apathy
1 use
Seeing too much senior apathy, the high school began having juniors declare a major for their senior year.
apathy = lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.14 |
belligerent
1 use
She spoke to her teacher in a belligerent tone and was sent to the office.
belligerent = hostile or combative
Definition
Generally belligerent means:hostile (the attitude of one eager to fight); or one already engaged in a fight or war
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.9 |
complacent
1 use
He had become complacent after years of success.
complacent = contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
consequence
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
of little consequence
Think carefully. This is a consequential decision.
consequential = important
Definition
Generally this sense of consequence means:importance or relevance
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.3 |
decorum
1 use
All decorum was lost in the classroom.
decorum = manners and conduct considered to be proper and in good taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
denounce
1 use
She denounced him as a liar.
denounced = strongly criticized or accused publicly
Definition
Generally denounce means:to strongly criticize or accuse publicly
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.7 |
despondent
1 use
When her mother died, she was so despondent it was hard for her to get out of bed.
despondent = depressed
Definition
Generally despondent means:emotionally depressed — especially a feeling of grief and hopelessness after a loss
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.5 |
deter
2 uses
She was slow to decide what to do, but once she did nothing could deter her from her chosen course of action.
deter = discourage (prevent)
Definition
Generally deter means:try to prevent; or prevent
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.6 |
discriminate
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
discriminating taste
It costs more, but is worth it to people with discriminating taste.
discriminating = recognizing fine distinctions
Definition
Generally this sense of discriminate means:to recognize or perceive differences — especially fine distinctions
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
furtive
2 uses
She watched me in a furtive manner—trying to hide her interest.
furtive = cautious or taking pains to avoid being observed
Definition
Generally furtive means:taking pains to avoid being observed
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.11 |
gesticulate
3 uses
The moderator turned her microphone off, leaving us to see her gesticulations, but not hear her words.
gesticulations = gestures (hand or body movements) made while speaking or to express something
Definition
Generally gesticulate means:to make gestures (hand or body movements) while speaking or to express something
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
highlight
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
highlights and shadows
I'm learning to enrich my painting with highlights and shadows.
highlights = lighter areas
Definition
Generally this sense of highlight means:noun: something that is lighter and draws attention — such as an area of a painting
verb: making something lighter — such as an area of a painting
verb: making something lighter — such as an area of a painting
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.10 |
illustrate
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
an illustrated children's book
I write and illustrate children's books.
illustrate = draw pictures to accompany
Definition
Generally this sense of illustrate means:to draw pictures (or provide photographs) to accompany a book or other writing
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
incessant
3 uses
She grew annoyed by the child's incessant questions.
incessant = continuous (and often annoying)
Definition
Generally incessant means:continuous — often in an annoying way
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.17 |
lethargic
2 uses
Large lunches make me feel lethargic in the afternoon.
lethargic = lacking energy
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.1 |
mean
1 use
We have a mean annual rainfall of 23 inches.
mean = average
Definition
Generally this sense of mean means:the average number
For example, the mean of 1 & 3 is 2.
More generally, the mean of n numbers is computed by dividing the sum of the numbers by n; for example, the mean of 1, 2, and 6
= (1+2+6) / 3
= 9 / 3
= 3
For example, the mean of 1 & 3 is 2.
More generally, the mean of n numbers is computed by dividing the sum of the numbers by n; for example, the mean of 1, 2, and 6
= (1+2+6) / 3
= 9 / 3
= 3
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
minuteness
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
minute size; or minute description
Don't eat a lot of poppy seeds for a few days before a drug test. They have a minute amount of a chemical that can cause a false positive when testing for heroin use.
minute = small, detailed, or careful
Definition
Generally this sense of minuteness means:very small
or:
detailed (including even small considerations); or careful (done with care)
or:
detailed (including even small considerations); or careful (done with care)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
obscure
5 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
was obscure, but now bright
The once shiny silver was now tarnished and obscure.
obscure = dark, dingy, or inconspicuous
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:dark or dingy; or inconspicuous (not very noticeable)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.11 |
unquizzed meaning —3 uses
pious
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
a good, pious woman
The cartoon with a drawing of Muhammad outraged many pious Muslims.
pious = highly religious
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.7 |
precipitate
2 uses
1 —2 uses
adj as in: a precipitate decision
I had planned to ask her, but she made a precipitate departure.
precipitate = sudden
Definition
Generally this sense of precipitate means:acting with great haste — often without adequate thought
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.7 |