Synonyms and antonyms of Words used to describe changes in British Thesaurus

all/other things being equal ()

if things stay as expected, or if there are no special facts to consider

away (adverb)

used for showing that there is a change in people’s opinions or ways of doing things

beyond/out of (all) recognition ()

in a way that makes it impossible to recognize who someone is or what something is

the boot is on the other foot ()

used for saying that a situation has changed completely, so that the person who had the least power now has the most

by the minute ()

used for referring to something that is changing or developing very quickly

by turns ()

changing from one state, mood, or quality to another

cosmetic (adjective)

showing disapproval cosmetic changes only affect the appearance of something instead of its basic structure

developmental (adjective)

relating to the gradual change and improvement in something over a period of time

drastic (adjective)

a drastic action or change has a very big effect

evolutionary (adjective)

connected with a gradual process of change and development

from day to day ()

in a way that changes quickly or often

from hour to hour/place to place etc ()

used for showing that something changes every hour/is different in every place etc

from one day to the next ()

if something changes from one day to the next, it changes suddenly

from the sublime to the ridiculous (formal)

formal used when talking about a change from something extremely good or important to something silly and not important

gradual (adjective)

gradual processes and changes happen slowly and by small amounts

gradually (adverb)

slowly and in small stages or amounts

none the better/worse etc ()

no better/worse etc than before

on the turn ()

starting to change

quicksilver (adjective)

literary changing often in ways that you do not expect

radical (adjective)

a radical change or way of doing something is new and very different from the usual way

radically (adverb)

if something changes radically, it changes completely or in a way that is very noticeable

seismic (adjective)

causing a very great change in a situation

sharp (adjective)

a sharp change is sudden and very big

shifting (adjective)

shifting things such as standards or relationships are always changing

sweeping (adjective)

a sweeping change or development has a major effect

tectonic (adjective)

tectonic changes are very large and significant

that’s different ()

used when you are explaining that something changes a situation

unpredictable (adjective)

changing often, in a way that is impossible to prepare for

unpredictable (adjective)

used about a person or their behaviour