complacent
5 uses
He had become complacent after years of success.
complacent = contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
contempt
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
feels contempt towards him
Familiarity breeds contempt.
contempt = lack of respect
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect — often accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 33 |
decorum
6 uses
All decorum was lost in the classroom.
decorum = manners and conduct considered to be proper and in good taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
deride
2 uses
Critics derided her as unprofessional.
derided = laughed at or made fun of—while showing a lack of respect
Definition
Generally deride means:laugh at or make fun of—while showing a lack of respect
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
diligent
5 uses
She's the kind of diligent worker we want to hire.
diligent = showing hard work and care
Definition
Generally diligent means:hard work and care in tasks — often continuing when others might quit because of difficulties
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
disdain
1 use
She tries to be polite, but cannot hide her disdain for authority.
disdain = lack of respect
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
eccentric
6 uses
She's a little eccentric, but we don't mind because she's the best player on the team.
eccentric = unconventional or strange
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
endure
5 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
endured the pain
I endured insult and injury without complaint.
endured = suffered through (or to put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Definition
Generally this sense of endure means:to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
incredulous
3 uses
I find it incredulous that you believe she is sincere.
incredulous = difficult to believe
Definition
Generally incredulous means:unbelieving; or having difficulty accepting something so unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
indifferent
7 uses
About a third are in favor of the change, a third are opposed, and a third are indifferent.
indifferent = without interest
Definition
Generally indifferent means:without interest — in various senses such as:
- unconcerned
- unsympathetic
- impartial
- not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 18 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
indignant
12 uses
She was indignant, but agreed to be searched when they accused her of shoplifting.
indignant = angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
inquire
15 uses
Students should contact our office to inquire about scholarship opportunities.
inquire = ask about or look into
Definition
Generally inquire means:to ask about or look into something
Word Statistics
| Book | 15 uses |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
pious
8 uses
The cartoon with a drawing of Muhammad outraged many pious Muslims.
pious = highly religious
Definition
Generally pious means:behaving in a highly moral or religious manner
or less commonly: behaving highly moral in a self-righteous or holier-than-thou manner
or less commonly: behaving highly moral in a self-righteous or holier-than-thou manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
provincial
1 use
In that well-traveled company I felt uncomfortably provincial.
provincial = unsophisticated (meant disapprovingly—often to refer to old-fashioned or narrow-minded attitudes and ideas)
Definition
Generally this sense of provincial means:unsophisticated (meant disapprovingly to refer to old-fashioned or narrow-minded attitudes and ideas)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
reticent
4 uses
She was reticent initially, but eventually she opened up.
reticent = reluctant — usually to speak freely
Definition
Generally reticent means:reluctant — especially to speak freely
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
revere
9 uses
Many fans revere Michael Jordan as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
revere = regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration
Definition
Generally revere means:regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration — sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
scrupulous
3 uses
You can count on her. She is scrupulous in her work.
scrupulous = careful to behave ethically and/or diligently
Definition
Generally scrupulous means:careful to behave ethically and/or diligently (with great care and attention to detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
speculate
17 uses
philosophers have speculated on the question of God for thousands of years
speculated = thought and guessed without certainty
Definition
Generally this sense of speculate means:to guess without certainty
or:
to think about or consider something
or (more rarely):
to risk money in a financial venture
or:
to think about or consider something
or (more rarely):
to risk money in a financial venture
Word Statistics
| Book | 17 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
supercilious
5 uses
Her mother eyed my clothes with a supercilious air.
supercilious = showing arrogant disdain of those one views as unworthy
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
zeal
2 uses
She attacks each challenge with zeal.
zeal = active interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |