Word |
Definitioni |
Example Sentence |
Abate |
v. to become less active, less intense, or less in amount |
As I began my speech, my feelings of nervousness quickly abated. |
Abstract |
adj. existing purely in the mind; not representing actual reality |
Julie had trouble understanding the appeal of the abstract painting. |
Abysmal |
adj. extremely bad |
I got an abysmal grade on my research paper! |
Accordingly |
adv. in accordance with |
All students must behave accordingly. |
Acquisition |
n. the act of gaining a skill or possession of something |
Language acquisition is easier for kids than it is for adults. |
Adapt |
v. to make suit a new purpose |
The United States has adapted many foreign foods to better suit the tastes of Americans. |
v. to accommodate oneself to a new condition, setting, or situation |
Dogs are known for their ability to quickly adapt to their environments. |
|
Adept |
adj. having knowledge or skill (usu. in a particular area) |
Beth loves playing the piano, but she’s especially adept at the violin. |
Adequate |
adj. having sufficient qualifications to meet a specific task or purpose |
Though his resume was adequate, the company doubted whether he’d be a good fit. |
Advent |
n. the arrival or creation of something (usu. historic) |
The world has never been the same since the advent of the light bulb. |
adj. relating to hostile opposition |
An adversarial attitude will make you many enemies in life. |
|
Advocate |
n. someone who promotes or defends something |
I am an advocate for free higher education. |
v. to defend or promote something (usually a belief, theory, opinion, etc.) |
Environmental protesters often advocate for cleaner energy practices. |
|
Aesthetic |
adj. relating to beauty or refined taste |
The aesthetic decorations at the wedding reception made you feel as if you were a character in a fairy tale. |
Afford |
v. to be able to buy |
He’s saving money so he can afford to buy a new car. |
v. to be able to spare |
I can’t afford to lose any more pencils! |
|
Agitate |
v. to promote something (usually a cause) |
They’re agitating for better health care. |
Allow |
v. to permit or consent to |
U.S. law allows citizens to speak freely. |
Allude |
v. to make a secretive mention of something |
She alluded to the problem at hand but didn’t say anything more about it. |
Altercation |
n. a noisy argument or confrontation |
Greg got into an altercation with a stranger at the bar. |
Ambiguous |
adj. unclear or vague in meaning |
Her ambiguous statement made me question whether she could be trusted. |
Ambitious |
adj. having a powerful desire for success or achievement |
Penny is so ambitious, she wants to be president someday. |
Ambivalence |
n. the state of being uncertain or stuck between two or more options |
His ambivalence prevented him from immediately signing the contract. |
Analogous |
adj. similar but not identical |
Green onions are considered analogous to spring onions. |
Annihilate |
v. to destroy or cause devastating destruction |
The dictator sent orders to annihilate the group of rebels. |
n. something different from the norm |
This result is an anomaly and very rarely happens. |
|
Anticipate |
v. assume to be likely to happen |
The party was just as fun as I had anticipated it would be. |
Antipathy |
n. a strong feeling of dislike |
Her antipathy toward the professor was obvious; she rolled her eyes whenever he entered the classroom. |
Apex |
n. the highest point of something |
The spring play was the apex of our school year. |
Apprehension |
n. fearful expectation of something |
Her apprehension to leave her house resulted in her missing the train. |
Articulate |
v. to clearly express in words |
She articulated her opinion on the price of the house. |
Artificial |
adj. something made; not occurring naturally |
Many candies use artificial flavors to make them taste fruity. |
Assertion |
n. a strong declaration |
His assertion that sharks are mammals made everyone laugh. |
Austere |
adj. extremely plain |
He lived in a small, austere cabin in the middle of the woods. |
adj. stern and forbidding |
My boss had an austere expression on her face. |
|
adj. relating to self-denial |
An austere lifestyle, like that of monks, isn’t for everybody. |
|
Authenticity |
n. the quality of being real and true instead of fake and contrived |
The police officer doubted the authenticity of the suspect’s story. |
Avenue |
n. an intangible path or approach to something |
The company has decided to pursue other avenues. |
Avid |
adj. actively interested in or enthusiastic about something |
Gerald is an avid soccer fan. |
Basic |
adj. relating to the foundation or basis of something |
You have to start with basic Russian before you can move on to the advanced level. |
v. to have as a characteristic |
She bears a strong resemblance to your mother. |
|
v. to have (a child) |
Judy will bear her first child last year. |
|
v. to bring forth |
My garden is going to bear pumpkins this year. |
|
v. to put up with |
I can’t bear her complaining any longer! |
|
Benevolent |
adj. kind, generous |
Many cultures believe in benevolent spirits. |
Bias |
n. a preconception that prevents objectivity |
It’s important to avoid bias when investigating a crime. |
Bittersweet |
adj. tinged with a feeling of sadness |
The ending of the romance movie was bittersweet. |
Bolster |
v. to support, strengthen, or fortify |
If we work together, we should be able to lift and then bolster the couch. |
Boost |
n. an increase or growth |
The boost in profits was a welcome change. |
v. to increase or make grow |
In order to boost profits, you need to cater to your customers. |
|
Brawl |
n. an intense, loud fight |
A brawl broke out at school today after one student accused another of cheating. |
v. to fight loudly and disruptively |
The two students brawled for an hour. |
|
Brevity |
n. the quality of being brief or terse |
The brevity of their time together made it all the more romantic. |
Candid |
adj. direct, blunt |
Josh is candid about his desire to become an actor. |
Candor |
n. the trait of being honest and frank |
I admire her candor, especially when nobody else bothers to speak up. |
Capitalize |
v. to use to your advantage |
I’d like to capitalize on your math skills by having your work the cash register. |
v. to trap or take possession of |
The spy was captured by the enemy. |
|
v. to successfully represent or imitate |
Your painting beautifully captures the ephemerality of life. |
|
v. to captivate, mesmerize |
I was captured by her beauty. |
|
v. to catch or seize |
The cops captured the criminal three days after the incident. |
|
Civic |
adj. relating to the city or citizens |
Voting is a civic duty. |
Clinical |
adj. emotionally unattached (usually used in medical or scientific setting) |
Her clinical approach to situations allows her to handle them more effectively. |
Clout |
n. special advantage or power |
Children of rich and famous people often believe they have a lot of clout. |
Coarse |
adj. indicating a rough texture |
The horse’s mane was coarse, as if it had never been washed. |
adj. lacking refinement or sophistication |
The queen’s coarse way of speaking surprised the other members of royalty. |
|
Coincide |
v. to happen at the same time |
It wasn’t until after I booked my ticket that I realized the concert coincided with my finals. |
Commission |
n. the use of payment to request something (e.g., a service or product) |
This painting was commissioned by a rich merchant in 1589. |
Comparable |
adj. able to be compared |
This novel is comparable to Huckleberry Finn. |
Competent |
adj. sufficiently qualified |
We need to hire a competent web developer to create a good website for our company. |
adj. satisfied, with no desire to change or improve |
Though he had never won any awards or even been published, he was complacent with his life as a poet. |
|
Complement |
v. to make perfect or complete |
This wine perfectly complements the platter of gourmet cheese. |
Concede |
v. to be forced to agree or surrender |
With no chance of winning the battle, the army at last conceded. |
v. to admit to a transgression |
Dan conceded that he pranked his sister. |
|
Conceive |
v. to imagine or come up with |
The plan to build the city was originally conceived in the early 1900s. |
Condone |
v. to overlook, approve, or allow |
She couldn’t condone her daughter’s rebellious behavior. |
Conducive |
adj. able to bring about or be suitable for |
The noisy students hardly made the campus library conducive to studying. |
Conduct |
v. to control or manage |
The group conducted their research abroad last year. |
v. to behave a certain way |
Be sure to conduct yourself accordingly. |
|
Confide |
v. to share something secretive with someone |
She confided all of her biggest secrets to her best friend. |
Confine |
v. to put limits on; to restrict |
We are planning to confine the use of this drinking fountain. |
Consensus |
n. overall agreement |
After weeks of debating, the panel finally came to a consensus. |
Constitute |
v. to form or compose (part of) something |
The desire for equality constituted the civil rights movement. |
Contemplate |
v. to think deeply about |
She contemplated telling her teacher about the cheating student. |
Contend |
v. to maintain or assert (an opinion) |
The president contends that the U.S. government will not negotiate with terrorists. |
v. to be in contrast with |
The camera footage contradicts his alibi. |
|
Controversial |
adj. highly debatable and causing contention |
Millions of viewers watched the controversial debate take place. |
Conventional |
adj. abiding by accepted standards |
She lives a conventional life in the suburbs. |
Convey |
v. to pass on or transfer (information) |
I have trouble conveying my thoughts in French. |
Conviction |
n. a firm belief in something |
Her religious convictions prevent her from eating meat. |
Corroborate |
v. to provide evidence for; to back up (a claim) |
The note signed by her father corroborates her claim that she was absent from class that day. |
Counteract |
v. to work in opposition to |
This ingredient seems to counteract the other ones. |
Counterargument |
n. an argument used to criticize or dismantle another argument |
Make sure to include a counterargument in your essay so that you can show you’ve considered the topic from all perspectives. |
Counterproductive |
adj. hindering the achievement of a goal |
Bill’s idea to take a shortcut was ultimately counterproductive: it took us twice as long to get to the train station. |
Culmination |
n. the final act or climax |
The culmination of the performance was unforgettable. |
Cultivate |
v. to foster the growth of |
Teachers don’t just pass on new information to students—they cultivate their academic potential. |
Decree |
v. to declare formally and with authority |
The president decreed that Halloween would henceforth be a national holiday. |
Deference |
n. respect; regard |
Her deference to the elderly makes her the perfect candidate for an internship at the retirement center. |
Deficient |
adj. not enough in degree or amount |
I feel as though the sources for my paper are deficient. |
v. to do as an example |
Could you demonstrate the dance move for me? |
|
v. gives evidence for |
This book’s use of words such as “grim” and “bleak” demonstrates the author’s mournful tone. |
|
Demur |
v. to object to or hesitate over |
She demurred at my request to transfer to a different department. |
Deplete |
v. to use up over time (usually resources) |
The lost campers quickly depleted their supply of food. |
Desolate |
adj. bare, barren, empty |
The moon is one giant, desolate landscape. |
Devise |
v. to come up with (a plan) |
Lana devised a plan to make herself famous. |
Dilemma |
n. a problem, usually requiring a choice between two options |
The main dilemma is whether to pay for a commercial or not. |
Diligence |
n. conscientiousness; the quality of being committed to a task |
Diligence and confidence will get you far in life. |
Diminish |
v. to become smaller in scope or degree |
The itchiness of mosquito bites usually starts to diminish after a few days. |
Dire |
adj. hopeless and dangerous or fearful |
When the police didn’t explain what was happening right away, Jane knew that the situation must be dire. |
Discord |
n. disagreement |
Disputes over money caused intense discord in the family. |
Disdain |
n. a lack of respect and strong dislike (toward something or someone) |
He looked at me with such disdain that I immediately knew the job wouldn’t work out. |
Dismay |
n. hopelessness, stress, or consternation |
To Nick’s dismay, he got an F on the test. |
v. to fill with woe or apprehension |
Many were dismayed by the town’s implementation of metered parking. |
|
Disparage |
v. to belittle or speak down to |
A good boss may be stern but never disparages his or her employees. |
v. to send off a message or messenger |
The mother dispatched her daughter to their neighbor’s house. |
|
Diversification |
n. the act of becoming diverse |
Lately, there’s been noticeable diversification of students at higher education institutions. |
Doctrine |
n. a principle, theory, or position, usually advocated by a religion or government |
Devoutly religious people often live their lives according to their doctrines. |
Dominion |
n. power and authority (usually over a territory) |
The country claimed to have dominion over parts of Russia. |
n. a legal territory |
Puerto Rico is a dominion of the U.S. |
|
Dreary |
adj. sad, gloomy, dull |
The gray clouds in the sky made the day feel dreary. |
Dubious |
adj. doubtful, questionable |
The man’s claims to the throne were dubious since nobody knew where he’d come from. |
Eccentric |
adj. peculiar or odd; deviating from the norm |
She’s a little eccentric but still fun to be around. |
Egregious |
adj. extremely bad |
After cheating on the exam, Emily began to feel as though she’d made an egregious mistake. |
Eloquent |
adj. having refined or expressive communication skills (in speaking or writing) |
His speech was not only eloquent but also extremely compelling. |
Eminent |
adj. superior or distinguished; high in position or status |
Our town made news when the eminent magician came to perform at our local theater. |
Emit |
v. to discharge, give forth, or release |
Plants consume carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. |
Emphatic |
adj. very expressive; using emphasis |
Her emphatic acceptance told me she was excited to join the company. |
Empirical |
adj. derived from experience, observation, or an experiment |
You need empirical evidence to support your claim. |
v. to equip or bestow (usually a quality or ability) |
According to the myth, the gods endowed him with the gift of healing. |
|
Endure |
v. to withstand, sustain, or hold out against |
I can’t endure this wait any longer. Will Stanford accept or reject me? |
Entail |
v. to involve or include |
A doctoral program entails long nights and a heavy workload. |
Entrenched |
adj. firmly established |
Her face will forever be entrenched in my memory. |
Enumerate |
v. to specify or count |
I can’t enumerate how many times I’ve had to remind my students when their papers are due. |
Envy |
n. excessive jealousy |
His envy of her is quite obvious. |
v. to admire and be jealous of |
She envies her coworker’s social skills. |
|
Erratic |
adj. having no fixed course; deviating from the norm |
The car’s motion became erratic after slipping on ice. |
Establish |
v. to enact |
They established a law that made it illegal to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol. |
v. to found (a business, group, school, etc.) |
Our group established a new branch in Chicago. |
|
Evoke |
v. to draw forth or call up |
Horror movies are great at evoking fear. |
Exacerbate |
v. to make worse or increase the severity of |
The doctor told me not to run as it can exacerbate my knee injury. |
Excel |
v. to do something extremely well or to be superior in |
She was a well-rounded student but excelled especially in science. |
Exert |
v. to put into use (usually as effort) |
Don’t exert all of your energy at once. |
Exhilarating |
adj. invigorating, stimulating, or exciting |
The music playing at the club was catchy and exhilarating. |
Expend |
v. to use up (as in energy or money) |
Be careful not to expend all your energy in the first half of a marathon. |
v. to use selfishly or for profit |
The shoddy company exploited its workers by paying them extremely low wages. |
|
Facilitate |
v. to aid the progress of |
In grad school, advisors facilitate students’ research and offer constructive criticism. |
Feasibility |
n. the practicality or possibility of something |
The feasibility of her project was doubtful; she’d have to go all the way to Antarctica and back before the school year ended. |
Ferocity |
n. viciousness, violence |
The lion is just one wild animal known for its ferocity. |
Fiscal |
adj. related to (government) money |
Fiscal policy is how the government uses money to influence the economy. |
Flourish |
v. to prosper, grow, or make fast progress |
After one year, the tiny plants had flourished into a breathtaking garden. |
Fluctuate |
v. to be unstable; to rise and fall |
Th e price of stocks can fluctuate on a daily basis, making it difficult to determine when to buy or sell. |
Foment |
v. to stir up |
The civilians accused their leader of fomenting political unrest. |
Foreseeable |
adj. capable of being predicted or anticipated |
I can’t imagine aliens visiting us in the foreseeable future. |
Frankly |
adv. directly, clearly |
I frankly don’t see the point in learning to drive. |
Freewheeling |
adj. carefree |
His freewheeling attitude often got him in trouble at work. |
Fundamental |
adj. the most essential or most basic part |
A thesis is arguably the most fundamental part of an essay. |
Galvanizing |
adj. thrilling, exciting, stimulating |
The galvanizing performance left everyone spellbound. |
adj. relating to old age |
I became interested in geriatric medicine shortly after my grandfather passed away from cancer. |
|
Hostile |
adj. harmful, dangerous |
The voices from around the corner sounded angry, hostile even. |
Hypothetical |
adj. supposed; related to a hypothesis |
For my physics homework, I must come up with a hypothetical situation. |
Ignominious |
adj. publicly shameful or humiliating |
The politician’s expensive campaign ultimately ended in ignominious defeat. |
Impart |
v. to transmit, bestow, or disclose |
Parents must impart common sense to their children. |
Impartiality |
n. the equal and objective treatment of opposing views |
To ensure impartiality, we require everyone to follow these general guidelines. |
Imposing |
adj. impressive (esp. in size or appearance) |
The old mansion was imposing in its huge size and gothic architecture. |
Imposition |
n. an unnecessary burden |
If it’s not too much of an imposition, could you proofread my paper? |
Imprudent |
adj. not cautious or prudent; rash |
Backpacking abroad can be fun, but don’t be imprudent about money. |
Incite |
v. to encourage or stir up |
Her hateful words incited anger in the crowd. |
Indifference |
n. apathy, emotional detachment |
The girl’s indifference toward her brother upset their parents. |
Indiscriminately |
adv. randomly; with little or no distinction |
Lottery winners are chosen indiscriminately. |
Indulge |
v. to give into; to satisfy or gratify |
My friend loves to indulge in cheesy romance movies. |
Infer |
v. to guess, conclude, or derive by reasoning |
You can infer from this quotation that the writer didn’t care for “pretty” language. |
Innovative |
adj. novel or new (esp. as an idea or invention) |
Her invention was incredibly innovative and won her multiple awards. |
adj. can’t be satisfied |
A vampire’s thirst for blood is said to be insatiable. |
|
Inversion |
n. a reversal |
The culture’s norms were an inversion of our own. |
Invoke |
v. to call on; to appeal to (e.g., a higher power) |
The shaman attempted to invoke a demon. |
Irreconcilable |
adj. incapable of being in harmony or agreement |
The couple’s differences were ultimately irreconcilable, giving them no choice but to break up. |
Lament |
v. to feel sorrow for; to mourn |
Susan lamented her missed chance of going to Europe with her high school class. |
Locomotion |
n. movement |
Physics involves the study of locomotion. |
Lucrative |
adj. capable of making a lot of money; profitable |
Writing books isn’t a particularly lucrative career, unless you’re J. K. Rowling. |
Malicious |
adj. harmful, spiteful |
The malicious spirit drove out the inhabitants from their home. |
Malleable |
adj. capable of being molded or changed |
Children’s minds are malleable, but only for so long. |
Materialistic |
adj. superficial; focused on material possessions |
Many people accuse Americans of being materialistic. |
Melodramatic |
adj. extravagant or exaggerated (as of a melodrama) |
The melodramatic play was enjoyed by the audience. |
Modest |
adj. simple and humble |
They moved into a modest house in the countryside. |
adj. small in size or amount |
I received a modest sum of money for my help at the company event. |
|
Modify |
v. to change, alter, or tweak |
Dr. Nguyen modified the gene so that it wouldn’t carry the disease. |
Momentous |
adj. historically significant |
Her win in the election was momentous. |
Novel |
adj. new, innovative |
We are looking for novel ways to approach the project. |
Nuance |
n. a subtle difference in meaning |
Body-language experts understand even the nuances of facial expressions. |
adj. legally void and ineffective |
The government declared their marriage null. |
|
Objectivity |
n. judgment based on observations instead of emotions or opinions |
In scientific research, objectivity is of utmost importance. |
Obsolete |
adj. no longer used; rare or uncommon |
Historians assumed record players would be obsolete by now, but in fact they’re making a huge comeback. |
Omnipotent |
adj. almighty and all powerful |
Gods are omnipotent beings who can control human destiny. |
Onset |
n. the beginning or early stages |
At the onset of her career as a lawyer, things were looking up. |
Opine |
v. to openly express an opinion |
The new employee opined at the company meeting. |
Ornate |
adj. highly detailed and decorated |
That ornate silverware must be worth thousands of dollars! |
Oust |
v. to remove or force out of (usually a position or office) |
Sick and tired of putting up with his bad moods, the pirates ousted their captain. |
Paramount |
adj. predominant, superior, most important |
Our paramount concern is the safety of our employees. |
Peculiar |
adj. strange, bizarre |
Upon entering the abandoned house, Kate experienced a peculiar feeling, as if someone was watching her. |
Perish |
v. to die; to pass away |
According to the news, nobody perished in the fire. |
Persecute |
v. to cause suffering to |
They will persecute anyone who doesn’t agree with their views of the world. |
Petulant |
adj. cranky, pouty, irritable |
Petulant children are especially difficult to care for. |
Pinnacle |
n. highest level or degree |
Many believe that composers such as Beethoven and Mozart represent the pinnacle of classical music. |
Pitiable |
adj. deserving pity |
The frail-looking dog was pitiable, so I gave it some food and took it inside to care for it. |
adj. reasonable and possibly true |
Her story is plausible, but that doesn’t mean she’s telling the truth. |
|
Postulate |
v. to assert |
The literary critic postulates that romanticism and naturalism are actually interconnected. |
Potent |
adj. having great influence |
The bald eagle is a potent symbol of the U.S. |
adj. having a strong, chemical effect |
The potion was definitely potent—it healed my wounds immediately! |
|
Pragmatic |
adj. practical, useful |
It’s not necessarily more pragmatic to study engineering than it is to study philosophy. |
Precedent |
n. an example or subject from earlier in time |
This change in law is without historical precedent. |
Predecessor |
n. someone who comes before you (usually in position or office) |
My predecessor gave me many tips for running the office. |
Prescribe |
v. to command orders |
The directions for our essay prescribe a length of at least 10 pages. |
v. to issue authorization for medications |
A doctor must prescribe you this medication before you can begin taking it. |
|
Principle |
n. basic truth, assumption, or rule |
Remember the universal principle: treat others as you want them to treat you. |
Prohibit |
v. to command against, to outlaw |
Alcohol was prohibited in the United States in the 1920s. |
Prompt |
adj. punctual, on time |
She is always prompt when it comes to turning in her homework. |
n. a cue to begin something; instructions |
I had to write an essay based on a prompt. |
|
v. to incite, propel, or cause to act |
The possibility of a scholarship prompted him to apply to Harvard. |
|
Promulgate |
v. to put into law or formally declare |
The ruler will at last promulgate an amnesty with the neighboring countries. |
v. to bring criminal action against someone (in a trial) |
The suspect was prosecuted yesterday. |
|
Provocative |
adj. intending to provoke, inspire, or arouse |
Her nude paintings are considered quite provocative. |
Qualitative |
adj. involving qualities of something (features and content) |
I noticed a qualitative change in her paintings. |
Quantitative |
adj. involving quantities (numbers and amounts) |
We must conduct a quantitative analysis. |
Quirk |
n. a strange habit or behavior |
His biggest quirk is his love of old marbles. |
Ramify |
v. to spread or branch out |
The availability of automobiles ramified throughout the world in the twentieth century. |
Rash |
adj. without attention to danger or risk |
Her rash decision to pass the other car nearly resulted in a crash. |
Raw |
adj. unrefined |
He’s got raw talent as a singer, but he needs to work on his performance skills. |
adj. not processed; uncooked (as in food) |
In some countries, such as Japan, it is normal to eat raw fish. |
|
Readily |
adv. right away and without difficulty |
Water was readily available at different points in the race. |
Reconsideration |
n. thinking again about a previously made choice |
The judges’ reconsideration of her performance resulted in her victory. |
Reform |
n. a change for the better; improvement |
The reform allows that only those 18 and older can legally drive. |
v. to improve via change |
The government reformed its vague policies on marijuana use. |
|
Refute |
v. to prove to be untrue, unfounded, or incorrect |
The student refuted the professor’s claim in class. |
Reinforce |
v. to strengthen or add support to |
We can use these pipes to reinforce the structure. |
Reluctantly |
adv. somewhat unwillingly |
Max reluctantly agreed to see the horror movie with his friends. |
v. to give up (usually power or a position) |
Our CEO renounced her position yesterday. |
|
v. to cast off |
He renounced his friend after he caught her stealing money from him. |
|
Reproach |
v. to criticize |
The mother reproached her daughter’s school for making students come in during a blizzard. |
Repudiate |
v. to refuse to recognize as true |
The father repudiated his son’s marriage. |
v. to cast off |
She repudiated the charges that were leveled against her by her critiques. |
|
Retention |
n. the act of keeping something |
Water retention can make you weigh more on certain days. |
Satiated |
adj. satisfied (usually in hunger) |
I felt satiated after eating a snack. |
Savvy |
adj. having practical intelligence or knowledge |
My brother is not very savvy when it comes to using public transportation. |
Scandalous |
adj. morally offensive, often causing damage to one’s reputation |
The scandalous charges caused the politician to resign from office. |
Scorn |
v. to look down on with disdain |
It’s difficult for me not to scorn those who use improper grammar. |
Scrupulous |
adj. paying great attention to detail |
I am a scrupulous proofreader and never miss an error. |
Scrutinize |
v. to examine carefully and critically |
The teacher scrutinized her students’ essays. |
Secrete |
v. to produce or release (a substance) |
Trees secrete a sticky substance called sap. |
Sentiment |
n. opinion |
I am of the sentiment that you should never give out your passwords to anyone. |
n. a tender or moving gesture |
Even though I’m not a big fan of porcelain dolls, I appreciated the sentiment. |
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Sheer |
adj. so thin that light can shine through |
The curtains on the window were so sheer you could clearly see inside the house. |
adj. easy; not complex |
This math problem is so simple even a first grader can solve it. |
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adj. undecorated |
The simple beauty of the ocean is what makes it memorable. |
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Sinister |
adj. ominous, evil |
Medieval peasants believed sinister demons could harm humans. |
Solidarity |
n. the joining of commonalities or common purposes among a group |
I stood in solidarity with other female students by refusing to wear the school’s sexist uniform. |
Sparingly |
adv. insufficiently, meagerly, or in a restricted manner |
Due to my condition, I must eat salt sparingly. |
Spawn |
v. to release eggs |
Frogs typically spawn in ponds. |
v. to call forth or generate |
The topic spawned an ongoing debate among his family members. |
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Spur |
v. to stimulate or incite |
Her bravery spurred others to act. |
Squalid |
adj. run-down, sordid, or sleazy |
The squalid cabin needed a new roof and an exterminator. |
Stark |
adj. very plain; devoid of any details or features |
Looking out at the stark landscape, I felt a keen sense of isolation. |
Static |
adj. motionless |
Profits are static. |
adj. changeless |
Her life has been static for the past 3 years. |
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Subordinate |
adj. lower in rank |
The subordinate officers work every day. |
n. someone lower in rank |
My subordinate will check you in. |
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v. to make dependent on or put at a lower rank |
You aren’t my boss—you can’t subordinate me to the role of receptionist! |
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Subsequently |
adv. happening later or after something |
I subsequently went home. |
Substantial |
adj. very large in amount or degree |
I was shocked to find a substantial amount of money beneath the park bench. |
v. to strengthen with new evidence or facts |
It is important for scientists to substantiate their theories with further research. |
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Subtle |
adj. hard to detect or analyze |
I detected in her expression a subtle hint of irritation. |
Sufficient |
adj. enough; just meeting a requirement |
These boxes should be sufficient for our move. |
Surly |
adj. unfriendly; inclined to anger |
The bartender was a surly fellow who wasn’t afraid to start a fight. |
Surmount |
v. to get on top of or overcome |
They managed to surmount the language barrier by using a translation app. |
Susceptible |
adj. to be vulnerable (to something) |
Children are more susceptible to certain illnesses than are adults. |
Tactful |
adj. skilled at dealing with people |
Her tactful attitude toward our class made her one of my favorite teachers. |
Taut |
adj. pulled tight |
The rubber band was taut and ready to be fired. |
Teeming |
adj. abundantly filled (usually with living organisms) |
Doorknobs are not as clean as they look and are often teeming with germs. |
Temperament |
n. usual mood or feelings |
She had a hostile temperament, making her intimidating to most people. |
Tentative |
adj. not yet finalized |
We haven’t made any official arrangements yet, but the tentative location for our wedding is Hawaii. |
Transparent |
adj. see-through; so thin that light can shine through |
Stained window glass isn’t as transparent as regular window glass. |
adj. truthful or easy to perceive |
She was transparent about her plans to end her marriage. |
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Treacherous |
adj. dangerous and unstable |
The journey was becoming treacherous, but they continued on regardless. |
Tremendous |
adj. very large, good, or bad in degree or size |
Tremendous news! You don’t have to repay your loans! |
adj. being everywhere at once |
Cell phones are ubiquitous these days. |
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Unadorned |
adj. undecorated, plain |
Though the dress was cheap and unadorned, it was by far her favorite one on the rack. |
Undermine |
v. to weaken or subvert (usually gradually or secretly) |
Parents should take care not to constantly undermine their children. |
Underscore |
v. to emphasize or give additional weight to |
This sentence seems to underscore the overall meaning of the passage. |
Undulate |
v. to move as ripples or in a wavy pattern |
The displayed flag undulated in the breeze. |
Unilateral |
adj. one-sided |
The unilateral decision was deemed unfair by the other party involved. |
Unjust |
adj. unfair; not justified |
The court’s decision is unjust—he should not go free. |
Unmitigated |
adj. downright, utter, total |
My speech was an unmitigated disaster! |
Unprecedented |
adj. completely new and never having happened before; historic |
The number of protestors was unprecedented. |
Unveil |
v. to make visible; to reveal |
We plan to unveil our plans for the new company project on Sunday. |
Urge |
n. desire or impulse |
He had the urge to tell his parents about his acceptance to Columbia but decided against it. |
v. to encourage or persuade |
She urged her sister to apply to Stanford. |
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Validate |
v. to prove or declare valid |
Your selfish actions do not validate your feelings for me. |
Viability |
n. ability to be done in a practical or useful way |
The viability of the solution is questionable. |
Vital |
adj. urgently necessary |
It is vital that you respond by the deadline. |
Vow |
v. to promise |
My brother quickly broke his vow to never eat chocolate again. |
v. to prove to be reasonable |
Wanting to look cool in front of your friends doesn’t warrant breaking the law. |
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Yield |
n. production of an amount |
The farmer’s annual pumpkin yield exceeded 10,000. |
v. to give way to or surrender to |
Cars turning right on red must yield to oncoming traffic. |
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v. to produce or supply |
Our experiment yielded many unique-looking vegetables. |
The picture below will show you a solution to this problem. The key is to think outside the box. Seeing what others do not see is a vital part of critical thinking.
1Definitions can be found in https://www.dictionary.com/