acquiesce
3 uses
She is opposed, but will ultimately acquiesce to the will of the majority.
acquiesce = reluctantly accept
Definition
Generally acquiesce means:reluctant or unenthusiastic compliance, consent, or agreement
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 12 |
aesthetic
1 use
It was not aesthetically pleasing.
aesthetically = related to beauty or good taste
Definition
Generally aesthetic means:related to beauty or good taste — often referring to one's appreciation of beauty or one's sense of what is beautiful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 9 |
apathy
2 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 | 2 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 9 |
ascetic
2 uses
The ascetic life has been more pronounced in Hinduism and Buddhism than in other major religions.
ascetic = the practice of self-denial
Definition
Generally ascetic means:someone who practices self-denial (often to encourage spiritual growth); or relating to such self-denial
or:
severely plain (without decoration)
or:
severely plain (without decoration)
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 8 |
capricious
1 use
Nothing seems more capricious than a tornado.
capricious = unpredictable
Definition
Generally capricious means:impulsive or unpredictable or tending to make sudden changes — especially impulsive behavior
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 18 |
censure
5 uses
They censured him for bringing dishonor upon the Senate.
censured = formally criticized
Definition
Generally censure means:harsh criticism; or formal criticism from an organization — such as the U.S. Senate
Word Statistics
Book | 5 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 15 |
complacent
3 uses
She had become complacent after years of success.
complacent = unworried and satisfied
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 3 |
contempt
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
Familiarity breeds contempt.
contempt = lack of respect
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior — often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 16 |
diligent
2 uses
She's the kind of diligent worker we want to hire.
diligent = showing hard work and care
Definition
Generally this sense of diligent means:hard work and care in tasks — often continuing when others might quit because of difficulties
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 2 |
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 | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 500 |
1st use | Chapter 2 |
disperse
2 uses
The crowd dispersed.
dispersed = scattered (moved away from one another)
Definition
Generally this sense of disperse means:to scatter or cause to spread
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 3 |
dissent
1 use
The Alien and Sedition Acts were attempts to silence early political dissent in America.
dissent = disagreement
Definition
Generally dissent means:to disagree; or disagreement or conflict — typically between people who cooperate, and often with official or majority beliefs
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 12 |
eccentric
2 uses
She's a little eccentric, but we don't mind because she's the best player on the team.
eccentric = unconventional or strange
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 2000 |
1st use | Chapter 19 |
engender
1 use
The police in Mexico don't engender confidence.
engender = cause (bring into being)
Definition
Generally engender means:cause — usually a feeling (possibly a situation)
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 15 |
furtive
2 uses
She watched me in a furtive manner—trying to hide her interest.
furtive = cautious or taking pains to avoid being observed
Definition
Generally furtive means:taking pains to avoid being observed
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 13 |
obscure
1 use
1 —1 use 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 | 1 use |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 2000 |
1st use | Chapter 15 |
pious
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
a good, pious woman
The cartoon with a drawing of Muhammad outraged many pious Muslims.
pious = highly religious
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 15 |
reticent
3 uses
She was reticent initially, but eventually she opened up.
reticent = reluctant to speak
Definition
Generally reticent means:reluctant — especially to speak freely
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 8 |
revere
4 uses
Many fans revere Michael Jordan as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
revere = deeply respect and admire
Definition
Generally revere means:regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration — sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
Word Statistics
Book | 4 uses |
Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 17 |
superficial
4 uses
She has only superficial knowledge on the subject.
superficial = shallow
Definition
Generally superficial means:relating to a surface rather than to anything deep or penetrating (often of injuries or thinking)
Word Statistics
Book | 4 uses |
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 6 |