synonym disaster !!!

[leolyy]

I'm preparing for translation test (chinese-english translation). I find myself suffering the synonym disaster, I mean I have to, frequently, choose a better one from several confusing synonyms. For example:

restriction, constraint, restriction, limitation, limit, restraint, confinement

How should I make it more easy to quickly decide among those words? I think there must be some kind of dictionary specially designed for this work. Am I wrong? If there are, what are they?

Thanks,
cheng, a returning member with a new question

[bepina]

what you need is a good thesaurus, I use the one at Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary

[leolyy]

it helps, thanks, but what i expect is kind of a comparative analysis better with usage examples.

[bepina]

I know how difficult it is, some words are used in specific context only and although the native speaker will get your point some of the synonyms are just not the right words for saying something.. I google the words and expressions to see if I can find out which one to use.. it's not so helpful when it comes to learning for exams though..

[David L.]

leolyy:
I know! Even native speakers could use one at times.
Some of the books I've seen, of the kind "Use and Abuse of the English Language" and "Current English Usage" never seem to have the words you want.
What I would suggest is to PM Anglika and BobK. and ask, if they have the time, if they could look at your request and make any suggestion.
Copy the address of your post from the top of your browser and include it in your PM so it's easy for them to locate your thread.

NOTE: I am not encouraging mass PMing of members of this forum, whenever someone has a query. This query calls for specialized knowledge of available resources.

So don't!

[leolyy]

using google is really effective but not so efficient, you know, you have to search and compare all the time. i'm currently in this way, though.

[leolyy]

david l:
"This query calls for specialized knowledge of available resources." what do you mean?

actually, what i'm looking for is a perfect dictionary better of its online version. PMing guru members is an option for one time help, but i will if i have to.

[leolyy]

finally i find this: M-W Dictionary of Synonyms. i cant find any dictionary better yet. although my problem does not get very well solved with this dict.

[leolyy]

any better resource online or not? i know it is there waiting to be accessed.. but where is it?