Anonymous
Staff-room complaint boards, donor lists, and feedback forms all depend on this adjective: the protection of having no name attached.
Learn This WordMeaning
Written or given by an unknown person.
Memory trick
AN-ONYMOUS: AN (without) + onym (name), the same onym as in synonym.
Examples
An anonymous donor paid the fees.
The anonymous note on the staff-room board listed every broken fan by room number.
Anonymous feedback works only when people trust that names truly stay hidden.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Greek anonymos "without a name," from an- "without" + onyma "name." No name attached, no credit claimed.
Usage Notes
Covers people, gifts, notes, and sources: anonymity protects the giver or the critic. In journalism, anonymous sources need corroboration.
Real-life contexts
Use in news: "The tip came from an anonymous caller."
Use in college: "Drop suggestions in the anonymous box."
Use in tech: "He posts code reviews anonymously."
Common Mistakes
Anonymous describes the unknown giver, not the secret gift; say "an anonymous donor," not "an anonymous donation" in strict usage. Spell with -ymous, like synonymous.
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Part of Speech
adjective
Difficulty
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The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person; the capacity to place oneself in another's position.