Absolute — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈab-sə-ˌlüt/ ab·so·lute

Meaning & Definition of Absolute

Absolute (adjective)

  1. free from imperfection, perfect
  2. free or relatively free from mixture, pure
  3. outright, unmitigated

Absolute (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. exercising power or authority without interference by others

    "Russia's absolute monarchy effectively ceased to be when Czar Nicholas II promised to share power with a legislative body"

    similar: arbitrary, autocratic, czarist, despotic, dictatorial, monocratic, tyrannical, tyrannous
    related: authoritarian, jackbooted, oppressive, totalitarian, antidemocratic, antirepublican, high-handed, magisterial, domineering, imperious, masterful, all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent, autonomous, self-governing, self-ruling, sovereign, unconditional, unlimited
    opposite: limited
    near: circumscribed, restrained, restricted, constitutional, lawful, democratic, republican

  2. having no exceptions or restrictions

    "ironing is an absolute bore"

    "I want the absolute truth"

    similar: all-out, arrant, blank, blooming (chiefly British), bodacious (Southern & Midland), categorical, clean, complete, consummate, crashing, damn, damned, dead, deadly, definite, downright, dreadful, fair, flat, flat-out, out-and-out, outright, perfect, plumb, profound, pure, rank, regular, sheer, simple, stark, stone, straight-out, thorough, thoroughgoing, total, unadulterated, unalloyed, unconditional, unmitigated, unqualified, utter, very
    related: authentic, classic, genuine, real, veritable, constant, endless, eternal, perpetual, undying, unremitting, extreme, unrestricted, confirmed, habitual, hopeless, inveterate, extraordinary, frightful, horrible, huge, main, superlative, supreme, surpassing, terrible, terrific
    near: doubtful, dubious, equivocal, qualified, questionable, restricted, uncertain

  3. being entirely without fault or flaw

    "a formal living room decorated with absolute taste"

    similar: faultless, flawless, ideal, immaculate, impeccable, indefectible, irreproachable, letter-perfect, perfect, picture-book, picture-perfect, seamless, unblemished
    related: consummate, expert, masterly, classic, dandy, excellent, fabulous, fine, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, marvelous, prime, superb, superior, superlative, terrific, top, top-notch, unsurpassed, completed, finished, perfected, polished, complete, entire, intact, whole, mint, unbruised, undamaged, unimpaired, uninjured, unmarred, unspoiled, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special, airtight, bulletproof, accurate, correct, exact, precise, inerrant, infallible, unerring, unfailing
    opposite: amiss, bad, censurable, defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect, reproachable
    near: deficient, inadequate, incomplete, insufficient, wanting, unfinished, unpolished, fallible, blemished, blighted, broken, damaged, defaced, disfigured, impaired, injured, malformed, marred, misshapen, spoiled, vitiated, atrocious, execrable, wretched, imprecise, inaccurate, incorrect, inexact, wrong

  4. free from added matter

    "absolute alcohol"

    similar: fine, neat, plain, pure, purified, refined, straight, unadulterated, unalloyed, undiluted, unmixed
    related: clarified, filtered, clean, fresh, taintless, uncontaminated, uncorrupted, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, rendered, tried, concentrated, full-bodied, strong, uncombined
    opposite: adulterated, alloyed, diluted, impure, mixed
    near: befouled, besmirched, contaminated, corrupted, debased, defiled, fouled, polluted, soiled, spoiled, sullied, tainted, unclarified, amalgamated, blended, coalesced, combined, commingled, compounded, incorporated, intermingled, intermixed, merged, mingled, conjoined, fused, joined, linked, united, cheapened, doctored, watered-down

  5. serving to put an end to all debate or questioning

    "absolute proof of her innocence"

    similar: clear, conclusive, deciding, decisive, definitive, last
    related: determinate, determinative, dispositive, hands-down, inarguable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, irrefutable, unanswerable, undebatable, undeniable, undisputable, unquestionable, unchallenged, uncontested, undisputed, unambiguous, unequivocal, certain, definite, positive, sure, cogent, compelling, convincing, persuasive, telling
    opposite: inconclusive, indecisive, unclear
    near: debatable, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, moot, problematic, questionable, refutable, ambiguous, equivocal, controversial, debated, disputed

Related Entry: Space (noun)

Space is a different word from Absolute. The synonyms below are for space, not for absolute.

  1. an extent or area available for or used up by some activity or thing

    "how much space will you need for the art project?"

    similar: elbow room, place, room, way
    related: capacity, compass, range, scope, berth, clearance, freedom, latitude, leeway, play

  2. an indefinite but usually short period of time

    "in the space of a few minutes the room had filled up"

    similar: bit, spell, stretch, while
    related: lapse, season, span, day, epoch, era, beat, eyeblink, flash, heartbeat, instant, jiff, jiffy, minute, moment, nanosecond, New York minute, second, shake, split second, spurt, trice, twinkle, twinkling, wink, eon, age, eternity, infinity, perpetuity, interim, interlude, intermission, interval

  3. an incomplete or deficient area

    "the cancellation created a huge space in the dentist's schedule for that day"

    similar: gap, hiatus, hole, lacuna, void
    related: defectiveness, detriment, disability, failing, fault, impairment, weakness, deficiency, deficit, imperfection, inadequacy, inadequateness, incompleteness, insufficience, insufficiency, lack, need, shortcoming, shortfall, want
    near: completeness, fullness

  4. an allowable margin of freedom or variation

    "the children should be given some space to express themselves in their schoolwork"

    similar: latitude, leeway, slack, wiggle room
    related: license, rein, swing

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Absolute

The most common words with a similar meaning to Absolute:

Chiefly British: blooming
Southern & Midland: bodacious
arbitrary, autocratic, czarist, despotic, dictatorial, monocratic, tyrannical, tyrannous, all-out, arrant, blank, categorical, clean, complete, consummate, crashing, damn, damned, dead, deadly, definite, downright, dreadful, fair, flat, flat-out, out-and-out, outright, perfect, plumb, profound, pure, rank, regular, sheer, simple, stark, stone, straight-out, thorough

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Absolute

Words with the opposite meaning of Absolute:

limited, amiss, bad, censurable, defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect, reproachable, adulterated, alloyed, diluted, impure, mixed, inconclusive, indecisive, unclear

Related Words for Absolute

authoritarian, jackbooted, oppressive, totalitarian, antidemocratic, antirepublican, high-handed, magisterial, domineering, imperious, masterful, all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent, autonomous, self-governing, self-ruling, sovereign, unlimited, authentic, classic, genuine, real, veritable, constant, endless, eternal, perpetual, undying, unremitting

Near Antonyms of Absolute

circumscribed, restrained, restricted, constitutional, lawful, democratic, republican, doubtful, dubious, equivocal, qualified, questionable, uncertain, deficient, inadequate, incomplete, insufficient, wanting, unfinished, unpolished, fallible, blemished, blighted, broken, damaged, defaced, disfigured, impaired, injured, malformed

Word Forms of Absolute

Derived words: absolute (noun), absoluteness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Absolute

Middle English absolut, borrowed from Latin absolūtus, from past participle of absolvere "to set free, acquit, finish, complete" absolve

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Absolute

Words & Phrases Containing Absolute

absolute ceiling, absolute convergence, absolute humidity, absolute magnitude, absolute pitch, absolute space, absolute unit, absolute value, absolute zero

Frequently Asked Questions about Absolute

What does "Absolute" mean?

"Absolute" means free from imperfection, perfect. As an adjective, it is defined as: free from imperfection, perfect. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Absolute"?

Other words for "Absolute" include arbitrary, autocratic, czarist, despotic, dictatorial, monocratic, tyrannical and tyrannous. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Absolute" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Absolute"?

There are 210 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Absolute". Common alternatives include arbitrary, autocratic, czarist, despotic, dictatorial, monocratic, tyrannical, tyrannous, all-out and arrant.

What is the opposite of "Absolute"?

Antonyms of "Absolute" include limited, amiss, bad, censurable, defective, faulty, flawed and imperfect. Near antonyms include circumscribed, restrained, restricted and constitutional.

How do you use "Absolute" in a sentence?

Examples of "Absolute" in a sentence: "Russia's absolute monarchy effectively ceased to be when Czar Nicholas II promised to share power with a legislative body"; "ironing is an absolute bore"; "I want the absolute truth".

Is "Absolute" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Absolute" is an adjective.

Is "Absolute" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Absolute" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Absolute"?

"Absolute" is pronounced /ˈab-sə-ˌlüt/ and divided into syllables as ab·so·lute.