apathy
6 uses
Seeing too much senior apathy, the high school began having juniors declare a major for their senior year.
apathy = lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.24 |
blockade
1 use
They could not get weapons past the naval blockade.
blockade = action to keep people and goods from reaching a location
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.12 |
complacent
4 uses
He had become complacent after years of success.
complacent = contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.10 |
defer (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
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 | Chapter 4.45 |
2 —1 use as in:
deferred to her wishes
I defer to her expertise.
defer = submit or yield
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:submit or yield (typically to another person's opinion because of respect for that person or their knowledge)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.8 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discordant music
She described the loud discordant music as a form of torture.
discordant = unpleasant sounding
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:unpleasant sound — especially a combination of sounds that sound wrong together (though sometimes done intentionally in music)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.17 |
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 | Chapter 4.33 |
guile
5 uses
Her cleverness and inventiveness was exceeded only by her guile.
guile = cunning (shrewdness and cleverness) and deceit
Definition
Generally guile means:cunning (shrewdness and cleverness) and deceitful
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.9 |
impetuous
3 uses
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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.47 |
incredulous
6 uses
I find it incredulous that you believe she is sincere.
incredulous = difficult to believe
Definition
Generally incredulous means:unbelieving; or having difficulty accepting something so unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.9 |
obscure (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 10 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
it obscured my view
The stars are obscured by the clouds.
obscured = hidden or made less visible
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:to block from view or make less visible or understandable
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.14 |
2 —1 use 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 | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5.49 |
3 —3 uses as in:
knows the famous and the obscure
The obscure battle is hardly mentioned in history books.
obscure = not known to many people
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not known to many people; or unimportant or undistinguished
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.12 |
obstinate
19 uses
She is an obstinate child who will not follow the family rules.
obstinate = stubbornly not doing what others want
Word Statistics
| Book | 19 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
ratify
5 uses
The President already signed the treaty, but it won't take effect unless the Senate ratifies it.
ratifies = approves
Definition
Generally ratify means:to approve — typically the formal approval of an agreement by an organization
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.42 |
scrupulous
11 uses
You can count on her. She is scrupulous in her work.
scrupulous = careful to behave ethically and/or diligently
Definition
Generally scrupulous means:careful to behave ethically and/or diligently (with great care and attention to detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.37 |
servile
2 uses
She acknowledged her submission in a servile tone.
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.29 |
siege
48 uses
The Siege of Leningrad lasted 872 days.
siege = the surrounding and prolonged attack
Definition
Generally siege means:a military tactic in which a fortified place is surrounded and isolated while it is attacked over time
or:
any prolonged attack, effort, or period of trouble
or:
any prolonged attack, effort, or period of trouble
Word Statistics
| Book | 48 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.17 |
wallow (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 4 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
wallow happily in the mud
The pigs wallowed in the large mud puddle.
wallowed = relaxed and perhaps rolled about
Definition
Generally this sense of wallow means:to relax — especially of an animal rolling about in mud or shallow water
or more rarely: a noun describing the mud puddle or indentation in which an animal relaxes or rolls around
or more rarely: a noun describing the mud puddle or indentation in which an animal relaxes or rolls around
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.8 |
2 —1 use as in:
a wagon wallowed through the mud
The tractor wallowed through the mud.
wallowed = moved with difficulty
Definition
Generally this sense of wallow means:to move with difficulty; or perhaps just to move through water or in a rolling/wave-like manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.33 |