anguish
1 use
I felt unbearable anguish when my 4-year-old child died from brain cancer.
anguish = extreme pain
Definition
Generally anguish means:extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
caustic
1 use
Don't get it on your skin. It's caustic.
caustic = harsh or capable of hurting skin (like a strong acid)
Definition
Generally caustic means:of a chemical substance: corrosive; capable of destroying or eating away such as a strong acid
or:
of a person: sarcastic, critical, or harsh
or:
of a person: sarcastic, critical, or harsh
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
defame
1 use
He threatened legal action if she continued to defame him in her articles.†
defame = to hurt someone's reputation through false statements
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
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 | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
detestable
2 uses
I think Umbridge is the most detestable character in the Harry Potter books.
detestable = deserving intense dislike
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
direct
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
This flower does best in direct sunlight.
direct = without intervention from anything (in this case, not sun that is partially blocked or reflected)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." — straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." — exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." — unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." — personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." — close
- "a direct gaze" — straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
discreet
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
discreet--not showy or gossipy
I leave my phone on silent mode, so it can alert me discreetly when I receive a text message.
discreetly = in a manner that is unlikely to attract attention
Definition
Generally this sense of discreet means:trustworthy with secrets and/or inconspicuous or unobtrusive
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
expound
1 use
You will be asked to expound on a teacher-selected topic from the book.
expound = discuss in detail
Definition
Generally expound means:explain or discuss in detail
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
filial
1 use
She tried to restrain her mother, so far as filial respect would allow.
filial = child-to-parent
Definition
Generally filial means:relating to the relationship of children to their parents
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
heresy
1 use
It is a hardline form of Sunni Islam that condemns all other strains as heresy.
heresy = something immoral
Definition
Generally heresy means:opinions or actions most people consider immoral
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
however
5 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
However, complications may...
Most college application deadlines are in January and February. However, early admission deadlines are around November and some scholarships require even earlier deadlines.
however = despite that (a transition word use to connect contrasting ideas)
Definition
Generally this sense of however means:though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrastand but.)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 61 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
inarticulate
1 use
She becomes inarticulate when she's nervous.
inarticulate = unable to express herself clearly
Definition
Generally inarticulate means:unable to communicate clearly (or to use words)
or (more rarely): a feeling or idea that is not expressed
or (more rarely): a feeling or idea that is not expressed
The exact meaning of inarticulate depends upon its context. For example:
- unable to find good words to express oneself — as in "She gets inarticulate when she's nervous."
- verbally expressing a feeling without words — as in "She uttered an inarticulate cry of despair."
- unable to make oneself heard and understood — as in "She mumbled inarticulately."
- unable to speak — as in "She was inarticulate with rage."
- a feeling or idea that is not expressed — as in "We shared an inarticulate fear."
- inability to express or understand feelings or ideas — as in "She is emotionally inarticulate, " or "Her symphony is inarticulate."
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
lax
1 use
Lax safeguards contributed to the oil spill.
lax = relaxed; or lacking in strictness or strength
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
nonchalant
1 use
I could tell she was nervous, but she was trying to look nonchalant.
nonchalant = calm and unconcerned
Definition
Generally nonchalant means:calm in manner — appearing unconcerned
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
paradox
3 uses
It's the grandfather paradox of time travel in which a man cannot travel to a time before he was born and kill his grandfather.
paradox = a situation or statement that may be true but is surprising or seems impossible because parts of it seem to contradict each other
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
platitude
2 uses
She sprinkled her remarks with the usual political platitudes that are guaranteed to be popular with both parties.
platitudes = commonly repeated or obvious remarks made as though they are insightful or instructive
Definition
Generally platitude means:a commonly repeated or obvious remark made as though it was insightful or instructive
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
prudent
1 use
She was promoted to manager because she is so prudent.
prudent = sensible and careful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
reproach
1 use
She reproached him for being thoughtless and lazy.
reproached = criticized
Definition
Generally reproach means:a criticism; or to express criticism — especially where a relationship makes the disapproval result in disappointment or shame
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
swindle
3 uses
She stole over a million dollars in her biggest swindle.
swindle = fraud (or deception) to steal money
Definition
Generally swindle means:tricking or cheating someone — usually to get money
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
taint
1 use
Three people died from eating the tainted ice cream.
tainted = spoiled or contaminated
Definition
Generally taint means:to spoil something so it is not desirable — as when bacteria contaminates a food; or as when a rumor makes people distrust a person
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |