Term
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Definition
a departure, usually of large numbers of people
syn- flight, escape, migration, emigration, hegira
ant-arrival, influx, immigration |
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Term
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Definition
foreign; charmingly unfamiliar or strikingly unusual
syn- alien, striking, extraordinary ant-native, indigenous, endemic, commonplace, familiar, ordinary |
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Term
| expedient (adjective and noun) |
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Definition
advantageous to one's interest or purpose; an emergency course of action, a means to an end
syn- convenient, opportune, timely, practical; device, scheme, design, stratagem, maneuver, stopgap
ant- disadvantageous, unserviceable, unsuitable |
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Term
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Definition
to use to the greatest possible advantage, often selfishly; a brilliant or heroic deed
syn- capitalize on, feat, heroics, coup, tour de force, derring-do
/related phrases: cash in on, make the most of, take advantage of |
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Term
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Definition
to explain in detail
syn- clarify, elucidate, explicate, delineate
ant- summarize, abstract, synopsize
related phrases: air one's views, in a nutshell, a thumbnail sketch |
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Term
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Definition
to assemble or construct from separate parts; to make up with the intention of deceiving
syn- produce, devise, manufacture, concoct, contrive, come up with, cook up
related phrases: a trumped-up charge, coin an excuse, make up out of whole cloth |
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Term
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Definition
not meant seriously; playful or humorous
syn- waggish, whimsical, joking, comic, frivolous, droll
ant- serious, grave, solemn, sober, earnest, humorless
related phrases: a tongue-in-cheek remark, joshing, kidding, for real |
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Term
| facsimile (noun and adjective) |
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Definition
an exact copy; reproduced exactly
syn- replica, reproduction, duplicate
related phrases: a carbon copy, a chip off the old block, a mirror image |
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Term
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Definition
faulty reasoning, an error in logic; a false or mistaken notion
syn- mistake, flaw,fault, defect, solecism |
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Term
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Definition
a unit of length roughly equal to six feet and used primarily; to get to the bottom of, to understand
syn- sound, plumb, probe, delve, penetrate, ferret out, root out, divine, grasp, comprehend |
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Term
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Definition
unconsciously foolish, stupid, or absurd
syn- inane, vacuous, vapid, nonsensical, laughable, silly, ridiculous, ludicrous, wacky, goofy ant- sensible, intelligent, perceptive, acute, incisive |
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Term
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Definition
possible, both doable and workable syn- practicable, practical, usable, realistic
ant- impossible, unworkable, impracticable, impractical related phrases: within the realm of possibility, out of the question |
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Term
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Definition
to pretend or give a false appearance of
syn- fake, sham, simulate
related phrases: sail under false colors, pass oneself off as, pose as, a wolf in sheep's clothing, a humbug, an ignis fatuus; the real McCoy |
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Term
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Definition
agreeably suited to the purpose or occasion; aptly or gracefully expressed
syn- appopriate, suitable, fitting, apropos, apposite, apt, graceful, agreeable, seemly, becoming, well chosen, well put
ant- graceless, unseemly, unbecoming, unsuitable, awkward, inept
related phrases: to the point, on target, ad rem; qide of the mark |
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Term
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Definition
an object believed among primitive peoples to have magical powers; an object of unreasonably excessive attention or reverence
syn- charm, amulet, talisman, fixation, obsession, preoccupation, compulsion
related phrases: an idee fixe, a hang-up, get a complex about; a monomaniac, a sacred cow |
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