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| A misanthrope is someone who hates people in general. |
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| means "not capable of being appeased, significantly changed, or mitigated |
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| “to deceive or trick someone.” |
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is a leading champion of a cause, or a trusted military leader (as for a medieval prince).
// The keynote speaker is regarded as a paladin of environmental justice.
// The prince summoned the paladin and commended him for his actions in battle. |
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refers to a field of coarse, granular snow, but when used narrowly it means “the partially compacted granular snow that forms the surface part of the upper end of a glacier.”
// After years of compaction, the constant pressure eventually transforms névé into glacial ice. |
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a formal word used to describe something that is difficult to understand or something that is not known by many people.
// Despite the A’s she'd been consistently earning, she was nervous that microbiology was too recondite a subject for her to master as she had the others.
// The candy has the perfect balance of sweet and tart, but what delights me most are the recondite facts printed inside the wrapper. |
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formal word that is most often used to refer to a person's facial expression, or to the face generally, especially as an indication of mood, emotion, or character.
// Her cheerful countenance quickly put the lost visitors at ease.
// I was struck by the professor's kind and curious bespectacled countenance. |
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describes something that has a delicious taste or smell, but it can also mean “richly luxurious or appealing to the senses,” “excessively ornate,” or “sexually attractive.”
// Their famous chocolate cake is served with a luscious peppermint whipped cream topping.
// Her deep, luscious alto made her the perfect choice to play the part of Sally Bowles, chanteuse of the Kit Kat Club in Cabaret.
// The author’s vivid, luscious prose won’t win over Carver or Hemingway die-hards, but fans of lovingly rendered (if a bit florid) description will eat it up |
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speech or writing that is meant to sound important or impressive but that is not sincere or meaningful.
// The other world leaders at the international conference had little interest in being subjected to the host president's bombast. |
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(and its less common variant teleologic) is a philosophical term meaning "exhibiting or relating to purpose or design especially in nature."
// Their teleological theory on the origin of human beings was heavily challenged. |
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a person who pretends to know or be something in order to deceive people.
// Some people thought he was a great leader, but others saw him as just a charlatan. |
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a formal word used to describe people or things that are markedly simple and restrained in appearance, manner, or attitude. Its original meaning, still in use, is “practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline,” as in “an ascetic monk.”
// On her first visit to Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes, she immediately fell in love with their ascetic, windswept beauty.
// His choice to lead such an ascetic lifestyle was at first in defiance of the conspicuous consumption of modern society, but it had the added benefit of bringing him great inner peace. |
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a problem that is difficult, confusing, or intricate. Conundrum can also refer to a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun.
// Ideally, students in an ethics class will really wrestle with moral conundrums.
// Her answer to the conundrum "why didn't the lost hikers starve in the desert?" was "because of the sand which is there." |
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“to collect or gather something” or “to get or receive something wanted or valued.”
// The researchers garnered more evidence to support their theory.
// The author’s novel has garnered much praise and several awards. |
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“happening by chance.” It can also mean “having or showing good luck.”
// It was rather fortuitous that the two sisters both decided to surprise their parents with a visit on the same weekend.
// Thank goodness you’re here; you could not have arrived at a more fortuitous time. |
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a person who is exceptionally smart or talented. Genius also refers to great natural ability, or to a part of something that makes it unusually good or valuable.
// She's a genius at riddles.
// The sheer genius of their theory was not immediately recognized.
// He's widely admired for his comedic genius. |
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“to give control, responsibility, or authority to someone; to trust someone with a job or duty.” It can also mean “to choose someone to do something.”
// Our supervisor delegated management of the office to another senior colleague while she was on vacation.
// Good leaders know how to delegate. |
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"having or showing mature qualities at an unusually early age." It can also mean "exceptionally early in development or occurrence."
// A precocious musician, he's been performing concerts since the age of seven.
// She was a precocious child who could read before she started school. |
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“of or relating to the past or something that happened in the past.”
// Though mostly pleased with her final grades at the end of the semester, she undertook a retrospective analysis of her work from the previous months. |
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a formal word that means “to take up and support as a cause.” It can also mean “to marry someone.”
// The new theory has been espoused by many leading physicists. |
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"to persuade someone to do something or to give you something by making promises or saying nice things." It can also mean "to deceive with soothing words or false promises."
// She cajoled her partner into going to the party with her.
// They hoped to cajole him into cooperating. |
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used to describe a happy and successful time in the past that is remembered as being better than today. It can also mean “calm, peaceful” or “prosperous, affluent.”
// She’s relieved to be retired, but looks back fondly on the halcyon years of her career. |
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"having many twists and turns" or "winding." It can also mean "marked by devious or indirect tactics" or "complicated, long, and confusing."
// They took a tortuous mountain road marked by numerous hairpin turns.
// He delivered a tortuous explanation when questioned by press.
// The contract's tortuous language made it a maddening read. |
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“to form ideas or theories about something usually when there are many things not known about it.” In contexts relating to business or finance, it means “to invest money in ways that could produce a large profit but that also involve a lot of risk.”
// Scientists speculate that the newly discovered exoplanet could contain liquid water.
// Their research explores the implications of so many people speculating on the stock market in the years leading up to the Great Depression. |
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to describe something that is damaging or harmful, usually in a subtle or unexpected way.
// While the popular lawn care product is effective at eliminating weeds, it unfortunately is also deleterious to the wider environment. |
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a piece of clothing or equipment that is used in a particular place or for a particular activity. In military contexts, accoutrement refers specifically to a soldier's outfit. The word can also refer to an identifying and often superficial characteristic or device. Accoutrement in any of its uses is often pluralized.
// The little closet was cluttered with belts and scarves and other accoutrements of use to a fashion-conscious teenager. |
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means “to deny or disagree with something,” or “to show or say that (something) is not true.”
// Although the defendant initially denied involvement in the incident, there was no gainsaying the evidence that the prosecutor presented at the trial. |
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“unable to be avoided, changed, or resisted.” Often followed by such words as fate and conclusion, it is a synonym of inevitable.
// Even the tallest mountains will one day be reduced to sand by the Earth’s slow yet ineluctable geologic forces. |
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can refer to the state of something that is not remembered, used, or thought about any more, or to the state of being unconscious or unaware. It also sometimes refers to the state of being destroyed.
// Like so many pagers of the 1990s, landline phones seem to be headed for oblivion.
// After being awake for three days straight, he longed for the oblivion of sleep.
// The sandcastles of summer had long since been swept into oblivion by the ocean waves. |
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"generally believed, supposed, or assumed to be (something)." It is always used before a noun.
// The putative reason for their dismissal was poor job performance.
// Critics challenged his putative allegiance to the cause. |
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literally to refer to an area of soft, wet ground, especially a marsh or swamp. It is also often used figuratively to mean “a complicated or unpleasant situation that is difficult to get out of or to move through.”
// I’m often late getting to work when mud season turns my dirt road into an all but impassable morass.
// Social media can make it difficult to discern the truth of something amid the morass of misinformation. |
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a formal word that means “to move or be shaped like waves.”
// Onlookers were mesmerized by the beautiful rows of lavender undulating across the field. |
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a formal word meaning "relating to or involving trust (such as the trust between a customer and a professional)."
// The bank's fiduciary obligations are clearly stated in the contract. |
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a person’s close friend or buddy.
// They are longtime compadres who have been through a lot together. |
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can be used as a synonym for endow (“to provide with something freely or naturally”) and can also mean “to permeate or influence” in a way that suggests colored dye permeating cloth fabric.
// The children were imbued with a passion for nature by their parents, both biologists |
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refers to confident or brave talk or behavior that is intended to impress other people.
// Her stories of her exploits during the “olden days” are always told with enough bravado to invite some suspicion that they’re embellished a bit.
// The crew of free soloists scaled the mountain with admirable bravado |
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a formal word that is used to describe someone acting in a quick and efficient way, or something done in such a manner.
// Known for their expeditious service, the restaurant staff had the family’s order ready in less than no time. |
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“to deliberately damage or destroy public or private property.”
// The impulse of many graffiti artists is not to vandalize infrastructure but to beautify city environments that are often monotone and nondescript. |
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to describe someone who tends to cry often, or something that tends to cause people to cry.
// Her newest screenplay is a lachrymose drama exploring the effects of loss late in life.
// The more lachrymose mourners at the funeral required a steady supply of tissues. |
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“someone or something that gives a feeling of comfort to a person who is experiencing grief, sadness, or anxiety.”
// Her presence was a great solace to me during my time of need.
// We took solace in the knowledge that our ordeal would be over soon. |
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renounce or relinquish a position of usually sovereign power. It can also mean “to cast off; discard.”
// The king was forced to abdicate after long-standing controversy.
// She abdicated her position in response to the allegations.
// There can be serious repercussions when someone abdicates their responsibilities. |
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a formal word that means “swiftness of motion or action.”
// When the developers’ intentions became clear, the community came together with celerity to preserve the town’s beloved wetlands for future generations |
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“able to be seen or noticed.”
// There was a perceptible change in the audience's mood during the scary parts of the otherwise-comedic movie. |
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a literary term synonymous with twilight and dusk, the darker part of twilight. It's used most commonly in the noun phrase the gloaming.
// Across the field, fireflies twinkled in the gloaming. |
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When used figuratively, sandbag usually means “to hit or stun as if with a sandbag,” “to criticize or treat unfairly” or “to hide one’s true abilities or purpose in order to deceive people, gain an advantage, etc.”
// She felt sandbagged by some of the feedback in the writing workshop, but resolved to take what was useful and ignore the rest.
// He claimed he was playing badly because of an injury, but I think he was sandbagging us |
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refers to the essence of a thing—that is, whatever makes something the type of thing that it is. Quiddity can also refer to a small and usually trivial complaint or criticism, or to a quirk or eccentricity in someone's behavior.
// The novelist’s genius was her unparalleled ability to capture the quiddity of the Maine seacoast in simple prose.
// He portrayed the character's quirks and quiddities with tender playfulness. |
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"to use soft words or flattery," usually for the purpose of persuading someone to do something or to give you something. It is often used disapprovingly, and is frequently followed by the word into, as in "wheedle one's way into favor."
// The sales clerk tried to wheedle us into spending more money than we wanted.
// We managed to wheedle the juicy details about her date out of her. |
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“the creation or use of words that imitate sounds.” It can also refer to the words themselves.
// The poem “Cynthia in the Snow” by Gwendolyn Brooks is famous for its beautiful onomatopoeia, capturing in vivid language snow’s many and distinct aural effects. |
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"to provide what is needed for something or someone to exist or continue; to nourish." It can also mean "to hold up the weight of," "to suffer or endure," or "to confirm or prove." In legal contexts, to sustain something is to decide or state that it is proper, legal, or fair.
// Hope sustained us during that difficult time.
// The shed roof collapsed, unable to sustain the weight of all the snow.
// The athlete sustained serious injuries during last week's game. |
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a formal word often used as a synonym of juvenile to describe things (such as behaviors, attitudes, etc.) that are immature, childish, or simplistic. It can also mean "uninteresting" or "boring."
// Her rude and jejune remarks about the painting were entirely unbefitting someone of her stature in the art world.
// The movie adaptation employed surreal visual effects to tell the story, making the plot, jejune in the novel, archetypal rather than artless. |
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also known as a horn of plenty, is a curved, hollow goat’s horn or similarly shaped receptacle (such as a horn-shaped basket) that is overflowing, especially with fruit and vegetables. The image of a cornucopia is commonly used as decoration and as a symbol of abundance, but the word cornucopia is today more often encountered in its metaphorical use referring to an overflowing abundance, or to a seemingly inexhaustible amount of something.
// The zoo’s new aviary is a veritable cornucopia of color and sound, with scores of different bird species swooping and squawking through the canopy |
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“of, relating to, or resembling a lion.”
// She spent hours in the bathroom trying to detangle her leonine tresses |
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a formal word that means "unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger or opposition"; it is a synonym of both rashness and recklessness. Temerity can also refer to a rash or reckless act.
// The line between boldness and temerity is sometimes only evident after the consequences have become clear.
// The previous night's temerity had landed the students in detention |
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“to destroy completely,” and is often—though not exclusively—used in reference to plant and animal populations. It can also be used to mean “to pull up by the root” and “to cut out by surgery.”
// Despite the years-long effort to extirpate it from the landscape, purple loosestrife continues to thrive in the town’s wetlands.
// The district attorney is vowing to extirpate political corruption from City Hall if she is elected mayor. |
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“in a confused and hurried way” or “in mingled confusion or disorder.”
// On Black Friday, some shoppers rush pell-mell into stores to find their favorite items at a discounted price. |
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a ridiculous act, proceeding, or situation. Farce can also refer to a light dramatic work marked by satirical comedy and improbable plot, or the broad humor characteristic of such. The word can also refer to a savory stuffing.
// "The company's guarantee is a farce," she complained. "The replacement they sent broke even more quickly than the original."
// The award-winning actor has a talent for farce. |
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Something described as nugatory is of little or no consequence. Nugatory is also used especially in legal contexts to describe something without operative legal effect.
// Most of the criticism of the film in the weeks since its release has been nugatory nonsense.
// The law was unenforced and thus rendered nugatory. |
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A hummock is a small round hill or mound.
// He stood in awe, admiring the thick forest, and beyond that, the grassy hummocks he had traversed to reach the top of the mountain. |
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To augur is to show or suggest, especially from omens, that something might happen in the future. Used most often in formal speech or writing, augur is often followed by an adverb (such as well).
// The downturn augurs badly for the success of the business.
// This bad news could augur disaster for all of us. |
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a formal word that means “having or showing a generous and kind nature.”
// She was too magnanimous to resent the unkind words of those grousing about her winning the spelling bee. |
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refers to a place or situation that forces someone or something to change. Most commonly found in formal and literary writing, it can also mean “a difficult test or challenge.” Its original meaning, still in use, is “a pot in which metals or other substances are heated to a very high temperature or melted.”
// Her rock-solid songwriting skills were forged in the crucible of the Nashville music scene.
// After years of intense daily archery training, she is ready to face the crucible of the Olympics. |
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"to excite or stupefy by or as if by alcohol or drugs." It can also mean "to poison."
// The little bit of beer they drank was not enough to intoxicate them.
// The stunning spectacle of this Las Vegas show is sure to intoxicate spectators. |
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“brave, strong, and determined.”
// The family sent gifts to the doughty firefighters for saving their cat. |
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used to describe something—usually the style of one’s writing or speech—that is elegant and precise in a way that suggests similar qualities associated with inscriptions in stone monuments. It also has the less figurative meaning, “of, relating to, or suggestive of precious stones or the art of cutting them.”
// In a single, lapidary couplet, the poet exquisitely captured the bittersweet mood of autumn |
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Bilious has several meanings, including "angry or bad-tempered" and "sickeningly unpleasant to look at." Its earliest use describes things that are "of or relating to bile."
// The actor has come under fire for his bilious commentary.
// The new homeowners immediately painted over the bilious color scheme. |
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“to show or express the main idea or quality of (something) in a brief way.”
// Her first album encapsulates the sound of the 90s. |
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Serendipity is luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for.
// We found the restaurant by pure serendipity, rather than careful research, but it turned out to be the best deal in town. |
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“having or showing a lack of awareness about the proper way to behave.” When describing a person or a behavior, gauche can mean “socially awkward” or “tactless”; when describing an object (such as a product with a vulgar image or slogan on it) it can mean “crudely made or done.”
// Some people view giving cash in lieu of a wrapped present to be terribly gauche, but I like knowing that my friends and family will be able to pick out something they truly want. |
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“a feeling or attitude of wild or complete freedom,” and is often used synonymously with enthusiasm and exuberance. It also appears in the phrase with reckless abandon to describe something done without fear or concern for consequences.
// In an act of reckless abandon, she quit her job and moved to Tahiti. |
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The word rapscallion refers to someone who causes trouble, often in a mischievous way. It is a synonym of rascal and ne’er-do-well.
// With his shaggy, perpetually unkempt hair and his charmingly crooked smile, the actor seems to have been born to play scamps and rapscallions. |
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“to criticize severely.” Its older, less common meaning is “to beat with or as if with a short heavy club.”
// The singer’s awards show performance was fustigated by several prominent media outlets.
// Although they're sitting atop the standings now, the team went through a rough patch of getting absolutely fustigated by their division rivals. |
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"of a grayish greenish yellow color," and often suggests sickliness.
// She returned from her sick leave still looking a bit sallow. |
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| means “to make (something) dirty.” It can also mean “to take away or ruin the purity, honor, or goodness of (something or someone important).” |
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means “elegant or graceful in manner, appearance, or shape.” It can also mean “marked by false delicacy, prudery, or affectation,” or be used as a somewhat old-fashioned synonym of aristocratic.
// His husband always argues his opinions with the most genteel politeness.
// They conspicuously switched to a genteel accent whenever in professional settings.
// She was born into a genteel family in the Hamptons. |
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a formal word that means “the power of choosing or determining.” Usually, though not always, volition follows own, as in “left the company of her own volition.”
// Every choice I made was of my own volition and not subject to outside influence. |
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often used in negative constructions, such as “can't abide,” to say that someone cannot tolerate or accept something. Abide can also mean “to accept without objection” and “to remain or continue.”
// I just can't abide such blatant dishonesty.
// Residents of the dorm agree to abide by the dorm's rules. |
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means "excessively sweet or sentimental.”
// She finds most romantic comedies cloying and predictable. |
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a formal word that means “one who takes part in dialogue or conversation.”
// It is crucial in our age of e-mail scams to verify the validity of one’s online interlocutors before sharing sensitive information. |
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refers to language that describes something as much better or worse than it really is.
// The customer’s letter of complaint included a number of outrageous claims and was generally full of hyperbole.
// The children were disappointed to learn that while the ice cream cones were very large, describing them as “foot-high” was pure hyperbole. |
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means “marked by excitement, disorder, or anxiety-driven activity.” It is synonymous with frenzied and frantic, both of which are also related etymologically to frenetic.
// The celebration was noisy and frenetic, lasting into the wee hours of morning. |
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used to refer to various rhythmic or repeated motions, activities, or patterns of sound, or to a falling inflection of the voice.
// Stephanie relaxed at the beach, listening to the cadence of the surf.
// The files are updated at a regular cadence.
// The drill sergeant counted cadence. |
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means “to change something significantly and often with humorous or jarring effect.”
// If all goes as planned, the school's gym will be transmogrified into a spooky gallery of Halloween delights. |
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means “marked by propriety and good taste; correct.” A person or thing that is decorous conforms to an approved or conventional standard.
// Before making her daily announcements, the principal mentioned how proud she was of the students' decorous conduct at the recent school dance. |
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| Make someone feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried especially with trivial matters: the memory of the conversation still vexed him; the most fixing question for policymakers |
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| Having or encouraging and excessive interest in sexual matters, especially for sexual activity of others: she’d been the subject of much prurient curiosity |
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The expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic affect: “don’t go overboard with the gratitude,“ he rejoined with heavy irony.
The state of affairs or an event it seems deliberately contrary to what one expect and he’s often wryly amusing as a result: the irony is that I thought he could help me . One of life’s little ironies. |
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| Of a person, speech, or style of writing. Using very few words: his laconic reply suggested a lack of interest in the topic. |
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| The presence of something in only small or insufficient quantities or amount: a paucity of information. |
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| Polite submission and respect: he addressed her with a deference due to age. |
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| A feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen: the men set off in fear and trepidation. |
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| Courteous, kind, and pleasant, especially towards someone of lower social status: a gracious hostess. Greig was gracious in defeat |
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| Hesitate or to be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking: he baulked at such a drastic solution |
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| Unable to take effective action; helpless or powerless: he was seized with an impotent anger |
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| Public shame or disgrace: the ignominy of being imprisoned |
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| deprive of physical or emotional feeling: a hoarse shout cut through his benumbed senses |
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| complaining in a rather petulant or whining manner: she became querulous and demanding |
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| calmness and composure, especially in a difficult situation: she accepted both the good and the bad with equanimity |
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| The action of giving birth to young; child birth: the weeks following parturition |
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| unable to be affected by: he worked, apparently impervious to the heat |
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| To take or claim something for oneself without justification: they arrogate to themselves the ability to divide the nation is true interests |
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extremely unpleasant: he has a vile temper/vile smells
Morally bad; wicked: as vile a rogue has ever lived |
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| impossible to understand or interpret: guy looked blankly inscrutable |
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too extreme to bear; intolerable: the heat would be insufferable by July
– having or showing unbearable arrogance or conceit: an insufferable bully |
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| two great or awful to describe: moments of an a terrible grief/I felt and unutterable grief |
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Showing a lack of respect for God or religion: the emperors impious attacks on the church
– (of a person or act) wicked: impious villains |
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| lacking sense or meaning; silly: don’t badger people with inane questions |
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| Express disapproval of: what I deprecate is persistent indulgence/he sniffed in a deprecating way |
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| have an angry or son and look on one’s face; scowl: she glowered at him suspiciously/his fathers glowering face |
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| impossible to subdue or defeat: a woman of indomitable spirit |
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| (Especially of a man) charming, confident, and elegant: all the waiters were suave and deferential |
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| The faculty or power of using ones will: without conscious volition she backed into her office. |
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| The reluctant acceptance of something without protest: in silent acquiescence, she rose to her feet. |
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| transform into something more beautiful or elevated: the world is made luminous and his transfigured. |
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| special honour or respect shown publicly: many villages came here to pay homage to the virgin. |
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pitifully sad an abandoned or lonely: forlorn figures at bus stops.
Two. Unlikely to succeed or be fulfilled: a forlorn attempt to escape |
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| The thing regarded as to an important or easy to be worth much consideration: dealing with these boats was a mere bagatelle for the worlds oldest yacht club. |
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used to refer to a large group of loud people who could become violent (that is, a mob), or, usually in the phrase the rabble, to refer to the great mass of regular people as contrasted with the elite. In the latter use, the word is typically applied in a humorous or exaggerated way to suggest the attitudes of the powerful and wealthy.
// An angry rabble rushed the stage when the band cut their performance short.
// The magazine’s apparent aim is to induce envy with peeks into the beautiful homes of celebrities who live far away from the rabble. |
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used to describe someone or something as being "like an uncle," especially "kind or friendly like an uncle."
// The shopkeeper was known for his avuncular charm, always handing out free treats to the neighborhood children. |
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is a fast speech—often one that has been rehearsed or given before—that is usually intended to get someone to buy something or to agree to something.
// We let the salesman give us his opening spiel, but when he got to the high-pressure sales tactics, we cut him short and made it clear that we were not interested. |
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a formal word meaning “to present (something) for acceptance.”
// Several recommendations were proffered by the finance board on how to reduce the city’s debt without making drastic cuts in department budgets. |
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means "very large in size or amount."
// Bigfoot is said to be a creature of gargantuan proportions. |
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usually used with for to mean “to make amends; to provide or serve as reparation or compensation.”
// James tried to atone for the wrongdoings of his youth by devoting his life to helping others. |
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a formal word that means “a responsibility, obligation, or burden.” It can also be used in some contexts as a synonym for blame or stigma. It is usually preceded by the word the.
// Management has made it clear that the onus is on employees to ask for further training if they don’t understand the new procedures. |
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“showing or having very little strength, energy, or activity.” It is generally used in formal and literary contexts.
// The trial proceeded at a languid pace as each attorney called up a whole roster of witnesses to testify. |
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to decorate its surface, usually with a name, slogan, or picture.
// Her favorite souvenir from her trip to the Grand Canyon was a t-shirt emblazoned with a rosy sunset over the famous chasm. |
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a formal word that means “to try to persuade people to join a religion, cause, or group.”
// Eliza is a staunch environmentalist who always feels the need to proselytize to anyone who doesn't drive an electric or hybrid car. |
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used to describe things that are fancy or stylish in ways that one might consider impressive or showy.
// She preferred the simplicity (and affordability) of a rustic cabin to the superfluities of a ritzy resort. |
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means “to make fruitful or productive” or “to bear fruit or profit.”
// Her parents are in a comfortable financial position, thanks to some investments that have recently begun to fructify. |
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Something described as sporadic occurs occasionally, irregularly, or randomly across time or space.
// The team’s regular meetings became sporadic over the summer months, when at some points up to half of its members were on vacation. |
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A caucus is “a meeting of members of a political party for the purpose of choosing candidates for an election.” It also refers to “a group of people who meet to discuss a particular issue or to work together for a shared, usually political goal.”
// Members of the caucus debated long and hard to come to a unified position on the issue. |
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Anthropomorphic means “described or thought of as being like human beings in appearance, behavior, etc.”
// The story chronicles the adventures of a group of anthropomorphic forest critters. |
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Misnomer means “an incorrect name or designation.” It can also be used to refer to the act of wrongly naming or designating, as in “calling complicated and varied climatic changes ‘global warming’ is something of a misnomer.”
// Peanut is one of the most famous misnomers, because peanuts are legumes, not true nuts. |
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Defer means “to choose to do (something) at a later time.”
// She deferred her master’s program for a year so that she could travel the world. |
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Perspicacious is a formal word that means “possessing acute mental vision or discernment.” Someone who is perspicacious has a keen ability to notice and understand things that are difficult or not obvious.
// She considers herself a perspicacious judge of character. |
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Verdigris is a green or bluish deposit, usually of copper carbonates, that forms on copper, brass, or bronze surfaces.
// We removed the verdigris from Grandma’s old copper jewelry by first soaking it in lemon juice, then gently polishing it with a soft rag. |
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Haywire means “being out of order or having gone wrong” or “emotionally or mentally upset or out of control.” It is often used in the phrase “go haywire.”
// The company's emailing system went haywire and sent out multiple copies of the advertisement to its subscribers. |
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Exponent refers to “someone who supports a particular cause or belief” as well as “someone who is known for a particular method or style.”
// He was a leading exponent of animal rights. |
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Someone described as laconic uses few words in speech or writing. The word often also implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious.
// Her bubbly and loquacious personality was a humorous yet complementary contrast to her girlfriend's more laconic demeanor. |
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Coalesce means “to come together to form one group or mass” or “to join forces.”
// The club's community service projects provide students with a common goal to coalesce around.
// The ice masses coalesced into a glacier over time. |
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Rancid means “having an unpleasant smell or taste,” and is often used to describe food that is no longer fresh. It is also used to describe something (such as an encounter) that is offensive or distasteful.
// A quick sniff is typically all that's needed to determine if vegetable oil is rancid. |
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The word broadside most often refers to a very strong and harsh spoken or written attack, but it has other meanings as well, among them “an attack by a ship in which all the guns on one side of the ship are fired together.”
// Although the freshman representative knew her decision was bound to be unpopular, she was taken aback by the broadside leveled at her by her hometown newspaper’s editorial page. |
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Titivate means "to make (someone or something) neater or more attractive," and is a synonym of spruce up.
// Her morning routine includes a few minutes spent titivating in front of the mirror |
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Invective means "insulting or abusive language." It can also refer to an abusive expression or speech.
// Her opening campaign speech was, to the shock of everyone present, filled with invective that contrasted sharply with the expectations of those in attendance. |
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Substantive means “important, real, or meaningful.” It can also be used to describe something, such as an argument, that is supported by facts or logic.
// My friendship with my pen pal was one of the most substantive of my childhood, despite the thousands of miles between us. |
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Obliterate most often means “to remove from existence; to destroy utterly all trace, indication, or significance of.”
// The tide eventually obliterated all evidence of our sandcastles. |
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A facsimile is an exact copy of something. The word is also used to refer to a system of transmitting and reproducing graphic matter, such as printed text or photos.
// The forged painting was an impressive facsimile of the original. |
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Mawkish means “exaggeratedly or childishly emotional,” and is often used to describe works of art, music, or literature that a critic finds cloying.
// Although Olivia was embarrassed by the mawkish poetry that filled her old high school diaries, she couldn’t bring herself to throw them away. |
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Conciliate is a formal word applied in situations in which anger or disagreement presents a need for resolution. It can mean "to make compatible; to reconcile," "to appease or win over," or "to become or try to become friendly or agreeable."
// The company's attempts to conciliate the workers without meeting their core demands has not been a successful strategy. |
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Today, when we say that someone has panache, we are saying that they have energy, spirit, and style. Originally, the word referred to an ornamental tuft or plume of feathers, and especially one affixed to a helmet.
// Ever the showman, he not only caught the ball, he made a diving catch and caught it with panache. |
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Assiduous is a formal word that means “showing great care, attention, and effort.”
// Thanks to the assiduous efforts of the local land trust over many years, a substantial amount of whip-poor-will habitat is now protected from economic development. |
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Demeanor refers to a person's behavior toward other people. It is usually used in the singular.
// The teacher’s quiet demeanor had a calming effect on the children. |
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To adjure is to urge or advise earnestly, or to solemnly command someone as if they are under oath or the penalty of a curse.
// The church has strong ties to the community and has long adjured its congregants to devote time to the aid of those less fortunate than themselves. |
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Grandiose is most often used disapprovingly to describe something that seems impressive or is intended to be impressive, but is either not possible or practical.
// The committee eventually scaled back the most outlandish parts of its plans for the festival, including a grandiose scheme to bring in live peacocks for the event. |
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To acquiesce is to accept, agree, or allow something to happen by staying silent or by not arguing. The word is somewhat formal, and is often used with in or to.
// Eventually, the professor acquiesced to the students' request to have the seminar's final class be a potluck lunch. |
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Fraught means “causing or having a lot of emotional stress or worry.” When fraught is used in the phrase “fraught with,” it means “full of something bad or unwanted.”
// Ever since their cat went missing, the atmosphere in their apartment has been fraught.
// The paper was poorly researched and fraught with errors. |
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Portend is usually used in formal and literary contexts as a verb meaning “to give a sign or warning that something is going to happen.” The “something” in question is often, though not always, considered bad or unpleasant.
// Many superstitious people believe that breaking a mirror portends trouble.
// The old saying about a halo around the moon portending rain has some truth to it: the halo is caused by cirrus clouds drifting 20,000 feet or more above the Earth, and high cirrus clouds often precede stormy weather. |
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Savant is a formal word that refers to a learned person, especially someone with detailed knowledge about a particular subject. The word is also used to refer to a person affected with a developmental disorder who exhibits exceptional skill or brilliance in a particular subject or field.
// His sister is a computer savant, so he knows he can call her whenever he has technical issues. |
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Rubric is a somewhat formal word that is most often used to mean “an established rule, tradition, or custom” or “something under which a thing is classed.” In the latter use it is a synonym of category.
// Despite their widely divergent tones and levels of age appropriateness, Friday the 13th, Gremlins, and Frankenweenie all fall under the general rubric of horror movies. |
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Doctrinaire is a formal word that means “stubbornly or excessively devoted to a doctrine or theory without regard to practical considerations.” It is often used disapprovingly to describe a person who has very strong beliefs about what should be done and who will not change those beliefs or accept other people's opinions.
// They were pleased by the shift in leadership, as their old mayor was extremely doctrinaire. |
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Wangle means “to get (something) by trickery or persuasion.” It can also mean “to adjust or manipulate for personal or fraudulent ends.”
// He managed to wangle his way into the party.
// They wangled me into pleading guilty. |
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Marginalia is a plural noun that refers to notes or other marks written in the margins of a text, and to nonessential matters or items.
// The students loved flipping through their literature textbooks to find the marginalia left behind by former students.
// She found the book's treatment of not only the major events but also the marginalia of Scandinavian history fascinating. |
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Umbrage is a formal word that usually refers to a feeling of being offended by what someone has said or done. It is often used in the phrase "take umbrage."
// It can be difficult to converse with someone who is ready to take umbrage at the most innocent remarks. |
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To brandish is to shake or wave something, such as a weapon, in a menacing manner. In figurative use, it is to exhibit something, such as one's intellect, ostentatiously or aggressively.
// Michael appeared before the town council brandishing a petition signed by 500 people asking the town to increase funding for the public skate park. |
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Effulgence means "radiant splendor" or "brilliance."
// The state capitol's golden dome shone with brilliant effulgence in the late afternoon light. |
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Jaunty means "lively in manner or appearance."
// The server whistled a jaunty tune as she wiped the tables and set out fresh flowers in preparation for the day's diners. |
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Devolve means "to gradually go from an advanced state to a less advanced state," or "to pass something, such as responsibility or power, from one person or group to another person or group at a lower level of authority."
// Over time, the weekly book club meetings devolved into mean-spirited gossip sessions. |
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Sensibility refers to an awareness of and responsiveness toward something, such as another person's emotions. It can also refer to the ability to feel and understand emotions, or to acuteness of feeling.
// She was hired as the organization's graphic designer thanks to her creative sensibilities. |
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Vociferous describes people who express their feelings or opinions loudly and forcefully, as well as things, such as objections, that are expressed in such a way.
// The question of where to build the new parking garage downtown was the subject of vociferous debate.
// In her long political life, the senator was always a vociferous opponent of environmental pollution of all kinds. |
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Abrogate is a formal word that means "to fail to do what is required by something, such as a responsibility," or "to end or cancel something in a formal and official way."
// Citizens voted to abrogate the antiquated law.
// The company's directors are accused of abrogating their responsibilities. |
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Ersatz describes a usually artificial and inferior substitute or imitation.
// Her snootier peers never forgave her for attending the gala in an ersatz mink coat. |
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A foray is an initial and often tentative attempt to do something in a new or different area of activity, as in “the novelist’s foray into nonfiction.” In martial contexts, foray means “a sudden or irregular invasion or attack for war or spoils.”
// The professional wrestler’s surprise foray into ballet was at first met with skepticism, but he eventually proved himself a dancer of grace and poise. |
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Nurture is most often used to mean “to help someone or something grow, develop, or succeed.” It can also mean “to take care of someone or something that is growing or developing by providing food, protection, a place to live, etc.,” or “to hold something, such as an idea or strong feeling, in your mind for a long time.”
Nurture can also be used somewhat formally as a noun referring to the care and attention given to someone or something that is growing or developing.
// Art teachers nurture their students’ creativity.
// She nurtured a secret ambition to be a singer. |
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Definition
In general contexts, hiatus usually refers to a period of time when something, such as an activity or program, is suspended. In biology, hiatus refers to a gap or passage in an anatomical part or organ, and in linguistics, it denotes the occurrence of two vowel sounds without pause or intervening consonantal sound.
// The band has been on hiatus for three years, but is returning to live performance this summer. |
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Tantamount means “equivalent in value, significance, or effect.” It is sometimes confused with paramount, which does not describe something that is equivalent, but instead means “superior to all others.”
// Although I had not witnessed the mischief that resulted in rolls of paper towels tumbling out of the cabinet door, the giggles coming from the youngest child of the house were tantamount to a confession. |
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Onerous means "involving, imposing, or constituting a burden." It typically describes something that is difficult and unpleasant to do or deal with.
// They were assigned the onerous task of post-show cleanup.
// The government imposed onerous taxes on imports. |
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Prerogative means “right or privilege,” and especially refers to a special right or privilege that some people have.
// If you'd rather sell the tickets than use them, that's your prerogative. |
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Definition
Cleave means “to divide by or as if by a cutting blow” and “to separate into distinct parts and especially into groups having divergent views.”
// Having lived in the backcountry for years, she always makes sure to season her firewood so it will cleave easily under her ax. |
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Impromptu means “made, done, or formed on or as if on the spur of the moment” or “composed or uttered without previous preparation.”
// When we got word of Caitlin's good news, we threw an impromptu party to celebrate.
// He made an impromptu speech about honor and responsibility. |
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An anachronism is an error in which something in a movie, story, etc., is placed in a time where it does not belong. Anachronism can also refer to a person or a thing that seems to belong to the past and to not fit in the present.
// A number of the film's critics complained about the multiple anachronisms in the historical drama.
// He's an old-fashioned politician who is seen by many of his colleagues as an anachronism. |
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Magniloquent describes language that is intended to sound very impressive and important, or a person who uses such language.
// The magniloquent sportscaster sometimes got so carried away with his monologues that he would forget to describe the action on the field. |
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Besotted means “loving someone or something so much that you cannot think clearly.”
// He was so besotted with his classmate that he began to make errors in his work. |
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A despot is a ruler who has total power and who often uses that power in cruel and unfair ways. Despot can also be used somewhat formally to refer to a person who simply has a lot of power over other people.
// Last semester, one of the history instructors taught a course about the ancient world's most infamous despots.
// He was a successful basketball coach, but many people regarded him as a petty despot. |
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Eleemosynary means "of, relating to, or supported by charity."
// She used her inheritance to establish and fund several eleemosynary institutions |
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| Forestall prevent or abstract (And anticipated event or action) but taking advance action: they will present the resignations to forestall a vote of no confidence |
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| Assiduous showing great care and perseverance: she was assiduous in pointing out every feature. |
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| Propitiate win or again the favour of (a card, spirit, or person) but doing something that pleases them: the pagan thought it was important to put propitiate the cards with sacrifices |
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Someone or something described as vapid is lacking in liveliness, force, or spirit. As such, vapid is often synonymous with dull or boring
// Finn preferred to watch the game in silence, with the TV on mute, rather than listen to the vapid chatter of the play-by-play announcer |
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| Chagrin Annoyance or distress and having failed or been humiliated: to my chagrin he was nowhere to be seen |
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Definition
| Inhuman lacking human qualities of compassion and mercy; cruel and barbaric: the inhuman treatment meted out to political prisoners |
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| Incontinent lacking self restraint; uncontrolled: the incontinent hysteria of the massed pop fans. |
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| Ravening (Of a ferocious wild animal) extremely hungry and hunting for prey: they turned on each other like ravening wolves. |
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| Sardonic Grimley mocking more cynical: Starkey attempted a sardonic smile |
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Definition
| Harangue lecture someone at length in an aggressive and critical manner: he harangued the public on their ignorance |
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Definition
| Desultory Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm: a few people were left, dancing in a desultory fashion |
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Definition
| Evanescent soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing: the evanescent Arctic summer. |
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Definition
| Fecund producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; highly fertile: A lush and fecund |
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Definition
| Exult show or feel triumphant elation or tubulation: exulting in her escape, Lisa close the door behind her |
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| Furtive attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive: they spent a furtive day together | he stole a furtive glance at her. |
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Definition
| Recusant A person who refused to submit to an authority or to comply with the regulation |
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Definition
| Untrammelled not deprived of freedom or action or expression; not restricted or hampered: a mind untrammelled by convention |
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Definition
| Disconsolate very unhappy and unable to be comforted: she left Fritz looking disconsolate. |
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| Blithe showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper: a Blyth disregard for the rules of the road |
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Definition
| Ostensibly as appears or re-stated to be true, they are not necessarily so; apparently: the party secretary resigned, ostensibly from ill-health |
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| Exemplar A person or thing serving as a typical example or appropriate model: the place is an exemplar of multicultural Britain |
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Definition
| Posit put forward as fact or as a basis for argument: the Confucian view posits a perfectible human nature |
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Definition
Flay Strip (the skin) “or carcass: she fly in the white skin from the flesh.
Whip or beat (someone) so harshly as to remove their skin: he flied them viciously with the branch
Criticise severely and brutally: your flight the government for not moving fast enough on economic reform |
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Definition
| Thwart prevent (someone) from accomplishing something: he never did anything to thought his father | he was thwarted in his desire to punish uncle Fred |
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Definition
| Plaintive sounding sad and mournful: a plaintive cry |
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Desolation a state of complete emptiness of destruction: The stony desolation of the desert
Great and happiness or loneliness: in choked desolation , she watched him leave |
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Term
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Definition
Cache store away in hiding or for future use.
"he decided that they must cache their weapons" |
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Definition
| Abstracted lacking concentration of what is happening around one: she seemed abstracted and unaware of her surroundings | an abstracted smile |
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Definition
| Goad Provoke or a noise (someone) so as to stimulate an action or reaction: he was trying to goad her into a fight |
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Term
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Definition
| Antithesis A person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else: Love is the antithesis of selfishness |
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Definition
Epitome means “a typical or ideal example,” and is a synonym of embodiment.
// The cabin we rented was the epitome of country charm: wide pine floors, simple sturdy furniture, and clean linen curtains billowing in the breeze of the open windows. |
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Definition
Unabashed is a synonym of both undisguised and unapologetic. It usually describes someone who is not embarrassed or ashamed about openly expressing strong feelings or opinions, or such a person's emotion or behavior.
// Despite his reputation as the strong, silent type, the lumberjack squealed with unabashed glee at the first sight of his baby niece |
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Definition
Charisma means "a special magnetic charm or appeal." A person with charisma is captivating and often admired.
// The young singer had the kind of charisma that turns a performer into a star. |
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Term
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Definition
Charisma means "a special magnetic charm or appeal." A person with charisma is captivating and often admired.
// The young singer had the kind of charisma that turns a performer into a star. |
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Term
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Definition
Immutable means "not capable of or susceptible to change."
// It is hardly an immutable fact that cats and dogs are sworn enemies; over the years our golden retriever has grown both fond and protective of her tabby housemate. |
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Term
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Definition
Wreak means "to bring about or cause (something that is harmful or damaging)." It is often used in the phrase "wreak havoc."
// The trip involved crossing several time zones, which wreaked havoc on my sleep routine for a few days. |
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Term
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Definition
Litany refers to a usually lengthy recitation or enumeration of something, such as a set of complaints, names, or questions. It can also be used to refer to a sizeable series or set, which may or may not be spoken aloud, as when a drug has "a litany of possible side effects."
// Among the television critic’s litany of complaints about the new series is the anachronistic costume design. |
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Term
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Definition
Dilatory means "tending or intended to cause delay." It can also mean "tending to procrastinate or be late."
// The councilor's seemingly endless motions to adjourn were clearly dilatory.
// She tends to be dilatory in answering letters. |
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Term
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Definition
Shard refers to "a small piece or part" of something, and is often used as a synonym of scrap.
// A single shard of sunlight pierced the dense forest canopy, illuminating the entrance to the ancient ruin. |
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Term
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Definition
Carceral means "of, relating to, or suggesting a jail or prison."
// The room was eerily quiet and had a carceral aesthetic.
// Her article stressed the importance of rehabilitative measures in carceral institutions, such as career preparation and mental health support |
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Term
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Definition
Melancholia refers to a feeling of sadness or depression. It is also used to refer to a sad tone or quality that one perceives in something, such as a work of art or literature.
// He confessed to a bit of melancholia after the final performance—although he was proud of the successful Broadway run, he would miss his fellow cast members dearly. |
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Definition
Alleviate means "to make something less painful, difficult, or severe" or "to partially remove or correct."
// Mom's suggestions for ways to alleviate some of my cold symptoms included her special tea and plenty of sleep.
// The new tunnel should alleviate traffic on the bridge. |
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Definition
Trivial means “of little worth or importance.”
// Although her parents dismissed her love of pop music as trivial, she relied on the inspirational messages of many songs to help her through difficult times. |
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Term
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Definition
A riposte is a clever retort or retaliatory measure. In fencing, it refers specifically to a quick return thrust immediately following a successful defensive action.
// She's known for having a brilliant riposte to nearly any insult |
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Definition
Crepuscular means "of, relating to, or resembling twilight." It is also used in zoological contexts to describe creatures that are active during twilight, or to the activities of such creatures.
// As evening came on, fireflies began to appear in the crepuscular gloaming. |
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Eminently is used as a synonym of very and means “to a high degree.”
// All three outfielders are eminently capable of making an All-Star-caliber catch to help their team |
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To adjudicate a dispute between parties is to make an official decision about which party is right. Adjudicate is also used to mean "to act as judge."
// The case will be adjudicated in the state courts.
// The property title cannot be transferred until a case concerning the affected rights of way is adjudicated. |
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Brackish is typically used to mean “somewhat salty,” and most often describes water or bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, and estuaries.
// The mangrove swamp is home to many species of plants and animals that thrive in brackish water. |
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A patina is a usually green film that forms on copper and bronze that is exposed to moist air for an extended time. The word can also refer to a shiny or dark surface that over time forms naturally on something (such as wood or leather), or to a literal or figurative thin layer.
// The town erected a statue in her honor, which over the years developed a seafoam green patina.
// Although the winery is brand-new, it has been constructed and decorated to give it a patina of old-world quaintness. |
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Nebulous is often used as a synonym of indistinct or vague, but can also be used to refer to something that is related to or that resembles a nebula.
// Daniel’s description of the film was so nebulous that I’m still not quite sure what it is about. |
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Ineffable is used to describe something that is indescribable or unspeakable and that cannot be expressed in words. It is also used for things which are taboo and are not to be uttered.
// Ed felt an ineffable joy at the sight of his daughter walking toward him from the plane. |
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Brouhaha is a synonym of both uproar and hubbub, and can mean "a noisy confusion of sound" or "state of commotion."
// A brouhaha erupted over the bill, even though the opposing party stood to gain just as much from its passage. |
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Ostentatious means "attracting or seeking to attract attention, admiration, or envy." Things that are ostentatious tend to stand out as overly elaborate or conspicuous.
// His ostentatious displays of knowledge were often less than charming. |
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Apropos means "with regard to." It is frequently used in the phrase "apropos of."
// Sean interrupted our conversation about politics and, apropos of nothing, asked who we thought would win the basketball game. |
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Luddite refers to someone who is opposed to change, and especially to technological change.
// Call me a Luddite, but I enjoy the sense of privacy that comes with not owning a smartphone. |
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To extradite someone who has been accused of a crime is to send that person to the state or country that has jurisdiction to try them for that crime.
// The U.S. has rejected the country's request to extradite the journalist because of concerns that she will be subjected to an unfair trial there.
// An alleged criminal is typically only extradited under the provisions of a treaty or statute, but a fugitive is occasionally surrendered by one state or country to another as an act of good will. |
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Pathos refers to some element of an experience or of an artistic representation that evokes compassion or pity. The word also refers to a feeling of sympathetic pity.
// Our knowledge of the hero's tragic end adds an element of pathos to the story of his early success. |
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Conscientious often describes those who are concerned with doing things correctly. It can be used as a synonym for both meticulous and careful.
// Although Marvin was brilliant, he was not a very conscientious student, and he frequently lost points for forgetting to turn in his homework. |
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To muse about something is to think about it carefully and thoroughly. The word can also mean "to become absorbed in thought," or "to think or say something in a thoughtful way."
// The conversation meandered, as the cousins mused about what had changed and what had remained the same since the last family reunion. |
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Iconoclast originally referred to someone who destroys religious images or who opposes their veneration. It is now used to refer broadly to anyone who attacks widely accepted beliefs or institutions.
// The comedian had developed a reputation as a contrarian and an iconoclast for whom no topic was off-limits. |
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Waggish means “resembling or characteristic of a wag”—a wag being a clever person who is prone to joking—and is also a synonym of humorous.
// With a wink and a waggish grin she emptied the sugar bowl and refilled it with salt. |
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An emolument refers to money, gifts, or perquisites that someone receives due to their job or position.
// Jenna has contributed countless volunteer hours to the organization and continues to refuse any emolument for her work. |
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Sanction means both "to give effective or authoritative approval or consent to" and "to impose a penalty or economically or militarily coercive measures."
// Because he was using equipment that was not sanctioned by league officials, Jared was disqualified from the competition. |
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Finicky means “very particular in tastes or standards.”
// The young boy was a finicky eater, and his parents found it challenging to come up with ideas for healthy meals that he would enjoy. |
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A nuance is a subtle distinction, variation, or quality in something, such as tone, color, meaning, etc.
// Her highly trained palate is able to detect nuances in fine wine that even most oenophiles cannot. |
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Akimbo means "having the hand on the hip and the elbow turned outward." It is also used in the broader sense of "set in a bent position."
// The model, arms akimbo, struck a pose at the end of the runway. |
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To validate something means to “recognize, establish, or illustrate” its worthiness or legitimacy.
// He validated his daughter’s safety concerns by covering her head to toe with protective padding for her bicycle riding lessons |
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A saga is a long and complicated story or series of events. Saga first referred to ancient Icelandic narratives that tell of legendary figures and events of the heroic age of Norway and Iceland.
// What was supposed to be an easy return from the airport turned into quite a saga. |
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Eccentric usually describes people and things that deviate from conventional or accepted usage or behavior, especially in odd or whimsical ways. It is also used technically to mean "deviating from a circular path" and "located elsewhere than at the geometric center."
// Down the road from us lives an eccentric old man who claims that he can communicate with the birds that roost in his yard.
// The dwarf planet Pluto has a particularly eccentric orbit. |
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To carp means “to complain in an annoying way,” and often suggests that such complaining is habitual.
// He carps too much about the umpire’s bad calls when he should be focused on improving his swing |
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Gibbous is most often used to describe a moon or planet that is seen with more than half, but not all, of the apparent disk illuminated.
// The lake's calm surface glistened under the light of the waxing gibbous moon. |
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A behemoth is something of monstrous size, power, or appearance. Behemoth (usually capitalized) is also the name of a mighty animal described in the biblical book of Job.
// The town will be voting on whether or not to let the retail behemoth build a store on the proposed site |
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To postulate means to assume or claim something (such as an idea or theory) as true especially for the purposes of starting a discussion.
// The famous science-fiction author often postulates in interviews that we live in but one of an infinite number of parallel universes. |
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Inscrutable means "not readily investigated, interpreted, or understood." It often describes what is mysterious or difficult to comprehend.
// The famously reclusive author remains an inscrutable figure even after the publication of some of her personal correspondence. |
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Recidivism is relapse into criminal behavior, or more broadly, a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior.
// The county's new program has been very successful in reducing recidivism rates. |
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A cantankerous person is often angry and annoyed. Cantankerous also means “difficult or irritating to deal with.”
// Several sportswriters cited the coach’s cantankerous personality as a reason for the team’s poor performance and lack of motivation. |
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To teem with something is to be full of that thing, or to have much of that thing inside.
// The river teems with fish.
// The students' minds were teeming with ideas. |
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Apposite is used to describe what is very appropriate, or what is suitable for an occasion or situation. It is a synonym of apt.
// Before sending the final draft of his novel to his editor, Lyle searched for an apposite quotation that could serve as the book's epigraph. |
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To debunk something, such as a story, theory, or idea, is to show or expose the falseness of it.
// The article thoroughly debunks the notion that life exists on Mars. |
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Scintillate means "to dazzle or impress with liveliness or wit."
// Her hilarious and topical standup routine absolutely scintillated; the audience brought her back for two encores. |
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Duress, which is typically used with under, refers to force or threats meant to make someone do something. It is used especially of unlawful constraint.
// The defense asserts that the defendant's confession was made under duress. |
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Fulsome can be a positive term, as when it's used to mean "abundant, copious," or "full and well developed," but it has negative meanings too, such as "overdone" and "excessively flattering."
// The photographs celebrate the island's fulsome biodiversity.
// While most of the speeches expressed sincere appreciation for the outgoing CEO's leadership, some were dense with fulsome and cringeworthy accolades. |
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Jingoism is excessive patriotism or nationalism, especially when marked by a belligerent foreign policy.
// When the war began many people were caught up in a wave of jingoism. |
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Culminate usually means “to reach the highest or a climactic or decisive point,” or "to reach the end or final result of something."
// The festivities will culminate with a spectacular display of fireworks.
// The partnership between the two songwriters culminated at last in a chart-topping single. |
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The word noisome describes what is very unpleasant or disgusting, and is used especially of disgusting smells.
// A noisome stench came from the narrow alley. |
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A confidant is someone to whom secrets are entrusted, and especially a very close friend.
// She told only her closest confidant where she had buried the money.
// The longtime confidant of the disgraced mayor was also brought in for questioning. |
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Ingenuous is most commonly used to describe someone who shows innocent or childlike simplicity and candidness.
// The ingenuous enthusiasm shown by several of the older campers was contagious, and soon everyone was excited about the project. |
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To quibble is to argue or complain about small, unimportant things. The word can also mean "to evade the point of an argument by making trivial or frivolous objections."
// If I may quibble for a moment with your description of the uniforms: they are navy blue, not royal blue.
// The siblings often quibbled over whose turn it was to sit in the front seat of the car. |
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Prescience is the ability to see or anticipate what will or might happen in the future.
// Stacy had the prescience to know that the stock’s value wasn’t going to remain high forever, and she managed to sell it just before it started to decrease. |
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Garrulous can mean "chatty" or "excessively talkative" when describing a person (or even a bird that calls or sings rapidly and constantly), or it can mean "wordy" when referring to a piece of language itself, such as a letter or speech.
// Annie’s garrulous and outgoing nature is a stark contrast to her brother’s more retiring demeanor.
// His garrulous, rapid-fire presentation hyping the new feature was exciting at first, but soon became repetitive and tiresome. |
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Emancipation is the act of freeing someone from the restraint, control, or power of another. It is especially used for the act of freeing someone from slavery.
// Jomo Kenyatta played a key role in the emancipation of Kenya from European rule in the 1960s and became the first president of the newly independent nation. |
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As a synonym of aromatic, the word redolent can describe something that has a noticeable smell without specifying the scent, but more often it is accompanied by of or with and means “full of a specified fragrance,” as in “redolent with smoke.”
// No matter what time of year he visited, his grandmother’s house was always redolent of cloves and other warm spices. |
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Oblige is usually used to mean “to do a favor for someone,” or “to do something as a favor, or as though it is a favor.” In more technical use, it means “to force or require someone to do something.”
// They needed help organizing the event, and I was happy to oblige.
// The law obliges the government to make this information public. |
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Adulation means extreme or excessive admiration or flattery.
// The movie star basked in the adulation of her many fans as she walked down the red carpet. |
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A credulous person is ready to believe things based on slight or uncertain evidence. A credulous thing, such as a report or statement, likewise shows that same readiness to believe.
// Margo smiled as she watched her credulous siblings listening with rapt attention to their aunt’s tall tales. |
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