This river sometimes overflows after the thaw.
Source: tatoeba (58120)
Thaw
/θɔː/
Synonyms for "thaw" (92 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (19)
Strong matches (27)
Related words (46)
Noun(13 words)
melted water samplerapprochementrapprochementsreconciliationrelaxsoftensoftening of relationsthawingunfreezeunfreezingwarmwarmingwarming spell
Adjective(2 words)
seasonal thawunfrozen
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: melt, melting, approachment, bend, colliquate.
- Sentence evidence is available for thaw, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "thaw".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "thaw"
Keep "thaw" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "thaw" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "thaw", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "thaw" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
22 entriesatmospheric conditionattitude changeconditionsdiplomacyfluxfood preparationheatinginternational relationsliquefyliquifylooseningphase changephase transitionphysical changerelaxationseasonal change
Showing 16 of 22 words.
More specific
12 entriescooperationdefrostingdiplomatic thawfriendlinessfrozen fruitfrozen meatfrozen vegetablesice blockmeat thawopennesspolitical thawspring thaw
Collocations
11 entriesdefrost meatdefrost vegetablesearly spring thawmelt icespring thawthaw in temperaturesthaw outthaw periodthawing processunfreeze waterwarming spell
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesTranslations
23 translations across 16 languages.
Catalan
1 entries- desgel noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
Czech
1 entries- obleva noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
Dutch
1 entries- dooi noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
Esperanto
1 entries- degelo noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
Finnish
3 entries- suoja noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
- suojailma noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
- suojasää noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
French
1 entries- dégel noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
Galician
2 entries- delazo noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
- dexelo noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
Georgian
1 entries- დათბობა noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
German
1 entries- Tauwetter noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
Icelandic
3 entries- bloti noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
- hláka noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
- þíða noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
Italian
1 entries- disgelo noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
Lithuanian
1 entries- atodrėkis noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
Polish
2 entries- ocieplenie noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
- odwilż noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
Russian
1 entries- о́ттепель noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
Swedish
2 entries- tö noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
- töväder noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
Ukrainian
1 entries- відли́га noun (warmer weather that melts ice and snow)
Sample sentences
18 total sentences available.
The hoarfrost has not begun to thaw yet.
Source: tatoeba (274305)
The snow has started to thaw out.
Source: tatoeba (1196593)
It might freeze, it might thaw.
Source: tatoeba (2221153)
Showing 4 of 18 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "thaw"?
Closest matches include melt, melting, approachment, bend, colliquate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "thaw"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.