1.

INADVERTANT

Not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning. Unintentional, unpremeditated, fluky
Antonyms, deliberate, prepense premeditative
E.g. an inadvertent administrative error occurred that resulted in an overpayment.
[IN ADDS KE PEECHE ITNA JYADA KHARCH UNIMPORTANT HO GYA]
2. VEHEMENTLY
In a forceful, passionate or intense manner. Emphatic, ardent, furiously
Antonyms: serenely, feebly, and dimly
E.g. he vehemently denied any help to the strangers.
[ VE MENTALLY PURE MAN SE IS KAM KO KARNA CHAHTE H]
3. NEOLOGISMS
A newly coined word or expression, coinage, nonce word invented word, portmanteau word
The newspaper used the neologism dinks, double income no kids
4. QUARANTINED
A situation in which a person or an animal that might have a disease is kept separate from other
people or animal so that they don’t catch the disease. Segregation, isolation, seclude, solitude.
E.g. the cat will now stay at a quarantine center until it is fully recovered
[USE EK QUARTER ME SABSE ALAG RAKHA GYA]
5. PROPONENT
Someone who publicly supports an idea, policy plan etc. partisan, advocate,
E.g. since my husband is a police officer; I am a proponent of the policemen’s benefit fund
Antonyms: antagonist, adversary, detractor, contender
6. JUDICIOUS
Prudent astute perspicacious
E.g. He made a series of astute business decisions. One of the most perspicacious and perceptive
historian of that period.
Opp. Careless foolish unwise
7. UNPRECEDENTED
Unique new unparalleled
E.g. In 1987 the socialist took the unprecedented step of appointing a civilian to command the
force.
Opp. Hackneyed familiar
8. EXAGGERATION
Elaboration, embellishment, embroidering, hyperbole
Opp. Belittlement disparagement minimizing
E.g. we must not disparage / belittle her outstanding achievements.
9. TRANSGRESSION
Offence violation contravention infraction felony misdemeanor infringement
E.g. He pleaded guilty to six felonies. Emily knew nothing about her husband’s misdemeanors.
Infringement of a rule is punishable by a fine.
[TRANSPORT ME AGRESSION OFFENCIVE HAI]
10. CAPRICIOUS
Rude volatile whimsical fickle mercurial
E.g. The union accused him of being capricious/rude /volatile/whimsical/fickle/mercurial. In a fickle
of a wand.
Opp. Constant immutable
[kapar pe ice rakh lo kyuki bhot rude ho gye ho tum][CAPRICIOIUS=FEROCIOUS]
11. IMMINENT
Ominous impending looming portentous serious
/ˈɪmɪnənt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: imminent
1.
about to happen.
"they were in imminent danger of being swept away"
synonyms: impending, at hand, close, near, approaching, fast approaching, coming,
forthcoming, on the way, about to happen, upon us, in store, in the offing, in the pipeline, on the
horizon, in the air, in the wind, brewing, looming, looming large; threatening, menacing; expected,
anticipated; informalon the cards
"there was speculation that a ceasefire was imminent"
antonyms: remote
2.
ARCHAIC
overhanging.
Opp. Distant remote
12. FACTION
Clan coterie clique
E.g. we have to protect our faction/clan/coterie/clique.
Opp. Individual
13. Resilience
The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. flexibility, pliability, suppleness,
plasticity, elasticity, springiness, spring,
"The often remarkable resilience of so many British institutions"
"Nylon is excellent in wearability, abrasion resistance and resilience
Antonyms: rigidity, fragility, vulnerability, weakness
[RESISTANCE]
14. Envisage
/ɪnˈvɪzɪdʒ,ɛnˈvɪzɪdʒ/
Verb: envisage; 3rd person present: envisages; past tense: envisaged; past participle: envisaged;
gerund or present participle: envisaging
Contemplate or conceive of as a possibility or a desirable future event.
Foresee, predict, forecast, foretell, anticipate, expect, think likely, envision; imagine conceive
visualize
e.g. "the Rome Treaty envisaged free movement across frontiers"
"He knew what he liked but had difficulty envisaging it"
Opp. Ignore
[Sage log dushman ki envy ko pehe hi jaan jate hai]
15. Interstices
An intervening space, especially a very small one. Space, gap, interval, aperture, opening, hole,
cranny, crevice, chink, slit, slot, crack, breach, vent
"Sunshine filtered through the interstices of the arching trees"
"The interstices between the soil particles"
Opp. Joint closure
[CHEMISTRY; INTERSTITIAL SPACES STRUCTURE OF CYSTALS]
16. BOLIVIATE
Talk at length,especially in an inflated or empty way
Opp. Be quiet
[BOLIVIA K SONG M KUCHH NHI HOTA]
17.Upturn
an improvement or upward trend, especially in economic conditions or someone's fortunes.
"an upturn in the economy" increase, rise, jump, leap, surge, upswing, upsurge, boost, acceleration,
escalation, soaring, step up
verb: upturn; 3rd person present: upturns; past tense: upturned; past participle: upturned; gerund
or present participle: upturning
turn (something) upwards or upside down.
nearly four feet
of water cascaded over the park, upturning paving stones and play equipment.
Opp.fall, slump, downturn
18.Indenture
/ɪnˈdɛntʃə/
noun: indenture; plural noun: indentures
a legal agreement, contract, or document.contract, agreement, covenant, compact, bond, pledge,
promise, warrant, undertaking, commitment, settlement, arrangement, understanding;
a formal list, certificate, or inventory bind (someone) by an indenture as an apprentice or labourer.
. a contract by which a person agreed to work for a set period for a landowner in a British colony in
exchange for passage to the colony. an agreement binding an apprentice to a master.

"indentures recording the number of 1377 taxpayers"

"the 30 apprentices have received their indentures on completion of their training"

the state of being bound to service by an indenture.
"the bracelet on his wrist represented his indenture to his master"
verb: indenture; 3rd person present: indentures; past tense: indentured; past participle:
indentured; gerund or present participle: indenturing
eg, "Dick was indentured to the Company in 1917"
[in dino venture ke contrat liye ja rhe hai]
19.Demented
/dɪˈmɛntɪd/
adjective
suffering from dementia.
behaving irrationally due to anger, distress, or excitement.
synonyms: mad, insane, deranged, out of one's mind, not in one's right mind, crazed, lunatic,
unbalanced, unhinged, unstable, disturbed, distracted, as mad as a hatter, as mad as a March hare,
stark mad;
eg. "she was demented with worry"
antonyms: sane
[mad dementors in harry potter]
20.Restorative
/rɪˈstɒrətɪv/
adjective
having the ability to restore health, strength, or well-being.
relating to the restoration of form or function to a damaged tooth or other part of the body.
noun
noun: restorative; plural noun: restoratives
a thing that restores health, strength, or well-being, especially a medicine or drink.
Eg, "herbal restoratives" "the restorative power of long walks"
Opp. Detrimental

21.Cessation
/sɛˈseɪʃ(ə)n/
noun: cessation; plural noun: cessations
the fact or process of ending or being brought to an end.
synonyms: end, ending, termination, stopping, halting, ceasing, finish, finishing, stoppage, closing,
closure, close, conclusion, winding up, discontinuation, discontinuance, breaking off, abandonment,
interruption, suspension, cutting short;
eg. "the cessation of hostilities"
antonyms: start, resumption

22.Finagle
/fɪˈneɪɡ(ə)l/
verb: finagle; 3rd person present: finagles; past tense: finagled; past participle: finagled; gerund or
present participle: finagling
obtain by dishonest or devious means.act in a dishonest or devious manner.
Eg. "they wrangled and finagled over the fine points"
"Ted attended all the football games he could finagle tickets for"
[ MATCH ME BEIMANI KARNE PE USE FINE BHARNA PADA]
23.fudge
/fʌdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fudge; plural noun: fudges
1.
a soft crumbly or chewy sweet made from sugar, butter, and milk or cream.
synonyms: chewy sweet, toffee
"she helped herself to a square of fudge"
NORTH AMERICAN
rich chocolate, used especially as a sauce or a filling for cakes.
modifier noun: fudge
"a sundae with whipped cream, ice cream, hot fudge, and a cherry on top"
2.
an attempt to fudge an issue.
"the new settlement is a fudge rushed out to win cheers at the conference"
synonyms: compromise, cover-up, halfway house; More
equivocation, spin, casuistry, sophistry, speciousness;
informal cop-out
"the latest proposals are a fudge"
antonyms: straightforwardness
ARCHAIC
nonsense.
"I hope your marriage will cure you of your silly fudge"
3.
a piece of late news inserted in a newspaper page.
verb
verb: fudge; 3rd person present: fudges; past tense: fudged; past participle: fudged; gerund or
present participle: fudging
1.
present or deal with (something) in a vague or inadequate way, especially so as to conceal the truth
or mislead.
"the authorities have fudged the issue"
synonyms: evade, dodge, skirt, avoid, duck, shift ground about; More
hedge, prevaricate, vacillate, be non-committal, shuffle, parry questions, stall, shilly-shally, beat
about the bush, mince (one's) words;
hum and haw;
informal waffle, cop out, flannel, sit on the fence;
raretergiversate
"I am sure a no-nonsense chap like you will not fudge the issue"
antonyms: be forthright about
adjust or manipulate (facts or figures) so as to present a desired picture.
"the government has been fudging figures to make it look as though targets have been met"
synonyms: falsify, fake, distort, manipulate, misrepresent, misreport, bend, spin, put a spin on,
massage, tamper with, tinker with, interfere with, change, doctor, juggle; More
embellish, embroider, warp, colour;
informalcook, fiddle with
"the government has been fudging figures"
exclamationDATED
exclamation: fudge
1.
nonsense! (expressing disbelief or annoyance).
"‘You know how she despises me!’ ‘Fudge! She dotes on you’"
24.rogue
/rəʊɡ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: rogue; plural noun: rogues
1.
a dishonest or unprincipled man.
"you are a rogue and an embezzler"
synonyms: scoundrel, villain, reprobate, rascal, good-for-nothing, wretch; a person whose
behaviour one disapproves of but who is nonetheless likeable or attractive.
"Cenzo, you old rogue!"
synonyms: scamp, rascal, imp, devil, monkey, mischief-maker; More
2.
an elephant or other large wild animal living apart from the herd and having savage or destructive
tendencies.
"a rogue elephant"
a person or thing that behaves in an aberrant or unpredictable way, typically with damaging or
dangerous effects.
"he hacked into data and ran rogue programs"
a seedling or plant deviating from the standard variety.
verb
verb: rogue; 3rd person present: rogues; past tense: rogued; past participle: rogued; gerund or
present participle: roguing
1.
remove inferior or defective plants or seedlings from (a crop).
"the sowing has to be rogued to remove aberrant seedlings"
[inhe beimani ka rog LAG GYA JISKE KAFI BAD CONSEQUENCES MILE]
25.reprobate
/ˈrɛprəbeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: reprobate; plural noun: reprobates
1.
an unprincipled person.
"he had to present himself as more of a lovable reprobate than a spirit of corruption"
synonyms: rogue, rascal, scoundrel, good-for-nothing, villain, wretch, unprincipled person,
rake, profligate, degenerate, debauchee, libertine; More
2.
ARCHAIC
(in Calvinism) a sinner who is not of the elect and is predestined to damnation.
adjective
adjective: reprobate
1.
unprincipled.
"reprobate behaviour"
synonyms: unprincipled, roguish, bad, wicked, rakish, shameless, immoral, profligate,
degenerate, dissipated, debauched, depraved, corrupt; More
antonyms: upright, virtuous, principled
2.
ARCHAIC
(in Calvinism) predestined to damnation.
verbARCHAIC
verb: reprobate; 3rd person present: reprobates; past tense: reprobated; past participle:
reprobated; gerund or present participle: reprobating
1.
express or feel disapproval of.
"his neighbours reprobated his method of proceeding"
synonyms: criticize, condemn, censure, denounce, express strong disapproval of;
rarereprehend
"they reprobated his conduct"
antonyms: praise, commend
[wo pro hai bet lagane me or hum usko condemn karte hai]
26.wastrel
/ˈweɪstr(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: wastrel; plural noun: wastrels
1.
LITERARY
a wasteful or good-for-nothing person.
"I have no intention of seeing my dues gambled away by your wastrel of a son"
synonyms: spendthrift, prodigal, profligate, squanderer;
2.
ARCHAIC
a waif; a neglected child.
[waste]
26.louse
/laʊs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: louse; plural noun: lice; plural noun: louses
1.
either of two small wingless parasitic insects that live on the skin of mammals and birds.
used in names of small invertebrates that parasitize aquatic animals or infest plants, e.g. fish louse.
2.
INFORMAL
a contemptible or unpleasant person.
verb
verb: louse; 3rd person present: louses; past tense: loused; past participle: loused; gerund or
present participle: lousing
1.
INFORMAL
spoil or ruin something.
"he loused up my promotion chances"
2.
ARCHAIC
remove lice from.
27.venial
/ˈviːnɪəl/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveCHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
adjective: venial
denoting a sin that is not regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace.
"we cannot prevent ourselves sometimes from dreaming of performing venial if not mortal sins"
(of a fault or offence) slight and pardonable.
synonyms: pardonable, forgivable, excusable, condonable, tolerable, permissible, allowable,
understandable, justifiable; More
antonyms: unforgivable, unpardonable, mortal
[ve nai ki ALL galtio ko tolerate karte h kyuki usse unka fayada hai]
28.prodigal
/ˈprɒdɪɡ(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: prodigal
1.
spending money or using resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.
"prodigal habits die hard"
synonyms: wasteful, extravagant, spendthrift, improvident, imprudent, immoderate,
profligate, thriftless, excessive, intemperate, irresponsible, self-indulgent, reckless, wanton
"prodigal habits die hard"
antonyms: thrifty, economical, parsimonious
2.
having or giving something on a lavish scale.
"the dessert was prodigal with whipped cream"
synonyms: generous, lavish, liberal, unstinting, unsparing, bountiful; More
antonyms: mean
noun
noun: prodigal; plural noun: prodigals
1.
a person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way.
"the government wished to clip the wings of the local authority prodigals"
a person who leaves home to lead a prodigal life but later makes a repentant return.
noun: prodigal daughter; plural noun: prodigal daughters; noun: prodigal son; plural noun: prodigal
sons
[prodigal science padgne ke liye rubi roy ne bhaot kharch kiya]
29.seamy
/ˈsiːmi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: seamy; comparative adjective: seamier; superlative adjective: seamiest
sordid and disreputable.
"a seamy sex scandal"
synonyms: sordid, disreputable, seedy, sleazy, corrupt, shameful, low, dark, squalid,
unwholesome, unsavoury, rough, mean, nasty, unpleasant
"he seemed very knowledgeable about the seamy side of life"
antonyms: salubrious
[seema pe pakistan ne sharmnak harkat ki hai]
30.efficacious
/ˌɛfɪˈkeɪʃəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveFORMAL
adjective: efficacious
(of something inanimate or abstract) successful in producing a desired or intended result; effective.
"this treatment was efficacious in some cases"
synonyms: effective, successful, effectual, productive, constructive, fruitful, potent, powerful;
More
antonyms: inefficacious
[effective]
31.forlorn
/fəˈlɔːn/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: forlorn
1.
pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely.
“forlorn figures at bus stops”
synonyms: unhappy, sad, miserable, sorrowful, dejected, despondent, disconsolate, wretched,
abject, morose, regretful, broken-hearted, heartbroken, down, downcast, dispirited, downhearted,
heavy-hearted, crestfallen, depressed, melancholy, blue, gloomy, glum, mournful, despairing,
doleful, woebegone, woeful, tearful, long-faced, joyless, cheerless, out of sorts; More
antonyms: happy
2.
(of an aim or endeavour) unlikely to succeed or be fulfilled.
“a forlorn attempt to escape”
synonyms: hopeless, with no chance of success, beyond hope; More
Phrases
forlorn hope — a persistent or desperate hope that is unlikely to be fulfilled.
“he urged them to stay in the forlorn hope of restoring peace”
[foreign learned hone ke bad bhi wo asahay mahsus kar rha tha]
32.unhinge
/ʌnˈhɪn(d)ʒ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: unhinge; 3rd person present: unhinges; past tense: unhinged; past participle: unhinged;
gerund or present participle: unhinging
1.
make (someone) mentally unbalanced.
"the loneliness had nearly unhinged him"
synonyms: deranged, demented, unbalanced, out of one's mind, crazed, mad, insane; More
antonyms: sane, stable
deprive of stability; throw into disorder.
"a chain of events unhinges the structure of his family"
2.
take (a door) off its hinges.
UNKE DIMAG KE HINGE KA BOLT NIKAL GYA H]
33.turpitude
/ˈtəːpɪtjuːd/
Learn to pronounce
nounFORMAL
noun: turpitude
depraved or wicked behaviour or character.
"acts of moral turpitude"
synonyms: wickedness, immorality, depravity, corruption, corruptness, vice, degeneracy, evil,
baseness, iniquity, sinfulness, vileness;
antonyms: virtue, honour
[tera papi attitue]
34.sneer
/snɪə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: sneer; plural noun: sneers
1.
a contemptuous or mocking smile, remark, or tone.
"he acknowledged their presence with a condescending sneer"
synonyms: curl of the/one's lip, disparaging smile, contemptuous smile, smug smile, conceited
smile, cruel smile, mirthless smile, smirk, snicker, snigger
verb
verb: sneer; 3rd person present: sneers; past tense: sneered; past participle: sneered; gerund or
present participle: sneering
1.
smile or speak in a contemptuous or mocking manner.
"she had sneered at their bad taste"
synonyms: curl one's lip, smile disparagingly, smile contemptuously, smile smugly, smile
conceitedly, smile cruelly, smile mirthlessly, smirk, snicker, snigger
[SENIORS TREAT JUNIORS MOCKINGLY SMILE AT THEM]
35.nemesis
/ˈnɛmɪsɪs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: nemesis; plural noun: nemeses
the inescapable agent of someone's or something's downfall.
"injury, consistently his nemesis, struck him down during the match"
a long-standing rival; an arch-enemy.
"will Harry Potter finally defeat his nemesis, Voldemort?"
synonyms: arch-enemy, arch-rival, enemy, rival, foe, adversary, opponent, antagonist,
combatant, challenger
"will Harry Potter finally defeat his nemesis, Voldemort?"
a downfall caused by an inescapable agent.
"one risks nemesis by uttering such words"
synonyms: downfall, undoing, ruin, ruination, destruction, Waterloo
"this could prove to be the bank's nemesis"
retributive justice.
plural noun: Nemesis
"Nemesis is notoriously slow"
synonyms: retribution, vengeance, retributive justice, punishment, just deserts;
[the name isis is a cause of downfall of humanity]
[NAME BATAO MERE JANI DUSHMAN KA]
36.tenet
/ˈtɛnɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tenet; plural noun: tenets
a principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy.
"the tenets of classical liberalism"
synonyms: principle, belief, doctrine, precept, creed, credo, article of faith, dogma, canon, rule;
[teen netao pe desh ka bharosa tha]
crass
/kras/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: crass; comparative adjective: crasser; superlative adjective: crassest
showing no intelligence or sensitivity.
"the crass assumptions that men make about women"
synonyms: stupid, insensitive, blundering, dense, thick, vacuous, mindless, witless, doltish,
oafish, boorish, asinine, bovine, coarse, gross; More
antonyms: intelligent
[crash hote samay pilots ne koi samajhdari nahi dikhai]
inure
/ɪˈnjʊə,ɪˈnjɔː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: inured; past participle: inured
1.
accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant.
"these children have been inured to violence"
synonyms: harden, toughen, season, temper, condition; More
antonyms: sensitize
2.
LAW
variant spelling of enure (sense 1).
[in plants ko urea ki aadat ho gyi hai]
stash
/staʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: stash; 3rd person present: stashes; past tense: stashed; past participle: stashed; gerund or
present participle: stashing
1.
INFORMAL
store (something) safely in a hidden or secret place.
"their wealth had been stashed away in Swiss banks"
synonyms: store, stow, pack, load, cache, garner, hide, conceal, secrete; More
noun
noun: stash; plural noun: stashes
1.
INFORMAL
a store or supply of something, typically one that is kept hidden or secret.
"the man grudgingly handed over a stash of notes"
synonyms: cache, hoard, stock, stockpile, store, supply, accumulation, collection, reserve, fund,
pool; rareamassment
"the thieves had never found my small stash of money"
a quantity of an illegal drug, especially one kept for personal use.
"one prisoner tried to swallow his stash"
2.
INFORMAL•DATED
a hiding place or hideout.
[aise taish me aa gya jese khajana lut gaya ho]
innocuous
/ɪˈnɒkjʊəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: innocuous
not harmful or offensive.
"it was an innocuous question"
synonyms: harmless, safe, non-dangerous, non-poisonous, non-toxic, non-irritant, non-
injurious, innocent; edible, eatable, wholesome; rareinnoxious
"an innocuous fungus that grows on trees"
inoffensive, unobjectionable, unexceptionable, unoffending, harmless, mild, peaceful, gentle, tame,
insipid;
anodyne, bland, unremarkable, commonplace, run-of-the-mill
"an innocuous young man"
antonyms: harmful, obnoxious
[innocent]
dainty
/ˈdeɪnti/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: dainty; comparative adjective: daintier; superlative adjective: daintiest
1.
delicately small and pretty.
"a dainty lace handkerchief"
(of a person) delicate and graceful in build or movement.
"he is one of the daintiest players in the game"
synonyms: delicate, neat, refined, tasteful, fine, elegant, exquisite; More
antonyms: unwieldy
(of food) particularly good to eat and served in a small portion.
"a dainty morsel"
synonyms: tasty, delicious, choice, palatable, luscious, mouth-watering, delectable, toothsome,
succulent, juicy; More
antonyms: tasteless, unpalatable
2.
fastidious, especially concerning food.
"a dainty appetite"
synonyms: fastidious, fussy, hard to please, finicky, finical, faddish, squeamish; More
antonyms: easy to please, undiscriminating
noun
noun: dainty; plural noun: dainties
1.
something good to eat; a delicacy.
"home-made breads, jams, and dainties"
synonyms: delicacy, tasty morsel, titbit, fancy, luxury, treat, nibble, savoury, appetizer, bonne
bouche, confection, bonbon;
[daitya ko manana itna asan nhi tha par achha dish dekhkar wo khus ho gye]
furtively
/ˈfəːtɪvli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: furtively
in a way that attempts to avoid notice or attention; secretively.Stealthily
"I furtively glanced over at my father to see his reaction"
[furti se , koi notice na kare]
preposterous
/prɪˈpɒst(ə)rəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: preposterous
contrary to reason or common sense; utterly absurd or ridiculous.
"a preposterous suggestion"
synonyms: absurd, ridiculous, foolish, stupid, ludicrous, farcical, laughable, comical, risible,
hare-brained, asinine, inane, nonsensical, pointless, senseless, insane, unreasonable, irrational,
illogical; More
antonyms: reasonable, sensible
[pre- pehle wala post post birkul bhadda tha]
salubrious
/səˈluːbrɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: salubrious
health-giving; healthy.
"odours of far less salubrious origin"
synonyms: healthy, health-giving, healthful, beneficial, good for one's health, wholesome,
salutary
"I anticipate that I shall find the climate eminently salubrious"
antonyms: unhealthy
(of a place) pleasant; not run-down.
"an over-priced flat in a none too salubrious area"
synonyms: pleasant, agreeable, nice, select, upmarket, high-class, leafy, fashionable,
expensive, luxurious, grand, fancy; More
antonyms: unpleasant, downmarket
[salu bri nutritious kahna khati hai]
digress
/dʌɪˈɡrɛs/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: digress; 3rd person present: digresses; past tense: digressed; past participle: digressed;
gerund or present participle: digressing
leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing.
"I have digressed a little from my original plan"
synonyms: deviate, go off at a tangent, diverge, turn aside, turn away, depart, drift, stray,
ramble, wander, meander, maunder; More
antonyms: keep/stick to the point
grubby
/ˈɡrʌbi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: grubby; comparative adjective: grubbier; superlative adjective: grubbiest
covered with dirt; grimy.
"the grubby face of a young boy"
synonyms: dirty, grimy, filthy, unwashed, stained, soiled, smeared, spotted, muddy, dusty,
sooty;
antonyms: clean
involving dishonest or disreputable activity; sordid.
"the grubby business of selling arms"
squalid
/ˈskwɒlɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: squalid
(of a place) extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect.
"the squalid, overcrowded prison"
synonyms: dirty, filthy, grubby, grimy, mucky, slummy, slumlike, foul, vile, low, poor, sorry,
wretched, dismal, dingy, miserable, mean, nasty, seedy, shabby, sordid, sleazy, insalubrious,
slovenly, repulsive, disgusting; More
antonyms: clean, pleasant
showing or involving a contemptible lack of moral standards.
"a squalid attempt to save themselves from electoral embarrassment"
synonyms: improper, sordid, unseemly, unsavoury, sleazy, seedy, seamy, shoddy, vile, foul,
tawdry, louche, cheap, base, low, low-minded, nasty, debased, degenerate, depraved, corrupt,
dishonest, dishonourable, disreputable, despicable, discreditable, disgraceful, contemptible,
ignominious, ignoble, shameful, wretched, abhorrent, odious, abominable, disgusting;
informalsleazoid
"a squalid attempt to save themselves from electoral embarrassment"
antonyms: proper, decent
expurgate
/ˈɛkspəːɡeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: expurgate; 3rd person present: expurgates; past tense: expurgated; past participle:
expurgated; gerund or present participle: expurgating
remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable from (a text or account).
"an expurgated English translation"
synonyms: censor, bowdlerize, blue-pencil, redact, cut, edit; clean up, purge, purify, sanitize,
make acceptable, make palatable, make presentable, water down, emasculate
"a book which had been expurgated for use in schools"
alight
/əˈlʌɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: alight; 3rd person present: alights; past tense: alighted; past participle: alighted; gerund or
present participle: alighting
descend from a train, bus, or other form of transport.
"he was the only passenger to alight from the train"
synonyms: get off, step off, get down; dismount, disembark, descend, exit; detrain, deplane;
informalpile out
"he was the only passenger to alight from the train"
antonyms: get on, board
(of a bird) descend from the air and settle.
"a lovely blue swallow alighted on a branch"
synonyms: land, come down, come to rest, touch down, light, arrive, descend; More
antonyms: fly off
Phrases
alight on — find by chance; notice.
"her eyes alighted on the item in question"
romp
/rɒmp/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: romp; 3rd person present: romps; past tense: romped; past participle: romped; gerund or
present participle: romping
1.
(especially of a child or animal) play roughly and energetically.
"the noisy pack of children romped around the gardens"
synonyms: play, frolic, frisk, gambol, jump about/around, spring about/around, bound
about/around, skip, prance, caper, sport, cavort; rarerollick, curvet
"two fox cubs romped playfully on the bank"
INFORMAL
proceed without effort to achieve something.
"Newcastle romped to victory"
synonyms: sweep, sail, coast; win easily, win hands down, run away with it; informalwin by a
mile, walk it
"South Africa romped to a six-wicket win over India"
INFORMAL
engage in sexual activity, especially illicitly.
"a colleague stumbled on the couple romping in an office"
noun
noun: romp; plural noun: romps
1.
a spell of rough, energetic play.
"a romp in the snow"
a light-hearted film or other work.
"an enjoyably gross sci-fi romp"
INFORMAL
an easy victory.
"their UEFA Cup romp against the Luxembourg part-timers"
INFORMAL
a spell of sexual activity, especially an illicit one.
"three-in-a-bed sex romps"
embed
/ɪmˈbɛd,ɛmˈbɛd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: imbed
1.
fix (an object) firmly and deeply in a surrounding mass.
"he had an operation to remove a nail embedded in his chest"
synonyms: implant, plant, set, fix, lodge, root, insert, place; sink, submerge, immerse; drive in,
hammer in, ram in
"the plaque was embedded in a wall at the rear of the house"
implant (an idea or feeling) so that it becomes ingrained within a particular context.
"the Victorian values embedded in Tennyson's poetry"
LINGUISTICS
place (a phrase or clause) within another clause or sentence.
"phrases or clauses that are embedded in a sentence for effect"
incorporate (a video or other item of data) within the body of a web page or other document.
"you can embed the videos into a blog post."
design and build (a microprocessor) as an integral part of a system or device.
"to embed the controller, he has to get creative"
2.
attach (a journalist) to a military unit during a conflict.
"the CNN correspondent is now embedded with the US Navy aboard the USS Constellation"
noun
noun: imbed
1.
a journalist who is attached to a military unit during a conflict.
rabble
/ˈrab(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: rabble; plural noun: rabbles
1.
a disorderly crowd; a mob.
"he was met by a rabble of noisy, angry youths"
synonyms: mob, (disorderly) crowd, throng, gang, swarm, host, horde, pack, press, crush, jam,
gathering, assemblage, multitude, mass, body, group; archaicrout
"a rabble of noisy, angry youths"
ordinary people, especially when regarded as socially inferior or uncouth.
noun: the rabble
"the British feel no compunction about ushering the gentry into the coach and packing the rabble
off to debtor's prison"
synonyms: the common people, the masses, the populace, the public, the multitude, the rank
and file, the commonality, the commonalty, the third estate, the plebeians, the proletariat, the
peasantry, the crowd, the hoi polloi, the lower classes, the common herd, the riff-raff, the canaille,
the great unwashed, the dregs of society, the ragtag (and bobtail), the proles, the plebs
"democracy was often taken to mean rule by the rabble"
antonyms: aristocracy, nobility
2.
RARE
a large group of butterflies.
"we arrived at the grounds after following a rabble of butterflies"
bumptious
/ˈbʌm(p)ʃəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: bumptious
irritatingly self-assertive.
"an impossibly bumptious and opinionated ass"
synonyms: self-important, conceited, arrogant, self-assertive, full of oneself, puffed up,
swollen-headed, pompous, overbearing, (self-)opinionated, cocky, swaggering, strutting,
presumptuous, forward, imperious, domineering, pontificating, sententious, grandiose, affected,
stiff, vain, haughty, overweening, proud, egotistic, egotistical; supercilious, condescending,
patronizing; informalsnooty, uppity, uppish, pushy
"you're a bumptious little know-all at times"
antonyms: self-effacing
intestate
/ɪnˈtɛsteɪt/
 Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: intestate
1.
not having made a will before one dies.
"he died intestate"
noun
noun: intestate; plural noun: intestates
1.
a person who has died without having made a will.
aver
/əˈvəː/
Learn to pronounce
verbFORMAL
verb: aver; 3rd person present: avers; past tense: averred; past participle: averred; gerund or
present participle: averring
state or assert to be the case.
"he averred that he was innocent of the allegations"
synonyms: declare, maintain, claim, assert, state, attest, affirm, avow, swear, vow, profess,
insist, protest; More
LAW
allege as a fact in support of a plea.
"the defendant does not aver any performance by himself"
[WAH EVERYDAY WAHA JANE KO INSIST KARTA H]
repudiate
/rɪˈpjuːdɪeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: repudiate; 3rd person present: repudiates; past tense: repudiated; past participle: repudiated;
gerund or present participle: repudiating
1.
refuse to accept; reject.
"she has repudiated policies associated with previous party leaders"
synonyms: reject, renounce, abandon, forswear, give up, turn one's back on, have nothing
more to do with, wash one's hands of, have no more truck with, abjure, disavow, recant, desert,
discard, disown, cast off, lay aside, cut off, rebuff; More
antonyms: embrace
LAW
refuse to fulfil or discharge (an agreement, obligation, or debt).
"breach of a condition gives the other party the right to repudiate a contract"
synonyms: cancel, set aside, revoke, rescind, reverse, retract, overrule, override, overturn,
invalidate, nullify, declare null and void, abrogate; More
antonyms: ratify, accept, abide by
(in the past or in non-Christian religions) disown or divorce (one's wife).
"Philip was excommunicated in 1095 because he had repudiated his wife"
synonyms: divorce, end one's marriage to
"he repudiated his first wife"
antonyms: marry
2.
deny the truth or validity of.
"the minister repudiated allegations of human rights abuses"
synonyms: deny, refute, contradict, rebut, dispute, disclaim, disavow; More
antonyms: confirm, acknowledge
[REPUTATION KO DHYAN ME RAKHATE HUE USE REJECT KAR DIYA HAI]
confute
/kənˈfjuːt/
Learn to pronounce
verbFORMAL
verb: confute; 3rd person present: confutes; past tense: confuted; past participle: confuted; gerund
or present participle: confuting
prove (a person or an assertion or accusation) to be wrong.
"restorers who sought to confute this view were accused of ignorance"
synonyms: disprove, show/prove to be false, contradict, negate, deny, refute, rebut, gainsay,
belie, give the lie to, invalidate, explode, discredit, expose, debunk, quash, knock the bottom out of,
drive a coach and horses through; informalshoot full of holes, shoot down (in flames);
rarecontrovert, negative
"their assertion can certainly be confuted"
antonyms: prove
[KON PHOOT DAL RAHA H JISSE MERI BATON KO CONTRADICT KAR RAHE HO]
arraign
/əˈreɪn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: arraign; 3rd person present: arraigns; past tense: arraigned; past participle: arraigned; gerund
or present participle: arraigning
call or bring (someone) before a court to answer a criminal charge.
"her sister was arraigned on charges of attempted murder"
synonyms: indict, prosecute, put on trial, bring to trial; denounce, sue, take to court, bring an
action against, lay charges against, file charges against, prefer charges against, summons, cite;
accuse of, charge with; impeach; informalhave the law on, do; archaicinculpate
"he was arraigned for murder"
antonyms: clear, acquit
find fault with; censure.
"social workers were relieved it was not they who were arraigned in the tabloids"
synonyms: criticize, censure, attack, condemn, castigate, chastise, lambaste, pillory, find fault
with, reprimand, rebuke, admonish, remonstrate with, take to task, haul over the coals, berate,
reproach, reprove; More
antonyms: praise
accretion
/əˈkriːʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: accretion
growth or increase by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter.
"the accretion of sediments in coastal mangroves"
synonyms: accumulation, collecting, gathering, amassing, cumulation, accrual, growth,
formation, enlargement, increase, gain, augmentation, rise, mushrooming, snowballing;
rareamassment
"the accretion of sediments in coastal mangroves"
a thing formed or added by gradual growth or increase.
plural noun: accretions
"the city has a historic core surrounded by recent accretions"
synonyms: addition, extension, growth, appendage, add-on, supplement
"the city has a historic core surrounded by recent accretions"
ASTRONOMY
the coming together and cohesion of matter under the influence of gravitation to form larger
bodies.
"during the later stages of accretion the outer 100 km or so of the Moon melted"
brandish
/ˈbrandɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: brandish; 3rd person present: brandishes; past tense: brandished; past participle: brandished;
gerund or present participle: brandishing
wave or flourish (something, especially a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement.
"a man leaped out brandishing a knife"
synonyms: flourish, wave, shake, wield, raise, hold aloft; swing, twirl, wag, swish, flap; display,
flaunt, show off
"an old man approached me, brandishing a stick"
strife
/strʌɪf/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: strife
angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict.
"strife within the community"
synonyms: conflict, friction, discord, disagreement, dissension, variance, dispute, argument,
quarrelling, wrangling, bickering, controversy, contention; disharmony, ill feeling, bad feeling, bad
blood, hostility, animosity; informalfalling-out
"the history of the Empire is full of strife"
antonyms: harmony, peace, cooperation
AUSTRALIAN/NZ
trouble or difficulty of any kind.
[india ne strike kar k jhagade ko samapt kar diye]
fetter
/ˈfɛtə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fetter; plural noun: fetters
1.
a chain or manacle used to restrain a prisoner, typically placed around the ankles.
"he lay bound with fetters of iron"
synonyms: shackles, manacles, handcuffs, irons, leg irons, chains, bonds; tethers, ropes,
restraints; informalcuffs, bracelets; archaictrammels, gyves, darbies, bilboes
"the prisoner lay bound with fetters of iron"
a restraint or check on someone's freedom to act.
"the fetters of convention"
verb
verb: fetter; 3rd person present: fetters; past tense: fettered; past participle: fettered; gerund or
present participle: fettering
1.
restrain with chains or manacles, typically around the ankles.
"the Supervisor tossed a key to the old slave to unlock the chain that fettered the prisoners
together"
synonyms: shackle, manacle, handcuff, clap in irons, put in chains, chain (up), bind, tie (up),
tether, rope, hobble; More
confine or restrict (someone).
"he was not fettered by tradition"
synonyms: restrict, restrain, constrain, confine, limit; hinder, hamper, impede, obstruct,
handicap, hamstring, encumber, inhibit, check, curb, tie down; tie someone's hands, cramp
someone's style; literarytrammel
"these obligations do not fetter the company's powers"
[fatter logon se laces nahi bandhate]
parsimonious
/ˌpɑːsɪˈməʊnɪəs/
 Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: parsimonious
very unwilling to spend money or use resources.
"even the parsimonious Joe paid for drinks all round"
synonyms: mean, miserly, niggardly, close-fisted, penny-pinching, cheese-paring, ungenerous,
penurious, illiberal, close, grasping, Scrooge-like, stinting, sparing, frugal; informaltight-fisted,
stingy, tight, mingy, money-grubbing, skinflinty; informalcheap; vulgar slangtight-arsed; vulgar
slangtight as a duck's arse; archaicnear
antonyms: generous, extravagant, lavish
sparse
/spɑːs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: sparse; comparative adjective: sparser; superlative adjective: sparsest
thinly dispersed or scattered.
"areas of sparse population"
synonyms: scanty, scant, scattered, thinly distributed, scarce, infrequent, sporadic, few and far
between; meagre, paltry, skimpy, limited, in short supply, at a premium, hard to come by; slight,
thin
"areas of sparse population"
antonyms: abundant, plentiful, thick
scanty; in short supply.
"information on earnings is sparse"
synonyms: scanty, scant, scattered, thinly distributed, scarce, infrequent, sporadic, few and far
between; meagre, paltry, skimpy, limited, in short supply, at a premium, hard to come by; slight,
thin
"areas of sparse population"
antonyms: abundant, plentiful, thick
[itne kam pani me naw ispar se uspar nhi jayegi]
lament
/ləˈmɛnt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: lament; plural noun: laments
1.
a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.
"his mother's night-long laments for his father"
synonyms: wail, wailing, lamentation, moan, moaning, groan, weeping, crying, sob, sobbing,
keening, howl, complaint; rarejeremiad, ululation
"the widow's laments"
a song, piece of music, or poem expressing grief or sorrow.
"the piper played a lament"
synonyms: dirge, requiem, elegy, funeral song/chant, burial hymn, dead march, keen, plaint,
knell; coronach; rarethrenody, monody, epicedium
"he sang a lament for the dead"
2.
a complaint.
"there were constant laments about the conditions of employment"
verb
verb: lament; 3rd person present: laments; past tense: lamented; past participle: lamented; gerund
or present participle: lamenting
1.
express passionate grief about.
"he was lamenting the death of his infant daughter"
synonyms: mourn, grieve (for/over), weep for, shed tears for; sorrow, wail, moan, groan,
weep, cry, sob, keen, plain, howl, pine for, beat one's breast; rareululate
"the mourners lamented a life taken so suddenly"
antonyms: celebrate, rejoice
2.
express regret or disappointment about something.
"she lamented the lack of shops in the town"
synonyms: bemoan, bewail, complain about, deplore, regret, rue; protest against, speak out
against, object to, oppose, disagree with, fulminate against, inveigh against, rail at, make a fuss
about, denounce
"he lamented the modernizing of the old buildings"
mutilate
/ˈmjuːtɪleɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: mutilate; 3rd person present: mutilates; past tense: mutilated; past participle: mutilated;
gerund or present participle: mutilating
inflict a violent and disfiguring injury on.
"most of the prisoners had been mutilated"
synonyms: mangle, maim, disfigure, cut to pieces, cut up, hack up, butcher, dismember, tear
limb from limb, tear apart, lacerate
"many of the bodies had been mutilated"
inflict serious damage on.
"the fine carved screen was mutilated in the 18th century"
synonyms: vandalize, damage, deface, spoil, mar, ruin, destroy, wreck, violate, desecrate;
informaltrash; raredisfeature
"the 14th-century carved screen had been mutilated"
conciliation
/kənˌsɪlɪˈeɪʃn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: conciliation; plural noun: conciliations
the action of stopping someone being angry; placation.
"he held his hands up in a gesture of conciliation"
synonyms: appeasement, pacification, peacemaking, placation, propitiation, mollification,
reconciliation
"he held his hands up in a gesture of conciliation"
antonyms: provocation
the action of mediating between two disputing people or groups.
"many disputes are settled through conciliation by the official body"
affluent
/ˈaflʊənt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: affluent
1.
(especially of a group or area) having a great deal of money; wealthy.
"the affluent societies of the western world"
synonyms: wealthy, rich, prosperous, opulent, well off, moneyed, cash rich, with deep pockets,
well-to-do, comfortable; propertied, substantial, of means, of substance, with deep pockets, in
clover, plutocratic; silk-stocking; informalwell heeled, rolling in it/money, in the money, made of
money, filthy rich, stinking rich, loaded, flush, on easy street, quids in, worth a packet/bundle
"a residence in the affluent part of Montreal"
antonyms: poor, impoverished
2.
ARCHAIC
(of water) flowing freely or in great quantity.
nounARCHAIC
noun: affluent; plural noun: affluents
1.
a tributary stream.
erudite
/ˈɛrʊdʌɪt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: erudite
having or showing great knowledge or learning.
"Ken could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion"
synonyms: learned, scholarly, well educated, knowledgeable, well read, widely read, well
versed, well informed, lettered, cultured, cultivated, civilized, intellectual; intelligent, clever,
academic, literary, bookish, highbrow, studious, sage, wise, sagacious, discerning, donnish,
cerebral, enlightened, illuminated, sophisticated, pedantic; esoteric, obscure, recondite;
informalbrainy, genius; raresapient
"he was so erudite that only men who were his equals in scholarship could understand him"
antonyms: ignorant, ill-educated
coax1
/kəʊks/
verb
verb: coax; 3rd person present: coaxes; past tense: coaxed; past participle: coaxed; gerund or
present participle: coaxing
gently and persistently persuade (someone) to do something.
"the trainees were coaxed into doing boring work"
synonyms: persuade, wheedle, cajole, talk into something, get round, prevail on, beguile,
flatter, seduce, lure, entice, tempt, inveigle, woo, manoeuvre; informalsweet-talk, soft-soap, butter
up, twist someone's arm; archaicblandish
"you have to coax some of the children to speak"
obtain something from (someone) by gentle and persistent persuasion.
"we coaxed our fare money out of my father"
arrange (something) carefully into a particular shape or position.
"her lovely hair had been coaxed into ringlets".
altercation
/ɒltəˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: altercation; plural noun: altercations
a noisy argument or disagreement, especially in public.
"I had an altercation with the ticket collector"
synonyms: argument, quarrel, squabble, fight, shouting match, contretemps, disagreement,
difference of opinion, dissension, falling-out, dispute, disputation, contention, clash, acrimonious
exchange, war of words, wrangle; donnybrook; informaltiff, set-to, run-in, spat, scrap, dust-up;
informalrow, barney, slanging match, ding-dong, bust-up, bit of argy-bargy, ruck; informalafters;
informalrammy; informalrhubarb; archaicbroil, miff; archaicthreap, collieshangie
"I had an altercation with the ticket collector"
animosity
/ˌanɪˈmɒsɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: animosity; plural noun: animosities
strong hostility.
"he no longer felt any animosity towards her"
synonyms: antipathy, hostility, friction, antagonism, enmity, animus, opposition, aversion,
acrimony, bitterness, rancour, resentment, dislike, ill feeling, bad feeling, ill will, bad blood, hatred,
hate, loathing, detestation, abhorrence, odium; malice, spite, spitefulness, venom, malevolence,
malignity; grudges, grievances; archaicdisrelish
"there was considerable animosity between him and his brother"
antonyms: goodwill, friendship
ratification
/ratɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: ratification; plural noun: ratifications
the action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially
valid.
"ratification of the treaty raised problems in several member states"
impertinent
/ɪmˈpəːtɪnənt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: impertinent
1.
not showing proper respect; rude.
"an impertinent question"
synonyms: rude, insolent, impolite, unmannerly, ill-mannered, bad-mannered, uncivil,
discourteous, disrespectful; impudent, cheeky, audacious, bold, brazen, brash, shameless,
presumptuous, forward, pert; tactless, undiplomatic, unsubtle, personal; informalbrass-necked,
fresh, flip; informalsaucy; informalsassy, nervy; archaicmalapert, contumelious; raremannerless
"she asked a lot of impertinent questions"
antonyms: polite
2.
FORMAL
not pertinent to a particular matter; irrelevant.
"talk of ‘rhetoric’ and ‘strategy’ is impertinent to this process"
synonyms: irrelevant, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, immaterial, unrelated,
unconnected, not germane; beside the point, out of place, nothing to do with it, neither here nor
there
"talk of ‘rhetoric’ is impertinent to this process"
antonyms: relevant, pertinent
frivolous
/ˈfrɪv(ə)ləs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: frivolous
not having any serious purpose or value.
"frivolous ribbons and lacy frills"
synonyms: flippant, glib, waggish, joking, jokey, light-hearted, facetious, fatuous, inane,
shallow, superficial, senseless, thoughtless, ill-considered, non-serious; informalflip; informaldaft;
archaicfrolicsome, sportive, jocose
"they never indulged in frivolous remarks"
impractical, frothy, flimsy, insubstantial
"her face was thickly painted and her clothes were frivolous"
time-wasting, trivial, trifling, minor, petty, lightweight, insignificant, unimportant, worthless,
valueless, pointless, paltry, niggling, peripheral
"new rules to stop frivolous lawsuits"
antonyms: serious, practical, important
(of a person) carefree and superficial.
"the frivolous, fun-loving flappers of the twenties"
synonyms: giddy, silly, foolish, facetious, zany, light-hearted, merry, superficial, shallow, lacking
seriousness, non-serious, light-minded, whimsical, skittish, flighty, irresponsible, thoughtless,
lacking in sense, feather-brained, empty-headed, pea-brained, birdbrained, vacuous, vapid;
informaldizzy, dippy, dopey, batty, dotty, nutty; informalditzy
"I worried constantly about whether they thought I was frivolous or silly"
antonyms: sensible, serious
quintessential
/ˌkwɪntɪˈsɛnʃ(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: quintessential
representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
"he was the quintessential tough guy—strong, silent, and self-contained"
synonyms: typical, prototypical, stereotypical, archetypal, classic, model, essential, standard,
stock, representative, true to type, conventional; ideal, consummate, exemplary, best, ultimate,
supreme, absolute
"skiing was the quintessential 1980s yuppie holiday"
quaint
/kweɪnt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: quaint; comparative adjective: quainter; superlative adjective: quaintest
attractively unusual or old-fashioned.
"quaint country cottages"
synonyms: picturesque, charming, sweet, attractive, pleasantly old-fashioned, old-fashioned,
old-world, toytown; cunning; informaltwee, arty-crafty; archaicolde, olde worlde
"narrow streets lead to a quaint bridge over the river"
unusual, different, out of the ordinary, out of the way, unfamiliar, curious, eccentric, quirky, bizarre,
zany, whimsical, fanciful, idiosyncratic, unconventional, outlandish, offbeat, off-centre;
outré
"Polybius comments on the quaint customs of the Romans"
antonyms: modern, ugly, normal, ordinary
quash
/kwɒʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: quash; 3rd person present: quashes; past tense: quashed; past participle: quashed; gerund or
present participle: quashing
reject as invalid, especially by legal procedure.
"his conviction was quashed on appeal"
synonyms: cancel, reverse, rescind, repeal, revoke, retract, countermand, withdraw, take back,
rule against, disallow, overturn, override, overrule, veto, set aside, overthrow, repudiate, annul,
nullify, declare null and void, invalidate, render invalid, negate, void, abrogate; vacate; archaicrecall
"the Court of Appeal may quash the sentence"
antonyms: validate
put an end to; suppress.
"a hospital executive quashed rumours that nursing staff will lose jobs"
synonyms: put an end to, stamp out, put a stop to, end, finish, get rid of, crush, put down,
check, crack down on, curb, nip in the bud, thwart, frustrate, squash, quell, subdue, suppress,
repress, quench, extinguish, stifle, abolish, terminate; beat, overcome, defeat, rout, destroy,
demolish, annihilate, wipe out; informalsquelch, put the kibosh on, clobber; rareextirpate
"we want to quash these horrible suggestions"
antonyms: bring about, prompt

cogent
/ˈkəʊdʒ(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: cogent
(of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing.
"they put forward cogent arguments for British membership"
synonyms: convincing, compelling, strong, forceful, powerful, potent, weighty; valid, sound,
well founded, plausible, effective, efficacious, telling; impressive, persuasive, irresistible, eloquent,
credible, influential, conclusive, unanswerable, authoritative; logical, reasoned, well reasoned,
rational, reasonable, lucid, coherent, well organized, systematic, orderly, methodical, clear,
articulate, consistent, relevant
"a cogent argument"
antonyms: vague, unconvincing, muddled

deleterious
/ˌdɛlɪˈtɪərɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveFORMAL
adjective: deleterious
causing harm or damage.
"divorce is assumed to have deleterious effects on children"
synonyms: harmful, damaging, detrimental, injurious, inimical, hurtful, bad, adverse,
disadvantageous, unfavourable, unfortunate, undesirable; destructive, pernicious, ruinous
"these policies are having a deleterious effect on British industry"
antonyms: beneficial, advantageous
endeavour
/ɪnˈdɛvə,ɛnˈdɛvə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: endeavour; 3rd person present: endeavours; past tense: endeavoured; past participle:
endeavoured; gerund or present participle: endeavouring; verb: endeavor; 3rd person present:
endeavors; past tense: endeavored; past participle: endeavored; gerund or present participle:
endeavoring
1.
try hard to do or achieve something.
"he is endeavouring to help the Third World"
synonyms: try, attempt, venture, undertake, aspire, aim, seek, set out; strive, struggle, labour,
toil, work hard, try hard, exert oneself, apply oneself, do one's best, do one's utmost, give one's all,
be at pains; work at, try one's hand at; informalslog away, give something a whirl, have a go at,
have a shot at, have a stab at, give something one's best shot, do one's damnedest, go all out, bend
over backwards, break one's neck, bust a gut, move heaven and earth; formalessay
"the company endeavoured to expand its activities"
noun
noun: endeavour; plural noun: endeavours; noun: endeavor; plural noun: endeavors
1.
an attempt to achieve a goal.
"an endeavour to reduce serious injury"
synonyms: attempt, try, bid, effort, trial, venture; informalgo, crack, shot, stab, bash, whack,
whirl
"an endeavour to build a more buoyant economy"
earnest, prolonged, and industrious effort.
"enthusiasm is a vital ingredient in all human endeavour"
synonyms: striving, struggling, labouring, struggle, labour, hard work, hard slog, effort,
exertion, application, industry; pains; informalsweat, blood, sweat, and tears, elbow grease;
informalgraft; informal(hard) yakka; archaictravail, moil
"after several days of endeavour he completed the task"
an enterprise or undertaking.
"a portfolio of business endeavours"
synonyms: undertaking, enterprise, venture, pursuit, exercise, activity, exploit, deed, act,
action, move; scheme, plan, project; informalcaper
"what you are proposing is an extremely unwise endeavour"
prominence
/ˈprɒmɪnəns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: prominence
1.
the state of being important, famous, or noticeable.
"she came to prominence as an artist in the 1960s"
synonyms: fame, celebrity, eminence, pre-eminence, importance, distinction, greatness, note,
notability, prestige, stature, standing, position, rank, renown, repute, illustriousness, acclaim,
influence, account, consequence, visibility
"his rise to prominence was meteoric"
good coverage, close attention, importance, precedence, weight, a high profile, top billing,
noticeability
"the US and UK press gave prominence to the reports"
2.
the fact or state of projecting from something.
"radiographs showed enlargement of the right heart with prominence of the pulmonary outflow
tract"
a thing that projects from something, such as a projecting feature of the landscape or a
protuberance on a part of the body.
plural noun: prominences
"the steep, rocky prominence resembled a snow-capped mountain"
synonyms: hillock, hill, hummock, mound, outcrop, spur, rise, tor, ridge, peak, pinnacle,
elevation; promontory, cliff, crag, headland, height; arête; law
"the steep rocky prominence resembled a snow-capped mountain"
protuberance, projection, swelling, bump, bulge, lump;
technicalprocess, bulla
"bony prominences in the arm and leg"
ASTRONOMY
a stream of incandescent gas projecting above the sun's chromosphere.
eschew
/ɪsˈtʃuː,ɛsˈtʃuː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: eschew; 3rd person present: eschews; past tense: eschewed; past participle: eschewed;
gerund or present participle: eschewing
deliberately avoid using; abstain from.
"he appealed to the crowd to eschew violence"
synonyms: abstain from, refrain from, give up, forgo, forswear, shun, renounce, swear off,
abjure, steer clear of, have nothing to do with, give a wide berth to, fight shy of, relinquish, reject,
dispense with, disavow, abandon, deny, gainsay, disclaim, repudiate, renege on, spurn, abnegate,
abdicate, wash one's hands of, drop; informalkick, jack in, pack in; disaffirm; archaicforsake
"he firmly eschewed political involvement"
antonyms: indulge in
ostensible
/ɒˈstɛnsɪb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: ostensible
stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so.
"the real dispute which lay behind the ostensible complaint"
synonyms: apparent, seeming, outward, surface, superficial, professed, supposed, avowed,
presumed, so-called, alleged, declared, claimed, purported, pretended, feigned, specious;
rareostensive
"there are of course dangers in taking ostensible motives as real ones"
antonyms: real, genuine
gloat
/ɡləʊt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: gloat; 3rd person present: gloats; past tense: gloated; past participle: gloated; gerund or
present participle: gloating
1.
dwell on one's own success or another's misfortune with smugness or malignant pleasure.
"his enemies gloated over his death"
synonyms: delight in, relish, take great pleasure in, enjoy greatly, revel in, rejoice in, glory in,
exult in, triumph over, crow over; boast about, brag about, feel self-satisfied about, be smug about,
congratulate oneself on, preen oneself about, pat oneself on the back about; rub one's hands
together; informalrub it in; archaicpique oneself on
"she gloated over his recent humiliation"
nounINFORMAL
noun: gloat; plural noun: gloats
1.
an act of gloating.
"I would join her for a good gloat"
gnash
/naʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: gnash; 3rd person present: gnashes; past tense: gnashed; past participle: gnashed; gerund or
present participle: gnashing
grind (one's teeth) together as a sign of anger (often used hyperbolically).
"no doubt he is gnashing his teeth in rage"
synonyms: grind, strike together, grate, rasp, grit; archaicgristbite
"she wailed and gnashed her teeth"
(of teeth) strike together; grind.
"the dog's jaws were primed to gnash
goad
/ɡəʊd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: goad; 3rd person present: goads; past tense: goaded; past participle: goaded; gerund or
present participle: goading
1.
provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate an action or reaction.
"he was trying to goad her into a fight"
synonyms: provoke, spur, prick, sting, prod, egg on, hound, badger, incite, rouse, stir, move,
stimulate, motivate, excite, inflame, work/fire up, impel, pressure, pressurize, dragoon, prompt,
induce, encourage, urge, inspire
"the government was finally goaded into action"
2.
drive (an animal) with a spiked stick.
"the cowboys goaded their cattle across the meadows"
noun
noun: goad; plural noun: goads
1.
a spiked stick used for driving cattle.
synonyms: prod, spiked stick, spike, staff, crook, pole, rod; ankus; archaicprick
"he applied his goad energetically to the cattle's hindquarters"
a thing that stimulates someone into action.
"for him the visit was a goad to renewed effort"
synonyms: stimulus, incentive, encouragement, stimulant, stimulation, inducement, fillip,
impetus, impulse, spur, prod, prompt; incitement; motive, motivation; informalkick in the pants,
kick up the backside, shot in the arm
"the offer of economic help acted as a goad to political change"
guise
/ɡʌɪz/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: guise; plural noun: guises
an external form, appearance, or manner of presentation, typically concealing the true nature of
something.
"he visited in the guise of an inspector"
synonyms: likeness, external appearance, appearance, semblance, form, outward form, shape,
image, aspect; disguise, false colours; costume, clothes, outfit, dress
"the god appeared in the guise of a swan"
pretence, false show, false front, false display, show, front, facade, illusion, cover, blind, screen,
smokescreen, masquerade, posture, pose, act, charade;
informalput-on, put-up job
"the king sent forces into Flanders under the guise of a crusade"
hade
/heɪd/
GEOLOGY
noun
plural noun: hades
1.
the inclination of a mineral vein or fault from the vertical.
verb
3rd person present: hades
1.
(of a shaft, vein, or fault) incline from the vertical.
"it was hading eighteen inches for every fathom in depth"
hubris
/ˈhjuːbrɪs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: hubris
excessive pride or self-confidence.
"the self-assured hubris among economists was shaken in the late 1980s"
synonyms: arrogance, conceit, conceitedness, haughtiness, pride, vanity, self-importance, self-
conceit, pomposity, superciliousness, feeling of superiority; hauteur; informaluppitiness, big-
headedness
"the self-assuring hubris among economists was shaken in the late 1960s"
antonyms: modesty
(in Greek tragedy) excessive pride towards or defiance of the gods, leading to nemesis.
idolatry
/ʌɪˈdɒlətri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: idolatry; plural noun: idolatries
the worship of idols.
synonyms: idol worship, idolatrism, fetishism, iconolatry, icon worship; More
extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone.
"we must not allow our idolatry of art to obscure issues of political significance"
synonyms: idolization, idolizing, fetishization, worship, worshipping, adulation, adoration,
adoring, reverence, glorification, lionizing, lionization, love, admiration, loving, admiring, hero-
worshipping
"our idolatry of art"
Antonyms: vilification
lineage
/ˈlɪnɪɪdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: lineage; plural noun: lineages
1.
direct descent from an ancestor; ancestry or pedigree.
"a Dutch nobleman of ancient lineage"
synonyms: ancestry, family, parentage, birth; descent, line, extraction, derivation, heritage,
genealogy, roots, house, dynasty, origin, background; stock, strain, race, bloodline, blood, breeding,
pedigree, succession
"a Dutch nobleman of ancient lineage"
ANTHROPOLOGY
a social group tracing its descent from a single ancestor.
2.
BIOLOGY
a sequence of species each of which is considered to have evolved from its predecessor.
"the chimpanzee and gorilla lineages"
a sequence of cells in the body which developed from a common ancestral cell.
"the myeloid lineage"
mangle
/ˈmaŋɡ(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: mangle; 3rd person present: mangles; past tense: mangled; past participle: mangled; gerund
or present participle: mangling
destroy or severely damage by tearing or crushing.
"the car was mangled almost beyond recognition"
synonyms: mutilate, maim, disfigure, damage, injure, crush, crumple; hack, cut about, lacerate,
tear apart, rend, chop (up), butcher, deform, maul, wreck
"the bodies were mangled beyond recognition"
ruin or spoil (a text, piece of music, etc.).
"he was mangling Bach on the piano"
synonyms: spoil, ruin, mar, mutilate, bungle, mess up, make a mess of, wreck; informalmurder,
make a hash of, muck up, screw up, butcher
"he's mangling the English language"
heyday
/ˈheɪdeɪ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: heyday; plural noun: heydays
the period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, activity, or vigour.
"the paper has lost millions of readers since its heyday in 1964"
synonyms: prime, peak, height, high point, high spot, peak of perfection, pinnacle, acme,
zenith, day, time, bloom, flowering, culmination, crowning point; prime of life, best days, best
years, salad days
"the paper has lost millions of readers since its heyday in 1964"
antonyms: low point
misconstrue
/mɪskənˈstruː/
 Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: misconstrue; 3rd person present: misconstrues; past tense: misconstrued; past participle:
misconstrued; gerund or present participle: misconstruing
interpret (a person's words or actions) wrongly.
"my advice was deliberately misconstrued"
synonyms: misunderstand, misinterpret, put a wrong interpretation on, misconceive,
misapprehend, mistake, misread, miss, confuse, confound, take amiss; miscalculate, err, be
mistaken, get the wrong idea, get it/someone wrong, receive a false impression, be under a
delusion, get (hold of) the wrong end of the stick, be at cross purposes; informalbe barking up the
wrong tree
"his indifference can easily be misconstrued as arrogance"
miffed
/mɪft/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL
adjective: miffed
somewhat annoyed; peeved.
"she turned around, looking slightly miffed"
miff
/mɪf/
Learn to pronounce
verbINFORMAL
past tense: miffed; past participle: miffed
annoy.
"I'll confess it miffed me slightly at the time"
synonyms: annoyed, displeased, offended, aggrieved, piqued, riled, nettled, vexed, irked,
irritated, upset, hurt, pained, put out, in a huff, fed up, chagrined, disgruntled, discontented,
resentful; More
antonyms: pleased
percolate
/ˈpəːkəleɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: percolate; 3rd person present: percolates; past tense: percolated; past participle: percolated;
gerund or present participle: percolating
1.
(of a liquid or gas) filter gradually through a porous surface or substance.
"the water percolating through the soil may leach out minerals"
synonyms: filter, drain, drip, ooze, seep, trickle, dribble, strain, leak, leach; rarefiltrate,
transude
"water that has percolated through the soil"
spread gradually through an area or group of people.
"continental ideas on art, science, and architecture percolated from Venice to London"
synonyms: spread, be disseminated, filter, pass, go; penetrate, permeate, pervade, infiltrate
"a few of these technological marvels began to slowly percolate into the countryside"
2.
(of coffee) be prepared in a percolator.
"he put some coffee on to percolate"
synonyms: brew; informalperk
"he put some coffee on to percolate"
prepare (coffee) in a percolator.
"it will have to be instant coffee—there's no time to percolate any"
US
be or become full of lively activity or excitement.
"the night was percolating with an expectant energy"
decorum
/dɪˈkɔːrəm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: decorum
behaviour in keeping with good taste and propriety.
"he had acted with the utmost decorum"
synonyms: propriety, properness, seemliness, decency, decorousness, good taste, correctness,
appropriateness, appropriacy; politeness, courtesy, good manners; refinement, breeding,
deportment, dignity, respectability, modesty, demureness
"he had acted with the utmost decorum"
antonyms: impropriety
etiquette.
"he had no idea of funeral decorum"
synonyms: etiquette, protocol, customary behaviour, good form, custom, convention,
conformity, conventionality, usage, ritual; formalities, niceties, punctilios, politeness; politesse;
informalthe thing to do; humorouscouth
"a breach of decorum"
ARCHAIC
particular requirements of good taste and propriety.
plural noun: decorums
ARCHAIC
suitability to the requirements of a person, rank, or occasion.
propriety
/prəˈprʌɪəti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: propriety
conformity to conventionally accepted standards of behaviour or morals.
"he always behaved with the utmost propriety"
synonyms: decorum, respectability, decency, correctness, appropriateness, good manners,
courtesy, politeness, rectitude, civility, modesty, demureness; More
antonyms: impropriety, indecorum
the details or rules of behaviour conventionally considered to be correct.
plural noun: proprieties
"she's a great one for the proprieties"
the condition of being right, appropriate, or fitting.
"they questioned the propriety of certain investments made by the council"
synonyms: correctness, rightness, fitness, suitability, suitableness, appropriateness,
appropriacy, aptness, morality, ethicality
"they question the propriety of certain investments made by the council"
antonyms: impropriety
despoil
/dɪˈspɔɪl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: despoil; 3rd person present: despoils; past tense: despoiled; past participle: despoiled; gerund
or present participle: despoiling
steal or violently remove valuable possessions from; plunder.
"the church was despoiled of its marble wall covering"
synonyms: plunder, pillage, rob, ravage, harry, maraud, ravish, rape, raid, ransack, loot, sack,
rifle; devastate, lay waste, wreak havoc on, vandalize, destroy, ruin, wreck, raze, level, annihilate,
gut; raredepredate; archaicreave
"a Cornish village that was despoiled by invaders"
rob, strip, deprive, dispossess, denude, divest, relieve, clean out;
archaicreave
"the robbers despoiled him of all he had"

ruminate
/ˈruːmɪneɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: ruminate; 3rd person present: ruminates; past tense: ruminated; past participle: ruminated;
gerund or present participle: ruminating
1.
think deeply about something.
"we sat ruminating on the nature of existence"
synonyms: think about, contemplate, consider, give thought to, give consideration to, mull
over, meditate on, muse on, ponder on/over, deliberate about/on, cogitate about/on, dwell on,
brood on/over, agonize over, worry about, chew over, puzzle over; turn over in one's mind;
archaicpore on
"we sat ruminating on the nature of existence"
2.
(of a ruminant) chew the cud.
"goats ruminated nonchalantly around them"
synonyms: chew the cud
"cows emit more methane when they are ruminating"
wry
/rʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: wry; comparative adjective: wryer; superlative adjective: wryest; comparative adjective:
wrier; superlative adjective: wriest
1.
using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humour.
"a wry smile"
synonyms: ironic, sardonic, satirical, mocking, scoffing, sneering, derisive, scornful, sarcastic,
double-edged, dry, droll, witty, humorous; informalsarky
"his wry humour made her laugh"
2.
(of a person's face or features) twisted into an expression of disgust, disappointment, or
annoyance.
synonyms: disgusted, displeased, discontented, offended, unimpressed, annoyed, irritated,
irked, vexed, piqued, nettled, put out, disgruntled; informalpeeved, narked, hacked off;
informalcheesed off; informalsore, ticked off, teed off; vulgar slangpissed off
"he sipped his cold coffee and made a wry face"
3.
ARCHAIC
(of the neck or features) distorted or turned to one side.
"a remedy for wry necks"
Origin
widdle
/ˈwɪd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL•BRITISH
verb
verb: widdle; 3rd person present: widdles; past tense: widdled; past participle: widdled; gerund or
present participle: widdling
1.
urinate.
noun
noun: widdle; plural noun: widdles
1.
an act of urinating.
urine.
wheedle
/ˈwiːd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: wheedle; 3rd person present: wheedles; past tense: wheedled; past participle: wheedled;
gerund or present participle: wheedling
use flattery or coaxing in order to persuade someone to do something or give one something.
"she wheedled her way on to the guest list"
synonyms: coax, cajole, inveigle, lure, induce, blarney, entice, charm, tempt, beguile, flatter,
persuade, influence, sway, win someone over, bring someone round, prod, talk, convince, make,
get, press, prevail on, get round, argue, reason, urge, pressure, pressurize, bring pressure to bear
on, coerce; informalsweet-talk, soft-soap, twist someone's arm, smooth-talk, butter someone up
"she had wheedled us into employing her brother"
Origin
glower
/ˈɡlaʊə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: glower; 3rd person present: glowers; past tense: glowered; past participle: glowered; gerund
or present participle: glowering
1.
have an angry or sullen look on one's face; scowl.
"she glowered at him suspiciously"
synonyms: scowl, glare, stare angrily, look daggers, frown, lour, give a someone black look, pull
a face; informalgive someone a dirty look, give someone a death stare; archaicglout; archaicglunch
"she glowered at him suspiciously"
antonyms: smile, grin
noun
noun: glower; plural noun: glowers
1.
an angry or sullen look.
"the angry glower on the face of the policeman"
synonyms: scowl, glare, angry stare, frown, black look; informaldirty look, death stare
"the icy glower on her father's face"
avow
/əˈvaʊ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: avow; 3rd person present: avows; past tense: avowed; past participle: avowed; gerund or
present participle: avowing
assert or confess openly.
"he avowed that he had voted Labour in every election"
synonyms: assert, declare, state, maintain, aver, attest, swear, vow, insist; confess, admit;
rareasseverate
"he avowed that the president had been fully aware of the situation"
declared, sworn, self-confessed, confessed, self-proclaimed, acknowledged, admitted, open, overt;
known
"an avowed golf fanatic"
inure
/ɪˈnjʊə,ɪˈnjɔː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: inure; 3rd person present: inures; past tense: inured; past participle: inured; gerund or
present participle: inuring; verb: enure; 3rd person present: enures; past tense: enured; past
participle: enured; gerund or present participle: enuring
1.
accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant.
"these children have been inured to violence"
synonyms: harden, toughen, season, temper, condition; accustom, habituate, familiarize,
acclimatize, adjust, adapt, attune; desensitize, dehumanize, brutalize, case-harden; rareindurate
"they became inured to poverty"
antonyms: sensitize
2.
LAW
variant spelling of enure (sense 1).
defray
/dɪˈfreɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: defray; 3rd person present: defrays; past tense: defrayed; past participle: defrayed; gerund or
present participle: defraying
provide money to pay (a cost or expense).
"the proceeds from the raffle help to defray the expenses of the evening"
synonyms: pay (for), cover, meet, square, settle, clear, discharge, liquidate; foot the bill for;
informalpick up the tab/check for
"the rest of the money was used to defray the costs of restoring the house"
whet
/wɛt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: whet; 3rd person present: whets; past tense: whetted; past participle: whetted; gerund or
present participle: whetting
1.
sharpen the blade of (a tool or weapon).
"she took out her dagger and began to whet its blade in even, rhythmic strokes"
synonyms: sharpen, hone, put an edge on, strop, grind, file; rareedge, acuminate
"he whetted his knife on a stone"
antonyms: blunt
excite or stimulate (someone's desire, interest, or appetite).
"here's an extract to whet your appetite"
synonyms: stimulate, excite, arouse, rouse, kindle, trigger, spark, quicken, waken, stir, inspire,
animate, fan, fuel, fire, activate, incite, titillate, tempt, galvanize, prompt, strengthen, intensify
"is that enough to whet your appetite?"
antonyms: dull, spoil
nounARCHAIC
noun: whet; plural noun: whets
1.
a thing that stimulates appetite or desire.
"he swallowed his two dozen oysters as a whet"
carrion
/ˈkarɪən/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: carrion
the decaying flesh of dead animals.
"a crow wheeled over the hills in search of carrion"

masticate
/ˈmastɪkeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: masticate; 3rd person present: masticates; past tense: masticated; past participle:
masticated; gerund or present participle: masticating
chew (food).
"dentition affects how well food is masticated and absorbed"
synonyms: chew, munch, champ, chomp, crunch, eat; ruminate, chew the cud;
technicalmanducate, triturate; rarechumble
"this lizard eats a wide variety of plants but does not masticate the food"
pernickety
/pəˈnɪkɪti/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL•BRITISH
adjective: pernickety
placing too much emphasis on trivial or minor details; fussy.
"she's very pernickety about her food"
synonyms: fussy, difficult to please, difficult, finicky, over-fastidious, fastidious, over-particular,
particular, faddish, finical, dainty, punctilious, hair-splitting, exacting, demanding, critical,
overcritical; pass-remarkable; informalnitpicking, choosy, picky; informalfaddy;
informalpersnickety; archaicnice, overnice
antonyms: easy-going, laid-back
requiring a particularly precise or careful approach.
"the system does not encourage additional enquiries on detailed and pernickety points"
comeuppance
/kʌmˈʌp(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
nounINFORMAL
noun: comeuppance; plural noun: comeuppances; noun: come-uppance; plural noun: come-
uppances
a punishment or fate that someone deserves.
"he got his comeuppance in the end"
synonyms: just deserts, deserved fate, due, due reward, just punishment, retribution, requital;
archaicrecompense
"in those films the villain always got his comeuppance"
expiate
/ˈɛkspɪeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: expiate; 3rd person present: expiates; past tense: expiated; past participle: expiated; gerund
or present participle: expiating
make amends or reparation for (guilt or wrongdoing).
"their sins must be expiated by sacrifice"
synonyms: atone for, make amends for, make up for, do penance for, pay for, redress, redeem,
offset, square, make good, make redress for, make reparation for, make recompense for, make
restitution for, purge
"an attempt to expiate his sins"
felicitous
/fɪˈlɪsɪtəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: felicitous
well chosen or suited to the circumstances.
"a felicitous phrase"
synonyms: apt, well chosen, well expressed, well put, choice, fitting, suitable, appropriate,
apposite, pertinent, germane, to the point, relevant, congruous, apropos; informalspot on
"his nickname was particularly felicitous"
antonyms: inappropriate
pleasing and fortunate.
"the view was the room's only felicitous feature"
synonyms: fortunate, advantageous, good, favourable, lucky, happy, pleasing, encouraging
"the view is the room's only felicitous feature"
antonyms: unfortunate
broach1
/brəʊtʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: broach; 3rd person present: broaches; past tense: broached; past participle: broached;
gerund or present participle: broaching
1.
raise (a difficult subject) for discussion.
"he broached the subject he had been avoiding all evening"
synonyms: bring up, raise, introduce, talk about, mention, touch on, open, embark on, enter
on, air, ventilate; put forward, propound, propose, suggest, submit
"I thought it over very carefully before broaching the subject to Nigel"
2.
pierce (a cask) to draw out liquid.
"he watched a pot boy broach a new cask"
synonyms: pierce, puncture, tap; open, uncork, start, begin; informalcrack (open)
"Jeffrey broached a barrel of beer"
open and start using the contents of (a bottle or other container).
"boxed wines will remain in good condition for up to four months once broached"
synonyms: pierce, puncture, tap; open, uncork, start, begin; informalcrack (open)
"Jeffrey broached a barrel of beer"
3.
(of a fish or sea mammal) rise through the water and break the surface.
"the salmon broach, then fall to slap the water"
burp
/bəːp/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
verb
verb: burp; 3rd person present: burps; past tense: burped; past participle: burped; gerund or
present participle: burping
1.
noisily release air from the stomach through the mouth; belch.
synonyms: belch, bring up wind; rift; informalgurk; archaicbolk, rout, ruck; rareeruct, eructate
"he couldn't help burping"
make (a baby) belch after feeding, typically by patting its back.
noun
noun: burp; plural noun: burps
1.
a noise made by air released from the stomach through the mouth; a belch.
synonyms: belch; rift; informalgurk; archaicbolk; rareeructation, ventosity
"Cranston let out a burp
braggart
/ˈbraɡət,ˈbraɡɑːt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: braggart; plural noun: braggarts
a person who boasts about their achievements or possessions.
"braggart men"
synonyms: boaster, brag, bragger, show-off, blusterer, trumpeter, swaggerer, poser, poseur,
poseuse, peacock, egotist, self-publicist; informalblowhard, big mouth, big-head, bag of wind,
windbag, gasbag, loudmouth, bull-shooter, swank, swanker; big-noter; informalshowboat;
informalskite; informalswankpot; vulgar slangbullshitter; archaicblower, bouncer, shaker, puff,
rodomont; rarebraggadocio, gasconader, fanfaronade, attitudinizer
"he was a prodigious braggart and a liar"
convene
/kənˈviːn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: convene; 3rd person present: convenes; past tense: convened; past participle: convened;
gerund or present participle: convening
come or bring together for a meeting or activity; assemble.
"he had convened a secret meeting of military personnel"
synonyms: summon, call, call together, order; hold; formalconvoke
"he had convened a secret meeting of military personnel"
assemble, gather, meet, get together, come together, congregate, collect, muster;
rareforegather
"the committee convened for its final session"
antonyms: disperse
concourse
/ˈkɒŋkɔːs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: concourse; plural noun: concourses
1.
a large open area inside or in front of a public building.
"a station concourse"
synonyms: entrance, foyer, lobby, hall; piazza, plaza
"the station concourse"
2.
FORMAL
a crowd or assembly of people.
"a vast concourse of onlookers"
the action of coming together or meeting.
"the concourse of bodies"
another term for concours.
conjugal
/ˈkɒndʒʊɡ(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: conjugal
relating to marriage or the relationship between a married couple.
"conjugal loyalty"
synonyms: marital, matrimonial, nuptial, marriage, married, wedded, connubial, bridal;
spousal; literaryhymeneal, epithalamic
"the conjugal bond"
decoy
noun
noun: decoy; plural noun: decoys
/ˈdiːkɔɪ,dɪˈkɔɪ/
1.
a bird or mammal, or an imitation of one, used by hunters to attract other birds or mammals.
"a decoy duck"
a person or thing used to mislead or lure someone into a trap.
"we need a decoy to distract their attention"
synonyms: lure, bait, red herring; enticement, inducement, temptation, attraction, allurement,
draw, carrot, ensnarement, entrapment; snare, trap, pitfall, ambush
"we need a decoy to distract their attention"
2.
a pond from which narrow netted channels lead, into which wild duck may be enticed for capture.
verb
verb: decoy; 3rd person present: decoys; past tense: decoyed; past participle: decoyed; gerund or
present participle: decoying
/dɪˈkɔɪ,ˈdiːkɔɪ/
1.
lure or entice (a person or animal) away from their intended course, typically into a trap.
"they would try to decoy the enemy towards the hidden group"
synonyms: lure, entice, induce, inveigle, ensnare; tempt, seduce; entrap, snare, trap
"he was decoyed to the mainland by his enemies"

divest
/dʌɪˈvɛst,dɪˈvɛst/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: divest; 3rd person present: divests; past tense: divested; past participle: divested; gerund or
present participle: divesting
deprive someone of (power, rights, or possessions).
"men are unlikely to be divested of power without a struggle"
synonyms: deprive, strip, dispossess, relieve; rob, cheat out of, trick out of, do out of;
informaldiddle out of; literarydespoil; archaicreave
"he intends to divest you of all your power"
deprive something of (a particular quality).
"he has divested the original play of its charm"
rid oneself of (a business interest or investment).
"the government's policy of divesting itself of state holdings"
DATED•HUMOROUS
relieve someone of (a garment).
"she divested him of his coat"
synonyms: strip, relieve, denude; remove, take off, pull off, peel off, shed; unclothe, undress,
disrobe; dateddoff
"she divested him of his coat"
knack
/nak/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: knack; plural noun: knacks
an acquired or natural skill at doing something.
"he had a knack for communicating"
synonyms: gift, talent, flair, genius, instinct, faculty, ability, capability, capacity, aptitude,
aptness, bent, forte, facility, dexterity, adroitness, readiness, quickness, ingenuity, proficiency,
expertness, competence; technique, method, trick, skill, art, secret, approach, way, skilfulness,
mastery, expertise, handiness, deftness; informalknow-how, the hang of something
"some people have a knack for making money"
antonyms: inability
a tendency to do something.
"John had the enviable knack of falling asleep anywhere"
synonyms: tendency to, propensity for, habit of, way of, proneness to, aptness to, bent for,
liability to, leaning towards, predisposition to, disposition to, inclination to, penchant for, readiness
to
"he has a knack of getting injured at the wrong time"

exhume
/ɛksˈ(h)juːm,ɪɡˈzjuːm/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: exhume; 3rd person present: exhumes; past tense: exhumed; past participle: exhumed;
gerund or present participle: exhuming
dig out (something buried, especially a corpse) from the ground.
"the bodies were exhumed on the orders of a judge"
synonyms: disinter, dig up, unearth, bring out of the ground; raredisentomb, unbury, ungrave
"four years later his body was exhumed"
antonyms: bury
GEOLOGY
expose (a land surface) that was formerly buried.
"various landforms have been exhumed from beneath a covering of Triassic sediments"
exiguous
/ɪɡˈzɪɡjʊəs,ɛɡˈzɪɡjʊəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveFORMAL
adjective: exiguous
very small in size or amount.
"my exiguous musical resources"
synonyms: meagre, inadequate, insufficient, small, scant, scanty, paltry, negligible, limited,
restricted, modest, sparse, spare, deficient, skimpy, short, little, miserable, pitiful, puny, miserly,
niggardly, beggarly; informalmeasly, stingy, pathetic, piddling
"the exiguous post-war sugar ration"
antonyms: ample, generous
Origin
recede
/rɪˈsiːd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: recede; 3rd person present: recedes; past tense: receded; past participle: receded; gerund or
present participle: receding
1.
go or move back or further away from a previous position.
"the floodwaters had receded"
synonyms: retreat, go back, move back, move further off, move away, withdraw; ebb, subside,
go down, abate, fall back, sink; rareretrocede
"the flood waters receded"
antonyms: advance, approach
(of a facial feature) slope backwards.
"his chin receded sharply from his lower lip"
ARCHAIC
withdraw from (a promise or agreement).
"he felt no inclination to recede from the agreement into which he had entered"
2.
(of a quality, feeling, or possibility) gradually diminish.
"the prospects of an early end to the war receded"
synonyms: diminish, lessen, grow less, decrease, dwindle, fade, abate, subside, ebb, wane, fall
off, taper off, peter out, shrink; rarede-escalate
"by May 23, fears of widespread violence had receded"
antonyms: grow, intensify
3.
(of a man's hair) cease to grow at the temples and above the forehead.
"his dark hair was receding a little"
(of a man) begin to go bald.
"Fred was receding a bit"
(of a facial feature) slope backwards.
"his chin receded sharply from his lower lip"
phoney
/ˈfəʊni/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
adjective
adjective: phoney; adjective: phony; comparative adjective: phonier; superlative adjective: phoniest
1.
not genuine; fraudulent.
"phoney cruise-ship job offers"
synonyms: bogus, not genuine, sham, false, fake, fraudulent, forged, feigned, counterfeit, so-
called, spurious, pseudo; imitation, man-made, mock, ersatz, artificial, synthetic, manufactured,
simulated, reproduction, replica, facsimile, dummy, model, toy; make-believe, pretended,
contrived, affected, insincere; informalpretend, put-on, fakey; informalcod
"he gave a phoney address"
antonyms: authentic, genuine
noun
noun: phoney; plural noun: phoneys; noun: phony; plural noun: phonies
1.
a fraudulent person or thing.
synonyms: impostor, sham, fake, fraud, mountebank, quack, cheat, swindler, fraudster,
confidence trickster, defrauder, hoaxer, bluffer, pretender, masquerader, charlatan, rogue,
scoundrel; informalcon man, con artist; datedconfidence man
"the doctor's a phoney"
counterfeit, fake, forgery, sham, hoax, imitation, copy, reproduction, replica, facsimile, dummy,
model, toy
"the diamond's a phoney"
sulky
/ˈsʌlki/
 Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: sulky; comparative adjective: sulkier; superlative adjective: sulkiest
1.
morose, bad-tempered, and resentful; refusing to be cooperative or cheerful.
"disappointment was making her sulky"
synonyms: sullen, surly, moping, pouting, moody, sour, piqued, petulant, disgruntled, ill-
humoured, in a bad mood, having a fit of the sulks, out of humour, fed up, put out, out of sorts,
mopey, mopish; bad-tempered, fractious, grumpy, huffy, scowling, glowering, resentful, dark, glum,
gloomy, morose; angry, cross, peeved; informalchippy, mumpish, grouchy, stroppy; informalmardy
"with sulky faces the students turned to go"
antonyms: cheerful, amiable
expressing or suggesting gloom and bad temper.
"she had a sultry, sulky mouth"
noun
noun: sulky; plural noun: sulkies
1.
a light two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle for one person, used chiefly in trotting races.
pejorative
/pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: pejorative
1.
expressing contempt or disapproval.
"permissiveness is used almost universally as a pejorative term"
synonyms: disparaging, derogatory, denigratory, deprecatory, defamatory, slanderous,
libellous, abusive, insulting, slighting, vituperative, disapproving, contemptuous; informalbitchy;
rareinvective, contumelious
antonyms: complimentary, approbatory
noun
noun: pejorative; plural noun: pejoratives
1.
a word expressing contempt or disapproval.
"most of what he said was inflammatory and filled with pejoratives"
gaudy1
/ˈɡɔːdi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: gaudy; comparative adjective: gaudier; superlative adjective: gaudiest
extravagantly bright or showy, typically so as to be tasteless.
"silver bows and gaudy ribbons"
synonyms: garish, lurid, loud, over-bright, glaring, harsh, violent, flashy, showy, glittering,
brassy, ostentatious; tasteless, in bad taste, vulgar, distasteful, unattractive, nauseating, bilious,
sickly; informalflash, tacky, bling
"he wears cheap, gaudy clothes"
antonyms: drab, tasteful
dreary
/ˈdrɪəri/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: dreary; comparative adjective: drearier; superlative adjective: dreariest
depressingly dull and bleak or repetitive.
"the dreary round of working, eating, and trying to sleep"
synonyms: dull, drab, uninteresting, flat, dry, banal, bland, insipid, colourless, lifeless, sterile,
tedious, wearisome, boring, unexciting, unstimulating, uninspiring, desolate, vapid, jejune,
bloodless, soul-destroying, as dry as dust; humdrum, routine, monotonous, uneventful, run-of-the-
mill, prosaic, pedestrian, commonplace, everyday, unexceptional, unremarkable, quotidian,
unvaried, repetitive, featureless, ho-hum
"another dreary day at school"
sad, miserable, depressing, grim, gloomy, glum, sombre, grave, doleful, mournful, melancholic,
joyless, cheerless, wretched
"she shouldn't be thinking of dreary things like funerals"
gloomy, dismal, bleak, dull, dark, dingy, murky, overcast, depressing, sombre
"it was a dark, dreary day"
antonyms: exciting, cheerful, bright
chagrin
/ˈʃaɡrɪn,ʃəˈɡrɪn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: chagrin
1.
annoyance or distress at having failed or been humiliated.
"to my chagrin, he was nowhere to be seen"
synonyms: annoyance, irritation, vexation, exasperation, displeasure, pique, spleen, crossness,
anger, rage, fury, wrath; dissatisfaction, discontent, indignation, resentment, umbrage,
disgruntlement, rankling, smarting, distress, discomposure, discomfiture, disquiet, fretfulness,
frustration; embarrassment, mortification, humiliation, shame; informalaggravation; literaryire
"to his chagrin, his son chose to become an actor"
antonyms: delight
verb
past participle: chagrined; verb: chagrin; 3rd person present: chagrins; gerund or present participle:
chagrinning; past tense: chagrinned; past participle: chagrinned
1.
feel distressed or humiliated.
"he was chagrined when his friend poured scorn on him"
synonyms: annoyed, irritated, cross, angry, vexed, exasperated, irked, piqued, displeased, put
out, fed up, disgruntled, in a bad mood, in a temper, testy, in high dudgeon, huffy, in a huff,
resentful, aggrieved; furious, irate, infuriated, incensed, enraged, wrathful, choleric;
informalaggravated, peeved, nettled, miffed, miffy, mad, riled, hacked off, peed off, hot under the
collar, foaming at the mouth; informalbrowned off, cheesed off, brassed off, not best pleased,
narked, ratty, shirty, eggy; informalteed off, ticked off, sore, bent out of shape; informalsnaky,
crook; informalvex; vulgar slangpissed off; vulgar slangpissed; literaryireful; archaicsnuffy, wrath
"he was chagrined when his friend poured scorn on him"

jejune
/dʒɪˈdʒuːn/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: jejune
1.
naive, simplistic, and superficial.
"their entirely predictable and usually jejune opinions"
synonyms: naive, simple, innocent, artless, guileless, unworldly, childlike, ingenuous,
unsophisticated; inexperienced, ignorant, green, immature, callow, trusting, trustful, unsuspicious,
unwary, unguarded; credulous, gullible, easily taken in; unaffected, without airs, open, frank,
uninhibited, natural, unpretentious, spontaneous, down-to-earth; childish, immature, juvenile,
puerile, silly, infantile; informalwet behind the ears
"their entirely predictable and usually jejune opinions"
antonyms: sophisticated, mature
2.
(of ideas or writings) dry and uninteresting.
synonyms: boring, dull, dull as ditchwater, tedious, dreary; uninteresting, unexciting,
uneventful, uninspiring, unstimulating, unimaginative; humdrum, run-of-the-mill, mundane,
commonplace, workaday, quotidian, routine; stodgy, lacklustre, dry, dry as dust, arid, sterile,
lifeless, vapid, insipid, flat, drab, bland, banal, trite, prosaic, colourless, monochrome, monotonous,
unrelieved, lacking variety, lacking variation; tiresome, tiring, wearisome; informaldeadly, nothing
to write home about; informalsamey; informaldreich; informaldullsville, ornery
"the following poem now seems to me rather jejune"
antonyms: fascinating, inspired
Origin
ravish
/ˈravɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: ravish; 3rd person present: ravishes; past tense: ravished; past participle: ravished; gerund or
present participle: ravishing
1.
ARCHAIC
seize and carry off (someone) by force.
"there is no assurance that her infant child will not be ravished from her breast"
DATED
(of a man) rape (a woman).
"an angry father who suspects that his daughter has been ravished"
synonyms: rape, sexually assault/abuse, violate, force oneself on, molest; seduce;
euphemistictake advantage of, have one's (wicked) way with; archaicdishonour, defile
"I'm sorry I kissed you, but I swear I've no intention of ravishing you"
2.
LITERARY
fill (someone) with intense delight; enrapture.
"ravished by a sunny afternoon, she had agreed without even thinking"
synonyms: enrapture, send into raptures, enchant, fill with delight, delight, charm, entrance,
enthral, captivate, bewitch, spellbind, fascinate, transport, overjoy; informalblow away; rarerapture
"those who adore the steely, mineral style of Chablis will be ravished by this wine"
noisome
/ˈnɔɪs(ə)m/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveLITERARY
adjective: noisome
having an extremely offensive smell.
"noisome vapours from the smouldering waste"
very disagreeable or unpleasant.
"a noisome concoction of which cheap port is the basis"
synonyms: unpleasant, disagreeable, nasty, distasteful, displeasing, objectionable, off-putting,
uninviting, obnoxious, abominable, disgusting, offensive, repulsive, repellent, repugnant, revolting,
abhorrent, loathsome, hateful, detestable, execrable, odious, vile, foul, unsavoury, unpalatable,
sickening, nauseating, nauseous, ugly; noxious, fetid, rank, rancid, malodorous; informalghastly,
horrible, horrid, gross, putrid, sick-making, yucky, godawful; informalbeastly; informalbogging;
informalon the nose; informalskanky; literarymephitic; archaicdisgustful, loathly
"he had spent six long weeks in this noisome dungeon"
antonyms: pleasant, sweet-smelling
extant
/ɪkˈstant,ɛkˈstant,ˈɛkst(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: extant
still in existence; surviving.
"an extant letter"
synonyms: still existing, in existence, surviving, remaining, abiding, enduring, undestroyed,
present, existent; living, alive
"only one copy of Cavendish's book is extant"
antonyms: no longer existing, non-existent, dead
Origin
kook
/kuːk/
Learn to pronounce
nounINFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
noun: kook; plural noun: kooks
a mad or eccentric person.
Origin
vilify
/ˈvɪlɪfʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: vilify; 3rd person present: vilifies; past tense: vilified; past participle: vilified; gerund or
present participle: vilifying
speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner.
"he has been vilified in the press"
synonyms: disparage, denigrate, defame, run down, revile, berate, belittle, abuse, insult, slight,
attack, speak ill of, speak evil of, pour scorn on, cast aspersions on, criticize, censure, condemn,
decry, denounce, pillory, lambaste; fulminate against, rail against, inveigh against, malign, slander,
libel, conduct a smear campaign against, spread lies about, blacken the name/reputation of, sully
the reputation of, give someone a bad name, bring someone into disrepute, discredit, stigmatize,
traduce, calumniate, impugn; slur; informaldo down, do a hatchet job on, take to pieces, pull apart,
throw mud at, drag through the mud, slate, have a go at, hit out at, jump on, lay into, tear into,
knock, slam, pan, bash, hammer, roast, skewer, bad-mouth, throw brickbats at; informalrubbish,
slag off, monster; informalpummel, dump on; informalbag; archaiccontemn; rarederogate,
vituperate, asperse, vilipend
"the media vilified several of the election candidates"
antonyms: commend, lionize
Origin

efface
/ɪˈfeɪs/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: efface; 3rd person present: effaces; past tense: effaced; past participle: effaced; gerund or
present participle: effacing
1.
erase (a mark) from a surface.
"with time, the words are effaced by the rain"
cause (a memory or emotion) to disappear completely.
"nothing could efface the bitter memory"
synonyms: erase, eradicate, expunge, blot out, rub out, wipe out, remove, eliminate, excise;
delete, cancel, cross out, strike out, ink out, score out, obliterate, blank out, block out, cover over,
conceal
"the young ladies have made an impression on my mind which will not easily be effaced"
antonyms: preserve
2.
make oneself appear insignificant or inconspicuous.
"to efface oneself is not the easiest of duties which the teacher can undertake"
synonyms: make oneself inconspicuous, keep out of sight, keep oneself to oneself, keep quiet,
keep out of the public eye, avoid publicity, keep out of the limelight, lie low, keep a low profile,
regard/treat oneself as unimportant, be modest/diffident/retiring, withdraw
"he retired to the largest chair and attempted to efface himself"
antonyms: make one's presence felt

mockery
/ˈmɒk(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: mockery; plural noun: mockeries
teasing and contemptuous language or behaviour directed at a particular person or thing.
"stung by her mockery, Frankie hung his head"
synonyms: ridicule, derision, jeering, sneering, contempt, scorn, scoffing, joking, teasing,
taunting, sarcasm, ragging, chaffing, jibing; chiacking; informalkidding, kidology, ribbing, joshing;
informalwinding up; taking the mickey; vulgar slangtaking the piss; informalgoofing, razzing
"a note of mockery in his voice"
an absurd misrepresentation or imitation of something.
"after a mockery of a trial in London, he was executed"
synonyms: travesty, charade, farce, parody, laughing stock, caricature, lampoon, burlesque,
apology, excuse, poor substitute
"the trial was a mockery"
ARCHAIC
ludicrously futile action.
"in her bitterness she felt that all rejoicing was mockery"
Phrases
make a mockery of — make (something) seem foolish or absurd.
"new technology is making a mockery of our outdated laws
obstreperous
/əbˈstrɛp(ə)rəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: obstreperous
noisy and difficult to control.
"the boy is cocky and obstreperous"
synonyms: unruly, unmanageable, disorderly, undisciplined, uncontrollable, unrestrained,
rowdy, uncontrolled, disruptive, truculent, difficult, refractory, rebellious, mutinous, out of hand,
riotous, out of control, wild, turbulent, uproarious, tumultuous, tempestuous, unbridled,
irrepressible, boisterous, roisterous, rackety; noisy, loud, clamorous, raucous, vociferous;
informalstroppy, bolshie, rumbustious; informalrambunctious; archaicrampageous
"obstreperous customers who have had a drop too much to drink"
antonyms: calm, quiet, restrained
paramour
/ˈparəmʊə/
Learn to pronounce
nounARCHAIC
noun: paramour; plural noun: paramours
a lover, especially the illicit partner of a married person.
synonyms: lover, beloved, significant other; mistress, girlfriend, kept woman, other woman,
inamorata; boyfriend, other man, inamorato, gigolo; informalfancy woman, fancy man, toy boy,
sugar daddy, bit on the side, bit of fluff; historicalhetaera, odalisque; archaicconcubine, doxy,
leman, courtesan, cicisbeo
"his stepfather's paramour"

prowess
/ˈpraʊɪs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: prowess
1.
skill or expertise in a particular activity or field.
"his prowess as a fisherman"
synonyms: skill, skilfulness, expertise, effectiveness, mastery, facility, ability, capability,
capacity, talent, genius, adroitness, adeptness, aptitude, dexterity, deftness, competence,
competency, professionalism, excellence, accomplishment, experience, proficiency, expertness,
finesse, know-how; savoir faire
"his prowess as a winemaker"
antonyms: inability, ineptitude
2.
bravery in battle.
"the hereditary nobility had no monopoly of skill and prowess in war"
synonyms: courage, bravery, gallantry, valour, heroism, intrepidness, intrepidity, nerve, pluck,
pluckiness, doughtiness, hardihood, braveness, courageousness, dauntlessness, gameness,
manfulness, boldness, daring, audacity, spirit, fearlessness; mettle, determination, fortitude,
steadfastness, stoutness, resolve, resolution, backbone, spine, stout-heartedness; informalbottle,
grit, guts, spunk, gutsiness, gumption, ballsiness; informalmoxie, cojones, sand; vulgar slangballs;
archaicvaliance
"the knights were famed for their prowess in battle"
antonyms: cowardice
objurgate
/ˈɒbdʒəɡeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verbRARE
verb: objurgate; 3rd person present: objurgates; past tense: objurgated; past participle: objurgated;
gerund or present participle: objurgating
rebuke severely; scold.
"the old man objurgated his son"
austere
/ɒˈstɪə,ɔːˈstɪə/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: austere; comparative adjective: austerer; superlative adjective: austerest
severe or strict in manner or attitude.
"he was an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook"
synonyms: severe, stern, strict, harsh, unfeeling, stony, steely, flinty, dour, grim, cold, frosty,
frigid, icy, chilly, unemotional, unfriendly, formal, stiff, stuffy, reserved, remote, distant, aloof,
forbidding, mean-looking, grave, solemn, serious, unsmiling, unsympathetic, unforgiving,
uncharitable; hard, rigorous, stringent, unyielding, unbending, unrelenting, inflexible, illiberal, no-
nonsense; informalhard-boiled, hard-nosed; informalsolid
"he was a conscientious and outwardly austere man"
antonyms: genial
(of living conditions or a way of life) having no comforts or luxuries.
"conditions in the prison could hardly be more austere"
synonyms: strict, self-denying, self-abnegating, moderate, temperate, sober, simple, frugal,
spartan, restrained, self-restrained, self-disciplined, non-indulgent, ascetic, puritanical, self-
sacrificing, hair-shirt, abstemious, abstinent, celibate, chaste, continent; More
antonyms: immoderate
having a plain and unadorned appearance.
"the cathedral is impressive in its austere simplicity"
synonyms: plain, simple, basic, functional, modest, unadorned, undecorated, unornamented,
unembellished, unostentatious, unfurnished, uncluttered, unfussy, without frills, subdued, muted,
restrained; stark, bleak, bare, bald, clinical, sombre, severe, spartan, ascetic; informalno frills
"the buildings around me were understated and austere"
antonyms: ornate
anathema
/əˈnaθəmə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: anathema; plural noun: anathemas
1.
something or someone that one vehemently dislikes.
"racial hatred was anathema to her"
synonyms: abhorrent, hateful, odious, repugnant, repellent, offensive; abomination,
abhorrence, aversion, monstrosity, outrage, evil, disgrace, bane, bugbear, bête noire, pariah
"racial hatred was anathema to her"
2.
a formal curse by a pope or a council of the Church, excommunicating a person or denouncing a
doctrine.
"the Pope laid special emphasis on the second of these anathemas"
synonyms: curse, ban, excommunication, damnation, proscription, debarment, denunciation,
malediction, execration, imprecation
"the Vatican Council expressed their view without an anathema"
LITERARY
a strong curse.
"the sergeant clutched the ruined communicator, muttering anathemas"

abattoir
/ˈabətwɑː/
Learn to pronounce
nounBRITISH
noun: abattoir; plural noun: abattoirs
a slaughterhouse.
synonyms: slaughterhouse; butchery, knacker's yard; archaicshambles, butcher-row
nymph
/nɪmf/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: nymph; plural noun: nymphs
1.
a mythological spirit of nature imagined as a beautiful maiden inhabiting rivers, woods, or other
locations.
"the idyllic world of nymphs and shepherds"
synonyms: sprite, sylph, wood nymph, water nymph
"Iris was depicted as a nymph with golden winged sandals"
LITERARY
a beautiful young woman.
synonyms: girl, belle, maiden, maid, nymphet, sylph; young woman, young lady; lass, lassie;
colleen; datedrosebud; literarymaid, maiden, damsel; archaicdemoiselle
"a skinny nymph with deep-brown eyes"
2.
an immature form of an insect that does not change greatly as it grows, e.g. a dragonfly, mayfly, or
locust.
an artificial fishing fly made to resemble the aquatic nymph of an insect.
3.
a mainly brown butterfly that frequents woods and forest glades.
rueful
/ˈruːfʊl,ˈruːf(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: rueful
expressing sorrow or regret, especially in a wry or humorous way.
"she gave a rueful grin"
synonyms: sorrowful, regretful, apologetic, sorry, remorseful, shamefaced, sheepish, hangdog,
contrite, repentant, penitent, conscience-stricken, self-reproachful; woebegone, woeful, sad,
melancholy, mournful; rarecompunctious
"‘I've been pretty stupid, haven't I?’ Harry said, with a rueful smile"
antonyms: happy, unrepentant
wallow
/ˈwɒləʊ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: wallow; 3rd person present: wallows; past tense: wallowed; past participle: wallowed; gerund
or present participle: wallowing
1.
(chiefly of large mammals) roll about or lie in mud or water, especially to keep cool or avoid biting
insects.
"there were watering places where buffalo liked to wallow"
synonyms: loll about/around, lie about/around, tumble about/around, splash about/around;
slosh, wade, paddle, slop, squelch, welter; informalsplosh
"a pond in which water buffalo wallowed"
(of a boat or aircraft) roll from side to side.
"a ship wallowing in stormy seas"
synonyms: roll, lurch, toss (about), plunge, reel, sway, rock, flounder, keel, list; labour, make
heavy weather
"a ship wallowing in stormy seas"
2.
(of a person) indulge in an unrestrained way in (something that one finds pleasurable).
"I was wallowing in the luxury of the hotel"
synonyms: luxuriate, bask, take pleasure, take satisfaction, indulge (oneself), delight, revel,
glory; give oneself up to, take to; enjoy, like, love, relish, savour, rejoice in, exult in; informalget a
kick/buzz out of, get a kick/buzz from; informalget a bang from, get a charge out of
"she seems to wallow in her self-pity"
antonyms: eschew
noun
noun: wallow; plural noun: wallows
1.
an act of wallowing.
"a wallow in nostalgia"
2.
a depression containing mud or shallow water, formed by the wallowing of large mammals.
"a buffalo wallow"

accomplice
/əˈkʌmplɪs,əˈkɒmplɪs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: accomplice; plural noun: accomplices
a person who helps another commit a crime.
"an accomplice in the murder"
synonyms: abetter, accessory, partner in crime, associate, confederate, collaborator, fellow
conspirator, co-conspirator; henchman; rareconniver
"he was arrested as an accomplice to murder"
bucolic
/bjuːˈkɒlɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: bucolic
1.
relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
"the church is lovely for its bucolic setting"
synonyms: rustic, rural, pastoral, country, countryside, agricultural, agrarian, outdoor, idyllic,
unspoiled; literaryArcadian, sylvan; raregeorgic, agrestic
"the bucolic scene of a farmer ploughing behind a shire horse"
antonyms: urban
noun
noun: bucolic; plural noun: bucolics
1.
a pastoral poem.
discretion
/dɪˈskrɛʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: discretion
1.
the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offence or revealing
confidential information.
"she knew she could rely on his discretion"
synonyms: circumspection, care, carefulness, caution, wariness, chariness, guardedness; tact,
tactfulness, diplomacy, delicacy, sensitivity, subtlety, consideration, prudence, judiciousness,
judgement, discrimination, sense, good sense, common sense; kid gloves
"the negotiations have been carried out with the utmost discretion"
antonyms: indiscretion, rashness
2.
the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation.
"local authorities should use their discretion in setting the charges"
synonyms: choice, option, judgement, preference, disposition, volition; pleasure, liking, wish,
will, inclination, desire
"honorary fellowships may be awarded at the discretion of the council"
Phrases
discretion is the better part of valour — it's better to avoid a dangerous situation than to confront
it.
negotiation
/nɪɡəʊʃɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: negotiation; plural noun: negotiations
1.
discussion aimed at reaching an agreement.
"a worldwide ban is currently under negotiation"
synonyms: discussion(s), talks, consultation(s), parleying, deliberation(s), conference, debate,
dialogue; mediation, arbitration, intercession, conciliation; bargaining, haggling, wheeling and
dealing, dickering
"the negotiations are due to resume in Geneva next week"
working out, discussing the terms of, arrangement, arranging, thrashing out, hammering out,
brokering;
settlement, conclusion, completion, clinching, pulling off, bringing off, transaction
"the negotiation of the deal"
2.
the action or process of transferring legal ownership of a document.
delirious
/dɪˈlɪrɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: delirious
in an acutely disturbed state of mind characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence;
affected by delirium.
"he became delirious and couldn't recognize people"
synonyms: incoherent, raving, babbling, irrational, hysterical, wild, feverish, frenzied;
deranged, demented, unhinged, mad, insane, crazed, out of one's mind; informalswivel-eyed
"for much of the time she was delirious, but there were lucid intervals"
antonyms: lucid, coherent
in a state of wild excitement or ecstasy.
"there was a great roar from the delirious crowd"
synonyms: ecstatic, euphoric, elated, thrilled, overjoyed, beside oneself, walking on air, on
cloud nine/seven, in seventh heaven, jumping for joy, in transports of delight, carried away,
transported, rapturous, in raptures, exultant, jubilant, in a frenzy of delight, hysterical, wild with
excitement, frenzied; informalblissed out, over the moon, on a high; informalwigged out;
rarecorybantic
"there was a great roar from the delirious crowd"
antonyms: disappointed, depressed
malignant
/məˈlɪɡnənt/
 Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: malignant
1.
evil in nature or effect; malevolent.
"in the hands of malignant fate"
synonyms: spiteful, hostile, malevolent, malicious, malign, evil-intentioned, baleful, full of hate,
vicious, nasty, poisonous, venomous, acrimonious, rancorous, splenetic, cruel
"one of the most malignant glares she had ever seen"
antonyms: benevolent
2.
(of a disease) very virulent or infectious.
synonyms: virulent, infectious, invasive, uncontrollable, dangerous, harmful, pernicious; More
(of a tumour) tending to invade normal tissue or to recur after removal; cancerous.
synonyms: cancerous, non-benign, metastatic
"a malignant growth in her left kidney"
antonyms: benign
Origin
coercion
/kəʊˈəːʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: coercion; plural noun: coercions
the action or practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.
synonyms: force, compulsion, constraint, duress, oppression, enforcement, harassment,
intimidation, threats, insistence, demand, arm-twisting, pressure, pressurization, influence
antonyms: persuasion

eschew
/ɪsˈtʃuː,ɛsˈtʃuː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: eschew; 3rd person present: eschews; past tense: eschewed; past participle: eschewed;
gerund or present participle: eschewing
deliberately avoid using; abstain from.
"he appealed to the crowd to eschew violence"
synonyms: abstain from, refrain from, give up, forgo, forswear, shun, renounce, swear off,
abjure, steer clear of, have nothing to do with, give a wide berth to, fight shy of, relinquish, reject,
dispense with, disavow, abandon, deny, gainsay, disclaim, repudiate, renege on, spurn, abnegate,
abdicate, wash one's hands of, drop; informalkick, jack in, pack in; disaffirm; archaicforsake
"he firmly eschewed political involvement"
antonyms: indulge in
drab1
/drab/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: drab; comparative adjective: drabber; superlative adjective: drabbest
1.
lacking brightness or interest; drearily dull.
"the landscape was drab and grey"
synonyms: colourless, grey, greyish, dull, dull-coloured, washed out, neutral, pale, muted,
lacklustre, lustreless, muddy, watery; lightish brown, brownish, brownish-grey, mousy, dun-
coloured; dingy, dreary, dismal, cheerless, gloomy, sombre, depressing
"blocks of drab council flats"
uninteresting, dull, boring, tedious, monotonous, dry, dreary, wearisome;
unexciting, bland, non-stimulating, unimaginative, uninspiring, uninspired, insipid, lustreless,
lacklustre, vapid, flat, stale, trite, vacuous, feeble, pallid, wishy-washy, colourless, limp, lame, tired,
lifeless, zestless, spiritless, sterile, anaemic, barren, tame, bloodless, antiseptic;
middle-of-the-road, run-of-the-mill, commonplace, mediocre, nondescript, characterless, mundane,
unexceptional, unremarkable, humdrum, prosaic
"a drab suburban existence"
antonyms: bright, cheerful, interesting
2.
of a dull light brown colour.
"drab camouflage uniforms"
noun
noun: drab
1.
fabric of a dull light brown colour.
clothes, especially trousers, made of drab.
plural noun: drabs
"a young man dressed in drabs"
Origin
balk
/bɔːlk,bɔːk/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: baulk
1.
hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.
"he balked at such a drastic solution"
synonyms: eschew, resist, refuse to, be unwilling to, draw the line at, be reluctant to, draw
back from, flinch from, shrink from, shy from, recoil from, quail at, demur from, hesitate over,
scruple to, take exception to, not like to, hate to, jib at; scorn, disdain
"sensitive gardeners who balk at using pesticides"
antonyms: accept
thwart or hinder (a plan or person).
"he raised every objection he could to balk this plan"
synonyms: impede, obstruct, thwart, hinder, prevent, check, stop, curb, halt, bar, block,
forestall, frustrate, stall, baffle, foil, defeat, beat, counteract, head off
"they were balked by traffic"
antonyms: assist
prevent a person or animal from having (something).
"a tiger balked of its prey"
ARCHAIC
miss or refuse (a chance or invitation).
"it's got to be done, so why balk it?"
(with reference to a horse) refuse or cause to refuse to go on.
"he balked, both forefeet thrust stiffly in front of him"
noun
noun: baulk
1.
a roughly squared timber beam.
"a balk of timber"
2.
the area on a billiard table between the balk line and the bottom cushion, within which in some
circumstances a ball is protected from a direct stroke.
3.
BASEBALL
an unlawful action made by a pitcher that may deceive a base runner.
4.
a ridge left unploughed between furrows.
quell
/kwɛl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: quell; 3rd person present: quells; past tense: quelled; past participle: quelled; gerund or
present participle: quelling
put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force.
"extra police were called to quell the disturbance"
synonyms: put an end to, stamp out, put a stop to, end, finish, get rid of, crush, put down,
check, crack down on, curb, nip in the bud, thwart, frustrate, squash, quash, subdue, suppress,
repress, quench, extinguish, stifle, abolish, terminate, beat, overcome, defeat, rout, destroy,
demolish, annihilate, wipe out, extirpate; informalsquelch, put the kibosh on, clobber
"troops were called in to quell the unrest"
antonyms: bring about, prompt
subdue or silence (someone).
"Connor quelled him with a look"
suppress (a feeling).
"she quelled an urge to race up the stairs"
synonyms: calm, soothe, pacify, settle, quieten, quiet, put at rest, lull, silence, put behind one,
rise above, allay, appease, stay, assuage, abate, deaden, dull, tranquillize, mitigate, moderate,
palliate
"he managed to quell his initial misgivings"
antonyms: succumb to

contumacy
/ˈkɒntjʊməsi/
Learn to pronounce
nounARCHAIC•LAW
noun: contumacy
stubborn refusal to obey or comply with authority, especially disobedience to a court order or
summons.
abrade
/əˈbreɪd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: abrade; 3rd person present: abrades; past tense: abraded; past participle: abraded; gerund or
present participle: abrading
scrape or wear away by friction or erosion.
"it was a landscape slowly abraded by a fine, stinging dust"
synonyms: wear away/down, wear, erode, scrape away, corrode, eat away at, gnaw away at,
bite into, scour, rasp, strip, flay
"the paintwork had been abraded over the years by the weather"
adage
/ˈadɪdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: adage; plural noun: adages
a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth.
"the old adage ‘out of sight out of mind’"
synonyms: saying, maxim, axiom, proverb, aphorism, saw, dictum, precept, epigram, epigraph,
motto, truism, platitude, cliché, commonplace; words of wisdom, pearls of wisdom; expression,
phrase, formula, slogan, quotation; rareapophthegm, gnome
"it is vital for every pilot to remember the old adage ‘safety first’"
adherent
/ədˈhɪər(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: adherent; plural noun: adherents
1.
someone who supports a particular party, person, or set of ideas.
"he was a strong adherent of monetarism"
synonyms: follower, supporter, upholder, defender, advocate, disciple, votary, partisan,
member, friend, stalwart; fanatic, zealot; believer, worshipper, attender; fan, admirer, enthusiast,
devotee, lover, addict, aficionado; informalhanger-on, groupie, buff, freak, fiend, nut, maniac;
informalbooster, cohort, rooter; rarejanissary, sectary
"an adherent of the Catholic religion"
antonyms: opponent
adjective
adjective: adherent
1.
sticking fast to an object or surface.
"the eggs have thick sticky shells to which debris is often adherent"
synonyms: adhesive, sticky, sticking, adhering, clinging, tacky, gluey, gummy, gummed,
cohesive, viscous, viscid, glutinous, mucilaginous; claggy; clarty; informalgooey, gloopy, cloggy,
gungy, icky; informalgloppy; raretenacious, viscoid
"the colon has an adherent layer of mucus gel"
Origin
appraisal
/əˈpreɪz(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: appraisal; plural noun: appraisals
an act of assessing something or someone.
"she carried out a thorough appraisal"
synonyms: assessment, evaluation, estimation, judgement, rating, gauging, sizing up,
summing-up, consideration
"my review was an objective appraisal of the book"
a formal assessment, typically in an interview, of the performance of an employee over a particular
period.
"all appraisals will be held in the next couple of weeks"
chary
/ˈtʃɛːri/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: chary; comparative adjective: charier; superlative adjective: chariest
cautiously or suspiciously reluctant to do something.
"she had been chary of telling the whole truth"
synonyms: wary, cautious, circumspect, heedful, careful, on one's guard, guarded, mindful,
watchful; distrustful, mistrustful, doubtful, sceptical, suspicious, dubious, hesitant, reluctant,
disinclined, loath, averse, shy, nervous, apprehensive, uneasy, afraid; informalleery, cagey, iffy, on
one's toes
"he was chary of broaching the subject"
antonyms: heedless
encroach
/ɪnˈkrəʊtʃ,ɛnˈkrəʊtʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: encroach; 3rd person present: encroaches; past tense: encroached; past participle:
encroached; gerund or present participle: encroaching
intrude on (a person's territory, rights, personal life, etc.).
"rather than encroach on his privacy she might have kept to her room"
synonyms: intrude, trespass, impinge, butt in, barge in, cut in, obtrude, impose oneself; More
advance gradually beyond usual or acceptable limits.
"the sea has encroached all round the coast"
endeavour
/ɪnˈdɛvə,ɛnˈdɛvə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: endeavour; 3rd person present: endeavours; past tense: endeavoured; past participle:
endeavoured; gerund or present participle: endeavouring; verb: endeavor; 3rd person present:
endeavors; past tense: endeavored; past participle: endeavored; gerund or present participle:
endeavoring
1.
try hard to do or achieve something.
"he is endeavouring to help the Third World"
synonyms: try, attempt, venture, undertake, aspire, aim, seek, set out; More
noun
noun: endeavour; plural noun: endeavours; noun: endeavor; plural noun: endeavors
1.
an attempt to achieve a goal.
"an endeavour to reduce serious injury"
synonyms: attempt, try, bid, effort, trial, venture; informalgo, crack, shot, stab, bash, whack,
whirl
"an endeavour to build a more buoyant economy"
earnest, prolonged, and industrious effort.
"enthusiasm is a vital ingredient in all human endeavour"
synonyms: striving, struggling, labouring, struggle, labour, hard work, hard slog, effort,
exertion, application, industry; pains; informalsweat, blood, sweat, and tears, elbow grease;
informalgraft; informal(hard) yakka; archaictravail, moil
"after several days of endeavour he completed the task"
an enterprise or undertaking.
"a portfolio of business endeavours"
synonyms: undertaking, enterprise, venture, pursuit, exercise, activity, exploit, deed, act,
action, move; scheme, plan, project; informalcaper
"what you are proposing is an extremely unwise endeavour"
flagitious
/fləˈdʒɪʃəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveFORMAL
adjective: flagitious
(of a person or their actions) criminal; villainous.
fortify
/ˈfɔːtɪfʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: fortify; 3rd person present: fortifies; past tense: fortified; past participle: fortified; gerund or
present participle: fortifying
1.
provide (a place) with defensive works as protection against attack.
"the whole town was heavily fortified"
synonyms: build defences round, strengthen with defensive works, secure, protect, surround;
rareembattle, rampart, mound
"the knights fortified their citadel as a defence against raids"
strengthen, reinforce, toughen, consolidate, bolster, shore up, brace, buttress, stiffen, support,
hold up
"such a timber enclosure may have been fortified by a masonry wall"
antonyms: weaken
strengthen (someone) mentally or physically.
"the girl was fortified by her religious faith"
synonyms: invigorate, strengthen, energize, enliven, liven up, animate, vitalize, rejuvenate,
restore, revive, refresh; galvanize, dynamize, fire up, rouse, motivate, boost, perk up, stimulate,
inspire, pick up, embolden, give courage to, encourage, cheer, hearten, buoy up, reassure, make
confident, brace, sustain; informalpep up, buck up, give a shot in the arm to; rareactivate, inspirit
"he fortified himself with a large tot of rum"
antonyms: sedate, subdue
2.
add spirits to (wine) to make port, sherry, etc.
"fortified wine"
synonyms: add spirits/alcohol to, strengthen
"fortified wine"
antonyms: dilute
increase the nutritive value of (food) by adding vitamins.
synonyms: add vitamins/minerals to, boost, improve; informalbeef up
"breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamins"
fulminate
/ˈfʊlmɪneɪt,ˈfʌlmɪneɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: fulminate; 3rd person present: fulminates; past tense: fulminated; past participle: fulminated;
gerund or present participle: fulminating
1.
express vehement protest.
"all fulminated against the new curriculum"
synonyms: protest, rail, rage, rant, thunder, storm, declaim, inveigh, speak out, make/take a
stand; denounce, decry, condemn, criticize, censure, disparage, attack, execrate, arraign;
informalmouth off about, kick up a fuss/stink about, go on about; rareanimadvert, excoriate,
vociferate about, vituperate
"ministers and preachers fulminated against the new curriculum"
2.
LITERARY
explode violently or flash like lightning.
"thunder fulminated around the house"
synonyms: explode, flash, crack, detonate, blow up, go off; rumble
"thunder fulminated around the house"
3.
MEDICINE
(of a disease or symptom) develop suddenly and severely.
"fulminating appendicitis"
nounCHEMISTRY
noun: fulminate; plural noun: fulminates
1.
a salt or ester of fulminic acid.
gallop
/ˈɡaləp/
 Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: gallop
1.
the fastest pace of a horse or other quadruped, with all the feet off the ground together in each
stride.
"the horse broke into a furious gallop"
a ride on a horse at a gallop.
plural noun: gallops
"Wilfred went for a gallop on the sands"
a very fast pace of running by a person.
"she ran after them at a gallop"
BRITISH
a track or ground where horses are exercised at a gallop.
"Dancer fractured a foreleg on the gallops"
verb
verb: gallop; 3rd person present: gallops; past tense: galloped; past participle: galloped; gerund or
present participle: galloping
1.
(of a horse) go at the pace of a gallop.
"we galloped along the sand"
synonyms: race, canter, run, rush, dash, tear, sprint, bolt, fly, shoot, dart, hurry, hasten, speed,
streak, hurtle, career, hare, scamper, scurry, scud, go like lighting, go like the wind; lope, prance,
frisk; informalzoom, pelt, scoot, hotfoot it, leg it, belt, zip, whip, go like a bat out of hell;
informalbomb
"the horse galloped away"
antonyms: amble
make (a horse) gallop.
"Fred galloped the horse off to the start"
(of a person) run fast.
"Leota galloped in from the halfway line"
2.
proceed at great speed.
"don't gallop through your speech"
(of a process or event) progress in a rapid and seemingly uncontrollable manner.
"his life gallops headlong towards disaster"
prim
/prɪm/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: prim; comparative adjective: primmer; superlative adjective: primmest
1.
feeling or showing disapproval of anything regarded as improper; stiffly correct.
"a very prim and proper lady"
synonyms: demure, proper, prim and proper, formal, stuffy, strait-laced, prudish; prissy,
mimsy, priggish, puritanical, niminy-piminy, Victorian, old-maid, old-maidish, schoolmistressy,
schoolmarmish, governessy; po-faced; informalstarchy; archaicsquare-toed; rareGrundyish
"a prim, fastidious woman"
antonyms: uninhibited, informal
verb
verb: prim; 3rd person present: prims; past tense: primmed; past participle: primmed; gerund or
present participle: primming
1.
purse (the mouth or lips) into a prim expression.
"Laurie primmed up his mouth"
Origin

propound
/prəˈpaʊnd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: propound; 3rd person present: propounds; past tense: propounded; past participle:
propounded; gerund or present participle: propounding
put forward (an idea or theory) for consideration by others.
"he began to propound the idea of a ‘social monarchy’ as an alternative to Franco"
synonyms: put forward, advance, offer, present, set forth, submit, tender, suggest, come up
with, broach, moot, bring up, mention, introduce, postulate, propose, pose, discuss, hypothesize,
peddle, spread, promote, advocate, proffer, posit
"the theory of relativity was first propounded by Albert Einstein in 1905"
cataclysm
/ˈkatəˌklɪz(ə)m/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: cataclysm; plural noun: cataclysms
a large-scale and violent event in the natural world.
"the cataclysm at the end of the Cretaceous Period"
a sudden violent political or social upheaval.
"the cataclysm of the First World War"
synonyms: disaster, catastrophe, calamity, tragedy, act of God, devastation, crisis, holocaust,
ruin, ruination, upheaval, convulsion, blow, shock, reverse, trouble, trial, tribulation; misfortune,
mishap, accident, mischance, misadventure, woe, affliction, distress; informalmeltdown, whammy;
informalcar crash; archaicbale; archaicmishanter
"their homeland was destroyed by a great cataclysm"
antonyms: salvation, godsend
inchoate
/ɪnˈkəʊeɪt,ˈɪnkəʊeɪt,ɪnˈkəʊət/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: inchoate
1.
just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary.
"a still inchoate democracy"
confused or incoherent.
"inchoate proletarian protest"
2.
LAW
(of an offence, such as incitement or conspiracy) anticipating or preparatory to a further criminal
act.
pry1
/prʌɪ/
verb
verb: pry; 3rd person present: pries; past tense: pried; past participle: pried; gerund or present
participle: prying
inquire too closely into a person's private affairs.
"sorry, I didn't mean to pry"
synonyms: inquire impertinently into, investigate impertinently, be inquisitive about, be
curious about, poke about/around in, ferret (about/around) in, delve into, eavesdrop on, listen in
on; mind someone else's business, be a busybody, tap someone's phone; spy on, interfere in,
meddle in, intrude on; scrutinize, probe; informalstick/poke one's nose in/into, be nosy (about),
nose into, snoop about/around/round in; informalstickybeak
"she might start prying into his private affairs"
inquisitive, curious, busybody, probing, spying, eavesdropping, impertinent, interfering, meddling,
meddlesome, intrusive;
informalnosy, snooping, snoopy;
nebby;
rarebusy
"their prying neighbours"
antonyms: mind one's own business
pucker
/ˈpʌkə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: pucker; 3rd person present: puckers; past tense: puckered; past participle: puckered; gerund
or present participle: puckering
1.
(especially with reference to a person's face) tightly gather or contract into wrinkles or small folds.
"the child's face puckered, ready to cry"
synonyms: wrinkle, crinkle, cockle, crumple, rumple, ruck up, scrunch up, corrugate, ruffle,
screw up, crease, shrivel, furrow, crimp, gather, draw, tuck, pleat; rareruckle
"I find a zigzag stitch tends to pucker the fabric"
noun
noun: pucker; plural noun: puckers
1.
a tightly gathered wrinkle or small fold.
"a pucker between his eyebrows"
synonyms: wrinkle, fold, crinkle, crumple, corrugation, furrow, line, gather, tuck, pleat
"cotton thread can produce a pucker in the sewing with shrinkage"
Origin
chivalrous
/ˈʃɪv(ə)lrəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: chivalrous
(of a man or his behaviour) courteous and gallant, especially towards women.
"shall I be chivalrous and offer you my coat?"
synonyms: gallant, gentlemanly, honourable, respectful, thoughtful, considerate, protective,
attentive; courteous, polite, gracious, well mannered, urbane, courtly; datedmannerly;
archaicgentle
"he was well known for his chivalrous treatment of women"
antonyms: rude, boorish, unmannerly
relating to the historical concept of chivalry.
"the concept of chivalrous combat"
synonyms: knightly, noble, chivalric; brave, courageous, bold, valiant, valorous, heroic, daring,
intrepid; honourable, high-minded, just, fair, loyal, constant, true, virtuous
"the prince's taste for chivalrous pursuits and warlike deeds"
antonyms: cowardly
cleft1
/klɛft/
Learn to pronounce
verb
1.
past participle of cleave1.
adjective
adjective: cleft
1.
split, divided, or partially divided into two.
"a cleft chin"
synonyms: split, divided, cloven, parted, separated
"the little gull has a cleft tail"
Phrases
be in a cleft stick — be in a situation in which any action one takes will have adverse consequences.
cleft2
/klɛft/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: cleft; plural noun: clefts
a fissure or split, especially in rock or the ground.
"the third peak is divided from the eastern one by a deep cleft"
synonyms: split, slit, crack, fissure, crevice, chasm, opening, rift, break, fracture, rent, breach,
gash; cranny, interstice, furrow, indentation; gap, hole, pit, void, crater
"a deep cleft in the rocks"
a vertical indentation in the middle of a person's forehead or chin.
"the enticing cleft in his chin"
a deep division between two parts of the body.
citadel
/ˈsɪtəd(ə)l,ˈsɪtədɛl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: citadel; plural noun: citadels
1.
a fortress, typically one on high ground above a city.
"the garrison withdrew into the citadel"
synonyms: fortress, fort, stronghold, fortification, castle, burg, keep, tower, donjon, bunker;
fastness; alcazar; archaichold
2.
a meeting hall of the Salvation Army.
Origin
coy
/kɔɪ/
adjective
adjective: coy; comparative adjective: coyer; superlative adjective: coyest
1.
(especially with reference to a woman) making a pretence of shyness or modesty which is intended
to be alluring.
"she treated him to a coy smile of invitation"
synonyms: arch, simpering, coquettish, flirtatious, kittenish, skittish; shy, modest, bashful,
reticent, diffident, retiring, backward, self-effacing, shrinking, withdrawn, timid, demure
"she treated him to a coy smile of invitation"
antonyms: brazen
2.
reluctant to give details about something regarded as sensitive.
"he is coy about his age"
Origin
cynical
/ˈsɪnɪk(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: cynical
1.
believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or
integrity.
"he was brutally cynical and hardened to every sob story under the sun"
doubtful as to whether something will happen or whether it is worthwhile.
"most residents are cynical about efforts to clean mobsters out of their city"
synonyms: sceptical, doubtful, distrustful, suspicious, disbelieving, unbelieving, scoffing,
doubting, incredulous; pessimistic, negative, hard-bitten, hardened, hard, world-weary,
disillusioned, disenchanted, jaundiced, sardonic, black, bleak; informalhard-boiled
antonyms: optimistic, credulous
contemptuous; mocking.
"he gave a cynical laugh"
2.
concerned only with one's own interests and typically disregarding accepted standards in order to
achieve them.
"a cynical manipulation of public opinion"
epigram
/ˈɛpɪɡram/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: epigram; plural noun: epigrams
a pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way.
"a Wildean epigram"
synonyms: quip, witticism, gem, play on words, jest, pun, sally, nice turn of phrase; bon mot,
double entendre, jeu d'esprit; informalone-liner, gag, crack, wisecrack; rareparonomasia,
equivoque
"a witty epigram"
proverb, saying, maxim, adage, axiom, aphorism, saw, gnome, dictum, precept, epigraph, motto,
catchphrase;
cliché, truism, commonplace;
words of wisdom, pearls of wisdom;
informal(old) chestnut;
rareapophthegm
"a collection of ancient epigrams"
a short poem, especially a satirical one, with a witty or ingenious ending.
diffuse
verb
verb: diffuse; 3rd person present: diffuses; past tense: diffused; past participle: diffused; gerund or
present participle: diffusing
/dɪˈfjuːz/
1.
spread over a wide area or between a large number of people.
"technologies diffuse rapidly"
synonyms: spread, spread out, spread around, send out, scatter, disperse; disseminate,
distribute, dispense, put about, circulate, communicate, impart, purvey, propagate, transmit,
broadcast, promulgate; literarybruit abroad
"the light of the moon was diffused by cloud"
antonyms: concentrate, collect
PHYSICS
intermingle with another substance by movement, typically in a specified direction or at specified
speed.
"oxygen molecules diffuse across the membrane"
cause (light) to spread evenly to reduce glare and harsh shadows.
synonyms: spread, spread out, spread around, send out, scatter, disperse; disseminate,
distribute, dispense, put about, circulate, communicate, impart, purvey, propagate, transmit,
broadcast, promulgate; literarybruit abroad
"the light of the moon was diffused by cloud"
antonyms: concentrate, collect
adjective
adjective: diffuse
/dɪˈfjuːs/
1.
spread out over a large area; not concentrated.
"the diffuse community which centred on the church"
synonyms: spread out, diffused, scattered, dispersed, not concentrated
"skylights give a diffuse illumination through the rooms"
antonyms: concentrated
(of disease) not localized in the body.
"diffuse hyperplasia"
2.
lacking clarity or conciseness.
"the second argument is more diffuse"
synonyms: verbose, wordy, prolix, long-winded, overlong, long-drawn-out, protracted,
discursive, rambling, wandering, meandering, maundering, digressive, circuitous, roundabout,
circumlocutory, periphrastic; loose, vague; informalwindy, gassy; informalwaffling; rarepleonastic,
circumlocutionary, ambagious, logorrhoeic
"Tania's narrative is rather diffuse"
antonyms: succinct

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Dictionary
DICTUM
dictum
/ˈdɪktəm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: dictum; plural noun: dicta; plural noun: dictums
a formal pronouncement from an authoritative source.
"the dicta of High Court Judges"
synonyms: pronouncement, proclamation, direction, injunction, assertion, statement; dictate,
command, commandment, mandate, order, decree, edict, fiat, promulgation, precept,
requirement, stipulation, instruction; law, ordinance, rule, regulation; ukase; pronunciamento;
rarerescript, firman, decretal, irade
"he received the head's dictum with evident reluctance"
a short statement that expresses a general truth or principle.
"the old dictum ‘might is right’"
synonyms: saying, maxim, axiom, proverb, adage, aphorism, saw, precept, epigram, epigraph,
motto, truism, platitude, commonplace; words of wisdom, pearls of wisdom; expression, phrase,
formula, slogan, quotation, quote; rareapophthegm, gnome
"‘live well with all creatures’ is an apt dictum for today"
LAW
short for obiter dictum.
DIN
/dɪn/
noun
noun: DIN; plural noun: DINs
any of a series of technical standards originating in Germany and used internationally, especially to
designate electrical connections, film speeds, and paper sizes.
"a DIN socket"
Origin

early 20th century: acronym from Deutsche Industrie-Norm ‘German Industrial Standard’ (as laid
down by the Deutsches Institut für Normung ‘German Institute for Standards’).
din
/dɪn/
noun
noun: din; plural noun: dins
1.
a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise.
"the fans made an awful din"
synonyms: uproar, racket, loud noise, confused noise, commotion, cacophony, babel, hubbub,
tumult, fracas, clangour, crash, clatter, clash; shouting, yelling, screaming, caterwauling, babble,
babbling, clamour, outcry; brouhaha, fuss, disturbance, ado; pandemonium, bedlam, chaos,
confusion; stramash; informalhullabaloo, rumpus, ruction; informalrow; rarevociferation, ululation,
charivari
"he could not be heard above the din"
antonyms: silence, quiet
verb
verb: din; 3rd person present: dins; past tense: dinned; past participle: dinned; gerund or present
participle: dinning
1.
make (someone) learn or remember an idea by constant repetition.
"a runner-up, he dinned into them, was a loser"
synonyms: instil, drive, drum, hammer, drill, implant, ingrain, inculcate; teach over and over
again, indoctrinate, brainwash
"since she was a child she had had the evils of drink dinned into her"
2.
make a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise.
"the sound dinned irritatingly into Marian's head"
synonyms: blare, blast, clang, clatter, crash, clamour
"the sound dinning in my ears was the phone ringing"
dissemble
/dɪˈsɛmb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: dissemble; 3rd person present: dissembles; past tense: dissembled; past participle:
dissembled; gerund or present participle: dissembling
conceal or disguise one's true feelings or beliefs.
"an honest, sincere person with no need to dissemble"
synonyms: dissimulate, pretend, deceive, feign, act, masquerade, sham, fake, bluff,
counterfeit, pose, posture, hide one's feelings, be dishonest, put on a false front, lie; cover up,
conceal, disguise, hide, mask, veil, shroud
"she is an honest, sincere person who has no need to dissemble"
disguise or conceal (a feeling or intention).
"she smiled, dissembling her true emotion"
drivel
/ˈdrɪv(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: drivel
1.
nonsense.
"don't talk such drivel!"
synonyms: nonsense, twaddle, claptrap, balderdash, gibberish, rubbish, mumbo jumbo;
informalrot, tommyrot, poppycock, phooey, hot air, eyewash, piffle, garbage, tripe, waffle, bosh,
bull, bunk, blah, hogwash, baloney; informalcobblers, codswallop, cock, stuff and nonsense, tosh,
double Dutch; informalflapdoodle, blathers, wack, bushwa, applesauce; informalbunkum; vulgar
slangcrap, bullshit, bollocks, balls; vulgar slangcrapola; vulgar slangbulldust
"Walter was talking complete drivel"
Antonyms: sense
Verb
verb: drivel; 3rd person present: drivels; past tense: drivelled; past participle: drivelled; gerund or
present participle: drivelling; past tense: driveled; past participle: driveled; gerund or present
participle: driveling
1.
talk nonsense.
"he was drivelling on about the glory days"
synonyms: talk nonsense, talk rubbish, babble, ramble, gibber, burble, blather, blether, prate,
prattle, gabble, chatter, twitter, maunder; informal waffle, witter on, gab, talk through one's hat;
vulgar slangbullshit
"You always drivel on like this"
2.
ARCHAIC
Let saliva or mucus flow from the mouth or nose.
"The nurse leaves you to drivel, and never wipes your nose"
Abortive
/əˈbɔːtɪv/
Learn to pronounce
Adjective
Adjective: abortive
1.
Failing to produce the intended result.
"the rebel officers who led the abortive coup were shot"
synonyms: failed, unsuccessful, non-successful, vain, thwarted, futile, useless, worthless,
ineffective, ineffectual, to no effect, inefficacious, fruitless, unproductive, unavailing, to no avail,
sterile, nugatory; archaic bootless
"The rebels who led the abortive coup were shot"
Antonyms: successful, fruitful
2.
MEDICINE
(Of a virus infection) failing to produce symptoms.
DATED
(Of an organ or organism) rudimentary; arrested in development.
"Abortive medusae"
3.
RARE
Causing or resulting in abortion.
"Abortive techniques"

Stygian
/ˈstɪdʒɪən/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: Stygian
relating to the River Styx in Greek mythology.
LITERARY
very dark.
"the Stygian crypt"
synonyms: dark, black, pitch black, pitch dark, inky, sooty, dusky, dim, murky, shadowy, unlit;
gloomy, sombre, dismal, dreary, hellish, infernal, Hadean; literarycrepuscular, tenebrous,
Cimmerian, Tartarean, caliginous
"Paris was plunged after dark into Stygian gloom"
sear
/sɪə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: sear; 3rd person present: sears; past tense: seared; past participle: seared; gerund or present
participle: searing
1.
burn or scorch the surface of (something) with a sudden, intense heat.
"the water got so hot that it seared our lips"
synonyms: scorch, burn, singe, scald, char; dry up/out, parch, desiccate, dehydrate, wither,
shrivel; discolour, brown, blacken, carbonize; cauterize; rareexsiccate
"the heat of the muzzle blast seared his face"
distress, grieve, sadden, make miserable/wretched, upset, trouble, harrow, cause anguish to, afflict,
perturb, disturb;
hurt, wound, pain, cut to the quick;
affect, move, sting, mortify, torment, torture, gnaw at, vex, gall
"his betrayal had seared her terribly"
fix (an image or memory) permanently in someone's mind or memory.
"the unfortunate childhood encounter is seared on his memory"
fry (food) quickly at a high temperature so that it will retain its juices in subsequent cooking.
"sear the chicken livers in a pan for a few minutes on each side"
synonyms: flash-fry, seal, brown, fry/grill quickly, toast
"sear the meat before adding the rest of the ingredients"
2.
(of pain) be experienced as a sudden, burning sensation.
"a crushing pain seared through his chest"
3.
ARCHAIC
cause to wither.
"when summer sears the plains"
make (someone's conscience or feelings) insensitive.
"a long career of ambition, craft, and despotic rule never utterly seared his conscience"
adjective
adjective: sear; adjective: sere
1.
variant spelling of sere1.
vice1
/vʌɪs/
noun
noun: vice
immoral or wicked behaviour.
"an open sewer of vice and crime"
synonyms: immorality, wrongdoing, wrong, wickedness, badness, evil-doing, evil, iniquity,
villainy, venality, impurity, corruption, corruptness, misconduct; sin, sinfulness, ungodliness,
godlessness, unholiness, unrighteousness, profanity; depravity, degeneracy, turpitude, sordidity,
perversion, pervertedness, dissolution, dissipation, debauchery, decadence, lasciviousness,
lewdness, lechery, lecherousness, degradation; crime, transgression, offence, immoral act, evil act,
act of wickedness, fall from grace; archaictrespass; rarepeccability, peccancy
"people may be driven to vice by cruel social circumstances"
antonyms: virtue, righteousness
criminal activities involving prostitution, pornography, or drugs.
"a mobile phone network is being used to peddle vice"
synonyms: immorality, wrongdoing, wrong, wickedness, badness, evil-doing, evil, iniquity,
villainy, venality, impurity, corruption, corruptness, misconduct; sin, sinfulness, ungodliness,
godlessness, unholiness, unrighteousness, profanity; depravity, degeneracy, turpitude, sordidity,
perversion, pervertedness, dissolution, dissipation, debauchery, decadence, lasciviousness,
lewdness, lechery, lecherousness, degradation; crime, transgression, offence, immoral act, evil act,
act of wickedness, fall from grace; archaictrespass; rarepeccability, peccancy
"people may be driven to vice by cruel social circumstances"
antonyms: virtue, righteousness
an immoral or wicked personal characteristic.
plural noun: vices
"hypocrisy is a particularly sinister vice"
a weakness of character or behaviour; a bad habit.
"cigars happen to be my father's vice"
synonyms: shortcoming, failing, flaw, fault, defect, weakness, weak point, deficiency,
limitation, imperfection, blemish, foible, fallibility, frailty, infirmity
"smoking is my only vice"
antonyms: virtue, strong point
a bad or neurotic habit of stabled horses, typically arising as a result of boredom.
noun: stable vice; plural noun: stable vices
mendicant
/ˈmɛndɪk(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: mendicant
1.
given to begging.
synonyms: begging, cadging; informalscrounging, sponging; informalmooching
of or denoting one of the religious orders who originally relied solely on alms.
"a mendicant friar"
noun
noun: mendicant; plural noun: mendicants
1.
a beggar.
synonyms: beggar, beggarman, beggarwoman, tramp, vagrant, vagabond, cadger;
informalscrounger, sponger; hobo; informalschnorrer, mooch, moocher, bum; rareclochard
a member of a mendicant order.

bedizen
/bɪˈdʌɪz(ə)n,bɪˈdɪz(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
verbLITERARY
verb: bedizen; 3rd person present: bedizens; past tense: bedizened; past participle: bedizened;
gerund or present participle: bedizening
dress up or decorate gaudily.
"a uniform bedizened with resplendent medals"
peccadillo
/ˌpɛkəˈdɪləʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: peccadillo; plural noun: peccadilloes; plural noun: peccadillos
a relatively minor fault or sin.
"the sexual peccadilloes of celebrities aren't necessarily news"
synonyms: misdemeanour, minor offence, petty offence, delinquency; indiscretion, lapse,
misdeed, infraction, error, slip; informalslip-up
pip1
/pɪp/
noun
noun: pip; plural noun: pips
1.
a small hard seed in a fruit.
synonyms: seed, stone, pit
"grapes with the pips removed"
SOUTH AFRICAN
the stone of soft fruits such as peaches and plums.
2.
INFORMAL•US
an excellent or very attractive person or thing.
"it's a pip of a story"
Phrases
squeeze someone until the pips squeak — extract the maximum amount of money from someone.
pip2
/pɪp/
noun
noun: pip; plural noun: pips
1.
BRITISH
a star (one to three according to rank) on the shoulder of an army officer's uniform.
2.
any of the spots on a playing card, dice, or domino.
3.
an image of an object on a radar screen.
Origin

late 16th century (originally peep, denoting each of the dots on playing cards, dice, and dominoes):
of unknown origin.
pip3
/pɪp/
nounBRITISH
noun: pip; plural noun: pips
a short high-pitched sound used especially to indicate the time on the radio or to instruct a caller
using a public telephone to insert more money.
Origin
early 20th century: imitative.
pip4
/pɪp/
noun
noun: pip
a disease of poultry or other birds causing thick mucus in the throat and white scale on the tongue.
Phrases
give someone the pip — make someone angry or depressed.
"that sort of talk gave Jimmy the pip"
Origin

late Middle English: from Middle Dutch pippe, probably from an alteration of Latin pituita ‘slime’. In
the late 15th century the word came to be applied humorously to unspecified human diseases, and
later to ill humour.
pip5
/pɪp/
verb
verb: pip; 3rd person present: pips; past tense: pipped; past participle: pipped; gerund or present
participle: pipping
(of a young bird) crack (the shell of the egg) when hatching.
"as the eggs are being pipped the female clucks"
Origin
late 19th century: perhaps of imitative origin.
pip6
/pɪp/
verbBRITISH
verb: pip; 3rd person present: pips; past tense: pipped; past participle: pipped; gerund or present
participle: pipping
INFORMAL
defeat by a small margin or at the last moment.
"you were just pipped for the prize"
DATED
hit or wound (someone) with a gun.
"he pipped one of our fellows through the head yesterday"
Phrases
pip someone at the post — defeat someone at the last moment.
"I was pipped at the post in the men's finals"
GAOL jail
/dʒeɪl/
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noun
noun: gaol
1.
a place for the confinement of people accused or convicted of a crime.
"he spent 15 years in jail"
synonyms: prison, penal institution, place of detention, lock-up, place of confinement,
guardhouse, correctional facility, detention centre; young offender institution, youth custody
centre; penitentiary, jailhouse, boot camp, stockade, house of correction; informalthe clink, the
slammer, inside, stir, the jug, the big house, the brig, the glasshouse; informalthe nick; informalthe
can, the pen, the cooler, the joint, the pokey, the slam, the skookum house, the calaboose, the
hoosegow; informalchokey, bird, quod; historicalpound, roundhouse; historicalapproved school,
borstal, bridewell; historicaltollbooth; historicalbastille; historicalreformatory
"he was arrested and thrown into jail"
verb
verb: gaol
1.
put (someone) in jail.
"the driver was jailed for two years"
synonyms: imprison, put in prison, send to prison, incarcerate, lock up, take into custody, put
under lock and key, put away, intern, confine, detain, hold prisoner, hold captive, hold, put into
detention, constrain, immure, put in chains, put in irons, clap in irons; detain at Her Majesty's
pleasure; informalsend down, put behind bars, put inside; informalbang up
"she was jailed for killing her husband"
antonyms: acquit, release
gape
/ɡeɪp/
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verb
verb: gape; 3rd person present: gapes; past tense: gaped; past participle: gaped; gerund or present
participle: gaping
1.
be or become wide open.
"a large duffel bag gaped open by her feet"
synonyms: open wide, open up, yawn; part, crack, split
"he wore a leather jerkin which gaped at every seam"
stare with one's mouth open wide in amazement or wonder.
"he gaped at Sharp in silence"
synonyms: stare, stare open-mouthed, stare in wonder, gawk, goggle, gaze, ogle, look fixedly,
look vacantly; informalrubberneck; informalgawp
"she gaped at him in astonishment"
noun
noun: gape; plural noun: gapes
1.
a wide opening.
"a gape of the jaws"
an open-mouthed stare.
"she climbed into her sports car to the gapes of passers-by"
a widely open mouth or beak.
"juvenile birds with yellow gapes"
a disease of birds with gaping of the mouth as a symptom, caused by infestation with gapeworm.
plural noun: the gapes
halcyon
/ˈhalsɪən/
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adjective
adjective: halcyon
1.
denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.
"the halcyon days of the mid 1980s, when profits were soaring"
synonyms: serene, calm, pleasant, balmy, tranquil, peaceful, temperate, mild, quiet, gentle,
placid, still, windless, stormless
"hot, halcyon days of sunshine"
happy, carefree, blissful, golden, joyful, joyous, contented, idyllic, palmy;
flourishing, thriving, prosperous, successful
"the halcyon days of the 1960s"
antonyms: stormy, troubled
noun
noun: halcyon; plural noun: halcyons
1.
a mythical bird said by ancient writers to breed in a nest floating at sea at the winter solstice,
charming the wind and waves into calm.
2.
a tropical Asian and African kingfisher with brightly coloured plumage.
quash
/kwɒʃ/
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verb
verb: quash; 3rd person present: quashes; past tense: quashed; past participle: quashed; gerund or
present participle: quashing
reject as invalid, especially by legal procedure.
"his conviction was quashed on appeal"
synonyms: cancel, reverse, rescind, repeal, revoke, retract, countermand, withdraw, take back,
rule against, disallow, overturn, override, overrule, veto, set aside, overthrow, repudiate, annul,
nullify, declare null and void, invalidate, render invalid, negate, void, abrogate; vacate; archaicrecall
"the Court of Appeal may quash the sentence"
antonyms: validate
put an end to; suppress.
"a hospital executive quashed rumours that nursing staff will lose jobs"
synonyms: put an end to, stamp out, put a stop to, end, finish, get rid of, crush, put down,
check, crack down on, curb, nip in the bud, thwart, frustrate, squash, quell, subdue, suppress,
repress, quench, extinguish, stifle, abolish, terminate; beat, overcome, defeat, rout, destroy,
demolish, annihilate, wipe out; informalsquelch, put the kibosh on, clobber; rareextirpate
"we want to quash these horrible suggestions"
antonyms: bring about, prompt
scrimp
/skrɪmp/
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verb
verb: scrimp; 3rd person present: scrimps; past tense: scrimped; past participle: scrimped; gerund
or present participle: scrimping
be thrifty or parsimonious; economize.
"I have scrimped and saved to give you a good education"
synonyms: economize, skimp, be (more) economical, make economies, scrimp and scrape,
save; be thrifty, be frugal, tighten one's belt, cut back, make cutbacks, budget, retrench, husband
one's resources, cut costs, cut expenditure, draw in one's horns, watch one's pennies, look after the
pence; pinch pennies; dialectrake and scrape
"she scrimped for six months to buy a pair of evening gloves"
antonyms: spend
Origin
blithe
/blʌɪð/
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adjective
adjective: blithe; comparative adjective: blither; superlative adjective: blithest
showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper.
"a blithe disregard for the rules of the road"
synonyms: heedless, uncaring, careless, casual, indifferent, thoughtless, unconcerned,
unworried, untroubled; nonchalant, cool, blasé, devil-may-care, irresponsible
"he drove out with blithe disregard for the rules of the road"
antonyms: thoughtful
LITERARY
happy or carefree.
"a blithe seaside comedy"
synonyms: happy, cheerful, cheery, light-hearted, jolly, merry, sunny, joyous, joyful, blissful,
ecstatic, euphoric, elated, beatific, gladsome, mirthful; carefree, easy-going, buoyant, airy, breezy,
jaunty, in high spirits, without a care in the world; animated, sprightly, vivacious, spirited, frisky;
literaryblithesome, jocund; datedgay
"his blithe broadly smiling face"
antonyms: sad
flaunt
/flɔːnt/
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verb
verb: flaunt; 3rd person present: flaunts; past tense: flaunted; past participle: flaunted; gerund or
present participle: flaunting
display (something) ostentatiously, especially in order to provoke envy or admiration or to show
defiance.
"newly rich consumers eager to flaunt their prosperity"
synonyms: show off, display ostentatiously, draw attention to, make a (great) show of, put on
show, put on display, parade, exhibit; flourish, brandish, wave, dangle; exult in, brag about, crow
about, vaunt; informalflash
"he hated the way the rich flaunted their possessions"
antonyms: be modest about, hide
dress or behave in a sexually provocative way.
deluge
/ˈdɛljuːdʒ/
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noun
noun: deluge; plural noun: deluges
1.
a severe flood.
"this may be the worst deluge in living memory"
synonyms: flood, flash flood, torrent; spate
"many homes were swept away by the deluge"
the biblical Flood (recorded in Genesis 6–8).
noun: Deluge; noun: the Deluge
"the world appeared to be emerging still from the waters of the Deluge"
a heavy fall of rain.
"a deluge of rain hit the plains"
synonyms: downpour, torrential rain, torrent of rain; thunderstorm, rainstorm, cloudburst
"yesterday's deluge had turned the pitch into a muddy swamp"
antonyms: drizzle
a great quantity of something arriving at the same time.
"a deluge of complaints"
synonyms: barrage, volley; flood, torrent, avalanche, stream, storm, shower, cascade, spate,
wave, rush, outpouring
"a deluge of complaints"
antonyms: trickle
verb
verb: deluge; 3rd person present: deluges; past tense: deluged; past participle: deluged; gerund or
present participle: deluging
1.
overwhelm with a flood.
"caravans were deluged by the heavy rains"
synonyms: flood, inundate, engulf, submerge, swamp, drown
"caravans were deluged by the heavy rains"
inundate with a great quantity of something.
"he has been deluged with offers of work"
synonyms: inundate, overwhelm, overload, overrun, flood, swamp, snow under, engulf;
shower, bombard
"we have been deluged with calls for information"
commotion
/kəˈməʊʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: commotion; plural noun: commotions
a state of confused and noisy disturbance.
"she was distracted by a commotion across the street"
synonyms: disturbance, racket, uproar, tumult, ruckus, clamour, brouhaha, furore, hue and cry,
palaver, fuss, stir, to-do, storm, maelstrom, melee; turmoil, disorder, confusion, chaos, mayhem,
havoc, pandemonium, upheaval, unrest, fracas, riot, breach of the peace, disruption, agitation,
excitement, hurly-burly, hubbub, disquiet, ferment, bother, folderol, bustle, hustle and bustle;
donnybrook; tamasha; bangarang; informalsong and dance, pantomime, production, rumpus,
ruction, ructions, ballyhoo, hoo-ha, hullabaloo, aggro, argy-bargy; informalcarry-on, kerfuffle, row,
stink, splash, hoopla; informalfoofaraw; informalbobsy-die; datedaffray; archaicbroil
"a commotion broke out in the street behind us"
civil insurrection.
"damage caused by civil commotion

decadent
/ˈdɛkəd(ə)nt/
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adjective
adjective: decadent
1.
characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline.
"a decaying, decadent Britain"
synonyms: dissolute, dissipated, degenerate, corrupt, depraved, louche, rakish, shameless,
sinful, unprincipled, immoral, licentious, wanton, abandoned, unrestrained, profligate,
intemperate, fast-living; sybaritic, voluptuary, epicurean, hedonistic, pleasure-seeking, indulgent,
self-indulgent
"he turned his back on decadent city life"
antonyms: moral
luxuriously self-indulgent.
"a decadent soak in a scented bath"
noun
noun: decadent; plural noun: decadents
1.
a person who is luxuriously self-indulgent.
"for half a million dollars, he offers rich decadents the chance to lead a deadly safari"
a member of a group of late 19th-century French and English poets associated with the Aesthetic
Movement.
noun: Decadent
supine
/ˈs(j)uːpʌɪn/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: supine
1.
(of a person) lying face upwards.
synonyms: flat on one's back, prone, recumbent, prostrate, stretched out, spreadeagled; lying,
sprawling, horizontal, flat as a pancake
"she lay supine on the fine white sand"
antonyms: erect, vertical
TECHNICAL
having the front or ventral part upwards.
(of the hand) with the palm upwards.
2.
failing to act or protest as a result of moral weakness or indolence.
"the government was supine in the face of racial injustice"
synonyms: weak, spineless, yielding, enervated, effete; docile, acquiescent, pliant, submissive,
servile, inactive, passive, inert, spiritless, apathetic, indifferent
"a supine and cowardly press has allowed itself to be intimidated into censoring the truth"
antonyms: strong, assertive
nounGRAMMAR
noun: supine; plural noun: supines
1.
a Latin verbal noun used only in the accusative and ablative cases, especially to denote purpose
(e.g. mirabile dictu ‘wonderful to relate’).
deterrent
/dɪˈtɛr(ə)nt/
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noun
noun: deterrent; plural noun: deterrents
1.
a thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something.
"cameras are a major deterrent to crime"
synonyms: disincentive, discouragement, dissuasion, damper, brake, curb, check, restraint;
obstacle, hindrance, impediment, obstruction, block, barrier, inhibition
"complications of this nature are a deterrent to investors"
antonyms: incentive, encouragement
a nuclear weapon or weapons system regarded as deterring an enemy from attack.
"Britain's nuclear deterrent"
adjective
adjective: deterrent
1.
able or intended to deter.
"the deterrent effect of heavy prison sentences"

gawk
/ɡɔːk/
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verb
verb: gawk; 3rd person present: gawks; past tense: gawked; past participle: gawked; gerund or
present participle: gawking
1.
stare openly and stupidly.
"they were gawking at some pin-up"
synonyms: gape, goggle, gaze, ogle, stare, stare stupidly, stare open-mouthed, stare in wonder,
look fixedly, look vacantly; informalrubberneck; informalgawp
"he gawked unashamedly at the beautiful girl"
noun
noun: gawk; plural noun: gawks
1.
an awkward or shy person.
"let those country gawks dance to their hearts' content"
parole
/pəˈrəʊl/
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noun
noun: parole
1.
the temporary or permanent release of a prisoner before the expiry of a sentence, on the promise
of good behaviour.
"he committed a burglary while on parole"
HISTORICAL
a promise or undertaking given by a prisoner of war not to escape or, if released, not to engage in
hostilities, or to return to custody under stated conditions.
plural noun: paroles
"I took their paroles of honour"
2.
LINGUISTICS
the actual linguistic behaviour or performance of individuals, in contrast to the linguistic system of a
community.
verb
verb: parole; 3rd person present: paroles; past tense: paroled; past participle: paroled; gerund or
present participle: paroling
1.
release (a prisoner) on parole.
"he was paroled after serving nine months of a two-year sentence"
ameliorate
/əˈmiːlɪəreɪt/
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verbFORMAL
verb: ameliorate; 3rd person present: ameliorates; past tense: ameliorated; past participle:
ameliorated; gerund or present participle: ameliorating
make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.
"the reform did much to ameliorate living standards"
synonyms: improve, make better, better, make improvements to, enhance, help, benefit,
boost, raise, amend, refine, reform; relieve, ease, mitigate, retrieve; rectify, correct, right, put right,
set right, put to rights, sort out, clear up, deal with, remedy, repair, fix, cure, heal, mend, make
good, resolve, settle, redress, square; informaltweak, patch up
"any move that ameliorates the situation is welcome"
antonyms: worsen, leave alone
divagate
/ˈdʌɪvəɡeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verbLITERARY
verb: divagate; 3rd person present: divagates; past tense: divagated; past participle: divagated;
gerund or present participle: divagating
stray or digress.
"Yeats divagated into Virgil's territory only once"
parley
/ˈpɑːli/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: parley; plural noun: parleys
1.
a conference between opposing sides in a dispute, especially a discussion of terms for an armistice.
"a parley is in progress and the invaders may withdraw"
synonyms: negotiation, talk(s), meeting, conference, summit, discussion, dialogue, conclave,
consultation, deliberation, colloquy; informalconfab, powwow; formalconfabulation; datedpalaver
"a peace parley"
verb
verb: parley; 3rd person present: parleys; past tense: parleyed; past participle: parleyed; gerund or
present participle: parleying
1.
hold a conference with the opposing side to discuss terms.
"they disagreed over whether to parley with the enemy"
synonyms: discuss terms, talk, hold talks, speak to each other, confer, consult with each other,
negotiate, deliberate; informalpowwow
"the two parties were willing to parley
enamour
/ɪˈnamə,ɛˈnamə/
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verb
past participle: enamoured
be filled with love for.
"it is not difficult to see why Edward is enamoured of her"
synonyms: in love with, infatuated with, besotted with, smitten with, love-struck by, captivated
by, charmed by, enchanted by, fascinated by, bewitched by, beguiled by, enthralled by, entranced
by, enraptured by, keen on, taken with, head over heels for, under the spell of, consumed with
desire for; informalmad about, crazy about, wild about, nuts about, potty about, dotty about,
bowled over by, hot for, gone on, hooked on, stuck on, struck on, sweet on, soft on, hung up on,
carrying a torch for; informaldaft about; informaltwitterpated by; literaryensorcelled by
"she was secretly enamoured of the prince"
antonyms: indifferent to
have a liking or admiration for.
"she was truly enamoured of New York"
douse
/daʊs/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: douse; 3rd person present: douses; past tense: doused; past participle: doused; gerund or
present participle: dousing; verb: dowse; 3rd person present: dowses; past tense: dowsed; past
participle: dowsed; gerund or present participle: dowsing
1.
pour a liquid over; drench.
"he doused the car with petrol and set it on fire"
synonyms: drench, soak, souse, saturate, drown, flood, inundate, deluge, wet, splash, slosh,
hose down
"a mob doused the thieves with petrol"
2.
extinguish (a fire or light).
"stewards appeared and the fire was doused"
synonyms: extinguish, put out, quench, stamp out, smother, beat out, dampen down; blow
out, snuff out; dout
"a guard doused the flames with a fire extinguisher"
3.
SAILING
lower (a sail) quickly.
abecedarian
/ˌeɪbiːsiːˈdɛːrɪən/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: abecedarian
1.
arranged alphabetically.
"in abecedarian sequence"
2.
rudimentary; elementary.
"abecedarian technology"
penance
/ˈpɛnəns/
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noun
noun: penance; plural noun: penances
1.
punishment inflicted on oneself as an outward expression of repentance for wrongdoing.
"he had done public penance for those hasty words"
synonyms: atonement, expiation, self-punishment, self-mortification, self-abasement,
reparation, amends, penalty, punishment
"self-awareness is the necessary ingredient for penance"
atone, make amends/reparation/recompense/restitution, make up, redeem oneself, pay the
penalty, pay, recompense, pay the price, expiate, redress, compensate
"you must do penance for the crimes in your life"
2.
a sacrament in which a member of the Church confesses sins to a priest and is given absolution.
a religious observance or other duty required of a person by a priest as part of this sacrament to
indicate repentance.
verbARCHAIC
verb: penance; 3rd person present: penances; past tense: penanced; past participle: penanced;
gerund or present participle: penancing
1.
impose a penance on.
"the Bishop penanced him severely for his conduct"
obese
/ə(ʊ)ˈbiːs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: obese
grossly fat or overweight.
"a hugely obese young man"
synonyms: fat, overweight, corpulent, morbidly obese, gross, stout, fleshy, outsize, massive,
heavy, plump, portly, chubby, rotund, roly-poly, paunchy, pot-bellied, beer-bellied, big, large,
ample, well upholstered, well padded, broad in the beam, bulky, bloated, flabby, Falstaffian;
informalporky, pudgy, tubby, blubbery, poddy; informalpodgy, fubsy, lard-arsed; archaicpursy;
rareabdominous
"he ate excessively and became obese"
antonyms: thin, skinny, emaciated, anorexic
incessant
/ɪnˈsɛs(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: incessant
(of something regarded as unpleasant) continuing without pause or interruption.
"the incessant beat of the music"
synonyms: ceaseless, unceasing, constant, continual, unabating, interminable, endless,
unending, never-ending, everlasting, eternal, perpetual, continuous, non-stop, uninterrupted,
unbroken, ongoing, unremitting, persistent, relentless, unrelenting, unrelieved, sustained,
unflagging, unwearying, untiring; recurrent
"incessant rain fell for several days"
antonyms: intermittent, occasional
malice
/ˈmalɪs/
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noun
noun: malice
the desire to harm someone; ill will.
"I bear no malice towards anybody"
synonyms: spitefulness, spite, malevolence, maliciousness, animosity, hostility, ill will, ill
feeling, hatred, hate, bitterness, venom, vindictiveness, vengefulness, revenge, malignity,
malignance, evil intentions, animus, enmity, devilment, devilry, bad blood, backbiting, gall, rancour,
spleen, grudge; informalbitchiness, cattiness; literarymaleficence
"the malice of evil men who hated his good qualities"
antonyms: benevolence
LAW
wrongful intention, especially as increasing the guilt of certain offences.
tumult
/ˈtjuːmʌlt/
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noun
noun: tumult; plural noun: tumults
a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people.
"a tumult of shouting and screaming broke out"
synonyms: din, loud noise, racket, uproar, commotion, ruckus, rumpus, hubbub,
pandemonium, babel, bedlam, brouhaha, fracas, furore, melee, frenzy, ado; shouting, yelling,
clamour, clangour; stramash; informalhullabaloo; informalrow; datedaffray
"she added her own voice to the tumult"
antonyms: silence
a state of confusion or disorder.
"the whole neighbourhood was in a state of fear and tumult"
synonyms: turmoil, confusion, disorder, disarray, disturbance, unrest, chaos, turbulence,
mayhem, havoc, upheaval, upset, ferment, agitation, trouble; storms, tempests, maelstroms,
convulsions
"years of political tumult"
antonyms: peace, tranquility
manky
/ˈmaŋki/
 Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL•BRITISH
adjective: manky; comparative adjective: mankier; superlative adjective: mankiest
1.
inferior; worthless.
"he wanted recruits for his manky bee-keeping society"
2.
dirty and unpleasant.
"the man in the manky mackintosh"
rollick
/ˈrɒlɪk/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: rollick; 3rd person present: rollicks; past tense: rollicked; past participle: rollicked; gerund or
present participle: rollicking
act or behave in a jovial and exuberant fashion.
"a satirical novelist who rollicks through the sleaze of the American psyche"
revile
/rɪˈvʌɪl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: revile; 3rd person present: reviles; past tense: reviled; past participle: reviled; gerund or
present participle: reviling
criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner.
"he was now reviled by the party that he had helped to lead"
synonyms: criticize, censure, condemn, attack, inveigh against, rail against, lambaste, flay,
savage, brand, stigmatize, denounce; blacken someone's reputation, defame, smear, slander, libel,
traduce, cast aspersions on, cast a slur on, malign, vilify, calumniate, besmirch, run down, abuse;
informalknock, slam, pan, bash, take to pieces, take apart, crucify, hammer, lay into, slate, roast,
skewer, bad-mouth; informalslate, rubbish, slag off, monster; informalpummel; informalbag;
rarevituperate against, excoriate
"he was arrested and reviled as a traitor"
antonyms: praise, extol
niggle
/ˈnɪɡ(ə)l/
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verb
verb: niggle; 3rd person present: niggles; past tense: niggled; past participle: niggled; gerund or
present participle: niggling
1.
cause slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety.
"Doreen wanted to discuss matters that niggled at her mind"
synonyms: irritate, annoy, worry, trouble, bother, provoke, exasperate, upset, gall, irk, rankle
with; informalrile, get up someone's nose, hack off, get, get to, bug
"it does niggle me that we cannot play whenever and wherever we like"
criticize or annoy (someone) in a petty way.
"people niggling me for doing too much work"
synonyms: complain, object, moan, fuss, nag, carp, cavil, find fault, grumble, grouse; mither,
twine; informalnitpick
"he niggles on about the unemployed"
noun
noun: niggle; plural noun: niggles
1.
a trivial criticism, discomfort, or annoyance.
"it is an excellent book except for my few niggles"
synonyms: minor criticism, quibble, trivial objection, trivial complaint, adverse comment,
moan, grumble, grouse, cavil; twine; informalgripe, beef, grouch, nitpicking; archaicpettifogging
"there were niggles about the lack of trim and equipment on some diesel cars"

decrepit
/dɪˈkrɛpɪt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: decrepit
worn out or ruined because of age or neglect.
"a row of decrepit houses"
synonyms: dilapidated, rickety, run down, broken-down, tumbledown, ramshackle, worn out,
derelict, in ruins, ruined, falling apart, falling to pieces, in (a state of) disrepair, creaky, creaking,
gone to rack and ruin, on its last legs; battered, decayed, decaying, crumbling, deteriorated,
deteriorating, antiquated, superannuated, the worse for wear; informalrumpty
"a decrepit house"
antonyms: sound
(of a person) elderly and infirm.
"a rather decrepit old man"
synonyms: feeble, enfeebled, infirm, weak, weakened, weakly, frail, debilitated, incapacitated,
wasted, doddering, tottering, out of shape, in bad shape; old, elderly, aged, ancient, in one's
dotage, long in the tooth, senile; superannuated, senescent; informalpast it, over the hill, no spring
chicken
"a decrepit old man"
antonyms: strong, fit
Origin
scowl
/skaʊl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: scowl; plural noun: scowls
1.
an angry or bad-tempered expression.
"she stamped into the room with a scowl on her face"
synonyms: frown, glower, glare, grimace, black look; informaldirty look, death stare;
archaicglunch
"she stamped into the room with a scowl on her face"
antonyms: smile, grin
verb
verb: scowl; 3rd person present: scowls; past tense: scowled; past participle: scowled; gerund or
present participle: scowling
1.
frown in an angry or bad-tempered way.
"she scowled at him defiantly"
synonyms: glower, frown, glare, lour, look daggers at, look angrily at, give someone a black
look; make a face, pull a face, turn the corners of one's mouth down, pout; informalgive someone a
dirty look, give someone a death stare; archaicmop and mow, glout; archaicglunch
"she scowled at him defiantly"
antonyms: smile, grin, beam

despise
/dɪˈspʌɪz/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: despise; 3rd person present: despises; past tense: despised; past participle: despised; gerund
or present participle: despising
feel contempt or a deep repugnance for.
"he despised himself for being selfish"
synonyms: detest, hate, loathe, abhor, abominate, execrate, regard with contempt, feel
contempt for, shrink from, be repelled by, not be able to bear/stand/stomach, find intolerable,
deplore, dislike; scorn, disdain, slight, look down on, pour/heap scorn on, deride, scoff at, jeer at,
sneer at, mock, revile; spurn, shun; archaiccontemn, disrelish
"he despised weakness in any form"
antonyms: like, respect

obdurate
/ˈɒbdjʊrət/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: obdurate
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.
"I argued this point with him, but he was obdurate"
synonyms: stubborn, obstinate, unyielding, unbending, inflexible, intransigent, implacable, pig-
headed, bull-headed, mulish, stiff-necked, headstrong, wilful, unshakeable, unmalleable,
intractable, unpersuadable, unrelenting, relentless, immovable, inexorable, uncompromising, hard,
stony, iron, iron-willed, adamant, firm, fixed, determined; informalbloody-minded; rareindurate
"I argued with him but he was obdurate"
antonyms: amenable, compliant, malleable, tractable

dour
/ˈdʊə,ˈdaʊə/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: dour
relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance.
"a hard, dour, humourless fanatic"
synonyms: stern, unsmiling, unfriendly, frowning, poker-faced, severe, forbidding, morose,
sour, gruff, surly, uncommunicative, grim, gloomy, dismal, sullen, sombre, grave, sober, serious,
solemn, austere, mean-looking, stony, unsympathetic, disapproving
"they were barely acknowledged by the dour receptionist"
antonyms: cheerful, friendly
fluke1
/fluːk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fluke; plural noun: flukes
1.
an unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck.
"their victory was a bit of a fluke"
synonyms: chance, coincidence, accident, a twist of fate; piece/stroke of luck, piece/stroke of
good luck, piece/stroke of good fortune, lucky stroke, happy/lucky chance, lucky break
"by a fluke I had a cancellation"
verb
verb: fluke; 3rd person present: flukes; past tense: fluked; past participle: fluked; gerund or present
participle: fluking
1.
achieve (something) by luck rather than skill.
deleterious
/ˌdɛlɪˈtɪərɪəs/
 Learn to pronounce
adjectiveFORMAL
adjective: deleterious
causing harm or damage.
"divorce is assumed to have deleterious effects on children"
synonyms: harmful, damaging, detrimental, injurious, inimical, hurtful, bad, adverse,
disadvantageous, unfavourable, unfortunate, undesirable; destructive, pernicious, ruinous
"these policies are having a deleterious effect on British industry"
antonyms: beneficial, advantageous
scamper
/ˈskampə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: scamper; 3rd person present: scampers; past tense: scampered; past participle: scampered;
gerund or present participle: scampering
1.
(especially of a small animal or child) run with quick light steps, especially through fear or
excitement.
"he scampered in like an overgrown puppy"
synonyms: scurry, scuttle, dart, run, rush, dash, race, sprint, hurry, hasten, make haste; romp,
frolic, gambol; scutter; informalscoot, beetle
"the boy scampered off"
noun
noun: scamper; plural noun: scampers
1.
an act of scampering.
"he heard the squeak and scamper of rats"
improvise
/ˈɪmprəvʌɪz/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: improvise; 3rd person present: improvises; past tense: improvised; past participle:
improvised; gerund or present participle: improvising
create and perform (music, drama, or verse) spontaneously or without preparation.
"he invited actors to improvise dialogue"
synonyms: extemporize, ad lib, speak impromptu, make it up as one goes along, think on one's
feet, take it as it comes; informalspeak off the cuff, speak off the top of one's head, play it by ear,
busk it, wing it
"she was improvising in front of the cameras"
impromptu, improvisational, improvisatory, unrehearsed, unprepared, unscripted, extempore,
extemporized, spontaneous, unstudied, unpremeditated, unarranged, unplanned, on the spot, ad
lib;
ad libitum;
informaloff-the-cuff, spur of the moment;
rareimprovisatorial
"an improvised short speech"
antonyms: prepared, rehearsed
produce or make (something) from whatever is available.
"I improvised a costume for myself out of an old blue dress"
synonyms: contrive, devise, throw together, cobble together, concoct, rig, jury-rig, put
together; informalknock up; informalwhip up, fix up, rustle up
"she improvised a sandpit for the children to play in"
makeshift, thrown together, cobbled together, devised, rigged, jury-rigged, rough and ready, make-
do, emergency, stopgap, temporary, short-term, pro tem;
ad hoc, pro tempore, ad interim
"an improvised shelter"
reconnaissance
/rɪˈkɒnɪs(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: reconnaissance; plural noun: reconnaissances
military observation of a region to locate an enemy or ascertain strategic features.
"an excellent aircraft for low-level reconnaissance"
synonyms: preliminary survey, survey, exploration, observation, investigation, examination,
inspection, probe, scrutiny, scan; patrol, search, expedition; reconnoitring, scouting (out), spying
out; informalrecce; informalshufti; informalrecon
"he took some marines to make a reconnaissance of the island"
preliminary surveying or research.
"conducting client reconnaissance"
purport
verb
verb: purport; 3rd person present: purports; past tense: purported; past participle: purported;
gerund or present participle: purporting
/pəˈpɔːt/
1.
appear to be or do something, especially falsely.
"she is not the person she purports to be"
synonyms: claim, lay claim, profess, pretend; set oneself up (as), appear, seem;
allege/maintain/assert/proclaim/imply that one is, be apparently, be ostensibly, pose as,
impersonate, pass oneself off as, be disguised as, masquerade as, feign the identity of, pass for,
represent oneself as; rarepersonate
"this work purports to be authoritative"
noun
noun: purport
/ˈpəːpɔːt/
1.
the meaning or sense of something, typically a document or speech.
"I do not understand the purport of your remarks"
synonyms: gist, substance, drift, implication, intention, meaning, significance, signification,
sense, essence, import, tenor, thrust, message, spirit
"the purport of his remarks is already familiar"
the purpose or intention of something.
"the purport of existence"
synonyms: intention, purpose, intent, object, objective, aim, goal, target, end, plan, scheme,
design, idea, ambition, desire, wish, hope
"the purport of the attack was to prove him wrong"

cauldron
/ˈkɔːldr(ə)n,ˈkɒldr(ə)n/
 Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: cauldron; plural noun: cauldrons; noun: caldron; plural noun: caldrons
1.
a large metal pot with a lid and handle, used for cooking over an open fire.
2.
a situation characterized by instability and strong emotions.
"a cauldron of repressed anger"
strew
/struː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: strew; 3rd person present: strews; past tense: strewed; gerund or present participle:
strewing; past participle: strewn
scatter or spread (things) untidily over a surface or area.
"a small room with newspapers strewn all over the floor"
synonyms: scatter, spread, disperse, distribute, litter, toss, sprinkle, sow, broadcast;
literarybestrew, besprinkle
"his room was strewn with books and papers"
antonyms: gather
cover (a surface or area) with untidily scattered things.
"the table was strewn with books and papers"
be scattered or spread untidily over (a surface or area).
"leaves strewed the path"
ex gratia
/ɛks ˈɡreɪʃə/
adverb & adjective
adverb: ex gratia; adjective: ex gratia
(with reference to payment) done from a sense of moral obligation rather than because of any legal
requirement.
"an ex gratia payment"

ransack
/ˈransak/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: ransack; 3rd person present: ransacks; past tense: ransacked; past participle: ransacked;
gerund or present participle: ransacking
go through (a place) stealing things and causing damage.
"burglars ransacked her home"
synonyms: plunder, pillage, steal from, raid, rob, loot, rifle, sack, strip, denude; ravage,
maraud, lay waste, devastate; literarydespoil; archaicreave; raredepredate, spoliate
"burglars had ransacked the place"
search (a place or receptacle) thoroughly, especially in such a way as to cause harm.
"man has ransacked the planet for fuel"
synonyms: rummage through, hunt through, search (through), rake through, scour, rifle, look
all round, go through, comb, scrabble around in, poke around in, rummage around in, hunt around
in, explore, turn inside out, turn over
"she ransacked the wardrobe for something to wear"

assailant
/əˈseɪl(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: assailant; plural noun: assailants
a person who physically attacks another.
"the police have no firm leads about the identity of his assailant"
synonyms: attacker, mugger; rareassaulter
"she escaped from her assailant after kicking him"
undercut
verb
verb: undercut; 3rd person present: undercuts; past tense: undercut; past participle: undercut;
gerund or present participle: undercutting
/ʌndəˈkʌt/
1.
offer goods or services at a lower price than (a competitor).
"these industries have been undercut by more efficient foreign producers"
synonyms: charge less than, charge a lower price than, undersell, underbid
"English cloth manufacturers were able to undercut their continental rivals"
2.
cut or wear away the part below or under (something, especially a cliff).
"the base of the crag is undercut permitting walkers to pass behind the falling water"
cut away material to leave (a carved design) in relief.
3.
weaken; undermine.
"the chairman denied his authority was being undercut"
synonyms: undermine, weaken, impair, damage, sap, threaten, subvert, sabotage, ruin,
disrupt, undo, destabilize, demolish, wreck, destroy, chip away
"the company denied that his authority was being undercut"
4.
TENNIS
strike (a ball) with backspin so that it bounces high on landing.
noun
noun: undercut; plural noun: undercuts
/ˈʌndəkʌt/
1.
a space formed by the removal or absence of material from the lower part of something.
"there may be some bigger fish in the safety of the undercut"
NORTH AMERICAN
a notch cut in a tree trunk to guide its fall when felled.
2.
BRITISH
the underside of a sirloin of beef.
3.
a hairstyle in which the hair is shaved or cut very short on the sides or back of the head but left
relatively long on top.
"she styled her short bob into an edgy undercut"
antecedent
/ˌantɪˈsiːd(ə)nt/
 Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: antecedent; plural noun: antecedents
1.
a thing that existed before or logically precedes another.
"some antecedents to the African novel might exist in Africa's oral traditions"
synonyms: precursor, forerunner, predecessor
"music composed for vihuela (the guitar's lute-like antecedent)"
2.
a person's ancestors or family and social background.
"her early life and antecedents have been traced"
synonyms: ancestor, forefather, forebear, predecessor, progenitor; family, family tree, stock,
ancestry, descent, genealogy, roots, extraction, birth; history, past, background, record;
rarefiliation, stirps
"her early life and antecedents have been traced"
antonyms: descendant
3.
GRAMMAR
an earlier word, phrase, or clause to which another word (especially a following relative pronoun)
refers back.
4.
LOGIC
the statement contained in the ‘if’ clause of a conditional proposition.
adjective
adjective: antecedent
1.
preceding in time or order; previous or pre-existing.
"antecedent events"
synonyms: previous, earlier, prior, foregoing, preceding, precursory; pre-existing; rareanterior
"antecedent events"
antonyms: later, subsequent
2.
GRAMMAR
denoting or counting as an antecedent.
oration
/ɒˈreɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: oration; plural noun: orations
a formal speech, especially one given on a ceremonial occasion.
"Pericles' famous funeral oration"
synonyms: speech, address, lecture, talk, homily, sermon, discourse, declamation, recitation,
disquisition, peroration, monologue, valedictory, harangue, tirade, diatribe, rant; salutatory;
informalspiel; rareallocution, predication
"his eloquent funeral oration"
the style or manner in which an oration is given.
"there is nothing quite like his messianic oration"
skirmish
/ˈskəːmɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: skirmish; plural noun: skirmishes
1.
an episode of irregular or unpremeditated fighting, especially between small or outlying parts of
armies or fleets.
"the unit was caught in several skirmishes and the commanding officer was killed"
synonyms: fight, battle, clash, conflict, encounter, confrontation, engagement, fray, contest,
combat, tussle, scrimmage, fracas, affray, melee; archaicrencounter
"the unit was caught up in several skirmishes"
a short argument.
"there was a skirmish over the budget"
synonyms: argument, quarrel, squabble, contretemps, disagreement, difference of opinion,
dissension, falling-out, dispute, disputation, contention, clash, altercation, exchange, war of words;
donnybrook; informaltiff, set-to, run-in, spat, dust-up; informalrow, barney, ding-dong, bust-up, bit
of argy-bargy, ruck; informalafters; informalrammy; archaicbroil, miff; archaicthreap, collieshangie
"there was a skirmish over the budget"
verb
verb: skirmish; 3rd person present: skirmishes; past tense: skirmished; past participle: skirmished;
gerund or present participle: skirmishing
1.
engage in a skirmish.
"reports of skirmishing along the border"
synonyms: fight, do battle with, battle with, engage with, close with, combat, clash with, come
to blows with, exchange blows with, struggle with, tussle with; informalscrap with
"they skirmished briefly with soldiers from Fort Benton"
Origin

profound
/prəˈfaʊnd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: profound; comparative adjective: profounder; superlative adjective: profoundest
1.
(of a state, quality, or emotion) very great or intense.
"profound feelings of disquiet"
synonyms: heartfelt, intense, keen, great, very great, extreme, sincere, earnest, deep, deepest,
deeply felt, wholehearted, acute, overpowering, overwhelming, deep-seated, deep-rooted, fervent,
ardent
"a sigh of profound relief"
far-reaching, radical, extensive, exhaustive, thoroughgoing, sweeping, life-changing
"the implications of this discovery are profound"
antonyms: superficial, mild
(of a disease or disability) very severe.
"a case of profound liver failure"
2.
(of a person or statement) having or showing great knowledge or insight.
"a profound philosopher"
synonyms: wise, learned, clever, intelligent, with/showing great knowledge, knowledgeable,
intellectual, scholarly, sage, sagacious, erudite, discerning, penetrating, perceptive, astute,
thoughtful, full of insight, insightful, percipient, perspicacious, philosophical, deep; raresapient
"a profound analysis of the problems"
antonyms: superficial, stupid
(of a subject or idea) demanding deep study or thought.
"expressing profound truths in simple language"
synonyms: complex, abstract, deep, weighty, serious, difficult; abstruse, recondite, esoteric,
metaphysical, impenetrable, unfathomable, mysterious, obscure, dark
"expressing profound truths in simple language"
3.
ARCHAIC
very deep.
"profound crevasses"
nounLITERARY
noun: profound
1.
the deepest part of something, especially the ocean.
"nor billowy surge disturbs the vast profound"
profound quality.
"her work is an often eerie mix of the banal and the profound"
dither
/ˈdɪðə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: dither; 3rd person present: dithers; past tense: dithered; past participle: dithered; gerund or
present participle: dithering
1.
be indecisive.
"I can't bear people who dither"
synonyms: hesitate, falter, waver, teeter, vacillate, oscillate, fluctuate, change one's mind, be
in two minds, be ambivalent, be indecisive, be unsure, be undecided; procrastinate, hang back,
delay, stall, temporize, drag one's feet, dawdle, dally; hum and haw, haver; swither; informalshilly-
shally, dilly-dally, blow hot and cold, pussyfoot around, sit on the fence
"they wasted several minutes while she dithered"
2.
add white noise to (a digital recording) to reduce distortion of low-amplitude signals.
display or print (a colour image) in such a way that it appears to contain more colours than are
really available.
"the easiest way to remove hot pixels is to dither the images"
noun
noun: dither
1.
INFORMAL
indecisive behaviour.
"after months of dither ministers had still not agreed"
2.
a state of agitation.
"all of a dither, he prophesied instant chaos"

envisage
/ɪnˈvɪzɪdʒ,ɛnˈvɪzɪdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: envisage; 3rd person present: envisages; past tense: envisaged; past participle: envisaged;
gerund or present participle: envisaging
contemplate or conceive of as a possibility or a desirable future event.
"the Rome Treaty envisaged free movement across frontiers"
synonyms: foresee, predict, forecast, foretell, anticipate, expect, think likely, envision; intend,
propose, mean
"it was envisaged that such hospitals would be opened in all the principal towns"
imagine, contemplate, visualize, envision, picture, see in one's mind's eye;
conceive of, think of, understand, grasp, appreciate, apprehend;
rareideate
"I cannot envisage what the circumstances will be in twenty years time"
form a mental picture of (something not yet existing or known).
"he knew what he liked but had difficulty envisaging it"
Origin

stultify
/ˈstʌltɪfʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: stultify; 3rd person present: stultifies; past tense: stultified; past participle: stultified; gerund
or present participle: stultifying
1.
cause to lose enthusiasm and initiative, especially as a result of a tedious or restrictive routine.
"the stultifying conformity of provincial life"
synonyms: hamper, impede, obstruct, thwart, frustrate, foil, suppress, smother, repress
"free market forces had been stultified by the welfare state"
bore, make bored, dull, numb, benumb, stupefy, deaden;
informalbore rigid, bore stupid, bore to death;
rarehebetate
"he stultifies her with too much gentleness"
antonyms: excite
2.
cause (someone) to appear foolish or absurd.
frill
/frɪl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: frills
1.
a strip of gathered or pleated material sewn on to a garment or larger piece of material as a
decorative edging or ornament.
synonyms: ruffle, flounce, ruff, furbelow, jabot, peplum, flute, ruche, ruching, gather, tuck,
fringe; archaicpurfle
"a full skirt with a wide frill"
a thing resembling a frill in appearance or function.
"tiny frills of foam glistened white on the sea"
a natural fringe of feathers or hair on a bird or other animal.
an upward-curving bony plate extending behind the skull of many ceratopsian dinosaurs.
2.
an unnecessary extra feature or embellishment.
"it was just a comfortable flat with no frills"
synonyms: ostentation, ornamentation, decoration, embellishment, fanciness, fuss, chi-chi,
garnishing, garnishment, gilding, excess; trimmings, affectations, extras, additions, non-essentials,
luxuries, extravagances, superfluities; informaljazz, jazziness, flashiness, fandangle; rarefolderols,
fallalery
"a comfortable flat with no frills"

propitiate
/prəˈpɪʃɪeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: propitiate; 3rd person present: propitiates; past tense: propitiated; past participle:
propitiated; gerund or present participle: propitiating
win or regain the favour of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them.
"the pagans thought it was important to propitiate the gods with sacrifices"
synonyms: appease, placate, mollify, pacify, make peace with, conciliate, make amends to,
soothe, calm, humour, win over, satisfy; pour oil on troubled waters; square someone off
"George's attempt to propitiate his father did not succeed"
exhort
/ɪɡˈzɔːt,ɛɡˈzɔːt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: exhort; 3rd person present: exhorts; past tense: exhorted; past participle: exhorted; gerund
or present participle: exhorting
strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something.
"I exhorted her to be a good child"
synonyms: urge, encourage, call on, enjoin, adjure, charge, try to persuade, press, pressure,
put pressure on, use pressure on, pressurize, lean on, push; egg on, spur, incite, goad; bid, appeal
to, entreat, implore, beseech; advise, counsel, admonish, warn
"he exhorted delegates to fight corruption and bureaucracy"
antonyms: discourage
holistic
/həʊˈlɪstɪk,hɒˈlɪstɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: holistic
PHILOSOPHY
characterized by the belief that the parts of something are intimately interconnected and explicable
only by reference to the whole.
MEDICINE
characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors,
rather than just the symptoms of a disease.
destitute
/ˈdɛstɪtjuːt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: destitute
extremely poor and lacking the means to provide for oneself.
"the charity cares for destitute children"
synonyms: penniless, impoverished, poverty-stricken, poor, impecunious, indigent, down and
out, pauperized, without a penny to one's name, without two farthings/pennies to rub together;
insolvent, ruined; needy, in need, in want, hard up, on the breadline, hard-pressed, in
reduced/straitened circumstances, deprived, disadvantaged, distressed, badly off; beggarly,
beggared; informalon one's uppers, up against it, broke, flat broke, strapped (for cash), without a
brass farthing, without a bean, without a sou, as poor as a church mouse, on one's beam-ends;
informalstony broke, skint, boracic (lint); informalstone broke, without a red cent, on skid row;
formalpenurious
"her parents died and she was left destitute"
antonyms: rich
not having.
"towns destitute of commerce"
synonyms: devoid, bereft, deprived, in need; bankrupt, empty, drained, exhausted, depleted,
bare, denuded; lacking, without, deficient in, wanting; informalsans
"we were destitute of clothing"
antonyms: well provided with
confer
/kənˈfəː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: confer; 3rd person present: confers; past tense: conferred; past participle: conferred; gerund
or present participle: conferring
1.
grant (a title, degree, benefit, or right).
"the Minister may have exceeded the powers conferred on him by Parliament"
synonyms: bestow on, present with/to, grant to, award to, decorate with, honour with, give to,
give out to, gift with, endow with, vest in, hand out to, extend to, vouchsafe to, accord to
"the Queen conferred an honorary knighthood on him"
antonyms: withhold, remove
2.
have discussions; exchange opinions.
"the officials were conferring with allies"
synonyms: consult, have discussions, discuss things, exchange views, talk, have a talk, speak,
converse, communicate, have a chat, have a tête-à-tête; negotiate, have negotiations, have talks,
parley, palaver; informalhave a confab, chew the fat/rag, jaw, rap, powwow; formalconfabulate
"she broke off to confer with her colleagues"
contend
/kənˈtɛnd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: contend; 3rd person present: contends; past tense: contended; past participle: contended;
gerund or present participle: contending
1.
struggle to surmount (a difficulty).
"she had to contend with his uncertain temper"
synonyms: cope with, face, grapple with, deal with, take on, pit oneself against; resist,
withstand
"the peasants had to contend with lack of food and primitive living conditions"
compete with others in a struggle to achieve (something).
"factions within the government were contending for the succession to the presidency"
synonyms: compete, challenge, vie, contest; strive, struggle, tussle, grapple, wrestle, scuffle,
squabble, skirmish, battle, combat, fight, war, wage war, join battle, cross swords, lock horns, go
head to head; oppose, clash
"none of the groups contending for power is strong enough yet"
2.
assert something as a position in an argument.
"he contends that the judge was wrong"
synonyms: assert, maintain, hold, claim, argue, profess, affirm, aver, avow, insist, state,
declare, pronounce, allege, plead
"the plaintiffs contended that their business plan was confidential"
abysmal
/əˈbɪzm(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: abysmal
1.
extremely bad; appalling.
"the quality of her work is abysmal"
synonyms: very bad, dreadful, awful, terrible, frightful, atrocious, disgraceful, deplorable,
shameful, woeful, hopeless, lamentable, laughable, substandard, poor, inadequate, inferior,
unsatisfactory; informalrotten, appalling, crummy, pathetic, pitiful, useless, lousy, shocking, dire,
poxy, the pits; informalduff, chronic, a load of pants, pants; vulgar slangchickenshit
"some of the teaching was abysmal"
antonyms: superb
2.
LITERARY
very deep.
"waterfalls that plunge into abysmal depths"
synonyms: profound, extreme, utter, complete, thorough, deep, endless, immeasurable,
boundless, incalculable, unfathomable, bottomless
"abysmal ignorance"

pastiche
/paˈstiːʃ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: pastiche; plural noun: pastiches
1.
an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period.
"the operetta is a pastiche of 18th century style"
synonyms: imitation, parody, take-off; rarepasticcio
"the operetta is a pastiche of 18th century style"
an artistic work consisting of a medley of pieces imitating various sources.
"a pastiche of literary models and sources"
synonyms: mixture, blend, medley, melange, miscellany, mixed bag, pot-pourri, mosaic,
patchwork, mix, compound, composite, collection, motley collection, assortment, conglomeration,
hotchpotch, hodgepodge, jumble, ragbag, mishmash, farrago, hash; informalmash-up;
raregallimaufry, olio, olla podrida, salmagundi, omnium gatherum, macédoine, motley
"a pastiche of literary models and sources"
verb
verb: pastiche; 3rd person present: pastiches; past tense: pastiched; past participle: pastiched;
gerund or present participle: pastiching
1.
imitate the style of (an artist or work).
"Gauguin took himself to a Pacific island and pastiched the primitive art he found there"

arboreal
/ɑːˈbɔːrɪəl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: arboreal
living in trees.
"arboreal rodents"
relating to trees.
cloister
/ˈklɔɪstə/
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noun
noun: cloister; plural noun: cloisters
1.
a covered walk in a convent, monastery, college, or cathedral, typically with a colonnade open to a
quadrangle on one side.
"the shadowed cloisters of the convent"
synonyms: walkway, covered walk, corridor, aisle, arcade, loggia, gallery, piazza;
technicalcolonnade, ambulatory, stoa
"the shadowed cloisters of the convent"
a convent or monastery.
synonyms: abbey, monastery, friary, convent, priory, nunnery, religious house, religious
community; historicalcharterhouse; rarecenobium, cenoby
"I was educated in the cloister"
monastic life.
noun: the cloister
"he was inclined more to the cloister than the sword"
verb
verb: cloister; 3rd person present: cloisters; past tense: cloistered; past participle: cloistered;
gerund or present participle: cloistering
1.
seclude or shut up in a convent or monastery.
"the monastery was where the Brothers would cloister themselves to meditate"
synonyms: confine, isolate, shut away, sequester, seclude, closet
"the women were all cloistered at home"
lugubrious
/lʊˈɡuːbrɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: lugubrious
looking or sounding sad and dismal.
"his face looked even more lugubrious than usual"
synonyms: mournful, gloomy, sad, unhappy, doleful, Eeyorish, glum, melancholy, melancholic,
woeful, miserable, woebegone, forlorn, despondent, dejected, depressed, long-faced, sombre,
solemn, serious, sorrowful, morose, dour, mirthless, cheerless, joyless, wretched, dismal, grim,
saturnine, pessimistic; funereal, sepulchral, dirge-like, elegiac; informaldown in the mouth, down in
the dumps, blue; informallooking as if one had lost a pound and found a penny; literarydolorous
"his lugubrious expression"
antonyms: cheerful, joyful
nonplus
/nɒnˈplʌs/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: nonplus; 3rd person present: nonplusses; past tense: nonplussed; past participle: nonplussed;
gerund or present participle: nonplussing
1.
surprise and confuse (someone) so much that they are unsure how to react.
"Diane was nonplussed by such an odd question"
synonyms: confused, bewildered, bemused, puzzled, perplexed, baffled, stumped, mystified,
stupefied, muddled, befuddled, fuddled, dumbfounded, at sea, at a loss, at sixes and sevens,
thrown (off balance), taken aback, disoriented, disconcerted, discomposed, troubled, discomfited,
unnerved, shaken, shaken up, dazed, stunned, surprised, astonished, astounded;
informalflummoxed, bamboozled, discombobulated, clueless, fazed, floored, stumped, foxed;
informalbushed; archaicwildered, mazed, distracted
"young Lewis seemed remarkably nonplussed by the whole affair"
noun
noun: nonplus
1.
a state of being very surprised and confused.
"reduced to a perfect nonplus, he rose from his chair"
satiate
/ˈseɪʃɪeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: satiate; 3rd person present: satiates; past tense: satiated; past participle: satiated; gerund or
present participle: satiating
1.
another term for sate1.
"he folded up his newspaper, his curiosity satiated"
adjectiveARCHAIC
adjective: satiate
1.
satisfied to the full; sated.
"satiate with power, of fame and wealth possess'd"
synonyms: fill, fully satisfy, sate; slake, quench; gorge, stuff, overfill, overfeed, surfeit, glut,
cloy; sicken, nauseate
"he leaned back against the cushions, satiated by the Christmas fare"
antonyms: starve, deprive, dissatisfy

plaintiff
/ˈpleɪntɪf/
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nounLAW
noun: plaintiff; plural noun: plaintiffs
a person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
"the plaintiff commenced an action for damages"
plaintive
/ˈpleɪntɪv/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: plaintive
sounding sad and mournful.
"a plaintive cry"
synonyms: mournful, sad, wistful, doleful, pathetic, pitiful, piteous, melancholy, melancholic,
sorrowful, unhappy, wretched, woeful, grief-stricken, broken-hearted, heartbroken, desolate,
heart-rending, forlorn, woebegone, disconsolate; literaryplangent, heartsick, dolorous
"a plaintive cry"
suborn
/səˈbɔːn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: suborn; 3rd person present: suborns; past tense: suborned; past participle: suborned; gerund
or present participle: suborning
bribe or otherwise induce (someone) to commit an unlawful act such as perjury.
"he was accused of conspiring to suborn witnesses"
tortuous
/ˈtɔːtʃʊəs,ˈtɔːtjʊəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: tortuous
full of twists and turns.
"the route is remote and tortuous"
synonyms: twisting, winding, curving, curvy, bending, sinuous, undulating, coiling, looping,
meandering, serpentine, snaking, snaky, zigzag, convoluted, spiralling, twisty, circuitous, rambling,
wandering, indirect, deviating, devious, labyrinthine, mazy; rareanfractuous, flexuous
"the road follows a tortuous route"
antonyms: straight
excessively lengthy and complex.
"a tortuous argument"
synonyms: convoluted, roundabout, circuitous, indirect, unstraightforward, involved,
complicated, complex, confusing, lengthy, overlong, verbose, difficult to follow
"a tortuous argument"
antonyms: straightforward
atone
/əˈtəʊn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: atone; 3rd person present: atones; past tense: atoned; past participle: atoned; gerund or
present participle: atoning
make amends or reparation.
"a human sacrifice to atone for the sin"
synonyms: make amends, make reparation, make restitution, make recompense, make
redress, make up for, compensate, pay, pay the penalty, pay the price, recompense, answer;
expiate, make good, offset; do penance, redeem oneself, redress the balance; formalrequite
"what would you have me do to atone for my sin?"
Origin
complaisant
/kəmˈpleɪz(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: complaisant
willing to please others or to accept what they do or say without protest.
"there are too many complaisant doctors signing sick notes"
synonyms: willing, assenting, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, cooperative, accommodating,
obliging, biddable, compliant, pliant, deferential, docile, obedient, conformable, tractable
"he made drunken moves on complaisant chamber maids"
antonyms: unwilling
fawn1
/fɔːn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fawn; plural noun: fawns
1.
a young deer in its first year.
"a six-month-old roe fawn"
2.
a light brown colour.
"soft shades of pale green and fawn"
synonyms: beige, yellowish brown, pale brown, buff, sand, sandy, oatmeal, wheaten, biscuit,
café au lait, camel, kasha, ecru, taupe, stone, stone-coloured, greige, greyish brown, mushroom,
putty; neutral, natural, naturelle
"a thick fawn carpet"
verb
verb: fawn; 3rd person present: fawns; past tense: fawned; past participle: fawned; gerund or
present participle: fawning
1.
(of a deer) produce young.
"the forest was closed for hunting when the does were fawning"
Phrases
in fawn — (of a deer) pregnant.
Origin

late Middle English: from Old French faon, based on Latin fetus ‘offspring’; compare with fetus.
fawn2
/fɔːn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: fawn; 3rd person present: fawns; past tense: fawned; past participle: fawned; gerund or
present participle: fawning
(of a person) give a servile display of exaggerated flattery or affection, typically in order to gain
favour.
"congressmen fawn over the President"
synonyms: be obsequious to, be sycophantic to, be servile to, curry favour with, pay court to,
play up to, crawl to, creep to, ingratiate oneself with, dance attendance on, fall over oneself for,
kowtow to, toady to, truckle to, bow and scrape before, grovel before, cringe before, abase oneself
before; flatter, praise, sing the praises of, praise to the skies, praise to excess, eulogize;
informalsweet-talk, soft-soap, brown-nose, suck up to, make up to, smarm around, be all over, fall
all over, butter up, lick someone's boots, rub up the right way, lay it on thick, lay it on with a trowel;
informalsmoodge to; vulgar slangkiss someone's arse
"congressmen fawn over him whenever he comes to town"
obsequious, servile, sycophantic, flattering, ingratiating, unctuous, oleaginous, oily, toadyish,
slavish, bowing and scraping, grovelling, abject, crawling, creeping, cringing, prostrate, Uriah
Heepish;
informalbootlicking, smarmy, slimy, sucky, soapy;
informalbrown-nosing;
vulgar slangarse-kissing, bum-sucking;
vulgar slangkiss-ass, ass-kissing, suckholing;
raresaponaceous
"a circle of fawning civil servants"
(of a dog) show slavish devotion, especially by rubbing against someone.
"the dogs started fawning on me"

paean
/ˈpiːən/
noun
noun: paean; plural noun: paeans
a song of praise or triumph.
"a paean of praise for the great poets"
a creative work expressing enthusiastic praise.
"he's created a filmic paean to his hero"
synonyms: song of praise, hymn, psalm, anthem, shout of praise, alleluia; praise, plaudit,
exaltation, glorification, eulogy, tribute, testimonial, extolment, encomium, panegyric, accolade,
acclamation, commendation, compliment, bouquet
"Moses leads the people in a great paean of triumph"
abscission
/əbˈsɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
nounBOTANY
noun: abscission; plural noun: abscissions
the natural detachment of parts of a plant, typically dead leaves and ripe fruit.
"leaf abscission in trees"

foible
/ˈfɔɪb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: foibles
1.
a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character.
"they have to tolerate each other's little foibles"
synonyms: weakness, weak point, weak spot, failing, shortcoming, flaw, imperfection, blemish,
fault, defect, frailty, infirmity, inadequacy, limitation; quirk, kink, idiosyncrasy, eccentricity,
peculiarity, abnormality; Achilles heel, chink in one's armour; informalhang-up
"we have to tolerate each other's little foibles"
antonyms: strength
2.
FENCING
the part of a sword blade from the middle to the point.

slew1
/sluː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: slew; 3rd person present: slews; past tense: slewed; past participle: slewed; gerund or
present participle: slewing; verb: slue; 3rd person present: slues; past tense: slued; past participle:
slued; gerund or present participle: slueing; gerund or present participle: sluing
1.
turn or slide violently or uncontrollably.
"the Renault slewed from side to side in the snow"
2.
(of an electronic device) undergo slewing.
noun
noun: slew; plural noun: slews; noun: slue; plural noun: slues
1.
a violent or uncontrollable sliding movement.
"I was assaulted by the thump and slew of the van"
Origin
mid 18th century (originally in nautical use): of unknown origin.
slew2
/sluː/
Learn to pronounce
past of slay1.
slew3
/sluː/
Learn to pronounce
nounINFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
noun: slew; plural noun: slews
a large number or quantity of something.
"he asked me a slew of questions"

toady
/ˈtəʊdi/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: toady; plural noun: toadies
1.
a person who behaves obsequiously to someone important.
synonyms: sycophant, obsequious person, creep, crawler, fawner, flatterer, flunkey, lackey,
truckler, groveller, doormat, lickspittle, kowtower, minion, hanger-on, leech, puppet, stooge,
spaniel, Uriah Heep; informalbootlicker, yes-man; vulgar slangarse-licker, arse-kisser; vulgar
slangbum-sucker; vulgar slangbrown-nose, suckhole
"a conniving little toady with an eye for the main chance"
antonyms: independent, one's own master
2.
AUSTRALIAN
a pufferfish.
verb
verb: toady; 3rd person present: toadies; past tense: toadied; past participle: toadied; gerund or
present participle: toadying
1.
act in an obsequious way.
"she imagined him toadying to his rich clients"
synonyms: be obsequious towards, be servile towards, be sycophantic towards, grovel to,
kowtow to, abase oneself to, demean oneself to, bow and scrape to, prostrate oneself to, truckle
to, make up to, play up to, dance attendance on, fawn on, ingratiate oneself with, rub up the right
way, curry favour with, flatter, court; informalsuck up to, crawl to, creep to, be all over, lick
someone's boots, fall all over, butter up, brown-nose, keep someone sweet; vulgar slanglick/kiss
someone's arse
"she imagined him toadying to his rich clients"
antonyms: defy
pertain
/pəˈteɪn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: pertain; 3rd person present: pertains; past tense: pertained; past participle: pertained;
gerund or present participle: pertaining
1.
be appropriate, related, or applicable to.
"matters pertaining to the organization of government"
synonyms: concern, relate to, be related to, be connected with, be relevant to, have relevance
to, apply to, be pertinent to, have reference to, refer to, have a bearing on, appertain to, bear on,
affect, involve, cover, touch; archaicregard
"developments pertaining to the economy"
LAW
belong to something as a part, appendage, or accessory.
"the shop premises and stock and all assets pertaining to the business"
synonyms: belong to, be a part of, be an adjunct of, go along with, be included in
"the shop premises and stock and all assets pertaining to the business"
2.
FORMAL
be in effect or existence in a specified place or at a specified time.
"their economic circumstances are vastly different from those which pertained in their land of
origin"
synonyms: exist, be the order of the day, obtain, be in effect, be the case, be prevalent, prevail,
be current, be established
"salaries which are much lower than those that pertain in Western Europe"
torrid
/ˈtɒrɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: torrid
1.
very hot and dry.
"the torrid heat of the afternoon"
synonyms: hot, sweltering, sultry, scorching, boiling, parching, sizzling, roasting, blazing,
burning, blistering, tropical, stifling, suffocating, oppressive; dry, arid, barren, parched, waterless,
desert
"a torrid summer"
antonyms: cold, cool, wet
full of passion arising from sexual love.
"a torrid love affair"
synonyms: passionate, impassioned, ardent, intense, inflamed, fervent, fervid, lustful,
amorous, erotic, sexy; informalsteamy, sizzling, hot
"a torrid affair"
antonyms: passionless, unemotional
2.
BRITISH
full of difficulty.
"he'd been given a pretty torrid time by the nation's voters"
3.
NORTH AMERICAN
(especially in financial contexts) characterized by intense activity; hard to contain or stop.
"the world's most torrid economies"
pertain
/pəˈteɪn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: pertain; 3rd person present: pertains; past tense: pertained; past participle: pertained;
gerund or present participle: pertaining
1.
be appropriate, related, or applicable to.
"matters pertaining to the organization of government"
synonyms: concern, relate to, be related to, be connected with, be relevant to, have relevance
to, apply to, be pertinent to, have reference to, refer to, have a bearing on, appertain to, bear on,
affect, involve, cover, touch; archaicregard
"developments pertaining to the economy"
LAW
belong to something as a part, appendage, or accessory.
"the shop premises and stock and all assets pertaining to the business"
synonyms: belong to, be a part of, be an adjunct of, go along with, be included in
"the shop premises and stock and all assets pertaining to the business"
2.
FORMAL
be in effect or existence in a specified place or at a specified time.
"their economic circumstances are vastly different from those which pertained in their land of
origin"
synonyms: exist, be the order of the day, obtain, be in effect, be the case, be prevalent, prevail,
be current, be established
"salaries which are much lower than those that pertain in Western Europe"
torrid
/ˈtɒrɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: torrid
1.
very hot and dry.
"the torrid heat of the afternoon"
synonyms: hot, sweltering, sultry, scorching, boiling, parching, sizzling, roasting, blazing,
burning, blistering, tropical, stifling, suffocating, oppressive; dry, arid, barren, parched, waterless,
desert
"a torrid summer"
antonyms: cold, cool, wet
full of passion arising from sexual love.
"a torrid love affair"
synonyms: passionate, impassioned, ardent, intense, inflamed, fervent, fervid, lustful,
amorous, erotic, sexy; informalsteamy, sizzling, hot
"a torrid affair"
antonyms: passionless, unemotional
2.
BRITISH
full of difficulty.
"he'd been given a pretty torrid time by the nation's voters"
3.
NORTH AMERICAN
(especially in financial contexts) characterized by intense activity; hard to contain or stop.
"the world's most torrid economies"
asperity
/əˈspɛrɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: asperity
harshness of tone or manner.
"he pointed this out with some asperity"
synonyms: harshness, sharpness, roughness, abrasiveness, severity, acerbity, astringency,
bitterness, acidity, tartness, edge, acrimony, virulence, sarcasm
"‘How should I know?’ he replied with some asperity"
antonyms: mildness
harsh qualities or conditions.
plural noun: asperities
"the asperities of a harsh and divided society"
Origin

sedulous
/ˈsɛdjʊləs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: sedulous
(of a person or action) showing dedication and diligence.
"he watched himself with the most sedulous care"
synonyms: diligent, careful, meticulous, thorough, assiduous, attentive, industrious, laborious,
hard-working, conscientious, ultra-careful, punctilious, scrupulous, painstaking, searching, close,
elaborate, minute, studious, rigorous, particular; religious, strict; pedantic, fussy
"he picked a spine from his leg with sedulous care"
antonyms: nonchalant
denigrate
/ˈdɛnɪɡreɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: denigrate; 3rd person present: denigrates; past tense: denigrated; past participle: denigrated;
gerund or present participle: denigrating
criticize unfairly; disparage.
"doom and gloom merchants who denigrate their own country"
synonyms: disparage, belittle, diminish, deprecate, cast aspersions on, decry, criticize unfairly,
attack, speak ill of, speak badly of, blacken the character of, blacken the name of, give someone a
bad name, sully the reputation of, spread lies about, defame, slander, libel, calumniate, besmirch,
run down, abuse, insult, slight, revile, malign, vilify; slur; informalbad-mouth, slate, do a hatchet job
on, pull to pieces, pull apart, sling mud at, throw mud at, drag through the mud; informalrubbish,
slag off, have a go at; rareasperse, derogate, vilipend, vituperate
"it amused him to denigrate his guests"
antonyms: extol
empirical
/ɛmˈpɪrɪk(ə)l,ɪmˈpɪrɪk(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: empirical
based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure
logic.
"they provided considerable empirical evidence to support their argument"
synonyms: observed, seen, factual, actual, real, verifiable, first-hand; experimental,
experiential; practical, pragmatic, hands-on, applied; technicalheuristic; rareempiric
"many of these predictions have received empirical confirmation"
antonyms: theoretical
sere1
/sɪə/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveLITERARY
adjective: sear; adjective: sere
(especially of vegetation) dry or withered.
"small green vineyards encircled by vast sear fields"
Origin

Old English sēar : see sear.

sere2
/sɪə/
Learn to pronounce
nounECOLOGY
noun: sere; plural noun: seres
a natural succession of plant (or animal) communities, especially a full series from uncolonized
habitat to the appropriate climax vegetation.
Origin

early 20th century: from Latin serere ‘join in a series’.

sear
/sɪə/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: sere
variant spelling of sere1.
Origin
exact
/ɪɡˈzakt,ɛɡˈzakt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: exact
1.
not approximated in any way; precise.
"the exact details were still being worked out"
accurate or correct in all details.
"an exact replica, two feet tall, was constructed"
synonyms: precise, accurate, correct, faithful, close, true, veracious, literal, strict, unerring,
faultless, errorless, error-free, perfect, impeccable; explicit, detailed, minute, meticulous, thorough,
blow-by-blow; inch-perfect; informalon the nail, on the mark, on the beam, on the button;
informalspot on, bang on; informalon the money
"write an exact description of everything you see"
antonyms: inexact, inaccurate
(of a person) accurate and careful about minor details.
"she was an exact, clever manager"
synonyms: careful, meticulous, painstaking, precise, punctilious, conscientious, rigorous,
scrupulous, exacting; methodical, systematic, well organized, ordered, orderly, controlled
"he didn't approve of sloppiness and liked to be exact"
antonyms: careless
(of a subject of study) permitting precise measurements as a basis for rigorously testable theories.
"psychomedicine isn't an exact science yet"
verb
verb: exact; 3rd person present: exacts; past tense: exacted; past participle: exacted; gerund or
present participle: exacting
1.
demand and obtain (something) from someone.
"he exacted promises that another Watergate would never be allowed to happen"
synonyms: demand, require, insist on, command, call for, impose, request, ask for, expect, look
for; extract, compel, force, wring, wrest, squeeze, obtain; archaicconstrain
"she exacted high standards of cleanliness from them"
inflict (revenge) on someone.
"he exacts a cruel revenge against the winning candidate"
synonyms: inflict, impose, deliver, administer, issue, apply
"they exacted a terrible vengeance on the helpless tribe
placid
/ˈplasɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: placid
not easily upset or excited.
"a placid, contented man"
synonyms: even-tempered, calm, equable, tranquil, imperturbable, unexcitable, peaceable,
peaceful, serene, mild, gentle, quiet, cool, cool-headed, collected, cool, calm, and collected,
composed, self-possessed, poised, easy-going, temperate, level-headed, steady, unruffled,
unmoved, undisturbed, unperturbed, unemotional, phlegmatic, stolid, bovine; informalunflappable;
informalnonplussed; rareequanimous
"she's normally very placid"
antonyms: excitable, temperamental
calm and peaceful, with little movement or activity.
"the placid waters of a small lake"
synonyms: quiet, calm, tranquil, still, peaceful, motionless, smooth, waveless, pacific,
unruffled, undisturbed, like a millpond; restful, sleepy
"the placid waters of a small lake"
antonyms: stormy, rough
bilk
/bɪlk/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: bilk; 3rd person present: bilks; past tense: bilked; past participle: bilked; gerund or present
participle: bilking
1.
INFORMAL
obtain or withhold money from (someone) unfairly or by deceit; cheat or defraud.
"government waste has bilked the taxpayer of billions of dollars"
synonyms: swindle, defraud, cheat, fleece, exploit; deceive, trick; informalcon, bamboozle, do,
diddle, swizzle, sting, rip off, screw, shaft, take for a ride, take to the cleaners, pull a fast one on,
put one over on, sell someone a pup, gull, rook, finagle, clip, gyp, skin; informalstiff, euchre, bunco,
hornswoggle, sucker, snooker; informalpull a swifty on; archaiccozen, sharp; raremulct, do
someone in the eye
"thousands of investors claimed they had been bilked by his schemes"
obtain (money) fraudulently.
"some businesses bilk thousands of dollars from unsuspecting elderly consumers"
2.
ARCHAIC
evade; elude.
renown
/rɪˈnaʊn/
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noun
noun: renown
the condition of being known or talked about by many people; fame.
"authors of great renown"
synonyms: fame, distinction, eminence, pre-eminence, prominence, repute, reputation,
prestige, acclaim, celebrity, note, notability, mark, consequence, standing, stature, account; glory,
illustriousness
"a number of them achieved political renown"
antonyms: obscurity, anonymity
Origin

cower
/ˈkaʊə/
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verb
verb: cower; 3rd person present: cowers; past tense: cowered; past participle: cowered; gerund or
present participle: cowering
crouch down in fear.
"children cowered in terror as the shoot-out erupted"
synonyms: cringe, shrink, crouch, recoil, flinch, pull back, back away, draw back, shudder,
shiver, tremble, shake, quake, grovel, blench, blanch, quail
"I would cower in the corner and tremble"

absolution
/absəˈluːʃ(ə)n/
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noun
noun: absolution; plural noun: absolutions
formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment.
"absolution from the sentence"
synonyms: forgiveness, pardoning, exoneration, remission, dispensation, indulgence,
purgation, clemency, mercy; pardon, reprieve, discharge, amnesty, delivery, acquittal, clearing;
freedom, liberation, deliverance, release; condoning, vindication, exculpation; informallet-off,
letting off; archaicshrift, shriving
"she had been given absolution for her sins"
antonyms: punishment
ecclesiastical declaration that a person's sins have been forgiven.
"she had been granted absolution for her sins"
blatant
/ˈbleɪt(ə)nt/
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adjective
adjective: blatant
(of bad behaviour) done openly and unashamedly.
"blatant lies"
synonyms: flagrant, glaring, obvious, undisguised, unconcealed, overt, open, transparent,
patent, evident, manifest, palpable, unmistakable; shameless, unabashed, unashamed, without
shame, impudent, insolent, audacious, unembarrassed, unblushing, brazen, barefaced, brass-
necked, brash, bold, unrepentant; archaicarrant
"a blatant lie"
antonyms: inconspicuous, subtle
completely lacking in subtlety; very obvious.
"despite their blatant attraction to each other they try to stay just friends"

plausible
/ˈplɔːzɪb(ə)l/
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adjective
adjective: plausible
(of an argument or statement) seeming reasonable or probable.
"a plausible explanation"
synonyms: credible, reasonable, believable, likely, feasible, probable, tenable, possible,
conceivable, imaginable, within the bounds of possibility, convincing, persuasive, cogent, sound,
rational, logical, acceptable, thinkable; smooth-talking, smooth-tongued, smooth, glib, specious;
rareverisimilar, colourable
"a plausible explanation"
antonyms: unlikely, improbable
(of a person) skilled at producing persuasive arguments, especially ones intended to deceive.
"a plausible liar"

lachrymose
/ˈlakrɪməʊs,ˈlakrɪməʊz/
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adjective
adjective: lachrymose
tearful or given to weeping.
"she was pink-eyed and lachrymose"
synonyms: tearful, weeping, crying, teary, with tears in one's eyes, close to tears, on the verge
of tears, sobbing, snivelling, whimpering; emotional, sad, mournful, woeful, unhappy, depressed,
gloomy, melancholy, low-spirited, despondent, downcast, low, glum, morose, sorrowful, joyless,
disconsolate, doleful, maudlin, miserable, forlorn, grief-stricken, lugubrious; informalweepy,
blubbering, down, down in the mouth, blue; literarydolorous; rarelarmoyant
"she gets quite lachrymose at the mention of his name"
antonyms: cheerful, laughing, happy
inducing tears; sad.
"a lachrymose children's classic"
synonyms: tragic, sad, poignant, heart-rending, tear-jerking, moving, melancholy, depressing,
plaintive; mawkish, sentimental; informalsoppy
"a lachrymose novel"
antonyms: comic

tentative
/ˈtɛntətɪv/
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adjective
adjective: tentative
not certain or fixed; provisional.
"a tentative conclusion"
synonyms: provisional, unconfirmed, unsettled, indefinite, pencilled in, preliminary, to be
confirmed, TBC, subject to confirmation; speculative, conjectural, untried, unproven,
unsubstantiated; exploratory, experimental, trial, test, pilot; rareprovisory, provisionary
"a tentative arrangement"
antonyms: definite
done without confidence; hesitant.
"he eventually tried a few tentative steps round his hospital room"
synonyms: hesitant, uncertain, cautious, unconfident, timid, hesitating, faltering, shaky,
unsteady, halting; wavering, unsure, doubtful, diffident; informaliffy
"he eventually tried a few tentative steps around his hospital room"
antonyms: confident

tenuous
/ˈtɛnjʊəs/
 Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: tenuous
very weak or slight.
"the tenuous link between interest rates and investment"
synonyms: slight, insubstantial, flimsy, negligible, weak, fragile, shaky, sketchy, doubtful,
dubious, questionable, suspect; vague, nebulous, hazy, unspecific, indefinite, indeterminate
"evidence that greenhouse warming had started was at best tenuous"
antonyms: convincing, substantial, strong
very slender or fine; insubstantial.
"a tenuous cloud"
synonyms: fine, thin, slender, attenuated, delicate, gossamer, fragile
"a tenuous thread"
antonyms: thick
dissuade
/dɪˈsweɪd/
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verb
verb: dissuade; 3rd person present: dissuades; past tense: dissuaded; past participle: dissuaded;
gerund or present participle: dissuading
persuade (someone) not to take a particular course of action.
"his friends tried to dissuade him from flying"
synonyms: discourage, deter, prevent, disincline, turn aside, divert, sidetrack; talk out of,
persuade against, persuade not to, argue out of, put off, stop, scare off, warn off; advise against,
urge against, advise/urge not to, caution against, expostulate against; raredehort
"I tried to dissuade him from telling that story"
antonyms: persuade, encourage

fecund
/ˈfɛk(ə)nd,ˈfiːk(ə)nd/
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adjective
adjective: fecund
producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; highly fertile.
"a lush and fecund garden"
synonyms: fertile, fruitful, productive, high-yielding, prolific, proliferating, propagative,
generative; rich, lush, flourishing, thriving; rarefructuous
"a lush and fecund garden"
antonyms: barren
producing many new ideas.
"her fecund imagination"
TECHNICAL
capable of bearing children.

vanquish
/ˈvaŋkwɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verbLITERARY
verb: vanquish; 3rd person present: vanquishes; past tense: vanquished; past participle:
vanquished; gerund or present participle: vanquishing
defeat thoroughly.
"he successfully vanquished his rival"
synonyms: conquer, defeat (utterly), beat (hollow), trounce, annihilate, triumph over, win a
resounding victory over, be victorious over, best, get the better of, worst, bring someone to their
knees, overcome, overwhelm, subdue, subjugate, put down, quell, quash, crush, repress, rout;
informallick, hammer, clobber, thrash, paste, pound, pulverize, crucify, demolish, destroy, drub,
give someone a drubbing, cane, wipe the floor with, walk all over, give someone a hiding, take to
the cleaners, blow someone out of the water, make mincemeat of, murder, massacre, slaughter,
flatten, turn inside out, tank; informalstuff; informalblow out, cream, shellac, skunk, slam;
informalown
"after five weeks, government troops vanquished the rebels"

belie
/bɪˈlʌɪ/
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verb
verb: belie; 3rd person present: belies; past tense: belied; past participle: belied; gerund or present
participle: belying
1.
(of an appearance) fail to give a true impression of (something).
"his lively, alert manner belied his years"
synonyms: contradict, be at odds with, call into question, give the lie to, show/prove to be
false; disprove, debunk, discredit, explode, knock the bottom out of, drive a coach and horses
through; informalshoot full of holes, shoot down (in flames); rarecontrovert, confute, negative
"the expression in his eyes belied his easy manner"
conceal, cover, disguise, misrepresent, falsify, distort, warp, put a spin on, colour;
give a false idea of, give a false account of
"he made a light-hearted speech which belied his deep disappointment"
antonyms: testify to, reveal
2.
fail to fulfil or justify (a claim or expectation).
"the quality of the music seems to belie the criticism"

acquisitive
/əˈkwɪzɪtɪv/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: acquisitive
excessively interested in acquiring money or material things.
"we live in a competitive and acquisitive society"
synonyms: greedy, hoarding, covetous, avaricious, possessive, grasping, grabbing, predatory,
avid, rapacious, mercenary, materialistic, money-oriented; informalmoney-grubbing, money-
grabbing, on the make; informalgrabby; informalhungry; rarequaestuary, Mammonish,
Mammonistic
"he had the acquisitive instinct of a magpie"
Origin
condense
/kənˈdɛns/
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verb
verb: condense; 3rd person present: condenses; past tense: condensed; past participle: condensed;
gerund or present participle: condensing
1.
make (something) denser or more concentrated.
"the morning play on Saturday was condensed into a half-hour package"
express (written or spoken material) in fewer words; make concise.
"he condensed the three plays into a three-hour drama"
synonyms: abridge, shorten, cut, abbreviate, compress, compact, contract, telescope;
summarize, synopsize, precis, abstract, digest, encapsulate; truncate, curtail; rareepitomize
"he condensed the three plays into a single three-hour drama"
abridged, shortened, cut, cut-down, concise, contracted, compressed, abbreviated, reduced,
truncated;
summarized, summary, abstracted, precised, synoptic, synopsized, outline, bare-bones, thumbnail;
informalpotted, slimmed down
"a condensed version of the book"
antonyms: lengthen, expand
2.
change or cause to change from a gas or vapour to a liquid.
"the moisture vapour in the air condenses into droplets of water"
synonyms: precipitate, liquefy, become liquid, deliquesce, liquidize
"the moisture vapour in the air condenses into droplets of water"
antonyms: vaporize, gasify

impound
/ɪmˈpaʊnd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: impound; 3rd person present: impounds; past tense: impounded; past participle: impounded;
gerund or present participle: impounding
1.
seize and take legal custody of (something, especially a vehicle, goods, or documents) because of an
infringement of a law.
"vehicles parked where they cause an obstruction will be impounded"
synonyms: confiscate, appropriate, take possession of, seize, commandeer, expropriate,
requisition, sequester, sequestrate, take; distrain, disseize, attach; poind
"officials began impounding documents yesterday"
2.
shut up (domestic animals) in a pound or enclosure.
"the cattle were rounded up and impounded"
synonyms: pen in, shut up/in, fence in, coop up, hem in, box in, hedge in, rail in; cage, enclose,
confine, kettle; corral
"the cattle were rounded up and impounded"
lock up (someone).
"almost forgotten were the poor unfortunates impounded in the prison"
synonyms: lock up, incarcerate, imprison, confine, intern, immure, hold captive, hold prisoner,
put under lock and key; informalput behind bars
"the poor unfortunates impounded in the prison"
3.
(of a dam) hold back (water).
"it will impound a reservoir 130 miles long"
languid
/ˈlaŋɡwɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: languid
1.
(of a person, manner, or gesture) having or showing a disinclination for physical exertion or effort.
"his languid demeanour irritated her"
synonyms: relaxed, unhurried, languorous, unenergetic, lacking in energy, slow, slow-moving;
listless, lethargic, phlegmatic, torpid, sluggish, lazy, idle, slothful, inactive, indolent, lackadaisical,
apathetic, indifferent, uninterested, impassive; informallaid back; rareotiose, pococurante,
Laodicean
"his languid demeanour irritated her"
antonyms: energetic, active
(of a period of time) relaxed and peaceful.
"the terrace was perfect for languid days in the Italian sun"
synonyms: leisurely, peaceful, languorous, relaxed, restful, lazy
"languid days in the Italian sun"
antonyms: energetic, action-packed
2.
weak or faint from illness or fatigue.
"she was pale, languid, and weak, as if she had delivered a child"
synonyms: sickly, weak, faint, feeble, frail, delicate, debilitated, flagging, drooping; tired,
weary, fatigued, enervated
"pale, languid individuals"
antonyms: energetic, vigorous
debauchee
/ˌdɪbɔːˈtʃiː,ˌdɪbɔːˈʃiː/
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noun
noun: debauchee; plural noun: debauchees
a person given to excessive indulgence in sex, alcohol, or drugs.
flaccid
/ˈflasɪd,ˈflaksɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: flaccid
(of part of the body) soft and hanging loosely or limply, especially so as to look or feel unpleasant.
"she took his flaccid hand in hers"
synonyms: soft, loose, flabby, unfirm, yielding, slack, lax, out of tone, toneless; drooping,
droopy, sagging, saggy, pendulous, limp, floppy, wilting
"your muscles are sagging, they're flaccid"
antonyms: firm, taut
(of plant tissue) drooping or inelastic through lack of water.
lacking vigour or effectiveness.
"the flaccid leadership campaign was causing concern"
synonyms: lacklustre, ineffective, ineffectual, lifeless, listless, muted, spiritless, lustreless,
uninspiring, apathetic, unanimated, tame; worthless, futile, fruitless
"his play seemed flaccid and lifeless"
antonyms: spirited
jeer
/dʒɪə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: jeer; 3rd person present: jeers; past tense: jeered; past participle: jeered; gerund or present
participle: jeering
1.
make rude and mocking remarks, typically in a loud voice.
"some of the younger men jeered at him"
synonyms: taunt, mock, scoff at, ridicule, laugh at, sneer at, deride, tease, insult, abuse, jibe
(at), scorn, shout disapproval (at); heckle, interrupt, shout at/down, hector, catcall (at), boo (at),
hoot at, whistle at, hiss (at), blow raspberries (at); informalknock, give someone a hard time;
archaicflout at
"the crowd jeered at the referee"
antonyms: cheer, applaud
shout rude and mocking remarks at (someone).
"councillors were jeered and heckled"
noun
noun: jeer; plural noun: jeers
1.
a rude and mocking remark.
"the taunts and jeers of my classmates"
synonyms: taunt, sneer, insult, shout, jibe, boo, hiss, catcall; mockery, ridicule, derision,
teasing, scoffing, hectoring, shouting, abuse, scorn, disapproval, interruption, heckling, catcalling,
booing, hissing; barracking; informalknocking
"the jeers of the crowd"
antonyms: cheer, applause, approval
contend
/kənˈtɛnd/
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verb
verb: contend; 3rd person present: contends; past tense: contended; past participle: contended;
gerund or present participle: contending
1.
struggle to surmount (a difficulty).
"she had to contend with his uncertain temper"
synonyms: cope with, face, grapple with, deal with, take on, pit oneself against; More
compete with others in a struggle to achieve (something).
"factions within the government were contending for the succession to the presidency"
synonyms: compete, challenge, vie, contest; More
2.
assert something as a position in an argument.
"he contends that the judge was wrong"
synonyms: assert, maintain, hold, claim, argue, profess, affirm, aver, avow, insist, state,
declare, pronounce, allege, plead
"the plaintiffs contended that their business plan was confidential"
contented
/kənˈtɛntɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: contented
feeling or expressing happiness or satisfaction.
"I felt warm and contented"
willing to accept something; satisfied.
"I was never contented with half measures"
synonyms: content, satisfied, pleased; gratified, fulfilled; happy, cheerful, cheery, glad,
delighted; tranquil, unworried, untroubled, at ease, at peace, comfortable, serene, placid,
complacent
"he was contented with his job on the newspaper"
antonyms: discontented, dissatisfied
content1
/kənˈtɛnt/
verb
past tense: contented; past participle: contented
satisfy (someone).
"nothing would content her apart from going off to Barcelona"
synonyms: soothe, pacify, placate, appease, please, mollify, make happy, satisfy, still, quieten,
silence
"her reply seemed to content him"
accept as adequate despite wanting more or better.
"we contented ourselves with a few small purchases"
synonyms: be content, be satisfied, satisfy oneself; be fulfilled, be gratified, be pleased, be
happy, be glad
"too confused to argue, she contented herself with a nod"
sanctify
/ˈsaŋ(k)tɪfʌɪ/
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verb
verb: sanctify; 3rd person present: sanctifies; past tense: sanctified; past participle: sanctified;
gerund or present participle: sanctifying
set apart as or declare holy; consecrate.
"a small shrine was built to sanctify the site"
synonyms: consecrate, make holy, make sacred, bless, hallow, set apart, dedicate to God,
anoint, ordain, canonize, beatify
"a small shrine was built to sanctify the site"
make legitimate or binding by a religious ceremony.
"their love is sanctified by the sacrament of marriage"
synonyms: approve, sanction, give the stamp of approval to, underwrite, condone, justify,
vindicate, endorse, support, back, ratify, confirm, warrant, permit, allow, accredit, authorize,
legitimize, legitimatize
"we must not sanctify this outrageous state of affairs"
free from sin; purify.
"may God sanctify his soul"
synonyms: purify, cleanse, free from sin, absolve, unburden, redeem, exculpate, wash
someone's sins away; rarelustrate
"they sanctified themselves"
cause to be or seem morally right or acceptable.
"ancient customs that are sanctified by tradition"

chaff2
/tʃaf,tʃɑːf/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: chaffing
tease.
"the pleasures of drinking and betting and chaffing your mates"
synonyms: tease, make fun of, poke fun at, rag, mock, laugh at, guy; deride, ridicule, scoff at,
jeer at, jibe at; taunt, bait, goad, pick on; informaltake the mickey out of, send up, rib, josh, kid,
wind up, have on, pull someone's leg, make a monkey out of; informalgoof on, rag on, put on, pull
someone's chain, razz, fun, shuck; informalpoke mullock at, poke borak at, sling off at, chiack;
vulgar slangtake the piss out of; archaicmake sport of, twit, quiz, smoke, flout at, rally
"the pleasures of drinking and betting and chaffing your mates"
rig1
/rɪɡ/
verb
verb: rig; 3rd person present: rigs; past tense: rigged; past participle: rigged; gerund or present
participle: rigging; adjective: -rigged
1.
provide (a sailing boat) with sails and rigging.
"the catamaran will be rigged as a ketch"
synonyms: equip, kit out, fit out/up, supply, outfit, furnish, accoutre, array, provide, provision,
stock, arm
"these vessels were rigged with a single square sail"
assemble and adjust (the equipment of a sailing boat, aircraft, etc.) in readiness for operation.
"most sails are kept ready rigged"
2.
set up (equipment or a device or structure), typically in a makeshift or hasty way.
"he had rigged up a sort of tent"
synonyms: set up hastily, erect hastily, assemble hastily, throw together, cobble together, put
together, whip up, improvise, devise, contrive, jury-rig; informalknock up
"Alfred will rig up a bit of shelter"
3.
provide (someone) with clothes of a particular type.
"a cavalry regiment rigged out in green and gold"
synonyms: dress, attire, clothe, robe, garb, array, deck out, drape, accoutre, outfit, costume,
get up, turn out, trick out/up; informaldoll up; literarybedizen, caparison; archaicapparel, invest,
habit, trap out
"I rigged myself out in all-American gear"
noun
noun: rig; plural noun: rigs
1.
the particular way in which a sailing boat's masts, sails, and rigging are arranged.
"a ketch rig"
the sail, mast, and boom of a windsurfer.
"the stronger the wind, the later you release the rig"
2.
a device or piece of equipment designed for a particular purpose.
"a lighting rig"
synonyms: apparatus, appliance, piece of equipment, tool, machine, device, tackle, gear,
mechanism, outfit, plant, kit, implement, utensil, instrument, contraption, contrivance, gadget,
structure, system; informalgizmo
"he had left his CB radio rig switched on"
an oil rig or drilling rig.
"the North Sea rigs"
(in CB and short-wave radio) a transmitter and receiver.
"the CB rig in the car was on channel 20"
a set of amplifiers and speakers used by a live band or a DJ in a club.
a particular type of construction for fishing tackle that bears the bait and hook.
"the set-up with the smaller hook is free of lead and known as a free-line rig"
3.
a person's costume, outfit, or style of dress.
"the rig of the American Army Air Corps"
synonyms: uniform, costume, ensemble, outfit, suit, livery, attire, clothes, clothing, garments,
dress, garb, regimentals, accoutrements, regalia, finery, trappings, disguise; More
4.
NORTH AMERICAN•AUSTRALIAN/NZ
a truck.
Phrases
full rig — (wearing) smart or ceremonial clothes.
rig2
/rɪɡ/
verb
verb: rig; 3rd person present: rigs; past tense: rigged; past participle: rigged; gerund or present
participle: rigging; adjective: -rigging
1.
manage or conduct (something) fraudulently so as to gain an advantage.
"the results of the elections had been rigged"
synonyms: manipulate, arrange fraudulently, interfere with, influence, gerrymander, juggle,
massage, distort, misrepresent, pervert, manoeuvre, tamper with, tinker with, doctor; More
cause an artificial rise or fall in prices in (the stock market) with a view to personal profit.
"he accused games firms of rigging the market"
nounARCHAIC
noun: rig; plural noun: rigs
1.
a trick or swindle.
Origin
edification
/ˌɛdɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
nounFORMAL
noun: edification
the moral or intellectual instruction or improvement of someone.
"a video was filmed for the edification of clients"
synonyms: education, instruction, tuition, teaching, schooling, pedagogy, andragogy, tutoring,
coaching, training, tutelage, guidance; enlightenment, cultivation, development, information,
inculcation, indoctrination, improvement, bettering, uplifting, elevation
"museum administrators are tempted to place profit above edification"
podgy
/ˈpɒdʒi/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL•BRITISH
adjective: podgy; comparative adjective: podgier; superlative adjective: podgiest
(of a person or part of their body) rather fat; chubby.
"he put a podgy arm round Alan's shoulders"
synonyms: chubby, plump, fat, fattish, stout, rotund, buxom, well upholstered, well covered,
well padded, of ample proportions, ample, roly-poly, round, rounded, well rounded, full, chunky,
broad in the beam, dumpy, portly, overweight, fleshy, paunchy, bulky; informaltubby, pudgy, porky,
blubbery, poddy; informalfubsy, lard-arsed; informalzaftig, corn-fed; archaicpursy, abdominous
"she's a bit podgy"
antonyms: thin, skinny, slender
deplete
/dɪˈpliːt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: deplete; 3rd person present: depletes; past tense: depleted; past participle: depleted; gerund
or present participle: depleting
use up the supply or resources of.
"reservoirs have been depleted by years of drought"
synonyms: exhaust, use up, consume, expend, spend, drain, empty, sap, milk, suck dry,
evacuate; reduce, decrease, diminish, lessen, lower, attenuate; slim down, pare down, cut back;
informalbleed, slash
"clan warfare has severely depleted the food supply"
antonyms: augment, increase
diminish in number or quantity.
"supplies are depleting fast"
amplify
/ˈamplɪfʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: amplify; 3rd person present: amplifies; past tense: amplified; past participle: amplified;
gerund or present participle: amplifying
1.
increase the volume of (sound), especially using an amplifier.
"the accompanying chords have been amplified in our arrangement"
synonyms: louden, make louder, turn up, increase, boost, step up, raise, magnify, intensify,
escalate, swell, heighten; add to, augment, supplement
"many frogs amplify the sound of their voices"
antonyms: reduce, quieten
increase the amplitude of (an electrical signal or other oscillation).
"the manufacturers have developed a system of amplifying the radio signal"
make (something) more marked or intense.
"urban policy initiatives amplified social polarization"
2.
enlarge upon or add detail to (a story or statement).
"the notes amplify information contained in the statement"
synonyms: expand, enlarge on, elaborate on, add to, develop, flesh out, add flesh to, add detail
to, go into detail about, embroider, supplement, augment, reinforce
"the notes amplify information contained in the statement"
antonyms: condense
3.
GENETICS
make multiple copies of (a gene or DNA sequence).
"genomic DNA was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction"
explicit
/ɪkˈsplɪsɪt,ɛkˈsplɪsɪt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: explicit
1.
stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt.
"the arrangement had not been made explicit"
synonyms: clear, direct, plain, obvious, straightforward, clear-cut, crystal clear, clearly
expressed, easily understandable, blunt; precise, exact, definite, distinct, express, emphatic,
absolute, specific, positive, unequivocal, unambiguous, unmistakable, overt, manifest; detailed,
minute, comprehensive, exhaustive, categorical
"Cara's instructions had been quite explicit"
antonyms: vague
(of a person) stating something in an explicit manner.
"let me be explicit"
describing or representing sexual activity in a graphic fashion.
"a sexually explicit blockbuster"
synonyms: uncensored, unrestrained, unreserved, unrestricted, uninhibited, graphic; open,
candid, frank, forthright, direct, plain-spoken, outspoken, point-blank, straight from the shoulder;
full-frontal, no holds barred
"sexually explicit material"
antonyms: suggestive, implicit
redolent
/ˈrɛdəl(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: redolent
1.
strongly reminiscent or suggestive of.
"names redolent of history and tradition"
synonyms: evocative, suggestive, reminiscent, remindful
"an old village church is redolent of everything that is England"
LITERARY
strongly smelling of.
"the church was old, dark, and redolent of incense"
2.
ARCHAIC•LITERARY
fragrant or sweet-smelling.
"a rich, inky, redolent wine"
synonyms: smelling of, reeking of; scented with, fragrant with, perfumed with
"the air was redolent of patchouli"
Origin
devout
/dɪˈvaʊt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: devout
having or showing deep religious feeling or commitment.
"she was a devout Catholic"
synonyms: pious, religious, devoted, dedicated, reverent, God-fearing, believing, spiritual,
prayerful, holy, godly, saintly, faithful, dutiful, righteous, churchgoing, orthodox
"a devout Christian"
antonyms: insincere, lapsed
totally committed to a cause or belief.
"the most devout environmentalist"
synonyms: dedicated, devoted, committed, loyal, faithful, staunch, genuine, firm, steadfast,
resolute, unwavering, sincere, wholehearted, keen, earnest, enthusiastic, zealous, passionate,
ardent, fervent, intense, vehement, active, sworn, pledged; engagé; informalcard-carrying, red-hot,
true blue, mad keen, deep-dyed
"a devout soccer fan"
antonyms: apathetic
Origin
jocose
/dʒəˈkəʊs/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveFORMAL
adjective: jocose
playful or humorous.
"a jocose allusion"
slur
/sləː/
 Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: slur; 3rd person present: slurs; past tense: slurred; past participle: slurred; gerund or present
participle: slurring
1.
speak (words) indistinctly so that the sounds run into one another.
"he was slurring his words like a drunk"
synonyms: mumble, speak unclearly, garble, stumble over, stammer; raremisarticulate
"she was slurring her words"
antonyms: enunciate
(of words or speech) be slurred.
"his speech was beginning to slur"
pass over (a fact or aspect) so as to conceal or minimize it.
"essential attributes are being slurred over or ignored"
2.
MUSIC
perform (a group of two or more notes) legato.
"I can play it if I don't slur the notes"
mark (notes) with a slur.
3.
US
make damaging or insulting insinuations or allegations about.
"I was not trying to slur the integrity of the committee"
noun
noun: slur; plural noun: slurs
1.
an insinuation or allegation about someone that is likely to insult them or damage their reputation.
"the comments were a slur on staff at the hospital"
synonyms: insult, slight, slander, slanderous statement, libel, libellous statement,
misrepresentation, defamation, aspersion, calumny, smear; allegation, imputation, insinuation,
innuendo
"it is a gross slur on a highly respected and honest man"
a derogatory or insulting term applied to particular group of people.
"a racial slur"
2.
an act of speaking indistinctly so that sounds or words run into one another or a tendency to speak
in such a way.
"there was a trace of a slur in his voice"
3.
MUSIC
a curved line used to show that a group of two or more notes are to be sung to one syllable or
played or sung legato.
scintillating
/ˈsɪntɪleɪtɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: scintillating
1.
sparkling or shining brightly.
"the scintillating sun"
synonyms: sparkling, shining, bright, brilliant, gleaming, glittering, twinkling, coruscating,
flashing, shimmering, shimmery; rarescintillant
"a scintillating diamond necklace"
antonyms: dull, matte
2.
brilliantly and excitingly clever or skilful.
"the audience loved his scintillating wit"
synonyms: brilliant, dazzling, exciting, exhilarating, stimulating, invigorating; vivacious,
sparkling, coruscating, effervescent, lively, vibrant, animated, ebullient, bright; witty, clever
"his scintillating closing speech"
antonyms: boring, dull, pedestrian
scintillate
/ˈsɪntɪleɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: scintillating
emit flashes of light; sparkle.
"the sleek boat seemed to scintillate with a dark blue light"
synonyms: sparkle, shine, gleam, glitter, flash, shimmer, twinkle, glint, glisten, wink, blink;
literaryglister; rarecoruscate, fulgurate, effulge, luminesce, phosphoresce, incandesce
"the brilliant stones scintillated in the sunlight"
PHYSICS
fluoresce momentarily when struck by a charged particle or photon.
"a zinc sulphide screen scintillated when it was struck by an alpha particle"
Origin
seethe
/siːð/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: seethe; 3rd person present: seethes; past tense: seethed; past participle: seethed; gerund or
present participle: seething
1.
(of a liquid) boil or be turbulent as if boiling.
"the grey ocean seethed"
synonyms: boil, bubble, simmer, foam, froth, rise, ferment, fizz, effervesce
"the brew foamed and seethed"
teem, swarm, boil, bubble, foam, ferment, swirl, convulse, churn, whirl, surge
"the shallow water seethed with creatures"
ARCHAIC
cook (food) by boiling it in a liquid.
"others were cut into joints and seethed in cauldrons made of the animal's own skins"
2.
(of a person) be filled with intense but unexpressed anger.
"inwardly he was seething at the slight to his authority"
synonyms: be angry, be furious, be enraged, be incensed, be infuriated, be beside oneself,
have lost one's temper, have/throw a fit, boil, simmer, be boiling over, chafe, rage, be in a rage,
rant, rave, rant and rave, storm, fume, smoulder, spit, breathe fire, burn; informalbe livid, be wild,
jump up and down, froth/foam at the mouth, be steamed up, be hot under the collar, have steam
coming out of one's ears; informaldo one's head/nut in, throw a wobbly, spit feathers
"I was still seething at the injustice of it"
3.
(of a place) be crowded with people or things moving about in a rapid or hectic way.
"the entire cellar was seething with spiders"
(of a crowd of people) move in a rapid or hectic way.
"we cascaded down the stairs and seethed across the station"
smear
/smɪə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: smear; 3rd person present: smears; past tense: smeared; past participle: smeared; gerund or
present participle: smearing
1.
coat or mark (something) messily or carelessly with a greasy or sticky substance.
"his face was smeared with dirt"
synonyms: streak, smudge, stain, mark, soil, dirty; blur; informalsplotch, splodge;
literarybesmirch
"the table was smeared with grease"
cover, coat, grease, lard;
anoint;
literarybedaub
"smear the meat with olive oil"
spread (a greasy or sticky substance) over something.
"she smeared sunblock on her skin"
synonyms: spread, rub, daub, slap, slather, smother, plaster, cream, slick; apply, put on, dab;
literarybesmear
"she smeared sunblock on her skin"
messily blur the outline of (something such as writing or paint); smudge.
"her lipstick was smeared"
2.
damage the reputation of (someone) by false accusations; slander.
"someone was trying to smear her by faking letters"
synonyms: sully, tarnish, besmirch, blacken, drag through the mud/mire, stain, taint, damage,
defame, discredit, defile, vilify, malign, slander, libel, stigmatize, calumniate; slur; informaldo a
hatchet job on; literarysmirch; rareasperse, vilipend
"it's a campaign by people who are trying to smear our reputation"
noun
noun: smear; plural noun: smears
1.
a mark or streak of a greasy or sticky substance.
"there was an oil smear on his jacket"
synonyms: streak, smudge, daub, dab, spot, patch, blotch, blob; stain, mark; informalsplotch,
splodge
"a smear of yellow paint"
2.
a sample of tissue or other material taken from part of the body, spread thinly on a microscope
slide for examination, typically for medical diagnosis.
"the smears were stained for cryptosporidium"
BRITISH
short for smear test.
3.
a false accusation intended to damage someone's reputation.
"the popular press were indulging in unwarranted smears"
synonyms: false accusation, false report, false imputation, slander, libel, lie, untruth, slur,
defamation, calumny, vilification; stain, taint
"there were a number of press smears about some of his closest aides"
4.
CLIMBING
an insecure foothold.
"soon you're eyeballing the top, just one smear away"
Origin

sprightly
/ˈsprʌɪtli/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: sprightly; comparative adjective: sprightlier; superlative adjective: sprightliest; adjective:
spritely; comparative adjective: spritelier; superlative adjective: spriteliest
(especially of an old person) lively; full of energy.
"she was quite sprightly for her age"
synonyms: lively, spry, energetic, active, full of life, full of energy, vigorous, spirited, animated,
vivacious, playful, jaunty, perky, frisky, agile, nimble; informalchipper, sparkly, zippy, zappy, full of
vim and vigour, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, full of beans; informalpeppy, peart; informalwick;
archaicfrolicsome, sportive, as lively/merry as a grig
"she was quite sprightly for her age"
antonyms: doddering, sluggish, lethargic, inactive

sterling
/ˈstəːlɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: sterling
1.
British money.
"prices in sterling are shown"
2.
short for sterling silver.
"a sterling spoon"
adjective
adjective: sterling
1.
(of a person or their work or qualities) excellent or valuable.
"this organization does sterling work for youngsters"
synonyms: excellent, first-rate, first-class, exceptional, outstanding, splendid, superlative, of
the first order, of the highest order, of the first water, magnificent, wonderful, fine, great,
praiseworthy, laudable, admirable; informalA1, stellar, top-notch
"the sterling work of the social services department"
antonyms: poor, unexceptional
tenacity
/tɪˈnasɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tenacity
the quality or fact of being able to grip something firmly; grip.
"the sheer tenacity of the limpet"
synonyms: persistence, pertinacity, determination, perseverance, doggedness, tenaciousness,
single-mindedness, strength of will, firmness of purpose, strength of purpose, fixity of purpose,
bulldog spirit, tirelessness, indefatigability, resolution, resoluteness, resolve, firmness, patience,
purposefulness, staunchness, steadfastness, constancy, staying power, application, diligence,
assiduity, sedulousness, insistence, relentlessness, inexorability, inexorableness, implacability,
inflexibility; stubbornness, intransigence, obstinacy, obduracy, obdurateness; Sitzfleisch;
informalstickability; informalstick-to-it-iveness; rarecontinuance, perseveration
"the tenacity with which he stuck to his story"
antonyms: irresolution, lack of resolve
the quality or fact of being very determined; determination.
"you have to admire the tenacity of these two guys"
the quality or fact of continuing to exist; persistence.
"the tenacity of certain myths within the historical record"
transcend
/tranˈsɛnd,trɑːnˈsɛnd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: transcend; 3rd person present: transcends; past tense: transcended; past participle:
transcended; gerund or present participle: transcending
be or go beyond the range or limits of (a field of activity or conceptual sphere).
"this was an issue transcending party politics"
synonyms: go beyond, rise above, cut across
"there were differences of opinion transcending Party lines"
surpass (a person or achievement).
"he doubts that he will ever transcend Shakespeare"
synonyms: surpass, excel, exceed, beat, trump, top, cap, outdo, outstrip, leave behind,
outrival, outvie, outrank, outshine, eclipse, overstep, overshadow, throw into the shade, upstage
"his latest bout of bad behaviour transcended even his own worst excesses"

umbrage
/ˈʌmbrɪdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: umbrage
1.
offence or annoyance.
"she took umbrage at his remarks"
synonyms: take offence, be offended, take exception, bridle, take something personally, be
aggrieved, be affronted, take something amiss, be upset, be annoyed, be angry, be indignant, get
one's hackles up, be put out, be insulted, be hurt, be wounded, be piqued, be resentful, be
disgruntled, get/go into a huff, get huffy; informalbe miffed, have one's nose put out of joint, be
riled; informalget the hump
"she took umbrage at his remarks"
2.
ARCHAIC
shade or shadow, especially as cast by trees.
Origin
vaunt
/vɔːnt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: vaunt; 3rd person present: vaunts; past tense: vaunted; past participle: vaunted; gerund or
present participle: vaunting
1.
boast about or praise (something), especially excessively.
"he was initially vaunted by the West for his leadership of the country"
synonyms: acclaim, esteem, revere, extol, celebrate; boast about, brag about, make much of,
crow about, gloat over, give oneself airs about, exult in, parade, flaunt, show off, flourish;
informalshow off about, flash; rarelaud
"many of the books were written by wine merchants vaunting their own specialities"
acclaimed, celebrated, admired, highly rated, lionized, revered, honoured, esteemed, exalted,
lauded, extolled, flaunted, touted, well thought of, well received, acknowledged;
eminent, great, distinguished, prestigious, illustrious, pre-eminent, venerable, august, estimable, of
note, noted, notable, of repute, of high standing, considerable;
famous, renowned, well known
"the much vaunted health-care system"
antonyms: criticized, unsung
nounARCHAIC
noun: vaunt; plural noun: vaunts
1.
a boast.

linger
/ˈlɪŋɡə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: linger; 3rd person present: lingers; past tense: lingered; past participle: lingered; gerund or
present participle: lingering
stay in a place longer than necessary because of a reluctance to leave.
"she lingered in the yard, enjoying the warm sunshine"
synonyms: wait around, stay, remain, stay put, wait; loiter, dawdle, dally, take one's time, lag
behind, straggle, dither, potter about/around/round, pause; procrastinate, stall, delay;
informaldilly-dally, stick around, hang around/round, hang on, hang back; archaictarry
"the crowd lingered for a long time, until it was almost dark"
antonyms: leave
spend a long time over (something).
"she lingered over her meal"
be slow to disappear or die.
"the tradition seems to linger on"
synonyms: persist, continue, remain, stay; be protracted, endure, carry on, last, keep on/up,
hold; survive, abide; informalhang around/round
"the infection can linger for many years"
antonyms: vanish, disappear
vestige
/ˈvɛstɪdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: vestige; plural noun: vestiges
1.
a trace or remnant of something that is disappearing or no longer exists.
"the last vestiges of colonialism"
synonyms: remnant, remainder, fragment, relic, echo, indication, sign, trace, mark, print,
imprint, impression, legacy, reminder, memento, souvenir, token, trophy; remains, leftovers,
leavings, evidence, residue; archaicmemorandum, memory, remembrancer
"vestiges of England's Tudor past were still evident"
the smallest amount.
"he waited patiently, but without a vestige of sympathy"
synonyms: trace, scrap, touch, tinge, hint, suggestion, suspicion, soupçon, inkling, whisper,
scintilla, whit, spark, glimmer, flicker, atom, speck, bit, ounce, drop, dash, jot, iota, shred, crumb,
morsel, fragment, grain, spot, mite, modicum; informalsmidgen, smidge, tad; informalstim;
archaicscantling, scruple
"she showed no vestige of emotion"
2.
BIOLOGY
a part or organ of an organism which has become reduced or functionless in the course of
evolution.

vituperate
/vɪˈtjuːpəreɪt,vʌɪˈtjuːpəreɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verbARCHAIC
verb: vituperate; 3rd person present: vituperates; past tense: vituperated; past participle:
vituperated; gerund or present participle: vituperating
blame or insult (someone) in strong or violent language.
synonyms: revile, rail against, inveigh against, fulminate against, attack, upbraid, berate,
harangue, lambaste, reprimand, castigate, chastise, rebuke, scold, chide, censure, condemn, damn,
denounce, find fault with, run down, take to task, vilify, denigrate, calumniate, insult, abuse, curse,
slander, smear; informalslate, slam, knock, hammer, carpet, roast, skewer, crucify, read someone
the Riot Act, lay into, tear a strip off, bawl out, give someone a dressing-down, tell off, bad-mouth;
informalrubbish, slag off; archaiccontemn; rareasperse, excoriate, vilipend
"he vituperated against all presidents with equal gusto"
antonyms: praise

yokel
/ˈjəʊk(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: yokel; plural noun: yokels
an uneducated and unsophisticated person from the countryside.
synonyms: bumpkin, country bumpkin, country cousin, rustic, countryman, countrywoman,
country dweller, son/daughter of the soil, peasant, provincial, oaf, lout, boor, barbarian; paysan;
campesino; contadino, contadina, paisano; muzhik, kulak; fellah; ryot; informalclod, clodhopper,
yahoo, yob, yobbo; informalculchie, bogman; informalhayseed, hillbilly, hick, rube, schlub;
informalbushy; archaiccarl, churl, hind, kern; rarebucolic
"the yokels drank cider and pronounced it ‘zyder’"

morbid
/ˈmɔːbɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: morbid
1.
characterized by an abnormal and unhealthy interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects,
especially death and disease.
"his morbid fascination with the horrors of contemporary warfare"
synonyms: ghoulish, macabre, unhealthy, gruesome, grisly, grotesque, ghastly, horrible,
unwholesome, death-obsessed; informalsick
"a morbid fascination with the horrors of contemporary warfare"
antonyms: wholesome
2.
MEDICINE
of the nature of or indicative of disease.
"the treatment of morbid obesity"
synonyms: diseased, pathological
"a morbid condition"
antonyms: healthy

mettle
/ˈmɛt(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: mettle; plural noun: mettles
a person's ability to cope well with difficulties; spirit and resilience.
"the team showed their true mettle in the second half"
synonyms: spirit, fortitude, tenacity, strength of character, moral fibre, steel, determination,
resolve, resolution, steadfastness, indomitability, backbone, hardihood, pluck, nerve, gameness,
courage, courageousness, bravery, gallantry, valour, intrepidity, fearlessness, boldness, daring,
audacity; Dunkirk spirit; informalguts, grit, spunk; informalbottle
"Sir Charles, a man of mettle, did not surrender without a struggle"
calibre, character, disposition, nature, temperament, temper, personality, make-up, stamp, kind,
sort, variety, mould, kidney, grain
"Frazer's disciple was of a very different mettle"
masquerade
/ˌmɑːskəˈreɪd,ˌmaskəˈreɪd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: masquerade; plural noun: masquerades
1.
a false show or pretence.
"I doubt he could have kept up the masquerade for long"
synonyms: pretence, deception, pose, act, front, facade, disguise, dissimulation, cover-up,
bluff, subterfuge, play-acting, make-believe; informalput-on
"I doubt if he could have kept up the masquerade for much longer"
the wearing of disguise.
"dressing up, role playing, and masquerade"
NORTH AMERICAN
a masked ball.
synonyms: masked ball, masque, fancy-dress party
"a grand masquerade organized by Lord Tylney at Wanstead House"
verb
verb: masquerade; 3rd person present: masquerades; past tense: masqueraded; past participle:
masqueraded; gerund or present participle: masquerading
1.
pretend to be someone one is not.
"a journalist masquerading as a man in distress"
synonyms: pretend to be, pose as, pass oneself off as, impersonate, disguise oneself as,
simulate, profess to be; rarepersonate
"a journalist masquerading as a man in distress"
be disguised or passed off as something else.
"idle gossip that masquerades as news"
Origin

lurid
/ˈl(j)ʊərɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: lurid
unpleasantly bright in colour, especially so as to create a harsh or unnatural effect.
"lurid food colourings"
synonyms: brightly coloured, bright, over-bright, brilliant, glaring, fluorescent, flaming,
dazzling, vivid, intense; showy, gaudy, loud
"a lurid birthday card"
antonyms: muted, subtle
presented in vividly shocking or sensational terms.
"the more lurid details of the massacre were too frightening for the children"
synonyms: sensational, sensationalist, melodramatic, exaggerated, overdramatized,
extravagant, colourful, trashy, rubbishy, cheap, pulp, tasteless, kitschy; salacious, graphic, explicit,
unrestrained, prurient, ribald, suggestive, shocking, startling, dirty, filthy; gruesome, gory, grisly,
macabre, repugnant, revolting, disgusting, ghastly, morbid, unearthly, grotesque, hideous,
horrifying, appalling; informaltacky, shock-horror, juicy, full-frontal
"a lurid account of the prostitution trade"
antonyms: restrained, discreet
Origin
ken
/kɛn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: ken
1.
one's range of knowledge or understanding.
"politics are beyond my ken"
synonyms: knowledge, awareness, perception, understanding, grasp, comprehension,
realization, apprehension, appreciation, consciousness, recognition, notice
"their talk hinted at mysteries beyond my ken"
verbSCOTTISH•NORTHERN ENGLISH
verb: ken; 3rd person present: kens; past tense: kenned; past participle: kenned; past tense: kent;
past participle: kent; gerund or present participle: kenning
1.
know.
"d'ye ken anyone who can boast of that?"
recognize; identify.
"that's him—d'ye ken him?"
jolt
/dʒəʊlt,dʒɒlt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: jolt; 3rd person present: jolts; past tense: jolted; past participle: jolted; gerund or present
participle: jolting
1.
push or shake (someone or something) abruptly and roughly.
"a surge in the crowd behind him jolted him forwards"
synonyms: push, thrust; More
give a surprise or shock to (someone) in order to make them act or change.
"she tried to jolt him out of his depression"
synonyms: startle, surprise, shock, stun, shake, take aback; astonish, astound, amaze, stagger,
stop someone in their tracks; upset, disturb, perturb, disconcert, discompose, unnerve, throw off
balance, set someone back on their heels; galvanize, electrify; informalrock, floor, knock for six,
knock sideways
"she was jolted out of her reverie"
move with sudden lurches.
"the train jolted into motion"
synonyms: bump, bounce, jerk, rattle, lurch, shudder, vibrate; judder; rarejounce
"the car jolted along the rough wet roads"
noun
noun: jolt; plural noun: jolts
1.
an abrupt rough or violent movement.
"he felt a jolt when the plane started to climb"
synonyms: bump, bounce, shake, jerk, lurch, vibration; impact; judder; rarejounce
"a series of sickening jolts that jarred every bone in her body"
start, jerk, jump, abrupt movement, convulsive movement
"he woke up with a jolt"
an unpleasant surprise or shock.
"that information gave her a severe jolt"
synonyms: fright, the fright of one's life, shock, scare; informalturn
"the sight of the dagger gave him a jolt"
shock, surprise, bombshell, bolt from the blue, thunderbolt, rude awakening, eye-opener;
blow, upset, setback;
informalwhammy
"it had been an unpleasant jolt, but Susan recovered quickly"
hegemony
/hɪˈdʒɛməni,hɪˈɡɛməni/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: hegemony; plural noun: hegemonies
leadership or dominance, especially by one state or social group over others.
"Germany was united under Prussian hegemony after 1871"
synonyms: leadership, dominance, dominion, supremacy, ascendancy, predominance, primacy,
authority, mastery, control, power, sway, rule, sovereignty; rarepredomination, paramountcy,
prepotence, prepotency, prepollency
"Germany was united under Prussian hegemony after 1871"
antonyms: self-government

haggle
/ˈhaɡ(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: haggle; 3rd person present: haggles; past tense: haggled; past participle: haggled; gerund or
present participle: haggling
1.
dispute or bargain persistently, especially over the cost of something.
"the two sides are haggling over television rights"
synonyms: barter, bargain, negotiate, discuss terms, quibble, wrangle; beat someone down,
drive a hard bargain; deal, wheel and deal, trade, traffic; dicker; formaltreat; archaicchaffer, palter
"tourists haggled over exotic handicrafts"
noun
noun: haggle; plural noun: haggles
1.
a period of haggling.
"an inevitable and lengthy haggle over compensation"
impetuous
/ɪmˈpɛtjʊəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: impetuous
acting or done quickly and without thought or care.
"she might live to rue this impetuous decision"
synonyms: impulsive, rash, hasty, overhasty, reckless, heedless, foolhardy, incautious,
imprudent, injudicious, ill-conceived, ill-considered, unplanned, unreasoned, unthought-out,
unthinking; spontaneous, impromptu, spur-of-the-moment, precipitate, precipitous, headlong,
hurried, rushed
"she might live to regret this impetuous decision"
antonyms: cautious, considered
moving forcefully or rapidly.
"an impetuous but controlled flow of water"
synonyms: torrential, powerful, forceful, vigorous, violent, raging, rampant, relentless,
unrestrained, uncontrolled, unbridled; rapid, fast, fast-flowing, rushing
"an impetuous flow of water"
antonyms: sluggish, weak
exorbitant
/ɪɡˈzɔːbɪt(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: exorbitant
(of a price or amount charged) unreasonably high.
"some hotels charge exorbitant rates for phone calls"
synonyms: extortionate, excessively high, extremely high, excessive, sky-high, prohibitive,
outrageous, unreasonable, preposterous, inordinate, immoderate, inflated, monstrous,
unwarranted, unconscionable, huge, enormous, disproportionate; punitive, ruinous; expensive,
extravagant; over the odds; informalcriminal, steep, stiff, over the top, OTT, costing an arm and a
leg, costing a bomb, costing the earth, daylight robbery, a rip-off
"the fees charged by the consultants were exorbitant"
antonyms: reasonable, competitive
obverse
/ˈɒbvəːs/
noun
noun: obverse; plural noun: obverses
1.
the side of a coin or medal bearing the head or principal design.
the design or inscription on the principal side of a coin.
2.
the opposite or counterpart of a fact or truth.
"true solitude is the obverse of true society"
adjective
adjective: obverse
1.
of or denoting the obverse of a coin or medal.
2.
corresponding to something else as its opposite or counterpart.
"the obverse fates of the principals"
3.
BIOLOGY
narrower at the base or point of attachment than at the apex or top.
"an obverse leaf"
sanguine
/ˈsaŋɡwɪn/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: sanguine
1.
optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.
"he is sanguine about prospects for the global economy"
synonyms: optimistic, bullish, hopeful, buoyant, positive, disposed to look on the bright side,
confident, cheerful, cheery, bright, assured; informalupbeat; archaicof good cheer
"he is sanguine about the remorseless advance of information technology"
antonyms: pessimistic, gloomy
(in medieval science and medicine) of or having the constitution associated with the predominance
of blood among the bodily humours, supposedly marked by a ruddy complexion and an optimistic
disposition.
synonyms: florid, ruddy, red, red-faced, reddish, rosy, rosy-cheeked, pink, pinkish, roseate,
rubicund; healthy-looking, glowing, fresh; flushed, blushing, high-coloured, blowsy; rareerubescent,
rubescent
"a sanguine complexion"
antonyms: pale
ARCHAIC
(of the complexion) florid or ruddy.
2.
LITERARY•HERALDRY
blood-red.
3.
ARCHAIC
bloody or bloodthirsty.
noun
noun: sanguine
1.
a blood-red colour.
a deep red-brown crayon or pencil containing iron oxide.
HERALDRY
a blood-red stain used in blazoning.

gratify
/ˈɡratɪfʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: gratify; 3rd person present: gratifies; past tense: gratified; past participle: gratified; gerund or
present participle: gratifying
give (someone) pleasure or satisfaction.
"she was gratified to see the shock in Jim's eyes"
synonyms: please, gladden, give pleasure to, make happy, make content, delight, make
someone feel good, satisfy, warm the cockles of the heart, thrill; informaltickle someone pink, give
someone a buzz/kick, buck someone up
"it gratified him to be seen in her company"
antonyms: displease
indulge or satisfy (a desire).
"not all the sexual impulses can be gratified"
synonyms: satisfy, fulfil, indulge, relieve, humour, comply with, pander to, cater to, give in to,
quench, slake, satiate, pacify, appease, assuage, provide for, feed, accommodate
"he was gratifying his strange desires"
antonyms: frustrate
bash
/baʃ/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
verb
verb: bash; 3rd person present: bashes; past tense: bashed; past participle: bashed; gerund or
present participle: bashing
1.
strike hard and violently.
"she bashed him with the book"
synonyms: strike, hit, beat, thump, slap, smack, batter, pound, pummel, thrash, rap, buffet,
hammer, bang, knock; informalwallop, belt, whack, clout, clip, clobber, bop, biff, sock, deck, swipe,
lay one on
"she bashed him across the knuckles with her stick"
damage or break something by striking it violently.
"the car's rear window had been bashed in"
collide with.
"the other vehicle bashed into the back of them"
synonyms: collide with, hit, crash into, run into, bang into, smash into, knock into, bump into,
meet head-on
"they bashed into one another"
fiercely criticize or oppose.
"the dispute will be used as an excuse to bash the unions"
noun
noun: bash; plural noun: bashes
1.
a heavy blow.
"a bash on the head"
synonyms: blow, rap, hit, knock, bang, slap, crack, thump, tap, clip; informalclout, whack,
wallop
"he got a bash on the head with a golf club"
2.
a party or social event.
"a birthday bash"
synonyms: party, gathering, social gathering, social occasion, social event, social function,
function, get-together, celebration, reunion, festivity, jamboree, reception, at-home, soirée, social;
dance, ball, ceilidh, frolic, carousal, carouse; fete, hoedown, shower, bake, cookout, levee;
corroboree; bashment; luau; tertulia; simcha; informalshindig, shindy, rave, blowout, beer-up,
disco, do, shebang, bop, hop, whoopee, after-party; informalrave-up, thrash, knees-up, beanfeast,
beano, bunfight, jolly, lig; informalhooley, crack; informalblast, wingding, kegger; informalshivoo,
rage, ding, jollo, rort; informaljol; datedsquash, squeeze, ding-dong
"Harry's birthday bash"
3.
BRITISH
an attempt.
"have a bash at this quiz"
synonyms: attempt, try, effort, endeavour, bid, venture, trial, experiment; informalcrack, go,
shot, stab, whack; formalessay; archaicassay
"she'll have a bash at anything"
abstruse
/əbˈstruːs/
 Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: abstruse
difficult to understand; obscure.
"an abstruse philosophical inquiry"
synonyms: obscure, arcane, esoteric, little known, recherché, rarefied, recondite, difficult,
hard, puzzling, perplexing, enigmatic, inscrutable, cryptic, Delphic, complex, complicated, involved,
over/above one's head, incomprehensible, unfathomable, impenetrable, mysterious; rareinvolute,
involuted
"he was unable to follow the abstruse arguments put forward"
antonyms: clear, obvious
errand
/ˈɛr(ə)nd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: errand; plural noun: errands
a short journey undertaken in order to deliver or collect something, especially on someone else's
behalf.
"she asked Tim to run an errand for her"
synonyms: task, job, chore, assignment; collection, delivery, shopping; trip, run, journey;
mission, expedition; operation, undertaking, commission, business; message
"he ran errands for local shopkeepers"
the purpose or object of an errand.
"she knew that if she stated her errand she would not be able to see him"
Phrases
errand of mercy — a journey or mission carried out to help someone in difficulty or danger.
"a mountaineer and his St Bernard setting off on an errand of mercy"
portray
/pɔːˈtreɪ/
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verb
verb: portray; 3rd person present: portrays; past tense: portrayed; past participle: portrayed;
gerund or present participle: portraying
depict (someone or something) in a work of art or literature.
"the ineffectual Oxbridge dons portrayed by Evelyn Waugh"
synonyms: paint, draw, paint/draw a picture of, picture, sketch, depict, represent, illustrate,
present, show, render; literarylimn
"many artists choose to portray Windermere in sunny weather"
describe, depict, characterize, represent, delineate, present, show, paint in words, evoke
"the ineffectual Oxbridge dons portrayed by Evelyn Waugh"
describe (someone or something) in a particular way.
"the book portrayed him as a self-serving careerist"
synonyms: represent, depict, characterize, describe, present
"the article portrayed me as a heartless villain"
(of an actor) play the part of (someone) in a film or play.
"he chose Trevor Howard to portray Captain Bligh"
synonyms: play the part of, play, act the part of, take the role of, act, represent, appear as;
rarepersonate
"the actor portrays a spy"
invidious
/ɪnˈvɪdɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: invidious
(of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others.
"she'd put herself in an invidious position"
synonyms: unpleasant, awkward, difficult; undesirable, unenviable
"I didn't want to put her in an invidious position"
antonyms: pleasant, desirable
(of a comparison or distinction) unfairly discriminating; unjust.
"it seems invidious to make special mention of one aspect of his work"
synonyms: unfair, unjust, prejudicial, discriminatory, iniquitous, weighted, one-sided;
offensive, objectionable; deleterious, detrimental, unwarranted
"an invidious comparison"
antonyms: fair
artefact
/ˈɑːtɪfakt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: artifact
1.
an object made by a human being, typically one of cultural or historical interest.
"gold and silver artefacts"
2.
something observed in a scientific investigation or experiment that is not naturally present but
occurs as a result of the preparative or investigative procedure.
"the curvature of the surface is an artefact of the wide-angle view"
ogle
/ˈəʊɡ(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: ogle; 3rd person present: ogles; past tense: ogled; past participle: ogled; gerund or present
participle: ogling
1.
stare at in a lecherous manner.
"he was ogling her breasts"
synonyms: leer at, stare at, gaze at, eye, make eyes at, make sheep's eyes at; informaleye up,
give someone the glad eye, give someone a/the once-over, lech after/over, undress with one's
eyes, give someone the come-on; informalgawp at, gawk at; informalperv on
"he'd been ogling her ever since she'd entered the room"
noun
noun: ogle; plural noun: ogles
1.
a lecherous look.
"a vaguely erotic ogle"
Origin
pilfer
/ˈpɪlfə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: pilfer; 3rd person present: pilfers; past tense: pilfered; past participle: pilfered; gerund or
present participle: pilfering
steal (things of little value).
"she produced the handful of coins she had managed to pilfer"
synonyms: steal, thieve, rob, take, snatch, purloin, loot, rifle, abscond with, carry off, pillage;
informalwalk off/away with, run away/off with, swipe, nab, rip off, lift, `liberate', `borrow', filch,
snaffle, snitch; informalpinch, half-inch, nick, whip, knock off, nobble, bone; informalheist, glom;
informalsnavel; informaltief; archaiccrib, hook
"the gun was part of a cache pilfered from the air force three years ago"
Origin
FAD
abbreviationBIOCHEMISTRY
noun: FAD
flavin adenine dinucleotide, a coenzyme derived from riboflavin and important in various metabolic
reactions.
fad
/fad/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fad; plural noun: fads
an intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, especially one that is short-lived; a craze.
"some regard green politics as no more than the latest fad"
synonyms: craze, vogue, trend, fashion, mode, enthusiasm, passion, infatuation, love,
obsession, mania, rage, compulsion, fixation, fetish, weakness, fancy, taste, novelty, whim,
fascination, preoccupation; More
an arbitrary like or dislike.
"his fads about the type of coffee he must have"
Origin

mid 19th century (originally dialect): probably the second element of fidfad, contraction of fiddle-
faddle. Compare with faddy.
mystique
/mɪˈstiːk/
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noun
noun: mystique
a quality of mystery, glamour, or power associated with someone or something.
"the mystique surrounding the monarchy"
synonyms: charisma, glamour, romance, mystery, fascination, magic, spell, charm, appeal,
allure, awe
"a certain mystique still surrounds the family"
an air of secrecy surrounding a particular activity or subject that makes it impressive or baffling to
those without specialized knowledge.
"eliminating the mystique normally associated with computers"
Origin
genre
/ˈʒɒrə,ˈ(d)ʒɒnrə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: genre; plural noun: genres; modifier noun: genre
1.
a style or category of art, music, or literature.
"the spy thriller is a very masculine genre"
synonyms: category, class, classification, categorization, group, grouping, bracket, head,
heading, list, listing, set; type, sort, kind, variety, species, breed, style, brand, make, model, family,
school, stamp, cast, ilk, kidney; division, section, department, compartment
"a whole new genre of novels"
2.
denoting or relating to a style of painting depicting scenes from ordinary life, typically domestic
situations, associated particularly with 17th-century Dutch and Flemish artists.
"genre scenes"
cavil
/ˈkav(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: cavil; 3rd person present: cavils; past tense: cavilled; past participle: cavilled; gerund or
present participle: cavilling; past tense: caviled; past participle: caviled; gerund or present
participle: caviling
1.
make petty or unnecessary objections.
"they cavilled at the cost"
synonyms: complain, carp, grumble, moan, grouse, grouch, whine, bleat, find fault with,
quibble about, niggle about; criticize, censure, denounce, condemn, decry; mither, twine;
informalgripe, beef, bellyache, bitch, nitpick, pick holes in, split hairs, sound off, kick up a fuss,
knock; informalwhinge, chunter, create; informalkvetch about
"they cavilled at the cost"
noun
noun: cavil; plural noun: cavils
1.
a petty or unnecessary objection.
infernal
/ɪnˈfəːn(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: infernal
1.
relating to or characteristic of hell or the underworld.
"the infernal regions"
synonyms: of hell, hellish, lower, nether, subterranean, underworld; Hadean, Plutonic,
Plutonian, Stygian, Styxian, Tartarean, Acherontic, Avernal; rarechthonic, helly
"the infernal regions"
2.
INFORMAL
irritating and tiresome (used for emphasis).
"you're an infernal nuisance"
synonyms: damned, damn, damnable, wretched, accursed, rotten, horrible; annoying,
irritating, infuriating, exasperating; informalflaming, blasted, blessed, dratted, cussed, pesky,
pestiferous, pestilential, aggravating; informalblinking, bloody, bleeding, blooming, blimming,
flipping, effing, chuffing; informalplurry; informalbally, ruddy, deuced, dashed, cursed; vulgar
slangfrigging, fucking
"you're an infernal nuisance"
Origin

festal
/ˈfɛst(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveARCHAIC
adjective: festal
relating to or characteristic of a celebration or festival.
"plum pudding was originally served on festal days as a main course"
bluster
/ˈblʌstə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: bluster; 3rd person present: blusters; past tense: blustered; past participle: blustered; gerund
or present participle: blustering
1.
talk in a loud, aggressive, or indignant way with little effect.
"you threaten and bluster, but won't carry it through"
synonyms: rant, thunder; boast, brag, swagger, throw one's weight about/around, be
overbearing, lord it, vaunt, bray, crow
"he's still blustering and saying that he'll never resort to that"
2.
(of a storm, wind, or rain) blow or beat fiercely and noisily.
"a winter gale blustered against the sides of the house"
synonyms: blow fiercely, blast, gust, storm, roar, rush
"in winter the storms bluster in from the Mediterranean"
noun
noun: bluster
1.
loud, aggressive, or indignant talk with little effect.
"their threats contained a measure of bluster"
synonyms: ranting, hectoring, thundering, threatening, threats, bullying, domineering;
boasting, bragging, swaggering, throwing one's weight around; bombast, bravado, bumptiousness,
imperiousness; empty threats, humbug; literarybraggadocio
"he sought refuge in bluster and bullying"
brash1
/braʃ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: brash; comparative adjective: brasher; superlative adjective: brashest
self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way.
"he was brash, cocky, and arrogant"
synonyms: self-assertive, assertive, cocksure, full of oneself, self-confident, arrogant, thrusting,
bold, as bold as brass, audacious, brazen, brazen-faced; forward, impudent, insolent, impertinent,
rude, cheeky; informalcocky, pushy, brassy
"a brash, noisy man"
antonyms: meek, diffident
having an ostentatious or tasteless appearance.
"the cafe was a brash new building"
synonyms: garish, gaudy, loud, over-bright, ostentatious, showy, flamboyant, flashy, vulgar,
tasteless, tawdry; informaltacky, bling
"brash colours"
retribution
/rɛtrɪˈbjuːʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: retribution
punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.
"employees asked not to be named, saying they feared retribution"
synonyms: punishment, penalty, nemesis, fate, doom, one's just deserts, due reward, just
reward, wages; justice, retributive justice, poetic justice, judgement, reckoning; revenge, reprisal,
requital, retaliation, payback, vengeance, an eye for an eye (and a tooth for a tooth), tit for tat,
measure for measure; redress, reparation, restitution, recompense, repayment, damages,
satisfaction, remedy, comeback, atonement, amends; informalone's comeuppance; archaicmeasure
"the assassins were cornered, awaiting inevitable retribution"

gadfly
/ˈɡadflʌɪ/
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noun
noun: gadfly; plural noun: gadflies
a fly that bites livestock, especially a horsefly, warble fly, or botfly.
a person who annoys or criticizes others in order to provoke them into action.
"always a gadfly, he attacked intellectual orthodoxies"
demit
/dɪˈmɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verbFORMAL
verb: demit; 3rd person present: demits; past tense: demitted; past participle: demitted; gerund or
present participle: demitting
resign from (an office or position).
"arguments within his congregation led to his demitting his post"
counsel
/ˈkaʊns(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: counsel; plural noun: counsels
1.
advice, especially that given formally.
"with wise counsel a couple can buy a home that will be appreciating in value"
synonyms: advice, guidance, direction, instruction, information, enlightenment;
recommendations, suggestions, hints, tips, pointers, guidelines, ideas, opinions, views, facts, data;
warning, admonition, caution
"he no longer came to me for counsel"
ARCHAIC
consultation, especially to seek or give advice.
"he took much counsel with him"
synonyms: conference, consultation, discussion, deliberation, dialogue, conversation; talks,
negotiations; formalconfabulation
"King Richard held counsel with the barons"
2.
a barrister or other legal adviser conducting a case.
"the counsel for the defence"
synonyms: barrister, lawyer, counsellor, legal practitioner; attorney; counsellor-at-law;
advocate; informalbrief
"his counsel told the jury that the charges were false"
verb
verb: counsel; 3rd person present: counsels; past tense: counselled; past participle: counselled;
gerund or present participle: counselling; past tense: counseled; past participle: counseled; gerund
or present participle: counseling
1.
give advice to (someone).
"careers officers should counsel young people in making their career decisions"
give professional help and advice to (someone) to resolve personal or psychological problems.
"he was being counselled for depression"
recommend (a course of action).
"the athlete's coach counselled caution"
synonyms: advise, guide, direct, recommend, encourage, entreat, urge, warn, admonish,
caution; give guidance to, give direction to, give one's opinion to, give one's suggestions to
"he counselled the team to withdraw from the deal"
sloppy
/ˈslɒpi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: sloppy; comparative adjective: sloppier; superlative adjective: sloppiest
1.
careless and unsystematic; excessively casual.
"we gave away a goal through sloppy defending"
synonyms: careless, slapdash, slipshod, lackadaisical, disorganized, haphazard, unmethodical,
unsystematic, hit-or-miss, untidy, messy, thoughtless, inattentive, heedless, hasty, hurried; More
antonyms: careful, meticulous
2.
(of a garment) casual and loose-fitting.
"she wore a sloppy sweater and jeans"
synonyms: baggy, loose-fitting, loose, generously cut, not tight, roomy; shapeless, sacklike,
slack, oversized, ill-fitting, bagging
"sloppy T-shirts"
antonyms: tight, tailored
3.
(of semi-fluid matter) containing too much liquid; watery.
"do not make the concrete too sloppy"
synonyms: runny, watery, thin, liquid, semi-liquid, mushy, soupy; wet, soggy, slushy, sludgy;
slap; informalgloopy
"they sat round the table eating a sloppy chicken curry"
antonyms: dry, solid
4.
INFORMAL
(of literature or behaviour) weakly or foolishly sentimental.
"lovers of sloppy romance"
synonyms: sentimental, mawkish, over-sentimental, overemotional, cloying, sickly, saccharine,
sugary, sugar-coated, syrupy; romantic, hearts-and-flowers; twee; informalslushy, mushy, weepy,
tear-jerking, schmaltzy, cutesy, lovey-dovey, gooey, drippy, sloshy, soupy, treacly, cheesy, corny,
icky, sick-making, toe-curling; informalsoppy; informalcornball, sappy, hokey, three-hanky;
trademarkMills-and-Boon
"sloppy letters from a boy she had met on holiday"
antonyms: unemotional, gritty
accentuate
/əkˈsɛntʃʊeɪt,əkˈsɛntjʊeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: accentuate; 3rd person present: accentuates; past tense: accentuated; past participle:
accentuated; gerund or present participle: accentuating
make more noticeable or prominent.
"his jacket unfortunately accentuated his paunch"
synonyms: focus attention on, bring/call/draw attention to, point up, underline, underscore,
accent, highlight, spotlight, foreground, feature, give prominence to, make more prominent, make
more noticeable, play up, bring to the fore, heighten, stress, emphasize, put/lay emphasis on
"his jacket unfortunately accentuated his paunch"
antonyms: mask, divert attention
nauseate
/ˈnɔːsɪeɪt,ˈnɔːzɪeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: nauseate; 3rd person present: nauseates; past tense: nauseated; past participle: nauseated;
gerund or present participle: nauseating
affect with nausea.
"the thought of food nauseated her"
synonyms: sickening, stomach-turning, stomach-churning, nauseous, emetic, sickly; disgusting,
revolting, repulsive, repellent, repugnant, offensive, loathsome, abhorrent, odious, obnoxious,
nasty, foul, vile, appalling, abominable; vomitous; informalsick-making, ghastly, putrid, horrid,
godawful, gross, gut-churning, yucky; informalbeastly; informalbogging; literarynoisome;
archaicdisgustful, loathly
"the smell in the compartment was nauseating"
fill (someone) with disgust.
"they were nauseated by the jingoism"
synonyms: sicken, make sick, turn someone's stomach, make someone's gorge rise, make
someone's stomach rise, revolt, disgust, repel, repulse, be repugnant to, offend; informalmake
someone want to throw up; informalgross out
"the smell of the meat nauseated her"
sickening, stomach-turning, stomach-churning, nauseous, emetic, sickly;
disgusting, revolting, repulsive, repellent, repugnant, offensive, loathsome, abhorrent, odious,
obnoxious, nasty, foul, vile, appalling, abominable;
vomitous;
informalsick-making, ghastly, putrid, horrid, godawful, gross, gut-churning, yucky;
informalbeastly;
informalbogging;
literarynoisome;
archaicdisgustful, loathly
"the smell in the compartment was nauseating"
sumptuous
/ˈsʌm(p)tjʊəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: sumptuous
splendid and expensive-looking.
"the banquet was a sumptuous, luxurious meal"
synonyms: lavish, luxurious, deluxe, opulent, magnificent, resplendent, gorgeous, splendid,
grand, extravagant, lush, lavishly appointed, palatial, princely, rich, costly, expensive, impressive,
imposing; informalplush, ritzy, swanky; informalswish
"a sumptuous palace"
antonyms: humble, plain, cheap
yaw
/jɔː/
verb
verb: yaw; 3rd person present: yaws; past tense: yawed; past participle: yawed; gerund or present
participle: yawing
1.
(of a moving ship or aircraft) twist or oscillate about a vertical axis.
"the jet yawed sharply to the right"
noun
noun: yaw
1.
twisting or oscillation of a moving ship or aircraft about a vertical axis.
"applying the opposite rudder will tend to reduce the yaw"
feign
/feɪn/
 Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: feign; 3rd person present: feigns; past tense: feigned; past participle: feigned; gerund or
present participle: feigning
pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury).
"she feigned nervousness"
synonyms: simulate, fake, sham, affect, give the appearance of, make a show of, make a
pretence of, play at, go through the motions of; informalput on
"she lay still and feigned sleep"
pretend, put it on, fake, sham, bluff, pose, posture, masquerade, make believe, act, play-act, go
through the motions, put on a false display;
malinger;
informalkid;
informalmess
"he's not really ill, he's only feigning"
pretended, simulated, assumed, affected, artificial, insincere, put-on, fake, faked, false, sham;
apparent, ostensible, seeming, surface, avowed, professed;
informalpretend, pseudo, phoney, fakey;
informalcod
"he accepted the invitation with feigned enthusiasm"
antonyms: sincere
ARCHAIC
invent (a story or excuse).
iniquitous
/ɪˈnɪkwɪtəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: iniquitous
grossly unfair and morally wrong.
"an iniquitous tax"
synonyms: wicked, sinful, evil, immoral, improper; villainous, criminal, heinous, nefarious; vile,
foul, base, odious, abominable, execrable, atrocious, dreadful, egregious, malicious; outrageous,
monstrous, obscene, intolerable, shocking, scandalous, reprehensible; unjust, unfair; malfeasant;
humorousdastardly; archaicfacinorous
"we protest against this iniquitous decision"
dishonourable, unprincipled;
wicked, evil, criminal, lawless;
degenerate, corrupt, reprobate, immoral, dissolute;
devilish, diabolical, fiendish;
informalcrooked;
archaicblackguardly
"his iniquitous uncle"
antonyms: good, virtuous
indigence
/ˈɪndɪdʒ(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: indigence; plural noun: indigences
a state of extreme poverty; destitution.
"he did valuable work towards the relief of indigence"
synonyms: poverty, penury, impoverishment, impecuniousness, impecuniosity, destitution,
pennilessness, privation, hand-to-mouth existence, pauperism; insolvency, bankruptcy, ruin,
ruination; need, neediness, want, reduced/straitened/narrow circumstances, dire straits,
deprivation, disadvantage, hardship, distress, financial distress, difficulties; beggary, mendicancy,
vagrancy; rarepauperdom
"he did valuable work towards the relief of indigence"
antonyms: wealth
overstrung
adjective
adjective: overstrung
1.
(of a piano) having strings in sets crossing each other obliquely.
2.
DATED
(of a person) extremely nervous or tense.
"at two in the morning the overstrung youth finally ran out of questions"
nugget
/ˈnʌɡɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: nugget; plural noun: nuggets
a small lump of gold or other precious metal found ready-formed in the earth.
a small chunk or lump of another substance.
"nuggets of meat"
synonyms: lump, chunk, small piece, hunk, mass, clump, wad, gobbet, globule; dod;
informalwodge; informalgob; rarenub
"gold nuggets"
a valuable idea or fact.
"nuggets of information"
gooey
/ˈɡuːi/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL
adjective: gooey; comparative adjective: gooier; superlative adjective: gooiest
1.
soft and sticky.
"a gooey chocolate dessert"
synonyms: sticky, viscous, viscid; gluey, tacky, gummy, treacly, syrupy; mucilaginous; claggy;
clarty; informalgloopy, cloggy, gungy, icky; informalgloppy; rareviscoid
"he wiped off the gooey mess with towels"
antonyms: dry, hard
2.
mawkishly sentimental.
"she gets all gooey over babies"
synonyms: sentimental, mawkish, over-sentimental, overemotional, cloying, sickly, saccharine,
sugary, syrupy; romantic, hearts-and-flowers; twee; informalslushy, sloppy, mushy, schmaltzy,
cutesy, lovey-dovey, drippy, sloshy, soupy, treacly, cheesy, corny, icky, sick-making, toe-curling;
informalsoppy; informalcornball, sappy, hokey; trademarkMills-and-Boon
"Mrs McSpadden got all gooey over young Kenneth"
antonyms: cold, undemonstrative
[goo eew chipchipa hota hai XDXD]
befuddle
/bɪˈfʌd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: befuddle; 3rd person present: befuddles; past tense: befuddled; past participle: befuddled;
gerund or present participle: befuddling
cause to become unable to think clearly.
"even in my befuddled state I could see that they meant trouble"
synonyms: confused, muddled, addled, bewildered, disoriented, disorientated, all at sea,
mixed up, fazed, perplexed, stunned, dazed, dizzy, stupefied, groggy, foggy, fuzzy, fuddled,
benumbed, numbed, numb, vague; informaldiscombobulated, bamboozled, dopey, woolly, woolly-
headed, muzzy, woozy, out of it
"his befuddled brain refused to accept that there was a problem"
antonyms: clear
behest
/bɪˈhɛst/
Learn to pronounce
nounLITERARY
noun: behest; plural noun: behests
a person's orders or command.
"they had assembled at his behest"
synonyms: instruction, bidding, request, requirement, wish, desire; command, order, decree,
edict, rule, ruling, directive, direction, charge, will, dictate, demand, insistence, injunction,
mandate, precept; informalsay-so; rarerescript
"Mary signed away her kingdom at the behest of Henri II"

brasserie
/ˈbrasəri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: brasserie; plural noun: brasseries
a restaurant in France or in a French style.

allure
/əˈljʊə,əˈljɔː/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: allure; plural noun: allures
1.
the quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating.
"people for whom gold holds no allure"
synonyms: attraction, lure, draw, pull, appeal, glamour, allurement, enticement, temptation,
bewitchment, enchantment, charm, seduction, persuasion, fascination, magnetism
"the nostalgic allure of Paris in the fifties"
antonyms: repulsion
verb
verb: allure; 3rd person present: allures; past tense: allured; past participle: allured; gerund or
present participle: alluring
1.
powerfully attract or charm; tempt.
"will sponsors really be allured by such opportunities?"
synonyms: attract, lure, entice, tempt, appeal to, whet the appetite of, make someone's mouth
water, captivate, draw, beguile, bewitch, enchant, win over, charm, seduce, persuade, lead on,
tantalize; intrigue, fascinate; informalgive the come-on to
"melody is the element with the most power to allure the listener"
enticing, tempting, attractive, appealing, fetching, inviting, glamorous, captivating, seductive;
enchanting, beguiling, charming, fascinating, intriguing, tantalizing, magnetic;
irresistible;
informalon fleek;
informalcome-hither
"the old town offers alluring shops and restaurants"
antonyms: repel
cadge
/kadʒ/
Learn to pronounce
verbINFORMAL•BRITISH
verb: cadge; 3rd person present: cadges; past tense: cadged; past participle: cadged; gerund or
present participle: cadging
1.
ask for or obtain (something to which one is not strictly entitled).
"he cadged fivers off old school friends"
synonyms: scrounge, beg, borrow; informalbum, touch someone for, sponge; informalscab;
informalsorn on someone for; informalmooch; informalbludge
"can I cadge £5 off you?"
nounFALCONRY
noun: cadge; plural noun: cadges
1.
a padded wooden frame on which hooded hawks are carried to the field.
Phrases
on the cadge — looking for an opportunity to obtain something without paying for it.
"they're all liars and on the cadge"
casket
/ˈkɑːskɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: casket; plural noun: caskets
a small ornamental box or chest for holding jewels, letters, or other valued objects.
"a small brass casket containing four black opals"
synonyms: box, chest, case, container, receptacle, coffer, trunk, crate; rarepyxis
"a small casket containing four black opals"
BRITISH
a small wooden box for cremated ashes.
NORTH AMERICAN
a coffin.
synonyms: coffin, box; informalwooden overcoat; historicalsarcophagus, cist
"the casket of a soldier who had died fighting"
angst
/aŋst/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: angst
a feeling of deep anxiety or dread, typically an unfocused one about the human condition or the
state of the world in general.
"the existential angst of the middle classes"
synonyms: anxiety, fear, dread, apprehension, worry, perturbation, foreboding, trepidation,
malaise, distress, disquiet, disquietude, unease, uneasiness; rareinquietude
INFORMAL
a feeling of persistent worry about something trivial.
"my hair causes me angst"
cavalcade
/ˌkav(ə)lˈkeɪd,ˈkav(ə)lkeɪd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: cavalcade; plural noun: cavalcades
a formal procession of people walking, on horseback, or riding in vehicles.
"the royal cavalcade proceeded through the city"
synonyms: procession, parade, motorcade, carcade, cortège; march, column, troop, file, train,
caravan, retinue; march-past; informalcrocodile
"a royal cavalcade proceeded through the city"
catty1
/ˈkati/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: catty; comparative adjective: cattier; superlative adjective: cattiest
1.
deliberately hurtful in one's remarks; spiteful.
"catty comments"
synonyms: spiteful, malicious, mean, nasty, cruel, unkind, snide, backbiting, hurtful, wounding,
barbed, cutting, hateful, ill-natured, bitter, venomous, vitriolic, poisonous, acid, hostile, rancorous,
vindictive, vicious; defamatory, slanderous; informalbitchy; literarymalefic, maleficent
"that was a catty remark—she's not a bad sort"
antonyms: kind, complimentary
2.
relating to cats; catlike.
"catty eyes"
catty2
/ˈkati/
Learn to pronounce
nounINFORMAL•SOUTH AFRICAN
noun: catty; plural noun: catties; noun: cattie; noun: kettie; plural noun: ketties
a catapult.
"on the way to school we took potshots at dogs with our catty"
accost
/əˈkɒst/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: accost; 3rd person present: accosts; past tense: accosted; past participle: accosted; gerund or
present participle: accosting
approach and address (someone) boldly or aggressively.
"reporters accosted him in the street"
synonyms: speak to, talk to, call to, shout to, hail, initiate a discussion with; address, approach,
waylay, take aside, detain, stop, halt, grab, catch, confront, importune, solicit; informalbuttonhole,
collar; informalnobble
"the police accosted him in the street"
acolyte
/ˈakəlʌɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: acolyte; plural noun: acolytes
a person assisting a priest in a religious service or procession.
an assistant or follower.
"she runs the department through a small group of acolytes"
synonyms: assistant, helper, attendant, retainer, servant, minion, underling, lackey, henchman;
follower, disciple, supporter, votary, satellite, shadow; informalsidekick, man/girl Friday, running
dog, groupie, hanger-on; archaicliegeman, pursuivant; chela; rarejanissary; informalbody man
"he found himself surrounded by eager acolytes"
antonyms: leader, master, mistress
alibi
/ˈalɪbʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: alibi; plural noun: alibis
1.
a claim or piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an act, typically a criminal one, is alleged
to have taken place.
"she has an alibi for the whole of yesterday evening"
INFORMAL
an excuse or pretext.
"a catch-all alibi for failure and inadequacy"
synonyms: defence, defending evidence, plea; justification, explanation, reason, vindication;
excuse, pretext; informalstory, line
"luckily we've both got a very good alibi for last night"
verbINFORMAL
verb: alibi; 3rd person present: alibis; past tense: alibied; past participle: alibied; gerund or present
participle: alibiing
1.
provide an alibi for.
"her friend agreed to alibi her"
synonyms: cover for, give an alibi to, provide with an alibi, shield, protect
"her brother had reluctantly agreed to alibi her"
ceremonious
/sɛrɪˈməʊnɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: ceremonious
relating or appropriate to grand and formal occasions.
"a Great Hall where ceremonious and public appearances were made"
synonyms: dignified, majestic, imposing, impressive, solemn, stately; awe-inspiring, regal,
imperial, elegant, grand, glorious, splendid, magnificent, resplendent, important, august,
portentous; formal, courtly, punctilious, courteous, civil, deferential, stiff, rigid, affected; slow-
moving, measured, deliberate, precise, scrupulous; informalstarchy, just so
"he rose from his desk to take a ceremonious farewell"
antonyms: unceremonious
excessively polite; punctilious.
"he accepted the gifts with ceremonious dignity"
catalogue
/ˈkat(ə)lɒɡ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: catalogue; plural noun: catalogues; noun: catalog; plural noun: catalogs
1.
a complete list of items, typically one in alphabetical or other systematic order.
a list of all the books or resources in a library.
"a computerized library catalogue"
a publication containing details of items for sale, especially one produced by a mail-order company.
"a mail-order catalogue"
synonyms: brochure, prospectus, guide, magalogue, mailer; informalwish book
"a mail-order catalogue"
a list of works of art in an exhibition or collection, with detailed comments and explanations.
"this collection of paintings is the subject of a detailed catalogue"
synonyms: directory, register, index, list, listing, record, archive, inventory, roll, table, calendar,
classification, roster
"a computerized library catalogue"
US
a list of courses offered by a university or college.
a series of unwelcome or unpleasant things.
"his life was a catalogue of dismal failures"
verb
verb: catalogue; 3rd person present: catalogues; past tense: catalogued; past participle: catalogued;
gerund or present participle: cataloguing; verb: catalog; 3rd person present: catalogs; past tense:
cataloged; past participle: cataloged; gerund or present participle: cataloging
1.
make a systematic list of (items of the same type).
"it will be some time before the collection is fully catalogued"
synonyms: classify, categorize, systematize, systemize, index, list, archive, make an inventory
of, inventory, record, register, file, log, enumerate, alphabetize, itemize, pigeonhole, tabulate
"it will be some time before the collection is fully catalogued"
enter (an item) in a catalogue.
"the picture was withdrawn before being catalogued"
list (similar situations, qualities, or events) in succession.
"the report catalogues dangerous work practices in the company"
caveat
/ˈkavɪat/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: caveat; plural noun: caveats
a warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations.
"there are a number of caveats which concern the validity of the assessment results"
synonyms: warning, caution, admonition, monition, red flag, alarm bells; proviso, condition,
stipulation, provision, clause, rider, qualification, restriction, reservation, limitation, strings
"he added the caveat that the results still had to be corroborated"
LAW
a notice, especially in a probate, that certain actions may not be taken without informing the
person who gave the notice.
cellar
/ˈsɛlə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: cellar; plural noun: cellars
1.
a room below ground level in a house, often used for storing wine or coal.
"the servants led us down into a cellar"
synonyms: basement, vault, crypt, undercroft, underground room, catacomb; garden flat, sub-
basement, lower ground floor; datedbelow stairs
antonyms: attic
a stock of wine.
"he spent years building up a remarkable cellar of aged Riojas"
verb
verb: cellar; 3rd person present: cellars; past tense: cellared; past participle: cellared; gerund or
present participle: cellaring
1.
store (wine) in a cellar.
cliché
/ˈkliːʃeɪ/
noun
noun: cliché; plural noun: clichés; noun: cliche; plural noun: cliches
1.
a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought.
"that old cliché ‘a woman's place is in the home’"
synonyms: platitude, hackneyed phrase, commonplace, banality, truism, trite phrase, banal
phrase, overworked phrase, stock phrase, bromide; saw, maxim, adage, dictum, saying; tag,
aphorism; expression, phrase, formula; informalold chestnut; rareapophthegm

"there is plenty of truth in the cliché that a trouble shared is a trouble halved"
a very predictable or unoriginal thing or person.
"each building is a mishmash of tired clichés"
2.
BRITISH•PRINTING
a stereotype or electrotype.
colloquial
/kəˈləʊkwɪəl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: colloquial
(of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.
"colloquial and everyday language"
synonyms: informal, conversational, everyday, casual, non-literary; natural, unofficial,
unpretentious, familiar, chatty, friendly, idiomatic, slangy; vernacular, popular, demotic
"some students have a good grasp of colloquial language"
antonyms: literary, formal
concur
/kənˈkəː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: concur; 3rd person present: concurs; past tense: concurred; past participle: concurred;
gerund or present participle: concurring
1.
be of the same opinion; agree.
"the authors concurred with the majority"
synonyms: agree, be in agreement, be in accord, be in accordance, accord, go along, fall in, be
in harmony, be in sympathy; see eye to eye, be of the same mind, be of the same opinion
"there are many who would concur with this view"
antonyms: disagree
agree with (a decision or opinion).
"we strongly concur with this recommendation"
2.
happen or occur at the same time; coincide.
"in tests, cytogenetic determination has been found to concur with enzymatic determination"
synonyms: coincide, happen/occur together, happen/occur simultaneously, happen/occur at
the same time, be simultaneous, be concurrent, synchronize, coexist; clash
"the two events concurred"
chronic
/ˈkrɒnɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: chronic
1.
(of an illness) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.
"chronic bronchitis"
synonyms: persistent, long-standing, long-term, constantly recurring; incurable;
rareimmedicable
"a chronic illness"
antonyms: acute
(of a person) having a chronic illness.
"a chronic asthmatic"
(of a problem) long-lasting.
"the school suffers from chronic overcrowding"
synonyms: constant, continuing, continual, ceaseless, incessant, unabating, unending,
persistent, perennial, long-lasting, lingering; deep-rooted, deep-seated, ineradicable; severe,
serious, acute, grave, dire
"the chronic shortage of food"
antonyms: temporary, mild
(of a person) having a bad habit.
"a chronic liar"
synonyms: inveterate, confirmed, hardened, dyed-in-the-wool, incorrigible, habitual;
compulsive, pathological
"a chronic liar"
antonyms: occasional
2.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
of a very poor quality.
"the film was absolutely chronic"
synonyms: very bad, appalling, awful, dreadful, terrible, frightful, atrocious, hopeless,
abominable, laughable, lamentable, execrable; informalcrummy, pathetic, rotten, useless, woeful,
lousy, abysmal, dire, poxy, godawful, the pits; informalduff, rubbish, pants, a load of pants; vulgar
slangcrap, shit, chickenshit; rareegregious
"the film was absolutely chronic"
antonyms: good, excellent
collude
/kəˈl(j)uːd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: collude; 3rd person present: colludes; past tense: colluded; past participle: colluded; gerund
or present participle: colluding
cooperate in a secret or unlawful way in order to deceive or gain an advantage over others.
"the president accused his opponents of colluding with foreigners"
synonyms: conspire, connive, intrigue, be hand in glove, plot, participate in a conspiracy,
collaborate, scheme; informalbe in cahoots; raremachinate, cabal, complot
"corrupt border officials colluded with the importers of dubious goods"
competence
/ˈkɒmpɪt(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: competence; plural noun: competences; noun: competency; plural noun: competencies
1.
the ability to do something successfully or efficiently.
"courses to improve the competence of staff"
synonyms: capability, ability, competency, capacity, proficiency, accomplishment, adeptness,
adroitness, knowledge, expertise, expertness, skill, skilfulness, prowess, mastery, resources,
faculties, facilities, talent, bent, aptitude, artistry, virtuosity; informalsavvy, know-how
"this area of research is beyond my technical competence"
antonyms: incompetence
the legal authority of a court or other body to deal with a particular matter.
"the court's competence has been accepted to cover these matters"
synonyms: authority, power, control, jurisdiction, ambit, scope, remit
"these matters fall within the competence of the church courts"
LINGUISTICS
a person's subconscious knowledge of the rules governing the formation of speech in their first
language.
noun: language competence; noun: linguistic competence
BIOLOGY•MEDICINE
effective performance of the normal function.
synonyms: adequacy, appropriateness, suitability, fitness; effectiveness, efficacy,
productiveness; value, worth, merit
"doubts arose over the competence of the system"
antonyms: inadequacy
2.
DATED
an income large enough to live on, typically an unearned one.
"he found himself with an ample competence and no obligations"
converge
/kənˈvəːdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: converge; 3rd person present: converges; past tense: converged; past participle: converged;
gerund or present participle: converging
1.
(of lines) tend to meet at a point.
"a pair of lines of longitude are parallel at the equator but converge toward the poles"
synonyms: meet, intersect, cross, come together, connect, link up, coincide; join, unite, merge
"Oxford Circus, a station where three lines converge"
antonyms: separate, diverge
come together from different directions so as eventually to meet.
"convoys from America and the UK traversed thousands of miles to converge in the Atlantic"
synonyms: close in on, bear down on, descend on; approach, draw near/nearer to, come
close/closer to, move towards
"the 90,000 soccer fans converging on Wembley"
antonyms: leave, retreat from
come from different directions and meet at (a place).
"half a million sports fans will converge on the capital for the London Marathon"
(of a number of things) gradually change so as to become similar or develop something in common.
"the aims of the two developments can and should converge"
2.
MATHEMATICS
(of a series) approximate in the sum of its terms towards a definite limit.
"the powers of E therefore converge very slowly indeed"
jeremiad
/ˌdʒɛrɪˈmʌɪad/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: jeremiad; plural noun: jeremiads
a long, mournful complaint or lamentation; a list of woes.
"the jeremiads of puritan preachers warning of moral decay"

consummation
/kɒnsəˈmeɪʃ(ə)n,kɒnsjʊˈmeɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: consummation; plural noun: consummations
the action of making a marriage or relationship complete by having sexual intercourse.
"the eager consummation that follows a long and passionate seduction"
the point at which something is complete or finalized.
"the consummation of a sale"
synonyms: completion, accomplishment, achievement, attainment; execution, carrying out,
discharge, performance; conclusion, realization, resolution, finalization, finishing, ending,
fulfilment, effectuation, fruition, success; crowning, capping, perfecting, perfection
"the consummation of a takeover bid"
numinous
/ˈnjuːmɪnəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: numinous
having a strong religious or spiritual quality; indicating or suggesting the presence of a divinity.
"the strange, numinous beauty of this ancient landmark"
vie
/vʌɪ/
verb
verb: vie; 3rd person present: vies; past tense: vied; past participle: vied; gerund or present
participle: vying
compete eagerly with someone in order to do or achieve something.
"the athletes were vying for a place in the British team"
synonyms: compete, contend, contest, struggle, fight, battle, cross swords, lock horns, jockey,
jostle, grapple, wrestle; war, wage war, feud
"restaurants vied with each other to attract custom"
console1
/kənˈsəʊl/
verb
verb: console; 3rd person present: consoles; past tense: consoled; past participle: consoled; gerund
or present participle: consoling
comfort (someone) at a time of grief or disappointment.
"she tried to console him but he pushed her gently away"
synonyms: comfort, solace, condole with, give condolences to; sympathize with, express
sympathy to, show compassion to, pity, commiserate with, show fellow feeling to; help, aid,
support, cheer (up), gladden, hearten, encourage, reassure, fortify; soothe, ease, succour, assuage,
alleviate
"his friends tried to console him, but he couldn't help thinking about the money"
antonyms: distress, upset
sultry
/ˈsʌltri/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: sultry; comparative adjective: sultrier; superlative adjective: sultriest
1.
(of the air or weather) hot and humid.
"the sultry late summer weather had brought swarms of insects"
synonyms: humid, close, airless, stuffy, stifling, suffocating, oppressive, muggy, sticky,
sweltering, tropical, torrid, steamy, heavy; hot, warm, boiling, roasting; dialectclaggy
"a sultry, sweltering day"
antonyms: cool, cold, refreshing
2.
(especially of a woman or her behaviour) displaying or suggesting a strongly sexual nature.
"a sultry French au pair"
synonyms: passionate, attractive, sensual, sexy, voluptuous, luscious, erotic, seductive,
provocative, alluring, tempting
"a sultry film star"

countervail
/ˌkaʊntəˈveɪl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: countervail; 3rd person present: countervails; past tense: countervailed; past participle:
countervailed; gerund or present participle: countervailing
offset the effect of (something) by countering it with something of equal force.
"the dominance of the party was mediated by a number of countervailing factors"
grubby
/ˈɡrʌbi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: grubby; comparative adjective: grubbier; superlative adjective: grubbiest
covered with dirt; grimy.
"the grubby face of a young boy"
synonyms: dirty, grimy, filthy, unwashed, stained, soiled, smeared, spotted, muddy, dusty,
sooty; messy, scruffy, shabby, untidy, unkempt, slovenly, slatternly, sordid, squalid; unhygienic,
unsanitary, insanitary; informalmucky, cruddy, yucky, icky; informalmanky, grotty, gungy;
informalbogging; literarybefouled, besmirched, besmeared, begrimed; rarefeculent
"grubby net curtains"
antonyms: clean
involving dishonest or disreputable activity; sordid.
"the grubby business of selling arms"

lug1
/lʌɡ/
verb
verb: lug; 3rd person present: lugs; past tense: lugged; past participle: lugged; gerund or present
participle: lugging
1.
carry or drag (a heavy or bulky object) with great effort.
"she began to lug her suitcase down the stairs"
synonyms: carry, lift, bear, tote, heave, hoist, shoulder, manhandle; haul, drag, pull, tug, tow,
transport, move, take, bring, convey, shift, fetch; informalhump, schlep; informalhumph
"they lugged the baskets of laundry upstairs"
be encumbered with.
"don't worry about lugging the kids to the salon with you"
noun
noun: lug; plural noun: lugs
1.
a box or crate used for transporting fruit.
"a truck piled high with wooden lugs of grapes"
Origin

late Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin: compare with Swedish lugga ‘pull a person's
hair’ (from lugg ‘forelock’).
lug2
/lʌɡ/
noun
noun: lug; plural noun: lugs
1.
INFORMAL•SCOTTISH
a person's ear.
"I couldn't hear what they were saying with that leather over my lugs"
2.
a projection on an object by which it may be carried or fixed in place.
"mount the fitting directly to the lugs at each side of the box"
3.
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
a loutish man.
"he plays a hood who, despite his fancy clothes, remains a lug"
Origin

late 15th century (denoting the ear flap of a hat): probably of Scandinavian origin: compare with
Swedish lugg ‘forelock, nap of cloth’. lug2 (sense 3 of the noun) is perhaps from the 19th-century
term denoting the lowest grade of tobacco.
lug3
/lʌɡ/
noun
noun: lug; plural noun: lugs
short for lugworm.
fiddle
/ˈfɪd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fiddle; plural noun: fiddles
1.
INFORMAL
a violin.
synonyms: violin, viola, cello, double bass; historicalkit
"their feet moved in time with the fiddle"
2.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
an act of defrauding, cheating, or falsifying.
"a major mortgage fiddle"
synonyms: fraud, swindle, fix, wangle, confidence trick, ruse, wile, piece of deception, bit of
sharp practice; More
3.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
a small task that seems awkward and unnecessarily complex.
"inserting a tape is a bit of a fiddle"
4.
NAUTICAL
a ledge or raised rim that prevents things from rolling or sliding off a table in rough seas.
verb
verb: fiddle; 3rd person present: fiddles; past tense: fiddled; past participle: fiddled; gerund or
present participle: fiddling
1.
touch or fidget with something in a restless or nervous way.
"Lena fiddled with her cup"
synonyms: fidget, play, toy, twiddle, fuss, fool about/around, trifle; finger, thumb, handle, feel,
touch; waste time, act aimlessly; informalmess about/around, paw
"he fiddled with a beer mat"
tinker with something in an attempt to make minor adjustments or improvements.
"he fiddled with the blind, trying to prevent the sun from shining in her eyes"
synonyms: tinker, play about/around, tamper, meddle, interfere, monkey; adjust
"he fiddled with some dials and buttons"
pass time aimlessly, without doing or achieving anything of substance.
2.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
falsify (figures, data, or records), typically in order to gain money.
"everyone is fiddling their expenses"
synonyms: falsify, manipulate, massage, rig, distort, pervert, misrepresent, juggle, doctor,
alter, tamper with, interfere with; informalcook, fix, diddle, finagle, flimflam, cook the books
"the government is trying to fiddle the figures"
3.
INFORMAL
play the violin.
emanate
/ˈɛməneɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: emanate; 3rd person present: emanates; past tense: emanated; past participle: emanated;
gerund or present participle: emanating
(of a feeling, quality, or sensation) issue or spread out from (a source).
"warmth emanated from the fireplace"
synonyms: emerge, flow, pour, proceed, issue, ensue, come out, come forth, spread out,
come; be uttered, be emitted, be transmitted; arise, originate, stem, derive, spring, start
"policy statements which emanate from government departments"
originate from; be produced by.
"the proposals emanated from a committee"
give out or emit (a feeling, quality, or sensation).
"he emanated a powerful brooding air"
synonyms: exude, give off, give out, send out, send forth, pour out, throw out, spread,
discharge, disgorge, emit, exhale, radiate; literarydistil
"the delicious aura of perfume which the women emanated"
elope
/ɪˈləʊp/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: elope; 3rd person present: elopes; past tense: eloped; past participle: eloped; gerund or
present participle: eloping
run away secretly in order to get married.
"later he eloped with one of the housemaids"
synonyms: run away to marry, run off/away together, slip away, sneak off, steal away; run
off/away with a lover
"perhaps they'll elope to Gretna Green"
embark
/ɪmˈbɑːk,ɛmˈbɑːk/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: embark; 3rd person present: embarks; past tense: embarked; past participle: embarked;
gerund or present participle: embarking
1.
go on board a ship or aircraft.
"he embarked for India in 1817"
synonyms: board ship, go on board, go aboard, climb aboard, step aboard, take ship; take off;
informalhop on, jump on
"he stood on the pier to watch me embark"
antonyms: disembark, land
put or take on board a ship or aircraft.
"the passengers were ready to be embarked"
2.
begin (a course of action).
"she embarked on a new career"
synonyms: begin, start, commence, undertake, set about, enter on, go into, take up; venture
into, launch into, plunge into, turn one's hand to, engage in, settle down to; institute, initiate,
tackle; informalhave a go/crack/shot at
"he was about to embark on a career in the family's department store chain"
errant
/ˈɛr(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: errant
1.
FORMAL•HUMOROUS
erring or straying from the accepted course or standards.
"an errant husband coming back from a night on the tiles"
synonyms: offending, guilty, culpable, misbehaving, delinquent, lawless, lawbreaking, criminal,
transgressing, aberrant, deviant, erring, sinning; mischievous, badly behaved, troublesome,
difficult, unmanageable, unruly, disobedient, uncontrollable, out of control
"financial penalties were imposed on errant local authorities"
antonyms: innocent, well behaved
not in the right place; having moved from the correct position or course.
"an errant strand of hair"
ZOOLOGY
(of a polychaete worm) of a predatory kind that moves about actively and is not confined to a tube
or burrow.
2.
ARCHAIC•LITERARY
travelling in search of adventure.
"that same lady errant"
synonyms: travelling, wandering, itinerant, journeying, rambling, roaming, roving, drifting,
floating, wayfaring, voyaging, touring; peripatetic, unsettled, rootless, restless, on the move, on the
go, on the wing; nomadic, vagabond, vagrant, migrant, migratory, migrating, transient, displaced;
globetrotting, jet-setting
"a knight errant"
antonyms: sedentary
espouse
/ɪˈspaʊz,ɛˈspaʊz/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: espouse; 3rd person present: espouses; past tense: espoused; past participle: espoused;
gerund or present participle: espousing
1.
adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life).
"she espoused the causes of justice and freedom for all"
synonyms: adopt, embrace, take up, take to, take to one's heart, receive
enthusiastically/wholeheartedly, accept, welcome; support, back, champion, give help to, help,
assist, aid, be on the side of, side with, be in favour of, favour, prefer, abet, aid and abet,
encourage; vote for, ally oneself with, stand behind, fall in with, stand up for, defend, take
someone's part, take up the cudgels for; sponsor, vouch for, promote, further, endorse, advocate,
sanction, approve of, give one's blessing to, smile on; informalstick up for, throw one's weight
behind
"the government espoused the concept of sustainable economic development"
antonyms: reject, oppose
2.
ARCHAIC
marry.
"Edward had espoused the lady Grey"
(of a woman) be engaged to (a particular man).
"she was secretly espoused to his son, Peter"
eunuch
/ˈjuːnək/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: eunuch; plural noun: eunuchs
a man who has been castrated, especially (in the past) one employed to guard the women's living
areas at an oriental court.
an ineffectual person.
"a nation of political eunuchs"
daft
/dɑːft/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL•BRITISH
adjective: daft; comparative adjective: dafter; superlative adjective: daftest
silly; foolish.
"don't ask such daft questions"
synonyms: absurd, preposterous, ridiculous, ludicrous, farcical, laughable, risible; idiotic,
stupid, foolish, foolhardy, unwise, imprudent, ill-conceived, silly, inane, puerile, infantile, fatuous,
imbecilic, hare-brained, half-baked; unreasonable, irrational, illogical, nonsensical, pointless,
senseless, impracticable, unworkable, unrealistic; peculiar, odd, strange, queer, weird, eccentric,
bizarre, fantastic, incongruous, grotesque; informalcrazy, barmy, potty, cock-eyed
"that's a daft idea"
simple-minded, simple, stupid, idiotic, moronic, imbecilic, dull-witted, dull, dim-witted, slow-witted,
slow, witless, half-witted, feeble-minded, dunce-like, cretinous, empty-headed, vacuous, vapid;
deranged, unhinged, insane, mad;
informaltouched, thick, thick as two short planks, dim, dopey, dumb, dozy, birdbrained, pea-
brained, pig-ignorant, bovine, slow on the uptake, soft in the head, brain-dead, boneheaded,
lamebrained, chuckleheaded, dunderheaded, wooden-headed, fat-headed, muttonheaded, not all
there, not quite right, crazy, mental, nuts, nutty, crackers, cracked, potty, barmy, batty, cuckoo,
bonkers, dotty, dippy;
informalnot the full shilling;
informaldumb-ass
"are you daft or something?"
antonyms: sensible
infatuated with.
"I was daft about him"
synonyms: infatuated with, enamoured of, obsessed by, smitten with, besotted by, doting on,
very fond of; informalcrazy, wild, mad, nutty, nuts, potty, gone on; informalsweet on
"she's daft about him"
damsel
/ˈdamz(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
nounARCHAIC•LITERARY
noun: damsel; plural noun: damsels
a young unmarried woman.
synonyms: young woman, young lady, miss, girl; lass, lassie; colleen; mademoiselle; signorina;
señorita; Fräulein; informalchick, girly, filly; informalbird, bint, popsy; informalgal, broad, dame,
jane, babe, sister; informalsheila; derogatorybit, tart, mare; offensivepiece; informalJudy, baggage;
datedfrail; literarymaid, maiden, demoiselle; archaicwench, petticoat
"a damsel in distress"
Phrases
damsel in distress — a young woman in trouble.
"she makes a rather sweet damsel in distress"
dally
/ˈdali/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: dally; 3rd person present: dallies; past tense: dallied; past participle: dallied; gerund or
present participle: dallying
1.
act or move slowly.
"she'd dallied upstairs long enough to put on a little make-up"
synonyms: dawdle, delay, loiter, linger, waste time, kill time, take one's time, while away time;
lag, trail, straggle, fall behind; amble, plod, trudge, meander, drift; traik; informaldilly-dally;
archaictarry
"there's no time to dally on the way to work"
antonyms: hurry
2.
have a casual romantic or sexual liaison with.
"he should stop dallying with film stars"
synonyms: trifle, toy, play, amuse oneself, flirt, play fast and loose, tinker, philander,
womanize, carry on; informalplay around, mess about/around
"he should stop dallying with film stars"
show a casual interest in.
"the company was dallying with the idea of opening a new office"
beeline
/ˈbiːlʌɪn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: beeline; plural noun: beelines; noun: bee-line; plural noun: bee-lines
a straight line between two places.
Phrases
make a beeline for — hurry directly to.
"the city commuters made a beeline for the bar"
abstract
adjective
adjective: abstract
/ˈabstrakt/
1.
existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.
"abstract concepts such as love or beauty"
synonyms: theoretical, conceptual, notional, intellectual, metaphysical, philosophical,
academic; hypothetical, speculative, conjectural, conjectured, suppositional, putative;
raresuppositious, suppositive, ideational
"abstract concepts such as love and beauty"
antonyms: actual, concrete
dealing with ideas rather than events.
"the novel was too abstract and esoteric to sustain much attention"
not based on a particular instance; theoretical.
"we have been discussing the problem in a very abstract manner"
(of a noun) denoting an idea, quality, or state rather than a concrete object.
2.
relating to or denoting art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but rather seeks to
achieve its effect using shapes, colours, and textures.
"abstract pictures"
synonyms: non-representational, non-realistic, non-pictorial, symbolic, impressionistic
"abstract art"
antonyms: representational
verb
verb: abstract; 3rd person present: abstracts; past tense: abstracted; past participle: abstracted;
gerund or present participle: abstracting
/əbˈstrakt/
1.
consider something theoretically or separately from (something else).
"to abstract science and religion from their historical context can lead to anachronism"
2.
extract or remove (something).
"applications to abstract more water from streams"
synonyms: extract, pump, draw (off), tap, suck, withdraw, remove, take out/away; separate,
detach, isolate, dissociate
"they want to abstract water from the river"
used euphemistically to indicate that someone has stolen something.
"his pockets contained all he had been able to abstract from the flat"
withdraw.
"as our relationship deepened you seemed to abstract yourself"
3.
make a written summary of (an article or book).
"staff who abstract material for an online database"
synonyms: summarize, write a summary of, precis, abridge, condense, compress, shorten, cut
down, abbreviate, synopsize; rareepitomize
"staff who index and abstract material for an online database"
noun
noun: abstract; plural noun: abstracts
/ˈabstrakt/
1.
a summary of the contents of a book, article, or speech.
"an abstract of her speech"
synonyms: summary, synopsis, precis, résumé, outline, recapitulation, abridgement,
condensation, digest, summation; aperçu; wrap-up; archaicargument; rareepitome, conspectus
"an abstract of her speech"
antonyms: complete version, full text
2.
an abstract work of art.
"a big unframed abstract"
Phrases
in the abstract — in a general way; without reference to specific instances.
"there's a fine line between promoting US business interests in the abstract and promoting specific
companies"
babble
/ˈbab(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: babble; 3rd person present: babbles; past tense: babbled; past participle: babbled; gerund or
present participle: babbling
1.
talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish, excited, or incomprehensible way.
"they babbled on about their holiday"
synonyms: prattle, rattle on, gabble, chatter, jabber, twitter, go on, run on, prate, ramble,
burble, blather, blether, blither, maunder, drivel, patter, yap, jibber-jabber; slabber; informalgab,
yak, yackety-yak, yabber, yatter, yammer, blabber, jaw, gas, shoot one's mouth off; informalwitter,
rabbit, chunter, natter, waffle; informalrun off at the mouth; informalmag; archaictwaddle, clack,
twattle
"Betty babbled away, oblivious to the look on his face"
utter something rapidly and incoherently.
"I gasped and stared and babbled, 'Look at this!'"
reveal something secret or confidential by talking carelessly.
"he babbled to another convict while he was in jail"
synonyms: blurt out, blab, reveal, divulge, let slip, let out, give away, come out with;
informalspill
"my father babbled out the truth"
2.
(of a flowing water) make a continuous murmuring sound.
"the shallow river babbled over smooth rocks"
synonyms: burble, murmur, gurgle, purl, tinkle; literaryplash
"just out of sight a brook babbled gently"
noun
noun: babble; plural noun: babbles
1.
the sound of people talking simultaneously.
"the answers were difficult to hear amid the babble of conversation"
foolish, excited, or confused talk.
"her soft voice stopped his babble"
synonyms: prattle, gabble, chatter, jabber, prating, rambling, blather, blether; gibbering,
gibberish, drivel; informalgab, yak, yackety-yak, yabbering, yatter, twaddle; informalwittering,
waffle, natter, chuntering; archaicclack, twattle
"her soft voice stopped his babble"
2.
the continuous murmuring sound of flowing water.
"the babble of a brook"
august
/ɔːˈɡʌst/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: august
respected and impressive.
"she was in august company"
synonyms: distinguished, respected, eminent, venerable, hallowed, illustrious, prestigious,
renowned, celebrated, honoured, acclaimed, esteemed, exalted, highly regarded, well thought of,
of distinction, of repute; great, important, of high standing, lofty, high-ranking, noble, regal, royal,
aristocratic; imposing, impressive, awe-inspiring, magnificent, majestic, imperial, stately, lordly,
kingly, grand, dignified, solemn, proud
"she was in august company"
beget
/bɪˈɡɛt/
Learn to pronounce
verbLITERARY
verb: beget; 3rd person present: begets; past tense: begot; past tense: begat; gerund or present
participle: begetting; past participle: begotten
1.
(especially of a man) bring (a child) into existence by the process of reproduction.
"they hoped that the King might beget an heir by his new queen"
synonyms: father, sire, engender, generate, spawn, create, give life to, bring into being, bring
into the world, have; procreate, reproduce, breed
"he married again and begat Alexander"
2.
cause; bring about.
"killings beget more killings"
synonyms: cause, give rise to, lead to, result in, bring about, create, produce, generate,
engender, spawn, occasion, effect, bring to pass, bring on, precipitate, prompt, provoke, kindle,
trigger, spark off, touch off, stir up, whip up, induce, inspire, promote, foster; literaryenkindle;
rareeffectuate
"we have to make people realize that violence begets more violence"
adept
adjective
adjective: adept
/əˈdɛpt,ˈadɛpt/
1.
very skilled or proficient at something.
"she is adept at cutting through red tape"
synonyms: expert, proficient, accomplished, skilful, talented, gifted, masterly, virtuoso,
consummate, peerless; adroit, dexterous, deft, nimble-fingered, handy, artful, able, capable,
competent; brilliant, very good, splendid, marvellous, formidable, outstanding, first-rate, first-class,
excellent, impressive, fine; informalgreat, top-notch, top-drawer, top-hole, tip-top, A1, wizard,
magic, ace, fab, mean, crack, nifty, deadly, slick; informalbrill, smashing, a dab hand at;
informalcrackerjack, badass; archaiccompleat; rarehabile
"the Minoans were adept at sculpting figures from ivory"
antonyms: inept, mediocre
noun
noun: adept; plural noun: adepts
/ˈadɛpt/
1.
a person who is skilled or proficient at something.
"he is an adept at imitation"
synonyms: expert, past master, master, master hand, genius, virtuoso, maestro, doyen, artist,
professional, veteran, old hand; grandmaster, champion, star, winner; wunderkind; informalwizard,
demon, ace, hotshot, pro, whizz, wiz, buff; informaldab hand; informalmaven, crackerjack
"adepts at kung fu and karate can smash through stacks of roofing tiles"
antonyms: amateur
anguish
/ˈaŋɡwɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: anguish; plural noun: anguishes
1.
severe mental or physical pain or suffering.
"she shut her eyes in anguish"
synonyms: agony, pain, torment, torture, suffering, distress, angst, misery, sorrow, grief,
heartache, heartbreak, wretchedness, unhappiness, woe, desolation, despair; the dark night of the
soul, purgatory, hell on earth; literarydolour
"a cry of anguish"
antonyms: happiness, contentment
verb
verb: anguish; 3rd person present: anguishes; past tense: anguished; past participle: anguished;
gerund or present participle: anguishing
1.
be extremely distressed about something.
"I spent the next two weeks anguishing about whether I'd made the right decision"
blackguard
/ˈblaɡɑːd,ˈblaɡəd/
Learn to pronounce
DATED
noun
noun: blackguard; plural noun: blackguards
1.
a man who behaves in a dishonourable or contemptible way.
verb
verb: blackguard; 3rd person present: blackguards; past tense: blackguarded; past participle:
blackguarded; gerund or present participle: blackguarding
1.
abuse or disparage (someone) scurrilously.
"you know what sort she is, yet you blackguard me when I tell the truth about her"

blister
/ˈblɪstə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: blister; plural noun: blisters
1.
a small bubble on the skin filled with serum and caused by friction, burning, or other damage.
"his heels were covered in blisters"
synonyms: bleb, bulla, pustule, vesicle, vesication, blain
"his heels were covered in blisters"
a swelling filled with air or fluid on the surface of a plant, heated metal, painted wood, etc.
"check for cracks and blisters in sheet roofing felt"
synonyms: bubble, swelling, bulge, bump, lump, protuberance; cavity, hollow, void
"check for cracks and blisters in sheet roofing felt"
HISTORICAL•MEDICINE
a preparation applied to the skin to form a blister.
2.
INFORMAL•DATED
an annoying person.
"the child is a disgusting little blister"
verb
verb: blister; 3rd person present: blisters; past tense: blistered; past participle: blistered; gerund or
present participle: blistering
1.
form blisters on the skin or other surface.
"the surface of the door began to blister"
cause blisters to form on the surface of.
"a caustic liquid that blisters the skin"
blizzard
/ˈblɪzəd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: blizzard; plural noun: blizzards
a severe snowstorm with high winds.
synonyms: snowstorm, snow blast, snow squall; white-out
a large or overwhelming number of things arriving suddenly.
"a blizzard of forms"
daunt
/dɔːnt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: daunt; 3rd person present: daunts; past tense: daunted; past participle: daunted; gerund or
present participle: daunting
make (someone) feel intimidated or apprehensive.
"some people are daunted by technology"
synonyms: intimidate, abash, take aback, shake, ruffle, throw, demoralize, discourage; deter,
put off, dishearten, dispirit, deject, sap, cow, overawe, awe, frighten, scare, alarm, unman, dismay,
distress, disconcert, discompose, perturb, upset, discomfit, unsettle, unnerve, disquiet, subdue;
throw off balance, put someone off their stroke, cause someone to lose their composure,
confound, panic, stupefy, stun; informalrattle, faze, put into a flap, throw into a tizz,
discombobulate, shake up, psych; informalput the wind up
"it will take more than December sleet and gales to daunt the crews"
antonyms: encourage, hearten
Phrases
nothing daunted — without having been made fearful or apprehensive.
"nothing daunted, the committee set to work"
declivity
/dɪˈklɪvɪti/
Learn to pronounce
nounFORMAL
noun: declivity; plural noun: declivities
a downward slope.
"a thickly wooded declivity"
defiant
/dɪˈfʌɪənt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: defiant
showing defiance.
"a defiant gesture"
synonyms: intransigent, resistant, obstinate, uncooperative, non-compliant, recalcitrant,
confrontational, challenging; aggressive, belligerent, pugnacious, bellicose, combative, ready for a
fight, antagonistic, hostile; obstreperous, truculent, dissenting, argumentative, quarrelsome,
contentious, disobedient, insubordinate, subversive, rebellious, mutinous; informalfeisty, spoiling
for a fight; informalstroppy, bolshie; informalscrappy; archaiccontumacious
"he is defiant in the face of critics"
antonyms: apologetic, cooperative

bane
/beɪn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: bane; plural noun: banes
1.
a cause of great distress or annoyance.
"the telephone was the bane of my life"
synonyms: scourge, ruin, death, plague, ruination, destruction; torment, torture, menace,
suffering, pain, distress, hardship, cross to bear, burden, thorn in one's flesh/side, bitter pill,
affliction, calamity, despair, trouble, misery, woe, tribulation, misfortune, nuisance, pest, headache,
trial, blight, curse, nightmare
"scurvy was the bane of seamen two centuries ago"
annotate
/ˈanəteɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: annotate; 3rd person present: annotates; past tense: annotated; past participle: annotated;
gerund or present participle: annotating
add notes to (a text or diagram) giving explanation or comment.
synonyms: comment on, add notes/footnotes to, gloss; More
Origin

late 16th century: from Latin annotat- ‘marked’, from the verb annotare, from ad- ‘to’ + nota ‘a
mark’.

begrudge
/bɪˈɡrʌdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: begrudge; 3rd person present: begrudges; past tense: begrudged; past participle: begrudged;
gerund or present participle: begrudging
1.
envy (someone) the possession or enjoyment of (something).
"she begrudged Martin his affluence"
synonyms: envy, grudge, resent; be jealous of, be envious of, be resentful of
"it was plain that she begrudged Brian his affluence"
2.
give reluctantly or resentfully.
"nobody begrudges a single penny spent on health"
synonyms: resent, feel aggrieved about, feel bitter about, be annoyed about, be angry about,
be displeased about, be resentful of, grudge, mind, object to, take exception to, regret; give
unwillingly, give reluctantly, give resentfully, give stintingly, be dissatisfied with
"I don't begrudge the support we've given"
buckle
/ˈbʌk(ə)l/
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noun
noun: buckle; plural noun: buckles
1.
a flat, typically rectangular frame with a hinged pin, used for joining the ends of a belt or strap.
"most rucksacks have quick release buckles"
synonyms: clasp, clip, catch, fastener, fastening, hasp
"his belt buckle"
a similarly shaped ornament on a shoe.
"black shoes with ornate buckles"
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
a cake made with fruit (typically blueberries) and having a streusel topping.
"finish off the meal with a blueberry buckle for dessert"
verb
verb: buckle; 3rd person present: buckles; past tense: buckled; past participle: buckled; gerund or
present participle: buckling
1.
fasten or decorate with a buckle.
"he buckled his belt"
synonyms: fasten, do up, hook, strap, tie, secure, clasp, catch, clip
"he buckled the belt round his waist"
antonyms: unfasten
fasten one's seat belt in a car or aircraft.
"it is advisable to buckle up as some of the mountain roads require skilful manoeuvring"
2.
bend and give way under pressure or strain.
"the earth buckled under the titanic stress"
synonyms: warp, become/make warped, bend, bend out of shape, become/make bent, twist,
become/make twisted, curve, become/make curved, distort, become/make distorted, contort,
become/make contorted, become/make crooked, deform, become/make deformed, malform,
become/make malformed, misshape, become/make misshapen, mangle, become/make mangled,
develop a kink/wrinkle/fold, bulge, arc, arch, wrinkle; crumple, collapse, cave in, give way
"Harry's front axle buckled"
antonyms: straighten
bend (something) out of shape.
"a lorry backed into the wall and buckled the gate"
(of a person) suffer a psychological collapse as a result of stress.
"a weaker person might have buckled under the strain"
Phrases
buckle down
tackle a task with determination. "they will buckle down to negotiations over the next few months"
buckle to
make a determined effort.
Origin

Middle English: from Old French bocle, from Latin buccula ‘cheek strap of a helmet’, from bucca
‘cheek’. buckle (sense 2 of the verb) is from French boucler ‘to bulge’.
cabal
/kəˈbal/
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noun
noun: cabal; plural noun: cabals
a secret political clique or faction.
"a cabal of dissidents"
synonyms: clique, faction, coterie, group, set, band, party, camp, gang, ring, cell, sect, caucus,
league, confederacy, junta; pressure group; ginger group; push; historicaljunto; rarecamarilla
"a cabal of dissidents"
ARCHAIC
a secret intrigue.
Origin

late 16th century (denoting the Kabbalah): from French cabale, from medieval Latin cabala (see
Kabbalah).

cadence
/ˈkeɪd(ə)ns/
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noun
noun: cadence; plural noun: cadences
1.
a modulation or inflection of the voice.
"the measured cadences that he employed in the Senate"
synonyms: rhythm, tempo, metre, measure, rise and fall, beat, pulse, rhythmical flow/pattern,
swing, lilt, cadency; intonation, modulation, inflection, speech pattern
"there is a biblical cadence in the last words he utters"
a rhythmical effect in written text.
"the dry cadences of the essay"
a fall in pitch of the voice at the end of a phrase or sentence.
rhythm.
"the thumping cadence of the engines"
2.
a sequence of notes or chords comprising the close of a musical phrase.
"the final cadences of the Prelude"
Origin

late Middle English (in the sense ‘rhythm or metrical beat’): via Old French from Italian cadenza,
based on Latin cadere ‘to fall’.
cahoots
/kəˈhuːts/
 Learn to pronounce
nounINFORMAL
plural noun: cahoot
colluding or conspiring together secretly.
"the area is dominated by guerrillas in cahoots with drug traffickers"
synonyms: in league, colluding, in collusion, conspiring, conniving, collaborating, hand in glove,
allied, in alliance
"politicians accused of being in cahoots with the Mafia"
Origin
early 19th century (originally US): of unknown origin.
carcass
/ˈkɑːkəs/
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noun
noun: carcass; plural noun: carcasses; noun: carcase; plural noun: carcases
the dead body of an animal.
"she saw the mud-covered carcass of a sheep"
synonyms: corpse, cadaver, dead body, body, remains, skeleton, relics; informalstiff;
archaiccorse
"a lamb carcass"
the trunk of an animal such as a cow, sheep, or pig, for cutting up as meat.
"the carcass has a high proportion of meat to bone"
synonyms: corpse, cadaver, dead body, body, remains, skeleton, relics; informalstiff;
archaiccorse
"a lamb carcass"
the remains of a cooked bird after all the edible parts have been removed.
HUMOROUS
a person's body, living or dead.
"my obsession will last while there's life in this old carcass"
synonyms: body, person, self; backside; informalbutt; vulgar slangarse; vulgar slangass
"shift your carcass from the seat"
the structural framework of a building, ship, or piece of furniture.
the remains of something.
"automotive carcasses stripped of radios, hubcaps and even body panels"
careen
/kəˈriːn/
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verb
verb: careen; 3rd person present: careens; past tense: careened; past participle: careened; gerund
or present participle: careening
1.
turn (a ship) on its side for cleaning, caulking, or repair.
(of a ship) tilt; lean over.
"a heavy flood tide caused my vessel to careen dizzily"
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way.
"an electric golf cart careened around the corner"
synonyms: rush, hurtle, career, streak, shoot, race, bolt, dash, speed, run, whizz, zoom, flash,
blast, charge, fly, go like the wind, belt, scoot, tear, zip, whip, zap, go like a bat out of hell, bomb,
hightail, clip
"the car careened down the highway"
coddle
/ˈkɒd(ə)l/
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verb
verb: coddle; 3rd person present: coddles; past tense: coddled; past participle: coddled; gerund or
present participle: coddling
1.
treat (someone) in an indulgent or overprotective way.
"I was coddled and cosseted"
synonyms: pamper, cosset, mollycoddle, wait on someone hand and foot, cater to someone's
every whim; spoil, indulge, overindulge, humour, pander to; spoon-feed, feather-bed, wrap in
cotton wool, overparent; pet, baby, mother, nanny; archaiccocker
"don't coddle repeat offenders—some of them prefer jail"
antonyms: neglect, treat harshly, be strict with
2.
cook (an egg) in water below boiling point.
"you may have your eggs scrambled, poached, coddled, or boiled"
Origin

late 16th century (in the sense ‘boil (fruit) gently’): origin uncertain; coddle (sense 1) is probably a
dialect variant of obsolete caudle ‘administer invalids' gruel’, based on Latin caldum ‘hot drink’,
from calidus ‘warm’.

eerie
/ˈɪəri/
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adjective
adjective: eerie; comparative adjective: eerier; superlative adjective: eeriest
strange and frightening.
"an eerie green glow in the sky"
synonyms: uncanny, sinister, ghostly, spectral, unnatural, unearthly, preternatural,
supernatural, other-worldly, unreal, mysterious, strange, abnormal, odd, curious, queer, weird,
bizarre, freakish; frightening, spine-chilling, hair-raising, blood-curdling, scaring, terrifying,
petrifying, chilling; eldritch; informalcreepy, scary, spooky, freaky; informalrum
"an eerie silence descended over the house"
antonyms: normal, reassuring
Origin

Middle English (originally northern English and Scots in the sense ‘fearful’): probably from Old
English earg ‘cowardly’, of Germanic origin; related to German arg .
edict
/ˈiːdɪkt/
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noun
noun: edict; plural noun: edicts
an official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority.
"Clovis issued an edict protecting Church property"
synonyms: decree, order, command, commandment, mandate, proclamation, pronouncement,
dictum, dictate, fiat, promulgation, precept; law, statute, act, enactment, bill, ordinance,
regulation, rule, ruling, injunction, manifesto; ukase; pronunciamento; rarefirman, decretal, irade,
rescript
"oil exploration is prohibited by government edict"
clasp
/klɑːsp/
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verb
verb: clasp; 3rd person present: clasps; past tense: clasped; past participle: clasped; gerund or
present participle: clasping
1.
grasp (something) tightly with one's hand.
"he clasped her arm"
synonyms: grasp, grip, clutch, hold tightly, hang on to, cling to; take hold of, seize, grab
"Ruth clasped his hand"
place (one's arms) around something so as to hold it tightly.
"Kate's arms were clasped around her knees"
hold (someone) tightly.
"he clasped Joanne in his arms"
synonyms: embrace, hug, enfold, fold, enclose, envelop, wrap; hold, squeeze; archaicstrain
"he clasped Joanne in his arms"
2.
ARCHAIC
fasten (something) with a small brooch or similar device.
"one modest emerald clasped her robe"
noun
noun: clasp; plural noun: clasps
1.
a device with interlocking parts used for fastening things together.
"a gold bracelet with a turquoise clasp"
synonyms: fastener, fastening, catch, clip, pin; hook, hook and eye, buckle, hasp, lock; fibula
"a gold bracelet with a turquoise clasp"
a silver bar on a medal ribbon, inscribed with the name of the battle at which the wearer was
present.
"he received the Queen's medal with four clasps"
2.
an embrace.
"we embraced, a tight clasp with cheeks touching"
synonyms: embrace, hug, cuddle, hold, squeeze; grip, grasp
"his tight clasp"
a grasp or handshake.
"he took her hand in a firm clasp"
condolence
/kənˈdəʊl(ə)ns/
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noun
noun: condolence; plural noun: condolences
an expression of sympathy, especially on the occasion of the death of a person's relative or close
friend.
"we offer our sincere condolences to his widow"
synonyms: sympathy, commiseration(s), solace, comfort, consolation, fellow feeling,
understanding, empathy, compassion, pity, solicitude, concern, support
"we offer our sincere condolences to his widow"
Origin

early 17th century: from condole, influenced by French condoléance .

conversant
/kənˈvəːs(ə)nt/
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adjective
adjective: conversant
familiar with or knowledgeable about something.
"you need someone who is conversant with the new technology"
synonyms: familiar with, acquainted with, au fait with, at home with, no stranger to; well
versed in, well informed about, well up on, knowledgeable about, informed about, abreast of,
apprised of, up to date on, au courant with; experienced in, proficient in, practised in, skilled in;
informalup to speed on, clued up on, genned up on, plugged into; formalcognizant of; datedperfect
in
"the students are conversant with a wide range mathematical and computing skills"
antonyms: unfamiliar with, ignorant of
Origin

Middle English: from Old French, present participle of converser (see converse1). The original sense
was ‘habitually spending time in a particular place or with a particular person’.

curb
/kəːb/
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noun
noun: curb; plural noun: curbs; noun: curb bit; plural noun: curb bits
1.
a check or restraint on something.
"plans to introduce tougher curbs on insider dealing"
synonyms: restraint, restriction, check, brake, rein, control, limitation, limit, constraint,
stricture; deterrent, damper, suppressant, retardant; informalcrackdown, clampdown;
literarytrammel
"a curb on public spending"
2.
a type of bit with a strap or chain attached which passes under a horse's lower jaw, used as a check.
3.
NORTH AMERICAN
variant spelling of kerb.
4.
a swelling on the back of a horse's hock, caused by spraining a ligament.
verb
verb: curb; 3rd person present: curbs; past tense: curbed; past participle: curbed; gerund or present
participle: curbing
1.
restrain or keep in check.
"she promised she would curb her temper"
synonyms: restrain, hold back, keep back, hold in, repress, suppress, fight back, bite back, keep
in check, check, control, keep under control, rein in, keep a tight rein on, contain, discipline, govern,
bridle, tame, subdue, stifle, smother, swallow, choke back, muzzle, silence, muffle, strangle, gag;
limit, put a limit on, keep within bounds, put the brakes on, slow down, retard, restrict, constrain,
deter, impede, inhibit; freeze, peg; informalbutton up, keep a/the lid on; literarytrammel
"he breathed deeply, trying to curb his temper"
antonyms: release
restrain (a horse) by means of a curb.
"both men were instinctively curbing their horses"
2.
US
lead (a dog being walked) near the curb to urinate or defecate, in order to avoid soiling buildings,
pavements, etc.
Origin

late 15th century (denoting a strap fastened to the bit): from Old French courber ‘bend, bow’, from
Latin curvare (see curve).
dab hand
/dab ˈhand/
nounINFORMAL•BRITISH
noun: dab hand; plural noun: dab hands
a person who is an expert at a particular activity.
"Tony is a dab hand at golf"
synonyms: expert, adept, genius, master, past master, master hand, maestro, virtuoso,
professional, doyen, old hand, authority, pundit, prodigy, grandmaster, champion, star;
informalace, pro, wizard, whizz, wiz, hotshot, ninja; informalmaven, crackerjack
"he's a dab hand at rustling up a sandwich"
antonyms: amateur, novice
Origin
early 19th century: from dab, a 17th-century slang term meaning ‘skilled person, expert’, of
unknown origin.

dapper
/ˈdapə/
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adjective
adjective: dapper; superlative adjective: dapperest
(of a man) neat and trim in dress and appearance.
"he looked very dapper in a dark silk suit"
synonyms: smart, spruce, trim, debonair, neat, tidy, neat and tidy, crisp, well dressed,
besuited, well groomed, well turned out, smartly dressed, elegant, chic, dashing; soigné;
informalsnazzy, snappy, natty, sharp, nifty; informalsassy, spiffy, fly, kicky; datedas if one had just
stepped out of a bandbox; informalswagger; archaictrig
"Pablo looked very dapper in his best clothes"
antonyms: scruffy
crook
/krʊk/
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noun
noun: crook; plural noun: crooks
1.
the hooked staff of a shepherd.
"seizing his crook from behind the door, he set off to call his dogs"
a bishop's crozier.
a bend in something, especially at the elbow in a person's arm.
"her head was cradled in the crook of Luke's left arm"
synonyms: bend, curve, curvature, kink, bow, elbow, angle, fork, intersection; technicalflexure
"the leopard sat in the crook of a tree branch"
a piece of extra tubing which can be fitted to a brass instrument to lower the pitch by a set interval.
2.
INFORMAL
a person who is dishonest or a criminal.
"the man's a crook, he's not to be trusted"
synonyms: criminal, lawbreaker, offender, villain, black hat, delinquent, malefactor, culprit,
wrongdoer, transgressor, sinner; young offender, juvenile delinquent; felon, thief, robber, armed
robber, burglar, housebreaker, shoplifter, mugger, fraudster, confidence trickster, swindler,
racketeer, gunman, gangster, outlaw, bandit, terrorist, rapist; yakuza; holdupper; informalcon,
jailbird, (old) lag, lifer, baddie, shark, con man, con artist, hustler; informalcrim; informalyardbird,
yegg; informallighty; informaltief; rhyming slangtea leaf; informalcracksman; malfeasant, misfeasor,
infractor; archaicmiscreant, trespasser, trusty, transport; rarepeculator, defalcator
"the crook got five years for swindling two families"
antonyms: law-abiding citizen
verb
verb: crook; 3rd person present: crooks; past tense: crooked; past participle: crooked; gerund or
present participle: crooking
1.
bend (something, especially a finger as a signal).
"he crooked a finger for the waitress"
synonyms: cock, flex, bend, curve, curl, angle, hook, bow
"he crooked his finger and called over the waiter"
adjectiveINFORMAL•AUSTRALIAN/NZ
adjective: crook
1.
bad, unpleasant, or unsatisfactory.
"it was pretty crook on the land in the early 1970s"
(of a person or a part of the body) unwell or injured.
"a crook knee"
dishonest; illegal.
"some pretty crook things went on there"
dabble
/ˈdab(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: dabble; 3rd person present: dabbles; past tense: dabbled; past participle: dabbled; gerund or
present participle: dabbling
1.
immerse (one's hands or feet) partially in water and move them around gently.
"they dabbled their feet in the rock pools"
synonyms: splash, dip, paddle, wet, moisten, dampen, immerse, trail
"they dabbled their feet in the rock pools"
(of a duck or other waterbird) move the bill around in shallow water while feeding.
"teal dabble in the shallows"
2.
take part in an activity in a casual or superficial way.
"he dabbled in left-wing politics"
synonyms: toy with, dip into, scratch the surface of, flirt with, tinker with, potter
about/around/round with, trifle with, play with, fiddle with, dally with, have a smattering of
"he dabbled in politics"
Origin

mid 16th century: from obsolete Dutch dabbelen, or a frequentative of the verb dab1.
debonair
/ˌdɛbəˈnɛː/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: debonair
(of a man) confident, stylish, and charming.
"all the men looked debonair and handsome in white tie and tails"
synonyms: suave, urbane, sophisticated, cultured, self-possessed, self-assured, confident,
charming, gracious, well mannered, civil, courteous, gallant, chivalrous, gentlemanly, refined,
polished, well bred, genteel, dignified, courtly; well dressed, well groomed, well turned out,
elegant, stylish, smart, dashing, dapper, spruce, trim, attractive; soigné; informalsmooth, swish,
swanky, snappy, sharp, cool; informalspiffy, fly; informalon fleek; datedmannerly; archaictrig,
gentle
"a debonair young man"
antonyms: unsophisticated
dolorous
/ˈdɒl(ə)rəs/
 Learn to pronounce
adjectiveLITERARY
adjective: dolorous
feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress.
"a dolorous and repetitive tale of atrocity"
synonyms: mournful, woeful, doleful, sorrowful, sad, unhappy, depressed, dismal, gloomy,
morose, melancholy, miserable, forlorn, wretched, woebegone, despondent, dejected,
disconsolate, downcast, crestfallen, downhearted, heartbroken, heavy-hearted, despairing,
desolate, grief-stricken; tearful, teary, lachrymose; informalblue, down, down in the mouth, down
in the dumps, weepy; archaicheartsick, heartsore
"a dolorous sigh"
antonyms: cheerful
Origin

late Middle English: from Old French doleros, from late Latin dolorosus, from Latin dolor ‘pain,
grief’.

effluvium
/ɪˈfluːvɪəm/
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noun
noun: effluvium; plural noun: effluvia
an unpleasant or harmful odour or discharge.
"smoke and effluvia from factory chimneys"
Origin

mid 17th century: from Latin, from effluere : ‘flow out’.

farce
/fɑːs/
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noun
noun: farce; plural noun: farces
a comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude
characterization and ludicrously improbable situations.
"he toured the backwoods in second-rate farces"
synonyms: slapstick comedy, broad comedy, slapstick, burlesque, vaudeville, travesty,
buffoonery; skit, squib; rarepasquinade
"at one or two points the stories approach bedroom farce"
antonyms: tragedy
the dramatic genre represented by farces.
"the choreographed confusion of real farce"
an event or situation that is absurd or disorganized.
"the debate turned into a drunken farce"
synonyms: absurdity, mockery, travesty, sham, pretence, masquerade, charade, piece of
futility, joke, waste of time, laughing stock; apology, excuse, poor substitute; informalshambles
"he denounced the trial as a farce"
Origin

early 16th century: from French, literally ‘stuffing’, from farcir ‘to stuff’, from Latin farcire . An
earlier sense of ‘forcemeat stuffing’ became used metaphorically for comic interludes ‘stuffed’ into
the texts of religious plays, which led to the current usage.
felony
/ˈfɛləni/
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noun
noun: felony; plural noun: felonies
a crime regarded in the US and many other judicial systems as more serious than a misdemeanour.
"he pleaded guilty to six felonies"
Origin

Middle English: from Old French felonie, from felon (see felon1).
flabbergast
/ˈflabəɡɑːst/
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verbINFORMAL
verb: flabbergast; 3rd person present: flabbergasts; past tense: flabbergasted; past participle:
flabbergasted; gerund or present participle: flabbergasting
surprise (someone) greatly; astonish.
"this news has left me totally flabbergasted"
synonyms: astonish, astound, amaze, surprise, startle, shock, take aback, take by surprise;
dumbfound, strike dumb, render speechless, stun, stagger, stop someone in their tracks, take
someone's breath away, confound, daze, overcome, overwhelm, nonplus, stupefy, disconcert,
unsettle, bewilder; informalbowl over, knock for six, knock sideways, knock the stuffing out of,
floor; informalgobsmack
"we were flabbergasted when we found out"
flog
/flɒɡ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: flog; 3rd person present: flogs; past tense: flogged; past participle: flogged; gerund or present
participle: flogging; noun: flogging; plural noun: floggings
1.
beat (someone) with a whip or stick as a punishment.
"the men had been flogged and branded on the forehead"
synonyms: whip, scourge, flagellate, lash, birch, switch, tan, strap, belt, cane, thrash, beat,
leather, tan/whip someone's hide, give someone a hiding, beat the living daylights out of
"the Romans used to flog their victims"
INFORMAL
promote or talk about (something) repetitively or at excessive length.
"the issue has been flogged to death already"
2.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
sell or offer for sale.
"he made a fortune flogging beads to hippies"
synonyms: sell, put on sale, put up for sale, offer for sale, vend, retail, trade in, deal in, traffic
in, peddle, hawk, advertise; informalpush
"insurance brokers flogging life policies"
3.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
make one's way with strenuous effort.
"by 10 pm we had flogged up the slopes to Grey Crag"
nounINFORMAL•BRITISH
noun: flog; plural noun: flogs
1.
an arduous climb or struggle.
"a long flog up the mountainside"
Origin

late 17th century (originally slang): perhaps imitative, or from Latin flagellare ‘to whip’, from
flagellum
draconian
/drəˈkəʊnɪən/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: draconian
(of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe.
"the Nazis destroyed the independence of the press by a series of draconian laws"
synonyms: harsh, severe, strict, extreme, drastic, stringent, tough, swingeing, cruel, brutal,
oppressive, ruthless, relentless, summary, punitive, authoritarian, despotic, tyrannical, arbitrary,
repressive, iron-fisted; raresuppressive
"collaborators suffered draconian reprisals"
antonyms: mild
Origin

late 19th century: from the name of Draco (see Draco2) + -ian.
egress
/ˈiːɡrɛs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: egress
1.
FORMAL
the action of going out of or leaving a place.
"direct means of access and egress for passengers"
synonyms: departure, leaving, exit, withdrawal, retreat, pull-out, exodus, issue; emergence,
flowing out, escape, emanation, debouchment; vacation of a place
"a means of egress for the crowds"
antonyms: entry
a way out.
plural noun: egresses
"a narrow egress"
synonyms: exit, way out, out door, escape route; outlet, vent
"the egress from the gallery was blocked"
antonyms: entrance
2.
ASTRONOMY
another term for emersion.
verbUS
verb: egress; 3rd person present: egresses; past tense: egressed; past participle: egressed; gerund
or present participle: egressing
1.
go out of or leave (a place).
"they'd egress the area by heading south-west"
Origin

mid 16th century: from Latin egressus ‘gone out’, from the verb egredi, from ex- ‘out’ + gradi ‘to
step’.

elate
/ɪˈleɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: elated; past participle: elated
make (someone) ecstatically happy.
"I felt elated at beating Dennis"
synonyms: thrilled, exhilarated, happy, delighted, overjoyed, joyous, gleeful, excited,
animated, jubilant, beside oneself with happiness, exultant, ecstatic, euphoric, rapturous, in
raptures, enraptured, rapt; walking on air, on cloud nine/seven, in seventh heaven, jumping for joy,
in transports of delight, transported, carried away, in a frenzy of delight, delirious (with happiness),
hysterical, wild with excitement, frenzied; informalblissed out, over the moon, on a high;
informalwigged out; informalturnt; rarecorybantic
"she was elated at having pocketed some £400,000"
antonyms: miserable
Origin

late Middle English (as an adjective): from Latin elat- ‘raised’, from the verb efferre, from ex- ‘out,
from’ + ferre ‘to bear’. The verb dates from the late 16th century.
effrontery
/ɪˈfrʌnt(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: effrontery; plural noun: effronteries
insolent or impertinent behaviour.
"one juror had the effrontery to challenge the coroner's decision"
synonyms: impudence, impertinence, cheek, insolence, cheekiness, audacity, temerity,
brazenness, forwardness, front, presumption, nerve, gall, pertness, boldness, shamelessness,
impoliteness, disrespect, bad manners, unmannerliness, overfamiliarity; answering back, talking
back; informalbrass, brass neck, neck, face, lip, mouth, cockiness; informalsauce; informalsnash;
informalsass, sassiness, nerviness, chutzpah, back talk; informalhide; informalcrust, backchat;
raremalapertness, contumely, procacity, assumption
"I am amazed at the effrontery with which the previous speaker lauds himself"
dare, make so bold as, be so bold as, presume, have the temerity, have the audacity, have the
nerve, be brave enough, have the courage, go so far as;
take the liberty of
"one councillor had the effrontery to suggest that 80,000 objectors were an insufficient number of
people to be taken into consideration"
antonyms: timidity
Origin

late 17th century: from French effronterie, based on late Latin effrons, effront- ‘shameless,
barefaced’, from ex- ‘out’ + frons ‘forehead’.
feral
/ˈfɛr(ə)l,ˈfɪərəl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: feral
1.
(especially of an animal) in a wild state, especially after escape from captivity or domestication.
"a feral cat"
synonyms: wild, untamed, undomesticated, untrained, unused to humans; unbroken, not
broken in; not house-trained; not housebroken
"a pack of feral dogs"
antonyms: tame, pet
resembling or characteristic of a wild animal.
"his teeth were bared in a feral snarl"
synonyms: fierce, ferocious, vicious, savage, aggressive, tigerish, wolfish, predatory, menacing,
threatening, bloodthirsty
"he gave a feral snarl"
(of a young person) behaving in a wildly undisciplined and antisocial way.
"gangs of feral youths"
nounDEROGATORY•AUSTRALIAN
noun: feral; plural noun: ferals
1.
a person with an unconventional appearance and lifestyle, and anti-establishment views.
"we expected bearded ferals chaining themselves to trees in protest"
Origin

early 17th century: from Latin fera ‘wild animal’ (from ferus ‘wild’) + -al.
flout
/flaʊt/
 Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: flout; 3rd person present: flouts; past tense: flouted; past participle: flouted; gerund or
present participle: flouting
1.
openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention).
"the advertising code is being flouted"
synonyms: defy, refuse to obey, go against, rebel against, scorn, disdain, show contempt for,
fly in the face of, thumb one's nose at, make a fool of, poke fun at; disobey, break, violate, fail to
comply with, fail to observe, contravene, infringe, breach, commit a breach of, transgress against;
ignore, disregard, set one's face against, kick against; informalcock a snook at; infract; archaicset at
naught
"retailers have been flouting the law by selling tobacco to under-16s"
antonyms: observe
2.
ARCHAIC
mock; scoff.
"the women pointed and flouted at her"
Origin

mid 16th century: perhaps from Dutch fluiten ‘whistle, play the flute, hiss (in derision)’; German
dialect pfeifen auf, literally ‘pipe at’, has a similar extended meaning.
fraught
/frɔːt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: fraught
1.
(of a situation or course of action) filled with or likely to result in (something undesirable).
"marketing any new product is fraught with danger"
synonyms: full of, filled with, swarming with, rife with, thick with, bristling with, charged with,
loaded with, brimful of, brimming with; attended by, accompanied by
"their world is fraught with danger"
2.
causing or affected by anxiety or stress.
"there was a fraught silence"
synonyms: anxious, worried, upset, distraught, overwrought, agitated, distressed, distracted,
desperate, frantic, panic-stricken, panic-struck, panicky; beside oneself, at one's wits' end, at the
end of one's tether, out of one's mind; informalstressed, hassled, wound up, worked up, in a state,
in a flap, in a cold sweat, tearing one's hair out; informalhaving kittens, in a flat spin, stressy
"she scanned the platform with a fraught expression"
antonyms: calm
Origin

late Middle English, ‘laden, equipped’, past participle of obsolete fraught ‘load with cargo’, from
Middle Dutch vrachten, from vracht ‘ship's cargo’. Compare with freight.
gag1
/ɡaɡ/
noun
noun: gag; plural noun: gags
1.
a piece of cloth put in or over a person's mouth to prevent them from speaking.
"they tied him up and put a gag in his mouth"
synonyms: muzzle, tie, restraint
"his scream was muffled by the gag"
a restriction on dissemination of information.
"every contract contains a self-signed gag"
2.
a device for keeping the patient's mouth open during a dental or surgical operation.
verb
verb: gag; 3rd person present: gags; past tense: gagged; past participle: gagged; gerund or present
participle: gagging
1.
put a gag on (someone).
"she was bound and gagged by robbers"
synonyms: stop up, block, plug, clog, stifle, smother, muffle; put a gag on, silence, hush, quiet
"a dirty rag was used to gag her mouth"
prevent (someone) from speaking freely or disseminating information.
"the government is trying to gag its critics"
synonyms: silence, muzzle, mute, muffle, stifle, smother, strangle, subdue, suppress, repress;
censor, curb, check, restrain, fetter, shackle, restrict, limit; Britishno-platform
"the press is gagged by more and more complex rules"
antonyms: encourage, give a voice to
2.
choke or retch.
"he gagged on the wine"
synonyms: retch, heave, dry-heave, convulse, almost vomit, feel nauseous; choke, gasp,
struggle for breath, fight for air; informalkeck
"the stench grew worse, making her gag"
3.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
be very eager to have or do (something).
"I'm absolutely gagging for a pint"
Origin

Middle English: perhaps related to Old Norse gagháls ‘with the neck thrown back’, or imitative of a
person choking.
gag2
/ɡaɡ/
noun
noun: gag; plural noun: gags
1.
a joke or an amusing story, especially one forming part of a comedian's act or in a film.
"films that goad audiences into laughing at the most tasteless of gags"
synonyms: joke, jest, witticism, quip, pun, play on words, double entendre, funny remark, witty
remark; flash of wit, rejoinder, sally; bon mot; informalcrack, wisecrack, one-liner, funny, comeback
"even the worst of gags will amuse someone somewhere"
verb
verb: gag; 3rd person present: gags; past tense: gagged; past participle: gagged; gerund or present
participle: gagging
1.
tell jokes.
"they gagged about their sexual problems"
Origin
mid 19th century (originally theatrical slang): of unknown origin.

glimmer
/ˈɡlɪmə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: glimmer; 3rd person present: glimmers; past tense: glimmered; past participle: glimmered;
gerund or present participle: glimmering
1.
shine faintly with a wavering light.
"the moonlight glimmered on the lawn"
synonyms: gleam, shine, glint, flicker, shimmer, glisten, glow, twinkle, sparkle, glitter, catch the
light, blink, wink, flash; literaryglister; rarescintillate, coruscate, fulgurate, effulge, luminesce,
incandesce, phosphoresce
"moonlight glimmered on the lawn"
noun
noun: glimmer; plural noun: glimmers
1.
a faint or wavering light.
"he saw a faint glimmer of light from her window"
synonyms: gleam, glint, flicker, shimmer, glow, twinkle, sparkle, blink, flash, ray
"a faint glimmer of light"
2.
a faint sign of a feeling or quality, especially a desirable one.
"there is one glimmer of hope for Becky"
synonyms: gleam, glimmering, flicker, ray, trace, faint sign, scintilla, suggestion, hint
"a glimmer of hope"
Origin

late Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Swedish glimra and Danish glimre .
glum
/ɡlʌm/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: glum; comparative adjective: glummer; superlative adjective: glummest
looking or feeling dejected; morose.
"the princess looked glum but later cheered up"
synonyms: gloomy, downcast, downhearted, dejected, disconsolate, dispirited, despondent,
crestfallen, cast down, depressed, disappointed, disheartened, discouraged, demoralized, desolate,
heavy-hearted, in low spirits, low-spirited, sad, unhappy, doleful, melancholy, miserable,
woebegone, mournful, forlorn, long-faced, fed up, in the doldrums, wretched, lugubrious, morose,
sepulchral, saturnine, dour, mirthless; informalblue, down, down in the mouth, down in the dumps;
informalbrassed off, cheesed off, looking as if one had lost a pound and found a penny;
literarydolorous; archaicchap-fallen, adust
"Kenneth looked glum and resentful"
antonyms: cheerful, merry
Origin

mid 16th century: related to dialect glum ‘to frown’, variant of gloom.
grapple
/ˈɡrap(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: grapple; 3rd person present: grapples; past tense: grappled; past participle: grappled; gerund
or present participle: grappling
1.
engage in a close fight or struggle without weapons; wrestle.
"passers-by grappled with the man after the knife attack"
synonyms: wrestle, struggle, tussle; brawl, fight, scuffle, clash, combat, battle; close, engage
"he threw himself forward and grappled with him"
seize hold of (someone).
"he grappled the young man around the throat"
synonyms: seize, grab, lay hold of, take hold of, grip, hold, grasp, clasp, clench, catch hold of,
catch, lay one's hands on, get one's hands on
"he launched into the crowd to grapple his unfortunate prey"
antonyms: let go of, release
struggle to deal with or overcome (a difficulty or challenge).
"other towns are still grappling with the problem"
synonyms: tackle, confront, address oneself to, face, attend to, attack, get down to; deal with,
cope with, get/come to grips with; concentrate on, focus on, apply oneself to, devote oneself to;
informalget stuck into, get cracking on, get weaving on, have a crack at, have a go at, have a shot at,
have a stab at
"a writer grappling with the problems of exile"
antonyms: avoid
2.
ARCHAIC
seize or hold with a grappling hook.
noun
noun: grapple; plural noun: grapples
1.
an act of grappling.
INFORMAL
a wrestling match.
2.
an instrument for seizing hold of something; a grappling hook.
Origin

Middle English (as a noun denoting a grappling hook): from Old French grapil, from Provençal,
diminutive of grapa ‘hook’, of Germanic origin; related to grape. The verb dates from the mid 16th
century.
grumble
/ˈɡrʌmb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: grumble; 3rd person present: grumbles; past tense: grumbled; past participle: grumbled;
gerund or present participle: grumbling
1.
complain about something in a bad-tempered way.
"‘I'm getting old,’ she grumbled"
synonyms: complain, moan, groan, whine, mutter, grouse, bleat, carp, cavil, protest; object to,
speak out against, find fault with; mither, twine; informalbellyache, beef, bitch, grouch, whinge,
sound off, go on, pick holes in; informalwhinge, gripe, grizzle, chunter, create; informalkvetch;
informalchirp; datedcrib, natter; archaicplain over
"the players grumble about the referee"
2.
make a low rumbling sound.
"thunder was grumbling somewhere in the distance"
synonyms: rumble, gurgle, murmur, growl, roar
"my stomach was starting to grumble audibly"
3.
(of an internal organ) give intermittent discomfort.
"a grumbling appendix"
noun
noun: grumble; plural noun: grumbles
1.
a complaint.
"the main grumble is that he spends too much time away"
synonyms: complaint, moan, groan, whine, muttering, grievance, objection, protest,
protestation, cavil, quibble, criticism, charge, accusation; informalgrouse, grouch, beef, beefing,
bellyaching, bitching, grouching; informalwhinge, gripe, whingeing; plaint
"he listens to his customers' grumbles"
2.
a low rumbling sound.
synonyms: rumble, gurgle, murmur, growl, roar
"the grumble of his stomach"
Origin
late 16th century: from obsolete grumme (probably of Germanic origin and related to Dutch
grommen ) + -le4.
heckle
/ˈhɛk(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: heckle; 3rd person present: heckles; past tense: heckled; past participle: heckled; gerund or
present participle: heckling
1.
interrupt (a public speaker) with derisive or aggressive comments or abuse.
"he was booed and heckled when he tried to address the demonstrators"
synonyms: jeer, taunt, jibe at, shout down, shout at, boo, hiss, disrupt, interrupt, harass; shout
catcalls at; barrack; informalgive someone a hard time
"he was booed and heckled when he tried to address the demonstrators"
antonyms: cheer
2.
dress (flax or hemp) to split and straighten the fibres for spinning.
"hemp was heckled and spun into rope yarn"
noun
noun: heckle; plural noun: heckles
1.
a heckling comment.
"heckles of ‘Get stuffed!’"
Origin

Middle English (in heckle (sense 2 of the verb)): from heckle ‘flax comb’, a northern and eastern
form of hackle. The sense ‘interrupt (a public speaker) with aggressive comments’ arose in the mid
17th century; for the development in sense, compare with tease.
horrendous
/hɒˈrɛndəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: horrendous
extremely unpleasant, horrifying, or terrible.
"she suffered horrendous injuries"
synonyms: horrible, dreadful, horrifying, horrific, frightful, fearful, awful, terrible, shocking,
appalling, hideous, grim, grisly, ghastly, harrowing, gruesome, heinous, vile, nightmarish, macabre,
unspeakable, hair-raising, spine-chilling; loathsome, monstrous, abhorrent, detestable, hateful,
execrable, abominable, atrocious, sickening, nauseating
"she suffered horrendous injuries"
Origin

mid 17th century: from Latin horrendus (gerundive of horrere ‘(of hair) stand on end’) + -ous.

indelible
/ɪnˈdɛlɪb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: indelible
(of ink or a pen) making marks that cannot be removed.
"an indelible marker pen"
synonyms: ineradicable, inerasable, ineffaceable, unexpungeable, indestructible, permanent,
lasting, persisting, enduring, stubborn, ingrained, unfading, imperishable; unforgettable, haunting,
memorable, not/never to be forgotten
"indelible ink"
antonyms: erasable
not able to be forgotten.
"the story made an indelible impression on me"
synonyms: ineradicable, inerasable, ineffaceable, unexpungeable, indestructible, permanent,
lasting, persisting, enduring, stubborn, ingrained, unfading, imperishable; unforgettable, haunting,
memorable, not/never to be forgotten
"indelible ink"
antonyms: erasable
Origin
late 15th century (as indeleble ): from French, or from Latin indelebilis, from in- ‘not’ + delebilis
(from delere ‘efface, delete’). The ending was altered under the influence of -ible.
inducement
/ɪnˈdjuːsm(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: inducement; plural noun: inducements
a thing that persuades or leads someone to do something.
"companies were prepared to build only in return for massive inducements"
synonyms: incentive, attraction, encouragement, temptation, incitement, stimulation,
stimulus, bait, lure, pull, draw, spur, goad, impetus, motive, motivation, provocation; bribe, reward;
informalcarrot, come-on, sweetener, perk; raredouceur
"shopkeepers began offering free gifts as an inducement to trade"
antonyms: deterrent
a bribe.
"it is claimed that she was offered an inducement to plead guilty"
hermetic
/həːˈmɛtɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: hermetic; adjective: Hermetic
1.
(of a seal or closure) complete and airtight.
"a hermetic seal that ensures perfect waterproofing"
synonyms: airtight, tight, sealed, shut; watertight, waterproof
"a hermetic seal that ensures perfect waterproofing"
insulated or protected from outside influences.
"a hermetic society"
2.
relating to an ancient occult tradition encompassing alchemy, astrology, and theosophy.
"some saw in the Hermetic texts an anticipation of Christianity"
difficult to understand because intended for a small number of people with specialized knowledge.
"obscure and hermetic poems"
Origin
hobble
/ˈhɒb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: hobble; 3rd person present: hobbles; past tense: hobbled; past participle: hobbled; gerund or
present participle: hobbling
1.
walk in an awkward way, typically because of pain from an injury.
"he was hobbling around on crutches"
synonyms: limp, walk with a limp, walk with difficulty, move unsteadily, walk unevenly, walk
lamely, walk haltingly; shuffle, shamble, falter, totter, dodder, stagger, stumble, reel, lurch; hirple
"he was hobbling around on crutches"
antonyms: stride
2.
tie or strap together (the legs of a horse or other animal) to prevent it from straying.
cause (a person or animal) to limp.
"Johnson was still hobbled slightly by an ankle injury"
restrict the activity or development of.
"the economy was hobbled by rising oil prices"
noun
noun: hobble; plural noun: hobbles
1.
an awkward way of walking, typically due to pain from an injury.
"he finished the match almost reduced to a hobble"
2.
a rope or strap used for hobbling a horse or other animal.
Origin

Middle English: probably of Dutch or Low German origin and related to Dutch hobbelen ‘rock from
side to side’. hobble (sense 2 of the verb) is a variant of hopple..

immolate
/ˈɪməleɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: immolate; 3rd person present: immolates; past tense: immolated; past participle: immolated;
gerund or present participle: immolating
kill or offer as a sacrifice, especially by burning.
"Chinese kings would immolate vast numbers of animals"
synonyms: sacrifice, offer up, offer as a sacrifice, kill as a sacrifice; kill, slaughter, burn
"in the old days, the priests used to immolate their sacrifices at the shrine"

jamboree
/ˌdʒambəˈriː/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: jamboree; plural noun: jamborees
1.
a large celebration or party, typically a lavish and boisterous one.
"the film industry's annual jamboree in Cannes"
synonyms: rally, gathering, get-together, convention, conference; festival, fete, fiesta, gala,
party, carnival, celebration; informalbash, shindig, shindy, jolly, junket
"the world Scout jamboree"
2.
a large rally of Scouts or Guides.
synonyms: rally, gathering, get-together, convention, conference; festival, fete, fiesta, gala,
party, carnival, celebration; informalbash, shindig, shindy, jolly, junket
"the world Scout jamboree"
knead
/niːd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: knead; 3rd person present: kneads; past tense: kneaded; past participle: kneaded; gerund or
present participle: kneading
work (moistened flour or clay) into dough or paste with the hands.
make (bread or pottery) by kneading flour or clay.
synonyms: pummel, work, pound, squeeze, wring, twist, crush, form, shape, mould, mix, blend;
raremalaxate
"turn the dough on to a floured board and knead"
massage or squeeze with the hands.
"she kneaded his back"
synonyms: massage, press, manipulate, palpate, rub, handle, stroke, feel
"she put her hands on his shoulders and kneaded the base of his neck"
impairment
/ɪmˈpɛːm(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: impairment; plural noun: impairments
the state or fact of being impaired, especially in a specified faculty.
"a degree of physical or mental impairment"

lanky
/ˈlaŋki/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: lanky; comparative adjective: lankier; superlative adjective: lankiest
(of a person) ungracefully thin and tall.
synonyms: tall, thin, slender, slim, lean, lank, skinny, spindly, spare, gangling, gangly, scrawny,
skeletal, scraggy, emaciated, size-zero, bony, gaunt, raw-boned, gawky, rangy, skin-and-bones,
angular, pinched, attenuated; informalweedy
"a pale-skinned, lanky youth"
antonyms: short, fat, stocky
intertwine
/ɪntəˈtwʌɪn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: intertwine; 3rd person present: intertwines; past tense: intertwined; past participle:
intertwined; gerund or present participle: intertwining
twist or twine together.
"a net made of cotton intertwined with other natural fibres"
synonyms: entwine, interweave, interlace, interthread, interwind, intertwist, twist, coil, twirl,
ravel, lace, braid, plait, knit; rareconvolute
"a wreath of laurel, intertwined with daffodils"
connect or link (two or more things) closely.
"as with most traditions, fact and fiction have become inextricably intertwined"

jack1
/dʒak/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: jack; plural noun: jacks; noun: jack socket; plural noun: jack sockets; noun: Jack
1.
a device for lifting heavy objects, especially one for raising the axle of a motor vehicle off the
ground so that a wheel can be changed or the underside inspected.
2.
a playing card bearing a representation of a soldier, page, or knave, normally ranking next below a
queen.
3.
a socket with two or more pairs of terminals designed to receive a jack plug.
4.
a small white ball in bowls, at which the players aim.
5.
a game played by tossing and catching small round pebbles or star-shaped pieces of metal or
plastic.
a pebble or piece of metal or plastic used in the game of jacks.
noun: jackstone; plural noun: jackstones
6.
INFORMAL
used to typify an ordinary man.
"he had that world-weary look of the working Jack who'd seen everything"
INFORMAL•US
used as a form of address to a man whose name is not known.
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
a lumberjack.
a detective or police officer.
ARCHAIC
a steeplejack.
the figure of a man striking the bell on a clock.
7.
a small version of a national flag flown at the bow of a vessel in harbour to indicate its nationality.
8.
INFORMAL•DATED
money.
9.
a device for turning a spit.
10.
a part of the mechanism in a spinet or harpsichord that connects a key to its corresponding string
and causes the string to be plucked when the key is pressed down.
11.
a marine fish that is typically laterally compressed with a row of large spiky scales along each side,
important in many places as food or game fish.
12.
the male of various animals, especially a merlin or ( US ) an ass.
13.
used in names of animals that are smaller than similar kinds, e.g. jack snipe.
14.
INFORMAL•US
short for jack shit.

incision
/ɪnˈsɪʒ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: incision; plural noun: incisions
a surgical cut made in skin or flesh.
"an abdominal incision"
synonyms: cut, opening, slit
"a surgical incision"
a mark or decoration cut into a surface.
"a block of marble delicately decorated with incisions"
synonyms: notch, nick, snick, scratch, scarification; gash, slash; archaicscotch
"the incisions were made on the underside of the jar"
the action or process of cutting into something.
"the method is associated with less blood loss during incision"
wanderlust
/ˈwɒndəlʌst/
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noun
noun: wanderlust
a strong desire to travel.
"a man consumed by wanderlust"

vow
/vaʊ/
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noun
noun: vow; plural noun: vows
1.
a solemn promise.
synonyms: oath, pledge, promise, bond, covenant, commitment, avowal, profession, sworn
statement, affirmation, attestation, assurance, word, word of honour, guarantee; archaictroth;
rareasseveration, averment
"the monks had taken a vow of silence"
a set of solemn promises committing one to a prescribed role, calling, or course of action, typically
to marriage or a monastic career.
"the vows of celibacy"
verb
verb: vow; 3rd person present: vows; past tense: vowed; past participle: vowed; gerund or present
participle: vowing
1.
solemnly promise to do a specified thing.
"the rebels vowed to continue fighting"
synonyms: swear, swear/state under oath, swear on the Bible, take an oath, pledge, promise,
affirm, avow, undertake, give an undertaking, engage, commit, commit oneself, make a
commitment, give one's word, give one's word of honour, give an assurance, guarantee; depose,
make a deposition, bind oneself; archaicplight, asseverate
"I vowed to do better"
2.
ARCHAIC
dedicate to someone or something, especially a deity.
"I vowed myself to this enterprise"
yearn
/jəːn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: yearn; 3rd person present: yearns; past tense: yearned; past participle: yearned; gerund or
present participle: yearning
have an intense feeling of longing for something, typically something that one has lost or been
separated from.
"she yearned for a glimpse of him"
synonyms: long, pine, crave, desire, want, want badly, wish, have/feel a longing, covet, lust,
pant, hunger, thirst, ache, be aching, itch, be itching; hanker after, dream of, fancy, have one's
heart set on, be bent on, eat one's heart out over; informalhave a yen, yen, be dying; archaicbe
athirst for, be desirous; raresuspire for
"she yearned to be with him"
ARCHAIC
be filled with compassion or warm feeling.
"no fellow spirit yearned towards her"

verily
/ˈvɛrɪli/
Learn to pronounce
adverbARCHAIC
adverb: verily
truly; certainly.
"verily these men are mad"
treason
/ˈtriːz(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: treason; noun: high treason; plural noun: high treasons
the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign or
government.
"they were convicted of treason"
synonyms: treachery, lese-majesty; disloyalty, betrayal, faithlessness, perfidy, perfidiousness,
duplicity, infidelity; sedition, subversion, mutiny, rebellion; high treason; rarePunic faith
antonyms: allegiance, loyalty
the action of betraying someone or something.
plural noun: treasons
"doubt is the ultimate treason against faith"
synonyms: treachery, lese-majesty; disloyalty, betrayal, faithlessness, perfidy, perfidiousness,
duplicity, infidelity; sedition, subversion, mutiny, rebellion; high treason; rarePunic faith
antonyms: allegiance, loyalty
HISTORICAL
the crime of murdering someone to whom the murderer owed allegiance, such as a master or
husband.
noun: petty treason; plural noun: petty treasons
tormentor
/tɔːˈmɛntə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tormentor; plural noun: tormentors
a person who inflicts severe mental or physical suffering on someone.
"they help victims of domestic violence escape their tormentors"
tenement
/ˈtɛnəm(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tenement; plural noun: tenements
1.
(especially in Scotland or the US) a room or a set of rooms forming a separate residence within a
house or block of flats.
a house divided into and let as separate residences.
noun: tenement house; plural noun: tenement houses
2.
a piece of land held by an owner.
LAW
any kind of permanent property, e.g. lands or rents, held from a superior.

tempestuous
/tɛmˈpɛstjʊəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: tempestuous
1.
characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion.
"he had a reckless and tempestuous streak"
synonyms: turbulent, stormy, tumultuous, violent, wild, lively, heated, explosive, uncontrolled,
unrestrained, feverish, hysterical, frenetic, frenzied, frantic
"the increasingly tempestuous political environment"
emotional, passionate, intense, impassioned, fiery, temperamental;
volatile, excitable, mercurial, capricious, unpredictable, erratic, hot-tempered, quick-tempered
"a tempestuous teenager who threw tantrums at the drop of a hat"
antonyms: peaceful, placid, calm
2.
very stormy.
"a tempestuous wind"
synonyms: stormy, blustery, squally, wild, turbulent, windy, gusty, blowy, rainy, thundery,
rough, choppy; More
antonyms: calm, fine, peaceful
tawdry
/ˈtɔːdri/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: tawdry; comparative adjective: tawdrier; superlative adjective: tawdriest
1.
showy but cheap and of poor quality.
"tawdry jewellery"
synonyms: gaudy, flashy, showy, garish, loud; tasteless, vulgar, brash, crass, rubbishy, trashy,
junky, cheap, cheap and nasty, cheapjack, paltry, worthless, shoddy, shabby, meretricious, plastic,
tinselly, gimcrack, Brummagem; informalflash, tatty, tacky, kitsch; informaltwopenny-halfpenny
"she had cheap, tawdry rings on her fingers"
antonyms: tasteful, refined
sordid or unpleasant.
"the tawdry business of politics"
nounARCHAIC
noun: tawdry
1.
cheap and gaudy finery.

temerity
/tɪˈmɛrɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: temerity
excessive confidence or boldness; audacity.
"no one had the temerity to question his conclusions"
synonyms: audacity, boldness, audaciousness, nerve, effrontery, impudence, impertinence,
cheek, barefaced cheek, gall, presumption, presumptuousness, brazenness, forwardness, front,
rashness; More
antonyms: shyness, bashfulness
succour
/ˈsʌkə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: succor
1.
assistance and support in times of hardship and distress.
"the wounded had little chance of succour"
synonyms: aid, help, a helping hand, assistance; ministration, comfort, ease, relief, support,
guidance, backing; rareeasement
"they provide shelter and succour in times of need"
ARCHAIC
reinforcements of troops.
plural noun: succours; plural noun: succors
verb
verb: succor
1.
give assistance or aid to.
"prisoners of war were liberated and succoured"
synonyms: help, aid, bring aid to, give help to, give/render assistance to, assist, lend a (helping)
hand to, be of service to; minister to, care for, comfort, bring comfort to, bring relief to, support, be
supportive of, sustain, protect, take care of, look after, attend to, serve, wait on
"the Navy was unable to succour colonies in Africa"

subterfuge
/ˈsʌbtəfjuːdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: subterfuge; plural noun: subterfuges
deceit used in order to achieve one's goal.
"he had to use subterfuge and bluff on many occasions"
synonyms: trickery, intrigue, deviousness, evasion, deceit, deception, dishonesty, cheating,
duplicity, guile, cunning, craft, craftiness, slyness, chicanery, bluff, pretence, fraud, fraudulence,
sophistry, sharp practice; informalmonkey business, funny business, hanky-panky, jiggery-pokery,
kidology, every trick in the book; informalcodology
"journalists should not use subterfuge to gain admission to people's homes"
trick, hoax, ruse, wile, ploy, stratagem, artifice, dodge, bluff, manoeuvre, machination, pretext,
pretence, expedient, tactic, intrigue, scheme, deception, fraud, masquerade, blind, smokescreen,
sleight, stunt, game;
informalcon, racket, scam, caper;
informalwheeze;
informallurk;
archaicshift
"a disreputable subterfuge"
antonyms: honesty, openness
squirm
/skwəːm/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: squirm; 3rd person present: squirms; past tense: squirmed; past participle: squirmed; gerund
or present participle: squirming
1.
wriggle or twist the body from side to side, especially as a result of nervousness or discomfort.
"he looked uncomfortable and squirmed in his chair"
synonyms: wriggle, wiggle, writhe, twist, slide, slither, turn, shift, fidget, jiggle, twitch, thresh,
flounder, flail, toss and turn; agonize
"I tried to squirm away"
show or feel embarrassment or shame.
"he squirmed as he recalled the phrases he had used"
noun
noun: squirm; plural noun: squirms
1.
a wriggling movement.
"the toddler gave a sudden squirm"

mendacity
/mɛnˈdasəti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: mendacity
untruthfulness.
"people publicly castigated for past mendacity"
synonyms: lying, untruthfulness, dishonesty, deceit, deceitfulness, deception, dissembling,
insincerity, disingenuousness, hypocrisy, fraud, fraudulence, double-dealing, two-timing, duplicity,
perjury, perfidy; untruth, fictitiousness, falsity, falsehood, falseness, fallaciousness, hollowness;
informalkidology; informalcodology; humorouseconomy with the truth, terminological
inexactitude; rareunveracity
minuscule
/ˈmɪnəskjuːl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: miniscule
1.
extremely small; tiny.
"a minuscule fragment of DNA"
synonyms: tiny, minute, microscopic, nanoscopic, very small, little, micro, diminutive,
miniature, baby, toy, midget, dwarf, pygmy, Lilliputian, infinitesimal; wee; informalteeny, teeny-
weeny, teensy, teensy-weensy, weeny, itsy-bitsy, itty-bitty, eensy, eensy-weensy, tiddly;
informaltitchy; informallittle-bitty
"the newsroom was minuscule, not much more than a cubbyhole"
antonyms: vast, huge
INFORMAL
so small as to be insignificant.
"he believed the risk of infection was minuscule"
2.
of or in lower-case letters, as distinct from capitals or uncials.
of or in a small cursive script of the Roman alphabet, with ascenders and descenders, developed in
the 7th century AD.
noun
noun: miniscule
1.
minuscule script.
"the humanistic hands of the 15th century were based on the Carolingian minuscule"
a small or lower-case letter.
plural noun: minuscules
paladin
/ˈpalədɪn/
Learn to pronounce
nounHISTORICAL
noun: paladin; plural noun: paladins
any of the twelve peers of Charlemagne's court, of whom the Count Palatine was the chief.
a knight renowned for heroism and chivalry.
parvenu
/ˈpɑːvənuː,ˈpɑːvənjuː/
Learn to pronounce
nounDEROGATORY
noun: parvenu; plural noun: parvenus; noun: parvenue; plural noun: parvenues
a person of humble origin who has gained wealth, influence, or celebrity.
"the political inexperience of a parvenu"
synonyms: upstart, social climber, arriviste, vulgarian; the nouveau riche, the new rich
puerile
/ˈpjʊərʌɪl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: puerile
childishly silly and immature.
"a puerile argument"
synonyms: childish, immature, infantile, juvenile, adolescent, babyish; silly, inane, fatuous,
jejune, asinine, foolish, petty
"it was the cause of many a puerile pub argument"
antonyms: mature, sensible
raiment
/ˈreɪm(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
nounARCHAIC•LITERARY
noun: raiment; plural noun: raiments
clothing.
"ladies clothed in raiment bedecked with jewels"

kudos
/ˈkjuːdɒs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: kudos
praise and honour received for an achievement.
"she was looking for kudos rather than profit"
synonyms: prestige, cachet, glory, honour, status, standing, distinction, prestigiousness, fame,
celebrity, reputation, repute, renown, notability; admiration, respect, esteem, acclaim,
acclamation, applause, praise, credit, approbation, tribute
"much kudos is attached to the position"
antonyms: obscurity, infamy
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
compliments or congratulations.
plural noun: kudos
"kudos to everyone who put the event together"

odoriferous
/ˌəʊdəˈrɪf(ə)rəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: odoriferous
having or giving off a smell, especially an unpleasant one.
"an odoriferous pile of fish".
posterity
/pɒˈstɛrɪti/
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noun
noun: posterity
all future generations of people.
"the victims' names are recorded for posterity"
synonyms: future generations, succeeding generations, those who come after us; the future
"the names of those who died are recorded for posterity on a framed scroll"
ARCHAIC
the descendants of a person.
"God offered Abraham a posterity like the stars of heaven"
synonyms: descendants, heirs, successors, offspring, children, family, progeny, scions; issue;
archaicseed
"God appeared to Abraham with a promise that his posterity should inhabit the land"
skulduggery
/skʌlˈdʌɡ(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: skullduggery
underhand, unscrupulous, or dishonest behaviour or activities.
"a firm that investigates commercial skulduggery"
synonyms: trickery, swindling, fraudulence, double-dealing, sharp practice, unscrupulousness,
underhandedness, chicanery, machinations; informalshenanigans, funny business, hanky-panky,
monkey business; informalmonkey tricks, jiggery-pokery; informalmonkeyshines
"there is no evidence to support any allegations of skulduggery"
turpitude
/ˈtəːpɪtjuːd/
Learn to pronounce
nounFORMAL
noun: turpitude
depraved or wicked behaviour or character.
"acts of moral turpitude"
synonyms: wickedness, immorality, depravity, corruption, corruptness, vice, degeneracy, evil,
baseness, iniquity, sinfulness, vileness; rarenefariousness, flagitiousness
"acts of moral turpitude"
antonyms: virtue, honour
drudgery
/ˈdrʌdʒəri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: drudgery
hard menial or dull work.
"domestic drudgery"
synonyms: hard work, menial work, donkey work, toil, toiling, labour, hard/sweated labour,
chores, plodding; slavery; informalskivvying, grind, slog; informalgraft; informal(hard) yakka;
archaictravail, moil
"a life of domestic drudgery"
antonyms: relaxation
detente
/deɪˈtɑːnt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: detente; plural noun: detentes; noun: détente; plural noun: détentes
the easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries.
"his policy of arms control and detente with the Soviet Union"
volte-face
/vɒltˈfas,vɒltˈfɑːs/
noun
noun: volte-face; plural noun: volte-faces
1.
an act of turning round so as to face in the opposite direction.
2.
an abrupt and complete reversal of attitude, opinion, or position.
"a remarkable volte-face on taxes"
proscenium
/prə(ʊ)ˈsiːnɪəm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: proscenium; plural noun: proscenia; plural noun: prosceniums
the part of a theatre stage in front of the curtain.
the stage of an ancient theatre.
short for proscenium arch.
extravaganza
/ɪkˌstravəˈɡanzə,ɛkˌstravəˈɡanzə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: extravaganza; plural noun: extravaganzas
an elaborate and spectacular entertainment or production.
"an extravaganza of dance in many forms"
synonyms: spectacular, display, spectacle, exhibition, performance, presentation, show,
pageant
"a live extravaganza featuring a host of stars"
maniac
/ˈmeɪnɪak/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: maniac; plural noun: maniacs
a person exhibiting extremely wild or violent behaviour.
"when he sits in front of a PlayStation he transforms into a karate-choppin' maniac"
INFORMAL
an obsessive enthusiast.
"a religious maniac"
synonyms: enthusiast, fan, addict, devotee, aficionado; informalfreak, fiend, nut, buff
"a football maniac"
ARCHAIC•PSYCHIATRY
a person suffering from mania.
synonyms: lunatic, madman, madwoman, mad person, deranged person, psychopath,
psychotic; informalloony, fruitcake, nut, nutter, nutcase, nutjob, cuckoo, psycho, screwball, head
case, headbanger, sicko; informalradge; informalcrazy, kook, meshuggener, nutso; informalwing
nut
"a homicidal maniac"

miscreant
/ˈmɪskrɪənt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: miscreant; plural noun: miscreants
1.
a person who has done something wrong or unlawful.
"the police are straining every nerve to bring the miscreants to justice"
synonyms: criminal, culprit, wrongdoer, malefactor, offender, villain, black hat, lawbreaker,
evil-doer, convict, delinquent, sinner, transgressor, outlaw, trespasser, scoundrel, wretch,
reprobate, rogue, rascal; malfeasant, misfeasor
"the village stocks, where miscreants of olden days were pelted with rotten garbage"
ARCHAIC
a heretic.
adjective
adjective: miscreant
1.
(of a person) behaving badly or unlawfully.
"her miscreant husband"
ARCHAIC
heretical.
flummoxed
/ˈflʌməkst/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: flummoxed
bewildered or perplexed.
"he became flummoxed and speechless"
flummox
/ˈflʌməks/
Learn to pronounce
verbINFORMAL
past tense: flummoxed; past participle: flummoxed
perplex (someone) greatly; bewilder.
"I was completely flummoxed by the whole thing"
synonyms: baffle, bewilder, mystify, bemuse, perplex, puzzle, confuse, confound, nonplus,
disconcert, throw, throw off balance, disorientate, take aback, set thinking; informalbamboozle,
discombobulate, faze, stump, beat, fox, make someone scratch their head, be all Greek to, make
someone's head spin, floor, fog; informalbuffalo; archaicwilder, gravel, maze, cause to be at a
stand, distract, pose; rareobfuscate
"Linear B script had flummoxed generations of academics"
baffled, bewildered, mystified, bemused, perplexed, puzzled, confused, confounded, nonplussed,
disconcerted, thrown, thrown off balance, at sea, at a loss, disorientated, taken aback;
informalbamboozled, discombobulated, fazed, stumped, beat, foxed, floored;
informalbushed;
archaicwildered, distracted, mazed
"I was flummoxed until I remembered something"

lassitude
/ˈlasɪtjuːd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: lassitude
a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy.
"she was overcome by lassitude and retired to bed"
synonyms: lethargy, listlessness, weariness, languor, sluggishness, enervation, tiredness,
exhaustion, fatigue, sleepiness, drowsiness, torpor, torpidity, ennui, lifelessness, sloth, apathy
"prolonged periods of lassitude which she ascribed to the heat"
antonyms: vigour, energy
shambles
/ˈʃamb(ə)lz/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: shambles
1.
INFORMAL
a state of total disorder.
"my career was in a shambles"
synonyms: chaos, mess, muddle, confusion, disorder, disarray, disorganization, havoc, mare's
nest; informaldog's dinner, dog's breakfast, omnishambles, car crash
"he called an emergency summit of ED leaders to sort out the shambles"
complete mess, pigsty;
pigpen;
informaldisaster area;
informaltip
"the room was a shambles"
2.
a butcher's slaughterhouse (archaic except in place names).
"the shambles where the animals were slaughtered"
shamble
/ˈʃamb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
3rd person present: shambles
(of a person) move with a slow, shuffling, awkward gait.
"he shambled off down the corridor"
synonyms: shuffle, lumber, totter, dodder, stumble; scuff/drag one's feet; hobble, limp
"he shambled off down the corridor"
ungainly, lumbering, shuffling, awkward, clumsy, uncoordinated, heavy-footed
"a big, shambling bear of a man"
antonyms: run, sprint, bound, dapper, neat, trim, petite
juggernaut
/ˈdʒʌɡənɔːt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a huge, powerful, and overwhelming force.
"the juggernaut of public expenditure"
BRITISH
a large, heavy vehicle, especially an articulated lorry.
noun: juggernaut; plural noun: juggernauts
"the juggernaut thundered through the countryside"
lackadaisical
/ˌlakəˈdeɪzɪk(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: lackadaisical
lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy.
"a lackadaisical defence left Spurs adrift in the second half"
synonyms: careless, lazy, lax, unenthusiastic, half-hearted, uninterested, lukewarm, indifferent,
uncaring, unconcerned, casual, offhand, blasé, insouciant, leisurely, relaxed; apathetic, languid,
languorous, lethargic, limp, listless, sluggish, enervated, spiritless, aimless, bloodless, torpid,
passionless, idle, indolent, shiftless, inert, impassive, feeble; informallaid back, couldn't-care-less,
easy going, slap-happy; vulgar slanghalf-arsed; rareLaodicean, pococurante
"I was lackadaisical about my training"
antonyms: enthusiastic, excited
resuscitate
/rɪˈsʌsɪteɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: resuscitate; 3rd person present: resuscitates; past tense: resuscitated; past participle:
resuscitated; gerund or present participle: resuscitating
revive (someone) from unconsciousness or apparent death.
"an ambulance crew tried to resuscitate him"
synonyms: bring round, revive, bring back, bring (back) to life, bring someone (back) to their
senses, bring back to consciousness, rescue, save, bring back from the edge of death; give artificial
respiration to, give the kiss of life to, give cardiac massage to, defibrillate
"medics tried to resuscitate him"
make (something) active or vigorous again.
"measures to resuscitate the ailing economy"
synonyms: revive, resurrect, restore, regenerate, revitalize, breathe new life into, give the kiss
of life to, give a new lease of life to, reinvigorate, renew, awaken, wake up, rejuvenate, stimulate,
re-establish, reinstitute, relaunch; archaicrenovate
"measures to resuscitate the economy"
sanctimonious
/ˌsaŋ(k)tɪˈməʊnɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveDEROGATORY
adjective: sanctimonious
making a show of being morally superior to other people.
"what happened to all the sanctimonious talk about putting his family first?"
synonyms: self-righteous, holier-than-thou, churchy, pious, pietistic, moralizing, unctuous,
smug, superior, priggish, mealy-mouthed, hypocritical, insincere, for form's sake, to keep up
appearances; informalgoody-goody, pi; rarereligiose, Pharisaic, Pharisaical, Tartuffian
"one tries to set a bit of an example, if that's not too sanctimonious"
sully
/ˈsʌli/
Learn to pronounce
verbLITERARY
verb: sully; 3rd person present: sullies; past tense: sullied; past participle: sullied; gerund or present
participle: sullying
damage the purity or integrity of.
"they were outraged that anyone should sully their good name"
synonyms: taint, defile, soil, tarnish, stain, blemish, besmirch, befoul, contaminate, pollute,
spoil, mar, spot, make impure, disgrace, dishonour, injure, damage
"he never sullied his lips with swear words"
antonyms: purify
make dirty.
"she wondered if she dared sully the gleaming sink"
enrapture
/ɪnˈraptʃə,ɛnˈraptʃə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: enrapture; 3rd person present: enraptures; past tense: enraptured; past participle:
enraptured; gerund or present participle: enrapturing
give intense pleasure or joy to.
"Ruth was enraptured by the sleeping child"
synonyms: delight, give great pleasure to, give joy to, please greatly, charm, enchant,
captivate, enthral, entrance, bewitch, beguile, transport, ravish, thrill, excite, exhilarate, intoxicate,
take someone's breath away; gladden, gratify, appeal to, do one's heart good, entertain, amuse,
divert; informalgive someone a buzz, give someone a kick, tickle someone pink, bowl someone
over, turn someone on, send; informalgive someone a charge
"all of us in the theatre were enraptured by the music"
antonyms: repel
finicky
/ˈfɪnɪki/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: finicky; comparative adjective: finickier; superlative adjective: finickiest
(of a person) fussy about their needs or requirements.
"a finicky eater"
synonyms: fussy, fastidious, punctilious, over-particular, hard to please, overcritical, difficult,
awkward, exacting, demanding, perfectionist; pass-remarkable; informalpicky, choosy, pernickety;
informalpersnickety; archaicnice
"these intellectuals with their fancy words and finicky manners"
showing or requiring great attention to detail.
"his finicky copperplate hand"
discerning
/dɪˈsəːnɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: discerning
having or showing good judgement.
"the brasserie attracts discerning customers"
synonyms: discriminating, selective, judicious, tasteful, refined, cultivated, cultured,
sophisticated, enlightened, sensitive, subtle, critical; perceptive, insightful, percipient,
perspicacious, penetrating; astute, shrewd, ingenious, clever, intelligent, sharp, wise, erudite,
aware, knowing, sagacious; raresapient
"we have some real treasures for the discerning collector"
antonyms: undiscerning, indiscriminate
discern
/dɪˈsəːn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: discerning
recognize or find out.
"I can discern no difference between the two policies"
distinguish (someone or something) with difficulty by sight or with the other senses.
"she could faintly discern the shape of a skull"
synonyms: perceive, make out, pick out, detect, recognize, notice, observe, see, spot; identify,
determine, distinguish, differentiate, discriminate, tell apart; become cognizant of, become aware
of, become conscious of; literarydescry, espy
"in the dim light he could discern a handful of ghostly figures"
antonyms: overlook, miss
Origin

falter
/ˈfɔːltə,ˈfɒltə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: falter; 3rd person present: falters; past tense: faltered; past participle: faltered; gerund or
present participle: faltering
lose strength or momentum.
"the music faltered, stopped, and started up again"
synonyms: hesitate, delay, drag one's feet, stall, think twice, get cold feet, change one's mind,
waver, oscillate, fluctuate, vacillate, be undecided, be indecisive, be irresolute, see-saw, yo-yo;
haver, hum and haw; informalsit on the fence, dilly-dally, shilly-shally, pussyfoot around, blow hot
and cold; raretergiversate
"when war seemed imminent the government faltered"
speak hesitantly.
"‘A-Adam?’ he faltered"
synonyms: stammer, stutter, stumble, speak haltingly, hesitate, pause, halt, splutter, flounder,
blunder, fumble
"she faltered over his name"
move unsteadily or hesitantly.
"he faltered and finally stopped in mid-stride"
fancier
/ˈfansɪə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fancier; plural noun: fanciers
a connoisseur or enthusiast of something, especially someone who has a special interest in or
breeds a particular animal.
"a pigeon fancier"
synonyms: enthusiast, devotee, hobbyist, lover, addict, fan, fanatic; expert, connoisseur,
aficionado; breeder; informalbuff, fiend, freak, bug, nut, maniac, junkie
"a keen pigeon fancier"
fancy
/ˈfansi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
comparative adjective: fancier
1.
elaborate in structure or decoration.
"the furniture was very fancy"
sophisticated or expensive in a way that is intended to impress.
"fancy hotels and restaurants"
synonyms: elaborate, ornate, ornamented, ornamental, decorated, decorative, adorned,
embellished, intricate, baroque, rococo, fussy, busy; ostentatious, showy, flamboyant, gaudy;
luxurious, sumptuous, lavish, extravagant, expensive, deluxe, select, superior, high-class, quality,
prime; informalflash, flashy, fancy-pants, jazzy, ritzy, glitzy, snazzy, posh, classy, over the top, OTT;
informalswish
"he is too hard up to buy fancy clothes"
antonyms: plain, unobtrusive
NORTH AMERICAN
(especially of foodstuffs) of high quality.
"fancy molasses"
(of a flower) of two or more colours.
"all pelargoniums, from scented-leaf species to fancy hybrids, thrive in hot sunshine"
(of an animal) bred to develop particular points of appearance.
"fancy goldfish"
2.
ARCHAIC
(of a drawing, painting, or sculpture) created from the imagination rather than from life.
"I used to take a seat and busy myself in sketching fancy vignettes"
lopsided
/lɒpˈsʌɪdɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: lopsided; adjective: lop-sided
with one side lower or smaller than the other.
"a lopsided grin"
synonyms: asymmetrical, unsymmetrical, uneven, unevenly balanced, unbalanced, off-balance,
off-centre, unequal, askew, skew, skewed, squint, tilted, tilting, crooked, sloping, slanted, aslant,
one-sided, out of true, out of line, to one side, awry; informalskew-whiff, cock-eyed
"he gave a rather lopsided grin"
antonyms: even, level, balanced

malcontent
/ˈmalkəntɛnt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: malcontent; plural noun: malcontents
1.
a person who is dissatisfied and rebellious.
"it was too late to stop the malcontents with a show of force"
synonyms: troublemaker, mischief-maker, agitator, dissentient, dissident, rebel; discontent,
complainer, grumbler, moaner, fault-finder, carper; informalstirrer, grouch, grouser, griper,
nitpicker, bellyacher, beefer; informalwhinger; informalkvetch
"the trouble was caused by a group of malcontents"
adjective
adjective: malcontent
1.
dissatisfied and complaining or rebellious.
"the malcontent generals saw their role as leaders of this counter-revolution"
synonyms: disaffected, discontented, dissatisfied, disgruntled; fed up, restive, unhappy,
annoyed, irritated, displeased, vexed, peeved, piqued, put out, malcontented, resentful; rebellious,
dissentious, factious, troublemaking, grumbling, complaining, fault-finding, carping;
informalnitpicking, bellyaching; informalbrowned off, cheesed off, brassed off, not best pleased;
informalhacked off, teed off, ticked off; vulgar slangpissed off, peed off
"a malcontent employee"
antonyms: happy

mutilate
/ˈmjuːtɪleɪt/
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verb
verb: mutilate; 3rd person present: mutilates; past tense: mutilated; past participle: mutilated;
gerund or present participle: mutilating
inflict a violent and disfiguring injury on.
"most of the prisoners had been mutilated"
synonyms: mangle, maim, disfigure, cut to pieces, cut up, hack up, butcher, dismember, tear
limb from limb, tear apart, lacerate
"many of the bodies had been mutilated"
inflict serious damage on.
"the fine carved screen was mutilated in the 18th century"
synonyms: vandalize, damage, deface, spoil, mar, ruin, destroy, wreck, violate, desecrate;
informaltrash; raredisfeature
"the 14th-century carved screen had been mutilated"

ancillary
/anˈsɪləri/
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adjective
adjective: ancillary
1.
providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, system, etc.
"ancillary staff"
in addition to something else, but not as important.
"paragraph 19 was merely ancillary to paragraph 16"
synonyms: additional, auxiliary, supporting, helping, assisting, extra, supplementary,
supplemental, accessory, contributory, attendant; subsidiary, secondary, subordinate; adjuvant;
rareadminicular
"ancillary staff"
noun
noun: ancillary; plural noun: ancillaries
1.
a person whose work provides necessary support to the primary activities of an organization,
system, etc.
"the employment of specialist teachers and ancillaries"
something which functions in a supplementary or supporting role.
"undergraduate courses of three main subjects with related ancillaries"
anecdote
/ˈanɪkdəʊt/
 Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: anecdote; plural noun: anecdotes
a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.
"he told anecdotes about his job"
synonyms: story, tale, narrative, sketch; urban myth, urban legend; reminiscence;
informalyarn, shaggy-dog story
an account regarded as unreliable or hearsay.
"his wife's death has long been the subject of rumour and anecdote"
the depiction of a minor narrative incident in a painting.
"the use of inversions of hierarchy, anecdote, and paradox by Magritte, Dali, and others"
animus
/ˈanɪməs/
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noun
noun: animus
1.
hostility or ill feeling.
"the author's animus towards her"
2.
motivation to do something.
"the reformist animus came from within the Party"
3.
PSYCHOANALYSIS
(in Jungian psychology) the masculine part of a woman's personality.
anomalous
/əˈnɒm(ə)ləs/
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adjective
adjective: anomalous
deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected.
"an anomalous situation"
synonyms: abnormal, atypical, non-typical, irregular, aberrant, exceptional, freak, freakish,
odd, bizarre, peculiar, unusual, out of the ordinary, inconsistent, incongruous, deviant, deviating,
divergent, eccentric; rare, singular; informalbackasswards
"nuclear weapons testing may have been responsible for the anomalous weather conditions"
antonyms: normal, typical, regular
anticlimax
/antɪˈklʌɪmaks/
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noun
noun: anticlimax; plural noun: anticlimaxes; noun: anti-climax; plural noun: anti-climaxes
a disappointing end to an exciting or impressive series of events.
"the rest of the journey was an anticlimax by comparison"
synonyms: let-down, disappointment, comedown, non-event; disillusionment; bathos; damp
squib; informalwashout, not what it was cracked up to be
antonyms: triumph, climax
apiary
/ˈeɪpɪəri/
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noun
noun: apiary; plural noun: apiaries
a place where bees are kept; a collection of beehives.
apprehensive
/aprɪˈhɛnsɪv/
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adjective
adjective: apprehensive
1.
anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
"he felt apprehensive about going home"
synonyms: anxious, alarmed, worried, uneasy, nervous, concerned, agitated, restless, edgy, on
edge, fidgety, tense, strained, stressed, neurotic, panicky, afraid, scared, frightened, fearful,
terrified; informalon tenterhooks, trepidatious; informalstressy
"many of the pupils were very apprehensive about their first visit to the new school"
antonyms: confident
2.
RARE
relating to perception or understanding.
annex
verb
verb: annex; 3rd person present: annexes; past tense: annexed; past participle: annexed; gerund or
present participle: annexing
/əˈnɛks/
1.
add as an extra or subordinate part, especially to a document.
"the first ten amendments were annexed to the Constitution in 1791"
ARCHAIC
add or attach as a condition or consequence.
"extreme anointing hath neither ordinance of God to be grounded on, nor promise of grace
annexed"
synonyms: add, append, attach, join; informaltack on, tag on
"the first ten amendments were annexed to the constitution in 1791"
2.
add (territory) to one's own territory by appropriation.
"the left bank of the Rhine was annexed by France in 1797"
synonyms: take over, take possession of, appropriate, expropriate, arrogate, seize, conquer,
occupy, garrison; usurp
"Charlemagne annexed northern Italy, Saxony, and Bavaria"
antonyms: relinquish
noun
noun: annex; plural noun: annexes; noun: annexe
/ˈanɛks/
1.
a building joined to or associated with a main building, providing additional space or
accommodation.
"the school's one-storey wooden annex"
2.
an addition to a document.
"an annex to the report"
synonyms: extension, supplementary building, addition, annexe; wing; informalell
"a school annex"

animadversion
/ˌanɪmədˈvəːʃ(ə)n/
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nounFORMAL
noun: animadversion
criticism or censure.
"her animadversion against science"
a comment or remark, especially a critical one.
plural noun: animadversions
"animadversions that the poet receives quite humbly"
anodyne
/ˈanədʌɪn/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: anodyne
1.
not likely to cause offence or disagreement and somewhat dull.
"anodyne music"
synonyms: bland, inoffensive, innocuous, neutral, unobjectionable, unexceptionable,
unremarkable, commonplace, dull, tedious, run-of-the-mill
"she tried to keep the conversation as anodyne as possible"
noun
noun: anodyne; plural noun: anodynes
1.
a painkilling drug or medicine.
"she had even refused anodynes"
synonyms: painkiller, painkilling drug, analgesic, pain reliever, palliative
antagonism
/anˈtaɡ(ə)nɪz(ə)m/
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noun
noun: antagonism; plural noun: antagonisms
active hostility or opposition.
"the antagonism between them"
synonyms: hostility, friction, enmity, antipathy, animus, opposition, dissension, rivalry, feud,
conflict, discord, contention; acrimony, bitterness, rancour, resentment, aversion, dislike, ill feeling,
bad feeling, ill will, bad blood, hatred, hate, loathing, detestation, abhorrence, odium; malice, spite,
spitefulness, venom, malevolence, malignity; grudges, grievances; informalneedle; archaicdisrelish
"the overt antagonism between her and Susan"
antonyms: rapport, friendship

antiquated
/ˈantɪkweɪtɪd/
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adjective
adjective: antiquated
old-fashioned or outdated.
"this antiquated central heating system"
synonyms: outdated, out of date, outmoded, behind the times, old-fashioned, archaic,
anachronistic, superannuated, outworn, ancient, antediluvian, primitive, medieval, quaint, old-
fangled, obsolescent, obsolete, prehistoric; passé, démodé, vieux jeu; informalout of the ark,
fossilized, as old as the hills, creaky, clunky, mouldy; informalpast its/one's sell-by date;
informalantwacky; informalhorse and buggy, mossy
"antiquated attitudes"
antonyms: current, modern, up to date
aphasia
/əˈfeɪzɪə/
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nounMEDICINE
noun: aphasia
inability (or impaired ability) to understand or produce speech, as a result of brain damage.
antediluvian
/ˌantɪdɪˈluːvɪən/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: antediluvian
of or belonging to the time before the biblical Flood.
"gigantic bones of antediluvian animals"
synonyms: before the flood, prehistoric, primeval, primordial, primal, earliest, ancient, early;
rareprimigenial
"gigantic bones of antediluvian animals"
HUMOROUS
ridiculously old-fashioned.
"they maintain antediluvian sex-role stereotypes"
synonyms: out of date, outdated, outmoded, old-fashioned, ancient, antiquated, archaic,
antique, superannuated, anachronistic, outworn, behind the times, primitive, medieval, quaint, old-
fangled, obsolescent, obsolete, prehistoric; More
antonyms: modern, up to date

aphorism
/ˈafərɪz(ə)m/
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noun
noun: aphorism; plural noun: aphorisms
a pithy observation which contains a general truth.
"the old aphorism ‘the child is father to the man’"
synonyms: saying, maxim, axiom, adage, precept, epigram, epigraph, dictum, gnome, pearl of
wisdom, proverb, saw, tag, motto; expression, phrase, formula; rareapophthegm
a concise statement of a scientific principle, typically by a classical author.
"the opening sentence of the first aphorism of Hippocrates"
apothem
/ˈapəθɛm/
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nounGEOMETRY
noun: apothem; plural noun: apothems
a line from the centre of a regular polygon at right angles to any of its sides.

appellation1
/ˌapəˈleɪʃ(ə)n/
nounFORMAL
noun: appellation; plural noun: appellations
a name or title.
"the city fully justifies its appellation ‘the Pearl of the Orient’"
synonyms: name, title, designation, denomination, honorific, tag, epithet, label, sobriquet,
byname, nickname; informalmoniker, handle; formalcognomen
"the city fully justifies its appellation ‘the Pearl of the Orient’"
the action of giving a name to someone or something.
append
/əˈpɛnd/
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verb
verb: append; 3rd person present: appends; past tense: appended; past participle: appended;
gerund or present participle: appending
add (something) to the end of a written document.
"the results of the survey are appended to this chapter"
synonyms: add, attach, affix, adjoin, include, put in/on; informaltack on, tag on; formalsubjoin,
conjoin
"the head teacher has the right to append comments to the final report"

appurtenance
/əˈpəːt(ɪ)nəns/
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noun
noun: appurtenance; plural noun: appurtenances
an accessory or other item associated with a particular activity or style of living.
"the appurtenances of consumer culture"
synonyms: accessories, trappings, appendages, accoutrements, extras, additions, adjuncts,
conveniences, incidentals; equipment, paraphernalia, impedimenta, belongings, bits and pieces;
informalthings, stuff
"the corrupting appurtenances of modern civilization"

aquiline
/ˈakwɪlʌɪn/
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adjective
adjective: aquiline
like an eagle.
(of a person's nose) hooked or curved like an eagle's beak.
synonyms: hooked, curved, hook-shaped, hooklike, bent, bowed, angular; technicalfalcate,
falciform
"he had an aquiline nose"
antonyms: straight
argot
/ˈɑːɡəʊ/
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noun
noun: argot; plural noun: argots
the jargon or slang of a particular group or class.
"teenage argot"
synonyms: jargon, slang, idiom, cant, dialect, parlance, patter, speech, vernacular, patois,
terminology, language, tongue, -speak; informallingo, geekspeak
"the argot of CB radio"
aria
/ˈɑːrɪə/
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nounMUSIC
noun: aria; plural noun: arias
a long accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio.
arraign
/əˈreɪn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: arraign; 3rd person present: arraigns; past tense: arraigned; past participle: arraigned; gerund
or present participle: arraigning
call or bring (someone) before a court to answer a criminal charge.
"her sister was arraigned on charges of attempted murder"
synonyms: indict, prosecute, put on trial, bring to trial; denounce, sue, take to court, bring an
action against, lay charges against, file charges against, prefer charges against, summons, cite;
accuse of, charge with; impeach; informalhave the law on, do; archaicinculpate
"he was arraigned for murder"
antonyms: clear, acquit
find fault with; censure.
"social workers were relieved it was not they who were arraigned in the tabloids"
synonyms: criticize, censure, attack, condemn, castigate, chastise, lambaste, pillory, find fault
with, reprimand, rebuke, admonish, remonstrate with, take to task, haul over the coals, berate,
reproach, reprove; informalknock, slam, hammer, lay into, roast, give someone a roasting, cane,
blast, bawl out, dress down, rap over the knuckles, give someone hell; informalcarpet, slate, slag
off, monster, rollick, give someone a rollicking, give someone a rocket, tear someone off a strip;
informalchew out, ream out, pummel, cut up; informalbag; datedrate; archaicslash; rareexcoriate,
objurgate, reprehend
"the soldiers bitterly arraigned the government for failing to keep its word"
antonyms: praise
array
/əˈreɪ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: array; plural noun: arrays
1.
an impressive display or range of a particular type of thing.
"there is a vast array of literature on the topic"
2.
an ordered series or arrangement.
"several arrays of solar panels will help provide power"
synonyms: arrangement, assembling, assemblage, line-up, formation, ordering, disposition,
marshalling, muster, amassing; show, display, exhibition, presentation, exposition, spectacle;
agglomeration, collection, aggregation, raft, range, variety, assortment, diversity, mixture, selection
"a huge array of cars met our eyes"
an arrangement of troops.
"I shall have my men drawn up here in battle array ready to come to your help"
MATHEMATICS
an arrangement of quantities or symbols in rows and columns; a matrix.
COMPUTING
an indexed set of related elements.
3.
LITERARY
elaborate or beautiful clothing.
"he was clothed in fine array"
synonyms: dress, attire, apparel, clothing, garb, finery; garments; informalgarms
"she arrived in silken array"
4.
LAW
a list of jurors impanelled.
verb
verb: array; 3rd person present: arrays; past tense: arrayed; past participle: arrayed; gerund or
present participle: arraying
1.
display or arrange (things) in a particular way.
"the manifesto immediately divided the forces arrayed against him"
synonyms: arrange, assemble, draw up, group, order, range, place, position, set out, set forth,
dispose, marshal, muster; lay out, display, exhibit, put on show, put on display, put on view, expose
to view, unveil, present, uncover, reveal
"a wonderful buffet was arrayed on the table"
2.
dress someone in (the clothes specified).
"they were arrayed in Hungarian national dress"
synonyms: dress, attire, clothe, robe, garb, deck, deck out, drape, accoutre, outfit, fit out,
costume, get up, turn out, trick out/up; informaldoll up; archaicapparel, bedizen, caparison, invest,
habit, trap out
"the boy was arrayed in a neat grey flannel suit"
3.
LAW
impanel (a jury).

arroyo
/əˈrɔɪəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: arroyo; plural noun: arroyos
a steep-sided gully formed by the action of fast-flowing water in an arid or semi-arid region, found
chiefly in the south-western US.

artifice
/ˈɑːtɪfɪs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: artifice; plural noun: artifices
clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others.
"an industry dominated by artifice"
synonyms: trickery, deviousness, deceit, deception, dishonesty, cheating, duplicity, guile,
cunning, artfulness, wiliness, craft, craftiness, evasion, slyness, chicanery, intrigue, subterfuge,
strategy, bluff, pretence; fraud, fraudulence, sophistry, sharp practice; informalmonkey business,
funny business, hanky-panky, jiggery-pokery, every trick in the book
"an industry dominated by artifice"
device, trick, stratagem, ploy, tactic, ruse, scheme, move, manoeuvre, contrivance, machination,
expedient, wile, dodge;
swindle, hoax, fraud, confidence trick;
informalcon, con trick, set-up, game, scam, sting, gyp, flimflam;
informalwheeze;
informalbunco, grift;
informallurk, rort;
informalschlenter;
informalflanker;
archaicshift, fetch, rig
"the artifice of couching autobiography in the form of a novel did not really work"
ascribe
/əˈskrʌɪb/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: ascribe; 3rd person present: ascribes; past tense: ascribed; past participle: ascribed; gerund or
present participle: ascribing
regard something as being due to (a cause).
"he ascribed Jane's short temper to her upset stomach"
synonyms: attribute, assign, put down, set down, accredit, credit, give the credit for, chalk up,
impute; lay on, pin on, blame on, lay at the door of; connect with, associate with
"he ascribed Jane's short temper to her upset stomach"
regard a text, quotation, or work of art as being produced by or belonging to (a particular person or
period).
"a quotation ascribed to Thomas Cooper"
regard a quality as belonging to.
"tough-mindedness is a quality commonly ascribed to top bosses"
ashen1
/ˈaʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: ashen
1.
(of a person's face) very pale with shock, fear, or illness.
"Eleanor's ashen face"
synonyms: pale, wan, pasty, grey, leaden, colourless, sallow, pallid, white, waxen, ghostly;
pale-faced, ashen-faced, grey-faced, anaemic, bloodless; rareetiolated, lymphatic
"his ashen face"
2.
LITERARY
of or resembling ashes.
"the ashen colour of the landscape"

detain
/dɪˈteɪn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: detain; 3rd person present: detains; past tense: detained; past participle: detained; gerund or
present participle: detaining
keep (someone) from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.
"she made to open the door, but he detained her"
synonyms: delay, hold up, make late, retard, keep (back), slow up, slow down, set back, get
bogged down; hinder, hamper, impede, obstruct
"don't let me detain you"
keep (someone) in official custody, typically for questioning about a crime or in a politically
sensitive situation.
"she was detained without trial for two years"
officially seize and hold (goods).
"customs officers may detain goods for up to two days"
synonyms: hold, take into custody, put into custody, place in custody, remand in custody, hold
in custody, keep in custody, take (in), seize, confine, imprison, lock up, put in jail, put behind bars,
incarcerate, impound, intern, restrain, arrest, apprehend; informalpick up, run in, pull in, haul in,
cop, bust, nab, nail, do, collar, feel someone's collar; informalnick, pinch
"they were detained for questioning"
antonyms: release
perceive
/pəˈsiːv/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: perceive; 3rd person present: perceives; past tense: perceived; past participle: perceived;
gerund or present participle: perceiving
1.
become aware or conscious of (something); come to realize or understand.
"his mouth fell open as he perceived the truth"
synonyms: discern, recognize, become cognizant of, become aware of, become conscious of,
get/come to know, tell, distinguish, grasp, understand, take in, make out, find, identify, hit on,
comprehend, apprehend, figure out, deduce, conclude, see, discover, learn, appreciate, realize,
ascertain, sense, divine, intuit; informalcatch on to, have an aha moment; informaltwig; rarecognize
"Belinda immediately perceived the flaws in her story"
become aware of (something) by the use of one of the senses, especially that of sight.
"he perceived the faintest of flushes creeping up her neck"
synonyms: see, make out, pick out, discern, detect, catch sight of, spot, observe, glimpse,
notice, recognize, identify; hear, smell, sniff (out), scent, nose out, feel, taste, sense
"sharks and rays cannot perceive colour"
2.
interpret or regard (someone or something) in a particular way.
"if Guy does not perceive himself as disabled, nobody else should"
synonyms: look on, view, regard, consider, think of, judge, deem, appraise, assess, adjudge,
figure (out), size up, value, rate, suppose, think, sum up, weigh up
"he was perceived as too negative"
purge
/pəːdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: purge; 3rd person present: purges; past tense: purged; past participle: purged; gerund or
present participle: purging
1.
rid (someone or something) of an unwanted quality, condition, or feeling.
"Bob had helped purge Martha of the terrible guilt that had haunted her"
free someone or something from (an unwanted quality, condition, or feeling).
"his hatred was purged"
synonyms: cleanse, clear, purify, wash, shrive, absolve, free someone from; make someone
pure; rarelustrate
"the experience has purged them of the desire to doubt"
2.
remove (a group of people considered undesirable) from an organization or place in an abrupt or
violent way.
"he purged all but 26 of the central committee members"
synonyms: remove, get rid of, clear out, sweep out, expel, eject, exclude, evict, dismiss, sack,
oust, axe, depose, eradicate, root out, weed out, scour; informaldefenestrate
"human rights violators would be purged from the army"
remove a group of undesirable people from (an organization or place) in an abrupt or violent way.
"an opportunity to purge the party of unsatisfactory members"
synonyms: rid, clear, cleanse, empty, strip, scour, void; raredepurate
"the party was purged of the so-called ‘capitalist roaders’"
3.
physically remove or expel (something) completely.
"a substance designed to purge impurities from the body"
empty one’s stomach or bowels by inducing vomiting or using laxatives.
"sufferers eat normally in summer but overeat and purge during winter"
4.
LAW
atone for or wipe out (contempt of court).
"he has a right to apply to the court to purge his contempt"
noun
noun: purge; plural noun: purges
1.
an abrupt or violent removal of a group of people.
"the savagery of the government's political purges"
synonyms: removal, expulsion, ejection, exclusion, eviction, clearance, clear-out, discharge,
dismissal, sacking, ousting, deposition, eradication, rooting out, weeding out;
informaldefenestration; raredeposal
"the purge of the dissidents from the party"
2.
DATED
a laxative.
"in this plant was a milky substance which was a drastic purge"
demote
/diːˈməʊt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: demote; 3rd person present: demotes; past tense: demoted; past participle: demoted; gerund
or present participle: demoting
move (someone) to a lower position or rank, usually as a punishment.
"the head of the army was demoted to deputy defence secretary"
synonyms: downgrade, relegate, declass, move down, lower in rank, reduce in rank, strip of
rank, reduce to the ranks; depose, unseat, dethrone, displace, oust, drum out, remove from office;
cashier, disrate; bust
"she was demoted after a rift with her boss"
antonyms: promote
uncouth
/ʌnˈkuːθ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: uncouth
1.
lacking good manners, refinement, or grace.
"he is unwashed, uncouth, and drunk most of the time"
synonyms: uncivilized, uncultured, uncultivated, unrefined, unpolished, unsophisticated,
common, low, plebeian, philistine, rough, coarse, provincial, rustic, crude, gross, loutish, hooligan,
boorish, oafish; Neanderthal, barbarian, barbarous, barbaric, bearish, primitive, savage; churlish,
uncivil, rude, impolite, discourteous, disrespectful, unmannerly, bad-mannered, ill-mannered, ill-
bred, indecorous, ungallant, ungentlemanly, unladylike, vulgar, crass, indelicate, offensive;
backwoods, hillbilly, hick; informalyobbish, slobbish, clodhopping
"the porters shouted to each other in uncouth tones"
antonyms: refined, cultivated, polite
(of art or language) lacking sophistication or delicacy.
"uncouth sketches of peasants"
2.
ARCHAIC
(of a place) wild, remote, or spartan.
"his uncouth cell in Fleet prison"
vivid
/ˈvɪvɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: vivid; comparative adjective: vivider; superlative adjective: vividest
1.
producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind.
"memories of that evening were still vivid"
synonyms: graphic, evocative, realistic, true to life, lifelike, faithful, authentic, clear, crystal
clear, detailed, lucid, striking, arresting, impressive, colourful, highly coloured, rich, dramatic,
picturesque, lively, stimulating, interesting, fascinating, scintillating; memorable, unforgettable,
powerful, stirring, affecting, emotive, moving, haunting
"Dickens provides us with a vivid account of nineteenth-century urban poverty"
antonyms: vague, boring
2.
(of a colour) intensely deep or bright.
"the rhododendron bush provides a vivid splash of mauve"
synonyms: bright, bright-coloured, colourful, deep-coloured, brilliant, glowing, radiant, vibrant,
strong, bold, deep, intense, rich, warm, flaming, flamboyant, glaring, eye-catching; informaljazzy
"a vivid blue Mediterranean sea"
antonyms: dull, washed out
3.
ARCHAIC
(of a person or animal) lively and vigorous.
synonyms: dynamic, flamboyant, striking, strong, powerful, fiery, lively, animated, spirited,
vibrant, vital, vigorous, energetic, vivacious, zestful
"she had a deep voice and a strikingly vivid personality"

indignation
/ɪndɪɡˈneɪʃ(ə)n/
 Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: indignation
anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment.
"the letter filled Lucy with indignation"
synonyms: resentment, umbrage, affront, disgruntlement, anger, distress, unhappiness,
discontent, dissatisfaction, displeasure, hurt, pain, upset, offence, pique, spleen, crossness,
exasperation, vexation, irritation, annoyance, chagrin; informalaggravation; literaryire
"she was filled with indignation at having been blamed so unjustly"
antonyms: contentment
monotony
/məˈnɒt(ə)ni/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: monotony
lack of variety and interest; tedious repetition and routine.
"you can become resigned to the monotony of captivity"
synonyms: tedium, tediousness, lack of variety, dullness, boredom, lack of variation,
repetitiveness, repetitiousness, repetition, sameness, unchangingness, uniformity, routine,
routineness, wearisomeness, tiresomeness, humdrumness, lack of interest, lack of excitement,
prosaicness, uneventfulness, dreariness, colourlessness, featurelessness; informaldeadliness;
informalsameyness
"the monotony of everyday life"
antonyms: variety, excitement
sameness of pitch or tone in a sound or utterance.
"depression flattens the voice almost to monotony"
synonyms: tonelessness, flatness, lack of inflection, drone
"the monotony of her voice"
diabolical
/dʌɪəˈbɒlɪk(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: diabolic
1.
characteristic of the Devil, or so evil as to be suggestive of the Devil.
"his diabolical cunning"
synonyms: devilish, diabolic, fiendish, satanic, Mephistophelian, demonic, demoniacal, hellish,
infernal, evil, wicked, ungodly, unholy; rarecacodemonic
"his diabolical skill"
2.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
disgracefully bad or unpleasant.
"a singer with an absolutely diabolical voice"
synonyms: very bad, poor, dreadful, awful, terrible, frightful, disgraceful, shameful,
lamentable, deplorable, appalling, atrocious; inferior, substandard, mediocre, unsatisfactory,
inadequate, second-rate, third-rate, shoddy, inept, bungling, hopeless; informalcrummy, dire,
dismal, godawful, shocking, abysmal, bum, rotten, pathetic, woeful, pitiful, lousy, useless, poxy, the
pits; informalduff, rubbish, ropy, chronic, a load of pants; vulgar slangcrap, crappy, shitty; vulgar
slangchickenshit, hellacious; archaicdireful; rareegregious
"the team manager was sacked after that diabolical performance"
very great, extreme, excessive, undue, inordinate, immoderate, unconscionable, outrageous;
uncalled for, unprovoked, intolerable, unacceptable, unreasonable, unjustifiable, unwarrantable,
without justification, indefensible, inexcusable, unforgivable, unpardonable
"a diabolical liberty"
antonyms: excellent
abridge
/əˈbrɪdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: abridge; 3rd person present: abridges; past tense: abridged; past participle: abridged; gerund
or present participle: abridging
1.
shorten (a piece of writing) without losing the sense.
"the introduction is abridged from the author's afterword to the novel"
synonyms: shorten, cut, cut short/down, curtail, truncate, lessen, trim, crop, clip, pare down,
prune; abbreviate, condense, contract, compress, reduce, decrease, diminish, shrink; summarize,
give a summary of, sum up, abstract, give an abstract of, precis, give a precis of, synopsize, give a
synopsis of, digest, give a digest of, outline, give an outline of, sketch, put in a nutshell, edit;
rareepitomize
"the editor reserves the right to abridge letters to fit the space available"
shortened, cut, cut short, cut down, concise, condensed, contracted, compressed, abbreviated,
reduced, decreased, diminished, shrunk, curtailed, truncated, lessened, trimmed, cropped, clipped,
pruned, pared down, stripped down, bare-bones, skeleton;
summarized, summary, abstracted, precised, synoptic, synopsized, digest, outline, thumbnail,
sketch, edited, essential;
censored, bowdlerized, expurgated;
informalpotted
"an abridged version of his inaugural lecture"
antonyms: lengthen, expand on, pad out, lengthened, expanded
2.
LAW
curtail (a right or privilege).
"even the right to free speech can be abridged"
frugality
/fruːˈɡalɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: frugality
the quality of being economical with money or food; thriftiness.
"he scorned the finer things in life and valued frugality and simplicity"
synonyms: thriftiness, carefulness, scrimping and saving, conservation, good management;
caution, prudence, providence, canniness; abstemiousness, abstinence, austerity, asceticism, self-
discipline, restraint, moderation, puritanism, monasticism, monkishness; miserliness, meanness,
parsimoniousness, niggardliness, close-fistedness; informaltight-fistedness, tightness, stinginess;
raresparingness
"he was known for his frugality and modesty"
antonyms: extravagance

obscure
/əbˈskjʊə/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: obscure; comparative adjective: obscurer; superlative adjective: obscurest
1.
not discovered or known about; uncertain.
"his origins and parentage are obscure"
synonyms: unclear, uncertain, unknown, in doubt, doubtful, dubious, mysterious, hazy, vague,
indeterminate, concealed, hidden
"he was born about 1650 though his origins and parentage remain obscure"
not important or well known.
"a relatively obscure actor"
synonyms: little known, unknown, unheard of, undistinguished, insignificant, unimportant,
inconsequential, inconspicuous, unnoticed, nameless, anonymous, minor, humble, lowly,
unrenowned, unsung, unrecognized, unhonoured, inglorious, forgotten
"an obscure Peruvian painter"
antonyms: famous, renowned
2.
not clearly expressed or easily understood.
"obscure references to Proust"
synonyms: abstruse, recondite, arcane, esoteric, recherché, occult; enigmatic, mystifying,
puzzling, perplexing, baffling, ambiguous, cryptic, equivocal, Delphic, oracular, riddling, oblique,
opaque, elliptical, unintelligible, uninterpretable, incomprehensible, impenetrable, unfathomable,
inexplicable; unexplained; informalas clear as mud
"obscure references to Proust"
antonyms: clear, plain
hard to define; vague.
"I feel an obscure resentment"
synonyms: indistinct, faint, vague, ill-defined, unclear, blurred, blurry, misty, hazy, foggy,
veiled, cloudy, clouded, nebulous, fuzzy; dark, dim, unlit, black, murky, sombre, gloomy, shady,
shadowy; literarydusky, tenebrous, darkling, crepuscular; rarecaliginous, Cimmerian
"grey and obscure on the horizon rose a low island"
antonyms: distinct
dark or dim.
"the obscure light of dawn"
verb
verb: obscure; 3rd person present: obscures; past tense: obscured; past participle: obscured;
gerund or present participle: obscuring
1.
keep from being seen; conceal.
"grey clouds obscure the sun"
synonyms: hide, conceal, cover, veil, shroud, screen, mask, cloak, cast a shadow over, shadow,
envelop, mantle, block, block out, blank out, obliterate, eclipse, overshadow; literaryenshroud,
bedim, benight; rareobnubilate, adumbrate
"grey clouds obscured the sun"
antonyms: reveal
make unclear and difficult to understand.
"the debate has become obscured by conflicting ideological perspectives"
synonyms: confuse, complicate, obfuscate, cloud, blur, muddy; muddy the waters;
literarybecloud, befog
"recent events have obscured rather than illuminated the issue"
antonyms: clarify, illuminate
keep from being known.
"none of this should obscure the skill and perseverance of the workers"

babel
/ˈbeɪb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: babel
a confused noise made by a number of voices.
"the babel of voices on the road"
synonyms: clamour, din, racket, confused noise, tumult, uproar, hubbub; babble, babbling,
shouting, yelling, screaming; commotion, chaos, bedlam, pandemonium, confusion; stramash;
informalhullabaloo; informalrow, car crash; rarecharivari
"the babel of a furious crowd"
antonyms: silence
a confused situation.
plural noun: babels
"the potential for confusion in this babel of textual formats is enormous"
infringement
/ɪnˈfrɪn(d)ʒm(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: infringement; plural noun: infringements
1.
the action of breaking the terms of a law, agreement, etc.; violation.
"copyright infringement"
synonyms: contravention, violation, transgression, breach, breaking, non-observance, non-
compliance, neglect, dereliction, failure to observe; infraction, delict
"an infringement of the law"
undermining, erosion, weakening, compromise;
limitation, curb, check, encroachment, disruption, disturbance
"an infringement of his liberty"
antonyms: compliance, preservation, strengthening
2.
the action of limiting or undermining something.
"the infringement of the right to privacy"

peevish
/ˈpiːvɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: peevish
having or showing an irritable disposition.
"a thin peevish voice"
synonyms: irritable, irascible, fractious, fretful, cross, petulant, pettish, crabbed, crabby,
crotchety, cantankerous, curmudgeonly, disagreeable, miserable, morose, peppery, on edge, edgy,
impatient, complaining, querulous; bitter, moody, in a bad mood, grumpy, huffy, scratchy, out of
sorts, out of temper, ill-tempered, bad-tempered, ill-natured, ill-humoured, sullen, surly, sulky,
sour, churlish, touchy, testy, tetchy, snappish, waspish, prickly, crusty, bilious, liverish, dyspeptic,
splenetic, choleric; mardy; informalsnappy, chippy, grouchy, cranky; informalnarky, ratty, eggy,
whingy, whingeing, like a bear with a sore head; informalsorehead, soreheaded, peckish;
informalsnaky; datedmiffy
"the remark came out sounding peevish and sensitive"
antonyms: affable, easy-going

servility
/səːˈvɪlɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: servility
an excessive willingness to serve or please others.
"a classic example of media servility"
synonyms: obsequiousness, sycophancy, excessive deference, subservience, submissiveness,
fawning, toadyism, toadying, grovelling, cringing, unctuousness, oiliness, abjectness, abjection,
cravenness, slavishness, humility, self-abasement; informalsmarminess, sliminess, bootlicking;
informalapple-polishing; vulgar slangarse-licking, bum-sucking; vulgar slangass-kissing
"Lovat was used to servility—he couldn't remember when anyone had last disagreed with him"
antonyms: bossiness, assertiveness

cringe
/krɪn(d)ʒ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: cringe; 3rd person present: cringes; past tense: cringed; past participle: cringed; gerund or
present participle: cringing
1.
bend one's head and body in fear or apprehension or in a servile manner.
"he cringed away from the blow"
synonyms: cower, shrink, draw back, pull back, recoil, start, shy (away), wince, flinch, blench,
blanch, dodge, duck, crouch, shudder, shake, tremble, quiver, quail, quake; More
experience an inward shiver of embarrassment or disgust.
"I cringed at the fellow's stupidity"
synonyms: wince, squirm, blush, flush, go red; feel embarrassed, feel ashamed, feel sheepish,
feel mortified, wince with embarrassment
"it makes me cringe when I think how stupid I was"

vanity
/ˈvanɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: vanity; plural noun: vanities
1.
excessive pride in or admiration of one's own appearance or achievements.
"it flattered his vanity to think I was in love with him"
synonyms: conceit, conceitedness, self-conceit, narcissism, self-love, self-admiration, self-
regard, self-absorption, self-obsession, self-centredness, egotism, egoism, egocentrism, egomania;
pride, haughtiness, arrogance, boastfulness, swagger, imperiousness, cockiness, pretension,
affectation, airs, show, ostentation; literaryvainglory, braggadocio
"she had none of the vanity so often associated with beautiful women"
antonyms: modesty
denoting a person or company publishing works at the author's expense.
modifier noun: vanity
"a vanity press"
2.
the quality of being worthless or futile.
"the vanity of human wishes"
synonyms: futility, uselessness, pointlessness, worthlessness, purposelessness, idleness,
fruitlessness, profitlessness
"the vanity of all desires of the will"
3.
NORTH AMERICAN
a dressing table.
askew
/əˈskjuː/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adverb: askew; adjective: askew
not in a straight or level position.
"her hat was slightly askew"
synonyms: crooked(ly), lopsided(ly), tilted, angled, at an angle, oblique(ly), at an oblique angle,
skew, skewed, slanted, aslant, awry, out of true, out of line, to one side, on one side, uneven(ly), off
balance, off centre, asymmetrical(ly), unsymmetrical(ly); agley, squint, thrawn; informalcock-eyed;
informalskew-whiff, wonky, wonkily, squiffy, squiffily
"her hat was slightly askew"
antonyms: straight, symmetrical(ly)
wrong; awry.
"the plan went sadly askew"

occlude
/əˈkluːd/
Learn to pronounce
verbFORMAL•TECHNICAL
verb: occlude; 3rd person present: occludes; past tense: occluded; past participle: occluded; gerund
or present participle: occluding
1.
stop, close up, or obstruct (an opening, orifice, or passage).
"thick make-up can occlude the pores"
synonyms: block, block up, stop, stop up, obstruct, clog, clog up, close, shut, fill, bung up,
choke, seal, plug
"thick make-up can occlude the pores"
shut in.
"they were occluding the waterfront with a wall of buildings"
cover (an eye) to prevent its use.
"it is placed at eye level with one eye occluded"
2.
(of a tooth) come into contact with another tooth in the opposite jaw.
"in monkeys and apes, the upper canine occludes with the lower first premolar"
3.
CHEMISTRY
(of a solid) absorb and retain (a gas or impurity).
"occluded within these crystals are other molecules"
ordain
/ɔːˈdeɪn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: ordain; 3rd person present: ordains; past tense: ordained; past participle: ordained; gerund or
present participle: ordaining
1.
make (someone) a priest or minister; confer holy orders on.
"he was ordained a minister before entering Parliament"
synonyms: confer holy orders on, appoint, induct, install, invest, anoint, consecrate;
archaicfrock
"the Church of England voted to ordain women"
2.
order (something) officially.
"equal punishment was ordained for the two crimes"
synonyms: decree, rule, order, command, enjoin, lay down, set down, establish, fix, enact,
legislate, dictate, prescribe, pronounce
"it was ordained that anyone hunting in the forest without permission was to pay a fine"
(of God or fate) decide (something) in advance.
"the path ordained by God"
synonyms: predetermine, predestine, preordain, foreordain, destine, prescribe, fate, will,
determine, designate
"the path ordained by God"

palatial
/pəˈleɪʃ(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: palatial
resembling a palace in being spacious and splendid.
"her palatial apartment in Mayfair"
synonyms: luxurious, deluxe, magnificent, sumptuous, splendid, grand, opulent, lavishly
appointed, lavish, lush, grandiose, rich, imposing, impressive, fine, stately, regal, majestic; fancy,
upmarket, exclusive; spacious, large-scale; informalplush, plushy, swanky, posh, ritzy, swish;
rarepalatian
"a palatial five-star hotel"
antonyms: humble, modest
perturb
/pəˈtəːb/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: perturb; 3rd person present: perturbs; past tense: perturbed; past participle: perturbed;
gerund or present participle: perturbing
1.
make (someone) anxious or unsettled.
"they were perturbed by her capricious behaviour"
synonyms: worry, upset, unsettle, disturb, concern, trouble, make anxious, make uneasy, make
fretful, disquiet; discompose, disconcert, discomfit, unnerve, alarm, bother, distress, dismay, gnaw
at, agitate, fluster, ruffle, discountenance, exercise; informalrattle, faze; archaicpother
"David's appearance perturbed his parents"
upset, worried, unsettled, disturbed, concerned, troubled, anxious, ill at ease, uneasy, fretful,
disquieted;
disconcerted, discomposed, unnerved, alarmed, bothered, distressed, dismayed, apprehensive,
nervous, restless, agitated, flustered, ruffled, shaken, flurried, discountenanced, uncomfortable;
informaltwitchy, rattled, fazed, discombobulated;
informalantsy;
rareunquiet
"she didn't seem perturbed at the noises around her"
antonyms: reassure, unperturbed, calm, composed
2.
TECHNICAL
subject (a system, moving object, or process) to an influence tending to alter its normal or regular
state or path.
"nuclear weapons could be used to perturb the orbit of an asteroid"
plight1
/plʌɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: plight; plural noun: plights
a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation.
"we must direct our efforts towards relieving the plight of children living in poverty"
synonyms: predicament, unfortunate/difficult situation, sorry condition, sad state, trouble,
difficulty, mess, dire straits, extremity, bind; circumstances, situation, condition, case, state;
informaldilemma, tight corner/spot, hole, pickle, jam, fix, scrape
"an attempt to highlight the plight of the homeless"
Origin

Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French plit ‘fold’. The -gh- spelling is by association with
plight2.
plight2
/plʌɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verbARCHAIC
verb: plight; 3rd person present: plights; past tense: plighted; past participle: plighted; gerund or
present participle: plighting
pledge or solemnly promise (one's faith or loyalty).
"men to plighted vows were faithful"
be engaged to be married to.

populace
/ˈpɒpjʊləs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: populace; plural noun: populaces
the people living in a particular country or area.
"the party misjudged the mood of the populace"
synonyms: population, inhabitants, residents, natives, occupants, occupiers; community,
country, public, people, nation; common people, general public, man/woman in the street, masses,
multitude, rank and file, commonality, commonalty, third estate, plebeians, proletariat, crowd;
man/woman on the street; informalfolk, common folk; informalJoe Public, Joe Bloggs; informalJohn
Doe; humorousdenizens; derogatorythe hoi polloi, common herd, rabble, mob, riff-raff, the
canaille, the great unwashed, ragtag (and bobtail), proles, plebs; rareindigenes
Origin
perverse
/pəˈvəːs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: perverse
1.
showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable.
"Kate's perverse decision not to cooperate held good"
synonyms: awkward, contrary, difficult, unreasonable, uncooperative, unhelpful, obstructive,
disobliging, unaccommodating, troublesome, tiresome, annoying, vexatious, obstreperous,
disobedient, unmanageable, uncontrollable, recalcitrant, refractory, rebellious; wilful, headstrong,
self-willed, capricious, wayward, cross-grained, stubborn, obstinate, obdurate, pertinacious, mulish,
pig-headed, bull-headed, intractable, intransigent, inflexible; thrawn; informalcussed;
informalbloody-minded, bolshie, stroppy; informalbalky; archaicfroward, contumacious;
rarecontrarious
"he is being deliberately perverse"
antonyms: accommodating, cooperative
2.
contrary to the accepted or expected standard or practice.
"in two general elections the outcome was quite perverse"
synonyms: illogical, irrational, unreasonable, contradictory, wrong, wrong-headed, incorrect,
irregular, inappropriate, unorthodox; informalbackasswards
"juries often come up with a verdict that is manifestly perverse"
antonyms: reasonable
LAW
(of a verdict) against the weight of evidence or the direction of the judge on a point of law.
3.
sexually perverted.
"an evil life dedicated to perverse pleasure"
synonyms: perverted, depraved, unnatural, abnormal, deviant, degenerate, immoral, warped,
twisted, corrupt; wicked, base, evil; informalkinky, sick, pervy, sicko
"an evil life dedicated to perverse pleasure"
plight1
/plʌɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: plight; plural noun: plights
a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation.
"we must direct our efforts towards relieving the plight of children living in poverty"
synonyms: predicament, unfortunate/difficult situation, sorry condition, sad state, trouble,
difficulty, mess, dire straits, extremity, bind; circumstances, situation, condition, case, state;
informaldilemma, tight corner/spot, hole, pickle, jam, fix, scrape
"an attempt to highlight the plight of the homeless"

proclivity
/prəˈklɪvɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: proclivity; plural noun: proclivities
a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition towards a
particular thing.
"a proclivity for hard work"
synonyms: liking, inclination, tendency, leaning, disposition, propensity, bent, bias, penchant,
predisposition, predilection, partiality, preference, taste, fondness, weakness, proneness;
rarevelleity
"his sexual proclivities are none of your business"
quiescent
/kwɪˈɛs(ə)nt,kwʌɪˈɛs(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: quiescent
in a state or period of inactivity or dormancy.
"strikes were headed by groups of workers who had previously been quiescent"
synonyms: inactive, inert, latent, fallow, passive, idle, at rest, inoperative, deactivated, in
abeyance, quiet; still, motionless, immobile, stagnant, dormant, asleep, slumbering, sluggish,
lethargic, torpid
"the volcano is in a quiescent state"
antonyms: active
Origin
recuperate
/rɪˈkuːpəreɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: recuperate; 3rd person present: recuperates; past tense: recuperated; past participle:
recuperated; gerund or present participle: recuperating
1.
recover from illness or exertion.
"she has been recuperating from a knee injury"
synonyms: get better, recover, convalesce, get back to normal, get well, regain one's
strength/health, get back on one's feet, get over something; be on the road to recovery, be on the
mend, improve, mend, pick up, rally, revive, perk up, pull through, bounce back
"he fell ill that summer and travelled to the south of France to recuperate"
2.
recover or regain (something lost or taken).
"they will seek to recuperate the returns that go with investment"
synonyms: get back, regain, recover, win back, recoup, retrieve, reclaim, repossess, have
something returned, be reunited with, find, redeem, rescue
"he won an appeal and recuperated the money"
repercussion
/riːpəˈkʌʃ(ə)n/
 Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: repercussion; plural noun: repercussions
1.
an unintended consequence of an event or action, especially an unwelcome one.
"the move would have grave repercussions for the entire region"
synonyms: consequence, result, effect, outcome, by-product; reverberation, backlash, ripple,
shock wave; aftermath, footprint, fallout
"the political repercussions of the scandal were devastating"
2.
ARCHAIC
the recoil of something after impact.
3.
ARCHAIC
an echo or reverberation.

spectre
/ˈspɛktə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: spectre; plural noun: spectres; noun: specter; plural noun: specters
a ghost.
"a dread of spectres and witches affected every aspect of daily life"
synonyms: ghost, phantom, apparition, spirit, wraith, shadow, presence, illusion; bodach;
doppelgänger; duppy; informalspook; literaryphantasm, shade, revenant, wight; rareeidolon,
manes
"the spectres of the murdered boys"
something widely feared as a possible unpleasant or dangerous occurrence.
"the spectre of nuclear holocaust"
synonyms: threat, menace, shadow, cloud, vision; prospect; danger, peril, fear, dread
"the spectre of a ruinous trade war loomed"
strangle
/ˈstraŋɡ(ə)l/
 Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: strangle; 3rd person present: strangles; past tense: strangled; past participle: strangled;
gerund or present participle: strangling
squeeze or constrict the neck of (a person or animal), especially so as to cause death.
"the victim was strangled with a scarf"
synonyms: throttle, choke, garrotte; asphyxiate, stifle; informalstrangulate
"the victim was strangled with a scarf"
sounding as though the utterer's throat is constricted.
adjective: strangled
"a series of strangled gasps"
suppress (an impulse, action, or sound).
"she strangled a sob"
synonyms: suppress, smother, stifle, repress, restrain, hold back, hold in, fight back, bite back,
gulp back, swallow, choke back, check
"she strangled a sob"
antonyms: let out
hamper or hinder the development or activity of.
"they allowed bureaucracy to strangle initiative"
synonyms: hamper, hinder, impede, restrict, interfere with, inhibit, hold back, curb, check,
restrain, constrain; prevent, put an end/stop to, stop, quash, squash, stamp out, destroy, crush,
extinguish, deaden, damp down, subdue, suppress, repress; silence, muffle, mute, gag
"too much security is strangling commercial activity in the town"
antonyms: encourage, promote

acquaint
/əˈkweɪnt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: acquaint; 3rd person present: acquaints; past tense: acquainted; past participle: acquainted;
gerund or present participle: acquainting
make someone aware of or familiar with.
"new staff should be acquainted with fire exit routes"
synonyms: familiarize, make familiar, make conversant, get/keep up to date; accustom to,
make known to, make aware of, inform of, advise of, apprise of, brief as to, give information about;
enlighten, keep posted, let know; prime on, ground in, instruct in, teach in, educate in, school in,
indoctrinate in, initiate into; informalgive the low-down on, give a rundown of, fill in on, clue up
about, clue in on, put in the picture about, keep up to speed with; informalgen up on, give the gen
about
"it is sensible to acquaint yourself with some basic facts"
familiar, conversant, at home, up to date, up;
well versed in, knowledgeable about, well informed about, cognizant in, apprised of, abreast of, no
stranger to;
au fait, au courant;
informalwell up on, in the know about, plugged in to, genned up on, clued in on, wise to, hip to
"she was well acquainted with Gothic literature"
antonyms: unfamiliar, ignorant
know someone slightly.
"I am not acquainted with any young lady of that name"
synonyms: known to; familiar, friendly, on friendly terms, on good terms, on a sociable footing
"I am not personally acquainted with him"

subtle
/ˈsʌt(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: subtle; comparative adjective: subtler; superlative adjective: subtlest
1.
(especially of a change or distinction) so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyse or describe.
"his language expresses rich and subtle meanings"
synonyms: fine, fine-drawn, ultra-fine, nice, overnice, minute, precise, narrow, tenuous; hair-
splitting, indistinct, indefinite, elusive, abstruse; informalminuscule
"subtle distinctions are of little value"
antonyms: crude
(of a mixture or effect) delicately complex and understated.
"subtle lighting"
synonyms: understated, low-key, muted, toned down, subdued; delicate, faint, pale, soft,
indistinct, indefinite, vague, washed out
"the colours are soft and subtle"
antonyms: lurid, obvious
capable of making fine distinctions.
"a subtle mind"
synonyms: astute, keen, quick, fine, acute, sharp, razor-like, razor-sharp, rapier-like, canny,
shrewd, aware, perceptive, discerning, sensitive, discriminating, penetrating, sagacious, wise,
clever, intelligent, skilful, artful; sapient, percipient, perspicacious; informalon the ball, savvy;
archaicpolitic
"a robust and subtle mind"
antonyms: slow-witted
arranged in an ingenious and elaborate way.
"the German plan was simple yet subtle"
2.
making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something.
"he tried a more subtle approach"
3.
ARCHAIC
crafty; cunning.
"the subtle fiend dissembled"
synonyms: ingenious, clever, skilful, adroit, cunning, crafty, wily, artful, devious
"the plan was simple yet subtle"
antonyms: crude, artless
resurrect
/rɛzəˈrɛkt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: resurrect; 3rd person present: resurrects; past tense: resurrected; past participle: resurrected;
gerund or present participle: resurrecting
restore (a dead person) to life.
"he queried whether Jesus was indeed resurrected"
synonyms: raise from the dead, restore to life, bring back to life, revive
"on the third day Jesus was resurrected"
revive or revitalize (something that is inactive, disused, or forgotten).
"the deal collapsed and has yet to be resurrected"
synonyms: revive, restore, regenerate, revitalize, breathe new life into, give the kiss of life to,
give a new lease of life to, reinvigorate, renew, resuscitate, awaken, wake up, rejuvenate,
stimulate, re-establish, relaunch, reinstitute; archaicrenovate

"it gives him a chance to resurrect his career"

resurgence
/rɪˈsəːdʒ(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: resurgence; plural noun: resurgences
an increase or revival after a period of little activity, popularity, or occurrence.
"a resurgence of interest in religion"
synonyms: renewal, revival, recovery, rally, upturn, comeback, reinvigoration, reawakening,
resurrection, reappearance, re-emergence, rejuvenation, regeneration, new birth, rebirth,
renaissance, new dawn, new beginning; resumption, recommencement, continuation, re-
establishment; risorgimento; rarerenascence, recrudescence, rejuvenescence
"there has been a resurgence of interest in jazz"

resentment
/rɪˈzɛntm(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: resentment; plural noun: resentments
bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly.
"his resentment at being demoted"
synonyms: bitterness, indignation, irritation, pique, displeasure, dissatisfaction,
disgruntlement, discontentment, discontent, resentfulness, bad feelings, hard feelings, ill feelings,
acrimony, rancour, animosity, hostility, jaundice, antipathy, antagonism, enmity, hatred, hate;
envy, jealousy, malice, ill will; grudge, grievance, a chip on one's shoulder; literaryire
"the proposal aroused deep resentment among many party members"
antonyms: contentment, happiness
reprieve
/rɪˈpriːv/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: reprieve; 3rd person present: reprieves; past tense: reprieved; past participle: reprieved;
gerund or present participle: reprieving
1.
cancel or postpone the punishment of (someone, especially someone condemned to death).
"under the new regime, prisoners under sentence of death were reprieved"
synonyms: grant a stay of execution to, cancel/postpone/commute/remit someone's
punishment; pardon, spare, acquit, grant an amnesty to, amnesty; informallet off, let off the hook;
archaicrespite
"she was sentenced to death, but was reprieved"
antonyms: charge, punish
abandon or postpone plans to close or abolish (something).
"the threatened pits could be reprieved"
synonyms: save, rescue, grant a stay of execution to, give a respite to; informaltake off the hit
list
"the accident and emergency unit has also been reprieved"
noun
noun: reprieve; plural noun: reprieves
1.
a cancellation or postponement of a punishment.
"he accepted the death sentence and refused to appeal for a reprieve"
synonyms: stay of execution, cancellation of punishment, postponement of punishment,
remission, suspension of punishment, respite; pardon, amnesty, acquittal; continuance;
informallet-off
"he was saved by a last-minute reprieve"
a cancellation or postponement of an undesirable event.
"a mother who faced eviction has been given a reprieve
fetter
/ˈfɛtə/
 Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fetter; plural noun: fetters
1.
a chain or manacle used to restrain a prisoner, typically placed around the ankles.
"he lay bound with fetters of iron"
synonyms: shackles, manacles, handcuffs, irons, leg irons, chains, bonds; tethers, ropes,
restraints; informalcuffs, bracelets; archaictrammels, gyves, darbies, bilboes
"the prisoner lay bound with fetters of iron"
a restraint or check on someone's freedom to act.
"the fetters of convention"
verb
verb: fetter; 3rd person present: fetters; past tense: fettered; past participle: fettered; gerund or
present participle: fettering
1.
restrain with chains or manacles, typically around the ankles.
"the Supervisor tossed a key to the old slave to unlock the chain that fettered the prisoners
together"
synonyms: shackle, manacle, handcuff, clap in irons, put in chains, chain (up), bind, tie (up),
tether, rope, hobble; secure, restrain; informalcuff; rareenfetter, gyve
"the captive was branded and fettered"
confine or restrict (someone).
"he was not fettered by tradition"
synonyms: restrict, restrain, constrain, confine, limit; hinder, hamper, impede, obstruct,
handicap, hamstring, encumber, inhibit, check, curb, tie down; tie someone's hands, cramp
someone's style; literarytrammel
"these obligations do not fetter the company's powers"
dilettante
/ˌdɪlɪˈtanteɪ,ˌdɪlɪˈtanti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: dilettante; plural noun: dilettantes; plural noun: dilettanti
a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or
knowledge.
"a wealthy literary dilettante"
synonyms: dabbler, potterer, tinkerer, trifler, dallier; amateur, non-professional, non-specialist,
layman, layperson
"there is no room for the dilettante in this business"
antonyms: professional
ARCHAIC
a person with an amateur interest in the arts.

maudlin
/ˈmɔːdlɪn/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: maudlin
self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental.
"a bout of maudlin self-pity"
synonyms: sentimental, over-sentimental, emotional, overemotional, tearful, lachrymose;
informalweepy
"a bout of maudlin self-pity"
antonyms: austere, undemonstrative
(of a book, film, or song) highly sentimental.
"a maudlin jukebox tune"
synonyms: mawkish, sentimental, over-sentimental, cloying, sickly, saccharine, sugary, syrupy,
sickening, nauseating, banal, trite; twee; informalmushy, slushy, sloppy, schmaltzy, weepy, cutesy,
lovey-dovey, gooey, drippy, sloshy, soupy, treacly, cheesy, corny, icky, sick-making, toe-curling;
informalsoppy; informalcornball, sappy, hokey, three-hanky
"a maudlin Irish ballad"
antonyms: understated, dry, prosaic
sacrosanct
/ˈsakrə(ʊ)saŋ(k)t,ˈseɪkrə(ʊ)saŋ(k)t/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: sacrosanct
(especially of a principle, place, or routine) regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered
with.
"the individual's right to work has been upheld as sacrosanct"
synonyms: sacred, hallowed, respected, inviolable, inviolate, unimpeachable, unchallengeable,
invulnerable, untouchable, inalienable, set apart, protected, defended, secure, safe, unthreatened
"the rights of parents are sacrosanct for this government"

arable
/ˈarəb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: arable
1.
(of land) used or suitable for growing crops.
"acres of arable land"
(of crops) able to be grown on arable land.
"arable crops"
concerned with growing arable crops.
"arable farming"
synonyms: farmable, cultivable, cultivatable, ploughable, tillable; fertile, productive, fruitful,
fecund, lush
"acres of arable land"
antonyms: infertile
noun
noun: arable
1.
arable land or crops.
"vast areas of arable and pasture"
precept
/ˈpriːsɛpt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: precept; plural noun: precepts
1.
a general rule intended to regulate behaviour or thought.
"the legal precept of being innocent until proven guilty"
synonyms: principle, rule, tenet, canon, code, doctrine, guideline, working principle, law,
ordinance, statute, command, order, decree, mandate, dictate, dictum, directive, direction,
instruction, injunction, prescription, commandment; mitzvah; rareprescript
"the precepts of Orthodox Judaism"
2.
a writ or warrant.
"the Commissioner issued precepts requiring the companies to provide information"
3.
BRITISH
an order issued by one local authority to another specifying the rate of tax to be charged on its
behalf.
"the precept required a supplementary rate of 6.1p in the pound"
a rate or tax set by a precept.
opulent
/ˈɒpjʊl(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: opulent
ostentatiously costly and luxurious.
"the opulent comfort of a limousine"
synonyms: luxurious, sumptuous, palatial, lavishly appointed, lavish, deluxe, rich, lush,
luxuriant, splendid, magnificent, grand, grandiose, costly, expensive, fancy; informalplush, plushy,
ritzy, swanky, posh, classy; informalswish; informalswank
"his parents' opulent home in Beverly Hills"
copious, abundant, profuse, prolific, plentiful, luxuriant;
literaryplenteous
"he stroked her opulent red hair"
antonyms: stark, spartan, restrained, ascetic, sparse
wealthy.
"his more opulent tenants"
synonyms: wealthy, rich, affluent, well off, well-to-do, moneyed, cash rich, with deep pockets,
prosperous, of means, of substance; informalwell heeled, rolling in it, rolling in money, loaded, in
clover, stinking/filthy rich, flush, made of money, in/on easy street; informalquids in; informalin the
chips, oofy, on velvet
"an opulent family"
antonyms: penniless, poor, impoverished, penurious

ignominy
/ˈɪɡnəmɪni/
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noun
noun: ignominy; plural noun: ignominies
public shame or disgrace.
"the ignominy of being imprisoned"
synonyms: shame, humiliation, embarrassment, mortification; disgrace, dishonour, stigma,
disrepute, discredit, degradation, abasement, opprobrium, obloquy, scandal, infamy, indignity,
ignobility, loss of face
"the ignominy of a public trial"
antonyms: honour
idyllic
/ɪˈdɪlɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: idyllic
like an idyll; extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque.
"an attractive hotel in an idyllic setting"
synonyms: perfect, ideal, idealized, wonderful, blissful, halcyon, happy; heavenly, paradisal,
utopian, Elysian; peaceful, picturesque, pastoral, rural, rustic, bucolic, unspoiled; literaryArcadian,
sylvan
"their idyllic times together"
antonyms: hellish
idiosyncrasy
/ˌɪdɪə(ʊ)ˈsɪŋkrəsi/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: idiosyncrasy; plural noun: idiosyncrasies
1.
a mode of behaviour or way of thought peculiar to an individual.
"one of his little idiosyncrasies was always preferring to be in the car first"
a distinctive or peculiar feature or characteristic of a place or thing.
"the idiosyncrasies of the prison system"
synonyms: peculiarity, individual/personal trait, oddity, eccentricity, mannerism, quirk, whim,
whimsy, fancy, fad, vagary, notion, conceit, caprice, kink, twist, freak, fetish, passion, bent, foible,
crotchet, habit, characteristic, speciality, quality, feature; individuality; unconventionality,
unorthodoxy; archaicmegrim; raresingularity
"his idiosyncrasies included the recycling of cigar butts"
2.
MEDICINE
an abnormal physical reaction by an individual to a food or drug.
Origin
injunction
/ɪnˈdʒʌŋ(k)ʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: injunction; plural noun: injunctions
an authoritative warning or order.
synonyms: order, ruling, direction, directive, command, instruction, demand; decree, edict,
prescription, dictum, dictate, fiat, mandate, ordainment, enjoinment, exhortation, admonition,
precept, ultimatum; ukase; raremonition, firman, decretal, irade
"a High Court injunction to prevent Sunday trading"
LAW
a judicial order restraining a person from beginning or continuing an action threatening or invading
the legal right of another, or compelling a person to carry out a certain act, e.g. to make restitution
to an injured party.
elicit
/ɪˈlɪsɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: elicit; 3rd person present: elicits; past tense: elicited; past participle: elicited; gerund or
present participle: eliciting
evoke or draw out (a reaction, answer, or fact) from someone.
"I tried to elicit a smile from Joanna"
synonyms: obtain, bring out, draw out, extract, evoke, bring about, bring forth, induce, excite,
give rise to, call forth, prompt, generate, engender, spark off, trigger, kindle; extort, exact, wrest,
derive, provoke, wring, screw, squeeze; informalworm out
"the police claimed that his fingerprints had been found in order to elicit admissions from him"
ARCHAIC
draw forth (something that is latent or potential) into existence.
"a corrupt heart elicits in an hour all that is bad in us"
proscribe
/prə(ʊ)ˈskrʌɪb/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: proscribe; 3rd person present: proscribes; past tense: proscribed; past participle: proscribed;
gerund or present participle: proscribing
forbid, especially by law.
"strikes remained proscribed in the armed forces"
synonyms: forbid, prohibit, ban, bar, disallow, rule out, embargo, veto, make illegal, interdict,
outlaw, taboo
"gambling was proscribed"
antonyms: allow, permit
denounce or condemn.
"certain customary practices which the Catholic Church proscribed, such as polygyny"
synonyms: condemn, denounce, attack, criticize, censure, denigrate, damn, reject
"a case was made for precisely the sort of intervention which the Report proscribed"
antonyms: authorize, accept
HISTORICAL
outlaw (someone).
"a plaque on which were the names of proscribed traitors"
synonyms: outlaw, boycott, black, blackball, exclude, ostracize; exile, expel, expatriate, evict,
deport; excommunicate
"the pedlar appeals to the local authorities who proscribe Buckley as a highwayman"
magnate
/ˈmaɡneɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: magnate; plural noun: magnates
a wealthy and influential businessman or businesswoman.
"a property magnate"
synonyms: industrialist, tycoon, mogul, captain of industry, baron, lord, king, proprietor,
entrepreneur, merchant prince, financier, top executive; chief, leader, VIP, notable, magnifico,
nabob, grandee, noble, prelate; informalbig shot, bigwig, honcho; informalbig wheel; derogatoryfat
cat
"the real power lay in the hands of a few rich magnates and landowners"
antonyms: pawn
Origin
polemic
/pəˈlɛmɪk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: polemic; plural noun: polemics
1.
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
"his polemic against the cultural relativism of the Sixties"
synonyms: critical, hostile, bitter, polemical, virulent, vitriolic, venomous, waspish, corrosive,
biting, caustic, trenchant, cutting, acerbic, sardonic, sarcastic, scathing, acid, sharp, keen, tart,
pungent, stinging, astringent, incisive, devastating, piercing; rareacidulous, mordacious
"reviewers were put off by Maynard's polemic tone"
diatribe, invective, denunciation, denouncement, rant, tirade, broadside, attack, harangue, verbal
onslaught;
condemnation, brickbats, criticism, admonishment, admonition, abuse, stream of abuse, stricture,
tongue-lashing, castigation, reprimand, rebuke, reproof, reproval, upbraiding;
informalknocking, blast;
informalslating;
rarephilippic
"this is not just a polemic against injustice"
argumentation, argument, debate, contention, dispute, disputation, discussion, controversy,
altercation, faction, wrangling;
formalcontestation
"skilled in polemics"
the practice of engaging in controversial debate or dispute.
noun: polemics
"the history of science has become embroiled in religious polemics"
adjective
adjective: polemic
1.
another term for polemical.
eclectic
/ɪˈklɛktɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: eclectic; adjective: Eclectic
1.
deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.
"universities offering an eclectic mix of courses"
synonyms: wide-ranging, wide, broad, broad-ranging, broad-based, extensive, comprehensive,
encyclopedic, general, universal, varied, diverse, diversified, catholic, liberal, cross-disciplinary,
interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, all-embracing, non-exclusive, inclusive, indiscriminate, many-
sided, multifaceted, multifarious, heterogeneous, miscellaneous, assorted
"they played an eclectic mix of party music"
selective, selecting, choosing, picking and choosing;
discriminating, discerning, critical
"an eclectic approach to teaching the curriculum"
antonyms: narrow, dogmatic
2.
PHILOSOPHY
denoting or belonging to a class of ancient philosophers who did not belong to or found any
recognized school of thought but selected doctrines from various schools of thought.
noun
noun: eclectic; plural noun: eclectics
1.
a person who derives ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.

denizen
/ˈdɛnɪz(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: denizen; plural noun: denizens
FORMAL•HUMOROUS
a person, animal, or plant that lives or is found in a particular place.
"denizens of field and forest"
synonyms: inhabitant, resident, townsman, townswoman, native, local; occupier, occupant,
dweller; informallocal yokel; historicalburgher, burgess; rarehabitant, residentiary, oppidan,
indweller
"the denizens of Bolton were hungry for answers"
HISTORICAL•BRITISH
a foreigner allowed certain rights in their adopted country.
refectory
/rɪˈfɛkt(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: refectory; plural noun: refectories
a room used for communal meals in an educational or religious institution.
Origin
severance
/ˈsɛv(ə)r(ə)ns/
 Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: severance; plural noun: severances
1.
the action of ending a connection or relationship.
"the severance and disestablishment of the Irish Church"
the state of being separated or cut off.
dismissal or discharge from employment.
"employees were offered severance terms"
short for severance pay.
2.
division by cutting or slicing.
Origin

perdition
/pəˈdɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: perdition
(in Christian theology) a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and
unrepentant person passes after death.
synonyms: damnation, eternal punishment; hell, hellfire, spiritual destruction, doom, ruin,
ruination, condemnation, destruction, downfall
complete and utter ruin.
"she used her last banknote to buy herself a square meal before perdition"
incantation
/ɪnkanˈteɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: incantation; plural noun: incantations
a series of words said as a magic spell or charm.
"an incantation to raise the dead"
synonyms: chant, invocation, conjuration, magic spell, magic formula, rune; abracadabra, open
sesame; hex, mojo; makutu
"he muttered some weird incantations"
the use of words as a magic spell.
"there was no magic in such incantation"
synonyms: chanting, intonation, recitation
"the ritual incantation of such words"
culinary
/ˈkʌlɪn(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: culinary
of or for cooking.
"culinary skills"

libel
/ˈlʌɪb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: libel; plural noun: libels
1.
LAW
a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation.
"he was found guilty of a libel on a Liverpool inspector of taxes"
synonyms: defamation, defamation of character, character assassination, calumny,
misrepresentation, scandalmongering; aspersions, denigration, vilification, disparagement,
derogation, insult, slander, malicious gossip, tittle-tattle, traducement; lie, slur, smear, untruth,
false insinuation, false report, smear campaign, slight, innuendo, rumour; informalmud-slinging;
informalbad-mouthing; archaiccontumely
"she sued two national newspapers for libel"
the action or crime of publishing a libel.
"she sued two newspapers for libel"
synonyms: defamation, defamation of character, character assassination, calumny,
misrepresentation, scandalmongering; aspersions, denigration, vilification, disparagement,
derogation, insult, slander, malicious gossip, tittle-tattle, traducement; lie, slur, smear, untruth,
false insinuation, false report, smear campaign, slight, innuendo, rumour; informalmud-slinging;
informalbad-mouthing; archaiccontumely
"she sued two national newspapers for libel"
a false and typically malicious statement about a person.
synonyms: defamation, defamation of character, character assassination, calumny,
misrepresentation, scandalmongering; aspersions, denigration, vilification, disparagement,
derogation, insult, slander, malicious gossip, tittle-tattle, traducement; lie, slur, smear, untruth,
false insinuation, false report, smear campaign, slight, innuendo, rumour; informalmud-slinging;
informalbad-mouthing; archaiccontumely
"she sued two national newspapers for libel"
a thing that brings undeserved discredit on a person by misrepresentation.
2.
(in admiralty and ecclesiastical law) a plaintiff's written declaration.
verb
verb: libel; 3rd person present: libels; past tense: libelled; past participle: libelled; gerund or present
participle: libelling; past tense: libeled; past participle: libeled; gerund or present participle: libeling
1.
LAW
defame (someone) by publishing a libel.
"the jury found that he was libelled by a newspaper"
synonyms: defame, malign, slander, give someone a bad name, blacken someone's name, sully
someone's reputation, speak ill/evil of, write false reports about, traduce, smear, cast aspersions
on, fling mud at, drag someone's name through the mud/mire, besmirch, tarnish, taint, do a
hatchet job on, tell lies about, spread tales about, spread scandal about, stain, vilify, calumniate,
denigrate, disparage, run down, derogate, stigmatize, discredit, slight; slur; rareasperse
"she alleged the magazine had libelled her"
make a false and typically malicious statement about.
synonyms: defame, malign, slander, give someone a bad name, blacken someone's name, sully
someone's reputation, speak ill/evil of, write false reports about, traduce, smear, cast aspersions
on, fling mud at, drag someone's name through the mud/mire, besmirch, tarnish, taint, do a
hatchet job on, tell lies about, spread tales about, spread scandal about, stain, vilify, calumniate,
denigrate, disparage, run down, derogate, stigmatize, discredit, slight; slur; rareasperse
"she alleged the magazine had libelled her"
2.
(in admiralty and ecclesiastical law) bring a suit against.
"if a ship does you any injury you libel the ship"

maverick
/ˈmav(ə)rɪk/
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noun
noun: maverick; plural noun: mavericks
1.
an unorthodox or independent-minded person.
"he's the maverick of the senate"
synonyms: individualist, nonconformist, free spirit, unorthodox person, unconventional
person, original, trendsetter, bohemian, eccentric, outsider; rebel, dissenter, dissident; informalbad
boy
"he was too much of a maverick to fit into any formal organization"
antonyms: conformist
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
an unbranded calf or yearling.

vacuity
/vəˈkjuːɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: vacuity
1.
lack of thought or intelligence; empty-headedness.
"he denounced what he considered the frivolity or vacuity of much contemporary painting"
synonyms: empty-headedness, lack of thought, lack of intelligence, brainlessness, denseness,
thickness, vacuousness, vacancy, inaneness, inanity, stupidity
"the book's principal defect remains the vacuity of its protagonist"
antonyms: intelligence, depth
2.
empty space; emptiness.

beset
/bɪˈsɛt/
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verb
verb: beset; 3rd person present: besets; past tense: beset; past participle: beset; gerund or present
participle: besetting
1.
(of a problem or difficulty) trouble (someone or something) persistently.
"the social problems that beset the UK"
synonyms: plague, bedevil, attack, assail, beleaguer, afflict, torment, torture, rack, oppress,
trouble, worry, bother, harass, hound, harry, dog
"the social problems which beset the UK"
surround and harass.
"I was beset by clouds of flies"
synonyms: surround, besiege, hem in, shut in, fence in, box in, encircle, ring round, enclose
"they were beset by enemy forces"
hem in.
"the ship was beset by ice and finally sank"
2.
ARCHAIC
be covered or studded with.
"springy grass all beset with tiny jewel-like flowers"
Phrases
besetting sin — a fault to which a person or institution is especially prone.
"there was a danger of the country reverting to its besetting sin of complacency"
frenetic
/frəˈnɛtɪk/
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adjective
adjective: frenetic
fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way.
"a frenetic pace of activity"
synonyms: frantic, wild, frenzied, hectic, fraught, feverish, fevered, mad, manic, hyperactive,
energetic, intense, fast and furious, turbulent, tumultuous, confused, confusing; exciting, excited;
informalswivel-eyed
"the frenetic bustle of the metropolis"
antonyms: calm
Origin
late Middle English (in the sense ‘insane’): from Old French frenetique, via Latin from Greek
phrenitikos, from phrenitis ‘delirium’, from phrēn ‘mind’. Compare with frantic.
ideate
/ˈʌɪdɪeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verbPSYCHOLOGY
verb: ideate; 3rd person present: ideates; past tense: ideated; past participle: ideated; gerund or
present participle: ideating
form an idea of; imagine or conceive.
"the arc whose ideated centre is a nodal point in the composition"
form ideas; think.
unflagging
/ʌnˈflaɡɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: unflagging
tireless; persistent.
"his apparently unflagging enthusiasm impressed her"
synonyms: tireless, persistent, dogged, tenacious, determined, resolute, staunch, single-
minded, unremitting, unrelenting, unswerving, unfaltering, unfailing, unending, zealous
"an unflagging commitment to the ideals of peace"
antonyms: flagging, inconstant

chastity
/ˈtʃastɪti/
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noun
noun: chastity
the state or practice of refraining from extramarital, or especially from all, sexual intercourse.
"vows of chastity"
synonyms: celibacy, chasteness, virginity, abstinence, self-restraint, self-denial; singleness,
maidenhood, the unmarried state; innocence, purity, virtue, goodness, decency, morality, decorum,
modesty, wholesomeness; immaculateness; rarecontinence
"the Vestals were sworn to a life of chastity"
antonyms: promiscuity, immorality

chasm
/ˈkaz(ə)m/
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noun
noun: chasm; plural noun: chasms
a deep fissure in the earth's surface.
"a chasm a mile long"
synonyms: gorge, abyss, canyon, ravine, gully, gulf, pass, defile, couloir, crevasse, cleft, rift,
rent; pit, void, crater, cavity, hole, opening, gap, fissure, crevice, hollow; dialectchine, bunny;
clough, gill, thrutch; cleuch, heugh; gulch, coulee, flume; arroyo, barranca, quebrada; nullah, khud;
sloot, kloof, donga; rarekhor
"the ground dropped away into an awesome chasm"
a profound difference between people, viewpoints, feelings, etc.
"the chasm between rich and poor"
synonyms: breach, gulf, rift; division, schism, split, severance, rupture, break, break-up, parting
of the ways; separation, disunion, estrangement, alienation, difference, dissension, discord,
argument, quarrel; rarescission
"a chasm between theory and practice"
erstwhile
/ˈəːstwʌɪl/
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adjective
adjective: erstwhile
1.
former.
"the erstwhile president of the company"
synonyms: former, old, past, one-time, sometime, as was, ex-, late, then; previous, prior,
foregoing; formalquondam; archaicwhilom
"written in memory of the composer's erstwhile teacher"
antonyms: present, future
adverbARCHAIC
adverb: erstwhile
1.
formerly.
"Mary Anderson, erstwhile the queen of America's stage"
stint1
/stɪnt/
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verb
verb: stint; 3rd person present: stints; past tense: stinted; past participle: stinted; gerund or present
participle: stinting
1.
supply a very ungenerous or inadequate amount of (something).
"stowage room hasn't been stinted"
restrict (someone) in the amount of something, especially money, given or permitted.
"to avoid having to stint yourself, budget in advance"
be very economical or mean about spending or providing something.
"he doesn't stint on wining and dining"
synonyms: skimp on, scrimp on, be economical with, economize on, be sparing with, hold back
on, be frugal with; be mean with, be parsimonious with, be niggardly with; limit, restrict; pinch
pennies, spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar; informalbe stingy with, be mingy with, be tight-fisted
with, be tight with
"he doesn't stint on wining and dining"
noun
noun: stint; plural noun: stints
1.
a person's fixed or allotted period of work.
"his varied career included a stint as a magician"
synonyms: spell, stretch, period, time, turn, run, session, term; shift, tour of duty, watch
"his six-month stint on the surgical wards"
2.
limitation of supply or effort.
"a collector with an eye for quality and the means to indulge it without stint"
emulate
/ˈɛmjʊleɪt/
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verb
verb: emulate; 3rd person present: emulates; past tense: emulated; past participle: emulated;
gerund or present participle: emulating
match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation.
"most rulers wished to emulate Alexander the Great"
synonyms: imitate, copy, reproduce, mimic, mirror, echo, follow, model oneself on, take as a
model, take as an example; match, equal, parallel, be the equal of, be on a par with, be in the same
league as, come near to, come close to, approximate; compete with, contend with, rival, vie with,
surpass; informaltake a leaf out of someone's book
"they tried to emulate Lucy's glowing performance"
imitate.
"hers is not a hairstyle I wish to emulate"
COMPUTING
reproduce the function or action of (a different computer, software system, etc.).
"the adaptor is factory set to emulate a Hercules graphics board"

quitter
/ˈkwɪtə/
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nounINFORMAL
noun: quitter; plural noun: quitters
a person who gives up easily or does not have the courage or determination to finish a task.
"he's no quitter"

impoverish
/ɪmˈpɒv(ə)rɪʃ/
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verb
verb: impoverish; 3rd person present: impoverishes; past tense: impoverished; past participle:
impoverished; gerund or present participle: impoverishing
make (a person or area) poor.
"the wars had impoverished him"
synonyms: make poor, make penniless, reduce to penury, reduce to destitution, bring to ruin,
bring someone to their knees, bankrupt, ruin, make insolvent; wipe out, clean out, break, cripple;
rarepauperize, beggar
"a widow who had been impoverished by inflation"
poor, poverty-stricken, penniless, penurious, destitute, indigent, impecunious, needy, pauperized,
in distressed/reduced/straitened circumstances, in want, in need, down and out, on the breadline;
bankrupt, ruined, insolvent, wiped out, cleaned out, broken, crippled, without a penny to one's
name;
informalbroke, flat broke, stony broke, on one's uppers, strapped (for cash), on one's beam ends,
bust, hard up, without two pennies/farthings to rub together, without a bean, without a sou, as
poor as a church mouse, on skid row;
informalskint, without a shot in one's locker;
rhyming slangboracic (lint);
informalstone broke, without a red cent;
rarebeggared
"an impoverished peasant farmer"
antonyms: make wealthy, rich, wealthy
exhaust the strength or vitality of.
"the soil was impoverished by annual burning"
synonyms: weaken, sap, exhaust, drain, empty, diminish, deplete, enervate, suck dry;
informalbleed
"the trees were considered to be impoverishing the soil"
weakened, exhausted, drained, sapped, diminished, depleted, enervated, sucked dry, used up,
spent, played out;
barren, unproductive, unfertile, arid, uncultivatable
"the soil is impoverished"
antonyms: strengthen, enrich, rich, fertile

epitome
/ɪˈpɪtəmi,ɛˈpɪtəmi/
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noun
noun: epitome; plural noun: epitomes
1.
a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type.
"she looked the epitome of elegance and good taste"
synonyms: personification, embodiment, incarnation, paragon; essence, quintessence,
archetype, paradigm, typification, type; exemplar, definitive example, prototype; representation,
model, soul, example, byword, classic example/case; acme, ultimate, zenith, height; rareavatar
"he was the epitome of conservative respectability"
2.
a summary of a written work; an abstract.
synonyms: summary, abstract, synopsis, precis, résumé, outline, digest, recapitulation,
summation, compendium, potted version; abridgement, abbreviation, condensation; wrap-up;
archaicargument, summa; rareconspectus
"an epitome of a larger work"
antonyms: complete version, full text
ARCHAIC
a thing representing something else in miniature.
husky1
/ˈhʌski/
 Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: husky; comparative adjective: huskier; superlative adjective: huskiest
1.
(of a voice or utterance) sounding low-pitched and slightly hoarse.
"his voice became a husky, erotic whisper"
synonyms: throaty, gruff, deep, gravelly, hoarse, coarse, croaking, croaky, rough, rough-
sounding, thick, guttural, harsh, rasping, raspy
"his voice deepened to a husky growl"
antonyms: shrill, soft
2.
(of a person) big and strong.
"Paddy looked a husky, strong guy"
synonyms: strong, muscular, muscly, muscle-bound, brawny, hefty, burly, chunky, strapping,
thickset, solid, powerful, heavy, robust, rugged, sturdy, Herculean, big and strong, broad-
shouldered, well built, powerfully built, solidly built; informalbeefy, hunky, hulking, ripped,
shredded; informalbuff; datedstalwart; literarythewy, stark
"Paddy looked a husky guy"
antonyms: puny
3.
like or consisting of a husk or husks.
"the husky stem of a palm tree"

earmark
/ˈɪəmɑːk/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: earmark; 3rd person present: earmarks; past tense: earmarked; past participle: earmarked;
gerund or present participle: earmarking
1.
designate (funds or resources) for a particular purpose.
"the cash had been earmarked for a big expansion of the programme"
synonyms: set aside, lay aside, set apart, keep back, appropriate, reserve, keep; designate,
assign, label, tag, mark; allocate to, allot to, devote to, pledge to, commit to, give over to;
rarehypothecate
"the cash had been earmarked for a big expansion of the firm"
designate a particular outcome for (someone or something).
"the yard has been earmarked for a complete overhaul"
2.
mark the ear of (a domesticated animal) as a sign of ownership or identity.
noun
noun: earmark; plural noun: earmarks
1.
a characteristic or identifying feature.
"this car has all the earmarks of a classic"
synonyms: characteristic, attribute, feature, quality, essential quality, property, mark,
trademark, hallmark; mannerism, way, tendency; literarylineament
"he had all the earmarks of a big leaguer"
2.
US
a congressional directive that funds should be spent on a specific project.
3.
a mark on the ear of a domesticated animal indicating ownership or identity.
longevity
/lɒnˈdʒɛvɪti/
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noun
noun: longevity
long life.
"the greater longevity of women compared with men"
long existence or service.
"her longevity in office now appeared as a handicap to the party"

perforce
/pəˈfɔːs/
 Learn to pronounce
adverbFORMAL
adverb: perforce
used to express necessity or inevitability.
"amateurs, perforce, have to settle for less expensive solutions"
synonyms: necessarily, of necessity, inevitably, unavoidably, by force of circumstances, needs
must; nolens volens; informallike it or not
"amateurs, perforce, have to settle for less expensive solutions"

gabble
/ˈɡab(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: gabble; 3rd person present: gabbles; past tense: gabbled; past participle: gabbled; gerund or
present participle: gabbling
1.
talk rapidly and unintelligibly.
"he gabbled on in a panicky way until he was dismissed"
synonyms: jabber, babble, prattle, rattle, blabber, gibber, cackle, blab, drivel, twitter, splutter;
talk rapidly, talk incoherently, talk unintelligibly; informalwaffle, chunter, witter
"the hysterical child just gabbled at me"
noun
noun: gabble
1.
rapid unintelligible talk.
"she wasn't very good at the random gabble of teenagers"
synonyms: jabbering, babbling, chattering, gibbering, babble, chatter, rambling; gibberish,
drivel, twaddle, nonsense; informalflannel, blah, mumbo jumbo; informalwaffle, waffling,
chuntering, double Dutch
"the boozy gabble of the crowd"

entourage
/ˈɒntʊrɑːʒ,ˌɒntʊ(ə)ˈrɑːʒ/
 Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: entourage; plural noun: entourages
a group of people attending or surrounding an important person.
"an entourage of loyal courtiers"
synonyms: retinue, escort, company, cortège, train, suite, court, staff, bodyguard; attendants,
companions, followers, retainers, members of court, camp followers, associates, hangers-on;
informalgroupies
"the king's entourage"

intriguing
/ɪnˈtriːɡɪŋ/
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adjective
adjective: intriguing
arousing one's curiosity or interest; fascinating.
"an intriguing story"

intricate
/ˈɪntrɪkət/
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adjective
adjective: intricate
very complicated or detailed.
"an intricate network of canals"
synonyms: complex, complicated, convoluted, tangled, entangled, ravelled, twisted, knotty,
maze-like, labyrinthine, winding, serpentine, circuitous, sinuous; elaborate, ornate, detailed;
Byzantine, Daedalian, Gordian, involved, mixed up, difficult, hard; informalfiddly; rareinvolute,
involuted
"intricate Arabic patterns"
antonyms: simple, straightforward
intrinsic
/ɪnˈtrɪnsɪk/
 Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: intrinsic
belonging naturally; essential.
"access to the arts is intrinsic to a high quality of life"
synonyms: inherent, innate, inborn, inbred, congenital, natural, native, constitutional, built-in,
ingrained, deep-rooted, inseparable, permanent, indelible, ineradicable, ineffaceable; integral,
basic, fundamental, underlying, constitutive, elemental, essential, vital, necessary; rareconnate,
connatural
"pride was an intrinsic component of his personal make-up"
antonyms: extrinsic, acquired

clique
/kliːk/
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noun
noun: clique; plural noun: cliques
a small close-knit group of people who do not readily allow others to join them.
"his flat became a haven for a clique of young men of similar tastes"
synonyms: coterie, circle, inner circle, crowd, in-crowd, set, group; pack, band, ring, mob, crew;
club, society, fraternity, sorority, fellowship; camp; cartel, cabal, junta, caucus, cell, lobby; push;
informalgang, bunch; rarecamarilla
"his flat became a haven for a clique of young men of similar tastes"
effusion
/ɪˈfjuːʒ(ə)n/
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noun
noun: effusion; plural noun: effusions
1.
an instance of giving off something such as a liquid or gas.
"a massive effusion of poisonous gas"
synonyms: outflow, outpouring, outflowing, outrush, rush, current, flood, deluge, emission,
discharge, issue; spurt, surge, jet, fountain, cascade, spout, stream, torrent, gush, outburst, flow,
flux, welling, leakage, escape, voidance, drain, drainage, outflux, emanation, effluence, exudation;
technicalefflux
"a massive effusion of poisonous gas from a volcanic lake"
MEDICINE
an escape of fluid into a body cavity.
"middle ear effusions"
2.
an act of talking or writing in an unrestrained or heartfelt way.
"literary effusions"
synonyms: outburst, outpouring, gush, stream of words, flow of speech; utterance, wordiness,
speech, address, talk, words, writing(s); informalspiel, verbiage
"newspaper reporters' flamboyant effusions"

contingent
/kənˈtɪndʒ(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: contingent
1.
subject to chance.
"the contingent nature of the job"
synonyms: chance, accidental, fortuitous, possible, unforeseen, unforeseeable, unexpected,
unpredicted, unpredictable, unanticipated, unlooked-for; random, haphazard
"contingent events"
antonyms: predictable
(of losses, liabilities, etc.) that can be anticipated to arise if a particular event occurs.
PHILOSOPHY
true by virtue of the way things in fact are and not by logical necessity.
"that men are living creatures is a contingent fact"
2.
occurring or existing only if (certain circumstances) are the case; dependent on.
"his fees were contingent on the success of his search"
synonyms: dependent, conditional; subject to, based on, determined by, hingeing on, resting
on, hanging on, controlled by
"resolution of the conflict was contingent on the signing of a ceasefire"
noun
noun: contingent; plural noun: contingents
1.
a group of people sharing a common feature, forming part of a larger group.
"a contingent of Japanese businessmen attending a conference"
synonyms: group, party, body, band, set; deputation, delegation, mission; detachment, unit,
division, squadron, section, company, corps, cohort; informalbunch, gang
"a contingent of Japanese businessmen"
a body of troops or police sent to join a larger force.
"six warships were stationed off the coast with a contingent of 2,000 marines"
utilitarian
/jʊˌtɪlɪˈtɛːrɪən/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: utilitarian
1.
designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive.
"a utilitarian building"
synonyms: practical, functional, serviceable, useful, sensible, effective, efficient, (suited) to the
purpose, pragmatic, realistic, utility, working, workaday, handy, neat, ordinary, down-to-earth;
plain, unadorned, undecorative, unpretentious, unsentimental, soulless; hard-wearing, durable,
lasting, long-lasting, tough, strong, robust, wear-resistant
"coal-burning fires have been replaced with utilitarian heaters and radiators"
antonyms: decorative
2.
PHILOSOPHY
relating to or adhering to the doctrine of utilitarianism.
"a utilitarian theorist"

discreet
/dɪˈskriːt/
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adjective
adjective: discreet; comparative adjective: discreeter; superlative adjective: discreetest
careful and prudent in one's speech or actions, especially in order to keep something confidential
or to avoid embarrassment.
"we made some discreet inquiries"
synonyms: careful, circumspect, cautious, wary, chary, guarded, close-lipped, close-mouthed;
tactful, diplomatic, considerate, politic, prudent, judicious, strategic, wise, sensible; delicate, kid-
glove; informalsoftly-softly
"I'll make some discreet inquiries"
antonyms: indiscreet, rash
intentionally unobtrusive.
"a discreet cough"
synonyms: unobtrusive, inconspicuous; subtle, low-key, understated, subdued, muted, soft,
restrained, unostentatious, downbeat, low-profile
"the discreet lighting"
antonyms: obtrusive
skylight
/ˈskʌɪlʌɪt/
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noun
noun: skylight; plural noun: skylights
a window set in a roof or ceiling at the same angle.
hurtle
/ˈhəːt(ə)l/
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verb
verb: hurtle; 3rd person present: hurtles; past tense: hurtled; past participle: hurtled; gerund or
present participle: hurtling
move or cause to move at high speed, typically in an uncontrolled manner.
"a runaway car hurtled towards them"
synonyms: speed, rush, race, chase, bolt, bowl, dash, career, careen, cannon, sweep, whizz,
buzz, zoom, flash, blast, charge, shoot, streak, run, gallop, stampede, hare, fly, wing, scurry, scud,
go like the wind; informalbelt, pelt, tear, scoot, tool, zap, zip, whip, burn rubber, go like a bat out of
hell; informalbomb, bucket, shift, go like the clappers; informalclip, boogie, hightail, barrel;
archaicpost, hie
"a runaway car hurtled towards them"
antonyms: go slowly

salutary
/ˈsaljʊt(ə)ri/
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adjective
adjective: salutary
(especially with reference to something unwelcome or unpleasant) producing good effects;
beneficial.
"it failed to draw salutary lessons from Britain's loss of its colonies"
synonyms: beneficial, good, good for one, advantageous, profitable, productive, helpful,
useful, of use, of service, valuable, worthwhile, practical; relevant, timely
"those incidents are a salutary reminder of the dedication of police officers"
antonyms: unwelcome, irrelevant
ARCHAIC
health-giving.
"the salutary Atlantic air"
synonyms: healthy, health-giving, healthful, salubrious, beneficial, good for one's health,
wholesome
"the salutary Atlantic air"
antonyms: unhealthy, unwholesome
macabre
/məˈkɑːbr(ə)/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: macabre
disturbing because concerned with or causing a fear of death.
"a macabre series of murders"
synonyms: gruesome, grisly, grim, gory, morbid, ghastly, unearthly, lurid, grotesque, hideous,
horrific, horrible, horrifying, horrid, horrendous, terrifying, frightening, frightful, fearsome,
shocking, dreadful, appalling, loathsome, repugnant, repulsive, sickening
"a macabre ritual"
black, weird, unhealthy, sick
"a macabre joke"
macerate
/ˈmasəreɪt/
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verb
verb: macerate; 3rd person present: macerates; past tense: macerated; past participle: macerated;
gerund or present participle: macerating
1.
(especially with reference to food) soften or become softened by soaking in a liquid.
"macerate the mustard seeds in vinegar"
synonyms: pulp, mash, squash, soften, liquefy, soak, steep, infuse
"macerate the seeds in a vinegar solution"
2.
ARCHAIC
cause to waste away by fasting.
"these men lodged in tombs and macerated themselves with fasting"

fiat
/ˈfiːat,ˈfʌɪat/
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noun
noun: fiat; plural noun: fiats
a formal authorization or proposition; a decree.
"the reforms left most prices fixed by government fiat"
synonyms: decree, edict, order, command, commandment, injunction, proclamation, mandate,
dictum, diktat, promulgation, precept; ukase; pronunciamento; rarerescript, firman, decretal, irade
"a political union was imposed through imperial fiat"
an arbitrary order.
supplant
/səˈplɑːnt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: supplant; 3rd person present: supplants; past tense: supplanted; past participle: supplanted;
gerund or present participle: supplanting
supersede and replace.
"domestic production has been supplanted by imports and jobs have been lost"
synonyms: replace, displace, supersede, take the place of, take over from, substitute for,
undermine, override
"vast impersonal motorways supplanted the agreeably irregular network of real roads"
oust, usurp, overthrow, remove, topple, unseat, depose, dethrone, eject, dispel;
succeed, come after, step into the shoes of;
informalfill someone's boots, crowd out, defenestrate
"he was asking the man he supplanted as Prime Minister for help"
dalliance
/ˈdalɪəns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: dalliance; plural noun: dalliances
a casual romantic or sexual relationship.
"Jack was not averse to an occasional dalliance with a pretty girl"
a period of brief or casual involvement with something.
"Berkeley was my last dalliance with the education system"
janitor
/ˈdʒanɪtə/
Learn to pronounce
nounNORTH AMERICAN
noun: janitor; plural noun: janitors
a caretaker or doorkeeper of a building.
synonyms: caretaker, custodian, porter, concierge, doorkeeper, doorman, steward, warden,
watchman; cleaner, maintenance man; superintendent
caricature
/ˈkarɪkətjʊə,ˈkarɪkətʃɔː/
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noun
noun: caricature; plural noun: caricatures
1.
a picture, description, or imitation of a person in which certain striking characteristics are
exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect.
"a crude caricature of the Prime Minister"
synonyms: cartoon, distorted/exaggerated drawing, distortion; parody, satire, lampoon,
burlesque, mimicry, travesty, farce, skit, squib; informalsend-up, take-off, spoof; rarepasquinade
"a crude caricature of the Prime Minister"
a ludicrous or grotesque version of someone or something.
"he looked a caricature of his normal self"
verb
verb: caricature; 3rd person present: caricatures; past tense: caricatured; past participle:
caricatured; gerund or present participle: caricaturing
1.
make or give a caricature of.
"he was famous enough to be caricatured by Private Eye"
synonyms: parody, satirize, lampoon, mimic, ridicule, mock, make fun of, burlesque; distort,
exaggerate; informalsend up, take off
"she has turned her acute eye and pen to caricaturing her fellow actors"
exemplify
/ɪɡˈzɛmplɪfʌɪ,ɛɡˈzɛmplɪfʌɪ/
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verb
verb: exemplify; 3rd person present: exemplifies; past tense: exemplified; past participle:
exemplified; gerund or present participle: exemplifying
1.
be a typical example of.
"the best dry sherry is exemplified by the fino of Jerez"
synonyms: typify, epitomize, be a typical example of, serve as a typical example of, represent,
be representative of, symbolize; More
2.
illustrate or clarify by giving an example.
"he exemplified his point with an anecdote"
synonyms: illustrate, give an example of, give an instance of, demonstrate, instance;
rareinstantiate
"he exemplified his point with an anecdote"
apprehension
/aprɪˈhɛnʃ(ə)n/
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noun
noun: apprehension; plural noun: apprehensions
1.
anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
"he felt sick with apprehension"
synonyms: anxiety, angst, alarm, worry, uneasiness, unease, nervousness, misgiving, disquiet,
concern, agitation, restlessness, edginess, fidgetiness, nerves, tension, trepidation, perturbation,
consternation, panic, fearfulness, dread, fear, shock, horror, terror; foreboding, presentiment;
informalbutterflies in the stomach, the willies, the heebie-jeebies
"he had been filled with apprehension at having to report his failure"
antonyms: confidence
2.
understanding; grasp.
"his first apprehension of such large issues"
synonyms: understanding, grasp, comprehension, realization, recognition, appreciation,
discernment, perception, awareness, cognizance, consciousness, penetration
"she was popular because of her quick apprehension of the wishes of the people"
3.
the action of arresting someone.
"they acted with intent to prevent lawful apprehension"
synonyms: arrest, capture, seizure, catching; detention, imprisonment, incarceration;
informalcollaring, nabbing, nailing, pinching, bust, busting; informalnick
"police activity centred around the apprehension of a perpetrator"

altruistic
/altruːˈɪstɪk/
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adjective
adjective: altruistic
showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish.
"it was an entirely altruistic act"
synonyms: unselfish, selfless, self-sacrificing, self-denying; considerate, compassionate, kind,
decent, noble, public-spirited; generous, magnanimous, ungrudging, unstinting, charitable,
benevolent, beneficent, liberal, open-handed, free-handed, philanthropic, humanitarian;
literarybounteous
"a wholly altruistic desire to help"
antonyms: selfish
assiduous
/əˈsɪdjʊəs/
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adjective
adjective: assiduous
showing great care and perseverance.
"she was assiduous in pointing out every feature"
synonyms: diligent, careful, meticulous, thorough, sedulous, attentive, industrious, laborious,
hard-working, conscientious, ultra-careful, punctilious, painstaking, demanding, exacting,
persevering, unflagging, searching, close, elaborate, minute, accurate, correct, studious, rigorous,
particular; religious, strict; pedantic, fussy
"she was assiduous in pointing out every feature"
clairvoyant
/klɛːˈvɔɪənt/
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noun
noun: clairvoyant; plural noun: clairvoyants; noun: clairvoyante; plural noun: clairvoyantes
1.
a person who claims to have a supernatural ability to perceive events in the future or beyond
normal sensory contact.
"she has had a message from a clairvoyant that her son is alive and well"
synonyms: psychic, fortune teller, forecaster of the future, crystal gazer, prophet, seer,
soothsayer, oracle; medium, spiritualist; telepathist, telepath, mind reader; palmist, palm reader,
chiromancer; rarechirosophist, spiritist, palmister
"a woman claiming to be a clairvoyant"
adjective
adjective: clairvoyant
1.
having or exhibiting clairvoyance.
"he didn't tell me about it and I'm not clairvoyant"
synonyms: psychic, with second sight, with a sixth sense, prophetic, visionary, oracular;
telepathic, extrasensory; raresecond-sighted
"he didn't tell me about it and I'm not clairvoyant"

clientele
/ˌkliːɒnˈtɛl/
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noun
noun: clientele; plural noun: clienteles
clients collectively.
"the solicitor's clientele"
the customers of a shop, bar, or place of entertainment.
"the dancers don't mix with the clientele"
concomitant
/kənˈkɒmɪt(ə)nt/
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FORMAL
adjective
adjective: concomitant
1.
naturally accompanying or associated.
"she loved travel, with all its concomitant worries"
synonyms: attendant, accompanying, associated, collateral, related, connected, linked;
accessory, auxiliary; resultant, resulting, consequent
"the rise of urbanism brought a concomitant risk of crime"
antonyms: unrelated
noun
noun: concomitant; plural noun: concomitants
1.
a phenomenon that naturally accompanies or follows something.
"he sought promotion without the necessary concomitant of hard work"

corrigible
/ˈkɒrɪdʒɪb(ə)l/
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adjective
adjective: corrigible
capable of being corrected, rectified, or reformed.

cortège
/kɔːˈteɪʒ,kɔːˈtɛʒ/
noun
noun: cortège; plural noun: cortèges
a solemn procession, especially for a funeral.
"a funeral cortège"
synonyms: procession, parade, cavalcade, motorcade, carcade, convoy, caravan, train, column,
file, line, trail, chain, rank, troop; march-past; informalcrocodile
"the funeral cortège moved solemnly down the road"
a person's entourage or retinue.
"his entourage became an ever-present cortège wherever he went"
synonyms: entourage, retinue, train, suite, escort, court, company, attendant company;
attendants, aides, associates, companions, followers, retainers
"the prince had an ever-present cortège"
desiccate
/ˈdɛsɪkeɪt/
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verb
verb: desiccate; 3rd person present: desiccates; past tense: desiccated; past participle: desiccated;
gerund or present participle: desiccating
remove the moisture from (something); cause to become completely dry.
"both the older growth and the new vegetation were desiccated by months of relentless sun"
synonyms: dried, dried up, dry, dehydrated, powdered
"desiccated coconut"
antonyms: moist
digress
/dʌɪˈɡrɛs/
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verb
verb: digress; 3rd person present: digresses; past tense: digressed; past participle: digressed;
gerund or present participle: digressing
leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing.
"I have digressed a little from my original plan"
synonyms: deviate, go off at a tangent, diverge, turn aside, turn away, depart, drift, stray,
ramble, wander, meander, maunder; get off the subject, stray from the subject, stray from the
point, deviate from the topic, get sidetracked, lose the thread; raredivagate
"I have digressed a little from my original plan"
antonyms: keep/stick to the point

discrepancy
/dɪsˈkrɛp(ə)nsi/
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noun
noun: discrepancy; plural noun: discrepancies
an illogical or surprising lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts.
"there's a discrepancy between your account and his"
synonyms: inconsistency, difference, disparity, variance, variation, deviation, divergence,
disagreement, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, mismatch, lack of similarity, contrariety,
contradictoriness, disaccord, discordance, incongruity, lack of congruence, incompatibility,
irreconcilability, conflict, opposition
"the discrepancy between the two sets of figures"
antonyms: similarity, correspondence

ecumenical
/ˌiːkjʊˈmɛnɪk(ə)l,ɛkjʊˈmɛnɪk(ə)l/
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adjective
adjective: ecumenical; adjective: oecumenical
representing a number of different Christian Churches.
"he was a member of ecumenical committees"
synonyms: non-denominational, non-sectarian, universal, catholic, all-embracing, all-inclusive
"an ecumenical church service"
antonyms: denominational
promoting or relating to unity among the world's Christian Churches.
"the ecumenical movement"
effervescent
/ɛfəˈvɛsənt/
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adjective
adjective: effervescent
1.
(of a liquid) giving off bubbles; fizzy.
"an effervescent mixture of cheap wine, fruit flavours, sugar, and carbon dioxide"
synonyms: fizzy, sparkling, carbonated, aerated, gassy, bubbly, bubbling, fizzing, foaming,
frothy; mousseux, pétillant; spumante, frizzante; Schaum-, Perl-
"an effervescent drink"
antonyms: still, flat
2.
vivacious and enthusiastic.
"effervescent young people"
synonyms: vivacious, lively, animated, full of life, spirited, high-spirited, bubbling, bubbly,
ebullient, buoyant, sparkling, scintillating, light-hearted, carefree, happy-go-lucky, jaunty, merry,
happy, jolly, joyful, full of fun, full of the joys of spring, cheery, cheerful, perky, sunny, airy, breezy,
bright, enthusiastic, irrepressible, vibrant, vivid, vital, zestful, energetic, dynamic, vigorous, full of
vim and vigour, lusty; informalbright-eyed and bushy-tailed, bright and breezy, peppy, zingy, zippy,
bouncy, upbeat, chirpy, full of beans, chipper; informalpeart; datedgay
"thousands of effervescent young people"
antonyms: depressed
emancipation
/ɪˌmansɪˈpeɪʃ(ə)n/
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noun
noun: emancipation; plural noun: emancipations
the fact or process of being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions; liberation.
"the social and political emancipation of women"
synonyms: freeing, liberation, liberating, setting free, release, releasing, letting loose/out,
setting loose/free, discharge; unchaining, unfettering, unshackling, untying, unyoking, uncaging,
unbridling; freedom, liberty; historicalmanumission; raredisenthralment
"the emancipation of the serfs"
antonyms: enslavement, slavery
the freeing of someone from slavery.
"the early struggle for emancipation from slavery"
fallacious
/fəˈleɪʃəs/
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adjective
adjective: fallacious
based on a mistaken belief.
"fallacious arguments"
synonyms: erroneous, false, untrue, wrong, incorrect, faulty, flawed, inaccurate, inexact,
imprecise, mistaken, misinformed, misguided, misleading, deceptive, delusive, delusory, illusory,
sophistic, specious, fictitious, spurious, fabricated, distorted, made up, trumped up; baseless,
groundless, unfounded, foundationless, unsubstantiated, unproven, unsupported, uncorroborated,
ill-founded, without basis, without foundation; informalbogus, phoney, iffy, dicey, full of holes,
(way) off beam; informaldodgy
"the fallacious assumption underlying this reasoning"
antonyms: true, correct
flabbergast
/ˈflabəɡɑːst/
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verbINFORMAL
past tense: flabbergasted; past participle: flabbergasted
surprise (someone) greatly; astonish.
"this news has left me totally flabbergasted"
synonyms: astonish, astound, amaze, surprise, startle, shock, take aback, take by surprise;
dumbfound, strike dumb, render speechless, stun, stagger, stop someone in their tracks, take
someone's breath away, confound, daze, overcome, overwhelm, nonplus, stupefy, disconcert,
unsettle, bewilder; informalbowl over, knock for six, knock sideways, knock the stuffing out of,
floor; informalgobsmack
"we were flabbergasted when we found out"
flagrant
/ˈfleɪɡr(ə)nt/
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adjective
adjective: flagrant
(of an action considered wrong or immoral) conspicuously or obviously offensive.
"a flagrant violation of the law"
synonyms: blatant, glaring, obvious, overt, evident, conspicuous; naked, barefaced, shameless,
brazen, audacious, brass-necked; undisguised, unconcealed, patent, transparent, manifest,
palpable; out and out, utter, complete; outrageous, scandalous, shocking, disgraceful,
reprehensible, dreadful, terrible; gross, enormous, heinous, atrocious, monstrous, wicked,
iniquitous, villainous; archaicarrant
"a flagrant disregard for human rights"
antonyms: unobtrusive, slight
flamboyant1
/flamˈbɔɪənt/
 Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: flamboyant
1.
(of a person or their behaviour) tending to attract attention because of their exuberance,
confidence, and stylishness.
"the band's flamboyant lead singer"
synonyms: ostentatious, exuberant, confident, lively, buoyant, animated, energetic, vibrant,
vivacious, extravagant, theatrical, showy, swashbuckling, dashing, rakish; informalover the top
(OTT), fancy-pants
"she was famed for her flamboyant personality"
antonyms: modest, restrained
bright, colourful, and very noticeable.
"a flamboyant bow tie"
synonyms: colourful, brilliantly coloured, brightly coloured, bright, rich, vibrant, vivid; exciting,
dazzling, eye-catching, bold, splendid, resplendent, glamorous; showy, gaudy, garish, lurid, loud,
flashy, brash, ostentatious; informaljazzy; datedgay
"a flamboyant cravat"
antonyms: dull, restrained
2.
ARCHITECTURE
of or denoting a style of French Gothic architecture marked by wavy flame-like tracery and ornate
decoration.
synonyms: elaborate, ornate, fancy; baroque, rococo, arabesque
"a flamboyant architectural style"
antonyms: simple

foyer
/ˈfɔɪeɪ/
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noun
noun: foyer; plural noun: foyers
an entrance hall or other open area in a building used by the public, especially a hotel or theatre.
"the foyer of the concert hall"
synonyms: entrance hall, hall, hallway, entrance, entry, porch, portico, reception area, atrium,
concourse, lobby, vestibule, anteroom, antechamber, outer room, waiting room; entryway
"I'll meet you in the hotel foyer"
NORTH AMERICAN
an entrance hall in a house or flat.
Origin
holocaust
/ˈhɒləkɔːst/
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noun
noun: holocaust; plural noun: holocausts
1.
destruction or slaughter on a mass scale, especially caused by fire or nuclear war.
"a nuclear holocaust"
synonyms: cataclysm, disaster, catastrophe, destruction, devastation, demolition, annihilation,
ravaging; inferno, fire, conflagration; massacre, slaughter, mass murder, carnage, butchery,
extermination, liquidation, genocide, ethnic cleansing
"apocalyptic thoughts have surfaced due to the spectre of a nuclear holocaust"
the mass murder of Jews under the German Nazi regime during the period 1941–5. More than 6
million European Jews, as well as members of other persecuted groups, were murdered at
concentration camps such as Auschwitz.
noun: the Holocaust
2.
HISTORICAL
a Jewish sacrificial offering which was burnt completely on an altar.
idiosyncrasy
/ˌɪdɪə(ʊ)ˈsɪŋkrəsi/
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noun
noun: idiosyncrasy; plural noun: idiosyncrasies
1.
a mode of behaviour or way of thought peculiar to an individual.
"one of his little idiosyncrasies was always preferring to be in the car first"
a distinctive or peculiar feature or characteristic of a place or thing.
"the idiosyncrasies of the prison system"
synonyms: peculiarity, individual/personal trait, oddity, eccentricity, mannerism, quirk, whim,
whimsy, fancy, fad, vagary, notion, conceit, caprice, kink, twist, freak, fetish, passion, bent, foible,
crotchet, habit, characteristic, speciality, quality, feature; individuality; unconventionality,
unorthodoxy; archaicmegrim; raresingularity
"his idiosyncrasies included the recycling of cigar butts"
2.
MEDICINE
an abnormal physical reaction by an individual to a food or drug.

illustrious
/ɪˈlʌstrɪəs/
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adjective
adjective: illustrious
well known, respected, and admired for past achievements.
"his illustrious predecessor"
synonyms: eminent, distinguished, acclaimed, noted, notable, noteworthy, prominent, pre-
eminent, foremost, leading, paramount, prestigious, important, significant, influential, lionized;
renowned, famous, famed, well known, celebrated; esteemed, honoured, respected, exalted,
venerable, august, highly regarded, well thought of, of distinction, of repute, of high standing;
splendid, brilliant, remarkable, outstanding, great, noble, glorious, grand, lofty
"an illustrious general"
antonyms: unknown, obscure

imbroglio
/ɪmˈbrəʊlɪəʊ/
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noun
plural noun: imbroglios
an extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation.
"the abdication imbroglio of 1936"
synonyms: complicated situation, complication, complexity, problem, difficulty, predicament,
plight, trouble, entanglement, confusion, muddle, mess, quandary, dilemma; informalbind, jam,
pickle, fix, scrape, corner, tight corner, hole, sticky situation, mare's nest, hot water, deep water
"a man caught up in a political imbroglio"
ARCHAIC
a confused heap.
impasse
/amˈpɑːs,ˈampɑːs/
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noun
noun: impasse; plural noun: impasses
a situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement; a deadlock.
"the current political impasse"
synonyms: deadlock, dead end, stalemate, checkmate, stand-off; standstill, halt, stop,
stoppage, full stop
"the negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse"

impertinent
/ɪmˈpəːtɪnənt/
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adjective
adjective: impertinent
1.
not showing proper respect; rude.
"an impertinent question"
synonyms: rude, insolent, impolite, unmannerly, ill-mannered, bad-mannered, uncivil,
discourteous, disrespectful; impudent, cheeky, audacious, bold, brazen, brash, shameless,
presumptuous, forward, pert; tactless, undiplomatic, unsubtle, personal; informalbrass-necked,
fresh, flip; informalsaucy; informalsassy, nervy; archaicmalapert, contumelious; raremannerless
"she asked a lot of impertinent questions"
antonyms: polite
2.
FORMAL
not pertinent to a particular matter; irrelevant.
"talk of ‘rhetoric’ and ‘strategy’ is impertinent to this process"
synonyms: irrelevant, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, immaterial, unrelated,
unconnected, not germane; beside the point, out of place, nothing to do with it, neither here nor
there
"talk of ‘rhetoric’ is impertinent to this process"
antonyms: relevant, pertinent
impetuous
/ɪmˈpɛtjʊəs/
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adjective
adjective: impetuous
acting or done quickly and without thought or care.
"she might live to rue this impetuous decision"
synonyms: impulsive, rash, hasty, overhasty, reckless, heedless, foolhardy, incautious,
imprudent, injudicious, ill-conceived, ill-considered, unplanned, unreasoned, unthought-out,
unthinking; spontaneous, impromptu, spur-of-the-moment, precipitate, precipitous, headlong,
hurried, rushed
"she might live to regret this impetuous decision"
antonyms: cautious, considered
moving forcefully or rapidly.
"an impetuous but controlled flow of water"
synonyms: torrential, powerful, forceful, vigorous, violent, raging, rampant, relentless,
unrestrained, uncontrolled, unbridled; rapid, fast, fast-flowing, rushing
"an impetuous flow of water"
antonyms: sluggish, weak

impromptu
/ɪmˈprɒm(p)tjuː/
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adjective & adverb
adjective: impromptu; adverb: impromptu
1.
done without being planned or rehearsed.
"an impromptu press conference"
synonyms: unrehearsed, unprepared, unscripted, extempore, extemporized, improvised,
improvisational, improvisatory, improvisatorial, spontaneous, unstudied, unpremeditated,
unarranged, unplanned, on the spot, snap, ad lib; ad hoc, thrown together, cobbled together, rough
and ready; ad libitum; informaloff-the-cuff, spur-of-the-moment; rareextemporaneous
"he gave an impromptu lecture"
extempore, spontaneously, without preparation, without rehearsal, on the spur of the moment,
offhand, ad lib;
ad libitum;
informaloff the cuff, off the top of one's head;
rareextemporaneously
"they played the song impromptu"
antonyms: prepared, rehearsed
noun
noun: impromptu; plural noun: impromptus
1.
a short piece of instrumental music, especially a solo, that is reminiscent of an improvisation.
ineffable
/ɪnˈɛfəb(ə)l/
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adjective
adjective: ineffable
too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
"the ineffable mysteries of the soul"
synonyms: inexpressible, indescribable, beyond words, beyond description, beggaring
description; undefinable, unutterable, untold, unheard of, unthought of, unimaginable;
overwhelming, marvellous, wonderful, breathtaking, staggering, astounding, amazing, astonishing,
fantastic, fabulous
"the ineffable natural beauty of the Everglades"
unutterable, not to be uttered, not to be spoken, not to be said, unmentionable;
taboo, forbidden, off limits, out of bounds;
informalno go
"the ineffable name of God"
not to be uttered.
"the ineffable Hebrew name that gentiles write as Jehovah"
infallible
/ɪnˈfalɪb(ə)l/
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adjective
adjective: infallible
incapable of making mistakes or being wrong.
"doctors are not infallible"
synonyms: unerring, error-free, unfailing, faultless, flawless, impeccable, perfect, true,
uncanny, precise, accurate, meticulous, scrupulous; informalspot on; informalon the money
"she had an infallible sense of timing"
never failing; always effective.
"infallible cures"
synonyms: unfailing, never failing, always effective, guaranteed, dependable, trustworthy,
reliable, sure, certain, safe, sound, tried and tested, foolproof, effective, efficacious; informalsure-
fire
"infallible cures for a variety of ailments"
(in the Roman Catholic Church) credited with papal infallibility.
"for an encyclical to be infallible the Pope must speak ex cathedra"
intermittent
/ɪntəˈmɪt(ə)nt/
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adjective
adjective: intermittent
occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady.
"intermittent rain"
synonyms: sporadic, irregular, fitful, spasmodic, broken, fragmentary, discontinuous,
disconnected, isolated, odd, random, patchy, scattered; on again and off again, on and off, in fits
and starts; occasional, periodic, cyclic, recurrent, recurring
"they heard intermittent bursts of gunfire"
antonyms: continuous, steady

itinerary
/ʌɪˈtɪn(ə)(rə)ri,ɪˈtɪn(ə)(rə)ri/
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noun
noun: itinerary; plural noun: itineraries
a planned route or journey.
"his itinerary included an official visit to Canada"
a travel document recording a route or journey.
"we will send you an itinerary"
synonyms: planned route, route, journey, way, road, path, course; travel plan, schedule,
timetable, programme, travel arrangements, flight plan; tour, circuit, round
"the ancient university town of Cambridge should be on every visitor's itinerary"
lascivious
/ləˈsɪvɪəs/
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adjective
adjective: lascivious
feeling or revealing an overt sexual interest or desire.
"he gave her a lascivious wink"
synonyms: lecherous, lewd, lustful, licentious, libidinous, goatish, salacious, wanton, lubricious,
prurient, dirty, smutty, filthy, naughty, suggestive, indecent, ribald; debauched, depraved,
degenerate, dissolute, dissipated, unchaste, loose; informalhorny, blue; informalrandy;
rareconcupiscent, lickerish
"there was a lascivious glint in his eyes"
antonyms: puritanical, ascetic
loquacious
/ləˈkweɪʃəs/
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adjective
adjective: loquacious
tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
"never loquacious, Sarah was now totally lost for words"
synonyms: talkative, garrulous, voluble, over-talkative, long-winded, wordy, verbose, profuse,
prolix, effusive, gushing, rambling; communicative; chatty, gossipy, gossiping, chattering, chattery,
babbling, blathering, gibbering; informalwith the gift of the gab, having kissed the blarney stone,
yakking, big-mouthed, gabby, gassy, talky; raremultiloquent, multiloquous
"he was a loquacious and precocious boy"
antonyms: reticent, taciturn

precocious
/prɪˈkəʊʃəs/
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adjective
adjective: precocious
(of a child) having developed certain abilities or inclinations at an earlier age than is usual or
expected.
"a precocious, solitary boy"
synonyms: advanced, old beyond one's years, forward, ahead of one's peers, mature,
prematurely developed, ahead, gifted, talented, clever, intelligent, quick; informalsmart; rarerathe-
ripe
"some of the boys were extremely precocious"
antonyms: backward, slow
(of behaviour or ability) having developed at an earlier age than is usual or expected.
"a precocious talent for computing"
(of a plant) flowering or fruiting earlier than usual.
macabre
/məˈkɑːbr(ə)/
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adjective
adjective: macabre
disturbing because concerned with or causing a fear of death.
"a macabre series of murders"
synonyms: gruesome, grisly, grim, gory, morbid, ghastly, unearthly, lurid, grotesque, hideous,
horrific, horrible, horrifying, horrid, horrendous, terrifying, frightening, frightful, fearsome,
shocking, dreadful, appalling, loathsome, repugnant, repulsive, sickening
"a macabre ritual"
black, weird, unhealthy, sick
"a macabre joke"

manoeuvre
/məˈnuːvə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: maneuver
1.
a movement or series of moves requiring skill and care.
"snowboarders performed daring manoeuvres on precipitous slopes"
synonyms: operation, exercise, activity, move, movement, action
"a tricky parking manoeuvre"
a carefully planned or cunning scheme or action.
"shady financial manoeuvres"
synonyms: stratagem, tactic, gambit, ploy, trick, dodge, ruse, plan, scheme, operation, device,
plot, machination, artifice, subterfuge, intrigue, palace intrigue, manipulation; démarche;
informalwangle
"a series of diplomatic manoeuvres"
the fact or process of taking carefully planned or cunning action.
"the economic policy provided no room for manoeuvre"
2.
a large-scale military exercise of troops, warships, and other forces.
"the Russian vessel was on manoeuvres"
synonyms: training exercises, exercises, war games, operations
"large-scale military manoeuvres"
verb
verb: maneuver
1.
move skilfully or carefully.
"the lorry was unable to manoeuvre comfortably in the narrow street"
synonyms: steer, guide, drive, negotiate, navigate, pilot, direct, manipulate, move, work,
jockey
"I manoeuvred the car into a parking space"
2.
carefully guide or manipulate (someone or something) in order to achieve an end.
"they were manoeuvring him into betraying his friend"
synonyms: intrigue, plot, scheme, plan, lay plans, conspire, pull strings; pull wires;
raremachinate
"he began manoeuvring for the party leadership"
manipulate a situation to achieve an end.
"Rann was manoeuvring to elope with the girl"
synonyms: manipulate, contrive, manage, engineer, devise, plan, plot, fix, organize, arrange,
set up, orchestrate, choreograph, stage-manage; informalwangle
"he had manoeuvred things to suit himself"
meticulous
/mɪˈtɪkjʊləs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: meticulous
showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
"the designs are hand-glazed with meticulous care"
synonyms: careful, conscientious, diligent, ultra-careful, scrupulous, punctilious, painstaking,
demanding, exacting, accurate, correct; thorough, studious, rigorous, detailed, perfectionist,
fastidious, methodical, particular, strict; pedantic, fussy; white-glove; archaicnice, laborious
"meticulous attention to detail"
antonyms: careless, sloppy, slapdash
misdemeanour
/mɪsdɪˈmiːnə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: misdemeanour; plural noun: misdemeanours; noun: misdemeanor; plural noun:
misdemeanors
1.
a minor wrongdoing.
"the player can expect a suspension for his latest misdemeanour"
synonyms: wrongdoing, evil deed, crime, felony, criminal act; misdeed, misconduct, offence,
violation, error, peccadillo, transgression, sin; archaictrespass
"he preferred to turn a blind eye to his son's misdemeanours"
2.
LAW
a non-indictable offence, regarded in the US (and formerly in the UK) as less serious than a felony.
"he pleaded guilty to misdemeanours"
misogynist
/mɪˈsɒdʒ(ə)nɪst/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: misogynist; plural noun: misogynists
1.
a person who dislikes, despises, or is strongly prejudiced against women.
"a bachelor and renowned misogynist"
synonyms: woman-hater, anti-feminist, male chauvinist, male supremacist, chauvinist, sexist;
informalmale chauvinist pig, MCP
"a bachelor and renowned misogynist"
moratorium
/ˌmɒrəˈtɔːrɪəm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: moratorium; plural noun: moratoria; plural noun: moratoriums
a temporary prohibition of an activity.
"a moratorium on the use of drift nets"
synonyms: embargo, ban, prohibition, suspension, postponement, stay, stoppage, halt, freeze,
standstill, respite, hiatus, delay, deferment, deferral, adjournment
"a temporary moratorium on all nuclear testing"
LAW
a legal authorization to debtors to postpone payment.
"the debt was to be subject to a five-year moratorium"
paraphernalia
/ˌparəfəˈneɪlɪə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: paraphernalia
miscellaneous articles, especially the equipment needed for a particular activity.
"drills, saws, and other paraphernalia necessary for home improvements"
synonyms: equipment, stuff, things, apparatus, tackle, kit, implements, tools, utensils,
material(s), appliances, rig, outfit, accoutrements, appurtenances, impedimenta, miscellaneous
articles, odds and ends, bits and pieces, bits and bobs, trappings, accessories; informalgear, junk,
rubbish, the necessary, traps; informalclobber, gubbins, odds and sods; dateddunnage;
archaicequipage
"the paraphernalia necessary for home improvements"
trappings associated with a particular institution or activity that are regarded as superfluous.
"the rituals and paraphernalia of government"
parsimonious
/ˌpɑːsɪˈməʊnɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: parsimonious
very unwilling to spend money or use resources.
"even the parsimonious Joe paid for drinks all round"
synonyms: mean, miserly, niggardly, close-fisted, penny-pinching, cheese-paring, ungenerous,
penurious, illiberal, close, grasping, Scrooge-like, stinting, sparing, frugal; informaltight-fisted,
stingy, tight, mingy, money-grubbing, skinflinty; informalcheap; vulgar slangtight-arsed; vulgar
slangtight as a duck's arse; archaicnear
antonyms: generous, extravagant, lavish

perilous
/ˈpɛrɪləs/
 Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: perilous
full of danger or risk.
"a perilous journey south"
synonyms: dangerous, fraught with danger, hazardous, risky, unsafe, treacherous; precarious,
vulnerable, uncertain, insecure, critical, desperate, exposed, at risk, in jeopardy, in danger, touch-
and-go; problematic, difficult; informalhairy, dicey; informalgnarly; archaicparlous
"a perilous journey through the mountains"
antonyms: safe, secure
exposed to imminent risk of disaster or ruin.
"the economy is in a perilous state"
plaintiff
/ˈpleɪntɪf/
Learn to pronounce
nounLAW
noun: plaintiff; plural noun: plaintiffs
a person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
"the plaintiff commenced an action for damages"
plumage
/ˈpluːmɪdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: plumage; plural noun: plumages
a bird's feathers collectively.
"the male in full breeding plumage"

nefarious
/nɪˈfɛːrɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: nefarious
(typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal.
"the nefarious activities of the organized-crime syndicates"
synonyms: wicked, evil, sinful, iniquitous, villainous, criminal, heinous, atrocious, appalling,
abhorrent, vile, foul, base, abominable, odious, depraved, corrupt, shameful, scandalous,
monstrous, fiendish, diabolical, devilish, unholy, ungodly, infernal, satanic, dark, unspeakable,
despicable, outrageous, shocking, disgraceful; archaicknavish, dastardly; rareegregious, flagitious
"the nefarious activities of the bodysnatchers"
antonyms: good, admirable
precarious
/prɪˈkɛːrɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: precarious
not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.
"a precarious ladder"
dependent on chance; uncertain.
"he made a precarious living as a painter"
synonyms: uncertain, insecure, unreliable, unsure, unpredictable, undependable, risky,
hazardous, dangerous, unsafe, hanging by a thread, hanging in the balance, perilous, treacherous,
on a slippery slope, on thin ice, touch-and-go, built on sand, doubtful, dubious, delicate, tricky,
problematic; unsettled, unstable, unsteady, shaky, rocky, wobbly; informaldicey, chancy, hairy, iffy;
informaldodgy; archaicparlous
"the club's precarious financial position"
antonyms: safe, secure
presumptuous
/prɪˈzʌm(p)tʃʊəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: presumptuous
(of a person or their behaviour) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.
"I hope I won't be considered presumptuous if I offer some advice"
synonyms: brazen, overconfident, arrogant, egotistical, overbold, bold, audacious, pert,
forward, familiar, impertinent, fresh, free, insolent, impudent, cocksure; cheeky, rude, impolite,
uncivil, bumptious; overhasty, hasty, premature, previous, precipitate, impetuous; informalcocky;
informalsassy; archaicpresumptive, assumptive
"it's rather presumptuous to judge my character on such short acquaintance"
antonyms: timid, unassuming
promiscuous
/prəˈmɪskjʊəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: promiscuous
1.
having or characterized by many transient sexual relationships.
"promiscuous teenagers"
synonyms: licentious, sexually indiscriminate, immoral, unchaste, debauched, dissolute,
dissipated, profligate, of easy virtue, fast; libertine, wanton, abandoned, unrestrained,
uncontrolled, incontinent; informaleasy, swinging; informalroundheeled; informalslack;
informalsluttish, whorish, tarty, slaggy; datedloose, fallen; archaiclight; rareriggish
"despite what you seem to think, I have never been promiscuous"
antonyms: chaste, moral, pure
2.
demonstrating or implying an unselective approach; indiscriminate or casual.
"the city fathers were promiscuous with their honours"
synonyms: indiscriminate, undiscriminating, unselective, random, irresponsible, haphazard,
thoughtless, unthinking, unconsidered, casual, careless
"the promiscuous popping of antibiotics hasn't helped his T-cell count"
antonyms: careful, selective
consisting of a wide range of different things.
"Americans are free to choose from a promiscuous array of values"
pseudonym
/ˈsjuːdənɪm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: pseudonym; plural noun: pseudonyms
a fictitious name, especially one used by an author.
"I wrote under the pseudonym of Evelyn Hervey"
synonyms: pen name, assumed name, incognito, alias, false name, professional name,
sobriquet, stage name, nickname; nom de plume, nom de guerre; rareallonym, anonym
"Hanbury wrote a novel under the pseudonym of James Aston"
recondite
/ˈrɛk(ə)ndʌɪt,rɪˈkɒndʌɪt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: recondite
(of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse.
"the book is full of recondite information"
synonyms: obscure, abstruse, arcane, esoteric, little known, recherché, abstract, deep,
profound, cryptic, difficult, complex, complicated, involved; over/above one's head,
incomprehensible, unfathomable, impenetrable, opaque, dark, mysterious, occult, cabbalistic,
secret, hidden; rareAlexandrian
"the recondite realms of Semitic philology"
antonyms: straightforward, simple, familiar
relinquish
/rɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: relinquish; 3rd person present: relinquishes; past tense: relinquished; past participle:
relinquished; gerund or present participle: relinquishing
voluntarily cease to keep or claim; give up.
"he relinquished his managerial role to become chief executive"
synonyms: renounce, give up, part with, give away; hand over, turn over, lay down, let go of,
waive, resign, abdicate, yield, cede, surrender, sign away
"he relinquished control of the company to his sons"
leave, resign from, stand down from, bow out of, walk out of, retire from, give up, depart from,
vacate, pull out of, abandon, abdicate;
informalquit, chuck, jack in;
archaicforsake
"he offered to relinquish his post as acting President"
discontinue, stop, cease, give up, drop, desist from;
avoid, steer clear of, give a wide berth to;
reject, eschew, forswear, refrain from, abstain from, forbear from, forgo;
informalquit, leave off, kick;
archaicforsake
"he relinquished his pipe-smoking"
antonyms: keep, retain, continue
remittance
/rɪˈmɪt(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: remittance; plural noun: remittances
a sum of money sent in payment or as a gift.
"complete your booking form and send it together with your remittance"
synonyms: payment, settlement, money, fee; cheque, money order, transfer of funds;
technicalnegotiable instrument; formalmonies
"complete the booking form and send it together with your remittance"
allowance, sum of money, consideration
"he gets a remittance once every three months"
the action of sending money in payment or as a gift.
"remittance may be made by credit card"
repercussion
/riːpəˈkʌʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: repercussion; plural noun: repercussions
1.
an unintended consequence of an event or action, especially an unwelcome one.
"the move would have grave repercussions for the entire region"
synonyms: consequence, result, effect, outcome, by-product; reverberation, backlash, ripple,
shock wave; aftermath, footprint, fallout
"the political repercussions of the scandal were devastating"
2.
ARCHAIC
the recoil of something after impact.
3.
ARCHAIC
an echo or reverberation.

retrench
/rɪˈtrɛn(t)ʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: retrench; 3rd person present: retrenches; past tense: retrenched; past participle: retrenched;
gerund or present participle: retrenching
(of an organization or individual) reduce costs or spending in response to economic difficulty.
"as a result of the recession the company retrenched"
synonyms: economize, cut back, make cutbacks, make savings, make economies, reduce
expenditure, be economical, be sparing, be frugal, budget, tighten one's belt, husband one's
resources, draw in one's horns, save, scrimp and save, cut corners
"not all the directors wanted to retrench"
AUSTRALIAN•SOUTH AFRICAN
make (an employee) redundant.
"if there are excess staff they should be retrenched"
FORMAL
reduce (something) in extent or quantity.
"right-wing parties which seek to retrench the welfare state"
synonyms: reduce, cut, cut back, cut down, cut back on, pare, pare down, slim down, bring
down, make reductions in, make cutbacks in, trim, prune, whittle away/down, salami-slice, take off,
decrease, lower, lessen, shorten, curtail, truncate, shrink, diminish, minimize; informalslash, axe
"welfare services will have to be retrenched"
reverence
/ˈrɛv(ə)r(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: reverence; plural noun: reverences
1.
deep respect for someone or something.
"rituals showed honour and reverence for the dead"
synonyms: high esteem, high regard, great respect, acclaim, admiration, approbation,
approval, appreciation, estimation, favour, recognition; worship, veneration, awe, homage,
adoration, deference, honour, praise; liking, affection, love; dulia
"reverence for the countryside runs deep in this intensely respectful country"
antonyms: scorn
ARCHAIC
a gesture indicative of deep respect; a bow or curtsy.
"the messenger made his reverence"
a title or form of address to a member of the clergy, especially a priest in Ireland.
noun: His Reverence; noun: Your Reverence
"I regret, Your Reverence, that I cannot come to meet you"
verb
verb: reverence; 3rd person present: reverences; past tense: reverenced; past participle:
reverenced; gerund or present participle: reverencing
1.
regard or treat with deep respect.
"the many divine beings reverenced by Hindu tradition"
synonyms: revere, respect, admire, think highly of, have a high opinion of, hold in high regard,
esteem, hold in (high) esteem, think much of, approve of, appreciate, cherish, value, set (great)
store by, prize, treasure, look up to; worship, pay homage to, venerate, adulate, hold in awe,
idolize, put on a pedestal, lionize, hero-worship, honour, love
"they reverence modern jazz"
antonyms: despise

rogue
/rəʊɡ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: rogue; plural noun: rogues
1.
a dishonest or unprincipled man.
"you are a rogue and an embezzler"
synonyms: scoundrel, villain, reprobate, rascal, good-for-nothing, wretch; picaro; informalrat,
bastard, son of a bitch, SOB, nasty piece of work, dog, cur, louse, crook; informalscrote;
informalspalpeen; informalslicker; informalscamp; informalrotter, bounder, hound, blighter,
vagabond; datedcad, ne'er-do-well; archaicmiscreant, blackguard, dastard, knave, varlet,
wastrel, mountebank, picaroon
"you are a rogue, Colin, without ethics or scruples"
a person whose behaviour one disapproves of but who is nonetheless likeable or attractive.
"Cenzo, you old rogue!"
synonyms: scamp, rascal, imp, devil, monkey, mischief-maker; informalscallywag, monster,
horror, terror, holy terror; informalperisher; informaltyke, scally; informalhellion, varmint;
archaicscapegrace, rapscallion
"we were at school together—he was a right little rogue"
2.
an elephant or other large wild animal living apart from the herd and having savage or destructive
tendencies.
"a rogue elephant"
a person or thing that behaves in an aberrant or unpredictable way, typically with damaging or
dangerous effects.
"he hacked into data and ran rogue programs"
a seedling or plant deviating from the standard variety.
verb
verb: rogue; 3rd person present: rogues; past tense: rogued; past participle: rogued; gerund or
present participle: roguing
1.
remove inferior or defective plants or seedlings from (a crop).
"the sowing has to be rogued to remove aberrant seedlings"
sanguinary
/ˈsanɡwɪn(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveARCHAIC
adjective: sanguinary
involving or causing much bloodshed.
"they lost heavily in the sanguinary campaigns that followed"

serenity
/sɪˈrɛnɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: serenity; noun: serenities
the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.
"an oasis of serenity amidst the bustling city"
synonyms: calmness, calm, composure, tranquillity, peacefulness, peace of mind, peace,
peaceableness, collectedness, poise, aplomb, self-possession, sangfroid, imperturbability,
equanimity, equableness, ease, placidity, placidness; informaltogetherness, unflappability;
rareataraxy, ataraxia
"she radiated an air of serenity"
peace, peace and quiet, peacefulness, tranquillity, calm, quiet, quietness, quietude, stillness,
restfulness, repose
"the garden is an oasis of serenity amidst the bustling city"
antonyms: anxiety, agitation, disruption
a title given to a reigning prince or similar dignitary.
noun: His Serenity; noun: Your Serenity; plural noun: Serenities
souvenir
/ˌsuːvəˈnɪə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: souvenir; plural noun: souvenirs
1.
a thing that is kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event.
"the recording provides a souvenir of a great production"
synonyms: memento, keepsake, reminder, remembrance, token, memorial; testimonial,
trophy, relic; memorabilia; archaicmemorandum
"the recording provides a souvenir of a great production"
verbINFORMAL
verb: souvenir; 3rd person present: souvenirs; past tense: souvenired; past participle: souvenired;
gerund or present participle: souveniring
1.
take as a memento.
"many parts of the aircraft have been souvenired"
tinker
/ˈtɪŋkə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tinker; plural noun: tinkers
1.
(especially in former times) a person who makes a living by travelling from place to place mending
pans and other metal utensils.
DEROGATORY•BRITISH
a Gypsy or other person living in an itinerant community.
2.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
a mischievous child.
"little tinkers, we were"
3.
an act of attempting to repair something.
verb
verb: tinker; 3rd person present: tinkers; past tense: tinkered; past participle: tinkered; gerund or
present participle: tinkering
1.
attempt to repair or improve something in a casual or desultory way.
"he spent hours tinkering with the car"
synonyms: try to mend/improve, work amateurishly on, fiddle with, play (about/around) with,
toy with, trifle with, dally with, dabble with, potter about with, fool about/around with; tamper
with, interfere with, meddle with; tinker at/with the edges of, adjust slightly; informalmess
about/around with, rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic; informalmuck about/around with
"he spent hours tinkering with the car"
Phrases
not give a tinker's curse — not care at all.
"I don't give a tinker's damn if you believe me or not!"
tussle
/ˈtʌs(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tussle; plural noun: tussles
1.
a vigorous struggle or scuffle, typically in order to obtain or achieve something.
"there was a tussle for the ball"
synonyms: scuffle, fight, struggle, skirmish, brawl, scrimmage, scramble, scrum, fisticuffs,
wrestling match, rough and tumble, free-for-all, fracas, fray, rumpus, melee, disturbance;
donnybrook; datedaffray; informalscrap, dust-up, punch-up, set-to, shindy, shindig, run-in, spat,
ruck, ruckus; informalding-dong, bust-up, bit of argy-bargy; informalafters; informalrammy,
swedge; informalroughhouse; informalstoush; archaicbroil, miff
"in the ensuing tussle his glasses were smashed"
argument, quarrel, squabble, contretemps, disagreement, contention, clash, war of words;
informalrow
"an acrimonious tussle between the two departments"
verb
verb: tussle; 3rd person present: tussles; past tense: tussled; past participle: tussled; gerund or
present participle: tussling
1.
engage in a vigorous struggle or scuffle.
"the demonstrators tussled with police"
synonyms: scuffle, fight, struggle, exchange blows, come to blows, brawl, grapple, wrestle,
clash, scrimmage; informalscrap, have a dust-up, have a punch-up, have a set-to;
informalroughhouse
"demonstrators tussled with police"
virtuous
/ˈvəːtʃʊəs,ˈvəːtjʊəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: virtuous
having or showing high moral standards.
"she considered herself very virtuous because she neither drank nor smoked"
synonyms: righteous, good, moral, morally correct, ethical, upright, upstanding, high-minded,
right-minded, right-thinking, principled, exemplary, clean, law-abiding, lawful, irreproachable,
blameless, guiltless, unimpeachable, just, honest, honourable, unbribable, incorruptible, anti-
corruption; scrupulous, reputable, decent, respectable, noble, lofty, elevated, worthy,
trustworthy, meritorious, praiseworthy, commendable, admirable, laudable; pure, pure as the
driven snow, whiter than white, sinless, saintly, saintlike, godly, angelic; immaculate,
impeccable; informalsqueaky clean
"they were entirely virtuous in their endeavours"
antonyms: bad, sinful
ARCHAIC
(especially of a woman) chaste.
synonyms: virginal, virgin, chaste, maidenly, vestal, celibate, abstinent; pure, pure as the driven
snow, sinless, free from sin, flawless, spotless, undefiled, untainted, unsullied, uncorrupted,
intact, innocent, demure, modest, decent, seemly, decorous, wholesome
"his virtuous sister had been threatened with seduction"
antonyms: promiscuous, sinful
vociferous
/və(ʊ)ˈsɪf(ə)rəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: vociferous
expressing or characterized by vehement opinions; loud and forceful.
"he was a vociferous opponent of the takeover"
synonyms: vehement, outspoken, vocal, forthright, plain-spoken, frank, candid, open,
uninhibited, direct, earnest, eager, enthusiastic, full-throated, vigorous, insistent, emphatic,
demanding; clamorous, strident, loud, loud-mouthed, raucous, noisy, rowdy

"a vociferous champion of equal rights"

antonyms: silent, quiet