disdain
7 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 | 7 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
elated
10 uses
I felt elated the first day of summer break.
elated = happy and excited
Definition
Generally elated means:full of happiness and excitement
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
fanatic
16 uses
We think it was not a solitary fanatic, but a hired assassin.
fanatic = a person motivated by extreme enthusiasm
Definition
Generally fanatic means:a person motivated by extreme enthusiasm (as for a cause) — sometimes to a fault
or:
extremely enthusiastic — sometimes to a fault
or:
extremely enthusiastic — sometimes to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 16 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
futile
6 uses
Resistance is futile.
futile = pointless because it cannot produce anything useful
Definition
Generally futile means:effort that is pointless because it is unproductive or unsuccessful
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
inhibit (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 9 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
inhibited the growth of...
The drug inhibits the spread of cancer.
inhibits = slows or prevents
Definition
Generally this sense of inhibit means:to limit the activity of someone or something
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
2 —3 uses as in:
she is shy and inhibited
She's personable and funny with her friends, but tends to be inhibited with strangers.
inhibited = unable to act naturally due to being overly self-conscious
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
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
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 | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
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
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:saying one thing, while meaning the opposite or something else — usually as humor or sarcasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
jihad
33 uses
They urged jihad against the Americans in Afghanistan.
jihad = a holy war waged by Muslims against infidels
Definition
Generally jihad means:a holy war waged by Muslims against infidels; or any relentless battle for a belief
or more rarely: a holy struggle or striving by a Muslim for a moral, spiritual, or political goal
or more rarely: a holy struggle or striving by a Muslim for a moral, spiritual, or political goal
Word Statistics
| Book | 33 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
positive (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
I'm absolutely positive!
I'm positive I've seen her before.
positive = certain
Definition
Generally this sense of positive means:certain (having no doubt; or used for emphasis)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
2 —1 use as in:
had a positive effect
Lower interest rates positively affected home sales.
positively = in a good or beneficial manner
Definition
Generally this sense of positive means:good or beneficial
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
prescient
40 uses
She is prescient in her political predictions.
prescient = knowing what will happen before it happens
Definition
Generally prescient means:knowing (or at least expecting) what will happen before it happens
Word Statistics
| Book | 40 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
profound (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
profound idea
She shared a profound way of thinking about the problem.
profound = deep or far-reaching in intellect or consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
2 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
Her apology was heartfelt—expressing profound sorrow and regret.
profound = intense (of great emotional depth)
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Term |
prophecy
22 uses
The prophecy came true.
prophecy = prediction of the future
Definition
Generally prophecy means:a prediction of the future (usually said to be obtained in a supernatural way)
Word Statistics
| Book | 22 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
speculative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a speculative look or mind
She looked speculative as she turned her head back to the computer screen.
speculative = curious or in deep thought
Definition
Generally this sense of speculative means:showing, engaged in, or having a tendency of curiosity or deep thought
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
strata
5 uses
The Grand Canyon has many exposed rock strata ranging from 200 million to 2 billion years old.
strata = layers
Definition
Generally strata means:layers
or:
levels, classes, or groups into which people or other things are divided
or:
levels, classes, or groups into which people or other things are divided
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
subtle (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 4 uses
1 —1 use as in:
a subtle poison
She is working subtly against us.
subtly = working in a way that is hard to see
Definition
Generally this sense of subtle means:working in an indirect or hidden way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
2 —3 uses as in:
a subtle difference or thinker
She used subtle reasoning to expose the absurdity of his argument.
subtle = making use of slight distinctions
Definition
Generally this sense of subtle means:not obvious, but understandable by someone with adequate sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps depending upon fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
treachery
23 uses
Benedict Arnold remains the U.S.'s symbol of ultimate treachery.
treachery = betrayal
Definition
Generally treachery means:the behavior of someone who pretends to be a friend and then tricks, cheats, or betrays
Word Statistics
| Book | 23 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |