re looking for. Bonus: I bet it’d be a huge help with word puzzles, too!
• OneLook Reverse Dictionary: Like the first site on this list, this site helps you figure out that word you can’t remember. All you have to do is type in the definition, and it’ll give you the word! Come on, you know you’ve always needed a reverse dictionary. Think about all the types you’ve known the definition of a word, but not the actual word.
• Words to use instead of SAID: Sweet gummy bears, this is one amazing site. Every time I start writing something lengthy, I pull this bad boy up and check it every once in a while, either when I can’t think of the word I want to use, I can’t think of a word that properly describes what I want to portray, or I just plain want a more interesting word. It’s a life-saver, let me tell you. Though I guess all of these are a bit of life-savers… Oh, you know what I mean!
  • Said is Dead: Though not as extensive as the prior list, this is a nice visual aid that organizes the basic words that you can use instead of “said.” It’s a nice organized chart, especially if you don’t know what many of the words on the other list mean.
• Prepositions: This link takes you to the same website as the last link, but a different page on the site. This page is just a complete list of prepositions. I don’t use it too much, but it’s nice to have on hand. It comes in handy every once in a while.
• 101 Words to Use Instead of “Amazing”: Also known as all the words to use instead of “good.” It’s a very fun and complete list. I’m sure you could come up with even more words, but 101 words is a pretty good start.
• 60 Synonyms for “Walk”: Don’t say “she walked” or “he ran.” Say “she strutted” or “he sprinted” or “they lumbered.” Be creative! And if you’re having trouble pinpointing the word you want, here’s a list to help out!
• Thesaurus.com: Live it. Love it. Thesaurus.com. (And dictionary.com too, if you need it!)
  • Synonym Finder: Just in case the Thesaurus isn’t enough, here’s a site that will give you a bunch of synonyms (among other things) and can spout out a graph/chart of them! It’s pretty neat and super helpful.
  • synonyms for the most commonly used words of the english language: This includes the synonyms for “said,” “amazing,” and “walk.” However, these lists aren’t as extensive as the other lists I have linked in this post.
• Rhyme Zone: If you’re a rhyming poet, then you need this website. I use it all. The. Time. Seriously, it’s beautiful.
• Edit: Thinkmap Visual Thesaurus: Okay, this one’s a bit slow, but so so cool. First off, you can click “random word” (located just below the search bar) and learn a random new word, and immediately see what words it’s similar to. Second, when you search a word, it becomes an easy, visual way to connect a word to its synonyms. If you’re a visual learner, this could be very helpful.