aesthetic
3 uses
It was not aesthetically pleasing.
aesthetically = related to beauty or good taste
Definition
Generally aesthetic means:related to beauty or good taste — often referring to one's appreciation of beauty or one's sense of what is beautiful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 6.7 |
amorous
1 use
She rejected his amorous advances.
amorous = romantic or sexual
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 4.3 |
ascetic
1 use
The ascetic life has been more pronounced in Hinduism and Buddhism than in other major religions.
ascetic = the practice of self-denial
Definition
Generally ascetic means:someone who practices self-denial (often to encourage spiritual growth); or relating to such self-denial
or:
severely plain (without decoration)
or:
severely plain (without decoration)
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 6.8 |
benevolent
7 uses
They called themselves The Benevolent Association because their mission was to help others.
benevolent = kind, generous, or charitable
Word Statistics
Book | 7 uses |
Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 2.6 |
complacent
1 use
She had become complacent after years of success.
complacent = unworried and satisfied
Definition
Generally complacent means: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 2.5 |
credulous
2 uses
The trick would fool none but the most credulous.
credulous = gullible (being too willing to believe)
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 5.1 |
depravity
10 uses
It is a terrible story of an innocent who trusted a man who treated her with ruthless depravity.
depravity = immorality or evilness
Definition
Generally depravity means:complete immorality or evilness
Word Statistics
Book | 10 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 4.1 |
disdain
5 uses
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 | 5 uses |
Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 500 |
1st use | Chapter 5.2 |
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 | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 2000 |
1st use | Chapter 3.1 |
enigma
5 uses
As Churchill said about Russia, it is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.
enigma = something mysterious that seems unexplainable
Word Statistics
Book | 5 uses |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 5.4 |
ephemeral
2 uses
Her fame was ephemeral.
ephemeral = existing only for a short time
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 4.2 |
impetuous
1 use
She regretted her impetuous promise.
impetuous = impulsive (made suddenly without much thought)
Definition
Generally this sense of impetuous means:impulsive (acting suddenly without much thought) — often with an unfortunate consequence
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 3.1 |
mitigate
3 uses
Don't judge her so harshly until you consider the mitigating circumstances.
mitigating = serving to make less harmful or unpleasant
Definition
Generally mitigate means:make less harmful or unpleasant
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 4.5 |
novel
1 use
We're looking for novel marketing ideas.
novel = new and original
Definition
Generally this sense of novel means:new and original — typically something considered good
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 100 |
1st use | Chapter 3.2 |
obstinate
6 uses
She is an obstinate child who will not follow the family rules.
obstinate = stubbornly not doing what others want
Word Statistics
Book | 6 uses |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 2.4 |
parsimonious
1 use
Ebenezer Scrooge was parsimonious in Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
parsimonious = (having the trait of) extreme reluctance to spend money or use resources
Definition
Generally parsimonious means:extreme reluctance to spend money or use resources
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 5.1 |
recant
1 use
According to popular legend, after being forced to recant his theory that the Earth moved around the Sun, Galileo whispered, "And yet it moves."
recant = say he no longer believed (something previously said)
Definition
Generally recant means:for one to say they no longer believe a previously made statement or belief — often while under pressure
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 6.2 |
scrupulous
2 uses
You can count on her. She is scrupulous in her work.
scrupulous = careful and thorough
Definition
Generally scrupulous means:careful to behave ethically and/or diligently (with great care and attention to detail)
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 3.2 |
servile
1 use
We expect our waiters to give world-class service, but not to be so servile they sacrifice their human dignity.
servile = excessively submissive
Definition
Generally servile means:submissive — typically excessively so (so submissive or eager to serve and please that one seems to have no self-respect)
or:
relating to the work that requires obeying demeaning commands
or:
slave-like or relating to slaves
or:
relating to the work that requires obeying demeaning commands
or:
slave-like or relating to slaves
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 3.5 |
sulk
4 uses
She was disappointed and retreated to her room to sulk.
sulk = to overly indulge in being unhappy and unsociable
Definition
Generally sulk means:to be overly unhappy and unsociable — often due to disappointment or a sense of not getting what was deserved
Word Statistics
Book | 4 uses |
Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 5.4 |