accentuate
1 use
It's a difficult situation, but she accentuates the positive and does not get overwhelmed.
accentuates = emphasizes
Definition
Generally accentuate means:to emphasize or draw attention to
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
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 |
conservatory
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
plants in the conservatory
We visited the New York Botanical Garden Conservatory.
conservatory = a greenhouse in which plants are arranged in a pleasing manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
contrary
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
on the contrary
She was not smiling. On the contrary, she frowned.
on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
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 |
deliberate
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
need to deliberate
We deliberated into the evening.
deliberated = thought about or discussed
Definition
Generally this sense of deliberate means:to think about or discuss — especially with great care
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
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 |
dialect
1 use
It's not uncommon to hear "y'all" when talking in the American south where the rural areas still have a distinct dialect.
dialect = a regional variety of a language
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 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 |
invariably
3 uses
I tell myself to go to sleep early, but I invariably end up watching television late into the night.
invariably = consistently or without variation
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
matrimony
1 use
They have moved in together, joined bank accounts, and are trying to have children, but have no interest in matrimony.
matrimony = marriage
Definition
Generally matrimony means:the state of being a married
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
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 | 5 uses 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
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
supercilious
1 use
I have come to hate her supercilious smile.
supercilious = arrogant
Definition
Generally supercilious means:arrogant (acting as if better, more important, and superior in ideas than others)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
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 | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
taint
1 use
Authorities said the milk was tainted with rat poison.
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 | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
trivial
5 uses
We're in agreement on the main issues. We just have some trivial details to work out.
trivial = unimportant
Definition
Generally trivial means:of little importance; or describing a challenge as uninteresting and easy to solve
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
vulgar
2 uses
Her vulgarity was a turnoff.
vulgarity = crudeness (showing of bad taste)
Definition
Generally vulgar means:of bad taste — often crude or offensive
or:
unsophisticated (or common) — especially of taste
or:
unsophisticated (or common) — especially of taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |