Word Meaning Example Sentence

Blandishment Flattery or pleasing statements used to persuade someone. The salesman used all sorts of blandishments to convince her to buy the car.
Ambrosia The food of the gods in Greek mythology; something especially delicious. The dessert was so heavenly it tasted like ambrosia.
Coagulate To change from a liquid to a thickened or solid state. The blood began to coagulate around the wound.
Conundrum A confusing and difficult problem or question. Deciding which university to attend was quite a conundrum.
Effervescent Bubbly and lively; enthusiastic. Her effervescent personality made her the life of the party.
Mead An alcoholic drink made from fermented honey and water. The ancient warriors celebrated their victory with mugs of mead.
Plunder To steal goods, typically during a war or conflict. The pirates sailed into the harbor and began to plunder the town.
Dissuade To persuade someone not to take a particular course of action. I tried to dissuade him from quitting his job, but he was determined.
Ward off To prevent or repel something undesirable. She used garlic to ward off mosquitoes during her camping trip.
Depreciate To decrease in value over time. Electronics tend to depreciate quickly after being purchased.
Mutiny A rebellion against authority, especially by sailors or soldiers against their commanding officers. The sailors staged a mutiny against the harsh captain.
Helmsmanship Skill in steering or navigating a ship. His excellent helmsmanship helped them navigate through the storm safely.
Inchoate Just begun and not fully formed; rudimentary. Their plan to start a new business was still inchoate, lacking any solid details.
Serendipitous Occurring by chance in a happy or beneficial way. It was a serendipitous meeting that led to their long-lasting friendship.
Encumbrances Burdens or impediments. The hiker was free of any encumbrances, carrying only the essentials.
Dispensations Exemptions from a rule or usual requirement; distribution or allotment. The king granted special dispensations to the nobles.
Pique To stimulate interest or curiosity; a feeling of irritation or resentment. The mysterious letter piqued my curiosity.
Distort To twist out of shape or misrepresent. The funhouse mirror distorted my reflection, making me look taller.
Illiberal Opposed to liberal principles; narrow-minded or restrictive. The regime was illiberal, limiting free speech and individual rights.
Interlocutor A person who takes part in a conversation. She was an engaging interlocutor, always steering the conversation to interesting topics.
Detractor A person who criticizes someone or something. Despite his detractors, the author continued to gain popularity.
Contemporary Belonging to the present time; a person or thing living or existing at the same time as another. The gallery features contemporary art from local artists.
Disservice A harmful or unfair action. Spreading rumors about her did a great disservice to her reputation.
Concertos Musical compositions for a solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra, usually in three movements. Beethoven's piano concertos are some of the most famous in classical music.
Abscond To leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection. The thief managed to abscond with the stolen jewelry before the police arrived.
Churlish Rude in a mean-spirited and surly way. His churlish comments during the meeting offended many of his colleagues.
Delineate To describe or portray something precisely. The scientist sought to delineate the differences between the two species.
Egotistical Excessively conceited or self-centered. His egotistical nature made it difficult for him to work as part of a team.
Essayist A writer of essays. The essayist was known for her thought-provoking pieces on social issues.
Abridge To shorten a text without losing the essential meaning. The publisher decided to abridge the lengthy novel for the younger audience.
Moderate To oversee or control a discussion. She was chosen to moderate the panel discussion at the conference.
Amalgamate To combine or unite to form one organization. The two companies decided to amalgamate to enhance their market presence.
Undermine To weaken or damage something gradually. His constant criticism began to undermine her confidence.
Galvanize To shock or excite someone into taking action. The urgent call to action helped galvanize the community to address the crisis.
Temper To moderate or mitigate. He tried to temper his enthusiasm when discussing the project with his skeptical colleagues.
Taut To make something tight or tense. She tautened the ropes on the tent to ensure it stayed secure during the storm.
Deify To worship or regard someone as a god. The ancient Greeks often deified their heroes, attributing god-like qualities to them.
Denigrate To criticize unfairly; to disparage. It’s not right to denigrate someone’s efforts without understanding their challenges.
Defame To damage the good reputation of someone. The article sought to defame the politician by spreading false rumors.
Tendentious Expressing or intending to promote a particular cause. The tendentious article presented a biased view of the events.
Evenhanded Fair and impartial. The judge was known for his evenhanded approach to the cases he oversaw.
Hackneyed Lacking significance through being overused. The film was criticized for its hackneyed plot and predictable ending.
Corroborated Confirmed or supported with evidence. The witness's testimony was corroborated by video footage from the scene.
Putative Generally considered or reputed to be. The putative father of the child was not present during the delivery.
Conjectural Based on conjecture; hypothetical. The theory remained conjectural until further evidence could be gathered.
Irrefutable Impossible to deny or disprove. The scientist presented irrefutable evidence that supported her theory.
Irreconcilable Incompatible; unable to be reconciled. Their differences were irreconcilable, leading to the end of their partnership.
Adherence Commitment to a person, cause, or belief. His adherence to the company's policies was commendable.
Equivocate To use ambiguous language to conceal the truth. The politician tended to equivocate when pressed on controversial issues.
Existential Relating to existence, especially human existence. The film raised existential questions about the nature of reality.
Fetid Smelling extremely unpleasant. The fetid odor from the garbage made it hard to stay in the room.
Hermetic Sealed off from outside influence. The hermetic seal on the container kept the contents fresh for years.
Introspection The examination of one's own thoughts and feelings. Her introspection after the event helped her understand her emotional responses.
Figurehead A person with a title but no real power. The president was a figurehead, with the real decisions made by the cabinet.
Scrutinize To examine something very closely and critically. The detective had to scrutinize the evidence to find any clues.
Skeptical Having doubts or reservations. She remained skeptical about the claims made in the advertisement.
Resolute Determined and unwavering. His resolute stance on the issue earned him respect among his peers.
Consolidation The process of combining multiple entities into a single whole. The consolidation of the two companies resulted in increased efficiency.
Conglomerate A corporation made up of several different companies. The conglomerate owns businesses in technology, finance, and consumer goods.
Banality The state of being unoriginal or boring. The film suffered from banality, lacking any fresh ideas or creativity.
Imply To suggest or express something indirectly. His tone seemed to imply that he was unhappy with the decision.
Lucre Money, especially when regarded as sordid profit. He was criticized for pursuing lucre at the expense of ethical considerations.
Multifarious Having many varied parts or aspects. The festival showcased multifarious cultures and traditions from around the world.
Patois A dialect or form of language specific to a region. The locals spoke in a patois that was difficult for outsiders to understand.
Overseer A person who supervises or manages. The overseer ensured that all workers were following safety protocols.
Doggedly In a manner that shows tenacity and persistence. She doggedly pursued her dream of becoming a doctor, despite numerous setbacks.
Sycophantically In a manner of flattering someone excessively to gain advantage. He sycophantically praised his boss in hopes of receiving a promotion.
Idiosyncratically In a way that is peculiar to an individual. He dresses idiosyncratically, often mixing bold patterns and colors.
Incomprehensible Not able to be understood; unintelligible. The instructions were so poorly written that they were completely incomprehensible.
Flabbergasting Extremely surprising or shocking. The flabbergasting news of his sudden resignation stunned the entire office.
Confound To cause confusion or surprise, especially by acting against expectations. His decision to retire early confounded his colleagues.
Dismay Distress, typically caused by something unexpected. She expressed her dismay at the thought of moving to another city.
Gauche Lacking ease or grace; socially awkward. His gauche behavior at the dinner party embarrassed his friends.
Affluence/Affluent The state of having a great deal of money; wealth. / Wealthy. The affluent family donated generously to the charity.
Uncouth Lacking good manners, refinement, or grace. His uncouth remarks at the dinner table were shocking to everyone.
Ostentatious Designed to impress or attract notice; showy. The millionaire's ostentatious display of wealth included a fleet of luxury cars.
Eccentric Unconventional and slightly strange. Her eccentric way of dressing always draws attention.
Euphemism A mild or indirect word substituted for one considered too harsh. 'Passed away' is a euphemism for 'died.'
Euphemistic Using or of the nature of a euphemism. His euphemistic speech softened the harsh reality of the situation.
Geniality The quality of having a friendly and cheerful manner. His geniality made him well-liked by everyone in the office.
Lascivious Revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire. His lascivious remarks made everyone uncomfortable.
Loquacious Tending to talk a great deal; talkative. The loquacious guest dominated the conversation at the dinner party.
Metamorphose To change or cause to change completely in form or nature. Over the years, the small town metamorphosed into a bustling city.
Mnemonic A device, such as a pattern of letters, to aid memory. The mnemonic 'PEMDAS' helps students remember the order of operations in math.
Necromancy The supposed practice of communicating with the dead, especially to predict the future. In folklore, necromancy is often associated with wizards and witches.
Neophyte A person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief. The neophyte struggled with the complex concepts of his new job.
Penchant A strong or habitual liking for something. He has a penchant for collecting rare books.
Pusillanimous Showing a lack of courage or determination; timid. His pusillanimous refusal to stand up to the bully was disappointing.
Quagmire A soft boggy area of land or a complex or hazardous situation. The company found itself in a financial quagmire after the stock market crash.
Tenuous Very weak or slight; lacking substance. The tenuous relationship between the two countries is at risk of breaking down.
Vacillate To alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; indecisive. She vacillated between accepting the job offer and staying at her current position.
Vacuous Having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless. His vacuous expression revealed his lack of understanding.
Vertigo A sensation of whirling and loss of balance, associated with looking down from a great height. He experienced vertigo while standing on the edge of the cliff.
Critical standing The level of importance or influence in a particular field or context. His critical standing in the academic community was boosted by his groundbreaking research.
Reluctance Unwillingness or disinclination to do something. Her reluctance to accept the promotion surprised her colleagues.
Spare To refrain from harming, injuring, or using. He spared no effort in ensuring the success of the project.
Benign Gentle and kind; not harmful. The tumor was found to be benign, much to the patient’s relief.
Prodigy A young person with exceptional qualities or abilities. The child prodigy could play the piano masterfully at the age of five.
Crank An eccentric person, especially one who is obsessed with a particular subject. The old man was regarded as a crank because of his unusual theories.
Pragmatist A person who is guided more by practical considerations than by ideals. As a pragmatist, she focused on achievable solutions rather than lofty goals.
Preternatural Beyond what is normal or natural. His preternatural ability to solve complex problems amazed his teachers.
Stereotype A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. The movie reinforced old stereotypes about gender roles.
Heuristic Enabling someone to discover or learn something for themselves. The teacher’s heuristic approach allowed students to solve problems on their own.
Allegorical Containing a moral or hidden meaning, often through the use of symbols. The novel was allegorical, with characters representing different moral qualities.
Dictate An order or principle that must be obeyed. He was following the dictates of his conscience when he made that decision.
Ameliorate To make something bad or unsatisfactory better. The new policies were designed to ameliorate the working conditions of employees.
Maladjusted Failing to cope with the demands of a normal social environment. The maladjusted child struggled to interact with others at school.
Incite To encourage or stir up violent or unlawful behavior. His inflammatory speech incited the crowd to riot.
Robust Strong and healthy; vigorous. The economy remains robust despite recent challenges.
Avant-garde New and experimental ideas and methods in art, music, or literature. The avant-garde film defied traditional narrative structure.
Diffident Modest or shy due to a lack of self-confidence. The diffident student was hesitant to speak up in class.
Virtue Behavior showing high moral standards. Patience is considered a virtue in many cultures.
Deception The act of deceiving someone or the state of being deceived. His elaborate deception fooled everyone at the meeting.
Nemesis A long-standing rival or an enemy that is difficult to defeat. The detective finally captured his nemesis after years of chasing him.
Inherently In a permanent, essential, or characteristic way. Some people believe that humans are inherently good.
Subterfuge Deceit used in order to achieve one's goal. They used subterfuge to infiltrate the enemy base.
Etymology The study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history. Understanding the etymology of a word helps in grasping its deeper meaning.
Obscure Not discovered or known about; uncertain. The instructions were so obscure that no one understood them.
Overt Done or shown openly; not secret or hidden. The company's overt support for the candidate was clear.
Erudite Having or showing great knowledge or learning. The erudite professor amazed his students with his knowledge of history.
Abstruse Difficult to understand; obscure. The lecture was so abstruse that even the experts were confused.
Scholarly Involving or relating to serious academic study. The paper was well-researched and had a scholarly tone.
Sobriety The state of being sober, or the quality of being serious and sensible. After the accident, he approached life with sobriety and caution.
Vivacious Attractively lively and animated. Her vivacious personality lit up every room she entered.
Poignant Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret. The poignant story brought tears to everyone’s eyes.
Lackluster Lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired. His lackluster performance disappointed his fans.
Mirthful Full of merriment and laughter. The mirthful party lasted late into the night.
Dispute A disagreement or argument. The neighbors were involved in a dispute over property boundaries.
Solemnity The state or quality of being serious and dignified. The ceremony was conducted with great solemnity.
Probity The quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency. Her probity earned her the respect of everyone at the company.
Equity The quality of being fair and impartial. The court’s decision was based on equity and justice.
Solicitousness Showing concern or care for someone's well-being. His solicitousness toward his elderly neighbor was touching.
Proactive Creating or controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has happened. She took a proactive approach to solving the problem.
Concealment The action of hiding something or preventing it from being known. His concealment of the evidence led to further investigations.
Scorn The feeling or belief that someone or something is worthless or despicable. She looked at him with scorn after hearing his offensive remarks.
Inscrutable Impossible to understand or interpret. The teacher’s inscrutable expression made it hard to know what she was thinking.
Polemical Relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech. His polemical essay sparked a heated debate among the readers.
Iconoclastic Criticizing or attacking cherished beliefs or institutions. The artist’s iconoclastic works challenged traditional ideas of beauty.
Scathing Witheringly scornful; severely critical. The critic wrote a scathing review of the play.
Fictitious Not real or true; imaginary or fabricated. The character in the story was completely fictitious.
Impenetrable Impossible to pass through or enter; impossible to understand. The forest was so dense that it seemed impenetrable.
Impoverished Made poor; deprived of strength or vitality. The impoverished village struggled to access basic necessities.
Austerity Sternness or severity of manner or attitude; difficult economic conditions. The government implemented austerity measures to reduce the national debt.
Unduly To an unnecessary or excessive degree. She was unduly harsh in her criticism of the project.
Arduous Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring. Climbing the mountain was an arduous task.
Mercantilist Relating to the theory that trade generates wealth. The country’s mercantilist policies aimed to maximize exports.
Onerous Involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome. The contract included several onerous conditions.
Venal Showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery. The venal politician accepted bribes from corporate lobbyists.
Unwinding To relax after a period of work or tension. After a long day, she enjoyed unwinding with a good book.
Supremely To the highest degree. She was supremely confident in her ability to succeed.
Effusive Expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner. He was effusive in his praise for the team's performance.
Pacific Peaceful in character or intent. Her pacific nature made her an ideal mediator in conflicts.
Placid Not easily upset or excited; calm and peaceful. The placid lake reflected the serene beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Blithe Showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper. His blithe disregard for the rules landed him in trouble.
Attest to To provide or serve as clear evidence of. The signatures on the document attest to its authenticity.
Belie To give a false impression of something. His calm demeanor belied the stress he was feeling.
Gainsay To deny or contradict a fact or statement. No one could gainsay the evidence presented in court.
Ebullient Cheerful and full of energy. The ebullient crowd cheered as the parade passed by.
Quotidian Of or occurring every day; daily. Her quotidian routine involved a morning run and coffee.
Fantastical Imaginative and far-fetched; resembling fantasy. The artist’s fantastical paintings transported viewers to otherworldly realms.
Flourishing Developing rapidly and successfully; thriving. The flourishing business attracted investors from all over the country.
Evasive Tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation, especially by responding only indirectly. His evasive answers only made the interviewer more suspicious.
Thriving Prosperous and growing; successful. The city is thriving with new businesses and cultural events.
Unprecedented Never done or known before. The pandemic caused unprecedented changes in how we live and work.
Solvent Having assets in excess of liabilities; able to pay debts. The company remained solvent despite the economic downturn.
Aver To state or assert to be the case. He averred that he was innocent of all charges.
Copious Abundant in supply or quantity. She took copious notes during the lecture.
Mainstream Belonging to or characteristic of the prevailing trend. The movie was so popular that it became part of the mainstream culture.
Pampered Treated with excessive care and attention. The pampered dog lived a life of luxury, complete with a personal chef.
Indulgence The action of allowing oneself to enjoy a particular pleasure. She treated herself to an indulgence of chocolate cake after a long week.
Seldom Not often; rarely. He seldom goes out to eat, preferring to cook at home.
Gaunt Lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age. The gaunt figure of the man shocked everyone at the reunion.
Feverish Having or showing the symptoms of a fever; excited or energetic. His feverish excitement was contagious, inspiring everyone around him.
Resemble To look like or be similar to someone or something. The twin sisters resemble each other so closely that it’s hard to tell them apart.
Savory A dish that is salty or spicy, not sweet. The savory flavors of the stew warmed us on a cold day.
Stink Having a strong, unpleasant smell; to be very bad or offensive. The stink of rotten eggs filled the room.
Tunic A loose-fitting garment that extends to the hips or thighs, typically worn over trousers or leggings. She wore a tunic with leggings for a comfortable, stylish look.
Meekly In a quiet, gentle, and submissive manner. He meekly accepted the criticism without protest.
Assertiveness The quality of being self-assured and confident without being aggressive. Her assertiveness in meetings helped her gain respect from her colleagues.
Treachery Betrayal of trust; deceptive action or nature. The treachery of his former friend left him feeling betrayed.
Usurper A person who takes a position of power or importance illegally or by force. The usurper claimed the throne after overthrowing the king.
Plead To make an emotional appeal; to argue for or against something in a court of law. He pleaded with her to reconsider her decision.
Mate To pair or join with another. Many birds mate for life, forming strong bonds.
Emblazon To adorn or display prominently. The team’s logo was emblazoned across the front of their jerseys.
Gooseflesh The condition of the skin when the tiny muscles at the base of hair follicles contract, often due to cold or fear. The horror movie gave her gooseflesh all over her arms.
Trail To follow or to leave a mark behind; can also refer to a path through a forest. The hikers trailed behind the guide as they explored the mountains.
Delicacy A rare or luxurious food item; something that is fragile or easily damaged. Caviar is considered a delicacy in many cultures.
Jiggle To move or cause to move with quick, slight movements. She had to jiggle the key to get the stubborn lock to turn.
Enrapture To give intense pleasure or joy to. The performance enraptured the audience from start to finish.
Tremble To shake involuntarily, typically as a result of anxiety, excitement, or frailty. He began to tremble with fear when he heard the loud noise.
Stench A strong, unpleasant smell. The stench from the garbage made it hard to breathe.
Amiably In a friendly and pleasant manner. He amiably greeted everyone at the party.
Palanquin A covered litter for one person, consisting of a large box carried on two poles by bearers. The princess was carried in a palanquin through the streets.
Endure To suffer something painful or difficult patiently; to last over time. They had to endure many hardships during the war.
Withstand To remain undamaged or unaffected by; to resist. The building was designed to withstand earthquakes.
Fetid Smelling extremely unpleasant. The fetid odor from the swamp was overwhelming.
Desiccated Dried out; lacking moisture. The desiccated remains of the plant were all that was left after the drought.
Wizened Shriveled or wrinkled with age. The wizened old man shared stories from his youth.
Arid Having little or no rain; too dry to support vegetation. The arid climate made farming very difficult.
Hale Free from disease or infirmity; robust. Despite his age, he was hale and hearty.
Soggy Soaked or saturated with liquid; very wet. The bread became soggy after sitting in the soup.
Recipient A person or thing that receives or is awarded something. She was the recipient of the prestigious scholarship.
Convivial Friendly, lively, and enjoyable. The convivial atmosphere made the party a success.
Amiable Having a friendly and pleasant manner. His amiable disposition made him popular among his peers.
Comical Funny or entertaining. The comical scene in the play had everyone laughing.
Satirical Sarcastic, critical, and mocking another's weaknesses. The satirical cartoon highlighted the absurdity of the situation.
Farcical Of or resembling a farce, especially because of absurd or ridiculous aspects. The farcical play had the audience rolling in the aisles with laughter.
Labile Liable to change; unstable. The labile nature of his emotions made it hard to predict his reactions.
Abstruse Difficult to understand; obscure. The philosopher's ideas were so abstruse that few could comprehend them.
Decipherable Able to be read or understood. The ancient manuscript was finally deemed decipherable after years of research.
Lucid Clear and easy to understand. Her explanations were so lucid that everyone grasped the concept immediately.
Sanctioned Authorized or approved. The sanctioned event drew participants from around the country.
Lukewarm Neither hot nor cold; unenthusiastic. He received a lukewarm response to his proposal.
Inscrutable Impossible to understand or interpret. Her inscrutable smile left him wondering what she was really thinking.
Farce A comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay. The farce was filled with exaggerated characters and ridiculous situations.
Cling To hold tightly to something. The child clung to her mother’s leg as they entered the crowded room.
Dismount To get down from a horse or other mounted position. The rider skillfully dismounted before approaching the crowd.
Crypt An underground room or vault beneath a church, used as a burial place. The ancient crypt held the remains of long-forgotten kings.
Descended To move downwards. The sun slowly descended below the horizon, casting a golden glow.
Endure To suffer patiently; to last over time. She had to endure many trials to achieve her dreams.
Sweep To move swiftly and smoothly; to clean by brushing away dirt or debris. He began to sweep the floor after the party was over.
Lantern A portable light source, often used outdoors. They carried a lantern to light their way through the dark forest.
Spill To accidentally let a substance fall out of its container. Be careful not to spill the juice on the carpet.
Vow To make a solemn promise. They vowed to support each other through thick and thin.
Grief Deep sorrow, especially caused by someone's death. She struggled to cope with the grief of losing her beloved pet.
Consent Permission for something to happen or agreement to do something. The child’s consent was necessary before the field trip could be planned.
Battlements A parapet at the top of a wall, typically of a fort or castle, with open spaces for shooting through. The soldiers stood on the battlements, watching for any signs of attack.
Brusquely (adj) In a blunt or abrupt manner. He brusquely ended the conversation, leaving her stunned.
Apprehensive (adj) Anxious or fearful about the future. She felt apprehensive about the upcoming exam.
Foreboding(n) A feeling that something bad will happen; a sense of impending doom. The dark clouds gave him a sense of foreboding as he stepped outside.
Prevaricate (v) To speak or act in an evasive way; to lie or mislead. When asked about the missing funds, the manager began to prevaricate, avoiding a direct answer.
Recalcitrant (adj) Stubbornly resistant to authority or control; disobedient. The recalcitrant student refused to follow the teacher's instructions, disrupting the class.
Sinecure (n) A position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit. He landed a sinecure at the university, allowing him to earn a salary while doing minimal work.
Stratified (adj) Arranged in layers; categorized or ranked. The stratified society was divided into distinct social classes, each with its own privileges.
Supine (n) Lying on the back; inactive or passive, especially in the face of adversity. He remained supine on the couch, refusing to engage in the heated discussion around him.
Theocracy (n) A system of government in which priests or religious leaders rule in the name of God. The theocracy enforced strict religious laws, blending governance with spiritual authority.
Vapid (adj) Offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; dull or bland. The conversation was vapid, lacking any depth or interesting topics to discuss.