assiduous
9 uses
She is an assiduous student who expects to earn A's.
assiduous = diligent (showing care and persistent effort)
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
candid
6 uses
Don't worry about my feelings. I'd like your candid opinion.
candid = honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
complacent
8 uses
He had become complacent after years of success.
complacent = contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
contempt
22 uses
1 —22 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
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 | 22 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
debauchery
1 use
I relaxed and enjoyed the evening without slipping into the surrounding debauchery.
debauchery = excessive drinking, casual sex, and/or drug abuse while partying
Definition
Generally debauchery means:excessive drinking, casual sex, and/or drug abuse while partying — possibly for an evening, but often implying a wasteful, decadent life
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
decorum
8 uses
All decorum was lost in the classroom.
decorum = manners and conduct considered to be proper and in good taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred the decision
The weather forced us to defer our departure another day.
defer = postpone or delay
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:postpone (hold off until a later time)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
digress
1 use
She always digresses when telling a story.
digresses = wanders from a direct course
Definition
Generally digress means:wander from a direct or straight course — especially verbally
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 6 |
disdain
3 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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
dubious
4 uses
She was dubious, but agreed to come with us anyway.
dubious = doubtful; or suspicious; or full of uncertainty
Definition
Generally dubious means:doubtful — such as:
- uncertain that something can be relied upon
- uncertain about the quality or wisdom of something
- a relatively gentle way of saying that the quality of something described as good is in such doubt that it is considered bad
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
incessant
10 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 | 10 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
irony (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
situational irony
She didn't see the irony in acting like the mother she detested.
irony = when what happens is very different than what might be expected; or when things are together that seem like they don't belong together
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:when what happens is very different than what might be expected; or when things are together that seem like they don't belong together — especially when amusing or an entertaining coincidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
2 —1 use as in:
verbal irony
She was being ironic when she said she couldn't wait to see you again.
ironic = saying one thing, while meaning the opposite or something else — usually as humor or sarcasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
novel
2 uses
We're looking for novel advertising ideas.
novel = new and original
Definition
Generally this sense of novel means:new and original — typically something considered good
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 6 |
obscure
6 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
the view or directions are obscure
For some obscure reason that goes back many years, they don't like each other.
obscure = not clearly understood
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not clearly seen, understood, or expressed
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
obstinate
13 uses
She is an obstinate child who will not follow the family rules.
obstinate = stubbornly not doing what others want
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
philanthropy
5 uses
Her primary interests are family and philanthropy.
philanthropy = helping others
Definition
Generally philanthropy means:helping others — especially donating money to worthy causes; or an organization that does so
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
resolute
39 uses
She stood resolute as some complained that she was asking too much of the team.
resolute = firm in purpose or belief
Word Statistics
| Book | 39 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
scrutiny
13 uses
She scrutinized her reflection in the mirror.
scrutinized = looked very carefully at
Definition
Generally scrutiny means:careful examination of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
stagnate
2 uses
We don't want the economy to stagnate.
stagnate = stay still or not develop
Definition
Generally stagnate means:staying still or not developing
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 7 |