Thesaurus Rex by Dictionary.com
By Stacy Zeiger,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Expand and explore vocab with pretty good word-finder.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this app.
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Thesaurus Rex by Dictionary.com
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What’s It About?
Just as with a regular thesaurus, kids look up a particular word with THESAURUS REX and receive a list of synonyms. Unlike with a regular thesaurus, however, the synonyms come organized by relevance. If seeing words sorted by relevance isn't enough, kids also can narrow their search results by word length and complexity. As kids skim the lists of words, they can see a short definition for each and hear an audio pronunciation. In-app purchases unlock additional features, allowing kids to use the app to find rhyming words and sort words by syllable count or see examples of words used in sentences. When they find words they like, they can save them for quick reference later.
Is It Any Good?
No matter what kids are writing, Thesaurus Rex can help kids improve their vocabulary. The app encourages kids to think beyond simply adding a few big words to their writing and encourages them to choose words that fit the overall tone and meaning of a story, essay, or sentence. The short definitions that accompany the words help kids quickly determine whether the synonyms will fit, as do the examples available through the Examples & Tips upgrade. It also one-ups the old-school thesaurus by providing modern expressions and slang words. It's not all that exciting design-wise, which may help kids focus on the words themselves, but some kids may want a bit more oomph.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about words. Why say "tabby" when "cat" will do? When is it important to find the perfect word?
Have kids focus on specific word choices when reading a favorite book aloud.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Subjects: Language & Reading: spelling, vocabulary, writing
- Skills: Communication: conveying messages effectively, speaking
- Release date: November 4, 2013
- Category: Reference
- Publisher: Dictionary.com, LLC
- Version: 1.1
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 5.0 or later
- Last updated: December 7, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Download
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate